Golden Gazette April 2024

You gotta be kidding!

By Randal C. Hill

One Monday evening in 1957, the switchboard at the London office of the BBC came ablaze with blinking lights, as overwhelmed operators frantically explained that, no, they had no information about where one could purchase a spaghetti plant.

That’s not a typo. The English current-affairs program called “Panorama”—much like our “60 Minutes”—had shown a video clip allegedly of Swiss farmers harvesting freshly grown spaghetti in their annual spaghetti harvest.

The next day on the London news, the BBC

admitted that what they had aired was an April Fools’ Day prank.

Twenty-three years later, again on April 1, those fun-loving BBC Brits announced that Big Ben’s clock face was going digital, and that whoever called the office first would win the clock’s massive hands. It is unknown how many people fell for that one.

The playing of practical jokes has been around for centuries, but exactly when folks started to

Celebrity Luncheon to honor local people set for April 16

The annual AWC Celebrity Luncheon honoring outstanding people is set for 11:30 a.m. April 16 at the

Overton Hotel & Conference Center, 2322 Mac Davis Lane.

The luncheon celebrates

the positive contributions and achievements of individuals and organizations who make Lubbock a great place to live.

Individual tickets are $75 and reserved tables of eight are $1,000.

Tables and tickets may be reserved and purchased by contacting Valerie at 806-252-3707 or email valerie@memorialdesigners.net.

Headliner awards are presented to individuals or groups whose achievements have received positive recognition through the media.

Headliners for 2024 are the Goin’ Band from Raiderland, the Guidance Entrepreneurship & Outreach Center, Josh Jung with the Texas Rangers, and Wes Kittley, track and field coach at Texas Tech.

Pete Christy will be awarded the Mary Ann Edwards Professional Communicator Award that recognizes an individual in the field of communications who has made significant contributions and positively impacted the community.

The Rising Star award will be awarded to Nicholas Bergfeld.

The George Mahon award and the Beth Pratt AWC Communicator of the Year award will be announced at the luncheon.

The George Mahon Award recognizes an individual for extraordinary public service and is presented to a person who has dedicated his adult life to a broad array of public service efforts.

Gold Medal awards are given to those who have worked to improve the quality of life for the Lubbock area.

Gold Medalists are Renee Davis, Phyllis Gant, Aaron Garrett, and Cassie Johnson.

West Texas Land Guys will be awarded the Louise Allen Award for outstanding corporate community service.

The Beth Pratt AWC Member of the Year Award recognizes a member who has demonstrated excellence in the profession and given positive support to the AWC chapter.

Funds raised provide scholarships for students and support professional development opportunities for chapter members of the Association for Women in Communications.

The older you get the more you realize how precious life is. You have no desire for drama, conflict or stress. You just want good friends, a cozy home, food on the table, and people who make you happy.

I learned long ago to focus on things you can control and don’t even pay attention to things you don’t.

– Bryan Cranston

You gotta be kidding!

embrace them is anybody’s guess. Over the years, historians have cited numerous rites and festivals as possible beginning points, but few have agreed about just when April Fools’ Day became somewhat of a holiday.

One thing for sure is that much chuckle-producing activity has transpired in our lifetimes here in the USA:

April 1, 1985, saw the printing of a Sports Illustrated magazine article about a rookie pitcher named Sidd Finch, who could throw a fastball 168 miles an hour. (The current record is 106 mph.)

Even the folks at NPR (National Public Radio) have exhibited a first-of-April sense of humor. In 1992, the “Talk of the Nation” show aired Richard Nixon (voiced by master imitator Rich Little) announcing another run for the presidency with the slogan “I didn’t do anything wrong, and I won’t do it again.’

Apparently, fast-food folks also enjoy a good April 1 hoax. In 1996, the Taco Bell chain announced that it had purchased the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia and would rename it the Taco Liberty Bell. Two years later, Burger King folks promised that a “left-handed Whopper” was forthcoming.

Over the years, some people have fallen for the same old absurdities, which have included being sent to a hardware store for a left-handed wrench, to a pharmacy for “pigeon’s milk,” or to a bookstore for a copy of “The History of Eve’s Grandmother.”

Of course, not everybody has a sense of humor. In 2021, the Thailand police force announced that posting or sharing false news online could lead to a maximum of five years imprisonment. (C’mon, guys, lighten up!)

While some April Fools’ Day hoaxes, pranks and practical jokes have garnered praise for their innovation and creativity, some people—usually victims— have described such antics as crude, insensitive or rude. Whatever our take on this issue is, we should be on our guard when it comes to April 1 and what is announced in newspapers, on radio and TV stations, and internet websites that keep us informed—and some long-running traditions alive. You have been warned.

Anybody hungry for some freshly harvested spaghetti?

Medication Cleanout set for April 13

The Spring Medication Cleanout event is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 13. at the Texas Tech Physicians Medical Pavilion, 3601 Fourth St.

Aiming to prevent misuse and abuse of prescription medications, the drive-thru event provides residents with an environmentally responsible way to dispose of their unwanted medications and sharps.

With yard signs directing them, the added convenience of staying in their cars allows for easy drop-off.

“With spring cleaning upon us, don’t forget medications,” TTPC Managing Director Jeanie Shawhart, Pharm.D., said.

“Go through your home to collect any medications that are no longer being used. Even if they aren’t expired, it’s a

good idea to clean them out. Otherwise, they are a risk for poisoning and drug overdose.”

Shawhart said it is eyeopening to see how many unused medications are out there. Unused medications around young children or teens pose a deadly risk and are extremely harmful to the community. Only household medications can be accepted and are recommended to be left in their original containers.

“By bringing these items to Medication Cleanout you can rest easier,” Shawhart said. “Know that your items will not end up in the sewer system or landfill where they could eventually make their way into our drinking water.”

For more info or to volunteer, call 806-414-9495 or visit MedicationCleanout.com.

Major traffic changes are coming to 114th Street as the Texas Department of Transportation continues work to widen the roadway. The road between Indiana Avenue and Memphis Avenue will be closed to all traffic to allow crews to raise the road and build new lanes.

The closure is expected to be in place for five months. Traffic will be detoured around the area. The city of Lubbock is asking drivers to use 98th Street and/ or 122nd Street as alternative routes.

Also all lanes between Quaker and Memphis avenues will be opened to traffic. Memphis Avenue drivers will continue to have access to 114th Street.

The project is completely rebuilding the roadway from a two-lane roadway to a five-lane thoroughfare.

Free colon screening for the underserved

The annual free colon cancer screening for those who qualify is set for Aug. 24.

This initiative aims to increase access to preventive screening for colon cancer, which is the third most common cancer in the United States.

Colon cancer is preventable with proper screenings and, if caught early, colon cancer is highly treatable and often curable.

The clinic is open to individuals who meet the following criteria:

• Age 45 and above

• Uninsured

• No previous colonoscopy within the past three years

Income requirements :

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The free colonoscopy clinic is made possible by the support of local healthcare providers and community organizations such as Lubbock Impact.

The screening will be performed at Covenant Medical Center by experienced gastroenterologists and nurses on Saturday, Aug. 24.

“We hope to reach those in our community who are worried about their health and seeking preventative care not available due to their lack of funding or insurance,” Grace Clinic Gastroenterologist Dr. Matthew Soape said.

“The free colon cancer screening day is a great example of Covenant giving back to our community and helping those people needing access to this kind of medical care.”

For those who are interested and qualify for the free screening, call 806-725-4442.

Extravaganza 2024 helpers

The holidays are over, but the Holiday Extravaganza crew is already beginning work on this year’s event, and they need more volunteers.

What does this entail?

Putting together gift baskets, making bows, assembling wreaths, organizing donations, and pricing items are just some of the tasks needed.

Creativity is welcome but definitely NOT required. There is a job for every skill level.

If interested in helping, come enjoy some great camaraderie with a fun group.

Join them beginning March 6 on any Tuesday you are available.

It’s at the Community Christian Church 3417-96th St., Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon.

It’s all about preparing for the Holiday Extravaganza (Nov. 1 & 2) to benefit Lubbock Meals on Wheels.

I usually don’t talk about expensive trips I take, but I just got back from the grocery store.

Drivers needed at Meals on Wheels

Volunteers are needed to deliver Meals on Wheels to help make a difference in a person’s life and help someone maintain independence.

Deliveries are Monday through Friday with meal pickup times at 10:45 and 11:15 a.m.

Come away feeling that you have received more than you have given.

Sign up online at www.lubbockmealsonwheels.org/ volunteer, or call 806-792-7971 and ask for Nicole or Vicki.

Missing Moms luncheon set for May 11

Are you ready to be inspired?

The 7th annual Missing Moms event is set for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 11, at Lubbock Christian University, 5601 19th St. in the Baker Room.

Jody Hudson, author of “My Promise to Alex,” will share an unforgettable and heartwarming message. If you know a woman who needs to be blessed and encouraged, invite her today.

There is no charge for the event, but luncheon tickets must be reserved by May 7.

Virtual tickets can be signed up for through May 11.

To make reservations, go online to www.missingmoms.org.

Missing Moms exists to ignite hope and encourage women who struggle with Mother’s Day. These women either missed out on becoming a mom, miss their moms, or miss their kids who are gone.

The mission is accomplished through an annual luncheon in May and by hosting a series of inspiring events to connect women to each other, to Jesus, and to local churches.

Email info@missingmoms.org for more information or call 806-777-8788.

Late in 1975, there would have been no reason for you to know the name of Gary Dahl.

By the beginning of the next year, though, there’s little doubt that you would have become aware of, if not his name, his quirky creation that had made him a pop-culture phenomenon.

Dahl, though, smiled and joked that he had no such problems, as his domestic pet was a rock.

Laughter followed, as did a few more drinks.

But back home, Gary began writing the Pet Rock Training Manual, a 36-page, chuckle-inspiring booklet

Just a pet: but a Rock-Solid idea 1970s 1970s

Dahl owned a California advertising agency that specialized in radio and TV ads. Business had fallen off recently, and the discouraged 38-year-old was frequently casting about to change his fortunes with a clever (and marketable) idea.

One night, he and some pals were drinking at their favorite hangout in Los Gatos, a town in the rapidly growing Silicon Valley. Gary’s pals were complaining about all the hassles and expenses involved with their household pets.

I just saw on the news that they’re suggesting that people check up on the elderly. I’m usually up by 9 or 9:30. Bring donuts.

Just because I disagree with you does not mean I hate you. We need to relearn that in our society.

filled with puns, jokes and illustrations of various rocks in (in)action.

He lightheartedly explained that Pet Rocks required no feeding, walking, bathing, grooming or vet visits. They were hypoallergenic and didn’t bark, bite or have accidents on the floor.

They were good at obeying certain commands—”stay,” “play dead”— but admittedly required some owner assistance with “fetch,” “come” and “roll over.”

He designed a cardboard pet carrier complete with ventilation holes and a bedding of straw or shredded paper.

The rocks themselves—smooth stones from a beach in Baja, California—came from a local sand and gravel company and cost one penny

each. The straw or shredded paper wasn’t much more. Dahl’s biggest expense was the cardboard carrier.

He convinced two friends to invest $10,000 each in his product, and Pet Rocks soon began appearing in Bay Area novelty stores and at gift shows.

Word and interest spread quickly across the country, especially after Newsweek ran an illustrated feature on the preposterous pretend pet.

Gary appeared twice on “The Tonight Show,” and someone named Al Bolt even released a single record called “I’m in Love with My Pet Rock.”

By Christmas, 100,000 Pet Rocks were being bought daily.

Following the holidays—and after 1.5 million units had changed hands—the fad died as quickly as

Please shop

had the Hula Hoop.

But by then Gary, who earned 95 cents profit on each $3.95 sale, had pocketed over $1 million.

He gifted each newly wealthy investor with a shiny new Mercedes, then purchased a Los Gatos hillside mansion complete with his own Mercedes in the garage.

To many people, Pet Rocks were a silly “craze du jour,” seen as a statement about the absurdity of consumer culture.

To others, though, the success of the novelty became a testament to clever marketing. Whichever, Dahl’s item had made a lasting impact on the toy industry and the American popular culture.

And it had all been fun. Gary told People magazine, “You might say we packaged a sense of humor.”

Higher standards for assisted living facilities

Speaking at a hearing of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, Gerontological Society of America members Jennifer Craft Morgan, PhD, FGSA, and Richard J. Mollot, JD, called on lawmakers to enact policies that enable greater state and national oversight of assisted living facilities, and that bolster the workforce and engagement of residents and care partners.

Senators convened the hearing, titled “Assisted Living Facilities: Understanding Long-Term Care Options for Older Adults,” to examine challenges faced by assisted living facility residents.

Committee Chair Bob Casey recently sent letters to the CEOs of three of the largest corporate owners of American assisted liv -

ing facilities, expressing “significant concerns about workforce shortages and expensive and inadequate care in assisted living facilities raised by recent reporting in The Washington Post and The New York Times,” and requesting the companies provide further information.

“Assisted living is a large and growing long-term care residential option for individuals who need or want additional supports for activities of daily living,” said Morgan, who serves as a professor and director of the Gerontology Institute at Georgia State University.

“There are approximately 30,600 assisted living communities in the U.S. with almost 1.2 million licensed beds and 818,800 residents. This industry employs a total

of 478,500 workers, 66 percent of which are direct care workers.”

In her testimony, Morgan recommended that the Senate take steps to support the standardization of monitoring and resources to increase state-based oversight and transparency; improve and standardize initial and continuing education training for direct care workers in assisted living; professionalize the direct care workforce; incentivize and reward good employers who deliver high quality care; increase access to assisted living; and improve care coordination and resources for people living with dementia and their care partners.

Testimony from Mollot, who serves as the executive director of the Long Term

Care Community Coalition, included recommendations to establish and implement national standards to promote quality, safety, and integrity in assisted living; establish a national assisted living database; and promote resident and family engagement.

“Improving transparency, quality, and accountability in assisted living is not only a matter of public interest but a moral imperative,” Mollot said. “Now more than ever, federal action is needed to ensure that older Americans receive the care and support they deserve while fostering a system that promotes transparency and accountability within the industry.”

Sheriff to speak April 6

Sheriff Kelly Rowe will speak at the April 6 Roundtable meeting.

RSVP by April 4 to give the kitchen time to get items ordered.

Meeting time is 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Cimarron Room, Pointe Plaza Building at Carillon Senior Living 1717 Norfolk Ave. (near 19th & Quaker).

Cost is $18 and anything extra goes toward the scholarship fund for the Honors College at Texas Tech. Make checks payable to Roundtable or pay with cash.

RSVP to Marie Evans at 806-281-3181 or email

MEvans1398@aol.com.

Dear Algebra, Please stop asking us to find your X. She’s never coming back and don’t ask Y.

Apply NOW!

This program provides small grants to elementary and secondary school teachers to enable them to enhance their class curriculum and make learning memorable for students.

These grants empower teachers to acquire innovative teaching materials that excite young minds.

In 2023, 29 teachers in Lubbock and the surrounding South Plains school districts received $25,162 in mini-grants. To learn more about Mini-Grants and to complete the online application, visit cfwtx.org/mini-grants-for-teachers

The

Nourishment room open for NICU patient families at Covenant Children’s

The South Plains Food Bank Family Nourishment Room at Covenant Children’s is now open to longterm patient families thanks to a generous donation from Wellpoint (formerly Amerigroup Financial).

The SPFB Family Nourishment Room is designed exclusively for the families of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients. It will provide families with 24-hour access to healthy and nutritious food options during their baby’s stay, which can be critical for the recovery and development of NICU patients.

The Covenant Children’s NICU is a Level IV NICU, providing the highest level of care, serving close to 500 patients each year across West Texas and eastern New Mexico. NICU patients typically stay an average of 30 days.

The room will be stocked with fresh produce, whole grains, lean protein, and other nutrient-rich food items, as well as snacks and beverages to help families stay full and energized.

“Something we all have in common is coming around the table and sharing a meal with the ones we love,” Manager of Integrative Care Dr. Christine Neugebauer said. “When we need to gather most is when someone is sick or in the hospital.

We want this room to help heal our patient families’ bodies, minds, and souls, and we are so grateful to Wellpoint and the South Plains Food Bank for making this happen.”

The South Plains Food Bank has been a leader in the fight against hunger in West Texas for more than 35 years, providing food assistance to individuals and families in need across 20 counties. The Food as Medicine program is part of its ongoing commitment to improving the health of the community by addressing the root causes of food insecurity.

“Food is a powerful connector, and we are honored to serve those in need in this special way,” said Dina Jeffries, SPFB executive direc-

tor. “Not only are we able to provide nutritious food to families of critically ill and injured children, but we are able to continue our services to families as they return to their home community after being away for weeks and sometimes months.”

Emie Young is director of Wellpoint Texas.

“We are proud to partner with the South Plains Food Bank because we have a shared belief that food truly is medicine,” Young said.

In the Nourishment Room, a large wall mural depicting cheerful wildflowers was painted by local artist, Janelle Barrington Spivey. All the tables for families to sit and gather at were crafted by local firefighter and artisan Jaden Carnes of Carnes Woodworks.

Free help with 2023 tax returns

AARP TAX-AIDE, the nation’s largest volunteer-run tax counseling and preparation service, will prepare taxes at the Lubbock Adult Activity Center, 2001 19th St., on Wednesdays and Thursdays only, until April 11.

Taxes will be done on a first-come, first-served basis from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. You are urged to check in early with all your documents.

Social Security cards are required for all persons listed on the tax return. Photo IDs are required for primary persons on the return. Bring a copy of last year’s return. Also bring all 2023 W-2s, 1099s, 1095 A, B or C, end of the year Social Security statement(s), and any other pertinent forms.

Volunteers are trained and have experience. Some return scenarios will be considered out-of-scope for AARP TAXAIDE. Examples are married filing separately, rental properties, and farm income. Come by if you have questions and volunteers will assist you.

Texas and the feds are at odds over the state’s new immigration enforcement law. Here’s what it would do.

By Maria Mendez Texas Tribune

The U.S. Supreme Court extended an order that blocks Texas from enforcing the law.

Texas lawmakers in 2023 approved Senate Bill 4, which seeks to allow Texas police to arrest people for illegally crossing the Mexico border.

It was expected to go into effect in early March, but faces legal challenges from the U.S. Justice Department and immigration advocacy organizations.

The U.S. Supreme Court has blocked the law from going into effect and federal court challenges remain.

What is Senate Bill 4?

This new law would make it a state crime to cross the Texas-Mexico border between ports of entry.

If a police officer has probable cause to believe a person illegally crossed the Rio Grande, that person could be charged with a Class B misdemeanor, which carries a punishment of up to six months in jail.

For subsequent offenses, the person could be charged with a seconddegree felony and face up to 20 years in prison.

If the migrant is convicted and has served the sentence, a judge would be required to order police to transport them to a port of entry.

A judge could drop the charges if a migrant agrees to return to Mexico, and police could turn over migrant families to Border Patrol agents to avoid separating children from their parents instead of arresting them.

Is the law being enforced?

For now, the law is blocked from going into effect amid an ongoing lawsuit brought forward by immigrant rights advocates and the federal government.

The U.S. Supreme Court on March 18 issued an order that temporarily blocks the law until justices decide whether Texas should be allowed to enforce it before federal court challenges are resolved.

Justice Samuel Alito did not put a deadline on the temporary order blocking the law and did not indicate when the high court would decide whether to keep the law from being enforced during ongoing litigation.

Could any undocumented immigrant be arrested?

The bill allows police to question and arrest anyone they believe entered Texas through Mexico illegally and is currently without legal immigration status.

However, the author of the law has said it is meant to target people who recently crossed the border, not undocumented immigrants who have been living in Texas for years.

Texas’ statute of limitations blocks legal proceedings for misdemeanors two years after an offense has occurred. The statute of limitations is three years for many felonies.

SB 4 prohibits police from arresting migrants in public or private schools; churches and other places of worship; health care facilities; and facilities that provide forensic medical examinations to sexual assault survivors.

The bill doesn’t prohibit arrests on college or university campuses.

Why is the law being challenged?

Immigration advocacy organizations and the Department of Justice say the law encroaches on the federal government’s sole authority over immigration and will lead to racial profiling by police.

Texas officials have argued the state needs to step in because the federal government isn’t doing enough to stop illegal immigration.

Can Texas enforce immigration laws?

Federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, have previously ruled that immigration laws can only be enforced by the federal government.

Texas has argued the law follows federal immigration laws, and that the state has a right to defend itself under Article I, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits states from engaging in war on their own “unless actually invaded.”

A federal judge who blocked the law in February said he didn’t see evidence of a war in Texas and that the federal government would “suffer irreparable harm” under the law because it could inspire other states to pass their own immigration laws.

How could this affect asylum seekers?

Anyone who enters the U.S., legally or illegally, has up to one year to request asylum.

The federal government is asking migrants to not show up at a port of entry and instead make an appointment to meet with an immigration officer.

But available appointments fill quickly and many migrants opt to cross the border away from ports of entry and surrender to U.S. authorities.

Under SB 4, if Texas police arrest a migrant before they surrender to Border Patrol, immigrants who apply for asylum and are researched by federal agents for criminal histories could be subject to removal from the United States if charged with the new state crime.

Where can I find more information?

Consulates in the U.S. for countries like Mexico could provide their citizens with more information.

Immigrant rights groups, such as American Gateways, are also trying to inform people who could be affected by the law.

https://www.texastribune.org

Passed by the Texas legislature, SB4 criminalizes unauthorized migration at the state level, making the act of entering the U.S. outside of a port of entry — already a federal offense — into a state crime. It also creates a state felony charge for illegal reentry. The bill has been ruled unconstitutional and blocked by some courts. It’s enforcement is in limbo.

Retired & Senior Volunteer Program recognizes volunteers

The Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) is the largest older adult volunteer program in the nation.

RSVP recruits and places older adult volunteers (age 55+) in a host of communitybased human service agencies.

Service opportunities are as diverse as the communities in which volunteers serve and include areas such as Lubbock Meals on Wheels, Friends of the Library, local hospitals, Ronald McDonald House, Hope Lodge, Literacy Lubbock, Exodus Prison Ministry, Comfort Corps, Hospices and many others.

RSVP volunteers choose where and how they want to serve, with commitments ranging from whatever hours they choose.

RSVP assists older adults to remain involved in their community by utilizing their skills and talents they have developed over the years as well as develop new ones.

This is a great way to increase their socialization and feeling of purpose.

Annually, Lubbock RSVP strives to recognize volunteers who have served in the community.

Special recognition is given to volunteers who have reached the 4,000+ hour mark.

This award, known as

President’s Volunteer Service Award is an opportunity to honor the volunteers who have reached the 4,000 hours mark and recognize the impact they have made.

On March 9, volunteers met for the Annual Recognition event in Lubbock at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Event Center.

More than 100 volunteers and guests were present for this event. Christy Martinez-Garcia, City Council District 1, presented a proclamation from the City of Lubbock. A proclamation from Lubbock County Commissioners Court was also presented.

performances will not disappoint.

For information on RSVP and the opportunities that exist, contact rsvp@ttuhsc.edu or 806-743-7787.

See pages 12 and 13 for more photos from the RSVP Annual Recognition event.

Honorees include Dianna Walker, Marian Anderson, Beverly Bearden, Thomas Tidwell and Judith Burnett (2022 awardee).

Total volunteer hours for 2023 related to an economic impact of over $2.6 million. Jeff McCreight, a local musician, performed for the group.

If you want to enjoy his music, check out the Cactus Theatre. He makes frequent appearances there, and his

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Eva Garza, RSVP Manager, Dianna Walker, recipient of RSVP Presidential Award, and Christy Martinez-Garcia, Lubbock City Council, District 1.

Eva Garza, RSVP Manager, Christy Martinez-Garcia (City Council), Marian Anderson, recipient of RSVP Presidential Award, and Kelly Linder, with Cornerstone Caregiving, in back.

Eva Garza, RSVP Manager, Christy Martinez-Garcia (City Council), and Judith Burnett, the 2022 Recipient of the Presidential Award.

New Neighbors meeting and upcoming Game Day

New Neighbors Club of Lubbock will hold its April general meeting at 10:30 a.m. April 12 at the Lubbock Women’s Club 2020 Broadway.

Motivational speaker and author Shelley Bratcher will provide the program.

A luncheon will follow for a cost of $20. A reservation may be made by emailing okieroni1@gmail. com or texting 281-5074083 by April 9.

New Neighbors will also hold a Game Day fundraiser on April 26 at the Women’s Club starting at 10 a.m. Cost for games and lunch is $30.

A variety of card and domino games will be played, and many fun prizes will be awarded.

The event is open to the public. Reservations may be made at the above contact information.

Angels exist, but sometimes they don’t have wings and are called friends.

Basic Seeded Oat Bread

Ingredients

• 3 cups bread flour

• 2 teaspoons instant yeast

• 1 cup whole rolled oats

• ¼ cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

• ¼ cup sunflower seeds

• 2 tablespoons flax seeds or sesame seeds

• 2 teaspoons coarse salt

• 2 tablespoons honey

• 1.5 cups warm water (about 95 degrees)

--- Optional ---

• cornmeal for dusting the pan

• toppings: 1 tablespoon each of oats, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds + 1 teaspoon flax or sesame seeds

Instructions

1In

a large bowl, whisk together flour, yeast, oats, all seeds, and salt. Mix honey and water together, and pour over the dry ingredients. Mix together by first using a silicone spatula or wooden spoon, and then use hands to work the dough.

The dough will be sticky. Shape into a ball in the bowl as best you can. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and set on the counter at room temperature to rise for 3 hours.

The dough will just about double in size and stick to the sides of the bowl. You can continue with step 2 or keep covered dough in refrigerator for up to 3 days.

2Dust

a large nonstick baking sheet with a little flour or cornmeal. Using floured hands, lightly shape the risen dough into a ball. Transfer ball to prepared baking sheet.

If using, mix topping ingredients together. Sprinkle on top of dough and gently press them in to stick. Loosely cover and allow dough to rest for 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 425°F.

3Once ready to bake, if the loaf flattened out during the 45 minutes, use floured hands to reshape. Score dough with a slash or X about ½ inch deep.

Place in preheated oven on the center rack. Bake for 40 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.

4Remove the bread from the oven. Give the bread a light thump. If it sounds hollow it’s done, or when a thermometer reads the center of the loaf as 195°F.

Allow to cool for at least 10–20 minutes before slicing. Leftovers store up to 3 days at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 10 days.

The RSVP Annual Recognition event included the color guard from Estacado High School, as well as lots of visiting, eating and singing, with a bunch of volunteers.

Jeff

How much income can your retirement portfolio provide?

Your retirement lifestyle will depend not only on your assets and investment choices, but also on how quickly you draw down your retirement portfolio.

The annual percentage that you take out of your portfolio, whether from returns or the principal itself, is known as your withdrawal rate.

Figuring out an appropriate initial withdrawal rate is a key issue in retirement planning and presents many challenges.

Why is your withdrawal rate important?

Take out too much too soon, and you might run out of money in your later years. Take out too little, and you might not enjoy your retirement years as much as you could.

Your withdrawal rate is especially important in the early years of your retirement; how your port-

folio is structured then and how much you take out can have a significant impact on how long your savings will last.

Gains

in life expectancy

have been dramatic. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, people today can expect to live more than 30 years longer than they did a century ago.

Individuals who reached age 65 in 1950 could anticipate living an average of 14 years more, to age 79; now a 65-year-old might expect to live for roughly an additional 20 years.

Assuming rising inflation, your projected annual income in retirement will need to factor in those cost-of-living increases.

That means you’ll need to think carefully about how to structure your portfolio to provide an appropriate withdrawal rate, especially in the early years of retirement.

events such as the early Depression years, the stock decline of 1937- 1941, and the 1973-1974 recession.

It found that a withdrawal rate of slightly more than 4% would have provided inflation-adjusted income for at least 30 years.

Other later studies have shown that broader portfolio diversification, rebalancing strategies, variable inflation rate assumptions, and being willing to accept greater uncertainty about your annual income and how long your retirement nest egg will be able to provide an income also can have a significant impact on initial withdrawal rates.

For example, if you’re unwilling to accept a 25% chance that your chosen strategy will be successful, your sustainable initial withdrawal rate may need to be lower than you’d prefer to increase your odds of getting the results you desire.

Current Life Expectancy Estimates

Source: NCHS Data Brief, Number 456, December 2022

Conventional wisdom

So what withdrawal rate should you expect from your retirement savings?

The answer: it all depends.

The seminal study on withdrawal rates for tax-deferred retirement accounts (William P. Bengen, “Determining Withdrawal Rates Using Historical Data,” Journal of Financial Planning, October 1994) looked at the annual performance of hypothetical portfolios that are continually rebalanced to achieve a 50-50 mix of large-cap (S&P 500 Index) common stocks and intermediate-term Treasury notes.

The study took into account the potential impact of major financial

Conversely, a higher withdrawal rate might mean greater uncertainty about whether you risk running out of money.

However, don’t forget that studies of withdrawal rates are based on historical data about the performance of various types of investments in the past.

Given market performance in recent years, many experts are suggesting being more conservative in estimating future returns.

Note: Past results don’t guarantee future performance. All investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal, and there can be no guarantee that any investing strategy will be successful. Rebalancing involves selling some investments in order to buy others. Investors should keep in mind that selling investments in a taxable account could result in a tax liability. Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against investment loss.

Inflation is a major consideration

To better understand why suggested initial withdrawal rates aren’t higher, it’s essential to think about how inflation can affect your retirement income.

Here’s a hypothetical illustration; to keep it simple, it does not account for the impact of any taxes.

How much income?

If a $1 million portfolio is invested in an account that yields 5%, it provides $50,000 of annual income. But if annual inflation pushes prices up by 3%, more income — $51,500 — would be needed next year to preserve purchasing power.

Since the account provides only $50,000 income, an additional $1,500 must be withdrawn from the principal to meet expenses. That principal reduction, in turn, reduces the portfolio’s ability to produce income the following year.

In a straight linear model, principal reductions accelerate, ultimately resulting in a zero portfolio balance after 25 to 27 years, depending on the timing of the withdrawals.

Volatility and portfolio longevity

When setting an initial withdrawal rate, it’s important to take a portfolio’s ups and downs into account — and the need for a relatively predictable income stream in retirement isn’t the only reason.

According to several studies done in the late 1990s and updated in 2011 by Philip L. Cooley, Carl M. Hubbard, and Daniel T. Walz, the more dramatic a portfolio’s fluctuations, the greater the odds that the portfolio might not last as long as needed.

If it becomes necessary during market downturns to sell some securities in order to continue to meet a fixed withdrawal rate, selling at an inopportune time could affect a portfolio’s ability to generate future income.

Making your portfolio either more aggressive or more conservative will affect its lifespan.

A more aggressive portfolio may produce higher returns but might also be subject to a higher degree of loss.

A more conservative portfolio might produce steadier returns at a lower rate, but could lose purchasing power to inflation.

Calculating an appropriate withdrawal rate

Your withdrawal rate needs to take into account many factors, including (but not limited to) your asset allocation, projected inflation rate, expected rate of return, annual income targets, investment horizon, and comfort with uncertainty.

The higher your withdrawal rate, the more you’ll have to consider whether it is sustainable over the long term.

Ultimately, however, there is no standard rule of thumb; every individual has unique retirement goals, means, and circumstances that come into play.

Zach Holtzman, Financial Advisor

‘Journey to Freedom’ for April 9 program

Spring hats will be in style at the April 9 meeting of the Lubbock Christian Women’s Connection.

Wear your favorite hat to celebrate spring, and listen to special music by Lindy Woods.

Carolyn Simmons, former director of Children’s Miracle Network, will be traveling from Amarillo to share her story of “Journey to Freedom.”

The group will meet at the Lubbock Country Club, 3400 Mesa Road from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 9.

Cost for the buffet lunch, program, and a chance to win door prizes is $23.

RSVP to Sharen at 806392-0264 or LubbockCWC@gmail.com.

Honor reservations, give to a friend, or cancel by noon on April 5.

Half of your beauty comes from the way you speak to and treat people.

‘The Loco-Motion’ and Grand Funk Railroad

In 1962, fad dances were all the rage among recordbuying teens.

Included among the steps was the Loco-Motion, where participants shuffled their arms to simulate the driving of steel rods that turned a locomotive’s wheels.

A chug-a chug-a motion like a railroad train now Songsmiths Carole King and husband Gerry Goffin had created “The LocoMotion” for 17-year-old Eva Boyd.

Called Little Eva on records, Boyd’s million-seller soared to Number One on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Fast-forward a dozen years, and “The Loco-Motion” regained the top chart slot again, but this time by a Flint, Michigan, power trio called Grand Funk Railroad.

“We were loud, but there was a reason,” proclaimed leader Mark Farner.

“We wanted to create an atmosphere in which nothing existed but the music.”

Farner had apprenticed in two bands in high school be-

fore dropping out and assembling an eardrum-cracking aggregation with pals Don Brewer (drums) and Mel Schacher (bass).

They gleaned their playon-words name Grand Funk Railroad from a Michigan rail line named the Grand Trunk Western Railroad.

Wowing the crowd as an unknown (and unpaid) opening act at a 1969 Georgia rock festival, the threesome eventually signed with Capitol Records, the prestigious one-time home label of the Beatles and the Beach Boys.

Beloved by their fans but frequently ignored by Top 40 DJs or reviled by music critics who often saw them as unpolished and unnecessarily loud, Grand Funk Railroad found recording success right out of the gate, beginning with their “On Time” album late in 1969.

After seven more hit LPs, they shortened their name to Grand Funk in 1973.

In that year, Craig Frost came aboard to play keyboards with the band.

“Shinin’ On,” the rockers’ tenth album, included “The Loco-Motion.” Don Brewer recalled that, during a break in the recording studio, Mark had begun singing, “Everybody’s doing a brand new dance now!”

Farner had been goofing

Brewer explained, “Todd could really crank up everything with the hand claps and all of that stuff. It just had this huge sound to it. It sounded like a big party!”

“The Loco-Motion” became the headbangers’ second Number One single.

Blast To The Past!

By Randal C. Hill

around, but everyone there that day declared that the band could possibly pull “The Loco-Motion” off as a valid recording—if it were done right.

Their top-notch producer

Todd Rundgren recalled the Beach Boys’ “Barbara Ann,” an oldie single lifted from their “Beach Boys’ Party!” LP and done in a studio but made to sound live, as at a casual music jam.

Rundgren, a wizard at the recording console, made the band’s “The Loco-Motion” sound live.

(“We’re an American Band” had arrived a year earlier.)

Gerry Goffin later offered a diplomatic take on the hard-rock version of the iconic tune he wrote with Carole King: “You can still hear how it appeals to the kids.”

Farner and friends never abandoned their roots. “People want the real thing,” Mark once proclaimed.

“As long as there’s room for sledgehammer rock and roll, there’s room for Grand Funk Railroad!”

Lubbock Animal Services & Adoption Center

‘Festival de Mariachi en Lubbock’ showcase: a highlight of Lubbock Arts Festival

A celebration of mariachi music will take center stage at the 46th Annual Lubbock Arts Festival, scheduled for April 13-14 at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.

The inaugural ‘Festival de Mariachi en Lubbock’ kicks off with three days of immersive workshops for mariachi students from West Texas schools. These sessions will be led by professional musicians. This experience culminates in a showcase performance at 2 p.m. April 13

in the Civic Center Theater. The showcase features a lineup including Cindy Shea, founder and director of the two-time Grammyaward-winning all-female Mariachi Divas; Dr. Felicia Rojas, Dr. Adolfo Estrada, Dr. Lauryn Salazar, Mariachi los Matadors de Texas Tech, and mariachi students.

“Mariachi music remains as vibrant and relevant as ever,” said Elizabeth Grigsby, executive director of the Lubbock Arts Alliance.

“We’re delighted to connect our young performers with world-class mariachi artists and educators for workshops, and honored to present these performers to the entire community in a showcase at the Festival,”

Tickets to the Mariachi Showcase are $15, inclusive of service fees and admission to the entire Lubbock Arts Festival. Children under 12 are admitted free with a paid, accompanying adult. Tickets can be purchased at Lub-

bockArtsFestival.org or by calling 806-770-2000.

With a career spanning 25 years, Cindy Shea serves as the director and founder of Mariachi Divas. The ensemble boasts two Grammy awards, eight Grammy nominations, and three Latin Grammy nominations. Renowned for their sophisticated and elegant musical style, Mariachi Divas have been the official all-female mariachi of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts since 2003, performing year-round at Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, and Downtown Disney in Anaheim, California. Mariachi Divas are frequently sought after for appearances in television, film, and music video projects.

Established in 2010, Mariachi Los Matadores de Texas Tech is an academic mariachi program within the Texas Tech School of Music. Led by Dr. Lauryn Salazar, associate professor of musicology, the ensemble explores a diverse range of styles within the mariachi tradition,

Mariachi Los Matadores de Texas Tech exemplifies the importance of a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) approach to education, comprising students from various academic majors.

For more information about the Lubbock Arts Festival and the ‘Festival de Mariachi en Lubbock’ Showcase, visit LubbockArtsFestival.org or contact the Lubbock Arts Alliance at 806-744-ARTS (2787).

Character Development Program

Veterans advocate group to host evening with American Heroes

Building character in today’s youth requires commitment and dedication, something local veterans’ supporters are willing to take on.

The Medal of Honor Society’s Character Development Program is a proven way to tackle the mission.

Keep the Flag Waving: The Value of Freedom is a fundraising dinner to support the program hosted by Friends of the Monument of Courage, and is set for 6:30 p.m. April 16 at the MCM Eleganté, 801 Ave. Q.

The free curriculum was developed by educators, for teachers to teach the value of freedom.

Leaders of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society realized that with 125 oral histories recorded from Medal of Honor recipients, they had exactly what could become a curriculum, to teach elementary, middle and high school youth.

The topics to teach are courage, commitment, integrity, sacrifice, citizenship, and patriotism.

Danny Koch, veteran and veteran advocate, said businesses may purchase a table of eight for their business associates who are veterans to acknowledge them and their service.

“We would like to see businesses, school districts, private schools, ROTC and other service groups buy a table for themselves or for first responders, Gold Star families, and even Vietnam Vets,” Koch said. “Our hope is that every school in this area is able to use this free curriculum to teach the next generation about the value of freedom.”

Each Medal of Honor recipient is an ordinary person who did something extraordinary in the line of duty. The speakers, all Vietnam veterans, will be Specialist 5 Dwight Birdwell, U.S. Army; Specialist 5 James McCloughan, U.S. Army; and Lt. Mike Thornton, U.S. Navy Seal.

Former news anchor Kurt Kiser will emcee the event with music provided by local pastor and musician Jeff McCreight.

Sponsorship levels range from $1,350 to $5,000. To sponsor a table, contact Koch at 832-492-4083 or djkoch5207@ msn.com.

Learn more about the Character Development program at https://www.cmohs.org/lessons/overview

Golden Gazette Crossword Puzzle

ACROSS

1. Back part of the foot

5. Headland

9. Before

14. Sea eagle

15. Toward the mouth

16. Pivotal

17. Large stone

18. Jumble

20. Room within a harem

21. Diminished

22. Lament

24. Plunger for churning butter

28. Securely confined

29. Prophet

31. Metal-bearing mineral

32. Cease

33. French painter

34. Golfer’s mound

35. Having little hair

36. Wild rose

37. Pack of cards

38. 7th letter of the Greek alphabet

39. Noise

40. Rhythmic swing

41. Small domesticated carnivore

42. Roundish projection

43. Flat circular plate

44. Indonesian cigarette

46. Genuine

49. Augment

52. Organ of hearing

53. Like a corpse

56. Capital of Western Samoa

57. Isolated

58. Showing unusual talent

59. To a smaller extent

60. Measures

61.

62.

46.

50. Roster

51. Tramp

53. Eccentric shaft

54. Malt beverage

55. Speck

56. High-pitched

The Garrison Institute on Aging was established in 1999 and named in honor of Mildred and Shirley Garrison in 2005. Our mission is to promote healthy aging thru research, promote educational and community outreach programs, and serve the community with services and contacts. If you have questions on health issues, aging, chronic disease and mental health, please reach out to us. We can assist in connecting you with the right contact for your concerns.

The word April means “to open” and this is the time to ‘open up’ opportunities for planting and spring cleaning. We can hope for temperatures that are more stable but I think the winds are here for a while. Important dates are happening in April. Here are just a few of my favorites.

• April 1st is April Fool’s Day (we will see what the weatherman has in store).

• April 5th is the First Friday Art Trail.

• April 8th is the Solar Eclipse and will be a onein-a-lifetime event. Texas will be in line for great viewing. Be sure and get your eclipse glasses now and be prepared. The next one is not predicted until 2077.

• April 13-14 is the Lubbock Arts Festival. It has been named the “Best in Texas.” This is an event for all ages and you will enjoy a great day.

• April 22 is Earth DayStart or continue a tradition of planting a tree or cleanup a local park or neighborhood.

• April 28 is National Sense of Smell Day - time to stop and smell the roses or pizza or ??

• There are also numerous eating and drinking days in March, so enjoy!

Care Partner to discuss living accommodations

The Care Partner Academy will meet at noon April 10. Leisa Hall will be on hand to discuss the difference in various living accommodations including, independent, assisted living and memory care. This will detail the process of choosing various living arrangements dependent on your status. It can be confusing when you are looking for another place to call home for yourself or your loved one.

The event is free and open to the public and is held at 6630 S. Quaker Ave. Suite E. You can view on ZOOM as well (see ad for link). Call 806-743-1217 for details.

Mental health sessions

We are continuing to host mental health sessions for

TEXAS TECH HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER

Garrison Institute on Aging

caregivers as well as offering a free respite care program with the guidance of Dr. Jonathan Singer, TTU Department of Psychological Sciences. He has openings for free respite care on Mondays and Thursdays of each week. Dr. Singer has spots available for either day. Contact him at the phone number listed below. If you are an informal (unpaid) caregiver of someone with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, or other related dementia diseases, there are programs that can benefit you at no cost. Participation in his study can assist in providing future services for you and those you care for. Caregivers are encouraged to contact Dr. Singer for additional information. You can contact him at 806.834.5884 or email at jonsinge@ttu. edu.

‘Emergency Preparedness’ at lecture series

The Healthy Aging Lecture Series will host Joe Moudy, emergency management director with the City of Lubbock. He will discuss ‘Emergency Preparedness’ and how to prepare for emergencies including weather issues. The event will be held at Carillon Senior Living, Windsong Building at 4002 16th St. in Lubbock from 3 to 4 p.m. on April 24. Parking is available next

By

to the building and light refreshments will be served. Contact the office for details 806-743-7821 and to reserve your place.

Volunteering

RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) is a federal grant funded program that assists older Texans in finding volunteer activities that match their time and talents. We are located at the Garrison Institute on Aging.

If you are 55 or older, retired or not, and want to give back to the community, call us. Or if you are already serving in the community, contact us to have your service added to our report.

We have several areas that can use your help. These include but not limited to Lubbock Meals on Wheels, Friends of the Library, SPFB, local hospitals and clinics, Hope Lodge, Ronald McDonald House, churches, civic organizations, crafters, and so many others.

Our volunteers make Lubbock a great place to live and contribute to the community. If you are interested in giving back to the Lubbock community, call 806-7327787 for information.

Medication Cleanout

Reminder: from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., April 13 is the Medication Cleanout day at the Texas Tech Physicians. Place all medications, including over-the-counter meds, in a bag and drive through to drop off. Do not mark out names or other information. All donations will be handled to reduce any environmental concerns. If you are unable to participate this day, call our office at 806743-7821 for information regarding local pharmacies that will take you medications throughout the year.

April Jokes…

Did you hear about the two people who stole a calendar?

• They each got 6 months.

I am tall when I am young and short when I am old… what am I?

• A pencil!

Why aren’t koalas actual bears?

• Because they do not meet the koalafications!

What did the football coach say to the broken vending machine?

• Give me my quarterback!

Why did the golfer bring an extra pair of pants?

• In case he got a hole in one.

I’m ready for the rest of the week. I have my umbrella, my flip flops, my mittens, my suntan lotion, my winter coat, my sunglasses, my thermals, my iced tea and my hot chocolate.

As I watch this generation try to rewrite history, one thing I’m sure of — it will be misspelled and have no punctuation.

Lubbock’s best friend –

Bryan is back in business

Dear Folks,

This month I’m going to update all my readers about Bryan’s Steaks restaurant. I’m sure everyone knows the familiar huge “icon” of the bull in front of the establishment.

The best things in life are free

Free community papers like the one you’re reading today are the backbone of any community. In fact, free community publications have been able to maintain nearly 99% of their readership since the turn of the millenium. We love the communities we serve, and we couldn’t do it without your support.

It’s a landmark on 50th Street. It’s unfortunate that Bryan’s had to close for several months due to a fire on March 3, 2023. After several months of redo and repair, the reopening was on Dec. 23, 2023 – a day before Christmas Eve. What a great timely gift to give back to Lubbock.

Yes, there were several construction delays, however Bryan persevered to the end. All plumbing was replaced with PVC and a new AC installed. Looking up you’ll see a new sealant sprayed on the ceiling and the floor has also been sealed many times to facilitate cleaning.

Bryan opened the Lubbock location in 1967. Can you believe that sometimes they still have lines waiting outside just to get in? That shows Bryan has been doing something right all these decades.

Daughter and I recently went for an early dinner to avoid the crowds. There were still a lot of people, but no long line. Daughter ordered her favorite, the Rancher Rib Eye, and I ordered the chicken fried steak. I must inform you, a new discounted mid-day menu has been added with several selections.

Along with our entrée, we had our choice of drinks and potatoes. Both of us chose the delicious large baked potato, and daughter had iced tea. I always drink my favorite H2O with lots of ice and lemon.

The trip to the salad bar was surprisingly familiar. All the favorites are still there. I love the pea salad; it’s my absolute favorite. Daughter prefers the hot selections of green beans and corn.

No one will ever leave hungry from Bryan’s. Yes, folks, the ice-cream is still available. It’s been moved next to the exit, near the end of the salad bar. This should make the kids of all ages very happy.

After speaking at length with Bryan, he told me that nearly all the fire damage was from smoke, so all the tables and chairs are perfectly fine.

Also, to my surprise, I learned his granddaughter is an artist and made those beautiful wooden western style folding dividers. They are truly a work of art.

Bryan is so knowledgeable about so many topics, especially West Texas.

Thank you! • Lubbock

806-744-2220

God bless you, Bryan, with many more years for you to spoil us.

Happy spring, Cathy

Bryan Steaks, 1212 50th St. 806-744-5491

Hours: M-Th 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

F-S 11a.m. to 9 p.m.

Sundays 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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Frame repairs, new lenses, new frames and/or adjustments. Serving West Texas since 1977! midwest optical, 2533-34th, 806-7975534 1/22

volunteering?

Covenant Health and Covenant Children’s are in need of volunteers. Donate a morning or afternoon each week to help serve patients and families! If interested, call Lauren Orta, 806-725-3309, or email ortalh1@covhs.org 3/19

f or s A le by o W ner 2 burial spaces in Resthaven Cemetery, Lubbock, TX. Bargain price! 2,750 for one; $5,000 for both. Call Lynn at 806-787-8474 or 806-6870077 9/23

l ooking for volunteers

University Medical Center is looking for volunteers to work as messengers, pop popcorn, and work at the information desk. If you would like to meet new people, socialize, be appreciated, and have all the free popcorn you can eat, call 806775-8760. 6/1

Defensive Driving

In-person or Online LubbockClass.com. 10% insurance discount for 3 years OR for speeding ticket. Call 806781-2931 1/24

cA n’t re A ch your toes? ... i c A n!

Professional manicures & pedicures. Top quality products & services. Promoting healthy nails. 20 years experience. Call Alicia at 806-3175226 2/17

o ffice D esk

Office-type desk available. Free to good home! Desk top is 60”x30” 806-777-0188.

Most likely problem? May be in those pesky side effects

It is surprising when you become a senior. On the inside, I don’t feel that old, right?

And who hasn’t heard the saying, “You are as old as you feel.” Maybe.

However, sometimes, things are true about older people. One well known fact is, “If you are a senior, and you have a new ailment, first look up the side effects of all the drugs you are taking and see if you find your new ailment.”

Why is that more true with seniors? I don’t know, but logic tells me that it might be because seniors are often on more drugs, and seniors go to doctors more often. If you go to a doctor, you will most likely get a drug.

Recently, my patient who was in an accident, began to

really hurt. Of course, we think it is from the accident. She was having what she thought was bone pain.

One night she decided to look up the side effects of her relatively new thyroid medication, Tirosint. And low and behold, it said bone pain and broken bones.

In the last year, she had broken both wrists. Bingo!

Another person had a stroke without all the terrible side effects that we know can exist. She was put on the “protocol.” Her cholesterol was not high but they put her on cholesterol medicine as well as other medications.

said she could hardly get out of bed, her hips hurt so badly.

Well, she is 95. But she is more like a person in her 70’s. She reported she had gone to an orthopedist thinking perhaps she needed a hip replacement. The doctor told her, “Well, I don’t see anything too wrong with your

I was visiting her and she

hips.” Thank God. I don’t like to interfere, but on my way out of her house, I said, “Just saying, it is well known that when a senior has a new problem, the first thing they should do is look up the reactions to any medications they are taking.”

She is sharp as a tack, and I had no more left the garage and she found that it was her cholesterol medication that was giving her hip pain. She went back to the doctor and said I am not going to take this, and within a couple of days, her hips were back to normal.

A man visited me with both arms hurting badly. He listed his medications, but mentioned he forgot the name of one. He got a shot, once a month, in each arm for his allergies. I asked him

to go home and let me know what the drug was.

When he did, I looked it up and one of the reactions was “arm pain.” He got off the drug and his arm pain was gone.

I told one person, “I think you are depressed.” She decided to look up the side effects of a common medication she was taking and one of the side effects was depression. She got off the drug and within a day being off, she was back to her normal self. After getting off the medication, she could really recognize that she had been depressed, but the drug had taken her into depression a little at a time over a few months.

Of course, you can’t always just get off a drug. You need to be smart. You need to have a plan in place. You might need to do something else. Most people need some advice on how to proceed. If you can by yourself, go ahead, but I simply wanted to bring attention to the many times the reaction is just covered up, or never dealt with.

One of the difficult and frustrating problems is skin issues.

Often the patient has been to many dermatologists. All

the creams they were given didn’t get rid of it. Patients want to get rid of it, not manage it. One patient came to me with skin issues many years ago but did not want to do what I suggested. I understand. And it is his body, and he can do what he wants.

He called me two years later and made an appointment. He still had the skin issue.

He had seen a different dermatologist every month since he saw me and they assured him it was not fungus as I had told him it was.

But none of their preparations helped him. Why did he come back to me? Good question, but he simply wanted me to check him as I do and again tell him what I thought. So I again told him it was fungus.

He said the last dermatologist he saw did a biopsy of it but he hadn’t received the report. But he was sure it wasn’t fungus. I received a call from his wife about three days later laughing hysterically.

They had received the report on the biopsy, and it was fungus.

The lady with the hip pain had been to an orthopedist. She listed the drugs she was on, but he didn’t mention that her drug could cause her problems.

You know your body better than anyone, so please take responsibility.

Patient, Visitor & Caregiver Parking at Covenant

Parking & valet open at Covenant Medical Center’s Hope Tower

The surface level parking lot at Covenant Medical Center’s Hope Tower is now open.

The parking lot, off the corner of 20th & Louisville, includes 242 new parking spaces for patients and visitors. Valet parking is now located at Hope Tower.

The map indicates more places for patients & visitors to park.

The east parking garage, off 21st & Knoxville, will be reserved for caregivers.

The west parking garage, off 21st & Louisville, will be open for all patients/visitors/caregivers to park.

It is not by muscle, speed, or physical dexterity that great things are achieved, but by reflection, force of character, and judgment; in these qualities old age is usually not only not poorer, but is even richer. – Cicero

At the Cactus Theater

1812 Buddy Holly Ave.

Happening at the Cactus Theater in April:

4th Big Bad Voodoo DaddySwing Kings Debut - Live at the Cactus.

5th Electric Avenue - The ’80s MTV Experience - Return Appearance - Live at the Cactus.

9th The National Parks - 8th Wonder Tour - Live at the Cactus.

10th Cactus Classic Cinema: Walt Disney’s Masterpiece “Fantasia” (1940) Rated G - 2:20 p.m. matinee.

10th Cactus Classic Cinema: Walt Disney’s Masterpiece “Fantasia” (1940) Rated G - 7:20 p.m.

12th John Fullbright and Bruce Robison - The Next Waltz Barnstorming - Live at the Cactus.

14th Corb Lund - El Viejo Album Release Tour - Live at the Cactus.

18th Micky & The Motorcars - Return Appearance - Live at the Cactus.

19th Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder - Legendary Bluegrass - Live at the Cactus.

20th LANE: Life • Legend • Legacy - Special Documentary Film Screening + Lubbock Music Legend Kenny Maines - Live at the Cactus.

24th Classic Cinema: “Field of Dreams” (1989) Rated PG; starring Kevin Costner - 2:20 p.m. Matinee.

24th Classic Cinema: “Field of Dreams” (1989) Rated PG; starring Kevin Costner - 7:20 p.m. Screening.

May 4th - Moses Snow as Elvis, King of Rock ‘n’ Roll - featuring The Fabulous Blackwood Quartet.