“I really think that’s the key,

part of the spiritual renewal that America needs to have;

the notion that we really can have confidence

in a better tomorrow.”

Carol Moseley Braun

In case you missed the announcement, the May/June 2026 County Line Magazine that came out last week is our final eEdition issue. We’ll be sending out a few newsletters between now and the end of June, and then it’s a wrap for County Line Magazine publications.

While this chapter is closing, there’s a big beautiful beginning to this ending as we transition from our creation phase to one of preservation. All the 10,000 or so CLM articles published over the past 26 years are going into The Portal to Texas History, a user-friendly site managed by the University of North Texas, where you can find loads of information about the people, places, and special attributes of the region as told by the CLM writers and photographers. Already there are 111 issues from 2010 through 2024. We’ll have the rest of it available there in due time, and the County Line website has the most recent articles available until the transfer is complete.

In addition to the good news that CLM stories are living on in a forever library, there’s a new publication premiering this summer that promises to continue celebrating the region with new articles. Be sure you don’t miss a thing by signing up for the Upper East Side TEXAS Magazine’s newsletter.

The outpouring of applause from so many people this past week celebrating our success is heartwarming. Seeing the names and kind words from so many who helped make this journey meaningful fills my soul. I intend to savor every moment over the next few weeks as we take County Line Magazine’s last walk around the Upper East Side of Texas.

— P.A. Geddie

America 250: Pondering Our Place

The View from the Upper East Side of Texas

The long-awaited celebration of America’s 250th birthday is upon us with the main events taking place on July 4, the anniversary of the signing of the document declaring independence from a restrictive British government as the United States of America (USA) became the “Land of the Free and Home of the Brave.”

It was indeed a brave undertaking for the colonists to establish a country where all humans are created equal, where citizens have the authority to govern themselves, and everyone has rights to the pursuit of happiness. Aligning with the rule of nature, the concept demands that people live for others, free from arbitrary power and unchecked law.

While the idea is good, and important to hold for dear life, clearly from the beginning some of the Anglo men who wrote the rules didn’t think they actually applied to “all” as they continued to inflict oppression on everyone else including the enslaved, women, Indigenous, and the poor.

Some progress has happened in the last 250 years, but the country is still not living up to its promises.

For Upper East Side Texas and around the country, America 250 is a milestone offering space to review the past through a broadened lens of diverse perspectives, to assess progress, and to orchestrate a future that does indeed give all humans equal opportunities for happiness. READ MORE

Van Zandt County is named for early Texas settler Isaac Van Zandt. More famous in recent years is his four-times great-grandson, the late Townes Van Zandt, often referred to as the most influential Texas songwriter of the twentieth century. A Tribute to Townes Van Zandt takes place in the county each year in early March around his birthday with local singer-songwriters and special guests performing their favorite Van Zandt songs.

Several towns in Van Zandt County — surrounded by lovely countryside and authentic attractions — are popular travel destinations offering history and creativity at every turn. READ MORE

Several communities in the Upper East Side of Texas offer weekly outdoor live music events. Find concerts in Rockwall, Mineola, Greenville, Denison, and Longview, and check out the growing list of Music Friendly Texas Certified Communities in the region. READ MORE

Eiffel in Love with Quilts. Paris. Fourth annual Paris Quilt Show. Enter a quilt, be a vendor, or just enjoy the beautiful quilts on display. Love Civic Center. redriverquiltguild.com

May 13

Clue. Tyler. Cowan Center. www.cowancenter.org

May 16

Majors Field Fly-In. Greenville. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Airplane rides, food trucks, kids activities, mobile theater, and more. Majors Field Municipal Airport. travelgreenvilletx.com

May 16-17

North Texas Arts Festival. Denison. Two days of art, music, and hands-on featuring more than 30 artists, live performances, and interactive activities like dumpster painting, a downtown scavenger hunt, and live mural art. Katy Depot. tdenisonartscouncil.org

May 21-23

Salmon Lake Park Gospel Bluegrass Festival. Grapeland. Bluegrass gospel artists perform uplifting songs. Salmon Lake Park. slpbluegrass.com/gospel-festival

May 22-23

Piney Woods Express Steam. Palestine. Step aboard the Piney Woods Express Steam Excursion for a scenic journey through East Texas and 135 years of history. Powered by No. 30, a 1917 Baldwin Locomotive Works, this 4-hour round-trip departs from the historic Palestine Rail Depot and includes a layover at Rusk Rail Depot for lunch, exploration, and history. Multiple seating options available. (855) 632-7729. www.texasstaterailroad.net

May 22-24

National Polka Festival. Ennis. Features live polka performances, traditional dances, and authentic Czech food. There is no admission fee to the downtown part of the festival. nationalpolkafestival.com

May 23

Matt Ferrell Comedy Show. Sulphur Springs. Main Street Theatre. www.communityplayersinc.com

Hunt County Carry the Load. Greenville. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Remembering those who paid the ultimate price for safety and freedom. Food trucks, playground, splash pads, music, and recognition program. Graham Park. travelgreenvilletx.com

May 23-September 13

America 250: The Caddo Nation and Native Perspectives. Longview. Longview Museum of Fine Arts. lmfa.org

UT Professors Noted for Accomplishments

Author Debuts Novel Set in 1980s Small‑Town Texas

PLEASE SHARE THIS NEWSLETTER WITH YOUR FRIENDS

We gave a lot of thought for many months to what we wanted on the cover of this last County Line Magazine. Covers set the tone for the entire issue. In this case, it might even set the tone for the entire 26-year collection. No pressure, right?

There were so many considerations. People on the cover have always been the most popular, but we couldn’t single out one person to represent this important issue. Nor could we choose one place, or one photograph of the incredible nature of our region.

Art is a universal language that runs through our body of work. It was a natural process to turn to the incredible number of outstanding artists we have in the region for inspiration.

We found the perfect fit for our 250th and final issue with “Pondering Our Place,” a colorful pencil drawing by the late Gary E. Bachers.

It presents a message of what we’ve been doing all these years — reflecting on who we are in this tiny part of the universe we call the Upper East Side of Texas. It’s been a pleasure to get to know it and feel the pride of our identity next to other places in the world. That process is especially deepened now during this time when we review our nation’s history and understand the importance of broadening our perspectives to get the whole story.

Another reason for selecting this piece is knowing how it was created. Gary’s inspirational story is one of incredible resilience and redefinition. A family-practice physician in New Boston, Texas, at 38 he suffered a debilitating stroke, leaving him paralyzed and unable to speak. Through his rehabilitation process, he began creating intricate, colorful drawings that led to a successful new career as a favorite artist at festivals and art shows around the country. Many of his compositions feature human figures, insects, mandalas, and architecture, but the full moon is the most pervasive element in his artistic lexicon, marking spectacular beauty and our place in the cosmos.

“Pondering Our Place” inspires us to reach for our dreams, a priority for County Line Magazine from the start. It shows our interconnectedness with nature and with all living things. The lizards, known for their tail regeneration abilities, offer lessons on renewal, adaptability, and transformation.

Our final cover is a tribute to transcending limitations, living in harmony with people and nature, and finding peace in new beginnings.

HOW TO REACH US

County Line Magazine, PO Box 705, Winnsboro, TX 75494

Phone: (903) 312-9556

pa.geddie@geddieconnections.com

www.countylinemagazine.com