The Bellaire Buzz - January 2022

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ISSUE

20 ANNIVERSARY

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EDITOR’S NOTE Some of our readers might recall Steve Hartman's "Everybody has a story" segment on CBS. He threw a dart at a map of the United States. Wherever it stuck, he traveled to that town, flipped through their White Pages phone book, and picked a name at random. He then did a story on that person, in the random house, in the random neighborhood. I loved every segment. The White Pages no longer shows up at your door. But The Buzz does. And it was 20 years ago this month that we began asking neighbors to share their stories. Some made us laugh, some made us cry, and others made us think. But almost every single time, one neighbor's story has lead us to another one. Thank you for your readership and trust. Our stories are not quite as random as those that came from Steve Hartman’s darts since all of ours are about residents and happenings in our neighborhoods right here. But we certainly agree with his premise: Everybody does have a story. What’s yours? joni@thebuzzmagazines.com

THE BUZZ MAGAZINES BELLAIRE • WEST UNIVERSITY • MEMORIAL • TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS Published by Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401 info@thebuzzmagazines.com • p: 713.668.4157 • f: 713.665.2940 Follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter thebuzzmagazines.com

Editor Publisher Associate Editors Editorial Assistant Design Manager Staff Writers

Account Managers

Joni Hoffman Michael Hoffman Cheryl Laird Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld Jenna Mazzoccoli John Duboise Tracy L. Barnett Sharon Albert Brier Cindy Burnett Andria Frankfort Angie Frederickson Todd Freed Cindy Gabriel Cathy Gordon Michelle Groogan Dai Huynh Annie Blaylock McQueen Jennifer Oakley Pooja Salhotra Cheryl Ursin Andrea Blitzer Leslie Little Jo Rogers

On our cover: The Buzz Magazines celebrates its 20th anniversary this month. The Buzz Magazines has made all reasonable attempts to verify the accuracy of all information contained within. Advertising claims are solely the responsibility of the advertiser. Copyright © 2022 Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of this magazine by any means without written permission is strictly prohibited. Printed on recycled paper. Please remember to recycle.

BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 4

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, CRS ABR 713.764.9850 • mlivingston@gmail.com • www.har.com/mikelivingston BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 5

MAILBAG

Your letters, thoughts, opinions Head in the clouds It has been such fun being in the November issue of The Buzz Magazines [Houston’s Fly Girl: A trailblazing pilot’s life in the clouds] and hearing about it from dozens of friends and neighbors who loved the story and the photographs. I did, too. Michelle Groogan is a gifted writer, and Eric Forsythe is an artist with his camera. They both captured the essence and fun of life in the air and living with your airplane. A surprising number of friends and neighbors stopped me in West U and even in my air park neighborhood and my grandson’s school to tell me that they saw the article and loved it and either wanted to come fly with me or wanted to hear more about airshow flying or traveling around the world. People who know me well say that Michelle captured my essence. That’s a rare talent. Thank you, Michelle. It’s really been fun. Thank you all so much. It is a delight to be in your magazine. Debbie Gary

Cover-family fame It was such a wonderful surprise to get a photo of The Buzz cover [The Memorial Buzz, December 2021] from my sister with a text that said, “Why didn’t you tell me?!” I had no idea the photos your team took [featured in Buzz Baby: That elf on that shelf, by Annie Blaylock McQueen] would be featured on the cover! We have been so surprised and honored to have people reach out from all phases of our life, high school, college, and neighbors we’ve only recently met. Jackson and Austin get a kick out of seeing their faces on their friends’ countertops and coffee tables when we visit. Thanks for bringing some extra special Christmas joy to our family this season and helping us reconnect with friends from our past. The Morgan family (Justin, Rebecca, Jackson, and Austin)

A successful soup Andria, I love reading your recipes in The Buzz and the way that you introduce them – so comfortable. I made the butternut and chicken soup recently [Smoky Chicken and Corn Soup, “Back Porch Table” at thebuzzmagazines.com], which was delicious, and my husband loved it. Just saying thank you! Angela Cheves Editor’s note: Find this recipe and more from Andria Frankfort every Friday on Back Porch Table at thebuzzmagazines.com.

Adulting 101 for all Immediately after reading Adulting 101 [These are your fuse boxes, by Andria Frankfort, December 2021], it struck a chord. I've been looking to do this for my daughters in a similar age bracket, as I truly feel these life skills aren't taught anymore! Heck, we can probably use a refresher course ourselves as “older adults!” Kudos to David [Shebay] for undertaking this. These are the kind of things that will pay dividends to these young ladies for years and years. Thanks for sharing your story, David! Samir Mehta Send letters to info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Please include your name, address, phone number and email address for verification purposes. Letters are subject to editing for clarity and space. Views expressed in letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Buzz Magazines, and The Buzz takes no responsibility for the content and opinions expressed in them.

What’s your story?

St. Nick, Part III Sara Jane Wilson [featured in The St. Nicholas Day Boot: Bringing a German tradition to Houston, by Andria Frankfort, December 2021] played St. Nick to our children's delight on December 6th for many years (see photo from St. Nicholas' Day 1999). When Sara Jane’s family moved to Germany, I took up the task of continuing to spread the St. Nicholas Day joy not only for my young children but for their carpool friends and other families. Now that all the “kids” are grown, we are in a pause phase while we wait grandchildren to arrive, and the fun can begin again! Anna Jones Editor’s note: Anna, thank you for sharing this sweet story and photo. If the rest of you want to see the photo she sent, check out this column at thebuzzmagazines.com. BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 6

We are looking for residents for upcoming articles who: • Have special springtime traditions. • Know a Buzzworthy neighbor to feature. • Have an interesting hobby. • Have a compelling travel story. • Have a funny or sweet parenting story. If this sounds like you or someone you know, please contact us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com or 713.668.4157, ext 12.

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NEIGHBORS by Cindy Gabriel, staff writer

We Love Mr. Warren A simple story of neighborly love Some stories just stick with you, long after they are written. I recall someone telling me that this one became the subject of a Sunday School class back in February 2005, when it was written and published. Please meet Mr. Warren and his neighbors.

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ou could set your watch by Mr. Odith Warren’s walks. Twice a day Mr. Warren, 79, went for a spin around the block from Chelsea to Evergreen to College to Fern. His walks were perfectly timed to catch Tammy Owen on College Street, leaving to take her two children to school. Mr. Warren’s friendly face was part of the ritual morning “hello.” Then, later that afternoon when they returned, Mr. Warren was there again for a chat. By the afternoon he often had enough news from the other neighbors to share with the Owens. “He knew all the neighbors. He told us about people we hadn’t even met; what schools they went to, what firms they worked for; who was sick; who was laid off,” said Tammy. Before long, Mr. Warren became an unofficial member of the Owen family. He was there every Sunday evening for dinner. “It became a ritual. Dinner on Sunday and then, Mr. Warren would sit with the family to watch 60 Minutes,” said Tammy. Husband Les Owen was a good sport when Mr. Warren changed the channel from football. Their bond grew even stronger when Mr. Warren learned that they all attended rival schools. Tammy went to the University of Southern Mississippi, Les went to Mississippi State and Mr. Warren went to Ole Miss. “That was our bond,” said Tammy. “He taught us and the children lessons about life. He was a World War II veteran and he had all sorts of stories about that. He talked a lot about his experience in business too. He was in the pipeline industry.” One thing Mr. Warren spoke little about was family. The Owen children, Brelan (9) and Kobi (7), even noticed that Mr. Warren seemed very alone. No wife, no children and what relatives there were had lost touch. Tammy, a registered nurse, learned to check on Mr. Warren if he was not on his walking routine. As health problems BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 8

THE NEIGHBORHOOD Mr. Warren's neighbors gathered in 2005 for a memorial walk around the block.

developed, Tammy began to pay visits to his house. She began to learn that his life had come to literally revolve around their block. “He kept a journal of his daily walks. He wrote down how many people he saw that day and how many talked to him. If someone didn’t speak, he wrote that! If he waved and someone didn’t wave back he wrote that. He also wrote details that he learned that day about their lives,” said Tammy. As she was concerned about Mr. Warren’s failing health, Tammy began encouraging him against having some experimental surgery to correct an aortal aneurism. She felt Mr. Warren wasn’t healthy enough to undergo surgery. The aneurism was pressing on his larynx and beginning to affect his speech. But while Tammy was out of town, he had the surgery, which was not successful. In May, Tammy found herself at the V.A. hospital watching Mr. Warren on life support, and as she was appointed with medical power of attorney, she had to make the difficult decision to turn off the machines supporting Mr. Warren’s life. No family members were calling about funeral plans, so Tammy decided to hold a small memorial service in her home for those in the neighborhood who wanted to come. “Seventy people were there! We all thought we were the only ones who had taken him in. But I found out he had been to other houses in the neighborhood for Thanksgiving and various

holidays. He had touched so many lives. We finally met the people he had been telling us about,” said Tammy. After the service, the neighbors decided to take a memorial walk around the block, Mr. Warren’s route. Tammy shared with the group the last words she said to Mr. Warren while on life support. “Thank you Mr. Warren. You gave us the gift of yourself. You are an example of how I want my children to treat other people,” said Tammy. The Owens later learned that Mr. Warren paid tribute to their friendship by leaving nice sums of money to their three rival colleges. Still, Tammy found herself frustrated by the fact that Mr. Warren chose to have the risky surgery against her advice. “I later asked the doctors at the V.A. why he had the surgery. The doctor said it was because Mr. Warren would lose his voice without it, and that talking to his neighbors was his whole life,” said Tammy. If Mr. Warren couldn’t speak a kind word to his neighbors he wouldn’t be Mr. Warren. For Mr. Warren, that was worth risking it all. Editor’s note: When we asked The Buzz team to look back and pick favorite stories, Cindy remembered this one, published in February 2005. Upon rereading it, we all were taken with Mr. Warren’s story all over again and decided to reprint it in this issue.

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SPORTS by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

Running a Marathon Every morning, 10 minutes at a time

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en Levy, a beloved fourth grade teacher at West University Elementary, has given new meaning to “shaking the sillies out.” For the past 10 years, she has motivated her students, some 300 of them in all, to run entire marathons in the 10 minutes before class starts. Of course, that’s not to say the kids are running a full marathon in 10 minutes. They’re setting a goal to run a full marathon and doing it bit by bit, day by day. Ms. Levy’s Lonestars earn medals, T-shirts, and goodie bags when they finish, just like official marathoners. Most of all, though, they learn to cheer for each other, and for themselves. “It started when I was [teaching kindergarten] at Briargrove [Elementary],” Levy says. “I was running a marathon and kept talking about it to my kids. As I was doing it, I realized the benefits to getting your brain started every morning and getting out energy. So after the marathon, I ran the outside of the Briargrove playground and found it was one-tenth of a mile around.” That was the beginning of the Lonestar Marathon Club. Levy began taking her students outside first thing every morning, letting them run at their own pace. She organized the club at Briargrove for two years and brought it with her to West U, where she’s taught for the past six. “I take them out a couple days after school starts,” she says. “They all sign a permission slip, and I show them the route, which is around the perimeter of a field at West U. We have a whole conversation that you run for yourself, no one else. You’re not pushing anyone out of the way, you’re always cheering people on. You can walk, run, jog, whatever you want.” Levy keeps track of everyone’s progress, which they chart daily on a colorful graph starting at 0.1 miles and ending at 26.2. “It is a great way for them to set a goal and work toward it,” she says. Caroline Horowitz, a talkative West U fourth-grader, completed her marathon in December. “I mean, at the beginning it’s kind of hard, but then the more you run, it’s not as hard,” she says, “and it’s really fun. Even if you don’t get that many laps, it feels really good to be running. Every day you get closer to your BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 10

WE CAN DO IT Jen Levy's fourth-grade class runs for 10 minutes every morning, adding up to a marathon distance over time.

marathon. Also when you’re getting your marathon, Ms. Levy will be like, ‘Go, go,’ and it makes you feel really proud.” Levy says she watches self-esteem improve as kids who once said, “I can’t run,” learn that they can do what they set their minds to. “They get out the wiggles, achieve a goal, get endorphins in the morning, and they learn they can do it,” she says. She can commiserate with kids who start out thinking they can’t. “If I was in fourth grade and had to do this I would have been miserable,” she says, laughing. “I was not an athlete. I took dance and was not that great!” But running has changed her. “When I first started, by mile six, I was like, ‘No way can I do 20 more miles!’ But it’s all a mind game that you conquer. I have seen so much progress, and that’s just all me doing it. It sounds clichéd, but running has given me more confidence, and that’s all I wanted was for the kids to have confidence.” Levy has now run 10 marathons and 15 or so half-marathons.

Her favorite part of a marathon, she says, is crossing the finish line, hearing people cheer. “My kids get that cheering and high-fiving for 10 full minutes every morning. All day long, all I do is tell them things to do, but for those 10 minutes we’re all cheering together.” Erica Smith’s son Beau was in both Ms. Levy’s kindergarten and fourth-grade classes. “The marathon was one of my most special parts of elementary,” she says. “It’s awesome to see the whole class celebrate when one of them jumps the finish line and Ms. Levy takes a midair picture.” Beau, now in fifth grade at First Baptist, says being a Lonestar made him faster for baseball and football, which he now plays. “And I like to run in the morning before school now,” he says, sharing that he loves to run around the block. That feeling of accomplishment is what Levy is after. “Whether they are the first or last one to get their marathon,” she says, “the pride in their faces always makes me want to cry.” Happy tears, obviously.

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SPORTS by Pooja Salhotra, staff writer

Marathon Men In Houston and Athens The Houston Marathon is a flagship event for the city, held annually on the third Sunday of January. Although the in-person 2021 races were canceled due to Covid, the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon return Jan. 16, 2022. What follows is a story about two Buzz residents, Peter Baird and Dennis Moustakis, for whom the marathon has been about much more than 26.2 miles.

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n November 1988, Peter Baird found himself in Greece in a bit of a quandary. It was six days before the Athens marathon, and Peter, who was 45 and had recently emerged as a top long-distance runner in Houston, had to make a choice: Should he stick to a strict marathon diet of bagels and water, or splurge on sizzling Greek meats and full-bodied red wine? “It was truly a dilemma,” said Peter, who speaks rapidly and with a Scottish accent – he grew up in The Isle of Bute in Scotland and moved to the States in his early 20s. Usually, Peter abstains from alcohol for one month prior to any race. “I take that thing seriously,” he said. But during his first evening meal in Athens, as waiters brought out tray after tray of mouthwatering food, Peter decided to enjoy and immerse himself in Greek culture and hospitality. He accepted the heaps of food and seemingly endless refills of wine. Six days later, he said, he still managed to finish the 26.2-mile run in under three hours. Peter landed in Athens because he was part of the inaugural Houston-Athens Marathon Exchange, a program in which two finishers of the Houston marathon are offered a six-day trip to Greece, the birthplace of the marathon and a country with an ancient running tradition. The program covers the costs of airfare, accomodations, and sightseeing – the Acropolis, the temple of Poseidon, museums – along with elaborate meals (Peter recalls his first taste of Greek yogurt and honey at a buffet breakfast), and culminates with the Athens marathon, which finishes at the Panathenaic Stadium, the same place where thousands of spectators cheered on the finishers of the very first Olympic marathon back in 1896. BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 12

LET'S GET IT STARTED Peter Baird (middle) was among the first Houston marathon finishers to participate in the Houston-Athens marathon exchange program. Here, he's with George Sarantopoulos (left), who created the program, and Anthony Kouzounis (right), past president of the Hellenic Cultural Center and co-chair of the program.

The exchange program, which continues today, was the brainchild of George Sarantopoulos, a Greek American who participated in both the Houston and Athens marathons and wanted to create a cross-cultural exchange between the two countries. His idea was for winners of the Houston marathon to have a chance to participate in the Athens marathon, while two Greek runners would travel to the U.S. for the Houston marathon. Over lunch at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel (now the St. Regis) in the Galleria area, Sarantopoulos proposed his idea to a representative of Kathy Whitmire, then mayor of Houston, and to Melina Mercouri, the Greek minister of culture who was visiting Houston. The two leaders embraced the idea, and the program was born. For Peter, getting to travel to Greece in the winter of 1988 was unexpected. An engineer and business owner whose career has spanned product development at Boeing to cloud computing at Xerox, Peter had completed his first marathon the prior year. He was over 40 – putting him in the “Masters” category of runners – and had not been a runner growing up. He picked up the activity when his daughter was in high school. She was on her school’s swim team, and during her daily afternoon swim practice at the Dad’s Club Aquatic Center in Spring Branch, Peter jogged to the high school track, ran five miles, and then returned to pick her up. He did this every day, even on the most blistering days of Houston summer. Soon, Peter became hooked, as many runners do, and started

competing in 5ks, then 10ks and 20ks, and eventually, the marathon. “All of a sudden, all of my friends were elite athletes,” Peter recalled. He placed second overall in the men’s Masters category during the 1988 Houston marathon, his second 26.2-mile race. “I just got the job done and got out,” he said, joking, adding that he ran a total of only seven marathons during his running career. In November, he received a phone call from the Houston Marathon Committee. They said the first-place men’s Masters winner was unable to make it to Athens for the exchange program, and would Peter, having come in second, like to go in his place? Peter packed a suitcase, dropped his cat Hillary (named after mountaineer Edmund Hillary) with his neighbor, and the next day boarded a plane to Athens. The following two years, Peter won first place in the men’s Masters division of the Houston marathon and was given the option to accept prize money or to take the trip to Greece. He chose Greece. “Because of the people,” he says. “They were unbelievable.”

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n the Thursday before marathon Sunday in Houston, you can always find Dennis Moustakis in the kitchen of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral on Yoakum Boulevard. He’s cooking pastichio, a dish similar to Italian lasagna, for more than 300 people. Alongside Dennis are volunteers, many of whom are patrons of the Annunciation cathedral, who are chopping veg- (continued on page 14)

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(continued from page 12) etables for the Greek

salad, stirring a steaming pot of bean soup, and preparing baklava for dessert. At night, elite runners from around the world, along with Houston marathon executives and community members, will enter the church for what some call “a feast for the Gods.” Ticket sales from this annual dinner raise money for the marathon exchange program, covering the costs of sending two Houston runners to Athens each year. (The Houston marathon covers the cost of bringing two Greek runners to Houston.) The dinner started in 1988 and, along with the exchange program, has taken place every year since, except for last year due to Covid. (The 2022 dinner and exchange program has been postponed another year for the same reason.) It seems almost inevitable that Dennis, who is 76 and calls himself “Houston’s Greek athletics guy,” would become the executor of the pastichio dinner. Dennis wears wire-rimmed aviator-like glasses and has a deep-throated laugh that comes out anytime he cracks a joke, which is frequently. He played soccer growing up on Kefalonia, one of the Greek islands, and like most other kids in Greece, ran on the weekends. In elementary school, he learned the story of the Battle of Marathon, where the Athenian Army defended Greece against the encroaching Persian Army, and Philippides, a messenger, is said to have run the 42 kilometers from the town of Marathon to Athens to deliver the news of the victory. It’s this story that inspired the modern marathon event. “It’s evolved so much now that there’s not a town on Earth that doesn’t have a marathon run,” said Dennis. Though he did not study business, Dennis is a businessman by trade. He grew up helping his father run the town barber shop in Greece, and eventually, after a stint in the army and the merchant marine, established his own successful small business, an auto repair shop called Dennis Automotive, on Westheimer. So after a couple of years of helping out with the pastichio dinner, Dennis said he could do it more efficiently. Instead of outsourcing food preparation to a local Greek restaurant, Dennis wanted the Hellenic Society to handle that themselves. Dennis rarely cooks dinner for himself, and yet he took it upon himself to learn how to make pastichio, a dish his mother frequently made for his family back in Greece, and to recruit a team of volunteers to help orchestrate the event. Now, Dennis has the whole thing down to a science. “To gather the materials, do the cooking and the prep and the wrap-up, it takes Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,” said Dennis, counting on his fingers. “The cooking all takes place on Wednesday. And the next day, the day of the consumption, I bake the pastichio.” Dennis’ pastichio is now well-known among Greeks in Houston. “He serves a great Greek lasagna – and cuts big pieces,” said Frank Demeris, an annual attendee who is himself in BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 14

BUT FIRST, PASTICHIO Top photo: Dennis Moustakis (third from left) has helped facilitate the annual Pastichio Dinner for nearly 30 years. Attendees include the two marathon runners from Greece, Moustakis' granddaughters, the Houston Marathon Committee, and other community members. Middle photo: Dennis captured this shot near the finish line at the 1999 Athens marathon. Bottom: Dennis prepares pastichio to serve more than 300 people.

the restaurant business. But the event holds a symbolic meaning, too. “The marathon first started in Greece, and we’re trying to keep some of that history alive for our generation and for the next generation,” said Demeris. “Because you can forget about this stuff if you’re not careful.”

To learn more about the Chevron Houston Marathon as well as the exchange program, visit chevronhoustonmarathon.com

MORE ONLINE For Dennis Moustakis’ Marathon Pastichio recipe, see this story at thebuzzmagazines.com.

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Through the Years Some of our favorite stories I

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love a good story, and I love people. Everyone has a story to tell. For 20 years, I have been lucky enough to be surrounded by creative (and, therefore, opinionated) writers, designers, and photographers who know how to tell these stories. Every month, after looking through each magazine issue in its final form, I’m known for proclaiming: “This is my favorite issue ever.” After so many, that declaration may seem comical, but, well, ask anyone – that’s me. I’m enthusiastic. (And that’s me you might see eavesdropping and butting in for details at Starbucks – also, not shy.) For our 20th-anniversary issue, we decided to ask Buzz staffers and contributors to pick their favorite or most memorable stories. We knew the task would be hard, but I knew they could do it. I also knew I could not do it. I hope you enjoy their reflections below, whether you remember the original stories or haven’t seen them yet. If you haven’t and want to – or if you want to reread – you can see thebuzzmagazines.com for links to all of them, plus so many more that we love. Thank you for sharing your stories. Here’s (glass raised) to the next 20 years – yes, also an optimist. – Joni Hoffman, Editor, since 2002

Cathy Gordon

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Staff writer, since 2014 I’m dating myself here, but as a high school student in the 1970s, I longed to be journalist Charles Kuralt from CBS’s original “On the Road” show. He lumbered up America’s backroads in a motorhome, celebrating ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Writing for The Buzz is a lot like that. While I don’t scout about in a motorhome, the magazine has been my vehicle to some pretty cool stories over the years. When Life Has Other Plans: A spine surgeon’s journey with quadriplegia [October 2020] sticks with me like no other. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first met renowned spine surgeon Rex Marco, paralyzed in a mountain biking accident. Turns out, he’s probably the strongest person I know. When tossed the ultimate curveball, he ran with it with courage, positivity, and determination, embracing new life circumstances to find a cure for spinal cord injuries. He follows that research passion today through the Christopher & Dana Reeves Foundation. Other stories come to mind, too, like a three-family kidney swap [Forever Linked: A three-family kidney swap, January 2021] that gave three people a new lease on life. Behind the Lens: The life of a LIFE photographer [November 2016], was a real treat. Former LIFE magazine photographer Bob Gomel revealed the stories behind his iconic photos of heavyweight boxer Mohammed Ali and The Beatles, to name a few. And speaking of The Beatles, Love, Love Me Do: A couple of Beatlemaniacs [February 2021] was a fun one. Who knew that one of the country’s highest-quality collections of Beatles music and memorabilia takes up the entire upstairs of Alex and Judy Fazzino’s house? A magical mystery tour, for sure! Here’s to more adventures with The Buzz! (Pictured: Dr. Rex Marco; Bob Gomel; Judy and Alex Fazzino) BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 16

Dai Huynh

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Staff writer, since 2009 In January 2021, I explored the foods of Ethiopia, and it remains one of my favorites. The story [Chef’s Corner: January is for Ethiopian] highlighted the Ethiopian Christmas celebration in January rather than in December. In addition, the story provided a bird’s-eye view of our city’s diversity. As a young food writer in the ’90s, I once wrote how you could dine around the world in Houston. Our beloved city has almost every kind of ethnic food you can imagine. Craving British Indian? Just head to the Red Lion (2316 S. Shepherd Drive) for chicken tikka masala. Want to see what afternoon tea is like in Hong Kong (once ruled by the British)? Drive West to Katy Asia Town, where you can get a cucumber sandwich along with pork dumplings at Proper Rose Garden (1223 Grand West Boulevard). For authentic, homemade Lebanese food and fresh, yeasty pita bread straight out the oven, few can compare to the venerable Abdallah’s (3939 Hillcroft). The list goes on and on. We’re so lucky to savor the world without having to jump on a plane, especially now. (Pictured: Mee Goreng, Phat Eatery; Chef Uhana Asefa, Bahel Ethiopian Mart & Dining)

Greg Lavaty

John Duboise Design manager, since 2004 As a native Houstonian, I know there is a long list of things to love about living here. Art, museums, the food scene – just to name a few. However, the quality of outdoor life in our fair city has never been anywhere near being on that list. But my views of what Houston (and the larger Gulf Coast area) has to offer changed pretty dramatically when my 10-year old son became something of an expert in identifying birds in the early days of the pandemic. A year and a half later, and our whole family has been swept up by a love of birding, spurned on by the realization that we basically live in the North American Mecca for birders. From our year-round birds to the dazzling array of migrants that pass through in the spring and fall to our flocks of wintering residents, Houston is a paradise. Meg Scott’s April 2021 article, Spotting Beauty: Spring wave of color delights Houston birders, made me realize that there is a much larger birding community out there than the people we had already met. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a Hepatic Tanager to find at Bear Creek Park. (Pictured: Black-bellied Whistling Duck; Sara Bettencourt, Carl Nooteboom) BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 17

Tracy L. Barnett

Deborah Lynn Blumberg Contributing writer, since 2017 Miriam Murphy’s father, Hugo Dachinger, was an Austrian Jew and up-and-coming artist who escaped to England in the late 1930s, then found himself in an internment camp. He passed his days painting, using discarded newspapers, paintbrushes made from sticks, and paints mixed from ash and mud. Miriam preserved her father’s artwork, even saving it from Hurricane Harvey. I was intrigued by her story [as shared in Art in Exile: Miriam Murphy’s treasures, April 2018], especially because my own grandparents had helped save a group of Austrian Jewish refugees from the Holocaust. I’d been knee-deep in research on Austrian Jews as I worked on my novel, a fictionalized account of my grandparents’ story. I met Miriam in 2018 when she invited me into her post-Harvey rental home. She served me biscuits and English tea from fine china and spent several hours showing me her father’s beautiful artwork. In the years following, I was surprised to find the article had been read as far away as the U.K. I received several notes from people overseas who knew and loved Miriam’s parents and wanted to reconnect with her. Her story stuck with me for the insight it offers into the refugee experience and because it shows that, even in the darkest times, there’s hope and beauty. (Pictured: Miriam Murphy) BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 18

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Staff writer, since 2009 It was my peripatetic pen that led me to The Buzz Magazines’ front door a dozen years ago. A former Houston Chronicle travel editor and now freelance writer, I’m hitting the road less these days, but The Buzz has let me keep my travel spirit strong with a monthly vicarious journey (or several), interviewing Buzz-area readers about their travels. Nothing brings out the most inspiring aspects of ourselves and our lives more than travel, and so I’ve been able to enjoy my share of inspiration, thanks to the Buzz readers who have let me ride along in a virtual back seat with them to many corners of the globe. In honor of The Buzz’s 20th anniversary, I’ll share a few of my favorites. Travel Buzz: A different kind of journey [September 2020]: World traveler Pam Zane and husband Randy grabbed my heart with Pam’s decision to hit the road as often and inspiringly as possible after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis and treatment left her sidelined. She defied the odds with the often-fatal diagnosis, and together with childhood sweetheart Randy they scheduled their trips between chemo treatments. Antarctica, Patagonia, Bora Bora, Ethiopia – nothing was off limits. Five years later, she’s still going strong. Solo traveler’s lens captures human spirit [July 2019]: As a solo woman traveler, I have long understood the advantages of being alone in the world; it gives you entry into cultures and situations that would never be possible as a part of a group or even a couple. So when I had the chance to visit with the consummate woman world traveler and photographer, Carol Kirshon, I felt I’d found a kindred spirit. Her lens finds its way into the world’s remotest corners and seeks out the most ordinary of folk – the tea pluckers of Darjeeling, a girl selling watermelon in Myanmar. In July of 2019, she’d visited 157 countries, from Armenia and Azerbaijan to Zaire and Zimbabwe. By now it’s surely more, but as she is offline in Saudi Arabia at the time of this writing, it’s hard to say. Travelers with kids: I especially love the stories where parents pack up their kids and hit the road for extended periods, considering travel to be an important part of their children’s education. These days, the virtual classes necessitated by Covid have made that easier, as the Hruskas showed with their Airstream office and school. But long before Covid, our Global Family series let me trail along with the Germains, the Waters, and the Kramers; and even before that, there were Deborah and Paul Luik and their daughter Kaia. I could go on for much longer – but the point here is to give gratitude to Buzz readers and advertisers for supporting us for two decades so that we could enjoy the community spirit of this big crazy city that is Houston. Let’s keep it going for another 20. (Pictured: Carol Kirshon (second from left) with tea pluckers, Darjeeling tea trails; Pam Zane)

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Carole Look

Staff writer, since 2018 Writing about neighbors has shown me that everyone has a story, and I’ve been lucky to tell many of yours. One that stands out is The Bormaster Family: Ties that bind – no matter what [August 2019], a story about a close-knit family in Bellaire that, through challenges and setbacks, sticks together. I first met Kim Bormaster, one of four siblings, in her family’s bright home one afternoon. Kim, then 32, had just been named the first Special Olympics athlete in the Ronnie Arrow Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, and I was to write about it. Immediately, I was struck by Kim’s positive energy, and I wanted to spend more time with her. Over the next few weeks, the Bormaster family graciously welcomed me into their home and into their lives. Mom Leslie detailed the joys and challenges of raising twin daughters Kelly and Kim, while eldest daughter Alli spoke candidly about a devastating accident her husband Jeffrey recently had suffered. When it came time to write the story, it basically wrote itself. This was a story about family, and all I had to do was place the reader into the Bormaster household. I’d bring them into the living room – where Kelly’s children were rolling on the floor, Kim was showing off her Special Olympics medals, and everyone was speaking in strings of compliments – and let them see Bormaster love for themselves. (Pictured: Kim Bormaster; Bormaster family; Kim, Scott, and Leslie Bormaster)

Dylan Aguilar

Dylan Aguilar

Pooja Salhotra

Russell Weil

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Carole Look

Contributing writer, since 2014 My first article for The Buzz Magazines, Houston Restaurant Memories: A look back at Houston’s dining past, published in November 2014, took me on an extraordinary journey. The history of Houston had always held a special place in my heart. The restaurants I remember dining at while growing up in H-Town held fond memories. Longtime Houstonians, especially, would enjoy this nostalgia. The Astrodome opened in 1965 on South Main Street, a major thoroughfare commencing at the stadium, meandering through the Texas Medical Center, and continuing on through downtown Houston. Restaurants lined both sides of this popular street. Each restaurant captivated me with its unique style, and some were recognized as much for their themes as they were for cuisine. Look’s SirLoin Inn’s knighted horse and the Gaido’s Seafood blue crab greeting me at their entrances are forever etched in my mind. Writing this article led me on a sentimental walk through my childhood. Having dined at every restaurant mentioned, the memories evoked from this article were a gift for me, just as I hope they were for the readers. (Pictured: Look's Sir-Loin Inn; Prince’s Drive-In Restaurant; Valian’s Restaurant; Sonny Look) BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 19

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Angie Frederickson Staff writer, since 2006 After more years than I can count (actually, 12 or so) with The Buzz, I have written some really fun stories and met people who have surprised, inspired, and entertained me. But my favorite story had a pretty mundane topic: a high-school car parade. My son, and oldest child, graduated from Memorial High School in 2020 along with millions of other heartbroken Covid-era seniors. I dare say the parents were even more devastated, watching the pandemic rob our kids of so many milestone moments. In the middle of online school, canceled sports seasons, and proms, there was finally a glimmer of hope: the MHS graduation car parade. As a mom/Buzz writer, I attended the parade with my family and covered the story [Cruising On, The Memorial Buzz and The Tanglewood/River Oaks Buzz, June 2020]. Lining the sidewalk on Piney Point Road were more happy faces than I had seen in months. It was the first time we had an event that wasn’t on Zoom, and families thought this socially distanced, pandemic-friendly afternoon was the greatest celebration on earth. Smiles and enthusiasm resurfaced, and we thought we were turning the corner on the pandemic (that thought was obviously premature, but it seemed good at the time). We finally felt normal. (Pictured: Love for the Class of 2020; Henry and Jill Oliver; Nikki Altmann, Abby Hwang, Lauren Biar, Katelyn Krivan, and Kendra Evans) BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 20

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Andria Frankfort Staff writer, since 2011 What is my favorite Buzz story? I think that changes every month! I feel so fortunate that friends and acquaintances – and even strangers – share their stories and allow me to write about them, and I love learning things I never would have at a quick grocery store run-in. My first thought was to give an update to Back Porch: Surviving the permit driver, August 2018, which went semi-viral and caused my daughter to be asked at a party, “Is your driving getting any better?” My answer, three wrecks later (which happened after I wrote the story, mind you), would have been no. Thankfully, two years later, my answer is yes (fingers crossed, praying all the time). On second thought, it has to be all the stories people have shared that tell us: We are not alone! In The social media spiral, September 2018, a friend told us about the time she tried to check her son’s date out on Facebook and accidentally friended the girl, then unfriended her, only to have the girl accept. “It’s a double-whammy – first you request, then you chicken out,” she said. “The kiss of death. I should just stay off!” And in Airing Our Dirty Laundry, in August 2017, one of the most regal and poised women I know confessed to her house being infested with thousands of tiny moths. “[The exterminator] said, ‘You have to send all the clothes and every rug to the dry cleaners and rip out every wool rug…’ and I was like, ‘That is never going to happen.’ I’d rather crawl around looking for cocoons.” Then she added, “Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night … inevitably it’s your most favorite fabulous sweater they get to. They only eat cashmere, not the dumb wool socks.” (Pictured: “Surviving the permit driver;” “The social media spiral;” “Airing our dirty laundry”)

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Account manager, since 2003 The task of having to identify one or a few of my favorite stories did not come easy. As I pore over the magazine each month, I often think that this issue is for sure my favorite. Until the next issue. One article that jumped out at me was one just published in our December 2021 issue, Adulting 101: “These are your fuse boxes,” by Andria Frankfort. I plan to share it at our table and hope its suggestions will be met with, “Can you teach me that?” One of my favorite columns is Buzz Kidz. I enjoy reading about the interests and ideas of young people. A recent one that caught my attention was Lost and found bamboo [by Raasti Kayani, August 2021, The West University Buzz] because I, too, carefully nurtured many plants in our garden hurt by the February 2021 freeze. I love how at the young age of 9, Raasti is aware of the shrubs in her garden and their well-being. Sometimes articles make me tear up. I love how these people [the Broach Byrd family, featured in Beginning Again: A story of love and loss – and love again, by Andria Frankfort, February 2021] who had experienced such tragedy, found happiness and love again. As a sentimental sucker who loves to repurpose family heirlooms, it was poignant how this young bride [Erica Reed, featured in Yes to the Dress: A wedding memoir in silk and lace, by Cathy Gordon, May 2018] not only used her mother’s wedding dress made by her grandmother, but also had it modified by her grandmother. Although the task came with many obstacles, she got to walk down the aisle in her dream dress. I am more vigilant about bicyclists after reading the story Ghost Bikes: White bicycles memorialize riders [by Jennifer Oakley, September 2015]. I think it’s one worthy of reading more than once. (Pictured: Broach Byrd family; Shirley Harper, Erica Reed, Mary Ann Reed; John Lucci, Christian Wendenburg, Mason Courtney, Alexis Trevelise and Chuy Benitez)

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Miroma Photography

Andy Blitzer

Leslie Little Account manager, since 2002 I always connect with Cindy Gabriel’s articles. I love the humor I find in her stories even though you are reading something that is thought-provoking. To my surprise, this year, when reading about her mom in the 1950s Gulf Coast and Hattiesburg, Mississippi, area [My Mama's 1950s World: Now lick your lips and smile, May 2021], I found similarities between those times and the culture and my own. I lived, worked, and went to school in Hattiesburg during the ’70s and early ’80s. When reading about her pageants, I reminisced about participating in Junior Miss pageants in high school with my friends. We had a lot of fun being together getting our “training with interviews and manners.” As I kept reading, it was unbelievable the common paths. Wow! I attended The University of Southern Mississippi (formerly known as Mississippi Southern College), when the Student Printz was still being published, joined a sorority, and was named a debutante my sophomore year. In the summer, I worked as “office help” at Camp Shelby. This is not Keesler AFB, but it is a joint-forces training center just south of Hattiesburg. Oh, the many memories of working at Camp Shelby. My parents were not from Mississippi, so reading about that generation in Mississippi was interesting because of what seemed to change and what seemed to stay the same. (Pictured: Young Cindy (Wright) Gabriel; "My Mama's 1950s World") BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 21

Stan Ehrenkranz

Cindy Gabriel

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Stan Ehrenkranz

Staff writer, 2004-2006 and since 2018 It’s beshert, said Joni Hoffman after seeing a picture of me pointing to a “Buzzworthy” sign at a Barnes & Noble in Bentonville, Arkansas, of all places. Stan and I were on a fall foliage road trip as I was thinking about The Buzz Magazines’ 20th anniversary, the next assignment. Beshert, Joni tells me, is a Yiddish word for something that is “meant to be.” All I had to do was figure out something Buzzworthy to write. Boss kiss-up pieces are strictly forbidden by Joni and Michael Hoffman. Then came the memo that a look back at “best of” Buzz moments was gathering steam for the issue. One story came to mind. We Love Mr. Warren from February 2005 [We Love Mr. Warren: A simple story of neighborly love, The Bellaire Buzz]. It captures the essence of what it means to be a neighbor, which, I feel, is the essence of The Buzz Magazines. It’s the story of one man who walked his block twice a day and developed a genuine interest in the neighbors. People who hardly knew each other developed their own unique relationship with Mr. Warren. It wasn’t until he died that one neighbor, Tammy Owen, discovered a journal he kept of his walks. It was full of details he learned about their lives, who waved at him, who spoke to him, and who did not. Chelsea, Evergreen, College, and Fern were the four Bellaire streets making up Mr. Warren’s block. Tammy thought hers was the only family who had actually developed a relationship with Mr. Warren before she saw his journal. Tammy then reached out to the neighbors on those four streets; they all decided to make one memorial walk around the block in honor of Mr. Warren. They picked what turned out to be a drizzly day, but 70 people showed up. It’s gotten a lot easier to get pictures for stories these days. In 2005, we weren’t all walking around with cameras on our phones. Despite our best efforts, we were not able to find one person who had a picture of Mr. Warren. All we had was one shot taken in the rain of neighbors who showed up to honor him. Today, I realize, that is the picture of Mr. Warren. He was the invisible neighbor who made those before him visible. Chelsea, Evergreen, College, and Fern sound so lovely together, almost like a song; “Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.” I wonder how many new houses are on that street today. I wonder who still lives there since 2005, who remembers Mr. Warren. I wonder how many living on that street have never heard this story. Today, I realize that The Buzz has been doing that for 20 years, making us visible to each other, and storytelling “across the fence” to one another. Some of those stories were written so long ago, they have become documents of neighborhood history that define us, whether we know it or not. It’s beshert. (Pictured: Cindy Gabriel)

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Jo Rogers

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Account manager, since 2019 Every month, Andria Frankfort’s Back Porch is one of my favorites to read. So it was especially fun to be interviewed by Andria for Don’t be that customer [December 2019]. Retail workers rarely get a voice, and so it was nice to be able to share even just a small piece of what it’s like to be on the other side. The good, the bad, and the ugly. And it was fun to be involved in a Buzz article in that way. Andria’s articles are always so relatable. The first “teen-vocab guide for adults” [A teen-vocab primer for grownups, August 2019] made me laugh. Most of the words are the same as when I was in high school 20 years ago. I thought, they’re still using these words today – I was in the know. Then the second “Teen-vocab guide” came out [Teen-vocab primer No. 2] in July 2021. This time, I felt old. I realized I needed to pay closer attention to what my 19-year-old nephew was saying, since I knew only half of the slang terms. (Pictured: “Teen vocab guide;” “Don’t be that customer”)

Staff writer, since 2012 Writing for The Buzz means there is a potential story around each corner, and in my case, as the baby columnist, at each class I used to attend at Gymboree, every park outing, or playgroup I ventured out to. I became a mom when I had my twins in 2014, and a couple of months later, Buzz Baby was born. I have grown up as a mother along with my column, so choosing one article is hard. However, one that stands out in my mind is one I wrote on the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey [A year after the flooding, August 2018]. A family with five children under the age of 4 (including 6-week-old twins) had to be evacuated from their home by boat. The families I interviewed, including mom Lindsey Bowman, had the best attitudes while talking about their experiences. Of course, it was with hindsight by the time we spoke, but an experience like that forever changes you as a parent. A second article is my Buzz Baby article on adoption [Adoption, November 2016]. Those parents were so inspirational, truly with their hearts on the front lines of parenting. I enjoyed meeting those wonderful families. Their happy conclusion to a long, complicated process made an impression on me forever. Thank you, Buzz Baby, for all that you have shared with me. I look forward to growing with you some more. (Pictured: Annie Blaylock McQueen with newborn Hank, Georgia, Lila, and Cash; the Murphy family)

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Annie Blaylock McQueen

Three Smudges photographer

Photographer, since 2006 Most of my sessions begin with a call from Joni along these lines: “I’ve got this great story, and you're going to love them – they’re the nicest people,” or “I know young children can be tough to photograph, but these are five adorable children, and I know you can make it work….” I just have to laugh and remember my motto: It’s just another day at The Buzz. With marching orders in hand, I’m likely to end up maneuvering pigs for a better profile, waiting for chickens, photographing dogs, horses, more dogs, and people showing their love of gardening, cooking, family, work, more horses, bees chasing Michael, and so forth. I smile, remembering, It’s just another day at The Buzz. Special perks I’ve enjoyed from sessions include food, recipes, art discussions, movie reviews, and friendships. I’m thankful people have shared important hobbies and memories from their lives with me. The love stories are some of my favorites, how they met and how they’ve managed to stay happily married with all life throws at you. Dr. Rex Marco [When Life Has Other Plans: A spine surgeon’s journey with quadriplegia, by Cathy Gordon, October 2020] has to be the most touching story. Life threw him a major curveball. We talked about the article and where to photograph him but most importantly, we discussed life. Not just his life but overcoming adversity in life, knowing there’s a plan and to keep going, no matter what, to stay positive and mindful. As I was packing up my gear, I gratefully remembered: It’s just another day at The Buzz. For 20 years, The Buzz has cared for people, and their stories bind communities. Here’s to another 20 because the community and people make it a better day at The Buzz. (Pictured: Shelley Rice; Sandy Twyman, Gigi White; Ellie and Jane Wexler)

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Nikky LaWell

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Staff writer, since 2015 “I pray through music.” That simple line struck a chord in me. It was just four words from an article that I wrote that appeared in The Buzz Magazines in May 2016 [Soul Survivor: Music, prayer and laughter ease cancer treatment]. But they remain with me even today. When I had the joy – and I mean true joy – to interview Claire Frazier, it was for a story about hope after a cancer diagnosis. If you think that the words “cancer” and “hope” should not be in the same sentence, talk to Claire. And she will make you think otherwise. I titled the story Soul Survivor because Claire prayerfully and musically endured and conquered cancer. “I heard from so many sweet friends after the article came out, each of them expressing their love and support, and many of them compelled to share their own cancer stories with me,” says Claire. “One friend touched me most deeply. We studied music together in college and had not been in contact for over 30 years. At the time, he was going through his own very difficult cancer treatment, and shared that after reading the article, he adopted Philippians 4:13 (quoted in the article as my focus verse) as the scripture that would carry him through his tough days: ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’” Now, seven years after the article was first published, Claire and husband Joe are still happy to share her faith in facing cancer. “And all three of our children are now married to the most wonderful spouses, and we’re grandparents of twins,” she says. “I think they would agree that my story is also their story because we lived it as a family.” I am grateful for being able to help tell that story. (Pictured: Joe and Claire Frazier; Frazier family; Claire Frazier)

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Jennifer Oakley

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Cheryl Ursin Staff writer, since 2011 In January 2016, The Buzz’s office received a call requesting extra copies of the November 2015 issue. The caller, an older woman, had read an article I wrote about Amazing Place, a daycare center for people with dementia [Amazing Place: When memories fade]. She shared that she had recently been diagnosed with dementia but “hadn’t been willing to face it” until she read that article. She wanted extra copies to give to her family members. I was touched, but it wasn’t about me. When I look back at Buzz articles, both ones I’ve written and ones that other writers have, the ones that stick with me are the stories people tell of their experiences in the hopes of helping someone else, the way the clients and families of Amazing Place did. Or the way four of our neighbors [Claire Frazier, Bill Gage, Stacy Middleman, and Ashley Pratka] told Jennifer Oakley about their experiences with cancer [in the May 2016 issue]. So many of The Buzz’s feature stories are the result of people’s generosity and their desire to help others with issues, both big and small, light-hearted – such as Andria Frankfort’s “Airing our dirty laundry” in Back Porch, August 2017 – and life-altering – such as Cathy Gordon’s feature on Dr. Rex Marco in October 2020. It’s an honor to help people tell their stories, share their experiences, and connect. (Pictured: Ashley Pratka; Margaret Bandy)

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Michelle Casas Groogan Staff writer, since 2004 Since 2004, I’ve been exploring topics for The Buzz Magazines that I’m most passionate about. Topping my list of stories are those related to being a special needs mom. Over the last 17 years, I’ve written many articles highlighting the courage about those overcoming their disabilities. My hope is to always inspire others with their stories, but usually I am the one moved. That’s why I picked my 2020 article about the Steel Magnolia Moms [Steel Magnolia Moms: The race that wasn't – and will be, January 2020]. It is the largest support group in Houston for moms who share in the joys and challenges of raising a child with special needs. This particular story focused on a group of 12 moms, Dahlia Brown, Elizabeth Elder, Shannon Essex, Marla Grace, Shana Halvorsen, Dawn Kemp, Liz Maberry, Evelyn Nordin, Kate Peden, Laura Ryan, Kelly Scoggins, and Nikki Thomason, who ran the Ragnar Relay fueled by nothing other than love for their families and each other. It’s the perfect representation of who we are as a special needs community. We’re all running the miles, but we can’t finish the race without each other. We have an update to this story since it was first published. The founder of Steel Magnolia Moms, Elizabeth Elder, lost her sweet daughter Annabelle in October. Annabelle was 11 and passed from complications from her condition. Annabelle paved the way for this Steel Magnolia Moms group to become the beacon of love, light, and hope that it is for so many today. (Pictured: Steel Magnolia Moms in Houston; at Golden Gate Bridge)

Contributing writer, since 2018 People dream about their face being on the cover of a magazine, but writers dream about their byline being on the cover. Could two pandemics make it happen for me? Esther Almaraz’s grandchildren, Audrey Leonard and Daniel Irr, were part of the graduating class of 2020. Covid had closed schools and unraveled prom and graduation. Esther, 91, told them schools had been shut down during her senior year, too, due to a polio scare in 1946. Her diploma came in the mail. Her family had never known about this. I knew there was a chance of this article [Pandemic Perspectives: From polio to coronavirus, August 2020] being a cover story, but wanted to see it with my own eyes first and not jinx it! The last days of July, I eagerly listened for the thunk of our mailbox to run and catch our postman, Sam. Finally, Sam handed me the August issue. Sure enough, there was Esther and her grandchildren smiling back (from behind masks, but still smiling). Then after the title, Pandemic Perspectives, the words: “By Karen Vine Fuller.” I pointed to the cover. “Sam, I wrote this story!” “You’re a writer?” he said. “I wondered what you did in there all day!” (Pictured: Bellaire postman Sam; Daniel Irr, Esther Almaraz, Audrey Leonard)

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Karen Vine Fuller

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Jenna Mazzoccoli Editorial assistant, since 2020 I have loved working with the students involved in School Buzz, our online program for high schoolers to report on what’s happening at their campuses. Last year, Eshaan Mani, a student at The Kinkaid School, wrote an excellent article for our School Buzz blog on a fellow classmate Jaivir Pande, who won the Drive, Chip, and Putt golf championship in Augusta. I brought the article to my editors to suggest potentially running the story in print. The next thing I knew, we were setting up a photo shoot. Jaivir appeared on the cover [August 2021, The Tanglewood/River Oaks Buzz], and Eshaan got a byline in print [Drive, Chip, Putt: Kinkaid junior wins national finals]. My School Buzz correspondents surprise me every day with their talents. I am grateful for the students’ hard work and for the opportunity to have led the program. (Pictured: Eshaan Mani; Jaivir Pande)

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Lisa Eicher

Associate editor, since 2013 Every day, I read Buzz stories that inspire or interest me. Some are powerful and moving, while others bring lightheartedness and levity. It’s impossible to choose a favorite. Here are a few that have stuck with me: We met Lisa Eicher when she was featured in Annie McQueen’s article on Ninja Warriors: Running down life’s obstacles [June 2017]. Ninja Lisa, mom of four, wanted to use American Ninja Warrior as a platform to raise awareness for Down Syndrome and adoption. Two of her children, Archie and Sevy, have Down Syndrome and were adopted from Bulgaria. As often happens, this story led to another. In 2019, the Eichers opened Sandal Gap Studio, a nonprofit for artists with intellectual abilities. Then-15-year-old Sevy, despite being nonverbal, expressed herself through her beautiful art. Angie Frederickson captured this extraordinary family’s spirit, the role art can play, and the compassionate community they have created in Speaking Through Art: Sevy Eicher's unfolding talent [March 2019]. Another family whose journey has stayed with me is the Germain family [Tackling Grief: Living life jelly side up, by Cathy Gordon, August 2015, and Global Family: the Germains, by Tracy L. Barnett, August 2017]. Dana Germain’s husband, Rich, died unexpectedly in 2014, leaving behind four grieving children and wife. Dana and Rich had discussed taking a sabbatical to travel the world with their kids. The “Germainiacs” took a year-long trip around the world in honor of their dad’s zest for adventure. The Buzz has let me meet many incredible neighbors, such as Max Flinn, who battled with addiction and is now sober and a successful musician, and Dr. Rex Marco, a spine surgeon who was paralyzed after a mountain-biking accident and remains impactful in the field. Plus, I will always remember certain families, such as the Bormaster family, the Berry family, and the Hartland/Hendee family, who have supported one another through so much, with so much love. Through The Buzz, I’ve gotten to know many inspirational neighbors, I’ve gotten to know Houston, and I’ve gotten to know myself. And I’m so grateful. (Pictured: Archie, Radko, Ace, and Sevy Eicher; Sevy Eicher; Germain family)

Lisa Eicher

Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld

Aimee McCrory

Staff writer, since 2006 Since I’m in several community organizations, I have a huge resource to find stories for the Rumor Has It social column [in The Memorial Buzz, The Tanglewood/River Oaks Buzz, and at thebuzzmagazines.com]. I get invited to parties and charity events to experience firsthand these wonderful celebrations. It’s apt then that I found a celebration to write about as well for this Celebration Issue. Since I also sell real estate, I am not easily impressed. However, one of my favorite charity events that I wrote about in 2009 came from being in awe of the home (at that time) of Gene and Astrid Van Dyke, where the event was held. Their pool was known as the largest pool in a private residence in North America at the time. Gene gave guests rides in a small motorboat in the pool. Let that sink in. They also had a super-size pavilion to seat 300 people underneath. Their generosity at hosting events for causes they believed in was so big it reached over to 2021 for me to write about it again. (Pictured: Sharon and Mike Brier)

Mark Katz Photography

Sharon Brier

Cheryl Laird Associate editor, since 2004 I helped editor Joni Hoffman write her introduction to this story, so I told her she had to write mine. She declined. But she is nice – amazingly, consistently so – so she offered to bring me coffee. It almost made me forget her “no.” I guess that means she is smart too. My problem, like hers, is in the choosing. What she does is come up with ideas and inspire talented people. What I do is edit those people’s articles and piss them off. These writers love their words, and all of them take seriously their role of putting others’ stories down on paper. Some are newspaper and Houston Chronicle alumni like myself. Others are professionals from the worlds of TV, corporate communications, the literary arts, and public affairs. Some are work-in-the-home parents who have a lot to say. My favorite articles are the ones that surprise me. Lately (since I’m being forced to choose by Ms. I’ll Bring You Coffee Hoffman), the articles that have surprised me the most, both with turns of phrase and with topics, have come from Cindy Gabriel. I never know where she is going with her stories. Sometimes she doesn’t know either. (Don’t worry. She’ll tell you that herself.) But, in her funny, roundabout, smart-hippie-philosopher way, she has taught me lots. I have learned about the “Mark Twain of Russia” behind Fiddler on the Roof and Cindy’s hair stylist’s family who escaped from Saigon (“We looked pretty conspicuous. My mom dressed us all the same. The girls wore solid white cotton dresses. The boys wore khaki shorts with white Hawaiian-cut shirts. We each had our own Smurf backpacks. We just didn’t have the wardrobe for fleeing a war.”) And we – okay, I – need to know what has happened lately with her late-in-life romantic partner, Stan-the-Man. Is the fame still going to his head? “If there is one thing I have learned in this series on Stan, it’s that a lot of people read The Buzz Magazines. Now that I know that you are reading closely, I will have to be more careful about what I write, lest Stan-the-Man becomes a mini-series, we get rich, we turn to drugs, have affairs, go broke, and it all ends badly.” Tell us, Cindy. Tell us everything. (Pictured: John and Rose Nguyen; Cindy Gabriel and Stan Ehrenkranz) BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 27

Michael Hoffman Publisher, since 2002 When Joni and I started The Buzz, we had no idea how entwined it would become in our lives. The more than 800 framed magazine covers that line our office walls serve as a visual diary of our lives over the past 20 years. Behind each story, there is often an equally interesting back story. For example, we were at a tiny restaurant, The Laurel Tree, in Utopia, Texas, celebrating my birthday several years ago when we overheard the couple at the table next to us mention something about Bellaire. We introduced ourselves and learned that their daughter Laurel Waters (who has a culinary diploma from Le Cordon Bleu) was the chef and owned the restaurant, and their son Lou Waters, daughter-in-law Gerry, and granddaughter Thalie had been on our cover just a few months earlier. These chance meetings happen all the time. Everywhere we go, we run into people who have a connection to The Buzz. And every new person we meet offers a potential story. Naked City, a television police drama that debuted in 1958 (the same year I made my debut to the world), concluded each episode with the narrator intoning the iconic line, "There are eight million stories in the naked city. This has been one of them." This has been our story over the past 20 years. And thankfully, we have done it fully clothed. (Pictured: Michael Hoffman at The Buzz’s office) Editor’s note: If you have a favorite story you want to share with other readers, email us about it at info@thebuzzmagazines.com.

After 20 years of publishing The Buzz Magazines, we have... PUBLISHED

PUBLISHED

829 ISSUES MENTORED

78 INTERNS

THE BUZZ

MORE THAN

36,000

PAGES PUBLISHED MORE THAN

3,500 ONLINE ONLY ARTICLES

WRITTEN MORE THAN

3,000 PRINT ARTICLES

BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 28

MAILED MORE THAN

11 MILLION MAGAZINES

COLLABORATED WITH

450+

SCHOOL BUZZ

CORRESPONDENTS

PLANNED AND

CONDUCTED

900+

MENTIONED

50,000+

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IN PRINT SENT OUT

1,100+ MORNING BUZZ E-NEWSLETTERS

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23,000 SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS

BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 29

A 20-Year Snapshot The Buzz Magazines Two decades of people, ideas, stories, conversations, writing, photo shoots, designing, editing, events, phone calls, emails, meetings, deadlines, parties, adventures, connections, and friendships We hope you enjoy this behind-the scenes look at 20 years of The Buzz.

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BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 31

TWENTY YEARS OF BUZZWORTHY

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MOMENTS AND MEMORIES

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TWENTY YEARS OF BUZZWORTHY

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MOMENTS AND MEMORIES

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KIDS

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by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Buzz Baby

First words Alli Tompkins Photography

Buzz Baby is a column about life with babies. Writer Annie McQueen is a mother of four children under the age of 7.

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ost children speak their first words between 10 to 14 months. By 1, a child usually has a tiny vocabulary bank with a few commonly heard words like mama, dada, bye, or dog. For parents, hearing sounds beyond babbles, coos, and cries is a sweet treat after Old McDonald Had a Farm on repeat in the car. And it’s exciting to listen to their personalities take shape. Sometimes the almost-words are the best, even if they take a while to figure out. One Buzz mom recently was in her kitchen while her 11-month-old daughter listened to music. The bluetooth speaker on the counter rang out with the popular children’s song lyrics, “Mother duck said, ‘Quack-quack-quackquack.’” Moments later, her baby said something that sounded like “Cack.” Mom finally realized she was trying to say quack. Mom-of-three Erin Dickerman, who has three kids under the age of 5, says “no” was one of the first words for all three of her kids, with mama and dada as a near tie. Her oldest son, Spencer, now 5, would go around saying, “No, no, no!” Spencer is big brother to their 3-year-old twins, Crosby and Lucy. Erin says her favorite part of watching her children learn to say their first words is the way they pronounce their own names and their siblings’ names. “Spencer called himself ‘Sapo’ forever, and it was so cute,” said Erin. The twins call Spencer either “Sencer” or “Mencer.” Crosby calls Lucy “ShiShi,” and Lucy calls Crosby “Wah-tie.” Spencer sometimes acts as the twins’ translator in the house. Alli Tompkins, a lifestyle photographer, and her husband Clay, a consultant, have enjoyed some funny moments with each of their three kids learning to speak. Warren, 8, Austin, 5, and Lila, 2, had different first words. Warren said “Dutch” for Duchess, the family dog. “He used to call her from other rooms, then would laugh when she would come in,” said Alli. Among Austin’s first BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 36

SO CUTE Warren, 8, Austin, 5, and Lila Tompkins, 2, (pictured with mom and dad Alli and Clay) had different first words as babies. Warren said “Dutch” for Duchess the dog. Austin’s were “woof” and “buh-buh,” for his brother. Lila’s was “dada.”

words was “woof.” He also loved calling for his brother: “Buh-buh!” Lila’s first word was “dada” – just like Alli’s when she was a little girl. (Clay’s first word was ball, which Alli says is fitting because he still loves baseball.) Alli says one of her most memorable first-word moments was with Austin, and she has it on video. “I was asking him what sounds different animals make,” said Alli. “The first I asked was cat, [and] he answered with a perfect ‘meow.’ Then, every subsequent animal, like dog, chicken, snake, bear, duck, was also ‘meow.’” When kids learn to speak, sometimes the words don’t quite get there. The attempts can stick in the vocabulary – an inside joke within a family. Alli called hamburgers “hamagurbers” when she was young, and the word

is still a favorite. “I love all the cute things kids say when they’re learning to talk,” said Alli. She says Warren has brought the Tompkins family words like soupcase (for suitcase) and chee chees (for Cheerios). Austin has brought the word redults (for adults) and huh-cause (for because). Lila, who just turned 2, is also bringing some innovative words to the Tompkins’ vernacular. She’s added see-sauce (for apple sauce) and neena (for banana), and she has nicknamed her brothers Dubbie and Auggie. Editor’s note: Want to share the funny or memorable early words of the babies in your life? Email us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com, and your sweet memories could end up in our Mailbag column.

BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 37

ARTS

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by Cindy Burnett, staff writer

Buzz Reads

Five picks for January

Buzz Reads is a column about books by reviewer Cindy Burnett. Each month, Cindy recommends five recently released titles. Antoinette’s Sister by Diana Giovinazzo – While everyone is familiar with Marie Antoinette, her sister, Queen Charlotte of Naples, is much less renowned. The daughter of the formidable Habsburg ruler Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, Maria Carolina Charlotte is groomed from birth to extend her family’s power and influence through marriage. When older sister Josepha dies, Charlotte is forced to marry King Ferdinand IV of Naples, a simple and easily influenced individual, and she finds herself thrust into the role of Queen of Naples amid power struggles, economic turmoil, and political uprisings. Antoinette’s Sister brings Queen Charlotte and Naples vividly to life as well as portraying the Habsburg family’s influence and domination in the political arena during this time period, creating a fascinating and compelling read. The High House by Jessie Greengrass – The High House, a new addition to the expanding genre of climate fiction, is an unsettling, character-driven story. Francesca, a famous environmental scientist/activist, is preparing for the widespread disaster that will be coming due to climate change. Frustrated by a world that refuses to act, she begins to secretly prepare a house she inherited in the country for her son Pauly and stepdaughter Caro to retreat to once the rising tides arrive. When a cataclysmic disaster wipes out portions of the country, Pauly and Caro head to the High House to escape and meet the two caretakers, Sally and Grandy, individuals Francesca hired to look out for her children. The two pairs learn to live together in the wake of tragedy, dwindling supplies, and an uncertain future. The High House is a quietly powerful novel that will stay with me for a long time. The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis – Fiona Davis sets each of her historical-fiction novels in an iconic New York City building, and her latest takes place at the Gilded Age home of industrialist Henry Frick. Using a dual-timeline format, Davis toggles between 1919, when the Frick family still lives there, and 1966, when BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 38

the home has become the magnificent Frick Collection, a museum still in operation today. In the later timeline, a Vogue photo shoot is occurring, and when one of the models is fired along with a museum curator, they stumble across a hidden message that leads them on a hunt that uncovers the truth about a murder that occurred at the Frick years earlier. The Magnolia Palace starts slowly but then gains WHAT TO READ This month's picks include a fabulous short story collection, a momentum as Davis cautionary climate tale of fiction, an engaging memoir, and two historical-fiction books, one set at the Frick Collection and the other about the infamous Queen weaves the Frick family Charlotte of Naples. members into the story with infertility and her feelings of failure that and provides interesting details and stories about resulted. Eventually diagnosed with adenothe odd family who created one of New York myosis, she and husband Dwyane, after much City’s finest museums. deliberation, ultimately decide to use a surroSeasonal Work: Stories by Laura Lippman gate, a process made more complicated by their – In Seasonal Work, Laura Lippman has crafted prominence. As the book progresses, she discussa collection of outstanding short stories divided es intimate and sometimes heartbreaking details into four sections, with each portion containing of her life, including her sexual assault at age 19, three stories focusing on a central theme. navigating her role as a stepmom, the transition Unlike most short-story collections that include of daughter Zaya, and what community and its at least one or two misses, this compilation constrength look like in Hollywood when women tains 12 strong stories full of surprises, contemof color come together. These stories are balporary issues, and occasionally humor. Fans of anced by some funny tales as well, including her the author’s Tess Monaghan series will be bowel issues at a strip club and her failed audipleased to see Tess’s presence in a couple of the tion for a Matrix sequel. Her ability to infuse her stories, including the titular and clever tale personality into every aspect of this memoir “Seasonal Work,” which kicks off the book. makes it a standout. I listened to this as an Another standout is “Snowflake Time,” which audiobook; Union narrates her story, and I highpokes harmless fun at Goodreads reviewers and ly recommend that format. its protagonist, a cranky news anchor turned cozy mystery writer. You do not want to miss Editor’s note: Southside Place resident Cindy out on this entertaining and imaginative colBurnett also writes our weekly Page Turners column lection of short stories. at thebuzzmagazines.com. She hosts the Thoughts You Got Anything Stronger? by Gabrielle from a Page Podcast, is co-creator of the Houston Union – In her second memoir, actress literary event series Conversations from the Page, Gabrielle Union provides a deeply personal runs the Instagram account @thoughtsfromapage, glimpse into her life and that of her family. She and regularly speaks to groups about books. opens with her years-long and painful struggle

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TRAVEL

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by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer

Travel Buzz

Taking healing on the road

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or nurses and other health professionals, the current health crisis has been a test of courage, endurance, and professional capacity. It’s been a trial by fire, and cardiovascular nurse Holly Seth is no exception. She was doing rotating duties in the Covid units at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, covered in protective gear and taking precautions – and work was stressful. “It’s a risk every day – but that’s what you do as a nurse. You provide care for your patients.” The workload was the heaviest she’d ever experienced. “I was working a lot, as was all the hospital staff,” she said. “We were basically working, or we were confined to our homes. After being locked up with my husband, two dogs, and a cat in our small condo for nine months, I decided I needed a break for my own sanity. Traveling is my favorite pastime, so it was time to get out of town!” That’s when her friend Carol Nnabuife called with an opportunity. Carol is a full-time travel nurse, and she had gotten a job in Phoenix working with Covid patients. Travel nursing is a profession that has been around for a long time – typically a nurse signs up with a travel-nurse employment agency and goes where demand is high, signing a contract for up to six months. Now, with the Covid crisis, demand has gone through the roof, and a traveling nurse can earn in a week what can normally be earned in a month. Plus, traveling nurses have the opportunity to see the world. So Carol called Holly one day and said, “I’m going. Want to come?” and Holly said, “I’m in.” Holly’s husband, Sandeep, works from home, and he offered to take care of their three geriatric animals, the “pet hospice,” as they call it, with plans to go visit every few weeks. And with Covid easing up in Houston, the hospital was able to give her a leave of absence. So it was that in January of 2021, she headed for Phoenix, which was having a terrible Covid surge at the time, with one of the highest rates in the country. “I have been in the same unit at St. Luke’s since I started my nursing career – so it was a little nerve-racking to set out for the unknown… , going to a new place, not knowing coworkers BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 40

or what the management is like, and you really don’t know much of anything, so it’s kind of scary. But you just have to be confident in IDAHO ANGLER Traveling nurse Holly Seth shows off a big whitefish she caught your nursing skills and in the Salmon River near Stanley, Idaho. know that you can tackin Houston was oppressive, especially after the le it.” regular escapes to the mountains. So the family She did indeed tackle it: working four intense took a vacation in Iceland before Holly headed off days per week, 12-hour shifts caring for Covid to visit her sister and take on her second travelpatients in a progressive care unit. nurse stint: in Sun Valley, Idaho. Carol worked in a different hospital, so they “It’s one of the most beautiful places in the would try to line up their schedules to be able to country, and the weather is amazing,” she said. share their days off. Phoenix was on lockdown, so “I wanted to get away again and spend some every chance they got, they would head out of the time with my sister and nephews, and luckily my city and immerse themselves in the outdoors. husband was supportive.” “I am from Colorado originally and am a big So Holly has been in Sun Valley since Aug. believer in eco-psychology,” says Holly, who is 1, and Sandeep has come to visit there as well. 52. “Being out in nature is a huge physical and This time, there wasn’t much Covid in her area emotional boost and source of joy for me.” – although Idaho, in general, has a high Covid Every couple of weeks, the friends would go two rate, Sun Valley, with its emphasis on health hours north to Sedona, a mountain town ringed and its high vaccination rate and mask manwith red rock buttes and steep canyons. Holly dates, combined with outdoor activities, has a quickly fell in love with the town and the surroundvery low rate. So Holly took a job with a cardiing wilderness. Her aunt lives in nearby Prescott, so ology practice in Ketchum, the town at the she could get some visiting in at the same time. heart of Sun Valley. “It’s a magical place. The beauty of the rocks Like Sedona, the area itself is breathtaking, with and the colors are unbelievable – the whole feel abundant outdoor adventure opportunities: hiking, of the place is amazing,” Holly said of Sedona. biking, fishing, rock climbing, skiing, ice skating. “There’s rock climbing and hiking and fishing, “It’s an outdoor playground,” she said. “There so much to do there.” are endless things to do – it’s just gorgeous.” Anyone who has spent time in Sedona can Her sister lives in Ketchum in a tiny condo tell you about the vortex energy spots, as they with two boys and two big dogs. So Holly put an are known – places that are said to have a magad in the paper and found a good deal in the netic field beneficial to the human body and neighboring town of Hailey, where she now spirit. Holly and Carol went on a tour with a lives with a middle school teacher who’s renting guide who took them to the best-known vortexout a spare bedroom. es. Holly wasn’t sure she felt anything; Carol was Housing in Ketchum and Hailey is difficult to pretty sure she did. For both, however, it was come by, she said, “because during Covid everyone “quite an experience,” according to Holly. wanted to move to small towns, and this was one The town is filled with spas and other busiof the favorites in the country. It has a very smallnesses with a focus on healing and well-being. town feel, but it’s a world-famous destination at the Vortex or not, it seemed that Sedona was just same time, so it’s really unique. I love it here.” the right medicine to revive the spirits of the Everything is nearby and accessible, so she two Covid-weary nurses. can join her sister on outdoor excursions after Holly spent 10 weeks in Phoenix, and then it work. Both are experienced (continued on page 42) was time to head back to Houston. The weather

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TRAIL MIX Some of Holly Seth’s outdoor adventures: Nordic skiing Sawtooth National Forest outside Ketchum, Idaho; hiking in Sedona with husband Sandeep; atop the Devil's Bridge in Sedona with friend Carol; an 8-mile hike to Pioneer Cabin in Sun Valley. (continued from page 40) fly fisherwomen, so that’s

been a favorite pastime. “It’s just a quick change of clothes, and you’re on the water in minutes!” Highlights so far have included a hike up to Pioneer Cabin up in the Pioneer Mountains – “that was a long one, especially for someone from sea level – it was a long hike but it was just gorgeous.” They also enjoyed the Sun Valley Music Festival during the summer – recognized by BBC Music as one of the country’s best classical music festivals. Rivers are plentiful, and they’ve been to the Big Wood River, which runs right through Sun Valley, as well as the nearby Snake and Madison rivers. They also do a lot of biking – the area has trails that are groomed by the county’s outdoor recreational district. Sandeep has come up to join her every three weeks or so, so she’s had another partner in her adventures. Since she arrived, she’s been gearing up to BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 42

keep pace with her athletic nephews while crosscountry skiing in Sawtooth National Recreation Area and downhill skiing on Bald Mountain at the Sun Valley ski resort. Sun Valley Resort was recently named America’s No. 1 ski resort for the second year in a row by Ski Magazine. So far, with two travel-nursing gigs under her belt, Holly has found it to be a rewarding experience. “It was rewarding to go where I was needed,” she said. “Everyone was supportive, nice, and appreciative – they said thanks for coming and helping us out during this time. Same here in Idaho. I am thanked by patients every day who are grateful for my coming to alleviate the shortage of healthcare workers.” Going to Sun Valley turned out to be the perfect opportunity. “I’ve been working in a hospital since starting my career, so I wanted to see what the work day

is like for a clinic nurse,” she said. “I’ve been able to get out in nature and enjoy the activities that I haven’t experienced in many years while living in Houston. Lastly, but most importantly, I am able to spend quality time with my sister and her family after being separated by the pandemic for almost two years.” Holly isn’t sure yet about her future plans, but seeing more of her loved ones will be part of them. “I only like to travel where I know people. Otherwise, I imagine it would be quite lonely. So I may head to Denver, where my mom and several friends live.” Editor’s note: Buzz travel columnist Tracy L. Barnett is a Lowell Thomas travel journalism award winner and longtime travel and environmental writer. Email her at info@thebuzzmagazines.com to share your own travel tales.

DINING

by Dai Huynh, staff writer

Chef’s Corner

Where to eat your greens

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Kirsten Gilliam

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very January, people do the same thing – assess what they eat and make a solemn promise to themselves that they’ll lose 15 pounds or, at the very least, eat better in the new year. They often start by dialing down meat intake and adding more greens to their diet. Healthy restaurants to the rescue. Leaf & Grain president Deets Hoffman says his salad-and-bowl restaurant sees a 30 percent bump in sales in January: "That's a big jump. Some people will fall away in February, but we'll still be up around 20 percent, and that will set the new normal for the year." The St. John's School graduate says eating is psychological, noting that people generally indulge Thursdays through Sundays, but scale back on their calories after the weekend. Unlike most restaurants, however, Hoffman says, Leaf & Grain is busiest Mondays and Tuesdays, which typically are slow days for restaurants. "People need balance," Hoffman says. "They want to bounce back after a heavy meal and letting loose over the weekend." Overall, Americans are eating more plantbased foods, a trend that has spawned a flourishing segment of vegan-friendly, health-conscious national chains – including Sweetgreen, Salata Salad Kitchen, Flower Child, and True Food Kitchen – geared toward omnivores aiming to strike a balance between meat and plant options. According to a Gallup Poll, only 5 percent of Americans are vegetarians, and 3 percent are vegans, which are vegetarians who eat plants and avoid all animal-derived products, including eggs, dairy, and honey. These days, it's easier to be either. Flexitarians/semi-vegetarians, demi-vegetarians, reducetarians, semi-vegans, etc. are motivated to eat more vegetables and fruits while reducing meat and/or dairy. A recent survey by Packaged Facts found that 53 percent of consumers are omnivorous and more than 36 percent identify as “flexitarian,” consuming meat, poultry, and seafood along with vegan and vegetarian meals. These are the folks, not vegans or vegetarians, whom grocers, food manufacturers, and restaurants are targeting. Most people are familiar with Burger King's popular Impossible Whopper. About two

A HEALTHY NEW YEAR Leaf & Grain's Sonny’s Garden with fresh vegetables, herbs, creamy feta, and homemade avocado vinaigrette.

months ago, McDonald's started testing the plant-based McPlant burger in eight restaurants nationwide. Other chains already are on board. Panda Express added orange chicken made with Beyond Chicken. In 2020, vegan entrepreneur Lucas Bradbury rolled out a breaded, plant-based “chicken” franchise called Pollo Project, with locations in San Antonio, Austin, Corpus Christi, Katy, and Houston. Its proprietary vegan "chikn" is made with non-GMO soy and spices to create friedchicken flavor in nuggets, sandwiches, and wraps. Whether your goal is to eat more salads, or you’re just vegan-curious, here are a few Houston born-and-bred options: Leaf & Grain offers pre-designed salads. Chef and co-owner Edward Thompson's carefully composed and balanced creations boast contrasting flavors and textures to keep salads and warm bowls (with brown rice and quinoa) interesting. However, you also can mix and match to your heart's content. Everything is made in-house except for the tortilla chips, from the sourdough bread to the lilting homemade dressings. The best-sellers – cilantro-jalapeño dressing, honey white balsamic, and chipotle-lime vinaigrette – are recipes from founder Deets Hoffman's mother, Courtney. Most of the dressings are vegan-

friendly, with a couple of exceptions – the Caesar dressing contains anchovies, and Greek yogurt enriches the cilantro-jalapeno dressing. Meat and vegetarian options are available, plus a separate, full-vegan menu. Leaf & Grain has locations in the Shops at Houston Center (1200 McKinney St.), One Allen Center (500 Dallas), and West University (5525 Weslayan). Verdine (449 W. 19th St.) takes plant-based cuisine to the next level. Located in a stylish, modern dining room in the Heights Waterworks development, the three-year-old Verdine showcases seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Chef-owner Stephanie Hoban is a trained natural-foods chef with a master's degree in nutrition. Her tagine tofu bowl and Bistro Burger (with a lentil-walnut-mushroom patty) are lunch-crowd favorites. Dinner offers heartier options, including Beyond Chicken parmesan with organic linguini and a pan wheat crust pizza topped with vegan mozzarella, Field Roast pepperoni, and housemade marinara. Cascabel (1415 Murray Bay St.) radiates hippie vibes reminiscent of the Houston-favorite Hobbit Café, one of the few local places that has served vegetarian grub since way back in the early ’70s. In 2020, Cascabel’s vegetarian owner, David Arreguin, created a vegan (continued on page 46)

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Leaf & Grain

FRESH At left: Leaf & Grain has expanded to three Houston locations so far. Here are co-owners George Folline, Murray Manley, Deets Hoffman, and Edward Thompson. At right: Harissa grilled tofu steak tops Verdine's Royal Tagine Bowl, served warm with Moroccan vegetable stew, organic quinoa, and green tahini sauce. (continued from page 44) Mexican menu without

the cheese. As many diners know, sour cream and cheese are crucial ingredients in Mexican cooking, as they add tangy, salty, savory dimensions to tacos, enchiladas, tortas, sopes, tamales, etc. Arreguin has built a loyal following among vegans, vegetarians, and their meat-loving companions with potato-based chile con queso, wheat flour fried "chicharrones," spicy faux "menudo" soup, chile relleno stuffed with jackfruit, and "huevos" made with mung beans and volcanic salt. Veegos (10932 Westheimer Road) is another vegan Mexican option, offering nachos, tortas, quesadillas, and tacos. Cashews provide the foundation for the vegan cheese, and seasoned, shred-

ded jackfruit substitutes for the meat in tacos. A corn hominy stew, the pozole, is bolstered with meaty slices of baby bella mushrooms. Green Seed Vegan (4320 Almeda Road) is hard to miss, located inside a thoughtfully decorated building painted cabbage green. An elixir menu highlights reasonably priced, fresh, pressed juices and wheatgrass shots. In addition, owners Matti Merrell and husband Rodney Perry have created a fresh-tasting, creative menu free of soy and processed vegan meats. Take, for instance, the PB&P, or a panini with caramelized plantains, spinach, and peanut butter. Regulars also savor portabello "cheesesteak," walnut-sunflower chorizo, buckwheat quinoa

patty burger, lemongrass garbanzo tempeh, and blackberry-lemon cashew cheesecake. Korny Vibes (403 Westheimer Road) is a lowkey fast-food vegan concept specializing in plantbased burgers and all things vegan fried chicken (VFC). Start with the Cauli Wyngs, or pankofried cauliflower with "ranch" dressing, then go on to the VFC sandwiches and burgers. Finally, there’s vegan cheesecake, German chocolate cake, and shakes made with oat-and-almond milk topped with coconut whipped cream for dessert. Editor’s note: Buzz dining columnist Dai Huynh is a James Beard food-journalism award winner and longtime Houston-based restaurant writer.

The secret to salad? The dressing The key to adding more salads to your diet? Good homemade dressing. Even the best cooks reach for the bottled stuff on occasion, but taking less than three minutes to combine oil and vinegar and some seasonings can transform your journey to healthier eating. Adding a salad to your daily routine need not be a chore when you leave behind the mass-produced concoctions of cheap oil, water (yes, more water than oil if it's low-fat), dried spices, and ghastly unnatural chemicals. Homemade vs. store-bought is akin to real butter vs. margarine. We'll start with the simplest dressing, the vinaigrette, courtesy of Leaf & Grain culinary director and co-owner Edward Thompson, who also shares tips on elevating a good salad to a great one with just four ingredients. Simple Vinaigrette Juice from 1 lemon 2 Tablespoons white wine vinegar (see note) 1 Tablespoon Dijon or whole grain mustard 1 cup olive oil (see note) In a bowl, whisk together lemon juice, vinegar, and mustard. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking to build a stable emulsion. Taste the dressing and add more oil or vinegar, based on your palate. Season with salt and fresh pepper to taste. Makes 1¼ cups. Note: The vinaigrette is a great template to work with, Thompson

BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 46

says. Although lemon is the most versatile seasoning and something you'll most likely almost always have on hand, you can swap out different citruses, such as blood orange or grapefruit. You also can switch out the vinegar for alternatives such as apple cider or, for a milder taste, champagne. Furthermore, adding different oils can change the dressing’s profile completely, such as using hazelnut oil or sesame oil. You also can add chopped shallots or garlic; fresh herbs, such as parsley or thyme; or any other fancy stuff you might like. Three salad solutions Here are tips from chef Thompson for elevating a salad from good to great. No. 1 – Don't forget to season your greens! Lettuce deserves salt and pepper just like everything else, and unseasoned greens are responsible for many bland salads. The only way to tell whether things are seasoned correctly is to taste them. No. 2 – When making a salad, add contrasting textures and flavors to keep things interesting and balanced. For example, if you’re working with soft greens, such as butter lettuce, toss in sunflower seeds or breadcrumbs for a nice crunch. Throwing in spicy grilled chicken? Consider a creamy dressing or sliced cucumber (or both) to balance the spices out. No. 3 – Keep it seasonal when possible, and keep it simple by using the best ingredients you can get when in doubt.

SPORTS

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by Todd Freed, staff writer

Nathan Barber

SportzBuzz F

or the second time in the last three seasons, The Emery/Weiner School is the TAPPS Division 1 state champion in six-man football. The Jaguars defeated San Marcos Academy 69-24 in the state final, with the game ending in the third quarter due to the 45-point mercy rule. The championship also capped off an undefeated 12-0 season for the Jaguars while marking the school’s third state championship in six-man football since joining TAPPS in 2014. “We’re thrilled and excited to bring another TAPPS state championship back to Stella Link,” said Jaguars head coach Jason Reimers. “For this record-setting senior class, there’s no better way to go out than to have their last dance on the biggest stage.” No player came up bigger in the state final than the Jaguars’ all-state senior Leo Gerst, who rushed for a lofty 220 yards and six touchdowns while also returning a kickoff 75 yards for another touchdown in the victory. “We have 15 seniors on this team, so we really felt that kind of urgency to go out with a bang. It’s kind of like that Michael Jordan documentary The Last Dance. It was our final season together,” said Gerst. “Everyone on this team worked well together,” said senior Vincent Banks, who played a major role for the Jaguars as a wide receiver, linebacker, and place kicker. “We had great chemistry, and I think that’s one of the best things you can have on a team.”

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ack in traditional 11-man football, it was a magnificent season for the Second Baptist Eagles, who advanced to the state finals for the first time in 22 years. The Eagles reached the TAPPS Division II state-title game before ultimately losing to Dallas Christian 33-14 in the championship final. “I thought it was an extremely successful season, especially based on the fact that we lost so many great kids up front on both our offensive and defensive lines from last year’s team. The expectations were questionable, but the kids more than exceeded expectations,” said Eagles head coach Terry Pirtle. To get to the state final, the Eagles’ outstanding playoff run included a victory over Austin

BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 48

SIX-MAN CHAMPS The Emery/Weiner School Jaguars capped off an undefeated 12-0 season to defeat San Marcos Academy 69-24 for the TAPPS Division I six-man football state championship. The victory marked the Jaguars’ second state championship in the last three seasons.

Regents, avenging losses to Regents in the previous three state semifinals. Second Baptist also defeated a Fort Bend Christian Academy team that had ended the Eagles’ 33-game district winning streak just a few weeks earlier. “Those were both great victories for our guys,” said Pirtle. For the season, Second Baptist was led in big part by senior defensive back Everett Skillern, who was named the Private School Player of the Year in Greater Houston. Skillern will play college football at Brown University. On offense, all-state running back Eli Smith rushed for 1,700 yards and 26 touchdowns. Smith will play at the next level for Villanova University. Pirtle also had high praise for defensive lineman Austin Courtney, who made a successful transition from linebacker this season. “Austin was simply outstanding all year,” said Pirtle.

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n volleyball, St. Agnes Academy capped off a spectacular 37-7 season by winning the TAPPS 6A state championship. The Tigers defeated Plano Prestonwood in four sets to secure their second state championship in the last three seasons. “We took care of business,” said Tigers head coach Cydryce McMillian. “Our girls have grit. They went through some adversity this season, and you have to go through some challenges in

order to be a champion. One of the things we identified in our vision was ‘applying the pressure.’ It was our motto all season.” “It was really special to win state,” said Tigers senior standout Sophie Agee. “I really think our team had an amazing connection and great chemistry on and off the court.” The Tigers were on a mission this season after losing a five-set heartbreaker in last year’s state final. “Losing that state final last year was really rough. I remember the ride back home afterward. It was pretty sad, but it just motivated us even more for this season,” said Tigers junior Piper Stephenson. It’s been an amazing three-year run for the Tigers, who, along with winning state championships this season and in 2019, were also state finalists last season. “We knew we had a lot of good talent and terrific coaches when I first arrived here three seasons ago, but we just needed to need to identify those key pieces for championship-like moments,” said McMillian. Editor’s note: Todd Freed is the host and executive producer of H-Town High School Sports, which airs Monday through Thursday on AT&T SportsNet SW. To submit high school sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, please email todd@thebuzzmagazines.com.

St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School PK-4 - 8th Grade, National Blue Ribbon School, STEM Certified Religious and Advanced Academics PK and K Observations - January 15, 2022 PK - 9 a.m. / K - 10:30 a.m. (sign up online) APPLICATION DEADLINE - JANUARY 12, 2O22 For more info and to apply online visit saintvincentschool.org 6802 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, TX 77025

BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 49

SPORTS

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by Angie Frederickson, staff writer

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elcome to SportzBuzz Jr., a column spotlighting neighborhood athletes in elementary and middle school.

Holding on to victory The Owls (top photo) are Southwest Football League (SFL) junior-tackle division champions. In a competitive game against the Tigers, the Owls came out on top 20-14. With 10 seconds left in the game, the Tigers were driving deep into Owls territory, but time expired as a group of Owls tacklers brought the Tigers’ running back to the ground on the 8-yard line. The Owls are fifth and sixth graders from Annunciation Orthodox School, Presbyterian School, St. John’s School, Lanier Middle School, Pin Oak Middle School, Pershing Middle School, River Oaks Baptist School, and Trafton Academy. The SFL champs are (top row, from left) Reed Fowler, coach Brett Young, Simon Frankel, Jacob Young, Brock Barcot, Beck Johnson, coach Tucker Fowler, Mason Mendelovitz, Tyler Coffman, John Mehos, (bottom row, from left) Peter Henry, Landen Davis, Oliver Broach, Townes Johnson, Gabriel Cole, Harrison Westbrook, Aryeh Gaspard, Joseph Fiegl, and Chase Mould.

Undefeated record breaker David Carbajal (middle photo) is the Houston Junior Preparatory Conference (HJPC) overall cross-country champion for the boys’ division. The Presbyterian School eighth grader secured the title after setting a personal-record race time at the season’s championship meet. David is one of eight middleschool medalists from Presbyterian School this year. He led the Panthers to their first-place wins in each of the cross-country meets for the entire season and was undefeated in every race, including the 2,400-meter, 3,200-meter, and 2-mile runs. In addition, David participated in the AAU Junior Olympics and is nationally ranked No. 4 in the 1,500-meter run and No. 7 in the 800-meter run.

Pulling flags for the win The SFL freshman-flag Horned Frogs (bottom photo) defeated the Longhorns, 15-14, in a narrow championship victory. After finishing in third place in the division during the regular season, with a 5-3 record, the Horned Frogs continued their momentum and claimed the championship win. Head coach Reggie Beavan, defensive coordinator Jeff Weinstock, and assistant head coach Jordan Baird worked together for the second season in a row and led the Horned Frogs by encouraging them to value the team and each other more than themselves. The strategy paid off with a great season. The champion players are (top row, from left) coaches Reggie Beavan, Jeff Weinstock, and Jordan Baird, (middle row, from left) Gemma Baird, Haden McDowell, Vaughn Pritchard, Daniel Beavan, Ellis Weinstock, Elliott Seifert, John Flippen, Jack Carrere, (bottom row, from left) Grey Fisher, Jaxon Purdom, Jansen Baird, and Matthew Gates. Editor’s note: Send your best high-resolution photos and behind-the-scenes stories about young local athletes, in both team and individual sports, to SportzBuzz, Jr. at info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Include all contact info, names, ages, grades and schools. Featured athletes must live in Buzz-circulation neighborhoods. Items will be published on a space-available basis. BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 50

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KIDS

LEAD BY EXAMPLE Suri Mehta, a ninth grader at St. Agnes Academy, coached a co-ed soccer team for 8 to 10 year olds.

by Suri Mehta, age 14

Buzz Kidz

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his year, I got the chance to play soccer with my teammates. I also coached kids younger than myself. The same enjoyment, laughter, and thrill I feel on the soccer field is what I felt while coaching. The kids’ competitiveness, smiles, and laughter are the best parts of coaching. For example, the kids wanted me to try to score on them before practice one day. They all got into the goal to prevent me from scoring, and each player had a huge smile as they worked together. I smiled as I watched them bond. Another practice I remember was when one of the kids said they had seen one of their teammates at the grocery store and they both said hi to each other. I was in awe of how soccer connects and builds friendships with teammates on

and off of the field, just like it still does with my own teammates. Coaching kids has been such a positive influence in my life, as the kids taught me how to look at things from a new perspective and from a coach’s lens. Coaching comes with lots of responsibilities and an amazing support system. I am honestly so grateful for my assistant coach, Coach Fred Love, as he filled in for me when I had my own club games, and the team moms who handled all the details with snacks, drinks, and the team party. I am also so thankful for Mr. Derick Bugg, as he supported me throughout this coaching journey.

Every week, I looked forward to coming onto the fields and being around the kids. Coaching has reminded me of the simple joys of the game, such as the score doesn’t matter and how fun it is getting snacks and drinks. At the age of 14, I am so lucky I was able to experience this wonderful opportunity and look forward to coaching again in the spring. Want to be a Buzz Kid? Email approximately 350 words, a high-resolution photo and caption to info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Or mail it to The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401.

Get Your Morning Buzz Every weekday morning, enjoy your coffee + the buzz in your inbox. Our e-newsletter, Morning Buzz, features buzzworthy stories about neighbors every day, Monday-Friday. Sign up to find out what we’re buzzing about at thebuzzmagazines.com/morning-buzz.

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Error in machina (a tale of antibiotics) A long time ago, okay, just 40 years ago, we thought patients allergic to penicillin would also have a similar bad reaction to cephalosporins (a family of antibiotics that kill bacteria in a similar way as penicillin does). Generations of doctors, nurses, and pharmacists were taught that if a patient were allergic to penicillin, they could not be given a cephalosporin either. Meanwhile, research over the ensuing decades proved otherwise and explained where the misconception came from. (One explanation includes penicillin contamination with early preparations of cephalosporin antibiotics.) Nonetheless, it still permeates medical practice (in large part also due to hightech electronic health records with built-in warnings for penicillin-allergic patients to not be prescribed an antibiotic from the cephalosporin family). Recent publications in the Journal of American Medical Association Network and The Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology: In Practice highlighted the problem of an electronic-chart warning and showed the results of removing such a warning. When the warning was removed, the subsequent utilization of inexpensive, safe cephalosporins increased. This led to less use of more aggressive and more expensive broader spectrum antibiotics (think of a shotgun approach to blasting many different bacteria instead of a targeted rifle attack on a more limited group of bacteria). The results showed no increased reaction to cephalosporins in the patients with penicillin allergy (confirmed or unconfirmed). Additionally, it decreased severe reactions to the more aggressive antibiotics, such as potentially life-threatening diarrhea. Additionally, it was financially more advantageous to use the less expensive cephalosporins. We now know penicillin-allergic patients can safely receive antibiotics

like cefdinir/Omnicef, cefuroxime/Ceftin, and cefaclor/Ceclor, with an extremely low risk of having a serious allergic reaction. Taking a cephalosporin instead of a more aggressive antibiotic means a less-negative impact on the microbiome (the admixture of all the helping/healthful microorganisms in our bodies) and/or escalation of antibiotic resistance. With very few new antibiotics in the developmental pipeline, we need to be very cautious with the limited agents we have currently. If you are uncertain of a penicillin allergy or it has been 10 years since having a reaction, you may be able to safely take penicillin again (with an easy allergy test to confirm such, readily available at The Allergy Clinic). Either way, cephalosporins are, in fact, a safe alternative. We can help explain this and communicate with your doctor. Clarity on your safest antibiotic and alternatives is always in your best interest. No one nose allergies like we do.™ Note: Information contained in this article should not be considered a substitute for consultation with a board-certified allergist to address individual medical needs. Anthony J. Weido, M.D., The Allergy Clinic, 7707 Fannin, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77054, 713.797.0993, *1200 Binz, Suite 1400, Houston, Texas 77004, 713.522.9911, www.allergyclinic.com, *Operating as Houston Allergy and Asthma Clinic

Now Hiring! We’re seeking a talented editorial assistant with excellent written and verbal communication skills. If you are looking to join a “buzzworthy” team, see more details and apply at thebuzzmagazines.com/employment-opportunities.

Your smile can last forever Anna Maria Salas, D.D.S., M.S. Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics

713-481-4885 3642 University Blvd. Suite 102 Houston, TX 77005 www.westuortho.com BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 53

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PETS

Neighborhood Tails

The Buzz 2021 Pet of the Year Contest Winner

Aggie, age 12, Labrador retriever, Magnolia Hello! My name is Aggie “Chica Bear” Edwards because the little hoomans I own could not agree on my name. I am a 12-year-old female Labrador retriever. My afternoons are spent luxuriating on my Serta bed while reading AARF magazine. When I am not retrieving duck or quail, I am enjoying daily water physical therapy in the pool my hoomans built for me. My favorite hooman trick is to protest loudly if it is too hot or cold outside or if they absentmindedly did not provide me with my evening Milk-Bone. Come see me on Magnolia when you are walking by – my vision and hearing are great, so I'll bark out to you! Got a cute critter? Email a picture of your pet with approximately 150 words to info@thebuzzmagazines.com or mail it to The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401.

Congratulations to Daisy for being voted our 2021 Buzz Magazines Pet of the Year. Our pets played an extra special role this past year and got us through the tough times of 2021. They’re all winners to us! Thank you to all who voted and to all 48 of our contestants for participating. To have your pet considered for 2022, please submit a high-resolution photo and 150 words from your pet’s perspective to info@thebuzzmagazines.com.

Create a buzz for your biz. BELLAIRE MEMORIAL RIVER OAKS TANGLEWOOD WEST UNIVERSITY Est. 2002. Mailed to 58,000 homes monthly. To advertise in The Buzz Magazines, contact us at 713.668.4157, ext. 11 or advertising@thebuzzmagazines.com BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 54

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Estate planning for blended families Estate planning for nuclear families is easy. Spouses leave everything to each other, otherwise children, otherwise family. That works well for couples that start young, poor, and childless. Estate planning for blended families is not so easy. Think about people who already have kids and assets. Leave everything to the other spouse, and you disinherit the kids. Leaving everything to the children has problems, too. Does “everything” include the survivor’s assets, or just the decedent’s? Which children are included? Which are excluded? Can the survivor live on what’s left? If your spouse died first and left you out, how would you feel? Community property complicates everything. Normal people can only guess when they will die, much less their spouse’s community share of the marital estate. It’s a long story, but most marriages begin with no community property and end with nothing but community property. Whenever the music stops, community property is split 50:50. Fifty percent of everything is very different than fifty percent of nothing. Community property can be resolved in advance, with a marital property agreement, e.g., everything is separate property. Best practice is for each spouse to use different lawyers. Full disclosure of all assets by each spouse is required. The process is like a root canal, just less pleasant. Most couples skip the prenup and make wills leaving everything to each other, but in trust. Community property is accounted for at death. The surviving spouse lives off their own income first, preserving their savings, and can tap the trust as needed. On death, the remainder passes to the first spouse’s children. Neither spouse is disinherited, the survivor maintains

their existing lifestyle, and the children get what’s left over. Every trust has a trustee. It’s simplest and cheapest to let the surviving spouse be their own trustee. However, with a dishonest or senile trustee, the money may be gone before the stepchildren know it. It’s safer to use friends or family, but it can strain the best relationships, and is an unwelcome burden. A trust company is safe but expensive. Late-life remarriage is a tough subject. Adult children expect an inheritance. Spouses have a duty of support. If Dad doesn’t leave all to the new wife, it may be spent on medical expenses anyway. If the money runs out, do the kids care for both a parent and stepparent? Cohabitation has its place. Better yet, kids should help elderly parents with medical care and financial planning early and often. People with a nurse and a purse are less likely to look for one. We write wills and go to probate court. Foreign nationals and international families welcome. Russell W. Hall, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Board Certified – Estate Planning and Probate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 6750 West Loop South, Suite 920, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.662.3853, bellaireprobate.com/blog

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NEIGHBORS

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by Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld, staff writer

Buzz About Town Spotted: Santa in Bellaire

annual Spaghetti Supper and Fine Arts Showcase. More than 600 attended the fundraising event (even with a World Series game playing that same night). Event chairs Tania Campbell and Lee Ann Payne adapted a long-standing tradition into an outdoor, Covidfriendly event. Attendees enjoyed student performances, including piano, visual arts, choir, orchestra, dance, drama, karate, and gymnastics. Pictured are (from left) Penelope England and Kaitlyn Pham playing piano while Jack Badgwell, Rocco England, David Weber, and Isabelle Pham take in the performances.

The City of Bellaire rang in the holiday season with annual Holiday in the Park, which drew 3,000 people to Bellaire Town Square. Highlights included live music from local choirs, snow slides, food, photos with Santa, and, new this year, an ice-sculpture artist demonstration from Reverend Butter. Pictured are Evan and William English with Santa, as parents Hannah and Jed enjoyed the festivities. Santa also made an appearance in Bellaire for the Selfies with Santa event the night before. The week before Christmas, Santa was spotted in Bellaire waving from firetrucks, accompanied by members of the Bellaire police and fire departments.

Marrying Magaziner

Pershing spaghetti supper Pershing students, families, and supporters enjoyed outdoor dining and fine arts at the

Rachel Levy and Ryan Magaziner married Nov. 6 at Hotel ZaZa Museum District surrounded by family and friends. Rachel and Ryan, graduates of The Emery/Weiner School, are high-school sweethearts. One of their former teachers, Rabbi Maccabee Avishur, once told the two: “You better invite me to your wedding one day.” Little did Rabbi Avishur know that he would be the one marrying them. Emery alumni in attendance (including this Buzz staffer and proud big sister) were moved to see their former teacher, and guests were touched by the meaningful, personalized ceremony. The wedding was planned by Rachel’s mom, Syma Levy of Oulala! What an Event, who kept the decor a surprise until Rachel and Ryan entered the room for their first dance.

Rachel and Ryan’s dogs, Annie and Henry, didn’t make an appearance during the wedding weekend but were there in spirit.

Wushu taolu

The 2021 IWUF Wushu Taolu Virtual Competition attracted nearly 1,000 athletes from all over. This was the first online wushu competition held by the International Wushu Federation. Wushu taolu is a collective term for martial arts; it includes a set routine consisting of a connected set of techniques choreographed to certain principles or philosophies for attack and defense. Wushu will be included for the first time as an official sport in the 2026 Youth Olympic Games. Houstonians Jean Hoang, a current USA Wushu team (continued on page 58) BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 56

BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 57

Elaine Wang, who practice at Houston Shaolin Kung Fu Academy, represented Team USA and won awards in hand forms, sword form, and staff form. Jean, a junior at Stratford High School, Alex, a senior at Bellaire High School, and Elaine, a seventh grader at Pin Oak Middle School, have been training in martial arts since they were 4. Martial arts teacher Master Shi Xing Hao is proud. Pictured (from left) are Elaine, Alex, and Jean.

50 years of Open Door

CatchLight Group

The Open Door Arts and Crafts program of West University Baptist and Crosspoint Church, Bellaire celebrated its 50th anniversary. This program was started in 1971 by the late Aleta O’Neal and women from the Women's Missionary Union of West University Baptist Church. The craft groups, which meet every Tuesday from nine until noon all year, are taught by volunteers. The event was attended by Aleta’s

husband, Bobby O’Neal, daughters Stacy O’Neal Pannell and Tami O’Neal Ellis, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Members constructed two planters to present to Bobby O’Neal. Pictured are celebration committee members (from left) Chandra De, Eunice Orchard, Shanthi Pravinkumar, and Robin Phillips. Open Door is open to all and offers a range of classes; the fall semester included fabric painting, cardmaking, stained glass, knitting/crocheting, needlepoint, watercolor painting, and beading. See cityrise.org/opendoor.

the day in the Meyerland area. The gala raised a record-setting $1,035,000 for crime-prevention programs, including a new Safe Community Research Center launching in 2022. Pictured are (from left) Scott and Lindsay Aronstein and Patricia King-Ritter and Tom Ritter. See crime-stoppers.org.

From page to stage Emily Jaschke

(continued from page 56) member, Alex Xu, and

For a safer Houston Crime Stoppers of Houston’s “Leading the Way to a Safer Houston” drew more than 500 supporters. The gala, at the Hilton Americas Houston, was chaired by Amy and Neil Leibman, Genny and John McIntyre, and Sheridan and John Eddie Williams. The program included a message from actor Matthew McConaughey. Crime Stoppers CEO Rania Mankarious honored media icon Dave Ward for his 40 years of service to Crime Stoppers, and she participated in a conversation with family members of victims. They included Paul Castro, father of 17-year-old David Castro, shot and killed in a road-rage incident after leaving an Astros game; Theresa Seck, sister of Patrick Aikens, who was shot to death walking outside his Galleria-area apartment; and Chuck Cook, son of 80-year-old Rosalie Cook, who was murdered by a habitual offender while leaving Walgreens in the middle of

The nonprofit iWrite literacy organization honored 100 student authors and illustrators at the Page to Stage 12th annual book-signing gala, at the Hyatt Regency Downtown. More than 420 guests attended, raising a record-breaking $150,642. Emcee was Derrick Shore, KPRC 2 Houston Life co-host. Editor’s Choice for story/play winner Prinsha Khanal, a fourth grader, read a portion of her story on stage, and the winner for poetry/song, sixth grader Alyssa Casullo, sang a song she wrote. Elaine Balagia Croucher entertained the crowd with Broadway show tunes with pianist Greg Giacona. This event also unveiled the book cover for next year’s contest, which will give 1,000 students the chance to be published.Pictured are (from left) Brant and Elaine Balagia Croucher and Melissa Williams Murphy and Matt Murphy. See iwrite.org.

Star-studded soiree for JFS Jewish Family Service of Houston (JFS)’s annual LiVE! gala raised more than $2 million. The event, themed “A Sparkling Stars Evening,” was held at the Hilton Americas-Houston. More than 900 guests enjoyed an evening of glitz and glamour, including a performance by Kodi Lee, the winner of Season 14 of America’s Got Talent, an exceptional musician currently being featured at the Luxor Las Vegas who is both blind and autistic. JFS CEO Linda L. Burger introduced some of the organization’s clients, who shared inspirational stories of how JFS has changed their lives personally. This year’s LiVE! gala honored longtime supporters and volunteers Sandi and Steven Wolf, who were awarded the organization’s Joan Alexander Chesed Award, and Aileen Weycer and Jamie Wolf, who were awarded the Shirley and Allen Becker Leadership Award, and H-E-B, which was awarded the JFS Houston Community Investment Award. Joan and Stanford Alexander and Elaine (continued on page 60) BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 58

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Johnny Than

(continued from page 58) Helfman served as hon-

Over 100 students in grades K-8 from 15 Catholic schools from across the Archdiocese competed. The St. Vincent de Paul chess team won first place and was awarded the Cardinal DiNardo Chess Championship Traveling Trophy, which will be displayed at SVdP for a year. Pictured (from left) are Rachel Curry, vice principal Scott Kloesel, Joshua Jose, William Condron, Jeff-Angelo Alesna, Nathanial Curry, principal Carolyn Sears, and Khang Le.

Camping out in Bellaire The Patrons for Bellaire Parks and the City of Bellaire’s 12th annual Tents in Town – The Ultimate Urban Campout took place at Bellaire Town Square. The schedule was packed with Lisa Lim

orary co-chairs. The auction was chaired by Jan Zuber Miller. Pictured are award recipient Aileen Weycer, daughters Lindsay and Hayley Weycer, and husband Mark Weycer. Funds raised from the gala will support JFS Houston’s programming and services that touch the lives of over 20,000 individuals. The Behavioral and Mental Health Services of JFS Houston has seen a 340 percent increase in counseling requests since the beginning of the pandemic. JFS Houston is a Partner Agency of the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston and a Beneficiary of the United Way of Greater Houston. See jfshouston.org.

Students spreading cheer

Supporting Seven Acres

Seven Acres Jewish Senior Care Services is hosting its annual gala, Shooting for the Stars – the Future is Ours!, at Hilton Americas-Houston Feb. 5. The gala will honor the family of Seven Acres’ late CEO, Malcolm Slatko, with the Joyce Proler Schechter Spirit of Life Award. Event co-chairs are (pictured, from left) Adam and Robyn Burck and Sandy and Dr. Bob Light; honorary co-chairs are Robert Caplan, Raymond Kalmans, and Marsha Stein; and auction chairs are Abby Ackerman and Michael Wiesenthal. Proceeds benefit the residents of the Seven Acres Jewish Senior Care Services, one of the largest not-for-profit, non-sectarian, longterm care campuses for seniors on the Texas Gulf Coast. For gala tickets, see sevenacres.org.

Chess champs This fall, the 2021 Archdiocese of GalvestonHouston Catholic School Chess Tournament was held at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory. BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 60

Students involved in the Harris Health Junior Volunteer program decided to “adopt” different units of the hospital. Groups of students created handcrafted items such as thank you cards and encouragement signs as well as motivational songs and dances for healthcare workers. Ayushi Mohanty, a junior at Carnegie Vanguard High School, is the Adopt-a-Unit team leader for the surgical oncology unit at Ben Taub Hospital. Pictured is the team delivering items to doctors and nurses, including (bottom row, on left) Ayushi; (bottom row, on right) Mallika Gyawali, a student at Shadow Creek High School; (middle, center) Jileane Tuppil, a student at Shadow Creek; (top row, on left) Fayobami Taiwo, a student at DeBakey High School; and (top row, on right) Humza Hanif, a student at Carnegie. Additionally, junior volunteers made happy birthday and get well soon cards along with handsewn blankets for cancer patients.

activities, including mini golf, balloon art with Honey Dew the Clown, face painting, glitter tattoos, rock climbing, inflatables, a photo booth, a silly string war, a hula hoop and jump rope contest, a magic show with Mr. Magic, s’mores and a fire safety talk with the Bellaire Fire Department, a bedtime story with Principal Flores from Horn Elementary, and stargazing with the Houston Astronomical Society. Dinner was from Holy Smoke Cookers, and breakfast was from The ’401, NY Eatery, and The Toasted Yolk. Before heading home, attendees enjoyed a morning yoga session. The event raised more than $20,000 for Bellaire parks, with 62 campsites sold. Event co-chairs were Amisha Jay Dalwadi, Sheetal Dalwadi-Oza, and Patrick Durio. Pictured are Patrons board emmber Sonu Mathew with sons Jaeron, Taijus and Sajan (twins who celebrated their 10th birthday at Tents in Town), and Ajay. Be seen in Buzz About Town. Send your high-res photos and community news to info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Items are published on a space-available basis. Also share your upcoming-event listings on thebuzzmagazines.com.

BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 61

NEIGHBORS

by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

Back Porch

Coincidence and connections

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here’s an episode of Seinfeld where Elaine, Jerry Seinfeld’s fictional best friend played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, debates: Are there small coincidences and big coincidences? Are there degrees of coincidences? What is a coincidence anyway? Then there’s the psychologist Carl Jung, who said there are no coincidences, only synchronicities, which he defined as “two or more causally unrelated events which have the same meaning.” Simply put, synchronicities, according to Jung, are meaningful coincidences. And then there are those of us who believe those synchronicities are signs from God – or angels or the Universe – sending us messages and guiding us. Whatever we believe, whether we see coincidences, synchronicities, or signs from God, when we watch for chance events, big or small, they are everywhere. The key is watching, and noticing. Melanie Herz Promecene wrote Grit & Magic: A Mother’s Story of Modern Adoption, and in it details the numerous “God winks,” too numerous and incredible to ignore, that led her to her son, after years of wanting to become a mother. “I wrote the book with the intention of sharing these synchronicities with my son, so he would one day understand that we were meant to be together,” Melanie says. “We are all interconnected, though we may not realize the intricacies. If we are actively present, we can find signs all around us. Some more obvious than others, but just as significant.” Another friend was recently prepping for a talk she was giving to a group of women on behalf of the nonprofit organization she founded. She was struggling to write the talk, trying to determine how to meaningfully intertwine the stories of her career path, mental health, and the importance of perspective. As she wrote the speech, a photo from several years ago of her and Brené Brown, her inspiration, kept popping up on her phone. “She is my ultimate for speaking,” the friend said. “I just don’t think that is a coincidence.” For some of us, these little events imbue our lives with meaning. For others, they are random happenings, unrelated, maybe interesting, but nothing more. Is it a sign from God? Or is it a mere coincidence? Dr. Bernard Beitman, visiting professor at the BELLAIRE BUZZ JANUARY 2022 62

University of Virginia and former chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of M i s s o u r i Columbia, has spent his career researching coincidences and says about a third of us notice them regularly. In his book Connecting with Coincidence: The New Science for Using Synchronicity and Serendipity in Your Life, he says that there are personality characteristics and situations – if a person is religious or spiritual, or HAPPY CHANCES The young-adult novelist John Green weighs in. Coincidence, synif they are actively chronicity, divine guidance…. However you define them, serendipities are all around us. seeking meaning in you’ve affected other people. Every action and every life – that make us more likely to experience cointhought we have matters. It all contributes to this cidences. “These characteristics … have proven collective energy we have going on in the world.” to be so consistent that I realized we actually do – Starting the year sifting for meaning amid and can – make our own coincidences,” Beitman chaos seems especially appropriate this year. We says. might vow to shift our thinking to pronoia, the The message: Pay attention. idea that, opposite to paranoia, all the little con“I know there’s something more going on nections are conspiring to help us. By thinking than we pay attention to,” he tells The Atlantic’s in terms of pronoia, we train our brains to seek Julie Beck. “Random is not enough of an explaout what you might call happy coincidences. nation for me.” Fun, at the very least, and potentially inspiring Laura Lynne Jackson is the author of the New and affirming of something bigger, connecting us all. York Times bestsellers The Light Between Us: The sociologist and prolific author Martha Stories from Heaven, Lessons for the Living and Beck asks (and I paraphrase): Should we stay open Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe, both to the possibility of magic? How do we do that withof which share uncanny, unexplained stories out flinging reason aside? that, for many, confirm something bigger going Just as a start, maybe the answer is to pause, on, and, for others, at least prompt the question: briefly but consistently, and notice the connecWhat is going on? tions. By looking up from our to-do lists and payIn a podcast interview with Goop, Jackson says, ing attention, we can bring a little bit of magic “Your life isn’t just about your life. It’s about how into our everyday. you’re interconnected with other people, how behance.net/runamokstudios

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