Happy Hacienda by Cathy Gordon
Zen Moms Mother’s Day Spotlight: Beth Stephan
Cassie and Spencer Neumann
When an Aging Parent Lives Far Away Sailing the Greek Islands Is Ignorance Really Bliss? Houston, TX Permit No. 2047 PAID US Postage PRSRT STD
This Month in Dining: Patio Happy Hours
EDITOR’S NOTE
S
o many people ask me how we come up with ideas for stories. The answer is simple. Everywhere. This month, I was especially inspired to include an article that would help our readers with aging parents who live outside Houston. I hope Dave Schafer's story will provide some much-needed support. Also, I would like to give a Happy Mother’s Day shoutout to my mom, aka Bubbe Blanche. I never thought of her as a “Zen mom” – see Andria Frankfort’s story on chilled-out mothers – in fact, quite the opposite. However, at age 84, she has survived so many life challenges, including the loss of a son who was born on Mother’s Day, breast cancer, now taking care of my aging dad and so much more. But not once has she let any of it keep her down. Her strength, resilience and hilarious sense of humor constantly amaze and entertain me. Thanks, Mom. 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 bellairebuzz.com • facebook.com/bellairebuzz Editor Publisher Associate Editors Vice President, Sales Staff Writers
Contributing Writer Manager, Interactive Media Designer Account Managers
Sales Associates
Joni Hoffman Michael Hoffman Cheryl Laird Annie Blaylock McQueen Jay Janecek Tracy L. Barnett Andria Frankfort Angie Frederickson Todd Freed Michelle Casas Groogan Dai Huynh Dave Schafer Cheryl Ursin Cathy Gordon Jacob Padden Jordan Magaziner John Duboise Andrea Blitzer Leslie Little Darsey Swaim Laura Callan Helen Hamilton Michele Luke
On our cover: Cassie and Spencer Neumann's home is a fun mix of authentic Mexican design, fine art and plenty of space for their boys to rumble. Cover photo by Brian Bookwalter, bookwalterphotography.com 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. Editorial content does not necessarily express the opinions of the publisher. Copyright © 2014 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 MAY 2014 4
The Results are in: YEAR 2013
Most Bellaire Homes Sold! #1 in Bellaire Listings sold since 2001. Let my record work for you! Professionalism, Local Market Knowledge, Personal Service Specializing in Bellaire Properties since 1993 with over 650 Bellaire Sales Transactions to Date Honored 7 Times by the Houston Business Journal as being among Houston’s Top Realtors NEWER HOMES 4616 Locust 4820 Linden 4928 Mimosa 849 Jaquet 5007 Beech 4329 Darsey 4702 Welford 805 Circle 4614 Pine 4615 Birch 5307 Evergreen 5541 Grand Lake 3 Fournace Gardens 5316 Braeburn
NEW CONSTRUCTION 5200 Patrick Henry 5319 Pocahontas 127 Bellaire Ct. 5527 Grand Lake 5556 Little Lake 4803 Elm 5119 Locust 5219 Mimosa 4625 Birch 107 Bellaire Court 4511 Evergreen ORIGINAL HOMES 5564 Aspen
Mike Livingston
5541 Huisache 4810 Spruce 5424 Braeburn 5569 Aspen 5604 Whitehaven 5129 Maple 4922 Maple 4415 Ione 404 Otto 5000 Locust LOTS 5556 Little Lake 4803 Elm 4801 Locust
5119 Locust 4717 Sunburst 107 Bellaire Ct. 5304 Valerie 4408 Edith 4625 Birch 4628 Willow 5219 Mimosa 5221 Mimosa 5316 Patrick Henry 4618 Oakdale 4928 Valerie 531 Cascade
, CRS ABR
713.764.9850 • mlivingston@gmail.com • www.har.com/mikelivingston BELLAIRE BUZZ MAY 2014 5
MAILBAG
Your letters, thoughts, opinions Girls, try field hockey Dave, thank you very much for writing this article [Taking the Field (Hockey), by Dave Schafer, April 2014] and helping spread the word about the sport of field hockey in our community. It has been a distinct privilege to be associated with Texas Pride since its creation three years ago. As a former athlete, I can testify that this sport is unique in the way it gives back to players in the form of opportunities, fitness, selfesteem, coaching, networking, travel and community service. Parents as well as players have made lifelong friendships. As a mom, the respect that I have for these girls is extraordinary, and their will is inspiring. My hope is that many young girls in Houston will read your article and give field hockey a try so that they too may enjoy the incredible experience that we have had. See you on the pitch! Stacey Hopwood Manela
Good for the neighborhood What a delightful surprise it was to see a beautiful photo of my daughter-in-law, granddaughter and son (Gerry, Thalie and Lou Waters, Jr.) on the cover of the March 2014 Bellaire Buzz [Rodeo Chic, by Michelle Casas Groogan]. An added delight are the many communications I have been receiving from longtime friends who also enjoyed the cover photo. Before retiring to the Hill Country, I resided in Southside Place and then Memorial for a total of 60 years and always thrived on friendly camaraderie with my neighbors there. I feel that the neighborhood Buzz magazines are doing a great job at keeping this neighborhood goodwill alive and well with positive, professional journalism and beautiful, happy photography. Thank you! Wanda Waters
Coffee table worthy I have to tell you how excited I was to see my friends and clients, the Richardsons, grace the cover of this month’s [Rodeo Chic, The Memorial Buzz, March 2014] issue. They are the perfect Houston, Texas, family to model “rodeo chic.” This issue is pure coffee table material! Tammy Bateman
Helpful college-financing story I got lots of great tips from your Affording College article [by Cheryl Laird, BELLAIRE BUZZ MAY 2014 6
January 2014]. The bulleted list provides lots of useful information. I will refer to that list many times. Thanks for your great work at The Buzz. Amy Murphey Editor’s note: If you’d like to see this story or any other past article, search our archives at bellairebuzz.com.
Pat on the back Thanks so much for publishing The Buzz; it’s great work, enjoyable to read and something I look forward to receiving. Today there are so many sources for information and entertainment, but The Buzz has consistently found a way to create relevant content which is interesting to folks in our area. Delivering interesting and informative articles about what is going in our community is harder than it seems and even harder to do consistently month after month, year after year. Please let The Buzz team know, “Thank you and well done.” David Hawes 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? We are looking for residents for upcoming articles who: • Have a great back-to-school story. • Have photos from their kids’ elementary or middle school sports to share. • Know a unique home to profile in our Buzz Home column. • Know an interesting or newsworthy high school senior about to graduate.
If this sounds like you or someone you know, please contact us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com or 713.668.4157, ext 12.
BELLAIRE BUZZ MAY 2014 7
NEIGHBORS
by Andria Frankfort, staff writer
Zen Moms
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bookwalterphotography.com
N
ot long ago I was having a two-simultaneous-carpools, homework, tennis, track-meet, work, what’s-for-dinner, noise-filled afternoon. So during one or another carpool line, I turned to the all-knowing Internet. And Googled, on my phone, hoping for magic, “Zen moms.” What popped up, in about the first 13 Google spots, was a paradox: a website that spewed “how to be Zen” headlines, with pictures flashing so fast I couldn’t read them. And Twitter quotes spouting calm. And ... you get the picture. “Isn’t the term ‘Zen mom’ an oxymoron?” a friend asked over the phone while we both threw dinner in our respective ovens. Another texted, “I’m all crazy, no Zen.” And another actually told me she wanted to beat me for using those two words in the same sentence. She added: “My Zen is sitting at a bar waiting to be served a chocolate soufflé, something that reboots me so I can go back and do it all over again tomorrow. Or in 10 minutes. Oh just shoot me now.” This Type A wasn’t letting go of Zen so easily. I thought of my friend Kristen Berger. She’s got four kids between the ages of 5 and 10, she just chaired major fundraisers for the Children’s Museum and Bayou Bend, and her Christmas card always reads, “Cheers to living in the moment!” Hmm. I asked her secret. “I try not to sweat it,” Kristen told me. “My Christmas card is true – we all have weak moments, but I truly try to live in the moment, whatever it is. “I’m laughing, though, because I still have half those cards I never got out. I’ve got to be okay with that. If not, you just beat yourself up and go crazy about everything.” I didn’t tell Kristen she sent me two Christmas cards this year. “I’m perfectly imperfect,” Kristen says. “And I pray a lot!” Kristen chooses to simplify by walking her three oldest children to school at West U Elementary, and she says reading a devotional helps her tune out the noise, focus on what’s important, and re-center. “Some days I’m in a constant state of prayer.” Kristen shared all this very calmly while her four perfectly imperfect children were down-
ZEN PERSONIFIED Kristen Berger is as calm as possible while mothering (from left) Grant, Alex, Paige and Jack.
stairs “tearing up the house.” Dee Boukouzis, a yoga instructor and mom of three girls ages 8, 11 and 12, says if you ask her girls, she’s not very Zen. But talking to Dee, you might think otherwise. “You have to work at it, but you have a choice in how you react to things,” Dee says. “You can stop, notice you’re feeling angry, press the pause button, and breathe.” She adds that it’s taken her about 10 years of work to learn how to stay calm. “I surround myself with people who are Zen. My husband is an investment banker – there’s a lot of stress there. But he reminds me, ‘You only have so much energy. You have to decide how you’re going to channel it.’” Penny Hess Butler, a veteran, having raised six grown children “with 10 years between them, top to bottom,” says it’s all about perspective and humor. “It was a fun deal to have those kiddos and run them around,” she says. “John and I put three things at the top of our list that were big no-nos: drugs and alcohol; pregnancy before marriage; and jail. Everything else dropped way off from there.
They’re going to go through funny periods where they want to wear their hair in weird ways. That’s not worth getting in a twit about. “It was delightful. They were good kiddos. They knew their parents cared about them and what they did.” Penny adds that she always had lots going on outside of being a mom. “One of my greatest pleasures is being involved in politics and the community.” An art-teacher mom of three teenaged boys thinks that’s key. “Do something every day unrelated to the kids,” she says. “Because let’s face it, the kids are not going to look at us and say, ‘Mommy, you look like we’ve worn you out. You should go to a spa.’ No, the kids are going to jump in the car and say, ‘Mommy, I need to go to Target right now!’” And we’ll pause, take a deep breath and remember that this is a moment – not a Zen one, but maybe the closest we’ll get today. Then we’ll just drive. There’s a Starbucks at Target. And as Penny reminds us, “It goes by so fast.” Happy Mother’s Day.
BELLAIRE BUZZ MAY 2014 9
NEIGHBORS by Cathy Gordon, contributing writer
Buzz Home: Happy Hacienda
BELLAIRE BUZZ MAY 2014 10
patrickbertolino.com
C
assie Neumann loves to flex her design muscle. The self-confessed Pinterest addict was stashing away style ideas in her head long before the popular website tool became the go-to place for home inspiration. “My mind’s always thinking about that stuff. I’m kind of crazy that way,” she says of her Spanish Revival home in Bellaire, shared with husband Spencer and their trio of blond, blueeyed, always-in-perpetual motion boys, Noah, 7, Nelson, 5, and Niles, 2. The testosterone factor lends itself well to Cassie’s design philosophy. “The more dings, the better. I want our place to look weathered and lived in,” she says. As if on cue, toddler Niles catapults onto a 17-foot-long cantina that was pulled from a bar in Mexico and repurposed as a buffet in their foyer. Then he’s off, catching up to their dog, Tessa, a moppy mini goldendoodle. “Can’t hurt a thing around here,” quips Cassie. “The furniture is indestructible.” This day, sunlight streams through arched windows, and an infectious Latino beat pulsates through the house. You half expect the homeowners to break out in dance. The place is a delightful freestyle mambo of kids, music, fine art and original south-of-the-border details with most of the furniture designed by Cassie and built by craftsmen in Mexico. It’s a merry mix of everything they love, inspired by their travels to Mexico, Spain, California and a second home in Florida that soaks up Cuban influences. Think lots of curves and arches, vibrant hand-painted Talavera tiles, courtyards, patios and ornamental ironwork. “There is just such a rich cultural look to it all,” Cassie says of the abode, designed by architect Todd Blitzer of Mirador Group. “There’s a charm to it, a relaxed elegance,” interjects Spencer, a political consultant who this day is chatting it up with clients on the phone. He does a fair bit of traveling, handling national campaigns from all points domestic. So he appreciates coming home to his comfortable casa. “A good place to put your feet up,” he says. His passion for art rivals that for politics. The (continued on page 13) avid collector planned
ARTFUL ENTRY The home has an authentic Mexican vibe with wrought iron accents and a coffered ceiling. The upstairs painting is by artist Steven Alexander.
bookwalterphotography.com HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS Art and family mix in the Neumann house. Cassie and Spencer, with sons (from left) Noah, Nelson and Niles, are surrounded by work from artists Oliver Arms (right) and Ricardo Mazal.
patrickbertolino.com
IN THE DETAILS The den has Spencer’s favorite antique rug, from Istanbul, plus the family-favorite Man and Woman sculpture.
BELLAIRE BUZZ MAY 2014 11
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CAPTIVATING CASA Top photo: The open-air casita has furniture designed by Cassie and built by an artisan in Mexico. Middle, right: A faux-washed turquoise cabinet in the kitchen provides a pop of color. Bottom, right: A dining-room ceiling pops with Sherwin-Williams’ Jalapeùo color.
patrickbertolino.com
(continued from page 10) the house to accommo-
date large abstract pieces. Their color pops against soft, off-white walls. A large, sinuous, organic sculpture with the feel of lava rock takes up residence in the den. “I’ve always been involved in the arts, all kinds, the whole culture of the arts,” says Spencer, who inherited his bent from a Julliard-trained pianist mother. He served on the board of the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands for six years. The couple doesn’t subscribe to conventional wisdom that art and children don’t mix. In fact, they co-exist quite peacefully in the Neumann house. “We’ve taught our kids a healthy respect for it,” says Cassie. “When people first walk in they don’t want their kids to touch anything, but I assure them we aren’t fussy. The art is the only thing off limits. “If anything, we blur the lines a lot between our things and our kids’ things,” she continues. “We don’t want any spaces to be off limits to them. It’s pretty normal around here to see an amazing piece of art from a New York gallery next to our kids’ art or a great authentic Mexican table topped with a Lego creation. We use every room in this house, and everything has its importance.” The couple generously host annual charitable events, most recently to assist Patrons for Bellaire Parks in its mission to raise funds to develop the 5-acre, historic, former Teas Nursery site into the community’s Evelyn Park. “Such a good cause,” says Cassie. And due to its distinctive look, the home, listed on the Houston Film Commission’s website, is occasionally used as backdrop for commercials and movies for a $500-per-day fee or, sometimes, for free. Olympic figure skater Peggy Fleming shot a commercial for the anti-aging supplement CoQ10 at the Neumanns’ place. And famed baseball pitcher Nolan Ryan stood in their shower for hours on end warning of cracks and the merits of foundation repair. “I got to sit down with Nolan Ryan for two hours at my table while he was getting his makeup done. We talked about the ’86 Houston Astros and where everybody is these days, his career, everything. He’s awesome. You can’t find a more down-to-earth guy,” says Spencer. The experience is fun, agree Cassie and Spencer, though the family usually shoots off to their ranch in Chappell Hill while filming is being done. And they aren’t receptive to all offers. They turned down Playboy’s request. “Just didn’t see the need,” quips Cassie, “to have it on the house resume.”
ART LIGHTING French doors let in the sunshine and highlight this painting by artist Thomas Zitzwitz. BELLAIRE BUZZ MAY 2014 13
NEIGHBORS lawellphoto.com
by Dave Schafer, staff writer
When an Aging Parent Lives Far Away
M
arge’s mom has always been sharp mentally. She was a therapist who ran her own practice, and she always has loved going to plays, operas and the orchestra, playing bridge and meeting the gals out on the town. Then, in January 2012, she had a “cardiac event” during which her brain was deprived of oxygen. Ever since, Marge said, she’s been different. Now, the 76-year-old woman talks about events that happened months ago as though they happened yesterday. Her eyesight is bad because of diabetes. She gets lost when she drives, forgets a lot, falls frequently and has problems with bladder control. But she doesn’t think there is cause for concern. And because Marge lives more than 1,500 miles away in Houston, there’s little she can do to keep a close watch on her mother. Because her husband, Marge’s stepfather, refuses to move, her mother refuses to move, too. But Marge’s stepfather, like Marge and her siblings, won’t confront her because of fears her mom will shut them out and turn hostile toward them. “She’s like a child now and shouldn’t be making decisions, but she’s making decisions because everyone around her is afraid to pull the plug and take away her keys,” said Marge (not her real name). Occasionally, Marge, a mother who has a parttime job, travels to her mom’s home to “put out fires” and schedule doctor’s appointments. The rest of the time, she hires social workers, in-home care givers, counselors and occupational therapists to help. But when they start talking to her mother about her driving problems, she kicks them out of her house. “The best I can do with her living up there is damage control,” Marge said. “Every day that goes by that I don’t get a call that something’s happened to her, or she’s not on a missing person’s report, I feel like we’ve had success.” Convincing an aging parent to move can be difficult, if not impossible, experts say. And there’s a fine line – the child needs to respect the parent’s decision to live his or her own life. But before that decision is made, experts say a psychological evaluation by a neurologist is needed to determine if BELLAIRE BUZZ MAY 2014 14
FAMILY MATTERS Diane Searcy, left, helped move her mother, Nonie Schatzman, 94, from New Jersey to Houston to be closer to her family.
the parent is mentally capable. Just because an elderly parent forgets to pay a bill or forgets a lunch date yesterday doesn’t indicate diminished capacity, said Jeannette Lazarofsky, a geriatric-care manager who has worked in the aging industry for 30 years and owns JML Geriatric Care Consulting in Houston. While older people may take longer to recall information, they should still have the powers of retention and recall, said Dr. Bhuvana Muthuswamy, an internist with Houston Methodist Primary Care Group. Just because they’re aging doesn’t mean they should lose their memory, he says. There are other “red flags” – see a list in the box on the next page – that the parent is no longer capable of independent living and may be a danger to self or others. In those cases, the adult child – who often is geographically tied down by employment and/or children’s schools – will need to step in and,
sometimes, insist on the parent moving to a nearby apartment or retirement community. The conversation should start early, said Abi Pineda, a social worker with Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital. Have an advance directive, a living will, a last testament and a power of attorney. Lay out when the child can take control of the parent’s care. If it’s too late for that, the adult child can hire a geriatric case manager or accredited case manager to act as an intermediary, which will cost $150-$400, Pineda said. Asking the parent’s doctor to talk to him or her can be helpful, Lazarofsky said, as can framing the move as though it’s a favor to you. A short visit or “snow bird” stay through the winter can help. Then you can tour retirement centers together. The Village of Tanglewood, like most retirement communities, lets (continued on page 16)
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(continued from page 14) prospective clients share
meals, participate in programs and even spend a weekend in the model apartment, said Diann DiFrancesco, regional director of operations. Convincing Nonie Schatzman to move from her lifelong home town of Passaic, New Jersey, to the Village of Tanglewood five years ago wasn’t too hard, said her daughter Diane Searcy. She let Schatzman make the decision for herself. “You can’t just go in and say, ‘You’re moving now,’” Searcy said. At the time, Schatzman lived in the upstairs portion of a two-family home, and her brother, who lived downstairs, was selling his half. Diane pointed out how dangerous it could be for Schatzman, then in her late 80s, to continue climbing those stairs in the snowy New Jersey winters. Schatzman toured apartments near her home but didn’t like any, and most of her friends had left or died. Schatzman admits she didn’t want to leave, initially. She was devastated to leave the home she’d lived in for 55 years. But she didn’t know where she was going to go, and she cried herself to sleep for five consecutive nights before her daughter called and suggested she moved down here close to her. Searcy encouraged her mom to come, reminding her how she’d taken care of her own aging mother, and how she hadn’t felt like that was a burden.
One of Schatzman’s daughter’s lives in Boston, and her son lives in San Francisco. The children decided it would be best for her to live in Houston with Searcy because of the reasonable housing options and because her grandchildren were here. When the suggestion was made, Schatzman said, it was a relief. “I had no choice,” she said. “But if I had an option to go back, I wouldn’t.” She hasn’t given up all the trappings of her old life. She still has pots and pans “out the wazoo,” Searcy said, even though she doesn’t use them much. She does make lunch for herself, mostly salads, soup or tuna fish. But she wants to be able cook if she chooses to. Schatzman sees her daughter and grandchildren regularly now – she didn’t when she lived in New Jersey – and has made new friends. She plays dominoes and other games, something she didn’t do when she and her husband, Jack, ran a hardware store for more than 40 years. Searcy believes her mother would be isolated if she still lived by herself in New Jersey. Schatzman, now 94, is the picture of health. She takes only one pill, for blood pressure, and she uses a walker to walk around the halls at The Village four times a day. She has fallen four times since moving to Houston, though, and has gotten immediate help. Searcy fears that if Schatzman had still lived in
New Jersey, it might have been days before someone found her. Certainly, it would have taken more planning and effort for Searcy to go check on her after the falls. “She’s where she’s safe, and that means a lot to her and a lot to me,” Searcy said. But in cases like this, the elderly parent doesn’t always come to the decision that it’s best to move. If necessary, adult children can take the neurologist’s assessment to court and sue for guardianship. Or, they can compromise and focus on setting up the parent’s current home and environment to be as safe as possible. Sharon (not her real name) moved her mother, Patty, into The Hampton at Post Oak after her mother fell and broke her hip. Sharon wishes she’d moved her sooner. They had 10 years together before her mother died in January. They spent time together, and her son got to know his grandmother. But Patty wasn’t the same woman she’d been before her fall, and she didn’t develop the friends or make the neighborhood connections she would have made if she had been more mobile when she arrived. Still, for Sharon, it was the right decision. “You’ll never regret any time you spend with an aging parent,” she said. “I’m just truly sad that I didn’t do it when Mother was in better shape.”
Red flags, resources and tips Red flags It can be hard to determine a person’s mental state over the phone. But here are some signs that could indicate an elderly parent is having some cognitive issues and may need you to visit and, if necessary, schedule a psychiatric evaluation to determine capacity for independence: Not paying bills. Not taking pills. Getting into auto accidents. Sounding withdrawn or not engaging in their usual interests and hobbies, which could indicate they’re depressed. Giving money away. Out of character during phone conversations. Talking about the past as if it’s the present. Talking about dead people as though they’re alive. Paranoia. Calls from a neighbor. A recent fall. Hearing loss. Vision loss. Resources • Adult Protective Services, which investigates abuse, neglect and exploitation of elderly or disabled adults. www.dfps.state.tx.us/Adult_Protection • Newlifestyles.com – an online guide for senior living and care options • Eldercare.gov – connects to local resources for older adults • nia.nih.gov/health/featured/caregiving – articles on caring for an older adult • Caremanager.org – to locate a local geriatric-care manager • Nasmm.org – the National Association of Senior Move Managers. Move managers help older adults with downsizing and moving. • University of Texas Center for Healthy Aging in Bellaire, which provides services for seniors. 713-486-5150. uth.edu/aging/patients/Bellaire • Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital Senior Medicine Unit, with two social workers and 24 beds dedicated to people 65 and older, plus a Senior Emergency Center. http://www.memorialhermann.org/locations/southwest/senior-care/ • Methodist Hospital Geriatrics Division – provides in-hospital services to seniors. 713-790-3333 • Strategies to help a parent who refuses care – care.com/senior-care-9-strategies-to-help-a-parent-who-refuses-care-p1017-q7117625.html Making the move After you’ve convinced Mom or Dad to move comes the daunting task: the move itself. Cynthia Williams, owner of Transitions: Making Moves Manageable, recommends reaching out to a member (like herself) of the National Association of Senior Move Managers. Those movers are licensed and insured and can ease the process, she said. The process includes making a detailed drawing with measurements of all the furniture and diagramming that furniture into the new apartment to see what fits. She suggests taking photographs so you can put things in roughly the same place in the new location to create a greater sense of comfort. Williams recommends starting at the far left side of the house and working your way to the right, going through everything – the bookshelves, cabinets, floor and more. Items that can’t fit can go to family members, housekeepers or yard workers, a consignment store or, if valuable, to an auction. Then, clean up the house and get it ready for the realtor.
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BELLAIRE BUZZ MAY 2014 17
NEIGHBORS by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer
Mother’s Day Spotlight: Beth Stephan
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hile tagging along with some friends looking at a house for sale, Beth Stephan, a conservatively dressed mother of four, unbuttoned her blouse to show off her new breasts. “I’m sure the realtor thought that was the weirdest showing,” said Beth, laughing. The breasts she was proud of had been reconstructed using stomach tissue during a bilateral mastectomy. At 38, Beth discovered a lump in her breast just three months after a normal mammogram in August 2007. She and her husband Bob had four young kids – the youngest, Thomas, just 2 at the time. She had no family history or signs of risk. She learned she had Stage 3 breast cancer. “I kind of had a panic attack for two weeks,” said Beth. “But then I calmed down and just took it one day at a time.” Seven years later, and in remission, Beth is still calm when she discusses her experience as a young mom with cancer. Her bright green eyes pop against her brown hair, and a Southern accent rolls off her tongue like molasses. Her friends and husband call her independent and resourceful, with a dry wit and can-do, caring attitude. When they found out The Buzz wanted to profile her, they were quick to share stories. Tracy Barkley-Ackley said when she unexpectedly lost her husband years ago, Beth “was with me every step of the way. We went through it and planned the funeral together. “She is not materialistic. She doesn’t care about jewelry. She is not trying to impress the ladies at the country club.” “Beth can find humor and the silver lining in most all of life,” said childhood friend Jady Regard. “I have to believe it has been that attribute that has gotten her through some pretty rotten times.” Beth says she is willing to talk about those times and the good times in the hope the tale helps someone else. She recalls going “back home to Louisiana” for Easter after her mastectomy surgery. “I was showing my brother-in-law [my reconstruction]. We have a joke now in our family you can only show body parts that have been operated on,” she said. The Stephan family Christmas card that year BELLAIRE BUZZ MAY 2014 18
HAIRY CHRISTMAS The Stephan family – mom Beth, dad Bob and (from left) kids Robert, Thomas, Annie and Erin – sported costume wigs for their 2007 family Christmas card while Beth was undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
showed a bald Beth, along with Bob and kids Erin, Robert, Annie, and Thomas (now 16, 15, 12 and 9), wearing costume wigs. It read “Have a very hairy Christmas. ‘Wigs’ you were here.” “It was typical Beth. I was very pleased with the overwhelming response of well wishes,” said Bob. Humor and matter-of-factness are important tools when you are sick, Beth says. “I wore a baseball cap around [during my treatment] that said ‘no hair day’ rather than ‘bad hair day.’ Wigs were hot and uncomfortable,” she said. A few years back she started Beth’s Gift Closet, a small gift-store business, to raise money to send her kids to their beloved Camp Highlander in North Carolina. “She is single-minded when she takes on a project,” says Bob. “It could be kids, church, school, family, or summer camp. She’s always fully committed.” “The saying ‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way’ describes Beth to a T,” said Kathy Hrueske, with whom Beth taught special education at Frostwood Elementary in the 1990s.
“Determination has put Beth in situations ranging from strapping a ping pong table to the top of her Suburban to taking classes on how to be a gold buyer.” Longtime friend Sulyn Dillon says Beth takes care of other kids too. “I remember both being so pregnant one time at the McDonald’s play land, and a couple of our kids were stuck in the top tunnel and scared to move. If memory serves, we managed to talk Beth’s child down, but she waddled over and crawled up in the tunnels, with her calm, matter-of-fact way and managed to coax my child down too.” Beth’s neighbors are quick to pile on the praise as well. When April Metz moved in nine years ago, she found a cooler on her doorstep with sandwiches, sodas, Coors Light and a note from Beth with her children’s names, ages and the Stephans’ phone number. While Beth will never forget the darker days of her cancer diagnosis and treatment, she wants to send good vibes to other women facing the same situation, encouraging them to hang on, and, when they get the chance, flash their new breasts too.
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MOM OF THE MONTH Beth Stephan has inspired others with her can-do outlook on life during her treatment and recovery from breast cancer.
TRAVEL by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer
Travel Buzz - Sailing the Greek Islands
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verybody has a bucket list, and Gus Pappas is no exception. At the top of his was sailing in the Ionian Isles of his native Greece – but he didn’t know how to sail. And given his busy life as an attorney and soon-to-be Bellaire city councilman, it didn’t look likely that he was going to learn anytime soon. Enter Janus and John Lazaris. They escaped with Gus and Pamela Pappas and their families a couple of summers ago to the island of Santorini. “One evening,” says Gus, “we were sitting on the caldera in one of the island towns, looking west watching the sunset, and I remarked, ‘Here I am, Greek – one of the largest sailing fleets in the world flew under the Greek flag – and I don’t even know how to sail. I need to learn how to sail.’” “We can change that,” responded Janus. “Let’s say in two years we have a sailing trip here in Greece.” “I laughed and said, ‘God, that’s a wonderful idea,’” Gus recalls. “But is it really going to happen?” Janus, an interior designer with her own company, knows how to get things done. A few weeks later the two families got together with Jennifer and Dimitri Georgantas, another local Greek family, and the idea came up again. After a little wine, the three families were on board. Janus gave the adventure a name – “Three Sheets To The Wind” – and had T-shirts made. That’s when Janus got to work in earnest, researching costs and options, looking for other families, calling to encourage other folks to take sailing classes. The next summer during their annual trip to Greece, Janus and John found a charter company and mapped out a tour. The Ionian Islands are some of the safest waters, with protected coves and beautiful beaches. The trip was coming together, and so, as Gus recalls with a laugh, “She prompted us to get going.” “They called me the cruise director,” she joked. “Behind my back, I’m sure they called me a few other things.” Janus and Gus signed up for sailing classes in Kemah, and several others followed suit. The group started as 15 families; at the end there were seven families on six boats, for a total of 29 BELLAIRE BUZZ MAY 2014 20
IONIAN ODYSSEY Captain Gus Pappas and his family crew sail the Escapade. From left: Gus, Elena, Pamela, Demi and Lexi.
people. All but one were from Houston, and all but one family captained their own craft. The 30th sailor was Pavel, a skipper provided by the charter company. Pavel served as commodore. Greece is home to dozens of charter companies easy to find on the Internet. Many are British-owned. The charter company helped prepare the itinerary, made reservations at ports, and spent an hour with each of them going over the details of their particular boat. “If you have a large group, they will customize your sail a bit more,” she said, “but if you are on your own, you can join a group of yachts in a flotilla – or you could book a skipper to handle your sailboat and relax.” For the Pappas family, it was a leap of faith; they knew only the Lazaris and Georgantas families. Many of the kids attended Bellaire High School; the Pappas girls and Niko Lazaris went to Bellaire, as well as the Powers and the Techmanskis. One of the Pappas girls, Lexi, knew a boy from one of the families, Ross
Techmanski. They had a good laugh when talking about their summer-vacation plans and realizing they were going on the same trip. The setup was perfect for the teens and college kids. “It’s amazing how well they got along,” commented Janus. “There wasn’t one kid who was left out of the circle.” “Even though you’ve never met,” said Pamela, “you realize you have a whole lot more in common than you realized. We all got along famously.” The Pappas sailed a 40-foot boat named the Escapade. All three daughters – Elena, Demi and Lexi – were aboard. Janus and John Lazaris and their son Niko sailed another 40-footer called Shortbread. Probably the most exciting boat was the 46-foot Tranquilizer, sailed by the Powers family, because there were eight people aboard: brothers Joe and Russell Powers and their respective wives, Chris and Kim, and children, Harvey, Andy, Brooke and Brett. The Georgantas family – Jennifer, Dimitri, Cassie and Pano, sailed a 36-foot boat named Ciaron.
HAPPY FLOTILLA The close-knit group rendezvous on Meganisi after five days of sailing. Back row, from left: Niko Lazaris, Gus Pappas, Joe Powers, Russell Powers, Kim Powers, Daryl Sims, Alison Sims, Alex Sims, Terri Techmanski, George Snyder, Janus Lazaris, John Lazaris. Middle row, from left: Pamela Pappas, Chris Powers, Harvey Powers, Brooke Powers, Brett Powers, Ross Techmanski, Ryan Techmanski, Andy Powers, Cassie Georgantas, Dimitri Georgantas, Jennifer Georgantas. Bottom row, from left: Jeff Techmanski, Lexi Pappas, Elena Pappas, Patricia Snyder, Demi Pappas, Pano Georgantas, Pavel.
Patricia and George Snyder teamed up with Daryl, Alison and Alex Sims, to sail Rumours, another 36-footer. And the Techmanskis – Terri, Jeff and their two boys, Ross and Ryan, sailed the Gladwyn. Organizing the trip was a labor of love for John and Janus. At a party in their villa on the island of Lefkada, they noted the happy tan faces of the relaxed sailors and enjoyed hearing their many stories. For Gus, George and others it was the fulfillment of a dream, following an ancient lineage.
New to sailing? Advice for novice sailors from Pamela Pappas: A license is required for “bare boat” rentals, that is, rental of the boat without any technical assistance or crew. It takes rigorous training to get that license. It took her husband Gus nearly a year, taking written tests and then the final exam, a threeday sail from Kemah with the instructors. “After that, they encourage you to keep sailing every couple weeks and to keep a log book,” Pamela said. “That being said, as a novice or for any sailor that hasn’t sailed that area before, we would recommend that they go in a flotilla, not alone, and at least one of the boats hire a captain from the sailing company that is familiar with the waters, ports and boats.”
“There’s all this mythology, and here we are sailing through it all,” Gus reminisced. “One of the stops was the mythical island of Ithaca, which is where Odysseus was trying to get to. It took him 40 years, and we got there in an hour.... It makes you think about things like where the wind is coming from and how you get there. The weather might change, the wind might pick up, and what are you going to do?” He had a chance to find out first-hand one afternoon. The group was leaving a little cove, and he got a report that the winds were picking up. “I kind of underestimated how difficult it would be to deal with sails in a strong wind; I let it out too far and didn’t control it, and the wind took it.” What followed was a frightening ordeal, with Pamela trying to steer a violently bucking boat while Gus fought to reel the sail back in, the rapidly slipping rope tearing at his bleeding hands. Finally they managed to get the boat under control. Their days were action-packed; they went caving on one island and saw how olives are pressed on another one. They visited the island of Skorpios, where the late Aristotle Onassis had his home. And they let loose on the last day with a wild, all-out dinghy race. Perhaps the most memorable part was the Fourth of July celebration; the charter company had arranged to meet them on a private island and prepare a big barbecue and fireworks, American style. “The folks from the charter company were Brits, and here they were putting on an American Independence Day for some Greeks and Americans in Greece,” Gus recalled. “We all had a big laugh about that.” But the best part was going back to the basics,
and just being together. At night, the fleet was moored close together. The captains met every morning with their charts and discussed the route and the issues they would face that day, like expected winds or shallow depths. Then everyone would go within an hour or so. People could go at their own pace and didn’t necessarily follow the same exact route. “Sometimes you would see the other boats, sometime you wouldn’t,” said Pamela. Each had hung an American flag up high, where they could easily distinguish each other’s boats from a distance. “There were quite a lot of sail boats,” said Pamela. The crews used radios to check in with each other and share recommendations. The mooring process was the most difficult aspect. “One of the beautiful things about sailing in a flotilla around islands located close together is that you could go out and sail all day, have your time as a family, and then moor on the island,” said Janus. “You could meet up at the taverns each night for drinks and stories.” “We’re both busy attorneys, and we love our lives – but we’re so busy,” said Pamela. “They say Americans live to work; the Europeans work when they need it to live. It’s a simpler way of life.... Spending time with each other, without the TV on and everything else – just living.” Asked her advice for other travelers who might want to do something similar, Pamela didn’t hesitate. “I would say – do it! You have to take these leaps of faith to do things outside your comfort zone,” she said. “We made a lot of great friends and had a wonderful family adventure. You learn a lot about yourself and how to live life.” BELLAIRE BUZZ MAY 2014 21
SPORTS
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by Todd Freed, staff writer
SportzBuzz
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t’s been a tremendous turnaround season for the Bellaire High School girls lacrosse team, which won six of its first seven district games and had its sights on a berth to the Texas Lacrosse League Division II state tournament. The victory total is especially significant considering the Cardinals went winless in district play just last season. “It’s night and day between last year and this year at Bellaire,” said Cardinals girls lacrosse coach Ellen Walls. “This season, the girls look like a single unit both offensively, defensively and in transition. They’re working really great together, and the attitude among everyone on the roster is extremely positive. It’s the reason we’re really successful.” Offensively, the Cardinals are led by a pair of team captains in senior Alexis Summers and junior Clara VanLandingham. “Alexis is by far one of the most amazing offensive player I’ve seen,” said Walls. “She has incredible speed and even scored a spectacular eight goals in our game against St. Agnes. As for Clara, she has phenomenal shot placement on the field as an attacker. She’s the unsung hero of our team, always fights hard to the very last second of the game.” Walls says senior captain Mary-Claire Graham is the team’s strongest defender. “Mary-Claire was the MVP of our defense last year, and she’s an incredibly mature and strong leader again this season. She forced a team-record 11 turnovers in our game against Division I Episcopal.” For the first time in school history, The Emery/Weiner School is fielding lacrosse teams for both boys and girls. For the inaugural season, Emery/Weiner is competing at the junior varsity level. The first-year coach on the boys’ side is Tyler Tyson, who was a standout lacrosse player in high school at The Woodlands before playing college lacrosse at Sam Houston State. “Right now, we’re just working on fundamentals and trying to improve every day,” said Tyson. “It’s really cool to see how much fun the kids are having learning the sport. Jake Plantowsky, who’s only a freshman, is really the only boys’ player who has measurable experience in the sport.” The team has improved enough to have postBELLAIRE BUZZ MAY 2014 22
POWERFUL STICK After going winless last year, the Bellaire Cardinals, led by senior captain Alexis Summers, pulled off a remarkable turnaround season.
ed the first lacrosse win in school history, when it edged out the Bellaire junior varsity in an 8-7 final in late February. “That was really exciting,” said Tyson. “The guys were jumping all over each other in celebrating the first win for our program. We were really proud of the victory. Along with Jake, fellow team captains Alex Wasserstrom and goalie Matt Hall had big games.” Tyson is excited about the future of the lacrosse program at Emery/Weiner. “We have a lot of kids who’ve expressed interest in playing. Next year, our goal is to also start a middle school and junior varsity program. We have a new turf playing field at the school, which also adds to the excitement level of the program.” One year after ending the 37-year reign of Dallas St. Mark’s as the SPC wrestling champions, the St. John’s Mavericks have captured a second straight SPC Wrestling Championship. The Mavericks edged St. Mark’s 158-153 to secure back-to-back titles. “I told the kids that if you’ve done it one time they might call you lucky. But if you do it twice, all they can call you is great,” said Mavericks wrestling coach Alan Paul. “Last year we had more actual individual champions, but this year it took every single kid to come through to win
the SPC crown. It was a complete team effort.” The Mavericks’ sole individual champion was sophomore Cyrus Lee, who won the 120-pound division. “Off the mat, Cyrus is a real jovial kind of lighthearted kid, but once he steps in the circle, he’s all business,” said Paul. With Evan Eisenberg and Matthew Urdahl finishing second in their respective weight divisions, as well as third- and fourth-place finishes from Preston Neal, Douglas Moody, Drew Guillory, Jerald Barbe, Sean Yuan and Carl Bernicker, the Mavericks racked up enough points to secure the victory. “The kids have put in the hard work to make this happen,” said Paul. “They wrestle not just for themselves, but also for their teammates, the school and the entire St. John’s community. Most people will work harder when they’re doing it for someone else, and that’s exactly what these kids have done.” Editor’s Note: Todd Freed is the Emmy Awardwinning co-host and producer of the KUBE SportsZone, which airs Saturday and Sunday at 6 p.m. on Channel 57-KUBE. To submit high school sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, please email todd@thebuzzmagazines.com.
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SPORTS
by Jacob Padden, contributing writer
SportzBuzz, Jr. W
elcome to SportzBuzz, Jr., a column spotlighting neighborhood athletes in elementary and middle school.
Raising the bar Adele Beebe (top photo), age 9, is a gymnast at the Houston Gymnastics Academy. Here, Adele executes her balance beam routine. This season she came in third all-around at the Alamo Classic in San Antonio, second allaround at the Metroplex Challenge in Fort Worth, and first all-around at the Spring Challenge meet in Pearland. Most recently, at the Level 6/7 State Championships, she placed second on bars, third on vault and eighth all-around.
Golden glove Nina Ozuna, a 6 year old on the Bellaire Panthers team, (bottom, right) sets her feet to make a strong throw to first base. The Bellaire Girls Softball Association season will finish with a tournament and closing ceremonies May 10. The organization provides recreational softball for girls aged 5-14 in the fall and spring seasons.
Matthew Keene, age 11, (bottom, left) waits in the field as John “Pickle” Winston, age 12, delivers the pitch for the Orioles. The regular season for West University Little League and other Little Leagues around Houston continues. The playoffs for WULL begin May 5 and continue until closing ceremonies on May 22.
Meredith Beebe
High heat
BELLAIRE BUZZ MAY 2014 26
Jesse Carrillo
Kirsten Herrscher
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 SportsBuzz, 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 MAY 2014 27
NEIGHBORS
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by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer
Doggone fun
Local author Cary Robinson (pictured, in front) was surprised at his book-signing party by a group of kids in the BBYO group, an organization for
BELLAIRE BUZZ MAY 2014 28
Pat McLaughlan
Buzz About Town Jewish teens, that he advises. Golden Hound Press celebrated the launch of Burp Gun Bandit, book two in the series of The Dudley Files dog comedy mystery novels. After the success of The Dudley Files: Sold Out Without The Holdout, which actually did sell out, Burp Gun Bandit was met with 175 well-wishers waiting to purchase copies of the new novel. See dudleyfiles.com.
at Tents In Town. During an evening under the stars, residents camped out overnight in Bellaire Town Square and enjoyed activities and entertainment. Each camper got a T-shirt, dinner Saturday evening and breakfast Sunday morning, along with special treats. This was the Meade family’s third year to camp out at the event.
Under city stars
Astros orbit Bellaire
Bellaire families, including dad-daughter duo David and Caroline Meade (pictured), along with (not pictured) mom Rania and son Donovan, brought camping to life in the big city
It was a day to remember for Bellaire Little League. League president Brad Mills could hardly contain his excitement as the Houston Astros mascot, Orbit, paid a surprise visit to Jessamine
field on April 9. It had been kept a secret from everyone, and the players and watching families said the suspense was worth the wait.
Dancing delight Local young dancers and Condit Elementary students from VDanse Academy’s Pee Wee Company recently brought their dancing skills
to The Houstonian for the Houston’s Got Talent talent exhibition. They performed a jazz number titled Rio and received rousing applause from the crowd. (continued on page 30)
The creatures came
Furry and human friends in the community gathered at the Blessing of the Animals at Bellaire United Methodist Church. Around 180 pets received blessings from pastors Jim Flagg, Jim Love and Diane McGehee. The traditional celebration honors St. Francis of Assisi, who was declared patron saint of animals and the environment because of his special devotion to the animal kingdom.
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(continued from page 29) An Elvis impersonator
won. Pictured (from left) are Kalia Wong, Sloane Goodman, Mailee Wong, Ava Noamouz and Sydney Fell.
Fashionistas-in-training
Home sweet homes The Bellaire New Home Showcase has named Evelyn’s Park as the beneficiary of proceeds from its 26th annual home tour. Check out four homes May 10-11 and 17-18 to show support for
Garvin. Tickets are $10-20. Pictured (from left) are Geneva Fulgham, Keen, Givens and Mary Fulgham. Evelyn’s Park. Tickets will be sold for $10. Pictured (from left) are Peta Rubenstein, Lou Waters, Patricia Ritter and Luke Waters enjoying the day at a “Pop-Up in the Park” market held to raise money for Evelyn’s Park Conservancy. See Bellairehomeshow.com for tour addresses and more details. Spring fashions were in full bloom at the Nordstrom Children’s Fashion Show. Enjoying the catwalk sporting spring “must-haves” such as lightweight scarves, white denim jeans and shorts, shades of orange and coral, and prints big and small are local models (pictured, from left) Anya Edelman, McKenna Whitney, Sloane Goodman and sister Ava Goodman.
Music to the ears Bellaire residents Mary Fulgham, Geneva Fulgham and Randy Keen enjoyed beautiful music sung by Melissa Givens on her First Friday at Epiphany Concert at the Church of Epiphany, 9600 S. Gessner. The next concert, 7:30 p.m. on May 2, will feature guitarist Marc
Who run the world? The newly formed L.I.G.H.T.S. of Bellaire held its first meeting April 11 at the Bellaire Recreation Center. L.I.G.H.T.S. (which stands for Leadership, Inspiration, Girls Helping To Serve) is a volunteer organization of girls committed to serving the community of Bellaire; it plans bi-weekly meetings on Fridays at the Rec Center. The girls will volunteer at community events such as Movie in the Park, Trolley Tunes, Family Fit Day at Evelyn’s Park, and the summer book club at the Bellaire Library. Parent founders of the group are Kristi Coffey, Beth Lemon, Suzi Nelson and Jacky Collins. Over
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Within months, new riders were added and they got serious with road bikes and longer rides. Mark Mucasey, who was a more advanced rider, also joined the group and helped them out. They rode in their first BP MS 150 three years ago,
50 local girls were in attendance at the first meeting, including Lizzie Newhouse, Natalie Nelson, Lauren Buechler, Mailee Wong, Kalia Wong, Alex Stancil, Grace Dholakia, Mia and Ava Noamouz, Susanna Rosof, Emme Hoover, Kaille Williamson, Claire Whitley, Alexine Salmons, Kylie Carter, Blythe Mogil, Bonnie Robbins, Daija Satcher, Lindsay Vessels, Lauren Dauber, Kylie Koehn, Kayla Frank, Heidi Tamm, Ryann Moos and Raina
Siahatgar. There will be an open enrollment for applications in the fall. See lightsofbellaire.com.
Easy riders Local friends rode in the 30th annual BP MS 150 bike race from Houston to Austin to help fund MS research. Their team, “the Kvetchers,” started four years ago when Brad Sondock, Danny Spier and Danny Kupperman rode their bikes to the Rice Village for a pitcher of beer.
and now over 70 names are on the group email list, with 10-25 riders showing up every weekend at Evergreen Park for their weekly group ride, which is always followed by a hearty breakfast and good conversation. Pictured (from left) are Cliff Zwahlen, Andy Bursten, Richard Rosenberg, Darrell Rosenthal, Spier, Roberto Aguirre, Kupperman, Ed Shreiber, Maurice Oteiza, Mitch Tiras, Sondock, Kevin Lewis, Barry Goldblatt, John Loughran, Stephen Lapin, Greg Sheena, Ted Anderson, Ed Engel, Bucky Engel and Harrison Rosenthal. Be seen in Buzz About Town. Send your high-res photos and community news to info@thebuzzmagazines.com or 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, TX 77401. Items are published on a space-available basis.
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HOME RUN Spencer Scheps, a sixth grader at St. Mark’s Episcopal, completed his Bellaire Little League career by winning the Home Run Derby.
KIDS by Spencer Scheps, age 12
Buzz Kidz
Going out with a bang
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ellaire Little League has been a big part of my life, and I am sad it has come to an end. Home Run Derby is a tradition, and the boys who participate are the 12 year olds, so it is their last year. You have to hit one home run to qualify for the second round, and then whoever hits the most in the second round wins. My friend Connor Hrachovy and I talked about how nervous we were because you only have this opportunity once in a lifetime. My hands were sweating so much it was hard to grip the bat. I took my first swing and hit a dinger down the line, and on the second pitch hit a hard foul ball. But on the third pitch, I made solid contact. I said to myself, That’s gone, and sure enough, it went over the fence. During the final round, there were seven of us. I
stepped up to the plate and took my first swing, hard down the second-base line. My heart raced as the second pitch crossed the plate. Bam! It soared into the outfield, and it was a goner. Spencer, hold it together, I thought, I’m tied for first, but there are plenty of batters behind me. Baseball is a game of patience and good judgment. I knew I couldn’t swing unless it was perfect. My patience paid off with my next ball. Swinging with full force, it was out of the park. I was in first and watched the round end when the reality sunk in: I won! I was so happy I couldn’t even think. This was one of the biggest moments in my life. I couldn’t have done it without my parents, who got me started with baseball, and my grandparents, who have never missed a game since T-ball. Everyone
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knows them as Team Grandma and Grandpa, especially with their wild colored Vans. I’m sad to say goodbye to Little League and my coaches, but I am leaving with great memories and lifelong friendships. 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, TX 77401.
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Update on Vitamin D In October 2010, the Allergy Clinic contribution to The Buzz, “Vitamin of the Decade,” pointed to the connection between low Vitamin D levels and more severe cases of asthma, hives, anaphylaxis and eczema. In 2010, we only had epidemiological evidence (studies that observe populations) that Vitamin D may be important in these allergic conditions. Missing were prospective studies (studies carried out to see if an intervention is helpful for that condition) to see if supplementing with Vitamin D improved the symptoms in patients. The title, “Vitamin of the Decade,” was intentional hyperbole. Twenty years ago we all heard that Vitamin E was the greatest thing since sliced bread. Then, 8 or 10 years later, studies recanted. “Umm, remember how we said Vitamin E decreases the risk for this cancer and that cancer? Uh, well, it actually increases the risk…sorry.” Skepticism is well deserved when such claims are made. Where are we four years later with Vitamin D? An allergy group in Omaha, Neb., published “Beneficial role for supplemental vitamin D3 treatment in chronic urticaria: a randomized study” in the April 2014 Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 112 (2014) 376e382). In this study, every patient took Zyrtec, Zantac and Singulair generics; this is pretty standard treatment. Half of the participants also took 4,000 international units (IU) of Vitamin D-3 while the other half took only 600 IU of D-3. The group on the higher dose of Vitamin D slept better, had fewer hives, and had less itching than the low-dose group. The authors concluded that 4,000 IU D-3 “could be considered a safe and potentially beneficial immunomodulator in patients with
chronic urticaria.” Wait a minute! Isn’t Vitamin D just a vitamin? Vitamin D is beneficial in many ways. Not only does it prevent rickets (fragile bones), but it helps our immune system by making our own hormone, cortisol, work better. Thus, by modulating the immune system, Vitamin D is an immunomodulator. This one study is not definitive proof, and too much Vitamin D can be harmful since it’s a fat-soluble vitamin, unlike Vitamin B or Vitamin C, which are water-soluble. However, Vitamin D is inexpensive, safe as long as your Vitamin D blood test doesn’t get too high, and evidence is starting to show it may help patients with allergic conditions who continue to have symptoms in spite of aggressive medical treatment. 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. David B. Engler, M.D., The Allergy Clinic, 7707 Fannin, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77054, 713.797.0993, *1200 Binz, Suite 180, Houston, Texas 77004, 713.522.9911, www.allergyclinic.com, *Operating as Houston Allergy & Asthma Clinic
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DINING GUIDE by Dai Huynh, staff writer
This Month in Dining: Patio Happy Hours Restaurant Listings $ (under $10) $$ ($11-$30) $$$ ($31-$60) $$$$ (over $60) Prices include drink, tax and tip per person Dai Huynh is a James Beard food-journalism award winner and longtime restaurant writer. Her visits to restaurants in our Buzz Dining Guide were anonymous, and she paid for her meals to maintain objectivity. We’d love your thoughts too. Write to info@thebuzzmagazines.com with your own dining opinions and suggestions. Also, you can contribute in the Comments section under the online version of this story at bellairebuzz.com.
Bite Macarons
BRENNAN’S OF HOUSTON Southern cocktails and Creole-inspired savories highlight the New Orleansinspired restaurant’s Triple 7 happy-hour menu.
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t the first sensation of gentle breezes, Houstonians hit the deck, the patio, the courtyard and the rooftop terrace. These days, outdoor tables and chairs sprout around every restaurant that has a patch of frontage to call its own. Despite imminent heat, Texans love al fresco dining, especially paired with happy hour. Brennan’s of Houston (3300 Smith Street) offers a lush tile courtyard that transports diners to New Orleans. Its Triple 7 menu is offered 2-7 p.m. daily and features seven wines, cocktails and appetizers for $7 each, including such noshes as smoked-oyster gumbo and crispy oyster BLT. Batanga (908 Congress) is made for al fresco dining. Its expansive patio, dotted with umbrella tables, overlooks historic Market Square Park and buzzes with downtown workers during happy hour, when mojitos and sangrias go for $4. A small sampling of its Latin-inspired dishes is featured, including Castilian-style pork ribs and skewered chicken with sweet plantains. Cook & Collins (2416 Brazos), a Lower East Side Manhattan-inspired restaurant in Midtown that serves updated comfort standards, boasts two attractive patios, one upstairs and an enclosed downstairs lined with blooming orchids. Wall-to-wall windows are opened on pleasant days, and the happy hour menu Monday-Saturday includes $2 off cocktails and half-priced appetizers and signature flatbread pizzas. RDG + Bar Annie (1800 Post Oak) attracts chic socialites who climb the stairs to a lush Miami Beach-inspired patio overlooking Post Oak Boulevard. The who's-who crowd gathers at this glamour spot for all-day happy hour, featuring hand-crafted cocktails, along with elegant bites ($3-$9) by Robert Del Grande. Indika (516 Westheimer) appeals to adventurous palates, with a creative modern Indian bar menu ($4-$8) by talented Anita Jaisinghani. The masala-saffron grilled lamb chop popsicles, potato goatcheese cakes, pork belly chaat and crab samosas are perennial favorites for patio diners. BELLAIRE BUZZ MAY 2014 34
French pastries Neighborhood: West University Making macarons is a dare, especially in Houston’s soggy climate. These delicate orbs in a multitude of colors and flavors are finicky. Their golden, smooth crust turns into dud-like chews at the hint of humidity. Macarons also demand surgical precision in the sifting of superfine sugar and ground almonds, combined with the beating of egg whites. A misstep and the result is a gritty fistful of chalk. And so, it was a treat (and surprise) to bite into the puffed-up salted caramel and pistachio renditions from Bite (in the Kroger shopping center). At last, the search for macarons “almost” like those from the venerable Ladurée in Paris is over. Granted, the weather was perfect that day – hardly a hint of humidity, nor a disappointed face at this charming whitegloss dessert-coffee house. Lunch & dinner Mon.Sun. 5172-B Buffalo Speedway, 713-664-2483. $
Caracol Mexican coastal cuisines Neighborhood: Galleria Hugo Ortega is largely credited with introducing Houstonians to the foodways of Mexico. His namesake restaurant, Hugo’s, on
Westheimer captivates with soulful interior specialties, while Caracol showcases Mexico’s lilting coastal cuisines. Ceviches and crudos shine against a snow-white interior dressed with deep-sea creatures by renowned illustrator Charley Harper. Jalapeño and ginger give great spark and crunch to conch, while scallops combined with sweet mango, papaya and lime crudos dance merrily between sweet, salty and tangy. A house favorite is oysters smoked in a wood-burning domed oven, then drizzled with a luscious chipotle butter. The menu leans toward seafood, but there are meatier options, such as bone-in short rib with cocoa nib and roasted duck with pumpkin seed sauce. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 2200 Post Oak Blvd., No. 160, 713-622-9996. caracol.net. $$$
shrimp linguine with parmesan cream. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 5210 Morningside, 713522-3535. coppaosteriahouston.com. $$
Costa Brava Bistro French-and-Spanish cuisine Neighborhood: Bellaire Working backward at this Spanish-inspired restaurant, the refined desserts include crema Catalan with a miraculous crunchy sugar glaze and an apple tart that smartly blends smoky caramel with buttery pastry. The flavorful seafood paella from owner Angeles Duenas’ grandfather sports perfectly al dente rice. Moist roasted duck and shrimp piquant with garlic make this upscale spot pleasing. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Fri. and dinner Sat. 5115 Bellaire Blvd., 713-839-1005. costabravabistro.com. $$$
Coppa Osteria Artisanal pastas and pizzas Neighborhood: Rice Village Like Coppa Ristorante Italiano, this casual rendition applies the principles of Italian cooking by allowing ingredients to speak with minimum interference. Chef Brandi Key’s clarifies ingredients and judges flavors finely. Pizzas shine. Creamy burrata shimmers with peppery extra-virgin olive oil. Spaghetti carbonara crackles with black pepper and the creaminess of raw eggs and Parmesan cheese. Calabria chili and Meyer lemon brighten
Del Frisco’s Grille Casual American classics Neighborhood: Upper Kirby This casual offshoot of the high-end steakhouse features sandwiches and salads, along with a patio for al fresco dining or energetic tykes. At brunch, over chicken-fried steak and eggs, sip a carafe of build-your-own Bloody Marys with Tito’s Vodka and a plate of fixings that includes pickled green beans, olives and lime wedges. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 2800 Kirby Drive, Suite A-132, 832-623-6168. delfriscogrille.com. $$$
Étoile Authentic French Neighborhood: Galleria area When several talented French chefs urge you to try the food at Étoile, it’s hard to dispute their keen taste for the food of their homeland. Just as they said, the flavors here are true, and ownerchef Philippe Verpiand and wife Monica Bui have created an alluringly warm showcase for a hearty coq au vin and tender sole meunière with lemon caper sauce, fingerling potatoes and roasted cauliflower – both brunch items. Briny mussels flavored with tomatoes and onions are served with homemade pomme frites and garlic aioli. The beauty of this place is almost everything is made from scratch, including the crusty baguettes. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 1101 Uptown Park Blvd., 832-668-5808. etoilecuisine.com. $$
Funky Chicken Gourmet fried chicken Neighborhood: The Heights It seems simple enough – fried, moist chicken with skin so brown and enduringly crisp. Yet many chefs don’t get it right, and even fewer are able to take it to the next level. The exception is two-time James Beard winner Bradley Ogden. The Las Vegas superstar chef and son Bryan recently opened the Funky Chicken – the first of many, they hope. We couldn’t be happier that they’re testing their recipes (continued on page 36)
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CARACOL This Galleria-area restaurant serves raw-seafood specialties, including Tostones de Bonito, a fish crudo with crispy plantains, cilantro cream and grilled lime. (continued from page 35) on
Houstonians. The Ogdens have perfected the art of fried chicken with a savory coating reminiscent of the paperthin, amber-glass crust on a crème brûlée. The barely-there breading allows you to taste crispy skin along with the expertly marinated organic chicken. Funky Chicken also serves roasted chicken and gourmet sides like quinoa salad and roasted brussels sprouts. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Fri. Breakfast, lunch & dinner Sat.-Sun. 181 Heights Blvd., 832-924-4655. realfunkychicken.com. $
Island Grill & Juice Bar Smoothies and burgers Neighborhood: West University/Tanglewood Granted, the smoothies with natural juices at Island Grill are pretty lush. The Island Oasis is ripe with sweet pineapples, strawberries, coconut juice and vanilla yogurt. The juices – from wheatgrass to coolers made with veggies and fruits – are refreshing. But surprisingly, this neighborhood joint is noted for breakfast bagel sandwiches, pita sandwiches and muscular 8-ounce Angus burgers on soft buns. Breakfast, lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. (closes 4:30 p.m. Sun.), 4024 Bellaire Blvd., 713-665-5388. 5709 Woodway, 713-334-4036. islandgrillhouston.com. $$
Jonathan’s The Rub American classics Neighborhood: Memorial It isn’t unusual to find a chef or restaurateur at this BYOB eatery, chomping down on one of the juiciest grinders in town. It’s that good. Burger aficionados around Hedwig Village pay homage to the 9-ounce chargrilled ground chuck seasoned with chefowner Jonathan Levine’s secret rub seasonings. Available at lunchtime only, you can build your own, or opt for the original Rub BELLAIRE BUZZ MAY 2014 36
with the usual fixings on sweet sourdough bun. There’s also the Blue with chunky blue cheese, the AVO with grilled avocado and the Latino Nuevo with chipotle mayonnaise and Mexican cheese. Lunch & dinner Mon.Fri. and dinner Sat., 9061 Gaylord, 713-4658200. jonathanstherub.com. $$
Kenny & Ziggy’s New York deli Neighborhood: Galleria area Kenny & Ziggy’s is a wood-panelled delicatessen plastered with movie posters, memorabilia and anything else that might invoke Broadway. Homesick New Yorkers line up for pickled herring, bagels, lox, potato pancakes, and pastrami and corned-beef sandwiches, which owner Ziggy Gruber stacks with hand-sliced, triple-smoked beef. While packed for lunch, breakfast draws a much smaller crowd. But hearty morning fare is Kenny & Ziggy’s best-kept secret. The two eggs any style are a bargain at $7.95 and with enough food to share with your best friend. Huge servings are the standard here. Even so, the Texas-size bowls of homemade matzo ball soup empty quickly. These tender orbs have won competitions all over town. Breakfast, lunch and dinner Mon.-Sun. 2327 Post Oak Blvd., 713-8718883. kennyandziggys.com. $$
La Casa Del Caballo Mexican steakhouse Neighborhood: Montrose Gregarious Latin voices ring through this Mexican steakhouse that buys its premium beef from the storied Allen Brothers in Chicago. Owner-chef Carlos Abedrop butchers a whole rib rack himself to ensure the right cut. The steak here isn’t the buttery, tender sort
American diners have come to expect. Here, it has the kind of chew that bursts with forceful flavors from beef grilled over mesquite fire. The lamb, too, while tender, is resilient with its characteristic gamey nuances. Meats are good by themselves even with the standard sides of smoke-kissed beans, skin-on fried potatoes and three-alarm salsas. Lunch & dinner, Mon.-Sun., 322 Westheimer, 832-623-6467. lacasadelcaballo.com. $$$
Local Foods Chef-driven gourmet deli Neighborhood: Rice Village Hand-crafted sandwiches and salads from chef Dylan Murray draw a diverse crowd. Savor duck confit smothered with melted brie, aioli and cranberry preserves on wheat bread. Shrimp-and-crab on ciabatta with green goddess dressing is another must-try. Sandwiches come with two sides that include Tuscan kale with golden raisins and potato chips speckled with Old Bay seasonings. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 2424 Dunstan, 713-521-7900. houstonlocalfoods.com. $$
Masraff’s Upscale modern American Neighborhood: Galleria Pristine ingredients fortified by skilled execution highlight this Houston establishment, refreshed by relocating to Post Oak Boulevard. Natural light pours into an elegant room that sets the stage for food that packs flavor and character. Caramelized diver scallops are glossed with carrot-ginger bisque and buttery sweet corn. Gumbo is buoyant with jumbo crab claws, and the filet has the discernibly rich taste of prime beef. Lunch & dinner Tues.-
Fri. and dinner Sat. 1753 Post Oak Blvd, 713355-1975. masraff.com. $$$
Pass & Provisions Inventive modern fare Neighborhood: Fourth Ward A duo eatery in one space – white-tablecloth Pass and bustling Provisions. Pass is a caviar affair, while Provision serves casual edibles, including smartly donned sandwiches and billowy pizzas with such toppings as kale with pork sausage and duck confit with potato and pickled currants. There are some crossovers of dishes and kitchen playfulness between the two menus. Provisions, lunch & dinner Mon.-Sat; Pass, dinner only. 808 Taft, 713-628-9020. Passandprovisions.com. $$-$$$$
Pizzeria Solario Neopolitan pizzeria Neighborhood: Highland Village When it comes to the Neapolitan pies at this cheery spot with patio seating, there are no tricks, just good techniques: a fiery 800degree wood-burning oven that chars the edges of a bubbly, soft-bottom pizza (you can request a crispier bottom). The creamy mozzarella and garlicky white sauce are made in house. Try the Appolonia with soppressata salami, black pepper, parmesan cheese and an egg on top. The pizza margherita is satisfyingly
direct, simply spiced with vibrant plum tomatoes, mozzarella and organic basil. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 3333 Weslayan, 713-8928100. pizzeriasolario.com. $
Post Oak Grill Gulf Coast classics Neighborhood: Tanglewood Happiness exists in a bread basket at this popular outpost for business lunches. The basket usually cradles oven-fresh biscuits fragrant with green onions, bacon and cheddar cheese. One really isn’t enough; nor is two or three. Slow down, though, or you’ll fill up before the perfectly grilled rainbow trout arrives, glistening lightly with butter-caper sauce. Polo Becerra is a classic chef with a timeless approach of keeping ingredients simple and clean, with just a sheath of sauce to elevate the flavors of beef and seafood. Lunch & dinner, Mon.-Sat., 1415 S. Post Oak Lane, 713-993-9966. postoakgrill.com. $$$
Sparrow Bar + Cookshop Modern American Neighborhood: Midtown Monica Pope is forever reinventing herself and her restaurant concept. Her latest incarnation, the Sparrow Bar + Cookshop, applies beautiful, subtle flavors to farm-fresh local ingredients. Bronzed Texas quail nestles on warm yellow-corn grits hinting of orange zest.
Caramel miso and blossom butter enhance hanger steak. Creativity carries over to a dynamic cocktail menu. Pope grasped the value of using fresh fruits and herbs in drinks long before it became a trend. Her hand-crafted cocktails push boundaries to offer new, exciting flavors, such as a vodka creation with roasted red bell pepper puree, shiitake mushroom vermouth and jalapeño syrup. Lunch and dinner, Tues.-Sat., 3701 Travis, 713-524-6922. sparrowhouston.com. $$$
Thai Gourmet Traditional Thai Neighborhood: Galleria Area Here, the lemongrass, coriander and galangal sing with clearly identifiable voices. Thai Gourmet’s flavors are bold. Sweet, sour and salty combine harmoniously, particularly in the fisherman’s soup brimming with mussels, scallops and shrimp. The execution of pad thai and beef satay are very fine, while the fiery beef curry with potatoes and chicken green curry rarely disappoint. Lunch & dinner Mon.Sat. 6324 Richmond Ave., 713-780-7955. thaigourmethouston.com. $$
MORE ONLINE For more restaurants and to comment, see this story online at bellairebuzz.com.
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Elder abuse The neglect, abuse, or exploitation of elderly and disabled adults is illegal. In Texas, it is also a crime to discover it without making an immediate report of: (1) the victim’s name, age, and address; (2) the name and address of any person responsible for the victim’s care; (3) the victim’s condition; (4) the basis of the reporter’s knowledge; and (5) any other relevant information. This duty extends to lawyers, clergy, and medical and social workers, even if the perpetrator is a client or a confidant. Self-neglect must also be reported, e.g., when an adult can no longer care for himself or herself. To make a report, visit www.txabusehotline.org or call 800-252-5400 to speak with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). Report emergencies to 911 first. Reports may be made anonymously. If you identify yourself, the caseworker who investigates will contact you for more information. Your name is generally confidential, but may be disclosed if a court determines disclosure is necessary. Intentionally or maliciously false reports are a crime. Mistaken reports are not, unless made in bad faith. Informants’ employers are immune for their employees’ reports on others, even mistaken and false ones. The system wants you to err on the side of the victim. A number of state agencies have jurisdiction, depending whether the victim is in a nursing home, hospital, or his or her own home. DFPS is the statewide intake for all complaints. Protective services are available to the
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victim, which may include social casework, case management, and arranging for psychiatric and health evaluation, home care, day care, social services, health care, and even respite service for friends or family who may be overwhelmed. To report abuse in other states, visit the National Center for Elder Abuse, www.ncea.aoa.gov, or call 800-677-1116. When a client lacks capacity, Texas lawyers may be obligated to do more than call DFPS. If necessary to protect the client, they must also seek a legal guardian or other representative. This may involve anything from simply informing family about an existing power of attorney to sending a so-called information letter to the probate court’s guardianship coordinator. We write wills and go to probate court. We offer no-obligation initial interviews for estate planning and administration, so it costs nothing to hear specific recommendations that suit your needs. 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 So. Ste. 920, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.662.3853, www.rwhpc.com
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Point. Click. Win. Enter The Buzz 2014 Photo Contest DEADLINE MAY 15TH The Buzz Magazines is pleased to announce our ninth annual Photo Contest. Categories include People, Sports/Action, Animals, Landscapes, and Nature. Winning photos will be published in our July issue and on our website. Our grand prize winner will receive a Canon PowerShot ELPH 100 HS digital camera. To submit a photo, and for contest rules, visit thebuzzmagazines.com and click on “Enter Our 2014 Photo Contest” in the upper right corner. You can also view our 2013 winners online.
Grand Prize, Canon PowerShot ELPH 100 HS digital camera (or camera of equal value) BELLAIRE BUZZ MAY 2014 40
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Pension plan distribution options Recently I have had several clients ask me to analyze their pension plan distribution options. For those clients fortunate enough to have defined benefit pension plans, the decision of whether to select a lump sum payment (if available) or an ongoing payment can be a difficult decision. Most clients want to know: “Which is the best option?” For example, a straight life payment, which leaves nothing to a surviving spouse, is one option. Other options provide for distributions in different amounts to both spouses. Although these options have different names, they usually boil down to an equal payment for the joint lives of both spouses, or more to the retired employee and upon his or her demise a smaller payment to the surviving spouse for life. One way to compare the options is to do a mathematical computation called a present value analysis. Basically, dollars received in the future are discounted or converted into equivalent dollars today. For example, $1 received a year from now is worth less than is $1 received today. If a discount (interest rate) factor of 4 percent is used, $1 to be received a year from now is worth 96 cents today. An extremely important variable in computing present value is the life expectancies assumed. It’s also wise to think about the reality of this decision being made. Basically, if a lump sum is available and not elected, the retiree is purchasing an income stream (annuity) from his defined benefit plan. Then the question becomes: Is the annuity being purchased from the pension plan better than what is available in the marketplace? Moreover, if any option other than a straight life annuity is selected, the difference between the amount that would have been received under the straight life option and the smaller amount
received for the joint lives of the spouses can be thought of as a life insurance premium. The pension plan distribution option should be integrated with social security benefit planning. Sometimes it may make sense to combine these two options so as to provide a base benefit, with other assets then being available for supplemental income needs. Liquidity is also an issue. So is determining how the distribution fits into your retirement cash flow as well as your overall asset allocation and risk tolerance. Oftentimes, pension plan distribution options can be very confusing. Moreover, once elected, an option cannot be changed. Careful analysis is warranted. Please see your financial planner for details! This material is intended for educational purposes only. Please consult your investment professional or tax advisor for specific information pertaining to your situation. All information contained herein is derived from sources deemed to be reliable but cannot be guaranteed. Securities offered through SagePoint Financial, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Listed Entities are not affiliated. Insurance services offered through Park Place Financial. Legal advice provided by Christopher J. Maurer, 6750 West Loop S., Suite 920, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.667.4884. Christopher J. Maurer, J.D., CFP® is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ in Bellaire, with over 20 years of experience. He can be reached at 713-667-4884 or cmaurer@parkplacefinancial.co.
SPECIALISTS IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY Dr. Sebastian Faro
Areas of Specialization:
Dr. Jonathan Faro
Dr. Connie Faro
• Obstetrics and Gynecology • OB/Gyn Infectious Diseases • Gynecologic surgery • Laparoscopy • Robotic surgery • Hidradenitis Suppurativa • Colposcopy • Hysteroscopy • Cryosurgery • Contraceptive management SPECIALISTS IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY 7400 Fannin, Houston, TX 77054 Sebastian Faro, MD, PhD, FACOG Jonathan Faro, MD, PhD Suite 930 • Phone: 713-383-9579
Stephanie Meyers, WHNP
Connie Faro, MD, FACOG Stephanie Meyers, WHNP Suite 840 • Phone: 713-799-9900
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Avanti custom LEED home Best time to divorce? LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a rating system for the design, construction and operation of high performance green homes and buildings developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Certification is administered by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) through a network of professional, thirdparty certification bodies. Avanti Custom Homes has a new home in Katy certified as a LEED home that is the talk of the town. For certification, projects must satisfy prerequisites in categories such as Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality. An additional category, Innovation in Design, addresses sustainable building expertise as well as design. This 5,934-square-foot home in the Parklake Village neighborhood is built by Avanti Custom Homes, a division of Trendmaker Homes. Avanti benefits from the experience of Trendmaker’s 40-plus years in the homebuilding industry. Avanti buyers can choose to modify one of Trendmaker’s popular plan designs or design a new plan from scratch. Our design team has expertise in designing homes all over Houston, including Bellaire, Memorial, the Heights, the Medical Center, Tanglewood, the Museum District, Midtown and Uptown areas. Visit www.AvantiCustomHomes.com or call 281-675-3292. Or visit www.usgbc.org/leed for more about the LEED program.
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People ask me, “When is the best time to file for divorce?” There is no “perfect” time to file, but you should consider the time it will take to finalize the divorce. People are surprised to learn that a divorce can take anywhere between the mandatory 60 days to over a year to complete, depending on how complicated the children issues and estate are. If you would like to be divorced in the next year, you had better file. Other factors to consider are: How comfortable are you with the other parent having periods of possession and access with the children without you present and how you will be able to financially provide for yourself after the divorce if the assets in the estate are not enough to continue the lifestyle you have been accustomed to? Talking to a family law professional is the best thing you can do early on when you are considering a divorce in order to determine the best timing both financially and emotionally. K. Nicole Voyles, a partner at Jenkins & Kamin, L.L.P., a full-service, boutique, family law firm, has been recognized as a Texas Rising Star by Texas Super Lawyers, a Thomas Reuters service printed in Texas Monthly magazine, for 2008, 2011-2014. K. Nicole Voyles, Board Certified in Family Law, Jenkins & Kamin, LLP, Two Greenway Plaza, Suite 600, Houston, Texas 77046, 713.600.5500, www.jenkinskamin.com
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Tips to handle picky eating
Neighborhood Tails
713.662.2119 www.roveroaks.com
Rocket, age 4, Golden Retriever, Palmetto Street Hi! My name is Rocket Swaim, and I’m a Golden Retriever. Despite what you may think, I am a girl doggie. Can’t you see my pink collar? My family calls me Rockie for short. My most favorite things to do, in order, are swim in the pool (occasionally I’ll hang out in the hot tub), eat frozen banana Kongs, play fetch and walk my humans around Memorial Park. Sometimes they can’t keep up. I love my plush toys: Sheep, Chicken, George and my most favorite, Baby. Sometimes I love Baby too much, so Mom keeps extras just in case. If you come over you will see me with one, two or even three of my toys in my mouth. I’m not trying to show off; I keep them close in case you want to play fetch or have a tug of war. I also like to cuddle my toys before bed, just like my family. 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, TX 77401. Featured pets receive two passes to Rover Oaks Pet Resort. Each pass can be redeemed for one day of lodging in a Bunk House Suite, 25 percent off your next grooming appointment or 25 percent off one obedience training class.
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Children love to please. However, they should not be eating to please a parent but to satisfy their hunger. Early childhood is the time when children learn to self-regulate and respond to internal cues of hunger and satiety. Self-regulation prevents the tendency to eat in the absence of hunger and contributes to the prevention of obesity and chronic illnesses. Tips to prevent picky eating habits: • Eat together as a family while enjoying healthy, balanced meals. • Choose scheduled meals and snacks. No junk food in between. • Introduce a variety of foods, multiple times, in multiple ways, and encourage your child to try new food in a matter-of-fact manner. • Do not overcompensate for pickiness by permitting excess of less desirable foods; for example, do not serve juice after an inadequate meal. • No bribing. Bribing can label great foods as undesirable. • Build the child’s confidence by providing healthy options without preparing a special meal. • Get the child involved in making or serving food. Children love chores that revolve around meals and may try something they “made,” like a salad. • Pickiness can result in nutrient deficiencies. Dr. Supriya Ramanathan, FAAP is a pediatrician for The University of Texas Health Science Center. Now accepting new patients at the UT Physicians Pediatrics Clinic, 5420 Dashwood, Suite 301, Houston, Texas 77081, 713.486.2980
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An endowment is forever
Specialists in Ob/Gyn
Robert M. Beren Academy is thrilled to announce the inception of the Dr. Alan Hoffman Scholarship Endowment. Through the incredible generosity of an anonymous donor, we have been gifted with a seed donation of $250,000. We are embarking on a $1 Million Scholarship Endowment Campaign over the next three years to raise an additional $500,000, whereby our donor will gift the endowment with a further $250,000. Dr. Hoffman is an active parent of the school, serves on the board, and is a beloved member of the Houston Jewish Community. His passion for education is endless, and we invite you to be a part of his namesake. A vibrant endowment will ensure the stability and legacy of RMBA. The cost of both private and Jewish education nationally and locally is rising at an annual rate of 2.5-7 percent. It is therefore important that we create an endowment that will sustain the high educational qualities that families have come to expect. RMBA continues to celebrate a history of successful college-acceptance results, and with your help that tradition can continue. Creating a substantial endowment now, with continued giving and sound investment, will ensure our community‘s access to exceptional Jewish education. To learn how you can support RMBA’s Scholarship Endowment, please contact Leigh Levine, development director, at 713-723-7170. Robert M. Beren Academy, 15 months through 12th grade, www.berenacademy.org
We are a unique practice – a family of three physicians devoted to providing a high quality of care to women. In addition to general obstetric and gynecologic care, we specialize in abdominal/pelvic surgery, vaginal surgery, pelvic reconstructive surgery, laparoscopy and robotic surgery. We also perform in-office procedures, avoiding hospital costs and general anesthesia. Drs. Sebastian, Jonathan and Connie Faro have a combined experience of more than 40 years in Houston. Stephanie Meyers, our nurse practitioner, has several years of obstetrical experience and has recently joined our practice, working with Dr. Connie Faro. We specialize in the treatment of OB/GYN infectious diseases and benign diseases of the vulva, vagina, cervix and reproductive organs. We have a special interest in the medical and surgical management of Hidradenitis Suppurtiva, a skin disease/infection that affects hair-bearing areas of the body, especially the underarms, breast, vulva, groins, thighs and buttocks. We provide medical and/or surgical management based on a mutual decision by the patient and her physician. We believe in the patient having a thorough understanding of the problem, management options and the need for follow-up. Call today for your appointment. Connie Faro, M.D., FACOG, Stephanie Meyers, WHNP, 713.799.9900, Suite 840; Jonathan Faro, M.D., Ph.D., Sebastian Faro, M.D., Ph.D., FACOG, 713.383.9579, Suite 930; Specialists in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 7400 Fannin, Houston, Texas 77054
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NEIGHBORS
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by Andria Frankfort, staff writer
Back Porch
Is ignorance really bliss?
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n one of my parents’ trips to visit me in New Orleans during college, we had something of a revelatory dinner. After a few drinks at Commander’s Palace, I began indiscriminately leaking information that I’d previously kept confidential, stories about the things I did in high school that would not have made my parents proud. Thank God I survived to tell the stories, and we laughed all night. We’ve laughed about that night many times since. Now that I’m a mom and high school is looming, I’m not so sure I want things kept from me the way I kept them from my parents. Is ignorance really bliss? Here’s where some readers weigh in: Harriet Babchick, Baby Chick Designs owner, mother and grandmother: “I have a vivid imagination, and I usually can tell that something is going on with my children, even now that they are grown and living their own lives. So I can imagine all sorts of things that are far worse than the actual truth. Please give me the truth, so I can deal with whatever is happening. “Growing up, my parents tried to shield us from serious things going on in the family. When we were children, this was probably for the best, but as we got older, not the best. Now I try to keep it simple. I don’t want to alarm my grandchildren. But the simple truth is often the best, in a calming tone that generates conversation and questions.” Anita Gaylor, retail consultant, mother of three: “My biggest piece of advice is to know what your kids are doing and who their friends are. Ignorance is not bliss at this stage; it is stupid. “I don’t care if the neighbor had a boob job, but I do need to know about my kids. Once you launch them to college, you need to let go and let them try life on their own with your nonnegotiables. For our kids the non-negotiables are no drugs, no tattoos and no piercings, go to class, and make good grades. Mollie promptly blew that by getting extra earring holes in her ears at UT, but I am going with it since she got a 3.92 last semester.” Jacqueline Kenneally, ArtMix owner, mother of three: “It’s not about not knowing how many calories are in a slice of cake. There’s a big-
HEAR NO EVIL Is it ever better not to know the whole truth?
ger question here. When I take my car to the shop, I want to hear exactly what parts are wrong so I know what I’m fixing. Hopefully it’s something small, I pay my bill, and I’m on my way. “Same with our families. Having the truth out there builds trust. And if you trust each other and know what you’re working with, you might realize, like the car, you’ve got small issues. Or, with the truth, we can figure out together how to manage real issues.” Heather Kearney, The Stork Club owner, mother of two: “I’ve always been a ‘devil you know’ over a ‘devil you don’t know’ kind of a person. If you get a bad grade, you can see what you missed and study harder for the next one. If you inadvertently hurt someone’s feelings, you can apologize and make amends. “But I woke up this morning, seven weeks post-op from surgery on my left foot, knowing I was going in [later that day] for the same surgery on my right foot. I walked into the first surgery knowing the mechanics of the operation but not
really knowing the challenges that played out over several weeks. Now I know and can remember how it felt…. I will wake up to pain, broken bones, icky pain meds. For weeks, there will be no shoes, no showers without a bag on my foot, no driving. I will have to watch from the sidelines as my family goes about their daily routine. So, I take back everything I have said before. There is a place in the world for the saying ‘ignorance is bliss.’” Barbara Trautner, physician, mother of two: “I can easily imagine a far worse scenario than reality in almost every circumstance. I like to know the details, and I’ve raised my children the same way. “I tell my patients the details too, as in, ‘This is going to hurt, so we use local anesthesia.’ Or, ‘Believe it or not, this procedure really doesn’t hurt much.’ I’ve seen so many people watch their entire cardiac catheterization on the TV screen, perfectly relaxed. If I tell people the truth, they trust me.”