Issuu

SUGARSIDE SEPTEMBER 2026

STORIES FROM SUGAR LAND

SIDE the

se nior yea senior yea r r Three Fort Bend students reflect on the journey so far and the year ahead

AL AND SUZANNE GARCIA Sailing with Elissa NICKY MONDELLINI Stage. Screen. Voice 1,318 PETS AND COUNTING Free veterinary community clinics

DANIELLE WEST PHOTOGRAPHY

LESS POSING. MORE PLAYING.

PHOTOGRAPHY FOR REAL FAMILIES. WWW.DANIELLEWESTHOUSTONPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

from the

EDITOR

ithout a doubt, discovering everything that comes with senior year has been one of the biggest culture shocks since my move to the United States.

It took me a minute to get used to all the emotions and traditions surrounding it, which wasn’t marked in quite the same way where I come from. We went overseas for college and sometimes did not see our families for years. What is new to me is spending an entire year anticipating it, through all the firsts, lasts and milestones along the way. And now, I find myself having all the feels about my home looking different next year. In this issue, we meet three seniors, Moaz, Bella and Zane, who reflect on how they have changed since entering high school and what they hope will come next. Their stories capture senior year as a time to look back while preparing to move forward. Senior year is, in many ways, about leaving familiar shores and setting out toward something new. That makes it a fitting month to share the story of Suzanne and Al Garcia, whose sense of adventure took them aboard the 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA. What began as an opportunity to step into history became a journey into service, friendship and belonging. We also meet performer Nicky Mondellini, whose

career has spanned theater, television, film and voiceover, first in Mexico and later in the United States. She reflects on a lifetime of performance, the family that has shared the journey and the voice she has come to appreciate as her instrument. Back on campus, we catch up with Austin High School’s new principal, Dr. Cory Collins, and learned more about his belief in showing up for students, teachers and families. Mrs. Coombs explains why the opening weeks of school matter and what parents should watch for if a child may need additional support. We are also delighted to welcome Álvaro Palacio to the SugarSide team. In his new monthly Coach’s Corner, he begins with a guide to heat, hydration and keeping young athletes safe as fall sports continue in weather that still feels like summer. Beginning this month, we will also meet one F3 Nation member in each issue. Geoffrey Mburu starts the series by sharing how his search for people to exercise with led him to a community willing to walk through life together. Perhaps that is the thread running through this issue: whether we are preparing for what comes next, boarding a historic ship or finding our place within a community, every new chapter is made better by the people who share it with us.

— Marie-France Watson Editor & Publisher

SUGAR SIDE MAGAZINE

SUGARSIDE

In this issue

AHS new Principal - Dr Collins

Is Bosco your next big love?

55 4

Cover Story Meet the seniors

Artist spotlight Nicky Mondellini

Hydrate properly

F3 Nation - Geoffrey Mburu, aka Redcard

The Garcias and the Elissa

on the cover: Moaz Abdelmotilib, Isabella Garza, and Zane Aras | photo taken by Danielle West Photography

the team

Marie-France WATSON (Editor)

Sandy COOMBS (Ask the Educator)

Danielle WEST (Photographer)

Álvaro PALACIO (Coach’s Corner)

SugarSide is published by Equator Line Media | Follow us on

SUGARSIDE

and

sugarsidemagazine@gmail.com

@sugarsidemagazine

cover story Photo: Danielle West Photography

Meet the Meet the seniors se niors

L-R: Moaz Abdelmotilib, Isabella Garza, and Zane Aras

SUGARSIDE

The Fort Bend school year is well underway. Fall sports are in full swing, classrooms have settled into their routines and the familiar rhythm of early mornings, homework, practices and packed calendars has returned. For the Class of 2027, though, there is something different about this one. Senior year has a way of making ordinary moments feel like milestones. There is the excitement of finally being at the top of the school, alongside college applications, decisions about what comes next and traditions seniors have spent years watching from the sidelines. And then there are the lasts: the last first day, the final season in a high school uniform, the last homecoming and, eventually, the walk across the graduation stage. It is a year that asks students to look in two directions at once. There is still plenty of high school ahead: classes to take, games to play, friendships to enjoy and memories still to be made. But for the first time, what comes after high school doesn't feel quite so far away. This month, SugarSide sits down with three members of the Class of 2027: Austin High School seniors Moaz Abdelmotilib and Isabella Garza, and Clements High School senior Zane Aras. All three are varsity athletes, but that is only one part of who they are. We talked about the freshmen they once were, the seniors they have become, the challenges and highlights along the way, the people who have shaped them and the futures they are beginning to imagine. For Moaz, Isabella and Zane, senior year has begun.

SUGARSIDE

Photo: Danielle West Photography

MOAZ ABD MOAZ ABD E E LMOTI LMOTI LI LI B B

Austin High School | Football

Moaz Abdelmotilib has been waiting a long time to call himself a senior. Now that the year has finally arrived, the Austin High School senior and one of the football team’s captains wants to make it count. After a broken foot and surgery disrupted his offseason, he enters his final season with a renewed appreciation for the game and the teammates he calls his second family. Beyond football, Moaz is looking toward college, where he hopes to continue playing while exploring his interest in neuroscience on a pre-med path. 6

You've been waiting for senior year. How does it feel now that it's here? Moaz: It feels great. I’m really excited, but there are a lot of emotions too. For so long, I was always thinking, “I can’t wait to be a senior,” and now that it’s finally here, it feels surreal. I hope to go out with a bang and make these memories last. How different is senior Moaz from freshman Moaz? My work ethic has grown tremendously. When I got to high school, it really hit me that I needed to start locking in. I learned how to manage my time, especially with extracurriculars, and how to take more responsibility for myself. What are you proudest of so far? Being named All-District for football last year was definitely a highlight. And this year, being named one of the captains of the football team. You had a major setback just before your senior season. What did being sidelined teach you? Around May, I broke two bones in my foot and had to have surgery, so that took a huge toll on my offseason. It made me realize how much I had taken for granted, even something as simple as walking or being able to go up and down the stairs. I still showed up to practice, weights and meetings, but inside I was thinking, “I wish I could be out there with my team.” Thankfully, I’ve been cleared now, and I’m grateful to be back. What makes your football team special to you? This team is like a second family. We’re all brothers. We win together and we lose together, as a team and as a family. What has football taught you that you'll carry into the rest of your life? Definitely responsibility and leadership. Right now, because of the heat, we have morning practices and I’m waking up at 4:30 every day. Being able to do that for something as physically demanding as football teaches you discipline. It has also taught me how to communicate and

lead. When I’m in the workforce one day, I think being able to work with other people, manage my own responsibilities and help others will carry over. Who has had the greatest influence on you during high school? My parents, Hisham and Alaa. Without their wisdom and support, I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish some of the things I have or pursue the things I aspire to do. They’ve been with me every step of the way. My football coaches have also been monumental in my football career and have helped shape me into the man I am today. And there’s also my little brother, Yahya. He pushes me to be a great role model every day and to lead by example, so that one day he can be even better than me. What are you hoping comes next? I’m interested in neuroscience and plan to pursue a pre-med path. I’d love to stay in Texas and play college football close to home, but I’ll be grateful for any opportunity I get to continue playing. What would you tell a freshman just starting high school? Make the most of the time you have. People usually count the days until something is over, but I think they should focus more on making the days count. Everyone tells you that time flies, but you don’t realize how true that is until you actually get here. Take advantage of the time you have, and don’t start too late. The earlier, the better.

Photo: Danielle West Photography

ISABE LLA ISABE LLA GARZA GARZA Austin High School | Volleyball & Soccer

For Bella Garza, high school has brought an increasing willingness to trust herself and try something she might once have talked herself out of. The Austin High School senior is a varsity volleyball player who surprised even herself by returning to soccer, making varsity and rediscovering how much she enjoyed the game. Along the way, sports have given her some of her closest friendships, taught her how to stay calm when others are looking to her and helped shape the person she wants to become.

Senior year is finally here. What are you most excited about? I’m so excited. It feels really rewarding because we’ve worked so hard over the past four years to finally be here. I’m looking forward to prom, homecoming and, obviously, graduating. How has Isabella changed since freshman year? I think I’ve grown a lot, especially through volleyball and soccer. Trying soccer again was something I never thought I would do as a freshman. I thought I had quit and wasn’t going to play anymore. Then I went back, made varsity, and it was so much fun. I got to be out there with all my friends. And you ended up having quite a year in both sports. Yes, I was named First Team All-District for volleyball. Then I was Second Team All-District for soccer, which was probably the biggest shock because I hadn’t played in years. I was so surprised. As libero, your teammates look to you when things aren't going well. What's that like? It’s definitely a leadership role because, as libero, I help lead the team defensively. When something is going wrong, they look to me and ask, “What can we do to be better?” I have to stay calm, cool and collected. If I get stressed, they’re going to feel it too, so I try to be someone they can lean on. What has being an athlete given you beyond sports? It has made me so much more social, and I’ve met so many of my best friends through sports. I also feel like it has taught me a lot about what I want to do and the person I want to be when I’m older.

My volleyball coach, Kristin Goodman, has also done a lot for me and really made me believe in myself. And my brother, Isaac. He was the one who really encouraged me to play soccer again. He’s in the Navy and overseas right now, but he would watch the livestreams of my games, which was really sweet. What's something people at school might not know about you? I really love reading. Whenever I’m not doing sports or school, I’m usually reading. I love books. I like romance novels and scary stuff. Where do you see yourself after high school? I really want to go to Texas Tech and become an oncology nurse. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, and I would go with her to her appointments. I got to see the nurses and the care they gave their patients, and I thought, “I want to do that.” My mom is in remission now and doing well. If you could talk to freshman Isabella now, what would you tell her? Don’t stress so much. Be calm. You can do this. If there’s a will, there’s a way. I was so nervous going into freshman year, and I would tell her not to be so nervous. What will be hardest to leave behind? All the friends I’ve made here. Most of my close friends want to go to colleges far away, so we won’t be right next door anymore or get to see each other every day.

Who has been in your corner through high school? My mom, Olga. She is always so supportive of me. She’s always at my games, and I can look over at her and she’s saying, “You got this.” 9

Photo: Danielle West Photography

ZAN E ARAS ZANE ARAS

Clements High School | Soccer Zane Aras likes figuring things out. Over three years at Clements High School, that has meant learning how to manage an increasingly demanding schedule, designing and testing projects through engineering, and working alongside teammates toward a soccer championship. But some of what he values most about high school can't be measured by awards. He has found his people here, building communities around soccer, engineering and friendships that have come to feel like family.

What's it like knowing this is your final year? I’m very excited. I’m happy that a difficult junior year is over, and I’m looking forward to the coursework I’m taking, getting my college applications in and all the senior events. It’s definitely stressful and a little nerve-wracking, but I’m very excited about the future. How different is senior Zane from freshman Zane? I’ve definitely become a better scheduler and planner. Freshman year, there were times when I would get behind, forget assignments or lose things. It was difficult to keep track of everything. As I’ve gone through high school, I’ve learned how to manage my schedule and prioritize what needs to be done. What are some of the high school moments that will stay with you? Winning the championship last year with my soccer team was definitely one. I’m also involved in TSA and engineering competitions. Last year, I led a project that took first at regionals and then placed eighth at the state competition. I’ve also earned AP Scholar with Distinction, which I’m pretty proud of. You said finding your people wasn't always easy. Where did you find them? Coming from middle school, I had some close friends, but I didn’t have a larger group that really felt like family. In high school, I was fortunate to find that through my classes, my soccer teammates and my engineering classmates. Finding those people was something I struggled with before, so I’m really happy to have those friendships now. Who has helped you get to this point? My parents, Kathleen and Rahul, and my sister, Sonali, have helped me so much throughout high school, whether it’s managing stress, balancing everything or understanding what I need to do to be successful. My parents have also given up a lot of their own time to support my soccer.

My high school soccer coach, Coach Dallas Killingsworth, and my AHFC ECNL club coach, Coach Eric Johnson, have helped me grow as a player and a person. And my engineering teacher, Mr. Daniel Doremus, has been someone I can go to about academics, engineering or really anything. What's on the senior-year bucket list? I definitely want to make it to the state competition for TSA. But I also want to spend as much time as I can with my friends because I know this is probably my last year seeing a lot of them regularly. I want to hang out, go to Galveston, go on trips and do all the senior activities, like senior sunrise, senior sunset and the senior trip. You light up when you talk about engineering. What draws you to it? One hundred percent, that’s where I’m headed. Every year, I fall in love with engineering more. I like the whole process. You brainstorm, design, 3D print and test different iterations. You might think you have the perfect plan, then execute it and realize it isn’t perfect at all. I’ve learned to plan ahead, test things, figure out what doesn't work and try again. I’m excited to continue that in college and eventually pursue an engineering career. What would you tell freshman Zane? Pay attention in class so you can have more time outside of school for yourself. It gets much busier junior and senior year. If I had made better use of my time in school freshman and sophomore year, I would have had more time for the things I loved outside of school. What will you miss most about Clements? My friends. I have my engineering friends and my soccer friends, and I’ve built communities there that are like families to me. I’ll also miss the relationships I’ve built with teachers and coaches. At Clements, I’ve found people who are willing to help, answer questions and support what you want to do in the future.

Photo: Danielle West Photography

Meet

DR. CORY COLLINS Getting to know the educator, parent and familiar Fort Bend face now leading Austin High School.

SUGARSIDE

Dr. Cory Collins is no stranger to the community he now leads. Before taking the helm at Austin High School this past June, Collins spent nine years as principal of nearby Garcia Middle School, part of 17 years in leadership within Fort Bend ISD. In his first weeks at Austin, that proximity has made for something of a reunion. Walking the halls, he recognizes students he first knew years ago at Garcia, now navigating their high school years. For Collins, those hallways matter. He has little interest in being a principal students know only as a name or a face behind an office door. He believes in being present, in walking the school, getting to know people and understanding what is happening beyond his office. It is part of a philosophy that surfaced repeatedly in conversation: showing up. Collins expects to show up for his students, faculty and families, but he also believes a successful school requires the same in return. Students have to show up. Families have to show up. Educators have to show up. The success of a school, in his view, is something its entire community helps create. That approach was shaped considerably during his years at Garcia, a school he speaks about with obvious pride and affection. Teacher retention was particularly important to him. Collins believes taking care of teachers, listening to them and creating an environment where they are happy to stay ultimately benefits the students they serve. He brings another perspective to the job too: that of a parent. Collins and his wife, Shae, who is also an educator and works as an elementary school librarian, are both from El Campo, Texas. They have three children, including a daughter in high school at Travis. When Collins moved to Austin, she had the option of moving too. She chose to remain at the school she loves, where she has been thriving in dance, and her father respected that choice. Listening to his own children, Collins says, has helped him better understand how students experience school. Parenthood has added another layer to what he has learned over more than two decades as an educator. When asked which version of Cory Collins Austin is getting now, he pointed to both of those experiences: teacher and parent. Both have taught him. Both continue to teach him. And he believes he is ready for what comes next.

Austin, he says, is already known as a school of excellence, academically and athletically. Collins has led at the high school level before, as principal of Progressive High School, but it has been about a decade since he worked in that setting. High school requirements and structures have changed in that time, he acknowledges, which means this next chapter will involve some learning for him too. At Austin, he intends to build on a tradition that is already strong. And he intends to do that where the people are. In the hallways. Around the campus. With students, teachers and families. Showing up. Photo: Danielle West Photography

Photo: Danielle West Photography A hallway at Stephen F Austin High School

ASK THE EDUCATOR

The first weeks set the tone

What to watch for now that school is back by Mrs Coombs

School is back. The first days are underway, and the year's real rhythm is just beginning to take shape. It is easy to treat these opening weeks as a warm-up before the real learning starts. But in my two decades in the classroom, I came to see them differently. The habits and confidence a child builds now tend to carry all the way to spring. Here is why that matters more than it appears. Learning is cumulative. A concept only half understood in early September does not announce itself. It simply waits, quietly, and makes October harder than it needed to be. By the time a struggle is obvious enough to show up on a report card, a child has often spent weeks feeling confused and losing confidence. The gap was there all along. It was just quiet. The good news is that these early weeks are also the easiest time to catch those signals. You do not need to be an educator to spot them. You just need to know what to watch for. Notice how homework is going. If work that should take twenty minutes stretches into an hour of frustration, pay attention. Notice avoidance, too. A child who suddenly dreads one subject, or goes quiet when it comes up, is often telling you something they cannot yet put into words. Listen for the language of self-doubt, the "I am just bad at math" or "I cannot read as fast as everyone else." Those sentences are rarely true, but left unchallenged, they harden into beliefs. And watch reading in particular. A child who resists reading aloud, or who reads every word correctly yet cannot tell you what happened, may be working harder than their classmates just to keep up. None of these are verdicts. They are early signals, and early is when they are easiest to address. So what can you do right now? Start with routine. A steady homework time and a calm place to work do more than any study trick, and they are far easier to establish now than to repair a few months in. Keep your language focused on effort rather than grades, so your child learns that working through hard things is the point. Read together, even with older children. And reach out to teachers early. A friendly note this month carries more goodwill than a worried email after the first bad grade. If you do find your child needs more support, please hear this clearly: seeking help early is not a sign that something is wrong. It is a sign that you are paying attention. The

families who reach out now, while a gap is still small, almost always have an easier year than those who wait until spring to catch up. The beginning of a school year holds a quiet kind of power. It is the moment when tone is set, when confidence is built or chipped away, when small corrections are still easy to make. Your child does not need to have it all figured out this month. They just need steady guidance and someone paying attention. Every student can learn. They just need a guide to get there. Keep that guidance steady, and keep moving forward.

Mrs. Coombs is a Texas-cer fied educator with more than twenty years in the classroom, a former Campus Teacher of the Year, and the founder of Coombs Test Prep & Tutoring Hub. Click below to follow Coombs Test Prep & Tutoring Hub

All hands on deck For Sugar Land's Al and Suzanne Garcia, joining the crew of the 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA became a journey into history, community and something greater than themselves.

SUGARSIDE

There is an unmistakable sense of adventure about Suzanne and Alvaro “Al” Garcia, coupled with a curiosity about the world and a willingness to step beyond what is familiar. For more than two decades, the Sugar Land couple have built a life here. They have raised two children, formed lasting friendships and, for almost as long as they have called the area home, been parishioners at St. Laurence Catholic Church. Al built his career in the energy industry, while Suzanne's has been rooted in education. Married for 27 years, theirs might at first appear a life firmly anchored on land. Then there is the other side of the Garcias. The side willing to spend Saturdays getting dirty scraping rust, learning knots and memorizing 183 lines aboard a 149-year-old ship. The side that, after years of talking about sailing, finally decided it was time to stop putting it off. And the side that this summer saw them become part of an extraordinary journey, as Galveston's 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA left her Texas home port to join the maritime celebrations marking America's 250th anniversary. The Garcias joined her on the East Coast, serving as crew for the New York-to-Boston leg of the voyage. For Al, sailing goes back to his university days, when he spotted the University of Texas Sailing Club among the student organizations on campus and joined. For several years, he sailed regularly, including spring break trips to Padre Island. Suzanne came to sailing later. After they married, the couple moved to England as Al's career took them overseas. Once settled in London, they found a sailing club at Queen Mary Reservoir and began taking lessons together. Then life intervened. Their son, Alex, and later their daughter, Lilianna, came along, and sailing gradually gave way to the busy years of raising a family and building careers. Eventually, the Garcias returned to the Houston area.

Al has worked in the energy industry since the late 1990s, with a career that has taken him from Houston to Portland, Oregon, and London. Today, he works as a consultant. Suzanne has spent her career in education, teaching in both the United States and England. Much of her classroom career was spent teaching middle school English language arts before she moved into instructional coaching and teacher development. Although no longer in the classroom full time, education remains very much part of her life through tutoring, test preparation and helping students strengthen their college essays. Sailing never entirely disappeared. There were more lessons, occasional boat rentals and sailing vacations, and more recently the Garcias joined the Seabrook Sailing Club, where they now keep a small boat. But for many years, sailing remained something on the edges of family life rather than at its center. Then, in 2018, Al happened to be in Veracruz, Mexico, for work when a gathering of tall ships was taking place. Seeing them reminded him of the historic vessel much closer to home. He already knew of ELISSA, but had never seriously looked into becoming involved. When he did, he discovered that ordinary people could train to become part of her volunteer crew. The idea stayed with him. Over the next few years, however, it remained just that. Life was busy, and then COVID arrived, putting ELISSA's sailing program on hold. When the ship appeared again at a tall ship festival in Galveston in 2023, the possibility resurfaced. Still, another year passed. Travel plans conflicted with the training schedule, and there always seemed to

be a reason why it might be better to wait. By 2025, the Garcias had had enough of waiting. "We finally said, you know what? We’re doing this anyway," Al recalled. "Even if we have to travel, this comes first." After roughly 20 years of putting serious sailing on hold, they finally went to ELISSA's website and signed up for crew training. They quickly discovered that knowing how to sail a small boat and knowing how to sail ELISSA were two very different things. The three-masted, squarerigged ship demands months of training. The Garcias' first year involved about 20 Saturdays between July and March, with time divided between learning to sail the vessel and helping maintain her. There are 183 lines to learn, along with their locations and functions. Crew members must master knots, understand the different parts of the ship and pass written and practical tests. During testing, they may be asked to identify randomly selected lines or tie a knot in a position quite different from the way they practiced it. Sometimes, Suzanne said, that means tying one above your head or behind your back.

Al and Suzanne in New York City as they joined ELISSA as crew for the New York-to-Boston leg of her Sail250 voyage.

“The Garcias' first year involved about 20 Saturdays between July and March, with time divided between learning to sail the vessel and helping maintain her.”‌ her.” Even after completing their first year, neither claims mastery. "I still know that I have a lot more to learn," Suzanne said. "And that's exciting." Veteran crew members who have returned for a decade or more tell newcomers much the same thing: there is always more to learn. There is also always more work to do. Crew members do not simply arrive when it is time to sail. They help preserve the ship. Rust must be removed and treated. Lines require repair and replacement. Maintenance is carried out using specific processes, with an emphasis on keeping ELISSA as historically accurate as possible. For the Garcias, that work is part of the privilege. Built in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1877, ELISSA survived numerous chapters as a working vessel before eventually being discovered in Greece and rescued from the scrapyard. Her restoration and preservation in Galveston mean today's volunteers are not simply learning to sail a historic ship. They have become custodians of one. "We get to benefit from that," Al said of the generations who saved and restored ELISSA. "And we have a responsibility to keep going and keep making sure that she stays in good shape." That sense of responsibility would take on unexpected significance during their very first year. When Suzanne and Al joined the crew, ELISSA was not expected to take part in Sail250, the

gathering of tall ships commemorating America's 250th anniversary. They knew the celebration was planned and had even asked whether ELISSA might participate. The answer was no, but they signed up anyway. Then, behind the scenes, things began to change. By January, the crew learned that a voyage might be possible if logistical and mechanical hurdles could be overcome. ELISSA would need, among other things, a new engine, new generators and a water desalinator. Suddenly, Suzanne said, it became "literally all hands on deck." The Garcias completed their first-year training in March, but the work continued through the weeks leading up to ELISSA's departure in June. "It was superhuman efforts by everybody involved to make sure that she could go," Al said. For crew members who had spent months training and maintaining the ship together, the effort deepened bonds that were already forming. There is a saying among the ELISSA volunteers: "You come for the boat. You stay for the crew." The Garcias now understand why. The crew spans generations and professions, bringing together people who might otherwise never cross paths. For Al, that has been one of the unexpected gifts of the experience. "As you get

Al takes the helm aboard ELISSA as the historic tall ship sails.

SUGARSIDE

older especially, you get into your lane," he said. Joining ELISSA put him alongside people from different backgrounds, ages and walks of life. The Garcias also discovered that joining as a married couple did not mean experiencing the program as a pair. Training and certification are individual. They take their own tests, work with different instructors and are frequently assigned different jobs. Even during the voyage, they were placed on different watches. Suzanne's watch ran from 0400 to 0800, morning and evening, which meant experiencing the ship as darkness gave way to sunrise and again as daylight disappeared into night. One morning, she stood bow watch in near darkness, looking ahead by moonlight before watching the sun rise over the water. Another evening, she found herself at the

helm, helping steer the 205-foot ship as the sun went down. "What experiences," she recalled. Al's watch brought different moments. As ELISSA traveled north from New York, she passed through the Cape Cod Canal at night. Suzanne happened to be asleep. Al was on watch, seeing the large historic ship navigate the canal in darkness before emerging into Cape Cod Bay. There, the experience changed again. They saw humpback whales and dolphins, and with ELISSA moving under sail and her engine quiet, wildlife could approach without the usual mechanical noise. Below deck, the silence could be just as striking. Al remembers lying in his bunk hearing nothing but water rushing past the hull. Suzanne had gone to sleep before the ship was motoring through the canal. When she woke, everything had become unexpectedly quiet. For a moment, she wondered whether they were anchored. She got dressed and went above deck. The sails were set. "We're sailing," she remembered thinking. Then her watch began and she joined the crew working the sails that were carrying them north. Life aboard was not all sunsets, whales and romance. The crew worked in four-hour rotations, moving between active watch, standby and time off. Someone had to wake the incoming watch. Someone had to clean the galley, wash dishes, scrub the decks and clean the heads and shower. There was one crew shower, and conserving water meant learning the art of a very quick Navy shower: rinse, turn off the water, soap up, rinse again and get out. Off-watch hours could be unexpectedly peaceful. People read, wrote in journals, painted, slept on deck or simply sat watching the sea.

The Garcias enjoying one of the crew ’s dinners.

"You feel like you're the only people in the world," Suzanne said. "You lose touch with everything that's happening in the world, and it's all about the

journey." For two people accustomed to established professional lives, ELISSA has also required something else: becoming beginners again. Al has spent decades in an industry in which experience, judgment and strong opinions matter. Aboard the ship, none of that means he knows how to handle a particular line or execute a maneuver. Sometimes the person teaching him may be 25 years younger. "You have to be a good listener," he said. He has learned to slow down, listen differently and accept instruction outside his area of expertise. "This is different," he said. "It pushes you to be a different person in a way." Suzanne describes a similar lesson from another angle. On a ship, she said, everyone must maintain situational awareness. A crew member notices whether a line is properly secured, whether someone is becoming tired or whether another person needs help. Safety is everyone's responsibility. "You have to be observant," she said. "It takes all eyes and all hands to run that ship and keep it safe." There is humility in learning too. For adults who have spent years becoming competent in their careers and lives, walking onto ELISSA and knowing almost nothing can be uncomfortable. Suzanne believes part of the challenge is allowing yourself to be inexperienced. "You have to be able to give yourself that grace of, 'I don't know anything, and I might be the dumbest person on this ship.' And that's okay, because I'm going to learn." It is perhaps why the word "adventure" only partly explains what draws people to ELISSA. Al certainly has it. As a child, he read books about tall ships and imagined a life connected to them. He never

SUGARSIDE

pursued a maritime career, but in joining ELISSA decades later, part of that childhood fascination has returned. The history matters deeply to Suzanne too: the idea that understanding and preserving the past helps shape what is carried into the future. But when asked what a person really needs to become part of a crew like this, Al eventually arrived at something larger. "Be willing to work towards something greater than yourself." For him, preservation comes with ownership, not in the sense of possessing ELISSA, but of accepting responsibility for her. The ship has survived nearly a century and a half because people before them decided she was worth saving. Now another

“The crew spans generations and professions, bringing together people who might otherwise never cross paths. For Al, that has been one of the unexpected gifts of the experience. Joining ELISSA put him alongside people from different backgrounds, ages and walks of life. ”‌ ” 27

generation has to do the work required to pass her on. That work culminated spectacularly in Boston. As ELISSA joined a parade of tall ships, the Garcias watched crowds lining the waterfront. Many of the vessels around them were larger. Few could match ELISSA's age or story. And ELISSA was not simply motoring through the parade. Eighteen of her 19 sails were set. At one point, Suzanne said, the ship was moving so quickly under sail that the engine had to be put into reverse to keep her from gaining too much ground on the vessels ahead. The crew had helped a 149-year-old ship truly sail into the celebration. For two Sugar Land residents who had spent years postponing sailing because careers, children, travel and life kept getting in the way, the moment carried its own meaning. Only a year earlier, they were beginners learning the names of lines. Now they were aboard the Official Tall Ship of Texas, flying the Texas flag among vessels from around the world as spectators cheered ELISSA on. "It sort of seems like a dream at this point," Suzanne said. "Like, did we really get to do that?" They did. And then they came home and went back to work. ELISSA had to be transformed once again from sailing vessel to museum ship. Equipment and supplies had to come off. Hatches had to reopen. The ship had to be moved into her familiar position at Galveston's Historic Seaport. Even that movement connects today's crew to those who came before them. Some of the mechanical systems used to maneuver her at the dock date back to the ship's earliest days, and an estimated 65 percent of her hull remains original. For the Garcias, there will be more Saturdays in Galveston, more maintenance, more training and the same tests again. Returning crew members repeat the program too. Because with ELISSA, there is always more to learn. And perhaps that is part of what makes the story of Suzanne and Al Garcia resonate beyond a remarkable summer voyage. They spent decades raising a family, building careers and establishing themselves in a community they love. At a stage of life when it would have been easy to remain comfortably within those familiar boundaries, they chose instead to become students again. To get dirty. To listen. To work alongside people younger and older than themselves. To stand watch in darkness. To help preserve something that existed long before they did and, with enough care, will exist long after them. Adventure got them aboard. What they found there was something bigger.

Suzanne on bow watch aboard ELISSA.

At the helm: Al Garcia steers ELISSA as the sun sets over the water.

Could it be your turn to sail history? ELISSA may be the Official Tall Ship of Texas, but keeping her sailing depends on people willing to give their time to her. Each year, volunteers train to become members of ELISSA's crew, learning traditional seamanship while helping maintain and preserve the 1877 vessel. No previous sailing experience is required, and volunteers of different abilities can contribute both on deck and in the rigging. Those who complete the training and required maintenance hours become eligible to sail aboard ELISSA. The next orientation for prospective crew members will be held Sept. 26 at the Galveston Historic Seaport. Learn about ELISSA's Sail Training Program

Taskmaster Planner introduces kids (7-10 years) to meaningful days each month. What they are, why they matter, and how the kids can participate.

` Alvaro Coach’s corner with

Sugar Land Fall Sports Survival Guide: Heat, Hydration & Keeping Young Athletes Safe

SUGARSIDE

If you've stepped outside in Sugar Land in the month of September, you already know the truth: fall on the calendar doesn't mean fall in the weather. Football pads are on, volleyball season is in full swing, soccer cleats are laced up, and cross-country runners are logging miles, all while the heat index still climbs into triple digits some afternoons. For parents and young athletes, this stretch of the year is one of the most physically demanding, and one of the most misunderstood when it comes to safety. Last year, I got the opportunity to visit and speak to student-athletes about hydration. Most of them were drinking sugary caffeinated drinks (those cold Starbucks brews) during the day. Sometimes those days were also on game days. Only a few of them really understood what electrolytes were and how they relate to proper hydration. So, let's fix that here, for the parents reading this as much as the athletes.

SUGARSIDE

“By the time you’re thirsty, you’re already behind.” 65

Water alone isn't always enough Our bodies are roughly 60% water. What I often suggest is take .6 and multiply that by your body weight. That answer yields the estimated amount of fluid oz your body needs (fruits and vegetables included). When your child sweats through a twohour practice in 95-degree heat, they're not just losing water, they're losing sodium, potassium, and magnesium among a few other minerals. Replacing only water without replacing those electrolytes can actually make things worse, diluting what's left in the body and leading to cramping or dizziness. The goal isn't just drink more. It's drink smart: water for everyday hydration, and electrolyte-replenishing fluids around intense practices and games (ideally ones without a mountain of added sugar). Many of the popular sports drinks marketed to teens have more in common with soda than with anything an athlete's body actually needs. That "tired" feeling is a warning label One of the biggest misconceptions is that fatigue after practice is just normal teenage tiredness. Sometimes it is. But persistent fatigue, especially paired with headaches or muscle cramps, is one of the clearest early signs of dehydration. Athletes (and parents) often wait for thirst to signal a problem. By the time you're thirsty, you're already behind. Don't overlook magnesium If your athlete is coming home from practice with a pounding headache, the instinct is usually to reach for ibuprofen and call it a day. But a recurring migraine during heavy training weeks can be your body waving a flag about magnesium depletion. Magnesium is lost through sweat just like sodium and potassium, and it plays a direct role in muscle function and nerve signaling. Leafy greens (my favorite: spinach), nuts, and bananas are simple additions to an athlete's plate that can help close

SUGARSIDE

that gap. Moms and dads, check your magnesium intake if you’re also getting reoccurring headaches. You too could be missing a key mineral! A few practical habits worth building this month: Send electrolytes to school before practice, not just for after. Weigh in before and after intense sessions in the heat: a pound lost is roughly a pint of fluid that needs replacing. Watch for the real warning signs of heat illness: dizziness, confusion, nausea, or a stop in sweating altogether. Those require immediate attention, not a walk it off. Keep sugary drinks out of the equation during the day. If you must, sports drinks during practice/game time. Sugar Land raises tough, dedicated young athletes, and the drive that gets them through two-a-days in August heat is exactly what makes them special. But drive without the right fuel and recovery habits is how good seasons turn into sidelined ones. A little education, the kind I got to share with those students last year, and the kind I hope reaches a few more families through this column, goes a long way toward keeping our kids safe, strong, and in the game. Álvaro Palacio, NASM-CPT, CPR/AED, is a local fitness professional, actor, and proud dad. He is passionate about helping people live stronger, healthier, and more intentional lives. @_alvaropalacio

spotlight

Geoffrey Mburu

Strength doesn't mean doing life alone Geoffrey Mburu joined F3 looking for men to work out with. He found something more: men to walk through life with. One early morning in February 2020, Geoffrey Mburu showed up at the New Territory Sports Complex without knowing a single person there. His wife, LaTisha, had spotted a Nextdoor post inviting men to an F3 workout at The Trench and sent it to him. She knew he had been looking for exactly that: a group of men to work out with. Geoffrey had always been active. He played soccer, went running and was perfectly capable of exercising on his own. What he wanted was the energy and accountability that came from doing it alongside other people. "I like the consistency that generally comes when you're in a group," he says. "You push yourself further." So he went alone, not quite knowing what he was walking into. The men were welcoming, the workout suited him and Geoffrey, who was given the F3 name "Redcard" because of his love of soccer, kept coming back. Six years later, the workouts are still important, but they are only one part of what keeps him coming back.

SUGARSIDE

Born and raised in Kenya, Geoffrey spent his school years there before taking part in an exchange program that brought him to South Africa. While there, he became involved with a leadership training organization and met a group from Wisconsin that would ultimately change the course of his life. They encouraged him to apply for a scholarship program in the United States, and Geoffrey eventually earned degrees in accounting, economics and business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Wisconsin became home for 14 years before the winters finally got the better of him. In 2014, with family already in Texas and the promise of considerably warmer weather, Geoffrey moved to the Houston area, settling in New Territory the following year. But relocating meant rebuilding a local network. Friends from work didn't necessarily live nearby, old friendships were spread across different places and, as Geoffrey sees it, building new friendships can become increasingly difficult for men as they get older. "Men tend to be lone wolves or kind of just on their own," he says. That is why, of F3's three pillars of fitness, fellowship and faith, Geoffrey immediately identifies fellowship as particularly important to him. As husbands, fathers and professionals, men are often navigating many of the same pressures, he says, yet they don't necessarily have other men with whom they can talk about them. F3 gave him that network, a group from which he could learn and draw support in his own roles as a husband, father and professional. "It reinforces that there are other people on this journey with you," he says. Along the way, Geoffrey discovered that F3 offered something he hadn't necessarily been looking for: a

SUGARSIDE

place where a man could be both strong and vulnerable. "You can be the strongest, toughest physically and yet be vulnerable and open yourself," he says. Men can sometimes feel pressure to project strength, he explains, reluctant to acknowledge fear, insecurity or struggle because of how it might be perceived. At F3, those conversations are not only accepted, they are deliberately given space. He is referring to the Circle of Trust at the end of each workout, an opportunity for the men to share what is happening in their lives, whether good, difficult or somewhere in between. For Geoffrey, watching other men speak openly gave him permission to do the same. "When I see other men share, when I see other men open up, it gave me the courage and the freedom to express myself even more and share my challenges," he says. That ability to trust other people to come alongside him without judging vulnerability as weakness has, he says, been one of the greatest benefits F3 has given him. The fellowship has pushed him in other ways, too. Geoffrey has taken on physical challenges he once would have considered completely irrational, including Spartan events, the Habanero and the Texas Independence Relay. He laughs at the idea of willingly climbing into two vans with a dozen men, driving roughly 200 miles away and then running through the night as a relay team back toward Houston. "And you're paying to do that," he jokes. But those experiences have come to represent something bigger than the races themselves. Going through discomfort together builds bonds, Geoffrey says, while learning to push through difficult physical challenges has strengthened his ability to deal with adversity elsewhere in life. The fitness that originally brought him to F3 remains

important, but it has become intertwined with the fellowship that keeps him there.

LEADING BY SERVING Leadership has been a thread throughout Geoffrey's life, from the program he joined in South Africa to his professional career. F3, however, has reinforced a particular kind of leadership for him, one stripped of titles, status and authority. At a workout, nobody particularly cares what another man does professionally or how much money he earns. "We just come there as neighbors and friends, as brothers," Geoffrey says. Every member is expected to lead, and newcomers are encouraged after attending a few workouts to take responsibility for leading one themselves. But leadership at F3 isn't standing on the sidelines with a clipboard telling everyone else what to do. If you lead a workout, you do the exercises alongside everyone else. "If you can't do it, you cannot lead it."

Geoffrey Mburu with his wife, LaTisha, and their four children at their New Territory home.

It is servant leadership, and Geoffrey has carried that principle beyond F3. As a husband to LaTisha and father of four, some of the most valuable lessons have come simply from spending time with other men and learning from their experiences. They talk about their families, share what works in their households and exchange ideas about making time count with the people who matter most. "Iron sharpens iron," Geoffrey says. For him, leadership isn't something reserved for the workplace or grand acts in the community. It is also found in how a man serves his wife, raises his children and models the behavior he expects from others. Before leadership goes anywhere else, Geoffrey believes, it has to begin at home.

WHEN FELLOWSHIP SHOWS UP In July 2024, Hurricane Beryl came through Houston. LaTisha works in health care and had to report to work during the storm. Geoffrey drove her in, while their children stayed with his sister-in-law. Back in New Territory, a tree fell outside their home. It missed the house but landed across the driveway. An F3 member who lived across the street saw what had happened, took a photograph and shared it in the group's WhatsApp chat. Geoffrey was still away with his wife and hadn't asked anyone to do anything about it. Another F3 member saw the message, grabbed his chainsaw and headed over. By the time Geoffrey returned home, the tree had been cut up and the driveway was being cleared. "I was like, wow, this is amazing," he recalls. It was a simple act in the aftermath of a very big storm, but it captured what years of early mornings, workouts, Saturday coffees, difficult challenges and honest conversations had quietly built. Geoffrey had joined F3 because he wanted a group of guys who would keep him accountable and push him physically. He hadn't joined expecting someone to show up at his house with a chainsaw. Those, he says, are the benefits that simply happen when people spend enough time together to become something more than acquaintances. They show up. They help without being asked. They learn from one another and, when necessary, carry some of the load. "They're friends, they're brothers, they build bonds together," Geoffrey says. "And that's how community should be."

SUGARSIDE

Geoffrey and LaTisha, who first introduced him to F3 after spotting a post about The Trench on Nextdoor.

SUGARSIDE

Always a performer

From Fr Fr om television om television sets sets in in Mexico Mexico City City to to a a recording recording rec ording booth booth in in her her h er New New Territory Territory home, home, Nicky Nicky Mondellini has Mondellini has spent spent a a lifetime lifetime performing. performing. Sometimes Sometimes we we see see her. her. Sometimes Sometimes we we only only hear hear her. her. Inside a 4-by-6-foot recording booth in her New Territory home, Nicky Mondellini can become almost anyone. There is no camera, no stage and no other actor standing across from her. Often, there is not even another person in the room. There is a microphone, a script and Nicky’s imagination. From there, her voice has traveled much farther. She has recorded for major brands including Ford, Bank of America and Google Pixel, working in a profession where a few seconds of seemingly effortless speech is the product of years of training. But ask Nicky how she describes what she does and she does not begin with those names. “I tell people that I’m a performer,” she says. “I’m an actor and voice over artist.” That distinction matters because voiceover, while now a significant part of Nicky’s professional life, is not separate from the acting, dancing and theater that came before it. Whether she is standing on a stage, working in front of a camera or alone behind a microphone, she sees it as the same craft. “I’m still performing,” she says. “I’m not performing in front of a camera or on a stage, but I’m still doing a character. I’m still telling a story.” Sometimes, she says, she paints that picture with both her image and her voice. Other times, she has only the voice, and that can be the greater challenge. “You have to make people believe that you’re actually talking to someone when, in reality, I am in my booth in my house.”

SUGARSIDE

Nicky on stage as one of the “Dead Virgins” in the acclaimed 1990 Mexican production La Desconfianza.

She always knew

Born in Italy to an Italian father and British mother, Nicky moved with her family to Mexico City before she was 2 years old. Her mother was a dancer and choreographer, and performance was woven into Nicky’s childhood. She remembers sitting in the car, hearing a piece of music and immediately imagining a performance. In her mind, there was already a stage. She could picture what she was wearing and how she would move to the music. “It’s just what came naturally,” she says. “I guess it was my path.” At 11, she appeared as Baby June in a production of Gypsy. Her mother, who was assisting the choreographer, also stepped into the production as Dainty June, the older version of Nicky’s character. The experience was the beginning of something that Nicky already seemed to understand instinctively. “There was no doubt about it,” she says. “I just felt it.” She continued dancing, modeling and appearing in television commercials before pursuing formal theater training in Mexico City. After high school, she spent a year in Italy, living with family, dancing and teaching classes while also working on her Italian. Back in Mexico, she studied improv comedy and eventually entered a selective theater program, studying while continuing to take acting and modeling work. Stage work led to television, film and commercials,

SUGARSIDE

including Mexican telenovelas, where the pace could be relentless and the opportunities plentiful. Over time, she built her network and the kind of professional reputation performers work years to establish. Producers knew her, knew what she could do and knew she would show up prepared. With some, she reached the point where there was no longer an audition. They simply called her with a role. At the same time, another part of her career was quietly beginning. Producers who knew Nicky was bilingual began asking her to record station announcements and narrate videos in English and Spanish. She enjoyed it, but at the time she thought of herself primarily as an actor. “I never thought that I would one day have my own studio and that I would be able to record and edit and produce my own audio,” she says. “It never crossed my mind.”

Performance, with children in tow

As Nicky’s career grew, so did her family. She became a mother while continuing to work in an industry in which hours were rarely predictable. One day might mean only a couple of hours on set. Another could mean filming through the night, and productions could take her away from home for days or weeks. When her children were young, motherhood often came with her on location. Nicky arranged childcare so her children could join her when possible, including during shoots away from home. One production, the period telenovela Ramona, took her to a remote hacienda outside Mexico City for about a month, with Nicky making the trip home whenever the filming schedule allowed. There’s the wanting to be there at work, but feeling guilty because you’re away from your kids,” she says. “You can’t avoid that.”

She also had help. Her mother lived nearby and regularly stepped in when Nicky was working. The two parts of Nicky’s life were never neatly separated. Motherhood did not happen after the performance ended. It existed beside it, on location, between call times and around shooting schedules. Eventually, family considerations would influence one of the biggest decisions of her life. By 2006, Nicky and her husband, Al Wilson, were raising three children in Mexico City. Nicky had spent roughly two decades building a successful career there, but the family began considering a move to the United States. Houston made sense for Al’s work, and after accepting a job here, he began looking for somewhere for the family to live. A colleague recommended New Territory. Al visited the community, liked what he saw and found a house. Once the children finished the school year, Nicky followed. She arrived in Texas with three children and seven suitcases. And professionally, she began again.

Starting over

Moving did not erase Nicky’s experience. She arrived with years of acting credits and had already contacted a talent agent before leaving Mexico. But experience and connections are not the same thing, particularly in an industry built heavily on relationships. In Mexico City, she had spent years becoming known. In Houston, she had to introduce herself again. There was another complication. On camera, casting is visual, and in the United States, Nicky found herself running into categories that had rarely posed the same challenge in Mexico. She could speak Spanish natively and understood Mexican culture intimately. But when casting 45

Nicky in two of her telenovela roles: as Beatriz de Echagüe in Ramona, and as Mística, the iconic villain in María Mercedes

SUGARSIDE

directors sought a particular visual representation of a Hispanic woman, she did not always look the way they expected. For a time, that frustrated her. Eventually, she came to understand the practical realities of casting and became more strategic about the roles she pursued. Voiceover offered something different. Behind the microphone, the visual categories disappeared. “If they don’t see me, they don’t care about that,” she says. What matters is whether she can deliver the character, emotion, cadence or tone a client needs. Growing up across Italian, British and Mexican influences gave Nicky not only languages, but an ear for culture. She speaks English, Spanish and Italian fluently and has also studied French and German. She understands that communicating authentically in another language is about more than correctly pronouncing the words. There is rhythm, cadence and culture. Those layers have helped make voiceover an especially natural home for her abilities, and her business grew. Ford became one of the defining relationships of her voiceover career, particularly her work for the Hispanic market. Bank of America became another major milestone. Her voice and performances have also been heard in work for Google Pixel, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Verizon, Burlington and others. Yet Nicky is quick to push back against the idea that landing one of those recognizable brands happens suddenly. “You don’t just audition and you got it,” she says. “It’s the years of preparation leading up to that moment.”

SUGARSIDE

“Growing up across Italian, British and Mexican influences gave Nicky not only languages, but an ear for culture. She speaks English, Spanish and Italian fluently and has also studied French and German. She understands that communicating authentically in another language is about more than correctly pronouncing the words. There is rhythm, cadence and culture.”

SUGARSIDE

Inside the booth

When Nicky first began recording from home, her setup was considerably less sophisticated. A corner of a home office became a makeshift recording space, with acoustic foam attempting to control sound in a room with a window and glass doors. It was not enough. She could hear lawn mowers, power washers, the air conditioning and even someone taking a shower elsewhere in the house. Ordinary neighborhood life could interrupt a professional recording session. She kept improving the room, learning from sound engineers and investing in training and equipment. The window was closed off. Glass doors disappeared. More sound treatment followed. Eventually, she made a much bigger investment: a professional Studiobricks recording booth. It arrived in pieces from Spain just as the pandemic transformed how much of the voiceover industry operated. The booth changed her career. Nicky now had a professional environment where she could audition and record without having to plan her working hours around outside noise. Technology also allows producers elsewhere to direct her remotely and receive professional-quality audio as though she were standing in their own studio. From New Territory, she can work with clients almost anywhere. Even travel does not necessarily mean leaving work behind. Nicky often travels with a portable recording setup because a client request can arrive with little warning. If she is on vacation, she may tell her agents that she is not auditioning, but for an existing client she remains available. “If you’re in Tokyo, you better be available,” she says with a laugh.

SUGARSIDE

More than a good voice

The finished product can make voiceover seem deceptively simple. A voice comes through a television, phone, radio or computer speaker. Perhaps it lasts 30 seconds. Perhaps a few minutes. But Nicky approaches the work as an actor. Before she records, she needs to understand what the words are trying to do. Who is speaking? To whom? Why? What emotion sits underneath the sentence? There may be nobody opposite her in the booth, but she still has to create the relationship. “Everything has to be in our mind,” she says. The industry increasingly asks for performances that sound “organic,” she says: grounded and conversational. Making that sound effortless takes work. Nicky still trains. She listens critically to her recordings and works on accents, language and delivery. Her mornings include vocal warm-ups, and she takes physical care of herself because both her voice and appearance are professional tools. She is also, by her own admission, a bit of a perfectionist. That attention has become even more important as the voiceover industry enters another period of change. Artificial intelligence can now produce increasingly natural-sounding voices, and Nicky does not pretend professional voice artists are unconcerned. Some work, particularly lowerbudget narration and e-learning projects, has already shifted toward synthetic voices. But she has also seen the limits. The human voice contains tiny changes in cadence, intention and emotion that signal to a listener that someone is genuinely communicating with them. Those nuances are difficult to manufacture.

Nicky during her modeling years in Mexico, another chapter in a career that would span stage, screen and voiceover.

SUGARSIDE

For Nicky, authenticity matters. After a lifetime of performing, she understands that a convincing voice is not simply about producing the correct sound. It is about sounding human.

Still an actor

Voiceover has given Nicky opportunities that the young girl imagining herself onstage could never have predicted. But that girl is still there. Nicky continues to pursue on-camera work. She takes acting classes and keeps herself prepared for the right opportunity. Film and television auditions still excite her, as does the possibility of documentary narration or a major commercial campaign. She refuses to rank one form of performance above the other. “I wouldn’t say I enjoy it better,” she says of voiceover. “I would say I enjoy it as much as acting.” Performance continues to run through the family as well. Nicky’s mother introduced her to a world of dance and theater decades ago, and each of Nicky’s three children has had some experience in entertainment. Her two sons, who went on to earn PhDs in nuclear engineering and economics, both had brief experiences on camera and in voiceover, while her daughter followed that interest further, studying theater at Texas State University and continuing to work in the field. After a lifetime as a performer, Nicky has come to think of her voice as an instrument, something she trains, protects and continually works to improve. “I love my instrument,” she says. “I’m thankful for my voice and for the things that I’ve been able to do with it.”

Award-winning voice: Nicky at the Voice Arts Awards, where her work has been recognized over the years, including wins in 2017 and 2025.

1,318 1,318

Pets and Pets and counting counting Free community clinics make veterinary care more accessible for Sugar Land families

Preventive veterinary care can add years to your pet's life, but for many families, accessing that care isn't always easy. Annual wellness exams and rabies vaccinations are among the simplest ways to catch health issues early and keep your furry family members healthy. But for some families, the cost, transportation or scheduling challenges can make routine veterinary care difficult to access. At Sugar Land Animal Services, we believe those barriers shouldn't prevent pets from receiving essential care. That's why we've partnered with Petco Love to provide free vaccines and microchips through a grant-funded program. Thanks to the success of last year's clinics, the grant has been renewed, allowing us to continue bringing these important services directly to our community. Since June 2025, Sugar Land Animal Services has hosted eight free community clinics at the T.E. Harman Center and the Animal Shelter, helping improve public health while keeping more pets safe and healthy. Together, those clinics have served 1,318 pets, providing 1,898 vaccines and 617 microchips. Those numbers represent families who were able to access preventive veterinary care without financial barriers. Microchipping and vaccinating pets does more than protect individual animals. A registered microchip greatly increases the chances of reuniting lost pets with their families if they ever become separated. Vaccinations help prevent serious illnesses that can lead to costly emergency care, and rabies vaccination is especially important because rabies is a zoonotic disease that can spread between animals and people. Taking advantage of these free clinics is a simple step that helps protect your pet, your family and the entire community. Participants from multiple clinics have consistently praised the experience:

Clinic was Clinic was easy easy to to find, find, staff was staff was so so kind! kind! Me Me and kitten and kitten were were in in and and out. Loved out. Loved how how easy easy it it was to was to do do online online paperwork. paperwork.

Very patient, Very patient, well organized well organized and very and very quick. quick.

Everyone was Everyone was really really nice and nice and the the process process was very was very smooth. smooth. We We very much very much appreciate appreciate the free the free vaccines! vaccines!

Relatively quick, Relatively quick, and and you emailed you emailed the the records instead records instead of of handing them handing them to to me, me, which is which is awesome. awesome. 53

The next free community clinic is just around the corner. Clinics are offered quarterly and are open on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is announced on Sugar Land Animal Services' Facebook and Instagram pages each quarter. Follow @SugarLandAnimalServices so you don't miss the next opportunity to help keep your pets, and our community healthy.

Available for Adoption

Bosco, Futbol, Happy, Kylie and Misty are waiting for their forever homes. Visit Sugar Land Animal Services to meet them and learn more about the adoption process.

Bosco 55

l o b t Fu Available for Adoption Visit Sugar Land Animal Services to meet them and learn more about the adoption process.

Happy SUGARSIDE

y t s i M Available for Adoption Visit Sugar Land Animal Services to meet them and learn more about the adoption process.

Kylie SUGARSIDE

(Part 1)

ADD YOUR VOICE Your voice can help bring attention, compassion, and change.

A Sugar Land family's battle to secure treatment for their daughter has grown into an effort to change Texas law. Now, the push for the Texas Pediatric Neuroinflammatory Coverage Act is entering a critical new phase: building the professional and organizational support needed to move it forward.

SUGARSIDE

When Stacy Zwerneman first contacted Texas Rep. Dr. Suleman Lalani's office in January 2024, she wasn't trying to change state law. She was trying to get treatment for her daughter.

Why, she began asking, should a family have to repeatedly prove that a child still needs a treatment her physicians continue to consider medically necessary?

Lela has autoimmune encephalitis, a neuroinflammatory disease in which the immune system attacks the brain. Her doctors had recommended intravenous immunoglobulin, or IVIG, but obtaining insurance coverage had become a battle.

And what happens to children whose families don't know how to fight, or don't have the time, resources or support to keep doing it?

The first formal denial arrived in December 2023. What followed was a process the family would come to know intimately: medical records, calls, peer-to-peer reviews, appeals and eventually an independent external review.

Stacy's relationship with Lalani's office began with Lela's individual case.

While that appeal was still pending, Lela went to the emergency room twice. She ultimately received her first round of IVIG emergently in the hospital, before insurance approval had been secured. In February 2024, an external review overturned the denial and Lela's ongoing treatment was approved. But the approval was not permanent. When her authorization came up for renewal later that year, her family once again had to establish that the treatment was medically necessary. Another denial followed in August 2024. As recently as last month, the family faced the same situation again. Despite Lela continuing to receive and benefit from IVIG, her annual authorization was denied. Treatment was ultimately approved in mid-August. For Stacy, each approval solved the immediate problem, but not the larger one:

From one insurance battle to a bigger question In December 2024, she met Lalani in person for the first time and began exploring whether there might be a legislative solution. His message, she recalls, was clear: if she wanted to pursue legislation, she would need to demonstrate that the problem extended beyond her own family. With her father, Bill McKenney, joining the advocacy effort, Stacy began gathering physician support, family experiences, data and examples of legislation adopted in other states. By the time she returned to Lalani's office for a second meeting in June 2026, she was no longer relying on her family's experience alone. Among the evidence she brought was the Texas Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome Advisory Council's annual report, a state report documenting many of the same insurance barriers she had been trying to describe. The report noted that few Texas insurers cover IVIG for PANS and PANDAS, that coverage is frequently denied and that physicians and their staff can

“ WHY, SHE BEGAN ASKING, SHOULD A FAMILY HAVE TO

REPEATEDLY PROVE THAT A CHILD STILL NEEDS A TREATMENT HER PHYSICIANS CONTINUE TO CONSIDER MEDICALLY NECESSARY? ”

spend significant time navigating appeals. For Stacy, it provided independent evidence that the barriers her family had encountered were affecting other Texas families and healthcare providers as well. What had begun as one mother trying to secure treatment for her daughter was becoming a documented case for a broader policy problem. Stacy returned with proposed policy language, support from physicians and families, examples from other states and the findings of the Texas advisory council. This time, Lalani agreed to author and champion proposed legislation.

When medicine doesn't fit neatly into a box At the center of the proposed legislation is a problem more complicated than a disagreement between a doctor and an insurance company. Pediatric neuroinflammatory disease itself does not always fit neatly into precise diagnostic categories. Dr. Peter Grace, a New Territory resident and neuroimmune researcher, says the labels used in medicine are partly shaped by what science can currently detect. “Our labels are built around what we can currently detect in blood and spinal fluid, not around the underlying biology,” he explains. “Detection is still incomplete; we don't know what we don't know.” There can be overlap among antibodies associated with different conditions, Grace says, while some children whose seizures, psychiatric symptoms and cognitive changes resemble autoimmune encephalitis test negative on currently available antibody panels. Clinical symptoms can overlap across neuroinflammatory conditions as well. For Dr. Melissa Jones, a pediatric neurologist with All in One Peace, that uncertainty is part of

practicing medicine in this field. “It always really comes down to the story and the history,” Jones says. Some children have struggled for years, she explains, while others experience a sudden and dramatic change. Treatment decisions can require physicians to consider the child's history, symptoms, blood work, overall health and possible infections or other underlying causes. Ultimately, Jones says, treatment is highly individualized. “It's not just a one-size-fits-all kind of disorder.” That uncertainty matters when treatment decisions and insurance coverage are tied closely to a specific diagnosis. Jones points to IVIG as an example. For some conditions, she says, an established diagnosis can provide a relatively straightforward pathway to coverage. For children with autoimmune encephalitis and other neuroinflammatory conditions, the process can be very different. A physician may document a child's symptoms, history and clinical rationale for treatment, only to encounter a policy that does not provide the same straightforward route to coverage. A denial can lead to appeals and further documentation as the the physician tries to establish why that particular child needs treatment. Jones says she has a high success rate obtaining IVIG coverage when she appeals, but even after more than a decade working with these patients, approval is not guaranteed. “It's a fight,” she says.

What does the science say about treatment?

There is another important part of the picture. Grace says immunomodulatory treatments used for pediatric neuroinflammatory disease are

supported by strong and consistent observational evidence and biological plausibility, but the research has limitations. Grace says immunomodulatory treatments used for pediatric neuroinflammatory disease are supported by strong and consistent observational evidence and biological plausibility, with research continuing to strengthen the evidence base. Randomized controlled trials would provide additional evidence, but conducting large trials in rare pediatric neuroinflammatory conditions can be difficult. Patient populations are small, diagnoses can be heterogeneous, and withholding a potentially beneficial treatment from seriously ill children can present practical and ethical challenges. Many immunomodulatory therapies used in pediatric neuroinflammatory disease are prescribed off-label, a practice common in pediatric medicine when FDA-approved options for a specific condition are limited. Grace also cautions against portraying these treatments as simple or without risk. Current therapies broadly suppress immune activity and can carry infection risks and other side effects. More precise diagnostic tools and continued research are needed, he says, with the longer-term goal of developing treatments that target the specific biological processes driving disease.

In the meantime, physicians are treating children with these conditions now. And timing can matter. “Early on, the effects of inflammatory processes are still largely reversible,” Grace says, “but left unchecked, they can cause structural brain injury and permanent seizure, psychiatric, or cognitive disability.” Jones sees the consequences in her clinic. While every child is different, she says symptoms can include severe obsessive-compulsive behaviors, difficulty eating and profound emotional dysregulation. Some children struggle to leave home or attend school without significant accommodations. Jones has also treated adults whose neuroinflammatory conditions went unrecognized for years. She says prolonged illness can affect learning and cognition, friendships, family relationships and the course of a person's development. “It just changes how you're going to grow up, how you're going to evolve,” she says. For families like the Zwernemans, that creates an urgent tension: medicine is still learning how best to define and treat these diseases, while insurance decisions must be made for individual children who need care today.

What would the proposed law change? The proposed Texas Pediatric Neuroinflammatory Coverage Act is intended to address that gap. As currently envisioned, the legislation would apply to state-regulated health plans and require

coverage of medically necessary immunomodulatory therapies for pediatric neuroinflammatory disorders. The proposal specifically identifies treatments including IVIG, plasmapheresis, rituximab and steroids. It would seek to prevent denials based solely on off-label use, diagnostic coding differences or previous diagnostic labels. It also proposes timelines for prior-authorization decisions, protections for physician medical judgment and greater transparency around denials and appeals. It would not mean that every treatment requested for every child must automatically be covered. Medical necessity would still have to be established. The intended change is that a treatment could not be rejected solely because a child's diagnosis or the prescribed use of a medication does not fit neatly within specified coverage criteria.

Why Texas wants to go broader Texas would not be the first state to legislate in this area. Stacy's research identifies 17 states with insurance requirements related to PANS and PANDAS, including Louisiana, which enacted legislation in 2025, and Connecticut in 2026. The laws are not identical. But the Texas proposal is intentionally broader. Rather than creating coverage protections around one diagnosis such as PANS or PANDAS, it seeks to encompass pediatric neuroinflammatory disorders more widely. For Stacy, that distinction grew directly from Lela's experience. A child with autoimmune encephalitis may need some of the same immunomodulatory treatments as a child diagnosed with PANS, but legislation written around one diagnosis could leave another

“ THE INTENDED CHANGE IS

THAT A TREATMENT COULD NOT BE REJECTED SOLELY BECAUSE A CHILD'S DIAGNOSIS OR THE PRESCRIBED USE OF A MEDICATION DOES NOT FIT NEATLY WITHIN SPECIFIED COVERAGE CRITERIA. ”

child outside its protections, potentially creating another avenue for coverage to be denied because a diagnosis does not fit the language of the law. “For me, it's not enough to pass a law that sounds good on paper,” Stacy says. “I want to close the door on all the loopholes insurers continue to find.” For Jones, changing policy also requires understanding what these illnesses look like beyond diagnostic codes and coverage criteria. “When you see it in person, you can't unsee it,” she says. Her invitation to those making coverage and policy decisions is simple: spend time in a clinic with these children. “Just spend the day with me in clinic,” she says. “You'll see the success stories and these kids and how it impacts their lives.”

Getting a legislator is only the beginning Having a state representative willing to carry the proposal is significant. It is also only one part of what it takes to turn an idea into Texas law. Having a state representative willing to carry the 62

proposal is significant. It is also only one part of what it takes to turn an idea into Texas law. Carey Handley knows that process firsthand. Handley became a grassroots advocate after her own family pursued legislation in Texas. Lalani was a co-author of her family's bill during the 89th Legislative Session, and his office later connected her with Stacy to share what she had learned. “I knew from experience that Stacy would need not only support within the legislature but also within the community,” she says. Handley encouraged Stacy to create a concise explanation of the proposal that could be shared with legislators, advocacy groups and members of the community to begin building support. When Handley's family began their own legislative effort, she says, they had never even been inside the Texas Capitol. They approached The Arc of Texas, an advocacy organization serving people with disabilities, whose relationships and experience helped get their campaign started. During the first legislative session, The Arc of Texas secured support from 12 organizations. Handley and her family then turned to their own contacts within the disability community and added another 30 supporters. “By creating this long list of supporters, we showed legislators that there were a large number of people contained within these schools, groups, and organizations who were also their constituents,” Handley says. “When pursuing legislation, it's important to show that your bill affects many people and not just a handful. The more people and organizations behind your bill proposal, the better chance for success.”

The long road to a law Handley's experience also offers a glimpse of what may lie ahead. Her family's legislation took two legislative sessions to pass. From January through the end of May 2025, Handley says, they traveled from the Houston area to Austin every week or two. Having a bill author wasn't enough. There were 31 state senators and 150 representatives whose votes could ultimately matter, and Handley says her family had to explain repeatedly why they believed their proposal was a common-sense measure. A failed attempt in 2023 taught them something important: some lawmakers simply hadn't understood what the bill was trying to accomplish. “Once we took time to explain our bill properly last session, we saw a huge shift,” Handley says, with nearly all of the representatives who had previously voted against it supporting it in 2025. By Handley's count, there were 56 steps between the introduction of their bill and the day it became law.

Now, they need support That is where the Texas Pediatric Neuroinflammatory Coverage Act stands today. The proposal has a House champion. It has a family willing to keep pushing. And it has physicians, healthcare professionals, families and advocates beginning to gather behind it.

“ WHAT IT NEEDS NOW

IS A BROADER COALITION, PARTICULARLY SUPPORT AND ENDORSEMENTS FROM THE PROFESSIONAL AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE VOICES CAN DEMONSTRATE TO LAWMAKERS THAT THE ISSUE REACHES FAR BEYOND ONE FAMILY.”

What it needs now is a broader coalition, particularly support and endorsements from the professional and advocacy organizations whose voices can demonstrate to lawmakers that the issue reaches far beyond one family. For Stacy, that is the next phase of the work. The first time she approached Lalani's office, she needed help getting treatment for Lela. Now she is asking others to help make the case that the next Texas family should not have to fight the same battle. 64

ADD YOUR VOICE

Are you a healthcare professional, researcher, educator, organization or family with experience of pediatric neuroinflammatory disease? The advocacy effort behind the proposed Texas Pediatric Neuroinflammatory Coverage Act is building a statewide coalition of individuals and organizations interested in supporting improved access to medically necessary treatment. Scan/ or click above to learn more and indicate your interest in supporting the effort.

SugarSide is a new monthly digital magazine sharing stories from our community, families, local businesses, and the people who make New Territory what it is.

FREE subscription delivered into your email inbox every month starting in May 2026

scan sugarside.beehiiv.com

*check your email to confirm your subscription

@sugarsidemagazine SugarSide magazine is published by Equator Line Media

SugarSide Magazine - Issue #5 (September 2026)