Take charge of everyone’s wellness with MyBSWHealth. Managing your family’s health is as close as your smartphone, with the capability of scheduling everyone’s appointments, getting test results and more.
Courtney Breazeale, PA-C works in the Baylor Scott & White Early Detection Clinic in Temple to help screen patients for cancer and ensure they receive the treatment they need. | 52 Photo courtesy of Baylor Scott & White Health
Betty Thrasher reflects on fashion and a lifetime of service to Central Texas. | 10 Temple Daily Telegram archive photo
3 books you’ll want to read TEEN REVIEW The God of the Woods
Cocktails, anyone?
THIS GIRL’S GARDEN Reflections on growing BUSINESS Live and Let Liv Yoga Studio
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Belton New Tech @Waskow students learn about legal system in new program
Machine helps reduce patients’ claustrophobia and anxiety
AdventHealth’s Smart Rooms link patients to needed care
Temple Clinic Offers New Hope Against an Old Enemy
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There is something about back-to-school season that always feels a little like New Year’s. Summer adventures begin to wind down, calendars fill back up and suddenly everyone is trying to get back into a routine. New backpacks are packed, alarm clocks are reset and families are squeezing in checkups, sports physicals and one last summer outing before the first school bell rings. The Mayo Clinic estimates kids contract the cold or flu 12 times per year. Between fatigue from school, sports or other extracurricular activities, stress and exposure to new pathogens, those first few weeks of school are the most vulnerable time.
For this special Healthcare and Back-to-School issue of Tex Appeal, we wanted to celebrate both the promise of new beginnings through education, along with the people, programs and innovations helping our community thrive. Education and health are two of the biggest investments we make in ourselves, our children and our communities, and Central Texas is fortunate to have incredible people working every day to make both stronger.
At Baylor Scott & White Health – Temple, advances in early cancer detection, page 52, continue to make a difference for patients and families. Early screenings can be life-changing, and in many cases, lifesaving. We also shine a spotlight on the BSWH – Temple’s Poison Center, page 56, an often-overlooked resource that serves thousands of Texans each year. Whether it's an accidental exposure, a medication question or a worried parent seeking guidance, experts are only a phone call away.
We’re also highlighting some of the innovative ways healthcare providers are improving patient care. At AdventHealth Central Texas in Killeen, Smart Rooms, page 44, are helping create a more connected experience for patients, allowing them to communicate with caregivers, access information and feel more engaged in their own recovery. We also explore panoramic MRI technology, page 40, and how it is providing a more comfortable option for patients while delivering the detailed imaging physicians rely on every day.
Over at Belton ISD, we’re taking a look at Belton New Tech @Waskow's law program, page 34 where students get an introduction to careers in law, public service and advocacy. It is exciting to see young people discovering their passions and developing skills that could shape not only their futures, but the future of our communities as well.
But perhaps the story that stayed with me the most this issue is that of Temple resident Betty Thrasher. For years, Betty has poured her heart into helping others, raising funds and supporting organizations that make our community better. She has spent countless hours giving back, often without seeking recognition or praise. Today, she is facing cancer herself. Her story, on page 10, is a reminder that communities are built by people willing to show up, lend a hand and make a difference, even in small ways. The kindness we share has a way of coming full circle, touching lives in ways we may never fully realize.
As families prepare for another school year and many of us look ahead to the changing seasons, I hope this issue serves as a reminder to take care of ourselves and one another. Schedule the appointment. Ask the question. Volunteer your time. Support a local cause. Cheer on a student. Thank a teacher. Appreciate a healthcare worker.
Because behind every classroom lesson, every new technology, every medical breakthrough and every community fundraiser are people who genuinely care about making Central Texas a better place to live. And that, perhaps more than anything else, is what makes this region special.
Happy reading, and here’s to a healthy, successful school year ahead.
For the United States, $24 per year, 6 issues. Mail check to P.O. Box 6114, Temple, TX 76503-6114. For questions about subscriptions, call 254-778-4444.
HOW TO CONTACT US: Advertising: 254-778-4444 or 254-501-7500. Editorial: Contact Brandy Cruz at editor@texappealmag.com
JANE GIBSON is owner of Jane Gibson Photography and has more than 30 years of experience in portrait, event/ wedding and travel photography. She is a native of Killeen and volunteers her time and her camera lens to many charitable organizations and community events. She is also a retired adjunct professor of Spanish and a Realtor for Native Real Estate. Find her at https://janegibson. zenfolio.com.
MARIA PAKUTKA recently finished her English master’s degree. She works as a professional tutor while she writes creatively on the side; she mostly writes horror fantasy. Other than writing, she also likes to read and play Stardew Valley in her free time.
AMY ROGNLIE is an author and middleschool teacher. Her newest series of cozy mystery novels, The Short Creek Mysteries, are set in Bell County. Amy’s articles have been published in national magazines and websites. She blogs on encouragement, hope and faith on AmyRognlie.com. Amy and her family reside in Little River-Academy.
BECKY STINEHOUR is a portrait, commercial and event photographer who also loves shooting live music. Her work has been published in several regional magazines. She is a longtime Killeen resident who highlights her hometown connections through the lens of her camera. Find her at www.beckystinehour. com and www.candidimagesphoto.com.
RACHEL STRICKLAND is an adjunct English professor at Temple College and the founding editor of the literary magazine, The Raven Review. She earned a master’s degree from Texas A&M University-Central Texas in 2021. In her free time, she’s usually reading, crocheting, or trying to keep her houseplants alive.
TONYA WARREN has been a registered nurse for 33 years with Ascension Providence Healthcare in Waco and a lifestyles writer for a few years. She lives in Waco and enjoys reading, writing and taking her grouchy German Shepherd on walks.
SHARON WHITE is an award-winning author who lives in Temple. Her writing has been featured in the New York Daily News, Huffington Post, AdvancingWomen. com and FashionBible.com. Her weekly lifestyle blog, QStyleTheBook.com, is based on her book, Quintessential Style: Cultivate and Communicate Your Signature Look.
ZACHARY WHITT is a professional tutor at Texas A&M University–Central Texas in Killeen. He also writes fiction and keeps himself occupied with two solo music projects — Zakarii Von Unheimlichestadt and Historiaphiliac. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history in May 2026. Find his writing at https://zacharywhitt. substack.com/. Find his music at https:// historiaphiliac.bandcamp.com/community and https://zakariivonunheimlichestadt. bandcamp.com/community.
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Lifetime of Service
FROM FASHION TO PHILANTHROPY, BETTY THRASHER MAKES A DIFFERENCE ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS
By AMY ROGNLIE | Photos by JANE GIBSON and TEMPLE DAILY TELEGRAM archives
'Ifeel like I’m the luckiest person in the world. I have had so many wonderful friends and amazing experiences. I think, ‘Why me?’ I’ve been so blessed.”
Betty Thrasher, the regal queen of fashion in Bell County, has been blessed, but she has also blessed countless others through her generosity, love and warm-hearted hospitality.
She was born into the clothing business in Rosebud, where her father owned several stores, and she always dreamed of owning her own very special store where she could teach others what she lives out every day: “When you look good, you feel good. And when you feel good, you act good.”
From her family, Betty also learned the joy of serving others with generosity, the importance of relationships, and that beautiful things should be enjoyed every day, not only on special occasions. And for Betty, true beauty begins with who a person is inside, and fashion is not a price – it is a look.
She started her fashion career by working for a cosmetic company, Beauty Counselor (now Clinique). For 40 years, she went to women’s homes and taught them about makeup. During that time in the 1960s and ’70s, she also started her own school for girls to teach them how to carry themselves with grace and style, how to speak in public and how to apply makeup. The girls brought sack lunches and the cost for the class was $45 for three months. Some of her students were participants in the Miss Texas pageant, in which she was involved for 10 years.
But she still dreamed of opening her own store. After preparing 10 girls for the Miss Texas Pageant, she finally opened her first store, The RoseBud, in Gatesville in 1979.
“I did what I could do for the pageant,” she said.
“Now I needed to work on the public. The time had come — I needed to teach people how to dress.”
And of course, she would — with warmth,
Continued
“I have had a fabulous life, and Temple has been very good to me.”
— Betty Thrasher
hospitality, and a listening ear for anyone who crossed the threshold of her store. And in 1981, Betty opened a second store in Temple, fabulously decorated in her signature pink and green. Rosecolored carpet, a lime green sofa with hot pink piping, and of course, roses everywhere, welcomed customers into the lovely world Betty had created for them.
Invitations, along with long-stem pink roses, were hand-delivered to business leaders and friends, inviting them to the opening cocktail party at the new location in Exchange Square on Loop 363. Live music and real models created an unforgettable experience as her dream expanded into Bell County. But she has always cared more about people than sales.
“I wanted the RoseBud to be a place where people could gather. You could sit on the couch all day; drink coffee or coke or champagne and visit with friends,” she said. “It developed into something really fabulous.”
Every month, Betty would put on a spectacular event at the store for her customers. She would personally host champagne luncheons for which she prepared the food herself. The store also hosted trunk shows from New York and Europe, with friends, family and community members serving as models for the season’s newest colors and styles.
fashion shows to benefit various causes, including Baylor-Scott and White Hospital. The first show she did for the hospital enabled it to purchase a needed piece of equipment for the emergency room, and she continued her annual shows for BSWH for 30 years, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“I made so many friendships during that time,” Betty said. “It was a wonderful experience in Temple for all walks of life to come together. It was so beautiful — I can’t explain it.”
Drawing 1,000 women each year, the annual BSWH benefit fashion show included 40 models from size 2 to size 20. Betty would hand-select each volunteer model and what each would wear. Makeup and hair teams were on hand to make sure everyone was looking their best.
Putting on a fashion show was the next logical step, and in the early 1980s, she put on a fashion show to benefit Altrusa. The event was a roaring success and became an annual event until 2007, when she sold the store.
“It was like something you’d see in London or Paris,” Betty recalled. “It would stop the clock. Nothing like it had ever been seen in Temple. I always chose local models — no one was paid, and we all had the best time.”
And of course, everyone was invited back to The RoseBud after the show for champagne and to visit because that’s what Betty loved — getting people together. Over the years, she continued to do
She also recruited men from the community to serve at the shows as the waitstaff. Her “Men in Tux” became a well-loved tradition in Temple for both the attendees and the men, who all adored Thrasher.
“What an elegant, classy and genuine lady Betty is. If you look up ‘class-act’ in the dictionary, there is a full-color portrait of Betty. She is the real deal,” said Guy Fowler, one of Betty’s original Men in Tux. “It was such an honor and absolute, total privilege to be part of Betty’s shows. And it was such a diverse group of guys — neurologists, CEOs, construction workers — people from all walks of life. She told us what to do and we said ‘Yes, ma’am.’”
Today, Betty Thrasher is 96 years old, and more beautiful than ever — inside and out — as she nears Heaven’s gates. After being diagnosed with cancer and told by doctors that she has only weeks to months to live, she is facing death with her characteristic grace.
“I have had a fabulous life, and Temple has been very good to me. I don’t feel like I’ve missed anything. I’m not afraid and I don’t dread dying because I have a close relationship with the Lord. He will be by my side during this, too.”
VP of
BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE TEAM FOCUSES ON Preventing Injury
By AMY ROGNLIE | Photos by RUSTY SCHRAMM, BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE HEALTH
As a pediatric nurse and a mom, Krista Easley has seen it all — from broken bones and bruises to cancer and car accidents. “It breaks your heart to see kids who are hurting,” said Easley, coordinator of the Trauma Injury Prevention team at Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Medical Center in Temple. “We want to see all kids grow up happy and healthy.”
Baylor Scott & White’s Trauma Injury Prevention program in Temple focuses on reducing preventable injuries across Central Texas through community-based education and outreach. The program brings together teams from Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple and Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Medical Center, combining expertise in both adult and pediatric trauma care.
One of the most impactful initiatives at McLane’s is their car seat program. For years, car wrecks had been the number one cause of children’s deaths in our area, explained Easley. She and her team set out to change that by ramping up their efforts to meet people where they are with education on travel safety and free car seats.
“Some folks are in a desperate situation,” Easley said. “I get it — if you must choose between buying groceries for your kids or buying a car seat, make sure your kids are fed. But we want to make sure that no one has to make that kind of choice.”
The team works with organizations such as WIC and Headstart to make sure that every child has a car seat. They also stock car seats in the emergency rooms and educate parents, grandparents, and other caregivers about the importance of properly restraining a child in a vehicle. Now, the hospital has not had an in-house death from a car injury since 2024 and are grateful to community donors who have help fund the program, particularly the people at the Don Ringler car dealerships.
Besides the car seat program, the Trauma Injury
Prevention team offers a wide range of educational programs designed for community groups such as schools, workplaces, neighborhood groups and senior living communities. Many of these programs are offered at no cost and are delivered on-site, making them accessible and practical for participants. Programming covers common injury risks across all ages and includes topics/programs such as hands-only CPR, Stop the Bleed, safe sleep for infants, safe firearm storage education, distracted driving awareness, bike safety and helmet usage, and water safety.
Kristen McBride is the Trauma Injury Prevention program coordinator at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple, partnering with the program at McLane’s. She has been with BSWH for 14 years and has always enjoyed educating her patients about their health. In her role as program coordinator, she is a hands-on educator of adults,
and her team provides several programs specifically aimed at senior adults.
“Falls are the number one cause of injury for all ages,” explained McBride. “We partner with the Area Agency on Aging of Central Texas to educate seniors, especially. “
One fun and appealing way to educate seniors is through Bingocize, a bingo-style fall-prevention program for seniors of all capabilities that includes light exercises to improve strength and mobility with education on reducing fall, all in a fun, social setting. McBride is a certified Bingocize instructor and enjoys creating an environment where people can learn, move, and connect.
Her team also partners with the Texas A&M Agriculture Extension Service to offer CarFit, a free program that helps older drivers improve the “fit” of their vehicle for safety and comfort. Participants work with trained technicians to make simple adjustments — like seat position, mirrors, and steering wheel placement — that can greatly improve visibility and control. CarFit is not a driving test, but a practical way to help older adults stay safe, independent, and confident on the road.
“They don’t have to find us,” McBride said. “We go to them at the senior center, assisted living facility or wherever someone invites us to come. Many seniors have said that they feel safer after attending the CarFit program.”
All of these efforts are designed to meet people where they are with the goal of equipping Central Texans with simple, actionable steps to stay safe and reduce the risk of injury in everyday life. But when accidents do occur, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple is uniquely situated as the region’s only Level I trauma center between Dallas and Austin, equipped to care for the most severe injuries. Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Medical Center is a dedicated pediatric hospital with Level II pediatric trauma capability, serving children across Central Texas. Located in a smaller community adjacent to rural areas, both hospitals welcome a diverse patient population while providing a high level of care — while also working upstream to help prevent injuries before they occur.
For more information or to register for an upcoming event, you can contact the team at ctxinjuryprevention@bswhealth.org.
Residents of Morada Temple Senior Living participate in Bingocize, which teaches balance and skills for performing daily tasks. The classes are led by the Baylor Scott & White Trauma Injury Prevention team.
1. Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band perform for soldiers and their families on Fort Hood.
2. Dan Myers takes center stage for a violin solo.
3. Gary Sinise plays electric bass.
4. Fans enjoy the July 10 concert.
5. Soldiers raise their right hands during a reenlistment ceremony before the concert started.
6. Fans applaud during the show. Photos by BECKY STINEHOUR
1 2 3
4. A prize-winning patriotic float marks America’s 250th birthday.
2.
3. Spectators dressed in patriotic colors pose for a photo.
5. Arthur Perlinger stays cool beneath an umbrella while proudly displaying American flags at the Belton parade.
6. Madelyn Smith smiles and waves an American flag.
1. Al Williams greets the crowd in stars-and-stripes while wearing stilts.
A patriotic parade float passes the historic Bell County Courthouse during the Belton Fourth of July Parade.
Photos by BECKY STINEHOUR
3 Titles for Your TBR List
By M. CLARE HAEFNER | Covers courtesy of the book publishers
If you’re like me, there are probably more books on your to-be-read list than there are completed titles on your bookshelf or Kindle reader this year. My TBR list has so many books on it, that I’m not sure I’ll ever check them all off, but the three titles below are at the top of the list to read before the year ends.
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett (Spiegel & Grau, May 2026). The Help was one of my favorite books when it came out about 15 years ago, so when I learned that Stockett planned to release a new novel this year, I flagged it to add to my list. The Calamity Club is set in Oxford, Mississippi, during the Great Depression, and like The Help, it links the lives of two women and a young girl when they’re most in need of support and friendship. Having attended college a couple of hours down the road from Oxford, I always enjoy books set in places I’m familiar with, and I can’t wait to see how Stockett’s newest story unfolds.
reunites a woman with her former stepfather. The chance meeting in a New York art museum prompts them to reflect on the bond they formed during a tumultuous time in both their lives. It also gives them a chance to forge a new path. Patchett tells stories better than most, and I’m looking forward to her latest novel focused on how love endures. It’s a hopeful reminder that even a small moment can have a huge impact.
Whistler by Ann Patchett (Harper, June 2026)
A Founding Mother by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie (William Morrow, May 2026) shares the story of Abigail Adams, wife of one president and mother of another. Their 2016 book America’ s First Daughter, about Martha “Patsy” Jefferson Randolph, was a riveting read, using letters and original sources as inspiration to recreate her life, so I look forward to discovering how they recount the incredible journey of Abigail Adams. Released in America’s 250th year, it seems like the perfect time for a closer look at a woman whose guidance, courage and vision shaped our nation and still plays a role in it today.
Multi-tiered Mystery
LOTS TO UNCOVER IN THE GOD OF THE WOODS
By MARIA PAKUTKA | Cover courtesy of RIVERHEAD BOOKS
Smell the fresh summer breeze, hear it through the tree leaves, see the sun glisten and shine on the lake’s water, and learn how to survive much more than mosquitoes as you find out about a famous serial killer who is now on the loose near your summer camp. Suddenly, the empty bunk where Barbara Van Laar was supposed to be is a bit more sinister than a kid sneaking off during the night.
Prepare for a summer camp getaway with Liz Moore’s The God of the Woods. This book has received plenty of praise from BookTok, and The New York Times labeled it as the “best thriller” and “best crime novel” for 2024. The slow-burn mystery of the woods will keep you on your toes and flipping the pages faster than you can read them.
In August 1975, Barbara Van Laar’s bunk was found empty, but this isn’t the first time a Van Laar kid has gone missing. In 1961, Barbara’s older brother Peter “Bear” Van Laar disappeared in the woods as well. As you unravel the disappearances of the Van Laar children, you also get a glimpse into the Van Laar family name, the wealth tied to it and the history of the summer camp, none of which is as innocent as it seems on the surface. Oh, and don’t forget about the runaway serial killer who knows the woods like the back of his hand as well!
highlights these characters’ motivations so much so that they feel like real people coming off the page to discuss their lives with you, and you really can’t help but be sympathetic to their struggles. You’ll discover themes of motherhood, messy family dynamics, class disparity and strong female leads as you read through this literary thriller. Think of the novel as if you’re reading a reality TV show, but with the possible chance of murder on the side.
While reading this book, I was constantly suppressing the urge to flip to the back just to see if I had predicted anything correctly. There are so many winding stories to follow, yet all of them build out the full picture of summer camp and its occupants. Plus, as someone who refuses to step out into the summertime heat, I found this novel painted a vivid picture of the great outdoors and motivated me to look for fun summer retreats near me — minus the missing children and serial killer, of course. Though I did like donning a sleuth hat as I honed in on those small details that may or may not have mattered while the story was unfolding.
You will meet a large, colorful cast of characters as you follow along with multiple perspectives and alternating timelines in order to piece together the mystery of two missing siblings. The book
Live your summer camp dream vicariously through The God of the Woods as you will experience survivalist training in the woods while putting on your own detective cap to solve the case of the Van Laar siblings’ disappearances. Get ahead while you can before Netflix finishes filming a TV series adaptation of Moore’s novel, starring Maya Hawke, who recently finished her role as Robin in Stranger Things!
Cocktails, Anyone?
Story and photos by SHARON WHITE
Looking for the perfect aperitif to serve at your next party? Look no further. These three cocktail recipes will positively delight your guests. And might even earn you the nickname “Master Mixologist.” Cheers!
COSMOPOLITAN
The exact origin of the Cosmopolitan cocktail has been debated since the 1970s and variations of the pink drink abound. But the “Cosmo” skyrocketed to worldwide fame in the late 1990s when it became the signature drink of the fashionable and ultra-trendy characters on the hit television show “Sex in the City.” The drink — traditionally served in a chic martini glass — epitomized the glamorous New York City lifestyle.
RUBY COSMO
In this modified version of the Cosmo, the key ingredient is 100% cranberry juice combined with its sweeter counterpart, cranberry juice cocktail. The 100% juice gives the drink a richer, less sweet taste and adds to its vibrant “ruby” color.
In a shaker with crushed ice, add:
• ½ lime, squeezed
• 2 oz vodka
• 2 oz cranberry juice cocktail
• ½ oz 100% cranberry juice
• ½ oz Grand Marnier
• ½ oz Grenadine
Shake and enjoy.
VESPER MARTINI
Gin or Vodka martini? Why not have both? The Vesper martini recipe was first revealed in author Ian Fleming's 1953 debut novel Casino Royale. James Bond devised the drink while sitting at the casino table. In it, he specifies using gin and vodka — and famously instructs the bartender that it should be shaken, not stirred.
In a shaker with crushed ice, add:
• 2 oz London Dry Gin
• 1 oz Vodka
• ¾ oz Lillet Blanc*
Serve in a martini glass with a lemon twist.
*Lillet Blanc is a French white wine blend combined with macerated fruit liqueurs.
PAPER PLANE
The relatively unknown Paper Plane cocktail was created in Chicago in 2008 by renowned bartender Sam Ross. The drink is named after a song by M.I.A., titled “Paper Planes,” which he played on repeat in the bar while developing the recipe. Both bitter and sweet, the drink has become an instant classic.
In a shaker with crushed ice, add:
• ½ lime, squeezed
• 1½ oz Bourbon Whiskey
• 1 oz Aperol
• 1 oz Amaro Nonino*
Best served in a coupe glass.
*Amaron Nonino Quintessentia is an Italian herbal liqueur crafted by the Nonino family in Friuli, Italy.
MARGEY WATSON REFLECTS ON 80 Years of Growing
By AMY ROGNLIE | Photos by JANE GIBSON
Margey Watson has had her hands in the Texas dirt for more than 80 years. Born in 1940 in LaFeria in the lower Rio Grande Valley, Watson grew up on her family’s farm where she and her two siblings learned to grow everything from cotton to citrus trees. They grew all kinds of vegetables, some of which they sold to local canneries, or even the HEB stores in the area. They also enjoyed the harvest themselves.
“We froze, canned, and shared,” Watson recalled. “Every time Daddy went to town, he took something to share with someone.”
But cotton was their main crop. One year, Watson and her two siblings were given an acre of cotton to tend. The children were required to weed it, pick the cotton (twice) and sell it. The money they earned was to be spent on school clothes, and the rest was their spending money for the year. Watson fondly remembers that long, hot summer of picking cotton, but also the practical lessons she learned — particularly good money management.
During the cotton-picking season most years, Watson and her sister Elaine were in charge of going out to the fields to weigh the cotton and keep track of how many pounds of cotton each worker picked each day. Then on Saturday it was payday. The girls would figure out how much each laborer had earned and then give each worker an envelope with his cash in it. Some years were better than others. Watson recalls several times when they had a good cotton year and their father flew to Detroit, bought a new car, and drove it back home to Texas.
But even in the years when the cotton crop did not do well, the family thrived on fresh milk from their cows and an abundance of fresh veggies, hard work and just plain fun.
“We were allowed to play in the fields,” Watson said. “We loved to pick and eat the tomatoes right there in the field. We also had tomato fights and built playhouses out of the tomato crates. It was a great way to grow up.”
After Watson married her sweetheart, Jim,
and moved away from the family farm, she began a career as a first grade teacher, while Jim was a pastor. After several years and the birth of their children, the family moved to Mexico as missionaries for several years; also serving in Costa Rica and Panama before coming back to live in Texas permanently. Jim loved to garden just as much as his wife did, though when the family moved to Belton from Pearsall in 2003, they did not realize that they would be gardening on top of Bell
Stargazing, Texas Style!
County’s limestone bedrock.
“The
Texas State Gem” Lonestar Cut Blue Topaz
“We were all excited for our first potato crop at our new house,” Watson said. “But when we dug them up, they were all flat on the bottom because of the rock under our garden!”
After that, the couple decided that raised beds were the way to go, and they eventually built nine twelve-foot by four-foot beds. Squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, and of course, potatoes, thrived under the couple’s care.
Watson’s granddaughter, Grae Watson, credits her grandparents for her own love of gardening.
“Most of my favorite family memories involve the garden. Being a city kid, I loved the vegetables, especially the okra pickles and the fried okra,” Grae said. “I still do.”
Okra is a must each year, and Margey’s fried okra is a staple in the summer. After experimenting over the years, she says she hit on the best method ever — soaking the okra in buttermilk and using self-rising flour for the batter. She also bakes prize-winning bread, and has produced countless jars of salsa, jams, jellies and chow chow with her fresh garden produce in her 40+ years of gardening her own little piece of Texas soil.
“I can’t get gardening out of my blood,” Watson said. “There is a peace about being outside, and I love seeing what the Lord produces out of the little bit of work we do. Then we just sit back and watch it grow. We have a beautiful world and I’m fortunate to still be able to be out there in it.”
and
Law Order
BELTON NEW TECH @WASKOW STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT LEGAL SYSTEM IN NEW CLASS
By MARIA PAKUTKA | Photos by BELTON ISD
Deep in the academic realm, there lies a school that is paving new, grand paths for its students to traverse with experience and confidence. Through many programs, such as the criminal justice program, Belton New Tech @Waskow High School provides hands-on experiences for aspiring law students.
In an interview style, students are welcome to apply to New Tech, where, if accepted, they follow a four-year program of their choice. One of those students, Kaycee Piskorz, explained that Belton New Tech has multiple pathways for students to follow. She says there is a law program, graphic design, drones, and aerospace and aviation.
“AP psychology is amazing; so is our aerospace. Our government of our class has really good learning programs, so it’s fantastic,” fellow student Isabelle Allen adds.
According to Dr. Mark Durfee, a teacher and program leader for the law pathway at New Tech, “Students start off with a gateway course of courtroom systems and practices.”
Next school year, 2026-2027, is all about legal
research and writing; then students will move on to either advanced legal skills or forensic science, which is a new program being offered this school year. Once students are at the end of their program, they are in a practicum where they apply all they learned with real law firms, such as the Carlson Law Firm.
“That’s the great thing about our program,” Piskorz said. “It’s not just students advising students. We also have these great opportunities of meeting actual lawyers and just getting to talk about it and exploring our passions within that realm because of how great our advisor is and how just wonderfully set up our school is.”
Often, the school even has attorneys from the Carlson Law Firm come in and talk with the
students about their experiences in their specific field.
“They’ve sent us personal injury lawyers, trial lawyers, court lawyers, immigration attorneys,” Durfee added. “So, we’ve been able to see the full gamut in a very holistic manner.”
Because the school is smaller, student Alayna Prager explained, students have the opportunity for closer hands-on experiences.
“They can get the help they need if they’re struggling a bit,” she shared. “They gain public speaking skills, critical thinking skills, and they’re learning these skills that they can take with them too if they want to go to law school or any other future.”
For example, Prager is planning to pursue
biology after her time at New Tech, and Allen is taking her experience with her by using it toward studying neuroscience and brain trauma. According to Allen, her learned skills at New Tech will help her communicate with her peers, create strong study habits, and she knows to create “roadmaps” for her presentations.
“What I like to do is have a roadmap of everything that I need to know for everything for my project.”
As for Piskorz, she spoke about how she would love to go into immigration and constitutional law.
“I mean, this is my passion,” she shared. “I always wanted to be an advocate for people who can’t necessarily speak for themselves or advocate
“It’s not just students advising students. We also have these great opportunities of meeting actual lawyers.”
— Kaycee Piskorz
for themselves. I want to ensure that everyone has the same protections that they’re supposed to.”
New Tech also has law students go through either mock or moot trials. According to the instructor, mock trials must have two student-led attorneys who act as both the prosecution and the defense. Then there are also the studentwitnesses and the student-judge. Students perform within these different positions to gain a better understanding of how the courtroom works, and what is expected of these roles.
As Durfee further explained, the students also begin to understand the differing objections, the
rules of evidence, and even the decorum of the courtroom. As for the moot trial, these are the more in-depth versions, which allow students “with a very analytical line to really dig into case precedent and case law.”
During her three years at New Tech, Piskorz has competed in moot-trial competitions for her school. “This year I went as a justice,” she said. “I actually ended up qualifying for nationals.”
Piskorz, Allen and Prager also help teach their
peers through courtroom lessons. For instance Prager helps students with attorney brief writing while Piskorz helps with justice brief writing. Durfee said the New Tech students often click better with their peers.
“When we listen to our peers, they speak our language,” he added.
“I’m definitely happy that I went here,” Allen said. “I made lifetime friends, and I’m just really excited about my next chapter.”
Open MRI
MACHINE HELPS REDUCE PATIENTS’ CLAUSTROPHOBIA AND ANXIETY
By RACHEL STRICKLAND
The fear of being trapped in a small, confined space is a completely natural response, but that’s unfortunately exactly what an MRI machine is. Magnetic resonance imaging machines are used to diagnose musculoskeletal, oncological, spinal and neurological conditions by combining magnets and radiowaves; however, they can trigger severe anxiety and claustrophobia for some patients.
Traditional closed MRI machines offer the best quality images, but they have a narrow cylinder (typically around 64 centimeters or 25 inches wide), which can be upsetting for some patients. Open MRI machines do not confine the patient to a cylinder, but the image quality is not as good. The best compromise when it comes to getting the most reliable images for anxious or claustrophobic patients is a wide-bore machine, such as the Canon Orian 1.5 Tesla, one of which is now located at AdventHealth Central Texas in Killeen.
Dietrich Urquhart, director of Radiology at AdventHealth Central Texas, said that many patients don’t even know they’re claustrophobic until they go into an MRI machine, but once they’re in, they can’t move, or the test will need to start all over again. MRI tests typically take 15 to 30 minutes, but that’s a long time when you’re talking about being trapped in a long tube that’s only 25 inches wide.
Urquhart recognized that this was a major issue for anxious patients, and he fought for change, which finally happened in the form of the Canon Orian 1.5 Tesla MRI machine. AdventHealth Central Texas has had the machine for a little more than a year now, and it’s already helped to reduce patients’ claustrophobia and anxiety surrounding MRI scans.
The Canon Orian 1.5 Tesla has a wider, 72-centimeter (28-inch) bore to accommodate
claustrophobic and anxious patients while still offering high-quality imaging. Urquhart says this was one of the main advantages of the Canon Orian that he was really fighting for.
The Canon Orian also has a projector inside, which can distract patients and take their minds off being in the machine. They can request to view an aquarium, a galaxy, or nature scenes.
“The machine is designed to calm and keep patients still throughout the procedure because if they’re moving around, we have to repeat scans, which increases the time they’re in there,” Urquhart explained. “So, we’ve been able to benefit, and patients have been able to benefit.”
Urquhart said that he often feels helpless when it comes to patients who have claustrophobia, so his goal when acquiring the Canon Orian was to make
Photos by ADVENTHEALTH CENTRAL TEXAS and KILLEEN DAILY HERALD archives
sure that he could take care of his patients and that they could get the results they needed without the additional worry of the MRI test itself.
“If I had to put a number on the reduction of claustra-outs, I would say we’ve been able to reduce about 10 to 15% of the patients due to this technology, which I’m very happy about,” Urquhart added.
The experience patients have at Central Texas AdventHealth is unique because it’s the only clinic in the area that has a Canon Orian 1.5 Tesla.
“You’re dealing with the best when you’re out here is all I’ve got to say,” Urquhart concluded. “Not just from a technology standpoint, but also from a caring group of individuals that are here to serve.”
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'We're Excited'
ADVENTHEALTH’S SMART ROOMS LINK PATIENTS TO NEEDED CARE
By ZACHARY WHITT | Photos by ADVENTHEALTH CENTRAL TEXAS
Exciting developments are unfolding in the world of medical technology and AdventHealth’s Smart Rooms initiative in Central Texas is a case in point. Naturally, while we may be familiar with seeing the word ‘smart’ everywhere, we still have to ask the question: what in the world is a Smart Room?
Fortunately, AdventHealth Central Texas has its very own expert on the topic, Katy Mueller-Lampley. Currently serving as the Clinical Excellence Manager
at AdventHealth Central Texas in Killeen, she has been at AdventHealth for fifteen years.
“Smart Rooms,” Mueller-Lampley explained, “is a technology that we use for our patients to keep them safer. It is also a way for us to link them to the care that they need faster.”
In addition to describing the capabilities of the rooms, Mueller-Lampley presented a demo room, one used for training. If the digital display mounted
near the entryway went unnoticed, a visitor may not immediately realize they were standing in a Smart Room; however, this room has more than one TV screen.
“It is a touch screen TV essentially,” she detailed, “and it will pull information from the electronic medical record right to that digital whiteboard, so you’re going to be able to see things like your care team.”
There’s more though.
“And then,” she added, “we have the camera that is attached to the top of the TV, which gives the physicians or interpreters, any care team doing the virtual care, the ability to see the patient and anybody in the room.”
Mueller-Lampley stressed that while the Smart Rooms “makes it a lot easier to see everything that is going when it’s at the top of the TV and it kind of spans the room,” the camera, as a policy, requires the patient’s consent prior to it being turned on.
Mueller-Lampley said that while this latest project — a corporate initiative — started in March of last year, she has been in her current position
as Clinical Excellence Manager for nearly three years. Consequently, she has acquired considerable experience, but while her role at AdventHealth sees her handling, and working with, exciting technological advancements, her day-to-day work revolves around people.
“I like helping our team members,” she shared, leaning forward with a smile. “That is my favorite thing. I teach every new hire that walks into this building, and they all hear me tell them, ‘I am a resource for you.’ I think back to when I started fifteen years ago. There wasn’t a ‘me’ in this role anywhere.”
Well, no longer. Working in a role that had not existed prior, she has found herself at the forefront of technological progress, as AdventHealth’s Killeen location is the first hospital in Bell County with these rooms.
Astutely, Mueller-Lampley emphasized that the technology, in tandem with the location of the hospital, has provided AdventHealth Central Texas with an excellent opportunity to overcome Continued
an obstacle all too familiar to people with family members in the hospital, especially military families: distance.
Naturally, a remote connection can never substitute for being there at the bedside, but this technology offers an alternative.
Additionally, medical personnel benefit — and have already been benefiting — from the Smart Rooms’ capabilities. Mueller-Lampley illustrated this point with a hypothetical.
“So,” she said, “if we have a specialist that is not at the hospital — and let’s say they’re in clinic — they can remote into that patients’ room to have a consultation with the patient without having to come physically to the hospital.”
In describing AdventHealth’s reasoning for the undertaking this project, Mueller-Lampley emphasized quality of patient care, as well as speed.
“It factors into our safety metrics,” she explains. “It factors into the quality of care because they have a faster line to their care team, whether that’s a specialist, whether that’s a case manager that’s going to help them move on throughout their stay, maybe it’s chaplain service — we can connect them with the chaplain as well. If it’s the middle of the night and this patient wants to speak to a chaplain, we can call that chaplain on call, and they can virtually call into that
patient’s room to provide that care for them.”
The patient’s speedy recovery is the all-consuming issue. Mueller-Lampley stated that, historically, care teams have had to wait hours, or even until the next day to bring in a specialist.
“I think that anyone can agree you don’t come to the hospital hoping to stay,” she said.
Smart Rooms facilitate that process in numerous ways, big and small. From providing virtual consultations to saving nurses time from having to write patient information on a whiteboard, it supports efficiency without sacrificing the compassion.
Mueller-Lampley enthusiastically explained her favorite part of the Smart Room — a section on the bottom of the TV screen that is the patient’s top priority for that day.
“This is one of my favorite things. This is ‘my most important thing today.’ That’s going to be very different for a lot of different folks, right? That can change. I love being able to see what our patients think is their priority because then we can help them get to that.”
Referring to upcoming initiatives, as well as the progress made thus far, Mueller-Lampley simply said, “We’re excited.”
And in the world of medical technology and patient care, how could you not be?
BY COURTNEY PIERCE
WHERE DID SUMMER GO?
Summer has a funny way of slipping by. One minute, the calendar is full of pool days, popsicles, and playground adventures. The next, shopping carts are filling with notebooks instead of sunscreen, and families are wondering where the season went. Before backpacks replace beach bags and alarm clocks replace lazy mornings, there’s still time for more family adventures.
In Temple, the best memories aren’t found behind a screen; they’re waiting outside.
Late summer is the perfect excuse to unplug, reconnect, and rediscover the simple joy of spending time together. Whether the family thrives on a little friendly competition or prefers a peaceful walk or bike ride through towering oak trees and nature trails, Temple offers countless ways to embrace the outdoors before the seasons change.
TURN UP THE ENERGY AT SPARE TIME
For families looking to turn up the energy, Spare Time Texas delivers an afternoon packed with excitement. Race around the go-kart track, challenge each other on the miniature golf course, conquer the ropes course, or settle a friendly rivalry over bowling and laser tag. It’s the kind of place where parents become kids again, siblings become teammates- or worthy opponentsand everyone leaves with stories worth retelling. Best of all, no one even remembers to ask what the Wi-Fi password is.
TRADE COMPETITION FOR FRESH AIR
When you’re ready to trade competition for fresh air, Temple’s parks and trails offer a different kind of adventure. Wander the scenic paths at Miller Springs Nature Center, where quiet paths wind through native landscapes and wildlife often appear when you least expect them. Enjoy an evening stroll along the shoreline at Temple Lake Park or pack a picnic and spend an unhurried afternoon at one of the city’s many neighborhood parks. Sometimes the best memories aren’t carefully planned; they begin with a blanket on the grass, a frisbee tossed through the air, and nowhere else to be.
GIVE DISC GOLF A TRY
Looking for a new outdoor activity to try? Grab a few discs and discover why disc golf has become one of the country’s fastest-growing outdoor sports. Temple’s public courses provide an easy, affordable way for families to enjoy a little friendly competition while exploring the beautiful natural environment and scenic landscape of Central Texas. There’s no perfect technique for family fun, just a willingness to laugh when your disc lands somewhere unexpected or ricochets off a tree.
THE LITTLE TRADITIONS THAT STICK
Of course, adventure doesn’t always have to come with a scorecard. Some of the best family moments happen during an evening bike ride through the neighborhood, a sunset walk downtown, or an impromptu stop for ice cream after a day spent outdoors. It’s those little traditions, the ones that don’t require reservations or elaborate plans, that often become the stories families tell for years to come.
TEMPLE SHIFTS INTO FALL
As August gives way to autumn, Temple shifts effortlessly into one of its most inviting seasons. The air turns a little cooler, patios fill with conversation, and community celebrations begin to dot the calendar.
OKTOBERFEST TAKES OVER DOWNTOWN
One of the season’s signature traditions, Oktoberfest, transforms downtown into a lively celebration filled with live music, local craft beer, delicious food, and festive entertainment. Raise a stein and enjoy the Central Texas flair of a time-honored tradition.
Learn more at
FALL COLORS AT ROBINSON FAMILY FARM
Robinson Family Farm welcomes visitors with everything that defines autumn in Texas. Wander through towering corn mazes, search for the perfect pumpkin, hop aboard a hayride, and capture those can’t-miss family photos surrounded by vibrant fall colors. It’s impossible to leave without a little dirt on your boots and a camera roll full of memories.
And that’s only the beginning. Cooler weather brings patio dinners beneath string lights, outdoor concerts, local markets, scenic hikes, and weekends spent exploring downtown at a slower pace. Every season offers something new to discover, and in Temple, fall arrives with an open invitation to stay outside just a little longer than usual.
MAKE TIME FOR A FEW MORE ADVENTURES
Before summer becomes a collection of photos on your phone, make time for a few more adventures. Race the go-karts. Hike the trail. Try disc golf for the first time. Watch the sunset from a park bench. Let the day unfold without an itinerary.
The best family vacations don’t always require a plane ticket. Sometimes they are waiting just down the road, where fresh air, open spaces, and unforgettable memories await.
This season, unplug, get outside, and discover why Temple is the perfect place to play, one adventure at a time, all season long.
CROSSROADS PARK
FIND YOUR SPACE MAKE YOUR MARK MEET IN TEMPLE
• Flexible spaces designed for meetings, conferences, and special events
• Accommodates everything from intimate board meetings to tradeshows and conventions
• Configurable meeting rooms to fit your event needs
• Centrally located between Austin and Dallas–Fort Worth with hassle-free access
• Stay, meet, dine, and explore, all within minutes of the venue
Early Detection
TEMPLE
CLINIC OFFERS NEW HOPE AGAINST AN OLD ENEMY
By TONYA WARREN | Photos by BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE HEALTH and ADOBE STOCK
Your palms are sweaty as you quickly glance again at your phone. Nothing yet. Squirming in your chair while attempting to pay attention in a longer than expected work meeting, you can’t help but nervously glance at the blank screen … again.
Will the doctor’s office give good news when the call comes in? Waiting weeks or even months from the time of scheduling tests and now waiting for the results can cause crippling anxiety. What will happen if the news isn’t what you’d hoped it to be? If the news is good, then what, if any, steps need to be taken for future periodic monitoring? Are lifestyle changes needed? When will all of this make sense?
The above scenario has been played out too many times over too many years as the battle in the cancer war continually rages day in and day out across our country and beyond. Last year, Baylor Scott and White in Temple decided to change the hurry-upand-wait scenario all too familiar in today’s healthcare landscape. Dr. Michael Volk, the hospital’s chief of internal medicine, developed the Early Detection Clinic, to efficiently determine if the patient has cancer, or not, in a coordinated and timely manner, based on results from lab, imaging or findings on a physical exam. Volk has a clinical background with a focus on liver cancer, thus bringing vast knowledge to the forefront of early cancer detection.
So, just what exactly is cancer? Oncologist and assistant professor of medicine, Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, authored the coveted 2011 Pulitzer Prize winner (for nonfiction work), The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer and explains cancer occurs when cells in the body experience disrupted growth from viruses, chemicals and other toxins, both known and unknown. In other words, cells gone wild. What causes healthy cells to go rogue has been, and is still somewhat, the million- dollar question surrounding cancer. Mukherjee’s book reads like a murder mystery with the medical community always on the hunt to find and destroy enemies that
“Earlier diagnosis can improve outcomes, and faster answers can ease the emotional toll of waiting.” — Courtney Breazeale
cause harmful mutations within cells. He cites mind boggling research suggesting the very first cancer ever detected occurred in ancient Egypt centuries earlier.
Each new patient has their medical information carefully reviewed by a dedicated team member who helps determine if the patient should go straight to oncology or be seen in the Early Detection Clinic. Upon clinic arrival, the patient is seen by a clinic provider who does a full medical history and a complete head-to-toe physical exam. Also, it is important to ensure the patient is current on screenings such as colonoscopies, mammograms, pap smears, Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood tests and lung screening CT scans. The type of screening done will depend on the patient’s age, history and risk factors.
Physicians from various specialties then become involved, based on individual patient needs. For example, pulmonary manages lung biopsies, urology evaluates bladder concerns, and gastroenterology may perform biopsies for pancreatic findings. With this organized and effective approach, timely testing can occur through various departments to find answers needed for the correct treatment. Working
Continued
closely with these patients in the center is Courtney Breazeale, PA-C.
“The focus is both clinical and emotional,” Breazeale explained. “Earlier diagnosis can improve outcomes, and faster answers can ease the emotional toll of waiting.”
Financial concerns are especially important in dealing with a possible long-term illness, and the center accepts most insurance plans, and the clinic sees uninsured patients as well. Breazeale said the clinic has seen about 300 patients since opening and she knows work being done there is invaluable.
“I’m proud because I know this clinic directly improves patient outcomes, if someone does have cancer, we are helping detect it earlier,” she said.
The center’s lead provider and oversight from the medical oncology department helps ensure seamless care during this stressful time. A care coordinator also helps manage things like logistics and scheduling.
What are some tips you can take to help maintain your best health for long haul? Have a primary care provider, make sure you are current on all necessary cancer screenings, check your skin regularly and thoroughly for any unusual moles or lesions that are new or have changed in color, size, or symmetry and always wear sunscreen when outdoors. Eat a healthy and varied diet with plenty of non-processed foods.
Aim for plenty of restorative sleep and get some regular physical exercise. Know red flag symptoms of cancer such as any pain not going away or getting worse, a new or worsening cough or blood in urine or stool. Please note: This is not an exhaustive list of signs of cancer, so remember to consult your healthcare provider for any health concerns you may experience. Also, consult your healthcare provider before beginning an exercise program or changing your diet. Knowledge is power, and the Early Detection Clinic is seriously bringing it to Central Texas patients and beyond.
On Call to Help CENTRAL TEXAS POISON CENTER READY TO ASSIST WHEN ACCIDENTS HAPPEN
By AMY ROGNLIE | Photos by BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE HEALTH and ADOBE STOCK
‘No matter how great a parent you are, you cannot have your eyes on your child 24/7,” said Tommie Ferguson, educator for the Central Texas Poison Center. “Accidents happen, and that’s why we’re here. We don’t pass judgment — we just get you the help you need.”
In fact, Ferguson recently needed to call the CTPC herself. While doing laundry at home, she accidentally dropped an open bag of laundry detergent pods. She quickly picked them up off the floor because she has a young grandchild who lives with her. Not 10 minutes later, her grandbaby found one of the pods where it had rolled underneath and behind a door. She chewed it up, but fortunately, she spit most of it out and was okay.
“This just shows how easy it is for something like this to happen to anyone. I didn’t even think to look under the door,” Ferguson explained. “I work for the CTPC. I have all my medicines stored up high, everything out of her reach, and then in one instant, this happened.”
The need for dedicated, centralized poison centers was realized in the early 1950s after the war when American companies started producing new cleaning products, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and lawn care products that became widely available to the public. As a result, many children became sick or died after consuming a poisonous substance, especially since companies were not required to disclose what ingredients were in their product. A secretary for the American Academy of Pediatrics in Chicago investigated what the children at the local hospitals had eaten or drank, then contacted manufacturers to see what was in their products that was making children ill. She took notes and soon, doctors started calling her for advice. The idea for a poison center was born, with the first United States poison center opening in Chicago in 1953 and the American Association of Poison
Control Centers founded in 1958. Today, there is a poison center in every state of the U.S. and across the world.
The Central Texas Poison Center (CTPC), housed at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center –Temple, opened its doors in 1994 as one of six poison centers in Texas. The CTPC predominately serves Healthcare Services Region 7, which contains 30 counties surrounding Bell County. Today, the CTPC offers comprehensive poison information services to the 3 million residents of Central Texas. Ferguson has seen the number of calls to the poison center grow exponentially in the last few years.
“We currently have 2,750 people a month in the Central Texas region who call us after being exposed to some type of poison,” Ferguson said. “Those exposures range from alcohol poisoning to farm chemicals, to household cleaning products and even vapes.”
These exposures each month to poison leads
to approximately 6,500 contacts a month between patients and providers. The CTPC is staffed by doctors, nurses and pharmacists, all of whom have been specially trained in toxicology and certified by America’s Poison Center, a national organization. If a person calls the CTPC and is directed to go to the local ER, the staff at the CTPC follow the patient’s case until he or she is released from the hospital and provides followup contact as needed.
The CTPC is staffed 24/7, and all their info is free. Central Texas residents are encouraged to call if they even suspect they might have been exposed to a poisonous substance whether it was swallowed, inhaled or came in contact with their skin. Texas Poison Center Network works hard to educate the public about how to stay safe from poison by publishing monthly email newsletters, and providing presentations and resources for parents, educators, and schools. On the TPCN website, folks can access monthly blogs and a series of podcasts. One of the newest additions is a YouTube video for kids. While
educating the public about poison awareness, Ferguson also wants folks to know that it is okay to call the Poison Control at any time.
“Some people may hesitate to call for a variety of reasons, especially if they're worried about possible consequences,” she explained. “We want people to know that when they contact CTPC, their privacy is protected by HIPAA. Our role is not to report callers or involve law enforcement. We’re here to provide confidential support and help connect people with the resources they need.”
”We’re here to provide confidential support and help connect people with the resources they need.”
— Tommie Ferguson
If you think someone has been poisoned, call CTPC at 1-800-222-1222 right away. Do not wait for the victim to look or feel sick. Do not try to treat the person yourself. Poison Centers keep millions of people out of hospitals each year.
By BRANDY CRUZ | Photos by BECKY STINEHOUR and courtesy of LIVE AND LET LIV YOGA STUDIO
For more than a decade, Live and Let Liv Yoga Studio has become far more than a place to stretch or sweat, it has served as a sanctuary for healing, resilience and connection — especially for the military veterans, active-duty service members and families who call Central Texas home.
“I love that here, we share our culture, love and kindness, and strength with the world,” studio owner Stephanie Alvarez said, beaming. “That this community continues to be a place to return home to, or to settle in like it was always theirs, no matter how far away they came from, or how long ago.”
That philosophy has resonated deeply in Killeen, just beyond the gates of Fort Hood, known as “The Great Place,” where service, sacrifice and transition are woven into the fabric of daily life.
Live and Let Liv Yoga opened in January 2014 as the first dedicated yoga studio in Central Texas. The studio was founded by Lisa Kelly — an Army veteran, nurse and spouse of a retired veteran — whose life has long been centered around service and wellness. Inspired by personal loss, including the death of her mother to breast cancer at age 36, Kelly envisioned a place devoted to healing, community and holistic health.
The studio was named after her daughter, Liv, who was born on the summer solstice — a day celebrated globally as International Yoga Day.
“Liv is, by all rights, a miracle child. She was born with sunshine and the spirit of a true Yogi and healer in her heart,” Alvarez shared. “She is kind generous, compassionate,
LIVE AND LET LIV YOGA STUDIO
Address: 3803 Levy Lane, Suite 102 in Killeen
Website: LiveAndLetLivYoga.com
Email: LiveAndLetLivYoga@gmail.com
Facebook/Instagram: @liveandletlivyoga
Phone: 254-290-3876
loving, honest, joyful, playful, strong, super smart, and above all else, she illuminates the world around her everywhere she goes.”
Liv’s passion to make the world a better place inspired her mom and that same spirit and passion now inspires Alvarez. She explained how she discovered yoga by learning from VHS tapes, library books and magazines — long before formal yoga spaces existed locally. When she first discovered the studio in the spring of 2014, she was already deeply invested in yoga. What began as attending public classes soon evolved into mentorship, teacher training and eventually ownership.
After earning her 200-hour yoga teacher certification in 2017 and
additional certifications in pranayama, meditation, advanced leadership and yin yoga, she stepped into studio management in 2019.
Then came 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic shut down businesses across the country, Kelly, who was running the COVID unit at the Temple VA Hospital, decided to sell the studio. In the midst of uncertainty in the wake of the pandemic, ownership transferred. After five months of closure, Live and Let Liv Yoga reopened on Labor Day 2020.
“I was handed the keys to the sanctuary,” she added. “Every single day I get to ‘liv’ the labor of love.”
In a city where military service shapes daily life, Live and Let Liv Yoga
has intentionally become a refuge for veterans, active-duty personnel and military families.
The studio offers a free monthly community class for veterans, active-duty service members, first responders, teachers, veterinarians and their spouses or support caregivers.
It has also hosted yoga sessions for military physical training programs and provides trauma-informed instruction designed to support those navigating stress, anxiety, PTSD and other challenges often associated with military service.
“We are passionate about serving those who serve us,” Alvarez said.
That mission is deeply personal.
Her husband is a veteran, and many of her family members — including uncles, grandparents and currently serving relatives — have military ties. Over the years, the studio has welcomed countless service members and spouses through its doors.
“The amount of that community we've been lucky enough to live and Continued
practice next to is humbling,” she said.
For veterans, yoga offers benefits that extend far beyond flexibility. Breathwork, meditation and mindful movement can help regulate the nervous system, reduce stress, improve sleep and create space for healing. At Live and Let Liv, those practices are delivered with compassion and understanding.
They also share that same compassion with people who have survived breast cancer and domestic violence. They advocate for women’s health and rights, and hope to be a place of awareness and healing for survivors of all types of trauma. The studio’s trauma-informed teachers work to create an environment where people can move at their own pace, reconnect with their bodies and find tools for resilience that extend into everyday life.
Alvarez said it’s not unusual for former students stationed overseas to continue joining classes virtually from Germany, California and beyond.
That enduring connection speaks volumes about the community the studio has cultivated. Ask anyone at Live and Let LIV what makes the studio unique, and the answer is immediate: the commUNITY.
Killeen’s transient population — shaped by military relocation, hospital systems and Central Texas’ crossroads location — creates an ever-changing mosaic of people from around the world. At any given class, longtime locals may practice alongside firsttime visitors, military spouses, healthcare workers and people just passing through the area.
“It's incredibly beautiful to see how they still breathe and flow in sync next to one another,” she said. “We are tight-knit. We are diverse. We are small. We are mighty.”
Some students have practiced there since day one in 2014. Others discover the studio while stationed in Central Texas and carry its teachings with them when they move on.
That ebb and flow has become part of the studio’s identity. It is a
place where people arrive carrying life’s challenges and often leave with something lighter. The studio offers classes seven days a week, morning and evening, because as the owner puts it, “Life happens and doesn’t stop, and you never know when you’re going to need yoga.”
To keep up-to-date in the latest yoga trends and to be the person her clients turn to, Alvarez has undergone trauma-informed training. Her major certifications include Experienced Certified Yoga Teacher (E-RYT), which involves 500 hours of training. She is also currently a Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP), which involves certification every three years to maintain up-todate knowledge in the field.
Beyond classes, the studio hosts workshops, private sessions, energy healing services and community collaborations with local wellnessfocused businesses.
Its outreach has included events with Texas A&M staff for World Mental Health Day and community gatherings drawing more than 200 participants.
When asked what accomplishment
she is most proud of, her answer isn’t a statistic.
Instead, she reflects on the faces of the thousands of students and more than 50 teachers who have shared breath, movement and healing inside the studio walls.
“How do you measure 12 years of living?” she asks.
Perhaps it’s measured in the stillness the studio creates, the resilience it inspires, or the countless lives quietly changed one breath at a time.
As Live and Let Liv Yoga Studio continues to grow, its vision remains rooted in service.
The goal is to expand outreach, deepen partnerships with other local small businesses and continue building a pillar of peace, wellness and resilience for Central Texas.
For the Central Texas community that means continued access to a space designed to restore, reconnect and heal. Live and Let LIV offers a reminder that true resilience also requires stillness. Sometimes healing begins with simply taking a breath. And at Live and Let Liv Yoga, that breath is always waiting.
1. and 2. Members of the 1st Cavalry Division Band perform during the Red, White & Blue Festival in downtown Killeen. 3.Children enjoy a ride on the carousel during the festival. 4. A girl sits in a harness after letting go of the rock wall.
Photos by BECKY STINEHOUR
1 and 2. Kelly Willis performs at the Cultural Activities Center in Temple.
3. After the show, Kelly Willis takes photos with fans.
