January/February 2015 | Complimentary Copy
First M onday Canton,Texas
MEDICAL
WaterAerobics
GUIDE
ELVIS IN THE HOUSE // Youth Musicians // Mardi Gras: Texas STYLE // book reviews
Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com
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67
Back In Time
120
Flexing His Mussels
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Elvis In The House
Youth Orchestra
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Jan/Feb 2015
High Kicks
contents: 6 From the Editor
arts & technology
12 Tyler And The Tribe Having Fun 16 Uncorked: The Art And Expression Of Nina Cork
22 Elvis Is In The House 25 What We're Reading
features
28 High Kick And High Expectations 36 The Preacher's Wife 40 The Renewal Factory
January/ February
2015 |
Fir M st
On the Cover:
Complim entary Copy
da Canton on,Te y xas
Photograph Courtesy of Kilgore College Design by: DeAuna Frey
WaterAer ob ELVIS IN
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ics
THE HOUS E // Yout h Musicians
MEDICAL
GUIDE
// Mard i Gras: Texa s STYLE
// book
reviews Jan/Feb
2015|
INMagTexa
s.com
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Jan/Feb 2015 | INMagTexas.com
style
46 New Looks...New Year 52 Fashion Forecast
dwell
56 Modern Mediterranean 62 Happy Feng Shui 67 Back In Time
food & culture
104 A Tyler Native Is Spicing Up Wisconsin Cheese 108 The Dining Guide 110 Calendar of Events 114 How To Master First Monday 116 Orchestrating Success
outdoors
live healthy
120 Flexing His Mussels 124 Mardi Gras: Texas Style 128 The Packers, Green Bay, And Matt Flynn
MEDICAL GUIDE
131 Spirituality: Giving Generously
72 In The Pool 74 Let It Go 76 Enjoy The Ride
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Job well done, Gussie Nell From the Editor
I
wish I would have met Gussie Nell Davis, the founder and longtime director of the Kilgore College Rangerettes who passed away in 1993. She sounds like one incredible lady. In doing research for the story about the 75th anniversary of the Kilgore College Rangerettes in this edition of IN, I spoke with many people who knew and admired her. They all say she was a tough-as-nails taskmaster with a heart of gold and unsurpassed enthusiasm. She set the highest standards and never settled for anything less. For decades she told the young ladies who wore the red, white and blue of the Rangerette uniform that if something was worth doing, it was worth doing right – no exceptions, no excuses. She demanded that each Rangerette must not only be a great dancer but also a great young woman. Martha Hale Deen, a former Rangerette who now teaches at Kilgore College Danny Mogle is the author of “Remembering Gussie Editor of IN Magazine Nell,” a book that pays tribute to a woman who she says greatly impacted her life. In the book, Martha records some of Gussie Nell’s most memorable lines. “We have a thing: ‘beauty knows no pain,’ we keep saying.” “When they leave Kilgore College, they forget their routines, but other things they learn here, they take with them.” “You know, honey there is a little ham in all of us. Most people just don’t get their chance to let it out. The girls come to me and for two years they get the chance to perform all the things in the spotlight they dreamed about.” But even more revealing are some of the comments in the book about Gussie Nell from the Rangerettes over the years. “I am quite sure the legacy to all her students was self-confidence that would carry them through the inevitable trials to come in their lives.” Lillie Jean Jones Bussman, Rangerette from 1940 to 1941. “When we were ready to drop from exhaustion, Miss Davis would give us a break. We’d sit on the floor around her and she would motivate us with her, ‘You are a Rangerette’ speech. She’d put all her energy into making us confident, ambitious, young women. (She would say) You are beautiful! Smile. Smile. Smile. Project!’” Patty Verhetsel Harris, Rangerette from 1974-1976. “Miss Davis was 110 percent dedicated to making the Rangerettes the very best team of young women in the world. That was her life’s work. Some people have children, Miss Davis gave birth to the Rangerettes. My world changed dramatically in those Rangerette years and forever because of her never-ending pursuit of excellence for her baby.” Pat Hodges, Rangerette 1964-1966. “Miss Davis’ legacy would be her demand for nothing less than perfection. She caused the people that worked around her to settle for nothing less than perfection also. Isn’t that what life is all about? When it is all said and done, they way we conduct ourselves and how hard we work to complete the jobs we are asked to do to the best of our ability will be our legacy.” Pat Larrison-Geiger, Rangerette 1968-1970.
Your Voice We wanted to congratulate you on your beautiful holiday (Nov./Dec.) publication of IN magazine. Not only was it visually exciting but the articles and stories were most interesting. We read it “cover to cover!” It’s been exciting to watch your magazine grow in content and appeal. Thank you for the effort it takes to produce such an enjoyable publication. One of our favorite items was your personal and meaningful letter as Editor. Merry Christmas to you and yours! Mary and Bob Irwin Tyler I was excited to pick up the most recent (Nov./Dec.) IN Magazine and find an article written about Emma Lou Prater (“TJC’s No. 1 fan”). After seeing her, she was just so thrilled to have that article published. Thanks so much! Sarah Scarborough, Special Events Coordinator, TJC IN Magazine Facebook posting on “Come Together for a Good Cause” Nov/Dec.: Excellent story of a couple (Terry and Tammy Marshall) following their hearts to help people. Thanks for publishing this story! Tricia Campbell Muse
Enjoy reading IN? Tell us about it. We hope you enjoy reading this issue of IN Magazine. Please let us know what you think about our bi-monthly publication by sending your comments to, danny@ inmagtexas.com.
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financial planning
You Can Cope With Turbulance...
As a Passenger and an Investor By Randall Childress If you’re like many travelers, you get a little nervous when your airplane goes through some turbulence. And if you’re like a lot of investors, you may get somewhat jumpy when the financial markets are volatile. Yet flight turbulence probably isn’t as scary as it seems, and the same may be true for market volatility — if you know how to respond. Let’s look at some positive responses to market movements: Don’t overreact to turbulence. Turbulence happens on most flights, but passengers are well aware that they can’t “bail out” at 30,000 feet, so they generally don’t panic. As an investor, you also need to avoid panicky behavior — by not taking a “time out” from investing. Over a period of decades, if you were to miss just a handful of the market’s best-performing days, your returns could be dramatically reduced. And the best days often follow some of the worst. So if you’re not invested in the market, you could miss out on the beginning of a new rally, which is typically when the biggest gains occur. Balance your “cargo.” The ground crew properly positions an airplane’s cargo to maintain the plane’s center of gravity and reduce the effects of turbulence. When you invest, you also need to achieve balance by owning a variety of vehicles, including stocks, bonds, government securities PMS and certificates of deposit. You’ll Black want your investment mix to reflect your risk tolerance, goals and time horizon. While this type of diversification can’t guarantee profits or protect against loss, it can reduce the effects of “turbulence” — that is, market volatility — on your portfolio. Over time, your “cargo” (your investments) may shift, becoming too heavy in
stocks or bonds relative to your objectives. Consequently, you’ll need to periodically rebalance your portfolio to ensure it’s meeting your needs. Match your “transportation method” with your goals. If you are flying from New York to Los Angeles, you may experience delays or some changes in the flight plan — but your goal is still to reach Los Angeles as quickly and efficiently as possible. Consequently, you wouldn’t scrap the idea of flying and head to the West Coast on foot. When you invest, you will also encounter events, such as market downturns, that you feel may be slowing you down in your progress toward your long-term objectives, such as a comfortable retirement. But if your objectives haven’t changed, neither should your “transportation method” of reaching them. In other words, don’t abandon your long-term strategy in favor of quick fixes, such as chasing after “hot” stocks that may not be suitable for your needs. Maintain perspective on your “flight path.” When you’ve flown, you’ve probably observed (perhaps with some envy) some of your fellow passengers sleeping through periods of turbulence. In the investment world, these types of people are the ideal longterm investors — they know that turbulence, in the form of market fluctuations, is normal, because they’ve experienced it many times before. Their perspective isn’t on short-term events, such as volatility, but rather on the voyage toward their “final destination” — i.e., the achievement of their long-term goals. So when you fly, fasten your seatbelt and relax. And when you invest, don’t overreact to short-term events. By following these basic guidelines, you will be a calmer traveler and a better investor.
PMS White
Randall Childress is a Certified Financial Planner
(CFP) and Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS). He has been a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Tyler for 24 years. He currently serves as the Regional Leader for the North East Texas area and is a General Partner with the firm. Logo with Registration Marks
PMS Black
(903) 509-9600
1377 Dominion Plaza Tyler, TX www.edwardjones.com
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Modern Mediterranean
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The Renewal Factory
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legal authority
Identity Theft… Did I Really Buy $500 Worth of iTunes??? Whether your identity is stolen or your soon-to-be ex has run up the bills, you need to know these tips! By Elizabeth Watkins If I’ve said it once this week, I’ve said it a dozen times: This town seems to have grown by 20 thousand people, and they all seem to be on the road at the same time! It’s this crowded feeling on the streets that has led me to shop online more and more. But even as I begin to get comfortable with ordering things off the Internet, there’s a new story of daily companies “losing” information to hackers. This inability to protect my information is concerning, and those who have had their identity stolen can spend years trying to clear their name, but there are ways in which you can protect yourself from fraud. In the last two years Target, UPS, Home Depot, JPMorgan Chase and numerous nationwide hospitals have all had their systems “hacked” and consumer information stolen. This includes not just the credit information for those companies, but personal information used to fill out applications, including name, address, driver’s license numbers, and social security numbers. With this information, identity thieves can get credit cards, ID cards and even passports in the stolen name. Most thefts start small. My 11-year-old son plays an online game. This game allows him to purchase weapons and secrets to different levels. He signs on with a password and earns his points and money, and he uses his own money to purchase rewards. This past weekend I received a panicked and heartbreaking call from him while at dinner: Someone had hacked his account and stolen all his hard-earned rewards, secrets and weapons, on a child’s game! His inconsolable weeping taught our whole family a valuable lesson: All our passwords should be difficult to guess, and known only to us. selves?
So, if you plan to purchase online what can you do to protect your-
1.
Make sure all accounts are password protected, with letters, numbers and symbols that only you know. The most common password of all, “password” will not protect you.
2.
Order from reputable companies. Check user reviews, Google the company name, and pay close attention to the return procedures. Also watch for companies that have headquarters in states with less restrictive fraud laws, like Florida, Georgia and Nevada, all states which, according to the Department of Consumer Affairs, lead the nation in fraud complaints.
3.
Do NOT pay for items online with your debit card. These funds will come out of your bank long before you can convince anyone of the fraud and get it returned.
4.
Shred or destroy the readable portion of personal information on discarded mail. If you receive payments or money often, use a PO Box to receive this money.
5.
If you receive your bank statements and credit card information online, be wary of checking these things on open networks, in public places and on computers or terminals that are not yours. An open Internet may be convenient for you, but it’s a goldmine for thieves.
6.
KNOW YOUR CREDIT REPORT. If there is one single-most important thing you can do, it’s to sign up and utilize the numerous sites that allow you to monitor and review your credit report. This report is a wealth of information, including all addresses reported for you, all credit accounts open to you, the balances on those accounts, and the number of inquiries or requests for your information. These sites are invaluable in maintaining your credit and identity. Some are free, others cost a minimal fee. If you can get past
the annoying commercials, credit reports really are the Holy Grail of protection. I advise checking once a month during the holiday season. Did you know that applying for credit, like the department store and furniture store cards, can affect your credit score? If a thief has your info, and is applying for cards, it’s not only the money he can steal, but your future ability to purchase on credit. While we’re on this most important of topics, it’s not only thieves who can steal your identity or ruin your credit. EVERYONE going through a separation and divorce should check their credit report. Even if you are in an amicable situation, the report will show community debts, liabilities and accounts. If you think a credit card company will take a copy of your divorce decree and automatically take your name off your ex-spouse’s credit account, you are mistaken. And if you, like myself, had been married for many years, you may not even be aware of the accounts still open to you. I had no idea the Pier One Card that I got in college was still showing on my credit even though I canceled it 15 years ago. If you and your soon-to -be ex are getting along, make arrangements with credit companies ahead of time to remove the other from joint card names. And be wary, if your spouse has a credit history of 20 years, and you got your first card 10 years ago, removing him or her will affect your credit. As will changing addresses if reported to the credit bureaus. While completely amicable and cooperative is not unheard of, my office frequently handles those separations which are not as friendly. If this is the situation you find yourself or a friend in, my best advice is RUN YOUR CREDIT REPORT. If you are early in the process, like just considering separation, start checking your credit now, know what you - have both on your own, and together. Know what you will be responsible for ahead of time. Plan accordingly. Do you need to apply for credit in case of emergency? Is there an address listed on the report you don’t know? Are there late payments or recent inquiries? All of that is valuable. So, whether your identity has been hacked, or you are hacked at your soon-to-be ex, what do you do if you find anomalies on a credit report, card or bank account? 1.
Immediately contact your financial institutions to stop the bleeding and cut off all outgoing funds unless you have authorized them.
2.
Contact the Big Three credit reporting companies so they can flag all your credit accounts: Equifax, Experian and Transunion. You will still need to call the credit companies, but it’s important you contact the credit bureaus first, since you are probably not aware of all the credit accounts now in your name.
3.
Try and locate the source, but whether you can locate it or not, contact the Federal Trade Commission and report the fraud, online or by calling 1-877-ID-THEFT.
4.
Report the theft to the local police.
5.
If you are in a contentious separation or divorce situation, notify your attorney immediately so steps can be taken in court to protect your rights.
It’s taken me years to understand my credit, how it affects my life, and how much I need to protect it. Start early, check often, be wary, and good luck this holiday season. As for me, I believe I have just talked myself into grabbing cash and heading into town to shop!
Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com 9 The Law Office of Elizabeth Watkins • (903) 805-3392 • 532 E. Main St. • Bullard, Texas 75757 • Ecwatkinslaw@outlook.com
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Arts & Technology
ART > Tyler and The Tribe: Having Fun, 12 > Nina Cork, 16 > Elvis is in the house, 22 Photo By: Conni Diane
Reviews > What We’re Reading, 25
Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com
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n the video for Tyler and the Tribe’s upbeat song “Can I See You Again?” the boys in the band are walking down a sidewalk in downtown Sulphur Springs when a gorgeous young woman comes sashaying by. Their jaws drop – literally. Drummer Jordan Owens moves in to make a love connection as the song hits the thumping chorus. Hey there can I get a name from you sweet thing/ Don’t tell me any lies cause I ain’t playing no games/ Saw you walking down the street just breaking necks/ And all I want to know is can I see you again?/ In the meantime, the other band members – Tyler Jones, Heath Robinson and Colton Joe Smith – slip into a women’s boutique. Silliness ensues. Try to imagine boys in dresses playing air guitar.
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Jan/Feb 2015 | INMagTexas.com
Unfortunately for Jordan, his sweet thing has a boyfriend with a nasty temper and an even nastier right punch. It’s all a bit tongue-and-cheek, definitely out-of-the-ordinary and unapologetically fun – just what they had in mind.
Tyler jokes that growing up around the little town of Sulphur Springs there wasn’t a lot to do. With plenty of time on their hands, they sat around and made music. “Jordan and I have known each other since middle school,” says Heath. The two played together in various bands for years but nothing really worked out until they hooked up with Tyler and Colton and started jamming in the recording studio in Tyler’s home.
“It just clicked,” says Jordan of the foursome’s instant chemistry. “Yeh, it jelled right away,” agrees Tyler. With Tyler taking the lead vocals and playing guitar, Heath and Colton on guitar and Jordan providing the beat (all contribute to vocals), the four spent months working on their sound – a brand of country with a heavy dose of harmonizing pop/rock. In 2012, they came out with the selfproduced “Rock On” and hit the road. Soon they were opening for some of the most popular acts on the Texas club circuit: The Josh Abbott Band, Casey Donahew Band and Mike Ryan. The influential Texas Red Dirt Roads Radio Show was one of the first to give the band wide exposure. “Tyler and the Tribe’s personality is keen and unique, which shows through their youthfully-energetic stage presence,” reads a posting on the show’s website. “With cleverly blended harmonies, catchy yet intelligent lyrics and genuine musical ability, Tyler and the Tribe are cementing their place among the elite of the Texas music underclassmen. One listen and you can clearly see the band’s modern rock and R&B influences fused with a country swagger.” In 2013, the band was nominated for the Lone Star Music Awards’ Emerging Artist Award. “Can I See You Again?” from their sophomore LP “BORN,” cracked the Texas Music Chart last year.
“It was “something I would have never expected a country band to do, not even one that has hefty doses of rock,” wrote a reviewer on The Music Enthusiast blog . … “I wouldn’t have guessed they could make it sound as spectacular as they did, and it was quite possibly the best song of their set.” Heath says he really doesn’t care what people call their fusion of country, rock and pop as long as they leave their highenergy concerts having had the time of their lives. Tyler immediately picks up on the theme. “We want it to be like a mini-vacation. … We want it to be a fun experience and for them to feel great.”
On this night, the band is in Tyler to play an acoustic set at Coach’s and Cowboy’s, a club that features country music acts. It’s an hour or so before show time and Tyler, Heath and Jordan are sitting around at a hotel talking about making music and ambition. “We want to go (as a band) as far as we can,” says Heath. “We’re working hard and playing a lot of gigs,” adds Tyler, “We’re just now getting a taste of the success we envision,” agrees Jordan. The three clearly are on the same page and seemingly have the ability to jump in and complete one another’s sentences. “We all agreed from the beginning that we were going to be serious about this and do it the right way,” says Tyler. “There were going to be no big egos in this band.” They say it is important to develop a unique sound and style, even if their guitars are a bit more rockin’ and their harmonies a bit more pop than what many consider traditional red dirt music. During a show at the Granada Theater in Dallas, they even threw in a cover of “All the Small Things” a No. 1 hit in 2000 by the punk band Blink-182. Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com
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r
The American Civil War’s Impact on Tyler Tyler Museum of Art
1300 S. Mahon Ave., Tyler, Texas • 903-595-1001 • www.tylermuseum.org Image: Barnard & Gibson (American). View of Gloucester & Yorktown, from Fairhold’s House, with Battery, No. 1, in Foreground, ca. 1862. George Eastman House. Purchased from Philip Jay Medicus.
ingle e g n l Ji
On view through February 15, 2015
BETWEEN THE STATES
Photographs of the American Civil War from the George Eastman House Collection
ome visit our beautiful shops and dine in our terrific restaurants! C
Saturday, November 29th, 6 p.m. Historic Downtown Kilgore
Mingle & Jingle
You’re invited to CADILLAC attend MAKES THE CAR, WAGNER MAKES THE DIFFERENCE WWW.WAGNERCADILLAC.COM
¬ E ntertainment ¬ Libations kilgoremainstreet.com 4100 S. Broadway Shopping Tyler • 903.561.1212
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Jan/Feb 2015 Nov/Dec 2014 || INMagTexas.com INMagTexas.com
We welcome Dr. Shauna Curtis. She is now accepting new patients. • Small Animal Medicine & Surgery • Grooming • Boarding 5113 New Copeland Rd. • Tyler, TX • 903.509.3454 www.copelandrdanimalhospital.com
Spring classes begin 1/16 • bpcc.edu
Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com
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Uncorked The Art and Expression of Nina Cork
By Heather Marie Redix | Courtesy Photos
In East Texas, talented artists are using style and color infused with emotion to get the rest of the world to understand what living here is all about.
S
tereotypical themes of country music, cowboy boots and vast fields of grass-grazing animals cannot entirely define what makes the area unique. To convey larger themes of freedom and faith, many artists are using rugged textures and vibrant colors. Nina Cork of Texarkana, Texas, is one such artist. Her works range from iconic images of Mary and Jesus to anthropomorphic stoneware sculptures.
small animals from mud puddles that stayed so long tadpoles hatched. “I became known for drawing horses in grade school and was really good at it.” Nina recalls, “I loved to draw horses because I longed to have one of my own. My great-grandmother had horses and I would often go out to the country to see hers.” As she grew older, she took horseback riding lessons and acquired a horse. Waking up in the morning, hair still wet from showering, she would jump bareback on her horse until it was time to catch the bus to school.
“All children are artists. The problem is how “Art is a marriage of the conscious and the unto remain an artist once he grows up.” conscious.” ~Jean Cocteau ~Pablo Picasso As a child in Illinois sitting among her family’s vast corn fields, Nina defined happiness through artistic creation. She molded
As a young woman, Nina married her close friend William “Bill” Cork and gave birth to four beautiful children. She was a | Cont. on page 18
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Jan/Feb 2015 | INMagTexas.com
“The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider’s web.” ~Pablo Picasso Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com
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| Cont. FROM page 16 devoted wife and mother. When her youngest child was in the third grade, she began a career in the banking industry. “I started to get promotions. And then it dawned on me. ‘I’m going to be a banker. I don’t want to be a banker! If I’m going to be doing something for the next 40 years of my life, I want to be working in a field where I belong.’” Nina’s career had come to a fork in the road. She gave her twoweeks notice and began pursuing a degree in art education. “I had to make money and I knew I wanted to continue to create art, so I went into teaching it,” Nina states. “Art is a response to the world. In itself it is a language. You have to study a language to be able to communicate that language and in (such) a way that someone who maybe didn’t study that language can then understand.” One year from obtaining an art degree from Northern Illinois University, her husband was relocated to Texarkana. She then transferred her credits to Texas A&M University-Commerce and became certified as an art education teacher in Texas.
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” ~Maya Angelou To bring herself to a place where she was able to create art that came from the heart, Nina had to draw from her past and present. She felt greatly influenced by her religion as well as her lifelong experiences. “Most of the time, as an artist, your inspiration may not be seen, but you want to do something emotive – something that is going to stir emotion in the viewer.”
“Were I called on to define, very briefly, the term art, I should call it ‘the reproduction of what the senses perceive in nature through the veil of the soul.’ The mere imitation, however accurate, of what is in nature, entitles no man to the sacred name of ‘artist.'” ~Edgar Allen Poe During a snow storm in December 2009, when she was forced to stay indoors and take a short break from teaching, she began creating works that were displayed in her first show – an exhibition called “Conversations with Saints and Sinners.” She based the pieces on conversations she had with people about their vices, triumphs and salvations. “You wouldn’t believe some of the things people said happened to them.” Nina’s newest works were featured, along with works by three other artists, this past November in an exhibition at the K. White Studios in downtown Texarkana. “The two women you see in Women's Work are myself and a close Muslim friend,” she says, showing one of her newer pieces. “The bowls that you see show the burdens that women bear; the emotional burden of every single soul; everyone they meet, every friend that they make.” Besides sculptures and paintings, Nina has a growing pottery business that she launched after attending prayer meetings with a group of friends. The most popular pottery item she sells is prayer jars. One may assume that taking the road less traveled would end in disappointment, but Nina is a success story of someone willing to step out on faith to pursue a dream.
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Perspectives
Place your order for Valentine’s Day now! “The More Amour Jane”
Photography Exhibit
Specialty Chocolate Pound Cake
JaniesCakes.com MON - FRI 10am-5:30pm
308 E Front St. Tyler (903)592-6150
J A N U A RY 1 0 F EB R U A RY 2 1 Longview Museum of Fine Arts 215 E. Tyler St. • Longview, Texas
The best photographs submitted to LMFA, judged by O. Rufus Lovett, will be on display. Lovett taught some of the participating photographers, others are from surrounding areas or members of the Texas Photographic Society.
Co m e s ee th ei r “Persp ec ti ve s” o n th e w o rl d!
FIGHT CANCER
Texas Oncology In Tyler And Longview: A Leader In Cancer Research From Drs. Donald Richards in Tyler and Matei Socoteanu in Longview.
Texas Oncology in Tyler and Longview are part of the US Oncology Research Network, one of the strongest and most reputable research networks in the world. Recognized by American Society of Clinical Oncology as a leader in research, Texas Oncology in Tyler and Longview are given access to clinical trial agents that otherwise would not be available in East Texas. This allows patients to stay close to home and receive benefits of cutting-edge therapies. Dr. Donald Richards
Dr. Matei Socoteanu
For more information, please call 903.753.8103, or visit our website at www.LMFA.org.
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Jan/Feb 2015 | INMagTexas.com
The most exciting breakthrough in cancer research is the ability to reactivate the immune system, which can actively battle cancer. Unfortunately, cancer can turn off the immune system. Many times cancer tumors are infiltrated with immune T-cells that appear to have been “turned off.” When this happens, cancer grows unchecked. In development are “agents” that either stop or reverse this process by reawakening the immune system to the point that it can recognize and destroy cancer cells. We have a number of clinical trials taking place using these agents. We do not know whether the word “cure” will ever be applicable to cancer. However, we hope to see cancer becoming a chronic disease, such as hypertension and coronary artery disease, and the survival for patients with cancer improve dramatically.
TEXAS ONCOLOGY www.TexasOncology.com
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11187 CR 168 • Tyler, TX • 903-894-3033 • www.GreshamVet.com Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com
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Elvis is in the house
By Danny Mogle | Courtesy Photos
onny Edwards knows all too well the everlasting – make ’em swoon – power of the late great Elvis Presley. As one of the most praised Elvis tribute artists today, Donny taps into that unmistakable Elvis swagger to bring the ladies to their knees. “I was performing in Japan when this lady came running up to the stage and I bent down and kissed her on the cheek and she dropped like a sack of potatoes. She fainted and was out cold. I wasn’t sure what to do. They came and hauled her off and I just kept on singing,” he says from his home in Las Vegas.
Being Elvis There’s more to being an Elvis than putting on a white rhinestone studded jumpsuit, slicking your hair back into a high pompadour and gyrating your hips. Donny, who promotes himself as “the next best thing to The King,” says some impersonators are a joke who reduce Elvis to nothing more than a silly caricature. “There are some good and bad (impersonators). ... Some, they don’t take it seriously. They’re kind of mocking him instead of
paying to tribute to him. ... I want to be true to him. I ask myself, if he was in the audience, would he approve.” Donny watches videos of Elvis on stage and talks to those who knew him to capture everything from Elvis’ subtle curled lip to his not-so-subtle arms, hips and legs in perpetual motion. That said, he believes the difference in a good Elvis tribute artist and a so-so impersonator is not in perfecting the moves; it’s in perfecting that unmistakable, rich Elvis sound. “He had an amazing range and versatility. He could hit these amazing powerful notes and hold them.” Donny has worked hard for years to get the sound just right. “I listened to Elvis’ breathing patterns and started paying attention to his phrasing (in songs) and then I really started paying attention to my own vocal range and how I projected my own voice. ... My tone was naturally similar to his. I can get close to him on a lot of songs.” Donny says that being “authentic” in the performance is his way of paying respect to Elvis but that off stage he doesn’t want to be Elvis. Donny Edwards pays tribute to the legendary Elvis Presley.
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“With me, when I put on makeup or put my hair up, it is only at work. Some people don’t know how to turn it off. There is a time to start getting into character and there is a time for being me. I get back into the Elvis mindset by watching videos, and when I walk off stage, I’m back to being myself.”
Starting Out Donny has always felt a strange kinship with The King – even before he knew who Elvis was. As a family story goes, when little Donny was 5 years old, he once threw a fit when his grandmother tried to change the station when “Hound Dog” was playing on the radio. “My mom said when I was a kid and an Elvis record would come on, I knew how to shake my leg (like Elvis). Ever since I was a kid, I remember watching him. I was an avid Elvis fan, it always stuck with me.” Growing up in Houston, Donny was blessed with Elvis’ good looks and trademark thick black hair. “When I hit my teenage years, I started to look more like him and people said, ‘Hey Elvis.’ It’s funny because I was always drawn to it.” With growing confidence that he naturally had the Elvis look, Donny took on the challenge of singing like Elvis. “I started out singing Elvis songs on a karaoke machine when nobody was around. I sounded a little bit like Elvis. I then began to sing them (songs) a cappella. It kind of developed from there.” Donny did not set out on a career as a professional tribute artist. He was working as a manager at a department store in Houston when he got a call. “I got hired to do a show in Oregon by a guy in Vegas who had seen that I won a few Elvis impersonation contests. He called me up and said ‘Hey, you are doing really good, I think you are perfect for this show.’” After working in Oregon, Donny performed in the Elvis-A-Rama museum showroom and Legends in Concert show in Vegas. He now presents his “Donny Edwards: A True Tribute To Elvis” concerts around the world.
The Greatest Donny’s show covers the span of Elvis' career – from the 1950s, when he sent young girls into hysterics with his electrifying moves, through the 1970s, when he was a showstopper in Vegas. “There are those songs that we always do, that the audience expects ... ‘Heartbreak Hotel,’ ‘Don’t be Cruel,’ ‘Love Me Tender,’ ‘Jailhouse Rock.’” But during concerts, especially during the later, Vegas years, Donny says Elvis sang songs from many genres – from rock to traditional gospel – and from many artists. “I’ll do ‘My Way’ and ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ and do some gospel. Elvis loved gospel.” At the end of the night, Donny wants audiences to feel as if they have experienced a night with a legend. “Elvis is still the greatest entertainer who ever lived.”
Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com
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For other book reviews, check out INMagTexas.com
What We're Reading
By Tina Bausinger | Courtesy Photos
“Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison” by Piper Kerman
F
unny, shocking and well written, Kerman’s honest narrative of her incarceration will hook you from the first page. In case you’ve been under a rock and haven’t heard about the sensational Netflix show based on this book, I have to say you need to get out more. This gritty memoir holds no punches, including entire chapters that do little to mirror the author’s previous good-girl image. Disclaimer: If you read this after you’ve binged on “O.I.T.N.B.,” be prepared for an almost completely different story than what’s presented on TV. The book is still completely worth it. Another disclaimer: This book is not for the faint of heart. It is about a woman in prison after all. Don’t read it if you are easily offended. Also, I don’t recommend this book (or the show) to anyone under 18. “The Myth of a Christian Nation: How the Quest for Political Power is Destroying the Church” by Gregory A. Boyd
T
here’s no time like an election season to bring political writers out of the woodwork. Boyd, a former evangelical pastor, writes about his reluctance to go along with political pressure to endorse a candidate. Not only was he encouraged to sway his flock politically, he was also told to hand out leaflets, advertise political events, sign petitions, etc. Pastor Boyd became increasingly led to preach a series of sermons about keeping the church away from politics. After doing so, roughly 20 percent of his congregation left. Boyd reiterates the idea that politics should remain a man-
made institution and to leave the church out of it. He believes saying one party is more “Christian” is nothing less than manipulation of well-meaning people to get their votes. The book is intriguing and well written. At only 186 pages, it is a quick read. The appendix includes discussion questions and references. “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Brontë
I
’m introducing the feature “Books You’ve Never Read But Should Have.” The idea is to present a book that is older, and maybe forgotten, but still essential to anyone who wants to be well read. Let’s start with “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Brontë. Here are three reasons you should read this book. 1. It’s a great example of British gothic fiction, the greatgrandmother of horror. If you want to be knowledgeable about literature, it’s important to give the British romantic authors a nod. 2. It’s really good. A wind-swept landscape, a beautiful lady trapped by a handsome villain and revenge. A good gothic novel always has revenge. Take that bullies! 3. There’s a really great movie rendition of this book on Masterpiece Theatre starring Tom Hardy (from “This Means War,” “Inception,” "Lawless” and “The Dark Knight Rises”) as Heathcliff, the brooding anti-hero, and Andrew Lincoln (yes, the sheriff on the “Walking Dead”) as the romantic rival Pretty Boy Edgar. Go ahead. You have my permission to watch. Pop some popcorn and go to town. Do you have a book (old or new) you’d like to be reviewed? Email me at tbau@tjc.edu.
Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com
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Features
Features
Photo Courtesy of Kilgore College
> High Kicks and High Expectations, 28 > The Preacher's Wife, 36 >The Renewal Factory, 40
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High Kicks and H By Danny Mogle | Photos Courtesy of Kilgore College 28
Jan/Feb 2015 | INMagTexas.com
High Expectations Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com
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mily Diehl, captain of the Kilgore College Rangerettes, and Emily Wendt, a lieutenant, are waiting to be interviewed in the Rangerette Showcase and Museum, a shrine to the world famous, high-kicking precision dance team. They are wearing the traditional all-white officer’s uniform. Their hair is styled into long flowing curls. Their lips are painted ruby red. Sitting on a couch, their backs are straight, shoulders up and chins slightly tilted to the ceiling. And somehow they are able to effortlessly smile and talk at the very same time. The epitome of health, beauty and confidence, the young women are mirror images of each other – in sync down to the tiniest detail. Gussie Nell Davis would indeed be very pleased.
The late Gussie Nell Davis with Rangerettes.
The Beginning Today high school football (and increasingly college) fans take it for granted that halftime shows will include a line of highstepping dancing girls in flashy uniforms. But that didn’t happen until Gussie Nell came along. Standing just over 5-foot tall, Gussie Nell was a spitfire with a booming voice and an unwavering demand for perfection that could give any Marine drill sergeant a run for his money. In the late 1930s, she was hired to guide Greenville High School’s pom squad, which didn’t do much more than cheer in the stands. She renamed the squad the Flaming Flashes, put them in matching pleated skirts and proudly marched them, heads held high, out to the middle of the football field with drums and bugles to perform. In 1939, Kilgore College President B.E. Masters faced a few problems. Not enough young women were enrolled, not enough activities were available for those who were enrolled and, most
distressing of all, people had a tendency to slip out of football games at halftime to take a gulp, or many gulps, of whiskey in the parking lot. His solution was to hire Gussie Nell to form some kind of dance team. The newly formed Rangerettes (the football team is the Rangers), debuted on Sept. 20, 1940, wearing their soon-to-be trademark all-American red, white and blue outfits. “By the time the Rangerettes went through their eye-catching routine, scattering into well-formed groups all over the field, Kilgore knew it had hit the entertainment equivalent of an oilfield gusher,” writes Martha Hale Deen of the fateful night in her book, “Remembering Gussie Nell.” Some surely thought it was scandalous; others an act of genius. No one could deny that it all was very entertaining. The drill team was born and halftimes would never be the same. The Rangerettes became masters of synchronized moves and a rapid-fire high kick – an amazing physical feat in which the members simultaneously kick high enough for the tips of their boots to extend above the tops of their heads. In 1941, the exciting new Rangerettes performed at the Lions International Convention in New Orleans; in 1949 they entertained 100,000 as part of the Cotton Bowl halftime show (a tradition that continues today); and in 1952 they danced on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” the popular TV variety program that featured the biggest show business stars in the world. Since then, the Sweethearts of the Gridiron have been featured in dozens of nationally televised college bowl halftime shows and parades; on goodwill tours around the world; and in Washington D.C. as guests of presidents Dwight Eisenhower and George W. Bush. In 1977, the Contemporary Arts Museum in Houston honored the squad as a “living art form.”
Gussie Nell Davis Many in Kilgore, Texas – a town of 13,000 that first gained fame in the early 1930s as the site of the largest oilfield in the United States – still speak in reverent tones of Gussie Nell Davis, who died in 1993. “She was a very, very unique individual and way ahead of her time,” says Dana Blair, the director of the Rangerettes and a squad member from 1981 to 1983. “She was a perfectionist. She believed that if it was worth doing, it was worth doing right.” “She really made an impression,” says Martha Hale Deen, a Rangerette from 1970 to 1972. “She was a total lady. She always wore | Cont. on page 32
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| Cont. FROM page 30 high heels, even when she was walking up and down the bleachers. … We were taught so much more than dancing and kicking. We were taught to be our best … to be perfect and to be beautiful.” In her book, Martha recounts a time when Gussie Nell was with the Rangerettes in a cafeteria. “She told us that she always tries to make the person behind the counter smile. … I realized she was that way with everyone with whom she came in contact. I understood then that, to her, individual interactions were related to performing in front of thousands. … She wanted the Rangerettes to look as if they were having the time of their lives so that some of their contagion could spill over into the audience and they, in turn, could have the time of their lives.”
Big Business The drill team industry is big business. Flanked by Rangerettes, economist Ray Perryman announced with much fanfare last spring that precision dance – ranging from schools that enroll little girls to high-profile professional football cheerleading squads – is an $8 billion industry that provides more than 50,000 jobs. Perhaps nowhere is that economic impact felt more than in Kilgore, which plasters images of its famous dancing coeds on everything from billboards along Interstate 20 to the chamber of commerce website. “Anytime we (city representatives) want to impress guests, we call for the Rangerettes,” says Kilgore Mayor Ronnie Spradlin, a former Rangerette manager. "They have been out to hundreds of our events. … They give the city an identity.” The Perryman report suggests the Rangerettes do much more than just give the city an identity. “For the Kilgore area, they have enhanced the visibility and positively contributed to national and international perceptions of the city. Of far more lasting significance, they have been the incubator for the development of a major industry that has positively influenced countless lives and careers and brought economic benefits to communities throughout the world.”
Legacy Continues The reputation of the Rangerettes is now in the hands of Dana Blair and her assistant and choreographer, Shelley Wayne. They know all too well what is at stake. “It was a huge, huge deal,” says Dana of being asked to become the assistant director in 1986 by Deana Bolton Covin, Gussie Nell’s successor. “Everything about the Rangerettes is a big deal.” When Deana retired in 1993, Dana took over the responsibility of preserving the legacy. “When I leave, I hope people will say that I made a difference and that I left the line in a safe place and by that I mean at the top of their game.” Dana says their goal is to create fine young women. “We expect the girls to adopt our expectations. … We want to teach them a lot of life lessons, that there is a reward for working hard. … They come here for the dancing but we want them to leave with much more than that.” Shelley agrees. “We want them to reflect principles and values. … They are dressed in a uniform with the colors of our school, state and our nation. They represent what America should be.” As she continues, Shelley dabs away tears. “They are a positive influence that little girls can look up to. … They are part of a team and something much bigger than any individual. “There is no other drill team position in the world that compares to here. No amount of money could get me to leave. There is no place that is this unique and magical or has this much history.” Captain Emily Diehl first saw the Rangerettes perform when her high school drill team coach took the squad to a Kilgore College football game. “I was speechless. They were dancing with such grace and strength. They were perfect. I remember thinking. ‘I
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want to look like that.’” She says it is an honor to be part of the Rangerette tradition during this diamond anniversary season. “I want to give back to this organization. It’s impacted my life in such a way that I can’t leave it behind.” Emily Wendt says that once a young woman becomes a Rangerette, she’s never the same again. “One of the biggest lessons you learn is that you have to overcome obstacles and take advantage of opportunities and that you always have to push yourself. … You’re learning to become the best you are capable of being. This (being a Rangerette) really defines who I am.”
On With The Show It is a beautiful October afternoon at a Rangers football game and the Rangerettes are ready to take the field for the much-anticipated halftime show. The bleachers are packed. In fact, the crowd is still arriving (many come specifically for the halftime and then leave when it is over) as the enthusiastic public address announcer begins the introduction: “Laaadies and gentlemen, presenting the world famous Kilgore College Raaaaangerettes!” The Ranger band launches into the school’s spirited fight
songs and the dance line, with the officers in front doing the Rangerette Strut, move forward. “It’s tradition. It’s their trademark. It’s the hiiiigh kick!” continues the announcer. Over the next two and half minutes the Rangerettes execute leaps, dozens of head-high kicks and the always crowdpleasing flying splits. Many in the stands are recording the show with camcorders and smartphones to preserve the latest moment in the dance team’s long and celebrated history. When the Rangerettes strike a final pose, adoring fans leap to their feet and erupt into a loud and sustained cheer. The performance is flawless. Gussie Nell Davis would indeed be very pleased.
The Kilgore College Rangerettes are celebrating its 75th anniversary of being one of America’s premier precision dance teams. Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com
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The Preacher’s Wife Story and Photos By Tamra Bolton indy Dykes makes sure I’m comfortable as I settle into a chair in the living room of their Tyler home. When I met Cindy a few weeks earlier, she was puzzled that I wanted to interview her instead of her better known husband, the Rev. David Dykes. But I wanted to know from her what it’s like to be the wife of the pastor of one of the largest churches (Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler has more than 16,000 members) in the region. “I’m a true Southern belle. I like to set a (dinner) table with cloth, napkins, china, the whole bit. I love to cook and dig in the dirt,” she says, waving her hand in the direction of the large garden just outside the windows. “During the school year, I fix dinner for my family and we all eat in the dining room with the table set. I love a pretty table.” I ask if it bothers her that her husband is always in the spotlight. “Oh no! David is busy traveling and speaking … He enjoys it. This is where we are in our lives. It’s just the season we are in. I’m perfectly happy staying here at home. I go with him sometimes, but I enjoy being home. “It’s a tough job being a pastor’s wife. It’s a hard profession. So many wives are over-burdened and sad. It seems the smaller 36
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the church the more is demanded of you. I have learned to say, ‘I’ve done all I can do, I can’t do anymore.’” For years, Cindy had her busy season teaching, speaking, traveling and writing. About four years ago, she began to set some of those responsibilities aside. “Our last grandchild was born prematurely and I wanted to be available to help out. Then a year ago, my parents moved here and I let go of some more things. I felt like I could clear my calendar and say, ‘This is my job now.’” Being available to her grandchildren and parents is important to Cindy.
Blessed Lives Cindy says that it is a blessing being part of Green Acres. “We love Green Acres. Our kids grew up here. … It’s home. We have loved everywhere we’ve served, but a lot of pastors and their wives are not so fortunate.” Cindy believes a lot of women live with a burden of guilt, that makes everything harder. “Women feel guilty about everything … not getting Mom to the beauty shop on time or we feel guilty if we eat a chocolate cookie. … We just have a terrible guilt hanging over us.”
Her advice in order to combat this is to have a sense of humor, a lot of laughter and to not get trapped in what she calls the church bubble. “Oftentimes we don’t know anyone or interact with people outside the church. It’s important to me to be involved and not isolate myself. I worked in the kitchen of a local deli for 10 years and loved it! I met people from all over the city and county and many different churches. “While I was working there, I discovered that many people had misconceptions about Green Acres. Because it is so huge, it’s truly one of a kind. Most churches its size are in metroplex areas. We are unique.” Some of these misconceptions included that the church goes into bank accounts of its members and deducts the tithe and that members are required to dress a certain way. “I’d just laugh and tell them, it’s not true. One guy actually questioned me and said, ‘How do you know?’ I said, ‘Oh, I’m pretty sure it’s not true. I know the pastor.’” Smiling at the recollection, she scoops up her orange tabby cat, Myrtle May and strokes her head.
Easy Going I ask Cindy how she retains her easy-going attitude while living under constant scrutiny. “Most people at Green Acres don’t know who I am.” She says it also helps that she and her husband are committed to staying connected. “We have time set aside every day that we spend sharing what is happening in our lives. We talk without any distractions and reconnect with one another … We both look forward to it.” Before leaving, we stroll among Cindy’s large raised-bed gardens, which are overflowing with tomatoes and peppers. Like a good Southern lady, she loads me up fresh produces and promises to share some recipes.
Cindy's Recipes Cornbread There are no measurements to this recipe, but it is easy to make and so good right out of the oven with butter! Cornmeal Mix (I use Aunt Jemima’s Buttermilk mix) Buttermilk Grease (I use Crisco) Black Cast Iron skillet Oven preheated to 450 Put enough Crisco into the skillet to cover the top of the corn pone you are making. (For a small black cast iron skillet use about 3 T.), set it in the oven to melt the grease and heat the skillet. Mix enough cornmeal mix and buttermilk to make a good mixture that is not too thin or too thick. Take hot skillet out of oven and swirl the grease around it to make sure the inside is coated well. Pour the hot grease over the cornmeal/buttermilk mixture and stir. Immediately put back into the skillet and cook for 20 - 30 minutes or until brown on top and center is done.
Banana Bread This is another no fail recipe that I’ve used for over 40 years. It comes from my mother. It is my go-to recipe when I need to take something to a friend. 1 stick butter 1 c. sugar 2 eggs 1 1/2 c. self- rising flour 3 very ripe bananas 1/2 c. pecans, chopped Cream butter and sugar together with mixer. Add eggs one at a time and beat well. Gradually add flour. Mash bananas and add to mixture Add chopped pecans. Pour into greased loaf pan (or 3 small loaf pans). Bake at 300 for 45 min or 1 hour or until knife comes out clean. Time depends on the size of your loaf pan.
Cindy Dykes enjoys time at home with her cat, Myrtle May and tending to her backyard garden. Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com
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THE
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FACTORY
Jan/Feb 2015 | INMagTexas.com
al
Working in a studio in Hawkins, Texas, Holly repairs a wide range of pottery, porcelain and ceramics. “I take on a lot of challenges.You just never know what’s going to come in the door.” - Holly Holland By Jacque Hilburn-Simmons | Photos By Sarah A. Miller
R
estoration artist Holly Holland doesn’t mind when people ask her about the random bullet hole in the front door of her business. She finds character in the heavy metal doors and thick panels of safety glass that separate her work from the outside world. It’s not that her art is so secretive that it warrants safekeeping, but rather that the security features come with setting up shop in an old police building. “Actually, this part of the building used to house the police department and the room in there was the courtroom,” she says giving a tour of her cop-shop-turned-studio in Hawkins, Texas. The building’s prior function and her studio’s name, Renewal Factory, both reflect the philosophy behind her daily brush strokes: to restore, protect and preserve the past for the future. It seems fitting that her 30-year passion would find a perfect home in an old structure in need of someone who cared. “If the building could talk,” the artist says with a grin. A transplant from the Dallas area, Holly married a man from Houston who loves East Texas’ remote back roads. The couple parted ways with their fast-paced city lives about 14 years ago and took up residence at Holly Lake Ranch in Wood County, settling into a wooded neighborhood that features more creatures than features. After working in a small home studio, she learned that a day or two of isolation is a good thing, but weeks and weeks of it? Well, not so much. “I’m kind of a metropolitan girl,” she quips. “I needed a little taste of town.” She eventually found in town the site that had been vacated by the city of Hawkins. “I walked in and said, ‘Oh my gosh,’” she says. “I saw a jewel and the potential. … It was like a little of the universe opened up for me in Hawkins.” After she purchased the building at 198 N. Green St., the sledgehammers started swinging. | Cont. ON page 42 Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com
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| Cont. from page 41 She and her husband, Robert, transformed the dated municipal complex into an eclectic studio, seemingly right out of Dallas’ Deep Ellum. They outfitted it with mood lighting and punchy, repurposed furnishings. The new digs provided Holly with fresh inspiration.
RESTORATION ARTIST So what, exactly, does a restoration artist do? That depends on the customer’s needs. Essentially, she mends broken art objects for people who love them. She primarily works with pottery, porcelain and ceramics. The services she offers range from filling and glazing to painting. “A lot of people have no idea this kind of work can be done,” she says. Some of her most loyal clients are antique dealers, collectors and museums, including the GoodmanLeGrand House and Museum in Tyler. “I take on a lot of challenges,” Holly says. “You just never know what’s going to come in the door.” Recently the objects waiting to be repaired included a china doll, assorted statues, dishes, a vintage guitar, a brilliant yellow mid-century light fixture and a collection of vintage, 3-foot tall Christmas carolers that were broken. “This family (who owns the carolers) likes to display them around their Christmas tree every year,” she says. “It’s a tradition for them.” In some cases, making the repairs take months. Finding the appropriate materials needed can be a long process. Formulas for lacquers and epoxies sometimes change without notice; ultrafine sandpapers can be discontinued without notice. Add those time-consuming factors with shipping, drying and curing times and it seems obvious why Holly hasn’t had the time to take a real vacation in years. “I can have up to 20 pieces going at any given time,” she says. “It’s all a process.”
CRAFTMANSHIP Holly says she inherited an appreciation for exceptional craftsmanship and materials from her grandmother, a teacher who adored early-American furnish-
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ings. “We had such fine artisans in our history,” she says of American craftsmanship. “While it seems like we’re losing manufacture of these things, there are still items out there” that symbolize quality. She cites, as an example, Edward Marshall Boehm, a self-educated American sculptor noted for exquisitely detailed art. Holly’s attention to detail is revered in art circles. Her work has captured the attention of collectors in and outside of Texas and Bob Phillips, who featured her on his “Texas Country Re-
porter” television series. Gary Embrey, an art collector from Longview who specializes in high-end Asian antiques, has been a fan of Holly’s work for about 15 years. “The attention to detail in that era was simStephenand Hackley’s large-scale of ply unbelievable for someone to paintings rise to the flowers feature colorsunbelievable,” and tiny details. level to replicate …brilliant it’s almost he says. “Her work is unsurpassed … I’ve seen other restoration work and she’s in the top 5 percent in the whole country. To have her right here in East Texas is a real treat.”
Restoration specialist Holly Holland lovingly brings damaged valuables back to life.
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Small Town Service Big City Fashion Since 1964
Now located in Swann's Plaza 7264 Old Jacksonville Hwy Tyler, TX 75703 903-595-5111
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Style
FASHION Courtesy Photo
> New Year New Look, 46
beauty
>Fashion Forecast Go-to-Girl, 52 Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com
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New Year, New Look Cocktail & Friends We love this fabulous pewter lace cocktail dress from Kay Unger for a night out! Pair it with this great metallic clutch from Eric Javits to give it an edgy vibe. Keep it minimal but interesting with Mary V’s Collection; chandelier earring and this amazing nail bracelet. You will be sure to stand out at any party.
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Carrie Bradshaw Meets the South This Tibi floral Crop top is a must going forward in 2015 and we pair it with this trendy sheer bottom a-line skirt in black also from Tibi. The pop of aqua with the Mia & Me necklaces and earrings help pull the color out of the blouse. The classic black handbag from Eric Javits and the pave cz bracelet from Mary V’s Collection help add a little shine to make this lady feel even more
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Lunching with Friends Whether you are running a few errands in town or meeting a friend for lunch, styling can help put a positive spin on your day. This George Roth blouse and Vizcano jeans are a perfect way to add a little color into your wardrobe. Make it even more unique with Gypsy’s Byzantine inspired jewelry that will ensure a topic of conversation. Mary V’s Collection of tri-colored cz bands and this fabulous grey suede bag help add a more put together look.
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My Boyfriend's Back A must for 2015 is the loved Boyfriend jean from Eileen Fisher. Pop a white blouse and a long charcoal cardigan over it from Eileen Fisher for a look that will be the envy of everyone. Need shape, add this handmade one-size-fitsall croc belt from Fahrenheit. This beautiful Italian croc handbag from Andalossi is a stunning addition to any outfit. The cz rose gold disk necklace and tear drop earrings from Mary V’s Collection take this Boyfriend look up a notch.
City Slicker This on-trend outfit from Tracy Reese will ensure heads turn whether you are in the big city or a small town! Keep it classic with Mary Vs Collection necklace and earrings. This bright pop of cobalt handbag from Andalossi will help make your outfit even more fabulous.
Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com
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Serendipity
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· Wedding Dress & Bridal Alterations · Traditional or French Bustles · Bridal Gown Cleaning & Preservation · Monogramming & Embroidery · On Site, Bridal Gown Steaming & Pressing
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Hello Fashion Friends!
Brittany Lee Mays, Go-To-Girl
I hope your holidays were as fabulous as mine! I enjoyed some cozy nights, some wonderful holiday parties surrounded by friends and family and of course a visit from good ol’ Santa Claus.Now as the Christmas decorations come As I bring down Christmas decorations from the mantle and lovingly tuck them away, I find myself contemplating the New Year. It’s so full of possibilities. The year is open and new, like blank pages in a gorgeous book that are just waiting for you! We need to remember, friends, that life is meant to be enjoyed and to be lived to its fullest – mistakes and all. That even includes fashion mistakes! A life not enjoyed with fervor is a waste of a perfectly wonderful and amazing thing! So, grab a cozy blanket, your favorite warm beverage and dive head first into the fashion forecast with me and see all the new things 2015 has for us (and maybe some old favorites you were too afraid to try).
FORECAST
Fashion
Fashion Forecast 2015
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Loose messy braids, slicked back professional low pony tails, plum lips and negative space nails – leaving most of the natural nail showing with a bold color – are all over the runways. Leggings and boots also continue to reign through the New Year along with brighter chic loose sweaters. My favorite choice for leggings that wear well and look great is HUE brand tights. The colors and textures are endless.
Monograms Ahh monograms. A true southern proper tradition, monograms are all the rage. From luggage to pullovers and even lunch boxes, monograms are a wonderful way to give a royal touch to an average accessory and are available in fonts and styles to satisfy even the most finicky of tastes. Men and women alike can go crazy for monograms. Brown & Co. Salon and Boutique in Bullard, Texas, has a vinyl monogramming machine. It can personalize anything, including hard backed luggage key chains and custom “wall words” to decorate your home. You definitely should give monogramming a try if you’re obsessed like I am! Monogrammed items make perfect gifts as they are posh and personal. After all, it has the person’s name written all over it.
Naked Lips This look has always been a struggle for me. After applying a nude lip color, I either feel that I look like a mime or that my lips look dull. Definitely a Go-to-Girl NO NO!!! So, I typically go straight back to my strawberry lip gloss or my trademark red lips. A new beauty statistic got me thinking: A recent study showed that nude shades were outselling scarlet shades in popular department stores by 62 percent. This made me wonder: What have I been doing wrong in picking out my perfect nude shade? I did some research and found that I was making two big mistakes: 1. I was looking for a shade that was too brownish when I actually needed a more deep peach tone; 2. I thought that nude meant a non-shiny matte. The key actually is finding that shine factor while not being too bold. I found a Chanel shade called Satisfaction which does that.
Brazilian Blowout Okay, okay. know this sounds like old news but I continue to hear so much about this hair treatment. Along with the promises of smoother straighter locks, the Brazilian Blowout has over the years come with plenty of controversy. After certain ingredients used in the process came under criticism, “reinvented” versions have come out claiming to be safer and better for your hair. Spurred on by a gift certificate I had received and my misbehaving hair, I decided to give have it done at Identity Med Spa and Salon in Tyler. Lalo, my stylist, put me at ease. He explained each step in detail, what products were being used and how they were being used. (For those of you who enjoy getting your hair washed, it’s worth it just for that! He shampooed my hair several times ensuring my tresses were as clean as possible, which was awesome). Lalo explained that he would not be using a conditioner after shampooing because it
BEFORE
AFTER
HUE
®
would seal the cuticle and that the products needed to be absorbed as deeply as possible into the cuticle. I asked him about the controversies surrounding this procedure. He explained that an experienced stylist takes the necessary precautions – such as keeping the solution on the hair strands and avoid direct contact with the scalp – in order for the blowout be as safe and enjoyable as possible for the client. I was comfortable through the process. The smell of the solution was strong but pleasant and I didn’t notice it much as the process continued. My hair was blown and straightened to “lock” in the process. The appointment took about 90 minutes. The finished product? My hair is shinier than I’ve seen it in years. It is straight and bouncy (how is this possible??) and has zero frizz. I was sold on the Brazilian Blowout from that moment. I was strongly encouraged to not put my hair up, braid it or wear
bobby pins in it for a set amount of time and I adhered to these rules. It has been several weeks and I’m still completely happy. How happy you ask? Well, I spent a long weekend with my husband and his wonderful family in Dallas and I didn’t even pack my straightener. Now if that’s not a Go-To-Girl GO FOR IT I don’t know what is! I hope you feel invigorated to GO and try something new. There’s no better way to kick start a New Year then with a bold beauty statement. You won’t know until you try!
XoXo-The Go-To-Girl
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Dwell Showcase home
>Modern Mediterranean, 56
Design
Photo By Haylee Bazil
>Happy Feng Shui, 62 >Back in Time, 67
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Photos by: David White
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This edition’s Showcase Home looks like a mansion that should be perched high on a hill overlooking the sun-drenched Mediterranean Sea – and not resting among towering trees of East Texas. | Cont. ON page 58 Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com
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| Cont. FROM page 57
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The 5,400-square-foot house with its attached three-car garage sits on a one-acre lot in a quiet gated subdivision in southern Tyler. Built by Tyler-based building Wade Neal – Signature Homes by Wade – the home was a standout on the Tyler Area Builders Association Parade of Homes Tour a few years ago. Neal says it is one of the most environmentally friendly homes he has ever built. Because of health concerns of one of the family members, he went “all out” to eliminate harmful vapors and surfaces that hold germs. Each product – from flooring and countertops to materials in and on the walls – was selected because of its extremely low to no
emission of volatile organic compounds. The architectural traditions of the Mediterranean are evident in the red Spanish clay tiles on the roof and contrasting white stucco walls. The interior features spacious and open rooms and a minimalistic decorating approach that create a modern feel. The large windows provide panoramic views and allow plenty of sunshine to pour in. The predominantly white palette is everywhere: the walls, the high ceilings with inset lighting and even some of the furnishings and rugs. The flooring is exotic acacia hardwood with a beautiful grain
pattern and tones that range from sand to deep rich chocolate. The Old World charm is tempered with contemporary sensibilities. The gourmet kitchen has a double oven, gas range and energy-efficient appliances. The 10-foot by 5.5-foot kitchen island and countertops are made of white Caesarstone quartz. The master bedroom and bath combo has an 11-foot, wallto-ceiling glass shower with rain tiles, a six-foot tub encased in marble, a large walk-in closet and a fireplace. A covered courtyard with a kitchen and grill provides a transition from interior to exterior where there are a large pool (with a spray-jet lap feature), spa and a fire pit, all in rectangular shapes. Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com
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903-509-9991 www.HomesByWade.com
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Wade loves a challenge to create a unique home unlike any other; carefully detailed to your individual needs. if you would like to have a personal, one-on-one approach to making your dreams comes true, please give us a call. Signature Homes wants to help you create the home that best reflects your discriminating tastes and personal style.
Residential Real Estate
Professional Real Estate Agents So you are thinking about listing your home! By Judy Kunzman
So you are thinking about listing your home! What do you need to do first? Here are several things you need to do before you contact a Realtor. First, make a list of “Need to Fix” items. Walk around the outside of your home and check the exterior for any cracks in the brick, possible wood rot, paint flaking, shingles flipping up, cracked windows, broken screens, or anything else that might need to be repaired. These should be things that you address early if you can. Second, make another list for the inside of the home. Look at the walls and ceilings for cracks and if they need painting. Are there GFCI’s in the right places, and is everything functioning correctly? Remember that leaking faucet? Now is the time to have it repaired! How about the dishwasher that hasn’t worked? Should it be replaced or repaired? How about the hardware on the cabinets? Do they need updating? What about the flooring? Should I replace or give an allowance? These are items that you can discuss with your Realtor. Check and double check to see what you might need to be repaired. Now it is time to call a Realtor! (Hopefully, the Judy Kunzman Team!) Before they arrive, make sure the home is picked up and clean. A first impression makes a big difference, not only to a Realtor, but to a potential buyer! Show the agent through your home,
pointing out any concerns you might have about the home. Discuss with the agent what improvements might still need to be made. What about the paint colors, carpet, other flooring, and counter tops? This is a good time to get the agent’s opinion. Come up with a plan together! Finally, let’s talk about PRICE. What is my home worth? This is always an area that homeowners want to know and want as much for their home as possible! Agents should know the area and have comparables for the homeowner to view that represents the “Active Listings and Solds” for the area in the last six months. This usually gives the owner a good idea of what they might receive for their home. Sometimes, however, the amount may not be what the home owner wants. Our suggestion is for the home owner to have an appraisal done by a qualified appraiser to see what amount a lender would lend on their property. A home is only worth what an appraisal reflects. As you can see, listing or selling your home can be an overwhelming task. Don’t be overwhelmed! Call a Realtor! Call us! It is our job to make the process easier for you!
Judy Kunzman was born and raised in Tyler. She is married to Kurt Kunzman and they have two daughters. Judy has been selling real estate since 1995. She decided to enter the real estate field because she has a natural desire to please and assist others. Her enthusiasm and upbeat attitude has been one of her strongest assets. Judy has been very active in the Whitehouse Independent School District and the Whitehouse community, which included serving as President of the Whitehouse Choir Booster Club for three years, on the Board of Directors for Whitehouse Yesteryear for the past four years, and has been a member of the Tyler Junior League and the Women’s Symphony League of Tyler. Judy has been recognized for her outstanding performance as Top Listing and Selling Agent in the East Texas area. She is a certified Negotiating Agent Specialist and a Certified Relocation Specialist with Cartus, Sirva and Prudential. In 2003, “The Judy Kunzman Team” was formed, hiring agents to be readily available to assist in servicing the needs of her growing client base.
(903) 581-0111 • 6761 Old Jacksonville Hwy • Tyler, TX 75703 • jkunzman@kw.com Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com
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Happy Feng Shui By David Wallace | Photos by Sarah A. Miller
E
ver wonder why the calendar year starts on Jan. 1? Did time begin on this day? The Chinese New Year begins in February. The Jewish New Year begins in September. The beginning of the Islamic New Year varies. Don’t even ask about a “fiscal year.” My mind is ready to explode. Boom! Why do we start our year in January? There isn’t an astronomical point of reference coinciding with it. The winter solstice in December is the shortest day. It seems to me that the winter solstice would be a good day to start a year. Apparently Jan. 1 has been observed as the first day of the year ever since the adoption of the Gregorian Calendar in 1582. The ancient Romans dedicated New Year’s Day to Janus, the god of gates, doors and beginnings. Janus is depicted with two faces: one looking backward to the past and one looking forward to the future. This explains some things 62
Jan/Feb 2015 | INMagTexas.com
to me. January is a time many contemplate making positive changes, such as losing bad habits and becoming healthier, wealthier and wiser. Thanks to feng shui, I’m resolving to make some changes as well. The Chinese concept of feng shui is almost as ancient as time itself. Feng shui translates as wind water. It acknowledges invisible forces that bind the universe, earth and humanity. It actually makes good sense. To bring the positive forces of feng shui into your home, use a broom to sweep the entrance. This is supposed to increase the flow of positive energy. It’s all about attention and intention. The amount of energy you give determines the amount you receive. According to feng shui, having a water feature, such as a fountain, near your front door also increases energy and attracts money.
The Project With that in mind, this magazine’s do-it-yourself project is a water feature – specifically a fountain. Just make sure you put it near the door. The project requires two ceramic planter pots, one much bigger than the other. The larger one serves as the bottom basin and holds the water pump. This fountain stands about 3 feet tall and requires a pump that can move the water up to that height. Look on the package information to make sure the pump can do that. Attach the tubing to the pump. Specifications for the diameter of the tubing needed will also be listed on the pump’s packaging. Run the plastic tube up through the existing drainage hole in the bottom of the top pot. Make sure the bottom basin does not have a drainage hole that will cause the water to spill out. Use lava rocks inside the bottom basin to stabilize it and in the top pot to help hold the tubing upright and to partially fill the pot. Fill the basin with water and turn on the pump. It’s ready to go. You may have to do some tweaking and adjust the water flow. Make sure the water cannot splash out. Can a fountain really attract money into your home? I’m not really sure. However, every fountain seems to have coins in the bottom. Think about that. Happy New Year!
Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com
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Back in Time Woodworker Uses Yesteryear Tools
By Danny Mogle| Photos By Haylee Bazil
Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com
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E
dward Cooper of Bullard is anxious to show off his prized possession, a Stanley wood plane he estimates to be about a century old. To demonstrate how good it is, the carpenter ever so slowly glides it lengthwise across the surface of a board. As he does so, a razor thin strip of wood pops up and curls into a tight ringlet. “Now watch this,” he says. Bending closer to the board, he grips the handle, which looks like an oversized door knob, and unleashes a rapid-fire set of movements. For a moment, everything is a blur. Wood shavings go flying. When he finally looks up, he is grinning. Cooper, as his friends call him, doesn’t have much use for modern woodworking tools. In fact, he goes out of his way to acquire what many consider to be nothing more than relics from a bygone era. These yesteryear tools are what he insists on using to transform blocks of wood into beautiful furniture.
Lessons Learned As a kid growing up in West Texas, Cooper and his buddies made toy rockets for fun. They quickly discovered that a rocket is pretty useless unless it has a pair of fins to provide the needed stabilization to send it soaring into the sky. We started playing around making these wood fins to attach to the rockets,” recalls Cooper. “We would play around with the shape the fins needed to be.” Cooper discovered that wood properly used serves a practical function. As a teenager, Cooper built a half-pipe ramp out of wood that he and his buddies rode their skateboards on. He discovered that wood properly used brings enjoyment. One of his first jobs was installing doors in homes. “These were really nice doors … super solid, high-end wooden doors.” Cooper discovered that quality wood, treated with love and care becomes a thing of beauty. He also had discovered that more than anything he wanted to spend his life making things out of wood. He knew he needed to learn from some of the best in the business so he called Mike
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Siemsen, a master carpenter whose credits include restoring 18th century American furniture and serving as an officer in the Society of American Period Furniture Makers. “I told him, ‘I want to do what you do,’” says Cooper, who enrolled in Siemsen’s intensive hands-on school in rural Minnesota. “I am a lifelong woodworker; I learned by trial-and-error, reading, on-the-job training and taking classes," says Siemsen on his website. “I believe that the best way to develop your skills as a woodworker is to immerse yourself in the craft with skilled people to guide you along the way.” After an apprenticeship with Siemsen, Cooper spent a year in upper Michigan working with Brent Thorgren, a maker of log cabins famous for their exceptional craftsmanship. “When I met Brent, we became fast friends,” says Cooper. “He’s such a fascinating guy. He really showed me more than anyone what you could do with wood.”
Mentors Siemsen and Thorgren preferred the old ways and tools over modern conveniences. “I kept trying to figure out why these old-time woodworkers were using these tools and why they were always talking so much about the old hand planes. They knew that there was something special in them. … There are things you can do with these tools that you can't do with mechanical tools. They give you such a sense of control and empowerment. They allow you to do these beautiful curves.” He points out the rounded curves of a recently completed dining room table in his workshop. “Here feel it. Feel these smooth edges.” The table is made of white pine, one of Cooper’s favorite woods. He often uses pine harvested in East Texas and sold at a mill in Mount Pleasant. “Pine gets no respect,” says Cooper. “They say it’s too soft and difficult to finish but pine is gorgeous. Every piece has a unique grain pattern and a growth ring. You can see from it what the tree went through. These lines right here are farther apart. That was
a good growth year... It’s like you can see a history of the forest.”
In The Zone A carpenter for 20 years, Cooper makes tables, chests and decorative side tables and refinishes and repairs wooden furniture. He teaches one-one-one classes to pass on to a new generation what he has learned from his mentors and decades of practice. He is at peace when he is alone working in his woodshop, a converted garage in his home looking out over a grove oftrees near the Kiepersol Estates vineyards. He loves it when he’s in the zone – the intense period when he spends hours every day on a project that has kicked his passion and creative spirit into overdrive. Sometimes he plays music but usually he works in silence. “It’s how I work my energies out. I find it therapeutic. It’s how I connect to the past.” He picks up a chisel with a long discolored metal blade and weathered wooden handle that clearly looks like it has seen better days. “I got this (from a website) online,” he says cradling it in the palm of his hand. “It was made from before the turn of the (19th) century. It’s still good. You just have to keep the edge sharp. There’s a lot of life still left in it. It’s like it’s crying out, ‘Pick me up. Use me!’” Cooper understands what it is saying. He is more than happy to oblige.
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Alexus O’Neal, pre-nursing major from San Antonio, and Dr. Cliff Boucher, TJC biology department chair, examine a SynDaver, a synthetic replica of a human leg used as a training resource in TJC science labs.
Robert M. Rogers Nursing & Health Sciences Center OpeninG JANUARY 2015
tjcnursing.com
Tyler Junior College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution. Complete information is available at www.tjc.edu.
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Jan/Feb 2015 | INMagTexas.com
Live Healthy
HEALTH >In The Pool, 72 > Let It Go, 74 >Enjoy The Ride, 76
MEDICAL GUIDE
Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com
71
IN THE
POOL By Jacque Hilburn-Simmons | Photos by Sarah A. Miller
A
few months ago, 66-year-old Linda Marshall, was trying to outmaneuver an invisible enemy. Complications of a disease had hit the retired florist – hard – and without warning. In pain, she was forced to use a wheelchair. Linda hated asking for help and didn’t want to burden loved ones, so she decided to fight back. Her strategy: water exercise. “This (turning to water aerobics) has been marvelous,” she says while in the warm pool at East Texas Medical Center’s Olympic Center in Tyler. “When I first came here, I couldn’t move my hips. 72
Jan/Feb 2015 | INMagTexas.com
Now look at me.” Thrilled to be able to show off her mobility, she lifts her legs high, as if leading a one-person parade, and laughs out loud. Not only can Linda sway to the doo-wop tunes echoing in the pool room during the Senior Splash class, she’s almost ready to take a stroll. “Water’s a great therapy,” she says. “I’ve been coming for the past two months. Already, I can use my walker a lot better.” That’s the whole point of exercising in the pool, experts say.
Healing Properties Water helps support body weight, which enables participants to strengthen muscles and build endurance. “This type of exercise puts zero stress on joints,” Senior Splash instructor Gay Tyra says. “Older people find it improves resistance, coordination, elasticity and strength.” Perhaps equally as important, group exercise sessions are fun and lift the spirits of participants. Gay guides her class of seniors through moves that range from straight leg kicks to arm rotations. “It’s really good for flexibility and range of motion,” she says. “They are moving all their muscles.” Temperature-controlled pools make it possible for exercisers to work out all year. Indoor salt water pools at many health and fitness centers are maintained at a comfy 88 degrees and provide soothing relief to sore joints. Group classes generally feature simple movements that play on resistance: walking, kicking, jogging in place and swinging the arms. For a greater challenge, Styrofoam-like “noodles” and other flotation devices are used to increase resistance. Nora Casida, 79, of Tyler, credits the Senior Splash class with helping her find relief from her aches. Nora suffers from arthritis. “My balance wasn’t so good when I started coming, but I didn’t let that stop me,” she says. “Now I come five days a week. It’s been a tremendous help to me, it really has … I don’t hurt as much anymore. I’d bet my life on it.”
Group Classes It’s a cold morning but water aerobics instructor Carolyn Davis, isn’t sweating the possibility of her students missing her Cardio Splash class. “Oh no, it can be freezing outside and (it is still) very pleasant in the pool,” she says, as she prepares to lead a class at the Mother Frances health system fitness center in Lindale. “I teach five morning classes and three night classes. When I first started coming, I had to walk with a cane.” She found exercising in a heated pool a quick cure for her ailments. Within six months, she didn’t need the cane and was embracing renewed strength and energy. That was nine years ago. She’s been leading the fitness classes for six years while the cane gathers dust at home. Students in her class range in age from the mid40s to upper-80s. Carolyn says she never tires of watching participants discover the benefits of exercising in water. Janet LeDet, 55, of Tyler, attends Carolyn’s classes. The former legal assistant and secretary is recovering from surgeries and fighting arthritis. Her physician recommended aquatic exercise as a healthy way to rebuild strength. She’s made remarkable improvements. “I was almost bedridden for a year and a half,” she says while walking in place in the pool. “It’s given me a lot of strength, physically, mentally and emotionally. It’s been wonderful … I haven’t regretted a minute.” Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com
73
LET IT
GO By Crystal Breaux | Courtesy Photo
A
t the start of a new year, most people begin a diet and exercise program and then, when confronted with life’s pressures, find stress too much of a challenge to stay on track. If you’ve been in that situation in the past, approach your healthy resolutions with different perspectives this year. It might not be external circumstances – such as lack of time, busy schedules, business pressures or even dealings with others – that are causing the stress that leads to failure. It could be that you’re stuck in old patterns. You might have attitudes and habits that you need to let go.
Exercise “I used to exercise every day, but now I can’t seem to find the time or energy.” If that sounds familiar, think about what was happening when you exercised regularly. How is your life different today? You might be trying to follow an exercise regime that no longer fits your lifestyle. Are you holding on to the mindset that exercise must be done at a specific time and place and for a specific duration? Develop a new exercise regime that fits into your life now.
Healthy Diet “I know what I should eat, but I just don’t seem to do it”
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If this is your situation, perhaps you are ignoring the problem that is leading to unhealthy eating decisions. Are you finding comfort in food because a need for approval is causing insecurities? Are you using food for relief because you don’t manage stress in a healthy way? Are you not eating enough food because you fear gaining any weight at all and being “imperfect?” Let go of trying to please everyone or comparing yourself to others. It’s time to be who you were created to be and find contentment with who you are. Once you discover your purpose in life, you can let go of worrying about what others think.
Mental Wellbeing There was a time when I managed stress by exercising and eating healthy, but failed to address what was causing the stress. Eventually, I realized that my stress was caused by my need to control every situation. It was a peaceful day when I finally acknowledged that I am not the controller of the entire universe. Let go of thinking that everything must be done a specific way and that you must maintain a specific schedule. Let go of unrealistic expectations of yourself and others. If you do, you just might discover that you really can maintain an exercise and healthy eating program this year. Crystal Breaux designs exercise and eating plans for busy women. To learn more, go to www.yourfitness.com.
Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com
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Enjoy the Ride By Leslie Harrison| Courtesy Photo
I
have a vivid childhood memory of my grandmother leaning over to point out a woman nearby. “That woman is stressed,” my grandmother reported with confidence, “the way she is pressing her lips together and the shape of her mouth makes this clear.” I can’t begin to fathom why this made such an impression on me, but I think about it often. What strikes me as ironic is that we feel stressed out despite being surrounded by all kinds of tools that make our lives comfortable and convenient. Need a question answered? Pull out your Smartphone and wait for an answer. Driving around and get lost? Press a button or two on the vehicle navigation system. Need to buy a gift? Make a purchase via a website from the comfort of your living room. But no matter what modern conveniences are at our fingertips (literally), the majority of us are wired to have some level of anxiety.
New Attitude While we may not be able to avoid all stress, we can control how we respond to situations that could cause stress. Recently I found myself dreading having to get through another busy week of activities. When finally the end of my to-do list was in sight, I had to keep adding more tasks – more school 76
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athletic events, classes to teach, homework to check, carpools to organize. Caught in a cycle of never-ending tasks and stress, I started asking, “Is this what it’s all about?” The way I was approaching my life as a working mother with three active kids was making me consider high tailing it to a tropical island – alone. My attitude was stripping the joy from everything I was doing. I had to remind myself that these activities were much more than obligations. I now view my children’s athletic games, homework and carpools not as items on a list to be crossed off, but as events to be enjoyed. At athletic games, instead of sitting there and worrying about what is next on the to-do list, I take delight in watching my children play. Interacting with my children during the carpool – instead of spending that time behind the wheel thinking about all that needs to be done – makes me feel a part of their lives. The “task” of going over their homework is an opportunity to hear how much they have learned about a subject, which makes me proud. I refuse to define my life as busy. Busy carries the negative connotations of not having enough time to do what you want, being stressed and filled with anxiety. Instead, I define my life as full. I feel fortunate to be able to go to my kids’ events, help them with homework and drive them to places and to be considered knowledgeable and motivating in my own work. Now, I choose to enjoy the ride.
Special Section: Medical GUIDE
Medical GUIDE Special Supplement to IN Magazine January - February 2015
From hospitals to home health agencies and private practices to academia, health care is an intrinsic part of the socio-economic climate of the area. People come from all over the state – and beyond – to avail themselves of the very best medical opportunities available here in the region.
You Want Her to Get the Best of Care But you can’t always be there to help!
The medical professionals at Bethany HomeHealth will treat her like family. We’re there for you. • • • • • •
Skilled Nurses (RV/LVN) Physical/Occupational/Speech Therapists Home Health Aides • Medical Social Workers Certified Ostomy/Wound Care • Infusion Services Diabetic/Insulin Management • Cardiovascular Management Low Vision Enrichment Program • Teaching Disease/Symptom Management for Common Chronic Diseases A Licensed and Certified Medicare and Medicaid agency by the State of Texas.
Tyler: Longview: Lufkin: Nacogdoches:
www.BethanyHealthcare.com
903-593-1234 903-553-0056 936-699-2744 936-569-2949
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Special Section: Medical GUIDE
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Special Section: Medical GUIDE
William Brelsford, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.R. Internist, Rheumatologist
Arthritis & Osteoporosis Clinic of East Texas, P.A. 1212 Clinic Dr. Tyler, Texas 75701 903.596.8858 www.Dr.Brelsford.com
Dr. William G. Brelsford was raised in Tyler in a medical family. His father was a surgeon here for many years, moving here after World War II. His mother grew up in Longview. Dr. Brelsford is an honor graduate of both Robert E. Lee High School and Southern Methodist University. After completing medical school in Galveston at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Dr. Brelsford completed his residency and fellowship training in Dallas and Shreveport. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology. Dr. Brelsford has authored and co-authored several publication in respected journals in Rheumatology. He has practiced rheumatology in East Texas for over 29 years. Dr. Brelsford is a member of the American Medical Association, Texas Medical Association, Smith County Medical Society, and is a fellow in the American College of Rheumatology and American College of Physicians. Dr. Brelsford owns the Arthritis and Osteoporosis Clinic of East Texas in Tyler. Dr. Brelsford is married to Peggy and they raised two kids, Kate and George. He enjoys hunting, golf and being with his family.
We provide diagnosis & treatment of: • Hand & Feet Joint injections • Bone Density Testing • IV Infusions to Arrest Arthritis & Osteoporosis We utiliize the latest treatments & technologies: • Rheumatoid Arthritis • Lupus • General Arthritis of Joints & Back • Osteoporosis • Other Auto-immune Disorders
William G. Brelsford, MD, FACR
903-596-8858 1212 Clinic Dr. Tyler, Texas 75703 www.drbrelsford.com
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We have a convenient on-site laboratory. Contact us today & arrange an appointment.
Special Section: Medical GUIDE Special Section: Medical GUIDE
TYLER INTERNAL MEDICINE ASSOCIATES, P.A. 1910 ROSELAND BLD., TYLER TX 75701 TylerInternalMedicine.com 903.533.0644
Tyler Internal Medicine Associates has been serving the East Texas community for over fourteen years. We have sixteen providers, seven physicians and nine mid-levels. TIMA has been recognized for Meaningful Use, Bridges to Excellence and PQRI, which speaks volumes of the high quality of care we deliver. Dr. Ramiro Villena and Family Nurse Practitioner, Robin Villena, are a comprehensive team at Tyler Internal Medicine. Dr. Villena is board certified in Internal Medicine and has been in practice for over eleven years in Tyler. Robin Villena is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner, and has over ten years experience as a registered nurse here in Tyler, which includes critical care and outpatient services.
Both Dr. Villena and Robin Villena, FNP-C, offer new and same-day appointments, lunch-hour appointments, well woman exams, and provide care to adult patients suffering from a wide range of illnesses and diseases, from the very common to the very rare. Tyler Internal Medicine offers a full array of services, which include, but are not limited to, laboratory testing, ultrasound, MRI, X-ray, cardiac and lung function testing under one roof. At TIMA we pride ourselves in being “small enough to care, but large enough to provide quality care.�
Please visit our website at TylerInternalMedicine.com to learn more about our providers and full range of services. Medicare and most commercial insurances are accepted.
TylerInternalMedicine.com
Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com
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Special Section: Medical GUIDE
We Care. You’ll See.
Virginia B. Beall, MD, FACS Thomas W. Bochow, MD, MPH Gregory D. Kiblinger, MD C. Jeffrey Pennell, MD, FACS Jon T. Schreiber, MD, FACS Jeffrey P. Wick, MD, MS Troy B. Cooper, OD Bryan E. Frazier, OD, FAAO
11 Eyecare Professionals... 4 Locations... 4 Optical Shops and East Texas’ first free-standing outpatient ambulatory surgery center dedicated exclusively to eye surgery, combined to make EYECARE ASSOCIATES the largest most recognized provider of eye services in East Texas. Whether it is simply a routine exam for contact lenses or reading glasses or involves complex cataract, glaucoma, LASIK, cornea, or retina services, we are ready to serve you. We have the best EYECARE team and state-of-the-art technology to provide you, our patient, with the best EYECARE in East Texas!
Valerie Mace, OD Carey G. Prater, OD, FAAO John S. Whorff, OD, PhD
2440 East Fifth Street Tyler, TX 75701 82
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Your Vision has always been Our Vision!
www.EyeCareTyler.com SATELLITE OFFICES Athens • Lindale • Winnsboro
903-595-0500 1-800-595-2040
Special Section: Medical GUIDE
6770 Old Jacksonville Highway | Suite 102 | Tyler, TX 75703
Welcome to the Future of
Special Section: Medical GUIDE
Healthcare!
Now it is more important than ever to take action about your own health.
Dr. David Flynn DC
At East Texas Doctors of Chiropractic we can prescribe and teach you ways to avoid certain health problems and conditions. We accomplish this by utilizing specific exercises, therapy, education, chiropractic manipulation acupuncture, and nutrition.
Conditions we treat...
Dr. Flynn is qualified and has successfully treated spine conditions as well as other health problems.
• Neck pain and back pain • Knee pain, ankle pain, foot pain • Shoulder pain, elbow pain, hand pain • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome • Arthritis Pain • Heart Disease • Sports injury prevention • Nutrition Disorders
903-617-6106 EastTexasPainRelief.com
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Special Section: Medical GUIDE
Chiropractic Care for the whole family
We’re here to handle all of your family’s chiropractic needs with a compassionate touch.
New Patients & Walk-Ins Welcome Call 903-561-6676 to schedule an appointment.
• Chiropractic Care • Acupuncture • Massage
• Pain Management • Nutritional Counseling
• School & Employment Physicals
• DOT Physicals
Health & Wellness for a LIFETIME
2140 W. Grande Blvd, Suite A • Tyler, TX 903-561-6676 • www.bratcherchiropractic.com
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Dr. Luther B. Bratcher, D.C.
Dr. William X. Bratcher, D.C.
A3i and TruLink are compatible with iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5, iPhone 4s, iPad Air, iPad (4th generation), iPad mini w “Made for iPhone,” and “Made for iPad” mean that an electronic accessory has been designed to connect specifically to iP Apple performance standards. Apple is not responsible for the operation of this device or its compliance with safety and re iPad may affect wireless performance. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPad and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple Inc., re
Visit us online at: www.SoYouMayHear.com
(903) 561-9992
Audibel Hearing Technologies
5100 Old Bullard Rd., Ste. A • Tyler, TX 75703 Spaces are limited - call for an appointment!
• Stream calls from your iPhone directly to your hearing • Deliver pristine sound and exceptional listening clarit • Help you hear comfortably in noise • Eliminate buzzing and whistling • Stream FaceTime®, music and more directly to your he
Audibel A3i™ hearing aids Hearing Control app. Toge and are designed to:
INTRODUCING AUDIBEL A3i ™ © 2013 Audibel. All Rights Reserved.
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Under New Management
Special Section: Medical GUIDE
The Made for iPhone® Hearing Aid.
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Hearing Aid. Permanent Cosmetics, yoga, massage, Jane Iredale Cosmetics and more! 2140 W Grande Blvd Suite C | Tyler, TX (903)581-6505 | www.dermedicstyler.com
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5100 Old BullardHearing Rd., Ste. ATechnologies • Tyler, TX 75703 Audibel Spaces are limited - call for an appointment!
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It’s hard for him to keep up with his medications © 2013 Audibel. All Rights Reserved.
You wish you could be there to help!
The medical professionals at Bethany HomeHealth will treat him like family. We’re there for you. • • • •
Medication Management • Certified Ostomy/Wound Care Infusion Services • Diabetic/Insulin Management Cardiovascular Management • Low Vision Enrichment Program Teaching Disease/Symptom Management for Common Chronic Diseases
• Skilled Nurses (RV/LVN) • Physical/Occupational/Speech Therapists • Medical Social Workers • Home Health Aides
A Licensed and Certified Medicare and Medicaid agency by the State of Texas.
Tyler: Lufkin:
903-593-1234 936-699-2744
Longview: 903-553-0056 Nacogdoches: 936-569-2949
www.BethanyHealthcare.com
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Special Section: Medical GUIDE
Just What the Doctor Ordered
Here at Meadow Lake, you don't just move into a new home, you move into a new lifestyle!
Custom Compounding, HRT, IV, Veterinary
Independent Living at Meadow Lake Senior Living Community After spending decades cleaning house, doing laundry and cooking meals for yourself and others, now is the time for you! Let us take care of life's chores while you relax and leave worries behind. Live in your own executive home or apartment while enjoying our extensive list of campus amenities:
Stephenson Pharmacy
Secure, gated community Beautifully landscaped grounds Warm, welcoming club house 5-star dining and casual grill Private dining room for entertaining Catering services for private parties Arts and crafts center Library Cards and game room
Clubs, classes and hobby groups Full service banking Five-acre lake stocked with fish Walking trails Rustic community lodge for entertaining Country store Hair salon Postal center
1000 South Fleishel • Tyler
16044 CR 165 Tyler, TX 75703
Patrick J. Healy, R.PH. Compounding Pharmacist
903-593-0236 86
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903.526.5599
meadowlakeliving.org
AL#132336
Sears Methodist Retirement System, Inc. has developed criteria without regard to the resident's race, color, national origin, religion, sex, handicap, age or political beliefs. A 501(c)3 not for profit organization.
Special Section: Medical GUIDE
CRAIG
• Fast, Friendly Service • Individual and Personal Attention • Generic Prescriptions Available • No Waiting in Lines
PHARMACY
• FREE Delivery to Home or Office • NEW Location
Green Acres Shopping Center 1863 Troup Hwy • Tyler, TX • 903-595-3737 • www.craigpharmacy.com
At Meadow Lake, we believe memories are important.
Hickory Oaks Memory Care This is a special place within the healthcare center dedicated to treating and accommodating the behaviors and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. This neighborhood features private rooms with private baths, dementia-centered activities, and access to a central courtyard with walking paths. Specially-trained activity staff use person-centered care to identify capabilities, previous roles, habits, and interests of each individual resident to ensure customized activities and care plans. Our specialized memory care programming provides activities in an environment that is meaningful, purposeful, and success-oriented. The activities program focuses on meeting the social, physical, emotional, spiritual, and cognitive needs of our residents. 16044 CR 165 Tyler, TX 75703
903.526.5599
meadowlakeliving.org
AL#132336
Sears Methodist Retirement System, Inc. has developed criteria without regard to the resident's race, color, national origin, religion, sex, handicap, age or political beliefs. A 501(c)3 not for profit organization.
Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com
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Special Section: Medical GUIDE
THE brEAsT cEnTEr AT UT HEALTH nOrTHEAsT
Why Choose Us?
Ultram
g t Parkin e l a odern Tec V e e r F hnology • Expert & Compassionate Staff •
Our beautiful, new Breast Center at UT Health Northeast is located in a setting so tranquil that it calms the spirit and soothes the mind. It’s also home to the newest and most ultramodern diagnostic technology available today. From your annual mammogram to advanced care and treatment for breast cancer and other diseases of the breast, our wide array of highly advanced imaging tools and procedures can identify tumors in their earliest stages – allowing us to provide the best care possible to our patients.
UT HealTH NorTHeasT
(903) 877-7110 | Hwy. 271 at Hwy. 155
UNiversiTy HealTH CliNiC (digital screening mammography without symptoms)
(903) 939-7870 | 3310 Patriot Dr., Tyler We accept Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and most private insurance.
• Digital Screening and Diagnostic Mammography • Breast Tomosynthesis (3-Dimensional Mammography) • Standard Ultrasound and 3-Dimensional Breast Ultrasound • Molecular Breast Imaging • Contrast-Enhanced Breast Imaging • Breast MRI Our advanced technology, combined with a team of caring and highly skilled physicians, surgeons, nurses, and support staff, makes The Breast Center at UT Health Northeast a true destination of hope.
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HIGHWAY 271 AT 155
Healing Just Feels Better Here.
UTHEALTH.OrG
Special Section: Medical GUIDE
CAnCEr TrEATmEnT And PrEvEnTIOn CEnTEr
Advanc ed
nience Specialists • Ultramodern Technology • Comfort & Conve
As part of the world-renowned University of Texas System and the only university medical center in our region, we have treated patients with cancer for over three decades. Our Cancer Treatment and Prevention Center was designed with the most important people at the forefront of every decision we made – our patients.
Our technology superstars are our Varian TrueBeam and TrueBeam STX – the next generation of radiation therapy. This radically new cancer treatment is not only faster, but more powerful, precise, and accurate – targeting the cancer and minimizing exposure to healthy tissue. To schedule an appointment, refer a patient, or for more information – call:
It is home to a team of expert and experienced cancer specialists, ultramodern technology that rivals that of national cancer centers, and a facility focused on patient comfort and convenience – all under one roof.
(903) 877-7831 1 (855) 506-HOPE (Toll-Free) Healing Just Feels Better Here. We accept Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and most private insurance.
HIGHWAY 271 AT 155
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Raghavendra V. Ghuge, MD., D, ABSM, FAASM Dr. R. V. Ghuge’s Sleep institute of Texas, is a comprehensive sleep disorder center accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Dr. Raghavendra V. Ghuge is a compassionate and caring physician with a passion for accurate, rapid and effective diagnosis and treatment of sleep related problems in patients. Dr. Ghuge trained in Sleep Medicine at UT Southwestern in Dallas. He is the only sleep physician, trained in adult and pediatric sleep disorders in Tyler. Many suffer from sleep apnea, a condition associated with more serious conditions such as heart diseases coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, cardiac rhythm problems, stroke and dementia. Dr. Ghuge offers clinical evaluation and consultations for patients from 18 months to adults, as well as overnight and daytime sleep studies for shift workers, sleep studies for DOT, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, snoring and insomnia. Some patients benefit from Dr. Ghuge’s customized mandibular advancement device (oral appliance) while patients with long term hypertension can benefit from the state-of-the-art blood pressure monitoring system in the sleep lab. Treatment of sleep apnea patients can include use of CPAP or BiPAP machines which are readily made available at the durable medical equipment office inside the Sleep Medicine institute of Texas. Dr Ghuge is THE doctor to call for sleep problems. 115 W 5th Street, Tyler, Texas 75701. 903-787-7533 www.sleeptyler.com
Sleep Apnea • ADD/ADHD • Insomnia • Restless Leg Syndrome Periodic Limb Movement • REM Sleep Behavior • Sleep Walking 115 West Fifth Street • Tyler • 903.787.7533 • www.sleeptyler.com 90
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Special Section: Medical GUIDE
CUTTING-EDGE CANCER RESEARCH IN EAST TEXAS From Drs. Donald Richards in Tyler and Matei Socoteanu in Longview. Texas Oncology in Tyler and Longview are part of the US Oncology Research Network, one of the strongest and most reputable research networks in the world. Recognized by American Society of Clinical Oncology as a leader in research, Texas Oncology in Tyler and Longview are given access to clinical trial agents that otherwise would not be available in East Texas. This allows patients to stay close to home and receive benefits of cutting-edge therapies.
What are some of the promising clinical research taking place at Texas Oncology in Tyler and Longview? Dr. Donald Richards
The most exciting breakthrough in cancer research is the ability to reactivate the immune system, which can actively battle cancer. Unfortunately, cancer can turn off the immune system. Many times cancer tumors are infiltrated with immune T-cells that appear to have been “turned off.” When this happens, cancer grows unchecked. In development are “agents” that either stop or reverse this process by reawakening the immune system to the point that it can recognize and destroy cancer cells. We have a number of clinical trials taking place using these agents.
What are other promising areas in cancer research?
Dr. Matei Socoteanu
Cancer develops secondary to a series of mutations. Some mutations do not affect cancer cell growth while others “drive” the cancer cell and cause it to grow uncontrollably. By identifying “driver mutations,” we can potentially stop cancer cells from growing. We know that there are driver mutations in lung cancer which can be effectively targeted with medications. Texas Oncology in Tyler and Longview are involved in clinical trials that enroll patients based on a mutation in their tumor. We hope these agents can treat their cancer by targeting that mutation. We hope that as we identify more driver mutations and the agents that target them, we will be able to improve cancer care.
How expensive is participation in clinical trials for patients?
Treatments in clinical study are provided to our patients for free. Clinical trials pay for the study agents and anything that is unique to that specific trial. Patients are billed for standard-of-care costs which typically are covered by insurance. Being involved in a clinical trial should not be more expensive than standard-of-care medicine. The advantage of a clinical trial, besides being able to get newer treatments before FDA approval, means that the patient is under the care of not only our regular team but also our outstanding research nurses.
Will there eventually be a cure for cancer?
We do not know whether the word “cure” will be applicable. However, we hope to see cancer becoming a chronic disease, such as hypertension and coronary artery disease, and the survival for patients with cancer improve dramatically. The most effective way to make that happen is to increase participation in clinical trials and advance successful therapies as quickly as possible. Many patients take part in clinical trials in hope of moving the field of cancer treatment forward. They want to improve outcomes for their family, friends and other patients affected by this disease.
TEXAS ONCOLOGY More breakthroughs, more victories
www.TexasOncology.com
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Are you living up to your full potential? Men and women can feel healthy, vibrant and sexy at any age. Regain your Healthy Balance with...
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Without the unwanted side effects of Traditional Synthetic Hormone Replacement! David K. Fletcher MD, ABAARM 816 S. FLEISHEL AVE • TYLER • 903.592.2999
WWW.LIVINGYOUNGER.ORG 94
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Why Not... Live Life to it’s Fullest! Do these symptoms sound familiar? • Depression, Irritability, Mood Swings • Extreme Fatigue, Difficulty Sleeping • Lack of Sexual Desire • Memory Loss/Mental Fog • Joint Pain, Night Sweats, Hot Flashes • Weight Gain...
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BioTE® POWERING PEOPLE WITH PELLETS! David K. Fletcher MD, ABAARM 816 S. FLEISHEL AVE • TYLER 903.592.2999
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How To Treat Your Pain Without Medication or Surgery. By: Dr. Chris Jones, D.C. Back pain, neck pain, sciatica, Neuropathy, and other pain steals the moments you love and treasure most in life vacationing, sports, gardening, walking, and playing with your kids and grandkids.
Don’t Lose Hope! I know how frustrating it is to have hope that a treatment, drug, or supplement is going to cure you, but it doesn’t. There is one reason why most of these miracle cures didn’t work. These “cures” for your pain don’t diagnose and, most importantly, FIX the cause of your pain.
The Cause of Most Pain The cause of most pain is from biomechanical issues in the spine. Over time, or because of injury, your spine degenerates putting pressure on nerves and causing pains. In order to truly treat your pain, you have to correct the issues in the spine. If you can stop the degeneration and even correct some of it, your pain will be reduced and your body can being the process of healing itself like it was designed to do!
The Solution: CoreCare by Renuva And that’s what we do at Renuva Back and Pain Centers. With CoreCare, our proprietary treatment protocol, we help you resolve your pain without surgery or medications and help your body heal itself. CoreCare is a methodical, tested, proven, and scientific approach to actually healing your pain by correcting the fundamental biomechanical issues happening right now in your body.
How to See if CoreCare Will Work For You? The only way to find out if CoreCare will work for you is to schedule a CoreCare examination. Our examination process seeks to identify the exact cause of your pain before giving you a treatment recommendation. In fact, we hear from our patients that we are the only place where the doctor has taken the time and effort to truly explain the cause of their pain. For only $39, you will receive: • An in-depth consultation about your health and well-being where I will listen...really listen...to the details of your case. • A complete neuromuscular evaluation. • A full evaluation to determine if a spinal problem is contributing to your pain or symptoms... • A thorough analysis of our findings so we can start mapping out your treatment plan. • Plus two treatments to see if we can help!
This is a $257 value that we are offering to you for only $39. Don’t you owe it to yourself to see if CoreCare will work for you? Call 903-484-4126 between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm Monday through Friday to schedule your appointment. Be sure to call as soon as possible to get on our schedule to avoid waiting for a spot to open!
Vital Act CPR & First Aid Training offers education to groups and individuals on how to handle medical emergency situations quickly, calmly, and knowledgeably. We want to arm everyone – healthcare professionals, babysitters, caretakers, parents, neighbors & friends – with the confidence to take action and save a life.
2301 South Broadway, Suite B5 Tyler, Texas 75701
RenuvaTyler.com
2 TREATMENTS FREE INCLUDES: Exam, X-Rays (if needed) and 2 Treatments
for only
39
903-484-4126 98
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903-944-7599 www.vital-act.com 1800 Shiloh Rd, suite 203
NO WAITING ROOM NO EMERGENC Y ROOM
JUST HER ROOM
Medical GUIDE
When you or a loved one are recovering from an illness, injury or surgery, you want to be where you are most comfortable – in your own home. At Genesis HomeCare, our nurses, therapists or certified wound care nurses are able to bring the quality, skilled medical care you need in the comfort of your home. So, remember to ask your doctor if HomeCare is right for you and your recovery. You will find peace of mind receiving care where you or your loved one are most comfortable – in your home.
(800) 947-0273 • GenesisHomeCare.net
NURSING • ASSISTANT OTA • PARAMEDIC • PTA • OTA • RT • PHARMACY TECHNICIAN • MEDICAL | APPLY NOW @ BPCC.EDU MEDICAL • NURSING • OTA • PARAMEDIC • PHARMACY TECHNICIAN • PTAASSISTANT • RT | APPLY NOW @ BPCC.EDU
Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com
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The World’s First ProteusONE™ Proton Therapy System Now at Willis-Knighton Willis-Knighton Cancer Center is the first cancer center in the world to offer revolutionary radiation therapy treatment with ProteusONE™. This unique pencil beam scanning (PBS) system delivers radiation into the tumor, conforming exactly to the shape of the tumor while protecting the surrounding healthy tissue. WK Proton Therapy Center at the Willis-Knighton Cancer Center will treat the following cancers: Prostate Brain Central Nervous System Pelvic & Abdominal (pancreatic, rectal, anal, vulvar) Head & Neck
Learn more and view videos at wkproton.com or call (318) 212-4639. 100 Jan/Feb 2015 | INMagTexas.com
Breast If you or a loved one is facing a diagnosis of cancer, you owe it to yourself to discover more about this revolutionary technology.
Special Section: Medical GUIDE
Proton Therapy Advances Cancer Care in Ark-La-Tex
I
n early September, 2014, Willis-Knighton Cancer Center heralded the beginning of a new era of cancer care for patients in the Ark-La-Tex when the first patient was treated at its innovative Proton Therapy Center. Today, it is bringing regional, national and international attention to our area with ProteusONE™, a compact pencil beam scanning unit, which is the first of its kind in the world. This leading-edge treatment is the most precise form of radiation therapy available today, directing the energy of protons (very tiny parts of the atom) into the tumor with great precision. The protons match the exact shape of a tumor, and give less radiation to the healthy organs and tissue surrounding it. Unlike more traditional forms of radiation therapy, even image guided radiation therapy like TomoTherapy, proton therapy stops inside the tumor, targeting only the cancer itself. Patients and physicians seek out this technology because it not only provides exceptional targeting of tumors, but it also alleviates many of the side effects found with other cancer therapies. Studies at leading institutions like MD Anderson Cancer Center, the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard have affirmed a decrease in side effects. The WK Proton Therapy Center anticipates expanded treatment of multiple diseases in addition to prostate cancer, including brain, central nervous system, cancers in the pelvic and abdominal area like rectal and pancreatic cancer, head and neck, and breast cancer. Patients treated at the WK Proton Therapy Center are being followed as a part of active clinical trials. Willis-Knighton is participating in a randomized trial for patients with prostate cancer to prove the effectiveness of proton therapy over traditional radiation. In 2015 the physicians at Willis-Knighton will begin treating patients with head and neck cancers with proton therapy. These patients typically experience substantial side effects with radiation therapy but early studies have shown that patients who receive proton therapy are able to maintain salivation, do not lose taste in their mouth, and often do not lose weight. These side effects are very problematic for patients and often result in breaks in treatment which are often harmful for the patients. Willis-Knighton will also begin a clinical trial to study the use of proton therapy in patients with breast cancer. The trial will compare patients with traditional radiation therapy and those with proton therapy which can decrease, or eliminate, radiation to the lung and heart. Studies have shown that radiation to the heart can cause late complications such as congestive heart failure and heart attack later in life. Throughout its history Willis-Knighton Cancer Center has been a leader in innovative technologies and has gained national and international recognition in the treatment of cancer. This commitment to the latest techniques and technology brings the advanced cancer care within a convenient drive for most patients in our area, allowing them to remain at home for their care. Additional information about proton therapy at Willis-Knighton is available at wkproton.com.
(318) 212-4639 • Learn more and view videos at wkproton.com
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CSB Express - La Piazza Shopping Center 4815 Old Bullard Road, Suite 107, Tyler, TX
Collin Street Bakery (on I-20 next to Hideaway Lake) 17044 I-20, Lindale, TX
Drop in our two conveniently located Tyler area bakeshops
Come in for coffee and pastries… join us for lunch… or shop our many other tasty goodCookies, Cakes, Breads, Pies, World Famous Fruitcake, along with
102 Jan/Feb 2015 | INMagTexas.com
www.collinstreet.com
Food & Culture
Food
Courtesy Photo Victor Texcucano
> A Tyler Native is spicing up Wisconsin cheese, 104 > Dining Guide, 108
culture
> How to master First Monday, 114 > Orchestrating Success, 116
Events
> Calendar of Events, 110
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A Tyler native is spicing up Wisconsin cheese
W
By Aimee Robinson | Photos By Peter DiAntoni
isconsin may be the cheese state, but it didn’t embrace pimento cheese until a Tyler native came along. Martha Davis Kipcak left Tyler in 1974. A string of events led her to move to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she fell in love with the city’s culture, food and people. But she missed the Southern cooking she grew up eating. “(It’s) what folks up here call soul food but back home we just called it dinner,” says Martha. She tapped into her Southern culinary heritage and opened a catering company, Mighty Fine Food. Thanks to word of mouth, she soon was attracting clients across the city. There was a buzz
about her ability to combine the best of Wisconsin and southern cooking traditions. An advocate for promoting local growers, she insisted on buying all her products from farmers in the Milwaukee area. Martha told potential catering clients that she only uses foods that are fresh and in season and always displays information about the farmers who grew the food. “Once you know (where food comes from), you can’t unknow,” says Martha.
Southern Tradition Although Milwaukee has some of the best cheese in the world, | Cont. on page 106
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Pimento
PAIRINGS
Martha’s Pimento Cheese works well on a sandwich, as a topping, a dip and as an ingredient in recipes. v On a sandwich paired with crispy bacon and tomato served with good quality white, brown, black or raisin bread v With salty pretzels and a favorite craft beer v As a dip with artisan crackers v As a topping on a burger or hot dog v Added, along with a splash of milk, into cooked pasta v Spooned onto a hot, oven roasted potato v Served with apples or pears v Stuffed into celery or sweet peppers v Dolloped into corn grits for breakfast, lunch or dinner v Mixed into scrambled eggs or tucked into an omelet
106 Jan/Feb 2015 | INMagTexas.com
| Cont. from page 104 Martha realized that pimento cheese spread, a staple back in East Texas, was nowhere to be found. In November 2012, Martha used a family recipe and launched Martha’s Pimento Cheese, a line of artisan products featuring aged white cheddar from the Cedar Gove Cheese Factory, one of Wisconsin’s oldest cheese producers. The aged cheddar adds a sharp flavor and the roasted pimento peppers and mayonnaise add a spicy kick and creaminess, praises many reviews of her products. Martha admits that her adopted role of promoting Southern pimento cheese in the Midwest has been harder than she thought it would be. “They just don’t know what to do with it,” she says. “You would never ask a Southerner what to do with pimento cheese.” A huge test of quality and taste came when Martha entered her spreads in the 2013 American Cheese Society competition, the most prestigious competition of its kind in the nation.
Held in Madison, Wisconsin, it featured 1,794 products from 257 North American companies. Martha’s Pimento Cheese took first place and Martha’s Pimento Cheese with Jalapeños took second place indisputably establishing her spreads among the tastiest cheese products being made today. The judges didn’t even take into account the sustainable packaging used. The packing is made of corn-based plastic (rather than the less expensive petroleum-based plastic), a renewable resource. Martha’s specialty cheese spreads are sold at many retailers in the Midwest but are not yet available in East Texas, where Martha still holds dear to her roots (she drives a vehicle with license plates that say Lonestar). Martha hopes to change that. She is in touch with grocers in Oklahoma and Texas. “I would love to have my cheese in Texas and I would love to have my product sold in my hometown.”
Pimento
RECIPE
Cornbread Ingredients 2 cups stoneground cornmeal 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp Kosher salt 1 8 ounce container Martha's Pimento Cheese 1 cup buttermilk 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted 3 large eggs, slightly beaten 1 cup whole kernal corn (fresh or frozen)
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place cast iron pan (8-10" size pan fine) in oven to heat. 2. Mix cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda and salt together in medium sized bowl. Crumble entire container of MPC into bowl of dry ingredients in small pieces. Toss gently. 3. Mix together buttermilk, 3 slightly beaten eggs, and 3 tbsp melted butter in small bowl. 4. Place remaining 1 tbsp butter in hot cast iron pan, rolling the pan carefully (use oven mitts) to ensure butter covers entire bottom of pan. 5. Fold wet buttermilk ingredients into dry cornmeal ingredients until fully incorporated but not overstirred. Fold in corn at the end. 6. Spoon ingredients into hot cast iron pan, spread evenly, and return to oven. 7. Bake for 30 minutes or until fully set and golden. Makes 8 generous servings. Enjoy!
~ Martha Davis Kipcak
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Dakotas -Prime Steak & ChopHouse-
Dakotas Prime Steak and ChopHouse is ranked one of America’s #1 steakhouses and for good reason. Our steaks are USDA prime, our portions are big and our drinks are stiff. We’ve been in the same location for over 12 years. Our servers are experienced and professional and our wine list is carefully designed. Wednesday's night is Ladies night, 1/2 OFF drinks. Linda Rudd and Steve Helmuth are bringing exciting changes to Dakotas with their new ownership. Lunch 11am-2pm | Dinner 5pm-10pm | Bar 4pm-Midnight Monday-Saturday | Closed Sunday | Happy Hour Monday-Friday 4-7pm
5377 S. Broadway Avenue | Tyler, TX | 903-581-6700 www.dakotasprimesteakandchophouse.com
Bernard’s
Bernard’s was envisioned as a getaway, where all East Texans could escape to and experience the great tastes of the Mediterranean. With that in mind, we have paid special attention to the relaxing atmosphere and the extraordinary tastes you will experience at Bernard’s. Lunch 11am-2pm Tues.-Fri. | Dinner 5:30pm-10pm Mon.-Sat. Reservations are recommended.
212 Grande Blvd | Tyler, TX | 903-534-0265 www.bernardsintyler.com
Yamato
Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar Enjoy and experience our thrilling Hibachi show as our Hibachi chef entertains your tastebuds and excites your senses. Our sushi is remarkably unique, using only the finest ingredients mixed with traditional Japanese techniques. Our award-winning, hand-crafted sushi is acclaimed all over East Texas. Let us cater your special event, or rent one of our large party rooms for an unforgettable evening. Happy Hour Mon-Thurs 5-7pm | Kids Eat Free Sundays Lunch Specials Mon-Fri | Open 7 Days
2210 WSW Loop 323 | Tyler | 903-534-1888 www.yamatotexas.com
Newk's Newk's is a fresh casual dining experience in a refreshing and stylish atmosphere with an emphasis on freshness and flavor. Serving fresh tossed salads, oven baked sandwiches, California style pizzas and made-from-scratch soups. Come in and enjoy for yourself, and see the many good reasons why everyone continues to come back to Newk's Eatery.
Longview Location Hours: Mon - Sun • 11am -10pm 110 East Loop 281 903-753-7000 108 Jan/Feb 2015 | INMagTexas.com
Tyler Location Hours: Mon - Sun • 11am - 9pm 3985 Old Jacksonville Hwy. 903-509-4646
Ribmaster’s “Stop By Our NEW Tyler Location!"
Visit us for the best tasting, fall off the bone ribs in East Texas. We also have smoked turkey, brisket, sausage, delicious homemade sides and desserts. We have All You Can Eat Ribs on Fridays and Saturdays.
Let us cater your Super Bowl tailgate parties! Surprise your Honey for Valentine's Day; we'll cater or stop by!
803A Hwy. 110 N Whitehouse, TX 903-839-0530
2301 S. Broadway, Ste A4 Tyler, TX 903-526-0538
312 N. Houston St. Bullard, TX 903-894-5016
Jake's
Jake’s Tyler Steaks & Seafood Rooftop Lounge is East Texas’ downtown dining destination. Imagine a romantic dinner for 2 watching the sunset over Tyler’s historic downtown square, happy hour drinks and appetizers after work, or on weekends dinner and drinks with friends listening to live music and no cover charge. Jakes Rooftop has something for everyone!
111 East Erwin Street | Tyler, TX | 903-526-0225 www.jakestyler.com
Breakers Its the hit of the season! Breakers all you can eat snow crab special. Come in every Monday night from 5 to 9 and get all you can eat with corn and potatoes. This special is for a limited time only so don't miss out!!
5106 Old Bullard Rd | Tyler, TX | 903-534-0161 www.breakerstyler.com
Three Z Azian Cuizine
Three Z is a locally owned restaurant specializing in Asian Fusion cuisine, and each dish is fresh and made to order just for you. Come visit us in our newly renovated space and enjoy Tyler’s hottest new restaurant! Catering | Curbside Takeout | Happy Hour every day 11-6 Hours are 11:00-9:00 Monday-Thursday; 11:00-10:00 Friday/Saturday
Located in the Times Square Shopping Center 5201 S. Broadway Suite 122 | Tyler, TX | (903) 525-9389 www.aziancuizine.com Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com
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CALENDAR Jan. & February OF EVENTS The Hot List for music, culture and adventure JANUARY
JAN. 15 Ballroom With a Twist 2 Cowan Center, Tyler
JAN. 23 The Inspiration of Broadway Whatley Center, Mount Pleasant
JAN. 16 Bach Luncheon Concert First Baptist Church, Longview
JAN. 23-25 East Texas Boat & RV Show Maude Cobb Complex, Longview
JAN. 9 Janet’s Planet Temple Theatre, Lufkin
JAN. 16 Schoolhouse Rock Live Temple Theatre, Lufkin JAN. 17 ETSO with Natalie MacMaster Cowan Center, Tyler
JAN. 23-25 ET Gem & Mineral Society Show Rose Garden Center, Tyler
JAN. 9 Linda Davis and Friends Liberty Hall, Tyler
JAN. 17 Eagle Fest Emory
JAN. 9 Saxsational Marshall Convention Center
JAN. 17 “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” Belcher Center, Longview
JAN. 10 “Litte Hope was Arson” The Old Firehouse in Edom
JAN. 17 Purefit Performance Fitness Expo Maude Cobb Center, Longview
JAN. 13 Saxsational Caldwell Auditorium, Tyler
JAN. 23 John Berry Belcher Center, Longview
JAN. 1-4 First Monday Trade Days Canton JAN. 3 All About Events Expo Harvey Center, Tyler
Mama Mia JAN . 25 “In The Mood” musical revue Belcher Center, Longview JAN. 26 “Mama Mia!” Cowan Center, Tyler JAN. 29 Tyler Business Expo Harvey Center JAN. 29-Feb.1 First Monday Trade Days Canton
110 Jan/Feb 2015 | INMagTexas.com
Ballroom With A Twist 2
JAN. 30-31, FEB. 1, 6-8 “Kitchen Witches” Lindale Community Theater
FEB. 7 Texarkana Symphony Orchestra Perot Theater
FEB. 19-21 “How I Learned to Drive” Temple Theater, Lufkin
JAN. 24 Viola and Friends Mount Vernon Music Hall
FEB. 9 East Texas Symphonic Band Belcher Center, Longview
FEB. 20 Casting Crowns Belcher Center, Longview
JAN. 29 Turtle Island Quartet with Nellie McKay Turner Auditorium, Nacogdoches
FEB. 12-15 “Almost, Maine” ETBU, Marshall
FEB. 20-22, 27-28, March 1 “The Man Who Came to Dinner” Henderson Civic Theater
FEB. 13 Nicholas David Belcher Center, Longview
FEB. 21 Longview Symphony Belcher Center, Longview
FEB. 13 An Evening at the Opera Liberty Hall, Tyler
FEB. 21 “Rumpelstiltskin” Liberty Hall, Tyler
FEBRUARY
FEB. 13 Jeanne Robertson Perot Theatre, Texarkana
FEB. 25-28 “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” Theatre TJC, Tyler
FEB. 5 Nicholas Sparks lecture Cowan Center, Tyler
FEB. 13 Super Scientific Circus Turner Auditorium, Nacogdoches
FEB. 5 Good Company Caldwell Auditorium, Tyler
FEB. 14 “Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse” Belcher Center, Longview
FEB. 5 Laura Schroff lecture Whatley Center, Mount Pleasant
FEB. 14 Death By Chocolate Maude Cobb Center, Longview
FEB. 5-8 “Treasure Island” Tyler Civic Theatre Center
FEB. 14 Ringo Starr Cowan Center, Tyler
FEB. 6-8 East Texas Home & Garden Show Maude Cobb Center, Longview
FEB. 14 Valentine Moonlight Special Texas State Railroad, Palestine
FEB. 6-8 Up River Mardi Gras Jefferson
FEB. 15 High School Art Competition Tyler Museum of Art
FEB. 26-March 1 First Monday Trade Days Canton
FEB. 7 Elvis Lives! Belcher Center, Longview
FEB. 14 Joe Nichols Banita Creek Hall, Nacogdoches
FEB. 28 "In the Heat of the Night" radio play Temple Theater, Lufkin
FEB. 7 A Taste of New Orleans Palestine
FEB, 17 Kodo One Earth Tour: Mystery Cowan Center, Tyler
FEB. 29 Turtle Island Quartet Turner Auditorium, Nacogdoches
FEB. 7 Oldest Town in Texas Road Show Liberty Hall, Tyler
FEB. 17 Spencers: Theater of Illusion The Pines Theater, Lufkin
JAN. 30 “Junie B. Jones” Turner Auditorium, Nacogdoches JAN. 31 ETSO Family Concert Liberty Hall, Tyler
KODO
Want your event on our calendar?
email the details to danny@inmagtexas.com
Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com
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888.GAL.ISLE
EVENTS JAN 10-24
SINGING
Galveston Restaurant Week
“Galveston, Oh Galveston”? SCAN HERE!
112 Jan/Feb 2015 | INMagTexas.com
FEB 6-17
Mardi Gras! Galveston
WWW.GALVESTON.COM
APR 9-12
FeatherFest
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How to master
First Monday
A
By Jennifer Babisak | Courtesy Photos
fter admiring the unique finds that my friends have snatched up on excursions to Canton’s First Monday Trade Days, I decided that I needed to check out the treasure hunt myself. Even better, I convinced my sister to meet me in Canton for a girl’s day of chatting, eating and, of course, shopping. Along the way, we gained perspective on how to tackle Trade Days like a seasoned shopper. The name First Monday can be confusing for newbies. Trade Days actually runs from Thursday to Sunday preceding the First Monday of each month. The name nods to Canton’s history. Starting in the 1850s, a circuit judge would visit Canton on the first Monday of each month. The prospect of watching court hearings drew a crowd. Naturally trade and commerce developed surrounding the First Monday judge’s visit. Trade Days no longer includes shopping on a Monday but it keeps the name. When we arrived, we quickly realized just how popular Trade Days is. Acres and acres of parking around the grounds fill up quickly as thousands converge on the small town just off Interstate 20 between Tyler and Dallas. We were directed to parking spots at the back of a grassy lot and paid the attendant (most parking costs around $5). We arrived in Canton on Saturday, the day of the biggest crowds. We soon were wishing that we had visited on one of the off-peak times. A smaller crowd would have made it easier to browse through the popular merchandise and spend less time in food lines. Thankfully, we wore comfortable clothing and comfortable shoes. Trade Days grounds span nearly 400 acres, meaning that you simultaneously are getting your shopping fix and your walking workout. Scooters are available for rent, which make a Trade Days’ excursion accessible for those with limited mobility. My sister, smart cookie that she is, brought an empty stroller for us to load our purchases into. We noticed that most Trade Days shoppers pushed strollers or special carts designed for such a shopping experience. Many of the Trade Days vendors offer architectural remnants, paintings and other bulky items that you wouldn’t want to lug around all day, so the carts come in handy. If purchasing large items, like furniture, you can get a pass from the vendor that will allow you to drive onto the grounds and load your items. Speaking of strollers, ours started out empty, meaning that we left the kids at home. I thought about bringing my shopa-holic little girls, but I’m glad I didn’t. While Trade Days is a family-friendly outing – there are even small rides to entertain the kids – it is much easier to navigate through the crowds without worrying about little ones getting lost.
Canton’s sprawling First Monday Trade Days, one of the largest open markets in the United States, offers valuables, yesteryear treasures, handmade items and lots of food choices. 114 Jan/Feb 2015 | INMagTexas.com
Without a map, the sheer number of vendors would have overwhelmed us. We used our map to pinpoint specific areas to visit. Also, the tech-savvy First Monday organizers have created an app to help visitors navigate the plethora of retailers and food vendors. The interior pavilions contain high-quality merchandise but are more crowded and higher-priced than the outside booths. We mixed it up, shopping both inside and outside to find a wide range of goods and prices. My sister and I stuck together like glue, so we didn’t worry about losing each other. We noticed several large groups of girlfriends shopping. For a large group of friends, it’s helpful to designate a specific meeting place and time to gather back together. Cell phone signals may not always be reliable on the grounds and officials only use the loudspeaker to announce lost children and medical emergencies. The fresh air and exercise helped us work up an appetite. There are plenty of food vendors from which to choose. We saw many visitors with corn dogs in hand while they shopped. The sweet smell of funnel cakes also tempted our noses but we wanted a sit-down meal so we stopped in Texas Best Cafe to refresh ourselves with cherry limeade and grilled cheese sandwiches and onion strings. Our day of shopping yielded some great finds: antique iron crosses, an antique wooden candleholder and colorful hair bows. And we learned a lot along the way – primarily that there’s always something new to discover at First Monday Trade Days.
Tips for
Success • Bring plenty of cash. Parking and many vendors only accept cash. • For a less crowded First Monday experience, go on a Thursday. • Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. • Bring an empty stroller or cart to hold purchases. • Leave the kids at home or, at the very least, make sure that you have an easy way (stroller, wagon, baby sling) to keep them within arms’ reach. • Download the app or pick up a map. Jot down which areas you’d like to prioritize. • Designate a meeting place and time. • Food lines can be long, so pack bottled water and a few snacks to hold you over until you can get your hands on more hearty fare.
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Orchestrating Success
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By Cory McCoy | Photos By Victor Texcucano
he hum of violins fills the air. Flutes softly chime in. A bass cello is being strummed by a musician less than half the size of the instrument. The sound builds as young musicians warm up. When the conductor swishes his baton, the music of East Texas Youth Orchestra fills the rehearsal hall as 60 kids play in pursuit of excellence. Last summer, Dr. Gene Moon, director of orchestras at Stephen F. Austin State University, was hired as music director and conductor of what was then Tyler Youth Orchestra. The orchestra board renamed the ensemble East Texas Youth Orchestra and gave Moon the task of expanding the reach, quality and size of the program. Besides ETYO, the program has strings ensembles for intermediate-level students (East Texas Academic Orchestra conducted by Joanie Rathburn-Russell) and beginning students (East Texas Preparatory Orchestra conducted by Archie Jones). “We’ve been building on a small, fundamentaly strong base,” says Moon. “I’ve come on board to build upon that organization so that we can become stronger." Moon would like to see orchestral and string programs launched in more public and private schools that have bands. “With football (games) you have marching bands. I want the youth orchestra to affect change in the mindset of the cultural diversity of East Texas,” says Moon. “We’re looking to forge rela-
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tionships. I want ETYO to be an organization that enhances all of the music programs in East Texas. ... “We’re not a Metroplex, so for the kids to have the opportunity to be in a full orchestral experience like we have at ETYO it is not only rare, but for many of these kids, it will be a once-in-alifetime experience.”
Musicians One of the first musicians Moon recruited was 18-year-old Nathan Wicker of Nacogdoches High School. “It (performing in ETYO) gives me a different outlook on music,” says Wicker. “I get to try different styles and techniques. I’ve really grown as a musician. The directors make time for us. They are there for us and help us grow as musicians.” In ETYO, Nathan plays with students from different schools and from private teachers. Some are as young as 10. “It’s cool to see people a lot younger than you excel at music at the same pace as you,” says Wicker. “Hopefully I’m a good role model” Jewel Kirkendoll, a 16-year-old violinist from Tyler, has been performing in orchestral ensembles since she was in the third grade. “I love Dr. Moon,” says Kirkendoll. “I went to his summer (music) camps and I just immediately fell in love with the way he
conducted the orchestra and all of the analogies he made.” She finds benefits from performing in an orchestra. “A lot of people (as young musicians) don’t play ensemble music. They don’t get the ear training that orchestral music provides. ... Orchestra stimulates your brain.”
Dedication The dedication it takes to master an instrument helps students in all areas of life, says Moon. “The commitment needed to practice, to become dedicated to their instrument, all applies to becoming more studious and academically successful. “It’s no secret the successes of those who study classical music, compared to those who don’t. ... That’s the purpose of this youth orchestra: to make you a better person, a better academic, a better musician.” Sixteen-year-old Jewell Kirkendoll (right, top) of Tyler plays violin East Texas Youth Orchesra. Dr. Gene Moon (right center) took over as conductor of ETYO last year and has set out to improve the size and quality of the ensemble.
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Outdoors
Photo By Sarah A. Miller
outdoors > Flexing His Mussels, 120 >Mardi Gras: Texas Style, 124 > The Packers, Green Bay & Matt Flynn, 128 > Spirituality: Giving Generously, 131
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Flexing His Mussels UT Tyler student works to preserve species Story and Photos by University of Texas at Tyler
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eep in the Big Thicket National Preserve, Dan Symonds might be found neck-deep in a murky tributary conducting a tactile search. Or he could be crouching in swim trunks under huge shade trees, digging underwater in the sediment. He’s on the hunt for mussels, but not because he’s hungry. Instead, he’s trying to secure their livelihood. Unlike saltwater mussels served in restaurants, Symonds’ research subjects are freshwater mussels, classified as North America’s most imperiled group of organisms. The University of Texas at Tyler graduate biology student has dedicated his master’s thesis to studying their habitats and proving that tributaries play a fundamental role in their survival. Symonds didn’t intend to study mussels, though. All he knew was that he wanted to work in nature.
CULTIVATING AN INTEREST From Rochester, New York, Symonds grew up working on his family’s farm and spent most of his time outdoors. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, and he briefly considered a career as a game warden. That is, until his father explained that he wouldn’t be allowed to hunt, only to supervise other hunters. So that idea was out. But he still wanted to work with wildlife. During high school, Symonds toured the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to see what it would be like to work as a state biologist. The tour piqued his interest, and he soon began his undergraduate studies at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, focusing on conservation biology. To fulfill his graduation requirements, he landed an internship for one summer at the New York State DEC. “And I got stuck with mussels,” Symonds said, quickly qualifying the statement: “But I liked it, and I liked being in the water.” After that summer, “I was one of about 10 people in New York who had that specialty,” he said. “People are more interested in freshwater mussels now because they are imperiled, so there’s lots of federal and state money for research.” From there, Symonds dove deeper and deeper into his research, eventually writing his undergrad honors thesis on freshwater mussels and later searching for a graduate school where he could continue his work. Only a handful of schools in the nation had a strong reputation for research on freshwater mussels, one of which was UT Tyler. Dr. Neil Ford, UT Tyler biology professor and the go-to authority on freshwater mussels in all of East Texas, became Symonds’ faculty adviser. Ford leads a team of researchers studying the region’s freshwater mussels with a grant from the Texas
Comptroller’s office. A pleasant surprise awaited Symonds in Texas. Symonds discovered a much greater variety of the 300 different species of freshwater mussels than he found in New York, thanks to Texas’ big rivers, tributaries and drainage from the Red River. “Texas has much more diversity of size, shape, ridges, and warts on the shell because of the biogeography of the region,” Symonds said. “There are 53 species in Texas and only 30 in New York. Glaciers caused less diversity in New York.” But glaciers aren’t mussels’ current threat. Humans cause the greatest damage to their environment, with pollution and dams being the main hazards. Dams hinder the mobility of fish that would otherwise carry mussel larvae to new areas and bolster the population. Instead, fish are forced to move downstream, and mussel species, without a means of travel, diminish upstream. And because mussels are filter feeders, they accumulate pollution quickly. Symonds’ research attempts to bring greater awareness to the importance of mussel communities in North American waters.
NEW CATALYST IN TEXAS While in New York, Symonds focused his attention on tributaries, but he found that in Texas, most of the existing research had been conducted in big rivers. He believed such a limited focus resulted in a lot of missing information for the Lone Star State. That triggered an idea, which he developed into a thesis project for his graduate studies. With funding from a Big Thicket Association grant, Ford helped Symonds design his project around studying mussels in tributaries in the Big Thicket National Preserve, located in Southeast Texas. The association awards the grant to help researchers conduct inventory of wildlife and diversity within the preserve. With that focus, Symonds sifts through tributary waters to locate, sort and count the many different species in an effort to create a guide – called a niche model – for finding mussel communities in other areas. UT Tyler has an established reputation for environmental niche modeling, which Symonds hopes to improve by investigating mussel species in Big Thicket tributaries. Niche models help scientists and conservationists predict the distribution of a species within an area by evaluating climate, soil type, annual rainfall and other factors. To create the model, scientists survey an area to determine whether it contains the species of interest and in what density. That data is recorded, along with information about the area’s ecological landscape. Then, scientists can apply the model to predict the likelihood of the species’ presence in another area with a similar environment. Little is known about mussels in Big Thicket tributaries, so | Cont. ON page 122
Dan Symonds, University of Texas at Tyler grad student, and Stephanie Allcorn (background), biology major hunt for mussels in the Neches River. Symonds records data and then conducts studies at UT Tyler (page 122). Jan/Feb 2015| INMagTexas.com
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| Cont. from page 121 Symonds’ surveys and niche model will provide unique information for Texas waters. “I’m taking the model to the next step to make it better,” Symonds said. “Community structure changes from area to area. We’ve found threatened species in tributaries that wouldn’t have been expected based on other people’s surveys.”
STATE RECOGNITION Only a year into his graduate work at UT Tyler, Symonds attended the third annual Texas Freshwater Mussel Symposium to exhibit his findings. The quality of his research and presentation, titled The Importance of Tributaries to East Texas Mussel Communities, earned him third place for the Raymond Neck Graduate Student Award. “Dan was competing with more experienced Ph.D. students who had been working on their research for two or three years,” Ford said. “His presentation was excellent. I think he did better than one of the Ph.D. students ranked above him.” In addition to his tributaries research, Symonds also presented his discoveries from another project: stunning mussels. The subjects themselves were ordinary freshwater mussels; it was the electrofishing technique, specifically the effects of stunning the mollusks, that interested Symonds. Electrofishing is a common and typically harmless procedure that allows researchers to inventory fish populations in an area. But only two studies have investigated the consequences for mussels in the same location. Symonds hypothesized the electric shock would cause gravid, or pregnant, mussels to involuntarily abort their larvae. To find out, he had a shocking experiment ahead of him, funded by a grant from the North American Coal Corporation. He trudged through the Sabine River to gather his subjects, which was no easy task. After several weeks of sorting through mussels to find the correct species and then prying them open to determine which females had the telltale inflated marsupial pouch, he brought 44 samples back to his lab for four separate trials. Even at the lab, the experiment was a slow process. The move from habitat to lab stresses the mussels, so Symonds allowed them to rest for a day so as not to skew the outcome. When the mussels didn’t release their larvae from the stress of the 122 Jan/Feb 2015 | INMagTexas.com
move, he proceeded to shock them and observe the results. Symonds discovered the stun didn’t cause the mussels to abort, which was a positive conclusion. The next step is to take blood samples to analyze the mussels’ stress levels after a shock. “I will see if shocking creates an autoimmune response,” Symonds said. Symonds expects to graduate in May 2015 and hopes to have his thesis published in a scientific journal. “I want to have it recognized that we need to look for mussels in tributaries,” he said. “Hopefully my niche model can be used with construction projects to help reduce the impact on mussels.” He’s thinking, for example, of the Texas Department of Transportation, which contracts bridge projects over rivers. Without surveying an area for wildlife, building bridges could unknowingly destroy mussel communities. By using Symonds’ model, however, TxDOT could easily predict the presence of mussels, prompting a search and potential relocation of the creatures. “There are legal obligations for TxDOT to not impact threatened species during work on rivers,” Ford said.
A BRIGHT OUTLOOK Ford has been impressed with Symonds’ research, and he appreciates the student’s independent work ethic. Big Thicket is several hours’ drive from Tyler, and Symonds often visits for a few days at a time, leading a crew of other biology students. “I went with him to show him what to do, and then he took the reigns,” Ford said. “He catches on quick.” After graduation, Symonds hopes to accept a consulting position, possibly at a private firm. Because mussel research is scarce, funding is more abundant, and firms often want to take advantage of the opportunity. Symonds envisions himself as a staff malacologist, heading up projects involving mollusks. Ford hopes that Symonds will pursue a doctoral degree in the future to advance his research and help preserve the remaining freshwater mussel populations in Texas and elsewhere. Plus, the East Texas mussel expert values Symonds as a colleague. “Having Dan recognized in his field gives the university a reputation for being a high-quality institution,” Ford said. “It elevates the stature of the university. And it’s been nice to have someone I can discuss ideas with.”
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T exas Mardi S tyle Gras
Laissez les bon temps rouler! Sounds good to me.
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hankfully New Orleans doesn’t have a monopoly on all the Mardi Gras fun and festivities. Over the years, Texas cities from Galveston to Jefferson have come up with their own ways to let the good times roll. These celebrations build from the grand tradition of parades, parties, food, music and revelry galore. These celebrations may not be as big and bold as New Orleans’ version, but they can be just as fun and if you yell (nicely), someone will toss you a string of colorful beads from a float. Here are some options to enjoy Mardi Gras – Texas style.
Jefferson
Jefferson calls its celebration Mardi Gras Up River. Most of the activities take place on the weekend of Feb. 6 to 8. During the Doo Dah Parade at 7 p.m. on Feb. 6, everyone is invited to dress in their craziest Mardi Gras costumes and join in the revelry. The big event on Saturday is the Grand Parade at 2 p.m. on Feb 7. Children have their turn for having fun during the Children’s Parade at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 8. From start to finish there are lots of parties, arts and crafts, carnival attractions and food. mardigrasupriver.com
Galveston
The residents of Galveston have been celebrating Mardi Gras for more than 100 years. The island proudly boats of having the largest Mardi Gras celebration in the Lone Star state. Mardi Gras! Galveston is set for February 6-17 and is expected to draw more than 300,000 attendees who will take more than 30 concerts, 22 parade, 20 balcony parties and five masked balls. Most of the fun takes places in the historic downtown district. Two of the largest parades: the Mystic Krewe of Aquarius Parade and Krewe of Gambrinus Parade take place on the first weekend. mardigrasgalveston.com
Palestine
Palestine captures the spirit of Mardi Gras with its A Taste of New Orleans celebration downtown on Feb. 7. The annual celebration of Louisiana-style cuisine showcases the talents of East Texas chefs and wineries from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and a Mardi Gras parade at 5 p.m. visitpalestine.com
Dallas
Mardi Gras Texas Style! will take place Feb. 21 on the grounds of the Texas State Fair in Dallas. In its 14th year, the daylong festival combines the food, fun and flavor of the Mardi Gras with country music entertainment featured on five stages. mardigrasdfw.com
Port Arthur Galveston
Port Arthur is the home of the Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas, which bills itself as a family friendly festival. The events – concerts, parades and food tasting – take place downtown Feb. 12 to 15. Don’t miss the Krewe of Aurora Grand Parade on Feb. 14. The theme is Safari Pardi 2015. mardigras.portarthur.com
Crystal Beach
Crystal Beach offers mardi gras-themed events from Jan. 11 to Feb. 14. The highlight is the Lighthouse Krewe’s 24th annual parade on Feb 14. lighthousekrewe. com
Orange
The Mardi Gras celebration in Orange takes place on the evening of Feb. 7 at the Riverfront Boardwalk and Pavilion and includes a concert and parade. orangetexas. org
Lamar
The beads go flying when Lamar celebrates LaMardi Gras on Feb. 13 and 14. The big parade takes place at 11 a.m. on Feb. 14. Participants can purchase souvenirs and fill up on food. lamardigras.com
San Antonio Palestine
San Antonio celebrates Mardi Gras on its famous River Walk with a parade on the water and other events on Feb. 14. Look for a procession of decorated river barges, live music and a festival of food featuring gumbo, jambalaya and funnel cakes. thesanantonioriverwalk.com Mardi Gras celebrations in Texas are held in Palestine (Pages 124-125 and top and bottom rows page 127); Galveston (page 119 and middle right 127) and Jefferson (middle left) 127. Galveston photos by Sarah A. Miller.
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The Packers, Green Bay and Matt Flynn By Tamra Bolton | Photos By Tamra Bolton and Courtesy of packers.com
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o understand the popularity of the storied Green Bay Packers, you have to understand its unique ties to the citizens of Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers remain the heart and soul of a city that over nearly a century of devotion has rallied to ensure its survival. Green Bay is the smallest city (population 102,300) to have a team in the NFL. The team was founded in 1919 by E.L. “Curly” Lambeau and George Calhoun, an editor of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, as part of the American Professional Football Association (which later became the National Football League). After losing the original financial backing of the Acme Company, Calhoun and Lambeau, the team’s first coach, gained control of the franchise. Just when the team seemed financially doomed, Andrew Turnbull, one of the owners of the Press-Gazette, led the effort that in 1923 turned the Packers into a nonprofit corporation owned by shareholders – made up mostly of its devoted fans. Thanks in part to this fan/owner arrangement and the team’s long history in Green Bay, Packers’ fans are among the most loyal in the NFL. Today, more than 80,000 fans pack Lambeau Field on game days, even in the bitterest cold.
Packers’ Landmarks During a trip to Green Bay, I witnessed firsthand the ongoing love affair between the Packers and its fans. On the Packers Heritage Trail Trolley Tour, I saw City Stadium, home to the Packers from 1925 to 1956, Lambeau’s childhood home, the church that legendary Packers’ coach Vince Lombardi attended and even the old meat-packing plant that gave the team its name I then took a tour of Lambeau Field, where a $104 million renovation to the Atrium entrance was completed in 2013. From an exclusive Club-level suite high in the stadium, I was treated to one of the best seats in the house. I also got to run down the
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tunnel leading to the field just like the players do on game day! Once on the field area, our tour group had to stay on the sidelines. The public is not allowed on the state-of-the-art field because it is so expensive to maintain. On the field, the acoustics are amazing. Our small group got a chance to test the acoustics by doing our best Packers yell, “Go! Pack! Go!” It echoed long and loudly. After Lambeau Field, I went to Ray Nitschke Field, a Packers’ practice facility, and witnessed one of the team’s most beloved traditions. Since the 1960s, children have showed up with their bicycles on practice days. When the players emerge from the locker room, they take short rides on the bikes and let the kids carry their helmets. Seeing a massive lineman atop a tiny pink and white Barbie bicycle was priceless. Some of the kids were so small that the players carried their bikes and Babisak walked along holding their hands. By Jennifer | Courtesy
Matt Flynn
Photos
Packers’ practices are free and open to the public. I had my eye out for No. 10, Matt Flynn of Tyler, Texas, the backup quarterback to Aaron Rodgers. I spied him warming up with Rodgers and Scott Tolzien, the other quarterback on the roster. Flynn, is a 2002 graduate of Robert E. Lee High School, As a senior, he passed for 1,679 yards and 9 touchdowns and ran for 305 yards and 12 touchdowns. He played college ball at Louisiana State University. He was drafted by the Packers in 2008. During the 2012 and 2013 season, he played with the Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders and Buffalo Bills before being signed again by the Packers. I spoke with Matt’s father, Alvin Flynn, about his son’s experience with Green Bay. “Without a question, it’s a big deal. Green Bay is one of the top two or three NFL franchises. I think Matt feels the same way, especially after being out in other franchises for two years. It (the Packers) holds a draw for players. I think the fan base has a lot to do with it.” Flynn says his son feels fortunate to playing in Green Bay. “It (Green Bay) is a classy, professional organization. I think all the guys are glad to be a part of the team.” That’s the same feeling I got everywhere I went in Green Bay. Everyone is glad to be a part of the Packers’ legacy.
Photos: Packers fans pack Lambeau Field, even on the coldest days. Backup quarterback Matt Flynn, No. 10, of Tyler. During a pre-season practice, players continue a tradition of interacting with young fans.
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spirituality
Giving Generously
Herb Buie and his wife, Melvina, of Tyler support numerous charitable organizations, including the East Texas Food Bank.
By Herb Buie | Courtesy Photo
“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.” Proverbs 19:17 My wife, Melvina, and I have been on this life journey together for 65 years. We have traveled around the world and it gives us great pleasure to help people better their lives. Together, we have decided to live our life by this giving philosophy: Instead of seeing how high we can stack the resources we have been blessed with, we want to scatter them as much as possible in all directions to people who need a little help in life. We feel this is God’s plan for our lives. To date, we have scattered our resources in 170 different countries. The legacy we want to leave is making a difference wherever we can. What we do for ourselves dies with us but what we do for others and in our community remains and is immortal. As Christians, the Lord tells us that when we help the poor and needy, including the hungry, our righteousness will be remembered forever.
Melvina and I support about 42 different organizations in Tyler and around the world. We give to a wide range of organizations that feed the hungry, provide health care, education and spiritual encouragement. One organization that is dear to us is the East Texas Food Bank, which I have had the privilege of serving on the Board of Directors for the past 21 years. Many people think of hunger as something that only happens on the other side of the world. But hunger is a threat to thousands of children, families and seniors right here in our own community. In East Texas, one in four kids and one in five adults are food insecure. As a community, we should do our part to feed the hungry. Together, we can change those statistics. Thousands who struggle with hunger are hard-working people who have either lost their jobs or simply can’t make enough money to feed their families. Others are seniors on a fixed income, who are forced to choose between buying food and paying for utilities or medicine. Too many are children who don’t always know where their next meal is coming from. That’s why the East Texas Food Bank is so important because it provides millions of meals to our hungry neighbors each year. Another reason why we give to the East Texas Food Bank is because they are good stewards of their resources. Every dollar that you give to the East Texas Food Bank, 95 cents goes to programs and services. Now, that’s a good investment. The Bible says in Acts 20:35 “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” The Lord did not intend for your resources to all be used on yourself. He blessed us so we could bless others. One day we will stand before the Lord and he will ask, “What did you do with the resources that I gave you?” I don’t want Him to ask me that, I’d rather hear Him say, “You did a good job Buie and Melvina. Well done thy good and faithful servants. Enter into the joys of heaven.”
Sponsored By
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