I walked into the garage sev

from December 2019

by Hoopla Magazine

I walked to the mailbox to get

Sponsored by The Daughters of the American Revolution WEATHERFORD CHAPTER

Ceremony at East Greenwood Cemetery 400 Front St. Weatherford, TX 76086 11:00 am Saturday 12/14/2019

For more information, contact Harriet Helm 817-247-9957

was married. It brought holiday cheer to her new home.

Paper piecing is a quilting technique that most quilters try at least once. Usually it is a case of “love it or hate it.” The tree pattern of Dixie’s wall hanging uses that technique because of having many pieces with sharp angles in the design. After losing her mother in 2013, Dixie made her “Christmas tree,” decorated it with her mother’s pins and brooches and continued to use it for several years as her only tree. I created Sir Frosty from a collage pattern. He cheers up the room. Wishing you the most wonderful Christmas holiday season! Get quilting! GUILD From Page 10

Dixie Ehrhorn

Locally Owned and Operated Since 1958 To sponsor a wreath, mail checks made to Wreaths Across America to

Sonja Davis PO Box 1445 Aledo, TX 76008 = =

817-594-2612 103 W. Church St. • Weatherford BUTANE CO. INC. PROPANE SALES & SERVICE

Owners: Morris and Judy V (Kemp) White

Tank Sales • Leasing • Gas Grills • Gas Logs

Jean McBride

COURTESY

Kay Burleson

GIVE THE PERSON WHO HAS EVERYTHING, THE GIFT THAT MEANS EVERYTHING.

This holiday, give a wonderful, heartfelt and practical gift—an Air Evac Lifeteam membership. In a life-or-limb-threatening medical emergency, your loved one’s successful recovery can depend on how much time it takes to reach definitive care. An Air Evac Lifeteam air ambulance can cut that time in half. And saving those precious minutes can mean the difference. Have a safe holiday season!

SEWING WORLD

Personal Customer Service

Sewing • Quilting • Embroidery • Serger Machines SALES, SERVICES & ACCESSORIES $ 15 OFF A Complete Service Of Your Sewing, Embroidery Or Serger Machine

“A stitch above the rest.” 817-599-6643 2201 FT. WORTH HWY. , WEATHERFORD TUES.-FRI. 9:30 A.M. - 6 P.M. • SAT. 9:30 A.M.-5 P.M. WWW.SEWINGWORLDINC.COM

A historic Christmas not so long ago Courthouse tree lighting is relatively new event that now draws thousands

Years ago, County Judge Mark Riley started a Facebook page asking folks to recall fond memories of the Parker County Historic Courthouse. There was tremendous response including some memories of the Christmas traditions of years past. Someone posted about the Christmas star atop the courthouse wondering whatever hap pened to it. Roberta Jones Furman posted about how much she missed the Christmas music that came from the courthouse.

Turns out, in the late 1980s to early 1990s the courthouse roof was replaced requiring the removal of the Christmas star and lighting. The Facebook posts certainly must have sparked something in Judge Riley’s heart which he would later title “Lighting of the Courthouse

Christmas Tree Event.” In the spring of that year Judge Riley asked Donna Tillman if she would agree to head up a committee to see the project through. Candles, which would light all the windows in the county courthouse, would be purchased in honor or memory of local citizens. All donations were to cover the cost of the tree and lights. Judge Riley never could have anticipated the response of the Weatherford community as funds poured in. The 321 candles not only covered expenses for the tree but, also, the new star atop the courthouse!

On the night of the Lighting of the Courthouse Christmas Tree Event, Judge Riley announced that Christmas music would again be heard from the courthouse – Saturdays and every evening from 5 to 10 p.m. He also stressed the separation of this event from Christmas on the Square during his introduction that night, “this is not the same as Christmas on the Square.”

The project was a success. Folks were packed around the square and lined up and down North and South Main streets as Weatherford citizens sought to connect hometown past to future generations. Lifetime resident, Mrs. Venita Winston, best describes the event that evening in her recollection: “When we got to the downtown area that night it was packed with people and cars. It was a very festive atmosphere; the air was crisp but not cold. Every window of the courthouse had candles lit in them. The names of each giving family were read. The program was broadcast through speakers for all to hear. Businesses surrounding the square were decorated. The choir made the night so special and Christmassy. “Around the west side of the courthouse was the Nativity Scene. I felt transported back to my youth as I remembered coming to town and gathering around the square and courthouse.

“It was that social contact that made me feel so connected to my little town and I felt it again! This whole event really conveyed the Christmas spirit that night as so many people were there shoulder to shoulder around the Christmas tree.”

Venita, now member emeritus to the Parker County Historic Commission, had been asked to help flip the switch lighting the Christmas tree and stars atop the courthouse the night of the event – November 30, 2013. Remember When by Debbie Arwood MACK DOBBS

n Neighbors We’ll Miss

n Johnny Kirkland Nov. 12, 2019 n Max Cameron Ratheal Nov. 12, 2019 n Sylvia Marybeth Brown Nov. 12, 2019 n Mary E. Vaughn Nov. 12, 201 n Orland Jack Murphy Nov. 11, 2019 n Sondra Anne Nelms Nov. 10, 2019 n Eleanor McKee Nov. 9, 2019 n Kimberly Ann Knight Nov. 9, 2019 n Charles D. Sturdivant Nov. 7, 2019 n Marcus Dean Turner Nov. 7, 2019 n Carolyn Sue Born Nov. 6, 2019 n Billy Ralph Francis Nov. 4, 2019 n Lanetta Gwen Johnson Nov. 1, 2019 n Norma Ruth Gibson Nov. 1, 2019 n Virginia Lynn Thomas Nov. 2, 2019 n Daniel Mize Nov. 2, 2019 n Janet M. Liles Oct. 31, 2019 n Joyce Jones Moore Oct. 31, 2019 n Marie Hauff Oct. 31, 2019 n Warren Thomas Gillum Oct. 31, 2019 n Judy McVeigh Cordell Oct. 29, 2019 n Gregory James Hager Oct. 29, 2019 n Dorothy Mae Marshall Oct. 29, 2019 n Joyce Vermillion Oct. 28, 2019 n Thomas Guy “T.G.” Willie Oct. 25, 2019 n Jerry Moon Mullins Oct. 25, 2019 n Dorothy Louise Whisenant Oct. 25, 2019 n Marie Lucille Leath Oct. 22, 2019 n Kevin Marshall Cravens Oct. 20, 2019

Crossword n Crossword Puzzle(Puzzle solution is on P. 16.)

by Margie E. Burke

ACROSS 1 Tapering hairstyles 6 Donations for the poor 10 Track assignment 14 Bungling 15 Cut the crop 16 One more time 17 Heart chambers 18 Reid of "American Pie" 19 "___ la France!" 20 Antique photo 22 Scam artist 24 Icy coating 25 Eavesdroppers, say 26 In _____ (not present) 30 Moral misstep 31 Tuckered out 32 Sun. sermonizer 33 Minor quake 37 Polish off 62 Shakespeare, 7 Grazing spot 35 ____ the edge 38 Bitty bouquet the Bard of ___ 8 Alligator's haunt 36 Count (on) 40 She played Jan 63 Math course, 9 Skylab was the 38 Lowest point on a 60's sitcom briefly first U.S. one 39 Zero on the 41 Bone-boring tool 64 Cake topping 10 Penny played scoreboard 43 Decompose 65 Canvas cover her on TV 42 Role for a 44 Film spool 66 Pantyhose flaw 11 Japanese "Grey's Anato45 Classifieds 67 Golf attendant cartoons my" extra 46 Deodorant or 12 Now or _____ 44 Model plane, e.g. shampoo, e.g. DOWN 13 Decorative 47 Milk-related 48 Three- 1 Italy-based car pitchers 48 Comic strip dimensional company 21 St. Jude and St. sound 52 "General 2 "Nay" sayer Joseph, et. al. 49 Put to the test Hospital", e.g. 3 "Jurassic Park" 23 Like Sasquatch 50 Hank of baseball 53 Flat grassland actress 26 Assist, in a way 51 Find out 54 Hemmed-in 4 "The Terrible" 27 Kodiak, for one 55 Dry-as-dust territory for Ivan, e.g. 28 Fill to excess 56 Peddle 58 Folk stories 5 Decide not to 29 Turn away 57 Nervously 59 Church center quit 34 Place for a irritable 61 Ready for a nap 6 Vital vessels hurdle 60 By way of Copyright 2019 by The Puzzle Syndicate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67

December 2019 by artist Diane Brown

2019 DECEMBER SAT 7 Christmas on the Square - Weatherford 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parade at 10 a.m.

6

5 14 Chandor Garden Open House, 2 to 4 p.m. Candlelight Tour of Homes 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Christmas at the Castle 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

12 13 Holiday in the Park 6 to 10 p.m. Heritage Park Santa’s Senior & Socks Charity Breakfast 9 a.m. to 10:30 Providence Title, 102 Houston Ave. Bring new socks/slippers for area seniors.

20 21 Mobile Food Pantry 10 a.m., South Main Church of Christ, 201 S. Main Street Downtown Night Out 4 to 8 p.m. Weatherford

19 Book Club 6 to 7:30 p.m. Weatherford Public Library

TUE 3 4 Parker County Retired School Personnel , 11:30 a.m., Doss Heritage & Culture Center

10 11 Evergreen Potluck , 10:30 am, North Side Baptist 20th Century Club Noon potluck 321 S. Main D.A.R. Christmas Social 2 p.m., North Side Baptist

SUN 2

1First Monday Trade Days 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Annual Holiday Memorial Service Galbreaith Pickard Funeral Chapel, 3 p.m.

9Weatherford Art Association Christmas Party 6 p.m., Boo-Rays (Hudson Oaks)

8 18

17 Needlework Group 6 to 7:30 p.m. Weatherford Public Library

16

15 28 Open Mic Night 7 p.m., R&K on Santa Fe

27

26

25 Christmas Day

WEEKLY HAPPENINGS

n Wednesday Paint Group , Wednesdays, noon to 3 p.m., Hobby Lobby.

n Bible Study Ages 55+ , Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m., First Baptist Church Chapel, 222 W. Church Street

n Senior League Golf Game , Tuesdays, 9 a.m., Oeste Ranch, 817-441-1044.

24 31 Christmas Eve New Year’s Eve

www.free-printable-calendar.com 60+ Mass & Potluck Lunch , 11 a.m. St. Stephen Catholic Church 1802 Bethel Rd. ✓ EXPERIENCE YOU CAN TRUST! Only American Standard has OVER 140 years of experience and offers the Liberation Walk-In Bathtub. ✓ SUPERIOR DESIGN! Ultra low easy entry and exit design, wide door, built-in safety bar and textured floor provides a safer bathing experience. ✓ PATENTED QUICK-DRAIN ® TECHNOLOGY ✓ LIFETIME WARRANTY! The ONLY Lifetime Warranty on the bath AND installation, INCLUDING labor backed by American Standard. ✓ 44 HYDROTHERAPY JETS! More than any other tub we’ve seen. WALK - IN BATHTUB SALE! SAVE $1,500 866-212-1991 Or visit: www.walkintubinfo.com/hoopla Limited Time Offer! Call Today! Walk-In Tubs FREE! An In-Home Evaluation Will Be Scheduled At Your Earliest Convenience FREE! Savings Include an American Standard Right Height Toilet FREE! ($500 Value) Discount applied at time of purchase. Terms and Conditions Apply. * Subject to 3rd party credit approval. Minimum monthly payments required. Receive a free American Standard Cadet Toilet with full installation of a Liberation Walk-In Bath, Liberation Shower, or Deluxe Shower. Offer valid only while supplies last. Limit one per household. Must be first time purchaser. All offers subject to change prior to purchase. See www.AmericanStandardBathtubs.com for other restrictions and for licensing, warranty, and company information. * CSLB B982796; Suffolk NY:5543IH; NYC:HIC#2022748-DCA. Safety Tubs Co. LLC does not sell in Nassau NY, Westchester NY, Putnam NY, Rockland NY.

23 30

16 Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Residents 55+ December 2019 Not too soon for end-of-year financial moves We’ve still got a couple of months until 2019 draws to a close, but it’s not too early to make some endof-the-year financial moves. In fact, it may be a good idea to take some of these steps sooner rather than later.

Here are a few suggestions: Boost your 401(k) contributions. Like many people, you might not usually contribute the maximum amount to your 401(k), which, in 2019 is $19,000, or $25,000 if you’re 50 or older. Ask your employer if you can in crease your 401(k) contributions in 2019, and if you receive a bonus before the year ends, you may be able to use that toward your 401(k), too.

Add to your IRA. You have until April 15, 2020, to contribute to your IRA for the 2019 tax year, but the more you can put in now and over the next few months, the less you’ll have to come up with in a hur ry at the filing deadline. For 2019, you can put up to $6,000 in your IRA, or $7,000 if you’re 50 or older. Review your portfolio. It’s always a good idea to review your investment portfolio at least once a year, and now is as good a time as any. But don’t make any judgments based solely on your results over the past 10 months. Instead, look carefully at how your portfo lio is constructed. Is it still properly diversified, or has it become overweighted in some areas? Does it still fit your risk tolerance, or do you find yourself worrying excessively about short-term price swings? These are the types of factors that might lead you to make some changes, possibly with the help of a financial profes sional.

Don’t forget about your RMDs. Once you turn 70½, you generally need to start taking withdrawals – the technical term is “required minimum distribu tions,” or RMDs – from your traditional IRA and your 401(k) or similar plan. After the first year in which you take these RMDs, you must take them by the end of each year thereafter. If you don’t withdraw at least the minimum amount (calculated based on your age, ac count balance and other factors) you face a penalty of 50% of what you should have taken out – a potential loss of thousands of dollars. So, take your RMDs before Dec. 31. The financial services provider that administers your IRA or 401(k) can help you determine the amount you must withdraw.

Think about next year’s op portunities. It happens to almost all of us: A year has passed, and we haven’t taken the actions we had planned. So, start thinking now about what you want to do in 2020 from a financial standpoint. Can you afford to ratchet up your investments in your retire ment plans? If you have children or grandchildren, have you started saving for college? Have you considered ways to protect your financial independence if you ever need some type of long-term care, such as an extended nursing home stay? If these or other items are on your financial to-do list, start planning now to get them done next year.

Time goes quickly – so don’t get left behind without having taken the steps to keep moving toward your financial goals. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Adviser, Mary H. McDow, 102 Houston Ave., Suite 203, 817-598-0882. Member SPIC Money Matters by Mary H. McDow Edward Jones Adviser Solution to Crossword: F A D E S A L M S L A N E I N E P T R E A P A N E W A T R I A T A R A V I V E T I N T Y P E S C H E M E R H O A R H E A R E R S A B S E N T I A S I N B E A T R E V T R E M O R E A T N O S E G A Y E V E T R E P A N R O T R E E L A D S T O I L E T R Y S P A T I A L S O A P P R A I R I E E N C L A V E L O R E N A V E T I R E D A V O N T R I G I C I N G T E N T S N A G C A D D Y Solution to Crossword: Copyright 2019 by The Puzzle Syndicate

Solution to Sudoku: 5 6 7 4 2 3 1 8 8 2 1 9 7 3 6 4 5 9 4 5 8 6 1 7 2 3 7 3 6 5 4 2 1 8 9 3 9 7 1 8 5 4 6 2 1 8 4 2 9 6 5 3 7 6 5 2 7 3 4 8 9 1 4 6 9 3 1 7 2 5 8 5 7 8 4 2 9 3 1 6 2 1 3 6 5 8 9 7 4 Solution to Sudoku: Who found the frog? The winner of last month’s hidden frog contest is Sandra Patton, who found the frog on page 12 . To enter this month’s contest, submit your name, address, phone number, and a brief description of where you saw the hidden frog (not the frog on this page) to Hoo pla, P.O. Box 305, Weatherford, Texas 76086 or e-mail seniors@ hooplamagazine.com.

Contestants will be entered into a drawing for one of three $25 gift certificates.

Read next month’s issue to see if you’ve won.

Winners must contact Hoo pla within 90 days to claim their prize.

Fit to be tried

My son bought me one of those watches that tracks your daily number of steps, monitors your heartbeat, and I think it can you tell you the correct time, but I haven’t gotten that far in the direc tions. I’d like to “walk you through” what has happened since I re ceived the gift. That’s probably not the appropriate expression, but I’m trying to trick my watch into thinking I’m actually exercising. In order for it to record steps, your arms have to swing back and forth. I spent half an hour in Kroger the other day pushing my cart, but it showed I had not taken a single step because my hands were grasping the cart’s handle. At one point I was so frustrated, I just started flapping my arms like a bird. The manager must have as

Carry On by Dick Wolfsie Humorist

sumed I didn’t speak English because he led me over to where they roast the chickens.

Since I received this present, several stories about the devices have been published, which have given me pause — which I can’t enjoy for very long because any prolonged period of inactivity sets off a little alarm. It’s a good thing I am a restless sleeper.

A story in Prevention magazine said that the idea of 10,000 steps per day, the conventional goal often cited as a guideline, has no scientific basis. Apparently, someone just made this number up. It’s probably the same guy who made up eight glasses of water a day, and eight hours of sleep. I have always questioned the three-meals-a-day concept, so I’ve gone to five, which at least involves moving my right arm a lot more.

By the way, my dentist told me during my last visit that the conventional wisdom suggesting you see your dentist twice a year also has no basis in research. He thinks (no surprise here) that you should visit your dental office three times a year. However, he recommended I see him four times a year because I have deep pockets. I’m not sure if he was talking about my gums or if it was because I told him I made a few good investments last year. One final odd occurrence worth noting. When I looked at my watch this morning, I had walked 1,267 steps while I was asleep. The cookie jar was empty and someone had mown the lawn in the middle of the night. Two Ambien before bed might be one more than I need. Personally, I think I get plenty of walking in each day. Here are a few examples from just this past week: 1. I walked to the mailbox to get the pound of lox I ordered from a NY deli.

2. I walked downstairs to our second freezer to sneak a scoop of Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia, which I had hidden from my wife. 3. I walked from the living room where I was taking a nap to the bedroom to get a good night’s sleep.

4. I walked from the pro shop to my golf cart.

5. I walked into the garage several times to get on my riding lawn mower.

I plan to walk to my office every day. It’s not my fault I work out of my house, but it’s at least taking steps in the right direction.

CRUISE & TRAVEL $SPECIAL$ (Personally escorted by Tom & Rita Paul - for “seamless” travel and guaranteed fun!) For color flyers/details, visit www.PaulsCruises.com - or email at Info@PaulsCruises.com

Don’t miss out!

2 Special VIPP Tour-Cruise Combo Adventures June 7 and July 19 ALASKA $ 2599 pp from

PaulsCruises.com Hurst 817-589-7447 Voted BEST Travel Agency (FtWorthy.com) Arlington 817-572-7285 Nationwide 800-327-3533 7 Nights, Germany Nov. 22, 2020 CHRISTMAS MARKETS $ 2648 pp from NATIONAL PARKS $ 3999 pp from just Sept. 3-14, 2020 Deluxe 12-night tour! Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Bryce Canyon and So Much More! RHINE RIVER CRUISE

Giving my best winter tips

I’m hoping the second half of Winter 2019-2020 turns out to be little gentler than the first half be gan. With that in mind I’ve chosen some topics that should be of interest here in and around Parker County. Plant: • Living Christmas trees, but I may take you to a place you didn’t expect. Most of the types you’ll see sold (Alberta spruce, Colora do blue spruce, even Eldarica pines, etc.) end up not being well suited to our area. Consider a conical holly, pref erably an Oakland or Willowleaf holly that’s been specially trained. Or, for a smaller space, one of the improved Japanese boxwoods. • Pansies and violas, pinks, snapdragons, sweet alyssum, “hardy” cyclamen and ornamental cab bage and kale for container color at your entry or patio.

• Tulips and Dutch hyacinths that you’ve had chilling in the refrigerator for at least 45 days. Plant during the final two weeks of De cember. Remember that massed plantings show up better in the landscape than long, single-file rows.

• Fruit and pecan trees thrive in Parker County. Buy recommended varieties for your best chance of success. Your county office of the Texas AgriLife Extension will have a list on its website, and Texasbased gardening references will, too. Buy from reliable sources such as independent retail garden centers or Texas-based mailorder nurseries. Prune: • Peach and plum trees to remove strongly vertical growth. Your goal is to encourage bowlshaped branching. There will be a sizeable amount of vertical new growth to remove each year.

• Grapes to remove as much as 80 to 85 percent of the cane growth. In doing so your vines will produce fewer clusters of grapes, but they’ll be of far greater quality.

• Shrubs to remove erratic shoots, but save major reshaping until the second half of the winter. Fertilize: • Cool-season annual color with a water-soluble, liquid product each time that you water them. • Houseplants, by comparison, will need only two or three feedings over the entire winter. On the Lookout: • Giant bark aphids will be present on branches of pecans and other trees. You’ll see drips of their sticky honeydew on surfaces below. It’s hard to justify treating, however.

• Watch houseplants for signs of insects such as mealybugs, scales, aphids and whiteflies. Treat immediately if they appear. Timely Tips by Neil Sperry Gardening Expert

You’ve been seeing these in bloom for the past several weeks. They’re great tropical plants that are often handed down for generations. But how do they grow? More importantly, how do we grow them successfully?

The quick facts…

• Members of the Cactus family.

• Native to tropical jungles of South America. • Grow suspended in trees where their seeds and stem sections get caught in debris in the crotches of tree limbs.

• They’re very efficient at capturing moisture from incident rainfall and from the organic matter around their roots.

• Nutrients come from the decaying organic matter of the fallen leaves. • Like mums and poinsettias, they are “photoperiodic.” They measure the length of their dark periods, and when nights become long enough they will start producing their flower buds.

• What some may call “leaves” are actually stem segments. New plants can be started by pieces of the stems containing two or three segments of the stems.

• Give Christmas cacti bright, indirect light. Use a loose, highly organic planting soil. Keep water off the stems, especially if the sun is heating them up.

• Protect from temperatures below 45F and certainly anything approaching freezing. Christmas Cactus NEIL SPERRY