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VIEW NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020
COVER STORY Community Healthcore Offers
THE GIFT OF
FREEDOM ALSO INSIDE
design view
A CALCULATED MOVE
FLIP-the-ISSUE
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020
contents RE VIEW
6
TO EAT: Brigitta’s Hungarian Restaurant
NONPROFIT VIEW 7
For the Love of Longview
COVER VIEW 8
The Gift of Freedom: Community Healthcore offers Hope, Support
DESIGN VIEW 14
A Calculated Move
EVENT VIEW 18 20
Magical Santa Land Returns Memorial City Hall Plans Reopening
8
FEATURE VIEW
22
Blood on the Pines
IN EVERY ISSUE 24 25 26
Calendar of Events To Eat, Drink & Do in East Texas Picture This!
14
18 ON THE COVER Imagine a father who keeps his son chained under the house to protect him. “He loved his son greatly,” said Inman White, executive director of Community Healthcore, “but he had nowhere to go (for help).” Families of people with intellectual disabilities had little-to no assistance. They had no independence. That was Longview and East Texas 50 years ago when Sabine Valley MHMR, now Community Healthcore, was created.
4 VIEW | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R
T
ruth: I am closing out the last edition of Charm and View
LET US TAKE THE STRESS OF HOLIDAY DECORATING OFF YOUR PLATE.
magazines for 2020 with a giant sigh of relief. I’ve never been so happy to see a year drawing to a close. (I need all the good
Baptists in the back to give me a loud “Amen.”) Another truth: These editions of the magazines are a great way to end one of the hardest years ever, and I’m not just saying that because I’m in charge of this publication. On the cover of Charm, you’re going to read about an amazing woman, Melida Heien, Main Street coordinator for the city Longview. She’s a tireless advocate for our downtown businesses who’s worked hard to help them through this difficult season. She has lots of other layers, though, with a degree in communications, a master’s degree in public administration and a law degree, a side-gig as a dedicated fitness instructor and another life as a devoted — and hilarious — aunt. As I write this, she still wasn’t certain what our downtown Christmas celebrations might be able to look like this year, but I know she was balancing those decisions with all the right information and motives. In View magazine, you’ll read about Community Healthcore and the people this organization has touched as the local governing authority for mental health, substance use disorders and intellectual and developmental disabilities in Gregg, Harrison, Upshur, Rusk, Panola, Bowie, Red River, Marion and Cass counties. Now celebrating its 50th year, the organization has helped more than 16,000 people. I loved reading about the important work this organization is doing and how it’s helping to change people’s lives. In her regular beauty column, take a “falsies” challenge with columnist Amy McHaney. Read about how the Memorial City Hall in Marshall is moving forward with performances in a post COVID-19 world. Take heart as you read about how Carmela Davis’ Magical Santa Land will provide the perfect socially distanced Christmas magic this year. (Don’t forget to drop in a donation when you drive through her fantastic light show — this is an expensive labor of love for her.) Also, I hope you enjoy the final installment of Kimberly Fish’s alternative take on Longview history, “Blood on the Pines.” Fish is a talented, award-winning local author and we’ve sure enjoyed her visits to our pages this year. And, finally, I loved getting to peek inside the combined accounting firm office and home that Richard and Margaret Wade custom built on Judson Road. Enjoy the tour through the new lifestyle they created for themselves. We started off 2020 with a bang, full of celebrations and high hopes for our city’s sesquicentennial. I hope y’all haven’t lost heart. We’ll get back to the fun, and in the mean time I hope we’re all soaking in the lessons of 2020 — that we need each other in countless ways. I hope to see you in 2021.
SHOPPING FOR A TREE AND DECORATIONS CAN BE EXHAUSTING, ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR. We can come and unpack and install your existing decorations or design and decorate a whole new look for you! We can design a “showstopping” tree so packed you will wonder if there is a tree beneath! The best part? We will come back after the holiday and take it all down and pack it away. We offer “no-contact” service, meaning we will come work while you are out so that you come home and, BOOM! Walk into Holiday Bliss.
This is also an excellent gift to give!
Hillary Davidson, owner
CALL TODAY FOR A CONSULTATION
903-978-0460 | bougieonbudget.com jferguson@news-journal.com
news-journal.com 5
REVIEW
to
eat Brigitta’s Hungarian Restaurant Words by AMY BROCATO PEARSON | Photos by LES HASSELL
T
alking with Mike Csabai (more on that surname momentarily)
pronounced Chob-aye-ee. The name was passed down directly from
is a little like attending a history seminar, one where the
Attila the Hun, whose youngest son, Prince Csabai, didn’t die on the
professor becomes so animated and passionate that you forget
battlefields of what we know as the Transylvania area of the region like
you’re hearing about events of almost 1,700 years ago. You also almost forget you’re talking about a restaurant. But for Mike, food and forefathers are as intrinsically linked as if they are one; and for him, they are.
his older brothers did. “I’m really not sure if the story is a myth or the truth,” Mike laughed, “But my correspondence with a Hungarian professor of history and my own research shows it to be the truth.”
Mike and his wife, Brigitta Gyfori, have owned and operated
Truth or not, at the end of the day, the reason the restaurant is beloved
Brigitta’s Hungarian Restaurant on Texas 31 in Kilgore since 2017,
by locals and Hungarian ex-pats alike, is the focus on food and family.
after relocating to the Kilgore area from Colorado when the market
The couples’ twin 14-year-olds are often found helping their parents in
for the high-end foreign furniture and antiquities Mike dealt in tanked.
the restaurant as well.
Brigitta is native Hungarian, hailing from the town of Godollo, just
“Family, pure, plain and simple, is the reason we are here,” Mike said.
outside of Budapest. Mike spent time in Hungary, living there for years
Longview musician Jeffrey Odom and his family are faithful patrons
and travelling back to hunt through the enclaves for the one-of-a-kind
of the quaint, rustic eatery, where you can listen to Hungarian radio
treasures elite designers coveted.
straight from Budapest .
Mike has always preserved his great-grandmother’s “singularly
“The owners are the reasons we go, well besides the amazing food,”
Hungarian” recipes, which his Scottish mother taught him as he was
Odom said. “They are the sweetest people. They don’t only bring
growing up.
the Hungarian flavor to East Texas, they educate the clientele on the
“I dot my Is and cross my Ts with all of her recipes,” he said, laughing. He never deviates from the way his great-grandmother made her
Hungarian culture which only enhances the experience. ” Tylerite Mike Hill agrees.
schnitzel, although he does offer a pork tenderloin version served with
“We get take-out from time to time and have eaten in the restaurant
a perfectly cooked sunny-side up egg on top. The whites are set, but the
a couple of times as well,” he said. “Owners are super friendly and make
yolks are runny, melting into the crisp breading on the pork to create a
everything from scratch. Always delicious.”
perfect bite. He also doesn’t try to change the cabbage rolls.
Mike and Brigitta have been working on establishing their line of frozen prepared foods, “Brigitta’s Hungarian Deliveries.”
“I make them every day now,” he said. “When we don’t have them on
In addition, Mike enjoys “breaking the rules” with dishes such as
the menu, you can see the disappointment on people’s faces; they deflate
salmon strudel, which features melt-in-your-mouth salmon with spinach
right before your eyes.”
and portabella mushrooms, “smothered” in feta cheese and baked in a
The two dishes are in a constant “tug of war” for customer favorite,
crisp, flaky phyllo dough.
although they get a run for their money from one of the paprikash
He also makes his own Hungarian and German style bratwurst
dishes (chicken, beef or pork) or the warm cherry strudel, made with
sausages from scratch, that almost need to come with their own
homemade cream cheese that oozes into every bite.
warning label.
However, it really wasn’t until COVID struck that Mike took a deep dive into the family’s history and its link to the food he cooks every day. This is where he gets passionate, explaining that the Americanized version of his last name, Chubboy, is the easier-to-spell version of Csabai,
“These are so juicy they will spit at you,” he joked. “Food doesn’t have to be complicated,” he said. “I always just think, ‘What can I do to make it stand out and make sure it’s superior on someone’s palate.’”
Left: Cabbage rolls with Spaetzle at Brigitta’s Hungarian Restaurant in Kilgore. Middle: Brigitta’s Hungarian Restaurant in Kilgore. Right: Owner Mike Chubboy poses with his father’s pilot’s helmet and a painting by his mother on Sept. 22 at Brigitta’s Hungarian Restaurant in Kilgore. 6 VIEW | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R
NONPROFIT VIEW
for the
love of longview Words by PAUL WALKER | Photos by MICHAEL CAVAZOS
O
ne Love Longview is aiming at the East Texas hearts.
October plans included a partnership with St. Andrew’s
One Love Longview was created by Patrick Johnson and
Presbyterian Church on McCann Road for a “pandemic-safe
Amanda Veasy on July 1. Since then their organization
drive through,” Veasy said, that would offer free “household and
has provided thousands of free meals and bottles of water, mental health counseling, made three trips to Louisiana to help hurricane-damaged communities and worked to create unity.
personal necessities.” Mental health counseling is also a One Love target. One Love has begun free mental health counseling with a local therapist.
Johnson, 57, and his wife Shanna are parents to six children.
And the Love is spreading as local versions are taking root in
He began the nonprofit J-Star Ministries several years ago. Veasy,
Carthage, Hallsville and Alto. To be involved, call Johnson at (903)
33, and her husband Rafael Veasy, are the parents of four children.
424-1757 or Veasy at (903) 261-8300; e-mail 1LoveLongview@
Johnson felt called by God to reach more people. Because he
gmail.co; or visit the organization on Facebook.
and Veasy had worked together on projects assisting the homeless, he knew he wanted to collaborate with her with this ministry. “We want unity,” Veasy said. “Unity creates change. We want people to drop their differences” so they can unify to assist others. One Love functions to bring together people, no matter their lifestyle choices, religion or other identifiers. “We want people to understand the divisions that separate people. We want everyone working together for a common cause.” Veasy and Johnson spent weeks talking to ministers, politicians and nonprofit leaders. They saw that there were big problems being tackled and determined how they might augment what was already being done. One Love has served lunches provided by local establishments in four different Longview parks “to take the focus off of racial tension” in the city, Johnson said. In August, One Love provided food and services such as vision screening at the Longview Mall. In September “Project Eliminate” was to provide fresh produce to 500 families in cooperation with the Longview Dream Center and the East Texas Food Bank.
Tierzah Smith spends her morning building gift baskets to be used to promote family unity on Aug. 8 at 3 Girls Nutrition. news-journal.com 7
gift freedom
COVER VIEW
the
of
Community Healthcore offers hope, support Words by PAUL WALKER Photos by LES HASSELL & MICHAEL CAVAZOS
Jacob Tanner, left, Helen Bell, and Virginia Smith on October 4. 8 VIEW | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R
I
magine a father who keeps his son chained under the house
“It’s (Healthcore) come a long way,” he said. “Medications
to protect him.
have greatly evolved in the past 20 years” so that people can lead
“He loved his son greatly,” said Inman White, executive
fuller lives while keeping their disabilities under control, “which
director of Community Healthcore, “but he had nowhere to go (for help).”
gives them independence.” Community Healthcore has evolved, too. As people work
Families of people with intellectual disabilities had little-to-
and innovate, and new methods of treatment and counseling are
no assistance. They had no independence. That was Longview
incorporated, better results are seen. Starting at Sabine Valley’s
and East Texas 50 years ago when Sabine Valley MHMR, now
inception, strict guidelines were incorporated to honor the dignity
Community Healthcore, was created.
and humanity of its clients, he said. Through the hard work of
Before that, the choice was binary — institutionalization or nothing.
several generations of counselors and staff, those standards are still being met, he said.
“The highest order of our calling is to help people become independent,” White said of the organization he has headed for 25 years.
There were “steps taken, seeds they planted, doors they opened,” he said. “We did some good watering,” White said. He lauded all those who came before him and those who work
Community Healthcore is a nonprofit local governing
with Healhcore now.
authority that provides counseling and other assistance to people
As for the 50th anniversary, it’s just another year of progress.
with substance use disorders and intellectual and developmental
“I’m looking for the fifty-first,” he said. And then the fifty-
disabilities in nine counties: Bowie, Cass, Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Panola, Red River, Rusk and Upshur. “People must know how to ask for help,” he said. They have to
second, and fifty-third and .....”
Answering the Bell
know “it’s okay to ask (for help).”
Drug addiction. Alcoholism. Bipolar disorder. Psychotic
“Stigma in this business kills.”
episodes. Helen Bell had checked off all those boxes. The future
Community Healthcore is celebrating its 50th year of service
wasn’t exactly bright.
and is one of 39 such communities throughout Texas. The organization also helps outside the nine counties, when other area counties that don’t offer certain services have
That was 11 years ago. Sober 11 years now and back in college and at age 59, Bell is a substance abuse counselor intern at Bradshaw State Jail in Henderson.
invited Healthcore to offer them to their residents. Community
“I’m a productive member of society,” she said.
Healthcore employs about 500 people at 20-plus locations.
Bell gives Community Healthcore and Fredonia House, now
White, who has a master’s degree in counseling, worked eight
Cornerstone Quarters, credit for her life-changing recovery.
years for Healthcore in Longview before moving to Austin to
“They saved my life! Do you hear me? They saved my life!”
work for the state in the same field. He returned to Community
Bell, originally from south Louisiana, began her downward
Healthcore as executive director. From the beginning, Sabine Valley’s first board of directors set
spiral following the death of her mother in 1984 and her husband’s death in 1993.
high standards. Board members put their reputations and financial
“I thought God was punishing me,” she said. She had a dual
backing into the organization, he said. Community Healthcore
diagnosis, bipolar with psychotic features and alcoholism coupled
is supported financially by state and federal funds, the United
with drug addiction. Bell spent time in psychiatric hospitals in
Way, Medicaid assistance and various charitable foundations
Shreveport, LA, and Tyler. “I was in and out, in and out” from
and businesses.
2004-2008, she said. “Brentwood (Hospital, Shreveport) said I’d never be able to live alone- that I’d always be in a hospital or a transitional home.”
INMAN WHITE Executive Director of Community Healthcore
As a peer specialist, she works with others with the same diagnoses — peer-to-peer counseling. After detoxification, she learned about “choices” at Fredonia House in 2008.
continued on pg. 11 news-journal.com 9
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2
3
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“They taught us everything,” Bell said. “I didn’t know I had choices. We learned about coping skills, healthy living, relapse, life skills: I especially learned about mental illnesses,” she said. “I didn’t know I didn’t need to drink and drug to feel good. I was always suicidal.”
Jacob Tanner perseveres Jacob Tanner of Ore City was born with intellectual disabilities. Things didn’t come easy for him. His life is on the upswing now because of his perseverance and his advocates at Community Healthcore.
“Do you hear me? They saved my life!”
“I try not to let it stop me,” Tanner said of his disability.
Bell lives in Longview and has three grown children and
Tanner, now 26, graduated from Ore City High School in 2012.
three grandkids. Working as a peer specialist, Bell has dedicated
Three years later he moved into Teri Lyn, an intermediate care
her rebirth to helping people. She finished basic course work at
facility in Longview. This Community Healthcore group home
Kilgore College in 2019 and is now working on her certification as
offers shelter to “adult males with mental retardation or a related
a counselor in substance abuse and chemical dependency through
condition,” according to a website for the home.
Tyler Junior College.
Residents access medical and psychological services as well as
She had to leave her peer counseling position with Community
a wide range of activities in and outside the home. The objective:
Healthcore in February so she could get clinical exposure at the
“encourage the acquisition or maintenance of behaviors necessary
Henderson prison where she works with incarcerated addicts.
for the individual to function with as much self-determination
“My family is so proud of me! I’m going to graduate before I turn 60,” she said. “I couldn’t have done any of this without Community Healthcore and the grace of God,” Bell said. “Bell is the personification of dignity,” said Inman White, executive director of Community Healthcore. ”She wants to be the best she can be. She has been a big part of the people we look to to help us” keep going in the right direction. Bell also was a part of the Homeless Advocacy Network which was under the umbrella of Healthcore and Fredonia House. The nine counties served by Healthcore take monthly assessments of the homeless population through the Network. Annually the Network meets to assemble information to draw a complete picture of homelessness in the counties and submit it to the East Texas National Homeless Count. Bell was president of the Gregg County Network “three or four years in a row,” she said. She gives White credit for her opportunity. “He kicked off the peer-to-peer support group. I was one of the first he trained.” White demurred when told of Bell’s praise. “I was involved in peer-to-peer training,” but it was an effort by many dedicated team members, he said. Words of praise for Community Healthcore is one way for Bell to tout the good work Healthcore accomplishes.
and independence as possible and to prevent the loss of current functional status,” according to its website. Tanner spent two years at Teri Lyn, 2015-2017, then moved to Evergreen, a similar facility, for two more years. He moved back to Ore City in 2019. Prior to Tanner’s stints in group homes, he was associated with the volunteer fire departments of Ore City and Gilmer. When he moved back to Ore City to live with his parents, he resumed affiliation with the Ore City Volunteer Fire Department. He wants to learn about new techniques and equipment so he can become a firefighter. He had plans recently to accompany the volunteer fire department to that evening’s Ore City High School football game to assist with players or fans who might need medical assistance. He’s applying technology and leadership training he learned in group homes in other areas. Tanner is a member of the Ore City First United Methodist Church. He uses a computer to project song lyrics to worshippers and controls the soundboard at the 9 a.m. Sunday Praise and Worship service. Pastor Douglas Smith has known Tanner both pre-and-post Healthcore. Smith was the minister for about 10 years in Ore City and then moved away. He came out of retirement to retake the Ore City pastorate.
“If God had blessed me with lots of money, I’d put it all in
“Jacob helps in a hundred different ways,” Smith said. “He
Community Healthcore to help build and grow the program, to
just matured later in life than most people.” Pre-Healthcore “he
invest in people.” “Do you hear me?” she said one last time.
had an attitude that he couldn’t do anything. He’s a different person” (now).
1. Carolyn Moore has her blood pressure checked by Kilgore College nursing student Susanna Gonzalez at the Community Healthcore table during Homeless Resource Day. 2. Longview police officer David Cheatham, left, takes part in a role-playing exercise in which he responds to a call involving an armed man with mental health issues, played by officer Rolf Kotull. The training is in partnership with Community HealthCore. 3. Adult Program Manager Rachel Harrington with Community HealthCore visits with an inmate at the Gregg County Jail in 2018. 4. Executive Director Inman White, left, and Director of Operations Marylyn Wyman look through scrapbooks as they talk about the 50 year history of Community Healthcore on Jan. 2. news-journal.com 11
“
“ don’t let anything keep you from following your dream.
— JACOB TANNER
Tanner wants to work in full time ministry one day. In some ways, he has already fulfilled that goal as a member of the Gregg County Self Advocates. “It’s a great program,” he said. “You learn about your mental rights and how to help others.” Community Healthcore’s group homes emphasize leadership. In the residential homes he learned life skills and became a leader in the Self Advocacy group. “I’ve come a long way.” He attended the Texas Conference on Self Advocacy where people are trained to advocate for themselves and others. Tanner
“It was not a home,” she said, “it was a house.” She married Larry Smith three months after their high school graduation and they moved to Longview about the time Sabine Valley MHMR was being formed. The Smiths have three adult children, seven grandkids and three great-grandkids. Virginia Smith describes herself as a “young” 70. She struggled alone with her childhood abuse until about age 35, when she sought medical help. She was diagnosed with major depression and prescribed Prozac, which only masked her problems. She felt alone.
has served as president and vice president of the Gregg County
“I thought no one else went through what I did.”
Self Advocacy group, which is under the aegis of the ARC of
She knew she needed to talk, so she hosted gatherings in her
Gregg County. “Jacob is a wise leader. He speaks up when other people should be speaking up, but don’t. He is a reminder of what is right,” Inman White, Healthcore executive director, said, Tanner agrees: “I learned the responsibility of passing along what I know” from Community Healthcore. “Don’t let anything keep you from following your dream.”
Virginia Smith goes fishing
home of Christian women who had also experienced abuse so they could talk. It was the beginning of her peer-to-peer counseling. She later received college training and became an ordained minister, not to preach, she said, but to better understand God and to seek answers. She worked at a church as an administrative pastor and continued to reach out to abused women. With the help of her women’s group, God and her husband, she began to reckon with her abuse. Smith quotes a favorite verse from the Bible, Genesis 50:20.
Virginia Smith grew up in California in a house of secrets.
Joseph is addressing his brothers, saying, “You plotted evil against
“And I kept my secrets to myself for a long time.”
me, but God turned it into good, in order to preserve the lives
The sixth of eight children she was verbally, sexually and
of many people who are alive today because of what happened.”
physically abused from age 6 to 12. The abuse included incest. 12 VIEW | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R
“God has used me to help people,” Smith said.
Left: Director of Strategic Initiatives Dr. Stanley Williams of Community Healthcore speaks about the facilities at the Gregg County Collaborative Wellness Center in 2019. Right: The Gregg County Collaborative Wellness Center is a collaboration between Community Healthcore and Special Health Resources for East Texas.
Smith began work at Community Healthcore in 2013 as a mental health peer specialist. She is now a state Certified Peer Specialist, which allows her to work one-on-one with people who have had trauma similar to hers. “I enjoy my job and the people I work with,” she said. Community Healthcore is a “beacon — a lighthouse in Longview,” she said. The organization offers “trauma-informed care.” This means that specialists like Smith offer trauma counseling based on “lived experience.”
MORE INFORMATION: COMMUNITY HEALTHCORE • Local, nonprofit governing authority for mental health, substance use disorders and intellectual and developmental disabilities in Gregg, Harrison, Upshur, Rusk, Panola, Bowie, Red River, Marion and Cass in Northeast Texas. • Formed in 1970, first as Gregg Harrison MHMR, then became Sabine Valley Regional MHMR and then Community Healthcore
“We need to look at people as people. Don’t make that person a
• Provided services to more than 16,000 children, families, and adults
diagnosis.” For example, one shouldn’t call a client a schizophrenic,
each year through multiple community sites and clinicians serving
she said, but instead say “he deals with schizophrenia. People
communities in 23 counties in Northeast Texas with Longview
are being taught they are their diagnosis.” That can inhibit their
being the primary location for administrative, outpatient clinics,
recovery, but if they feel empowered to collaborate with doctors
residential homes and community-based services.
and counselors, their chances of recovery increase, she said. “Emergency room doctors, instead of asking ‘what’s wrong with you,’ should ask ‘what happened to you?’” This is ‘person centered” care, she said. “It puts the person in the driver’s seat of their recovery.” Person-centered care allows people who use health and social services to be equal partners in planning, developing and monitoring care to make sure it meets their needs. “That’s what I do as a (certified) peer specialist,” she said. It is why she enjoys her job. “I help people reach their hopes and goals.” “Virginia sees the world as it should be,” said Inman White, Healthcore’s executive director. “She is the consummate optimist and speaks to the beauty in the world.” Reflecting on her work, Smith quotes the medieval Jewish philosopher Maimonides: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime … “That’s what I do. I teach them to fish.”
• More than 500 employees at 25 locations including, clinical, administrative, vocational and residential locations. • In 2019, through collaboration with community partnerships and school districts, Community Healthcore provided Youth and Adult Mental Health First Aid Training to hundreds of local school district and local college administrators and educators at no cost to them. • Through multiple community partnerships, the Gregg County Collaborative Wellness Center was established in 2019 to help individuals in Longview with mental health illness to be deferred from the ER to Community Healthcore clinics for services. • In 2019, Community Healthcore certified as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic to provide a comprehensive collection of services needed to create access, stabilize people in crisis and provide the necessary treatment for those with the most serious, complex mental illnesses and substance use disorders in our community and will provide more jobs with Community Healthcore. news-journal.com 13
DESIGN VIEW
a
calculated move Words by JO LEE FERGUSON | Photos by MICHAEL CAVAZOS
I
t’s easy to see that Margaret and Richard Wade are in love with the combined home and
office they built at Judson Road and Yates Drive — even though not everyone believed in Margaret’s vision when she first floated the idea.
14 VIEW | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R
Left: The living room in the home of Richard and Margaret Wade. Right: Richard and Margaret Wade give a tour of their home on Sept. 29. The building was constructed to house both their business Dennis-Wade Associates and their home.
“We all told her she was crazy,” Richard Wade said.
to be cut down during the construction project. The natural area
Now, though, they say they’ve created a good life in the details
provides a picturesque buffer between their home and office and
found in the office of the accounting firm Margaret started with
the office park next door.
her father, William Dennis, in 1987. Dennis-Wade Associates has
Brice Davis of Thacker-Davis Architects designed the building;
an address of 1100 Judson Road, Building 200, and their attached
Steve Pirtle built it for them; and local interior designer and friend
home has an address of 1001 Yates Drive. The Judson Road
Jack Barkley put his special touch on the inside.
entrance is all business, while their Yates Drive entrance leads to a warm and inviting home. The Longview natives have been married for 49 years. They lived in three other homes before they built the Yates property — but they had never built a new home before. Dennis-Wade Associates was previously at 1125 Judson Road for 27 years, before they moved into their new combined quarters on Labor Day 2018. “The city was also very cooperative,” Richard said, explaining that the couple approached the city with their plans before proceeding. “We asked them what to do first, and then went and did it. ... We did not purchase the lots until we were very sure we could do what we wanted to do.” They actually purchased three lots that are part of the planned development that allowed them to co-locate their home and business in one structure — one structure with a very important dividing line. “This is a critical thing right here,” Richard said, standing in the one doorway between the two sides of the structure. The fire
At the entrance to the business on Judson Road, sweeping stairs and a ramp provide entrance to the structure built up on a brick retaining wall. Barkley, Richard said, suggested that the entrance is so attractive that people will want to have photos made there. The entrance leads into a reception area, with an office on either side — Richard’s to the right and Margaret’s to the left. Richard is a 1968 Longview High School graduate, while Margaret graduated in 1969. Barkley’s design for Richard’s office includes a chair from the T.G. Field Auditorium that was torn down a few years ago at the site of what was once Longview High School, with various Longview High School momentos stacked on the chair. Built-in cabinets hold books and pieces of his collection of antique cameras and clocks. One section is dedicated to Richard’s side-passion — working as an umpire for high school and college baseball games, with baseball wallpaper providing the perfect backdrop.
door and a fire wall, with two pieces of sheetrock all the way to the
Richard joked that at their age, he and his wife found the need
roof, provide extended protection for each side of the building in
to build each “their own water closet” in their bathroom in the
the event of a fire on either side.
house, for those late night bathroom trips. His bathroom has the
The purchase of three lots protected something important to
same wallpaper as the accent wall in his office.
Margaret outside the house — a preserved natural area filled with
The bathroom in the office area was required to be handicapped
trees and foliage. Richard looked at his wife as he explained, and
accessible, a design element they recognized the importance of
she nodded resolutely, that it had pained her every time a tree had
throughout the structure.
continued on pg. 16 news-journal.com 15
“We wanted wide doors at our house anyway,” he said, recognizing they might be needed as they grow older. Margaret’s office is filled with stacks of papers the couple promises are in purposeful order and filing cabinets — as well as commemorative copies of the Longview News-Journal’s coverage of the Lobos’ 2018 championship run. A coffee bar and workroom was also systematically arranged by the architects. A walk-through the fire door reveals the guest bathroom and bedroom, and then a short hallway turns to the main entrance of the house and its grand, open concept living room, kitchen and formal dining room. “We built the house around the furniture we had,” Richard said, but also joked that the custom woodwork alone cost more than their first house. The entry way includes a useful secret — a closet that could also double as a safe room that is hidden because it doesn’t have a typical door handle. “This is attached to the door,” Margaret said, as she pulled on a wooden table attached to what appears to be a wall. It opened to reveal the closet, where they’ve hidden they’re fully decorated Christmas tree and other items. An electrical outlet for the Christmas tree was specifically placed in the floor nearby in the living room. “We don’t have to decorate or undecorate,” Margaret said. Shelves and other elements in the house also were designed to give Margaret a way to showcase her collection of some 200 Nativity scenes — all of different sizes, styles and materials that stay up year-round. “We’ve had people bring them to us from all over the world,” she said. In addition to his and her toilet rooms, their master bathroom features a large soaker tub and a walk-in shower with a bench and multiple shower heads. The shower also will allow a wheelchair to roll into it, Richard said. Their laundry room features a special dishwasher for their beloved dogs’ food bowls, and a dog run was specially designed for their little family members outside the laundry room. The house also was designed with a deck with doors into Margaret’s office, the living room and their master bedroom — although one feature of the deck is in the process of begin repurposed. The couple designed the deck around a large, old tree, only to discover months after moving in that the tree was ill and could not be saved. They’ve cut off the top of the tree, with plans to repurpose the part that remains in the deck into a table. The Wades said their change in lifestyle, to living and working in the same building, means they’re close to downtown and to where they worship, First United Methodist Church. Richard also noted that the railroad is what brought his family to Longview, so their location provides another advantage as well. “We love to hear the trains,” Margaret said. 16 VIEW | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R
Richard Wade shows off his office while speaking about the side of the building that houses their business Dennis-Wade Associates.
Richard and Margaret Wade stand in the firewall door between the office and residence. It was a critical design component for the shared structure.
news-journal.com 17
EVENT VIEW
magical santa land returns Words by BECKY BELL | Photos by MICHAEL CAVAZOS & LES HASSELL
armela’s Magical Santa Land on U.S. 259 will not be
C
The light display on U.S. 259, north of Bar K Ranch, was
shut down by the Corona virus and this year will shine
originally in Davis’ yard, but it outgrew itself and the neighbors
brighter than ever.
eventually complained about the traffic coming through to see the
down for months had people asking Carmela Davis if she could
continues to grow.
The mental distress brought on by almost everything shutting
light display. The display has been on U.S. 259 for five years and
open her mile-long Christmas display back in the spring, she said.
The final year the display was at Davis’ home, her display
“They wanted us to open in April, but they didn’t know we take
was featured on “The Great American Christmas Light Fight,”
all the lights down. It can get windy, it can get nasty,” said Davis,
on ABC.
a certified public accountant, community volunteer and creator of
Davis said part of the reason she decided to put together such
Carmela’s Magical Santa Land. “Plus, we want to make sure we
a grand display of lights is because she remembered how much
put them in different spots and change it up a little every year.
lights and the Christmas spirit had helped her when she was
This makes it fun, and there is so much that most people have to
trying to get her bachelor’s of accounting in three and a half years
go through it twice.”
from what was then North Texas State University.
Features include the 12 days of Christmas in lights spread
“That last semester I would just sit and look at the lights I had
throughout the display, a Winter Wonderland, 160 deer grazing
put up,” she said. “So many people lose that spirit of Christmas
in between blue rivers of light running throughout the display.
and I don’t want them to.”
There is a Whoville village where the whimsical characters of Dr. Seuss are brought to life in lights. This year, the new element will be “Toy Story” characters, located near the end of Carmela’s Magical Santa Land. Most of the characters in the display are handmade by a welder. Then the lights are added. “We are adding a Minion house too,” Davis said. “We don’t want people to feel like they have seen it all before.” 18 VIEW | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R
Because everyone cannot afford to put up lights, they can still come to Carmela’s Magical Santa Land to discover the wonder and awe of something they certainly don’t see every day. Admission is free to the drive-through display, but donations are appreciated as costs to operate it are significant. “Some people don’t have very much to spend,” Davis said. “We just pray every year to get enough donations to break even but so far that hasn’t happened.”
But Davis somehow keeps the lights twinkling at her Santa Land. This year the display opens Nov. 6 through Jan. 3 every night rain or shine, from 5:30-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5:30-11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. A night for special needs individuals will be 5-8 p.m. Nov. 5. The night includes hot chocolate and cookies with Santa. Longview Ambucs Too will host a fundraiser to help provide AmTrykes, adaptive tricycles for people with disabilities. The walk takes place from 5-7:30 p.m. on Nov. 4. For more information, visit http://getmeregistered.com/trekfortrykes or email Davis at cpa@cldcpa.com. To find out more about the list display visit Carmela’s Magical Santa Land on Facebook. C
if
you go CARMELA’S MAGICAL SANTA LAND
When: Nov. 6 through Jan. 3, every night rain or shine, 5:30-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5:30-11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday Extra Events: Night for special needs individuals, 5-8 p.m. Nov. 5; Longview Ambucs Too fundraiser, 5-7:30 p.m. Nov. 4. For more information, visit http:// getmeregistered.com/trekfortrykes or email Davis at cpa@cldcpa.com Where: 6085 U.S. 259 N. Information: Carmela’s Magical Santa Land on Facebook
Top: A family drives through Camela’s Mini Santa Land in 2016. Bottom: Carmela Davis spends her evening setting up Carmela’s Mini Santa Land on September 24.
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EVENT VIEW
memorial city hall plans reopening Words by BECKY BELL | Photos by LES HASSELL
T
he Memorial City Hall Performance Center is in a longer
Center, these are colleagues to me, but we will come back. Patrons
than expected intermission because of the COVID-19
will get together again.”
pandemic, but the curtains will reopen this year.
Shows that originally were postponed have been rescheduled
until later this year or in 2021 because of concerns about COVID and because the center cannot afford to stage shows without 100 percent audience capacity, said Glenn Barnhart, manager of the Memorial City Hall Performance Center. “If we are seating at only 25 percent capacity, unfortunately bills still have to be paid,” he said. “The crew, the show, everything else goes on. If we are not operating at 100 percent, we are operating at a loss.” The center located in Marshall had its grand opening about a year ago. “Nobody in modern times has ever gone through it,” he said.
With the lineup scheduled for the spring season, Barnhart is sure it’s going to be a happy ending for those who have been waiting for the experience of live theater.
if
you go MEMORIAL CITY HALL 2020-21 SEASON
Note: Additions, changes, etc. are possible, with all performances subject to COVID-19 restrictions. Be sure to check www.memorialcityhall.com or call (903) 934-7992 for information. Dec. 12 — “Wonder Bread years” 7:30 p.m. Jan. 23 — Memphis Soul, eight-piece group showcasing a distinctive sound and style inspired by such artists as Earth, Wind and Fire, Otis Redding, Al Green, Sam Cooke, and Aretha Franklin
“We have never had to shut the lights out. In October we had five
7:30 p.m. Feb. 11 — “Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
shows, and everyone was loving it,” Barnhart said. “There were a few
7:30 p.m. March 6 — “Tapestry — The Carole King Songbook with Suzanne O Davis”
sell out performances and there was a big buzz with the community looking at what we were doing. Then March came and the tours are canceled, and it got worse and worse over the summer.” But the most important thing to remember is that the show will go on at all East Texas theaters in the coming months, he said. “We need to leave it on a positive note and that is we will reopen, and we will rebound. The Cowan Center, the Belcher 20 VIEW | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R
3 p.m. March 21 — Celtic Angels Ireland — Irish dance, music and song 7:30 p.m. March 28 — Larry Gatlin 7:30 p.m. May 7 — John Mueller’s Winter Dance Party, authentic re-creation of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper’s final tour with more than two hours of hit songs of the ‘50s era. 7:30 p.m. May 15 — “Yesterday and Today: The Beatles Interactive Experience” 3 p.m. Dec. 5, 2021 — “Charles Dickens’: A Christmas Carol”
“It fills a void in the soul to go see something in concert whether it is Shakespeare or Broadway,� he said. “People need to have that neat experience and once we open, they will come back and probably be stronger than ever because people need this, and the arts are vitally necessary. It just depends when it is safe.� One specific population that visits the theater most often are the elderly. Because they are most likely to become ill from the novel Corona virus, all steps will be taken to ensure they are protected as the theater opens back up, he said. Some great shows that were moved from this fall to the spring are Grammy-winner and Texas country music legend Larry Gatlin, who will be taking the stage March 28 for a special event. On May 7, “John Mueller’s 50s Dance Party� will present “the official live and authentic re-creation of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper’s final tour with more than two hours of hit songs of the 50s era. Then, on May 15, “Yesterday and Today — The Beatles Interactive Experience� concentrates on recreating the music, energy and spirit of the world’s most popular band. For more information about shows and pricing for Memorial City Hall Performance Center, go to www.memorialcityhall.com or call (903) 934-7992.
Greeters prepare for guests to arrive before a concert at the Memorial City Hall Performance Center in 2019.
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FEATURE VIEW
the pines n o d o o bl LLE H | Illustration by MICHE
Words by KIMBERLY FIS
LAVERELL
This serial story is an alternative view of actual Texas history.
“Think of the children,” he said, as if that would settle her temper.
Created with fiction, this six-installment series will reveal an
“Only Junior chooses to live here. Alex and B.J. couldn’t be persuaded to
imagined view of the early days in East Texas and the grit and
stay in Earpville for love or money.”
vision of Longview’s founding family, Margaret and O.H. Methvin.
CHAPTER FIVE April 7, 1870
M
argaret Methvin handed O.H. his hat, and would have buttoned his coat for him too, but knew he’d resist pampering. The numbers on his last birthday cake shocked them both,
but the blessings outweighed the gray beard and grooves around his eyes. “I saw men on the hill with surveying tools,” she said, trading an empty
Margaret thought about the children of their neighbors too. The other farmers complained the draw of big money in Shreveport and Dallas was too tempting to resist. O.H. put his hands on either side of her shoulders. “Now, I’m going to bring those men in the house to do business. If you really can’t go along with this, I’m going to ask you to find something else to do, and somewhere else to do it. I don’t want anything spoiling this deal.” “But selling them one hundred acres for one dollar? That doesn’t make a lick of sense.” O.H. put a finger on her lips. “It’s the best deal they’re ever going to
coffee mug for the scarf their granddaughter had knitted last week.
hear, and they’ll take it. And when they do, the future of this area will
“Those the men from the Southern Pacific railroad?”
be changed.”
“Should be.” O.H. glanced to the window. “If they brought the paperwork, we’ll get that deed signed.” Margaret shook her head. “I don’t understand why you’re giving them so much land. You worked hard to buy this patch, and could make a killing selling off these hundred acres.” “They could take that railroad anywhere, Meggie. You know that. Half the county wants it, half doesn’t. If we’re going to grow beyond a bunch of farmers and mill workers, we need that train. Besides, it was a deathbed promise to Sam Houston. He’d want to know everything we fought for is going to happen.” “We don’t need to grow,” she said retreading a familiar argument. Her gaze swept the kitchen of their three-story home. “We have more than we can handle as it is.” 22 VIEW | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R
Margaret sighed. It was that fire in his eyes that had won her heart all those years ago, and it was that commitment to bettering the future that had kept her walking beside him ever since. Every one of his risks had improved their lot. Why should she doubt him now? A knock at the door, caused them to turn and watch John Washington, pastor of St. Mark’s CME church, peek his face around the jamb. “Am I too late?” John stepped into the room. “I saw men walking around the hilltop and hoped I’d not missed the big moment.” She hugged their friend, grateful that the man who’d helped O.H. build an orphanage would be a part of another unexpected venture. “I’m doing my best to talk him out of giving that land away, but I should have known you were on his side.” John nodded to O.H. “Not always, but I am about the railroad. This will raise everyone’s land values.”
“Oh, so you’re not listening to the oil evangelists who think we have
“Meggie,” O.H. bellowed. “Come in here. I know you’re snooping.
untapped resources?” Margaret asked as she walked over to the coat rack
They want to talk about building a town, maybe something like Hallsville.”
and pulled her shawl. “I heard a salesman was travelling through trying
She’d been to Hallsville to shop, as the rail lines perched next to the old
to get people to let him dig on their land.” O.H. and John glanced at each other, like they’d had this discussion more times than Margaret could guess. “Fiddlesticks,” she grumbled. “I hate being left out of the talk. If this railroad deal goes through, they’d better ship in some ladies so I’m not left alone with the likes of you two for company.”
Fort Crawford that had protected them against Indians back in the day. She preferred the towns of Marshall and Jefferson, but that was a day’s drive. “I’ve heard about a post office going in with a depot,” she said, trying to impress them she was no ordinary farmer’s wife. Listening and observing were her skills to understanding this land they’d learned to call home. A surveyor smiled. “Well, the area we’re discussing with Mr. Methvin
With a chuckle, the men walked toward the front rooms where
is the right distance away that we’ll need to install a main office, a terminal,
Margaret had set a plate of scones for the meeting. There were whispers
and a depot here to manage the rest of the western development. This
of criminal activity associated with trains, and she wasn’t going to sleep
will involve moving a lot of folks to this area, and we think a boom town
well without assurances that the S and P Company had a plan keep
will sprout.”
thieves away. A whiff of blood lingered in her memory, and she never wanted her granddaughters to face an evil lured here by train purses. Boots pounded the front porch, and peeking through the curtains, she realized the executives weren’t fancy men in elegant suits. They wore working gear and had long beards, like O.H. The men exchanged greetings. Pulling back the knob, she opened the door and joined them on the
Startled, she laughed. “And what are you planning on calling this town — Methvinville?” John chuckled. “That’s a mouthful.” “How about you choose the name, Mrs. Methvin,” the group’s leader suggested. “Me?” she asked, stunned.
porch overlooking the valley of tender corn stalks. Introductions were
“And don’t go with Margaretville,” O.H. sputtered. “I heard James
made. The man standing nearest, cupped his eyes and gazed at the vista.
Earp say he regretted living with everyone knowing he’d founded our
“You sure do have a long view from here,” he said with admiration. “It’s
little spot.”
not often I get to see above the timber line.” Nodding, she smiled. “This view is responsible for all of my husband’s
“I have to decide right now?” she asked looking at O.H. and John like this was some joke. “Don’t you have to sell the land first?”
best ideas. When you don’t see limitations, you tend to imagine the best.”
An executive leaned toward O.H.. “Sign off on the tract, Mr. Methvin,
O.H. ushered the men into the front room. She shooed the dog away
and we’ll give your wife naming rights to the town that will spring up
from the fire’s grate, and left the men to their conversation. Though she
around it.”
appeared to disappear, she really pulled a chair close and eavesdropped.
She could name a town. Margaret would forever be remembered
Talk of surveyor’s maps, contracts, and government oversight numbed
as the woman who looked into tomorrow and set an identity in motion.
her mind, but one man’s announcement caught her attention.
What a gift! “All right,” she squeaked. Looking at O.H. she added, “You
“And we’ll create a town to support the depot, and the industry sustaining the steam engine.”
sell these men our land, on the promise that one day they’ll build a civil community here in the pines.”
Margaret pressed her ear to the crack between the wood panels.
“For a dollar,” O.H. confirmed.
“Our experience indicates that safety and performance are enhanced
“For a dollar.” She needed fresh air. This kind of responsibility would
if there’s a thriving community of residents and businesses around.”
take weeks to consider. Turning for the front door, she stepped onto the
John asked, “And churches?”
porch and breathed in the corn fragrance circulating the hillside — the
“We’re willing to fund plats for churches,” the man agreed. “If this
place where they sat in their rocking chairs and gazed over the valley
deal goes forward, we’d recruit civil and charitable business leaders to
enjoying the long view.
move to the area and establish stores, warehouse spaces, and industry
Long. View — that was it!
that would keep the train — and its customers — safe and stable.”
Turning back at the threshold, she regarded the men gathered and
O.H. gasped. “That sounds like you expect trouble.” “We run valuable commodities along the lines, including the salaries for our employees and several entities farther west. That makes the train a temptation for those that seek easy money.” Margaret put a hand over her mouth to contain her words. A real town? Among these woods? An explosion of ideas sprang up, and she pictured general stores, schools, and pretty houses.
announced, “Long View.” O.H. stood, as if he was concerned his wife had taken a turn. She watched John stand also, as if it would take both of them to make sense of what she’d said. “Name the new town, Longview.” “I like it.” The company man nodded. “Let’s make it happen.” The final installment in the historical fiction series surrounding Longview’s founding family. news-journal.com 23
EVENTSVIEW
calendar of events Events are subject to COVID-19 restrictions and cancellations. Verify with organizers.
East Texas Symphonic Band’s Holiday Concert Dec. 6
NOVEMBER
www.etsymphonicband.com
Bernice Lewis Concert Nov. 6
Longview Museum of Fine Arts
www.lmfa.org
Longview Arboretum Turns 1 Nov. 7-8
Longview Arboretum & Nature Center
www.longviewarboretum.org Best of Broadway Nov. 13-15
Brenda Drew, right, helps Hannah Strohschein try on a bracelet at her booth at the Longview Museum of Fine Art Holiday Magic: Tea Room and Market in 2019. (Les Hassell/News-Journal Photo)
Grace Crossing United Methodist Church
www.theatrelongview.com
American Watercolor Society — Traveling Exhibit Through Nov. 29 Longview Museum of Fine Arts
www.lmfa.org
Children’s classes Nov. 23 and 24
Longview Museum of Fine Arts
www.lmfa.org/artworks/fall-winter-classes
DECEMBER
Home for the Holidays/ Longview Symphony Dec. 4
LeTourneau University Belcher Center
www.longviewsymphony.org Holidaze in the Gardens Dec. 5
Longview Arboretum & Nature Center
www.longviewarboretum.org Children’s classes Dec. 5 and 12
A crowd gathers to look over the Loblolly Model Train and Holiday Village at the Gregg County Historical Museum in 2019. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo) 24 VIEW | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R
Longview Museum of Fine Arts
www.lmfa.org/artworks/fall-winter-classes
LeTourneau University Belcher Center
Holiday Market and Tea Room Dec. 8-11 Longview Museum of Fine Arts
www.lmfa.org
Loblolly Model Train/ Holiday Village Dec. 1-23
Gregg County Historical Museum
www.gregghistorical.org
Virtual Jingle Bell Jog ArtsView Children’s Theatre Dec. 5-20
runsignup.com/Race/TX/Longview/ ArtsViewsJingleBellJog Feed the Birds Dec. 5
Longview Arboretum & Nature Center
www.longviewarboretum.org
Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker: Christmas Stream Dec. 19
LeTourneau University Belcher Center
www.belchercenter.com First Night Gala Summit Club Dec. 31
www.artsviewchildrenstheatre.com Want your event listed in the Calendar of Events? Please send information to jferguson@news-journal.com with the subject line “View Calendar.” The deadline to submit Jan/Feb events is November 30.
LOCALVIEW
to
eat, drink & do in east texas
to eat
CAFÉ BARRON'S
Elegant yet casual, Café Barron’s serves lunch, brunch and dinner, with daily specials throughout the week. Indulge in your favorite wine, beer or cocktail from the bar. 405 W Loop 281 Suite F, Longview (903) 663-4737, www.shopbarrons.com
to shop BARRON'S
Barron’s is your one-stop shop for gifts, clothes, jewelry, accessories, home décor, books and more. Shop Barron’s for all of your holiday and special occasion needs. 405 W Loop 281 Suite F, Longview (903) 663-2060, www.shopbarrons.com
ELLIE BEE’S
Ellie Bee’s is a fun and funky paper & gift shop. Our selections are ever evolving and often include a sprinkle of seasonal surprises. 1418 McCann Rd, Longview, TX 75601 (903) 758-0300, www.elliebees.com
HENRY & MOORE JEWELRY
With more than 50 years of combined jewelry experience, Sondra T. Moore & Mamie Henry pair up to provide Longview with exquisite jewelry & gifts. 303 W. Loop 281 Ste. 105, Longview, (903) 663-1515
LOUIS MORGAN DRUG #4
A full-service pharmacy, bridal registry and gift shop all in one. We carry the most sought-after brands and offer personal service rivaled by none. Locally owned, locally operated and locally loved, Louis Morgan #4 is more than just a store! 110 Johnston St., Longview, TX 75601 www.LMD4.com, 903-758-6164
MERLE NORMAN
Invest in the best cosmetics and skincare at Merle Norman. Take advantage of their free skin analysis, free five minute hydrating facial, free make-up lessons plus much more. 3500 McCann, #L7A, Longview Mall, Longview (903) 753-0041, www.merlenorman.com
to shop
services
PETERS CHEVROLET
EASTMAN CREDIT UNION
Peters Chevrolet Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Fiat offers the Longview, TX area a full lineup of new and used cars that will match your lifestyle and budget. 4181 US-259, Longview, TX 75605 (877) 615-3187, peterscars.com
to do
Be a part of something extraordinary with ECU. Banking, financing, loans and competitive rates add superior value to your life and help reach your financial goals. 3066 N. Eastman Rd., Longview; 300 Kodak Blvd., Longview (800) 999-2328, www.ecu.org
LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY BELCHER CENTER
LONGVIEW REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Enjoy a bit of culture in your life. Take in special performances, concerts, community events and more. Go online for a schedule of events. LeTourneau University, Stegall Dr., Longview (903) 233-3080, www.belchercenter.com
Healing begins here as Longview’s community health care provider with 180 physicians and healthcare professionals, a 230-bed facility and national recognition in chest pain and stroke care. 2901 N. Fourth St., Longview (903) 758-1818, www.longviewregional.com
services
R & K DISTRIBUTORS
CASA FLORA FLOWER SHOP
Stop and smell the roses … and order some too! Beautiful flowers for all occasions are available for delivery to the East Texas area. 314 Magnolia Ln., Longview, (800) 245-4614, www.casafloraflowers.com
CHRISTUS GOOD SHEPHERD HEALTH SYSTEM
CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System sets the standard for health, wellness and state-of-the-art healthcare in East Texas. 700 E. Marshall Ave., Longview, (903) 315-2000, christusgoodshepherd.org
COMMUNITY HEALTHCORE Community Healthcore is the local governing authority for mental illness, intellectual and developmental disabilities and substance use disorders in nine counties in East Texas. 950 Fourth St, Longview, TX 75601 903-758-2471, Crisis Hotline: 800-832-1009 www.communityhealthcore.com
EAST TEXAS PROFESSIONAL CREDIT UNION
This family owned and operated company offers up to 68 different brands of alcohol from five different breweries, including exclusive rights to the AnheuserBusch products. 1302 E. Whaley St., Longview, (903) 758-4494, www.rkdistributors.com
TEXAS BANK AND TRUST
Texas Bank and Trust has been serving East Texas since 1958. We serve 15 communities from Marshall, TX, to the DFW metroplex. The directors, officers and employees of Texas Bank and Trust are committed to providing exceptional service and quality products to partner with our customers in achieving their financial goals. ATMs worldwide. Main Bank – 300 E. Whaley St.; Mortgage Lending – 304 N. Green St.; Pine Tree – 1800 W. Loop 281; Pine Tree Convenience – 1801 Gilmer Rd.; North Lgvw – 3622 McCann Rd. www.texasbankandtrust.com
To advertise your local business here, call 903-237-7736.
Take care of all your banking and financial needs with ETPCU. Become a member today and enjoy competitive rates on loans, mortgages, vehicles and more. Multiple locations, www.etpcu.org
news-journal.com 25
PICTURE THIS
EAST TEXAS ANGEL NETWORK
GOLF TOURNAMENT LAKE NEWMAN, LANEY BEYER LONGVIEW | WOOD HOLLOW GOLF CLUB | 9/25/2020 Photos by MICHAEL CAVAZOS
The East Texas Angel Network, a nonprofit organization started by popular country music artist Neal McCoy, helps support families of children with seriously ill children. Each year, a weekend of fundraising events helps raise money to support the program. COVID-19 restrictions, however, changed up this year’s lineup, with the annual Neal McCoy and Friends Benefit Concert streamed online. The annual golf tournament, however, went on as usual on Sept. 26 at Wood Hollow Golf Club. The sold-out event kicked off with McCoy leading his daily Pledge of Allegiance, for the 1,723rd day — three months to the
DIANN & RICHARD BARKER
five year mark for his patriotic effort.
TRACI BOEHM, JENNIFER GRUBBS, MELINDA MCGAUGHEY, MIKI DOUGHERTY
DEVIN WHITTINGTON, TONY MCCULLOUGH
26 VIEW | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R
DANIEL ANGUIANO, DRAKE WILLIAMS
MISTY JOHNSON, CAROL ELIA
PICTURE THIS
KILGORE CRUISE NIGHT LONGVIEW | DOWNTOWN KILGORE | 9/29/2020 Photos by MICHAEL CAVAZOS
MIGUEL & LESLI FRAGOZO
Kilgore Mercantile & Music has joined with the Lone Star Lug Nuts, an area car club for auto enthusiasts, to host a monthly Kilgore Cruise Night. Dozens of classic cars and trucks gather on downtown Kilgore streets on the fourth Saturday of each month for the event. Vivian Gebhardt, who owns Kilgore Mercantile & Music with her husband, Fred, said the monthly Cruise Night is free and is intended as an activity to bring the community together and to draw customers downtown. There’s no entry fee to have a classic vehicle featured, and there’s also no entry fee for attendees. ALICIA DAWSON, KENNETH WEBB
FINLEY & MELODEE GIPSON
AUDREY BAILEY, NIA WAFER, SUMMER COOLEY, DAVID BAILEY, AUDREY COOLEY
JAMES, SHERRY & STEPHANIE WILLIAMS
JAZMINE COOLEY, ANGIE FABELA, BRYNLEIGH SEYMOUR
news-journal.com 27
