March 2023

Spotlighting North Central Texas Seniors

March 2023

Hoopla

Inside:

• Weatherford volunteer Paul Monk

• Acton Nature Center’s Dr. Billy Teel

• A month’s worth of fun

Fort Worth Memories

Larry O’Neal’s museum brings visitors from far and wide

50 Years ago

Happy birthday to the cellular phone, which turns 50 this year! Motorola invented the handheld device in 1973. Unlike today’s lightweight models, it was only 2.5 pounds!

Obviously, most of us were still talking on landlines back then. And what were we talking about?

1. Peace and love: Bell-bottoms, tie-dye and platform shoes were still all the rage. The Paris Peace Accord brought Vietnam to a close.

2. Music: The top song of the year was “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown,” but classics like “You’re So Vain,” by Carly Simon, “Crocodile Rock,” by Elton John and “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree,” by Tony Orlando were also big hits.

3. Food: Processed foods like Spam were popular, especially with moms heading into the work force. Tab was a favorite for those watching their weight. Milk was $1.40. Eggs were 69 cents. An entire package of Oreos cost 59 cents.

4. Television: The 1970s were a time when the entire family gathered around the television to watch popular shows, like The Waltons, M*A*S*H, and All in the Family.

5. Children: Our kids loved Evil Knievel. They played with Baby Alive, Hippity Hops, Shrinky Dinks, and walkie talkies. They roamed the streets and didn’t come home until the street lights came on.

6. Movies: The biggest film of 1973 was “The Exorcist,” starring Baby Boomer Linda Blair, who was 14 years old.

7. Politics: President Richard Nixon was under fire after journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein pieced together his involvement in a break-in at the Democratic Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

CELLPHONE

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Fort Worth Memories

O’Neal’s museum and Facebook group draw thousands

by John English Hoopla Correspondent

Larry O’Neal has had a near-lifelong affection for the city of Fort Worth.

Owner and operator of the Fort Worth Memories Museum which opened in 2014, O’Neal, 71, said that his mission is to leave a documented account of the history of Fort Worth from 1849 to present day.

“I started collecting deeds and a few other things, and now I’ve got over 89,000 pieces,” O’Neal said.

Growing up in Richland Hills, O’Neal moved to Fort Worth after he graduated high school and has been collecting artifacts and other tidbits for the last 42 years.

“Over the years, a lot of people have come

to visit,” O’Neal said. “They are amazed. A big portion of the things in the museum are one of a kind that you can’t duplicate.”

O’Neal, who now lives in Azle, said it started out with him buying items on Ebay, and then he started getting invited to higher class sales, like Christie’s Auction House and Sotheby’s.

And O’Neal spares no expense, spending tens of thousands of dollars on some items.

“I’ve got 20 voter registration books that I bought from Christie’s from 1880 to 1900 in Fort Worth,” O’Neal said. “They were all certified by the county assessor.”

Each book cost $3,000 a piece. One of the city’s major early benefactors is represented as well.

“Amon Carter had 85 keys to the city made that were all photo op keys,” O’Neal said. “And he gave them to presidents and so forth, take pictures with them and then take the keys back. I’ve got 67 of those keys.”

O’Neal estimates that he has spent between $3 and $4 million over the years.

Owner of the Classic Auto Detail shop where he has worked for the last 47 years, O’Neal is fiercely loyal his adopted hometown.

“My museum is the only museum in Fort Worth that is all Fort Worth,” O’Neal said. “There’s no Dallas. In my group, we call Dal-

las the City to the East.”

O’Neal said his main objective with the museum is for it to serve as a testament to all of the people who made Fort Worth into the city that it is today.

“I want to preserve what it used to be like in Fort Worth,” O’Neal said. “To remind people of what our foremothers and forefathers had to endure for us to have a great city.”

O’Neal has also done bike give aways for the last 36 years, the most recent of which took place at Farrington Field, and presented another potential avenue to acquire more products.

“A guy came over from the Fort Worth ISD, and we set up a contract to do it (the bike give away) for 10 more years,” O’Neal said. “He told me they had sold the old Fort Worth administration building to Bob Bass.

“He said they had a lot of stuff from back in the early 1800s. He said ‘We don’t know if it’s good, bad or whatever. Would you go through it and archive it, and be the curator?’ and I said ‘Certainly.’”

O’Neal, who has more than 6,400 items in his current museum, said his dream is to be in a city-owned building one day.

“I want everyone who comes into the museum to leave satisfied,” O’Neal said. “Usually, people come in there with a spe-

O’Neal’s Facebook groups have over 190,000 members who love to reminisce about Fort Worth’s past.

Azle’s Larry O’Neal with actor Barry Corbin at the Fort Worth Memories Museum.

O’Neal has hosted a bike giveaway every Christmas for the last 36 years. In 2022, the community worked together to give away 640 bikes.

COURTESY

cific question, and it feels great to be able to answer them.”

And O’Neal prides himself in his ability to do so.

“I’ve never had anybody ask me a question that I couldn’t answer,” O’Neal said. “I wasn’t very far out of high school when I started getting the itch for Fort Worth history.”

One of his more memorable encounters came with a Fort Worthian named Fisk Hanley, a decorated war veteran who lived to be 100 and was liberated from a Japanese death camp during WWII.

Fisk was a graduate of Carter-Riverside, and O’Neal was able to find his yearbook and present it to him. Fisk then signed the yearbook and donated it back to the museum.

Almost equally impressive to his efforts with the museum is that O’Neal has also gradually built a massive online presence, with multiple Facebook groups including one called Fort Worth Memories.

He also has pages called FWM Restaurants, Roadhouses, Cafes and Menus, Fort Worth Photos, New or Old, and a Fort

Worth Sports Group.

“I’ve got a lot of people on Facebook,” O’Neal said. “Since the Internet came along, I’ve started these groups. All of my Facebook groups combined together is more than 190,000 people, and I’ve got about five or six different platforms. We kind of just grew into a group of caring people, and as we’ve aged, we’ve let the city know some of the things that are important to us.”

O’Neal’s group lobbied, for instance, to have the Forest Park miniature train railroad fixed, and are pushing to have LaGrave Field renovated.

“We kind of keep our eyes on how the city’s run and let our voice be heard,” O’Neal said. “People will say, ‘Hey, Larry, we don’t like how this or that is going,’ so I’ll put a poll out there (on Facebook) and send the mayor and city council members the results. We figure they can’t ignore 190,000 people.”

O’Neal conducts live videos throughout the day on varying topics related to Fort Worth, where he interviews local dignitaries and certain celebrities.

He said that Fort Worth has a storied

past with rich traditions and said if there was one thing he could emphasize it would be to embrace them.

“What really gets to me is that we don’t teach local history to the extent that I would like to,” O’Neal said. “When kids are in the third or fourth grade, that’s when you really need to start teaching them.”

O’Neal said he loves interacting with the patron’s of his museum and Facebook pages and welcomes anyone who is interested in learning more about the city he loves to visit both.

“I’ve got so many one-of-a-kind things and stuff that is memorable to people that come into the museum, and the good thing is that they don’t just get a look see; they can ask questions,” O’Neal said. “I can answer and really go into detail about everything that’s in there. I’m very passionate about the museum and everything that’s in it.”

The Fort Worth Memories Museum is located at 1633 Rogers Road in Fort Worth in the TCU area.

Tours take approximately one hour and admission is $10 per person.

The museum is open Monday – Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (last tour starts at 1 p.m.), and Sunday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. (last tour at noon).

(Continued from P. 4)

‘I’ve got so many one-of-a-kind things.’

– Larry O’Neal of Fort Worth Memories Museum

Pictured at left, O’Neal and friends gather frequently to discuss Fort Worth history, but they also talk about what’s happening in the city now and work with officials to make things better. At right, Larry welcomes Amon G. Carter III to the museum.

COURTESY COURTESY

Making them smile

Weatherford man encourages retirees to help community

by Krista Allen Hoopla

One of the greatest gifts you can give a community is the donation of your time. Weatherford resident Paul Monk has given his community a bit of each day, with selflessness and compassion, for over a decade.

Paul, 72, grew up in Borger, just outside of Amarillo. He said his upbringing played a large role in the man he is today.

“My dad was one of those that if someone needed help, you give it,” said Paul “He basically pushed that on us – to always help your fellow man. We never had a lot of money, which was good, probably, because I always realized that money is not important. And, that is one of my driving principles – money doesn’t mean anything.”

Paul was a linguist during the Vietnam War and Desert Storm. It was his job to communicate between the U.S soldiers and

Civil Affairs. He said it was one of the greatest experiences of his lifetime, teaching and learning from so many people and being exposed to diverse cultural views.

When he returned stateside, he served in the Armed Guard while working at Lockheed Martin. He also met the love of his life, Deborah, and had three daughters.

Tragedy struck in 2012 when Deborah passed away and Paul, who’d recently retired, had to find a new purpose in life.

“I find most of the people who are retired either love it or hate it,” he said. “If they have something to do, they love it. If they have nothing to do, they hate it.”

So Paul decided to volunteer. He started small, just delivering Meals On Wheels, but then the list grew with each need he encountered.

Currently, he volunteers with GriefShare out of South Main Church of Christ, Dementia In Perspective, The American Legion, and Knights of Columbus, in addition to Meals On Wheels.

Paul also joined the Citizens Police Alumni Association.

“We do traffic for all the football games, all the parades, anything in the square, a lot of stuff at Heritage Park, such as Christmas in the Park,” he said.

He’s also involved with Dementia Group Connect Camp.

“You’re basically giving caregivers a chance to go get a breath,” he explained. “Most of the caregivers are siblings or parents or it’s the children of the parents or siblings of these individuals, so they’re with them 24/7. Thus, a three hour break every couple of weeks really helps.”

The impression that Paul wants to leave is that life doesn’t end when you retire – liv-

ing is a choice.

“One of my goals is to help people 50 and above to realize there is life outside of the home. For lack of a better word, get out and do stuff,” he said. “You can always find something to do, you don’t have to hide in the house once you retire.”

He knows that giving a little bit of his time can go a long way and plans to continue volunteering until his health no longer allows because benevolence is contagious.

“People tell me so many things that they probably would never tell anybody else,” he said. “Just allowing people to get things off their chest is uplifting.

“The idea that I can help somebody, that makes me happy,” he added. “Because truthfully, there is so much sadness and negativity in the world today. Something needs to change.

“If I can make a difference, I will. If I can make one person smile a day, I’ve done my job.”

Paul Monk gathers meals at the Weatherford Senior Center so he can deliver them to homebound residents.

‘If I can make one person smile a day, I’ve done my job.’

– Volunteer Paul Monk

Correspondent

(Puzzle solution is on P. 30)

In his nature

Master Naturalist

Dr. Billy Teel was born to be wild

by Roger Enlow Hoopla Correspondent

Watch your step, they warn, when you’re exploring Acton Nature Center.

It is, after all, a NATURE park. Around here, nature includes snakes (poisonous too), scorpions, spiders, skunks, bobcats, coyotes. Any signs of mountain lions? None they’re aware of. But rattlesnakes, definitely.

Texas Master Naturalist Dr. Billy Teels was leading a group of bird watchers one morning when he spotted a rattler suntanning on the trail about 30 feet ahead. They gave the reptile a wide berth. Another time, a volunteer reached down in a pile of brush and was bitten.

The rewards, however, far outweigh the risks.

Teels, the ANC guru, explains.

“I’m sure that for those that don’t enjoy nature, a trip to the ANC would be just like going to a city park,” he said. “However, if you are a nature lover there are many things that will catch your eye if you only look. At the right time of the year the butterfly garden is spectacular with many different types of flowering plants and butterflies. The spring wildflowers begin to carpet the ANC in April and last until May when a different group of plants begin to bloom. Between the end of April and the end of July a person can sit in the bird blind and just about be guaranteed of seeing a painted bunting—one of the most attractive birds in North America. In winter, many different kinds of native sparrows use the feeders, and if you’re lucky you might get to see one of them picked off by a Cooper’s or sharp-shinned hawk.

“The highlight of our last bird walk was a pair of coyotes that bound up from the grass and ran to the tree line where they stopped and watched us for a few seconds before slipping into the woods. And, a bob-

cat comes to the bird blind occasionally, oblivious to the watchers in the blind.”

Teels guides a dedicated team of wildlife and nature lovers who share their knowledge and enthusiasm so others can enjoy experiencing the 74-acre nature preserve near deCordova Bend Estates off Fall Creek Highway southeast of Granbury.

Teels, with an impressive biology portfolio, leads bird walks and teaches classes through ANC. That’s where Dave Moore, ANC’s current president, met him.

“If I was going to describe Billy in two words he’s a ‘walking encyclopedia,’” Moore said. “There’s not anything you can’t

ask him he wouldn’t know.”

After retirement Teels became involved in the ANC through the Rio Brazos Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists.

“After retiring, I was looking for a few things to do that would be productive and enjoyable,” Teels said. “The Master Naturalists seemed like a nice fit, given my training and background, and the ANC seemed like a logical place to do something on the ground conservation because of its proximity and being part of my community.

Most of Teels’ accomplishments at

(Continued on next page)

Master Naturalist Billy Teel (left) with Acton Nature Center president Dave Moore.

(Continued from previous page)

the ANC have been through the Master Naturalists and Friends of Acton Nature Center (FoANC).

“We have many material accomplishments, such as moving in the old farmhouse that we use as our Education Center, constructing the bird blind and water feature, maintaining the trails and vegetation, and developing the signage and interpretation,” Teels said. “We participate in regularly scheduled work days to maintain all those features. We also have annual events that are open to the public, such as Feather Fest, the Monarch Day, the Star Party and Earth Science day. We also provide education to the ANC Children’s Program (Homeschoolers) monthly and to the public schools at their request.”

In 2008 Teels began conducting First Saturday Bird Walks. If he’s not there to lead the walks, Dave and Wendy Moore fill in.

“We typically get anywhere from around 10 people to as many as 25,” Teels said. “The

walks begin at 7 a.m. on the first Saturday of every month and end around 10 a.m. The walks are open to the public, and anyone can attend—young or old. Everyone who goes on the walk gets a report emailed to them within a day or two of the walk, detailing the species and numbers of birds observed, a description of the walk and its highlights, and bird photos that have been taken by some of our accomplished Master Naturalist photographers, such as Gary Marks, Wendy Moore, Mark Bishop, Chris Inbody and Jake Balmuth.”

Also in 2008, Master Naturalists erected 37 bluebird nesting boxes at the ANC, and they monitor all 37 twice per month from the beginning of the nesting season in March through July. With help from several assistants Teels has collected 15 years of data on the species that use the boxes, which boxes are used and which are not, the number of eggs laid, hatched, and fledged, and the number that are predated or abandoned.

“All this information goes

into a database so we can track ups and downs in nesting success over the years,” Teels said.

Teels, 75, was born and raised in Arapaho, Oklahoma, a rural community about 100 miles west of Oklahoma City. Nature was everywhere for young Teels to explore. Canyons were in all directions from his house, and Beaver Creek was about a mile east of town.

“My parents encouraged me to play outdoors with my friends, and we spent most of our childhood summers at the local swimming hole at the creek where we swam, fished, and caught crayfish and grasshoppers for bait,” Teels remembers. “When I was in grade school, for one of my birthdays, my mother gave me a couple of small books on ‘Birds of America,’ and almost instantly I became a birder. Although the books weren’t very comprehensive, I tried to see every bird in them. My father also spent a lot of time with me quail hunting and fishing, mostly with his friends who treated me as if I were one of their own. Looking back at it, I don’t see how I could have not had a deep interest in nature, although I didn’t know it at the time.”

Teels majored in biology at Southwestern Oklahoma State University where he was encouraged by the biology staff to pursue a path in conservation. His adviser, Dr. Robert Lynn, gave him a special project to survey breeding birds on a 40-acre plot a few miles north of the university. The results of that study were published in

Audubon Field Notes that provided Teels a little credential for when he applied to graduate school at Mississippi State University under the head of the Wildlife and Fisheries Department, Dr. Dale H. Arner.

Arner had worked for the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) as a state biologist in Alabama and had a wealth of experience and knowledge in wildlife management. Through his mentorship, Teels received a master’s and doctorate from Mississippi State. After graduating from Mississippi State he spent a short time as a wildlife consultant, and one of his first contracts was with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Soil Conservation Service conducting a biological assessment for a Small Watershed Program project.

With that experience, in June 1974, he was hired by SCS in a permanent position as a biologist on the Watershed Planning Staff in Jackson, Mississippi.

After spending a couple of years as a watershed biologist, he was promoted to staff biologist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Ecological Sciences Division, in Washington, D.C. There he worked with the national biologist in developing biology policy and procedures for NRCS programs, and was the NRCS national lead for aquatic biology and aquaculture.

After spending four years in the NRCS National Office, he became the NRCS State Biologist in Oklahoma, but in1986, he went back to the national office as the national biologist just after passage of the 1985 Farm Bill.

He and his wife Phyllis moved to Granbury at that time and he retired from NRCS in 2007 after 33 years of service.

“All in all, I had a very rewarding career, allowing me to work in the field with the plants and animals I love.”

GARY MARKS

Bobcats are frequently spotted at Acton Nature Center.

GARY MARKS

Quilter of the Month

Nori Pruitt of Pecan Plantation just finished this festive quilt for next Christmas season. She says she got serious about quilting during the pandemic and also enjoys knitting and card making. She and others gather regularly at Patti’s Last Resort in Granbury for Sit And Sew. To be considered for Quilter of the Month, share your handmade treasures by emailing photos to seniors@hoopla magazine.com.

Happy Happens Here!

Get Up & Go

Another full month of fun curated especially for North Central Texas seniors

Generation Gap Band, seniors join musical forces with homeschool student musicians, March 1, 8, 22, 29, Lake Worth Senior Center, 7005 Charbonneau, Lake Worth, 1:30 p.m. Call 817-237-3281.

Hood County Senior Center Dances featuring music by country/western bands every Thursday night, March 2,9, 16, 23, 30, Hood County Senior Center, 501 E. Moore St., Granbury, 7 p.m., $5 per person.

Springtown Senior Center Dances, country/western bands every Thursday and Saturday night, March 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30, Springtown Senior Activity Center, 1070 N. Main Street, Springtown, 7 to 10 p.m. Bands and unanticipated cancellations listed on Facebook. $5 admission per person.

Chair Yoga, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, Lake Worth Senior Center, 7005 Charbonneau, Lake Worth, Noon. Free classes. Call 817-237-3281.

Bluebonnet Quilting Bee, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, Weatherford Senior Center, 1220 Holland Lake Drive, Weatherford, 10 a.m.

Gardening Club, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, Weatherford Senior Center, 1220 Holland Lake Drive, Weatherford, 9 a.m.

Walking Club, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, Weatherford Senior Center, 1220 Holland Lake Drive, Weatherford, 8:30 a.m.

Karaoke, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, Brock’s Food and Drink, 4021 Acton Highway, Granbury, 7:30 to 11 p.m.

Happy Hour at the Kimbell Art Museum, live entertainment, March 3,10, 17, 24, 31, Kahn Building (Cafe), 3333 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, 5 to 7 p.m. Free admission. Snacks and beverages available for purchase.

Free Admission Friday at the Modern with special programming, March 3, Modern Museum of Art, 3200 Darnell Street, Fort Worth.

First Monday, one of state’s oldest air-open markets, March 3-5, Heritage Park, 317 Santa Fe Dr., Weatherford, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Bird Walk at Acton Nature Center, 6500

Smoky Hill Court, Granbury, March 4, 7 a.m. No admission cost.

Free Community Yoga Class, bring your mat and water, March 4, 11, 18, 25, The Trailhead at Clearfork, 4801 Edwards Ranch Road, Fort Worth, 9 to 10 a.m.

Pickleball Tournament benefitting United Way of Parker County, March 4, Soldier Spring Tennis Center, 1011 Charles Street, Weatherford, 10 a.m. Email parkercountypickleball@gmail for more information.

Smokin’ Hot BBQ Cook Off & Bluegrass Festival, March 4, Oak Avenue in Mineral Wells, Noon to 5 p.m.

Chalk It Up Contest for chalk artists of all ages, March 4, 7005 Charbonneau Street, Lake Worth, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Fort Worth Music Festival including Larry Joe Taylor, Stoney Larue, Radney Foster, Deryl Dodd, Tommy Alverson and more, March 2-4, Fort Worth Stockyard (includes multiple venues), 9 a.m. to midnight each day, Tickets $34-$549. Live performances, panel discussions, keynote speakers, networking opportunities and workshops available. For more information, visit www. fortworth.com/fwmf

Spring Fest Car Show with 37 trophies, 7 specialties and 30 classes, March 4, Willow Park Baptist Church, 777 Crown Point Blvd., Hudson Oaks. Registration 9 to 11 a.m. Show 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rain date March 11.,

DFW Thrift Convention, over 100 vendors, deejay, food vendors, March 4, Esports Stadium, 1200 Ballpark Way, Arlington, noon to 6 p.m. Admission $5 at the door.

Free Yoga All Day, plus sound bath meditation and belly dancing, no experience necessary, March 4, Open Hearts Sanctuary, 616 Fall Creek Highway, Granbury, Yoga at 9 a.m., belly dancing at 10:30 a.m., chair yoga at noon, Kundalini yoga at 3 p.m., sound bath at 4:30 p.m. Reservations required. Call 817-910-8445.

Gospel Sunday Brunch, al fresco and indoor dining, live gospel music, bocco ball courts, March 5, 12, 19, 26, Gemelle’s, 4400 White Settlement Road, Fort Worth, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Chicken Poop Bingo, bring $1 bills, March 5, 12, 19, 26, Warren’s Backyard, 2901 Weatherford Hwy, Granbury, 3 to 6 p.m.

AARP Smart Driver’s Course, get a discount on your auto insurance by completing this

course, March 6, St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, 5709 Wedgewood Drive, Fort Worth, noon to 4:15 p.m. Call (817) 480-0415. Limited space.

Craft Time for Adults will feature a Pour-Over Painting, March 7, supplies and instruction provided, 6 p.m., Weatherford Public Library, 1014 Charles Street, Weatherford.

Knitty Gritty Knitting and Crochet Group, all ages, no experience necessary, March 7, 14, 21, 28, White Settlement Public Library, 8215 White Settlement Road, 3 to 4 p.m. Bring your own yarn and knitting needles or crochet hook.

Second Thursdays at Amon Carter Museum featuring cocktails, creativity and conversation, March 9, Amon Carter Museum, 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd., 5 to 8 p.m. Free event with reservations required. Call (817) 989-5013.

2023 DFW RV Party featuring 100 of RVs, event presented by Fun Town RV, March 9-12, AT&T Stadium, One AT&T Way, Arlington, 7 a.m., Free admission and free parking.

Spring Creek Musical featuring live music by Rusty Ellis and Stewart DeSteiger. March 10, Spring Creek Tabernacle, 104 Spring Creek Road, Weatherford, 6 p.m. Free admission.

Mineral Wells Senior Center Dance featuring the music of The Lonesome Fugitive, March 10, 102 N.W. 6th Ave., Mineral Wells, 7 p.m. $5 admission includes snacks and drinks.

Experimental Aircraft Association meeting starts with a pancake breakfast at 8:30 a.m., March 11, Pecan Plantation Airport, 9600 Airpark Dr., Granbury, 10 a.m.

Girls Night Out on Granbury Square includes live entertainment, dining, shopping and door prizes, March 11, Granbury Square, 3 to 6 p.m. Ask for punch card for a chance to win a $500 shopping spree.

Star Party at Dinosaur Valley State Park, hosted by the Fort Worth Astronomical Society, includes access to telescopes, March 11, 1629 Park Road 59, Glen Rose, 8 p.m. Weather permitting. Free with park admission. Bring exact change to buy Texas State Parks Pass or buy a day pass ahead of time. Camping spots available but call the park ahead of time to schedule.

Flyfest, celebrating urban fishing along the Clear Fork of the Trinity River with fishing, expert presentations, casting contests, food trucks, craft beer, and live music, March 11, River Park Trailhead, 3100 Bryant Irvin Road, Fort Worth, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free event. $5 parking.

Lola’s Local Farmers Market featuring 30plus locally-grown and produced vendors, live music, bar bites and food trucks, pet friendly, March 12, 2000 W. Berry Street, Fort Worth, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission.

Lake Granbury Art Association meeting, March 13, Shanley House Gallery, 224 N. Travis St., Granbury, 6 p.m.

Granbury Knitting Guild includes knitting classes for beginners each month, March 14, First Presbyterian Church, 303 Bridge St., Granbury, 9:30 a.m.

Watercolorist David Tripp Demonstration and Workshop, hosted by the Pecan Plantation Art Guild, open to public, March 14, Pecan Plantation Activity Center, 9201 Plantation Drive, Granbury, 1 to 4 p.m.

Craft Night (for adults), March 14, Hood County Library, 222 N. Travis St., Granbury, 6-7 p.m. Supplies provided. Reservations online.

North Fort Worth Book Club, discussing “Guide to Slaying Vampires,” by Grady Hendrix, March 16, World Blend, 5410 Basswood Blvd., Fort Worth, 6 to 8 p.m.

Paddyfest and Parade, March 16, Granbury Square, 6 to 9 p.m.

Artful Moments for Dementia Patients and Caregivers, exploration of Amon Carter museum exhibits, hands-on activities, March 16, Amon Carter Museum, 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd., 1:30 to 3 p.m. Register online at cartermuseum. org or call 817-989-5013.

Granbury Founders Day Jubilee and Cookoff includes vendors, tastings, live music, more, March 17-19, Granbury Square.

AARP Smart Driver’s Course, get a discount on your auto insurance by completing this course, March 17, Azle Senior Center, 601 Southeast Parkway, Azle, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Call (817) 444-0070. Limited space.

Blues Fest includes music by Ray Reed and

‘Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.’ Helen Keller

Gator, James Louis Butler, Larry Lampkin, Killer Bug, Monty McClinton, Alice Faye, the Granbury All-Stars and special guests, March 18, Brock’s Food and Drink, 4021 Acton Highway, Granbury, 7 to 11 p.m.

80s and 90s Car Show includes concessions, March 18, Fort Worth Aviation Museum, 3300 Ross Avenue, Fort Worth, 8:30 to 11 a.m.

Mark Chestnut in concert, 10 p.m., $28-35 reserved seating, March 18, $20 general admission, Billy Bob’s, 2520 Rodeo Plaza, Fort Worth. Call 817-624-7117 for tickets.

Funky Finds Spring Fling features 200-plus makers and pickers, March 18-19, Will Rogers Memorial Center, Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Lola’s Rock ’n’ Roll Rummage Sale, Fort Worth’s largest running outdoor monthly market featuring artists, creators and collectors, plus music and food, March 19, 2000 W. Berry Street, Fort Worth, Noon to 5 p.m. Free admission.

Book Club - Azle, discussing “The Guest List” by Lucy Foley, March 21, Azle Memorial Library, 333 W. Main Street, Azle, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Request this month’s title at the reference desk (while supplies last).

Book Club - Weatherford, discussing “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus, March 21, Weatherford Public Library, 1014 Charles St., Weatherford, 6 to 7 p.m. Request this month’s title at the reference desk (while supplies last).

Mineral Wells Senior Center Dance featuring the music of Michael Cote and Bryan Daniel, March 24, 102 N.W. 6th Ave., Mineral Wells, 7 p.m., $5 admission includes snacks and drinks.

Seinfeld Trivia Night, March 24, Hood County Library, 222 N. Travis St., Granbury, 6:30 p.m.

Pedal the Trailway Bicycle Tour at Lake Mineral Wells State Park (guided), March 25, meet at the Trailway Trailhead, ride from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Spring Fling by Westside Antique Marketplace with over 30 vendors, including food vendors, March 25, Westside Antique  Marketplace, 12301 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Senior Self Defense Class for all seniors, regardless of mobility limitations, March 28, 12:30 p.m., Lake Worth Senior Center, 7005 Charbonneau Road, Lake Worth, For information, call (817) 237-3281.

Granbury Quilting Guild, March 20, United Cooperative Services Community Room, 320 Fall Creek Hwy., Granbury, 6 p.m.

Sip & Support benefitting the Granbury Op-

era Guild, includes a street dance with live music by B-Ray and the Humans, appetizers, shopping and massage, March 23, D’Vine Wine, 107 E. Bridge Street, Granbury, 4 to 8 p.m.

Grow at Clark Gardens, includes a vendor market, bbq cookout, educational stations and live music, March 25, Clark Gardens, 567 Maddux Road, Weatherford, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Spring Fling at Chandor Gardens, features artists, live music, food vendors and more, March 25, Chandor Gardens, 711 W. Lee Avenue, Weatherford, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., $5 admission for adults, kids under 12 free.

Weatherford Music Festival, includes food vendors, family fun and lots of music, March 2526, Heritage Park, 317 Santa Fe Dr., Weatherford, all day, both days.

Granbury Writers’ Bloc for writers, authors and those who love the craft of writing, March 27, Waterview, The Cove, 101 Watermark Blvd., Granbury, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Granbury Stamp Club, meeting includes buy/trade time before and after, March 28, Bentwater Activity Center, 1800 W Emerald Ct., Granbury, 7 p.m.

Book Club - Granbury, March 28, Hood County Library, 222 N. Travis St., Granbury, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Call library for book details.

Kite Festival, in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month, March 30, Hewlett Park, Granbury, 6 to 8 p.m. Kites provided.

Bearcats ’n’ Boots, benefitting the Aledo Education Foundation, features live entertainment by Lonestar, March 31, Hilton Downtown Fort Worth, 6 to 10 p.m. For information, email valerie@aledoef.org.

Neal McCoy in concert, March 31, 10 p.m., $30 reserved seating, $18 general admission, Billy Bob’s, 2520 Rodeo Plaza, Fort Worth. Call 817-624-7117 for tickets.

Bark in the Park includes a dog-friendly 5K and 1-mile fun runs, T-shirt, swag bag, medal, post-race refreshments, vendor booths, games, food and music, April 1, start at Mutts Cantina, The Shops at Clearfork in Fort Worth, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. To register your dog, visit www.love andpawsrescue.com/bark-in-the-park

Raffle Night with Casino Games benefitting Weatherford Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association, April 1, Ninth Grade Center activities building, 1007 S. Main Street, Weatherford, 6 p.m. Call 817-613-7692 or 817-597-4871 for tickets, $10 admission. 18 and over only.

Hootenanny with musical guests Aaron Watson, Kyle Park, Thomas Michael Riley, and Mark David Manders, April 8, Somervell County Expo Center, 202 E. Bo Gibbs Drive, Glen Rose, 5 p.m. Call 254-897-4509 for tickets.

Oink Oink Festival - a Traditional German Pig Roast includes great music, games, vendors, street dance Saturday night, April 14-16, Granbury Square, Friday 4 to 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Chaplain at The Ridglea offers advice for all ages

By Cynthia Henry Hoopla Publisher

Dr. Charles Holland looks forward to the day he’ll pass through the pearly gates of heaven, but until then, he says there’s no other place he’d rather be than at The Ridglea, an assisted living and memory care facility in southwest Fort Worth.

He recalls the initial tour he and his late wife Jeanette took in 2021 when they were looking for a new home.

“Life in a senior living facility depends to a great degree on attitudes from administration, and I’ve found in Ridglea’s administration kindness and gentleness and tenderness and interest in the residents that was genuine,” he said. “And then I began to talk to residents themselves and made a profound discovery – they were happy. And the more I talked to them, the more I realized there was a strange contentment here that I had not seen in other places we had been.”

When the Hollands moved to The Ridglea, Jeanette, a former public school teacher, had progressed to the point of requiring memory care. Charles moved in down the hall into the assisted living wing. They took walks together, ate dinner together, spent the evenings together, despite living in different areas of the building.

“We were together all day as we were all our lives,” he said. “Jeanette and I were married 68 years, 10 months and 6 days.

It was hard for us to remember when we weren’t together.”

Holland is a retired minister but he still gets plenty of practice. He leads Bible study on Fridays and Sunday worship at the facility. The worship service has been growing and averages 20-40 people each week.

“Primarily, I lend an ear,” he said. “I’ve found there are a number of people here who mainly need to express concerns, attitudes toward life in general, and I respond to them, help them reflect on their situation, and it comes to resolution sometimes – not all the time,” he said.

Holland always has time to talk with his peers, but he also has some words of encouragement for those outside the walls of The Ridglea.

“As you can, develop a personal mission statement, as you will, in which you make the determination: If this is God’s will for my life, then I’m going to bloom where I’m planted,” he said, “and do the very best I can to mature in that particular position.”

He encourages people of all ages to read a variety of subjects to expand their

knowledge, including philosophy (Greek philosophy is a favorite of his), society, and politics because his says, “Your environment is not limited to an acre of ground – your area is the universe.”

“We must always be receptive to acknowledging the fact that the truth is bigger than any one of us, therefore, there’s always more we can learn and always more we can receive,” he added. “Even when people reach the age of living in senior citizen facilities, such as this, it’s important that they, too, retain the recognition that life is process and always truth for them is just beyond the limits of their own knowledge. Helping them to understand this and move on from here is one of the most important things we can do for people.”

And the key, he believes, is that one should never stop learning – or living.

“A large percentage of the public, I think, has the idea that facilities like The Ridglea are places where people go to gradually die,” he said. “But The Ridglea is a place where we encourage people to come and actually live – to recognize that all life is sacred and it’s as important the last 10 years as were the first 10.

“If you come with an open mind and an open heart, you can continue to expand yourself, you can become a living example of what it means to grow old gracefully.”

Charles and Jeanette Holland moved to The Ridglea in 2021.

COURTESY

Dr. Charles Holland has written six books -- the most recent while he was living at The Ridglea, a senior community in southwest Fort Worth.

CYNTHIA HENRY | HOOPLA

Making a difference

Operation Texas Strong Coat and Blanket Drive

Operation Texas Strong is collecting new or gently used, clean coats and blankets for homeless veterans. The group’s main objective is to renovate old RVs to house homeless vets in one of several parks they’ve established. Drop off coats and blankets at 111 W. Josephine in Weatherford. If you have an old RV to donate, call Bobby Crutsinger at 940-452-6052.

Jerry Durant

Car dealer Jerry Durant was honored at a recent luncheon hosted by the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce. Durant discussed his early career and some of the many projects he and his wife Vickie have helped fund within the community, including the new residence hall at Weatherford College.

Linda and Pat Vaught

Tamale Queen Beth Harville

Azle’s Tamale Queen Beth Harville (right) collected and donated 63 pounds and 2 ounces of peanut butter and jelly to the Community Caring Center. She also presented the organization with $100 she collected in cash donations. “It feels so good to give back to my community,” said Harville.

Community Caring Center in Azle recognized Linda and Pat Vaught, who have been volunteering at CCC since 2014. The center needed a driver for food runs and operating large vehicles was right up Pat’s alley. Linda is a regular in the fresh grocery area, making sure our clients receive available produce and dairy.

How to Solve: , Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each set of 3 by 3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

Edited by Margie E. Burke

HOW

Mixed-Up Moe

Planting Season

(Answer

Volunteers have spent the entire weekend planting fruits and vegetables in the community garden that helps feed families throughout the area. Unfortunately, they let MixedUp Moe label each section, and now nobody knows which plant is which. Can you unscramble the names of these 12 fruits and vegetables in 12 minutes?

1.

Doris Johnson celebrated for many years of service

West Fork at Weatherford recently honored resident Doris Johnson for her many years of volunteer work. As part of the program, the Glenview Baptist Church Ukulele Band of Fort Worth performed. Doris managed the band and sang with them for 20 years.

“It was amazing because all the things I did in my life I did because I enjoyed them, and I never felt like it was a sacrifice,” said Doris. “I was so thankful that they all came.”

Her volunteer hours included working with the children through the AWANAS program (a world-wide nonprofit ministry focused on providing Bible-based evangelism and discipleship solutions for ages 2-18), teaching a ladies’ Bible class, visiting those in the hospital, and working with the prison ministry and Angel Tree programs. She accompanied the pastor and oth-

ers to Russia after the wall was torn down on three different occasions. Her hospital visitations grew to becoming the director of the homebound ministry. She would gather teams to visit church members who could no longer attend in person.

Doris oversaw the Christmas gifting for these individuals as well. Every Tuesday, these selfless teams would visit and pray with these people. While not an original member of the Glenview Ukulele Band and Hallelujah Chorus, she was a faithful member for almost two decades. She assisted Pastor Baw with scheduling and working with the various facilities for their performances.

Doris, known by many as “Granny,” also led a Bible study on Tuesday nights where anyone from 6 to 20-years-old could gather for burgers, Bible study, and games. She has touched many lives in many ways.

Lots of friends and family were on hand when West Fork of Weatherford celebrated Doris Johnson.

Members of the Glenview Baptist Church Ukulele Band performed in Doris Johnson’s honor at a recent event held at West Fork of Weatherford.

Spotlight on Senior Artists

The Weatherford Art Association chose the top three artists for January 2023. They are, from left, Cindi Neverdousky (3rd), “Peaches,” oil painting; Linda W. Young (1st), “...And A Good Cup of Coffee,” acrylic painting; and Carmen Davailus (2nd), “Grace and Strength,” photograph on metal.

Ann Patton, “Cowbirds on a Cold Morning,” 2022 Painting of the Year, Society of Watercolor Artists.

COURTESY

Suzy Ware, “Morning Dew,” 1st Place, January 2023 Artist of the Month, Society of Watercolor Artists.

Pam Carriker, oil painting, February Artist of the Month, Pecan Plantation Art Guild.

Recipe courtesy of Carol Brown on behalf of the North Carolina

4-6 North Carolina Sweetpotatoes, peeled and diced (6 cups) 2 teaspoons, plus 1 tablespoon, olive oil, divided 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 1/2 bunches curly kale, rinsed and chopped (7-8 cups)

1/2 large lemon, juice only

1 can (15 ounces) garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained

1 large avocado, pitted and diced

1/2 cup cranberries

1/2 cup coarsely chopped almonds

1/4 cup red onion, chopped

1/2 cup feta or goat cheese

Dressing:

2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup balsamic or white vinegar

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Place sweetpotatoes in large bowl. In small bowl, lightly whisk 2 teaspoons olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper. Toss on sweetpotatoes and place potatoes on large sheet pan. Bake 35-40 minutes until tender, flipping once during baking.

Place chopped kale in large bowl. In small bowl, lightly whisk remaining olive oil, remaining salt and lemon juice. Pour over kale and massage with hands until mixed, about 1 minute.

To make dressing: In bowl, whisk syrup, olive oil and vinegar.

In bowl with kale, add garbanzo beans, avocado, cranberries, almonds, red onion, sweetpotatoes and cheese. Toss with salad dressing and serve.

Note: Sweetpotatoes can be baked and refrigerated 1 day in advance.

Sweetpotato Commission

Source: North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission

YMCAs offer free fitness course for seniors

gram. In addition, 99 percent say they’d recommend the program to a friend. Classes are every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at these branches:

Amon G. Carter, Jr. Downtown YMCA from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. in the Wellness Studio.

’LL MEET YOU WHERE YOU ARE

EnhanceFitness is geared toward older adults of all fitness levels. If you have a chronic condition, such as arthritis, you be able to gain more strength and independence. You feel energized - physically, mentally and socially - and surrounded by people who care about your success.

FACTS TELL THE STORY

Research has shown that among older adults who participate in EnhanceFitness, health costs were lowered by to $1,000 and 9 out of 10 people stay with the program. In addition, 99 percent say they’d recommend the program to a friend.

YOU BELONG HERE!

817-566-1025 now to get moving email Ruth at rmurillo@ymcafw.org.

OUR SPACE

Monday/Wednesday/Friday at these branches:

 Amon G. Carter, Jr. Downtown YMCA 9:15 am - 10:15am in the Wellness Studio

 Benbrook Community Center YMCA 2pm - 3pm in Studio B

 Ryan Family YMCA 12pm - 1pm in Studio A

 William M. McDonald YMCA 12pm - 1pm in Studio A

Benbrook Community Center YMCA from 2 to 3 p.m. in Studio B.

Hood County YMCA, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Ryan Family YMCA from noon to 1 p.m. in Studio A.

YOUR PACE

 The exercises are dynamic but can always be done at your pace

 Up to 25 people in each class: we provide chairs and soft weights

 Class meets 3 times per week and focuses on flexibility, balance, strength & movement

 Fitness assessment at beginning and every 4 months

William M. McDonald YMCA from noon to 1 p.m. in Studio A.

Old

Can you benefit from new RMD age limit?

When you’re working, you may spend decades contributing to retirement accounts such as your 401(k) and IRA. Once you’re retired, though, you’ll likely need to begin withdrawing from these accounts to help pay for your living expenses. In fact, you’ll be required to take money from them at a certain age — but that age requirement is changing, and it could lead to changes in your financial strategy.

Money Matters

by Mary H. McDow, Edward Jones Adviser

Let’s look at some background behind this development. You put in pre-tax dollars to a traditional IRA and 401(k), so your contributions can lower your taxable income and your earnings can grow on a tax-deferred basis. Eventually, though, you must take withdrawals from these accounts or face tax penalties. (A Roth IRA does not have the withdrawal requirement; you can essentially keep the money intact as long as you choose.) As part of the SECURE Act 2.0 of 2022, the age at which you must take these withdrawals — technically called required minimum distributions (RMDs) — has increased from 72 to 73. So, if you turn 72 in 2023, you have another year before you’re required to take RMDs.

The SECURE Act 2.0 also mandates that, in 2033, the RMD age will increase again — to 75 — so, depending on your current age, you may have even more time to plan for the effects of RMDs. Of course, you may need to start taking withdrawals from your retirement accounts before you reach either RMD age — 73 or 75 — so the additional time may not mean much to you. But if you can afford to wait until you must start taking RMDs, what should you consider?

Perhaps the most important one is taxes. Your RMDs, which are based on your life expectancy and account balances, are considered taxable income in the year

in which you accept the money. If you have sizable amounts in your traditional IRA and 401(k), these RMDs could be large enough to bump you into a higher tax bracket, leading to greater taxation of Social Security benefits and a Medicare surcharge. So, the ability to delay taking RMDs can be beneficial from a tax standpoint, at least for a time. On the other hand, by delaying RMDs, you might eventually have to take bigger taxable withdrawals from your accounts that may have larger balances because they’ve had more time to potentially grow.

You could address the issue of taxable withdrawals by converting your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA before you’re faced with RMDs — and now, you have more time to do so. Roth IRAs have no RMDs, and since a Roth IRA is funded with after-tax dollars, your withdrawals are tax free, provided you don’t begin taking them until you’re at least 59½ and you’ve had your account at least five years. Again, though, taxes are the issue — any pre-tax dollars you convert from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA will be taxable in the year of the conversion. To reduce this tax hit, you could space out the conversion over several years.

When thinking about delaying RMDs or doing a Roth IRA conversion to avoid RMDs, you’ll need to consult with your tax advisor. But the new RMD age limits do give you more flexibility in these areas, so think carefully about how you might benefit from the added time.

Free tax preparation for seniors available from AARP

Vounteers with the AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide program are gearing up to help area residents with their 2022 income tax returns.

The volunteers are trained and tested in current tax law using IRS material to assist in filing basic income tax returns such as a form 1040 with schedules A, B, D, EIC, M, R, SE, and limited Schedules C and E. Appointments are available at the following locations:

• Azle Library, 333 W. Main St. Azle, TX 76020. Call 817-444-7216 to make an appointment. The hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays, 1 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays and noon to 4 p.m. on Fridays.

• Boyce Ditto Library, 2300 SE Martin St. Mineral Wells, TX 76067. Call 940-328-7880 to make an appointment. The hours will be 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays.

• Hood County Library, 222 N Travis St, Granbury, TX 76048. Call 817-382-1005 to make an appointment. The hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays,

Wednesdays and Thursdays.

• Weatherford Library, 1014 Charles St. Weatherford, TX 76086. Call 817-6931-3176 to make an appointment. The hours will be 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; noon to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

•Saginaw Senior Center, 633 W. McLeroy Boulevard, Saginaw, TX 76179. Call 817-230-0459 to make an appointment. The hours will be 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesdays.

• Shamblee Branch Library, 1062 Evans Ave, Fort Worth, TX, 76104-5135. Call (817)392-5580to make an appointment. The hours will be from 3 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays.

• Lake Worth Senior Center, 7005 Charbonneau Rd, Fort Worth, TX, 76135. Call (817)237-3281to make an appointment. The hours will be 9:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursdays.

• Trinity Episcopal Church Of Fort Worth, 3401 Bellaire Dr S, Fort Worth, TX, 76109. Call (817) 926 4631to make an ap-

pointment. The hours will be 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

• Watauga Community Center, 7901 Indian Springs Rd, Watauga, TX, 76148. Call (817)514-5892to make an appointment. The hours will be noon to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays.

• Iglesia Bautista Dios te ama, 5101 Wellview Ave, Fort Worth, TX, 76115-3715. Call (817) 781-7967 to make an appointment. The hours will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays

• Edgecliff Village City Hall, 1605 Edgecliff Rd, Fort Worth, TX, 76134. Call 817293-4313 to make an appointment. The hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays.

• White Settlement Library, 8215 White Settlement Rd, White Settlement, TX, 76108. Call (817) 367-0166 for an appointment. The hours are from noon to 4 p.m. on Thursdays and on Mondays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Bob White (seated), Daughter Anita White & Grandson Zack Bellenger

Edited by Margie E. Burke

n Find the Frog n Live Theatre Picks

Theresa Middleton of Weatherford found last month’s hidden frog. Did you? Last issue, the frog was hidden on page 25 in a photo featuring Twentieth Century Club members and a CASA representive. Theresa has won tickets to a live theatre performance.

Enter this month’s contest by emailing to tell us where you found the hidden frog (sample at right). Email entries to seniors@hooplamagazine.com. You must include your name, street address and phone number to enter the drawing. All contestants receive a free e-subscription to Hoopla and a chance to win a prize. Pick up next month’s issue to see if you’ve won! Winners must contact Hoopla within 30 days to claim their prize.

n Solutions

SAVANNAH SIPPING SOCIETY Theatre Off the Square

Ticket Info: 817-341-8687

Tentative Dates: March 17 - April 1

Synopsis: In this delightful, laugh-aminute comedy, four unique Southern women, all needing to escape the sameness of their day-to-day routines, are drawn together by fate—and an impromptu happy hour—and decide it’s high time to reclaim the enthusiasm for life they’ve lost through the years.

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG Stage West

823 W. Vickery Blvd. Fort Worth

Ticket Info: 817-784-9378

Tentative Dates: Feb. 16 - March 12

Synopsis: Welcome to the opening night of “The Murder at Haversham Manor,” where things are quickly going from bad to utterly disastrous. With an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything (including their lines), the whole evening is a disastrous smash.

MAMA WON’T FLY Popcorn Players

114 Porter Drive, Azle Ticket Info: 817-238-7529

Tentative Dates: March 24-26, 31, April 1-2

Synopsis: An outrageously hilarious race against the clock begins when Savannah Sprunt Fairchild Honeycutt agrees to get her feisty mother all the way from Alabama to California in time for her brother’s wedding.

HELLO, DOLLY!

Granbury Opera House

133 E. Pearl Street, Granbury

Ticket Info:

817-579-0952

Tentative Dates:

Feb. 24 - March 26

Synopsis: Matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi is a widow, a matchmaker, and also a professional meddler -- but everything changes when she decides that the next match she needs to make is to find someone for herself. Set in New York City at the turn of the century, “Hello Dolly!” is boisterous and charming from start to finish and features one of the strongest starring roles for a woman ever written for the musical theatre.

Life in Grace

by Lara Cook, North Side Baptist Church

Growing pains

According to the grace of God, which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. – I Corinthians 3:10-11

Spring is coming! I love the symbolism of new growth and new beginnings. Just as trees, plants, and flowers sprouting signal the coming of spring and new life Spiritual Growth is a sign of spiritual life. After we become Christians, God expects us to grow, not just stay at the same level of maturity the rest of our lives. Faith is part of what helps us grow and mature as Christians.

Good soil is important to grow a healthy garden and a good foundation is mandatory for construction of a powerful Christian life. But foundation is not the end result, it is the beginning. Our faith in Christ is the foundation we can build our life on.

Spiritual Growth is Fed by Faith

God leads us to places where faith is required. The things that test our faith are seldom announced in advance, and they tend to hit us from the blind side like a blitzing linebacker. They always seem to come at the most inconvenient times too. If we never had trials in life to test our faith our declarations of faith would ring hollow. We would simply be echoing empty religious clichés learned in church and Sunday school. If we had our way, our faith would never be tested…and God would never have the chance to prove that faith worked. It is through these times that we grow.  When

the fog of life hides the God of glory from your view, rest assured that He is there and that He is faithfully executing His plan for the ages, and for your life!

The way to growth is many times identified by Bible Study and Prayer. These are the methods not the means.  How you study and pray is important because the same way we begin is the way that we continue. When we become Christians, God takes the initiative by calling and

asking us to receive. In growth it is the same.  He calls us through life circumstance to “increase our faith.”  We must open the door of faith daily and allow God to give us strength.

Trials = Fertile Soil

For soil to be at its best, it requires some extra attention.  Soil needs to be tilled and turned, and it needs extra nutrients sometimes.  It requires attention to keep it good like pul-

ling weeds.  Our lives are much like soil.  We get our lives turned inside out sometimes like a tiller does to the soil.  We add extra nutrients with Bible study and prayer.  We pick the “weeds” out of our lives if we want to grow in Christian maturity and have a close relationship with God.  During these times of trials and picking the bad things out of our lives, we grow and are the most fertile for God to use us and plant more seeds.