The West University Buzz - June 2021 by The Buzz Magazines

Class of

Ella Brissett

2021 by Jenna Mazzoccoli

As the Churches Turn Boy Scouts in the Big Thicket Chef’s Corner: Jonathan Benno Pregnant During the Pandemic Stargazing

Houston, TX

It’s Time to Grill

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Bringing Baby to the Beach

EDITOR’S NOTE “The only constant in life is change.” Things often do not go according to plan. Trust me, I know. My younger self would have had a hard time believing that it all works out. But it almost always does. This is our 20th year of publishing The Buzz, a rewarding life project. But, in case you didn’t know, it was born out of job loss and drastic change in an uncertain time. This issue is our eighth highlighting neighborhood seniors – it’s crazy to think that the first seniors we featured are now full-fledged adults making their way in this world. The Class of ’21 had a senior year like no other. Their traditional conclusion to high school was turned upside down and sideways by the cancellations, isolation, and, in many cases, economic hardship that the pandemic brought. It might not be the graduation year they – and their families – envisioned, but it’s one they conquered and will remember. We are all proud. Congratulations, Class of 2021! joni@thebuzzmagazines.com

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

On our cover: The Kinkaid School graduating senior Ella Brissett will play tennis at Claremont McKenna College. 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 © 2021 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.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 4

Prevention versus Intervention

Specific Learning Disability (SLD) in Reading and/or Dyslexia • Phonological Awareness • Sound-symbol Association • Reading Comprehension • Reading Fluency PreK 4 - 2nd Grade Tammy Spencer, Founder • The Code Academy 3642 University Blvd., Suite 101, West University Place, TX 77005 832.767.0915 • www.UnlockLiteracy.com "If they can't learn the way we teach, we teach the way they learn" - Ignacio Estrada WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 5

MAILBAG

Your letters, thoughts, opinions Bird migration deserves spotlight As a longtime Houston Audubon volunteer, I was delighted to see your interesting article [Spotting Beauty: Spring wave of color delights Houston birders, by Meg Scott, April 2021] highlighting spring migration in the Houston area. The incredible quantity and diversity of birds is one of the many things that makes our area of the country so special, and spring migration is the icing on the cake! People come from literally all over the world to see a phenomenon that we have the privilege of enjoying from our own backyard. Spring migration is also a reminder for those who feel a sense of stewardship not only of how lucky we are to have the ability to connect with so many birds, but also of the opportunity we have to make a real difference in protecting them and the habitat they need to thrive, even if that just means developing and nurturing a bird-friendly yard. Ben Hulsey, past president, Houston Audubon

Kids doing something brilliant Writer [Jennifer Oakley] did a great job showing off kids doing something brilliant [War Over the Board: Young chess players face off, April 2021]. I used to love playing chess when I was a kid. I always felt odd and different. I am so glad to see a beautiful young lady showing off brains and not just beauty. I hope this inspires more kids to play chess instead of video games. Barbara Hahn

setting of the sun, but it is not on the last day of Ramadan. It is actually in the next lunar month, Shawaal, i.e. the first of Shawaal. It is a 3-day holiday and it (Eid) marks the end of fasting. If you wanted to simplify you could simply say that Eid starts after Ramadan. Regarding the sequencing of taraweeh and the breaking of the fast, in this sentence, “Many families then break their fast together after sunset…,” the word “then” implies that the fast is broken after taraweeh. The fast is broken at sunset followed by magreb prayers, isha prayers, and finally taraweeh (an additional supererogatory prayer in Ramadan). The simplest fix would be to eliminate the word “then.” Thank you once again for the coverage. Hopefully these details can be corrected, and some mention may be made in/after the print edition so there is no misunderstanding. It should not diminish the import of the article or the time and effort you all put into it. We are grateful. Katharine Gratwick Editor’s note: Thank you for the close read and thoughtful feedback. We made some of your suggested changes in the online version at thebuzzmagazines.com. 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.

Ramadan traditions We are thrilled about the coverage of Ramadan and Eid [Ramadan Traditions: Fast, reflect, pray, give, eat, by Pooja Salhotra, May 2021]. The interviews are heartwarming and have the potential to engender real compassion and understanding. I did, however, want to alert you to a couple of errors. In the paragraph starting “Fasting doesn’t impact everyone the same way, Ayo said…,” the remainder of this sentence may be misconstrued. The statement implies that people choose to fast for certain days during Ramadan. That is only true throughout the year, outside of the month of Ramadan. Some Muslims do voluntary fasts on Mondays and Thursdays, as well as on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of every lunar month and other specific days. In Ramadan, however, it is compulsory on all able-bodied adults to fast the entire month; exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis. The sentence is therefore only correct in the sense that people who are accustomed to fasting outside of Ramadan are usually used to not eating or drinking during daylight and are not as impacted as those who only fast during Ramadan. In the paragraph starting “On the last day of Ramadan, this year on May 12, Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr.” Eid al-Fitr technically starts after the WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 6

What’s your story? We are looking for residents for upcoming articles who: • Have special back-to-school traditions. • Know a Buzzworthy neighbor to profile. • Have an interesting hobby. • Have a unique travel story. • Play a musical instrument and would like to be part of our “Name That Tune” video series on Facebook. If this sounds like you or someone you know, please contact us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com or 713.668.4157, ext 12.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 7

NEIGHBORS by Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld, staff writer

Lisa Beth Photography

The Best Silver Lining Pregnant during the pandemic

here’s the heartbeat,” the technician said matter-of-factly, pointing out the subtle movement in the tiny blob that would make me a mother. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. “You’re about eight weeks along,” she reported. A huge smile spread across my face, hidden under my mask. I’m sure I said something out loud at that moment but can’t remember what. My mind was focused on that sweet new heartbeat thumping along, on my husband nervously waiting in the car outside, on the future.

or as long as I can remember, I have had deep fears surrounding medicine: needles, doctors, surgeries, pills. Movie scenes in a hospital make me shudder. So, I had imagined that pregnancy and all that comes with it – constant doctors’ visits, blood tests, the pain of giving birth – would be especially challenging. But never could I have imagined that my pregnancy would take place during a historic pandemic. I could go into detail about what that was like: going to every appointment solo, the tedious ritual of the double masks, hand sanitizer, forehead temperature checks, the same Covid-related questions prior to every appointment, including a phone call, questions through the MyChart app, plus a survey upon arrival, that poor person whose job it became to press the elevator button for patients. Doctors aside, there was the experience of trying to keep a baby safe during a time that felt unsafe, the fear of going anywhere, seeing anyone, the worries of how every decision could impact our baby, and finally, the actual delivery – while wearing a mask. I could tell you what it was like for me to experience pregnancy for the first time while being physically separated from family and friends. Sharing the news with our parents that they would soon be grandparents without being able to hug them. Watching my belly grow without witnesses. Searching for maternity clothes and an overwhelming amount of baby gear without stepping foot in stores. The missed opportunity of connecting with other soon-to-beWEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 8

mamas, lamenting over nausea and lack of sleep and sharing in the excitement of feeling our babies kick. Some feelings are universal when it comes to pregnancy and parenthood, no matter who you are, where you live, or what year it is. But it feels important to recognize that all of us on the BEST PART OF 2020 Amid a turbulent year, Buzz associate editor Jordan Steinfeld cusp of bringing a and husband Matt were overjoyed to welcome baby Sloane in December. baby into a scary experienced anxiety despite meditation and 2020 world were faced with a different landrelaxation techniques, but I made it through by scape. focusing on my baby, envisioning what she’d But here’s what I’ll also tell you: look like, be like. I held a calming hand on my During a distressing and depressing time, my belly. It was pure joy every time I felt her kick, husband, Matt, and I were able to focus on our a meaningful conversation without words. gratefulness and happiness. When we were casuThroughout this journey, friends and family ally asked, How are you doing? I remember feelcheered us on from a safe distance. And during ing twinges of guilt when sharing our exciting the uncomfortable moments – needles and news. Every time, we were met with the same exams, wondering about the impacts of a virus genuine response: I’m so happy to hear something we didn’t know much about, or worrying about positive! That’s how we felt, too. We focused on current events – I kept thinking about this baby. the wonder of that little blob. What an incredibly lucky child to be so cherWhile it’s crucial to acknowledge the severity ished. A profound love existed for her before she of the pandemic and how it’s impacted so many, even arrived. How fortunate we are to have this there are silver linings. For me, they included kind of love surrounding us. working from home during pregnancy (think: stretchy clothing, chicken noodle soup, and gineveral intense hours after we arrived at the ger ale always on hand, skipping a commute hospital, our precious Sloane made her arrival when feeling extra tired). And, of course, the into the world. A world that was overwhelmingly biggest and best silver lining was preparing to new. Too loud, too bright, too cold. A nurse welcome our daughter into the world. A world placed her on my chest. Hi, baby! I love you so that can, at times, be scary, tragic, uncertain. much, I told her, or something along those lines. And simultaneously, full of joy, beauty, miracles. I can’t remember exactly what I said. What I My entire life, I had feelings of dread before remember is the surreal feeling of looking into any kind of doctor’s appointment, experiencing my daughter’s eyes – my daughter! – and smiling so much anxiety that I would often feel physiat her from underneath my mask. In that cally ill. So it was ironic that I started to look moment, our heartbeats synced. And I let out a forward to appointments just to receive the reasbreath I didn’t know I had been holding. suring words that everything was okay. I still

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NEIGHBORS by Cindy Gabriel, staff writer

As the Churches Turn Stinky Mud Photography

A tale of coming full circle

y head is still spinning, my heart still aching over what brought these two churches face to face. They have shared the same block for over a century, facing different streets. I’m still trying to get my head wrapped around the turning of events that brought them together. It all pivots around Harry Gabriel, my marathon-running, Swiss Alp-skiing, scuba diving, former brother-in-law. By the way, artist, landscaper, and philanthropist further apply. Harry lived large, from the quaint but thriving outpost of his birth, Ponchatoula, Louisiana, a town of swamps, fish camps, Spanish moss, gators, strawberry farms, and Cajun cooking, just a skip across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans. About 18 years ago, just when you thought Harry’s bachelor life couldn’t get any better, this handsome, fit, healthy-living world traveler was diagnosed with acute leukemia. He was only 44. Acute, as in, get thyself to Houston a-sap, where your brother lives, to MD Anderson. Harry would endure two bone-marrow transplants, one in 2005, then again in 2011. As Harry put it, “Staying alive has become my full-time job.” But that wasn’t entirely true. In 2019, before we all went into hiding, an old circa-1901 Lutheran church (minus the Lutherans) went up for sale. Harry told his Houston brother, John, an architect, that he bought the church, a few blocks from their childhood home, with the idea of turning it into some kind of arts center. That triggered John’s memory of his LSU architectural thesis, which involved that very property 45 years ago. In the same block is also an even older circa1879 Presbyterian Church sitting empty, though filled with the memories of about 60 Presbyterians still meeting in a newer church next door. John observed that it and the 1901 Lutheran church shared similar design and dimensions, including steeples sitting close to their entrances pointing skyward. John’s thesis project showed the two churches with “Twin Steeples” meeting face to face, joined by a courtyard. Both churches would need to be hydraulically lifted and turned to make this happen. Since Harry owned the WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 10

COMING FACE TO FACE Two old beauties finally meet to form the Twin Steeples Creative Arts Center in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, after sharing the same block for 120 years.

Lutheran church, his only challenge was to persuade the Presbyterians to turn over their beloved church to be literally lifted and turned away from them, to face its Lutheran neighbor, where together they would be turned into a secular arts center with no strings attached. Interestingly, Aaron Gordon, the young new minister, was mulling a similar scenario. As a musician himself, Aaron appreciated the acoustics of the old wooden church. In 2019, he was already inviting local musicians in to play in some informal gatherings. They were just getting traction when the pandemic hit. “My philosophy is that churches need to get out of the ‘come in here and see us’ mindset,” he said. Aaron’s idea was to look around and see the good stuff already happening and get behind it. Aaron wasn’t always a minister. He had a previous career as a general contractor. Once he saw the set of detailed architectural drawings from John’s thesis, already done, Aaron realized that he had the skills to manage this project. On the artist side was Kim Zabbia, former Ponchatoula High School art teacher, entrepreneur, and a noteworthy artist in her own right. Another bonus, Kim happens to be the wife of Robert Zabbia, mayor of Ponchatoula. Kim agreed to use her considerable connections to head up fundraising, with Harry’s promise to match every dollar raised.

Harry, a stickler for detail, spent 2020 in total seclusion, creating a 501(c)(3), articles of incorporation, and a mission statement, identifying the board, and assigning specific functions to each board member. It was to be called Twin Steeples Creative Arts Center. Kim agreed to chair the board. Word traveled quickly throughout the town, prompting a surprising number of donations for just an idea on paper. Kim had one final request to keep the momentum going. “I told Harry the churches need to be turned to face each other. You can only raise so much money on a good idea. They need to see it’s actually happening.” Harry got on it. The date was set for Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. Meanwhile, Harry noticed he had recently been losing weight. He figured it had to do with his obsessive work, sometimes until 4 a.m., on Twin Steeples. Still, he knew his body, so he scheduled a quick run to MD Anderson, telling everybody he’d be “right back.” Then came the stunning news that the cancer was back. On Jan. 21, 2021, Harry watched via FaceTime from his hospital bed as the churches were hoisted into the air and swiveled around to face each other. On March 18, 2021, Harry took his last breath with his brother John at his side. Like Moses unable to enter the Promised Land, this story is just getting started.

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NEIGHBORS by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Stargazing Families Remembering to look up at night

ooking up into the sky at night, with a telescope or your naked eye, is a mind-expanding, mesmerizing experience, no matter what age you are, but especially when you live in “Space City.” We recently heard from Buzz families infatuated with astronomy, including one whose interest stretches across three generations. From their Texas farm in Giddings to visiting Space Center Houston in Clear Lake, the Dorsey family loves learning about space, planets, NASA, rockets, and more. Grandfather-ofeight Tommy Dorsey says he does not want his grandchildren “to take NASA for granted.” Tommy has made it a personal goal to teach his family just how important the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is, especially considering that the Houston-area Johnson Space Center serves as a hub of human spaceflight activity, home to the astronaut corps, the International Space Station mission operations, the Orion Program, and more. He and family make regular visits to Space Center Houston, the non-profit official visitors center for Johnson Space Center, a science-education fantasyland where you can look at moon rocks, see rockets, and learn about space exploration. A highlight for kids is a first-hand look into the life of the astronauts living on the International Space Station – how they squeeze into tight quarters in the shuttle, how they eat their food, and use the bathroom. “Having been around since the inception of NASA, I want to share with my grandchildren some of the excitement and wonder that was felt during all stages of the space program,” he said. His eight grandkids, who all live in Houston, range in age from 1 to 15. Tommy’s son, Thomas Dorsey, says he has been fascinated by space since he was a child. He particularly enjoys stargazing out on his family farm in Giddings while he is hunting and fishing. He and the youngest Thomas (his son and Tommy’s grandson), who is 9, love to watch NASA rockets launch on television from Cape Canaveral, Florida. They always follow rocket-launch schedules and tune in on the television to watch them live. “They will be out and call and say, ‘Ok, we have to watch the rocket launch,’” said Kristin, WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 12

FULL NIGHT AHEAD Walker, 8, and Wesley Thomas, 6, met their grandparents on top of a parking garage to look for "the Christmas star" – when Saturn and Jupiter aligned to appear as a bright star.

young Thomas’ mom. Perhaps Thomas’ generation will be considered “the Mars generation” and be the first humans to land on the red planet. Another Buzz family, the Thomas family, enjoy stargazing and planet-watching and are planning their first trip to the Space Center this summer. For now, one of their favorite experiences took place just before this past Christmas Day. The Thomas brothers, including Walker, 8, and Wesley, 6, met their grandparents on top of a Bellaire-area parking garage for a once-in-a-lifetime experience – seeing the “Christmas Star.” The so-called Christmas Star was a planetary conjunction that occurred when Jupiter and Saturn aligned to appear as a bright, beaming star. It was the closest the two planets have appeared together in about 800 years, and it will not occur again until 2080. In the Christian religion, it has been interpreted as a possible source of the Star of Bethlehem. “It was a fun memory, but most importantly for us, talking about the Christmas Star in Bethlehem and how the Wise Men followed it thousands of years ago,” said mom Julie Thomas. The boys’ grandfather, Jerry Martin, and grandmother, Jeanne Martin, had the idea to

meet their grandsons to see the star. “It was extra neat because we had not seen them as often due to Covid,” said Julie. They selected the top of a parking garage to have a treeless view of the sky. They parked their cars and waited at dusk, and finally found the star in the southwest direction. The boys hopped on top of the car, and everyone watched with binoculars. On June 24, you can see the year’s third supermoon, a moon that appears to be larger and up to 30 percent brighter than an ordinary full moon, especially when it starts to rise over the horizon. This full moon in June is traditionally called a Strawberry Moon. The Thomas family plans to visit Telluride and will be there when it occurs, so they plan to sit out in the Colorado night together to catch a glimpse. Julie has an app on her phone called SkyView Lite, which allows them to point her phone to the sky to find stars and constellations. Before that, in Houston, for the rest of you looking at the sky this month, there will be a solar eclipse June 10. See the Rice University eclipse website at space.rice.edu/eclipse, and check out more astronomical events at inthesky.org.

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NEIGHBORS by Russell Weil, contributing writer

Words of Wisdom Advice from our parents

rom a young age onward, I could always count on my parents to offer me their opinions whether I asked for them or not. It turns out they were almost always right. My dad had two sons. I was certain that the real reason we were around was for the sole purpose of helping him mow the lawn. I despised it so much that I would intentionally forget to mow a section, and when I was edging, I would take the edger inside the lawn. Over the years, as I pondered potential career options, my dad shared these wise words: “There are two types of people in the world: those who do and those who hire to do.” With success, he was saying, comes the ability to make choices in life, and I should consider how I might want to spend my time. My father eventually learned to follow his own advice and hired a lawn service. I know my parents didn’t corner the market on advice, and recently I asked some Buzz residents what words from their parents they have taken to heart. Steve Gilbert, a musician and songwriter, recalls his dad, Bob Gilbert, saying, “Use your head for something other than a hat rack.” “Basically,” says Steve, “my dad’s message was to think before you act. After he drilled it into my head a few thousand times, whenever I needed to make a semi-important decision, I would step back and think about it again before following through. I was an impulsive kid.” The two were close until Bob, a former chemical company president, passed away in January 2020. Longtime Meyerland resident Linda Christie recalls encouraging guidance from her father, Norman Christie, a retired geophysicist and Army lieutenant colonel. Linda and her father have not always had a good relationship. “He was difficult growing up,” says Linda, “I think somewhat influenced by his military background.” Not someone who outwardly expresses emotions or softer thoughts, Norman often emails clips and anecdotes to Linda on subjects of common interest. One recent email said, “Be the reason that other people have hope in this world.” “He is a reason I have hope in this world,” says Linda. “Parental advice is always worth WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 14

PEARLS FROM PARENTS Top: Steve Gilbert is glad to have his advice-giving parents, Bob and Joyce Gilbert. Bottom: Rainey Levinthal is all smiles in this 2014 photo with her wisdom-filled mom and the rest of her family. From left: Angie, Kendall, Jared, Rainey, and Chandler Levinthal.

hearing, even between an elderly parent and middle-aged child.” Linda and Norman have a close bond. Norman has mellowed through the years, and Linda often observes him quietly doing for others or for his community. Her dad inspires her through his words and actions. Buzz associate editor Cheryl Laird feels the same way about her 81-year-old dad, Larry Laird, a soft-spoken construction-company founder who loves science fiction and playing bridge competitively (so much that he learned how to play live on a computer during Covid). Larry and wife Rosemary helped friends start a church-based charity called Living Water International that has drilled many thousands of water wells in needy countries all over the world. His fatherly advice? “Pack the styrofoam cooler so it doesn’t squeak while we’re driving,” Cheryl says. “Also, forgive people. No matter what. It doesn’t matter whether they have disappointed you or sued you or been mean to you or worse. He’d just say, in his calm way, ‘You

have to forgive them, baby.’ I think of that a lot.” Rainey Levinthal, 11, is a fifth-grader at Presbyterian School of Houston, the youngest of three girls in her family. She has many close friends, is active in sports, and is opinionated. Rainey was eager to share some words of wisdom from her parents, including a most-comprehensive list of “annoying” advice. From her mother, Angie Levinthal: “You don’t always have to have the last word.” “I think they mean you don’t have to always talk back,” says Rainey, “but it makes me annoyed because I have to reply because that’s how a conversation works.” I hope Rainey never stops asking questions or forming opinions, as both will serve her well as an adult, especially if she becomes a parent, and the tables are turned. I would like to be around to see the lessons she attempts to impart to her children. By listening more and saying less, we can learn something and discover there is more to the picture. I was given the same advice by my parents. And once again, they were right.

NEIGHBORS by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

Dylan Aguilar

Belong Kitchen Serving up opportunity

hen 20-year-old Ellie Brown was six months old, her parents noticed she was missing milestones – things they had watched Ellie’s older sister Morgan do, like rolling over and sitting up. Through years of assessments and interventions spearheaded by Ellie’s mom Kim, a retired attorney, Ellie was diagnosed with IDD, or intellectual and developmental disabilities. Ellie loves to be around people, and she is a huge sports fan, especially of the Astros and anything Baylor. Her mom describes her as “super hip” and says she goes everywhere with her family. But her intellectual functioning is not typical – she reads on a second-grade level. Kim made sure Ellie went to neighborhood schools, where she received extra support. And with her husband Jay, CFO for an energy company, their oldest daughter Morgan, and their younger daughter Olivia, the Brown family has worked to make sure Ellie has always found her place in the world, a place where she belongs. When Ellie, who graduated in 2020, was a junior at Memorial High School, Kim began thinking about what would come next for her daughter. “Further academics were not going to help Ellie get a better job,” Kim says. “I decided if there was going to be an opportunity for her going forward, we were going to create it.” That’s when Kim formed the nonprofit Belong Kitchen. “It’s a place where young, capable adults can work and have meaningful employment, where students can go for a cookie after school, where moms can pick up dinner on the way home at the end of the day,” Kim explains. Ellie and six other young adults with IDD have been employed by Belong since it began. (Initially, the “fab seven” gathered in the Browns’ kitchen to prepare a limited number of meals and treats each week, spoken for on Sundays through an Instagram signup. They always sold out quickly.) Kim says they’ll eventually employ 25 people at their new storefront space; they’re accepting applications at belongkitchenhtx.org. “We’re going to provide training and certification that will give them transferable job skills, real life skills, and experience. We’re focusing WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 16

LABOR OF LOVE Ellie Brown and her mother, Kim Brown, are excited about the opening of the nonprofit Belong Kitchen's new storefront.

on the transition from high school to adulthood because that’s where there isn’t opportunity.” Ellie especially loves being the chief dishwasher. Her friend and fellow Memorial High School graduate Kendall Tate, 27, says her favorite part of work is assembling salads and enchiladas. She layers lettuce and cucumbers while someone else puts together the dressing. “Then we box it all up,” Kendall says. The path to creating Belong Kitchen, which

opens across the street from Memorial High School this month, is a story of community. “I had this vision and this idea,” Kim says. “God had a plan and put the right people in our path. We had to be patient, which is not my strong point, but it was well worth the wait.” Volunteers like Gregg Thompson of Milk & Cookies and Chris Pappas of Pappas Restaurants stepped in to help Kim with everything from creating a business model, (continued on page 18)

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 17

Marlo Wise Photography Marlo Wise Photography

WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS Top photo: Belong Kitchen program director Jennifer Cardenas shows staff members (from left) Ellie Brown, Halle Gibson, and Kendall Tate how to make her “famous” Thanksgiving pumpkin rolls. Bottom left: Some of the original Belong Kitchen staff members are (from left) Ellie Brown, Halle Gibson, Sam Adamson, John Pitner, program director Jennifer Cardenas, and Kendall Tate. Bottom right: Kendall Tate and her mom Lara Tate recently sold cookies, Rice Krispie treats, and other goodies at Chapelwood United Methodist Church's Spring Thing market. (continued from page 16) to finding a storefront, to

designing kitchen space. “The landlord [Brett Moody and Stephen Woods with Moody National] and [neighboring] Tiny’s were willing to split the space, which is prime retail space,” Kim says. “They were willing to take a chance; we don’t have a track record. And we are thrilled to have [a Milk & Cookies] in the neighborhood, so we don’t have to keep driving to West U!” Belong’s staff program director is Jennifer Cardenas, a retired Spring Branch teacher who has run a high school culinary program and special ed cooking class. She has coached the tight-knit group of seven original employees in making things like Mexican lasagna, which Kendall describes as “like lasagna, but with a Mexican flavor. It’s tortillas, filling, cheese, more tortillas, more filling, WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 18

more tortillas, then we sprinkle cheese on top.” Holidays bring specials, like Mrs. Cardenas’ famous pumpkin rolls for Thanksgiving, and “puppy chow,” a mix of cereal, powdered sugar, chocolate, and M&M’s, for Valentine’s Day. “Remember the Pop Tarts with Nutella?” Kendall’s mom Lara Tate asks, remembering their Christmas special, one of the early treats and meals Kendall and her co-workers would prepare at the Browns’ home. “Oh yes,” Kendall says, “and the breakfast medley – egg casserole, Pop Tarts, and homemade biscuits.” Ellie and her friends have slowly brought Belong Kitchen to life. For months, they’ve been cooking Brown family favorites – chicken enchiladas, lasagna – in the Browns’ kitchen,

where they often sport Astros jerseys and watch games while they cook (that is, when they’re not playing music and dancing). Dinners come prepared in pans and feed four to six people. Starting in June, customers will be able to swing by the new Belong Kitchen location to pick up dinner for their families, and maybe a cookie or Rice Krispie treat for the ride home. You can support Belong by donating, ordering dinner, or volunteering to support the employees in the kitchen, 9655 Katy Freeway, Suite 3105. See belongkitchenhtx.org. “We want people of all ages to come in and work together and form relationships within the community,” Kim says. “This is not only for [employees] to get a paycheck, but for them to have friends, to feel like they belong.” So far, things seem to be working out.

Still Undecided? The Choice is Yours. Find the College That’s Right for You.

2021 College Round-Up In-Person College Fair Wednesday, June 23 Afternoon session: 2-4 p.m. • Evening session: 6-8 p.m. Houston Baptist University • 7502 Fondren Rd., Houston,TX 77074 Join over 30 colleges and universities for a College Round-Up hosted by Houston Baptist University.The 2021 College Round-Up is your opportunity to have in-person conversations about financial aid, scholarships, and admissions. Space is limited, so make sure to register at www.HBU.edu/collegeroundup, and let us know you are coming! This is an excellent opportunity to visit lots of different colleges and universities that are ready to meet you and your families.There will be workshops on financial aid and scholarships.

Sponsored by

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 19

KIDS Meliezza Walker

by Jenna Mazzoccoli, staff writer

Class of 2021 Where are they headed?

ast year, the school year ended on an uncertain note, and graduating seniors wrapped up their high school careers wanting more. For the graduating class of 2021, their entire final year was different. Covid left its mark on every aspect of the high school experience – from the day-to-day to exciting milestones like homecoming, senior nights, prom, baccalaureates, and graduation. Despite the pandemic, the class of 2021 is looking forward. As part of our annual tradition, we asked our graduating neighbors to share their plans with us. Read on to see where local students are headed, their reflections on senior year, and what advice they’d give to their kindergarten selves. Congratulations, Class of 2021! It’s been a tough year, and you made it. James Vaquero – St. Michael Catholic School, Strake Jesuit James Vaquero is heading to Southwestern University to study Business and play baseball. His dream job would be the financial manager for the Houston Astros. “I am looking forward to studying finance while being able to play baseball at the next level. Although it is a big change, I am excited to leave home and have more independence.” If James got a chance to chat with his kindergarten self, he would tell him: “You do you, and when in doubt, improvise.” Adelle von Grabow – Rooney Ranch Elementary School, Dunstan Middle School, Lamar High School Adelle von Grabow is heading to Colorado State University to study Neuroscience. One of Adelle’s favorite high school moments was the 2020 district swim meet. “I wasn't expecting much out of my races that day, but I ended up cutting 2 seconds on my 100 fly and winning the event.” Being a student athlete was a challenge, but ultimately worth it. “It added stress, such as much less time to complete homework and less time to sleep. But I was able to make lifelong friends and participate in hard competitions.” Adelle would tell her kindergarten self these wise words: “Don't let people tell you that unicorns don't exist.” WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 20

James Vaquero – Southwestern University

Ashley Nguyen – Chinh Nghia Elementary School (Vietnam), Jane Long Academy, Lamar High School Ashley Nguyen is heading to the University of Southern California to study Neuroscience. “My interest in the human brain definitely inspires me to consider two specialties – anesthesiologist or neurosurgeon – as career options.” One of Ashley’s favorite memories from high school was Spirit Week. “Seeing everyone dressing up and showing up at school according to the themes was something we don't usually see at Lamar on a regular day.” She was involved in many clubs and organizations, including Key Club, NHS, EMERGE, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. “One piece of advice that I would definitely give my kindergarten self is to enjoy life and be as joyful as you can because you should not be worried about anything as a kindergartener!” Lili Alamshenas – The Fay School, The Awty International School Lili Alamshenas is off to the University of North Texas to study Kinesiology. She wants to be an optometrist because of her first experience getting glasses. “I remember leaving the office and looking out of the car and actually being able to see leaves on trees. I want to be able to give someone else the experience of being able to see the world clearly. Good vision is some-

thing many of us take for granted.” To her kindergarten self, Lili would say: “Keep the peace signs.” Josh Blum – Beth Yeshurun Day School, Pin Oak Middle School, The Emery/Weiner School Josh Blum is heading to the University of Southern California to study Real Estate Development and play baseball. Due to Covid, he hasn’t been able to visit the campus, but he looks forward to living in beautiful California and playing the sport he loves at a collegiate level. As a freshman at Emery/Weiner, he played on the baseball team with his older brother Jonathan, who was a senior at the time. This was one of the highlights of his high school years, as they got to travel to practices and games together. To his kindergarten self, Josh would say, “Pursue a passion that makes you happy, and do not worry about things you can't control.” Maya Alatin – Kolter Elementary School, Lanier Middle School, The Emery/Weiner School Maya Alatin is off to The University of Texas at Austin, where she will study Communications and Leadership with a minor in Business. “I knew that Communications was the major for me. Many alumni’s accomplishments aligned with my goals for the future.” Maya would like to own a business and be a leader in (continued on page 22)

Veronica Hunter

Ashley Nguyen – University of Southern California

Lili Alamshenas – University of North Texas

Josh Blum – University of Southern California Hagit Bibi

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Marla Carter Photography

Adelle von Grabow – Colorado State University

Kaleb Cole – Texas A&M University Freeman Photography

Maya Alatin – The University of Texas at Austin

Layan Baba – University of Houston

Olusegun Bolarin – Louisiana State University WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 21

(continued from page 20) her community. A few of

her favorite moments from high school include class trips. “We have not had any school trips yet this year, but we are fortunate enough to be going on a trip to Arizona and Utah. I am extremely grateful and excited that our grade is able to congregate and bond one last time before college.” She’d advise her kindergarten self: “Always be kind to everyone you meet, no matter the circumstance!” Kaleb Cole – West U Elementary School, Pershing Middle School, Lamar High School Kaleb Cole is off to Texas A&M University, where he will study Business. After he earns his degree, Kaleb’s plan is to join the Marines. “Both of my grandfathers were in the service. I have always wanted to serve my county in a similar fashion.” He hopes to serve as a Marine and one day earn the rank of lieutenant colonel. Kaleb’s favorite part of high school was interacting with friends and classmates throughout the day. “I had few opportunities to have face-toface interactions with my friends this year, though.” To his kindergarten self, Kaleb would say: “Keep improvising. It works out well.” Layan Baba – St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School, St. Pius X High School Layan Baba is heading to the University of Houston to study Public Health. Her dream is to become a pediatrician. “I’ve grown to love kids and being able to help them in any way I can has been so fulfilling, and that has been driving me to pursue my dreams.” She chose UH because it is close to home and she wants to get involved on campus while getting a great education. “I will most definitely be attending football games at UH. That’s one of the things I am looking forward to the most.” Layan would tell her kindergarten self not to blink because time flies by. Olusegun Bolarin – Epiphany Lutheran School, St. Pius X High School Olusegun Bolarin is heading to Louisiana State University, where he will study Architecture. He found his love for building at a young age, when he’d play with Legos and design structures. In high school, he ran track and played on the soccer team. In college, he is looking forward to “meeting new people and seeing what God has in store.” Olusegun would pass along these wise words to his kindergarten self: “Don't eat too much candy. It ain't good for you.” Kevin McKenna – Condit Elementary School, Lanier Middle School, Strake Jesuit Kevin McKenna is off to the University of Notre Dame to study Finance. Both of his parents graduated from Notre Dame, so he has visited the campus countless times as a kid. It’s been his dream since age 9 to be a part of the Fighting Irish. “Going to a college where I can get an amazing education and spiritual growth while being able to root for great sports teams is WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 22

Kevin McKenna – University of Notre Dame

a perfect fit for me.” His interest in finance started as a child, and he has already started trading stocks over the past year. To his kindergarten self, Kevin would say “Balance is important. Work hard, but be sure to have fun.” Ella Brissett – The Kinkaid School Ella Brissett is off to Claremont McKenna College. Ella has always been passionate about serving her community and hopes to pursue a career in the medical field in which she can help others. In college, she’s excited to meet new people and have experiences that enhance her intellectual growth and perspectives on the world. She will be a student athlete, so Ella is looking forward to teamwork and comradery with the CMC tennis team. She would tell her kindergarten self: “As you get older, don’t suppress your curiosity and keep learning.” Emily Burnett – West University Elementary School, St. John’s School Emily Burnett is going to Barnard College in New York City. She plans on taking classes in biology and physics to help decide on a major. Her dream job would be to work at NASA. “Hearing about the Perseverance rover lately has really interested me, so I think that working for NASA would be really cool.” She is excited to live in the city that never sleeps and have more independence. If Emily got to sit down with her kindergarten self, she would tell her to work hard and be confident in her abilities. Claire Frankfort – Beth Yeshurun Day School, The Emery/Weiner School, Episcopal High School Claire Frankfort is heading to Louisiana State

University, where she will study Interior Design. From a young age, Claire loved being creative. “My grandma would always tell me I should have a creative job because as a child I asked to decorate the platters of food before big family meals.” At Episcopal, Claire was involved in Admissions Council, tennis, chapel, and student senate. These activities allowed her to meet lots of students from different grades and make friends outside her year. If Claire got a chance to chat with her kindergarten self, she would say: “Talk to new people, and don’t be shy!” Mia Kalinsky – Beth Yeshurun Day School, The Emery/Weiner School Mia Kalinsky is heading to Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she will study Nursing. She is looking forward to a fresh start in a new city and to live in a state with a change of seasons. Mia has always dreamed of being a nurse. One of her favorite memories from high school was the trip Emery/Weiner took to Big Bend her freshman year. “I am not one that loves hiking, but I made the best memories on that trip.” Talking to her kindergarten self, she would say, “Don't stress so much about the future. What's important is that you enjoy the moment!” Robert W. Lane III – Valley West Elementary School, Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men, Lamar High School Robert W. Lane III is heading to Rice University to study Mechanical Engineering. One of his favorite memories from high school was his last homecoming dance. “It was my first step to truly becoming more social and stepping outside of my bubble.” At (continued on page 24)

Natural Expressions

Demese Black

Emily Burnett – Barnard College Alan Ross

Liz Junell

Ella Brissett – Claremont McKenna College

Mia Kalinsky – Marquette University

Robert W. Lane III – Rice University

Katelyn Luna – University of Arkansas Prestige

Mark Katz

Claire Frankfort – Louisiana State University

Arnulfo Macias – San Jacinto College

Bailey Maierson – Davidson College WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 23

Robert was involved in baseball, the National Honor Society, and tutoring. “The greatest skill I think I’ve gained is the ability to manage my time wisely, being able to make room for all of my tasks and activities.” To his kindergarten self, Robert would advise: “Learn Spanish earlier.”

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(continued from page 22) Lamar,

Katelyn Luna – St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School, St. Pius X High School Katelyn Luna is off to the University of Arkansas to study International Business with a concentration in Marketing. “I chose marketing because it’s a fast-growing industry, and I love being creative.” One of her favorite memories from high school was the ABC 13 flyover. “We had to arrive to school at 5 a.m., and then we had to get down to the football field and everyone had to spell out ABC 13.” If Katelyn got a chance to chat with her kindergarten self, she’d say: “Try everything and stick with something that you love and enjoy.” Arnulfo Macias – Ketelsen Elementary School, Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School, Lamar High School Arnulfo Macias is heading to San Jacinto College, where he will study Mechanics. His father sparked his interest in the field. “My dad is a mechanic, and I have been helping him for as long as I can remember. I go to work with him on Saturdays. To me, it's just so much fun.” At Lamar, Arnulfo volunteered with ROTC. He loved meeting new people and helping with the Special Olympics. Arnulfo would tell his kindergarten self to not let one class define you. He would advise to find where your strengths are and go after them. Bailey Maierson – River Oaks Elementary School, Pin Oak Middle School, St. John’s School Bailey Maierson is heading to Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina. She’s excited to delve deeper into humanities-based courses in order to figure out what she wishes to study. She was able to remain positive through her senior year. “I am grateful that the traditional senior events have been modified and are still continuing since the seniors last year were not able to engage in such events and graduate normally.” Bailey would tell her kindergarten self: “Live in the moment more because you could miss the most amazing moments if you dwell on what will happen instead of what is currently happening.” Theophane Polydoros – Poe Elementary School, Lanier Middle School, Lamar High School Theophane Polydoros is heading to Trinity University, where she will study Psychology and English. A psychologist at NASA would be her dream job. “My junior year, I worked in the NASA High School Aerospace Scholars program, and that experience has led me to gain more of an interest in NASA.” Her favorite WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 24

Theophane Polydoros – Trinity University

moment from high school was meeting her close group of friends her junior year. “And we are all still close despite the pandemic!” She said Covid has caused her to be more flexible. “It has allowed me to learn how to adapt to drastic situations.” To her kindergarten self, Theophane would say: “Keep working hard, but don’t forget to have some fun too!” Blake Maillet – Yorkshire Academy, The Briarwood School Blake Maillet is heading to Stephen F. Austin University to study Biochemistry. At The Briarwood School, Science teachers Mr. Darrell Causey and Mrs. Cathy Smith both played a large role in inspiring him to pursue a career in science. He hopes to be an optometrist in the future. Covid and online learning were not easy for Blake. It was difficult to adapt, and when allowed back on campus with some restrictions, life felt more normal. If he got a chance to chat with his kindergarten self, he would say: “Pay attention and take notes. You’ll need those for later.” Sailor May – Roberts Elementary School, Pin Oak Middle School, Bellaire High School Sailor May is heading to Baylor University to study Business. The choice to be a Baylor Bear was obvious to Sailor. She has family members who are alumni, and the Christian community appealed to her. Some of her favorite memories from high school were in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. “I loved meeting every Friday and talking about God with friends and classmates.” If Sailor got a chance to talk with her kindergarten self, she would say: “Make the most out of every day. There’s so much to life.”

Mason McHugh – First Baptist Academy, Houston Christian High School Mason McHugh is off to Texas A&M University, where he will study Engineering. He chose A&M because of the excellent programs and family connections. “A&M is my father's alma mater. My dad is my biggest mentor and somebody that I truly look up to. So to walk in his footsteps at A&M would be my honor.” Mason plans to pursue a career in aerospace engineering. “It would be so amazing to be able to design concepts for planes, and spaceships, satellites.” Talking to his kindergarten self, Mason would say: “Always have fun and keep everything in perspective.” Ryan Roylance – St. Mark’s Episcopal School, Houston Christian High School Ryan Roylance is off to the University of Mississippi where she will be studying Integrated Marketing and Communications. She is most looking forward to being a part of the Ole Miss community, going to football games, and making memories. She sees herself as an entrepreneur in the future and hopes to work with clients to solve marketing issues. If she spoke with her kindergarten self, she would say: “Don’t sweat the small stuff. Every hurt feeling from a friend or being left out of a party – it all feels enormous at the time! But I would just want that little innocent sweet girl to know she is not defined by how others treat her.” Meridian Monthy – West University Elementary School, St. John's School Meridian Monthy is off to Yale University to study Political Science. She has always been interested in politics because she was born in DC and was surrounded by (continued on page 26)

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Sailor May – Baylor University Blue Moon Photography

Blake Maillet – Stephen F. Austin University

Ryan Roylance – University of Mississippi

Meridian Monthy – Yale University

Matthew Moseley – Northwestern University

Charles Rivera-Leyden – The University of Saint Thomas

Anastacia Yefimenko – Babson College WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 25

Kim Schaffer

Margaret Rotan Photography

Mason McHugh – Texas A&M University

(continued from page 24) political discussions from

a young age. Meridian has volunteered for many campaigns and sees political action as an accessible way to make true change. One day, she hopes to be secretary of state. “I think that to truly make a difference, we need to globally collaborate to solve large problems and think that position would be the place where I could make the largest impact on foreign policy.” Speaking to her kindergarten self, Meridian would say: “Soak up all of the new information you can. You don't get to be a student forever!” Matthew Moseley – The Kinkaid School Matthew Moseley is heading to Northwestern University to study Radio, Television, and Film. “I chose Northwestern RTF because I think it’s perfect for my academic goals. I’m interested in film, but I think it’s very likely that I end up in some other focus. Northwestern lets me explore my interests.” Matthew was sad to miss out on opportunities a normal senior year would offer, but it was rewarding, nonetheless. His favorite moment of high school was his junior year cotillion. “It was the last dance I had before Covid hit. In the moment I was just having fun but looking back, I didn’t realize that I was making memories.” To his kindergarten self, Matthew would say, “Trust the process, work hard, and be true to yourself!” Charles Rivera-Leyden – St. Cecilia Catholic School, The Saint Constantine School Charles Rivera-Leyden is heading to The University of Saint Thomas to focus on Aerospace Studies. At The Saint Constantine School, Charles’ favorite teacher was Mr. John Mueller, the instructor of Great Texts and history. Mr. Mueller genuinely cared for his students. “He was patient with me when my parents lost their patience regarding my studying!” If Charles got a chance to chat with his kindergarten self, he would advise him to study hard. Anastacia Yefimenko – The Village School Anastacia Yefimenko is heading to Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, to study Entrepreneurship. She currently owns a small business called Elcove, where she sells natural refillable cleaning products. She chose to attend Babson College because of the emphasis on entrepreneurial opportunities. One of her favorite moments from high school was winning the state championship for basketball. Being a student athlete “has taught me to ‘trust the process.’ I learned that if you work hard and focus on the process, results will come.” To her kindergarten self, Anastacia would say: “Take time to relax and focus on yourself too.” Torryn Sales – Regina Howell Elementary School, Riverwood Middle School, Lamar High School Torryn Sales is heading to Syracuse University to study Biology Pre-Med. She WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 26

hopes to one day be a surgeon. Covid has felt isolating to Torryn and prevented her from meeting new people. “The lack of engagement with my learning has caused me to lose my passion for education.” In college, Torryn hopes to reignite that passion for learning and looks forward to finding more interests. If Torryn got a chance to chat with her kindergarten self, she would say: “Don’t be afraid to try new things and get out your comfort zone.”

One of Ja’Von’s favorite memories from high school was a conversation he had with Chris Gardner, the creator of The Pursuit of Happyness. “He was speaking at Lamar, and I was the first to speak to him because I went to the auditorium early, not knowing he was there yet. And we had the greatest conversation about life.” A piece of advice Ja’von would pass along to his kindergarten self is to be yourself and don't be afraid to make new friends.

Alyssa Solis – Mark Twain Elementary School, Pershing Middle School, Lamar High School Alyssa Solis is heading to Houston Community College and then plans to attend the University of Houston. This graduating class has been affected by more than just the pandemic. “Harvey, a snowstorm, and, of course, Covid have all impacted my high school experience. This senior class has had to deal with so many challenges. I think we are all pretty prepared for the road ahead.” Alyssa would tell her kindergarten self to enjoy the little things in life more often and to enjoy every special moment because they come and go so quickly.

Thalia Pullin – The School at St. George Place, Grady Middle School, Lamar High School Thalia Pullin is off to The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to study Film. At Lamar, Thalia was involved in theater. There, her love for storytelling grew. “After doing research on the Conservatoire, I realized it would be the perfect place for me, as its film curriculum focuses on storytelling, the campus is near my grandparents, and Glasgow is a beautiful place to be an artist!” Her dream job is to be a music-video director. “Good music tells a story, and I want to be a part of creating that story.” Thalia would tell her kindergarten self to always be herself.

Christian White – Oak Forest Elementary, Our Savior Lutheran School, Lutheran High North Christian White is heading to Texas A&M University, where he will study Engineering. His dream job would be a video-game developer. “I really enjoy coding and the behind-the-scenes details that go into making a game work.” Covid caused him to miss out on prom and theater productions he was looking forward to being a part of. “While it was very upsetting to miss out on these memory-making experiences, it made returning to in person learning this fall very exciting and special. I learned to appreciate how wonderful it is to learn in person and to be surrounded by my friends and classmates each day.” To his kindergarten self, he’d say: “Don't be afraid to try new things even when it feels scary.” Dana Theroux – Villa Victoria Academy, Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, Incarnate Word Academy Dana Theroux is off to Texas A&M University, where she will study Computer Engineering. One of her best memories from high school took place during her sophomore year when she and a classmate started a Bible study club at Incarnate Word Academy. Her senior year was different than expected, but she couldn’t imagine it any other way. “The excitement of going back to school in person after being virtual for months is a feeling I will never be able to describe.” And some wise words from Dana to her kindergarten self: “Pay more attention when they teach you how to tell your right from your left. It’ll help you a lot in the future.” Ja'Von West – Betsy Ross Elementary School, Clifton Middle School, Lamar High School Ja’Von West is heading to Texas A&M Kingsville, where he will study Engineering.

Ramsey Ruffeno – St. Anne Catholic School, Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart Ramsey Ruffeno is heading to The University of Texas at Austin, where she will be majoring in Radio-Television-Film. Ramsey’s dream job is to be a comedy writer because she loves collaborating with other people to produce an entertaining product. Serving as studentbody president at Duchesne, Ramsey has learned about collaboration and how to make quick and important decisions. She is most looking forward to exploring Austin and building new relationships and connections. She would tell her kindergarten self to do something nice for others every day. Callie Young – Condit Elementary School, Trafton Academy, St. Agnes Academy Callie Young is going to Auburn University and will be studying Communications. Being on the softball team in high school taught Callie discipline, time management, and how to create time for herself. Because of her experiences as a student athlete, she feels prepared for her future. She would like to be a talk show host and make people laugh for a living. Callie chose Auburn because she’s always wanted to move out of state and explore a new place. If she got a chance to talk with her kindergarten self, Callie would say: “Time goes by so fast, so make sure you make the most of it.”

MORE ONLINE See thebuzzmagazines.com for more graduating seniors. Also, check out – and contribute to – our annual database of college-bound Buzz neighbors. Additionally, read about teachers who inspired these graduates along the way.

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Dana Theroux – Texas A&M University

Ja'Von West – Texas A&M Kingsville

Thalia Pullin – The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Ramsey Ruffeno – The University of Texas at Austin

Tricia Dutherage

Tracy Ruffeno

Lifetouch

Christian White – Texas A&M University

Lifetouch

Freeman Photography

Khalil AbuSharekh

Alyssa Solis – Houston Community College Lifetouch

Torryn Sales – Syracuse University

Callie Young – Auburn University WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 27

by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Buzz Baby

Bringing baby to the beach

Buzz Baby is a column about life with babies. Writer Annie McQueen is a mother of four children under the age of 6.

t is no easy feat to bring an infant or toddler to a beach. It takes planning and gear, and it is best to turn on the patience because most everything involving a beach and baby can take longer. Parents Arleigh and Jay Herrington are experts. The sugary white sands of the northwest Florida coast are a second home to the Herrington family. Jay’s parents have a home in the small community of Watersound, which is near Rosemary Beach and Seaside off the popular Highway 30A. “Watersound has unique dune lakes and lengthy boardwalks that lead up the beach, which adds extra nature to explore,” said Arleigh. Arleigh and Jay married there five years ago, and now they have four children under the age of 4. Their family enjoys taking their babies to the beach so much that they have taken the 10-hour drive to Watersound five times in the past 18 months. Pre-pandemic, Arleigh says their preferred method of travel was to fly into Panama City Beach. For now, they choose to drive straight though. One plus is it is easier to pack the gear. This summer, they plan to again take their four children: Hank, 4, Hadley, 3, George, 19 months, and baby Finn, 4 months, to Watersound. “It is our happy place,” said Arleigh. “There are few things better in the world than soaking in a sun-kissed, salty-haired baby napping on your chest at the beach. The chunky baby thighs in a swimsuit are a bonus.” Arleigh says one of her happiest times there was New Year’s Eve 2019. “We had just had George, our third baby, and we were spending the holidays at the beach with my husband’s family,” she said. “We put all seven cousins who are all under 7 in their matching Christmas [pajamas] and bundled them up with winter hats and went to the beach in the morning to play,” she said. “There is something about the holidays at the beach with family that is just so special.” Arleigh says it takes them a long time to prepare to even walk out the door to head to the WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 28

beach. They rise early, feed everyone breakfast, and start lathering them up with sunscreen. They pack their foldable beach wagon (Academy sells them) with ample snacks, toy shovels, and more. She said the sunscreen lathering up takes the longest, and so she rewards the kids with a treat if they stand still during the process. The Herrington crew attempt to keep their normal nap and feeding and snack schedule, but they also try to be as flexible. “We often have a baby napping on a blanket under an umbrella or in a stroller, poolside,” IT’S BEACH TIME The Herrington family – parents Arleigh and Jay and children Hank, 4, Hadley, 3, George, 19 months, and Finn, 4 months – love to travel to Florida she said. Arleigh to spend time on the beach. Bottom photo: George says she highly rectheir kids soaking up nature in a place he loves. ommends traveling with a wearable baby carrier “That is my favorite part – getting them away to have free hands. from the chaos and structure that comes with They keep their beach toys in a mesh bag living in a densely populated city,” he said. which can, at the end of the day, be easily rinsed We polled a few more beach-loving Buzz parof sand with the toys in it. Also, with so many ents on helpful gear. Whether you bring baby to tiny ones in diapers, there is an important lesson Galveston or a plane ride to the Caribbean, they she has learned. “Something that I didn’t realize say to bring a pop-up, portable, baby tent for as a new mom, which I wish someone would shade, waterproof shoes for toddlers like Natives have told me, is not to change your baby into or Crocs, a Summer Infant portable booster seat their swim diaper and swimsuit until you are at for mealtime on the beach, a floppy baby hat the pool or on the beach, “she said. “This may that offers sun protection, an inflatable baby seem like more of a hassle, but those swim diafloat (with shade) for the water, and a mini pers only hold everything in in the water. It will handheld stroller fan with extra batteries. keep the stroller dry.” Summer is here. Enjoy your beachy adventure. Jay, a commodities trader, says he loves to see Gwyne Gray Photography

Gwyne Gray Photography

KIDS

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 29

NEIGHBORS

by Cindy Burnett, staff writer

Buzz Reads

Five picks for June

Buzz Reads is a column about books by reviewer Cindy Burnett. Each month, Cindy recommends five recently released titles.

ttachments by Jeff Arch – Attachments, a debut novel by Jeff Arch, the Oscarnominated screenwriter of Sleepless in Seattle, tells the story of three former boarding school students and the deathbed request by the school’s dean that brings them back together years later. While suffering a stroke, the dean utters the students’ names, forcing a reunion that brings together the former best friends who have not spoken since a falling out years before. While at the dean’s bedside, the friends slowly reveal buried feelings and long-held secrets that impact more than just their own lives. Told in alternating points of view and flashbacks, Attachments is a beautiful reflection on how the choices we make reverberate for years to come and how hard it is to let go. The End of Men by Christina SweeneyBaird – Sweeney-Baird’s debut speculative fiction novel, written prior to Covid’s arrival, tackles the premise of what the world would be like if 90 percent of the men disappeared from the planet. Set in 2025, The End of Men opens just as the first case of a virus has appeared, and it follows various characters (mostly women) as they deal with this mysterious virus and come to terms with a changed world. The story is told in firstperson narratives, including the doctor who treats the first victim of the virus, an intelligence analyst who assists the government as it reshapes its workforce, and one of the doctors rushing to create a vaccine. Through their eyes, SweeneyBaird chronicles how the world would be impacted by such a large gender imbalance – from the loss of husbands and sons to a changed workforce and what it now would mean to give birth to a son. The End of Men is a truly thought-provoking read that will stay with me for a long time. My Remarkable Journey: A Memoir by Katherine Johnson – This memoir of Katherine Johnson’s remarkable life is being published posthumously and is a quick and fascinating read. Her story is now known the world over after the Hidden Figures book and movie celebrated her WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 30

contributions (along with several other Black women) to NASA’s first manned flights in space, but in My Remarkable Journey she starts at the beginning and tells the incredible tale of her 101 years in her own words. From her early years as a child prodigy in West Virginia to her many years at NASA as a human computer, she threads in her experience as a Black woman and WHAT TO READ This month's picks include a posthumously published memoir by includes the histor- Katherine Johnson, historical fiction set during the early years of the Cold War, a pageturner about a pandemic, escapist fiction set in the Caribbean that is perfect for the ical backdrop beach, and a debut novel from the Sleepless in Seattle screenwriter. against which her for his latest movie, The Siren, and flown contributions occurred. everyone down to a beautiful Caribbean island Our Woman in Moscow by Beatriz Williams – for filming. For the first time since their When the Digby family disappears from their divorce years before, Cole and his ex-wife, London home without a trace in the fall of 1948, Stella Rivers (who has suffered several breakthe world debates whether they were eliminated by downs), star opposite each other on screen, Soviet Intelligence or whether the family defected and the media is on high alert, eager to report to Moscow, with American diplomat Sasha Digby’s about the fireworks that are sure to occur. Told access to the West’s top-secret intel. Four years from the perspective of the three main women, later, Ruth Macallister receives a letter from twin each with their own secrets, as well as occasister Iris Digby, asking her to come to Moscow to sional media articles and social-influencer visit. Ruth travels to Moscow to help the Digbys posts, The Siren is a fast-paced mystery with defect to the United States but instead learns that enough twists and turns that I was left guessing everything may not be as it seems. This historicaluntil the very end. fiction tale transported me to the early years of the Cold War, when the threat of communism seemed Editor’s note: Southside Place resident Cindy all too real. Burnett also writes our weekly Page Turners column The Siren by Katherine St. John – Part at thebuzzmagazines.com. She hosts the Thoughts beach read and part indictment of Hollywood from a Page Podcast, is co-creator of the Houston and the cost of fame, The Siren is the perfect literary event series Conversations from the Page, book to take on vacation this summer. As the runs the Instagram account @thoughtsfromapage, book opens, superstar actor Cole Power has and regularly speaks to groups about books. assembled an all-star cast and production team

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 31

TRAVEL

by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer

Travel Buzz

Boy Scouts in the Big Thicket

RUN OF THE RIVER Members of Boy Scout Troop 354, sponsored by St. Martin's Episcopal Church (from left): Campbell Brown, Cooper Tully, Dylan Bentsen, Rhys Lloyd, William Tully, Sean Ahlgren, Henry Lane, Dimitri Bernitas, Donnie Jones, Jackson Price, Ben Pielop, Jack Stone, Henry Lanier, Matthew Berman, Henry Bragg, Joseph Nolan, Tad Hruska, Thomas Guilanshah, Smith Zarich, Morgan Tannery, Harris Lingle, and Gus Pielop.

or one misty Saturday in April, the Big Thicket National Preserve rang out with the joyful sounds of boys breaking out of quarantine mode as Boy Scout Troop 354 took to the waters of Village Creek in their first campout since before the Covid-19 pandemic. The canoe trip had been the idea of the troop’s student leaders, because Troop 354 is a scout-led troop, explained scoutmaster Casey Brown, who along with other parent leaders tries to stay in the background and let the kids guide the process. The Big Thicket had been a destination for the group three years ago, and a small handful of veteran scouts remembered and recommended it, so the East Texas wilderness preserve made the top of the list for their first weekend outing. So it was that on the morning of April 10, 14year-old Morgan Tannery met his scout mates in person for the very first time, after more than a year of online meetings and events. “I was really excited about it – I haven't been on a canoeing campout ever,” said Morgan in a WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 32

Zoom interview with Casey and fellow scouts Matthew Berman and Harris Lingle. “It was the first time I got to go on a campout with my Kinkaid School friends – and I didn't feel like an outsider. I guess I felt happier and more prepared.” Scouting during a pandemic, like everything else, had been a challenge. But the boys of Troop 354 – who normally meet at the “Scout Hut” built for them by troop sponsor St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Tanglewood – tackled the quarantine and more than a year of virtual meetings with creativity and determination. For a year they managed to keep the troop together through weekly meetings on Zoom and virtual activities, including cyber-connected campouts – with boys setting up tents in their own backyards and linking online throughout the night. When in-person classes began, student scout leaders like Matthew were able to identify some of the new recruits who had joined since the pandemic began – boys like Morgan, for example – and orient them and help them to feel

more included. Matthew was part of the student-leader team that came up with the idea of the Big Thicket canoe trip at their quarterly planning meeting. In the beginning, he said, there was a fair amount of apprehension about whether it would really be possible, given the situation with the pandemic. “At first it was a little like, are we going to be able to do it, or is it just going to end up being more disappointing when we can't do it?” he recalled. “But we got closer to the time and we realized, hey, we can do this. It's safe enough at this point. And we have enough people that can come that it's a good group and we can still be safe within limitations.” The campout was indeed affected by Covid restrictions, with the mask mandate and their usual two-night event reduced to one, with each parent bringing their son all the way to the destination instead of organizing the usual carpools. But even so, it was a festive occasion. The morning was cloudy, and a little light

NATURE BOYS Top: The group as they departed from the put-in spot at the very beginning of the trip, with many scouts figuring out how to keep their canoes going in a straight line. Bottom: Boys gather around the campfire and share stories, a highlight of the evening activities.

rain was falling when they arrived. But none of that dampened their spirits that Saturday morning as the group of 30 boys and dads met at the put-in point where Village Creek crosses Highway 327. They celebrated with a little bit of touch football there on the riverbank as they waited for their outfitter to deliver their canoes. “It was great to hear them – they were all so excited about hanging out with their friends,” recalled Casey. “I didn’t realize how much the scouts had missed it.” The plan was to spend the night camping on the river, doing most of the 12-mile paddle on

the first day. Being Boy Scouts, they were nothing if not prepared. “I think a big part of the packing is just making sure you understand where you're going as well as what kind of conditions will be there,” said Matthew, who spent a good bit of time planning and waterproofing everything with Ziploc bags – his cell phone, his tennis shoes, his first aid kit. Another key for this particular trip was to pack light, as everything would have to go into the canoe with them, placed in big rubber wet sacks to keep everything dry. Harris was careful to watch the weather in the

days leading up to the event, so he knew it would be cool and cloudy, and that he’d need warm gear as well as a swimsuit – but that he wouldn’t need a hat. They finally got on the river around noon, 12 canoes carrying 23 boys from ages 10 to 16 at all different skill levels from first-timer to expert, and six fathers. Casey began with a talk on the basics of canoeing – how to steer, how to paddle, the job of the person in the bow and in the stern, and basic canoe safety. Then they split up the boys from their fathers who had come along to help. “It was pretty chaotic at (continued on page 34) WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 33

(continued from page 33) first,” said Casey. “It took

about 10 minutes while everybody was trying to figure out which side of the canoe to paddle on, with some guys going around in circles, and other guys taking off like an arrow.” The clear, spring-fed waters of Village Creek are tea-colored, stained with tannins from the acidic leaves of the sweetbay and gallberry holly. After the first mile or so, the boys entered the Big Thicket Preserve and left civilization behind. They spotted an animal plying the waters that some called a beaver, but Casey suspected of being a nutria; either could have been possible, as beavers are native to the area, and the South American nutria was introduced into the Big Thicket some years ago. A small population of American alligators inhabits the zone, but sightings are rare, as are those of the jaguar; Morgan did spot an opossum, however, and a variety of birds and fish were observed, as well as turtles. One of the things that most impressed Harris was the silence of the place: “Just how quiet it was. I mean… you can hear your thoughts. And it was really nice just to get on the water and not really be talking all that much and just look around you at the nature and just kind of appreciate it. What you can't really do in this day and age.” To Casey, one of the highlights was just hanging back and observing as the scouts worked together to overcome challenges while developing their skills and leadership capacities, finding their voices, navigating their way through sometimes challenging processes. Like the time that they came upon a big oxbow in the river that curved to the left, while a smaller branch flowed straight ahead – and the kids had about 15 seconds to make a choice. Casey had studied the map on his phone moments before making the call, so he knew the two branches would rejoin eventually. His group chose the oxbow, but several chose the straight path. It was a tense half-hour or so, ducking lowhanging trees and hoping the group on the other side was doing ok. “To the extent we safely can, I want the scouts to do the navigating,” he said. “Hopefully, they learned a valuable lesson about really learning to read and follow a map on the river.” Another time a canoe in front of his got snagged on a downed tree, and his team worked for about 15 minutes to help the other boat get free. “It was interesting to watch the dynamics of young men learning to work together to lead,” he said. “It was a really great learning experience for them to see how to be put in a new situation where they don't have a lot of skills and figure out on the fly how to do it. “In a moment when you're stuck, you don't know how you're going to get unstuck – particularly when you're 12 or 13. Some of them got a little flummoxed at first, but they managed to get their way out of it.” About halfway to their nighttime destination they pulled over on the pristine white-sand beach of a sandbar – one of the best things about Village Creek, said Casey, comparing it to the beaches in WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 34

BIG THICKET MOMENTS Clockwise, from upper left: Thomas Guilanshah pauses among the tents for a quick photo opp; Joseph Nolan (front) and Tad Hruska navigate their canoe; and the boys push off after lunch and prepare to canoe the rest of the Saturday leg of the journey.

Destin, Fla. There they pulled out their sack lunches, caught their breaths, and enjoyed a picnic. A couple more hours down the river, and it was time to pull over and make camp – a major enterprise for 30 people. They divided into work crews, with one crew filtering the tannin-stained water for dinner, another crew cooking the freezedried beef stroganoff and mac and cheese. Helpful to the cooking process was a favorite item of Casey’s: the Jetboil, a portable cooking system that brings water to a boil in short order. Another crew washed the dishes, and then it was time to sit around the campfire, relax and catch up. That was a favorite time for everyone, with games like a detective challenge called Mafia and heart-to-heart talks about what to expect in high school, among other topics. For Casey, who was a member of Troop 354 as a boy and now has circled back to be its scoutmaster and the father of Campbell and Henry Hobbs, two troop members, it’s been especially

rewarding. He’s been able to see scouting from a mentor’s perspective and watch the boys take the opportunity to come into their own. There’s really nothing like scouting to give young boys, from middle school up, a chance to lead, he said. “Sometimes I'll look over and I'll see one of the guys who's now in high school and a leader and working on, you know, getting close to finishing his scouting career, and then think about when he was in the sixth grade and was too afraid to look me in the eye and shake my hand. And now he's developed into this great young man who's got a lot of confidence and self-assuredness that is taking charge of things. So, to see that kind of progress in almost all of them is really, really great.” Editor’s note: Buzz travel columnist Tracy L. Barnett is a Lowell Thomas travel journalism award winner and longtime travel and environmental writer. Email her at info@thebuzzmagazines.com to share your own travel tales.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 35

Evan Sung

DINING

by Dai Huynh, staff writer

Jonathan Benno

ichelin-starred chef Jonathan Benno anticipated that his Cafe Leonelli in the Museum of Fine Arts Houston’s new Nancy and Rich Kinder Building would be bustling. After being cooped up during Covid-19, he figured Houstonians would be itching to dine out, plus the counter-service concept would have a captive audience. Dining options are sparse around the 14-acre MFAH campus on Bissonnet. Cafe Leonelli was the first of two MFAH dining concepts to open this spring. The Bastion Collection, a New York-based hospitality outfit behind La Table in Houston’s Galleria area, tapped Benno to open the cafe in April, followed by Michelin-starred chef Alain Verzeroli’s upscale French-inspired Le Jardinier. The roughly 2,500-square-foot Cafe Leonelli, located just off the atrium, seats 100 diners, with an outdoor area overlooking the Cullen Sculpture Garden. Its breakfast and all-day menus borrow from Benno’s Italian trattoria, Leonelli Restaurant & Bar, and Leonelli Bakery, the chef’s salute to Rome’s great bakeries. Bastion’s executive pastry chef, Salvatore Martone, oversees desserts for Le Jardinier and Cafe Leonelli, which also houses Martone’s ice cream shop Frohzen. “Cafe Leonelli has been incredibly busy,” Benno said. “We knew we would have an audience Wednesday through Saturday, but Mondays and Tuesdays have been good, too. What’s been amazing has been the turnout from the community. We have 500-600 people coming through the restaurant daily. You heard right, 500-600. Right now, a busy problem is good to have.” Benno operates his eponymous fine-dining restaurant, along with Leonelli Restaurant & Bar and Leonelli Bakery, in the historic Evelyn Hotel on East 27th Street in New York City. Below, the Connecticut native discusses the dining scene there and here, and how he garnered Michelin stars for not just one, but three restaurants. Houston restaurants and bars have returned to full capacity. What about New York? Fifty percent and no bar. It’s an opposite problem in New York, where there is no revenue. Your wife, Elizabeth, a chef, and your two daughters live on the East Coast. You’re dividing your time between Houston and New York. How did you end up here? WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 36

Yes, it did seem strange at first to come down to Houston. I’ve never been here before, but the reason this works is because of Stephen Conklin. He’s the executive chef for La Table, and now also Cafe Leonelli’s executive chef. We worked together in New York and have been friends for years. Unless I had someone on the ground who is familiar with the recipes and how we work, I don’t know if I could do it. Well, you did it. Tell us about the menu, particularly the eggplant parmigiana. The dishes are high-quality and beautiful, but also recognizable. From 8 till 11 a.m., you have an array of Italian pastries, oatmeal, and yogurt, but we’re already looking to expand the offerings because neighbor- MFAH DINING DESTINATION New York Michelin-starred chef Jonathan Benno introduces his homey Italian fare to Houstonians at the casual Café Leonelli in the new hood turnout has Nancy and Rich Kinder Building at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. been so great. We mushrooms, cultivated by Lone Star Mushrooms might include more frittatas, more egg dishes in in Tomball, Texas. I grew up eating meatballs, so the morning. we serve them here with marinara and polenta From 11 on, we offer focaccia, sandwiches, salfrom Homestead Gristmill up in Waco, Texas. ads, and soups. Then there is a selection of hot, The eggplant parmigiana is from my grandready-to-serve foods, such as lasagna verde with mother, who was Italian American. In the summeat ragu and chicken cacciatore with roasted Claudia Casbarian

Chef’s Corner

Evan Sung Emily Chan

Evan Sung

MUSEUM TREATS Yogurt and pastries (top photo) from Michelin-starred pastry chef Salvatore Martone highlight Café Leonelli’s breakfast menu, while an array of focaccias (pictured, left) and hot dishes anchor lunch and after, including eggplant parmigiana (on right).

mer, she would make it with fresh tomato sauce, eggplant, and basil. It was unbelievable, and I make it the way she made it, except she sliced her eggplant by hand, and here, we use an electric slicer. Pasta and olive oil are the heart and soul of Italian cooking. When you’re not making fresh pasta, do you have a dry pasta brand that you like to use at home? De Cecco is great. There are a ton of smaller producers just outside of Naples, but if I make pasta at home? It’s De Cecco rigatoni. What about olive oil? Any favorite? We use a ton of olive oil. We use a workhorse olive oil called Monini. As for really fine extravirgin olive oil, that should never be heated because you destroy the bouquet and the flavor. Now, olive oil, a lesser grade, you can heat, but not to the smoke point. If you’re wilting spinach or braising greens like we do, that oil gets hot, but it doesn’t smoke. For sautéing, we use canola oil. We used to use peanut oil, but we

have to be really careful because of the allergies. Canola is the way to go for cooking. Olive oil for medium-heat cooking, and extra-virgin olive oil for finishing or drizzling onto dishes and salads. You washed dishes at 15, then cooked at the Hard Rock Café in Hawaii. After The Culinary Institute of America, you worked for the Who’s Who of cooking, including Michael Mina, Thomas Keller, Christian Delouvrier, Marco Conora, Tom Colicchio, and Daniel Boulud. Who influenced you the most? Thomas Keller. I worked for him, on and off, for 10 years. I certainly learned a lot about classical French cuisine from him and organization, discipline, attention to details, respect for the ingredients, and respect for the staff. As Keller’s chef de cuisine, you helped Per Se earn three Michelin stars. You also garnered a Michelin star for Benno and Lincoln Ristorante in New York’s Lincoln Center, which you opened after leaving Per

Se. Now that Café Leonelli has opened, have you checked out Houston’s culinary finds and offerings? I just got back from Granel Spice Market (2503 Link Road) near the Houston Farmers Market. I can’t wait for that to fully open. I’ve been to La Lucha (1801 N. Shepherd Drive), State of Grace (3258 Westheimer Road), Bludorn (807 Taft St.), and The Pit Room (1201 Richmond) for barbecue. I’ve started branching out a bit, though. I’ve gone to a few of the Asian places in Bellaire. It’s an exciting city. Editor’s note: Buzz dining columnist Dai Huynh is a James Beard food-journalism award winner and longtime Houston-based restaurant writer.

MORE ONLINE See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for Jonathan Benno’s grandmother’s eggplant parmigiana and homemade marinara recipe. WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 37

Photo courtesy of The Junior League of Houston

FOOD by Erin Faulkner, contributing writer

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

arly summer is arguably one of the best times of year in Houston. The worst of the heat isn’t here yet, making the possibility of grilling and eating meals on the patio an attractive idea. Who doesn’t love the hint of smoke on meat and vegetables and the ambiance of rustling leaves? And since it is getting warmer, not heating up the oven also has its benefits. A few years ago, my husband and I bought a pellet grill. It removes the guesswork that cooking good barbecue over a pit requires and also allows you to have a certain level of inattention. Any recipe that requires you to put something in the oven can be made on a pellet grill, which uses wood pellets and fans to heat, much like an outdoor convection oven. The Roasted Rosemary Pork with Asparagus can be done on a grill or in an oven, as can the Goat Cheese and Potatoes Timbales. If you’re pulling out the paper plates and throwing presentation to the wind, replace the pans with aluminum foil. Grilled Salmon Steaks with Watercress Mustard Butter is another great summery entrée option. The tangy butter complements the rich flavor of the salmon. Cold appetizers and salads in the summer are a good choice for sides. Make the Upside Down Pickles a day ahead and enjoy a crisp cold snack. On the cold-salad front, give the Butter Lettuce, Pomegranate and Walnut Salad a try. Or consider a simple side of Grilled Marinated Vegetables using your favorite veggies, whatever you happen to have on hand. If you’re looking to offer a fun drink option for the 21+ crowd, this Summertime Cooler is a crowd-pleaser. The recipe serves 16, so if you’re planning for a smaller group, cut down the portion size as needed. Conclude your summer feast with a refreshing treat like the Sour Cream Lemon Pie.

Roasted Rosemary Pork with Asparagus From Stop and Smell the Rosemary WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 38

SUMMERY SPREAD Roasted Rosemary Pork with Asparagus from Stop and Smell the Rosemary can be prepared on the grill or in the oven.

3 large cloves garlic, minced 4 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper 3 Tablespoons olive oil 2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 center cut pork loin roast (5 pounds) 2 pounds thick fresh asparagus, trimmed and blanched

Combine watercress, butter, shallot, mustard, ¼ teaspoon salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Refrigerate at least one hour. Prepare grill. Season fish with remaining salt and dot one side with half of the mustard butter mixture. Arrange fish, butter side up, and grill 4 minutes. Turn and dot with remaining butter mixture. Cook 3 minutes. Garnish with watercress sprigs and serve immediately.

Goat Cheese and Potatoes Timbales Preheat oven or grill to 400 degrees. Mix garlic, rosemary, salt, pepper, olive oil, mustard, and lemon juice in a small bowl. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the mixture. Spread remainder over fat side of pork. Place pork fat side up on a wire rack in a roasting pan and place in the oven. Reduce heat to 325 degrees and cook uncovered for 2 hours. If using a pellet grill, wrap the pork in aluminum foil and cook to 145 degrees. Toss asparagus with 1 tablespoon reserved garlic mixture. Arrange asparagus around roast and cook uncovered 15-20 minutes. Serve immediately. Serves 8.

Grilled Salmon Steaks with Watercress Mustard Butter From Stop and Smell the Rosemary 2 bunches watercress, minced (1 cup) ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 Tablespoon minced shallot 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard ½ teaspoon plus ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper 6 fresh salmon steaks (8 ounces each), 1 inch thick Watercress sprigs

From Peace Meals Extra virgin olive oil 2 Tablespoons butter 2 Tablespoons yellow onions, thinly sliced 1 ⁄8 teaspoon sugar Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper 3 medium red potatoes, unpeeled 1 ⁄3 cup bread crumbs, seasoned with salt and pepper 4 ounces aged goat cheese, thinly sliced Lightly oil six 4-ounce ramekins with olive oil and set aside. Melt the butter in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the onions and sugar, and cook for 30 to 40 minutes until the onions are a deep caramel color, stirring frequently. Remove from heat, season with salt and pepper, and let cool. Simmer the potatoes in a pot of water until just tender, then cool under cold running water. When the potatoes are cool enough, cut them into thin slices, season with salt and pepper, and set aside. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Sprinkle 1 rounded tablespoon of the bread crumbs into each ramekin. Layer with the goat cheese and then two to three slices of potatoes. Repeat the layers of cheese and potatoes once more, packing the ramekins lightly. Top with caramelized onions. Place the ramekins in the oven for 5 to

Photo courtesy of The Junior League of Houston

SAVORY SIDE Topped with caramelized onions, Goat Cheese and Potatoes Timbales from Peace Meals is a flavorful side or veggie-centric main.

7 minutes. To serve, run a knife along the sides of each ramekin and gently invert the timbales onto plates. Serves 8.

Upside Down Pickles From Stop and Smell the Rosemary 1 jar (46 ounces) whole dill pickles 2½ cups sugar 6 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar 1 teaspoon celery seed 2 Tablespoons prepared horseradish 1 small onion, chopped Slice pickles. Put them back in jar and set aside. Combine sugar, vinegar, celery seeds, horseradish, and onion. Pour mixture over pickles. Turn jar upside down and refrigerate 24 hours. Serve chilled. Yields 46 ounces.

Butter Lettuce, Pomegranate and Walnut Salad From Peace Meals Vinaigrette: 1 ⁄3 cup pomegranate juice 1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper Salad: 2 heads butter lettuce, torn Seeds from 2 pomegranates ¼ cup crumbled blue cheese ½ cup chopped walnuts, toasted Whisk together the vinaigrette ingredients in a small bowl; season with salt and pepper. In a large bowl, combine the salad ingredients; toss

gently with desired amount of vinaigrette. Serves 6-8.

Grilled Marinated Vegetables From Peace Meals 6 to 8 cups thickly sliced vegetables 2 ⁄3 cup balsamic vinegar 2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard 3 Tablespoons olive oil ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper 4 cloves garlic, minced Combine your favorite sliced vegetables, such as yellow squash, zucchini, green onions, eggplant, asparagus, and yellow, red, and orange bell peppers in a gallon-size resealable plastic bag. Combine the vinaigrette ingredients and pour into the bag of vegetables. Seal and marinate for 30 minutes. Remove the vegetables from the bag and place in a wire grilling basket coated with cooking spray or on a cookie sheet. Grill or broil the vegetables for 5 to 7 minutes on each side or until tender.

Summertime Cooler From Stop and Smell the Rosemary 5 tea bags 2 to 4 Tablespoons sugar 1 bottle (64 ounces) raspberry-cranberry drink, chilled 2 large lemons, juiced to equal ¼ cup 2 large limes, juiced to equal ¼ cup 1 bottle (34 ounces) lemon-lime diet soft drink, chilled 1 can (6 ounces) frozen lemonade concen-

trate, thawed 1 medium nectarine, cut in wedges ½ pound seedless green grapes ½ cup raspberries In a 4-cup glass measuring cup, pour boiling water over tea bags to equal 4 cups. Let steep 10 minutes. Discard tea bags. Cover and refrigerate tea until ready to complete the punch. Just before serving, mix desired amount of sugar with the raspberry-cranberry drink, lemon juice, lime juice, lemon-lime diet soft drink, lemonade concentrate, and 1½ cups cold water. Add tea. Add fruit to mixture as garnish. May be served with vodka or sparkling wine. Serves 16.

Sour Cream Lemon Pie From The Star of Texas Cookbook 1½ cups sugar, divided ¼ cup lemon juice Finely grated rind of 1 lemon 3 Tablespoons cornstarch 1 cup milk 3 eggs, separated 1 cup sour cream 1 baked cooled pie crust Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine 1 cup of the sugar, the lemon juice, grated rind, cornstarch, milk, and egg yolks. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thick. Let mixture cool completely. When cold, fold in sour cream and pour into cool pie shell. Beat egg whites with remaining ½ cup sugar until they form stiff peaks. Spread over filling and bake for 10 minutes or until top browns. WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 39

SPORTS

by Todd Freed, staff writer

SportzBuzz F

or the seventh time in the last 11 seasons, the Episcopal Knights won the SPC baseball championship. The Knights capped off a sensational 25-3 season with a 4-0 shutout victory over Fort Worth Country Day in the SPC title game. “This was the best team I’ve had in my 19year coaching career,” said Knights head baseball coach Matt Fox. “We were dominant in all phases of the game, including a 190-run differential in 30 games.” The Knights finished the season ranked No. 1 in the state among all private schools. On the mound, Episcopal was led by a spectacular season from lefty Gunnar Brown, who posted a 7-0 record with a miniscule 1.2 ERA. In the championship final against Country Day, Brown fired a complete-game, 3-hit shutout. “Gunnar definitely evolved into the ace of our staff,” said Fox. In addition, senior pitcher Stephen Pena was outstanding all season with a 1.4 ERA, while Tanner Fox was the winning pitcher in the Knights’ SPC South Zone victory over Kinkaid, and Marco Gutierrez was a big contributor both on the mound and at shortstop. Offensively, the Knights’ lineup boasted a lofty .358 team batting average, led by center fielder Rafael Gross (.461 average) and a .412 batting average from catcher James Taussig. “It was a totally complete team and a great group of guys to coach,” said Fox.

dynamic duo in senior Parker Smith and junior Seth Broadwell. Smith owned a 6-1 record on the season with a 1.14 ERA and was on the mound for both key district victories over rival Lamar. Broadwell owned a 7-0 record with one save and a 0.98 ERA. At the plate, four-year starting third baseman Caden Biedermann led the way with a .400 batting average, while junior shortstop and leadoff hitter Hondo De La Garza “ignited” the offense, according to Ozuna. “We have a great group of kids who are a lot of fun to coach. We were led by 15 seniors on our 25-player roster. That sort of veteran-type experience played a key role in our success.”

he Bellaire Cardinals baseball team closed out the regular season as one of the state’s winningest teams while also winning the District 18-6A baseball championship. The Cardinals went 26-5 with an undefeated 14-0 record in district play. It’s the Cardinals’ 20th district championship in the last 27 seasons, but the first undefeated district title since back in 2002. “Like any of our great Bellaire teams, we pride ourselves on outstanding pitching and defense, and this year’s team was no exception,” said Cardinals head coach Nick Ozuna. “We have a fundamentally sound group of guys that work hard and play for each other.” On the mound, the Cardinals boasted a

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AT THE TOP The Episcopal Knights capped off a magnificent season by shutting out Fort Worth Country Day 4-0 to win the SPC baseball championship. Episcopal finished the season as the top-ranked private school in the state.

he Memorial Mustangs boys golf team put forth a tremendous come-from-behind victory to capture the UIL Class 6A Region III golf tournament. The Mustangs’ fivesome of senior Jeffrey Zatorski, junior Tyler Gardner, junior Preston Rouse, junior Walker Bergen, and freshman David Martinez combined for a sevenstroke victory over second-place Clear Creek. The victory also marked the third regional championship for Memorial in the last four years. “After a tough start, our guys really turned it on in the second round to bridge the gap,” said Mustangs golf coach Clayton Brady. “Our senior Jeffrey Zatorski, who’ll play in college at

Texas, was unbelievable on the second day with an even par 71. After a rough start, he played his last 12 holes at four under par. He definitely showed up when it mattered most.” In addition, Martinez played more like a seasoned veteran than a freshman while posting the Mustangs’ lowest total score (72-72) over the two rounds of the tournament. Overall, Martinez finished seventh in the individual standings. Meanwhile, with a blistering 1-under par 70 in round two, Gardner tied for the low round of the day. “Those guys all came up big, as did Preston with an even par 71 on day one to help keep us in the tournament, while Walker’s 72 in round two was also big. He was extremely consistent over both rounds of play,” said Brady. “The biggest thing about this group of guys is that they are extremely selfless, and they love the game of golf. We have15 guys on our golf team who are good enough to have played at regionals, so we have an extremely deep team who all push each other to get better.” Editor’s note: Todd Freed is the host and executive producer of H-Town High School Sports, which airs Monday through Thursday on AT&T SportsNet SW. To submit high school sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, please email todd@thebuzzmagazines.com.

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SPORTS

by Angie Frederickson, staff writer

SportzBuzz Jr. W

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

Life after Little League Texas Legends select baseball team (top photo) held a skills-training day at Carnegie Vanguard High School for young players in the Neartown Little League. The Legends team is an official sponsor of Neartown Little League. It teaches baseball drills and runs mini games for the players. Legends coach John Arrendando has coached teams for years and noticed that when boys age out of Little League, they often do not make their high school team, and their baseball career is over. He created the 14U select team, which includes players from multiple local Little League organizations, so boys can continue playing into their high school years. The Texas Legends are (from left) coach John Arrendando, Yahya Mir, Joshua Petrick, Brandon Grewal, Owen Lynch, John Corder, coach Ryan Chandler, Kyle Beinart, Chase Wei, Blake Cohen, Devin Singh, and Jorden Beinart; not pictured: Andrew Gagliardi, Anthony Castillo, Benjamin David, Cash Talbot, Daniel Harris, Dawson Tiras, Henry Turner, Joe DeToto, Noah Finkelman, and Paolo Rappazzo.

A winning night St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School’s softball team and baseball team (middle photo) each won the Greater Houston Catholic Athletic Association (GHCAA) city championship on the same night. After an 84 victory over St. Cecilia Catholic School at the WUSA South Campus, the softball girls, who had an undefeated season, went to watch the boys defeat St. Laurence Catholic School, 7-0, at Strake Jesuit. The winning players are (top row, from left) Claire Johnson, Avery Wheeler, Mikayla Liebl, Catherine McConn, Sophia Deutschen, Alex Hughes, Bennett Hughes, Jacob Leach, Matthew Buettgen, Rodney Thomas, Marco Quintanilla, Patrick Leif, Hayden Summers, Nikolas Roth, David Ramirez, Jerry Doyle, Teddy Shore, Dominic Marino, Andrew Rodriguez, Carter Dunn, Benny Valdez, (bottom row, from left) Ashley Fraker, Bella Stewart, Morgan Johnson, Annie McCarthy, Will Simpson, Jace Jones, Connor Ayers, Jason Butz, Owen Sweeney, Dominic Phan, Gabriel Eldin, and Christopher Drone.

Dominating the season Zach Berlin, Tyler Shanley, and Cade Lium (bottom photo, from left) work together to bring the ball down the field in a game with the Presbyterian School boys lacrosse team. Even with many players who were new to the sport, the Panthers were undefeated in the regular season and won the Houston Junior Preparatory Conference (HJPC) championship. The winning season started with a victory over St. John’s School and was followed up by wins over Annunciation Orthodox School, River Oaks Baptist School, and The Kinkaid School, averaging more than 11 goals per game. Senior captain Bennett Hendricks was the lead scorer throughout the season, and first-year lacrosse player Graham Allen held off the competition as goalie. WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 42

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.

New trustees If you are surprised on Mom’s death or disability to learn that she or Dad named you trustee, do not touch the trust instrument. Treat it like a loaded gun: lock the door behind you, and tell an adult. Trust administration involves managing assets, making distributions, and accounting to beneficiaries with opposing interests. A trustee has duties of loyalty, competence, reasonable exercise of discretion, and full disclosure. The current beneficiary wants more money distributed; the remainder beneficiaries want less. The trustee cannot win. Make a mistake, and everyone blames you. Be extra careful, and the legal, accounting, and insurance costs are excessive. It’s easy to accept an appointment, but difficult to determine or apply the rules. Trust terms are supplemented in Texas by the Trust Code and the common law, in that order of precedence, except when the Trust Code expressly preempts the trust instrument. A Texas trust instrument must be written, but need not be signed. Testamentary trusts found within Mom or Dad’s Will compel probate. Inter vivos revocable trusts, also known as “living trusts,” avoid probate. Most attorneys don’t know where to start, much less normal people. Irrevocable trusts require a unique accounting of principal and income under local law that few CPAs have done much less mastered. Grantor trusts are disregarded for federal income tax purposes, but sometimes a tax lawyer has to read the trust instrument to confirm that you don’t even need a CPA. Whatever the controlling authority and tax attributes, the first question to ask is always, “Can I quit?” Sometimes you can’t, at least not without a court order or the consent of all the beneficiaries. If you can’t quit, don’t

start. It’s legal to say no. A new trustee must review estate assets, set an investment policy, and diversify as appropriate. Insurance and distribution plans are good ideas. Better yet, conduct a preliminary survey of assets, activities, and beneficiaries. Telegraph intentions, and discuss. Some rules can be bent if everyone agrees. Some appointments should be declined if not. Revocable, living, trusts start out simpler. Mom and Dad are co-trustees, contribute their own money, and can terminate the trust at any time. The more complicated rules attach when one of the kids becomes trustee. Help for Trustees under a Revocable Trust, at www.protecttheirmoneytx.org/, is a great resource while both parents live. On either death, it’s time to speak with a lawyer. Special needs trusts, for Medicaid, are a breed apart. Consult the drafting attorney. Think you can wing it? Read the Special Needs Alliance, Administering a Special Needs Trust: A Handbook for Trustees. We write wills and go to probate court. Foreign nationals and international families welcome. Russell W. Hall, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Board Certified – Estate Planning and Probate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 6750 West Loop South, Suite 920, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.662.3853, bellaireprobate.com/blog

Metal allergy Typically, when people talk about allergy, they are referring to immediate hypersensitivity reactions, such as sneezing or wheezing when breathing in pollen. Metal allergy, however, is an example of delayed type hypersensitivity. It usually results in an itchy, scaly, red rash where the metal, most commonly nickel, touches the skin. This is referred to as contact dermatitis (something contacting your skin is causing a rash). Most people know nickel is present in costume jewelry, but what they may not realize is how many other everyday products contain nickel: snaps (e.g., Levi’s 501s), eyeglass frames, watches, zippers, and even makeup. The only real treatment for metal allergy is complete avoidance. If you are allergic to nickel, you can buy a preparation called Nickel Alert to test items you are considering buying that are labeled “nickel-free.” The problem is, there is no standard for “nickel-free,” and a lot of items labeled as such still contain small amounts of nickel. You rub the item with Nickel Alert for a few seconds – if it turns purple, it contains nickel. If you own an item with great sentimental value, but it breaks you out, consider applying Nickel Guard to it. This is similar to clear nail polish, forming a barrier between your skin and the item, but it lasts longer than nail polish. Both of these items are available at www.nonickel.com. They also sell buckles and inexpensive jewelry that is truly free of nickel. Don’t be surprised to find nickel hiding in canned foods, small batteries, doorknobs, and even the green felt dye used on pool tables. If you have a nickel allergy, certain nickel-rich foods may also worsen your rash, even if you aren’t wearing anything containing nickel. Be aware that lentils, peas, canned fruits, cashews, red kidney beans, and chocolate/cocoa

powder can all contain nickel. This reaction to foods is caused by systemic contact dermatitis. For immediate hypersensitivity (sneezy, runny) reactions, we apply a test to your back and read it in 20 minutes because, as the name implies, this reaction happens quickly. For nickel or other types of delayed hypersensitivities, however, the testing is different. Our allergy group tests for nickel and 79 other common causes of contact dermatitis. We put patches on your back on a Monday, remove them and do an initial reading on a Wednesday, then do a final reading and conference with the doctor on a Friday. Remember, because this is delayed hypersensitivity, the patches must stay for a couple days. At the end of the testing, we will help you determine ways in which any offending chemicals may be sneaking into your everyday life and discuss the best ways to avoid the allergens. No one nose allergies like we do.™ Note: Information contained in this article should not be considered a substitute for consultation with a board-certified allergist to address individual medical needs. David B. Engler, M.D., The Allergy Clinic, 7707 Fannin, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77054, 713.797.0993, *1200 Binz, Suite 1400, Houston, Texas 77004, 713.522.9911, www.allergyclinic.com, *Operating as Houston Allergy and Asthma Clinic WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ JUNE 2021 43

LUCK OF THE IRISH Kevin McKenna, a newly graduated senior from Strake Jesuit, meets Pro Football Hall of Famer and Fighting Irish legend Jerome Bettis before Notre Dame’s 2018 playoff game against Clemson at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium.

KIDS by Kevin McKenna, age 18

Buzz Kidz

Journey to Notre Dame

’ll always remember visiting Notre Dame with my family as a third grader. On the day before the football game, we were lucky enough to go inside the stadium, walk on the field, and tour the locker room. That night, I told my parents, “This is where I want to go to college.” The campus was magical to me, highlighted by the golden dome of its main building and the statues of championship-winning coaches sculpted by my grandfather. While I loved it all, I could not begin to understand how challenging a goal I had set for myself. I realized years later how difficult it would be to achieve it, which motivated me to do my best in academics and extracurriculars. My main reason for going to Strake Jesuit was because I felt it would best prepare me for Notre

Dame, if the college accepted me. Logging onto the Notre Dame application portal last December and seeing the “Congratulations. Welcome Home” image is absolutely one of the happiest moments of my life. Notre Dame has always been an extremely positive part of my life. My parents graduated from there and got married on campus. I was baptized in its Log Chapel by the school’s Father Joyce. Despite growing up in Texas, we made countless trips for football games, basketball camps, and family volunteer camps. I’ve met some of my favorite Fighting Irish athletes, including Jerome Bettis, Bonzie Colson, and Will Fuller. Like Strake Jesuit, I believe Notre Dame will help me to further develop my mind, body, and spirit. The university’s Mendoza

College of Business has the motto “Grow the Good in Business,” which speaks to what I hope to accomplish in my career. Ultimately, I could not picture myself attending college anywhere else, so I am very grateful for what comes next. I look forward to enjoying football Saturdays and calling this special place my home for the next four years. Whether or not it tops the college rankings or the football polls, Notre Dame is truly No. 1 in my heart. 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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