SUMMER 2020
Clint Brewer: Taking it to the top PAGe 3
Randy Oberbeck’s Cool Creek Fine Art Gallery PAGe 7
Lohrke's family legacy of fame and luck PAGe 15
Table of Contents
3 7 11 14 15 18 20 21 23
Cover Story:Taking it to the top By LINDSAy SMITH
Clint Brewer is living his lifelong dream of mountain climbing.
Randy Oberbeck By LINDSAy SMITH
Oberbeck and his wife Helen created Cool Creek Gallery in Bridgeport, Texas.
From Springtown to the front lines By GrANT MCGALLIArD
SHS grad Alyssa Springfield is fighting COVID-19 in New York City
10 gardening tips for beginners Easy tips on starting and maintaining your own garden.
Lohrke tells family heritage of fame, luck, and legacy By vANeSSA PHAM
You never know what one’s family history might be until you stop and listen.
Managing your digital inheritance By GrANT MCGALLIArD
What happens to your online presence after you die?
10 tips to grill like a pro By vANeSSA PHAM
Time to get the grill ready for summer!
Outdoor grilling recipes By vANeSSA PHAM
Some great recipes for summer grilling
Does zinc really live up to the hype? By Dr. JeSSICA BrACe
Fighting and prevention of contracting the coronavirus Cover: Photo courtesy of Clint Brewer
Heritage Magazine is published quarterly as a supplement to the Azle News and Springtown epigraph. The entire content of each issue of Heritage Magazine is protected under the Federal Copyright Act. reproduction of any portion of any issue is expressly forbidden without the prior written consent of the publisher. 321 w. Main St. Azle, TX 76020, 817.270.3340
Š 2020 Azle News
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Heritage Summer 2020
Clint Brewer at Island Peak, 2016
photos provided by clint brewer
Taking it to the top By LINDSAY SMITH
Clint Brewer will always be rooted to his home here in Azle, but his heart has no boundaries, including elevation.
Brewer graduated from Azle High school in 1998 and went on to study at Dallas Baptist University. He now lives in Fort Worth, where he has been a firefighter for the City of Fort Worth since 2004. It was the summer of 1992, while in Boy Scouts, that Brewer started living out his lifelong dreams of mountain climbing. “My mom had put me in Boy Scouts and in 1992 we were going to Colorado to climb Pike’s Peak,” said Brewer. “I was so excited as were driving and I could see the mountain. I just knew
right then it was something I wanted to keep doing.” That first hike was a 13.5-mile tough climb for a beginner with an elevation gain of more than 7,400 feet. Brewer loved it so much that he did the same hike again in 1994. After getting settled into his career and doing smaller climbs, the opportunity came in February 2010 for him to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, a 19,340 mountain in Tanzania. This first major climb was a successful summit and kicked off his climbing career. Exactly two years later, in 2012, Summer 2020 Heritage 3
Clint Brewer at Denali, 2016
Brewer set the bar a little higher, aiming for Mount Aconcagua, with an elevation of 22,841 feet in the Andes Mountains of Argentina. Leaving the base camp at 3 a.m. he finally summited at 3 p.m. At this point Brewer decided to widen his horizons, so to speak, and took a glacier climbing course before proceeding to attempt to summit Denali. The mountain has an apt name -- it comes from the Koyukon name "Deenaalee," meaning “the high one." With a summit elevation of 22,308 feet and a 100% glacier climb, it was already a difficult challenge to begin with. As a storm moved into the area, the climbers were held at the 17,300foot high camp for five days. This kept Brewer from reaching the summit on the first attempt of the third-most prominent and third-most isolated peak on Earth. In 2015, the next climb would take him to an active volcano just southeast of Seattle. Brewer was able to reach summit on the 14,410-foot high Mount Rainier, which last erupted in 1894. 4
Heritage Summer 2020
Coming down from summit of Aconcagua in 2012 during a storm
In 2016, Brewer reached a turning point when a friend and fellow climber, Alex Cramer, came up with a plan to use their climbing experiences to raise money for a local Tarrant County organization. Cramer, who is a City of Arlington Firefighter, had lost a sibling when he was in high school and was very impressed by The Warm Place, an organization who helps children and teens with the loss of a loved one. The event was called “A Cold Climb for
The Warm Place,” and their goal was to raise a dollar for each of the 20,308 feet of Denali. This was the second attempt at the unforgiving journey to the top for Brewer and the team succeeded on Independence Day (July 4), using The Warm Place as their motivation. Later in 2016, Brewer set out for the Imja Tse, also known as Island Peak Mountain, located in Sagarmatha National Park of the Himalayas of eastern Nepal. Brewer reached the summit at
20,305 feet. In 2017 Brewer, Cramer, and a group of other avid climber friends set out for Mt. Rainier. This was an exciting success, as this was the first unguided climb Brewer had been part of. Three lower elevation summit climbs in one year kept Brewer very busy in 2018. Mount Whitney in California, with an elevation of 14,505 feet, kicked off the trio, followed by Mount Baker, also known as Kulshan, at 10,781 feet and the second-most thermally active crater in the North Cascades range of Washington. The trip ended with Oregon’s highest mountain, Mount Hood, with an elevation of 11,250 feet. In 2019, Brewer and Cramer again teamed up to raise money and awareness for The Warm Place. This time they set the goal even higher to reach summit of Mount Aconcagua, but this time unguided. The climb was cut short as a fellow climber had to be brought back down the mountain due to altitude sickness. They did not reach the summit, but did still raise money for the children battling the mountains of grief at The Warm Place. In February 2020, just before the country shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Brewer and Cramer were able to reach summit of Quandry Peak, the highest summit of the Tenmile Range of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.
Clint Brewer and Alex Cramer at Mt. Quandry, 2020
WHAT’S NEXT Brewer’s next journey is scheduled for late July or early August to climb Grand Teton in Wyoming. The summit elevation is 13,770 feet and is known for being one of the most photogenic and fun mountains to climb in the United States. “I will keep climbing,” said Brewer. “It all depends on what I can afford and getting sponsorships is the only way I will reach my ultimate climb goals of Mount Everest, K2, and Annapurna.” In addition to these ultimate bucket lists Brewer also has Ama Dablam in Nepal, Matterhorn and Eiger in Switzerland, Carsten Pyramid (also known as Puncak Jaya) in Indonesia, Mount
Elbrus in Russia and the Vinson Massif mountain in Antartica. In addition to saving lives and climbing, Brewer is also an active marathon runner. He participates in numerous marathons each year, including the Azle Lake Run in his home town. He has placed second overall for the 10k in 2018 and 2019 in that race. “Running is great training for climbing,” said Brewer. “It’s great for altitude training, getting and staying in shape.” In his spare time he loves spending time with his family and friends, his one-year-old goldendoodle puppy Aldo, getting exercise and just being outdoors.
Clint Brewer at the top of Denali, 2016. Summer 2020 Heritage 5
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Heritage Summer 2020
One of Cool Creek's gallery walls.
Photo by LIndsay Smith
Randy Oberbeck Featured Artist at Cool Creek Gallery in Bridgeport By LINDSAY SMITH
When Randy Oberbeck was a child, he dreamed of motorcycles, hot rods and art. Now, he and his wife Helen have created a place for talented local emerging artists to display and sell beautifully crafted art in the small town of Bridgeport.
ABOUT THE ARTIST His talents were displayed very early on his pages of class work in elementary school, and have turned into a career as a highly acclaimed airbrush artist. “I can’t remember when I didn’t enjoy drawing,” said Oberbeck. “I was
always drawing or doodling on something.” Oberbeck started professionally painting motorcycles and was a highly sought after artist to motorcycle enthusiasts at the finest bike shows throughout Texas. He also created art for one–of-a-kind NATO fighter pilots' helmets and has been awarded in many military celebrations, including Air Force One National Gala events. Oberbeck was born in Belleville, Illinois, and moved to Texas when he was 18. He and his wife Helen moved to Azle in 2001, where he worked out of his home studio until a fire destroyed their home and they lost everything in
Oberbeck and Creek Photo by LIndsay Smith
Summer 2020 Heritage 7
One of Oberbeck's hand fighter pilot helmets for NATO.
painted
Photo courtesy of randy oberbeck
COOL CREEK FINE ART GALLERY
Creek in front of his namesake, Cool Creek Fine Art Gallery
Photo courtesy of randy oberbeck
2013. After working hard to rebuild their lives and their home, Oberbeck returned to painting, but started to paint on canvas instead of the bikes and helmets that he was used to. Oberbeck Airbrush Artistry can be seen at many local art festivals and galleries, and he also creates commissioned art pieces. He has been painting for over 25 years and is a self-taught professional airbrush artist that spe8
Heritage Summer 2020
cializes in highly detailed photo-realism and Americana. Paul Sykes, with Art Avenue Gallery in Washington, D.C., sought out Oberbeck to fill gallery walls in the D.C. location as well as the Art Avenue's location in Sarasota, Florida. To view Randy Oberbeck’s work, visit Oberbeck Airbrush Artistry on Facebook or Instagram or visit the website at www. oberbeckartistry.com
In 2019, after a weekend day trip just heading out north of Azle, Randy and Helen stumbled upon Bridgeport. After seeing the main street area of Haskell Street and the few businesses that it had to offer, Helen Oberbeck thought it would be a great rising community to feature Randy and other up-and-coming local artists. So on a handshake, Helen agreed to buy a building that was a bail bonds office at the time and started planning to turn this run-down old building into the beautifully restored Cool Creek Fine Art Gallery. When asked why Bridgeport, the artist answered, “My wife had a vision! Some people thought we were crazy, but it has really been well received. We are a little ahead of the curve of an art gallery in this area, but the arts always have a way of bringing culture to a town, especially a town that was developed on pretty much the oil fields and ranching businesses, but the residents have cultured backgrounds and a genuine interest in the arts.” The vision has fully come to life as the Haskell Street business owners are all deeply rooted in their passion for showcasing local artists and other talented residents of their community.
Oberbeck's work at Art Avenue Gallery in Washington, D.C.
Photo courtesy of randy oberbeck
“We have been embraced by the community, other business owners, the mayor and city council has offered help with whatever we needed," added Helen. The Cool Creek Fine Art Gallery also has a mascot, Creek, a three-year-old Rottweiler with a heart full of love that is well known in downtown Bridgeport. Plan a day trip and take the short drive to the Cool Creek Fine Art Gallery to see everything they have to offer. You won’t be disappointed.
Various ARTISTS FEATURED IN THE COOL CREEK FINE ART GALLERY The Cool Creek Fine Art Gallery is always looking to showcase professional and emerging novice artists. You can find the Cool Creek Fine Art Gallery on Facebook or visit the website at www. coolcreekgallery.com “We have to be able to give other artists constructive criticism and not shut down their dreams,” said Randy. “We tell them to keep doing what they are doing, to keep coming back, and don’t give up.” Numerous local art types are currently showcased inside the gallery, including metal sculptures, jewelry
Randy Oberbeck's 'Pride' acrylic on canvas.
artistry, photography, oil on canvas, soft pastel paintings, oil pastel paintings, watercolor paintings, wire artistry, glass artistry, and acrylic paint
Photo courtesy of randy oberbeck
on canvas. Carol Acedo is a fellow Azle resident that is currently showcased at the Cool Creek Gallery and has also been named Summer 2020 Heritage 9
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Randy Oberbeck's 'Fiddle N Flag' acrylic on canvas. Photo courtesy of randy oberbeck
as a finalist in the TexRail commissioned local artist for the Fort Worth Metro Smithfield Station. “It is important for us to be able to rotate the artist out,” said Helen. “Our goal is to feature as many emerging artist as possible and rotate them every three or four months.”
10 Heritage Summer 2020
From Springtown to the front lines SHS grad Alyssa Springfield is fighting COVID-19 in New York City By grant mcgalliard
Alyssa Springfield, a 2012 graduate of Springtown High, never imagined she’d be on the front lines of a fight against a global pandemic. But in early April, Springfield traveled to New York City to help fight COVID-19 as a nurse in the crowded hospitals and emergency rooms of Brooklyn. “I felt called,” Springfield said. “It feels like I’m the most suitable person to fulfill this role.” After graduating from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Springfield embarked on a career as a nurse. She currently works as a perioperative nurse at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, helping prepare patients for surgery. She became a nurse, she said, after watching her aunt and uncle in the health care field. “Growing up I’d been able to look at and hear stories of how they impacted people’s lives,” Springfield said. “I saw their example and wanted to do the same thing. “I wanted to help people, although I feel like that’s the typical answer. What better way to do it than when people are sick and health and spirit?” A friend of hers heard about an opportunity to relieve the overstressed health care system in New York City through a company called Krucial Staffing, which provides emergency workers. After “thinking about it and praying about it,” Springfield decided to take the plunge. She made her decision on the Friday before Easter, and on April 13 she was on a plane to New York City, a place near to her heart. “I love New York City. I’ve been here a few times,” Sprignfield said. “I like the energy, and all the history here.” But when she arrived, that energy had been sapped out of the city. Springfield is staying near Times Square, and she said one of the busiest areas on the planet now looks like a ghost town. “The first night we got here, it was so eerily quiet,” she said. “It’s known to be so loud, and people are honking all the time. It’s so eerie – it’s so quiet, and there’s room to do everything on the sidewalks that you want.”
Alyssa Springfield has been working in New York City as a nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo provided
Summer 2020 Heritage 11
Springfield got to work, putting in 12-hour shifts at a hospital in Brooklyn. Nothing could’ve prepared her for the chaos of a hospital in the middle of COVID-19. “It’s been crazy,” she said. “It’s just as bad or worse than what you see and hear. “They’re just so overwhelmed as a system. The nurses there have been fighting this head on from the very beginning, and have dealt with some horrible things and situations.” Resources like masks and “painter suits” for nurses are hard to come by. In fact, Springfield said nurses at her hospital in Fort Worth are wearing “armor” compared to what she has for protection in New York City. Springfield said her family and friends have been “amazing” and supportive, and have shipped up extra masks when possible.
Some of Springfield's team at the hospital.
Photo provided
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Nurses are “exhausted in lots of different ways.” That includes Springfield, who has been working the night shift. “I’m tired,” she said on April 30, one of her two days off in a 21-day shift. We’ve been working and sleeping and eating all over again every single day.” Many of the nurses she’s working with aren’t directly hired through the hospital. Instead, they arrive through agencies and essentially “take over and run” the facility. Springfield is also working with a neuro-intensivist from Yale, who has been “so great and so helpful” by allowing her and her colleagues to bounce ideas off him. She’s also learned more about the virus itself. “It’s more than just attacking the lungs, more than just a respiratory issue,” she said. “No one knows how to handle or treat it right yet.
“We’re seeing that it’s affecting blood and the coagulation of blood, and making it to where you have no symptoms, and then all of a sudden you have a blood clot form.” Those blood clots can then travel to the brain, heart or lungs, causing life-threatening problems. That presents a whole new challenge for nurses and doctors. “This is something that we’re just learning as we’re taking care of the patients,” Springfield said. “They may present fine, but then they’re having these strange and unexplained things happen.” Her experience in New York has given her a new level of appreciation for how dangerous COVID-19 is. “It shocked me how ill-prepared America was for something like this,” Springfield said. “It’s tough to see that. “I’m afraid that it’s going to come
back in the winter and we’re going to see the second wave, especially as things back home open up. I want normal life to resume like everybody else, but I’ve seen this in the most awful forms it could possibly have.” Springfield’s original deployment length was 21 days. In that time, she and her team have opened up a makeshift ICU on what used to be a pediatric floor. Although she’s tired, she wants to finish what she’s started. At the time of this interview, she was hoping to extend her shift to help continue fighting. “We’ve seen from the beginning how it’s developed and how we’ve learned more about this disease process,” she said. “We want to stay and see it out. “As long as things don’t pick up back home and I’m not needed there, I’d stay as long as I can.”
Summer 2020 Heritage 13
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gardening tips for beginners wondering how to start a garden? Find your confidence with these 10 easy-to-follow tips.
1. Pick the right site.
4. Start with great soil.
7. Discover your zone.
Starting a garden is just like real estate it’s all about location. Place your garden in a part of your yard where you’ll see it regularly. The old saying if it’s out of sight, out of mind, definitely applies to gardening. If you plant in an area you enjoy being in, you’ll be much more likely to spend time working in it.
when starting a garden, one of the top pieces of advice is to invest in soil that is nutrient-rich and well-drained. Achieve this just-right blend by mixing three inches of purchased soil into the top six to eight inches of existing soil if you're planning to plant in the ground. If you're planting in a raised bed, use a raised bed soil, which is the perfect weight and texture for raised bed growing.
Get to know your 'hardiness zone.' This will help you choose the best plants for your climate. The higher the zone number, the warmer the climate generally is. So if a plant is “hardy to zone four” and your garden is zone five, that plant will survive. However, if you’re in zone three, it’s too cold to grow that particular plant. Tarrant and Parker Counties range from zone 7b8a, depending on the exact location.
2. Follow the sun. Misjudging sunlight is one of the most common issues when you’re first learning to garden. Pay attention to how sunlight plays through your yard before choosing a spot for your garden. Most edible plants, including many vegetables, herbs, and fruits, need at least six hours of sun in order to thrive.
3. Stay close to water. one of the best gardening tips you’ll ever get is to plan your new garden near a water source. Make sure you can run a hose to your garden site, so you don’t have to lug water to it each time your plants get thirsty. There are two ways to tell if plants need watering. one is to push a finger an inch down into the soil, and if it’s dry, it’s time to water. The second option is to invest in a water meter. The most common issue that gardeners have is overwatering, as it cuts off the oxygen supply to the roots. watering every three days should be sufficient in most gardens.
14 Heritage Summer 2020
5. Consider containers. when space is limited, look to containers. you can grow many plants in pots, including vegetables, herbs, flowers, fruit trees, berries and shrubs. when gardening in containers, use a pot that’s large enough for the plant it’s hosting, and fill it with a potting mix soil. Not only is it specially formulated to help plants in pots thrive, but it also helps protect against over- and underwatering.
6. Choose the right plants. It’s important to select plants that match your growing conditions. This means putting sun-loving plants into a sunny spot, choosing heat-tolerant plants in warm climates and giving ground-gobbling vines like pumpkins and melons space to grow or a trellis to climb. Pick varieties that will grow well where you live and in the space you have. And to get a step up on success when growing veggies and herbs, start with vigorous young plants instead of starting from a seed.
8. Learn your frost dates. Planting too early or too late in the season can spell disaster for your garden. you need to know the last average spring frost date for your area so you don’t accidentally kill plants by putting them out prematurely. It’s also good to know your first average fall frost date so that you get your plants harvested or moved indoors before late-season cold damages them. The average last frost date for our region is March 17.
9. Add some mulch. Apply a layer of mulch that’s two to three inches deep around each plant. This will help reduce weeds by blocking out the sun, and reduce moisture loss through evaporation. For a polished look, put down a layer of bagged mulch, straw, or shredded leaves.
10. Feed plants regularly. Along with great soil, your garden will need regular boosts of high-quality nutrition for your plants. Begin feeding your garden a month after planting.
Lohrke tells rich family heritage of fame, luck, and legacy By vANeSSA PHAM
You never know what one’s family history might be until you stop and listen. One afternoon after a Walnut Creek SUD board meeting in Springtown, Walnut Creek SUD Engineer Bill Lohrke opened up to the Epigraph about his family history during a casual conversation. And it was nothing short of impressive. Lohrke has been an engineer for Walnut Creek SUD regarding infrastructure in the Springtown area since 1993, when Eddie Cheatham engineers
established an original surface water treatment plant in the area. Currently, Lohrke has been working for E.S.C.M., Inc. engineering firm since 2003. His firm “did all utility infrastructure for Southlake and Keller,” Lohrke said, adding that they are completing infrastructure for the city of River Oaks right now. That day after the board meeting, Lohrke began telling how his family came to the United States from Germany, where his ancestors’ house was the only one left standing in its city
Lohrke’s great grandfather, Frederick wilheim Lohrke, left several relatives behind in Germany seeking a new life in America and settled in Denton, Texas where he opened the first furniture store. Pictured are (l-r) Frederick wilheim Lohrke, Lohrke’s great uncle Charles Carl Lohrke, and his great uncle Frank w. Lohrke.
Jack “Lucky” Lohrke was bestowed his nickname for escaping death during combat and travel at least six times. ALL PHoToS CourTeSy oF BILL LoHrke
(a German name Lohrke said he can’t pronounce) after the World War II air raids. General George S. Patton Jr., general of the United States Army who commanded the U.S. Third Army in France and Germany, took advantage of the Lohrke family’s house. Because it was the only building that wasn’t bombed or destroyed, Patton used it as the headquarters for the Third Army after the allied invasion of Normandy in 1944. “I was surprised the house looks remarkably in excellent condition,” Lohrke said. “When (the U.S. Army) left, they left it in excellent condition.” The house, which was built in the 1920s, is still standing today and is occupied by the great-grandson of the person who built the house—which was Lohrke’s great-grandfather’s brother. “I think in Germany and France back then, they built houses substantially stronger than the houses here in America,” Lohrke said. In the same way that Lohrke’s family’s house survived destructive warfare and is still standing, his ancestors were combat survivors as well. Summer 2020 Heritage 15
As a young boy during World War II, Lohrke lived with his grandfather, grandmother, and great-uncle Edward William Lohrke. “Uncle Edward told me many stories of his combat experiences in World War I and how he had fought on the same battle front against his first cousins who were fighting for Germany,” Lohrke said. “He said trench warfare was a nightmare and how nearly everyone he had fought alongside with were killed or injured by poison gas.” Yet uncle Edward survived, and so did Lohrke’s famous relative Jack “Lucky” Lohrke who is known for escaping death at least six times, hence his nickname. Lohrke remembers traveling to California with his family in the 1950s to visit his relatives, in particular one of his father’s cousins, Jack Lohrke. Jack, who was a Major League baseball player, was called “Lucky Lohrke” by the press due to his many death-escape experiences. An article about Jack by Andy
Sturgill from the Society for American Baseball Research states, “The fact that a man born in the 1920s lived to be 85 is not all that unlikely. But the fact that this particular man born in the 1920s lived to be even 23 is remarkable.” While serving Jack “Lucky” Lohrke catches a ball at third base. in the U.S. Army, Jack fought in the Allied invasion at Normandy and war in 1945, Jack was scheduled to in the Battle of the Bulge in 1944, two fly on a military transport plane from of the most well-known battles of the New Jersey to Los Angeles. Just before war. Four soldiers next to Jack were takeoff, he was bumped from the flight killed, but he emerged from the war and replaced by a higher-ranking offifree of injuries. cer. While in flight, the plane crashed, His feats of survival don’t stop there. killing everyone on board. On his way back to the U.S. after the The following year, Jack began his
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first season back in professional baseball after the war and started with the Spokane Indians of the Class B Western International League. His team left on a road trip and stopped for lunch. It was then that Lohrke got word he was being recalled to San Diego to join the Padres. When the team finished lunch, Jack said goodbye to his teammates. The Indians got on their bus and headed for Bremerton, WA while Lohrke hitchhiked back to Spokane. On a slick road in the Cascade Mountains, the bus driver swerved to miss a car that had crossed the median and lost control of the bus. The bus broke through a restraining wall and rolled down a 300-500-foot cliff to a ravine. After the bus hit bottom, it burst into flames. Of the 15 team members, nine died at the scene or from resulting injuries. Three of the six survivors never played baseball again. Meanwhile, Jack found a ride back to Spokane, and when he got home, heard that both of his roommates had been killed in the accident. Despite the tragedy he faced, Jack didn’t give up on his baseball career, and by the time he played again for the San Diego Padres, he had become known as “Lucky Lohrke”--a name that was definitely deserved. He went on to play as third-baseman for the New York Giants from 19471951 and then for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1952-1953 and played in the 1951 World Series. After the World Series, Jack gave a young Bill Lohrke his autographed ball glove signed by all the iconic Major League players from 1948-1952. “The glove would now be worth thousands of dollars,” Lohrke said. “I remember asking my mother when I was a grown man what happened to my ball glove, and she said, ‘Son, you wore it out playing with it.’ What a loss!” Lohrke’s German family had immigrated to the U.S. in 1878, leaving several relatives behind in Germany. His great-grandfather, Frederick Wilheim Lohrke, settled in Denton, Texas around 1881 and opened one of the
Top: Lohrke’s father’s cousin, Jack “Lucky” Lohrke, slides into home plate during a New york Giants game. Bottom: Jack “Lucky” Lohrke (right) with Johnny Leonard roosevelt “Pepper” Martin during a Giant’s game.
first furniture stores in Denton about 1885. They were some of the earliest settlers in Denton County and around the community of Argyle. Today, Lohrke’s son gets to revisit old family territory in Germany each year, made possible by his military travel as a senior war planner. “I’m looking forward to my son’s
visit with our old German family and of course the pictures he will take,” Lohrke said. It’s a family history to be proud of. Their legacy lives on in Germany, and now in Texas. “Like many other Texas natives, I am proud of my heritage and that my relatives settled in Texas,” he said. Summer 2020 Heritage 17
Managing your digital inheritance By grant mcgalliard
Preparing to pass down your estate and secure your assets for your loved ones is not the most fun topic – it’s never pleasant to talk about passing on. But it is important, and there is a wide variety of areas to consider – your vehicle, your home, your financial assets, any sentimental items, etc. Those are the ones that come to mind easily, but there’s one you might be forgetting. What happens to your online presence after you die?
DIGITAL INHERITANCE The process of handing down your digital media and assets is known as “digital inheritance,” and in this day and age, it’s more important than ever. Consider: you likely have plenty of important information stored in your emails. You also probably have at least one social media page with pictures of you and your family, along with information that could be valuable for hackers or other ill-meaning people. Then you factor in all your passwords for various accounts that could be necessary to make sure your assets and estate fall into the right hands. Plus, there’s contact lists, medical information and any work you might have saved on your computer. All of this data needs to have someone to take care of it after you die. That’s why it’s important to have a strategy for your digital inheritance plan. “Take inventory and document your digital assets and online accounts,” suggests Cheryl Conley, a phishing 18 Heritage Summer 2020
and awareness expert who had a long career at Lockheed Martin, in the January 2020 issue of the SANS Security newsletter. “If you do not provide access to your accounts after you die, it can be very difficult for family members to access or close them. For example, would you want your family members to be locked out of all those years of family photos and videos you have stored online?” Conley suggests using a password manager to help keep all important passwords in one place.
WHAT THE LAW SAYS With digital inheritance being a relatively new concern, there isn’t much federal regulation on the process of
passing down digital estates. However, nearly all states have passed legislation detailing access to digital assets. In Texas, that matter was handled in June 2017 with the passage of SB-1193, known as the Texas Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (FADA). That act authorized a deceased person’s personal representative or trustee to access and manage digital assets and communications. “It provides fiduciaries the legal authority to manage digital assets and electronic communications in the same manner that they manage tangible assets and accounts,” according to the specific Texas Senate analysis. “S.B. 1193 specifies when a fiduciary may access the content of digital assets and
electronic communications, and when only a catalog of the property is permitted to be accessed. “Second, it provides custodians of digital assets and electronic communications the legal authority they need to interact with the fiduciaries of their users while honoring the user’s privacy expectations for his or her personal communications. A custodian is granted immunity from liability for acts or omissions done in good faith compliance with the provisions of this bill.” As a result, it’s important to designate a relative or someone you trust to manage your digital assets. That person may be the only person allowed by law to negotiate or communicate with agencies like banks and technology companies.
SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCES Most social media companies have
processes in place to help shut down accounts of deceased users. While Facebook cannot provide login information for a person’s profile, they can upon request “memorialize” the profile, which will allow family and friends to post memories on the person’s page. This also prevents anyone from attempting to log in and assume the profile of the deceased person. Facebook also has the option to remove the person’s profile permanently. That requires proof of death, such as a death certificate, and proof that you are a trusted person, such as a power of attorney document or an estate letter. Twitter has a similar policy in which access to the account itself is not allowed. However, once a request to remove a deceased person’s account is submitted, Twitter will send an email requesting more information and will then remove the account.
Individuals and businesses have been greatly impacted by these difficult times, and we at the National Bank of Texas are committed to providing the financial access, guidance and support needed, while continuing to exceed the expectations of the communities we serve.
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For email services, policies vary. Gmail, perhaps the most popular email service, offers an Inactive Account Manager that can help people find their preferred settings. “We can work with immediate family members and representatives to close the account of a deceased person where appropriate,” the policy reads. “In certain circumstances we may provide content from a deceased user’s account. “In all of these cases, our primary responsibility is to keep people’s information secure, safe, and private. We cannot provide passwords or other login details. Any decision to satisfy a request about a deceased user will be made only after a careful review.” Hopefully these tips will help you ensure the security of your digital assets and profiles. Making things easy for your loved ones is always a smart idea – and a safe one, too.
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Summer 2020 Heritage 19
10 tips to grill like a pro Grilling techniques are important to perfecting your barbecue. what separates expert grillers from amateurs is that the experts know how to manage their grill. Here are the 10 tips to master your grill and your results.
1. Preheat The Grill
7. Maintain Grill Temperatures
Preheat your grill with the lid closed for 10 to 15 minutes. with all the coals glowing red, or all the gas burners on high, the temperature under the lid should reach 500F. The heat loosens any bits and pieces of food hanging onto the grate, making it easy to brush them off. Preheating your grill also helps prevent food from sticking to the grate, and gets the grate hot enough to sear properly.
By having consistent, reliable heat source and proper venting, the grill can maintain low or high temperatures effectively. The dampers on the top and bottom of the grill control the airflow inside the grill. The more air flowing into the grill, the hotter the fire will grow and the more frequently you will have to replenish it. To slow the rate of your fuel burning, close the top vent as much as halfway and keep the lid on as much as possible.The bottom vent should be left open whenever you are grilling so you don’t kill your fire. under normal circumstances, a typical charcoal briquette fire will lose about 100˚F of heat over 40 to 60 minutes. A typical lump charcoal fire will lose heat even faster. Gas grills have individual control knobs so that you can easily regulate the heat and create different grilling zones easily.you can easily maintain heat levels as low as 200˚F to over 550˚F easily and shift from direct to indirect in minutes.
2. Clean Your Grill when bits of food have stuck to your cooking grate, and the grate is hot, clean it with a stainless steel brush. This step is not only for cleanliness. It also prevents your food from sticking.
3. Keep The Grill Shut Here are 4 important reasons why your grill lid should be closed as much as possible. 1. It keeps the grates hot enough to sear the food. 2. It speeds up the cooking time and prevents the food from drying out. 3. It traps the smokiness that develops when fat and juices vaporize in the grill. 4. It prevents flare-ups by limiting oxygen.
5. Monitor Time And Temperature By monitoring your time and grilling temperature, you avoid overcooking your food. use a timer! If the wind is blowing hard, it will lower a gas grill’s temperature and raise a charcoal grill’s temperature.
6. Direct Vs. Indirect Heat Grilling Direct heat (when the fire is directly below the food) is best for relatively small, tender pieces of food that cook in 20 minutes or less. Indirect heat (when the fire is on either side of the food) is best for larger, tougher cuts of meat that require more than 20 minutes of cooking.
8.Tame The Flame Too many flare-ups can burn your food. keep the lid on as much as possible. This limits the amount of oxygen inside the grill, which will help extinguish any flare-ups. If the flames are getting out of control, move the food over indirect heat temporarily, until they die down. Then move the food back.
9. Caramelization Is Key one of biggest reasons for the popularity of grilled food is its seared taste. To develop this taste for maximum effect, use the right level of heat and resist the temptation to turn food often. your patience will allow for caramelization, or browning. That creates literally hundreds of flavors and aromas. As a general rule, turn food only once.
10. Avoid Lighter Fluid It’s a liquid product that evaporates. who wants that, and its foul chemical fumes under their food? Chimney starters and lighter cubes are much cleaner and much more effective. Tips from Weber.com by Kevin Kolman.
20 Heritage Summer 2020
Outdoor grilling recipes By vANeSSA PHAM
Spring is here, and with the season comes outdoor grilling. So clean off those grills and fire them up—whether you plan to cook for your family or have cookout company. There are a wide variety of delicious recipes sure to please every palate. whether you’re looking for easy recipes, low-carb meals, new BBQ ideas, or just food that everyone will enjoy, this roundup of recipes will help make dinner extra delicious.
Bacon Burgers on Brioche Buns For a fancier burger that packs a flavor punch, this will satisfy your taste buds. yIeLDS: 8 servings ToTAL TIMe: 40 minutes INGreDIeNTS • 2 medium red onions, thinly sliced • 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing • ½ cup mayonnaise • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice • Salt and freshly ground pepper • 8 slices of thick-cut bacon (12 ounces) • 3 pounds mixed ground chuck and ground sirloin • 12 ounces brie, sliced • 8 brioche burger buns, split DIreCTIoNS Preheat the oven to 400°. on a rimmed baking sheet, toss the onions with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and roast until softened, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk the mayonnaise with the lemon juice. Gradually whisk in the remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, cook the bacon over moderately high heat until crisp. Drain on paper towels and break each strip in half. Light a grill or preheat a grill pan. Form the ground meat into eight patties. Season generously with salt and pepper and brush with olive oil. Grill over moderately high heat until well-browned on the bottom, 5 minutes. Flip the burgers, mound the brie on top and grill for 4 minutes longer, until the cheese is slightly melted and the burgers are medium-rare. Spread the lemon mayonnaise on the cut sides of the buns; set the burgers on the bottoms and top with the bacon and onions. Close the burgers and serve right away. Recipe from foodandwine.com
Summer 2020 Heritage 21
Texas Brisket You can’t go wrong with this BBQ classic—a Texas favorite. Here’s a great way to cook it up. YIELDS: 4-6 servings PREP TIME: 20 minutes TOTAL TIME: 9 hours, 50 minutes INGREDIENTS • 6 pounds beef brisket • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard • 1/4 cup dark brown sugar • 3/4 cup paprika • 2 tablespoons chipotle chili powder • 1/4 cup black pepper • 2 tablespoons garlic powder • 1/4 cup salt • 2 tablespoons onion powder • 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper DIRECTIONS Trim the fat cap on the brisket to about 1/4 to 1/8 of an inch. Coat the brisket with a light coating of the yellow mustard. Mix the sugar and spices together to form the rub for the brisket. Apply the rub to both sides of the meat. Place the brisket in a preheated 194 to 205 degree F smoker until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 185 to 195 degrees F, about 1 1/2 hours per pound. Once the internal temperature is reached, remove the brisket from the smoker and allow it to rest for at least 30 minutes before slicing. Enjoy! Recipe from FoodNetwork.com
22 Heritage Summer 2020
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Does zinc really live up to the hype?
Since the introduction of COVID-19 to the United States, there have been numerous videos and talks about things we should do to increase our immune awareness and what they are actually treating patients with that are COVID-19 positive. Patients who have contracted COVID-19 are being treated with hydroxychloroquine. This is a large amount of zinc and fair amounts of quinine (also found in tonic water). Guess what is flying off the shelves now? Schweppes tonic water and zinc… Relying on hydroxychloroquine will come with a price. There are numerous medications that interact negatively with this medication. Hydroxychloroquine can cause serious liver or heart problems, especially if you use certain medicines at the same time, including: • other medicines to treat malaria; • an antibiotic or antifungal medicine; • antiviral medicine to treat hepatitis or HIV/AIDS; • antidepressants or antipsychotic medicines; • birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy; • cancer medication; • cholesterol-lowering medication; • heart or blood pressure medicine; • pain or arthritis medicines (including aspirin, Tylenol, Advil, and Aleve); • seizure medication; • stomach acid reducers; or • tuberculosis medicine I am not here to discount any of
There has been a lot of talk about Zinc lately in relation to immune function in fighting and prevention of contracting the coronavirus. Since COVID-19 hit the United States, there has been a wide range of information and media on the best ways to build your immune system against the coronavirus and the best way to treat those that have been diagnosed with the virus. these practices, but to investigate the efficacy of zinc. I myself have added zinc to my already extensive regimen of supplements full of whole food nutrition and herbs. I haven’t taken zinc since college. The reason is this: you should only take zinc for six weeks before your body needs a break. The same rule registers with echinacea: it loses its efficacy over time and your body doesn’t utilize it properly. With zinc, you become toxic and have a plethora of side effects from zinc toxicity, one being loss of taste – which also a common symptom of the coronavirus. Therefore, you must keep track of how long you have taken zinc and take a holiday/break from time to time to balance the effectiveness of zinc. There are not a lot of lazy aspects of my life, but keeping track of how long I have been taking any supplements is not worth my time. So, my plan is to take zinc until the coronavirus settles down. It is important that people understand how long they can take zinc for it to be effective, as well as how much zinc to take. Having too much zinc in your body can cause nausea, vomiting, stomachaches and diarrhea. It could also make you dizzy or drowsy and fatigued. But it is immune system impairment, prostate cancer risk, adverse effects on cholesterol levels, and copper deficiency-linked anemia that you should be really worried about if you’re considering long-term or high dosage intake of zinc via supplements and food.
According to WebMD, a tolerable amount of zinc daily is up to 40mg for an adult and much less for children depending on age and weight. Zinc is a mineral called an “essential trace mineral,” because very small amounts of zinc are actually needed for human health. Common sources of zinc include red meat, poultry and fish. Deficiencies lead to short stature and an inability for the testes and ovaries to function correctly. Zinc can help ward off the common cold, as well as other virus components, such as the herpes virus and even the daunting coronavirus. Many people have asked me what I have added or changed in my immune routine since the emergent Coronavirus. My immune protocol is this: Vitamin D3 w/K2 10,000iu daily liquid (OrthoMolecular Products) Immuplex (Standard Process) (A, C, E, B6, B12, iron, selenium, copper, chromium) Colloidal Silver (Amazon) Zinc Liver Chelate 10 mg (Standard Process) We carry a multitude of whole food and herbal products at Brace Chiropractic and Wellness Center and are always happy to help meet your supplemental needs. We carry any and all Standard Process and MediHerb products, as well as Orthomolecular Products. Dr. Matt Mishio and myself, Dr. Jessica Brace, are always around to encourage our patients and community to make better decisions about supplementation and diet. Summer 2020 Heritage 23
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Rehabilitation care designed just for you. At Azle Manor, our licensed therapists provide physical, speech and occupational therapy for individuals recovering from makor illness, surgery, neurological conditions, and orthopedic conditions. Each resident is individually evaluated. Rehabilitation services are designed to meet the resident’s unique needs and goals.
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