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CONTENTS 4 TTourism i
Not Dying on the Vine Despite Drought
8 Meet Your Neighbor Lynne Green helps HALO
10 Just Us Me and Gus
13 Take Off Flavorful chicken wing recipes
15 Where in the Hood? 18 Baseball in Their Blood Granbury resident enjoys adult league
22 Calendar of Events 24 Take This Jobby and Love It Granbury Airport worker combines job and hobby
26 Wings on the Brazos Area resident photographs birds on the river
30 Live and Learn Tarleton Fort Worth moves south
The great horned owl, sometimes referred as the hoot owl, can be found throughout Hood County. Pecan Plantation nature photographer Gary Marks captured the owl’s intense eyes. Marks’ “Wings on the Brazos” can be found on P. 26.
Tourism
Not Dying on the Vine Despite Drought
TEXT BY KATHY CRUZ PHOTOS BY MARY VINSON, MAP BY CYNTHIA HENRY
U
sed to be, locals and tourists would drink in the beauty of Lake Granbury. They can get their minds off the drought by drinking in something else: samples from a local brewery and area wineries. Granbury is home to Barking Rocks, Pemberton Cellars, Revolver Brewing and D’Vine Wine on the square. Bluff Dale Vineyards is just a short drive away. And what goes with wine? Cheese, of course. Hood County’s got that covered, too. Eagle Mountain Farmhouse Cheese Co. is in Lipan. Each establishment is open to the public. Some – including Eagle Mountain Farmhouse Cheese – may soon be part of an organized wine tour, though plans are in the preliminary stages. “I think it’s an awesome idea,” said Kay Wasielewski, one of the owners of
Granbury Gardens Bed and Breakfast. Wasielewski serves on the Tourism Advisory Board (TAB). “I think that anything that brings people into Granbury and gives them something to do while they’re here is wonderful,” she said. “I think they need as many options as we can possibly give them to get them to come back. I would love to see it start up and be successful.” A tour of local wineries was recently offered to those who attended a meeting of the Texas Downtown Association at the Granbury Resort Conference Center. It proved to be quite popular. “That was a whirlwind, two-hour tour but the people loved it,” said Diane Hedges, president of the TAB. Lawrence Tiberia of Barking Rocks, who goes simply by “Tiberia,” likes the idea of offering wine tours. “It is adding a dimension to tourism,” he said. In the meantime, though, the establishments are open for business to whoever wants to drop in – regardless of whether
Locally made beer, wine and cheese offer taste of Granbury
4 | Prime | March 2015
Dave Eagle, founder of Eagle Mountain Farmhouse Cheese Co. in Lipan, sells cheese to customers that include quality restaurants. Eagle runs the business with help from his son, Matt. they’re part of an organized tour. “I think there’s an interest in local,” said Tiberia. “There’s a passion about knowing where your food and drink is coming from, and it’s something that’s not going to go away.” Dave Eagle of the Eagle Mountain Farmhouse Cheese Co. agrees. He said he has
| THE FINER PLEASURES Tourists and locals can enjoy visits to area wineries, vineyards, a brewery and a cheese factory.
Thursday, noon to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday from noon to 7 p.m., and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
Barking Rocks
Pemberton Cellars
Address: 1919 Allen Court, Granbury Phone: 817-579-0007 Website: www.barkingrockswine.com Features small batches of premium wines that are handcrafted inside an old rock barn. First Friday events with live music are from 7 to 11 p.m. Tasting hours are Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m.
Address: 3500 Lipan Highway Phone: 817-408-0473 Website: www.pembertoncellarstx.com Featuring French Cousins, Viognier, Sweet Red of Mine and more. Tasting Room hours are from noon to 7 p.m. on Saturdays.
Eagle Mountain Farmhouse Cheese Co.
Address: 5222 County Road 148 Phone: 254-728-3540 Website: www.bluffdalevineyards.com Won First Place in the state’s Taster’s Choice competition, and First and Third Place at Grapefest. Closed on Tuesdays, but open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on other weekdays. Also open from noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.
Address: 104 E. Lipan Drive, Lipan Phone: 817-579-0090 Website: www.eaglemountaincheese.com Featuring handmade Gouda style and Trappist style cheeses. Open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. New retail area to open within the next couple of months, where customers will be able to buy cheese and homemade ice cream and watch through windows as cheese is being made.
D’Vine Wine
Revolver Brewing
Address: 107 E. Bridge St. Phone: 817-573-7200 Website: www.dvinewinegranbury.com Sells wines and wine accessories. Customers can also make their own wine, bottle it and create personalized labels. Open Tuesday through
Address: 5650 Matlock Road Phone: 817-736-8034 Website: www.revolverbrewing.com Saturday events from noon to 3 p.m., featuring brewing tours (with tastings for those 21 and older), live music and food vendors.
Bluff Dale Vineyards
Lawrence Tiberia, owner of the popular Barking Rocks Winery, believes tours of area wineries would add a new dimension to tourism. had no trouble selling his cheeses to restaurants in Fort Worth, Dallas, Austin and other places because of the “local food movement.” “I’ve gotten to where I can hardly eat out anymore, because I know what’s in the food,” Eagle said, referring to chemicals and foods that are processed industrially. Eagle Mountain is not “industrial” kind of company. “We’re making cheese the old, traditional
way, and it’s just a lot better cheese,” he said. The business, once located along U.S. Highway 377 in Granbury, is now in Lipan, across the road from City Hall.
Soon, Eagle and his son, Matt, will open a new retail area in the Eagle Mountain building. Customers will be able to buy cheese and homemade ice cream. “There will be windows where you can see
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Eagle Mountain Farmhouse Cheese Co.
Barking Rocks
+ Pemberton Cellars
+
D’Vine Wine
+
+
Revolver Brewing Dale + Bluff Vineyards
377
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Hood County Wineries, Vineyards, Brewery and Cheese Factory March 2015 | Prime | 5
us making cheese,” he said, adding that he wants to see young people go into farming. Jeff Pemberton of Pemberton Cellars said that visitors from Fort Worth, Grand Prairie and other cities are among locals who turn out for Saturday tastings. The Tasting Room is open from noon to 7 p.m. on that day. Pemberton Cellars offers seven wines, made from grapes grown on the six-and-a-half acre parcel of land. Jeff Pemberton, an architect, became interested in wine when he and his business partner had projects in northern California. Today, he makes wine with the help of his wife, Lynn, and his oldest son, Dax. Pemberton, Barking Rocks and Bluff Dale Vineyards were on the “Way Out Wineries” trail that started in Burleson and went to San Saba. “We had, like, 75 people show up for that weekend, following the trail,” Pemberton said. “And we had another 25 that were just in the area.” Of a wine tour possibly being offered locally, Pemberton said: “Since the lake is down, I think a wine tour would be a boost to the economy.” Q
6 | Prime | March 2015
Chuy Cordova (in blue jacket) and others helped during a recent bottling day at Barking Rocks Vineyard and Winery in Granbury. The winery is popular with both locals and tourists.
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prime | meet your neighbor
Lynne Green Granbury It’s all about the presentation. Lynne Green of Granbury likes to present adoptable pets in positive photographs. Her efforts benefit animals at Hood County Animal Control and also the HALO group – Hood County Animal Lovers Organization. “I happened to hear about a nationally famous photographer, Seth Castell, who shots pictures of adoptable pets. He talks about how one picture can save a life,” Greene said. Castell is famous for his best-selling series of books featuring underwater dogs and underwater puppies.
MAKING THEM LOOK GOOD When photographing pets that need a home, Greene said that Castell shoots the photos to make the dogs look good. “Not those pitiful, sad pictures that some groups use to promote their cause,” she said. Since she has always enjoyed photography as a hobby, Greene decided to give it a shot here. She said she first started with her point-and-shoot camera, then began using her husband’s digital SLR for better quality. “I go to the shelter and take photos inside the kennel, so the bars don’t show. It’s a more appealing picture,” she explained. “I might be in the kennel five minutes or so before they settle down and I can get a picture.”
EXCITED DOGS Some dogs turn their heads away when the camera is raised. Some dogs just get so excited it’s tough to get a picture. “People are more likely to fall in love with an animal when it’s pictured in a positive way,” Green explained. Some of her photographs have been enlarged and displayed at the new county Animal Control building off Highway 51 North. Green’s photos are used online to find foster homes or new owners for the animals. It’s been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Sometimes it may save a life. -Text Debbie Schneider Photo by Mary Vinson 8 | Prime | March 2015
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prime | character
Just us
Me and Gus
10 | Prime | December 2014
Middle schooler ¿nding fun, success in reining TEXT BY MARK WILSON ACTION PHOTO BY WALTENBERRY STUDIO
Sidney Perdue is a bright, serious-minded 13-year-old Hood County resident involved in an ongoing relationship with a 10-year-old named Gus. It’s not puppy love – though it might be described as horsey love. Gus is the Quarter horse Perdue rides when she competes in reining horse events. Perdue has turned in some impressive results, In December, she won the 13-andunder division of the National Reining Horse Association’s National Affiliate Championship in Oklahoma City. Her strong 2014 season lifted her into the nation’s top 25 reining competitors for her age group. Although Perdue has been riding horses since she was 4 and began reining when she was 6, she said she loves the sport more than ever. “When you’re starting out in it, you get frustrated because you don’t win,” said Perdue, who is a straight-A student at Acton Middle School. “Now that I learned that I can win events, it’s kind of pushed me to do more.” Perdue said her improvement – continually working through every detail of the routines with Gus, and guided by her coach, Trey Pool of Tolar – is a little like “unlocking different levels.” She eventually realized that winning the Oklahoma City event was significant. “It was definitely a big deal,” said Perdue, whose point total was 2 points higher than the runner-up – a relatively large margin. “It doesn’t set in immediately. It was a big show.” According to her mother, Kim Perdue, Sidney wants to find a new challenge so she plans to enter some events in the “nonpro” reining class, which includes adult competitors. Their next big event will be in mid-April in Katy. There, Kim said, her daughter will be able to “sharpen her teeth and learn how compete” while also learning to deal with more pressure against tougher competition. “She’s getting better and better,” Sidney’s mother said. Reining is a form of Western dressage that originated with cowboys working cattle. The sport demands the horse carry the rider through precise, designated patterns in the arena. Sidney is a member of the Heart of Texas Reining Horse Association, one of several groups available to join. Others in this re-
COURTESY
Sidney Perdue, a 13-year-old straight-A student at Acton Middle School, poses with her reining horse, Gus, who competes under the name Yes Ima Gunner. gion include the West Texas Reining Horse Association and the Southwest Reining Horse Association. “It’s very much a family-oriented atmosphere,” Kim Perdue said, noting that participants tend to be friendly to each other and seem to be happy to share information about the sport with newcomers. A major potential benefit for young reining participants like Sidney – other than the fun she gets out of it – is the possibility of earning a college scholarship. Sidney said that a reining scholarship is definitely one of her goals as she continues competing. She said that schools such as Baylor, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, SMU and several state universities in Oklahoma have reining teams, and offer scholarships in the sport.
| WHERE IT REINS Reining horse association websites active in this region include: Q Heart of Texas Reining Horse Association (heartoftexasreininghorseassociation. com) Q West Texas Reining Horse Association (www.wtrha.com) Q Southwest Reining Horse Association (www.swrha.com) Sidney also noted that her mother used to compete in reining and plans to do so again in the coming year. Her dad, Tye, also helps coach her but is not into reining as a participant. Q March 2015 | Prime | 11
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prime | taste
Take off with these four flavorful chicken wing recipes
Chicken wings don’t have to come out on the table only on Super Bowl Sunday. They don’t have to be buffaloed and served with blue cheese. Don’t be a chicken. Wing it for dinner for a change of pace with one of these four recipes.
| WINGS OF FIRE 1/4 cup oil 3/4 cup chopped onion 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 cup honey 1 cup ketchup 1 cup wine vinegar
1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon dry mustard 2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon pepper 2 tablespoons cayenne 4 pounds chicken wings
Directions Q Saute onion and garlic. Add rest of the ingredients except chicken wings. Q Boil and simmer 10 minutes. Cool. Q Marinate chicken wings for 30 minutes. Q Bake 1 hour. Turn chicken over halfway. March 2015 | Prime | 13
| AFRICAN CHICKEN WINGS 4 garlic cloves 2 shallots 1 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon 5-spice powder 2 teaspoons paprika 1 teaspoon chopped rosemary 1/2 teaspoon cayenne 2 tablespoons olive oil Sauce 1/3 cup peanut butter 1/4 c. well-stirred canned cream of coconut 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1/4 cup water
1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper 1/8 teaspoon hot pepper flakes 1 teaspoon soy sauce Cilantro for garnish Directions Q Make paste of salt, garlic and shallots with 5-spice powder, paprika, rosemary, cayenne and oil. Q Rub paste on the wings. Q Cover and marinate at least four hours. Q Bake at 350 for one hour. Q Serve with sauce.
| KYOTO WINGS 10 chicken wings Fresh ginger 2 tablespoons butter 1/2 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 garlic cloves Dash of cayenne
Directions Q To make sauce, boil orange juice, 1 tablespoon honey, soy sauce, garlic, cayenne until thick, about 15 minutes. Q Stir in remaining 1 tablespoon honey. Q Melt butter in large skillet. Q Brown wings on one side, turn over and cook 20 minutes until tender. Q Pour sauce over chicken.
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| MEXICAN CHICKEN WINGS 1/2 cup flour 1 package taco seasoning mix 3 pounds chicken wings, tips removed, cut in half at joint (May substitute other chicken parts) 6 tablespoons melted butter 2 cups crushed corn chips Directions Q Combine flour and taco seasoning mix in paper or plastic bag. Q Add two or three chicken pieces at a time. Q Next dip in melted butter and roll in crushed corn chips. Q Put in shallow baking dish or cookie sheet with sides. Q Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.
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prime | fun and games
Where
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Here
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Jim Burks Firefighters Memorial Park, located next to the U.S. Veterans Museum at 601 Thorp Springs Road. This statue of a firefighter and the park were dedicated on March 7, 2007 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Granbury Volunteer Fire Department. The park honors firefighters everywhere and memorializes Jim Burks, a 20-year veteran of the Granbury VFD who died in November 1999.
The Old Jail Museum was built in 1885 and operated as the Hood County Jail from 1886 to 1978. Throughout the years, records indicate that sheriffs, city marshals or deputies actually lived downstairs, depending on the needs of the individuals. A kitchen was at the back of the building where the wife of the resident official would cook meals for the inmates, a required two per day in the early years. The museum is located at 208 N. Crockett St. Hours: Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission: Adults, $2. 6-12 years old, $1. Under 6, free.
1 3 Last fall marked the eighth anniversary of the opening of the YMCA in Hood County. The Y’s success has been marked by ever-growing memberships. Later this year or early next year, the Y will move to the recreation center that will be built across from Acton Middle School. The Y will staff and operate the county-owned rec center. 16 | Prime | March 2015
Formerly Granbury Lanes, the newly renovated bowling alley is now called Pins. Pins is located at 2210 E. Highway 377 near the Davis Road intersection.
prime | sports
Baseball in their blood Shawn Peck delivers a pitch during a Men’s Senior Baseball League game when he was playing for a team he put together, the Pirates. His current team is called the Renegades.
RO BE RT FRE DE TTE
Granbury man loving it in adult baseball league TEXT BY MARK WILSON Baseball is for schoolboys and a few gifted professionals, right? Shawn Peck would tell you otherwise. The 46-year-old Granbury resident, who works in sales in the electric utility industry, plays on an amateur adult team based in Benbrook. His current team, the Renegades, competes in Fort Worth’s Men’s Senior Baseball League’s (MSBL) 40-and-over division. They play on Friday evenings, starting in 18 | Prime | March 2015
the early spring. In 2013, when Peck was on a team in the 45-and-over age division, he competed in the MSBL World Series in Phoenix, Arizona. Baseball brings out the boy in Peck. “I love it,” said Peck, a three-time all-star in the league. “If I could play every night of the week, I would. “Every time I step on the field, I feel like I’m a kid again. There’s no other feeling like it.” The MSBL uses wooden bats, not aluminum like some leagues. The games are 9
innings, or 2 hours, 45 minutes – whichever comes first. Peck played baseball in the Houston area at Spring Woods High School through his sophomore year. About 20 years ago, Peck started playing in recreational softball leagues. A few years ago, someone suggested that he try the MSBL. “At that time, they only had the 25-andover,” said Peck, who has lived in Granbury since 1987. “The next year (2010), there was enough interest to start the
Protect Seniors from Financial Abuse It’s unfortunate but true: The elderly population is targeted for financial abuse or exploitation. In fact, by some estimates, Tony Mobly, this type of targeted abuse AAMSÂŽ results in Edward Jones billions of dol- Financial Advisor lars in losses each year. If you have elderly parents, what signs should you watch for to determine their vulnerability? And what can you do to help protect your parents from being victimized? In regard to the first question — signs of vulnerability — the most important thing to watch for is your parents’ mental state. As you know, many people go through their entire lives with their faculties intact — but even if this is the case with your parents, you still may want to be on guard against them falling prey to unscrupulous operators. And if you have noticed your parents becoming forgetful, confused, overly agitated or showing any other signs of possibly diminished mental capacity, you may want to be particularly vigilant for the appearance of financial irregularities. If you don’t think your parents are, as yet, victims of fraud or abuse, you can take steps to help protect them. Most importantly, maintain constant communication with them and be aware of what’s going on in their lives. Also, consider the following actions: óóóoĂł!DVISEĂłPARENTSĂłONĂłPRECAUtionary measures. Suggest to your parents that they take several common-sense steps to avoid financial scams. For example, urge them to never give personal information over the phone or in response to emails. Since these types of requests are the most common methods used to perpetrate scams, encourage your parents to put all such solicitations — as well as requests for money — in the “trashâ€? folder. Also, ask your parents to remove paper mail promptly from their mailbox — resourceful identity
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thieves have been known to steal mail and extract key pieces of personal information from financial statements or correspondence from Social Security. And if your parents don’t already have a paper shredder, present one to them as a gift — and show them how to use it to delete old statements, credit card offers and similar documents. óóóoó#HECKóFORóLEGALóDOCUMENTS ó Your parents, like everyone, should have a will and a durable power of attorney. These documents will enable someone they trust implicitly to handle their finances if they can’t. Discussing these types of issues with your parents may not be easy — but it’s certainly important. óóóoó2EVIEWóPARENTSlóSITUATIONó regularly. Many parents are not comfortable sharing the specifics of their financial situation with their adult children. Yet, as much as you can, try to periodically review your parents’ insurance, banking and investment statements. These meetings give you good opportunities to look for irregularities or suspicious activities, such as significant changes in their spending patterns, unusual cash withdrawals or transfers from their bank accounts, or sudden transfers of assets to a relative or someone outside the family. óóóoó+NOWóTHEóPROFESSIONALS ó Your parents may not be totally at ease involving you with their financial and tax advisors. However, using your discretion, see if you can accompany your parents when they meet with their advisors. If these people are legitimate professionals, they will not object to your interest in your parents’ affairs — in fact, they should welcome it. Your parents have done a lot for you. You can help repay them by doing your part to help protect them from threats to their financial security. Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.
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Hospice Myths and Facts MYTH: Hospice means giving up hope. FACT: When faced with a terminal illness, many patients and family members tend to dwell on the imminent loss of life rather than on making the most of the life that remains. Hospice helps patients reclaim the spirit of life. It helps them understand that even though death can lead to sadness, anger and pain, it can also lead to opportunities for reminiscence, laughter, reunion and hope. MYTH: Hospice is just for the patient. FACT: Hospice focuses on comfort, dignity and emotional support. The quality of life for the patient, and also family members and other caregivers, is the highest priority.
MYTH: Hospice means that the patient will soon die. FACT: Receiving hospice care does not mean giving up hope, or that death is imminent. The earlier an individual receives hospice care, the more opportunity there is to stabilize a patient’s medical condition and support those who love and care for the patient. MYTH: You can’t keep your own doctor if you enter hospice. FACT: Hospice physicians work closely with your doctor of choice to develop a plan of care. If the patient does not have a primary care physician, hospice can provide medical services.
MYTH: A hospice patient can’t go to the hospital. FACT: A patient receiving hospice services may go to the hospital. MYTH: To be eligible for hospice Hospice should be notified prior to care, a patient must already transport so that we can notify the be bedridden. FACT: Hospice care is appropriate hospital billing office of the correct at the time of the terminal prognosis, way to submit the bill. This eliminates regardless of the patient’s physical the possibility of losing the hospice condition. Many of the patients benefit and allows hospice to served through hospice continue to determine if hospitalization is related lead productive and rewarding lives. to the terminal illness. However, Together, the patient, family and hospice care is directed toward physician determine when hospice maintaining the patient and keeping services should begin. them comfortable in his or her usual living arrangement.
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| MEN’S SENIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE THE Men’s Senior Baseball League (MSBL) and the Men’s Adult Baseball League (MABL), with teams all over the country, have been around for more than 25 years. THE Fort Worth MSBL includes various age divisions, including 40-and-over. NATIONAL tournaments are held each year at various sites. BATTERS in the Fort Worth MSBL use wooden bats, not aluminum.
40-and-over.” There were only three teams in Fort Worth’s 40-and-over league then, but it has grown to eight. Peck is a pitcher, and also plays first and third base. Later, Peck put together his own team, the Pirates. He recruited about a dozen of his former softball teammates, and they played together under the Pirate mascot name, with home games played in Benbrook. A couple of years ago, the team name became the Renegades. “I did a lot of recruiting,” Peck said. “We had an ex-major leaguer (pitcher Greg Sillivent, a former member of the Angels).” Peck said that about 50 percent of the players in the MSBL are former college baseball players. “It’s definitely competitive. All eight teams compete,” Peck said. “Some teams
might be a little short in pitching. It’s pretty good quality baseball for 40-andover.” Many of the teams that play in the MSBL World Series are put together from a player pool. The team Peck played on in the 2013 MSBL World Series included six from his Benbrook team, combined with about 15 players from Downey, California. “We were called the Downey Angels. We had one day to practice,” Peck said. “We were very fortunate that we were the No. 1 seed going into the championship game. We went 8-1 and won our age division (45-and-over).” The Angels defeated a team from St. Thomas (Virgin Islands) in the championship game, 8-3. Peck pitched in two of the World Series games. Peck noted that the average age in his team’s league is between 45 and 55. He explained that the players in the Renegades’ league aren’t out for blood. Peck said that players tend to show good
sportsmanship. “We all know we are not getting paid to play,” Peck said. “We also know we have to get up and go to work the next morning.” Potential players are welcome to attend tryouts for the Fort Worth MSBL. For more information, email league president Mike Justice (fortworthmsbl@gmail.com). You can also find information online (www. fortworthmsbl.com). Q
‘We all know we are not getting paid to play. We also know we have to get up and go to work in the morning.’ --Shawn Peck MARY VINSON | HOOD COUNTY NEWS
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2015 April 18 Hood County Relay for Life – American Cancer Society’s event to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost and take action to end cancer. Granbury Reunion Grounds. www.relayforlife.org/ hoodcotx. 24–25 Granbury Wine Walk – Wine tasting, vendors, art exhibits and music on the Granbury square and surrounding area. www.granburywinewalk.com. 25 Seventh Annual Acton Nature Run – Benefit for Acton Nature Center at Revolver Brewing. Register online at http://www.racedayeventservices.com.
May 23–24 Memorial Day Weekend on the Square – Vendor booths on the square, parade, music and other activities. 22| Prime | March 2015
DEBBIE SCHNEIDER
Hood County, home to four wineries, is always a choice for wine-lovers but never more than during the Granbury Wine Walk. The sixth annual Granbury Wine Walk, scheduled April 24-25, is the place to experience the authentic character of Texas through its wine, food, music and art.
22–25 Field of Flags – Huge display of American flags to honor past and present members of the military. Location to be determined.
July 3-5 Old-Fashioned Fourth of July – Parade on square and fireworks over the lake Saturday, July 4. Variety of vendors and activities on the square.
September 5–7 Biker Bash Texas – Activities on the square, motorcycle runs, biker contests and motivational speakers. 24–Oct. 4 Granbury Carnival – Fun family and community event sponsored by the Historic Granbury Merchants Association. Carnival Americana returns with amusement rides, games, and food concessions. Hood County
Reunion Grounds, 641 Reunion Court.
October 16-17 BIG - Balloons in Granbury – Hot air balloons come to town. 17-18 Harvest Moon Festival – Celebration of arts with vendors on the square, live entertainment.
November 27 Night of Lights – County Christmas parade on the square.
December 4–5 Candlelight Tour – Homes and historic buildings are open for touring, musical events around the square. Q
Physicians and specialties for the whole gang. One phone number.
817-573-DOCS No matter what kind of doctor you need, look to Lakeside Physicians. Our primary care physicians are here to provide routine checkups, health management, and sick visits for your entire v> Þ° Ƃ ` v À Ài ëiV wV ii`Ã] > ià `i Physicians offers convenient access to a number of specialists, covering everything from pediatrics and orthopedics to cardiology, general surgery, > ` Ài° / w ` > « Þà V > Ü V> i « Þ Õ stay on the happy trail of better health, call today.
FAMILY MEDICINE 601 Fall Creek Hwy. r 817-326-3900 Tony Hedges, D.O. James Kelleher, M.D. Chad Weldon, D.O. 1308E Paluxy Rd. r 817-578-8910 Jennifer Smith, M.D. 2003 Rockview Dr. r 817-573-2601 Darren George, D.O. 507 SW Big Bend Trail r 254-898-0224 Located in Glen Rose Mark Schneider, M.D. 1009 NE Big Bend Trail r 254-898-8499 Located in Glen Rose Aimee Flournoy, M.D. 1322 Paluxy Rd., Suite 2 r 817-579-1642 Lake Granbury Family Practice INTERNAL MEDICINE 1318 Paluxy Rd. r 817-573-8805 Randall Barnes, D.O. Ruston Jennings, M.D. David Kuban, D.O. 1315 Water’s Edge Dr. r 817-408-3600 Kelly O’Carroll, M.D. Shelly Sexton, M.D.
PEDIATRICS 1315 Water’s Edge Dr. r 817-408-3600 Kelly O’Carroll, M.D. Shelly Sexton, M.D. 1308E Paluxy Rd. r 817-579-3996 Laura Power, M.D. 1305 Paluxy Rd. r 817-579-0084 Delia Wright, M.D. CARDIOLOGY 1310B Paluxy Rd. r 817-579-3970 Tyrus Frerking, D.O. Jennifer Naiser, D.O. Lon Walder, D.O. EAR, NOSE & THROAT 1308E Paluxy Rd. r 817-579-3908 Salim Bhaloo, D.O. GASTROENTEROLOGY 1308E Paluxy Rd. r 817-579-3902 Radha Narayanan, M.D.
OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY 1212 Medical Plaza Ct. r 817-279-1776 Donald Howser, M.D. Sarah Jordan, M.D. Misty Vandever, M.D. ORTHOPEDICS 1310B Paluxy Rd. r 817-579-3910 Cody Hartshorn, M.D. 1310B Paluxy Rd. r 817-579-3906 Corey Mark, M.D. PAIN MANAGEMENT 1308E Paluxy Rd. r 817-579-7246 Scott Thompson, M.D. PULMONOLOGY 1310B Paluxy Rd. r 817-579-3994 Ahmed Bhatti, M.D. RHEUMATOLOGY 601 Fall Creek Hwy. r 817-579-3930 Beth Valashinas, D.O.
GENERAL SURGERY 1308E Paluxy Rd. r 817-579-3978 Bradley Hart, M.D., Ph.D. NEUROLOGY 1308E Paluxy Rd. r 817-579-3948 Peter O’Carroll, M.D.
TO FIND A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN OR SPECIALIST CALL OR LOG ON TODAY.
817-573-DOCS LakesidePhysicians.com
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prime | character
After Steven Vale retired and moved his plane to Granbury, he learned of a part-time opening at the Granbury Airport.
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY DEBBIE SCHNEIDER
S
teven Vale recalls contemplating the perfect occupation. “I thought if you could combine your job with your hobby, it would be called your jobby,” Vale joked. After moving from Southlake last year, Vale found his perfect jobby in Granbury. In 2013, Vale was 56 when he retired after 34 years with Kraft Foods. He and wife Lori built a house and settled in Granbury the next year. “When we moved our plane from Northwest Regional Airport to Granbury, I m mentioned to someone at the a airport that I needed to find something to do so my wife wouldn’t have to shoo me out of the house,” Vale said with a chuckle. Turns out there was an opening to work part time at G Granbury Municipal Airport. It’s been a great fit. “I’ve learned so much from the people who fly in a and out. I’ve really met a lot
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‘I thought if you could combine your job with your hobby, it would be called your jobby.’ of great people here,” Vale said.
What’s The Reputation At The Airport? “Gary Hawkins is in charge at the airport, and it’s been his model to provide full service at the airport,” Vale said. “We fuel airplanes, marshal airplanes (visual signalling between ground personnel and pilots) and check out courtesy cars,” Vale explained. Four vehicles are available through the airport at no charge. “You have people fly in to spend leisure time. Some are here for business. We have a table with all the restaurant menus for people looking to get a bite to eat.” Business and leisure travelers aren’t the only ones using the airports. “We also fuel helicopters for Air Evac and CareFlite,” Vale noted. “We have some of the lowest fuel prices in the area. A lot of people going west or south from the Metroplex stop here to fuel,” he said.
What Kind Of Events Are Hosted? Regular events at the airport include the annual Stearman flyin and the monthly pancake breakfast fly-ins during the warm months. Last year the airport hosted hot air balloons in conjunction with a festival on the square. “There’s a nice community feel,” Vale said of the airport. “Every morning from about 8 until 10:30 there’s around a dozen guys that come sit around the office (at the airport). Some are former military or retired civilian pilots. They like to drink coffee, maybe have some donuts and socialize.”
After retirement, Steven Vale now enjoys working two days a week at the Granbury Airport.
Is The Granbury Airport Very Busy? The Granbury airport may be busier than you think. An average of 116 operations take place each day, Vale noted. There are 88 aircraft kept at the airport, and about 20 or so on the list waiting for hangars to become available.
What Do You Do With A Private Plane? Vale learned to fly in 2002, got his license in 2003 and got an airplane in 2006. Some folks use their plane for family vacations. Others have a plane for business use. And there’s always the $100 hamburger. Like motorcycle enthusiasts or classic car owners, those with private airplanes also take day trips to grab a bite to eat. “It’s called the $100 hamburger,” Vale said. In aviation slang, the $100 hamburger trip typically involves flying a short distance, eating at a restaurant and flying home.
What’s It Like To Work Part Time? While working for Kraft, Vale’s job required some travel and nine relocations. He met his wife Lori while both were working in New York. The couple have been married 27 years and have two boys, both in college. Since moving to Granbury, the Vales have been active at StoneWater Church. Vale’s two-day work week at the airport begins Monday and ends Tuesday. “When I come home from work on Monday night, I tell my wife that tomorrow is ‘Friday.’ It makes my work week go by really fast!” –Debbie Schneider March March h 2015 2015 | Prime Prim r e | 25
Wings on the
The red shoulder hawk can be seen throughout Hood and Somervell counties. This photo was taken on the Brazos River in Somervell County. The shoulder hawk moved in on a road kill before the vultures.
Brazos Bald eagles – our national treasures – are along with the Brazos River in Hood and Somervell counties. One day Marks photographed an eaglet in the nest. “Arriving the next day the parent bald eagles had the eaglet out of the nest and was teaching the eaglet to fly,” Marks said. “It was a pretty cool experience to see this.”
PHOTOGRAPHS BY GARY MARKS
P
ecan Plantation resident Gary Marks knows a thing or two about the Brazos River and its many sights and sounds of nature. He grew up in Glen Rose and would frequent the river as a teen. In adulthood he learned how a good camera with a long lens could capture the river’s wildlife. “I am strictly an amateur guy enjoying capturing photos of the nature that surrounds us in Hood and Somervell County,” Marks said. “I enjoy this hobby and the benefit I receive by finding these wildlife opportunities in our counties.”
| AREA BIRD SIGHTINGS Dr. Billy Teels, who leads monthly bird walks at Acton Nature Center, provided this list of birds spotted recently in Hood County.
The barred owl is found on the Brazos River and was referred throughout John Graves’ book “Goodbye to a River.”
Gary Marks has had an interesting journey with this bird of prey. “For about five years I would cross the Brazos on the way to work, and this ospry was frequently perched in a tree about 20 yards from the bridge,” Marks said. “It was interesting in that no one else seemed to notice, but I would always have my camera and stop on the bridge to photograph this bird.” His first photo was of an immature ospry, but he continued to photograph each year for about five years. “I was able to watch this bird grow and mature,” he said.
Double-crested Cormorant Canada Goose Egyptian Goose Black-bellied Whistling Duck American Wigeon Gadwall Wood Duck Mallard Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Blue-winged Teal Redhead Ring-necked Duck Northern Bobwhite Great Blue Heron Great Egret Green Heron Cattle Egret White-faced Ibis Turkey Vulture Black Vulture Red-tailed Hawk Swainson’s Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk Broad-winged Hawk Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper’s Hawk Mississippi Kite American Kestrel Merlin Northern Caracara Killdeer Common Snipe Ring-billed Gull Mourning Dove White-winged Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo Greater Roadrunner Great Horned Owl Common Nighthawk Chuck-will’s-widow Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Black-chinned Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Northern Flicker Downy Woodpecker Ladder-backed Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Eastern Kingbird Western Kingbird Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe Least Flycatcher Alder Flycatcher Acadian Flycatcher Bell’s Vireo White-eyed Vireo Black-capped Vireo American Crow Blue Jay Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow Purple Martin Carolina Chickadee Black-crested Titmouse Tufted Titmouse House Wren Bewick’s Wren Carolina Wren Winter Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Eastern Bluebird Hermit Thrush American Robin Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Sage Thrasher American Pipit European Starling Cedar Waxwing Yellow-rumped Warbler Black and White Warbler Wilson’s Warbler Yellow warbler Nashville Warbler Orange-crowned Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Eastern Towhee Fox Sparrow Harris’s Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Lark Sparrow Song Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Lincoln’s Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Field Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Clay-colored Sparrow Cassin’s Sparrow Grasshopper Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Dickcessel Northern Cardinal House Finch Painted Bunting Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Great-tailed Grackle Common Grackle Eastern Meadowlark Western Meadowlark Baltimore Oriole Orchard Oriole Lesser Goldfinch American Goldfinch Pine Siskin House Sparrow March 2015 | Prime | 27
prime | snapshot
MARY VINSON | HOOD COUNTY NEWS | HCNEWS.COM/GALLERIES
The vivid blooms of this old-fashioned favorite, the flowering quince bush, has long been a reliable spring bloomer in Texas gardens. This lovely specimen adorns a metal fence in front of a residence on Doyle Street in Granbury.
Colors of
Spring
The spring-flowering forsythia always seems to be the first to burst into bloom. The bright yellow blooms are always a welcome sign that spring is around the corner.
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MARY VINSON | HOOD COUNTY NEWS | HCNEWS.COM/GALLERIES
Bradford pear trees are in bloom, a sure sign of spring. This row delights drivers and passengers near the Granbury school district bus barn and Hannaford and Rucker streets.
How to easily grow your savings One of the keys to successfully managing money is to save money. Conventional financial wisdom recommends men and women have between three and four month’s worth of earnings in their savings accounts to cover themselves in case of an emergency. But many people live paycheck to paycheck, while others are mired in debt. A 2013 survey from BankRate.com found roughly three-quarters of Americans have little emergency savings. Many working professionals find it hard to save any money once they have paid their monthly bills, including home expenses, child care and other common expenses. Financial analysts point to consumer trends among younger generations as one possible cause of the dwindling emphasis on saving money. Previous generations were taught the benefits of saving and being frugal, but nowadays many people struggle to distinguish between necessities and luxuries. While saving may seem like an uphill battle, a little saving can go a long way. Explore these relatively painless ways to cut
back and save more money. Q Do it yourself. Make a list of all the service providers used — from manicurists to hair stylists to lawncare professionals — and figure out where cuts can be made. Doing all or a portion of the work yourself can save a considerable amount of money. Do your own weeding and edging, only paying a landscaper to perform the more time consuming task of mowing the lawn. Skip an in-salon coloring treatment for an at-home application. Spend a day preparing meals for the week and eliminate much of your dining out expenses or fast food excursions. Q Review your shopping cart. Impulse buys can bust budgets. When grocery shopping, take some time before getting in line to review your potential purchases. Compare items against your list and figure out if any items can go back on the shelf. Q Consider new stores. If you find yourself spending more than you feel is necessary when shopping, look for new stores. Smaller markets may offer produce and other items at a fraction of the cost of large chain stores. Instead of doing all of your shopping in one place, shop around and
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buy items where they are the least expensive. For example, you may find paper products are more affordable at a pharmacy than at the supermarket. Q Learn to coupon effectively. Although you need not go to extremes, use coupons when shopping and learn how to pair sales with coupons to earn even greater discounts. Many blogs and websites help make the process easier, telling you when and where to clip coupons. Sometimes you can print coupons directly online or load discounts to a shopper loyalty card. Q Scale back on certain services. Assess your lifestyle to determine which services you can live without. If you rarely watch television, you may be able to reduce your cable or satellite package. Figure out if bundling services really does save you money. Add up how many minutes you use on mobile phone plans as well as the amount of data. You might find that you do not need the biggest phone plan after all. Saving does not have to be challenging. Opportunities to save money present themselves at every turn. Master the little ways to shave off expenses and grow your savings. Q
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Live & Learn
Tarleton Fort Worth to move south, closer to Granbury
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Tarleton is the only public university offering bachelor’s degrees in Fort Worth
Tarleton State University officials have announced plans to build a Fort Worth campus 25 miles from Granbury off Chisholm Trail Parkway toll road southeast of Ben-
TEXT BY NANCY PRICER
T
arleton State University in Fort Worth is moving south. That’s a good thing for Granbury and Hood County students. The new campus in Fort Worth will be situated 25 miles from Granbury off Chisholm Trail Parkway toll road southeast of Benbrook Lake. The university will seek $55 million in state funding for a 125,000-square-foot building on the new campus during the current legislative session and, if approved, will construct the facility. Travel time from Granbury will be less than to the current Tarleton locations in Fort Worth on Camp Bowie and in the hos-
brook Lake. This illustration depicts preliminary plans for the campus.
pital district south of downtown. The new campus will be 5 miles closer to Granbury than the Stephenville campus. It is scheduled to open in the fall of 2017. The Fort Worth campus caters to older college students. Applicants must have completed at least 30 academic credit hours of college courses prior to enrolling. “While a number of students are direct transfers from area colleges, such as Tarrant County College or Weatherford College, Fort Worth serves primarily an adult population, often already working in a career field,” Tarleton spokesman Harry Battson, said. The campus will offer bachelor’s, master’s and graduate degrees.
COURTESY
Tarleton is the only public university offering bachelor’s degrees in Fort Worth, Tarleton President Dominic Dottavio said during a presentation to the Granbury Rotary Club in February. Hood County officials are hoping to reduce travel time even more. TxDOT and county officials are expected to meet to discuss a possible offshoot from Chisholm Trail Parkway into Granbury. The offshoot would make access to the Fort Worth campus even faster from Granbury. Fall 2014 enrollment at the Fort Worth campus was 1,576. Enrollment has been growing 10 to 20 percent each year. Students at the Fort Worth campus can choose from 48 degree and certificate programs. Q March 2015 | Prime | 31
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