Golden Gazette September 2023

Volume 35, Number 9

September 2023

In September & inside

1st First Friday Art Trail

4th Labor Day

7th Buddy Holly’s birthday

8th New Neighbors luncheon ................ page 3

10th Grandparents Day

11th 9/11 Memorial

12th ‘Seasonal Changes’.......................... page 3

21st Retired teachers to meet .............. page 10

22nd New Neighbors Game Day............... page 3

22nd–23rd Panhandle South Plains Fair

23rd First day of fall

28th Walk of Fame inductions ................ page 1

Donations gladly accepted ......................... page 4

Football schedule ........................................ page 6

Digby the Church Mouse ............................. page 8

At the Cactus Theater ................................. page 9

Roundtable updates .................................. page 15

LISD selected for partnership ................... page 18

Scareware tactics: DO NOT CLICK .......... page 23

Feed Seniors Now ................................ page 23,24

Relics & antiques wanted ........................... page 3

Clear bag policies ........................................ page 2

Hispanic Heritage Month: Sept. 15 to Oct. 15

Coming in October

Hub City BBQ Cookoff – Oct. 5 .................... page 2

Medicare open enrollment: Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 each year

Daylight Saving Time ends – Nov. 5

24 Pages

Lubbock, Texas 79423

Walk of Fame inductions, Sept. 28

The West Texas Walk of Fame inductions are set for 7 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center Theatre, 1501 Mac Davis Lane. Admission is free.

The West Texas Walk of Fame honors those individuals/groups with a strong connection to Lubbock and the West Texas area who have devoted a significant part of their lives to the development and production of the performing and visual arts and whose body of work has been influential nationally in one of more of these areas.

The West Texas Walk of Fame began as a tribute to Rock and Roll legend Buddy Holly in the late 70’s.

Larry Corbin and Jerry Coleman were in Nashville visiting their singer/songwriter friend Waylon Jennings.

Waylon brought up the subject of recognizing Buddy Holly.

This conversation culminated into a concept of honoring the growing list of

famous artists and musicians who had come from West Texas.

The West Texas area, for the purposes of this project, is generally interpreted as a 150-mile radius of Lubbock.

Dirk Fowler Graphic designer and educator

Lynwood Kreneck Artist, printmaker, and educator

Junior Medlow Blues & rock vocalist and guitarist

Kimmie Rhodes Singer/songwriter

The West Texas Walk of Fame is located on the corner of 19th Street and Crickets Ave. in the Buddy and Maria Elena Holly Plaza across from the Buddy Holly Center.

Clear bag policies at Texas Tech & LISD events & the fair, etc.

In hopes of providing a safer environment for the public and expedite guest entry into venues, a clear bag policy is still in place

for all events at Texas Tech and Lubbock ISD, and the Panhandle South Plains Fair.

The policy limits the size and type of bags that may be

brought into venues.

Guests will be able to carry the following style and size bag, package or container into the venue:

• Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12” x 6” x 12.”

• One-gallon clear plastic re-sealable freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar).

• Small clutch bags not exceeding 4.5” x 6.5”, approximately the size of a hand, with or without a handle or strap can be taken into the venue with one of the clear plastic bags.

• An exception will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection.

Prohibited bags include, but are not limited to purses larger than a clutch bag, briefcases, backpacks, fanny packs, cinch bags, luggage of any kind, nonapproved seat cushions or seatbacks* (see below) computer bags, diaper bags, binocular cases, and camera bags.

Guests will continue to be able to carry items allowed into the venue, such as binoculars, cameras, and smart phones.

*Non-approved seat cushions and seatbacks include large traditional seat cushions that have pockets, zippers, compartments, or covers. Seat cushions and seatbacks must be 16” or less in width with no armrests.

The Hub City BBQ Cookoff is back for its 24th year from 5 to 8 p.m., Oct. 5 at the Panhandle South Plains Fairgrounds, 105 E. Broadway.

This year’s event will feature more than 100 cooking teams competing in categories such as pork ribs, beans, desserts, and more.

First through ninth place winners will be announced at the conclusion of the competition and published on social media and the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce website.

Head down to the fairgrounds to network with local businesses, sample barbeque and beverages, and listen to live music from popular local musicians.

Tickets for the 2023 Hub City BBQ Cookoff are on sale at the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce, 806-7617000, 1500 Broadway, Suite 101.

Sometimes I just want someone to hug me and say, I know it’s hard. You’re going to be OK. Here is a chocolate and 6 million dollars.

History is not there for you to like or dislike. It is there for you to learn from it. And if it offends you, even better because then you are less likely to repeat it. It’s not yours to erase. It belongs to everyone.

Hub City BBQ Cookoff set for Oct. 5

Fair seeks relics & antiques

The Relics and Antiques Division of the South Plains Fair is seeking entries for the fair. This is a show for people who are interested in preserving items from the past.

Items that are 50 years or older will compete for premiums. The following points will be taken into consideration in judging articles: quality, authenticity, age (facts known by owner and judges), and condition (matching stoppers, lids and general condition).

To enter your treasures, bring them to the Women’s Building at the fairgrounds from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 19, and 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Sept. 20.

The 2023 General Premium Book is online at southplainsfair.com. For more information, call Belle, 806-7442482 or go to www.southplainsfair.com.

The fair is set for Sept. 22 through Sept. 30 at 105 E. Broadway. Clear bag policy: All bags must be clear plastic, vinyl or a small clutch and are subject to search. This is new for 2023.

‘Seasonal Changes’ at the Christian Women’s Connection

The Lubbock Christian Women’s Connection will celebrate “Seasonal Changes” with Bruce Fellers, a recording artist and songwriter.

The inspirational speaker will be Julie Altemas of Carrollton, Texas. She will share her story of “Journey from Darkness to Light.”

The buffet lunch, program and chance to win door prizes is set for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sept. 12 at the Lubbock Country Club, 3400 Mesa Road.

Cost is $23. RSVP by Sept. 8 to Sharen at 806-392-0264 or Lubbock CWC@gmail.com. Honor reservations or cancel by Sept 8.

New Neighbors membership luncheon

The New Neighbors Club of Lubbock will kick off its 44th year with a membership luncheon on Sept. 8 at the Lubbock Women’s Club, 2020 Broadway.

Harpist Faith Lewis will be the featured entertainment, and there will be door prizes.

Cost for the luncheon is $20. Reservations must be made by Sept. 5. Text or call Roni Allen at 281-507-4083 or email her at okieroni1@gmail.com. To cancel a reservation, do so by Sept. 6. This is a great time to join New Neighbors. You will learn about the club and about special interest groups.

Game Day set for Sept. 22

The New Neighbors Club of Lubbock will hold its first Game Day Fundraiser of the year at 10 a.m., Sept. 22 at the Lubbock Women’s Club, 2020 Broadway.

This event is open to the public.

The cost is $30 and includes lunch and games such as bridge, canasta, mahjong, pinochle, and Shanghai rummy. There will be cash prizes.

For reservations, contact LaFonda Trantham at 806778-0351.

I hate it when a couple argues in public, and I missed the beginning and don’t know whose side I’m on.

Boutique Sale

September 25-28 9:30

Sat. 9-5

Sun. 10-5

LUBBOCK CIVIC CENTER

Admission: $8 adults, $1 ages 5-12 (CASH ONLY for ADMISSION)

www.lubbockgunshow.com

info@silverspurtradeshows.com

806-253-1322

Efforts to curb drunken driving Donations gladly accepted for Holiday Extravaganza

Plans are underway for Community Christian Church’s Holiday Extravaganza.

Community Christian Church at 96th & Indiana will be having their 16th annual Holiday Extravaganza on Nov. 3 & 4. It’s a great place to do your holiday shopping. You can find something for everyone at the festive sale.

Proceeds benefit Lubbock Meals on Wheels, so while you’re shopping, you are also helping people remain at home, well-fed, and independent.

Community Christian Church is accepting donations to help with the traditional holiday sale. The items they need are

• Large baskets

• Pint & jelly Mason jars

• Mason jar rings & flats

• Grapevine and greenery wreaths

• Christmas craft picks

• New & gently used kitchen, Christmas, fall, and spa items for themed gift baskets

Donations can be taken to Community Christian Church at 3416 96th Street or to Lubbock Meals on Wheels at 2304 34th St.. The group is always looking for volunteers to help prepare for the sale. You do not need to be crafty.

If you would like to help, the elves can still use some extra helping hands. Contact Hallie at 806-441-7630.

F d Seniors Now

As Labor Day approaches, TxDOT is reminding all Texans about the dangers of drunken driving.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced an increased enforcement period from Aug. 18 to Sept. 4.

Texas law enforcement agencies are among those that will increase their efforts to pull over motorists suspected of drunken driving.

“Too many people are killed on our roads each year—especially during holidays—due to impaired driving. These crashes are inexcusable and 100% preventable,” said TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams.

“If you spend time with friends or family and decide to drink, make the right decision and plan ahead for a

sober ride by taking a rideshare, taxi, public transit or designated driver.”

The harsh reality is people continue to choose to drive after drinking. Last year, 345 DUI-alcohol related traffic crashes occurred over the Labor Day holiday weekend, resulting in 20 fatalities and 62 serious injuries.

Over the course of the year, a person was killed every 7 hours and 17 minutes in Texas because of a DUIalcohol-related traffic crash, resulting in 1,203 people losing their lives.

The increased enforcement period comes as a new law is set to take effect on Sept. 1 that will require someone convicted of intoxication manslaughter to pay child support if they kill a parent with young children.

Erin Crawford Bowers was 6 months old when her parents were killed by a drunken driver. She is now a married mother of two living in New Braunfels. She is sharing her story across Texas to prevent other families from experiencing the same tragedy.

“I just wanted my father to walk me down the aisle or my mom to be there when I had babies,” Bowers said.

Drive Sober. No Regrets. 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 to help end the streak of daily deaths.

Nov. 7, 2000, was the last deathless day on Texas roadways.

YOUR #1 CHOICE FOR REHABILITATION

We

One-Pot Pasta Primavera with Shrimp

Ingredients

• 10 ounces penne pasta, uncooked

• 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

• ¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• 1 (10-ounce) bag frozen broccoli florets

• 6 ounces green beans, trimmed

• 10 ounces large shrimp, peeled, deveined

• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, sliced in half

• 1 cup frozen green peas

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 1 teaspoon lemon zest

• ½ cup grated Parmesan, plus more for serving

• ¼ cup coarsely chopped basil

• Red pepper flakes (for serving; optional)

Instructions

1. Place pasta in a large, wide-bottomed pot or large, wide, straight-sided pan. Add garlic, salt, black pepper, and 3½ cups hot water. Cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, uncover and cook, setting a timer for cooking pasta according to package directions and stirring often. When 5 minutes remain on timer, stir in broccoli and green beans. Cover pot and return to a boil. (If pot starts to dry out at any point, add another ½ cup water.) When 2 minutes remain on timer, stir in shrimp, tomatoes, peas, and butter. Cover and continue to cook 2 minutes, then uncover and cook, stirring, until pasta is tender, shrimp are cooked through, and water is almost completely evaporated, about 1 minute more.

2. Remove from heat. Stir in lemon zest and ¾ cup Parmesan and toss to coat. Season with more salt and pepper, if needed.

3. Divide pasta among plates. Top with basil, additional Parmesan, and red pepper, if using.

Texas Tech Football Schedule

• Sept. 2 @ Wyoming, at 6:30 p.m.

• Sept. 9 vs. Oregon, at 6 p.m.

• Sept. 16 vs. Tarleton State, at 6 p.m.

• Sept. 23 @ West Virginia

• Sept. 30 vs. Houston

• Oct. 7 @ Baylor

• Oct. 14 vs. Kansas State

• Oct. 21 @ BYU

• Nov. 2 vs. TCU, at 6 p.m.

• Nov. 11 @ Kansas

• Nov. 18 vs. University of Central Florida

• Nov. 24 @ Texas, at 6:30 p.m. 806-742-8324 or redraidertickets@ttu.edu

The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. And the realist adjusts his sails.

A man and a woman were traveling in a train.

Woman: Every time you smile, I feel like inviting you to my place.

Man: Awww! Are you single?

Woman: No, I am a dentist.

Only 6 years, but ‘It Wasn’t Fun Anymore’

On the chilly, foggy Tuesday of December 27, 1960, several hundred British teenagers sardined into the spacious Litherland Town Hall in north Liverpool.

Promotional posters had promised a grand night of rock ‘n’ roll and dancing to three local outfits and included the “debut” of the Beatles (billed as being ‘Direct from Hamburg’).”

Concertgoers that night, who assumed that the quartet came from Germany, would remark later how good the band’s English skills were when the musicians chatted with the audience between songs.

rushed to the stage to revel in the Beatles’ halfhour set as the black-leather-jacket-clad young artists staked their claim to music history.

“Beatlemania” was ushered in that night.

Within two years, the Fab Four became UK stars. Their fame spread throughout Europe in 1963, and by 1964 they ruled the international world of pop music.

Golden Oldies

Actually, all four Beatles had grown up in Liverpool. For the previous several months, though, they had been honing their musical chops by playing long sets of American Top 40 hits in smoke-filled dives in Hamburg’s gritty Reeperbahm district.

In doing so, they had morphed from a ragtag bunch of minimally talented music cats into a respectable “cover” band that drew increasingly larger crowds each week.

That night 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 he could utter the word “Beatles,” an adrenaline-fueled Paul McCartney burst through the curtain to begin shrieking his favorite Little Richard hit:

I’m gonna tell Aunt Mary ‘bout Uncle John

He said he had the mis’ry but he got a lot of fun

“Long Tall Sally” instantly stopped the dancing as the crowd

Flash to August 29, 1966.

The Beatles are scheduled to play a concert at San Francisco’s vast Candlestick Park stadium, the home of the San Francisco Giants baseball team. Fans at that performance don’t realize that this will be the final live show of the quartet’s stellar career; the announcement will be kept secret until the band members return home to England.

Who could blame the Beatles for their decision? Worldwide fame had robbed them of everything enjoyable about performing before an audience. The quartet’s powerful Vox amplifiers had become all but ineffective against the scream-fest that rolled over the band like a tsunamic tide during each show.

So pronounced was John Lennon’s malaise that he began calling the Beatles’ live act a “freak show.” Ringo Starr was equally negative. (“Nobody was listening at the shows.”) Even normally positive Paul McCartney confessed, “It wasn’t fun anymore.”

That night at Candlestick Park, the Beatles played on an elevated platform erected over second base and were surrounded by a chain-link fence. Essentially, the world’s leading rockers, amid chilly swirls of fog, performed their final concert in a cage.

Their show ran 32 minutes and included 11 tunes, the last featuring Paul McCartney doing “Long Tall Sally.”

Texas Bar Foundation awards grant to CASA to support advocacy

CASA of the South Plains was recently awarded a $5,000 grant from the Texas Bar Foundation to support an additional advocacy coordinator position.

Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $25 million in grants to law-related programs. The foundation is the nation’s largest charitably-funded bar foundation.

The grant will enable CASA to increase its capacity to recruit, train, and support more CASA volunteers. This will ensure that more local children in foster care will have someone consistently by their side, helping them navigate the child welfare system, and will ultimately ensure their needs are met while working to help find a safe, permanent home.

While CASA volunteers were able to serve more than 400 children in foster care last year, there are still almost 600 vulnerable children who did not receive a CASA to advocate for them.

Growing the advocacy program at CASA is imperative for changing these children’s lives. They need someone to walk alongside them during a chaotic and vulnerable time in their life.

Individuals interested in joining the CASA team should email a resume and cover letter to apply@ casaofthesouthplains.org with “Advocacy Coordinator” in the subject line.

For more information about becoming a volunteer, contact Tabitha Rendon at 806-763-2272 or via email at tabithar@casaofthesouthplains.org.

The 3 branches of government

The Constitution of the United States divides the federal government into three branches: 1. _______________, 2. _____________, and 3. ___________. This ensures that no individual or group will have too much 4. _________.

The 5. _________________ gave specific powers to each branch and set up something called 6. ____________ and 7. _____________ to make sure no one branch would be able to control too much power, and it created a separation of powers. How the branches work:

• The legislative branch makes laws, but the President in the executive branch can 8. ________ those laws with a Presidential Veto.

• The legislative branch makes laws, but the judicial branch can declare those laws 9. ________________.

• The executive branch, through the Federal agencies, has responsibility for day-to-day enforcement and administration of Federal laws. These Federal departments and agencies have missions and responsibilities that vary widely, from 10. _____________

protection to protecting the Nation’s 11. ________.

• The President in the executive branch can 12. ______ a law, but the legislative branch can override that veto with enough 13. ________.

• The legislative branch has the power to approve Presidential nominations, control the budget, and can 14. ________ the President and remove him or her from office.

• The executive branch can declare Executive Orders, which are like 15. _____________ that carry the force of 16. ____, but the judicial branch can declare those acts unconstitutional.

• The judicial branch interprets laws, but the President 17. ___________ Supreme Court justices, court of appeals judges, and district court judges who make the evaluations.

• The judicial branch interprets laws, but the 18. ________ in the legislative branch confirms the President’s nominations for judicial positions, and 19. ________ can impeach any of those 20. _______ and remove them from office.

https://bensguide.gpo.gov/j-check-balance

How does Moses make tea? Hebrews it.

England has no kidney bank, but it does have a Liverpool.

I stayed up all night to see where the sun went, and then it dawned on me.

If you loan someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

Why do kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

‘Digby the Church Mouse’ - 21 years in the making

For Kyle Vernon, author of the new young adult book “Digby the Church Mouse: Saving Home” it all came together one morning as he was driving across the plains of Lincolnshire, England, in 2001 on his way to being a substitute teacher in the British school system. Vernon was living in England cour-

tesy of his wife, Teri, and her assignment as a U.S. Army Sergeant to RAF Digby, a small base in Lincolnshire, located in the middle of England.

Together with their small children they moved to the United Kingdom from Ft. Cavazos, Texas (formerly known as Ft. Hood). Kyle

was a certified secondary science teacher, and within a few months of arriving in England, he was employed as a long-term substitute teacher in the Lincolnshire area.

“For one thing, it got me out of the house and driving around England almost every school day. After dropping the kids off at their school and the wife off at her job, I had some time to myself as I drove, sometimes as much as 45 miles, to my school,” Kyle said, “and when you drive across an area enough times, you learn the roads and the landscape as part of the routine.”

It was on of these drives that everything came together for the creation of a story to tell his children that night.

“I was driving near an abandoned church set in the middle of a canola field, and a government minister on the radio was saying ‘throw money at the problem’ repeatedly when the idea hit me to have mice save their home – an abandoned church – by throwing money at people when they showed up to demolish the church. By that evening when I told the story to the children, I had worked out the details to bring the pieces together.”

The abandoned Ashby Church in which the story is set is surrounded by yellow flowers which are canola plants, called rapeseed in the UK.

a story time filled with the daring spirit of mice living in a small church facing down one antagonist after another.

“It took a couple of months to exhaust all of the story ideas about Digby, so for several more months, Digby stories were told again and again. I was happy the kids enjoyed them, but never thought that much about it. By the time we moved back to the United States, the nighttime routine had shifted back to books, eagerly supplied by grandparents wanting to fill the three-year gap caused by living overseas. I put the stories behind me.”

he asked them about what they remembered from their childhood UK experiences, expecting them to revel in the trips they made to see Stonehenge, London, Edinburgh, or even Loch Ness (home to the mythical Loch Ness Monster).

A book signing for “Digby The Church Mouse: Saving Home” is set for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sept. 9 at 2nd Chance Books, 4206 50th St. Kyle Vernon, author, and Tommy Rodgers, artist, will both be there for the signing. Vernon teaches astronomy at Frenship High School. Rodgers is an art teacher at Lamesa High School.

The story was well received by his children that night, and over the next few weeks reading a book at bedtime became instead

Fast forward 21 years and his children are grown and leading successful lives on their own. Over their Thanksgiving meal in 2022,

“Instead, I was told of the daring spirit of mice that lived in an abandoned church that was years and years old. Having tried and failed on several earlier occasions since moving back from England, to craft and sell stories, I realized I might have something here - a story for both young and old to enjoy,” Vernon said.

Teaching astronomy by day and writing at night, the (See ‘Digby the Church Mouse,’ Page 9)

Advancing age & the joy of simplicity

Who would have thought older age would be like this?

I laugh because even though we watch those who go before us, it is hard for us, when we are younger, to imagine being senior citizens.

And yet, we find our age creeping up. And we are thankful for having the opportunity to grow old as many do not fare so well.

When we look at it as a blessing, as opposed to a curse, to have the privilege of growing older, we can get closer to making peace with our aging.

never been here before. One strategy that might serve you well as you age is to keep your friends.

Since no younger person understands what it is like to be our age, let’s talk about that subject with people who are closer to our age.

That might work better than attempting to get understanding from people who have no experience of what it is like to be my age.

At the Cactus Theater

1812 Buddy Holly Ave. 806-762-3233

brighter side of life. Right? You do remember that the glass is halffull and not half-empty. Right? And yet, if you want someone who isn’t trying to “FIX” what is bothering you, but just understands, talk to someone around your own age. Age brings with it a set of problems that only those in the same age group can really understand.

September

Sept. 2 Caldwell Entertainment: Lubbock Ladies Live Part 2

Sept. 6 Cactus Classic Cinema: “Singin’ in the Rain”

Sept. 7 Jason Boland & The Stragglers Fall 2023 Tour

Sept. 9 John Tesh - The Big Band Tour - First Cactus Appearance

I have a friend who is 94, and she just bought a new car. She is upbeat and I always tell her that she is my model!

It is helpful to have someone like that in your life to look up to and let them show you how it can be. We are not at the control center, so we can relax and enjoy our lives and do the best we can to stay healthy.

One thing I have noticed is we don’t know what it is like to be a certain age until we are there. I remember being in college and looking in the mirror. I couldn’t imagine my face with lots of wrinkles. I don’t have to use my imagination now. The wrinkles are obvious.

We need strategies that work for us as we get older. We have

There are so many cliches like, “You are as old as you feel.” Some days I say, “Yep, you are right. I feel good.” Other days I might want to ask you to keep your thoughts to yourself. People want to say things to make you feel good, make you feel young and happy. It is not always accepted with appreciation because that is just not where you are. I totally understand.

Yes, it is nice for people to have a sunny disposition and be cheerful, but sometimes what is important is being able to talk with someone who can accept how you feel without trying to change it.

My point is, people our age understand us in ways that younger people really can’t. They can try, of course. But don’t you remember just wanting to say something to make older people feel good? It came from good intentions, but not from understanding.

There is always room in life for a good pep talk. Sometimes we need to be reminded to see the

Recently, an older friend lost her son. I have sat with her numerous times talking about her son. It takes our mind and heart a while to make sense of loss and to come to peace with that loss. As we age, it is one loss after another.

When we were a teenager and had the car taken away, we knew we would get it back. As we age, and the “driving issue” comes up, we know, at some point, we might not be able to drive. That is a loss that will NOT return. It takes a while to process that, and people your age can identify with the issue whether it ever happens to them or not.

Learning to be flexible in life is important. Flexible would mean it is OK if I drive, and it is OK if I don’t drive. Driving or not driving won’t define my life.

Obviously, it is important to put our life in perspective. Make friends and share your life with them. Practice being flexible. The biggest learning in life is to enjoy each day whether we are having fun, working hard, or keeping grandkids.

Joy is the feeling of simply being happy to be alive. I try to stay connected to that feeling of simply being happy to be alive.

Sept. 10 Mark Wills - Classic Country Hitmaker

Sept. 15 John Baumann + Blue Water Highway: Americana Doubleheader

Sept. 20 Cactus Classic Cinema: “Blue Hawaii”

Sept. 23 Moses Snow as Elvis, King of Rock ‘n’ Roll + Blackwood Quartet

Sept 29 Toast: The Ultimate BREAD Experience - Early 6 p.m. show

October

Oct. 4 Cactus Classic Cinema: “Vertigo” (1958)

Oct. 6 The 3 Redneck Tenors - New Musical Adventure

‘Digby the Church Mouse’

(Continued from Page 8)

story came together earlier this year and was published at Amazon on June 14, 2023. A few weeks later the book was picked up by Barnes & Noble Online as well as several others.

In the story, a young mouse named Digby is in trouble, as are all the mice of the abandoned Ashby Church. If it isn’t becoming a meal for the resident owl, then it’s the pending demolition of the church.

Through curiosity and discovery, Digby and his friends piece together a plan to save their home and send the owl looking for food elsewhere. From 200 years ago, an eccentric vicar and a widowed countess unknowingly help the mice with some unique ammunition for the final battle that takes place on live television.

10 tips to safely organize the home

As our parents reach a certain age, many prefer to stay in their home, rather than move to a senior community or living facility.

The unfortunate truth is, many times our parents live in homes that weren’t built with the safety and health of a senior adult in mind.

But there are avenues we can take as the adult child, or caretaker, to help create a more safe environment so our parents can age-in-place with peace of mind.

Below is a list of 10 organizing tips to help your mom and dad safely age-in-place in their current home.

1. Store at waist height

As we age, our joints, strength and balance deteriorate. This means that bending down and reaching above our heads is difficult for most seniors.

Make sure to check that all the items your parents need are stored at waist level, or in easy to reach places that won’t cause them discomfort to find.

2. No clutter by the steps

Ideally, seniors should avoid stairs as much as possible. We even recommend arranging the home so your parents can stay on the first floor of their home. But if they insist on taking the stairs, check that it is clear of all clutter and there is a sturdy hand railing for balance support installed.

3. Light the way

Our eyesight grows worse as we age so having good lighting throughout your parents’ home is essential to avoid health crises like a fall. Make sure all the bulbs are fresh in the hallways, basement, attic and anywhere you know your parents spend the most amount of their time.

4. A basket by the stairs

Find a basket to attach on the wall by the stairs. This is a great device for seniors carrying items back and forth, as well as reminding them what they need to bring with them, up or down.

5. Rolling carts for the kitchen

Rolling carts are great for the kitchen or rooms

without carpet. Your senior parent can use it to move items like groceries, pots, pans, etc. without much effort.

6. Important documents in 1 place

We highly recommend keeping all essential documents in one place, such as a wellness folder with all important medical information. This makes it easier to grab in case there’s an emergency, or if your parents need to find their passport, social security card or any other document they may need.

7. Medication list on the fridge

Most seniors take a laundry list of medications as they get older. And for many, keeping track gets harder and harder as their memory starts to falter. Put a list on the fridge, with the day and amount to take in a prominent area that your parents will visit often and see daily.

8. Remove those rugs

A change in elevation can be a sudden shock for a senior adult whose reflexes are low and eyesight is bad. Check that all unnecessary rugs have been removed from walking spaces to prevent accidents.

9. Safety bar in the bathroom

With balance and possible nerve damage from diseases like diabetes, a senior may have trouble lifting themselves out of a seated position. Installing grab bars in the shower and by the toilet are essential support items to have in your parent’s home.

10. Who does what list

As they say, it takes a village, right? Taking care of a home can be overwhelming, especially with caretaking for aging parents added to that. Splitting the tasks between your family members, caretakers and a friendly neighbor will be important so no one person carries the entire load alone. Create a list of who will do which task, and when, so you can have peace of mind that mom and dad will be well taken care of moving forward.

Sources: sabrinasorganizing.com www.caringtransitions.com

Retired teachers association to meet Sept. 21

The Lubbock South Plains Retired Teachers Association will meet from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sept. 21 at the Region 17 ESC, 1111 W. Loop 289, in the north conference, main hall.

The meal will be served at 11:30 with the meeting starting at noon.

Cost is $15 per person. RSVP to Valerie.lsprta@gmail.com. An email invitation will be sent 10 days prior to the meeting each month. Those who RSVP for the lunch are responsible for meal payment. If there is no RSVP, no meal will be available for you, but you are welcome to attend the meeting.

Attend the meetings to learn more about what is happening with the TRS retirement benefits, listen to special guests, as well as enjoy a time of fellowship with old friends.

The regular meetings are scheduled for Sept. 21, Oct. 26, Nov. 16, Dec. 14, Jan. 25, Feb. 22, March 28, April 25, May 23.

The District 17 Fall Conference is set for 10 a.m., Oct. 10.

The Spring Conference is set for May 9.

Lubbock,Texas

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If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn’t it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?

Will Rogers didn’t make jokes. He just watched the government and reported the facts.

Time is growing short. There are unexplored adventures ahead for you. You can’t live your life worried about what other people think. It’s time to show up and be seen.

– Brene Brown

“Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one’s own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others.”

— John F. Kennedy

God’s grace never fails

The Psalmist wrote: “Glorious things are said of You!”

John Newton once was a slave trader. After becoming a Christian, he became a powerful preacher, a leader in the fight against slavery and a famous hymn writer.

One of his hymns contains the Glorious Things!

“He whose Word cannot be broken” reminds us of the faithfulness of God - a centerpiece of the Psalms. In psalm after psalm we hear the echo of God’s faithfulness giving strength, hope

Seeds of Hope

and encouragement to the children of Israel. Though they often abandoned God and at times paid a dear price for forsaking Him, He was there each time they called on Him and immediately answered their cry.

“Well supply thy sons and daughters, and all fear of want remove.”

There never was a time in their history that God did not feed them, go before them or watch over them. When they looked to Him for forgiveness, and repented of their

sinful ways, his mercy met them at their point of need and his blessings followed. He was with them to meet their needs, remove their fear, and grant them the desires of their heart.

“Grace which, like the Lord, the giver, never fails from age to age.”

If there ever was a time in the history of our nation that we needed to be reminded that God’s grace would “never fail” it is now.

Everywhere we look, we see a need for his love, mer-

GUIDO EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION

cy, grace, salvation and our nation’s restoration.

It is not his glory that has vanished - it is our unwillingness to share his grace with others. Not long ago I lost my billfold and all of its contents. It was simple to call the bank that issued me my credit card and ask them to cancel it. But when I went to get a new driver’s license, it took much more than a

phone call. I had to produce three different documents - including my birth certificate. Fortunately, I was able to locate them with no difficulty. Birth certificates are critical when we need to prove our identity.

A 2nd birth

But a birth certificate that says we are heaven-born and heaven-bound is certainly more important.

In Psalm 87:6 we read that “The Lord will write in the register of the peoples this one was born in Zion” - referring to the community of believers - which for us is Heaven.

After dark one night a religious leader named Nicodemus went to visit Jesus. As their conversation unfolded Jesus said, “No one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

“Nicodemus,” Jesus said, “your earthly birth record will not allow you entrance to heaven. You need a birth certificate that has been issued by God!”

When we are born the first time, we are born into an “earthly family” because we have an “earthly father.”

It is only when we are born a second time“born again” - by accepting Christ as our Savior that we are assured of “seeing” the Kingdom of God. “I am the Way,” said Jesus, “if you want to be a citizen in my kingdom.”

i n d o u t h o w I nt e r im ca n h e lp y our f amily!

Potbelly Sandwiches work all the time

Dear Folks, we recently discovered Potbelly Sandwich Shop which has a delivery service with Door Dash. These sandwiches have to be among the top rated in the USA.

Besides their famous sandwiches, the menu offers six yummy soups in a cup or bowl, your choice, plus, mac & cheese. Our favorite is the broccoli cheddar. There are four menu selections of chicken salad, which includes veggies, cheeses, greens, dried cranberries, fresh fruits, eggs, and two choices of dressings.

The menu also offers 16 fabulous sandwiches, plus three different breads, three sizes, and a “select three” can be ordered vegetarian. Extras and toppings you ask? There are 14 – can you believe it?

To satisfy your taste buds, there are 10 chip flavors, 10 drinks, 4 shakes, 3 large cookies, and last, but not least, their “Dream Bar.”

Now, for our favorite sandwich – Avo Turkey. It’s made with hand-sliced turkey breast, Swiss cheese, sliced avocados and cucumbers. We added sliced tomatoes, lettuce, onions, and those fabulous dill pickles. We always select the “multigrain sub” bun.

There are two Lubbock locations:

2402 9th St., 806-7475667; Monday – Sunday: 10 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.

6616 Milwaukee Ave., Ste. 900, 806-687-4635; Monday – Sunday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

The first Potbelly was started in Chicago in 1958 and is still serving faithful customers.

Delivery orders through: Door Dash, Uber Eats, and Grub Hub.

Other information –potbelly.com

Till next month, Let’s all welcome fall!

Cathy

Quality End of Life Care

Hospital-at-home: opportunity or threat for patient care?

A new article titled “The New Hospital-at-Home Movement: Opportunity or Threat for Patient Care?” has been published in The Gerontological Society of America’s Public Policy & Aging Report.

Two researchers wrote the article: Eileen Appelbaum, Ph.D., and Rosemary Batt, Ph.D.

The article is based on a larger report on the topic released by the authors earlier this year.

In January, Congress extended the hospital-at-home program through 2024.

Certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid

Services (CMS) in 2020, the program allowed hospitals to treat acutely ill patients in their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

They received the same reimbursement rates hospitals get for in-patient care, including a “facilities fee” meant to cover the costs of maintaining the hospital.

This occurs despite much lower overhead and infrastructure costs of caring for the patient at home.

The program required that certain safeguards be met, but relaxed others such as 24/7 RN coverage, while also allowing in-home care to be provided by an RN, a

paraprofessional, or an EMT. Now healthcare providers and private equity firms that stand to benefit financially from hospital-at-home have organized lobbying groups to make the program permanent for non-crisis conditions. They frame the program as saving costs while increasing patient satisfaction.

But Appelbaum and Batt’s research finds that the program allows providers to reduce skilled nursing standards, while also shifting risks and added labor costs to families.

“Beyond a handful of pre-pandemic small studies, no systematic evidence

exists that the current CMS at-home programs provide the same level of care that hospitals provide for the acutely-ill.

“Too many questions remain unanswered, and CMS lacks the necessary reporting and data systems to ensure provider accountability,” said Batt, the Alice Hanson Cook Professor of Women and Work in the ILR School at Cornell University.

“Who benefits from the cost savings? In the current system, there are too many incentives for hospitals and healthcare companies, as well as opportunistic financial actors such as private equity and venture capital firms, to make money while leaving patients, families, and taxpayers to bear the costs,” said Appelbaum, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research.

The authors recommend that Congress and the CMS establish a research program to identify best practices and measure their outcomes.

Based on this research, appro -

priate skills and training standards, patient care metrics, and reporting and monitoring systems must be put in place; and cost-sharing standards must be developed so that hospital-at-home programs actually save money while delivering high quality care.

$142 billion investment aims at improvements

Governor Greg Abbott announced a record $142 billion in total investment for Texas’ transportation infrastructure.

The record investment includes the unanimous adoption of the $100 billion 10-year statewide roadway construction plan with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for transportation projects to enhance safety, improve congestion and connectivity, and preserve Texas roadways.

This is a $25 billion increase in total investment from the previous year.

The 2024 Unified Transportation Program (UTP) includes $1.5 billion in funding in the Lubbock District, which includes money for the following projects:

• $54.2 million on three projects adding passing lanes to US 385 in Castro and Lamb counties, from US 70 in Lamb County to the Deaf Smith County Line,

• $10 million in investments to US 87 and SH 349 in Lamesa and Dawson County to widen the roadway and improve intersection safety,

• $35 million to build a new bridge on US 60 in Friona (Parmer County),

• $331 million to continue construction on Loop 88 in Lubbock County.

“Thanks to our booming economy, Texas has achieved a major milestone in our

transportation infrastructure with this record $142 billion investment that will strengthen our roadways and build a next-generation transportation network,” said Abbott.

“Through this record transportation investment project, the State of Texas will further improve roadway congestion and safety to meet the growing needs of Texans in our large metros, rural communities, and everywhere in between.

“This plan will not only connect Texans from every corner of our state, it will also bolster our economic growth and ensure Texans and businesses continue to thrive for generations to come.”

“This historic investment in our transportation system is critically important to help meet the needs of our fastgrowing state,” said Texas Transportation Commission Chairman J. Bruce Bugg, Jr.

“Thanks to the leadership of Governor Abbott and our Texas Legislature, Texas continues to see growth in the transportation investments needed to support a world-class transportation system focused on safety and congestion relief.”

“This plan will help the lives of all Texans for years to come as we work to move people and goods safely and efficiently in our rural, urban, and metropolitan areas,” said TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams.

“TxDOT is already putting these resources to work with a record number of projects aimed at improving safety and saving lives on our roadways.”

In February, Governor Abbott announced TxDOT’s proposed 2024 Unified Transportation Program (UTP), estimated to be $15 billion more than the 2023 UTP.

With the State of Texas providing a majority of the funding, the 2024 UTP includes a total investment of over $142 billion for all development and delivery projects, right-of-way acquisition, engineering, routine maintenance contracts, and UTP construction funding.

The more than $10 billion of average annual investment programmed in the UTP over the next 10 years is expected to bring an estimated $18.8 billion per year in economic benefits, per the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s analysis.

These benefits are a result of increased labor income and business output, as well as the addition of 70,500 direct and indirect jobs.

Many of the projects in this plan are roadway segments identified on Texas’ 100 Most Congested Roadways list.

Texas Clear Lanes congestion-relief projects will see an increase in funding, supporting $66.7 billion total investment for completed,

under-construction, and planned non-tolled projects since 2015.

Funding for rural projects also increased to $19.2 billion, a major jump from $2.2 billion in the 2016 UTP.

The UTP is a planning document that guides the development of transportation projects across the state.

Additionally, the UTP identifies public transportation, maritime, aviation, and rail investments.

Projects are selected by TxDOT and local transportation leaders based on effectiveness in addressing criteria such as safety, pavement condition, capacity, and rural connectivity, with opportunities for public input at the both the state and local levels.

No Roundtable program is set for September because of Labor Day weekend and football games.

The final three meetings for 2023 will be Oct. 7, Nov. 4 and Dec. 2.

Come a few minutes early so everyone can register and serving can begin.

Roundtable meets for a luncheon and speaker at Carillon Senior Living in the Pointe Plaza Building, Cimarron Room next to the dining room from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Cost is $18 which can be paid by cash or check made out to Roundtable. Anything extra donated goes into the Scholarship Fund for the Honor’s College at Texas Tech which will be presented at the December meeting.

Make reservations to Marie Evans, chair 806-281-3181 or email MEvans1398@aol.com.

Those inspirations for a song can be painful

When we hear certain songs, we may wonder what the event was that inspired a songsmith to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard.

Sometimes, though, what we learn about that inspiration is so painful that we find ourselves reaching for the Kleenex.

Songwriter Alex Harvey explained that “Delta Dawn” was about his mother, a Mississippi Delta-born hairdresser in Alex’s hometown of Brownsville, Tennessee.

At 41, she had given herself over to drink when a man who had promised

her the world disappeared from her own, leaving her to stumble along Brownsville streets, suitcase in hand, looking for a “mansion in the sky.”

When Harvey was 15 years old, he played in a band.

“We had just won a contest, and we were going to be on a TV show in Jackson, Tennessee,” he recalled. “My mother said she wanted to go. I told her that I thought she would embarrass me.

“She drank and sometimes would do things that would make me feel ashamed, so I asked her not to go that night.”

When Alex returned home later from the TV taping, his world crumbled when he learned that his mother had died in a car wreck after run-

ning her vehicle into a tree.

Harvey suspected that her death wasn’t an accident but had been a suicide.

Devastated, he turned deep inside his music as the only form of therapy that brought him any solace.

Several years later, Alex was at a fellow songwriter’s house. It was late, and everyone there had fallen asleep except Harvey, who had stayed up to noodle on his guitar.

That’s when he experienced a life-altering vision: “I looked up, and I felt as if my mother was in the room. I saw her very clearly. She was in a rocking chair, and

she was laughing.”

Instantly, two song-lyric lines wafted into Alex’s consciousness:

She’s forty-one and her daddy still calls her “Baby”

All the folks around Brownsville say she’s crazy

He woke his friend and fellow songwriter Larry Collins and breathlessly poured out his story. Together, the two composed “Delta Dawn” in 20 minutes.

Alex recorded the song first, followed by Tanya Tucker, Bette Midler and Australian-born Helen Reddy, with Helen’s version catching the rocket ride to the peak of the Billboard

chart and becoming her second Number One single after “I Am Woman.”

Much of the success of “Delta Dawn” resulted from a combination of Reddy’s muscular vocals and that of the uplifting gospel background, dynamic and thunderous and sounding straight out of a southern tent-revival meeting.

“Delta Dawn” brought Alex Harvey blessed relief from the guilt that had shrouded him concerning his mother’s demise.

“I really believe that my mother came into the room that night, not to scare me, but to tell me that it’s okay, that she made her choices in life, and it had nothing to do with me. I always felt like that song was a gift to my mother—and an apology to her.”

you simply cannot understand why someone is grieving so much, for so long, then consider yourself fortunate that you don’t understand.

Cable median barriers being installed

The Texas Department of Transportation began work on a $2.47 million project to make safety improvements to east Loop 289 in Lubbock, from the north Loop / I-27 interchange to the south Loop / I-27 interchange.

The project will add more than 11 miles of cable median barriers, which are engineered to stop vehicles from crossing the median.

“Cable median barriers are designed to stop vehicles from crossing the open median and prevent the worst kinds of crashes, including head-on collisions,” said Joe Villalobos, P.E, TxDOT Lubbock Area engineer.

“Over the last several years, TxDOT has been adding the cable barrier to divided highways across the South Plains in an effort to improve safety, reduce crashes, and save lives.”

“Drivers should anticipate various daily inside lane and shoulder closures, speed limits reduced to 55 mph and are advised to drive with caution when entering the work zone, slow down, pay attention, and watch out for workers and equipment,” Villalobos said.

The project’s completion date is scheduled for spring 2024.

I want to grow my own food, but I can’t find bacon seeds.

Lubbock ISD selected for partnership to benefit teachers, students

The Holdsworth Center, an Austin-based nonprofit focused on leadership in public education, has selected Lubbock ISD to join the Holdsworth Partnership, a multi-year investment to build stronger principals and help the district create its own best-in-class principal pipeline system.

Lubbock ISD is among seven districts across the state selected to participate in Holdsworth’s leadership development programs.

“Lubbock ISD demonstrated a strong commitment to developing leaders and a growth mindset around learning new concepts,” said Dr. Lindsay Whorton, president of The Holdsworth Center. “The goal is to help the expert educators in Lubbock ISD become skilled, visionary district and school leaders who can provide the support teachers and students need to thrive.

“Great leaders draw out the best in people and inspire them to achieve the unimaginable. Leadership is not a skill people are born with – it can be taught and honed through day-to-day practice.”

As part of the Partnership, Lubbock ISD leaders will participate in the two-year District Leadership and Campus Leadership Programs to receive the inspiration, tools and resources needed to grow their skills and drive positive change.

In addition, Holdsworth District Support Team members will embed within the Central Office to help create a bench of strong principals. Every time there is a principal opening, the goal is to have at least two strong leaders ready to step into the role and make an impact for students from day one. Research shows that effective principals can significantly impact student outcomes by creating the conditions for teachers to thrive. Because principals influence the working conditions and skill level of every teacher in the building, their impact is outsized.

“We don’t believe there are any quick fixes in education. Investing in the skill and capacity of the people working in our schools is the only way we will see true transformation,” Whorton said.

Driven by the belief that teachers and students thrive with great leadership, The Holdsworth Center builds stronger leaders for Texas public schools. Founded in 2017 as a nonprofit by H-E-B Chairman Charles Butt, Holdsworth helps expert educators become stronger leaders through its programs and services.

26. Roof overhang

27. Very loud

28. Demon

29. Small round shield

32. Edible plant product

35. Icing 36. Moat

38. Soft cheese

39. American hunting hound 41. Gardening tool

42. Aggregation

44. The highest degree

45. Tailless amphibian

47. Individual facts

48. Immoral habit

49. Separate article

50. Ethereal

53. Not (prefix)

54. Transgression

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.

September!

September is here, and I am so glad to not have to play yo-yo with my thermostat. I know we did not set a record for continuous 100+ days but it sure felt like it. As we turn the page on the calendar, there are lots of important days to celebrate in September.

• Sept. 4 is Labor Day for workers, unless you are retired and then it may be ‘Cut the Grass Day.’

• Sept. 5 is ‘Be Late for Something Day’ or ‘Cheese Pizza Day’. Your choice.

• Sept. 10 is National Grandparents Day. My question is, Is it better on the first day grand kiddos come to visit or the day you send them back home?

• Sept. 11 is Patriot Day. Never forget events that happened in 2001.

• Sept. 19 is ‘Talk Like a Pirate Day.’

• Sept. 27 is National Crush a Can Day and National Women’s Health and Fitness Day. So… if I crush

a can does this count as a fitness exercise?

• Sept. 30 is National Love People Day, just do not get caught.

Panhandle South Plains Fair

The Panhandle South Plains Fair runs from Sept. 21 through 29. If you have not attended in recent years, this is a chance to catch up. Entry before 1 p.m. is free, and the food is great.

Texas Tech football

Texas Tech football returns and Tech is listed in the top 25 in the nation - just one reason to come out for a ball game!

Care Partner Academy

The Care Partner Academy session will be held at noon Sept. 6. Mike Torres with the Medicare Store will present “Q & A on Medicare Options.” With changes to Medicare beginning in January 2024 and enrollment just around the corner, now is the time to learn about changes and how they can affect you. No products are available for sale during this session but you will have an opportunity to get questions answered and plan for the future.

Pass this information along to anyone you think would benefit from this information.

The Care Partner Academy is an informal group

TEXAS TECH HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER

Garrison Institute on Aging

that meets monthly to share various topics and is free and open to the public. Light snacks are provided.

To confirm for this session, contact Joan at 806743-1217 or email joan. blackmon@ttuhsc.edu. RSVP is requested and the program will also be available on ZOOM. https://ttuhsc.zoom.us/j/93712419544.

Healthy Aging Lecture Series

The Healthy Aging Lecture Series returns on Sept. 13 at the Academic Event Center, 3601 4th St., TTUHSC campus) from 3-4 p.m. David Edwards, MD will present ‘Physical Fitness for Mind & Body: Importance & Applications.’

Dr Edwards is an associate professor in the Texas Tech Physicians Medical Pavilion. For more information and to make reservations, call 806-743-7821 or email gia@ttuhsc.edu.

Sites to visit in Lubbock

If you are looking for some interesting and relaxing events, I would suggest The National Ranching Heritage Center, Texas Tech Museum, Moody Planetarium, and The Windmill Museum. I had a chance to take grand kiddos (7-21) to these and they did not want to leave. There are also numerous other museums and sites to visit in the Lubbock area (too many to

By

name) but these are a great start.

Lubbock RSVP

Are you looking for a new activity in the Fall? Lubbock RSVP (aka AmeriCorps Senior) is a federal, grant funded program that assists seniors 55 and older (retired or not) with a variety of groups that need volunteers. This program is hosted at the Garrison Institute on Aging. There are a variety of areas where seniors can contribute. These include (not limited to) Lubbock Meals on Wheels, South Plains Food Bank, hospitals, Friends of the Library, Comfort Corps and other local groups.

Ronald McDonald House

This month we are focusing on the Ronald McDonald House. This site serves as a ‘Home Away from Home’ for families of critically ill children who are receiving medical treatment at local hospitals. More than 400 families are served annually. Volunteers can assist in meal preparation, reading, entertainment and numerous activities. Volunteers can serve as much or as little as they desire. This is a great opportunity for individuals as well as families. Whatever works for your schedule can work for this effort. Contact 806-744-3652 for more information. ~Keeping Fami-

lies Close!

Mental health / respite

We are continuing to host mental health sessions for caregivers as well as offering a free respite care program with the guidance of Dr. Jonathan Singer, TTU Department of Psychological Sciences. Dr. Singer has also opened up ‘tele-health’ sessions for those living in rural areas.

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 806-8345884 or email at jonsinge@ ttu.edu.

September Funnies…

If money grew on trees, what would be everyone’s favorite season?

• Fall.

Why do birds fly south in the fall?

• It is too far to walk. The purpose of life is not to be happy, but to matter – to be productive, to be useful, to have it make some difference that you lived at all. ~ Leo Rosten

Six keys to more successful investing

A successful investor maximizes gain and minimizes loss.

Though there can be no guarantee that any investment strategy will be successful and all investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal, here are six basic principles that may help you invest more successfully.

1. Long-term compounding can help your nest egg grow

It’s the rolling snowball effect. Compounding pays you earnings on your reinvested earnings. The longer you leave

your money at work for you, the more exciting the numbers get.

For example, imagine an investment of $10,000 at an annual rate of return of 8 percent. In 20 years, assuming no withdrawals, your $10,000 investment would grow to $46,610. In 25 years, it would grow to $68,485, a 47 percent gain over the 20-year figure. After 30 years, your account would total $100,627. (Of course, this is a hypothetical example that does not reflect the performance of any specific investment.)

This simple example also assumes

that no taxes are paid along the way, so all money stays invested. That would be the case in a tax-deferred individual retirement account or qualified retirement plan. The compounded earnings of deferred tax dollars are the main reason experts recommend fully funding all tax-advantaged retirement accounts and plans available to you.

With time on your side, you don’t have to go for investment “home runs” in order to be successful.

2. Endure short-term pain for long-term gain

Riding out market volatility sounds simple, doesn’t it? But what if you’ve invested $10,000 in the stock market and the price of the stock drops like a stone one day? On paper, you’ve lost a bundle, offsetting the value of compounding you’re trying to achieve. It’s tough to stand pat.

The financial marketplace can be volatile, but remember two things.

First, the longer you stay with a diversified portfolio of investments, the more likely you are to reduce your risk and improve your opportunities for gain. Though past performance doesn’t guarantee future results, the long-term direction of the stock market has historically been up.

Take your time horizon into account when establishing your investment game plan. For assets you’ll use soon, you may not have the time to wait out the market and should consider investments designed to protect your principal. Conversely, think long-term for goals that are many years away.

Second, during any given period of market or economic turmoil, some asset categories and some individual investments historically have been less volatile than others. Bond price swings, for example, have generally been less dramatic than stock prices.

Though diversification alone cannot guarantee a profit or ensure against the possibility of loss, you can minimize your risk somewhat by diversifying

your holdings among various classes of assets, as well as different types of assets in each class.

3. Spread your wealth through asset allocation

Asset allocation is the process by which you spread your dollars over several categories of investments, usually referred to as asset classes. The three most common asset classes are stocks, bonds, and cash or cash alternatives such as money market funds.

You’ll also see the term “asset classes” used to refer to subcategories, such as aggressive growth stocks, longterm growth stocks, international stocks, government bonds (U.S., state, and local), high-quality corporate bonds, lowquality corporate bonds, and tax-free municipal bonds.

A basic asset allocation would likely include at least stocks, bonds (or mutual funds of stocks and bonds), and cash or cash alternatives.

There are two main reasons why asset allocation is important.

First, the mix of asset classes you own is a large factor—some say the biggest factor by far—in determining your overall investment portfolio performance. The basic decision about how to divide your money between stocks, bonds, and cash can be more important than your subsequent choice of specific investments.

Second, by dividing your investment dollars among asset classes that do not respond to the same market forces in the same way at the same time, you can help minimize the effects of market volatility while maximizing your chances of return in the long term. Ideally, if your investments in one class are performing poorly, assets in another class may be doing better

4. Consider your time horizon in your investment choices

In choosing an asset allocation, you’ll need to consider how quickly you might

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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

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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

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d on Ate W heelch A irs & scooters

Empower lives with your generosity. Donate wheelchairs and scooters to help those in need. Visit seniorsandveterans.com/pages/donate or call 806-639-4339. Your support matters. 11/23

God was sitting on his throne, and a dog and a cat were at his feet.

God asked the dog if he had been a good pet during his time on Earth.

“Absolutely,” came the answer. “I was loyal, friendly, obedient and was a trusted and beloved companion at all times.”

“Excellent,” God said.

He then asked the cat, “Were you a good pet during your time on Earth?”

The cat replied, “You’re sitting in my chair.”

A teacher was wandering around her kindergarten classroom, looking at the artwork the students were creating. She stopped by one particular girl’s desk and asked, “What’s that you’re painting?”

“God,” said the girl. “I’m making a painting of God.”

The teacher smiled. “That’s nice,” she said, “but nobody knows what God really looks like.”

The girl, keeping at her task, said, “They will in a minute.”

It’s so hot, I just walked outside and ran into Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

It’s so dry in Texas that the Baptists are sprinkling, the Methodists are using wet wipes, the Presbyterians are passing out rain checks, and the Catholics are praying that the wine will turn back to water.

Six keys to more successful investing

(Continued from Page 20)

need to convert an investment into cash without loss of principal (your initial investment). Generally speaking, the sooner you’ll need your money, the wiser it is to keep it in investments whose prices remain relatively stable. You want to avoid a situation where you need to use money quickly that is tied up in an investment whose price is currently down.

Therefore, your investment choices should take into account how soon you’re planning to use your money. If you’ll need the money within the next one to three years, you may want to consider keeping it in a money market fund or other cash alternative whose aim is to protect your initial investment.

Your rate of return may be lower than that possible with more volatile investments such as stocks, but you’ll breathe easier knowing that the principal you invested is relatively safe and quickly available, without concern over market conditions on a given day. Conversely, if you have a long time horizon you may be able to invest a greater percentage of your assets in something that might have more dramatic price changes but that might also have greater potential for long-term growth.

Note: Before investing in a mutual fund, consider its investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses, all of which are outlined in the prospectus, available from the

fund. Consider the information carefully before investing.

Remember that an investment in a money market fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporate or any other government agency.

Although the fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the fund.

5. Dollar cost averaging: investing consistently & often

Dollar cost averaging is a method of accumulating shares of an investment by purchasing a fixed dollar amount at regularly scheduled intervals over an extended time. When the price is high, your fixed-dollar investment buys less; when prices are low, the same dollar investment will buy more shares.

A regular, fixed-dollar investment should result in a lower average price per share than you would get buying a fixed number of shares at each investment interval. A workplace savings plan, such as a 401(k) plan that deducts the same amount from each paycheck and invests it through the plan, is one of the most well-known examples of dollar cost averaging in action.

Just as with any investment strategy, dollar cost averaging can’t guarantee you a profit or protect you against a loss if the market is declining. To maximize the potential effects of dollar cost averaging, you should also assess your ability to keep investing even when the market is down.

An alternative to dollar cost averaging would be trying to “time the market,” in an effort to predict how the price of the shares will fluctuate in the months ahead so you can make your full investment at the absolute lowest point. But market timing is generally unprofitable guesswork. The discipline of regular investing is a much more manageable strategy.

6. Buy and hold, don’t buy and forget

Unless you plan to rely on luck, your portfolio’s long-term success will depend on periodically reviewing it. Maybe economic conditions have changed the prospects for a particular investment or an entire asset class.

Circumstances change over time, and your asset allocation will need to reflect those changes. As you get closer to retirement, you might decide to increase your allocation to less volatile investments, or those that can provide a steady stream of income.

Another reason for periodic portfolio review: your various investments will likely appreciate at different rates, which will alter your asset allocation without any action on your part.

If you initially decided on an 80 percent to 20 percent mix of stock investments to bond investments, you might find that after several years the total value of your portfolio has become divided 88 percent to 12 percent (conversely, if stocks haven’t done well, you might have a 70-30 ratio of stocks to bonds).

You need to review your portfolio periodically to see if you need to return to your original allocation.

To rebalance your portfolio, you would buy more of the asset class that’s lower than desired, possibly using some of the proceeds of the asset class that is now larger than you intended.

Or you could retain your existing allocation but shift future investments into an asset class that you want to build up over time.

If you don’t review your holdings periodically, you won’t know whether a change is needed. Many people choose a specific date each year to do an annual review.

Zach Holtzman, Financial Advisor

Scareware tactics & pop ups DO NOT CLICK

You’re working at your computer when all of a sudden –BAM! – you get a pop-up notification that your PC is infected with a virus and you must “click here” to run a scan or install antivirus software.

This is a common scareware tactic used by hackers to get you to click and download a virus.

Often it will appear to be a system alert or a Microsoft operating system alert.

Regardless of how legitimate it looks, NEVER click on the site or the pop-up.

The safest thing to do is close your browser; do not click on the X, “Close” or “Cancel” button in the pop-up or on the site because clicking on anything on the page or pop-up will trigger a virus download.

If that won’t work, bring up your task manager (hold Control + Alt + Delete on a PC and Command + Option + Esc to “Force Quit” on a Mac) and close the web browser or application where it appeared.

Next, contact a computer technician to make sure your computer is OK.

Jake Mitchell VectorChoice.com

I’d rather argue against a hundred idiots, than have one agree with me. - Winston

Churchill

Gravity and wrinkles are fine with me. They’re a small price to pay for the new wisdom inside my head and my heart.

– Drew Barrymore

Feed Seniors Now:

How many sacks can you and your groups fill?

One in six seniors struggles with hunger. And it may affect someone you love – a parent, grandparent or a neighbor.

More than 1 in 3 seniors in the care of others are at risk for under- or mal-nutrition (Mayo Clinic/ American Dietetic Association).

Malnutrition is the lack of proper nutrition, not necessarily a lack of food. Detecting malnutrition in seniors may be difficult, and even seniors who eat enough may be eating the wrong foods to keep themselves healthy.

Through the 13th annual Feed Seniors Now initiative in September, Comfort Keepers is partnering with Lubbock Meals on Wheels to collect food and funds to fully support the weekend meal program. Clients of this program have no other means to obtain weekend food other than through Meals on Wheels.

Feed Seniors Now goals:

1. Collect funds & specific food items to fill 26,000+ bags each year for the weekend meal program.

2. Raise awareness about the growing epidemic of malnutrition that impacts millions of older Americans.

For sign-up forms or more information, call 806687-7800 or email Lubbock@comfortkeepers.com.

2023 Shopping List for non-refrigerated, unexpired, single-serving sizes of:

 Soup

 Small cans of tuna or chicken

 Individual Beanie Weenies

 Peanut butter crackers

 Cheese crackers

 Individual Chef Boyardee meals

 Vienna sausages

 Individual packages of peanuts

Each weekend meal contains an entrée plus 4-6 of the above non-refrigerated items.

*NOTE: Expired food cannot be accepted.