Tanglewood/River Oaks Buzz - April 2019

Elizabeth DeLuca

Intervening on Addiction An Old Crush Exploring Houston’s East End Bart the Therapy Cat

Fruits of Their Labor

Katie O’Sullivan’s Storied Life Friendship – and Gefilte Fish Travel: In the Holy Land

by Jennifer Oakley

Chef’s Corner: Drake Leonards Cooking for New Parents Houston, TX

Baby’s First Astros Game

Permit No. 2047 PAID US Postage PRSRT STD

Back Porch: When Kindness Wins

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EDITOR’S NOTE The idea to feature fruit trees in our April issue seemed oh-so-Springy. We work months in advance, which often means staging a Christmas theme in September or, yes, a fruit tree in February. In 18 years of coordinating Buzz photo shoots, this was the first time every single outside photo shoot was rained out. The weather was dreadful, cold and rainy, and the trees were not in bloom. Lucky for us, these Buzz residents passionate about their fruit trees also happen to be creative (and flexible) in the kitchen. Jennifer Oakley captures the stories behind their passion of growing fruit in their yards, a sweet reminder that when life gives you lemons, all we can do is make lemonade. And, even better, lemon meringue pie. Also in this issue, we want to thank musician Max Flinn, who battled with addiction and has been sober since 2012, for sharing his journey with writer Cheryl Ursin in order to help others in our community. And thank you also to writer Cindy Gabriel, for her personal tale of love and loss and, always, laughter. joni@thebuzzmagazines.com

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

Contributing Writer Account Managers

Joni Hoffman Michael Hoffman Cheryl Laird Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld Pooja Salhotra John Duboise Tracy L. Barnett Deborah Lynn Blumberg Sharon Albert Brier Andria Frankfort Angie Frederickson Todd Freed Cindy Gabriel Cathy Gordon Michelle Casas Groogan Dai Huynh Annie Blaylock McQueen Jennifer Oakley Cheryl Ursin Russell Weil Helyna Bledsoe Andrea Blitzer, Stephanie Goldfield Leslie Little, Jo Rogers

On our cover: Elizabeth DeLuca uses lemons from her late daughter Caroline’s Meyer lemon tree to make lemonade and pie. Cover photo by Nikky LaWell, lawellphoto.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. Copyright © 2019 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 New friends, thanks to story Michelle, I wanted to thank you again for the lovely article that you wrote about Spectrum Fusion [Spectrum Fusion: Supporting adults with autism, by Michelle Casas Groogan, January 2019]. We have met some amazing people through your story. It is so beautiful to find like-minded individuals who share our vision and mission. You never know who will be touched by the stories that you publish in The Buzz Magazines. I was contacted by an adult on the spectrum who currently lives in Florida. His aunt read the article and sent it to him. This young man is so bright and is earning his master’s degree, but he is lonely and isolated and does not have a community where he feels that he belongs. After speaking with me and one of our members of Spectrum Fusion, he is considering moving to Houston. Phoenix, Arizona, has been described as being the “most autism-friendly city in America,” but I believe that soon Houston could earn a similar title. Thank you once again. We are grateful for your hearts. Heidi Stieglitz Ham, PhD, CCC-SLP, Spectrum Fusion

Humor after heartache Great article [Good Grief: Couldn't we all just die laughing? by Cindy Gabriel, March 2019]. The title caught my eye. December 2016 and the loss of an elderly friend we visited every Sunday for 10 years [and] one of my best friends to pancreatic cancer, and Mom had a stroke on Saturday, was gone on Tuesday. All this within nine days. They were the loves I visited with, checked on, and it felt like God pulled the rug out from under me. I still miss them. I’ll be like my English Gran and check myself into a home when I know I can’t do it alone. Bravo, Cindy Gabriel! My favorite thing to remember about death is “No one gets out alive.” Humor takes the edge off the heartache. Nichole Dittman

could get more copies, you didn’t hesitate to say yes. The students loved The Buzz. They were really drawn in by the features, and we also enjoyed looking at advertising and having a general conversation about the magazine. Just a terrific hit – right out of the ballpark. And of course, it gave them a wonderful window through which to look at our community. I was very proud to show them the diversity of people who live in West U! Thanks so much for generously providing us with enough magazines for everyone so that they can learn about our community and the exceptional people that live here. I think we can expect to get a whole new group of dedicated Buzz readers from this activity! Cynthia Johnson

Getting our Green on Congratulations to The Buzz Magazines on taking the initiative to launch a green living column. “Going Green” [by Tracy L. Barnett] is off to a great start. I especially enjoyed seeing Steve Stelzer of the Houston Green Building Resource Center get credit for all his amazing work in Composting: the ultimate recycling [November 2018]. Thanks for the great piece, and best wishes on the success of this column. I look forward to collaborating down the road! Becky Luman 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?

Keeping it positive Andria, I very much liked your column in the January issue of The Buzz [Back Porch: Let it go, by Andria Frankfort, January 2019]. The quotations by Brené Brown are on target, as is the reference to Shawn Achor and his “90 percent positive” being shot down by 10 percent negative. I learned in business that every sales call is a success because if only one of 10 sales calls results in a close, the other nine were necessary. Let's hear it for persistence. Keep up the good work. Jim DuLaney

Learn English with the Buzz As I was tucked in enjoying the March Buzz the other night, it suddenly hit me that this would be a wonderful issue to share with my students in West University Baptist Church’s ESL program. When I called to ask if I TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ APRIL 2019 6

We are looking for residents for upcoming articles who: • Have a graduating high school senior who would like to be part of our annual “Where are they headed?” feature (deadline is April 19). • Have traveled on a photo safari. • Have compelling back-to-school traditions. • Have interesting hobbies. • Know a Buzzworthy neighbor to profile. 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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Dylan Aguilar

NEIGHBORS by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

A Storied Life Katie O’Sullivan – the first 93 years Carolyn Johnson suggested we meet her friend Katie O’Sullivan, “one of those people that people like being around.” She told us Katie had written a memoir with incredible detail: “She has the gift of adjectives and will write about something that happened 50 years ago and will remember what somebody had on.” We had to meet her.

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atie O’Sullivan greets us at her pretty, traditional West U home dressed in pale pink slacks and a pale pink button-down topped with a rose-colored cashmere sweater. “I like pink,” she says. With pearls, perfectly coiffed blonde hair and a smile, you’d never guess she would be turning 94 this summer. Nor would you guess that Katie, a mother of seven and grandmother of 13 who looks like the quintessential Southern lady, has lived such an extraordinary life, one that’s taken her around the world. It began when Katie met her husband of 64 years, Edward Patrick “E.P.” Sullivan at a tea dance for young World War II naval officers at the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego. “He came over and had the strangest accent I’d never heard, which was called a Boston Irish accent. He was a beautiful dancer. He didn’t have a car, and I didn’t drive, so he walked me all the way home. That’s how it started.” Katie’s father, a military doctor, approved, as did her mother. After three years on a destroyer in the South Pacific, and after Katie had dated several other “darling boys,” E.P. returned to California to propose. “I was in my junior year at UCLA and really didn’t want to stop,” she says. “But he wanted to get married, and my parents pushed it because they really liked him. So I signed out of school.” The young couple moved to Boston when E.P. was offered a job with Esso (Exxon) working at a gas station. It was right after the war ended, and everything was rationed. “I had my stamp book, and we could only get so much meat, and no butter,” Katie says. “I would go looking for places to live near Beacon Street in my high heels – they were very high – up and down the cobblestones. I finally found a place with one room in one of the old Beacon Street

mansions. We shared the bathroom with a darling young couple from Philadelphia.” E.P. rose through the ranks at Esso while Katie had babies one, two and three. When she was pregnant with her fourth, her husband was asked to move abroad for the company. “He said either Paris or London, and I was so excited. But then he came home, and I asked PRETTY IN PINK Katie O'Sullivan is a writer and painter whose own fascinating if we were going to life inspires her work. London or Paris. He for the American University Hospital. said, ‘Well, it’s neither. It’s a place called A proud accomplishment was the hospital Lebanon.’ I said, ‘Where is Lebanon?’” And off volunteer troop she organized for young patients they all went, with their dog Sandy, on an 18whose families had to leave during their treatday boat ride to a new country. ment. She recruited American friends to visit “We got there in January, and everything was children and bring toys. Katie named the group green and shades of aqua, just like Southern The Pink Ladies. That was 1957. The Ladies in California.” So began 15 years in Lebanon, Pink, as they are known today, are now mostly punctuated by more births and interludes in Lebanese volunteers, still visiting the children Libya (“Only for one year, thank God.”), the at the hospital. Netherlands, and, again, New England. “We When she and E.P. eventually retired to really loved Lebanon,” so much so that E.P. Houston, Katie began writing – essays, poetry, formed his own company and moved the family plays and short fiction. Rose-colored Glasses: A back when their youngest was two. Memoir of a Family Affair with the Middle East “It was just the most beautiful, golden time in was self-published in 2015 at the urging of her Lebanon,” Katie says, “like living in Paris or son Chris. The 255-page, hardcover book London except we had skiing in winter, water details the O’Sullivans’ adventures and interin summer.” sperses stories of carousing with international Lebanon was a life of formal gowns, silver sets news correspondents, Russian spies and ambasfor 24 and receptions with dignitaries: King Paul sadors with those of children’s broken bones and Queen Helena of Greece, the Shah of Iran and family picnics. and his Empress, and King Saud of Saudi Arabia. Katie lives across the street from her daughter, Of entering a palace to meet a king and queen, Liz Winslow, a retired dentist and an artist. Katie writes in her memoir, “I was startled to While E.P. passed away in 2010, Katie still hear our name and the name of our company paints and is an avid participant in her writing called out to the assemblage who automatically group. She drives herself and maintains that sized us up and down." she’s kept her figure by chasing children, adding, Katie earned her BA in Middle Eastern History “Yesterday, I think I was up and down the stairs at the American University of Beirut. She paintsix or eight times.” And so the chapters contined and sketched – and joined a group of artists ue in Katie O’Sullivan’s storied life. who sold their work to buy medical equipment

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NEIGHBORS by Cindy Gabriel, staff writer

An Old Crush That I did something about

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pril marks the sixth year since George died. That’s one year longer than our five-year marriage. George was one of those crushes that I never did anything about: a smart, witty, rascally courthouse newspaper reporter, tall, thin, goodlooking in a disheveled way, as if he were unaware of his own appeal. He lived fast and hard, embracing his vices and virtues in a rich tapestry of humor and selfacceptance, and like a lot of journalists of his day, he smoked as if it were a part of the trade. I don’t remember a specific conversation with him back in the ’70s. He was seven years older and had no reason to take me seriously. I more or less knew him by proxy, through the shop talk of other journalists who seemed to want to know what he thought about a judge, a verdict or a story one of his peers had written. Gary Taylor, his friend and colleague, mentioned he often wrote with the attitude of trying to draw a compliment from George. Whatever fantasy I had about George vanished with the news that he had taken a job at The San Diego Union-Tribune. In my mind, a bit of the interest, edge and love for the story in the Houston news landscape went with him. By the ’90s George Flynn Jr.’s byline reappeared in The Houston Chronicle and, later, The Houston Press, which I duly noted. Meanwhile, life went on; the kids grew up, and something in me stirred, which seemed to somehow align with a couple of hurricanes. In August of 2005, Katrina hit New Orleans, forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands into the Houston Astrodome. This event had the effect of making me employable, handling news and information for the City of Houston on disaster-recovery matters. I was at it a year when I found myself evacuating my own marriage of 24 years. In the meantime, I was in need of a cracker-jack website content manager in the city’s quest to help settle evacuees. I presented a list of three journalists’ names to Mayor Bill White’s communications director, Frank Michel, the former editor of the Chronicle’s editorial page. I asked which of the three he would pick? He said George,

hands-down. George responded quickly to the interview request, saying he remembered my name but couldn’t quite put it to a face. We were to meet at 10 a.m. the next day. As soon as I opened the door to the lobby, there he was, in suit and tie, sitting crosslegged on a sofa, more handsome than I remembered. That disheveled brown brillo pad on his head had relaxed into white waves of well-appointGEORGE A mid-‘80s look at George Flynn Jr. about to throw a cherry bomb in ed, movie-star hair. He San Diego. looked like a version of foot in marriage.” Jimmy Stewart in his later years. Fortunately, George was recruited to a public He stood and greeted me with a nod of information job in the DA’s office, leaving me instant recognition as my face and name came conflict-free as the Katrina era at City Hall together, forging the next chapter. wrapped up just in time for Hurricane Ike. Still, I was his boss, and we had work to do. We were married on the Sabine Street Bridge My game face was on. under the downtown skyline shortly after For the next year, I played boss to my highly Hurricane Ike blew through his downtown highoverqualified website content manager, and lisrise, soaking everything he owned. tened while two single women confessed their Six months later, I was diagnosed with a brain crush on George, obviously not noticing mine. tumor the size of my fist. It was benign and sucBut our project was winding down. As staff cessfully removed in a 10-hour surgery. George was reduced from five to two, George was would later quip that I wouldn’t have discovered assigned to the office next to mine. the brain tumor had we not decided to get marHis computer was connected to the shared ried. “When Cindy told her friends she was marwall opposite my computer. As soon as it was rying me, they said, ‘You need to have your head connected, a test email emerged in my inbox. “I examined.’” feel like there’s a wall between us. – George.” In those short five years, we buried each of his I caved. He started walking me home along parents, both of mine, and, finally, after a heart Buffalo Bayou after work at dusk. We would sit attack, George. I wouldn’t have missed a minute on my patio as he rubbed my feet while the day of it. Still, it’s time to put this story to bed. Stangave way to downtown lights, which glistened, the-Man is in the wings. even on Buffalo Bayou. To me, we were Keaton and Allen in Manhattan. Editor’s note: Journalist friends of George came One of my daughters dropped in once on together to honor him in his obituary. For a link, see this foot-rubbing scene. “Don’t worry,” George this story at thebuzzmagazines.com. deadpanned. “I plan to ask for your mother’s

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lawellphoto.com

NEIGHBORS by Russell Weil, staff writer

Friendship – and Fish Four decades of Passover prep

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ach year, Jewish families look forward to the Passover Seder with family and friends. Traditions thrive during this sacred holiday: readings, songs, prayers and food. Each item served during the meal is a symbol commemorating the freedom of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. Gefilte [guh-fil-tuh] fish, or stuffed fish, has become a staple served at Passover. While not a requirement of the Seder meal, like matzo and charoset (a sweet paste made of fruits and nuts), this dish of deboned fish formed into ball shapes and served chilled has become synonymous with the holiday. Most of us don’t like it, but we’d miss it. Leave it to three Buzz residents and longtime friends, Lara Ladin, Nancy Levinthal and Shellie Lewis, to be exceptions. They actually like eating gefilte fish. Not only that, but they like making it – and have for almost four decades, since they were young mothers joining forces in a dynamic trio of tradition. “We continued this every year because it was fun, we liked what we made, and each year became the best year ever,” said Lara. What fun they have had. They bond over the process, which takes several hours, and come together every year, for the planning, laughing, gossiping and tasting. Each remembers the early days. Nancy had returned from Los Angeles in 1978, and had learned how to make gefilte fish while on the West Coast. The three friends, who met in college at The University of Texas, were among the few in their friend group who cooked. “It was tick tock, the game was locked,” said Shellie. Added Lara, “Since no one else was interested, we never invited anyone else into our gang.” And what a gang they are. Laughing, talking over each other, and finishing the other’s sentences, they are serious when it comes to making gefilte fish, which they have been doing together since 1981. All agree ingredients are key – ground fish, matzo meal, carrots, celery, onion, salt and pepper. While kitchens rotate, each one has the same responsibility every year. Nancy selects their fish from Jimmy at J&R Seafood on

Brompton Road near West University, which usually consists of white fish, trout and redfish. Lara and Shellie take care of buying, cleaning and prepping the carrots, onions and celery to chop up and put in the broth. While this sounds like a simple enough recipe, the process is anything but. Some steps get lost in translation. Add salt to the soup pot, or not? “One quandary is the size and number of pots we’ve used,” said Nancy. “In 1993, we used two pots, in 2014 we used two large pots, in 2015 we used one large and two small pots. Yet we still got 8-9 balls per pound every year.” Not every year was smooth sailing. “The best was when we had ON GEFILTE DUTY Lara Ladin, Shellie Lewis and Nancy Levinthal (from left) have made gefilte fish together every Passover for almost 40 years. Bottom photo: been cooking at Nancy’s the friends in 1995. house on Underwood,” gefilte fish too firm. said Shellie. “We put the fish heads and bones in The end result is always over 100 appetizing balls trash bags out on the driveway. Every cat for miles of gefilte fish to serve at the Passover Seder. (I never would show up.” Next time, they got smart and used to like the dish, but even I like theirs.) started driving the neighborhood for a dumpster. Nancy wonders what will happen with the One year, Nancy forgot to tell the store to annual fish duty when they decide they are take the eyes out of the fish. “They were just done. Her adult daughter Tara says it’s time to staring up at us.” teach the next generation. But none are certain It’s an aroma-intense experience, even if you their daughters could cook in the same kitchen don’t notice while you are cooking. “I walked and be productive. outside to get my things,” said Lara, “and as I Maybe one day. Until then, the gefilte fish is walked back inside, I realized there really was an all theirs. awful smell!” Lara is the official taste tester. Then each takes a bite, critiquing. One year they decided See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for their they had used too much pepper, while another gefilte-fish recipe. year they had overused matzo meal, making the

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MORE ONLINE

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PETS by Cathy Gordon, staff writer

Bart the Therapy Cat Does he have what it takes?

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hen your cat has watched every bird and squirrel offering on YouTube, then resorts to Hot Moves Hustle disco videos, it’s time he gets a life. So I put in a call to Pet Partners, the nation’s largest registry of therapy animals, to see if my 22-pound ginger tabby’s voluminous skills acquired over eight years of feline life translate to volunteer work. Does my ball of fluff have the right stuff? Bart sleeps as I make the call, on his back, a scruffy moat between me and my laptop. As always, he has mathematically calculated the position that will most interfere with my work. “A cat has got to like interacting with people,” says the voice on the phone, that of Elisabeth Van Every, Pet Partner’s marketing and strategic partnerships coordinator. She’s rattling off a therapy cat checklist. “They should love attention from people.” No problem there. Bart, a dog in a cat suit, is always the first to greet visitors and pads around with every service person who comes to the house, AC guy, painter, electrician. “They must be able to walk on a leash,” Every continues. Well, yes, I’ve been training Bart on leash and harness the past few months, and it’s going well. But he recently witnessed a frog hop into a storm sewer and now disrupts walks to monitor curbside drains. So if Pet Partners is looking for a cat with mad inspection skills, he’s your guy. His orange, tiger-striped harness doubles as roadside safety vest. “They must like riding in the car and be able to go to new places and not be rattled by strange sounds and smells,” Every emphasizes. “You might try practicing by taking him to some shops that allow pets.” I used to have a car cat, Ted, who’d lap the wind like a window-hogging Labrador retriever, if allowed. Not so, Bart. He doesn’t like being constrained by carrier, so I bought him a medium-sized dog booster seat with a window view. He keeps his mews in check till cars whizz by, then he lets his inner banshee fly. We took a drive to a local pet shop recently, where he perused fashions, sniffing at a red and

HEAR ME ROAR Confident in his king-of-the-jungle roots, Bart lounges in his lion mane, a gift from a family friend.

green plaid number. I posted a video on Facebook, and friends fawned over my fab feline’s store stroll. What viewers didn’t see was Bart puffing up like a furry porcupine, followed by a guttural Lord of the Jungle yowl. The store clerk tried to soothe him with freeze-dried treats.

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What??? Do I look like an astronaut cat? Space cat treats aside, Bart loves his food. “But what we are looking for is a cat capable of leaving his treats or food on command,” says Every. Hmm… My vet calls Bart an (continued on page 16)

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SMART BART Top left: The subject of numerous family photos poses with his human, writer Cathy Gordon. Top right: Bart’s mind hasn’t caught up to his pant size. The large kitty stuffs his 22.6-pound frame into a too-small breakfast table basket. Bottom left: Bart settles in for a fur-on-faux fur catnap on his favorite throw. Bottom right: Training to become a therapy cat includes walking on leash and harness. (continued from page 14) “affection

eater.” If humans are present, he demands you watch him dine. I picture residents at an assisted-living center forming a cultish circle around my cat, watching him feast on pork treats. He has food issues, for sure. At home, before the Feeding of the Feline commences, Bart enjoys being cradled in a belly hold and swung gently back and forth like a pussycat pendulum, raising his head now and then to accept kisses. Weird, I know. But he sets the rules of etiquette. I don’t. Remains to be seen if Bart will make the therapy cat cut. Keep working with him, says Every, and it could happen. “But not every cat makes a good therapy cat.” According to Pet Partner national statistics,

there are 200 therapy felines to 9,400 dogs, so clearly not every cat has its day. Miniature donkeys, ponies, a few full-size horses, rabbits, guinea pigs, domestic rats, birds, alpacas and llamas are also registered. In the organization’s online list of potential therapy animals, only the cat has the description “well-behaved” in front of it. I get it. Some felines carry the reputation of little sociopaths in fur. (Unfairly, I say.) But Bart’s an attention-hog people-pleaser. With rad skills. He deftly lifted a plumber’s mini-wrench once, carrying it in clamped jaws from master bathroom to utility room, drowning it in his water bowl. He separated a hapless banana from its bunch, like a lion isolating prey from the herd. The banana died a turn-brown death in a

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sunspot under the grand piano. A weird fruity alcohol smell led us to its carcass. But I promise I won’t let Bart near any bananas if he’s accepted into the pet therapy program. An on-site evaluation takes place with a Pet Partner representative when I deem he’s ready. He’ll be required to sit on a person’s lap for at least 30 seconds, then move to another’s and so on. You know, simulating therapy cat duties. But did I mention that Bart is a perimeter cat? He wants to be near you, not on you. So we’ll see how this goes….

MORE ONLINE Follow Bart’s therapy cat progress online in future Buzz postings at thebuzzmagazines.com and on Instagram at buffboybart.

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NEIGHBORS

Intervening on Addiction

lawellphoto.com

by Cheryl Ursin, staff writer

Accepting the gift of treatment

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hen you become a parent, you are handed a precious life, someone else’s, but they are so achingly vulnerable, and you are responsible for them. You need to house and feed them but also educate them, about everything, and nurture them and set them up so they can be successful and happy adults. You love them more than you love yourself. You would lay your life down to protect theirs. But then, sometimes, that life of theirs spins out of control. Sometimes, you don’t even know. Even when dire signs are there and you frantically double down and are now bailing them out of jail and hiring attorneys and therapists and putting them into rehab, pleading with them, trying to force them, even, to just get their act together, nothing works. In fact, things just keep getting worse. What can you do, if anything, then? It’s a question that millions of American families face. Beth Flinn, a mom of three and a licensed professional counselor, faced this situation with her oldest son, Max, seven years ago. She was at yet another rehabilitation facility, seeking treatment for then-24-year-old Max, after yet another arrest. The director of the facility, Beth remembers, showed her the program of a funeral he had just attended. On the cover was a photo of the young man who had died, with his mom. “This mother loved her son to death,” the counselor said. He did not mean that this mother caused her son’s addiction. He meant that what she did to help him actually did the opposite: it made it easier for his disease to progress. It’s what addiction experts mean by the term “enabling.” Beth’s son, Max, now 30, says, “If you continue to give them financial support, if you welcome them back into your house, the disease knows it has an infinite resource.” Max’s parents had to do what seemed so counter-intuitive. They sold the car they had bought for Max. They canceled the lease on the apartment they rented for him. They stopped paying for college. The next time he was arrested, they didn’t rush to bail him out. “I was in the Harris County Jail for two weeks,

calling them every day, begging them to get me out of there,” says Max. At one point, his mom didn’t visit him on his birthday, though she did send a friend. “I am very much a mama’s boy,” says Max. “That had such a big effect.” When his family told him they would support his recovery and get him into rehab, but not his disease, “I hated them,” remembers Max, “I was so angry, I think I said, ‘I’ll never talk to y’all again.’ But they saved my life in that moment by drawing that line.” Max was one of the lucky ones. While, as Beth says, “Max can count on three hands” the people he knew from Bellaire High School who have since A TEAM Though angry when confronted at the height of his addiction, Max Flinn died from substance remains close to his mother, Beth. Max has been sober since 2012. abuse, he has been He and his mom have teamed up to become a sober since December of 2012. professional interventionist team, to help other He went back to school, to the University of families with the emotionally fraught process of Houston, on loans, graduated (sober, he maintrying to intervene for a loved one with addictained a 4.0 GPA) and became a financial anation issues. Beth, an experienced counselor, took lyst in oil and gas. He had always played guitar additional training in intervention. and loved traditional country music. The guy An intervention is a structured process where who had once pawned his two favorite guitars the important people in a person’s life tell them started playing at open-mike nights. He has they know about their addiction even as they been a full-time musician since 2017, releasing express their love. They also tell the person music and playing concerts (maxflinn.com). He explicitly what they won’t allow anymore so as dedicated his first music video, for a song he not to enable the disease. Instead, they offer wrote called As Big As The Storm, to the people what Max and Beth call “the gift of treatment.” of Houston and raised money to help victims of Although there are different “intervention Hurricane Harvey. models,” usually, before the actual meeting, a rehab And he’s about to get married. At 30, he program has already been secured. A bag has even says, “I’m marrying the love of my life and livbeen packed. If the person (continued on page 20) ing my dream.”

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Trish Badger

LIFE IS GOOD Max Flinn, shown here performing at Houston's House of Blues with his fiancée Brittney Blair and fiddle player Steve Snoe, performs all over Houston and in other cities. (continued from page 18) chooses to go, and accord-

ing to the Association of Intervention Specialists, 80 to 90 percent do, they go directly from the intervention to rehab. When Max is involved, he travels with the person going to rehab, which eliminates arguments with family on the way. Through his own treatment and recovery, Max has gained insight into addiction. Even in early high school, when he began smoking marijuana, he says now, it wasn’t just to party. “There’s something in the way I was designed that’s just missing, a hole, and drugs filled it,” he says. When he felt intense social anxiety when he smoked marijuana, “instead of not smoking it anymore like a normal person would do, I took Xanax so I wouldn’t have the social anxiety and could keep smoking. I was trying to feel right.” Soon, he hit upon, he says, “my little cocktail: opiates, benzodiazepines and weed.” As the star quarterback at Bellaire High School, he was getting the attention of colleges. But, at 17, as a senior, he got arrested for the first time, for a DUI. “That didn’t help” with the college plans, he says now ruefully. He did go to Kilgore College in east Texas for a year, but by that time, “drugs and alcohol were far more important than anything else, than playing football, my first love, than girlfriends, than school.” Using drugs every day, he failed drug tests, got kicked off the team and returned to Houston. “The most humiliating thing that ever happened to me,” he remembers, was getting caught “by the same cop, at the same gas station, at

Beechnut and 610, twice.” Just a day or two after getting out of jail from that police officer’s arrest of him, he was back at the gas station. “And, of course, I had more drugs,” he says. He told the police officer that he, now a University of Houston student, had an exam in a few days, and the officer, having pity on him, took his drugs and, rather than arresting him then and there, issued a warrant for his arrest. A few days later, there were “many, many police cars” outside the apartment he was living in, in Southampton. “I called my attorney, he told me to turn myself in, but I didn’t listen. I waited for them to leave, then grabbed a backpack and left.” Part of the disease of addiction, Max now says, is that willpower disappears once he has used a substance. “My fiancée can go to dinner, have a glass of wine, maybe not even finish it, and be happy,” he says. “I wouldn’t be happy with just one, and then I’d try to score pills on the way home.” He can remember, he says, “wanting to stop and making a resolution at night that I would stop and then getting up and doing it all over again with no idea why.” For people like him, Max says, “drugs and alcohol completely take over their lives and transforms them.” Who could benefit from an intervention? Each person’s situation is different, but a person “whose life is spiraling out of control, who is suffering major consequences, whose family has tried everything, talking to them individually

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and in groups, who have fought, yelled and begged them” to get treatment could be a candidate for an intervention, says Beth. Many mental-health and addiction professionals and organizations offer intervention help. Working with a professional keeps the intervention from “becoming just another family fight,” says Beth. A therapist works with the family, figuring out the dynamics, educating on substance abuse and the intervention. “It’s all very orchestrated,” says Beth. It’s determined who will attend, usually fewer than eight, and what role each will play. Attendees write letters, with the professionals’ guidance, which they read aloud to the person. The family even rehearses. Professionals will often offer family members counseling after the person is in treatment, to help them deal with the effects of the addiction and to learn more to help their loved one. Why does an organized intervention work when ordinary talking to the person does not? “In the six or seven years I was in and out of recovery, it just felt like I was hearing noise; it was coming from everyone,” says Max. “Mom’s saying one thing, Dad another, people are making empty threats. With an intervention, all the right people are there, and they are all on the same page. The loved ones read letters to the person about how much they love them, which is a very powerful experience to hear.” Max wants to share his story. “Recovery is possible,” he says. “You’re never cured, it’s a lifelong journey, but the obsession is gone.”

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Sharon Brier

NEIGHBORS by Pooja Salhotra, staff writer

Exploring Houston Hidden gems: the East End

Pooja Salhotra

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n a cool fall morning last year, Sharon Brier and about 40 girlfriends piled onto a bus carrying boxed lunches from Central Market, ready to embark on Sharon’s birthday escapade. Soon, the women found themselves in a part of Houston they barely recognized: East End’s Smither Park. “As soon as we got off the bus, everyone was running around taking pictures,” Sharon recalls. “I’m not even 100 percent sure where we were,” says Sharon’s friend, Patsy Segal, who has lived in Houston her whole life. Patsy isn’t alone on this one. Though I grew up in Houston, I had never heard of Smither Park until I began exploring the East End, a roughly 16-square mile neighborhood spanning from east downtown’s BBVA Compass Stadium to the Port of Houston on the west and Hobby Airport in the south. Tucked away on Munger Street, Smither Park’s half-acre green space is an artist’s paradise. On one end of the whimsical park stands a fishshaped amphitheater used for dance, film and musical performances during the year. The other side houses a dragon-themed swing set. All along the eastern edge of the park stands a 400foot-long memory wall, with colorful mosaics made from broken ceramics, tiles and seashells. “It’s kind of like Gaudi Park in Barcelona,” says Sharon, a Buzz writer and real estate agent, likening the mosaic paths and colorful tiles to the Spanish World Heritage Site. Another East End spot Sharon took her girlfriends was The Labyrinth at Villa de Matel, a Catholic convent that houses the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. The grounds include a prayer labyrinth that’s open to the public. A plaque at the entrance reads, “Walk mindfully and allow yourself to unwind, notice your surroundings and be aware of your thoughts.” Modeled after the labyrinth in the Chartres Cathedral in France, the stone path stretches 84 feet in diameter on a grassy expanse behind the chapel and takes about 25 minutes to complete at a leisurely pace. Not to be confused with mazes, labyrinths have one path in and one path out, so no getting lost. Sharon said she only found the spot because

DISCOVERING THE EAST END Top: Sharon Brier's birthday guests, (from left) Rachel Messina, Linda Suib, Arlene Lasson and Amy Grenader, visit Smither Park in the East End during Sharon's birthday party. Bottom: On the grounds of Villa de Matel, a Catholic Convent on Lawndale Avenue, is a prayer labyrinth stretching 84 feet in diameter.

she was specifically seeking out labyrinths. “It’s not on the beaten path,” Sharon says. For Frances Dyess, president of the East End Chamber of Commerce and a graduate of the neighborhood’s Milby High School, the East End is home. “I just love to show this area off,” Frances says. Frances drives past condominiums that have replaced older homes and industrial buildings. She points out a taco joint on nearly every corner. We’ve seen at least 10 taco spots before we pass the Original Ninfa’s on Navigation – a Houston institution that introduced fajitas to our collective Tex-Mex consciousness. The best tacos are at La Reynera, Frances says. At this hole-in-the-wall bakery/taqueria, just down the street from the East End Athletic Club on McKinney, rows of fresh Mexican pastries greet visitors. Like many businesses in the East End, La Reynera is run by Spanish speakers, so knowing the language is a plus. La Reynera offers limited seating – just a few bar stools – so visitors can take the tacos to go and find a picnic table at the nearby Mason Park, another place Frances frequents. Located

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at South 75th and Tipps streets, the 104-acre green space offers lakefront views and hilly running trails far less crowded than Memorial Park. The park has baseball/softball fields, six tennis courts, a swimming pool and a community center that offers after-school and summer-session activities for kids. Since 2006, the park has also served as a flood-control project, and 3.5 acres were developed as a wetland environment. As Frances drives through the East End, her commute is dotted with bright graffiti and street art on buildings, storefronts, even electrical boxes. A hub of street art is the Harrisburg Art Museum (HAM) at 4200 Harrisburg Blvd. Tucked between railroad tracks on one side and the metro on the other, this graffiti art-covered warehouse showcases street art curated by local artist Daniel Anguilu. The public-facing side shows a range of subjects, from animals to nature, while the back side features lettered bay doors spelling out “Houston, Texas.” Each letter was created by a different local artist. The East End now seems like a mecca of graffiti – one area is even called “graffiti park,” since every inch of wall space is (continued on page 24)

nurturing young minds emphasis on individuality respect for students

focusing on academics Alexander-Smith Academy An extraordinary college preparatory high school

713/266-0920 • www.alexandersmith.com

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Gonzo247 Pooja Salhotra

THE ART OF GRAFFITI Top: Houston artist Mario E. Figueroa Jr., known as Gonzo247 (at left), was commissioned to refurbish this mural at 5900 Canal St. The mural was originally created by Leo Tanguma (at right). Bottom: The back side of the Harrisburg Art Museum has bay doors spelling out "Houston, Texas," with each letter created by a different local artist. (continued from page 22) covered with paint. But it

hasn’t always been this way. Houston-based artist Gonzo247, Mario E. Figueroa Jr., who made the iconic “Houston Is Inspired” mural on the south wall of Treebeards restaurant, grew up on the East End in the late ’70s, a time when the neighborhood offered one piece of street art: Leo Tanguma’s “The Rebirth of our Nationality.” The 240-by-18-foot painting, on the side of the old Continental Can Factory building on Canal Street, depicts the struggles of MexicanAmericans to overcome racism.

“Graffiti has gone from being unknown and feared and unwanted to being embraced, accepted and in demand,” Gonzo says. Last year, Gonzo and his team refurbished Tanguma’s landmark painting. Gonzo recommends the food trucks at Truck Yard, Suko’s Burger House and La Victoria Bakery – known for Mexican specialities such as pastelitos de dulce de leche, pastries stuffed with rich caramel. “There’s really so many great places, but the best way to find those hidden gems is to go explore yourself,” Gonzo says. Sharon’s friends plan to do just that.

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“It was an eye-opening experience for me,” Patsy said of the East End. “I’ll be back.” Editor’s note: This article is the first of a three-part series exploring different parts of Houston. Next up: the Third Ward, followed by the Greater Heights. Earlier this year, Houston made it onto the New York Times’ list of “52 Places to Go in 2019.” Buzz writer Pooja Salhotra checked out Houston spots with Times reporter Sebastian Modak, who is spending the year exploring the 52 destinations on the list. Read Pooja’s story about Modak at thebuzzmagazines.com.

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NEIGHBORS by Jennifer Oakley, staff writer

lawellphoto.com

Bearing Fruit Trees that feed body and soul

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ne afternoon in August 2012, Elizabeth DeLuca arrived home to find a tiny lemon tree on her doorstep. Her husband, Anthony, had traded places with her at Texas Children’s Hospital, where their daughter Caroline was in the intensive care unit. DeLuca had run home to quickly change clothes and found the little tree, tied with a card that read: “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. You are gonna watch this tree grow with Caroline.” “At the time, we did not know if Caroline was going to live, and when I read that note, I just cried,” says DeLuca. Caroline, 14 at the time, had been born with a neurodegenerative disease and was facing serious health challenges. “And then I went outside right that minute and planted the tree. We never had a fruit tree before, and I put it outside Caroline’s window. It was only 18 inches tall, and now it is a 15foot-high tree.” Eventually, Caroline was released from the hospital. “She was very weak for a long time, and that’s when she became dependent on a feeding tube,” says DeLuca. Caroline had stXbp1. “It’s like a pediatric form of ALS. The children pretty typically are able to walk, run, eat and feed themselves, and then they regress and they need an eating tube and stop walking. Caroline died on March 24, 2016. She was here for 18 years, and she was a joy.” Caroline was the youngest of four daughters that she and Anthony, managing director and chief financial officer of SCF Partners, raised in River Oaks. The other three are Lauren, now 29, Allison, 26, and Virginia Claire, 23. Looking back, DeLuca says she really did watch Caroline grow along with her tree. “She grew probably six inches,” says DeLuca, a civic volunteer. Caroline enjoyed sitting under the shade of the tree and loved to look at the bright yellow lemons. “To me, now, having lost her, the tree means more to me. I love the tree. I go out and I pick the lemons.” And, she makes lemonade. “The lemons are fabulous,” she says. “We squeeze the juice out and pour it into ice cube trays and freeze them, and we have lemon juice all year long. I also make the best lemon meringue pies. It’s valid to say that it does not

SWEET MEMORIES Elizabeth DeLuca, wearing a photo pin in memory of her daughter Caroline, has a window-seat view of Caroline’s Meyer lemon tree. Elizabeth makes lemon meringue pie from the lemons.

make me sad to look at the tree, but it makes me happy. No matter whatever happens to me, that lemon tree will always be a living reminder of Caroline.”

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hildhood memories growing up in Galveston inspired Darryl Levy to plant his

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own trees when he moved to Bellaire in 1990. “My parents and grandparents had fruit trees, and I thought, ‘Hey, I have a house now!’ and I went into my backyard thinking it was just like Galveston, but it wasn’t. I could not plant easily because of the heavy clay,” says Levy, partner in the law firm of Greer, Herz & Adams, L.L.P.,

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lawellphoto.com Syma Levy

A BOUNTIFUL HARVEST Top left: Elizabeth DeLuca uses the Meyer lemons from her late daughter Caroline’s lemon tree to make lemonade and lemon meringue pie. Right: Darryl Levy, here with some of his grapefruit, grows an array of fruit at home. Bottom left: Darryl Levy shares his harvest with friends and family.

who was initially stymied by the dense, Houston soil. “So, I went and took a fruit tree course from Dr. Leon Atlas at the Houston Arboretum.” And that was the start of his personal orchard. “I planted some fruit trees, and it was trial and error but always fun to take a chance,” says Levy, who quickly became aware of his backyard’s ecosystem after putting in pitted-fruit trees. “I learned to hate squirrels. At first I thought they were really cute, but they eat peaches, pears and plums and carry them off right before they are ready to pick. It breaks your heart.” Undeterred, Levy started over with citrus trees, which he learned are less appealing to critters. “There were elements of luck and love and elements of knowledge,” he says, “It’s just a joy watching things grow.” And, boy, have they grown. Today, Levy has

satsuma, persimmon, fig, grapefruit, orange, kumquat and pecan trees that have flourished at his home. “For two weeks in spring when the citrus bloom, it makes the yard smell like heaven.” His trees all bear a lot of fruit – and, surprisingly, more so after his house was flooded during Hurricane Harvey. “What I did not realize, when Harvey came, was that the weight of the water stressed the trees, and then they bore their fruit heavy,” he says. “That’s one good thing that came out of Harvey.” And, the greater the yield, the more Levy is able to give away. He and wife Syma, an event and wedding planner, enjoy eating the fruit, but equally like to share it with others. “When you grow fruit trees, you connect with the outdoors,” says Levy. “I like to go fishing, and this is the same feeling as when you catch fish – just like

you give the fish away, you give away the fruit to friends and family.”

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t could be said that Bass Wallace has deep roots when it comes to fruit trees. “My mother was a great gardener, and I give her credit for the gene and interest. I spend a lot of time in my yard,” says Wallace, senior vice president and general counsel of TETRA Technologies and CSI Compressco LP. “I have a grapefruit tree and a Meyer lemon. These are great to grow in Houston.” In the past Wallace also had a satsuma orange and a Mexican lime tree at his Memorial home, which he lost to hard freezes. He says that Houston’s sub tropical climate makes growing citrus achievable. “They don’t require a whole lot of fertil- (continued on page 28)

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established, but they do need drainage and the sunniest spot you can find is the best place to plant them,” he says. Wallace, who serves on the advisory council of the Houston Botanic Garden, says he and wife Jackie, a local volunteer, enjoy the fruit they grow. “We usually get more lemons than we can use,” adding that because the fruit ripens in late fall, they make beautiful holiday gifts. “A Meyer lemon is a cross between a lemon and an orange, and they are juicier and sweeter than a regular lemon. Jackie just made some Meyer lemon marmalade, and I can attest that Meyer lemon juice is great in a margarita!” Wallace says the grapefruit is so delicious they eat them right off the tree plain but also add the slices to lettuce and avocado salads. "My grapefruits look like giant oranges, and it’s fun to pop one off the tree and eat it. I like gardening because they don’t talk back,” he says, laughing. “It’s just fun to watch something grow.”

Dylan Aguilar

(continued from page 27) izer or water once they are

R

aised in the Rio Grande Valley, Mark Levine grew up surrounded by citrus. "I am from McAllen, where citrus is king,” says Levine, an attorney and shareholder with Weycer Kaplan. "My grandfather and dad always had fruit trees. They’re easy to grow in the valley, but here it takes a little more effort because our weather conditions and soil are different and it’s colder here.” Levine, a longtime Braes Heights resident, says having fruit trees is good for the soul. “I always wanted to grow things,” says Levine. “It’s the way I relax. I come home from my office and go out and work in the yard. I spend a lot of time on websites so that I can better understand citrus care, and I also spend time at some nurseries [including Buchanan's Native Plants] around town who are very helpful in explaining the soil you need. There’s a lot of trial and error, but you have to be attentive to your trees and feed them.” There is reciprocity with fruit trees, he says, because they feed you right back. Levine gets a lot of yield from his Rio Red grapefruit, his Meyer lemon and three olive trees. “In a good year, I get more than 100 lemons,” he says. He and wife Allison, an independent stylist with Stella & Dot, use the lemons for food and drink. “I have a very specific ritual with my lemons. First I take the peel off, and I use that to make Limoncello [an Italian lemon liqueur] in large batches. I will bottle the Limoncello and give them away as gifts. And, we also take the lemon juice and freeze it and use it for baking lemon bars and for other cocktails. I have also started to make a Grapefruitcello.” And that is where the olive trees have taken his libations up a notch, when he pairs them with his drinks. “The olive trees remind me of going to Napa with Allison,” he says. “They are really easy to grow and taste great.” The connection between trees and memories is a constant for Levine. “In May 2006, I was driving home from McAllen after the unveiling of my Dad’s tombstone and I saw a sign that read ‘Citrus

RIPE FOR THE PICKING Bass Wallace cuts a ripe grapefruit off his tree at his home.

Trees for Sale.’ I just pulled over, picked out a satsuma orange tree and brought it home and planted it in my front yard. It was an emotional response, and this 13-year-old tree thrives and reminds me of my father and his passion for growing fruit trees.”

Caroline’s Lemon Meringue Pie From Elizabeth DeLuca One pre-made pie crust Lemon Curd (recipe below) Meringue (recipe below) Lemon Curd ingredients: 1 cup white sugar 1 Tablespoon finely grated Meyer lemon zest 8 large egg yolks

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⁄3 cup fresh Meyer lemon juice ¼ teaspoon coarse salt 1¼ sticks unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch pieces 1 cup cold water ¼ cup cornstarch Lemon Meringue ingredients: 8 large eggs, whites only 2 ⁄3 cups white sugar ¼ teaspoon coarse salt 2

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Press the pie crust into a 9-inch pie plate. Line crust with parchment paper and fill with dried beans. Bake until crust is lightly browned, about 45 minutes. Carefully lift and remove

lawellphoto.com

Dylan Aguilar lawellphoto.com

WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS Top left: Jackie Wallace makes lemon marmalade from the Meyer lemons that husband Bass grows. Right: Mark Levine makes and bottles Limoncello from his Meyer lemons. Bottom left: Mark’s Limoncello, along with fresh olives, all grown at his home.

paper with dried beans and discard. Set aside pie crust and let cool. Lemon Curd: In a medium saucepan, whisk together sugar, zest and egg yolks. Once stirred fully, whisk in lemon juice, salt and butter and place pan over medium-high heat. Whisk together 1 cup cold water and cornstarch and add to mixture, whisking constantly, until butter has melted. Continue to whisk for about 5 minutes. The mixture should get thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, and small bubbles should form around the edge of pan. Do not let it boil. Once complete, pour the lemon curd mixture directly into cooled crust and smooth the top. Place pie into refrigerator and let it chill until set, at least three hours. Meringue:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine egg whites, sugar and salt. Using an electric mixer, beat on medium-high until stiff peaks form. Take pie out of refrigerator and place meringue on top of pie, making sure it touches the crust all around. Bake until meringue begins to brown, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove pie from oven and serve.

Mark Levine’s Limoncello 2 750 ml. bottles of Everclear or 100 percent vodka Mason jars 15 Meyer lemons Simple syrup (three cups of white sugar with three cups of water, brought to a boil) Bottles for storage

Pour the alcohol into the mason jars and combine the peel of 15 Meyer lemons. Make sure to scrape off all pith. Place the jar in a dark place for 30 days, shaking the liquid and peel every few days. After four to six weeks the alcohol will turn bright yellow (color should look like a highlighter). Strain the alcohol a few times to remove the peel and any sediment. Make simple syrup. After cooled, mix the simple syrup with the alcohol in small batches to determine sweetness preference. Start with four parts alcohol to one part cooled simple syrup. (I prefer three parts alcohol to one part simple syrup with vodka and equal parts simple syrup and alcohol if using high-proof Everclear.) Bottle and store in freezer. Best after a month and good for a long time. I’ve been told it makes an excellent adult snow cone.

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NEIGHBORS

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by Sharon Albert Brier, staff writer

Fire and Ice. The Junior League of Houston 71st Fire and Ice Charity Ball had lots of sparks over the two-night explosion of sensory fun, to raise $750,000. Cocktails started in the Winter Showcase Room and were followed by dinner and the league’s talented all-volunteer cast of dancers, singers and musicians. The show produced by Bill Bartlett and Alissa LaVergne had multiple backgrounds projected on the stage wall. In awe of the snowcapped aerialist that poured champagne from above were chair Tara Merla Hinton, Elizabeth Roath Garcia, Ellen Kolpin Toranzo, Steph Magers, Anne Sears, Jayne Johnston, Alicia Lee, Beth Muecke, Lia Vallone, Whitney Walsh, Vivian Wise and Beth Zdeblick. Island hopping. Who knew that near Charleston, South Carolina, one could enjoy so much natural beauty? The mother/daughter trip that Phyllis and Michelle Crowell took led them to Johns Island to marvel at the Angel Oak Tree over 500 years old and over 66 feet high. They also visited Wadmalaw Island, where they took a trolley ride through trails of tea bushes that make the black, oolong and green tea at the Charleston Tea Plantation and visited the tea factory, where tea is grown and produced. It was a perfect getaway and tea for two. Dripping with love. It was a small and meaningful wedding for Mason Hurtte and Heather Henry, who each have a small family and many lifelong friends. They met in Stratford High School band and had a noteable journey. At The University of Texas they were in the Longhorn band; he was the drum major and played alto sax and she was in the flag corps. Of course, The Eyes of Texas was sung at the wedding, at Camp Lucy in Dripping Springs. All eyes were also on the couple as Frances Rubin walked her son, Mason, down the aisle, and Heather’s aunt Yvonne Berry and sister Jessie Henry accompanied her. The mechanical engineer and master of public affairs live in Austin with their cattle dog-border collie mix, Nora, who makes music with her squeaky toy, a longhorn, of course. High and low. Marlene Lord was quite shocked when a shark swam by her. She and her

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Rumor Has It

A BALL Having a blast at the Junior League’s Fire and Ice charity ball were executive-committee members Tara Merla Hinton, Elizabeth Roath Garcia, Ellen Kolpin Toranzo, Steph Magers, Anne Sears, Jayne Johnston and Alicia Lee.

hubby, Dr. Brian Lord, stalked giant turtles and other sea animals in the ocean before going to Machu Picchu, where they viewed the 600year-old city of Inca stone architecture from 7,900-plus feet above sea level. Many of the stones used to build the city weighed 50 tons and were carved and carried without iron tools or wheels. The Lords had a blessed moment high in the mountain. Movies every day. Vicky Dyer-Smith invited five gal pals to share her exquisite new second home at Park City to experience the Sundance Film Festival. While they heard there were movie stars staying in the subdivision, there were no sightings. They heard producers, directors and rising stars speak after each movie during a Q and A. Parking was limited, but they managed to ride the shuttles easily enough, although eight of them got to a theater only to learn the event was at a different theater near their parked car. Frances Rubin, Sue Feinberg, Connie Reddy, Michele Hosko and yours truly had some great laughs dressed as snow bunnies every day. Happy New Year. The Chinese New Year at the Mandarin Immersion Magnet School in the Galleria area was well attended with close to 2,000 children and adults. Since it is the Year of the Pig, there was a pig petting zoo. Other fun happenings included The Oh

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My Gogi food truck, pony rides and an inflated "hamster ball" that children roll around in. Each elementary grade had a song performance, but, according to Laura Gerardi, the most amusing one was the pre-kindergarten class’ performance of Baby Shark, in which her son Greyson took part. Dr. Kiki Palacios, Mark and Dr. Shinobu Gilbreth, Derek and Liz Sirmans, Jindy and Christy Lan, and Tim and Bridget Hughes were part of the scene. Sorority recruitment. High school girls who want to know how to navigate the system to get into a sorority at their chosen college have local resources. The Annual Recruitment Information Session (HAPA Recruitment Roundtable) for high school senior girls, their mothers and undergraduates was held at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church. The free event distributes information and offers breakout sessions for Texas and out-of-state schools. Approximately 500 girls attended this year’s Roundtable. Put Feb. 15, 2020, on your calendar or visit www.houston-panhellenic.org for details about next year’s Roundtable.

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

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by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Buzz Baby

First Astros games

Buzz Baby is a column about life with little ones. Writer Annie McQueen has three children age 4 and under.

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rin Rushing laughed as she recalled carrying daughters Hannah and Tabitha up a crowded escalator at a Houston Astros game at Minute Maid Park while very pregnant with her fourth child, Abigail. It was Erin and her husband David’s first time to take their kids. Pre-kids, the longtime fans followed the players’ careers and frequently attended games. “We wanted to share that love of the game and the atmosphere of Americana,” she said. Their oldest children have August birthdays, so they decided to celebrate in August 2016 at the kids’ first Astros game. Noah was 5, Hannah,

Some tips • Kids under 2 do not need a ticket, but they must sit in an adult’s lap. After Sunday day games, kids ages 5-12 can run the bases (the line starts at Section 131/132). • Think twice about bringing a stroller. You can bring the stroller into the stadium but not to your seat – you must leave them at the Fan Accommodations Centers. • If you want something for the memory book, get an official “My First Astros Game” certificate (near the private nursing room near section 323). • Fans can bring their own snacks. Of course, there are always the beloved baseball game staples like hot dogs and peanuts, but getting up out of the seat constantly and waiting in a long line could make for a more difficult outing. • There are diaper-changing stations in the restrooms. • If you plan to drive your own vehicle (instead of taking an Uber or taxi), there are helpful parking maps to make planning ahead easy. See mlb.com/astros/ballpark/parking.

3, Tabitha, 16 months, and their fourth child, Abigail, was in-utero. The Astros were playing the Tampa Bay Rays that day. The family wandered around the stadium, smelling hot dogs in a sea of fans and hearing the calls of the announcer. At a tall escalator in FATHER-SON FANS Brad Beasley, here with Parker in June 2018, took his son a large crowd, David to his first Astros game against the Kansas City Royals when he was 14 months old. jumped on with an Brad says he packed a lot of snacks (you can overly excited Noah, and up they rode. Noah bring your own into the stadium). To his pleascouldn’t wait to see a view of the field. Erin waitant surprise, the intense noise didn’t bother the ed in line and when it came time to hop on, neitot. “I really did not know how Parker would ther Hannah nor Tabitha would do so. She do, but we had a great time,” said Brad. Brad stepped aside. says when Parker was a baby, his eyes were even She quickly called David on her phone, but drawn to the television with the World Series Noah had a meltdown and refused to come back games on. “He is diehard, apparently,” Brad down. With large crowds amassing behind her, said, laughing. “I hoisted [Hannah and Tabitha] and my very Alafair Hotze, who works in investor relations, pregnant belly up, and all four of us girls went and her husband Bruce Hotze, a sales manager, up the escalator together. I feverishly prayed bring their clients to Astros games. They also that I didn't fall backwards. It was a true mom bring their three little ’Stros fans, Henry, 6, Lida moment, getting it done.” Beth, 3, and Savannah, 7 months. Thanks to Tabitha had just started walking, so the partheir work, they have access to a private suite at ents took turns out of their seats letting her todMinute Maid Park. Alafair says with three small dle around. “She wanted to explore every nook children, the suites are an easy way to stay comand cranny of the stadium,” said Erin. “Everyone fortable. “They have lots of snacks.” always thinks newly walking babies are adorable, When Henry was small, Alafair stepped out so the other game attendees were all too happy of the ladies’ room with him to discover the to move so she could walk and give her smiles team mascot Orbit walking by. “I grabbed Henry and high fives.” to get to get him an introduction and a hug,” she The Rushings stayed through the seventh said. “He made my little man’s day.” inning, and let the kids pick out a souvenir on Jenny Lissonnet says her 4-year-son Grayson their way out. They have mini-season passes is “Astros obsessed.” “One of his first toddler now (for 28 games) and attend regularly. sentences was ‘I go to the baseball game,’" she For a lot of Buzz families, attending Astros said, laughing. Jenny has been taking her family games is a multi-generational rite of passage. ever since Grayson was an infant. When he first Brad Beasley grew up going to the Astrodome learned how to clap, he’d clap his heart out at with his father and grandfather, so he carried on the games when the crowd cheered. Now, when the tradition with his son Parker. Last June, Brad they go, he eats ice cream, chants for the team, took then-1-year-old son Parker to his first and stands to sing Deep in the Heart of Texas. Astros game, against the Kansas City Royals. “Baseball through the eyes of a child is priceBrad’s wife Kelsey was out of town, so it was a less,” Jenny said. father-son outing.

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TRAVEL

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by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer

Travel Buzz I

In the Holy Land

t started out as a wish for a selfie with a camel – but it ended up being a full immersion in history and culture, and a deeper understanding of the world. Allen Emerson attended a service at Second Baptist Church and came away intrigued by a presentation about Pastor Ed Young’s 10-day Holy Land tour, “Walking Where Jesus Walked.” Crossing the country from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the itinerary included the Mount of Olives and Mt. Carmel, the Valley of Armageddon and the City of David, a swim in the Dead Sea and even a baptism in the Jordan River. He called up an old friend, thinking his friend might have gone to Israel and could advise him about it. On the contrary, his friend had never gone, and was intrigued. “It took us about 15 minutes to decide,” Allen said. His friend had been wanting to visit Petra, the ancient stone city in Jordan that was named one of the Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. The two decided to combine the two destinations into the adventure of a lifetime. Allen signed the pair up for the Israel tour and then scouted a guide for the Jordan excursion. They settled on Abraham Tours, which offered a Petra tour that left from their hostel in Tel Aviv and featured a two-night stay in a Bedouin tent camp. The pair landed in Tel Aviv with a day to acclimate, so they spent it in the ancient but bustling port city of Jaffa. One of the world’s oldest ports, Jaffa is believed to be the place where Jonah began his strange Biblical odyssey with a whale. It was the disembarkation point for thousands of Jewish people who arrived from around the world in the late 19th century, and it soon became overcrowded, so the burgeoning neighboring community of Tel Aviv began to swell. By the 1950s Jaffa had fallen into a state of decay. A restoration project has brought it back to its former glory, and now the winding old streets exude classic charm; its cafés and galleries and popular flea market now attract artists and travelers. The next morning, they boarded the bus to Jordan. The tour company took care of passports and currency exchange, and they headed off for

the desert for two of the journey’s most unforgettable highlights. Their first stop was in the Bronze-Age city of Jerash, where imposing Roman ruins include ceremonial gates, WESTERN WALL Also known as the Wailing Wall, this is the holiest site in the world c o l o n n a d e d for Jews, who believe it to be the last remaining structure of the original Herodian Temple avenues, temples Mount complex. Muslims know it as the Buraq Wall, for on the other side is where the Prophet Muhammed tied the Buraq, the riding animal upon which he rode during the and theaters. Night of Ascension (Mi’raj). Then, after a fivedetail on the stone was amazing.” hour drive through the Jordanian countryside, After their hike through the ancient city they they landed late at night in a completely differheaded back to the Bedouin camp. On their secent culture: that of the traditionally nomadic ond day they headed out to the Wadi Rum Bedouin people, who have created a glowing desert, where they took a 4-wheel drive tour five-star tent camp in the desert. through the desert to the area where the movie The Seven Wonders Bedouin Camp would be Lawrence of Arabia was filmed. Like the famous their base for the next two nights, just 15 minutes traveler, they sat in a Bedouin tent and learned away from Petra in the Wadi Musa desert. The about the Bedouin people and their rich history ancient Nabataean city carved into the rose-red and culture, and were invited to share a few cups sandstone cliffs was everything they had dreamed of the famous Bedouin tea. of. The friends geared up for their climb up the “This was some of the best tea I’ve ever had,” 900 steps to the massive Monastery, built in the said Allen. Slow-brewed over an open fire, the trathird-century BCE as a tomb. ditional tea includes black tea leaves, cardamom, “It takes about an hour – people keep telling cinnamon, sage and lots of raw sugar. “I’m still tryyou you’re almost there,” Allen said with a ing to work on getting that same flavor.” laugh. In eight hours, the pair saw the most The group traversed the otherworldly landimportant of the exquisite structures carved into scape of the Wadi Rum desert, a national the sandstone cliffs: the stunning Treasury, or wildlife preserve, where they had lunch and Al Khazna, is the first thing that emerges at the then boarded for the long drive back across the end of a half-mile tunnel road, or Siq, that leads Jordan countryside to Tel Aviv. into the ancient city. After that they saw the After a relaxing day in Jaffa, the pair joined Royal Tombs, the temples and theater that the Second Baptist tour in Tel Aviv and headed accommodated more than 8,000 people. north an hour and a half to their hotel in “At the top, it’s amazing. Just the magnitude Tiberias, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. of how big it is, it blew me away,” said Allen. This region was the setting for much of Jesus’ He’d seen photos, but never fully appreciated ministry and a large portion of the New it, “until I stood next to it and saw what they did Testament – the Sermon on the Mount, the 2,000 years ago. I stepped back and thought scene where he rescued a doubting Peter by about the process of what it took to do the work walking on the water, and the story of the loaves and carve the stone…” From the lookout he and fishes all take place around this area, and could see the Monastery, with its ornate gave the travelers much to reflect upon. Corinthian columns and its fanciful bas-relief On their second day of the tour, they boarded carvings, all sculpted into the sandstone cliffside. a boat on the shores of Galilee for a voyage on “That was a highlight, the enormity of it. The

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JOURNEY TO THE HOLY LAND Left: One of the most moving moments came when Allen Emerson, looking back, was baptized in the Jordan River. Top right: Allen's epic Holy Land journey began as a wish for a selfie with a camel – and ended up being so much more. Bottom right: Sunrise at Seven Wonders Bedouin Camp in Jordan, where Allen spent two nights as he explored Petra and the Wadi Rum desert.

the massive lake’s historic waters. They traveled to the Mount of the Beatitudes by bus before arriving at Kibbutz Ein Gev for a lunch of St. Peter’s fish. Later they visited the site of Peter’s restoration before ending their day at the baptismal site on the Jordan River. There the group was invited to be baptized, and Allen took advantage of the moment, as he had planned. “I can tell you, it was an amazing feeling,” said Allen. He was amazed to see people from all over the world – a busload of Nigerians stands out in particular – who had come to be baptized in this historic spot. “It was beautiful – more beautiful than I imagined. It was green; there were trees everywhere, the water was clear, and there were people from all over. So we saw people from all over the world being baptized.” After that the group made its way down to the Valley of Armageddon – which, unlike the devastating scenes presented in the Book of Revelation, is a peaceful, green expanse of fertile land surrounded by rolling hills. They stopped in Nazareth and at Mount Carmel, where the Prophet Elijah had his Biblical showdown with the prophets of another god named Baal. Then it was time to head back down south to

Jerusalem. One of Allen’s favorite memories took place after settling in to their hotel just outside of the old city. “Someone told me not to walk alone at night in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, so one of the first things I did was walk alone at night,” he said. “I started looking for some gelato – just started walking through Old Jerusalem and walked all the way to the Western Wall. It’s something I’ve always wanted to experience, and it was everything I had imagined.” A handful of Hassidic Jews were there, and he just spent a few moments reflecting before heading back to the hotel. “That was a special moment,” he said. “I would never tell anyone to not walk alone in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. I never felt unsafe anywhere I went.” That night his journey was just beginning; he would go on to walk from the Damascus Gate to the Lion’s Gate, to the site of Pontius Pilate’s church, to Qumran, where a Bedouin shepherd discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls. There was the unforgettable swim in the Dead Sea, and the moment where the group sang Amazing Grace inside the Church of St. Ann. “There are so many historical sites … archaeological discoveries everywhere, so many back-

stories. You read about this stuff, David and Goliath, Jonah and the whale, walking over water on the Sea of Galilee… the Garden of Gethsemane, and the empty tomb – you hear these stories as a child and to be able to see these places – a lot of people commented that you never look at the Bible the same way.” Beyond the content of the tour itself, Allen was moved by the daily interactions with the Israelis and Jordanians he met along the way, of all religious and ethnic backgrounds. He’d wondered if the region would be consumed by political difference; instead he saw people walking their children to school, working hard to make a living. He has always been fascinated by courage and transformation, and these lands gave him a chance to reflect on the tenacity and capacity of the human spirit. “There’s a lot of good people – beyond the headlines, beyond the religious differences, beyond all the conflicts, there are a lot of similarities between us and other people in other parts of the world.… I think all in all it’s a lot more similar than I imagined.” Editor’s note: Buzz travel columnist Tracy L. Barnett is a Lowell Thomas travel journalism award winner and longtime travel and environmental writer.

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Photo courtesy of the Junior League of Houston

FOOD by Helyna Bledsoe, contributing writer

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

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ne great Texas tradition of neighborly behavior is delivering meals to parents of newborns. Sleep is at a premium, and meal planning and grocery shopping can become an afterthought. The key to a great care package for new parents is flexibility. Parents of babies are adjusting to a schedule not-all-theirown, which often means eating whatever and whenever they can. The Mushroom Quiche from Peace Meals is described as a dish that “will melt in your mouth at breakfast, lunch or dinner” – tailor-made for new parents. It’s easy to pop in the microwave to reheat and serve as a standalone meal for breakfast or with a simple green salad for lunch or dinner. Oatmeal Cake from Peace Meals is another favorite that tastes great any time of day. The topping makes this a decadent treat, perfect for baby’s siblings too. Pair with yogurt and pre-cut fruit from the grocery store to make mealtime easy. New parents may be receiving a lot of comfort food like lasagna or King Ranch chicken casserole. One favorite meal that my family received was a deconstructed salad, with lettuce and chicken in separate containers and toppings tossed in salad dressing in another container, keeping everything crisp until ready to serve. The Chopped Chicken Salad with Chipotle Lime Vinaigrette from Peace Meals is a flavorful, gourmet-style salad that would be easy to deliver. You can use a rotisserie chicken or salad dressing from the grocery store if you are short on time; add tortilla chips or tortillas and salsa. Dessert is always appreciated. Texas Gold Bars from Star of Texas are an old-fashioned treat that tastes good any time. New parents also may appreciate disposable plates and utensils, their favorite adult beverage or strong coffee, or a box of diapers. Every little bit helps during the newborn haze!

Chopped Chicken Salad with Chipotle Lime Vinaigrette From Peace Meals Chipotle Lime Vinaigrette:

GOURMET, TO GO The Chopped Chicken Salad with Chipotle Lime Vinaigrette from Peace Meals is gourmet-style yet easy to put together.

½ cup rice wine vinegar ¼ cup fresh lime juice 1 clove garlic, minced 2 Tablespoons honey 1 large chipotle chile in adobo sauce (about 2 teaspoons) ½ teaspoon coarse salt ¾ canola oil 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro Salad: 3 ears of corn, shucked 1¼ pounds chicken breasts, cooked and cut into thin strips 1½ cups diced vine-ripened tomatoes 5 ounces mixed baby greens 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese ½ cup diced roasted red bell pepper Cilantro sprigs, for garnish ¾ cup toasted hulled pumpkin seeds (pepitas), for garnish Combine the vinegar, lime juice, garlic, honey, chile (with a little of the sauce) and salt in a food processor and blend until smooth. With the machine running, slowly add the oil in a thin stream to form an emulsion. Add the cilantro and pulse to combine.

TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ APRIL 2019 36

Cut the kernels from the corn cobs with a serrated knife. Place the corn, chicken, tomatoes, greens, cheese and peppers in a large salad bowl. Toss with desired amount of the vinaigrette. Before serving, garnish with the cilantro and pumpkin seeds.

Texas Gold Bars From Star of Texas 1 package yellow cake mix (plain, without pudding) 1 egg, slightly beaten ½ cup margarine, melted 1 Tablespoon vanilla 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese 1 pound powdered sugar 2 eggs, slightly beaten Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Combine cake mix, 1 egg and melted margarine. Press into an ungreased 9- by 13-inch Pyrex pan (do not use a metal pan). Mix remaining ingredients and spread over top. Bake for 50 minutes. Let cool slightly before cutting into bars. Yields 48 bars.

MORE ONLINE See thebuzzmagazines.com for more recipes.

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TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ APRIL 2019 37

DINING

by Dai Huynh, staff writer

Chef’s Corner

Drake Leonards

Find out about your favorite chefs in our Chef’s Corner column. This month, restaurant writer Dai Huynh interviews Eunice executive chef-partner Drake Leonards.

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ast October, Eunice quietly opened in Greenway Plaza, and through word-ofmouth, the Cajun-Creole brasserie has become one of the most sought-after reservations in town. This comes despite hurdles that Eunice (3737 Buffalo Speedway) had faced up until opening day, which originally had been scheduled for 2017. Now, looking around at his bustling 7,000-square-foot restaurant, executive chefpartner Drake Leonards, 33, beams with pride. After all, Eunice is his brainchild, despite riding on star chef John Besh’s coattails, until the native New Orleanian became embroiled in harassment allegations. Besh since has stepped down and was replaced by CEO Shannon White, and Besh Restaurant Group was rechristened BRG Hospitality. The New Orleans restaurant group owns eight concepts, including the iconic August and the popular bakery café Willa Jean. Leonards was helming the kitchen at BRG’s Luke when he and wife Maggie hatched the idea of a Houston restaurant in 2016. How did you approach BRG with your idea for Eunice? My wife and I wanted to be in a place where the food can translate, and Houstonians understand this food. It was serendipity that we met a guy, and this building was his project. We drove out to see the place, and I’ll never forget seeing the live oak trees and falling in love. We went back and pitched the idea. When did your connection with food start? Mom and dad were really good cooks. And there are still stories about my grandfather cooking. He had a truck that ran off propane in the ’50s, and he would hook a burner to his truck. He would cook for school functions and fundraisers, anything like that. Agriculture and food were always a part of growing up. We like to say that there was always something warm to eat and cold to drink.

You come from a line of rice farmers. When did you tell your folks that you wanted to cook? My parents said, “If you want to go to culinary school, you have to work in a restaurant first.” So, at 16, I was hired at this small, country restaurant as a dishwasher. But like many kitchen jobs, a cook didn’t show up until two DRAKE LEONARDS Chef-partner Drake Leonards moved to Houston from New days later, and I Orleans just before Hurricane Harvey swept through town. He served red beans and rice to more than 6,000 flood victims at NRG Stadium. Now, he's serving modern was thrust into Cajun-Creole at his booked restaurant, Eunice. making salads and gumbo with potato salad. That’s the German working the frying station. influence where I’m from. I love my gumbo with You’ve had amazing mentors. You’ve worked at a spoon of potato salad and rice. We would float Café Boulud for the revered Daniel Boulud and talthe salad right on top, but here, we serve it on ented James Beard Award-winning chef Gavin the side just because people aren’t used to it, Kaysen. What was your takeaway from these guys? right? All these guys I’ve worked for, they’ve taken You’ve been here long enough to try a few places. things that they grew up with and translated What are some favorite places at which to eat? them for their diners, like Daniel, with his peasWe love Tex-Mex. My little boy loves torant foods of Lyonnaise, right? He turned the tillas, whether it’s Pappasito’s (2536 Richmond food he grew up with into this historic Daniel Ave.) or El Tiempo (3130 Richmond). I sneak restaurant on the Upper East Side of New York. away for Feges BBQ (3 Greenway Plaza, Suite Café Boulud was based on humble, classic C-210). I also love Pinkerton’s Barbecue (1504 French recipes that he elevated in a way that Airline Drive). For something fast, I’ll head to makes sense at 76th and Madison. And John the Pit Room (1201 Richmond). [Besh] did this as well, cooking the foods of old What about in New Orleans? New Orleans and serving it in a nice setting. Pascal’s Manale (1838 Napoleon Ave.) for We do try to do the same here, but we do our oysters. Get a dozen or two. I love the po’ boys best to not lose the soul and essence of the food. at Guy’s Po-Boys (5259 Magazine). And I love We opened with a crab and shrimp etouffee Bon Ton Café (401 Magazine), a hidden gem with herb noodles. People were thrown off by for gumbo and etouffee. the noodles, but it’s been popular. So, it’s not What about for breakfast? traditional, but it’s a play on something Usually, we don’t get up that early. extremely traditional. Tell us about Eunice and your gumbo. Editor’s note: Buzz dining columnist Dai Huynh Eunice is named after my hometown, a farmis a James Beard food-journalism award winner and ing community near Lake Charles. And here, at longtime Houston-based restaurant writer. Eunice, we serve our chicken-and-andouille

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TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ APRIL 2019 39

SPORTS

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by Todd Freed, staff writer

SportzBuzz I

n the wake of its fourth consecutive SPC championship, the Episcopal Knights boys’ soccer team capped off a spectacular season ranked No. 1 in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer. In addition, USA Today ranked Episcopal No. 3 nationally among all high school soccer teams. “That sort of recognition was beyond our goals and expectations,” said Knights soccer coach Travis Smith. “We got the No. 1 ranking right before the SPC tournament, and it was just another motivation for us not to take any team lightly. Our guys responded well.” Along with its SPC championship and an undefeated 16-0 record, the Knights outscored their opponents this season by a staggering 73-3 margin. Leading the way were senior midfielder Victor Velasco and senior forward Juan Rodriguez, who, between the two, combined for 50 of those 73 goals. Defensively, senior defender Memo Rodriguez and senior goalkeeper Jose Reyes were instrumental in shutting out opponents in 13 of the Knights’ 16 victories. “We knew this was going to be a great team and the pinnacle of an amazing four-year run for our guys,” said Smith. “This senior class will graduate having never lost an SPC game. They’ve been great since day one when they arrived to Episcopal and simply took it to a higher level this past season.” Propelled by a school-record time in the final race of the state meet, the St. Thomas Eagles pulled out a dramatic victory to win the TAPPS Division 1 State Swimming and Diving Championship. The foursome of Sebastian Ortiz, Dylan Michaels, Gabriel Lenz and Shane Williams won the 400-freestyle relay by less than two seconds as the Eagles edged out perennial powerhouse El Paso Cathedral for the state title. The victory not only marked the first state championship in swimming and diving for St. Thomas, but also ended Cathedral’s 28straight-year reign as state champions. “It was epic,” said St. Thomas swim coach Donna Skorupinski. “It came down to that final race, and we had our four big guys ready to go. They went out there and swam a great race, and Shane absolutely killed it on the anchor leg.”

TOP IN THE NATION The Episcopal Knights boys soccer team earned a No. 1 national ranking while going undefeated and winning a fourth straight SPC soccer championship.

While the same St. Thomas foursome broke another school record to win the 200-freestyle relay earlier in the meet, Skorupinski credited a total team effort for the Eagles’ historic championship. “Every kid we sent to state scored points for us, with many of them swimming their personal best times. Our depth was truly our strength. From the very first day of practice our goal was to win a state championship.” With a thrilling victory in the 500-yard freestyle, senior Briggs Shiller became the first Bellaire Cardinal in 34 years to win an individual state championship at the UIL 6A State Swimming and Diving meet. “Briggs swam the race perfectly,” said Bellaire swim coach Kristen Wingenroth. “It was exciting for all of us and a huge boost for our swim program. The last time we had a state champion was back in 1975, so it definitely was a great win.” Stratford Spartan Emma Stephenson became a three-time state champion in swimming and diving by racing to victory in the 50yard freestyle at the UIL 6A meet. In doing so, Stephenson broke the Class 6A state record in a winning time of 22.67 seconds. In addition, Stephenson, who will next swim for Texas A&M, added to her trophy case by capturing the bronze medal in the butterfly.

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“She’s just an amazing athlete in so many ways,” said Stratford swim coach Michael Hoskovec. “She trains extremely hard every day and is always working on whatever it takes to improve.” The St. John’s girls swimming and diving team put forth a dominant performance to win this year’s SPC championship. The Mavericks broke eight school records during the meet, including first-place finishes in the 200-medley relay (Lexi Pickens, Ainsley Dodson, Ella Flowers and Georgiana Mathews) and in the 200-freestyle relay (Mathews, Dodson, Katie Shelburn and Sydney Buchman). The Mavericks were also bolstered by a second-place finish in diving by sophomore Cai Flowers. Meanwhile, among the boys, St. John’s finished second overall, while breaking seven school records in the meet. The foursome of Rhys Beauchamp, Will Sampson, Eric Wang and Jordan Fullen set the pace for the Mavericks by winning the 200-medley relay in the first race. 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

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by Angie Frederickson, staff writer

SportzBuzz Jr. W

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

Perfection on stage Frostwood Elementary student Rebecca Lawrence (top photo) has perfect balance on stage. She recently participated in her first solo competition at the Masquerade Dance Competition at the Stafford Centre. Rebecca danced to Red by Carrie Manolakos and received a platinum award, as well as first place, overall, in the junior division. She has seven years of dance training and takes classes at Memorial Dance Center. Rebecca loves to learn new techniques and hopes to perform at the collegiate level. After that, she dreams of opening her own dance studio.

Lakers on top The Spring Branch-Memorial Sports Association junior American League Lakers (middle photo) won the championship game against the Thunder. The fourth- and fifth-grade boys came back from an 11-point deficit to win the big game, 42-35, at Don Coleman Coliseum. It was a tough road for the Lakers, who played seven games in 10 days, working their way through the losers’ bracket to advance to the championship game. The big winners are (top row, from left) coach Steve Tamez, Micah Malone, Connor Heaviside, Miller Martin and coach Jud Martin; (bottom row, from left) Tanner Watkins, Aiden Pitcaithly, Lorenzo Maule, Timothy Lee, Luke Tamez, Brayden Johansson and Jackson Van Wie; not pictured: coach Joe Argue.

Warrior winners Girls on the 10U Warriors soccer team (bottom photo) are SBMSA champs. The Warriors defeated the Angels, 3-2, in the championship game, at the end of the double-elimination playoff season. It was a tough game, against a team that was undefeated during the regular season. The Warriors were down 0-2 at halftime, but came back to win. Coaches Gerardo Kalife and Jamie Walsh challenged the girls to not allow any goals for the entire season. They had a great regular season, and allowed only 12 goals, combined, for all of the games. During the first three rounds of the playoffs, the Warriors met their coaches’ challenge with three shutout wins. The Warriors are (top row, from left) Peyton Walsh, coach Jamie Walsh, Madison Kalife and coach Gerardo Kalife; (bottom row, from left) Zoe Lai, Libby Hays, Kennedy Ortega, Emily Rouse, Rylah Barnes, Sojourner Ramsey, Isabella Arlt, Kaylee White, Sophia Hurt and Sophia Annino. 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. TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ APRIL 2019 42

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TRIVIA TIME Samantha Fowler, an eighth grader at River Oaks Baptist School, didn’t want to take Quiz Bowl as her club elective, but she is glad she did.

KIDS by Samantha Fowler, age 14

Buzz Kidz B

The accidental Quiz Bowl girl

y all accounts it was an insignificant day. My sixth-grade year at River Oaks Baptist School had just begun, and upon walking into class one morning, I learned that we were required to join a club. My classmates and I ranked our choices, scrambling for spots in the most coveted activities. To this day I cannot remember my choice, but the one thing I am certain of is that it was definitely not Quiz Bowl, the “nerdy” activity shunned by my peers. The following day I begrudgingly marched into Quiz Bowl determined to have a miserable time, and promptly fell in love with it. Since that fateful morning, my days have swirled with trivia, and my weekends filled with competitions. Quiz Bowl is an academic trivia game on subjects ranging from science to pop culture,

between two teams of four students. Every round contains 20 tossups, or preliminary questions, that anyone can answer and three bonus questions for the team that wins each tossup. Competitors must be able to think quickly by themselves on tossup questions but also be able to trust and work cohesively with their teammates for bonuses. For the past three years, I have attended biweekly practices, even frequenting extra sessions during lunch. I painstakingly memorized dates, authors, historical facts and more. My teammates and I have dedicated hours to studying and practicing, and it has paid off. We have qualified for the national tournament three years in a row, last year placing second in the state championships. I was even fortunate enough to

be named as one of 12 All-State players. As I look back on these years in Quiz Bowl, I cannot be more grateful for the simple mistake that placed me into that unknown and unpopular activity. Quiz Bowl has been an outlet for my curiosity and a place where I can always be myself. The knowledge and skills Quiz Bowl have given me have enhanced my confidence and self-awareness. A game of trivia has shown me who I am and taught me to love that. And, isn’t that the truest kind of gift? 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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BELLAIRE • MEMORIAL RIVER OAKS • TANGLEWOOD WEST UNIVERSITY Mailed to 58,000 homes monthly. To advertise in The Buzz Magazines, contact us at 713.668.4157, ext. 11 or advertising@thebuzzmagazines.com

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Debt classifications against an estate Although most people would like to leave something behind for their loved ones, some people pass away with a lot of debt. In Texas, creditors of an estate are handled differently depending on the type of probate administration. Dependent Administrations, for example, have a clear process when dealing with creditors. On the other hand, these can be expensive so it depends on the estate’s specific financial situation to be able to definitively say this is the best route for the administration. With credit cards, mortgage and car payments, back child support, and medical bills, debts can add up quickly. Even if there is little debt accumulated during life, when someone passes away, a lot of expenses arise: funeral expenses, additional medical expenses, attorney’s fees, etc. Some of these debts are treated differently based on whether they are secured versus unsecured. As a result of the accumulation of these debts, sometimes there aren’t enough assets to pay all claims of an estate. Because of this, Texas has a classification of claims to make sure certain types of claims have priority and will be paid by the personal representative first. The most prevalent classifications are funeral expenses, administration expenses, secured claims, claims for taxes, and a catch-all for “all other claims.” The first priority is funeral expenses, up to $15,000. Although it seems like a good amount of money, it is not unusual to have funerals exceed that amount. It may be beneficial to purchase a pre-paid funeral to be sure all your wishes for your funeral are met and no tough decisions need to be made by family. The second priority is administration expenses. These include all expenses incurred in the preservation, safekeeping and management of the estate as

well as attorney’s fees. Lower priorities include secured claims for money, including tax liens, claims for taxes, penalties, and interest owed to the State of Texas, and back child support. The last priority is “all other claims.” This includes all unsecured debt, usually comprising mostly credit card debt. The estate procedure starts with the personal representative giving notice to the creditors. The creditors then have a timeframe for which to file a claim for the debt that is owed to them. The personal representative may then take action on any potential claims. If all is approved, there are sufficient assets, and the claim is the appropriate priority, the claim may then be paid by the personal representative. In other instances, the claim may be barred from payment. In all instances, if a claim is filed in an estate for which you are personal representative your probate attorney can guide you through the process. This article is not intended to be used as legal advice. It is general information and exceptions may apply. Please contact your probate attorney or schedule an appointment with us to be assured your probate questions are properly answered. Alyssa L. McCreight, Associate Attorney. James E. Brill, P.C. 3636 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas 77027, 713.626.7272, www.brillfirm.com

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PETS

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Lacy, age 8, West Highland White Terrier, Stanmore Dr. My name is Lacy, and I am one of four Westies in a two-house range on my street. I was “adopted” at 4 months old and am so grateful to my parents for giving me a forever home. I am a great watchdog, and you can often see me in the upstairs window, as I sit on “my” ottoman and bark at other dogs. I am especially protective of my mom and can growl at other dogs on our walks. Some dogs even cross the street when I am coming. My mom and I love long walks, so we are a perfect fit. My parents say I am their best hunting dog ever. I catch lizards and bugs, but my favorite quarry are mice, on our ranch in South Texas. I am relentless in my pursuit of them, and have caught four so far. I’m keeping the ranch safe, too. Got a cute critter? Email a picture of your pet with approximately 150 words to info@thebuzzmagazines.com or mail it to The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401. 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.

Enter The Buzz 2019 Photo Contest Entry Deadline May 15 The Buzz Magazines is pleased to announce our fourteenth annual Photo Contest. Winning photos will be published in our July issue and online beginning July 1. Our grand prize winner will receive an Olympus TG-Tracker Action Camera*, courtesy of Houston Camera Exchange. To submit photos, and for contest rules, visit thebuzzmagazines.com and click on the banner at the top of the home page. You can also view our 2018 winners online. Grand Prize, Olympus TG-Tracker Action Camera (*or camera of equal value)

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Free vein screening

Modifying a custody agreement

People concerned about varicose or spider veins can get a no-cost screening and consultation from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, April 13, at the UT Physicians Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery – Bellaire clinic. The consultations take 20 minutes, and Dr. Sheila Coogan will check for other vascular issues. “The screenings are being offered to the Houston community at no cost in an effort to assess, educate and prevent peripheral arterial disease,” says Dr. Coogan, the clinic’s vein specialist and an associate professor of cardiovascular medicine with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth. It is estimated that one in five adults will get varicose veins. Factors contributing to varicose veins include a person’s lifestyle, activity level, genetics, occupation and age. In addition to being a medical issue, varicose veins can make people feel self-conscious. Some people quit wearing shorts or skirts. Others avoid activities such as swimming. Varicose veins can also be painful. While recommended for everyone, the screenings are particularly important for tobacco users, women and individuals with a family history of varicose veins. Other warning signs of varicose veins include aching legs, swollen ankles, spider veins, numbness or tingling in toes, discoloration in legs and snake-like visible veins in legs. Call 713-500-VEIN (8346) to schedule your free consultation. Appointments are required, and parking is free. Dr. Sheila Coogan, UT Physicians Bellaire Clinic, 6700 West Loop South, Suite 110, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.500.8346, UTPhysicians.com

Most parents would like for the court order that governs their parent-child agreement to last until their child turns 18, but unfortunately circumstances change and parties must modify their agreement. It is vital to make certain any modification is filed with the court and not just an oral agreement. Issues can arise if you do not. For instance, if you agree to switch custody, but do not change the child support obligation in a court order, then one parent may in for a rude awakening when the attorney general tries to collect after non-payment. Also, any side agreements regarding possession are not enforceable, so if one parent gets angry they can revoke their agreement for the vacation you planned, and legally there is not much you can do about this change of heart. Talk with a family lawyer prior to making any agreements with your coparent to make certain that the agreement is based in law and defined in a court order. The lawyer will be able to counsel you on the likelihood that any changes would be made in contested trial or approved by the court. K. Nicole Voyles is a partner at Tindall England PC, a family-law firm specializing in divorce, child-custody modifications, grandparent access, paternity, adoption and premarital and postmarital agreements. K. Nicole Voyles has been recognized as a Super Lawyer by Texas Super Lawyers 2014-18. Tindall England PC, K. Nicole Voyles, Partner, Board Certified in Family Law, 515 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 500, Houston, Texas 77027, 713.622.8733, www.tindallengland.com

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Michelle Watson

NEIGHBORS

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by Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld, staff writer

Buzz About Town DJs Gracie Chavez, Navó, OG Bobby Trill and Principe Q, with percussionist Ilya Janos and emcee La Comadre Mel.

Let the good times roll Eric Forsythe

Jenny Antill

Decade of discovery

Discovery Green celebrated a decade of discovery at its biennial Gala on the Green, which drew more than 400 guests who raised $1.2 million for the Discovery Green Conservancy. Guests enjoyed cocktails under the oaks, performances by silk aerialists, flamenco fusion music by Amin Safari and Robert Feliciano, and the glow of art installation GUST. Gala chairs were Zane and Brady Carruth (pictured), and emcee was KPRC 2 anchor Dominique Sachse. Videos celebrated the park and its impact over the past 10 years. The black-tie evening also recreated performance experiences, by DB Duo, Two Star Symphony, NAACH Houston, Archie Bell and The Allen Oldies Band. The night concluded with dancing to Bombón, a DJ collaboration between Houston

More than 150 gathered at the Houstonian to raise funds for The Periwinkle Foundation during the 24th Annual Periwinkle Cycle presented by White Oak Energy. The morning spin-athon raised $136,000 for the foundation’s camps, arts and survivor programs for Texas Children’s Hospital patients with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Co-chairs were Dr. Mary Nell Boone Suell and Kelley Elliott. A DJ provided the soundtrack as participants, including William Gaunt (pictured), pedaled through four 30-minute heats.

Royal experience The Knights of Momus, Galveston’s oldest Mardi Gras Krewe, presented its royal court, King Frivolous CIV and his queen at the Knights of Momus Coronation Ball and reception at The Grand 1894 Opera House in Galveston. Renee and Scott Rice served as ball chairs. In addition to being presented at the Coronation Ball and the San Luis Salute, the 28 duchesses rode in the

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Knights of Momus Grand Night Parade. Their gowns were designed by Miwa Sakashita. Duchesses included Lexie Ammons, Gracie Bassett, Nicole Blakley, Kristen Blakley, Kathryn Criaco, Katie Rose Cullen, Bailey Dodson, Kaki Duenner, Melissa Estrada, Blayne Fertitta, Chloe Flores, Hannah Herrold, Valerie Herrscher, Joanie Kelso, Sabrina Kesler, Hannah Kirby, Heather Kirby, Maria Koutrouvelis, Marissa Matthews, Macey McCann, Danielle Perugini, Devin Peterson, Cara Quigley, Sara Beth Shelton, Emlynn Smith, Amber Tribble, Morgan Vicknair and Maddi Walser. Blayne was crowned queen while grandfather Victor Joseph Fertitta was crowned King (pictured). Blayne, daughter of Paige and Tilman Fertitta, is a junior at the University of Southern California. Read more by Pooja Salhotra at thebuzzmagazines.com.

Spring spectacular Lenni Burke hosted the Spring Spectacular Committee kickoff in her home. Despite gloomy weather, committee members wore bright spring colors. Pictured are (back row, from left) Kaylon Phillips, Janet Colletto, Daisy Perez, Philamena Baird, Sara Wright Parr, Tracey Williford, Cecilia Campbell, Gay Currie, Gaylon Gullquist, Myrna Fisch, CC Conner, Susan Lehmann, Sharon Erskine, Joan Dunlap, Ann Bean, Casey Rowe, Diane Fitzgerald, Devyn Wolens, Cheryl Zane, Ben Carmona, Mary Alice Parmet, Rhonda Smith, Jennifer Kushner, Eileen Murphy, Tua Burke, Katrina Arnim, Nancy Shomette; (front row, from left) Anne Graubart, Susan Binney, Patsy Chapman, Cynthia Brown, Denise Kay, Wendy Wilkins Burks, Cynthia Christ, Marilyn Ragsdale, Lenni Burke, Jean May and Sam Gershen. The Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market’s inaugural Spring Spectacular (continued on page 50)

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(continued from page 48) is April 12-14 at NRG

Center. Like the Nutcracker Market, the Spring Spectacular is a shopping event that raises funds for the Houston Ballet Foundation, its Academy and scholarship programs.

Country. They have all continued to be big fans. While in Vegas, they learned of a tribute to Elvis Presley, decided to see the show and had a blast. The audience was encouraged to

Picnic for the park Daniel Ortiz

Buz Marvins

Perkins, Ari Katz, Taylor McMullen, Kenna Suttle, Emma Wells, Mia Hirshfeld, Mia Dowler; (middle row, from left) Isabelle King, Molly Ferguson, Emma Hodge, Saya Malek, Leah Hillman, Eloise Monroe, Sienna DeSimone, Daniela Arnold, Cormac Steranko, Isaac Hochglaube, Apollo Tan; (front row, from left) Emerson Chenevert, Eliza Dorros, Keira Bigman, Patrick Tsang, Gage Schissler, Lia Zitvar, Bianca Ramirez, Nicole Hiemstra and Reese McMullen. Not pictured: Maya Kaul. They perform the newest Junie B. Jones musical at 11 a.m. June 13-14 at Miller Outdoor Theatre.

Daniel Ortiz

Making a difference

sing along with tribute artist Travis Allen. Pictured are (from left) Sophia, Leigh Ann, Travis, Jana and Lisa.

In the spotlight

The 12th annual Making a Difference Luncheon benefiting El Centro de Corazón took place at Hotel ZaZa. Chairs were Christina Morales and Cyndy Garza Roberts, and $150,000 was raised. Honorary chairs were Leisa Holland-Nelson and Leila Perrin. Gina Gaston of KTRK ABC13 emceed. Community honorees were Susan and Fayez Sarofim for their philanthropic works throughout the community. Proceeds benefit low-income, medically underserved children, adults and families. Pictured are (from left) Susan Sarofim, Christina Morales, Marcie Mir and Roxann Neumann.

Wildfish Theatre celebrated at the Junior Theater Festival in Sacramento, Calif., with 2,000 musical-theater enthusiasts from around the world. They performed a main-stage iTheatrics New Works Showcase of Oliver, Jr. The Wildfish troupe of 27 students was honored with the Excellence in Dance award for their performance of Junie B. Jones excerpts. Wildfish is a nonprofit children’s musical theater. Performers were (back row, from left) Matthew

Music royalty Celebrating more than 37 years of friendship and Gamma Phi Beta sorority sisterhood, Sophia Mafrige, Leigh Ann Doherty, Jana Seale Lawrence and Lisa Jones Vieger reunited for a weekend trip to Las Vegas to see George Strait. During their college years in the early ’80s at then-Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, the friends attended George Strait performances at small venues in the Hill TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ APRIL 2019 50

Picnic for the Park, the annual gala supporting the Memorial Park Conservancy, took place at The Forest Club. Nearly 500 guests celebrated a banner year for the Conservancy, which manages and operates Memorial Park in partnership with Houston Parks and Recreation Department. The evening was emceed by Ryan Korsgard, former TV news reporter on KPRC. The Conservancy thanked chairs Emily and Robert Clay (pictured) for their leadership and recognized George Johnston as the Ima Hogg Volunteer of the Year. The evening raised more than $380,000.

Magic bus The 5th Annual Magic Bus Benefit Gala took place at the Royal Sonesta (continued on page 52)

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Bijay Dixit

guests gathered to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the nonprofit. Guest speakers were Kapil Dev, a cricket legend in India, Manushi Chillar, Miss Universe 2017, and Deval Sanghavi, founder of Dasra, a venture philanthropy fund that operates in India. Magic Bus helps underprivileged children in India rise out of poverty through sportsbased programs and mentorship. A child can be sponsored for $25 (1,800 rupees) per year. Approximately $992,000 was raised. Pictured are (from left) Ajay Patel, Dharmesh Patel, Swatantra Jain, Swapnil Agarwal, Kapil Mathur, Amit Bhandari, Bimla Jain, Arpita Bhandari, Amita Balla, Ansh Bhandari, Aanya Bhandari, Manushi Chillar, Kapil Dev, Matthew Spacie, Bharat Goradia and Sameer Matai.

Under the big top The Parish School’s 26th Under the Big Top gala, at The Ballroom at Bayou Place downtown, raised over $550,000 for the school and financial

Houston. Honorees were Jana and Richard Fant, for their devotion to support children in need. Jana and Richard challenged Laura Ward to call for wheelchair-van donations that would be matched by the Fant Foundation. Within moments, five vans were donated, which were then matched by Jana and Richard, for a total of 10 vans. Houston media icon Dave Ward opened the evening, which he has done for the past 22 years, and introduced emcee Gina Gaston. About 650 guests enjoyed dinner, aucMichelle Watson

(continued from page 50) Hotel. Approximately 500

Cheers to the coach aid. This year’s event honored retiring head of school Nancy Bewley. The circus-themed gala dazzled its 430 guests with dramatic light and sound production, stilt walkers, a unicyclist and other eye-popping acts. Roula Christie of 104.1 KRBE kept the energy high, and an invocation was read by student Lorien Wolter. Pictured are gala chairs (from left) Doug and Kate Bacon and Bailey and Simon Haidamous.

For the children The Houston Children’s Charity held its 22nd annual gala at the Post Oak Hotel in Uptown

tions and dancing. Pictured are (from left) Keith Mosing, Alice Mosing, Laura Ward, Rachel Bagwell, Dave Ward and Jeff Bagwell. Be seen in Buzz About Town. Send your high-res photos and community news to info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Items are published on a space-available basis. Also share your upcoming-event listings on thebuzzmagazines.com. Tim Cornelson

Lamar lacrosse players, alumni and families gathered at 8th Wonder Brewery to celebrate coach David Vollmer’s 30 years of coaching the team. Funds raised from the Brew & Q Family Picnic will go to the Lamar men’s lacrosse program. Food was provided by Seth SiegelGardner, owner of The Pass & Provisions and a former Lamar lacrosse player (’94-98). Pictured are current and former players and coaches. Former coaches in attendance included David Hawkins ('93), Nick Kerensky (’06) and Chris Lange (’07), all of whom played for Coach Vollmer. Former players included Travis Bryan and Andy Parker.

TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ APRIL 2019 52

TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ APRIL 2019 53

NEIGHBORS

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by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

Back Porch

When kindness wins behance.net/runamokstudios

E

very once in a while, something happens that reminds us how good people are. On a recent Saturday morning, I was stopped at the light on Weslayan and Westpark when I saw a young man struggling. His car had gone dead in the middle of the street. This is Houston, and cars move fast, and people get really impatient. But I saw a man pull his car to the side of the road, jump out, and help the young man push his car into the parking lot of a nearby gas station. It made me smile. Small kindnesses are happening all around us, all the time. They might be as seemingly insignificant as smiling at people at the grocery store or paying for the person behind you in the drive-through line. But the ripple effect – a domino of smiles – is real. One Bellaire woman says, “I make a giant – and I do mean huge! – pot of chicken matzah ball soup, even though there are only three of us at home. After dinner, I put [the] soup in containers and post a message on Facebook to see who’s feeling under the weather, who’s had a rough day, or who just needs some free soup. Within minutes, I usually get comments and find out who’s been sick or who just needs a gesture of kindness. And within the hour, I deliver the goods.” The woman’s teenaged daughter watched and was inspired to create her own version of delivering kindness. “She baked an extra apple pie this past Thanksgiving for a surprise recipient. She literally showed up with a fresh baked pie the night before. I can’t tell you how happy that made me to see her do this.” Another mother of four recently left a canvas tote in her car while she ran into a lunch. She returned to her car to find the window broken and the tote gone. “It had nothing of value to anyone,” she says, “but it had my entire Christmas list and the record of who I had sent cards to already. That, to me, was gold.” Later that day, the woman got a call from a pizza delivery man who had found the bag in the street and returned it to her. “Kindness won,” she says. Dena Prasher, a marketing executive, says she’ll never forget the friends who supported her family when her father-in-law, from South Texas, died in Houston. “He did not know anyone here

BEING NICE One small act of kindness can make a positive impact on everyone around you.

other than his son (my husband at the time), me and our children, and there was no one to come to a funeral,” she says. At the service, she was amazed. “Not only did all my friends show up, but when we came home to an empty house, where I had assumed I was going to scrounge something together for dinner…, my friends had arranged for someone to go to our house during the funeral, set the table with our family linens, china, crystal and silver and had a roast beef cooking in the oven. We were touched beyond words.” Loss often brings kindnesses, and Peggy Haney, director of advancement at Episcopal High School, says she always remembers the friend who reached out to her on Mother’s Day the year after her mother had died. “It was so thoughtful of her to know that this day would be hard for me without my mom,” she says. “I now try to pay it forward and remember not only my friends’ happy anniversaries but hard ones, too.” Linda Elmer, a mother of two teenagers (and two dogs), said she was struck by the kindness of a young man she never met. “My mother had

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just arrived downtown after taking the Vonlane bus from Dallas. We weren’t able to pick her up on time, so she was Uber-ing to our house. This was her first time to use Uber, and she was standing on the street corner looking at her phone, clearly needing help. A young man approached, smiled, and said, ‘Here, let me help you.’ He took her phone and showed her how to identify her driver and where to look, and then said he was a driver, too. Mom said, ‘Oh, are you my driver?’ to which he replied, ‘No, I actually drive for Lyft.’ We were all blown away at his kindness and willingness to help despite her use of his competition.” These are all small acts, but the people who they impacted will never forget them. Smile at the stranger next to you in traffic. You never know how far it might go. Editor’s note: Would you like to share a kindness you have experienced or witnessed? Comment under this story at thebuzzmagazines.com or email info@thebuzzmagazines.com.