ETMC Athens named Business of the Year
It might not be as closely guarded a secret as this year’s East Texas and Henderson County by providing quality
Oscar winners, but members of the ETMC Athens team healthcare, the name became obvious: ETMC Athens.
had no idea when they showed up at the
A very happy Jennifer Rummel, director of
Athens Chamber of Commerce Banquet in
human resources at the hospital, collected
January that a walk to the podium was in
the plaque.
the works.
“We are thrilled,” she said later. “To be
Trinity
Valley
Community
College
recognized by our peers in the business
President Glendon Forgey took the stage
ATHENS community is a great compliment. It’s also
that evening to introduce the Business of
a reflection on our team members who
East Texas Medical Center
the Year, as selected by the nearly 500
strive to perform with excellence every
Regional Healthcare System
chamber members. As he described a
day. They are ETMC Athens.”
business which is committed to serving
OB expansion puts final touch
on momentous construction project
As February drew to a close, ETMC Athens wrapped up
expansion of its OB department, closing the final phase of a
two-year, $32.4 million construction project.
“The expansion went as smoothly
as we could have hoped for,” said
Administrator Pat Wallace. “We’re
excited about the new space not
only because it benefits our staff but
because it benefits those we serve.
Excellent patient care is always our
primary goal.”
Housed in the 55,600-square-foot
addition along the hospital’s south
face are new emergency and surgical departments and a
new ICU.
Another 12,000 square feet of existing space was remodeled,
which led to expansion of the OB department. The OB
unveiled eight, spacious LDRP (Labor, Delivery, Recovery
and Postpartum) rooms in October.
“The rooms are amazing,” said Michelle Pritchett, the first
woman to deliver a child in one of the new rooms. “There is
so much space!”
Physicians office building opens
in Gun Barrel City
‘New’ OB/GYN docs brighten hospital
ETMC Athens has welcomed two relatively new doctors to
the medical staff: Dr. Jaspreet Sidhu and Dr. Kathleen Knopp.
Both are specialists in obstetrics, gynecology and infertility
practicing medicine at Athens Women’s and Children’s
Center. Dr. Sidhu moved to Athens at the end of 2010, and
Dr. Knopp moved to Athens this past July.
Dr. Sidhu, a native of Richardson, graduated summa cum
laude from UT Dallas in 2001 with a degree in biology and
business administration. After completing medical school at
the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio in 2006, he
did his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at St. John
Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit, Michigan.
Dr. Knopp came to Athens from Longview, where she
was employed by ETMC serving communities in Quitman,
Mineola and Gilmer.
She began her career in medicine as a registered nurse,
serving in the ICU. Originally from California, Dr. Knopp also
attended medical school in San Antonio and completed
her residency in obstetrics and gynecology in 1993 at the
University of Utah.
She brings expertise in pelvic prolapse treatment, traditional
and bio-identical hormone replacement and a host of
menopausal topics.
Doctors at Lakeland Medical Associates were able to move
into a brand new office building in Gun Barrel City this past
November. The new ETMC Cedar Creek Lake Physician
Office Building, located next to ETMC Cedar Creek Lake,
houses the offices of Dr. Steven Koerth, Dr. Wally Mahmoud
and Dr. Jon Rich.
The new office building provided more autonomy for
Lakeland Medical Associates physicians, who had previously
seen patients at ETMC Cedar Creek Lake. The freed space
also allowed all ETMC First Physicians practitioners to office
at ETMC Cedar Creek Lake.
“Most of our ETMC First Physicians doctors used to be
located down the road,” said Renee Lookabaugh, regional
director for ETMC Cedar Creek Lake. “It’s great to have them
all under one roof now.”
First Physicians at ETMC Cedar Creek Lake are Dr. Susan
McMullan, a family practitioner; Dr. William Giles and Dr.
You Choi, both internal medicine specialists; and Physician
Assistant Danny Fillip.
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What’s Inside
Spring 2012, Volume I, No. 3
4
Texas 10
Wildflower Frenzy
Meet the Neighbors Cindy Strobel, Designer of Unique Furnishings
17
15
Henderson County Real Estate
Faith Fellowship Church, Athens
26
Delay In Investing Could Prove Costly
3 From the Editor 19 Daily Delights 21 In the Garden 22 Photo Contest 23 What’s Cookin’ 27 Playin’ Around
1
Spring 2012 • Vol. 1 No. 3
Published by:
AB Graphics • 315 S. Palestine • Athens, Texas 75751
(903) 677-7700 • (903) 677-7701 fax
goabgraphics.com • thedownhomemagazine.com
betty@goabgraphics.com • sales@goabgraphics.com
Publisher
Betty Abendroth
Contributing Writers & Photographers
Stephen Gent • R.L. (Skip) Glaspy
• Diane Murray • Edward Jones • The Realty Crew
Down Home is a quarterly publication (4 issues per year). All rights reserved. Reproduction
of editorial content in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. The Publisher
assumes no responsibility for care and return of unsolicited materials, including but not limited to materials provided for editorial consideration. A stamped self-addressed envelope must be
included with submissions coming through traditional mail. ©AB Graphics, 2011.
2
From the Editor
Welcome to the Spring Issue of Down Home.
We are getting ready for warmer weather and
can’t believe it’s been such a mild winter here.
Speaking of warmer weather, that always
brings to mind getting out in the yard and
communing with nature. Hope you enjoy the
“Texas Wildflower Frenzy” and are able to find
lots to see this year. I know my yard will be full of
bluebonnets this year.
Cindy Strobel keeps nature in mind when
working on her art. She has a unique way of
incorporating all sorts of things in her creations.
Take a look and see what you think ­— she can see
things to create her furnishings that most of us
never dreamed of !
We’ve got more recipes from “Chef Bob”
to share and have added a recipe from Mark
Tankersley, the Food Service Director at ETMC.
Be sure to try his mother’s recipe for Cranberry
Date Cake. We’re sure it will be a hit! I’ve included
a recipe from The Christian Youth Foundation
(now the Disciples Crossing) from way back when
I was in high school If you like Cinnamon rolls,
this one’s a winner. The Strawberry Cake is a
favorite from my sister — perfect for parties or
dinners.
Lots still going on in the county as Spring
comes in. There’s never a lack of things to do and
see in the area. Pick your favorites and see how
many wildflowers you can find along the way.
There’s lots going on in Henderson County
“Where the trees grow tall, the lakes are full of
fish, the wildflowers explode with color, and the
next curve in the road takes you Down Home.”
10 Ways to Spend a Spring Day:
• Take a trip around the county’s backroads to see how many wildflowers you can spot.
• Start cleaning out those flower beds.
• Check out the water levels of the local lakes — I hear they’re up!
• Tend the vegetable garden that I’m sure you’ve planted.
• Catch the Greencards in concert for a fantastic evening out.
• Try out the Butterfinger Cupcakes recipe so you can enter the United
Way’s Cupcake Battle 2012 at the Cain Center.
• Remember Mother’s Day is May 13th. Take her to Tilo’s for lunch.
• New potatoes cooked with fresh green beans. Need I say more?
• Check out the happenings at the Henderson County Regional
Fairpark Complex, there’s something going on every weekend —
usually for free!
• And finally, Enjoy the Spring issue of Down Home and look forward
to the coming Summer.
3
By Diane Murray
There is no doubt Texas wildflowers are glorious
sights to see every year, continuing to bloom through
all of the Texas seasons, but spring is certainly primetime for viewing them. Spring would be a good time to
look up the Texas wildflower trails. Many areas produce
maps, websites and mark specific roads for viewing.
Certain areas are known for incredible beauty, inspire
awe, and are the perfect backdrop for taking pictures.
But there are lots and lots of wildflowers. The Texas
Department of Transportation lists over 5,000 types
of wildflowers and Texas has so many different types
4
of soils and climates, that this alone encourages lots of
varieties throughout the state.
Texas has had an up and down relationship with
wildflowers. The State of Texas through the Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDot) has made great
effort to plant wildflowers since the 1930s. (TxDot is
responsible for the care and maintenance of 800,000
acres of highway right-of-way.) But mowing, droughts,
and problems with proper reseeding nearly saw the
demise of many native wildflowers — particularly the
beloved and much revered Texas bluebonnet. There
was also the problem that many cattlemen did not want the
bluebonnets growing in fields where cattle grazed. While
the Texas Bluebonnet, a lupine, is not favored by cattle, it
is not poisonous as once believed by cattlemen. Most cattle,
horses and deer don’t favor bluebonnets; they can and will
eat them if there is nothing else.
By the late 1950s and 1960s many young people, especially living in large city areas and suburbs had never seen
a “real live” bluebonnet, a paintbrush or several other
common Texas wildflowers.
Texas President Lyndon B. Johnson’s wife, Lady Bird
Johnson, was the primary catalyst in promoting the beautification of America inspiring the passage of “Beautification
Act of 1965”. There were many aspects of environmental
preservation embodied in the bill that included waterways,
billboards, regulation of junk yards, wildflowers and many
other items. Every state in the union benefitted from the
wildflower conservation part of the act. But all Texans hold
a special place in their hearts for the first lady.
Because of the beautification act and lots of effort on the
part of TxDot, Texas A&M and many others to study the
various wildflowers and germination techniques, the mid to
late 1970s saw the beginning of miles of miracles. Show
and car stopping breath-taking blue and red fields beside
highways primarily of bluebonnets, paintbrush and evening primrose saw cars literally braking in the middle of
highways to see them. The wildflower show did cause some
massive traffic jams and stoppages as people who had never
seen them or had not seen them in years screeched a midroad halt and gawked at
them.
The bluebonnet
While it is interesting
has been the
to note, that while the
bluebonnet has been
official state
the official state flower
of Texas since 1901,
flower of Texas
previous to that year,
since 1901.
there was some dis-
5
agreement about whether the cactus going to pick one. Talk about making
(flower) supported by state legislator a citizen’s arrest, this one may be the
and future vice-president John Nance top way to arouse the vigilante spirit of
Garner or the cotton “bowl” or bole everyone. This information is available
would be chosen. Garner earned the on the TxDot website as well as the sevnickname “Cactus Jack” that followed eral other Texas websites.
If for some reason you cannot believe
him for the rest of this life. But bluebonnets won the legislative debate to that is still NOT illegal to pick bluebonnets, the now famous Snopes website
become the state flower.
Being fearful to print this, it is NOT which specializes in debunking urban
illegal to pick bluebonnets, a nice rumor legends says it is false. SO…if for some
that got started somewhere by someone reason your small child or infant grabs
and has been passed like wildfire and one of them and gives it a yank, you are
safe from 20 highit’s been a great
way
patrolmen
way to protect
It’s not illegal to
surrounding your
bluebonnets. You
family and nabcan get in serious pick bluebonnets…
bing the lot of you
trouble with just
according
to
TxDot…
for
deportation
ordinary citizens
driving down the but passing motorists to another state
besides
Texas.
road if you even
Can’t say you are
look like you are are a different story.
6
safe from passing motorists from Texas
though.
You may not be safe if you are trespassing (crawling under a fence or
seeing a “posted no trespassing” sign
is a good clue). Having your favorite
picture be a bull chasing your subject
might be a winner in the humor division but may be not funny to a property
owner.
TxDot via information from their
website is now politely asking people
if they would quit driving on the wildflower fields while stopping to take
pictures and everyone trampling them.
There is some other words included
on the website that are discouraging to
bluebonnet besotted Texans.
The Texas Department of Public
Safety, being much nicer about the
wildflower traditions, does not have
such stringent suggestions on their web-
site. This seems odd from an agency
that runs the black and white patrol
cars to stop those of us who scoff following traffic laws.
They kindly suggest people be
careful about leaving and entering
the highways and to follow the laws
because impeding traffic is illegal. Not
to say anything about how crazy it is to
risk the lives of everyone in your vehicle to come to an abrupt stop and pull
off the highway in the middle of traffic
just to get a picture or look at wildflowers. They also suggest not to pick too
many of them or drive on them. The
Texas Department of Highways, thank
goodness, does not discourage picture
taking. Taking that perfect wildflower
picture may be right up there with
apple pie, mom, the American flag and
the inherent right of all TEXANS to
have a picture hanging on a wall in
their house with various members sitting, standing, running or prone amidst
a sea of bluebonnets.
Texas has had five types of bluebonnets as the state flower. There was a
long time legislative debate on several
historical websites on which species
of bluebonnet would be the primary
state flower. In 1971, the state legislature ended the “discussion” over which
bluebonnet it would be and the legislature declared all bluebonnets regardless
of species as the state flower.
There is Lupinus subcarnosus, the
original, grows naturally in deep sandy
loams from Leon County southwest to
LaSalle County and the northern part
of Hidalgo County in the Texas Valley.
It is often referred to as the sandy land
bluebonnet. The plant’s green leafy
parts are blunt, and it often has soft and
silky underside. It reaches peak bloom
in late March, is not easy to sustain in
clay and waxy soils.
Lupinus texensis, is the best known
to bluebonnet enthusiasts and the sub-
Above: Rare white bluebonnets mixed in
with lighter blue ones.
Left: Moonflower
Right: Bandit stiking a pose.
Below: Goldenrod grows
differently on it’s stem from
regular ragweed.
7
Lupinus plattensis grows from porject of artist renderings. It provides the
blue to indigo rolling fields in Central tions of Oklahoma into the Texas
Texas. It is the best known Texas blue- Panhandle’s dunes. It is the only recurbonnet. It has pointed leaf-tips, the rent species in the state and grows to
flowering stem is tipped with white to about two feet tall. It normally blosextremely bluish white and hits its peak soms the most often in mid to late
bloom in late March and early April. spring. It is known as the dune blueIf someone wants to grow their own bonnet, the plains bluebonnet and the
bluebonnets, this variety is the easiest Nebraska Lupine.
There is quite a bit of information
to grow.
Lupinus Havardii is also known as about wildflowers available by book or
the Big Bend or Chisos Bluebonnet. It computer. If you want to grow blueis the most regal of the Texas bluebon- bonnets in particular, TxDot has all the
net species. It has flowering spikes up methods to tell you about how to sucto three feet. It is found on the flats of ceed with this somewhat picky, nitrogen
the Big Bend country in early spring, producing legume.
Some other interesting wildflower
usually has seven small leaves. It is very
difficult to grow anywhere but the Big information for readers is that the
Goldenrod, a late summer and even fall
Bend area.
blooming plant is often
Lupinus concinnus
mistaken for ragweed
the tiniest bluebon- Texas has had
because they grow
net, from 2 to 7 inches,
five
types
of
right together in “barwith flowers which
ditches”. Goldenrod is
combine
elements bluebonnets as
not a wind pollinated
of white, fuchsia to
the
state
flower.
plant like ragweed. It
purple and sometimes
is pollinated by bees.
a pale purple. It is usually found in the Trans-Pecos region. It Goldenrod was used by Native Ameralso blooms in the early spring. It has icans for many medicinal purposes.
One way to tell the plants apart is the
spotty growth patterns.
8
Goldenrod tips grow the golden yellow
flowers on ascending spike rows and
ragweed really does not have a distinct
flower and stays a greenish color with a
ball-like structure.
More than 20 percent of all wildflowers in Texas are of the sunflower
family.
The Yucca plant used to be found
primarily in west Texas is now located
in almost all regions of Texas, especially in untended areas. Yucca can be
used for soap making.
Buffalograss is an American native
grass and it grows in most central states
and is widespread in Texas. Buffalograss is quite hardy in lawns and needs
far less water than most grasses, in fact
if you give it too much water, other
grasses such as Bermuda grass can take
over. It’s good for soil erosion and survives short mowing. It grows well in the
sun but not in heavy shade. Of course,
if you have some buffalo around, they
like it too.
Horsemint is a member of the mint
family and a mint tea can be made from
it. Hummingbirds, bees and butterflies
love it and is a great thing to plant for
attracting them.
Indian Paintbrush which is usually a
light red comes in several other colors,
ranging from yellow, yellow-orange,
orange and purple. The paintbrushes
generally bloom at the same time as
bluebonnets and a field of paintbrush
and bluebonnets make a show stopping
picture.
Bluebonnets main color, of course,
is blue but they are grown in various
shades including white, pale blue and
pink, It was said that Texas A&M has
attempted growing a maroon variety. But due to pollination by bees, the
white and pink ones may revert to blue
the next year.
For the great bluebonnet photos you
want to take, here are a few tips. First,
an overcast day is best, thunderclouds
are a nice backdrop for bluebonnets. If
you can’t wait for the stunning cloud
moments, then wait for the sun to go
behind a cloud because full mid-day
sun bleaches out the wildflower and
doesn’t do them credit. Another hint
is taking the pictures before 10 a.m.
or near or at sunset, another dramatic
background for your stunning photo.
For a windy day, set the camera speed
higher. If you use 1/200 it will still the
motion of a strong wind, thus preventing blurring. Putting the ISO setting
on your camera from 200 to 400 is a
good number, but only for an extremely
bright, windy day. If is bright go down
to 100 ISO or lower. Using a tripod
helps, too, with steadiness, low light,
or setting the timer on the camera, the
photographer can get in the photo.
Using a fairly high mega-pixel
camera will assure a good enlargement
quality on your favorite photo. A cell
phone camera is good for small pictures
or emailing quality.
Using the close-up option on your
camera really helps if you just want a
single or couple of favorite wildflowers. Most cameras have close-up presets
(that would be the picture of a flower
on your camera dial).
Finding that perfect field of flowers with at least two contrasting colors
makes a great photo. Getting that
picture with an old barn or house, longhorns, outhouses, old plows and any
other interesting subject, again adds
fascination to the wildflower scenes.
As a parting reminder be safe in picking your spot to stop! Remember even
if you get off the highway safely, park
completely off the highway or shoulders, don’t drive or trample flowers,
you still have to contend with the worst
problems in your perfect picture, fire
ants, snakes, bees, and an occasional
scorpion. Happy photo snapping!
9
Meet the Neighbors
Cindy Strobel
Cindy Strobel calls herself a “designer of unique furnishings”, but she is multi-faceted artist with great deal of
depth and talent. She has an endless palette of tools with
which she uses. The objects she uses to create can be found
anywhere, any place, or be anything. It is hard to imagine
someone seeing art in so many discarded and overlooked
items. At least it is hard to imagine until you meet her in
her own surroundings. Then you know you have met someone with a gift.
While Cindy admits to a creative bent as a child in an
artistic family, her talent has blossomed and come to age in
her home on the western shores of Cedar Creek Lake. It
would take hours just to tour her and husband Dave’s twostory home. While the house is not that old as houses go,
it evokes an intimate and aged look with it’s vine-covered,
stucco exterior.
The home is a showcase of incredible variety. A passing
glance at the many furnishings, wall decorations or items
10
Designer of Unique Furnishings
by Diane Murray
she is currently working on, display many inconceivable
uses for everyday items. The effect looks great and somehow so wonderfully comfy. It would take more than a few
hours to tour, it might take days. It is hard to make a brief
visit with someone who has such rich surroundings and
take in all the artistic work involved. It seems everywhere
in the home is now enriched with her artwork.
Some of her artistic talents continued when she was
a young mother. Her sons started pulling on and breaking her jewelry as babies. So she created some very nice
jewelry out of elastic hair bands that were pretty but babyproof. But as her sons grew and she was involved in their
lives, she used her creativity in their decorating their home.
Cindy said about two years ago, her sister, Charity Swofford of Austin, who is an artist specializing in oil painting,
urged her to start marketing her creations. Together they
brainstormed to come up with the perfect outlet for her
creative energy. Cindy opted for creating home furnishings
Cindy’s mother and god-mother collected roosters and chickens from all
over the country and Mexico. Cindy
inherited the collection and she made
good use of them in decorating her
kitchen. She has a mock roof over the
side of the kitchen with a special oven
and the roosters are mostly on top of it.
All of this chicken and rooster collecting and subsequent usage in decorations
make sense when you find out Cindy
was born and raised on a 100-year
old chicken farm near Bowie, Texas to
George and Maurine Barry. Her
grandparents,
Pete and Mabel
Barry
collected
antiques, so Cindy
has continued the
family tradition. The
farm still belongs to
family members.
Not to lose her
roots,
when
they
started building the
house in the mid-80s,
they used objects from
her old homestead. They
incorporated the boards, hinges and
latches from the chicken house and its
door on the imposing front entry of their
lake house.
Cindy says her taste is eclectic but she
definitely continues with the antique
look, using a color wash on all the walls
for an old house feel. Each room has its
own color wash but the effect is the same, relaxing, comforting and homey feeling.
Cindy’s special oven is her great-aunt May’s 1940s Merritt Okeefe. She said when she first got it she had to keep
cleaning it and cleaning it even though her grandmother
kept it very clean. But the build-up on the surface paint
was subtle, occurring over time and was not noticed by her
grandmother. She feared she was removing the paint finish
but continued to work. Cindy was rewarded in the end with
the perfect visual centerpiece for her kitchen and of course
it is usable and she likes to use the large oven during special
occasions. During the summer months, the gas is off to the
stove due to the fact it has a standing pilot. The final color
on the stove was an off-white or ivory tone.
A close friend had a piece of an old heating stove that
came from his parent’s old home. After the old place burned
down, it was the only thing they recovered. He gave it to
Cindy, because he knew she would utilize it. She put it to
use as a focus piece on their wood-burning fireplace.
Dave and Cindy Strobel’s inspiring home was featured
the week of February 14th issue in an online magazine
called Houzz. She responded to a question
posed to the readers, “What made you fall in
love with your house?” Her house is one of
50 featured homes.(http://www.houzz.com/
ideabooks/1433240/list/50-Valentines-toHome). The photo used is a view taken from
the outside of the house and is in the section
called “50 Valentines to Home.” The featured picture is a view of the lake from the side
patio area. It shows blooming cannas, a green
wrought-iron spiral staircase, and an outside
stove. There is comfy outside antique furniture. It is on a split level wooden deck surrounded by trees,
bushes and patio plants. Everything seems to be placed to
create a private and peaceful nook.
Although her house is fascinating and it is unique, that
is not her only inventive outlet. She does unique artwork
using things she finds, her home just happens to be her
showcase, too. Living on the shore of Cedar Creek Lake has its own
“reclaiming” rewards besides just the view. She gets interesting driftwood from the shoreline and a few other things.
She combs the flea markets, garage sales and First Monday
11
for anything she can use in her creations. She has her work
areas lined with items and buckets of stored finds. She especially likes mirrors, which she reinvents with driftwood,
shells and some of her other finds. Each mirror in her house
reflects more than just an image, it reflects her creativity.
Some themes are “lakey” or nautical, others things more
whimsical and then there is the antique-look. She has tables
with concrete tops and driftwood legs. The mirrors feature
white-painted “drift-sticks and twigs” with maybe a mermaid in the bottom. Other mirrors are shell-covered and
have other things featured. One mirror is glass beads, shells
and features a piece of driftwood with a shell on it. Some of
the driftwood is painted; Cindy favors white but also likes
the natural look and often leaves the wood natural with the
moss or lichen still on it.
One of her main sellers is her crosses. She has the interior stairwell covered with her varied cross collection. The
unique lighting featuring some stained glass windows gives
her works a beautiful setting. This glow adds to her pictures
of her work she intends to sell.
There is the driftwood cross; an all solid two-piece wooden
cross completely covered with nails; one with an angel centered at the cross beams; a Texas Lone Star is featured and
another driftwood piece has a dove centered on it. The pictures included with the article will tell of many things that
cannot be included in written words, after all a single picture
is worth a thousand words.
12
Cindy is quick to point out, she married a great artistic
talent in Dave, who creates right along with Cindy and has
implemented his and her many reclaimed objects in the house
they enjoy together. Dave and Cindy have two grown sons, Will
and Logan.
Cindy’s creative mind is never at rest and she is also writing
a book on a near death experience she had as a young adult.
She says the urge to write the book often drags her away from
her artwork.
Anyone can find her items for sell on http://www.etsy.com/
shop/ReclaimedObjects or http://reclaimedobjects.soopsee.
com/.
Cindy describes her own efforts best as she said on
one website, “driftwood mirrors, driftwood crosses,
custom designed furniture and art, all handmade
using unique reclaimed objects, driftwood, reclaimed timber
and vintage mirrors.” To personally contact Cindy Strobel
email her at Reclaimed.Objects@gmail.com
13
ADVERTISEMENT
14
Henderson County Real Estate ­­—
What’s Selling? Where are the buyer’s coming from?
People are coming from all over to our area as we are indeed the “Doorway to beautiful East Texas”. Mike Canatella of
the Realty Crew said “…those coming from Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico say we are the first ‘Green Spot’ they come
to heading East. We are fortunate enough to have the varied terrain, lakes and trees that they are all looking for. We think
that is probably the main attraction to this area.”
Henderson County is also seeing lots of DFW Metroplex people looking to get out of the big city and come to our area.
It’s still a commutable distance for them and not a bad drive. In comparison to the rest of the country — and in this economy — Henderson County is still one of the most affordable areas to live in.
What’s selling? This is the most frequently asked question that we sare asked. According to Mike, “Our answer to them
is that this area is like a department store of options and diversity for buyers.
That in itself has allowed the Real Estate businesses in our town to survive in
these PAST troubling times.”
What’s in store for the future? The agents at The Realty Crew have noticed
a very large upswing and influx of buyers making commitments to purchase
since about July 1st last year, and it’s still going strong today. Like a switch was
turned on and they just keep coming! The future for 2012 looks very bright for
Henderson County.
With the lakes starting to fill back up, interest rates are incredible and still at
the lowest we’ve seen in a long time. Local area banks and mortgage lenders
are opening up for loans in our area to qualified buyers.
The property values have been stronger here than in most of the nation,
although some second home prices, especially on lake front properties have
suffered somewhat. However, raw land prices have remained true.
Jeri Canatella let me know that “The phones are ringing…Life is good in
Athens and Henderson County!” In short, the market is looking up in Henderson County, which a good thing for everyone that lives here.
The Family Peace Project’s 11th Annual “All You Can Eat”
903-677-9177 For Ticket Info
Saturday, May 5, 2012
8 a.m. to 12 Noon
United Methodist Church
225 Lovers Lane • Athens
Tickets $6/person • $7 at the door
Children under 5 FREE
Blood Drive with Carter Blood Center
Benefits victims of family violence in Henderson County.
15
LOCATIONS TO
FIND DOWN HOME
Elder Dodge • Lilly Enterprises
ETMC Athens/CCL
Lakeland Medical Assoc.
Cole AC • Citizens State Bank
McAtee Realty • Prosperity Bank
Steve Grant Realty • Coffee Love
Mark Roberts DDS
Home Instead Senior Care
Southside Bank GBC
Edward Jones Offices
The Needle Niche
Tri-County Ford • Comfort Suites
BanCorp South • Sue’s Roost
CCLA Chamber of Commerce
Holiday Inn Express
The Retreat • Super 8
Best Western Royal Mountain Inn
Solar Screens GBC • La Quinta
Lake Glass & Mirror
Athens Dept. of Tourism
And Lots More!
16
Faith Fellowship Church, Athens
5330 Hwy. 175 E. • Athens, Texas 75752 • 903-677-3034 • ffcathens.com
Located on the East edge of Athens,
Faith Fellowship is one of Athens’
youngest congregations. Since 2005
Faith Fellowship, which began in a
horse barn then grew on to purchase
a cat fish restaurant; is now housed in
over 17,000 square feet on four acres!
And even in the current economic
times has been blessed to do so without debt!
From those wonderful, though
humble beginnings, the purpose of
Faith Fellowship has remained constant. Faith Fellowship has sought to
be distinctly devoted to genuine and
sincere worship; to demonstrating our
love for Christ through obedience and
to honor Christ by being servants just
as He was. This purpose has challenged
us as a people to be committed to a faith
that is Biblical, spiritual and practical.
With a constant eye towards Youth and
Children, Faith Fellowship is working
to continually accommodate ministries
to the young. Through renovated space
for youth activities and specific events
and trips, Faith Fellowship strives to
accept the challenge of assisting young
families in their God given responsibilities to raise their children in Christ.
We believe that if Jesus died for us to
be a certain kind of person and to pos-
sess specific attributes,
then we should pursue
those qualities with passion and persistence and
equip our young to do
the same. This pursuit
has led Faith Fellowship
to set a ministry strategy that is both local and
global.
Local ministries that Faith Fellowship has been honored to partner with
This purpose
has challenged
us as a people
to be committed
to a faith that
is Biblical,
spiritual and
practical.
include works like the Family Peace
Project, who serves women and children of Henderson County in times
of domestic crisis. From helping with
Shannon’s House to assisting specific
families and just basic financial support we are honored to
help these precious families in their time of crisis.
Also, every third Sunday
Faith Fellowship leads a
worship and Bible study
service with the residents
of South Place Nursing
Members of Faith Fellowship
participate in the Henderson County
nativity rally in December.
Center. Fellowshipping with and ministering to these wonderful people is
a genuine joy. Faith Fellowship seeks
to assist and support other local ministries, regardless of the name on the
door, if they are committed to ministering in the name and power of Jesus.
While physical needs are often the door
that opens relationships with individuals and families, our earnest desire goes
beyond the physical and reaches the
spiritual. We would not settle for people
to be only warm, fed or safe but to be
forgiven, made whole, saved! To that
end we commit ourselves to sharing
Christ’s love and gospel so that every
person we encounter might know Him
in saving love and grace.
The desire to see the gospel taken
to the ends of the earth has led Faith
Fellowship to work with Rev. Bob
Farley in establishing and maintaining
a school and training center in Belize,
South America. This school educates
and trains for life and ministry all who
attend. Through missions trips with
hands on construction work and sharing the gospel as well as thousands of
dollars in sustaining support, Faith Fellowship seeks to participate in God’s
heart for the world. A mission trip to
Belize and Canada are in the planning stages now, if you have a heart
for taking the gospel to the ends of the
17
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earth, why not prayerfully investigate
these opportunities for yourself or your
family.
While still a young and growing congregation, God is challenging Faith
Fellowship in awesome ways! As one
of the participating churches in the
Henderson County nativity rally in
December, Faith Fellowship continues to cooperate with the like minded
Churches of this County to make
Christ known and to pierce the darkness that engulfs every city and county.
In July of 2011 the Lord led Dr.
Tony Romans from Atlanta, Georgia
to join Faith Fellowship as their Senior
Pastor. Dr. Romans is accompanied by
his wife Nancy (a native of Allen, TX.),
his Son-In-Law and Daughter – Rev.
Jonathan and Jordan Carnes and their
five children. Along with this family,
God has shown great favor by adding
many new families in these past few
months. It is this blessed past that generates great expectancy for the future
for this young congregation.
CALANDER OF EVENTS:
• Mission Trip: Belize – March – April
• Good Friday: A “Come and Go”
Candlelight Lord’s Supper 6-7 PM.
• Easter: Resurrection Celebration
Concert and Service at 10 AM.
• Mission Trip: Canada – early July.
• Vacation Bible School: late July.
* Several Youth and Children’s events and
trips are being planned now; contact the Church
office to be notified of details that might interest your family.
18
Daily Delights
Tilo’s Cuisine & Bakery
Looking for the perfect place for a great meal, any time of
day? Then you’ve got to try Tilo’s in Athens.
This is one of the few spots left to have a real, sit-down
breakfast in town. It’s a nice place to join your friends for
a cup of coffee and have a meeting before you get into the
office or just get your day started. Whether you’re the kind
that likes the “full meal” or just a glass of juice with toast,
you’ll find a perfect way to start the day at Tilo’s.
Sunday’s are known for the after-church lunch at Tilo’s.
The buffet draws the largest crowd where you can find
everything from the salad to the dessert to your liking. Special buffets for holidays like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day,
or Easter also draw large crowds.
Tilo’s is also the perfect place to hold lunch meetings,
for small or large groups. There are two rooms set aside for
such purposes. One room will hold up to about 15 and the
The Samaritan Project, Inc.
Presents Live In Concert
The Greencards
Gram
Nom my
inate
d
Friday, May 11, 2011
8:00 pm
PRIVATE SUITES AVAILABLE
(Doors Open at 7:00 pm • Cash Bar)
Athens Country Club
For Ticket Info Call: 903-677-5624 or
email: samaritanprojectathens@yahoo.com
Jan Giles, Rehab Director
• Rehab Department
• All In-House Therapy Staff
• Outpatient Speech Therapy
7 days a week by a Licensed
Therapist
Tickets - $30 per person • Reserved Tables of 8 - $350
19
other can handle up to 50 comfortably.
Meals can be ordered off the menu or
let everyone take in the daily buffet. It’s
a great place to take care of your organization’s lunch meeting needs.
Make sure that whatever day or time
you’re there, you try the Banana Pudding or any of the other desserts. Tilo
is well-known around town for his TresLeche Cake, Flan, and other fabulous
sweets.
If you’re not much for buffets, there
20
are many favorites on the menu including Tex-Mex specialties, Quiche of the
day, and Soup of the day, salads, and
sandwiches. Many recommend the
Tortilla Soup or the Poblano Pepper
Soup. Perfect for cool days when you
want something a little lighter.
Be sure to stop by Tilo’s whenever
you’re coming through Athens or out
running errands. Meet up with friends
and have a relaxing lunch or get the
day started with breakfast.
You’ll find him on Tyler Street in
Heritage Square (Blockbuster is on the
front of the shopping center) across
the back of the center. You’ll find
great food in a quiet atmosphere —
the perfect spot for coffee, breakfast,
lunch or dinner. Hours are Sunday to
Wednesday 7 am to 2 pm and Thursday
to Saturday 7 am to 9 pm.
In the Garden
Spring is in the air
Spring is an exciting time in the garden. Mother Nature
wakes up from her winter sleep and we start to see early
colors, some buds and blooms and signs of new greenery all
across landscape. It’s also a busy time of year as we prepare
beds, prune, plant and fertilize to keep our gardens looking
their best.
Here are some important gardening tips for this time of
year in Henderson County.
Lawn Care. With the unusually mild winter, weeds are
starting to sprout earlier than normal. If you haven’t spread
a pre-emergent on your turf, do so before it gets too warm.
Pre-emergents work by preventing the weed seeds from
germinating, so timing is critical. If you choose to garden
organically, corn gluten is a natural pre-emergent and also
acts as a fertilizer by adding nitrogen to the soil.
The first and most important application of lawn fertilizer should be applied in spring. For our soil types here in this
region of East Texas, use a balanced fertilizer, like 16-4-12,
to feed the root systems and to encourage new green growth.
A healthy lawn is the best type of weed control. It will naturally choke out unwanted intruders, the most common
weeds, into your turf.
Fertilize. February is the time to fertilize trees, shrubs and
evergreens. Use a rose or all-purpose garden type fertilizer
to feed roses, fruit and flowering trees, plus other deciduous
trees and shrubs. If you use dry type fertilizers, be sure to
water-in thoroughly after application.
Spraying. Make an application of winter dormant spray
on fruit trees to kill damaging insects as they wake up from
their winter’s nap. Spray at a time when the wind is not blowing and when temperatures are above freezing.
Mulch. Always remember to use mulch in your garden.
Two to three inches of mulch helps regulate the temperature of the soil and prevents the evaporation of water, saving
money on your water bill. If insects are a concern, try using
a cedar or cypress mulch that act as natural repellants.
Vegetables. Early in the spring cool season veggies, like
asparagus, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, onions, swiss chard and collards (kale) can be
planted. When the threat of frost has passed, warmer season
crops of tomatoes and peppers can be planted. In Henderson County the average last frost date is March 15th.
By working your yard in spring, you will get a head start
on gardening for the rest of the year. Your plants will also
like it and reward you with big blooms and a healthy harvest.
Stephen Gent, Owner of McDade’s Nursery, Tool, TX
www.mcdadesnursery.com
McDade’s Nursery celebrates the start of spring with their
annual Open House.
Visit McDade’s Friday March 16 to Sunday March 18 to
see their wide selection of trees, plants and shrubs. Enjoy
free chili dogs, door prizes and discounts.
21
Great shots —Carlee Alsobrook submitted the above left photo
of her and her fianceé taking a stroll. Above and lower left, Jeanne
Largent’s 2-1/2 year old granddaughter, Haley, with her best bud,
Bebe. Fun on the square in Athens, above left, pickin’ at Fiddler’s.
Lower right, Andrew Womble couldn’t be cooler in his shades!
22
Recipes from
“Chef Bob”
Cheese Cake Excellenté
Crust:
2-1/2 C. Vanilla Wafers, crushed fine
1 Stick Butter, melted
1/4 C. Sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla
Mix well and pat into a 9x13 prepared
cake pan. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes.
Now spread 1-1/2 cups of strawberry
preserves over crust, then sprinkle 1 or
1-1/2 cups pecan pieces over this.
Cinnamon rolls from Christian Youth Foundation
1 C. Warm Water
1 Pkg. Dry Yeast
4 Tbsp. Sugar
2 Tbsp. Melted Shortening
2 Tbsp. Melted Butter
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 Egg
3-1/2 C. Flour
Mix flour, yeast, sugar and salt in large mixing
bowl. Stir in water and melted shortening and butter. Add egg. Mix together
well. Turn out on floured surface and knead until smooth. Let rise twice,
punching down in between. Roll out into a large rectangle and spread with
melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon mixture.
1 C. Brown Sugar
1 C. Sugar
1/2 C. Flour
1-2 tsp Cinnamon
Roll up starting with long side. Slice 1-1/2 inch thick and place cut side
down on greased pan. Bake at 400° for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
Top with icing made from powdered sugar and milk.
Strawberry Cake
1 Box White Cake Mix
1 C. Oil
4 Eggs
1 Small Box Strawberry Jello,
dissolved in 1/2 C. Hot Water
1/2 Small Box Frozen Strawberries
Mix all ingredients well and bake in 9x13 pan at 325° until done. (About
1 hour).
Filling:
3 (8 oz.) pkg Cream Cheese, softened
1 Can Eagle Brand Milk
3 Eggs
1/2 C. Lemon Juice
Mix very well and spread over first
layer. Now, bake at 300° for 50-60 minutes. Cook, then spread 1 can cherry
pie filling over top. Refrigerate to chill
and serve with Cool Whip or topping
of your choice.
Note: Try your favorite pie filling in
place of cherry.
Cheesy Biscuits
3 C. Bisquick
1/2 C. Shredded Cheese
11 oz. Water
Mix all well. Drop on prepared pan.
Bake at 375° for 12-15 minutes.
Topping:
1 Stick Butter, melted
1 tsp. Garlic
1 tsp. Salt
1/8 tsp. Onion Powder
1/8 tsp. Crushed Dry Parsley Flakes
Brush this mixture on top of biscuits
while warm.
23
Strawberry Frosting
Sift together one box powdered
sugar and 2 Tbsp. flour. Add 1 stick
softened margarine and 1/2 box frozen
strawberries. Poke holes in the cake
while still warm and frost. Refrigerate
after cooling.
Mrs. Tankersley’s
Cranberry Date Cake
2 ¼ Cups A/P Flour
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
¼ Teaspoon Salt
1 Cup Sugar
Stir together in large bowl
Add:
1 Cup Fresh Cranberries
1 Cup Chopped Dates
1 Cup Chopped Pecans or Walnuts
Grated Rind of One Orange
1 More Cup of Sugar
Stir together and add:
2 Eggs
1 Cup Buttermilk
¾ Cup Oil
Stir together until just moistened.
Pour into a greased and floured Bundt
Pan. Bake in preheated 325 degree oven
50 minutes or until cake tests done.
Butterfinger Cupcakes
1 box Devil’s Food Cake mix, plus
ingredients to make cake
1 Can Fudge Frosting
3 (3.7 oz.) Kign Size Butterfingers
4 C. Chocolate Chips
6 Tbsp. Canola Oil
Quick Buttercream Frosting
18 Tbsp. Butter, softened
6 Tbsp. Milk
1 Tbsp. Vanilla
6-3/4 C. Powdered Sugar
Prepare cupcakes according to
directions on cake mix box. Let cupcakes cool completely.
Using a sharp knife, cut a circle out
24
A unique collection of gently used items
on top of the cupcake. Make your cut
go about halfway into the cupcake.
Remove the cake chunk and fill the
hole with fudge frosting (try using two
spoons to scoop the frosting into the
hole). Invert the cupcake chunk on top
of the fudge frosting — you want the
extra cake sticking up.
Prepare the buttercream frosting:
Mix together all the ingredients and
beat on medium for three minutes,
until fluffy. Transfer frosting into a
piping bag and pipe frosting on top of
the cupcakes, covering the cake chunk.
Let the frosting set up for 30 minutes.
While the frosting is setting up, crush
the Butterfingers in the food processor
until completely pulverized.
Combine chocolate chips and oil in
a medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat
on high for one minute. Stir and continue to heat at 30 second intervals
until completely melted. Allow to cool
for 5-10 minutes before using. (You
might want to do this in two batches so
the chocolate doesn’t harden while you
dip the cupcakes.)
Dip the frosted cupcakes into the
chocolate — use a spoon to hold the
frosting into place to make sure it
doesn’t fall off the cupcake. Immediately coat the cupcake with the
pulverized Butterfingers — just smash
it all over the chocolate. Repeat until all
cupcakes are dipped and covered.
Refrigerate approx. 1 hour to allow
the chocolate to set up.
720 E. Corsicana
Athens, Texas 75751
903-677-9177
Submit your favorite recipes to Down Home at:
betty@goabgraphics.com.
Be sure to What’s Cooking’ in the subject line.
25
Delay in Investing Could
Prove Costly
Go ahead — Take your best shot and you could end
up on the pages of Down Home. You can send them in by
email to betty@goabgraphics.com or bring it by the AB
Graphics office at 315 S. Palestine in Athens on a disk or
thumbdrive.
Electronic files must be in jpg format, min. 200 dpi, and not over 3MB in
size. Be sure to include contact information with your submitted photo
and a brief description, including what part of Henderson County it was
taken in.
26
You’ve no doubt heard that “time
is money.” While this expression may
be applicable in many areas of life,
it’s especially relevant for investors —
because the more time you spend not
investing, the less money you are likely
to have when you really need it, such
as during your retirement. That’s why
it’s essential that you don’t wait to start
saving for your days as a retiree.
Many people think it won’t make
much difference if they delay investing
for a few years. As you know, time flies,
and before you know it, “a few years”
turns into a decade — and a decade’s
postponement in saving for retirement
can make an enormous difference in
your life.
How big a difference? Suppose you
plan to retire at age 65. If at age 25,
you began putting $200 a month into
a tax-deferred vehicle, such as a traditional Individual Retirement Account
(IRA), and your investments inside that
IRA hypothetically earned on average
7% a year, you would accumulate about
$512,000 after 40 years. However, if
you had waited until you were age 30
to start saving for retirement, with all
else being equal, you’d end up with
only about $355,000 when you reached
65 — $157,000 less — due to that fiveyear delay. And if you waited 10 years,
until you were 35, you’d end up with
about $243,000 — far less than half of
what you would have accumulated had
you started saving at 25. (Keep in mind
that you will eventually have to pay
taxes on these accumulations, and the
actual figures don’t reflect fees, commissions or expenses.) Clearly, the cost of delay can be considerable — which is why you should
consider taking these steps:
Develop a strategy with your financial advisor. It’s easier to stick to a
strategy if you know where you’re
going. Your financial advisor can help
you determine how much you need to
save to reach the type of retirement
you’ve envisioned.
If you haven’t started saving, begin
now. If you wait until you feel more
financially comfortable before you
invest for retirement, you may never
begin. Even if you can put away only a
small amount, such as $50 per month,
you’ll have made a start.
To make it easier on yourself, set up
your accounts to automatically move a
set amount each month into your IRA.
As the above examples show, the best
way to build substantial savings is to
start early, but even if you’re in your 30s
or 40s, you can catch up — although
you’ll need to save more to potentially
get to the same level. Increase your investments when
your income rises. Every time you get
a salary increase, boost your contributions to your IRA and your 401(k) or
other employer-sponsored retirement
plan.
Don’t take a “timeout” from investing. Keep on investing, whether the
“news of the day” is positive or negative. The best investors are those who
follow a consistent strategy and continue investing, year in and year out. In short, save early, save often — and
keep investing. This article was written by Edward Jones for use
by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisors:
Colin Barrett, Cliff Barrett, Tony Kalawe, Adam
Piper, Bill Bass
Playin’ Around
Events in and around Henderson County
MARCH
6
8
8
9 & 10
10
17
19
20
24
30 & 31
31
MAY
Kiwanis Annual Pancake Day, 6 am - 8 pm, Cain Center
Taste of Home Cooking School, 6:30 pm, Cain Center
Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Monthly Luncheon; 11:30 am,
Vetoni’s Italian Restaurant, $10, RSVP 903-887-3152
Gaited Gala; Henderson County Regional Fairpark Complex
Fly Fish Texas 2012, 9 am - 4 pm,
Activities included with admission,
Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center
St. Patrick’s Day
Fire It Up Roping, Henderson
County Regional Fairpark Complex
CCLACC Awards Banquet Cedar Creek Country Club, 6:00 pm
5:30 – 7:00 pm CCLACC Business After Hours – Host location TBA
27th Annual Triathlon
Go Texas AQHA, Henderson County Regional Fairpark Complex
Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, 8 am- 10 am, Cain Center
Esther the Easter Bunny will visit with children and Tootsie
the Clown will be twisting balloons. Bring your camera
because Esther certainly isn’t photo shy! She’ll be taking
photos with the children and will have an Easter treat for
all of them.
Breakfast includes Belgium Waffles with a variety of
toppings to please every palate, sausage, juice, milk or
coffee. All you can eat, too! Party Jumpers will be on hand with a bounce house
for the kids as well.
APRIL
1
6
7
7 & 8
8
9-14
14
20 & 21
21
26-28
28
Palm Sunday
Good Friday
Kiwanis Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Kiwanis Park
Henderson County United Way Cupcake Battle 2012, 9 am, Cain Center
Region 4 High School Rodeo finals, Henderson County Regional Fairpark Complex
Easter Sunday
Henderson County Live Stock Show, Henderson County Regional Fairpark Complex
Black Beauty Ranch Open House, Murchison, 10 am - 3 pm
Meet rescued animals now living lives of peace and compassion. The ranch is the
largest animal sanctuary in the country, and the facility is only open to the public
four open house days per year and during special events.
Mark Trammel Quartet and New Grace Trio; 6:00 pm; Texas Gospel Music Hall
TPEA, Henderson County Regional Fairpark Complex
Black Beauty Ranch Open House, Murchison, 10 am - 3 pm
Athens Chamber of Commerce Annual Rodeo, Henderson County Regional
Fairpark Complex
Birds of a Feather… Quilt Together, 10 am - 4 pm
Hosted by the Gun Barrel Quilters Guild, this FREE event will offer demonstrations,
quilting tips, vendors, door prizes, and a quilt raffle.
4 & 5
5
6
7
11
13
18 & 19
19
25
25 & 26
Simmental Simbrah Sale, Henderson County Regional Fairpark Complex
11th Annual Family Peace Project Waffle Breakfast, 8 am to Noon, First United
Methodist Church
Cinco de Mayo, 9 am - 4 pm,
Texas Freshwater Fisheries
Center
Cedar Creek Lake Car Show
Poker Run, 903-887-3152
Cedar Creek Lake Car Show &
Kiwanis Krawfish Boil, Mabank Pavilion
Henderson County Relay for Life, Henderson County Regional Fairpark Complex
The Greencards Consert, 7 pm, Athens Country Club
Mother’s Day
Fire It Up Roping, Henderson County Regional Fairpark Complex
Cedar Creek Lake Festival of the Arts, Downtown Mabank
81st Annual Fiddler’s Contest, Downtown Athens
Miniature Horse Show, Henderson County Regional
Fairpark Complex
JUNE
8 & 9
16
21-23
25 & 26
30
1 & 2
NCHA
Show, Henderson County
Regional Fairpark Complex
TPEA, Henderson County Regional
Fairpark Complex
The Kingsmen Quartet and New Grace Trio; 6:00 pm; Texas Gospel Music Hall
Bikers Rallies of Texas, Henderson County Regional Fairpark Complex
4-H Horse Show, Henderson County Regional Fairpark Complex
Fire It Up Roping, Henderson County Regional Fairpark Complex
www.thedownhomemagazine.com
27
Spring
Scissor tails flitting down the old fence row
Where the berry vines are running
The fragrance of blooms are in the air
And the lizards lay a sunning
Boys down at ol’ deep Mossy pond
Long cane poles in their hand
Waiting for their corks to sink
Their worms in a rusty can
The tree tops reverberate with the songs of birds
As they sing sweet merry tunes
And the fields are akin to indigo
Where the bluebonnets are in bloom
It’s such a beautiful morning
On this bright spring Texas day
And with every breeze the grasses dance
While the nimble willows sway
by
R.L. (Skip)
Glaspy
These precious times are treasures
They are something to behold
It is food for your hungry spirit
And drink for your thirsty soul
28