Tex Appeal | Winter 2021-22

Life and Style in Central Texas

Winter 2021-22

Deeper meaning MY GIVING TREE SO MUCH MORE THAN GIFTS, ART FOR OWNER

Show goes on TEMPLE CIVIC THEATRE HITS 300 PERFORMANCES

Perfect presents SHOP LOCAL THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Personal touch

OPAL X JUNE OFFERS CUSTOM JEWELRY, COMMUNITY CONNECTION

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Garlyn Shelton

LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES ISSUE

INDEX

24

Temple Civic Theatre passes 300 performances

28

My Giving Tree more than a name for owner Leila Valchar

34

Faith, fashion, and fellowship working together for customers at Hidden Treasures Boutique

38

Two girls participate in PBS KNCT-TV @iYouthChat, a program of IMPAC Outreach. | 8

ON THE COVER

6 7 8 12 14 16 20

EDITOR'S LETTER CONTRIBUTORS NEIGHBORS Rodney Duckett of IMPAC Outreach in Killeen SCENE St. Joseph Catholic Church Fest-of-All SCENE West Temple Oktoberfest FLAVOURS Suzy Q’s Coffee Shop & Café IN THE SPOTLIGHT Garyln Shelton

4 WINTER 2021-22 | TEX APPEAL

Leila Valchar owns My Giving Tree. | 28 Photo by BRANDY CRUZ

22 42 58 60 62 66

THE REVIEW Books make great gifts HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: SHOP LOCAL THIS YEAR BEING CENTRAL TEXAN Wayne Bachus HEALTH & WELLNESS Holiday stress-busters DAYTRIPPIN’ Sweet Eats Adventure

Farm and Petting Zoo ADVERTISING INDEX

Lexy Carlson uses her Opal x June jewelry to create connection with other small-business owners

46

Candace Cartwright of Foster Love to share story at Day for Women event in January

50

Staff Sgt. Robbie Estrada finds second career as Army surgical technician

54

Oveta Culp Hobby a treasured part of Central Texas’ Past

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FROM THE EDITOR

S

eason’s Greetings, Central Texas. With Halloween and Thanksgiving behind us, it’s time to think about the holidays ahead. If that includes starting your Christmas shopping because you wait until December like I do, then you might look in to the independent and local shops right here in our region for gifts. In this issue, we introduce you to some new faces on the locally owned business scene, as well as some familiar ones just in time for your last minute holiday shopping.

Of the new faces on the business scene here, Marquita Everson of Hidden Treasures Boutique in Salado pairs people and outfits with self-esteem and service on page 34, and Lexy Carlson of Opal x June moved from a career in television to one in wearable art and retail business in Belton on page 38.

Leila Valchar of My Giving Tree Gift Shop and Art Gallery shares her faith and business philosophy regarding her eclectic gift shop in Belton on page 28.

Neighbor Rodney Duckett of Impac Outreach tells how his military service led him to community service JANNA ZEPP helping at-risk children and teens become better editor@ community members on page 8. texappealmag.com Fort Hood Friend, Staff Sgt. Robby Estrada is a 254-774-5266 softball coach who became an Army surgical technician.

Find out what motivated the big career change on page 50.

Stop by for a new Flavours spin on some breakfast and lunch favorites with Elaine Montalbo of Suzy Q’s Coffee Shop and Café on page 16.

Scene celebrates the St. Joseph Catholic Church and Academy’s 41st Fest-Of-All and the West Temple Oktoberfest, and you can see what your CenTex neighbors have been up to at these events on pages 12 and 14.

Attorney Wayne Bachus shares what he loves most about Being Central Texan and tells of people and places from his own youth on page 58.

We introduce a new feature, CenTex Past, with the tale of Killeen’s own Oveta Culp Hobby who left a lasting impact on our nation, the lives of women and why her name graces so many buildings around Texas, including those on post at Fort Hood on page 54.

Health & Wellness looks at holiday stress-busters on page 60.

Day Trippin’ visits the Sweet Eats Fruit Farm in Georgetown to see what’s planned for the holiday season on page 62.

And don’t miss the Holiday Gift Guide on page 42 for gift ideas, especially for the hard-to-buy family members and friends on your gift list.

December marks the beginning of my third year as Tex Appeal Magazine’s editor. I love telling Central Texas stories and if you have a story idea for future issues or just want to tell us what you think about past ones, send me an email at editor@texappealMag.com or call me at 254-774-5266. We’d love to hear from you.

Janna Zepp Tex Appeal editor 6 WINTER 2021-22 | TEX APPEAL

Tex Appeal Life & Style in Central Texas

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 Graphic Designer M. CLARE HAEFNER Contributors BRANDY CRUZ SKEEBO REICHERT AMY ROGNLIE MEGAN SKIPPER BECKY STINEHOUR CAREY STITES 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, 4 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

CONTRIBUTORS BRANDY CRUZ is a proud Army wife and mother of four. She has been a writer, editor, photographer, graphic designer and a host of other things for more than 14 years and is currently the news editor of the Fort Hood Sentinel. She enjoys writing stories that are important to people, stories people want to read. She looks for the beauty in everything, which she believes is vital in photography.

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 treasured hometown connections through the lens of her camera. Find her on Instagram at ciphoto.

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.

DID YOU KNOW?

You can read older issues of Tex Appeal online at TexAppealMag.com.

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 detail- and deadlineoriented and good storytellers. Send a resume and three to five recent published samples for consideration to editor@ texappealmag.com.

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU

From story ideas to your thoughts on this issue, we'd love to hear from our readers.

Email editor@texappealmag.com. Please include your name and phone number for verification. You also can connect with us on Facebook at Facebook.com/ TexAppealMagazine.

TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

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NEIGHBORS

RODNEY DUCKETT & IMPAC OUTREACH

Making futures better R

By JANNA ZEPP | Photos courtesy of RODNEY DUCKETT

eturning to the outside world after serving time in prison is difficult enough for adults, but for children and adolescents coming out of the juvenile justice system, it is worse.

Often, there are few resources to turn to for youth reentering their own communities after jail and that can create a cycle of juvenile recidivism that eventually leads to children and teens growing up to become adult offenders.

Rodney Duckett wanted to stop the destructive pattern he saw in Central Texas while he was still a soldier at Fort Hood in the late 1990s. At the time, he was Sgt. Rodney Duckett of the 1st Cavalry

8 WINTER 2021-22 | TEX APPEAL

Division, 92nd Alpha Company at Fort Hood. The unit’s community philanthropic work involved being mentors to children and teens being held at the Bell County Juvenile Detention Center in Killeen.

When the unit disbanded, Duckett, moved by what he personally witnessed and by the young people he successfully helped, continued the mentorship program without the Army and founded IMPAC Outreach in 2009.

“The program works to make sure kids are committed to being responsible and productive members of their communities, Duckett says, the passion for his cause evident in his voice. “These young people are up against so much already in society. Their futures are so much worse when they turn to negative and destructive behaviors and activities to fill time or cope with serious personal issues.”

IMPAC in the foundation’s name stands for Intelligent Minds Proving & Applying Commitment.

It became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2011. As a community facilitator, IMPAC Outreach works as “the voice of the voiceless,” in Bell County, doing what it can to help those who need it most. The organization has worked with youth in juvenile detention centers, alternative schools, state schools, placement centers, foster cares, and internationally in Ethiopia. The work includes motivational speaking and group conversations about life challenges, as well as fun activities such as puppet shows, arts and crafts, musical theatre, dancing, teaching how to accept criticism graciously and the different types of criticism, and just simply having some place to go where trouble won’t find them.

“The kids we serve have not had the best home lives. Some of them are like cactuses: you hug them and want to cry,” Continued IMPAC Outreach founder Rodney Duckett is a nurse practitioner working toward his Doctorate in Nursing.

IMPAC Outreach helps Central Texas youth find employment at local job fairs.

Youth also participated in a TV program called @iYouthChat and get to experience different cultures through the A Taste of Africa event in Killeen.

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ABOVE: A Taste of Africa happens in Killeen each July and celebrates African culture, arts and food.

Here, a dancer performs to traditional African music. BELOW: Learning to work with audio equipment is part of producing @iYouthChat, a program of IMPAC Outreach.

Duckett says. “They need good, solid, dependable parenting role models and we do our best to fill whatever void they might happen to have in that regard.”

Duckett says acronyms are popular ways to help children and teens remember important concepts. One of the favorites at IMPAC Outreach is GRIND, which stands for Getting Ready Inside Now for Delivery. He says it is a way of thinking through problems or situations to solve them in mature, non-violent, or non-defeatist ways.

“I will see one of our kids and ask, ’Hey there! How are you doing?’ and they’ll respond with, ’I’m getting my GRIND on with my algebra!’ which means they are working on staying up to date on class work,” Duckett says. “It’s our code. The kids respond well to it.”

Working toward better individual futures also includes Duckett’s own career journey. While in the Army, he worked in supply and support. He later became a paramedic and eventually a registered nurse. Now, he is pursuing his Doctor of Nursing 10 WINTER 2021-22 | TEX APPEAL

degree from the University of Incarnate Word.

“Our slogan is: ’No matter the circumstances, you control the outcome,’” Duckett says. “You cannot control what happens to you or who does what to you, but you can control how you respond.”

The organization also participates in local cultural heritage events such as A Taste of Africa, a celebration each July that brings African food, art, clothing, and culture to Killeen, and the Killeen Poetry Slam, which, this year, was organized by local poet Christopher Michael and hosted by IMPAC Outreach in collaboration with the Killeen Arts Commission.

“Part of our self-esteem is knowing where we came from,” Duckett says. “Cultural roots help shape our personal identities. A connection with our collective past helps us toward better individual futures.”

To learn more about IMPAC Outreach and its future, visit impacoutreach.org, call 254-598-0240, or email impacoutreach@gmail.com.

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SCENE: ST. JOSEPH FEST-OF-ALL

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1. Juan Pablo Gomez, Rachel Blami, Rafael Anónimo, Lisandra Rozzi and Myrna Malic-Banzon attend the Fest-ofAll at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Killeen.

2. Maria Delgado and Myrna Martinez 3. Susan Baumann and Rebecca McGowan 4. Mario Gay and Ramona Salazar dance to a Salsa band.

5. Father Chris Downey, pastor of St. Joseph.

6. Sandra Gonzales cooking at the Fest-of-All 7. Maria Luisa Sanabria serves food to festival-goers.

8. Hayley Sawyer plays the violin to entertain the crowd.

9. Aline Desjardins serves food to festival-goers.

Photos by BECKY STINEHOUR

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SCENE: WEST TEMPLE OKTOBERFEST

Central Texans enjoyed food, spirits, wine, beer and ales at the annual West Temple Oktoberfest on Oct. 16.This free event was family and dog-friendly, with a farmers market, bounce house, face painting, live music, food trucks and so much more.

Photos by BECKY STINEHOUR 14 WINTER 2021-22 | TEX APPEAL

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FLAVOURS

Small-town charm, big flavor Suzy Q’s Coffee Shop and Café a Temple gathering place

By JANNA ZEPP | Photos by BECKY STINEHOUR and courtesy of ELAINE MONTALBO

T

he heart of every small town in Texas tends to be its city café. Whether it just opened, it has had a recent remodel, or it is a full-on greasy spoon with the same décor it had in 1946 when it first opened and your great-granddaddy was the high school star quarterback, it’s a gathering place of residents for breakfast and lunch, gossip, local news and general fellowship. Each café reflects the culture and history of its hometown people with portraits on the walls of high school sports teams, cheerleaders, majorettes, the band, and several past mayors and homecoming queens. The menus are simple, the prices are reasonable, and the food is not just satisfying, it is really good.

While Temple is not a small town, it has many such eateries. Neighborhoods in town sometimes have their own local breakfast and lunch spots, giving diners a charming, small-town experience wherever they stop. In the Pecan Plaza on 31st Street, that spot is Suzy Q’s Coffee Shop and Café, which opened in the spring of 2021.

Elaine Montalbo, owner of Suzy Q’s, moved to Central Texas from Perryton up in the northernmost part of the Texas Panhandle to Salado, when her father, Tommy Kelley, needed her help after her mother, Virginia, died. She worked at several restaurants in Salado but missed having her own place.

“I owned and ran Alley Cats up in Perryton,” she says, recalling her first coffee shop adventure.

“It was like a little piece of Austin in the middle

Caribbean salad

16 WINTER 2021-22 | TEX APPEAL

Tijuana loco burger of nowhere. I loved every minute of it and missed it when I came to Salado, so I began planning to open up a café of my own when the time was right.”

It would be a little while before Montalbo would reach that goal. She met and married her husband Elvis, putting down roots far from her original home. Several years later, knowing that his wife was missing her calling, Elvis brought her to Pecan Plaza to show her a vacant shop space that was up for a new tenant. It was perfect for a small café.

“It felt right, like it was meant to be,” Montalbo says. “I could immediately see all the possibilities of what the space could be.”

Suzy Q’s Coffee Shop and Café opened in April 2021. The café’s décor is reminiscent of the coffee shop Montalbo left behind in Perryton. The Alley Cats’ logo and photos of her three daughters in front of the Perryton shop grace the walls, along Continued

Elaine Montalbo owns Suzy Q’s.

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Kyle burger

with some estate sale finds Montalbo felt would complement the feel she wanted for her new café.

“I have enlarged prints of my mother’s recipes hanging over here,” she says as she points out the stylized photo prints on canvas hanging over one of the café booths. “And that’s me and my father hugging each other, right after we opened.” He passed away not long after the photo was taken.

“Suzy Q is what my daddy called me,” Montalbo says, wiping a tear. “So that’s what I named this café.”

The menu is made up of family recipes like the

Southwest salad

ones on the café’s walls. Montalbo loves to cook, and she enjoys experimenting with flavors and ingredients to create classic dishes that are a little bit different than expected.

The Bacon Pimiento Cheese sandwich, often a “basket special” at Suzy Q’s, is one of her creations.

“I love bacon. I was in bed one night, thinking about the shop menu and I had the idea of adding bacon to the pimiento cheese recipe I use,” she says. “It turned out to be really great, so that’s what we do now. And when something comes out

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of kitchen in a basket, people notice and want to try it.”

Montalbo says that if she does not like an entrée or the flavor is not just right, it does not go on the menu.

“Maybe I’m a little picky, but every order that goes out has my name on it. It’s my reputation,” she says. “If it’s not right, it does not go out to the customer. I have a great kitchen and serving crew that understands that.”

Montalbo’s culinary creativity also extends to pets. Suzy Q’s offers up house-made dog treats for

Reuben sandwich

her customers’ fur babies.

“Good food is not just for human people,” she says, smiling. “You gotta treat your fur family right, too.”

Suzy Q’s Coffee Shop & Café

Location: 1401 S. 31st St. Suite E, Temple Phone: 254-228-1555 Hours: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday Closed Sunday and Monday

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20 WINTER 2021 | TEX APPEAL

THE REVIEW

Don’t know what to buy? Gift a book

By M. CLARE HAEFNER | Photos courtesy of the book publishers

B

ooks make great gifts for family and friends at the holidays. With so many genres to choose from, you’re guaranteed to find a title to please any loved one’s interests. Here are a few titles I recommend this year.

The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present

by Paul McCartney (Liveright, November 2021) Music lovers will enjoy this celebration of the life and music of Paul McCartney.

From The Beatles and Wings to his solo career, The Lyrics pairs McCartney's music lyrics and first-person commentaries on his life so far with handwritten notes, photographs and paintings — many of which have never been shared before. It’s an intimate look at the inspiration behind the music of one of the greatest songwriters of all time. Any fan needs this in their collection.

Lady Bird Johnson: Hiding in Plain Sight by Julia Sweig (Random House, March 2021) For fans of history, politics and women’s issues, Julia Sweig’s biography of Claudia Alta “Lady Bird” Johnson is a must-read. It gives insight into the Johnson administration and pulls from Lady Bird’s diaries during the White House years to reveal a woman ahead of her time — and an accomplished politician. The book offers a fresh look at the turbulent 1960s and offers insights into how Lady Bird worked to reshape Washington, beautify the country’s highways and secure her husband’s legacy. It’s not a quick read, but it is inspiring.

22 WINTER 2021-22 | TEX APPEAL

Out of Many, One: Portraits of America's Immigrants

by George W. Bush (Crown, April 2021) Former President George W. Bush shares his oil paintings of immigrants and includes their inspiring stories to put a face to a contentious issue in America today. This makes a great coffee table book, but is also worth reading to learn more about 43 people who came to America looking for a better life — and made the United States a better country for us all. This collection of art and stories follows Bush’s 2017 release Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors.

Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone: A Novel by Diana Gabaldon (Delacorte Press, November 2021) Fans of epic romance will be pleased to unwrap Diana Gabaldon’s latest Outlander novel. Claire and Jamie Fraser’s story continues in 1779 as they are at last reunited with their daughter, Brianna, her husband, Roger, and their children on Fraser’s Ridge. While the family is overjoyed to be together again, the Revolutionary War is edging ever closer to Fraser’s Ridge in North Carolina. If this ninth Outlander novel is anything like the others, there will be lots of trying times — and romantic interludes — ahead for the Fraser clan.

The Judge's List: A Novel

by John Grisham (Doubleday, October 2021) Fans of legal thrillers will love John Grisham’s latest novel, which continues the story of investigator Lacy Stoltz.

Three years after The Whistler, Stoltz has to stop a Florida judge with a kill list and an intricate knowledge of the law before she becomes his next target.

Cooking at Home: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying About Recipes (And Love My Microwave)

by David Chang and Priya Krishna (Clarkson Potter, October 2021) Foodies on a budget will love Chef David Chang’s guide to substituting, adapting and shortcutting their way to tasty meals at home. Give this and let a loved one unwrap inspiring new dishes to serve in their own kitchen.

Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience

by Brené Brown (Random House, November 2021)

DavinChi Cut

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Best-selling author Brené Brown takes readers on a journey of what it means to be human, in her latest release based on her decades of research, calling it ”the framework for meaningful connection.”

The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family by Ron and Clint Howard (William Morrow, October 2021) Whether you grew up watching The Andy Griffith Show or Happy Days, or remember Ron Howard’s brother Clint from Gentle Ben or Star Trek, this dual narrative offers a look into how the famous brothers’ navigated life as child actors and how the lessons they learned shaped their adult careers.

DavinChi Cut

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Preparing for 101 Dalmatians

TCT playwright Dr. Gary Gosney and Temple Mayor Tim Davis unveil the historical marker. The Temple Civic Theatre has been a part of the community for more than 50 years.

24 WINTER 2021-22 | TEX APPEAL

Frozen Jr.

The Cat in the Hat

Frozen Jr.

300 PERFORMANCES LATER, TEMPLE CIVIC THEATRE STILL DESERVES A

Standing Ovation

By JANNA ZEPP | Photos by BECKY STINEHOUR and courtesy of the TEMPLE CIVIC THEATRE

T

hree hundred live theatrical performances in the span of 56 years is no small feat for American civic theatres, and Temple Civic Theatre recently hit that milestone.

In July 2021, the city of Temple honored TCT with a historical marker unveiling lauding the theatre for contributing to the arts in Central Texas.

After the unveiling, an original play written by Dr. Gary Gosney entitled, The Other Side of Nothing, was performed. The work was a collaboration with the late Marjie Rynearson who died before it could be finished.

The theatre then commemorated its 300th performance on Sept. 10 by opening the 202122 season with Neil Simon’s musical, They’re Playing Our Song, based on the real-life romance of songwriters Marvin Hamlisch and Carole Bayer Sager.

“Temple Civic Theatre is an incredibly special place, and not just because of its contribution to the arts scene here,” says Ruby Jett, president of the TCT Board of Directors. “It literally saved my life.”

Jett says that her late husband, Jerry, loved to take her to see shows at TCT. He even took her to audition for a production, and though she did not get the part, she loved being in and around the theatre. In 2017, her husband became ill, and when it was clear he didn’t have much time left, he asked friends to promise to encourage his wife to audition for a part in the upcoming show, Southern Fried

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES Disney’s Aladdin Jr. Dec. 10-12 & 16-19 The Last of the Red Hot Lovers Feb. 4-6 & 10-13 Inherit the Wind April 1-5 & 7-10 Steel Magnolias May 6-8 & 12-15 Guys and Dolls July 22-24, 28-31, & Aug. 4-7 Funeral. The friends made good on the promise and Jett was cast as Martha Ann in the play. From then on, she was fully hooked on performing and has been involved ever since. It was during her deepest grief that she found new friends and a whole new world at the theatre to help her get through it.

“Theatre is the simplest form of escape. As an actor, you enter a darkened stage and suddenly you take on the life of the character you portray,” Jett says. “And being in the audience is like having a really good book in your hands. For the length of the play, no other world exists. It helped me bear the pain of losing my husband.”

Jett also encourages people to come out of the Continued TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

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Save the Date

01.22.22

WOMEN EXPO

audience and onto the stage when inspiration to do so strikes.

“Close your eyes, grit your teeth and give it a shot because it opens up a whole new world of friendships,” she says.

HISTORY OF TCT

Way back in 1965, a group of theatre buffs in Temple formed the Temple Civic Theatre Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. The first play produced and performed by TCT was the 1936 Broadway classic, You Can’t Take It With You, a comedic play in three acts by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. Operating with its own board of governors and incorporated as a nonprofit arts organization in November 1968, TCT operated under the Cultural Activities Center as a member organization. In 1974, because of its growth and success, TCT moved and now, the theatre and the CAC operate cooperatively from separate spaces, both built in 1977. The first production, on April 15, 1977, in the theatre’s new building was My Fair Lady, a musical based on George Bernard Shaw's 1913 play Pygmalion, with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe.

In the first year of the theatre’s incorporation, it put on three plays. Now, the Main Series run six shows, with as many as three other shows being produced as “Spotlight Productions.”

THE THEATRE VENUE Mayborn Civic & Conference Center in Temple

The current 11,000-square-foot theatre includes a 228-seat thrust stage auditorium, two large dressing rooms, offices, classrooms, a kitchen, restrooms, a large scene shop and a costume

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Youth and adults have lots of opportunities to perform at TCT.

Olaf sings in Frozen Jr.

shop. In 1989, TCT added a paved, curbed, lighted parking, with landscaping and better signage.

In 1992, more renovation work brought the building into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. ADA-compliant restroom facilities, accessible seating and parking, and wireless listening devices were added.

Supported by local donations, the facility is valued at more than $400,000.

Staff growth evolved from volunteers to parttime management to its current full-time managing and artistic director and full-time technical director, with an assistant to the managing and artistic director, and contracted youth theatre teachers.

The managing director, along with a 12-member Board of Governors and volunteer committee chairmen, coordinate theatre operations. New volunteers are accepted and trained throughout the year. Main-series shows are cast from open auditions with a goal of 50% experienced actors and 50% new participants, to stabilize performance quality while encouraging growth. More than 300 volunteers work each season to entertain about 1,300 season ticket holders.

THE PRODUCTIONS

Selected by a process beginning with a play reading committee chosen from volunteers and regular audience members, the Main Series

presents an overview of theatre literature, featuring musicals, classics and recently released titles. The TCT runs special productions designed for smaller interest groups on limited-time-only schedules.

Those include original plays, one-man shows, concerts by local musicians, and plays of a more serious or intellectual theme than the average audience member might wish to attend.

Children’s activities include children and youth into the overall TCT program. In the theatre’s early years, each summer offered a children’s theatrical day camp with a production group of adolescents added later. In recent years, TCT provided formal classes in creative drama, a traveling play for public schools using adult actors, and a youth production workshop in the summer.

A WORLD-WIDE AUDIENCE

The world recently witnessed Temple Civic Theatre participating with 2,500 theatrical organizations from 50 states and more than 40 counties in producing their own production of Music Theatre International’s All Together Now. Music Theatre International created the live virtual show as a fundraiser for local theater groups and it was performed over the weekend of Nov. 12-14 in auditoriums around the globe.

To learn more about TCT, visit templecivictheatre.com.

TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

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28 WINTER 2021-22 | TEX APPEAL

More than a name

My Giving Tree holds special meaning for owner Story and photos by BRANDY CRUZ

Q

uirky, unique and located in the heart of downtown Belton, My Giving Tree Gift Shop & Art Gallery has as a host of eclectic

gifts suitable for anyone as the Christmas shopping season quickly approaches.

“I don’t follow any rules, I just do what I like and have a passion for doing it,” shop owner Leila Valchar said. “I love art and love mixing it with gifts.”

She made the leap into business ownership, jumping in with both feet 10 years ago, when downtown Belton was not the thriving area it is today. While it was a struggle at first and took a lot of commitment, she said it has been a blessing.

Valchar, who has twin daughters, said they helped come up with the name of the shop, which was inspired by their favorite book, “The Giving Tree,” by Shel Silverstein.

“They came up with the idea and said, ’How about you put ’My’ in front of it,’ which I thought was nice because when the customers say it, it’s their giving tree,” she explained.

As the shop carried a lot of unique, hand-crafted gifts, the name is suitable for a shop focused on giving to others. With each purchase, Valchar said the customers also receive a free, surprise gift.

The gift shop includes paintings, sculptures, jewelry, handmade cards, hand-painted ornaments, decorations, furniture and much more. A lot of the pieces sold are made in Texas, which is important

My Giving Tree Gift Shop & Art Gallery features a Texas bluebonnet tree topped with a cowboy hat.

Shop owner Leila Valchar said the tree is up all year.

to Valchar. Something else that is important to her is selling unique items people cannot find elsewhere.

“I try to be like no one else,” she added. “I don’t even go into other stores and look because I don’t want to lose my vision.”

A native of California, Valchar said she knew she was home when she found Belton, so she settled down and hasn’t looked back.

“I love our little town and I’ve always been passionate about giving back to the community,” she said.

She is the organizer of Belton Market Days, a showcase of vendors from across the state, which brings in visitors from far and near to purchase unique items from a variety of places.

Valchar said she is also the administrator for Discover Downtown Belton, a Facebook site Continued

TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

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30 WINTER 2021-22 | TEX APPEAL

Josh Knowles, D.D.S., M.S.D. Board Certified Orthodontist THE

BEST 2020

Readers’ Choice AWARD

My Giving Tree sells a lot of unique gifts for that special someone.

Choose from décor, food items, artwork and more. dedicated to promoting businesses in the community by sharing their upcoming events.

As she looks forward to the busy Christmas season, she will be decorating her shop and assisting the city with Christmas on the Chisholm Trail. She said she was blessed with passion and believes in giving back whenever she can.

“God gave me passion and strong faith. It’s my passion that keeps me going,” Valchar said. “I believe people should do what they love.

Take time and do what you love.”

Christmas decorating without clutter • • • •

Always do something that you love.

If you’re eclectic, it’s always fun to mix things together.

Stand back and look at things from a distance. Look at what’s pleasing to the eye.

If something is iffy, take it out and put it aside and look what you’ve got. If you like it, don’t put the item back. That will help you declutter.

The Right Time for an Orthodontic Check-UP? No Later than Age 7 The American Association of Orthodontists recommends all children get a check-up with an orthodontic specialist no later than age 7.

Early treatment may give your orthodontist the chance to: • Guide jaw growth • Lower the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth • Correct harmful oral habits • Improve appearance • Guide permanent teeth into a favorable position • Create a more pleasing arrangement of teeth, lips & face If your child is older than 7, it’s certainly not too late for a check-up. Call us at 254-773-8028 for your complimentary consultation.

A better smile because you deserve it!

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smileattheworld.com • 254-773-8028 TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

31

32 WINTER 2021-22 | TEX APPEAL

TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

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Marquita Everson owns Hidden Treasures Boutique in Salado.

34 WINTER 2021-22 | TEX APPEAL

Faith, fashion & fellowship WORKING TOGETHER FOR CUSTOMERS AT HIDDEN TREASURES BOUTIQUE

By JANNA ZEPP | Photos by SKEEBO

F

or Marquita Everson, being fashionable means more than clothing. It means being well turned out in appearance and in her

soul.

“If you look good, you feel good. Isn’t that how the saying goes?” Everson says, already knowing the answer to her question. “And I love to help people do both.”

Doing both, indeed, is the business she is in.

Hidden Treasures Boutique in Salado is more than a consignment store; it is a little bit of retail therapy thrown in for the sake of loving one’s neighbors.

“I am a Christian, and I live by the words of Ephesians 3:20: ’Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is work within us…’,” she says.

By this, Everson refers to biblical scripture, specifically the Apostle Paul’s prayer in the third chapter of Ephesians in which he described the three key attributes of God’s character: sovereignty, omnipotence and glory. With her faith in God, she created her shop. The concept of paying grace forward also is a cornerstone of her business.

Everson credits her mother, Katherine Everson, with the vision of what the business should be right down to filing all the necessary legal documents to set it up.

“None of this would be possible without my mother. She had the idea and God led us to where we are now,” Everson says.

Both mother and daughter have a love of finery and fripperies. In the beginning, the buy, sell and trade of fashionable items for both men and women was conducted from home in Killeen. But the customer traffic and inventory became such that it was no longer practical to run it from the family residence. Immediately, the Eversons found available retail space in Salado that was perfect for what the women wanted for their consignment business.

“I believe God chose the location since He led us here. After all, He is our CEO,” Everson says, smiling.

Continued

“I am a Christian, and I live by the words of Ephesians 3:20: ’Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is work within us.’” ­— Marquita Everson

TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

35

Marquita Everson and one of her VIPs (very important patrons) look at accessories to match an outfit.

Meeting people where they are emotionally in terms of their lives drives Everson’s business model.

She says it is more than just keeping inventory in the store, keeping the financial books, or making the monthly bottom line; it’s about giving the store’s VIPs (very important patrons) a meaningful shopping experience by celebrating everyone that comes in with a specific need. It also means supporting other fledgling businesses.

“We use the boutique to highlight other people, especially women in business. In October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we carried awareness items and jewelry in the boutique that was made by another woman-owned business,” Everson says. “Hidden Treasures has a heart for people. We look for the hidden treasures within others to make the world a better place.”

Hidden Treasures Boutique

113 N Stagecoach Rd. Unit 3, Salado Open Fridays & Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Phone: 254-239-3025 Email: htboutique320@gmail.com

36 WINTER 2021-22 | TEX APPEAL

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221 East Central Ave. | Belton, TX 76513 (254) 939-3333

www.cbandpotts.com TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

37

Passion project Opal x June a dream come true for Lexy Carlson

By AMY ROGNLIE | Photos by BECKY STINEHOUR

L

“I knew from the beginning that I wanted to attach Opal x June as a brand to other trustworthy and supported brands in the community.”

— Lexy Carlson 38 WINTER 2021-22 | TEX APPEAL

exy Carlson of Opal x June is not your average businesswoman. This fourth generation Temple native recently moved back to town with her family — and a huge dream.

“I came back home with this really big longing to do something in my own community…to be a part of it in a way that I wasn’t when I was growing up.”

Handmade, customized jewelry is not a new thing, but to Lexy, the jewelry itself is not the goal.

“Opal x June was created with the intention of being a space where individuals can come and create meaningful custom jewelry,” Carlson says.

She savors the process of having a one-on-one conversation with each of her clients, helping them design and create anything they are envisioning.

“My clients are the designers; they’re just using my hands,” she says. “I love building a relationship with each client and learning their story — the meaning behind their jewelry. It is a very special experience, and I'm so grateful for that!”

Carlson is no stranger to the business world, graduating from the University of Texas with a degree in multimedia journalism, serving as an associate producer in TV production at ESPN for five years and co-owning a gym with her husband prior to starting Opal x June.

Doing something entrepreneurial in the creative space has been a dream of hers for several years, but it didn’t seem to be the right time until now.

“I started making jewelry for friends and family and everyone loved it,” Carlson says.

She describes her jewelry as dainty yet durable enough for everyday wear, made with sterling silver and 14k gold. While her main clientele are females between the ages of 20 and 35, she also regularly makes custom pieces for children and babies.

However, Carlson has a higher ambition.

“I knew from the beginning that I wanted to attach Opal x June as a brand to other trustworthy and supported brands in the community,” she says.

“I also wanted to collaborate and use my jewelry as a means to support and provide other brands with marketing materials for their customers.”

Since April, Carlson has done collaborations with small businesses in the area and several across the country, including New York and California, creating Continued

Lexy Carlson makes custom jewelry at Opal x June.

TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

39

Lexy Carlson collaborates with small-business owners to make custom pieces to showcase their brands. custom jewelry for their brands.

“As I began collaborating with other small business owners, I realized the huge need for female business owners, especially, to feel loved and encouraged. Genuine support is important.”

So important, in fact, that Carlson and some fellow Central Texas businesswomen have recently created their own community group, affectionately dubbed Boss Babes. It began as an Instagram group chat and has grown to include a monthly inperson get-together and a growing Facebook page with over 200 local small businesses represented.

“You have all these women in small-owned businesses who don’t see each other as competition, but are supportive of each other,” she says. “We are hoping to create a movement — a backbone — for small businesses in our community. All of us genuinely want to see these business flourish and to help strengthen each other, especially during hard times.”

And it doesn’t stop there. Carlson, along with Temple’s Mary Senese of Dough-Re-Mi, recently

launched “Beyond the Boss,” a podcast designed to help small-business owners connect with each other both professionally and personally.

“We want the podcast to feel casual and natural…a supportive place where we can all share advice and gain wisdom from each other,” Carlson says. “We want other business owners to know that there’s room for everyone at the table.”

Opal x June

Instagram: @opalxjune_originals Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Opal-xJune-104709338430252/ Email: opalxjune@gmail.com

Beyond The Boss Podcast Instagram: @beyondthebosspodcast 40 WINTER 2021-22 | TEX APPEAL

Explore. Dream. Discover.

Tex Appeal Life & Style in Central Texas Interested in advertising?

Call (254) 501-7500 (KILLEEN) or (254) 774-4444 (TEMPLE)

TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

41

Holiday Shop local & wrap up something spectacular for everyone on your list!

Texas Spice Gift Baskets

“The very best in spices and custom seasoning blends”

Emporium Spice Co.

3N Main St. Salado, TX

23208 SE H.K. Dodgen Loop • Temple 254-774-9098 www.emporiumspice.com

A Unique Boutique Offering eclectic home décor, furnishings and gifts

21 North Main Street

In the heart of historic Salado 254-947-4000 Kaye & Frank Coachman, Owners 42 WINTER 2021-22 | TEX APPEAL

Gift Guide ‘Tis the season for gift giving

Callie’s Boutique

1401 S. 31st Street, Suite A in Pecan Plaza 254-770-0511 www.calliesboutique.com

Surprise Your Fav Mom Friends!

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Give and Be Happy this Holiday Season!

121 N. East St Downtown Belton (Next to iMERAKi)

254-939-8733 TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

43

Holiday Happy in a Gift Box

Ebony Tea House

Euna Lee Irvine Ageless Fashions and Accessories in Sizes S - 3X

e s o R e h T and Bee

Belton, Texas www.ebonyteahouse.com

For All Your Darlings

Darling Decor & More 100 N. Main Street, Temple 817-726-9612

FOR THE QUEEN IN YOU

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44 WINTER 2021-22 | TEX APPEAL

1615 Canyon Creek Dr., Temple 254-239-5307 www.gopetluv.com

Gift Guide Your Local Backyard Bird Feeding Expert

Wild Birds Unlimited 3122 S. 31st Street, Temple 254-314-2002 www.wbu.com/temple

Give the Gift of Shear Happiness!

Unique Fashions and Gifts for Men & Women

We follow safe COVID guidelines, We say be Safe and Mask On!

Salon Karen

2820 W. Avenue O • Temple 254-774-7373 www.facebook.com/2820SalonKaren

Fun and Festive Holiday Hostess Gifts

Emporium Spice Co.

23208 SE H.K. Dodgen Loop • Temple 254-774-9098 www.emporiumspice.com

Clothing • Gadgets • Accessories • Fragrances Jewelry • Tailored Fit Suits

121 N. East St. Suite A, Belton (next to My Giving Tree) 254-831-5101 • facebook.com/shopimeraki TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

45

Candace Cartwright is the featured speaker at the Day for Women on Jan. 22.

46 WINTER 2021-22 | TEX APPEAL

Fostering love Candace Cartwright makes a difference for Bell County children

By AMY ROGNLIE | Photo courtesy of CANDACE CARTWRIGHT

F

rom stay-at-home mom to president of a thriving nonprofit, Candace Cartwright has quite a story to tell. Her organization, Foster Love Bell County, located in Belton, is made up of people who are making a real difference in the lives of the Bell County child welfare system. Founded by Cartwright in 2017, Foster Love works tirelessly to raise awareness and mobilize the community to care for those in the child welfare system.

But before Foster Love was even a tiny seed of an idea, Cartwright can trace the beginning of her remarkable story to her childhood, remembering a middle-of-the-night flight from her abusive biological father.

“I know a little bit about abandonment and adoption,” she says.

In addition, Cartwright’s mom grew up in a dysfunctional home.

“She really should have been in foster care,” Cartwright reflects. “I grew up hearing her stories and watching her struggle and her trauma.

As an adult, I often wondered why someone didn’t step in.”

Fast forward to 2010 when Cartwright and her husband, Tim, had just had their third biological child. The busyness of life and three small children was threatening to eat her alive.

Nevertheless, Cartwright felt God stirring her heart and mind to consider foster care and adoption.

“I was rocking my 3-week-old son and I had this moment where I just knew we were supposed to adopt,” Cartwright says. “It was so clear — as if God were saying, ’This is what I have for you’.”

She told Tim about it but let him know she was not ready to talk about it for a long time.

Continued

Candace Cartwright is the featured speaker for the 2022 Day for Women hosted by the Temple Daily Telegram and Tex Appeal Magazine. The Day for Women is Jan. 22, 2022, at the Mayborn Convention Center in Temple. For more information, call 254-778-4444.

1401 S. 31st St., Suite C Pecan Plaza 254-773-8331 www.paperdoodles.com TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

47

“I was rocking my 3-week-old son and I had this moment where I just knew we were supposed to adopt. It was so clear — as if God were saying, ’This is what I have for you’.”

— Candace Cartwright “Not for a year,” she laughs. “That was our deal.”

A year later, Cartwright and her husband attended their first foster care interest meeting.

Tim was on board from day one, Cartwright says, but she remained unconvinced.

“I think I was fearful of losing control,” she reflects. “The foster and adoption process has so many twists and turns and surprises…it is totally unpredictable.”

Finally, months later and with the willingness to “just take the next step of obedience” the two began their training to become licensed foster parents.

By September 2015, God had, as Cartwright says, “graciously changed a heart to agree with His.” After fostering for two years, the Cartwrights adopted their son, Owen.

After the adoption was finalized, the Cartwrights closed their home to other foster children. But they had seen and learned so much from being in the system that they knew they could not just walk away and not do anything.

“I became a CASA advocate, but always had this feeling if people had seen the things I had seen, they'd be quick to jump on board with helping. But I didn't know how to go about that. So, I began to pray, and my mind was drawn to a little guy we'd had in our home for a short time that had come to us with all of his stuff in a small trash bag. I didn't know at the time that this was common,” she says.

“Children most often go into care with nothing or with all of their things put in a trash bag. And so I thought, ’This is something my friends and I could do something about.’”

She sent out an email and put together a bag project called “My Very Own Bag.” There was so much interest after that project, that she created a group on Facebook.

48 WINTER 2021-22 | TEX APPEAL

After the group was created, things began to snowball. Cartwright began meeting people and building relationships in the child welfare system within Bell County, and the small group on Facebook began to grow rapidly. So rapidly, in fact, that she was soon overwhelmed with running it alone.

She realized that to make the work sustainable, she had to collaborate with other organizations, churches, professionals with expertise to make this something that would create a lasting impact in our community.

“Over the course of the last four years, that's what the Lord has done. I really take no credit other than being willing,” Cartwright explains.

“It's hard to sum up ’the’ problem facing children as a whole in our community. The breakdown of the family plays a huge part.

This could be due in part to drugs, domestic violence, sexual or physical abuse, neglect, etc., etc.,” she says.

“But, in my opinion, the solution to these things is always the same: the Church being a part of setting crooked things straight. We get to be the ones to come alongside those who find themselves in situations where they need love and compassion. I believe that's what we're here for. To bring God glory and to help reconcile broken areas of the world. I hope that is what Foster Love Bell County will always be about.”

She glances around the Foster Love living room at the 150-some bags filled with essentials for recent kinship placements. “I’ve always been hesitant to step out and do things because I was resting on my own skills, knowledge or abilities. That held me back a lot — thinking I’m not capable. And on paper, I’m not. But with something like Foster Love, God just takes that out of the equation. He gets the glory when we simply put the ’yes’ on the table.”

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Funeral Home & Cremation Services

Dignified Services at Affordable Prices At Crotty Funeral Home, we take great pride in caring for our families, and will work tirelessly to provide you with a beautiful, lasting tribute to your loved one. While honoring your loved one is our top priority, we also want to help you through this difficult time. We have a wide range of resources to support you not only today, but in the weeks and months to come.

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TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

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Staff Sgt. Robby Estrada, right, explains the capabilities of a combat hospital to Col. Mark Richards, 1-21st Combat Support Hospital.

Second calling STAFF SGT. ROBBY ESTRADA GOES FROM SOFTBALL COACH TO ARMY SURGICAL TECHNICIAN

Story and photos by MEGAN SKIPPER

F

or Staff Sgt. Robby Estrada, 36th Forward Resuscitative and Surgical Detachment, Fort Hood, getting out of the Army after experiencing tragedy wasn’t an option.

“I used to be a combat engineer, and after I came back from my first deployment we had lost 10 guys out there … and I wasn’t going to do it again. So my time was coming up on my first contract and I was thinking I love the Army, I've

50 WINTER 2021-22 | TEX APPEAL

always wanted to do it, it’s a family tradition type thing. All three generations, we’ve all been in,” Estrada said.

One option he was presented with was reclassing (switching) to another MOS (military occupational specialty), and two days before he was supposed to get out of the Army, something interesting popped up. A 68D in the Army is an operating room specialist, otherwise known as a surgical technician. The responsibilities of a Continued

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51

“I already did one career before I joined the Army, so I did 20 years and retired and then I came into the Army. I don’t need to excel anymore, I’m more of a teacher of life.’’

— Staff Sgt. Robby Estrada

surgical tech within the Army range from things like assisting the doctor with Cesarean deliveries to sterilizing equipment in a field environment.

With such a wide array of job duties, the training for this MOS is lengthy.

“Six months at Fort Sam Houston and then we do phase two at a selected site. So you do another hands-on for another three months, somewhere roughly in there,” Estrada said.

Working as a surgical technician can sometimes be very emotional, especially when assisting on higher risk patients or even births. Keeping your composure during one of these tough procedures can be a daunting task, but Estrada has figured out how to stay focused.

“My first delivery was pretty emotional, I just had to hold it back because I don’t have any kids and just seeing and being there. Seeing how everything happened I was like wow. Really, really amazing,” Estrada said.

Army surgical technicians need to be ready to perform their job wherever the Army takes them, and one way they accomplish this is the conduction of field training exercises. During these exercises, they are able to practice and further hone their skills, in an environment similar to what they may encounter if they were to be deployed.

“So the field environment, it’s a lot different.

You have to learn how to build the hospital, your part. So I had to learn how to open up, they’re called ’ISOs’, and they are these shelters that open up, and that’s where we do all our operations. It’s an operating room, it’s like a Conex. So you have this and then you have the sterilization part too, so you have to clean the instruments too. It’s a one way flow, kind of like at the hospital. So we operate here and we operate on all our patients in this one particular building and then we come out and go into sterile processing, which is huge … if you don’t have sterile processing, you can’t operate,” Estrada said.

Before joining the Army Estrada worked as a coach for a few different sports, softball being one of them. He has been able to take things he learned during his time coaching and implement them into his career as a noncommissioned officer, 52 WINTER 2021-22 | TEX APPEAL

Members of the 36th Forward Resuscitative Surgery Detachment receive a briefing before surgery.

and really enjoys teaching things he’s learned to newer soldiers.

When asked what motivates him to do his work he quickly cited the people he gets to work with.

“It’s the soldiers, because I’ve already done a lot. I’m old, I’m 50 years old, I already did one career before I joined the Army, so I did 20 years and retired and then I came into the Army. I don’t need to excel anymore, I’m more of a teacher of life. I’ve done a lot of things and I try to steer the younger soldiers right,” Estrada said.

THE

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www.preciousmemoriesflorist.com • 254-778-2242 TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

53

CENTEX PAST

OVETA CULP HOBBY

A Central Texas Woman of Integrity

By JANNA ZEPP | Public domain photos

O

veta Culp was only about 6 years old in 1911 when the Woman's Christian Temperance Union visited Killeen, and at Sunday school all the children were invited to sign the pledge never to drink liquor and receive a WCTU white ribbon to wear. Culp considered signing and decided against it. It was not that she wanted to drink alcohol, but that she might wish to try it when she was an adult. She thought the responsible choice meant not giving her word in oath unless she was fully prepared to keep it. It was an exceptionally wise, if not shocking, answer for a child that young. It would have been easier to sign the pledge and then forget all about it later in life, but Culp placed deep value on her integrity. It would be a mark of her character and a cornerstone of her reputation in everything she did for the rest of her life.

Born in Killeen, the second of seven children to Ike Culp, a lawyer and Texas legislator, and Emma Hoover Culp, a suffragette who encouraged her daughter to stand up for women’s rights, Oveta Culp loved horses, studying law and government.

Culp attended Bell County schools, graduating from Temple High School in the top tier of her class. She studied at Mary Hardin Baylor College in Belton, taught elocution, put on school plays, and was a reporter at the Austin Statesman. At 20, she was asked by the speaker of the Texas House of Representatives to act as legislative parliamentarian. She served in that role until 1931, while attending classes at the University of

54 WINTER 2021-22 | TEX APPEAL

This photo of Col. Oveta Culp Hobby appeared as the frontispiece photo in the 1990 U.S. Army book, The Women’s Army Corps, 1945–1978 by Bettie J. Morden.

Texas. She became a clerk of the State Banking Commission and codified the banking laws of the state of Texas. Later she became a clerk in the legislature's judiciary committee.

It was during Culp’s burgeoning political career that, in 1931, she married her father’s friend, former Gov. William Pettus Hobby. The couple had two children, one of which was William P. “Bill” Hobby Jr., who served a record 18 years as the 37th lieutenant governor of Texas.

Culp Hobby worked in the publishing world on her husband’s newspaper The Post in Houston.

She held several positions within the paper Continued

Meet Some of Our Team Matthew Davis Matt is a graduate of Baylor University where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Taxation. He obtained his CPA certification in 2014. Matt joined Brockway, Gersbach, Franklin & Niemeier, P.C. in 2013. He provides tax services to individuals and businesses.

Matt’s community involvement includes serving as the Treasurer for the Temple Rotary Club and he is a graduate of the Temple Chamber of Commerce Leadership Temple Class of 2018-2019. He is also serving as chair for the City of Temple Library Advisory Board.

Ellie Downey Ellie is a 2017 graduate of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Accountancy.

She began her career at a regional public accounting firm in her hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana, and obtained her CPA certification in 2020.

Ellie gained several years of audit experience before joining Brockway, Gersbach, Franklin & Niemeier, P.C. as a Senior Accountant in July 2021. She provides audit and assurance services to not-for-profit, for-profit, and governmental entities.

Ellie’s responsibilities also include performing audits of employee benefit plans in accordance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

Andrew Sauls Andrew is a 2011 graduate of Texas A&M University where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. He obtained his CPA certification in 2018 and joined Brockway, Gersbach, Franklin & Niemeier P.C. in 2020.

Andrew began his career with a large manufacturing company serving in both operational and financial roles. He then joined a public accounting firm in Waco where he served clients in a broad range of services including audit and assurance, tax consulting and compliance and accounting services.

Andrew currently provides audit and assurance services to for-profit, not-forprofit, and governmental entities.

BROCKWAY, GERSBACH, FRANKLIN, & NIEMEIER, PC 3520 SW H.K. Dodgen Loop n Temple, TX 76504 n 254.773.9907

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including book editor. In 1937, she wrote and published a book, Mr. Chairman, about her activities at the Texas Legislature.

World War II changed Hobby’s life. From 1941 to 1942, she served as the head of the Women’s Interest Section in the War Department Bureau of Public Relations. In this role, she looked for ways in which women could serve their country and laid the groundwork for them to do so by the time that the United States entered the war. Congress passed a bill which created the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps in May 1942 and Culp Hobby became its first director. In 1943, she earned the rank of colonel, when the WAAC integrated into the United States Army, becoming the Women’s Army Corps.

In the WAC, women were taught various skills needed to serve in the military. Initially, expectations were low. It was thought that three women would be needed to fill on man’s noncombat job. It turned out that women were highly efficient and competent workers, thus overcoming the manpower shortage on the battlefield. But their work initially was not compensated.

On the first payday, the women doctors were denied their salary. They were told that only men serving as doctors were authorized to receive pay and “women were not doctors.” Culp

Col. Oveta Culp Hobby takes command of the Women’s Army Corps in 1943.

Hobby stood up to Congress, demanding that her personnel be paid. When she learned that women were being dishonorably discharged for pregnancy without permission, she argued that the fathers of the illegitimate children receive dishonorable discharge as well. Her perseverance paid off: regulations for women in all branches of military service were changed, and pregnant

• General home care • Alzheimer’s care • Palliative care • Hospice care www.careagehomecare.com

CareAge HomeCare was founded in 2006 in Temple, Texas by Vickie Smith and JoAnn Walter. Their experience in caring for JoAnn’s mother and seeing the challenges our elders experience inspired Vickie and JoAnn to help other seniors.

Vickie and JoAnn’s passion is shared by Care Liason and Coordinator, Brandi Williams and all of our caregivers. CareAge HomeCare provides non medical home care in Bell, Coryell and Lampasas counties. With over 50 years combined experience, we are committed to providing assistance while allowing our clients to remain independent.

254.780.9864 • 4016 S. 31st Street, Suite 100, Temple, TX 76502 • www.careagehomecare.com 56 WINTER 2021-22 | TEX APPEAL

women became entitled to honorable discharge and medical care.

Despite the success of the WAC, opposing views still existed, but Culp Hobby used her media talents and promoted the WAC as a space where women could safely learn vocational skills and contribute to the war effort. By 1944, more than 600,000 WACs were asked to serve all over the world.

Culp Hobby remained the director of the WAC throughout the war. For her dedication and effective supervision of the WAC, Culp Hobby was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for outstanding service by the U.S. Army in January 1945. She was the first woman in the Army to receive this award, which was the highest noncombat award given by the military at that time.

Culp Hobby resigned from the WAC in July 1945 and returned to The Post as its executive vice president. She maintained her interest in politics and actively supported Republican candidate Dwight D. Eisenhower’s presidential campaign.

One of Eisenhower’s first acts as president in 1953 included creating the Department of Health, Education and Welfare and naming Culp Hobby as the first secretary of the new department.

There, she worked on matters related to health, education and educational funding. She also helped plan for the first distribution of the newly created polio vaccination in the United States in 1955, after which she stepped down from the office. It was then that she returned to work in media and public service.

Under Culp Hobby’s direction, the Post supported Houston’s growing Black community by reporting on topics important to them and telling their stories in a positive way. As a businesswoman, she promoted equal employment by hiring women and minorities as reporters and journalists. One notable example is when a struggling law school graduate showed up on the steps of Culp Hobby’s television station at a time when most major Houston law firms were not hiring women. Excited about showcasing Houston’s first female news reporter, she took a stand on hiring Kay Bailey Hutchison who later went on to become Texas’ first female U.S. Senator.

A media and military legend, Oveta Culp Hobby was a woman who stood up for equal opportunity and women’s rights. After her death at the age of 90 in 1995, she was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame with a citation that reads: “You were respectful of the power you wielded in influential positions. You made the road smoother for the women who followed you.”

Explore. Dream.

Discover.

Tex Appeal Life & Style in Central Texas Interested in advertising?

Call (254) 501-7500 (KILLEEN) or (254) 774-4444 (TEMPLE)

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BEING CENTRAL TEXAN

Culture, education and a broader world view

I

was asked to tell my story about being a Central Texan, and I’m glad, but it’s a long story. And by “long story,” I mean my roots here go back more than a century.

My paternal grandparents came from Chambers County, Alabama, in the late 19th century to raise their seven sons; the youngest was my dad, Ernest. William Henry Bachus died in 1909, leaving my grandmother, Anna French Bachus, to complete the task. When he married, he brought his bride, my mother (Ila Harris), to live in the Bachus family home with my grandparents, and it was there that I was born. I lived for the first 12 years of my life in the home with a grandmother who had been born when Abraham Lincoln was president. No wonder I get accused a lot of being old-fashioned!

My maternal kin includes the Harrises, the Browns, the Callahans and the Coffeys, all of whom were in Texas much earlier than my father’s family. They lived mostly around Eddy, and many of them attended the renowned Bedichek Academy there.

WAYNE BACHUS I remember starting at the old Reagan Elementary School, walking up to eat at the Chuck Wagon or Judge Doyle Lamberth’s store, and walking to take piano lessons from Mrs. Darr on South First Street. Marvin Fenn, our principal, would always tell us all about his summers fly fishing at his camp near Yellowstone at his place called Fennhaven. Students got to go to Travis Jr. High in the sixth grade if they played in the band, which I did. I’ll never forget our teacher, Miss Cecil Pike, telling us all the stories of her world travels and Mr. Marturano taking the Travis Science Club every place from the State Fair of Texas, to San Antonio, the Alamo and museums, Longhorn Cavern, and even spelunking in Cobb Caverns out between Florence and Georgetown.

I went on to Temple High School where teachers did more than just teach the subject matter — they opened our eyes and minds to a much broader education. We attended operas, musicals, plays, more museums, and we even got to learn and perform music and theater, as well as do community service. I can still remember going on band trips to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, the International Lions Convention in Miami, and performing at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on national TV. What a time!

Temple Junior College came next for me, then undergrad work for my bachelor’s degree in government and history, with all the extra hours I could cram in of music, at the University of Texas at Austin, playing in the Longhorn Band, and finally earning my jurisprudence doctoral degree at Baylor College of Law. 58 WINTER 2021-22 | TEX APPEAL

In my experience living and working in Central Texas, I was exposed to fine arts and international culture by some incredibly talented, educated, and worldly people from this area. I am reminded of having mentors like Joe Abston, Mary Alice Marshal, Nora Lee Wendland, Ann Chamlee and Raye Allen in music and the arts, advice and mentoring from Jim Bowmer Jack Prescott and Frank Mayborn in law and politics. And could there ever be a better example of just caring for your neighbors than Ralph and Jean Wilson. To quote Ira Gershwin, “Who could ask for anything more”?

Nowadays, I get to travel quite a bit, belonging to the Most Venerable Order of St. John, a British Knighthood based in London and the Savoy Orders based in Geneva, getting to be a Freeman of the City of London and a Friendly Brother of St. Patrick in Dublin, having friends in Vienna, Toronto, Dublin, Edinburgh and all over the USA including sitting on the board of Livanta, a medical information company based in Baltimore. All of these adventures and accolades are experiences I would not have had but for those early inspirations and education gained right here in the heart of Texas.

Temple is not as large as our greater metropolitan and cosmopolitan cities here in Texas, but it had — and continues to have — lots of learning opportunities for those who seek them out. Our Cultural Activities Center was the inspiration for many such arts organizations across the state. Who would think that a city our size would have the magnificent Symphony we have. And the museums — the Czech Museum, the Railroad and Pioneer Museum, the Bell County Museum and a children's museum, WOW! Then when you think what magnificent medical care we have literally at our doorstep. We live the definition of quality of life — after all we're closer to Austin than Dallas is and closer to Dallas than Austin is — you get the point.

Central Texas residents, then and now are giving and sharing people which make Bell County and the surrounding region a great place to call home. It is why, after all these years, travels, and exciting experiences, I still do. In so many, many ways, you can get there from here.

Following his swearing in on Nov. 11, 1977, Wayne Bachus set up practice, sharing an office with Jim Greenfield. When Jim moved to San Antonio, Wayne associated with Robert Fisher across from the Temple Post Office. Wayne was elected judge of Bell County Court of Law No.2 taking office Aug. 1, 1982, and was reelected in 1985. During his tenure on the bench, he served as president of the State Court at Law Judges Association for 3 years and as president-elect of the Judicial Section of the State Bar. Upon retirement in 1989, Wayne reopened the office and through the years has employed nine attorneys, a couple of whom now occupy the bench in courts in Bell County.

NJP Balloons Decor and More “I AL SO L OV E B R INGING NEW TYPE S ..."

NJP Balloons Decór and More owner / manager Noelia Rivera has made it her goal to make every party special.

Established in Harker Heights in 2014, NJP Balloons Decór and More offers all types of balloon decorations, linen tablecloths and backdrops.

What started out as a hobby for Mrs. Rivera — volunteering her work at church and decorating for her events — developed into a full-fledged business, as she developed a love for working with balloons and helping others make their events special.

NJP Balloons Decór and More is always willing to go the extra mile for their clients — always answering questions and making sure they are satisfied with the work in making their vision for their event come to life. That’s what sets the business apart from others like it.

N J P B a l l o o ns Decór a n d More 740 S. Amy Lane, Herker Heights Phone 254-630-0941 https://www.facebook.com/NJPBalloons-1524124307849947/

Ms. Rivera notes that she is a member of the QBN Company, which is No. 1 in balloon distribution nationally, providing the best-quality balloons available.

The business states its mission simply: To provide the best quality and customer service and make your event unforgettable.

Customers tell Ms. Rivera that what they like about her business is that they are understanding and are willing to work with them if they have a budget or special requests.

Ms. Rivera credits the support of her customers and family with making her business so successful, often reposting her work and offering reviews, allowing her to improve her work in many ways.

“I also love bringing new types of decorations, so that my work is always changing,” said Ms. Rivera, who reminds customers that the Christmas raffle is coming soon.

NJP Balloons Decór and More is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Monday through Friday at 740 S. Amy Lane in Harker Heights.

Call 254-630-0941 or visit online at https://www.facebook.com/NJPBalloons-1524124307849947/

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Survive the holidays with these stress-busting tips

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ovember through January boasts a plethora of holidays — most of which are well known and celebrated all over.

Holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s typically involve parties and gatherings that oftentimes take us away CAREY STITES from our own MS, RD, LD, CPT dinner table.

Every family tends to celebrate differently, however, with a little thought and planning, you can rejoice in the 2021 season free of stress, anxiety and pressure!

Explore. Dream.

Discover.

Tex Appeal Life & Style in Central Texas Interested in advertising?

Call (254) 501-7500 (KILLEEN) or (254) 774-4444 (TEMPLE)

60 WINTER 2021-22 | TEX APPEAL

STRESS BUSTER SURVIVAL TIP #1: FORGO "SAVING" YOURSELF FOR THAT SPECIAL HOLIDAY MEAL! Skipping meals before the holiday feast with the intent to “save” calories typically results in consuming more food at the celebration. When you are starving, it becomes difficult to make healthy choices and the body craves sugar and fat to instantly suppress hunger pangs.

Smaller, more frequent meals enhance metabolism and curb binging on holiday treats. A great plan of action is to begin the day by eating a healthy breakfast complete with protein and complex carbohydrates such as oatmeal with almonds or hard boiled eggs and fruit. About one to two hours before the gathering, have a light snack along with a bottle of water to take the edge

off your appetite and keep your blood sugar in check.

STRESS BUSTER SURVIVAL TIP #2: BRING A HEALTHY DISH TO HOLIDAY PARTIES When appropriate, ask the party host ahead of time if you can bring a dish. The selection of unhealthy foods served can be irresistible and by bringing a healthy dish, you can plan to be worry-free at the gathering knowing there is something wholesome available to eat. Additionally, the party host will likely appreciate the kind act.

Ideas include a vegetable platter with hummus, seasonal fruit salad or baked tortilla chips and salsa.

STRESS BUSTER SURVIVAL TIP #3: HAVE A PLATE PLAN Before filling your plate, devise a “plan of attack.” Begin by taking a smaller plate (if available) and scout out your favorite dishes.

Browse the food selection to find out what you really want and what you can pass up without feeling deprived.

Fill your small plate to the rim if you desire — you will have to dish up less per serving. Additionally, try to follow the “tablespoon rule” and only serve up about a tablespoon of your favorite holiday splurge dishes onto your plate. For buffet style holiday meals, avoid the temptation of returning for seconds by sitting as far away from your favorite foods as possible.

Another solution, which may have been common in your childhood, is to move your food around your plate and eat the dish you can enjoy first. Consolidate the foods you dislike onto one side so your plate does not look full.

STRESS BUSTER SURVIVAL TIP #4: DRINK OFTEN, EAT SLOWLY AND TALK REGULARLY Occasionally, the main holiday dish might be a food you plain dislike, is unhealthy or relentlessly overcooked. The trick? Before putting food into your mouth, take a sip of your drink; then right after eating, take another drink to aid in the swallowing process. Not only does the liquid help dissipate the flavor and help the overcooked dish go down, drinking while eating tends to encourage the feeling of fullness, which means you eat less.

According to a recent study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, obese people tend to chew their food less than lean people do, regardless of the food or bite size. The study found when people chewed their meals more than usual, the hormones regulating satiety and fullness increased.

Overall, researchers concluded increasing chewing activity could become a valuable tool to reducing

caloric intake and weight loss.

Be chatty! Catch up with relatives and friends who you have not seen in while!

Begin with the familiar ice breaker “How have you been?,” and tune in to the life stories you have missed over the year.

Likewise, think of two important events which summarize your year and share those as well.

By the time the conversation concludes, dinner may be over and you can avoid ingesting too many calories.

STRESS BUSTER SURVIVAL TIP #5: SCHEDULE EXERCISE AND MAKE HOLIDAY FITNESS FUN! Admit it. Your schedule will be hectic this time of year. Schedule your workouts as you would any other important appointment. Be flexible and think ahead, especially during a busy week or days out of town; change up your fitness routine by trying something new.

You need it for stress reduction!

Commit to a holiday race by

signing up for a “Winter Walk” or “Jingle Bell Jog!” These fun, family-friendly events will keep you motivated and moving during the holidays and best of all, the proceeds often benefit charities.

ENJOY THE SEASON Relaxing and taking in the holiday season is definitely possible with a little planning and preparation.

Having a game plan for these events can ensure you take pleasure in all the special holiday events and activities — from the delicious drinks, foods and desserts to your cherished family (and friend) traditions.

Carey Stites is a registered and licensed dietitian located 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.

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DAYTRIPPIN’

Family Fun on the Farm HOLIDAY SEASON A GREAT TIME TO EXPLORE SWEET EATS

By AMY ROGNLIE | Photos courtesy of SWEET EATS ADVENTURE FARM AND PETTING ZOO

L

IF YOU GO

Save money and time by purchasing tickets online.

Open daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., weather permitting 14400 E. State Highway 29, Georgetown Phone: 512-766-3276 Online: https://www.sweeteats.com/ https://www.facebook.com/SweetEatsFruitFarm

62 WINTER 2021-22 | TEX APPEAL

ooking for a full day of family fun this holiday season? The Sweet Eats Adventure Farm and Petting Zoo offers a big bang for your buck. Located on 80 acres just east of Georgetown, Sweet Eats offers something for everyone. Live reindeer will be waiting for you every day during December with a picture zone including Santa’s sleigh. Santa himself will be available on weekends for visits and photo ops.

After you greet Santa and his reindeer, visit the giant 11-foot-tall gingerbread house or take a wagon ride. All activities are included in the general admission price, so stay and ride the pedal cars around the track, get lost in the maze, dig for treasure in Treasure Mountain, jump on one of the two huge jumping pillows or get your face painted.

New to the farm this year are the apple cannons where you can test your aim by firing an apple at a target. If shooting apples is not your thing, you can take a pony ride or spend time playing on the playground where you can challenge your family to a pipe race.

Folks of all ages will be delighted with the goats, alpacas, pigs, miniature donkey and free-range chickens. The farm is home to many unusual breeds and runs its own chickenbreeding operation, resulting in many uniquelooking, one-of-a-kind chickens.

The farm also offers plenty to do for the smaller set. Little ones will especially enjoy petting bunnies or snuggling with a baby chick, bouncing in the bounce corral or riding a trike around the trike track. The farm is wellshaded with many trees and offers picnic tables, hammocks and benches when everyone is ready for a little downtime. Visitors can even wander down through the farm to San Gabriel River for a beautiful view.

And when you are hungry for a snack, you can purchase a treat from the nearly endless choices: Continued

Meet Santa and his reindeer or take time to pet some of the animals at Sweet Eats, including goats, pigs and rabbits.

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64 WINTER 2021-22 | TEX APPEAL

Meet Santa, try sweet treats, take photos with holiday decor and interact with animals at Sweet Eats in Georgetown.

kettle corn, giant turkey legs, tacos, snow cones, cheeseburgers, ice cream, wine slushies and apple pie in a cup are only some of the great offerings you may be able choose from, depending on when you visit the farm. Wine and beer are also available.

“People come out here for an experience,” says owner Jon Meredith, “so we try our best to provide a lot of value to our visitors every day.”

Sweet Eats Adventure Farm is open seven days a week and offers many activities and special events throughout the year, such as pig races, mutton-busting, horse shows, fireworks, live music and campfires. They also offer birthday party packages, school field trips and a once-amonth homeschooler’s day, not to mention their annual Easter egg hunt, Sunflower Festival, and Fall Festival complete with a four and half-acre corn maze and large pumpkin patch. And, in spring and summer, don’t forget to come out to the farm to pick your own strawberries and peaches.

“We’re the biggest operation of our kind in the area even though we’re the newcomer and have only been around for five years,” Meredith says. He credits his wife, Jonni, and a great staff for helping the farm grow to what it is now.

Meredith and his crew at Sweet Eats may have only been around for a few years, but they have a big vision. Opening early in 2022, the 10,000-square-foot Sweet Eats General Store and Bakery will offer homemade jellies, jams, doughnuts, pies and coffee. In addition, Meredith has recently planted several acres of Christmas trees and plans to offer “choose and cut” Christmas trees starting in 2025.

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ADVERTISING INDEX 21 Main...................................................11, 42 4 Legs of Love Boarding & Boutique...........44 AdventHealth...............................................66 Alliance Bank..................................................5 Atmos...........................................................11 B&G Paint & Body........................................37 Baylor Scott & White Hospice......................51 Bell County Museum....................................18 Bentons........................................................53 Brockway, Gersbach, Franklin & Niemeier...55 Callie's Boutique..........................................43 CareAge HomeCare.....................................56 Coast Dental...................................................2 Cochran Blair and Potts...............................37 Colonial Property Management........32-33, 67 Crotty Funeral Home....................................49 Darling Décor...............................................44 Ebony Tea House..........................................44 Ellis Air Systems...........................................13 Emporium Spice Co...............................42, 45 Extraco Banks................................. Back cover Fit4Mom Temple-Belton..............................43 Fuzzy’s Taco Shop.........................................11 Gallery Design Center..................................51 Garlyn Shelton Automotive Group.........20-21 Gretchen Williams Harpist............................60 iMERAKi.................................................45, 49 Journey Advisory Group..............................19 Lastovica Jewelers........................................23 My Giving Tree.............................................43 NJP Balloons................................................59 Ocean Quest Pools......................................53 Paperdoodles...............................................47 Precious Memories.......................................53 Salado Creek Jeweler’s/KiKi’s Creations......43 Salon Karen..................................................45 Smile At The World Orthodontics................31 Stoney Brook of Belton................................49 TDT Day for Women....................................26 The Collective Bar-tique...............................42 The Rose and Bee........................................44 Visiting Angels..............................................15 Wild Birds Unlimited............................. 45, 51 Z Medical Aesthetics....................................37 Zooty’s............................................................3 The publisher is not responsible for errors.

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Happy

HOLIDAYS THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT & PARTNERSHIP.