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High Noon Concerts
Page 4 • August 2022 • Golden Gazette High Noon Concerts on Wednesdays
High Noon Concerts will be held every Wednesday through Aug. 10 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Lubbock County Courthouse Gazebo.
The free outdoor events feature local talent. Various food trucks will be on site during the concerts. Two $50 cash prize drawings will be held during each concert. One ticket per person, and must be present to win.
Performers and dates are Aug. 3 – John Sprott Aug. 10 – Caldwell Kids
Pavement, storm sewer work begins on U.S. 62 / 19th Street
Traffic barrels and lane closures along U.S. 62 / 19th Street, between University and Memphis Avenues began in late July.
The closures will allow crews to begin work on full-depth pavement repairs and storm sewer construction.
“The closures will reduce both east- and westbound traffic to one lane in each direction. Various 19th Street intersections, along with certain driveways, will also close periodically to allow crews to complete the work in a timely manner,” said Mike Wittie, P.E., TxDOT Lubbock Area engineer and project manager.
To prevent larger vehicles from blocking the University intersection, southbound University Avenue commercial vehicle/ truck traffic will not be able to turn onto westbound 19th Street.
Commercial vehicles will need to follow the posted detours, Wittie said.
Construction crews also began pavement milling operations that will take place overnight from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
“Having a night shift will allow the contractor to perform more work with less disruption to traffic. Drivers should be aware that this work will create uneven lanes and driving with caution is encouraged.
“The milling operations are scheduled to last two weeks, and work to reconstruct the outside lanes from University to Memphis will last approximately four months, weather permitting,” Wittie said.
The work is part of a major rehabilitation project that is making improvements to 3.3 miles of US 62 (SH 114/19th Street) in the city of Lubbock.
The $25.69 million project will rebuild portions of the existing roadway, and make updates to the drainage system, sidewalks, traffic signals and illumination, from Memphis Avenue to just east of I-27.
The project is anticipated to be completed in summer 2025.
In Jim Croce’s brief career — he died at age 30 in a 1973 Louisiana plane crash — Jim released five Top 10 singles, the first of which was one of the best story songs of modern times.
“You Don’t Mess Around with Jim” on the ABC label brought music fans into Jim Croce’s fun-loving world, one that was often replete with rather bizarre, but always memorable, characters.
Born in Philadelphia, Jim played the accordion before switching to the guitar.
After high school, he attended Villanova University, where he worked as a guitarist in numerous bands.
He graduated from college in 1965, became a guitar instructor at summer camps, and briefly taught at a Philadelphia middle school.
One undocumented story has Croce being beaten up by a 250-pound girl student in front of the class.
He met Ingrid Jacobson at a folk music party in 1966. They married and began writing and recording their own compositions, frequently touring and trying in vain to catch a break.
Eventually discouraged, the Croces settled onto a Pennsylvania farm with their infant son, Adrian.
Jim drove trucks and worked construction while Ingrid finished college. All the while, Croce continued to write songs, never abandoning a lifelong dream of having a music career one day.
He turned to selling advertising time on Philadelphia radio stations. His work occasionally took him into the darker corners of
the city, where he would sometimes visit less-thansavory pool halls. Ingrid recalled later, “He would sit there and watch the pool games and see what people were doing. He ended up with a guy named Jim Walker, who was one of the guys who used to play pool there.”
And what a character Big Jim Walker became in “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim.”
In Croce’s mind, he imagined a cartoonish version of an intimidating New York City pool hustler — big and dumb as a man
can come, but he’s stron-
ger than a country hoss. Walker reigns supreme around town as “the King of 42nd Street,” and he cruises his domain in a “drop top” Cadillac.
As the story unfolds, we learn that Big Jim hustles people for money with his well-honed pool skills. But one day, a southern boy nicknamed Slim comes to town, explaining that Walker had recently hustled him, and Slim was there to get his money back. (Good luck, Slim!) Big Jim’s sycophants then explain some
basic survival tips to the visitor:
You don’t tug on Superman’s cape
You don’t spit into the wind
You don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger
And you don’t mess around with Jim
A bloody melee erupts, and to everyone’s surprise Slim manages to dispatch the fearsome bully.
Big Jim’s followers then acknowledge the new order, and the last time we hear the catchy chorus, we’re made aware of one crucial change:
You don’t tug on Superman’s cape
You don’t spit into the wind
You don’t pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger
And you don’t mess around with Slim
4th on Broadway winners: fi shing tournament & eating contests
Victorious participants took home prizes in several categories during the 32nd annual 4th on Broadway events.
Fishing contest winners in each category received gift bags or tackle boxes. Additionally, a $100 cash prize was presented to Xavier Vasquez, age 10, who caught the one albino catfi sh placed in the lake.
Eating contest winners received gift bags full of prizes or mini-coolers.
Youth Fishing Tournament winners: Largest fi sh
7 & under - Jaylin Ware, age 5, 25 inches, 5 lbs. 13 oz 8-12 - CJ Ramsey, age 11, 24 ½ inches, 5 lbs. 1 oz 13-18 - Hunter Bolton, 13 to 18 category, 24 ½ inches, 5 lbs. 5 oz
Smallest fi sh
7 & under - Aapeli Llamas, age 3, 6 inches, 2.38 oz 8-12 - Ian Hernandez, age 9, 1-inch, no discernable weight 13-18 - Noah Hasse, age 13, 4 ½ inches, ¾ ounce
Most fi sh
7 & under - Jaylin Ware, age 5, 9 fi sh 8-12 - Xavier Vasquez, age 10, 13 fi sh 13-18 - Noah Hasse, age 13, 29 fi sh
Eating contest winners
Cobbler Gobbler
6 & under - Nikolaz Garza 7-12 - Juan Garcia, Jr. 13-17 - Tatius Lott
Adult - Frankie Galicia (5-year champion)
Catfi sh
6 & under - no entries 7-12- -Jax Simonton 13-17 - Tristan Merkey Adult - John Lixey
Lubbock Christian Women’s Connection “Hooray back to school” luncheon is set for 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Aug. 9 at the Lubbock Country Club, 3400 Mesa Drive.
RSVP by noon, Aug. 5 to LubbockCWC@gmail.com or Sharen at 806-392-0264.
Jana Vick of DeSoto, Texas, will speak on “Anchor in a Storm.”
There will also be a style show presented by Clair’s Closet.
Cost for the luncheon, program and door prizes is $20.
Golden Gazette • August 2022 • Page 5 Christian Women’s Luncheon set for Aug. 9
Page 6 • August 2022 • Golden Gazette
Nine questions to ask your ophthalmologist
If you’re like most people, this is a familiar scene: You’re nearing the end of your appointment with your physician, and they ask, “Do you have any questions?”
You want to take advantage of the short amount of time you have with the one person who can decipher tests and explain medical issues specific to you, but you blank.
Getting the most out of your regular eye exam depends on asking good questions. Not sure where to begin?
Here’s a list of smart questions to ask your ophthalmologist at your next eye exam:
• Am I at risk for eye disease?
There are several risk factors for eye disease, including family history, ethnicity, age and so on. Take the time with your ophthalmologist to identify your own eye health risks.
• Can my other health issues affect my eyes?
Several systemic diseases, including high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes, can affect eyesight.
• Why is this test being done?
During a routine eye exam, your ophthalmologist will run tests to screen for eye diseases and visual impairment. This can include checking how your pupil responds to light, measuring your eye pressure to screen for diseases such as glaucoma or dilating your eye to check the health of your retina.
• Would you have this procedure yourself?
Some eye surgeries are urgently required to protect your vision but others are optional, such as laser eye surgery or just one of a range of treatment options for your condition.
An ophthalmologist will be able to help you decide if you are a good candidate for surgery, walk you through the latest data, and discuss potential risks.
• Is this normal? Dealing with dry eyes? Noticing new floaters in your vision?
Share these symptoms with your ophthalmologist. They can determine whether this is a normal part of aging or a sign of eye disease.
• I can’t see well while reading or driving. What should I do?
Usually, declining vision means you just need new glasses. But in some cases, there are alternatives to glasses that can improve your quality of life.
If you’re having a difficult time enjoying your favorite hobbies and activities, ask your ophthalmologist if you’re a good candidate for newer vision correction options.
It’s smart to see your way clear to getting regular eye exams.
• Will COVID-19 affect my eyes?
Your ophthalmologist is your best resource for the latest information on diseases related to the eye, including eye-related symptoms linked to COVID-19.
• Should I buy blue-light-blocking glasses? What about eye vitamins?
There are lots of myths out there about eyes and vision.
Before buying blue light-blocking glasses or other over-the-counter products that are advertised to save your sight, get the facts straight from your ophthalmologist.
• My eyesight seems fine. Do I really need to come back?
Your ophthalmologist can tell you how often you should be seen based on your age, risk factors, and overall health.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends all adults get a comprehensive eye exam by age 40 and every year or two after age 65, even if the vision seems fine. That’s because leading causes of blindness can begin without any noticeable symptoms.
An ophthalmologist — a physician who specializes in medical and surgical eye care — can help save your vision before it’s too late.
EyeCare America Can Help
If the cost of an eye exam is a concern, the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s EyeCare America program may be able to help.
This national public service program provides eye care through volunteer ophthalmologists for eligible seniors 65 and older and those at increased risk for eye disease.
Learn More
For further information regarding EyeCare America and to see if you or someone you care for qualifies, visit www.aao.org/eyecare-america.
