Down Home East Texas Summer 2022

Summer 2022

Sulphur Springs

Class of 2022 Valedictorian & Salutatorian

Let our family help yours grow.

• LDRP rooms for one room throughout entire stay • Experienced, supportive nurses • Certified breastfeeding consultants • Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit • Hospital tours and classes • Multiple options for pain management • Special meal for mom and gift for baby

Call 903.439.4090 for more information.

22-0255

Publisher’s Letter

Summertime is Coming!

On the Cover

Joel Villarino and

Dawson Carpenter See Page 14 for more about Joel and Dawson.

Down Home East Texas magazine is a publication of the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram and is published one time a year.

Down Home East Texas magazine is copyrighted by and a registered trademark of the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram in Sulphur Springs, Texas. Reproduction of any part of the publication is strictly forbidden without written permission from the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram.

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DOWN HOME Summer 2022

Thank you for picking up a copy of our Down Home East Texas Magazine’s Summer Edition! It seems like everyone I speak to lately, can’t wait for Summer to get here. Me, I’m torn on the subject. I love the sun. I grew up worshipping the sun. But in 2014 I was introduced to my arch-nemesis. Being a die-hard Cubs and Bears fan, you might think my arch-nemesis would be a St. Louis Cardinal or Green Bay Packer fan. Well, you would have been correct before 2014, when those two groups took a backseat to my forever enemy.

That was the year I was introduced to “humidity.” I was taught to not use the word hate, but I hate humidity and unfortunately humidity comes with Summertime here in the great State of Texas. But fortunately, here in Hopkins County, Summertime also brings so many fun and exciting things to do. In this issue, we have an events calendar to plan your summer. We also have some “boredom buster” ideas for the children in your life, plus so much more!

This issue also includes an interview with a local Hopkins County business icon. I think everyone who lives in Hopkins County has been in one of his businesses at least once in their lives, but most likely, hundreds of times.

Please enjoy this issue of Down Home East Texas Magazine and I wish you and your loved ones a safe Summer, filled with excitement, joy, laughter, love and family!

Dave Shabaz, dave@ssnewstelegram.com

Down Home Magazine’s Staff

Don Wallace Managing Editor

DJ Spencer Sports Editor

Daylan Millard Advertising Sales

Ariel Phillips Reporter

Faith Whittle Graphic Designer

Contributing Writers Erika Mayorga

Carey Gable

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DOWN HOME Summer 2022

W hitney

Vaughan

Country World Rural Newspaper of Texas

Call Today!

903-885-2030 Country Classifieds Local, State, National Ag News Livestock Markets and Grain Futures Outdoors Feature by Reavis Wortham Featured Recipe in Country Cookin’ Texas Trails by Clay Coppedge Special Editions throughout the year Calendar of Events for Counties and State

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q12 mo., $40 q24 mo., $60 q36 mo. $80 Name: ________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________ City: _________________________________________ State & Zip: ____________________________________ Phone: _______________________________________ Send Check or Money Order to: Country World 200 Main Street, Sulphur Springs TX 75482

DOWN HOME Summer 2022

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SUMMER FUN IN BRANDED RANCH RODEO

Saturday, May 14, 2022 Hopkins County Regional Civic Center Indoor Arena, 1200 Houston St., Sulphur Springs

MOON TELESCOPE VIEWING AT VR SOCIAL

Sat, May 14, 8pm – 10pm VR Social Sulphur Springs, 317 Spring St, Sulphur Springs

BICYCLE GLOW RIDE AT VR SOCIAL

Thu, May 19, 8pm – 10pm VR Social Sulphur Springs, 317 Spring St, Sulphur Springs

HOPKINS COUNTY FREEDOM BALL

Sat, May 21, 6pm – 10pm Hopkins County Regional Civic Center, 1200 Houston St, Sulphur Springs, TX

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT! - ‘THE ADDAMS FAMILY’ (2019) Fri, June 3, 8:45pm – 10:15pm Celebration Plaza, Sulphur Springs

COMMUNITY PLAYERS PRESENTS ‘TRIFLES’ Fri, June 10th thru June 12th, 7pm – 9pm, then again on June 16th-June 19th Main Street Community

Theatres, 227 Main St, Sulphur Springs

DAIRY FESTIVAL

Fri., June 10th thru Saturday, June 18, 2022

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT - ‘LUCA’

Fri, June 10, 8:45pm – 10:45pm Celebration Plaza, Sulphur Springs

MOON TELESCOPE VIEWING AT VR SOCIAL

Mon, June 13, 8:30pm – 10:30pm VR Social Sulphur Springs, 317 Spring St, Sulphur Springs

BICYCLE GLOW RIDE AT VR SOCIAL

Thu, June 16, 8:15pm – 10:15pm VR Social Sulphur Springs, 317 Spring St, Sulphur Springs

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT - ‘SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY’ Fri, June 17, 8:45pm – 10:45pm Celebration Plaza, Sulphur Springs

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT - ‘ANGRY BIRDS 2’ Fri, June 24, 8:45pm – 10:45pm Celebration Plaza, Sulphur Springs

SULPHUR SPRINGS FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT - ‘SOUL’

Fri, July 1, 8:45pm – 10:15pm Celebration Plaza, Sulphur Springs

4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION

Sat, July 2, 5pm – 9pm Celebration Plaza, Sulphur Springs

INK MASTERS TATTOO EXPO

Jul 8 – 10, 2022 Hopkins County Civic Center – Entire Exhibit Hall

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT - ‘THE MITCHELLS VS. THE MACHINES’ Fri, July 8, 8:45pm – 10:45pm Celebration Plaza, Sulphur Springs

MOON TELESCOPE VIEWING AT VR SOCIAL

Tue, July 12, 8:30pm – 10:30pm VR Social Sulphur Springs

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT - ‘THE PARENT TRAP’ (1998) Fri, July 15, 8:45pm – 10:45pm Celebration Plaza, Sulphur Springs

BICYCLE GLOW RIDE AT VR SOCIAL

Thu, July 21, 8:15pm – 10:15pm VR Social Sulphur Springs, 317 Spring St, Sulphur Springs

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT - ‘ENCANTO’ Fri, July 22, 8:45pm – 10:45pm Celebration Plaza, Sulphur Springs

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT - ‘PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN-DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES’ Fri, July 29, 8:45pm – 10:45pm Celebration Plaza-

JETTRIBE WATERX CHAMPIONSHIP Aug 4 – 7, 2022 Lake Coleman, Sulphur Springs

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT - ‘WONDER WOMAN’ Fri, August 12, 2022, 8:30pm – 10:30pm Celebration Plaza, Sulphur Springs

BICYCLE GLOW RIDE AT VR SOCIAL Thu, August 18, 2022, 7:30pm – 9:30pm VR Social Sulphur Springs

Joe Bob’s

Success Founded On Hard Work

By Don Wallace

10 DOWN HOME Summer 2022

There’s no magic formula to success.

Joe Bob Burgin knew this when he went into the convenience store business back in 1987.

Hard work, customer service and loyal employees are the key to any venture.

That goes double for the convenience store business.

“We put in the long hours at the start. The 120-hour weeks, but we did all right,” Burgin said. “Statistics saw you won’t break even on a start up business until 18 months. We beat that average and we’ve been doing it for 35 years.”

Burgin said, “You have to be friend and listen to the customer. You can lose a customer in five seconds if you don’t listen and tell them your troubles. You have to be nice, polite. Clean rest rooms always help and bring customers back. I look for clean stores when I travel and I return to those places.”

“Convenience stores are very competitive, there’s one on every corner,” Burgin said.

“You got to stand out with the way you treat people.”

When Burgin went into business - the world and convenience store margin was very different.

“I think gas was 88 cents a gallon back in 1992, I don’t remember what it was at my first store in 1987,” Burgin said. “It sure wasn’t anything like now, close to $4 a gallon.”

Burgin said, “The only time I can remember gas getting this expensive is one year

after hurricane.”

Joe Bob is quick to point out that higher prices does not mean large profit for store owners.

“I have to pay the big prices too,” Burgin said. “I’m just like everyone else. I just buy gas 8,000 gallons at a time.”

Other things have changed about the world and his stores over the years. He never thought he’d be selling alcoholic beverages and lottery tickets. But both are good sellers at each of his five stores.

“Hopkins County is very different than when we started,” Burgin said. “I am very happy here and the loyal customers have made us successful.”

Store locations include: No. 1 is at 1302 Church Street; Store No. 2 is at 597 S. League Street; No. 3 is at 500 N. Hillcrest; No. 4 is located at the corner of FM 71 and Highway 19 in Birthright; Store No. 5 is at 410 McBride Street on Highway 11 in Como.

“We prefer to build,” Burgin said. “That way we can make it like we need it to be. But it comes down to the location like anything else. Four of our stores are on corners, we like to be in the high traffic areas. We study TxDOT reports on traffic to make sure the location is good.”

Joe Bob’s stores range in size from 2,400 to 4,500 square feet in size. The one on Houston Street is the largest.

Stores have different hours, most open about 6 a.m. and close around 11 p.m.

“I did not want to get into running 24-hour stores, I just don’t want that liability,” Burgin said.

The interiors of the stores and products offered also has changed over the years.

“When we first started, the bottled water you could buy was Perrier, one brand,” Burgin said with a laugh. “Now we have lots of different brands. We’ve also added more food choices.

People are on the go and want something quick. About 50 percent of our customers are repeat customers. We also do probably 70 percent with debit or credit cards. That’s just the way people like it.”

So the food choices have gone from cheese crackers and beef jerky to deli items, breakfast foods and other fast food.

“You’ve got to stay on top of things, you have to find out what is popular,” Burgin said.

He uses pickle juice for example.

Burgin said, “I never thought I could sell pickle juice, but my grand kids told me about it. I put it in the store as a favor, now it is popular. Athletes and all kinds of people like it. Now we sell it all the stores in two different sizes.”

“Vendors also help us keep up with trends and new products,” Burgin said. “We get reports on what sells.

One of the biggest changes is that we have reduced the amount of groceries that we sell.”

The stores keep going strong, even through the

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recent pandemic.

“We were available when people stayed home. During the Covid times, people stayed close to home. Some of them could not work, but our customers were loyal to us.”

Burgin said, “People in Sulphur Springs are always loyal to Dr Pepper, it’s number one. You had better kept it. It is also my wife’s favorite.”

Burgin said, “It’s kind of heartwarming to see a customer come in with a family and you can remember back when they were kids. Now their kids are bringing in kids.”

Burgin got into the business after time in the United States Air Force and working in the health/medical field.

“Our first store was across from the hospital. I will always been indebted to Dr. Claude Reynolds and Dr. Max Latham for helping me get started,” Burgin said.

“I had worked with Claude and Max back in the 1970’s at Medical Surgical Clinic.”

Burgin said, “When we wanted to build our first convenience

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DOWN HOME Summer 2022

store, we didn’t have a location or resources and they did. They paid for having the store built and then leased it to us for five years. Then they sold it to us and financed it.”

Burgin said his own name, Joe Bob, came up in discussions about naming the store were entertained.

“I was sitting at Sulphur Springs Country Club with a friend, John Merrell, telling him of my dilemma,” Burgin said. “He took a couple of table napkins and wrote ‘Joe Bob’ on them. He said if I was building a store in East Texas had Joe Bob as my name, that is what I should name the store.’”

The top four passions of Burgin’s life include - 1. Faith in God; 2. Family; 3. Business; 4.

Healthcare.

The store now employees 45 with Burgin saying that eight of the key employees have an average tenure of 15 years, three have been working 24 years each.

Burgin said, “As for our two sons, Brad and Corey. They started working in the stores

when they were younger and we hired several of their friends.

They ended everyone’s name with Bob. As a consequence, the nicknamed by wife, Linda “Bob.” She even has her own wine that we selling our stores, called “Linda Bob.” “After growing to five stores, our family decided to diversify and we now have Burgin Pipe and Supply,” Burgin said.

Corey Burgin is in charge of the day-to-day operation of the business now and the pipe company. The older son, Brad works at Specialty Clinics for Christus Hospital - Sulphur Springs.

Joe Bob added, “The people in Sulphur Springs and the whole county have been good to us.

We’ve tried to stay up with the new products. This is a new generation, but being polite and having a clean store is always something we will do. If we give people what they want and treat them right, they will come back and they have been for us.”

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Sulphur Springs

Valedictorian & Salutatorian

CLASS OF 2022

Joel Villarino and Dawson Carpenter

By DJ Spencer

COVER STORY

Joel Villarino

Joel Villarino and Dawson Carpenter. Those are the names of the valedictorian and salutatorian of the the Sulphur Springs High School Class of 2022. They have attended Sulphur Springs ISD since they were in kindergarten.

Both of them have known each other since the second grade and have often been linked to one another. They revealed that they received many awards during the awards ceremony that year.

“Once they got to the academic awards, me and Joel won the majority of them,” said Carpenter. “Eventually, our names were called so many times that our other classmates kind of got tired of hearing our names be called.”

Both of them attribute their success to hard work, sacrifices made by their families, and surrounding themselves with smart friend group that are also serious about academics.

Villarino is the son of Mario Villarino and Leah Larsen, and the brother of Alexis Villarino. During his time at SSHS, Villarino has been involved in numerous extracurricular activities, including UIL computer science, where he served as the team captain, Marching band, where he served as a drum major, National Honor Society Business Professionals of America, and Hopkins County Youth Leadership group, where he has received the Rotary Youth Leadership Award.

Villarino stated that this years senior class is really committed to academics and has set a good example for the

future graduating classes.

“This graduating class has challenged me academically and has pushed me to do my best,” Villarino said. “It has been a good rigor to go through.”

Villarino also stated that his sister has also helped push him.

“During the summer before my sophomore year, my sister was helping with SAT and ACT preparation,” said Villarino.

“She is the highest ranking student in the class of 2024, so she has been super helpful as well.”

After graduating, Villarino plans to attend Rice University in Houston to major in computer science.

Carpenter is the son of Rodney and Nikki Carpenter.

During his time in high school, Carpenter has played baseball and has also been involved in Student Council, National Honor Society, Hopkins County Leadership Club, Key Club, and UIL academics, where he has competed in five different events . In addition of this, he has received other awards and honors, including being named a National Merit Scholarship Commended Student, College Board National Rural and Small Town Recognition, and being an AP Scholar with Honors.

Carpenter stated that his success, along with Villarino’s, can be heavily attributed to their tight knit friend group.

“Our closest friends are the third, fourth, and fifth-highest

Dawson Carpenter DOWN HOME Summer 2022

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16 DOWN HOME Summer 2022

ranking students in our graduating class,” Carpenter said. “We are all very serious about our studies and our positive images in the community.”

After graduation, Carpenter plans on attending Texas A&M University in College Station to study aerospace engineering. He also plans on remaining close with some classmates and joining a fraternity.

Both students credit Clay Hansford and Brooke Howard, their middle school GT teachers, for leaving a huge impact on their development as individual students.

“One of the biggest impacts about the GT program was putting us in a lot of formal situations,” Villarino said. “The formal dinner was probably the biggest impact, because they put a lot of nerds into a situation that they weren’t exactly comfortable with. That has helped us grow as people.”

A couple of high school teacher that both Carpenter and Villarino attribute their success to are Gerald Grafton, their AP Calculus teacher, and Kaley Williams, their AP Biology teacher.

“We both pushed Williams about having an AP biology class,” said Villarino. “We pushed for an AP class, and thankfully were able to receive one.”

Carpenter also named Madison Millsap, their English II teacher, as another high school teacher that has impacted both of them. Millsap also coached them in the Journalism event for UIL Academics.

Both of them also plan to be actively involved in both activities and academics once they reach college.

Villarino and Carpenter have left positive impacts not just on their graduating class, but also future graduating classes that will come through Sulphur Springs High School.

Their impacts will be felt for years to come, and both of them have bright futures ahead of them.

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DOWN HOME Summer 2022

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DOWN HOME Summer 2022

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Basil Pesto Turkey Wrap

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DOWN HOME Summer 2022

Ingredients: 1 lavash bread 4 oz. sliced turkey 2 slices provolone cheese Handful of spinach 1 serving basil pesto spread see recipe Directions: 1. Spread basil pesto on the lavash bread 2. Lay out cheese and then turkey 3. Add spinach 4. Roll up tight. Cut in half & enjoy!

Basil Pesto Spread 2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt 1tsp basil paste Salt, pepper & garlic powder to taste Stir.

What is Healthy Eating?

By Whitney Vaughan As the mother of three actively involved kids, consistently eating healthy can be tricky at times. Two years ago, after dabbling in exercise for 10+ years, I learned that proper eating habits are more effective than exercise.

We tend to be afraid of diet full of carbohydrates, fats and protein, but if you know how to eat the correct amounts of these macronutrients throughout the day then there is nothing to be afraid of.

Regardless of your activity level, it’s recommended that your daily caloric intake consist of 40% carbs, 30% protein, and 30% fats. With that being said, those that have a more active career and workout regularly will be able to have more calories therefore resulting in more carbs. It’s not a one-size fits all plan.

Carbohydrates are the bodies main energy source. Our body needs them to stay fueled and energized throughout our busy day. The best source of carbs comes from vegetables and fruit. They will sustain your energy for longer periods of time. Protein is what helps burn fat and build muscle.

We get most of our daily protein from meats, but other sources are dairy & legumes. Fat (such as those found in nuts and needs) helps regulate hormones and contains vitamins and minerals that our bodies need.

It’s recommended that your daily caloric intake levels (the foods you eat) are kept at a lower level than the calories you burn each day. Consuming these macronutrients in a balanced manner will help you live a lifestyle that we like to refer to as “fit”.

For more information on a fit lifestyle, follow my Instagram account @fitwhit903 or email me at whitneym3089@gmail.com

Servings: 1 wrap DOWN HOME Summer 2022

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Meet Attorney

Lindsey McKay OF McKAY LAW

1. Where did you grow up?

I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. My parents live in the same house that I was raised in.

2. Do you have siblings?

Yes. I have three older sisters and a gaggle of nieces and nephews.

Everyone is still in Dallas within a mile of one another.

3. How do you like living in Sulphur Springs, Texas?

I love this community and think this it’s the best area of Texas to raise children. My great-grandmother settled in Paris, Texas, where she ran a boarding house after losing her military sons in WWII. She would be proud to know I live just a county over from her home place.

4. What is it about East Texas that you like so much?

The people here value family, faith, and your word is your bond.

From the churches to the schools to little league coaches, I am very impressed with how everyone supports and invests in our younger generations. We started a farm this year and are creating memories as a family that I never dreamed possible.

5. Where did you go to college?

I went to the University of Colorado, Boulder.

6. That must have been fun!

That’s what everyone says! They

think it’s a party school, but my experience was very different. Boulder offers a healthy lifestyle of outdoor activities, such as fly-fishing and listening to blue grass music, and attracts really great talent in professors who also want to live in a beautiful college town. As a result, I was rewarded with top-notch professors who homed in on my eagerness to learn and ultimately challenged me to pursue the law.

7. Speaking of blue grass, what is playing on your Pandora?

On the morning school commute, we listen to the Beatles or Paul Simon. Whenever I am driving, I listen to Flaming Lips radio which is Indie Rock. While working, I like Gypsy Kings and subconsciously hone my Spanish skills, and when I am cooking its usually John Prine. I also like female country artists like Loretta Lynn.

8. I am not familiar with John Prine, what kind of music does he play?

My oldest daughter is loosely named after Bob Dylan, and he once said John Prine was the best singer-songwriter of all time. John Prine was a folk musician who recently died of Covid, and all his songs pierce my soul. “Bruised Orange,” for instance, is about a boy who was hit by a train and what you do with the inevitable broken hearts in life. [Singing] “You can gaze out the window, get mad and get madder. Throw your hands in the air, say, ‘What does it matter?’ But it doesn’t do no good to get angry, So, help me, I know. For a heart stained in anger grows weak and grows bitter. You become your own prisoner as you watch yourself sit there. Wrapped up in a trap of your very own Chain of sorrow”.

9. Wow that is a gripping song. You seem to love music.

We’re a musical family. My greatgreat grandmother, Grandma K, went to Julliard for piano. I like to play a little guitar and sing. Another powerful song John Prine wrote is called “Sam Stone” about a veteran father who returns from war.

10. What is it about the “Sam Stone” song that is so moving to you?

I think of how many families are affected for generations by war. It’s not just the people who fight in the war but also their family members who are forced to cope. My husband’s family was really devastated by the Vietnam War when his father’s plane was shot down and he became a prisoner of war in Hanoi Hilton for seven years.

My father-in-law, John Clark, is a true war hero and retired as an Air Force Colonel. And because of Vietnam, my husband did not meet his dad until he was in the first grade. His mother was a single mom of two in her early twenties during that time. My grandfathers on both sides of my family were Air Force. On my mom’s side, the men were Marines and my dad was a flight surgeon in the Air Force. These stories and family legacies drive my empathy for those traumatized by life changing events that change family outcomes for generations.

11. So did you always know you would go to law school and own a law firm?

No. I graduated with a degree in Economics and a minor in

Spanish. Originally, I started out on the pre-med track. My dad was a Urologist and I shadowed him during surgery before college (definitely, before HIPPA days). His skill as a surgeon was almost as impressive as his bedside manner. I loved watching his interactions with patients and co-workers. He has a great sense of humor. He’s also very humble. I remember one day after surgery a nurse showed me the D Magazine where he made a top doctors list and threw it in the trash. He always told me the key to successful relationships consists of the three H’s: Honesty, Humility and a sense of Humor. As much as I wanted to follow in my dad’s footsteps, I did not enjoy lab work in college, so I switched to Economics and ultimately, with the influence of my professors, decided to pursue the law.

12. Did you always know you were going to be a personal injury lawyer?

NO! In fact, after my first week of law school I was ready to move back home. Everyone else seemed to know exactly what their long-term plans were and the specific law firms they aspired to clerk. I was also getting homesick and heartbroken over a break-up. I did not think I could stick it out by myself in a big city. I called my dad to see if he would help move me home to start law school some other time at some other place, and that was not received well. His response was short and mean: “I didn’t raise a [wimp]. You put your steel horns on and get to work!” He told me not to let anyone hold me back. He was right.

13. How did it turn out?

I thought I was struggling through the first semester. It was a big relief and confirmation when I received my grades and I ranked 14th out of 344 students in the class. That’s when I knew I was a competitor in the law.

14. So why law school?

My Dad always joked that I was too confrontational to be a doctor. I am the youngest of

four daughters and grew up as the comedian of the family doing impressions and dreaming of hosting Saturday Night Live. Steven Martin and David Spade were always my favorites.

I’ve always been career driven and I value education. Also, I unintentionally graduated college in three years. I had only six weeks left of school before exams and with encouragement from my professors I decided to crash study for the LSAT during exams. I would not recommend that approach – it was brutal- but thankfully it worked out.

15. What did you do until you started law school?

I moved to Chicago. My parents would not let me move unless I had a job. One weekend I noticed a job opening in the newspaper for a Purdy Paintbrush representative for all Home Depot stores in Chicago.

It paid well for someone in their 20’s and I could set my own hours and work schedule which allowed me to intern at the State’s Attorney Office in Cooks County, Illinois. I clerked in the Gang Unit.

16. The Gang Unit in Chicago sounds intense.

That may be an understatement. There was a new rule when I started that “only attorneys could smoke in the office.”

My desk faced the “death row wall” where mug shots of those who were sentenced to death were displayed. It was staggering to see so many young faces.

At that time, Chicago had more gangs than any other city in the US. 17. I bet you were ready to start school. Where did you go to law school?

I received a scholarship to attend John Marshall Law School in Chicago – which is fondly nicknamed the Harvard of the South Loop and that’s where I decided to go.

18. If you did not know what kind of lawyer you wanted to be in law school, how did you decide to pursue personal injury?

I considered several law practice avenues that I thought I may have excelled in. I worked in corporate law, at the Federal Reserve Bank, but I found everything to be boring. When I worked in a boutique civil litigation firm and was thrown into trial work, client meetings, case evaluation and depositions, I immediately excelled. I love research and writing and

the action of trial, I knew then, litigation was my passion. When it doesn’t feel like work you know it’s right. When you are in the practice of personal injury, you’re helping real people after a real tragedy. It’s never just a case to me – my clients are trusting me with their life. Our results, our advocacy, our talent directly impacts their life and I take that privilege and honor very seriously. I also like to put money in my client’s pocket, not keep track of hours and send a bill like other types of law.

19. What do you think separates you from the rest of the lawyers?

We bridge the empathy gap.

I am so passionate about what I do and the well-being of my clients.

Also, it is challenging to juggle my responsibilities as a mother with five small children while running a law firm and attending to client’s needs and critical court deadlines. Luckily, it seems the busier I am, the more productive and efficient I become. I believe my dual roles help me better empathize and serve my clients who often must coordinate the regular demands of life, family and work. Sometimes my clients are temporarily without transportation due to the collision and in need of medical care while trying to hold their job, taking care of family duties and battling injuries. My legal team and I share a mission for every client to help coordinate the impossible. We do whatever it takes.

20. What was your first trial experience?

My first trial experience was Oral Argument at the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, LA on a 1983 Civil Rights Case. I was pregnant with my first child. I had never been so nervous but was also overly prepared and we prevailed. The

first deposition I took was the driver of an 18-wheeler who hit my young client while working on the side of the road in a construction zone. Unfortunately, he was killed in the accident. His mother’s grief is one I still think about today. That was the first time I understood our limitations as civil lawyers. No amount of money would bring back her son. Grief is devastating.

21. On top of being a lawyer, you are a mother of five and a wife. Who has been your greatest influence to pursue a big family and career?

My mom has been my lasting example of Proverbs 31 woman.

She leads with her faith and knowledge of scripture. She is a faithful servant in the community and very industrious, starting many ministries and businesses.

Above all, she loves people and serves everyone with love and kindness. She is a fierce advocate, and many times is the voice for the marginalized in court proceedings. She is a tireless fighter for justice. I think her tenacity as an advocate for the weak is where I gained my zeal for fighting hard for my clients who are suffering. She is also very domestic and still has more energy than anyone else I know.

With four daughters, she always made sure we were dressed well, and every meal was cooked and served family-style with dinnerware, napkins and manners.

22. What other women in your family have been career driven?

Woven into the fabric of my personality is the fact I come from a long line of bold women.

I was raised here in Texas with the values of faith, family and hard work and the examples of so many women before more who have triumphed over tragedy. I understand how life can change in a moment. For instance, my grandmother on my father’s side was the youngest of

five daughters. When she was just a baby in the early 1920’s they were involved in a car crash when her father swerved to avoid another car. Her dad died as result. After his death, they struggled to make ends meet, but they valued education. So, all the sisters banded together and worked and saved to put one sister through college. It was my grandmother who went because she was the youngest and it gave them the most time to save the tuition money.

Because of their group effort and sacrifice, Nana went to Vanderbilt University and later obtained her master’s in psychology to become an elementary school counselor. I identify with her as the youngest sister in my family. This powerful story of my family strongly impacts how I approach my clients and cases in my law firm by turning tragedy into triumph. I can’t change the past and the fact that they were injured, but I can certainly work my hardest to set things right for them. Every time I work with a client and their family, I never forget how an accident changed my own family’s story. I am committed to help others change

their lives and misfortunes for the better.

23. What makes you a good team player?

I have always loved sports and was invited to play collegiate soccer while being an All-American cheerleader. I believe in my profession, service is as important as winning. I learned the importance of service when my mom’s mom – Meemom – moved in as my roommate when she was diagnosed with dementia.

24. Can you elaborate on that?

She was my roommate from the the time I was in 4th grade until she died in my arms 5 years later. As a family, we took care of her as her mind digressed. She was funny, into everything, and had to be watched every single minute. She would put jelly on a sponge and try to eat it like toast. Once, at church, she was caught digging into someone’s purse while we were singing.

We would take turns preparing meals, helping her dress, and assist her with daily life activities.

Everyone in the community knew and loved Meemom because we took her everywhere with us. I think that had a huge impact on

my ability to work as a team player, I truly value serving others, and helping those who do not have a voice or the ability to fight for themselves.

25. Have you had any high-profile clients or cases?

You may consider a case that has made recent news involving the Dallas Cowboys high-profile. Even more rewarding, in my opinion, I had the honor of representing Wally Funk, the first woman who went to Space on Jeff Bezos’s rocket. Currently, I am working with a team of lawyers on a case against Navarro College that may receive media coverage soon.

26. What do you think is your greatest strength?

God gave me a good mind and made me tough and brave. That is the foundation of LEGALLY BOLD. I am fearless when it comes to standing up for the underdog. It’s my passion. I love to problem solve and find solutions. “When God is for you, who can be against you?” is my motto.

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MUST SEE PLACES TO VISIT THIS

By Ariel Phillips

1. Bright Star Cinemas-- a six screen movie theater located off at 621 Shannon Road in Sulphur Springs beside the Roma’s Italian Restaurant. After a remodel in 2020, the theater now features reclining seating and an updated concession area.

2. Cooper Lake State Park- built in 1955, Cooper Lake State Park is a local park consisting of over 2,500 acres of natural terrain and a 19,300 acre lake that doubles as storage for flood waters and a place for water-based recreation. A wide range of opportunities await visitors including hiking, camping, fishing, boating, picnicking and swimming.

4. Buford Park- located at the intersection of Connally Street and League, a one-acre playground stylized after a castle was built in 1997. The park was chosen as a project by the Adult Leadership class to be given a face-lift in April 2022. Known as Kids Kingdom, this castle playground is one of the main features in the park. This area also includes lighted baseball fields, walking paths, a skateboard park and basketball courts

3. Pacific Park- located at Martin Luther King Drive on the east side of Sulphur Springs, was recently updated and includes a splash pad, brand new playground equipment, a fitness court and a gathering room called the Gray’s Building.

5. Hopkins County Heritage Museum and Park- The history of Hopkins County comes to life at the Hopkins County Heritage Museum. Take a walk through the historical buildings including a working blacksmith shop, the first brick home in the county, a country store, post office, syrup mill and log houses which bring the heritage of Hopkins County to life.

6. Sulphur Springs Library- Built in 2000, the Sulphur Springs Library has served the city and surrounding area for over 20 years. Dedicated to improving the quality of life for all residents, the new building is more than twice the size of the old facility and contains over 20 computers, houses the Genealogical Society, Leo St. Clair Music Box collection and thousands of books. The library also offers digital eBooks and eAudiobooks.

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7. Southwest Dairy Museum- Opening in 1989, the Dairy Museum has been part of Sulphur Springs for over 30 years. A 10,000 square foot facility with informative, state of the art exhibits sharing the history of the dairy industry in the Southwest for the enjoyment and education of visitors of all ages.

8. Classic Lanes Bowling Alley- located at 333 Industrial Drive East, Summer operating hours are 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 1 p.m. to 10 p.m Friday and Saturday.

Axe Throwing is now available for anyone aged 14 and older.

All minors must be accompanied by an adult and a release form must be signed by each participant. The bowling alley also has an arcade with some newly added attractions and games.

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9. Northeast Texas Children’s Museum- located in Commerce, the Children’s Museum opened its doors in 2002. In 2019, they moved to their newest location at 100 Maple Street. With the mission of inspiring imagination, creativity and confidence in children, the museum offers diverse hands-on exhibits such as transportation, dining/restaurants, STEM, a vet clinic, a bank, a dentists office, a grocery store, a puppet theater and may others which allows for children to explore, investigate and learn through playing. The museum open for field trips and even offers Gymnastics classes. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

10. Audie Murphy Cotton Museum- located at 600 I-30 East in Greenville, Texas, the Audie Murphy American Cotton Museum’s mission is to explore the rich history of the region from the cotton fields in the 1800’s to the battlefields of the 20th Century.

Also located on the grounds of the museum is the Ende-Gillard House, constructed some time between 1857 and 1859 it is the oldest standing house in Greenville and the Hunt County War Memorial dedicated in 2004 in honor of the 271 soldiers in Hunt County who gave their lives in times of war with a ten foot bronze statue of Audie Murphy standing vigil. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Boredom Busters

By Ariel Phillips

Makers Monday:

• Make dinner together • Make a time capsule • Make cards for a nursing home or children’s ward (if allowed) • Make a birdhouse or feeder out of a recycled milk carton • Make felt bookmarks • Make sun-catchers with tissue paper

Wildcard Wednesday:

• “Yes” day • Blow bubbles • Go on a bicycle ride • Play Hide and Seek • Have a water balloon fight • Learn to juggle • Do a science experiment • Visit a museum or historical site

Together Tuesdays:

• Build a fort • Start a garden • Fly a kite • Family Movie/Game Night • Tie-Dye t-shirts • Backyard camping • Stargazing •Have a picnic

With four nephews, and a background in childcare the most common phrase I hear during the summer is “I’m bored”. I remember saying it as a kid myself to my mom, who’s answer was either, do chores or go outside. There was only so much my sister and I could do to entertain ourselves, we had a trampoline, some bicycles, a water hose and the kids next door to play with.

After a few jumps, a lap around the block and spraying each other, we were bored again.

As a preschool and school age teacher, I had to find ways to keep the kids busy and moving every summer.

One trick that I found helpful was keeping a “Boredom Buster” jar full of activities, crafts and other projects on hand.

Whenever I heard “I’m bored”, I would have the kids pull a slip out of the jar.

The activities were sorted into categories such as, Make it, Take a Trip, Things to Do Together, Foodie, and Wildcard.

Thoughtful Thursday:

• Make a care package for a lonely friend or elderly neighbor • Take water and/or snacks to the local police or fire department • Donate items to charity • Help a neighbor or volunteer • Plant a tree • Visit the Veteran’s Memorial Downtown

Foodie Friday:

• Have a lemonade stand • Bake cookies • Eat watermelon and plant the seeds • Pick berries • Make popsicles • Make s’mores

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” ? g

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M

ost men are accused of behaving like children and rightfully so. And once you get to my age, which is three months away from 60 years old, you tend to still feel like you’re 18. That is until you try something like I tried recently, which was attending an NBA playoff game and a Major League Baseball game, both in the same day. Sounds relatively simple and fun, right? Oh no. Let me explain….

I had the opportunity to attend one of the Dallas Mavericks’ playoff games, which started at Noon on a Saturday.

But I also had already committed to going to a Texas Rangers game that same Saturday at 6:00 pm. A normal person, someone who doesn’t make decisions like they’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury, would pick one or the other, but not me. Being that I’m single and I have no kids at home, I figured, “what the heck,” it will be a nice day out and I get

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DOWN HOME Summer 2022

By Dave Shabaz

to watch, in person, two professional sports, what could go wrong with this plan, right?

OK, so my 18-year old brain was just thinking about the fun of watching an NBA playoff game, which I’ve never been to and not only was I going to a baseball game, which is my favorite sport, but I get to see not only the Rangers, but that night they were playing the California Angels, featuring two MVP’s, Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani.

What my 18-year old brain forgot to factor in was the drive time, the giant parking lots at the giant stadium and arena, all involving a whole lot of walking. But as usual with men, my 18-year old brain won the battle, but would eventually lose the war.

I love driving, so the drive to the first event was not an issue. I arrived at the American Airlines Center in Dallas about an hour and a half before tipoff. I had to park in

the media parking area, which is on the top floor of the parking garage across the street from the arena. OK, are you kind of seeing where I’m going. I’m almost 60 and “in-shape” if the shape I was going for is a pear. I arrive at my area and took a seat. I popped open my laptop and just relaxed for a bit. I was a little winded at this point, I won’t lie to you. I do want to give a shout-out to whoever invented the elevator. I don’t know you, but I love you.

Before games is fun for me. I love watching the crowds come in and I especially love watching the game presentation crews entertain the crowd before the game. The Mavericks fans are pretty loud and wild. They seem to show the team a lot of support. Personally, the best part of the Mavs game for me was in between quarters, a bunch of guys, built like me, came out and did the coolest choreographed dance moves. They are the Mavericks Men’s Dance Crew.

We are so accustomed to watching young, scantily clad women, dance at games, so it was refreshing to see some full-figured guys like myself, bustin some funky moves out there.

The game ended around 2:30 or so and the Mavs lost.

Instead of fighting the exiting crowd, I figured I’d wait it out at my seat. Why not? I had my laptop and my phone,

so why sit in my car for an hour fighting traffic? I usually like to stay at games until an usher comes over to me and says, “excuse me sir, we are getting ready to turn the lights off and go home, so we need to you leave.” I didn’t let it get that far this time, but I waited long enough to avoid all the outgoing traffic. OK, one game down and one to go and I haven’t Googled “nearest emergency room,” yet!!!

I started to feel kind of cocky and thought, “hey, since the Rangers stadium is only about 20-30 minutes away, why not stop at Costco, which was right in between the two venues, and pick up a few things?” OK, first let’s do a quick recap. NBA game, MLB game, almost 60-years old, shaped like a pear. Oh yeah, adding, fighting a Costco crowd on a Saturday afternoon, is the perfect event to add to this already “moronic cocktail” I was digesting.

As I pulled into the Costco parking lot in Arlington, it’s what you’d expect for a Costco on Saturday afternoon, loaded with cars and people. But hey, I’m single and I don’t have a family to feed anymore, so when I can get 800 rolls of paper towels for a nickel, I’m not passing that up. When I go to Costco or any store, I’m a typical guy. It’s like a Seal Team 6 mission, I know my intended target. I walk in, go straight for that target, achieve my desired goal and

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immediately leave. Where I run into problems is parking my truck, which is fairly new to me, but a very common issue to most Texans. OK, let me clarify that last sentence. Driving and parking isn’t new to me, driving a truck is new to me. You see I used to drive a Kia Forte up until about a year ago, when I traded it in for a Chevy Silverado 1500 Double Cab. (Thank you so much Bill Owens and the staff at Jay Hodge Chevrolet). I absolutely love my truck. I love it so much that I probably will never own a car ever again. But there are two nice things about owning a car the size of a KIA. Gas was cheaper and fitting it into small parking spaces was so much easier. With the truck, I find myself having to park far away from any place I’m entering, and in this case, the only parking spaces at the Arlington Costco felt like they were back in Dallas. I know I’m exaggerating, but to me, at that time, it felt like that long of a walk.

OK, so I have my 800 rolls of paper towels, 500 rolls of toilet paper and 1400 bottles of water and I only spent like $8. You can’t beat those prices!! And this saved me a trip later in the month to the Rockwall Costco,

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where I usually go once a month. At this point, I’m a little tired, but excited about the baseball game.

I make my way to Globe Life Field to watch the Rangers.

At the Rangers stadium, they make the media parking very convenient and close to the stadium. So, I didn’t have to do the “Forrest Gump walk across America” in order to get to the stadium. And again, thank you Mr. Elevator guy for making my life a little easier that day. I arrived at my seat and repeat the same routine, set up my laptop, etc. The pre-game at a baseball game isn’t quite as exciting as basketball. No cheerleaders or t-shirt cannons happening there, but I just love the feel of a baseball stadium. The green grass, the bases, the infield, I just love a baseball stadium and East Texans should be very proud of Globe Life Field. It’s a gorgeous stadium. It’s not as nice as Wrigley Field, but hey, I’m a little biased about that.

My long day was coming to an

end. The Mavericks and Rangers both lost, but I got to see Shohei Ohtani hit a homerun and I got to see Mike Trout play, which was pretty cool. As I made the short walk back to my truck (thankfully), I began to realize just how tired I was. My age and full-figured physique were both shining like a neon light. Man, I was tired!!

I made it to Royse City and stopped in at Buc-ee’s for some gas, water and a new dining room set..:) I made it home around 11:00 pm.

I walked into my place, my dog Ivy greeted me at the door, I sat down in my recliner and thought, “man, I made an enormous mistake today. I am never doing this again!” Hell, who am I kidding? My 18-year old brain will eventually talk me into doing yet another stupid thing, but hey, life is short, and we only live once!

903-885-2453

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The War of Summer 2021

By Carey Gable

The breeze was hot that day. The steamy July heat radiated from the large expanse of the no man’s land. It was a three-sided war of attrition. Each side refused to yield even an inch of ground to the other. Dug in like ticks, the movements of each side closely monitored by the other two. It was a classic World War I era stalemate.

Each side bore their colors with pride. To the south, nearest the open fields and plains but tucked away by downed obstructions was the pink forces of liberation.

Represented by the unicorns proudly displayed on their shirts, the forces were small but quick and clever. Easily over matched in direct assault, they would fall back and regroup with a surprisingly fast counter attack. The pink forces were not to be underestimated.

To the north, nearest the thoroughfare, rested the green forces of subjugation. With a large strategic stockpile of arms, it was the most well-equipped army.

Lacking in finesse, the green army was often relegated to full frontal assaults as their only remaining tactic. If they failed to overrun their opposition, they had few options except a strategic and serpentine like retreat back to their protective barracks.

Resting in the east was the oldest force. Cloaked in dark grey, the grey forces of equilibrium sought nothing more than a peaceful coexistence with the other forces.

Not as quick as the pink army, nor as well stockpiled

as the green, the grey forces were forced to look for opportunities to steal land, cut off retreat routes, and break supply lines in order to survive. Through the cover of a small forest, the grey army would monitor the other forces, looking for strategic advantage.

Often, a silent and blanketed peace would settle upon the disputed region. An eerie stillness would shiver those that had the unexpected horror of crossing into the dispute. It was the green forces that broke the silence on this day as they launched a charge attack on the pink position.

They leapt from their cover unexpectedly and broke across the no man’s land before either of the opposition armies could react. They bore down on the pink position like lightening, launching missiles and projectiles as cover before the assault. Pink recovered from their initial stunned acquiescence. They fell back in an orderly fashion, being sure to take all of their ammunition and supplies with them during the relocation.

As green had abandoned their home bunker in favor of assault on the pink, grey seized the opportunity and moved in behind green, cutting them off from their supplies. Grey plundered the ammunition depots of green.

As green began to pursue the retreating pink army, their rear guard was exposed and grey seized the

opportunity for attack. Grey launched a thousand missiles in moments, pelting the back of the green offenders.

Swinging in unison, green returned fire with deadly accuracy. The armies of grey felt the cold wetness of sure defeat begin to trickle from their head. The battle turned intense as grey and green circled positions, each looking for a strategic base to propel them to an unexpected victory.

The grey army of the east managed to stand their ground due to the plundered ammunition from green.

Green continued to attempt to push their way back into the safety of their barracks. But that was when the tide of the battle began to turn.

Like Gandalf appearing over the hill at the Battle of Helm’s Deep, the pink forces reigned down a lighting quick Mongolian style assault on both the opposition forces. Taking up a position just outside of direct striking range, the blur of the unicorn covered uniforms surrounded the

green and grey forcing, turning them into a jumbled mess of counterreactionaries.

As pink’s ammunition waned, they raided the grey base for supplies and turned grey’s own arms against them.

Grey attempted to force a break out by using green soldiers as human shields! The green forces flew into open rebellion and launched a counter offensive within the close confines of the hand to hand combat.

As pink raided the remaining ammo depot of green, gray managed a desperate flee toward the tree line, just managing to take cover as the last barrage of missiles struck the surrounding trees. During this interlude, green executed their perfectly timed and executed serpentine retreat. This left pink holding the no-man’s land as the supreme power. However, their ammunition was increasingly scarce.

As a result, they failed to hold their newly acquired territory and once again they were forced back to their

original holding position.

The rest of the day was spent in recuperating and replenishing supply stores. Each side settled into an uneasy peace by nightfall. The light from each camp was readily visible to the other camps. Each appeared to have some plan in place for the next day. Then, as the clock neared midnight, the pink light was extinguished. Then, each light in turn soon followed.

For most of the night, things appeared as any other night. It was the terrified screams of the green army that ultimately betrayed that peace! The pink forces of liberation had moved under the cover of darkness around the obstacles that protected them and launched a surprise rear assault on the green forces of subjugation. They were so stealthy that they had even managed to penetrate the base without suspect and decimate the defending forces in a wet bath of terror!

The grey forces, suspecting

subterfuge, attempted their same strategy as before. They sprinted across the open plain to take the abandoned pink base, but they were much too late. When they managed to enter the base, they were walking into a trap! Ten thousand projectiles rained down upon them, erasing the entire grey army in one well planned and executed trap.

As dawn rose on the plain of the no-man’s land, only one force remained. The other two forces had been decimated during the occurrences of the previous night.

Their former bases laid in watery ruin.

Their armies were disarmed and soggy as they stood as prisoners. It was only the pink army of liberation, unicorn uniforms and all, that stood victorious!

They had taken their casualties yet survived and thrived.

To this day in the Gable house, there are tales told of the bravery of that day and night, and of the ferociousness on display by those of the unicorn. The Great Water Balloon War of 2021 will live long in the minds of those that fought that battle. Over 2,000 balloons were launched in the span of twenty-

four hours. A forty-ish-year-old man and his teenage son were both bested in combat by the wiles of their sevenyear-old daughter and sister. May her legend never die!

(It should be noted that the shrapnel took over three months to fully clear. To this day, an unexploded ordinance may surprise the passerby.)

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A DAY IN THE LIFE OF DINH TRAN

FEEDING OUR YOUTH Staying Humble and Kind

By Ariel Phillips Preferring to stay behind the camera and capturing photos of other people, Dinh Tran is one of the most humble people I have met in a while.

Whether it’s rooting for the underdog, capturing moments at sporting events with his camera, serving food at the concession stand and providing meals for students during the pandemic, Dinh Tran truly lives in service to the community.

A first generation immigrant from Vietnam, Dinh fondly remembers a trip he took with other children to Sky Ranch in Dallas as the spark that ignited his passion for serving.

Thanks to a Dallas Catholic Charity, Dinh was able to play games, ride horses, have a picnic lunch then line up to receive a toy as a Christmas gift.

“Since then, everything I have ever done, or that I try to do,” Dinh said. “It’s centered around kids in some way.”

Citing his dad as his biggest influence, Dinh shared that he learned to measure success in how many people show up at his funeral, or how many lives he has touched.

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“It’s not about what car I drive, or what house I live in,” Dinh shared. “That’s not what’s important. He kept us humble and appreciative of what we have.”

Giving back to the community he lives in is one way Dinh touches the lives of many.

After moving to Sulphur Springs and having his own kids led Dinh to wanting to give back and help others.

“Seeing how neighbors were helping neighbors,” Dinh said “That made me want to help others too.”

Taking a walk around the square looking for a place to take a photo, Dinh shared with me that he loves capturing moments from games and sharing the photos with the parents.

“I’m always in the middle of the action trying to get the photo no one else has,” Dinh shared.”There’s more to the game than just the action, I’m looking at the stands trying to catch the special moments like a kid high-fiving their coach, huddling with their teammates or the parent cheering in the stands.”

“The Tran’s are more than friends, they are family. The biggest and best supporters you will find!” ~ Nikki Carpenter

“Dinh is one, of the nicest people we have met in a very long time. He is a great role model to the youth, he relates to kids of all ages and wants them to succeed in whatever they choose to do. He gives back to the community without asking for anything in return.” ~ Kelly Bradley

“One of the most giving and selfless people. The community of Sulphur Springs is a better place because of Dinh Tran!” ~ Katie Jordan

“The Tran family are some of the most community-based people I’ve ever met. From taking photos of kids in sports and other events, transforming the town’s concession stands for sporting events, to providing breakfast/lunch for kids when the pandemic started. If there is ever a need, you can always count on them.”

Dinh shared one such memorable moment for him that happened during one of his daughter Miriam’s golf tournaments.

While taking photos Dinh had forgotten to put his camera in silent mode so it went off during one of her back swings. As Miriam started her down swing, the camera started going off at 20 frames per second, clicking and making other sounds, causing her to lose her focus and the shot shanked to the right.

“Miriam is very competitive,” Dinh commented. “The look she gave me, well she was very upset.”

One lesson that Dinh wishes to instill in the youth of the community is helping them have the opportunities to help their own.

“Feeding our own” is his slogan which he shared was come up with by one of his high school employees.

Another way that Dinh stays connected to the community is through a contract with Sulphur Springs to prepare food for the concession stand at the ball field.

Famous for their brisket nachos, there are no fried foods offered at the concessions.

Parents of athletes are often rushing and find themselves headed straight to the ball field from work with little time to prepare a meal.

They are often faced with eating fast food on the road or buying food at the concession stand so he wanted to have healthier options available.

While setting up at the ball field concession stand for the local league to start up Dinh saw a Facebook post where parents were expressing concerns about how students that rely on school’s for breakfast and lunch would be able to eat after school closed during the pandemic.

Dinh didn’t hesitate. He contacted his employees and high school students then volunteered to serve meals.

A local business owner, Jared Pickett, heard about what Dinh was planning and reached out, asking “What are you doing? What do you need?”

At the time, Dinh wasn’t sure what help he would need if he needed any but later realized he didn’t have any hot dog buns to go with the hot dogs he planned on serving.

Dinh reached out to Pickett and asked if he could help track down some hot dog buns.

At 5 o’clock the next morning, Dinh was meeting local bread guy, Shawn Wallace at Wal-Mart who had a rack of hot dog buns that he wanted to donate to the cause.

Two other locals reached out with monetary donations,

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David Gideon of Commercial Glass and Lori Nix. Dinh commented that these four locals helped kick things off.

The first day Dinh estimates that they served a little over 20 meals, but he knew there were more kids in the area needing a meal.

Originally set up at the ball field at the high school, Dinh shared that he was told they needed to move to Pacific Park if they wanted a bigger turn out.

“We are thankful and blessed that the city allowed us to use the Gray’s Building,” Dinh commented.

“We jumped to 400 meals, serving Monday through Friday.”

All the supplies were donated or purchased thanks to monetary donations by volunteers and local businesses. By the end, Dinh guesses that they had served over 17,000 meals.

“We stopped serving when summer was over,” Dinh shared. “We had supplies left over and with that we partnered with Brookshire’s to serve turkey and ham dinner for some of the families in the area during the holidays.”

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House Plants in Interior Design

Live plants in homes have become a huge trend, as well as beneficial. Live plants, breathing in their oxyoxy gen, and enjoying their aesthetically pleasing view. With greenery, each room will look complete in design, through hues, foliage textures, and any style vessel. Read on to discover new ways add some green to your space and how to bring your inner designer out!

By Erika Mayorga History of Plants in the Interior “The Ultimate Horticulturists: 1840-1930 With industrialization and the Victorian era, ordinary peoples’ homes were beginning to resemble more closely the homes we know today.

They were warmer, thanks to central heating from coal or iron furnaces, which allowed people to take their cultivation of indoor houseplants to new heights. Ferns were exceptionally popular for their dense, luxurious foliage, and were often placed in pillar-style containers called jardiniere.

Other plants that we still know and love (and sell on Léon & George!) were popular as well, like Cast Iron Plants and Kentia Palms.

In the late 1920s, potted houseplants became available on the market for the first time (prior to this period, it was necessary to grow one’s houseplants from bulbs or seeds). The first nursery to offer potted houseplants to the market was based in Southern California-- truly a dreamland for plants, and where Léon & George is based today!

The remarkable ease of purchasing

potted, grown houseplants inspired a tremendous wave of new plant owners. Plant and garden societies sprouted wildly, and fashion and interior design trends were replete with florals and botanical prints.

Earth-First Decor: 1960-1970 The 1960s and 1970s were all about reverence for greenery and nature. Pothos varieties, Staghorn Ferns, and more were used to create fecund indoor jungles, often paired with macrame, hand-built ceramics,

and nature-themed decor. Many of the current trends in plant styling are throwbacks to this fertile time of peace, love, and plant worship.

Minimal Accents: 1980-1990 The 1980s and 1990s looked to the future (and sometimes to space!) for stylistic inspiration. Popular materials were minimal and fresh, like glass, lucite, and industrial metal. Plant styling took a backseat during the 1980s, and stylish designers limited their greenery to thoughtfully placed focal plants which played well with gleaming surfaces and geometric designs.

The 1990s brought with them a resurgence in the popularity of the orchid. From Susan Orlean’s The Orchid Thief to high-fashion prints worn by the likes of Madonna, orchids were the ultimate iconoclastic plant variety of the 90s, blending femininity with their famously sculptural silhouettes.”

Credit: blog.Leonandgeorge.com article La Residence Evaluating your space & your plant needs.

Assess your space. What kind of light do you have? Any windows or is it a low light room? Plants can be placed in any room, big or small, but it is imperative that you know what lighting your plant needs in order to achieve the best growing results. For example, the fiddle fig loves bright light and needs a minimum of 6 hours of bright light. Knowing this information gives you the best opportunity for growth and plant styling. The Fiddle Fig also grows tall, so it is best to place them in a room with elevated ceilings and with large windows. However, if you have a dark bedroom or office, the top recommended are always snake plants and/or ZZ’s plant due to their low lighting requirements. This is why it is important to know and

understand your plants needs so you can properly assess each space you design.

Decide on the right planter The vessel or planter box needs to meet two objectives. It must combine your interior style and must be big enough or small enough for your plant depending on their root system size, as well as having proper Work with sizes & heights To utilize the most of your vertical and horizontal space you can arrange various sizes, heights, and volumes of plant styles. From short and tall to slim and stubby, plants in groups can design a balanced and aesthetically pleasing space.

Top house plants for interior design As experts, The Plant Niche, has the best recommendations from most hardiest, fast growing, and most luxuries greens for your interior plant design.

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1.

Sanseveria Zeylanica (AKA “Snake Plant”) This vertical elegant plant is the most flexible in lighting and placement. The Snake Plant is a versatile vertical grower and is perfect for corner spaces and even hallways. You can style this plant in any room of your home/office.

Snake Plant care: Flexible in lighting, and loves to dry out completely before the next watering cycle. This plant thrives on neglect.

2.

Ficus Lyrata (AKA “Fiddle Leaf Fig”) The most highly requested by all interior designers in 2022 styling. It is best known for its luxurious immense green leaves. Perfect for spacious rooms with vaulted ceilings and with large windows that are west facing for the best light exposure for the plant.

Fiddle Leaf Fig care: 6 hours Minimum of light exposure, water when completely dry, and this plant enjoys occasional humidity.

3.

Dracaena Tarzan A beautiful addition to your interior designs. With exotic style foliage, two inch diameter fronds erecting at a diagonal, and the slightly red edging making it a very fine foliage. The Dracaena Tarzan is the perfect plant for medium light spaces.

Care: Bright indirect light and water once it completely dries.

4.

Scindapsus Pictus Silver Satin (AKA Silver Pothos) This is a perfect cascading trailing plant that can styled on bookshelves, table counter, and tall furniture. The Pothos has been most designers first pick in trailing plants. It will elegantly grow and fill in empty space as it trails wherever you guide it.

Silver Pothos care: Indirect light and water weekly.

Artificial plants in interior design Disadvantage of having Artificial Plants

- Off gassing: artificial plants can give off a chemical especially a harmful one in the form of a gas.

- No growth: having artificial plants they will never grow and only collect dust causing allergies.

- No air purifying: artificial plants are solely esthetic with no real health benefits.

Real plants in interior design Advantages of Real Plants - Enhances mood and boost productivity: there are scientific studies that show real plants can enhance one’s mood and also boosting productivity in work environments.

- Air purifying: real plants are known for their air purifying qualities. They work 24/7 and purifying different percentages of toxins out of the air giving one better air quality.

Disadvantages of having real plants - Maintenance: by having real plants one must keep up with their watering cycle and fertilizing cycle along with knowing their lighting needs.

- Grooming: when it comes to grooming house plants you constantly need to keep a close observance for any yellowing leaves and dusting leaves.

The Plant Niche & Haus of Sabo The Plant Niche focuses on interior plant designing and is collaborating with Haus of Sabo, which is a full services interior design firm that focuses on residential and commercial projects. We work with clients to create memorable and lasting spaces for any style. Contact us to schedule a FREE discovery call to see how we can make your remodeling project smooth and easy before getting with your contractor.

Contact: The Plant Niche Website: theplantniche.co Phone Number: (903) 558-1185 Instagram: @the_plantniche

Haus of Sabo Website: hausofsabo.com Phone Number: (512) 269-3898 Instagram: @hausosabo

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