Tex Appeal | February & March 2023

Founded by closely-knit family and friends in Texas hill country, Summer Moon has always had one goal in mind: to create a distinctive, out-of-this-world experience that people drive across town for. An experience to be shared through coffee plus atmosheres that inspire the warmth of cozy evenings under a summer moon.

TEXAS PROUD

There’s a natural affinity between a wood fire and coffee beans. Our wood-fired coffee roasting process results in a smooth, balanced coffee. Every batch of Summer Moon coffee is roasted in our handmade brick roasters over seasoned Texas oak.

“The

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Date night delights at home or on the town at Dead Fish Grill, Pignetti’s Italian Restaurant, Barnard Beef Cattle Co., Chef Flaco’s Gourmet Foods and Beauty Bar & Bash

42

These simple food & wine pairings for a great meal will help you look like a pro when dining in or out

49

Palmeras offers elegant, upscale casual Tex-Mex with a Pan-Latin American twist in Harker Heights

ON THE COVER

6 8 9 10 12 16 26 28 30

ADVERTISING INDEX

EDITOR’S LETTER

CONTRIBUTORS

NEIGHBORS Temple Literacy Council

SCENE

Three Kings Day at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Last Night Gala

FAITH

Tender Mercies

THE REVIEW

Sunday at the Sunflower Inn

TEEN REVIEW The Love Hypothesis EVENTS

What’s happening in February and March

34 38

45 62 66 68 70 73

THIS GIRL’S GARDEN Garden catalogs offer ideas

GIFT GUIDE Shop local for Valentine’s

DATE NIGHT

Local businesses offer services for couples

TEX MESSAGES

What’s your Texas sign?

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Meet fitness goals at home

BEING CENTRAL TEXAN

Lots to explore in West Bell County

DAYTRIPPIN’

Bryn Oaks Bed & Breakfast

CEN TEX ED

Attendance in class is one of the keys to learning

52

Veteran pays tribute to military with Fire Base Brewing Company taproom in Temple

56 Evans family keeps spirit of Texas farming alive at Wilson Valley Mercantile in Little River-Academy

60

Army wife turns hobby into thriving business at Olive Charcuterie

74

Fort Hood leaves a big footprint in Central Texas’ past, present and future

John and Erika Evans run Wilson Valley Mercantile. | 56 Photo by SKEEBO

Shelley and Craig Pardon enjoy a meal at Dead Fish Grill. The restaurant overlooking Lake Belton is one of several great spots for a date night. | 19 Photo by SKEEBO

is not responsible for errors or omissions to this index.

Photography: Angela Stiz | Model: Laura Roasa, Community Volunteer

Happy New Year, Central Texas. We’re off to an ambitious start at Tex Appeal Magazine with our Date Night and Bar/ Restaurant issue.

On page 49, we visit Palmeras in Harker Heights, a restaurant with a different twist on Latin cuisine and, on page 52, we go to Temple to Fire Base Brewery to enjoy libations brought to us by a veteran-owned business. On page 56, Wilson Valley Mercantile, Bell County’s first farm/distillery, to sample 160 years of family history and premium, Central Texas whiskeys.

Flavours takes us out for date night on page 19, with a sampling of area businesses and services to choose from for a night of romance in Central Texas.

Killeen’s own Olive Charcuterie shows us that charcuterie boards are more than just adult versions of a kid’s meat, cheese, and cracker package on page 60 in Entrepreneur.

Tex Appeal

Published by FRANK MAYBORN ENTERPRISES, INC.

KILLEEN DAILY HERALD

1809 Florence Rd., Killeen, TX 76540

TEMPLE DAILY TELEGRAM

10 S. Third St., Temple, TX 76501

Publisher SUE MAYBORN Editor

JANNA ZEPP

JANNA ZEPP editor@ texappealmag.com

254-774-5266

CenTex Past marks 80 years of the Great Place on page 74, in which we take a look at its early beginnings as Camp Hood during World War II and how it evolved into Fort Hood as we know it today.

Daytrippin’ takes us no further than Belton to Bryn Oaks Bed & Breakfast on page 70 for a great weekend getaway close to home.

Check out a quick guide to food and wine pairings with help from a traveling Texas certified sommelier who comes to your home to show you how it’s done on page 42.

Neighbor introduces you to the Temple Literacy Council on page 10, and Faith brings you Tender Mercies Home Care on page 16 and shows you how very personal home care can be in a Christlike sense.

CenTex Ed shows us how to be present and what that means for our students on page 73.

Being Central Texas on page 68 takes a look at the places you might not think about going in West Bell County and why it’s a pretty great place (see what I did there?) to live, work, shop and entertain.

Health and Wellness looks at your home gym and personal fitness success on page 66.

Scene takes us to Three Kings Day at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Killeen, on page 12 and a glitzy, exclusive New Year’s Eve party, Last Night, on page 14.

Tex Messages brings you the Texas Zodiac on page 62, where you can find out if you were born under the sign of the Mexican FreeTailed Bat or the Gulf Coast Shrimp and what that means for you depending on which region in Texas you were born. It’s weird and I giggled all the way through writing it for you.

This Girl’s Garden guides you through what to plant in late winter/early spring on page 34, plus personal musings about winter gardening.

Enjoy all the great stories within Tex Appeal this issue, and, as always, shoot me an email or call me if you have story tips or opinions on our content. I love hearing from you and you help me make this magazine better more than you will ever know.

Janna Zepp Tex Appeal editor

Graphic Designer M. CLARE HAEFNER

Contributors

RHONDA BLACKLOCK

LISA CARLISLE

PHOENIX CARLISLE

SKEEBO REICHERT

AMY ROGNLIE

BECKY STINEHOUR

CAREY STITES

RACHEL STRICKLAND

JOHNA UNDERWOOD

Advertising

254-778-4444 in Temple

254-501-7500 in Killeen

ABOUT US:

Tex Appeal Magazine is published by Frank Mayborn Enterprises, Inc. 10 S. Third St., Temple, TX 76501. The cover and content of Tex Appeal Magazine is fully protected by copyright and cannot be reproduced in any manner without prior permission.

SUBSCRIPTIONS:

For the United States, $24 per year, 6 issues. Mail check to P.O. Box 6114, Temple, TX 76503-6114. For questions about subscriptions, call 254-778-4444.

POSTMASTER:

Send address changes to: Tex Appeal Magazine, P.O. Box 6114, Temple, TX 76503-6114.

HOW TO CONTACT US:

Advertising: 254-778-4444 or 254-501-7500.

Editorial: Contact Janna Zepp at 254-774-5266 or editor@texappealmag.com

RHONDA BLACKLOCK is Mom to two active teenage boys. From Belton, she has a business degree from the University of Phoenix. She’s the administrative assistant for the advertising department at the Temple Daily Telegram. She has one children’s book published and hopes to publish her first novel soon. In her free time she can be found traveling Texas and beyond, “hunting” for historical markers, and fun, unique places to visit. She has a new blog you can check out, Texas Travel Gal, at www.texastravelgal.com.

LISA CARLISLE is Tex Appeal’s account executive, having previously worked in the health care field. Lisa is a wife and mother of five — two girls and three boys, together they enjoy exploring locally and you can always find them outdoors or in the water. She is a native Austinite and has lived in Temple for five years. She also is a member of the Betty Martin DAR chapter. Her hobbies include photography, genealogy, cooking, family time and festivals.

PHOENIX CARLISLE is an honor roll student at Lake Belton High School. She is a involved in theater, the Belton Youth Advisory Council, UIL, and with the Temple library. Phoenix is an avid reader and aspires to become an English professor and travel the world.

SKEEBO REICHERT has over 25 years experience as a professional photographer and has expanded his services to include filmmaking. The Temple High School graduate has a BFA in photography and sculpture. He lives in Temple with his wife and two sons. PhotoBySkeebo.com

AMY ROGNLIE is an author and middleschool teacher. Her newest series of cozy mystery novels, The Short Creek Mysteries, are set in Bell County. Amy’s articles have been published in national magazines and websites. She blogs on encouragement, hope and faith on AmyRognlie.com. Amy and her family reside in Little River-Academy.

BECKY STINEHOUR is a portrait, commercial and event photographer, specializing in live music venues. Her work has been published in several regional magazines. She is a Killeen High School graduate who loves to highlight her hometown connections through the lens of her camera. Find her on Instagram at ciphoto.

CONTRIBUTORS

CAREY STITES is a registered and licensed dietitian located in Harker Heights, Texas. Carey obtained her master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from Texas Tech University has been a practicing dietitian since 2001. Carey is also an AFAA certified group fitness instructor and personal trainer; Carey has promoted health and wellness through presentations, classes, writing and cooking demonstrations all over Texas.

RACHEL STRICKLAND is a university writing tutor and freelance writer. She earned a Master of Arts in English from Texas A&M University-Central Texas in 2021. She has a passion for anything related to language and writing, and her words have been published in various blogs, newspapers and literary journals. In her free time, she enjoys reading, crocheting, and listening to true crime podcasts — always with her cat on her lap.

JOHNA UNDERWOOD lives in Temple and teaches English at Gatesville High School, working with her husband, Joe, who is the assistant principal. Both she and Joe are passionate, professional educators who want the best for their students and community. The Underwoods are University of Mary Hardin-Baylor graduates.

JOIN OUR TEAM

Tex Appeal is looking for photographers and freelance writers with newspaper or magazine experience. We are seeking candidates from the Central Texas area. Candidates must be detailand deadline-oriented and good storytellers. Send a resume and three to five recent published samples for consideration to editor@ texappealmag.com.

Teaching Others to Read

TEMPLE LITERACY COUNCIL VOLUNTEERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE

By AMY ROGNLIE | Photos courtesy of DON STILES and from TEX APPEAL archives

Most of us take our ability to read and write for granted, yet 13% of adults in Bell County are functionally illiterate. Nationwide, 75% of unemployed adults have reading and writing difficulties. Enter Don Stiles and the Temple Literacy Council.

“I've always thought that volunteering is the rent we pay for being alive,” says Stiles, long-time director of the Temple Literacy Council. If that’s true, then Stiles has paid a tremendous amount of rent during his almost 20 years in the driver’s seat at TLC.

The Temple Literacy Council was formed in 1988 by a group of residents interested in adult literacy. Stiles became interested in the organization when he retired in 2003 from working with the Windham School District, which is located within the prison system in Texas. He worked there for over 22 years as a teacher, administrator and curriculum consultant. “I've always had a keen interest in adult education and both Windham and TLC afforded me the opportunity to work with adults wanting to improve basic reading and writing skills or learn English as a second language,” Stiles says. “Of course, there are striking differences in the two programs, but in both instances, I was working with adults and enjoyed trying to help them.”

GET INVOLVED

Website: https://templeliteracy.org/

Email: templeliteracy@juno.com

Phone: 254-774-READ

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ TempleLiteracyCouncil/

In addition to tutoring services, the Temple Literacy Council hosts a monthly “Books for Lunch” gathering at the Temple Public Library. It provides a venue for local authors to present their works. Bring your lunch and enjoy a book discussion at noon on the second Wednesday of each month.

TLC recruits volunteer literacy tutors to work with adult learners, and Stiles estimates that the program has helped at least 500 students over the past 20 years. Volunteer tutors are trained in the Laubach Literacy method, a tested and proven system of teaching phonetic reading. TLC also enjoys a productive partnership with Temple College and other community organizations, with each providing special levels of assistance to the adult learner and the family. These partners work together to provide a seamless transition from illiteracy to success in life, and Stiles is integrally involved in each step of the process from screening students, training volunteers and matching volunteers with students to locating instructional materials and resolving any issues that may arise.

“We are a small organization and I have to try to help people be successful in many areas,” Stiles says. “I enjoy the smallness of our organization, being a volunteer myself and working directly with volunteer tutors and our adult students.” Post-

pandemic, the program’s numbers are between 15 and 20 students, but TLC’s theme for the year is “Coming Back” — a purposeful rebuilding process to gain more students and tutors.

The program currently has about 15 volunteer tutors, but is always in need of more. Volunteers are expected to commit for at least a year and typically work one-on-one with a student for two to three hours per week. Many people think that only former teachers can do this work, but nurses, lawyers, businesspeople and many others make successful tutors.

While some of the students are learning English as well as learning to read, tutors do not need to be fluent in another language. In fact, Stiles explains, it is best if tutors speak only English when instructing a student. “The four basic components of language acquisition are listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Just like babies learn language by mimicking a parent, our students learn best by conversing in English with their tutor.”

Curriculum is purchased and provided through TLC’s membership in ProLiteracy, a national literacy organization located in Syracuse, New York. The material is scripted, but tutors are able to adjust it to meet the individual needs of each student.

“We will try to help just about any adult student desiring help,” Stiles says. “However, we are not the panacea for everyone. The student must make the effort to improve and realize progress requires dedication, work and time.”

Students arrive at TLC program with differing goals and a wide range of ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. With the help of their tutors, most students achieve basic reading and writing skills, enable some to land a better job and speak better English and attain U.S. citizenship or earn a GED. “We've had some senior citizens who made outstanding leaps. Most of the time, our mix of students is about 40% basic literacy and 60% ESL (English as a Second Language),” Stiles says. “And many folks don’t realize it, but we have a significant Korean and Vietnamese population in Bell County.” TLC has also served students from Japan, India, Italy, Sudan, Taiwan, Mexico, Venezuela, and the Philippines.

“My vision is that we continue to grow and help adults reach their greatest potential,” Stiles says. “Over the past 40 plus years, I’ve often thought of an anonymous quote that I have found to be true: ‘The good we do for ourselves dies with us, but the good we do for others is immortal.’”

Don Stiles, director Temple Literacy Council, left, works with literacy student Yoshi Murakami in 2016.

SCENE: THREE KINGS DAY

2 3

On the 12th day of Christmas, Christians around the world celebrate Three Kings Day. Celebrated most in Europe, Spain and Latin America, El Dia de los Reyes, as it’s called in Spanish, marks the glorification of baby Jesus by the three wise men. St. Joseph Catholic Church in Killeen held a three kings celebration on Jan. 9.

1. Parishioners greet the Magi as they process into the

parish activity center for Three Kings Day celebration.

2. From left, Gerald Dreher, Manuel Torres and Juan Carlos Alvarez portray the three wise men carrying gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

3. From left, Jiovanny Morales as Joseph, Rafael Morales as Jesus, and Carla Villegas as Mary.

Photos by BECKY STINEHOUR

1. From left, Mary Kylberg, Katherine Hermans, Renee Fuller, Debbie Allen, Michelle DiGaetano, Lisa Vivatson and Connie Matthews attend the Last Night Gala on Dec. 31. Proceeds from the annual event go to the Ralph Wilson Youth Club in Temple.

2. Billy Popelka and Chris Ballard

3. Kennedi Fettig and Ray Matthews

4. Kelly and Dustin McDonnell

5. Keith and Lajuana Weston

6. Melissa and Dr. Todd Bohannon Photos courtesy of RALPH WILSON YOUTH CLUB

7. From left, Gracie Green, Katie Chandonnet, Katelyn Crabtree, Caitlyn Thrasher and Shelbi Avery.

8. Guests at the annual Ralph Wilson Youth Club fundraiser were

serenaded by the Blind Date Band.

9. Tara and James Stafford

10. Dell Ingram-Walker and Greg Walker

Showing Tender Mercy

CHRIS AND LAUREN GLENN OFFER BELL COUNTY RESIDENTS COMPASSIONATE IN-HOME CARE

By AMY ROGNLIE | Photo courtesy of CHRIS and LAUREN GLENN

Chris and Lauren Glenn had a dream to own a business in Bell County. Texan natives, the Glenns have lived in the area for 10 years and long desired to make a lasting contribution to their community. Both local educators, the couple knew they wanted to use their talents to help others.

“We prayed about owning our own business for a long time,” Dr. Lauren Glenn says. “We never thought we’d be involved in the health care sector, but here we are.”

In 2020, the couple’s dream became a reality when they acquired Tender Mercies Compassionate In-Home Care from founders Tony and Shana Jeter — just as the pandemic began. After personal experience caring for their own aging loved ones, the Glenns strongly desired to help the elderly in their community as well as the families who are stretched thin by the demands of caring for a loved one. Tender Mercies’ non-medical home care services are available for seniors who need assistance with activities of daily living while staying in the comfort of their own homes.

The Glenns meet with each prospective client and their family members, after which Lauren develops an individualized service plan tailored to the client’s needs.

“Our scheduling approach is truly unique,” she says. “In lieu of filling a schedule by just trying to make sure each vacancy has a caregiver, we actually take the time, thought, and care to create teams around each client. We do this to offer consistency for them, the right fit (personality and skills), and also to create good situations for our staff’s personal strengths. We maintain incredible employee tenure in an industry that is really struggling to hire and retain high-quality people.” Currently, Tender Mercies employs 35 to 40 caregivers, most of whom work full time.

“We stay personally involved in our clients’

and their families’ needs by treating them like our own,” Lauren says. “We have all too often seen and personally experienced the dark side of elder care, which has inspired us to be a part of the solution. The elders in our care require proactive advocacy if they’re to receive quality care.”

The Tender Mercies staff often encounter situations that are emotional and challenging for their clients and their families, such as physical decline and dementia diagnoses. Many times, the family members are learning to navigate the elder-care industry for the first time, trying to come to terms with ailing and changing loved ones, managing finances, communicating with doctors, and making a lot of decisions they have not had to think about previously. As Tender Mercies’ Care Coordinator, Lauren and her assistant, Quality Care Coordinator Jo Ann Shine, enjoy collaborating with clients, family members and health care providers to learn what will most help the individual in their care as well as what level of assistance the family members need.

Lauren is especially sensitive to the issues surrounding mental health and dementia, as she has many years of personal experience advocating for a loved one who suffered from a mental disorder.

“I feel that God has equipped me, through some painful life experiences, to navigate the very challenging valley that family members have to traverse when a loved one has dementia,” she says. “I have a ton of experience dealing with doctors, insurance, and hospitals and other agencies because of my own situation.”

Lauren uses that experience every day as she works with her caregivers to learn individual clients’ triggers, fears and reactions in order to formulate options to redirect dementia behaviors so that her clients feel safe and secure at home. “I definitely feel that God has placed us in this role for specific people in this community. We have a handful of

“I definitely feel that God has placed us in this role for specific people in this community.”

— Lauren Glenn

individuals who have no family whatsoever, and we feel a tremendous amount of responsibility for them.”

For Chris, the best part of his job is knowing that he and Lauren are providing a service they wish they would have known about when their own family members were growing older. “It is truly heartbreaking and exhausting for families caring for aging loved ones, and offering the level of service

we offer is quite satisfying,” he says. “Our future vision includes working to creatively recruit and retain caregivers who are in the field for the right reasons and want to be a part of something that is truly a ministry.”

TENDER MERCIES

Website: www.tendermerciestx.com

Phone: 254-899-2400

Members of the Tender Mercies team include: back row, from left, Suzanne, Sherry, Tammy, Roy Salazar, Susy, Janci, Connie, Angela, Alice, Ariel, and Chris Glenn; front row, from left Jo Ann Shine, Lauren Glenn and Lisa Smith.

WHETHER DINING OUT OR ENTERTAINING AT HOME, LOCAL CHEFS AND BUSINESSES CAN HELP YOU CREATE Date Night Delights

By LISA CARLISLE | Photos by SKEEBO and courtesy of JIM and CINDY HIGHTOWER, ROBERT HERNANDEZ, BLAYR BARNARD, ADAM YAUK and ASHLEY PUENTE

Shelley and Craig Pardon enjoy drinks at Dead Fish Grill in Belton. Shelley owns and operates Shelley's Hair, Body & Skin in Belton and Killeen.

With stunning views of Lake Belton, Dead Fish Grill has been owned and operated by Belton residents Jim and Cindy Hightower since 2008.

Dead Fish Grill is an all-season venue, offering a patio to sip cool drinks while watching boats zip by on a hot summer day and an indoor dining area perfect for a cozy date night as the sun goes down, enjoying the warm ambiance of the focal fireplace ablaze in winter. Dead Fish serves up flavors of home with seafood comfort.

“Our customers favorite dishes are our catfish plates, shrimp tacos and seafood gumbo,” says Kayla Mitchell, Dead Fish Grill’s social manager.

What gives the food a special kick is the DFG secret seasoning that elevates each dish to a

mouthwatering experience, leaving patrons wanting more. The staff is friendly and efficient whether you are dining with a small group or a large party. Dead Fish Grill also has private dining options in various secluded areas with packages to fit any budget. With it’s relaxing atmosphere and comforting food, Dead Fish Grill will be a place you return to again and again.

Plan ahead for Valentine’s Day packages, especially if you want sunset dining with a lake view and a flickering fire.

DEAD FISH GRILL

Address: 2207 Lake Road, Belton

Phone: 254-939-5771

Website: www.deadfishgrill.com

JIM & CINDY HIGHTOWER | DEAD FISH GRILL

ROBERT HERNANDEZ | PIGNETTI’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Pignetti’s Italian Restaurant is the epitome of ambiance, luxury and quality dining in Temple, having been in business for 20 years. Pignetti’s is in the top 1,000 wine destinations in the world and has been recognized by Wine Spectator. The staff is expertly trained, the food is surprising and comforting. Robert Hernandez is the man behind the scenes who sends out the culinary delights that keeps patrons coming back.

Trained at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School after a career shift from Dell computers, Hernandez worked in kitchens at Disney World in Florida before moving to the Temple area meeting Clinton and Ledia Harwell, owners of Pignetti’s.

“I have developed my food and wine palate by learning from Clinton and his many culinary experiences,” Hernandez says. “Over the last nine years I have been able to pair food and wine from some fantastic winemakers in our monthly wine dinners.”

Pignetti’s serves heartwarming traditional Italian dishes working with Iron Table Wagyu to create an ethereal red wine-braised osso bucco. The menu expands to offer Nona’s ribeye lasagna; layering pasta Bolognese with marinara and cheese. Candied bacon, alfredo, Mianonna’s Italian sausage, sauteed shrimp, and Pignietti’s signature sauces are a few of the key components to other outstanding dishes.

“We have built a relationship with our guests,” Hernandez says. “We are known for great food and great wine.” Pignetti’s is the ideal spot for a romantic Valentine’s date utilizing its soft music, candle light, delicate wines and savory dishes with something sweet for dessert to end the evening on the right note.

PIGNETTII’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Address: 14 S. Second St., Temple

Phone: 254-778-1269

Website: www.Pignettis.com

BLAYR BARNARD | BARNARD BEEF CATTLE CO.

Known as the Blue-Haired Beef Lady, Blayr Barnard, owner of Barnard Beef Cattle Co., managed a successful consulting program in Northwest Texas, Indiana, and Montana before returning to her family’s Coryell County ranch in 2015 to beef up business.

Barnard Beef offers bulk beef in whole and halves to help patrons save money. It also sells small boxes and accessories.

“The biggest difference in our business is that we try to make budgeting easy on people,” Blayr says. “We have a set price with a pound guarantee — you know exactly what you are going to pay the day you order.” This is what keeps many customers returning and branding Barnard beef as “best beef ever.”

“One of our mission points is to make money and share,” Blayr says. “I believe that to my core.

We give $10,000 to $20,000 each year back to the communities we serve.”

Among Barnard Beef’s many options is grain-finished beef, which Blayr says offers the “tenderness of a choice plus or prime grade but with a more flavorful bite.”

Barnard Beef mixes its own rations for its cattle, enabling a lower percentage of corn, which reduces any gaminess while simultaneously allowing customers with corn allergies to buy their beef. Order a beef box for a date night in and enjoy cooking with your special someone.

BARNARD BEEF CATTLE CO.

Phone: 254-223-3297

Website: www.texasbestbeef.com

ADAM YAUK | CHEF FLACO’S GOURMET FOODS

Adam Yauk is a modern-day Renaissance man in the culinary world, offering personal chef services and owning Chef Flaco’s Gourmet Foods in Austin.

Yauk attended culinary school in Austin, graduating with honors before working in several four-star restaurants along the River Walk in San Antonio. Trained and mentored by chefs Stephen Paprocki and Scott Cohen, Yauk’s time in San Antonio cemented the intrinsic components that would bring life to Chef Flaco’s as well as his private dining experiences. Yauk has extensive knowledge and experience preparing a variety of cuisine ranging from Italian to French and Latin to Pacific Rim and Southwest delicacies.

“I customize my menus per the customer’s request or can design a menu for any occasion,” he says. “My customers like the exciting flavors and the elegant presentations I bring to the table. I always use the freshest ingredients and support farm to table whenever possible.”

A favorite dish is a Texas pecan-crusted pork tenderloin with a port wine and pomegranate reduction, a bacon jamglazed filet mignon and seared diver scallops with black truffle beurre blanc.

Chef Flaco’s Gourmet Foods is the culmination of eight years of growth and diligence, offering a variety of spicy sauces, salsas, quesos, dips and homemade chips.

Chef Flaco’s award-winning products designed by Yauk and sous chef Vincent McKight encourage locals to “Put some Flaco on your Taco!”

Enjoy a private dining experience in your own home as a Valentine’s surprise for your special someone, or host a party effortlessly as a master chef prepares signature dishes for your guests. Or spice up your own culinary delights with ingredients from Chef Flaco’s. Either way, Yauk’s expertise will guide you on a flavor adventure.

CHEF FLACO’S GOURMET FOODS

Address: 1217 S. First St., Suite A, Temple Phone: 254-624-8499

Website: www.chefflacosgourmetfoods.com

ASHLEY PUENTE | BEAUTY BAR & BASH

Beauty, Bar & Bash with Ashley Puente will get your party started with private bar classes.

Puente provides all the necessary tools, alcohol, mixers and garnishes for an amazing night of laughter and learning while she coaches you through the art of cocktail mixing.

From beginner to self-proclaimed expert, this

class will be a hit for couples or a special galentines party with friends. Let Puente teach you how to serve up the fun.

BEAUTY BAR & BASH

Phone: 254-721-7417

Email: puente.ashley123@gmail.com

Fall In Love with Honey Creek

By M. CLARE HAEFNER Cover courtesy of the book publisher

As an avid reader, I sometimes struggle to decide which book or books to review in Tex Appeal. But when I started reading Jodi Thomas’s recent novel Sunday at the Sunflower Inn (Zebra, April 2022) over the holidays, I knew I had the perfect pick for this issue — the story begins on Valentine’s Day.

It’s also set in Honey Creek, Texas, a fictional town that if real, would be nestled in the heart of Central Texas somewhere between Fort Hood, Waco and Bryan.

The fourth book in Thomas’s Honey Creek series, Sunday at the Sunflower Inn is a delightful, easy read with just the right amount of romance and mystery. Like many of her other novels, Thomas deftly weaves chapters together with multiple narrators, skipping back and forth through the same timeline to share each person’s perspective until the storyline merges and all is revealed.

In Sunday at the Sunflower Inn, the story centers on Honey Creek Cafe owner Jessica Ann McKenzie — affectionately known as “Jam” — who has fulfilled her dream of owning a restaurant but wonders if, at age 32, she may have to give up on her dream of finding her forever love, at least until Sgt. Tuscon Smith crawls out of the muddy river and into her life. Valentine’s Day also finds a regular patron of the Honey Creek Cafe — 67-yearold confirmed bachelor Mr. Charles Winston — pondering whether it might finally be time to take a chance on love with Miss Lilly Lambert, a longtime friend who lives alone above the pharmacy where she worked for 43 years. Finding love and belonging isn’t just about romantic relationships. For McCoy Mason, it’s about connecting with a grandfather he never knew as he recovers from a car accident and learning more about his family’s ties to the old stagecoach stop.

Not solely focused on romance, Sunday at the Sunflower Inn also involves mystery as photos of what appears to be a dead soldier land on Sheriff Pecos Smith’s desk during his first week on the job. The puzzling part is that there’s no sign of a body or a struggle along the dock where the photos were taken.

One of my favorite things about her stories is that they’re snapshots — you follow the characters’ lives for a few days or weeks, following what’s

happening in their lives for a moment in time, then the story ends and their lives go on.

Her delightful and nostalgic writing style is why Jodi Thomas is a queen of romance, often on bestseller lists. The native Texan has penned more than 30 books in historical and contemporary settings. The Honey Creek series blends past and present — as her fictional small town in the Brazos Valley is populated with people whose families have owned land and homes for generations.

While easily a stand-alone novel, Sunday at the Sunflower Inn is more enjoyable if you’ve read the previous books, as minor characters from Breakfast at the Honey Creek Cafe, Picnic in Someday Valley and Dinner on Primrose Hill finally get a chance to shine. Reading the series is like spending time with family or catching up with old friends — even if it’s been awhile, you still fit right in. Pick up a copy and fall in love with Honey Creek. And look for Strawberry Lane in April, which starts Thomas’s next series in her fictional Brazos Valley towns.

Experimenting with Love

THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS HOOKS READERS FROM THE FIRST KISS

By PHOENIX CARLISLE Cover courtesy of the book publisher

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood is a romantic comedy that will have you experimenting with your emotions.

Olive Smith is a determined Ph.D. student who doesn't have time for relationships, but that all changes when she accidentally kisses the grumpiest professor in the building — Adam Carlsen.

Olive thinks this is it for her, she’s ruined until Adam suggests something Olive would have never imagined. He wants to fake date Olive. It’s a winwin situation. Olive gets to avoid confrontation with her friend while Adam doesn’t get flirted with by other students. It’s perfect on paper until the hypothesis of love becomes the result. Olive must deal with a fake boyfriend and a major science conference leaving Adam to swoop in once again. Through this novel we get to see how Olive and Adam’s fake dating turns into a real relationship.

The Love Hypothesis had me racing to get to the next chapter to know what crazy situation our love birds were going to be thrown into. It made me laugh so hard at some parts while making me stress out at others.

One of my favorite things in the book was the representation of women in STEM. Olive is a hard-working and determined young woman. She has friends who are equally smart women. I got to see a representation of intelligent women who were praised and accomplished.

Along with a strong-willed female lead we got an equally strong-willed supporting male. Adam doesn’t drag Olive down or make her seem less worthy because she is a student. He encouraged her over and over, even helping her at the conference. Adam supports her like a real boyfriend, yet we are supposed to believe their relationship is fake? Yeah, right.

I thoroughly enjoyed the unveiling of Adam’s full character. We see beyond his hard exterior, starting with small conversations over coffee, as Adam slowly opens up to Olive. Olive and Adam work so well together, caring for and pushing each other to reach their full potential. Adam

is a well-rounded character that continued to surprise me as the story unfolds.

While Adam is a good character, I wish his feelings were explained earlier in the book to add passion as the plot unfolds. This could have been achieved if the book was written as a dual narrative. But even though it follows Olive’s viewpoint more than Adam, it is still an amazing book. Starting each chapter with Olive’s fake dating “research” gives insight into her character. I love how nerdy, cute and adorable she is.

The Love Hypothesis is an exciting read that will have you hooked from the first kiss. Put on your safety goggles as this book explodes with love.

ILLUSIATM

FEBRUARY 2023

FEBRUARY 3

ELLA REID

The music of Ella Reid is an electric cacophony with crossover appeal mixed with alt pop, country and folk influences. She is armed with bold lyrics that are relatable and genuinely stick in the brain. Ella’s ability to weave a story through song is her distinct talent. Her latest release, Big Girl Pants, is a perfect introduction to Ella’s world and unique musical vision. She easily blends pop melodies with country sounds, storytelling and the drive and glamour of rock and roll, giving fans songs they just can’t stop singing. Her writing is more hookand-melody heavy that rings of everevolving lyrical vibe and tends to be more positive and upbeat than most of her peers.

Fire St. Pizza

10310 FM 439, Belton

FEBRUARY 3&4

BROADWAY NIGHTS

Join the Temple High School

Polyfoniks and Encore at the Temple Cultural Activities Center for an evening of music from your favorite musicals and movies. Come “dressed to the nines” as this is a gala-style event. Selections for the evening will come from Waitress, A Chorus Line, Little Shop of Horrors, Dear Evan Hansen, The Greatest Showman, Oklahoma and more. This concert will also feature a live pit band to accompany Temple High School students. All proceeds help fund holiday trips for the next school year. Cultural Activities Center 3011 N. Third St., Temple centraltexastickets.com

FEBRUARY 3-12

JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH JR. When James is sent by his conniving aunts to chop down their old fruit tree, he discovers a magic potion that grows a tremendous peach, rolls into the ocean and launches a journey of enormous proportions.

James befriends a collection of singing insects that ride the giant piece of fruit

across the ocean, facing hunger, sharks and plenty of disagreements along the way. Based on one of Roald Dahl’s most poignantly quirky stories, James and the Giant Peach Jr. is a brand-new take on this “masterpeach” of a tale.

3401 S. W.S. Young Drive, Killeen vlakilleen.org/tickets operations@vlakilleen.org

254-526-9090

FEBRUARY 3-12

DREAMWORKS MADAGASCAR JR. MUSICAL ADVENTURE

Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo and, of course, those hilarious, plotting penguins as they bound onto the stage in the musical adventure of a lifetime. Based on the smash DreamWorks animated motion picture, Madagascar – A Musical Adventure Jr. follows all of your favorite cracka-lackin’ friends as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar. Temple Civic Theatre

2413 S. 13th St., Temple centraltexastickets.com

FEBRUARY 10

JARROD BIRMINGHAM AT THE BELL COUNTY PRCA RODEO

Jarrod Birmingham has been compared to Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams Jr., producer Eric Paul

described the country traditionalist as “the first real singer of the 21st century.” Humbled by the accolades, Birmingham attributes his pure and gritty musical style to his true grit lifestyle. This South Texas native is no manufactured “hat act.” Birmingham is a REAL cowboy. A former professional bull rider who has enough pins, plates and screws in his body to make it difficult to pass an airport scanner, Birmingham’s music is steeped in stark realism. Show starts at 9 p.m. Bell County Expo Center

301 W Loop 121, Belton

254-933-5353

FEBRUARY 17

REMI MAE: SHOOTER FM ACOUSTIC LUNCH

Remi Mae will do a song swap with John Teague of Teague Brothers Band from noon to 4 p.m. at Schoepf's BBQ

702 E. Central Ave., Belton

FEBRUARY 17-26

LOVE/SICK

A darker cousin to Almost, Maine, John Cariani’s LOVE/SICK is a collection of nine slightly twisted and whimsical vignettes on love, marriage and grocery-store serendipity. Set on a Friday night in an alternate suburban reality, this play explores the pain and the joy that comes with being in love.

Temple Civic Theatre

2413 S. 13th St., Temple

Plan #1599-003

Highlighted Plan

This plan and many others available at www.cookresidentialdesign.com. Revisions are available. Contact us from our website to begin the process.

Jarrod Birmingham performs at the Bell County PRCA Rodeo on Feb. 10.

FEBRUARY 18

AJ HOWARD MEMORIAL 5K

The AJ Howard Memorial Fund was established in May 2016 when AJ was tragically killed in an auto accident. In lieu of flowers at his memorial service, AJ’s mother asked that money be donated to the M100 to help pay the band fees for students in need. The Belton Band Boosters continue to support M100 students through the annual AJ Howard Memorial Fund 5K, which is the primary fundraiser and annual celebratory event. All funds raised will be used to provide equipment, uniforms and instrument fees for students who otherwise would not be able to participate in band. This race will offer an in-person 5K and a sleepin 5K. Registrants ages 18 & under will receive a reduced price. The inperson 5K is part of the Cen-Tex Race Series. All participants will earn CenTex Race Series points. Awards to the top overall male and female finishers, and the top three male and female finishers per age group. Age groups: 11&U, 12-15, 16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, etc., to 70+. Chip timing

provided by Pro-Fit Race Timing. Liberty Park

500 Veterans Way, Belton runsignup.com/Race/TX/Belton/ AJHowardMemorial5K

FEBRUARY 24-26

TEMPLE AREA BUILDERS ASSOCIATION

2023 HOME & GARDEN SHOW

With 100,000 square feet of exhibits find the latest in products and services for everything from homebuilders, contractors, remodelers, building materials, decks, pools, spas, entertainment systems, landscape design, kitchenware, and more. Bell County Expo Center 301 W Loop 121, Belton

254-933-5353

centraltexastickets.com

FEBRUARY 25

EVERETT WREN BIMONTHLY RESIDENCY

Everett Wren’s life has revolved around music since he began performing at age 4 in his family’s band. After winning an Arkansas state fiddling championship and playing in the Arkansas Symphony Youth Orchestra, he toured the country with Wagon, his St. Louis-based Americana band, which recorded albums for the Hightone (with Lloyd Maines producing) and Glitterhouse labels. He busked in Europe, earned a master’s degree in acoustics from the University of Texas at Austin, co-founded the bands Lost & Nameless (which included Harmoni Kelley, now Kenny Chesney’s bassist) and Chalkboard Poets, and produced records for several other artists. Now he’s completed his own: Porchlight, which Wren produced, recorded and mixed with help from talented friends. Barrow Brewing Company

108 Royal St., Salado

centraltexastickets.com

MARCH 2023

MARCH 3 & 4

LANDON HEIGHTS

Full band show from 7 to 11 p.m. with special guest Brayden Stewart. Landon Heights is a country music artist born and raised on living the small-town life in Central Texas. Landon was raised listening to ’90s country and Texas western music such as Wade Bowen, Stoney Larue and Cross Canadian Ragweed. For the last 15 years he has been traveling the country performing and recording music in the Christian/

Landon Heights plays in Troy on March 3 & 4 with special guest Brayden Stewart.

Amanda Krejci with Tower Garden by Juice Plus, background right, talks about an aquaponics garden during the 2022 Home and Garden Show in Belton. This year’s show is Feb. 24-26.

gospel genre, however Landon has always enjoyed writing what is on his heart with a southern style. Growing up, Landon's favorite thing to do as a kid was listen to his dad play country songs with his guitar at the kitchen table. That's what began his passion for writing and performing music. He has shared the stage with performers such as The Bellamy Brothers, Cory Morrow, Brandon Rhyder and more. Visit LandonHeightsMusic.com.

Troy Lumberyard: Tavern and Market

28 E. Main St., Troy 254-938-3015

MARCH 17-26 SPAM-A-LOT

Lovingly ripped off from the classic film comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail, MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT retells the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, and features a bevy of beautiful show girls, not to mention cows, killer rabbits and French people. Did we mention the bevy of beautiful showgirls? The outrageous, uproarious and gloriously entertaining story of King Arthur and the Lady of the Lake will delight audiences as they search for the Holy Grail and “always look on the bright side of life.”

3401 S. W.S. Young Drive, Killeen 254-526-9090

vlakilleen.org/tickets

Find more upcoming events at CentralTexasTickets.com and in the Killeen Daily Herald and Temple Daily Telegram

Blurring the Lines Between Everyday Objects and Art

FB: Cerria Maryann Photography

IG: cerriamarynn photography

Dreaming of Spring

GARDEN CATALOGS OFFER INSPIRATION, HOPE IN WINTER

By AMY ROGNLIE

Hope,” Emily Dickinson wrote, “…is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul, and sings the tunes without the words and never stops at all…” Hope is also the thing without which we could not garden, to put it much less poetically than Dickinson.

Planting a garden — or even a few marigold seeds in a pot on a windowsill —symbolizes hope. Hope that life will go on, even in the midst of challenging changes or crushing sorrow. Hope that something of beauty will sprout and bloom out of plain, black dirt. Hope that spring will arrive again after a long slog through a dark, cold winter.

Studies show (and we know in our hearts) that being in nature is a tonic for whatever ails us. Surrounded by calming shades of green, the sun warming our back and our hands plying the dirt, the garden offers solace like no place else. It gives us room to breathe, space to dream and imagine all the possibilities of what could be. Almost in spite of ourselves, we start to plan. To imagine. To hope.

That is partly why, I think, that gardeners love seed catalogs. Not

the flashy online versions, but the real, hold-it-in-your-hands-and-dogear-the-pages kind of catalog that dares you to dream the moment you pull it out of your mailbox. I’ve already received several, each with its own allure.

I love the recipes and the fascinating snippets of histories included in the Seed Savers Exchange catalog, such as the black “Cherokee Trail of Tears” bean: “This bean was shared by the late

“In the depths of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond, and like seeds dreaming beneath the snow, your heart dreams of spring.”

— Khalil Gibran

Tips for February & March

THINGS TO DO OUTSIDE

• Plant cool-season veggies such as lettuce, kale, beets, carrots, radishes, etc.

• Strawberry plants and onion sets can also go outside in February.

• Prune roses around Valentine’s Day and spread some extra compost around the base to help give a boost to spring blooming.

• Prune immature fruit trees, if needed.

• If it has been dry, water occasionally, especially before a freeze. Well-watered plants will survive cold temperatures better than dry plants.

• By the end of March, you might be able to plant warm-season veggies and flowers, but make sure you have your row covers handy for cold snaps.

THINGS TO DO INSIDE

• Start warm-season crops like tomatoes, eggplant, cantaloupe, cucumbers and peppers and many flowers from seed.

Dr. John Wyche of Hugo, Oklahoma. His Cherokee ancestors carried this bean over the Trail of Tears, the infamous winter death march form the Smoky Mountains to Oklahoma (1838-39) that left a trail of 4,000 graves.”

Or what about Russian pickling cucumber seed, which was reportedly brought to Hutchinson County, South Dakota, by the Schwartzmeer Deutsch (Black Sea Germans) in the 1870s? Even if you are not a fan of black beans or pickling cucumbers, how could you not want to carry on such a legacy in your own garden?

Other seed catalogs are equally seductive for other reasons: glossy photos, helpful planting instructions, pithy sayings, cherished recipes, how-to sections, or personal stories of gardening triumphs and tragedies. Regional or local advice is always welcome. In addition, many catalogs offer garden supplies you never knew you needed. Blossom bags, anyone? Or how about some handydandy lever loop plant grippers? Or Al’s flower pouch growing bag? Or some desert bat guano (especially good for green crops, I learned). You need it, they got it.

Here in Central Texas, we are accustomed to

weather extremes, and this past summer was pretty extreme with the heat arriving extra early and staying long past its welcome. But hope springs eternal; am I right? The memories of dried-up tomato plants and withered rows of beans fade in the promise of spring and the siren call of all those seed catalogs. I mean, really. Who could resist the enchanting description of a Chilean glory flower? Or the mouthwatering anticipation of a “Moon & Stars” watermelon? Or the cute little “Snackabelle” pepper?

Not to burst your garden-planning bubble, but our climate here definitely puts some limits on what we can realistically grow. Believe me, I’ve tried and failed plenty of times, partly because plant descriptions and growing instructions in catalogs and on plant labels do not always apply to our growing conditions. If in doubt, do a little research online. There are many great resources for growing plants in our area.

So dream on (in moderation)! Then get outside and plant some hope. Let this be the year of the jelly melon cucumber. Or the purple dragon carrot. Or the Amish cockscomb celosia. You never know what will grow until you try.

English Maids

code TXA

red, WHiTe

SIMPLE FOOD & WINE PAIRINGS FOR A

By JANNA ZEPP

You’re planning an elegant dinner, whether for a party of two or a party of eight, and you want the perfect wine to go with your meal. Or you are out to dinner at a posh restaurant and the server asks what wine you’d like with dinner. But what you know about wine boils down to red wines go with red meats and white wines go with white meats. You instinctively know there’s more to food and wine pairings than just that simple statement. There must be because you don’t care for red wine, but you love red meat. What do you do?

First, don’t panic. Second, take heart: You CAN drink white wine with red meat after all. How is this possible? Pairings are more complex and yet easier to do than you might think.

Certified Sommelier Glenn Boswell of Wineshark.com owns and runs a traveling comedy wine education food and wine pairing show all over Texas, including Bell County, in which he buys all the food and wine, comes to your home, cooks, cleans up and educates dinner parties of 10 people privately. He says good quality wines do not have to be expensive. In fact, he says that if you pay more than $25-$30 for a wine, you’re buying the label more than the libation.

“What you are really looking for, more than a label or a particular vineyard, is something that doesn’t obliterate your wallet and does make your meal a complete experience,” Boswell says. His food and wine pairing

education presentations include the basics of pairings you will learn about here.

A great pairing creates a balance between the courses of a dish and the characteristics of a wine. As much as pairing food and wine is complex, the basics are simple to grasp.

Tips For pairing Wine & Food

If you’re just getting started, you’ll find these methods will help you produce consistently great pairings. As you get more familiar with different wines, you’ll become confident and can experiment with breaking the rules.

• The wine should be more acidic than the food.

• The wine should be sweeter than the food.

• The wine should have the same flavor intensity as the food.

• Red wines pair best with bold flavored meats (e.g. red meat).

• White wines pair best with light-intensity meats (e.g. fish or poultry).

• Bitter wines (e.g. red wines) are best balanced with fat.

• It is better to match the wine with the sauce than with the meat.

White, sparkling and rosé wines often create contrasting pairings while red wines often create compatible pairings. A contrasting pairing creates balance between tastes and flavors. A compatible pairing boosts shared flavor compounds.

idenTiFY Basic TasTes

You only need to focus on six tastes when pairing food and wine: salty, acidic, sweet, bitter, fat and spicy.

Basic taste components in wine

For the most part, wine lacks the three tastes of fatness, spiciness and

or rosÉ?

GREAT MEAL WHEN DINING IN OR OUT

saltiness but does contain acidity, sweetness and bitterness in varying degrees. Generally speaking, you can group wines into three categories:

• Red wines have more “bitterness” caused by tannins.

• White, rosé and sparkling wines have more acidity.

• Sweet wines have more sweetness.

Basic taste components in food

Simplify a dish down to its basic dominant tastes. For example, baked macaroni has two primary components: fat and salt. Southern barbecue is a bit more complex and includes fat, salt, sweet and spicy (and some acid). Even dishes without meat can be simplified. For example, a green salad offers acidity and bitterness; creamed corn offers fatness and sweetness.

consider THe inTensiTY

FOOD: Is the food light or rich? A salad might seem lighter, but maybe the dressing is balsamic vinaigrette which has high acidity. If the intensity of the dish isn’t obvious at first, just focus on the power of each taste component (acidity, fat, sweet, etc.).

WINE: Is the wine light or bold? Here are a few examples:

• Sauvignon Blanc is light-bodied, but it has higher acidity

• Chardonnay has more body, but it’s usually not too acidic

• Pinot Noir is lighter bodied (for a red wine) and it doesn’t have too much tannin (bitterness).

• Cabernet Sauvignon is more fullbodied and has high tannin count (more bitterness)

Find conTrasTing or compaTiBle pairings

Now that you’ve identified all the basic taste components in your dish, you can start playing around with

pairing options. The simple example of the baked macaroni will offer several possible pairings:

COMPLEMENTARY PAIRING: A white wine with high acidity will complement the fat in the macaroni. So, for example, a traditional mac and cheese recipe with a creamy béchamel sauce matched with zesty white wine such as Pinot Grigio, Assyrtiko or Sauvignon Blanc would create a complementary pairing.

COMPATIBLE PAIRING: A white wine with creaminess will add to the creaminess in the dish. So, for example, a traditional mac and cheese recipe with a creamy béchamel sauce matched with a creamy white wine such as Viognier or Chardonnay would create a compatible pairing.

geTTing creaTive

Once you create balance with the major taste features in both the wine and the dish, you can get creative by pairing the more subtle flavors. Here are some examples using variants of mac and cheese:

BOLD RED WINE: The high bitterness (tannin) will be balanced out by the salt and fat in the macaroni. This balancing will leave you with the remaining subtle flavors to pair within the cheese and wine. So, for example, if your baked macaroni has smoked gouda in it, you might choose a Shiraz, which also has smokiness in it on the finish. The smoky flavors combine to create a compatible pairing while the tannin in the wine creates a complementary pairing with the fat in the dish.

SWEET WHITE WINE: This brings out the sweet and salty flavors with a pairing. For example, a mac and cheese with ham would match well with a zesty white wine with some sweetness like Riesling. The acidity would create a complementary pairing to the fat and the sweetness would act as a compatible pairing to the ham. Pork is considered red meat, even though it has been erroneously described as “the other white meat.”

One more thing you should know, according to Boswell: how to hold your wine glass the proper way.

“Do not grasp your wine goblet by the bowl like some ancient barbarian king. Hold it by the stem. The stem exists on the glass to keep your hands off the wine so that it does not affect the temperature by making your wine too warm. Every time you hold the wine glass by the bowl, an (exotic dancer) falls off her pole. Stop hurting her,” he says without skipping a beat in his presentation.

Boswell also says, regarding wine temperatures, that we Americans (he’s one too, so he can say it) serve our wines either too warm or too cold.

“We serve our white wines too cold and our reds too warm. Room temperature in the U.S. is far warmer than it is in Europe,” he explains. “The optimum temperature for wine is in a range between about 45°F to 65°F if there is not a large change in temperature each day.”

Boswell also says there are wine documentaries you can watch to further your education. He particularly recommends the film, Somm.

Directed by Jason Wise, Somm is a 2012 American documentary following the attempts of four candidates to pass the extremely difficult Master Sommelier examination, a test with one of the lowest pass rates in the world.

“The film is exceptionally well done and makes its subject matter accessible to those who are not experts in wine,” Boswell says. “Too often, wine is shrouded in ceremony, circumstance, and complexity. Wine can be approachable and accessible to almost any budget. From grocery to luxury, wine has a place.”

For

Date Night

“I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.”

Psalms 139:14 (Amplified version)

EVERNIQ (Curated, Created, Cherished), a subsidiary of WeCan Global LLC, has a product line of curated and hand-crafted jewelry as well as other antique and vintage items. The name EVERNIQ is a combination of the word Forever and Unique. This name was chosen because it represents how we are distinctly and forever uniquely who we are and set apart for great things in Christ and also how the items in this business forever hold the unique imprint of the artisan who created them. This is a Christian business that will feature products that can be described using the following words: timeless, high-end, unique, high quality, estate pieces, global/international flair, heirloom, curated, sophisticated, elegant, and awe-inspiring.

“My desire has always been and will always be, to not merely start a business but grow a business that operates as a ministry. Where we show the love of Christ through our business practices by investing in others.

Angela McGeHee, GIA AJP™

EVERNIQ not only offers customers timeless unique jewelry but the best comprehensive buyers’ experience. Angela McGeHee the president of the company, believes that jewelry is an investment to leave as a legacy for family and loved ones. EVERNIQ also invests in causes that positively impact its local community.

Cell: 512-843-1056 | EVERNIQ.com | Angela@EVERNIQ.com

It’s time to Relax

the woodhouse spa  nolan creek

Kayla and her husband Luke are both native Beltonians with Luke’s family going back 8 generations in Belton. When they moved back in 2010, they quickly realized there was an unmet demand for a luxury day spa experience.

In December 2010 Woodhouse Day Spa – Nolan Creek opened its doors to Central Texas. 12 years later, and a new location on Main Street, they are still providing an exceptional experience to its surrounding communities.

The Woodhouse Day Spa – Nolan Creek is located in Historic Downtown Belton on Main Street. Our new location offers 5,000 square feet of beautifully

curated tranquility and relaxation. It offers 4 facial rooms, 7 massage rooms with two of them having our beautiful tubs for bath cures, 3 nail stations, 2 quiet rooms, men’s and women’s locker rooms, infrared sauna and our spa boutique. We offer, massages, body treatments, manicures, pedicures, facials, waxing services and infrared sauna. Enjoy one of our many services, or try out one of signature spa services such as the Signature Calming Retreat & Signature Sculp Facial. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner our couples’ services are always a hit. Enjoy our couples’ bath treatments followed by an

Sculpt Facial

This treatment combines facial massage, microcurrent technology, and Gua Sha techniques to lift and sculpt the skin, leaving you glowing.

Intention: Lifted + toned skin + reduced puffiness

Recommended for: All skin types

Woodhouse Calming Retreat

Seven specialized treatments combine for head-totoe bliss, beginning with a full-body exfoliation and

Located

80 min couples’ massage. Upon arrival our guests are changed down into plush robes and are then met with a variety of warm and relaxing teas to help them slip into a state of complete relaxation or they can enjoy a signature Woodhouse Mimosa or glass of wine in our luxurious quiet room between services.

Every day at the Woodhouse we get the opportunity to transform lives of our guest and to exceed their expectations to enjoy a blissful experience of moods and moments that they will take out into the world. We can’t wait for you to experience the Woodhouse way.

a therapeutic stone massage. Then, a specialized neck and shoulder massage to release upper body tension, followed by acupressure and a massage of the scalp. A foot scrub and the restorative ancient art of reflexology complete this holistic experience.

Intention: A multi-sensory experience

Recommended for: A full-body experience

Dinner and movie with your favorite guy - dad!

Doors open 1 hour in advance

Evening includes dinner, dessert, drink, popcorn, movie, photo booth & more! Full menu of Candy, Cold Drinks and MORE available for purchase all evening!

Evening Includes: Concert, 3 Course Dinner, Bottomless Champagne and Fountain Drinks, Popcorn and Props for the Movie

Over the Plate Catering and Cooking Class

1118 S. 29th Street, Temple 254-630-3757

www.overtheplatecatering.com

Price: $179 per couple

Over the Plate, Valentine’s Date Night Cooking Class

Tuesday, February 14th • 6pm-9pm

In this hands-on class you and your loved one will create and share a meal together. The delicious menu consists of:

Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, Coffee Rubbed NY Strip Steak Kabobs with Chimichurri Sauce,Creamy Brussel Sprout Bake, Hasselback

Potatoes with Garlic Butter, Croissant Bread Pudding with Caramel and Chocolate Sauce.

Class is BYOB, light snack, aprons, glass, openers and water provided.

Lake Serenity Ranch is a beautiful 20 acre lakefront wedding and eco-glamping resort facility located in Rogers - Temple area, and one hour north of Austin, Texas.

PALMERAS TEX-MEX CON SABOR

HALABIS DELIVER ELEGANT AND UPSCALE CASUAL DINING

By JANNA ZEPP | Photos by SKEEBO

Sexy, minimalist, elegant and upscale casual describe Palmeras restaurant in Harker Heights and that is all by Mike Halabi’s design with input from his sons, Jad, and Daniel.

The Halabis, under Mike’s leadership, wanted something special when opening the restaurant, so they opted for a Pan-Latin American-inspired menu that takes Tex-Mex cuisine favorites in new directions.

“I am very particular about everything I do,”

Mike says, arranging each dish he brings to us for photos for this story. “Everything must be quality. Nothing less is acceptable.”

Mike knows. He’s been in the hospitality industry for more than 40 years, and he is passing his tradition of excellence to his children.

“From the food to the craft cocktails, everything has Dad’s mark on it,” Jad says. “I’m working on

Mike Halabi runs Palemeras with his sons Jad and Daniel.

getting in shape for a Caribbean cruise coming up and it’s hard because everything from our bar is outstanding and I’m having to say ‘No’ to myself until I come back from my trip.”

The Halabi name is famous in Central Texas for expert hospitality in many different aspects. Mike, Jad and Daniel work hard every day to back it up in their own endeavors.

“We have adjusted our prices on our menus because times are hard for everyone right now and we don’t want to deny anyone a great culinary experience,” Mike says. “It is important that we make that known. Please come, enjoy, and know that we are thinking of you in everything we do.”

Watching Daniel move from table to table, greeting customers and helping serve, underscores that dedication to customers and their satisfaction. All three men of the Halabi family go nonstop at the restaurant, especially on Friday and Saturday nights, when there is live music and a big crowd.

Anyce and Blake Mascari of Killeen say they love coming to Palmeras to have a meal and relax. Anyce works for Omega Homes and Blake owns and runs The Wrap Professor in the area.

“I absolutely love this place,” Anyce says. “It’s kind of our favorite place to unwind after work.”

Palmeras is open earlier in the week as well for those who want a quieter, yet equally fine experience when dining.

“Our weekends really get packed,” Mike says.

“That’s when we really get the adrenaline rush of serving Central Texas,” Jad says. “It’s not just hospitality, it’s performance art.”

IF YOU GO

Address: 201 E. Central Texas Expressway, Suite 1460, Harker Heights

Phone: 254-892-4323

Website: palmerastexmex.com

Blake and Anyce Mascari of Killeen love to unwind at Palmeras.

Fire Base Brewing Company

VETERAN’S TEMPLE TAPROOM HAS A MILITARY THEME

By RACHEL STRICKLAND ZEPP | Photos courtesy

The true soldier fights, not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.” This G.K. Chesterton quote is displayed prominently on Fire Base Brewing Company’s website, and it perfectly encompasses what they’re all about: respect for the United States military and a focus on the community. In May 2020, J.D. McBride and Stacy Zemp opened Fire Base Brewing and became Temple’s first craft brewery, and they’ve been going strong ever since.

The idea for the brewery came in 2017 when the couple was living in Washington state. McBride had just come back from a deployment in eastern Africa and was close to military retirement when he realized he didn’t want to work for the government anymore. He’d already been home brewing for

several years, so when he jokingly suggested that they open a brewery wherever they retired, it just made sense.

The couple has always loved visiting breweries all over the country. “We really enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere of them all,” McBride says. “And one of the bigger things for me was how most of them were somehow involved with their community. So, it wasn’t just about the beer.”

McBride was a supply sergeant in the Army and the Marine Corps, and he was stationed with cavalry units for three of his four combat deployments. According to McBride, “fire base” is the military term for a forward firing position for field artillery during combat. Because of his time spent deployed overseas, it made sense for McBride to have a military-themed brewery.

McBride learned to brew sometime in 2015 when he and Zemp were stationed in Hawaii. He was about to have knee surgery and wanted something to look forward to and to take his mind off things. He found a small beer-making kit at Bed Bath and Beyond, and he decided to give it a shot. “It tasted pretty good,” he says. “I didn’t have to dump anything down the drain, so that was a good thing.” From there, he began to dabble with creating his own recipes. “It was self-taught trialand-error with a lot of drinking market research,” he says, laughing.

McBride creates all the beer recipes at Fire Base, and he is involved in brewing the batches as well. As far as types of beer on tap, he says they don’t limit themselves to any one kind. “We prefer to focus on traditional style beers,” he says. They always have 13 beers on tap, as well as a hard cider. “We have everything from the light, easy drinking pilsners and cultures to the dark, heavier stouts, and everything in between,” McBride says. “We do our best to appeal to everybody’s flavor profile and try to push people to open their palates as far as craft beers are concerned.”

McBride also names all the beers on tap at Fire Base, and most of them clearly have a military theme, including Amber Waves and Staff Duty Coffee Stout. But a few have very personal meanings to McBride. “The very first beer I ever named is called Fiddler’s Green,” he says. “It’s our American Pale Ale, and that one is very near

of FIRE BASE BREWING COMPANY

and dear to my heart.” According to military lore, Fiddler’s Green is a place where fallen service members go after they die, and over time, it has become closely associated with the 1st Cavalry Division. “I just wanted to pay homage to my three combat deployments with the cavalry over in Iraq,” McBride says. Fire Base’s wheat beer, called Joe’s

Wheaty Wheat, was named after a retired chief warrant officer McBride was stationed with at Fort Lewis in Washington. And one of their pilsners, called Where Beagles Dare, is a play on the movie Where Eagles Dare, and is a tribute to his friend’s beagles.

If beer isn’t your thing, Fire Base also has several types of wine, and there’s surely something for everyone. Zemp says they carry wines from Moose & Goose and Dancing Bee, two local wineries, as well as some white wine mix blends, some Cabernets, and a Moscato.

The brewery itself has a strong military theme. “We tried to make it look like a couple of soldiers put it together…because a couple of soldiers put it together,” McBride says, laughing. On the righthand side as you walk in the door, there’s a brick wall layered with concrete and plaster. He says the wall reminded him of some of the buildings he’d stayed in while deployed in Iraq, so he decided

Fire Base Brewing events include Oktoberfest and trivia nights, where teams compete for the golden toilet trophy.

to leave it the way it was. “It’s pretty awesome to see soldiers that have been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan walk in for the first time and see the wall. They kind of point at it and give a quizzical look like, ‘Was that on purpose?’ And I say, ‘it reminds you of Iraq, doesn’t it?’ And they’re like, ‘Yeah, it gave me goosebumps.’”

Aside from the unique wall, the brewery also has a beer cooler called the Hooch, which is in reference to the makeshift huts that soldiers make from plywood and netting when stationed overseas. There are also unit flags that were gifted from some of the brewery’s patrons, as well as patches from all five military branches. In the back of the brewery, there is a little space for the Local Police Association and the Firefighter Association called the Ring of Honor. According to McBride, it’s a place for “those that aren’t necessarily military-related, but still do some great stuff for the community and put their lives in front of others.”

While there’s no food provided by Fire Base, there is a rotation of local food trucks. “We try to focus where we can on veteran-owned businesses,” Zemp says. Every month, they host a First Friday block party in front of the brewery where they allow veteran-owned businesses to set up shop, free of charge. “We like to help where we can in getting those small businesses going because we’re one of

them,” Zemp adds.

Though there are several other small craft breweries in the area, Fire Base holds its own in many ways. Not only were they the first locally owned brewery in Temple, but they also do a lot to help the community. This past holiday season, they ran a toy drive for the Temple Police Department’s Blue Santa Program, and they’ve also made some fundraising beers for nonprofits in Texas and around the country. One of the biggest fundraisers they did was for the 13 service members who lost their lives in a terrorist attack in Afghanistan in 2021.

There’s a welcoming feeling in Fire Base that’s palpable, and that’s just what the couple wanted for their brewery. Zemp says that one of the best parts about Fire Base is that it has become a great place to make friends. “A lot of people come to the brewery and meet new people. And that’s what we wanted. I don’t know how we managed it, but we did,” she says. McBride adds to this sentiment by saying, “You could be new, but you’ll be family before you leave. Everybody who comes in gets razzed a little bit, and we give them a hard time here and there, especially once we get to know them better,” he says, laughing. “That’s what we do in the military. We give each other a hard time, but it’s because we love each other.”

IF YOU GO

Address: 8 S. First St., Temple

Phone: 254-598-2345

Email: contact@firebasebrewing.com

Website: firebasebrewing.com

Taproom Hours: 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday

Wade Rawlston performs at Fire Base Brewing.

John and Erika Evans run Wilson Valley Mercantile. Their dog Pig likes to explore the farm.

WILSON VALLEY MERCANTILE

EVANS FAMILY KEEPS SPIRIT OF TEXAS FARMING ALIVE

By JANNA ZEPP | Photos by SKEEBO

Nearly 160 years ago, six brothers traveled from Alabama and Mississippi to the Little River in Central Texas to make a new life for themselves after the Civil War.

Jim, John, Ben, Leonard, Rier and William Wilson traveled in wagons to Texas. Jim, a preacher, came first in 1866. The other five brothers followed, looking to connect with Jim. They camped in the area for the night and had almost given up hope of finding their brother when one of the boys silenced the group.

“Listen, I hear old Logan’s bell,” he said. Logan was the name of an ox owned by Jim Wilson. Sure enough, they located Jim’s camp, and the six Wilson families — plus two or three other families who had come with them — all camped in the valley that first year under a huge oak tree in what is now the eastern side of Bell County, near Little River-Academy. The family farm, established in 1867, remains there to this day. And on it, descendants of those Wilson brothers continue to farm there. Among them, the Evans family whom a Wilson (John’s great-grandmother) married into.

Evans Ranch is just outside of Little River in Wilson Valley and has been involved with corn, wheat, oats, soybeans, cotton, milo, cattle and the movement of those commodities for more than 150 years. The ranch currently specializes in quality stock feed, deer corn and trucking.

The ranch has been recognized by the state for a century of continuous operation, making Evans Ranch part of an elite group of Texans in agriculture. That is a pretty big deal if you know your Texas history and the current state of American farming.

“We’ve had to change with the times to keep the farming business alive,” said John Evans, owner of the ranch. “One of those adjustments has been the creation of Wilson Valley Mercantile.”

John, his wife, Erica, and the ranch hands raise English/Continental crossbred cattle, purebred Charolais cattle in Bell County and Brahman crossbred, purebred cattle in Victoria and Lavaca County. In addition to the aforementioned crops of corn, wheat, oats and cotton, they also grow sesame, rye and barley, of which they use some of those grains in the distillery.

Did I mention they just opened a distillery?

That’s the Evans Ranch’s relationship to Wilson Valley Mercantile. The mercantile opened last fall. The name honors the Wilsons who ran an actual mercantile in the early 20th century, constructing the original building in 1911 and selling everything from nails to coffins. The building later was home to Wayne Shirley’s popular restaurant. Inside Wilson Valley Mercantile are remnants of the original mercantile, including the safe and the cash register. Everything on site, new or old, is a tribute to the area and the family’s history.

“We are Bell County’s first farm distillery,” John, as he took me on a tour of operations. “We are a farm to glass experience steeped in history and endeavor to grow every ingredient in our spirits.”

The mercantile itself is something of a museum, distillery, tasting room, event venue, music hall and a place to buy what the farm has to sell, including bottled spirits. In November, the first five barrels of Wilson Valley Three Way Bourbon were barreled.

“Our 3 Way is made up of three grains grown at Evans Ranch, Inc. That’s corn, wheat and oats grown right here in Bell County just outside Little River,” John says as we’re standing in front of his distilling equipment that looks like something straight out of a Dr. Seuss illustration. “We have a gin tower on this thing, but it’s real messy to make gin. If there’s enough demand for gin, we’ll look into making it, but I think I’ll use separate equipment for that.”

The bottled whiskeys available for purchase are Wilson Valley Mercantile’s Little River Premium Vodka, Wilson Valley Three Way Bourbon, Little River Straight Bourbon and Broken Post White Whiskey.

John does a lot of his work on a 1962 John Deere 3010. He says it was the 40th tractor of that model built that year. “It belonged to our neighbor and relative Melvin Garner, and W.C. (John’s father) bought it sometime around when Uncle Melvin retired from farming. I think we are the second owner since it was new.”

When you visit Wilson Valley Mercantile, you might take home a package of Evans Ranch, Inc. ribeyes, T-bones, sirloins, roasts or some ground beef. They’re sold by the cut. On occasion, they also have quarter half and whole freezer beef

available. They even have branded apparel. Hometown hospitality Wilson Valley Mercantilestyle is not all about the whiskey, after all.

“I make the charcuterie plates we sell when the tasting room is open,” Erica says. “When I can’t sleep, I look at Pinterest for great ideas, then I take ‘em and make ‘em up for WVM. I can’t stop creating. It’s fun.”

Erica teaches school when she’s not farming or hostessing at Wilson Valley Mercantile. She pours her heart and soul in all of it.

I and two of my friends visited the tasting room on a cool December night last year and sampled WVM’s liquid wares and Erica’s charcuterie platter. Watching regular customers come in to celebrate birthdays and other family events was like watching a scene out of one of those Hallmark Christmas movies, right down to the hometown couple being lauded at a baby shower. Erica’s face lit up when I told her what we thought. “Oh my gosh, I love those movies! I can’t get enough of them,” she replied. “That just makes me so delighted to think we can make that happen here!”

Building up Wilson Valley Mercantile began in 2018. The Evans credit a whole lot of folks with help in launching it. John says Justin Gregory, mixologist and associate distiller, also helped with construction. Justin’s wife, Jerrica, often helps run the tasting room. Nick and Dannyelle Turner: Nick helped with construction and they both help in the

tasting room from time to time. Chris and Amanda Southerland are employees who might as well be family. Amanda runs the office. Chris is John’s “right hand.”

“Both play a huge role in the ranch and distillery. Amanda probably made 1,000 trips to get pieces and parts we needed, Chris and myself did most of the welding on the primary and secondary structural steel for the building,” John says. “I also want to remember Bill Cody Southerland, Chris' older brother. He did a lot of work on the building with welding, fabricating, and the electrical. He passed in a car wreck in May.”

Bill Cody left behind six children. His loss continues to be deeply felt by the community and the WVM family.

If you visit WVM to sample the whiskeys or the vodka or craft cocktails, and if the spirit moves you (God or the grain variety), raise a glass. To Bill Cody, to good people, entrepreneurship, or to 160plus years of farming history that built this place, raise a glass. Bring friends and family. Make your own Hallmark movie moments in Central Texas. Life’s too short not to.

IF YOU GO

Address: 2421 Wilson Valley Loop, Little River

Phone: 254-982-4265

Email: info@wilsonvalley.com

Website: wilsonvalley.com

ELLE DAY SPA AND SALON

READY TO FEEL EXTRA SPECIAL?

Elle Day Spa and Salon in Cove offers a diverse range of services to make you look and feel your best. You can look forward to products from Redken, Pureology, Olaflex & Skin Strip.

“Elle features the finest hair designers, waxing specialists, massage therapists, skin & nail technicians, along with lash extension specialists in the Central Texas area,” We’re ready to service the entire family. “With positive energy and a unique team atmosphere, we invite you to be part of the only upscale salon that can exceed all of your beauty needs.”

1009 W Business 190 Suite 110 Copperas Cove, TX 76522 254-518-2201

elledayspaandsalon.com

The Gun Range

There’s no better way to spend a day than honing your shooting skills to perfection at The Gun Range in Killeen. The indoor shooting facility on South Fort Hood Street offers unlimited shooting all day, rather than by-the-hour like some other ranges.

“We’re a state-of-the-art indoor gun range,” according to The Gun Range. “We also stock and order from these great brands: Glock, Sig Sauer, Canik, Springfield Armory and Smith & Wesson, among others.”

In addition to its range and gun sales, business also offers gunsmithing services and license to carry classes.

The Gun Range offers discounts for all veterans and members of the military or law enforcement. Call for more information.

2401 S Fort Hood St Killeen, TX 76549 254-781-2166 thegunrangeusa.com

Memberships are available for as low as $50 per month.

Memberships have many perks that can save you thousands of dollars a year. Or you as a person may purchase a day pass for $30 and receive unlimited shooting for that whole day during our hours of operation.

Olive Charcuterie

ARMY WIFE TURNS HOBBY INTO THRIVING SMALL BUSINESS

By RACHEL STRICKLAND | Photos courtesy of BIANCA BOWEN

There are a few key elements to making any event or party a success, but arguably one of the most important is offering good food. Just about everyone will agree that any party, wedding, or corporate event is better with a smorgasbord of food to snack on. Charcuterie boards seem to have grown in popularity in the last few years, and they are the perfect mixture of an aesthetic arrangement and yummy snack food that is sure to enhance any type of event. While charcuterie boards are easy enough to make, having a one that is beautifully assembled at your event is unmatched. Enter Olive Charcuterie, a small catering company based in Killeen that offers charcuterie boards and grazing tables that are truly works of art.

Bianca Bowen, owner and creator of Olive Charcuterie, wears many hats for her small business: she is the marketer, photographer, videographer, shopper, artist and delivery person. Bowen says that while she had the vision for the business, she gives some of the credit to her husband. “He has always believed in me and wanted me to do something that I was passionate about,” she says.

“He’s also made a couple of deliveries for me,” she adds, laughing. The unique name of Bowen’s small business comes from her husband’s love of olives and her love of charcuterie. As a bonus, the name sounds like “I love charcuterie.”

Bowen started Olive Charcuterie in March 2022 after a backyard picnic with her husband lead to a discussion about their plans for the future. Bowen’s husband is in the military, and she wanted to bring in some extra income by doing something that she enjoyed, while being able to set her own schedule so that she could be

there for her kids. Creating charcuterie boards had been a hobby of hers for a while, so that seemed like a no-brainer for her new gig.

“My husband and I love to entertain and drink wine, and what better appetizer to make than a charcuterie board?” she says. “My friends and family always told me I needed to make a business out of it. The only regret I have is not taking the leap and starting sooner.” She finally decided to take the plunge and posted some photos of a few boards that she’d made on a local for-sale Facebook page, just to see if there was any interest. Business has been nonstop since then, she says.

Bowen specializes in an assortment of charcuterie boards, boxes, cups and letters, as well as grazing tables for parties of 25 or more. She says

she also can customize the boards for clients, including dietary restrictions. “The possibilities are almost endless,” she says.

Olive Charcuterie is unique because every order is made personally for each client. Bowen says that if an order is for a special occasion, she does her best to go above and beyond to show her appreciation for her client’s business. “I like to make my charcuterie boards an experience you haven’t had before and want to keep coming back for more,” she says.

Most of Bowen’s orders come through her business page on Facebook, but she also accepts orders via text or email. Since starting Olive Charcuterie, she began marketing on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. “Sometimes I feel like I’m in my 60s trying to learn all the new trends and

best way to advertise my business,” she says jokingly. She adds that creating charcuterie boards is an art form, and one of her favorite parts about what she does is when her clients put their trust in her and tell her to do her thing.

“Everyone has shown so much support by visiting my social media platforms, recommending my business, and, of course, placing orders,” she says. “I am so thankful to everyone who has supported me and watched me grow this year. I had no idea that I would be where I am today so quickly.”

TO PLACE AN ORDER

Text 573-452-3148 or email olivecharcuterie22@gmail.com. Find and follow Olive Charcuterie on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

What’s Your Texas Sign?

TRADITIONAL ZODIAC GETS A LONE STAR TWIST

Story and illustrations

By JANNA ZEPP

Iremember, back in my 1970s childhood, picking up my mother’s women’s magazines and reading the horoscopes in them. It was fun to see the predictions for Sagittarius (my sign) and those of my mom (Cancer) and dad (Aquarius). When I became Tex Appeal’s editor, I thought about having a horoscope section in the magazine, but never got around to creating one. I know enough about the pseudo-science of astrology to have fun with it, but I’m not quite skilled enough to do actual star charts and in-depth “reading of the stars.”

Still, if Tex Appeal had a horoscope section, what would it look like?

To determine how to create our own Texas astrology, we need to look at the most popular astrology paths first.

Traditional Western astrology is based on the movements of the heavenly bodies, their positions in the sky at the date and time of a person’s birth, and the geographic location where the individual was born.

In Asian, particularly Chinese astrology, the signs go in 12-year cycles. It depends on the particular year during which an individual is born. This year, 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit or Cat, depending on which version one consults. People born in a year of the Rabbit are called “Rabbits” and are believed to be vigilant, witty, quick-minded and ingenious.

Texan astrology would, like other versions, rely on animals for signs. I have named the 12 signs of the Texas Zodiac for our official and unofficial state animals, with names in both English and Spanish in the style of loteria cards to honor our Spanish/Mexican heritage and because I love the artwork of that game. My Spanish was checked by a friend fluent in Spanish, so if it’s wrong, you can blame José.

By the way, loteria is a traditional game of chance, and what is astrology but a means of bettering one’s chances at life? The name is the Spanish word for lottery and is often referred to as Mexican bingo, where illustrated cards depicting the Mexican aesthetic replace bingo balls. One of these days, I will play it.

But let’s get back on track. To simplify the Texas Zodiac, a person’s sign would depend on the month in which they were born and where in the Lone Star State’s particular regions they were born, such as North Texas, South Texas, East and West Texas, to determine individual characteristics that modify how each sign

presents based on each person born under it. Use your imagination for that.

Beyond that, believers in astrology are on their own when it comes to the signs of the Texas Zodiac. In my own estimation, the following general descriptions of each are as follows:

The Mockingbird/El Sinsonte (January): Mockingbirds are highly intellectual and creative. Marked by independence, nobody gets to tell them what to do. Occasionally social, Mockingbirds are not likely to participate in social interactions unless they truly want to. They are “ideas” people, never suffering from a lack of inspiration. They can be a little aggressive, especially when you come too close to their nests. El Paso-born and Lubbockborn Mockingbirds are more relaxed than their other regional counterparts. They’re friendly and kind until friendly and kind no longer works. Then, it’s beak out and game ON.

The Blue Lacy Dog/La Lacy Azul (February): The Lacy Blue Dog is the hardest worker of the zodiac and loves nothing more than getting ahead in life. They are ambitious, determined, materialistic and strong. They will keep going when others would've given up ten miles back. This makes Blue Lacys great partners in life, as well as friends or collaborators. Intelligent, intense, active and alert, Blue Lacys display great drive and determination to work at their goals. When young, they may have too much energy and drive for most people, but they are easy to train and learn new skills quickly. This is especially true of South Texas-born Blue Lacys.

The Guadalupe Bass/La Bajo de Guadalupe (March): Bass people effortlessly adapt to their surroundings. These visionary fish have unparalleled access to the collective unconscious through their

clairvoyance and make incredible artists and creative types. Kind and gentle, they’re invigorated by shared experiences of music and romance. Often shy and retiring, Bass people can be bold when the situation requires it, up to and including attacking anyone who gets to invasive in their personal spaces. North Texasborn Guadalupe Bass have a penchant for being over dramatic and a little stormy. It’s probably because they were born and raised so close to the 635 and 75 exchange near North Dallas.

The Armadillo/El Armadillo (April): Armadillos enjoy relaxing in serene, pleasant environments, surrounded by soft sounds, soothing aromas, and succulent flavors. They are drawn to love, beauty, and art, particularly Surrealist art. Most artists are born in the sign of the Armadillo. Austin-born Armadillos are the least Texan of Texans. You’d swear they were from California instead. And while we know Austinites want to “Keep Austin Weird,” some Austin-born Armadillos exhibit an air of “Weirder Than Thou,” which, frankly, can be annoying. When agitated, Armadillos can dig in and refuse to come out of their shells. Sometimes short-sighted, they can freeze at the slightest threat. Keep them away from busy traffic.

The Longhorn/El Cuerno Largo (May): Longhorns are driven by a desire to prove themselves and their strength. They have high energy, and are competitive and ambitious. They naturally take charge because they are good at initiating new projects. Longhorns can also be impatient, but are naturally active and don’t like to waste time. Denying Longhorn people their relaxation time is like waving a red flag at them. Don’t do it or they’ll run you over. It’s better to let them graze at their leisure when it comes to meals. Fort Worth-born Longhorns are the most Texan of Texans and almost

always introduce themselves with what generation Texan they are.

The Western Diamondback Rattlesnake/La Serpiente de Cascabel (June): Rattlesnakes are known for their loyalty and devotion — and also their passion. They have exceptionally deep feelings and emotions, but you will never know by the lack of emotion they often display. Rattlesnakes are often expert poker players. Keep your eyes open at social events because they love to hide in plain sight and you find yourself encountering them without warning. Houston-born Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes are a little more dangerous than the average serpent. Tread carefully.

The Gulf Shrimp/El Camarones de Golfo (July): Nurturing and loyal, Gulf Shrimp are also protective of their loved ones. While reserved, they stand on a foundation of strength — and aren’t afraid to act when they feel it’s necessary. Central Texas-born Gulf Shrimp love to be alone on a beach around dusk because of their introverted natures and not having grown up around the ocean. Gulf Shrimp have a preternatural ability to know things without knowing how they know them. They know, but you won’t know how they know and they know that you don’t know that they know. But now you know.

The Ocelot/El Ocelote (August): Ocelot folks are radiantly joyful, charismatically appealing and fun. They are fiercely proud and confident. They love and live life to the fullest rather than being in charge at home, work and play. Highly social in public, they value their privacy more than their possessions. Invite them to your events, but don’t be offended if they only occasionally show up. They need lots of alone time to recharge their social batteries. West Texas-born

Ocelots crave the company of people and seem to be an exception to the social balance rule, but that’s likely because they never saw a lot of people where they lived while growing up. Ocelots love adventure, particularly in romance. Let them cat around a bit before settling down. They’re fickle in the beginning of relationships, so don’t take it personally if you’re not their only fascination at the moment. That said, don’t put up with the unacceptable. Put that cat out and close the door for good if you must.

The Horned Lizard/El Lagarto Cornudo (September): Horned Lizards or Horned Toads (and a variation on that name thereof) get twitchy if their homes aren’t kept “just so.” Not all, but most are neat freaks. Horned Toads are sticklers for protocols, propriety and appearances. They love luxury. Not necessarily the price tag for that luxury, but if they can find it on sale, they’ll buy it and treasure it. In love, Horned Toads have something of a roaming eye (not one that squirts blood at their enemies, but it can get them into some trouble). It’s not serious, though. Like shopping, it’s really all about the looking first and finding the best deal. If a Horned Toad loved you enough to marry you, then rest assured, you were — and remain — absolutely the best deal ever. Of course, if it didn’t work out, then they’re wrong and you are still the best deal ever. They’re just stupid and you deserve better.

The Monarch Butterfly/La Mariposa (October): Butterflies must have beauty and harmony in their lives to survive. They need it as much as the rest of us need food, shelter and air to breathe. Monarch Butterflies are some of the most well-turned-out women and men you will ever meet. Their personal tastes are impeccable and their eyes for symmetry, balance, color, texture and form are unmatched. A San Antonioborn Monarch Butterfly will take your breath away with her personal fashion style. Of course, exceptions to this rule exist, and if you know one whose personal taste is all in his or her mouth, you’ve met a rare bug indeed. Their strengths lie elsewhere in the aesthetics department and can likely be easily guided to making better choices. Just say, “Bless your heart,” help them pick out their outfits and leave it at that.

The Mexican Free-Tailed Bat/El Murciélago (November): Sexy, mysterious, intelligent and alluring, the Mexican Free-Tailed Bat fascinates everyone they meet. They can be intense, harsh and extremely emotional. They crave intimacy. They have a powerful presence and demanding personalities. Picture a nuclear reactor and you have the nature of the Bat summed up precisely. Rarely do they blow up, but underneath that cool exterior are seething, hot feelings that, uncontrolled, can be a total disaster. They don’t get mad as much as they get even in the most subtle ways. Bats are natural-born leaders, trusted advisors, and successful business people. Many priests, pastors and other clergy are born in November in the sign of the Mexican Free-Tailed Bat because they are deeply fascinated by the spiritual realm. Bats born in East Texas tend to be a little “goth” in their appearances. It’s probably because of all the pine trees.

The Quarter Horse/El Caballo (December): Quarter Horses are optimistic, lovers of freedom, hilarious, fair-minded, honest and intellectual. They are spontaneous and fun, usually with a lot of friends, and are perhaps the best of conversationalists. Quarter Horse honesty can be brutal, and it is always accurate. If you don’t want to get kicked in the teeth with the truth, don’t ask a Quarter Horse. They look graceful in movement until they trip over their own feet and fly, face first into the mud. Quarter Horses are talented actors, public speakers, athletes, writers, media and medical professionals, and teachers. They love learning for the sake of learning and are always involved in a creative project or hobby. Slightly foolish and often unlucky in love, they make great partners if you’re not too wrapped up in traditional romance and gender stereotypes. San Marcos-born Quarter Horses are generally found in broadcast and/or print media careers writing horoscopes for regional lifestyle magazines.

I hope you enjoyed this little creative foray into “Texas astrology.” I had fun writing it. Please note: if any of this is actually accurate, I apologize. I’m not responsible for any accuracies or inaccuracies you encounter because this was written purely for humor and entertainment. Have fun with it and let me know what you think by emailing editor@texappealmag.com.

Work out at home to meet fitness goals

New Year’s is synonymous with resolutions, typically geared toward wellness and overall health improvement. For many, the start of 2023 may spark motivation to “get in shape” or to “begin an exercise program.” With the all the latest technological advances, achieving your fitness goals is not only accessible but cost-effective as well.

While a fitness center membership is appropriate for some, other people may benefit from working out in the comfort of their home or even the outdoors. Having workout equipment at home is convenient, economical and motivational. With all the available equipment, however, it may be difficult to know which to invest in.

Below are a few ideas to get started; utilize all three with a workout app on your phone and get started today!

KETTLEBELLS

Kettlebells are versatile and durable and offer cardiovascular, strength and stability workouts. With a kettlebell, you can perform almost any exercise recommended for dumbbells and the handle is perfect for cardiovascular swings. There is no need to spend a fortune on an expensive kettlebell, rather choose moderate weight which is heavy enough to offer a challenge but light enough to remain safe with good form. A great kettlebell exercise? The kettlebell swing.

How to perform the kettlebell swing:

• Start in a hinge (hips back, knees

slightly bent, torso leaned forward at 45 degrees) holding the handle of a kettlebell with both hands, arms extended straight toward floor and bell between knees.

• In one motion, squeeze glutes, straighten legs, lift torso, and thrust hips forward, while swinging the weight to shoulder height, keeping your arms straight and core tight.

• Reverse the movement, bringing the kettlebell between your legs. Do this 12-15 times.

RESISTANCE BANDS

Resistance bands offer the ultimate in convenience. They are easy to store and travel with and can be used in a variety of ways for strength training. In some cases, resistance bands can be even more beneficial than dumbbells because more muscles are recruited for stabilization. Additionally, resistance bands are highly inexpensive; nevertheless, be sure to purchase a quality band to avoid snapping of the band during exercise. My favorite? The seated row.

How to perform the seated row:

• Start in a seated position with feet extended straight in front of you, band around both feet.

• Grasp the handlebars of the band to create tension, keeping arms bent to 90 degrees.

• Keep your arms glued to your sides as you pull back, squeezing your shoulder blades together.

• Return to starting position and repeat 12-15 times.

DUMBBELLS

An important component to weight training is a set of dumbbells. Dumbbells are a classic addition to a home gym because they offer everything as workouts can vary from

CAREY STITES MS, RD, LD, CPT

exercises, sets, repetitions to different parts of the body. Additionally, there are many free workouts available online to get you started on a safe and effective workout.

Dumbbells do not have to be expensive-most retail stores offer reasonably priced neoprene dumbbells perfect for a home gym. A classic dumbbell move? The shoulder press.

How to perform the shoulder press:

• Stand with feet hip-width apart, knees soft, and core engaged. Hold a dumbbell in each hand at shoulder height, just outside of shoulders with palms facing forward, and elbows pointing down.

• Exhale while pressing dumbbells directly overhead; wrists stack directly over shoulders and biceps are next to ears. Keep core engaged.

• Reverse the movement so the dumbbells follow the same path to

Assisted Living... at home.

return to starting position. Repeat 12-15 times.

Carey Stites, MS, RD, LD, CPT, is a registered and licensed dietitian in Harker Heights. She obtained a master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from Texas Tech University has been a practicing dietitian since 2001. Carey is also an AFAA certified group fitness instructor and personal trainer; she has promoted health and wellness through presentations, classes, writing and cooking demonstrations all over Texas.

Lots to Explore

WEST BELL COUNTY OFFERS RICH CULTURE FOR RESIDENTS, VISITORS

By JANNA ZEPP | Photos from TEX APPEAL archives

When I first moved to Central Texas nearly 20 years ago, I worked in Killeen. I was an instructor at Central Texas College working for Dr. John Henderson and teaching Introduction to Mass Communication, the first class most college and university students take if they plan on earning a journalism degree of any kind. I went on to work in III Corps Public Affairs on Fort Hood in addition to my adjunct faculty position at the college. I wrote for the Fort Hood Sentinel and I produced and anchored Fort Hood On Track for the Great Place. It took me about three weeks to figure out that an MOS (military occupational specialty) was a J-O-B (job). I got to know Killeen, Harker Heights and Fort Hood quite well in my first 10 years here. So much so, that I met and married a retired sergeant major back when he was still on active duty.

Killeen, Harker Heights and Fort Hood hold dear memories for me and my family. My twin daughters grew up visiting the military museums on post and occasionally eating in a DFAC, Army-speak for a dining facility. My girls learned the Army alphabet so well that I had to stop saying “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot” in front of them. While working in PAO, I helped train soldiers on working confidently with the media without breaching OPSEC (operations security). The area and the Army still figure prominently in our family. My husband, Frank, still

produces an OPORD (operation order) written in Armyese when we clean house.

Something else that the area holds dear to us: local businesses. Our West Bell County community is quite cosmopolitan when it comes to arts, entertainment, culture and dining. You can take a veritable international culinary tour there. Argentina, Venezuela, Germany, Cuba, Jamaica, Greece and most of Asia are represented well in locally owned restaurants. And, standing up for North America, there’s more than just fantastic Tex-Mex and pure Mexican food. Hawaii and Puerto Rico are here too. If I’ve missed a culture’s cuisine, let me know and I’ll write about it in Tex Appeal. I love exotic eats.

The area is great for shopping locally, especially during the holidays. There are more locally owned, new businesses here than anywhere else in the area. If you can’t find what you want in Killeen and Harker Heights, it might well not exist.

The Killeen Mall is still alive and bustling in an age when most malls are dead or dying. My daughters love sampling the throwback to ’80s mall culture that I lived and loved 40 years ago when I was their age. We had fun watching them there getting “scandalized” by the back wall at a chain novelty store that was a staple of my and Frank’s Generation X adolescence. Most of their hip, fashionable clothes come from over there.

Arts and entertainment abound if you know where to look. Downtown has begun to come back to life and there are murals from local artists on buildings as well as other art forms to be seen. The area is home to more than a few popular entertainers such as singer Rose Short, rapper Danny!, American actress, businesswoman, film producer, and philanthropist Denise DuBarry Hay, and Brother Nature, aka, Kelvin Peña, all of whom were either born in Killeen or grew up here.

For all the comings and goings of residents, military and civilian, the Killeen area has a small-town feel. The “lifers,” folks who’ve lived here all their lives, retired out of the services here, or ended up here purely by accident and stayed like I did all seem to know each other well. There’s a nice social life over there and y’all ought to go check it out.

We moved away from Killeen and down to our place in Salado when my girls started school. We then moved up to Temple about seven years ago

to be closer to our jobs, and I confess that I am not as knowledgeable about the things to do and see around West Bell County as I once was. I don’t get over there as much as I’d like to, but I plan to remedy that soon. In fact, I’m now back living in Salado full time so I can get to both sides of the county a little easier for the magazine, not to mention that my girls have gone to school here since they were in kindergarten. I also miss experiencing every day the vigorous, youthful, international culture that the Army and other military branches bring to Killeen. I try to include stories from the western end of our county in every issue because the folks over there mean as much to me as the folks over on the eastern side.

For that reason, I’m asking y’all that live in West Bell County to write me an email at editor@ texappealmag.com and let me know what you know. In fact, I invite all y’all — regardless of where you reside in Bell or surrounding counties — to write me any kind of email about Central Texas, even if it’s not about West Bell Co. and especially questions about things about the area you don’t understand and want to know more about. We’ll print them here in our Being Central Texan feature, and I’ll do my best to find the answers for you. You and I will learn together. Just keep it civil and keep your language clean, like I know you will because your mamas and grandmamas raised you right.

We want to include everybody. And I DO mean EVERYBODY, because Central Texas is wonderfully diverse and fascinating. With ALL y’all’s help, we can make it happen.

Bryn Oaks Bed & Breakfast is in the heart of charming downtown Belton, Texas.

Bell County’s First Farm Distillery, nestled in Wilson Valley just outside Little River, TX. Our family helped settle the area in 1867.

Bryn Oaks Bed & Breakfast

HISTORIC BELTON HOME NOW A RELAXING RETREAT

By RACHEL STRICKLAND | Photos courtesy of RHONDA EGGLESTON

Downtown Belton is rife with gorgeous, historic houses and buildings that date back to the 1800s. One such home located on Main Street has been converted into a lovely bed and breakfast with much of the original 1878 construction still intact. Rhonda Eggleston, owner of Bryn Oaks Bed & Breakfast, purchased the property in March 2019 and, after some renovations and upgrades, officially opened the doors of the B&B that October.

The story that led to Eggleston’s purchase of the house is a convoluted one, she says. Her daughterin-law’s parents were thinking of settling in Belton when they got out of the Air Force, and so they looked at the house, but ultimately decided to live in Lufkin instead. But the house stayed with Eggleston, and she couldn’t get it out of her head. She felt like the layout was perfect for a bed and breakfast — all it needed was a little TLC. “It bothered me that this historic house was going

into such disrepair,” she says. About three years later, the house came on the market again, and she decided to go for it.

While Eggleston saw the house’s potential for a bed and breakfast, cooking is where her real passion lies. She makes just about all the food served at the B&B from scratch. In fact, there are a few menu items that are only available at Bryn Oaks, including a lemon rosemary muffin. “I’m constantly looking for new things to make and testing recipes,” she says. “What I’m working on right now is a brown butter toffee pear muffin.” Some of the delicious items on the menu include German puffed pancakes with a fruit topping, jalapeño cheese grits, and traditional Czech kolaches.

The house itself has an interesting history. According to Eggleston, a man named John Q. Allen built the house in 1878. She’s been told that his family owned the house until the 1950s, at which point, it changed hands frequently. A man who owned it in the ’90s replaced the window air conditioning units with central air found the original chandeliers from when they put electricity in the house in the early 1900s. Those chandeliers are now hanging in the public areas in the house. Additionally, the spiral staircase is still made of the original maple from when the house was built in 1878.

The land is just under and acre and spans the entire width of the block. Bryn Oaks encompasses the historic house on Main Street and the duplex on Pearl Street. The main house has four rooms: two upstairs and two on the ground floor. The Bob Bunker Room, the downstairs room closest to the parking lot, has ADA accommodations, including wheelchair accessibility. All the rooms in the main house have en suite bathrooms and each have their own unique amenities, such as porch access or a private sitting room. The Posada is on the backside of the property, and it has two duplex-style suites that are both child and pet friendly. Each suite has a full kitchen, full bath, washer and dryer unit, day bed, and King bed. Some of the amenities boasted on their website include spacious suites, relaxing views, and delectable breakfast dishes.

The story behind the bed and breakfast’s name is two-fold. Bryn is Welsh in origin, just like Eggleston, and it means “hill.” Put together, the name means “hill of oaks.” She says that recently, there was a couple staying at Bryn Oaks from Wales, and they were so excited to stay somewhere that honored the Welsh language on their first trip to the United States. “We made that connection [with them],

and now we have a standing invitation to go visit them when we go to see our friends in Ireland,” Eggleston says.

All sorts of people stay at Bryn Oaks, including folks involved with events at the Expo Center, newlyweds, and parents visiting their kids at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Some people

just find Bryn Oaks on Google and like the look of the photos online and decide to book a stay for a weekend getaway.

“I just had some gals this weekend who were here for a girlfriend weekend and found me online,” Eggleston says. “One was from Dallas, and one was from Houston. They met in the middle, and they chose my B&B.” She says their location is especially convenient because they’re so close to downtown Belton, as well as Temple and even Salado.

According to Eggleston, Bryn Oaks is unique because of its homey atmosphere and the fact that it’s situated right in the middle of downtown Belton, which has a great small-town vibe. “I think one of the biggest things that people are surprised

about is everything that goes on every weekend in downtown Belton,” Eggleston says. “We just had our Chisholm Day last weekend in Belton, and my guests from Dallas came back and said that it’s just so family friendly.” It’s clear that Eggleston loves the community that she facilitates through her bed and breakfast. “I think what we offer here is a just a true, small-town feel,” she says. “The city’s doing a fantastic job here in Belton, and it’s been great to be part of that.”

IF YOU GO

Address: 410 N. Main St., Belton

Phone: 254-291-3240

Email: rhonda@brynoaksbnb.com

Website: brynoaksbnb.com

THE FIRST STEP TOWARD STUDENT SUCCESS IS Being Present in Class

The spring semester can feel like it lasts forever. The days begin to lengthen, the school calendar is a little longer, and there are fewer holidays and breaks. This seemingly drawn-out semester can cause students, and sometimes parents, to feel that a few absences here and there won’t make a difference in their education. However, when combining these “few absences” with the busyness of the spring, what started as a little time missed from academics can suddenly become an overwhelming wall of missed information.

As with many things in education, the old cliches contain an element of truth. Like my old band directors used to say, “Showing up is the first step to success.” For students to do well in school, they need to be present for instruction. Students can make remarkable academic gains in a few short weeks with instruction and support as needed. Therefore, teachers are often not only teaching the material students need to learn, but are also providing targeted help, or intervention, for specific students in specific areas as need arises. All of this means that the more present a student is in class, the more likely they are to learn new information and skills and get help growing those skills when they struggle.

Additionally, parents may not realize that not only does Texas require attendance for students enrolled in public school, but the state may not grant a student credit for coursework if the students fails to attend less than 90% of the time that school is in session. For most school calendars, this 90% rule equates to no more than nine non-school related absences a semester. The 90% rule can be further complicated for our middle and high school students because it applies not just to a school day, but to individual classes. For example, a high school student who frequently struggles to make it to first period, but is present for the rest of the day may still need to make up the missed first-period minutes. Not only do these absences cost the student in terms of missed coursework and time, but they also literally cost a school district. A significant portion of a district’s funding is based on the number of students enrolled and the daily attendance rate. So, poor attendance on a large scale can affect a district’s budget. This in

turn may affect the ability to offer students the best educational opportunities.

Most importantly, the more students are present, the more they can engage in classes and activities they enjoy such as sports, theater, art, music, agriculture, career and technology classes, and a variety of clubs and organizations. These courses and activities are a great way for students to gain skills beyond the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic, and might even be the reason students want to come to school.

As students move into middle and high school, these activities often include tournaments, competitions, field trips and community service projects. This is where the busyness of the spring semester can make attendance even more important. For example, a high school student who plays baseball, raises animals for ag competitions and plays trumpet in the jazz band could potentially miss 15 to 20 days of school for various activities off-campus throughout the spring semester. Participating in these influential extracurricular activities that students love and that teach important life lessons is an integral part of the middle and high school experience, which is why attendance in class on those non-competition days is so important. Solid attendance allows our students to stay caught up on classwork while still being able to take advantage of the characterbuilding opportunities schools offer.

Truthfully, I miss my students when they’re absent. Each student adds their individual personality and insights to our classes. We, as teachers, want all those voices to be a daily part of the learning communities that we are building in our classrooms.

Johna Underwood teaches English at Gatesville High School.

JOHNA UNDERWOOD

The 90% rule can be further complicated for our middle and high school students because it applies not just to a school day, but to individual classes.

Fort Hood’s Big Footprint

ARMY INSTALLATION PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN AREA’S HISTORY

By RHONDA BLACKLOCK Photo from TEX APPEAL archives

Growing up in Belton, Fort Hood has always had a booming presence in the community, pun intended!

When the house began to shake and rattle, we would hustle to secure the art on the walls and anything valuable on the shelves. It wasn't an inconvenience, just a part of our lives. When my sister and I became teenagers, my mother forbade us to venture west of Nolanville. It was no place for us girls.

Little did we know, she hoped to protect us from young soldiers stationed at Fort Hood. Not that they were dangerous, but surely, in her fears, we'd be swept off our feet and moved far away from her care. I chuckle now because I didn't have any care to go too far from my childhood home. Now I am preparing to marry a man who came to Central Texas, from Pennsylvania, by way of the U.S. Army, and my mom LOVES him, but I digress.

I never really gave much thought to Fort Hood. It seemed far away and a foreign land. You pass the main entrance gate, and if you're not a part of that family, you don't know what kind of life exists on the other side. With the recent 80th birthday of the base, I paused and pondered its origins and all the men and women who have served our nation right here in Central Texas.

Soon after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, and the United States became involved in World War II, it was decided that a tank destroyer and tactical firing center would be established near Killeen.

Ever wonder about the name General Bruce Drive in Temple? The

major roadway was named for Gen. Andrew D. Bruce, the first commander of Camp Hood. More than 100,000 acres were quickly acquired by the government for that purpose. Many locals, some willingly, gave up farmland that had been in their families for decades, for the good of the nation. In April 1942, the 893rd Tank Destroyer Battalion arrived, and Camp Hood officially opened on Sept. 18, 1942. Some 100,000 soldiers were trained for the war effort in Central Texas. Some 4,000 German POWs were also held in an internment camp at Camp Hood. Since then, the post has continuously served as an armored training center. The vast area of Fort Hood now spans 218,000 acres, covering parts of southwestern Bell County and southeastern Coryell County.

After World War II, the number of troops decreased drastically, but the temporary training camp was designated a permanent Army

installation and officially named Fort Hood in 1950. Since then, Fort Hood has deployed thousands of troops during times of war and has been a training and testing site for new equipment and tactics.

Did you know Elvis Presley was stationed at Fort Hood? He spent eight weeks in basic military training in the 2nd Armored Division. He arrived on March 28, 1958. He and his parents rented a home in Killeen — at 605 Oakhill Drive — that is still visited by his fans.

Other famous folks with ties to Fort Hood include Jackie Robinson, Anna Todd and Robert Griffin III.

To learn more about the history of Fort Hood, which will soon be renamed Fort Cavazos, check out its new museum, the National Mounted Warrior Museum, which is expected to open this summer.

I can't wait to get over there to find more interesting tidbits about the post’s past and its place in our future.