Volume 32, Number 12
In December & Inside 1st Carol of Lights ....page 3 4th First Friday Art Trail 11th First Day of Hanukkah 12th Candlelight at the Ranch & Cow Trail Christmas............page 1 21st 1st day of winter 25th Christmas Day 31st New Year’s Eve Santa Land ...................page 1 Museums participate in Toys for Tots.....page 18 4-wheel drives needed ..............page 22 Prioritize safety..........page 24 Secret Santas needed ..............page 18 Noodle Artistry .............page 3 ‘End The Streak’ .........page 12 Charitable giving opions ............................page 2
Medicare Open Enrollment continues through Dec. 7
December 2020
24 Pages
Lubbock, Texas 79401
Candlelight at the Ranch on KTTZ-TV & a drive-by ‘Cow Trail Christmas’ Candlelight at the Ranch has been an annual Christmas celebration for more than four decades at the National Ranching Heritage Center, but this year’s pandemic has brought changes to the way the center will celebrate a frontier Christmas. A prerecorded televised 42nd Annual Candlelight at the Ranch will air at 7 p.m. Dec. 12 on PBS station KTTZ-TV. Narrated by Western entertainer Red Steagall, the broadcast will feature video of past Candlelight events but primarily use the help of 48 Ranch Host volunteers dressed in period clothing to recreate a frontier Christmas in 10 historic ranching structures. Texas Tech Public Media PBS station filmed two to three segments a week for two months to prepare the hour-long program. The televised Candlelight also will air at numerous other times leading up to Christmas and will be available online at KTTZ.org and nrhc.ttu.edu. In an effort to somehow use the NRHC facilities without risking the health of staff, volunteers and visitors, the center is preparing a “Cow Trail Christmas” in J.J. Gibson Memorial Park at the center’s entrance, 3121 4th St.
Both the park and the entry gate will be decorated and lit with holiday lights every evening throughout December for visitors to drive by or park, walk through the front park and take pictures. Designed to commemorate the open-range era in the West, 19 lifesize bronzes of rangy Longhorn steers have been placed in a variety of poses within the Gibson Park to resemble a herd walking. Each steer weighs 750 pounds and carries the brand of its donor, including some of the most historic ranches in Texas. Santa Land will be open this year For the first time in the 50-year as a drive-through event from 6 to 10 history of the NRHC, a “Cow Trail p.m. Dec. 10-23. Christmas” will light up the NRHC Admission for all ages is free. entrance. Lubbock Parks and Recreation has hosted Santa Land for the past 64 years, featuring the festive holiday village with its huge lighted Christmas tree, animated displays, bonfires, and traditional holiday scenes. There will be a one way entrance and exit. Enter Mackenzie Park off East Broadway onto Canyon Lake Drive at the Bayer Agriculture Museum, Carol of Lights: virtual on Dec. 1 and then proceed northwest toward See story Page 3 Joyland Amusement Park.
Santa Land open December 10-23
Page 2 • December 2020 • Golden Gazette
More considerations for end-of-year charitable giving Thanks to some unique opportunities offered by the CARES Act, donors may be able to give more to charity in 2020 than originally
planned without additional tax liability. This legislation is designed to help individuals, businesses and nonprofits
Planning and goal setting – both philanthropic and finanfacing economic hardship cial – are important when it comes to supporting a favorite during the coronavirus pandemic and offers significant charity, whether it is Texas Tech or another nonprofit. Many tools are available to help accomplish these goals. incentives for those who can An example might be naming Texas Tech Foundation Inc. as give. a beneficiary of your estate with the gift specified for a specific entity (such as the University Libraries), or another area of interest for you. Other ways to give can involve real estate, commodities, royalties, retirement accounts, stocks, bonds, life insurance, business assets, and certain collections with an appraisal. You and your family already may have a special interest in the Texas Tech University Library, the Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library (SWC/SCL) or the Architecture Library. The libraries are a key resource to the success of all Texas Tech students, and the library is a place on campus that impacts all students, regardless of major or college. The SWC/SCL holds archives of national and international significance including photographs, oral histories, newspapers, film, and rare books, as part of the commitment to preserve the history of the Southwest. If you have an interest in supporting the Texas Tech University Libraries or other nonprofits, donors like you, often consider what your goals are, both philanthropic and financial, including tax benefits. Through Dec. 31, 2020, the CARES Act includes various provisions that could benefit you financially, as you plan your end-of-year giving. To discuss smarter ways to give, contact Brad Davis, director of development at Texas Tech University Libraries, at brad.davis@ttu.edu or 806-834-8225. As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don’t question myself anymore. I’ve even earned the right to be wrong. I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day if I feel like it.
Golden Gazette • December 2020 • Page 3
Noodle Artistry: fascinated with such perfect routine Carol of Lights: On a recent TV commercial showing a Chinese chef pulling and twisting noodle dough into beautiful elongated shapes, I knew I had to check this one out for myself! During a recent shopping errand to Hobby Lobby, I took the convenient opportunity to visit the “Fun Noodle Bar,” located in the same shopping center. Upon entering, I introduced myself to Mr. Nick Wei, the restaurant manager. He was most gracious in giving me all the info concerning this fairly new restaurant in Lubbock. Our “Hub” is one of seven new locations for this unique business. New Mexico has two – Albuquerque and Santa Fe – Texas proudly has the other five – El Paso, Midland, Odessa, Abilene, and, of course, one Lubbock establishment. The inside space, being long and narrow, was still able to fit in several booths and many other tables. Sports fans will be pleased to see two large TV screens available for those all important games. Soon after entering, you will also see a large glass We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope. - Martin Luther King Jr.
enclosure where all that “artistry” can be clearly seen. I was totally fascinated and wondered how long it must take to master such a perfect routine. Food you ask! There are 32 items listed with beautiful color photos of all the menu selections. The tri-fold menu features descriptions and prices for all items. I have never seen a restaurant print such a menu for all to take, free of course. In fact, you can get one to take home without even entering the store. Outside, to the left of the entrance there is a plastic “pocket” containing several of those beautiful menus. Also, take notice of the 32 enlarged photos displayed on the inside of the front windows. This is the best marketing tool I have ever seen to entice potential diners with their unique cuisine. After speaking with Nick for about an hour, he generously offered to serve me a sampling of their menu items. Before the food arrived, the waitress brought me a bowl of salted red-skinned peanuts. This was a welcomed treat since I hadn’t eaten any breakfast, and it was already past noon. The sample soon arrived in a covered bamboo
container and was accompanied with two small side containers of dipping sauce. Trust me on this one, it was totally delicious. It was even topped with chopped onion and a bit of cilantro! The items Nick selected for me were a large piece of the “Roasted Beef Roll”; served with several of the “Steamed Dumplings”; a “Kungpao Bao” and several slices of “Green Onion Pancakes.” Now folks, forget everything you’ve ever known about pancakes. They don’t even resemble anything Aunt Jemima could ever come up with! These are wafer thin,
crispy, and absolutely delicious. I was able to take home what I couldn’t consume, and Nick also put my ice water in a take-out container, even helping me out to the car! How’s that for service?!!? Delivery service is offered through “FAVER.” The website listing is “funnoodlelubbock.com” and look for “FAVER.” They are open 7 days a week: Monday - Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. 6816 Slide Road Unit #8, 806-789-1208. A Blessed and Merry Christmas to one and all, Cathy Easter
virtual on Dec. 1
The Carol of Lights event will be entirely virtual this year starting at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 1 on PBS KTTZ, and on Facebook at https://www. ttu.edu/livestream/, and KTXT-FM 88.1 The Raider. The theme this year is “The Matador Lights,” and some 2020 touches have been added. Much of the ceremony will be a compilation of the “best of Carol of Lights” over the past five years. The virtual event is in an effort to support the university and Lubbock community to follow COVID-19 protocols. “The Matador Lights” will continue to shine from dusk Dec. 1 to Jan. 3. Please join the celebration next year on Nov. 30, 2021, to celebrate the 63rd Carol of Lights ceremony.
Staying Well
at the UMC Activities Center
• Safe • Clean • Social Distancing • Experienced Instructors • A Variety of Beginner to Advanced Level Classes
Senior-focused fitness class. Improve your balance, strength, confidence, and immunity!
Now Accepting Renew Active™ Call
5217 82nd St, Suite 128 Lubbock TX 79424
806-783-8829
806-783-8829 for further information.
Page 4 • December 2020 • Golden Gazette
Lessons in resilience: A comedian shares her story By Allison Milionis “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” This proverbial phrase has been a standard for encouraging optimism and resilience. It’s an easy phrase to recite when you hit a snag in your day, like a broken water pipe or fender bender. But it can be difficult to apply to life’s more complex hardships. This year it feels like
Medicaid fraud drives up the cost of health care for everyone. It’s everyones responsibility to report fraud & abuse. Medicaid Fraud Control Unit
765-6367
mfcu@oag.texas.gov
it’s raining lemons. We’ve been handed challenges we couldn’t have ever imagined. And with so much uncertainty, it can be especially difficult to summon hope and inner strength to push through these hard times. Debbie Wooten-Williams will tell you she doesn’t know how to do anything else but push on. An award-winning comedian, actor and international motivational speaker, Debbie faced more challenges during her childhood in the 1950s and 1960s, than most people experience in a lifetime. She agrees this pandemic is the source of a lot of suffering and pain, but her life experiences and unflappable attitude have established a foundation for her to stand
on, and from there she can see the light ahead. We spoke with Debbie about her life, how she has dealt with the three P’s (polio, poverty, prejudice), and the role well-placed humor has played in helping her express herself, connect to others, and laugh at herself as she navigates the challenges of getting older.
Q: When you were a baby you contracted polio. Can you tell us about that experience? I was born in 1956, on the tail end of the polio epidemic. The serum had been available since 1949, but it was 1955/1956 before it trickled down to poor black communities.
Garrison Institute on Aging
COVID-19 Survey – Lubbock County We invite you to take a brief 20-minute phone survey to understand your COVID-19-related experiences, and perceptions about resources and services that are available in Lubbock. Results will help guide future public health preparedness efforts focused on older adults in our community. Eligibility criteria: Age 40 and above and lives in Lubbock County. Contact: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Garrison Institute on Aging at 806.743.7821 annette.boles@ttuhsc.edu for additional information.
Babies had to be six months old to get the serum, and I was five months old when I contracted polio on the south side of Chicago. My mother was a nurse in a hospital, and when she got home she would shower before she touched me because she was so scared of giving me the virus. It was highly contagious – it could float in the air and live in water, too. When my mother saw the signs, she knew I had polio. They put me in an iron lung right away to help me breathe. I was only a baby, and I remember being in a tube. It was hot, and I couldn’t move my body. There was a mirror over me (in the hospital bed), and I remember just screaming. That’s how much I was traumatized.
Q: You were crippled by the disease. How did that affect your childhood? When I was old enough to go to school, my mother took me to the neighborhood school and they said, “We don’t take crippled kids. She can’t go to school here.” But they had so many black kids with polio, they built four institutions for all of us. So, I never went to a “regular” school. In my neighborhood, I was teased because I was crippled, and because I was a chubby girl. Around white kids I was crippled, chubby
and black. There was no group where I fit in – until I realized I had a gift from God. That was the gift of humor. Everybody likes to feel good and laugh. I was able to bring humor to my conversations and people started to put down their guard, and stopped judging me. They’d say, ‘Debbie sure is fun to talk to.’ That helped me get through a lot.
Q: How did racism affect you as a young girl? When I was 7, I came home from school and was watching TV with my mother. On the news they showed a race riot in the South with black people held against walls. My mother got really, really upset. I looked at her and realized I’d never noticed she had a skin color. I told her ‘I feel so sorry for you black people.’ She told me that I was black, too, and I was shocked. I said I was “polio,” not black. I asked her what we did to all the white people to make them mad, because they were nice to me at school. But at our school, it wasn’t about skin color. It was about your inner person. We all had braces, crutches, wheelchairs – that’s what was happening in our school. So that’s what helped me start seeing people from the (See Resilience, Page 9)
Golden Gazette • December 2020 • Page 5
Freezing weather preparation: winterizing irrigation and plumbing Now is the time to winterize your home to prevent irrigation and plumbing damage. Winterizing outdoor plumbing & irrigation • Manually turn off irrigation systems during freezing events; • Check aboveground backflow assemblies, insulate, cover with insulation box and check heating element if applicable; • Disconnect hoses from outdoor faucets; • Cover outdoor faucets with insulated covers; • Drain and winterize pools according to your pool maintenance provider or manual; • Wrap pipes and plumbing under pier and beam
homes; Irrigation when temperatures are below 35 degrees Fahrenheit can be dangerous and lead to unsafe road conditions when irrigation runoff flows into the street and freezes, causing icy roads. Irrigating during freezing events is in violation of City Ordinance, and may lead to fines. Winterizing indoor plumbing • Use heat tape or pipe wraps to protect vulnerable pipes in attics, garages, crawl spaces, basements or outdoors; • Seal cracks and holes passing through exterior walls, doors, and around pipes, with insulation material;
Service requests & reports go direct to city offices The City of Lubbock has launched its new MyLBK app for mobile devices. The free MyLBK app will allow citizens to make service requests and reports directly to the appropriate City department from their device. Through the MyLBK app, citizens will be able to provide City of Lubbock staff with pictures, videos and specific descriptions - valuable information in order to address the issue efficiently. “This has been a yearslong project, and we are thrilled to offer citizens another and more modern way to contact the City with
requests and reports,” said Communications & Marketing Manager Lacey Nobles. “The different functions of the MyLBK app, especially the ability to track a request, allow citizens to be more engaged, and reinforces the organization’s commitment to transparency.” In addition to the MyLBK mobile app, citizens can still make a report or request by calling 311, or by using the online citizen portal at https://seeclickfix.com/oauth/ login. This will take the place of the previous online 311 citizen report portal.
• Open cabinets under sinks, point a portable heater into the cabinet to circulate warm air near the sink pipes; • Trickle faucet water to relieve the pressure build up in freezing pipes;
• If you are leaving town, turn the water off at the meter; For assistance preparing your home for freezing temperatures email watereducation@mylubbock.us.
If you experience a water emergency, have concerns about freezing water meters, or need assistance turning your meter off call 806-7752588 for assistance.
Page 6 • December 2020 • Golden Gazette During a recent password audit, it was found that a blonde was using the following password: “MickeyMinnie-Pluto-Huey-Louie-Dewey-Donald-GoofySacramento.” When asked why she had such a long password, she said she was told that it had to be at least 8 characters long and include at least one capital.
What a difference your lunch hour can make! Once a week, or once a month, use your lunch hour to deliver a hot, nutritious meal to someone who is homebound.
You will make their day, and they will make yours. Call
806-792-7971 for more info.
Lubbock Meals on Wheels www.LubbockMealsOnWheels.org
Remove 10 pieces of litter every Tuesday
Keep Lubbock Beautiful
A new litter-prevention program: “10 on Tuesday”
Working toward a clean, litter-free city www.keeplubbockbeautiful.org 806-775-3149
By Garrison Institute on Aging
TEXAS TECH HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER
I will be glad to put 2020 in the history books. Many family and friends gatherings have been cancelled, postponed, or reduced in number. But we can all remember ‘the reason for the season.’ Count your blessings and find ways to help others. During this time there are numerous ways to give to others who really need the basics of life. South Plains Food Bank has really been stretched by the virus. If you find an item at the store that is buy one get one free, donate the free one. If everyone did a little, it equals a lot. Senior Secret Santa at Lubbock Meals on Wheels is looking to fill basic needs for more than 800 seniors. Donations can include basic hygiene products, blankets, throws, towels (dish and bath), and any other item you probably use every day. Call 806-792-7971, and they can give you details. Other organizations across the area need your help as well. Call the RSVP office, and we can assist at finding what areas meet your needs and abilities. Our office is still closed to the public, but we remain assisting non-profits. If you have material, yarn or other craft items you no longer need, we can help find a good purpose for unwant-
ed items. We have groups that have continued making masks, afghans, baby items, caps, adult bibs, and walker pockets. Contact the office, and we can help you arrange a drop off or a pickup. If you have a need for masks for your organization, let us know. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is slowly re-opening. Our office remains closed to the public, but we are hopeful that soon we can open our doors to the ‘new normal.’ Healthy Aging Lecture Series is being conducted on ZOOM sessions. There is no session for December, but we will return in January. If you have questions about our services, call our office 806-743-7787 or 806-743-7821. The Care Partner Academy has continued sessions via ZOOM. If you are interested in joining our sessions, please notify me via email at joan.blackmon@ttuhsc.edu. You can join on a computer or phone. Sessions are 60 minutes in length and can provide you with an opportunity to discuss topics with others in the community. When you need a laugh, share the December riddles and jokes. 1. Did you hear that one of Santa’s reindeers now works for Proctor and Gambel? 2. If athletes get athletes
foot, what do astronauts get? 3. If Santa rode a motorcycle, what kind would it be? 4. What are the 3 stages of man? 5. What did Jack Frost say to Frosty the Snowman? 6. What did one angel say to the other angel? 7. What did one Christmas tree say to the other Christmas tree? 8. What did Santa say when his toys misbehaved? 9. What do aliens say when they land in the North Pole? 10. What do elves learn in school? And remember - no one is perfect - that is why pencils have erasers. Stay safe and pray for rain. Answers: 1. It’s true....Comet cleans sinks! 2. Missle toe! 3. A Holly Davidson. 4. He believes in Santa Claus. He doesn’t believe in Santa Claus. He is Santa Claus. 5. Have an ice day! 6. Halo there! 7. I really go fir you! 8. Toys will be toys. 9. Take me to your heater. 10. The Elf-abet! The world is now Vegas. Everybody’s losing money, it’s acceptable to drink at all hours, and no one has any idea what day it is.
Golden Gazette • December 2020 • Page 7
Buying organic food ’cause I just want to be healthy I think more people are eating at home. If there is anything that is “good” about Covid, it might be that people are spending family time and eating at home. When I was growing up, almost every meal was at home. I was lucky that my Granny was such a good cook. You wouldn’t believe, when I talk to people about how they should eat, how many people tell me they don’t cook. They get take-out. Huh? The first few times that happened, I was shocked. I love to eat out, but sometimes, I want to eat at home. And I’m not a good cook. A person usually learns to be a good cook when they have a family. And I never had a family, so I didn’t become a good cook. One of the reasons I like to eat at home is I’m a bit of a purist when it comes to my food. Is it organic? How much
oil did you use? How much salt is in that? I am a gracious guest and not going to ask this of others, but I am strict about the food that I buy. I only buy organic. And if you are a person who says it is too expensive to eat organic, my response is, I think that medications are too expensive, and medical visits and hospital costs are too expensive. I look at eating organic as paying on the front end instead of the back end. I pay for organic food now in hopes that it will keep me healthier as I age. If I can keep from getting a disease that is linked to Round Up or DDT or benzene’s or many other chemical, I’m all about that. It isn’t so much that I want
to live to be really old. I want to be healthy and live until I die. I don’t consider it “living” to be bed ridden or not know my name. I want to skip that part of the experience. I’m well aware that I
am not in complete charge, but I am willing to do my part. I’m willing to do what I can to spare myself a miserable time BEFORE death. Whether you buy organic or not, you can help remove some of the pesticide from your food before you eat it. Organic food has some pesticides and some herbicides on it. People don’t grow organic food in a vac-
uum. And if you live in West Texas, you know that the soil that was in your front yard yesterday isn’t the same soil that is there today. Winds blow. And wind carries pesticide and herbicides to the next farms over and probably the next state. Just the other day there was a fire in Fort Collins, Colorado. That smoke was carried all the way to North Carolina. I do what I can to help my health, although it might not be a perfect solution. And speaking of imperfect solutions, this is what I do with my fruits and vegetables, even though I buy organic. Yes, there are times I’ll pick up an apple or grape and eat it without this rinse, but for the most part, I rinse
my fruits and vegetables in a bowl of water with a tablespoon of lemon and a teaspoon of salt. If you have broccoli or some vegetable that is a bit limp because it should have been eaten yesterday or even the day before, this solution will also bring some life back into that vegetable. Put the vegetables and fruits in a pan of water and add the ingredients and swish the product around for about 15 seconds. Then empty the water and put fresh water in and wash off the lemon and salt. Then I use the fruits or vegetables that day. I don’t wash a whole head of lettuce at once. I only wash the leaves I am going to use today. This is one more way to easily and inexpensively help yourself. Let’s come as close to LIVING until we die as possible!
May we ask a favor of you? Please shop small. Shop with local small businesses. For many small businesses, it’s now or never. We’re counting on you! THIS MESSAGE BROUGHT TO YOU BY WORD PUBLICATIONS, A LUBBOCK SMALL BUSINESS SINCE 1972.
Page 8 • December 2020 • Golden Gazette
Lubbock ISD mourns loss of Byron Martin, 92 Byron Martin,92, a lifelong resident of Lubbock and former member of the Lubbock ISD Board of Trustees, died Nov. 20. Over his lifetime, Martin made enormous contributions to Lubbock ISD and championed the cause of education. Martin was born in 1928 and graduated from Lubbock High School in 1945. He received his degree in architecture from Texas Tech in 1950, then served in several apprenticeships before receiving his license to practice architecture in 1954. He joined his father’s firm, Claude Martin and Sons, a
local general construction firm. It was Claude Martin and Sons that built the original building at 34th and Avenue Q, which now houses the Byron Martin Advanced Technology Center (ATC). The firm built numerous schools, churches, businesses, and homes in the Lubbock area. In 1968 Martin was elected to the Lubbock ISD’s Board of Trustees which he served until 1976. In 1989, Martin renewed his association with Lubbock ISD as the bond construction manager and oversaw the
construction of bond projects through their completion in 1994. A year later he returned to the district to oversee construction of a $29.8 million bond program, which included renovation of the building at 34th and Q into a state-of-the-art facility for career and technical education (CTE). It opened in August 1997 and was named in his honor. During his tenure as Lubbock ISD bond construction manager, he guided the construction of almost $200 million in school facilities. The Byron Martin ATC provides state-of-the-art
educational opportunities coupled with apprenticeship/internship opportunities, industry-standard certifications and licensing, and college credit for an extensive set of courses. Students from each of Lubbock’s five high schools come to the ATC for these unique classes. “Martin was a valuable member of the advisory committee and was so proud of the ATC and all that is offered to students,” said Lubbock ISD Executive Director of Career and Technical Education Jill Berset. “He was a strong advocate for career and technical education. I
It’s an honor to provide: Excellent Care. Every Patient. Every Day.
( 806 ) 791.0043 3305 1 01 ST STRE E T
Interimhealthcare.com
Byron Martin
toured the ATC with him many times, and he always stopped to share his story with students and encourage them.” Zach Brady spoke on behalf of Lubbock ISD trustees and administrators. “Byron Martin was instrumental in advancing the career and technical education efforts of Lubbock ISD and our commitment as a board is to steward that legacy.” Martin’s wife, Wanda, preceded him in death in 2018. They are survived by two daughters, a son, nine grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren. Just spent 45 minutes on the treadmill. Tomorrow my goal is to turn it on. Study finds parents can do 1/3 of their children’s math, but struggle with the other ¾. My doctor has given me three days to give up drinking. I’ve selected Sept. 5, Oct. 10, and Nov. 15. Teachers affect eternity; no one can tell where their influence stops. - Henry Brooks Adams
Golden Gazette • December 2020 • Page 9
Resilience: A comedian shares her story (Continued from Page 4)
inside. I knew I needed to nurture that in my life.
Q: In what ways did your mother and others contribute to your resilient spirit and independence? My mother loved me but she had six kids after me, and I became their mother, and hers when she became intoxicated. I’d be lying in bed with casts on, and she’d come in to check on me. If my legs hurt but my arms didn’t, she’d put a baby on my lap to change, or give me clothes to fold. Polio was not in the equation. My mother was tough, and it was all for a reason. Also, in elementary school, I had a friend whose mother came to everything. She had polio, just like my friend, but she drove a car, she was always dressed really pretty and her hair was always done up. What she showed me is that I could take care of myself – that I could be happy in my life – all the things alcohol stole from my mother. She showed me how I could live my life. She helped me break a three-generation curse (of alcoholism), just by the way she carried herself. I saw that all of us have life-changing power to help others – just by the example we set.
Q: How did your childhood experiences and trauma inform the way you raised your children?
I moved my kids to Tacoma, Washington, to get away from a domestic violence situation. I didn’t drink, but I just tried to do things that wouldn’t carry the pain to the next generation. I have 17 grandkids now, and they have such engaged fathers. All of my boys are married – engaged husbands and fathers. And I’m so proud of them. I was able to let them have a normal childhood, be normal teenagers. I kept them busy with meaningful activities. And the girls – you know if they don’t see you taking caring of yourself, it affects how they take care of themselves. I was their example.
Q: How are you using your voice to encourage others, as a part of the social justice movement, or in other ways? I’m an advocate for transit riders with disabilities. Because I’m high risk for COVID-19, I’m confined, so I’m not able to get out and be part of the protests. But I think the Black Lives Matter movement was part of my life way before it became
https://blog.providence.org/elderly-care/lessons-in-resilience-a-comedianshares-her-story?utm_source=agingwellnewsletter&utm_medium=email_ free&utm_campaign=agingwell-monthly-ongoing&utm_content=c300
a “thing.” My black life matters, even though I was crippled, even though I was poor, even though I was a chubby girl. My life matters, and you’re not going put me in a little box. See society, they didn’t expect anything from somebody like me, they expected me to be a burden on the welfare system. They put me in that tiny little box so I turned myself into a human box cover and cut myself out of every box that society wanted to put me in. I tell everybody, ‘Try to be a box cutter,’ don’t let people tell you what you can’t do, even if you have a disability. You’re worth something, and there’s something you’re supposed to be doing. And love yourself. See, I’m not a victim, I’m a victor and a cheerleader to others. I want to see more
people have victories, to get to the other side and say, ‘Look what I can do.’ And then raise that inner voice and know that you’re worth speaking up for yourself. You’re worth it.
Knowledge is knowing what to say. Wisdom is knowing whether or not to say it. A dream written down with a date becomes a goal. A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan. A plan backed by action becomes reality.
Page 10 • December 2020 • Golden Gazette
What’s on your mind? Send your “Viewpoints” to: Golden Gazette 1310 Avenue Q, Lubbock, TX 79401
Letters written by Presidents to their successors The following letters were handwritten by an outgoing president and left in the Oval Office for the incoming president to find, reminding us of the sanctity of that fundamental practice. They understood they are part of something larger than themselves, serving the country’s citizens as participants in the American experiment. - from TheAtlantic.com
Ronald Reagen to George H.W. Bush, 1989 Dear George: You’ll have moments when you want to use this particular stationery. Well, go to it. George, I treasure the memories we share and wish you all the very best. You’ll be in my prayers. God bless you and Barbara. I’ll miss our Thursday lunches. Ron George H.W. Bush to Bill Clinton, 1993 Dear Bill, When I walked into this office just now I felt the same sense of wonder and respect that I felt four years ago. I know you will feel that, too. I wish you great happiness here. I never felt the loneliness some Presidents have described. There will be very tough times, made even more difficult by criticism you may not think is fair. I’m not a very good one to give advice; but just don’t let the critics discourage you or push you off course. You will be our President when you read this note. I wish you well. I wish your family well. Your success now is our country’s success. I am root-
ing hard for you. Good luck— George Bill Clinton to George W. Bush, 2001 January 20, 2001 Dear George, Today you embark on the greatest venture, with the greatest honor, that can come to an American citizen. Like me, you are especially fortunate to lead our country in a time of profound and largely positive change, when old questions, not just about the role of government, but about the very nature of our nation, must be answered anew. You lead a proud, decent, good people. And from this day you are President of all of us. I salute you and wish you success and much happiness. The burdens you now shoulder are great but often exaggerated. The sheer joy of doing what you believe is right is inexpressible. My prayers are with you and your family. Godspeed. Sincerely, Bill George W. Bush to Barack Obama, 2009 Dear Barack, Congratulations on becoming our President. You have just begun a fantastic chapter in your life. Very few have had the hon-
or of knowing the responsibility you now feel. Very few know the excitement of the moment and the challenges you will face. There will be trying moments. The critics will rage. Your “friends” will disappoint you. But, you will have an Almighty God to comfort you, a family who loves you, and a country that is pulling for you, including me. No matter what comes, you will be inspired by the character and compassion of the people you now lead. God bless you. Sincerely, GW Barack Obama to Donald Trump, 2017 Dear Mr. President – “Congratulations on a remarkable run. Millions have placed their hopes in you, and all of us, regardless of party, should hope for expanded prosperity and security during your tenure. This is a unique office, without a clear blueprint for success, so I don’t know that any advice from me will be particularly helpful. Still, let me offer a few reflections from the past 8 years. First, we’ve both been blessed, in different ways, with great good fortune. Not everyone is so lucky. It’s up
to us to do everything we can (to) build more ladders of success for every child and family that’s willing to work hard. Second, American leadership in this world really is indispensable. It’s up to us, through action and example, to sustain the international order that’s expanded steadily since the end of the Cold War, and upon which our own wealth and safety depend. Third, we are just temporary occupants of this office. That makes us guardians of those democratic institutions and traditions -- like rule of law, separation of powers, equal protection and civil liberties -- that our forebears fought and bled for. Regardless of the push and pull of daily politics, it’s up to us to leave those instruments of our democracy at least as strong as we found them. And finally, take time, in the rush of events and responsibilities, for friends and family. They’ll get you through the inevitable rough patches. Michelle and I wish you and Melania the very best as you embark on this great adventure, and know that we stand ready to help in any ways which we can. Good luck & Godspeed, BO”
1310 Ave. Q Lubbock,TX 79401
806-744-2220
GOLDEN GAZETTE is published monthly by Word Publications.
Submitting information News items, letters to the editor, photographs, and other items may be submitted for publication.
Letters All letters must include the writer’s name, address and telephone number. Anonymous letters will not be published. If chosen for publication, only your name and city will be printed with your letter. We prefer letters that are fewer than 200 words. Letters may be edited for clarity, factual information, and length. Personal attacks on individuals will not be published.
Advertising Advertising rates are available by calling 7442220 or emailing maedwards@wordpub.com or cswinney@wordpub.com.
Subscriptions For a subscription, send a check to Golden Gazette, 1310 Ave. Q, Lubbock 79401. $24 for one year, or $48 for 2 years.
View the Gazette online:
wordpub.com
Golden Gazette • December 2020 • Page 11
Techsan Military & Veterans Plaza project The Texas Tech Alumni Association and Military & Veterans Alumni Network are partnering on a project at the McKenzie-Merket Alumni Center. As a tribute to Texas Tech military and veteran alumni and affiliates, the plan is to build a Techsan Military and Veterans Plaza to commemorate the many generations of Tech military and veterans. The plaza will incorporate the following: • Texas Tech Wall of Honor – The centerpiece of the plaza, honoring university alumni who have distinguished themselves in military service. Each honoree is represented on the wall with a plaque and short narrative. The Wall of Honor will serve as a tribute to their courage, service, sacrifice and an inspiration to current and future Red Raiders. • Texas Tech Military Service Wall and Walkway – Adjacent to the Wall of Honor centerpiece, the wall and walkway will be comprised of service member named
bricks, pavers and benches. Any Texas Tech alumni or affiliate who served in the military may be represented (name, rank, service branch, dates) on a brick, paver or bench at the specified donation level. The general public may sponsor a Texas Tech military or veteran, but all honorees will be Texas Tech military and veteran alumni or affiliate. • Three Flag Poles – In the foreground of the plaza, these poles will rise above the Wall of Honor and fly the flags of the United States, the State of Texas, and Texas Tech. POW-MIA, Purple Heart and Military & Veterans Alumni Network flags This is a rendering of the Techsan Military and Veterans Plaza to be built on the northeast will also be flown on desig- corner of the McKenzie-Merket Alumni Center. The location provides a clear view of the plaza from the alumni center entrance. nated days. The Military & Veterans Alumni Network is in the process of fundraising for the project. For questions or to make a donation, contact Kyle ChapSAVE THE DATE! man, president, Military & Wednesday, December 2nd, 9 am. to 5 p.m. Veterans Alumni Network at Because we want to help people in pain feel better, we are having a day of mvcpresident@texastechaFREE Physical Therapy screens with our Physical Therapists! lumni.org or 806-790-7632.
A Day of Free Therapy Screens!
Map folds out to 34.5” x 22.5”
WWW.LUBBOCKMAP.COM
* Street Map * Scenic Locator * Downtown * Texas Tech University * County * Buffalo Springs Lake * Lake Ransom Canyon
mail a check for $3 to: 806-744-2220
Be sure to include Word Publications a complete address 1310 Avenue Q Lubbock, TX 79401 to mail the map to.
Spots are filling quickly, so call 806-513-5528 to reserve your 15-minute appointment. Please show up a little early as we will have a small amount of paperwork. We are located at 2431 S. Loop 289. Please enter through the Wellness Today building. We look forward to seeing you!
Note: Physical Therapy Today & Wellness Today are Lubbock Safe and follow all CDC COVID guidelines. Face masks are required.
Page 12 • December 2020 • Golden Gazette
Motorists urged to take simple precautions to ‘End The Streak’ The Click It or Ticket campaign is a key component of #EndTheStreakTX, a broader social media and word-of-mouth effort that encourages drivers to make safer choices while behind the wheel such as wearing a seat belt, driving the speed limit, never texting and driving, and never driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Nov. 7, 2000 was the last deathless day on Texas roadways. #EndTheStreakTX asks all Texans to commit to driving safely to help end the streak of daily deaths on Texas roadways. With health and safety a top priority for millions of Texans, TxDOT reminds motorists of one of the simplest and easiest precautions everyone can take to protect
themselves and their loved ones: buckling up. Wearing a seat belt reduces the risk of dying by 45% for people in the front seat of passenger cars. For those in pickups, seat belts reduce the risk of dying by 60% since pickups are more likely to roll over than passenger vehicles. “Our annual Click It or Ticket campaign is about saving lives,” said TxDOT Executive Director James Bass. “While almost 91% of Texans have gotten into the habit of using seat belts, there are still far too many motorists who are taking unnecessary chances by not buckling up. Whether you’re the driver or a passenger, wearing a seat belt—day and night—is the single most effective way to protect yourself from serious injury
or death in a crash.” TxDOT officials report that in 2019 there were 925 traffic fatalities involving an unbuckled driver or passenger, a 6% drop over the previous year. Although around 9% of Texans do not wear a seat belt, the lack of seat belt usage was reported in 42% of traffic fatalities for those people who had the option to use a seat belt (excluding pedestrian, bicycle and motorcycle fatalities). A 2019 Texas A&M Transportation Institute survey noted that drivers and passengers in 18 Texas cities buckle up less at night (be-
tween 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.) than during the day. In Texas last year, of crashes in which an unbuckled driver or passenger was killed, 59% happened during nighttime hours (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.). Seat belt use among pickup drivers and passengers also continues to lag behind that of other motorists. Almost 46% of the 499 pickup drivers killed in crashes last year weren’t buckled up. Texas law requires everyone in a vehicle to be
Quality End of Life Care
● Fulltime Medical Director ● Pain & Symptom Management ● 24-Hour Support for Patient & Family ● Grief Recovery / Counseling Center ● Non-Profit Serving 19 Counties Since 1987 The Region’s ONLY Pediatric & Adult Hospice
806-795-2751 or 800-658-2648 www.HospiceOfLubbock.org
properly secured in the front or back seat or face fines and fees up to $200. Children younger than 8 years must be restrained in a child safety seat or booster seat unless they are taller than 4 feet 9 inches. If a child isn’t secured, the driver faces fines of up to $250. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Click It or Ticket initiative in Texas is estimated to have saved more than 6,234 lives, prevented more than 100,000 serious injuries, and resulted in $23.6 billion in economic savings since the campaign began in 2002. Pharmacist to a customer: “Madam, please understand, to buy an anti-depression pill you need a proper prescription. Simply showing your marriage certificate and husband’s picture is not enough.” A bookseller conducting a market survey asked a woman, “Which book has helped you most in your life?” The woman replied, “My husband’s checkbook!”
Page 13 • December 2020 • Golden Gazette
Trustees sworn in, new officers named Four trustees took the oath of office in November at a special called virtual meeting of the Lubbock ISD Board of Trustees. Members canvassed the results of the Nov. 3, general election and determined that Lala Chavez was reelected trustee of District 1, while Bill Stubblefield was reelected trustee of District 2. Scot Mayfield, District 5 trustee, and Zach Brady, at-large trustee, were unopposed and declared elected in March 2020. Following the canvas, Trustees Brady, Stubblefield, and Mayfield took the oaths of office, administered by Judge Wes Hendrix, United States District Judge of the Northern District of Texas. Trustee Chavez was sworn in by Judge Jorge Hernandez, Lubbock Municipal Court Judge. The board also voted on the reorganization of officers for a two-year term as follows: Zach Brady, president, Bill Stubblefield, vice president; and Beth Bridges, secretary. Our future is our confidence and self-esteem. – Tupac
Every moment matters. Don’t waste a single one. For over 35 years, Covenant Heart and Vascular Institute has provided everything from routine community health screenings to advanced heart procedures. There are many serious causes of chest pain including heart attacks, blood clots and aneurysms. If you are experiencing chest pain – come see the specialists at the only certified Chest Pain Center in Lubbock. Together, we’ll help ensure you’re enjoying every moment with a full heart. To learn more and take an online risk assessment, visit covenanthealth.org/heart.
Page 14 • December 2020 • Golden Gazette
Golden Gazette • December 2020 • Page 15
‘My Sweet Lord’ ‘He’s So Fine’ ‘O Happy Day’ – which one? The Beatles ruled the music world from 1963 until 1970, when they released their “Let It Be” album. With the arrival of that LP, they collectively threw in the towel as the world’s top recording act, and each exmember then went to work carving out his own solo career path. Leading the way was George Harrison, who had spent most of his Beatle years in the long shadow cast by bandmates John Lennon and Paul McCartney. When Harrison’s first single of “My Sweet Lord” (released from his “All Things Must Pass” album) streaked to Number One right out of the gate, George managed to stand alone in the spotlight for once and bask in the warm glow of worldwide adulation.
For a while. Harrison, raised a Catholic, had abandoned the faith when he was 12. As an adult, he chose to embrace Hinduism and, with “All Things Must Pass,” created a version of the 16word Hari Krishna mantra while utilizing images of the Hindu god Krishna in his album art. “My Sweet Lord” became the best-known expression of George’s spirituality, his lengthy single (it had a running time of 4:39) detailing Harrison’s desire to become close to God. This is evident in the refrains of “Hallelujah” (a Jewish/Christian term meaning “Praise God”) and the Hindu term “Hare Krishna,” which offers devotion to Lord Krishna.
Drawing from different religions for his song might have struck some folks as strange, but George apparently wrote his lyrics as a
call to spirituality minus the taint of sectarianism. But then the issue of money—lots of it—suddenly raised its (often ugly) head. Some alert listeners noticed that the musical pattern of “My Sweet Lord” was identical to that of the #1 1963 Chiffons hit “He’s So Fine.” In 1971, the power people behind Bright Tunes—the company that held the publishing rights to the Chiffons’ million-seller—sued George
for copyright infringement, when his 45 was still on the charts. Harrison tried over and over to settle the issue out of court, but Bright Tunes wasn’t interested in what he had to offer. Finally, in 1976 a judge ruled that George had indeed plagiarized “He’s So Fine” but that he had probably done so unintentionally. Still, the ex-Beatle was ordered to fork over some of the proceeds from “All Things Must Pass,” plus 75% of the income generated by the tune in question. The total bill came to $1.6 million—quite a punchin-the-gut even for such a
wealthy musician. For the next three years, Harrison, bitter and discouraged, released no new music to his loyal fans. As he told a “Rolling Stone” writer, “It’s difficult to just start writing again after you’ve been through that. Even now when I put the radio on, every tune I hear sounds like something else.” By the way, he admitted later that much of “My Sweet Lord” came from the 1969 international hit “Oh Happy Day” by the Edwin Hawkins Singers, and not from “He’s So Fine.” Just read a book on marriage that says treat your wife like you treated her on the first date. So, after dinner tonight, I’m dropping her off at her parents’ house.
YOUR #1 CHOICE FOR REHABILITATION Short-term & Long-term Rehabilitation We specialize in: • Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapy • Stroke Recovery Care • Orthopedic Rehabilitation • Diabetes Symptom Management • Stroke Therapy • Wound Care • Pain Management
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
Page 16 • December 2020 • Golden Gazette
‘It wasn’t fun any more’ the final concert
On the night of Dec. 27, 1960—a chilly Tuesday evening—1,500 music fans jammed into the spacious Litherland Town Hall in Liverpool, England. Promotional posters promised fans a grand night of dancing and rock ‘n’ roll, thanks to the debut of “the Sensational Beatles (Direct
from Hamburg).” Attendees that night, who logically assumed that the band came from Germany, would remark later how good the quartet’s English skills were whenever the group members chatted with the audience. Actually, all four Beatles had grown up in Liverpool.
For the previous five months, though, they had been playing long sets of American Top 40 hits in bars and dance clubs in the gritty Reeperbahm district of Hamburg. In doing so, they had morphed from a ragtag bunch of minimally talented musicians into a respectable “cover” band that had become popular as headliners. Back at Litherland, as the Beatles waited behind a curtain drawn across the dance-hall stage, the emcee snapped the crowd to attention with “And now, everybody, the band you’ve been waiting for! Direct from Hamburg—” But before the word “Beatles” could be uttered, a nervous Paul McCartney burst through the curtain, screaming his best
& a vast collection of estate pieces These custom pieces, utilizing new and vintage beads, broaches, buckles, etc., turn into new 1 Ovakind designs! I haunt garage sales, estate sales, antique shops, and many church bazaars to rescue beautiful components and give them new life. If some of your jewelry requires restringing, repairing or redesigning, I do most repairs that do not require soldering.
For more info or appointments
Call 806-771-2777
Cathy Mottet
high-octane Little Richard imitation: I’m gonna tell Aunt Mary ‘bout Uncle John He said he had the mis’ry but he got a lot of fun
Vox amps had become all but useless against the nightly screamfest that rolled over the band like an oceanic tide. So pronounced was John Lennon’s malaise that he had
“Long Tall Sally” instantly fueled the crowd’s rush to the stage to revel in the Beatles’ half-hour set as the leather-jacketed young artists staked their claim to history. According to numerous rock historians, “Beatlemania” was ushered in that night. Within two years, the Fab Four became UK stars, and by 1964 they ruled the international pop-music world. Flash forward to Aug. 29, 1966. The Beatles are scheduled to play a concert at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park. Fans headed to that performance don’t realize that this will be the final live show of the quartet’s career. (The foursome will keep the announcement to themselves until they return to England.) Who could blame the band for their decision? Worldwide fame, it seemed, had robbed the musicians of everything enjoyable about performing before an audience. The group’s powerful
begun calling the Beatles’ live act a “freak show.” Ringo Starr offered no argument. (“Nobody was listening at the shows.”) Even normally positive Paul McCartney confessed, “It wasn’t fun anymore.” That night at Candlestick Park, the home of the San Francisco Giants baseball team, the Beatles performed on an elevated platform erected over second base and surrounded by a chain-link fence for their last live gig. The world’s leading rockers, amid chilly swirls of fog, performed their final concert in a cage. Their show, as usual, ran half an hour, and the last song sung was “Long Tall Sally.” For those who could hear him, it was said that Paul McCartney had never sounded better. The coronavirus vaccine is going to eliminate the coronavirus, just like the flu vaccine eliminated the flu.
Golden Gazette • December 2020 • Page 17
Hospice nurses share their stories of helping & hope Being a hospice nurse is a unique calling that focuses on providing whole-person care for people living with terminal illnesses. Hospice nurses care for their patients during all the stages of their end-of-life journey. They offer physical care—of course—but they also address their patients’ (and loved ones’) emotional, spiritual and mental health needs as well. Their stories are filled with compassion, caring and love. The Institute for Human Caring is capturing the memories, insights and recollections of hospice nurses in Hear Me Now interviews that tell the stories of hospice workers, their patients and their loved ones. The talks are presented in partnership with StoryCorps. This national non-profit organization preserves and shares humanity’s stories to help build connections between all types of people. Here’s a look at what some of these special caretakers have to say.
their families several years ago, she never imagined the impact it would have. “People get photographed at weddings or proms or for special occasions but not always at the end of life,” she says. Diann photographed Julie’s father at a ceremony celebrating his military service. “Hospice isn’t just that last breath,” Diann said. “It’s living all the way through dying.” The photographs illustrate Julie’s bond with her father and are among her most treasured possessions. Her father’s hospice experience prompted Julie to become a hospice volunteer. And as love often comes full circle, she now helps care for Diann’s mother-in-law. “Hospice isn’t just that last breath,” Diann said. “It’s living all the way through dying.”
Rooted in love
A second cancer diagnosis isn’t keeping Suzanne Cogen from living life to the fullest. “I live completely in the moment,” Suzanne said. “This is not about dying. It’s about living.” Despite her terminal illness, Suzanne focuses on the “incredible, magical journey” of her life and her three passions: birding, drawing and agility training with her beloved dog Zeb.
Hospice patients often concentrate on the basics in life: faith, love and family, according to Kitty, a hospice nurse at Providence. “When people are facing death, they come to grips with what’s really important in life,” she said. For Jody, that became true when her mother was at the end of her life and Kitty was her nurse. After her mom’s passing, Jody brought Kitty a plant as a thank you. Twenty years later, Jody became a hospice volunteer and reconnected with Kitty. She was surprised to find the plant still thriving and the cuttings Kitty gave her gave root to a new friendship.
Love comes full circle
Remembering Randy
An incredible, magical journey
Hospice care for children was rare When Diann, a nurse educator for in 1981 when Anna lost her young Sea Crest Hospice, started taking photographs of hospice patients and son to brain tumors. “Hospice was https://blog.providence.org/elderly-care/providence-hospice-nurses-share-their-storiesof-helping-and-hope?utm_source=agingwellnewsletter&utm_medium=email_free&utm_ campaign=agingwell-monthly-ongoing&utm_content=c300
barely even thought of at that time,” she said. Anna’s experience motivated her to become a hospice nurse and help other families receive the services they so badly need for comprehensive, compassionate end-of-life care, especially for children.
The pathway to the pond Whether it’s the 98-year-old woman who took care of her husband in
his final days or a minister who hung on for one last Christmas, hospice home care nurses David and Linda have been changed forever by their experiences. “I don’t know if there’s anything much more important than to be able to be with someone when they transition,” David said. “Being a hospice nurse just feels like who I am,” Linda said.
Page 18 • December 2020 • Golden Gazette
Need a doc?
www.LubbockMedGuide.com
Lubbock & area physicians - by specialty & alphabetically + hospitals & related medical services
Golden Gazette Crossword Puzzle ACROSS 1. 6. 10. 13. 14. 15. 16. 18. 19. 20. 21. 23. 24. 25. 28. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38.
Hybrids Heal Slender bar Unite Military force To yield Saltwater aquarium Not closed Incline head Increases Matching set of jewels Remain Inanimate object Make amends Detective story Regions Capital of France Black bird Public walk Greased Rectangular pier Exploit Silk fabric
39. More pleasant 40. Privily 42. Photographic device 43. Crews 44. Possessive pronoun 45. Poisonous effluvia 47. German mister 48. Donkey 51. French clergyman 52. Near that place 55. Dissolve 56. Wool cleaning brush 57. Rigid 58. Chopping tool 59. Garden tools 60. Excrete
DOWN 1. 2. 3. 4.
Unstable lepton Remarkable Told an untruth 7th letter of the Greek alphabet 5. Governing bodies
6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
Sturdy Greek goddess of strife Atomic mass unit Resembling lymph Strong distaste River in central Europe 12. Sandy tract of land 15. Horn-shaped bone 17. First man 22. Helps 23. Authenticating mark 24. Trio 25. Small branch 26. Efface 27. Highly pleasing 28. Splendid 29. Bury 30. Ornamental coronet 32. Tablets 35. Surpass 36. Intentions 38. Side 39. Give an account
41. 42. 44. 45. 46. 47.
Set again Cover with wax Groups of animals Mother Mountain goat In this place
48. 49. 50. 53. 54.
First-class Investigate Let it stand Monetary unit of Vietnam Implore Solution on P. 21
Museums participate in Toys for Tots
Secret Santas needed
The Buddy Holly Center and Silent Wings Museum will participate in the United States Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots toy drive this holiday season. Both museums will be accepting toy donations Nov. 17 through Dec. 15. Guests who bring a new, unwrapped toy for donation will receive one free admission to either municipal museum for each toy donated. The municipal museums will be closed in observance of Thanksgiving Holiday and Native American Heritage Day, Nov. 26-27. The museums will resume normal hours on Saturday, Nov. 28. The Buddy Holly Center is located at 1801 Crickets Ave., and the Silent Wings Museum is located at 6202 N. I-27 in Lubbock’s old airport terminal. Toys for Tots, which began in 1947, aims to deliver a message of hope to those in need through a shiny new toy. The Toy Drive is a resource to ensure a memorable holiday season for children in the community.
Santa Claus is busy at Lubbock Meals on Wheels, and they need help. Almost 700 of the clients have requested to participate in the Senior Secret Santa program by asking for much needed items for Christmas. To help make wishes come true, here’s what to do: • Call or come by Lubbock Meals on Wheels to choose ornament tags with the names and wish lists of the seniors. $40 is the limit per client. Commonly requested items are pajamas, robes, sweatshirts, slippers, and towels. • Purchase the requested items. If you shop online, just be sure to let us know who the order is for and who sent the order. • Return the unwrapped items, or make sure shipments arrive by the deadline on the ornament. If anyone would like to participate in the gift deliveries on Dec. 16, contact Meals on Wheels, 2304 34th, 792-7971.
Golden Gazette • December 2020 • Page 19
Some tips for staying safe & healthy • Avoid others who have symptoms of an illness • Avoid large gatherings • Limit trips
friends to log into Zoom at an appointed time and do a workout together. Try a YouTube video or come up with exercises to challenge your Stay active Exercise can help improve body. your mood, maintain quality Manage stress & anxiety sleep habits, and even boost We may be many months your immune system. Keep into the COVID-19 pandemmoving even as temperatures ic but we’re still adapting dip. and adjusting to changes in You can bundle up in lay- our environment. Managing ers and head out for an in- this uncertainty can take a vigorating run or walk in the toll on mental and emotional fresh air. Or, if you’d rather health. Try one of these stay indoors or the weather proven approaches to help is dreary, try an at-home ease your mind: workout. • Exercise Try one of these: • Meditate • Yoga. Many studios are • Practice yoga offering virtual classes. You • Call a friend can also find low-intensity • Read a book workout videos, like yoga or • Start a gratitude journal Pilates, on YouTube to calm Eat healthy the mind and strengthen the Eating healthy helps powbody. er your body, supports your • Weight training (at immune system, and can home). Invest in some re- even improve your mental sistance bands or small hand health. If you need a little Do your part Make safe choices and weights for an effective motivation to stay on track, following proper guidelines workout at home. Or, grab a try one of these tips: to help slow the spread of can of soup or water bottles • Stick to a schedule. for some makeshift weights. Eating at a regular time can COVID-19. Use your own body weight reduce the chance you’ll • Wear a mask (properly) during push-ups, lunges, graze all day on empty calo• Wash your hands • Stay at least 6 feet away squats or wall sits. ries. • Exercise with friends from others • Eat in season. There virtually. Get a group of are great fruits and veggies • Stay home if you’re sick to be found in the fall and Sure, over the years, my heart has been broken. How winter. Load up with apples, can your heart not break, when you lose a loved one, bananas, Brussels sprouts, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody’s carrots, pumpkins and celery. beloved pet passes? But, broken hearts are what give • Experiment in the us strength, and understanding, and compassion. A heart never broken, is pristine, and sterile, and will kitchen. There’s no shortage of healthy takes on our never know the joy of being imperfect. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the nation in early 2020, the nicer weather made it easier to adopt new recommendations to reduce our risk of catching and spreading the virus. Restaurants were allowed to open with patio seating. Friends and family could safely maintain relationships and exercise routines while social distancing in an outdoor setting. With the colder weather coming and COVID-19 still lingering, be sure you can keep safe indoors and maintain healthy lifestyle habits long term. Here are some tips on keeping your mind and body healthy, including ideas for indoor exercise, managing stress about indoor events, and even healthy eating habits to help keep your immune system in top condition.
favorite recipes – including delicious comfort food. Make it a family affair to teach important life skills in the kitchen. • Keep healthy ingredients on hand. Fill your pantry and freezer with nutritious staples like beans, quinoa, pasta, frozen vegetables, and frozen salmon filets.
perfect opportunity to start a new healthy habit, learn a new skill, or commit to work out more. Change is hard and sticking to a new habit takes persistence. Give yourself a little grace as you adapt to new routines. And don’t be too hard on yourself if you occasionally fall short of your goal. Stick to healthy habits At the beginning of What’s important is that you March, many of us looked try. - from Covenant Health at extra time at home as the
LOCALLY OWNED, COMMUNITY BANK
PEOPLES BANK peoplesbanktexas.com
Need assistance, help or information, and don’t know where to look?
To get the current edition of The Golden Resource Directory call
Page 20 • December 2020 • Golden Gazette
The SECURE Act Provision may impact year-end planning By Zach Holtzman Prevent tax bracket creep among IRA beneficiaries with these three considerations. When the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act passed, the headlines read: So Long, Stretch. Savers had long bequeathed hefty IRA balances to much younger heirs, who would stretch the distributions over their (hopefully) longer life ex-
pectancies, stretching the tax liability as well. Now, most beneficiaries have just 10 years after the account owner passes to withdraw the entire balance of the inherited IRA. This could cause bracket creep for the heirs, meaning these larger, accelerated distributions from the inherited IRA could inadvertently push them into a higher tax bracket. This would particularly affect those who inherit
large IRA balances or are in their prime earnings years. The IRS carved out a few exceptions, though, which offer some planning potential. The 10-year deadline doesn’t apply to these eligible designated beneficiaries: • Spouses • Disabled or chronically ill beneficiaries (per IRS guidelines) • Beneficiaries who are less than 10 years younger than the deceased account owner • Minor offspring, though the 10-year clock starts once your child reaches the age of adulthood in the applicable state With all the changes it brings, we don’t blame you if you’re a bit bewildered by the SECURE Act. It is complicated, but here are a few ways you, your financial advisor and tax professional can help position your financial, tax and estate plans for year-end and beyond.
that balance after inheriting.
See to see-through trusts
If you’ve designated a trust as beneficiary to a qualified retirement account, make an appointment with your attorney sooner rather than later. Many families used see-through conduit trusts to allocate required distributions to their heirs. But the trust document in conjunction with the new SECURE Act legislation could require those trusts to wait until the 10th and final year to dole out the entire account balance. That lump sum comes with potentially larger tax consequences. An accumulation or discretionary trust, on the other hand, offers the trustee added discretion to distribute the funds in a more tax-efficient way. The rules here are a bit tricky, so be sure to consult an attorney for guidance. Another option? A charitable Be picky remainder trust, which receives the Consider bestowing IRA assets inheritance tax-free, then provides to beneficiaries who might be in a an income stream to a designated lower tax bracket and reserve other heir over their lifetime or some other assets, like appreciated stock, life set period of time. Any remainder is insurance and/or brokerage accounts, reserved for the indicated charity. for those in higher ones, who will likely benefit from stepped-up cost Consider converting Inherited Roth accounts are also basis. subject to the 10-year rule, but the If you prefer, you can also pass your retirement account to multiple distributions are usually tax free. beneficiaries to spread out the inher- For those in a lower tax bracket than ited balances and potentially avoid their intended beneficiaries, it could make sense to strategically convert bracket creep. Say you choose your spouse. a traditional IRA to a Roth to help You can also name your child as a your eventual heirs avoid tax conseco-beneficiary. That child gets a 10- quences. However, that means you would year window to draw down his or her portion of your IRA balance. If your pay income tax on the converted spouse also designates the child as a amount, and it’s best to have enough beneficiary, that child will have an- assets outside of the retirement ac(See The SECURE act Page 23) other 10-year window to draw down
Golden Gazette • December 2020 • Page 21
• Want Ads • Want Ads • Want Ads • Lot At resthAven
Lot at Resthaven near mausoleum. $5,195 value. Make me a reasonable offer. Call 806407-5493. 11/20
CAn’t reACh your toes? ... I CAn!
senIor vIsIon CAre
Professional manicures & pedicures. Top quality products & services. Promoting healthy nails. 20 years experience. Call Alicia at 806-317-5226. 2/17
Dr. Michael J. Dunn in Lubbock - 38 years of quality vision care. Call 745-2222.
experIenCed CompAnIon CAregIvers Home Instead Senior Care
LookIng for voLunteers is looking for experienced 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, contact Travis Armstrong, 775-8760. Travis. Armstrong2@umchealthsystem.com 6/17
Caregivers. We have a variety of shifts available Days, Evening, Overnights, and Weekends. We provide practical care such as nutritious meals, assist with hygiene, light housekeeping, errands, transportation and more importantly companionship. Apply online at www.homeinstead. com/lubbocktx or call our office 806-281-4663. Paid Vacation, 401K, Loyalty Bonus, C omp rehe nsi ve Trai ni ng classroom style and online. Great staff support to help you be successful. All applicants will be subject to background checks and drug screening. Applicants must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation. 10/20
resthAven Lot Great location. Section AA, Lot 190. Space 3. Retails for $5,195. Our offer $3,500. We pay transfer fee. Call 806-5005281. 7/20
voLunteerIng?
Best In-Home Care
Caregivers helping seniors at home
Local “Because Home is Where the Heart is” & family owned
806.368.7985
BestInHomeCareLubbock.com
Covenant Health and Covenant Children’s are in need of volunteer s. Donate a morning or afternoon each week to help serve our patients and families! If interested, call Lauren Orta, 806-725-3309, or email ortalh1@covhs.org 3/19
Be A pArt of hIstory Donate to the Lubbock Roots Historical Arts Council. The East Lubbock GateWay project is helping re-develop East Lubbock. Donations may be made at any City Bank location. Roots is funded by donations, fundraisers and grants. Shirley Green, executive director of the Roots Historical Arts Council, can be contacted at sagreen3@yahoo.com or 806-535-2475 for more information.
Dear, Lord, Please don’t let Brussel sprouts be a part of the cure for COVID-19. Integrity is choosing your thoughts and actions based on values rather than personal gain.
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. – Nelson Mandela
Greeting Cards - 50% OFF Every day! 2316 34thSt • 795-4353
Subscribe to the
Subscription Form
Please enter my subscription to the Gazette:
News and features mailed to you at the first One Year Subscription for $24 of each month. Subscribe to Two Year Subscription for $48 Lubbock’s Senior Newspaper. Mail my copy of the Golden Gazette to: Clip and mail the attached form along with your subscription check.
Name ___________________________________
Mail to:
Address _________________________________
Golden Gazette
City _____________________________________
1310 Avenue Q Lubbock, TX 79401
State ____________________________________
Golden Gazette newspapers are distributed free at 70 locations throughout Lubbock.
Enclosed is my subscription check.
King Hearing Center Testing, Service, Hearing Aids, and Repair “The Hearing Aid Expert”
745-7878
1-800-222-4410
2821 74th St., Lubbock 79423 www.kinghearing.com
Zip ______________________________________
In-home care that elevates the human spirit
806.687.7800 Locally owned & operated since 2002
ComfortKeepers.com
“Lubbock’s FirstConcierge ConciergeLiving Living Community.” “Lubbock’s First Community.” CALL FOR A TOUR! 10711 Indiana
806-686-4786
Page 22 • December 2020 • Golden Gazette
Change
Tip your server. Return your shopping cart. Pick up a piece of trash. Hold the door for the person behind you. Let someone into your lane. Small acts can have a ripple effect. That’s how we change the world.
“Life Changing Service”
COVERED SERVICES: • Experienced nurses trained in Palliative Care • Pain & symptom management • 24-hour on-call availability and support • Medications, medical equipment and supplies related to the hospice diagnosis • Continuous care at home during periods of pain or uncontrolled symptoms • Physician services that may include home visits • Hospice/Home Health aide services • Medical social services • Spiritual & emotional counseling • Trained volunteers • Bereavement support • Wound care • In-patient care • Physical, occupational, respiratory & speech therapies • Dietary & nutritional counseling
4413 82nd Ste. 135, Lubbock, TX 79424 Phone 806.783.0382
4-wheel drive vehicles needed for standby status Lubbock Meals on Wheels is looking for people with 4-wheel drive vehicles to be on standby to help deliver meals if the weather gets too bad. They haven’t had to ask for this kind of help since 2015 when Lubbock got more than 10-inches of snow. With the first round of winter weather upon us, the standby list needs updating. To be on the standby list, you would not need to go through orientation. We just need your name and contact number. If it looks like we’ll need to access the standby list, we’ll post on social media and put out a press release. Then we’ll contact you individually to check your availability. Lubbock Meals on Wheels is a private, non-profit organization, preparing and delivering hot, nutritious lunches, each weekday, to more than 850 people in Lubbock and Wolfforth, helping people remain at home, well fed, and independent. For more information, contact Barbara Bulen at Barbara@lubbockmow.org or Marissa Crowley at Marissa@ lubbockmow.org or call 806-792-7971.
Encouragement By Laurie Foster Founder/Director, Backyard Mission I visited my Dream Team guys while they were working on one of our homes. Faithful, faithful servants. As I drove away, I thought - with all the craziness in the world, this is still right. Loving our neighbor is still right. Whichever side of the aisle you are on, COVID-19 affects us all, the economy affects us all, missing our family gatherings affects us all. So maybe today, each of us could reach out and encourage someone. Make a phone call, write a card, send a text, pay for the car behind you at the restaurant. And maybe instead of fighting each other, we fight the true enemy who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy satan. So I encourage you, in prayer, to put your foot squarely on his pathetic neck, and remind him he has already been defeated by the King of Kings. “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother (Saint) Teresa
Golden Gazette • December 2020 • Page 23
‘Gaining calm in a crazy world’ set for Jan. 16 Focusing on scripture, Lisa Harper, a biblical scholar and humorist, will speak to women on Jan. 16, 2021, at Lubbock’s First United Methodist Church Sanctuary. Harper will encourage attendees to grow in their faith despite changes brought on by a global pandemic and anxiety produced by an increasingly complicated world. Praised as a gifted communicator who has published
13 books, she combines wit, authenticity and biblical wisdom to give her audience the coping skills necessary to replace anxiety with a calm joy. Dr. Shera Atkinson is the pastor of Spiritual Formation. “Please come to this event. I really want people to experience the joy and the calm assurance that comes with God,” Atkinson said. “We all need to laugh, we
all need to be in community with one another, and we all need Lisa Harper’s biblical wisdom so we can navigate the complexities of this world.” The seminar will begin at 10 a.m. and conclude at 12:45 p.m. Harper will be assisted in worship sets by Associate Pastor, Rev. Auggie Aguilera, director of contemporary music at First LBK.
The SECURE act provision
market is down. The SECURE Act has widecount to do so. Mini conversions should provide more tax efficiency reaching impacts on retirement savings, tax planning, and estate planthan a lump-sum conversion. Be mindful of your tax bracket ning for many Americans. Be sure threshold to avoid pushing yourself to consult your financial advisor into a higher one. A conversion may and tax professional for guidance make even more sense when the on what this new law means for you. (Continued from Page 20)
Ever since I was a child, I’ve always had a fear of someone under my bed at night. So I went to a shrink. “I’ve got problems. Every time I go to bed I think there’s somebody under it. I’m scared. I think I’m going crazy.” “Just put yourself in my hands for one year,” said the shrink. “Come talk to me three times a week and we should be able to get rid of those fears.” “How much do you charge?” “One hundred fifty dollars per visit,” replied the doctor. “I’ll sleep on it,” I said.
Six months later the doctor met me on the street. “Why didn’t you come to see me about those fears you were having?” he asked. “Well, $150 a visit, three times a week for a year, is $23,400. A bartender cured me for $10. I was so happy to have saved all that money that I went and bought a new pickup truck.” “Is that so?” With a bit of an attitude he said, “and how, may I ask, did a bartender cure you?” “He told me to cut the legs off the bed. Ain’t nobody under there now.” It’s always better to get a second opinion.
Cost is $40, snack included. Register and pay online at fumc.com/lisa-harper. Contact Gloria Ashby at gashby@fumc.com or 806763-4607 for questions. Registration and payment deadline is Jan. 1, 2021 Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, certain procedures will be followed. Masks are highly encouraged, and the sanctuary will be filled to 25 percent capac-
ity. If the event is postponed due to COVID regulations, all who have signed up to attend will be notified by email You may either come on the new date or be refunded. Simply reply to the email. Atkinson said a small number of scholarships are available. Call her office for more information at 806763-4607. To learn more about Lisa Harper, visit lisaharper.net.
Page 24 • December 2020 • Golden Gazette
Prioritize safety this holiday season We all need to do our part, cols to ensure the safety of and that means (re)embrac- everyone. The science tells us that ing the recommendations COVID-19 can be transfrom experts, including: • Wearing a mask every mitted by droplets that are produced through common time you go somewhere or behaviors such as talking, invite someone outside of singing, coughing or sneezyour immediate family into ing. In the absence of a wideyour home ly available vaccine, masks • Staying physically dis- are the best defense to reduce tanced by 6 feet or more – the spread of the virus. Rich Davis, M.D., Proviinside or outside • Remaining diligent in dence Sacred Heart’s miwashing hands for 20 sec- crobiology director, recently demonstrated the efficacy of onds or more masks. • Gathering outside in “Most of the heavy fat small, socially distanced droplets that are going to groups of no more than 5 come out of your mouth that people have bacteria or viruses po• Avoiding indoor gather- tentially, they’re going to get ings and sharing food with caught in your mask and not people not in your COVID go forward into the space in front of you.” families and friends, and bubble At Covenant, the #1 priorprotecting ourselves and our • Limiting trips outside ity is to ensure the safety of loved ones is the top priority. We are all exhausted by your home, especially if you the people in the communities. the constant need to be dili- have any symptoms • Getting a fl u shot During this unique holigent in wearing masks and day season, we ask that you social distancing, while also While celebrating the holisuffering from the separa- days virtually isn’t the ideal stay vigilant in slowing the tion anxiety caused by being experience, it is the recom- spread of COVID-19 by apart from those we love. mended way to celebrate this wearing your mask. WearBut now is the time when we year. If you plan to attend or ing is caring, so mask-up and must act collectively to com- host an in-person gathering, help save lives. This holiday season will bat the spread of COVID-19. follow these safety protobe different, yes. Still, we wish you and yours a healthy and peaceful season and look forward to what we hope will be a better new year. To learn more about the Educator turned agent who loves to help others. pandemic, visit https://coroJason Dear navirus.providence.org/covenant. Give me a call at 806-787-3571 The holidays are going to be different this year. Traditionally, the holidays are a time when families and friends get together to share and build memories, eat well, and celebrate life. It’s a time for hugs. It’s a time for unity. The 2020 holiday season presents new challenges for
Boomer Benefits Made Easy
When you finally learn that a person’s behavior has more to do with their own internal struggle than it ever did with you, you learn grace.
Largest showroom in Lubbock.
Innovative Compression Therapy Solutions ✓ Lymphedema garments ✓ Ready-to-wear legwear ✓ Wraps ✓ Bandaging ✓ Donning aids & accessories ➤ The new Jobst dealer in Lubbock. ➤ Very large inventory of Jobst. ➤ Two certified fitters.
Open 8:30 to 5:00 Monday thru Friday
3003 50th Street, Ste. 100 • Lubbock, TX 79413-4137
806.799.6084
Caring for Lubbock with local ownership since 1993
Most insurance plans accepted.