Good nutrition contributes to a superior quality of life for
The goal of the Feed Seniors Now initiative is to help seniors live healthy, independent lives and to
Throughout the month of September, Comfort Keepers of Lubbock is partnering with individuals, local businesses, churches and organizations to gather specific food items and monetary donations for the Lubbock Meals on Wheels’ Weekend Meal Program.
How to help
Help can be provided by organizing a food drive, ordering specific food items (listed below) and shipping them to Lubbock MOW, 2304 34th St., Lubbock, TX 79411, or by donating financially.
Volunteers will be at five area Walmart’s on Saturday, Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. accepting food donations.
At-risk seniors
This annual campaign helps provide weekend meals to recipients who would otherwise go without food or assistance on Saturday and Sundays.
One in nine seniors in Texas is at risk of hunger according to Texas Health & Human Services (hhs.texas.gov),
60% of LMOW clients are on the weekend meal program. These seniors often have no other means to obtain weekend food other than what is provided through Lubbock Meals on Wheels.
Food items needed
Food items to be collected include:
Individually-sized cheese crackers
Peanuts
Peanut butter crackers
Chef Boyardee meals
Small cans of tuna and/or chicken
Vienna sausages
Beanie Weenies
10.75 oz cans of soup.
Please note that expired items cannot be used.
(See It’s time, Page 16)
Alzheimer’s Awareness Month Events
Presented By
NOVEMBER 1 NOVEMBER 11 NOVEMBER 18
6th Annual
Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025
Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
TTUHSC
Academic Event Center (AEC) 3601 4th Street Lubbock, Texas 79430
Register for Continental Breakfast & Lunch by Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
Dr. Guillermina R. Solis
University of Texas at El Paso Nursing
Dr. John Bertelson, M.D., FAAN Neurology, GIA Memory Clinic Co-Medical Director, TTUHSC
Rachel Hirshorn-Johnston, M.F.A. Associate Professor, Voice and Speech, Head of Acting/Directing, TTU
Genevieve Durham-DeCesaro, M.F.A. Professor of Dance, Vice Provost For Faculty Success, TTU
Contact us for ticket information.
Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
TTUHSC
Academic Event Center (AEC) 3601 4th Street Lubbock, Texas 79430
Gayle Ayers, D.O.
Geriatric Psychiatrist, Associate Professor, Psychiatry, TTUHSC SOM, GIA Memory Clinic Co-Medical Director, TTUHSC
Contact us to register for this event.
Contact us for more information on these events or to register. 806-743-7821
Fair seeks relics, antiques, & entries
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 treasures, bring them to the Women’s Building at the fairgrounds from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 16, and 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
The 2025 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. 19 through 27 at 105 E. Broadway.
Lubbock Antique & Collectors’ Club to meet Sept.
11
Lubbock Antique & Collectors’ Club will hold its September meeting and luncheon on Thursday, Sept. 11.
The meeting starts at 11:30 a.m., followed by the luncheon and program.
Phyllis Underwood will present her Wizard of Oz Collection at the Lubbock Women’s Club, 2020 Broadway.
The cost is $20. Reservations may be made by emailing Mary Valentini at valentinig@prodigy.net.
Texas Tech Football 2025
Listed by: Date, School, Mascot, Location of Game
Sept. 6 Kent State - Golden Flashes, Lubbock
Sept. 13 Oregon State - Beavers, Lubbock
Sept. 20 at Utah - Utes, Salt Lake City, Utah
Sept. 27 OFF
Oct. 4 at Houston - Cougars, Houston
Oct. 11 Kansas - Jayhawks, Lubbock
Oct. 18 at Arizona State - Sun Devils, Tempe, AZ
Oct. 25 Oklahoma State - Cowboys, Lubbock
Nov. 1 at Kansas State - Wildcats, Manhattan, KS
Nov. 8 BYU - Cougars, Lubbock
Nov. 15 UCF - Knights, Lubbock Nov. 22 OFF Nov. 29 at West Virginia Mountaineers, Morgantown, W.V.
I don’t know why men go to bars to meet women. Go to Target. The female to male ratio is 10 to 1, and they’re already looking for things they don’t need.
When a kid says “Daddy, I want mommy” that’s the kid version of “I’d like to speak to your supervisor.”
Just once, I want a username and password prompt to respond, “CLOSE ENOUGH.”
50th year celebration of Lubbock Christian Women, Sept. 9
Join the celebration of the 50th year of Lubbock Christian Women’s group in Lubbock. Enjoy birthday cake, lunch, special guests, and Linda Drumgoole from Longview, Texas, as she shares her “Love of Music” and personal story.
The celebration is set for 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at Hillcrest Country Club, 4011 N. Boston.
Cost for the buffet lunch, program, and door prizes is $23.
Make reservations with Sharen at 806-392-0264 or email LubbockCWC@gmail.com
Deadline for reservations is Sept. 5. To cancel, text or call Annie at 432-788-4335 by noon Sept 5.
New Neighbors Club meeting set for Sept. 12
The New Neighbors Club of Lubbock will kick off its 48th year with a membership luncheon on Sept. 12 at the Lubbock Women’s Club, 2020 Broadway at 10:30 a.m.
The social club aims to bring people together through activities, games, and more. Both new and established neighbors are welcome.
A representative from the City of Lubbock will speak on “Cell Phone and Internet Cyber Security.”
Reservations must be made by Sept. 9. Guests are welcome to attend. Luncheon cost is $20. Contact our President Mary Welch at 254-214-2170 or email newneighborslubbock@gmail.com for reservations.
Dues are only $40 for the year. Games are available after the luncheon.
It is September and kiddos are back in school. New guidelines on electronics in the classroom are intended to help reduce distractions. We could all use this. How often do you meet with friends and family only to find everyone’s face buried in a phone? Too often! Enjoy each other while you can, because there will come a time when you cannot.
With the start of the school year, the sports calendar is already in full swing including football, soccer, volleyball and other activities.
Time to get out and experience the excitement of cheering on your team. It is fun for everyone, and your grandkids will love it, too.
Health Update
It is time to schedule the annual flu shot, as well as RSV and/or shingles vaccinations. Check and see if you are up to date. Other vaccines may also be recommended based on your individual health needs.
Discuss with your physician to determine what is best for your circumstance. It is better to be prepared than to be too late.
September Events
• The Moonlight Musicals in Mackenzie Park began more than 20 years ago. It provides an outdoor amphitheater that brings musicals to families of the South Plains. A variety of offerings will be conducted through September and mid-October. You can bring in your own food and beverages as well as lawn chairs.
• Sept. 7th is the Buddy Holly Birthday Bash. The Buddy Holly Center is located at 1801 Crickets Ave. It will be open from 10 a.m.
TEXAS TECH HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER Garrison Institute on Aging
until 5 p.m. Activities are hosted for all ages and include tours, screenings of The Real Buddy Holly Story, family-friendly kid’s activities, and live performance by Dustin Garrett’s Electric Mambo. The event is free on that date.
• The Cactus Theatre, The Buddy Holly Hall, Cooks Garage, and other venues will have a wide variety of entertainment. Go to the Visit Lubbock website for details on each.
• South Plains Fair will run from Sept. 19-27. The fair is known as the second largest fair in Texas. You can park and enter for free before 1 p.m. Food vendors are open for lunch and a great place to get ”fried everything.”
Entry prices (after 1 p.m.) are adults-$10, veterans-$5 on Sept. 22 , seniors (60+ years) $5 on Sept 23, and other specials. Parking after 1 p.m. is $5. The children’s petting barnyard, exhibit hall, commercial vendors, and outdoor entertainment will all be open. A clear bag policy is in effect. Go to southplainsfair.com for information.
• The Care Partner Academy will host “Dementia & Driving: An Important Conversation” on Tuesday (new date), Sept. 9 from noon to 1 p.m.
The session is free and open to the public and is held at 6630 S. Quaker, Ste. E. Parking is available next to the building.
• The Healthy Aging Lecture Series returns on Sept. 24 at 3 p.m. at Carillon Windsong Building (1717 Norfolk Ave.). Ronica Farrar, Program Manager for Texas Panhandle Poison Center at TTUHSC will discuss the bi-annual Medica-
By
tion Cleanout to be held Oct. 4 at the TTUHSC Physicians Pavilion.
• UMC Fall Prevention Health Fair will be hosted at the UMC Activity Center at 7105 Kewanee Ave. from 9 to 11 a.m. Sept. 27. This event is free and will provide information on balance and fall prevention.
This is particularly important as we age due to the increase in falls. There will be vendors, demonstrations, and information on services provided at the activity center.
Special thanks
Special thanks to all who attended the annual Movie Event and contributed to our “Back to the School” Supply Drive. Attendees enjoyed great entertainment, food, and fellowship. The donated items are being distributed to rural schools in the area. I cannot say enough…thank you…our volunteers are priceless!
September is full of happenings, including Healthy Aging Month and Happy Cat Month.
Dates to celebrate:
• Sept. 1 is Labor Day and I hope all get a chance to take a short break.
• Sept. 7 is Grandparents Day. Honor your grandparents today and every day.
• Sept. 11 is Patriot Day to honor and remember those who died in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
• Sept.17 is Constitution Day. It is hard to image how forward thinking the originators who constructed our U.S. Constitution were.
• Sept. 19 is Talk Like a Pirate Day. Rrrrrrr maty.
• Sept. 21 is International Peace
Day. With constant unrest across the globe, I hope this day can be celebrated by all.
It is also Earth, Wind and Fire Day (song released in 1978).
• Sept. 22 is Autumnal Equinox for 2025. On this date, there are approximately equal hours of daylight and darkness.
• Sept. 21 is National Coffee Day. Isn’t that every day?
Matching needs & talents
RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) assists organizations to match their needs with the talents of our senior population. Some services can be done at home or in a group. Some focus areas are Lubbock Meals on Wheels, South Plains Food Bank, Friends of the Library, Exodus Prison Ministries, Hospitals, Hospices, Veterans Clinic, and Comfort Corps.
We have a wide range of organizations that can use your time and talents. If you are looking for an activity that will provide services to those in need in the communitycontact our office at 806-743-7787 or rsvp@ttuhsc.edu.
We can provide you with a list of locations that would welcome your help. If you are already volunteering, we would encourage you to engage with us so that your contributions can add to the impact that your service has on our community and beyond.
September Jokes
What month does every tree dread?
• Sept-timberrrrr. What did the tree say to Autumn?
‘Goodies’ from the stores & a recipe
Dear Folks,
I am going to list some items I have discovered from the stores. Some I have found at United, and others at Market Street. The items I have listed will have a “U” or “MS” to show where I found them. We shop at MS at Indiana and 50th Street, and the U store found at Boston and 82nd Street location.
All items listed are DELICIOUS! At the end of this column, I’ll share one of my “dump” recipes using some of the items listed.
1. BOAR’S HEAD sauerkraut found in the refrigeration area — MS
2. HOLMES SMOKEHOUSE sliced pecan smoked sausage — 12 oz. Containers — found in refrigeration case with “prepared meats” — MS
3. SIGNATURE or MOTTS brands come in 6 packs of ½ cup applesauce servings sweetened or unsweetened — your choice — MS
4. In season now, Honey Crisp apples — FABULOUS! — MS
5. RAYMUNDO’S Carmel Flan comes in a 6-pack of ½ cup size. OUTSTANDING! — U
6. Queso Traditional ‘IYO’ Quiero — This is the best I have found because of its pouring quality, hot or cold. It can be used over steamed vegetables, too. U
7. SIGNATURE brand
of classic potato salad. I always buy the 48-oz size. It also offers smaller sizes. It tastes like homemade, so why bother!? I do add chopped celery and chopped red onions to suit my taste. — U
Now for my recipe as promised at the beginning of this column:
Instructions
Use either an oven container with lid or use your crockpot and follow directions. If using an oven container, set oven at 350 degrees, and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
First, gently rinse with tap water, 1 pouch of Boar’s Head sauerkraut, then “dump” into container. Next, add one 12-oz container of Holmes sausage.
Then, add 2-1/2 cups of applesauce, your choice of sweetened or unsweetened. Last, chop a peeled and cored Honey Crisp apple. Stir all contents in the proper size container and begin to cook either in your oven or crock pot.
ENJOY A FANTASTIC DINNER!
PS: Be sure to have the Flan for your dessert. Until next time, Cathy
Walk of Fame inductees
The Civic Lubbock, Inc. Board will induct four into the West Texas Walk of Fame for 2025. Honorees are Flatland Cavalry, Hector Galán, James W. Johnson and Jerry Jordan.
The ceremony is set for 7 p.m. Oct. 9, in the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center Theatre, 1501 Mac Davis Lane.
Country and Americana band, Flatland Cavalry, formed in Lubbock, in 2012 with Cleto Cordero and Jason Albers. The band’s numbers grew with the addition of Jonathan Saenz, Reid Dillon, Wesley Hall, and Adam Gallegos.
Hector Galán, an independent documentary filmmaker from San Angelo, Texas, is one of the most prolific and passionate working in his field today.
Visual Artist James W Johnson was born in suburban upstate New York in 1954.
Visual Artist Jerry Jordan was born in Lubbock in May of 1944 and was raised on a farm between Meadow and Ropesville.
Social Security marks its 90th year of supporting older adults, people with disabilities, and families.
It is the most important anti-poverty program the nation has ever created.
More than 70 million Americans receive Social Security benefits—many of whom would not survive without it.
Social Security is a trusted program that represents a promise made to all people living in America that they would be able to pay into the
system throughout their work lives and receive benefits to help pay rent, buy food, and meet basic needs when they can no longer work.
The fact sheet ‘Social Security is Vital to Americans Nationwide’ is available online (see link above) for the facts about Social Security.
For more information on the history of Social Security and the ways in which it’s been changed, expanded, and improved over the years, watch “Social Security: 90 Years Strong,”
(see link above). It is a new documentary in honor of Social Security’s 90th anniversary created by The National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare.
As Justice in Aging’s Managing Director of Economic Security, Tracey Gronniger, said in the film: “It’s really incredible that we’ve had Social Security for 90 years, and it’s something I’m really proud of and proud that our country has.”
Before Social Security, older adults without family to care for them had to live in actual poorhouses. We’re not going back.”
Justice in Aging will never stop fighting for the future of Social Security and the future we all deserve.
Source - Justice in Aging info@justiceinaging.org
Covenant Medical Center named Best Regional Hospital
U.S. News & World Report has released the 20252026 Best Hospital Rankings and again named Covenant Medical Center (CMC) the Best Regional Hospital in the Northwestern Texas Region.
The annual Best Hospitals rankings and ratings, now in their 36th year, are designed to assist patients and their families in making informed decisions about where to receive quality care for challenging health conditions or elective procedures.
This year Covenant Medical Center was recognized for eight high performing procedure and condition areas:
Congestive heart failure
Colon cancer surgery
Heart arrhythmia
Hip fracture
Kidney failure
Pneumonia
Leukemia/lymphoma/myeloma
Prostate cancer surgery
Covenant Health Grace
Surgical Hospital was also recognized as high performing for knee replacement.
For the 2025-2026 rankings and ratings, U.S. News evaluated more than 5,000 hospitals across 15 specialties and 21 procedures and conditions.
U.S. News evaluated each hospital’s performance using a variety of measures such as survival rates, complication rates, patient experience and level of nursing care.
The Best Hospitals methodology factors in data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, American Hospital Association, professional organizations and medical specialists.
Lubbock,Texas 806-744-2220
is published monthly by Word Publications.
The dying wish of an elderly lady was that she wanted a glass of milk and some cookies. So her son put a shot of whiskey in the milk to help her relax. She ate the cookies and drank the milk. Her son asked her if she had any other final request. Yes, she did – don’t sell that cow.
Submitting information: News items, letters to the editor, photographs, and other items may be submitted for publication.
Advertising: Advertising rates are available by calling 744-2220 or emailing maedwards@ wordpub.com.
GOLDEN GAZETTE
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey
“A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” is an offbeat romance (with a heavy emphasis on “offbeat”) about two people who are whisked away from everyday reality and embark on an unplanned—and life-changing— wandering.
The feature stars
Margo Robbie, fresh from “Barbie,” the $1.4 billion blockbuster hit from 2022 that earned eight Oscar nominations.
buried deep within time itself.
As they travel across wondrous landscapes and encounter mysterious forces, the pair must confront their fears and embrace the unknown.
Every choice they make carries
Movie Preview
By Randal C. Hill
weight, and every step they take brings them closer to a truth that neither had expected.
Repairing homes & restoring hope
The Backyard Mission Dream Team is working hard to “love their neighbor.” Mission work can get pretty messy, but these folks jump in and do what needs to be done. It is unbelievable what people live with because they do not have the funds to make repairs.
For 2025, folks are invited to join the 100 @ $100 team. Could you be one of the 100 who gives $100/month?
They have already been able to say “yes” to more repairs because of the 100 @ $100 donors.
Backyard Mission is dedicated to providing free home repairs to those in need, utilizing volunteer labor and donated funds to purchase materials.
For more information or to sign on, call 806-300-0184, email lfoster@ backyardmission.org, or go online to www.backyardmission.org.
Colin Farrell, her costar, appeared recently in “The Penguin,” the hit HBO series in which he transforms into Gotham’s notorious wrongdoer.
“A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” was directed by Kogonada, the Seoul-born and America-raised creative guide behind “Columbus” (2017) and “After Yang” (2021).
He was more than ready for this project.
“I was looking for something a little bit larger and lighter…I’m a big fan of comedy and romance, but I wanted it in a kind of original content.”
The script was written by Seth Reiss (“The Menu”), and Kogonada was blown away when it landed on his desk for consideration.
As the story unfolds, two strangers, unlike in every way, are drawn together by influences beyond their understanding.
Sarah, a free-spirited artist who’s fleeing a torturous past, meets David, a reserved history buff who’s quietly searching for life’s meaning.
The couple eventually find themselves on an extraordinary trek — one that will challenge their beliefs, test their souls, and unlock secrets
Kogonada said this film is really about acknowledging one’s past in order to find the possibility of love in the present.
“What do you have to reckon with in order to truly connect with other people?” he asks.
“I think as you get older, you realize your past has everything to do with how you understand love in the present. We are all longing for connection and understanding. It’s always something that we are searching for.”
Kevin Kline, Phoebe WallerBridge and Lily Rabe fill out the solid supporting cast that guides audiences on this enchanting pilgrimage.
Robbie maintains, “If audiences feel even a tiny slice of how magical it felt making this movie, they’ll have the most incredible experience in the theater. Making this movie was truly one of the most magical experiences of my life.”
Heartfelt, mesmerizing and emotionally lush, “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” is an unforgettable fable of love, destiny, and the taking advantage of second chances.
It opens nationwide Sept. 19.
The future of Social Security: What you need to know today
Retirement & Longevity
How Social Security’s anticipated shortfall may impact you down the road
Social Security’s outlook continues to raise concerns. But while you may hear the program is in danger of becoming insolvent, that isn’t the case.
The problem isn’t insolvency – it’s a challenge of changing demographics. Understanding those changes,
and what solutions are on the table, is key for anyone planning for retirement.
Social Security benefits are funded by payroll taxes collected from today’s workers.
It’s a pay-as-you-go system; if workers are paying payroll taxes, Social Security benefits will be paid.
For decades, the Social Security system collected more in payroll taxes and other income than the benefits it paid out, creating a reserve.
In 2021, when the program’s costs began exceeding its revenue, it started drawing from this reserve.
When those reserves are depleted – expected in about 10 years – benefits will be reduced by an estimated 17%.
If Congress takes no advance action, the fund is expected to be able to pay 83% of current benefits in 2035, declining to 73% in 2098.
Today’s baby boomers have a greater life expectancy than those in earlier generations.
At the same time, younger generations are getting smaller, meaning fewer workers are paying into Social Security.
And a smaller percentage of Americans’ income is subject to the payroll taxes funding Social Security because the earnings of the highestpaid workers have grown faster than those of the average worker.
Sixty-seven million Americans receive Social Security payments each month – it’s the main source of income for people 65 and older –making its future important.
To patch the shortfall, Congress has some options.
Option 1: Increase tax revenue
The most obvious way to increase Social Security funding is raising payroll taxes.
Employers and employees currently each pay 6.2% for social security. Increasing to 15.75% shared between employes and employees could ensure solvency for 75 years, but that may be unaffordable for lower-income workers.
Another option is adding new tax sources. The American Academy of Actuaries has suggested taxing in-
vestment income or increasing estate and gift taxes – an idea likely to face resistance.
Additionally, the Social Security tax rate applies to annual wages up to $176,100.
Removing that cap and taxing all earned income could eliminate 78% of the shortfall.
Traditionally, earners above $176,100 are subject to a wage cap to prevent higher taxation that may not justify the benefits.
Social Security’s political support comes from the idea that you can receive back a benefit you have paid into; removing the cap could undermine that support.
Option 2: Reduce benefits for high earners
Another idea is to reduce future benefits for high earners not yet collecting Social Security, based on the assumption they’ll rely on it less.
But this alone wouldn’t curb Social Security expenditures enough to address the problem.
Option 3: Raise the retirement age
Today the full retirement age (FRA) is 66 and two months for those born in 1955, gradually increasing to 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later.
Some lawmakers propose raising the FRA to 70 to reflect today’s longer life expectancy.
This alone could eliminate nearly a third of the Social Security trust fund’s 75-year deficit.
However, working to an older age could be especially challenging for low-income Americans and those in
Hub City BBQ Cook-Off
The Lubbock Chamber of Commerce Hub City BBQ Cookoff will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 2 at the South Plains Fairgrounds, 105 E. Broadway.
Tickets are $50, and for ages 6-10, $20.
The cookoff features more than 100 cooking teams representing Chamber member businesses.
Teams compete in five cookoff categories: bloody mary, pork ribs, brisket, dessert, and Cook’s Choice.
First through fifth place winners are announced in each category at the conclusion of the competition.
After judging, ticket holders are invited to head down to the fairgrounds to sample barbeque, listen to live music, and interact with some of Lubbock’s local businesses.
All cooking teams must be members of the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce.
For questions or to enter the competition, contact Mia Contreras at mia.contreras@lubbockbiz.org or call 806761-7000.
Social Security
(Continued from Page 8)
physically demanding jobs.
No easy answers
Odds are a solution would comprise some combination of these actions – higher taxes for some, lower benefits for some, more years on the job for some. And any proposal is likely to face opposition. The sooner policymakers act, the more options they will have, and the more time pre-retirement Americans will have to prepare for changes.
Zach Holtzman Financial Advisor
Blast To The Past!
By Randal C. Hill
The Gift of Blab
In the late 1940s, Ron Popeil began pitching his inventor father’s kitchen gadget at a downtown Chicago flea market.
Every weekend, Ron would arrive early and prepare mounds of potatoes, onions, cabbages and carrots.
To the crowds that gathered, he enthusiastically told how his manually operated gizmo could rapidly and easily slice, dice and chop the various vegetables that Popeil had at hand.
He worked from 6 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon and often took in as much as $500 a day.
He was 13 years old.
After his high school years, he worked the area full-time, securing a spot in the busy downtown Woolworth’s and often earning as much as the store’s manager.
Always good to himself, Ron wore the finest clothes when off the job, dined at the best restaurants, and sported a flashy Rolex on his wrist.
Impossibly handsome, he was blessed with thick dark hair, blue-green eyes and a mouth that was always upturned in a warm and welcoming smile.
But Popeil’s presentations were strictly about the
Golden Gazette Crossword Puzzle
ACROSS
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10. Edge
13. Hangsuspended
simple, inexpensive and indispensable manual food processor he was demonstrating.
Every word of his wellhoned promotion counted.
Ron maintained that his device had to be explained to customers three or four times, with a different twist each time.
To him, the demonstrator needed to show the customer exactly how the widget worked, how it was a boon to one’s kitchen routine, and that, as revolutionary as it was, it was amazingly easy to operate.
The most important part of the sales talk was the “turn.”
That’s when Popeil seamlessly switched from explainer to businessman. Those in the crowd before him who surged forward opened their wallets, handed him their money, and left with their item.
To those who hesitated, Ron would often say something like, “Wait! There’s something else I want to show you.”
With slight variations, the pitch would begin anew, and Popeil would always be able to pocket a few more dollars.
(See The Gift, Page 13)
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Finding peace on our own with difficult situations
When we have issues, if we are interested in solving them, we look for someone who can help us with our next step.
How do I handle this problem?
How do I get physically better?
Maybe you go to a professional and try their ideas of what you should do. But alas, you are not getting better.
You might need to see someone else. You do not want to give up and feel you are doomed to have your problem.
Some people take medications. I told my 96-year old friend who was complaining of hip pain, “There was a study done that said when an older person comes up with a
new complaint, the first thing to consider is: Is it a reaction to a medication.”
I left her house, and she went straight to the insert from her relatively new medication to read the side effects.
Later she told me, “That was the culprit.”
It was a cholesterol lowering drug the doctor had put her on, and a side effect was hip pain. She had complained that she could hardly get out of bed.
She did not have particularly high cholesterol but was put on the medication because she had a TIA (ministroke).
She got off the medication and in three days her hips returned to the hips she had before taking the cholesterollowering drug.
When something is wrong with us, sometimes we can learn about our problem by on our own.
One of the most common ways is the internet. You can look for all kinds of information. I’m sure everyone reading this has learned at least a few things from looking them up on the internet.
Even if you are just trying to determine what kind of doctor you need, it can be helpful.
Your answers may not always be correct. But many times, they are. It is worth a
information, and it could be useful in the future.
But what if it is something more on an emotional level that you need help with?
You love your sister, but you don’t really like to go visit her.
little investigation.
And you will learn information that you weren’t looking for at the same that you may use in the future.
I know many doctors do not like their patients looking up their own conditions.
I believe that the more information we have, the better decisions we can make about our health. In the end, you will be more confident that what you decide is for your best interest.
There is so much to learn.
If you don’t need the information for your current issue, you still have the
Maybe you need help understanding what your hang up is about saying, “I’m not coming over this weekend.”
Are you afraid of her reaction to your decision?
Or, perhaps it is about keeping your grandkids.
You want to see them more often than your daughter or daughter-in-law wants to make that happen.
Or perhaps, you want to make your own decision about whether to have a medical procedure or not, but perhaps your spouse plus your kids want to tell you
(See Finding peace, Page 15)
Oktoberfest set for Oct. 3
The 8th Annual Oktoberfest is set for 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 3 at the TTU Frazier Alumni Pavilion, 2680 Drive of Champions.
The Rotary Club of Metropolitan Lubbock is host for the event. The fundraiser benefits Lubbock Meals on Wheels and other non-profits supported by the club.
Admission is $50 per person. The evening includes German food, an open bar with beer & wine, Westwinds Brass Band of Lubbock, a silent auction, a beer stein-lifting contest, and more.
Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Tickets are available at Lubbock Meals on Wheels, 2304 34th St., Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or online at https://hartsfield.wufoo. com/forms/wbidy180pavbaf/.
Online ticket sales end at noon, Oct. 1.
Seating is limited so get tickets early. For specific questions, call 817-721-9729.
Ingredients
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup potato, diced
• ¼ cup onion, diced
• 1 cup zucchini, diced
• 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
• 1 cup tomatoes, diced
Vegetable Frittata
Instructions
• 1 cup fresh spinach, coarsely chopped
• 2 tablespoons diced jalapenos
• 6 eggs, slightly beaten
• 2 cups low-fat Swiss cheese shreds
• ¼ cup 1% milk
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
1. In large oven-proof skillet, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Sauté potato, onion, zucchini and mushrooms for 5 minutes, stirring often. Add tomatoes, spinach and diced jalapenos and cook an additional 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
2. In medium bowl, whisk together eggs, cheese, milk and seasonings. Pour egg mixture over vegetables in skillet. Use fork to help incorporate egg mixture into
vegetable mixture.
Quality End of Life Care
3. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until frittata is set in center.
I don’t wanna adult any more. Don’t even want to human. I wanna goat – jump around randomly; eat what I want; and head butt anyone who annoys me.
Behind every strong independent woman there is a cat that follows her to the bathroom.
Send a gift subscription to someone specialsomeone you know would enjoy the Golden Gazette each month. Sent near the 1st of each month for only $30 for the year or $60 for 2 years. Complete the form below and mail to the Golden Gazette, or call 806-744-2220.
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SpA ni S h l A nguA ge cl ASS e S
College professor offers private Spanish language classes in the Lubbock Area. Face to face and Zoom. All levels. Phone 806-642-3320. 4,5,6/25
pA nh A n D le SO u T h pl A in S FA i R S ee KS R elic S & A n T i Q ue S
The Relics and Antiques Division is seeking entries for the 2025 Fair. To enter your items, bring them to the Women’s Building from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 16 and 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Sept. 17. For more information, call Belle, 806-744-2482 or go to www.southplainsfair. com. The 2025 General Premium Book is online. 9/25
Seni OR hA n Dy M A n
Exclusively for seniors. Will work around your schedule. It’s a free etimate. Trustworthy, honest. Let me know what needs repairing. Call James 806-777-6454. No job too small. Have a nice day! 6/25
Seni OR Buil D e R & hA n Dy MA n
Senior builder and handyman of all trades. 50 years experience and guarantees all work from roof to foundation. Repair, put togethers, painting, tile, cabinetry of all kinds, some furniture, small remodeling, picture frames, bookshelves, small things for churches. Call Les at 806-438-4787 References. 12/24
The Gift of Blab
(Continued from Page 10)
In the early 1950s, television offered a whole new arena for Ron Popeil. He could now reach thousands — maybe hundreds of thousands — of potential customers, and the Veg-OMatic (and later, the similar Chop-O-Matic) were ideal gadgets to offer on TV.
In 1964, Ron and a friend—both still in their 20s — started a company called Ronco.
With television ads, the camera could focus exclusively on the gizmo and thus compel viewers to pay attention to the product being offered.
In creating inexpensive
30-minute Ronco TV ads to run late at night, Popeil invented what we now call the infomercial.
Over the decades, the Ronco catalog grew and grew. The 1970s alone brought the Pocket Fisherman, the Miracle Broom, and the Inside the Egg Shell Scrambler.
Later would come such gadgets as the Smokeless Ashtray and the Showtime Rotisserie and BBQ Oven.
In 2005, Ron sold Ronco for $55 million—around $90 million in today’s cash. Not bad for a man who could make people smile as they opened their wallets to him.
That ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’
Kismet. Another word for fate or destiny. If we’re lucky, kismet, should it enter our life, will be seen as something positive.
As one of 12 kids, Glen Campbell was born in 1936 on an Arkansas farm with no electricity.
When he was 4, one of his uncles gave him a $5 Sears guitar and taught him how to play it.
Campbell took to the instrument easily and proved to be a most passionate prodigy.
At 14, he left school and moved with some of his brothers to Houston, where they found work installing insulation.
But Glen kept on playing — at churches, at bars, on local radio outlets.
In 1960, he moved to California and eventually became a top Hollywood session guitarist and vocalist, as the good-looking Campbell also possessed a warm-ashoney singing voice.
In the mid-1960s, he briefly toured as a Brian Wilson replacement after the Beach Boy leader battled drug problems.
In time, Glen became a Capitol Records hitmaker and a TV celebrity with his “The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour.” He even landed a role in the John Wayne movie “True Grit.”
But as the years rolled on, Campbell gradually lost his luster. His TV show was axed, his name slipped off radio-station playlists, and nobody came forth with more movie roles.
But Glen, who was still in his 30s by the mid-1970s, felt he still had much left to offer the world of entertainment.
One day in 1974, while driving in Los Angeles, he
1970s 1970s
song if it ever became a hit cover disc under his own name.
He bought a cassette of Weiss’s album “Black and White Suite” and carried it with him during a threeweek Australian tour.
He claimed later that he listened to “Rhinestone Cowboy” so often that, by the time he returned to America, he could whistle the darned song backward.
By
(Continued from Page 4)
• Leaf me alone.
Why did the student bring a ladder to school?
• Because he was going to high school. What reads and lives in an apple?
• A bookworm
What did the detective in the Artic say to the suspect?
• Where were you on the night of September to March?
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. ~ Leo Buscaglia
The Garrison Institute on Aging
tuned into a country-music station and first heard the song that would change his dwindling career.
“Rhinestone Cowboy” had been done by a New York singer/songwriter named Larry Weiss, who was striving for stardom with the original tune that he hoped would put his own name in lights.
While nothing in Weiss’s song was anything that Glen could relate to — he had never been a struggling New York country hopeful — Campbell loved the song’s flow and the determination that dominated the narrative.
To Glen, “Rhinestone Cowboy” had the potential to herald a comeback, maybe even become his signature
Once home, Glen charged into the office of Capitol Records executive Al Coury to tell him of the “discovery” he had made.
But before Campbell could share Weiss creation’s creation with Coury, Al told the artist that he first wanted him to hear a tune that he felt had great potential for the one-time superstar.
It was called “Rhinestone Cowboy.”
Kismet?
Glen’s lavish version of “Rhinestone Cowboy” rocketed to #1 (his first-ever Hot 100 chart-topper) on both the pop and country Billboard lists.
Had that been random luck? Or maybe—maybe something else.
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 and brain health in the aging populations through translational research, innovative educational initiatives, and community engagement programs. The Garrison Institute on Aging (GIA) advances knowledge about aging and diseases such as Alzheimer’s, other forms of dementia, mental health conditions, and brain disorders.
Through our education programs, we aim to inform and empower the community, while our outreach efforts and newly established comprehensive memory clinic are designed to support patients and their care partners. These services help enhance quality of life, increase access to healthcare, and improve both psychological and physical well-being.
If you have questions related to health, dementia, aging, chronic disease, or mental health, we invite you to reach out – we are here to connect you with the right resources and support. You can contact the Garrison Institute on Aging at 806-743-7821 or email us at GIA@ttuhsc.edu.
Getting old is weird because you’re still that same enthusiastic kid trapped in an antique body.
The day they handed out patience, I left because it was taking too long.
I think my wife has started to show the first signs of dementia. She said she can’t remember what she ever saw in me.
Garrison Institute on Aging TEXAS TECH HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER
U.S. Constitution Day
Constitution Day commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution by 39 men on Sept. 17, 1787, recognizing all who are born in the U.S. or by naturalization, have become citizens.
Of the 39 signers, two would become presidents - George Washington and James Madison - and the oldest signer was Benjamin Franklin at 81.
The Constitution is a foundational document that established the framework for the American government, guarantees fundamental rights for citizens, and serves as the supreme law of the land.
On Sept. 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention met for the last time to sign the document they had created.
The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
(Spelling and capitalization are from the original document.)
Finding peace amid difficulties
(Continued from Page 11)
what they think you should do. And the question is, what do I do. It gets confusing and complicated.
Most of us have the intention to please others. That is nice if it is also in accordance with what we want. And there is the conundrum.
We can’t always please everyone can we?
You could go to a counselor and work with one person on the issues you have.
Personal relationships can be so tricky.
Sometimes you can consult a book and see how you resonate with it.
I’d like to share a book I recently read. It was fun to read, easy to
read, and yet it is a deep concept. It went straight to the heart of most issues. The book is “Let Them” by Mel Robbins.
Mel Robbins’ book is such a good explanation of how people can make decisions of what to do when there is a lot of noise from others wanting you to do things their way.
Most people want to please others, even at their own expense.
In the end, we are responsible for our own experience. This book helped me through an issue I’ve been dealing with. It just might be what you need, too.
My experience is that by reading the book, I found a great deal of peace with a difficult situation.
It’s time to: Feed Seniors Now
(Continued from Page 1)
Changing needs
As seniors age and change, so do their nutritional needs.
Making sure those needs are met makes a real difference in their quality of life.
Caregivers or family members should be aware of the signs and symptoms of hunger or malnutrition in older adults, which include the following:
• Physical problems –Look for such things as poor wound healing, easy bruising, and dental difficulties.
• Weight loss – Check with either a home scale or at a doctor’s office for weight loss.
• Eating habits – Ask them to tell you where and when they eat, but don’t rely on self-reports alone. Caregivers often spend mealtimes with seniors at home, and they may have a better idea of normal eating habits. Family members should visit during mealtimes. If a senior lives alone, know who is buying food.
• Medication (regularity and food interaction) –Know what an older loved one takes and whether it can affect appetite and digestion. Use resources available (including your pharmacist) to check for drug-nutrient interactions or possible side effects of prescribed medications.
If there are medical questions regarding nutrition, medication, and health, Comfort Keepers suggests that seniors, family members, and other caregivers speak with doctors to help identify chronic malnutrition or other problems.
Volunteers will be at 5 area Walmart’s on Saturday, Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. accepting donations.
For more information, call Lisa Carson at 806-6877800 or contact Terra Gunter at terra@lubbockmow.org or Mary Gerlach at mary@lubbockmow.org or call 806-792-7971
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Ronica Farrar, Program Manager TPPC, TTUHSC
Buddy’s 89th Birthday Bash
A celebration of Buddy Holly’s 89th birthday is set for Sept. 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Buddy Holly Center, 1801 Crickets Ave.
Admission is free all day.
It’s a free, fun-filled day with activities for all ages.
The day is a celebration of the birth of Lubbock’s own rock ‘n’ roll legend.
The J.I. Allison House will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A guided Gallery Tour is at 1:30 p.m.
A special performance by Dustin Garrett’s Electric Mambo will be from 2 to 4 p.m.
Children’s activities are schedule all day. Light refreshments will be available in the afternoon.
Tuesday, September 9, 2025 Barbara Singer, B.S., GIA Coordinator & Community Educator
3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Carillon Senior Living Windsong Independent Living Facility 4002 16th Street Lubbock, Texas 79416 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. TTUHSC Garrison Institute on Aging 6630 Quaker Ave., Suite E Lubbock, Texas 79413
