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2017 Buzz Photo Contest Winners

Take Your Base by Matt Bennett First Place, Sports and Action

Houston, TX Permit No. 2047 PAID US Postage PRSRT STD

PUBLISHER’S NOTE This issue reveals the winners of our 12th annual Buzz Photo Contest. As The Buzz has grown over the past 12 years, so has our contest. What began with residents dropping off a few hundred photos on CDs has evolved into a contest with nearly 2,000 online submissions, judged by a panel of professional photographers. One of this year’s judges said the quality of entries in our amateur-photographer contest compares to that of many professional contests. While I do not have a “vote,” I always enjoy sitting in on the judging. It gives me a greater appreciation of everything that makes a memorable photo. This year, I was especially fascinated by the wide range of ages among our winners, from 9-year-old Joseph Johnson to 77-year-old Benard Nelkin. I also love to hear the stories behind the images, and the techniques photographers used to capture the photos. I hope you enjoy the winning images. And remember to enter your own photos in next year’s 13th annual contest. michael@thebuzzmagazines.com

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

Contributing Writers Account Managers

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Joni Hoffman Michael Hoffman Cheryl Laird Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld John Duboise Tracy L. Barnett Sharon Albert Brier Andria Frankfort Angie Frederickson Todd Freed Cathy Gordon Michelle Casas Groogan Dai Huynh Annie Blaylock McQueen Jennifer Oakley Cheryl Ursin Alicia Lee, Russell Weil Andrea Blitzer Leslie Little Kim Montgomery Amber Lewis Dylan Aguilar Karina Arnold, Aaron Feldstein, Eli Maierson, Nicki Miller, Jordan Miller-Mandel, Trevor Schneider, Sophia Wayne

On our cover: Matt Bennett took this photo of his son Ford in April at Guthrie Center during a Spring Branch-Memorial Sports Association Rookie baseball game. Cover photo by Matt Bennett The Buzz Magazines has made all reasonable attempts to verify the accuracy of all information contained within. Advertising claims are solely the responsibility of the advertiser. Copyright © 2017 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.

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MAILBAG

Your letters, thoughts, opinions Turning back time I really enjoyed your article on Menu Memories by Russell Weil [Menu Memories: Favorite restaurant meals, May 2017]. As a native Houstonian I have been fortunate to dine at many great places that are not here anymore. It brought back a lot of great memories. Petty Steak House: One of the first steakhouses located on Post Oak. Used real charcoal for cooking. The Stables: Great steakhouse with all lady waiters. Black Angus Restaurant: Another great steakhouse using real charcoal for cooking. Sonny Look’s steakhouse: Located where the Palm is now. Sonny wore a different color coat each night. He also had a horse and rider dressed as a knight riding in the parking lot. The Carlyle: Owned by Harold Farb on Westheimer. He used to sing there also. Swiss Chalet: Great bar and food on S. Post Oak Lane. It was a hot spot for seniors who loved to dance all night. Red Lion on Main St.: The best prime rib in Houston at the time. Owned by George Crowder, and his Dalmatian dog would always be inside the place greeting the guests. Royal Coach Inn: Located on the Southwest Freeway. Had a great prime rib room and another place where you could eat and dance all night. Skippy’s: Located on Bissonnet and had some of the best food in Houston. Big portions and no menus. Little gambling going on in the back also. Ye Old College Inn: Located on Main Street across from Rice University. Great spot for dinner before or after a Rice football game. Ernie Coker was a great owner. Bill Williams Chicken Shack: Located on Main Street. A great family place for Sunday lunch. Best fried chicken. Bill Williams was a big supporter of the rodeo. Bought lot of champion steers. Ed McMahon Editor's note: Thanks for sharing your restaurant memories, Ed. If any of you missed this popular article in the print magazine, or Russell’s previous stories on Old-Houston restaurants, you can find them and all Buzz stories, plus online extras, at thebuzzmagazines.com.

Confederate House mystery The original Confederate House restaurant [Menu Memories, by Russell Weil, May 2017] was not on Westheimer. It was on San Felipe where Ouisie’s is now. Freeman Self Response from Russell Weil: Thank you for reaching out. I appreciate your providing info on The Confederate House. With respect to the original location, in my research, there were a few comments I found on a San Felipe location near Weslayan, but many were confused about if they were actually thinking about the Westheimer (Highland Village) location, so I appreciate you confirming that they did actually have their first location on San Felipe. While I was never there, I did enjoy the Highland Village location for years.

each artist or band so I could see if they related to my taste in music. Jack Fett Editor’s note: Glad you found the Houston Happenings with Haley blog post to be helpful. Look for her monthly roundup of live music under "Buzzworthy" at thebuzzmagazines.com.

Owning the mat Thank you so much for your article in The Buzz Magazines recognizing our wrestling program [SportzBuzz, by Todd Freed, April 2017]. Winning the State Wrestling Championship was a terrific accomplishment. We are very proud of Alan Paul and the entire Mavericks wrestling program. Vince Arduini, Director of Athletics, St. John's School

Correction In the June 2017 “Class of 2017: Where are they headed?” story about high school graduates, we received the wrong photo of Kiarah Parrales, Incarnate Word Academy graduate. Her correct photo is featured in the online version. See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com to learn where Kiarah and other local graduates are headed to college this fall. 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 fall-season family traditions. • Have a compelling neighbor to profile. • Have interesting hobbies or collections. • Have a travel story to share. • Have a funny or relatable parenting story.

Heads up on concerts appreciated I read the article written by Haley Kurisky about the music festivals, and I found it very interesting and helpful. I always miss out on cool concerts because I don't know they’re happening. I also appreciated your input about MEMORIAL BUZZ JULY 2017 6

If this sounds like you or someone you know, please contact us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com or 713.668.4157, ext 12.

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NEIGHBORS by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

Grown-Up Galveston Our island’s not just for kids

alveston has always been a great family spot. But it’s also a grown-up escape, close enough to be easy, but surrounded by enough water to feel far away. And if you’re looking for a date night? There’s not much that can beat crossing the causeway. “About four years ago, we started looking at property in the Hill Country,” says Buzz resident Sandy Sales. “The boys [husband Travis and son James] really wanted some hunting property. I’d go and see, and then I’d say, ‘Okay, how far is the grocery store?’ Eventually James said, ‘You clearly aren’t real gung-ho about this.’ What was there for me to do out there? Cook and clean? “So James said, ‘What do you think about getting a bay house?’ And that was the beginning of a love affair with Galveston.” They bought a house on the bay. “There’s just a casual state of mind. You feel like you’re a million miles away from a city. And there’s a lot to do, or nothing at all. You go over that causeway and your blood pressure goes down. There’s no mail, no bills. Instead of reading the paper, we work on puzzles.” A couple of times a month, Sandy and Travis go alone. “Sometimes we tell the kids, ‘It’s date weekend, so don’t come.’ They’re like, ‘Really?’ and I’m like, ‘Yes!’” Sandy says she and Travis typically head to BLVD. Seafood for happy hour and dinner. After, they’ll sit on their dock with wine. “We sleep in Saturday morning and then usually head out to the beach with a Bloody Mary for a four- or fivemile walk. After, we hang out by the pool.” If they pick up lunch, they’ll run by Café Michael Burger or the Shrimp ’N Stuff food truck at Jamaica Beach. Otherwise, Sandy makes appetizers and sangria. For dinner, they are fans of local favorite Rudy & Paco. Other favorites: Saltwater Grill, Galveston Country Club or Nate’s West End. “If we’re in the mood to stay out, we’ll go to the San Luis bar for cocktails and live music – with a dance floor, of course. If we’re going to a show at the Grand [1894] Opera House, which, by the way, is a fantastic venue to see a concert or play, we’ll go to bars on the Strand – Stuttgarden Tavern, with indoor and outdoor seating, O’Malley’s [Stage Door Pub] or the MEMORIAL BUZZ JULY 2017 8

Sky Bar.” For casual dining, Sandy suggests Farley Girls Café or Porch Café – overlooking the Gulf, but you’ll feel like you’re in Florida. On the first Saturday evening each month, they like ArtWalk. “We love to get a glass of wine and roam through the shops,” Sandy says. Buzz residents Myrna and David Engler’s love of Galveston started when he was doing his fellowship as an allergist at UTMB. “When we first started dating in 1985, the San Luis Hotel had just opened,” Myrna says. “We would go sit at the bar at the BLOODY-MARY MORNING Sandy and Travis Sales like taking long morning pool.” walks on the beach during their Galveston date weekends. They’ve been ferent experience than going into the hotel.” going back ever since. “We’ve also stayed at The For dinner, the Englers like the Steakhouse Tremont House, and we’ll go to the old [Hotel] at the San Luis, the Strand-area’s Black Pearl Galvez bar. We don’t stay there because they Oyster Bar and the island’s famous seafood have all kinds of ghost stories, but we love the restaurant Gaido’s. Myrna loves The Sunflower bar and always wind up meeting cool people who Bakery and Café for breakfast. have been going there for years. Actually, my “Galveston has always been a favorite,” parents were married there.” Myrna says to order Myrna says. “Usually we just hang out by the the Ghost Bride martini. pool or take a walk on the seawall and go to the To celebrate their 28th wedding anniversary, little shops. We haven’t been to the Pleasure they had a getaway at The Villas at The San Pier [amusement park] yet.” Luis, their beloved hotel stepped up a few notchBut after coming full-circle, from dating to es. “The Villas are gorgeous,” Myrna says. newlyweds, to parents of young girls and now “There’s a huge, beautifully decorated room and back to empty-nesters, there’s bound to be a huge bathroom, and a private spa as you walk another chapter to bring the Englers back to the out of your room. There’s also a private pool island again. with a bartender for the villas. It’s a totally dif-

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Galveston CVB

NEIGHBORS by Jordan Miller-Mandel, contributing writer and Andria Frankfort, staff writer

Summer Fun To Galveston we go Especially for adults Sunset cruise: Take a two-hour, adults-only cruise and BYOB. Board at Pier 21, and cap it off with dinner at Olympia Grill (olympiagrill.com) on Pier 21. Sit outside at the bar or at a table – both overlook the harbor. Cocktails on the roof: Visit the Rooftop Bar at the historic Strand-area Tremont House hotel for views of downtown Galveston and the harbor amidst twinkle lights and comfy seating. Dinner over Offat’s Bayou: Visit Shearn’s Seafood & Prime Steaks at Moody Gardens – it’s one of OpenTable’s 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America for 2016 and has floorto-ceiling windows with views of the water. Shearn’s Lounge has views of the Moody Gardens Pyramids – go for sunsets or after-dinner drinks. Catch a show: The 1894 Grand Opera House was named by the Texas Legislature “The Official Opera House of Texas.” The theater, which survived the 1900 Storm, is one of very few of its era in the state. Any show here feels intimate and personal. Relive the West: The Bryan Museum opened two summers ago in the carefully restored Galveston Orphans Home on 21st Street. It’s home to one of the world’s largest collections of Western art, artifacts and documents, displayed in chronological order, from Native American artifacts to antique firearms to modern ranching objects. Take a walk: Take an early-morning walk along the Seawall and walk out onto one of the jetties to watch the sun rise over the Gulf of Mexico.

For the whole crew Galveston’s Own Farmers Market – Sunday mornings: Every Sunday morning, 9 a.m.-noon, local farm and food products are for sale at 2508 Postoffice. Admission: Free; bring cash for purchases. Fireworks over the Gulf – Sunday evenings: Every Sunday at 9 p.m. through Sept. 3, there will be a fireworks show over the Gulf, at the intersection of 37th and Seawall Boulevard. Admission: Free. MEMORIAL BUZZ JULY 2017 10

Bands on the Sand – Friday and Saturday nights: This summerconcert series with regional bands takes place every Friday and Saturday night at Moody Gardens, One Hope Blvd., 6-10 p.m., through Aug. 12. Admission: $15 (or included with a Palm Beach ticket). Independence Day Parade and Fireworks – Tues., July 4: The 178th City of Galveston Celebration parade, with floats and performers, will start at 7:30 p.m. on 59th Street and end at 22nd Street. After the parade, there will be a fireworks show at 9:15 p.m. near 37th Street and Seawall Boulevard. Admission: FIREWORKS AND FUN There’s a lot to do on the Island this summer, including the Fourth of July parade. And keep an eye out for fireworks over the Gulf Free. every Sunday evening. Sandcastle Days – Jason James (country music). Aug. 12: Campfire July 8, July 22, July 29 and Aug. 5.: Soul with Zach Person (blues/R&B). Galveston will host a family-friendly event series Admission: Free. on how to create exceptional sandcastles. Texas Country Music Series – Thursday Watch serious sandcastle builders, and get tips nights: Get ready to two-step on the Pleasure from the pros. The event starts at 8 a.m. on Pier every Thursday night, July 8- Aug. 10. Stewart Beach. Instructors will build sandcastles Concerts will take place at Stage 25 from 5 to 9 through 11 a.m. and then give lessons at 11 a.m., p.m. Admission: Ticket prices vary by concert. 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Admission: Free Galveston Family Beach Challenge – GCVA “Red, White N Volleyball” – Sat., Sundays, July 23, Aug. 20, Sept. 3: Families July 8: Love volleyball? This tournament at East will enjoy this friendly competition of games, Beach includes various divisions and levels. such as Jenga and sack races. The challenge Check in is before 8:30 a.m. and games start 9 takes place on Stewart Beach, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. a.m. Entry fee: $25 per person and $50 per team. Admission: Free. Admission: Free to watch. Music Nite on the Strand: A free summer concert that takes place on the second Saturday See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for links to of each month March through October, the event websites. And you can always check our Events show starts at 6 p.m. and goes till 9 p.m. at column for local things to do throughout the year. Saengerfest Park (2300 The Strand). July 8:

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DINING by Russell Weil, contributing writer

Roadside Pit Stops Favorite places to pull over

ith summer in full swing, many of us are taking road-trip vacations from Houston. Whether heading up north to Dallas or out west to San Antonio, or to another part of our vast state and beyond, there are some great pit stops along the way to break up the miles of driving for refueling and snacks. While Stuckey’s Roadside Stores no longer flank the side of I-45 North to Dallas, one restaurant continues to attract travelers passing through Fairfield, 150 miles north of Houston. Since 1966, early travelers can opt for the breakfast buffet at Sam’s Original Restaurant at 1015 W. Commerce Street. Beyond breakfast, manager Kathy G. Jones said, “passers-by and locals come to Sam’s for the barbecue and onion rings.” Sam’s is especially famous for homemade pies. Coconut cream pie is most popular, and cherry, pecan, and chocolate pecan pies are other favorites. The rotating pie case stands next to a gift shop full of souvenirs. Making a stop in Columbus, after a 75-mile drive west down I-10 toward San Antonio, is a ritual for many travelers. Schobels’ Restaurant at 2020 Milam Street, established in 1979 by the Schobel family, offers a comfortable atmosphere and a menu or buffet of homemade offerings. Fried Chicken & Waffles, a newer item on the breakfast menu, is topped with whipped butter and maple syrup. Service is friendly and efficient. Folks like to stop by the gourmet-foods area on the way out for sauces, jams, homemade pickles and pecans for treats or gifts. Should your travels take you to the Hill Country, north on Texas Highway 71, make a stop at Hruska’s Kolache Shop in Ellinger for fresh kolaches. Founded in 1912, Hruska’s is a perfect halfway stop between Houston and Austin. Kolaches, made from the same recipe since 1962, are the main attraction. Hruska’s offers 16 varieties of this Czech pastry. Ask for yours to be heated and enjoy with coffee. Or, there is a full breakfast menu and a grill, with burgers, sandwiches and wraps. A gift shop is stocked with souvenirs and novelties, while the convenience store offers rows of snacks and drinks. Of course, there is more than one route to Austin, and my preference is Highway 290. As MEMORIAL BUZZ JULY 2017 12

FRUIT? SAUSAGE? CREAM CHEESE? Kolaches are made fresh throughout the day at Chappell Hill Bakery and Deli in Chappell Hill, Texas.

you approach Washington County, halfway between Hempstead and Brenham, the landscape evolves into rolling hills and bluebonnets (in April) at Chappell Hill. While the bluebonnets are gone by mid-summer, there is another reason to stop there – Chappell Hill Bakery and Deli at 8900 Hwy 290 East. Since 2011, the rustic exterior has welcomed visitors, who are greeted with an inviting aroma of smoked meats. The south wall is lined with baked goods, including homemade kolaches filled with fruit or sausage, as well as pralines made with mounds of brown sugar and pecans. The other half of Chappell Hill Bakery and Deli is full of smoked meats and varieties of jerky. The east side is a full-service restaurant with a menu of barbecue and other comfort foods. When writing about favorite pit stops, the many locations of Buc-ee’s – famous for their clean and private bathrooms – certainly should

be included. And if your travels take you down 59 South to Corpus Christi, you are in luck. Take a break from driving at the Wharton location at the intersection of 59 and FM 102, just 52 miles south of Houston. The famous Buc-ee’s Beaver sign and plenty of gas pumps greet you. Once you enter those sliding-glass doors, you run into the familiar. Among the offerings are a quirky gift shop and big jerky counter, with teriyaki-flavored jerky seeming particularly popular the last time I was there. Or opt for the fudge counter, or grab a bag of Beaver Nuggets to snack on. Grab your beverage to go in a “Big Red Beaver Cup” for $4.99, and bring it in for $1 refills on your next visit. Editor’s note: Do you have a favorite roadside pit stop to recommend? We’d love to share your favorite spots. Comment below this story at thebuzzmagazines.com or email info@thebuzzmagazines.com.

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NEIGHBORS

The Buzz Magazines 2017 Photo Contest

sponsored by

fter reviewing nearly 2,000 images, we are pleased to present the winners of The Buzz Magazines’ 12th annual photo contest. As we’ve come to expect, there were so many excellent entries again this year that we could have easily included many more winners in each category, so if your photo was not in the top four, realize it was a remarkably strong field. With any contest like this, the process is inevitably subjective. However, there are basic principles of photography that must be met, such as lighting, focus, exposure and composition. And there are personal elements to consider: subject, emotion and storytelling. Judging is “blind,” as the judges do not see the names of the photographers. Congratulations to each of this year’s winners, and to our Grand Prize winner, Carl Henry, who will receive an Olympus TG-Tracker Action Camera, compliments of our contest sponsor, Houston Camera Exchange. Carl is not new to our contest, as last year he had a photo place in the Sports and Action category, and, in 2009, one of Carl’s photos was selected as our Grand Prize winner. Each year after publishing our winners, we inevitably get comments from our readers. Some agree with our judges, and others do not. So again this year we included a Readers’ Choice award and let the readers vote. We posted the 48 print finalists on our Facebook page, and the photos that received the most “Likes” became our Readers’ Choice winners. We received more than 1,700 reader “Likes” overall, and the winners are included here. The Buzz Magazines’ annual photo contest is open to all amateur photographers, so keep that in mind as you are shooting pictures in the upcoming year. Watch for next year’s call for entries on our social media and in the March 2018 print issue. Thanks to everyone who entered, our readers who voted online for our Readers’ Choice winners, our contest sponsor, Houston Camera Exchange, and our judges – professional photographers Michael Hart, Nikky LaWell, Bob Gomel and Butch Hall.

MORE ONLINE See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for more details about each Photo Contest winner, plus a link to all 48 photos included in our Facebook Readers’ Choice voting. MEMORIAL BUZZ JULY 2017 14

Judges’ Bios

Michael Hart has been providing photographic images to leading corporations, design firms and advertising agencies for over 30 years. His assignments have taken him to 49 states and more than 30 countries. Michael’s work has been represented in several years of the international Black & White Spider Awards, and his work appears in its book, The World’s Greatest Black and White Photography. Recent shows include APA-Los Angeles’ exhibit, “Off The Clock,” APA-San Francisco’s exhibit, “Something Personal,” and ASMP Houston’s FotoFest exhibit, where he received the Curator’s Choice award in 2014. His book, Biggio: The Final Game, is in the library of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Elizabeth Stone’s book, An Invitation to Entertain, for which he provided photography, was awarded a Gold Medal at the Independent Publisher Book Awards show, and he was recently elected to the national board of the American Society of Media Photographers. hartphoto.com mhart@hartphoto.com

Nikky LaWell, a Certified Professional Photographer and Photographic Craftsman from Professional Photographers of America, holds a BFA in photography from the University of Houston and owns a boutique studio specializing in family portraits with a personal perspective. Nikky has been the keeper of memories for the most important of moments, from babies and graduations to weddings and promotions. She is known for listening closely to her clients and coming up with ideas for intimate and creative photography sessions. Nikky says a strong photo compels viewers to react and evokes a genuine emotional response. Her awards include “Best Portrait of a Senior Professional” from the Professional Photographers Guild of Houston, “Best Wedding” from the Southwest Professional Photographers Association, “Best Wedding” from the Texas Professional Photographers Association, and the illustrious Kodak Gallery Award. Her images have been selected for the international FotoFest exhibition and the International Loan Collection of the Professional Photographers of America. lawellphoto.com nikky@lawellphoto.com

Bob Gomel became a photographer with LIFE magazine in 1959. During the ’60s, his subjects included such luminaries as President Kennedy, The Beatles, Muhammad Ali, President Nixon, General MacArthur, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Marilyn Monroe, Peggy Lee and Dustin Hoffman. In addition to his LIFE assignments, he shot covers for magazines that included, among others, Fortune, Sports Illustrated and Forbes. In the ’70s and ’80s, he shot notable ad campaigns such as Merrill Lynch’s “Bullish on America” series. His work has been reproduced in over a dozen book collections. His awards include the prestigious Missouri School of Journalism’s Best Picture of the Year. Both the Library of Congress and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston have several of his works in their permanent collections. Most recently, the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at The University of Texas at Austin has committed to cataloging and preserving his archives for future generations. Editor’s Note: Read more about renowned photographer Bob Gomel at thebuzzmagazines.com; search Behind the Lens: The Life of a Life Photographer. gomelbob@gmail.com

Butch Hall has been in the photography business for 52 years. In May of 1965, he bought an established studio in Fort Worth. The investment turned out to be the beginning of a 52year career. Butch has been exposed to virtually all aspects of the photo industry. With a background in both black and white and color processing and printing to cinematography, videography and digital imaging, he has seen the massive changes that have occurred in photography in the last half century. He has photographed more than 1,000 weddings, taken thousands of aerial photographs and has become an expert in forensic, portrait and animal photography, among other specialties. He has extensive experience in the sales side of the industry, working with large industrial clients, newspapers, studio owners and other businesses. For the past several years, Butch has been teaching, helping and encouraging local photographers at the Houston Camera Exchange. info@hcehouston.com MEMORIAL BUZZ JULY 2017 15

Grand Prize Winner Spring Snow Hits The Colony Carl Henry, 62, took this photo of a king penguin colony at St. Andrews Bay on South Georgia Islands in November. There are almost half a million penguins at this colony, he explained. “I was attempting to capture the experience by using a wide crop and a lot of depth of field.”

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What the judges said “The highlights on their fur, coming from the left rear, add a three-dimensional quality to the image that elevates it from simple, flat, frontal lighting. The undulating landscape, leading to the right, and the vertical rock outcropping placed perfectly in the frame (“Rule of Thirds" is a rule for a reason) complete the sweep of the composition.” – Michael Hart “When your eye scans back further, the penguins become their own mountain range flowing with the terrain. The adult black and white, with the mountains white and gray, and the babies the color of the rocks. I can’t help but notice they are facing the same way, and it makes me want to research more about the animal.” – Nikky LaWell “Wall-to-wall king penguins, tens of thousands of them, with their distinctive orange markings, as if gathered for a mass rally! What is captured here is the perpetuation of the species, in all its glory. A stunning moment, preserved in perpetuity by this photograph.” – Bob Gomel “The brown color of the king penguin chicks is rare. The expertise of the photographer, the composition of the image, and the rarity of that many brown chicks make this a beautiful photograph, perhaps a signature image.” – Butch Hall

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Category: People

First Place, Oldest Barber Shop – Kimberly Sutton, 49, took this photo of Shepard’s Barber Shop in Conroe, which shows owner Leon Apostolo with customers. Kimberly stepped up on a shoe-shine stand to take the photo. Shepard's is called the oldest barber shop in Texas. Second Place, Running Among the Shadows – Crafton Deal, 17, took this photo in Girona, Spain. A photographer had advised Crafton, a senior at The Kinkaid School, to sit in one spot for a long time. Over two hours, he captured this boy, who “seemed so carefree and mischievous.” Third Place, Bella – Gracie Blue, 17, took this photo of her sister Bella, 12, “pretending to be ‘all grown up’ with a hair towel.” Gracie is a senior at St. John’s School. Fourth Place, My Little Muse – Mauricio Recinos, 46, took this photo of daughter Marianna, almost 7 at the time. “She gave me that sweet look of hers, the one that lets her get away with anything.” MEMORIAL BUZZ JULY 2017 18

Category: Animals

First Place, Cheerful Reunion – Shu Cheuk, 68, took this photo at Smith Oaks Rookery in High Island. “When one of the adult egrets came back from fishing, the whole egret family was in a state of excitement and happiness.” Second Place, The Bulldog Michael Phelps – Matt Bennett, 40, took this photo at Danny Jackson Dog Park. “I have always had a soft spot for bulldogs and have never seen one that can swim.” Third Place, Seagulls in Flight – Mauricio Recinos saw these seagulls in Galveston. “Taking pictures of animals in motion can be difficult. The monochrome tones give the scene mood and serenity.” Fourth Place, Red Eyed Green Tree Frog – Robert Davis, 75, took this shot at a workshop in St. Louis. Rainforest-dwelling tree frogs “are difficult to photograph, and this is best done when they are bred in captivity.”

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Category: Nature

First Place, Twelve Legs Grasp – Shu Cheuk took this photo at Lien Hoa Temple. “Two damselflies were mating on a curved blade of grass.” Second Place, Arctic Sea Snakes – Carl Henry took this photo in Prion Island, South Georgia. “The water was filled with this strange thick kelp that kept tangling the prop of the outboard but produced unique visuals.” His “good camera” was packed in a waterproof bag, so he used a point-and-shoot. Third Place, Hourglass – Mark Edelman, 55, took this at Upper Antelope Canyon in Page, Ariz. “At this time of year, literally nearly 1,000 tourists go through this narrow slot canyon per day to see the famous light beams, which we missed because it was cloudy. You can faintly see one.” Fourth Place, Working Hard for the Honey – Mauricio Recinos took this photo at his home. “Bees move fast, but at times they have the ability to stay still in the air.” MEMORIAL BUZZ JULY 2017 20

Category: Sports and Action First Place, Take Your Base – Matt Bennett took this photo of son Ford. A baseball ricocheted off Ford’s arm and hit him in the nose. “An enterprising coach found some napkins to staunch the bleeding, and he quickly got back into the action, hitting a double. In coach-pitch baseball, you don't get to take a base.”

Second Place, Victorious Patriot Walker – Matt Bennett took this photo of Walker Adams at the end of a flag-football playoff game. “The kids were so excited about winning.” Third Place, Eye…ball – Wayne Donnelly, 64, took this photo during a lacrosse game between St. Pius X High School and St. Agnes Academy. The player looking into the camera is Ashley Dalton from St. Pius X. Fourth Place, Hands First – Matt Bennett took this photo of Kate Donnelley, 7 at the time, at swim practice with the Afton Village team. “It's a lot harder to get swim photos once you add in judges and spectators.”

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Category: Landscapes

First Place, Placid Palouse – Shu Cheuk took this photo in Palouse, Wash., last August. “The air was almost still. The haze was created by the setting sun on the dust of harvesters and regular traffic.” Second Place, Heading Into Sunday Services – “Three king penguins appear to be headed into whaler’s church in Grytviken, South Georgia,” said photographer Carl Henry. The church had a cameo appearance in the movie Happy Feet. Third Place, National 911 Memorial and Museum – Benard Nelkin, 77, took this photo at the 9/11 Memorial site in New York. “I placed my iPhone as close to the mirrored wall of the adjacent building as I could in order to capture the building and its reflection.” Fourth Place, Dramatic Skies at Golden Gate Bridge – “The Golden Gate Bridge has always drawn my attention,” said Darren Inoff, 49. “I have photographed it several times over the years but never from this angle.”

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Category: Readers’ Choice

First Place, Paradise Beauty – Joseph Johnson, 9, shot this Bird of Paradise flower in Maui. “My 11-year-old brother, Luke, won first place in the animal category last year. My mom encouraged me but also said it was really hard to get one of your pictures to be selected as a finalist (she’s been trying for years).” Joseph is a fourth grader at Veritas Christian Academy. Second Place, Until Next Time – Isabelle Nuzzo, 14, took this photo of Tyler Joseph from the band Twenty One Pilots in Little Rock, Ark., in March. The band’s frontman is standing on a platform being held up by fans as he sings his final song for the night. Isabelle is a sophomore at Memorial High School. Third Place, Take Your Base – This photo by Matt Bennett also won first place in the Sports category. A ball ricocheted off son Ford’s arm and hit him in the nose. Fourth Place, Fancy Footwork – Matt Bennett took this photo of 5-year-old Kai Culver on the sidelines of his brothers’ soccer practice. “His footwork was remarkable, and he looks cool.”

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Summer travel tips for allergy sufferers The summer season can be a wonderful time for travel and outdoor fun in the sun. Summer also brings a season of high grass pollen counts and high mold counts. Plus, it’s a time of high humidity and heat. Here are some simple tips to control your summer allergy symptoms: • Plan ahead. Check local allergy forecasts for your destination site. The allergens for your local area may be different than the allergens in your travel plans. • If traveling to an area where there are high levels of the allergens that affect you most, get consistent with your allergy medications ahead of time. Your best defense against allergy symptoms is a nasal steroid spray. Examples include Flonase, Nasonex and Nasacort. These medications are great at preventing allergy symptoms, but they don’t work fast. It may take up to two weeks and in some cases even longer to receive maximum benefit. If you wait until symptoms develop, you are not likely to experience much relief. Check with your provider to make sure these medications are right for you. • Visit your provider prior to travel. This will ensure you have adequate amounts of your medications. • Pack your medications in your carry-on bag. Bring the phone number of your provider and pharmacy in case a need arises. • Prior to traveling by car, cool down the vehicle by running the AC for five minutes. This can decrease mold spores that may build up in the ventilation system. • While traveling by car, keep the car windows closed, and the AC on recirculation. This will decrease outdoor pollen and mold exposure.

MEMORIAL BUZZ JULY 2017 24

• Outdoor pollen counts peak between the hours of 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. Try to plan activities later in the day to decrease your allergen exposure. • After outdoor activities, take a shower and wash your hair to remove any pollen you may have on you. Put on a fresh outfit after your shower. Don’t dry clothing outdoors; it may collect pollen. • Minimize temperature extremes. Asthma flares can be triggered by going from high outdoor temperatures to cold AC environments. • Bring your own dust mite-proof pillow covers and put them on the hotel’s pillow. Then put their pillowcase on. Don’t forget to take your pillowcase home with you though! We hope these tips will help you to have a safe and allergy symptom-free summer! 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. Nefertari McClarity, MS, APRN, NP-C, 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 and Asthma Clinic

MEMORIAL BUZZ JULY 2017 25

NEIGHBORS

by Sharon Albert Brier, staff writer

Rumor Has It Purrfect for each other. Dr. Lora Kahn and Garland White met online, with a mutual love of cats. She was in her neurosurgery residency at Tulane 2.5 years ago when the native Louisiana fellow asked her out. He proposed in 2015 with an antique Edwardian platinum ring attached to her mutt cat Huck’s collar – the key almost fell down the floor vent of her 1890s house. The April 1 wedding was in the original Royal Street building of the First State Bank of Louisiana, which was redesigned after Katrina for events and “fit” since the groom is a financial planner/advisor. The spunky groom had his best man interrupt the bridal brunch by presenting a note to Lora that read, “Honey, I’m sorry, I made a mistake, I need to call it off!” With the note came a “something blue” custom blue topaz ring along with “April Fool’s!” Joining the Second Line of jazz musicians, 150 guests, a police escort, and the bride and groom carrying white and black umbrellas were the parents of the couple, Barry and Tammie Kahn and John and Brenda White. The parade headed back to the Hotel Monteleone after the wedding. Everyone was grinning. One man only. Friends from many areas of her life joined bejeweled Carol Hunton for an afternoon spring party at her home. Bike cabs with handsome young men shuttled guests from their cars. Topics among the smartly attired ladies included fox hunting, polo matches and Colorado trips. One dapper man, R. O. Hunton, wandered into his wife’s soiree, circulating with a chic hat among Merrill Hafner, Sandra Chunn, Omana Abraham, Beverly Bentley, Darlene Bisso, Donna Davis, Mady Kades, Leewood Woodell, Mimi Levine, MaryAnn McKeithan, Joanne Naponic and Dotty Tompkins. Admit it. While Mark and Nancy Reichek were in Bermuda in May, something unexpected happened at their home – the front yard, to be specific. For a few years Nancy had bemoaned that her metal Longhorn that stood watch over their home was longing for a companion. Many of her friends go back and forth to Austin where the longhorns can be found, but none seemed to take the hint even though the offer had compensation. Lo and behold, MEMORIAL BUZZ JULY 2017 26

PARTY IN THE DAYTIME The rain held off for Carol Hunton’s spring party. Among the gal pals celebrating were (from left) Merrill Hafner, Joanne Naponic, Hunton and Sandra Chunn.

upon their return from Bermuda, their Longhorn “gave birth” to a baby Longhorn. It now holds court as the older one, missing a nose, was put out to pasture. Nancy wants to thank the donor if he or she comes forward. Hot topic. What do you do when a friend or family member suffers a death? A conversation with Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and author of Option B, was held with a sold-out crowd at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church. Sheryl told her journey after the sudden death of her husband, Michael Goldberg, two years ago when her children were 7 and 10. A helpful hint she shared was not to ask How are you? Instead ask How are you today? Valerie Koehler, owner of Blue Willow Book Store, was instrumental in putting the event together with the help of Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce president Suzan Deison. Frances Rubin, Mary Beth Staine, Jodie Gonzalez and Sue Smith enjoyed the nuggets of wisdom. Bigger is better. The best two minutes in sports was during the people watching at the 10th annual Kentucky Derby party to benefit The Holly Rose Ribbon Foundation, held at The Palm this year. Mint juleps and jodhpurs prizes were given to the Best Hatted Gentleman, J. Michael Solis, and the Lovely Hat Winner was Azar Talegha. Stevi Maytubby won two bottles of wine in a wine toss. Therese Landa,

Angelica Chapman, Allison and Jack Jensen, Gregg Harrison, Marc Harvey and honorary chairs Cindi Harwood Rose, Dr. Franklin Rose, Jennifer Simmons, and Lily PaxsonSalinas were in the scene. Action. The annual Hunters Creek Garden Club Spring Installation, co-chaired by Rachel Messina and Jennifer Pine, was held at the Junior League of Houston, with police Officers Eric Jones and Frank Lerma as speakers. The officers gave safety tips and reminded everyone to not leave their car unlocked with valuables inside. The former president, Ann Moss, announced the new slate. About 450 attended. The Spirit of Spring Luncheon raised $250,000 for programs that benefit the healing of child victims of sexual abuse. Event chairs Ericka Bagwell, Diane Caplan and Ursaline Hamilton and underwriting chairs Rhonda and Michael Graff applauded Neiman Marcus’ fashion show by Lafayette 148 and speaker Rachel Thomas, a survivor of human trafficking who spoke of her journey. Her message of how we as a community can better protect our children was inspiring.

MORE ONLINE See Rumor Has It at thebuzzmagazines.com for additional photos. Have some good news to share? Email us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com.

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KIDS

by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Buzz Baby

Road tripping to Florida

Buzz Baby is a column about life with little ones. Writer Annie McQueen has three children under the age of 3.

n a July morning four years ago, around 4 a.m., the Boudreaux family backed out of their driveway in Houston. The car was packed at capacity, with dad Aaron, mom Lexie and daughters Annie, 5 weeks at the time, and Vivi, 19 months. They had tons of toddler snacks, videos, beach toys and a breastmilk pump. They were embarking on an adventure, about to head east on Interstate 10. It’s one that many Houston families set out for every summer: a 629-mile road trip to the Florida panhandle. Their final destination: Watercolor. The stretch of Florida has sugary white sand beaches and calm blue water. The natural beauty draws Houston families to make the more-orless-10-hour drive, sometimes a challenge with small children. “It is totally worth it,” said Lexie. This summer will mark their fourth year in a row to drive. They rent a house with several families. When Annie was only 5 weeks old, Lexie said, “I had to buy the Medela pump adapter for the car and pumped while cruising, every three hours.” She alternated pumping breast milk for bottles and nursing Annie. “I do remember pulling off the side of the road to rinse bottles in a bathroom and another mom looking at me like I was a crazy person,” she said. “She must have thought I was homeless and needed a sink.” On their trips, they like to hit the road before the sun rises. “The kids sleep until the sun comes up, or are at least quiet until then,” she said. She has some tricks to keep the girls happy. “We travel with bad snacks that we never allow at home, like Cheetos.” She said games also help, charged iPads with pre-loaded shows, or movies if you have a DVD player. They make it all the way from Houston to Mobile, Ala., with very few stops, just in time for lunch at Mellow Mushroom, a popular pizza joint. They’re checked into their rental home and the car is unloaded just in time for happy hour. Close friends Anne Echols and Rose Ramsey, who both have toddler boys, decided to road trip it this May to Watercolor as well. Their other MEMORIAL BUZZ JULY 2017 28

ROAD TRIP At left: Behr Echols, 2, and Liam Ramsey, 3, (from left) took a 10-hour road trip from Houston to Florida with their moms. At right: Their buddy, Campbell Hadlock, 8 months, flew with her mom. The families spent a week together in Watercolor.

friend, Caroline Hadlock, whose daughter Campbell is 8 months, opted in to the trip, but out of the driving part. “I had wanted to drive” with them, said Caroline. “There was not enough room in the car for three car seats.” Caroline ultimately decided it was a good idea, mainly based on Campbell’s age, to fly: “Campbell gets bored easily, loves to be involved in her surroundings, and enjoys playing. She would not be able to do that in a car seat, and she hates the car seat.” Anne’s son Behr, 2½, loves the song Take Me Out to the Ball Game, so Rose found Jimmy Buffet’s version, which the moms found more tolerable than the preschool version. “He just loves all things baseball, and Rose was kind enough to play it for him on repeat. We all sang along,” Anne said, laughing. Rose’s son, 3-year-old Liam, is potty trained, but he’s still learning. “Liam doesn’t get the idea that he needs to give me a warning,” said Rose. “He peed a lot on the side of the road from [Houston] to Florida. It did save us a lot of time on bathroom breaks.” They chose to leave town at 3 p.m. “We didn’t let the boys nap before we left town, so both eventually took decent naps,” said Anne.

“We drove [almost six] hours before needing to stop. We had iPads, Apple Music with their favorite songs.” The trip was a straight shot east on I-10, with a slight detour onto I-12 near New Orleans. “We did get on I-12 instead of dipping down to New Orleans,” said Rose. “I remember passing Slidell and regretting not stopping there because it looked like they had a good restaurant selection. We ended up just stopping at some McDonald’s.” The long road trip was Anne’s first but not for Rose. “Last summer, we drove to Marfa and Horseshoe Bay,” said Rose. “When [Liam] was a year old, we flew to Augusta but then drove to Hilton Head, which took nearly three hours, we also drove from Reno to Yosemite before he was 2 years old.” The friends have plans next year to return to Florida. Same place, same time, same highway.

MORE ONLINE Have you ever taken a long road trip with babies and toddlers? Email info@thebuzzmagazines.com or comment under this article at thebuzzmagazines.com. For more baby stories, see thebuzzmagazines.com for writer Annie Blaylock McQueen’s column, “Mommy Moments.”

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TRAVEL

by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer

Travel Buzz

97 years of travel

uth Peters’ first mode of transport was in a horse-drawn wagon from her family farm in Central Kansas to the one-room schoolhouse she attended as a child. Little did she imagine, as she pulled the straw up over herself to ward off the cold, that she would one day fly first-class around the world and dine with a king. Ruth, 97, has seen most of the world and quite a lot of changes in nearly a century of travel, and she shows no signs of slowing down. Nowadays she is an inspiration to those who travel with her, says her daughter and favorite travel companion, Gayle Christie. To see her sprightly form striding over the deck of a cruise ship, most would never guess her age; indeed, says Gayle, many fellow travelers have chosen to accompany her on her appointed rounds as a way of staying fit during the cruise. The Buzz caught up with the pair just as they were packing for a month in Europe. “Whenever we go anywhere since Mother’s been 90, people always ask: What’s your secret?” Gayle said. Her answer: tons of vitamins, a strong faith and a grateful attitude. “That’s what we tell them. If they listen or not, we don’t know,” says Ruth with a chuckle. Ruth’s father raised her and her three brothers after her mother died. She met her future husband while she was still in high school. Ken Peters was growing up five miles away on a family farm, homesteaded by his great-grandfather in 1882. Both families were very poor, but in the 1930s, the Peters family struck an oil deposit on their farm, and they kept working the farm but got into the oil business, as well. In 1939, Ruth married her high-school sweetheart, and their travels together began with a road-trip honeymoon to Monterrey, Mexico. “My husband took $300 dollars along,” she recalls with a laugh. “We ate all our meals out, paid for our hotel and paid for our gas – and we came back home with $150. “A lot of times you could buy five hamburgers for a quarter back then,” she added. “These days, $150 couldn’t buy you the meal in some places!” Ken took flying lessons and became a pilot. In the fall of 1946 an airport opened in their tiny town of Ellinwood, and Ken opened the first flyMEMORIAL BUZZ JULY 2017 30

ing school in Central Kansas. “So that’s how our flying began,” explained Ruth. They became active in a group called the International Flying Farmers, which scheduled family-oriented events all around the country. “It was wonderful for our children,” she said. “They made TAKING IN TOPKAPI Mother-and-daughter travelers Gayle Christie (left) and Ruth Peters friends all over the take a moment in front of Topkapi Palace, one of many sights on their tour of Istanbul. United States and The Havana streets were eerily silent. Canada. Every flight had an educational part to “There wasn’t anybody in the night clubs, but it. They did not have a fly-in just for fun.” they were all open,” she recalls. They went to Flying in those days was less complicated, and the Copacabana and a band was performing – many farmers owned their own aircraft. The but it was just them and the band. Then they Flying Farmers peaked at around 11,000 memflew out to Guantanamo Bay and were overbers in 1977, before the farming economy whelmed by the poverty they saw everywhere. crashed and aviation regulations and fuel prices “I didn’t like going to these places where the made airplane ownership less accessible. people were so poor and I couldn’t do anything Ruth never got a license but she did her share to help them,” she said. of flying. “My husband would get us up in the air Gayle inherited her father’s love of aviation, and point me in the direction we were going to and when she grew up she went to work for go and take a nap,” she recalls. They’d fly all over British Caledonian Airlines. She was able to the country on Flying Farmer-related activities. allow her parents to fly for free when seats were “One time when we went to see some friends in available, so they traveled around the world, visCalifornia, my husband was a very good pilot, and iting friends they’d made in their years with the he decided to fly into the Grand Canyon,” she said. Flying Farmers. “That’s a real no-no now, of course. But we flew After her divorce in 1980 Gayle moved to right past the faces at Mount Rushmore, too. And Houston to start a floral preservation business we flew over Niagara Falls when a part of it broke called Florage, and her parents, now retired, off and they diverted the water to fix it.” exchanged their plane for a Greyhound bus, One time she remembers flying up to which they had customized into a motor home. Manhattan in the summer of 1969 when they They drove to trade shows all over the country got a message on the radio near Ithaca, N.Y., to promote Florage, and then they began maktelling them to steer clear of the airspace. Later ing friends among the motor home community, they learned they had been about to fly over the attending motor home rallies in different states. famous Woodstock Festival. Ruth is astonished when she stops to reflect Another time they flew to Cuba with two on all the changes she’s (continued on page 32) other couples shortly after the Cuban Revolution.

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MOTHER-DAUGHTER CRUISING Ruth Peters (left) and daughter Gayle Christie enjoy a rare viewing of the glacier in Milford Sound, New Zealand, called by Rudyard Kipling the “Eighth Wonder of the World.”

seen – from the horsedrawn buggy to the Model T to the automatic to the plane. “And now they even have rockets to the moon!” she says. “I remember in Sunday School saying they’ll never get to the moon, God won’t let them. It’s amazing what God has allowed Man to do. Now we’re in the era of so much knowledge, and I’ve seen all that unfold.” In 2009, Ken passed away, and a new chapter began. Ruth came and stayed with Gayle, and they began to take international mother-daughter journeys together. They began with an autumn tour of Montreal and Quebec in the fall of 2012. In 2014, they went to Norway; in 2015, they toured Turkey, where they attended a special dinner in the ancient library at Ephesus, went up in a hot air balloon to see the Fairy Chimneys of Cappadocia, and took in the sights of Istanbul; then they went to Australia and New Zealand, where they saw the Blue Mountains and the Great Barrier Reef and visited with friends they had met on a cruise. Last year they got to go to Romania where a friend who works as the royal family’s financial advisor invited them to the romantic Pele

(continued from page 30)

MEMORIAL BUZZ JULY 2017 32

Castle in the Carpathian Mountains, for a garden party hosted by King Michael of Romania. This year the pair was preparing for an actionpacked Reformation Jubilee Tour of Germany, France and Switzerland to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation; then from there they planned to take a cable car to see the Eiger Mountain in the Swiss Alps. In November, they are planning a trip to Tasmania. But despite her cosmopolitan lifestyle, the Kansas farm girl is still very much alive and well. “When you have your feet on nothing but cement you lose your connection with God very quickly,” said Ruth. So everywhere they go, they take trips out of the city to see the countryside and meet the people. They make friends everywhere, Gayle says. “We’re very inclusive and outgoing. People open up to us, maybe because Mother is 97 and looks so harmless.” They remember with particular fondness an 87-year-old Jewish gentleman they met on a cruise from Amsterdam to New Zealand. “His story was just phenomenal,” said Gayle. “He opened up to us and told us unbelievable things.” As a 10-year-old boy he and his family was taken to Auschwitz. He was allowed to take only

a deck of cards, and every day he would play this game for two years. One year he won the game and made a wish that he and his family would get out of the concentration camp. Right afterwards the guard came and said he and his family were free to go. They put them on train that took them through Bulgaria, Turkey and Syria all the way to Jerusalem. The allies were bombing all around the train, but it was never hit. On that cruise, as on others, Ruth was known by all on board. One 20-year-old crew member began joining Ruth on her daily walks around the ship. Ruth is unfazed by the constant movement – in fact, it seems to be just her pace. “That’s what’s so unusual,” said Gayle. “Everywhere we go, they cannot believe mother is traveling internationally. She’s very active; she’s like the hero on the trip.” Ruth is grateful to have a daughter who enjoys being with her, and Gayle feels the same. “It’s very rich, because she’s very, very wise,” said Gayle. “So God’s just richly blessed me with this relationship. It would be nice to be married again, but right now God hasn’t revealed him, so it’s just been me and my mother traveling the world.”

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MEMORIAL BUZZ JULY 2017 33

The Junior League of Houston

FOOD by Alicia Lee, contributing writer

Cooking Buzz Celebrating the Fourth Cooking Buzz is produced in partnership with the Junior League of Houston, a women’s charitable and education organization founded in 1925.

he Fourth of July always makes me proud. I love our nation’s holiday. As a girl, I remember spending the entire day in the water. My family went to the lake, or we spent the day at the pool. As a young professional, I spent more than a decade in Washington, D.C. July Fourth is the big holiday there. I spent the day eating delicious food before we headed to the National Mall to watch fireworks shoot over the Potomac River. These days, I want to spend precious time with my friends and not in the kitchen, so everything for my celebration is made ahead. Everyone loves festive, flavorful ice cubes in their water, so I’ll fill the ice bucket with Watermelon Ice from the Houston Junior League Cookbook. Every party has to have a signature drink, and this holiday calls for the Cherry Mint Limeade from Star of Texas. You can even make the limeade base and allow your friends to create their own limeade flavor by having other fruit for mixing, such as strawberries or blueberries. The Potomac Pasta Salad from the Junior League of Washington’s Capital Celebrations cookbook reminds me of a fresh Caprese salad. While the recipe calls for bowtie pasta, I like to use Texas-shaped pasta, subtly reminding friends of my home state. (As an aside, Texas-shaped pasta also makes a unique hostess gift, and I usually bring a bag or two when I’m visiting friends.) Tallahassee Chicken Salad from Houston Junior League Cookbook is an easy make-theday-ahead dish, going directly into the refrigerator and then out onto the table. I usually swap half the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt. Sometimes, I pick up ready-made chicken salad from The Pantry at the League building, 1811 Briar Oaks Lane. Plate it by lining a platter with greens and spooning the salad on top, no one will know that the chicken salad didn’t come from your kitchen. MEMORIAL BUZZ JULY 2017 34

The other makeahead dish I’ll put on the table is the Bean Salad from Houston Junior League Cookbook. This one involves a little chopping, opening cans, and then stirring it all together. Definitely allow the ingredients to marinate overnight, bringing the flavors together. SPIT THE SEEDS You can't go wrong with slices of watermelon at a summer party. Fresh-cut watertoss until ingredients are well coated. Add more melon is always a welcome addition to any gathdressing if desired. Season with salt and pepper. ering. I leave a knife next to the watermelon, Chill for a half hour before serving. allowing everyone to cut their own slices. If your friends have a competitive streak, expect a seedWatermelon Ice spitting contest. From Houston Junior League Cookbook Everyone knows I love ice cream. I have at 4 cups diced watermelon least two options. For those with a sweet tooth, Juice of 2 lemons the Peach Sherbet from Star of Texas is light and ½ cup sugar refreshing. The tarty Lemon Ice Cream Sans Machine from Capital Celebrations can be made Put ingredients in a blender. Blend well. Pour with or without an ice cream maker, as the into ice tray. Freeze until firm. Makes about 1 quart. recipe title suggests. If you’re feeling ambitious and want a third option, switch out the lemons Peach Sherbet for limes for lime ice cream. From Star of Texas Juice of 3 oranges (1½ cups) Potomac Pasta Salad Juice of 3 lemons (9 Tablespoons) From Capital Celebrations, The Junior League 3 cups sugar of Washington 4 peaches, pureed 8 ounces bowtie pasta 2 pints half-and-half 3 firm tomatoes, peeled and quartered About 3 cups milk to make ¾ gallon of sher½ pound fresh Mozzarella, cut into ¼-inch bet mix cubes 1 clove garlic, minced Mix all ingredients together and freeze in ice 12 fresh basil leaves, finely chopped cream freezer. 1 small red onion, sliced into rings ½ cup bottled Caesar salad dressing To buy a Houston Junior League cookbook, see Salt and pepper jlh.org or call 713-871-6608. Prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain, cool and place in a serving bowl. Add For other recipes mentioned in this story, see tomatoes, Mozzarella cheese, garlic, basil and thebuzzmagazines.com. onion. Toss well. Add Caesar salad dressing and

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Julie Soefer Photography

DINING

by Dai Huynh, staff writer

Chef’s Corner

Jim Mills

Find out about your favorite chefs in our Chef’s Corner column. This month, restaurant writer Dai Huynh interviews chef Jim Mills.

n the world of salads, Jim Mills’ signature Southwest Caesar is star. Bejeweled with roasted corn, black beans and pumpkin seeds, the zippy Caesar – splashed with a spunky dressing fueled with Thai chilies, coriander and cumin – has made countless appearances on Houston menus. It doesn’t matter whether Mills is in the kitchen or even officially associated with that restaurant – his award-winning creation has garnered countless fans, and his protégés, now with restaurants of their own, have chosen to pay their mentor a compliment. As Oscar Wilde once said, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” Mills came up with his salad creation while working as executive chef at The Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa (111 N. Post Oak Lane). Eventually, he was made general manager of the hotel, a position he held for nine years until he partnered with dynamic restaurateur Lee Ellis. The Cherry Pie Hospitality duo operate and manage State Fare Kitchen & Bar (947 Gessner), Lee’s Fried Chicken & Donuts (601 Heights Blvd.), Lee’s Creamery (601 Heights Blvd.), Pi Pizza (181 Heights Blvd.) and Petite Sweets (2700 W. Alabama). They recently launched Star Fish (191 Heights Blvd.). Later this year, Cherry Pie will open another Star Fish in Menlo Park in the San Francisco Bay area and a second State Fare in the Downtown Commons retail area in Sacramento. Below, Mills reminiscences about how he dropped out of college and developed a passion for food, and he also recommends a few momand-pop restaurants that he and his wife like to frequent on rare nights off: What to order at Lee’s Fried Chicken & Donuts is a no-brainer. Same with Pi Pizza and Petite Sweets, where folks can pair cupcakes with Lee’s Creamery ice creams. But tell us about State Fare and Starfish. I spent a year working on many of the recipes at State Fare. Many are family recipes. Lee was born in Lafayette, Louisiana. I grew up in Texas, MEMORIAL BUZZ JULY 2017 36

so the cooking is from around here as we see it. While the food is approachable, we wanted to take it to an executive level. Take our chili. People will say, “I can get chili all along the Katy Freeway.” But you can’t get my chili. It’s made with no JIM MILLS Chef Jim Mills is famous for, among other things, his Southwest Caesar tomato and no salad. He and restaurateur Lee Ellis operate several popular local restaurants. bean. We use chef de cuisine at the Mansion” on Turtle shoulder of the beef, which we clean like we’re Creek. How did you get into the business? making steak tartare, so there is no fat. We take I started as a dishwasher while in college in care to brown our meat, and we don’t use chili Austin; then I got a job as a prep cook. When I powder. I make an ancho and pasilla paste with was 21 years old, my chef mentor decided to go caramelized garlic and onions. We thicken the to Europe. He asked if I wanted to tag along. I chili with masa, and I finish it with a few drops of thought I would just re-enroll later, but my heart apple cider vinegar to cut back on the salt. That’s wasn’t in it. I was more interested in cookbooks the recipe. Some people don’t like it, but most than schoolbooks. So, we traveled across Europe people love it alone or on our chili fries, chili until I ran out of money. cheeseburger, and Frito pie. It’s like gumbo; every You and your family live in Spring Branch. cook has an opinion. But this is my version, and What are some favorite places to eat at near home? I’ve been researching chili recipes since the ’90s. I like Bon Ga Korean Restaurant (9861 Speaking of gumbo, do you have one, and Long Point Road) for its tofu soup, or we’ll what are other family recipes on the menu? splurge and get the sautéed squid. We like We make a Sabine Pass gumbo, and like Korean House (10078 Long Point Road) for many folks in Beaumont, we put in chicken and barbecue, and we love Roostar Vietnamese seafood. Ray’s fried catfish is my dad’s recipe. Grill (1411 Gessner Road). It’s an awesome We get our catfish from a farm in Mississippi. banh mi place. I think they just opened another The ponds are lined with stones, not mud, so location near the Galleria (5551 Richmond). you don’t get that muddy taste. Your Southwest Caesar Salad is on the State Editor’s note: Buzz dining columnist Dai Huynh Fare menu, and you described your smoked is a James Beard food-journalism award winner and pork chops as “to die for,” but what about at longtime Houston-based restaurant writer. Star Fish? What should we try there? Anytime you do seafood, it has to be seasonal, and even though we call it seafood-centric, it’s not exclusively seafood. We have grilled lamb, Want to really impress your dinner guests? See steak frites and fried chicken breast. thebuzzmagazines.com/recipes for Jim Mills’ We came across an old Texas Monthly article Southwest Caesar Salad recipe, as well as all recipes in on Southwestern cuisine founding father Dean our archives. Leave a comment online or write to Fearing. It highlighted an onion pudding recipe info@thebuzzmagazines.com with your dining stories “based on a family recipe from Jim Mills, the and suggestions.

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SPORTS

by Todd Freed, staff writer

SportzBuzz W

ith their dramatic come-frombehind victory in the state final, the Emery/Weiner Jaguars capped off a historic season by winning the TAPPS Division II state baseball championship. “I’ve never been a part of a more clutch, electric and exciting team in my entire life,” said Jaguars star senior Evan Sack. “We’ve had a core group working together for four years, and we finally did it – we’re state champions.” The Jaguars earned their first-ever state title with a pair of remarkable victories at the state tournament, beginning with a 3-1 victory over defending state champion Second Baptist. Senior Michael Ran knocked in the eventual winning run with a two-run triple in the eighth inning. Jacob Grzebenski allowed only one run in seven outstanding innings on the mound, while Joe Sondock closed out the victory with a pair of strikeouts to end the game. “It means the world to win this title,” said Grzebenski. “I’m so happy I was along this journey with my brothers. I’ve never been happier.” Grzebenski, who will play college baseball at Georgetown, was one of the heroes in the ultimate 6-4 state-championship victory against a Fort Worth Christian team that boasted a 37-5 record. The senior’s two-run single in the Jaguars’ final at bat gave Emery its first lead of the game. Junior Ryan Tiras added three hits and three RBIs in the victory. “Emery prides itself on community,” said senior Jordan Hudson. “We had over 200 fans that made the trip to Austin for the state final. It really shows how close all of us are both on and off campus.” For the Emery seniors, the state championship meant postponing their annual senior trip to Israel with the rest of the senior class by about 10 days. They flew out to Israel within 24

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DYNAMIC DUO The Memorial Mustangs tandem of Andrew Esses and Artur Zigman brought home the UIL Class 6A Tennis Doubles Championship. In an all-Memorial state final, Esses and Zigman defeated teammates Ben Westwick and Anthony Huynh.

hours of winning state to meet up with their classmates. “It was totally worth it. I wouldn’t trade this feeling for the world,” said Sack. For the St. Thomas Eagles baseball team, the tradition continues in the wake of the school’s 24th state baseball championship. The Eagles capped off a magnificent season by routing Beaumont Kelly 15-1 to secure the TAPPS Division 1 state title. “I don’t think there are too many high schools in the country that could say they have 24 state championships, much less four in the last eight years,” said Eagles baseball coach Ryan Lousteau. In the state semifinals, Eagles pitcher Owen Meaney was sensational with a dozen strikeouts in a one-hit shutout while also driving in the only run of the game in a 1-0 victory over Dallas Parish Episcopal. “It was a really special game for me,” said Meaney. “It means so much to have that accomplishment and help put my team in the state-championship game.” Then, in the state-title game, senior Logan Bear drove in six runs, with Brandon Campos, Nick Rodriguez, Daniel Perkins, Ross Brock, Nick Phan and Max Winter among those adding to the scoring onslaught. Simen Borland threw a strong five innings for the victory on the mound. “We all played together as a team all season,” said Borland. “The guys really took this season as a challenge. We won 30 games last year, but we wanted to top that by not only winning more games,

but also going a step further in the playoffs and winning a state championship,” said Lousteau. “This class has truly carried on the tradition of St. Thomas baseball.” In tennis, the Memorial Mustangs duo of Andrew Esses and Artur Zigman closed out the season in grand fashion by winning the UIL 6A state doubles championship. It was an allMemorial doubles final, with Esses and Zigman defeating teammates Ben Westwick and Anthony Huynh for the state championship. “It’s truly very rare to have just one school represented in a state-finals match,” said Mustangs tennis coach Budd Booth. “It was an amazing victory for Andrew and Artur and a great showcase for our program.” “It means so much especially to win it for our school,” said Esses. “We came up just short last semester in Team Tennis, and to win it all with so many people from our school coming out to the match just really meant a lot.” Even after the victory, Zigman said he was still somewhat in shock. “It’s kind of surreal. It feels amazing because we’re going to be in the UIL Texas history books forever.” 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 Angie Frederickson, staff writer

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

Minors division champs The Post Oak Little League Baby Cakes (top photo) won the Minors division championship with a 10-9 win over the Lake Monsters. Fourth and fifth graders, the Baby Cakes spent most of the regular season in second place and eventually finished first in their division. During the playoffs, the boys played all the way to the championship game. It was a tough game, and the Lake Monsters went ahead in the middle innings. The Baby Cakes rallied and scored five runs in their last at-bat for a great come-from-behind win. The champs are (top row, from left): David Capobianco, Grayson Smith, Connor Walsh, Ben Barnett, Lyndon Huang, Oliver Oldham and coach Andrew Montgomery; (bottom row, from left): coach Marty Weber, Jack Weber, coach Rick Doughtie, William Doughtie, Drew Montgomery, Ryan Stinneford, coach Todd Barnett, Stephen Gil and Eli Saldana Kowalchuk.

Wild about softball Spring Branch-Memorial Sports Association’s 6U Wildcats (middle photo) celebrate a great season. Most of the girls had never played softball before, but they learned quickly from coaches Erik Keracik and Derek Phillips. In addition to softball basics, the girls learned sportsmanship, teamwork and how to keep a positive attitude. The Wildcats were underdogs during the regular season, but when playoffs started their work paid off. Advancing to the third round of playoffs, the girls dominated the field and even beat the first-place team in the division. The Wildcats are (top row, from left): Harper Patton, Elena Barton, Sydney Hatcher, Charlotte Phillips and Lexie Chapman; (bottom row, from left): Anna Teresa Oliver, Emma Stephenson, Tatianna Avalon, Addison Keracik, Brooke Davis, Kaylee Ruiz and Abigail Sala.

Batter up It was a great season for the Spring Branch-Memorial Sports Association rookie Blue Jays (bottom photo). The 5- and 6-year-old boys attend Frostwood Elementary, and this was the first baseball experience for some of them. After a strong regular season, the boys entered the playoffs, where they made it all the way to the gold-bracket championship game. Unfortunately, the Blue Jays lost the final game, but only by one run. Second place out of 28 teams is a great way to wrap up the season. The rookie Blue Jays are (top row, from left): coaches David Slye, Evan

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Villaruel, John Anderson, Preston Cody, Fabian Torres and Bo Pettit; (second row, from left): Houston Villaruel, Kerner Francis, Caleb Torres, Clark Slye, Austin Pettit, Nathan Min and William Tristan; (bottom row, from left): J.R. Anderson, Everett Cody, John Michael Robertson, Ripken Witt and Carter Rogers. Editor’s note: Send your best high-resolution photos and behind-the-scenes stories about young local athletes, in both team and individual sports, to SportzBuzz, Jr. at info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Include all contact info, names, ages, grades and schools. Featured athletes must live in Buzz-circulation neighborhoods. Items will be published on a space-available basis.

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MODEL UN Riley Pracht, a rising freshman at Woods High School, was part of the Montessori Model United Nations Conference in New York.

KIDS by Riley Pracht, age 14

Buzz Kidz

Worldly experience

ids wearing freshly ironed suits underneath fluffy winter coats push their way onto escalators and down hallways. Eyes are frantically searching for someone with the same tag as the one they wear around their necks. They look at their watches, gasp at the time, and try to walk faster without dropping their stack of papers. Some disappear through wood doors, letting out a sigh of relief, while others continue their search. As they hear the clock’s bell ring one final time, they make their last attempt through the doors, but not all of them make it inside. The ones left outside walk slowly back to their teachers, their heads hanging low. Those of us who make it inside swipe on a fresh coat of lip gloss, straighten our ties and take our seats. My fellow Montessori Model United Nations

delegates go silent as our current leader walks down the aisle, and we murmur muffled hellos while trying to slow down our heart rates. She calls us each up to deliver our perfectly memorized speeches on issues we’ve read so much about. They go on for hours, each one seemingly longer than the next, until the last speaker utters his “thank you,” and everyone runs out of the room to be reunited with friends. By the second day, we have the system down. Students are taking the stairs, asking for directions, making friends with hotel staff who will let them use the service elevator. The speeches are shorter, and as we argue over solutions to the world’s greatest threats, we stop to listen to each other. By the end of the third day, we are hugging new friends, exchanging numbers, and

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loading suitcases onto already full busses. As we pull away, we exchange stories of what we learned and who we met. This was my first year of participating in the Montessori Model United Nations conference, and I learned so much. I got to see how the real United Nations works, I practiced teamwork and speaking skills, and I learned more about prominent issues in our world. Overall, it was a fantastic experience that I will remember for the rest of my life. Want to be a Buzz Kid? Email approximately 350 words, a high-resolution photo and caption to info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Or mail it to The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401.

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