Tex appeal february2016 by Temple Daily Telegram

February 2016

Love Story A coupleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

72 years in the making

OctOber 2013 tex AppeAl

The language oF Flowers

Choosing the right Valentine bouquet

Choo! Choo!

Take a Valentine train excursion through the Hill Country almosT oFF The grid

A romantic Hill Country getaway

FEBRUARY 2016 | TEX APPEAL

TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

Features

Dillards’ LOVE STORY

Romance flourishes after 72 years

At age 5, Doug Dillard had a crush on the girl who lived around the corner on Avenue J in Temple. The year was 1935. In a voice loud enough for a neighbor to hear, he asked JoAn Pirtle to marry him. JoAn turned him down. We were too young, she said. At age 78, Doug Dillard still had a crush on the girl who grew up just around corner. The year was 2007. And Doug was ready to take another crack at winning JoAn’s hand. So Dillard drove JoAn over to her girlhood home on Avenue J. By FRED AFFLERBACH

ROMANTIC DESTINATION IN central TEXAS

Take a back roads adventure away from the reality of every day life and spend a romantic getaway with your sweetie at the Cabins at Angel Springs in Georgetown. This hidden enclave sits on 10 acres, and getting to this four-cabin resort from Bell County means meandering through some of the most beautiful scenery in Central Texas. By CATHERINE HOSMAN

Language of Love

What the flowers you give say

Valentine’s Day is a day when love is celebrated through simple gifts of flowers and candy exchanged between friends, lovers, sweethearts, spouses, fathers and daughters, mothers and sons. There are several legends about how the tradition of Valentine’s Day started. The tradition evolved and continues in the 21st century with notes of love, flowers and candy given on this heartfelt day. By CATHERINE HOSMAN

FEBRUARY 2016 | TEX APPEAL

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Departments

TexTalk Neighbors Citizens for Soldiers send care packages overseas

TexTalk FLAVOURs DiBZ Italian

TexTalk BEAUTY Elaine Murray opens her bag

TexTalk SCENE Miro Quartet Ralph Wilson Youth Club gala

TexTalk CALENDAR

12 February 2016

Editor’s LETTER

WELL-CONNECTED

10 Love Story A couple’s

72 years in the making

OctOber 2013 tex AppeAl

The language oF Flowers

Choosing the right Valentine bouquet

Choo! Choo!

Take a Valentine train excursion through the Hill Country almosT oFF The grid

A romantic Hill Country getaway

ON the COVER Doug and JoAn Dillard’s love story is 72 years in the making. 33 Photograph by JULIE NABOURS

FEBRUARY 2016 | TEX APPEAL

Contributors

PROFILES

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

Upcoming events in February

TexTalk Well-Fed head “The Sea Keeper’s Daughters”

TexFIT Core fitness routine

GIFT GUIDE Ideas for Valentine’s Day

TexADVENTURES Take a ride on the Hill Country Flyer

TexTHERAPY

TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

From the Editor Dear Readers, February can be an unpredictable month for Central Texas. One day the temperature is in the high 60s, close to 70, and the jackets come off, the sunglasses go on, and the next day it could plummet to the low 30s or even 20 degree mark. Waking up in the morning we find a thin layer of frost on our car windows and wonder how that happened, it was just 70 the other day? But winter is slowly turning into spring and the days are getting longer, by a few minutes or so, and those lingering rays of daylight make us look forward to the coming months. Love is a little like that. It’s unpredictable and it comes in many packages. It can be a couple walking down the aisle to say, “I do,” or a child going to an animal shelter to find that perfect puppy that will be his or her lifetime companion. Sometimes it is given in the smallest of kindnesses, when you think you aren’t making a difference, but just that one small gesture changes a person’s mood, perception or outlook on life. Love is the long lost lovers who are brought together by fate or faith, after decades of separation, and realize they never stopped caring for one another. It’s in the single red rose or colorful bouquet of flowers that is given to a loved one, or a simple Valentine card written by a child to his or her mother or father, sibling, friend or grandparent. February is touted as the month of love, but for Connie Swinden of Citizens for Soldiers, Valentine’s Day is an every day occurrence. Every month Swinden and her volunteers write thousands of messages on small cards that are bundled up and placed in care packages addressed to commanding officers deployed overseas who pass out the goodies to their troops. This gesture of kindness reaches military personnel in the faraway corners of the globe and does not go unacknowledged, Page 12. Doug and JoAn Dillard grew up around the corner from each other in Temple. When he was only 5 years old, Doug Dillard proposed to the young JoAn Pirtle, but she rejected his proposal because, after all, she was only 5 years old as well. Fast forward 72 years ... Doug and JoAn are reunited and this time, she said yes, Page 33. Flowers have their own language and the type of flower given on Valentine’s Day could say a little more or less then what the giver realizes. Learn how to speak the language of flowers on Page 44. The flowers and candy have been received, the day has arrived, but maybe you have something special in mind. Take a trip through the Hill Country and spend a romantic weekend in a secluded log cabin at the Cabins of Angel Springs in Georgetown. Owners Norma and Anthony Beissner understand the magic of Valentine’s Day, Page 39. For the more adventurous spirit, hop aboard the Hill Country Flyer that leaves the station in Cedar Park and relive a simpler time when train travel slowed you down. Take a two-hour ride to Burnet, where you will have a two-hour layover to browse the antique shops on the historic square and have lunch at one of the local establishments, Page 58. This month, Tex Appeal introduces Pilates techniques you can do at home to strengthen your core, Page 50. Wherever you are, have a seat, pour yourself a glass or cup of your favorite beverage and enjoy the February issue of Tex Appeal. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Catherine Hosman

Tex Appeal Editor edittexappealmagazine@gmail.com 254-501-7511

FEBRUARY 2016 | TEX APPEAL

Tex Appeal Life & Style in Central Texas

Published by FRANK MAYBORN ENTERPRISES, INC. KILLEEN DAILY HERALD 1809 Florence Rd., Killeen, TX 76540

TEMPLE DAILY TELEGRAM 10 S. Third St., Temple, TX 76501

Publisher SUE MAYBORN Editor CATHERINE HOSMAN Editorial Director ROSE FITZPATRICK Photographers/Graphic Designers

M. CLARE HAEFNER JULIE NABOURS Contributors FRED AFFLERBACH MITCHEL BARRETT GABE WOLF Advertising 254-778-4444 254-501-7500

Tex Appeal Magazine is published monthly by Frank Mayborn Enterprises, Inc. 10 S. Third St., Temple, TX 76501. The cover and content of Tex Appeal Magazine is fully protected by copyright and cannot be reproduced in any manner without prior permission. Subscriptions: For the United States, $24 per year, 12 issues. Mail check to P.O. Box 6114, Temple, TX 76503-6114.

Questions about subscriptions, call 254-778-4444.

Postmaster: Send address changes to: Tex Appeal Magazine, P.O. Box 6114, Temple, TX 76503-6114. How to contact us: Advertising: Call 254-778-4444 or 254-501-7500. Editorial: Contact Catherine Hosman at 254-501-7511 or email edittexappealmagazine@ gmail.com.

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DID YOU KNOW?

You can read back issues of Tex Appeal Magazine at texappealmag.com. Log on today to find the current issue and older editions of Tex Appeal. TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

Contributors FreD AFFLERBACH is an award-winning writer and novelist, college graduate at age 50, and former long-haul trucker. His stories and columns have been published in daily newspapers across Texas. His novel, “Roll On,” debuted in 2012, and is an interstate odyssey about a man afflicted with an incurable wanderlust despite pressure from family and friends to settle down. Fred lives in Cedar Park with his wife, Diane, and enjoys perusing Central Texas backroads with a keen eye out for roadrunners, old trucks and lipstick sunsets.

MITCHEL BARRETT is an award-winning photographer and owner of Mitchel Barrett Photography. Although originally from the British Virgin Islands, for the past 12 years he has come to call the city of Killeen his home. He developed his love of photography while attending high school and the KISD Career Center, and has enjoyed life behind the lens ever since. When not busy taking photos, you can probably find him at the movies with friends or at home with his family and two dogs.

GABE Wolf is an award-winning photojournalist, with the most recent being the 2015 Barbara Jordan Media Award. He lives in Kempner with wife Stephenie, two dogs, Benny and Joon, three cats, Mouse, Veruca and Augustus, and two horses, Trouble and China. He’s been a professional photographer for the past 15 years, documenting the Western Lifestyle with his wife and business partner, Stephenie.

JOIN the Tex Appeal TEAM

Tex Appeal Magazine is looking for photographers and freelance writers with experience photographing and/or writing features for a newspaper or magazine. We are seeking candidates from the Central Texas area. Candidates must be detail- and deadline-oriented and good storytellers, and must be familiar with AP style. Ability for writers to take photos is a plus, but not required. Interested candidates may send their resumes and three to five recent stories and/or photographs for consideration to edittexappealmagazine@gmail.com. 10

FEBRUARY 2016 | TEX APPEAL

neighbors 12

flavours 16

beauty 18

scene 20

TexTalk

calendar 26

well-fed head 30

Caring for troops

Connie Swinden created Citizens for Soldiers nine years ago and sends monthly care packages to servicemen and women overseas with the help of local nonprofit organizations.

TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

TexTalk neighbors

It’s Valentine’s Day every day at Citizens for Soldiers

Story by Catherine Hosman Photos by Julie Nabours

onnie Swinden and a group of volunteers sit around a table at the Belton Senior Center writing Valentine’s Day cards to military men and women they’ve never met. Lovingly handwritten in cursive, each card is decorated with heart and flower stickers and carries a message of appreciation and hope to service members currently deployed in the Middle East. Some messages are simple: “Thank you for your service to our country! God Bless you and keep you in His loving arms,” or “Thank you for your service to our country. May you have Christ surrounding you during your tour of duty.” Others are a little more personal, a little longer as card writers share their thoughts in 50 words or less on a small card, not much bigger than a business card. The idea to start Citizens for Soldiers, a monthly initiative that sends cards and care packages to deployed military service men and women, came to Swinden nine years ago. A self proclaimed military brat, her father and former husband served in the United States Air Force. In 2006, she retired from her teaching career in Fort Worth and moved to Belton to be closer to family, but found she didn’t have a lot to do. One night while channel surfing, she landed on a station showing soldiers observing protesters standing in front of the White House who opposed the wars in the Middle East. She felt a connection to those men and women separated from her by miles of fiber optic wires and cables. Swinden said protests like this make the soldiers think they are not doing a good job. Then she said she heard God’s whisper to do something for the men and women in harms way. It was at that moment that she decided to start writing cards of appreciation to active duty personnel fighting overseas. It all started in late January 2007. Using her own money, Swinden bought 12

FEBRUARY 2016 | TEX APPEAL

Marv Grunke puts candy in a box to mail to soldiers during a workday at the Belton Senior Center.

bags of Hershey Kisses, and supplies to make Valentine Day cards. She hand cut red and white hearts and glued them on to small blank white cards. She continued to pay for the supplies out of her own pocket until Elaine Murray, director of the Belton Senior Center asked the Belton Advisory Council if they would like to adopt the project, and they voted yes.

“I thought it needed the support of the senior center and The Belton Advisory Council needed to be aware of what she was doing,” Murray said. “If you have ideas and they are not shared, you are not going to get support for the group. They had to learn what she was doing and they all came on board.” Needing as many hands that she could find who were willing to help write

From left, Jean Young, Marv Grunke, Connie Swinden, and Nancy and Bill Kelsey write notes to military men and women serving overseas.

thousands of messages to deployed service men and women, she took the stacks to the Bell County Newcomers Club and the Golden Age Club at the First Baptist Church. She asked the members to write words of gratitude and hope for the soldiers overseas. “If I were in their place I would want to know someone cared about me,” said Jean Young, a member of the Golden Age Club who has been writing cards on a monthly basis since 2008. Young likes to send “prayers for specifics,” and even adds a scripture from Jeremiah 29.11: “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, and plans to give you hope and a future.” “This gives me a feeling that I’m helping someone out long distance, making their life a little brighter, letting them know I care about them,” Young said. Marv Grunke’s late husband was a civilian employee with the military during the Vietnam era. He coordinated entertainment for the troops overseas and traveled to faraway bases with the popular entertainers of the day. When he died seven years ago, Grunke turned to her neighbor, a U.S. Navy veteran, and confided she needed something to do.

When Citizens for Soldiers sent out its first packages nine years ago they included a group photo and signed banner.

She said she got involved with writing the cards because it made her “feel close to her husband.” “This is something he would do if he were here,” she said. Volunteer Nancy Kelsey said she does it to help Swinden because “Connie is so devoted to this project.” Thousands of cards were written and bundled into goodie boxes filled with

treats not found in K-rations. Some of the items include nuts, individually wrapped hard candies, jerky, Slim Jims, individual packages of powdered juice drinks and hot chocolate packages. In the winter months, chocolate is added to the mix. When the first packages were sent overseas to the commanding officer, the group included a picture and a banner Continued TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

Volunteers at the Belton Senior Center create valentines and other inspirational cards to mail with treats to soldiers serving overseas. Some messages are simple: “Thank you for your service to our country! God Bless you and Keep you in His loving arms,” or “Thank you for your service to our country. May you have Christ surrounding you during your tour of duty.”

FEBRUARY 2016 | TEX APPEAL

Nancy Kelsey and Marv Grunke seal a package with Valentine’s Day treats to send to troops.

“I can’t even begin to express the overwhelming gratitude, thanks, and unbelievable happy feelings we have from the boxes we have received, filled with just warmth, happiness, care and love from all of you.” Lt. Col. Michael Phillips signed by all the members who worked on the cards that first year. “The Golden Age Club and Belton Newcomers Club have written cards every month for the past nine years,” Swinden said. Swinden’s efforts do not go unnoticed and the group often gets thank

you cards or letters from troops and commanding officers. Lt. Col. Michael Phillips, a logistics officer stationed in the Middle East, wrote in a recent email, “I can’t even begin to express the overwhelming gratitude, thanks, and unbelievable happy feelings we have from the boxes we have received, filled with just warmth, happiness, care and love from all of you. Know that all of your warmth, care and love are truly felt across the Combined Joint Task Force — Operation Inherent Resolve.” He goes on to state “your actions and remarkable kindness have touched the hearts of soldiers, airmen, Marines and members from so many countries of our coalition partners. It is our honor and privilege to serve our country and everyone ... and ... bring the word freedom to life for those that only hear about it but never have had the chance to live it.” Swinden said she is grateful to all the people who have written beautiful messages to the troops. “There aren’t many ways to say thank you, we appreciate you — there are thousands of ways to say thank you,” she said. “People who write these messages are the heroes next to the military heroes.” TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

TexTalk flavours

DiBZ Italian Restaurant is a family affair

Story by CATHERINE HOSMAN Photos by JULIE NABOURS

enny Ismaili is no stranger to the restaurant business. Born in Italy and raised in the former Yugoslavia, owning a restaurant was an extended family tradition. “The entire family was involved, all of us together,” Ismaili said, except for the family members who chose teaching or law enforcement as careers. Mediterranean food was their specialty with an emphasis on Italian. When Ismaili moved to Texas in the 1990s, his first stop was Nacogdoches, where he worked a restaurant with his cousin for a short time before moving to Temple in 1999. Back then there was one Italian restaurant on 57th Street that was only open for dinner. “I thought it was a good idea to open a full day Italian restaurant in Temple,” said Ismaili, adding that the population at that time was around 50-60,000. In 2005, DiBZ Italian Restaurant opened its doors and offered patrons a full menu of freshly made Italian dishes from appetizers to pizza. Family owned and operated by Ismaili and his wife, Xhusha, nothing at DiBZ is precooked. Everything is made fresh to order, even the sauces. In addition to his selections of gourmet Italian meals, customers can also opt for a simpler fare and choose the popular Old Fashioned Hamburger or Texas CHAM — lightly breaded chicken 16

FEBRUARY 2016 | TEX APPEAL

If you go

DiBZ Restaurant 17 E. Avenue B, Temple Phone: 254-771-0169 www.dibzrestaurant.com Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday. DiBZ seats up to 70 diners. topped with ham and provolone cheese with mayo, lettuce and tomatoes. For a taste of his homemade fare, Ismaili created jalapeño chicken, which can easily be made in your home kitchen. Add a salad and some crispy Italian bread or breadsticks, a glass of your favorite red wine and enjoy.

Jalapeño Chicken

(Serves two) 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 4 tablespoons diced fire roasted red peppers 2 tablespoons fine chopped fresh garlic 4 medium fresh basil leaves – chopped 6 ounces sliced fresh mushrooms ½ cup flour 2 6-ounce boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded thin ½ cup sherry wine 2 cups ounces marinara sauce 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 10 ounces spaghetti, cooked al dente 2 jalapeño peppers sliced, adjust to taste Salt and pepper to taste Dust pounded chicken with flour and bake in oven at 375 15-20 minutes or until done. While the chicken is baking finish the sauce: In large sauce pan over medium heat combine olive oil, red peppers, garlic, basil, mushrooms and sauté. Add in sherry wine and marinara and mix until heated. Mix in butter to thicken sauce. Plate the cooked spaghetti on a plate and top with chicken and sauce. TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

Beauty in the Bag

beauty TexTalk

By CATHERINE HOSMAN

How do you stay beautiful on the go?

Each month Tex Appeal peeks inside the bag of one busy woman to reveal her best beauty secrets and must-have essentials.

Elaine Murray

Belton Senior Center director

The ESSENTIALS she CARRIES Estee Lauder’s Cinnabar: My signature fragrance for 30 years. It makes me feel great. C.O. Bigelow Rose Lip Gloss: I never wore colors because I thought it didn’t look right, but I do like this gloss. Hand sanitizer: To keep my hands clean. Tide to Go pen: Since we serve lunch here and I have a new

granddaughter, this comes in handy. Clear nail polish: So I always have bright and shiny nails that go with everything. Glasses: So I can see where I am going and for reading. Snacks: I keep a protein bar or almonds with me in case too many hours pass between meals. Photos by MITCHEL BARRETT

Most valuable TOOL in her BAG

List the most essential item in your purse — the one thing you won’t go anywhere without and tell us why you won’t go anywhere without it. Photo of our new granddaughter: Our latest blessing. iPod: So I have great music anytime. Business cards: To hand to the people I meet through our programs. Cellphone and charger: So I can keep in touch with family and friends. 18

FEBRUARY 2016 | TEX APPEAL

TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

TexTalk scene

Central Texas Orchestral Society brings Miro Quartet to Temple 1. The Miro Quartet out of Austin includes, from left, Daniel Ching, violin; Joshua Gindele, cello; John Largess, viola and William Fedkenheuer, violin. The Central Texas Orchestral Society sponsored the performance in Temple. 2. From left, Landry, Joey and Adam Agee came to the Cultural Activities Center in Temple on Jan. 16 to hear the quartet perform. 3. From left, Ann Marie Mojica, Rebekah Stelzer, Rhonda Eggelston, Regan Weston, Cindy Newton, Franah Farrell, Cheryl Jones. 4. Connie and Keller Matthews. 5. Central Texas Orchestral Society Board members, Van and Ann Miller. Photos by GABE WOLF More photos on pages 22-23. 20

FEBRUARY 2016 | TEX APPEAL

scene TexTalk

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TexTalk scene

Middle school orchestra performs before quartet takes stage 1. The Lamar Middle School Orchestra performed before the Miro Quartet performance and also during intermission on Jan. 16 in Temple. 2. Central Texas Orchestral Society board members, from left, Frank PerezGuerra and Alex Arroliga with their wives, Mercedes Arroliga and Rosario Perez-Guerra. 3. Wildflower Belle Megan Flores, left, and Cheryl Hinckley. 4. Rowena Miller with her daughter, Lily, and family friend Josh Bledsoe. 5. From left, Sherry Sewell, Maddy Bourland and Lindsey Neas. 6. Lynn and Larry Neal. 7. CTOS board members Larry Guess and Mia Bellens. 8. CTOS Board Chairman Carl Bradley and his wife, Becky. Photos by GABE WOLF 22

FEBRUARY 2016 | TEX APPEAL

scene TexTalk

8 7

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TexTalk scene

New Year’s Eve gala benefits Ralph Wilson Youth Club 2

3 1. Guests mingle during a New Year’s Eve gala supporting the Ralph Wilson Youth Club at Draughon–Miller Central Texas Regional Airport in Temple on Dec. 31, 2015. 2. Betty Thrasher, center, greets Drayton McLane Jr., right, 24

FEBRUARY 2016 | TEX APPEAL

and his wife, Elizabeth, during the gala. 3. Robin, left, and Rick Battershell, center, talk with Charlie Kimmey as they await the new year. Photos by Michael Miller

scene TexTalk

4. From left, Anna Mikeska-Payne, Marlena McQueen, Angela Mikeska, Tiffany Pirtle and Ali Thompson. 5. Michelle Fettig and Bill DiGaetano. 6. Guests mingle during a New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve gala supporting the Ralph Wilson Youth Club at Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional Airport in Temple. Photo No. 6 by MICHAEL MILLER. Nos. 4-5 courtesy of MICHELLE FETTIG. TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

TexTalk calendar

Belton Senior Activity Center Country Dance Time Feb. 4, Dick Sweeden, “Old Friends” Feb. 18, Larry Burgin and Texas Traditions Live Country Music, two-step and fantastic dancers. Bring a small food item for the snack table. Check the schedule for your favorite band. Suggested donation is $5. For more information, call 254-939-1170. 842 Mitchell St., Belton. Tablerock’s 22nd Annual Central Texas Poetry & Prose Feb. 4, 7 to 8 p.m. invites 8:15 p.m. open mic Central Texas poets and writers of prose read from their works at Tablerock’s inside stage. Invited readers will read five minutes of their works. An open microphone at 8:15 invites new poets and writers to read two minutes of their work. Guest host poet is Thom Woodruff, originally from Australia. Woodruff tours England and Australia Poetry Festivals when possible and in his adopted city of Austin he can be seen improvising with musicians, at open mics, or hosting open mic venues in Austin and towns all over Central Texas. Free admission. Refreshments are available for purchase. For more information or a map: www.tablerock.org The indoor stage is located in the building behind the amphitheater stage. Tablerock Amphitheater 430 Royal St., Salado. 17th Annual Father/Daughter Dance Feb. 5 and 6, 6 to 9 p.m. $12 per person For more information, call 254-298-5733. Frank W. Mayborn Convention Center 3303 N. Third St., Temple Geek Out Day Feb. 6, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free Whether you are into history, comic books, model trains, mad science, princesses, space aliens or wizards, Geek Out Day is the place to be. Make it extra 26

FEBRUARY 2016 | TEX APPEAL

Thom Woodruff is the guest host of the 22nd annual Central Texas Poetry and Prose event at Tablerock in Salado.

fun by coming in costume and enjoy a variety of “geeky” activities. For more information, call 254-2985172 or visit www.rrhm.org. Railroad & Heritage Museum 315 W. Avenue B, Temple

7th Annual Valentine’s Family Dance Feb. 13, 2-4 p.m. Celebrate Valentine’s with the whole family and enjoy dancing, light snacks, and activities. For more information, call Nichole Broemer at 254-953-5465 or email nbroemer@ci.harker-heights.tx.us Harker Heights Activities Center 400 Indian Trail, Harker Heights The Temple Daily Telegram Day for Women Feb. 20, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rachel Anne Ridge, an artist and writer who encourages women with a popular online blog, is the featured luncheon speaker. She is the author of “Flash, The Homeless Donkey Who Taught Me About Life, Faith, and Second Chances,” which was a Publisher’s Weekly Top 10 pick and a recommended read by the Chicago Tribune. Luncheon tickets are $25. General admission tickets are $10. Tickets are available at Precious

Rachel Anne Ridge is the speaker at the Day for Women.

Memories, 1404 S. 31st St., Temple; the Temple Daily Telegram, 10 S. Third St., Temple, or online at tdtnews.com. Presented by Academy Sports and Outdoors the event features a luncheon, fashion shows, shopping, product samples and door prizes. It is sponsored by Precious Memories and AFC Urgent Care. Frank W. Mayborn Civic and Convention Center 3303 N. Third St., Temple.

calendar TexTalk

Richard Corpuz and his 5-year-old daughter, Adelina, dance to “Gangnam Style” during the annual Daddy-Daughter Dance in 2015 at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center. Temple, Killeen and Harker Heights all plan to host dances this month.

Fishing in the Park Feb. 20, 9 to 11 a.m. Free fishing, free raffle drawing for prizes and food trucks selling a variety of items. All Texas Parks & Wildlife rules apply. For more information, call 254-542-2719. Copperas Cove City Park 1206 W. Avenue B

Friends of the Temple Library Mid-Winter Used Book Sale Member’s Preview Feb. 23, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Public hours Feb. 24-25, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 26, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 27, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Most books are $1-$2 with children’s books and media even less. Books, books

on tape and CD, records, cassettes, CDs, VHS, DVDs, magazines, and various games/puzzles/activity books are all for sale. Cash, check or charge is accepted for payment. For more information, call 254-298-5556 or email friendsoftemplelibrary@gmail.com. Temple Library 100 W. Adams Ave., Temple Continued

TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

TexTalk calendar

Ailey II sponsored by the Central Texas Orchestral Society Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m. Ailey II is universally renowned for merging the spirit and energy of the country’s best young dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s most outstanding emerging choreographers. Founded in 1974, the company embodies Mr. Alvin Ailey’s pioneering mission to establish an extended cultural community that provides dance performances, training, and community programs for all people. For tickets and more information, call 254-773-9926 or visit www.http://cacarts. org/on-stage. Cultural Activities Center 3011 N. Third St., Temple Daddy-Daughter Dance Feb. 26, 6 to 9 p.m. For more information, call Killeen Parks & Recreation at 254-501-6390. Killeen Civic & Conference Center 3301 S. W.S. Young Drive, Killeen Buddy Brunch Feb. 27, 9 to 11 a.m. $5 per person Join your favorite characters at this great family event. Dance, dine, and take pics with Larry the Lion, Bobby Bun, HEB Buddy, and many more at our Buddy Brunch, For more information, call Belinda at 254-298-5733. Gober Party House 1516 S. Avenue H, Temple Texas Music Series at the Cultural Activities Center presents John Fullbright Feb. 27, 7:30 p.m. $23 advance; $27 door John Fullbright got his start at the legendary Blue Door listening room in Oklahoma City. It was there that he recorded a live album and found his base, opening for many other writers including fellow Oklahomans Kevin Welch and Jimmy Webb. His 2012 studio debut, “From the Ground Up,” received a Grammy nomination for Americana Album of the Year, and later that year he won ASCAP’s Harold Adamson Award for lyric writing. In 2014, John released the critically acclaimed Songs, toured all 28

FEBRUARY 2016 | TEX APPEAL

Rachel Miller, right, of Rachel’s Texas Kitchen, based in Chilton, provides Robert Johnson, left, with a sample of a jam at a home and garden show at the Bell County Expo Center in Belton last year.

over America and the UK, and appeared on Late Night with David Letterman. For more information, call 254-773-9926 or visit www.http://cacarts. org/on-stage. Cultural Activities Center 3011 N. Third St., Temple

available for a new home, a remodeling project or accents for your current space. For more information, call 254-773-0445 or visit www.tahb.org/ homeandgarden Bell County Expo Center 301 W. Loop 121, Belton

Public Arts League of Salado presents Taste of Salado Feb. 27, 6 to 9 p.m. Join us for an evening of tastes to savor from Salado’s finest B & Bs and Inns. View sights that inspire, featuring Salado’s talented artist community. Tickets include one glass of wine, a taste from each B&B/Inn, and a chance at a drawing. For more information and tickets, call 254-947-5040. Seating is limited so reserve your tickets early. Jack’s Barn 535 Pace Park Road, Salado

The Beautiful Berbers by Martha D. Allen and Observation by Folusha J. Omole Now through March 18 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or by appointment. Martha Dickson Allen displays watercolor paintings of Berber women from North Africa in Saulsbury Gallery. Folusho J. Omole’s Observation exhibit reflects the issues of his environment while growing up in West Africa. His oil and mixed media paintings will be on display in McCreary Gallery. On display in the Howard and Upstairs Galleries are submissions and award winners for the CAC’s second annual art competition. Student entries in various media will be also be on display. For more information, visit cacARTS. org or call 254-773-9926. Cultural Activities Center 3011 N. Third St., Temple

2016 Temple Area Builders Association Home & Garden Show Feb. 26-28 6 to 9 p.m. Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday Admission $5; children 12 and younger are admitted free The Temple Area Builder’s Association presents more than 145 exhibitors offering the latest products

Email upcoming events to edittexappealmagazine@gmail.com.

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TexTalk well-fed head

Past meets present in ‘The Sea Keeper’s Daughters’

By CATHERINE HOSMAN

isa Wingate’s latest novel, “The Sea Keeper’s Daughters,” is the final book in a trilogy that revolves around a family mystery that spans decades. Once again Wingate takes her readers on an eloquent trip through time as she travels from the 19th century to the 21st century. In “The Sea Keeper’s Daughter,” published by Tyndale House, Wingate introduces Whitney Monroe, a young restaurateur from Michigan faced with losing her restaurant in a hostile takeover. When she inherits an old Gilded Age hotel on North Carolina’s Outer Banks from her mother, she plans to sell the building and its contents in the hopes of using the money to save her restaurant. But an unlikely find reveals more about her life than she had hoped to learn, and introduces her to a family she never knew. In her quest to sell her family’s property and its contents, she is forced to face her estranged stepfather, learn secrets about her grandmother and great aunt and discover a mother that left her too soon. Family tensions mount as obligations and mysteries unfold and Whitney is caught between her life in Michigan and a new life developing in North Carolina. Wingate covers a full range of emotions in her characters and sometimes you think you are reading about real people. She slips in nuances of the 21st century effortlessly like those things have always been in our lives as she references YouTube, apps, cellphones and laptops. In addition, she relives the past through the Federal Writer’s Project, which was created in 1935 to “provide employment for historians, teachers, writers, librarians, and other white-collar workers. Originally, the purpose of the project was to produce a series of sectional guide books under the name American Guide, focusing on the scenic, historical, cultural, and economic resources of the United States.” (Source: Library of Congress.) Wingate’s characters are rich and complex. To some degree, she said she “plans them out, and to some degree they just happen. They seem to take on their own characteristics and the story takes on a life of its own.” Woven into the tapestry of her characters are life lessons that seem to touch the core of her readers. “The best stories do that,” she said. “They don’t 30

FEBRUARY 2016 | TEX APPEAL

Family tensions mount as obligations and mysteries unfold and Whitney is caught between her life in Michigan and a new life developing in North Carolina. exactly teach us things, but awaken things that are inside of us. I didn’t think I could learn things from the people in my head, but I learn a lot from the characters I write. As the story comes to its conclusion, she wraps up some of the mysteries of her last novel, “The Story Keeper,” and in “The Sea Keeper’s Daughters,” the blurred lines of time vanish as the past meets the present.

Tex Appeal Magazine is looking for photographers and freelance writers with experience photographing and/or writing features for a newspaper or magazine. Send your resumes and three to five recent stories and/or photographs for consideration to edittexappealmagazine@gmail.com.

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FEBRUARY 2016 | TEX APPEAL

Long-awaited

love story

Couple reconnects, weds 72 years after first proposal Story b y FRED AFFLERBACH Photos by JULIE NABOURS and contributed by the Dillards

t age 5, Doug Dillard had a crush on the girl who lived around the corner on Avenue J in Temple. The year was 1935. In a voice loud enough for a neighbor to hear, he asked JoAn Pirtle to marry him. JoAn turned him down. We were too young, she said. At age 78, Doug Dillard still had a crush on the girl who grew up just around corner. The year was 2007. And Doug was ready to take another crack at winning JoAn’s hand. So Dillard drove JoAn over to her girlhood home on Avenue J. “I said I want to take your picture on that corner where we used to talk. I took that picture, dropped down on one knee and asked her again, ‘Will you marry me?’ And this time she said yes, 72 years after that rejection.” On Sept. 15, 2007, Doug and JoAn Dillard traded wedding vows at a brief ceremony with close friends and family. Andy Davis, pastor at

“And Doug, he ought to teach classes on what it means to be a husband. He takes care of her. Whatever she needs or wants, he’s right there, Johnny on the Spot. He’s so helpful to her. That’s beautiful to see.” Pastor Andy Davis First Baptist Belton, said it was one of the most extraordinary weddings he’s presided over in the 27 years he’s been in Belton “Given the background, I think it was just wonderful. They were like 18-year-olds. They were just having lots of fun,” Davis said. “One of the things I take away from it is God intends the very best for us and he had a plan for Doug and JoAn in their golden years; that they could find someone that they could share the rest of their lives with and enjoy each other’s presence and be a blessing to each other.” Throughout high school, Doug and JoAn remained friends, but nothing romantic sprouted from their early years playing hopscotch

and jacks. Doug said he held her up on a pedestal and JoAn remembers his ability to mimic Donald Duck and for drawing cartoons, a skill that would serve him well later in life. After high school, JoAn and Doug earned degrees at different universities, married and moved on. JoAn lived in Houston and worked as a teacher and administrator at the public school district. Upon retirement, she and her first husband, Dee Musick, moved to Belton. She served four terms on the Belton City Council and was president of the Bell County Museum. She is highly regarded for her philanthropy at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, First Baptist Continued TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

FEBRUARY 2016 | TEX APPEAL

JoAn and Doug Dillard take a spin on the dance floor at last year’s Pioneer Days celebrating the Chisholm Trail in Belton.

Belton and other civic organizations. After JoAn’s husband died, she kept busy serving on various boards and committees. The thought of marrying again did not cross her mind. “I’d been a widow for 12 years and I was very happy with my life. I didn’t sit home. You might go by yourself but you’re never by yourself when you get there,” JoAn said. “So I never let that handicap me.” But after Doug lost his wife of 53 years, he struggled with depression. His life and career in religious public relations had been fulfilling. Drawing on that talent for sketching cartoons, he created a

character, Brother Blotz, that graced the editorial pages of the Baptist Standard for three decades. His humor and public speaking skills kept him busy, traveling across Texas as an after-dinner speaker. Yet he was grappling with his new role in life, one without a partner. “I went into a blue funk for over a year. A morbid kind of grief,” Dillard said. “I had an invitation to go speak at the 100th anniversary of a church in San Antonio. I decided it was time for me to come out of that deep cavern of grief and live. So I was going to devote that trip to nostalgia. I’m going to call every classmate on my way down (from

Garland to San Antonio). Take my time going and coming and begin to circulate again. As I drove through Troy, I called JoAn” But she wasn’t home. So Dillard left a message and decided to hang out at the Bell County Museum. Their paths had crossed several times through the years, so his call shouldn’t be a surprise. Fifteen minutes later, JoAn returned the call. She was on her way to a meeting with the board of directors at The Bell County Museum where Dillard sat waiting. After a short visit at the museum, Dillard hit the road for San Antonio. But on the return Continued TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

JoAn Dillard feeds goats at her home in Belton.

trip, he called and asked her out for dinner. “I looked at her and realized that for the first time we had gotten together, crossed paths, that we were both single,” Dillard said. “Maybe this girl that I was still holding up on a pedestal way beyond my reach might have an interest.” After that first date, things happened fast. The next weekend, Dillard returned to Belton to spend more time with JoAn. “From there, we started scheming,” Dillard said. “When are we going to get married? June wedding became a spring wedding. Became a New Year’s wedding. Became why not marry before Thanksgiving so we could spend Thanksgiving with our families and get them to know each other?” But an upcoming trip to New Mexico with members of the Golden 36

FEBRUARY 2016 | TEX APPEAL

Age Club at First Baptist Belton pushed Dillard to propose marriage sooner than even he expected. JoAn’s friend who would be sharing a room with her at the lodge where the group was staying cancelled her plans. Finding a roommate at this late date was a problem. Enter Larry Putman, leader of the Golden Age Club and music minister at First Baptist for 30 years. Putman heard that JoAn needed a roommate for the upcoming trip so he gave Dillard a friendly shove. “You just go ahead and get married,” he told Dillard. “And you can go, too, as a couple.” Shortly afterward, Dillard drove JoAn to that house on Avenue J under pretense of taking her picture. On the same corner where they played hopscotch 72 years ago, he again asked JoAn’s hand in marriage. Putman said the former

childhood friends have been good for each other. “If ever there was an ideal marriage, that was one. They have so much in common. It was truly a good match.” The Dillards celebrated their 99th wedding anniversary in December. “When you get married at age 78, you have to make up for lost time,” Doug Dillard said with a mischievous grin. “So we decided to celebrate monthly, which makes people drop their teeth. That gives me an opportunity to tell our story.” Eight years after the Dillards traded wedding vows, Pastor Davis said the couple still exudes warmth and dedication toward each other. “You see them walking in the church or out in public somewhere, they’re holding hands. And that’s just a beautiful picture of what a marriage should be. They are just a beautiful picture.”

Early impressions

Below, Doug and JoAn Dillard share their memories attending Reagan Elementary in Temple, returning to their old neighborhood, and their courtship as septuagenarians. Doug Dillard said: “I remember vividly standing in her yard one time while she was standing on the porch, digging my toes into the dirt, trying to get up nerve to ask the real question, ‘JoAn do you really like me?’” “Before I left that week, I think we both knew we were going to get married. I think the only question was how long it was going to take.” JoAn Dillard said: “One day, his mother’s neighbor called and said Mrs. Dillard, Douglas asked JoAn to marry him. Now we were age 5.” “He was real smart. He was always drawing cartoons. He was quiet. But he could talk like Donald Duck. That did impress me. After we got up in the third or fourth grade, I’d ask the teacher, ‘Can Douglas talk like Donald Duck?’” Old family photos include this one of JoAn in kindergarten, with arms crossed over stair railing, fourth from left.

TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

FEBRUARY 2016 | TEX APPEAL

A romantic escape Story by CATHERINE HOSMAN Photos by MITCHEL BARRETT

ake a back roads adventure away from the reality of every day life and spend a romantic getaway with your sweetie at the Cabins at Angel Springs, in Georgetown. This hidden enclave sits on 10 acres, and getting to this fourcabin resort from Bell County means meandering through some of the most beautiful scenery in Central Texas. Although there are easier ways to arrive to this destination, via Interstate 35 and Highway. 29 from the east or via U.S. Highway 183 on the west, part of the romance of the drive through the back country includes the Texas topography and a stop to browse at one of the roadside antique shops you’ll pass along the way. Owned and operated by Anthony and Norma Beissner, they are the perfect couple to play host to Valentine’s Day overnighters. They met in 2000 while traveling to Winter Park, Colo., for a Valentine’s Day winter-weekend vacation with an Austin ski club. They didn’t know each other until a chance encounter at a group dinner brought them together. They cliqued immediately and a private, casual dinner followed. One year later, while on an airplane heading to Mt. Bachelor, Ore., for another Valentine’s ski trip, Anthony proposed to Norma the day before the romantic holiday so he could introduce her as his fiancé on Valentine’s Day. She said yes. The couple each had corporate careers before becoming log cabin resort owners. She worked in Continued TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

The Cabins at Angel Springs in Georgetown are owned and operated by Anthony and Norma Beissner.

marketing for a major service industry vendor, and he was a computer systems analyst and traveled the globe for his work. “We wanted to do something together,” Norma said. ”And not travel all over the world,” added Anthony. Eleven years ago they created the Angel Springs Event Center and began hosting weddings and events. Six years ago, they decided to offer lodging to their guests and after visiting other log cabin resorts, decided to build four cabins on their 10-acre spread. “At first we thought of doing a bed and breakfast,” Norma said. “But there is something about log cabins that are so comforting.” There are four no-frills, luxuriously rustic cabins at Angel Springs. All built from cedar, these impeccably cared for cabins face the western meadow that puts on its own show, depending on the time of year or day. In spring, the bluebonnets and other wildflowers carpet the meadow; in the fall, a trimmed meadow reveals the green layer of wildflowers waiting to blossom when spring returns. Wildlife frequent the meadow and on any given day or evening, guests can witness a red-tailed hawk flying overhead; a mother turkey and her brood munching on insects in the meadow on their way to the river, the occasional ringtail cat emerging from its den at night, or a jackrabbit. The quiet atmosphere is great for reflection and meditation and the porch swing is a great place to sit for late-night stargazing without the interference of city lights. There is plenty of space between each cabin so privacy is not an issue. You can unplug, or not, in your private cabin, as Wi-Fi is available. The Woodland, Butterfly and Songbird cabins each offer a king- and queen-size bed, and the Wildflower offers a king and sofa bed. Kids are welcome, but pets are not.

Continued

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Surrounded by 1,600 acres of private ranchland, Angel Springs is 15 minutes away from fine dining and attractions in Georgetown and Cedar Park. Tejas Park and the San Gabriel River are a short drive away for outdoor enthusiasts. There are no stoves in the cabins, but there is a microwave. Guests also enjoy complimentary coffee, cold beverages and an assortment of snacks in the bowl on the cabin table. Bring your own favorite picnic food and bottle of wine or pick up some carryout on the way to the cabins. Check-in is a breeze. Each cabin has a lockbox on its door. Guest prepay for their stay with a credit card and are given their own combination to the box where the key is waiting, so it doesn’t matter what time you get in. If there are issues, the owners are just a phone call away and they are happy to answer any questions that may arise. “People want to talk to the owners,” the couple echoed. “We can make decisions about things.” 42

FEBRUARY 2016 | TEX APPEAL

If you go 1500 County Road 267 Georgetown, Texas Located 15 miles north of Austin at 1500 County Road 267, it is just southeast of the intersection of U.S. Highway 183 & State Highway 29. The cabins are also accessible from Bell County via Texas 195; turn right onto County Road 241 (3.3 miles); turn left onto Ranch Road 2338 (2.5 miles); Turn right onto Ronald Reagan Boulevard (9.4 miles); Drive to County Road 267 3 minutes (1.7 miles). County road signs are sometimes hidden by trees. Measure the distance on your odometer. For more information, visit www.cabinsatangelsprings.com or call Norma and Anthony Beissner at 866-771-1500.

TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

Language of love

On Valentine’s Day, know your flowers and the messages they convey By Catherine Hosman

alentine’s Day is a day when love is celebrated through simple gifts of flowers and candy exchanged between friends, lovers, sweethearts, spouses, fathers and daughters, mothers and sons. There are several legends about how the tradition of Valentine’s Day started. Some ideas date back as far as the pagan customs of third and fourth century Rome, to the 16th century medieval era of chivalry. It was during the Roman times, beginning in the 6th century AD, that young males began the custom of offering “women they admired and wished to court handwritten greetings of affection on Feb. 14.” During the medieval era, “the names of English maidens and bachelors were put into boxes and drawn out in pairs. The couples exchanged gifts and the girl became the man’s sweetheart for a year. By the 16th century, the church adopted St. Valentine as the Patron Saint of Love, and in 1537, King Henry VIII, declared, by royal charter, that all England celebrate Feb. 14 as St. Valentine’s Day.” (Source: www.novareinna.com/festive/valentine/ html.) The tradition evolved and continues in the 21st century with notes of love, flowers and candy given on this heartfelt day. Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged by classmates, workmates and friends, and some times a secret admirer slips in a card, leaving the recipient in a state of suspense. Flowers still take the lead as far as gifts, with heart-shaped boxes filled with chocolates a close second. In a more intimate relationship, the perfect piece of jewelry is the gift of choice. When choosing flowers, however, know what message you want to send. Bobbye Jacobs of BJs Flowers in Temple said all flowers have a special meaning. Continued 44

FEBRUARY 2016 | TEX APPEAL

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Just for fun

• Approximately 1 billion valentine cards are exchanged each year — the largest seasonal cardselling occasion of the year next to Christmas. • Most Valentine’s Day cards (83 percent) are purchased by women. However, the number of cards purchased by men (17 percent) is gradually rising, thought by some sources to be due to the fact that men often purchase two cards for their significant others — an amusing one and the obligatory romantic one which they believe is expected of them. • Half of all consumers prefer to receive a humorous valentine, followed by a romantic greeting (31 percent) and then a more risqué form of card (8.2 percent). More than one-third of women (36 percent) and 26 percent of men prefer to receive a romantic valentine. Thirteen percent of men prefer a more sexy valentine, whereas only 3.5 percent of women prefer this variety of card. • Feb. 14 is the most important holiday for florists, accounting for 32 percent of annual sales. • Seventy-three percent of people who buy flowers to send on Valentine’s Day are male — only 27 percent are female. • About 110 million roses — the majority of them red — will be sold and delivered within a three-day time period during the Valentine’s Day celebrations. • About 3 percent of pet owners will give a Valentine’s Day gift to their pet. • The chief colors associated with Valentine’s Day are pink, red and white. Pink is a delicate, almost innocent shade of red and is also connected with Saint Valentine, whose burial was said to have caused the pink almond tree to blossom. Red is a symbol of warmth and feeling — the color of the heart, while white represents purity and faith — a faith between two who love each other. (Source: www.novareinna.com/ festive/valentine/html.) 46

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Each floral bouquet or arrangement has a different, or confluence, of meaning. Flowers speak in their own language and here are the translations:

Dark pink roses means thankfulness.

Delphinium means you have an open heart.

Yellow rose is friendship.

Alstroemeria, also called Peruvian lilies, represent friendship and devotion.

For example, red roses remain the top flower for Valentine’s Day, and mean “I love and respect you.” But red roses aren’t the only flowers sent or received. Jacobs said some women like to receive flowers according to what was in their wedding bouquet, or a favorite flower that could be different from a rose. “We send a lot of mixed

arrangements with roses, carnations and other flowers,” Jacobs said. She said you can unlock the mystery of flowers and send an extra special message. Women aren’t the only gender who enjoy receiving flowers, men do too, Jacobs said. When ordering flowers for a man, she said, keep it masculine, no need to get too frilly for the guys.

Gardenias mean you are lovely, or from a secret love.

Red rose means “I love you,” respect.

Pink rose is joy or admiration.

Sunflower means power, warmth nourishment. White carnation says you are sweet and lovely. Red carnation means deep love and affection.

Although the tradition of Valentine’s Day may date back to Roman times, it was a while before candy, specifically chocolates, became part of gift-giving. Richard Cadbury, of Cadbury’s, is cited as the first chocolatier to come up with the idea of giving candy on Valentine’s Day in the 1890s. Some people believe chocolate is given because it’s an aphrodisiac, while others believe the tradition was developed by confectioners to promote products in the seasonal lull between Christmas and Easter. Special packaging has been employed for candies for hundreds of years. But one thing is for sure, candy sells at Valentine’s Day. According to the National Retail Federation, $20 billion will be spent for Valentine’s Day gifts in 2016. That total includes: • 58 million pounds of chocolate. • 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate. • 8 billion Sweathearts (conversation hearts) are produced annually. • Last year’s candy sales were $1.7 billion, or 53.2 percent of holiday customers. (Sources: www.footimeline.org/valentines.html; www.wikipedia.org)

get or T f late ’ N dO choco the

Daisies mean innocence, purity and gentleness.

TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

Dining and Restaurants Las Casas Restaurant & Patio

IH-35 at 57th Street, Temple | 254-774-7476 | LasCasasTemple.com Las Casas Restaurant & Patio, Famous “White Wing™” originator, has been serving Bell County and the Central Texas community since 1982! Owner and hosts Ralph and Debbie Sheffield are proud to be nationally acclaimed as a top independently owned restaurant. Ralph is a Past President of the Texas Restaurant Association, Past Chair of the TRA Education Foundation, and was inducted into the TRA Hall of Honor in 2009. Debbie is a Past President of the Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival. Las Casas is open every day at 11 a.m. Las Casas’ popular dishes include Tex-Mex and Southwestern Cuisine as well as classic Fajitas and Margaritas. Enjoy dining in the restaurant or on the patio for a more casual atmosphere. We are now serving more than 25 kinds of Tequila. Las Casas was voted No. 1 Mexican Restaurant in Bell County and No. 1 Caterer in Temple. The catering service includes everything from seated dinners to casual buffets and delivery orders. Las Casas is a favorite for take-out orders. Check out the Fajita Pick up special on the website. Ralph & Debbie Sheffield, owners 48

FEBRUARY 2016 | TEX APPEAL

Ask our customers – we do more than just Tex-Mex – and we do it well!

Grand Avenue Theater

2809 Oakmark Drive, Belton 254-939-5050 (Showtimes: 254-939-5000) grandavenuetheater.com You may think of the Grand Avenue Theater in Belton as a great place to watch a new release or a major sporting event on the big screen. It is, of course. But is also a café that has become a popular spot for a nice lunch – especially for busy professionals. The Grand Avenue Theater lobby café features a diner-style menu with weekly specials, gourmet sandwiches, burgers, chicken fried steak and more, according to General Manager Daniel Bucher. The prices are competitive and the atmosphere is relaxed. “Ara Yauk is our executive chef and is the one responsible for all the good eats and treats,” Bucher said. “We appreciate everything he has done, providing us with his expertise in culinary arts … an excellent menu and options.” Grand Avenue is the only area theater with a fullservice kitchen. Movie-goers aren’t limited to nachos and popcorn. The in-theater menu, featuring items like delicious grilled chicken sliders and mouth-watering onion rings, is available from 30 minutes before the first showtime to 15 minutes after the last showtime. The lunch café is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Opened in 2012, Grand Avenue Theater brought a unique and needed entertainment option to Belton and Central Texas. “Entertaining you in Grand style through core principles of ‘Clean, Courteous and Classy’ is our mission,” Bucher said. The locally-owned business not only fulfills that mission, but it also works to give back to the community through donation nights, outdoor movie events and other activities. “We strive to bring the best experience to each and every customer,” Bucher says.

Highlight your business with an upcoming profile feature: March: Realtors | April: Builders and Designers May: Women in Business June: Attorneys

Call us at 254-501-7500 or 254-778-4444 today. TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

By CATHERINE HOSMAN Photos and layout by JULIE NABOURS

FEBRUARY 2016 | TEX APPEAL

Below are instructions for three basic core exercises.

Lie flat on your back and think about vacuuming your belly button in towards your spine; your lower back should be touching the ground. Abdominals and glutes held tight, raise your arms overhead and legs out straight with toes pointed. Slowly raise your head, shoulders, and legs off the ground - your ears are glued between your shoulders. Stay tight – or hollow – in the lowest position you can have your arms and legs without them touching the ground and without allowing your lower back to come off the ground.

A push-up done correctly should use power from your pectoral (chest) and latissimus dorsi (part of the back) muscles. When setting up, imagine if someone were to look at your body from overhead, your body would look like an arrow – arms diagonally back from your shoulders and body completely straight. Abdominals, glutes, and quads should be pulled tight to keep your body in a plank as you push away from the floor with an exhale. Then on the descent imagining pulling your hands towards your shoulders – an active descent, not just letting your body drop to the floor.

Prepare by getting on your hands and knees in a quadruped position. With an exhale, engage your core and lift your knees approximately two inches from the ground, keeping them directly under your hips. Without raising your hips, glutes or knees any higher in the air, move forward by taking small steps with opposite hand and foot. KEEP YOUR KNEES UNDER YOUR HIPS!

TexFit

Modification: Start in the top position, and hold hands in front of you, still aiming for a hollow position.

Modification: Do not drop to your knees! This will not help develop the full body plank you need to hold in a push-up. Start with a pushup on the wall, then drop to a bench or chair, gradually lowering the angle of your body until you have full push-ups.

Modification: Start with a basic baby crawl, knees on the floor, and gradually increase the time you spend on a full crawl. Continued TEXAPPEALMAG.COM 51

Recomm e n d e d R e p s All three of the strengthing exercises are recommended at 3-4 times a week with a day of rest in between each workout. Hollow Hold - Start with 3 sets of 30 seconds per day. If you can’t hold it for the full 30 seconds, don’t give up. Slowly increase your time to 30 seconds. If you can do it easily, try holding it for 45 seconds and add another set on. Push-up - Can be done on the ground or standing up. First, establish your ‘max’ - how many push-ups can you do in good form without stopping. From there you can determine your work out. If your max is 5 pushups, perform sets as following: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 - subtracting 1 repetition per set. This can be applied to virtually any max. If you do not have the strength to do more than one or a full push-up, establish your max from an elevated push-up, and perform your workout at that level. Primal Crawl - Start with 3 sets of 30 seconds per day. Pick out one day a week to find your personal record. See how long you can crawl in good form and challenge yourself to add time on during your next workout.

Use the chart below to track your progress. Mark days of rest with a “R”.

Push-ups max reps: Primal Crawl time held:

Hollow Hold time held: Push-ups max reps: Primal Crawl time held:

Hollow Hold time held: Push-ups max reps: Primal Crawl time held: 52

Hollow Hold time held:

Hollow Hold Hollow Hold time held: time held:

Push-ups max reps:

Primal Crawl time held:

Primal Crawl Primal Crawl time held: time held:

Primal Crawl time held:

Hollow Hold time held:

Hollow Hold Hollow Hold time held: time held:

Hollow Hold time held:

Push-ups max reps:

Primal Crawl time held:

Primal Crawl Primal Crawl time held: time held:

Primal Crawl time held:

Hollow Hold time held:

Hollow Hold Hollow Hold time held: time held:

Hollow Hold time held:

Push-ups max reps:

Primal Crawl time held:

Primal Crawl Primal Crawl time held: time held:

Primal Crawl time held:

Hollow Hold time held:

Hollow Hold Hollow Hold time held: time held:

Hollow Hold time held:

Push-ups max reps:

Primal Crawl time held:

Primal Crawl Primal Crawl time held: time held:

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Push-ups max reps:

Hollow Hold time held: Push-ups max reps:

Push-ups max reps:

Push-ups max reps: Primal Crawl time held:

tear this page out and keep near workout area

Hollow Hold time held:

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Call us at 254-501-7500 or 254-778-4444 today. TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

TexAdventures

Riding the rails

through the Central Texas Hill Country Story and photos by FRED AFFLERBACH

n a journey through space and time, a 56-year-old locomotive pulls several passenger rail cars built in the 1940s along a route constructed more than 130 years ago. The train rocks along a wooden trestle bridge over the San Gabriel River. It chugs through cedar tree thickets and past historic buildings. A boy standing at a railroad crossing honks an imaginary train whistle. Welcome aboard The Hill Country Flyer, a vintage passenger train that departs Cedar Park at 10 a.m. on most Saturdays. The train sojourns two hours later in Burnet for dining and shopping and returns to Cedar Park about 4 p.m. On a cold, January morning, the engineer engaged the 2,400 horsepower diesel locomotive and blasted two long whistles. Children gaped out the window while their parents and grandparents relaxed in booths, sipping coffee and munching muffins. Cart attendant Clint Waggoner, a volunteer for 17 years, explained the line was built in 1882 and used for hauling granite from quarries near Burnet and Marble Falls to build the state capitol building in Austin. “You’ll still see big blocks of pink granite along the side where granite had fallen off the flat cars,” Waggoner said. Although the train is a rolling history lesson on steel tracks, 10-year volunteer Barbara Clow said the ride is more than just smoke and memories. “I talk to people from all over the world 58

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The Hill Country Flyer rounds a bend near Bertram on a crisp and clear January day. TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

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Ten-year-volunteer Ray Clow sells candy, snacks and souvenirs such as this handmade, wooden train whistle in the concessions car.

— Germany, Switzerland, Lithuania, Russia. A lot of Europeans are train riders. To them it’s interesting. A lot of people, it’s the first time they’ve been on a train in their life. There’s a man riding the train with two granddaughters, never been on a train before.” That man, Ed Hoffman (known as Paw Paw to his granddaughters) said he wanted his grandchildren to experience first-hand something that can’t be found on TV or the Internet. “It doesn’t take you out in the middle of nowhere, but it gets you off the road a little bit,” Hoffman said. “It’s kind of magical. Sometimes I think we’re too connected. That’s why I said, no phones, no computers. Just watching what’s outside. Use your imagination.” A retired couple, Julie and Gerald Brossett, drove three hours from Katy to ride in the Rippling Stream first class 60

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Volunteers such as Nathan Talbot put in long but rewarding days aboard the Hill Country Flyer. A volunteer could walk up to nine miles, through the rail cars assisting passengers, on one trip.

lounge car. Julie Brossett said she grew up with the sound of train whistles blowing day and night. She lived five blocks from the Muskogee, Okla. train

Passengers enjoy a two-hour layover in Burnet where they can eat, shop and explore the historic courthouse square.

yard where her father reported to work as a brakeman for 25 years. But before her dad could take her on a trip, the passenger line was discontinued. “So this is my first trip,” she said. “It’s so calming, serene, just looking out at everything. I like the atmosphere. It made me feel really good. I wondered if it would make me feel sad, thinking about my dad. But it takes me back to a happy time.” The Hill Country Flyer is operated by the Austin Steam Train Association, a nonprofit organization founded in 1989 by train aficionados in the Austin area. The original engine, the Southern Pacific 786, is a steam-powered locomotive built in 1916. After a few years pulling passenger cars to Burnet and back, it had to be sidelined for a major rebuild. But within another year or two, repairs should be complete so it can return to its former glory chugging along and blowing smoke across the Hill Country. Whistle stop in Burnet About the time kids get a little restless and some passengers’ stomachs begin to rumble, the train rounds a bend, descends a gentle grade and

rolls into historic Burnet. A two-hour layover before returning to Cedar Park provides ample time to eat and shop at various antique stores. Several years ago, Houston couple Liz and Trace Catlin rode the Hill Country Flyer into town and loved Burnet so much they stayed. They bought a restaurant on the town square and renamed it the Trailblazer Grille. “It’s good exposure for the Hill Country and our town,” Trace Catlin said, referring to the hundreds of folks that ride the rails into town on Saturdays. “We actually meet the train, hand out menus and give directions. We certainly try to create an atmosphere that’s conducive for people coming off the train and what they can expect in small town Texas. A lot of people say they have to come back in their cars because they want to see more . . . and to hang out here for a weekend.” During spring and fall, train riders needn’t be alarmed if they hear gunshots and see cowboys drop to their knees and roll onto the ground. The Burnet Gunfighters, a nonprofit charitable organization, performs faux gunfights during the layover. If you ride

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ABOVE: Car attendant Clint Waggoner told Julie and Gerald Brossett that the Hill Country Flyer has been featured in numerous movies such as â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Newton Boys,â&#x20AC;? starring Mathew McConaughey and Ethan Hawke. AT RIGHT: This 2,400horsepower, 1960-model, diesel-powered locomotive, carries passengers from Cedar Park to Burnet on most Saturdays throughout the year.

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According to the ASTA, this car, renamed the Buckeye Lake, was built in 1949 for the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. It originally operated on daily runs between New York and Buffalo.

the train in December, the gunfighters could climb aboard and stage a mock robbery. The shows typically begin with a gun safety lesson. About the train The American Locomotive Company built the diesel locomotive, the 442, in 1960. Railroad buffs have dubbed this model a gator because of its long and low nose. Riders have a choice of cars, ranging from coach to first class to the caboose. The Silver Pine, a coach car, was built in 1948 and first served with the California Zephyr, which ran between Chicago and Oakland, Calif. The first class lounge car, Rippling Stream, was built in 1949 for the New York Central System. It’s one of 10 sister cars built to originally ride in sequence with similarly named cars such as Mountain Stream and Rainbow Stream. The adults-only first class lounge car, Nambe, was built in 1937 for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. It has tables and chairs that seat up to 32 people. The Nambe is one of only two cars that still exist in this model series. According to the ASTA, the Nambe exemplifies the streamlined design of the 1930s with original furnishings intact. And a 1930 model caboose that seats 12 is available

If you go The Hill Country Flyer departs the Cedar Park depot most Saturdays at 10 a.m. and returns at 4 p.m. Tickets range between $28 and $53. Special excursions — Valentine’s Day, Spring Break, the Bluebonnet Festival — run at various times throughout the year. For more information and to book tickets, go to: www. austinsteamtrain.org.

for charter at $500. Wheelchair accommodations on a coach car, the Buckeye Trail, provide comfort for those with disabilities. All cars have heating and air-conditioning and a restroom (except no AC in the caboose). The Austin Steam Train Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to recreating the experience of riding historic passenger trains. More than 650,000 people have ridden the Hill Country Flyer since 1992. The train itself is run by an allvolunteer staff and welcomes anyone, regardless of experience, to join their close-knit family. Volunteers serve in various capacities, from engineer to car attendant to yard worker. TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

Call us at 254-501-7500 or 254-778-4444 today! 64

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AFC Urgent Care..........................................................................................7 Anderson Chapel AME Church.................................................................43 Atmos/Dallas...............................................................................................29 Bead Bistro...................................................................................................56 Bell County Museum................................................................................... 41 Best Wishes..................................................................................................54 Blind & Shutter Gallery..............................................................................29 CCA - Bartlett State Jail...............................................................................10 Central Texas Orthodontic.........................................................................65 Churchill for Sheriff......................................................................................7 Classy Cuts and Style...................................................................................55 Cochran Blair Potts......................................................................................54 Cornerstone Home Lending, Inc..................................................................5 Curtis Cook Designs................................................................................... 41 Dermatology Associates...............................................................................57 Diana’s Place................................................................................................55 DocuMaxx/Document Solutions..................................................................9 Eagle Home Mortgage.................................................................................29 Ellis Air Systems...........................................................................................27 English Maids..............................................................................................60 Estacia’s........................................................................................................57 Extraco Banks-Temple/Local.......................................................................68 Freeze & Squeeze.........................................................................................63 Giebel, Dr. Shelley/Healthy Success........................................................... 31 Grand Avenue..............................................................................................49 Hallmark Service Co.................................................................................... 41 Home Care Assistance.................................................................................45 Killeen Overhead Doors..............................................................................43 Las Casas......................................................................................................48 Lastovica Jewelers.........................................................................................53 Lochridge Priest Inc.....................................................................................19 Lovely Leaves................................................................................................56 Lucky Bebe...................................................................................................53 LULAC 4535.................................................................................................7 Marvina’s.....................................................................................................56 MB Harrell Law Office................................................................................15 Metroplex Hospital........................................................................................3 My Giving Tree............................................................................................55 Paperdoodles................................................................................................55 Perry Office Plus..........................................................................................55 Popabilities...................................................................................................54 Precious Memories.......................................................................................54 Railroad & Heritage Museum..................................................................... 61 Rick Lamar...................................................................................................53 Rosa Rodriguez Concrete............................................................................15 Running Right Auto Care........................................................................... 61 Sallys Star Resale..........................................................................................55 Scott’s Lawn Care Central Texas.................................................................64 Sewing Basket, The......................................................................................63 Shoe Box......................................................................................................56 Shoppes on Main in Salado.........................................................................60 Solar CenTex................................................................................................ 31 Stanley Steemer............................................................................................67 Temple Area Builders..................................................................................45 Temple Daily Telegram/DFW Promo...........................................................5 Truecore Fitness...........................................................................................10 Union State Bank........................................................................................43 Veranda Bloom/The Cottag........................................................................45 Wayne Benson M.D. P.A. Clinic...................................................................2 Zooty’s..........................................................................................................55 The Advertisers Index is published for reader convenience. Every effort is made to list information correctly. The publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions.

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