Bill and Debbie Hanna
Vacationing in an RV
Rodeo
Chef’s Corner: Johnny Carrabba Dining Out Vegetarian
Volunteers
Tips from Savvy Travelers
by Andria Frankfort
Where Kids Can Volunteer Careers for Adults With Autism
Houston, TX
Al Fresco Family Dinners
Permit No. 2047 PAID US Postage PRSRT STD
Buzz Baby: Naptime
EDITOR’S NOTE This month I turn 56. I remember freaking out last year around my birthday when a waitress at Denny's handed me a senior menu. Now that the shock of being closer to 60 is sinking in, I'm actually feeling calm about my birthday. I have been thinking more and more lately about making every moment count. I admire Cheryl Laird for turning her newfound passion of owning a RV into a reality. Read how she did it in You Want a What? How I ended up with an RV in this issue. And Andria Frankfort's Back Porch column is all about those little moments that make you smile. Throughout this issue, meet Buzz readers who make every moment count, whether it’s road tripping in an RV to dining al fresco on a gorgeous day to volunteering as a family or for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. We hope this issue of The Buzz inspires you to smile and make your own dreams a reality. Now I'm going to Denny's to enjoy every bite of that $2.99 senior special. joni@thebuzzmagazines.com
THE BUZZ MAGAZINES BELLAIRE • WEST UNIVERSITY • MEMORIAL • TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS Published by Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401 info@thebuzzmagazines.com • p: 713.668.4157 • f: 713.665.2940 Follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter thebuzzmagazines.com Editor Publisher Associate Editors Design Manager Staff Writers
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Joni Hoffman Michael Hoffman Cheryl Laird Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld John Duboise Tracy L. Barnett Sharon Albert Brier Andria Frankfort Angie Frederickson Todd Freed Cathy Gordon Michelle Casas Groogan Dai Huynh Annie Blaylock McQueen Jennifer Oakley Cheryl Ursin Natasha Sadeghian de la Garza Andrea Blitzer Leslie Little Kim Montgomery Amber Lewis Helen van Rensburg Dylan Aguilar
On our cover: Bill and Debbie Hanna bought an antique fire truck (with friends Tom and Lisa Laird) for the Grand Entry parade at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Cover photo by George Flores, georgefloresphotography.com The Buzz Magazines has made all reasonable attempts to verify the accuracy of all information contained within. Advertising claims are solely the responsibility of the advertiser. Copyright © 2017 Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of this magazine by any means without written permission is strictly prohibited. Printed on recycled paper. Please remember to recycle.
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MAILBAG
Your letters, thoughts, opinions Oh, the castanet memories With reference to your December 2016 issue, More Restaurant Memories [by Russell Weil], you highlight Felix Mexican Restaurant. I recall that Felix Tijerina had a restaurant on Westheimer, almost across the street from the Tower Theatre. My parents owned Southern Importers and Exporters, which my father founded in the early 1930s. As they catered to the dancing schools with a large selection of theatrical fabrics and accessories, I was enrolled in Hallie Pritchard Dance Studio at an early age. My parents were personal friends of the Tijerinas, and upon the grand opening of their new restaurant on Westheimer @ Montrose (to which your article references) my sister and I (dance team) performed several dance routines for the customers. I was 11, and my sister was 9. Our “Spanish” dance routines included the playing of castanets to accentuate the “dance.” The music, as I recall, included España Cani and El Relicario. Our dance instructor was a man by the name of Pat Evers. It was a very memorable “opening” for the restaurant. The Tijerinas lived above the restaurant at that time, and continued to expand their operation with other restaurants in the Houston area. Michael L. Richker Editor’s note: Thank you for sharing these memories and the wonderful photo of you and your sister dancing. Look for it online with this Mailbag column at thebuzzmagazines.com.
Where are the guys? The article on “Cooking that clinched the deal” [Back Porch, by Andria Frankford, February 2017] was all about women cooking for men. I bet there are many examples of men cooking for women and showing off their culinary prowess! Hopefully, some will share their experiences. Men can make excellent cooks! Sherry Crossin Editor’s note: You can bet we were saying the exact same thing when we were reading the story. We have some Buzz staffers who are happy to be married to culinarily inclined guys. We’d love to hear stories about Buzz-resident men who cooked to earn the love of their partners. Email info@thebuzzmagazines.com, and we can share the love.
Friday, new customers came in and told me they had to try Le Colonial because they read your article. They also wanted to return and try the tet’s specials that we talked about! I’d better be prepared for the occasion. Nicole Routhier Editor’s note: We are big fans of Dai’s Chef’s Corner column too, and we especially enjoyed reading about the two of you brainstorming on Vietnamese New Year dishes.
We tri Loved this issue [January 2017]. The headline, “Women Who Tri,” is so clever. Please give kudos to whoever came up with it. If there is a headline contest, “Women Who Tri” should win. Looking forward to the next issue. Cyndy Sax Editor’s note: We will tell associate editor Cheryl Laird you like her headline on Angie Frederickson’s story. Cheryl lives for that sort of thing, so you will make her happy. Send letters to info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Please include your name, address, phone number and email address for verification purposes. Letters are subject to editing for clarity and space. Views expressed in letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Buzz Magazines, and The Buzz takes no responsibility for the content and opinions expressed in them.
What’s your story? We are looking for residents for upcoming articles who: • Have interviewed older relatives on video. • Have funny stories about training a pet. • Have an interesting passion or hobby. • Have a compelling neighbor to profile. • Have a travel story to share.
And thanks to you, Chef Happy new year, Dai [Huynh]! Your Chef’s Corner article for this month in The Buzz was great [Chef’s Corner: Nicole Routhier, January 2017]. Thank you! Many people saw it before I even had a chance to look it up. Last WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2017 6
If this sounds like you or someone you know, please contact us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com or 713.668.4157, ext 12.
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NEIGHBORS by Andria Frankfort, staff writer
Putting on the Rodeo Volunteers become family
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man of the Special Children’s Committee. “It was a three-year role, and the most important part is appointing new members. Over those years I spent a lot of time talking to people. I saw their love of working with kids with ROUNDUP Bill and Debbie Hanna take neighborhood kids Ella-Grace Caravanis, Reese Kelly, Kate Wubbenhorst and Mia Wubbenhorst on a spin in their antique fire disabilities and was truck, which they bought to use in the rodeo's Grand Entry parade. inspired.” our antique fire truck. The kids take pictures He’s made rodeo a family affair. Wife Debbie with it and climb on it if they can.” is on the Tours Committee, and two sons have Wendy Vandeventer, a commercial real estate served on the Junior Rodeo Committee. broker, is serving for the first year as a vice presDaughter Mollie, 17, is just old enough to serve ident of the rodeo. She’s one of two women in on the Junior Rodeo Committee. But it was the role (there are a total of 18 vice presidents), Bill’s involvement with the Grand Entry and just the eighth since rodeo’s beginnings. Committee that prompted a unique purchase. “Twenty years ago, I was working at a com“Bill felt like they were short a fire truck,” mercial real estate firm, and the person who did Debbie says. “We would have people there to our title work asked if I wanted to be involved ride in the Grand Entry Parade, and no fire in rodeo,” Wendy says. “I’m a city girl. I didn’t truck. So he and his friend Tom Laird in Bellaire know the first thing about a rodeo. But he said bought a 1955 fire truck on Ebay and fixed it up it was a lot of fun and I’d be doing good work to be used in parades. Now Bill drives the truck and would meet a lot of people. So I got in the Grand Entry about three-quarters of the involved solely for the social aspect. And then I time. He’s technically supposed to drive every got bitten by the bug. I started doing things so other night, but he just can’t help himself.” far out of my comfort level, like working with Tom, Bill’s partner in crime, says, “We just the kids and the animals, and I had a blast.” wanted to accommodate more children in the Wendy’s first foray into rodeo was as a member parade. It gives them an experience they’ll treasure of the Breeders Greeters Committee. “The kids for the rest of their lives.” The fire truck can would come in with their animals, and our job was accommodate 18 children. “Seeing the kids’ faces to help them unload and get them in their stalls. If light up riding on an actual antique fire truck is they arrived at 2 a.m., we needed to be there to greet something we really enjoy,” the home builder says. them and help them with their pigs and their goats. Like Bill, Tom serves as a director of the “Unloading the pigs was a pretty funny sight rodeo and has been on many committees. In to see. We would hold boards, known as ‘piggy 1994, he started the Texas Social Club barbecue boards,’ on each side of the pigs to form a chute. team, and that leads to his favorite rodeo memTwo of us would walk sideways across from each ory. “Every year, we have the cook-off on other with a pig in the middle. If one of us got Friday,” he says. “Between 300 and 500 specialout of line, the pig would run. And they are fast! needs kids come in. They’re all from HISD and I do remember wondering what in the world I other special-needs groups. The Houston Fire was doing working with farm animals when my Department brings in new fire trucks, the ‘regular’ job is sitting in (continued on page 10) SWAT team brings a helicopter, and we bring georgefloresphotography.com
H
ouston’s rodeo memories run deep. You can ask just about anyone who lives here, and you’ll hear stories of school trips to the livestock show, raucous nights at the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, and everything in between. After all, Houston is home to the largest livestock show and rodeo in the world. In 2016 alone, more than 2.4 million people attended. Since its beginning in 1932, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has committed nearly $430 million to the youth of Texas, mainly through educational scholarships. From first-time rodeo-goers to multi-year volunteers, locals feel truly connected to this iconic annual event. But perhaps no one feels quite as connected as the Buzz-area volunteers who lead the effort year after year. Bill Hanna has been involved with the rodeo for more than 30 years. “I had graduated from college in Nacogdoches,” he says, “and moved to Houston to work. We had been volunteering at local county fairs and rodeos in East Texas, so it was kind of a, ‘How do I continue to do that when I move to Harris County?’ The rodeo was the likely place to look.” Bill, who works in compliance at Fayez Sarofim & Co. and is currently a director for the rodeo, joined the Special Children’s Committee as a young twenty-something and never looked back. “Through my work the first 10 years at the Special Children’s Committee is where I developed my interest in working with children and young adults with special needs,” Bill says. He’s now on his 32nd year. “Just being around the children and working with the other groups that get invited to come out to the Livestock Show is inspiring.” One event Bill enjoys is the Top Hands Horse Show, for riders with disabilities. “The coaches of the riding clubs always remind us that the kids think about the horse show and practice all year long so that they can come to Houston and win a trophy,” Bill says. “When they pull up in front of NRG Arena, they immediately go look for their favorite committeeman and give him or her a hug. We only see them once a year, but they always remember us and tell us about what they have been doing since the last show.” About 15 years ago, Bill was appointed chair-
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Sara Matthews John McCaine Photography
COWBOY UP Top photo: Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo lifetime vice president James Mushinski, rider Jack Joseph and vice president Wendy Vandeventer celebrate Jack's award at the Top Hands Horse Show. Bottom photo: The Hannas' antique fire truck makes the rounds during the Grand Entry in NRG Stadium. (continued from page 8) front of a computer or on
the phone all day. I had no idea I could have so much fun doing something like that!” From there, Wendy was tapped to form the Gatekeepers Committee – the people who greet attendees at the gates and scan tickets. “Eventually I became chairman of that 1,400-person committee. That’s how I got started in leadership,” she says. “What I love most about rodeo is not only the good we do for the students we send to college, but also meeting the other volunteers. They are the most generous, giving people in Houston. And even people who have moved outside of Houston come back to volunteer. Now I spend holidays with the people I’ve met volunteering. My entire family is involved now. My family became part of the rodeo, and the rodeo became part of my family.” ER doctor Kelly Larkin truly found her family by volunteering at the rodeo. “When I first moved to Houston in 1994, I worked at Hermann in the emergency department in my residency,” Kelly says. “I got to go to the rodeo with some paramedics on the floor where the cowboys are, and I ended up doing some research on cowboy WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2017 10
injuries.” Since then, Kelly has served on several committees and currently serves as a director. She also started the Sports Medicine Committee, made up of healthcare providers who staff a rodeo ER. “We have an X-ray and can do stitches. We have a concussion specialist on the committee. We don’t want them back out riding if they have had a concussion, same as with football or other sports. “We take care of all the cowboys, and it’s now a committee of 130 people – doctors, surgeons, massage therapists. We take care of the cowboys head to toe as soon as they get into town, and if they ever get hurt, we run out onto the floor and take care of them. “One time, a bull rider was thrown off the bull and then was stepped on and knocked unconscious on the floor,” she remembers. “Our team carried him back to our sports medicine room. Instead of going to the hospital, we treated him right there with everything he needed. We’re very attuned to concussions. He left there, walked out and went home that evening, and we followed up with him the next day to see how he was doing.” Only after she shares her passion for the com-
mittee and the rodeo does Kelly mention the tremendous role volunteering with the rodeo has played in her life. “I met my husband [banker Fernando Parra] when we were first on a committee together years ago,” Kelly says. “It was the Houston General Go Texan Committee, and I was the first female chairman. At the time, we were married to other spouses. Along the way, we both divorced and ended up meeting each other many years later. But we had first met through rodeo years earlier. It was comforting to have that rodeo connection. “Now we laugh about it, and I tell him I was his boss back then.” In 2017, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo will give away more than $26 million in scholarships and grants, thanks to a mega community effort. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for people to volunteer and invest time in the community,” Bill Hanna says. “There are so many ways to get involved, because it’s so big.” Editor's note: Want to volunteer next year? See rodeohouston.com/get-involved/volunteer.
Your smile can last forever Anna Maria Salas, D.D.S., M.S. Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics
713-481-4885 3642 University Blvd., Suite 102
Houston, TX 77005 w w w. w e s t u o r t h o . c o m
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NEIGHBORS by Cheryl Laird, staff writer
You Want a What? How I ended up with an RV
W
hoa, look! Right there. The silver one with the black stripe!” In the passenger seat, my sister turned her head to the right as our truck whizzed at 65 mph past a 25-foot-long gray blur, parked forlornly in a field off I-45. “What?” “Right there! It looks like an Airstream, but I don’t think it is. It looks old but good. Don’t you think?” She looked back at me with a confused expression. “The RV? Um, yeah, I guess so. Wait, you want an RV? Why?” It was a fair question. We had never camped as a family growing up. The few RVs we had slept in were musty, broken-down trailers on deer leases. As adults, none of us camped. Or hiked. Or visited state parks. Or even went on that many road trips. When we passed RV parks, we thought of them as a scenic liability, not a destination. My husband Greg and I lived with our two high school kids in a two-story home in Bellaire, with lots of room and belongings. I had a reputation as a creature of comfort, where mattresses and surroundings had to be just so, or else I couldn’t sleep. There was one time years ago when we had taken my grandparents’ giant old motor home down to a Galveston beach, when our kids were tiny. That had been a lot of fun, but the process was repair-filled and never repeated. A couple of years later, the motor home had caught on fire where it was parked. Now, our kids had reached the age where their personal hell would be spending a weekend crammed in a tiny space with their parents, especially in the boonies with no wifi. So why did I want – no, was obsessed with having – an RV? I slowed down at every trailer with a for-sale sign. I scoured Craigslist, RVTrader and Facebook’s Tin Can Tourists. I wandered around hot parking lots and peered in windows. The first word that came to mind was freedom. Freedom from what, I wasn’t sure. The kids were heading to college soon. That empty space needed to be filled with a new passion. With no more school schedule, and a flexible job on my end, old rules on where and when to be were WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2017 12
THE BIG DAY A For Sale sign on this 1986 Avion caught the eye of writer Cheryl Laird as she zoomed past on I-45. Husband Greg Hassell snapped this photo the day they surprised themselves and actually bought it.
about to go poof. I didn’t want a fancy vacation with hotels and airplanes to schedule. Just the flexibility to make and break plans on a whim. As the daughter of a garagesale queen, if the escape were affordable and a good deal, it would be twice as satisfying. Fashionably vintage would be a bonus and more likely to tempt my old-school, banjo-playing hubbie. The simplicity was appealing. If belongings didn’t fit, they would be out. Cleaning would take no time, and organizing would be a fun puzzle. I always had loved building forts. This would be a cozy hideaway, a grown-up fort. And although Greg didn’t, I loved the idea of learning practical skills in plumbing, air-conditioning, electricity (12 volt too!), water heaters, propane and propane accessories, à la King of the Hill. At our house, we called repair people. In an RV, we’d figure it out. And finally, zombies. A bug-out vehicle – in case of a Walking Dead apocalypse, hurricane or other emergency – seemed like a prudent, responsible option to have available. Stretch rationalization, but it made me feel better. My sister and I continued on that day. Later,
tired, on the way home, she said, “We should stop and see that RV you liked.” I was touched she wasn’t making fun of my silly dream. We pulled over, peeked in, and saw solid cabinets, hardwood floors, tasteful curtains. The tag said 1986 Avion. When I got home later, I Googled “Avion” and found out that although this brand was no longer made, at one time it was a rival to the classic aluminum Airstream, and Avion fans thought they were even better built. I called the number on the for-sale sign. The price wasn’t bad at all – a bargain if you thought long enough about it. It’s been nine months since we bought it. In that time, I’ve had a tire blow out in the truck at 60 mph while hauling the RV with three teenagers – we were promptly saved by a cowboyhatted and Spanish-speaking duo of heroes who pulled over and changed the tire. While parked, we’ve had water pour out of an unknown pipe underneath – discovered in the dark after dinner and quickly fixed by Avion Facebook-group friends who mentioned the existence of a winterizing valve we had accidentally bumped. The power went out, and (continued on page 14)
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DISCOVERING RV LIFE Top left: Morning coffee under the awning at Pecan Grove RV Park in Austin. Top middle: Cheryl saw hardwood floors when she first peeked in the window of the 30-year-old trailer. Top right: Rediscovering the fun of bike riding, at Lady Bird Lake. Bottom left: The sign spotted at Pecan Grove needs little explanation. Bottom right: Good Samaritans rode to the rescue in Bastrop when a truck tire blew out on Cheryl’s first outing. (continued from page 12) I felt almighty when I
found the breaker box, flipped the switch, and there was light. I felt just as proud when, with YouTube and a flashlight, I succeeded in lighting the oven’s pilot. The cookies were yummy. Most traumatic, a mouse took up temporary residence. In bed, I heard the terrifying clop clop of tiny feet above me. It may have been squirrels, or maybe even a tree branch in the wind, but I barely slept that night. The following visit though, my suspicions were validated when I discovered telltale evidence. I panicked and high-tailed it to a hotel. The next day, I bought 14 – not exaggerating – mouse traps of all different kinds. The mouse apparently was more level-headed than myself and decided to leave on its own when it saw the arsenal. It’s been awesome. Despite the learning curve and the hiccups, we love our silver fort. It is tight but cozy, with comfy twin beds for reading, a couch that folds out, and a small but hot shower. We spend more time sitting outside under the awning, visiting with people, than we do at home, where I am a notorious cave dweller. We pumped up the tires on long-unused bikes and have been exploring on two wheels. Funny thing is, we still haven’t gone hiking or road-tripping or to state parks, vintage-trailer rallies or music festivals, although they are on our list. On our very first outing, we discovered the coolest RV park in the world – the legendary WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2017 14
Pecan Grove in Austin. It’s within walking distance of Barton Springs Pool, Zilker Park, Lady Bird Lake, downtown, restaurants and food trucks, surrounded by highrise condos and high-end neighborhoods. Actor Matthew McConaughey used to keep his Airstream here. The friendly people we’ve met are a mix of independent hippie, wealthy collector, limited-income retiree, all-around adventurer and footloose 20somethings. Some stay just a night or two, but others have lived here for decades, lined up in new and vintage trailers, old Streamlines, tiny Bambi Airstreams, huge luxurious Prevost buses, battered camper vans and fifth wheels with slide-out extensions, roomy as small houses. They decorate their pecan tree-shaded spots with funky accessories, old signs, strung lights and found art, like displays of tennis balls one kayaker fishes out of the lake. Dogs walk politely on leashes – used to traveling and meeting new four-legged friends. The short-term campers infuse the place with a celebratory energy, and the long-termers make it feel like a quiet home. It’s a unique community, a slice of old Austin. On one visit, we eavesdropped as a newly arrived group in a circle of lawn chairs invited an older long-termer, who was walking by, to their campfire party. “Hold on a minute,” she called in a drawl, smiling. “Let me go get my wine glass.” Another time, the friendly gentleman known as the “Balloonatic” rode up on his bicycle and
presented my visiting in-laws with bracelets made of balloons. Later, at lunch, Mimi’s bracelet popped, making her jump in the air, and Greg and his brother laughed like hyenas. I’m not normally a big walker or cyclist or especially impulsive, but here, I decided to ride a bike all the way over Lady Bird Lake, through downtown, around the Capitol and to the UT campus. It was during a football game. I felt 20 again as I weaved slowly in and out of the tailgaters and campus crowds. Eventually, with no plans, I ended up at the alumni center across from the stadium and made new friends watching the game on a TV inside. After a few trips to Pecan Grove, we hit the lottery and landed a long-term spot. We parked the Avion, leveled it, and strung up some festive Christmas lights on the awning arms. Now, we take a quick drive up to Austin whenever we want to escape. We don’t miss hotels. I guess I should admit this – our oldest kid now goes to college in Austin at UT. That’s a factor and a bonus. For us parents anyway. I’ve been thinking again though. We could leave the RV there in its perfect spot long-term and use something else for spontaneous road trips. Have you seen those pop-top camper vans, like the old VWs? Or those shiny Capri pickuptruck campers the cowboys like? If you see one on the side of the road, Greg says not to call me.
In the fine neighborhoods of:
Tanglewood, Galleria, River Oaks, Memorial, West University, Rice Military 5050 Westheimer, Suite 200 Houston, TX 77056 713-621-2555 wrigby@weldonrigby.com www.weldonrigby.com
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TRAVEL by Jennifer Oakley, staff writer
Vacation on Wheels B
uzz residents Stuart Saunders, wife Farrell and their four children have traveled a lot, including a sailing trip with Semester at Sea that literally took them around the world from Brazil to South Africa, India to Vietnam. But Saunders had a different type of trip in mind when he planned a family vacation two summers ago: a RV trip – just as he had taken with his parents and sister when he was in junior high and they did a loop of the southwestern United States. “Farrell was very skeptical, and my teenage daughter thought we were sentencing her to prison,” says Saunders. “The younger kids, of course, were excited. It was a fantastic adventure, and even Farrell and the teenager will begrudgingly admit it was fun.” The Saunders family (Stuart, Farrell, Lee, 15, Laura, 13, Harris, 10, and Ross, 8) are no stranger to adventure. They ski in Utah and Spring Break in the Grand Cayman every year, but hitting the road for seven days along the California and Oregon coasts in a RV proved to be one of the most memorable trips. “Luckily we happen to be good friends with a family that owns a RV, and they were a great resource is planning our trip,” says Saunders, board chairman at SouthTrust Bank. “The primary reason we chose northern California and Oregon is because our friends were going to be out there in their RV, and we joined them for a portion of their summer-long trip across several states.” Saunders downloaded the Allstays phone app to research parks and RV campgrounds. “We personally preferred the national and state parks over the commercial RV campgrounds,” he says. “The parks just had a much more natural, scenic feel. You could hike and bike and kayak right out your door.” The family flew to San Francisco and then picked up their RV from a rental company near Oakland. “I was, quite frankly, shocked at how little was required for me to take off in a 35-foot bus,” Saunders says. “The rental company did provide a briefing on how to use the vehicle, but there was no training or licensing required – just get in and good luck!” “We drove north to Lassen Volcanic National Park for a couple of days of kayaking WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2017 16
Karen Sachar
Taking the slow road
HAPPY TRAILS Farrell and Stuart Saunders and their children have happy memories from their RV vacation in California and Oregon. From left: Harris, 10; Stuart; Laura, 13; Farrell; Ross, 8; and Lee, 15.
and hiking. Then we kept heading north to Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. From there we headed west to the Oregon coast for a couple of days, then south into the Redwood Forest.” Saunders soon realized the immense size of their vehicle: “The RV was too big for the actual drive-through Redwood.” So, they got out, walked in and took their photos. Another day also proved challenging. “We were cruising along about 50 mph, when out of the corner of my eye, I saw some movement along the side of the highway. As a deer started across the road, I hit the brakes, but there isn’t much you can do to stop a bus. We barely felt the impact. I ended with about $1,000 of damage to the front of the RV that my auto policy took care of.” Overall, the trip was a big success. “Probably the best memories are the games at the kitchen table while on the road and the campfires every night. While the kids enjoyed the hikes and swims in the national parks, they really loved the evening ritual of cooking dinner and getting the campfire going. We roasted more marshmallows that week than in
the previous 13 years of parenting.” A parental rule allowed the kids to have one hour of electronics a day while Saunders was driving. “Once the electronics went off, the kids started sitting at the kitchen table playing card games and board games as we drove. It was beautiful. I hope the kids will always remember the times they spent together playing games as the family rolled down the highway.” In the end, the RV trip lived up to Saunders’ memories from childhood. “It is one thing to visit someplace beautiful, arrive at 10:45 a.m., take a 30-minute walk, snap a few pictures and head back to town. It is totally different to take your camper into the park and stay there for a day or two. You get to see the beauty of the place at sunrise, you have all day to hike or swim and explore, you can watch the sunset and then sit around the campfire and talk about the day. “It is a great option for those people that like the idea of camping but are not really excited about sleeping in a tent on the hard ground. With an RV, you get to camp in your hotel room.”
KIDS by Angie Frederickson, staff writer
Kids Can Volunteer Big help from little ones
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ith paper sacks in hand, Turner, Maggie and Parker Chiles walk with their parents from their family’s car to a stranger’s home and knock on the door. Inside the sacks are lunches with a sandwich, snack and milk that the Chiles children and their parents, Laura and Brett, helped put together. When the door opens, a preschool child accepts the lunch with a smile, and the Chiles kids learn, firsthand, what it means to give back to their community. Laura and Brett wanted to introduce their children to hands-on volunteering, hopefully kick-starting a lifelong commitment to giving. They’re starting with Kids’ Meals Houston. “I credit my kids’ schools for introducing us to Kids’ Meals,” Laura said. Turner, 11, and Parker, 8, attend The Kinkaid School, where each year the kindergarteners set up a sandwichmaking station and turn out about 1,000 sandwiches on a single day. Parker’s twin, Maggie, attends St. Francis Episcopal School, which also commits to making sandwiches for Kids’ Meals. Kids’ Meals is like Meals on Wheels, except it’s geared toward hungry children under the age of 5, who are not eligible for school-lunch programs. Every weekday morning, volunteers prepare about 2,500 lunches and deliver them to children in need. When the kids are out of school for break, the entire Chiles family drives a Kids’ Meals delivery route with the lunches they prepared. “When the kids actually see the families they are helping, it hammers in just how blessed we are,” said Laura. Kids’ Meals Houston allows young children to volunteer, but because of safety concerns and legal guidelines, many nonprofit organizations don’t. Here are some local groups that welcome child volunteers.
Little Lights Houston Coordinates volunteer opportunities for young children and their parents. Little Lights works with several local nonprofit organizations, and families can choose among volunteer events that work best for their children’s ages and schedules. Minimum age to volunteer: none Contact: littlelightshouston.org WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2017 18
LEARNING TO GIVE Laura Chiles and her lunchbag-masked children Maggie, Parker and Turner (from left) attend the 2015 grand opening of the current Kids’ Meals location.
Houston Food Bank Feeds more than 800,000 people each year by providing meals to soup kitchens, senior centers and other agencies. Volunteers are needed to inspect and sort food, repack dry food into family-sized bags, and stock and clean the Emergency Food Pantry. Minimum age to volunteer: 6 Contact: houstonfoodbank.org, 713-547-8604
Bayou City Blessings in a Backpack Provides weekend meals to elementary school-aged children who are eligible for school-lunch programs during the week, but need meals on Saturdays and Sundays. Volunteers help by buying, assembling and delivering easy-to-prepare weekend meals. Minimum age to volunteer: 2 Contact: holyspirithouston.org/bcb/, blessingsinabackpack.org, 281-468-1227
Star of Hope Provides Houston’s homeless a temporary place to live and support programs like counseling, parenting classes and substance-abuse recovery. Young children, as part of a family volunteer group, can assist with the Snacks and Goodnight program, which provides evening snacks to people in the mission. Minimum age to volunteer: none Contact: sohmission.org, 713-748-0700
Books Between Kids Collects gently used books from community donations and delivers them to children in select HISD schools who don’t have books at home. Volunteers can help count, sort and pack books into boxes, prepare books to send to schools, and clean and reorganize the warehouse. Minimum age to volunteer: 5 Contact: booksbetweenkids.org, 832-831-1402
Hermann Park Conservancy Helps maintain the grounds at Hermann Park to keep it clean and beautiful for visitors. Family and group volunteers weed and mulch plant beds, restore picnic tables and benches, plant and water trees, and clean and repair trails. Minimum age to volunteer: none Contact: hermannpark.org, 713-524-5876
Kids’ Meals Houston Kids’ Meals makes and delivers lunches to hungry preschool-aged children, age 5 and younger. Volunteers make sandwiches, assemble lunch bags and deliver meals. Minimum age to volunteer: 4 Contact: kidsmealshouston.org, 713-695-7544 Editor’s note: Know of more volunteer opportunities for children? Let us know by commenting under this story at thebuzzmagazines.com. Also, see volunteerhouston.org for links to additional ways for everyone to volunteer.
Watch Their Smiles Grow
Oral healthcare for the growing & developing child Joel J. Vela, D.D.S. Bellaire Pediatric Dentistry, P.A. 6750 West Loop South, Suite 795 713.661.1100 • www.bellairesmiles.com
8 oz. eye of ribeye with chipotle sauce and cheese
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WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2017 19
NEIGHBORS by Michelle Casas Groogan, staff writer
Working It Careers for adults with autism “I like having a job and making my own money.” This simple, succinct statement is from Ryan Blake, a young man for whom employment is important, if not precious. When Ryan landed his first position in October near his Meyerland home, at HISD Food Services, it was a milestone worthy of celebration. The 22 year old has spent the better part of a decade training for that critical moment. His personal challenges are daunting – autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder and lateonset Tourette’s syndrome. “Ryan paces like a panther and talks to himself. Talking to himself is okay. You can still get your work done. But if you’re pacing, how do you get your work done when you’re walking around?” said his mother, Judy Blake, a coordinator for Disability Leadership of Houston, a project of Family to Family Network. But with a job coach and a little advocacy from his mother, Ryan is successfully working parttime and beating the odds that have kept many disabled young adults from earning a paycheck. “They can’t be at home playing video games, or they can’t be in these sheltered workshops making 50 cents a day,” said Judy. “I think a lot of it has to do with employers being more open minded. It’s getting better, but there is a lot more that needs to be done. Maybe if there were just incentives for employers to hire people with disabilities.” Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a group of complex disorders of brain development characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction, and sometimes repetitive behaviors. Recent research published in the Journal of American Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found autistic adults have among the worst employment outcomes compared to people with other disabilities. Young adults with autism earned an average wage of $8.10 per hour, researchers found, and two-thirds had neither a job nor educational plans during the first two years after high school, a condition which continued for more than a third of them into their early 20s. “Starting in the early to mid-1970s, there’s been a historic shift in the balance of jobs in the WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2017 20
manufacturing sector to the service sector,” says Paul Shattuck, an associate professor at Drexel University’s School of Public Health, who led the study. “And those types of jobs, which require lots of social interaction, are exactly the types of jobs that people with autism have difficulty with.” “You can go to school. You can make good grades, but you can still end up on the couch,” said Louis Geigerman, a Meyerland resident and special-education advo- SKILLS Ryan Blake worked on organizational and workplace skills with job coaches, including Porsche Abraham from Level Employment Services, for his cate who created a lec- job with HISD. ture series at the working two part-time jobs, one at an energy McGovern Medical School at UTHealth to Company, Freudenberg Oil and Gas, and the showcase those on the autism spectrum who other at a law firm, Hayes & Wilson. have been successfully employed as well as “The oil and gas company came to Monarch to employers who have discovered the advantages meet with the staff. I just happen to be sitting at of hiring them. the front desk, and they said they needed an “These are high-functioning kids who go to coladministrative assistant. They asked me to interlege. Where are we looking at employability skills? view. I was very lucky,” he said. “I like my jobs. The Where are we looking at job shadowing? Where are hardest thing about working is keeping calm when we looking at internships?” asks Geigerman, who I feel stressed or angry.” He is still taking classes at named the lecture series after his son Benjamin. Monarch, lives in an apartment with a roommate “The public schools’ mandate is to prepare and hopes to earn his driver’s license soon. kids for further education, independent living For Ryan Blake, the young man who works a and employment. Really a part of that should be cafeteria job with HISD, his career is just beginhelping and providing internships for these kids ning. He and his mom aspire to open a restauin high school. They should be preparing them rant one day run by people who’ve overcome for employment. They are not doing that well disabilities and need some on-the-job training. enough, and parents aren’t putting enough pres“Everyone deserves a chance in this world,” sure on them to do it,” said Geigerman. says mom Judy. “Everyone in this world can do Memorial-area resident Ryan Dole has been something.” at The Monarch School for people with neurological differences for the last 16 years. He has worked on adult-transition skills, which, in addiSee this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for links tion to job training, involve relationship develto resources. And if you're an employer looking to opment, independent-living instruction and hire, let us know, and we'll get you connected. emotional self-regulation. Dole, now 25, is
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Insurance and estate planning Most discussions of insurance and estate planning focus on the value of life insurance to your heirs. Not this one. Instead, let’s consider insurance to protect your income and assets now, and to shield your executor later. What happens if you’re in a car accident with serious injuries or death – and it’s your fault? Expect to be sued, and to pay a large judgment. Every driver is at risk of losing bank accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, rental property, and other non-exempt assets to a lawsuit. In Texas, you may keep your homestead, pension, retirement accounts, annuities, and life insurance. However, cash distributions are not exempt, and may go to the alert creditor. You may have substantial non-exempt assets, but what good are they if you cannot spend them? As a rule of thumb, carry liability insurance equal to your non-exempt assets plus five to ten years of income. Suppose you have a home, an IRA, a modest checking account, and $300,000 in CDs. The home and IRA are exempt from creditors’ claims. The CDs are not. That suggests at least $300,000 in liability insurance. If Social Security and IRA income total $50,000 a year, another $250,000 to $500,000 in liability insurance is indicated. Even someone of modest means may want $500,000 to $1 million in liability insurance. The typical automobile or homeowner’s policy offers no more than $500,000 in coverage. However, your agent can often provide an inexpensive umbrella policy from the same carrier with limits of $1 to $5 million, which is more than enough for most people. Suppose you stop driving, pay off the mortgage, and die, judgment-free, without any liability insurance. Who cares at that point? Your executor
should. An executor is a fiduciary, with the most dangerous, thankless task known to the law. They must collect all your assets, pay all your debts, distribute the remainder to your beneficiaries, and make no mistakes. As one wag summarized it, “Whatever happens, it’s the executor’s fault.” Both liability and property insurance will go a long way to protect the executor, and, ultimately, your heirs. New executors should review the estate with an insurance agent. Existing policies may be adequate. If not, the executor may obtain insurance at the estate’s expense. Better though, that you yourself review your insurance, and develop a plan to protect yourself in retirement. Doing so minimizes everyone’s risk, and leaves one less task to be done when you’re gone. We write wills and go to probate court. We offer no-obligation initial interviews for estate planning and administration, so it costs nothing to hear specific recommendations that suit your needs. Foreign nationals and international families welcome. Russell W. Hall, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Board Certified – Estate Planning and Probate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 6750 West Loop South, Suite 920, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.662.3853, www.rwhpc.com
A commitment to integrity, honesty and attention to detail. Design Build ~ New Construction ~ Renovation 5250 Gulfton Street, Suite 2C Houston, TX 77081 www.rghomeshouston.com | 281-850-6432
WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2017 21
KIDS
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by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer
Buzz Baby
Notes for a nice naptime
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oddlers and babies are small yet very busy humans. When they finally crash for a nice long nap, as a parent or caretaker, it can feel like you’ve hit the lottery. My toddler twins nap anywhere from a short 15 minutes to sometimes up to three hours. It can be a fun game each day to see how long my break will be. I try to accomplish as much as possible, but some days I just crash on the couch. It is a struggle to keep household sounds to a minimum, mostly our barking dogs. I have a sign I hang on my door that reads, “Please Do Not Knock. Sleeping Babies. Barking Dogs.” Without fail, every so often, a solicitor or person will not “see” the sign and knock anyway, causing our dogs to bark and kids to wake and me feel like I could start crying (dramatic I know, but naptime is a break for mommy, too.) Recently, I talked with some Buzz moms about their child’s naptime routine. Mom-of-two Kelli Calderwood uses her baby monitor to communicate with her toddler Amelia when it’s time for her nap. “We can talk through our monitor,” said Kelli. “My daughter thinks [the monitor] is the bedtime fairy. She tells my daughter to stay in bed, lay down, stop crying. It used to work like a charm, but lately Amelia will look directly at the camera and say ‘No, lady. No naps!’” Liz Austin and her husband Jeremy, a civil engineer, have two children – toddler Everley, 3, and infant Austin, 5 months. They also talk to Everley through their baby monitor. “[Jeremy] calls it the ‘voice of Oz’,” said Liz. “He says to me, ‘Do you want me to go in there or just Oz her?’” If you have more than one child who requires a nap, naptime can become a struggle due to their differing needs. Liz came up with a tactic to keep Everley occupied while she puts Austin down for a nap (which happen about 2-3 times a day, while Everley naps only once a day). She pulls out a play tent for Everley to quietly play inside of. “Naptime with these two is tough because they rarely overlap, no matter how I try. For some reason, [Everley] is much more likely to focus on a toy and play quietly when she is in the tent.” It can also be a challenge to balance the WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2017 22
chores and to-do list with children, so Liz said she handles her daily household chores first once they are both asleep. She also enjoys some downtime. “I like to squeeze in a quick yoga practice using one of the videos on Amazon Prime. Then, I curl up with a mug of hot tea – even if it is 80 degrees outside – with my dog Ouisie to watch Grey’s Anatomy reruns on Lifetime.” Liz said Everley uses her imagination to play before NAPTIME TACTICS Everley Austin, 3, gets to “read” in her crib before naptime. Mom Liz Austin started the reading-time tactic when she had trouble getting her to she falls asleep. wind down. “Instead of an always need to lay with her to get her to sleep.” imaginary friend, Everley has an imaginary pack One mom with grown kids, Kaitlyn Lee Sharp, of cheetah cubs. Apparently, they follow her said it’s all about creating the right environment everywhere, including into bed at naptime. I for naptime – a loud and busy one to teach them once heard her over the monitor telling them to to sleep through it all. “My kids slept to rock ’n’ ‘lay down and be quiet’ because they had ruined roll and the vacuum cleaner. They slept through her nap.” anything because we didn’t try to be quiet.” If Everley resists settling down after a lot of Do you have a naptime trick that works wonplay, Liz allows her to select a few books to bring ders? Share it with all of us by leaving a cominto her crib. “We instituted independent readment under this story at thebuzzmagazines.com. ing time in her crib. I love listening to her little voice ask for some ‘inipinit ree-ing’. It works Editor's note: We wish naptime success, now great except for when I forget that she is in there more than ever, to writer Annie Blaylock with the lights on, and she has to call me in and McQueen. She wrote this story shortly before giving ask if she can go to sleep. Oops.” birth to her third child. We hear baby Georgia and Jenny Seckinger, a realtor and mom of two, toddler twins Cash and Lila are doing great started a routine that she now says was not her best decision. She has to lay down with her daughter to get her to fall asleep for a nap. “I am For more baby stories, see thebuzzmagazines.com not sure it was the wisest decision, but we bought for writer Annie Blaylock McQueen’s column, her a queen bed so I could lay with her if there “Mommy Moments.” was a need,” said Jenny. “Now apparently, I
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TRAVEL
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by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer
Travel Buzz
Savvy from veteran globetrotters
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hether you’re a frequent flyer or just an occasional adventurer, you have met some folks who just seem to know the ropes. They avoid lines, capitalize on deals, pack like a pro and pick the coolest destinations. As you prepare for Spring Break, we talked with a few of those folks and ask them to share their savvy to give you a head start.
Your flight has been cancelled, or is overbooked. Now what? First, says “Million Miler” Bill Montgomery, prepare for the worst by being aware of other options before you travel. See if your carrier has agreements with other carriers, and check alternate flights for what’s available in a pinch. Never pack your phone charger in your checked bag, in case you have to wait a long time in the airport, says Susan Sisler, German teacher at Spring Branch ISD. Sisler has made 16 trips to Germany with student groups, and has never had any problems with flights, she says, because she nearly always flies with Lufthansa. In 35 years, only one of her European flights was cancelled. It was not Lufthansa. Ask the desk agent to check with codeshare partners – an aviation business arrangement where two or more airlines share the same flight – for other available flights, she advises. Be quietly, politely persistent. Don’t leave the counter until they have found you a substitute flight. Staying calm helps, Montgomery adds. If you’ve studied the routes, you’re in a better position to think creatively with the airline personnel about different routes that could get you to your destination – for example, Chicago or Phoenix or Atlanta as a layover instead of Dallas. If there’s a long line forming, you probably want to be in it, but don’t stop there. Many times, the airline will automatically rebook its passengers, says Larry Wheeler, a retired petrochemical-company executive. Check your phone and see if you have a seat assignment already – if it doesn’t show up, check the airline’s website. If you don’t like the seat, call airline reservations, even if you have to be on hold for 30 minutes as you stand in line. If the flight is overbooked, this could be an WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2017 24
opportunity, says Montgomery. Travel with enough flexibility so that you can be the one who volunteers to be bumped. “Spring Break is a classic time for overbooking. If the airline is offering a $500 travel voucher, you want to be prepared for that. Sometimes you can pay for your entire vacation with vouchers.” Other advice from Larry: Buy travel insurance (use the emergency hot-line). Avoid lesser-known airlines; flights may be cheaper, but the airline is usually understaffed and has fewer options to offer. What are some littleknown tricks and tips to get the most out of your Frequent Flier Miles? Montgomery’s approach to gathering and using miles has changed recently because the three big THEIR DAY IN THE SUN Larry and Margaret Wheeler were enchanted by the airlines with the good Greek isle of Santorini. Savvy travelers can make the most of any travel destination. frequent flier programs the increasing number of discount airlines, he have all gone to a revenue-based program. says, it might be almost as cheap just to buy the Discount fares on Delta, United and American airline ticket and save your miles. For example, don’t earn miles at a 1-to-1 ratio anymore. You Southwest now flies to Mexico City, and with get more miles than the actual miles for your trip discount fares to Costa Rica running less than if you spend more, and you get less if you spend $400, it doesn’t make sense to spend frequent less. Southwest has had a reward system based flier miles on that, either. on spending for longer than those three. The best program of any size, from his point of view, What are some ways to get through the red is Alaska Airlines, because you still get a mile tape regarding security, customs, re-booking for each mile traveled. tickets and the like? That said, if you have miles, it makes sense to Some frequent fliers go for Global Entry, a use them wisely; use them during off-peak times, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol program, which when it won’t cost as much to use them. With
allows you to skip lines with Pre-Check status for a one-time fee of $100. Sometimes there’s a shorter line available that’s not immediately evident. For example in Terminal A at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, there are two security lines, one on each side. “When airlines on one side are really busy, those lines back way up,” Montgomery says. “Spirit is increasing flights, and there are massive numbers of people going through that line.” Walking is better than standing when you’re preparing for a long flight. Sisler’s advice: Get to the airport very early. Smile, be patient, make relaxed eye contact with the passport official. “In over 30 years, I’ve never had problems with customs, passport or TSA.” What about packing for long flights? Susan Sisler has flown to Germany twice with a bicycle and highly recommends it. Once, she put her bike together in the baggage-claim area of Tegel Airport (Berlin) and rode into town on the bike path used by airport employees. In 2015, she biked along the Danube from its source in Donaueschingen to Passau on the Austrian border. It’s not as difficult to pack a bicycle as you might think, she says. You just take off the pedals and handlebar and pack it in a regular bike box. In the carry-on, she says, pack a phone charger, light jacket, socks, toothbrush and toothpaste, fruit, cheese and crackers, photocopy of your passport, phone numbers and addresses on paper. Larry Wheeler’s advice: Travel with duplicate IDs and duplicate credit cards and keep the duplicates in a separate place from the originals. When travelling abroad, always keep a photocopy of the information page of your passport. For the carry-on, he says, bring travel toiletries, including a headache remedy; all your prescription medications; and change of shirt and underwear. Most important, says Montgomery, is to take along a good frame of mind. “It’s going to be a long flight; say hello to your seatmates. Let them know you’re a nice person who isn’t going to be a pain for the next 15 hours.” What are the best/worst airline lounges or airports? Best airport food/shops? Susan says Munich is hard to beat, with the best airport, best lounge chairs and a biergarten. Domestically, she likes SFO or DEN – good food and excellent wifi. Worst: O’Hare – slowest and longest TSA lines (but they do have good Garrett Popcorn Shops caramel corn, she adds). Larry and wife Margaret Wheeler love the lounge at Heathrow in London; they’re not so fond of the one in Saudi Arabia, where men and women are separated in different lounges. Domestically, Larry likes McCarran International in Las Vegas and Baltimore-Washington International Airport because of ease in getting in and out and changing terminals. Least favorite: IAH (Houston) because of the long haul between gate and baggage claim on United domestic
FROM THE MOUNTAINS OF MYANMAR Paul and Deborah Luik were fortunate to run into a Kayah Karen man while they were in Loikaw, unusual in that his people rarely come down from the mountains to the lower elevations, where they were, except to trade.
flights; also Atlanta and DFW because of size and distance between connecting flights. Montgomery likes Amsterdam and Zurich airports, which have an observation deck where you can watch the planes, but he loves Changi Airport in Singapore for the way they take care of all passengers, not just airline-lounge members. There’s a butterfly garden and a free movie theater. “Most places, the idea is put bars up on the seats so people don’t feel tempted to lie down. In Changi, they have nice lounges open to anyone, nice sloped chairs where anyone can sleep. I wish airports would approach it more that way, since people are going to be traveling and need a place to rest.” Domestically, he says, “Detroit is a great airport, I think, and maybe not fully appreciated. Still fairly new and simply laid out. Unlike most other people, I love LAX. If I have three hours between flights there, I walk over to the In-NOut burger place and watch planes.” What about surprise destinations – places that most people don’t know about, but make the top of your list? Deborah Luik, former software architect and now dog trainer, was our expert on out-of-theway destinations. Having now been to almost every country in Asia (not Bhutan, she adds,
which, at $200 minimum per person per day was not worth it to her family), she recommends that people visit Myanmar now. “It has some areas that are just now opening for tourism, so it’s still possible to be the first person in some parts of Myanmar,” she says. She’s a big fan of Panama. “Cheaper and more interesting than Costa Rica, with great snorkeling and both the Afro Caribbean and Hispanic Caribbean cultures neatly separated onto the two halves of the isthmus,” she wrote. “You can also see mountains and it has of course the canal for the engineering minded.” As for yours truly, I write to you from the breezy loft of a chic café in Guadalajara’s Chapultepec district, a hipster’s paradise on a teeny budget. After six years and counting, I still say Mexico can’t be beat for its diversity, authenticity and good folks. My other pick would be Bosnia, where I spent three beautiful months of 2016 on assignment and was blown away by the mountain vistas, East-Meets-West culture and warm, funny, resilient people. Wherever you go in the year ahead, do keep us in mind here at The Buzz. We love hearing from you! Editor’s note: Do you have travel savvy to share with fellow readers? Email info@thebuzzmagazines.com or leave a comment under this story at thebuzzmagazines.com. WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2017 25
lawellphoto.com
FOOD by Natasha Sadeghian de la Garza, contributing writer
Cooking Buzz Al fresco with kids Cooking Buzz is produced in partnership with the Junior League of Houston, a women’s charitable and education organization founded in 1925.
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pring is in the air. For much of the country, this still means shoveling snow. But here in Houston, we trade in our already mild winter months for gorgeous, crisp, cloudless days. Birds sing while making their nests, our famous azaleas are in full bloom, and our sweet babies are gearing up for Spring Break. If your family is planning to opt out of traveling this year, there are endless activities our city has to offer for kiddos, from the zoo and arboretum to our long list of museums, our favorite being the Houston Museum of Natural Science. But sometimes, the children just want a day at home, and so do you. On homebody days, one of my favorite activities is to cook with my girls. During Thanksgiving Break we are busy baking pecan and pumpkin pies for the big day of feasting, and at Christmas we enjoy our annual day of cookie baking. During Spring Break, we like to turn a regular dinner night into a fun al fresco experience, or as our girls refer to it, “a fancy picnic.” The main goal when dining al fresco is to make foods that are light, fun and easy. It’s a great idea to choose items that don’t necessarily need to be eaten warm and fresh out of the oven. An array of crudités with the fresh Garden Cheese Dip from the Houston Junior League Cookbook, with cheeses and grated carrots, makes a good starter. This gives the kiddos something healthy to snack on before the main event. We like to incorporate a salad into our meals, and Strawberry Fields, with its strawberries, brown sugar and greens, from Stop and Smell the Rosemary is one that our girls always enjoy. (It never hurts to throw in fruit and nuts as a surefire way to get them to eat their leafy greens.) The remainder of the dishes incorporate lemon, because, in my opinion, nothing says al fresco more than a little citrus. The Chicken Couscous Salad from Peace Meals is delicious, and with feta and chicken, protein packed to keep little tummies full. For the main course, something with pasta is always a big hit, so Grilled Tuscan Shrimp with WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2017 26
Lemon Orzo from Peace Meals – with lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic, banana peppers and ParmigianoReggiano cheese – is perfect. And if you decide to add the extra treat of dessert, it really doesn’t FIELDS, FOREVER A Strawberry Fields salad, with strawberries, brown sugar get any better than the and greens, pleases kids as well as adults. Meyer Lemon ½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice Pistachio Tart in Peace Meals. So when those Coarse salt spring days finally arrive, considering shaking Freshly ground pepper things up with a cooking adventure that takes you and your family outside. Salad: 4 cups mixed field greens Garden Cheese Dip 1 cup strawberries, hulled and halved From Houston Junior League Cookbook 1 medium jicama, peeled and julienned 1 large package (8 oz.) cream cheese Topping: 2 Tablespoons Roquefort cheese ¼ cup toasted pistachios, chopped 2 Tablespoons grated carrots ½ tomato, peeled Process 1 cup strawberries, vinegar, brown 1 Tablespoon minced green pepper sugar, olive oil, sesame oil and lemon juice in a ½ cucumber, peeled food processor or blender until smooth. Season ½ teaspoon minced onion and salt and pepper. Set aside. ⅛ teaspoon salt Combine greens, strawberries and jicama in a 1 Tablespoon mayonnaise, or more for right salad bowl. Just before serving, toss dressing with consistency salad and sprinkle with pistachios. Serves 8. Combine all ingredients in a blender and Chicken Couscous Salad blend. If mixture is too thick for dipping, add a From Peace Meals little milk. 1 cup chicken broth Serve with assorted crudité, or to use as salad, 2 ⁄3 cup plain couscous hollow out the center of a large head of lettuce. 3 cups cooked and chopped chicken breast Stuff lettuce with cheese mixture, being careful ¼ cup chopped fresh basil not to split lettuce. Refrigerate about 6 hours. 6 ounces crumbled feta cheese To serve, cut in slices or wedges. Makes approx¼ cup pine nuts, toasted imately 2 cups. 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved 2 Tablespoons olive oil Strawberry Fields 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice From Stop and Smell the Rosemary 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest Strawberry Dressing: Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper 1 cup strawberries, hulled and halved 2 Tablespoons raspberry vinegar Bring the chicken broth to a boil in a medium 2 Tablespoons brown sugar, firmly packed saucepan. Stir in the couscous, cover and ¼ cup olive oil remove from heat. Let stand for 7 minutes or ¼ teaspoon sesame oil
Kim Graeter Photography
AL FRESCO Cooking Buzz writer Natasha Sadeghian de la Garza and her daughters, Olivia (left) and Talia, like to eat outside on festive occasions, especially during Spring Break.
until the liquid is absorbed. Fluff the couscous with a fork. Add the chicken, basil, cheese, pine nuts and tomatoes. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice and lemon zest; season with salt and pepper. Pour the dressing over the couscous and toss to combine. Serve warm or chilled. Serves 4 to 6.
Grilled Tuscan Shrimp with Lemon Orzo From Peace Meals Tuscan Shrimp: ¼ cup olive oil ¼ fresh lemon juice 1 teaspoon coarse salt ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper 1 teaspoon dry mustard 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 3 cloves garlic, lightly crushed 1 medium onion, diced ½ cup Tuscan peppers (also known as banana, pepperoncini or golden Greek peppers), chopped ½ cup minced fresh parsley ¼ cup minced fresh basil 2 pounds shrimp, peeled and deveined 6 skewers Lemon Orzo: 1 pound orzo pasta ¼ cup olive oil Zest of 3 large lemons, finely grated Juice of 3 large lemons 1 ⁄8 teaspoon coarse salt
¼ cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese Freshly ground pepper This recipe requires advance preparation. Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper and mustards in a medium bowl. Stir in the garlic, onion, peppers, parsley and basil. Add the shrimp and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours. Cook and drain the orzo according to package instructions. Place the orzo in a bowl, add the olive oil and let cool to room temperature. Add the lemon zest, juice and salt to the orzo. Stir in the cheese and season with pepper. Preheat the grill to medium-high. Remove the shrimp from the marinade and thread onto the skewers, through the head and tail. Discard the marinade. Grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side or until the shrimp turn pink. Serve over the Lemon Orzo. Serves 6.
Meyer Lemon Pistachio Tart From Peace Meals Crust: ¾ cup unsalted butter ¼ cup sugar 1 Tablespoon powdered sugar 2 cups all-purpose flour ½ cup chopped shelled pistachios Filling: 1 cup sugar 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt 2 eggs, at room temperature, beaten 1 teaspoon grated Meyer lemon zest 2 Tablespoons fresh Meyer lemon juice Topping: ½ cup powdered sugar, sifted 1 Tablespoon fresh Meyer lemon juice 1 Tablespoon butter, melted ¼ cup chopped, shelled pistachios Crust: Preheat the oven to 325 F. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Remove the butter from heat and add both sugars, stirring to combine. Mix in the flour. Let the mixture cool for 15 minutes; the dough will still be warm. Press the dough against the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Bake for 15 minutes. Allow the crust to cool. Sprinkle the pistachios evenly over the crust. Filling: Stir together the sugar, flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Add the eggs, lemon zest and lemon juice, and stir to blend. Pour the filling into the partially baked crust. Bake for 30 minutes or until the crust is golden. Let cool. Topping: Combine the powdered sugar, lemon juice and butter in a small bowl. Spread the glaze over the cooled tart. Sprinkle with pistachios to finish. Serves 12. To buy a Houston Junior League cookbook, see jlh.org or call 713-871-6608. WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2017 27
DINING
by Dai Huynh, staff writer
Chef’s Corner
Johnny Carrabba
Find out about your favorite chefs, and where they like to eat, in our Chef’s Corner column. This month, restaurant writer Dai Huynh interviews chef Johnny Carrabba. “I dressed up for you,” Johnny Carrabba III said with a grin. “I can see that,” I replied, noting his slouchy sweats and disheveled, dark, wavy hair under a navy baseball cap. Other than a few laugh lines and grays, he hasn’t aged much through the decades. There is the same mischievous twinkle in the eyes, cheerful confidence and infectious boyish smile. Maybe it’s because the Original Carrabba’s on Kirby still draws huge crowds daily. This isn’t a small achievement after three decades in business. Or maybe it’s finding love in his mid-50s and marrying Randi Smith (principal of Client 1st real estate) in 2014. More likely, it’s all those things, plus the twists and turns. Johnny frequently reflects on the past these days and how the pieces came together. The 58year-old restaurateur offers a glimpse of his journey in his award-winning cookbook, With Gratitude, a hefty 288-page volume sprinkled with beautiful photographs, treasured family recipes and colorful vignettes about the Carrabbas and uncles Tony, Vincent and Damian Mandola. Johnny and his uncle Damian founded the Original Carrabba’s on Kirby, followed by a second location seven years later at South Voss and Woodway. Both locations are still family operated. The 250-plus Carrabba’s Italian Grills across the country and around the world are not. They are owned by Bloomin’ Brands, parent company of Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Outback Steakhouse. Neither Johnny and Damian are involved in the day-to-day operation of the second largest Italian-themed chain in the nation (behind Olive Garden), but they remain brand ambassadors. Many restaurateurs can only dream of turning one restaurant into a nationwide chain. But it took work and being lucky enough to be born into a family where cooking comes from the heart – a lesson drilled into Johnny by his grandWEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2017 28
mother, Grace Mandola. But along with Grace, another woman’s gutsy determination inspired him and other family members to open some of the most successful restaurants in Texas. Truthfully, Johnny said, he isn’t sure if there would have been a Tony Mandola’s, Damian’s, Nino’s, Vincent’s or Carrabba’s without the grande dame of Tex-Mex. Here, Johnny reminisced about Ninfa Laurenzo and HERE’S JOHNNY Johnny Carrabba (along with his uncle Damian Mandola) helped opening day. found one of the most successful Italian chains in America. Do you rememoverwhelming. This restaurant is a hard business. ber the day you and Damian opened the But through hard work, I kept trying and I got Original Carrabba’s on Kirby? better at it. On the first day, we had a private Oh, yes, very vividly. That was on Dec. 26 of party for the Menchen family. We charged them 1986. I really wasn’t that experienced. I really $1,200, and then we rang up $3,000, so we made wasn’t ready to open a restaurant. But Damian, about $4,000. my uncle and partner, he said, “Man, we got to And you were able to pay your dad back. to get it open.” So Dec. 26 was the day, and I’ll Well, Dad owns 10 percent of my company, never forget on Dec. 25, the day after Christmas. so he’s been paid back. It’s the best investment I’m sitting next to my dad, whose name also is he’s ever made. Johnny. I said, “Dad, do you have any money on So 27 years after opening Carrabba’s, you you?” Being a typical Sicilian guy, who’s close opened Grace’s (3111 Kirby) and Mia’s (3131 with his money, he asked, “What do you need Argonne Street) next door. Grace, of course, money for?” is a tribute to your grandmother, and Mia is I said, “I don’t have any money to open the your daughter. cash register for change.” I borrowed $500 from The Carrabba’s on Kirby has always been my my father. first love. That’s where I cut my teeth, and all How did Carrabba’s do on the first day? the blood, sweat and tears went into it. But Damian had the flu and had to leave early. I through the years, I had accumulated properties was so nervous. I thought to myself, “How am I around it. There were these big developers going to do this?” Even though it was only a wanting to build skyscrapers on the properties, 3,000-square-foot restaurant, I felt I was in the but that just didn’t interest me. I made a comring with Rocky Marciano in his prime, and it was
We worked with an amazing team, and we’ll never make money from it, but I don’t care. The book is meant to be a gift. We wanted to thank our good customers. Also, too, if I could give this book to my sunshine, my daughter Mia, it was worth it. I included all my favorite recipes. But there is one that grabs my heart: my grandmother’s chicken soup, or Sicilian penicillin; that says it all.
Debora Smail
mitment to be in the restaurant business, and I had a revelation. But the gutsiest thing I’ve ever done was to build a whole new Carrabba’s on Kirby. That was a big gamble. People felt attached to that little building, and most of the time, it doesn’t work out. But we had a really good architect, and he kept it feeling the same even though it had a new engine. The restaurant business is transient. People come and go. But many of the servers and cooks in your book have been with you for 15 years or longer, and in the “Heart, Soul and Characters” chapter, you expand on your fondness for employees with colorful personality. Any business will take on the personality of the owner and their employees. When my uncles Vincent and Tony opened Nino’s on West Dallas, I was a young boy. Nino’s is 38 years old. We would go there as a family to eat, and I was so entertained by the cast of characters. They had every walk of life in that restaurant. It was entertainment at its best, and I wanted to emulate that feeling. Restaurant managers don’t want to manage characters because they are hard to manage. But people go out to eat for more than just getting their stomach full. It is a form of entertainment. You mentioned that without Ninfa Laurenzo, there might not have been a Carrabba’s. I was at Ninfa’s opening night. My uncle Tony was dating Ninfa’s daughter, Phyllis. They’re married now. I give a lot of credit to my grandmother Grace. Amazing Grace, we called her. But you know, Ninfa was a great figurehead, too. It was her vision, her family and her kids, you know? You take this widow with five children – all in Catholic school – and you put her back up against the wall. What does she do? She opened a little restaurant on Navigation and changed Mexican food as we knew it. She inspired me, my uncles, and what spun off was Tony Mandola’s, Nino’s, Vincent’s, Damian’s, among other things. She’s the one. If it weren’t for her, we probably wouldn’t be in the restaurant business. You never know who’s going to impact your life. Where do you and Randi take the family out to eat? I am partial to family businesses. I love Shandy’s Cafe (5815 Memorial Drive). She has good, clean, consistent food. She has a patty topped with bolognese sauce that’s terrific. She has a great turkey burger, and her salads are good. I love Kenny & Ziggy’s (2327 Post Oak Boulevard) because I love Ziggy [Gruber], Niko Niko’s [multiple locations] because I love Dimitri [Fetokakis]. And for upscale, I love, love Philippe Verpiand and Monica [Bui], at Etoile (1101-11 Uptown Park Boulevard). I love Damian’s (3011 Smith). It’s still good. I just think a family-owned business has more soul. Your cookbook marked Carrabba’s 30th anniversary. It’s full of coveted family and restaurant recipes, from the best-selling Dessert Rosa to the famous Brick Chicken. Which one is your favorite?
Carrabba’s Brick Chicken “Pollo Al Mattone” A favorite dish at Carrabba’s, this is a simple, classy Italian recipe. Try covering a brick in aluminum foil and using A FAVORITE DISH Brick Chicken is one of the dishes that made Carrabba’s it inside a frying pan to famous. Using a heavy weight, like this old iron, makes the chicken tender. provide the weight that ½ cup white wine makes this chicken extra tender. Carrabba’s ¼ cup fresh lemon juice serves this with the bones in after pounding it. ½ teaspoon kosher salt ¼ teaspoon white pepper Preparing the chicken: ½ cup (1 stick) cold butter, cut into chunks 2 chicken halves, bone in, skin on 1 heaping Tablespoon thinly sliced garlic Kosher salt for seasoning 1 teaspoon coarsely chopped fresh rosemary Black pepper for seasoning 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh Italian parsley 2 Tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary Garnish: 2 Tablespoons olive oil 1 large rosemary sprig Preheat oven to 350°. Place the chicken While chicken is in the oven, prepare the halves inside a plastic bag or between two sheets sauce. In a medium skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of plastic wrap on a cutting board. Using a meat butter on medium-low and add the onion and tenderizer, pound the chicken halves (approx. garlic. Sauté for about 1 minute, until they begin 12-15 swings) to slightly flatten and tenderize to soften. Add the white wine, lemon juice, salt the chicken (the chicken rib bones will break). and pepper. Remove from the plastic bag and liberally season Simmer and reduce, stirring occasionally, for both sides with salt, pepper and rosemary, makanother 4 minutes. Reduce the heat and graduing sure the seasoning covers the chicken, ally whisk in the chunks of cold butter along including all the folds. with the sliced garlic and rosemary until the butIn a large cast-iron skillet, heat the oil over ter is completely melted. Stir in the chopped medium heat until smoking. Place the seasoned parsley. Plate the cooked chicken and liberally chicken in the skillet, skin side down. Top the top with the sauce. Garnish with a sprig of rosechicken with a heavy weight (such as a weighted mary and serve immediately. Serves 2-4. skillet). Cook for approx. 5-6 minutes. Remove the weight, turn the chicken over, and then Editor’s note: Buzz dining columnist Dai Huynh return the weight to the other side of the chickis a James Beard food-journalism award winner and en. Cook for an additional 5-6 minutes, until longtime Houston-based restaurant writer. thoroughly browned. Finish the chicken in the oven for 15-20 minutes, until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165°. See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for more Carrabba’s recipes. You can find restaurant listings at Sauce: thebuzzmagazines.com/restaurants. Use the restaurant 1 Tablespoon butter finder to search by area, cuisine and price. Leave a com¼ cup chopped white onion ment online or write to info@thebuzzmagazines.com 3 large garlic cloves, finely chopped (about 1 with your dining stories and suggestions. tablespoon)
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DINING
by Dai Huynh, staff writer
This Month in Dining
Vegetarian delights
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orbes has listed vegetarian comfort food as the No. 1 food trend, followed by butcher shop/restaurants (like B&B Butchers & Restaurant, 1814 Washington Ave.) and allday breakfast. The National Restaurant Association’s latest forecast predicted sriracha as the new ketchup, as well as restaurant stores (aka grocerants like H-E-B’s Table 57, 5895 San Felipe). But at the top of list? Veggiecentric entrees. “And even when animal proteins are included,” said the trade association, “the veg is still the main attraction.” At The Pass & Provisions (807 Taft Street), the Cresta di Gallo pasta lure diners back with its mélange of mushrooms, bathed in a rich Parmesan cream sauce. Along with a four-mushroom pot pie, Canopy (3939 Montrose) features ginger-kissed Liz’s Vegan Buckwheat Noodles with baby bok choy, snow peas, carrots and bean sprouts in a spicy lemongrass coconut sauce. Russo’s New York Pizzeria locations around town bake a mean spinach, kale and artichoke pizza, dotted with roasted garlic and gooey with melted all-natural mozzarella cheese and creamy alfredo sauce. Always a step ahead of the trends, Anita Jaisinghani has helped to elevate Indian food in Houston with Indika (516 Westheimer), the dressier companion to younger sibling Pondicheri Bake Lab + Shop (2800 Kirby). Last fall, she opened a second Pondicheri outlet in Manhattan and garnered fans along with praises. “There isn’t anything in the city quite like Pondicheri,” scribed New York Times critic Pete Wells. The same can be said about her vegetarian offerings. Wells described Anita’s beet uttapam pancake as “the perfect lunch,” topped with a fried egg and served with a salad and other vegetarian accompaniments. Always focused on a healthier lifestyle, Anita finds herself creating more dishes centered around vegetables. She’s currently rehauling the menus at fast-casual Pondicheri Bake Lab + Shop. “My next move is to move meat off the center of the plate,” she said. “That’s not to say I’m going to make it all vegetarian because I might add some fish or other seafood, but there is going to be more vegetables. The meat is there to WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2017 30
GREEN PIZZA The three amigos on this vegetarian pizza from Russo’s New York Pizzeria are spinach, kale and artichoke, plus a hefty dose of roasted garlic thrown in for good measure.
enhance the flavors of the vegetables or grains. It makes it more interesting, and it hits the body so much easier. I mean, ‘How does it make you feel after eating a hunk of meat?’” Chef Junnajet Hurapan, aka Jett, looks admiringly at Indian cooks’ instinctive ability to create flavorful vegetarian dishes. At Songkran Thai Kitchen (1101-08 Uptown Park Blvd, suite H) near Galleria Mall and Songkran Thai Grill (2258 Texas Drive) in Sugar Land, he lets his customers take the lead in creating their own veggie-driven dishes. “I listen to their requests, and then, I execute,” he said. “Look, if you’re not a vegetarian, you’re simply not going to understand the flavor profile like a vegetarian. My job is to make food people love to eat, so when they make a request, I make it.” A non-meat item is the tow hou sam ros. “Tow hou means tofu,” Jett explained, “which we lightly dust with flour and fry, then toss in a chile-basil tamarind sauce.” Another popular dish is the tow hou tod, baked tofu simmered in a basil green curry sauce. Always a hit is his pad thai with tofu, but Jett said for vegetarians, he will substitute soy sauce for fish sauce. “This changes the flavor profile completely,” he said,
“since the main flavors of pad thai is fish sauce, sugar and tamarind.” Diners’ tastes have changed, Jett noted. More are opting for vegetable-heavy dishes. Even if they’re not vegetarians, they may decide to be “flexitarians,” part-time vegetarians. These days, more than half of his clientele in Sugar Land order vegetarian entrees. He said, “We have people who may decide to eat vegetarian just for a day or two days out of the week and others who will skip meat for five months out of the year.” Located near the Medical Center, Lucille’s (5512 La Branch Street) attracts health-minded diners. For his vegetarians, chef-owner Christopher Williams created a roasted butternut squash entrée with roasted pumpkin seeds, cilantro puree, spiced soy yogurt and fennel fronds. Another dish is southern hummus made with black-eye peas with nutty tahini sauce, cumin-laced olive oil, lime and tangy sumac. “We top it off with shaved baby heirloom carrots and tomatoes,” said Christopher, who started playing with vegetarian dishes after his father’s heart attack three years ago. “We started playing with the hummus, and he dug it.”
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Update on asthma inhalers After having a trickle of new asthma and COPD inhalers for several years, we’ve had several come on the market the past two or three years. Inhalers are divided into two categories, maintenance inhalers designed to be used daily to prevent symptoms and rescue inhalers to be used as needed for when symptoms develop. Most rescue inhalers use albuterol. Until two years ago, all albuterol inhalers were pressurized with HFA, the replacement propellant when CFCs (freon) were banned. One dry powder albuterol is now available: ProAir RespiClick. Dry powder inhalers are easier to inhale into the lungs. BREO and Symbicort are maintenance inhalers. Each has a long-acting beta agonist for the bronchodilator and an inhaled corticosteroid for antiinflammatory use. Glaxo, the company that brought us Advair 20 years ago, now markets BREO as the updated version of Advair. It has some advantages – it’s only once a day, and the device is a bit simpler. A lot of people are still very happy with their Advair, only unhappy to see its price go up every year. Good news – a generic Advair is finally coming to market! TEVA’s AirDuo RespiClick also contains fluticasone propionate and salmeterol inhalation powder. A third type of asthma maintenance inhaler is now available, the long-acting muscarinic antagonist. Spiriva Respimat, a Boehringer product, is FDA approved in asthma. The Respimat is a very interesting inhalation device. Like other pressurized inhalers, it is propelled by HFA, but instead of coming out at 40 mph, it comes out around 5 or 10 mph, so it is much easier to inhale it into the lung without most of it just whacking the back of the throat. Two other
Respimat inhalers have come out, one with a higher dose of Spiriva, and the other, named Stiolto, with that dose of Spiriva plus a bronchodilator. These are only approved for COPD, not for asthma. But let me assure you, our patients with asthma think they work pretty well! Twenty years ago, it was taught that COPD and asthma are completely different. Recently, we are reading about the asthmaCOPD overlap syndrome, suggesting that both often exist in the same patient; thus, Advair is effective in COPD, and Stiolto works well in our patients with asthma. Not to be outdone, Glaxo has similar COPD products to Spiriva and Stiolto. Looking like BREO but with different colors, they now have Incruse and the combination, Anoro. If your asthma is poorly controlled, it’s possible one of the new inhalers could improve your quality of life. We are happy to help! No one nose allergies like we do.™ Note: Information contained in this article should not be considered a substitute for consultation with a board-certified allergist to address individual medical needs. David B. Engler, M.D., The Allergy Clinic, 7707 Fannin, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77054, 713.797.0993, *1200 Binz, Suite 180, Houston, Texas 77004, 713.522.9911, www.allergyclinic.com, *Operating as Houston Allergy and Asthma Clinic
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SPORTS
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by Todd Freed, staff writer
SportzBuzz W
ith a national television audience on ESPN looking on, as well as a packed on-campus gymnasium, Episcopal Knights defensive tackle Marvin Wilson announced his decision to play college football at Florida State University. Wilson was ranked as high as No. 1 in the nation among defensive linemen, and his much-anticipated announcement capped off a suspense-filled National Signing Day for the top high school football players. “All the coaches from around the country wanted to know where I was going to go, but it wasn’t until about the last two days before this signing that I made my decision,” said Wilson, who had narrowed his finalists to LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma and South Florida before selecting the Seminoles. “Coach (Jimbo) Fisher came to my house and really gave me the greatest pitch. He said it was going to be a family environment at Florida State, where I’d be taken care of both on and off the field. We’re going to do things like community-service projects, while also win national championships and ultimately becoming great people after football. That’s what he promised me, and I’m taking that promise forward. Making this decision is a great lift off my shoulders, and now I can go back to being a normal football player and student.” Amazingly, with Knights teammate and the nation’s top offensive-line recruit Walker Little having signed with Stanford, Episcopal is sending the nation’s top defensive and offensive line prospects to the college football ranks. “These two guys could ultimately be NFL first-round draft picks,” said Episcopal football coach Steve Leisz. “It’s pretty incredible. We were thinking that maybe ESPN should do one of their 30 for 30 documentaries on these guys. In four years, they could be even be the No. 1 and No. 2 players taken in the draft.” There was definitely strength in numbers for the Lamar Texans football team on National Signing Day. The Texans boasted a remarkable recruiting class, with 16 of the Texans players signing on to play college football. “We worked hard for four years to get to this point,” said Texans defensive end Devon Tibbs, who signed WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2017 32
GREAT KNIGHTS Episcopal Knights defensive tackle Marvin Wilson (left) announced his collegiate choice before a national television audience. Wilson, a Florida State signee, is seated next to Episcopal teammate Walker Little, who earlier had committed to Stanford University. On the far right is Episcopal running back Jake LeVrier, who signed with Texas Tech.
to play at North Texas. “We knew this was going to be a great class, and we definitely finished it off today.” Along with Tibbs, other noteworthy signees for the Texans included Tre’Von Lewis (Baylor), Jalen Moy (Air Force), Calvin Fletcher (Louisiana Monroe), Carlton Smith (New Mexico) and Owen Holt (Harvard). “I think the success of this class is also a testament to our coaches,” said Lewis. “It’s really a very special and wonderful day for all of us.” It was a wonderful signing day as well for the Bellaire Cardinals football program, with Alex Duke (Houston), Donovan Stiner (Florida) and Jayden Peevy (Texas A&M) all signing to play at the highest level of collegiate football. “It’s a great class with tremendous potential at the next level,” said Peevy, a four star recruit, who’s generally regarded as one of the state’s top tight end prospects. As for Duke, the senior defensive end honored his commitment to attend the University of Houston despite the late coaching change at UH with Tom Herman’s departure to Texas. “You don’t commit to a coach, you commit to a school and how you think you’ll produce at that school,” said Duke. Coach (Major) Applewhite knows what he’s doing, and he’s going to keep great things going at UH.”
At Stratford High School, the Spartans are sending an impressive foursome of players to college football, including standout defensive end Sam Miller, who signed with Northwestern University. The signing takes on some special family ties since Miller will join his older brother Alex on the Northwestern football roster. Alex, who graduated just a year ago from Stratford, saw considerable playing time this season as a freshman at Northwestern. In addition, Stratford linebacker Randall Royall signed with Rice University, wide receiver Jaetavian Toles committed to Tulane, and offensive lineman Jimmy Price is going to Stephen F. Austin State University. “It’s a tremendous bunch of kids,” said Stratford football coach Eliot Allen. “The especially great thing is that this is an outstanding academic class. To send kids to great academic institutions like Northwestern, Rice and Tulane to continue their education along with their football careers is pretty special.” Editor’s Note: Todd Freed is the Emmy Awardwinning co-host and producer of the KUBE SportsZone, which airs Saturday and Sunday at 6 p.m. on Channel 57-KUBE. To submit high school sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, please email todd@thebuzzmagazines.com.
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The $400,000 Question A client of ours – call him Ray – retired from a long career in the oil and gas industry. He had something many savers of today would envy – a guaranteed pension. These products are increasingly rare. But if you do have one, you need to be thinking about more than just your retirement party. There are critical decisions to make beforehand. In Ray’s case, he could take his pension as: (1) a monthly payment for the rest of his life, (2) a smaller monthly payment that could continue until his wife died, or (3) a lump sum upon retirement. “How do I compare these options?” he asked. It required getting into the numbers. Under the first option, Ray’s monthly pension would pay him $25,000 per year for the rest of his life. On the other hand, if taken as a lump sum he would get $400,000 up front. It’s easy to be tempted by the larger number. But taking the lump sum means figuring out how to make it last through retirement. To get $25,000 per year in returns from $400,000 would require 6.25 percent distribution every year. Financial products that can return that much are risky. Ray and his wife needed this money for living expenses, so the returns needed to be consistent every year. While some assets, such as stocks, may return better than 6.25 percent in good years, there are also the inevitable down years to consider. Think about 2008. What would be a reasonable, consistent rate of return to plan on, if Ray took the $400,000? A 3 percent rate would be safe. But that would only give Ray and his wife about $12,000 per year while preserving the principal. That simply wasn’t enough, so we eliminated the lump sum option.
Now the question was whether to take the $25,000 per year until Ray died, or invoke a survivorship option which would extend the payments to a surviving spouse. Ray was in excellent health, but his wife was younger by eight years, which inclined him toward the survivorship option. By taking a monthly payment that was 6 percent less, he could preserve 75 percent of that payment for his wife after he died. That’s the option he selected. We found that the resulting annual payment ($23,500 before taxes), combined with social security, would cover the couple’s basic living expenses. A mix of other savings and investment accounts they’d accumulated over the years could then be used for less critical expenses such as travel and entertainment. They would even be able to plan a nice bequest for their daughter. When working out issues like this, you should know whether your advisor has any conflicting “skin in the game.” For instance, an advisor who is compensated based on sales commissions or assets under management could have been biased in favor of the lump sum payment. Make sure your best interest is all that matters. James Waters, CFP®, PARTNERSINWEALTH, 3400 Bissonnet, Suite 145, Houston, Texas 77005, 713.964.4028, jrw@partnersinwealth.com, www.partnersinwealth.com
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by Angie Frederickson, staff writer
Mackenzie Wheatly, Chubbyfoot Photography
SPORTS
SportzBuzz, Jr. W
elcome to SportzBuzz, Jr., a column spotlighting neighborhood athletes in elementary and middle school.
On pointe Dance is a family affair for Petit sisters Alix, Maddie and Zoélie (top photo, from left). All three girls spend many hours each week at West University Dance Center. They are at the studio most days, practicing ballet, jazz, tap and contemporary dance, and preparing for competitions. Alix, 13, prefers ballet; Zoélie, 11, says her favorites are contemporary and tap; and 9-yearold Maddie loves jazz. The sisters all compete with WUDC’s performing company and spend many weekends at dance competitions. The older two sisters are students at Pershing Middle School and look forward to continuing dance into high school. Alix hopes to attend DeBakey High School for Health Professions and plans to continue ballet, while Zoélie has her sights on the dance program at The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.
Speed and stamina Tyler Lippincott (middle photo, at right), 12, recently completed his third Houston Half Marathon. He ran the 13.1-mile course in 2 hours, 19 minutes, which was a new personal record. Running buddy and mom Amber Henry (at left) also ran the race and says Tyler inherited his love of running from her and from both of his grandfathers. The sixth grader has completed numerous races, ranging from 5k to half-marathon distances. He also competed in USA Track and Field cross country as part of the 11/12U Gulf Regional championship team that represented Texas at the National Junior Olympic Championships in Birmingham, Alabama. If all goes as planned, Tyler will run his first full marathon later this year.
Field hockey friends Sixth graders Lilly Price, Ella Rose and Frances Moriniere (bottom photo, from left) had a great first season of field hockey at St. John’s School (SJS). Before this academic year, school sports began in seventh grade, so these girls are part of the first SJS sixth-grade field hockey team. Coaches Ziad Allan and Brenda Mercado taught the girls fundamentals, and they competed against many teams, including Duchesne Academy, St. Francis Episcopal School and Texas Pride. The majority of the team are beginners because field hockey is still growing in popularity in Houston, but a few of the SJS sixth-grade team had previously played for Texas Pride. Ella loves to play midfield, and her favorite part of the game is being on the field with her friends and representing her school.
Proud sponsor of West University and neighboring sports WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2017 34
Editor’s note: Send your best high-resolution photos and behind-the-scenes stories about young local athletes, in both team and individual sports, to SportzBuzz, Jr. at info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Include all contact info, names, ages, grades and schools. Featured athletes must live in Buzz-circulation neighborhoods. Items will be published on a space-available basis.
979 Bunker Hill, 77024 • 5709 Woodway, 77057 • 4024 Bellaire Blvd., 77025 • islandgrillhouston.com
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A minute with Maisie
A foundation to fly
Many clients ask me, “What happens to Fido, the family dog, in a divorce?” Surprisingly, the law classifies pets as personal property. In a divorce, the family court’s duty is to divide personal property in a just and right manner. Therefore, Fido must be awarded to one party. Many clients choose to avoid this harsh result and enter into an agreement regarding Fido, providing for periods of possession, division of veterinary bills, etc. This agreement should be in writing and can be enforceable under contract law. While the personal property designation for pets may seem insensitive, the Texas Family Code does provide some protection to the family pet if family violence has occurred. If you or someone you know is a victim of family violence, please reach out to someone immediately and ask for help. Maisie A. Barringer is a partner at Jenkins & Kamin, L.L.P., a full-service, boutique, family-law firm specializing in divorce, child-custody modifications, grandparent access, paternity, adoption, and premarital and postmarital agreements. Maisie A. Barringer has been recognized as a Texas Rising Star by Texas Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters service printed in Texas Monthly magazine for 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012-2015. Jenkins & Kamin, L.L.P., Maisie A. Barringer, Partner, Board Certified in Family Law, Two Greenway Plaza, Suite 600, Houston, Texas 77046, 713.600.5500, www.jenkinskamin.com
When I started eighth grade, there was one thing I knew: I wanted to go to the same high school that all my friends were going to. My family encouraged me to have an open mind about my next four years. Where would I flourish? What school was the best fit for me as an individual? At Incarnate Word Academy, I discovered the answers. I discovered a school with competent and compassionate teachers whose love of learning was contagious. I discovered IWA’s innovative Young Leaders Program, which empowers young women to lead in their communities. I discovered a school in the heart of downtown Houston with a 144-year-old tradition of excellence in academics, values and spirituality. I discovered a place where I could soar. Here I am, four years later, completing my senior year at IWA. I am a National Merit Finalist, a director of the Young Leaders Program, and a catcher on the softball team. IWA has just opened a beautiful state-of-theart addition with sweeping views of our urban campus. Though my perspective is shifting forward, as I will attend the University of Virginia in the fall, I am taking a moment to be thankful for the choice I made four years ago. I am thankful that I chose Incarnate Word Academy, – Anna Winter, IWA ‘17, St. Vincent de Paul ‘13 Email kobrien@incarnateword.org to schedule a tour. Incarnate Word Academy, A Catholic College Preparatory for Young Women Since 1873, 609 Crawford Street, Houston, Texas 77002, 713.227.3637, www.incarnateword.org
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BONJOUR, DUCHESNE Katie Giveon, an eighth grader at Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, created a student-run online magazine at her school.
KIDS by Katie Giveon, age 13
Buzz Kidz
Sharing students’ stories
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ome people may argue that going to an allgirl, private school may strip you of your individuality. That is not true for my school. I’ve gone to Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart since Pre-K. I essentially grew up there, surrounded by a variety of bold, intelligent and talented peers. I found that we are so much alike, and yet so different. By the time I was in sixth grade, I knew I had to give that diversity a place. The idea was simple: Provide a place for all students to not only share their thoughts and talents, but also to have fun and interact. With the help of the middle school principal, Mr. Tony Houle, I spent the summer going into seventh grade creating such a place, an online magazine, and I was fortunate that the school provided the space on their website. On Aug. 1,
2015, the first completely student-run, online magazine for Duchesne launched. I took a risk starting this on my own, for the content, graphics and publishing needed to be managed and balanced along with my school work. It didn’t take long for fellow students to step up by submitting articles and pictures and sharing their talents and personal stories. By the end of the first year, I had a staff of six volunteer content editors, and they made each issue amazing. Bonjour Duchesne, originally DASH Girl, is now in its second year. It has had the honor of being recognized by Finalsite, the company that runs the school website, for its unique use of the webpage, and will be featured in a keynote presentation and a seminar by the company. I have learned valuable life skills like managing time
and staff, meeting deadlines, interviewing, marketing and corresponding professionally. Most importantly, I have grown closer to girls of all grades in the middle school. One of the goals for a Sacred Heart education is “personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom.” I am forever grateful for the freedom and assistance that I was given to take an idea and make it a reality. 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.
EARLY CHILDHOOD IS THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY FOR MUSICAL AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT Introduce your child to the joy of music, movement and sign language! Schedule a free class • 3 area locations Call or text 713-498-0101 Email funmusic@sbcglobal.net Check out our website www.fundamentallymusic.com.
FUNDAMENTALLY MUSIC WHERE MUSIC IS FUN! WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2017 36
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West U/Southside real estate
Co-sleep? No sleep
Weak beginnings but a strong finish! This summarizes the 2016 real estate market for West U and Southside Place. At mid-year there had been only 95 single-family sales, versus a low of 124 for the prior six years. Active listings on the market had grown from 3.1 months to a more balanced 5.5 months supply by the end of June, 2016. Then, in July, the market began its turn and formed a growing wave of 85 homes sold in the third quarter, far exceeding third quarters for each of the prior six years. There were 142 singlefamily home sales in West U/Southside in the second half of 2016, 60 percent of the homes sold in our neighborhood in 2016. Inventory shrunk back to 2.9 months, making for more of a seller’s market. Highest sales price was $2.915 million, and the average sales price was $1.322 million, or $367 per square foot. What about 2017? The market looks strong to me with presidentialelection uncertainty behind us, the stock market hitting record levels, crude oil looking steady over $50/barrel and an expectation of 2-3 interest-rate increases. Looks like a great time to buy a home. I’m a “numbers guy,” and these are just a few of the interesting real estate statistics that I prepare. If you would like more detailed information, please feel free to contact me, your West U neighbor. George Sutherland, Greenwood King Properties, 832.435.7942, george@greenwoodking.com
Hush Little Baby, Lullaby and Goodnight, Twinkle Twinkle…. You’ve sung them all, but the only one nodding off is you! It’s oh-so tempting to tuck that little baby into bed with you. But is it safe? Will it give you and your baby quality sleep? It may be a little more work to get up at intervals to nurse your baby than to allow your baby to feed at will while lying next to you in bed. But you will have more restful sleep if your infant is sleeping safely in a crib between feedings. Soft mattresses, pillows and blankets are suffocation hazards to a young baby. Your child needs a strong family structure – time alone with your spouse is important. When do you draw the line for your baby to sleep in her own bed? Separation anxiety begins by 9 months and intensifies until 18 months of age. Unless you are planning to have a 2 year old in bed with you, moving your baby to the crib before 6 months of age is ideal. We are here to help. We take the time to understand your baby’s nuances and to teach you pearls for sleep transitions. But we don’t stop there. From the initial newborn house-call visit to the adolescent roller coaster ride, we are there for you every step of the way. Nurture Pediatrics, Janet Pate, MD, fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, board-certified pediatrician. Currently seeing patients at 6030 S. Rice Ave. Moving to 6900 S. Rice Ave., Bellaire, Texas 77401 in the spring. 713.894.2751, www.nurturepediatric.com
WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2017 37
sponsored by
PETS
Neighborhood Tails
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Puppy socialization 713.662.2119 www.roveroaks.com
Amos, age 12, Golden Retriever, Jarrard St. My name is Amos. I live with my mom, dad and cousin. My human brother used to live with us but now he lives in a flat screen. My mom played ball with me constantly when I was young. I wonder if she knows I dream about that open field. I think she does because my legs move and suddenly I’m back there running as fast as I can. My dad makes me feel so safe. Each morning he lets me lie on his chest while he reads the paper. Andi, my cousin, came to live with us when I was 6. As a puppy, she was obnoxious. Now, we’re inseparable. I love my human brother most. When he lived in our house, we wrestled, chased and went for runs. One day he left. Now each Sunday we talk to him on Skype. I speak willingly on his command to show him that I miss and love him. He’ll be home again soon. I’m one lucky dog. Got a cute critter? Email a picture of your pet with approximately 150 words to info@thebuzzmagazines.com or mail it to The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401. Featured pets receive two passes to Rover Oaks Pet Resort. Each pass can be redeemed for one day of lodging in a Bunk House Suite, 25 percent off your next grooming appointment or 25 percent off one obedience training class.
March 23 is National Puppy Day – and what’s more cute than a little puppy? Owning and raising a puppy can be a wonderful experience. However, it is vital for puppy owners to know that the first three months of a puppy’s life is a critical period for social learning. During this period, according to the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, “puppies should be exposed to as many new people, animals, stimuli and environments as can be achieved safely and without causing overstimulation, [noticed as] excessive fear, withdrawal or avoidance behaviors.” Puppies that grow up without safe social experiences are more likely to exhibit behavior problems as adult dogs. Puppy socialization is the process of exposing puppies to different conditions so they do grow up confident and comfortable around new people, new settings and new objects. Owners should gradually provide puppies with a wide variety of experiences, which can include introductions to neighbors and friends, safe greetings around friendly dogs, car rides, new toys, exploring new areas of the home or yard, etc. A well run “puppy class” can also provide owners with the opportunity to expose their pet to new stimuli, and participation in a puppy class can be very instrumental in early behavior development. For more information, check the website of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior at avsab.org/resources/position-statements. Rover Oaks Pet Resort, 2550 West Bellfort, Houston, Texas 77054, 713.662.2119, www.roveroaks.com
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Are you aging gracefully?
Micronutrients matter
I don't know about you, but I check a lot of boxes to give myself the best chance. Moisturizers, check; eye cream, check; eating healthy, check; sunscreen, of course; plenty of water, check; cardio, check. What about strength and flexibility? What if I told you that you can do a workout that gives you flexibility and strength while at the same time setting you up to be more active as you age? Whether your main concern is to preserve bone density, boost your golf game or simply tone up, pilates will work for you. Have you tried or ever wanted to? All it takes is one decision to take a class. There are many options with how to care for our bodies, but there is no “quick fix.” It is important to give yourself the time and attention to be stronger. It isn’t about perfection but about the growth progression of your body, mind and heart. Our hope is people feel at home here and know anyone can come just as they are no matter their age or stage of life. Let us help you stand a little taller as you tone your entire body from the inside out using these safe, energetic, low impact and fun workout systems. We do require grip socks for all classes, your personal mat for barre classes and just yourself for reformer. Fill up your water bottle, and let's get moving! PosturFIT Pilates & Barre, 3451 Kirby Drive, 77098, ashley@posturfit.com, www.posturfit.com, 713.554.0200
Have you noticed your child is feeling tired, difficult to wake in the morning, hyper in the classroom, having learning difficulties or spending way too much time visiting sick waiting rooms? He or she may have a micronutrient deficiency. We know diet plays an integral role in our health, yet all too often a youngster’s dinner plate consists of a monotone color (think macaroni and cheese), thereby lacking vital and important nutrients found in a colorful plate of food. Micronutrients, as their name implies, are vitamins and minerals required in small amounts yet are essential to our health, development and growth. They are naturally found in a variety of plantand animal-based foods. Micronutrient deficiencies, which affect billions of people worldwide, are a leading cause of mental retardation, preventable blindness and death during pregnancy. In children, they have a profound effect on the immune and neurological systems, leading to increased susceptibility to infections, learning difficulties and common childhood problems, such as ADHD. Our office provides comprehensive micronutrient testing for ages 2 and above, as well as expert advice on achieving optimal balance of micronutrients through diet and supplementation. We look forward to helping your family have their healthiest year yet! To schedule an appointment, call our office at 832-431-4336. Dr. Alana Kennedy-Nasser, purePEDIATRICS, 6750 West Loop South, Suite 465, Bellaire, Texas 77401, www.purepediatrics.com
WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2017 39
Ashleigh Teel
NEIGHBORS
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by Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld, staff writer
Buzz About Town West U home tour
West University Elementary School is gearing up for its spring fundraiser, The Home Tour, April 9, 2-5 p.m. The eight West U homes that will be showcased are newer-construction homes as well as older homes that have completed major renovations. Pictured (from left) are chairs Kristine Martinez and Laura Mayer. See westupto.org.
Little Shop at Lamar Lamar High School presented Little Shop of Horrors as this year’s all-school musical. The sci-
fi horror musical with 1960s pop/rock music has music by Alan Menken, and the book and lyrics are by Howard Ashman. For the first time ever at Lamar, the fine arts department had two full casts of performers. In the pictured scene, “Dentist,” Orin Scrivello, D.D.S. (played by senior Matthew Malone) is educating the occupants of Skid Row. Students pictured (from left) are Kira Parra, Zariah Garcia, Leah Orsak, William Sharp, Grace Nguyen, Rebecca McLeay, Hannah DeGeurin, Platinum Cisneros, Kristin Beatty, Ashley Vital, Paiton Seals, Erin Satterwhite, Daniel Saber, Matthew Buchanan, Sophia Haralson, Ashton Wells, Nathaniel Jackson, Akilah Davis, Mackenzie Graham, Victoria Hughey and Trevor Mangum.
her AP Biology class lifts her up. Many students tied their balloons on their backpacks or as decoration around campus.
Winter wonderland
Spirits soar Students and staff wrote the names of those who lift them up on balloons as part of Episcopal High School’s Dude Be Nice Week. The week’s events were planned by the Student Council to cultivate a culture of gratitude and generosity. The motto was “Make Kindness Normal.” Pictured are student body president Caroline Rippeto, who wrote that her friends lift her up, with teacher Kalee Blackburn, who wrote that
Marilyn McDowell’s home in Southside Place was transformed into a Winter Wonderland to celebrate Nancy Harper’s 65th birthday. Decorations for the tea party were silver, sparkling crystal and white. The menu included finger sandwiches, homemade cheese straws and hearts, dipped strawberries and scones with lemon curd and preserves. A chocolate cake with strawberry filling, decorated with snowy trees, glitter and roses, was served for something sweet, and prosecco was provided to toast the birthday girl (pictured). The floral arrangement included 65 white roses in honor of Nancy’s milestone birthday. Hostesses were (continued on page 42) WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2017 40
WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2017 41
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McDowell, Pamela Blakely, Debbie Berner, Patrice Brewer, Ann Mitchell, Brenda Owens, Stefanie Pollard and Connie Williamson. In lieu of gifts, guests were asked to “pay it forward” by bringing donations for Dress for Success Foundation.
Denim and the WULL diamond
Around the world
Teja Rajwani
West University Elementary School students learned about cultures from around the world at The Heritage Performance & International Festival. Fourteen teams of students performed, representing 25 countries around the world. Chairs were Natesha Madison and Enrica Vagliani, and emcees were Marquesa Madison, Nicholas Harjadi, Shiv Khera and Piper Egan. Pictured are students performing a traditional dance of La Pollera Colora to represent
Colombia: Sebastian Loebe, Sophie Loebe, Matias Estrada, Emma and Elena Bernal, Liliana Calderon (mother of Sebastian and Sophie), and Luis Gomez.
Victory over cancer Cattle Baron’s Ball chairs Cindi Colvin, Denise Leisten and Tammy Norman are looking forward to celebrating “Thirty Years of Victory Over Cancer” on April 29 at the George Ranch Historical Park. The Cattle Baron’s Ball will feature Vegas-style gaming, including blackjack and craps, pig races, a wine pull, a jewelry pull and more. Holly Williams, daughter of country legend Hank Williams, Jr. and country star Dwight Yoakam will both perform. The event benefits the American Cancer Society. Pictured
at a recent VICTORY planning meeting are (front row, from left): Denise Leisten and Lauren Brandon; (back row, from left) Tammy Norman, Cindi Colvin, Sheridan Walton, Deborah Harper and Rachel Gummattira.
Lamar at UH Elaine Matte Mut
West University Little League is ramping up for the biggest fundraiser of the year. Teams have been announced, and chairs Ashley Hulsey, Jill Stagg, Leigh Ann Hackerman and Kate David are finalizing Denim and the Diamond plans for April 7. Grab your boots and scoot on over to the Goode Co. Armadillo Palace for armadillo races, live longhorns, a mechanical bull, a band and dancing. Little Leaguers (from left) Walker Evans, Bennett Colvin, Bennett Parker and Alex Hulsey, along with the rest of WULL, hope you'll join for the fun. See westull.org.
All Lamar High School juniors take a field trip to the University of Houston’s science labs to work on virtual solutions to a real-world problem. For this year’s project, students worked together to solve an issue with indigenous people in a third-world country; the population was suffering from an inability of their livers to digest and metabolize protein. Students were tasked with designing an experiment to solve the problem, conduct the experiment and then present their findings to their peers at the end of the day. It took teachers and administrators four days of field trips to U of H to provide all of Lamar’s juniors with the learning experience. Pictured (from left) are Parker Thompson, Jacob Thweatt, Dr. Tau Dang of Lamar’s science department and Bruno Xavier.
Football and friends These friends headed to downtown Houston to enjoy the NFL Experience during Super Bowl LI. The NFL Experience, locat- (continued on page 44) WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2017 42
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Dylan Aguilar
presented by Houston City Council Member Brenda Stardig, declaring Jan. 27, 2017, as the “First-Ever Crime Stoppers Headquarters Day.” Texas State Troopers presented Ward with a plaque and an official Texas Trooper cowboy hat. Inside the building, Crime Stoppers of Houston unveiled a surprise: the Dave Ward Tribute Wall, featuring photos spanning his career. Pictured (from left) at the ribbon cutting are Alan Helfman, Doe and Henry Florsheim and Constable Alan Rosen. See crime-stoppers.org. Be sure to read the Buzz blog Sunday Mornings with Rania at thebuzzmagazines.com, in which Rania Mankarious, executive director of Crime Stoppers, shares perspectives on safety in our neighborhoods.
ed at the George R. Brown Convention Center during Super Bowl week, had fun, football-themed experiences for fans. Pictured (bottom row, from left) are Edgar Castro, Charlie O’Leary, Jack See, David Press, Oscar Castro; (top row) Edgar Castro, Chuck O'Leary and Steve See. The boys are sixth graders at St. Vincent de Paul and The Joy School, and they’re boy scouts with Troop 505, sponsored by St. Vincent de Paul (Oscar is a fourth grader and a Pack 505 Webelo). The boys and their dads had a blast before The Big Game. Find “A Super Week” at thebuzzmagazines.com for a recap of Super Bowl LI parties and festivities.
Party at the museum The Cotillion of 2018 Dinner and Dance, including students from Episcopal High School, The Kinkaid School and St. John’s School, took place at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Episcopal High School girls and their dates met at Riley and Prescilla Burnett's home (Lizzie Burnett, not pictured, went to Cotillion too) for photos before heading to HMNS. Some of the students dancing the night away were (from left) Cameron Chickering,
Natalie Luther, Greer Beasley, Mollie Hanna, Jack Arnett, Lauren Apollo, Bennett Somera, Grace Graubart, Cristian Arias, Kenzie Minx, Micah Morris, Carol Colgin, Scott McWilliams and Margaret Connelly.
Crime Stoppers HQ Roswitha Vogler, Photos by Rovo
(continued from page 42)
Michelle Watson
Superheroes for all
The Crime Stoppers of Houston team is all moved into its new home on Main Street. More than 250 people gathered for the ribbon cutting to celebrate and tour the Dave Ward Building, named in honor of news anchor Dave Ward for his contributions to the organization and to the Houston community. The ceremony included a proclamation from Mayor Sylvester Turner,
More than 600 guests celebrated the 25th anniversary of Camp for All with the gala Superheroes for All, held at Bayou City Event Center. Co-chairs were Matt and Melinda Mogas (pictured) and Laurie and Jack Maddox; honorees were the Tom Behanick family and Pat Schaefer. The event, emceed by Lisa Malosky, honored the founding of Camp For All 25 years ago and the more than 139,000 campers with special needs and challenging illnesses who have discovered what they can do, as opposed to what they can’t. A total of $1 million was raised, including money from bidding on art. Spotted in the crowd were Pam and Murray Brasseux, Brooke and Jason Bernhardt, and Leslie and Eric Wade. See campforall.org. Editor’s note: The Buzz congratulates Buzz About Town columnist Annie Blaylock McQueen on the arrival of her beautiful baby Georgia. Annie is taking a short break to spend time with Georgia and twin toddlers Cash and Lila. In the meantime, associate editor Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld is handling this column. As usual, please send your high-res photos and community news to info@thebuzzmagazines.com or 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401. Items are published on a space-available basis.
WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2017 44
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NEIGHBORS
by Andria Frankfort, staff writer
Back Porch
Little smiles
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fter the holidays, I was visiting with a friend about what to do with all the Christmas cards. Throwing them away just seems wrong, but who can keep so many stacks, year after year? My friend’s answer was genius: Take pictures of them with your phone, and then add the pictures to your phone contacts. Every time someone calls, their picture – or one of their kids – pops up. I did it, and I was (and still am) giddy every time a smiling friend appears on my phone. Really, it doesn’t get old. I called to tell my friend how happy her idea made me, and she said, “That would be a great story! What little things make you smile every day?” So here they are – some little things to bring more smiles in 2017, as told by a few Buzz neighbors. “I read in a book called The Happiness Advantage that our mind is trained to notice things that we see frequently. So I make a quick little note in a planner that I keep in my backpack for my to-do list for school, not even a full sentence, of three positive things that happen through the day like, ‘Had lunch with someone,’ or ‘Beautiful day,’ or ‘Great night out.’ It makes a difference. – Mollie Gaylor, Memorial “I have an alert that goes off on my phone every day at 3 p.m. that says, ‘Gratitude is my attitude,’ and I stop what I’m doing for a few deep breaths and a moment for a gratitude break. It always makes me smile. You can put them in your kids’ phones too. Adam has one that says, ‘Today is going to be a great day,’ every morning. How can you not smile?” – Ali Katz, Bellaire “I get a lot of joy out of random songs on the radio. Whenever a song that I particularly enjoy comes on, it feels like a gift to me!” – Barbara Trautner, West University “I just read an article … that says there are three groups of foods that have been proven to reduce depression and are ‘happy foods.’ They are dark green leafy vegetables, oily fish like salmon and mackerel and dark chocolate. I know if I eat enough dark chocolate truffles I am smiling. Until I think about the calorie count. But happiness is more important that fat hips. Right?” – Kathryn Rabinow, River Oaks “Bobby and I wrote notes taped to the mirror. WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ MARCH 2017 46
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When he died, the note on his side of the mirror was, ‘The important things in life are not things.’ For our children, I wrote a poem or love note with their lunch. I still love writing my children and grandchildren notes.” – Diana Brackman, Tanglewood area “With one child still in elementary school, I still love any opportunity to volunteer. They are so cute! They are smiley and happy, and they make me happy. And they impress me each and every time with all their enthusiasm for whatever it is they’re doing – whether it’s art, lunch, PE, computer or music.” – Jennifer Deutsch, Bellaire HAPPY PLACE Little things can prompt big smiles in the midst of our day-to“Sitting with the day routines. admin during lunch. them in your own time. You leave them out They have the funniest stories of office secrets!” overnight so they poof, and then you cook them – Melanie Herz Promecene, Meyerland in the oven. This article could really be called, “Instant videos of family. For those of us in ‘Chocolate of every pleasure.’” – Anonymous, our 60s, we remember having to take 35 or 75 West University photos to be able to [fill the roll and] take the “Budweiser, my golden retriever, is perpetufilm to Walgreens for development. Then it ally happy and content – when he is not asleep. took two-and-a-half weeks to get pics! … Dogs He greets me at the back door whenever I when they’re embarrassed. … The look on a 3come home with a joyful tail wag and dog love. year-old’s face when they realize you know all I can’t help but smile back. He’s always so the verses to children’s songs. … Listening to happy to see me. Whatever the day holds, he the Eagles. … Watching old people dance, is there to remind me that it’s all about the because they all dance whatever dance was love.” – Heather Kearney, River Oaks popular when they graduated from high school.” – Nancy Beck, River Oaks Editor’s note: What brings a smile to your “Chocolate, chocolate, more chocolate, and face? Reading about your happy thing could bring then dreaming about your next round of chocoa smile to your neighbor. To share, email late. Chocolate chip cookies, soufflés, chocolate info@thebuzzmagazines.com or leave a comment croissants fresh-frozen from Williams Sonoma, under this story at thebuzzmagazines.com. where you put them in the oven and you cook
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Bellaire 5111 Bellaire Boulevard | Bellaire, TX 77401 | 713.349.9700 Greenway Plaza 2 Greenway Plaza, Suite 150 | Houston, TX 77046 | 713.623.8899 *comScore, Jan.-Dec. 2015. The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are independent contractor agents and are not employees of the Company. ©2017 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker, the Coldwell Banker logo, Coldwell Banker Previews International and the Previews logo are registered and unregistered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. 13216HOU_1/17
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