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Message Holly Lake Area News Serving Holly Lake Ranch, Hawkins and Surrounding AreasMay 2025 • Emergency Preparedness: Water• May Gardening Tips• Medicaid & Long-Term Care in Texas• Story of a Retired Super Fan• April Showers...Can Cause Problems!• Texas Piney Woods Veterans Assoc.• Making a Fashion Statement East Texas Style• Inltrating the Wood County Marine Corps League• Blue Bonnets, Golf Pro Tips and More!
Dear Readers,This is the month we turn on our air conditioners and put up our mosquito barriers and put away our sweatshirts and coats. In May we set aside time to honor our mothers, recognize graduates and remember the fallen of our Armed Forces. As I canned jelly made from violet blossoms for the rst time, I wished the spring wildowers lasted a lit-tle longer before the warm temperatures kicked in. The recent rains have rinsed off the layers of pollen and the trees are now fully decked out in full green leaves, not yet spoiled by dust, bugs or drought. Golfers are rolling up the covers on their golf carts and boaters are preparing for their rst shing trip. Students are counting the days till school is out and the pools are open. (As a former teacher, I can tell you the teachers are counting the days as well!)The critters are more active, too. The raccoons have emptied my hummingbird feeders on multiple occasions, we had to encourage a bird to build her nest beyond the back door, and we sent two copperheads into eter-nity before they did the same to us!This month we celebrate Armed Forces Day on May 17th, then remember the sacrice of our service mem-bers on May 26th. This edition has feature articles from two amazing veterans’ groups: The Texas Piney Woods Veterans Association as well as the Wood County Marine Corps League. We are blessed to have these organizations serving our community!As small as we are, we’ve had a fashion show and a theater production in the last 30 days! Read more about both in the pages that follow.I want to thank our contributing authors; Margaret O’Conner, Ann Reynolds, Jeff Wilson, Nate Holdon and Dave Evans – I appreciate your expertise! Also, thank you to Larry and Pam Biernacki for sharing their story.“Happy Mother’s Day” to our moms, “Congratulations” to the graduates, and “Thank you for your service” to our veterans! Please let othe advertisers know you saw their ad – buying local helps all of us!Linda GasawayWelcome toMay, 2025Cover Photo: The cover photo was taken from a mural in downtown Hawkins. The mural was paint-ed by Tori Ladner and Patsy Kirklin in 2023. The bluebonnets were painted by Hawkins children.
Table of Contents2 Important Numbers3 Events for May4 Emergency Preparedness: Part 3 - Water6 Gardening Tips for May9 The Golf Librarian11 Medicaid & Long Term Care in Texas: What You Need to Know12 Wonders of East Texas Flora, Fauna and Beyond14 Hypocrites! 16 Cubs, Cards and a Life Well Played: The Story of a Retired Superfan!18 April Showers... Can Cause Problems! 20 Playbill: “Yee Haw, Y’all”21 Texas Piney Woods Veterans Association22 Making a Fashion Statement, East Texas Style25 East Texas’ Fastest Growing Service Club: ETX AMBUCS 27 The Forest Mayapple30 Everyone Loves Lake Hawkins! 32 A Fork in the Pines Restaurant Review33 Advertising Directory Now Taking Subscriptions!Have a copy of the physical magazine delivered to your home for $10 each. Orders must be made by the 15th to receive the current month’s edition.Subscribe to the digital version delivered by email for free.Go to www.HollyLakeAreaNews.com and click on the Sub-scription of your choice.
2Important NumbersEmergency 911 Hawkins Police Department 903-769-3628Holly Lake Ranch Security 903-769-2164Hawkins Volunteer Fire Department 903-769-2444Holly Lake Volunteer Fire Department 903-769-4341Poison Control Center 800-222-1222UTILITIESUpshur Electric 800-259-2536 Liberty Utilities 903-769-2095ETEX (Phone, Cable Internet) 903-797-2711Optimum (Fiber Internet, Cable) 877-794-2724SCHOOLSHarmony ISD 903-725-5492Hawkins ISD 903-769-2181 Jarvis Christian College 903-730-4890 The City of Hawkins celebrates its annual Pancake Festival Trade Day on May 17th, 8-3 About UsOur mission is to promote our communi-ty and the small businesses who serve us. Please note that to the best of our knowl-edge, the content of this publication is intended for entertainment purposes only. Content should not be taken as legal ad-vise and we will not be held accountable for any legal action the reader may take. While we love our sponsors, we make no promises abou the results of products or services advertized.Holly Lake Area News972-740-7070Editor@HollyLakeAreaNews.comFacebook: Holly Lake Area NewsNow Taking Subscriptions!
3May 2025 EventsSomething to think about: May has a long list of month-long observations, including “Compost Awareness Month” and “Zombie Awareness Month.” Who knew?!1 National Day of Prayer2-4 Kids First Weekend, Ninga theme at Allaso Ranch, www.roseheights.org/events3 Kentucky Derby3 Fiesta de Mayo, 10-4, food trucks and car show, Downtown Mineola 3 Vendor Market, Circle M Crawfish, 9-53 Bingo, 7 pm, Holly Lake Volunteer Fire Dept.4 Watercolor Dogwood Painting, 2-4 pm, Lottie Bug Farms5 Cinco de Mayo6 Complementary Veterans Breakfast, 8-9:30 am FUMC Quitman6 International “No Diet” Day6 National Nurses Day9-10 Piney Woods Wine Festival, Picker’s Pavilion, Lindale9-10 Yee Haw Y’All, Community Theatre, Holly Hall, 7 pm, Tickets $1210 Mother’s Day Tea, The Grand Empress Tea Room, 2-4 Kilgore10 Vendor Market at Bear Creek Smokehouse, 11-510 East Texas Artisan Market, 9-5, Sunshine Ceramics Studio, FM 165010 Red Dirt Barbecue & usic Festival, noon - 10 pm, Park of East TX, Tyler 10 Bingo, 7 pm, Holly Lake Volunteer Fire Dept.11 Mother’s Day13 National Apple Pie Day15-17 Lindale Championship Rodeo, 6-10 pm, Cross Brand Arena in Winona16 Big Sandy Music Hall Student Recital, 7 pm16 National Do Something Good for Your Neighbor Day16 National Barbecue Day17 Hawkins Pancake Festival Trade Days, 8-317 Holly Lake Ranch Community Market, 9-2, Lake Greenbriar17 Armed Forces Day17 Ruck for the Fallen, 7:30 am Jim Hogg Park, Quitman, Walking, Running or Rucking17 Spring Festival, Food, Music, Plants, Bob Wells Nursery at Sorelle Farms, Mineola17 Alba Classic Car Show, 8-11 am17 Free Saturday Movie - “Hook” - 11:00 am at the Lake Country Playhouse17 East Texas Jazz Festival, 7 pm, Jackson’s Cozy Theater, Gladewater17 Bingo, 7 pm, Holly Lake Volunteer Fire Dept.18 Free Hike and Yoga Class, 1 pm, Mineola Nature Preserve20 National Rescue Dog Day21 National Waiters and Waitresses Day22 What’s Bugging You in the Garden, Wood County Master Gardeners, 12-124 Bingo, 7 pm, Holly Lake Volunteer Fire Dept.26 Memorial Day26 Memorial Day Ceremony, 10:00 am Wood County Courthouse28 National Brisket Day30 Shake, Rattle and Roll at Select Theater, Mineola 7 pm30 Dinner & Show, Speakeasy Coffeehouse, Quitman, 6-9 pm, $4031 HLR Lounge by the Lake, 5-8 Holly Lodge Patio31 Bingo, 7 pm, Holly Lake Volunteer Fire Dept.
4Emergency PreparednessThere is nothing like living through where the holes are in your emergen-cy preparedness. We are blessed that there was no loss of life in last month’s tornado, but almost all of us lost our electricity. Some lost it for hours, oth-ers lost it for days. We were fortunate that the temperatures were mild during that time as most of us have all-electric homes. Please refer to the March and April editions for basic emergency pre-paredness information. comfort and crisis. When it comes to lack of water, you quickly get into a crisis mode. We were fortunate that the water pumps were still operation-al during the power outage as there have been times when they were not. If you’ve ever been in a situation where you’ve had to go without running wa-ter for a few days, you appreciate the access we have to clean water. We need roughly 1.5 gallons of wa-ter per person per day. This doesn’t include bathing or laundry. A family of four would require 6-gallon jugs of water per day. Assuming you had the space to store it, you would need 42-gallon jugs of water for one week. It would be wise to have stored water on hand, but there are some long-term solutions available which wouldn’t re-quire as much space.If you don’t have a resource of water, you’ll be required to reuse what you have or else do some hard-core mini-mizing of what you have on hand. For-tunately, most of those reading this are near the major lakes in the area or have access to private wells. Assuming you have a way to collect the lake water or even water from the Sabine River, process described later.Those that don’t have access to the lakes or the river can create their own rainwater collection device to have plenty of water available should things go south with clean water availability.If you know in advance you’re going to lose access to your water source you can do the following: • Fill the bathtub(s)• Fill the water bowls/buckets of any animals• Fill wash tubs, dish tubs – anything that can hold water (You can water the plants with anything left over later.)• Once you’ve used up the water in the above containers, you can then begin to use your stored water.When your stored water runs out, you’ll need to be able to access other sources, but these will require that you planned in advance.If you are concerned that your water may not be safe to drink, there are tab-lets you can buy for short-term water and don’t take up a lot of space. Be sure to follow the directions. The water will have an iodine taste, but there is another set up tables to help with that. (They think of everything!)If you have access to a pond, lake or river, you can collect water in buckets (with lids so the water doesn’t slosh out).If you want to drink or cook with the water, you’ll need to pass it through a If you have kept up with your emergency preparedness assignments since March you will have:• Prepared a “go bag” for each vehicle.• Taken photos of your property and belongings.• Started accoumulating shelf stable food itemsIf you would like to review the information, go to our website on HollyLakeAreaNews.com and check out the past issues regarding Emergency Preparedness.Part 3: Water
5 one that stays on the kitchen count-er and another for camping. There are various sizes, including handheld water drink it instead of vice versa. We don’t own any stock in the company, so there is no ulterior motive other than it’s a darn good product.If you aren’t near a water source, you can create your own rain-water collec-tion from the roof of your house or shed using your home’s gutters and down-spouts. If you have a 1,000 square foot roof, an inch of rain would provide 625 gallons of water. You’ll need to decide what kind of storage tank you’d like to have. We’ve had decorative tanks in the front yard that looked like planters, and back roofs for the garden.We are fortunate that Texas active-ly supports rainwater harvesting, and Texas Property Code 202.007 prevents homeowners’ association from ban-ning rainwater harvesting installations, however there can be restrictions on the type or size of the equipment. In addition, Texas Tax Code §151.355 ex-empts rainwater harvesting equipment and supplies from state sales tax. The purchaser needs to furnish Form 01-339 to the equipment supplier. By the way, metal roofs are preferable as they pro-vide a cleaner harvest even though bird excrement, dust and pollen are still go-ing to run into your downspout. Asphalt shingles are going to leave tiny particles and contaminated leaching can occur. So, if you have a choice – use your met-al roof for water harvesting.Remember that the water barrels will need to be higher than the gardens you want to water, otherwise you’ll need a pump. In a grid down situation a pump isn’t going to be much help, so plan to elevate your barrels a few feet from the you use any of the water for drinking or -There are a lot of great resources for water harvesting. Set your system up and be prepared NOW, while you can get the supplies you need. The website Texas.gov states that over the next 50 years existing surface and groundwa-ter resources may be depleted due to population growth. Thank God Texas encourages residents to harvest the rain! Colorado has a law that states residents can only have up to 2 rain barrels with a storage capacity of 110 gallons or less. Another great reason to live in Texas!Once you’ve got your rainwater har-vesting system in place, there are no other costs involved, and the time needed for upkeep is minimal. We are blessed that we live in Texas where we can harvest the rain that God sends us for free, without being taxed or regu-lated by the state. It’s up to us to take advantage of harvesting rainwater so your water bills stay manageable for the foreseeable future.Would you like to nd out more about Jesus?A small group meets on Tuesday evenings from5:30-6:30 pm to discuss the life of Jesus from theGospel of John. We Meet at Richie’s Grill.3842 FM 2869, Hawkins, TX 75765For more information call 903-245-7851 and ask for Mark.
6Gardening Tips for May in East TexasMay is celebrated for its abundant sunshine, blooming it marks the ideal time for planting. With no more frost threats, it’s safe to transition indoor or greenhouse plants and vegetables. Tender annuals and vegetables that do not tolerate cold are now ready for the Weather website)Once plants and vegetables are in the ground, adding compost and mulch will greatly increase their successful growth. We want our gardens to thrive, not just survive. The addition of compost improves the soil structure, wa-ter retention, and nutrient availability. For vegetables to continue to produce, additional nitrogen should be added due to rapid loss from watering and absorption. Vegetables are like kids, requiring constant feeding because they grow very fast. let’s plant a few shrubs!By Nate Holden, Master GardenerSuccessful Planting of ShrubsPicking a shrub light needs. Full sun requires at least 6 hours of unin-terrupted light, partial sun/shade 3-6 hours per day, and shade requires little to no sun at all.Digging the hole Shrubs adapt to most soils as long as the soil is well drained. To test your soil for drainage, dig the hole as deep as the size of the root ball and at least twice as wide. Fill the hole with water and check back in a couple of hours. If there is not water standing, your soil is well drained. If water is remaining, do not plant shrubs that cannot tolerate wet soil. Check the plant tag for light and water requirements.Preparing to plantIf your hole has drained, remove the shrub from the con-tainer by rolling and pressing against the sides. Loosen the roots and ensure none are damaged or growing in a circle. Straighten the root along the side and on the bot-tom of the root ball. Roots that are growing in a circle will continue to grow that way and not spread out into the root zone if not addressed during planting. Measure the root ball and check the hole for the proper depth.
7PlantingLift the shrub by the root ball and place in the center of the hole. The root ball should be slightly above the surface of the ground. You can lay a stick or shovel handle across the hole to better judge the depth. Add or remove soil from the hole as need-ed, always lifting the shrub by the root ball. Once proper depth is established, rotate the shrub to get the best side facing the direction that receives the previously so the roots are not surprised by the soil are eliminated. Afterwards pack the soil with your feet and thoroughly water to settle the soil.MulchAdding 2 or 3 inches of mulch over the area that was dug out will help hold moisture during the dog days of summer and suppress weed growth. Never allow the mulch to touch the base of the shrub since this can cause disease and/or fungus growth.WateringWatering newly planted shrubs depends on your soil. The soil should be slightly moist but not soaking wet. Allow the soil to dry out somewhat between watering and then water deeply in-stead of frequently. Irrigation is always an option. With proper planting and care, your shrubs will not only sur-vive, they will thrive.Call Rick Smith for any size load oflandscaping materials!
8e Golf LibrarianBy Je Wilson, PGA
9e Golf LibrarianBy Je Wilson, PGASince Holly Lake Ranch Golf Club will be hosting the Holly Communi- thought it would be a clever idea for you to “book” a visit with the Golf Li-brarian.The game of golf can never be mastered. This is the reason it is so frustrating, yet at the same time, so addicting. Thus, those that play the game on a frequent and ongoing basis are always looking to get better. The question is how?One of the best ways to correct errors or focus on problems in the swing is con-stant self-analysis. Give me a chance to elaborate. Almost all of us have learned this game through snippets of advice or truths, which are commonly called swing thoughts. These swing thoughts focus on various aspects of the swing, or setup. They are not a holistic solution to a perfect swing, but rather parts of it. Some examples of old school swing thoughts would be “keep your head down,” or “keep your left arm straight.” More contempo-rary swing thoughts include “square to square,” and “drive the legs.” long enough, you accumulate myriad swing thoughts. It is these thoughts that build and furnish your library of the golf swing.Now that we have painfully established our golf analogy, let us examine it as it relates to a misunderstanding most golfers have when it comes to prac-tice versus warming up. A true practice session is akin to going to the library to study. We have come across a ma- practice range, we analyze what area of the swing is the main issue. Then, we go through our swing thoughts re-lated to that portion of the swing. This sounds a little bit like using the Dewey on a certain subject. The point of hitting balls in a true practice session, though, applying various swing thoughts, is not focused on results. It is about the pro-cess. If we remain true to the processes in a practice session, focusing on the relevant swing thoughts, the results will inevitably follow. than a practice session. Again, Captain Obvious explains we are simply warm-ing up before going to play a round on the course. This is just like going to the library to check out a book. Stay with me.When warming up, I am trying to ac-complish two things. As I get my mus-cles loose and accustomed to the move-ments, I am also looking to seeing what my ball is doing that day. Is it consis-tently right or left of my intended tar-get? Am I hitting it fat or thin? If some-thing consistently stands out, I go to my library of swing thoughts and then ap-ply them, one by one, to see if focusing on it helps correct the problem. When I library. That is the one swing thought I am going to focus on while playing my round of golf that day. Trying to think of several swing thoughts during a single swing is both impossible and disastrous. If you stick with the one single thought that helped during your warm-up session, chances are you will have a decent round of golf.Compiling a great library of swing -ysis of your golf swing. Remember, though, that practicing and warming up -brary. Practicing is immersing yourself in the stacks, staying true to the pro-cesses, while warming up is simply go-ing to the library to check out a single book. Do not forget to return it, though.Thank you, Captain Obvious!weight on the balls of the feet, one piece takeaway, turn the left hip, …
Trusts10 Margaret O’Connor Hallie Gordon Pet Trusts Probate WillsTrustsGuardianship Special Needs Planning Elder LawEstate PlanningPROTECT YOUR LEGACYO’Connor Gordon LawO’Connor Gordon Law is a family-owned Estate Planning and Elder Law boutique located in Rockwall and serving clients by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and a Fellow of the College of the State Bar of Texas. Hallie O’Connor Gordon received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Texas A&M University in 2016, her JD from Texas A&M School of Law in 2019 and has focused her practice on estate planning and elder law. Call 214- 695-2488 to schedule your consultation.OGLawTx.com
11Medicaid & Long-Term Care in Texas: What You Need to KnowAs you or a loved one age, the need for care—at home or in a facility—can arise sooner than expected and create plan in place, it’s possible to get support for care while still protecting your home, savings, and peace of mind.The Q&A below answers frequent questions about how Medicaid works in Texas.Q: Why should I think about Medicaid if I’m not in a crisis?A: Because planning ahead gives you more control and peace of mind. Long-term care in Texas can cost over $6,000/month, and Medicaid helps cover those -ments. With advance planning, including legal tools like trusts or annuities, you may qualify without losing your life savings.Q: Isn’t Medicaid only for people with very little money?A: Not necessarily. While Medicaid is a needs-based program, many middle-class families qualify with the help of proper planning. It’s about understanding and using the rules wisely. We help families protect assets and still qualify—so you can care for a loved one with-out losing everything.Q: What about my spouse? Will they lose everything if I need care?A: No—and that’s one of the most important reasons to plan. Texas Medicaid has built in protections for the spouse who remains at home. There are rules that allow them to keep the house, a vehicle, and a sizable portion of assets—but without guidance, families often give up more than they have to. We help you maximize those protections.Q: What if we’re already paying for care? Is it too late to do anything?A: It’s not too late. This is known as crisis planning, and while the options are fewer, they still exist. Tools like Medicaid-compliant annuities, promissory notes, and strategic spend-downs can help you qualify faster and preserve assets. Every case is unique, and timing is critical—so don’t wait to ask for help.Q: What is the 5-year lookback period and how does it work?A: When you apply for Medicaid, the state reviews gave away or transferred any assets. This is the lookback period, and it’s designed to prevent people from giving things away just to qualify. If you’ve made gifts or trans--stand what’s permitted and how to move forward with Q:A: Start with a conversation. At O’Connor Gordon Law, we work with families in both crisis and advance planning situations. We explain the rules in plain lan-guage, develop strategies to protect what you’ve built, and guide you through each step with care.Q & ACall 214-695-2488 or visit OGLawTX.com to schedule a consultation. We’re here to help you protect what matters most.By Hallie Gordon
12Spring in Texas brings out the most stunning blooms popular is our state symbol, the Texas Bluebonnet.Although the species Lupinus texensis is generally recognized as the state Bluebonnet, the state legisla-ture in 1971 resolved that “Lupinus texensis and anyother variety of bluebonnet not heretofore record-ed be recognized along with the Lupinus subcarno- -ner petal, two wing pets and two petals that make the keel.The white banner petal forms the upper part of the The interesting thing about the spot is that it acts as a neon sign saying “this is a nice spot to harvest plenty this spot turns reddish and is ignored by bees because There is a fun story that goes along with this change -ers, keeping their sex parts enclosed within two layersof petals. After a while, the white banner spot blushes pink and then purple. Flowers in this state have been called blushing brides and are the subject of a common miscon-being pollinated. Or in other words, the bee undresses the |Feb23,2021|NativePlants.The fact is that Bluebonnets rarely self-pollinate and if bees aren’t lured in to the bloom. . .well, there will be no seeds and no Bluebonnets next year. This white banner petal, that is prominent over the other petals, is a signal to pollinators that there is sticky pollen there. Sticky pollen equates to a heavier load way for bees to collect a lot of pollen without having less and older pollen. Research has shown that 96% pollinators, isn’t it?BY ANN REYNOLDSWonders of East Texas:Flora, Fauna and Beyond
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14One of the most common criticisms leveled at organized religion—Chris-tian churches in particular—is the claim that they are full of hypocrites. This accusation often stems from ob-serving churchgoers who profess one set of beliefs on Sunday and seem to live contrary to those beliefs during the rest of the week.Critics argue that many people in churches preach love, humility, for-giveness, and service, but act judg-mentally, self-righteously, or self-ishly. They may condemn certain behaviors in others while quietly excusing their own faults. Scandals involving church leaders further fuel this perception. These incidents are seen as proof that the Church is not a place of genuine transformation, but one of appearances, where people go to look righteous, not be righteous.“Why should anyone take moral or spiritu-al advice from people who don’t live up to it themselves?”While the charge of hypocrisy is not without basis—because yes, church-es include people who fail to live per-fectly—it misunderstands both the nature of the Church and the nature of humanity.First, the Church is not a museum for -ty of imperfect people seeking grace, -less behavior from churchgoers is to fundamentally misunderstand the Christian message, which acknowl-edges human brokenness and calls people toward repentance and trans-formation—not instant perfection.While the charge of hypocrisy is not without basis—because yes, church-es include people who fail to live per-fectly—it misunderstands both the nature of the Church and the nature of humanity.First, the Church is not a museum for -ty of imperfect people seeking grace, -less behavior from churchgoers is to fundamentally misunderstand the Christian message, which acknowl-edges human brokenness and calls people toward repentance and trans-formation—not instant perfection.Second, the accusation of hypocrisy often confuses failure with fakery. Most people in churches are not pre--gling, like everyone else. The fact that someone believes in kindness and sometimes fails to be kind doesn’t make them a hypocrite—it makes them human. A hypocrite is someone who intentionally deceives, who puts on a moral front while se-cretly rebelling against those values. But someone who genuinely tries to live well and occasionally stumbles is not being hypocritical—they’re being honest about their need for grace.While the charge of hypocrisy is not without basis—because yes, church-es include people who fail to live per-fectly—it misunderstands both the nature of the Church and the nature of humanity.First, the Church is not a museum for saints; it’s a hospital for sinners. -munity of imperfect people seeking grace, healing, and growth. To expect to fundamentally misunderstand the Christian message, which acknowl-edges human brokenness and calls people toward repentance and trans-formation—not instant perfection.Second, the accusation of hypocri-sy often confuses failure with fak-ery. Most people in churches are not struggling, like everyone else. The fact that someone believes in kind-ness and sometimes fails to be kind doesn’t make them a hypocrite—it makes them human. A hypocrite is someone who intentionally deceives, who puts on a moral front while se-cretly rebelling against those values. But someone who genuinely tries to live well and occasionally stumbles is not being hypocritical—they’re being honest about their need for grace.We Don’t Associate withHypocrites!The Churches Her e Ar e Ful l of Hy pocr i t esHypOcrites!
15Third, this critique can be applied to any institution or movement. Schools are full of teachers who sometimes act ignorantly. Hospitals Environmental activists still drive cars. If we dismissed every institution -miss every institution, including the critics themselves.Finally, the Church has been, and continues to be, a source of im-mense good in the world. For every moral failure, there are countless ex-amples of Christians feeding the hun-gry, caring for the sick, standing up for justice, and living lives of quiet, always make headlines, but they are sincerely striving to live out their faith.YES, CHURCHES ARE FULL OF PEOPLE WHO FALL SHORT OF THEIR IDEALS. BUT THAT DOESN’T MAKE THEM HYPOCRITES, IT MAKES THEM HUMAN. The Church is one of the few places that openly acknowledges human im- through grace, accountability, and transformation. Instead of rejecting the Church for its imperfections, per-haps we should recognize that it’s one of the few places actively trying to help people grow beyond them.
16Cubs, Cards, and a Life Well Played: The Story of a Retired SuperfanIn the springtime, when men’s hearts turn to all things baseball, all Larry Biernacki has to do is walk upstairs. Larry grew up in Chicago and is a die-hard Cubs fan. He used to collect soda bot-tles as a kid, turn them in for the two-cent return and then turn around and buy baseball cards. -matics degree from Northern Arizona University, along with a while at Northern Arizona as a Lumberjack. In 1985, he was living in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife Pam as the VP of a bank with over two billion dollars in assets. He came home one day and announced that he was going into partnership with a friend to sell baseball cards in a retail store. Going from a banker’s salary to working for daily sales was a big paradigm shift for him and his family which now included a young son. He not only sold baseball cards but played softball for the Dudley Thunder when they won the USSSA World Championship in 1990. Larry described going from a banker to selling baseball cards as “one of the best times of my life, because it taught me something: When you own a business, making payroll is a big deal!” They eventually turned one store into four and had years later, but it didn’t discourage Larry.of Arkansas Federal Credit Union headquartered in Jacksonville, Arkansas where he retired in 2014.There, he doubled the size of the credit union and added more than 20,000 members in just Arkansas Business of the Year.” While his nametag said he was a credit union CEO, his heart said he was a baseball card collector! He continued to collect cards and memorabilia for over thirty years.During a trip the piney woods of east Texas in 1981, they stopped at Holly Lake Ranch where he looked over at Pam and declared “We are going to retire here.” ey ended up purchas-ing a time-share and vacationed in Holly Lake Ranch every year until 2012 when they built their own vacation home from Don Ledford. When Larry retired, they moved here perma-nently and later purchased their current home on Lake Greenbriar.Larry holds a bat given away 8/8/88 when the rst night game was played at Wrigley Field.
17-ceiling with sports memorabilia. Most of it is baseball related, and most of that has something to do with the Cubs! While Pam -by/museum she will agree that it gets him and his collections “out of her hair!”When asked about his favorite player, Larry said quickly without thinking about it “Earnie Banks” who was the Cubs shortstop was when he and his dad went to a White Sox game. The pitcher, a deacon at Holly Brook Baptist Church where he drives the bus, and Pam works with the kids in the Awana program. He is also an assessor for the Texans on Mission Pitts-burgh Harmony Association (formerly Texas Baptist Men) where he assesses the dam-age from natural disasters prior to the chainsaw crews being deployed. While he enjoys a variety of hobbies, he still works as a sport card (and other collectables) consultant.Pam and Larry will celebrate their 51st wedding anniversary at the end of this month. While the “Cub” has been their favorite mascot for decades, they recently have become fans of the “Tigers” as all four of their grandchildren received scholarships at LSU.Loyal to his team, when asked about the outcome of the 2025 World Series, Larry pondered a moment and then predicted a matchup between the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox, with the Cubs taking home the championship, of course!One of Larry’s favorite pieces is a commissioned painting of Wrigley Field given to him by his sta.Pam and Larry enjoy retirement traveling.The above represents a small frac-tion of his extensive collection.
18“April Showers ...”Can Cause Problems! drainage issues from developing is worthwhile when compared to the cost of remedies.Drainage is often overlooked because of its intermittent and short-term. It rains an average of 70 days per year totaling about 45 inches. However, the storms tend to be shorter and more intense here than in most parts of the country. Overall, the local drainage systems function well on a basic level. Care and maintenance is needed, how-ever, to avoid major impacts from storms.Drainage problems can include:• Water ponding in low-lying and poorly drained areas• Undersized or missing culverts• Erosion of ditches and swalesPondingPonding in streets is generally considered, at the very least, a nuisance and possibly a hazard. If you’ve ever traveling at 25 mph, automobiles traversing water-covered roads can experience reduced handling capability.Ditches vs. Swales These are usually long-term and insidious, taking a while to become a problem. Gouged ditches occur when roadside shoulders are not protected from deep or fast-moving water. Deep ditches are a hazard and limit parking along the roadway easement. Swales (see the photo on the right) are shallow ditches with wide velocity, resulting in less erosion. Swales should have enough carry-storms which damaged a home. When compared to ditches, grassed swales present a much better appearance.of the issues and mitigate problems produced by their property.By Dave Evans, Professional Engineer
19Alligator Cracking-as possible, will reduce pavement maintenance costs in the long term.Sediment DepositsThe third impact of uncontrolled run- function of ditch erosion. The eroded soil ends up on properties and in ponds and lakes. A large area of lily pads is indicative of shallow water because that’s where they grow.What can you do?1. 2. Prevent obstruction of any natural drainageway if it damages other properties and/or impedes or interferes with the operation of roadway drainage.3. Keep roadside easements and especially driveway culverts clear of leaves, silt and debris. 4. 5. Heavy rains over a long period are common in our area. Preparing in advance will help keep roadways, properties and homes secure from the devastating washouts and erosion. If you need advice on how to reduce erosion on your property, please feel free to drop me a note at evanstx@verizon.net.to grow), geotextile fabric, and mats of vegetative and woven materials. Native grasses are preferred for stabilization if they can be established.
20Even though we are tucked into the two-lane asphalt roads of the pineywoods, we still enjoy -duction. The Holly Lake Ranch Community Theatre never disappoints, whether it’s a pa-triotic tribute, a murder mystery dinner, or a spoof of a popular television show. This group of volunteers spend hundreds of hours perfect-ing their lines, sewing costumes and painting backgrounds, for the purpose of enriching the lives of their neighbors and providing high-quality productions.Led by Vicki Shaw, Lindy Moseley, Pat Fos-hee, Freya Warren, Jean Bollinger and Sharon Schmidt, this year’s comedy production “Yee Haw Y’Hall” will be May 9 and 10 at Holly Hall. Contact 903-253-5090 for ticket infor-mation. Grab your corn cob pipe and straw hat and join them! Here’s a preview of what you can expect!
21TexasPineyWoodsVeteransASSOCIATIONSaturday, May 17th is Armed Forces Day. This is a day we express gratitude and support for the military person-nel currently serving in our armed forces, while Veterans Day (November 11) honors all veterans who have served. President Harry S. Truman set aside Armed Forces Day forces, instead of each force having it’s own day.Camaraderie among the forces isn’t a problem here in the Piney Woods. Wood County is the home of over 4,000 veterans. At 6 pm on the fourth Thursday of each month FM 2869. The TPWVA share various topics of interest to the veterans along with information from the Wood County Veteran Service Organization (VSO). Larry Place, Jerry Barrera and Bob UptonOccasionally there is a volunteer speaker who provides information relevant to all the branches. Recently, Jerry Barrera gave a presentation on the history of the “Medal of Honor” as a new National Medal of Honor Museum had just opened in Arlington, Texas. Jerry attended the Grand Open-ing on March 22nd which occurred just a few days prior to the National Medal of Honor Day held annually on March 25th. The entire opening ceremony can be viewed on You--tion on the museum, the exhibits and the admission cost.Recently Bob Dymek, a member of the TPWVA, was hon-ored at the Hawkins Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards dinner as “Veteran of the Year.” Last year, Dorsey Walker, another TPWVA member, was given that same honor. Dorsey (pictured above with a commemorative photo provided by the group) turned 100 years old this year, is an honored WWII veteran, and regularly attends the TPWVA meetings.The vets also meet for breakfast on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 8 am, which is also held at Mudhens, where veterans receive a 15% discount on all food and drink. All vets are welcome to attend these informal get to-gethers and buy that good looking cap at the top of the page. Contact Don Meeks at 903-991-6014 for more information.Many thanks to our veterans, as well as our active-du-ty service members. You are valued members of the piney woods community!
22Making a Fashion StatementEast Texas Style!The fashion show of the season was sold out recently with 130 ladies wait-ing to see the latest trends. Sponsored by the Holly Lake Area Women’s Service Guild, the fundraiser was a huge success as the ladies dined on three types of salad and rolls at the newly renovated Bistro 19. The fashions were provided by the Fashion and Gossip Parlor, a Holly Lake area favorite since 2014. Owner and manager, Sharon Brown, co-ordinated the outfits with the volunteer models and also served as the Mistress of Ceremonies.While the color trends this year are ice blue, chocolate mocha and butter yellow, the style trends are eclectic. Fashion this year takes its inspiration from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Clothes are less dressy, and more practical as fashion merges with sports attire. This year it’s fine to wear your shorts with a blazer along with heels. Netting in tops and skirts, studded accents and textures such as crochet are included in this spring’s top trends.Bold animal prints accented with silver, colored tights, checks, plaids, polka dots, ruffles and peplum’s make up the rest of the fashion scene for 2025.The Fashion and Gossip Parlor is located in the string of shops behind Holly Cow off FM 2869 and across from the Holly Lake Area Fire Department. Sha-ron’s shop provides both new and consignment ladies clothing, purses, shoes and accessories. While this year’s fashion show is now history, the la-dies in our East Texas community will be showing up in style all year!
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25East tExas’ FastEst GrowinG sErvicE club: Etx aMbucsOur community has long been known for its commit-ment to giving and serving. The newest group to make an impact on the community is AMBUCS. Short for “American Business Clubs,” this 501(c)(3) charitable organization exists to inspire mobility and indepen-dence by providing Amtryke adaptive tricycles to local -trykes for children and adults, and they range from $800 to as high as $1,500 for one with special adaptations.-cal chapter not only because the drive to Tyler was get-ting old, but because of a challenge made to him by an AMBUCS friend. He thought about it for several years before chartering the ETX AMBUCS chapter in 2023. Active in the Irving Chapter of AMBUCS since 1998 he used his years of leadership and heart for those in need to create the fastest growing service club in East Texas!Five-year old Rainey, daughter of Ricky LaPrade, As-sistant Superintendent of the Grand Saline ISD, was a recent recipient of the special Amtryke. Accompanied Sturge-Weber syndrome – a rare congenital disorder that eyes.It was a special night for everyone as Rainey was seated on her new bike and the volunteers could witness her and her family’s excitement in her new shiny red mode of transportation and independence! Pictured are Ricky LaPrade and his daughter Rainey, President Bauerle and Ronny McCoy a member of the “Big Haat Club”. Missing from this picture are iPresident-Elect Larry Reeder and Secretary Trish Simpson. Within the club there is a prestigious group called “The Big Hat Club.” If you sponsor 3 new members in a rolling 12 month period you are eligible to be a “Big Hatter.” You re-ceive a free cowboy hat and are a part of a special, but separate group still under the AMBUCS governance. The ETX AMBUCS team would love to give away more cowboy hats, so come and get involved! They meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 6:30 pm at Moes Pizza, 2129 FM 2869 where you can have some great pizza, meet some wonderful people Let’s play some golf for a good cause!The East Texas community is invited to participate in the Amtryke Classic Golf Tournament at Holly Lake Ranch Golf Club on June 3rd.
26Infiltrating the Wood County Marine Corps LeagueThe group is named after Marine Lance Corporal Shane L. Goldman, who lost his life just a few days shy of his 20th The nine-member leadership team is led by Commandant Kelly Smith as they serve our community in numerous “mis-sions” throughout the year. November is going to be a busy month as they will participate in the Wood County Veterans Day Parade on November 8th in Mineola with this year’s theme “Women in the Military.” This group is well-represented by women veterans, and not just as obervers, as almost half of the leadership positions in this detachment are women.Corps League at their invitation so we could see what goes on in the back room of the Armed Texas Training Facility, in Mineola. The tables were full of food brought by the members for their -arms, so we felt right at home!The room was packed with Young Marines wearing fatigues, along with “vintage” Marines, both women and men alike. Many wore the bright red side cover, which proudly reads “Marine Corps L/CPL Shane L. Goldman Det. 1278, Wood County, Texas on the other. This Marine Corps is one of only a few in the county that accepts and allows all branches of the military to participate in de-tachment missions without prejudice. As a whole, it allows them to better serve all veterans in the community at a higher level. The room was full from one wall to the other, but it won’t be long until they have a building of their own! With over 100 members from all services, the growing Marine Corps veteran group was obviously bursting at the seams at its current location.
27The Marine Corps is celebrating its 250th Anniversary this November, and this detachment already has plans for a Veterans Ball and Marine Corps Birthday Celebration at the Quitman Civic Center on November 15th, with a “top secret” guest speaker. Ticket sales will be open to members only and then any remaining tickets will be open to the public – all the more rea-son for area veterans from all services to join this service-oriented organiza-tion!Collection boxes for “Toys for Tots” will be distributed November 1st for new and unrapped toy donations. Last year, 192 families and 9 local agencies were helped locally in Wood County. On December 13th at 11:00 am in coordination with “Wreaths Across America,” these veterans will lay wreaths at all 713 gravesites of the veterans buried at Roselawn Ceme-tary in Mineola. And if that wasn’t enough, they check on widows and widowers when need-ed with their “Carry On Mission.”Veterans residing in all nine nursing homes across Wood County are re-membered and honored by the Krodel Nursing Home Mission at least four times annually with visits and gifts by this caring detachment.They raise funds for these and other projects through their annual Veter-an Golf Tournament, along with their held each spring.Recently, they recognized the Rose City Young Marines with a National Award for their many hours of volun-teer service to various organizations.As a visitor to this group, I’d have to say the members of this detachment provide more community services than some churches! They open and close with prayer, have a Chaplain on their leadership team and performed a verbal check during the meeting on sick and absent members. They gen-uinely seek to serve each other along with the greater veteran community. Their moto – “Always Faithful” – was evident in their commitments.Go to https://www.woodcountymcl.com or email info@mineolamcl.com for more information. meeting as we did on the third Tues-day of the month at 6:00 pm for a pot--cial meeting.semper FiMay 17, 2025
28Native Americans used parts of the plant for medicinal purposes with great care. These beautiful plants contains podo-phyllotoxin, which is used in modern medicine to treat certain skin conditions and even cancer.Enjoy them for a few short weeks, because once it gets warm, they die back until the following spring.The Forest MayappleThis is the time of year the Mayapples May is generally not too cold, and not too hot, but just right for the plants to make an appearance and shadow the ferns.Mayapples grow in colonies from a single underground rhizome system. They pro-duce what looks like umbrellas or parasols perfect for a fairy garden! (See the March edition.) When a plant produces two leaves it usually also produces a solitary globe or “apple.” An important part of the woodland eco-system, the fruit is consumed by wildlife (which help with seed dispersal.) Humans, don’t plan to eat them!
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Banking TEXAS since 1889CNB Hawkins205 Beaulah St 903-769-3171 CNB Holly Lake Ranch2454 S FM 2869903-769-4596 www.bankatcnb.bank30The Association of Lake Hawkins Property Owners met recently for their Spring Meeting overlooking beautiful Lake Hawkins. The meeting led by President Jan Brown, was brief as the community voted to keep the current board members for another year. The man-ager of Lake Hawkins RV Park announced that if you live at Lake Hawkins, the Lake Hawkins RV Park will provide you with a free annual pass to enter the park without paying a day-use fee! Everyone Loves Lake Hawkins!June 14th is the date for the popular Lake Hawkins Poker Run Fireworks Fundraiser. Registration is from 10:30am – 11:30 am at A Taste of Italy. All -The fall meeting and picnic will be on 9/27/25. You gotta “Love Lake Hawkins!”
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32A Fork in the PinesRestaurant ReviewFor years, coee drinkers in our neck of thepiney woods had to make their own coee.ose that moved from larger communi-ties lamented that there wasn’t anywhere tostop in for their favorite vanilla sweet creamcold brew with two pumps of vanilla, threepumps of caramel syrup, two pumps ofhazelnut, and ve shots of espresso toppedwith a shake of cinnemon.en, “Mudhen?” opened it’s doors! eunusual name comes from a question theowner’s grandfather asked. He would rellhis coee cup, then ask her grandmother“Want more mud, hen?”Mudhen? serves more than just coee, asthey also carry a wide variety of teas, colddrinks, hot drinks, as well as breakfast andlunch, recently featuring “Taco Tuesday.”While Amanda and Richard Welch serve theneed for a cup of “mud, java, or joe,” theyalso provide a meeting place for groups. e room is set up for both intimate conversa-tions, as well as large groups, such as theTexas Pineywoods Veterans Association.(e owner is also a veteran.)Mudhen? also provides space for local art-ists to display their art, books, jewelry andother assorted items.Open from 6:30 am until 1 pm, Mon-day-Saturday, you’ll nd Mudhen? by look-ing for a blue building at 2437B FM 2869in Hawkins, on the north side of SummitHeights Fellowship. For those on the go,they also have a drive-through window!eir phone number is 903-613-6535.
33Pull Out This Local Directory of May Sponsors Please let them know you saw their ad in Holly Lake Area News
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