PEARLAND
CELEBRATING & DISCOVERING LIFE’S FINEST
June Happenings Fly the Flag Properly Tastes of Spain UltraMagTexas.com
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DYNAMIC POOLS SPAS & PATIOS and Dynamic Builders Inc. are proud supporters of Operation Finally Home since its inception in 2008, and were involved in building the first veteran’s home in Pearland. Now, with the communities working together, we have accomplished, by the Grace of God, giving over 125 homes to America's veterans and their families. It is an honor to unite all who respect and value the sacrifice of America’s veterans and show our appreciation from breaking ground, notes of love and finally the home dedication. Please visit OperationFinallyHome.org to learn how you can get involved. Come out and watch a deserving family receive the ultimate blessing of a new home! Dynamic Pools Spas and Patios are proud to announce we are installing a new pool in our next OFH project. We could not do it with out great clients like you.
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PUBLISHER
Juliet Hubbell
EDITOR Tamara Abel
ASSISTANT EDITOR Nancy Moreland June 2017
ART DIRECTOR Adra Stafford
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Ann Greer
CONTRIBUTORS Byron Barclay Karen Bunch Newt Harlan Stephanie Brown Howaniec Ahmad Khan Bobby McCallitt Anice Shelton Susan Scott Watts Reader correspondence, editorial submissions and advertising inquiries are welcome.
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@UltraMagTexas.com
Let Us Hear From You! editor@UltraMagTexas.com
CONTENTS CALENDAR
PETS
PEOPLE
SPORTS
Local Happenings
6
Every Cat Needs Entertainment
8
Fun Things to do during June
Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University
Scene in Pearland
10
Take Me Out (of Town) to the Ballgame
11
Take a Holistic Approach to Retirement Planning
14
Honest Lies and Other Misguided Thoughts
17
Spain
18
Bankrupt Debtors
21
Out and About in our Neighborhood
Bobby McCallitt Will Inspire You to Take a Baseball Road Trip
BABY BOOMERS Benchmarks for Every Stage of Life
HUMOR
TRAVEL
LEGAL
Newt Harlan Remembers Old-Fashion Drugstores
Stephanie Howaniec’s Travel Guide and Sangria Recipe
Will My Business Get Paid?
ULTRA Magazine is published monthly. All rights reserved. Material may not be reproduced by any means whatsoever without written permission from the publisher. Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. The magazine is not responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented. Advertisers and their agencies assume all liability for advertising content. We encourage our readers to support our advertisers. Have an event that you would like to let ULTRA readers know about? To be considered for publication, the information must be received two months prior to the issue date. Please email the 100-word write up to editor@UltraMagTexas.com. Be sure to include the event name, date, time, venue, cost and website information. Please send high-resolution jpeg photos in a separate email.
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YOU ONLY GET 52 WEEKS IN A YEAR
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GAMBLING PROBLEM? PLEASE CALL 800.522.4700. UltraMagTexas.com
5
H
ULTRA CALENDAR
appenings
By Nancy Moreland
Houston’s biggest music festival is set to kick off this summer with some of the biggest names in music. The eighth annual Free Press Summer Fest (FPSF) will take over Eleanor Tinsley Park on the banks of the Buffalo Bayou the first weekend in June. Scheduled to appear:
PEARLAND CONCERTS IN THE PARK Fridays in June Southdown Park Free pearlandtx.gov
Pearland’s Concerts in the Park season returns for 2017. Offering visitors a chance to enjoy live music, the free concerts are hosted every Friday night during the month of June at Southdown Park from 7 to 9 PM. Food vendors will be selling a delicious variety of foods while the Splash Pad and playground will be available for the kids to enjoy. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs and picnic baskets then sit back and enjoy an evening of fun and family entertainment. June 2 – Mango Punch June 9 – Bayou Roux June 23 – City Nights June 30 – Kelly McGuire
AIA SANDCASTLE COMPETITION
June 3rd 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Galveston Free Admission aiahouston.org/v/site-home/ Sandcastle/3m/ The AIA Sandcastle Competition is a fundraising event for AIA Houston and ArCH Foundation as well as one of the top five revenue-generating events for the City of 6
Galveston. This year over 60 teams have their eyes and shovels set on winning the prestigious Golden Bucket Award. Firms begin months in advance generating ideas, developing designs, and assigning duties. On the day of the event the teams, stretched along the beachfront, meticulously sculpt their piles of sand and work non-stop for five hours. The judging of the sculptures is rated on originality of concept, artistic execution, technical difficulty, carving technique, and utilization of the site. In addition to the Golden Bucket, awards are given in several categories including Best Traditional Castle, Best Architectural Icon, Kidtastic! - Disney Edition, Best Cinematic, Best Meme and Houstoncentric as well as best team t-shirt design, best team signage, best costume, and public favorite. At the end of the day, everyone goes home with memories of a great day at the beach filled with fun, sand, and sun.
Lorde - Flume - G-Eazy - Cage the Elephant - Solange - The Shins - Tove Lo - Carnage Post Malone - Lil Uzi Vert - Jon Bellion - Jauz - Grouplove - Milky Chance - Dvbbs - Portugal. The Man - St. Paul & The Broken Bones - Rufus Du Sol - Big K.R.I.T - Charli XCX - The Strumbellas - Cashmere Cat - Jai Wolf - Bishop Briggs - The Struts - Frightened Rabbit - Amine - Cheat Codes - Anna Lunoe - Bad Suns - Vanic - Stick Figure - Hurray for the Riff Raff - Hippo Campus - Khruangbin - Grits & Biscuits - Cherry Glazerr K.I.D - Echose - Zipper Club - Dreamers - Coast Modern - Rose Ette - Night Drive - -US - Bang Bangz - Camera Cult - The Wheel Workers - Deep Cuts - Kay Weathers - Miears - Black Swan Yoga
FREE PRESS SUMMER FEST
Shop for fresh, locally sourced items at the Pearland Farmer’s Market in its new location. Hosted monthly, the Pearland Farmer’s Market includes an assortment of vendors selling items such as fresh vegetables, handmade soaps, baked goods, honey and plants.
June 3rd - June 4th 10:30 AM to 10 PM Eleanor Tinsley Park Tickets Required fpsf.com/lineup/
PEARLAND FARMER’S MARKET June 10th, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pearland Town Square Memorial Hermann Pavilion pearlandtowncenter.com
PRIDE FESTIVAL AND PARADE June 18, 2017 - June 25, 2017 Recurring daily Downtown near City Hall 901 Bagby St | Houston, TX 77002 Free Admission pridehouston.org/
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More than 300,000 people attend Pride Houston’s weeklong events, making it the second largest parade in Houston and the largest Pride Parade or LGBT gathering in the Southwestern United States. The festival is packed with a wide variety of exhibitors, artists, music of all kinds, performers, stages, and fun. There really is something here for everyone. The celebration in the Montrose neighborhood focuses on showcasing music and entertainment from local LGBT artists and performers.
PICK-YOUR-OWN BLACKBERRIES
MEXICO VS. GHANA SOCCER June 28, 2017 7:30 PM One NRG Park | Houston, TX 77055 nrgpark.com/event-calendar/
Atkinson Farms 3217 Spring Cypress Road Spring, TX 77388 832-381-8202
For a little fun, pack up the family and spend a morning handpicking blackberries at Atkinson Farms just up the road in Spring. Blackberry season peaks May thru July. The working farm also has a produce store on site featuring a wide variety of homegrown vegetables. Call first to see what produce is available for handpicking as it changes with the seasons.
The Mexican National Team’s road to this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup will take the defending tournament champions through Houston for a key match against perennial African World Cup participant Ghana.
The Federación Mexicana de Fútbol (FMF), Soccer United Marketing (SUM), Lone Star Sports & Entertainment and the Houston Dynamo announced that Mexico will play Ghana on Wednesday, June 28, at Houston’s NRG Stadium, presented by AT&T. The game takes place just days prior to Mexico’s participation in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the official national team competition in the region. Mexico has played at NRG Stadium 15 times, resulting in seven wins, six draws, and just two losses. The first, in 2003 against archrivals United States, resulted in a scoreless draw in front of almost 70,000 fans. Since then, the National Team has played matches at NRG Stadium nearly every year, including Gold Cup matches, World Cup Qualifying matches, and a match against Venezuela during last year’s historic Copa America Centenario. The Tour will visit five cities across the United States in 2017, and will be broadcast nationally on the Univision and FOX family of networks as well as on the Fútbol de Primera Radio Network. continued on page 16
MMA SUMMER CAMP JULY 1 - 29, 2017 NOW REGISTERING FOR MMA SUMMER CAMP
FITNESS. CONFIDENCE. MOTIVATION! At Marine Military Academy, we work hard ... and play hard! Make the most of your son’s summer and send him to our four-week adventure camp. Each day, he’ll participate in challenging but exciting military activities and sports that will build his fitness, confidence and self- motivation! His experience will transform him. It’s no wonder boys from all over the world line up for MMA Summer Camp! Register your son today! ATTEND A FREE PRESENTATION NEAR YOU! Monday, June 5 @ 7 p.m. »» Woodlands Waterway Marriott Tuesday, June 6 @ 7 p.m. »» Marriott West Loop by The Galleria Wednesday, June 7 @ 7 p.m. »» Courtyard Houston Sugar Land
RSVP AT ADMISSIONS@MMA-TX.ORG OR 956.423.6006 Monday, June 12 @ 7 p.m. »» Courtyard Houston Kingwood Tuesday, June 13 @ 7 p.m. »» Courtyard Houston Katy Mills Wednesday, June 14 @ 7 p.m. »» Courtyard Houston Pearland
MMA-TX.ORG/SUMMERCAMP »» 956.423.6006 MMA Summer Camp »» A Military Adventure Camp for School Boys Ages 12-18 »» 320 Iwo Jima Blvd. / Harlingen, Texas
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Every Cat needs Entertainment
College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University
C
ULTRA PETS
ats are curious creatures that love to run, climb, hunt, and play. Providing entertainment and activities for your cat keeps them healthier and helps reduce unwanted behavior.
fur, or pom poms— can provide hours of entertainment and some exercise for your kitty. Toys to encourage your cat’s natural instinct to hunt are also available. These toys can be filled with a treat or cat food and can be hidden in the house. When the cat finds the toy, they have to play with it to get the food out. Griffin said hunting toys provide mental stimulation and also a little exercise. You also can train your cat to chase laser pointers; however, be sure to play safe to avoid any injury to your cat.
Dr. Sarah Griffin, a lecturer at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, explained the importance of providing your pet with plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. “Indoor cats live longer, healthier lives but can develop undesirable habits if not given enough exercise and mental stimulation,” Griffin said. “Some undesirable behaviors and medical conditions that can develop from lack of stimulation include scratching inappropriate places, chewing, peeing outside the litter box, aggression, and obesity.”
Many of our feline friends live indoors, but they still may be curious about the outdoors. Training your cat to walk on a harness or leash will provide both exercise and entertainment for your cat.
Several cat toys and supplies on the market make providing your furry friend with entertainment easy. For example, a cat tower placed by the window could provide opportunities for your pet to exercise, play, relax, and enjoy the scenery outside. Additionally, Griffin said cat toys—especially ones with bells, feathers, 8
“Leash walking and having an open window or a screened-in porch can fulfill a cat’s desire to explore the outdoors,” Griffin said. Whether your kitty spends most of its time sleeping or begging you to play, providing entertainment for your cat is important for its mental and physical health.
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S
cene in Pearland ULTRA PEOPLE
By Tamara Abel
ONE GREAT SWING Congratulations to Dean Anderson! He made his fourth hole-in-one on the 16th hole at Golfcrest Country Club. Luckily for Dean, he had plenty of witnesses. Now, he is tied with his wife, Barbara, at four aces each!
Paul Pieri, Dean Anderson, Bill Cole, Rod Keith and Ron Hickman celebrate an ace.
JJ WATT CHARITY CLASSIC
Dr. Breeze, who was selected as a finalist by a panel of independent judges - including entrepreneurs and prominent leaders from business, finance and the local community,
The fifth-annual charitable event featured a home run derby and a softball game between the offensive and defensive players from the Houston Texans. The 2017 event was a huge success raising money for the JJ Watt Foundation. The JJ Watt Foundation provides funding to after school sports programs for kids in the 6th-8th grades for uniforms, helmets, pads, tumble mats, balls, bats and nets. To apply for funding for your school team and review the criteria, visit jjwfoundations.org/funding-requests/
Bill Cole, Dean Anderson, Ron Hickman celebrate a hole-in-one.
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ENTREPRENEUR RECOGNITION
Submit your good news and photos to Editor@UltraMagTexas.com and it may appear in the next issue of ULTRA Pearland! UltraMagTexas.com
Juliet Breeze, MD of Next Level Urgent Care, LLC is a finalist for the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2017 Award in the Gulf Coast Area.
is a primary care physician and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in healthcare. She is today the CEO of one of the largest and fastest growing woman-owned urgent care organizations in Houston. It is also one of the few physician-owned urgent care organizations in Houston. “I am extremely honored to be chosen as one of this year's EY Entrepreneur Of The Year finalists,” said Breeze. Award winners will be announced at a special gala event on June 15, 2017 at the Marriott Marquis. Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National competition.
TAKE ME OUT) n w o T f o t u O (
TO THE BALLGAME ULTRA SPORTS by Bobby McCallitt
I
f you have children, you know that summertime seems to require a couple of “must-do” things – go on a family vacation and take the kids to a baseball game. Well how about doing both at the same time? If you’ve never considered taking a family baseball trip, you really should. I’m here to help you plan it out. There just seems to be something about going to a baseball game that is both fun and relaxing. And it’s cheap. Taking your kids to the ball park can make memories that last a lifetime. We have been to see the local 9 at Minute Maid Park dozens of times and we always have a good time. One summer when we were trying to figure out where we should take the kids for our annual trip – somewhere that wouldn’t be crazy expensive yet still fun for everyone – it was suggested that we ought to just go out of town to see a baseball game. And thus a summer tradition of sorts was started. Be warned; it’s not as easy as one might think. A baseball trip requires much pre-planning as there are several moving parts that must be meshed together to ensure a successful outing. In fact, you will need a pen and paper as keeping up with all the variables requires note-taking. As a bonus, in addition to being really fun, this sort of trip can also be quite educational. First, the kids get a geography lesson. Break out a map of the United States and start plotting. You will need to determine which cities have major league baseball teams. (This is a good trivia question for the kids and is also a good time to play name that mascot.) Of these cities, figure out which ones are geographically located somewhat close to each other as you will want to try and see multiple stadiums. Some cities
have 2 teams (another opportunity for trivia – New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles) and many on the east coast are quite close to each other. Next, and trust me this is a very important step, you will need to check the baseball schedule and see when teams are playing at home. Baseball teams play almost every day, all summer long. Unfortunately only half of those games are at home, and the stadiums are much more fun when there is an actual game going on. (This is also when the pen and paper come in handy.) The entire nation is at your disposal, and we have traveled north, east and west. Trips north might start in St. Louis (Cardinals), continue up to Chicago (Cubs & White Sox) and conclude in Milwaukee (Brewers). The sausage races are always a big hit. Maybe you’d rather start in Detroit (Tigers), drive around Lake Erie to Cleveland (Indians) and finish in Pittsburgh (Pirates). The Andy Warhol museum is fun, too. If you’d rather go west, try the San Diego (Padres) to Los Angeles (Dodgers & Angels) route. The drive up the coast is beautiful and the weather promises to be fantastic. You can see some seals, too. Or farther north on the west coast would find you in San Francisco (Giants) and Oakland (Athletics) for games. There is no shortage of things to see and do in the Bay Area, but don’t forget to take a coat. Really.
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continued on page 12
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These memories indeed last a lifetime as even today, years later, when watching a ball game or even highlights on television, my kids will comment on how “we’ve been there.” And all the funny things that happen along the way make for great stories.
TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME continued from page 11
We can all remember something that happened at almost every stadium. Like the baseball our daughter caught from the center fielder at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Or riding the mini Ferris wheel inside Tiger Stadium in Detroit. Or the batting practice home run our son snagged at Petco Park in San Diego. Or our picture with the big-headed mascot at Progressive Field in Cleveland.
Johnny Helpenstill and his grandsons, Tyler and Garrett Helpenstill, enjoy to trip to see the Astros
Even Atlanta (Braves), Cincinnati (Reds), and Boston (Red Sox) are tough to incorporate with other cities, but can certainly be done. And a drive up to Arlington (Rangers) can be just as fun – particularly if the Astros are in town. So if you are flexible with your dates, and wide open for where to go on your first baseball trip, my advice would be to first check airlines for cheap flights. See what cities you can economically get to. Once you determine where you are headed, go straight to the baseball schedule to find dates when all the teams you plan to see will be playing at home. Or if the teams and cities are more important to you, work it backwards. Check the team’s home schedule first to figure out when you should go. Then check flights. Just about every ballpark has a slew of hotels within walking distance, and that will be important as well. We always tried to stay close enough to the stadium that we could walk back to our hotel after the game (or ride the subway back). Then we could get up bright and early and head out on the next leg of our adventure (after the free hotel breakfast of course). No time to waste as we had a game to get to! While the trips were built around the baseball games, every city has some amazing and unique features. Enjoying what every city has to offer is really fun. Places like the Reading Terminal Market in Philly, the San Diego Zoo, or the Navy Pier in Chicago are great ways to spend the day before heading to the stadium that night.
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And even some visions, that while funny now, at the time seemed less than memorable. Like the grown man shoving our son down to get to a homer in Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Or our daughter getting lost in Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Or the hairy, overweight, shirtless man fighting for a home run ball in the bleachers at Camden Yards in Baltimore. Or the colorful language my kids enjoyed at Wrigley Field in Chicago. And don’t even ask about the man on the row in front of us in Milwaukee. So if you’re looking for something to do this summer that will be fun for the entire family and provide memories that will be talked about for years, a baseball trip just might be the ticket.
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Matthew Moon and his parents, Breege and Brian are huge Astro’s fans and love to travel. Matthew has visited 15 ballparks so far.
Rogers Centre | Toronto Blue Jays
CLEAR CREEK
GOLF CLUB SINCE 1987
Citizens Bank Park | Philidelphia Phillies
Miller Park | Milwaukee Brewers
PEARLAND’S Kauffman Stadium | Kansas City Royals
best kept secret
Marlins Park | Miami Marlins
CLEAR CREEK GOLF CLUB Globe Life Park | Texas Rangers
Minute Maid Park | Houston Astros
Wrigley Field | Chicago Cubs
Fenway Park | Boston Red Sox
The 6,758-yard, Scottish Links course, designed by Finger, Dye and Spann, offers water on 5 of its 18 holes shaded by beautiful old trees in Tom Bass Park. It is often mentioned as “the Best Conditioned Golf Course in South Houston.” Clear Creek provides a pleasant, yet challenging, round for golfers of any ability.
713.738.8000 ClearCreekGolfClub.com U.S. Cellular Field | Chicago White Sox
Yankee Stadium | New York Yankees
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A
lthough retirement is a milestone for all working adults, decades of hard work may not pay off if you haven't planned for your financial needs once a regular paycheck stops coming. According to research by the Insured Retirement Institute (IRI), millions of Baby Boomers stepping into their retirement years have unrealistic expectations and lack a full understanding of the danger of running out of money during retirement. However, the challenges do not stop with Baby Boomers. A recent study indicated 47 percent of Gen-Xers and more than half of Millennials believe a secure retirement is beyond their reach.
ď‚“ Take a Holistic Approach to Retirement Planning
ULTRA BABY BOOMERS Most people recognize the need to grow their wealth before retirement, but getting there isn't always a clear path," said Cathy Weatherford, IRI president and CEO. "Starting early and taking a holistic approach to financial planning is truly essential for a safe and dignified retirement." Experts generally concur that it's never too early to begin planning for retirement, but depending on your stage of life, your approach may vary. Consider this advice from the experts at IRI to get on a path toward financially secure retirement.
BUILDING A CAREER Once you have a solid budget, stick to it and set aside some money to save. Compound interest adds up over time and the earlier you start compounding, the better. Credit will also start to play more of a factor in your life, as major expenses like buying a house or car, or starting a business rely greatly on your credit.
MID-CAREER
STUDENT
At this stage, your employer may offer a retirement savings plan.
Forming good money habits can set you up for a lifetime of success. An act as simple as putting spare change in a jar can help you start saving. Talk to adults you trust about how to create a budget and work toward a financial goal. Auto insurance and cell phone bills are important
Whether you have various investments to manage or not, you should start to look at your building your portfolio and retirement plan. This mid-career life stage is a good time to set a retirement savings goal, and now is also the time to consider hiring a financial advisor.
expenses to factor into your budget. 14
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A professional can help you explore less understood but worthwhile approaches to holistic retirement planning such as annuities. Annuities are essentially insurance contracts that come in different types and offer several options to meet a variety of financial objectives. They are a guarantee of income as you age.
LATE CAREER At this stage, you probably have a better idea as to when you will be able to retire, but it's important to review your savings on an annual
There’s no better time
basis and make adjustments, if needed, to stay on track. As you approach retirement, you'll want to research Social Security, Medicare and long-term care options to ensure you have a comprehensive view of your future finances. RETIREMENT LIVING REDEFINED
READY FOR RETIREMENT If you haven't already done so, the time has come to better research your Social Security benefits (and when it's best to start accessing them), Medicare coverage and long-term care options. This is the time to start making some choices, such as whether you will downsize your home and how to eliminate as much debt as possible. One of the more complex aspects surrounding retirement can be determining which of your accounts to tap and in what order, and a professional can help
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ULTRA HOME
National Flag Day is June 14th National Flag Day will be celebrated June 14th on a Thursday this year. Many people choose to honor The United States of American on this day by displaying the flag on homes and public buildings. Flag Day commemorated the adoption of the flag of the United States by resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777. Flag Day became official in August 1949 when President Harry S. Truman signed congressional legislation proclaiming June 14th as National Flag Day. The day celebrates the history and symbolism of the American flag. It is also an opportunity to remember those who fight to protect it and the nation for which it stands.
Things to Remember
1
Traditional guidelines call for displaying the flag in public
2
When the U.S. flag is displayed other than from a staff, it should
only from sunrise to sunset.
be displayed flat, or suspended
However, it may be displayed
so that its folds fall free with
at all hours if it’s illuminated
the blue field to the left of the
at night.
observer in the street.
HAPPENings in JUNE continued from page 7
WAUGH DRIVE BAT COLONY
June 2nd and 16th Waugh Drive Bridge between Memorial Drive and Allen Parkway www.Houstontx.gov/parks/batpage
bats is so immense that when they emerge, the Waugh Drive Bat Colony can often be seen on weather radar. Located in Buffalo Bayou Park, the bat colony can be seen by crowds from a variety of good vantage points. The bats prefer to emerge from the east side of the bridge, often in a whirling vortex to gain height, speed, and as a group to deter predators. The bats tend to emerge after sunset but as a natural event, it isn’t always predictable. Temperatures below 50° or rain sometimes delay or prevent the emergence.
LIVE MUSIC IN PEARLAND
Wondering where you can go to catch some live music in Pearland? Here are three good options:
it quickly and lower it slowly and ceremoniously.
KING’S BIERGARTEN at 1329
Broadway offers authentic German/Austrian cuisine in a casual, inviting setting. The relaxed atmosphere is family friendly and includes live music on Fridays and Saturdays.
FLOYD’S CAJUN SEAFOOD at
1300 Broadway is a local favorite that offers a great selection of Cajun inspired dishes with a touch of Texas. A variety of genres are featured with live bands performing weekly on the patio every Friday and Saturday night.
BIG HORN BBQ at 2300 Smith Ranch
Road is a locally owned Pearland restaurant with a fun western vibe, smoked-to-perfection meats and a variety of genres playing live music on Friday and Saturday nights.
HAVE AN EVENT IN JULY OR AUGUST?
The Houston Area Bat Team offers free, educational “Bat Chats” at the Waugh Street Bridge Observation Deck the first and third Fridays of every month.
Let our readers know about it! To be considered for publication, the information must be received two months prior to the issue date. Please email a 100-wordmaximium synopsis to editor@UltraMagTexas. com. Be sure to include the event name, date, time, venue, cost and website. Please send highresolution jpeg photos in a separate email.
The Waugh Bridge Bat Colony lives in Houston year round. Every evening at sunset, 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from underneath the bridge as a group to feed on area insects creating an impressive sight. The cloud of 16
3
When hoisting the flag, raise
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ULTRA HUMOR
DRUGSTORES Honest Lies and Other Misguided Thoughts By Newt Harlan Do y’all remember old-fashioned drugstores? I’m not talking about those scaled down department stores that we see today. No, I’m talking about real, honest-to-goodness drugstores. Drug stores where the druggist with his mortars, pestles and a bit of magic, compounded many remedies and didn’t simply count and dispense pills from one bottle to another. Druggists who could swab a sore throat with a tincture of Merthiolate or some other foul tasting medicine, which could remove splinters and mix up all kinds of things to cure self-diagnosed or perceived illnesses for folks who thought a consultation from the doctor, was unnecessary or too expensive. Those were drugstores, apothecaries that offered little besides medicine, medical supplies and a few other necessities. Oh, and of course the soda fountain, which dispensed sodas, malts, and shakes. There are very few, if any of those stores left any more. Back when I was growing up we had not one, but two old-fashioned drugstores less than a block apart on Main Street in Humble, Tooke’s and the Humble Pharmacy. The Humble Pharmacy, known to most of us simply as “The Pharmacy”, was located on the lower floor of the Masonic Hall on Main St., across from the city hall and courthouse between Avenues A and B, while Tooke’s was
on the southeast corner of Main and Avenue B. Both locations were just around the corner from Dr. Panzerella’s clinic on Avenue B and only a short walk from Dr. McKay’s on Avenue C, making it convenient for folks to pick up their medications at either store after visiting the doctor.
The interior layouts of the stores were quite similar. The druggist’s domain was back in the rear of the store. Each had a soda fountain counter with stools running down one side UltraMagTexas.com
of the store and The Pharmacy had 4 or 5 booths in a row directly behind the stools. The rest of both interiors were taken up with shelves and cases of patent medicines, braces, personal hygiene items and other medical needs along with a few small gift items around the rest of the store. Both stores had a newspaper-magazine-paperback section up in a front corner. There, with one exception, the similarities ended. Tooke’s interior was exactly what one would picture a drugstore looking like in the 1920s and 30s. The interior was somewhat gloomy, lit primarily by green-shaded lights hanging from very high ceilings of stamped metal. The oiled wood floors and a marble-topped soda fountain faced by a row of swiveling wood stools completed the early 1900s look. Tooke’s only nod to “modernity” was fluorescent lights back in the druggist area and an electric coffee maker. The Pharmacy was just the opposite--high tech all the way with dropped ceilings and fluorescent lighting giving a modern, clean appearance to the vinyl tile floors and the color coordinated lime green Formica counter top with lime green vinyl covered stools, which was repeated on the seats and tabletops of the booths. continued on page 20 17
ULTRA TRAVEL
Tapas and Tinto de Verano by Stephanie Brown Howaniec
Summer is here!
I associate summer with drinking Tinto de Verano. It means summer red wine in Spanish. As the lesser known sister of sangria, the drink is a red wine mixed with lemon lime soda. It’s deliciously refreshing and instantly brings a smile to my face, reminding me of the years I spent living in Spain.
Tinto de Verano
Any discussion of traveling Spain would be incomplete without Barcelona and Madrid. Madrid is the thriving capital and it is full of genuine people who love their city. You can take out rowboats in Parque Retiro (Madrid’s Central Park), see Picasso’s overwhelming Guernica and watch the sunset at Plaza Bellas Artes overlooking the entire city. Enjoy the hub of the city in Plaza Sol and Plaza Mayor. In Barcelona, the Picasso Museum covers the days
This Gaudi designed cathedral is beyond awe inspiring. Its construction began in 1882 and they are still actively building it; completion is anticipated in 2028.
Enjoy a sip of Spain at home in Pearland! Select a wine glass or high ball. Add several large ice cubes Fill glass half-way with red wine*
Fill the glass second half with lemon-lime soda Garnish with a slice of lemon. Adjust proportions according to taste. * for added authenticity try it with a young Rioja A part of my heart will always be in Spain. You could spend 6 weeks traveling in this diverse country and hardly cover it all. Each region is unlike the other regions. 18
Plaza Cibeles, Madrid
View from Bellas Artes, Madrid
before Picasso built fame and he had drawing assignments for art school. Las Ramblas is a long street full of shops, cafes and bars. The same day spent wandering around Parque Guell with its beautiful views of the city and splashes full of color, you can also marvel at the still unfinished Basilica de la Sagrada Familia.
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But Spain offers a much richer Spanish experience away from the tourists taking selfies in Madrid or Barcelona.
Go North
San Sebastian is known for its culinary prestige and romantic landscapes situated on the Spain’s Northern coastline. What a great combination! The quaint winding streets lead to tapas bars. The Basque cuisine
San Sebastian
Granada
Ronda
shines here with great seafood and complex flavors. The tapas-style of eating will lead you from bar to bar through the city, trying bites of nearly everything. The waiters serve a local sparkling white wine (called txakolí pronounced cha-koh-lee) by pouring it from great heights into the glass. This order enhances the entertainment of the already crowded and bustling bar. Food quality is superb everywhere, whether the bar appears to be a hole in the wall or at one of the city’s many Michelin Star restaurants with fancy tasting menus. San Sebastian is more than just eating great food and drinking great wine, though. Each side of the city’s crescent beach offers easy hikes up to stellar views. Oh, and don’t forget about the beach! Unlike
most other European beaches, San Sebastian offers beautiful sand that Americans are more accustomed to. If San Sebastian sounds appealing, continue your journey by going deeper into the Basque Country to St Jeande-Luz in France and add Bilbao to your trip.
the locals do, stroll along the city’s river at night stopping into a restaurant for a free tapa with your drink and then continue this pattern until you’ve tasted the city’s best treasures. Plaza Espana is a massive plaza with tile murals covering all of Spain’s greatest highlights. Granada hosts the famous Alhambra - a giant compound of Moorish palaces telling the history of the Moors in the region. Cordoba is known for its MosqueCathedral originally built during the Moorish period and then transformed into a cathedral in the 13th century. The incredible structure combines Roman history with Islam, Judaism and Christianity. These cities are the best Andalucía has to offer and share many continued on page 20
Go South
Ronda is a hidden gem. Even though you’ve probably never heard of it, Ronda is one of the largest white hill towns in the South of Spain. Mainly known as the origin of bull fighting, Ronda’s panorama is eye grabbing. Even spending an hour here is an hour you’ll never forget. Seville, the cultural core of Southern Spain is another romantic destination, full of energy and life. To do as
San Sebastian Harbor
Ronda
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Tapas and Tinto de Verano continued from page19 common threads, but each delivers something unique and special. Be sure to see the
flamenco dancers dazzling its small audiences in tight quarters. You could easily pack in a Southern Spain tour including Seville, Granada, Cordoba and Ronda with just a few days. These cities are close by and quickly accessible by car or public transport and neither requires much time to tour. The cities are small, easily walkable and inviting. With more time in the area, dip into Morocco; hang with monkeys in Gibraltar or pop into Southern Portugal.
Go Further
Ronda
DRUGSTORES Honest Lies and Misguided Thoughts continued from page 17 The one other thing shared by both drugstores was that “drugstore smell.” The smell was kind of bittersweet, clean, medicinal, vanilla, chlorine that was neither pleasant nor unpleasant; it smelled like…... a drugstore. It’s been something like 60 years since I last smelled that scent and will probably never smell it again, but if I ever do I’ll recognize it. Old fashioned or modern didn’t seem to have much bearing on which drugstore got the patronage, folks didn’t seem to care one way or the other and many medicine cabinets had prescriptions from both on their shelves. It’s just conjecture on my part, but I think the doctors determined which store filled their prescription, choosing the older more experienced Tooke brothers to compound old-fashioned remedies and the younger druggist at the Pharmacy to dispense the new wonder drugs that were just coming out--but, as I said, that’s just personal conjecture. The singular feature at both drugstores that endeared them to my peer group and me during our pre-teen and teenage years was the soda fountain. Early on, the soda fountain was 20
Spain has so many wonderful cities and incredible islands. Even if you only have a few days in Madrid, consider going one hour outside the city to Segovia or Toledo to tremendously sweeten your trip. For a great beach city (and paella) with fewer tourists, consider Valencia. Or end your trip by relaxing on glorious beaches on the islands of Tenerife or Lanzarote! usually good for an ice cream cone after a visit to the doctor if you were a big boy and didn’t cry. Later, as we grew to be “big” kids in the 5th and 6th grades, the soda fountain at The Pharmacy was the place to go after the Saturday matinee at the picture show, still holding hands with your girlfriend if you were tough enough to field the taunts from your friends. My usual post-matinee order was a tall Cherry Coke with two straws--yes, we really did the one drink, two straw thing back then, and with a short Coke with no ice refill, could sit for at least an hour sipping, talking, and holding hands while gazing into each others’ eyes. I don’t recall any of the conversations that passed between us, but I still remember some very deep, soulful eye gazing. Thinking back, I honestly can’t recall who the particular girls were, but they could’ve been one of many since at that time we had new girlfriends and boyfriends about every other week or so. A “tall” Coke was about 16 oz. and cost 10 cents, while a “short” Coke was about half that big for a nickel. The drinks were mixed at the soda fountain with squirts of syrup and carbonated water and served over cracked ice. The popular flavors in my day were regular Coke, Cherry Coke, cherry phosphate, vanilla phosphate and hand-squeezed lemonade and UltraMagTexas.com
Regional Dishes to Try Tortilla de Española - Spanish omelet made from potatoes and eggs Jamón Ibérico - cured ham unlike any in the world from pigs on this Iberian peninsula that exclusively eat special acorns so it’s high in fat content and cured for a long time Paella - best in its original hometown of Valencia Queso manchego with membrillo delicious cheese with a quince fruit jelly Tostada con tomato - toast with olive oil and pureed tomatoes Croquettas - fried dumplings filled with ham or mushrooms or 4 cheeses Pimientos de padrón - fried small green peppers similar to a bell pepper limeade. Probably the most popular drinks with the teen and pre-teen crowd were the extra thick milkshakes for a quarter and malts for 30 cents. The fountain always made portions that would fill a tall glass with enough left in the mixing cup to fill it again when your glass got to the halfway mark. The soda fountains were also prime gathering spots on Saturday mornings as everyone gathered to discuss the previous night’s football or basketball game over Cokes or coffee and the players managed to find an excuse to drop in to bask in their accolades. Just as today, back then a large portion of the drug store’s business was in over-the-counter or patent medicines. Every household kept a supply of castor oil, boric acid solution, the ever present, Milk of Magnesia, plus Collier’s Little Liver Pills, Duke’s Pills, Hadacol and no telling how many other remedies and potions that back then did just as little as the curealls do today. The national chain pharmacies may fill prescriptions today, but they’ll never fill the void that was created when The Pharmacy and Tooke’s closed their doors--of course, Dr. Panzarella and Dr. McKay are gone now as well, so I suppose it makes little difference where the pills come from.
BYRON K. BARCLAY BKBarclay@lawyer.com www.BarclayLawFirm.com 713.224.2334
BIOGRAPHY & DISCLAIMER Byron K. Barclay is a Houston, Texas attorney and Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Personal Injury Trial Law. In addition, Mr. Barclay handles estate planning matters and is regularly appointed to serve various courts in Harris County as an Attorney Ad Litem for the estates of persons who have died without a will. Mr. Barclay also handles commercial litigation, divorces, family law and child custody issues.
Bankrupt Debtors: WILL I GET PAID? ULTRA LEGAL Courtesy of Byron K. Barclay
The foregoing article is offered only as a public service to this community and does not constitute solicitation or provision of legal advice. This site and column should not be used as a substitute for obtaining legal advice from an attorney licensed or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. You should always consult a suitably qualified attorney regarding any specific legal problem or matter. The comments and opinions expressed on this site are of the individual author. Nothing in this column or on any website where it may be published is intended to create an attorney-client relationship and nothing posted by Mr. Barclay constitutes legal advice. Should you have questions, you may forward them via email to Mr. Barclay at BKBarclay@lawyer.com. Questions may be edited for length or clarity. Mr. Barclay will choose questions submitted for brief answers and possible publication. Mr. Barclay reserves the right to choose which questions to answer, and submission of a question does not guarantee that he will provide an answer.
Bankruptcy can be a wonderful thing, but almost always when an
case number identifying the bankruptcy case, along with the court
individual or a corporation is in over their head in debt and trying to
where the case is pending. Your proof of claim will list the kind of debt
sort things out. Bankruptcies for a creditor however can be a source of
that you are owed and the amount owed under the debt. You must also
confusion and consternation, the biggest part of which is the age-old
attach some proof of the debt owed, such as a copy of the contract or
question: Will I get paid, and (if I do get paid), how much and when?
promissory note signed by the debtor agreeing to pay the debt.
The answers to these questions depend on the type of debt owed to
While it is possible that you will be paid under a Chapter 13
you, as the creditor (i.e. the one who has sold something on credit
bankruptcy even without filing a proof of claim, one should never
or loaned money to the bankrupt debtor). Bankruptcy is a federal
take that chance. It is much more prudent to go through the process
court procedure, and most states have two or more districts where a
of filing your proof of claim with the bankruptcy court. There is no
federal bankruptcy court hears cases. If you are a mortgage company
charge to file the proof of claim. Having done so, you will then receive
or a lender with a collateralized debt (usually meaning you have
written notices from the Court of a Creditor’s Meeting, where you
a lien on real estate or an automobile), and the debtor has filed a
can appear if you choose and ask the debtor to explain their plan
Chapter 13 bankruptcy, then you have a pretty good chance of being
for paying you back, and you will receive notice if their bankruptcy
paid most if not all of what is owed to you. If the debtor has filed a
plan for paying their debts has been approved by the Court. Should
Chapter 7 bankruptcy, with few exceptions, you will not likely be paid.
the debtor fail to follow through with any part of their bankruptcy
Ever. A Chapter 11 bankruptcy is usually filed by companies that
plan, the bankruptcy trustee overseeing the case can ask the Judge to
are corporations, limited partnerships, or limited liability companies.
dismiss the bankruptcy, and you will receive notice if the bankruptcy
Chapter 11 bankruptcies, called “reorganizations,” can be the most
has been dismissed. This then creates new opportunities and
complicated. To ensure that you are paid, a prudent and careful
procedures to ensure that you are paid.
creditor will want to file a claim in the Chapter 13 or Chapter 11 bankruptcy to ensure payment.
As always, an experienced attorney can guide you through this process, and will always be cheaper in the long run by helping you
A proof of claim is fairly straightforward: You must list the debtor, the
move smoothly through the bankruptcy process.
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