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In our community and in your home From your food and cosmetics to paint and your car interior, you’ll find innovative Eastman materials in products you use every day — and they’re made here in Longview. We’re focused on improving the quality of life for people around the world, and that focus is built on the foundation of our values, especially safety. We take our commitment to operating responsibly very seriously. From our employees and contractors to our friends, colleagues and neighbors, it’s our priority to protect you and the environment.

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Together, we’ll continue to enhance the quality of life — today and for future generations.

To learn more about what we do, visit eastman.com.

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By Christina Cavazos

Growing up just outside of Longview near the Elderville-Lakeport area, Shawn Hara’s family traveled across the Sabine River nearly every day to go into town.

A family that loved the outdoors, the Haras took vacations to places like Arkansas and North Carolina where they’d canoe and spend time exploring the natural landscape. However, they never did those same activities at home on the river that they traveled over every day.

Its brown water nestled between muddy, red clay embankments adorned with pine trees and hardwoods, the Sabine River wasn’t thought of as a place for recreation. In fact, it wasn’t really thought of at all.

U N I Q U E L Y L O N G V I E W . C O M 13

Sabine River Drainage Basin

In 2019, well into adulthood, he took his first trip on the Sabine River with a small group of friends. That’s when he realized just how beautiful the river really is and all the potential that it holds.

“You’re only a couple of miles away from Longview, but it feels like you are miles away because you’re just completely in the East Texas Piney Wood forest,” he said.

“There’s a beauty there that you don’t always expect.”

In the last five years, the number of people who enjoy traveling the river has grown exponentially as more individuals come to know the true beauty of the river. Now community leaders are considering options to improve access to the Sabine so that a river that was mostly overlooked for more than a century has the opportunity to become a place of recreation and tourism.

“Part of the goal is to have an additional recreation opportunity that is accessible for visitors and for locals to be able to go and enjoy.” Hara said.

The River

SABINE RIVER

Fast Facts: • Three forks of the Sabine River that start in Collin and Hunt Counties merge in Lake Tawakoni to form the Sabine River proper.

• The river flows for about 580 miles.

From Hunt County it flows southeast to Panola County where it turns south and flows until it discharges in Lake Sabine at the Gulf of Mexico.

Archaeological evidence shows the Sabine River has been inhabited for more than 12,000 years to when, according to the Texas State Historical Association, the Clovis tribe, an ancient culture in North America, lived there. The Caddos likely arrived in the area by about the year 780 A.D., according to the state historical association. Early Caddo mounds have been discovered along the river. The Caddos culture flourished until the late 13th century.

Europeans arrived in the area in the 16th century. In 1716, Spanish explorer Domingo Ramón gave the river its name, according to the Texas State Historical Association. The name Sabine River, or Río de Sabinas, comes from the Spanish word for “cypress” as cypress trees are prevalent along certain portions of the river.

• The Sabine River discharges more water than any other Texas river into the Gulf of Mexico.

• Spanish explorer Domingo Ramón gave the river its name. The name, “Sabine” comes from the Spanish word for “cypress.”

Bald cypress tree nuts

14 U N I Q U E L Y L O N G V I E W 2 0 2 4

Shawn Hara kayaks the Sabine River with his son.

When standing at the river bridge on a clear day, the scenery is iconic to East Texas. Oil derricks stand tall amid pine trees with the water of the Sabine River flowing below.

The river starts just south of Greenville at Lake Tawakoni where three

marker along the Sabine River at Texas 42 and River Road, cementing

forks merge. Those forks originate in Collin County and Hunt County,

the river’s place in East Texas’ oil history.

respectively, and converge at Lake Tawakoni to form the Sabine River proper. The river flows southeasterly from Lake Tawakoni to the southeastern corner of Panola County where it turns and takes a southern course. It empties into Lake Sabine at the Gulf of Mexico where it has the largest water discharge at its mouth of any Texas river, according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

The approximately 580-mile-long river forms the boundary lines between several counties — Rains and Van Zandt, Van Zandt and Wood, Wood and Smith, and Smith and Upshur. When Gregg County was founded in 1873, the Sabine River served as the original southern boundary; however, in 1874, Gregg County acquired the northern portion of neighboring Rusk County as it extended its area. When it turns south in Panola County, the river also forms the border between Texas and Louisiana.

When standing at the river bridge on a clear day, the scenery is iconic to East Texas. Oil derricks stand tall amid pine trees with the water of the Sabine River flowing below. While thousands of people travel over the bridge each day, few stop to get on the river and explore its unique beauty.

There are many reasons why people don’t stop to explore the Sabine.

For one, there are limited access points, which is something local leaders want to improve, but there’s also public perception of the river, which in some ways has to overcome a longstanding local stereotype of itself.

When Hara was growing up, he said, the perception of the Sabine was “always very negative.” It was often described as “dirty” and “dangerous.”

The Sabine River doesn’t have crystal clear waters, and it’s never been a local swimming hole. Instead, its waters typically take on a brownish hue

Throughout history, the river served as transportation for cotton and

as do several other rivers in Texas. That hue is caused by several factors,

lumber; the basin was the site of logging operations; and many sawmills

but predominantly the fact that as rivers flow south toward the gulf, they

were built along banks. After the oil boom, the river basin became the site

pick up sediment and soil, like East Texas red clay, which affects the color.

of large-scale oil exploration and led to growth in the oil industry.

Meanwhile, the river has few access points and mostly flows through

In East Texas, the oilfield dates back to 1930 with off-shore drilling

undeveloped areas. That means when you travel on it, it can feel like

expanded to the Sabine River in 1932. Today, many oil derricks remain

you’re isolated from the rest of the world even if you’re only a couple of

along the river and in 2011, the Texas Historical Commission placed a

miles outside of the city.

U N I Q U E L Y L O N G V I E W . C O M 15

The Sabine River is home to anglers, boaters, and recreational kayakers.

Paddling the Sabine For those who enjoy exploring the outdoors, that feeling of being miles

The number of people joining the excursions has also grown and annual

removed from the city is often something to be appreciated. It was 2019

“Floatsgiving” trips offer an opportunity for friends to get together and float

when Hara first began to question why he’d never been on the Sabine

the river amid the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

River, so he put a float together and then another, and it continued to grow as more people joined in.

“Along the way, we have met a lot of people who share a mutual interest for the river,” Hara says. “Some have been already using the river for

“The thing that I’ve really enjoyed is putting together these groups and seeing other people going down and seeing the river and exploring it and enjoying being down there,” Hara said.

recreation for many years and others had been wanting to do so but

Each time someone new joins a float, Hara said he enjoys hearing their

didn’t know how to access for kayaking.”

experience afterward.

Hara said it took a while to figure out how to make the trips happen because there are few public access points along the river. In Gregg County, there are two public access points, but they’re forty river miles apart. One is in Gladewater at U.S. 271; the other is in Lakeport at Texas 149. Hara knew he and his travel companions couldn’t paddle forty miles in a day.

For one trip, he and Keith Bonds decided the group could start at the Gladewater access point and get out fourteen miles later at The Sandbar, a small bar located right off the Sabine on River Road. There is a tall, rusty

It’s often not what they thought it would be – the Sabine River defies the stereotypes the locals have given to it.

Instead, people often are mesmerized by the natural beauty as they float along the river amid the Piney Woods.

staircase that can be used to get out of the water at the bar, so that’s exactly what the group did.

“This was October 2019. So we get out there and the river was really low, and there was no flow, so we paddled the whole way,” he recalled. “By the time we got to the end, we were all just dead tired. We pulled our kayaks up these tall stairs, and then we ate at the Sandbar. And I thought, well that was fun.”

As he began coordinating trips along the Sabine with different entrance and exit points, Hara said it’s been interesting to meet individuals who have used the Sabine River for recreation for years. Despite limited access points, there are still many others – like him – who enjoy what the river has to offer.

“Probably one of my favorite moments was when we got to see bald eagles,” Hara said. “There’s a spot just down river from Highway 42 where there was a bald eagle nest. That was really neat. That discovery was cool.”

He also recalled a trip along the river with his wife, Bethany, when they found “huge” freshwater clam shells. “I just had no idea that kind of thing would be there,” he said.

Meanwhile, with East Texas’ oil history, there’s a section of the river between Lakeport and Tatum where there’s an abundance of lignite

For his trips, Hara occasionally works with private landowners to arrange an

shoal. “There are these cliff walls that are basically all lignite so it’s like

entrance or an exit point from the river. Some trips have been eight miles or

this gleaming black wall as you go by,” he said. There are also a few white

fourteen miles, and some have necessitated an overnight stay.

sandy beaches along the river. The Sabine is full of surprises.

16 U N I Q U E L Y L O N G V I E W 2 0 2 4

Texas State Paddling Trails

Wildlife, sand bars, and oil derricks from a by-gone era are just a few of the sights paddlers will see along their trip down the river.

In organizing the floats, Hara began researching Texas Paddling Trails. A program of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Paddling Trails are designated trails where the public can canoe and kayak.

In the Piney Woods, there are several trails. There are ten designated trails at Caddo Lake and Big Cypress Bayou in the Jefferson-Karnack area. In Carthage, there’s the Sabine Sandbar Paddling Trail which offers four, fifteen, or nineteen miles of paddling trail. In Mineola, the 11.9mile Mineola Bigfoot Paddling Trail invites visitors to traverse that portion of the Sabine River.

Meanwhile, there are several designated trails along the nearby Neches River in the Athens, Tyler, Jacksonville areas.

There are criteria in place to become a paddling trail.

“You’ve got to have public access points and parking; you’ve got to have amenities nearby. It has to be somewhat close to a community, and you have to have trails that would be between four miles and twelve miles in distance,” Hara said. With the nearby publicly owned ramps being forty miles apart, Hara began to wonder if there might be opportunities for other public access points.

In Longview, the Sabine River is one of three water resources for public drinking water. The others are Lake Cherokee and Lake O’ the Pines. Like Longview, Kilgore also draws some of its water from the Sabine.

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Hara reached out to the City of Kilgore to see if it might be interested in

John Waltz, a planner with MHS Planning and Design, said the

exploring the paddle trail program. It was. Soon, Gladewater, White Oak,

company’s research was a combination of physical tours as well as

Lakeport, Easton, and Gregg County itself had also joined in.

planning sessions and soliciting feedback from the community.

“When I called Kilgore, their staff had already also been considering

The team compiled a list of strengths and weaknesses as well as areas

a river access effort. Similarly, in Lakeport, they were already very

for opportunity. Waltz said strengths include that the Sabine provides

interested in how to improve the river as an amenity in their community.

a water resource to several communities in East Texas as well as that

So, it was a good opportunity for collaboration.”

the project has strong local support and diverse wildlife prevalent in the

The county applied for and was awarded a grant by the Sabine River

limit emergency access to the river, and occasional log jams that require

Authority to study improving access to the river for recreational usage

strenuous clearing efforts.

as well as emergency response. Gregg County contracted with MHS

area. Weaknesses included lack of safe general access, high banks that

Planning and Design for the study.

Opportunities or goals of the project, Waltz said, include increasing

An Underutilized Resource

untapped tourism into the area.

MHS conducted a study to review access exploration to the Sabine

recreation and public wellness access as well as potential to draw

“Kayaking nationwide is increasing in popularity … We do want to take advantage of that growing interest in kayaking to increase public awareness of the region’s history,” he said.

River throughout Gregg County. The study area went from Gladewater

With potential access points identified, the plan will continue to be fine-

to Easton, revealing twelve potential access points along the river.

tuned. Once a plan is in place and access points are prioritized, it will still take time, fundraising, and development to see it come to fruition.

The overwhelming message, Hara said, is that the Sabine River through Gregg County is “an underutilized natural resource.”

After public access points are increased, there is long-range potential for a state-designated paddling trail through Gregg County. That’s still likely several years away at least, Hara noted.

Hara said the Sabine River is ideal though for a future paddling trail. It’s easily navigable in the region, it’s beginner friendly, and there are not many rapids.

“The goal is to have an additional recreation opportunity that is accessible for visitors and for locals to be able to go and enjoy,” he said.

“We want to make it be a natural resource that’s accessible and that other people can go, float, enjoy and see East Texas.”

18 U N I Q U E L Y L O N G V I E W 2 0 2 4

As East Texas communities work together to research infrastructure development around the river, the unexpected beauty of the Sabine River will doubtlessly be discovered and spur further interest in the potential of this hidden gem.

Watch a video of East Texas residents seeking out adventure on the Sabine River.

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The H Heart eart of Our Chamber

The Longview Chamber of Commerce is a network of over 1,000 members, representing more than 50,000 hardworking East Texans.

by Kelly Hall

The Longview Chamber is dedicated to the prosperity and success of our vibrant community.

Our Chamber is not just a collection of businesses; it’s a collective force committed to shaping

“When businesses invest with the Chamber, they become part of a family that cares

deeply about the success of their business and our entire business community.

Therefore, we offer numerous opportunities capitalism--the kind that fosters economic growth, innovation, and prosperity for all. to engage, build relationships, and learn more, through our Business After Hours, Business Solutions Summit, Jessica LaRue, our past chairman, speaks from the heart when she says signature luncheons with relevant content, talent development programs that being part of the Longview Chamber is an investment in the future, and much more. These programs are all designed to help businesses grow especially for our children. We share her vision of a thriving economic and thrive in our dynamic business environment.” environment that empowers our youth to chase their dreams and build the future, not just for today but for generations to come. We believe in the power of free enterprise

a prosperous life right here in Longview.

“At the heart of our Chamber is a network of over 1,000 members, representing more than 50,000 hardworking East Texans. Together, we are a powerful voice, advocating for probusiness policies and influencing decisions at local, state, and national levels. We’re not here to create laws, but we certainly have the clout to shape policies that foster a thriving business climate.”

“Our investors have access to exclusive tools and marketing opportunities that can give their business a competitive advantage.

Engagement isn’t just about handing out business cards; it’s about building meaningful relationships in a community that values connections and collaboration.”

Photos provided by Longview Chamber

LongviewChamber.com

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“Our commitment goes beyond business as we also focus on the quality of life in Longview, promoting development, downtown potential, and tourism. We celebrate the achievements of our local businesses at our Annual Meeting/Banquet and Business Solutions Summit. We are here to champion your cause and make our community an even better place to do business.”

“So whether you’re a business owner, an entrepreneur, or a professional considering relocating to Longview, know that the Longview Chamber of Commerce is here to support you. Together, we can create a prosperous future for you, your family, and the generations to come. Join us in leading for the next generation, and let’s make Longview the thriving hub of opportunity it is meant to be.”

Jessica LaRue Past Chair Longview Chamber of Commerce Harbour Smith Harris & Merritt PC

U N I Q U E L Y L O N G V I E W . C O M 23

Chamber Member

40 Under 40

Programs & Opportunities Annual Banquet & Awards

Longview Chamber’s premiere business event.

It brings together top business and community leaders to celebrate the vibrancy of our trade area. The Large Business and Manufacturer of the Year are recognized, as well as other organizational awards.

Small Business Awards

Recognizes remarkable small businesses in the Longview trade area who demonstrate success through sales and profit, potential for long-term success, and their commitment to the community.

Ribbon Cuttings

New member businesses enjoy the opportunity for a Chamber ribbon cutting during their first year of membership!

Business Solutions Summit

Brings the business community together in one location on one day for collaboration opportunities. This summit also features power networking sessions, Small Business Awards, the Leadership Longview graduation.

Spring & Fall Golf Tournaments

In today’s dynamic corporate landscape, the challenge of talent retention and development is more pressing than ever. Like many forwardthinking organizations, you likely invest considerable effort in nurturing your team’s potential. Recognizing this, we’re excited to introduce the 2024 - 40 Under 40 Executive Series – a program specifically designed for your most promising employees under 40. The essence of professional growth is a commitment to long-term development. Our series offers a comprehensive blend of personal and professional enrichment, mentorship opportunities, and a platform for sharing industry best practices, all aimed at fostering success.

This initiative not only equips your younger team members, from entry-level to management, with a mindset geared towards continuous learning but also positions them as role models for their colleagues. Engaging in our series is more than an investment in individual growth; it’s a step towards cultivating a culture of excellence within your organization.

State of the City

The annual luncheon is held for community leaders and business professionals as Longview’s Mayor celebrates the city’s accomplishments and its future.

State of the County

Our annual golf tournament that marks a celebration of years of community support, honor, spirit, competition, friendships, and charity. The field of 100 golfers is made up of some of the most influential members of the local business community, as well as dignitaries from the surrounding area.

Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt is joined by the four city managers in Gregg County to discuss topics important to the future of our area.

State of the Economy

A luncheon focused on where we are as a city, county, and nation in regards to our economy.

this vision into a reality. In this endeavor, we’re not just sightseeing; we’re learning and growing.

We’ll explore Lexington’s unique approach to community building, understand their successes, and draw inspiration to reshape Longview for future generations. Our trip to Lexington is more than a visit; it’s the cornerstone of Longview’s future—a future where our town blossoms into a community that embodies health, prosperity, and happiness. We aim to focus on nurturing a healthy community, knowing that growth naturally follows. Join us in this pivotal mission to create a Longview that attracts families and businesses—a community where future generations can not only live but thrive. Let’s build Longview together!”

Business After Hours

Make sure you are part of one of the Chamber’s most eagerly awaited and bustling events Business After Hours! This isn’t just an event; it’s a chance for exceptional networking. Business After Hours stands out as a premier platform for local enterprises to display their outstanding services and cutting-edge facilities. It’s more than a showcase; it’s your opportunity to differentiate your business and make a memorable impact on our distinguished Chamber members. We urge you to bring your team along and dive into the Business After Hours experience. This event isn’t just an evening out; it’s a springboard for growth, offering you essential networks and insights to propel your business. So, mark your calendar and make sure you’re there at the upcoming Business After Hours. Let’s harness the power of networking together and open the doors to a world of endless business possibilities.

Washington D.C. Fly-In

Embark on a transformative journey with fellow business advocates from Gregg and Smith Counties at our upcoming Washington D.C. Fly-In Cyber Summit State of the Workforce this early December! This event, tailored for In today’s digital landscape, cybersecurity is a Acquiring and retaining talent is a huge issue Chamber members, is a unique chance to directly pressing concern, with frequent cyberattacks today and this luncheon will seek to address engage with your congressional representatives targeting businesses. Phishing emails and not only the challenges, but also offer possible and have a meaningful dialogue on the issues malware attacks continue to compromise solutions. that matter most to your business. Whether sensitive data. The question is: Is your you’re a seasoned advocate or new to the political organization adequately protected? We are Code!Longview sphere and eager to learn, the D.C. Fly-In is the excited to announce the return of our Cyber Code!Longview is an event where middle and high Summit on October 17th at the Infinity Event perfect platform for voicing your legislative and schools from across the Longview area will come Center. Our Technology Council has crafted a business concerns. The event offers an invaluable together to build apps, games, and much more compelling program to train your entire team. opportunity to meet face-to-face with officials and with the power of code.

We offer flexible registration options, including their staff within the halls of Congress. To ensure morning and afternoon sessions, day passes, and productive discussions, the Chamber team will Leadership Longview the chance to lunch with the Secret Service and compile a comprehensive list of pressing business Leadership Longview is a 9-month program that FBI. Join us to fortify your organization against issues, based on member feedback, along with provides participants the opportunity to better cyber threats and secure prosperity for the next relevant background information. Participants understand our community by meeting with and generation. are encouraged to contribute to and familiarize learning from today’s community leaders. themselves with this material in preparation for East Texas Coalition insightful exchanges with their representatives.

InterCity Visits The Chamber’s bi-annual event in collaboration Seize this opportunity to be part of a collective Imagine a Longview where every resident, with other area Chambers of Commerce to meet voice that shapes the future of business in our every business, every family thrives. Join us, with Texas elected officials in Austin to discuss community. Join us in Washington D.C. and make alongside key influencers, as we embark on a pressing needs in East Texas. your mark on the legislative landscape! transformative journey to Lexington, KY, to turn ...................................................................................................................................................

Membership in the Chamber gives you an edge with access to exclusive tools and marketing opportunities that put your business front and center, save you money and provide the information you need to stay a step ahead.

410 N Center Street | Longview, Texas 75601 | 903-237-4000 LongviewChamber.com

24 U N I Q U E L Y L O N G V I E W 2 0 2 4

Chamber Calendar of Events

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U n i q u e l y L o n g v i e w. c o m 5

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Mayor Mack Leaves a Legacy of Promoting Unity, and Sparking Revitalization in Longview

by Christina Cavazos

32 U N I Q U E L Y L O N G V I E W 2 0 2 4

When Dr. Andy Mack decided to run for mayor nine years ago, he had a couple of key goals in mind.

He wanted to unite the city to bridge the gaps between north, south, east, and west. He also wanted to help transform Longview into a place that younger generations – like his children – would return to work and start

“...I wanted to reunite our city, create new opportunities for business, look for new efficiencies, and create a new legacy to leave for future generations. Together we have done all that and more...”

families of their own.

In the last nine years, Mack led Longview

From City Council to Mayor

through a bond election that has

Throughout the years, Longview has meant

enhanced city parks, facilities, and

many things to Mack. A Longview native, he

infrastructure. He prompted changes

was in the final tenth grade class at the former

at Longview Economic Development

downtown Longview High School campus and

Corporation that set LEDCO on a trajectory

was a member of the second graduating class

to bring more than 4,000 new jobs and

at the “new” North Longview campus.

people at the time felt the ordinance was

He attended Stephen F. Austin State

maintained his position that it was a matter

$157 million in development to the city. He advocated for development on Interstate 20 and promoted efforts that helped revitalize Downtown Longview.

Mack also helped guide the city through a health pandemic, striving to provide accurate information to citizens.

Through every moment and milestone, he believed in and advocated for the idea that Longview is better together. The term “#OneLongview” is synonymous with his tenure as mayor.

“When I ran for mayor, I had a few simple goals. I wanted Longview to close the gap.

I wanted to reunite our city, create new opportunities for business, look for new efficiencies, and create a new legacy to leave for future generations. Together we have done all that and more,” Mack said.

“We’ve supported each other through

University where he received his Bachelor of Science degree with a major in biology and minor in chemistry. He received a Doctor of Dental Surgery from Baylor College of Dentistry in 1985 and went on to complete his residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery at The University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston.

He returned home in 1989 to start his own practice, East Texas Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. In addition to common procedures such as removal of wisdom teeth, Mack also performs facial reconstructions and cosmetic surgery.

In addition to opening a practice in Longview, Mack and his wife, Kelly, raised their children in the community. The couple has three children – daughters, Spencer and Madison, and son, Luke.

first bid for mayor in 2005. During his time on the City Council, Mack led the charge on items that, while controversial at the time, have proven to be beneficial to the city.

The non-smoking ordinance prohibits smoking in public places. Though some overreaching on the government’s part, Mack of public safety. At the time, Longview was a leader in the East Texas region for passing such an ordinance; a few years later the state would implement a similar rule.

“As science became clearer as to the effects of secondhand smoke, it became apparent that we needed to make a change in our community,” Mack recalled. “At the time, it wasn’t incredibly popular to tell businesses what they could or could not do. I completely understand that, but this was a matter of public health.”

The other item that proved controversial during Mack’s time was the Lear Park project. Mack championed the idea of developing a first-class sports complex at Lear Park. The issue of developing the park was brought before voters in 2003 and

hard challenges and been, in a word,

Mack served on the City Council in the late

received approval.

#OneLongview.”

1990s and early 2000s prior to making his

While Longview generates visitors and hotel stays Monday through Thursday due to laborers who come into the city for work, those visitors decrease on the weekends.

“We needed something to bring people to our community. We needed sports tourism,” Mack said. “Lear Park opened us up to being a leader in sports tourism. We have developed an incredible network of teams and sports that come and utilize Lear Park.”

Lear Park holds a special place for Mack. It’s been an important project throughout his legacy, and in 2015 it was the site of his announcement

Andy Mack photographed with his family.

Photo courtesy of The City of Longview

for that year’s mayoral election. Longview voters elected Mack as mayor in May of 2015.

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W. C O M

33

Public Safety and Bonds At his first meeting after being elected mayor, the Longview City Council voted in May 2015 to eliminate red light cameras.

“We had heard from many residents who had issues with the cameras. We didn’t have the data that they made a significant difference, and ultimately, we decided to remove them,” Mack said. “Our city made that choice before the state changed the laws to prohibit them more broadly.”

While that was the first decision during Mack’s tenure, it certainly wasn’t the last.

In 2015, the city also addressed pay for police, and in 2017, the city increased its compensation for firefighters. Public safety compensation had long been a concern in Longview as the city wasn’t paying its police and fire personnel enough “to be competitive with other communities in our region and throughout the state,” he said.

Mack recalled that when he first took office, Longview was experiencing a significant amount of crime and gang violence. At the time, Longview ranked as the seventh most dangerous city in Texas.

“We were finding drugs that were out of control and gang violence that we couldn’t get a grip on,” Mack recalled. “We realized it’s not that we were doing a bad job; we just didn’t have enough people do the job. So we had to find a way to have more police on our

34 U N I Q U E L Y L O N G V I E W 2 0 2 4

The “crowning jewel,” as Mack described it, of the 2018 bond is the new Longview Police Department, which features a multi-story design and more than 68,000 square feet of space with state-of-the-art equipment. force and pay them to stay, and that flipped us around in a year. We went from having double digit homicides to the single digits, and we have had gang violence and drug violence under control pretty much for the last nine years because of the awesome job by our police department.”

$45.6 million pension obligation bond to

In 2022, the City Council approved a budget that provided another increase to the rates to make Longview’s pay scale on par with nearby Tyler’s. That year, voters also approved a

streets, and parks. Lear was among the parks

stabilize the Longview Fire Pension fund.

In addition to the 2022 bond election, Mack also led the city through a 2018 bond election when voters approved a $104 million package to invest into the city’s public safety facilities, that received improvements as a result of the 2018 bond election, and Mack said it was nice to see that project come full circle.

“Everything about this project, now more than twenty years old, has been worth it,” he said.

“Every year, Lear Park brings millions of dollars and thousands of visitors to our community, and it pays for itself year after year.”

The “crowning jewel,” as Mack described it, of the 2018 bond is the new Longview Police Department, which features a multi-story design and more than 68,000 square feet of space with state-of-the-art equipment. The city celebrated the building’s completion in December 2023 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house.

Among other public safety items, Longview also was proactive in supplying its police officers with body cameras. The late Tom Chinn, a local businessman, donated the funding for that endeavor.

“This commitment provides accountability to our residents and ensures we continue to provide professional policing, which is what we are charged to do with our city,” Mack said.

Courtesy of The City of Longview

“Growing up in Longview or even just a few years ago, people didn’t just go downtown,”

Economic Development and Revitalization When Mack first took office, he provided a new vision for the Longview Economic Development Corporation and made adjustments to the board in line with that vision.

“The projects they’ve supported in the past eight years are mind blowing – accounting for more than 4,000 new jobs and $157

he said. “Now we have a vibrant city center with food, shops, and activities.”

Mack attributed several factors to the revitalization of downtown Longview.

First, the City of Longview laid the groundwork for revitalization by making infrastructure improvements. Mack recalled the old brick roads downtown and noted that while they have a lot of “character,” it was necessary and significant to reconstruct the

million net to the city,” Mack said. “LEDCO

downtown streets capes.

is blowing it out of the water. Projects like

“The impact is immeasurable,” he said.

Nation Star, El Dorado, Dollar General,

“This work really was the prerequisite for

GAP, Eastman, AAON, Komatsu, STEMCO, Aviagen, Total Card, and more have changed the landscape of our city.”

The city also saw an increase in park amenities, such as a new skate park, dog park, disc golf courses, and more.

“We also re-imagined how we support the homeless population in our community.

Recognizing a problem, we called together a task force to review the situation and make recommendations. From that task force

everything that has gone on since that time.”

The renovation of the former blighted Petroleum Building into Alton Plaza, which features residential living, also was a contributing factor. Along with other downtown apartments, the facilities have brought residents to the city center. Those residents have contributed to the success of downtown businesses by patronizing and supporting them.

Coming Together Just as he led the city through many accomplishments, Mack also served as a leading figure who guided the community through difficult moments as well. Notably, he served as a leader during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mack used social media throughout his nine years as mayor to update residents on a variety of things, but during the pandemic, social media became a primary way of sharing factual information with residents.

came the Homeless Resource Day initiative,

The city also decided in 2016 to allow

which each January provides homeless

“I felt it was necessary because I feel like

food trucks to operate in the community.

people in our community a one-stop to

fear comes from the unknown. If you know

Food trucks not only oftentimes pop up

connect with services,” he said.

something – even though you may not like

downtown at events like Downtown Live

it – at least you know it, so I thought it was

Mack noted that one area of town that has

and ArtWalk but also appear throughout

important for our residents to stay informed,”

changed dramatically is downtown Longview.

the city.

he said.

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W. C O M

35

“It’s challenges like COVID that show what you are really made of, and we pulled together and we’re stronger for it.”

That was another time when Mack was criticized by the community. Some people thought he shared too much; some thought he didn’t share enough. Some thought he pushed face masks too much; others thought he didn’t promote wearing them enough.

“It was a no-win situation, no matter how I turned from a messaging perspective,” he recalled. “But we struggled every day to provide our residents with the information they needed to live healthy, safe, and happy lives.”

The city and county also partnered with CHRISTUS Good Shepherd to bring a vaccine clinic to Longview for those who wanted to take advantage of it.

“The clinic provided care for our community through a worldwide time of uncertainty,” he said. “It’s challenges like COVID that show what you’re really made of, and we pulled together and we’re stronger for it.”

As it did during the COVID-19 pandemic, the community also pulled together to support each other during a winter storm in 2021 that was dubbed “snowmageddon.” Mack said he was pleased with how people came together during that time.

The city also has celebrated some of those people throughout the years. Through programs like the Walk of Honor and the

The Go-Giver Gala raised money for a variety

trail and providing access to the park from

of causes, including a plan to renovate East

Marshall Avenue.

Marshall Avenue and Teague Park. The Go-

“I believe in future years Teague Park will be

Giver Gala raised about $360,000 for the project, and in September 2023,

considered one of the most important areas of our community, and the steps we have

LEDCO decided to contribute $1 million

taken for the past five years have given us a

toward the endeavor.

solid foundation for the work ahead,” he said.

“Teague Park is one of the most beautiful areas of our city, and most people drive right

The Future

by it without ever even knowing it is there,” he

While the Teague Park project started under

said. “They don’t know about the tremendous Veterans Memorial Plaza, the pond, the playground facilities, or the acres of open play space right in the center of our community.”

Mack’s tenure, it did not come to completion; however, the groundwork has been laid for a strong future for the endeavor.

Similarly, Mack believes the city needs

Go-Giver Gala, Mack said he’s been proud to

The city is continuing to seek support for

development along the Interstate 20 corridor.

recognize people who give back to Longview.

the project, which will include extending the

It’s an issue he’s talked about publicly since

36 U N I Q U E L Y L O N G V I E W 2 0 2 4

While Mack feels Longview took many strides forward, he said there is still more work to be done, and he is hopeful that the next mayor will continue to push for progress in the city.

Photos Courtesy of The City of Longview

he ran for mayor and one which he hopes to

an amphitheater, but there needs to be some

tenure as mayor. Due to City of Longview

see come to fruition in the future.

sort of anchor development on I-20 that will

term limits, mayors may serve no more than

draw tourism and encourage people passing

three terms with each term being three years.

“It’s been clear since I first ran for mayor that I believe Interstate 20 is a vital corridor for

through to exit the highway to stop in Longview.

While Mack feels Longview took many strides

our community. We need to see development

If an anchor development can be secured,

forward, he said there is still more work to be

and redevelopment along that highway to

Mack believes it will have a far-reaching

done, and he is hopeful that the next mayor

continue to thrive in future years,” he said.

effect that will kick off a redevelopment

will continue to push for progress in the city.

“We have a gift of an interstate running

process along the main roadways, such as

through the southern part of our community.

Estes Parkway, that feed off of I-20 and lead

We need to capture that gift and utilize it for

into South Longview.

our betterment. We can. It’s just going to take

“I believe is vital for our community leaders

some effort.”

to continue to look for ways to provide and

Many ideas have been tossed around for

promote growth and revitalization in and

“We need someone with a vision who will not be afraid to make tough choices,” he said.

“We’ve come a long way in nine years, but we have a lot more we can do. … I hope the citizens of Longview elect someone who has that attitude because otherwise we’re going to

development of the area – most notably, the

around Interstate 20,” he said.

idea of an amphitheater that ultimately didn’t

While he looks forward to seeing the city

or you’re going backward because there’s no

move forward. Mack said it doesn’t have to be

continue to progress, in May, he will end his

stationary – not in a city like Longview.”

slide backwards. You’re either going forward

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W. C O M

37

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U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W. C O M

39

I KNOW Books & Barrels

Greenside Beverage Co.

Shivers Natural Snow

The Bourbon Alley

40 U N I Q U E L Y L O N G V I E W 2 0 2 4

A SP T

by Christina Cavazos

Oil Horse Brewing Co.

Silver Grizzly Espresso

Café Barron’s

Evergreen Coffee & Dessert

10 Places to

Relax & Unwind

903 Billiards

in Longview

T. Blanco’s

When Oil Horse Brewing Co. first opened its

“We wanted to open here to help revitalize

in the last eight years, it’s been joined by

doors in 2016, downtown Longview was a

downtown and make a change and be a place where people want to go,” Ellen

many others–both downtown and in other

virtual ghost town. There were few businesses open and little foot traffic on a day-to-day basis.However, today, downtown Longview is vibrant and thriving as people flock to the

Oglesbee said. “What we originally envisioned and wanted was to create a place where people could just come and hang out.”

areas of the city. New spaces have given the community areas to gather, share ideas, collaborate, and hang out.

area to enjoy the dozens of local businesses

Today, Oil Horse remains one of the top

This is a look at 10 of the trendiest hangout

that have opened in the last eight years.

“hangout” spots in downtown Longview, but

hot spots in Longview in 2024.

U N I Q U E L Y L O N G V I E W . C O M 41

903 Billiards

One of Longview’s newest hangout spots, 903 Billiards is bringing an up-scale billiards experience to downtown Longview and offering a premier spot to play a precision sport.

Owned by Jeff and Dawn Goodeman, 903 Billiards opened its doors July 15, 2023, with a goal of being a billiards-focused spot in downtown Longview. Unlike bars that have pool tables, 903 Billiards is focused first and foremost on being a pool hall.

“I’ve been playing pool competitively for 23 or 24 years now. We had a couple of places in town that closed during COVID, so everybody was going to Kilgore to play,” Jeff Goodeman said. “We wanted to bring it back to Longview.”

It was a three-year process to launch the business from the initial concept to finding a location to opening. 903 Billiards is located in the former Landmark Social, which operated as an event venue space. Goodeman said the building had good bones, which streamlined the process of converting it into a pool hall. The couple hung pool table lights and put in pool tables.

When it opened, there was instant business with pool leagues that began playing there.

While 903 Billiards has a bar, the focus is on offering a “good, clean place to play pool,” Goodeman said. “It’s family friendly, and

Oil Horse Brewing Co.

Oil Horse remains a cornerstone in downtown Longview, and owners John and Ellen Oglesbee said they’ve been excited to be part of the revitalization of the heart of the city.

When they opened their doors downtown in May 2016, they sold out all of their stock in one night. They brewed some more and opened up again for a night in June 2016 when they sold out again. From there, they began to develop a more consistent schedule. What started

“I grew up with a downtown that was vibrant

as Fridays and Saturdays has turned into a

and had all these fun places. That’s one of

brewery that’s now open five nights a week.

the things we wanted for Longview,” Ellen

What makes Oil Horse unique from other

Oglesbee said.

The concept for Oil Horse started years prior to opening when John Oglesbee started brewing at home in his kitchen and later in his garage

breweries is that its beers are crafted to

Leagues play Sunday through Thursday, and then Thursday through Saturday there are tournaments. They even offer a junior league for minors. In addition to opening for leagues, 903 Billiards is also available for the general public to come in and try their turn at pool.

Goodeman said he personally enjoys pool because it’s a skill-based sport that poses a different challenge each time.

“The pool table doesn’t discriminate. It’s a skill game,” he said. “A lot of people don’t think of pool as a sport, but if you get into a competitive pool, it really is. You may be playing a tournament for eight hours, and every single time you go to make a shot, you’ve got to have 100% focus.”

As for the future, Dawn Goodeman said they want to expand to have different offerings, perhaps occasional live musicians and perhaps growing into other types of gaming.

210 E. Methvin St., Longview, Texas Hours: 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. Monday - Thursday; 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday; 12 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Saturday; 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday 903-883-6464 Find 903 Billiards on Facebook

gluten doesn’t change the taste for the quality of the beer. It just allows it to be more accessible to people,” he said.

The names of their beer selection were created to shed light on local history with names like “Big Inch,” “Loblolly,” “Hundred Acres,” and more.

The family-friendly brewery offers many events, such as live music, trivia nights, and Theology on Tap.

remove gluten. John Oglesbee is gluten intolerant, and he decided to create beer that was accessible to him and all of those who

and even later in another structure he built.

have a gluten intolerance.

Eventually, the couple decided to transform

“While that may seem like a terrible thing to

from brewing at home to opening a business.

some people, gluten as a whole or removing

42 U N I Q U E L Y L O N G V I E W 2 0 2 4

children are invited to come in with an adult until 9 p.m.,” he said.

101 W. Tyler St., Longview, Texas Hours: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday - Thursday; 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday - Saturday 903-241-4686 oilhorsebrewing.com

Evergreen Coffee & Dessert

Since opening in 2000, Evergreen Coffee and Dessert has helped bring renewed life and energy to Pine Tree and has helped develop a community hub where young residents can gather to study, work, create art, talk, and cultivate ideas.

Evergreen Coffee and Dessert was founded by Seajin Kim and his wife, Stella Park, who owns the neighboring Evergreen Tattoo in the Royal Park Shopping Center. The couple also owns Evergreen Food Factory, which serves Korean fusion fare.

The couple moved to Longview from New York, where community coffee shops abound. He wanted to bring that vibe to Pine Tree.

Prior to the coffee shop and tattoo shop opening, the Royal Park Shopping Center on Evergreen Street contained mostly vacant buildings. Since opening, the coffee shop has become one of the trendiest hangout spots in Longview, especially among students who often study and gather with friends for conversation at the coffee shop. The tattoo shop also is bustling. More businesses have followed suit and opened up in Royal Park, leading to revitalization in the area.

“Our main goal is to bring new experiences to Longview to give people more options,” Kim said.

At Evergreen, popular coffee favorites include the Horchata Latte and the shop’s signature Tiger Latte. However, Evergreen offers a robust

T. Blanco’s

“We have some great recipes, and we have

Each weekend and nearly every weeknight, Longview residents drive south to the Lakeport area to dine at T. Blanco’s where the patio, margaritas, and Tex-Mex combine to create an

great cooks working in the kitchen,” said Dustin Anthony, a part owner of the restaurant. “They do a good job and are really hands-on every day.

We strive to work to do the best we can and just

atmosphere that people have loved for more

improve on our quality at all times.”

than a decade.

“The atmosphere helps set the restaurant

T. Blanco’s opened in 2010 and was

apart from other Tex-Mex options,” Gruppi said.

purchased by the Maxey family, which also

“We have a great patio. There are not many

owns Jucy’s, in 2018. Located in Lakeport, T. Blanco’s is known for its Tex-Mex offerings.

The restaurant’s menu items are prepared fresh each day, using high-quality ingredients, according to General Manager Jeff Gruppi. Top

restaurants like this around. It’s really laid back, and then on top of all that, the food is just really delicious,” he said. “I feel like it sets us apart from anybody in the surrounding area.”

menu items include the Fried Avocado, Beef

Megan Kiefer, who’s a part owner of the

Fajitas, and spicy Tacos De La Rosa.

restaurant, agreed that atmosphere is key.

menu that includes teas, frappes, and bubble tea. The bubble tea with boba is among the top sellers on the menu and is one item that sets Evergreen apart from other coffee shops. With many flavors of bubble tea and many flavors of boba, there are endless pairing combinations for patrons.

In addition to drinks, Evergreen also offers many desserts, such as macarons. Most of the desserts are made in-house and prepared fresh daily.

1111 Evergreen St., Longview, Texas Hours: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday - Friday; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday - Sunday 903-331-6059 Find Evergreen Coffee & Dessert on Facebook

It’s family friendly but also has a “happy hour type of vibe,” she said. The atmosphere invites people to stay longer than just their meal.

The bar also features a variety of options with specialty and holiday drinks that rotate.

Kiefer said the frozen margarita is her personal favorite. As it does to prepare its food, T. Blanco’s also uses fresh, high-quality ingredients in its mixed drinks, she said.

1045 Gardiner Mitchell Pkwy, Longview, Texas Hours:11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday - Friday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday - Sunday 903-643-0100 tblancos.com

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Shivers Natural Snow

In North Longview, a vintage Airstream, snow cones, picnic tables, and yard games combine to create a communal atmosphere where the community can relax and connect.

At Shivers, owners Chad and Rachael Reeves strive to create an atmosphere where families and friends can often be found gathering at picnic tables or enjoying each other’s company while sitting on picnic blankets.

While the atmosphere has a sense of community, the snow cones themselves are naturally a draw. Shivers signature snow cones feature ice that’s soft as snow and syrups that are made with all-natural, real ingredients.

In the spring, summer and fall, Shivers serves snow cones while in the winter the menu shifts to holiday drinks. All of the items are served from the Shivers food truck, an Airstream that’s located on U.S. 259 near Spindletop Market, formerly known as the Bar K Ranch Store.

On the summer snow menu, popular items include the Honeymoon, which is made with juiced pineapple and cream of coconut, and the Strawnilla, which features a combination of strawberry and vanilla. In the fall, snow cone flavors shift to fall flavors such as The Great Pumpkin, which features pumpkin spice and cinnamon, and Caramel Apple.

In both the summer and fall, the Brown Cow is a popular choice that features cold brew coffee along with homemade sweet cream, whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and chocolate drizzle.

In the wintertime, Shivers shifts to holiday drinks including a variety of hot chocolate flavors. In Texas, it can often be warm even in November and December, so Shivers also offers a frozen version of a few of its popular hot chocolate drinks.

Books & Barrels

Nestled in downtown Longview, Books & Barrels is an indie bookstore that also houses a wine bar and weekly schedule that’s filled with events the community enjoys.

Books & Barrels opened in 2020 as the brainchild of Laura and Chad Nevils and Laura’s mother, Joanna Burrows. Laura Nevils has described herself as an avid reader, but there were limited places to purchase books in the Longview area. She wanted to make that opportunity available to the community and wanted to be part of the revitalization efforts happening downtown.

promotes drinking local. Wines are available from nearby wineries, such as Enoch’s Stomp and Los Pinos. The store also sells a selection of craft beer, including Oil Horse Brewing Co. Wine and books make for the perfect pair, and Nevils has played on that concept by created a book club called “Perfect Pair Book Club.”

Each month, Books & Barrels chooses a book club pick and pairs it with a specific type of wine. The book club meets the third Thursday of each month for discussion.

The book club is far from the only event Books & Barrels hosts. The bookstore’s robust event calendar includes children’s story time, poetry nights, and open mic nights.

The store caters to readers of all ages and 5651 U.S. 259, Longview, Texas Hours: 2:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday - Friday; 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday shiversnaturalsnow.com

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those interested in a variety of genres. Its selection includes contemporary fiction, nonfiction, and a variety of children’s books.

Meanwhile, the wine bar housed inside

206 N. Center St., Longview, Texas Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday 903-265-9205 booksandbarrelstx.com

Lindsay Steele Photography

Café Barron’s

No list of hangout spots in Longview would be complete without Barron’s, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Barron’s was founded in 1972 by Jim and Julia Barron as a bookstore that grew into a boutique and gift shop. In 1995, the couple also opened Café Barron’s to serve upscale cuisine in a modern setting in Longview. Today,

features a full-service bar that is classy, upscale, sophisticated, and ideal for young professionals. Both the restaurant and bar are casual and a space where people feel comfortable dressed up or dressed down.

On the restaurant menu, fan favorites include the ribeye, the hot ’n’ crunchy chicken, and the bison burger. Barron’s uses high quality, fresh ingredients for both its food and drinks, and everything is prepared to order.

the shop and restaurant are operated by the couple’s son, Brandon, and his wife, Lacy.

Located on Loop 281, Café Barron’s features low club seating and sleek décor that exudes the atmosphere of a 1930s jazz club with a modern flare. The restaurant

Greenside Beverage Co.

Since opening in 2022, Greenside Beverage Co. has quickly become one of Longview’s prime spots to relax with friends.

Owners Hudson and Bessie Johnson share a lot of interests, and owning their own business was a shared dream. They also both enjoy wine, especially natural wine. Meanwhile, Hudson Johnson also works in real estate investment, and in 2021, he and his business partner invested in a building at the corner of Green Street and Tyler Street in downtown Longview.

“We would come back here and have beers or wine on what would become the patio,” Hudson Johnson said, noting the patio was in disrepair at the time. “We would come back here and dream.”

They worked together to renovate the building, which also houses neighboring businesses like Cace’s Kitchen and Solo Sandwich Co. The

renovation process began in November 2021, and Greenside officially opened its doors in August 2022.

Greenside offers a selection of natural wines, which Johnson described as being prepared by simpler or more traditional methods.

“The cool thing about natural wine is it’s grapes fermented into alcohol and then maybe a little bit of sulfite and that’s it,” he said. “The grapes are well-grown. It’s really nothing new; it’s just kind of going back to the older, more traditional methods of winemaking. It’s small wineries, small vineyards--it’s people like us who put themselves into it. There’s not a big machine harvesting the grapes. It’s people out there caring for the grapes.”

In addition to natural wines, Greenside also offers an assortment of beers, including some that are made in house.

Greenside also offers a variety of occasional

405 E. Loop 281, Longview, Texas Hours: 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Tuesday - Saturday; Bar open all day 903-663-4737 cafebarrons.com

events, including live music, yoga, pop-up food experiences, flea markets, and other events.

The Johnsons said one thing they love about their space is that it’s located in the heart of the city, giving them a chance to be part of the downtown revitalization. Supporting local is something they do even in their own travels.

“Everywhere we go, we seek out what’s local. I want to go somewhere where I can experience what that place has to offer, the local culture.

In Longview, that’s downtown,” he said. “If you dropped a pin at the courthouse, and you went a mile in any direction, this is what Longview is.

It stands out. This is uniquely Longview.”

102 N Green St., Longview, Texas Hours: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday - Thursday; 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday - Saturday; 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday greensidebevco.com

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Silver Grizzly Espresso

When Silver Grizzly Espresso opened its doors in Longview in 2016, it was with the goal of being a “third-place” space--an area outside of work and home where people can meet together and feel a sense of belonging.

In the last eight years, the downtown coffee shop has become just that to its multitude of patrons who come not just for coffee but also for a space to talk, collaborate, exchange ideas, and “belong.”

The coffee shop was made possible by four business partners–Connor Walters, Vincent Purvis, David Samford, and Vance Freeman– who had different backgrounds but a common thread. All four grew up in and around Longview and wanted to invest in their community.

Silver Grizzly offers high quality, craft coffee.

Coffee beans are ethically sourced, and Walters works with individuals he knows who visit farms in other countries, such as Guatemala and Ethiopia, during harvest season.

The Bourbon Alley

One of the newer hangout spots in downtown Longview, The Bourbon Alley has quickly built a following with its trendy atmosphere and high-quality craft cocktails.

Owner Christopher Wilks is originally from Longview but had moved away. When his job went fully remote amid the pandemic, he and his husband decided to return home. He said he couldn’t really find a place to get a drink with the exact atmosphere he was seeking, so he decided to build it with his family.

The Bourbon Alley, a speakeasy style bar that blends New Orleans flair with Old Hollywood charm, opened its doors on September 1, 2023.

Patrons enter a storefront and are asked for a password to enter the speakeasy.

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The Bourbon Alley originally was located behind Big Wood Haus & Home, but the owners quickly realized that it needed more space due to growing popularity. Today, it occupies the entire space at 115 E. Tyler St. though the Big Wood storefront still exists to add to the speakeasy vibe.

“We both mutually decided it would be beneficial for us if we could expand into this extra space which has been a lot of help,” Wilks said.

Cocktails rule the menu, but The Bourbon Alley also has a few signature drinks that patrons love.

The Blood Moon, for example, offers a vibrant twist on the classic margarita; meanwhile the Bourbon Alley Sazerac features a bold blend of rye whiskey, absinthe, and bitters.

“I want people to come here and leave with a

Silver Grizzly purchases what is known as “green coffee.” It’s the pit of a coffee cherry that starts out green and is turned brown during the roasting process. In 2020, Silver Grizzly opened its own roastery at which it roasts the beans to create its coffee.

While the downtown coffee shop remains the cornerstone of the business, Silver Grizzly also sells its coffee online and has partnered with other local businesses to offer its product.

At the coffee shop, the most popular drink tends to be lattes paired with one of Silver Grizzly’s house-made syrups. Latte art is often a delight to customers. The coffee shop also occasionally hosts pop-up events, such as latte art competitions and collaborations.

100 W. Tyler St., Longview, Texas Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday - Saturday 903-309-2766 silvergrizzlyespresso.com

smile on their faces, like they had an amazing time, and they felt kind of transported to New Orleans or just somewhere else other than Longview,” Wilks said. “As they say in New Orleans, ‘let the good times roll.’ If people come here and have fun, that’s when I feel like we’ve done a really good job.”

115 E. Tyler St., Longview, Texas Hours: 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. Wednesday - Saturday thebourbonalley.com

SCAN to watch the spirits flow as bartender Carson makes a Dragon fruit Gin Sour at The Bourbon Alley.

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“You played the music of my heart, and I’m so very moved by all the wonderful memories invoked in me tonight,” Mitchell said. “We are sitting in the Longview Community Center where I first started in 1972, and we stayed here about three years. It’s wonderful to gather again this evening. … It was very touching for me to be here.”

PAT GEORGE MITCHELL 2023 Arts!Longview Honors Lifetime Achievement Award Photo by O. Rufus Lovett

Longview

by Christina Cavazos

“I consider this one of the highest honors that I’ve ever received. It’s a tremendous moment not just for me, but for my whole family to be honored in this way. But this honor has to be shared with the people I’ve worked with over the years. I’ve been involved in music for over 50 years, but I never played a note myself. All of the people who have been part of the Longview Symphony Orchestra and the East Texas Symphonic Band deserve a lot of the credit. They’ve been incredible to work with.”

DR. JAMES SNOWDEN 2024 Arts!Longview Honors Lifetime Achievement Award Photo by O. Rufus Lovett

VisitLongviewTexas.com | ArtsLongview.org

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Arts Honors Gala 2023

Longview Ballet Theatre

The inaugural Arts!Longview Honors celebration was one of the highlights of Arts!Longview’s year in 2023. The celebration started a year filled with many new endeavors for the Cultural District. In 2023, Arts!Longview also hosted its first MLK Jazz Concert, installed its first sculptural bench, and brought in grant funding for a new project.

East Texas Symphonic Band

performers in East Texas who gave of their time and talents to spend the evening with us,” Cavazos said. “The ability to bring everyone together to share a stage made the Honors celebration one of the most special evenings in our Cultural District.”

In January 2024, Arts!Longview brought back its performing arts partner organizations for the second annual Honors celebration. The evening included the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Artistic Excellence to Dr. James Snowden. “The East Texas Symphonic Band and the Longview Symphony Orchestra are absolute gems and Dr. Snowden has been such a visionary leader in our arts community for more than fifty years,” Cavazos said.

“We have and will continue to push forward by bringing innovative projects and programming to our community.”

The event serves as the primary fundraiser for Arts!Longview, a nonprofit organization that manages the 343-acre, state-designated Cultural District in Longview. The evening featured a red-carpet entry and complimentary valet parking; a pre-show reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and live music; a Broadway-style program with performances by all of Longview’s performing arts groups; and the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award. Arts!Longview named Pat George Mitchell as the recipient of the inaugural award. Mitchell founded Longview Ballet Theatre in 1972 and served as its artistic director through its final production in 2022.

“For more than 50 years, Ms. Mitchell has shared her passion for dance and her love of the arts with our community. She has inspired and served as a mentor to thousands of students, teaching them not only about ballet but also about life,” Cavazos said. “She spent her life developing the talents of young dancers, nourishing our arts community, and creating memorable ballets that our community will collectively treasure forever.”

In addition to celebrating Mitchell’s career, the evening also highlighted the Cultural District with performances by all of Longview’s performing arts groups. The Longview String Quartet, whose members are part of the Longview Symphony Orchestra, provided pre-show entertainment.

Meanwhile, the program included performances by representatives and members of ArtsView Children’s Theatre, The Dance Studio Longview, East Texas Symphonic Band, the Kilgore College Rangerettes, former Longview Ballet Theatre dancers, soloist Miranda Dolive accompanied by pianist David Berryhill, and Theatre Longview.

“The Honors celebration may not be the first time that all of our performing arts partners appeared on a stage together, but if it wasn’t the first time, it was certainly the first in many years. We have incredible

Snowden founded the Longview Symphony Orchestra in 1968, and also started the orchestra program at Longview High School that same year.

He served as the symphony’s conductor for 10 years. He served as the musical director for the former Longview Community Theatre and also served as a musical director for ArtsView Children’s Theatre. He served as Pine Tree ISD’s Director of Bands for many years, eventually retiring in 1998.

In 1988, Snowden founded the East Texas Symphonic Band and has been its only conductor in the organization’s 35-year history. The East Texas Symphonic Band is comprised of about 70 volunteer musicians.

The group consists of adults, many of whom are band directors from area high schools, as well as high school and college students. Through the Symphonic Band and previously with the Longview Symphony, Snowden conducted joint performances with Longview Ballet Theatre and has sought to incorporate other facets of the arts into the groups’ performances.

“Dr. Snowden is an individual who seeks to bring together our arts community. It has been important to him to incorporate other aspects of the arts, such as song and dance, into his leadership of the Symphonic Band,” said Dan Sorey, 2023 President of the Arts!Longview Board of Directors. “He has touched nearly every facet of our performing arts community and we are proud to recognize him.”

The Honors celebration marked one of several new programs for Arts!

Longview. The organization also teamed up with the City of Longview

Learn more about the Arts!Longview Cultural District

U N I Q U E L Y L O N G V I E W . C O M 55

Theatre Longview

‘Circlets Magnum Opus’ Sculpture Bench

to be part of the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration. In 2023, the City of Longview took over coordination of the MLK weekend of events for the first time since 2009. Arts!Longview took part in the weekend by holding a jazz concert in January 2023 featuring performances by Low D and Mack Guice. The two local musicians performed to a nearly sold-out crowd at the Longview Community Center and Cavazos said the organization was excited to continue being part of MLK festivities.

In the fall, Arts!Longview played a role in Dia de los Muertos festivities by commissioning local artists to create a festive wrap for the “Longview” letters at Heritage Plaza. Artists Charles Arnold, Leti Beau and Kelly Ramon used canvas to create a wrap for the letters that was colorful and inviting. “As a Cultural District, we want to be part of events that are culturally significant to our community.

Pops in the Park

“I grew up in this wonderful community theatre where dozens of volunteers put on stellar plays and musicals to sold out crowds in the Longview Community Center,” Knutson said. “I want to see our community theatre, Theatre Longview, reach that status again where community members from all walks of life can come together and create, participate in, and attend excellent theatrical productions.”

Theatre Longview performed to sold-out audiences at the Longview Community Center throughout the year and brought back a musical for the first time in several years.

ArtsView Children’s Theatre completed major renovation work to its stage in 2023. The former stage at ArtsView was built on multiple levels with various steps and platforms. With support from the Longview Greggton Rotary Club, ArtsView renovated the stage so that it is solid

“Collaboration has been key among the organizations as Arts!Longview celebrates the successes and milestones of its partner agencies.”

The MLK weekend is among those events that we want to have a role in,” she said.

Arts!Longview also continued to host its quarterly ArtWalks in 2023, drawing hundreds of artists and thousands of attendees to downtown Longview. ArtWalk is a free festival that Arts!Longview organizes four times each year in the spring, summer, fall and winter. The event pairs artists with downtown businesses to showcase their work. Artists set up inside businesses and along the downtown sidewalks with the community coming out to view the art and patronize the businesses. All of Arts!Longview’s arts partner organizations participate in the ArtWalks, hosting artists and setting up booths downtown.

In 2023, Theatre Longview hired its first executive director, Denise Knutson, who has been involved in the organization for several years.

Knutson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts.

VisitLongviewTexas.com | ArtsLongview.org

56 U N I Q U E L Y L O N G V I E W 2 0 2 4

and flat, which improves the accessibility and safety of the stage.

ArtsView also completed some exterior work to the building, including a new mural painted by Longview artist Dana Huber. The mural, which is titled “The Stage is Set to Soar,” features hot air balloons, each one depiciting a scene from a different ArtsView production, including “The Sound of Music,” “Newsies,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “The Jungle Book,” “The Chronicles of Narnia,” The Little Mermaid,” and “The Pirates of Penzance.”

“We wanted to celebrate the hot air balloons in Longview and to incorporate the worlds that theatre offers, so we have different landscapes that are from our previous plays and musicals,” Huber said.

Longview World of Wonders hired Sara McKinley in 2023 as its new executive director. McKinley previously served as the organization’s assistant executive director.

“Leading the team at Longview World of Wonders has been a tremendous privilege. My first year as executive director has brought both exciting challenges and opportunities,” McKinley said. “One of my key objectives

Longview World of Wonders

MLK Concert

ArtWalk Downtown

“Since 2019, Arts!Longview and its partner arts agencies have been awarded $764,004 in total state funds, including both Cultural District Project grants and the smaller grant programs offered by the Texas Commission on the Arts.” since assuming this role is to foster and strengthen our community partnerships.

I am passionate about our involvement in the cultural arts community, and my team is continuously working to enhance the experience for our patrons.”

LongviewWOW cultivated collaborative partnerships with several other arts organizations, including participating in a joint Family Day hosted by all three of the downtown museums. Longview Museum of Fine Arts and the Gregg County Historical Museum also participated in the Family Day event.

Gregg County Historical Museum delighted patrons from across East Texas with its 2023 exhibition lineup, particularly its “NASA: Beyond Earth” exhibition. The exhibit, which was made possible in collaboration with the Johnson Space Center, featured historical artifacts from the Apollo and Gemini missions. The historical museum also helped Gregg County celebrate its 150th anniversary, or sesquicentennial, in 2023. The county’s sesquicentennial was celebrated as part of Dalton Days festivities.

Historical Museum Executive Director Lindsay Loy and her team helped make the county’s celebration special. Dalton Days featured special appearances, such as Bill O’Neal, a retired Texas state historian, who gave a presentation on the county and State Representative Jay Dean who issued a proclamation for the county’s anniversary. A cake in the shape of Gregg County also was created to help commemorate the milestone.

LMFA made progress at its new location and continued to offer exhibitions at its current space. The museum held its first “State of the Museum” in 2023 with LMFA Executive Director Tiffany Jehorek speaking directly with the museum’s members, volunteers and supporters. LMFA also returned its Magic and Mayhem event to the Cultural District, including partnering

with Theatre Longview to have actors dressed in costume at the “Alice in Wonderland” themed evening.

Meanwhile, the Longview Symphony Orchestra played to a sold-out crowd at the 2,000-seat LeTourneau University Belcher Center during its “Star Wars: Through the Years” concert in April 2023. The concert invited attendees to hear music from the iconic film franchise and marked a milestone achievement for the orchestra to sell out the Belcher Center.

The Mandalorian Mission Maze, which served as a prelude to the concert, attracted thousands to the Longview Arboretum & Nature Center to interact with volunteers who were dressed as various characters from the “Star Wars” franchise. The symphony partnered with volunteers from several arts organizations for the Mandalorian Mission Maze and began making plans for its 2024 family concert, which will feature music from the Marvel and DC comics films.

Arts!Longview also completed projects in 2023 that were funded by a grant received from the Texas Commission on the Arts. As a state-designated Cultural District, Arts!Longview and its partner arts organizations are eligible for specific grant funds from the state’s arts commission that are not available to cities without the state designation.

The organization’s grant helped fund the first “art bench” in the community. The new sculptural bench adds another pop of color to downtown Longview and the Cultural District. The bench, which is titled “Circlets Magnum Opus,” is located at the corner of Tyler Street and Fredonia Street in front of the Sculpture Garden. It was designed by Holly Forbes of Longview and fabricated by Modisette Welding of Kilgore.

The bench depicts an artist’s palette and brush. “The name ‘Circlets Magnum Opus’ is a very loose interpretation meaning ‘Great Work of Circles’ — it’s just more ‘artsy.’ The concept represents an artist’s brush and palette and varying sizes of abstract circles of color,” Forbes said. “As a graphic designer, I could create the concept but needed the expertise of a professional welder to actually make the bench. Modisette Welding did

U N I Q U E L Y L O N G V I E W . C O M 57

LMFA

Vizcre8ve

Matthew Nehrling

Longview Symphony Orchestra Star Wars

Longview Museum of Fine Arts

a fantastic job taking my idea and engineering, building, and painting the bench. The bench is intended to be a happy and inviting spot that attracts people to come take a closer look.”

Regarding state funding, Arts!Longview learned in September that it would be awarded a $45,000 grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts to install wayfinding signage that will help direct visitors to the Cultural District and Downtown Longview.

ArtsView Children’s Theatre Mural

Executive Director Nathaniel Olson said ArtsView will expand the lobby to triple the current size “to allow our patrons to have a comfortable and climate-controlled environment to wait in before the shows since they currently have to wait outside due to the small size of our lobby.”

Longview Museum of Fine Arts received a $35,000 Cultural District Project grant that will assist with the renovation of the 1940s section of LMFA’s future home on Fredonia Street. LMFA is in the process of renovating a former bank at the corner of Fredonia and Methvin Streets into a new art

“Earning the TCA Cultural District designation from the state pushed us to the next level for our artistic community...it has opened doors to grant funding and more local support that has helped us elevate the culture of downtown Longview.”

“Through traffic data, we know that more than 150,000 people travel through Longview daily on some of the major roadways, including Interstate 20, U.S. Highway 80, U.S. Highway 259, LONGVIEW MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS and Texas 300,” Cavazos said.

“Our goal is to help direct visitors to experience the beauty and uniqueness of our Cultural District, including our downtown business community and our nine partner arts and culture agencies.”

museum. Jehorek said the museum’s goal is to prepare the first floor of the building for immediate use for LMFA events and for the community to rent for events. Meanwhile, the museum will continue its plans and fundraising for future phases of renovations at the new building.

Meanwhile, the Cultural District as a whole brought in $159,000 in state grant funding cumulatively between Arts!Longview and its partner organizations.

“Earning the Cultural District designation from the state really pushed us to the next level for our artistic community,” Cavazos said. “It has opened doors to grant funding and more local support that has helped us elevate the culture of downtown Longview, helped our arts partners make improvements to existing and future buildings, and allowed for worldclass programming to be brought to our community.”

215 E. TYLER ST. | LMFA.ORG

|

@LMFATX

EXHIBITIONS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE CITY OF LONGVIEW, THE CULTURAL ACTIVITIES ADVISORY COMMISSION AND LMFA MEMBERS AND SPONSORS.

LMFA.ORG

ArtsView Children’s Theatre received a $23,298 Cultural District Project grant that will be used to remodel and expand the existing theatre lobby.

Longview Symphony Orchestra received a $28,000 Cultural District Project grant that will assist with funding for its upcoming DC vs. Marvel concert.

Executive Director Niki Groce said the DC vs. Marvel concert will continue the orchestra’s tradition of engaging the community through a familyfriendly concert that ties together music and cinema. The concert will feature music from the DC and Marvel comics films.

Cultural districts are special zones that harness the power of cultural resources to stimulate economic development and community vitality. These districts can become focal points for generating businesses, attracting tourists, stimulating cultural development and fostering civic pride. www.arts.texas.gov VisitLongviewTexas.com | ArtsLongview.org

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10. Historic Longview Farmers Market 11. Historic Longview Train Depot 12. Kilgore College - Longview 13. Longview Chamber of Commerce 14. ARTS!Longview Community Center 15. Longview Museum of Fine Arts 16. Longview Public Library 17. Longview Safety City 18. Longview Symphony 19. Longview World of Wonders

ARTSVIEW CHILDREN’S THEATRE artsviewchildrenstheatre.com ARTS!Longview Logo Guidelines: .........................

22 26 The logo is intended to be used by approved entities within the 22 25 EAST TEXAS SYMPHONIC BAND 26 see https://artslongview.org/explore designated Cultural District, 25 etsymphonicband.org 23 for a map of area.

24 .........................

23 Limit to 24 groups listed on our website?

GREGG COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM Use with or without the TCA logo? gregghistorical.org .........................

Contact for more information on logo usage: director@artslongview.org 903.738.1865 www.artslongview.org

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LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY BELCHER CENTER belchercenter.com .........................

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Birdsong St.

20. Magrill Plaza 21. Pelaia Plaza and J.T. Smith Sculpture Garden

director@artslongview.org | 903-738-1865 500 East Whaley Street | Longview, Texas 75601 artslongview.org

FM 1845

MLK Blvd.

City Hall / Visitors Center

Arts!Longview Board of Directors

MLK Blvd.

Central Fire Station

3.

Young St. 27

Mobberly Ave.

ArtsView Children’s Theatre

2.

27

Mobberly Ave.

Downtown Area 1.

Young St.

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Michael Cavazos

FM 1845

LONGVIEW BALLET THEATRE .........................

LONGVIEW MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS lmfa.org .........................

LONGVIEW SYMPHONY longviewsymphony.org .........................

LONGVIEW WORLD OF WONDERS longviewwow.org .........................

THEATRE LONGVIEW theatrelongview.com

U N I Q U E L Y L O N G V I E W . C O M 59

Nestled among trees, the Longview Arboretum and Nature Center is an outdoor sanctuary that invites guests to relax, rejuvenate and reconnect with nature in the heart of the city. The Arboretum hosts community events, science camps, a live music concert series each spring and fall, and so much more.

Open year-round, come stroll the piney paths to experience how the gardens attract birds, butterflies, wildlife, and indigenous flora and fauna. Visit the website for garden hours, admission, membership information, and a calendar of upcoming events.

Nature, Beauty & Soul 706 W. Cotton St., Longview, TX • (903) 212-2181 • LongviewArboretum.org

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U N I Q U E L Y L O N G V I E W . C O M 61

Symphony

By Christina Cavazos

With a mixture of classical and family concerts, Longview Symphony

In the winter, the symphony performs a classical candlelight concert,

Orchestra is experiencing unprecedented growth that Executive Director

and throughout the year, it offers free Bach’s Lunch classical concerts.

Niki Groce says has helped it become “a symphony for everyone.”

The Bach’s Lunch concerts are held at churches in Longview and

“We’ve expanded on our outreach and getting into our community, and we’re bringing new people into becoming classical music lovers,”

Kilgore as a lunchtime concert series to give people a small taste of classical music.

The symphony concludes its season with its family concert, which

she said.

typically features music from popular film franchises.

Founded in 1968 by Dr. James Snowden, the Longview Symphony Orchestra is composed entirely of professional musicians from

The tradition started with the symphony’s “Harry Potter” concert.

Longview, the greater East Texas area, Shreveport-Bossier City, and

Leading up to the concert, Groce organized a Harry Potter-themed

Dallas-Fort Worth. Musicians audition to be part of the orchestra and

maze at the Longview Arboretum and Nature Center. For the maze,

are paid performers.

she partnered with other arts organizations and City of Longview

“What we have is incredible,” Groce said. “I’m constantly blown away

from the franchise. She constructed a maze where visitors used clues

by them.” The orchestra has grown over the years and adapted its

to solve a puzzle.

departments to have volunteers dress up in costume as characters

performances. During 2020, for example, the orchestra performed free A free event, the maze attracted more than 1,400 attendees. Many

virtual concerts.

of those individuals purchased tickets to come to the concert, which More recently, the symphony has focused on using its annual family

followed the maze about a month later.

concert to drive more people to the symphony and raise awareness of In 2023, the symphony held a

its programs.

“Star Wars” concert with a maze

The Longview Symphony Orchestra offers a robust season of

that preceded it. The Longview

programming. The season starts in the fall with a classical concert.

Symphony Orchestra performed

Then, in December, the annual Home for the Holidays program kicks

the “Star Wars” concert to a

off the holiday season in Longview.

sold-out crowd at the 2,000-

“It is magical. So many things happen at this concert. It puts the jolly in

seat LeTourneau University

your season,” Groce said.

Belcher Center. It marked the first time for the symphony to sell out the venue and capped a season that set many records for the organization.

With new conductor Dr. Greg Grabowski, the symphony played to a crowd of more than 1,500 people at its Home for the Holidays concert during the 2022-2023 season. That was a record for that particular concert. The symphony followed that by performing to a sold-out audience for its chamber candlelight concert at the Longview Community Center and then performing to a sold-out crowd at the Belcher Center for the “Star Wars” concert.

Star Wars Concert

Photos by Matthew Nehrling

62 U N I Q U E L Y L O N G V I E W 2 0 2 4

Harry Potter Marauder’s Map Challenge

“I’m so excited at the direction we’re going in,” Groce said. “Last season, we made Longview Symphony history under the direction of Dr. Greg Grabowski, our conductor, who is an amazing person to work with. He’s an incredibly talented, visual person who just knows how to engage the audience and the musicians.”

This spring, the symphony’s family concert will feature music from the DC and Marvel comics film franchises. Leading up to the April 27 concert, the symphony will once again bring back its maze at the Arboretum. Titled “The Joker’s Gauntlet,” the maze will feature volunteers dressed up as characters from popular comic series and will feature a showdown between the Joker and Batman.

“The big challenge this year is to find the Infinity Stones, but you will have several smaller challenges to complete to fill out your map along the way,” Groce explained of this year’s maze. “And, of course, you get to put your name in for prizes at different levels. It’s going to be good.”

With the maze and the family concert, she expects to again bring in new audiences who may have never attended a symphony performance before.

“I feel like we have really expanded and become a symphony for everyone, which was a major goal,” she said. “I feel like we are really now seeing the fruits of our labor.”

Watch a clip from the 2023 Home for the Holidays Concert!

Home for the Holidays Concert

U N I Q U E L Y L O N G V I E W . C O M 63

OUT & ABOUT

SPRING MARCH

and nail-biting frenzy of one of Longview’s most iconic pages of history, the infamous bank heist by the Bill Dalton Gang. Recreated on a blocked-off portion of Fredonia Street, and coupled with a fair-styled afternoon of

LeTourneau Car Show LETU.EDU

activities, Dalton Days brings the bang and pop excitement that professional actors create when putting Longview citizens in

The LeTourneau University Automotive Society

peril, and all straight from local history.

presents its annual Car Show with proceeds benefiting missions around the world.

Zonta Antiques Show and Sale ZONTAANTIQUESHOW.COM

A perennial favorite for antique hunters of all stripes, this event typically draws jewelry, carpet, and furniture vendors to the Maude Cobb Convention Center. One of the longest running antiques shows in East Texas, it also hosts a tearoom and its famous Pie Bar. Sponsored by the Zonta Club of Greater East Texas.

LeTourneau Car Show

Harvest Festival Crawfish Boil HARVESTFESTIVALLIVESTOCKSHOW.COM

Each year at the Maude Cobb Convention Center, the Crawfish Boil brings thousands of people together for music and amazing food. The Crawfish Boil, a fundraiser for the Harvest Festival livestock show and sale in October, provides scholarships to area 4H and FFA students.

Downtown Longview Wine Swirl VISITLONGVIEWTEXAS.COM

Define a perfect Spring Saturday: strolling through Downtown Longview, sampling wines from across East Texas and beyond, listening to live music, and shopping from unique local vendors.

PRCA Rodeo LONGVIEWPRCARODEO.COM

The Greggton Rotary Longview PRCA Rodeo is one of the hottest tickets in town. Fans say it’s one of the most popular bull-riding, calfroping, bareback-riding, saddle-bronc-riding, stick-horse-racing, clown-dodging rodeos ever to stir up dust at the Longview Rodeo Downtown Longview Wine Swirl

Arena. The Rotarians say it’s just good, family fun. The Longview (Greggton) Rotary hosts

APRIL Chautauqua Fest LONGVIEWTEXAS.GOV

The Longview Public Library hosts this free event celebrating diverse culture with music, performances, local authors, artists,

fundraiser, allows the Rotary to give back $30,000 - $50,000 to the community in support of local non-profit organizations.

MAY Cinco De Mayo

Dalton Days

Celebration of Hispanic music, food, vendors,

A family-friendly event recapturing the drama

64 U N I Q U E L Y L O N G V I E W 2 0 2 4

rodeo fans of all ages, and, as their primary

and artisans.

GREGGHISTORICAL.ORG

Gregg County Historical Museum Dalton Days

this annual spring-time event to the delight of

LONGVIEWARBORETUM.ORG

and performances all located within the beautiful Longview Arboretum gardens.

Te

Juneteenth Celebration & Dance LONGVIEWTEXAS.GOV

and corny dogs. Always in mid-September, the

A parade, a dance, and a rodeo are among

cooler temperatures bring out families and

the many fun activities planned each June for this historic occasion.

Longview Pride Festival An annual LGBTQ+ festival in June, the event features music, vendors, and activities.

JULY Fireworks & Freedom Celebration LONGVIEWTEXAS.GOV/FIREWORKS Texas Shakespeare Festival

Photo by John Dodd

SUMMER JUNE

Great Texas Balloon Race

Enjoy amusement rides, live music, food and beverages, vendors, and a variety of other entertainment. Festivities take place throughout the day with a gigantic fireworks show set to patriotic music beginning at dark.

Longview Kennel Club Competition LONGVIEWKENNELCLUB.ORG

Dog breeds from 38 states, Mexico, and

GREATTEXASBALLOONRACE.COM

Canada compete in the two-day Longview

FEATURE ON PAGE 68

Kennel Club License All Breed Dog Show at the

Gregg County is the Balloon Race Capital of Texas because this world-class event attracts the best competitive balloon pilots from across the United States and around the world. During the third weekend in June, balloons will fill the skies over Longview on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and then concerts, a balloon glow, and entertainment will thrill crowds on Friday and Saturday night.

This world-class competition features sport and special shaped balloons and covers a three-day weekend every summer.

The Great Texas Balloon Race was founded by local dentist Dr. Bill Bussey in 1977.

Dr. Bussey has held many balloon world records and was inducted into the National U.S. Ballooning Hall of Fame, the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, and the Ark-La-Tex Sports Museum of Champions. Ballooning has become a beloved part of the Longview community and local pilots can been seen flying over Longview on any given morning throughout the year.

In conjunction with their annual event, The Great Texas Balloon Race is also hosting three consecutive U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championship events starting in 2023. Yet another great opportunity to watch some of the finest pilots in the world compete.

games, music, petting zoos, cotton candy,

Maude Cobb Convention Center. This exciting and well-mannered, AKC-sanctioned event is great entertainment for children and adults.

everyone enjoys a variety of good clean fun.

HomebierFest Prost! Hosted by the East Texas Brewer’s Guild, this Oktoberfest-style event provides visitors the opportunity to enjoy unique and varied beers made by home-brewing enthusiasts. Held in September, the event also features music and food trucks.

Landmarks of Longview Tour GREGGHISTORICAL.ORG

Every September, several homes and/or businesses of architectural significance are open to the public for a two-day tour benefiting the Gregg County Historical Museum. Always interesting, with a glimpse into the stories of many of the places distinctive to our local culture, the tour provides an opportunity for an easy day spent in homes that have, or will have, an impact on our community’s history.

Texas Shakespeare Festival

Neal McCoy’s East Texas Angel Network Benefit Concert

TEXASSHAKESPEARE.COM

EASTTEXASANGELNETWORK.COM

Located just a stone’s throw from Longview’s city limits is one of the nation’s premiere summer Shakespeare festivals hosted by Kilgore College.

This renowned summer tradition brings a variety of high caliber stage productions and gifted actors to a local platform. From The Queen’s Tea to meet and greets with the actors, this is a fun and affordable departure from ordinary entertainment.

AUGUST Grape Stomp at Enoch’s Stomp ENOCHSSTOMP.COM

Help harvest and stomp grapes, plus enjoy music, food, and contests during the annual Enoch’s Stomp Harvest Festival in late July and August.

Photo by Stefanie Yoder

Neal McCoy

Longview resident and country singing star, Neal McCoy, invites his celebrity friends to

SEPTEMBER

an annual September concert to raise funds

Gregg County Fair

anticipated autumn event, Neal revs up the

for children with serious illness. Always an

GREGGCOUNTYFAIR.COM

show with fun and good times and the result

The Longview Jaycees host a week-long,

gives back to his fans, and ultimately to the

old-fashioned county fair with carnival rides,

children close to his heart.

U N I Q U E L Y L O N G V I E W . C O M 65

the Haunted Library, Graystone Haunted Manor, Doc Wilkes House of Horrors, and Thomas Falls Outdoor Adventures’ Zip-lining with the Zombies.

Barrels & Brews ETXALZ.ORG

Benefiting the East Texas Alzheimer’s Alliance, the festival showcases area wineries as well as music, food, and vendors.

Touch A Truck LONGVIEWCOMMUNITYMINISTRIES.ORG

Unique community event designed for children and adults to see, touch, learn, and

Barrels & Brews Photo by VizCre8ve

interact with fascinating vehicles like fire trucks, cranes, dump trucks, school buses, helicopters, and more.

NOVEMBER Día De Los Muertos VISITLONGVIEWTEXAS.COM

A celebratory festival and parade remembering loved ones. The event at Heritage Plaza in Downtown Longview features folkorico dances, face painting, children’s arts and craft, Latino-owned businesses, vendors, and food.

Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting VISITLONGVIEWTEXAS.COM Barrels & Brews

Photo by VizCre8ve

FALL

Longview celebrates the lighting of the Christmas tree with a visit from Santa Claus, holiday music, and other festivities.

OCTOBER

Harvest Festival & Livestock Show The largest show of its kind in East Texas, the Texas Cooperative Extension Office junior livestock show and sale is the highlight of the year for area 4H and FFA members.

Haunted Houses, Library, and Zipline With the Zombies VISITLONGVIEWTEXAS.COM

Every October Longview gets spooky with hair-raising activities at various venues like Photo by Dale Lessenberry

DÍa De Los Muertos

66 U N I Q U E L Y L O N G V I E W 2 0 2 4

Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting

Photo by Dale Lessenberry

WINTER DECEMBER

Christmas in Downtown Longview VISITLONGVIEWTEXAS.COM

The Gregg County Courthouse is transformed into a beautiful light display, a huge Christmas tree brightens Heritage Plaza, and special holiday events fill downtown. The Longview AMBUCS Christmas Parade proceeds through downtown on the first Thursday of December with an impressive fleet of floats, antique cars, marching bands, and the ever-popular hot air balloon torch glow.

Carmela’s Magical Santa Land Located just north of Longview, Carmela’s Magical Santa Land offers a free drive-thru Christmas wonderland each year from November through early January. This

Artwalk

willingly “freeze their fannies” for bragging rights after they’ve completed the Tour-de-EastTexas. Also includes a 10K run which begins at Doris McQueen Primary School.

SEASONAL ArtWalk Longview ARTWALKLONGVIEW.COM

light show extravaganza is spread across a

Several times a year, downtown Longview

beautiful 30-acre property and has quickly

galleries and businesses stay open late, and

become an East Texas holiday favorite.

JANUARY Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration LONGVIEWTEXAS.GOV

exhibit art on the sidewalk, for an afterhours event designed to showcase local art and artisans. ArtWalk provides an urban environment where many retail stores prop

The HLFM holds a permanent station in the parking lot at High and Cotton Streets on a seasonal schedule. Starting early on Saturday mornings, the 7:30-11:30 a.m. schedule has at times included live music, cooking demonstrations, and crafts.

The first Saturday from April - November, you’ll find cool cars and trucks of all varieties gathered in Downtown Longview for a free cruise night. Admire the vehicles and then grab dinner or a beverage from one of your downtown favorites.

VISITLONGVIEWTEXAS.COM

Parade of Homes

Longview has a long history of inventors, builders, and makers. Explore factories to

EASTTEXASPARADE.COM

see how the world’s largest front-end loader Downtown Live!

Presented by the East Texas Home Builders Association in May and November each year,

made in Longview. Free tours are provided on

makes our city work.

and specialty items for sale to the public.

VISITLONGVIEWTEXAS.COM

Big Techs

look behind the scenes at the technology that

organic farmers offer vegetables, herbs, eggs,

hopping. It’s family and pet-friendly fun.

FEBRUARY

Longview and give participants a chance to

Under white pop-up tents, regional and

Downtown Longview Cruise Night

parade, festival, and ecumenical service.

this special weekend at industries throughout

HISTORICLONGVIEWFARMERSMARKET.COM

to complement the live music and restaurant

open the front door and offer special purchases

Community celebration featuring concert,

is built and learn about other amazing stuff

Historic Longview Farmer’s Market

Downtown Live!

VISITLONGVIEWTEXAS.COM

Heritage Plaza, in downtown Longview, is filled with music, beverages, food trucks, and

Freeze Your Fanny Bike Tour

lots of people on Friday nights in April, May,

This annual February bicycle tour is a

series is a family friendly event featuring

fundraiser for Special Olympics and takes place

some of the best regional talent in various

no matter how cold the weather. Participants

music genres.

September, and October. This free music

this event showcases several beautiful new area homes. Visitors can learn about the latest home trends and admire the distinct craftsmanship presented by local builders.

Stay up-to-date on the latest events and happenings in Longview

ry U N I Q U E L Y L O N G V I E W . C O M 67

Great Texas Balloon Race: National Competition Brings Dozens of Hot Air Balloon Pilots to Longview

By Christina Cavazos

Each summer, visitors and residents in Longview are invited to look up as nearly a hundred hot air balloons take to the skies above.

The national championship brings the top fifty

The festival

hot air balloon pilots in the nation to Longview.

features

This year, the Great Texas Balloon Race will

Race anyway,” Bennett said.

be back for its 47th year. From 2023-2025, Longview is also the site of the U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championship, the national competitive race hosted by the Balloon Federation of America. In 2024, there will also be an added day of flights as the national championship increases its competition days.

“Historically, a lot of those nationally ranked pilots are always at the Great Texas Balloon

cannot inflate their balloons in

ballooning community and the hospitality

certain weather, such as high wind or

shown to the visitors.

rain. That rule also applies to the daily

“The reputation of our competition keeps

Started in 1978 by Dr. Bill Bussey, the

2023 we had a visiting pilot from Switzerland.

Great Texas Balloon Race continues

We have several world champion pilots who

to be a signature event in Longview

have always come to the Great Texas Balloon

that brings much tourism to the city as

Because the two events run concurrently, pilots who participate in Nationals will not participate in the Great Texas Balloon Race, but more balloonists will join them when that competition begins. In 2019, the Great Texas Balloon Race also launched the Young Guns competition,

concurrently but have different tasks for balloon pilots to complete.

Gai Bennett, who is co-chairing the 2024 event with Michelle Ford, said it is an honor for Longview to host the national event. The national competition was previously held from 2012 to 2015 in Longview.

“The Great Texas Balloon Race is an invitational race. Pilots must be invited because we want seasoned pilots who are very competitive,” Bennett explained. “Similarly, with the U.S. Nationals, pilots must have earned a certain

an event open to pilots who are under the age of 29, have a balloon pilot license, and meet a minimum number of qualifying hours.

people enjoy seeing the balloons. In fact, Gregg County was designated by the state Legislature as the “Balloon Race Capital of Texas” due to the success of the event.

“It’s really all about the balloons,” Bennett said. “I talk to people all the time who are just looking at the balloons and saying, ‘Oh, this is so lovely. This is beautiful.’ A lot of times they don’t even realize there’s a competition going on. These pilots are performing magnificent feats of navigation.”

Because of the success of the event, ballooning

“Those pilots in the National Race will start

as a serious hobby has been passed down for

flying competitively on Monday of that

several generations in Longview.

week and will fly through Sunday. The Great Texas Balloon Race pilots and the Young Gun pilots will join them in the competition flights on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday,”

“It’s amazing to me. Dr. Bussey started this because he was a pilot, and he wanted to do something. We now have fourth generations of

Bennett said. “So for those last three days,

pilots in our area. We have young pilots under

competitions will run concurrently, but

30 here who are buying balloons and getting

they’re scored differently.”

their licenses. And it’s because of the long

While all of the pilots will be in the air at the same time for the last three days, there are different tasks and a different scoring rubric for the different events.

ranking in the national eligibility point system.

In addition to the competitive flights, the Great

It’s kind of like NASCAR or the PGA. Pilots

Texas Balloon Race also features a festival on

earn points for every competition. For the

Friday and Saturday nights at Maude Cobb

Nationals, they must earn a high ranking with

Convention and Activity Center. This year, the

that point system.”

festival will take place on June 14-15, 2024.

68 U N I Q U E L Y L O N G V I E W 2 0 2 4

competition flights themselves.

the pilots coming back for sure. In fact, in

like to come to Longview.”

June 14-16, 2024. The two events run

also held each evening, weather permitting. Pilots

hospitality. We take care of our pilots. They do

and the Great Texas Balloon Race will be

A balloon glow is

explained, is due to its reputation among the

has a reputation of quality competition and

Championship will be June 10-16, 2024,

such as live music.

The success of Longview’s event, she

Race,” Bennett said. “The balloon race

The U.S. National Hot Air Balloon

entertainment,

history of this little event.”

Read more about the history of the Great Texas Balloon Race.

Watch video from the 2023 Great Texas Balloon Race.

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Federally insured by NCUA. Membership eligibility required. NMLS# 410765 U N I Q U E L Y L O N G V I E W . C O M 69

City Map Visitor Information Center

Middle & High Schools

Visit Longview + Marketplace

Forest Park Middle School Foster Middle School Judson Middle School Longview High School Pine Tree Junior High & High School St. Mary’s Catholic School Spring Hill High School

Arts & Education Artsview Children’s Theatre (Downtown) Gregg County Historical Museum (Downtown) Longview Museum of Fine Arts (Downtown) Longview Public Library (Downtown) Longview World of Wonders (Downtown) S.E. Belcher Jr. Chapel and Performance Center R.G. LeTourneau Museum at LeTourneau Univ.

Amusements AMC Longview 10 Laser X Longview Bingo Center Lumberjacks Axe Throwing Oil Bowl Lanes Putt Putt Golf and Games

Colleges & Universities Kilgore College - Longview (Downtown) LeTourneau University UT Tyler Longview University Center

Golf Alpine Golf Course Alpine Target Golf Center Nip It - Indoor Golf Simulator Pinecrest Country Club Crossing Creeks Country Club Wood Hollow Golf Course

Government Gregg County Courthouse (Downtown) Longview City Hall (Downtown) Longview Police Department (Downtown)

Hospitals CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical Center CHRISTUS Good Shepherd NorthPark Medical Plaza Longview Regional Medical Center

Meeting Spaces & Community Centers Arts!Longview Community Center (Downtown) Broughton Recreation Center Green Street Recreation Center Hilton Garden Inn and Conference Center Infinity Holiday Inn Conference Center Longview Community Center Longview Convention Complex Fairgrounds, Rodeo Arena, Exhibit Bldg.

J.R. Curtis, Jr. Garden for the Blind Panther Park Community Center Stamper Park Resource Center

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Pa Pa Ce

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Parks, Trails, & Sports Venues Broughton Park & Recreation Center Cargill Long Park & Trail Grace Creek Mountain Bike Trail The Green Guthrie and Rotary Park Heritage Plaza (Downtown) Hinsley Park Ingram Park Lear Park Sports Complex Jack Mann Splash Pad Kidsview Playground LeTourneau University Longview Arboretum Longview Depot Park (Downtown) Longview Swim Center at Pine Tree H.S. Magrill Plaza McWhorter Park Julieanna Park & Trail Panther Park & Recreation Center Patterson Park Paul G. Boorman Trail Lois Jackson Park Stragent Dog Parks Paula Martin Jones Recreation Center Pelaia Plaza and JT Smith Sculpture Garden Spring Hill Park Stamper Park Mary C. Womack Football Field Teague Park & Veterans Plaza Timpson Park Williams Lake at Mobberly Baptist Church

Shopping Shopping Centers

Transportation East Texas Regional Airport Longview Transportation Center Station Greyhound Bus Station Historic Train Depot Station Longview Transit

Get more information about things to do and see in Longview, Texas at VisitLongviewTexas.com.

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Lake of the Pines

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Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center

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Caddo Lake

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See Downtown Detail

The Green

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Jefferson

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Longview Arboretum

Ingram Park Pool, Skatepark, & Disc Golf

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Page Rd.

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Guthrie Park & Trail

Stamper Park

Kilgore

Forest Park Middle School

Patterson Park

Arts!Longview Cultural District

Sabine River

Smelley Rd.

Hollybrook Dr.

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Oil Bowl Lanes

Lear Park Sports Complex

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Pegues Pl.

Lois Jackson Park

Pine Tree Stadium

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Alpine Golf Course

Longview Regional Medical Center

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Stragent Dog Parks

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AMC Longview 10

Longview Depot Park

Longview Museum of Fine Arts

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Hinsley Park Longview High School

Laser X Laser tag Nip It Golf

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City Hall Public Library

Gregg County Historical Museum

Longview Transportation Center Station (Greyhound & AmTrak)

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Judson Rd.

Longview Mall

Crossing Creeks Country Club

Arts!Longview Community Center

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CHRISTUS Good Shepherd NorthPark Medical Plaza

W. Hawkins Pkwy.

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Gregg County Courthouse Heritage Plaza

Kilgore College

The University of Texas at Tyler Longview University Center

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Spring Hill Park & Neal McCoy Playground

Longview Escape Room

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Wood Hollow Golf Club

Spring Hill Schools

Pine Tree Auxiliary Stadium

Visit Longview Marketplace

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Police Station

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Longview WOW Museum

Fourth St.

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Mobberly Ave.

Panther Park Rec Center

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ArtsView Children’s Theatre

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Lake Fork

WHALEY ST.

Longview North Business Park

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The Brick Studio

FIRST ST.

Judson Middle School

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CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Hospital

Marshall Ave.

Longview Business Park

Shreveport & Bossier City, LA

LOUISIANA DOWNS • RIVERBOAT GAMBLING

60

MILES

East Texas Regional Airport PRIVATE & COMMERCIAL PROVIDERS American Eagle Airlines Provides Daily non-stop flights to DFW International Airport

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There’s always something

fun for the kids at

Longview World of Wonders inspires a life-long love of learning by giving children the opportunity to imagine, create, and explore in a hands-on learning environment.

LongviewWOW.org

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EXPERT COLON CANCER CARE RIGHT WHERE YOU LIVE.

When facing a colon cancer diagnosis, you deserve your own team of specialists, advanced treatment options, leading edge technology, and access to clinical trials. You also deserve to be there for skinned knees and bedtime stories. With more than 280 locations across the state, Texas Oncology provides expert cancer care and lets you keep being mom. Because comprehensive cancer care should include as much “normal” as possible.

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ADVERTISER

ADVENTURES

by Kristin Koonce Burroughs

2023 started off with me wearing a helmet while interviewing Zachk at Ollie’s Skate Shop. The year ended with me falling into the Sabine River in 40 degree weather with 23 mph winds. Throughout the last 12 months, I ate Czechoslovakian pastries, jumped on bounce houses, poked my head through cardboard stand-in cutouts, attempted pullups on camera at the Boorman Trail, and built my own bouquet in a flower garden. There were helmets involved….and sweat. A lot of it.

I occasionally drank on the job--all for the good of my community, of course. Who knew my VERY legitimate, not fake at all VIP Press Pass came with so much clout?

As I reflect on the places I’ve been and the people I both met (and pretended to meet) through UL Live, a few things come to mind.

The first is this—there is nowhere else I’d rather be…and not just because I get to interview my dog, Gwennie, from time to time or eat Shivers shaved ice and call it work either. I truly cannot imagine myself living anywhere but here. This is my community, my home.

Second, having the opportunity to see our city through a different perspective has shown me just how special it really is. There is an unbelievable amount of fun to be had. I think about all the interviews and behind-the-scenes experiences. At first I thought, “I cannot for the life of me put my finger on any one thing that makes Longview unique.”

Then it hit me. I can. It’s the people.

The reality is that I get an up-close look at the men and women who are making our little corner of the world a lot hipper and livelier. It’s the risk takers and daydreamers who had a vision and took off after it who keep adding ‘oomph’ to our neck of the Piney Woods.

If you would have asked me a year and a half ago if I ever saw myself beebopping around town making videos for Uniquely Longview magazine, I wouldn’t have believed you, mostly because I still can’t believe this is what I get paid to do. Every conversation, every wink, every sneak peek makes me stop in my tracks and breathe deeply, especially when I watch the bloopers. We giggle and mess up and forget what we were talking about.

Ultimately, we are just having a really good time promoting our city as a wonderful place to live, work, and play…so, don’t forget to follow us for my next unique adventure! visit@uniquelylongview.com

UniquelyLongviewMagazine

Uniquely_Longview

UniquelyLongview.com

Follow along on Kristin’s UL Live adventures!

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Complete orthopedic care is within reach.

From diagnosis and treatment to rehabilitation and recovery, Longview residents now have comprehensive orthopedic care at their fingertips. At CHRISTUS Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute, our orthopedic and sports medicine specialists diagnose and treat injuries and chronic conditions of bones, joints and muscles all at our newly opened NorthPark campus. We provide award-winning patient-centered care you won’t find anywhere else.

Schedule your appointment today by calling 903.803.4105.

Or, scan the code to learn more.

CHRISTUShealth.org

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Taking orthopedic care a step further.

ADVERTISER

23-584151