For this we give thanks

Jerry McCullough, Retired educator and longtime volunteer on local projects

As for everyone, 2020 has been an unusual year. First, I am thankful for my family, my wife, Becky and my son, Mark. I am thankful for God’s protection in Mark’s job as a captain of a fshing vessel in Alaska. I am thankful for my health and the assistance I received from my doctors at the Heart and Vascular in the Arlington Memorial Hospital and Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Even with the pandemic and my health issues, I am grateful for the opportunity I have been afforded to serve our community through volunteering at Mission Arlington (pastor of an apartment church in east Arlington), Salvation Army, Young Life, Mended Hearts, Child Protective Services, River Legacy, and Men Serving God organizations.

I am grateful to have been honored with the Bill and Shari Bowie Community

Service Award from the Arlington/Mansfeld YMCA. I am grateful to lead several Bible Studies for men each week. I am grateful for my friends who have supported me through my health crisis and my volunteering. I have been blessed. Photo courtesy of Jeff Williams

FOR THIS WE GIVEFOR THIS WE GIVE

Mayor Jeff Williams and wife Karen celebrated the arrival of their newest grandchild. Their son Ryan and his wife Morgan introduced Olivia to the world last month – and THAT’s something for which to be grateful.

THANKS THANKS

Dr. Aaron Reich, President of TRINU Healthcare and Arlington ISD Trustee

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of year. Settling into the holiday season, appreciating the blessings that have been afforded to me, and usually taking some needed time away from all of the hustle and bustle to focus on family and what is really most important is what makes it such a special time of year.

I am thankful to God for everything I have been blessed with. My wife and two children are at the top of that list. My children are young adults now, and there is nothing more special than being with them, interacting with them at a whole new level, and witnessing the incredible humans they are growing to be, all with the love of my life at my side. This is absolute completeness. I also take this time to make sure I focus on what other family I have while thinking of all those that have moved on to be with the Lord. Our time here is fnite, and no matter how I try to appreciate every moment of every day, Thanksgiving is a window of refection of the time to come with the dawn of a new year on the horizon and the time past with the dusk of the current year. This time of refection also makes me think of the sincere gratitude I have for friends and the relationships I have with so many. I am grateful to simply be alive, to live in a community that cares, works together for the betterment of all while striving for safety, comfort, and prosperity of every person. I feel truly blessed to live in Arlington and serve our community while contributing my little part of something that is so much bigger than myself.

The actual day of Thanksgiving – I can’t wait for it to get here. Cinnamon rolls, Thanksgiving Day parade, family, food, football, and an incredible warm feeling of comfort and gratitude.

Geraldine Mills,

Director of the Arlington Historical Society

Iam most thankful in 2020 for Dakotah Daisy Best, born during this pandemic. She is our ffth great grandchild; her mother, our third grandchild, is a Type 1 diabetic, diagnosed at age nine. This was going to be a challenge to her and the baby even during a normal pregnancy; add COVID-19 to the equation and you have more serious complications: Hospital visits, with only one person to be present ... a premature birth and time in intensive care ... Mom and Dad unable to visit her together, let alone Grandparents or Great grands. The threat of COVID always present. I am proud of our family that pulled together to keep this baby safe and thankful for the many prayers we received. Today I am thankful for a four-month-old, beautiful, fat, healthy Dakotah Daisy! I am thankful for my past: My parents Claude Howell and Daisy Powell Nash brought me home to 205 Arnold Street in the year 1941. We were just a few blocks west of Meadowbrook Park; we had great neighbors: the Houstons, the Borens, the Hydens. These same people and their stories would come back to me later in my work. We spent a few short years in Pantego and came back to Arlington, and I started frst grade at Southside School. An incredible group of teachers left me with a sense of what I could achieve. Two of my favorites were Ruby Peters, who laughed and shared happiness, and Coach Harris, who listened.

I am thankful that diversity was an integral part of my life. My Mother had the Fort Worth Press paper route in Arlington, as far south as Arkansas Lane, north to the Hill, plus the local newsstands. The variety of people I met during this time left me with memories that I share today in my work. These were wonderful, interesting people with stories to tell, and I get to help tell them.

I am thankful for my work at the Fielder Museum and the Historical Society. The people I work with are a blessing. I am often asked when I will retire, and I reply when it stops being interesting and fun. I am thankful for my hometown and the people of our past and those of our present.

Derrick Kinney, CEO, Good Money Framework

Selling my business in January to pursue opportunities I was passionate about was a bold move. The unwavering encouragement of my wife, Kara, and the support of family and friends is something I will always cherish. In the midst of the pandemic when my college daughters landed back home and my high school boys’ schedules cleared, I found the evenings when the six of us sat around the dinner table together, laughing and occasionally arguing, priceless. I am thankful for learning to appreciate the “messy” —changing course when every planned event was canceled, we were stuck at home, and felt out of control. The reset button we were given for renewed family time, spending less money and evaluating the things of true importance — in the rear view mirror, it was all a gift, blessings in disguise. Each of us has experienced struggle in some way or another during 2020. I am thankful to live in such a great community with generous people, navigating together the uncertain times. May you look back and refect on the gifts you have been given, your blessings in disguise, as well.

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Scene

Snapshots of note from places and events in the Arlington/Mansfeld/Grand Prairie area

Photo courtesy of Daryle Perez Daryle and Melisa Perez took in some postseason baseball at Globe Life Field.

An Open Arms Health Clinic health care specialist does a blood pressure check.

Photos: Southern Flair Photography The health services were sponsored by Walgreens and Americares.

Open Arms Open Arms Health Clinic Health Clinic

Open Arms Health Clinic provided a variety of health services to local residents last month. Mission Mission Arlington Arlington

Photos: City of Arlington Ben Carson, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, paid a visit to Mission Arlington and got a tour from the mission’s Executive Director Tillie Burgin before posing for a picture with her and Mayor Jeff Williams.

Members of the NMOHM team with the organization’s float that was part of the parade

Arlington Fire Arlington Fire Department Department

Photos: Arlington Fire Department Firefighters from station 12 participated in a clean up event for the Fish Creek Community.

National Medal of National Medal of Honor Museum Honor Museum

Photos courtesy of Amber Zuckerman Representatives of the National Medal of Honor Museum participated in the Alliance Air Show parade. The Sanford The Sanford House House

Photo: City of Mansfeld Photos courtesy of Valerie Landry Here are a couple of shots from the recent Chef Demonstration presented by The Sanford House. Socially distanced groups were entertained and well fed by program’s end.

Bulletin Board Bulletin Board

Luminova Holidays, a spectacular light show and interactive winter playground, will be the first event open to the general public at Globe Life Field. It will run at the stadium from Nov. 20 - Jan. 3.

Luminova Holidays will come to Globe Life Field this month

Luminova Holidays will come to Arlington’s Globe Life Field with larger-than-life light displays from Nov. 20, 2020 through Jan. 3, 2021. Luminova Holidays marks the frst event to be open to the general public at the new stadium. Here are some of its prominent features: • 2.7 million lights • More than 270,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor space • A 10,000-square-foot outdoor ice-skating rink • A 65-toot-tall Christmas tree • Photo opps galore • Interactive activities, including light up hopscotch • Train rides for the kids • Strolling holiday entertainers • Old Saint Nick and his elves • Booths with food and special mementos to bring the holiday magic home

“It’s wonderful to see this spectacular holiday event in Arlington,” says Arlington Mayor Jef Williams. “We’ve always been the perfect family-friendly destination for creating holiday memories, and that’s why we’re excited to welcome the world class Luminova to Arlington!”

In collaboration with the Texas Rangers, Luminova will take place inside and outside Globe Life Field. Ticket prices start at $14.99. A family pack, which includes two adults and up to three kids, starts at $59.99. VIP packages are also available for large groups. Tickets can be purchased at LuminovaHolidays.com. Limited tickets are available per night during the Nov. 20, 2020 through Jan. 3, 2021 engagement. For a full list of available dates, visit the Luminova website.

Photo: theshorthorn.com

Daniels will be the next Arlington on Zoom speaker

Joe Daniels, CEO of the National Medal of Honor Museum, will be the featured speaker at Arlington on Zoom at 6 p.m. on Nov. 11. The talk will take place on Downtown Arlington Management Corporation’s Facebook page, facebook.com/ DowntownArlingtonTexas.

Arlington on Zoom is this fall’s alternative to the popular Arlington On Tap series, which featured speakers at local pubs and eateries discussing matters of importance to Arlington. Because of the pandemic, the series was moved online this fall, but it still features the same speaker format – only online. And it still takes place on the second Tuesday of the month. However, the series will take a break in December and resume in the spring.

A young chef in the making is plying his trade at the popular eatery Prince Lebanese Grill

Thanks to an innovative program at Arlington Independent School District’s Dan Dipert Career & Technical Center, local eatery Prince Lebanese Grill has a new employee who is wowing customers – and his bosses – with some “way beyond his years” culinary skills. Preston Nguyen is the studentturned-chef-in-training, who came to the restaurant via the center’s Practicum Program. But what started as a twice-a-week educational project has evolved into the beginning of a career that

Elizabeth Kobty, Preston Nguyen and Aziz Kobty seems to have no ceiling for the high schooler.

“This kid loves to cook, and he is great at it!” says Aziz Kobty, the restaurant’s general manager. “He comes in with a great attitude and wants to learn everyday. He grew up in the restaurant business and knows his way around a kitchen. He is always cooking, sharing recipes, and even posts videos/photos on his Instagram. To me, it is a privilege to invest our time in someone who truly shares the same passion for food we do at Prince.”

Initially Preston’s role at Prince Lebanese was to come in during his school lunch break and assist the chefs as part of the twice-a-week Practicum Program. But he learned so quickly that he is now working a couple of nights a week at the restaurant’s appetizer and salad station.

Kobty got involved with the program via his family’s longtime friendship with Dan and Linda Dipert, frequent customers of Prince Lebanese Grill. “We wanted to support their vision, [the center’s] Chef Alyce Monroe and the AISD students anyway we can,” he says. “Chef Monroe emailed me after I toured the CTC, and we immediately jumped on board. Prince is honored to be partnering with AISD for their Chef Practicum Program.

The Chef Practicum Program is a class that students must apply for in their second year of the Culinary Program at the Dan Dipert Career Tech Center. The goal is for students to get real life experience in real kitchens to help prepare them for the next chapter of their career. To be accepted into the Chef Practicum, they must go through testing, sharpen their skills, and be interviewed by Chef Monroe.

Inspiring Hope Luncheon has been canceled, but you still can help the cause

As the COVID pandemic forced cancellation of The Salvation Army’s annual Inspiring Hope Luncheon in early 2021, the organization’s administration began putting in place #RESCUECHRISTMAS to help replace fnancial support that usually comes from that event.

The project features four opportunities for local residents to continue to support The Salvation Army’s North Texas Youth Education Town:

Opportunity 1: Make a donation quickly and easily online at https://bit.ly/3jUWVyR.

Opportunity 2: Join the Virtual Red Kettle Challenge. You can create a personal or business challenge site or create a Red Kettle Team engaging your friends or employees. Determine your amount, donate it to your Virtual Red Kettle, set your goal at double that amount and challenge friends and family to help you hit the goal. To set up an account, visit https://bit.ly/3njrFf3.

Opportunity 3: For a donation of $1,500 you can sponsor a Red Kettle location. Your name or company logo will appear on the signage at a prominent location from Nov. 20-Dec. 31. In addition, you will receive a sign for your home or business signifying your Kettle Sponsorship with a QR code so employees, business associates, family and friends can also donate. To become a kettle sponsor, call (410) 422-7117.

Opportunity 4: Register to ring the bell. You can do this as an individual or with a group of friends, and you can take on an entire location for a day or more. If you are a business owner, you can also make this a great team building opportunity. For every volunteer hour more funds are raised, as The Salvation Army does not have to hire individuals to ring the bell.

Keen Cuisine Keen Cuisine

UPSCALE

Chamas do Brazil • 4606 S. Cooper St. • 817-618-2986 • chamasdobrazil2.tru-m.com

Cut & Bourbon • 1600 E. Randol Mill • 682-277-4950 • loewshotels.com/live-by-loews-arlington-texas

The Keg • 4001 Arlington Highlands Blvd. • 817-465-3700 • kegsteakhouse.com

Mercury Chophouse • 2221 E. Lamar Blvd., Suite 910 • 817-381-1157 • mercurychophouse.com

Piccolo Mondo • 829 Lamar Blvd. E. • 817-265-9174 • piccolomondo.com

restaurant506 at The Sanford House • 506 N. Center St. • 817-801-5541 • restaurant506.com

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

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

Mac’s Bar & Grill • 6077 W. I-20 • 817-572-0541 • macsteak.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

ITALIAN/PIZZA

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

Gino’s East • 1350 E. Copeland Road • 817-200-6834 • ginoseast.com/arlington

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

Cut & Bourbon Cut & Bourbon

Frieddaze Frieddaze

The Grease Monkey The Grease Monkey

Globe Life Field gets its chance to shine

Special touches, such as life-size Ranger bobble heads and upper-level rocking chairs, put a Texas stamp on this year’s postseason.

Photos: John Rhadigan

You could see it in their eyes! Of course, all you could see was their eyes. The lower two thirds of their faces were covered by masks, the top of their heads, covered by stadium had the attention of sports fans everywhere. Globe Life Field looked great on TV and it sounded great, too. As real fans entered for the frst time they were informed caps. Baseball caps. They wore the colors of their favorite team, that there would be artifcial crowd noise tracks used to there were Dodgers and Braves and others. But mostly Rangers. enhance the “sounds of the game.” But from game one of the It was game one of the National League Championship Series. NLCS the Rangers realized that the taped crowd noise was Even though the Rangers were not in the playofs, even though not as necessary as they thought. Ten thousand fans who are the Rangers are not in the National League, Rangers fans were excited about the games and excited about the stadium can fll all over the NLCS. this place with noise. I can’t wait to hear 40,000 blow the roof

After spending 60 days this summer in the beautiful new of this joint! Next opening day? I hope so! Globe Life Field with no fans, I was so eager to see the reaction Oct. 12 was opening day of the NLCS. On that day Chuck of real fans to this fantastic structure. So I watched their eyes. Morgan said, “Ladies and gentlemen, it is an honor and a When they entered the roof was still closed, so they looked pleasure to say for the frst time, ‘Welcome, baseball fans, to up to see the largest single-panel retractable roof in the world. Globe Life Field.’” The crowd cheered. Soon after that he said, Then they looked down to see a feld that was lined and “It’s baseball time in Texas.” And the crowd roared. manicured and ready for baseball. Those who watched the NLCS or Then they looked around to see a World Series on TV got a glimpse. stadium that they will be proud to call Globe Life Field was celebrated. Joe the home of the Texas Rangers. Buck said more than once, “Welcome

From the life-sized bobble heads of John Rhadigan back to the new Globe Life Field; it is a Pudge Rodriguez, Adrian Beltre and beauty.” Michael Young in centerfeld to the Buck is right. It is a beauty. Here’s larger-than-life rocking chairs in left, hoping that very soon the World Series this place is full of Rangers history GLOBE LIFE FIELD is a is decided here again. Not as a neutral and all the comforts and character beauty. Here’s hoping the sight. Not as a part of a baseball of today. It was well received by the fans who raced to the railings to have World Series is decided bubble. But with the home team winning the ultimate prize in front of pictures taken or to take selfes with here again. a full house of frenzied fans. baseball’s newest cathedral in the If that happens, and if the fans are background. still wearing masks, I will be watching the eyes. And I know

The World Series was in our new ballpark, too. By the time what I will see: tears! Tears streaming down faces and soaking it was played the number of visitors to Globe Life Field had masks as we all celebrate what we have waited nearly 50 years grown exponentially. In fact, to get a real feel for this place you to experience. It is going to happen. I don’t know when, but must visit. If you were able to do so during the playofs, good when it does, we will all agree it was worth the wait. for you. If not, you are in for a treat when fans are allowed back.

The world was watching baseball’s best battle in a bubble. Major League Baseball made the right choice when Globe Life Field was picked as the host of baseball’s biggest games. Not surprisingly, World Series tickets sold out quickly, and the new

Itinerary Itinerary

THE SECOND ANNUAL Art Market will be held from 1-6 p.m. on Nov. 7 at 400 E. Division St. in Downtown Arlington. Hosted by Downtown Arlington Texas and Catalyst Creative Arts, the event will feature eight local artists showcasing their paintings, prints, handmade jewelry, pottery, woodworking and more. The market is free of charge to visit, but you are welcome to purchase items from the respective artists. For more: https://tinyurl.com/yy3jzfy.

Sammy Kershaw Sammy Kershaw

ARLINGTON MUSIC HALL (224 N. Center St.) will present the following concerts this month: Sammy Kershaw (at 8 p.m. on Nov. 6), Cuando el Mariachi Suena el Mundo Canta (at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 7) and Beatlemania 64 (at 8 p.m. on Nov. 13). For more: arlingtonmusichall.

THE KRINGLE VILLAGE Holiday Hoedown will take place from 5-9:30 p.m. on Nov. 27-28, Dec. 4-5, Dec. 11-12 and Dec. 18-19 at Knapp Heritage Park (201 W. Front St.). Holiday Hoedown fun includes parades, stories, elves on the stage and more, and each hoedown ends with a special tree lighting. For more: https://tinyurl.com/y6s4kqjy.

Dallas Cowboys Football Dallas Cowboys Football This month, your Dallas Cowboys will play host to a pair of longtime rivals: the Pittsburgh Steelers (at 3:25 p.m. on Nov. 8) and the Washington Football Team (at 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 26). dallascowboys.com.

Photo: nfspinzone.com

River Legacy Living River Legacy Living Science Center Science Center As you visit River Legacy Park this fall, be sure to check out the Living Science Center, which is open from 9 am to 5 pm Mondays through Saturdays. riverlegacy.org.

Photo: River Legacy Parks

Fall Scavenger Hunt Hike Fall Scavenger Hunt Hike Part of the “Hike with a Naturalist” series, this event will be held from 2:30- 4 p.m. on Nov. 23 at Mansfeld’s Elmer W. Oliver Nature Park (1650 Matlock Road). https://tinyurl.com/y6ys4c7e

Photo: City of Arlington

Being thankful in a tough year

In a year like no one living today has seen before, it may be counter intuitive to think there has been much to be thankful for; however, there always is, and our family has a couple of He had experienced some discomfort in his throat and wondered if a tonsil was the cause. A cancerous tumor was discovered on a tonsil that potentially involved other areas in examples to share. the neck and throat.

My wife’s sister Penny, her husband, their daughter and her After having the tonsil removed and the pathology confrming husband together with their two children all live in a two- the diagnosis, he was referred to an oncologist who specialized family home in Lake Charles, La., where the deadliest and most in treating that type of cancer. The doctor was encouraging destructive hurricane ever to make landfall there came ashore about the treatment plan he successfully used on patients, but on Aug. 27. it would require rigorous radiation and chemotherapy with

Left in its wake was unimaginable damage to the entire signifcant side efects. city that Mayor Nic Hunter summed up as, “A tragedy and A special metal mesh mask would be made for his head and catastrophe the likes of which we have not seen in a lifetime.” shoulder area that is literally bolted down on the treatment table so

Hurricane Laura brought 150 mph winds and a storm surge as to focus the nuclear beam directly on the cancerous mass. up to 15 feet, forcing more than half a million people to evacuate Repeated weekly sessions of radiation spanned two months, southwest Louisiana. The eye of the massive storm passed right with the chemo infusions adding to the regimen with its own set of over Lake Charles. side efects to try and manage – including concerns about lung and

Among those feeing the onslaught, that would result in 77 kidney functions impacted by the poison injected into his body. deaths and more than $14 billion in During all of this, he lost his damage, were Penny and her husband taste sensation, and his gag refex and their two grandchildren. Their became intense, which resulted in destination was our Arlington home. his becoming disinterested in eating

That left behind their daughter, a Richard Greene anything, adding another dimension pharmacist in a Lake Charles hospital to his condition because it was vitally and considered essential, and her important for him not to lose weight husband, a petrochemical operative during the treatment processes for who would be needed in that vital PRAYERS WERE lifted three reasons: The mask would no industry. You can imagine the anxiety as and answered. That’s when longer hold him in place, he needed nutrition for the healing process and we watched television broadcasts all Thanksgiving occurred. to rebuild his kidney function that had night from the safety of our den as the been damaged. storm approached, knowing that they, What he was going through was so together with their son-in-law’s elderly mother, were crouched complicated that doubts were raised that he could tolerate it all in the safest area of their home literally hoping to survive. and the cancer would win the battle.

Prayers were lifted and answered. That’s when the Soon, although he and his family didn’t think soon was thanksgiving occurred during Hurricane Laura. As they were coming around soon enough, thanksgiving occurred. when Hurricane Delta came through on Oct. 9, when they all Surviving all of that produced the hoped-for healing. stayed sheltered in their home. Following subsequent tests, scans, and lab analysis, his doctor

While homes in the family’s neighborhood were destroyed, delivered the cancer-free declaration. theirs was spared with only minor damage. The family was Although he still awaits the return of “normal” – the most unhurt and soon able to help those who were. important diagnosis any of us can hear from any doctor – prayers

The second of the blessings for which we are thankful again have been answered and gratefulness is experienced as this occurred in the life of my wife’s brother Jay and his family. most uncommon year is drawing to a close.