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Postcards

Travis Fanning

Riley Farris

Tristan Roberson

Piney Woods

Publisher’s Post

Turning the Page

One of the greatest privileges of publishing Postcards Magazine is watching the communities we serve continue to grow and thrive.

Sometimes growth means new neighborhoods, new businesses, and new opportunities. Sometimes it means finding new ways to serve the readers and advertisers who have supported us for more than 15 years.

This season marks an exciting new chapter for Postcards.

We're launching the all-new HOMETOWN Edition, created especially for the communities north of Walker County. While those readers will now enjoy a magazine tailored specifically to their hometowns, it also allows us to sharpen our focus here at home.

As our magazine family continues to grow, we're excited to give the Piney Woods edition an even stronger focus on Walker County. That means more opportunities to highlight the people, businesses, schools, nonprofits, events, and everyday stories that make this community such a wonderful place to call home. It's a win for Walker County and for the neighboring hometown communities we're proud to serve.

And there's even more to be excited about.

Last month, we launched The Weekly Post, our new free email newsletter designed to keep you connected between magazine issues with local stories, recipes, events, and community happenings. If you haven't signed up yet, I hope you'll join us.

August also marks the beginning of our annual Postcards Cover Photo Contest. Every year, we're amazed by the incredible talent throughout our communities, and we can't wait to see what you capture this year. You'll find all the contest details on the opposite page.

Whether it's through the pages of this magazine or in your inbox each week, our goal remains the same: to celebrate the people, places, and stories that make our communities special.

Here's to an exciting new chapter.

To learn more about our publications, sign up for our free Weekly Post newsletter, enter the Cover Photo Contest, or keep up with what's happening in our communities, visit us anytime at PostcardsLive.com.

Here's to an exciting new chapter. We can't wait to share it with you.

Community. It's what we do.

Best ever

"Best magazine ever. Solid, community-driven articles. Other places, humor, great ads, wellformatted. Kudos to the whole team! Hey staff, keep up what you're doing. I look forward to your fine acumen every month. Y'all kick butt! Ya might tune into the WXYG-the GOAT livestream. They also always amaze me. I'm mentally stimulated by both y'all.

Patric S. MacKillup

Traditions

For awhile now, I’ve been looking for a simple way to remember the places work takes me. Sometimes I’m only there for a few hours, other times for a week, but each destination has a story.

The easiest tradition I’ve found?

Picking up a postcard. Whether you write a note to someone special, send a quick hello home, or simply collect them, postcards feel unique in a world dominated by texts, emails, and social media. They’re affordable, personal, and become a tangible reminder of the people and places you encounter along the way. I got the inspiration from Postcards Magazine and good friends Wes & Karen Altom who reminded me that sometimes the simplest traditions are the ones that last the longest. What’s a small travel tradition that you’ve kept over the years?

Matt McDaniel

Thank you

Thank you for the article on the Sons of the American Revolution and the Daughters of the American Revolution. I proudly served as the Regent of the Mary Martin Elmore Scott chapter of NSDAR in Huntsville before moving to the Austin area to be closer to grandchildren. Postcards is one of my favorite emails to receive, and your magazine brings delight so so many.

Patsy Ann Reed

HUNTSVILLE ISD

STUDENT REGISTRATION

MARJAN KAMALI

We encourage families to complete the registration process as soon as possible to ensure a smooth start to the school year.

Advertiser Anniversaries

HISD

Founded 1908 SEE THEIR AD ON PAGE 10

Huntsville Pest Control (Shivco)

Founded 1981SEE THEIR AD ON PAGE 75

Terri Coleman

Founded 1992 SEE THEIR AD ON PAGE 35 Madeline’s Piano Tuning

Founded 2004

Travis Fanning DO YOU KNOW P

An introduction to the new HISD Superintendent.

“How

excited I am to be a part of this community. The schools in Huntsville have been built upon a strong foundation due to the support and investment of this community. Huntsville has a whole vision of building champions, and I’m ready to become a part of this administration and take our schools to the next level.”

BY CLAUDIA KIRKWOOD | PHOTOS BY TOM MILLER

Background

These are positive words from a very enthusiastic Travis Fanning, the new HISD Superintendent of Schools. Mr. Fanning, Coshunda (his wife of 21 years), and their son Micah (a freshman student this year) are thrilled to become a part of this thriving community and enjoy the amenities and personalities the Huntsville area offers.

Fanning grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, where his parents still reside after 54 years, and in the same house. He remarks that stability is important to him; it is a life he has known. He grew up playing several sports and was a

percussionist in the marching band. In fact, it was a band scholarship which provided his college education at Alabama A&M University. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with specialization in secondary education. His next degree endeavor took him to the University of Houston Clear Lake, where he earned a masters. He is now working toward a doctoral degree at Baylor University. The treasure of a quality education captivated him early on, and the love of being with students and watching their mastery of knowledge and skills brought him into the world of education. At college, he took a job at a math lab, where he

fell in love with tutoring and working with students. He found his life’s work in education and changed his major to education. “Curriculum instruction is my favorite thing to do, and I love being in the classroom.”

Over the past few years, Fanning has served in several instructional and administrative roles. He has experience spanning all ages and grades from prekindergarten through 12th grade and loves the characteristics and challenges each age group brings. As he states, “I understand the whole education continuum and have the ability to connect and work with all people, students, teachers, administrators, and parents alike.”

His career path and leadership journey have included:

• 1999-2004: secondary mathematics educator in Galena Park ISD. Honored as both Rookie Teacher of the Year and District Teacher of the Year.

• 2004-2020: Served as a GEAR UP advisor, AP, elementary and secondary principal, earning the title of Secondary Principal of the Year. Promoted to Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Administration, supervising campuses with more than 60,000 students.

• 2020-2026: Assumed the superintendency in Beeville ISD. Guided the district to its first-ever

I want to become truly invested here as a valuable member of the community... ”

state “B” accountability rating and directed the stewardship of a $62 million voter-approved facility bond.

• 2026: Unanimously appointed by the Huntsville ISD Board of Trustees in June 2026 to guide the amazing Hornet community into a new era of academic distinction and organizational growth.

Goals

One of Fanning’s goals during his first year in Huntsville is to become extremely familiar with the community and to translate this into solid planning and successful outcomes for the students on all campuses. “I want to become truly

invested here as a valuable member of the community, and as a committed parent in this school system. As you can see, success is a goal, not only for my own son, but for each and every student we guide through encouragement, strong support, and the wise use of our resources.”

Fanning plans to expand the educational opportunities for HISD students. One way to accomplish this is to keep abreast of the jobs and careers that are currently and soon to be in demand for the students who are presently working toward a high school degree. “We need to provide opportunities so each student can build a pathway to either enroll in higher education, enlist in the military, or be employed in a career or business that can provide them with success. This involves our staying on track with what the needs are in the workforce. HISD currently

offers a number of industry-based certifications that allow students to go directly into the workforce, and we must expand those opportunities and keep up with the needs.”

Another aspect of staying relevant with the changing landscape in education involves adapting and implementing the newest guidelines and regulations enacted by the state legislature every two years. “State testing methods may change, and we must adapt our goals and curriculum to meet these requirements. And beyond legislative changes, technology evolves, such as the use of AI, and we must wisely structure our educational processes to incorporate this into the curriculum, while also maintaining authentic learning. AI and other innovative resources are tools we must carefully craft into our programs yet understand our students still need basic knowledge and skills to provide a

solid and firm education from which to learn and succeed.”

Enthusiasm and excitement about his future in Huntsville abound as Fanning shares his love of education and how he hopes to make a positive impact on the quality of education in HISD. “I love to grow, learn, and develop. A person is either green and growing, or ripe and rotten! I am driven to keep learning, and I hope to bring this same love to our students, faculty, and parents. I invite them to come alongside, and let’s be partners together.” He believes working cohesively as a team, showing respect to each other regardless of similarities and differences, and getting involved is key to our students’ success. “My desire and will is to work with our kids to change the trajectory of their lives and the generations to follow. Education is the great equalizer. It can change a family, a city, and the world.”

Family time

Aside from the demands and pleasures of leading HISD toward greater achievements, Fanning and his family love to travel, tour museums, and (as confirmed “foodies”) enjoy the

delectable offerings of the many local restaurants in Huntsville and surrounding communities. He also has a true passion for pickleball (and this writer can add, “I would not want to be on the other side of the net from him!”)

Asked about his life after retirement someday, he unequivocably states, “I want to be a travel agent. I think that would be crazy and fun.” We look forward to seeing what's ahead with Travis Fanning in the lead at HISD.

Travis, Coshunda, & Micah

A sure sign spring has sprung - Submitted by Charlie Moore

Baby Egyptian Goose testing his balance

Submitted by Michael Thompson

Teachers Touching Tomorrow

Honoring teachers who work with our kids day in and day out. They go above and beyond, and really do “Touch Tomorrow.”

Cathy Landrum

Reading and Language Arts

Mance Park Middle School

NOMINATED BY Ty Johnson

Mrs. Landrum was the best English teacher in the world. She taught me to be confident in myself and gave me the ability to write well.

Nominate a special teacher today by going online: www.PostcardsLive.com. Those chosen for publication are awarded a gift card to 1836 Steakhouse.

Star Students

Madilyn Vienne

Huntsville High School

FAVORITE MOVIE: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

FAVORITE MUSIC/ARTIST: Sabrina Carpenter

FAVORITE FOOD: Crawfish Etouffee

FAVORITE QUOTE:

“Life is coming from you, not at you.” –Timothee Chalamet

Madilyn is a 2026 graduate of Huntsville High School and is the daughter of Mr. Charles Vienne Jr. and Dr. Kristina Vienne. Her activities included National English Honor Society, National Science Honor Society, National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, National Spanish Honor Society, and student council. Madilyn will be attending Louisiana State University to major in psychology. She wants to be a practicing physician and perform research on women’s health. She believes, “You only live life once, so live it to the fullest, love what you do, and treat everyone with kindness.”

Ty Johnson

Huntsville High School

FAVORITE MOVIE: Avengers Infinity War

FAVORITE MUSIC/ARTIST: R&B

FAVORITE FOOD: Tacos

FAVORITE QUOTE:

“Nothing changes if you don’t take a risk.”

Ty is a 2026 graduate of Huntsville High School and is the son of Tim and Sharonda Johnson. His activities included National Honor Society, National Science Honor Society, National History Honor Society, National Math Honor Society, and FCCLA. Ty plans to attend Sam Houston State University to major in computer engineering. He believes, “When you trust God with your future, you never have to worry about failing. I live my life in gratitude and with humility, and I trust God with my plans.”

Torey Cooksey

Huntsville High School

FAVORITE MOVIE: The Notebook

FAVORITE MUSIC/ARTIST: Megan Moroney

FAVORITE FOOD: Chicken Alfredo

FAVORITE QUOTE:

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away!”

Torey is a 2026 graduate of Huntsville High School and is the daughter of Rodney and Macey Cooksey. Her activities included FFA (President), serving at Northside Baptist Church, hunting, and fishing. Torey believes, “Live each day for the Lord with gratitude and purpose, making the most of every opportunity, because tomorrow is never promised.”

Nothing changes if you don’t take a risk. ”

Find YOUR Place at the 25th Annual Texas Mushroom Festival

Whether you're a local business, artisan, food vendor, sponsor, volunteer, entertainer, car enthusiast, photographer, runner, or simply looking for a fun day with family, there's a place for you at the Texas Mushroom Festival.

Join us October 17, 2026, in historic downtown Madisonville for one of Texas' most unique festivals.

Email: info@txmushfest.org Contact US Website: www.txmushfest.org

Go with the man who limps, and you'll limp, too. Papa Joe, submitted by Nancy Regan

If you can’t stand yourself, neither can anybody else.

People who live in glass houses... might as well answer the door.

You are only young once, and if you work it right, once is enough.

Sometimes the road less traveled is less traveled for a reason.

Age is strictly a case of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.

Marriage is a mistake every man should make.

As I grow older, more and more often I find myself saying, “Like my Granddaddy used to say…” In an effort to keep some of these old sayings alive, we are sharing them here. Please feel free to share yours with us!

•

www.g2constructionllctx.com

Publisher Karen Altom and her Granddaddy J.C. Farris

Sudoku from page

CABARET

SEASON PREVIEW

KEN LUDWIG’S THE THREE MUSKETEERS

Adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas Nov. 19-21 | 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 21-22 | 2:00 p.m.

Oct. 1-3 | 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 3-4 | 2:00 p.m.

Erica Starr Theatre, UTC

JANE MONHEIT

LIVE IN CONCERT

Oct. 5 | 7:30 p.m.

Payne Concert Hall, GPAC

*Early purchase access for season ticket holders through August 31. SPONSORSHIPS & VIP AVAILABLE

Erica Starr Theatre, UTC

HOLIDAY CONCERT

Dec. 3-4 | 7:30 p.m.

Payne Concert Hall, GPAC

*Early purchase access for season ticket holders through September 30.

DANCE SPECTRUM IN CONCERT

Dec. 3-5 | 8:00 p.m.

Montague Dance Theater, GPAC

Summer Living Built for

From spontaneous road trips to slow summer afternoons, life doesn’t pause...and your bank shouldn’t either. With easy account opening and seamless digital banking tools, First Financial Bank moves with you wherever the season takes you.

Brian & Ashleigh Goldgar celebrated their 15th anniversary

Winston Spencer, Jr. celebrated his 60th birthday

TheA SPECIAL CONVERSATION

Riley Farris

This smalltown girl from Midway, Texas proves you can do “big things” if you commit yourself.

BY MARSHALL ALTOM

| SUBMITTED PHOTOS

past two years have definitely been quite the whirlwind for Riley Farris. She graduated as valedictorian from Madisonville High School in 2025. At the end of the 2024 point year, she became the NYCHA (National Youth Cutting Horse Association) Senior Youth World Champion. And, on July 4th, 2025, Riley was named the Texas FFA State President. (And, between this interview and publishing of this article, Riley was announced as a 2026 inductee into the NYCHA Youth Member Hall of Fame!)

What drove you to want to be the top of your high school class?

Honestly, it started just because I am extremely competitive. I wanted to be able to say that I was “the smartest” in my class, even though I know the ranking doesn’t necessarily

determine that.

As I got older, people always asked me, “How do you do it all? How do you balance FFA, and the horses, and your school?” I guess I wanted to prove that I could. I believe you can balance all the activities if you’re willing to commit yourself 100% to each and every one.

What did the cutting horse world teach you about life?

The value of versatility and adaptability. Cutting is the most humbling sport ever. Some days it’s chicken; some days it’s feathers. You can walk in, have worked your horse perfectly all week, have the perfect draw, the perfect conditions, and still have a bad run. Cutting has taught me to take whatever cards I’m dealt and learn how to play them the best I can. Sometimes you’re not going to

be the best in the room. A lot of the times, you’re going to mess up. But, get back up and keep going the next day, because you’re in it for the love of the sport, not for the love of the win.

What do people who didn’t grow up in this industry misunderstand about it?

From the outside looking in, it looks like the rider is just sitting there and letting the horse do all the work. They don’t understand I could twitch my left foot wrong, and my horse might run off. They don’t see how conscientious you have to be about every single move you make and how much of it’s a strategy game as well. People not in the horse world also don’t understand the bond you make with your animal. We became connected through all the time we spent together. I don’t think people

understand that special bond unless they’ve actually felt it.

Is there a moment in the arena you’ll never forget?

From August of 2019 to February of 2020, we were going to shows nearly every week…up and down the road, and I did not pull a single check, did not get through a single run. It was just going bad.

My dad and I were at each other’s throats. Then we went to the Houston Livestock Show in 2020, and I literally said a prayer saying, “If I don’t just get through this run, like I will quit. I don’t want to do this anymore. It’s not worth it.” And that first day at the Houston show, I felt Him working. I marked one of the highest scores I’ve ever marked in a big show arena. I remember walking out and seeing my dad with tears just pouring down his face, and my entire family had run down on the arena floor and were hugging me. That’s the moment my show career turned around. From then on out, I caught the cutting bug harder than before, and I was ready to bust my tail to reach my goals.

Did you ever imagine you’d become Texas FFA State President?

Absolutely not. I didn’t ever believe that I was going to be a state officer at all. I was kind of the shy kid throughout FFA. End of my sophomore year, I thought about running for district office, but I wasn’t going to do it because I didn’t want to give a speech in front of 300 people. That just seemed really daunting. My ag teacher, Ms. Foster, pretty much opened the computer application, shoved it on my desk, and we started writing a speech. She told me I was going to run for district office. Then throughout that year, I fell in love with the leadership side of everything, which encouraged me to run for area office.

I served as area president my senior

qualified, good enough, or poised enough to serve as a Texas FFA state officer. I always saw them on stage, with their glistening smiles, and nothing was wrong, nothing they said was wrong, and I didn’t think that was me.

But people throughout my area really started encouraging me to run for state office. It was almost like God was telling me to do it, because originally, I was supposed to run against five people. As we got closer to the race, one by one, the candidates started dropping out until I only ran against one person. It just seemed like I was being called to do it, whether I realized it or not.

What has surprised you most about serving in the role?

I always got told that, as a state officer, it’s my job to impact the students as best I can. What I was not told is how much the students would impact me. That has something to say about

We became connected through all the time we spent together... ”

the power of FFA. I could walk into a chapter, meet a new student for the very first time, and they would feel comfortable enough with me to tell me their life story by the end of the one-hour chapter visit. Getting to hear their stories, where they come from, and how they got here really meant a lot to me, and it allowed me a new perspective on so many different aspects of my life.

What do you hope people remember about you as state president?

I’ve made it my mission to make sure students know I am not a robot, I am a person. I’ve cracked jokes with them. They’ve heard me slip up and stutter during workshops. They’ve seen me make stupid faces or fall. My mission was definitely to make sure they knew that I wasn’t perfect; none of us are, and they are still loved and valued the same either way. They are good enough to be a state officer or to do big things as long as they care enough.

What advice would you give a shy student thinking about joining FFA?

First, I would say people look at FFA and see all the talkers. They see the ones on stage giving speeches. But FFA has a little clique for everybody. If you’re a little quieter, there is a group of students who are like you. You can make your own friends by finding those people who fit your personality.

The other thing I would say is a lot of people are shy because they’re scared of embarrassment or failure. It’s everybody’s first time living, and there is absolutely no reason to be embarrassed. Others have or are facing the same thing as you, so there’s no point in being embarrassed or scared to do the things you want and love to do.

If someone spent one day in your boots, what would surprise them the most?

There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work that goes into both cutting and especially FFA. Right now, my

teammate and I are headed to Fort Worth to start convention prep. We’re about to spend the next nine days locked in rooms memorizing scripts.

When the state convention starts, all the members see is us smiling on stage with everything perfectly memorized. Members don’t see all the rehearsal and preparation that goes into events; we try so hard to make it a good experience for them.

As far as cutting goes, most people only see the wins or losses people have. They don’t see how early we’ve had to get up to work, or how late we’ve had to stay up after softball games to get horses ready. All they see is us in the show pen, whether that’s a good weekend or a bad weekend. So, regardless of which area I’m talking about, just the amount of hard work that goes behind the scenes.

My dad always said, “The harder you work, the better you do.” And I’ve really tried to implement that into every single area of my life.

Riley (front row, far right) is pictured with both the incoming and outgoing Texas FFA state officer teams during the 2026 Texas FFA Convention.

Family has been at the heart of Riley’s journey. Pictured (left to right) are Tristan Richardson and Wess Richardson; grandparents, the late Jimmy Farris and Carolyn Farris; sister, Reygan Richardson; father, the late Mike Farris; Riley; Faith Farris; Mitch Farris; and Will Akin.

Is your dad where you got your worth ethic from?

Absolutely. My dad, Mike Farris, was the hardest-working man I knew. When he was young, he was a cutting horse trainer, but for the benefit of his family, decided to hang that up and start an insurance business; he started Farris Insurance in Madisonville from the ground up. People would come in asking for the guy in the saddle because he wasn’t comfortable in a desk chair.

Reygan and I knew we had to work for the things we want, because nothing worthwhile in life is going just get handed to you.

What’s a lesson you learned growing up that still guides you today?

How far humility goes. I have been extremely blessed in the things I’ve accomplished and worked for.

them. Successes can be taken away at any moment. Just knowing that, you have to get up in the morning and continue grinding for those things that you want.

What’s next?

I put my freshman year of college on hold with becoming the Texas FFA state president. I will start college at Texas Christian University in August

Kidspeak

My 11-yo has drafted a fiction story for class and just asked me to look it over with her. As we sat down to read it, she said, "It's either a masterpiece or a disasterpiece."

Friends, I would like you to meet my new favorite word.

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Told my daughter work was tough today, and she patted my back and said, "Life isn't always pickles and peaches," like some kind of 3rd grade Confucius.

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My son just told me that a fire truck is actually a water truck. He then asked me, "If you're waiting for the waiter, aren't you the waiter?"

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Me: I didn't plan dinner--I have a Zoom...can we make PBJ?

My 8-yo: Oh, no rush, take your time. I'll wait for the Zoom to be done. I'm not a PBJ-for-dinner type of kid. I wasn't raised like that.

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I don't know what just happened, but I was at the animal shelter, and a toddler walked in, pointed at me, and went, "I want that one." His mom just looked at me and said, "You can't have that, that's a grown man."

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Last night, my 10-yo couldn't go to bed until he practiced how he would clap if he got nominated for an Oscar and lost, but was on camera and needed to look like he was okay.

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My friend's toddler used to be afraid of thunderstorms until she told him that thunder is just the sky farting...

...and now, every time there's a storm, he just laughs his little head off.

Sometimes, all you need is a good rebrand.

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Kids will really humble you. I bought a white Nike windbreaker, and I thought it looked cute. I was looking at myself in the mirror, and my son walks by and says, "Hey, Astronaut."

Sean of the South

Oak Mountain

Pelham, Alabama. The year was 1927. Coolidge was president. Gas was 21 cents per gallon. Beer was illegal. Charles Lindberg crossed the Atlantic. Henry Ford unveiled the Model A.

And way down in Alabama, the Twenty-Second state bought 940 acres which included Double Oak Mountain and parts of Little Oak Ridge. The foothills of the Appalachians.

It was such magnificent country that years later, the National Park Service got involved with its development. The NPS acquired 8,000 acres of additional land.

The federal government was going to turn this place into a national park, on par with Yellowstone and Yosemite. They were going to call the park “Little Smoky Mountain National Park.”

But then some guy named Hitler screwed up the world, started a war. Construction ceased. Every able-bodied male was sent overseas.

Today, what remains is Oak Mountain State Park.

Otherwise known as “My Office.”

I hike Oak Mountain a lot. It isn’t far from my back door. And whenever I visit, I feel my shoulders lower from my ears. This morning, I hiked with my dog, Otis (alleged Labrador). We hiked for hours. He sprinted ahead, while I struggled to stay oxygenated.

“Slow down, dangit!” is what I was saying for most of the day. And I met a colorful mosaic of human beings on the mountain.

Three older women, hiking together, using walking sticks, singing hymns aloud. They were from Alabaster.

“We’re Church of Christ,” they told me. “But we drink like Catholics.”

I passed a young man who was hiking with a newborn baby strapped to his chest. A single dad. His wife died in a car accident. He is raising his infant daughter alone. He feels peace on this mountain.

I met a woman hiking with her teenage daughter. The daughter just graduated college and is joining the military. She is about to ship out for training.

I passed a family from Denmark. They are visiting America and trying to see every state. A mother, father, and two boys. So far they have seen 13 states. Alabama is their 14th.

I asked how they liked Alabama.

“We got two speeding tickets here,” said the father.

On my way to the top of the mountain, my dog greeted a Birmingham car salesman. He was hiking because his doctor told him he needed to take care of his cholesterol. I also met a woman who was training for her upcoming thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail.

I asked why she was going to hike the AT. She answered, “Because my ex-boyfriend’s an idiot.”

There was an elderly man plodding toward the top of the mountain. He pet Otis’s head and gave him a piece of beef jerky. “My wife has Alzheimer’s,” he said. “We’ve been hiking Oak Mountain since the ‘50s, but she doesn’t remember any of that now. So I hike out here and remember her.”

I asked what this place was like in the ‘50s.

He says, “Oh, just like it is America itself. Beautiful mountains; beautiful people.”

Try as I have for the last 15 minutes, I can’t come up with a better closing line than that.

Sean Dietrich

Skin Safety 101:

Protecting Against Sunburn and Skin Cancer

Alittle sunshine can do wonders for your mood, but when it comes to skin health, too much of a good thing can be harmful. Summer in Texas means long days outdoors, but it also means increased exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays that can damage your skin.

Sunburn is the most immediate effect of UV overexposure. Even a mild burn can cause discomfort, peeling, and longterm skin damage. But repeated sunburns or chronic sun exposure can increase your risk of developing skin cancer— the most common type of cancer in the U.S. In fact, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, and many cases are preventable with proper protection. Here’s how you can protect your skin this season:

• Apply sunscreen. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Apply it 15–30 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours, or more often if you’re swimming or sweating. Don’t forget easily missed spots like ears, the back of the neck, and the tops of your feet.

• Cover up. Wear long-sleeved shirts, wide-brimmed hats, and UV-blocking sunglasses when spending extended time outdoors. Look for clothing with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) for added defense.

• Seek shade. Stay in shaded areas, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when UV rays are strongest. Bring umbrellas or pop-up tents if natural shade is scarce.

• Don’t be fooled by clouds. UV rays can penetrate clouds, so even overcast days require sun protection. Reflective surfaces like water, sand, and pavement can intensify UV exposure.

• Avoid tanning beds. Artificial UV light is just as harmful as the sun and significantly increases your risk of skin cancer. Opt for sunless tanning lotions or sprays if you want a golden glow.

Craig Boudreaux, DO Family Medicine Medical Director, SHSU Physicians

Children are especially vulnerable to UV damage. Childhood sunburns are linked to a higher risk of skin cancer later in life. Make sure they wear sunscreen and protective clothing and take frequent breaks from the sun. Teach them early about the importance of skin care and sun safety.

In addition to daily protection, regular skin checks are important. Examine your skin monthly for changes in size, shape, or color of moles or new spots that itch, bleed, or don’t heal. The ABCDE rule can help you identify suspicious moles: Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter larger than a pencil eraser, and Evolving over time.

If you have a family history of skin cancer or concerns about any skin changes, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider. We’re here to answer questions and help you stay healthy year-round. Sunshine and summertime go hand in hand in Texas. By taking a few simple precautions, you can enjoy all that summer has to offer—without putting your skin at risk. Protecting your skin today means healthier skin tomorrow.

Glorious Grandchildren

Rion, Brentley, Graysen, & Hailey

Grandchildren of Lisa Lee & Brian Cassidy

Harper Lee

Great-grandchild of Della McKinney

Huntsville Woman, 64, Feels Her Feet Again

After 5 Years of Burning, Numbness, and Nerve Pills That Never Worked

Her Specialist Said “There’s Nothing More We Can Do.” She Found Another Way.

How a Little-Known 3-Step Nerve Repair Protocol Is Helping People Sleep, Walk, and Feel Normal Again — Even After Gabapentin, Lyrica, B12 Shots, and Years of “Just Manage It” Failed

Carol M. had not felt her feet in four years.

Not the good kind of numb. The kind where you step off a curb and nearly fall. The kind where the sheets feel like hot wire on your skin at night. The kind where your husband moves to the other room, just so you can keep the fan running all night to get through to morning.

She had tried everything her doctors gave her. Gabapentin left her dizzy. Lyrica made her gain 18 pounds. B12 shots helped for a week, then nothing. Her nerve specialist told her what she had heard many times before:

“Neuropathy is a condition we manage. Not one we cure.”

Carol stopped walking her neighborhood. She stopped going to her Wednesday night church group. She missed her granddaughter’s spring dance recital, afraid to trust her feet on the bleachers.

Then a neighbor told her about us. She almost did not call. What happened over the next ten weeks changed everything.

What Your Doctor Probably Never Told You

Here is the truth most doctors will not say out loud: Damaged nerves can heal.

Not always. And not without the right help. But far more than most patients are ever told.

Studies show that the most common nerve drugs, Gabapentin, Lyrica, Cymbalta, do not heal nerves. They work on your brain. They turn down the pain signal coming in. They do not fix the nerve itself. That is why the burning comes back. That is why most people keep getting worse , even while taking their pills every single day.

Here is what has to happen for nerves to heal:

First: the nerve needs blood flow and oxygen. Most people with neuropathy have poor blood flow to the small nerves in their feet and hands. Starved nerves cannot fix themselves.

Second: the swelling around the nerve has to calm down. Swelling acts like a tight grip. It keeps the nerve pinched no matter what pill you take.

Third: the nerve needs gentle, specific signals to wake back up and start working again. Without the right signals, healing stalls.

“I Cried When I Felt the Carpet Under My Feet Again”

After Carol’s second visit, the burning was less sharp. By week three, she slept six hours without waking up, for the first time in years. By week seven, the feeling started coming back. First in her left foot. Then her right.

She walked to her mailbox and back without holding the fence.

“I just stood in my living room and felt the carpet,” she said. “And I started crying. I had not felt that in four years. Nobody ever told me that was still possible.”

By week ten, she walked into her granddaughter’s recital on her own. She sat in the third row. She clapped.

“I thought that part of my life was gone,” she told us. “I almost did not make that call. I am so glad I did.”

A Special Invitation for Huntsville and Surrounding Residents

If you have burning, tingling, or numbness in your feet or hands, and nothing has worked, come in for a complete Neuropathy Relief Evaluation. The same evaluation Carol received.

Full nerve and circulation exam. Sensory and reflex testing. One-on-one consultation to find out exactly what is causing your symptoms, and whether our protocol can help you

This month: $47 (regularly $249).

Limited to 8 patients in August.

Call 936-241-7673

Right Now

Huntsville Physical Medicine Institute

Dr. Brian McGee, DC

Most drug treatments skip all three. Our protocol addresses all three, at the same time. No surgery. No new prescriptions. No guessing.

When all three happen together, patients see results they had stopped believing were possible.

P.S. Nerves heal better early. Every month you wait, the window gets a little smaller. We have eight spots open this August. After that, you go on a waiting list. Call 936-291-2111 today. Do not let another month go by.

*This article is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for personalized advice or treatment. This is a paid advertisement. Excludes beneficiaries of federally funded programs

Send me your questions at PostcardsLive.com/Share

Welcome back to the August 2026 edition of the Dear Gabby advice column. You’ve got to feel for the teachers who feel like it’s the first day of school, but the last day of school was yesterday! The good news is the 2026 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday in Texas will take place from Friday, August 7, through midnight on Sunday, August 9. During this three-day weekend, shoppers can buy most qualifying school supplies, backpacks, and clothing/footwear priced under $100, completely free of state and local sales taxes. I hope you can take advantage. Enjoy the rest of your summer, and send me your questions by clicking on Dear Gabby at www.PostcardsLive.com/share.

DEAR GABBY

I am a self-admitted exercise freak and probably not much younger than you are. Do you have an exercise program to keep you healthy and in shape?

EXERCISE GRANNY

DEAR GABBY

Please tell me I’m not the only person of a certain age who has trouble with recall of the simplest of things. Something I told myself five minutes ago is, lately, gone forever. I’d like to think this is normal and I’m not alone. If you think about it, let me know.

DEAR E.G.

Research has shown that laughing for two minutes is just as healthy as a 20-minute jog. I’ve already talked the talk and walked the walk. From now on, I’m going to sit the sit and laugh at all the joggers. I used to like to dance, so I tried “dancing like no one was watching.” Someone was watching, thought I was having a seizure, and called an ambulance. I also tried hiking once, and it is another great way to meet new people. On that one day alone, I met two paramedics, three nurses, a cardiologist, and I nearly met Jesus!

GABBY

DEAR WHO

Please know you have plenty of company! My ability to remember song lyrics from the 60s and 70s far exceeds my remembering why I walked into the kitchen. To help keep my sanity, I hung a sign in each room with possible reasons I may have come in there. Try it; it helps.

GABBY

CONFIDENTIAL TO “NO FAN OF TECHNOLOGY”: I can relate. I’m old enough to remember when the phone was tied with a wire and people were free.

WHO AM I?

The Garden Post August To-Do List

It’s not too late! Did you get sidetracked and not get flowers planted earlier this year?

Don’t worry, you can still plant several warmseason varieties. A few good choices are zinnias, lantana, periwinkles, tropical hibiscus, Mexican heather, and blue daze. However, be sure to mulch heavily and water accordingly, as some plants require more water than others to survive.

Remember to cut back, fertilize, and water your flowering perennials. They will get their second wind and give you a beautiful, late-summer and fall show.

Also, don’t forget about ornamental trees, shrubs and grasses. Some great choices are crape myrtles, Texas sage, and Muhly grasses. Make sure they’re watered well if we don’t get rain. And please don’t skimp on mulch! If you’re planning on adding new ornamentals to your landscape, fall is an excellent time to plant.

Be proactive and get your area ready. If you need to amend your soil, do it now! If you’re not sure what your soil needs, please reach out to your local extension office and pick up soil test kits. The soil samples are sent to Texas A&M for analysis. They will send you a detailed report, and you can go from there on how to amend your soil if needed. Afterwards, mulch the area heavily to prevent weeds until time to plant.

When you’re ready to plant your ornamentals, it’s a good practice to use a root stimulator to give them a head start, but don’t fertilize them (This would encourage late-season,

Ginger Vybiral

Bobo’s Nursery Buffalo, Texas

new growth, which would be vulnerable to damage from an early freeze).

Get excited for fall vegetables and herbs! Plant in late August through early September. Some shining stars to consider are broccoli, cauliflower, greens, lettuces, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts.

We’ve touched on the subject, but let’s talk about fertilizing. Why do we fertilize in the hot summer months? Well, plants have to eat too, right? Most plants are at their peak growing cycle, and the heat really depletes their nutrients, so yes, they need it. But if you think, “Well, I’ll give it more so it will do better,” that’s a no-no. Fertilizer can burn plants to the point of no return, a total apocalyptic situation. Best advice: do your homework and know what your specific plant needs. There are slow-release as well as water-soluble options that are good. If you’re not sure, always consult your local nursery; they will give you expert advice and recommend what you need.

Let’s talk about those pesky critters that think they have the right to move in and take over our beautiful plants. Some of the usual suspects: mealy bugs, spider mites, white flies, aphids, slugs, tiny worms, cutworms, caterpillars (the list goes on and on). We had a mild winter, so the critter population wasn’t cut back like we would have liked. We have seen an upswing in infestations, but we can be proactive and head them off. Be diligent, check your plants regularly, do your homework, and know what products to treat the problem with. Check with your local nursery or garden center to find the right product to eradicate these tiny little monsters before it’s too late!

Not to be outdone, it appears we will have an El Nino year, which ups the possibility of a wetter-than-usual climate. This can lead to diseases and fungus. A good triple action is always a good choice; it takes care of everything.

Remember: children, marriages, and flower gardens reflect the kind of care they get.

-H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Tasty Bites

Cornbread Crepe Chicken Enchiladas

INGREDIENTS

Chicken Filling:

3 (15.5 oz) jars green salsa, divided 1 cup chicken broth

3 lbs skinless, boneless chicken thighs

2 tsp kosher salt

Cornbread Crepes:

1 large egg

1 tsp white sugar

1 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp kosher salt

1 pinch cayenne pepper

1/2 cup cornmeal

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup milk

2 Tbs melted butter for frying

Enchiladas:

6 oz Pepper Jack cheese, shredded 1/2 cup red chili salsa

1/2 cup sour cream

1/4 cup torn cilantro leaves green salsa for plates, as needed

DIRECTIONS

Step 1: For filling, add green salsa, chicken broth, chicken thighs, and salt to a saucepan, and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until chicken is falling-apart tender, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Remove chicken to a bowl, letting any sauce drip back into the pan, and set aside.

Step 2: Turn heat to high, and boil sauce until it reduces and thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low, ladle out 1 1/2 cups of sauce, and reserve to top enchiladas.

Step 3: Use two forks to finely shred chicken and add to the sauce left in the pan. Stir well and keep warm on

low if ready to use, or cool and reserve until needed.

Step 4: For crepes, combine egg, salt, sugar, baking powder, and cayenne in a bowl, and whisk thoroughly to combine. Add cornmeal, flour, and milk, and whisk until a smooth, thin batter is formed. Let rest 5 minutes before using.

Step 5: Place a nonstick 10-inch pan on medium-high heat, and once hot, brush with melted butter. Pour in 1/4 cup of batter and swirl the pan to cover the bottom. Cook crepes until lightly browned, about 1 minute per side. Transfer onto a plate and cover with a kitchen towel. Repeat with remaining batter, brushing pan with butter each time, until all the batter is used. You should get at least 6 or 7 crepes. After the first crepe, once the pan is hot, you can probably reduce the heat to medium for the rest.

Step 6: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Cover the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking pan or casserole dish with a thin layer of the reserved sauce.

Step 7: To assemble enchiladas, lay 6 crepes out on a work surface, and scatter over about 2 tablespoons of shredded cheese on each. Divide the chicken filling evenly on each crepe, and roll up, finishing with the seam at the bottom. Transfer enchiladas into pan. Ladle some sauce down the middle, leaving the ends of enchiladas exposed. Some sauce should be reserved to serve with the enchiladas once plated. Top sauced enchiladas with remaining grated cheese.

Step 8: Bake in preheated oven until cheese is melted and filling is hot (10-15 minutes, if you begin baking while filling is still warm). If you make the filling ahead, it should be warmed up before filling the enchiladas.

Step 9: Garnish top of the enchiladas with red chili sauce, sour cream, and torn cilantro leaves. Serve with extra sauce, sour cream and cilantro once plated if desired.

Tasty Bites

Cowboy Coleslaw

INGREDIENTS

1 (16-oz) pkg shredded coleslaw mix

1 (15-oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 1/2 cups frozen corn, thawed and drained

1 cup finely chopped red bell pepper

1/2 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped

1/4 cup seeded and finely chopped jalapeño

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup sour cream

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

3 Tbs canned adobo sauce

1 Tbs taco seasoning mix

2 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp ground cumin

1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions lime wedges, for serving

DIRECTIONS

Step 1: Toss coleslaw mix, black beans, corn, red bell pepper, cilantro, and jalapeño together in a large bowl until well combined.

Step 2: Whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, adobo sauce, taco seasoning, salt, and cumin together in a medium bowl until smooth.

Step 3: Pour dressing over the coleslaw mixture and toss until evenly coated.

Step 4: Garnish with scallions and serve with lime wedges. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to 12 hours before serving.

Lead Pastor: David Valentine

Tasty Bites

Sweet Heat Flatbread

INGREDIENTS

1 (16 oz) pkg refrigerated pizza dough

2 Tbs chopped fresh parsley

2 Tbs chopped fresh thyme

2 Tbs chopped fresh basil zest of 1/2 lemon

1 tsp purple shallot powder

3/4 tsp Fleur de sel, divided, or as needed

1/2 tsp cracked black pepper, divided, or as needed

1/3 cup olive oil, plus more for drizzling

2 small ripe peaches, sliced 4 slices prosciutto flour for dusting

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella

4 Tbs hot honey

2 oz Gorgonzola cheese, or more to taste

DIRECTIONS

Step 1: Set out pizza dough and bring to room temperature, about 15 minutes.

Step 2: Combine parsley, thyme, basil, lemon zest, shallot powder, ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper, and olive oil in a bowl. Drizzle sliced peaches in a bowl with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper. Cut 2 pieces of prosciutto in half and reserve.

Step 3: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 4: Lightly flour your counter, the rolling pin, and your hands. Using your hands, stretch the dough into a circle shape and set on the floured surface. Using the rolling pin, roll pizza dough into desired shape and thickness. Transfer the dough onto the prepared baking sheet and poke holes into the dough using a fork.

Step 5: Brush most of the herb mixture generously all over the dough and evenly sprinkle mozzarella on top. Arrange peaches in 4 sections of the dough and nestle the half pieces of prosciutto into the peaches. Tear remaining prosciutto into bite sized pieces and scatter all over the dough.

Step 6: Bake in preheated oven until flatbread is lightly browned and crips, 15-18 minutes. Remove from oven and brush with remaining herbed oil. Cut flatbread into 4 sections.

Step 7: Plate each serving. To finish, grate gorgonzola cheese over the flatbread and drizzle with hot honey.

Tasty Bites

No-Bake Orange Creamsicle Bars

INGREDIENTS

Crust:

2 cups graham cracker crumbs

2 Tbs white sugar

1/4 cup melted salted butter

Orange Filling:

3 oz orange flavored gelatin

3/4 cup boiling water

3/4 cup ice water

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup confectioners sugar

8 oz frozen whipped topping (thawed)

Creamy Filling:

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1 cup confectioners sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp orange extract

8 oz frozen whipped topping (thawed)

DIRECTIONS

Step 1: Line a 9x9-inch baking dish with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, add the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter to a bowl; mix with a fork until it resembles sand. Pour into the prepared

pan and press evenly into the bottom of the pan with your fingers. Place in the refrigerator to chill, about 20 minutes.

Step 2: For orange filling, add orange gelatin to a bowl; pour in boiling water, and stir until dissolved. Stir in ice water, then place bowl in the refrigerator to cool for at least 10 minutes.

Step 3: Meanwhile, beat cream cheese with a mixer in a bowl until smooth. Scrape bottom and sides of bowl down, then add confectioner’s sugar. Beat again until well combined.

Step 4: Blend in cooled orange gelatin on low, until smooth with no cream cheese lumps. Fold in the whipped topping until completely combined, then place bowl back in the refrigerator.

Step 5: For creamy filling, add cream cheese to a clean bowl and beat until smooth. Add confectioner’s sugar, vanilla extract, and orange extract. Beat until completely smooth. Fold in whipped topping.

Step 6: To assemble, pour half the creamy filling over graham cracker crust; smooth into an even layer with a spatula. Layer on orange filling and smooth out evenly. Add remaining creamy filling on top, and smooth into an even layer. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

Tristan Roberson

To this 18-year old fulltime musician, age is just a number.

STORY BY AMY BARNETT | SUBMITTED PHOTOS

Tristan Roberson is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about young country artists in Texas. The 18-year-old Frisco native has already earned four No. 1 songs on Texas radio and won multiple industry awards, including New Male Vocalist of the Year at the Texas Regional Radio Awards. What started with a guitar at age eight and a few videos posted online when he was 15 has grown into a full-time music career that continues to gain momentum. With his upcoming album, “Down for the Ride,” and a growing list of accomplishments, Roberson is proving that age is just a number. We sat down with him to talk about Texas roots, songwriting, and what’s next.

You’re quickly making a name for yourself in the Texas Music Scene. How has growing up in Texas shaped your sound as an artist? Texas has absolutely shaped my sound. Texas country music is very different from what you hear outside the state, especially compared to Nashville. Texas music tends to lean more toward rock influences, traditional country, and honky-tonk sounds. While I’m still learning about all the different aspects of the culture, I love being part of it. It has influenced how I write, how I perform, and the type of music I want to make.

Who are some artists you look up to most?

Right now, Braxton Keith is someone I really admire. I met him at a country music festival in Monterrey, Mexico. I was nervous introducing myself, because I’ve been such a big fan of his work. When I walked up and introduced myself, he said, “I’ve heard about you.” That completely shocked me. He spent time talking with me, showing me around the festival grounds, taking photos, and just being incredibly kind. It was a surreal experience.

I also really enjoy Hudson Westbrook. As far as traditional country goes, George Jones, Ronnie Milsap, George Strait, and Keith Whitley are huge influences. Keith Whitley is probably my favorite country artist of all time.

Tell us some favorite artists you’ve shared a stage with. I’ve had the opportunity to perform alongside some incredible artists. I’ve played shows with Braxton Keith and David Lewis. One memorable event was Bulls, Bands & Barrels at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth. Hudson Westbrook was performing inside after the rodeo, and I was playing outside beforehand. Technically, we were on the same bill, and my name was on the poster alongside his, which was pretty cool. I’ve also opened for Aaron Watson at Gruene Hall, and that was an incredible experience.

Do you have a favorite venue where you’ve performed so far?

It has to be Luckenbach. I had the opportunity to perform there with William Beckmann, and the show was sold out with several thousand people in attendance. The crowd was amazing, the energy was incredible, and the venue itself is such an iconic place in Texas music. Everything about that night was special.

What does your songwriting process look like?

I do a lot of writing with a guy named Steve Dean. I met Steve during my first trip to Nashville. I attended a songwriter showcase at the Country Music Hall of Fame, and after the event, I introduced myself and gave him one of my business cards. I told him I’d love to write with him someday if he was interested.

About a year later, I remembered that conversation and decided to reach out. I called him, reminded him who I was, and he said, “I remember you. Your card is still sitting on my desk.” From there we started writing together over Zoom and eventually became frequent collaborators. We’ve written several songs together, including my Texas radio No. 1, “Can’t Get Over You.” Steve has become one of my main songwriting partners, and I’m incredibly grateful for everything he’s taught me.

You’re 18 years old and already writing with some major Nashville songwriters. Do you ever think how incredible that is?

I started realizing the caliber of people I was working with and the accomplishments they’ve had in the industry. The funny thing is they’re all just normal people. They’re incredibly talented, but they’re also genuine, kind people who have become friends. I’m incredibly blessed to be in those rooms. I truly believe God’s timing has played a huge role in my career. I’ve been fortunate to meet the right people at the right moments, and I’m very grateful for that.

You have an impressive following on social media. How have you grown your audience so quickly, and why is that important?

One of the first videos I posted on Instagram was a cover of “Something

which (at the time) felt huge to me. I got a lot of positive feedback, and it motivated me to keep posting. That was probably the first moment I thought, “Maybe I can really do this.”

I post three times a day on Instagram, and sometimes as many as six times a day on TikTok. People think social media is easy, but creating quality content takes a tremendous amount of work. You’re constantly recording, editing, planning content, and finding ways to keep people engaged. The reality is social media is one of the most important tools artists have today. You can be incredibly talented, but if people don’t know who you are, it’s difficult to grow. It’s how people find new artists, how songs go viral, and how fans stay connected.

You’ve already won several awards (including Texas Regional Radio Report Male New Artist of the Year and Texas Country Music Association Emerging Artist honors). What do you think separates you from some of the other young artists coming up right now?

All I can say is I’m true to myself. I don’t necessarily like being labeled as “the young guy.” It’s part of my story, and I’m grateful for it, but I don’t want it to define my entire identity as an artist.

I’ve gone through a lot in my life. My parents’ divorce was difficult, and there were situations that forced me to mature quickly. I think those experiences gave me perspective and helped me grow up faster than most people my age. People often tell me they forget I’m only eighteen. I get comments all the time that I seem older than I am.

For people who haven’t seen you perform live yet, what can they expect from a Tristan Roberson show?

A lot of energy. I’m constantly moving around the stage, and I expect my band to bring that same energy as well. I’m there to play great music, but I’m also there to entertain people. I also love improvisation. I give my band members freedom to make solos their own, and that means every show has something unique about it.

Let’s talk about the new album.

The new album is called “Down for the Ride.” There are 14 songs, and a lot of them include racing and NASCAR references, which is where the title came from. We recently filmed promotional content at Texas Motor Speedway. One of the coolest experiences was getting to ride in the passenger seat of a retired NASCAR race car around the track at about 180 miles per hour. It was absolutely wild. The entire album is built around that racing theme, and I’m really excited for people to hear it.

What are some of your hobbies outside music?

I’m a huge gamer. I play a game called Rust, and I have more hours in it than I want to admit. I also love fishing, hanging out with friends, and I enjoy playing a little poker, too. Every now and then, I’ll make a trip to Oklahoma and try my luck, but lately it hasn’t been going quite the way I’d hoped.

Share a hidden talent fans might be surprised to learn about.

I cook a pretty mean steak. I’d definitely consider that one of my hidden talents.

Looking ahead three to five years, what do you hope the next chapter looks like?

My goal is to become a national country music artist. I’d love to be selling out arenas and stadiums, putting out music people connect with, and continuing to grow my career.

At the same time, I trust God’s plan. I’m going to keep working hard, keep writing songs, keep touring, and see where the journey takes me. Whatever happens, I’m grateful to be doing what I love.

Visit tristanrobersonmusic. com to learn more about Tristan Roberson and to keep up with his tour schedule. And don’t forget – the new album is out now!

Important Note! VOTING is open for the 2026 Texas Country Music Awards through August 15. Anyone can vote, but TCMA member votes are doubled. Go to texascountrymusic.org

Tristan Roberson is nominated in the following categories:

• Male Artist of the Year

• Country Album of the Year“One Night in Dallas”

• Country Single of the Year –“I Can’t Get Over You”

Two band members are also nominated: Guitarist of the Year –Carlos Gutierrez Drummer of the Year –Zach Demers

I’m grateful to be doing what I love. ”

Giggles & Grins

Have you heard of the music group called The Defibrillators?

They're a revival band.

••••••••••••••••••••

My veterinarian: Don't forget we offer a military discount!

Me to my cat: Have you served in the military?

••••••••••••••••••••

"Your internet connection is unstable."

Well, my internet connection can join the club.

••••••••••••••••••••

The existence of a gravy boat and a gravy train implies an entire gravy transportation system...

Why is no one talking about this???

••••••••••••••••••••

An MIT linguistics professor was lecturing his class the other day. "In English," he said, "a double negative forms a positive. However, in some languages, such as Russian, a double negative remains a negative. But there isn't a single language, not one, in which a double positive can express a negative."

A voice from the back of the room said, "Yeah, right."

••••••••••••••••••••

If we are serious about saving the planet, we should stop printing calendars.

They're the reason our days are numbered.

••••••••••••••••••••

My old math teacher was arrested. They found a protractor, calculator, and ruler. Weapons of maths instruction.

••••••••••••••••••••

I know God got the wheel, but sometimes I think we off-roading.

Discover a Deepening Awareness of God

Pet Pals

Abbie

loved by Pete & Susan Hayes

Franklin Eugene loved by Waylon & Scarlett

Twiztid & Sasha

loved by Michael & Katie Rutledge

Lacy

loved by Pete & Susan Hayes

Maya loved by Ed & Clara

Tilly loved by Calli Jo

Funspace

Fill in the blanks of both grids with the words.

Funspace Wags & Laughs

1. What dog keeps the best time? A watchdog!

2. What is a dog’s favorite sport? Formula 1 drooling!

3. What’s a dog’s favorite song? Who let the dogs out? Who who …!

4. What is the only kind of dog you can eat? A hot dog!

5. What’s a dog’s ideal job? Barkeology

6. What’s a dog’s favorite breakfast food? Pooched eggs!

7. Name the dog that is afraid of ghosts. Courage the Cowardly Dog

8. What do you call a great dog detective? Sherlock Bones!

9. What do you call a dog magician? A labracadabrador

10. Why is a tree like a big dog? They both have a lot of bark!

11. Why aren’t dogs good dancers? Because they have two left feet!

12. Who is the favorite rapper of every dog? Snoop Dogg!

13. Why did the Dalmatian go to the eye doctor?

He kept seeing spots!

14. What did one flea say to the other? “Should we walk or take a dog?”

15. What does a dog get when she finishes obedience school?

Her pet-degree!

16. Why did the dog roll toilet paper down the hill? So it could get to the bottom!

Sudoku Marketspace

The Business Focus is chosen each month by random drawing from among Postcards contract advertisers.

TOMORROW’S PROMISE MONTESSORI SCHOOLS

Continually working to live up to their name: a promise to children, a promise to families, and a promise to invest in the future of the community.

STORY BY CLAUDIA KIRKWOOD | PHOTOS BY TOM MILLER

Charlotte Baker, Patty Holiday, Courtney Davidson, Founder and CEO Kaye Boehning, & Rick Boehning

“My father and I used to have a running conversation,” Kaye Boehning says. “I would tell him all the things I was never, ever going to do. I once told him I was never, ever, ever, ever going to have children. He smiled and said, ‘You’ll change your mind someday.’ I ended up with a biological child for each ‘ever.’ And then, just for fun, God threw in a school…and eventually three schools. Looking back now, I can see God was preparing me long before I knew what for.”

Kaye Boehning, M.Ed., is Founder and CEO of Tomorrow’s Promise Montessori School, Tomorrow’s Promise Montessori Academy, and Tomorrow’s Promise Children’s House, all located in Huntsville, Texas. What began in 1997, just days after Kaye completed her Montessori training, started with only three students. Today, Tomorrow’s Promise serves more than 350 children and families across three campuses.

For Kaye, Tomorrow’s Promise has never been simply a business. It is a calling, a ministry, and a nonprofit mission rooted in the belief that every child deserves a strong beginning. Tomorrow’s Promise serves children from birth through age twelve through nursery care, preschool, Pre-K, kindergarten, elementary education, before and after school care, summer programs, and Parents Night Out events. A Tomorrow’s Promise experience includes quality education, loving care, nutritious meals, outdoor play on large playgrounds, and the opportunity to grow in a safe, nurturing community.

All three Tomorrow’s Promise schools are accredited by the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools, a significant accomplishment reflecting a high standard of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement. Accreditation is not easily earned, and it matters because families can have confidence the school is committed to strong educational practices, safe operations, and meaningful outcomes for children.

Tomorrow’s Promise is also positioned to serve families in several important ways. Through its public Pre-K partnership, qualifying families have access to a free Pre-K opportunity in a Montessori setting. Tomorrow’s Promise is also offering private school options from Pre-K through third grade, with plans to add an additional grade each year. Families may also have the opportunity to use Texas Education Freedom Account funding, if eligible, toward private school tuition. For qualifying families, the school also offers a bridge scholarship to help reduce costs. For families who want a different educational environment, these opportunities can open doors that may not have been available before.

To understand the heart of Tomorrow’s Promise, it helps to understand Montessori.

The Montessori method of education was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician, in the early 1900s after careful observation

of how children naturally learn.

Montessori education is built on the belief that children are not empty vessels waiting to be filled, but active learners who are already curious, capable, and eager to understand the world around them. The teacher’s role is not to force learning, but to prepare the environment, observe the child, and guide each child at the right time.

Montessori classrooms look different from many traditional classrooms. Children work with hands-on materials. They learn through movement, repetition, concentration, and discovery. They build independence by doing real tasks. They learn order, responsibility, language, math, science, grace, courtesy, manners, and problemsolving in ways that make sense to their stage of development.

Montessori’s guiding phrase is often described as, “Help me to do it myself.”

That captures what Kaye believes children need. They need adults to prepare the space, protect their dignity,

offer guidance, and allow them to discover, “I can.”

As Kaye explains, Montessori allows children to learn in a way that develops thinking and reasoning skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.

A child can also learn at their own pace, which includes allowing them to flourish in their God-given aptitudes at a pace they are comfortable with. If a child shows competence in math, but needs more time in another subject area, there is no reason to stop the child’s math growth just so everything stays even. Let them proceed at their own speed in each given skill or subject.

That is one of the reasons families are drawn to Tomorrow’s Promise. Children are known as individuals. Their growth is observed. Their gifts are noticed. Their struggles are supported. Their curiosity is protected. Kaye believes the early years are far too important to waste. Research consistently shows the first years of life are foundational. A child’s brain is

growing rapidly, and early experiences shape language, confidence, emotional security, attention, and later learning. A child who is talked to, read to, sung to, encouraged, and surrounded by rich experiences is receiving more than care; that child is receiving a foundation.

This belief is also why Tomorrow’s Promise brought Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Walker County. Dolly Parton launched the program in 1995 in East Tennessee to honor her father and to help young children develop a love of books. The program mails free, age-appropriate books to children from birth to age five, regardless of family income. Each month, a child receives a book in the mail with their name on it. For many families, that book becomes a treasured moment: a parent and child sitting together, turning pages, building vocabulary, sharing time, and planting dreams. (Much like Dolly, Kaye’s own mission has also been shaped by her father. He believed education opened doors and gave people the opportunity to build better lives. That belief stayed with Kaye and became part of the heart behind Tomorrow’s Promise.)

Through fundraisers such as Lasso Your Imagination and Cherish Your Imagination, along with community donations and sponsorships, Tomorrow’s Promise helps pay the local cost of mailing more than 1,000 books each month to area children. To date, more than 70,000 books have been mailed locally.

For Kaye, this is a natural extension of the school’s nonprofit mission.

Tomorrow’s Promise does not exist only for the children enrolled in its classrooms. It exists to strengthen children and families throughout the community. A child does not have to attend Tomorrow’s Promise to benefit from the Imagination Library. The goal is bigger than enrollment. The goal is literacy, opportunity, family connection, and a stronger future for Huntsville and Walker County.

That community-minded mission has been part of Tomorrow’s Promise from the beginning. The school has grown from three students to three campuses, but Kaye’s heart has remained the same: serve children well, support families, build excellent programs, and trust God to provide the next step.

Asked about plans for growth, Kaye is quick to share her dream of expanding Tomorrow’s Promise onto a five-acre area where children could learn from gardens, animals, nature, and hands-on work. She envisions a place where children are not separated from real life, but invited into it. They could plant, harvest, care for animals, observe creation, develop responsibility, and learn through meaningful work.

But Kaye is equally quick to say she trusts in God’s provision. As she says, she is “just along for the ride.” She believes God has paved the way by putting capable, faithful people in her path, including her three directors, Charlotte Baker, Courtney Davidson, and Patty Holiday, who help lead the programs each day.

After 28 years, Kaye, who once

stated she would never have a child, is now responsible for the care and education of more than 350 children, with memories of many more who have passed through the doors of her schools. She genuinely loves them and is committed to offering each child the strongest beginning possible.

“You do not have to teach a child to want to learn,” Kaye says. “Children come into the world curious, excited, and wired to learn. The desire is already there until it is made to feel like a chore. Our job is to protect that natural curiosity, place the right tools in their hands, and set the stage for learning to unfold with joy.”

Through accredited education, Montessori learning, public Pre-K partnership opportunities, private school growth, nonprofit service, and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Tomorrow’s Promise is helping children not only prepare for school, but prepare for life.

Contact Tomorrow’s Promise to learn more about enrollment, the Montessori method, public Pre-K, private school options, or how to support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library locally. Every book mailed, every child encouraged, and every family supported is part of a bigger promise: to help children believe their future is full of possibility.

tpms.life (936) 435-0303 office@tpms.life

Wildlife Wonders

Even Birds Have Awkward Teen Years

(Meet the Yellow-Crowned Night Heron)

ven birds go through awkward teenage years. The juvenile, yellow-crowned night heron is living proof. With its gangly appearance, streaked brown feathers, and oversized eyes, it’s a bird people find either irresistibly cute or wonderfully odd-looking. Fortunately, it eventually grows into one of the most beautiful and distinctive wading birds in Texas.

The adult, yellow-crowned night heron is a striking bird with an unmistakable appearance. It has a glossy black head accented by bright white cheeks and a pale yellow-white crown for most of the year. It stretches from the base of the bill, between the eyes, and over the top of the head. During breeding season, it turns a bright yellow color—giving the species its name. The bold black-and-white pattern creates a distinctive striped look across the face. Another change that takes place during breeding season is long, delicate white plumes appear and extend from the back of the head. Completing the bird’s regal appearance are its stout black bill and piercing orange-red eyes.

Now that we know where the “yellow-crowned” part of its name comes from, what about the “night” heron? Unlike most herons, which do their hunting during the day, yellow-crowned night herons spend much of the daylight hours quietly roosting in trees. As dusk approaches, they become active, searching for crabs, crayfish, fish, amphibians, insects, and other small prey under the cover of darkness. By hunting primarily at night and during the twilight hours, they avoid competing with many of the wading birds that feed during the day.

Yellow-crowned night herons are seasonally monogamous, forming a bond for each breeding season. The male chooses the nesting site, usually in a pine, oak, or other tree growing near or over water. Nests are often tucked high above the

By Cheryl Conley Lake Creek Nature Preserve Board of Directors

ground and may be built as much as 60 feet up. Once the nest is complete, the female lays two to six eggs. Both parents share incubation duties, and after about 25 days, the eggs hatch and the pair work together to care for their young.

One of the most remarkable things about the yellowcrowned night heron is its diet. While it will eat fish, frogs, insects, and other small animals, its favorite meals are crabs and crayfish. It will even eat small turtles—shell and all. Those hard shells might seem impossible to digest, but the heron’s highly acidic digestive system is well equipped for the job, breaking down much of the shell, claws, and other hard parts that many predators can’t. It’s an impressive adaptation that allows the yellow-crowned night heron to take advantage of a food source few other birds can handle.

Unlike many wading birds, yellow-crowned night herons have adapted surprisingly well to life in the Houston area and are remarkably tolerant of people. Houston’s extensive network of bayous, wetlands, neighborhood ponds, and drainage channels provides an abundance of food and ideal nesting habitat. It’s not unusual to find these birds quietly hunting around neighborhood ponds and city parks. If left undisturbed, they’ll often ignore nearby walkers as they patiently search for their next meal.

If you’d like to see one, Buffalo Bayou is one of the best places to look. Other excellent locations include the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, as well as Memorial Park and Hermann Park. Your best chance of spotting one is around dawn or dusk when they become most active. Watch quietly along the edges of ponds, bayous, and wooded shorelines, where they slowly stalk the shallows before striking at unsuspecting prey. With a little patience, you may be rewarded with a close-up view of one of Houston’s most fascinating wading birds.

Your Best Agrilife

Wellness Starts with Small Steps

August is National Wellness Month, a great reminder that taking care of yourself doesn’t have to be complicated. Wellness is more than eating healthy foods or exercising regularly. It is the active process of making choices that support your physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being so you can live a healthier, more fulfilling life.

Many people think they need to make big changes to improve their health, but lasting wellness often begins with small, manageable habits. Taking a walk after dinner, getting seven to nine hours of sleep each night, drinking more water, choosing more fruits and vegetables, spending more time with family and friends, or simply taking a few minutes to slow down and breathe can all contribute to better overall well-being.

When wellness becomes part of your daily routine, the benefits reach far beyond how you feel today. Healthy habits can improve your energy, reduce stress, boost your mood, strengthen your immune system, and lower your risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Prioritizing wellness can also improve focus, increase productivity, and help you better manage the challenges of everyday life.

Wellness is important wherever you spend your day, including work. Whether you work in an office, classroom,

Samantha Smith

County Extension Agent – Family and Community Health

farm, business, or from home, simple habits can help you stay healthy throughout the workday. Stand up and stretch every hour, keep a reusable water bottle nearby, pack a balanced lunch, take a short walk during your break, or step outside for a few minutes of fresh air. These small actions can help reduce fatigue, improve concentration, and support both physical and mental health.

The best part about wellness is there is no “perfect” way to achieve it. Everyone’s journey looks different. Instead of striving for perfection, focus on making small improvements that fit your lifestyle and are realistic to maintain. Progress, not perfection, is what leads to lasting changes.

This National Wellness Month, I challenge you to choose one healthy habit to focus on and invite your family and/or friends to join you. Cook a nutritious meal together, take an evening walk around the neighborhood, establish a consistent bedtime routine, or spend an hour unplugged from screens. Small steps taken consistently can have lasting impact on your health and quality of life.

Interested in learning more? Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Walker County offers educational programs throughout the year to help individuals and families build healthy habits. For more information about upcoming classes and resources, call our office at (936) 435-2426.

OUR TEAM

Meet the people behind the pages.

Getting to Know Us

Every issue of Postcards is made possible by a dedicated team working behind the scenes.

With Getting to Know Us, we’re pulling back the curtain to introduce you to the people who make it all happen—one little question at a time!

IF YOU COULD ONLY EAT ONE FOOD FOR A MONTH, WHAT WOULD IT BE, AND WHY?

Bread. Give me a bakery and some butter, and I am set for the month!

Fish, because you can have it so many different ways: fried, baked, grilled, blackened, tacos, steamed, sushi, ceviche, smoked, skewered, sandwich, stuffed, roasted…AND MORE.

Let’s TACO bout how many different things you can stuff in a folded over tortilla. They’re not just for Tuesdays, people!

Fish, because I am married to a fisherman, my son is a fishing guide, and my daughter and grandson go out on the boat with us!

Ice cream! While it might not be the healthiest, I never get tired of it.

Potatoes…they are incredibly versatile and won’t get boring.

Cheese. There are so many things you can do with cheese and so many different kinds. A grilled cheese is still one of my all time favorite things to eat! Tacos.

Mary Partida Designer

April Key Designer

Tammy Farkas Advertising

Nancy Jolly Advertising

Wes Altom Editor

Marshall Altom Operations Mgr.

Karen Altom Publisher

Allie Plunk Media & Content

August 2026

Thru 2

CONROE

“Shrek JR: The Musical” crightontheatre.org

CONROE

Terrain Race Houston terrainrace.com

CONROE Stars, Stripes, & Stories: An America 250! Celebration countylibrary.org//central_library.php

TOMBALL

Tom Glynn: American Tune (Simon, Groce, & Taylor) mainstreetcrossing.com

THE WOODLANDS John Mellencamp thewoodlandscenter.org

6-7

COLLEGE STATION Global Leadership Summit 20226 christchurchcs.org

6-9

HOUSTON Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus nrgpark.com

CENTERVILLE Kids Book Club – Journey to the Center of the Earth wardmemoriallibraryctx@gmail.com

7-8

HUNTSVILLE St. Thomas Rummage Sale (936) 581-0451 7

THE WOODLANDS TOTO + Christopher Cross + The Romantics thewoodlandscenter.org

BRYAN Lion King Movie Night at Aggieland Safari aggielandsafari.com

THE WOODLANDS YES to YOUTH Gala app.betterunite.com/yestoyouth-2026gala-everafter

8 THE WOODLANDS

The Black Crowes & Whiskey Myers thewoodlandscenter.org

PALESTINE Pints in the Pines texasstaterailroad.net

14-30

CONROE

Three Cross Meat Ministry Gala lonestarcowboy.ticketspice.com/threecross-gala

14-30

CONROE “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” owentheatre.com

14-15

HUNTSVILLE Local Churches Blood Drive commitforlife.org

HOUSTON FRAGCON Global Fragrance Convention globalfragranceconvention.com See More Events Online!

Mustard Seed Moments

By Ruth Fields

A Bright Idea

Several years ago, I heard about a remarkable invention. Two architecture students, inspired by Haiti’s catastrophic 2010 earthquake, created an inflatable, waterproof, solar-powered lantern that was featured on the TV show Shark Tank. It sounded like a good idea to me, so I ordered a LuminAID lantern to have on hand for minor power outages.

In July 2024, Hurricane Beryl took many of us by surprise. My solar-powered lantern came in handy during the subsequent power outage; however, I have to admit it worked better when paired with ancient knowledge. As my husband and I sat down for dinner (prepared on our gas-powered stove), I plunked my nifty lantern on the table. It didn’t help much. “Put it up higher,” my husband suggested, so I hung it from the light fixture that hangs over our dining room table. Instantly, the whole room lit up with a warm glow.

I was suddenly reminded of Matthew 5:1416, where Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”

This probably made perfect sense to people who used oil lamps to light their homes, and who knew what a lampstand was, but it took a hurricane and subsequent power outage for me to think about the deeper meaning. Jesus went on to say, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

The concept of “light” is used many times throughout the Bible. Psalm 119:105 states, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” And in Acts, 26:16-18, we learn God sent the Apostle Paul to Gentile territory “to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”

The song many of us learned as children still rings true: “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. . .”

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” – John 8:12

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