September-October 2013

Call for Artists at Gallery 211

The next show at Gallery 211 will be "Art does not have to match the couch!" That means an open theme.

The City of Longview, Partners in Prevention, along with Great Longview United Way, East Texas Council of Governments, Region 7 Education Service Center, Workforce Solutions of East Texas and Longview Nonprofit Coalition is sponsoring The Poverty Conference from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. October 15 at Maude Cobb Convention Center, 100 Grand Blvd. in Longview

QCT Presents Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming

The award-winning Quitman Community Theatre will present Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming, the third in the popular musical comedy trilogy about the gospel-singing Sanders Family.

Montgomery Returns to Liberty Hall

Liberty Hall is pleased to announce the return of blues guitarist, Monte Montgomery at 8 p.m. October 18.

Sulphur Springs is Finalist in America's Best Restroom Contest

Discover Living on Lake Bob Sandlin

Choosing the right lakefront property involves many factors. Family-run BG Development Group searched every possibility near Dallas to find exactly the right situation for families in need of a peaceful lakefront retreat.

PCT Serving Up the Red Velvet Cake War

You can have your cake and eat it too! The Palestine Community Theatre is serving-up comedy Texas-style live at the historic Texas Theatre in Downtown Palestine during the first two weekends in October.

Lufkin Antiques Weekend Includes Multiple Options

Guitars Etc. Among Top 100 Music Retailers in Rankings

Guitars Etc. in Athens is designated as one of the top 100 music instrument and product retailers in the world by the National Association of Music Merchants.

Find Home Decor in Northeast Texas

In the not so distant past, for anyone looking to decorate a home, a trip to Dallas would be in order. This is no longer the case, as the Upper East Side of Texas has stepped up its game when it comes to home décor.

Stolen Statue Returned To Rightful TJC Home

A statue of long-time Tyler Junior College President Dr. Harry Jenkins – stolen in April 1995 – has been recovered and returned to the college.

BBB Warns of New Scams That May Target Medicare

The Better Business Bureau Serving Central East Texas warns elderly and disabled residents to beware of unsolicited phone calls from unscrupulous people looking to obtain Medicare or Medicaid information.

Van Approves Upgrades For Industrial Area, Theater

Van City Council approved a state loan of $1.06 million to upgrade Park Row Lane to a concrete, commercial-grade roadway in its industrial district. Economic Development Corporation Director Jerrod Fishback called the approval “a big step for us.”

Tyler Wins Recognition For Natural Gas Vehicles

Texas Railroad Commission Commissioner David Porter recognized Tyler for its use of natural gas vehicles by presenting a check for $142,761 at the Tyler City Council meeting.

ETCOG Names Shryock To Workforce Directorship

Douglas Shryock is the new director of Workforce and Economic Development for the East Texas Council of Governments, the regional planning organization for 14 East Texas counties.

Family Helps Find Guitars For Students, Sick Children

Longview businessman Ken Chinn is giving away guitars because his teenage daughter, Tara, gave him “the look.” The guitars are for sick and needy children who want to play but whose families can’t afford to buy guitars for them.

Agreement with Developer Could Boost Tyler Center

Tyler City Council approved a reimbursement development agreement with The Retail Connection for public land and public improvements. As part of a new retail development at S. Broadway and Toll 49, the city would obtain land to be used for construction of a hotel conference center expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors to Tyler each year.

ArtsView Theatre Group Names Playwright Winners

ArtsView Children’s Theatre in Longview named the winners of its Performing Arts Theatre School playwright contest, for original works from entrants, ages kindergarten to adult. This year’s theme was “Galaxy Quest: Space Stories That Are Out of This World.”

Tyler Studying Building As Potential Art Center

Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass has appointed a task force to recommend to City Council potential use of parts or all of the S.A. Lindsey Building at Elm and Broadway as an art center.

Tyler Museum of Art Names New Director

The Tyler Museum of Art has hired Christopher M. Leahy of Alexandria, Virginia, as executive director from more than 80 national and international applicants.

Beautify 100-year-old Plaza in Downtown Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon Main Street Alliance and the Downtown Business Association recently celebrated the 100th birthday of the plaza with birthday cake, ice cream, lemonade, and more.

Test Hay from Local Fields At Cherokee County Sale

One way for farmers to get hay tested for free is to enter either a square bale or a large trash bag full of hay in the annual Cherokee County hay show and sale. Entrants are provided with a detailed analysis of the hay crop.

New Season Announced For Perot Theatre Series

Tickets for the 2013-2014 Perot Theatre Series are now on sale, with Broadway musicals, plays, ballets, and concerts coming to Texarkana.

Edom Shares Art and More at Annual Fest

The small East Texas community of Edom readies itself for an influx of visitors for the twelfth annual Edom Festival of the Arts. Fine art, live music and plenty of food fill the festival grounds behind the resident artists’ studios on the one main street in town, Farm to Market Road 279. Hours for the festival are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. October 19 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. October 20.

Rally ’Round Greenville Benefits Wounded Warriors

The Rally ‘Round Greenville BBQ Cook-Off on Sept. 20-21 in downtown Greenville, will benefit the Texas Wounded Warrior Foundation. Cook-off organizer David Slaughter said the non-sanctioned event should be a fun, relaxed experience for each participant even as they benefit a great cause.

Mother and Daughter Express Themselves With Art

Valeria Barnhill and her daughter Eva Malevanskaya are one example of the cliche “like mother, like daughter.”

Black Beauty Ranch Recognized as America’s Largest Animal Sanctuary

The Free Dictionary defines “sanctuary” as both a sacred place, as a place of refuge or asylum, and as a reserved area where animals, especially wild animals, are protected from hunting or molestation.

Graduate Fulfills Life-Long Dream and Inspires Others To Overcome Challenges

Many people in and around Van Zandt County recognize the name Terry Britt.

Downtown Tyler Festival Will Include Short Films

The Downtown Tyler Film Festival, set for September 25-28 features short films of 10 minutes and less, with all genres including comedy, drama, action-adventure, sci-fi, horror, documentary and more.

Tyler Jewelry Artist Finds Niche with Wire and Stones

Hollywood awards shows are known for several things, but one of the more famous is the phrase, “Who are you wearing?”

“The Ghosts of Wimberley” Plans to Begin Production

A full length feature film, “The Ghosts of Wimberley,” is being produced by Pecan Street Productions of Austin in conjunction with SOMA Productions of Dallas. The screenplay is written and the film directed by David A. Cox of Austin and Cedar Creek Lake.

Longview Efforts Win Award for Technology

The Texas Association of Government Information Technology Managers recently awarded Longview its award of excellence for outstanding innovation and application of leading edge computing and communication technologies for its implementation of CitySend.

Texas Basket Company Wins State Recognition

The Texas Historical Commission has recognized Texas Basket Company in Jacksonville as its Texas Treasure Business Award winner

Help Celebrate Veterans At 34th Van Oil Festival

Van celebrates both its 34th annual Oil Festival and military veterans October 12. This year’s festival theme is “Let Freedom Ring in Van.”

Old Firehouse in Edom Hosts Music, Film Series

Beginning its fifth season of entertainment, The Old Firehouse in Edom will feature Bill Ward in its acoustic concert series on September 21, and the first 2013-14 independent film screening of “The Playroom” on September 28.

Master Craftsman Restores Furniture in Ben Wheeler

On FM 279 in Ben Wheeler sits a little wood working shop called The Furniture Restorer, where Kerry Dugger spends his days diligently honing his craft.

September/October Poetry & Prose

City Adopts Master Plan For One of Newest Parks

TMA Winner Lou Ann Petty Helps Military Families

Texas Music Award winner Lou Ann Petty from Cumby has partnered with Operation Homefront to assist military families in Texas. Petty’s original song “Soldier’s Wife” has been nominated for 2013 song of the year by the Academy of Texas Music and is now available for digital download on iTunes with 85 percent of the proceeds of each purchase go to Operation Homefront Texas.

New Newtonberg Book By Jacksonville Librarian

Jacksonville librarian David Emprimo didn’t expect much when he published Welcome to Newtonberg, his debut collection of short stories, last year. As he said at the time: “The important thing is to get the stories out there so other people could enjoy them.”

Bradshaw Aims To Get People Moving Emotionally

Matt Bradshaw is, at 24 years old, lucky enough to make a living doing what he loves best: writing songs and singing them in front of audiences.

Crossroads Music Company Announces Fall Line-up

Crossroads Music Company & Listening Room in Winnsboro has just announced their line-up of performers for the remainder of 2013.

Kids Enjoy the Power of Reading

It’s easy to write that the Van Zandt County Library is going to the dogs, but the truth is that the dogs are coming to the library as part of a special reading program for children.

Luscious Crumb Owner Wins “Cupcake Wars”

Owner Dawn Trammell at The Luscious Crumb in Mineola won the $10,000 grand prize in the televised “Cupcake Wars.”

Lillie’s Law Program in Tatum Helps Teens Break Habit

For many Texas communities and families, the death of even one child is life changing. Many deaths and injuries to teen drivers can be avoided by simply changing one dangerous habit: texting.

ETMC Quitman Hospital Celebrates Grand Opening

East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System and the Wood County Central Hospital District recently celebrated the opening of the new, state-of-the-art ETMC Quitman facility.

Wisdom Meets Passion: When Generations Collide and Collaborate

“Why do those young (men/women) act that way?” I hear this question every day in my career. The actions and reactions of Generation X and Y and Millennials in juxtaposition to the ways and wisdom of the baby boomer generation are a conversation in every form of media these days.

Petapalooza Back in Tyler For Adoptions, Information

East Texas’ largest pet adoption event is back in Tyler once again. Texas Petapalooza will host more than 20 animal rescue groups along with their furry foster critters at Bergfeld Park from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7.

Canton Adds New Facility For Assisted Living Home

The Country Place Senior Living facility recently picked Canton to begin its expansion into Texas, which should eventually include 70 planned residences.

Becoming a Tiger Landscaper is Not for Everyone

I’ve never been much of a lawn man.

In the Kitchen with Debbie

Over the years, customers at our burger joint have taught me hands down, when it comes to chicken fried steak—it must be hand breaded, crispy, and smothered in cream gravy.

Liefie Li Vine

After hearing positive word of mouth about this fine cuisine restaurant in Winnsboro, it was time to visit Liefie Li Vine. The unique fare was accompanied by live music just outside on a cozy, covered back porch.

Get Away From It All At Caddo Lake

If you are looking for a place with quiet water and amazement, head on over to beautiful Caddo Lake near Jefferson.

Ben Wheeler Book Fair on Nov. 30 Features Independent Texas Voices

The second annual Ben Wheeler Book Fair on Nov. 30 brings 28 Texas authors – most of them from the Upper East Side of Texas – together to talk about and sell their books during the semi-annual 279 Artisans Trail celebration in Ben Wheeler and Edom.

There’s Room at the Inn in Jefferson

Make plans this fall to step back in time, to slow down the fast pace and simply enjoy the pure romantic magic of Jefferson, Texas. This lovely little town has kept its rich history and beautiful antebellum and turn-of-the-century homes, many of which are now bed and breakfast inns.

Flint Native’s New Songs Rise to Top of Texas Charts

Flint native and Lubbock resident William Clark Green climbed to the top of both The Texas Music Chart and the Texas Regional Radio Report with “She Likes The Beatles” from his third CD, Rose Queen.

Country Cultured

When you’re raised in the city and retire to an expected easy, laid-back pace in East Texas, the lessons comes quickly. People are eager to help, look you right in the eye and say what they mean. What you see is what you get. This alone threw me right away.

September-October 2013

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