Anna Living Magazine Issue 3

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3

Laura and Josh Hawkins are shown with their children. Laura was the organizer of the Back 2 School prayer gathering at Slayter Creek Park. She said at the meeting, “I’m thankful to live in a town that has like-minded people…And so here’s to a great year of Coyote Pride!”

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CONTENTS 3 9 12

Anna gets a Freestanding Emergecy Room

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School Schedules

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Texoma Medical Center opened its ER in Anna.

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3

18

Splash Pad in Slayter Creek Park

Enjoying the water during high temperatures in Anna.

Back to School

It’s a new world for students See the plethora of first-day pictures sent in by Anna parents.

This includes the 2020-21 academic schedule and the first of many sports schedules in the Anna Living Magazine.

Back to School Prayer Gathering

Laurie Hawkins (on the cover) felt a need to gather Anna folks of all ages and all walks of life to pray for a great Coyote year.

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3 IN EVERY ISSUE

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3

A BIT OF ANNA HISTORY 4

LIBRARY JOURNEY 21

BEHIND THE BADGE 7

LIFE A LITTLE SIDEWAYS 23

SERVING WHERE IT MATTERS 8

MOVIE REVIEWS 25

BUSINESS DIRECTORY 11

ALL ABOUT THE YARD 26

WORDS OF INSPIRATION 20

JAMIE’S KITCHEN 28

Anna Living Magazine

Laura and Josh Hawkins are shown with their children. Laura was the organizer of the Back 2 School prayer gathering at Slayter Creek Park. She said at the meeting, “I’m thankful to live in a town that has like-minded people…And so here’s to a great year of Coyote Pride!”

1

from the

EDITOR

PUBLISHER

Joyce Godwin

We have been busy this summer

EDITOR

We’re starting on two new series in this issue — “Behind the Badge” which will start with Anna’s outgoing Chief of Police Jeff Caponera and “Serving Where it Matters” which will begin with Anna City Manager Jim Proce and will highlight the individuals dedicated to serving the city.

Joyce Godwin AD SALES

Jamie Roubinek, Joyce Godwin, Amy Jukes PHOTOGRAPHERS

Griff Servati, Xaviar Jukes, Joyce Godwin

We’re including a story about back to school surrounding a sweet family with small children and the inaugural prayer session asking God to protect the children of Anna ISD. We attended the opening of the new Texoma Medical Center Emergency Room…

DESIGNER

Open Look Business Solutions

Also, we have collected a bunch of back-to-school pictures from parents who want to share the cute faces of their youngsters.

Weather is finally beginning to cool for some much-needed relief from Texas heat.

In just a couple weeks, the hummingbirds will be leaving us for their mysterious journey and the Monarch butterflies (equally as mysterious) will be passing through our area on their way to Mexico. If you pay attention, sometimes you can see those butterflies drifting through in large numbers.

DIRECTOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND SPECIAL EVENTS

Amy Jukes 469-389-2636 amy@annalivingmagazine.com CONTRIBUTORS

Claude Webb, Mark Wyatt, Don Eldredge, Lynette George, Alexia Swanepoel, Jamie Roubinek, Jimmie Gibson, Jennifer Sexton SPECIAL THANKS

Watch our Facebook page for Anna developments between magazine issues. We are working hard to keep you informed. If you haven’t done so already, please like our Facebook page. We are there for you.

Anna Area Historical Preservation Society, Anna City Manager Jim Proce, President and CEO of the Greater Anna Chamber of Commerce Kevin Hall

We’ve added another new columnist this month. Uncle Spider says he has lots of stories to share with us, and if they are as good as this month’s, I know we are all going to be entertained.

FOR ADVERTISING QUESTIONS OR EDITORIAL REQUESTS

The next issue of Anna Living Magazine will be about the fall season. If you’d like us to publish your childrens’ or your family pictures amid fall decorations or fall gardens, we’ll print as many as we can. Along with our regular columns, we’ll try to have homecoming pictures and maybe even a few football and volleyball shots.

Please email joyce@annalivingmagazine.com MANAGING OWNER

Joyce Godwin 903-815-0044

Be sure to let us hear from you.

Contact me at 903-815-0044, and if no answer, leave a message and I’ll get back to you quickly. I’m okay with texts as well. Email is joyce@annalivingmagazine.com. Interact with us on our Facebook page @AnnaLivingMag. See you in October.

P. O. Box 341, Anna TX 75409

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Anna Living Magazine

Anna Mayor Nate Pike addresses the group gathered at the new Texoma Medical Center Freestanding Emergency Department in Anna.

TMC brings cutting-edge emergency care to Anna

By Joyce Godwin Photos by Xaviar Jukes

B

efore now, a trip for emergency medical attention was a 15-minute drive to McKinney from Anna or even longer to Sherman. Texoma Medical Center has changed all that with the opening of a freestanding emergency department north of White Street on the east side of U.S. Highway 75.

During the recent ribbon cutting for the facility orchestrated by the Greater Anna Chamber of Commerce, Anna Mayor Nate Pike said, “This is a place of healing. TMC had the forward thinking to understand the importance of moving up 75, and here we are, right in the middle of it. It’s a great time to be in this community.” He added that TMC is a great community partner.

Ron Seal, president and CEO of TMC, told the crowd gathered for the event that it is an honor to be in Anna. “We have 15,000 square feet of space including a Cat Scan, a 24/7 X-ray and a 3D mammography machine with 13 exam rooms and access to 450 medical specialists.” Seal went on to say TMC invested approximately $16 million in the facility and there will soon be retail development just south of the ER project.

Seal also complimented TMC’s Director of Outpatient Services Jared Johnson. “He made this happen. He’s been here day and night spending numerous hours to be sure we would be ready.”

The ER at Anna also has an outpatient imaging center that includes open MRI, 3D digital mammography, CT scan, and ultrasound. Same day appointments are available for those services pending insurance pre-certification. X-ray services will also

be available 24/7, without the need for an appointment.

The facility opened September 1. It is located at 710 Hackberry Drive and will be open 24 hours, seven days a week to serve patients who experience medical emergencies. In addition to services mentioned above, the ER offers laboratory services, and is staffed by boardcertified and board-eligible physicians. And because ER at Anna operates under TMC’s hospital license, most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid are accepted.

Seal said, “In the event that a patient needs hospitalized care, ER at Anna provides direct admission to Texoma Medical Center, or arranges transfer to a hospital of the patient’s choosing. This facility is an entry point into the TMC healthcare system, and provides patients with access to over 450 world-class providers and specialists.”

For more information about ER at Anna, please visit the website at https://www.texomamedicalcenter.net/services/emergency-department/er-at-anna.

About Texoma Medical Center Texoma Medical Center is a 414-bed acute care facility located in Denison, serving the healthcare needs of the Texoma region.

The hospital offers a comprehensive range of specialty and surgical services. Texoma Medical Center has been rated one of the safest hospitals in the nation receiving an ‘A’ from the Leapfrog Group’s Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing the hospital’s achievements in protecting patients from harm and providing safe healthcare. More than 3,500 employees, 450 multi-specialty physicians, and more than 100 volunteers are essential in maintaining TMC’s dedication to providing quality healthcare and excellence.

Anna Mayor Nate Pike, left, talks with former Grayson County Judge and TMC board member Horace Groff during the reception that followed the TMC emergency room ribbon cutting.

Anna Living Magazine

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Alexander Cemetery Compiled by Janet Smith for AAHPS, 2017 Photos by Grif Servati/Griff Servati Photography/www.photogriffy.com

T

he Alexander Cemetery was started as Alexander Family Cemetery.

James Alexander (1806-1891) and his wife, Catherine and ten children came to Collin County in the early 1850s from South Carolina and settled in the north-central part of the county.

James was a farmer. The earliest marked grave is for his son, William (1858), although there may have been burials before that time, James lost seven more of his children by 1872, all of whom are buried in the cemetery.

James Alexander gave two acres of land to the “Precinct” in 1890 for the cemetery. Many

Grave stone for Benjamin White born Sept. 26, 1732 and died Sept. 19, 1869. He was a veteran of the War of 1812 with a marker from the General Society of the War of 1812 which was placed in 2013.

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Anna Living Magazine

early families have burials in this cemetery including Alexander, White, Miller, Hayes, McLain and Sanstrom.

Benjamin White, who was a veteran of the War of 1812, is buried in the cemetery. A War of 1812 Veteran’s marker was placed on his grave by the General Society of the War of 1812, Craig Austin Rowley Chapter, Plano, Texas and dedicated on November 6, 2013.

Veterans of the Civil War, WWI and WWII are also buried here.

An additional interesting tie to Alexander Cemetery is through John Sanstrom and Sarah Sanstrom, who are both buried at Alexander.

The Sanstrom’s granddaughter, Jonnie Louise Brock Fifer, (1904-2006), was the only one in her family of six to survive the hurricane that hit Corpus Christi on September 13, 1919.

When Jonnie was found, she was 20 miles up the Nieces River in Odom, Texas. In 1980, because no monuments were ever erected in Corpus Christi to honor those who perished in the hurricane, Jonnie decided to honor her family, who are buried in Alexander Cemetery, with a stone marker which she placed at the foot of her grandparents’ graves.

Jonnie was 102 years old when she died.

She was buried beside her husband in the Van Alstyne Cemetery. In 2008, Jonnie’s daughters, Ora Maye Botsford and Juliet Hilbun, had the memory marker moved to the Van Alstyne cemetery and placed beside their mother’s grave.

One of the Alexander Cemetery tombstones was found lying face up in a vacant lot adjacent to the Texas State University (TSU) campus in San Marcos, Texas. It was the stone marking Mary Hayes’ gravesite. It came into the possession of the Hays County Historical Commission (HCHC) when a TSU student’s father spotted it and reported it to county officials. University police determined it was on TSU property and allowed HCHC to take it with the stated intention of trying to return it to its point of origin. Fortunately, several folks at TSU had been “on the case” long before HCHC got any call and had, in fact,

determined the stone’s North Texas origin.

University Archivist and Records Manager, Kris Toma, led the research after employees at TSU’s Swinney House spotted the stone. The tombstone of Mary Hayes has been returned to its original site and restored to its base. Its “journey” down south remains a mystery.

The cemetery has numerous large trees including a massive oak, 12-feet in circumference, that has grown around a very old bois d’arc marker. Although the marker is not identified. It is believed that a member of the McLain or Alexander family planted the tree, as it is surrounded by the graves of both families. The slaves that had been brought to Texas by these pioneers were buried at the back of their master’s plots.

Near the center of the cemetery, two large cedar trees have grown to conceal a mystery known only to a few. A headstone inscribed with the letters “L A” was found beneath the eastern cedar. The area surrounding this marker is heavily overgrown and shrouded from view.

The only way to get a glimpse of the marker is to crawl between the thick branches.

For years, the cemetery was lovingly maintained by some who are now buried there. Such as, Spencer White, Albert McLain and J.C. Gattis, all of whom helped establish

the Alexander Cemetery Association. The Association has participated annually on Decoration Day the Sunday before Mother’s Day) where visitors can pay respect to loved one’s resting places. The Association takes up a collection from the visitors to assist in the annual maintenance costs. There were years when those participating in Decoration Day could enjoy homemade fried chicken, fried okra, pound cake and sweet tea while visiting with family and friends. Currently, the cemetery is maintained by the Alexander family with the support of the Association.

In 1999, Ben Larkin Harlow, a descendent of the McLain family, built the new decorative entry gate as a special project in shop class at Anna High School. This heartfelt addition depicts and honors the heritage of the families buried in the cemetery.

The cemetery is still active and contains approximately 287 burials. This cemetery, with its long history of family burials, remains a cherished resting place. A county Historical Marker was dedicated in September of 2016.

Thanks to the Anna Area Historical Preservation Society for permission to publish the great stories in the book “The Spark that Ignited the Town of Anna.”

Anna Living Magazine

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To find regular updates about Anna’s government, visit the website at www.annatexas.gov.

Anna Fire Department Names First Driver/Engineers

By City of Anna

A

nna’s Interim Public Safety Director Ray Isom (right) and Interim Fire Chief Dan Wood (left) conducted a promotion ceremony naming the city of

Anna’s first three Driver/Engineers at the City Council meeting of Sept. 8. From left D/E Carl Konosky, accompanied by Susan Bryant, D/E Cody Watson, his wife Stephanie and daughter, and D/E Ronald Morgan, accompanied by his father Ron Morgan, were each presented with their new badges during

TREY BELEW/ANNA LIVING MAGAZINE

The city of Anna honored Anna High School 2020 Homecoming by turning on the purple lights for the water tower on Highway 75.

The tower was a beautiful Coyote purple.

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Anna Living Magazine

the ceremony. The three are the first to reach the rank, which was recently added to the Fire Department’s career ladder, in anticipation of the additional firefighting engine and other equipment on order. The city council and the assembled audience acknowledged the three with a standing ovation.

City of Anna bids farewell to Police Chief Jeff Caponera Story and photos by Joyce Godwin

H

e’s been a member of the Anna PD since 2003 and chief since 2018, but now, it’s time to make a change.

Caponera is retiring and in the vacancy left behind, Anna Fire Chief Ray Isom is Interim Public Safety Director to run both departments until the city decides on a new police chief. Dan Wood will serve as Interim Fire Chief.

Caponera said he and his wife miss the seasons in weather, and since they have family in Colorado, they are looking forward to being closer to them in Grafton Wisconsin, where Caponera has accepted the position of police chief. His retirement went into effect Aug. 31.

“I will miss it here,” he said. “The last couple of years we have been building a really good culture. We invested in employees to give them the autonomy to do what they need to do to

get the job done. We are a family and that is the big thing I will miss.”

He says the next chief will be pleasantly surprised with the peer-support team in place at the Anna PD. “I could not be more proud of the guys and girls here,” Caponera said. “I am really going to miss them.” He added that he is proud the city of Anna has been on the Safest City List for three consecutive years. “I am super appreciative of the opportunities for growth I’ve experienced in Anna.” That also includes the mentoring he received from Chief Kenneth Jenks from the time Caponera was a sergeant. “It prepared me for what I am doing now.”

He says he is also very proud of the relationship the police department has established with the community and the great support received from them.

“It’s a work in progress and I hope it will continue,” Caponera says of the changes in the

Anna retired Police Chief Jeff Caponera

past two years. In Caponera’s tenure as chief, the PD has rebranded and started working with social media. It has helped to garner trust and support in the community. Coffee with the Cops started but COVID took the steam out of that project.

“A lot for the ideas have come from the officers,” Caponera said.

Caponera will officially begin his new position Sept. 21.

He was hired in Anna as a police sergeant, was promoted to lieutenant and served as interim chief for six months.

He has also served as a deputy constable in Collin County, a police officer in Thornton, Colorado and deputy sheriff in Adams County, Colorado. His police service started at age 14 when he entered the Police Explorer program where he stayed until age 21. Then he started in Colorado for Adams County as a reserve officer and then a full-time deputy. He is also proud to be a second-generation cop. His dad was chief for the city of Fowler, Colorado.

Anna’s loss is the gain of Grafton, Wisconsin.

In this section in the next issue of Anna Living Magazine we will feature Anna’s Interim Public Safety Director Ray Isom.

Behind the Badge is a series in Anna Living Magazine in which an Anna first responder is featured for each issue.

Anna Police Chief Jeff Caponera takes a moment in his office just before retiring. Behind him is a bob cat found in one of the Anna parks with a broken leg. The animal couldn’t be helped so he had to be put down. Caponera says he is taking the cat with him to his new office in Grafton, Wisconsin.

Anna Living Magazine

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City Manager JIM PROCE

By Joyce Godwin

H

e’s one of those Texans who wasn’t born here but got here as soon as he could. He started out in New York City and followed his best friend and now wife to Florida and now he’s a died-in-thewool Texan with a heart for Anna. Jim Proce is the city manager for the city of Anna and this is home for him.

After two years on the job Proce says he loves being in Anna with Irene, his wife of 38 years, and she is still his best friend.

“I’m excited to be here,” Proce says. “When I first looked at Anna, I saw a great opportunity to be a part of something I knew was going to be special. Having experienced rapid growth in other places, I knew I was prepared to do it and do it right.” He added that having patience is one of the keys to guiding a city through the tremendous growth Anna is experiencing. Proce understands the importance of a city like Anna holding on to its roots.

“A lot of folks don’t like the growth and want to hold on to the small town,” he said.

“But we are doing our comprehensive plan to allow us to hold onto those characteristics while it grows.” He sees the importance of preserving the community as it changes into a thriving city.

He described the Dallas/Fort Worth area as a big pond. When someone drops a rock in it, ripples start moving out away from the rock. Proce says Anna is being hit by those ripples. “The land is still a bit cheaper than further south, and really isn’t that far out,” he said of the Anna area. “It really is only a few minutes from McKinney. We are halfway between two population centers which kind of gives us an advantage. People live here and go north or south so we are kind of a suburb of two population centers. So you might see things (businesses) come here but not to Van Alstyne or Melissa because they are too close.”

There are still a lot of projects in planning stages that have been slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the developers of those projects have moved to a wait-and-see status but, “still, growth is 8

crazy,” Proce said.

Although he’s received multiple professional awards throughout his career, Proce said there were two that really mean a lot to him. They both came from the American Public Works Association during his tenures in Rowlett, Texas and Palm Bay, Florida.

In 2016, while in Rowlett, it was the APWA Top Ten Public Works Leader Award. This is a national award so he was one of 10 recognized leaders in the United States. “This is the most coveted,” Proce said. “It goes to only 10 people per year.” In 2011 he received the APWA Community Involvement Award while in Florida. When he started with that city, the population was 10,000 and when he left, it was considerably larger. “But in this case, the award was because I was so involved in so many things in the community,” Proce said. “We enjoyed putting on fund raisers and coaching basketball teams while working 50 hours per week.“ Proce’s wife Irene has lived the life of public service with him. “She has lived through everything I’ve dealt with — hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfire, evacuations and one mass shooting.” She helped him with all Anna Living Magazine

of that while maintaining her own career in HR management. “My wife is the foundation of our family and always has been. I couldn’t do what I do without her.”

After two years on the job in Anna, Proce says he feels good about where Anna is now in its development. Having built 100s of miles of roads and sewer plans and other infrastructure, Proce is up to the challenge.

“Developers are buying land and we have to get infrastructure done. It’s like the Sim City video game but it’s real.” Proce added that he is excited for the city staff as well, because they get to be part of building a community. “At build out, this could be a quarter of a million people in Anna,” Proce said.

Proce has worked for numerous city councils with a lot of mayors, some of which have become good friends. He says what he respects most about the Anna City Council is the way they work hard to be a team.

“Even when they have disagreements, they stick with it and work it through. They all genuinely care and you can tell because they make tough decisions for the city of Anna.

The evidence is in the work we have done in building a detailed, strategic plan. It defines what’s important and what we are going to do about it.”

The local government of Anna is no longer a small, local government and Proce is proud of the team they’ve built. “We could run any city,” Proce said of the people on his team at the city of Anna. “The vision and foresight, and support of this council enabled me to do things that make it worth coming to work every day. That is really important to me going forward,” The city’s website says the following about Jim Proce. “He is a graduate of the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government, Senior Executives of State & Local Government program and has an MBA from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida and a BS from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida.

“Jim currently resides in Anna, Texas, with his wife, Irene, and 2 children, Gabriela, a civil engineer and Joseph, a student at the University of North Texas.”

Landon Sawyer, 11, ad Laurel Saw

yer, 8, enjoy the water at Ann

a’s Splash Pad during hot temp

eratures.

Area youngsters enjoy Anna’s Splash Pad at Slayter Creek Park

On one of the hottest days of the summer with temperatures soaring to 105, folks in the Anna area cool off at Anna’s splash pad.

Laurel Sawyer 8, enjoys Anna’s Splash Pad on a hot day in Slayter Creek Park.

Three-year-old Hayeli Carrion found a way to get through the 104 temperatures at the Anna Splash pad at Slayter Park.

Anna Living Magazine

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Young reader connects with

FOOTBALL HERO

T

he temperature dipped a bit last week and it rained, leaving behind something I look forward to every year, the smell of football. Though it’s not quite football weather yet, the sound of helmets clacking (yes, they still let them hit one other occasionally) at our practice field this week takes me back to my youth, to a time when barefoot boys chased one another around front yards blanketed with cold St. Augustine grass, grappling and churning as five or six tried to pull down the one who was tightly holding on to a well-worn, leather football.

My love for football began through a series of events that happened when I was a first grader in 1961 Sequestered in a single hallway, first graders rarely left the classroom, except to march down the hall to the cafeteria for lunch.

One day, my teacher needed to send a message to the office. It was just down the hall, and she often trusted a student to deliver her notes. On this particular occasion I was chosen.

I never got to do this. I was elated!

Note in hand, I proudly walked out of the room, much to the chagrin of Carol and Julia, two girls regularly chosen for such tasks. Seeing the looks on their faces was especially pleasing as it seemed to me that their main objective daily was to notify our teacher anytime they thought I was doing something wrong.

I walked in the main office, handed the note off to the hand reaching down over the counter.

Mission accomplished, I turned and walked out. That’s when I noticed something I had never seen before – another hallway.

Before I knew it, I was walking down a long, empty hallway with no doors or classrooms.

Finally, I came upon an open door, peeked in, and saw a sight that I still vividly remember.

Every square foot of wall space, every cabinet … held books!

I could already read and I knew that a library was the magical place books came from. I walked in, turned right past rows of books until one book, sitting atop a shelf, caught my eye.

On the cover was a football player punting the ball. I read the title, Doak Walker, Three Time All-American.

I sat on the floor, opened the book and began reading. Back in the classroom, Carol 10

and Julia were asking Mrs. Simpson about me.

Concerned, she walked down to the office to check. The secretary told her I had been gone a good fifteen minutes. Mr. Gooch, the principal, was notified and soon the entire staff was looking for me.

When they found me, I was halfway through chapter two. Mrs. Simpson saw me and her response was not a pretty sight. She grabbed my cheeks between her thumb and fingers and pinched as hard as she could, jerking me to my feet. I felt like my eyes were about to pop out of my head when, to the rescue came … the librarian!

She said, “Don’t you dare chastise that little boy – he just wants to read, and that’s a wonderful thing.” The librarian took me by the hand and led me over to her desk. She scribbled something and then turned to me and said, “Here is your library card. Typically, you don’t get one until you’re in the third grade, but because you love to read, I’m going to let you have one. You can check out books anytime you’d like.” So I asked, “Can I check out this book?”

I followed Mrs. Simpson back down the hall, proudly carrying my newly checked-out book. I made sure Carol and Julia saw it when I walked in. I finished my book about Doak Walker a couple of days later and stopped by the library.

I was told I could actually check out two books, so I found another book, and also checked out Doak Walker, Three Time All-American again.

In fact, I kept that book checked out until I left that elementary school five years later. If Anna Living Magazine

you looked at that library card, there was only one name – mine – on every line, because when it was due, I checked it out again. I practically had that book memorized.

A few years ago I drove by my elementary school and couldn’t resist – I stopped and went in. After hearing my story, principal led me down to the library. I had chills as I walked into the room that stood as a major point of demarcation in my life. I searched for my beloved book. In my mind I had envisioned finding it, opening the front cover and finding a worn card with my faded signature on every line, But Doak Walker, Three Time All-American was nowhere to be found.

He recommended I check used book sites, and after a long search, I finally found a copy.

For a book published in the fifties, it was in good shape. I immediately read it, and every year I pull it down from a shelf and read it again. In fact, I read it again this week, because when the weather cools a bit and the smell of fresh grass fills the air, and boys and men dream of tackling and touchdowns, that’s what you do.

UNCLE SPIDER calls North Texas home, but has traveled all over the world, seeking adventures that might make for a good story.

He’s also one of the owner/ operators of the GARHOLE in Westminster. Stop by and see him there, or email him at spider@garhole.net.

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Your business card can be on this page in our next issue.

For more information, email joyce@annalivingmagazine.com or call 903-815-0044.

Anna Coyotes head back to school for 2020

By Joyce Godwin

I nd grade & Natalie Emma Martinez, Age 7, Seco th Harlow Elementary.

Martinez, Age 4, Pre-K Judi

PHOTO CREDIT: JOYC E GOD

WIN/ANNA LIVING MAG

Sophia Giron is ready to

AZINE

start school in kinderg

arten.

9th grade at Anna Makayla Robinson, 15 and in the a chance to High School, stops to give her mom head to school. snap this photo as she is ready to

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t’s that time of year when youngsters get new clothes and backpacks and sometimes new shoes and then… new teachers and new classrooms and this year… MASKS. It’s back-to-school days. Of course, a cloud over these days is a virus seeming to run rampant around the world and school has a different look for the 2020 semester. Social distancing is a new common description in today’s culture and everyone wears a mask. Hopefully, it won’t last long.

But because of the COVID pandemic, school has a new and different look and style for everyone. Students have the choice to go to the classroom with other students or stay at home and connect with their teachers on the computer.

Gracie Boldrey, age 11, sixth grade.

Anna Living Magazine

For Geanie Giron’s children, Sophia, in kindergarten, and Kamilo, a second grader, are doing in-person schooling and they could not be happier. “They were missing the interaction with other kids and doing their school routines,” Geanie said. “We do worry a little, but trust that our school district is doing everything that’s in their hands to keep our kids safe.” She said at home she and her husband make sure they all use good hygiene and take vitamins to try to boost their immune systems.

Eydie Robinson and children are having similar experiences. She described the first weeks as… Challenging. “My girls initially started off with virtual learning,” Eydie said. “The first couple of days were okay, but as the days and weeks went by, it became more challenging, especially when they had questions and I was trying to navigate being on zoom calls (for her job), handle escalated issues, keep up with their calendars and mine.

Eydie works for Abilene Christian College and does much of her job on the computer “which is why we decided that in-person learning would be the best option for all of us,” she said.

Lindsey Johnson is an ESL Coordinator at Judith-Harlow Elementary and Joe K. Bryant Elementary schools in Anna.

She said wearing masks has become a habit in her daily life inside and outside of teaching.

“I am in several classrooms a week, so I am careful to wear my mask and distance as much as possible,” she said. “It has been helpful that I’ve worn them the last few months and am used to it. The only challenge I have had is that I am constantly smiling at the students, and I forget they can’t see through my mask!”

Johnson has been teaching at Anna ISD for 11 years. “I love my position because it is unique in the sense that I’ve gotten to be a part of the students’ lives for the past four years, and even longer for some,” she said. “It’s amazing to see them grow, and see how resilient they are!

The students seem to be handling the changes so well, and inspire myself and our staff daily to be as flexible as they are.”

Johnson said she’s really enjoyed helping parents during this time with everything from enrollment to bus transportation routes to answering questions about back-to-school plans.

She added, “I feel we have the most supportive staff, students, and parents at Anna ISD, and this year has really proven that!”

Parents have submitted photographs of their children on the first day of school and Anna Living Magazine has ten some and we are publishing as many as we can get in these few pages. Thanks to all who participated.

Kamilo Giron climbs on the playground equipment at Slayter Creek Park.

Gracie Boldre y,

age 11, sixth gr ad

e.

e: 6, first grade Peyton McCully, Ag rner Covid 19 Virtual Lea ry, nta me Ele rlow Ha

rten, Castillo, Kinderga Farrah Sophia tary en m Ele n tta Sue E. Ra

Sadie Hess and Ellie Jeppesen , Age 6, first grade.

Harlow Elementary

Chaden Buckley, eighth grade.

Audrey Robin son, for their ride to 10, (left) with her best frien d as they two school. wait

Kami age 8, third grade; Joziah age 10, fifth grade.

in, Brooklyn M. Gu

Ellie Heatherly, fifth grade; eighth grade

Jackson Heatherly,

Madison P. G Anna High aston, Senior year !!!

School.

Morgan Gaston, tenth grade, Anna High School.

Alexis Slaughter, Age 13, eighth grade Anna Middle School

arod Rupe, Sophomore, Age 15.

rten Raylee, Age 5, Kinderga Joe k Bryant Elementary

Cason and Callie Spring, Ages 9 and 6, first and third grades .Judith-Harlow Elementary

, Age 7 Karson Schmidt 10 , Age Caleb Schmidt

n

rte Age: 5, Kinderga

Anna Coyotes head back to school for 2020

Lottie Molner, age 4, Pre-K.

Kambrie, Age 5, Kindergarten.

rgarten. years old, Kinde Brock Molner, 5

rten , Age 5, Kinderga Harmoni Williams

Irelynn, Age 14, ninth gra de Anna High School

Kyler Edwards, Age 11, sixth grade

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Mathai Palat hunkal, Age 7, se grade. Judy Harlow Elem cond entary

dergarten Leonidas Olivares, Kin

Anna Living Magazine

Lucas Schwyzer, age

10, fifth grade.

Jaden Shaw, Age 13, eighth grade

From left are So Michael, Age fia, Age 12, seventh grade; 9, fourth grad Alonzo, Age 11, sixth e.

grade;

Castillo, second grade Matthew Alekxander ry. nta Sue E. Rattan Eleme

Elber Garza, Age1 sixth grade, & 7, senior, Abraham Garz a, Caleb Garza, second grad Age 12, e

Caiden Bacque-Alexander, second grade

de Easton Ellis, second gra

Luke Post, Age 4, Pre-k With Ms. Hernandez at AEC.

Tillulah Bacque-Alexander, fourth grade.

Bella Flores, Age 7, sec ond grade Jose Flores, Age 9, fou rth grade

de, Colt Adams, third gra Elementary

Sue E. Rattan

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Anna Living Magazine

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Prayer leaders for the Back 2 School First Annual Prayer Rally for Anna stand together August 21 in Slayter Creek Park just before calling the event to order. From left are Matt Wood, pastor at Grace and Peace Presbyterian Church of Anna, Lafe Angell, Pastor at Grace Point Family Church, Mark Wyatt Campus Pastor at Christ Fellowship Anna and Chris Jones Pastor at Crosspoint Church of Anna.

Anna Residents Gather to Pray for School Year

By Joyce Godwin Photos by Xaviar Jukes and Joyce Godwin

L

aura Hawkins told the group gathered at the Slayter Creek Park pavilion that she had been concerned about the Anna children starting their school year and the very best thing she could do for them was to pray. From those heartfelt moments developed a call out for others to join in prayer.

The notices posted to announce the event read “Let’s unite as a community and join in prayer for the health and safety of our students and teachers. Wear your purple and white and show your coyote pride. Let’s get ready to pray and believe for a GREAT school year for all our students and teachers.”

“As a parent of a first grader in the Anna ISD district, I had been feeling a roller coaster 18

of emotion with back-to-school coming up, Of course, the biggest feeling being fear,” Hawkins said after the event. “One day I felt God telling me not to live in fear! God doesn’t want me or anyone to live in fear. Then I felt Him reminding me that neither should our children. Our Children should understand and see through example the power of faith and prayer. They shouldn’t be living in fear right now either.”

She recognizes the importance of the children experiencing the excitement for a new school year to begin. “There is power in prayer and the bible says in Matthew 18:20 ‘For where two or three gathers in my name, there am I with them.’ That is when I felt led to not just pray alone, but that God was saying pray with Anna Living Magazine

others, unite with the community as a town taking a stand to not live in fear, but to step out boldly in faith.”

And that is what happened during the community prayer session. The group led by four Anna pastors, Matt Wood at Grace and Peace Presbyterian Church of Anna, Lafe Angell at Grace Point Family Church, Mark Wyatt at Christ Fellowship Anna and Chris Jones at Crosspoint Church of Anna.

The group was led to pray for students, teachers, district administrators as well as city of Anna officials.

“I am so thankful to the amazing pastors that led the events prayer that evening,” wrote Hawkins in an email. “I am so thankful to the mayor and the city of Anna for allowing this event and supporting this event. I am thankful for those that attended and stepped out in faith with us and prayed over this upcoming school year. That night was truly special and God was there.” Then she cited the Bible verse, “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you.’

Isaiah 41:13”

Anna Living Magazine

19

Crossing Cultural Boundaries O ne of the most wonderful passages in the New Testament of the Bible is in the fourth chapter of John. It tells of the time that Jesus reached across cultural boundaries to care for a group of people that no one would have ever expected. Jesus was traveling through a region called Samaria. The Samaritans and the Jewish people had been bitter enemies for centuries.

On his journey, he stopped at a well in midday to rest. While he was there, a Samaritan woman came to draw some water. She came in midday because she was an outcast, even among her own people, for past mistakes that she had made in her life.

5 “In Samaria Jesus came to the town called Sychar, which is near the field Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there. Jesus was tired from his long trip, so he sat down beside the well. It was about twelve o’clock noon. 7 When a Samaritan woman came to the well to get some water, Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.”

She was surprised that Jesus would even speak to her because she was a Samaritan. For the story tells us the Jews had nothing to do with Samaritans.” ( John 4: 5-7) As Jesus engaged her in conversation, he was breaking barriers with those his culture said were his enemies. He not only engaged somebody who was supposed to be his enemy, but someone who was an outcast in their own society. But why would he do such a thing? After 20

all, one would think, Jesus had a reputation to uphold. What would his followers think? But he really didn’t care about that. Jesus demonstrated that he really didn’t care about the past disputes his people had had with her people.

He did not care that she had made mistakes in her life. He just cared about her and her people.

She was quite shocked that as a Jewish man he would even talk to her or ask her for a drink. However, Jesus paid no attention to the past animosity between their two cultures. His conversation with her soon moved beyond a well and water to spiritual things.

He told her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give will never be thirsty. The water I give will become a spring of water gushing up inside that person, giving eternal life.” ( John 4: 13-14) Jesus treated the Samaritan women with kindness and grace, and as a result she became a follower of him. Not only did she believe in Jesus as the savior of all, her entire town came to hear him and also believed and became followers of his. Just think of it. Jesus came into that region which was full of age-old animosity, but his compassion changed his enemies into his devoted followers.

Jesus came to give life to all who will come to him and trust him with their lives and he was willing to reach across the cultural boundaries of his day to do that. The very reason Jesus Anna Living Magazine

came at all was that he would make his enemies the friends of God and that they would have everlasting life.

If someone is a follower of Christ, it’s important that we follow his example.

Christ Fellowship Anna meets every Sunday at 10 a.m. in the Anna Middle School.

We would love to have you join us. God bless.

MARK AND MELISSA WYATT

Mark Wyatt is Campus Pastor at Christ Fellowship Anna, 1201 N. Powell Pkwy., Anna, TX 75409; 972-547-7000; www.cfhome.org.

O

ver a year ago, a dear friend of mine encouraged me to read Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World by Bob Goff. I read the synopsis and was immediately intrigued. I downloaded the book onto my kindle and got about a quarter into it and for some strange reason, I stopped reading it. Life happens and sometimes you get sidetracked. I don’t let these things stress me out. A few weeks ago, a mutual friend mentioned this book and I immediately realized that I could use a book like that right now. With the wackiness of 2020, I have purposely moved away from the mystery/psychological thrillers that normally pique my interest. This time I would make this book a priority.

There are certain people in the world that you would love to meet. For me, they are

normally not celebrities. I have dabbled already in the entertainment business and I have found that I don’t have the mindset to kiss people’s butts. I treat everyone the same, regardless of who they are. I would, however, like to meet Bob Goff.

Bob seizes the day and lives life to the fullest.

He sees an opportunity and moves forward. I am sure his Sweet Maria wants to wring his neck at times because he can be so spontaneous, but there is something so infectious about being around someone who has that whimsical charm. Sure, Bob takes life seriously when he is fighting for the rights of children in war-torn Uganda, but when he has the ability to do other marvelous things that have absolutely nothing to do with being a lawyer, he does them. It doesn’t mean that Bob doesn’t have his faults or failures, because we all do, but he figures it is all part of God’s plan.

Is this a religious book? No, not in the traditional sense. It is about having faith and a spiritual relationship with God that goes beyond sitting in a pew.

It is about finding what makes you excited and then giving it all you’ve got. You don’t need to have a lot of money to make a difference. You just need to have the passion. Just give Bob a call and ask him. He will tell you all about it.

There are a lot of “Bob’s” out there in the world. Of course, not all of them are actually named Bob, but they radiate the same infectious enthusiasm.

You want to bottle it up and give it away on the local street corner in hopes it will make the world a better place.

I have had the pleasure to meet such a person a couple months ago. I can’t say a lot about him, except to say that he is working Anna Living Magazine

his magic to make our community library truly a reality. Actually, a lot of people are. They don’t always get the kudos they deserve and often they don’t want it. We know who we all are and we give each other a nod, a handshake, a hug and the occasional text, phone call or email. We aren’t flashy and that is perfectly fine. We have kept our heads focused on the ultimate goal which is to open a permanent, accredited library that our residents can enjoy for generations. Since this isn’t Uganda, there is a lot more red tape, planning and hoops to jump through. We can’t be as spontaneous as Bob Goff, but we definitely have the passion. I am excited to have another person on our team who is just as passionate, if not more. Look for a more in-depth update about our future library in the next issue of Anna Living Magazine.

As a writer/poet, I am always writing.

Sometimes I write a couple poems a month and other times I take a bit of a hiatus. Some writers are adamant that you must sit down at a desk by a certain time every day and just sit there, even if you aren’t inspired to write that day. That doesn’t work for me. The oddest situations, comments, and ideas inspire me to write.

It has been over a year since my book Bohemian Swan was published and I am thrilled to announce that an audio version of it is being recorded. One of my dearest friends, who writes under the name Avian Skye, is the narrator and it makes my heart smile to hear her voice. I am also working on three additional books simultaneously. One is a currently untitled book that is pairing similar themed poems with Avian Skye. The second is a book of poems about women. The third book is a collection of love poems currently called Torture and Other Fantasies. Soon I will be going into the first editing phase of that book which is incredibly exciting. Avian edits all of my work and often I edit hers so it is truly a collaborative process.

ALEXIA SWANEPOEL is the President of the Friends Of Board of the Anna Community Library and a published writer. Join her writing page and learn more about her book Bohemian Swan by visiting bit.ly/2JwWHNO.

21

Fur babies run the home Joplin and Kitkat, accompanied by their “dad,” explore the lush green grass of an Idaho rest area.

K

ids come in two varieties - the two-legged kind and the four-ormore-legged kind. Other than the extra limb thing, there’s not much difference aside from not having to send the fur kids to college and being in complete control of their curricular AND extracurricular activities if you catch my drift.

Four-legged (and a few two-legged) kids have been a part of my life from day one.

Though I loved them all, a few wiggled their way into a special place in my heart.

Thanks to my first constant, faithful companion, Teddy, a pit/boxer mix, my folks had their hands full, especially in the potty training department. Children follow by example, right? Teddy was house-broken. So was I. That particular corner of the yard is still 22

prolific in producing grass and weeds.

There were Wilbur and Wilma, my adorable, bottle-fed pigs who were two of the best conversationalists and listeners I’ve ever met.

Hank, the three-legged, drama-king Min Pin, needed serious therapy for his unhealthy attraction to chew bones bigger than he was.

He also taught me that if a dog has only one back leg and goes swimming he only spins around in circles like an out -of-control boat with a broken rudder.

Granny was my two-pound, toothless, 20-plus-year-old poodle cross who would fight a brick wall and win, even when she had a hip cast on. She could be downright scary.

Prince and Froggy, feline cuties, were abandoned at birth and found under an old building. It was evident that little Prince wasn’t Anna Living Magazine

quite “right,” a condition I’ve been accused (accurately, unfortunately) of sharing with him. Until their deaths of natural causes a week apart at the age of 18, Froggy guided and comforted his somewhat confused brother. Talk about a life lesson.

I can’t forget the full-grown duck who refused to go into the warm chicken coop and ended up with frost-bitten feet. He moved into the house where he immediately discovered the recliner and TV. He’d quack until somebody would stretch out the chair and turn on his favorite Animal Planet shows. He also enjoyed warm baths in the garden tub. He’d have made a great profile for duck dating websites.

There was even a bunch of chicks I helped hatch in a big incubator. Folks, I kid you not, the games of “chicken bug ball” (when I’d throw

a June bug into the incubator with them) made the toughest, roughest football games you’ve ever seen look like child’s play. Those little suckers are violent!

At present, I and my long-suffering partner, Warren, have three fur kids. Kitkat, Joplin and Molly — all rescues. Anyone who doesn’t believe fur kids can be like non-fur kids just needs to spend a little time with our family.

Kitkat, the eldest, calmest and smallest of the three, is an 11-year-old rat terrier and the ruler of the family. Her exasperation at her two younger sisters’ antics is evident, especially when she gives them (and us) the “look.” Joplin, a five-year-old wire-hair terrier mix, and Molly, a two-year-old feline, learned early on to run or roll over and play dead rather than face their elder sister’s wrath. So do we.

Joplin, much like my beloved Prince, isn’t exactly a candidate for the world’s smartest pet.

We’re convinced she is actually a 3-year-old little girl reincarnated. Her exuberance has landed her in all kinds of trouble such as almost being buried alive in a giant snow drift she dove into or trying to imitate an airplane by going airborne off things way higher than even our heads. She cries, pouts, gets jealous, screams (used for everything) gets scared, excited, happy and all the emotions a little child can have and you can see it all in her soulful eyes and actions.

Then there’s Molly. Rescued as a week-old kitten by Warren, an avowed cat hater. She’s all about her adopted daddy and to heck with her adopted mama except when treats are involved.

When Warren’s home, I dare not come too close if I want to keep my body parts intact.

She back talks, screams and cries (like Joplin), and throws temper tantrums which usually

Molly crawling out of the top rack in the truck.

end in something destroyed or blood shed.

Otherwise, she’s a sweet howbeit sometimes annoying fur baby.

All are well-traveled, having been aboard the semi-truck for months, going across country with Warren and me. It was a lot like those Chevy Chase vacation movies. Just like human kids, they fought over who got to sit or sleep where, who got to look out the windows, who got the most treats, who got to sit in our laps, who got out of the truck first, and everything in between. They experienced the joy of chasing ground squirrels in Wyoming, rolling and romping in the lush grasses of Florida, Mississippi, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, catching snowflakes on their tongues and feeling the cool, nighttime dessert breezes in their ears. Of course, there was the Joplin and Kitkat versus the lizard and a big cactus incident in New Mexico. Unfortunately the

lizard and cactus won and the girls resembled well-worn pin cushions as we spent almost two hours digging out the remains of the battle from their skin.

As parents to this motley crew, we spend our time loving, playing with, attempting to train, disciplining, explaining and/or reasoning with, usually to Joplin, (Yes. They understand English very well, but haven’t mastered their annunciation of same.) and all the same things parents of human kids go through. We doctor boo-boos, soothe hurt feelings, calm ruffled fur and ease fears - except for Joplin’s fear of Mockingbirds, that is. She learned the hard way that if you mess with a Mockingbird, he or she can dive bomb one’s head with the accuracy of the best weapon in our military’s arsenal, even in the dark. Now, getting her to go potty in the yard takes an act of congress as she’s so busy ducking and weaving she forgets what she’s out there for and usually runs into something to boot.

All that being said, we wouldn’t change a hair on any of our three critter-kids’ bodies.

They are as unique and individual as twolegged kids and maybe even a little more loving sometimes. Plus, they never ask to borrow the car or money!

LYNETTE GEORGE is the former editor and some times reporter for the Herald Democrat (Denison-Sherman, TX) for about 20 years. Her sometimes zany outlook on life gives her an enviable sense of humor like no other.

She lives in Denison and her love of animals prevents her from ever passing an animal in need. She may be reached at nettiegeorge79@gmail.com.

Kitkat on the left with Joplin during one of the driving breaks on the road.

Anna Living Magazine

23

Learning to Cope

“LIFE is not the way it’s supposed to be… It’s the way it is… The way we cope with it, is what makes the difference.” — Virginia Satir “Resilience is accepting your new reality, even if it’s less good than the one you had before. You can fight it, you can do nothing but scream about what you’ve lost, or you can accept that and try to put together something that’s good.” — Elizabeth Edwards

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oping is defined as contending with difficulties and overcoming them.

With all that is going on in the world today, COVID, isolation, working from home, virtual learning — the changes and challenges are endless. We do not have a choice in terms of WHAT difficulties we face, but we do have choices in terms of HOW we cope.

Resilience, the ability to recover from or adjust to misfortune or change, determines the long term impact.

Regardless of if you are facing anxiety, feelings of sadness/depression, loss, or transition/change there are some essentials that will increase your ability to maintain your physical and mental health.

1. Maintain a regular sleep pattern. During times of stress it can be tempting to sleep more/less. Stress often brings about changes in schedules that promote disruption of typical routines and changes in sleep can negatively impact concentration, productivity, physical well being and mental health.

2. Maintain healthy eating habits. To mentally and physically cope, our bodies require fresh fruits and vegetables as well as protein.

3. Get exercise & sunshine daily. Often the first part of our routine to disappear is exercise.

Our bodies need to move and be exposed to the sun for natural Vitamin D. Remaining indoors can often bring about negative symp24

toms including loss of energy and depression.

4. Make room for mental rest. Practice mindfulness and journaling. Increasing awareness of one’s feelings promotes our ability to strategize around coping. Apps such as Headspace and Calm are helpful in guiding deep breathing as well as positive visualizations which helps to allow one to make thoughtful decisions.

5. Maintain a daily work schedule. Boundaries are essential to coping and having a designated time to work and rest will help maintain healthy functioning. Designating time to accomplish and complete tasks will decrease stress and prevent becoming overwhelmed.

6. Maintain contact with friends & family.

Meaningful connection is part of what helps us through difficult times. Using the variety of means now available such as phone, text and video chatting , we are able to participate in most of our normal interactions. Sharing our struggles especially during times of stress is essential.

In dealing with stress with the goal of building resilience it is important to build a toolbox of coping strategies. Applying these to daily life will have a positive impact on your sense of well being and increase your resilience.

1. Take a pause. Wherever you are, stop and take a break. Grounding oneself is essential.

Pay attention to your five senses. Feel the Anna Living Magazine

feeling of your feet planted firmly on the ground and press your hands on your knees or together. Name in your mind what sounds you hear and what you smell and taste.

Identify three colors you see. Engaging one’s senses helps distract from the stressor and ground in the present.

2. Breathe. When stress occurs our mind often goes in many directions at once. Breathing in (1, 2, 3, 4) through your nose and exhaling (1, 2, 3, 4) out your mouth three times is beneficial. It reduces the cortisol levels in your brain immediately so that you can think more clearly and focus. Essentially you are tricking your body to not enter flight or fight mode. Force your mind to find and focus on a first step you can take, even if it is what you can refocus your attention on in the moment.

3. Be aware of “self talk.” Self talk is the internal thinking that we all have. Is yours negative?

If so pay attention and focus on shifting your negative self talk to positive statements. “I am able” vs “I can’t/never.” Increasing the positive internal dialogue you experience goes a long way toward increasing your resilience as well as your positive self perception.

4. Connect. As identified earlier, connecting with others is critical. In most cases it is helpful to connect with someone outside of your immediate situation to offer perspective.

Our emotional investment often clouds our judgement but trusted friends and mentors can help us feel grounded when our personal circumstances contribute to our feeling overwhelmed.

Regardless of the circumstances in our personal lives or the world at large, we will benefit from increasing our coping skills. By building a toolbox of coping skills and living a healthy lifestyle, we will often find that our resilience is increased. As a result, we are better prepared for the challenges we all experience in our daily lives.

JENNIFER SEXTON, MSW, LCSW is a Yale Medical School trained clinician devoted to her work in mental and behavioral health for 25 years. After receiving her Master’s degree Jennifer was chosen for a competitive fellowship program at Yale Medical School. This training has aided significantly her ability to provide treatment to clients & develop/work collaboratively with other professionals across a variety of settings and with various concerns. Currently Jennifer is an individual therapist in Frisco and also acts as the Executive Director of Clinical Services for Anam Cara of North Texas, a 501c3 non profit devoted to supporting families with special needs.

S

ome say Mel Brooks is to blame — or simply responsible — for dumbed down comedy. A more acceptable tag might be low brow comedy.

The campfire scene in the 1974 movie “Blazing Saddles” was somewhat shocking at the time (although viewers found it impossible not to laugh), but, after all, it was Mel Brooks. He and the Monty Python sextet would pretty much go anywhere for a laugh as they shaped the look of comedy in the 1970s.

So starting about that time, the black comedy of Stanley Kubrick (“Lolita,” “Dr. Strangelove”) or the intellectual avenue taken by Woody Allen (“Annie Hall,” “Manhattan”) gave way to the easier access of “Caddyshack” (1980), “National Lampoon’s Vacation” (1983), “Dumb and Dumber” (1994), “Tommy Boy” (1995), “Big Daddy” (1999), “Old School” (2003), “The Hangover” (2009), and “Ted” (2012).

It isn’t to say those movies were not funny — only a different kind of comedy. And meanwhile more mainstream laughers like “Tootsie” (1982), “Broadcast News” (1987), “Get Shorty” (1995) and so on were mixed in. John Hughes’ teen-age stories were major hits in the 1980s and into the ‘90s.

This all stems from a thought about the different types of comedy films. Fans over the years have flocked to and howled at slapstick, screwball, satire, political, romantic, musical, or farcical pictures. It can even be broken down further into sex, situational, surreal, etc., but there’s no reason to get too crazy.

With streaming what it is these days, most films can be found and viewed somewhere. For example, the movie “Juke Girl,” a 1942 drama starring Ann Sheridan (a native of Denton, TX) and Ronald Reagan popped up recently in a conversation. A quick search showed it to be available, free of charge, on YouTube. Go figure.

Getting back to the business at hand, here’s a rundown on some good choices in some of these comic genres: • Slapstick, or exaggerated physical comedy, has been around since movies were invented.

Charlie Chaplin and the Keystone Cops were huge draws during the silent days. The Marx Brothers and Laurel & Hardy carried it into the talkies, and “I Love Lucy” was a great example in early television. Today the

animated series “The Simpsons” carries on.

The Chaplin silent “City Lights” is filled with slapstick and rates among his best works • Screwball, actually a subgenre of romantic comedy, was popularized in the 1930s and all but disappeared by the end of World War II. It was characterized by a strong female presence, and she usually took great advantage of the man involved. “Bringing Up Baby” (1938) starring Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant is often offered as the best example. However, “My Man Godfrey” (1936), “His Girl Friday” (1940) and “Ball of Fire” (1941), the latter with Barbara Stanwyck and Gary Cooper, are great examples. Also, just about anything written by or directed by Preston Sturges can fit there.

• Satire, the exaggeration of issues, contemporary or historical, is among the more enduring genres. “Blazing Saddles” took Westerns to town, just as “Office Space” (1990) took on 9-to-5 desk jobs. “Tropic Thunder” (2008) takes down the film industry. But Terry Gilliam’s “Brazil” (1985) has to be the poster child for this genre. Called “dystopian science fiction,” it takes aim at all things contemporary.

Anna Living Magazine

• Political comedy was a specialty of director Frank Capra in the 1930s and ‘40s. His “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” (1939, with Jimmy Stewart) and “Meet John Doe” (1941, with Gary Cooper) are great examples. More contemporary are “Dave” (1993), giving fits to the office of President, and “Election” (1999), which is a great takeoff on high school politics.

• Who could possibly try to name the best romantic comedy, or musical comedy as well? There isn’t enough space here to list all the good ones, and each generation is going to have a different favorite.

As for musical comedies, here is a recent one that shouldn’t be missed: “Yesterday” (2019), built on the premise that only a few people in the world have ever heard of The Beatles, and one young musician becomes famous with their music.

• Farce, or completely improbable situations handled as if all is normal, is a good place to close this out. Just about anything

by Mel Brooks fits; along with the Monty Python films; those written by Wes Anderson, a young Texan who is turning out some of today’s best in the genre; and such old stars as Chaplin and the Marx Brothers.

It becomes obvious here that a lot of these comedy types overlap. “Some Like It Hot” (1959), an all-time great farce, is also a romantic and music comedy and it features plenty of slapstick. Movie fans not familiar with Anderson’s films should check out “The Grand Budapest Hotel” (2014), and most likely, after viewing, they will follow it up with his others.

While it’s impossible, due to space, to go into any depth in describing these movies, readers can easily get more information from the Internet Movie Database (imdb.com) or Wikipedia (wikipedia.org). Happy viewing.

DON ELDREDGE is the retired editor of the Herald Democrat newspaper (Sherman-Denison, TX) and resides in Sherman. E-mail him at eldredgedon@gmail.com.

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Think Like A Pro And Plan Now

P

rofessional gardeners and landscapers know an important “trick of the trade”: Fall isn’t the end of the growing season, it’s the beginning! And here’s why you should be thinking about your planting game plan right now!

COOLER WEATHER AHEAD If you were the proud parent of an infant who was just a few months old, would you take her or him outside in their baby carriage under a blazing sun? Or do you think she would be more comfortable enjoying the open air on a cooler, less scorching day?

Think about your “plant infants” in the same way. In most parts of the nation, planting in spring means the tender little gals or guys are soon exposed to the scorching heat of the sun and must endure it throughout the summer during a crucial time in their development.

However, fall planting is far less stressful on your plants. Shrubs and trees planted in the fall have the advantage of a cooler environment above, and perhaps something even more beneficial, out of sight below ground. Roots have the perfect opportunity to grow and establish themselves without the need to concentrate on providing nutrients as well.

In fact, the root systems of fall-planted plants can continue to grow throughout autumn and into winter, usually becoming dormant only when ground temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Essentially, planting in fall, instead of waiting until spring, gives your plants a head start of several months. By next summer 26

Fall planting: your plants will thank you next spring!

they will be sturdy, resilient adolescents instead of vulnerable, tender babies, and far better prepared to take on the rigors of a hot, and possibly very dry, summer.

SAVE WATER Did I mention “dry”? Most trees and shrubs planted in spring require regular watering during this vital “establishment” phase of their development. Summer’s heat makes this even more critical.

But in the fall, you will not need to provide your new plants with nearly as much water. As you might imagine, evaporation is much less of a factor in the autumn, so water loss is greatly reduced. Additionally, a plant’s water requirements are considerably diminished when the natural process of photosynthesis slows down as the days become shorter.

Another water-related benefit is that in the fall you are unlikely to be faced with any municipal watering restrictions that might affect your new plantings during a long, hot summer.

Nothing is more depressing to a garden lover than to see new, young plants dying because of lack of water.

LOWER PRICES We all like to grab a bargain and smart gardeners can take advantage of sales and clearance-priced plants at this time of year.

If you’re buying from a reputable nursery, the plants now on sale have probably been cared for throughout the summer by knowledgeable professionals and should be ready for fall Anna Living Magazine

planting… but at a much lower price than prime time spring! They also like to clear out inventory for new fall inventory.

It’s worth asking an expert at the nursery, or at least carefully reading the plant’s tag, to be sure of the best time to plant as this can vary from zone to zone. In Anna we are best suited for climate zones 7 and 8.

FORGET THE FERTILIZER Plant in the fall and forget the fertilizer until next spring. Why? Fertilizing new plants at this time of year could force new growth that would then fall victim to frost damage during the winter before it has time to harden off.

Buying and using fertilizer is an extra step and an expense you won’t need to worry about, at least until spring! By then I will gladly advise when and what type is best suited for your planting. Feel free to email me at the address listed below.

MORE FUN, LESS STRESS Many customers tell me that they find fall planting more enjoyable. The reason, they say, is that they can concentrate on the planting in the slower-paced ambience of fall. With so much to do in a spring landscape, it’s easy to be distracted from the joy of planting. And let’s face it, the more therapeutic, the better, right?

Question: Jimmie, what do you consider the best tree for me to plant in a low wet area on THINK LIKE A PRO continued on page 27

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THINK LIKE A PRO continued from page 26

my property? I really would like some shade there however I have killed 3 nice Red Oak trees trying? Any thoughts? I really appreciate your time.

Richard L. in Anna Answer: Hi Richard, I can see why you might have run into problems with your previous efforts. Red Oaks are notoriously known for not liking “wet feet”. We always plant them “high” or on the top of root ball at grade level.

A few varieties of trees we even add a 3-5-inch base of gravel for extra drainage.

A much better option for your unique situation would be a Bald Cypress or River Birch tree. Both will thrive with wet feet. Growth rates are similar but foliage is way different as well as overall canopy so check them both out. As long as your fundamental criterion is correct with your choices then each variety that fits into those criteria becomes a personal preference.

Question: Jimmie, Please help!!! I have no idea what I just found on my bush outside. day before yesterday the bush was fine, but I saw the almost 1 1/2 to 2 in. things hanging

from it that looked sort of like a pine cone...I just thought it was something new growing on the tree/bush. This afternoon, I went out to water the plants, and the whole side of the bush is almost gone, turned brown. I looked at the things I thought were growing on it and saw that they moved!! I ran inside and got garden spray and they seemed to be worms trying to come out of them. This has really freaked me out. I want the bushes gone. I have always loved them because they grow like a tree; they look a little like a pine but with flowing needles that are really soft.

They are a light green in color. I do not know what kind of bush it is. Please tell me what those things are, and what will get rid of them until I can get someone to cut them down for me. I don’t even want them in my yard now. That one looks ruined anyway.

Thank you so much for your time. You have been a great help to me and friends of mine!

Stephanie in Anna Answer: Hi Stephanie, Thanks for the kind words. It sounds like what you have are Bagworms. They are common to the plant you are describing the Arborvitae. What is needed is to remove them, put them in a little bag, and then burn them. After you have done this you will Need to spray your plants with Malathion (or Anna Living Magazine

similar product follow directions on the label).

You should do this about once a month during the growing season. This is of course if you decide to keep them. Perhaps a better alternative to consider would be Eastern Red Cedar (they are more native to our area) Hope this helps.

Until next time…Happy Gardening!!

Jimmie Send your landscaping and gardening questions to Jimmie Gibson Jr. at http://www.absolutelybushedlandscaping.com or jimmie@absolutelybushed.com or in care of the Anna Living Magazine at joyce@annnalivingmagazine.com.

JIMMIE GIBSON is a Prosper resident and the owner of Absolutely Bushed Landscaping Company, an award winning, family and veteran-ownedand-operated business created in 1980 to provide the highest quality custom outdoor renovation available to homeowners in the Dallas Ft. Worth area. Look for his columns in each issue of Anna Living Magazine.

27

A

fter a long day at work, or a long day of taking care of the kids, usually the last thing we’re wanting to think about is what to cook for dinner.

However, because our family has to eat (every single day...ugh), like it or not, we are forced to come up with a plan and then put that plan into action. You may be totally different from me and you may LOVE coming up with that weekly meal plan.

You might also love getting the perfect grocery haul to make your meal plan dreams become a reality.

Do you know what’s worse than doing all of that prep work? Doing all of that prep work and then being greeted by a picky eater who has no interest in the meal you’ve planned out and for them. Surely you have at

least one in your life. Oh man, that pickiness drove me nuts, because I knew it only made my difficult meal planning job that much harder.

I decided to try and make some of the same ol’ same ol’ foods we regularly ate just a little bit more interesting. One of my favorites had me a little nervous as it went into the oven, but it sure was a crowd pleaser when it came out!

These Lasagna Cups were not only easy to make but they put a fun spin on a routine lasagna dinner night. The best part is they only need 15 minutes in the oven to cook and you’re ready to go with an easy dinner or a lunch that’s ready to take with you! You can also bake and freeze these for later. I hope you enjoy it as much as my picky eaters!

Lasagna Cups

Ingredients: • 1 lb ground beef • 24 oz jar spaghetti sauce • ½ c shredded mozzarella, divided • 8 oz part skim ricotta • 1 egg • ¼ tsp garlic powder • ½ tsp Italian seasoning • 2 Tbsp grated parmesan • 1 package wonton wrappers

Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. For the meat mixture, heat a skillet over medium high heat. Add ground beef and cook, while breaking up, until no longer pink.

Drain the fat from the beef and return meat to the pan. Remove from heat.

28

3. Add spaghetti sauce and ¼ cup mozzarella to the meat, stirring to combine. Set aside.

4. For the cheese mixture, combine ricotta cheese, egg, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and parmesan in a medium size bowl.

Mix well.

5. Grease a 12-cup muffin tin. Then place two wonton wrappers, slightly overlapping, to make a cup that will fill the muffin tin.

6. Place two tablespoons of the meat mixture in the bottom of each cup. Add 1-2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture. Finish with another 2 tablespoons of meat mixture and remaining ¼ cup of mozzarella.

7. Bake 12-15 minutes until wrappers are cooked and cheese has melted. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Anna Living Magazine

I’m JAMIE ROUBINEK and I’m the girl behind this little corner of kitchen inspiration.

I find great pleasure in always learning something new. I was never confident in the kitchen but I love learning new things and trying them out. Doing that experimenting has led to a lot of happiness around the kitchen table at my house. Fortunately, the key to my husband of 13 year’s heart is through his stomach and he is easy to please. With our five kids, on the other hand, that hasn’t always been the case. I love fine-tuning recipes and making adjustments to make everyone smile. I hope that I can help you see how easy it can be to bring that same happiness to your kitchen table! Submissions and suggestions from readers are welcome. Send to jroubinek@ yahoo.com.

2609 W. White St., Ste 300, Anna, Texas, 75409

903-771-9787

@AnnaCoyoteNutrition

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