Ella Morgan and Elizabeth Berquist
Our Own Ninja Warriors Grandpa was a Polish War Hero
Where Are
Chef’s Corner: Ho Chee Boon
They Headed? by Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld
Dining at the Airport Father-Son Journeys Dads and Daughters Surprise Parties Houston, TX Permit No. 2047 PAID US Postage PRSRT STD
What to Read This Summer
PUBLISHER’S NOTE Planning summer travel can be stressful, even more so with all the negative publicity about customer service that airlines have been receiving lately. But if you find yourself with extra time in an airport these days, there is a silver lining. Making delays more enjoyable is the trend of chef-driven airport dining across the country, including Houston’s IAH airport, as restaurant columnist Dai Huynh writes about in This Month in Dining. Or you could enjoy some quality time bonding on the open road. Chances are some of the Buzz-area high school graduates in this month’s annual Where Are They Headed? feature have summer adventures planned with family. Travel writer Tracy Barnett chronicles some memorable father-son trips in this month’s Travel Buzz. With a milestone birthday coming up this year, I’ve been contemplating a cross-country road trip with my two sons. The only problem is I have a two seater. The boys could draw straws. But I’m not sure if they would think the winner gets to go – or stay. michael@thebuzzmagazines.com
THE BUZZ MAGAZINES BELLAIRE • WEST UNIVERSITY • MEMORIAL • TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS Published by Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401 info@thebuzzmagazines.com • p: 713.668.4157 • f: 713.665.2940 Follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter thebuzzmagazines.com Editor Publisher Associate Editors Design Manager Staff Writers
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Joni Hoffman Michael Hoffman Cheryl Laird Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld John Duboise Tracy L. Barnett Sharon Albert Brier Andria Frankfort Angie Frederickson Todd Freed Cathy Gordon Michelle Casas Groogan Dai Huynh Annie Blaylock McQueen Jennifer Oakley Cheryl Ursin Lauren Michelle Williams Andrea Blitzer Leslie Little Kim Montgomery Amber Lewis Helen van Rensburg Dylan Aguilar
On our cover: New Buzz graduates include Kinkaid’s Ella Morgan (Boston University) and St. Agnes’s Elizabeth Berquist (Indiana University). 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 © 2017 Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of this magazine by any means without written permission is strictly prohibited. Printed on recycled paper. Please remember to recycle.
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MAILBAG
Your letters, thoughts, opinions Seven amazing souls Thank you so much for writing the beautiful cover story about the Berry family [Enough Lives: Berry family fights distracted driving, by Andria Frankfort, May 2017]. Their incredible journey is one that we all should be reminded about. Robin and Joshua Berry were some of my closest friends, and this portrayal of the work their family is doing would make them so happy to see! I appreciated the way that the author, Andria Frankfort, was able to describe how the family took one of the most challenging situations and try to make a change in our world with the program they have begun – OLIE. She was able to portray the family’s efforts in trying to prevent future tragedies, while also showing how incredibly well they are living their everyday lives! I hope everyone else who read the article saw these seven amazing souls for who they are – not just for what they have been through, but what they have done since that moment to make the world they live in better for it! Lisa Shapiro Strauss Editor’s note: If you missed it, see thebuzzmagazines.com to search and read stories online. See OLIE (One Life is Enough) at stopdistractions.org/olie to join the Berry family’s fight against distracted driving.
Won’t you be my neighbor I just read your May issue, with all of its rich and caring content, and just had to let you know how much I appreciate how you and your talented writers bring such a concrete concept of "neighbor" into our homes each month. There's always something in each Buzz that creates a comfortable and grounding touchpoint, and in such a familiar and welcoming way. Thank you, and congratulations once again on reaching your very impressive 15-year milestone! Dee Dee Dochen
Talking to writer was fun and easy Hi Cathy [Gordon]. I wanted to say thank you for writing such a great story about my family [Passion for a Park, A family’s love for Evelyn’s Park, by Cathy Gordon, April 2017]. I have received so many compliments and parents asking about the receptacles we use for allowance. I hope in some small way that this article promotes getting involved with a charity that your whole family can get into! I enjoyed meeting you and felt like I knew you for a long time. Thank you for making it so easy to talk with you. It was a lot of fun! Patricia King-Ritter, Evelyn’s Park Conservancy, Board President 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.
Mr. Marvin is a treasure It was such a pleasure to read your excellent story on Mr. Marvin [Meet Mr. Marvin: Y’s greeter has message that sticks, by Amber Blossom, May 2017]. The look on children's faces as they gather around Marvin is a wonderful thing to see. He reminds all of us – young and old – how much better each day can be with a little extra kindness and love. He is a community treasure. Thank you for giving him the recognition he deserves. Greg Hassell
May was a good one I always enjoy reading the Buzz but especially so with the May issue. Being a native Houstonian, the Menu Memories [Menu Memories: Favorite restaurant meals, by Russell Weil] brought up memories of the restaurants of years past. This month I loved the update on the Berry family and the article about Elisha Selzer and her mom, Annette Sondock [Poetic Tales: Mom passes down family stories, by Elisha Selzer]. I want to thank you, too for the plug about the ericsuhlfoundation.com golf tournament. Thank you for giving us wonderful stories! Sara Astrich WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2017 6
What’s your story? We are looking for residents for upcoming articles who: • Have a compelling neighbor to profile. • Have interesting hobbies or collections. • Have experienced a gap year before college. • Have a travel story to share. • Have a funny or memorable parenting story. If this sounds like you or someone you know, please contact us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com or 713.668.4157, ext 12.
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NEIGHBORS by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer
Family Quest Grandpa was a Polish war hero
I
t all started – as so many things do, these days – on Facebook. Leszek Kolawik was in his native Pulawy, Poland, in 2015, putting together his family tree. He reached out to second cousin George Arzymanow, whose family had been exiled to London after World War II and who now lives in Houston. The two had met in 1969, as teens, when George’s family had gone back to Poland to visit family. The years flew by; the two grew up, had families, had jobs, lost touch. The year 2015 was tough for George. He was going through treatment for pancreatic cancer. When his long-lost cousin Leszek found him on Facebook, the discovery was bittersweet; he soon learned that Leszek was battling stomach cancer. When George pulled through his treatment, he decided to celebrate. He reached out to his son Mark and invited him on a father-son trip to meet Leszek and his three adult children, Pawel, Bart, and Ewa, Mark’s third cousins. As it turned out, there was another reason to celebrate. George’s father, Wladyslaw Arzymanow, was being recognized as a war hero. In his hometown of Pulawy, there were two ceremonies scheduled for September 2016, to recognize the role he played in protecting his city and his country from the Axis forces. It was decided that the whole family would go – not just Mark and his parents but three cousins and an aunt in London, and they would visit the family in Poland that Mark had never met. The visit was filled with sightseeing, delicious food and conversation, which was managed with the help of Leszek and his two sons, Pawel and Bart, as tour guides and translators. The two ceremonies in Pulawy were moving experiences for the family. First was the opening of a World War II exhibition at the Oswiatowe Museum to honor Polish army heroes from the Pulawy region. And second was the honoring of Mark’s grandfather, George’s father, Wladyslaw Arzymanow, and the dedication of a plaque at a military church. The visit came none too soon, as Leszek lost his battle with stomach cancer in December, just three months after their epic journey to Poland. WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2017 8
COMING FULL CIRCLE Mark and his father George Arzymanow stand on the steps of a church on top of a hill in Pulawy, Poland, where Mark's grandfather defended the bridge leading into the town from German invasion. Fifty years ago, when George was 20 years old, he stood with his father, Wladyslaw, on these same steps and told him stories of World War II. This was a year before Wladyslaw passed away.
“I never actually knew my grandfather,” explained Mark, who contacted The Buzz to share his family’s story. “He died of a heart attack when my father was 21. We always thought it was because of the stressful World War II days.” Mark, who was born in London, was always interested in learning more about where his family came from. He has traveled widely in his work as an internal auditor and currently works for Occidental Petroleum. “I’ve had the opportunity to travel to a lot of cool places, but never to Poland.” He and his father started talking about the trip when George was still in treatment. George was close to his father, as he was the oldest son. His brother and sister are about 10 years younger and grew up in England, and George is the only one still surviving who really knew his father, so the ceremonies meant a tremendous amount to him. “When we were at the museum, they were
presenting, and I saw him kind of crying,” said Mark. “It was the first time Poland had recognized him as a war hero.” Their first stop was the big city of Warsaw (pop. 3 million) – “crazy traffic,” Mark remarked. Pulawy (pop. 50,000) is a two-hour drive from Warsaw, and the family enjoyed the slower pace and the quiet of a smaller city. “We had a lot of great Polish food, and the exchange rate is great, so we ate like kings,” he recalled. He has the photos to prove it: pickled herring, his most selected appetizer; zurek, a traditional Polish vegetable soup; veal with dill potatoes; Polish pancakes and sausage; and a family classic that had been handed down through the generations: barszcz, which is a Polish beetroot soup. One memory stands out. Cousin Bart took Mark and his father to a church that stands on top of a hill, the highest point in (continued on page 10)
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WALL OF FAME Wladyslaw Arzymanow (1913-68) was a Polish war hero. These pictures are displayed at Oswiatowe Museum in Pulawy, Poland. The center picture was taken towards the end of the war in Italy when he had already been promoted to major. The other two pictures were taken earlier when he was a lieutenant in North Africa. (continued from page 8) Pulawy. Atop the hill is a
large cross and a view that extends for miles. “From the top of this hill you can see the bridge where my grandfather tried to defend Pulawy from the Germans,” said Mark. “My dad stood on these steps with his dad a year before he died – and 50 years later we took a picture of ourselves, father and son.” The region was beautiful – hilly, woodsy and green. They went to the museum to check it out before the exhibit honoring the Pulawy war heroes opened. Mark, long fascinated by World War II movies, marveled at the helmets, guns, shovels, posters, all the artifacts of a global cataclysm brought home in a modest museum in small-town Poland. They went to the church where his grandfather served as an altar boy, with a portrait of John Paul II – the Polish pope. And they wandered the green hills where his grandfather used to go as a child. “My grandfather had a hard life, so he would go to these hills and cry,” said Mark. “He would call them the crying hills. We don’t know exactly why it was so hard, but his parents died at a young age.” The family tour included a visit to Zbedowice, an entire village that was wiped out as revenge by the Nazis during the war. Eighty-four people were killed, a third of them children. At the bed and breakfast where they stayed, the owner told him some of the history of the home. One story that the owner shared was about Jews who hid in the attic while German soldiers were staying in the basement. “Older people would come back to visit the WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2017 10
bed and breakfast and remembered these things,” said Mark. “This lady had come back and remembered looking out the front door and hearing the dogs of the soldiers searching for people in the distance.” On the brighter side, they visited a medieval castle dating to the founding of Pulawy in the 1500s. They spent time in the historic market square. They explored family roots in one of the town’s cemeteries, with their lineage well represented. One of the most powerful experiences was in Lublin, where the family visited the Majdanek concentration/death camp. The history of the place was nearly impossible to fathom, but there were clues to how it must have been – like the bullet holes in the wall, the enormous furnaces and the crematory, the massive mound of human ash, and the cages – the length and height of the long room – filled with the shoes of those who had been shipped here to die. Women’s shoes, men’s shoes, children’s shoes, by the thousands. The image haunts Mark still. Their tour guide was an English-speaking Polish woman. At the end of the tour, she said, “You might wonder why I’m doing this. My grandfather actually survived this concentration camp.” The connection came full circle when Mark was able to respond, “The reason I’m here is because my grandfather is being honored for his service in the war.” The ceremony to honor his grandfather was also moving, but in a different way. His dashing blue-eyed figure smiles down from the wall of the museum now, exuding kindness, confidence and
courage. Everyone wanted to serve under him, Mark said, because he had the fewest casualties. His grandfather Wladyslaw Arzymanow was one of the first European spies, and he held some key positions in the war. At the outbreak, he defended his hometown from the oncoming German armies. Then he acted as a courier between Hungary and Poland, helping the Polish Resistance. He joined the newly formed Polish armed forces in Syria and saw front-line action in North Africa, including Tobruk. Then he was assigned to the Italian campaign actively involved in the battles for Monte Cassino, Ancona and Bologna. By the end of the war, he was the youngest major in the Polish Army. He was twice awarded the Cross of Valour (equivalent to the U.S. Purple Heart). The flag ceremony at the military church was all in Polish, so Mark couldn’t understand much, but it was beautiful – and impressive, with national media coming to cover it, and the church packed to overflowing. “They definitely haven’t forgotten World War II. It’s in their culture. They’re survivors,” said Mark. “It’s very hard for us to understand.” Looking back, Mark says he would strongly recommend reaching out to family in the Old Country, wherever that might be. “I would just say meeting new family members and not letting language be a barrier was a neat experience,” he said. Above all, the visit to Majdanek was a powerful eye-opener. “Visiting that death camp and knowing what people went through so many years ago…. It’s very important not to forget.”
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NEIGHBORS by Angie Frederickson, staff writer
lawellphoto.com
Shhh... Don’t Tell Pulling off a surprise
I
’m not easily surprised. Over the years I have been the guest of honor at a couple of surprise parties, and each time I knew about it in advance. Pulling it off takes planning and scheming and, perhaps most important, a guest list of people who can keep their mouths shut. On the day of one of my foiled surprise parties, people were acting strangely, and someone actually suggested I change clothes into something nicer before going out. Another time, my husband had no choice but to ruin the surprise because my girlfriends planned my birthday party for the same night I was planning to attend a work function. Both times I played along, and I guess my acting skills are above average because everyone seemed to fall for my shocked and bewildered face, and the parties were great. Not everyone wants to be surprised, though. One Buzz resident (who insisted she remain anonymous for fear of appearing ungrateful and annoying her friends) says that her surprise 40th birthday party was one of the worst days of her life. As a self-confessed control freak, she nearly panicked upon entering the party doors. “I know they meant well and spent a lot of time and effort, but I was miserable,” she said. “All I could think was how I would have done things differently if I planned the party. That’s awful of me, isn’t it?” she asked, laughing. “Surprise parties are for outgoing, spontaneous people, and I am neither.” After the initial shock wore off, she was really touched and honored that her friends cared enough to think of her. Her family and close friends were all there, and some had traveled from out of town to celebrate. It has been several years since the big party, and she finally let go of the fact she would have chosen different food and flowers, and she looks back on it almost fondly. But, she really hopes it never happens again. Control freaks aside, many people love a good surprise, and when it’s well planned, it will be a party to remember. Energy attorney Ron Oppenheimer was completely caught off guard 10 years ago when his wife, Liz, surprised him with a 50th birthday party. He was in New York City to speak at a professional event, and when it was over he headed to the airport to catch his flight back to Houston. WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2017 12
A SURPRISE TO REMEMBER After Ron Oppenheimer’s wife, Liz, surprised him with a 50th birthday party, he later surprised her for her birthday with a scrapbook of memories.
Ron boarded the plane and made his way back to his seat without paying attention to the other passengers. As he put his carry-on bag in the overhead compartment, someone asked, “Can I help you with that?” Ron looked up, and it was one of his dear friends. Then, another friend a couple of rows back simply said, “Hi, Ron.” He was confused, and while trying to figure out why these people were on his flight, several other friends stood up from their seats to greet him. “At that point they all said, ‘Happy birthday!’ and I figured it out,” Ron said. The flight attendant brought them champagne, and the party weekend began. Liz was in Houston and waited patiently to see if her planning had paid off. “He had no clue,” she said. The Oppenheimers had recently moved from New York to Houston, and Liz wanted to do something special for Ron, since he was one of the first in their group of friends to turn 50. “Everyone wanted to visit us in Houston, so I figured this was the perfect way to do it,” said Liz. A limousine took Ron and the New York guests from the airport to the Oppenheimers’ house for a catered dinner of Texas barbecue. The next day, the men went golfing, and the women took a cooking class and then went to a spa. On the second night, Ron and Liz treated everyone to dinner at Americas, which was
Ron’s favorite restaurant at the time. The birthday weekend ended with Sunday brunch, and then the New Yorkers headed back east. The whole weekend was perfect, and Ron was completely shocked. “His friends mean an awful lot to him and to both of us. Ron has known some of them since he was 5 years old,” Liz said. “We are very fortunate to have a long, long list of friends.” When Liz turned 60, Ron took the opportunity to plan a surprise of his own. The Oppenheimers’ daughters, Jessica and Sara, came up with the idea to create a scrapbook for their mom. They bought scrapbook pages and mailed them with return envelopes to about 60 friends, asking each to create a page for Liz. The pages were filled with pictures, stories, poems and notes that Ron, Jessica and Sara assembled into a scrapbook to give the birthday girl. “The pages were beautiful, creative, hilarious, and some were very touching,” said Ron. “There were so many memories and so much love from all parts of her life.” When it comes to parties, if throwing a surprise one is on your mind, then plan well in advance and hope that people keep quiet. And if the honoree happens to find out in advance, ask her to practice her surprised face, and no one will ever know – until she writes about it in a magazine.
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NEIGHBORS by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer
Ninja Warriors Running down life’s obstacles
A
s Charlotte Eccles stood on the high platform, she felt ready. Along with about 100 others, she was about to compete on American Ninja Warrior. She looked at the giant obstacle course ahead. She would have to jump, climb, hang, throw her tiny body at impossible tasks, reaching for every remaining shred of mental and physical strength. Her dentist-husband Scott and daughters Addison and Caroline were standing on the sidelines watching. She had been practicing for months for this moment. For an instant, she was overcome with déjà vu. Only two and a half years earlier, she had been asleep in surgery as doctors removed a rare tumor on a nerve in her brain. She awoke like a small child again. She couldn’t walk, talk, eat on her own or barely even spit out toothpaste. If you had visited Charlotte in her hospital room back then, and told her she’d be competing in a physical contest on television in front of millions of viewers, she wouldn’t have believed you. American Ninja Warrior has a loyal following and a tight-knit community of past and present warriors. In the hour-long show, athletes of all types tackle challenging, complicated obstacles in a timed course. The winners from each region advance to the next level. Charlotte – along with another Houston woman, mom-of-four Lisa Livingston Eicher – were among the lucky few whose applications and submission videos were chosen by the show’s producers. The pair trained together at “Ninja” gym Iron Sports in Willowbrook. The episode featuring them (or at least it’s supposed to – only around 25 competitors of the 100 will actually make the episode) airs this month, at 7 p.m. on NBC on June 19.
Charlotte Petite and fit, Charlotte embodies the look of physical health. That came crashing down in 2014 when she was diagnosed with the vestibuWEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2017 14
lar schwannoma, a rare tumor on the main nerve leading from the inner ear to the brain. She flew to California for the complicated 6-hour surgery to remove it. Possible outcomes included deafness, facial paralysis and balance deficits. She awoke with a swollen face and learned the doctors had had to completely sever her balance nerve. She spent the next month in intensive rehab before returning to Houston for three more months of physical therapy in Houston. Eccles said she NINJA FAMILIES Top: Charlotte Eccles, here with husband Scott and daughters stayed grounded in Caroline and Addison, competed on American Ninja Warrior after recovering from a her faith. “I want- brain tumor. Bottom: The Eicher family cheered on Ninja Lisa as she competed – from left: Archie, dad Joey, Radko, mom Lisa, Sevy and Ace. The episode with both women ed to use my hard- airs June 19. ship for God’s ing her, and little by little, she learned how to glory,” she said. Her family has a non-profit regain control of her body. Parr saw potential in organization in Africa called Chicks for her to be a “Ninja Warrior.” Children (chicksforchildren.org), which helps Charlotte took his suggestion. She walked feed children. Before her surgery, she had visited into Iron Sports and said she thought, “This is Africa to help. Her passion for helping others where I am going to take back everything the had to quickly shift to helping herself. tumor has stolen from me.” Luckily, she understood the rehab process She had to work extra hard to learn about her since she was a pediatric physical therapist herown body’s athleticism, too. “I have not done self. “I tried to go back to work. I realized I anything athletic in my whole life,” said wasn’t ready to do my job. I was struggling. I Charlotte. “Well, I did a mud run. I didn’t play thought, ‘How can I help other kids with their sports in high school.” balance if I can’t balance?’” Grip strength is an important aspect of the She started additional outpatient rehab at competition. Often, the competitors have to susSpero Rehab. There, she met her future Ninja pend in mid air and support their entire body Warrior trainer, Jonathan Parr. He started trainKathleen Pieratt Photography
Buzz-area moms Charlotte Eccles and Lisa Eicher competed in San Antonio this March on the NBC TV show “American Ninja Warrior.” The episode is scheduled to run 7 p.m. June 19.
Dylan Aguilar
Dylan Aguilar Dylan Aguilar
NINJA TRAINING Top left: Lisa Eicher swings from a bar to work on grip strength. Top right: Lisa (left) and Charlotte Eccles trained together for up to three hours a day. Bottom left: Charlotte practices on a flying-disks obstacle.
weight by just the grip of their hand. Balance is also important, with difficult tasks like navigating rolling logs and rotating, jerky balance bridges. Even though the competition is over now (she’s not allowed to share details until the air date), Charlotte said she still trains every day to maintain what she worked so hard to earn. She wore a shirt during the competition that said, “What if you fly?” It was taken from her favorite poem, by Erin Hanson, that reads: “And you ask, What if I fall? Oh but my darling, What if you fly?” Charlotte said she wants to keep training and compete on the show again next year. “It’s been an incredible journey, but full of hope,” she said.
Lisa Lisa Eicher tried out for Ninja Warrior after her 9-year-old daughter, Ace, begged her to. They are big fans of the show, along with the rest of the family: Memorial High School sweetheart-husband Joey, 13-year-old Archie and Sevy, 3-year-old Radko and the family’s 3-legged dog, Pip. Archie and Sevy, who have Down Syndrome, were adopted at ages 7 and 12, respectively, from Bulgaria through a ministry
called Reece’s Rainbow. Lisa, with her big smile and boy-short haircut, has 11,000 Instagram followers (@eicherumba) who keep track of her posts. Through social media, she shares daily moments and life as a mom of four and of special-needs children. She said she wanted to use American Ninja Warrior as a platform to raise awareness for the Down Syndrome and the adoption communities. She was watching the show one night when Ace turned to her and said, “Mommy, you should compete on that.” “I was completely out of shape. I couldn’t hang from a bar or do a pullup,” she said. Ace persisted. “One night when I was going to sleep, I thought, how cool would that be if I could show my kids that if I work hard enough, that you can [accomplish] a wild and crazy dream.” Unlike Charlotte, Lisa had played many sports growing up, including softball in high school. She just needed to get back into shape and learn how to do the obstacles. Sounds easy, right? Not so much. Lisa and Charlotte trained for up to three hours a day at popular Ninja competitor Sam Sann’s gym, Iron Sports. The gym offers strength,
conditioning, cardio and obstacle training. “Your hands get completely torn up,” said Lisa. “That’s the tough part, working through the pain because so much is with your hands, but you have to keep going.” The women trained with Sann, as well as Houston trainer and Ninja competitor Brandi Monteverde. The preparation involved bodyweight training, rock climbing and pull ups, lots of them. They had muscle aches and exhaustion. In addition, they had to be lined up on time for carpool each day to pick up their kids in Memorial. Lisa said she used her kids as her inspiration: “the fact that every day, everything is an uphill battle” for Sevy and Archie. “Archie just learned after 5 years how to pump his legs on a swing. They inspired me that way.” She promotes her training slogan, “Ninjas Don’t Count Chromosomes,” on social media and T-shirts. She wore one during the competition, too. Lisa said the highlight of the whole journey was seeing her four kids jumping up and down with excitement during the competition. “I remember just standing there and taking it all in. I had made it.” WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2017 15
KIDS by Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld, staff writer
Class of 2017 Where are they headed?
T
Margaret Rotan Photography
hey’ve walked across the stage, flipped their tassels and tossed their caps. Now they’re ready – or ready enough – for new academic and life adventures. Once again, as part of our annual tradition, we asked our graduating neighbors to share their plans with us. What are they most looking forward to? What advice would they give their kindergarten selves if they could?
Emily Pedrick – Annunciation Orthodox School, St. John’s School Emily Pedrick is heading to Columbia University in the fall to study Biology. Her dream job would be head of pediatrics at a hospital. She’s most looking forward to “learning as much as possible” in college and, if she could give her kindergarten self any advice, she’d say: “Never give up on your dreams.” Mary Kate Theroux – Villa Victoria Academy (N.J.), Incarnate Word Academy Mary Kate Theroux is looking forward to being in a new part of the country when she starts college at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, where she can experience new things – such as all four seasons – meet new people, and discover herself. She plans to study Mathematics. She doesn’t have a specific dream job, but she knows that “I want to spend my life working as an aide to others, and do something that will add significant value to society.” If she could, she’d urge her kindergarten self to take advantage of naptime. Ella Morgan – West University Elementary School, The Kinkaid School Ella Morgan is heading to Boston University, where she’ll study Communications. Her dream job would be an editor of a fashion/music magazine one day. She’s most looking forward to being on her own in a new city with new people next year. “BU is a city school so I think I’ll learn a lot about myself and be able to grow a lot in four years,” she says. If she could chat with her kindergarten self, she’d tell her: “Blame your brother for everything.” WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2017 16
Emily Pedrick Elizabeth Berquist – West University Elementary School, Presbyterian School, St. Agnes Academy Elizabeth Berquist will study Neuroscience at Indiana University Bloomington and hopes to become a neurosurgeon one day. She’s most looking forward to meeting new people, taking new classes, independence and starting a new chapter in life. If she could, she’d tell her younger self to be proud of herself while also being supportive of those around her. “Make as many friends as possible,” she’d say. “And keep reading!” Paula DeAnda – Roberts Elementary School, Pin Oak Middle School, Carnegie Vanguard High School Paula DeAnda will head off to Wellesley College next year to study Astrophysics. She’s most looking forward to “meeting some amazing young women and experiencing a ‘real winter’” next year. If she could, she’d tell her kinder-
garten self to “grow out the bangs and play outside more.” Allison Taffet – Mark Twain Elementary School, Lanier Middle School, Saint Thomas’ Episcopal School Allison Taffett will head to Rice University in the fall to study Biology and English. Her dream job is to become a professor and an author. If she could, she’d advise her younger self to take advantage of the time to read and learn new things because “you’ll never have that much free time again.” She’s most looking forward to “everything about Rice” including the opportunity to study abroad. Catherine Craft – St. John’s School, River Oaks Baptist School, Saint Thomas’ Episcopal School Catherine Craft’s dream job is to work for an intergovernmental organization such as the United Nations or a non- (continued on page 18)
Margaret Rotan Photography
Ella Morgan Ben Guidry
Mary Kate Theroux
Elizabeth Berquist
Allison Taffet
Margaret Rotan Photography
Jian Liang
Paula DeAnda
Catherine Craft WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2017 17
Cindy Crofford
Katherine Hasley (continued from page 16) governmental organization
such as Amnesty International to “make a difference regarding human rights.” She will begin the next chapter of her life at Texas Christian University and will study Political Science – International Relations. If she could, she’d advise her kindergarten self to be kind to everyone and make friends with many people “because that is definitely the best way to navigate life,” she says. Katherine Hasley – Annunciation Orthodox School, St. John’s School Katherine Hasley will attend Washington University in St. Louis this fall as part of the Olin Business School, studying Marketing and Finance. She’s most looking forward to taking interesting classes in college and being on Wash U’s track team. If she could, she’d tell her kindergarten self: “Enjoy the ride. It went by a lot faster than anticipated.” Kate Steelman – Grace School, Second Baptist School Kate Steelman will go to Texas A&M University where she plans to major in Allied Health. She’s most looking forward to the football games at Kyle Field as an Aggie. Her dream job would be to become a travel nurse, where she could serve people through medicine and travel all over the world. If she could, she’d urge her kindergarten self to take naps – “you won’t have WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2017 18
time to sleep when you are older,” she’d say. Greyson Crosswell – The Kinkaid School, Spring Branch Middle School, The Tenney School Greyson Crosswell is heading to the University of Mississippi and he’s most looking forward to making new friends, learning to live without his parents and, of course, no curfew. He feels lucky his friends have been best friends for so many years, and he said he had the most fun times playing golf with friends after school. If he could, he’d advise his kindergarten self to always be a kind person and cherish friendships. Fernanda Nunes – Lincoln School (Argentina), Colegio Teresiano (Brazil), The Village School Fernanda Nunes will head to Cornell University, where she’ll study Nutritional Sciences. She’s looking forward to meeting other students who are also passionate about nutrition. Her dream job would be to work for the World Health Organization to implement required nutrition courses in high schools and medical schools. If she could, she’d tell her kindergarten self to continue to have as much fun as possible. Jacob Lawyer – River Oaks Baptist School, Episcopal High School Jacob Lawyer’s dream is to be president of the
United States in 2040. But first, he’ll attend college at Southern Methodist University and plans to study Political Science and International Studies with a minor in both Chinese Language and Computer Science Analytics. Next year, he’s most looking forward to the freedom to choose his own path of study. If he could, he’d tell his kindergarten self: “Be a friend to everyone.” Kiarah Parrales – Corpus Christi Catholic School, Incarnate Word Academy Kiarah Parrales will head to the University of Houston this fall to study Political Science. She dreams of opening a law firm in Houston and being a family lawyer. “I want to defend children and families from abandonment and abuse,” she says. In college, she’s most looking forward to building new friendships and learning from her own mistakes. If she could, she’d advise her kindergarten self to stop staying up till 3 a.m. because “you won’t be getting any sleep later on in life.” Evelyn Clark – Horn Elementary School, Trafton Academy, Incarnate Word Academy Evelyn Clark will attend Texas A&M University to study Kinesiology this fall. Her dream would be to work with children who have disabilities to help them achieve new skills. She’s most looking (continued on page 20)
Margaret Rotan Photography
Marlo Wise Photography
Greyson Crosswell
Fernanda Nunes
Jacob Lawyer Freeman Photography
Meredith Flaherty
Alexanders' Fine Portrait Design
Kate Steelman
Kiarah Parrales
Evelyn Clark WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2017 19
Paperhearts, Photography by Jessica Laviage
Benjamin Cohen
Angela Liu
Anna Glickman
Victoria Shelby
(continued from page 18) forward to meeting new
people and experiencing new adventures in college. If she could give her kindergarten self some advice, she’d say: “Always dream big and never give up!” Benjamin Cohen – Grahamwood Elementary School (Tenn.), White Station Middle School (Tenn.), The Emery/Weiner School “Always trust your instinct,” Benjamin Cohen would tell his kindergarten self. “Never look back and regret something or think about how you could have done it differently.” Next year, he’ll head to The University of Texas at Austin to study Public Relations. His dream is to be a journalist. He’s most looking forward to exploring UT’s campus and Austin and meeting new people. Angela Liu – Mark Twain Elementary School, Pin Oak Middle School, Bellaire High School WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2017 20
“Stop doodling on the walls (even if it’s super fun)!” Angela Liu would tell her younger self. “Also, appreciate your parents more; they deserve it.” She’ll attend The University of Chicago next year and will major in Interdisciplinary studies in Neuroscience, Computer Science and Design (maybe the doodling helped). She’s most looking forward to the academics, extracurriculars and the character of the student body itself at college. Anna Glickman – Condit Elementary School, The Kinkaid School Anna Glickman is looking forward to wearing red and blue and calling herself a Quaker at the University of Pennsylvania, where she’ll study International Relations. She’s also excited to meet people from all over the world. She hopes to run her own public relations firm one day. If she could chat with her kindergarten self, she’d say: “Keep doing you!”
Victoria Shelby – Condit Elementary School, Pin Oak Middle School, St. Agnes Academy Victoria Shelby will soon head to Texas A&M University to study Biomedical Sciences. One day, she hopes to become a small-animal veterinarian and own her own practice. She’s most looking forward to meeting new people and the opportunity to spend time with other students who are passionate about the same topics. If she could, she’d tell her kindergarten self to be nice to everyone, as “you never know who will end up being your best friend.”
MORE ONLINE To find out where more local 2017 grads are heading to college – and to learn more, about their inspirational teachers and funny memories – see thebuzzmagazines.com. Also, check out – and contribute to, if you haven’t yet – this year’s database of college-bound seniors, at thebuzzmagazines.com/high-school-graduates.
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WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2017 21
KIDS
by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer
Buzz Baby
Rachel Fuqua Photography
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Dads and daughters
Buzz Baby is a column about babies from the perspective of a mom of three, including twin toddlers and a newborn.
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n addition to our boy, Cash, we have two daughters now – Lila, Cash’s twin, who is almost 3, and Georgia, who was born in January. I love watching my husband, Tyler, brush Lila’s hair and pick out baby dolls with her. He rocks at being a “girl dad,” especially considering he has little experience, with two brothers and no sisters. He has even mastered putting bows in Lila’s hair. This month we celebrate Father’s Day, so I thought it would be fun to hear from other Buzzarea men about what it’s like to be a dad to a girl. Will Klinke, principal at Total Wealth Partners, became a first-time father a little earlier than he and his wife, Justine, had planned. Justine, who is vice president of real estate investments and development for Forestar Group Inc., was pregnant with identical-twin girls in 2015. The girls decided to come very early, at 24 weeks and 2 days, on Nov. 18, 2015. Collier weighed in at just 1 pound, 6 ounces, and Palmer weighed in at only 1 ounce more. They were called micro-preemies, and they lived in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Texas Children’s Hospital for six months. It was a bumpy ride full of tears and surgeries, and Will said he remembers the day doctors delivered good news. “I can remember the day that we were told [the girls] would, in fact, be coming home to us. It was only a matter of when.” Many new fathers spend the early days on the couch at home, swaddling and changing diapers. Will’s experience was vastly different. “I can remember the countless days and nights in the NICU, staring at numbers flashing on a monitor,” said Will. “[There were] times when we weren’t sure if God had picked the right parents for them. It has been a trying experience, but it is also something so phenomenal that words can’t express.” The girls came home on the same day, on April 12, 2016. They have grown so much since then and are happy and healthy. “It is fascinating to watch them learn and to discover the world around them,” said Will, “particularly WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2017 22
when their first six months were spent in the hospital.” His favorite moment as a dad may seem insignificant to others. “Earlier this year, I had been out of town for one day. It was one of the longest times since the girls had been born that I was away from them. When I got home, they were crawling around in our den and Justine was on the floor playing with them. I shouted, “Girls!” They both stopped what SUGAR AND SPICE Will Klinke’s first days as dad to his identical-twin, prematurely they were doing, born daughters were spent in the hospital. Now he makes breakfast for his family and in an instant every morning. they were at my collection, read to them by Dad. feet.” Justine said that’s the fastest she has ever “It is the cutest thing to see my girls look forseen the girls crawl. ward to this every week,” said Tom’s wife, Will said he enjoys making breakfast of Jennifer, a calligrapher. “He also works from scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and pancakes home – we have a guest house, which has his and also making early-morning donut and coffee office – and every day after school, he comes runs. “Our girls are not the best sleepers, but seeinside for 20 minutes or so to talk to each girl ing them in the morning even after a rough about her day. He treats being a father like a night is a great start to the day. I’m starting to privilege, not a job.” earn my stripes as a short-order cook.” Tom said being a dad to girls has broadened Another dad, Tom McDonald, enjoys a simhis knowledge base. “My football knowledge has ple yet special tradition with his girls. McDonald, gone way down, but my My Little Pony knowlowner of M. Chemical Co., has three daughters, edge has gone way up.” twins Margo and Emily, 6, and Betsy, who is 8. Ever since Betsy was a small child, he has taken her on a “daddy-daughter” date night every How do you plan to celebrate Father’s Day this Friday night. He introduced the twins to the tramonth? What stands out about a father you know? dition when they were toddlers, too. Email info@thebuzzmagazines.com or comment Most Friday nights, Tom can be found with under this article at thebuzzmagazines.com. For his three girls eating dinner at Southwell’s more baby stories, see thebuzzmagazines.com for Hamburger Grill. They stop for dessert at TCBY writer Annie Blaylock McQueen’s column, and finally, at Barnes and Noble to pick up their “Mommy Moments.” favorite books, including the full Harry Potter
MORE ONLINE
WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2017 23
TRAVEL
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by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer
Travel Buzz
Father-son journeys
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dolescence is not an easy time to stay close as a family. Schedules are filled to bursting, and relationships can strain as young people seek to individuate. And for many teenage sons, it’s just cooler to hang out with friends than with Dad. For fathers keen to nurture those bonds and keep communication strong, there’s nothing better than hitting the road together.
Farming, fly-fishing and fellowship The Groppes began their father-son travels on the weekends when Henry, now a junior at Memorial High School, was a little boy. The family would travel to the farm that’s been in the family since 1874, founded by Hans’ greatgrandfather, a Texas pioneer who immigrated from Germany when he was 15. “My grandfather grew up on that farm and so did my father, so I have always had a sense that that’s just what you do when you have a son and you’re a father,” recalls Hans. “You spend time together, and it really doesn’t matter what you’re doing.” A shared love of nature led the family to Jackson Hole in 1977, and they’ve been going ever since. Their first father-son trip was when Henry was in eighth grade, when Hans taught Henry to fly fish. It became a shared passion. “The thing about fly fishing is that it’s a real challenge,” said Hans, an oil and gas producer and investment manager. “So that’s what I enjoyed, putting that challenge to him, and he was very eager about it.” The pair began exploring Wyoming, Montana and Idaho on fly-fishing trips every chance they got. “My personal belief is that there is no substitute for spending time with your son in order to share your values and love with him as your role as a father. And then when you combine that with doing something that’s mentally and physically challenging and surrounded by nature – that’s as good as it gets.” During Spring Break of Henry’s sophomore year, they were ready for something new. “After doing those freshwater fishing trips we wanted to pump it up a notch, so we went to the Yucatan,” Henry said. The two of them flew to the island of Cozumel in Mexico and learned to WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2017 24
TOGETHERNESS ON THE RIVER Hans and Henry Groppe enjoy their shared passion for fly fishing on the Snake River near Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
scuba dive. Henry passed with flying colors, according to Hans, and they dove in the caves and the Palancar Reef. Then they went to the mangrove flats, where Henry quickly caught his first bonefish on a fly rod. Henry had organized the trip himself, as his father proudly tells it. Hans says he feels fortunate to have a relationship with his son. “We’re thick as thieves,” he said with a laugh. “I admire him so much, and I tell him so.” More seriously, he added, “A 16 year old with his father and it’s just the two of you for a week at that age – I think it says a lot about our relationship.” Henry advises his friends to travel with their fathers. “I tell them, you should hang out with your dad because once you go off to college you’re going to be gone.”
Take me out to the ball game Three years ago, Howie Gerber, a dermatologist, started a new tradition: father-son trips, beginning with a trip to his alma mater, Duke University, with Sammy, the eldest of his two boys. The occasion: a basketball game. “I am a big Duke basketball fan, and they’ve seen me be a bit of a fanatic around the house watching Duke basketball games,” said Howie. “So I decided to take Sammy with me.” The two enjoyed their guy time, taking in a
lacrosse game and the Duke campus as well. Next came a trip to San Diego with Jason, now 13, when they went to Legoland, went offcoast fishing and took in a Padres game. This year, Sammy, 15, now a 10th grader at The Emery/Weiner School, had a weeklong Passover break and Jason did not, as he is in public school. “Teri [Howie's wife and Sammy's mom] put Sammy up to asking me to take him on a baseball trip,” Howie said. “He didn’t have to ask me twice.” They flew into Baltimore that Tuesday, April 11, headed down to DC and went for a tour of the Georgetown area, where Sammy is thinking of studying. Their first game: the Washington Nationals against the St. Louis Cardinals, at Nationals Park. “The atmosphere was really good, the fans were cool, and the park was really nice,” said Sammy. The Cardinals scored first, but then the Nationals took over. Player Daniel Murphy scored four hits, including a home run. Wednesday they drove to Philadelphia, where they tried some local flavor with a Philly cheese steak in the historic Reading Market. Soon they made their way to Citizens Bank Park for a match between the Phillies and the New York Mets. “The Phillies aren’t as good as the Nationals, so there weren’t as many well-known players,” said Sammy. “Also the fans there are not as good… Good fans don’t boo at their team when they’re
A NIGHT WITH THE NATIONALS Howie and Sammy Gerber, from left, enjoy the first of an East-Coast series of ball games at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.
doing bad. They always support them. They always show that love and passion for the game.” Thursday morning they took the train to New York, where they dropped off their things with a friend from Duke at his apartment on the Upper West Side. From there they took the subway and wandered around the city, eventually ending up at Yankee Stadium, where the Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays in an exciting 3-2 match. Friday they took a day off from baseball, touring the Statue of Liberty, the 9/11 Memorial and Little Italy, ending with an off-Broadway show. But they still had one more game ahead. Saturday they rose early, rented a car and drove up to Boston, where they cheered on the Red Sox along with their famously loyal fans before catching a plane back to Houston. “It was really great to have almost a week dedicated to going to baseball games, and to be able to share that with my son was pretty fantastic,” said Howie. Sammy agreed. “Looking back on it, it was definitely a life-changing experience in a way. We’ll definitely put that trip in the scrapbooks.”
On the Hemingway Trail Antonio Benavides started going to the remote north coast of his native Peru when he was 12 with his uncle, staying in Cabo Blanco, a fishing village that became famous in the
1950s. Houston oil magnate and sports fisherman Alfred Glassell, Jr. landed a 1,000-pound black marlin in 1952, and the place soon became a fisherman’s legend and a playground of Hollywood stars and millionaires. Ernest Hemingway filmed the movie adaptation of his last novel, The Old Man and the Sea, in this spot, and by some accounts he landed a 910-pounder here. As luck would have it, Antonio’s future wife, Alexia, had even deeper roots in the area, with a family mango farm nearby and a cousin with a resort in Máncora, to the north. So the new family began vacationing there, and Antonio’s son Aurelio was 6 weeks old during his first visit. Aurelio and his sister Arabella spent summers with their grandparents in Lima, and Aurelio visited a few times growing up. But he longed to go out on the open sea, to go after the big fish he’d heard about. Last year he finally got to do it. In December, 17 years after that long-ago trip, Aurelio and Antonio joined with some guy friends for a father-son fishing trip in Máncora. For Aurelio, now 17 himself, it’s one he will remember. These days the massive fish are long gone, but Máncora has grown popular with surfers, backpackers and adventurers. And the fishing, while no longer the phenomenon of the Hemingway days, is still excellent. They fished for two days, floating alongside sea turtles and dolphins, seeing whales in the
distance. The first day they only caught three yellowfin tuna. The next day they headed out nearly 70 miles to an undersea plateau. They saw the fins of the marlins in the distance, but didn’t catch any; coming up on 3 p.m., they hadn’t caught anything. “The captain was turning around; we were already 80 miles out – and then he saw a big school of tuna,” said Aurelio. “In the space of about 2 hours we caught 47 of them.” They ended up giving fish to the entire crew, the whole hotel staff and still had a cooler’s worth of filets to take back to Lima – enough to treat the extended family to a splendid tuna tartar on Christmas Day. Their travels with the guys are important, they say, to do things the girls wouldn’t want to do. “Actually it’s a lot less stressful,” said Aurelio. The women tend to need a lot more time for organizing and packing, he noted. “With guys, you can just get up and go.” And for Antonio, the challenges are what brings them closer together. In Peru there’s very little infrastructure, and without marinas, even getting into a boat can be challenging at times. “I enjoy exposing my kids to different things than what we are used to in the States, where everything is spelled out and safe and sanitized to the max… It’s more adventuresome, which means more risks in some ways. It’s not very tourist friendly, and so you bond more with each other.” WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2017 25
FOOD by Lauren Michelle Williams, contributing writer
The Junior League of Houston
Cooking Buzz Summer block parties 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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ach year, in celebration of the beginning of summer, my neighborhood hosted a huge block party. Families moved grills from the back to the front yard, and each house made favorite summer foods. Parents cooked while kids ran from house to house. Once dinner was ready, the parents walked to neighbors’ houses, trading snack-size portions and plans for the summer. Many families would cook hot dogs or hamburgers. My family, being the adventurous bunch they are, usually made something a little less traditional. Our family’s summer grill-outs almost always consisted of more than just an entrée. We had a festive drink, at least one appetizer and dessert. If I were preparing for the block party today, the Summertime Cooler and the Roasted Red Pepper Dip from Stop and Smell the Rosemary would be my choice to start to the meal. The Summertime Cooler is a refreshing citrus drink that reminds me of a slightly more complex and upscale lemonade. This drink can be prepared without alcohol as a fun drink for the kids, or it can be made with sparkling wine or vodka – also a fun drink for the adults. It is great for cooling down in the summer heat or lightly sipping throughout the evening. The Roasted Red Pepper Dip is light and airy – perfect for an evening outdoors. Depending on how much heat you would like to add to the Houston evening, you could add extra jalapeños to the recipe. The dip is best served with tortilla chips, or, my preference, assorted uncooked vegetables. The Grilled Pizzas from Peace Meals are another good choice. Although preparation work is required on a surface other than a grill, the dough and pizza itself are grilled. This recipe is great for large gatherings because it makes four to six pizzas. Guests could make the pizzas to their liking, or the host could feature a variety of favorites. Then it’s on to Cookies and Cream WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2017 26
Cheesecake from Stop and Smell the Rosemary for dessert. One of my favorite desserts is cheesecake, any kind of cheesecake. Oreo Cookies are not far behind, and this dessert pairs the two. The EVERYTHING CAN BE GRILLED The Grilled Pizzas from Peace Meals can be a fun choice for a summer block party. Guests can choose toppings, or you can pick cheesecake is cool your favorites – host’s prerogative. but creamy and sheet covered with cornmeal. Lightly oil the grill can easily be sliced into bite-size pieces for and heat to medium-high. Place the dough on serving a larger group. the grill and cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until slightly puffed. Flip and cook until the crust is Grilled Pizzas crisp, about 5 minutes more. Top with desired From Peace Meals toppings (see below), return to grill and cook just 1½ cups warm water until warmed. Makes 4 to 6 individual pizzas. 2 .25-ounce envelopes active dry yeast, or 2 scant tablespoons Optional toppings: 1 Tablespoon sugar Margherita Pizza: 3 Tablespoons olive oil Garlic-infused olive oil 3½ cups all-purpose flour, divided, plus extra 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced ½ cup whole wheat flour 2-3 fresh Roma tomatoes, sliced 1 Tablespoon coarse salt ½ cup fresh basil chiffonade Cornmeal Lightly oil a large bowl and set aside. Combine the water, yeast, sugar and olive oil in a large bowl; carefully whisk to combine. Let stand for several minutes until the yeast dissolves. Add both types of flour and the salt, and mix well. This can be done with a stand mixer or by hand. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth, about 3 to 5 minutes, sprinkling with additional flour as needed. When the dough is ready, place in the oiled bowl and turn to coat; cover with a towel or plastic wrap and set aside in a warm place. Let rise until about double in size, about 30 minutes. Punch down and divide the dough into 4 to 6 equal parts, roll into balls and place on a baking sheet. Cover with a warm, damp towel, return to a warm place and allow the dough to rest for at least 15 minutes. On a lightly floured surface, roll and stretch each ball into an 8- to 10-inch circle and place on a baking
Pear, Arugula and Truffle Oil: 2 cups fresh arugula Garlic-infused olive oil 3 ounces goat cheese, softened ½ pear, cored and sliced Truffle oil Rustic Chicken Pesto Pizza: ½ cup prepared basil pesto 1 cup cooked shredded chicken ½ cup roasted red bell peppers 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese To buy a Houston Junior League cookbook, see jlh.org or call 713-871-6608.
MORE ONLINE For other recipes mentioned in this story, see thebuzzmagazines.com.
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The itch that rashes meets its match Atopic dermatitis, or eczema, is a miserable condition. Itching brings on the scratch, which spreads the rash, and a vicious cycle ensues. Many rashes itch, but with eczema, the rash does not appear until after you scratch it. Thus, instead of being a “rash that itches,” it is known as the “itch that rashes.” In mild cases, using skin moisturizers and creams or ointments that contain steroids provide adequate control. In more severe cases, we have to use stronger doses of steroids that are taken by mouth and can cause terrible steroid side effects if used too long. Over the past 30-plus years, medical researchers have studied how white blood cells communicate with each other to regulate the immune system. One class of regulators is called interleukins (IL). IL-4, IL-13 and IL-31 play a role in eczema, so research has been done on how to block these signals to control the eczema. In March 2017, the FDA approved the biologic dupilumab (Dupixent), an injectable medication that inhibits both IL-4 and IL-13. In a pivotal study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2014, Dupixent provided much better relief when compared against steroid creams and ointments placed on the skin. Much larger studies confirmed this benefit in a 2016 NEJM manuscript. We have now started a handful of patients on Dupixent and look forward to their relief. With eczema of any severity, rule No. 1 is moisturizing the skin. Dry skin is more likely to itch than is moisturized skin, and if we can control the itch, we control the scratch, and thus minimize the rash. Many allergic patients do not tolerate fragrances, so try a moisturizer that is “fragrance free.” It’s not good
enough if it says “unscented” because many unscented products have irritating fragrances that are offset by other masking (also irritating) fragrances. Many patients tolerate Vanicream, Cetaphil and CeraVe. Moisturizing can also be achieved from the inside out – staying well hydrated helps, as does ruling out and correcting Vitamin D deficiency. Oftentimes, the rash will get infected with bacteria, which complicates the situation. We sometimes have a patient pour half a cup of bleach into a bathtub full of water to kill the bacteria. Many patients find this unpleasant, and using a bleach-containing cleanser, like Cln, is almost as effective. If you are suffering with uncontrolled eczema, please ask for help. Better control is now within reach for most patients. No one nose allergies like we do.™ Note: Information contained in this article should not be considered a substitute for consultation with a board-certified allergist to address individual medical needs. Alnoor A. Malick, M.D., The Allergy Clinic, 7707 Fannin, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77054, 713.797.0993, *1200 Binz, Suite 180, Houston, Texas 77004, 713.522.9911, www.allergyclinic.com, *Operating as Houston Allergy and Asthma Clinic
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WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2017 27
DINING
by Dai Huynh, staff writer
Chef’s Corner
Ho Chee Boon
Find out about your favorite chefs in our Chef’s Corner column. This month, restaurant writer Dai Huynh interviews chef Ho Chee Boon.
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hen your restaurant is awarded a Michelin Star, it is a sign that you've succeeded at the highest level as a chef. Yauatcha chef Ho Chee Boon doesn't believe in the stars, at least not the astrological kind. "You really believe that if you're born in the Year of the Ox then you'll be stubborn and hardworking?" the 44 year old asked. "No, I don't believe. It would mean that everyone born that year will have the same traits." Chef Ho, born in 1973, the Year of the Ox, is, without a doubt hardworking, a tad stubborn and a good leader. He oversees 47 chefs at the Galleria's Yauatcha (5045 Westheimer Road). And that's just the Houston location. The Michelin-starred toque with an easy smile and serious brown eyes is the international-development chef of more than a dozen restaurant concepts. They belong to the Hakkasan Group, which operates one of the most famous modern Chinese restaurants, Hakkasan, with locations in the Middle East, China, the United States, Indonesia and the United Kingdom. Earlier this year, Yauatcha opened in Honolulu. But Houston is the first mainland location, with plans to open more around the country. Sitting down to chat, the boyish Chef Ho scans the kitchen. "I want to hire more chefs," he said. "We're doing about 400 covers a day." The Yauatcha in Soho, London received a star from the Michelin Guide, which described it as "high-quality cooking, worth a stop!" Houstonians are doing that. Yauatcha (pronounced yow-atcha) is booked through the summer but accepts walk-ins. Granted, it's hit or miss. The bar is a safer option, and you might squeeze in on a sluggish Tuesday night. The panoramic view of Yauatcha’s open kitchen feels mystical, with chefs in their pearly whites, engulfed in steam. Ho's team starts at 7 a.m. "I work 15-hour days," he said. Helen Chuong places a pale jade-colored teapot in front of Ho and pours golden Anxi Tie Kuan roasted ooglong. "It has a fragrant nose of honey WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2017 28
and lilac," noted the 23-year-old barista. "It's my favorite." Back in ancient times, travelers along the Silk Road would stop for a light repast of yum cha, or tea and dim sum, which means small bites that "touch the heart." What HO CHEE BOON Michelin-starred chef Ho Chee Boon oversees an award-winning is dim sum like in menu at dim sum house Yauatcha at The Galleria. China these days? What should I order at Yauatcha? There are Tea is still a big part of dim sum. Here, at more than 66 menu items, not to mention the Yauatcha, we offer more than 24 kinds of teas. French desserts. In Houston, the restaurant is busiest at night, We use only fresh seafood here. The shrimp but in China, dim sum is enjoyed mainly in the is from the Gulf of Mexico. At other locations, morning. we use imported tiger prawn, but not here, so I Your parents are Chinese, but where were would try the shrimp har gau or the Phoenix tail you born? Do you have brothers and sisters? shrimp sui mai dumplings. I can also recommend I was born in a small town, Taiping, in the XO scallop dumpling and the pork dumpling Malaysia. I come from a large family: eight soup. The venison or roasted duck pumpkin puff brothers and one sister. I was No. 9. I started in are popular. the kitchen very young, washing dishes. I was 8. A Chinese friend of mine wants to order But I wanted to work. Nobody made me. The your famous Peking duck, the one that sells restaurant turned me away at first. The next day, for more than $200. Really? I just stood there. Finally, they said OK. Don't judge until you try it. It's very special. In 2012, you moved to the United States to It's a whole duck served in two courses. The first open Hakkasan New York. Eight months later course comes with Tsar Nicoulai Reserve caviar. it was awarded the Michelin star. Your mother The second one is stir-fried with XO or blackmust have been proud of her son with not just bean sauce. It's been a hit in Houston. In one, but two Michelin restaurants. London, we may get two orders a day. Here, we Mom asked, "What is this Michelin star?" It's get three or four. nice. But I never think, “Now you're a famous chef.” I just want to work and to visit my mother Editor’s note: Buzz dining columnist Dai Huynh for two months every year. She's the most is a James Beard food-journalism award winner and important person in my life. longtime Houston-based restaurant writer. What's with the tea house at Yauatcha? The ceiling is black with tiny, twinkling lights. Are they supposed to be stars? See thebuzzmagazines.com/restaurants for This restaurant is modeled exactly like the restaurant listings. Use the restaurant finder to one in London, which is in this very dark basesearch by area, cuisine and price. Leave a comment ment, so we needed to do something to make it online or write to info@thebuzzmagazines.com with brighter. You see the blue lit wall over there. In your dining stories and suggestions. London, it's a fish tank.
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When aging parents need a psychological assessment All of us with elderly parents worry about them, especially about changes in behavior or mood. Yet determining if these changes are normal can be difficult. That’s where a psychological assessment can make all the difference. When to get an assessment If you’re concerned about any of the following, consider an assessment: • Changes in cognitive functioning. This may mean a decline in memory or other thinking skills. Decision-making and planning can become difficult. They may start to get lost while driving, or their ability to drive safely is starting to become a concern. • Substance use. In addition to alcohol or illegal drugs, prescription drugs can affect behavior, mood and cognitive functioning. Also, older individuals are usually more sensitive to medications, including sleep aids and benzodiazepines, which help with anxiety but can affect cognition. • Depression or anxiety. While many older adults have these issues successfully treated by an internist, some may need the expertise of a psychiatrist or other mental health professional. For example, depression can affect cognition, and what can look like the early stages of dementia can really be untreated depression. “There are many reasons why adult children want their aging parents to complete a psychological assessment, but it’s often because they are worried about dementia or Alzheimer’s,” said Harrell Woodson, PhD, administrative director of The Menninger Clinic’s Outpatient Services. “But what may look like a dementia is sometimes something else, and a
thorough assessment can help determine what’s really going on.” What’s included At Menninger, psychological assessments are typically done over 4.5 days with a team that includes a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker and other specialists as needed. The assessment includes interviews with the patient, the patient’s doctors and the family so that the team can get a 360-degree view of the patient. Testing may include neurocognitive, psychosocial and neuropsychiatric evaluations. A thorough review of all medications is included, as is an assessment of the patient’s physical status, a MRI and lab tests. The team leader helps the patient understand each step along the way. At the end of the week, the team leader and psychiatrist meet with the patient and family to review the findings and recommendations. Recommendations Recommendations can range from inpatient, partial or outpatient levels of care as well as assisted living or in-home assistance. Psychotherapeutic and medication recommendations may be offered and additional workups suggested. To make an appointment for an assessment, call 713-275-5000. The Menninger Clinic, 12301 S. Main Street, Houston, Texas 77035, www.MenningerClinic.com
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DINING
by Dai Huynh, staff writer
This Month in Dining C
hefs are dubbing it the farm-to-terminal trend. These days, travelers in an airport can sample creations from James Beard Award-winning chefs. Take Hugo Ortega, this year's winner of Best Chef Southwest, who opened Hugo’s Cocina in January in Terminal D at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). Meanwhile, at the new 265,000-foot Terminal C North, 2014 James Beard winner Chris Shepherd’s team is searing hand-cut steaks at Ember. Nearby, Coltivare chef-owner Ryan Pera is kneading dough for smoked pulled-pork and Margherita pizzas at Pala. Soon, he'll open Gavi in Terminal E, an osteria and market featuring pastas, antipasti and a wine bar. Chef-driven airport dining isn't unique to Houston. Chefs across the country are spreading their wings, partnering with airport restaurant-management firms, including HMSHost and OTG. If you’re lucky enough to have a long layover at North Carolina's Charlotte Douglas International Airport, you can fork into Todd English's barbecue shrimp and grits at 1897 Market. At Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, Rick Bayless’ Tortas Frontera is scrambling eggs with chorizo sausage. It's now expected for a metropolitan airport to feature one or two restaurants tied to celebrity chefs, but in the past few years, companies have taken it up a notch, spotlighting local chefs and local flavors, including Mockingbird Distillery & Smokehouse, Hubcap Grill & Beer Yard, The Breakfast Klub Express, Cadillac Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Bar, Landry's Seafood, Tony's Wine Cellar & Bistro, El Tiempo founder Roland Laurenzo's Vida Taqueria, Monica Pope's Olio, and Bam Bam, a Vietnamese-Cajun venue from Cajun Kitchen chef John Nguyen. For hickory-smoked briskets and fried seafood, there is Third Ward-staple Ray’s BBQ. All are located at various IAH terminals. Bryan Caswell was the first Houston celebrity chef to land at IAH three-plus years ago, successfully opening Gulf Coast-inspired 3rd Bar Oyster and Eating House with HMSHost in Terminal B. Most brick-and-mortar restaurant owners would be over the moon serving 500 people a day. The 3rd Bar's typical cover is 800. WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2017 30
Eating well, at the airport
But opening a restaurant inside an airport is "like opening a taco stand on the moon," Caswell said. "There are a lot of things that I don't have any point of reference for, like security clearance for all employees and the type of staff willing to work at an airport." He learned, too, that peak hours differ at an airport. "It changes and changes often," he MOCKINGBIRD, THEN FLY One of Austin's oldest distilleries, Mockingbird, prosaid. Tuesdays and duces Tito's handmade vodka. At George Bush Intercontinental Airport's Terminal A at gate 15, Mockingbird Distillery & Smokehouse features smoke-kissed breakfast Thursdays are typ- plates, brisket, smoked chicken and Texas sausage. ically busiest at 3rd fort food with a twist. Bar. "Typically, Saturday is the busiest night for Terminal E a restaurant, but in the airport, Saturday is dead. • Q: Renowned barbecue pit master Greg It's very topsy-turvy. There is more math Gatlin plans to install a glass-enclosed smoke involved as to when you're busy. And holy room here. smokes! If there are rains or delays, you turn into • Gavi: Chef Ryan Pera will serve pizzas and a ballpark." pastas here, as well as offer a mini Revival Despite the challenges of running a madeMarket featuring a grab-and-go deli with charfrom-scratch restaurant next to a landing strip, cuterie and other staples, such as pickles and Caswell wasn't deterred last winter from openjams. ing Tex-Mex El Real at the bustling food court • Yume: Chris Kinjo and Tiger Den owner in Terminal B . Mike Tran will roll out sushi and ramen noodle There will be more chef-led concepts on soups. IAH's itinerary in the second half of 2017. • Tanglewood Grille: Pass & Provisions When OTG and United Airlines complete renchefs Seth Siegel-Gardner and Terrence ovations of Terminals C-South and E, travelers Gallivan will put their deft touches on hand-cut will find the following: steaks, build-your-own burgers and locally grown Terminal C-South greens. • Agave: A taqueria from Taco A Go Go and The IAH's dining guide is available at Fajitas A Go Go chef Sharon Haynes. www.fly2houston.com/iah/dine. William P. • H-Burger: New Orleans-transplant chef Hobby Airport has limited choices that include Antoine Ware's ranch-to-table, SouthernBarry's Pizza and a few Pappas concepts, includinspired eatery. ing Yia Yia Mary's and Pappadeaux Seafood • Magnolia Meatball Shop: Lucille's Kitchen – see www.fly2houston.com/hou/dine. Christopher Williams will feature classic com-
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When paychecks stop coming Pay attention, because in all likelihood this problem will happen to you one day. And most people don’t give it a thought until it does. One of my client-couples, who were nearing retirement, paid me a visit recently. Their finances were in excellent order. So why, I wondered, did the looks on their faces betray so much concern? The truth is that retirement can bring new kinds of worries, and this one is typically the first. The husband had been working since he was 22 years old. In addition to having built up substantial personal wealth, the couple had social security as well as a small pension from when the wife worked as a nurse. But those social security and pension checks, while nice to have, would not be enough to cover their living expenses. That’s where the accumulated wealth comes in. No problem, right? Problem. The couple had spent a lifetime accumulating, and had done it very well. There was enough wealth to fund a long retirement and still leave a legacy behind for heirs. But the couple didn’t know how to go from accumulating to distributing. In other words, they had all these accounts (IRAs, brokerage, savings, etc.) that they had maintained and built up over the years. How exactly do we take those and turn them into the monthly income the couple would need to live on in retirement, after the paychecks have stopped coming in? The first thing I told them was that since their retirement was well provided for, it was good problem to have! And it was also easy to solve. There are various approaches.
Some retirees try living just on interest and dividend checks. I don’t recommend that. Hopefully your retirement will last a long time, and your income could vary considerably as dividends and interest rates go through their usual cycles. I also don’t favor approaches that order assets for sale based on liquidity. That’s too arbitrary. You need to keep your asset allocation aligned with your risk tolerance in retirement just as you do before you get there. I have a different approach I recommend, called the “Paycheck System.” Periodically, in a market-wise, tax-wise fashion, we identify enough of your assets to liquidate to cover living expenses for the next six months. Then we have the broker send you regular checks, either monthly or every two weeks, just like when you were working. While this is happening, your dividends and interest payments keep getting reinvested at the appropriate risk tolerance, just like when you were working. When the next six-month period approaches, we do the same thing again. It makes for a very seamless transition to retirement. That’s very important, because then you can start enjoying it right away. James Waters, CFP®, PARTNERSINWEALTH, 3400 Bissonnet, Suite 145, Houston, Texas 77005, 713.964.4028, jrw@partnersinwealth.com, www.partnersinwealth.com
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SPORTS
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by Todd Freed, staff writer
SportzBuzz B
ehind a sophomore-dominated lineup, the Memorial Mustangs captured the UIL Class 6A Region II Golf Championship. The Mustangs shot a team score of 617 to beat out second-place Coppell by a 10-stroke margin. “I was really thrilled to win the regional title,” said Mustangs golf coach John Noel. “It was a goal of ours from the start of the year.” The Mustangs’ top finisher at state was sophomore William Moll, who carded a 74 in both rounds for a 36-hole score of 148. Mustangs sophomore Colin Guinn was 10th overall with a two-round score of 152. Sophomore Jackson Taff, senior Grant Lincecum and junior David Tietz rounded out the Mustangs’ lineup. “It was extremely windy out there, and the greens were difficult,” said Noel. “I was proud of how our guys battled the conditions.” Individually, the meet was highlighted by a spectacular two rounds from Stratford Spartans sophomore Matthew Riedel. Riedel followed up his first-round score of 72 with a magnificent 4under 68 to win the individual title. “That was one of most impressive rounds of golf I’ve ever seen,” said Noel. For the fifth time in the last six years, the Kinkaid Falcons are the SPC Boys Golf Champions. The Falcons edged out The John Cooper School by six strokes to win the title. “We’ve been very fortunate to field some great golfers over the years, and this year is no exception,” said Falcons golf coach Bobby Eggleston. “It was a great championship.” The Falcons were led by their No. 1 golfer Mason Nome, who shot a 68 in both rounds to finish 8 under par for the tournament. “Mason didn’t get a really good start on either day, but he was a birdie machine on the back nine, even scoring some eagles,” said Eggleston. “Mason and John Cooper’s John Wong, who scored a 10-under-par to win individual honors, are good friends. It was fun to watch.” Earning All-SPC honors along with Nome was Kinkaid’s Will Jacobe, who scored 71 and 74 to finish 1-over-par for the tournament. Carter Guinn, Johnny Butler and JD Dyer all had solid rounds for the SPC Champion Falcons. Led by a sensational second-round score of 69 WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2017 32
TOP GOLF The St. John’s Mavericks made school history by winning their first SPC Girls Golf Championship. From left: Olivia Zhang, Morgan Sholeen, Grace Wilson, Christine Wang, May McCabe, Denise Pan and coach Joseph Soliman.
from freshman Christine Wang, the St. John’s Mavericks captured the SPC Girls Golf Championship. “This is pretty special. Our girls have never won an SPC Golf Championship before,” said Mavericks golf coach Joseph Soliman. For the tournament, Wang shot a two-round score of 144 and won individual honors by an 8stroke margin over Margaret Runnels of Episcopal. “Christine is just a special talent,” said Soliman. “She comes off as pretty easy going, but on the course she hits a switch and becomes a fierce competitor. She’s tough as nails and just doesn’t get fazed on the course.” St. John’s No. 2 player, Denise Pan, shot the third best round of the tournament with a 7776 over the two rounds. Grace Wilson, May McCabe and Morgan Sholeen made up the rest of the field for the Mavericks as St. John’s posted a 17-stroke victory over second-place Episcopal. In baseball, the Episcopal Knights captured the SPC Baseball Championship with a thrilling 5-4 extra-inning victory over Kinkaid in the SPC Championship Final, marking the Knights’ fifth SPC Baseball title in the last eight years. “That championship game was extremely intense,” said Knights baseball coach Matt Fox.
“I’d put it in the top five games of my career of hardest games to watch. It was a battle.” The final included a number of heroic efforts. On the mound, 6-6 freshman standout Tanner Witt went five strong innings, followed by two and one-third innings of shutdown relief from junior Justin Fox. Then, with the tying run on base in Kinkaid’s final at bat, Blake Nethery came in to strike out the final batter. Offensively, Peter Geib, Jack Grams, Bennett Inoff and Nethery all knocked in runs, but the biggest blow came off the bat of Trei Cruz, who drilled the go ahead and ultimately game-winning home run in the top of the eighth inning. The Knights, who finished 24-9 for the season, boasted a lineup of major college baseball prospects, with Cruz going to Rice University, catcher Turner Gauntt and Innoff signing to play at Texas and Geib also committing to Texas. 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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Diet and exercise myths busted You can find anything on the Internet these days, like pictures of cats or double rainbows, but when it comes to your health the last place you should be getting your info from is Facebook or Instagram. Unfortunately most of those posts are simply opinions formulated with anecdotal information or someone trying to sell you something. I will try and clear up some of a few common myths, backed by evidence-based research studies, from top professionals in the fields of science. So strap in, hold on, and let’s set some facts straight! 1) You should do fasted cardio to burn the most fat. Unfortunately this statement is not backed by anything other than misinformation about how you use energy. You do not burn more body fat by not eating; actually research has found a 20 percent increase in total energy expenditure throughout the day if you eat something prior to working out. So by all means, go ahead and grab a light snack before you hit the trails. 2) Don’t eat after 8 p.m., or 7 p.m., or is it 5 p.m.? Another popular trend that is totally made up. More important than when is what and how much you eat. Whether you eat your whole day’s food in one meal (which is not recommended) or over a few meals per day, it makes almost no difference to your body weight, as long as you are staying within an appropriate caloric balance. 3) Certain foods have negative calories, like cucumber and popcorn. While it does take calories for you to digest food, they do not cancel out calories. About 10 percent of the calories found in meals is used to help digestion. So for cucumber, about 2 calories are used to digest the 25 total
calories, leaving you with 23 calories in that one serving of cucumber. 4) Don’t eat fruit as it can make you fat because it is high in sugar. Have you ever met someone who said, “These bananas are making me fat?” Didn’t think so. While fruit does have sugar in it, fruits also provide essential vitamins, minerals and fiber that combat various health conditions. Making sure you are “eating your fruit vs. drinking it” is an important caveat, as the blood sugar and digestion rate is accelerated with juices. As long as you are getting your appropriate balance of fruits you won’t have to worry about those apples appearing on the love-handles. Hope that clears up some of the confusion. Pledge To Fitness is your local source for expertise in everything wellness. We offer a holistic approach to achieving your goals that includes fitness, nutrition and accountability. We’re only minutes away. Come get answers and find out why we’ve had a 94.7 percent client-retention rate since we opened our doors. David Boettcher, Team Member, Pledge To Fitness, 4665 Southwest Fwy., Suite 209, Houston, TX 77027, 713.401.2841, www.pledgetofitness.com
WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2017 33
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.
District champs The Pershing Middle School softball team (top photo) won the Houston Independent School District’s end-of-season tournament to claim the district championship title. The girls had a great regular season and finished with a record of 13-2, before beginning the tournament. After two preliminary tournament games, Pershing advanced to the championship game and beat Black Middle School 8-7. The team is: (top row, from left) Ellie Plummer, Braidee Glenn, Cole Johnson, Rebecca Windle, Sami Johnson, coach Leisa Brents, Grace Parker, coach David Burgan, Kelsey Koenig, Julia Sanchez, Demi Coronado and coach Caroline Cox; (bottom row, from left) Olivia Alejandro, Rylee Glenn, Emily Alvarado, Adah Marvin, Laura Cantu and Raegan Burns.
En garde Audrey Toffelmire (middle photo), 6, prepares for her fencing class at Alliance Fencing Academy. The Smith Academy first grader began fencing about a year ago, after waiting patiently on the sidelines and watching her older sister, Amelia, fence. Now Audrey gets to join the fun. She is in the Youth 8 division, with other children ages 5-8. Audrey is learning the en garde position, salute and other basics with plastic blades that allow young fencers to master moves without the weight of a metal blade. The Youth 8 division practices twice each week to prepare for monthly local competitions within the club. Once Audrey turns 8, she can begin competing outside the club at local, regional and maybe even national competitions.
Little Lady Bugs The West University Softball Association’s Lady Bugs (bottom photo) are enjoying their first season on the field. Four-year-olds Georgia Turner and Lawler Booth, 5-year-old Allie Solcher, 6-year-old Riley Werner and 5-yearold Molly Lipp are all smiles and loved the season’s opening parade and carnival. The girls played with their friends and learned the game, and their parents were involved and had almost as much fun. Georgia says she loves to hit off the tee, run the bases and have her daddy as the head coach. The hardworking Lady Bugs’ practice paid off about four games into the season when they finally got their first out. Coach Chris Turner taught them the basics and used the perfect motivation: a lollipop at the end of each practice.
Proud sponsor of West University and neighboring sports WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2017 34
Editor’s note: Send your best high-resolution photos and behind-the-scenes stories about young local athletes, in both team and individual sports, to SportzBuzz, Jr. at info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Include all contact info, names, ages, grades and schools. Featured athletes must live in Buzz-circulation neighborhoods. Items will be published on a space-available basis.
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TIME MANAGEMENT Estefania LopezSalas, an incoming seventh grader at River Oaks Baptist School, says balancing school and sports is challenging.
KIDS by Estefania Lopez-Salas, age 12
Buzz Kidz
School vs. sports
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ard work and determination are key to balancing school and sports. With sports and bunches of homework, you must have a plan for the whole week for everything to work out well. Most grades at schools have homework, including River Oaks Baptist School, which is where I go to school. That takes up time, with after-school activities that could end late. For example, swim practices at Rice University, which is where I swim, start at 5:45 p.m. and end at 7:45 p.m., which makes me arrive home around 8 p.m., having time to only take a quick shower, eat dinner, brush my teeth and go to bed. With those two hours that are taken out of my study time, I must complete all my homework and study even more for any other graded
assignments given. To get this out of the way, doing work on the weekends has been a great help for me. I can get any projects or assignments that are due later in the week over with so I can focus more on sports or after-school activities. This strategy gets most homework out of the way, and it makes my week a less stressful time, where I don’t have to worry about forgetting to complete something. Everyone has their own opinion. Some say that sports are more important than academics or vice versa, but with hard work you can find yourself at the place in life that you, and only you, want to be in. In the summer of 2015, when I was 10 years old, I won TAGS (Texas Age Group Champs) in the 50- and 100-meter breaststroke, and this
gave me the rank of fourth in the nation. This accomplishment came with practices twice a day, morning and afternoon. This gave me even less time to do homework, but I used my strategy, and it was successful. School and sports are things that can keep us busy, but we need to learn how to take control and have fun with both. 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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Social Security retirement benefits Social Security is a significant source of income for older Americans. Retirement benefits are available at age 62, and disability benefits at any age. If you start retirement benefits at 62, the monthly benefit is up to 30 percent less than if you wait until full retirement age, which varies with your birth year, from 66 to 67. If you wait until age 70, the monthly benefit is up to 30 percent more. Most retirees claim their benefits too early, resulting in significantly decreased monthly and total lifetime payments. Unless you die prematurely, it pays to wait. As a rule, if you expect to live beyond 78, wait until full retirement age to start Social Security retirement benefits. If you (or your spouse) expect to live to 82½, wait until 70. If married, you can take either a spousal benefit based on the other spouse’s earnings (if that spouse is already receiving Social Security) or a retirement benefit based on your own work record, whichever is higher. Survivor benefits are available based on a deceased spouse’s earnings record. “File and suspend” was a strategy that allowed the lower-earning spouse to receive benefits based on his or her own earnings record while the higher-earning spouse’s account continued to grow. That loophole closed April 29, 2016. Disregard “helpful” explanations that suggest that ploy. It doesn’t work any more. “File and switch” still works, but only if both spouses are eligible for retirement benefits and at least one reached age 62 in 2015. In this strategy, an individual at full retirement age applies for spousal benefits based on the other spouse’s earnings record, allowing the applicant’s own retirement ben-
efit to continue to grow (up to age 70). Single or married, most people will receive more Social Security benefits if they do not claim them at 62, but instead wait until full retirement age (66 to 67) or, better yet, age 70, for the maximum retirement benefit. Regardless whether you defer Social Security retirement benefits, don’t wait on Medicare, the health insurance plan for people who are age 65 or older. Most Americans will want to contact Social Security about three months before their 65th birthday to apply for Medicare, even those still working. For more information, visit www.ssa.gov and www.ssa.gov/medicare/. Sally Burch Hurme, Get the Most Out of Retirement (2017), is another great resource. Chapter 9 discusses Social Security, and Chapter 10 explains Medicare. We write wills and go to probate court. We offer no-obligation initial interviews for estate planning and administration, so it costs nothing to hear specific recommendations that suit your needs. Foreign nationals and international families welcome. Russell W. Hall, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Board Certified – Estate Planning and Probate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 6750 West Loop South, Suite 920, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.662.3853, www.rwhpc.com
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Gather at the Turquoise Table
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713.662.2119 www.roveroaks.com
Peanut, age 2, Dachshund, Rice Blvd. My name is Peanut, but you could also call me PP. The generous folks from Dachshund Rescue of Houston arranged my adoption last year, and I am so happy to have been a part of the West University community ever since. I love going on short walks to sniff the neighborhood, and I never let the weather get in the way. My beautiful coat and cute outfit attract kids as well as adults. If they start to pet me, I often lie down and beg for belly rubs regardless of location. If you hear me bark and wag my tail, it’s only because I am very excited to sniff or play with you. I am still a bit shy at the dog park, so please be patient if I take my time to trundle along or dip in the pool with my canine buddies. 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.
Kristin Schell simply wanted to get to know her neighbors. When she moved to her neighborhood in Austin several years ago, she saw garage doors go up and down, but never saw an actual neighbor. Craving a simple way to connect with others around her, she took a mistaken delivery as her talisman. A picnic table she had ordered for her backyard was delivered to her front yard, under a magnolia tree right by the curb. She decided to paint it “Nifty Turquoise” and leave it in the front, and the #FrontYardPeople movement was born. Kristin never dreamed her table could spark a movement, but now there are Turquoise Tables all over the United States, around the world and at Magpies in Bellaire. Since Magpies has been a part of the Bellaire community for more than 30 years, this family-owned business hopes Magpies can be a resource for connection and community! Front Yard People can connect right there in front of this neighborhood gift shop or at Kristin’s blog and on social media. Kristin’s first book, The Turquoise Table: Finding Connection and Community in Your Own Front Yard (Thomas Nelson), will be available to buy at Magpies in June. It is a full-color hospitality guide filled with how-to ideas and recipes to help readers connect with neighbors, wherever they live. You can gather around the Turquoise Table at Magpies and see how beautiful connecting with others is! Magpies Gifts, 5000 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire Texas 77401, 713.661.9777, www.magpiesgifts.com
Get Your Morning Buzz Every weekday morning, enjoy your coffee + the buzz in your inbox. Our brand-new e-newsletter, Morning Buzz, will include buzzworthy stories about neighbors every day, Monday-Friday. Sign up to find out what we’re buzzing about at thebuzzmagazines.com/morning-buzz.
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Real-estate analytics 1Q17 Summer is the time to smile Good news: The real estate market strength in West University and Southside Place demonstrated in the second half of 2016 has carried forward into the first quarter of 2017 (1Q17), as expected. A few highlights, all based on Houston Association of Realtors (HAR) MLS data: • 49 residential units reported sold in 1Q17, the second highest in the last 10 years. • Sales volume of $62,015,500 in 1Q2017 is 62 percent over $38,091,500 for 1Q2016. • 89 percent of residential sales in the 2017 1Q were resales vs. 5 new construction sales. • Average sales price for 2017 1Q was $1,281,835, down 1.4 percent from $1,300,508 in 1Q 2016. • There were no sales in 2016 over $3 million, but through April 2017 there have been 4 over $3 million, including 2 over $4 million – the first sales I have seen in West U/Southside over $4 million. • Inventory supply (in months) was at 3.2 months on March 31, 2017, but has crept back to 4.6 months as new listings have come on the market. I’m a “numbers guy,” and these a just a few of the West U/Southside statistics that I prepare. If you’d like more detailed information, please feel free to contact me, your West U neighbor. George Sutherland, Greenwood King Properties, 832.435.7942, george@greenwoodking.com
Summer is just around the corner, and for many people, summer is the most convenient time to begin orthodontic treatment. Free from the demands of the busy school year, children are able to get a jump start on their treatment during the lazy days of summer. It really is the best time to start on the path to a confident, new smile. One of the benefits to starting your orthodontic treatment during the summer is scheduling. We completely understand how busy our patients are with school, sports, clubs and after-school activities. With all those extra-curriculars, it can be difficult to find time to make an orthodontic appointment. During summer vacation, finding time for your orthodontic appointment becomes much easier. We can start your smile transformation while you have an open schedule, making life easier before you transition back into school mode. Aside from having an open schedule, summer allows patients to have some extra time to adjust to their new braces or Invisalign before returning to school in the fall. Your child will have plenty of extra time to get adjusted to the look and feel of their new treatment, making them more confident about wearing them at school. Let your child’s new school year start with the beginning of a beautiful smile! To schedule your complimentary consultation, please call 713-766-1921. Dr. Vladimir Tabakman and Dr. David M. Wadler, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 105, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.766.1921, www.rocknbraces.com
What is Urban Group Fund? A real estate investment company for serious investors. Why invest with Urban Group Fund? We provide investors with access to real estate investments that traditionally have only been available to major institutions. What kind of returns can I expect? Visit us at www.urbangroupfund.com to see our current offering with minimum investment of $25K and a projected IRR of 17%-20.4%. SAN FELIPE CHASE PLAZA • 5847 SAN FELIPE STREET, SU ITE 1700, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77057 • (713) 914-1100
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NEIGHBORS
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by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer
Buzz About Town Tech upgrade
Taylor, Jeremy Taylor, Anna Taylor (front), Robyn Atlas Nooteboom, Angela Atlas and Kevin Muyitsa (pictured, from left) were feeling groovy for Brian Atlas’s Beatles-themed 65th surprise party. The group boarded a 1960s Volkswagen bus loaned to Kimberly by Erin Goldman’s mom, JoAnne Mandel, who drove it over and parked it on Kimberly's lawn on University for the surprise party. A Beatles cover band kept the 60 guests in party mode. A 3-tier colorful birthday cake and party décor filled the room.
Catarineau who sang the Fugees’ version of Killing Me Softly. Pictured (from left) are Yan, Tanzil and Catarineau with guitarist Nour Regaila.
Egg hunt
Pin Oak talent show West University Elementary students, including (pictured, from left) Reese Sicinski, Natalie Giannone and Kate Jurkash, completed the school’s first boosterthon Mustang Stampede. Children collected pledges to raise funds for upgraded technology in the school, including teacher workstations, iMac computers, iPads, iPad covers, IT hourly support staff and stage cameras for performances held in the cafeteria.
Come together Zac Harrington, Kimberly Atlas Harrington, Faye and Hazel Harrington (front), Julie Atlas
Fans cheered and took videos of their favorite acts at Pin Oak Middle School for the annual Idol Talent Show. Celebrity judges included Buzz writer Sharon Brier; Pat Middleton of the New 93Q and KTHT 97.1FM Country Legends; Jawad Abdul-Jabbar, musician and teacher with Young Audiences of Houston; and Jaime Titus, worship arts coordinator at The Story Houston. The show was a fundraiser for Pin Oak’s music and cultural arts department. First place went to Estelle Yan, who played Gardens in the Rain by Claude Debussy on the piano. Second place went to Audrey Tanzil for singing Popular from the musical Wicked. Third place was to Isabel
A rainy forecast didn’t stop the Bellaire Young Mothers from hosting their annual Easter Egg Hunt at Nature Discovery Center. Maggie Wilson (pictured) poked around the park looking for eggs with her basket. Local moms, including Angie Gubitz, Julie McNee, Lisa Lim, Sheena Varughese and Jayne Johnston, visited as their kids were on the hunt. Membership in BYM is $25 a year and is open to moms of all ages with kids of all ages who reside in the communities in and around Bellaire. See bellaireyoungmothers.org.
St. Mark’s D.C. field trip Eighth-grade students from St. Mark’s Episcopal School visited Washington (continued on page 42) WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2017 40
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Avoiding stress fractures
A minute with Maisie
Stress fractures are hairline cracks in a bone. In young people, these can develop as a result of overexertion or prolonged high-impact exercise, such as running or tennis. But they may also occur in middle-aged or elderly people, especially women, who experience a reduction in bone density or the more severe condition known as osteoporosis. People with such conditions may develop stress fractures even as a result of normal daily activities, such as walking. In the feet, stress fractures most often occur in the metatarsal bones, the long bones leading to the toes, but they can also occur in the heel. The best way to prevent a stress fracture is to avoid sudden increases in activity or exercise by gradually building up your exercise regimen. Wear well-cushioned shoes to reduce impact on your feet. Warm up before you exercise, because limber muscles allow better joint flexibility, which in turn helps cushion the impact on your bones. Symptoms of a stress fracture include: 1. Pain when you press on a bone. 2. Possible redness and swelling. 3. Pain that develops after you increase your activity level or, if you are middle-aged or older, with your normal activity level. If you think you have a stress fracture in your foot, see your Bellaire podiatrist. Whatever you do, don’t continue exercising. You might break the bone completely. Bellaire Podiatry/Nail Laser Center of Houston, Dr. Barry P. Weinstein, 4909 Bissonnet, Suite 120, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.721.5500, www.BarryWeinsteinDPM.com
Many clients ask me, “Can someone be married without a formal ceremony?” The Texas Family Code provides that an informal marriage, or “common law marriage,” is possible if the parties live together as husband and wife, hold themselves out as husband and wife and agree to be married. Each of these elements must be proven in court in order for the court to make the finding that an informal marriage exists. If one party denies the existence of the informal marriage, the parties must litigate these facts and are entitled to a jury on this issue. These cases are very fact intensive and can create costly litigation. One’s property rights may be adversely affected by the finding of an informal marriage as it creates a community property estate. While there can be an informal marriage, there is no mechanism for an informal divorce. Therefore, if you think you may have entered into an informal marriage, seek the advice of counsel, as it does require a formal divorce in order to dissolve the marriage. Maisie A. Barringer is a partner at Jenkins & Kamin, L.L.P., a fullservice, boutique, family-law firm specializing in divorce, child-custody modifications, grandparent access, paternity, adoption, and premarital and postmarital agreements. Maisie A. Barringer has been recognized as a Texas Rising Star by Texas Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters service printed in Texas Monthly magazine for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013. Jenkins & Kamin, L.L.P., Maisie A. Barringer, Partner, Board Certified in Family Law, Two Greenway Plaza, Suite 600, Houston, Texas 77046, 713.600.5500, www.jenkinskamin.com
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D.C. and Pennsylvania this spring. They explored American history, learned about the U.S. government, and discovered how media outlets find authentic sources to avoid fake news. Students Ryan Roylance, Colby Covington, Canivan Anton and Jonathan Saucier stopped to have their caricatures drawn at a visitors center in Pennsylvania.
(continued from page 40)
A family affair
food and open green space for people of all ages. Formerly Teas Nursery, the area was turned into a park when brothers Jerry and Maury Rubenstein bought the land in 2009 and gave it the City of Bellaire with one condition, that it be used as a park and named in honor of their mother, Evelyn,
Evelyn’s Park opening Evangeline and Olivier Tardif (pictured, from left) celebrated the grand opening of Evelyn’s Park at Picnic in the Park. The park, at 4400 Bellaire Blvd., is five acres and features a variety of fun and
Dylan Aguilar
Debbi, Olivia, Benjy and Mike Huang (pictured, from left) were among those hanging out on the green grass at the West U Recreation
Center for the city’s annual spring celebration. The West U Parks and Recreation Department hosts the annual event for local families. Events kicked off with an Arbor Day celebration before families headed for activities including face painting, bouncy castles and photos with the Easter Bunny.
a longtime Bellaire resident and philanthropist. The park’s Ivy & James café (which opened in May) provided box lunches at the Picnic in the Park. Having fun were Zach Lavige, Trey Russo, Kade Richardson, Dylan Taylor, Eddie Kalmin, and Jacqueline and Hayley Willey. Check out a photo slideshow from Evelyn’s Park Opening Day at thebuzzmagazines.com; search Community Celebrates Grand Opening of Evelyn’s Park.
Dylan Aguilar
A night for Project 88
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Ericka Graham, John and Cherie Lindley (pictured, from left) filed into Ecclesia for the Game Day Gala in support of Project 88. Founders Ericka and Garrett Graham celebrated the evening with founding (continued on page 44)
From her first steps through graduation. A portrait remembers. Mention The Buzz and receive a $75.00 studio session and other back-to-school specials. Call for details. Offer valid through June 30, 2017
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chairs Hannah and Cal McNair and Lisa and Chris Seay. Host-committee chairs were Megan and Brian Cushing and Amanda and Jon Weeks. Project 88 helps underserved and low-income students by, among other things, supporting Advise TX college advisors in public schools and sponsoring summer success programs at Rice University. Emcees for the night were Chester Pitts and Melissa Knowles, who kept the energy high in the room.
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A walk in the park
Maja Latham
It was a big day for the fight to end bladder cancer. Around 150 supporters including (pictured, from left) Jim Harris, Andy Varner, Vivian Varner and (not pictured) mom Courtney and daughter Ava Grace lined up at Terry Hershey Park for the AmpUp Houston Walk to End Bladder Cancer. Balloons welcomed everyone to keep the spirits lifted. The event was sponsored by BCAN, the Bladder Cancer Advocacy
Network. A total of $ 67,000 was raised. Participants who spoke were Dr. Seth Lerner from Baylor College of Medicine and Dr. Arlene Siefke from M.D. Anderson. The Lester and Sue Smith Foundation was the national sponsor of this inaugural walk, and local sponsors included Baylor College of Medicine, MD Anderson and the Herrin and Harris families. See bcan.org for more information about the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network.
Billy. Guests were greeted by stilt-walking fairies, a medieval king and queen, a magician and a mystical dragon. There were crafts, games, a petting zoo, rock-climbing wall and pony rides. Attendees donated Legos, crayons, Hot Wheels cars, markers and Play-Doh to Texas Children’s Child Life Department, which provides developmental, educational and therapeutic interventions for children undergoing medical treatment. Attending were Scott and Brooke Hutson (with children Parker and Caroline); Staci and John Donovan (with children Grace, Evelyn and John William); Kathleen and James Jennings (with children Wade, James and Evie); Tracey and Andrew Hull (with children Margaret and Caroline); Jennifer Roberts (with children Blakely and Kipling); and Rachael and Jason Volz (with children Oliver and George).
Bare with them
A magical event Nearly 600 families and children, including Michael, Teddy and Amy Beeson (pictured, from left), walked into an “enchanted forest” at the 8th annual Family Fun Day, hosted by Ambassadors for Texas Children’s Hospital. The event was held at the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center and chaired by Missy and Wayne Herndon, with their children Steele, Will and Magnus, and Nicole and Will Murphy, with their children Madelyn and
Melissa Poteet (pictured, at left) and Allison Levine (right) are co-chairing the upcoming event this month Breast Strokes: Hadassah Bares All for A.R.T (Awareness, Research, and Treatment). It will begin with Paint Day on June 25, when a group of women, including breast-cancer survivors, have planned to gather at the Jewish Community Center to volunteer to have their torsos painted and photographed for a future art auction that will raise money for breast cancer research and education. The event is being sponsored by Bellaire Dermatology and Meyerland Animal Clinic. Local artists and photographers are volunteering their time for the cause. Hadassah is a large volunteer organization. It has nearly 5,000 members in Houston. For more information, contact houstonbreaststrokes@gmail.com or 713-661-1022. 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.
WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2017 44
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behance.net/runamokstudios
NEIGHBORS
by Andria Frankfort, staff writer
Back Porch
The next great book
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ummer has finally begun (!) and a lot of us will be looking for books to read, whether we’re traveling or just enjoying a slowed-down schedule. For me, figuring out what to read is often a shot in the dark. Friends will recommend books, or I’ll read something somewhere about a book that sounds interesting. I’ll jot these ideas down on a running list in “Notes” on my iPhone. Weeks or months later, when I visit the list to find something to read, I’m usually a little baffled – I’ll have a book’s title, maybe the author’s name, but nothing else. Only that at one time, the book intrigued me. There’s a better way. Stephanie Ostrosky, mom of three young kids, married to Luis, an infectious-diseases specialist, is a more organized reader. “Last year I read 52 books,” she says. 52? “I keep track on Goodreads (goodreads.com). You can put on books that you’ve read, books you want to read and books that you’re currently reading. When you finish the book, you can rate it one to five and review it.” Stephanie connected with Goodreads via Facebook. “Anybody I’m friends with on Facebook who is on Goodreads is automatically connected to me. I can see what my friends are reading, and I can read their reviews. “Every once in awhile, it will send an email letting me know a friend put an update on Goodreads. So I can see what people who I know like similar books are reading.” Beyond Goodreads, Stephanie says she and her husband Luis used to read together. “We’d actually buy two books – like the Divergent series and Harry Potter – and we’d read them at the same time. Now he doesn’t have the time to read. But he listens to NPR, which I don’t, and he’ll hear about books he think I’ll like and come home and tell me. While I’m reading, he’ll ask, ‘What’s happening now?’ I’ll tell him what’s happening along the way.” Stephanie also spends four hours a week volunteering at the Kinkaid Lower School library. She’s gotten some recommendations there, too. That’s how she found Everything Everything, by Nicola Yoon. “The librarian told me about Yoon. [Everything Everything] was short enough WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2017 46
to get through in a day, an easy read. About a [teenaged] girl who has a medical issue, one of those ‘boy in a bubble’ kind of things. She can’t leave the house, and she starts a relationship with a boy next door through her window. How can she manage a relationship when she can’t leave the house? Before she didn’t know any different, and now there’s this apple she needs to have. There’s a good twist, and I will tell you I figured it out before it happened. Every time that happens I tell my husband. He’s not reading the book, but I just have to get it out there!” Also connected to READ ALONG Get your reading list ready to go, and you'll be ready for those her library duties, slow summer days. Stephanie touts local tsunamis and hurricanes come, all the stuff that author Katherine Center. “I loved The Lost the moon affects that I didn’t know about. The Husband. It made me want to move to a farm book is about one girl and her family and how and raise a goat!” The novel, which People calls they’re affected.” “a sweet tale about creating the family you Carpool line is another spot where Stephanie need,” chronicles a young widow’s somewhat finds inspiration. She says moms will jump out drastic move with her two small children to a of cars and ask, ‘What are you reading now?’ Hill Country goat farm. Katherine was recently Because she reads everything on her iPhone the speaker at a volunteer-appreciation lunchthrough iBooks, her library is portable. “It’s eon for Kinkaid library volunteers. small, but I have it everywhere I am,” she says. On the other end of the literary spectrum, “I get samples of books and keep them there Stephanie loves post-apocalyptic novels. “Not until I’m ready to read them.” Which makes the zombie type, but the kind where a big flu hits Stephanie perpetually ready to hear about the and everybody dies off except a couple of peonext great book. ple,” she says. “They’re fun to read, but then I think about them all the time. What would happen? Should we have guns? How would we find See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com to share food? Now everyone in my family has a bicycle your summer reading suggestions. And for more on just in case!” books, see thebuzzmagazines.com/book-buzz, a blog Life as We Know It, by Susan Beth Pfeffer, is created by librarians from the Houston Public Library, Stephanie’s suggestion for the genre. “The moon Harris County Public Library and Bellaire Library. gets off track after an asteroid hits it, and then
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