Fort Worth Weekly // August 4-10, 2021

August 4-10, 2021 FREE fwweekly.com

Maria’s Mexican Kitchen Mastermind behind Pacific Table and Press Café, Chef Felipe Armenta expands his mini-empire near the Trinity.

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FEATURE Helping abused and neglected prisoners is the Texas Jail Project’s mission.

BY EDWARD BROWN

C O D Y

N E A T H E R Y

STUFF It’s almost sad, hoping the Mavs’ front office will do something different this offseason.

BY BO JACKSBORO

MUSIC With his new side projects, Pinkish Black’s Daron Beck flexes his vocal chops.

BY PAT R I C K H I G G I N S

HEARSAY Willie’s returning to Billy Bob’s and more big shows coming up.

BY ANTHONY MARIANI

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Augus t 4-10, 2021

INSIDE The Texas Jail Project has grown into a force for protecting vulnerable jail populations.

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By Edward Brown

Watching Delta

With new cases on the rise, the unvaccinated are at a particular risk.

By Texas Tribune Staff

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fwweekly.com AUGUST 4-10, 2021 FO R T WO R T H W E E K LY

Ryan Burger, Art Director Jim Erickson, Circulation Director Edward Brown, Staff Writer Emmy Smith, Proofreader Michael Newquist, Regional Sales Director

Say it loud, and there’s delicious Mexican food.

Jennifer Bovee, Marketing Director Stacey Hammons, Senior Account Executive

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For the Good of the Team

Of course, the same haters of everything jumped all over Simone Biles’ decision to step down.

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By Erin Ratigan

DISTRIBUTION Fort Worth Weekly is available free of charge in the Metroplex, limited to one copy per reader. Additional copies of Fort Worth Weekly may be purchased for $1.00 each, payable at the Fort Worth Weekly office in advance. Fort Worth Weekly may be distributed only by Fort Worth Weekly’s authorized independent contractors or Fort Worth Weekly’s authorized distributors. No person may, without prior written permission of Fort Worth Weekly, take more than one copy of any Fort Worth Weekly issue. If you’re interested in being a distribution point for Fort Worth Weekly, please contact Will Turner at 817-321-9788.

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Bob Niehoff, General Manager

Maria’s, Maria’s

By Cody Neathery

Anthony Mariani, Editor Lee Newquist, Publisher

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STAFF

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AUGUST 4-10, 2021

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Cour tesy Arlington Improv

PAINTING | DRAWING PRINTS | PASTELS

SEAN SCULLY

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AUGUST 4-10, 2021

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T H E SH A PE OF I DE AS

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Through October 10 MODERN ART MUSEUM OF FORT WORTH 3200 Darnell Street • Fort Worth, Texas 76107 www.themodern.org

Sean Scully: The Shape of Ideas was organized by the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Pictured: Landline Pink, 2013 (detail). Oil on linen. 47 x 42 inches. Collection of the Artist.

Image courtesy of the artist. Photographer: Cristoph Knoch. © Sean Scully

NIGHT&DAY Damon Wayans brings his Just Sayin’ stand-up tour to the Arlington Improv.

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Along with roles in movies like Beverly Hills Cop, Earth Girls Are Easy, and Thursday Major Payne, to name a few, comedian Damon Wayans is most often remembered for his three seasons as a writer/co-star of the Emmy Awardwinning TV series In Living Color. At 7:30pm or 9:45pm today and Fri — or 7pm or 9:30pm on Sat — Wayans is bringing his Just Sayin’ stand-up tour to the Arlington Improv (309 Curtis Mathes Way, Ste 147, Arlington, 817-635-5555). Tables for four (or eight) are $180-440 at ImprovTX.com/ Arlington.

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At the height of the Great Depression, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow Friday went from two smalltown nobodies in West Texas to America’s most renowned folk heroes and Texas law enforcement’s worst nightmares. At 8pm today, 2pm or 8pm tomorrow, or 2pm Sun, you can see Bonnie & Clyde, the Tonynominated adventure/crime/love story about those two, at Casa Manana (3101 W Lancaster Av, Fort Worth, 817-3322272). Tickets are $25 at CasaManana. org/Attraction/Bonnie-Clyde.

(This production is for mature audiences only.)

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From 10am to 6pm today and 10am to 5pm on Sun, head to Stockyards Station Saturday (140 E Exchange Av, Fort Worth, 210-724-5386) for the Lone Star Guitar Bazaar. Dealers will be on hand to pay top dollar for your amps, guitars, and gear and to sell you — or make a trade deal for — all the new, used, and vintage musical toys that you need in your life.

There will also be a live auction at 3:30pm Sun in the Stampede Room. Tickets are $10 at GuitarBazaarofTexas.com.

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From 11am to 5pm, Art Tooth — an artist-run nonprofit that matches

North Texas artists with Fort Worth businesses and galleries — presents the Sunday Bunch at Tulips FW (112 St. Louis Av, Fort Worth, 817-367-9798). At this free art showcase, you can purchase art from more than 20 artists and food from Chef Scotty Scott of Cook Drank Eat. For the complete list of artists, visit Facebook. com/ArtTooth/Events.

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Founded in Austin in 2016 during Pride Parade, Queer M.F. (i.e., Queer Monday Music Festival) is now on tour with a series of intimate house concerts and venue performances. At 7pm, see the tour’s North Texas stop at MASS (1002 S Main St, Fort Worth, 682-7077774) featuring comedy by New Yorker Dan Frank and music by the indie duo Pls Pls Me, Small Town, and Austin songstress Sydney Wright. There is no cost to attend, but you’ll need to obtain a free ticket at Prekindle.com.

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Is summer over now?

Never! Watauga Parks & Recreation wants to take Tuesday you on a trip to NeverNever Land by presenting a screening of the 2003 movie Peter Pan at the Watauga Splash Pad at Capp Smith Park (800 Robin Dr, Watauga, 817-514-5828). There will be a meet and greet with a special secret guest at 7:30pm, and then the movie starts at 8:30pm. This event is free to attend.

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At 7pm, attend Public Paint Night at Rogers (1616 Wednesday Roundhouse Rogers Rd, Fort Worth, 817-367-9348) and learn the steps to painting Summer Nights with Jana Mills, owner of A Geek and Her Brush (@ AGeekandHerBrush). Tickets are $20 at Eventbrite.com. Supplies are provided.

By Jennifer Bovee

Spencer Dinwiddie is another option. He’s a turnstile on defense, but he can really shoot, and his name is fun to say.

Besides that, the Mavs need, in no particular order, a defending/rebounding big man (like the bubble version of Porzingis), an elite defensive game-changer — or maybe just a few 3-and-D guys who can take turns guarding the opposing teams’ best players — and more bench scoring. I’d take a flyer on a declining-butstill-solid Dewayne Dedmond for the big man. Among the leftover free agent crop, I’m all in on another Mavs white whale, Danny Green. Even at 107 years old, he’s still one of the most efficient and effective 3-and-D wings on the market.

STUFF

The Mavs’ Big Fish

Can the new front office lure a big-name free agent to town? No. The answer is no.

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J A C K S B O R O Cour tesy Creative Commons

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“Get a new head coach,” they said.

“Replace the long-tenured GM and president of basketball operations,” they angrily tweeted. “Free agents will flock to this city to play alongside Luka once those old, white, anti-analytic fuddy-duddies are gone,” they screamed to the heavens, fists shaking.

As I write, we’re fewer than 12 hours into free agency, and it looks like the Mavs’ front office shakeup — the one that was supposed to bring sex appeal to Big D — has netted the team former Rockets’ reserve Sterling Brown and journeyman 3-and-D wing Reggie Bullock. They’ve also retained the services of Willie CauleyStein, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Bobon Marjanović.

In a vacuum, these aren’t bad signings.

Brown, Bullock, and Hardaway all shoot at a high percentage from beyond the arc.

Can you think of another player on the team who is really good at finding open shooters? Yeah, him! Bullock is also a competent defensive player, and Bobon is the sweetest, most precious being on God’s green earth. They’d have to be monsters not to bring him back.

Still, this offseason, the organization appears doomed to repeat its annual tradition of being snubbed by the biggest fish in the free-agency pool. Jazz point guard and frequent Mav target Mike Conley just inked a three-year deal to stay in the land of polygamy and tan, pleated chinos. Toronto’s two-way stud Kyle Lowery is taking his talents to South Beach — a team rumored to also be the landing spot for potential differencemaker DeMar DeRozen. Even Kawhi Leonard, who will spend most if not all of next season recovering from a torn ACL, doesn’t appear interested in collecting owner Mark Cuban’s checks while he recovers.

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What can Cubes do to lure some big fish to Big D?

We can’t totally blame the new regime.

Even after essentially trading last year’s mega-bust Josh Richardson to the Celtics for cap room (all that’s left of Seth Curry’s time here is cap space and Moses Brown, a promising if unproven big man), the Mavs’ front officers are still hamstrung by their predecessors. Kristap Porzingis alone is taking up more than $31 million of the projected $112,414,200 salary cap — and he’ll be here for another three seasons.

That contract is practically untradable.

Luka is on the verge of signing a lucrative deal of his own, and those two players combined should account for nearly half the cap room.

So what in the name of Spencer Dinwiddie can the Mavs do to field a team capable of moving past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since the boys in blue won it all in 2011? What’s the plan moving forward now the big-name guys are off the table?

What do the Mavs have?

From last year’s squad, there are only a few players I’d care to keep. Obviously Luka.

He is life. The front office has already committed dollars to the aforementioned Cauley-Stein, Hardaway, and Bobon.

Aside from those four, Jalen Brunson, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Maxi Kleber, the second-best ever Würzburg native, are the only other guys worthy of a locker.

Last year’s first-round pick Josh Green and second-rounder Tyrell Terry didn’t do much at all last season, but they probably deserve a roster spot on draft pedigree alone. (The team’s second pick in Round 2 of last year, Tyler Bay, appears to already have been sent packing — yet another casualty of the terrible, bad, nogood Seth Curry trade.)

What do the Mavs need?

This squad’s needs are many and its resources few. The easiest answer to the “How do we fix this mess?” question is “by signing a second star,” but with KP cashing Tonto/Robin checks, it’s unlikely the team could afford one on the open market. GM Nico Harrison and Co. could make a run at Portland’s excellent sixth man Norman Powell, but Portland can probably offer him more dough to stay. He’d have to really hate the many ax-throwing and microbrew options of the Rose City to take less money somewhere else.

One of the most glaring holes in last year’s roster, aside from that gap in Dwight Powell’s teeth, was the lack of a secondary shot creator. When the ball wasn’t in Luka’s hands, the Mavs’ offense was basically a game of hot potato around the permitter until someone clanked a 3-pointer off the rim. Count me as a fan of try-hard Pacers’ point man T.J. McConnell. He leads the league in #grit, and he can shoot the ball.

How can the Mavs acquire talent?

The J-Rich trade freed up some cap room (roughly $10 million), but the front office still could use a few more million to lure its preferred plan B and C guys here or make a trade for someone who fills a need.

Oft-injured rim-runner Dwight Powell is allegedly on the trading block.

The 30-year-old big man barely played in the playoffs and has two years and $22.8 million left on his contract.

The team appears to have a logjam of bigs (don’t google that phrase, please), including Bobon, Brown, Cauley-Stein, Kleber, and Powell. While Powell’s contract isn’t an albatross, it, along with his very recent and serious injury history, is significant enough to give teams serious pause about taking him on. The Mavs might have to package one of its useful young players to incentivize another team to take Powell. While that would hurt, I just don’t see another way.

Jalen Brunson might be such a candidate. He’s a gifted scorer but not a great creator or defender — and he’s soon due for a big raise. He’s great, but his skillset is hardly rare in the league.

You could probably move those two for someone like, say, Luka’s countryman and one-time All-Star Goran Dragic, who was traded to Toronto.

I’d be bummed to trade either FinneySmith or Kleber, both of whom are great role players on team-friendly deals, but I’d be willing to reunite them with their erstwhile coach Rick Carlisle in Indiana for, say, elite defense-first big man Myles Turner. Cauley-Stein’s contract would have to be included to make the math work.

The new brain trust is under immense pressure to do something to justify putting the franchise through this offseason’s tumult. You can sign only so many Reggie Bullocks and trade for Moses Brown-level players before fans are left wondering what the plan is. Luka has opened the team’s playoff window, but it’s up to the new front office to finally land a fish big enough to put the Mavs over the hump.

If they can’t get that job done, get used to the idea of Luka in a Lakers uniform in a few years. l

Buddha Shiva Lotus Dragon The Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection at Asia Society June 27–September 5, 2021

Promotional support provided by

AUGUST 4-10, 2021

This exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.

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The national tour of the exhibition is supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

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This exhibition is co-organized by the American Federation of Arts and Asia Society Museum.

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Life Behind Bars The reform-minded nonprofit Texas Jail Project works to empower abused and neglected county jail populations.

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Diane Wilson was familiar to physically grueling and mentally challenging situations, but nothing prepared her for the 150-day sentence to the Victoria County Jail she received in 2006. The fourth-generation shrimper, writer, and activist frequently went on hunger strikes for weeks on end in confined spaces like her truck to raise awareness of pollution and other forms of environmental destruction.

“The worst trauma that I have ever experienced was in a Texas county jail,” she said, referring to her experience in Victoria’s jail. “They didn’t have blankets. They usually have a little place to brush your teeth. You had a 1-inch toothbrush. I was sleeping on the cement floor. Some of the stories were horrendous.”

Before her arrest and subsequent imprisonment in Victoria, located about 110 miles southeast of San Antonio, Wilson had climbed a tall tower within a Union Carbide factory. After disguising herself as a worker, she was able to slip into the facility with a banner that read, “Dow, Responsible for Bhopal,” a reference to the 1984 chemical spill that killed an estimated 20,000 men, women, and children in the Indian city.

“I was there eight hours,” Wilson said.

“They couldn’t figure out how to get me down. They brought in a 100-foot crane.

They had a SWAT team on it. The DA said I was the most dangerous woman in Texas.”

One letter sent to the Victoria County’s sheriff around that time has become something of a founding document for Texas Jail Project, a nonprofit that was formed after Wilson’s imprisonment to empower incarcerated people in Texas county jails.

The women in this jail are predominantly African American or Hispanic and very poor. Most of their offenses are minor, for things like traffic tickets or soliciting or violating probation — all nonviolent, yet they are forced to remain in the cell without counsel for long periods of time.

Texas Jail Project has grown to become a prominent advocate for jail reform in Texas.

To raise awareness of atrocities that occur in Texas jails on a daily basis, the nonprofit recently published report cards. Tarrant County’s results highlighted the 2020 death of Javonte Myers, the 28-year-old Black man who was held in Tarrant County Jail for criminal trespassing, a misdemeanor offense that disproportionately affects Black men and women in Tarrant County (“White Customer, Black Trespasser,” Aug. 2020). Myers, who was chronically homeless, could not afford to post bail, his mother told the Star-Telegram that year.

District Attorney Sharen Wilson, who recently announced that she will seek reelection in 2022, told the Star-Telegram at the time, “Yes, homeless people who commit crimes are prosecuted in Tarrant County.”

The report card notes that the jail’s population has grown 36% since 2016.

Just over 2,500 people in the county jail are

Volunteers and supporters of Texas Jail Project frequently protest county jail conditions and jail population deaths.

pretrial, meaning legally innocent. Tarrant County Jail has a capacity of 5,000, according to the county.

Local taxpayers spend $26,445 a year to confine each person held, according to Texas Jail Project, meaning Tarrant County spends about $109 million a year to confine largely legally innocent and poor defendants. Texas Jail Project received 24 complaints of neglect and abuse at Tarrant County Jail in 2020.

A spokesperson for the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) said that they received 393 pages of complaints about Tarrant County’s jail over the past three years. Copies of those documents were recently provided to the Weekly, and we will report on the findings in the coming weeks.

County jails across Texas process men and women who have been arrested, typically for a Class B Misdemeanor and higher.

Certain defendants are held indefinitely if they are deemed a threat to the public or if they cannot afford bail.

A 2018 report by the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank based in Austin, found that the proportion of pretrial defendants in Texas jails has drastically increased over the past 25 years:

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Dear Sheriff O’Connor, I am a female inmate in the Victoria County Jail, TX, though I was arrested on criminal trespass charges in Calhoun County. I was given a sentence of 150 days plus a $2,000 fine for protesting Dow Chemical Company’s refusal to appear in Indian courts in response to charges against its

Cour tesy of Prison Policy Initiative

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wholly owned subsidiary, Union Carbide, and its treatment of the survivors of the toxic leak disaster in Bhopal, India, where a catastrophic pesticide release has killed over 20,000 people to date.

C o u r t e s y o f Te x a s J a i l P r o j e c t

HUMANIZING

The proportion of legally innocent men and women in county jails has risen considerably over the past few decades.

from around 50% in 1993 to 74% in 2018.

Diana Claitor, Texas Jail Project communications director, said much of that trend can be tied to Texas’ reliance on monetary bond — the American legal custom of requiring monetary deposits as a condition of release from jail.

“If you don’t have money to bail out, you are stuck in there,” Claitor said. “We have military veterans who have been in Harris County Jail for 13 months on low charges. It is a dangerous place to be.”

In the wake of civil unrest following the 2020 murder of George Floyd by a white police officer as three officers looked on, communities across the country began forming bail funds. The Tarrant County Community Bail Fund was created last year in response to the lack of compassionate releases from the local county jail. The fund has released dozens of nonviolent Black and brown defendants to date. So-called bail reform efforts by conservative Texas legislators seek to end the practice of charitable bail payments because the charitable payments weaken the bail system, bail bond supporters allege.

Claitor said her nonprofit is speaking to state representatives and senators about the dangers of continuing or expanding the state’s reliance on monetary bail practices that too frequently criminalize poverty.

Recently passed House Bill 1307, which Texas Jail Project staff advocated for, requires jailers to provide pregnant women professional medical attention and access to counseling following a miscarriage or sexual assault. The law applies to women who are in county jails or in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ).

Texas Jail Project recently hired a community organizer who lives and works in Fort Worth. The new staff member will enable Texas Jail Project staff to closely follow jailing practices in North Texas and to network with other advocacy groups and mental health service providers.

Diane Wilson said one young Black woman’s story still haunts her.

Cour tesy of Prison Policy Initiative

AUGUST 4-10, 2021

Jail. Wright said the stories shared by Wilson galvanized the three other co-founders, Claitor, Krishnaveni Gundu, and Wilson.

“The four of us decided to shine a light on county jails,” Wright recalled. “As we dug into it more, we kept hearing these horrible stories.

We put up this website and started calling families to hear the stories of what their loved ones had been through. We started posting, without names, that this or that has been going on. In the early days, we had something called the Hell Hole of the Month Award. We would identify some of the latest abuses at some county jail and put out a press release, then have a demonstration out in front of that jail.

That got publicity in the local newspaper.”

Gundu, who currently serves as Texas Jail Project executive director, said the nonprofit’s early work involved visiting meetings by county commissioners across the state and TCJS. “We were asking for accountability,” she recalled. “We thought someone would take over this work.”

As Gundu and the other co-founders spoke to nonprofits that were involved in criminal justice reform, the four friends realized that no group was focused solely on the treatment of county jail populations.

In 2009, Texas Jail Project had a legislative victory. Through advocacy work with state legislators, two bills were passed and signed into law that year. HB 3653 bans the shackling of women during labor and delivery in Texas jails while HB 3654 established record-keeping standards for pregnant prisoners. Texas Jail Project was subsequently able to use the data to estimate that around 5% of female county jail prisoners are pregnant at any given time.

“We saw how it went from listening to people to changing policy,” Gundu said.

“That’s when it really sunk in. In 2012, we gained our IRS 501c3 [charitable] status.

It became hard to only focus on women’s issues. We were finding out that no one else was doing what we were doing. More and

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“She and I were the only two in that jail cell,” Wilson recalled of her 2006 imprisonment. “It was New Year’s Eve or Christmas Eve. She told me this awful story about how her baby died. She had a warrant out for a hot check. She was also pregnant.

They arrested her, pulled her in, and threw her in jail. When she started complaining about problems with her pregnancy, they did not believe it. They always think that whoever is in jail deserves to be there. They don’t care.

They threw her in solitary with a paper gown.

She went into labor. They don’t like you pushing the call button. They ignored her.

She delivered the baby in jail, and it died.”

The mother told Wilson that she was not allowed to attend her own baby’s funeral. Last summer, a woman who was detained at Tarrant County Jail gave birth while unattended by jailers. The baby died 10 days later in a hospital, and the mother was subsequently placed in a mental health hospital, according to reporting by the Star-Telegram at the time.

“We were encouraging Diane to write down what she saw,” Claitor recalled of the time. “The pieces became known as Letters from the Victoria County Jail. That was the initial force behind [what would become Texas Jail Project]. We told her that we would take [the letters] to Austin. We found out that no one wanted to be accountable. When we decided to start a nonprofit, I put a notice on Craigslist asking for someone who could build a website for free to help women who were incarcerated. At this point, we thought we would only help women. The moment we put the website up with my phone number and email, it was like nothing we expected. It was shocking. We started answering questions as best we could. We were overwhelmed by complaints and pleas for help. We started out by helping people file a complaint with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.”

Wright, a retired Army colonel and Texas Jail Project co-founder, visited Wilson during her incarceration at Victoria County

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County jail populations account for about one-quarter of locked-up Texans.

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To whom it may concern, My name is Douglas. I am incarcerated in Harris County jail. I am in the 177th Judicial District Court [with] the Honorable Judge Robert Johnson. My rights are being violated. I have requested to dismiss [my legal] counsel but been denied. There are several other issues also. I am indigent ... and I have no help. What can I do?

Please advise.

The letter, viewable at SheddingLight. in/Texas/Stories, is one of more than 100 firsthand accounts that Texas Jail Project staff compiled last year during the pandemic.

“When COVID hit, we opened up our phone lines,” Gundu said. “We didn’t have a budget or plan. That’s how Shedding Light happened. What we heard was that [prison populations] were quite literally starving.

As Krishnaveni Gundu (left) and Diana Claitor learned about the conditions in Texas county jails, the two friends began attending county meetings to hold elected officials accountable for those decrepit conditions.

They weren’t getting enough food. We started doing direct aid, which we had rarely done before. We couldn’t watch and listen to what was happening and not render aid. We were funding commissary accounts because families were not able to support their [jailed] loved ones.”

A November 2020 article by VOX found that 80% of Texas jail population deaths involved innocent detainees. By that time, more than 230 people died from COVID-19 in Texas prisons and jails, according to data from the TDCJ. The Texas Jail Project team created a revolving bail bond fund for Smith County, about 100 miles southeast of Dallas. A jail reform advocate in Smith County developed a relationship with the county’s sheriff, which helped facilitate the program, Gundu said.

“They were still arresting people for misdemeanors” in the county, Gundu said.

“The bail fund came as a result of the support of the sheriff. If it wasn’t for us, there would have been people taking plea deals that they shouldn’t have.”

Last summer, volunteers with the grassroots group United Fort Worth started a bail bond fund to release indigent Black and brown members of the Tarrant County Jail population (“Criminalizing Poverty or Ensuring Justice?” July 8, 2020). Pamela Young, lead criminal justice organizer for United Fort Worth, told me at the time

that concerns over COVID-19 and the sheriff department’s refusal to allow the compassionate release of nonviolent offenders necessitated the bail fund.

A Tarrant County Sheriff ’s Office spokesperson said in an email that her department follows recommended health guidelines set forth by the Tarrant County Health Department, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, and John Peter Smith Hospital staff.

“Additional precautions include the continued wearing of masks and other protective gear, frequent disinfecting of facilities, minimized movement of inmates between facilities, increased video court hearings, and the halting of outside volunteer programs,” the spokesperson said. “Our team members have been battling COVID-19 for over a year and will continue to work hard to stave off the impact and prevent the spread of it inside our facilities.”

Overcrowding has exacerbated COVID19-related deaths in county jails. A 2018 report by Texas Public Policy Foundation found that financial incentives increasingly drive jail capacities.

“Economic factors can explain increases in contract holdings in local jails,” the report read. “Overcrowding in state and federal prisons creates high demand for bed capacity.

As local jurisdictions build out additional

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Douglas A.

C o u r t e s y o f Te x a s J a i l P r o j e c t

more people were reaching out to us. Now we are finding that 80% of the cases we look at involve people with intellectual disabilities or mental health conditions.”

Texas Jail Project program associate Gabriela Barahona said that a broader cultural awakening of the systemic injustices that lead to overcrowded jail populations has happened in the United States.

“Since the 1980s, we’ve been fed a pretty lazy cultural description of crime and criminals, one that we absorbed through TV shows about police and policing and a culture of otherizing people who have less money than us,” Barahona said. “It is easier to put the problem behind walls where you don’t have to look at them anymore. It is a problem with unhoused people. We don’t want to see them in our neighborhoods even though they are our neighbors and even though the cost of incarcerating someone is more expensive than giving them a home.”

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In T he at e rs Now

beds to address their own concerns, they have a ready incentive to use any unused capacity — or even to build capacity beyond their immediate needs — to house other inmates for financial remuneration, which can range between $25 and $169 per person.”

The local sheriff ’s department spokesperson said Tarrant County doesn’t contract with private or state prisons to hold prisoners in exchange for fees.

Counties, the jail project’s Claitor said, “could do a lot of different things that would save them a tremendous amount of money and prevent lawsuits.”

Claitor, Gundu, and other members of the Texas Jail Project team spent much of July warning state legislators about a gubernatorial priority, so-called bail reform, that aims to kill charitable bail programs like United Fort Worth’s Tarrant County Community Bail Fund.

Like all Republicans, Gov. Greg Abbott believes charitable bail programs are freeing hardened criminals.

“Public safety is at risk because of our broken bail system that recklessly allows dangerous criminals back onto our streets,” he said just ahead of the current special legislative session.

Republican legislators are currently unable to pass voter suppression laws and so-called bail reform measures because Democratic state lawmakers have fled to Washington, D.C., and deprived Texas Republicans of a quorum.

“We have testified during the regular session against this so-called bail reform, which is basically expanding detention pretrial,” Claitor said. “Their idea is to incarcerate more people and to place more restrictions on who can be released on bond.

They don’t want any charitable bail bond programs. This legislation is based on public safety, but they fail to note how many people have died in jail. They portray it as keeping mass murderers locked up. We are showing how many of these unconvicted people are not a danger to the general public.”

SATURDAY, AUGUST 14TH 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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put them in jail. That’s the only way they will learn their lesson. Young people are calling attention to injustices that we see in the entire judicial system, including who is picked up by the police, what kind of bail is given, how long they stay in pretrial confinement, and what types of sentencing are done. That whole system is under scrutiny by a small but vocal group of young people. Whether or not they are able to effect change in the legislative bodies that hold the power over these institutions is yet to be seen. The cycle is very hard to break of how we as an American society look at prisons. The fact that the U.S. has more people in jails than any country in the world shows that everything about the jailing system is a moneymaker for someone.”

Gundu said the sheer size of many Texas jail populations is dehumanizing to the men and women held in those institutions.

“When you are dealing with 8,000 or 9,000 people, there is no way for anyone to do their jobs and not be desensitized” to the system, she said. “If you could cut down the jail populations, automatically, the policies, attitude, and culture would be better. It wouldn’t be perfect, but it would be easier. [Jailers tell us that they] can’t get through the days if they are not ignoring the majority of those concerns. Some do try to do their jobs ethically.”

Barahona said Texas Jail Project’s staff have to look at the systems that feed detention buildings.

“The county jail staff does not choose who they are confining,” Barahona said.

“Those people are sent by the court systems, prosecutors, judges, and poverty. We can’t do our work by only looking at the four walls of the building. We have to look at the systems that funnel people into them. Even with the best facility possible, are we still undervaluing what liberty is because the majority of people being held are legally innocent? Even if we were holding them in a Holiday Inn, what does it mean that they are not with their family, seeing their general practitioner, or going to church every Sunday?”

Most county jails are not designed for long-term detention, she continued.

“They were designed to hold people for very small periods of time,” she said. “For a number of reasons, county jails are holding people for longer and longer. There is an overall increase in the number of charges, and there are backlogs in the courts. The average person has been in Harris County Jail for 212 days. We have worked with people who have been confined for five years who haven’t had their trial.”

In the coming weeks and months, the cofounders said Texas Jail Project, with the help of their new community organizer, will begin building close relationships with local mental health groups, county officials, and likeminded advocates. Gundu and Barahona said Texas Jail Project staff will seek a seat at the table as Tarrant’s mental health jail diversion center and other projects are implemented.

“There are so many systems that touch and interact with the jail system that our work has to be fairly broad,” Barahona said. l

AUGUST 4-10, 2021

times I’ve had to talk to a mother of someone who was arrested for criminal trespass who then kills themselves. It is beyond ridiculous that we feel this driving need to incarcerate, incarcerate, incarcerate.”

Wright said she is excited to see how Texas Jail Project has grown to include a handful of paid staff. Much of the nonprofit’s work has historically relied on volunteers, she said.

The younger generations in Texas are much more aware of systemic injustices caused by the U.S. criminal justice system, she said.

“There is the Prison Abolition movement, which calls for the abolition of the incarceral system,” Wright said. “It isn’t a popular mainstream idea. Our society still believes that you have to punish people and

FO R T WO R T H W E E K LY

Prisoner executions were comparatively low in 2020. The State of Texas put three inmates to death last year, considerably down from a 2000 peak of 40 executions. Last year, as COVID-19 swept through overcrowded county jails across the state, 20 members of the Tarrant County Jail population died, according to Texas Jail Project. The local sheriff ’s department put that figure at 17.

Tarrant County leadership is working to create a mental health jail diversion center that would spare individuals who are having a mental health crisis from being jailed. The idea is to give law enforcement an alternative destination for anyone who is arrested or

picked up by peace officers. At the moment, Tarrant County Jail is often the only place law enforcement can take men and women who are experiencing a mental health crisis.

In June, Tarrant County approved a new cite and release program that allows minor offenses to be ticketed, which would potentially spare thousands of nonviolent offenders from having to endure the trauma of being held in Tarrant County Jail.

“Tarrant County is unbelievably late to the party,” Claitor said. “When you look at what cite and release has done across the country, in terms of the amount of people you save from going to jail and the amount of money saved, it’s phenomenally successful for the most part. I’ve lost count of the number of

11

METROPOLIS

COVID Update

With the delta variant spreading, the number of hospitalized Texans has increased to levels not seen since February.

T R I B U N E

Static Long-distance relationships aren’t easy, but two disgraced public figures are showing the world that, when there’s graft to be had, love will find a way. Two years after the stream of sultry billets-doux between North Korea’s “Rocket Boy” and TFG (The Former Guy) abruptly ended, tabloids speculated on where Trump’s affections would turn next. Bashar al-Assad?

Rodrigo “The Dude” Duterte?

A recent announcement from TFG has confirmed that the lingering courtship between him and Texas State AG Ken Paxton has now blossomed to the next level — political endorsement.

In expressing his feelings for Paxton, who is seeking reelection in late 2022 despite being indicted, Trump used rough language, which may be how Kenny boy likes it.

Paxton “has been bravely on the front line in the fight for Texas, and America, against the vicious and very dangerous Radical Left Democrats, and the foolish and unsuspecting RINOs that are destroying our Country,” Trump said, refer-

FO R T WO R T H W E E K LY

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Disgraced Former Guy Only Has Eyes for Kenny P

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The state calculates the positivity rate by dividing confirmed cases by total molecular tests. Because this formula relies on the date on which the test was administered, the rates for previous days are recalculated as more test results from those dates come in.

ring to “Republicans In Name Only,” a.k.a. conservatives who do not buy into bullshit conspiracy theories about “stolen” elections and other nonsense that has now been erased (hopefully forever) from TFG’s banned Twitter account. (Reminder: He got the boot for spreading misinformation.)

Any why should anyone care who this old racist rapist endorses? Simple: Trump still steers a national Republican party that clings to voter suppression antics and baseless conspiracy theories to drive conservatives to voice their bigotry at the ballot box. Trump earned 52% of Texans’ votes in the 2020 presidential election, and you’d better believe those people vote in primaries as well as general elections.

The announcement was a snub to George P. Bush, nephew of George W. Bush, who hopes to win next year’s Republican primary against Paxton and who, after all the groveling he’s done at the orange man’s Italian loafers, must feel like a sixth grader watching his crush dance with the school bully. P. Bush should have known. Before being elected president, Trump tweeted his opinion of the Bush family. “We need another Bush in office about as much as we need Obama to have a 3rd term. No more Bushes!”

The last part of that tweet may have predicted the subsequent rift with porn

C o u r t e s y o f Fa c e b o o k

The state’s positivity rate, which is the percent of virus tests coming back positive, has increased to levels not seen since January. This indicates the highly transmissible delta variant of COVID-19 is spreading rampantly and mostly among the unvaccinated. Hospitals across the state are seeing dramatic jumps in COVID-19 patients, straining an already overburdened health care system.

C o u r t e s y Te x a s Tr i b u n e

B Y T E X A S S T A F F

Did TFG really commit criminal fraud? Or is the Manhattan district attorney jealous about his growing affection for Kenny P?

star cheatee Melania.

The Trump/Paxton courtship really started heating up in January when Texas’ attorney general traveled to Washington, D.C., to rile up thousands of white, racist, terroristic traitors.

“What we have in President Trump is a fighter,” Paxton told the terrorists who subsequently breached the U.S. Capitol to kidnap and possibly murder elected officials. “And I think that’s why we’re all here.”

The love thang between Trump and Paxton has hurdles that are tough but far from insurmountable. Paxton is indicted for felony fraud charges, and if he loses his reelection bid to civil rights lawyer Lee Merritt, a Democrat, he may finally find

himself in criminal court. Trump is facing potential criminal fraud charges from the New York state attorney general’s office and New York City’s DA. Now that Paxton and TFG have made their feelings known publicly, Trump should brush up on his love letter-writing skills. Just in case this steamy relationship takes a detour to a New York state penitentiary.

This editorial reflects the opinions of the editorial board and not necessarily the Fort Worth Weekly. To submit your own column, please email Editor Anthony Mariani at anthony@fwweekly.com. Submissions will be edited for factuality and clarity.

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How many people have died?

The first death linked to the coronavirus in Texas occurred March 15, 2020[,] in Matagorda County. As of Aug. 2, 52,110 people who tested positive for the virus have died in Texas. DSHS counts deaths based on death certificates that list COVID-19 as the cause of death, which excludes deaths of people with COVID-19 who died of another cause.

Some regions with the highest mortality rates are predominantly Hispanic. The virus has been more deadly in Hidalgo and Cameron counties in the Rio Grande Valley, where death rates rival more populous parts of the state like Dallas and San Antonio. In El Paso County, thousands of residents have died of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, placing the region far ahead of other major urban counties in deaths per 1,000 residents.

The positivity rate measures how prevalent the virus is in Texas. A rate over 10% puts states in the “red zone,” according to federal guidance. During Texas’ two largest outbreaks, the rate exceeded 20%, meaning one in five tests were positive.

How many tests have been administered?

As of Aug. 1, Texas has administered 34 million tests for the coronavirus since March 2020. We do not know the number of Texans who have been tested because some people are tested more than once.

The state’s tally does not include pending tests.

A version of this story originally appeared in the Texas Tribune. l

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How many coronavirus tests are coming back positive?

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FO R T WO R T H W E E K LY

The first groups eligible for vaccines were long-term care facility residents and staff, Texans age 65 and older, front-line health care workers, and people age 16 and older

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Who is getting vaccinated?

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As of Aug. 1, 15 million people have received at least one dose, which is 51.6% of Texas’ population, and 12.7 million people, or 43.9%, are fully vaccinated. A total of 26.6 million doses have been administered. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses, and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires one dose.

Health experts estimate 75% to 90% of Texans would need to be vaccinated to reach herd immunity. This is about 22 million people or nearly 100% of adults in the state. The state is still far from reaching that threshold, even when considering people who have some immunity from a previous case of COVID-19. The CDC recommends people previously infected get vaccinated because scientists aren’t sure how long immunity lasts for them.

The state’s vaccination effort has faced geographic, demographic, and data challenges, many of which are unique to Texas, including a higher-than-average number of people who are too young to be vaccinated and a sluggish data collection system that can take days to publicly report doses administered.

A third of Texas’ population lives in more rural areas, where the fully vaccinated rate has consistently lagged the statewide rate. State health officials initially rolled out vaccine hubs to help administer shots, but in May, the state shifted the responsibility to a growing number of doctors, pharmacies, public health offices, and other smaller providers who have closer relationships with the community.

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DA Y

How many Texans have been vaccinated?

with qualifying health conditions. The virus has mostly killed people 60 years and older, prompting urgency in efforts to vaccinate older Texans.

The distribution of the vaccine is unequal, according to a Texas Tribune analysis. Among people who have received at least one shot, the percent of white recipients is more in line with their proportion of the state’s population while Hispanic and Black residents are being vaccinated at lower rates. In Texas’ largest counties — Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar, and Travis — neighborhoods with the highest proportions of Black and Hispanic populations are some of the least vaccinated areas.

Advocates say that language barriers and lack of access to health care providers and transportation have contributed to these disparities. Lower-income individuals also face challenges trying to book a vaccine appointment through a process that favors people who have easy access to the internet and transportation.

The Hispanic and Black populations in Texas are younger compared with the state’s white residents, which also adds to the disparities. Around 20% of the Hispanic population is under 12, and none of the vaccines are approved for children below 12. A majority of Texans age 80 and older are white.

ER

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now recommending vaccinated people start masking up again in indoor public spaces in “areas with substantial and high transmission,” which includes most of Texas, and some of the state’s largest counties except Tarrant are also asking everyone — vaccinated and unvaccinated — to wear masks again.

However, Gov. Greg Abbott has said public schools and government entities cannot require masks, which has upset parents and teachers as students — most of whom are unvaccinated — prepare to return to in-person learning.

Meanwhile, almost 44% of all Texans are fully vaccinated, but the number of vaccines administered has been declining every month since April. New preliminary data released by the Department of State Health Services shows that 99.5% of COVID-related deaths in Texas were unvaccinated people between Feb. 8 and July 14. The percentage of fully vaccinated residents went from 3% to 42% in that time span.

Everyone age 12 and older is eligible for the vaccine in Texas, regardless of occupation or health status. Only the Pfizer vaccine is available to people ages 12 to 17.

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AUGUST 4-10, 2021

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Back to School Already?

B Y

J E N N I F E R

B O V E E

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.

“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)

FO R T WO R T H W E E K LY

Cour tesy Pinterest

AUGUST 4-10, 2021

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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.

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FO R T WO R T H W E E K LY

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EATS & Drinks

FO R T WO R T H W E E K LY

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EATS & drinks

Maria’s Mexican Kitchen

Maria’s menu is simple yet elegant.

B Y

I admit, I’m a notorious dunker. If there is a dip within arm’s length, whatever food I’m handling plays second fiddle to the accompaniment before me, and, bless it, because it will get baptized. In fact, my refrigerator or cabinet could pass as a culinary sex shop named CondimentsTo-Go. And this is how I found myself gripping a hard taco, twirling it like a stiff paintbrush in different colored sauces before each bite. The flavor assistance was completely unrequired, but Chef Felipe Armenta’s sauces were just that good.

Armenta’s ambitious restaurant collection that includes the Pacific Table and Press Café expanded thoughtfully recently with Maria’s Mexican Kitchen in the shell of a former steakhouse across the Trinity River north of the Colonial Country Club. Lovingly named after his late mother with whom he grew up cooking at their family’s San Angelo namesake restaurant, Maria’s has a posh interior that is a testament to two things: a visual tour of current trends in restaurant design and the affluence of the surrounding

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keep the beginning of your meal on the buoyant side.

After long deliberation, my guests and I opted for the short-rib sope as a botana before settling on entrees that favored TexMex and the sea.

The short rib, mixed with a delicate mole-esque braise, allowed the natural flavor of the beef to intertwine with a cascade of spicy habanero sauce. Topped with pickled red onions and cilantro followed by the soft crunch of properly fried masa, this balance delivered a wellexecuted lecture in flavor.

Reminiscent of combo platters found on tattered menus of Tex-Mex cafes across small-town Texas, El Señor Special provided two opportunities: 1.) to gauge chicken enchiladas paired with a crispy chorizo and potato taco and 2.) to taste Armenta’s mother’s world-famous mole that was subbed for the enchilada’s original slathering of ranchero sauce. For those who wish to bathe in the mole, a dish titled Maria’s Famous Mole offers a halfroasted chicken smothered in the sauce, then sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds.

The other entree ordered was the jumbo crab meat enchiladas, which arrived in a trio with sauce colors resembling the Mexican flag when the plate is oriented correctly. The lump crab provided an undertow of consistency while the flavors of each sauce kept the plate from becoming too repetitive.

The tortillas that blanketed the meat of the enchiladas are house-made, and the difference is telling. Owning a silky texture that remained pliable between bites, the tortillas avoided falling victim

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Maria’s patio will transport you to some allinclusive resort in Tulum.

to crumbling from drying out. The tender meat from the chicken and fluff of lump crab stayed fresh throughout dinner. The crispy fried shell that snuggled the robust chorizo and potato equally retained its integrity, never becoming compromised from excessive grease or breaking between the bend of hands.

Shortly after opening, Maria’s presented a cocktail menu heavy on tequila and mezcal, and after trying about half of the 13 choices, my friends and I were unimpressed, especially when each drink doesn’t budge from $14. Now that the menu has been whittled down to eight selections, we were glad we tasted only one dud. The Colonial just didn’t make par. Its advertised vodka and chartreuse had been murdered by a flood of ginger beer. The Caballero, a bourbon-based slow sipper with Ancho Reyes chile liqueur and coffee liqueur, and the Nuevo Fashioned, with mezcal reposado, agave, and chocolate bitters, were superb, and the margarita was locked in, smooth in delivery from start to finish.

When our glasses were empty and the enchiladas no more, rich buttery sauces were all that were left holding court at our table. And that’s where I found myself doing the best I could to sop up every last bit. l

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neighborhood, both stark differences from his upbringing but both reflected in the quality of his cuisine.

Ornamental vegetation, a threetiered water fountain, and terrazzo tables characterize the patio that would comfortably contend with those found at resort eateries in Tulum, Mexico. Gaslight sconces welcome guests directly into the bar, where more floral greenery effortlessly hangs above the sleek U-shaped bar counter. Vivacious works of art dominate the wall that partitions off a dining room, where light fixtures resembling upsidedown pineapples hang and a dazzling painting of Maria becomes the room’s centerpiece.

The menu is familiar but also fine and inspired by home-cooking. The traditional plates of flautas, enchiladas, and tacos all come with black beans and rice and are all prepared very well. And, yes, there is a selection of fajitas such as chicken and skirt steak served fully dressed or a doublecut porkchop and ribeye tampiqueña, both seared over hot coals on a bed of pasilla chile sauce. That simple styling of the menu makes this upscale location more approachable.

For starters, the botanas (“snacks” in English) lean toward seafood compared to the heartier beef and pork that make up most of the rest of the menu, though the nightly specials are governed by the ocean: from camarones a la diabla (spicy shrimp) and scallop tostado to mariscos a la tumbada (seafood mixed in rice closely related to Spanish paella) and mar y tierra. Ahi aquachile and shrimp and crab campechana would be wise appetizers to

AUGUST 4-10, 2021

Maria’s Mexican Kitchen, 1712 S University Dr, 817-916-0550. 10am-9pm Sun, 11am-10pm Mon-Fri, 10am-10pm Sat.

You definitely won’t be raising the flag here, just eating it.

FO R T WO R T H W E E K LY

Mastermind behind Pacific Table and Press Café, Chef Felipe Armenta expands his mini-empire near the Trinity.

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Once the 2021 harvest is gone, Blue Goose is done with them for the year. See the featured menu items at BlueGooseCantina.com/ Menu/#Hatch-Menu.

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grandmother’s dinner table, sharing stories, laughter, and delicious food. We are forever grateful to you to let us be a part of your special occasions and memories.” Cannon will continue dinner service nightly thru Saturday. Sister businesses Shinjuku Station (711 W Magnolia Av, Fort Worth, 817923-2695) and Tokyo Cafe (5121 Pershing Av, Fort Worth, 817-737-8568) remain unaffected.

5.) From 3pm to 7pm Mon-Fri, visit Cantina Paseo at Crockett Hall (3000 Crockett St, Fort Worth, 817-885-7331) for the Happiest of Hours. Drink specials include $4 wells, $5 frozen drinks, $5 draft beers, and $6 house wine.

Have some tacos — or Italian — while you’re at the hall. The food choices are abundant.

7.) Fri thru Sun, Sep 5, it’s DFW Restaurant Week extended to an entire month for 2021.

Participating restaurants — including 23 in Tarrant County — offer three-course prix fixe dinners for either $39 or $49, with 20% of proceeds benefiting Fort Worthbased children’s mental health nonprofit Lena Pope. Select restaurants are also offering two-course lunches for $19. For a list of participating restaurants, visit DFWRestaurantWeek.com.

8.) As we mentioned last week, August is National Coffee Month. To commemorate the month-long celebration, Zacapa Rum has some boozy suggestions. For example, to make a Zacapa Espresso, you’ll need 1.5 oz of Zacapa 23 Rum, 1.5 oz of espresso, 1/4 oz of simple syrup, and some orange peel. Combine all the ingredients in a shaker and shake hard. Serve in a rocks glass with large ice and orange peel.

By Jennifer Bovee

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FO R T WO R T H W E E K LY

2.) Hatch chile season is here. For a limited time, Blue Goose Cantina — with seven locations in North Texas including Fort Worth (1512 S University Dr, 817-3865433) and Grapevine (2455 E Grapevine Mills Dr, Ste 2048, 817-251-3303) — offers special menu items during its 19th Annual Hatch Chile Fest. Why not offer them yearround? “Hatch chiles are spicy and not for the faint of heart,” said Becky Blake, Blue Goose director of marketing. “We only sell fresh, never frozen, Hatch chiles harvested directly from Hatch Valley in New Mexico.”

4.) Saturday is the final day in business for Cannon Chinese Kitchen (304 W Cannon St, Fort Worth, 817-238-3726) due to the current staffing shortage. “We want to thank all of our guests and employees for supporting us since 2015,” the Cannon team posted recently. “When we decided 304 West Cannon would be the location of our newest restaurant, we wanted to introduce Fort Worth to a more traditional Chinese dining experience, sharing some of our favorite childhood family recipes. Fast forward six years later, with a handful of employees who have been with us since the beginning, we leave behind a little yellow house that held fond memories for so many. We hope your meals at Cannon were like meals at your

Cour tesy Facebook

1.)

Having taken over the location where Deep Ellum Brewing Funkytown Fermatorium once was, Bankhead Brewing (611 University Dr, Fort Worth, 817-4399223) is now running at full steam and is open seven days a week for both lunch and dinner. While the full kitchen is focused on great food, don’t forget the beer. This place is a brewery, after all. Enjoy a pint in person or pick up a crowler or growler for beer to go.

Speaking of going, when you’re out exploring other areas of North Texas, stop by the original Bankhead location in Rowlett (3840 Main St, 214-440-2080).

3.) In honor of National Farmers Market Week, Blue Zones is celebrating at Cowtown Farmers Market (3821 Southwest Blvd, 682999-7097) today and Saturday from 8am to noon. (Cowtown is open on Saturdays year-round and Wednesdays during the summer.) If you have a Lone Star Card, you can double your food dollars with Double-Up Food Bucks and receive $1 for every dollar you spend on fresh fruits and vegetables. More info at Facebook.com/ BlueZonesProjectFW.

6.) Donuts made from scratch daily using fresh gourmet ingredients is part of why Funky Town Donuts is a Fort Worth favorite. Along with rotating weekly flavors, Funky Town also does a flavor of the month. For August, the featured donut is The Mangonada with mango glaze, a chamoy dip, a light dusting of tajin, and a few dried mango strings for effect. All items are available at the Hospital District location (1000 8th Av, Ste 101, 817-862-9750) and in Sundance Square (132 E 4th St, 817-862-7337).

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CrossTown

Sounds Live Music in North Texas in Early August WEDNESDAYS AT FP! Weekly Funky Trivia TUESDAYS AT FP! Tipsy Tuesday: Comedy Open Mic 8/14 Funky Picnic Drag Show: After Hours

ARLINGTON Arlington Music Hall 224 N Center, 817-226-4400 ArlingtonMusicHall.net FRI 8/6: Haggard & Haggard: Tribute to our Father featuring Ben & Noel Haggard. SAT 8/7: Reflections of Patsy Cline. THU 8/12: The Lettermen. FRI 8/13: Jim Curry (John Denver Tribute). SAT 8/14: The Best of Motown, Bee Gees Gold Tribute & More.

BURLESON 401 Bryan Ave, Ste 117 - Fort Worth, TX - 817.708.2739 WWW.FUNKYPICNICBREWERY.COM

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED

Oscar’s Bar & Grill 1581 SW Wilshire, 817-447-7232 OscarsBurleson.com FRI 8/6: Suzy & The Sissies w/Vanessa Leigh. SAT 8/7: QUEEN Legacy (Tribute to Freddie Mercury). FRI 8/13: In Halen (Van Halen Tribute) w/Missi St Thomas. SAT 8/14: Desperado (Eagles Tribute).

THE COLONY

fwweekly.com

Lava Cantina 5805 Grandscape Blvd, 214-618-6893 LavaCantina.com

817-349-9387

AUGUST 4-10, 2021

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.

D R I NeK of th Month

FO R T WO R T H W E E K LY

ry Tues $2 oFF eve

22

Happy Hour Mon - Fri

Dollar Off Beers | $8 Drink of the Day

RUM DMC

10%Mondays oFF To-G o CoCkTails! and Tuesdays eekniGHT speCials WMonday - Thursday

117 S Main St • Fort Worth

Cour tesy Facebook

NEW HOURS: MON: CLOSED TUE - SAT: 11AM - 10PM SUN: 11AM - 8PM

See Madison Paige as part of the Texas Hayride Series at Haltom Theater.

WED 8/4: Tennessee Whisky (Chris Stapleton Tribute).

THU 8/5: Dokken with George Lynch, The Electric Freedom. FRI 8/6: Dean Z (Elvis Tribute). SAT 8/7: The M80s. WED 8/11: Justin Champagne. THU 8/12: Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears. FRI 8/13: Pop 2K Tour featuring O-Town, Ryan Cabrera, and LFO, with host Lance Bass.

DALLAS Three Links 2704 Elm St, 214-484-6011 ThreeLinksDeepEllum.com SATURDAYS: Hern’s Country Saloon (2pm). MONDAYS: Knuckaround w/The Funky Knuckles & Friends. WED 8/4: Midnight Session. THU 8/5: The Goddamn Gallows.

FRI 8/6: The Hellions. SAT 8/7: Tha Plug. SUN 8/8: CHEW. THU 8/12: Ours. FRI 8/13: Elm Street Tease.

Trees Dallas 2709 Elm St, 214-741-1122 TreesDallas.com WED 8/4: Void Vator, Holy Death Trio. FRI 8/6: Mothership. SAT 8/7: Johnny Bee. WED 8/11: Deicide.

FRI 8/13: Weedeater. SAT 8/14: Lucki.

FRI 8/6: Silence The Fear (theater), Where’s Harry?

Live (lounge). SAT 8/7: Brasianna, Tribeth*t. FRI 8/13: Colton Hamilton Band. SAT 8/14: Solfshifter, White House, DJ Cruz.

Scat Jazz Lounge 111 W 4th St, 817-870-9100 ScatLounge.com THU 8/5: Brad Williams Quartet. FRI 8/6: The Tim Ishii Quartet. SAT 8/7: Sheran Keyton & The Joe Rogers Trio.

THU 8/12: Pete Clagett. FRI 8/13: Quamon Fowler. SAT 8/14: Alex Blair.

Tulips FTW 112 St Louis Av, 817-367-9798 TulipsFTW.com THU 8/5: Pablo & The Hemphill 7. FRI 8/6: Nightshade Burlesque featuring Mississippi Bastard Project. SAT 8/7: Kody West. WED 8/11: Lo-Fi Beats to Study to. THU 8/12: The Cush, Hot Knife. FRI 8/13: Lost Dog Street Band. SAT 8/14: The Polarity. SUN 8/15: Tune-Yards w/ Salami Rose Joe Louis.

HALTOM CITY The Haltom Theater 5601 E Belknap St, 817-677-8243 HaltomTheater.com WED 8/4: Madison Paige. FRI 8/5: Torchfest Day 1 w/ Earthgazer. SAT 8/6: Torchfest Day 2 w/The Order of Elijah. SUN 8/8: Torchfest Day 3 w/Koninssor. FRI 8/13: Friday the 13th Massacre w/Tyler Berry. SAT 8/14: Gored In The Heart of Texas Fest. SUN 8/15: Tops Off Variety Shhh-Oh.

MANSFIELD Fat Daddy’s 781 W Debbie Ln, 817-453-0188 FatDaddysLive.com MONDAYS: Free World Poker Night. THU 8/5: Texas Floyd (Pink Floyd Tribute). FRI 8/6: Kid Kentucky & The American Baddass Band (Kid Rock Tibute, inside), DJ Train Wreck (patio). SAT 8/8: Back in Black (AC/DC

Tribute) w/Bullitt. THU 8/12: Keith Mitchell Band. FRI 8/13: Def Leggend w/Rokken (Def Leppard & Dokken Tributes). SAT 8/14: Rebel Yell (Billy Idol Tribute) w/ Mentl Health.

ON THE AIR Local Radio Shows THU: The Local Show with Amy Miller, 7-8pm on KXT (91.7). SUN: The Paul Slavens Show, 8pm on KXT (91.7). SUN: Reckless Rock Radio, 10-12mid on KNON (89.3 FM). SUN: Loud & Local with Debbie Sexton, 11pm-12mid on KEGL (97.1 FM).

To submit your events, email Jennifer@fwweekly.com.

CrossTown

Sounds

FORT WORTH Lola’s Trailerpark 2735 W 5th St, 817-759-9100 LolasFW.com THURSDAYS: Blues Jam w/Holland K Smith & Playtown.

SAT 8/7: John Stevens. SUN 8/8: Keegan & Katie & Friends. SAT 8/14: Casey Hess (day), Charlie Bassham & The Allstar Band (night). SUN 8/15: Rock N Roll Rummage Sale.

WED 8/4: Jack Barksdale, Reilly Phillips. THU 8/5: Dadrock. FRI 8/6: Live Lunch w/Curtis McMurtry. SAT 8/7: Walt Wilkins, Marian Brackney. SUN 8/8: Matt Hilyer, Max & Heather Stalling. TUE 8/10: Neptune Locals, Cherry Mantis. FRI 8/13: Nathan Hamilton. SAT 8/14: Sam Morrow.

Rail Club Live 3101 Joyce Dr, 817-386-4309 RailClubLive.com THU 8/5: Whiskeydick. FRI 8/6: Z-RO. SUN 8/8: Big Hutch. FRI 8/13: FOM, Towerhigh, Midnight Murder Show, Cutthroat Conspiracy. SAT 8/14: Cutthroat Conspiracy, Malconstruct, Iron Jaw, SOG, Prophecy.

The Ridglea 6025 Camp Bowie Blvd, 817-738-9500 TheRidglea.com

AUGUST 4-10, 2021

The Post at River East 2925 Race St, 817-945-8890 ThePostAtRiverEast.com

FO R T WO R T H W E E K LY

WED 8/4: Carey Wolff. THU 8/5: Seer, Aliens Overhead, Brotherhood, Estacado. FRI 8/6: Crooked Bones, The Prof. Fuzz 63, Cool Jacket. SAT 8/7: Arenda Light, OneEyed Monster, Ryker Hall. SUN 8/8: Popstar Drag Show.

MON 8/9: Queer M.F. w/Smalltown. SAT 8/14: Country Westerns, Eric Osbourne, Same Brain.

fwweekly.com

Main at Southside 1002 S Main St, 682-707-7774 MASSFW.com

23

MUSIC

The Tasked Singer With his main band stalled by the pandemic, Pinkish Black frontman Daron Beck has been lending his unique voice to several interesting musical projects.

B Y

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H I G G I N S

Daron Beck would never be mistaken for a John Legend-type vocalist. The Pinkish Black frontman’s projection and bravado reveal no less strength of voice, but his oeuvre up to this point has been much more Nick Cave commingling with Peter Murphy than Al Green partying with Paul McCartney — characteristically dark and ominous rather than the velvety smoothness of an R&B soulster or the syrupy sweetness of your average pop singer. In other words, it’s not

HearSay Not being very tech savvy, there’s no way I can figure out to track it, to follow all of the snowflaking that will go down now that a certain red-headed Texas music legend who’s friends with pinko commie bastard Beto O’Rourke will play a certain Fort Worth venue that’s also hosted rightwing asshats Ted Nugent and Kid Rock.

Multiple times.

Snowflake tears, snowflake tears are my favorite.

There are four Kid Rock shows at Billy Bob’s Texas at the end of the month. Three of them are already sold out. Imagine that: People paying for the right to be crapped on. I’d rather watch the Rangers. So when Willie Nelson plays The World’s Largest Honkytonk® on Sat, Nov 20, what can we expect? From the dopily smiling redeyed attendees (answer: peace, love, and understanding) and from the commentariat, most of whom will undoubtedly still be willingly wallowing in Kid Rock funk, which smells like stale light beer, little dick energy, and a fast-food dumpster? Hate, pure hate, is the answer.

And the angry snowflakes will call for a boycott of Billy Bob’s until the next Kid Rock show there, because Fort Worth’s

FO R T WO R T H W E E K LY

AUGUST 4-10, 2021

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Willie Returns to Billy Bob’s in November

24

the typical voice one might imagine when they think of a “great singer.”

Yet, however unlike the prototypical vocalist one might envision, Beck is no less sonant or adept. He has sneakily impressive range and control, an undeniable viva voce skillset made all the more remarkable by his singularly unique tone. He has a vocal savviness that a decade-plus of fronting the ghostly doom that Pinkish Black and former incarnation The Great Tyrant are known for perhaps hasn’t really highlighted.

“If you listen back to early Pinkish Black or especially The Great Tyrant, there’s a lot of vocal stuff I’m doing, but the music is so abrasive and loud, it just doesn’t translate,” Beck said. “I sing a lot of falsetto on that stuff, but it doesn’t always make people go, ‘Oh, he’s got a great vocal octave range.’ It mostly makes them go, ‘Oh, that’s … weird.’ ” Since the duo Pinkish Black has largely been stalled by the pandemic and drummer John Teague relocated to New Mexico, Beck has been filling his time by using that vocal range on other projects. The last several months have seen him lend his voice to a series of incredible soft rock covers with the underground supergroup Zombi and Friends. He also contributed a guest track on the recent, massive quadruple album Jeff by O. Deletron (of which I am a member), and he’s just released a new EP of Italio dancewave from his new duo, Information_Age. On suddenly finding himself an indemand vocalist, Beck is demure.

“It’s unexpected,” he said. “I always kind of envision myself as like a bridge troll that crawls out to do his weird little thing and then crawls back under the hole. To be put in these positions where it’s like, ‘Oh, sing to this extremely dancey stuff ’ or to sing ‘Captain of Her Heart’ by Double, this extremely mellow stuff — I’m stoked. I can do all that. I do it in my car all the time.”

Zombi and Friends is likely the most buzz-eliciting project Beck has been involved with lately. Featuring Zombi duo Steve Moore and AE Paterra, Jeff Gretz of Zao, guitarist Phil Manley of Trans Am, and bassist Bryan Richie of The Sword, the project serves up a steady drip of nostalgia porn. Soft rock covers like the Doobie Brothers’ “Takin’ it to the Streets” and Neil Diamond’s “America” perfectly straddle the fence between silly fun and serious homage. The songs are so meticulously and faithfully reproduced that there is no denying the musicians’ genuine affection for the music.

“I have a deep, deep love of soft rock music from the ’70s and ’80s,” Beck said.

“This [project] is just so up my alley, and I’ve been wanting to do something like this for a long time. The fact that I’m getting to do it with dudes from Zombi, Trans Am, The Sword, and Zao is icing on the cake.”

With Information_Age, Beck teamed up with Pallbearer bassist Joseph D. Rowland for a six-song EP of infectious synthwave that’s every bit as sexy as it is spooky. The pulsing keyboards and pumping beats allowed Beck to

vocally channel some of his favorite sophistipop artists like Danny Wilson and ABC. “I never get to try really dramatic sophisti-pop vocals,” Beck said. “I wanted to try some of that stuff and see where it fit in the mix. It does give it a sort of Bauhaus, Depeche Mode vibe, which I’m totally fine with.”

Debuting just over a week ago, the selftitled collaboration originally began in 2018, but Beck acknowledges an unintended timeliness with its delayed pandemic-era release.

“It seems like such an appropriate time because of the lyrical content of the record,” he said. “It talks about the end of the world and desolate landscapes and everything’s just gone. With [the single] ‘We Were Alive,’ the repeating chorus is ‘Everything’s gone.’ We were working on it when the toilet paper shortage was happening, and all I could think about was ‘Oh, all the toilet paper’s gone.’ ” With these projects allowing him to stretch his vocal abilities more, Beck said he looks forward to seeing how he can apply what he’s learned about his singing going forward.

“I’m actually wanting to start writing music that’s more like stuff I would listen to,” he said. “A lot of the music I write is more therapeutic for me than enjoyable. For our audience, they love it, but for me, it’s a pain to sit and listen to my own shit. It’s extremely dark and depressing. It’s not that I want to write anything happy. That’s just not what’s there. I just want to do stuff that’s more complex, like Steely Dan or Magma. Stuff that’s easier on the ears … and probably the brain, too.” l

redneck past makes it seem like we’re a better fit for that racist jackass than Big D. So what’s gonna happen?

Insert: Michael Jackson eating popcorn GIF. This is really only interesting because right and left both claim Willie.

Conservatives love that he plays both kinds of music, a genre made by crackers for crackers. The left loves that he’s a decent human being who smokes the grass, spreads *heart emoji*, and doesn’t believe in conspiracy theories or meanness. I couldn’t name a Willie Nelson song if you had a knife to my balls, but I sure do love him as a person and a Texan. It was only a couple of months ago when St. Willie stood on the steps of the Texas Capitol and led a thousand people in the chant “Vote them out!” as part of a rally against the state’s new voter suppression measures. I also love Billy Bob’s for understanding that in the Venn diagram of Texas Music, Willie is dead center. Maybe this is the sense of community we’ve been lacking since that orange stain first sullied the White House five years ago. Left and right coming together for some reportedly good tunes? Good on you, Fort Worth.

This Nov 20 show will be Willie’s 58th at Billy Bob’s since his first gig there on April 5, 1981, just four days after the venue opened.

He goes on at 10pm. House band at 8. Tickets are $35-150. Calling the cops on an Open Carry asshole or spilling a beer on a dumbass in a MAGA hat is free.

On the Same Night as Willie’s Billy Bob’s Show …

On Thursday at The Post at River East …

… goth-rockers Evanescence are playing Dickies Arena. Why is this important?

Fort Worth homeboy Will Hunt co-wrote a couple of songs on the band’s new album, its first in a decade. And it’s good: moody, loud, sweeping. Evanescence’s publicity company says the tour is already one of the year’s best and proves “the power of women in selling out arenas,” referring to frontwoman and chief songwriter Amy Lee, who’s recorded a bunch with Hunt in his Fort Worth studio.

I couldn’t name an Evanescence song if you held a lighter to my stack of Silver Age comic books (please don’t), but I love Amy Lee for trusting the guy who regularly worked with one of my favorite bands of all time, Fort Worth’s Burning Hotels (R.I.P., that band; R.I.P., that old me who cared about local music way too much and got nothing in return).

Let’s bring it back to Saturday

Alt-rockers Arenda Light headline MASS, preceded by One-Eyed Monsters (Cyclops?) and cool Fort Worth singer-songwriter Ryker Hall. For tickets, visit Prekindle. I couldn’t name an Arenda Light song if you held a rattling razor over my luxurious mane, but I love Matt Mabe and Kris Luther, Arenda Light’s drummer and bassist respectively, and I know that if they’re in a band, that band raaawks.

… there’s this thing called Dadrock going down. Don’t know what it is, probably a cover band specializing in Counting Crows and Tom Petty tunes, but uber-popular soulman Josh Weathers and multiple Grammy winner Mark Lettieri are part of it, though I couldn’t name a Snarky Puppy song if you dangled my voter ID card over a woodchipper.

And the drummer will be Blaine Crews, an otherwise nice guy whose pro-MAGA rants online are threatening to overshadow his talent.

And make at least half of Fort Worth gag. More than half, if the 2020 presidential election is to be believed. (Voter fraud, amirite, Blaine?!)

And on Saturday at Panther Island Pavilion …

… some country guy John Baumann, whoever he is (no offense), will headline the last Rockin’ the River. I’ve always loved this idea, lounging on a tube in the water, dranking some Cuhrs Laght, listening to live music, but since I couldn’t name a contemporary country song if you held a gun to my last bottle of Kraken, I’m a-scared that I’d feel like the music charlatan that I am wading into the Trinity. And a fatass. I’d feel like a fatass, too. Jon Stork (King of the South!), the Teague Brothers Band, Taylor Hunnicutt, and Western Youth will go on first. Gates open at 1pm. Following the afterparty band at 8:25pm will be fireworks at 9:25. No cover. — Anthony Mariani Contact HearSay at Anthony@FWWeekly.com.

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FO R T WO R T H W E E K LY

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Ballots Are L

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25

STUFF

Olympic Dreams

Though most people supported Simone Biles’ decision to step down, too many jumped at the opportunity to chastise her and, in turn, show us how misguided we’ve become.

FO R T WO R T H W E E K LY

AUGUST 4-10, 2021

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E R I N

R A T I G A N

In many ways, Americans obsess over the Olympics for the same reasons we cling to the idea of the American Dream. Their messages are strikingly similar –– that one can achieve greatness through hard work and dedication, that by using every part of oneself spiritually and physically, one can progress to a better place in life. With that similarity comes a matching consequence: that those who need help to face professional or psychological struggles in their pursuit of success are subsequently vilified for their perceived “weakness.”

We saw this ruthlessness on display after Simone Biles decided to withdraw from the Olympic gymnastics finals last week. Wouldbe sports critics across the country took to social media to spew vitriol at Biles and her decision –– which stemmed from her wanting to address her extreme depression without competitive pressure. Her critics have called her “selfish” for taking another athlete’s spot on the global stage before stepping away from the sport last-minute. They questioned her dedication to her sport (despite her being one of the most decorated gold medalists in gymnastics history), accusing her of not being “tough enough” to handle the rigors of professional sports.

There’s no need to dig into the specifics of why such accusations are ridiculous –– obviously, a bunch of couch potatoes accusing an Olympian of “not wanting it badly enough” is laughable. However, this outrage is a reflection of a deeper problem, namely that we want to see the exceptionalism without nurturing the humanity behind it.

Americans practically fetishize competitive sports because they afford us the opportunity to prove our brilliance to others.

For Americans, the Olympics allow our athletes to adopt the label of “the best in the

world,” which then is repurposed and made nationalistic –– it becomes “America is the best in the world.” An ever-present subtext to this is the unspoken suspicion that anyone who’s not proud to be American is a danger to the nation itself.

That’s where the American Dream™ comes into play, supporting individualism primarily through anecdotal examples and inspirational quotes. What isn’t often discussed is the fact that the American Dream is not a universal possibility. We now know that certain people face more challenges to achieving an education, finding high-paying jobs, and supporting their families than others. For example, a Black man born into generational poverty in Texas does not receive the same education as a middle-class white teenager from New Jersey.

Many Americans are not given the chance to achieve the American Dream, not because they “don’t want it” enough but because the idea is unrealistic and based on variables that come only from a life of privilege. Still, the idea of American exceptionalism and The Dream™ are deeply ingrained in the national psyche.

For The Dream to be equally attainable for all Americans requires us to address inequality in the first place –– in other words, we’d have to provide extra assistance to those who have fewer opportunities than middle-class whites.

However, that need for assistance is considered loathsome to some in this country.

Some people don’t want to be reminded that America isn’t perfect and that we have a long way to go as a society before we can proudly proclaim our righteousness over others.

That is where the Simon Biles haters are coming from. The public disdain for her decision to set aside winning gold for America –– in favor of taking care of her health –– is an extension of the unhealthy expectations inherent to our national identity. Athletes aren’t supposed to step away from sports.

They’re supposed to “power through” the brain injuries, the pain, the psychological strain, and the insurmountable public pressure and still make America look good.

We don’t want to deal with mental health issues or address social challenges associated with dangerous hyper-competition. We just want to take credit for the exceptional people who entertain us. We want to wave our flag and toot our horns and take credit for someone else’s achievements, as though we all pitched in to make it happen. Meanwhile, we can’t stand to face the inconvenient truth behind the mask of exceptionalism.

The response to Simone Biles is our reminder that many Americans are even willing to turn on our exceptional people once they prove to be imperfect –– to cast talented young people into disgrace once they remind us that they’re human, too.

These critics do not speak for the majority of Americans, and the overwhelming consensus on social media is that more Americans support her decision than oppose it. Still, it’s wretched to see how many in this country will not grant dignity to those who suffer yet expect them to suffer with dignity. l

MUSIC XCHANGE

EMPLOYMENT Mama Angie’s Mexican Cocina is Now Hiring!

New restaurant in Mansfield is seeking Servers, Cooks, and Dishwashers. Apply online today at Jobs.AngMarRetailGroup.com Wild Acre Now Hiring All Positions Call 817-353-2074 or apply in person at 6473 Camp Bowie Blvd, FWTX. Yucatan Tequila Bar & Grill Now Hiring!

Experienced server wanted for a fast-paced, casual Mexican eatery. If qualified, please call 682-385-9595 or apply in person at 909 W Magnolia Av #10, FWTX. Restaurant Jobs For more service industry jobs, see our column in Eats & Drinks on Page 22.

HEALTH & WELLNESS Inogen One Portable Oxygen Concentrator 866-970-7551 May Be Covered by Medicare!

Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Call for free information kit!

Planned Parenthood Available Via Chat!

Along with advice, eligible patients are also able to receive birth control, UTI treatments, and other healthcare appointments via the smartphone app and telehealth appointments. To chat, you can text PPNOW to 774-636.

MIND / BODY / SPIRIT

Music Junkie Studios 1617 Park Place #106, Fort Worth www.MusicJunkieStudios.com We are operating with our same great instructors, same excellent quality, but now serving students online. We offer lessons on voice, piano, guitar, bass, ukulele, violin, viola, drums, recording, and music for littles! We are soon launching a brand new offering- MJS Summer Music Project. Keep an eye out for more details.

PUBLIC NOTICES TDLR Complaints Any Texans who may be concerned that an unlicensed massage business may be in operation near them, or believe nail salon employees may be human trafficking victims, may now report those concerns directly to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) by emailing ReportHT@TDLR.Texas.gov.

RENTALS / REAL ESTATE Stage With Angela Home Staging & Design Facebook.com/StageWithAngela 817-501-5076 We help transform any property into a space that any potential buyer will love by creating an emotional connection with the space, helping sell the home faster, and increasing your overall ROI. Maximize appeal. Minimize time on the market. Free consultations.

Guaranteed results.

Trojan Commercial Real Estate Services TrojanCRE.com 817-632-6252 Full-service company specializing in consulting, leasing, property management, real estate, and sales. Call today!

SERVICES

Gateway Church Church time is the BEST time! Join us for online church each weekend.

Online services start at 4 pm on Saturdays and are available to watch any time after at https://gway. ch/GatewayPeople.

AT&T Internet 1-888-699-0123 Starting at $40/month w/12-mo agmt. Includes 1 TB of data per month. Get More For Your HighSpeed Internet Thing. Ask us how to bundle and SAVE! Geo & svc restrictions apply.

Hannah in Hurst 817-590-2257 MasseuseToTheStars.com Alternative Health Sessions

AT&T Wireless 1-877-384-1025 Two great new offers from AT&T Wireless! Ask how to get the new

iPhone 11 or Next Generation Samsung Galaxy S10e ON US with AT&T’s Buy one, Give One offer. While supplies last! CALL 1-877-384-1025.

DIRECTV 1-855-648-0651 Every live football game, every Sunday - anywhere - on your favorite device. Restrictions apply.

Call IVS today.

DIRECTV NOW No satellite needed. $40/month. 65 channels. Stream breaking news, live events, sports, & on-demand titles. No annual contract. No commitment. Call 1-817-730-9132.

DISH Network 1-855-844-6556 $59.99 for 190 channels! Blazingfast internet, $19.99/mo (where available). Switch and get a FREE $100 Visa gift card. FREE voice remote. FREE HD DVR. FREE streaming on ALL services. Call today!

Don’t Forget To Feed Me Pet Food Bank, Inc. 5825 E Rosedale, Fort Worth 817-334-0727 Facebook.com/DF2FM We are experiencing a rapid increase in demand for pet food from both regular distribution partners and newly created needs identified at local animal shelters and rescue organizations. Please consider a pet food or monetary donation.

Earthlink High Speed Internet 1-866-827-5075 As Low As $14.95/month (for the first 3 months.) Reliable High Speed Fiber Optic Technology.

Stream Videos, Music and More!

Firefighting’s Finest Moving & Storage 3101 Reagan, Fort Worth 817-737-7800 FirefighterMovers.com Open to serve you safely, quickly and at the best price possible. With new Covid precautions, you will have peace of mind that your crew is there to serve as safely as possible. Use movers you can trust!

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LEGAL NOTICE Citation by Publication

TO: Maribel Lopez GREETINGS: YOU (AND EACH OF YOU) ARE HEREBY COMMANDED to appear before the Probate Court of El Paso County, Texas, at the Courthouse thereof, by filing a written answer at or before 10:00 o’clock A.M. on the first Monday next after the expiration of ten days from the date of the issuance of this citation, same being the 21st day of June, 2021 to Petition filed in said Court on the 28th day of May, 2021, in Cause No. 2015-CGD00066 on the docket of said court and styled Candelaria Orona, An Incapacitated Person. A brief statement of the nature of this suit is as follows, to-wit: Amended Application for Appointment of Permanent Guardian of the Person If this citation is not served within ten days after the date of its issuance, it shall be retuned unserved.

The officer executing this writ shall promptly serve the same according to requirements of law, and the mandates hereof, and made due return as the law directs. WITNESS, DELIA BRIONES, Clerk, El Paso County, Texas. Issued and given under my hand and seal of said Court at El Paso, Texas, on this 1st day of June, 2021. DELIA BRIONES, EL PASO COUNTY CLERK, 500 EAST SAN ANTONIO, SUI, EL PASO, TEXAS 79901, BY Larissa De La O, DEPUTY.

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