View Magazine May / June 2017

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

MAY/JUNE 2017Â

summer COVER STORY

FUN

FLIP-the-ISSUE

ALSO INSIDE

Eat Healthy,

SHOP LOCAL Texas

SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

MAY/JUNE 2017

contents RE VIEW

7 8

TO EAT: Chiangmai Thai Kitchen TO DRINK: OS2 Restaurant & Pub

BRANDSENSE 9

Eat Healthy, Shop Local

FIT VIEW 10

Down and Dirty

COVER VIEW 12

Summer Fun

12

TRAVEL VIEW 18

One-Tank Trip: BROKEN BOW, OK

NON-PROFIT VIEW 21

Top Ladies of Distinction

EVENT VIEW 22

Texas Shakespeare Festival

IN EVERY ISSUE 6 23 25

Letter Calendar of Events Picture This!

18

22 ON THE COVER Warm weather and blue, sunny skies – summer has arrived.

It’s time to take a dip in a swimming hole, go camping with family, pick your own berries, indulge in a snow cone, learn about animals or visit a water park. It’s time to have fun with friends and family while reconnecting with nature.

4 VIEW | M AY / J U N E

Dear Readers, As spring transitions into summer, we begin to move into one of my favorite times of the year in East Texas – festival and event season combined with the ideal time to enjoy our natural environment by getting outdoors.

I love getting out and about with my friends and family during the late spring and summer to see all that East Texas has to offer and meet new people.

In this issue, we want to encourage you to get outdoors. It’s time to take a dip in a swimming hole, pick your own berries at a berry farm, hike at one of our beautiful state parks and spend a lazy day on one of our glorious lakes. In our View cover story, you’ll find information about some of the best places in East Texas to do a variety of things outdoors.

This time of year also is festival season. May and June feature opportunities to participate in a mud run, hear amazing music at the Big Pines Blues Fest and take in a professional theater production at the Texas Shakespeare Festival. Check out our calendar of events as well as our event, fitness and nonprofit profile stories to read about events that are coming up and wonderful organizations in our community.

If you flip this issue to the Charm side, you’ll read a cover story that is about something I, personally, love. Farmhouse chic décor. I

discovered Pursuing Eden and Vintage Soul, both home décor shops in Longview, about three years ago when I bought my first house. Their décor spoke to my soul, and now my house is filled to the brim with items – both large and small – from each shop. I am so happy we get to share information about two of my favorite hidden gems in Longview in our Charm cover story on this home décor trend.

In this issue of Charm, we’re also introducing a new regular feature that you can expect to see in each issue. We will be featuring a profile of a businesswoman in each issue. To kick off our Women in Business monthly feature, we chose to spotlight April Rangel. She owns Beltone Hearing Aid Centers in Longview with her husband. April describes her patients as being like extended family.

We believe that’s a truly great philosophy to have, and I want to take this opportunity to say that we at the Charm/View team feel that you, our readers, are a part of our extended family as well. As members of our family, your feedback is important to us. This is the third flip-theissue magazine we have produced since launching View in January. It’s time to hear from you. What do you like? What do you dislike? What would you like to see more of? Please, let us know.

As you turn through the pages of this issue of Charm and View, we hope you are reminded of everything that East Texas has to offer. I hope to see some of you out and about this summer, taking in our beautiful community and making memories with your friends and family.

Happy summer!

clane@news-journal.com

Hi, and welcome to another issue of Charm/View! As the magazine’s new Special Publications Manager, I’m thrilled to be a part of the team.

Since joining the Charm/View family in February I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many of you and am looking forward to getting to know more of you in the weeks and months ahead. You can expect to see me at each Charm/View Cover Reveal party, at special events and functions and as I’m out visiting businesses within the community.

My focus is to continue growing the magazine in content, significance and social relevance while maintaining its focus, design and the other factors that make it a unique voice for Longview and the area. Chief among my goals is to help businesses have a voice in these pages, to give them opportunities to tell their story in a way they never have.

We’ll accomplish that through special advertising sections and with sponsored content and niche advertising opportunities. There’s an example in this edition’s BrandSense section. It contains sponsored content about Bill’s Organic Gardens and the Community Supported 6 VIEW | M AY / J U N E

Agriculture program to encourage eating healthfully and shopping locally. Another example is our One-Tank Trip article about Broken Bow, Oklahoma, which also is partially sponsored by advertisers in the Broken Bow area.

Increasing distribution of the magazine also has been a focus.

You will find this edition in more than 20 hotels in Longview, Kilgore and Marshall. This will allow visitors to see Charm/View as the go-to source for fun things to do and great places to eat, bringing additional awareness and revenue to our local businesses. If you’re a business owner seeking ways to stay relevant and top-of-mind while reaching a more targeted audience, or know of someone who would be interested, I’m just a phone call away.

You’ll also see the magazine in more freestanding racks and business lobbies throughout Longview, Kilgore and Marshall, with plans to include our distribution list online in the near future so you can easily see where to pick up a copy. And you can always stop by the NewsJournal’s downtown offices to get a copy from our front desk. We’re located at 320 E. Methvin St. in Longview.

Lastly, I want to thank you again, dear readers, for being a part of our extended family. Without you we wouldn’t have a reason to do what we do.

drice@news-journal.com

REVIEW

to

eat

Chiangmai Thai Kitchen

You have had pizza, steak, lasagna, leftovers and everything else this week. Now you want something different. You don’t know what, just … something. Have you had this conversation with your significant other?

Chiangmai Thai Kitchen is that something different. This restaurant is tucked in next to Burlington Coat Factory in Longview.

It might not seem like much, but this place dishes out authentic Thai cuisine.

The menu can be a little overwhelming. There are lots of dishes to choose from. The service is excellent though and servers can help with suggestions, tell you what’s popular and recommend their favorites.

Through the long list of appetizers, the fried spring rolls and chicken satay are top choices. But they have lots of options to start off your meal.

When it comes to spice level, it’s really a “Choose your own adventure” when you get to choose your level of spicy. For those with tamer tongues, the mild spicy isn’t bland but doesn’t have that much heat to it. Medium spicy is your middle ground where you want some heat but not too much. Now, if you want to get adventurous, their extra spicy and super spicy levels will clean your sinuses for you. But the flavor is still there.

I usually have my go-to favorite of pineapple curry with chicken (extra spicy when I want the extra kick). This was a special at one point on the Specials Board. It sounded amazing and it tasted even better. Pineapple chunks with onions and bell peppers, fresh chicken in a curry sauce. It isn’t on the Specials Board anymore but you can still order it. I feel like it’s a secret menu item that only I know about.

Well, you do, too, now. Welcome to the Pineapple Curry Club!

After having my standard for so long, I’ve decided to branch out and try some other dishes. I didn’t branch out too far when I ordered the pineapple fried rice. These are baby steps here, people. You get half a pineapple filled with pineapple, shrimp, chicken, veggies and more. For a simple dish like fried rice, it has some complex flavors.

There are a few different fried rice dishes on the menu. You should work your way through them.

If you do decide to get adventurous and get the super spicy, don’t drink water. Get a Thai iced tea. This sweet drink will help cool you down.

From noodle dishes of all the Pad style (Thai, Ped, Khing and more) to curry in many flavors and other great options, Chiangmai Thai Kitchen is a great place when you are looking for something different.

CHIANGMAI THAI KITCHEN 103 W. Loop 281 #430, Longview | (903) 663-662 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday-Sunday

Takes Reservations No | Delivery No | Take-out Yes | Accepts Credit Cards Yes | Good for Groups Yes | Attire Casual | Ambience Casual Noise Level Average | Alcohol No | Happy Hour No | Outdoor Seating Yes (Limited) | Has TV Yes | Vegetarian Options Yes

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REVIEW

to

drink

OS2 Restaurant & Pub

There’s something about the change of seasons and warmer weather resolved. They did offer us a small variety of beers available by the bottle, that always makes me long for evenings when I can enjoy a cold beverage but most of us chose mixed drinks instead.

I must say our drinks tasted amazing! From fruity cocktails to those and live music with friends.

My friends and I visited Marshall on a Saturday this spring to attend drinks that are a combination of alcohol and soda, the bar staff at OS2 a showing of “Uncertain,” a locally filmed documentary. We decided to definitely knows how to make good drinks.

I can’t say enough how much we enjoyed the evening. OS2 is such a turn our visit into a night out on the town and stopped in for drinks at relaxing bar and it was nice to be in the company of like-minded adults OS2 Restaurant and Pub, which is located on the downtown square.

As we approached the doors, the sound of music filtered out into the who are out to have a good time. From the drinks to the music to the night air. We had no idea the bar had a band playing live that night, but dancing, we enjoyed our overall experience.

OS2 frequently features live music. There are bands every Wednesday it was such a pleasant surprise! As we walked inside, the bar was packed with people enjoying the band. There weren’t a ton of loud college kids; and Saturday, and other days of the week as well. And, while we didn’t instead it was a more mature audience out to have a good time. It was dine in the adjoining restaurant that night, it’s on my to-do list. The a very relaxing, casual atmosphere. If you like a more mature bar scene, restaurant is separate from the bar but there is a door that goes between the two. It’s a fine-dining restaurant that looks like it would be great for this might be the place for you.

As we grabbed a table near the back of the bar, we saw so many happy a date night.

If you’re in Marshall or just looking for an excuse to get out of town faces clearly enjoying the night. The area immediately in front of the for a night, I highly recommend a visit to OS2 Restaurant and Pub on the band stage was empty and throughout our time there, people frequently downtown square. You won’t be disappointed! got up to dance to the blues music played by Buddy Flett.

We enjoyed the sound of the blues while we waited for our drinks.

When our order was taken, we learned that the bar didn’t have any beer on tap due to a broken tap, but the staff worked diligently to get that

OS2 RESTAURANT AND PUB 105 E. Houston St., Marshall | (903) 938-7700 www.os2marshall.com 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday

Accepts Credit Cards Yes | Good for Groups Yes | Attire Casual | Ambience Casual | Noise Level Average | Alcohol Full Bar Happy Hour No | Outdoor Seating Yes | Has TV Yes | Waiter Service Yes | Best Nights Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays

WHERE TO SHOP

For Every Occasion LONGVIEWMALL.COM

8 VIEW | M AY / J U N E

BRAND SENSE

eat

healthy, shop local Words by DAWN-RENÉE RICE

ONE

thing that always seems to enter our minds this

for a product that’s grown where you live, it’s in season and it’s

time of year is eating healthier. We want to shed

grown organically. As an added bonus, you’re also supporting a

the winter weight (or several winters of weight) we’ve put on, get

local farmer.

out and get active in the Texas sun, and eat lighter, healthier meals.

Although his farm is primarily a vegetable farm, Segers does

The first thing we think of when it comes to eating healthier

provide fruit during certain seasons by cooperating with other

is to start incorporating more fruits and vegetables into our diets.

But many of us don’t know how to garden, don’t have time to garden or aren’t interested in gardening. And if you prefer organic vegetables due to the health risks of pesticides, herbicides and chemicals used in growing non-organic produce then you’re in luck.

There’s an easy way to enjoy fresh, seasonal vegetables each week without getting your hands dirty – a CSA membership with Bill’s Organic Gardens of Longview.

With a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) membership, you have a direct partnership with the farmer in which you buy a share of the farm at the beginning of the growing season in exchange for the highest quality, seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Bill Segers, a third generation farmer and owner of Bill’s Organic Gardens in Longview, has provided this CSA opportunity to the East Texas community for more than 15 years. He grows

local organic farmers.

As a CSA member, Segers says “everyone gets a chance to come out and help us plant, pick, (and) harvest the vegetables so they know where their vegetables are coming from.” CSA boxes are provided 40 weeks out of the year and different payment options are available.

According to Segers, this is the best time of the year to sign up as a CSA member.

“A lot of people don’t have time to cook and this time of the year is the best time to sign up because everything we have for May is what we call ‘salad month’,” he said. “We have fresh tomatoes, peppers, onions, and spinach and two to three kinds of kale and chard along with radishes and lettuce. That’s the things you don’t have to cook. You just rewash, cut it up into a salad and you’ve got lunch or supper.”

more than 30 types of organic vegetables year-round in more than

He said he sees everyone from older people who are looking

100 varieties using traditional gardening methods in a chemical-

to maintain or regain their health, to young families with children

free zone.

who want them to learn where their vegetables come from. The

According to Segers, being a CSA member and purchasing a share is much cheaper than most people realize.

kids even get to ride around on the John Deere tractor, making something as simple as picking vegetables into a fun outing.

Not only is there no middle man involved, there are no taxes or

For more information on Bill’s Organic Gardens and the CSA

freight costs, which is something that gets passed on to consumers

membership program, go to www.billsorganicgardens.com or call

who purchase produce at a grocery store. Plus, you’re paying

(903) 237-7774. The gardens are at 798 Allen Road in Longview. news-journal.com 9

FITVIEW

down and dirty Words by APRIL BARBE

EAST

Texas is full of fun for those who enjoy the great

established Longview run is hoping for about 800 participants this year.

outdoors, and a relatively new trend – mud runs

The Longview mud run, which takes place at Lear Park, also features

– is gaining steam in the area.

Longview and Kilgore are each preparing for mud runs in the cities.

Meanwhile, runners got muddy during a March event in Diana.

In Kilgore, the second annual Stars & Scars Mud Run is set for May 20. The Run It Like It’s Hot Miracle Mud Run in Longview is set for Aug. 19. The two events garner hundreds of participants each year.

So what’s attracting people to mud runs?

It might just be that people like to get a little bit muddy, according to Chris Stuckey, event coordinator of the Run It Like It’s Hot Miracle Mud Run. “As kids, we all got in trouble for getting a little too dirty sometimes.

A mud run is a great excuse to get dirty without consequence. The muddier, the better,” Stuckey said.

Kilgore’s Stars & Scars mud run will feature 5K and 10K options

man-made obstacles.

“We saw the highest attendance at the first year’s run. The following years were slightly less, but steady and an overall success,” Stuckey said.

Run It Like It’s Hot benefits the Miracle League of East Texas, which provides opportunities for children with disabilities to play Miracle League baseball, regardless of their abilities.

“This is the best part of our mud run,” Stuckey said. “Not only are you able to go out and have some fun, but the cause that is benefited by this is truly incredible.”

While the mud run cannot change or cure the medical issues facing the children, Stuckey said the event provides them “with an opportunity to experience the joy and benefits that come from playing our national pastime – baseball.”

with at least 10 man-made obstacles for runners to tackle along the

Registration for Run It Like It’s Hot is $50 for adults through July 15

muddy hills, bogs and pits. The muddy adventure will be at Rabbit

and $45 for a team of four or more. From July 16 through Aug. 20, adult

Creek Offroad Park, a 1,200-acre ATV park at 1217 Post Oak Road.

registration is $60 for individuals and $55 for a team of four or more.

“We hope our run becomes one of the most popular in East Texas,”

On race day, the fee is $75 for individuals and $70 for a team. The event

said Cindy Morris, president of the Kilgore Chamber of Commerce.

also features a children’s course. The cost to register a child is $25 for

“We are not a fun run, but a run with challenges of man-made and

an individual or team of four or more. For those who simply want to

natural terrain obstacles. The ‘Ankle Breaker’ is a steep hill with rocks,

watch the mud run, the fee is $5 per spectator.

gravel and mud. Luckily, we did not have an ankle break last year!”

The Kilgore Chamber of Commerce coordinates the mud run, and numerous businesses sponsor it and provide volunteers.

Any funds left over from the event are used to support the Chamber of Commerce, as the main priority of Stars & Scars is to draw visitors to town, Morris said.

“Our goal for the future of the Stars & Scars Mud Run is to grow this event and attract hundreds of runners to Kilgore. Each person who visits becomes aware of what our community offers a resident, tourist,

“It’s a fun family atmosphere that is perfect for all ages to enjoy.

It is a great excuse to get dirty, and it benefits an incredible cause,” Stuckey said.

For more information or online registration, visit www.runitlikeitshot.org.

Registration and more information about Stars & Scars is available at www.KilgoreChamber.com/stars-scars-mud-run. Runners also can go by the Kilgore Chamber of Commerce office, 813 N. Kilgore St., to register.

college student and business,” she said. “In addition, each visitor brings

Prices from May 1-19 are $55 for the 5K and $75 for the 10K. On

a financial impact to Kilgore through purchases of gasoline, meals,

May 20 the cost is $65 for the 5K and $85 for the 10K. All military,

lodging and other retail items.”

veterans, police or fire personnel are offered a $10 discount with proof

While organizers for the Kilgore mud run are hoping to attract 250 to 300 people for its sophomore year, Stuckey said the slightly more 10 VIEW | M AY / J U N E

of registration at check-in on May 20.

“It’s a dirty, muddy great time!” Morris said.

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COVER VIEW

FUN Words by CHRISTINA LANE

12 VIEW | M AY / J U N E

W

arm weather and blue, sunny skies – summer has arrived.

The lake harbors more than 70 species of fish, and has a fishing pier and boat ramp for people to

It’s time to take a dip in a

use. For those who want to get out on the lake,

swimming hole, go camping with

there are canoes available at the park to rent.

family, pick your own berries, indulge in a snow

For people who prefer to stay on land, there are

cone, learn about animals or visit a water park.

several trails to explore.

It’s time to have fun with friends and family while reconnecting with nature.

But for those who want to do something beyond that, there are several upcoming activities.

East Texas is filled with many activities that

May activities kick off at 10 a.m. May 7 with

are aimed at getting people outdoors. Aside

watercolor painting outdoors. Other upcoming

from being a great way to create memories with

activities include the “Incredible Edible Hike,”

friends and family, getting outdoors also has health

nature journaling, birding, an owl prowl, a

benefits. Research has shown that spending time

photography composition class, and the Sasquatch

outdoors reduces stress, increases attentiveness,

survival hike.

enhances learning and creativity, improves sleep and helps build life skills.

With that in mind, it’s time to break out the shorts and flip flips and take to the great outdoors.

Reconnect with nature East Texas is filled with lakes and state parks that provide ample opportunity for getting outdoors.

Johnson came on board at Caddo Lake State Park about six months ago and said she tries to offer activities at least three times each week, including at least one nighttime activity per week.

Since the activities have started, she said one of the most popular has been the “Incredible Edible Hike.”

“It’s a little over a half-mile hike. On the hike,

Many of the area’s lakes and state parks

we stop and look at different plants and how we

offer walking trails, swimming destinations and

can use them either in cooking or medicinally,”

campsites, but this summer, some also are offering

Johnson said. “A lot of them are plants that people

numerous events to help bring people outside.

will find in their backyards, but that they probably

At Caddo Lake State Park, Park Interpreter

don’t know they can eat. Some look like weeds,

Kelsey Johnson has a slew of activities planned that

but people can actually eat them instead of using a

will allow people to do everything from painting to

weed killer to try to get rid of them.”

participating in a Sasquatch survival hike.

“These are just really fun ways to get out and explore Caddo in a different way,” Johnson

Because more than 800 people expressed interest in the May 13 “Incredible Edible Hike,” the park will be offering it three times that day.

said. “A lot of people come here to go boating or

Night programs, Johnson added, also are very

fishing, but don’t realize that we offer a lot more

popular and May will see the park offer an activity

than that.”

that it only features twice a year: the Owl Prowl.

With its cypress trees with sprawling Spanish

At the May 26 event, there is a brief presentation

moss, the 26,810-acre Caddo Lake offers

about owls and then participants go outside

opportunities for fishing, paddling, boating,

and try to call owls that live at the lake’s boat

hiking, picnicking and camping that many are

ramp area.

familiar with.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Johnson said. continued on pg. 14 

news-journal.com 13

TOP: Billy Carter, of Billy Carter Go-Devil Tours in Uncertain, gives tours of Caddo Lake including areas of the lake no longer accessible to traditional pontoon boat or canoe tours due to the lake being taken over by giant salvinia and other invasive vegitation.

Photo by Michael Cavazos

Meanwhile, the Sasquatch Survival Hike

In the 1930s, Boy Scouts leased the land

plays on folklore that Sasquatch lives at Caddo

from its owner and developed the natural rock

Lake. The activity, set for 3 p.m. May 27, will

walls around the spring. When the Boy Scouts

take participants on a one-mile hike in which they

left during the 1960s, the Texas State Fox and

will learn how to find food, water and shelter in

Wolf Hunters leased the property for their hunts.

the wild.

Then in the 1980s, Ozarka Water Co. leased the

Johnson’s hope is that by coming out to try a new activity, “people may find a new hobby they love or a new outdoor activity that they enjoy doing as a family.”

people kept finding the pond and trespassing to

Caddo Lake has 46 campsites to choose from as

2001, Camp Tonkawa reopened as an RV park

swimming area that is ideal for cooling off in the summer heat. The park also offers picnicking, camping, boating, fishing and hiking.

Additionally, the park has recently started offering dances every Friday night. In doing so, park officials said they are hoping to evoke an era reminiscent of the park’s past.

Daingerfield State Park opened to the public in 1938. Spanning through the early 1970s, community dances were a mainstay at the park.

Today, the dances are held weekly on Saturday nights at the park’s pavilion. The dances begin at 6 p.m. with a children’s sock hop, then a traditional dance begins at 7:30 p.m.

Other area lakes that offer opportunities for fishing, swimming and boating include Lake O’ the Pines, Lake Gladewater, Lake Gilmer and Martin Creek Lake.

Swimming and water parks Nestled in the Piney Woods, there’s a place where you can go to take a dip in a cold, clear,

14 VIEW | M AY / J U N E

For several years the land sat vacant, but take a dip in the cold, clear water. On June 1,

Nearby Daingerfield State Park has a

TOP: Camp Tonkawa Springs in Garrison BOTTOM: Noah Sifrit, 10, of Lubbock enjoy a shower as a large bucket dumps water on visitors to the Silverleaf Resorts Inc. Waterpark at the Villages.

Photo by Scott Brunner

few years.

For those who want to make a weekend trip, well as historic cabins that are available to rent.

TOP: Ten-year-old Katelynne Bond of Tulsa, Oklahoma, spends her afternoon at Splash Kingdom in Canton.

Photo by Michael Cavazos

water rights on the property but moved out after a

spring-fed pond.

and campground where people can visit and stay for a few days.

In addition to swimming in ice cold water, visitors also have the opportunity to picnic, play horseshoes and volleyball. The grounds also feature a covered pavilion.

If you want a little more water excitement, Splash Kingdom Waterpark in Canton and Shreveport may be for you. At each of its locations, Splash Kingdom features a variety of water activities. It has a wave pool, a lazy river, many tube slide rides and more.

But, as we all know, summer in Texas is hot and humid. So swimming outdoors may not be your thing. But you can still swim indoors at least at one East Texas location.

Waterpark at the Villages is an indoor water park in Flint that features a lazy river, wave pool, water slides and more. The indoor water park is located at a Holiday Inn Resort so visitors have the opportunity to stay overnight to enjoy more family fun. With 25,000-square-feet of space, the climate controlled water park bills itself as one of the largest in Texas.

Animal adventures

Camp Tonkawa Springs in Garrison offers

Nestled away in the tall pines of East Texas is

historic charm with its beautiful pond that has

a place where big cats are free to roam and roar

been attracting visitors for more than 100 years.

as they please.

Before it became an RV Park in 2001, the land

Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge in Tyler has

had a varied history. According to history of Camp

provided a home to abused, neglected or displaced

Tonkawa posted to its website, in the early 1900s

big cats since 1997. Open to the public Sunday

it was called Acre Mill Pond. It was a grist mill and

through Saturday, the refuge is dedicated not only

the spring powered the wheel.

to providing a permanent home for the animals,

Now they have ice cream of all different flavors,

but also on educating the public.

The refuge is home to a couple dozen big cats,

including blueberry, banana and blackberry when

who each have a personality and background of

the fruits and berries are in season. Peach and

their own. Children and families who visit have

strawberry continue to be popular flavors, and

the opportunity to learn more about them.

children prefer chocolate and vanilla, she said.

Also in Tyler, the Caldwell Zoo provides an opportunity for children to see a variety of animals.

The zoo is home to tigers, cheetahs, elephants, zebras, flamingos, penguins and more.

The

zoo

also

provides

educational

They also offer watermelon and cantaloupe flavors as the produce allows.

In the fall, a new set of ice cream flavors will be available. During that season, Efurd said, the orchard features sweet potato and apple that are

opportunities and has a petting zoo where children

each popular sellers.

can interact with animals.

Pick your own berries

In Jacksonville, Cherokee Trace Drive-thru Safari is a wildlife park that is home to more than two dozen exotic and endangered species. Visitors can go at their own pace on their visit to this 300acre preserve.

From the comfort of your own vehicle, you can observe, feed and photograph the animals that roam on the land.

Treat yourself

Speaking of fruits and veggies, there are many places in East Texas that allow people to connect with the past and get outdoors with Pick Your Own farms.

Efurd Orchards has an area for the public to pick their own berries when each type is in May. When strawberry season ends, peach season begins. Efurd said her family doesn’t allow people

While out and about in the summer heat,

to pick their own peaches, but they are available to sell then. Blackberries are ready in mid-June,

Why not indulge with homemade ice cream or a

she said.

From Brian & Scott’s to Quenchies to The Tahiti Blue Sno-Ball Factory, snow cone stands in Longview offer a perfect way to cool down with a variety of syrups to create different flavors.

At Shivers Natural Snow, owners Chad and

“People come and pick them with buckets and then we weigh them and charge them by the pound,” she said.

Always looking to increase its offerings, Efurd Orchards is currently growing blueberries that On any given weekend, it’s common to see

sort. The couple joined the food truck trend in

hundreds of people at the orchard participating in

2015 when they opened Shivers. They opened

the Pick Your Own area, Efurd said.

adjacent to Bar K Ranch Store on U.S. 259.

“People come out mostly for the experience.

Kids today don’t know how things used to be done;

Shivers features shaved ice that is served with

they don’t know where produce comes from aside

all natural ingredients. Its syrups are made from

from the grocery store,” she said. “A lot of parents

scratch using real fruit; there are no dyes.

want their children to get that experience.”

At Efurd Orchards in Pittsburg, ice cream is made much the same way – all natural.

Amy Efurd, whose family owns the orchards, said her family has been serving ice cream made from fruits in its orchard for about 15 years.

“We started with peaches and strawberries just to see how it would go,” she said.

TOP: Shivers Shaved Ice. Photo by Michael Cavazos BOTTOM: Lions Pepe and Kenya take a nap at Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Michael Cavazos

people will be able to pick in coming years.

Rachael Reeves serve up snow cones of a different

in April for their 2017 season at their regular site

TOP: Sarah Hall makes a snow cone for a customer at Brian and Scott's Snowballs and Snacks.

Photo by Michael Cavazos

season. Strawberries will be in season until mid-

you’re certain to need a way to cool off a bit. snow cone?

TOP: Fresh peaches at Efurd Orchards in Pittsburg.

Photo by Michael Cavazos

Sid Greer, who owns The Greer Farm in Daingerfield, agrees that Pick Your Own locations allow families to reconnect with the past.

People have been able to pick their own berries at The Greer Farm since 2005. Greer said about 10 acres of land at the farm is dedicated to berries, and the farm features five varieties of continued on pg. 16 

news-journal.com 15

GILMER

80

CANTON

LONGVIEW

20 TYLER

MARSHALL

KILGORE

ATHENS CARTHAGE

HENDERSON JACKSONVILLE

69

FUN

ZOOS AND WILDLIFE

STATE PARKS

SNOW CONES

SWIMMING

PICK YOUR OWN BERRIES

Mountainside or seaside?

! e c i o h c r ...you 16 VIEW | M AY / J U N E

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

blueberries and four varieties of blackberries. Blackberries are in season until around July 4 and blueberries are in season until late July.

Hundreds of people come out each week to pick their own berries, and Greer said some are intense pickers.

“We have some people who have picked for years, who will come out and pick anywhere from 200 to 800 pounds of berries. They’ll freeze them for the winter,” he said. “People come out from, say Dallas, rent a cabin and spend all weekend picking.”

The farm also sees more casual pickers who simply want to gather enough berries to bake a pie.

Between the casual pickers and the professional pickers, Greer said something he’s noticed is that the people who visit his farm are multi-generational.

“I think this is a great bonding experience for families,” he said. “We have grandparents who come, parents who bring their kids. It’s a really good way to bond.”

SPONSORED BY: Marge and Tom Dome, Henry & Peters, PC, Certified Public Accountants

State Parks Caddo Lake State Park 245 Park Road 2, Karnack (903) 679-3351 Daingerfield State Park 455 Park Road 17, Daingerfield (903) 645-2921 Martin Creek Lake State Park 9515 CR 2181D, Tatum (903) 836-4336

Swimming Camp Tonkawa Springs RV 4375 CR 153, Garrison (903) 564-8888 Splash Kingdom Waterpark 18814 Interstate 20, Canton (903) 567-0044 The Waterpark at the Villages 18270 Singing Wood Lane, Flint (903) 534-8400

Cherokee Trace Drive-thru Safari 1200 CR 4405, Jacksonville (903) 683-3322

Snow Cones Shivers Natural Snow 5651 U.S. 259, Longview Brian & Scott’s Snowball and Snacks 122 Johnston St., Longview The Tahiti Blue Sno-Ball Factory 1706 Pine Tree Road, Longview Quenchies 1905 W. Loop 281, Longview

SPONSORED BY Southside Bank

Charlie’s SnoBall 1019 Kilgore Plaza, Kilgore

Pick your own Berries

Zoos and Wildlife

Efurd Orchards 4004 U.S. 271, Pittsburg (903) 856-2253

Caldwell Zoo 2203 Martin Luther King Blvd., Tyler (903) 593-0121

The Greer Farm 1444 CR 1125, Daingerfield (903) 645-3232

Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge 17552 FM 14, Tyler (903) 858-1008

Panola Orchard and Gardens 1413 FM 1186, DeBerry (903) 263-1789

SUMMER CAMPS

June 5th-9th & 12th-16th

2017

Blueberries at Panola Orchard and Gardens in DeBerry. Photo by Michael Cavazos

Create something new this summer! www.letu.edu

news-journal.com 17

SPONSORED CONTENT

TRAVEL VIEW

ONE-TANK TRIP:

BROKEN BOW, OK Words by DAWN-RENÉE RICE

SUMMER

Beavers Bend

is upon us and the one thing

Hochatown Country Lodge is located in front of Beaver’s Bend

at the top of our minds at this

State Park at their main entrance, making it a great choice to be close

time of the year is usually, “What are we going to do for vacation?”

to the action. The lodge has non-smoking rooms and cabin rentals as

Some of us plan ahead months in advance for trips to Europe. Some

well, but keep in mind pets are not allowed.

of us plan ahead for trips a little closer to home. But some of us, like me, don’t really plan ahead for vacation at all.

If you prefer to stay in a RV and want to buy one before your trip, consider visiting Hayes RV Center here in Longview. The company

Life is so busy and unpredictable in my household that we usually

has a wide assortment of RVs available at its location at 5009 Judson

take advantage of extra time right when it happens. So, what is more

Road. For more information, call the store at (903) 663-3488. There are

perfect than a destination only one gas tank away? You hop in the

several places to stay in your RV while in Broken Bow, such as Beaver’s

car, drive an hour or so, stay for a day or two and back home you go.

Easy peasy.

Broken Bow, Oklahoma, in McCurtain County is one such destination. This picturesque area is about 2.5 hours north of Longview, is located at the foothills of the Kiamichi Mountains and is surrounded by the Ouachita National Forest and Beavers Bend State Park. You’ll discover plenty of fishing, camping, hiking, swimming and much more whether you’re on a family vacation or a romantic getaway.

TO STAY If you plan to stay overnight or a few days, renting a cabin or staying at a rustic lodge is something you should consider. However, before you go or decide on where to stay there are a few things to think about. Some cabins are very secluded while others aren’t, and other cabins are right off the highway while some require a long, steep climb.

There are plenty of great options in the area, but here’s a few we recommend.

Bend State Park, Hochatown RV Park and Secluded Acres. And if you need parts and service during your trip, Robbins RV & Motorsports in nearby Idabel can take care of you. Worried about where to go for groceries and necessities? No need. There’s a Walmart nearby and Whiskey Joe’s is a local favorite with a great selection of beer, wine and spirits.

TO DO Speaking of Beaver’s Bend State Park, there’s definitely plenty of fun to be had when you visit. You can head out on Broken Bow Lake in a yakanoe (combination of kayak and canoe), paddle boat, paddle board, canoe or a Jet Ski. The state park also offers regular and miniature golf, zip lining, tennis, guided horseback rides on scenic trails, hayrides, trout fishing and fly-fishing.

If you love hiking, the David Boren Trail offers 16 miles of trails with four of them suitable for mountain biking. You can hike along ridge tops, meander through the tall trees, cross over creek bottoms and enter areas so remote you’ll think you’ve left civilization behind.

If you’re a novice hiker, don’t worry; these trails can be split between short and long hikes for your enjoyment.

Beavers Bend Luxury Cabin Rentals are spacious and beautifully

Broken Bow Lake also has some of the clearest waters in the state,

furnished, with fully equipped kitchens, WiFi and hot tubs. Kiamichi

which makes it a popular place for scuba divers. Rent a pontoon or

Cabins also offers luxury accommodations with fully equipped

party boat from Bandits ATV & Boat Rentals and grab some fishing

kitchens, plus linens and towels, private decks and central heat

gear from Beaver’s Bend Marina for a relaxing day of fishing and

and air.

soaking up some sun at the same time.

18 VIEW | M AY / J U N E

continued on pg. 20 

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The Lodge has 36 rooms (no smoking or pets allowed). Includes a free continental breakfast 6:30-10 a.m. each morning. Located in front of Beavers Bend State Park’s main entrance.

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SPONSORED CONTENT

And of course, there’s swimming. When you’re ready to cool off, there are plenty of designated swimming areas along the 180-mile shoreline. Stevens Gap is the main swimming area and considered one of the best spots for swimming. Just use caution with the little ones because the water does go deep. Another great place to take the kids is Beavers Bend Land & Water Park, which has bumper boats, paddle boats, canoes, a swimming area and a beach.

Beavers Bend also has enough streams, ponds and rivers, such as Mountain Fork River, for different types of water activities. Enjoy Mother Nature at her finest with a scenic canoe or kayak adventure with Yippie Kayo Kayak, who will take you down the pristine river lined with cypress trees. But please be sure to call ahead for river conditions!

Aside from the outdoor adventures, you can try your hand at world-class gaming at Choctaw Casino or you can head into Broken Bow to visit one of the many shops and boutiques in the city.

Broadway Boutique, nestled in historic downtown Broken Bow, is a hidden little gem of a shop filled with a large variety of upscale clothing, jewelry and accessories to create a unique new look. It also has home décor accents, dip starters and lovely serving dishes. Once Upon a Time Antiques is a popular spot for (what else?) antiquing, and Janet’s Treasure Chest has unique offerings for keepsakes and souvenirs, including Bigfoot hair!

TO EAT When you’ve worked up an appetite after all that playing, there’s a surprising amount of variety in the area when it comes to dining. You’ll want to stop by The Oaks Steakhouse. It’s not just a steakhouse, though; it offers a salad bar with more than 40 items, plus tacos, sandwiches, burgers, fish, pasta, chicken entrees and much more.

If you’re in the mood for barbecue, pay a visit to Hochatown BBQ – it’s a one-stop adventure in the making with delicious barbecue, mini-golf, a gift shop and a place to take old-timey photos as a memento of your trip.

Stop in to Abendigo’s Grill & Patio for dining with live entertainment, Grateful Head Tap Room & Pizzeria for pizza and beer, and The Blue Rooster for fried chicken, shrimp and catfish.

The entire strip of U.S. 259 within a few miles north and south of Broken Bow, but especially near Beaver’s Bend State Park, is filled with shops, wineries, restaurants and more so you’ll find plenty of places to eat, shop, play and stay in the area.

For more information to plan your next trip, go online to www.brokenbowchamber.com, www.visitmccurtaincounty.com or www.beaversbend.com.

20 VIEW | M AY / J U N E

TO STAY Beavers Bend Luxury Cabins 580.212.0910 www.beaversbendcabins4rent.com

Janet’s Treasure Chest U.S. 259, 1/4 mile north of Beavers Bend State Park entrance 580.494.6639 9a-6p, 7 days a week

Hochatown Country Lodge 6613 U.S. 259 580.494.6099 www.hochatownlodge.com

Once Upon a Time Antiques 4836 U.S. 259 580.584.5244 Mon-Sat 10a-5p, Sun 10a-3p

Kiamichi Cabins www.kiamichicabins.com

Whiskey Joe’s 506 S. Park Drive 580.584.3610 Closed Sun / Mon-Sat 10a-9p

Hochatown RV Park 81 Pine Cone Lane 580.494.6765 Secluded Acres 9123 U.S. 259 580.494.7301

TO EAT The Oaks Steakhouse 2204 S. Park Drive 580.584.5266 Mon-Sat 11a-9p Summer Hours: Fri & Sat Open until 10p Abendigo's Grill & Patio 259 Stevens Gap Road 580.494.7222 Tue-Sat (Kitchen) 4-9p; (Sportsbar) 4-11p www.abendigos.com Grateful Head Tap Room & Pizzeria 10251 U.S. 259 580.494.6030 Open 7 days a week, 11a-9p www.gratefulheadpizza.com Hochatown BBQ 9123 U.S. 259 North 580.494.7301 Closed Monday; Tue-Thur & Sun 10:30a-3p; Fri & Sat 10:30a-7p www.beaversbendsecludedacres. com/hochatown-bbq The Blue Rooster 8 miles north of Broken Bow on west side of U.S. 259 Same parking lot as Grateful Head Pizzeria • 580.494.6361 Mon-Thur 11a-8:30p; Fri & Sat 11a-9:30pm; Sun 10:30a-9p www.blueroosterok.com

TO SHOP Broadway Boutique 120 N. Broadway St. 580.584.5300 Mon-Fri 10a-6p; Sat 10a-4p; Closed Sunday

TO DO Bandits ATV & Boat Rentals 9160 North U.S. 259 580.494.3333 or 580.236.0918 Mon-Fri 9a-4:30p, Sat 9a-6p, Sun by reservation only www.banditsatvboatrentals.com Robbins RV & Motorsports 1300 NE Lincoln Road, Idabel; U.S. 259 North, Idabel 866.286.6551 • 877.902.9001 Check websites for hours www.robbinsmostorsports.com / www.robbinsrv.com Yippie Kayo Kayaks 5900 East U.S. 70 Call ahead for River Conditions www.yippiekayokayaks.com Beaver’s Bend Marina Hochatown State Park, 196 Marina Lane 580.494.6455 Mon-Sun 9a-5p www.beaversbendmarina.com Beaver’s Bend Resort Park 6 miles north of Broken Bow on U.S. 259A www.beaversbend.com Choctaw Casino 1790 S. Park Drive 580.584.5450 Open 24/7, year round www.choctawcasinos.com/ choctaw-broken-bow

Hochatown BBQ

NON-PROFITVIEW

top ladies of distinction Words by JO LEE FERGUSON

THE

name – Top Ladies of Distinction and Top Teens of America

of America. That’s how Williams first became involved with Top Ladies of

– sums up the focus of a nonprofit organization that marks its

Distinction, when she joined the Top Teens group as a student at Foster Middle

35th anniversary in Longview this year.

“Top Ladies, Top Teens – we are top in service,” says Kasha Williams, president of Top Ladies of Distinction – Longview Oil City Chapter and a Longview City Council member.

The organization is focused on youth through Top Teens of America,

School. She remained active throughout high school. She graduated in 1991 and returned to Longview about five years later when she was invited to join Top Ladies.

“I already knew what the organization was about. Knowing that made it a natural fit,” Williams says.

improving the status of women, service to senior citizens, community

As a Top Teen, Williams participated in community service projects and met

beautification, and community partnerships, according to its website.

other students from around East Texas who belonged to the Top Teens group in

Its chapters support the National Council of Negro Women, the National

Longview. The Longview group “was always on top” at Top Teen conferences, she

Association for the Advancement of Colored People, United Negro College

says of competitions held at those events.

Fund, and award scholarships.

The organization’s local chapter began in Longview in October 1982. The

She’s now serving her second term as president of Top Ladies of Distinction.

She also served two terms as Top Teens adviser.

national organization formed almost 20 years earlier in Tyler, growing out of a

The group has adopted Broughton Park, she says, and helps with

luncheon hosted by then first lady, Lady Bird Johnson. That gathering inspired a

beautification there, such as planting flowers. Members participate in citywide

group of women to form an organization that would “marshal the talents, energies

clean-up events, visit nursing homes and sometimes provide gifts to residents

and skills of women nationally in a collaborative effort to help alleviate the moral

there. They also help at Longview Community Ministry’s annual Coats for

and social problems confronting our youth in the mid-60s,” the organization’s

Kids Drive.

website says.

In Longview, Evalonia Barrett-Bolton led the organization of the Longview Oil City Chapter, after she helped form a chapter in Marshall. Born to Louvenia and Dogan Barrett, she moved to this area after she married Patrick H. Bolton, who has passed away. Barrett-Bolton, 78, taught music in schools around East Texas.

“I was always brought up with community service with my mom and dad,” she says.

She liked Top Ladies of Distinction because it “wasn’t about degrees” or titles.

“It was strictly community service,” Barrett-Bolton says.

She recalls the club having about 25 members during those early years, working on such projects as addressing “blighted houses” in the Stamper Park area in South Longview and assisting Longview Habitat for Humanity.

“We were just trying to make things better,” she says.

Today, the organization focuses largely on its youth group, Top Teens

“We do a lot. Look for the blue shirts – they’re there somewhere,” Williams said. “We focus on a variety of things that make our community better.”

Top Ladies of Distinction chapters are required to have Top Teens chapters, Williams says, explaining that it’s important to “uplift our children and youth.”

Women in the group work with the youth on such skills as communication and proper behavior. Earlier in the year, the women and Top Teens met together, bringing socks for a donation drive to assist homeless people in the community.

“Our goal is to ensure they lead healthy and productive lifestyles,” Williams says of the teens.

The local Top Ladies chapter has about 15 members, she says, and about 25 teens. The group is working to recruit more members.

“We’ve always been few in number … but the impact is great,” Williams says.

“That’s our message.”

Top Ladies of Distinction membership is by invitation only. For more information about the organization, contact Williams at (903) 240-3464. news-journal.com 21

EVENTVIEW

texas shakespeare festival Words by CHRISTINA LANE | Photos by MICHAEL CAVAZOS

THE

only professional theater in East Texas returns this summer with a lineup that is certain to entertain audiences.

The Texas Shakespeare Festival will open its 32nd season on June 29.

Performances of the season’s six plays will run throughout July. The 2017 lineup will feature performances of Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” and “Richard III”; the non-Shakespearean plays “Did You Hear Thunder?” and “Cyrano de Bergerac”; the musical “The Marvelous Wonderettes”; and the children’s play “The Witch of Pickle Patch.”

“We are the only professional theater in East Texas; to see something of this caliber, you would normally have to go to Dallas or Houston, unless, of course, you go to one of the touring shows that occasionally visit the Belcher Center or Cowan Center,” said Raymond Caldwell, founder and artistic director of the Texas Shakespeare Festival. “There’s not a bad seat in our house and all of our actors are very accomplished. We review 2,000 auditions from actors across the country and we pick the best ones we can get.”

Each year, the Texas Shakespeare Festival culls auditions for its cast and its crew from submissions across the country. This year’s company features 93 people; of those, 26 people are actors who will perform all of the roles in all of the plays.

For its play selection, the festival annually performs two Shakespeare plays – one comedy and one history or tragedy. The festival also has two adult plays that are non-Shakespearean, one musical and one children’s play. With the festival in its 32nd season, Caldwell said, it’s rare to find a Shakespeare play that hasn’t been performed there so often the plays are recycled.

Caldwell said the Texas Shakespeare Festival has only performed “Richard III” once and has performed the comedy “Much Ado About Nothing” at least twice, but not in many years. Actor Michael C. Hall starred as Claudio in Texas Shakespeare Festival’s 1995 performance of “Much Ado About Nothing.” Hall went on to Hollywood fame and is perhaps best known for having starring roles in the TV series “Six Feet Under” and “Dexter,” for which he won a Golden Globe Award.

“Many of our actors over the years have moved on to very exciting things,” he said. “It’s been nice to be able to say, ‘I knew them before.’”

Because “Much Ado About Nothing” is a popular play and because it had been many years since it was performed, the festival decided to revive it this year.

“Richard III,” Caldwell said, seemed timely because the king’s remains were found a few years ago in England and reinterred in 2015.

“It has been in the news fairly recently, and much of what they discovered when they found his remains kind of proved ‘the legend’ that was in Shakespeare’s play,” Caldwell said. “For example, in the play he is hunch-backed; his skeleton showed that he had scoliosis.”

The story of “Richard III”, Caldwell said, is often intriguing to people in a way that other historical plays are perhaps not.

“When people hear the name, ‘Richard III,’ they know there’s something about that character that is interesting,” he said.

This year’s musical, “The Marvelous Wonderettes,” is a small-scale musical about a group of four girls who perform popular songs from the 1950s for their high

22 VIEW | M AY / J U N E

school prom. The second act features the women reuniting for their 10-year high school reunion in the 1960s to perform songs of that decade. Amid the songs, they tell stories about their lives.

“Each of the four girls has a distinct personality and a story to tell,” Caldwell said.

Caldwell’s personal favorite play of all time is among this season’s nonShakespeare plays, and the other is a play that Caldwell wrote himself.

He described “Cyrano de Bergerac” as his “favorite play of all plays.” He first read the play in French as he was both a French major and a drama major in college.

Based on a true story, the play was written in 1897 by Edmund Rostand at a time when romantic plays were not in favor; it was the height of realism.

“It was unexpected to see a play like that at the time; it became an immediate blockbuster sensation similar to what ‘Hamilton’ has done today, though ‘Cyrano’ is not a musical,” Caldwell said. “I like it because it’s an epic story and because it covers virtually a lifetime. It’s about an underdog who is struggling against all odds to win the love he has never had.”

Meanwhile, “Did You Hear Thunder?” is a play Caldwell wrote himself that, after some agonizing, he decided to allow the company to perform this season. The festival annually features one show that has a small cast so that it can utilize what is known as The UpStairs Space. This is an area upstairs in the Anne Dean Turk Fine Arts Center that was renovated into a little black box theater, which is ideal for small productions. The past three years the festival has featured a performance of “The Belle of Amherst,” a one-woman play about the life and poetry of Emily Dickinson, but this year the company wanted to do something different, Caldwell said.

Caldwell described “Did You Hear Thunder?” as “a prose-poem about our solitary journey through life — the loneliness of searching for connections when we are young and the aloneness of questioning life’s purpose as we grow old.” The play is philosophical in nature but does feature moments of comedy.

This year’s children’s play, “The Witch of Pickle Patch,” is being written and will be directed by ArtsView Children’s Theatre Artistic Director and General Manager Jason Richards. Caldwell said the play will be similar to children’s fairy tales.

Tickets to the 2017 Texas Shakespeare Festival go on sale in May, and Caldwell encourages the community to come out to see a retelling of a classic play.

“Almost everything we do is something that’s been proven to be an audience favorite for years, and you really can’t beat that,” he said. “If people will come out and take a chance to see Shakespeare performed rather than be forced to read it, they will understand why Shakespeare was such a genius and why his plays still resonate after 500 years.”

if

you go 2017 TEXAS SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

When: Shows run from June 29 through July 30 Where: Van Cliburn Auditorium in the Anne Dean Turk Fine Arts Center at Kilgore College Information: www.texasshakespeare.com

EVENTSVIEW

calendar of events LONGVIEW Oscar Quesada “Q the Cloud”/ Art Wells “Elegance in Stone” May 1 to June 24 Longview Museum of Fine Arts, 215 E. Tyler St.

(903) 753-8103

Kilgore College Spring Masterworks Concert 7:30 p.m. May 2 Trinity Episcopal Church, 906 Padon St.

www.kilgore.edu

Downtown Live 5 p.m. Fridays, May 5-19

Heritage Plaza, Green & Methvin

www.visitlongviewtexas.com Walk Among the Giants with Dinosaur George 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 6

Longview World of Wonders, 112 E. Tyler St.

www.longviewwow.org Ladies Night Out 6 to 10 p.m. May 6

Longview Exhibit Building, 1123 Jaycee Drive

(903) 241-4133

Gregg County Historical Museum’s Kentucky Derby Party 3:30 to 6 p.m. May 6 Oak Forest Country Club, 2044 Oak Forest Country Club Drive

gregghistorical.org

S.I.D.S. Awareness Glow Fun Run 7:30 p.m. May 6 Spring Hill High School’s Panther Stadium, 3101 Spring Hill Road

secure.getmeregistered.com

“Forgotten Gateway: Coming to America through Galveston Island” May 11-June 17

Strut Your Mutt 1-Mile Wag Walk 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. May 20

gregghistorical.org

Longview Cattle Baron’s Ball 7 p.m. May 20

Gregg County Historical Museum, 214 N. Fredonia St.

Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center, 303 H.G. Mosley Parkway

www.longviewpaws.org

Longview Ballet Theatre’s “The Little Mermaid” 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. May 13, 2 p.m. May 14

The Landing Event Center at Joshua Farms, 14278 Texas 322 North

www.longviewballettheatre.com or www.belchercenter.com

Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center, 100 Grand Blvd.

Belcher Center, 2100 S. Mobberly Ave.

Longview Jaycees Trade Days 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 13, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 14 Longview Exhibit Building, 1123 Jaycee Drive

(903) 753-4478 Giants of Law Enforcement banquet 6 to 9 p.m. May 16

www.longviewcattlebarons.org Run for the Wall 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. May 21 www.rftw.org East Texas Symphonic Band’s “Pops in the Park” 7 p.m. May 22 Teague Park Amphitheatre, 411 American Legion Blvd.

www.etsymphonicband.com

Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood 7:30 p.m. June 10

Belcher Center, 2100 S. Mobberly Ave.

www.belchercenter.com Longview Pride Festival 3 to 11 p.m. June 10

Heritage Plaza, Green and Methvin

www.facebook.com/ PFLAGLongviewTexas/

Longview Jaycees Trade Days 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 10, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 11 Longview Exhibit Building, 1123 Jaycee Drive

(903) 753-4478

Juneteenth Black Rodeo 7:30 p.m. June 24 Longview Rodeo Arena, 100 Grand Blvd.

(903) 753-3165

ArtsView Children’s Theatre’s “To Kill A Mockingbird” 7 p.m. June 1-3, 2 p.m. June 3

Dolly’s Tea 2 to 4 p.m. June 24

(903) 237-1199

www.artsviewchildrenstheatre.com

gregghistorical.org

Celtic Woman 7 p.m. May 16

Big Pines Blues Festival June 2-3

KILGORE

bigpinesbluesfest.com

Pirtle United Methodist Church, County Road 173

Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center, 100 Grand Blvd.

Belcher Center, 2100 S. Mobberly Ave.

www.belchercenter.com Theatre Longview’s “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940” 7:30 p.m. May 18-21, 2:30 p.m. May 20-21

Longview Community Center, 500 E. Whaley St.

www.theatrelongview.com

ArtsView Children’s Theatre, 313 W. Tyler St.

Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center, 100 Grand Blvd.

Longview Summer Boat Show 5 to 8 p.m. June 8, noon to 8 p.m.

June 9, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 10, noon to 5 p.m. June 11

Ann Lacy Crain Exhibit Center at Gregg County Historical Museum, 214 N. Fredonia St.

Pirtle Bar-B-Q and Crawfish Boil 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 6 (903) 984-9555

continued on pg 24 

Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center, 100 Grand Blvd.

(903) 753-3515 news-journal.com 23

Porch Fest May 12-13

The Back Porch, 904 Broadway Blvd.

(903) 984-8141 The Equinox Little Big Band Community Concert 7 p.m. May 16 Dodson Auditorium at Kilgore College, 817 Nolan St.

HENDERSON “Noises Off,” performed by Henderson Civic Theatre May 5-7 and May 12-14 Henderson Civic Theatre, 122 E. Main St.

hendersoncivictheatre.org

Marshall Regional Arts Council’s Annual Cajun Dance 7 to 10:30 p.m. May 20

Civil War “Day of Learning” and Re-enactment May 5-7

(903) 935-4484

www.jeffersoncivilwardays.com

Main Street Second Saturdays Noon to 10 p.m. June 10

Jefferson Cruise Night 5 p.m. May 19

Marshall Convention Center, 2501 East End Blvd. South

Downtown Marshall

Downtown Jefferson

(903) 935-7868

www.jefferson-texas.com

KARNACK

Jefferson Train Days and Model Train Show May 20-21

(903) 988-1591

GILMER

Stars & Scars Mud Run 8 a.m. May 20

Lone Star Toyota Jamboree May 12-15

kilgorechamber.com/stars-scarsmud-run

(903) 797-4066

24th Annual Josey Reunion Barrel Race May 5-7

ORE CITY

(903) 935-5358

Crush Cancer 5K 9 a.m. May 20

Josey Junior World Barrel Races May 12-14

Rabbit Creek Offroad Park, 1217 Post Oak Road

East Texas Oil Men’s Golf Classic 7 a.m. June 16-17 Meadowbrook Golf and Event Center, 1306 Houston St.

(903) 984-5571 Texas Shakespeare Festival June 29-July 30

Van Cliburn Auditorium in the Anne Dean Turk Fine Arts Center, 1200 S. Henderson Highway

www.texasshakespeare.com

GLADEWATER

Barnwell Mountain Recreation Area, 6284 Texas 155

Josey Ranch, 8623 Texas 43 North

Ore City High School, 100 Rebel St.

www.ocisd.net

Josey Ranch, 8623 Texas 43 North

(903) 935-5358

WASKOM

MARSHALL Main Street Second Saturdays Noon to 10 p.m. May 13 Downtown Marshall

Superhero 5K 9:30 a.m. May 6

Waskom City Park, 455 School Ave.

https://goo.gl/nouQ5W

(903) 935-7868

JEFFERSON

Gladewater Round-Up Rodeo 8:15 p.m. June 7-10

Marshall Regional Arts Council Talent Show 2:30 p.m. May 14

Gladewater Rodeo Arena, corner of U.S. 80 and North Rodeo Street

Marshall Convention Center, 2501 East End Blvd. South

www.gladewaterrodeo.com

(903) 935-4484

Diamond Don RV Park, 1602 Texas 49 East

70th Annual Jefferson Pilgrimage and Historic Homes Tour May 4-7

Downtown Jefferson, various homes and locations

www.jeffersonpilgrimage.com

Four locations in Jefferson

www.jeffersontraindays.com Sunday Social and Shoot-Out Noon to 2:30 p.m. May 21 Jefferson General Store, 113 E. Austin St.

www.jeffersontraindays.com Big Cypress Corvette Weekend June 2-4 Downtown Jefferson

www.facebook.com/ BigCypressCorvetteShow/ Jefferson Cruise Night 5 p.m. June 16 Downtown Jefferson

www.jefferson-texas.com 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 July/August events is June 2.

(LEFT TOP) Dress rehearsal for the Texas Shakespeare Festival's "Henry V," on June 28, 2016, in Kilgore College's Van Cliburn Auditorium. Photo by Michael Cavazos.

(LEFT BOTTOM) Glenn French hammers a rivet into the handle and tang of a custom knife he is making to sell Jan. 14, 2017, during Jaycees Trade Days at the Longview Fairgrounds. Photo

by Les Hassell.

(RIGHT) Ryan Pierce and his band Dagnabbit performs during Porch Fest, on May 21, 2016, at The Back Porch in Kilgore. Photo by Michael Cavazos.

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PICTURE

THIS!

ROTARY DRAW DOWN

LONGVIEW | MAUDE COBB CONVENTION AND ACTIVITY CENTER | 3/18/2017

JIM AND ANNE HUGMAN, JANEL AND JAMEY WALKER

Photos by CHRIS LOZANO

Dozens of people came out to Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center on March 18 for a little St. Patrick’s Day-related fun that helped Rotary Club of Longview raise money for its projects. At the Rotary Club’s Luck of the Draw Down fundraiser, attendees played games and enjoyed food and drinks as well as live music.

JOHN HANISEE, MARY ANN VERDERBER

EMILY JAMES, JACOB MAYNARD

KRISTI BOGLE-SHERMAN, LAURIE BOGLE

LAKRISHA FISHER, COREY FLOWERS

LINDSAY FOSTER, MADDY BELCHER

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PICTURE THIS

LONGVIEW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE’S

SALUTE TO HEALTHCARE LONGVIEW | MAUDE COBB CONVENTION AND ACTIVITY CENTER | 3/8/2017

ELIZABETH BAUMGARDNER, LIBBY BRYSON, JESSICA HAYES

Photos by CHRIS LOZANO

The Longview Chamber of Commerce on March 8 honored leaders in the healthcare industry during the annual Salute to Healthcare awards luncheon.

Hundreds of people attended the event to see Dr. Karen Roberts named Healthcare Professional of the Year; Kim Holcomb named Volunteer of the Year; and Dr. James Sawyer named as the Dr. Sam Mack Lifetime Achievement Award winner of the year.

KAYLA RICHARDSON, MARY RAMOS

TYE AND GRACE JACKSON

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JIM AND NANCY SAWYER

AMY CANTON, ANDY MACK

MELISSA AZZAM

RICHARD MANLEY

PICTURE THIS

TIM BRYAN, TIM WOMACK, DONNA BLALOCK, ALFONSO CHARLES

RAISIN’ THE ROOF LONGVIEW | MAUDE COBB CONVENTION AND ACTIVITY CENTER | 2/18/2017 Photos by CHRIS LOZANO

Creative costumes abounded at Raisin’ the Roof on Feb. 18. The annual event raises funds for Longview Habitat for Humanity, and encourages guests to create themed tables and dress in costumes. Proceeds from Raisin’ the Roof allow Habitat to build homes or make repairs to homes throughout the year.

DIANA VELAZQUEZ, AMANDA HLOZEK, KELLY OVERBY, RHEA ANNE TEAGUE

AMBER HUFF, HARMONY HALL, MELISSA AND TONY AZZAM, ERICA EITEL, CHRIS HALL, MICHAEL TOMLIN

JAMEY WALKER, NIKI AND DARREN GROCE, JANEL WALKER

JAMIE HENSON, CHRIS BALL

RANDY AND GAI BENNET, AMY MCHANEY, KIMBERLY JOBE, RIC BRACK, STEPHEN MCHANEY, LARRY JOBE

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PICTURE THIS

LONGVIEW INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK

GALA

JERILYN, JEANÁ AND JOHNNY ZACKARY

LONGVIEW | MAUDE COBB CONVENTION AND ACTIVITY CENTER | 3/31/2017 Photos by CHRIS LOZANO

A March 31 gala helped raise funds for a nonprofit organization that extends hospitality and support to homeless families and their children. Longview Interfaith Hospitality Network is comprised of churches that host homeless families

JOHN AND GAYE LEHENBAUER, DENICE & MARK MORGAN

on a week-by-week rotation as part of the network’s path to self-sustainability.

BEVERLY BRYON, PATTI AND CARSON COLEMAN

ELLEN GORDON, DEBBIE SILVERTHORNE

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PAUL, KATY, WILL AND JOE MASON

JERRY AND SANDRA BRUMBAUGH, GARY AND SHARON SANDERS, PAUL AND SANDRA BOORMAN, MELANIE AND ALLEN WRIGHT

PICTURE THIS

UNITY HONORS LUNCHEON LONGVIEW | MAUDE COBB CONVENTION AND ACTIVITY CENTER | 2/22/2017 Photos by CHRIS LOZANO DEBORAH FITTS, BRENDA WOOLRIDGE

Hundreds of people attended the annual Unity Honors luncheon on Feb. 22, when former educator Evalonia Barrett-Bolton and Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt received a lifetime achievement award. The award recognizes people who have demonstrated leadership in promoting harmony, understanding and social justice in the community.

BIANCA CUMMINGS, SHANNAN TURNER

JOAQUIN GUERRERO, BRUCE JEFFREY, JODY STARK, DONALD WILLEFORD, CARL KEY, SCOTT FARLER ANDY MACK, R.E. SPRADLIN III

J’VEN WILSON, SHAMARICK BLUE

TAYLOR HARDING, JENNIFER ELDRIDGE, JESSE DAVIS, KAWALJULAH ROCKWELL

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