Gardening

Contact Information: Texas Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Jennifer Salazar, Director 1-888-341-6187 jsalazar@bbbhou.org

Krystl Philyaw Grayson County Master Gardener

It is mid-October, and here in North Texas, it is time to plant garlic. The bulbs will grow in a wide range of soil types and pH ranges. As with anything you grow underground, your soil needs to have some tilth or fluff to it. If the soil is too compacted, the bulb will have a difficult time forming. You also need patience to grow garlic. The cloves you plant now will not be ready to harvest until May or June of next year. It is a long time, but garlic is one of the easiest herbs to grow, requiring minimal effort on your part.

There are two different varieties of garlic, hardneck and softneck. The hardneck is typically grown in the north and softneck in the south. As you can see from the picture, they each form a different type of bulb. Hardnecks have fewer but larger cloves than softnecks. Another difference is hardnecks will produce a garlic scape. The scape is an edible central stalk that grows up from the underground bulb. It can be harvested and used in a variety of recipes. You want to cut the scapes; leaving them in place will diminish the underground bulb’s growth. If you choose to grow hardnecks, you get two harvests from one planting. The disadvantage of hardnecks is the bulbs have a shorter storage life after harvest. Softnecks typically are what you find in the grocery stores around here.

I grow garlic in raised beds. I cannot speak about if garlic can be grown in containers. My guess is it would not be difficult given enough space to allow the bulb to mature. Many resources recommend buying “seed” garlic due to the possibility that growth inhibitors get applied to store-bought garlic. Store-bought potatoes are said to have been sprayed or dipped too, but I bet you have had one or two potatoes to sprout in your cabinet. I started three years ago with three bulbs of storebought garlic. Each year after harvest, I choose the largest, bestlooking bulbs to save for planting the next season. If you want to try different types, go ahead and purchase “seed” garlic. If you are only experimenting or want simple cooking garlic, head to the local grocery and pick up 2-3 bulbs. Pick a sunny spot in the garden that you have added 1”-2” compost and that you are willing to give up for the next 8-9 months. Also, do not plant garlic where you planted onions in the spring. Break the bulb into cloves, leaving the skin on them. Insert the clove 2”-3” deep into the soil with the pointed end up and cover the hole. Continue inserting cloves, leaving 4”-6” between the “seeds” in each direction. The spacing is dependent on the size of your original bulb. Each planted clove should grow

to the size of that original bulb. Water well and keep moist, but not soggy. Soon small green shoots will appear. If you do not receive supplemental rain, add water if the soil is dry below 1”. Sit back and wait until the tops begin to turn brown and fall over late next spring or early summer.

When the tops turn and begin to fall, gently pull the bulbs up. Let them cure in a shady spot, out of direct sunlight for 2-3 weeks. Once fully dry, trim the tops and roots. Trim the stalk where it naturally bends above the bulb. If the stem is still stiff, let the bulb dry longer. Store trimmed bulbs in a cool, dry, dark place. Warmth and sunlight will cause the bulbs to sprout.

It is easy to grow garlic. Prepare your garden spot and buy some bulbs. The best time is now to plant. Enjoy. Grayson County Master Gardeners Association is a non-profit 501( c)(3) organization sponsored by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Reach us by email at mastergardeners@co.grayson.tx.us, by phone at 903-813-4204, or txmg.org/ grayson, or our Facebook group. It’s that time of year again. Open enrollment for Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans starts October 15 and runs through December 7.

It is so important that you review your Medicare Part D plans and your Medicare Advantage plans (if you have one) every year. Plans change and you want to make sure your prescriptions and doctors (for Advantage Plans) are still in your network.

The changes you can make during Medicare’s Open Enrollment include:

• Joining a new Medicare Advantage Plan or Part D prescription drug plan. • Switching from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan. • Switching from a Medicare

Advantage Plan to Original

Medicare (with or without a

Part D plan).

You should always shop for a new drug plan and Medicare Advantage plan each year to ensure you are getting the best coverage for the best price to suit your needs. You can shop and compare plans at www.medicare.gov. Get a family member to help if you don’t use the Internet or call the State Health Insurance Assistance Program at 800-252-9240 and speak to a qualified Benefits Counselor.

Medicare Part D Enrollment Scams to look out for:

• Medicare or a health plan calls and wants to send you a new health card for $299.

• You receive a call about a refund from last year’s premiums or your drug plan cost.

• An agent tries to sign you up for plan that you don’t need, isn’t right for you, or doesn’t even exist.

• Watch out for fake RX cards offering big discounts with little or no benefits.

• You receive a call offering big discounts on a new health insurance plan.

Agent/Broker Prohibited Behaviors

• Agents may not state they are from Medicare or use the term

“Medicare” in a misleading manner. • Cannot solicit potential enrol-

lees door-to-door (in person or via leaflet/flyer). • Cannot approach beneficiaries in common areas (i.e. parking lots, hallways, lobbies, sidewalks). • Agents cannot send unsolicited text messages and leave voicemail messages. However, agents may call or visit beneficiaries who attended a marketing or sales event when prior permission is given and documented. • Cannot ask beneficiaries for a referral list (list of friends or family who may be interested in plan). • Calls to prospective enrollees to confirm receipt of mailed information.

To learn more: contact the Texas SMP.

Tips on how to Stop Fraud During Open Enrollment

• Medicare will never call or visit. Medicare will only send information via postal mail service. • Guard your Medicare card and number like a credit card. • Don’t give out your Medicare number except to your doctor or other providers. • Don’t let someone push you into making a fast decision. • If you receive a call, especially from a number you do not recognize or anyone requesting personal information hang up immediately. • Know your health care options. Get help from your family, the Medicare website or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). • No health care plan is allowed to cold call.

If you have any questions or want to report a scam please doesn’t hesitate to call us at the Senior Medicare Patrol at 713-341-6184 or 888-341-6187. If you would like a presentation to your organization or community via Zoom or WebEx, please contact the Texas Senior Medicare Patrol. The Senior Medicare Patrol of Texas (SMP) is part of the national Senior Medicare Patrol Program funded by the Administration for Community Living. The Houston Better Business Bureau Education Foundation is the holder of the grant for the State of Texas.

Howe minus 17 players from the roster, lose to Commerce 49-0; fall to 0-7 on the season

Howe sophomore quarterback and safety Austin Haley exited the game in the third quarter when making a tackle. Photo by Michelle Carney.

The Howe Bulldogs (0-7, 0-4) limped onto the field Friday night with 17 members of the roster in street clothes due mostly to injuries. The junior varsity gave was cancelled on Thursday in order to fill roster spots and the entire high school football program suited up for the district matchup with the Commerce Tigers (5-2, 2-2). The outcome was much as one would expect with a team with the size and athletes in their favor as Howe limped to a 49-0 loss at Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium at Texas A&M Commerce.

Howe started six underclassmen on offense with sophomore Jason Cross getting the start at fullback after being brought up from the JV. Freshman Mahlon Walker played the entire game on both sides of the ball. Fellow freshman Luciano Vazquez, called up from JV before the game, played the second half due to a second quarter injury to sophomore lineman Aiden Burris who did not return.

Defensively, Howe started only two underclassmen with sophomore safety Austin Haley and freshman nose tackle Walker. Haley was injured making a tackle in the third quarter and did not return. Those unable to play were Jalen Thornton, Caleb Wharmund, Carson Daniels, Cooper Jones, Andrew Bertrand, Luke Jackson, Caleb Hix, Raul Hernandez, Jonathan Meneses, Brantley Flynn, Jaryn Grisham, Jordan Troxtell, Dakota Herrington, Will Fleming, and Matthew Bearden.

It’s now been over a year since Howe last won. They defeated Lone Oak, 42-6 on Oct. 18, 2019 and have lost 9-straight since. The losing streak is the most since Howe lost 10 in-a-row from Nov. 25, 2016 (against Mineola) to Nov. 10, 2017 when they beat Callisburg in the final game of the 2017 season and the final game of the Zack Hudson era. Howe lost 10 in-a-row from Sept. 19, 1975 through Sept. 10, 1976 which ended the Norman Dickey era. A 0-0 tie with Celeste in 1964 kept Howe from losing 12-straight that would have lasted through the beginning of the 1965 season. The record for Howe is 12 consecutive losses from Oct. 15, 2004 through Oct. 21, 2005 which virtually ended the Norwood Martin era. During that time, Howe was still playing the likes of Tom Bean, Leonard, Bells, and Whitewright which is not comparable to today’s streak against much heavier competition.

(Continued on page 14)

The Senior Athlete of the Week is Brooke Robinson who is the captain of the HHS Cheerleaders.

Her first memories of cheerleading are from being a peewee cheerleader in Howe at the age of seven or eight.

“We did all the crazy competition stunts and it made me super excited to be a varsity cheerleader.

Robinson’s mother Jennifer Bearden Robinson was a graduate of HHS in 1992 and has been best friends with Cheer Coach Pam Kirby since elementary school.

“It can be very hard sometimes because we are so close and she (Kirby) is like a family member to me,” said Robinson. “It’s also easy because we can bounce ideas off of each other and we understand each other. It’s been good to have her as a cheer coach because she’s been like another role model to me.”

Robinson says that there is drama within the cheer program, but they take a step back and come together to support the team.

The experiences of cheer competition were the most fun, she says. The work that is put into it and the experience of the hotel and dinner also added to the memories.

After reaching the point of no longer being able to play basketball, she became the basketball manager for the varsity and experienced the greatest Lady Bulldogs season with a courtside seat.

“It really made me still feel a part of the team, said Robinson. “I loved to watch them and encourage them. Coach Lands made me feel like I was still a part of the team.”

She is also a member of the golf team and reached regionals her sophomore year.

Robinson was a homecoming queen nominee and says that walking on the field with her dad was something she had always looked forward to.

She is the National Honor Society secretary, and a member of Student Council.

Brooke Robinson

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump— Joe Biden is a corrupt politician, and everybody knows it. Now you have the proof, perhaps like never was had before on a major politician. Laptop plus. This is the second biggest political scandal in our history! 10:39 AM · Oct 18, 2020