THE BERKELEY PLACE POOBAH THE NEWSLETTER OF THE BERKELEY PLACE ASSOCIATION, FORT WORTH, TX INSIDE THIS ISSUE: President’s Letter . 1-2 BPA Minutes . 3 Introducing Briana and Matt Mazur . 4-5 Drew Medford Memorial PRESIDENT’S LETTER Tournament . 7 STEVE SCANLON, BPA PRESIDENT Spotlight on Berkeley Volunteers . 8 Cheers, my friends and welcome to chap- spearean handiwork of her favorite son, Dog of the Month . 9 ter II of 2020. This fine month of Febru- but alas . I was wrong. Interested in her ary brings with it many significant ob- rave review, I approached: Calloway’s Monthly Lawn servances, some I knew, some I didn’t: & Garden Checklist . 10 1st—National Freedom day, 5th—Na- Me: “Mother, how do you like our neigh- tional Weatherman’s day, 8th—Kite Flying borhood newsletter?” Yard of the Month . 11 day, 12th—Lincoln’s birthday, 14th—you Mother: “It’s beautiful. So much work Spring Planing . 13 know, 20th—Love your pet day, 22nd— and attention to detail; I am impressed!” Washington’s b-day and 29th—Leap Day Our Condolences . 14 (leap year) just to name a few! It’s also Girl Me: “Yes, it is fantastic. It is the most thorough neighborhood newsletter I’ve Scout cookie time of the year, so stock up. Around the I’ll be dropping by. ever seen.” Neighborhood . 14 Mother: “Yes, I agree . but, I have one This time of year also finds my parents question.” Notice to Advertisers . 14 in town for their annual post-holiday trip to Fort Worth. This year it also brought Me, standing proudly, verging on smug, On One Tank of Gas . 15-16 some swift humiliation. During their recent expecting praise of my article, “Yes, trip from San Antonio, my mother came mother?” Volunteer Opportunities . 17 across the January issue of our Berkeley Mother: “Why is it called Poobah?” From Berkeley Place Poobah, and I noticed her staring Me: my mouth half open . ready to ac- Kitchens . 18-19 inquisitively at the title page. Having just cept my Pulitzer . “Wha . ?” published my first president’s letter, I was Who to Call . 20 sure she was admiring the near Shake- (Continued on page 2) UPCOMING MEETINGS OF THE BPA THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020 THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020 7 P.M. @ SECOND CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST 7 P.M. @ SECOND CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST *BPA MEETINGS ARE THE SECOND THURSDAY OF THE MONTH @ 7 P.M.* PRESIDENT’S LETTER, CONTINUED Mother: “The title of the newsletter at the time, entering the name Poo- keep the name. I know I would have. why Poobah?” bah would be seen for what it was, a Speaking of our beloved Poobah, Me: totally perplexed, staring at lighthearted comical attempt to gar- I’m excited to announce it is a final- the title . “Ummmm . “ ner interest in the contest. However, ist in the Neighborhood Newsletter Mother: emphatically….“You don’t word spread and for every normal entry, there were at least six cham- category of the 2019 Neighborhood know why it’s called the Poobah? Awards! Special thanks must be giv- pioning the name, Poobah. The resi- You’re the president of the asso- en to the wonderful team responsible ciation. How do you not know? dents of the neighborhood began ex- pressing the fact they liked the name for organizing, publishing, and dis- When was it first founded? Why tributing our newsletter every month: did they name it Poobah? I mean, as a permanent handle. One resident what is that?” echoed it would be a good reminder Judy Alter ......................................Editor never to take ourselves too seriously. Me: In a sarcastic tone . “Are Amy Balamut (not a Berkeley resi- As the committee waited for a more you writing an article for the Star- dent) .............................................Design conservative, tasteful entry that might Telegram?” Jenni Cole .............. Yard of the Month win the day, the Poobah sentiment John Minnerly, DVM, University Ani- Mother: giggling, looking at her rose even higher. The committee, in mal Hospital ........................Columnist clueless son, “You don’t know, do comprise, even extended the dead- Katie McCorkle .................Distribution you? Stephen (only she calls me line, but still the mandate for Poobah Polly Hooper .....................Contributor Stephen), if you’re going to be crystalized. Therefore, the final vote Subie Green ..........Welcome Wagon president, you have to know the was taken, and the committee had no basic facts of your organization. choice but to accept the clear winner I want to encourage you to review How embarrassed would you be of the naming contest, and thus your the minutes from the January meet- if one of your residents asked and newsletter has forever been dubbed, ing to remain up to date with Berke- you didn’t know?” The Berkeley Place Poobah. ley happenings. Last month’s meet- ing was spirited, to say the least, Well, I now know! And lucky friends, The name Poobah actually derives and my hat is off to the residents of you are about to learn the origin of from “Grand Poobah,” the name of Stanley who made an appearance to how the Berkeley Place Poobah in- a haughty character “Pooh-Bah” in fight for necessary and appropriate herited its name. Feel free to send Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado change to quiet disturbances they your thank you cards to my mother, (1885). The character was a come- are experiencing from the industrial Louise, for this history lesson. dic figure in this Victorian opera, and complex adjacent to our neighbor- One year after the Berkeley Place As- the name has come to be used as a hood. We will get this solved. sociation was founded in July 1975, more of mocking title for someone Finally, if you have read this far, coincidently organized by residents as who exhibits an inflated self-regard then I presume you are an interested a way to fight the building of an apart- and limited authority while taking in keeping this glorious newslet- ment complex south of the neighbor- impressive titles. Mad magazine ter in publication along with all the hood, the newsletter was officially took on its own spin in 1950s by other social events and clubs the named Poobah! It was July 24, 1976, using “Billy Poobah” as a kind of in- BPA sponsors and supports. That and the Communication Committee ept John Q Public character . And, said……PLEASE PAY YOUR DUES!!! (we had committees even then!) had close to my heart, some of you might You can pay dues online at the called a meeting to consider all entries remember, the term “Grand Poobah” Berkeley Place Association website. to the newsletter-naming contest of was used repeatedly on the cartoon You may also drop them off at my this fledgling, yet promising, publica- television show The Flintstones, by house: 2206 Windsor Place or mail tion. The name Poobah had originally Fred Flintstone as the highest-rank- them to: P.O. Box 11447, Fort Worth, been offered as a “dummy” name by ing elected position of the secret TX 76110. H.G. Radford, former treasurer of the society, the Loyal Order of Water Buffaloes. In any case, it’s easy to first BPA officers, simply to incite in- I’ll see you around the neighbor- understand the origin of H.G. Rad- terest in the contest. Radford and a hood. Do not hesitate to reach out to ford’s intent all those years ago. colleague at his office used the name me anytime. “Billy Poobah” when jokingly referenc- who knew our former (maybe some ing some unknown or inane character current) fellow Berkeley residents *Special thanks to Bob Adams for in conversation or situation. H.G. felt, would have overwhelming voted to his contributions to this article. 02 THE BERKELEY PLACE POOBAH | FEBRUARY 2020 MINUTES OF THE BERKELEY PLACE ASSOCIATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020 AT 7 P.M. AT SECOND CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST IN FORT WORTH, TX MEETING OPENER January. The treasury continues street and drainage improvements healthy and mostly unchanged. being planned for the Windsor Steve Scanlon, CALL TO ORDER: The one-time $50 per household crossing. The same contractor will president donation toward the BPA Secu- build all three silent crossings with rity Camera Initiative has raised some completions expected in six Steve Scanlon, Windsor; PRESENT: $10,120. Eighteen thousand dol- months, and the remainder in eight- Darien George, Ben Hall; Jerry Siku- lars per year is needed, some of een months.` la, Guest Speaker, Sugaright Plant which might come from dues. The Manager, 1923 Windsor; J.D. Barnes, Initiative appears to be headed for No major updates were reported Guest, Paschal N.A.; Mary Lou Dun- success with continuing frequent for the Windsor medical office build- away, Guest, Paschal N.A.; Ray Az- publicity needed to further broad- ing, nor the security camera initia- ucena, NPO; Shelby Ryon, Stanley; en support in the neighborhood. tive, nor the nearly completed side- Amy and Read Deal, Stanley; Lee The Poobah often has additional walk project, nor the BPA Angie’s Williams, Stanley; Phil Moore, Stan- treasury information. List analog which needs a volunteer. ley; Catherine Lauterbach, Stanley; Kitty Berger, Stanley; Megan Fahey, Windsor; Brett Scarborough, Wind- NEW BUSINESS ANNOUCEMENTS sor; Sarah Pemberton, Dartmoor; Jerry Sikula, Guest Speaker, Sug- Next Meeting: Thursday, February John Hobbs, Chatburn; Mary Lou aright Plant Manager, 1923 Wind- 13, 2020 at 7:00 PM Froh, Hawthorne; Martin Rubinson, sor Place. The plant converts raw Warner; Annette & Bob Tess, Park cane sugar to liquid. Incoming deliv- ADJOURNED Place; Debra Nyul, Wilshire; Linda ery truckers disturb homeowners on & Thomas W. Simmons, Windsor; Stanley, disrupting their lives with Charles Dreyfus, Park Place unnecessary violations of nuisance and air quality laws.