SUNDAY March 29, 2020
Many of us in the Upper East Side of Texas have completed week two (has it really only been two weeks?) of social distancing and taking every precaution to help flatten the curve of COVID-19. More of our counties and communities are starting to go to the stricter Shelter in Place requirement because too many people are not understanding how important it is to not gather in public. And they are still hoarding. Frustrating, but it is what it is.

It's exciting to see the communities that are coming up with creative ways to help people with boredom like online scavenger hunts and some cities have declared their farmers' markets as essential.

There's no end to the suggestions online for parents for fun things to do with their kids.

For adults, we're hearing great results with Zoom parties and we highly recommend "going" to live stream concerts being put on by our very talented singer-songwriters from the region and all over Texas. Music makes everything better. We're sharing those on our website calendar and in social media as they come to us.

We're here for you for the long haul and hope you'll enjoy reading up on all the good things about the region. Here are a few things we've picked out for you and go spend some time with the County Line archives. There are thousands of articles on the people, places, and unique attributes that make this a great place to explore from your couch position now and in person when the time is right — get your bucket lists going!
Love Notes
"This photo is of my mother's hand, playing the fiddle at a Tyler nursing home. She is a member of the Jacksonville Jammers, a group of musicians that travel to local nursing homes to entertain. My mother began playing the fiddle at a later stage in life — and loves it! She plays in competitions, churches, and at other locations." — Stephanie Limerick, Flint, Texas
FEATURES
FROM THE COUNTY LINE ARCHIVES
The Fredonia Hotel opened on April 1 (no fooling) in historic downtown Nacogdoches to much fanfare in 1955. Its stylish mid-century architecture was all about embracing the future. It was an era of astronauts hurtling into space, and TV shows like Twilight Zone and The Jetsons.

In its first 60 years or so The Fredonia Hotel was a hot spot for locals and visitors from all over the world. Famous visitors included Farrah Fawcett, Amy Schumer, and Elvis Presley. After decades of structural changes and ownership transfers, it closed in 2013. It sat empty until Richard and Barbara DeWitt purchased and reopened it in June 2017 better than ever.

Read more about The Fredonia in this article and put it on your list of must-do experiences in the Upper East Side of Texas.
LIFESTYLE & ENTERTAINMENT
Jefferson Tours Give Visitors A Look Back in Time
There are many ways to tour historic Jefferson, Texas, a pre-Civil War town with scenic streets, charming restaurants, quaint bed and breakfasts, historic hotels, and picturesque landscapes. 
DESTINATION COUNTY LINE
Winnsboro, Texas, is at the northern tip of Wood County and south of Lake Bob Sandlin. It is know for it's beautiful backroads foliage that provides a backdrop for it's charming and entertaining downtown arts district. Delicious food, soulful concerts, art exhibits, shopping, farmers' market, and special events keep Winnsboro visitors coming back time after time. Get to know them through articles we've written over the years as well as listings for their arts, shops, dining, recreation, and places to stay. Pictured is Sofia Talvik of Sweden who performed on The Bowery Stage at the Winnsboro Center for the Arts just before COVID-19 got a hold of Texas. A link to a song she wrote about her experience is in the article titled, "Meanwhile in Winnsboro." Photo by Jim Willis
THIS TIME OF YEAR
As Time Goes By
The classic movie  Casablanca,  starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, released in the United States in 1943. Tickling the ivories and crooning this most famous love song was Dooley Wilson, as Sam, playing "As Time Goes By." Wilson was born in Tyler in on April 3,1886, and went on to star in many movies, plays and a TV sitcom called Beulah. He died May 30, 1953. 
In 2014, the piano he so famously played in Casablanca sold in a New York auction for $3.4 million.


AS TIME GOES BY
Written by Herman Hupfeld

You must remember this
A kiss is just a kiss
A sigh is just a sigh
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by

And when two lovers woo
They still say "I love you"
On that you can rely
No matter what the future brings
As time goes by

Moonlight and love songs
Never out of date
Hearts full of passion
Jealousy and hate
Woman needs man, and man must have his mate
That no one can deny

It's still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die
The world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by

Moonlight and love songs
Never out of date
Hearts full of passion
Jealousy and hate
Woman needs man, and man must have his mate
That no one can deny

It's still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die
The world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by
ARTS & CULTURE
Scott Joplin grew up in humble surroundings in Linden and Texarkana to become the "King of Ragtime," and he died more than 50 years after his music earned an Academy Award and the opera he composed won a Pulitzer Prize.
Ritter Sings Her Grandpa's "Social Distancing" Song
Carly Ritter, daughter of the late actor John Ritter, and granddaughter of the late singing cowboy Tex Ritter of Carthage, Texas, offers us a delightful cover she's done of her grandpa's famous tune, "Jingle Jangle Jingle." In a Facebook post, Carly says, "Pretty sure this is a cowboy song about social distancing, and my grandpa sang it many years ago as prophecy." Learn more about the talented Ritter family in this article in the County Line archives .
SPECKLED CROW
Covering the Arts Across the Upper East Side of Texas
David Hendley strives for authenticity, a principle that doesn’t come easily nowadays. Yet, all the pieces he creates at Old Farmhouse Pottery in Maydelle, Texas, is authentic. Using traditional methods and local materials, such as clay from pits near Athens and a hand-built wood firing kiln, he fashions pottery that displays the character of the natural ingredients and process.
 
FOOD & DRINKS
How about ordering pick up from one of these locations near you and scheduling some Zoom time with your favorite brunch mates? If that doesn't work, be sure to put these restaurants known for their delicious brunch menus on your list to try when you can. Pictured here is The Forge Bar & Grill in Ben Wheeler's eggs and tamales along with their signature Bloody Mary. Photo by Mandy Ray Photography
FEAST TEXAS
Award-Winning White Fox Vineyards
White Fox Vineyards between Ben Wheeler and Murchison won some national awards recently for their wines. With the quarantine situation, they are offering curb service and can ship. Check them out at www.whitefoxvineyards.com .
Feel free to send story ideas, poems, letters, and beautiful photography from the region to editor@countylinemagazine.com. Let us know what you enjoy most about this area.
HOW TO REACH US
County Line Magazine
PO Box 608
Ben Wheeler, TX 75754
Office: (903) 963-1101
Text: (903) 312-9556
info@countylinemagazine.com
www.countylinemagazine.com