It’s ba-aaack

Mansfeld’s Pickle Parade & Palooza will return to the scene on March 18-19

After a pandemic-induced hiatus, Mansfeld’s popular Pickle Parade & Palooza will return on March 18-19. The 11th celebration of the world’s only St. Paddy’s pickle parade is part of a host of free family friendly fare that will place Mansfeld front and center for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Texas.

Set for March 19, the parade is a holiday ritual like no other. Bands, foats, community leaders, and folks intent on sharing St. Paddy’s Day revelry will march, roll, race and amble through the streets of Historic Downtown Mansfeld, as thousands of residents and visitors to the city cheer them on.

But that’s just the main event.

In addition, the festival will feature a pet parade, a baby parade, the Pickle playground, beer keg races, a cornhole tournament, fun runs, food and retail vendors, and an appearance by the legendary Pickle Queens. This year, the event will also have the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, who will pose for pictures and lend vocal support to many of the proceedings.

And then there’s music, lots of music. Texas Country artist Cody Wayne will perform on Friday night,

highlighting a musical slate that touches practically every genre and taste. This unique, Mansfeld-rifc party started with a parade in 2012. The stars of the show, the Pickle Queens, ride the fnal foats in the parade, but they’re frst to the party, More St. Patrick’s Day revelry and frst in parade-goers’ hearts. They shine in their J. GILLIGAN’S BAR & GRILL (400 E. Abram bright red wigs, green thrift-store prom gowns St.) will host its annual St. Patrick’s Day and their blingy tiaras. The Celebration on March 17, starting with Queens and their Pickle outdoor activities at 4 p.m. The event will Posse spend the year feature live music by Morning People, Don planning this event, and Pendley and Live Chaos. Plus, there’s the they seem to do it better trademark J. Gilligan’s St. Patrick’s Day cuisine, every year – or, in this case, including green beer and Irish nachos. Visit every second year. the Jameson Bar and enjoy giveaways and Entry to the festivities entertainment by a bagpipe player. There’s a and parking is free. Shuttles are available. $5 cover charge. jgilligans.com At press time, schedule specifcs were still being formulated, so those interested in attending are encouraged to frequently visit the parade and palooza website, pickleparade.org.

Arlington Charities’ Help & Hope Event will take place on April 21 at the Bob Duncan Event Center

CIRCLE THE DATE: Arlington Charities’ Help & Hope event is slated for 6 p.m. on April 21 at the Bob Duncan Event Center on Center Street in Vandergriff Park. Ticket sales and money raised ensures that Arlington Charities’ mission to continue to provide supplemental groceries to Arlington residents in need are met.

There will be a VIP Happy Hour, followed by a sitdown cooking demonstration and tasting from popular restaurant owners Brandon Hurtado of Hurtado’s BBQ, Aziz and Elizabeth Kobty of Prince Lebanese Restaurant, and Gold Ribbons Confections’ Maurice Ahern. There will be an auction, as well. For information on sponsorships and tickets email penny@ arlingtoncharites.org.

The non-proft Arlington Charities, named the 2021 Outstanding Nonproft of the Year by the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce, helps to stabilize families, individuals, and the un-housed by assisting them in covering their most basic needs through food, clothing, hygiene items, utility assistance, holiday programs, nutrition and fnancial literacy classes, and other support services. Incorporated in 1979, AC is the largest provider of supplemental food assistance in Arlington.

In addition to serving those in need each day, AC seeks out underserved areas of the community to help combat hunger. To meet the unique needs of seniors and the mobility impaired, AC piloted a grocery delivery program in 2020 that has grew to more than 3,000 deliveries in 2021, ensuring that these seniors receive the nutritious foods they need without having to choose between prescriptions or food.

Though the pandemic has represented a unique challenge the past two years, Gayle Collier, Board President of Arlington Charities, says the organization has been buoyed by the community’s consistent and unwavering support to meet needs. “To sum up the pandemic for Arlington Charities, I’d say it’s been

challenging and awesome all at the same time,” Collier says. “Delivering food and support to a client-base that doubled in size was challenging and we did it! The support provided by our volunteers, staff, neighborhoods, faith-based organizations and businesses throughout Arlington came together; [they] counted their blessings and stepped up and helped those less fortunate … Awesome! Well done Arlington!” Partnerships are at the heart of Arlington Charities’ many altruistic endeavors. AC What Arlington Charities did in 2021 partnered with Tarrant County • 40,121 individual visits to the Drive Through Food Pantry College Southeast Campus to support a satellite pantry to help • 3,038 grocery deliveries were made alleviate hunger on campus. • 1,382 lunches were distributed to the During the pandemic, when the unhoused on-campus pantry was closed, • 5,442 individuals received holiday help a Monthly Mobile Market was • 3,848 received case management services established at the campus to • 38,625 individuals received assistance at provide another avenue of Monthly Mobile Markets assistance for students. • 13,514 total volunteer hours AC is also a partner of the • $61,656 in utility assistance provided Texas Health and Human • 1,762,492 pounds of food distributed Services Commission’s Community Partner Program, which identifes agency staff as Your Texas Benefts Navigators to assist clients in completing benefts paperwork at AC’s location. Partnering with Tarrant Area Food Bank, AC provides Community Mobile Markets three times per month – at St. Andrews UMC, Tarrant County College SE, and at its facility (811 Secretary Drive). Moving into 2022 AC continues to make strides. Collier says COVID-prompted programs are being refned to meet the changing needs of our community. Case management services have been tripled, and the grocery delivery program has expanded to include more participants and increased interaction to help combat senior isolation. On the horizon is a new online grocery ordering program where clients will be able to register, choose their food items, and set a pickup time/date. AC is also expanding its outreach and case management services, as well as reformatting nutrition and fnancial literacy education to meet its post-Covid environment. For more: arlingtoncharities.org.

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED AT WORK TODAY ...

Photo: cbssports

Dan Gilbert and I once interned together at a television station in Michigan. When you read the column below, you’ll discover just why Gilbert’s picture has been placed here.

When I started my career as a sportscaster in 1982 I was hoping to make it a few years before I had to go and fnd a “real job.” Here we are 40 years later, and I still pinch myself. The fact that I have made it four decades in a sometimes ruthless and unforgiving business is nothing short of a blessing.

Perhaps even more amazing, in 40 years I have only worked for three broadcast entities: WJRT-TV in Flint Michigan, KXASTV here in Fort Worth and Fox Sports SW, which became Bally Sports SW. The places this career has taken me and the stories I could tell are varied and fun. But my assignment from the great Yale Youngblood this month was, “some of the funny things that have happened.” So here goes, one from each entity (Will they be funny? You be the judge).

The year was 1988, and I had been toiling in Flint, Michigan for four years. I loved working in my home town. Still, after four years as the weekend sports anchor I was ready to move on. One day during the Saturday 6:00 news we welcomed a new female anchor named Lisa Tutman. It was her very frst weekend show, and she was very nervous. She was also very good; I knew she had a bright future. This was back when the sports guys got so much time that we had a John Rhadigan commercial in the middle. So in the frst half of my sportscast I heard Lisa struggling to suppress a cough. When the commercial hit I told her, “Lisa, don’t worry about coughing during my show. We are human beings, if you cough or sneeze I will acknowledge it, say ‘God Bless You’ and move on.”

When the show resumed Lisa began to cough again and imagine my surprise when she vomited on the set between her and me. When I fnished I said, “Lisa, I said it was OK to cough! I did not say anything about vomiting!”

She was, of course, embarrassed and determined she said, “I am going to fnish this show.” I said, “Lisa, all that’s left is the kicker, I will read that and say good night don’t worry, I got this.” But she was steadfast about fnishing; I said, “OK, then wipe off your chin cuz there is a little ... you know what there.”

I have so many funny stories from my 11 years at NBC5, but my favorite may be the time then-Rangers President George W. Bush gave me a tour of the new stadium that would eventually become The Ballpark in Arlington. He took me everywhere with the cameras rolling as we explored all of the nooks and crannies of this wonderful new palace. Our last stop was Greene’s Hill out in straightaway center feld. At the time there was no grass on the hill; it was all mud. I asked if I could do an on-camera close for the show while standing on the hill. The Rangers PR staff was so good they even provided hip waders so that I could walk into the mud, look at the camera, say something witty and charming and close the show.

It all went so well ... until I tried to walk back up the hill, and my foot slipped out of the boot. As I reached to replace my foot in the boot, I missed, and my sock and dress pants were covered in mud. Soon the future President of the United States came to my aid and tried to free me from being stuck in the mud. My one true regret is that I cannot fnd the video of that incident in the NBC 5 archives. I know it is there somewhere.

Fast forward to 2007. I am at Fox Sports SW and covering the NBA fnals between the Spurs and the Cleveland Cavaliers and bump into a guy that I once interned with in Detroit. I remembered his name was Dan, but I did not know how his career had gone since we last saw each other in 1982. I proudly start to tell him about all the things I have been doing: Spurs, Mavs, Rangers, Stars, Big 12.

He looks me straight in the eye and says, “When you beat me out for the part-time job at Channel 2 in Detroit, I realized that I was not cut out for TV.” He went on to say, “I realized that it was for big-personality guys like you. So I started a company called Rock Financial, then Quicken bought us, then we turned around and bought Quicken, then I bought the Cavaliers, and now I sign LeBron James’ paycheck.”

I wish you could have seen my face as he said all of this. I turned ghostly white and almost passed out. Dan the Intern was Dan Gilbert, the new owner of the Cavaliers. You might think that is a sad story more than funny, but here comes the funny: When I told my wife that whole story she deadpanned, “Darn, it looks like I married the wrong intern.”

So, there you go, one story from each entity. There are so many more where these came from. If you ever see me out and about just ask me – I love telling these stories.

KEEN CUISINE ...

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AMERICAN

Candlelite Inn • 1202 E. Division St. • 817-275-9613 • candleliteinnarlington.com Dino’s Subs • 2221 S. Collins St. • 817-274-1140 frieddaze • 5005 S. Cooper St., Suite 159 • 817-472-6666 • frieddaze.com No Frills Grill • 4914 Little Road • 817-478-1766 • 1500 Eastchase Pkwy., Suite 1200 • 817-274-5433 2851 Matlock Road, Suite 422, Mansfeld • 817-473-6699 • nofrillsgrill.com The Grease Monkey • 200 N. Mesquite St. • 817-665-5454 • greasemonkeyburgers.com J. Gilligan’s Bar & Grill • 400 E. Abram St. • 817-274-8561 • jgilligans.com

MEXICAN/TEX-MEX

Cartel Taco Bar • 506 E. Division St., Suite 150 • 817-200-6364 • carteltacobar.com El Arroyo • 5024 S. Cooper St. • 817-468-2557 • elarroyoarlington.com El Gabacho Tex-Mex Grill • 2408 W. Abram St. • 817-276-8160 • facebook.com/elgabachotexmex Fuzzy’s Taco Shop • 510 E. Abram St. • 817-265-8226 • 4201 W. Green Oaks Blvd. • 817-516-8226 1601 E. Debbie Lane, Mansfeld • 817-453-1682 • fuzzystacoshop.com La Isla Restaurant • 2201 E. Pioneer Pkwy. • 817-459-1498 • laislarestauranttx.com

ITALIAN/PIZZA

Café Sicilia • 7221 Matlock Road • 817-419-2800 • cafesicilia.com

BARBECUE

David’s Barbecue • 2224 W. Park Row Drive, Suite H • 817- 261-9998

INTERNATIONAL

Prince Lebanese Grill • 502 W. Randol Mill • 817-469-1811 • princelebanesegrill.com R'Haan Thai Cuisine • 2500 N.E. Green Oaks Blvd. • 817-795-9188 • facebook.com/rhaanthaicuisine

Restaurant506 Restaurant506

Candlelite Inn Candlelite Inn

El Gabacho El Gabacho

NOLAN RYAN AND HIS IMPACT ON ARLINGTON

Getting ready for the frst pitch of the new ballpark campaign in 1990. Behind my outstretched arm are Rangers team owners Tom Schieffer and George W. Bush.

If only by happenstance, we’ll mark the occasion of the 100th issue of this magazine with that of Nolan Ryan’s 75th birthday. The connection reveals itself when you look at our first cover in 2013 and see the Hall of Fame legend standing in front of The Ballpark in Arlington – a place he said was “a gem of all the ballparks.”

Everybody knows that Nolan is a celebrated player who holds a total of 51 Major League Baseball records. The connection with his milestone birthday seems like a good time to recall a few lesser-known things about his role in Arlington’s history.

He arrived here as a Texas Ranger in 1989 at the age of 42. He was under only a one-year contract because most 40+ year old baseball players are in the twilight of their careers. Team owners thought that it would be great for him to spend what might be his final year in baseball wearing his already famous No. 34 on a Rangers jersey. As it turned out, he would take the mound in Arlington for five consecutive seasons, setting records that will never be broken and bringing national attention to our town that it had not known before.

Just a year after he became a Ranger, we approached him about helping us meet the challenge of informing Arlington residents about the importance of building a new ballpark that would ensure the permanence of our status as a major league city.

The first thing we asked him to do was to throw out the ceremonial first pitch launching the campaign to win the approval of voters who were going to be asked to support the development of the partnership between the city and the ballclub.

Our plan was to announce the beginning of it all at a big luncheon event at the Arlington Convention Center and then move to the adjoining land area where the new

ballpark would be built for the first-pitch event. Serving as mayor at the time, I would be the catcher. Nolan not only eagerly accepted the invitation but suggested that he throw not one but three pitches to see just how capable I was of handing his fabled fast ball. He cautioned that missing any one of the pitches would not be good. Would anyone refuse such a suggestion? Well, neither did I. So, proceeding with catcher’s mitt, chest protector, face guard and helmet I set up at “home plate” and waited for the heat. I still don’t know for sure how, but I managed to catch all three – including the last one that he deliberately threw in the dirt to “see if I could handle it.” I have all three of the balls in my collection. Nolan signed them and one with a note, “Mayor, you did a nice job catching.” In January 1991, Arlington voters overwhelmingly approved the plan for the new ballpark, and on the first day of the following May, Nolan pitched his historymaking seventh no hitter. The game took place on Richard Greene Arlington Appreciation Day. Among all the celebratory national media coverage, Nolan said this: “I think this no-hitter is the most rewarding because it was in front of these hometown fans who have supported me since I have been here. This one was for them.” After the Rangers first World Series in 2010 when Nolan was the team’s president, he and former allstar catcher Jim Sundberg presented me with a commemorative American League Championship ring. Nolan said, “this is for you, mayor, in appreciation for all that Arlington has done for me and our ballclub.” My wife and I were present at Cooperstown when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, and no one could miss his reflected glory shining vividly on Arlington where his reputation grew from baseball hero to one of the game’s all-time legends.