PEARLAND
CELEBRATING & DISCOVERING LIFE’S FINEST
Summer Football Local Happenings All American Recipes UltraMagTexas.com
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PUBLISHER Juliet Hubbell
EDITOR Tamara Abel
ASSISTANT EDITOR Nancy Moreland July 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
FOOD
HEALTH
HUMOR
SPORTS
LEGAL
4
Local Happenings
6
Tips to Potty Training Pets
8
Check Out Fun July Events
Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University
Scene in Pearland
10
Bon Appetit
12
Skin Cancer is on the Rise
14
Honest Lies and Other Misguided Thoughts
16
Summer 7 v. 7 High School Football
18
The Certainties in Life
21
Out and About in the Neighborhood
It’s Burgers, Ribs, Coca-Cola Cake and Cocktails for July
1 in 5 Americans Expected to Develop Skin Cancer in a Lifetime
Newt Harlan Remembers Wisdom Passed on by Mama
Are You Ready for Some Summer Football?
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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Preparing for the Legal Aspects of Life-Changing Events
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Dr. Burke Orthopedics uses Navio®, a robotics-assisted partial knee replacement system that delivers accurate and precise results tailored to each patient’s unique anatomy. Patients who undergo partial knee replacement have been shown to experience less pain1, lower risk of complications2 and quicker rehabilitation2,3 than those who have a total knee replacement.
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Repicci, JA, et al., “Minimally invasive surgical technique for unicondylar knee arthroplasty,” J South Orthopedic Association, 1999 Spring; 8(1): 20 -7. Brown, NM, et al., “Total Knee Arthroplasty Has Higher Postoperative Morbidity Than Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty: A Multicenter Analysis,” The Journal of Arthroplasty, 2012. Hall et al., “Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty (Alias Uni-Knee): An Overview With Nursing Implications,” Orthopaedic Nursing, 2004; 23(3): 163 -171.
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5
H
ULTRA CALENDAR
appenings
By Tamara Abel
CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM
PEARLAND FARMER’S MARKET
July 4th, 6 – 10 p.m. Pearland HS Football Stadium 3775 South Main Street pearlandparks.com
July 8th, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Pearland Town Square www.pearlandtowncenter.com
KIDPENDENCE DAY Don’t miss this year’s “Celebration of Freedom” event as the City of Pearland celebrates Independence Day on Tuesday, July 4th. The event is free and offers parking at Turner Career and College High School with a shuttle ride to the stadium. The 4th of July festivities include a VFW military salute, craft, novelty and food vendors, the Kids Zone play area and a free photo booth. There will also be a live concert by the Tub Texas Unlimited Band on the H-E-B Entertainment Stage. At sundown, enjoy a spectacular fireworks display from your seat inside the stadium. “July 4th is a time for family and friends to come together in celebration of the freedoms that we enjoy everyday. It is wonderful to be able to provide Pearland residents with an opportunity to celebrate in the community,” said Chris Orlea, Director of Parks & Recreation. Attendees can bring food and drinks or purchase some from a variety of food and beverage vendors that will be on hand. Please note alcohol, glass containers, pets and tobacco are prohibited. 6
July 4th, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Children’s Museum of Houston cmhouston.org
The stars and stripes will be in full effect as we celebrate our country’s 241st birthday at the Children’s Museum of Houston’s “Sci-Fi Summer.” Before rockets glare and fireworks are in the air, exercise your right to be a kid as long as possible with some good ole American fun. Wear your red, white, and blue to pay tribute to the land of the free and the home of the brave. Kick off the festivity with the Scouts presenting the flag and Pledge of Allegiance followed by the National Anthem. Meet the embodiments of American patriotism, Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty and catch a Sci-Fi Patriotic Demo.
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.
PICK-YOUR-OWN BLACKBERRIES Atkinson Farms 3217 Spring Cypress Road Spring, TX 77388 832-381-8202
CLASSIC FILM SERIES July 22nd, 8 p.m. Main Street Square | 1001 McKinney Free downtownhouston.org
Downtown District is rolling out the jumbo LED screen for the showing of the 1933 classic, King Kong. Bring the whole family to this free outdoor event and snack on your favorite food truck fare while you watch the film. Chairs will be provided. UltraMagTexas.com
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.
PIPPIN
July 11th – 16th, 8:15 p.m. Miller Outdoor Theater 6000 Hermann Park Drive Free
WAUGH DRIVE BAT COLONY
July 7th and 14th Waugh Drive Bridge between Memorial Drive and Allen Parkway www.Houstontx.gov/parks/batpage
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.
WACKY WEDNESDAY FREE MOVIES Follow a young prince on a death-defying journey to find meaning in his existence in this Tony Award winning musical. Will he choose a happy but simple life? Or will he risk everything for a single flash of glory? This is a ticketed event for the covered seating area. Free tickets are available (4 per person over age 16 while they last) at the Miller Outdoor Theatre box office the day of the performance between the hours of 10:30 a.m. 1:00 p.m. If tickets remain after 1:00 p.m., the box office will reopen one hour before show time to distribute the remaining tickets. Open seating on the hill does not require a ticket. The show goes on rain or shine. Theater Under The Stars produces the musical.
Pearland Premiere 6 5050 West Broadway Suite 10 281-997-2828 pccmovies.com 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. 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 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
Keep Pearland Beautiful in conjunction with Premiere Cinema proudly announces the Summer Kids Fest on Wacky Wednesday. The movie line-up includes: July 5th Kung Fu Panda 3, July 12th Trolls, July 19th Alvin and the Chipmunks, and July 26th Shrek. continued on page 9
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7
Potty Training Pets ULTRA PETS College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University
Getting a new puppy, kitten, or older cat or dog
is an exciting experience, but having pets comes with certain responsibilities, including potty training. It may be a time-consuming processes to potty train your pet, but Dr. Mark Stickney, clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, said it is necessary to develop a longlasting, positive relationship with your pet. “Inappropriate eliminations are one of the biggest reasons pets are surrendered,” Stickney said. “Developing good bathroom habits early is key to having a pet you will enjoy for a long time.” Potty training should begin as soon as you bring your pet home. If you’re training an adult dog or a puppy, be sure to give them plenty of time to use the bathroom and stay with them until they go. Then, reward the animal with a treat or positive praise so they understand that eliminating outside is good behavior. If you’re training a kitten or cat, Stickney said finding a litter box that your pet is comfortable getting in and out of is key. Additionally, if your kitten was using a litter box before it came to live with you, it could be helpful to start potty training your pet with that specific litter.
8
“Cats can be texture-and odor-specific with their litter,” Stickney said. “So if you start with that litter you can gradually transition them to another litter later, if you prefer.” Because using a litter box is instinctive for cats, the potty-training process could be quicker than with dogs. However, if your pup is having a hard time learning where it is appropriate to eliminate, don’t give up. There are other strategies pet owners can use to potty train their canine, such as crate training. “Crate training takes advantage of a dog’s natural inclination to rest in a den,” Stickney explained. “Dogs will not urinate and defecate in their den (crate) because they prefer to eliminate outside.” If you’re going to crate train your dog or puppy, Stickney said the crate should be large enough for the animal to stand up, stretch out, and turn around, but not any larger.
puppy that begins to whine and become anxious should be taken outside immediately.” Though crate training can be effective, Stickney said it’s important to remember that puppies and even adult dogs still will have accidents occasionally. In this case, Stickney said instead of punishing your pup, ignore that the accident even happened. “Once an accident happens in the house, the puppy has already forgotten what it did,” Stickney said. “Clean up the mess and remove the smell so the puppy does not revisit that spot.” In addition, Stickney said if your adult dog or cat is already potty trained and suddenly starts having reoccurring accidents, this could be a sign of health problem. In this case, your pet should see a veterinarian for a check-up.
Additionally, maintain a consistent schedule for allowing your pet to go outside.
No one should pass up an opportunity for pet companionship to keep their home clean and fresh-smelling. If you’re consistent in your potty training plan, both you and your new pet will be happy.
“A good rule of thumb is the puppy needs to go outside every hour per month of age,” Stickney said. “So a three-month-old puppy needs to go outside to eliminate every three hours. A
But remember, if you’re planning on getting a furry friend, patience and positive reinforcement are key throughout the process of potty training.
UltraMagTexas.com
HAPPENings continued from page 7
SPURS & STRIKES BOWL-A-RAMA
Golfcrest
Country Club
July 22nd, 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. Alvin Bowl 300 Motel Drive Alvin, TX 77511 hlsr.hmgt.ap@outlook.com
SOCIAL, TENNIS, AND GOLF MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE Junior Memberships starting at just $278/mo Social Memberships at $119/mo
Enjoy family fun with the Houston Metro Go Texan Committee – Alvin/ Pearland Subcommittee of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo during their annual Spurs and Strikes Bowl-A-Rama. Registration begins at 2 p.m. and bowling starts at 3 p.m. The family-friendly event includes a silent auction, food and drinks. All ages are permitted. Trophies will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams and individual highest points.
FOR MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT Anna Lyons | Membership Director | alyons@golfcrestcountryclub.com
281-485-4323 (ext. 103)
Stay, Play and Explore!
THEATER DISTRICT OPEN HOUSE GOLFCREST COUNTRY CLUB MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES
• Golf and Tennis • Club Dining
• Bocce Ball • Swimming
REDEEM THIS CERTIFICATE by August 15, 2017
for FREE 1 Day Guest Pass.
• Social Events • Ladies Association 1 Day Guest Pass
Must call Anna Lyons to redeem.
Casual | Elegant | Championship Golf | Texas Hospitality GOLFCRESTCOUNTRYCLUB.COM 2509 Country Club Drive, Pearland, TX 77581
August 27th, 12 – 5 p.m. Alley Theatre | 615 Texas Ave. Hobby Center for the Performing Arts | 800 Bagby St. Wortham Theater Center | 501 Texas Ave. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts | 615 Louisiana St. Revention Music Center | 520 Texas Ave. Free TheaterDistrictOpenHouse.com
Theater District Houston hosts its 24th annual Open House on Sunday, August 27, 2017. Marking the official launch of the fall performing arts season, the event is a free, family friendly festival that takes place at venues throughout the Theater District in Houston. The event features an array of activities that highlight the best of what’s in store for the upcoming season, alongside exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences and one-day-only ticket deals. continued on page 16
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9
S
cene in Pearland ULTRA PEOPLE
By Nancy Moreland
WAY TO GO COACH
JJ WATT CHARITY CLASSIC
Pearland High School Head Football Coach Tony Heath announced his retirement effective at the end of July. He ends a 20-year career as Pearland’s head football coach with an impressive 195-53 record!
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.
Pearland head coach Tony Heath hoists the trophy for the Class 5A, Division 1 state championship game at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010.
A BIG BENEFIT The Pearland Golf Club Women’s Golf Association raised over $7000 for the Women's Center of Brazoria County as a result of their benefit tournament.
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/ Submit your good news and photos to Editor@UltraMagTexas.com and it may appear in the next issue of ULTRA Pearland! 10
UltraMagTexas.com
PEARLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NEWS The Pearland Chamber of Commerce welcomes TOPGOLF of Webster as a new member.
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11
Recipes for Burgers, Ribs and Dessert
ULTRA FOOD
Bon Appetit ALL AMERICAN RECIPES by Anice Shelton
July always makes me think of AllAmerican things. Maybe it is the Independence Day celebrations. Maybe it is all the cookouts or maybe it is because baseball season is in full swing and that is about as American as it gets. So with that in mind, I would share a few “All American” recipes that are perfect for your July 4th celebration, a cookout, a potluck, or just dinner on Wednesday. And here’s the fun part---the main dishes can be done in your kitchen and do not need a grill! I’m also including a great dessert and a cocktail that will make use of the yummy summer berries. First, let’s start with dessert. I don’t bake much. Maybe one cake a year. Two, if you are lucky and I am baking one for you. But when I do bake one, it is usually Coca-Cola Cake. It’s easy and classic. So incredibly moist and tasty and it’s my most requested dessert from friends.
CLASSIC COCA-COLA CAKE ½ cup butter (1 stick) ½ cup butter flavored Crisco 1 cup Coca-Cola 3 Tbsp. cocoa powder 2 cups sugar 2 cups flour 2 cups mini marshmallows ½ cup buttermilk 1 tsp. baking soda 2 eggs, lightly beaten with a fork 1 tsp. vanilla FROSTING: ½ cup butter (1 stick) 3 Tbsp. cocoa powder 6 Tbsp. Coca-Cola 16 ounces (1 box) powdered sugar 1 tsp. vanilla
12
Preheat oven to 350° and grease and flour a 9 X 13 pan. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the butter and Crisco together. Add in the cocoa powder and then the Coca-Cola. Bring to a boil and immediately remove from the heat. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, sift the flour and sugar together and then stir in the marshmallows. Add in the contents of the saucepan and stir to combine. Pour the buttermilk into UltraMagTexas.com
a 1 cup measuring cup and then add in the eggs and lightly beat with a fork until combined. Then add the baking soda to this mixture (helps keep the baking soda from clumping). Add egg mixture to batter and then stir in vanilla. Pour into prepared baking pan and bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes. Test for doneness at 40 min. Let cool 30 minutes and then top with the icing. To make the icing, combine the butter, cola, and cocoa in a saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and slowly whisk in the powdered sugar. Pour over the top of the cooled cake.
FINGER LICKING RIBS Baby Back Ribs (as many racks as you want) Stubbs BBQ Rub KC Masterpiece original or Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce Molasses
liberally baste the ribs, uncovered, every 15 minutes. If the ribs are already tender when you begin to baste, you can turn the heat down to 250°. If you want the glaze/sauce to caramelize on the ribs and become sticky turn the broiler on and stick them under it for one minute (no more!) or it will burn!
CAST IRON HAMBURGERS Ok let’s talk burgers…and that’s just what we are going to do---talk. Because I don’t have a recipe for burgers nor do you need one. What I do have for you are some great tips for making the BEST burgers in your cast iron skillet that will elevate your burger game to the next level. First, let’s talk meat. I prefer a nice lean, organic, ground sirloin because I always try to cut fat calories and keep things on the healthy side. Plus, I don’t tend to cook my burgers past medium rare (shhhh...don’t tell the food police but sometimes I even eat them rare if I have freshly ground organic meat) so they won’t dry out. If you prefer your burgers medium to well done, I recommend you add a bit more fat to your meat mixture or you will be left with a dry tasteless hockey puck. Using 50% ground sirloin and 50% of an 80/20 mix or some ground brisket will give you a rich patty that is still moist even cooked well. So rule of thumb: the more you prefer your meat cooked, the higher you want to go in fat content.
These ribs take about 4 hours or so to cook so plan accordingly! You can’t do it any faster than 4 but you can stretch it to 5 or 6 hours, if you lower the heat. Liberally sprinkle each rack of ribs with Stubbs BBQ rub. I prefer Stubbs. It has a beautiful combination of saltiness and a touch of rosemary. No other rub compares. You can find it at most grocery stores. I prefer the plain BBQ rub to the one for pork. Let the rub sit on the ribs 30 min to an hour. Preheat oven to 450°. Put the ribs on a foil lined baking sheet and cover with foil and place in oven and cook for 15 minutes. Then immediately turn down the heat to 275° for 3-4 hours. If you need a longer cooking time turn the heat to 250°. During the last hour of cooking, mix up the sauce (1 part molasses to 2 parts sauce) and
Now, here is the magic; do not over-work your meat and keep all the seasoning simple. All you need for a perfect patty is to portion your meat out and try to handle it as little as possible and simply season it with salt and pepper. That’s all. Seriously. Don’t do anything else. The meat will taste great and the real flavor of your toppings and sauces can shine through. I always make my patties slightly larger than the buns to allow for meat shrinkage. Remember that even though a nice thick patty is awesome, you gotta get it into your mouth so don’t make it too “high”! A few things to make the rest of the burger a real gourmet treat: Experiment with types of buns (onion, challah, brioche) Use a fresh baked bun (like from the bakery at the grocery store) Avocado mashed and seasoned with just salt and pepper is a great topping and can replace mayo Sauté your toppings: we love jalapenos UltraMagTexas.com
sliced thinly and onion Vary your cheese: go beyond just American or Swiss and try Havarti, provolone, pepper jack, or sharp cheddar Flavored bacon adds a depth of flavor Chop it up and sauté it with your onions you have an easy topper Fried egg on top? Yes please… Vary the greens: arugula, butter lettuce, and red leaf add less crunch but more flavor than iceberg My favorite combos are: Avocado, jalapeno bacon, grilled onions and pepper jack cheese and a bit of arugula Bacon and a fried egg Spicy mayo with jalapenos and pepper jack for a spicy burger Grilled onions, bacon, sharp cheddar and
BBQ sauce Now let’s get this burger cooked and built. Before you cook your meat get your other ingredients ready to go. If you are going to cook bacon or sauté some onions, do it in the skillet before cooking the patties. Once you have it all ready, get your cast iron skillet good and hot and maybe add a tsp. of olive oil or butter (or the leftover bacon grease if you cooked some bacon) and throw your patties on. Let them get good and browned on the first side. Flip after a few minutes. If you are going to add bacon, onions, etc. I like to put those things under my cheese. So top the patty with whatever you like then throw on the cheese. Now cover your skillet. The steam and the heat created by putting a cover on will help melt the cheese. When the cheese is almost melted, I like to throw the buns into the skillet so they can heat up and brown up a bit. If there are meat juices still in the pan, you are on your way to some deliciousness. If not, lightly butter the “cut” side of the buns. 13
ULTRA HEALTH
ON THE RISE
With the sunny July days, it’s good to remember that temperatures aren’t the only thing on the rise. Skin cancer rates continue to
It may take years for prevention to begin reversing the upward trend in skin cancer incidence and deaths, therefore, making strides in
increase and cause more deaths each year, with one in five Americans expected to develop skin
treatment will be essential – especially for
cancer in a lifetime.
people diagnosed with advanced forms of the disease. Unlike cases caught at
Despite progress in the fight
the early stages that are generally
against cancer, it is clear further
curable, these advanced cases
education on skin cancer
are incurable because the
prevention and treatment
tumors have grown too large
is still needed. The U.S.
or spread to other parts of
Surgeon General’s recent
the body and can be deadly
“Call to Action to Prevent
or disfiguring.
Skin Cancer” study is a promising step in urging
Fortunately, progress in
cooperative action to help
treatment has rapidly
advance the national goal
accelerated in the past
of preventing skin cancer.
few years due to an
These reports show tanning
improved understanding
bed use remains common, and
of how skin cancer forms. It
teens use less sunscreen now than
began at the turn of the century
they did ten years ago. More people
when scientists identified proteins
develop skin cancer because of tanning
that play a critical role in how skin cells
than develop lung cancer because of smoking. 14
multiply and grow. UltraMagTexas.com
In basal cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer, scientists learned that damage to skin cells caused by UV radiation can lead to mutations in a group of proteins important for cell growth. As a result, excess signals among these proteins cause the cells to rapidly multiply, ultimately forming a cancerous tumor. In rare cases, basal cell carcinoma can become advanced by invading surrounding tissue or spreading to other parts of the body and cannot be treated with surgery or radiation. Doctors now know how to use medicines specifically designed to block the excess signals occurring in cancer cells in nearly all of these advanced cases.
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In 2002, scientists discovered a mutation in a protein responsible for half of all advanced cases in melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer. In just ten years after this discovery,
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These important discoveries and a greater understanding of the disease have led to the development of several new options for advanced skin cancer approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 2011. Prior to this time, medical breakthroughs in skin cancer were measured in decades, not months. Through science, skin cancer treatments have evolved from inadequate or non-existent to promising medicines targeting the exact makeup of cells in advanced skin cancer.
JOIN OUR TEAM WRITERS
As seasons change and UV rays grow stronger, it is essential for preventative measures to mirror the recent strides in treatment development. On both fronts research presses onward, aiming to reverse the rising tide of this deadly disease. Read more about the real dangers of skin cancer at www.gene.com.
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MAMA'S
HAPPENings continued from page 9
LIST
THEATER DISTRICT OPEN HOUSE August 27th, 12 – 5 p.m.
ULTRA HUMOR
Honest Lies and Other Misguided Thoughts By Newt Harlan Participating organizations include Alley Theatre, BBVA Compass Broadway at the Hobby Center, Da Camera of Houston, Houston Ballet, Houston Grand Opera, Houston Symphony, Revention Music Center, Society for the Performing Arts, Theatre Under The Stars and Uniquely Houston®. The day festival also features a variety of free performances. Highlights include a performance by the acclaimed New York Philharmonic String Quartet, presented by Da Camera; a special concert by Bria Skonberg, presented by Society for the Performing Arts; and free performances by the Houston Ballet and the Houston Symphony at 4 p.m.
LIVE MUSIC IN PEARLAND
Wondering where you can go to catch some live music in Pearland? Here are 3 good options:
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
organization that gives every mother a list of things that she is responsible for passing on to her children. I know my mama surely had one and my wife must have passed it on to my daughters since they have successfully indoctrinated the grandkids. I’m talking about things like: “Be sure to wear clean underwear in case there’s an accident.” Somehow every mama knows these things and is constantly doing her duty of passing on the wisdom. Here are some of the things my mama passed on from her list: “If you read in dim light, you’ll surely go blind.” I know I worried the heck out of my mama on this one, since as a child and even as a teenager, I was a prolific reader and if I could see the print, that was plenty enough light to read. She was probably right though because I had to get reading glasses when I was around 55. There was another admonition about sitting too close to the TV while watching would affect your vision. I didn’t often hear this because I was almost grown by the time we had a TV at home. I did hear my sisters told this several times a day. It’s a wonder we didn’t all catch pneumonia at least a half dozen times every year because no matter how much mama tried to teach us, we’d always go round with our jackets unzipped, or not wear undershirts, or go outside without a coat. I’m sure this all gave mama a large share of gray hair before she was able to check it off her list.
at 2300 Smith Ranch Road is a locally owned Pearland restaurant with a fun western vibe, smokedto-perfection meats and a variety of genres playing live music on Friday and Saturday nights.
HOSTING AN EVENT IN AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER? 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. 16
There must be a mama school somewhere or maybe some
Of course, mama was always careful to caution us when chewing gum, not to swallow it because it would clog up your innards and likely cause appendicitis. Also, when eating fruits with seeds, she admonished us to be careful not to swallow the seeds because they’d sprout in your belly and the vines would grow from your bodily orifices, except if you were a girl and happened to swallow a watermelon seed, then everyone knows the outcome. Then there was knuckle cracking. This wasn’t too high on the
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mama list for boys, but girls were absolutely forbidden to crack their knuckles at the risk of catching arthritis and growing up to have hands that looked like some Neanderthal football player with knurly knuckles. Other than the arthritis concern, it was a little less important for boys because they weren’t really expected to have dainty hands. Truthfully, after all these years I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone who had enlarged, arthritic knuckles caused from cracking them. Now that’s not to say it doesn’t happen, I just haven’t seen them.
I really didn’t have to worry about it because, try as I might, I could never cross my eyes. My sister Pam could though, and my other sister Linda and I had her convinced one day that she had actually crossed them for good. We told her it was too horrible looking and wouldn’t let her look in a mirror. Finally, after many tears and worry on her part, when it was close to time for our parents to return home from running errands, I had her concentrate on looking at the tip of my finger and told her that I had cured her. She still told on us.
Rue the day if you were swimming and got called in for lunch. You can bet that you wouldn’t get to return to the water for a full hour after eating. To do otherwise was foolhardy because everyone knew that to swim on a full stomach could cause cramps and all your muscles would seize up and you’d just sink to the bottom and drown. This was true even if you were only in a 12” wading pool. That had to be the slowest hour in the world. Especially if your friends’ mothers either hadn’t gotten the word or were foolhardy enough to ignore a proven safety rule.
We always had to eat all our carrots to improve our eyesight, our greens for digestion, and all servings of vegetables for our health in general. Back then, it was considered healthy to clean your plate completely since there were kids in Europe, China, Africa, (fill-inthe-blank) who were starving to death. I don’t know how our stuffing ourselves was supposed to remedy the starving, but that was on mama’s list. (I’ve carried that admonishment with me and until this day I completely clean my plate and my waistline shows it.)
Crossed eyes or lazy eyes were much more common when I was young, because many folks lacked the assets for corrective surgery or lenses. No matter the reason, when we’d see a person with crossed eyes, just as soon as they were out of earshot, mama would be sure to remind us that that was the consequence of crossing one’s eyes and acting a fool.
Of course, these aren’t all the rules on mama’s list, it would take a book the length of a small novel to include them all and I’m pretty sure each mama adds her own rules that fit her particular situation, but I think by now you’ve remembered some of the rules from your mama’s list and agree with me, these rules are every mama’s legacy and duty.
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ARE YOU READY for some summer football? ULTRA SPORTS By Bobby McCallitt
The offseason is anything but for a growing number of high school football players. Seven-on-seven passing leagues are putting football players back on the fields in June and July rather than August. What is 7-on-7 football? It’s actually not much different than the backyard football games you played as a kid. There are no running plays – all passes – and you are down when touched by a member of the other team. Three plays to make a first down. No kicking. Really pretty simple. Seven-on-seven is an event bred out of necessity. Football is the first sport played when school starts in the fall, and players typically haven’t picked up a football in months. It’s played exclusively in the fall, and then it’s over. Given the size of most all Houston area high schools, the 2-sport athlete has almost become extinct. If a kid wants to play one of the “big 3” sports (football, basketball, or baseball), they really have to decide which one suits them best and stick to that one sport. Because of this specialization of the various sports, they tend to last year-round. Basketball players have AAU and summer leagues. Baseball players have both summer and fall leagues. But what do football players have?
very popular and actually quite beneficial as these games have become a natural opportunity for kids to progress. As the patriarch of 7-on-7 football in Texas, former high school and college coach Dick Olin is amazed at the number of kids involved. “When we started back in 1996, it was just 4 teams,” Olin says. But he takes little credit for the games’ growth and evolution into the huge player-development resource that it has become. Olin just wanted to give his kids something to do in the offseason. “If kids don’t have a way to throw and catch the football,” Olin says, “they are going to find other sports to occupy their summer.” So it was that back in 1996, as head coach at Baytown Lee High School, Olin gathered a group of local coaches and proposed a 7-on-7 game. Starting out with just 4 teams that first year, then a small 8-team tournament the next, it has continued to grow and quickly blossomed into a state-wide event.
7-on-7
They certainly can’t hit and tackle each other year round; besides, wearing pads in the summer would be miserably hot. So the 7-on-7 passing league was born, and in a short period of time, it has become 18
In Texas, rules limit coaches’ involvement with their teams because if coaches were involved, it would almost certainly mandate kids to take part. Plus it would lose some of the fun. Instead, high school coaches often organize school teams that are then run by fathers or former players, and player participation is strictly voluntary. While high school coaches are not allowed to coach their players, they
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are allowed to observe the games. Many a high school quarterback can be found as the mouthpiece of a coaching staff, calling the plays under coaches’ watchful eyes. Texas high schools play against each other and compete in State Qualifying Tournaments (SQT) held throughout the state. Each SQT follows similar procedures in allowing teams to qualify for the State 7-on-7 Tournament held in July each year on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station. The first State Tournament was held in 1998 and consisted of 32 teams (of all sizes) competing in one division. The field expanded to 64 teams from 2000 thru 2006. In 2007, it doubled in size and was divided into its current format – two divisions (Division 1: 5A & 6A, Division 2: 1A-4A) each consisting of 64 teams.
defense, we worked our offense – and we did it all summer.” “The more you practice, the better you get,” Olin states. “These kids now have an opportunity to run their high school offenses and defenses in the summer. If you can do that, you’re going to keep getting better and better.” Seven-on-seven summer football could very well be why so many recent NFL quarterbacks have come out of the state of Texas. Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Andy Dalton, Ryan Tannehill, and Matthew Stafford, just to name a few, have all attributed some of their development to Texas 7-on-7 football. And while many praise 7-on-7’s contributions to aiding offenses, former NFL player Antonio Armstrong, a personal trainer here in Houston, is impressed with how it aids in preparing defensive players for what they will certainly see once the season starts. “When I was at Kashmere, before going to Texas A&M, 7-on-7 didn’t exist.” Armstrong says. “As a defensive player, 7-on7 would have better prepared me for what I could have expected at the next level. Things like learning coverages, leverage, zone integrity, and route combinations are all things defensive players gain knowledge of during 7-on-7.” Armstrong also added, “Once I got to college, 7-on-7 was actually a part of our practice schedule.”
Seven-on-seven football has grown not only in participation, but in relevance to the college coaches who recruit Texas high schools. With prostyle passing offenses so prevalent in college football today, precision route running by receivers and accurate throws by quarterbacks are a necessity. When participating in 7-on-7, quarterbacks are given the opportunity to throw and receivers the opportunity to catch. Defensive backs are given the opportunity to cover these receivers while getting used to the speed of the Varsity game, as many are coming off the Freshman or Junior Varsity teams. “If you’re doing 7-on-7, that means you’re doing something in the summer for your kids, and that’s great,” said Dick Olin. “That’s why we did it. We had our center snap the ball, we had our running backs, our receivers, and our quarterback all working and learning. We worked our
Visit the Texas State 7-on-7 website www.texas7on7.com for dates and locations of various SQT events. Games are competitive and high scoring, and thus a lot of fun for both players and fans. The rules are fairly simple and the game is fast-paced. The winner is usually determined by the final drive – much like the backyard football games you played as a kid.
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continued on page 20
BON APPETIT continued from page 13 Place the buns opened and cut side down in the pan and heat them up. Cover the skillet for the buns too as it will speed up the process and get them soft and yummy. Now that you have your buns and meat cooked and ready, all you have to do is build your burger and dig in! Now, how about a cocktail? The beauty of this is that you can turn the “base” into many different drinks.
SUMMER BERRY COCKTAIL I love a good refreshing cocktail. In the summer, I especially enjoy one that is a tad sweet but with a little pucker to keep it balanced. I have discovered that if I make the berry/lemon base and keep it in a mason jar in the fridge, I can whip up a cocktail in no time.
Berry/Lemon base:
Fresh berries (strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, or a combo) Fresh Meyer lemons In a cocktail shaker or clean jar, throw in a cup of berries and mash and muddle until most of the berries are broken up and starting to release their juices. If you don’t like seeds, run the muddled berries through a strainer. Put the mashed berries into a mason jar and squeeze in the juice of two Meyer lemons. Refrigerate for a few hours. Shake mixture before adding to your cocktail shaker. Now what can you do with that berry mixture? The possibilities are endless but my favorite thing to do is to fill a glass with ice, throw in a couple of heaping tablespoons of the berries, add in a few ounces of vodka (plain or flavored), top with any flavor of LaCroix water and stir...it makes a light refreshing spritzer that is perfect for a hot July day. (And it is just as tasty without the vodka for a nonalcoholic drink). I also use the berries in a martini by adding a few Tbsp. to my cocktail shaker, pouring in a few ounces of vodka, adding ice and shaking. It’s like summer in a glass. Add the berry mixture to your favorite margarita recipe for a fresh take on a strawberry margarita. Mix it with lemon-lime soda for your own version of a berry lemonade. So refreshing in the Houston heat! And one last thing you can do with it. Add the muddled berry/ lemon mixture to the top of angel food or pound cake for an easy summer dessert. Enjoy your summer my friends. These recipes will keep you in the airconditioned kitchen yet still give you that “cooked outside” flavor. Check out other Bon Appetite columns at PearlandMagazine.com
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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. 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.
The Certainties of Life
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.
ULTRA LEGAL Courtesy of Byron K. Barclay Benjamin Franklin famously said there is nothing certain in life, except death and taxes. While the subject of taxes is better left to accountants and tax lawyers, the subject of death is one which finds everyone, sooner or later. From a legal standpoint however, there are some things we can, and should do to prepare for this inevitable eventuality. A recent (2014) survey by an online legal resource found that more than half of Americans age fifty-five to sixty-four don’t have a will. The number gets higher as the age drops, with 62% of those age fortyfive to fifty-four lacking this most basic of estate planning tools. The reasons for not doing so are about what one would expect: 57% “just haven’t got around to making one,” while 22% felt that making a will “wasn’t urgent.” A smaller group (17%) believe that they don’t need a will, while 14% “don’t want to think about death.” Make no mistake: just as we all will die someday, it is a certainty that if you die without a will, you are leaving a headache and a handful of problems to your loved ones who survive you. The probate process, for someone who owns any kind of property (land or houses or vehicles, even simply furniture, jewelry, etc.), and who dies without a will (the legal term is “intestate”), requires the appointment of a dependent administrator, who must be overseen by the Probate court. In addition, the legal heirs of the decedent, (the person who has died), must be established in court, usually in the same court procedure, and the court will require the testimony, at the courthouse, of two witnesses who were friends of the decedent but who are not entitled to receive anything from the decedent’s estate. Imagine how hard it is to get a friend to help you move some heavy furniture. Now imagine someone trying to get one of your friends to come to court and be questioned by
a lawyer in front of the judge about you, your marriage(s) and your children, if any. Good luck with that one. There are many resources available to preparing a will, from the cheap, online varieties ($50-$100) to the expensive, estate planning lawyer variety, which can range from $500 up to more than $1,000, depending on how complex your assets are and how many beneficiaries you have. Compare those costs to the $2,000 - $5,000 or more it can cost for a lawyer to handle probate of the estate of someone who dies without a will. In addition to a will however, there are a number of other documents that a good estate planning lawyer can prepare, including documents which provide for a guardian for minor children, a guardian for yourself should you be significantly injured and unable to care for yourself, a medical power-of-attorney, which appoints a trusted friend or family member to make significant health care decisions should you be unable to do so due, and finally the statutory power-of-attorney, which enables a similarly trusted person to carry out business matters on your behalf should you have a similar injury or incapacity. There is no substitute for good legal advice, and in the estate planning area, an experienced estate planning attorney can be worth her weight in gold. More importantly however, you should remember that taking care of your loved ones, and making sure that you leave them more than just a headache and a legal bill, is not only the responsible thing to do, but it is also a task that will help you sleep better at night, knowing you can check that task off your list. That kind of peace of mind is certainly worth every penny of the cost.
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