ETX View Magazine Mar Apr 2024

ETX VIEW

YOUR VIEW OF

‘TAILS’ OF healing

GRASSROOTS of fine art

Santana Gallacher

SPRINGTIME, AND GIVING BACK, ARE IN THE AIR

It’s springtime in East Texas! Azaleas are blooming, lake levels are rising, and we’re getting closer to summer which means music festivals, the Great Texas Balloon Race and so much more. After the frigid weather we experienced earlier this year, I am so looking forward to these warmer days.

One beautiful place to enjoy the weather is Lake Tyler, and while we could tell you all about the fun places to go around the lake, there’s one place we couldn’t help but introduce you to in our 2024 Nonprofit, Faith & Philanthropy edition. Boathouse Ministry, Page 8, was started by two guys who simply love Jesus and the lake and wanted to combine the two. Now, it’s evolved into a year-round nonprofit organization that welcomes people from all backgrounds to worship together. Some have never stepped inside a church, but now they’ve found community and purpose at Boathouse.

Along with gorgeous weather, there’s another special thing about this spring – the Total Solar Eclipse! Did you know many cities in East Texas are in the direct path of totality? This means the sky will go totally dark in the middle of the afternoon on April 8. Writer Jennifer Scott tells you everything to expect and where you can go to enjoy this celestial wonder on Page 16.

This particular issue of ETX View is always so fulfilling to produce, because we’re reminded of the philanthropic spirit of our community. Our neighbors are truly some special people doing amazing things for one another. Meet organizations like Therapet and Canines for Christ (Page 34) who are using animals to bring joy and healing, and the East Texas Food Bank which is expanding

(Page 26) to further its mission to fight hunger. Another story in this issue that will make your heart smile is a local family leading the way at a Tyler church’s bus ministry program. You can feel the heart behind this ministry as you read about it on Page 52.

Amanda Veasy is spreading the word on Page 58 about One Love Longview’s amazing secondhand shop, Twice Loved Marketplace. This isn’t your typical thrift store, y’all. Not only do they have curated merchandise, but every purchase directly funds One Love’s muchneeded work in the community.

There are more stories in this issue that will leave you feeling inspired and remind you how wonderful East Texas is, but I won’t spoil them all. Sit down, kick back and get comfy to enjoy a leisurely read of all the stories in this fantastic issue.

Before I let you go, please accept my immense gratitude for your support. All of us at ETX View are so grateful for our supporters. Without our readers and advertisers, we couldn’t continue to share stories about what makes East Texas so special. Every day we are grateful for the opportunity to connect with you through these pages and share stories about your neighbors. If you have a story you think we should cover, I’d be delighted to hear from you.

As always, happy reading –and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with the latest stories and see special behind-the-scenes content.

PRESIDENT

Stephen McHaney

PUBLISHER

Justin Wilcox

SALES MANAGER

Tracy Stopani

ETX VIEW EDITOR

Santana Gallacher

PUBLICATION DESIGNER

Haley Holcomb-Capps

WRITERS

Santana Gallacher

Jordan Green

Katecey Harrell

Nicholas Osborn

Jennifer Scott

Samuel Shaw

Raquel Villatoro

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Les Hassell

Jennifer Scott

ADVERTISING SALES

Alyson Durst

Kerri Esposito

Kurt Kitchings

Paula White

Sonorah Duty

Stuart James

Zoie Perry

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY

Les Hassell

COVER DESIGN BY Haley Holcomb-Capps

© 2024, M. ROBERTS MEDIA 100 E. Ferguson,

Complete orthopedic care is now within reach.

When an injury has you down, the last thing you want to do is waste time running from place to place for care. Our world-class state-of-the-art orthopedic and sports medicine surgical hospital is now a reality in Longview.

Located adjacent to CHRISTUS Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute, the new CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Hospital - NorthPark will feature:

• Six state-of-the-art operating suites

• Expanded clinical space and services

• Outpatient procedures

• Patient rooms for overnight stays as needed

From diagnosis and treatment to rehabilitation and recovery, Longview residents will soon have comprehensive orthopedic care at their fingertips.

42

Jim

ETX

VESSELS FOR CHRIST

Boathouse Ministry offers young adults connection with peers and Christ

STORY BY JORDAN GREEN PHOTOGRAPHY BY LES HASSELL AND JORDAN GREEN

Jesus walked on the water, and that’s where hundreds of Tyler men and women ages 18 to 25 are meeting Him.

Near the water, at least. On a grass-covered bank bordering Lake Tyler, young adults from across East Texas are gathering on Tuesday nights to eat food, play games, strike up friendships and, above all, worship God.

Boathouse Ministry, as the growing group is called, was never something Brandon Brattlof and Clay Crouch intended to create. After they became friends in 2015, they spent their evenings hanging out in a boat on the lake. Then they thought: “Why don’t we bring the Lord into this?”

They brought their Bibles with them to study while boating, and they’d close the night with prayer. One by one, men and women joined them for their aquatic evangelism. The crowd eventually outgrew the space available on watercraft; on average, 500 to 700 young people now attend Tuesday night events at 6 p.m. at the Tyler Petroleum Club, which overlooks the lake.

Though Boathouse no longer takes people out on the water, its mission is to help young people – college students in the Tyler area, working-class young adults and those who aren’t sure where they’re heading in life – wade deep into a new life with Christ.

Like a raging storm that only Christ could calm, the wind blew fiercely around the petroleum club one January Tuesday. Though the sun was shining and the sky was a light shade of blue, the wind chopped the water into waves. Its surface was rough.

The lives of young people often feel the same way, ministry leaders say. From his own experience, Brattlof understands the struggles many young men have like pornography addiction, sex and other temptations. Young women, meanwhile, might feel like they have to look a certain way, achieve social status or have their lives figured out, said Elizabeth Sullivan, the women’s

ISAAC VALERIOO, who serves as a volunteer and speaker at Boathouse Ministry, speaks to attendees of the ministry's spring kickoff worship service in January.

director at Boathouse.

It’s a time in life when young adults need community and connection with God, Sullivan said. Many, however, may have been hurt by people at a church they once attended; others may have never set foot in a sanctuary on a Sunday morning; and for one reason or another, some won’t dare do so.

But they’ll gladly take a trip to the lake. That’s something Brattlof learned in the infancy of the ministry. One student showed up carrying a six pack of beer, which he was asked to leave in the truck before hopping aboard the boat.

“We thought all these students were showing up for the boats, and we were just so dead wrong,” Brattlof said. “We pulled the boats, and it grew. I would say there’s an energy, but there’s also just a desire for authenticity and authentic friendships. And people say when they come to Boathouse, they feel loved, and they feel seen. And that’s our prayer.”

Boathouse is a parachurch organization – unaffiliated with any particular church, but seeking to help students find one they’re comfortable joining after giving their lives to Jesus, said Preston Reece, the ministry’s director. Brattlof describes the ministry as a “doorway” back into church.

The journey to Boathouse starts when young adults tell their friends about it or learn about it on social media. After she saw an Instagram post and TikTok video about the ministry, Keona Tamez, a Wyoming native who moved to Tyler for college, decided to seek it out. She liked what she found.

She arrived at the petroleum club driveway, where a throng of volunteers greeted her. She steered her car up the long, tree-lined road to the clubhouse, where food prepared by local churches awaited arriving students. It’s typically served on the clubhouse deck, giving students an unobstructed view of the lake and space to talk with their peers and volunteers.

“We really try to create an atmosphere of just community, making it feel like home,” Sullivan | CONT. ON PG. 13

BOATHOUSE MINISTRY was started by two men who wanted to spend time on the lake while reading the Bible. Since then, it has transformed into a large ministry with worship services held every Tuesday at the Tyler Petroleum Club.

BOATHOUSE MINISTRY is a place where all are invited to worship. The night begins with dinner and games followed by worship and fun.

BOATHOUSE MINISTRY GUESTS gather for fellowship and pizza before the evening's worship service.

said. “That’s the heartbeat behind a lot of what we do is connecting students with each other, making sure no one’s on their own and all of that – just getting to hear their story, hear where they’re at in their life and their walk.”

After eating and playing games, students gather for worship and teaching. When weather permits, they stand in the grass up the hill from the lake, praising God as they turn their heads toward the heavens, visible through the East Texas trees, and listening to the truth their peers impart.

After becoming a Christian, Tamez wondered if she could find friends who have the same heart – a heart that longs to be free from the social pressure to party, drink, date and more.

“You can come to Boathouse every Tuesday night. You can have the most amazing friends. You can still have a great time, and you don’t have to fall into what culture’s telling you to do,” she said. “You can actually find people who are going to encourage you to live a better life, and you’re actually going to be happier in the long run for it.”

In addition to regular Tuesday worship sessions, some students have joined Bible studies and formed small groups that meet regularly. They’ve even gone to spiritual gatherings such as the Passion Conference together. And some have sought individual mentorship from ministry leaders, such as Sullivan.

“It’s been really, really sweet –really cool just to see the Lord doing something in Tyler,” Sullivan said.

For Braden Brady, a longtime mentee of Brattlof, Tuesday’s gatherings at Boathouse are the highlight of his week. He works with Brattlof at his business – which is actually a marine construction company that builds boathouses in the area. He now leads the team of volunteers who welcome young adults there, making the massive crowd feel small and personal.

“Anybody is welcomed – at all,” Brady said. “Our goal and our desire for them is to experience what a loving Savior they have for them.”

BOATHOUSE MINISTRY at the Lake Tyler Petroleum Club.

The nonprofit ministry is supported by donors. It doesn’t ask students to give tithes and offerings. And now that hundreds of students are attending each week, the ministry is looking for a larger, permanent home of its own.

For adult leaders at Boathouse, watching Christ transform the lives of students is personal. Board chairman Lane Murray’s son has been at Boathouse for years and grown in his walk with Christ as a result, Murray said. In his eyes, the people at Boathouse are becoming leaders and vessels for the Kingdom.

“It really is living out the Great Commission,” Murray said. “Whenever Jesus said, ‘Go into Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the Earth,’ that’s like going into Tyler, into Smith County, into Texas and to the ends of the Earth – wherever God has you, right?”

For the people of Boathouse Ministry, the ends of the Earth may be where the land runs into the water along the shore of Lake Tyler, just down the hill from the petroleum club.

BOATHOUSE MINISTRY at the Lake Tyler Petroleum Club.

BOATHOUSE MINISTRY SWAG at the Lake Tyler Petroleum Club.

PRESTON REECE, ministry director at Boathouse, and Elizabeth Sullivan, women's director, pose for a photo at the Tyler Petroleum Club, where the ministry holds worship services.

CELESTIAL WONDER

SOME CITIES IN EAST TEXAS COVETED VIEWING DESTINATIONS FOR RARE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE

STORY BY JENNIFER SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY BY ETX VIEW

For over a year, preparations have been underway for a total solar eclipse. In East Texas, many entities have been preparing to make the most of the darkest four minutes of their lives. And tourists have been making travel plans to visit just the right place – like East Texas –to experience the rarity.

“The eclipse has been a huge passion project for me at Visit Tyler,” said Sheridan Smith, Vice President of Marketing & Communications of Visit Tyler, one of the many organizations promoting the

eclipse and events surrounding it.

With some cities within East Texas – like Tyler or Pittsburg – being right in the path of totality, the eclipse is quite the draw for tourists. Travelers were booking hotels, making reservations, and other arrangements up to a year in advance of the rare event. Rare indeed, as “Tyler hasn’t experienced a total eclipse since 1878 — 144 years ago,” said Dr. Beau Hartweg, Tyler Junior College science center director, “and it will be the last total eclipse visible in Texas for the rest of this millennium.

“The next total eclipse in Tyler will occur beyond the year 3000. So, it’s fair to say that we are very excited about these historic events,” Hartweg added.

A total eclipse occurs when the moon appears as the same size as the sun and blocks the entire disk, leading to a period of darkness lasting several minutes. This phenomenon results in ‘totality,’ meaning observers will see the full sun at the beginning of the eclipse. The next stage will be with the shadow begins to “touch” the edge of the solar disk. As the moon’s shadow covers more of the sun, it becomes a partial eclipse. Next, the moon will almost completely block the sun and finally, the sun will be completely blocked by the moon except for its shining corona, or outermost edge. As the moon’s shadow begins to uncover the sun, viewers will see a “diamond ring” as the corona disappears and the sun reemerges. Totality lasts less than 5 minutes total, according to NASA, and TJC said there will be 2 minutes of total darkness in Tyler. The whole thing will last from 12:24 p.m. until 3:04 p.m. local time.

An estimated 31.6 million people will be able to see the total solar eclipse, including residents of Tyler, Chandler, Lindale, Winnsboro, Mineola, Gilmer, Pittsburg, Sulphur Springs, Mount Vernon, Daingerfield, and more cities within East Texas. Totality will begin near Del Rio then trace a line northeast across the state of Texas. To see the path, visit greatamericaneclipse. com.

Visit Tyler is one of many entities that have been promoting the eclipse and coordinating events.

“Collaborating with a diverse array of local entities, ranging from restaurants and hotels to the City of Tyler and various attractions, we've curated a captivating weekend with activities and themed events,” Smith said.

Because the majority of the sunlight will be blocked, there could be a slight change in weather conditions. Changes to temperature, wind speed and humidity occur as the moon crosses in front of the sun during a solar eclipse and casts a

shadow on Earth’s surface. This can also cause confusion with animals, especially nocturnal animals.

“Tyler Junior College's EarthSpace Science Center and Visit Tyler have dedicated over a year to seamlessly orchestrating and educating our community partners,” Smith said. “Anticipation and enthusiasm are at an all-time high as we eagerly prepare to extend a warm welcome to visitors flocking to Tyler for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.” For a comprehensive guide to all the excitement, explore TotalityTyler.com.

Whether you’re at home, work, school, or out and about, it is encouraged to safely view the total eclipse. Although it’s a sight like no other, without protection, there is a risk of temporary – or even permanent – eye damage. Looking at the intense light even for just a few seconds can cause permanent

damage to the retina, which is directly responsible for your vision. So, when viewing the solar eclipse, make sure you are taking precaution by wearing solar viewing glasses. It’s also important to make sure the glasses are legitimately safe to use; they should comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard, NASA says.

If you’re interested in making special plans to view the eclipse or celebrate the other activities local groups have in store, check out this list of events across East Texas. Please note some may require a reservation and may have limited solar viewing glasses, so make sure to contact them for any additional information.

Totality Tyler viewing events, April 8, Downtown Tyler and Broadway Square Mall. The downtown square will feature eclipse-themed promotions at local shops and restaurants, live music and

more. The mall will offer a limited amount of complimentary glasses and more. Information: visittyler.com

Lunch on the Lawn at the Goodman Museum, April 8, at the Goodman-LeGrand Gardens, 624 Broadway Ave. in Tyler. Enjoy lunch on the lawn and watch the sky get dark. There will be lawn games, music, solar eclipse glasses and more. To purchase tickets, call (903) 531-1286.

Black Out Total Solar Eclipse Festival, April 8, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 309 West Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Tyler (The Texas African American Museum/Empowerment CDC Complex). Information: taam@ empowermentcdc.org.

East Texas Symphony Orchestra: Totality of the Sun, April 6, matinee 4 p.m.; evening performance 7:30 p.m., 1303 S, Mahon Ave. in Tyler (Rogers Palmer Performing Arts Center at Tyler Junior College). In partnership with Tyler Junior College, ETSO will

TYLER

CONT. FROM PG. 17

Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press

present a once-in-a-lifetime event celebrating a total eclipse of the sun. The Eclipse Concert will feature East Texas Symphony Orchestra playing celestial favorites with beautiful visuals provided by TJC’s Earth & Space Science Center. Information: etxsymphony.org

Total Eclipse at Tyler State Park, April 8, 789 Park Road 16 in Tyler. Information: https://tpwd.texas.gov/ calendar/tyler/total-eclipse

Jellystone Park’s 2024 Total Solar Eclipse, April 8 at Jellystone Park, 5583 FM 16 E. in Tyler. This camp/resort will have prime viewing of the eclipse as the sun is completely overshadowed by the moon for a short period of time. Information: jellystonetyler.com

LINDALE

Total Eclipse of the Park, April 6-8, at Darden Harvest Park, 202 Cannery Row in Lindale. This is a free, three-day event to commemorate the total solar eclipse. There will be a concert, vendors and food trucks, activities for kids and more. Information: visitlindaletx.com.

The Total Eclipse at The Sundown, April 8, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Sundown Venue, 8159 County Road 313 W. in Lindale. Experience the total solar eclipse on this 80acre property, situated on a hilltop with a barn and a pavilion that will have music and vendors of food and homemade goods. Information: https://bit.ly/eclipse_thesundown

PITTSBURG

Total Solar Eclipse 2024, April 8, City of Pittsburg. From wine vineyards to boating on the lake, the city of Pittsburg has a plethora of places and events dedicated to the viewing of the solar eclipse. Information: totalsolareclipse. brightrtravel.com

GILMER

Total Eclipse Event at Gilmont, April 7-8 at Camp Gilmont, 6075 State Highway 155 N in Gilmer. Come experience this unique phenomenon and witness the effect it has on creation (spoiler: nocturnal animals will awaken, day time critters will be lulled to sleep, and leaves will make unique shadows). The pineywoods of East Texas are the ideal environment to witness this solar event. Information: www.

gilmont.org/eclipse-event.html

LONGVIEW

Solar Eclipse Viewing at the Arboretum, April 8, 12:30 p.m. at the Longview Arboretum and Nature Center, 706 W. Cotton St. in Longview. The arboretum invites you to get some great pictures of the crescent shadows through the trees, observe plant reactivity during the eclipse, and more. They will have eclipse glasses available. Information: www.facebook.com/ longviewarboretum

QUITMAN

Northeast Texas Eclipsefest, April 5-8, 2 to 10 p.m., 639 County Road 3135 in Quitman. Come witness The Great American Eclipse with a few hundred of your closest friends. Information: www. netxeclipsefest.com.

WILLS POINT

Eclipse on the Bricks, April 6, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 130 N 4th St. in Downtown Wills Point. Activities for all ages including a Kid Zone including bounce houses and eclipse themed activities for the kiddos, retail vendors, food vendors and much more. Information: www. facebook.com/willspointchamber

PALESTINE

Eclipse at the Airport, April 8, 12 to 3 p.m. at the Palestine Municipal Airport, 1278 County Rd 421 in Palestine. Sponsored by Visit Palestine; glasses will be provided. Information: www.visitpalestine.com

CANTON

Solar Eclipse Weekend, April 5-8, 4 to 7 p.m., 800 First Monday Ln. in Canton (First Monday Trade Days). This immersive event combines astronomy and community festivities to create an unforgettable experience. Campers are invited to set up their RVs or pitch their tents within the grounds of the worldfamous First Monday Trade Days. Visitors are encouraged to explore local restaurants and enjoy live music entertainment. Information: www. visitcantontx.com

ATHENS

2024 Solar Eclipse Texas Style! April 8 at Texan RV Park, Hwy 175 W. in Athens. You’re invited to camp at this East Texas RV park for a great view of the solar eclipse. Information: www.facebook.com/theTexanRVPark

THE GRASSROOTS OF FINE ART

TYLER AND LONGVIEW MUSEUMS GROW WITH COMMUNITY

STORY BY S AMUEL SHAW PHOTOGRAPHY BY LES HASSELL

You don’t have to turn over stones to find a democratic spirit pulsing through the Longview Museum of Fine Art and the Tyler Museum of Art.

Each was envisioned as a public asset and both were founded by groups of local women who imagined East Texas enriched by art. Neither institution has strayed far from its founding mission of fusing creative culture with community access.

As LMFA prepares to triple in size with a new home in downtown Longview and TMA expands its relationship with regional high schools, a posture of open arms toward area residents continues to bear fruit.

SPREADING SEEDS

A business tycoon didn’t found the Longview Museum of Fine Art.

Sixty-six years ago, local women involved with The Junior League of Longview decided to bring arts to blue-collar Gregg County, a place better known for oil than artistic treasures.

“They went over to the Dallas Museum of Art and asked them how to start a museum,” said Tiffany Jehorek, LMFA’s executive director and curator of exhibitions.

The Junior League women spent 20 years amassing a small collection of works by inviting artists from Texas, Arkansas and New Mexico to competitions and purchasing the winners. That collection found its way into a proto-museum on the south side of Longview which eventually became the Longview Museum of Fine Arts in 1972.

The museum incorporated as a nonprofit that year and remained on College Street until 1998 when the LMFA moved to its current location on South Tyler Street in downtown Longview.

“We’ve always been a community-driven effort,” Jehorek said.

Thirty-five miles west, the Junior League of Tyler founded the Tyler Museum of Art in 1971 on the Tyler Junior College campus.

The idea of exposing Tyler students to creative works began two

NELL ALLEN BELL GALLERY at the Tyler Museum of Art.

decades prior, according to Caleb Bell, TMA’s executive director.

“In the ’50s, the Tyler Junior League had a program called Picture Ladies,” Bell said. “They would take reproductions of famous art into classrooms and teach the students about them. From there they recognized that Tyler needed an art museum where not only kids but the larger community could see real works of art in person.”

But the Tyler Museum of Art never lost its focus on youth outreach throughout the years.

TJC professors of the arts and humanities still bring their students on exhibit tours as they have for decades. Two UT Tyler students are selected for semester-long internships which teach them the ins and outs of running a cultural institution.

Bell highlighted TMA’s high school art show as one of the biggest community magnets. This March will be the 20th anniversary of the show, which has grown to include student works from as far north as Paris, TX and as far south as Lufkin.

“We're here for the community, and we're here because of the community. We’re the community’s museum,” Bell said.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

While the collection has multiplied and the building has changed, LMFA's ethos of service that fueled the museum’s early years lives on.

For any given month at LMFA, more than 50 volunteers pitch in to welcome guests, assemble and break down exhibits, provide hospitality during events, and tend to the museum’s 1,200-piece collection.

“This museum is a volunteer-driven organization collaborating with a paid staff,” Jehorek said.

She added that some of the museum’s most popular events like the Holiday Art Market and Tea Room are only possible with the helping hands of volunteers.

LMFA has its own volunteer guild staffed by locals whose journey into museum work often began after attending a public event or exhibition. Jehorek estimated only about half of the guild members are

| CONT. FROM PG. 20

TIFFANY JEHOREK gives members of the Longview Historic Preservation Committee a tour of the former bank building that is the future home of the Longview Museum of Fine Art.

PREPARING TO VANISH, a work by artist Chris Mars, is part of the "Stories from the Vault," a selection of artwork from the Longview Museum of Fine Art's permanent collection on exhibit.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CALEB BELL at the Tyler Museum of Art.

ARTIST NORMA COCHRAN ROGERS, left, of Henderson, talks about her artwork for sale at the Longview Museum of Fine Arts Holiday Tea Room and Market.

NELL ALLEN BELL GALLERY at the Tyler Museum of Art.

A CROWD GATHERS during the Longview Museum of Fine Arts' State of the Museum luncheon, in the museum's future location at 213 N. Fredonia St.

"STORIES FROM THE VAULT," a selection of artwork from the Longview Museum of Fine Art's permanent collection.

CLASSROOM SPACE at the Tyler Museum of Art.

retirees.

Jessica Waldron is a Longview Realtor and LMFA guild president. She moved back home from the Dallas-Fort Worth area in 2018 and took a chance on a museum event the following year.

“The first time I remember going to LMFA after coming home was the Holiday Market and Tea Room event,” said Waldron. “I was instantly drawn in.”

Waldron’s story is typical for Longview residents. Some are attracted to LMFA by the art, but just as many are pulled in by activitybased programming. The museum runs weekly yoga classes, monthly clay studios and other activities designed to entice a broad spectrum of visitors.

“All of the little things that we do, it's another way to reach the community and say, ‘Hey, there's something here for you’,” said Jehorek.

ONWARD AND UPWARD

The Longview Museum of Fine Arts Board of Directors is hoping to see out the museum’s transition to a new, larger home by 2025.

The building, formerly the Longview National Bank, is over 50,000 square feet and positioned near the center of downtown Longview across Methvin Street and opposite the Gregg County courthouse. The space will feature the original bank vaults and once remodeling is complete, it will count as one of Longview’s most ambitious adaptive reuse projects to date.

To make that move a reality, the museum did what it always has: leaned into the relationships forged with community members through decades of outreach.

“Some people come to an event and they get inspired to join as a member,” said Jehorek. “The first time, they might join at $250 and the next time they might want to give more.”

“I've had donors come to a concert and be so inspired by it and the new building that now they're a $5,000 donor, and they're a concert sponsor, and they want to get more involved,” said Jehorek.

The new space – set to be the largest art museum in East Texas – will provide a fitting home for a collection that contains works by globally renowned artists like Andy Warhol, Picasso, Hung Liu and Chris Mars.

“A lot of our Longviewites are art lovers, but where are they going to see art? They're going to Dallas, they're going to Santa Fe, they're going to other places,” said Jehorek. “I would love it if we could give them something here that they're just as proud of.”

For more information, visit lmfa.org or tylermuseum.org.

TYLER MUSEUM OF ART

FIGHT HUNGER, FEED

EAST TEXAS FOOD BANK EXPANSIONS HIGHLIGHT MISSION TO GROW, SERVE MORE PEOPLE IN REGION

STORY BY RAQUEL VILLATORO PHOTOGRAPHY BY LES HASSELL

The East Texas Food Bank continues to expand, on a mission to distribute more food and serve even more people.

The food bank opened its Tyler Resource Center in late December and its Longview Resource Center in October. The growth will continue in 2024 with a new resource center coming to Texarkana. It also has its Deep East Texas Resource Center already open in Lufkin. These centers are part of the nonprofit’s overall strategic plan to expand programs and fulfill its mission to fight hunger.

ONE-STOP-SHOP

The model for the resource centers is focused on connecting people with resources locally. The centers are meant to be one-stop-shops of wraparound services with a food pantry, benefits assistance

PANTRY MANAGER

MICAH BROOKS helps Penny McLean fill a food box at the East Texas Food Bank's Tyler Resource Center.

FOOD

| CONT. FROM PG. 26

and other support services. Some of those services include utility assistance, child care programs, nutrition education programs and more.

At the Tyler Resource Center, there is a medical screening room. PATH (People Attempting to Help), CHRISTUS Health and UT Health East Texas are some of the various organizations that set up tables during the food bank’s business hours. In Lufkin, the food bank partnered with T.L.L. Temple Foundation, a local foundation aiming to alleviate poverty. Their hours are set around the times of other organizations or pantries so they can fill those gaps when they are closed. These partnerships allow the food bank to connect its clients with other resources they may need – all in one

convenient place.

“It's partnering with the medical community, it's partnering with workforce development opportunities, and anything that creates economic mobility for our neighbors in need,” ETFB Chief Impact Officer Kim Morris said. “We don't want to just be a Band-Aid, we want to be a healing for these families or help them find that healing – to be able to not need our services anymore.”

The resource centers are set up in areas where they are needed. In Tyler, the neighborhood surrounding the resource center is 34% below poverty. In Gregg County, the rate below the federal poverty line is 29%. In Longview, the need for meals is higher than the other resource centers.

EAST TEXAS FOOD BANK Tyler Resource Center lobby.

“With Gregg County, we identified as having about a million meals short when we made the decision to open it,” ETFB CEO David Emerson said. “So the idea was we absorb that million meals out of that location, whereas the other locations aren't quite that short on meals.”

In addition to providing food, ETFB provides benefits assistance. The food bank has four benefits assistance specialists who help East Texans apply for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, Medicaid and CHIP (Children’s H health Insurance Program). They also distribute food to rural areas.

“We have all these small rural communities … that don't have a local pantry themselves and don't have the means to support one,” Emerson said. “We identified that as a high critical need and we've made investments to be able to push that food out to them and grow.”

KYLER MATTHEWS

assists a client at the East Texas Food Bank Tyler Resource Center.

The investments include investing in partner agencies to help distribute food and providing them with coolers for the food. All these efforts need funds and volunteers. Volunteers are critical to the organization, as the food bank relies on them to get the food sorted, packaged and organized.

“If I had to pay employees to do that work, it would have been an additional million dollars on payroll,” Emerson said. “So volunteers coming in to help us prepare the meals and sort the goods that come in is a huge blessing because we need those in the local resource centers.”

Funds provided by donors are also important to maintain the quality of standards the food bank has

established. The food is the same quality at every location, so funds help ensure the food bank is able to meet the needs of those experiencing food insecurity, Emerson said.

‘FOOD IS EVERYTHING’

For Penny McLean, the Tyler Resource Center is a wonderful resource. McLean drives from Flint to get her box of food from the East Texas Food Bank.

She learned about the ETFB after receiving a golden ticket to visit the resource center in Tyler before it officially opened to the public. McLean had asked one of her neighbors, who often gave away extra food she received from local resources, where she got her food. Her neighbor told her she got it at Lindsey Park, where food distributions are often hosted by the food bank. After she went to Lindsey Park, McLean received a golden ticket to the Tyler Resource Center.

She was amazed at the quality of food. There were options for those on special diets, like almond milk, along with a variety of organic vegetables and fruit. The last time she went she received 3 pounds of meat, a big bag of blueberries, canned green beans, onions, potatoes, beans and rice. She also received oranges and – “they were absolutely the best oranges I've ever had,” she said.

McLean said resources like the food bank are necessary to help get people through difficult times. There are all sorts of reasons a person may need assistance.

“We all got to this place today on a different path and regardless of that, once you're down on your luck, you can do without a lot of things – but once you don't have enough food, it takes you to the darkest place ever,” McLean said. “Food is everything, you can't think straight when you don't have enough food. It's a sad situation. It's an absolute need.”

McLean moved to Flint to help take care of her mom six years ago and had to learn where to find these resources. Since she learned about the food bank and its resources

EAST TEXAS FOOD BANK Chief Development Officer Tim Butler speaks about opening the organization's new Longview Resource Center.

EAST TEXAS FOOD BANK

CEO David Emerson speaks about opening the organization's new Longview Resource Center.

| CONT. FROM PG. 30

through a neighbor, she understands the value of word-of-mouth. She now tells her neighbors and other community members about the ETFB any chance she gets.

“If I can share some of these resources with other people and help them, at least they can eat healthy, that helps their health more and they can be more vigorous,” McLean said. “It makes you feel less than human if you don't have your basic needs met.”

GOING FOR MORE

As time progresses, the East Texas Food Bank continues its mission of providing nutritious food and helping feed the hungry. It serves over 117,000 households in 26 counties throughout East Texas, covering nearly 20,000 miles.

From July 2022 to June 2023, the food bank served roughly 30 million pounds, Emerson said. It has set a goal of providing 32 million meals by 2025. In order to reach this goal, they opened the resource centers to help close the gaps. At each resource center, they would have to serve 750,000 million meals to a million. At the Lufkin center, last year they served 3,000 households and a little

over 900,000 pounds. Since they opened in Longview in October 2023, they have served 409,000 pounds.

“A lot of times, folks won't take a chance with perishable goods when they've got a limited amount of dollars and cents to go to the store with,” Morris said. “That's why we put a high priority on making available through all of our resource centers and all of our points of distribution, access to fresh produce wherever we can. That's a huge driver of ours.”

SERVE OR BE SERVED

Whether you are in need of resources or are interested in volunteering, the East Texas Food Bank will welcome you with open arms.

The Tyler Resource Center is located at the East Texas Food Bank’s headquarters in Tyler at 3201 Robertson Rd. The Longview Resource Center is located at 2900 Signal Hill Dr. The Deep East Texas Resource Center is located at 105 Lofton St. in Lufkin. Once open, the Texarkana location will be at 3019 S. Lake Dr.

There are also regular mobile pantry locations across East Texas. For more information about benefits, please visit easttexasfoodbank.org. The website also provides information about how to donate time or money or food.

LINUS, A TRAINED LABRADOODLE at Therapet's main office and training facility in Tyler.

OF HEALING

Animal therapy helps East Texans with mental health, overall wellness

STORY BY JENNIFER SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY BY LES HASSELL AND JENNIFER SCOTT

There’s a saying that all dogs are therapy dogs – most of them are just freelancing.

Known for their unconditional love and loyalty, dogs also help us cope with loneliness and keep us active. Numerous studies have shown the benefits of using animals – particularly dogs, cats and horses – for people who need relief from stress and anxiety.

The use of dogs in therapy has been known to trigger in humans the release of the ‘feel-good’ hormone oxytocin, which decreases anxiety and stress. Being around dogs has also been known to lower heart rate and blood pressure.

As mental health awareness becomes more prevalent, the need for dogs has also expanded, thus programs such as animal-assisted therapy (AAT).

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, animal-assisted therapy is a health intervention, meant to improve physical, social, emotional or cognitive function, with animals as an integral part of the treatment.

Service animals, which are individually trained to work or perform tasks for people with disabilities, are not considered part of animal-assisted duties.

The American Kennel Club recognizes nearly 240 therapy dog organizations

CHAPLAIN LESLIE PARISH with her two Canines for Christ therapy dogs, Jessie and Seamus.

throughout the United States, including East Texas’ own Therapet and Canines for Christ.

CANINES FOR CHRIST

Canines for Christ is an international Christian-based, animal-assisted therapy ministry “that uses ordinary people and their beloved dogs to share God’s message of love, hope, kindness and compassion to the community,” according to the organization’s website.

Pioneered by Chaplain Larry Randolph, Canines for Christ has been in existence since July 2007.

“God has blessed many people through this ministry and changed lives,” said Chaplain Jill Powell of Canines for Christ. “We are honored to give Him all the glory and humbled to be representing our Lord in communities all over the world… new dogs, volunteers and chaplains are being added constantly to serve God in this unique ministry.”

Canines for Christ is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

“The founder… saw how the unconditional love of a dog showed the love of Christ to others and he wanted to share that with those he visited in the community,” Powell said. “It has now grown to 1,300 volunteers around the country and a few in (other) countries… bringing hope, love and compassion through wet noses and wagging tails.”

Canines for Christ visit places such as cancer centers, grief centers, children’s hospitals, nursing homes, veterans hospitals, hospice facilities, special needs facilities, home visits, prisons, 911 call centers, schools, and crisis disaster response locations, as well as many other places upon request.

“Petting a dog can be beneficial for both the animal and the person,” Powell said. “Petting a dog can reduce stress and improve brain activity… and be used as a therapy for depression, dementia, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).”

Chapters for Canine for Christ are in many states, including Alaska, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois,

CANINES FOR CHRIST dogs wear a vest which also has 'earned' patches.

JESSIE OF CANINES FOR CHRIST loves to participate in the Bible study at Meadow Lakes Senior Living in Tyler.

Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia. They also have chapters in Canada, South America, South Africa and Europe.

The East Texas chapter has one volunteer, Chaplain Leslie Parish and two dogs – Jessie and Seamus – and is located in Big Sandy.

“Jessie is sensitive to people who are depressed or are in pain,” Parish said. “Seamus loves those who are no longer able to talk, and will get as close to their face as possible to sniff and stare into their eyes, as if he knows what they are trying to say.”

“With God’s blessing, we hope to expand in many more locations,” Powell said. “Our services are free and we are always looking for more volunteers to come alongside us with their pups to do ministry in their local communities.”

If you’re looking to get involved as a volunteer or in need of some pet therapy, visit k9forchrist. org.

THERAPET

“Let’s face it, animals love unconditionally, and they don’t judge you at all,” said Lisa Veatch, marketing and development coordinator for Therapet. “No problem if you didn’t bathe or wash your hair, they love you no matter what. They have a way of lifting your spirits and calming you, regardless of your circumstances.”

Therapet is a nonprofit organization located in Tyler that focuses on animal-assisted therapy, and is 100 percent donor funded.

According to Veatch, therapy rehab nurses saw animal-assisted therapy being offered and created Therapet in 1994. They invited a specialist to move to Tyler to implement the model here in Tyler for animal-assisted therapy. The specialist uprooted and moved here, establishing Therapet in 1994.

“Therapy patients really benefit from interaction with the therapy dogs,” Veatch said. “They receive unconditional love, support and encouragement

BECCA CHAMBERS, left, and Percy, a trained black mouth cur, at Therapet's main office and training facility in Tyler.

TRACY IRWIN, left, and Becca Chambers with Linus and Percy.

needed to meet therapy goals and improve their mental capacity to gain the physical momentum to get out of the hospital and regain their independence at home.”

All phases of therapy support animal assisted therapy in their regime: speech, occupational and physical therapists use Therapet as a mode of therapy with achievement goals being met routinely in advance of expectations.

“Therapet offers skills and obedience training at their training facility with trained coaching,” Veatch said. “Each pet is then mentored and goes through an apprenticeship to shadow a certified Therapet in medical settings. Once the apprenticeship is completed the dog in training must pass a temperament test to become a certified Therapet.”

As of January, Therapet had more than 70 dogs, three cats and a cockatoo working as volunteers.

Therapet is currently contracted with 12 facilities, and actively serves these facilities on a routine basis. Facilities include both Christus Health and UT Health East Texas hospitals, Encompass Health Rehab, Skyview Prison, Rusk State Hospital, Breckenridge Village, Tyler ISD’s Wayne D. Boshears Center for Exceptional Programs campus, Brownsboro ISD’s READ program, Lindale Library’s READ program, East Texas Crisis Center, and Chapel Hill ISD.

“Therapet is seeking to expand their services but must have more volunteers in place to do so,” Veatch said. “So, we are on high alert for recruitment.”

Therapet is also looking for corporate sponsors to donate a facility with land to expand its services to offer more training classes and educational training.

“If your pet loves people and has the basic obedience commands down, we can help you go through the training process and we encourage you to get started in the training process,” Veatch said.

If you would like to support Therapet or find more information, visit therapet.org.

TRACY IRWIN, left, and executive director Elysia Reineck help Linus, a trained labradoodle, to demonstrate his bedside manner.

LILY PADS and cypress trees in the Mill Pond at Caddo Lake State Park.

LITTLE OASIS

Canoeing puts you right in the middle of history at Caddo Lake State Park

STORY BY NICHOLAS OSBORN PHOTOGRAPHY BY LES HASSELL SPECIAL TO ETX VIEW

When Caddo Lake State Park first opened on Independence Day in 1934, the bayous and swamps of Caddo Lake had already been inhabited for thousands of years by Native Americans – including the Caddoan people – both Spanish and French explorers, and early Texas settlers. Its history stretches back in time through the thick bald cypress trees covered in Spanish moss. Today, a canoeing trip around, and even through the 26,810 acre lake, can put you right in the middle of all the history.

“One of the things I love about this park is it’s just magical,” said Caddo Lake State Park Superintendent Brenda Cooper. “A scout leader once told me when we were out on Saw Mill Pond with the kids that they felt like they were at a Disney theme park paddling through the cypress trees. I think a lot about how neat it is that people get to experience that and have that feeling when they’re out in nature here at Caddo Lake State Park.”

Whether you choose to rent a canoe from the Caddo Lake State Park office or bring your own, exploring Saw Mill Pond, the greater Big Cypress Bayou and Caddo Lake is a family-friendly adventure everyone is sure to remember.

“It’s just another world out here,” said Interpreter for Caddo Lake State Park Lane Neeley. “If you take the paddling trails, you can get really deep in there. You feel like you are just somewhere else.”

Neeley’s role as interpreter at Caddo Lake State Park puts him on the forefront of outreach for the area to bring more awareness to the park, as well as creating new programs for people to connect with everything Caddo Lake State Park has to offer.

“It’s not interpretation as in I am speaking another language, but it almost is, it’s about the natural and

cultural resources of the park. I’m bringing that into other people’s lives to explain why it’s important, what their role is in it and how they play a part in the history that’s going on right now.”

The early days of the park can be traced back to Ladybird Johnson’s father, T.J. Taylor, who was among several wealthy donors who gave private land for the establishment of Caddo Lake State Park, with the family donating around 385 acres to the state. Following the creation of the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the organization began creating the first structures, trails and firebreaks in the newly created park up until 1937, including each of the permanent structures available today. The Caddo Lake State Park consists of around 484 acres on the southern shore of the Big Cypress Bayou that leads into Caddo Lake.

With about 10 official paddling trails in the region, the greater Caddo area has over 50 miles of canoe and kayak trails ranging from novice to expert difficulties available to the public. From paddle trails in the Big Cypress Bayou like Haggerty Creek to the memorable view of Caddo Lake in places like the Cathedral Paddling trail and even Hell’s Half Acre, paddling through the Caddo Lake State Park offers an experience that can’t be found anywhere else.

Featuring over 70 species of fish – including one of the last remaining Paddlefish populations, a fish with fossils that can be traced back before dinosaurs over 300 million years ago – as well as picturesque views of American Lotus water lilies, and even the fall migration path of Prothonotary Warblers in the area, there is always something new to see while canoeing through Caddo Lake State Park.

“You can sit still on the water and have the best experience ever,” said Neeley.

For those who are new to the outdoor experience of canoeing, getting started is as simple as talking to one of the Caddo Lake State Park rangers at the business office when entering the park. They will help

MILL POND WILDLIFE at Caddo Lake State Park.

to provide all the essential skills training and necessary equipment needed to begin paddling.

“You’ll stop at headquarters and talk to one of our friendly rangers there. Just let them know that you’d like to rent a canoe,” explained Neeley. “They’ll give you two keys, one for the canoe and another for the boat house that gets you into the life jackets and paddling supplies. So, all you have to do is get set up, unlock it, push your way into the Saw Mill Pond.”

For those looking for more than a day’s adventure, Caddo Lake State Park offers opportunities to fish with both a pier and boat ramp, over two miles of hiking trails, birdwatching programs, and even camping in one of 46 different campsites or a chance to stay at one of the historic cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The park features ranger programs for those who want to stay active and even offers kids the opportunity to become Junior Ranger with an activity journal to

complete in order to earn a badge.

For those looking to take their adventure to the next level, the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department offers an annual Texas State Parks Pass for unlimited free entry, discounts and other special offers, and there are even volunteer opportunities for individuals who want to give back to the park.

The Caddo Lake State Park business office at the entrance is open daily from 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., and the park is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. for guests. Entrance for adults is $4, and children 12 years and under are able to enter for free. Canoe rental is available from 8:15 to 3 p.m. and all day-use canoes must be returned by 4:30 p.m., which can be rented for several periods of time, starting at $10 for one hour. Each canoe can hold a maximum of three people, and rentals include life jackets and paddles, all on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Caddo Lake State Park can provide many outdoors

| CONT. FROM PG. 44

LILY PADS and cypress trees in the Mill Pond at Caddo Lake State Park.

LILY PADS in the Mill Pond at Caddo Lake State Park.

VISITORS paddle kayaks around the Mill Pond at Caddo Lake State Park.

CHILDREN PLAY along the water's edge in the Mill Pond at Caddo Lake State Park.

RANGER DANIEL RIOS and journalist Nicholas Osborn paddle a canoe around the Mill Pond at Caddo Lake State Park.

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FROM

experiences to those who are looking to enjoy their activities, yet canoeing through the scenic area can also provide a few unexpected benefits for those willing to push off into the Saw Mill Pond for themselves.

“Peace is the first thing that comes to me. It’s just dead quiet. You can actually hear the birds flapping, it’s so quiet. That is one of the main reasons I go paddling, it’s great therapy,” said Neeley. “There is a sense of wonder.”

“It’s a great place to come and refresh your soul, especially for people that want to get out and be one with nature,” said Cooper. “It’s like this little oasis.”

ALL ABOARD

Bus ministry provides transportation for children eager to learn about Jesus

STORY BY KATECEY HARRELL PHOTOGRAPHY BY LES HASSELL

An East Texas family is making it possible for children to attend church and experience the love of Christ through a bus ministry.

Tyler residents Savanna and Jordan Loy use a yellow school bus to transport children from their neighborhoods – first to breakfast then to church and Sunday school, every single weekend with their parents' permission. The Loys also arrange giveaways, programs and activities for families.

"We feel like church is important. Kids and adults alike, getting to learn about the Lord is important," Loy said. "We just show the kids some love and attention and try to give them an alternative option for what's out in the world."

Loy grew up in a poor household that moved around often and never attended church. Before she found Christ, she was a lost 23-year-old who had tried everything else to discover peace in her life. Travel, yoga, exercise and meditation – all to no avail.

Despite a seemingly successful life and career, Loy was hopelessly going through the motions until she realized what was missing –hope.

"For me, I was at rock bottom," Loy said. "I don't love man-made religion. I love the Bible and Jesus, so I tried church."

It was life-changing.

"My life didn't [become] perfect. Don't get me wrong, I still struggle with things –things still happen, because it's life – but I have a peace to get through them," Loy said. "I don't feel alone like I did. I don't feel like I can't accomplish things. I don't feel like things are bleak and dismal."

Loy has been part of Woodland Hills Baptist Church in Tyler for 14 years. Now she helps lead the bus ministry.

The Loy family is deeply committed to the bus ministry, which has been running for several decades. The family's six children are all involved in the ministry, each with a specific role. The Loy family believes no one, not even themselves, is defined by their past trauma, tragedies or circumstances. In addition to one biological child, the Loys adopted five children from unstable situations after fostering them.

"I got hope and comfort from becoming a Christian, and I feel like that's what I want to show kids," Loy said. "I'm also a public speaker and an author, and my topic is showing people that broken can be beautiful."

The bus route isn't just for children in

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

CHILDREN RACE toward one of the Woodland Hills Baptist Church Bus Ministry's buses

WOODLAND HILLS BAPTIST CHURCH BUS MINISTRY

uncertain situations; anyone, including parents, can ride along and share community and fellowship, Loy said.

Not only do the Loys take children to church, but they're invested in them and their families. The Loys are as involved as a family permits, with weekly visits, check-ins, playdates, and direct assistance when applicable. Parents are invited to ride the bus, and the Loys encourage them to be as involved as they want to be. They also hope to encourage them to attend church, even if they don’t end up riding the bus.

"Not all of our parents come to church. A lot of them don't come … we encourage them to come with their kids, see what they're learning, see the environment," Loy said. "We're trying to get families in church at the end of the day."

Another point of focus for the Loys is encouraging the next generation's involvement with the bus ministry. One child who rode the bus for her last three years of high school decided to attend Bible College. Now, she has taught herself sign language and is an interpreter at her university in Kentucky. Two brothers who rode the bus their whole life graduated from Bible College, and one went on to become a youth pastor and drive for a bus ministry in Arkansas. Stories like this show the bus ministry "works," Loy said.

"We adore our bus ministry," Loy said. "We love our bus kids, and we just want them to know how much we appreciate them riding our bus faithfully and how much our church and people love them."

Through this ministry, Loy has learned just how strong her family unit is.

| CONT. FROM PG. 52

members Nathan Ogdie, right, Detlef Loy, Zola Loy, Savanna Loy, Katlyn Ogdie, Cooper Loy, Emmabeth Loy, Silas Loy, Taylor Ogdie, Parker Reynolds and Logan Loy

COOPER LOY, right, lets Kingston Lawson try on his glasses that help correct his color blindness.

WOODLAND HILLS BAPTIST CHURCH BUS MINISTRY member Savanna Loy and her children visit an apartment complex where they pick up children for church on Sundays in Tyler.

"I don't think that we could have gotten through anything that we went through if the Lord wasn't in the center of it," Loy said. "And something I already knew, but it reaffirmed for me, is that blood is thicker than water, but I don't think blood constitutes what family is."

Anyone can love unconditionally, even if they’re not blood-related. Family is what people make it, not what they're born into, Loy said.

There are several ways to support the bus ministry and help volunteers continue to provide children and families with a safe and loving environment to learn about Christ. Supporters can donate funds, volunteer time, or even just spread the word about the ministry. The church will also hold a dessert auction at 5 p.m. March 2. Funds raised during the auction will go toward the ministry’s goal of a new bus and fuel costs. For more information, contact Loy through email at whbcspartans@yahoo.com.

MEMBERS of the Woodland Hills Baptist Church Bus Ministry meet.

| CONT. FROM PG. 54

Woodland Hills Baptist Church Bus Ministry members Emmabeth Loy, left, Silas Loy, Detlef Loy, Savanna Loy, Zola Loy, Cooper Loy and Logan Loy with one of the ministry's buses.

Calling All Shoppers!

Longview thrift shop eager for patrons to help support essential nonprofit

STORY BY SANTANA GALLACHER PHOTOGRAPHY BY LES HASSELL

Off McCann Road in Longview sits a cute little shop, eager for new shoppers.

Patrons are necessary for any business to operate, but this shop in particular is in dire need of community support. It’s called Twice Loved Marketplace, owned and operated by a team of volunteers at One Love Longview, the nonprofit located next door.

Twice Loved was created as a way to support One Love, which provides a variety of services to assist with mental health and recovery from addiction, including counseling and medical services.

Amanda Veasy, One Love Longview’s volunteer executive director, said the store came to fruition after the nonprofit realized it needed something to help produce income for One Love.

“There are so many nonprofits who have been successful with thrift stores, and we were having to turn

away donations at One Love because we didn’t have a need for certain things. So we decided to take a leap of faith,” Veasy said.

‘CUTEST DISPLAYS IN TOWN’

The 5,400-square-foot store, located at 1017 McCann Road, accepts donations of new and gently used items and is stocked with everything from clothing for men, women and children, to shoes, toys, home decor and household items. Furniture donations must be pre-approved.

“The store is full of the absolute cutest displays in town,” Veasy said. “It has got such a unique vibe, like a little marketplace. It is broken down into these really great little sections that make it so fun to shop. We have some of the greatest donors ever who have the best taste; so when they bring us things, we have all these name-brand items and purses and clothing –

| CONT. FROM PG. 58

plus some of the cutest home decor you've ever seen –and we work really hard to stage it to give people ideas on how to make their homes and wardrobe beautiful.”

Affordable designer handbags, trendy graphic T-shirts, fashionable accessories, such as scarves, hats and jewelry, gently used shoes to pair with any outfit, and clothing galore – there is something for everyone at Twice Loved. There are countless home decor items such as picture frames, candles, clocks, vases, lamps and much more – plus gift ideas like coffee mugs and books.

Twice Loved is unlike any other thrift store in East Texas, Veasy said. The vibe is more of a department store than a thrift store. So whether you’re a seasoned thrifter or just a casual shopper, you will have no trouble filling your shopping bag. And your heart will be full too, as you can be rest assured your purchase made a difference in the Longview community. All proceeds from Twice Loved benefit One Love, and you

can also choose to round up your purchase to the next dollar amount or add a donation to your purchase to benefit One Love Longview.

“Every time you shop at Twice Loved Marketplace, you're not just buying an item; you're contributing to a bigger picture of community support and environmental stewardship,” Veasy said. “Every item you pick up carries a story of hope and makes a significant difference.”

FUNDING THE MISSION

The thrift store is volunteer-run, and one of the great parts of welcoming new shoppers is many of them aren’t familiar with One Love.

“We educate the volunteers (who work in the store) on our services and encourage them to make conversation with each new patron so they learn about our mission,” Veasy said.

Patronage is critical, as the amount of funds needed to operate One Love continues to grow.

“It is crucial,” Veasy said. “One Love does not

ONE LOVE LONGVIEW Executive Director Amanda Veasy speaks about the organizations new resale shop Twice Loved Marketplace

receive any state or government grants. We are 100% community funded. All of our donations and services come from right here within this community from people who care and want to see our clients taken care of and care about what we’re doing and have buy-in to our mission.”

It’s important for the community to understand and have an accurate picture of what it costs to operate the nonprofit, Veasy said.

“Our costs continue to grow every month because the need continues to grow,” Veasy explained. “We’re up $30,000 a month on what it takes just to keep the doors open – at minimum – and we’ll be operating at a deficit. If the thrift store does not produce funds, then we stand at risk of One Love not being in this community. So we desperately need shoppers and donors – people donating items to One Love and Twice Loved as well as monetary donations and financial support. Outside of those things, one of the greatest ways that you can support is shop.”

ESSENTIAL SERVICES

“We need support,” Veasy said. “I hope that our community as a whole can recognize the value and think about what this community might look like now without One Love.”

Shopping at Twice Loved Longview means its parent nonprofit, One Love, will be able to continue its vital work in the community. Some of One Love’s services include free mental health care, support for those experiencing homelessness, and inclusive care for the LGBTQ+ community in Longview.

Services range from mental health, addiction, medical, LGBTQ+ support, food and clothing, help escaping violence/trafficking, shelter, veteran support, rent and utilities, and more.

One Love Longview has its own counseling center that provides free, non faith-based counseling services to people from all walks of life. It also helps people battling alcohol or substance abuse, or those who have loved ones battling addiction. Counselors can also

TWICE LOVED MARKETPLACE has a variety of homegoods and decor, plus clothing and accessories for the family..

help support those who are sober or anyone who may feel tempted to go down a bad path.

One Love also has a medical clinic, which provides healthcare to “all people, especially the most vulnerable and underserved in our community,” including those experiencing homelessness.

BREAKING THE STIGMA

One of Twice Loved Marketplace’s biggest challenges in drawing in new shoppers is the stigma attached to mental health and the clients served by One Love.

The thrift store’s location next to One Love on McCann Road was necessary, as the nonprofit outgrew its previous home on Fairmont Street. However, Veasy said the location is also strategic.

“We opened up the thrift store right next to One Love because first, there’s not enough of us to go around and oversee both at once; it’s easy for our volunteers to have them both right there together. Also, we’ve tried really really hard to educate the community and break that stigma surrounding mental health and homelessness… We want people to come to Twice Loved to get the community accustomed to being comfortable with our clients being right there.”

The store is close to Marshall Avenue, which is known as an area that attracts a large transient and homeless population.

“It’s a real challenge because there is a large part of the community who really fears the population that we serve at One Love,” Veasy said.

Day by day, Veasy and her team of volunteers are working to change the community’s perspective. They do this through conversations, social media posts and other messaging that lets the community know One Love’s clients “are people, too,” Veasy said. “They have stories too, and every day we share those stories.”

They’re people like Robert, a longtime client of One Love. The organization recently helped move Robert into his very first apartment on his own. The community’s

| CONT. FROM PG. 62

perspective of Robert, who has mental health issues, has drastically changed since the days where he slept on One Love’s doorstep for 11 months. He’s grown to be one of the many faces that has been humanized thanks to work by One Love.

“He is one of our biggest customers at the thrift store. One day he came in while I was working and volunteering in the store and he found some binoculars that he really wanted, so he and I negotiated back and forth and landed on a price of 11 cents,” Veasy said with a laugh.

People have learned Robert’s story and now feel connected to him.

“People come in and want to see him or buy items for him – like DVDs or a clock,” Veasy said. “He’s become a person to them, and that’s what we want for all of our clients. One story at a time, we’re hoping to continue changing that perspective. Part of what really really shatters that stigma surrounding homelessness

and mental health and substance use is individualizing people.”

BIG GOALS

Veasy and her team hope to continue their good work because the need is greater than ever.

“I’ve been doing this work for eight years now, and since the first time I stepped foot in a homeless camp, I thought that it was unfair and that all humans deserve to be housed. My goal is the same now that it was eight years ago,” she said.

Other cities, such as Houston, have nonprofits and governments working together to alleviate homelessness, creating a system that helps people instead of hindering them, Veasy said.

“I hope to be able to continue to move in that direction in this community. I hope that we can create something like that here – a system that creates housing solutions, that will move us a step closer to eradicating homelessness.”

Twice Loved Marketplae plays into that because creating that sort of solution takes money – “a lot of money,” Veasy said. “Every day we are doing everything we can to just manage the crisis, and ultimately we are just bandaging oozing wounds that are a result of a much deeper rooted issue. To go a step further, we need housing, and that is going to take more buy-in from the community.”

HOW TO SUPPORT

One Love is thankful for the community support its received since its inception, and grateful to its devoted followers who have helped spread the word about Twice Loved. Recently, money was donated to help purchase official signage for Twice Loved Marketplace. “We are really excited to see what’s going to happen once that goes up,” Veasy said. “It’s a work in progress, but we hope it helps grow our customer base.”

There are so many ways to support One Love Longview and Twice Loved Marketplace. The easiest

way is to shop. People can also donate items to the nonprofit or the store. Supporters can donate their time by volunteering, as they are always looking for different types of people with various talents to help the organization thrive.

“We need volunteers across the board – people from all over the scope of things and all different career paths and skill sets. There’s a place for everyone at One Love, and we keep growing because we have so many people who are so brilliant that keep showing up and sharing their ideas to help us help others.”

The organization also needs volunteers to help run the store. To volunteer, email volunteer@ onelovelongview.com or call (903) 932-3451.

To shop, stop by during store hours which are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

For more information or to donate, visit onelovelongview.com. You can also follow One Love Longview and Twice Loved Marketplace on Facebook.

Heart on Fire for Serving Others

Jim Bartlett’s generosity evident through his philanthropic efforts

STORY BY SANTANA GALLACHER PHOTOGRAPHY BY JIM BARTLETT FINE JEWELRY

In the Fashion section of each issue of ETX View, we are fortunate to have a group of community partners who help us make the section a success. Our biggest supporters are the wonderful people at Jim Bartlett Fine Jewelry in Longview. Not only does their team support our magazine through advertising, but they also help us by providing jewelry for our models to wear every single issue. A member of their team – many times Jim Bartlett himself – shows up to the photo shoot with a box of their finest jewels and helps us place it on our lovely models. Many times the jewelry is from their “Hearts On Fire” line, and in this particular story, we want to shine a light on Jim’s heart and how it’s on fire itself – with a spirit for giving back and serving others.

We have been working with Jim and his team for many years now, and we know how wonderful they are, but for this particular issue, we wanted to highlight just how wonderful. With the March/April 2024 issue being our Nonprofit, Faith & Philanthropy edition, we thought it would be a perfect opportunity to share all the good things Jim does in our community. He has a servant’s heart and is committed to making the Longview and East Texas community better.

BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING

With the means to make a positive impact, Jim continues to contribute to various charitable causes, ranging from local schools and nonprofits to community development projects that reach worldwide. His philanthropic endeavors extend beyond mere financial contributions; Jim actively engages with the community, volunteering his time and expertise to uplift those in need.

KINDNESS MATTERS

Jim's commitment to giving back has created a ripple effect of kindness. His understanding of the blessings he has received fuels his dedication to blessing others, creating a harmonious cycle of generosity that leaves a lasting mark on the community we all hold near and dear to our heart. Organizations Jim has served include:

Asbury House

Chick n’ Chaps

East Texas Angel network

Finn’s Friends

First Methodist School for Little Children

Gregg County Historical Museum

Habitat for Humanity

Hallsville ISD

Heartlight Ministries

Hiway 80 Rescue Mission

House of Hope Longview

Kauai Food Bank

Longview Child Development Center

Longview Community Ministries

Longview Food Bank

Longview ISD

Longview PRCA Rodeo

Longview Symphony Orchestra

Longview World of Wonders

Martin House

Mercy Manor

Presbyterians Children Center

Refuge International

Republican Women of Gregg County

Rotary Foundation

St Jude’s Children's Hospital

Trinity School of Texas

JIM BARTLETT of Jim Bartlett Fine Jewelry.

Here’s to the little one who made me a MOM! Mother’s Day is right around the corner… so this year, get Mom something that will light up her face as she unwraps a gift from Barron’s!

GIVE HER A GIFT CARD

Barron’s gift cards never expire & are valid in both our shop + café!

Little Words Project offer a sweet sentiment

For the mama with a heart of gold (or silver)!

The Littlest Barron

Sweet Shop USA is handmade in Mt Pleasant, TX

Create your own assortment in store!

Lymphaticmassage, agentle and targeted technique, stimulates the lymphatic system,integralfor immune function. Thisspecializedmassage promotes lymphatic fluid circulation, expelling toxins and reducing inflammation. Trained LymphaticSpecialists can focus on specific tissue groups, alleviating swelling and addressing conditions like lymphedema.

Adding lymphatic massagetoyourself-careroutine yieldsnumerous health benefits, enhancing overall wellbeing. It supports immune function, improves circulation, and aidsineliminatingimpurities. Particularly valuable for those managing inflammationorlymph-related issues,this non-invasive technique contributes to ahealthier,morebalanced body If you areinterested in improving your overallhealthand well-being, consider addinglymphaticmassage to yourself-careroutine. Talk to aqualified health professional to learn moreabout the benefits of this techniqueand how it can help you achieveyour goals

Introducing ETX View Elite, sponsored content within ETX View Magazine that highlights the best local businesses in our community. Discover the extraordinary entrepreneurs and unique offerings that make our region special. From cozy boutiques to innovative startups to established local favorites, ETX View Elite is your guide to supporting and exploring the local economy. Join us in celebrating the businesses that make our community thrive with exclusive offers and insider tips. Connect with ETX View Elite for a delightful exploration of our remarkable local businesses and services. If you are interested in being part of ETX View Elite, contact Sales Manager Tracy Stopani at 903-237-7726.

THE TUXEDO CO\THE DRESS CO

Tracy Hays, Owner

PRock Our Sharp Tuxedos and Head-Turning Dresses for an Unforgettable Night!

rom season is here and it’s time to make a statement! At The Dress and Tuxedo Co.’s, we have the hottest and most show-stopping ensembles to ensure you stand out from the crowd. Get ready to turn heads and leave lasting impressions with our statement-making prom dresses and tuxedos. For the ladies, our collection of prom dresses is designed to make you feel like a true fashion icon. From bold prints to intricate embellishments, our dresses are all about making a statement. Whether you want to rock a dramatic mermaid silhouette or a glamorous ball gown, we have the perfect dress to match your personality and style. Be the talk of the night as you make your entrance in a dress that exudes confidence and sophistication. Gentlemen, it’s your time to shine too! Our tuxedos are not your average

formalwear. We offer a range of bold colors, unique patterns, and trendy cuts that will set you apart from the crowd. Whether you want to rock a sleek black tuxedo with a twist or a vibrant, eye-catching suit, we have the perfect ensemble to help you make a statement and show off your We believe that prom is an opportunity to express yourself and showcase your unique personality. That’s why we offer a wide range of sizes, styles, and price points to ensure that everyone can find their perfect statementmaking ensemble. So, don’t settle for ordinary when you can make a statement. Visit The Dress and Tuxedo Co.’s today and let us help you find the perfect prom dress or tuxedo that will make you the talk of the town. Get ready to make a lasting impression and create unforgettable memories with our statement-making ensembles.

Inthe latest chapter of Johnny’sCarpet One Home &Floor, the legacy thrives with the arrival of Genevieve Maryn Land, daughterof proud father Ethan. Johnny,radiating joy, imparts his cherished mantra, “Start them young. Be agood example. andthey willexcel!” Guided by Johnny’sleadership, the Land family is committed to passing down not just the businessbut also atradition of excellence.AsGenevieve joins the storied lineage, Johnny’s Carpet One continues to offer top-notch flooringsolutions, showcasing exclusive productswith robust warranties. With afocus on qualityand service, theircommitment remains unwavering through generations.

VJohnnyscarpetone.com

World of Wonders inspires asense of wonder by giving children the experience to become lifelong learners. Scan the Qr codebelow to learn more!

CASA FLORA

CASA FLORA: Your Destination for Spring Blooms and Beautiful Gifts!

As the vibrant colors of spring start to blossom, there’s no better place to celebrate the season than Casa Flora, your local flower and gift shop. Nestled in the heart of Longview, Casa Flora is a treasure trove of stunning blooms and unique gifts that will add a touch of elegance and joy to any occasion.

Spring is a time of renewal and new beginnings, and at Casa Flora, we embrace this spirit wholeheartedly. Our talented team of floral designers carefully curates an exquisite collection of seasonal flowers, handpicking each stem to ensure freshness and beauty. Whether you’re looking for a bouquet to brighten up your home or a special gift for a loved one, our wide selection of spring blooms will leave you spoilt for choice.

At Casa Flora, we believe that every gift should be as unique as the person receiving it. That’s why we offer a thoughtfully curated range of gifts that go beyond the ordinary. From charming home decor pieces to edible arrangements, our selection is carefully chosen to bring joy and delight to your loved ones. Our friendly staff is always ready to assist you in finding the perfect gift that captures the essence of the season and the personality of the recipient.

But Casa Flora isn’t just a flower and gift shop; it’s a place where memories are made. We understand the importance of celebrating life’s special moments, and our team is dedicated to creating unforgettable experiences for our customers. Whether you’re planning a wedding, a birthday party, or a corporate event, our event specialists will work closely with you to bring your vision to life, adding a touch of floral magic to every detail.

As spring breathes new life into the world, let Casa Flora be your guide to embracing the beauty and joy of the season. Visit us today and immerse yourself in a world of enchanting blooms and delightful treasures. Experience the Casa Flora difference and discover why we are the go-to destination for all your floral and gifting needs.

Casa Flora: Where Spring Blooms and Beautiful Gifts Flourish!

MARCH/APRIL CALENDAR events

ARP

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

APRIL 27 AND APRIL 28

Downtown Arp

116 S. Main St.

https://www.arpcommunityevents. org/

AVINGER

WILDFLOWERS & WINE

10 A.M.-6 P.M. APRIL 27

Downtown Avinger #7 North Main St. avingertxchamber.org

BULLARD

GYPSUM AND THE TRAVELERS

6 P.M. MARCH 2

Moody Family Wines

201 W Main

https://fb.me/e/2Pmv8hKK9

ELEVATE SMALL BUSINESS SUMMIT

12 P.M. MARCH 30

The Place on Main 525 E Main St

https://fb.me/e/1MPSn277S

CANTON

FIRST MONDAY TRADE DAYS

MARCH 1-3, 28-31

800 First Monday Lane

https://www.firstmondaycanton. com/

VAN ZANDT COUNTY FAIR MARCH 25-30

Van Zandt County Fair 24742 State Highway 64

https://www.vzfair.org/

Gladewater Gusher Days

CARTHAGE

SHOP SMALL SPRING MARKET

12 P.M. - 6 P.M. MARCH 15

RPA Dance Company 127 W Sabine St

https://fb.me/e/1AGLYzV1M

PANOLA ARCHERY CLUB

ANNUAL HUNTER’S BANQUET

4 P.M. - 10 P.M. MARCH 16

Carthage Civic Center 1702 S Adams St

https://panolacountytexas.com/

SPRING 2024 COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE

8 A.M. - 3 P.M. MARCH 23

Panola County Chamber of Commerce

300 W Panola St

https://panolacountytexas.com/

CHANDLER

THE ERWIN FAMILY

11 A.M. APRIL 14

First Assembly of God Church 840 Broad St

https://www.erwinministries.com/ tour

DAINGERFIELD

DUTCH OVEN COOKING

9 A.M. MARCH 2 AND 9 A.M. APRIL 6

Daingerfield State Park 455 Park Rd 17

https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/ daingerfield/

DIANA

MARCH MADNESS MUD RUN MARCH 30

Thomas Falls

5543 US Highway 259 N Marchmadnessmudrun.com

FLINT

WE ARE MESSENGERS

7 P.M. MARCH 22

Flint Baptist Church 11131 FM 2868

https://fb.me/e/4bgAVHFZ1

FRANKSTON

TEXAS INDEPENDENCE DAY FIREWORKS SHOW & LIVE MUSIC

5-10 P.M. MARCH 2

Lake Palestine Resort 8900 Ruby Lane

www.facebook.com/ lakepalestineresort

GILMER

GILMONT MEN’S RETREAT MARCH 1-3

Gilmont Camp & Conference Center

6075 State Highway 155 N www.gilmont.org/mens-retreat.html

EASTER EGG HUNT

9 A.M. - 12 P.M. MARCH 30

Downtown Gilmer Square

https://www.gilmerareachamber. com/

PRAIRIE CREEK’S TOTAL ECLIPSE ON THE FARM

APRIL 5-9

Prairie Creek 7545 Newt Rd

https://shorturl.at/giBI4

RISK IT FOR THE BRISKET

4 P.M. APRIL 6- 11 P.M. APRIL 7

Downtown Gilmer

https://www.gilmerareachamber. com/

TOTAL ECLIPSE

11 A.M. - 4 P.M. APRIL 8

Downtown Gilmer

https://www.gilmerareachamber. com/

GLADEWATER

2024 TEXAS WARRIORS CELEBRITY OPEN GOLF TOURNAMENT

7 A.M. MARCH 19

Tempest Golf Club 568 E Wilkins Rd

https://etxcelebrityopen.com/

39TH ANNUAL EAST TEXAS GUSHER DAYS

APRIL 19-20

Gladewater www.gusher-days.com

GUSHER DAYS BASS TOURNAMENT

APRIL 27

Lake Gladewater

W Lake Dr.

www.gusher-days.com

HALLSVILLE

EASTER

10 A.M. - 4 P.M. MARCH 16

Hallsville Marketplace Boutique 102 E Main St

https://fb.me/e/80fa9TqMe

HAWKINS

WOMEN’S RETREAT 2024

6 P.M. APRIL 19 - 11 A.M.

APRIL 21

Allaso Ranch Camp and Retreat Center

2302 Private Road #7850

https://121cc.com/

HENDERSON

RADIUM GIRLS

MARCH 1-3

Henderson Civic Theatre

122 E Main

https://hendersoncivictheatre.org/

MONSTER TRUCK WARS

1 P.M. AND 6 P.M. MARCH 9

Rusk County Expo Center

3303 FM 13

https://www.monstertrucks.fun/ THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG

APRIL 26-28

Henderson Civic Theatre

122 E Main

https://hendersoncivictheatre.org/

JEFFERSON

OUTLAWS NATIONALS CAR SHOW

3 P.M. APRIL 12 AND 8 A.M.

APRIL 13

Downtown Jefferson

https://www.outlawnationals.com/

JACKSONVILLE

GYPSUM AND THE TRAVELERS

6 P.M. MARCH 1

Commerce Street Drafthouse

401 E Commerce St

https://fb.me/e/3m3dGcFDR

2024 COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS BANQUET

6 P.M.- 10 P.M. MARCH 9

The Legacy Entertainment Venue 782 County Road 1511

https://www.jacksonvilletexas.com/

Monster Truck Wars

| CONT. FROM PG. 77

FLAMIN J BBQ FEST

4 P.M. APRIL 6

Commerce Street Drafthouse 401 E Commerce St

https://fb.me/e/3kFiGpTSt

KILGORE

KILGORE ARTWALK

3 P.M.-7 P.M. MARCH 2

Downtown Kilgore 1100 N Kilgore St.

https://fb.me/e/3hwKVsGqo

SECOND SATURDAY

BLUEGRASS/COUNTRY/ GOSPEL JAM

4 P.M.-8:30 P.M. MARCH 9

Kilgore Mercantile & Music 105 N Kilgore St

https://kilgoremercantile.com/

HEARTS ANONYMOUS- DINNER & BINGO

6 P.M. - 8 P.M. MARCH 21 AND APRIL 18

St. Paul's Episcopal Church 314 N Henderson Blvd

https://kilgoremercantile.com/

CREATIVE WOMEN’S SHOWCASE MALL

8 A.M.- 5 P.M. MARCH 30 AND APRIL 27

Pollard & Payne Event Venue 209 E Main St

https://kilgoremercantile.com/

KILGORE CRUISE NIGHTSUMMER HOURS

5 P.M. - 8 P.M. MARCH 30 AND APRIL 27

Downtown Kilgore 815 N Kilgore St

https://kilgoremercantile.com/

RANGERETTE REVELS

7:30 APRIL 6 AND 1 P.M. APRIL 7 AND 7:30 P.M. APRIL

11-13

Dodson Auditorium 817 Nolen St

https://www.rangerette.com/

FUELING FITNESS 5K & FUN RUN

8:30 A.M. APRIL 27

East Texas Oil Museum 1301 S. Henderson Blvd. easttexasoilmuseum.kilgore.edu/ events

LINDALE

TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE PARK APRIL 6-8

Darden Harvest Park 202 Cannery Row

https://www.visitlindale.com/

TOTAL ECLIPSE AT THE SUNDOWN

10 A.M. - 6 P.M. APRIL 8

The Sundown Venue 8159 COUNTY ROAD 313 LINDALE

https://bit.ly/thesundownvenue

2024 LINDALE CHAMBER BANQUET & AUCTION

5-8 P.M. APRIL 8

Texas Rose Horse Park 14027 TX-110

lindalechamber.org/banquet

RIVER JAM MUSIC FESTIVAL

11 A.M.- 10:55 P.M. APRIL 27

The Cannery Lindale

75 Miranda Lambert Way

https://fb.me/e/5St43FOto

LONGVIEW

ZONTA ANTIQUE SHOW

10 A.M.-4 P.M. MARCH 1-2, 11

A.M.-5 P.M. MARCH 3

Maude Cobb Convention Center 100 Grand Blvd. zontaantiqueshow.com

JAMMIN’

MARCH 1-2

Longview Museum of Fine Arts 213 N. Fredonia

https://www.lmfa.org/

RAELYNN

7 P.M. MARCH 1

LeTourneau University Belcher Center

2100 S Mobberly Ave

https://www.belchercenter.com/

OLIVER

MARCH 7-10

ArtsView Children’s Theatre 313 W Tyler St

artsviewchildrenstheatre.com/

Downtown Longview Wine Swirl

GRACIOUSLY BROKEN MINISTRIES 8TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION

5:30 P.M. - 8 P.M. MARCH 7

Maude Cobb Convention Center 100 Grand Blvd

https://www.longviewtexas.gov/

LONGVIEW JAYCEES TRADE DAYS

9 A.M. - 4 P.M. MARCH 9 AND 10

Longview Exhibit Center 1123 Jaycee Dr

https://www.longviewtexas.gov/

LONGVIEW PARKS & REC KITE FESTIVAL

NOON-4 P.M. MARCH 13

Lear Soccer Fields

100 H.G. Mosley Parkway LongviewTexas.gov/4198

THE HEART COLLECTORS

6:30 P.M. - 7 P.M. MARCH 15

Longview Museum of Fine Arts 213 N. Fredonia https://www.lmfa.org/

HARVEST FESTIVALCRAWFISH BOIL

3 P.M. - 10 P.M. MARCH 20

Maude Cobb Convention Center 100 Grand Blvd

https://www.longviewtexas.gov/

ZACH WILLIAMS

7 P.M. MARCH 22

LeTourneau University Belcher Center

2100 S Mobberly Ave

https://www.belchercenter.com/

STRUT YOUR MUTT 1-MILE WAG WALK

10 A.M. MARCH 23

Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center 303 H.G. Mosley Parkway www.facebook.com/ LongviewAnimals/events

THE DRUG EMPORIUM VENDOR EVENT

9 A.M. - 4 P.M. MARCH 24

Drug Emporium Vitamins Plus 2321 W Loop 281 https://bit.ly/ drugemporiumlocalvendorevent

ARTWALK

5-8 P.M. APRIL 4

Gregg County Historical Museum 214 N. Fredonia St. http://gregghistorical.org/

EAST TEXAS CASA MARGARITA MADNESS

4-8 P.M. APRIL 6

Longview Arboretum 706 W. Cotton St. easttexascasa.org

EAST TEXAS SYMPHONIC BAND

7:30 P.M. APRIL 15

LeTourneau University Belcher Center

2100 S Mobberly Ave

https://etsymphonicband.org/

HISTORY OF FLIGHT EXHIBIT

APRIL 16-20 AND APRIL 23-27 AND APRIL 30

Gregg County Historical Museum 214 N Fredonia St http://gregghistorical.org/

BAGS, BOOTS AND BINGO

5:30 P.M. - 9:30 P.M. APRIL 16

Maude Cobb Convention Center

100 Grand Blvd

https://www.longviewtexas.gov/

CHRISTIE LEN’EE

6:30 P.M. APRIL 19

Longview Museum of Fine Arts

213 N. Fredonia Street

https://www.lmfa.org/

COLE STEPHENS

7-11 P.M. APRIL 20

Oil Horse Brewing Company

101 W. Tyler St.

www.oilhorsebrewing.com/

DC VS MARVEL

7 P.M. APRIL 24

LeTourneau University Belcher Center

2100 S Mobberly Ave

https://longviewsymphony.org/

NEMO JR.

APRIL 26-28

ArtsView Children’s Theatre

313 W Tyler St

https://artsviewchildrenstheatre. com/

DOWNTOWN LONGVIEW WINE SWIRL

4-8 P.M. APRIL 27

West Tyler Street between Center and Fredonia streets

www.visitlongviewtexas.com

Egg

MARSHALL

PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE

7:30 P.M. MARCH 22

Memorial City Hall Performance Center

110 E Houston St

https://www.memorialcityhall.com/

JANE EYRE

APRIL 18-21

Memorial City Hall 110 E Houston St

https://www.etbu.edu/

MINEOLA

MAGIC CIRCUS

12:30 P.M. - 6 P.M. MARCH 3

Mineola Civic Center 1150 N Newsom St

https:// mineolaciviccenterandrvpark.com/

DUELING PIANOS

5 P.M. - 9:30 P.M. APRIL 13

Mineola Civic Center 1150 N Newsom St

https:// mineolaciviccenterandrvpark.com/

JUNK IN THE TRUNK

9 A.M. - 3 P.M. APRIL 20

Mineola Civic Center 1150 N Newsom St

https:// mineolaciviccenterandrvpark.com/

PITTSBURG

ECLIPSE

12:26 P.M. - 3:05 P.M. APRIL 8

Pittsburg, Texas

https://www.pittsburgtx.gov/

TATUM

6TH ANNUAL HECTOR’S RIDE WITH ANGELS

8 A.M. MARCH 8

Gator Run ATV Park Co Rd 2211

https://fb.me/e/ZG6Lb3xf

TROUP

DREAM BIG WORKSHOP

6:30 P.M. MARCH 11

Shelly Wilson Ministries 105 W Duval

https://shellywilsonministries.org

TYLER

MOBY DICK

7:30 P.M. MARCH 1; 2:30 P.M. AND 7:30 P.M. MARCH 2

Jean Browne Theatre 1301 S Mahon Ave

https://www.tjc.edu/theatre

11TH ANNUAL FRESH 15 RACE

7 A.M. MARCH 2

FRESH by Brookshire’s 6991 Old Jacksonville Hwy. www.fresh15k.com

TERRY BRADSHAW

7:30 P.M. MARCH 5

UT Tyler Cowan Center

3900 University Blvd

https://cowancenter.org/

EAST TEXAS PSYCHIC FAIR

11 A.M. - 6 P.M. MARCH 9

Courtyard by Marriott Tyler 7424 S Broadway Ave

https://fb.me/e/1LPcXimkJ

BLOCK PARTY POPUP

11 A.M. - 4 P.M. MARCH 16

Downtown Tyler

https://fb.me/e/1iFIeF8w1

EAST TEXAS AUTO & CYCLE SHOW

10 A.M.-2 P.M. MARCH 16

Green Acres Baptist Church 1607 Troup Hwy.

www.autoandcycleshow.com

EAST TEXAS EMBROIDERS’ GUILD 24TH BIENNIAL NEEDLEART SHOW

10 A.M. - 5 P.M. MARCH 22, 10 A.M. - 4 P.M. MARCH 23

Tyler Rose Garden Center 420 Rose Park Drive Egausa.org

AZALEA & SPRING FLOWER TRAIL

MARCH 22 - APRIL 8

Azalea District 1510 S College Ave

visittyler.com/azaleatrail

Tyler Run for Autism

41ST ANNUAL TYLER AZALEA RUN

8 A.M. MARCH 23

Bergfeld Park

1510 S College Ave

https://tylerazalearun.com/

GRIDIRON SYMPHONY

7 P.M. MARCH 23

UT Tyler Cowan Center 3900 University Blvd

https://etxsymphony.org/

AZALEA AND SPRING FLOWER TRAIL

MARCH 22 - APRIL 5

Bergfeld Park

1510 S College Ave

https://visittyler.com/azaleatrail/

ILUMINATE

7:30 P.M. APRIL 2

UT Tyler Cowan Center 3900 University Blvd https://cowancenter.org/

SPACE BALLS MOVIE

7 P.M. APRIL 5

Liberty Hall

103 E Erwin St

https://libertytyler.com/

ECLIPSED BY ORCHIDS

9 A.M. - 4 P.M. APRIL 5 AND APRIL 6

First Christian Church 4202 S. Broadway

https://fb.me/e/1xCScvQ8S

13TH ANNUAL TYLER RUN FOR AUTISM

8 A.M. APRIL 6

Pollard UMC

3030 New Copeland Rd https://www.tylerrunforautism.com/

TOTALITY OF THE SUN

4 P.M. AND 7:30 P.M. APRIL 6

Rogers Palmer Performing Arts Center 1303 S Mahon Ave https://etxsymphony.org/

STAR PARTY SATURDAY

8 P.M., 8:30 P.M. AND 9 P.M.

APRIL 6

TJC Earth and Space Science Center 1411 E Lake St

http://sciencecenter.tjc.edu/

903 RAVE SQUAD CONCERTTOTALITY

APRIL 7

Bricks Bar & Grill

418 E Erwin St #7415

https://visittyler.com/solar-eclipse/

DIA

DEL NIÑO

2 P.M. - 7 P.M. APRIL 7

Bergfeld Park

1510 S College Ave

https://fb.me/e/1HoIMVYaU

FULL S.T.E.A.M AHEAD

APRIL 6-8

Discover Science Place

308 N. Broadway Ave

https://www.

discoveryscienceplace.org/

TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE VIEWING

10 A.M.-4 P.M. APRIL 8

Tyler Junior College Center for Earth and Space Science Education 1411 East Lake St. www.tjc.edu/eclipse

TOTALITY TYLER

APRIL 8

Downtown Tyler

https://visittyler.com/solar-eclipse/

LUNAR LUNCH ON THE LAWN

APRIL 8

Goodman Museum

624 N Broadway Ave

https://visittyler.com/solar-eclipse/

TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE BLACKOUT FESTIVAL

10 A.M.- 6 P.M. APRIL 8

Empowerment CDC Complex

309 W Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd https://fb.me/e/1N7gGz8cu

HARVEY

APRIL 5-7 AND APRIL 11-14

Tyler Civic Theatre

400 Rose Park Dr

https://tylercivictheatre.com/

WORLD FAMOUS ELVIS TRIBUTE ARTIST TRAVIS POWELL

5 P.M. APRIL 14

W.T. Brookshire Conference Center 2000 W. Front St. https://bit.ly/elvisintyler

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT BUSINESS HALL OF FAME

6 P.M. APRIL 18

Willow Brook Country Club

3205 W Erwin St. tyler.ja.org

VOCTAVE

7:30 P.M. APRIL 18

UT Tyler Cowan Center 3900 University Blvd

https://cowancenter.org/

THE ADDAMS FAMILY (YOUNG@ PART)

APRIL 19-20

Tyler Civic Theatre

400 Rose Park Dr

https://tylercivictheatre.com/

WOMEN’S HEALTH EXPO

1 P.M. APRIL 20

Hilton Garden Inn 220 E Grande Blvd

https://fb.me/e/46vbaSxTt

TEXAS WINE SERIES HALF MARATHON

APRIL 22

Kiepersol Estates 21508 Merlot Lane

https://bit.ly/texaswineseries

SUMMER AND SMOKE

APRIL 24-27

Jean Browne Theatre 1301 S Mahon Ave

https://www.tjc.edu/theatre

WHITEHOUSE

THE HOLLIS BROTHERS

7 P.M. MARCH 22

Montez Creekside Kitchen 1010 TX-110 N

https://shorturl.at/eiyU7

EVENTS FOR PUBLICATION IN THE MAY/JUNE ISSUE OF ETX VIEW MUST BE SUBMITTED VIA EMAIL TO INFO@ETXVIEW.COM BY MARCH 15

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