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Reverse Midas Touch Good teachers remain, but will they be enough to make up for the 1,000+ who have left FWISD since the state takeover?

passing periods (good luck with that!) will not stop to read what Moses toted off Mount Sinai? If anybody needs to read the Ten Commandments, it’s the Republican politicians who seem to be in a contest to see who can break the most. Retired Fort Worth ISD teacher Ken WheatcroftPardue is in total awe of today’s public-school teachers dealing with a state government that’s actively anti-public school.

This column reflects the opinions and fact-gathering of the author(s) and only the author(s) and not the Fort Worth Weekly. To submit a column, please email Editor Anthony Mariani at Anthony@ FWWeekly.com. He will gently edit it for clarity and concision. l

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While the stated reason for the state takeover is to improve educational outcomes, everything the state and Fort Worth ISD are doing guarantees the opposite. Common sense and any number of studies prove that experienced and certified teachers are better than random people. Politicizing education by singling out a highly touted Muslim principal and investigating so-called left-wing teachers is not going to help student achievement. Forcing a poorly written Christian-based curriculum on students doesn’t help either. But what should we expect from our far-right Christian nationalist overlords, who purport to believe that a framed piece of paper of poorly translated Hebrew will somehow magically change the behavior of students, who even if they are supposed to be walking in total silence during

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Politicizing education by singling out a highly touted Muslim principal and investigating so-called left-wing teachers is not going to help student achievement.

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His name was Mr. DeVore. When I was in ninth grade, he was my world geography teacher. Somehow, he recognized the 14-year-old punk me had some talent for social studies. Once when I was through with my work early (a usual occurrence), he sent me with an older student from one of his upper-level courses to the roof of the school, where I helped him stretch a metal line to serve as an antenna to pick up Radio Moscow’s shortwave signals. I have no idea if it worked, but just the fact that Mr. Devore let me out of class to get on the roof of the school made me feel super-special. Over the years, I had him a couple more times. He always expected the best from me and would continually pass me books he knew I’d be interested in. To me, Mr. DeVore was what a teacher should be. He cared about his students and tried to inspire them. Ask most teachers, and they will tell you a similar story about that one educator who most inspired them to become teachers. So, now that the state has taken over my former district, Fort Worth ISD, promising scripted lessons and rigid curricula that tilt way to the right

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BY KEN WHEATCROFT-PARDUE

— an essay by the saint of College Republicans, Ayn Rand, is now required reading — will there be any teachers who inspire their students? I am positive there will be. Regardless of who is in charge, I am always on the side of teachers and students. I believe there will be many teachers, even this school year, even at FWISD, who will do extra to reach and teach their students — though I am afraid there won’t be nearly as many as there should be. Thousands of teachers, especially experienced ones, have left the district, and that was totally predictable. After the state’s takeover in Houston in 2021, a huge educator exodus followed, so déjà vu, the state’s tone-deaf, ham-handed management totally “succeeded” in doing it again, running off the best teachers. By Fort Worth ISD’s June resignation deadline, more than 1,000 teachers had gotten the hell out, a 58% increase over the previous year. Here’s a little clue to the state. If your plan is to use scripted lessons, you’re basically telling your employees, the teachers, that they are the problem with education. So, of course, the ones who can are going to leave. Who will be left to teach our children? The Board of Managers, appointed by the state’s pick for superintendent, have voted to get a waiver from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to hire more uncertified, random people. I refuse to call them “uncertified teachers” until they last a few months, at least. As a high school teacher for more than two decades, I worked with a few colleagues who started with emergency certifications who ended up becoming good teachers but only a few. My guess is a significant number of those who are not certified will be gone by November. Regardless of what some chuckleheads think, teaching is not easy and not everybody can do it. During my first year teaching high school, a newbie teacher like myself lasted all of one month. The students saw him, figured rightly they could run him off, and did. So, long-term substitute teachers and more uncertified hires are going to be the backup this year.

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METROPOLIS

Fall Actually

Football season is on the burning horizon — let’s gorge ourselves with three consecutive days of excellent games to begin the season. D .

E L L I O T T

Friday, drive yourself back to the same Crowley ISD stadium at 7pm to watch the highschool season light up with a non-district contest between North Crowley — who have been in the mix of the most dominant teams in 6A Division 1 (the largest in Texas) — as they host the Aledo Bearcats, whose student population growth has landed them in 6A Division 2 for the first time in the school’s history. The Panthers and Bearcats

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The Rams have made the playoffs in consecutive seasons but have yet to realize a postseason win. Since football returned to Fort Worth’s smaller private university in 2017 after a 76-year hiatus, they’ve won the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) four times consecutively. The Rams’ season kicks off on Aug 27 at 6pm at the Crowley ISD Multipurpose Stadium, which hosts Wesleyan for all their home contests.

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Jaden Craig is TCU’s new QB1, and his most impressive stat from Harvard is 60 pass attempts for every interception, something fans of the Frog should be very excited about.

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I feel it in my fingers. I feel it in my toes. Football is all around us, and so the feeling grows. It didn’t take long walking around my local high school’s campus to be reminded that the best part of the year is coming. Bands are in the parking lots sweating, drill teams are stepping along to odd counts, and football teams are either braving heat that feels like we’re nestled in the Devil’s taint or grinding in indoor practice facilities with garage doors open. No matter the particular facet that appeals to you, Fall — the sports season, not the weather — is upon us. Clear your extended weekend calendars for three consecutive days of gridiron goodness during the last week in August. Funkytowners can watch 12 quarters’ worth of God’s gift to humanity with little to no travel necessary. This weekend begins, as the wicked ones in college always did, on a Thursday, with Texas Wesleyan (who competes in the NAIA division of college football) opening their season with the University of Central Oklahoma. The TWU Rams are hoping to return to their prolific offensive styling of 2024, when they went 10-1 and set school records for scoring. Wesleyan has made a steady rise after winning only two games in as many seasons after the program was restarted. Now, they hold consistent winning records.

Cour tesy TCU Athletics

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are easily the two best teams in the Fort Worth area, and a non-district matchup should be quite the local treat, since the two are in different size classifications and won’t have a chance to meet during district or in the playoffs. Both squads will be eager to prove themselves after deep playoff runs last season which ended with fourth- and fifth-round exits, respectively. There are some other heavy-hitter games in Week 1 of the highschool season, but this one is easily the best in this part of North Texas. As much as I’ve searched, there is no practical way to watch Friday night’s lights and make it to Saturday’s contest in person, so my best advice is to sleep off the tailgating beverages you definitely didn’t imbibe on Friday — it’s a highschool game, you degenerates — and watch TCU start their season across the Atlantic in Dublin, Ireland, at 11am in front of your television on Saturday morning. The Frogs will face Bill Belichick’s Tar Heels for the second year in a row. This isn’t one to miss but for completely different reasons than last year. Plainly, this is Week 0 and is the most notable game among a list softer than my desire to take my kids to Disneyworld in the spring (which I probably can’t avoid any longer), so unless you were planning to dissect San Jose State versus USC, you were probably watching the Frogs anyway. There’s not even another game in the timeslot. TCU is literally the kickoff for the entire major college football season, and that’s pretty rad. Also, no longer is the narrative centered on Bill’s now 3-year relationship with a woman who could be his granddaughter, but it is the enigmatic Frogs who have undergone as much of an offensive overhaul as one could imagine without changing head coaches. I refuse to forecast anything about TCU football this season because to do so would be irresponsible ESPN(-ish) drivel about a subject that no one — including the coaches — really has a bead on. Yet it’s inordinately exciting to consider that the purple and white will no longer be shackled to the reckless and questionable style of Kendal Briles and are now being led by Gordon Sammis. Formerly of the UConn Huskies, the former offensive lineman will inevitably bring a new style of physicality and emphasis on offensive balance. Josh Hoover, now with the defending champion Hoosiers, is likely to be replaced by graduate transfer Jaden Craig from Harvard, the most prolific player of the position to come out of that program. Do any of these changes amount to a more successful team on the field? Only time tells, but I’ll assure my loyal readers — if there are any — that the first successfully executed read-option in this new scheme will be a sexual experience, even if it’s only for two yards. l

CALENDAR

Night & Day E L A I N E

W I L D E R

Beyond saving a few hard-earned tax dollars, there are also many free resources available this weekend for Back to School. Along with all the school-supply procurement happenings, you’ll also find some fun themed events for your entertainment in the listings below. That’s how we roll.

Supply Line

Along with passing out their own after-school care program info, the Downtown YMCA Thu (512 Lamar St, Fort Worth, 817332-3281) has lots of freebies available at the Back to School Bash. From 5:30pm to 7:30pm, there will be free school supplies for the first 50 students, plus free haircuts and ice cream. There is no cost to attend.

Cour tesy Dig World DFW

Riverside Barber & Beauty School (707 N Riverside Dr, Fort Worth, 817-386-9719) is Sat hosting its annual Back-toSchool Community Event from 9am to 1pm to help students start the school year with confidence. Student practitioners and licensed volunteer barbers will provide free haircuts for students (pre-K thru 12th grade). There will also be free food and drinks, plus free backpacks and school supplies while supplies last and a community pop-up market with resources, giveaways, and more. There is no cost to attend, but RSVP is recommended at RBBITx.com.

Fun Ed

Does anyone else remember that magazine promoting recreational classes? You know, the one called Fun Ed? Just me then? Cool. My back hurts, and I need a new eye cream. Facts: Not everyone is col-

Every lege-bound, and nearly every

toddler is fascinated with heavy equipment. With these two things in mind, consider taking your youngsters on a field trip to Dig World Construction Adventure Park (2200 W Grapevine Mills Cir, Grapevine, 214-884-7865, 9am-4pm), where they will be able to experience learning to dig by operating real full-size excavators, drive a real skid steer through a highway-style course, and race mini tractors. While much of it is aimed at younger kids, the older ones in tow will have fun too. Tickets are $30 at DigWorldNation.com. Day

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After last week’s run of Hamilton, Broadway at the Bass presents another learning opportunity Wed-Sun in musical format. Today thru Sunday at Bass Performance Hall (525 Commerce St, Fort Worth, 817-212-4280), the Tony-winning Suffs: The Musical focuses on brilliant, passionate, and funny American women like Alice Paul and Carrie Chapman Catt, who fought tirelessly for women’s right to vote. It’s worth noting that

Now boarding Hogwarts Express! For many Potterheads, back to school means back to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and at the Gaylord Texan, ICE! will celebrate Harry’s world this holiday season.

“suffs” is short for “suffragists,” which is what these American women called themselves. “Suffragette” was a term coined in the British press to mock the women in the movement in England. Tickets start at $50 at BassHall.com.

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Now boarding Hogwarts Express! For many Potterheads such as myself, back to school Wed-Mon means back to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. While I never read the books, I do enjoy the film series and binge-watched the whole thing again recently while working on this very column. Of course, I was super-excited to learn that the Gaylord Texan (1501 Gaylord Trl, Grapevine, 817-778-1000) just unveiled Harry Potter as the theme for its annual holiday production of ICE! (Fri, Nov 13, thru Sun, Jan 3). For the first time in history, elements inspired by the wizarding world will come to life in 2 million pounds of hand-carved ice. Visitors will be greeted by a towering ice sculpture of Hedwig, Harry’s beloved owl, before stepping into 10 rooms filled with photo-op scenes of Hogsmeade Station, the Forbidden Forest, the Three Broomsticks, the Great Hall, and Hogwarts Castle, where you can race down six impressive two-story ice slides that lead toward the Quidditch Pitch, where the room will burst into light and color in celebration of each Hogwarts house. Tickets for ICE! featuring Harry Potter are already available at ChristmasatGaylordTexan.com starting at $35, but if you purchase by Mon, Aug 10, you will receive a 30% off discount code.

Wednesdays For the 32nd year in a row, Arts Fifth Avenue (1628 5th Av, Fort Worth, 817-923-9500) is offering Sep-Nov a 10-week program for homeschooled kids, with the goal of introducing them to the arts and instilling a lifelong love of them. Every week on Wednesday, the students will have classes in art, dance, musical instruments, and theater. From 10am to 4pm, aspects of each discipline are taught, and each session varies according to students’ levels and the artists-in-residence’s teachings. Then on Fri, Nov 20, there will be a showcase performance at 6pm. The Homeschool Arts Program is for ages 7-12 and costs $400 per student, plus a 10% discount for each additional child enrolled in your family. For more information or to register, visit ArtsFifthAvenue.org/homeschool-program.

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SEPTEMBER Built around the tagline “Opera for Everyone,” the new Fort Worth Opera Family Series Sat invites children, parents, family members, and first-time attendees to experience opera together through four engaging productions, interactive activities, and performances done with families in mind. Designed specifically for children in pre-K through third grade, The Ugly Duckling celebrates kindness, confidence, and self-discovery through an engaging production and character photo opportunities. The performance will take place at the Fort Worth Zoo (1989 Colonial Pkwy, Fort Worth, 817-759-7555) on Sat, Sep 26, at 11am, with every ticket including zoo admission and an interactive animal encounter. Tickets start at $30 FWOpera.org. 11

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This weekend is the annual back-to-school sales tax holiday throughout the State Fri-Sun of Texas. From Friday thru midnight on Sunday, shoppers can buy most clothing, footwear, school supplies, and backpacks priced under $100 per item completely tax-free, according to guidelines set by the Texas comptroller.

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In Grapevine, Dig World Construction Adventure Park is the place for kids who dig heavy machinery, and that’s pretty much all of them.

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Before you decide to pack the kids and head to the YMCA event above, first check to see if Fri you are eligible for the 20th annual Tarrant County Back to School Roundup at Tarrant County College South Campus (5301 Campus Dr, Fort Worth, 817-515-8223). This signature event provides free school supplies and essential services to 3,000+ students in pre-K thru 12th grade who meet certain criteria. Recipients must be schoolchildren ages 3-18 who reside in Tarrant County and whose families meet the income guidelines. School supplies will be provided to eligible students in grades pre-K thru 12th attending any public school in Tarrant County. Backpacks will also be provided to children in grades pre-K thru fifth grade. To find out if your family qualifies and to pre-register (required) for a timeslot, visit BacktoSchoolRoundup.org/ event-details.

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Raise your hand if you need school supplies!

Cour tesy iStock

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Cour tesy iStock

Aaaaand we’re back!

After School Music Academy At Broadway Baptist Church on the Near Southside, music education is available for every student.

continued on page 13

Cour tesy FWASMA

AUGUST 5-11, 2026 FO R T WO R T H W E E K LY

Turn off sprinklers when it’s raining. If it’s raining, just rained or rain is coming, turn those sprinklers off. Never water more than two days a week and if it’s raining you may not need to water at all. Sign up for free weekly watering advice and know exactly how much to water. And next time you’re outside, swing by and say hello.

The FWASMA children’s choir performed in Sundance Square during the 2025 Christmas season.

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Nate Krieger talks a lot with his hands, and when the subject is music education, he gets into it. Clearing off a space on his desk at Broadway Baptist Church, the executive director of Fort Worth After School Music Academy spreads a pair of big, freckled appendages out on the surface much like his music-teacher father must have done when sitting down at the organ keyboard. “I’ve watched it transform people,” Krieger said of music education, his resonant tenor voice quivering with passion. Music and music education have demonstrably been central to his life, first and most fundamentally as son of the late George Krieger, then with the Texas Boys’ Choir, Fort Worth’s Dorothy Shaw Bell Choir, scholarship student in TCU’s vocal performance program, and continuing today as a Fort Worth Opera chorus member and professional soloist for First Presbyterian Church. For the past two years, after long stints with Billy Bob’s Texas and his own marketing company, Krieger has funneled much of his organizational, promotional, and musical talent and energy into the after-school music program. FWASMA began as a re-boot of the 60-year-old bell choir, which had been put on hiatus during the pandemic.

How to save water.

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H E N R I C K S

When Krieger was recruited to help get the choir going again, instruction and performance in voice, piano, strings, and guitar were added to bells. This past June, the music education program wrapped up its summer music camp. For a week, 25 kids from across the city studied children’s choir, guitar, drums, recorder, and piano, finishing with a 45-minute recital concert. “They were so enriched by this,” Krieger said. “The confidence I saw in these kids by Day 3 was amazing, and some of them had never touched an instrument before.” Supplying that enrichment to anyone regardless of prior experience or financial resources is the purpose at FWASMA. And, in an era of declining public-school funding, it’s particularly relevant. “Music is one of first things to get cut,” Krieger said. Still, Fort Worth’s public-school music education program was this year named for the 13th time one of the National Association of Music Merchants’ Best Communities for Music Education. But the district’s lengthy roster of recent and planned school closures can reduce local students’ access to music education. FWASMA aims to help keep that loss as small as possible. One academy initiative supports local public schools’ existing music education efforts. Last year, the group worked with after-school programs at W.M. Green and Mary Louise Phillips elementary schools. FWASMA supplied the schools, both in economically disadvantaged areas, with instruments, training and transportation, and other resources to access competitions. With the help of individual donors and grants from the Sid Richardson Foundation and others, FWASMA aims to remove financial as well as logistical and material barriers to music education.

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M A R K

Fort Worth After School Music Program’s Nate Krieger: “Music is not a privilege. It should be available for everyone.”

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The Gnome Knows...

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Mark Henricks

FEATURE

continued from page 12

When resurrecting the bell choir, instruction and performance in voice, piano, strings, and guitar were added to bells.

At Broadway Baptist, the Southside congregation that dates to 1882, the academy occupies a suite of spacious group instruction and individual breakout rooms at other times used for Bible classes. There’s plenty of room to expand in the massive Gothic Revival building completed in 1952. Pete Nelson, Broadway’s director of community ministries and partnerships, said this partnership is good for the long term. “Broadway, for all its history, has been very committed to music education,” Nelson said. Fort Worth’s favorite musical personage, Van Cliburn, was a long-time member, Nelson pointed out. The church’s organ, the largest in the state, is named for the famed pianist’s mother, Rildia Bee O’Bryan Cliburn.

The bell chorus and children’s choir recently combined with the Plano Symphony for a joint concert in Addison.

This fall, FWASMA plans to expand from supporting two elementary school campuses and teachers to 10. Krieger hopes to go from helping 100 students to assisting 300. The private lesson program, if all goes to plan, could double to 120 school-age students. Another big development is partnering with Tulips FTW, the venue just around the corner from Broadway Baptist. This will add sound engineering to the academy’s offerings. Students will get hands-on, real-world experience and micro-certificates attesting to their ability running soundboards, recording software, and other tools of professional sound engineers. Publicly sharing the love of music through performance is a big part of FWASMA’s mission. The children’s choir entertained at Sundance Square last Christmas, and bell and vocal choristers did a joint concert with the Plano Symphony in Addison.

For all these efforts, Krieger’s lifelong Fort Worth roots and deep engagement with the city’s music industry seem well-positioned to provide access to whatever support is needed to keep the program going. The keyboard instruments and music scores for the FWASMA piano program, for instance, come from TCU, where he studied vocal performance. And he’s been gratified at the number of small and large individual donors who’ve stepped up to augment the grants that provide primary funding. But there’s still lots to be done. Before offering a firm handshake and heading off to rehearse for a principal role in a local musical, he reiterates their mission of keeping music education accessible for all students. “We eliminate any financial barrier that gets in the way of music,” Krieger said. “Music is not a privilege. It should be available for everyone.” l

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Learn more at UnitedWayTarrant.org

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Mobilizing our community to action so all can thrive.

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The academy’s weekly private lessons normally cost $275 a month, for instance, but students with financial needs can qualify for a discount of up to the full amount. “We’re not going to turn anybody down,” Krieger said. The academy’s lessons currently are taught to 62 children. Seventeen adults attend bell music lessons. Scholarships are anonymous so no one knows which students are getting financial assistance.

Cour tesy FWASMA

Mark Henricks

Music

Cour tesy FWASMA

Shown at Broadway Baptist Church with the Rildia Bee O’Bryan Cliburn Organ, the largest instrument of its kind in Texas, Fort Worth After School Music Program Director Nate Krieger said, “We’re not going to turn anybody down.”

EATS & drinks

Casino Night The local chapter of the Texas Restaurant Association has a fundraiser coming up for food-industry scholarships. B Y

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N E A T H E R Y

Since the pandemic, historic levels of inflation, a never-ending supply-chain meltdown, and petty tariffs have forced the restaurant industry to evolve based on self-preservation. From January to June of this year, Texas accounted for more than 1,000 restaurant closures, leading the nation. DFW ranked third among metro areas, with 240 losses behind New York’s and Chicago’s. Individually, Dallas came in at No. 8 and Fort Worth at 11, based on a report by RestaurantData.com. Fastfood chains and sandwich shops were hit the hardest, and roughly two-thirds of the restaurants that shuttered did not serve alcohol.

Tarrant County Texas Restaurant Association’s Casino Night 6:30pm-9:30pm Mon, Aug 31, at Los Vaqueros, 1513 Rodeo Plz, Fort Worth. $75. 817- 624-1511.

That news seems grim, but on a positive note, Texas leads the nation in new restaurant openings — as evidenced by the orange cones and construction sites covering the entire state. That silver lining doesn’t dilute obstacles like high food and labor costs or a lack of disposable income plaguing the public. Being a member of the food and beverage industry is definitely not for the weak-spirited. Fortunately, the Texas Restaurant Association (TRA) is an organization whose mission is to ease the pain that restaurateurs often face. Being a member comes with access to affordable insurance options for both business and staff and an array of vendor relations, legal advice, and resources, plus an overall sense of community. Led by CEO Dr. Emily Williams Knight, the TRA sends representatives to state and federal government legislative sessions to lobby on behalf of the hospitality industry. Another invaluable element is that the TRA is a resource that assists in shaping the industry’s future with numerous educational opportunities for students and at-risk youth. Every year, the Tarrant County chapter of the TRA holds Casino Night to raise funds for scholarships for the young men and women who dream of being chefs, restaurant managers, and, maybe one day, owners themselves. The next Casino Night is at the end of this month. “Casino Night strictly raises funds for the chapter to award scholarships and donates funds back to the restaurant foundation,” said Corey Mobley, Tarrant County TRA director, adding that the fundraiser also allows the chapter to give continued on page 17

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Cour tesy TRA

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Casino Night “strictly raises funds” for the Tarrant County chapter of the TRA to “award scholarships and donates funds back to the restaurant foundation.”

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Eats & Drinks continued from page 16

Cour tesy TRA

Los Vaqueros owner and TRA board member Vicki Cisneros believes Casino Night is great for generating scholarship funds for aspiring hospitality-industry students.

Pickett said, more than 850 students participated, and colleges and universities from across the country awarded more than $3.1 million in scholarship monies. Lastly, the ProStart Educator Training Conference (PETC) is professional development for culinary educators to “strengthen

classroom instruction and ultimately improve student outcomes.” The TRA, Pickett added, prepares students for “careers and connects them with the industry through guest chefs, mentors, competitions, restaurant tours, networking, internships, job fairs, and our restaurant members. Many students obtain

internships and jobs through those relationships, but they are hired directly by employers rather than through the foundation. In short, what we do is build the pipeline.” The local TRA’s Casino Night, with lots of grub, booze, and gambling, will take place in the Stockyards from 6:30pm to 9:30pm on Mon, Aug 31, at Los Vaqueros, owned by TRA board member Vicki Cisneros. Tickets are $75 dollars and can be purchased via TXRestaurant.org or at the door. All tickets include food and drink. l

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to local teachers’ classrooms and helps pay for the TRA scholarship tied to the annual Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival. The restaurant community here is closeknit, and the members truly care about making a positive difference on local kids’ futures. “Each year,” said TRA Foundation Executive Director Heather Pickett, “the foundation awards scholarships made possible through generous donors and corporate partners. This year, we awarded approximately $45,000 in foundation scholarships to students pursuing culinary arts, hospitality, or restaurant management degrees after high school.” Texas ProStart, the TRA’s “flagship workforce development program,” serves more than 34,000 high school students in approximately 265 Texas high schools, Pickett said, explaining that the students take culinary arts and restaurant management courses through their Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs with the curriculum by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. The TRA also offers the Texas Restaurant & Foodservice Management (TRFM) CTSO, the hospitality Career and Technical Student Organization which provides “leadership development, competitions, service opportunities, and career-readiness experiences.” Plus, the Texas ProStart Invitational (TPSI) is the foundation’s annual statewide culinary and restaurant-management competition. This year,

The TRA prepares students for “careers and connects them with the industry through guest chefs, mentors, competitions, restaurant tours, networking, internships, job fairs, and our restaurant members.”

STAGE

Maybe the next great theatrical sensation receives its start at one of North Texas’ universities.

School Plays

Our colleges gear up for the fall theater season. K R I S T I A N

L I N

It’s fall, which means university theater is on tap.

Tarrant County College’s upcoming theater shows, but Theatre Northwest’s next production will be an adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows, so Mr. Toad will ride again for your kids to see. Meanwhile, UTA begins fall with a bang. Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater’s much-feted rock opera about German teens coming to terms with their sexuality, Spring Awakening is a collaboration with Dallas’ Theatre Three. It runs concurrently with another UTA collab, this one with Dallas’ Second Thought Theatre. Clare Barron’s Dance Nation is about a group of pre-teen girls in Ohio trying to keep their morality as they focus on reaching and winning a national dance championship.

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If that’s too weird for you, TCU will also put on A Chorus Line in November. The Pulitzer Prize-winning musical about dancers aiming for a last shot at the Broadway stage has lost little of its relevance in the 50 years since it premiered. And since the film versions of The Odyssey and Hadestown have whetted our appetites for Greek mythology, TCU’s fall concludes with Anna Ziegler’s The Minotaur, telling a whimsical, contemporary version of the story from the half-bull/ half-man’s point of view as he’s driven by his desire to eat people but also yearns for human connection and love. Speaking of humans portraying animals, details have been doled out drop by drop about

UTA stays focused on music and dance with an October production of Into the Woods, featuring fairy-tale characters singing some of Stephen Sondheim’s most tongue-twisting songs. If musicals aren’t your thing, UTA will follow that with one weekend’s run of Waiting for Lefty, Clifford Odets’ 1935 play about a group of New York taxi drivers debating whether to go on strike for higher wages and chafing against their union leaders for shady labor practices. The fall season at UTA concludes with their Fringe Festival, a run of short plays and sketches by student and faculty playwrights, musicians, and designers. As of this writing, we have not received word on upcoming theater productions at UNT, SMU, Texas Wesleyan, or Texas Woman’s University. However, once those schools set their schedules for the season, our Night & Day page will keep you informed, so be sure to check our print and web editions. As long as our colleges and universities continue to contribute to North Texas’ cultural life, we will stay abreast of their doings onstage. l

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When it comes to live theater, serious fans know that you can’t sleep on the universities. College theater productions might not have the same polish, prestige, or production values as plays put on by professional outfits, but they have provided a starting point for the likes of Moises Kaufman’s The Laramie Project, Jeremy O. Harris’ Slave Play, and Greg Kotis’ Urinetown. Maybe the next great theatrical sensation receives its start at one of North Texas’ universities. With that in mind, we hereby present our preview of what’s to come this fall at our local schools. TCU will kick off its theatrical season with a one-night staged reading at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. The event called Stethoscope Stage features monologues and playlets by various authors that take on health-related subjects like body image issues and GLP-1 use, which is certainly a hot topic these days. The event is accompanied by a panel discussion with health professionals, so the evening will be of interest to more than just theatergoers. Following that in October is a proper run of The Moors, Jen Silverman’s patch on English gothic thrillers about two sisters and their dog whose lonely life in their family mansion is interrupted by the arrival of a governess and a bird. (The animals are portrayed by human actors, which should give you an idea of the play’s sense of humor.)

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Whether your kiddo is a savant or just wants to let off steam, or you’re in it for yourself, North Texas is full of musiceducation opportunities. Group settings only help.

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Across six locations in Fort Worth, Colleyville, Keller, Southlake, and Lewisville, Creative Soul Music School has classes geared for everyone from li’l tykes on up to adults, with a variety of camps that get kids rocking out together. Creative Soul even does “Band Date Night,” in which an instructor shows you and your friend(s) how to play a song together. (Think: a cooking-class date night, but replace the souffle attempt with learning how to play “Wonderwall” or some such.) Creative Soul also offers team-building

Founded in 1983 by the late, great virtuoso J. Michael Dailey, The Guitar Studio is the iconic Cultural District guitar school (4455 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, 682-355-0190) that, along with its sister locations in Grapevine (211 W Northwest Hwy, 945-998-6039) and San Antonio, has helped develop the talent of hundreds of classical guitarists. Each location offers both private and ensemble lessons for players of all skill levels, and they also sell Altamira classical guitars and accessories.

On the Near Southside, Music Junkie Studios (1617 Park Place Av, Fort Worth, 817-919-0761) endeavors to get kids hooked on music at an early age, offering “lessons, classes, and camps for wiggly toddlers, curious kids, teens, and lifelong learners,” so if your kids fit any of those descriptions or you yourself need to scratch that itch to finally learn the drum parts to the first Strokes album, Music Junkie is a fantastic resource, staffed by local musicians with serious chops and great rapports with their students.

Platinum Music Complex (301 NE Loop 820, North Richland Hills, 817-381-5408) is possibly the only studio in America that used to be a city jail, and it still has fully functional cells and whatnot. But it is also unique in that it is indeed a complex, offering everything from rehearsal spaces, a recording studio, a 170-capacity performance venue, and private and group music lessons, so whether you want to film a video that has an incarceration theme or need a teacher to help you and your buds learn how to play 311’s “Prisoner,” Platinum is a great spot to get locked in. School of Rock is probably the best-known of the bunch, since it’s been around since 1998 and its franchises are somewhat ubiquitous. In Tarrant County, you’ll find School of Rock locations in Fort Worth (4608 Bryant Irvin Rd, 817-332-7625), Arlington (5760 Pleasant Ridge Rd, 817-482-9723), Saginaw (6944 Blue Mound Rd, 817-985-7625), and Southlake (3220 W Southlake Blvd, 682-5930990). No matter where you end up, School of Rock’s highly engaging and effective instruction method is still based on the idea that founder and music teacher Paul Green had nearly 30 years ago: Get students to play popular songs together. From beginners to musicians interested in the mysteries of digital recording, School of Rock has something for aspiring rockers of all ages. l

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Fun fact: I’ve been playing bass for nearly 30 years, and in all that time, I’ve taken only two lessons. The only way I really learned the instrument was by playing it in a band. I bring this up because private lessons are but one way to learn to play music, and in my experience, I only got better by playing with better musicians. Below are some local music schools that, in addition to private lessons, offer group practices, camps, and even opportunities to play concerts at local venues. It’s great to get good at guitar or piano via solo and/or private instruction, but it’s even better to get good by learning to play with others.

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FRI 8/21

SATURNS GIRLFRIEND, THE OOIDS, SWRM, MARGINALIA BOB AND 1187 LOVER’S LANE, KICK THE CROW, STONE MACHINE ELECTRIC & MORE! HOUSE OF SILK AND SCANDAL: AN EVENING OF HOLLYWOOD GLAMOUR AND NOIR TEASE

classes, which I would hope you and your officemates would use to learn to pound out “Working for the Weekend” and really mean it.

Tarrant County rings with the sound of assorted music schools.

Empowering Communities Through Financial Awareness By Antoine Fischer

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STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF: LANCASTER IN THE MATTER OF: IN THE PROBATE COURT TIMMY LEE WITHERSPOON CASE NUMBER 2025-ES-29-00____ x Decedent Alleged Incapacitated Individual Jamie Lee Witherspoon SUMMONS Petitioner(s), vs. Timothy Demarcus Witherspoon, Marquis Witherspoon, Bradley Coleman Witherspoon and Teshauna Witherspoon, Respondent(s).* *For Guardianship/Conservatorship matters, you must include the alleged incapacitated individual as a Respondent. TO THE RESPONDENT(S) LISTED ABOVE: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to Answer the Petition in this action, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your Answer upon the Petitioner(s) listed above at the following address(es): Please Type or Print. T. ALSTON DEVENNY, Attorney for Petitioner (Name of Petitioner/Attorney for Petitioner) POST OFFICE BOX 1657 (Street Address or Mailing Address) LANCASTER, SC 29721 (City, State, and Zip Code) Your Answer must be served on the Petitioner at the above address within thirty (30) days after the service of this Summons and Petition upon you, exclusive of the day of such service; and if you fail to answer the Petition within that time, judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Petition. s/ T. Alston DeVenny T. ALSTON DEVENNY Date: SEPTEMBER 30, 2025

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IN THE PROBATE COURT NOTICE OF HEARING CASE NUMBER: 2025ES2900636

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NOTE: Probate Court recommends that all interested parties be represented by counsel licensed to practice law in South Carolina. If any interested party wishes to represent him/herself, he/she will be required to adhere to the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure and South Carolina Rules of Evidence. *When sending Notice of Hearing to interested parties upon whom pleadings were not required to be served, attached the petition or motion to be held. FORM #326ES (1/2016) 62-1-401

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other costs associated with renting a home. In addition to the first month and last month of rent as a security deposit, there are also application fees. You should also budget for the cost of utilities, whether that is individually for each or as a flat rate for all. Additionally, you should factor in the cost of moving into a rental property, as well as the cost of a renter’s insurance policy. Landlords use several criteria to determine whether a potential renter is a good candidate for a rental property. These criteria include the income of the potential renter, the rental history of the potential renter and the credit score of the potential renter. By knowing what the landlord is looking for before you start searching for a rental property, you can be better prepared and have all of the necessary Building Confidence in Everyday documents for the potential renter in order before you apply for a rental property. Knowing how Financial Decisions Many everyday financial decisions have long-last- much you can afford to spend on rent in advance ing effects. Setting up a payment plan, using a will also help you to avoid getting into financial credit card to make purchases, signing up for trouble by choosing a more affordable option. services with complex terms and conditions, and taking out loans to cover expenses are just a Using Credit Awareness as a few examples of financial decisions that can have Planning Tool effects for months or even years to come. Credit information can affect many areas of financial A key element of being financially aware is to life. It may influence rental applications, loan apunderstand how to budget. Creating and sticking provals, interest rates, and access to certain financial to a budget can help to ensure that you have products. For small business owners, personal credit enough money for everyday living and that you may also be reviewed when applying for financing, have enough money to spend and save on things especially during the early stages of a company. such as holidays and long-term savings products. For this reason, it can be helpful to periodIt can also help to identify areas where you could ically check credit score information as part of a cut back to avoid a financial crisis before it actu- broader financial routine. Reviewing a score alally happens. Knowing how much you can afford lows individuals to understand how their borrowto spend and how much you have available for ing history may appear to lenders or landlords. It savings each month can help to make a wide range can also provide an opportunity to identify errors, of financial decisions, ensuring that you choose unpaid accounts, or signs of unauthorized activity. the option that best fits your circumstances and Regular review can help people track imavoid paying too much for a financial product. provement and prepare for future applications. People with control of their finances are in a Paying bills on time, keeping balances manageable better position to make appropriate comparisons and limiting unnecessary credit applications may between different financial services and products support a healthier credit profile over time. These and understand the terms and conditions of habits can also encourage greater discipline in agreements before they enter into them. They are other areas of financial management. also more likely to choose financial services that are suitable for their circumstances, to manage their Supporting Small Businesses finances effectively and to be less vulnerable to and Local Entrepreneurs financial pressure. As a result, they are able to make There are many small businesses in any local consistent progress towards their financial goals. community that can provide employment, Expanding Access to Stable Housing services, and keep money For many, the largest expense is housing, whether within the community. that is a home to own or a place to rent. As some- However, starting a new... one who is financially aware, you will know what Use this QR code to read more at your budget can afford to pay for rent before you FWWeekly.com. To schedule your start applying for apartments to rent. In addition own promotional content piece, to the monthly rent, there are usually several email Marketing@fwweekly..com Being financially savvy and stable is key to having a strong and healthy local community. When a resident is financially aware, they can better make decisions to not only help themselves but also help grow their community financially. When individuals and/or households have financial awareness, they are able to make sound decisions that support the long-term economic health of their community. People with financial awareness have control of their money and are prepared for financial situations that may arise. They will have access to safe and affordable housing, be able to start and grow their own businesses, be prepared for financial emergencies, and make smart purchasing decisions, to name a few.

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General Motors Financial Company, Inc. has one opening in Fort Worth, TX: Software Development Engineer III (Ref# 22029.149.2). Req. BS in Computer Science, IT or the foreign equivalent & 5 yrs of progressively responsible experience in a software development engineer occupation. 5 years of experience using ASP.NET, C#, MVC, JQuery, Javascript, HTML, SQL. 100% Telecommuting Permitted. To apply, please send email to recruitment@gmfinancial.com. Reference #22029.149.2

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General Motors Financial Company, Inc. has one opening in Fort Worth, TX: Economist I (Ref#22029.136.2). Req. MS in Finance, Econ, Math or rel. field (or foreign equiv). & 2 yrs exp. in job offered or an Economist-related occupation using Data Analysis, Data Warehousing, Model Documentation and Rational Datasets. 100% telecommuting permitted. To apply, please send email to recruitment@gmfinancial.com. Reference #22029.136.2.

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IT Data & Analytics Applications Analyst sought by Lhoist North America, Inc. in Fort Worth, TX to design, develop & maintain custom software applications to support enterprise reporting & analytics needs. Troubleshoot, optimize application performance & document technical specs. Collaborate w/business stakeholders to translate requirements into scalable software solutions for data integration, reporting & visualization. 5% travel required to Lhoist manufacturing sites in the US. Telecommuting allowed 2 days per week. Must live within commuting distance to the office. Interested candidates should submit resumes to Emily Kelley, Senior HR Manager, LNA.Recruitment@lhoist. com. Reference code ITDA85 in subject line.

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The Romance Store is NOW HIRING at BOTH locations. Full and part time positions available. Email Romancestore2@gmail.com to apply

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UString Solutions, LLC seeks Senior Software Engineer to develop front-end applications. For job duties and requirements visit https://www.ustringsolutions. com/careers-detail.php?jid=44. Relocation required. Send resume to UString Solutions or email: HR@ ustringsolutions.com.

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