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Back To School!
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YOUR MUSEUM HAS REOPENED!
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 14TH
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INTRODUCING SCIENCE ON A SPHERE!
Guests interact with our brand-new Science on a Sphere, a large sphere hanging from the ceiling in the Current Science Studio that displays space and Earth-based content from NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
NEW MUSEUM HOURS! The museum is open every Friday and Saturday from 10AM to 5PM, and on Sundays from 12PM to 5PM. Monday thru Thursday, we are closed. (Note: Noble Planetarium is open, but Omni Theatre and WaterWorks are still temporarily closed. Stay tuned for updates!)
Fort Worth Museum of Science & History | 1600 Gendy Street, Fort Worth, TX 76107
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J E N N I F E R
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It’s true. The coming weeks mark the annual preparation time for going back to school. With the kids no longer underfoot, thoughts turn to new careers, early retirement, and self-improvement in general. Personally, I just want new school/office supplies. With all that in mind, here are some back-to-school ideas.
Every fall, Navy MWR (2750 Desert Storm Rd, NAS JRB, Fort Worth, 817-782-7762) — which stands for “Morale, Welfare, Recreation” for us non-military types — hosts a Pack-to-School Bash. At 4pm-9pm Thu, kids will receive a backpack filled with school supplies at this drive-thru event. Supplies are limited, so before attending, please visit OperationHomefront.org. At 1pm-4pm Sat, the Urban Creative Center (291 Executive Way, Ste 100, Desoto, 469-999-5342) is hosting a Pop-Up Shop & School Supply Drive. Vendors include small businesses and kidpreneurs with items for sale, food available for purchase, and free school supplies, plus entertainment by DJ JLon. This event is free to attend. Face masks are encouraged.
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With school starting now thru early September, there are more happenings to come. To submit your back-to-school event, email Jennifer@FWWeekly.com.
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With 14 locations in North Texas — including Fort Worth (1233 Town Square Dr, 817-731-5883), Arlington (4111 S Cooper St, 817-467-2226), and North Richland Hills (6537 NE Loop 820, 817-788-8572) — Burlington is drawing attention to back-to-school fashion with a contest at Facebook. com/BurlingtonStores. Tag/like in the contest post comments for a chance to be one of 25 winners who will receive a $100 gift card. For more info and official rules, visit Burlington.com/back-toschool/#sweepstakes.
From 4am to 6pm Wed, Aug 4, visit Greenbriar Community Center (5200 Hemphill St, Fort Worth, 817-392-6270) for the Back-to-School Bash. The public is invited to pick up free school supplies, including backpacks, erasers, pencils, pencil cases, and notepads while supplies last. For more information, visit Facebook.com/GreenbriarCFW.
“Don’t you love Fort Worth in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address.” — Joe Fox, You’ve Got Mail (well, if he was not fictional and lived in Funkytown)
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Back to School Already?
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Off to a Good Start
Funky Town Fridge served more than 250 breakfasts throughout the first week of school. M O N A C E L L I
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Indictments of members of Carroll’s school board appear to be politically motivated. B Y
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County prosecutors are afforded wide discretion when deciding whether to accept criminal cases. In 2016, a special prosecutor found that Tarrant County District Attorney Sharen Wilson was not guilty of violating Texas election laws when she used her public office resources to solicit campaign contributions from county employees. The decision not to prosecute Wilson wasn’t made due to
a lack of evidence but rather because special prosecutor Maureen Shelton found no “criminal intent” behind the actions of the Republican DA. While that decision struck many as a reminder of the far-reaching power of Tarrant County’s good-ol’-boy system, few would argue that discretion, when employed fairly, isn’t an important pillar of law enforcement and the criminal justice system writ large. Fort Worth police department officers can now write citations for possession of low levels of marijuana, for example. In April, Tarrant County’s district attorney office used its discretion to seek the indictment of Carroll school board members Todd Carlton and Michelle Moore for allegedly violating the Texas Open Meetings Act, a state law that protects Texans’ right to access certain governmental meetings. The board members texted each other school matters that should be discussed only during publicly accessible meetings, according to numerous media reports at the time. The indictments followed a closed-door grand jury deliberation between county prosecutors and 12 jurors. The indictments are a political victory for coun-
The first Black Panther Party Free Breakfast Program took place at a church in Oakland, California, where 11 schoolchildren were provided a hot breakfast of grits, toast, eggs, and milk. By the end of the week, there were more than 100 children. And by the end of the year, some 20,000 children were being served by the continued on page 7
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Conservative Cronyism
be affected in 2022, according to the nonprofit Feeding America, Richardson said the inspiration for Funky Town Fridge’s Free Breakfast Program goes all the way back to 1969. “The Black Panther Party was the inspiration,” Richardson said. “Always has been, always will be. That’s my favorite blueprint.”
Staff with the City of Fort Worth, TRWD, Fort Worth school district, and other local government groups are unable to recall any instance of open meeting act prosecutions in Tarrant County, so why is the DA pushing for these unprecedented charges now? continued on page 6
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are maintained by volunteers and stocked by locals with spare food when needed. Richardson launched Funky Town Fridge amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 after learning about similar programs in New Orleans, Houston, and New York City. Although food insecurity is a contemporary problem, with nearly one in four children in Tarrant County projected to
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The Funky Town Fridge crew are inspired by the Black Panthers’ Free Breakfast Program in the late 1960s.
Edward Brown
A community fridge program in Fort Worth is taking another step toward their end goal of feeding Funkytown — a Free Breakfast Program for students. Over half a dozen volunteers with Funky Town Fridge distributed 50 hot meals every morning last week to children, parents, and teachers outside the United Fort Worth Justice Center in Southeast Fort Worth. Some 250 meals were distributed throughout the week. “We’ve been serving people in this neighborhood that are close enough to where they can be able to come pick up breakfast and then still get their kids to school on time or go to work on time,” said Kendra Richardson, Funky Town Fridge founder. Throughout Fort Worth, Funky Town Fridge operates a handful of community fridges, also known as “friendly fridges” or “community solidarity fridges,” which offer free food to area residents — no questions asked. The fridges remain stocked through community mutual aid — they
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Black Panthers across 36 cities. The original Black Panther Free Breakfast Program was in part inspired by research by nutritionist Adelle Davis showing that eating breakfast in the morning improves students’ academic performance. Realizing that food-insecure Black children would struggle to get ahead in school, the Black Panthers sought to directly address the problem. The conclusions of this research have been expanded upon in the decades since. A 2019 article by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that food insecurity leads to “adverse social, physical, and psychological outcomes.” And despite decades of social policy aimed to address racial inequality since the first Free Breakfast Program, these problems persist. That same article by the NIH showed that, between 2001 and 2016, Black and Latinx households were at least twice as likely to experience food insecurity than non-Hispanic white households. It concluded that “discrimination and structural racism are key contributors to inequity in health behaviors and outcomes.”
www.DoggieDiggsFortWorth.com
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continued from page 4
Although Richardson said they originally wanted to put forth a larger program, comparatively speaking, Funky Town Fridge is off to a good start. “We just wanted to start where we could and see how we can expand and how much the community gets behind us,” she said. Considering their first attempt a success, Richardson said that the Funky Town Fridge team plans to serve free breakfasts for at least a week on an annual basis. In the meantime, they’ll keep working to fill stomachs and win over hearts and minds in Funkytown. “Community activists and leaders should be just as present in the community as the next influencer or rapper or whoever that these kids look up to,” Richardson said, “so our biggest focus now coming into the second year is focusing on the kids, getting to know them, and letting them get to know us, so that we can open doors to politically educate them as well, so they can have those tools that they need to stand up for themselves.” If you’d like to support Funky Town Fridge in their effort to reduce food insecurity in Fort Worth — whether through donations, volunteering, or hosting a community fridge — visit FunkyTownFridge.org. l
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themselves embroiled in an investigation of a longrunning conspiracy that established the hierarchy that rules the town and become targets of the oligarchs that the conspiracy empowered. The “truth” that one of the oligarchs imparts to Danny and Ronnie toward the end of the tale isn’t necessarily mind-blowing because one suspects it could be heard from any number of the extremely wealthy folks who we see in the news and throughout the political spectrum today, but it’s still shocking to see even a fictional version just come out and say it: “There’s those who would like you to believe that the ones who haven’t made it, who haven’t made their way to the top of the food chain and accrued power and money, didn’t because they didn’t have the breaks, didn’t have the opportunity. That’s bullshit. We are here and have been here and have run things and controlled things because we are the best of the best. Some people are just born better. Some people, they come from inferior stock. You can take your sympathy and your Social Security and your Medicare and your welfare and shove it up your ass. Let those who can, rule. And let those who can’t, manage as best they will. B Y E . R . B I L L S I’ve got nothing against throwing a bone to them now The first thing that intrigued me about Moon Lake was and again, but they live off the bones and the scraps the namesake setting. “Moon Lake” was created by while we live off the meat, the hearts, and the lungs of flooding the fictional East Texas town of Long Lincoln, the universe.” Wow. and the plot revolves around what happens when the Lansdale is the closest thing the Lone Star State lake dries up during a severe drought and past crimes are revealed. I had a backlog of other titles to read, has to a Stephen King or a James Patterson, but he’s but Joe R. Lansdale’s latest tugged at me personally. probably more original than either. The thing I like My family’s ancestral lands (on my mother’s side) most about his work is that his prose often comes at you supposedly lie under Lake Whitney, and I’ve often like a traditional Norman Rockwell painting, initially wondered about it and have been trying to find out extolling the simple pleasures and general decency of folks in Texas, Southern comforts, soul more about how the whole thing came to food, and people who say what they mean pass, so Moon Lake was catapulted over and love each other without hesitation several books I’d been waiting to get to Moon Lake or therapy. Texans recognize themselves longer, and I devoured it in two sittings. By Joe R. Lansdale Mulholland Books and, pardon the Moon Lake pun, Lansdale The story opens with 13-year-old $20-30 reels us in, but beneath the Rockwell is an Danny Russell’s single-parent father Orwell. And between the twain is, well, attempting to kill them both by driving off a Twain. Lansdale is even Chaucerian in a bridge that spans Moon Lake. Danny is his way, but the Orwell typically holds rescued by a young black “mermaid” and her father, who were fishing at the time. Danny stays court between the lines. In the excerpt above, however, with his rescuers until the authorities figure out what Orwell drops traditional Rockwell with a wicked Shen to do with him and then goes to live with an aunt. After Chuan strike to his throat and then stands over him as an extended drought 10 years later, Danny comes back he tries to remember how to breathe. It chillingly and vividly unpacks one version of the “boot” that Orwell to New Long Lincoln to identify his father’s remains. The young black “mermaid,” Ronnie, is now a described as “stamping on a human face — forever” in police officer, and the two discover some murders and his classic 1984. And this is language that decent folks a series of strange grave robberies. They quickly find in places like Texas could really stand to process.
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Fort Worth writer E.R. Bills is the author of Pendulum Grim (2019) and Texas Oblivion: Mysterious Disappearances, Escapes and Cover-Ups (2021).
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Cour tesy Mulholland Books
Moon Lake has Gothic intrigue, down-home humor, clever dialogue, romance, and characters most of us can relate to, but it’s also an incisive reflection of the times. Lansdale is a dog guy, but he’s clearly got some cat in him. His seemingly endless supply of captivating characters almost invariably find themselves pulling at the strings of the fabric of our culture, often unravelling the strands that gird some of our illusions and inequities. That’s why I scarfed Moon Lake right up and was ready for a second helping. Lansdale is entertaining as hell, but his work also matters. l
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With Moon Lake, Joe R. Landsdale examines inequality through a page-turning mystery.
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WWW.EAGLESPOINTSAGINAW.COM Coming from 820, exit Saginaw- Main exit towards Saginaw. About 2 miles down we are located in a shopping center on the left.
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STUFF Your week-to-week guide to the best — or most interesting — high school football matchups around North Texas. D .
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College and professional football seasons are upon us and are both expensive to attend in person. Both are more and more removed from the purity of the game with each passing year. I’m not suggesting you abandon your preferred college or sports team, but if you crave unfiltered amateur football, Friday nights are when you should be drinking in the grit and pageantry. North Texas is a hotbed for football, but there hasn’t been a lot of championshipcaliber play at the college or pro level in years. For a good time, return to your roots by following my roadmap to the best high school football matchups remaining this season. Week 2 pick: Rockwall-Heath vs. Southlake Carroll (7:30pm Thu) An early non-district matchup between two of the heavy-hitting 6A schools in our region. The Dragons proved in Week 1 they don’t necessarily need top-national pick Quinn Ewers — who left early for Ohio State — to be dangerous. They routed the similarly privileged Highland Park Scots 45-21 in the battle of the bankrolls. Rockwall-Heath won, however unimpressively, against Keller Timber Creek, but this remains an intriguing early-season matchup between two teams ranked in the Top 10 statewide. Alternate: Frisco Lone Star vs. Aledo (7pm) Week 3 pick: Waxahachie vs. Ennis (7:30pm Fri 9/10) I know, there’s no reason to go that far South of Dallas unless you’re attending Scarborough Renaissance Festival, but
you’ll have the chance to experience some smaller-town football as second-ranked 5A-division-1 Ennis tries to punch above their weight class against 6A Waxahachie in what will probably be a tight matchup between two teams who play polar opposite styles of football. Alternate: Aledo vs. Arlington Heights (7pm) Week 4 pick: Desoto vs. Duncanville (7pm Fri 9/17) District matchup between two neighboring DFW perennial powers. Only the Panthers are expected to plunge deep into the playoffs this season, but this game is a good ol’ track meet of South Dallas pride. Duncanville started their year shellacked 47-3 by Mater Dei — the top-ranked team in the nation, out of Santa Anna, California — and Desoto lost a one-touchdown thriller to Judson, the top-ranked squad in the San Antonio metro area. Both will fight all season to erase the memory of uncharacteristic early losses. Alternate: Southlake Carroll vs. Martin (7pm) Week 5 pick: Arlington v. ArlingtonMartin (7pm Fri 9/24) Sometimes the environment trumps competitiveness. I’m not going to say you can throw out the record books in this game — the Warriors from Martin are far more formidable — but the Colts have improved over the last several seasons and will be eager to prove themselves against their fellow Arlingtonians. Alternate: Lewisville vs. Plano West (7pm)
Week 6 pick: Rio Vista vs. Itasca (7pm Fri 10/1) This one may seem like a strange pick, but hear me out. If you don’t know, Rio Vista is just south of Cleburne, and this game will be like stepping into a different world for DFW dwellers. You’re not likely to see more than 25 players suited for either squad — because neither school has more than 225 students — in this battle of 2A District 7. I’m not promising the level of play will be impressive, but you can expect guts and grit from the small-town matchup between two low-ranked opponents. An added bonus: Itasca’s mascot is the Wampus Cats. How great is that? Alternate: South Hills vs. Trimble Tech (7pm Thu 9/30) Week 7 pick: Highland Park vs. Longview (7pm Fri 10/8) A district matchup that will determine the first and second spot out of 5A District 7. Both the Scots and Lobos had their clocks cleaned by superior opponents in Week 1, but you can expect a lively atmosphere watching uppity Park dwellers intermingle with Piney-woods people. Just drive your best vehicle so HP’s finest don’t bother you, though I’ve heard the University Park jail serves artisan bagels every morning. Alternate: Southwest vs. Grapevine (7pm) Week 8 pick: All Saints Episcopal vs. Nolan Catholic (7pm Fri 10/15) I’d be remiss not to show some private school love, though it can be hard to track down a game since most of the known locals compete in different leagues. I’m going to call a walloping right now as the
Vikings played competitively with the Argyle Eagles — who are top ranked in UIL’s 4A — in Week 1. Alternate: Aledo vs. Mansfield Timberview (7pm) Week 9 pick: Argyle vs. Terrell (7:30pm Fri 10/22) Argyle is ranked in the Top 15 statewide of any team despite being 4A and with a small student body compared to others. The Eagles look as strong as ever embarking to defend their state title. The Tigers will have an uphill battle but represent one of the stronger teams in this district. Alternate: Brock vs. Boyd (7:30pm) Week 10 pick: Eastern Hills vs. Western Hills (7pm Fri 10/29) Show some compassion to the hometown teams as this crosstown rivalry commences between the Highlanders and Cougars. Neither team has any hope of catapulting themselves past the first round of the state playoffs should either of them even advance that far. Purely pride on the line in the penultimate week for most teams. Alternate: Allen vs. Prosper (7pm) Week 11 pick: Frisco Lone Star vs. Denton Ryan (7pm Fri 11/5) A district shootout between the current first- and second-ranked teams in 5A. Ryan will be vying to defend their state championship, but they’ll have to win their district first by beating a team who’ll also be expected to play past Thanksgiving. This game is a playoff game delivered early, and you don’t want to miss it. Alternate: Arlington Heights vs. Brewer (7pm) l
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B U C K
Denton’s Ryan High School is top-ranked in 5A this year and started its season by pummeling 6th-ranked Longview 40-7 at The Ford Center in Frisco on Saturday.
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Sam Bridges
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Home Sweet Dorm J E N N I F E R
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With everything else going on surrounding the start of school — like vaccines, tuition, and books — decorating dorm spaces may have been the last thing on your mind. Well, the time is now. Here are a few ideas. If #GoFrogs is a normal part of your hashtag life, you may want to check out your local Goodwill North Central Texas store. With locations from Arlington to White Settlement and all points in between, the stores under the North Central Texas umbrella have a new goods section in every store. (Not familiar with that name? Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth recently rebranded.) Before a recent festival at Haltom Theater (5601 E Belknap St, Haltom City, 682-250-5678) with Ripper Owen — yes, you missed a great show — I popped into the Goodwill around the corner (3147 Denton Hwy, Haltom City, 817-8314949). Along with candle holders and
C o u r t e s y G o o d w i l l N o r t h C e n t r a l Te x a s
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kitchen implements, I found some TCUthemed home goods in the new section. For $14.95 and $10 respectively, I spotted a 46-by-62-inch embroidered collegiate quilt and throw pillow. Both items have a purple base with the letters TCU in white. Quantities are limited, so head to Goodwill now. (Why are you still here?) Regardless of which school you are attending, finding ways to minimize clutter while adding a splash of color to your space is a good idea. Goodwill has no shortage of office supplies and storage cubes for the perfect solutions to clutter and various materials for repurposing (#DIY). Texas Wesleyan student Hope Allison recently decorated her dorm for less than $100. See her video at GoodwillNorthCentralTexas.org/ Decorate-A-Dorm-Throwback. Another excellent source for collegiate decorating supplies is Half Price Books. With 14 locations in North Texas, including two in Fort Worth (475 Sherry Ln, 817-732-4111 and 5417 S Hulen St, 817-294-1166), Half Price stocks an array of vinyl albums, posters, and pop-culture collectibles, plus coffeetable books and encyclopedia sets. Every day thru Sun, go to HalfPriceBooks. com and participate in the Dorm Decor Giveaway, in which you can win a $25 gift card and a large, wooden crate crafted by the HPB Woodshoppe.
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Texas Wesleyan student Hope Allison and her roommate recently hit some Goodwill stores in search of dorm decor.