Issuu

Hoopla March 2021

Weatherford Art Association’s Beverly Freeman Inside:

Springtown’s Barney Ash creates beautiful iron art Barb Scoggins loves her work, and so do you

Bank H Texas

817-596-0345 • www.go2fbt.com

Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Residents 55+

March 2021

Local artists surprise Willow Park Rehab residents with homemade valentines If you recognize cover girl Beverly Freeman, there’s a good chance you have received a beautiful piece of art from her home studio. Freeman, along with several other Weatherford Art Association members, lovingly created homemade valentines for residents at Willow Park Rehabilitation and Care Center last month. Fellow WAA member Kathy Cunning came up with the idea after seeing a similar program in another state. Cunning reported that Freeman created a whopping 80 homemade valentines. Six other WAA members, including Liza Hartman, Jill Harper and Michelle Crider (pictured at right), met weekly to paint together and complete the project.

COURTESY

DEMENTIA IN PERSPECTIVE is TELEHEALTH CONSULTATION SERVICES UTILIZING VSEE TELEHEALTH PLATFORM HIPAA-compliant online services including: ▪ Private Consultations ▪ Caregiver Education ▪ Caregiver Training

Access services from the convenience of your home or business via: ▪ Video conferencing ▪ Texting ▪ Messaging

Hoopla March 2021

Volume 5, Issue 4

© 2021 Hoopla. All rights reserved. Hoopla is published monthly and available at more than 45 locations in Parker County. For a complete list of distribution points, go to our website at www. hooplamagazine.com. We no longer offer home delivery. You can contact us at Hoopla, P.O. Box 305, Weatherford, Texas 76086.

817-894-1822

seniors@hooplamagazine.com

Publisher

For more information or to schedule an appointment: Janet Standifer, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, CDP, CADDCT Certified Dementia Trainer & Consultant janet@jstandiferconsulting.com | (817) 901-4658

“To increase knowledge is to improve care.”

Cynthia Henry

Contributors

Lara Cook • Bob DeLaurentis • Rick Mauch Neil Sperry • Dick Wolfsie

Copy Editor

Jean Henderson

March 2021

Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Residents 55+

Barb Scoggins’ hand-made pies bring joy and memories to diners by Rick Mauch Hoopla Correspondent There’s an old saying, “It’s not work if you love what you do.” Well, for someone who “doesn’t work,” Barb Scoggins gets a lot done in a day – around 200 or more hand-made pies. That’s a lot of pies in a week, month and year – thousands, in fact. Barb, 62, has spent the past dozen years performing her bakery magic at Baker’s Ribs and the Original Fried Pie Shop in Weatherford. Barb’s delicious pies are a major reason the restaurant stays busy. “I am in charge of the pie shop, and I’m very organized,” Barb said, adding that, “The secret is I love my job. With all the years of experience, I have honed my craft. Over the years, I just got faster.” Indeed she has, and she has the fans to prove it. Barb herself can’t resist biting into her own creations on a regular basis. “My personal favorite is coconut because it’s creamy and has an abundance of real coconut in the filling,” she revealed, adding with a laugh, “Twelve years of making pies, and yes, I have a sweet tooth. In the beginning I ate more of the filling to taste and really get the flavor and texture down to explain it to the customers. “I also eat them just to taste the quality of the pie.” Barb said the most popular pie she creates is apricot. She said memories help a person decide on their favorite flavor. “Our original fried pies bring back some very precious memories of kids cooking with their grandma or mother. These kids are now seniors in age, and apricot was the one flavor they seem to remember,” she said. Barb grew up helping her mom in the kitchen, along with her sisters. It introduced her to the passion of baking that she has returned to with her pies. “My mom baked a lot. She was a stay-at-home mom, and we would always help her. It was fun,” Barb recalled. “I can remember us going to pick blackberries, and we’d make blackberry pies.” Barb has spent many years in the restaurant industry, but mostly it was serving and being a host-

COURTESY

Barb Scoggins has a passion for pie. ess, she said. Folks also remember her from having worked at Catfish O’Harley’s and Chicken Scratch – the latter at which she did help in the kitchen making salads and sandwiches. But now she’s back doing what she believes she was born to do, make folks happy with her pies. “I witnessed all the joy on the customers’ faces and stories they told of memories of their grand-

ma’s homemade fried pies, and it just touched my heart,” she said. “I realize now it’s a calling from God. It’s my destiny.” Where does Barb get the energy to make all those pies? She said it’s a simple answer, and no, she does not “feel her age.” “Honestly, where I get my energy is first and

See SCOGGINS, P. 4

Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Residents 55+

SCOGGINS

n Find The Frog

From Page 3

foremost from God. I enjoy life, and I try each day to live it to the fullest,” she said. “I like to just keep moving because once I sit down, it’s hard to get back up. It’s my choice to have energy for this every day. It all starts in the mind. I don’t read anywhere in the Bible where it says to retire. I like being around younger people – keeps me youthful.” A typical day for Barb begins around 7 a.m. She drinks her coffee, prays, and gets her mind set that it’s going to be a really good day. “I even challenge myself – how many pies can I sell today?” she said. “After I work my eight-hour shift, I go home, hang out with my cat and visit with my family, and then it’s ‘me’ time.” Barb said making the pies is “therapeutic in a way.” Over the years, Barb has also made a special connection with those who enjoy her pies, and her smile. “I have made friendships with many of my customers from day one, and they’ve followed me wherever I worked. That’s special to me,” she said. “She loves all the regular customers, and has their favorite pie and cup of coffee ready for them before they get to the register to pay,” said DeeAnna Krier, owner of Baker’s Ribs and the Original Fried Pie Shop. “To me personally, she is like a spiritual mother,” DeeAnna said. “She and I always talk about how Catfish O Harley’s closed, and then she went to Chicken Scratch, then Chicken Scratch closed, and she came to Baker’s Ribs. On her first day, she looked at me and said ‘Baker’s Ribs is NOT closing ever.’” Barb is originally from Ohio. She moved to Fort Worth in her 20s in what she said was a “spur-of-the-moment” decision. After getting married and having two children – a daughter and a son – she decided she wanted to raise them in a smaller town, so they chose Weatherford. Now, she also has two grandchildren who she loves dearly. In her downtime, Barb loves to watch sermons online, and she enjoys walking in nature. And, as she winds down for the day, she relaxes watching her favorite TV shows. “I love to watch court shows, Judge Judy being my favorite,” she said. Unlike Judge Judy, however, it doesn’t look like Barb is going to retire and stop frying those delicious pies anytime soon.

SMALL ELECTRICAL JOBS Serving Parker & Palo Pinto counties

March 2021

at reasonable prices (817) 673-7345

JAMES ANSLEY

jamesansley2010@att.net

Licensed electrician •• 27 years experience

Bobbie Rogers of Weatherford found him. Did you? The frog was in a photo on Page 7 (with the Servolution team) of last month’s issue. To enter this month’s contest, submit your name, address, phone number, and a brief description of where you find the hidden frog (not the frog at left) to Hoopla, P.O. Box 305, Weatherford, Texas 76086 or e-mail seniors@hooplamagazine.com. Contestants will be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card to Target. Read next month’s issue to see if you’ve won. Winners must contact Hoopla within 90 days to claim their prize.

817-894-1822

March 2021

Crossword

Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Residents 55+

by Margie E. Burke

(Puzzle solution is on P. 12)

1 2 3 4 ACROSS 1 Boat's berth 14 5 Part of a repair 17 18 bill 10 Skewed view 20 14 Multinational 23 money 15 Come about 26 27 28 16 A while ago 17 Flashcards 33 subject 37 38 19 Kind of ID 20 Renter 42 41 21 Courting music 44 45 23 Put up, as a picture 49 25 Flinch, say 52 53 26 Varied 30 Biased against 59 seniors 33 Bird feeder filler 62 34 Small sample 65 36 80's group who sang "Take On Me" 37 Melville setting 63 Now or _____ 38 Talk like Porky 64 Edit menu choice Pig 65 Gives the 40 Slot machine heave-ho icon 66 WTO's concern 41 Pop-ups, e.g. 67 Pound sound 42 Cheyenne shelter DOWN 43 Ticklish Muppet 1 Close, as an 44 Navy clerk envelope 46 Tactful 2 Tackle box item 49 Koontz creation 3 Blue flower 51 Within earshot 4 Cheap insult 52 Ivory tower 5 Sing the blues inhabitant 6 You-here link 55 Etsy wares 7 Tiny amounts 59 Piercing site 8 Willow for 60 Assessment basketmaking 62 Chutzpah

16 19 21 24

22 25

29 34

30 35

John Wayne Casserole

40 43 46 50

47 51

54 60

9 10 11 12 13 18 22 24 26 27 28 29 31 32 35

Craft anew Pep in one's step Impossible to fill Got an A+ on Parched Try, as a case Raring to go ____ and go Test, as ore Glove leather Like some temperatures Old-fashioned Cause of a red face Medium's card Oktoberfest souvenir

38 Forestall, with "off" 39 Urban housing 43 Mistake in print 45 Runway figures 47 Safe from hackers 48 "Fame" singer 50 Fare with onions 52 Aquatic plant 53 TV cable, for short 54 Spanish sparkling wine 56 Monetary penalty 57 Type of list 58 Winter coat? 61 Conducted

In 1979, John Wayne sent a recipe to 10-yearold Cara Connery, who was compiling a cookbook to raise funds for cancer victims. It was a crustless cheese and egg casserole dish. As with most recipes, variations were made to satisfy the tastes of each cook. One cook at the University of Mississippi Medical Center cafeteria created a version that’s so popular, it’s been served every Thursday for many years. The cafeteria staff nicknamed this version “The Duke.” 2 pounds ground beef, cooked and drained 1 packet taco seasoning 4 ounces sour cream 4 ounces mayonnaise 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded and divided 1 yellow onion, sliced 2 cups biscuit mix 2 tomatoes, sliced 1 green bell pepper, sliced 1 (4-ounce) can sliced jalapeno peppers Cook taco-seasoned beef according to package instructions, then set aside. In a bowl, combine sour cream, mayo, half of the cheddar cheese, and half of the onion. In another bowl, combine biscuit mix and water, according to box instructions. After creating a soft dough, pat it into the bottom of a greased 13x9 pan. Saute remaining onions and bell peppers. Layer ingredients on top of dough in this order: ground beef, tomato slices, green peppers and onions, jalapeno peppers, sour cream mixture and top with remaining cheese. Bake at 325 degrees for 30-40 minutes. The edges of the dough should be slightly brown.

Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Residents 55+

March 2021

Not Short on Talent

Springtown’s Barney Ash overcame physical challenge to create art by Rick Mauch Hoopla Correspondent Barney Ash does a lot more with one hand than many folks do with two. Oh, and he only has three fingers on the one hand he does still possess. Barney, an Azle native now living in Springtown, lost use of his right hand and two fingers on the left in a welding accident in 2011. His career suddenly came to an end. However, a new one was awaiting, creating artwork out of iron. While many of his creations are gifts and for special occasions, he does take a few items to Lola’s Rummage Sale in Fort Worth and to farmers markets. “In 2011, I began working for a manufacturer of fracking pumps. We were working 65-hour weeks, the hottest July on record, and on July 21, at about 11 a.m., I let a 900-pound I-beam frame get away from me,” Barney recalled. “It fell on me, pinning both hands to the floor. “Here’s the funny part...they told me that, ‘If I had been an inch taller’ the frame would have hit me in the head and my brains would have been on that floor, not my right hand and the two middle fingers of my left hand. You know, I was always okay with being a boy-sized man. That day, being short became my favorite personal achievement.” Barney, who will turn 74 in March, spent the next couple of years rehabbing and learning to be left-handed, as

he was unable to dress in any clothing that required buttons. “I had learned 20 different knots while rigging as an iron worker. Now, I could not even tie my shoes,” he said. As reality sat in, so did depression. “I was pretty down. I drove only 20 miles during 2011 and 2012. I had to go through a lawsuit and learned to type with my left forefinger, writing reports and depositions. In 2014, we settled amicably,” he said. Barney was a standout football player at Azle High, along with being a member of the National Honor Society and student body president. It was while in the Future Farmers of America at AHS that he learned welding – and he placed third in the state in milk judging competition. His first marriage was even to the daughter of a union iron worker, who taught him the skill of tying rebar (wire). He put himself through college at the University of Texas-Arlington tying rebar and working on several of the buildings on campus. “I received an Associate in Science degree in 1968 and went to work for the only people I had interviewed with, Chicago Bridge and Iron Co., in Houston,” he said. “I was taught welding, cutting, and X-ray testing of welds, and worked on jobs on the Texas Gulf and a two million-gallon water tank near Traders Village in Arlington.” He was later inducted as a member See ASH, P. 7

COURTESY

Despite losing the use of his right hand and two fingers on his left hand in a welding accident, Barney Ash creates iron art such as what is shown here.

COURTESY

March 2021

Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Residents 55+ 7

ASH

From Page 6

of the Boilermakers Union and became a certified welder. With one dropped beam, that career ended. Little did he know a new one was waiting. But then, Barney has made a habit out of getting the most out of any situation. For example, while his friends were getting drafted and going to Vietnam, he aced a test (scoring 99%) to get into Army security, learned Russian and served in West Berlin. And yes, he made money there by welding rusted bumpers back onto Volkswagens so they could pass inspection. He even became a country preacher and planned to use his Russian language skills in a missionary program in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. However, the U.S. boycotted those Olympics and he never got the chance. His return to the states led him to work on practically every 40-story building in downtown Fort Worth as a member of the Iron Workers. It was at the Chaparral Steel Mill that he learned a trait that would come back to serve him following his accident. “I started making crosses for gifts out of scrap metal. I liked Southwestern art, and started cutting out Kokopellis (a fertility deity and symbol of several native American tribes) and roadrunners, cacti and horse silhou-

ettes,” he said. He continued doing this after remarrying in 1992 when his wife worked at a gallery in the Stockyard Stations. He made hundreds of crosses and Southwestern art pieces for her gallery, while still welding full-time in an ornamental iron shop with his son and son- in- law. “Between 1995 and 2003, I had a website, welded all day, came home and welded more. Some weeks, I made more selling metal art than welding fence panels. I was even preaching on Sunday and taking college classes at night,” he said, never realizing he’d learn to do this one-handed in the future. To escape, he and his wife bought a used motor home in 2014 and moved to Washington State. They purchased an 80-year-old barn which had been the main building for a vast strawberry field. He remodeled the place, painted, put in a clawfoot bath, built fences, and even built a 12-by-12 foot deck in the back yard. He also realized something. His right hand was not entirely useless. In 2017 they sold the barn, which he has appropriately named Barney’s Barn, returned to Texas and bought a little ranchette in Springtown. It has a shop building. You can guess what came next. “Using my son’s welding machine, I started building some stands for his bee hives. I had not touched a cutting torch since July 2011, but in 2018, I tried

COURTESY

Barney Ash creating iron art in his workshop. cutting out a Celtic cross. It was horrible,” he said with a chuckle. “I tried again, and got better. “This Christmas, I made crosses for my two children, and for my granddaughter and grandson who will both be getting married this year. Actually, they were some of my best work, ever.” Despite his story, Barney said he doesn’t see himself as an inspiration.

EXCLUSIVE REAL ESTATE SALES & SERVICE

“I’ve seen inspirational artists with no hands at all,” he said. “My story is one of always believing God has been with me. When He – or She – made me 5’3”, when I was bleeding out on the floor of that welding shop, I know I am too blessed to be stressed. “I’m going to keep making art. Who knows what the steel might want me to do it next?”

Marilyn Carter, Broker

SEWING WORLD

Experience since 1978!

Now Offering Curbside Delivery or Shipping

Residential & Commercial Call or Text:

682-225-7585

Email: mmacarter51@sbcglobal.net

Premier Customer Service To Buyers and Sellers Of Residential & Commercial Real Estate

SALES, SERVICES & ACCESSORIES Sewing • Quilting • Embroidery • Serger Machines

15 OFF

A Complete Service Of Your Sewing, Embroidery Or Serger Machine

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

Personal Customer Service

Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Residents 55+

Got you covered When you are stuck at home due to COVID, it creates opportunities to deal with household issues you wouldn’t normally have time to mess with. I spent a fair amount of time last weekend putting my books on my shelves in alphabetical order. The Dewey Decimal System was no longer working for me (Are you under 50? Please google it.) Mary Ellen had her own project. She took her usual measured approach, recognizing that one solution does not fit all. There was some trial and error in her method, but she knew that if she resolved the issue, everything would be a snap. The annoyance could be ignored no longer: Most of our Tupperware had lids that didn’t fit or were missing. I had also recognized there was a problem. You see, almost every leftover in our refrigerator is in a nifty little pastel-colored plastic container with a piece of Reynolds Wrap over it. I think this is one of the reasons my mouth waters whenever I see aluminum foil. This lid dilemma is mostly my fault. I always put the Tupperware tops on the bottom shelf of the dishwasher, and an hour later the result looks something like a Salvador Dali clock. Years ago, there was a lady in Fort Wayne who had potato chips that looked like famous people. I have a Tupperware lid that looks like Mick Jagger. Whoever invented Tupperware made the same mistake that the Heinz people once made. Not to mention the Bic pen people. And many toothpaste companies. Tops should always be attached. I’m glad the people at American Standard attach the lid to the seat. It’s a good thing, or men like me who are always losing things would spend the first half of the day looking for the TV remote, then divide up the next 12 hours between the cell phone

Carry On by Dick Wolfsie Humorist and toilet topper. “Mary Ellen, have you seen the lid to the toilet seat?” “Did you misplace it again? When was the last time you used it?” “This morning, moments after I brushed my teeth.” “Well, it must be there. Did you put it down somewhere? Come to think of it, you never put it down.” But getting back to my wife’s little project in the kitchen, of trying to match container parts. Personally, I thought the whole thing was a waste of time. “Why are you even bothering, Mary Ellen? Just throw out the misfits. We’ll buy new Tupperware.” “Well, Dick, that is an odd position to take for a man whose bottom dresser drawer is storing 11 solo socks that don’t have a mate.” (Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example. –Mark Twain). “Mary Ellen, what’s that hint of orange on all these containers?” “That’s just marinara sauce stains that won’t come out.” “Well, if all those containers are stained and ugly, you really should throw them out. What good are they?” “Boy, that sock analogy still hasn’t sunk in, has it?” It reached the point where I couldn’t stand it anymore. The shuffling and rattling were disturbing my Sunday nap so I marched into the kitchen. “Mary Ellen,” I implored, “can’t you stop this silliness for an hour and do something else?” She told me to put a lid on it.

March 2021

FINALLY a way to fix the PAIN of a BULGING DISC Are you suffering from back pain, arm or leg pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arms or legs? Then it’s likely you’re suffering from a Bulging DISC. That’s when one of your spinal discs are bulging and causing these, sometimes severe, symptoms because of the effect it’s having on your nerve system. You may have already had this diagnosed on an MRI and thought that there is little that can be done about it. That’s a major problem: bad information, because in the right hands, a lot can be done for you. To end the misery caused by Bulging DISCS, you must have the right information. Pay close attention because I’m going to destroy some important myths and give you the facts. MYTH: Bulging DISC problems will just “go away” with some rest. FACT: If you are dealing with leg pain, then you must seek help from a Bulging DISC specialist immediately. If left untreated, the problem can lead to permanent nerve damage - and lifelong pain. MYTH: Pain is the only problem associated with Bulging DISC problems. FACT: In severe cases, this problem can lead to the inability to control your bowels, bladder and sexual potency - leading to embarrassing situations. MYTH: You must take pain medications to deal with Bulging DISCs. FACT: Drugs like muscle relaxants, pain killers, narcotics, antidepressants, and anti-seizure medications have serious potential side-effects and do not cure Bulging DISCs. MYTH: “I must have done something wrong to damage my DISC.” FACT: Physical work or simply sitting at a desk for long periods can lead to Bulging DISCs. Accidents and trauma can also be the culprits. Pregnancy can cause damage. DISC bulges can happen to anyone - including super-fit celebrities like Tiger Woods, Sylvester Stallone, and British Olympic medalist Ian Wynne. MYTH: Stop exercising and get several weeks of bed rest to let the Bulging DISC recover… FACT: Staying active can help to relieve the pain and prevent the pain from getting worse. Staying inactive in bed could be the worst advice - based on a recent study in the Netherlands. MYTH: DISC Bulges or herniations require surgery. FACT: No! There’s been a huge breakthrough in the treatment of Bulging DISCs.

MYTH: “There’s nothing anyone can really do. I’m just stuck with this for the rest of my life.” FACT: With the correct treatment from a healthcare professional who specializes in Bulging DISCs, you can find relief from the core cause - and the symptoms. MYTH: Getting a Bulging DISC properly diagnosed is expensive. FACT: Not true. Dr. Carl McAfee in Weatherford is currently offering an initial consultation with one of their specialists for just $29. Dr. Carl McAfee, D.C. is a Bulging DISC Expert in Weatherford. This procedure does not require a hospital stay and, in most cases, you’ll be able to continue with your normal daily activities with little interruption. The focus is on finding - and correcting - the original cause of the Bulged DISC. According to Dr. McAfee, “We use a specialized digital x-ray motion study analysis to precisely diagnose the cause or your Bulging DISC. This means superior, longterm results for most people.”

Symptoms:

Because the treatment is non-surgical, safe, and easy, most patients report relief from their pain and associated symptoms early in the process. Take the Next Step - END the Suffering … Initial Consultation Just $29. The first step is to secure a thorough examination with Dr. Carl McAfee, DC. Call 817-594-0281 to schedule this article (CODE: 02HOOPLA2018) and they will happily reduce their usual consultation fee of $275 to just $29! Only 100 reader consultations are available at this exclusively discounted rate. Call them now and get a full and thorough examination to pinpoint the cause of your problem for just $29. The normal cost of such an exam is $275, so you will save $246! Call them now at 817-594-0281 and cut out or tear out this valuable article and take it to your appointment. You’ll be on your way to safe, lasting relief ! You can even call on the weekend and leave a message on their answering machine to secure your spot, and they promise to return all calls. During the week, staff can be very busy helping patients, so if they don’t pick up straight away, leave a message. Quote this special discount code: 02HOOPLA2020.

Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Residents 55+

March 2021

Tech Talk: Streaming TV, DVD woes and an iPhone mystery by Bob DeLaurentis Guest Columnist Q. What is the best way to dip my toes into the world of streaming TV? A. Many TVs have built-in streaming support for one or two services. If you have a TV like that, I would start there. However, if you want to explore the endless buffet menu of online streaming services, I recommend a Chromecast with Google TV. There are several different Chromecast digital media players, but the only one worth considering is the newest model. It sells for about $50 and comes with a remote control. What sets the Chromecast apart from its competitors is the user interface, which is a fancy way of saying the part of the product that you interact with. In this case, that is the screen menu and the remote control. The Chromecast remote is simple and elegant. The screen menus are reasonable and fairly easy to understand. Features include more than Internet streaming. Chromecast works with Google Photos to present slideshows, and it will stream video from any Android or iPhone to your TV. Streaming services are chaotic. Some services are bundles that look a lot like traditional cable bundles. Other services are giant libraries of movies and TV shows, often mixed with newly produced content. Chromecast lets you pick the pieces you want, without an expensive hardware purchase. And today, that makes Chromecast the best choice to explore streaming media. Q. After upgrading to Windows 10, I can no longer play DVDs with my laptop. How can I use my computer to play DVDs again? A. Most new computers do not handle DVDs very well. Default installations of operating systems no longer include a utility app to play DVDs. Hardware that supports DVDs has disappeared from many laptop models in the rush to build smaller and lighter devices. The best option is to check out a longstanding free application called VLC Media Player by VideoLAN Corp. VLC is a Swiss Army knife of media software. The app is available for free on every major platform, and it can play just about any media file format imaginable. VLC is listed in most app stores, or point your web browser to videolan.org and click the download button. VLC is one of those handy utilities that works almost every time. It deserves a spot on any computer that needs to play media.

Q. Sometimes I see a small green or orange dot near the top right of my iPhone screen. What does that mean? A. Those tiny colored dots appear whenever the camera or microphone is in use. The camera displays a green dot, the microphone displays an orange dot. The tiny hardware status dots are not the same as the large colored buttons that occasionally appear near the top left on the screen. They indicate background activities such as phone calls in progress or an active navigation session. These new hardware indicators were added as

part of a renewed focus on privacy. Without the indicators it was possible to quietly abuse the microphone and camera. Now, whenever any app is listening or looking through the camera, you will know it. When a dot is visible, swipe down to open the Control Center and the app name will appear at the top of the screen. The more powerful our pocket supercomputers become, the more vigilant we have to be to ensure no one abuses that power. Bob can be contacted at techtalk@bobdel.com.

150 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE ENJOYING A NEW SHOWER IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK N W SIG E EER D N OW

FREE IN-HOME DESIGN CONSULTATION-CALL TODAY newshowerdeal.com/hoopla | 855-215-0417 *Offer valid only while supplies last. Limit one per household. Must be first time purchase. Minimum spend amount applies. Financing subject to third party credit approval. Some financing options cannot be combined with other offers and may require minimum monthly payments. All offers subject to change prior to purchase. See AmericanStandardShowers.com for other restrictions and for licensing, warranty, and company information. CSLB B982796; Suffolk NY: 55431H;NYC:HIC 2022748-DCA. Safety Tubs Co. LLC does not sell in Nassau NY, Westchester NY, Putnam NY, Rockland NY.

March 2021

Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Adults 55+

Free Tax Preparation by AARP Tax-Aide Foundation AARP Tax-Aide volunteers are once again offering free tax preparation for Parker County residents. You do not have to be an AARP member or over age 50, but an appointment is necessary. This year, volunteers will be operating under strict COVID guidelines to minimize in-person contact. An initial interview and document scanning will take place during your appointment. Preparation will be done remotely. Clients should plan to return for a followup visit to finalize the tax return. Tax envelopes may be picked up at Weatherford Public Library or Azle Library. The envelope contains complete instructions and required forms, which must be completed before your appointment time. Clients residing in Weatherford, Hudson Oaks, Willow Park, Brock

and Aledo will be seen at Weatherford Public Library on Fridays 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., Saturdays noon to 4:30 p.m. and Mondays 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from now until April 10. Call 817-631-3176 to make an appointment, and a Tax-Aide representative will return your call. Volunteers ask that you do not call the Weatherford Library. Residents in Azle and Springtown will be served at Azle Library on Tuesdays from 2:30 to 7 p.m., Wednesdays 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursdays 2:30 to 7 p.m. from now until April 15. Call Azle Library for an appointment at 817444-7216. Tax preparations are done by trained volunteers who must complete training and pass IRS certification annually to assist in tax preparation.

March 2021

SUDOKU nDifficulty: Sudoku Easy (Puzzle solution is on P. 12.)

9 2 5 7 2 4

Edited

1 8

E cont 1 to m num ea box the

(An w

Difficulty: Easy

9 2 5March 2021 1 7 2 4 8 7 6 4 8 2 5 6 7 8 8 3 1 5

Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Residents 55+

How can women overcome obstacles to financial security investments that can help provide the On March 8, we observe International Women’s Day, a celebration of the most growth potential, given your indisocial, economic, cultural and politividual risk tolerance. Also, even if you cal achievements of women. Of course, contribute to a 401(k) or similar plan, women still tend to encounter more you may also be eligible to fund an IRA, obstacles than men in the pursuit of fiwhich gives you even more investment nancial security. Let’s consider a few of choices. them. Evaluate your Social Security options To begin with, women are still more You can typically start taking Social likely to leave the workforce, at least Security benefits when you’re 62, but temporarily, to raise children, resultyour monthly checks will be much larger ing in lower contributions to employerif you wait until your “full” retirement sponsored retireage, which will likely ment plans such as be between 66 and 67. 401(k)s. And womYou might also conen are often the sider whether you’d ones who become be better off by takfull-time caregivers by Mary H. McDow ing spousal benefits, of aging parents Edward Jones Adviser if you’re married and or other relatives. your spouse earned Caregiving dumore money than you. You’re generally ties can exact a big financial toll: The even eligible for spousal benefits if you lost wages, pensions (including 401(k) are divorced, as long as you were mars and similar plans) and Social Security ried at least 10 years and you haven’t benefits that a woman loses to become a full-time caregiver amount to more than remarried. Look for unexpected income oppor$300,000 over her lifetime, according to tunities the National Academy of Sciences. Even after you’ve formally retired, Women also may be more susceptible you may still find ways to receive some to financial downturns. Consider the earned income. Perhaps you can work COVID-19 pandemic: Just a few months part time or do some consulting. And ago, in December, women lost 156,000 if you’re a caregiver, you might be able jobs, while men gained 16,000, accordto receive some compensation for your ing to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which also reported that women acwork. Many local governments pay noncounted for 54% of the jobs lost from the spouse caregivers who act as personal pandemic in 2020. attendants, although the rules vary And women are not unaware of their greatly by state and county. circumstances and outlook. Just 41% of These certainly aren’t the only ways women are confident about retirement, you can improve your financial status, compared with 56% of men, according but they may prove useful to you. In any to a survey by Edward Jones and Age case, be aware of the challenges facing Wave. you and do whatever you can to brightBut if you’re a woman, you can take en your future. steps to help improve your financial outlook. Here are a few suggestions: Take full advantage of retirement plans If you are still working and your employer offers a 401(k) or similar retirement plan, take full advantage of it. Put This article was written by Edward in as much as you can afford each year Jones for use by your local Edward and increase your contributions when Jones Financial Adviser, Mary H. your salary goes up. Also, within your McDow, 102 Houston Ave., Suite 203, 817-598-0882. Member SPIC plan, you’ll want to choose the mix of

Main Street, 1889

Money Matters

We know...we know...the last thing you want to see is snow right now, but we think you’re going to love this photo Donna McCauley sent us. It’s a snow scene on Weatherford’s Main Street in 1889. If you look closely, you’ll see the Weatherford courthouse in the center. Send your photos and memories to seniors@hooplamagazine.com.

Solution to Sudoku:

Solution to Crossword: S E A L A S S A Y A L G A

L U R E

I R I S

P O T S H S S O U E T E A D S E O M N O C A D O B E A L L X E S

H E A R S T A V E

L A M E N T T E N E M E N T

A B O R R I S E E T I C S E R G R E E D A T A S T U T T E P E E D I S L N E I C C V A L U E V E R R A D E

B O U E N A C G E E R E C R A R R A A T U M

I N S A T I A B L E

A C E D

S E R E

S H A M E

T A R O T

F I N E

T O D O

S N O W

6 8 3 5 7 4 1 2 9

5 9 7 2 1 3 6 4 8

1 4 2 6 8 9 7 5 3

7 2 8 4 5 6 9 3 1

9 5 4 1 3 7 8 6 2

3 6 1 8 9 2 4 7 5

4 1 5 3 6 8 2 9 7

2 3 9 7 4 1 5 8 6

8 7 6 9 2 5 3 1 4

Locally Owned and Operated Since 1958

BUTANE CO. INC. PROPANE SALES & SERVICE

817-594-2612

103 W. Church St. • Weatherford Owners: Morris and Judy V (Kemp) White

Tank Sales • Leasing • Gas Grills • Gas Logs

March 2021

HOW TO SOLVE:

Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Adults 55+

Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each set ofme: 3 by 3 the viAnd the Lord answered “Write sion; make itboxes plain onmust tablets, so he may run who contain reads it. For the still the vision awaits its appointed numbers 1 to 9.

Wait for it

7 9 6 2 8 it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it 2 time; seems3 slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will (Answer appears elsenot delay. Habakkuk 2:2-3 where in this issue) 8

Waiting has to be one of the hardest things that humans have to endure at times, and waiting on an answer from God seems to be the hardest of all. Even the prophets asked God the same questions we still ask Him today – Why? When? Are you there God? The prophet Habakkuk was frustrated with having to wait on an answer from God. He questions God because of all the evil and injustice that were rampant in Judah. God tells him that He will send Babylon to judge the leaders of Judah. Habakkuk then questions God because He is sending Babylon to judge the evil leaders and Babylon is a very evil itself! Why would God use a nation that is even more evil to come and bring judgement? Habakkuk wanted God to bring judgement on the Babylonians, too. What Habakkuk was probably wondering was “What about them God? How is this right?” God made the promise to Habakkuk that Babylon would be judged in His time. God’s answer to Habakkuk was the same one we often get from Him: wait. God responds to Habakkuk by first telling him to take notes. Write it down. God wanted Habakkuk to remember this promise from Him and not forget it. Perhaps another reason God wanted Habakkuk to write it down was so it would benefit others – in the future – so that when they are still waiting, they know what God has promised and that it will happen in His timing. Here are some other important points we can learn from God’s answer to Habakkuk: There is an appointed time – For still the vision awaits its appointed time…God has an appointed time for everything in our lives and in the course of history. He is completely in control and nothing happens until the time that He has decided. We struggle with this as we think that our appointed time should be His appointed time. God has been working His purposes, on His timeline, throughout history, and is still working them today. There is a reason for every moment

He has planned, and sometimes the moments spent waiting are the most important. He always has a specific purpose for your waiting. God’s plan and purpose will happen no matter what – it will not lie. It doesn’t get cancelled or derailed by humans, or pandemics, or riots, or unprecedented winter weather. It will happen according to His timing. Don’t wallow while you wait. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay… WORK while you wait. It may seem

like a delay to us, but to God it is part of the plan! We see our circumstances based on our expectations, but God doesn’t run the world based on our expectations. He works according to His will and not our will. So, while you wait, pray about what He is doing, and get to work on what you by Lara Cook can control. North Side No matter what season of Baptist Church waiting we are in, His message to Habakkuk applies to us as well. God is in control. He has an appointed time for everything – including the answers you are seeking.

Life in Grace

Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Residents 55+

March 2021

Responding to recent cold snap I’m going to use our time together to react to the effects of the recent cold blast on our landscapes and gardens – and where we go from here. Plant: • Warm-season vegetables, including tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, cucumbers and corn after last killing frost (late March). This may be the year when we miss out on early-season vegetable crops because of the cold. • Warm-season annuals, again once the danger of frost has passed late in March. This would include many of our favorites: zinnias, marigolds, wax begonias, geraniums and cosmos. Wait until soils are much warmer to plant caladiums, periwinkles, moss rose and lantanas. • Nursery stock as soon as you can see what will need to be replaced due to cold damage. Be prepared for plant shortages this spring. • New sod if needed. It’s possible that some St. Augustine in Parker County might have been killed by the cold. The varieties Raleigh or Delmar are your best choices. If sod is hard to find, dig plugs from your existing turf and use them for replanting. This work is better left for April when the soil is warmer. Wait to seed bermuda turf until late April or May. Prune: • Freeze damage from shrubs, vines and groundcovers. You’ll be able to assess extent of damage by whether twigs are brittle and dry or supple and green. You should know

Timely Tips

by Neil Sperry Gardening Expert

by mid- to late March. • Mow lawn regularly to keep weeds under control. Monitor progress of grass as it begins to green up. Drop your mower height by one notch to remove winterkilled stubble. Wear goggles and quality respirator as you do this “scalping.” • Spring-flowering shrubs and vines immediately after their spring bloom. Bloom may be impacted by effects of the cold, but pruning time will remain the same. Fertilize: • Apply high-quality, all-nitrogen fertilizer to trees, shrubs, groundcover beds to promote new growth for spring. As much as half of that nitrogen should be in slow-release form. You will use that same fertilizer (still with no weed control product) in April to get your lawn growing. On the Lookout: • Aphids will be first pests of the spring. Look for small, pearshaped bodies and rapidly increasing populations. You may be able to wash them off with a hard stream of water. • Broadleafed weeds, including clover, dichondra, chickweed, dandelions. Spray with product containing 2,4-D. Follow label directions carefully.

NEIL SPERRY

The improved cultivar Warren’s Red possumhaw is lauded for its better berry production and superior growth habits. It’s a perfect replacement for a tree lost to last month’s winter blast.

Cold-Hardy Winners In case you’re replacing plants that were killed by the cold, here are a few nominees for winterproof winners for Parker County and its surroundings. Shade trees… I’m going to stick with trees that are native to Parker County. These are trees that have survived many more centuries than humankind here, and they’re still here among us. There are seven on my list. Live oak, Shumard red oak, Chinquapin oak, bur oak, cedar elm, pecan and eastern redcedar juniper. No winter’s cold will kill them, plus they’re all handsome trees that are well adapted at all other seasons as well. Small accent trees… Once again, native trees get first nod. Redbuds and Mexican plums are both outstanding. So is possumhaw holly if you’re willing to count a multi-trunked large shrub in this category. However, I’d recommend the improved cultivar Warren’s Red possumhaw for its better berry production and superior growth habits.

Crape myrtles are also outstanding accent trees, but you need to avoid three very common varieties that are known to be much less winter-hardy. Natchez, Tuscarora and Muskogee frequently freeze back badly. Most other varieties will be fine. Yaupon hollies are among best small accent trees in sun or shade. Shrubs… Many of our shrubs have survived the cold just fine, but my own votes for most durable go to the many types of locally adapted hollies, nandinas, abelias and junipers. Just among those four categories you have 50 or more plants from which to choose. You could do an entire landscape from them. Groundcovers… My choice here for sunny locations has gone almost entirely to purple wintercreeper euonymus. It’s winter-hardy clear to the Great Lakes. I rarely plant Asian jasmine anymore because of its frequent winter browning. For shade, I lean heavily to mondograss (a.k.a. monkeygrass) and liriope.

March 2021

Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Adults 55+

n Neighbors We’ll Miss n William Lee Scharlz Feb. 19, 2021 n Richard Morris Biggs Feb. 14, 2021 n Carolyn Virginia Manney Feb. 14, 2021 n Don Wayne McCauley Feb. 11, 2021 n Terry Gene Reynolds Feb. 11, 2021 n Beverly Guiles Vestal Feb. 10, 2021 n Jo Jo Worthington Feb. 10, 2021 n Juan Angel Torres Feb. 9, 2021 n Jacqueline Bostick Hughes Feb. 9, 2021 n David Brian Hamilton Feb. 8, 2021 n Sharon Beth Dalton Feb. 7, 2021

n William Barclay Feb. 7, 2021 n James Davenport Feb. 6, 2021 n Rick Glenn Harrell Feb. 3, 2021 n Shirley Duncan Feb. 3, 2021 n Dennis Conner Feb. 3, 2021 n Robert Lee Davis, Sr. Feb. 4, 2021 n Deborah Renay McWilliams Feb. 2, 2021 n Joseph Michael Bright Feb. 2, 2021 n Susan E. Jones Feb. 2, 2021 n Tom Siler Feb. 1, 2021 n James Grammer Feb. 1, 2021

n Sherry Ann Clark Jan. 31, 2021 n Jacquolyn Gibbons Clark Jan. 31, 2021 n Barbara Sue Scaling Rose Jan. 31, 2021 n Olive Estella Collier Jan. 30, 2021 n Robert E. Sloan Jan. 29, 2021 n Jo Ann Rouse Jan. 29, 2021 n Betty Ann Carr Jan. 28, 2021 n Carol Gilley Jan. 28, 2021 n Russell Lynn Eagleton Jan. 28, 2021 n Donald James Bergman Jan 27, 2021 n Dale Ray Bolen Jan. 27, 2021

n Jan McCauley Jan. 26, 2021 n Billy Wayne Ellis Jan. 26, 2021 n Paul Howard Godwin, Sr. Jan. 26, 2021 n Pat Clifton Cook Jan. 26, 2021 n Myrna Loy Smith Jan. 26, 2021 n Annetta Lackey-Nash Jan. 26, 2021 n Michael Judge, Jr. Jan. 25, 2021 n Joe Wortham Jan. 25, 2021 n Jonathan Lee Titus Jan. 24, 2021 n “Ranger” Rick Anderson Jan. 23, 2021 n Wanda Omeiga Shipp Jan. 21, 2021

“Serving every family as part of our own for over 60 years” “Serving every family as part of our own for over 60 years”

913 N. Elm St., Weatherford, TX 76086

817-594-2747 | 800-593-2747 913 N. Elm St., Weatherford, TX 76086 817-594-2747 | 800-593-2747

James R. Plowman - jamesplowman@gpfcnet.com James R. Plowman - jamesplowman@gpfcnet.com Misty Engel – mistyengel@gpfcnet.com Misty Engel – mistyengel@gpfcnet.com Norma Plowman normaplowman@gpfcnet.com Norma Plowman – normaplowman@gpfcnet.com

Our newest additional location Galbreaith Hilltop location Chapel Our newestPickard additional 4941 I-20 Frontage Road | Willow Park, TX 76087

Galbreaith Pickard Hilltop Chapel

4941 I-20 Frontage Road | Willow Park, TX 76087

Hoopla: News and Entertainment for Parker County Residents 55+

March 2021