Bay Area Houston Magazine May 2012

T H E

B AY

A R E A’S

FAV O U R I T E

P U BL IC ATION

May 2012 www.baygroupmedia.com

TO IS THE

• Introducing Best Practices Quarterly • Cadillac Escalade ESV, Infiniti EX35 • Zach Tate Band Releases New Album • Elbodo Represents Houston in the Hard Rock Rising Global Competition • Galveston’s New Pleasure Pier • The Golden King & Great Pharaohs Exhibit • Hot Fishing in Galveston Bay • Community News & Events

May 2012

features

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ON THE COVER Casey Montgomery of Envoy Mortgage.

Photography by Brian Stewart.

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Chairman/Publisher Rick Clapp President Rob Kumar Art Director Brandon Rowan Vice President of Sales Patty Kane Sales & Marketing Patty Bederka Natalie Epperly Colleen Martin Amber Sample

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Psychology of Phobia

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End of Time

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2012 Hard Rock Rising Global Competition

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The Grand New Pleasure Pier in Galveston

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Part Two

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Trust and Efficiency in Your Home Loan Process

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Bay Group Media Launches New Publication

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Because No One Should Go Hungry

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Presented by the City of Dickinson on May 19

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Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

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Unveils Newly Redesigned Website

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The Perfect Destination for Weddings and Vacations

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Making the Transition to Renewable Energy Sources

Dental Health Zach Tate Band Releases New CD Elbodo Represents Houston A Historic Pier’s Resurrection Living my Dream Envoy Mortgage Best Practices Quarterly Magazine Galveston County Food Bank Red, White and Bayou Crawfish Festival The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs Bay Area Habitat for Humanity Spring and Summer Fun at Clear Creek Winery The Future of Energy?

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Graphic Designer Victoria Ugalde

The Buzz in the Bayou City Designer Moms

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League City 50th Anniversary Gala

Photography Brian Stewart Community Affairs Director Lillian Harmon

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Extreme Bay Luxury

Intern Michelle Kaldenberg

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When Summer Weather Hits the Coast

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On Mortality

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Bay Area Houston Magazine is produced monthly. All rights reserved.

Material may not be reproduced by any means whatsoever without written permission.

Advertising rates are available upon request.

www.baygroupmedia.com R.Clapp@Baygroupmagazines.com 281.474.5875

In Wheel Time The Admiral’s Log Texas Meditations

in each issue

Please address all correspondence to: Bay Area Houston Magazine P.O. Box 1032 Seabrook, TX 77586

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | MAY 2012

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Advertiser’s Index

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Lakewood Yacht Club News and Events

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Events Calendar

New Best Practices Quarterly to Promote Bay Area Medical/Healthcare First

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ver the past few years, you have seen our local health care and medical community expand and provide many more quality services. Local medical centers like Clear Lake Regional has added the Deke Slayton Cancer Center and a worldclass cardiology center with a talented staff. Christus St. John has added cancer treatment and an excellent sports medicine group which features a concussion treatment center. They also have an awesome orthopedic group.

There are excellent health care centers in Pasadena at Bayshore Hospital and S.E. Memorial Hermann in Pearland. The Bay Area has an emerging medical giant UTMB, which no longer is just located on Galveston Island providing purely indigent care. UTMB has many more branches, which have recently opened throughout Galveston County. They provide top quality health care in a variety of areas such as OB/GYN, pediatrics, general family, internal medicine, psychology, etc.

The Bay Area is further blessed with sound emergency urgent care clinics, talented internal medicine, OB/ GYNs, general practitioners, plastic surgeons and first class orthopedic care provided by the Fondren Orthopedic Group

Needless to say, the medical/health care business has become very competitive. With all this great health care and state of the art hospitals, it makes sense to use local physicians and medical health care services. Most importantly, taking care of your health care and dental needs locally means a boom to our local economy. Just imagine if 10,000 people locally spent $100,000 for a medical procedure, it would produce 10 million dollars locally!

After evaluating all the above for the past seven years, we have decided to introduce the new Best Practices Quarterly Magazine. It will promote and educate medical, health care professionals and the general public about issues such as new laws, legislation, procedures, medical breakthroughs, and profiles of local physicians, health care workers, management and providers.

Advertisers will be able to target an affluent market with purchasing power.

Best Practices will also feature a world class website, a referral service and will provide clients with an arsenal of advertising and marketing services to choose from.

Successful medical/health care professionals know the importance of having a well planned marketing and advertising campaign.

We are very proud to bring you the best in health care. Our new magazine, Best Practices Quarterly, is the brainchild of Rob Kumar, Santiago Mendoza, Brandon Rowan, and myself. If you have any questions, call me or contact one of my colleagues at 281-474-5875. My friends, stay in good health and God Bless.

Writers Don Armstrong In Wheel Time

Rod Evans Boating/Fitness

Michael Gos Texas Meditations

Captain Joe Kent Fishing

Andrew Jeffries Bay Area Bandstand

Betha Merit Travel/Food/Wine

Pat Patton Click

Dr. Ed Reitman Nourishing the Mind

Roseann Rogers The Buzz

Zach Tate Music

Rick Clapp Publisher/Chairman

MAY 2012 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

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Advertiser’s Index Alan’s Swampshack Page 43 www.theswampshack.com Amadeus Page 39 www.kemahcitylimits.com/amadeus The Arms Room Page 54 www.thearmsroomtx.com BAHRMA Page 54 www.bahrma.shrm.org Baubles and Beads Page 50 Bayway Homes Page 39 www.baywayhomes.com Bella’s Carpet Page 40 www.bellascarpet.com Boudreaux’s on the Bayou Page 51 www.boudreauxsonthebayou.com Buccaneer Page 35 www.buccaneerconstruction.com Bungalow Dry Goods Page 51 City of Dickinson Page 34 www.ci.dickinson.tx.us City of La Porte Page 35 www.laportetx.gov Claudio & Mattia’s Piano Bar Page 26 Clear Creek Winery Page 44 www.clearcreekvineyard.com Clear Lake Greek Festival Page 10 www.clearlakegreekfestival.com Clothes Horse Page 50 Coastal Plastic Surgery Page 47 www.tadammd.com College of the Mainland Page 15 www.com.edu Cullen’s Upscale American Grill Page 56 www.cullenshouston.com Di Amici Upscale Events Page 27 www.diamiciupscaleevents.com Dickinson BBQ Page 43 www.dickinsonbbq.com Dr. J. Derek Tieken Page 57 www.tiekensmiles.com Edward Jones Page 48 www.edwardjones.com Elegant Nails Page 14 Encore Resale Shop Page 14 Envoy Mortgage Page 49 www.envoymortgageapp.com First Baptist Church Seabrook Page 40 www.fbcseabrook.org Fischer Irrigation Page 49 www.fischerirrigation.com Floyd’s Cajun Seafood Page 13 www.floydsseafood.com Fondren Orthopedic Page 2 www.fondren.com Frog at Home Page 12 www.frogathome.com Ginger Snaps Page 50 Guidry News Page 52 www.guidrynews.com Hairway to Heaven Page 38 www.hairwaytoheavenstudio.com Harbour Plastic Surgery Page 6 www.harbourplasticsurgery.com Head to Footsies Page 51 www.headtofootsies.com Houston Technology Center Page 6 www.houstontech.org Island Furniture Page 15 www.islandfurniture.net Jeter Memorial Funeral Home Page 35 www.jeterfuneralhome.com JuJu’s Beachwear Page 38 Kemah Boardwalk Page 4 www.kemahboardwalk.com Las Haciendas Page 38 www.lashaciendasgrill.com Mamacita’s Mexican Restaurant Page 15 www.mamacitasmexicanrestaurant.com Mayfield Manor Page 10 www.hauntedmayfieldmanor.com MD Anderson Cancer Center Page 59 www.findyourMDAnderson.com Mediterraneo Market & Cafe Page 35 Memorial Hermann Page 5 www.memorialhermann.org MPCP Page 29 www.mpcptexas.com Oasis Salon and Spa Page 55 www.oasisclearlake.com Opus Bistro Page 15 www.opusbistro.net Park Avenue Showplace Antiques Page 50 www.parkavenueshowplaceantiques.com Pasadena Strawberry Fest Page 25 www.strawberryfest.org Paula’s Cookies & More Page 49 Pirate SC Page 14 www.vectoriousmedia.com Prestige Flooring Page 14 www.prestigeflooring.com Ron Carter Clear Lake Page 19 www.roncartercadillac.com Royal Indulgence Page 45 www.royal-indulgence.com Salon La Rouge Page 49 www.salonlarouge.org Schlitterbahn Page 37 www.schlitterbahn.com Southern Sophistication Page 14 South Shore Grille Page 42 www.soshoregrille.com Spine Center Page 7 www.texasspinecenter.com Star Toyota Page 41 www.startoyota.com Stylin’ with Linda Page 40 The Terrace Page 14 www.horizonbay.com Texas First Bank Page 46 www.texasfirstbank.com That’s Haute Boutique Page 33 Unicare Dental Page 60 www.drnoie.com Victory Marine Page 38 www.govictorymarine.com

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | MAY 2012

DENTAL HEALTH Psychology of Phobia Throughout my seventeen years of practicing dentistry, I have encountered numerous cases of fear-of-dentist. I have witnessed the powerful onset of “white coat syndrome” phobia too many times.

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aturally, I have become curious and, at the same time, amazed by this protective mechanism.

A legitimate fear is a powerful and vital primitive human emotion that plays an important role in keeping us safe. It helps us get out of situations that can potentially harm us. Fear can be classified into two types, biochemical and emotional.

response, in which the body prepares itself to either enter combat or run away.

This reaction is an autonomic response and is crucial to our survival. Fear is usually based on a negative personal experience. However, sometimes fear is learned from someone else, such as a child who is afraid of dentist because of his parents’ or friends’ reactions.

A valid fear is induced by a clear and present danger; emotional fear

“Many of my patients with severe phobia were able to overcome their emotional fear after several dental treatments under the positive experience of I.V. sedation.”

The biochemical response is universal, while the emotional response is highly individualized. Either way, when danger is detected, our brain releases a powerful hormone called adrenaline into our circulatory system that induces a wide array of responses such as sweating, increased heart rate, and muscle contraction. This physical response is sometimes known as the fight-or-flight

is normally triggered by perceived or probable danger. This type of fear is not as straight forward as legitimate fear. Emotional fear is subject to personal interpretation, which is heavily influenced, not necessarily by facts, but often by our unique perception of fact.

Under normal circumstances, emotional fear can be managed through reason and logic. It will not take over our lives or

cause us to act irrationally. At some point any legitimate fear has the potential to become irrational. While it is useful to drive defensively to avoid accidents, it is harmful to be so worried about getting in a car accident to avoid driving all together. Many people get nervous at the thought of needles in their mouths.

Others shriek at the sight of a mouse.

Still others get woozy when they see blood. Most people learn to manage these fears. But a phobia is an intense emotional fear of something that, in reality, poses little or no actual danger.

Some of the common phobias include fear of: dentists, closed-in places, heights, highway driving, flying, insects, snakes, and needles. Most phobias develop in childhood, but they can also develop in adults. Many people confuse the phobia with the senseless fear and view it as a character flaw or as cowardly. This common belief has caused many with phobia to feel ashamed of their condition and either avoid or deny it. In case of a dental visit, even if they go through with it, they most likely sweat, shake, cry, or have other serious physiological responses. True phobic patients will likely be miserable and physically sick during the entire appointment. If the phobia is more severe, they will simply be unable to go through with appointment and find creative ways to avoid the dental office.

It is important to distinguish fear from phobia. We normally don’t spend much time thinking about our fears. They will

only affect us when we are confronted by them. People with true phobia develop a fear of fear itself. They begin to worry that something will happen to trigger the phobic fear. Many even change their daily routine in an effort to avoid any possible triggers. They will likely spend a disproportionate amount of time obsessing over it. They may have trouble sleeping or focusing on important tasks, particularly as the day of the appointment draws closer.

These emotional fears or phobias are highly subjective and usually unwarranted. Repeated positive exposure to situations that normally lead to phobias slowly changes the perception of them. Over time these positive experiences reduce the phobic response and eventually can even result in elation by making the person feel safe. In the case of dental phobia, I have found that performing the necessarily work under deep conscious I.V. sedation can achieve that goal. Many of my patients with severe phobia were able to overcome their emotional fear after several dental treatments under the positive experience of I.V. sedation.

If you or a loved one is avoiding routine dental check up and essential treatment due to fear of dentists please contact my office at 281-332-4700 and schedule a complimentary consultation to determine if I.V. sedation dentistry is right for you.

MAY 2012 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | MAY 2012

M A R K E T P L A C E

M A R K E T P L A C E

MAY 2012 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

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Put Your Best Nails Forward

Designer Moms Since this month we’re celebrating moms, I thought this would be a great opportunity to introduce you to Dawn Bakun and Deepa Mireles. They’re two moms who loved creating children’s jewelry so much they’re doing it fulltime with their business Dawn & Deepa. Since founding this unique company they have been designing and bringing sterling silver jewelry to the market. Bakun herself has been purchasing jewelry since the tender age of five. Her most recent obsession includes a collection of chandelier earrings. Mireles loves art and design and her father always wanted to own a jewelry company, and now she fulfilled her dream and his too. Check out their designs by going to www.dawndeepa.com

Daughter in Law Diaries Mother of two and marathon runner Ali Katz recently created a new website and blog called Daughter in Law Diaries. Here is where you can log on and not only get advice from experts on your own family challenges, but you can also get ideas for your own upcoming family gatherings. With Memorial Day this month, log on and you’ll find a summer BBQ menu, complete with recipes, table decorations and some fun family games that all ages will enjoy.

Under the “Girl Gab” section DIL Diaries gives you great tips and items such as the best sunscreen to use and other summer products you’ll need to beat the heat! www.daughterinlawdiaries.com

Hair Control With summer coming, lots of women want to control frizz and make the hair more manageable. According to stylist Bruce Grossman, the most talked about treatment these days is a Keratin Treatment. When it first came out it was called, Brazilian Keratin Treatment. This was a specific manufacturer, therefore a product name. There are many new and improved products now on the market, so let’s refer to this as a Keratin Treatment.

The general duration of the product is usually three to four months. It works on most hair types and it has many conditioning benefits. Grossman says the only danger of damage is in the ironing of the hair and this is fine when performed by a skilled professional. Each time the service is performed it seems to have a cumulative effect and the hair gets better and lasts longer. Don’t expect to have totally straight hair. It usually requires some blow-drying, but is much easier and won’t frizz when exposed to humidity. Keratin is the protein that hair is made of and this is infused on the hair shaft making the surface smooth and strong, promoting shine and helping with breakage. Consult your trusted stylist for recommendations. To contact Bruce Grossman at Michaelyndon, email him at brucehgrossman@gmail.com

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | MAY 2012

We’ve all seen the shoes with the famous red soles, but what about Louboutin nails?

This is a great new trend that Adele may have inspired when she sported the red under her nails in honor of the designer at the 2012 Grammys. Rachel Gower, owner of The Upper Hand, is giving us the lowdown on how to get this haute detailed look for spring.

First, to have the red bottoms, you first need bottoms; whether they’re natural or grown out, or done by a professional with acrylics. Second, Gower says coat the top part of the nail with white to ensure either top or bottom color won’t show through to the other side. Next, you’ll need to apply red polish on the underneath part of your nail. If you don’t have a small polish brush or don’t trust yourself to NOT make a mess, simply apply tape where needed on your finger to solve that problem.

For the top coat, apply any color that you wish to the top of your nail to get that classic Louboutin show-inspired nail. Don’t rush; waiting for the polish to dry can be expedited buy using a quick-dry product. Gower suggests, Nailtini Dry Martini Drying Spray $12. www.upperhand.com 713.520.0772.

Younger Looking Skin For those of you who wish to enhance the surface of your skin for spring to minimize wrinkles, uneven texture and discoloration in only one or two treatments, according to Dr. Shelena Shel, the PEARL laser procedure is your best non-invasive choice. The Pearl combines the results of resurfacing lasers with the gentleness and safety of a non-invasive procedure to treat aging or sun-damaged skin in fewer treatments and less recovery time than any other technology available today.

This is how it works. Pulses of light on the skin’s surface and heat in the deeper layers of the skin provide long term benefits including reduction of sun spots, improved texture, fewer fine lines and wrinkles, and improved skin texture and tone, all in about a 15-minute treatment. Dr. Shel adds although there is minimal downtime (3-4 days), the results are phenomenal and your skin will have a “Pearl-like” look. www.drshel.net

Spirit of Charity Gala

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston will host its biennial Spirit of Charity gala, honoring Raye G. White, and in memoriam, Ed White, on Saturday, May 3, at 6 p.m. at the InterContinental Houston near the Galleria. The Whites will receive the prestigious Monsignor John J. Roach Recognition Award, in honor of their faithful commitment to Catholic Charities and the people it serves. Blanche Earthman, Charlie Morello, and Ginger and John Niemann will serve as gala chairs and His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza, and Cathy and Giorgio Borlenghi will serve as honorary chairs for this year’s event. All proceeds benefit Catholic Charities. Tables or tickets may be secured by calling Diane Cervenka at 713-874-6624.

Going to the Dogs Bombshell Bitches is a long thought about artistic project of Kim Hartz. Hartz wanted to create beautiful black and white film images capturing the bombshell beauty in various breeds of female dogs. The retro look back on film bombshells, all that they embraced and portrayed in the early days of film, was something that always intrigued Hartz. So the pairing of her love for photography with dogs, and her true passion of working with film developed a perfect match.

Hartz engaged various Houstonians that love their dogs, and they fit the part perfectly as you will see Subjects include Khloe, Kickerillo and Mary Nichols’ little Lilly, Ryan Rice’s Isabella and Liz Gorman’s dashing Ellie, to name a few. Bringing in Lucky Dog Rescue was a natural fit. The goal was to work with a local non-profit that helps abandoned dogs find homes. The unveiling is Tuesday, May 22 from 6-8 p.m. at Block 7, located at 720 Shepherd Drive. For more information contact Lauren Levicki at lauren@levickinetwork.com. Admission is a $10 donation to Lucky Dog Rescue.

Tommy Frankovich, Barbara Meeks, Toni Randall and Art Hewett

State Rep. Larry Taylor and Angelo Arolfo

Event organizer Latonia Wilson

Entertainer David Schwope

The League City 50th Anniversary Gala

Peggy Zahler and MC A.J. LaHaye

League City Mayor Tim Paulissen and wife Ann

The League City 50th Anniversary Gala on March 10, at the South Shore Harbour Hotel, was a very special evening where community leaders, elected officials, and longtime League City residents joined forces to celebrate the city’s 50th anniversary.

The Master of Ceremonies, A.J. LaHaye, who did a great job throughout the evening, introduced Peggy Zahler who welcomed the crowd. Dr. Greg Smith, CCISD Superintendent of Schools, gave the Pledge of Allegiance, and Alex Rocha, Allan Koy, Andy Dotson, and Griffin Harris of the League City BSA Troop 603 Color Guard presented the colors.

The Fuzion Contemporary Dance Company did an outstanding job of performing the Dance Performances of the Ages which really entertained the crowd.

After a delicious dinner, League City Mayor Tim Paulissen gave his speech and said that while we look to a bright future in League City, we also have to honor our past. State Representative Larry Taylor made a presentation to the Arolfo family which was accepted by Angelo Arolfo, who then gave an acceptance speech.

There was a beautiful luminary candle procession, which represented the milestones of each year that has passed since the city’s incorporation – fifty candles for fifty years. Mayor Paulissen had a champagne toast with the former Mayors of League City that were in attendance.

Entertainer David Schwope did a great job of entertaining the crowd during the reception, and the incomparable Ezra Charles and his band rocked the crowd with his incredible rockabilly, boogie woogie, and down home rock n roll. The highlight of the evening for me was having Ezra Charles sit next to me at my table and having a chance to talk with him. He has always been one of my favorite entertainers.

Congratulations to event organizer, Latonia Wilson, and her partners Shelley Rogers, and Annabelle Ruch, the League City 50th Anniversary Committee, and the League City staff for such a wonderful event.

The last event for the League City 50th anniversary will be a Fall Festival on September 21-23. For more information, please call 832 704-1110 or visit www. leaguecityevents.com.

Jim and Jane Sweeney

Nancy Richards

Pat Patton and Entertainer Ezra Charles Entertainers Nancy Dalbey, Ezra Charles, Alisha Pattillo and Rachelle Akpanumoh

Alex Rocha, Allan Koy, Andy Dotson and Griffin Harris -LC BSA Troop 603 Color Guard

i n wheel t i m e

By D on Ar m strong

Room and capability are high on the list of needs for Bay Area Houston readers and it seems more and more are going upscale with their next ride. Here are a couple we recently tested that should be at the top of your shopping list.

Cadillac Escalade ESV This may be the ultimate Americanbred workhorse. Built in Arlington, Texas, the Cadillac Escalade ESV not only has a 7,800-lb tow rating, it can seat up to 8 adventurers in comfort, style and luxury.

This full-size Escalade shares many of its underpinnings with the Chevrolet Suburban, one of the most popular SUVs in America. What makes it a Cadillac is extra noise deadening materials, brand exclusive exterior cues and luxury interior amenities that the Cadillac brand is known for.

Powering the Escalade is a 6.2-liter V-8 that delivers 403-HP to the rear wheels through a 6-speed automatic

transmission. All-wheel drive is also available. Mileage is what you’d expect from a vehicle that weighs almost 3-tons, 14 mpg-city and 18-highway.

There are 4 trim levels to choose from, Base, Luxury, Premium and Platinum, each with a growing list of option packages including 22-inch wheels and rear seat entertainment screens.

Starting price for the Base model is $65,770, while the full-tilt Platinum Edition begins at $82,545. And then there’s the fuel bill.

Infiniti EX35 If the “Big and Tall” size doesn’t fit your lifestyle then the Infiniti EX35 might. This compact crossover is built on the sports car-like G sedan platform and carries itself like it’s been shot with big dose of performance enhancing steroids along with a tailored interior suitable for the rich and famous.

The 3.5-liter V-6 delivers its 297-horsepower to the rear wheels through a 7-speed automatic

transmission that gets 17 mpg-city and 24-highway.

All-wheel drive is also available.

There are two models, the base and the Journey.

Although the base model is sweet, the Journey offers the amenities that will not only impress the neighbors, but you too. A Technology Package includes intelligent brake assist, intelligent cruise control and blind spot assist.

Deluxe Touring adds big wheels, power seating and adaptive front lighting. The Premium Package layers on the aroundview monitor, big touch screen and LOUD audio system.

The EX offers handling and power in a dynamite little package filled with lots of luxe features. The Journey adds $2,300 to the base price of $35,800. The packages mentioned above add another $7,600, but who’s counting?

Listen to In Wheel Time on Houston’s 1560 The Game/Yahoo Sports Radio!

Tune in to 1560AM The Game every Saturday morning from 10am to 1pm for Houston’s best car radio show with experts Mike Herzing and Don Armstrong.

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | MAY 2012

Zach Tate Band Releases New CD, End Of Time

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ith the release of their 4th CD, End Of Time, the Zach Tate Band, again has evolved with new players and a variation on their unique, Texas Music sound. “End Of Time is an Americana, blues fusion”, says lead vocalist and songwriter, Zach Tate. Co-produced by Grammynominated, Andy Bradley, at Houston’s historic, Sugar Hill Studios, the band set out with 20 songs, choosing 10 for release.

In addition to the entirely new line-up, Tate brought in guest players: Houston’s blues guitar great, The Mighty Orq, soulful vocalist, Rebecca Ferguson (who does colead vocals on the epic, 18 Wheels), and John Stoll of Westbound on mandolin.

This isn’t the first time Zach Tate has enlisted some of Houston’s best talent. Blues piano legend, Ezra Charles worked with Tate on the band’s 2011 single release Cowgirl (b/w I Got A Feelin’) which was initially recorded to be on End Of Time, but was left off in the final phases of sequencing.

“All the players bring something interesting to the project. I like Orq’s sense of humor. His slide playing worked perfectly on Weeds Of Love, and the licks he laid down on Whatever Gets You Through The Night blended beautifully with what Damian (Hurtado) was doing,” said Tate.

From starry nights in abandoned cars to freight train whistles and the lonely road, Tate creates cinematic, lyrical landscapes with his songs about love, loss and longing.

The Mighty Orq

“Tate creates cinematic, lyrical landscapes with his songs about love, loss and longing.”

The Zach Tate Band: Zach Tate - vocals, guitar, harmonica. Damian Hurtado - lead guitar, backing vocals. Charlie Glen - bass, backing vocals. Gary Graham - piano, keyboards. Brandon Robbins - drums, backing vocals.

End Of Time is available at ZachTate.com, iTunes and the Arts Alliance in Clear Lake.

Gary Graham

Brandon Robbins

Damian Hurtado

John Stoll

Rebecca Ferguson

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | MAY 2012

Charlie Glen

M U S I C

The Zach Tate band will be performing at The Loading Dock Too, in Bacliff, Saturday, May 5th (9pm) and at Cabo, on Wednesday, May 9th (9pm).

This is a sentiment that is shared throughout all members of the band.

“You don’t eat only one kind of food, why would you limit yourself to one genre of music?” asks guitarist Brandon Rowan. “We enjoy and respect several genres and it shows in our songs.”

That may be an understatement. Elbodo sometimes goes through three or four different styles in a single song. Faye, the single that brought about their Hard

Elbodo Represents Houston in the 2012 Hard Rock Rising Global Competition Bay Area Houston Magazine’s Art Director, Brandon Rowan, and his band Elbodo are representing Houston in this year’s Hard Rock Rising competition, a global battle of the bands, after beating out several other local bands in a series of concerts held at Houston’s Hard Rock Café. he seven-piece electro-rock outfit must now go up against 85 other bands across the world, each representing their respective city. The grand prize for one lucky group is an allexpenses-paid trip to London and a slot in the Hard Rock Calling Festival this summer in London’s famous Hyde Park. The winner will play amongst the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Soundgarden, John Fogerty, Lady Antebellum and Paul Simon.

The first stage of competition that brought Elbodo to this phase involved three performances at Houston’s Hard Rock Cafe that pitted three bands against each other. A panel of expert judges selected the winner from each concert and sent them to a finals performance that was held on March 31. Elbodo again wowed the judges during this performance and was selected to represent the city of Houston over fellow semi-finalists, In Altum and Somewhere Between Here and There.

“Elbodo blew our collective mind,” said Donna McKenzie, one of the judges and a popular radio DJ for Houston’s 103.7FM. At the date of press, Elbodo is currently engaged in a battle of online voting with the other global representatives. Once the voting ends on April 26, a panel of judges will look at the ten bands with the highest number of votes and choose the group to send to London.

The road to success has been a long one for Elbodo.

The band was formed in 2002 by a group of high school buddies and played a mix of punk rock. The original members include Rickie Redman and the brothers Brandon and Doug Rowan. Second guitarist, Brian Bohannon was soon added to the line up. In 2010 the band drastically changed their sound, grew in size and

several members switched instruments. Present day Elbodo is Brian Bohannon on keys/vocals, Andrew Jeffries on lead guitar/vocals, Eric Moeller on bass guitar, Nik Paukert on drums, Rickie Redman on main vocals/ guitar, Brandon Rowan on guitar/vocals and Doug Rowan on keys.

Members of Elbodo describe themselves as a whirlwind frenzy of rock, dubstep, funk, reggae and everything in-between. Hip-hop infused lyrics are combined with a three-guitar onslaught and two keyboardists/DJs make for an unforgettable live show “We like different genres so we try to incorporate as many different styles into the music we play,” said front man Rickie Redman.

Rock success, is an upbeat, feel good jam that blends in elements of jazz and classic rock. Whereas their opener at the Hard Rock competition, Xanthe, begins with deep dubstep electronic tones, cycles through metal inspired riffs and breaks it down with a dance-inspiring salsa and reggaeton section. From heavy to soft, the band embraces good music of all varieties.

Elbodo prides themselves on an intense live show with original songs featuring several different vocalists, intertwining guitar harmonies, room-shaking electronics, a driving rhythm section and searing guitar solos from Andrew Jeffries. The epic string stylings of Mr. Jeffries were influenced by legends Eddie Van Halen, Eric Johnson, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Frank Gambale and John Petrucci.

Regardless of whether Elbodo is sent to London or not, there are big things in store for this group of friends. The band has played numerous big name venues like Warehouse Live, Fitzgeralds, The Last Concert Café and Scout Bar. Elbodo is currently recording their first full-length album, which is set to release in the fall of this year. The boys return to Scout Bar on Friday, May 4 to play a benefit for the Houston Food Bank, and again on Sunday, May 20 at 11p.m. for the 94.5FM Texas Buzz. Come out and enjoy Houston’s representative in the Hard Rock Rising Global Battle of the Bands.

For music, videos and more information visit Elbodo online at www.elbodo.com or www.facebook.com/ elbodomusic. For booking, please email elbodomusic@ gmail.com.

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MAY 2012 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

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By C apt. Joe Kent

When Summer Weather Hits the Coast

As the weather warms, pelagic fish like ling venture closer to shore and can be found feeding at the Galveston jetties.

Each year saltwater fishermen look forward to the arrival of May, as that is when our summertime temperatures begin to make their presence known along the Upper Texas Coast.

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ay is the month when the jetties begin to turn on with action from speckled trout and lots of pelagic fish feed around the rocks during windows of calm days and clear water.

The beachfront water temperature hits the mid-70 degree mark and, by the end of May, readings in the 80s are common.

This year we have had one of the warmest winters in recent history and April is turning out to be more like May. The beach water temperature hit the mid70 degree mark during the first week and ling were being caught at the jetties. Jack crevalle and Spanish mackerel are making their way well into the bay systems and old timers are having to do some serious head scratching to recall when we last had a very early arrival of warm to hot weather.

Normally, May is a month that trout fishing along the Houston ship channel begins to take form and Trinity Bay gas wells begin to attract schools of trout and other fish. This year, the fish arrived early as a result of the warm waters and anglers are asking what that will mean for the rest of the season.

A number of calls and e-mails have been received from readers of my daily fishing column, The Reel Report, in the Galveston County Daily News asking about the effects of the early summer weather.

The best source for the answers to those questions is to ask senior anglers who have fished the Galveston Bay Complex for close to half a century.

One of those is Capt. Mike Williams who operates Tarpon Express Guide

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Service and has been fishing the Galveston Bay complex for over 50 years.

Williams has maintained records for all of those years and found that this year the warm water temperatures hit the earliest of any past years. When asked about the effects of all of this, he did not see any negative side unless the water temperature rises much higher than normal midsummer levels.

“May is the month when the jetties begin to turn on with action from speckled trout and lots of pelagic fish feed around the rocks.�

Calvin Sullivan, who has spent most of his life fishing out of the San Leon area, said that if this had occurred last year during the record drought, we would have been in trouble. Last year, we experienced record levels of salinity in upper Galveston and Trinity Bays. The hotter the weather the faster the evaporation and likely we would have experienced significant fish kills if the high temperatures had prevailed last year.

The heavy winter and early spring rains helped dilute the salinity to the point that the Galveston Bay complex has been fresh most of the spring. This has been excellent for the estuaries where the first hatch of finfish and shellfish has already occurred.

Bay Area Houston Magazine | MAY 2012

The migration of white shrimp from the bays had an early start this year and the quality of shrimp running through the passes is excellent.

Our next input on the effects of the early arrival of warm water comes from a weather expert, Kendra Kent, Chief Meteorologist for Fox Carolina Television in Greenville, South Carolina. She said that a warm winter and spring does not necessarily mean that we will continue to have unseasonably warm temperatures over the summer.

After visiting with a number of experienced anglers including those mentioned above, the conclusion is that we should have a great year of fishing barring some catastrophic weather event.

The early rain combined with the warm winter helped the reproduction process in the nurseries and our stocks of both inshore and offshore fish will benefit from good hatches this spring.

So, what does all of this say about fishing during May? Unless we experience a sustained period of cooler temperatures, plan on summertime patterns arriving

early, meaning fish will be deeper than usual for this time of year.

We will return to early morning being the best for shoreline fishing and the deep reefs and spoil banks will see action earlier than usual.

News & Events GALVESTON TO GULFPORT RACE SLATED FOR MAY 25-31

LAKEWOOD’S 30 SHOE REGATTA SLATED FOR MAY 19-20 th

L

akewood Yacht Club’s Race Committee Chairman Gerhard Wittich has announced that the 30th Annual Shoe Regatta will be held over the weekend of May 19-20. In 1982 Lakewood hosted the first Shoe Regatta which was originally sponsored by Foley’s Department Store and Sperry Top-Sider Shoes. Bay Access, a not-for-profit organization that supports amateur racing, is the organizing authority of the race. Sponsors include Mount Gay Rum and West Marine.

The Regatta, which is open to the public, is a favorite among local racers because, in the past, each crew member of the winning boat in each class was awarded a certificate for a pair of Sperry deck shoes; hence the name of the Regatta.

The Shoe Regatta is for one-design, handicapped, and cruising sailboats over 20 feet in length and with a cabin.

There will be three race courses set on Galveston Bay: a windward/leeward course for the One Design classes; a windward/leeward course for handicap-rated boats; and a third triangular course to provide a long race for handicaprated spinnaker and non-spinnaker boats. PHRF certificates are not required for Cruisers.

The skippers meeting will be held on Friday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the ballroom of Lakewood Yacht Club, 2425 NASA Parkway. “We urge all skippers to attend this important gathering so that they can take full advantage of all aspects of this weekend regatta,” related Wittich.

The Saturday evening party will feature music by Jeff Lopez’s “Cross Roads” and a dinner of chicken fried steak.

The awards ceremony will follow the last race on Sunday, May 20, and will be held in the ballroom of Lakewood Yacht Club.

Participants can register on line at www. lakewoodyachtclub.com. For questions, please contact Lakewood Yacht Club at lyc@lakewoodyachtclub.com or call the office at 281-474-2511.

L

akewood Yacht Club’s newest offshore race from Galveston to Gulfport, Mississippi is scheduled for May 25 -31. This is roughly 425 nautical miles across the Gulf of Mexico to the new Gulfport Yacht Club and marina.

“Many races are run from Galveston south down the coast to Port Aransas and beyond, but we were looking for a new destination going east this year,” explained Gulfport Race Chairman Jim Winton.

“We hope to have about 30 boats at the starting line in Galveston for this race and then perhaps a number of boats will stay in Gulfport to participate in the Gulfport to Pensacola Race which starts on June 15.”

Being only a seven hour drive or just over a one hour flight from the Houston/Galveston area, the Gulfport destination will give friends and family a chance to join the post-race party and activities in the Gulfport/Biloxi area. It will also allow power boaters an opportunity to run the Intracoastal Waterway to join in the fun.

Entry deadline is Sunday, May 6 with the late entry cutoff on Sunday, May 13. There will be three starts: cruising boats will start at 2 p.m. at Houston Ship Channel Buoy 11 on Friday, May 25; PHRF Fleet will start on Saturday, May 26, 2 p.m. at Houston Ship Channel Buoy 11; and the Multihull Start will be on the same day and same time. The finish deadline is Thursday, May 31, 1 p.m.

This is a category 2 race open to all racing, cruising, spinnaker and non-spinnaker sailing yachts. Monohull yachts must be at least 30’ LOD and must have a minimum crew of four capable sailors. Multihulls must be at least 27’ in length and have a minimum crew of three experienced sailors.

The awards banquet will be on Thursday, May 31 at the new Gulfport Yacht Club.

To register and enter the race, please go to the website www.galvestontogulfport.com The entry fee is $275 with a $25 discount for US SAILING members.

LAKEWOOD HIRES NEW FULL-TIME SAILING DIRECTOR

L

akewood Yacht Club General Manager Terry Chapman has announced that the club has hired Marek Valasek as the new full-time sailing director/head coach effective May 14.

“Marek is a world-class sailor, winning a total of seven national championships for his home country of Slovakia in Optimists, Lasers and Finns during the 1980s and 1990s” Chapman remarked. “As an elite coach and sailing director, he has had great success in developing yacht club

“Marek is a world-class sailor, winning a total of seven national championships for his home country of Slovakia in Optimists, Lasers and Finns during the 1980s and 1990s” sailing programs and coaching competitive racing teams and has acquired diversified experiences in directing and coordinating operations and staff.”

Valasek graduated in 1999 from Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia, with a master’s degree in physical education and English and literature. He moved to Miami in 2000 where he served as the sailing head coach for Corral Reef Yacht Club for eight years followed by his position as sailing director at Lauderdale Yacht Club from 2009-2011. He managed very large summer sailing programs with up to 12 employees in charge of over 200 sailors. He is currently the Optimist head coach for the highly-competitive Team Gnarly out of New York.

“Our Lakewood Yacht Club board of directors and officers feel that Marek is truly a professional, both on and off the water. We look forward to him joining our staff for a long and productive tenure” added Chapman.

MAY 2012 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

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A Historic Pier’s Resurrection

By Michelle Kaldenberg

T

his May, a historic landmark will be put back on the map: The Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier. The Seawall will soon offer a new attraction, the fourth amusement park to come to the Seawall, and is intended to beacon an estimated 3 million people annually.

The new Pleasure Pier will be offer a family-oriented environment with 16 amusement rides and a new restaurant making its debut to Texas.

The first was Electric Park, built in 1906 and located across the boulevard, followed shortly thereafter by Chutes Park, which was built in 1907. The parks played host to vaudeville shows, rides and a Crab Pavilion. Both parks were demolished in the fall of 1910 to allow for the grade increase behind the Seawall.

In the 1940s a new carnival park was built to accommodate military families and serve as a recreation facility. Post World War II the pier was given to the City of Galveston and renamed Pleasure Pier. The original Pleasure Pier became a family venue filled with nostalgic attractions such as headlining dance bands, motion pictures, a full carnival, an aquarium and, of course, fishing.

After Hurricane Carla destroyed the pier in 1961, Houston banker James Lyon, a University of Houston alumnus, rebuilt it as the Flagship Hotel in 1965. After 1990 the hotel began to fall into disrepair and was purchased in 2003 by Landry’s Restaurants Inc. for the sum of $500,000. The original plan was for the hotel to undergo a complete renovation and reopen in 2011.

However, the aftermath of Hurricane Ike in 2008 called for a change in plans when the building’s structure was damaged beyond repair.

In October of 2009, Landry’s announced their plan to restore the old Flagship Hotel on the pier. There was mention of carnival-type rides and entertainment. The company kept a tight seal on the full extent of their plans until the end of January 2012. Landry’s then revealed their intention to undertake a “momentous renovation plan to return the 25th Street and Seawall Boulevard pier to its magnificent roots as a preeminent Historic Pleasure Pier.”

Adrienne Culpepper, owner of Nautical Antiques & Tropical Décor and co-founder of Island By Choice, LLC, sees an increase in tourism as one of the biggest advantages of the new Pleasure Pier. After Ike, the island saw a drop of more than 25 percent in tourism. However, the islander’s spirits were not destroyed.

“The community really came together to rebuild,” Culpepper said. “It was a grassroots movement to come back stronger.”

She and her husband Michael have seen

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Artist’s rendition of the new Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier set to open in May 2012.

the island change in positive ways throughout the 14 years they have lived on the island.

“Anything that attracts people to the island is good for small businesses,” Culpepper said. “People who already love the island, residents here and tourists will all see what the island has to offer.”

Dwayne Jones, executive director of Galveston Historical Foundation, sees the pier as a large draw for people to visit the island.

“It will give people the opportunity to visit the island and wrap into all aspects of the island, including the historical value as well,” Jones said. “The idea of the Pleasure Pier is over 50 years old. With the new amusement park, it can bolster the experience entirely.”

Fertitta currently owns several large restaurant chains including the Chart House, Rainforest Café, Saltgrass Steakhouse, Landry’s Seafood House and Fish Tales, as well as the first Bubba Gump Shrimp Company franchise in Texas. Fertitta is also known for his ownership of several hospitality venues in and around Galveston including the Kemah Boardwalk, the San Luis Resort and Hilton and Holiday Inn hotels, just to name a few.

“Of course, I would not have done as much in this town it if was not my hometown,” Fertitta said.

Galveston’s Pleasure Pier has been a $60 million investment for Fertitta to create a family-orientated destination for locals and tourists alike. The pier extends nearly 1,130 feet over the Gulf of Mexico, will employ more than 600 indi“The idea of the Pleasure Pier is over viduals at one time, 50 years old. With the new amusement and will be able to host between 6,500 park it can bolster the experience and 7,000 people at entirely.” a time. Its attractions will include rides, At the helm of the project is Tilman J. carnival games, themed food venues and Fertitta, the sole owner, chairman and CEO several retail and novelty shops. of Landry’s Restaurants Inc. Tilman grew The increase in tourism and improveup in an apartment across from the pier in ment in local economic growth is highly Galveston and often rode his bike along the anticipated. Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski Seawall. As a teenager he also worked as a said he hopes the pier will be a place that lifeguard for the Flagship Hotel. tourists are drawn to and that it will help “When you look at the whole developGalveston come back better than ever. ment on 53rd Street, that’s where I used to “The city of Galveston’s commitment to go and play,” Fertitta said in a recent press enhancing our Seawall experience has now release. “It’s always fun to go back and there been improved upon by one of Galveston’s is that nostalgia part of it.” own,” Jaworski said.

Bay Area Houston Magazine | MAY 2012

Ticket Information: Pier Pass (Walk-on) • • •

$10 for adults (“48 and up) $8 for children (“48 and under) Pass required for admittance to pier; ride tickets sold separately at booths/kiosks

All Day Ride Pass • • •

$25.99 for adults $19.99 for children Valid for all rides and good to the day of purchase only

Family Four Pack •

•

$84.99 includes four all day ride passes (includes two adult passes and two children passes) Additional adults/children must purchase tickets at regular price

Tickets can be purchased online at: www.pleasure-pier.com Group packages, school group pricing and hotel sales will be available at discounted rates.

Ticket prices subject to change.

Plus tax.

texas m e d i tat i o n s

By M i c ha el Gos

On Immortality Seminole Canyon State Park, Texas

F

or decades, I’ve struggled with the fact that my family name ends with me. I am the last one in my father’s line. His father, an only child, had four children; of those, only my dad married. I had a brother, but he died in his late teens.

That leaves just me. I’ve had no children.

I suppose we would all like to live forever—if not literally, then at least figuratively, to be remembered always. Faced with the prospect of personal and family extinction I have had to look beyond the more pedestrian ideas of immortality like passing my genetic material on to subsequent generations, or living on in the memories of my kids and grandkids. Instead, I’ve had to look at other options.

We arrived in Seminole Canyon early on a warm January morning. Like most other people who find their way to this remote west Texas desert, we came to see the pictographs. Along parts of the Pecos and Devil’s Rivers, and even the Rio Grande, there are isolated places where ancient peoples painted pictures on the rock walls of canyons under overhangs called “shelters.” Perhaps the most famous of these is Panther Cave, but Seminole Canyon is the easiest to get to.

It was a fairly short, though rugged hike down to the floor of the canyon 250 feet below. Once there, you climb back up the walls to the ledges tucked in under

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | MAY 2012

“The Shaman” stands sentinel above the canyon and the pictographs below.

the overhanging rock. These spots, shaded most of the time, were often the homes of primitive American peoples. The paintings on the walls of Seminole Canyon have been determined to be between four and six thousand years old.

About 12 thousand years ago, the area looked very different than it does today. It was covered in lush vegetation and populated by large mammals including types of camels, horses, bison and elephants, all of which are now extinct. There was also a human society here that we really don’t know much about. But then the climate changed and the Trans-Pecos area warmed, leaving the desert we see today. The animals, and the people, disappeared.

Then, about 7,000 years ago, a new culture appeared—the people responsible for the paintings on the canyon walls. They were probably here for about 3,000 years and then they too disappeared.

Interestingly, today no Native American tribe claims them as ancestors. It appears they just became extinct.

Humans are frail creatures; we don’t live long. Even if our culture survives, we as individuals don’t. And as these painters demonstrate, in many cases, the cultures don’t survive.

And yet, these people are still with us. We can take the walk down into the canyon and see what they’ve done. We can get a sense of who they were and a glimpse of how they viewed their world. After 6,000 years, the people may be gone, but their art, their statements about their world, lives on.

Looking at the various pictographs, I started thinking again about the extinction of my family.

Suppose for a minute I had indeed passed on my genetic material to a child. Half of his genetic makeup would be from his mother. He would be only half me.

In the next generation, he will contribute his genetic material to his offspring. But his genetic material is

only half mine. And his will only be half of his child’s.

By my grandchildren’s generation then, the children are only one fourth me—then one eighth in the next generation, then one sixteenth. It wouldn’t take long for me to disappear altogether. There is not much immortality there. My family name might survive, but that would be all.

“But in the long run, only our art will survive to show the world we once were here, that we had our own personal view of our world, and that we mattered.”

But then I think about Shakespeare, Chaucer, and Homer. Do they survive in the gene pool through their progeny? It is just about a mathematical certainty that none of their genetic material exists today. Yet we know their names and we still talk about them centuries, even millennia later. They fascinate us and we are eager to study their work— to understand the way they saw their world. In essence they have become immortal because of their art.

Art is the thing that separates humans from all other species on earth. When archeologists find evidence of art, they know they have found evidence of humans.

Children create art instinctively. It is not only unique to us as a species; it is integral to our very being. It is what makes us human. It is what makes us alive.

Hard work is important. It leads to a better life for our families and ourselves. And our children may be the future. They will carry on our genes and values, at least for a short time. But in the long run, only our art will survive to show the world we once were here, that we had our own personal view of our world, and that we mattered. And make no mistake about it—because we are all human, we are all artists. Your art may be different from mine, but there is one thing we all share.

None of us can afford to go to the grave with our art still inside us? To do that would be to not have lived.

We climbed back out of the canyon. While the return was uphill all the way, it was an easier trip then the decent. Like all uphill climbs, the footing was better and there was far less stress on our feet and knees. When we got back up to the desert floor we stopped and sat for a while on the canyon rim. We took it all in, the desert, the enormous blue sky, the canyon below, and the sense of closeness we felt to those ancient people who painted on the rocks. We don’t know their names, but we felt like we knew them, at least in a small way.

My family name, and the genetic line will die with me. There is little I can do about that now. But I can do something about immortality. I have a pen and a camera. The final product may not be great, but it’s mine. I am more alive, more human, for having done it. And who knows? Somewhere, a couple thousand years in the future, someone may just come across it… and wonder.

MAY 2012 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

27

Living My Dream

By Emily Feinstein

T

here I was, broken-hearted in the middle of the Basque Country, determined to make this adventure count. Adjusting to a new lifestyle is never easy.

I felt the pangs of being an outsider as I drifted through foreign streets under the flow of incessant rain, walking next to people who seemed nice, yet remained uninterested in anyone who wasn’t already in their exclusive circle of friends.

Everything went wrong the first week of my work-study program in Bilbao.

Despite the fact that I was told I would have two female flat mates for the entire six months of my residency, the first week I had four flat mates, two of which were male. I was so jet-lagged the first day that I didn’t even realize the “fib” the institute director, Jose, had made. Although all of my flat mates were only there on holiday for a week, I grew attached to them and was disappointed to see them go.

Besides the living situation, Jose had promised to set me up with a job teaching conversational English to native Spaniards “just minutes from the institute.” I later discovered I would be taking a 25-minute train commute every day to a small coastal town called Portugalate, teaching in a private academy. Jose took me there on my second day in Spain and tried to leave me at the train stop by myself as the rain began to pour down.

“Are you serious?” I asked. “I don’t know where to go or how I’ll get back!”

As he watched my facial expression transform from disbelief to panic, he decided he would be a nice guy and take me to the academy. We hiked up one of the steepest hills I’ve ever seen. When we finally reached the pinnacle, drenched with a combination of sweat and rain, a strip of shops appeared – one of them was the academy. The title on the door read Mugakoa Idiomas. Mugakoa is a Basque term that means in between.

Ironic, as I felt I was in between chapters in my own life.

Jose introduced me to Isabel, the director of the academy. She took me into a classroom and showed me the books from which I would be teaching.

The plan was to teach five classes each afternoon back-to-back. I was exhausted just thinking about it.

“My one piece of advice is to never let the students know you speak Spanish,” Isabel said. “If they know, they will never speak a word of English to you.”

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I thought that would be easy seeing as how I had the Spanish vernacular of a one-year-old. But as time progressed and my Spanish lessons began paying off, I understood why it was such a challenge.

The classes were based on skill level, not age. I had a beginner’s class with a 55-year-old man in it, and a more advanced course with a 10-year-old.

Regardless of age or skill level, all of my students wanted to know the same thing: If I had a boyfriend. It seemed hypocritical they would all ask this because when I inquired to my Spanish teacher about her love life, she replied that it was considered rude in the Spanish culture to inquire about personal matters.

At that time, a boyfriend was the last thing I wanted, still reeling from the collapse of my previous relationship.

I responded to each inquiry with an emphatic no! They usually didn’t believe me and would just stare at me and grin.

Teaching was one of the most challenging jobs I’ve ever had. My students misbehaved often, and getting them to speak English was like pulling teeth. After my six-month stint, I decided that although there were rewarding aspects to the job, I would never teach again. I also developed a new-found respect for all teachers.

During my initial visit with Isabel, the subject of payment came up and she offered me far less than the amount Jose had promised. I tried to maintain composure, but deep down my blood began to boil. By that point, there had been one too many lies.

Confrontation is definitely not my forte. I usually end up crying in front of my opponent rather than coming off strong. Of course, that is what happened when I met with Jose privately the next day to express my disappointments.

Bay Area Houston Magazine | MAY 2012

I recounted all the issues with tears streaming down my face. He was genuinely concerned and told me he would do everything he could to ensure my satisfaction during my stay in Bilbao.

The result ended with Isabel paying me exactly what Jose promised. He also told me he would find me flat mates that planned to stay longer than a one-week holiday.

To top it all off, my inability to communicate in Bilbao, where no one spoke a word of English, made me feel handicapped and invisible. I paid Jose to take intense Spanish courses five hours per day, four days a week, for three months with the desperate hope that I could at least get by on my own in that town.

My first week of classes was a blur. I hardly understood anything my teacher was saying and none of the teachers spoke one word of English to me – just as I was instructed on the reverse spectrum when I taught.

I crashed into bed each night from utter exhaustion. For three months straight I woke up, went to my Spanish lessons, caught a train to teach English, and returned home around 9 p.m. each night with little time to eat or catch up with my flat mates.

Still, I managed to have a lot of fun when I found the time – especially on the three-day weekends and the many holy days celebrated in Spain. During my first week in Bilbao, I met some girls at the institute who would later become my family. Nikki, who was from England, moved into my flat and lived there the remainder of my stay. Hilde and Hege were from Norway, and although they lived elsewhere, they were always at our flat.

Together, we explored the beautiful

city of Bilbao. We visited the colossal Guggenheim museum – made completely of titanium – that stands erect like a steel ship floating on the Nervion River, which runs through the heart of the city.

Although we had just missed bullfighting season, we visited the stadium located across the street from my flat, and learned about the tradition inside the stadium’s museum. We relished the amazing Basque food, gorging on pintxos (tapas) and sipping on local tempranillo and crianza wines every chance we got. We wandered and shopped in the beautiful ancient district of Casco Viejo, and danced the nights away in local discos.

We also took adventures outside of Bilbao, traveling to places such as La Rioja – the lush and vast wine region just an hour south. Other journeys included San Sebastian, Santander, Pamplona, Madrid and Barcelona.

By the time six months had rolled around, I couldn’t believe I had to say goodbye to my new family and the amazing city that I had grown to love.

There were parts of me that were ready to go home. I missed my family and felt homesick many times throughout my stay. But a piece of me recognized Bilbao as my home and I felt torn. The night before I left, I stayed up all night with my friends, reflecting on all the wonderful memories we had made. After several tears and hugs, it was time to head back to Houston.

As I boarded the plane, I felt grateful things had turned out better than I could have ever expected. Bilbao would forever leave an imprint on my soul. The memories formed and the bonds forged from that experience added an exquisite chapter to my life story, and I could move forward knowing that I lived out one of my dreams.

For the past ten years, Casey and Mimi Montgomery have served Bay Area Houston’s residents by helping them achieve their dreams of homeownership.

In 2011, this brother/sister team joined forces with Envoy Mortgage to open the Bay Area Houston and Atlanta branches of this highly respected mortgage bank.

& The Montgomery Group

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | MAY 2012

large retail bank approached us about starting a local office here in Bay Area Houston, but we chose Envoy for several reasons,” says Casey.

Envoy Mortgage, a nationwide mortgage bank with branches in 46 states, offers a paperless process for purchase and refinancing home loans. They were recognized as Mortgage Technology’s “Top 25 TechSavvy Lenders of 2010” and won Mortgage Technology Magazine’s “Green Originator of the Year.” Envoy was recently named one of the “Top 30 Mortgage Companies in America” by Mortgage Executive magazine. “Envoy offers an easier loan process and consistently beats the larger retail banks in rates, fees, and time to close,” says Casey.

Having weathered the storms of a volatile real estate market, this brother/sister team has persevered. “The highly restrictive licensing process now in place for mortgage lenders is the best thing that ever happened to our industry,” says Casey.

“These financial transactions are very complex, and we have stayed in business because we love what we do, and we know our products.”

“Over the years we have built new relationships and maintained old relationships by establishing trust with our clients and realtor partners,” Mimi, a former schoolteacher, adds. “The testimonials on our websites speak for themselves. Nothing is more important to us than our solid reputations and our clients’ satisfaction.” The Montgomery siblings come from a real estate family. “It’s what we know and love,” says Casey. “We grew up in the real estate business and are pleased to continue the family tradition.”

Envoy Mortgage’s “paperless” application and underwriting process enables borrowers to submit their documentation online. Most loan documents requiring signatures can WHY REFINANCE be e-signed on their secure sites (www.

EnvoyMortgageApp.com or www.

YOUR MORTGAGE? MimiMontgomery.com). Located in • Lower your monthly historic League City, clients have access payment to an application and scanning station in the Envoy office, located at 1011 E. Main • Lower your term Street. “Our mortgage consultations are (years to repay loan) complimentary. This is a small part of • Take advantage of ‘red carpet service’ we offer to all clients,” current government Mimi adds. refinance initiatives Envoy Mortgage/The Montgomery Group offers a wide range of products • Cash out for home including FHA, Conventional, VA, and improvement or debt Jumbo loans.

They specialize in niche consolidation products such as Fannie Mae HomePath, • Refinance an FHA 203(b) with escrow holdback, “underwater” mortgage and various down payment assistance and bond programs. For refinance • Enjoy historically low transactions, the group utilizes HARP interest rates 2.0, FHA Streamline, and Freddie Mac

Refi Relief programs for borrowers who are “underwater” in their mortgages. “Mimi handles the purchase side of our business and I structure our refinance transactions,” Casey says. “Whether it is a Texas Cash Out or a Rate and Term Refinance, we will assess your current mortgage and determine what changes will be in your best financial interest.” Their websites list more products and provide online applications, borrower checklists, and mortgage calculators.

Now is the Time to Refinance

Low rates coupled with aggressive refinance initiatives create the perfect opportunity to reassess your current mortgage. “We typically structure low-fee refinances ensuring only nominal increases to your principal balance while significantly reducing interest charges, monthly payments, or loan duration, “ Casey states.

The Envoy motto, “When trusted advice counts,” sums up the service and experience you will find with Envoy Mortgage/The Montgomery Group. Contact Mimi by visiting MimiMontgomery.com (phone 832.860.2000) or Casey by logging on to EnvoyMortgageApp.com (phone 281.546.5626). Better yet, stop by their new Bay Area office located in historic League City at 1011 E. Main.

In closing, Mimi adds, “We live and work in this community. We are committed to providing outstanding service for our friends and neighbors.”

MAY 2012 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

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By Rod Evans

H

ealth care is an element of modern life that is both intensely personal and a matter of public concern. Your own health and well being is certainly a private matter, but the astronomical amount of money and resources allocated to medical treatment in the U.S. each year makes the country’s collective wellness something that affects all of us.

According to figures by the Office of the Actuary of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the U.S. spends more than $2.5 trillion on health care each year, which averages out to over $8,000 per person and translates to roughly 17 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). And spending is projected to increase by about 6.7 percent per year through 2017.

publication will be a valuable resource and referral vehicle for all medical/health care facilities, physicians, case managers, administrators and consumers.”

In addition to the print publication, Best Practices will also feature a comprehensive website that will offer medical information, interactive forums and a directory of health care providers and facilities in the Bay Area. Published by a team of professionals with over 150 years of combined marketing, publicity, advertising, publishing and medical public relations experience, Best Practices will provide a marketing, web design, graphic design and business consulting component intended to help physicians and health care providers better manage and grow their practice or company. Best Practices’ marketing experts will also offer direction in the emerging field of doctors’ office feng shui, which focuses on ways to make the office

“The magazine will serve as the voice of local physicians and professional health care individuals and will allow them to communicate to their peers and to the public.”

Given the amount of capital invested in the health care segment, it is paramount that health care providers employ methods to efficiently deliver their services, while consumers must become informed and engaged.

In recognition of the enormous role that health care, including medical, wellness, and preventive services, as well as pharmaceutical products, plays in our everyday lives, Bay Area Houston Magazine will launch Best Practices, a quarterly publication that seeks to promote Bay Area physicians, facilities, clinics and hospitals.

The magazine, scheduled to debut in July 2012, will feature articles, many of them written by local physicians and health care experts, geared toward medical and health care professionals, as well as articles on disease prevention and treatment, new procedures, technological developments, nutrition, legislative issues, lifestyles and more that will give readers the kind of information they need to make informed decisions about services and products.

“The magazine will serve as the voice of local physicians and professional health care individuals and will allow them to communicate to their peers and to the public,” said Santiago Mendoza, Jr., the publication’s chief operating officer, secretary and founder. “The

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experience more appealing to patients and office staff.

“The overall goal of Best Practices is to promote the world class medical and health care professionals and facilities available in our region of the Bay Area and Galveston County,” said Robert Kumar, the publication’s president, treasurer and founder. “We also want to stop the migration of patients and consumers heading to other communities, especially to Houston’s Texas Medical Center. Keeping those dollars in the local area is crucial to the economic development of the region.”

In addition to Mendoza and Kumar, the other principals involved in launching Best Practices are Rick Clapp, CEO, publisher and founder; Dr. Victor Kumar, medical director; Rod Evans, editorial director; Patty Kane, editor/sales; and Brandon Rowan, art director.

Best Practices will be printed on high quality glossy paper stock and have a press run of 10,000 copies each quarter. The magazine will be distributed at over 300 locations within the Bay Area/Galveston County region, including doctors’ offices, hospital waiting rooms, clinics, urgent care facilities, health clubs, high-end restaurants, yacht clubs and more. Plans also call for the implementation of a direct mail service to physician offices and facilities throughout the region.

“We feel that there is a need for a convenient, cost effective way for physicians to market their practices to each other for the purpose of getting more referrals.

The old way of sending a box of doughnuts, lunch or flowers along with a brochure to the doctor’s office is not effective anymore. In many cases, the doctor is too busy working to grow their practice, so the staff eats the doughnuts and the flowers die before the doctor even notices they were there,” Robert Kumar says.

The editorial content of Best Practices will be divided into three primary areas: Academics, Business of Medicine and the Cultural Environment of Medicine.

The Academics segment will include articles on research, clinical trials, new drug therapies and medical procedures, and alternative medicine.

The Business of Medicine will include pieces written on how to keep health care dollars in the Bay Area, information on government grants available for clinics, new research and technology, efficient billing procedures and regulations affecting running a practice.

Other topics include business promotion and creating investment opportunities and referral sources.

Cultural Environment of Medicine topics will include recognizing and profiling prominent Bay Area physicians, health care providers and executives, local physician philanthropic efforts, as well as travel, family entertainment and leisure opportunities.

As part of the Bay Area Houston Magazine family, Best Practices will benefit from the expertise gained through 17 years of successful publishing, and as a publication supported entirely by advertising revenue, the magazine will be an ideal vehicle for advertisers such as pharmaceutical companies, medical equipment supply outlets, medical schools, physicians, clinics, medical and wellness conferences being held in the Bay Area, as well as “lifestyle” retailers such as upscale automotive and boat dealers.

“We have big plans for Best Practices,” Mendoza says.

“We plan to franchise the publication to other areas of Houston, then we plan to franchise it to other large Texas markets, including Austin, San Antonio and Dallas.”

Bay Area Houston Out The Legends of Clear Lake tribute and benefit for Johnny Felder at Cullen’s Live. April 19, 2012.

Bay Area Houston Magazine Cover Party for Christus St. John Hospital at Claudio & Mattia’s Piano Bar. April 12, 2012.

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DISTRICT 2100 GSE TEAM Roy Green, Rotarian and General Manager of the South Shore Harbour Hotel and Resort, hosted the District 2100 GSE team from Italy. They reprsent a touring group of the study exchange program offered by the Rotary Foundation.

From left to right, Valentina Ilardi, Nadia Di Paola, Renato Leone, team leader Alessandra Testa and Alessia Campo.

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MAY 2012 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

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Galveston County Food Bank; Rising to the Challenge Beginnings

The Galveston County Food Bank began in April 2003 as Gleanings From The Harvest, an idea born

by Executive Director and Co-Founder Mark Davis, the late Pastor Bill Ritter, and Rev. Posy Jackson who shared a vision in which no one in Galveston County went hungry.

In June 2004, Gleanings began operations as a receiving and distribution service benefitting smaller organizations operating as food pantries and meal preparation sites for those in need. Many of these smaller partner organizations lacked the financial purchasing power and the physical space to buy and store bulk quantities of essential foods. Gleanings took on these responsibilities by acquiring donated canned, dry, fresh and frozen foods; personal hygiene items; and cleaning supplies directly from food manufacturers and providers. Gleanings stored the products in its central warehouse and subsequently distributed needed quantities to partnering agencies.

Tragedy Strikes

Gleanings continued to grow and made plans to move to a larger more centralized facility in Texas City that better served the entire county. Hurricane Ike struck the Texas Gulf Coast on September 13, 2008 causing significant damage to Galveston Island and a temporary delay in Gleanings’ plans for expansion.

Yet behind every cloud lies a silver lining, and with Hurricane Ike came access to federal recovery dollars.

With this funding, Gleanings renovated and moved into a facility which now provides 11,500 square feet of space for commercial freezers and refrigerators, expanded dry food storage areas, and loading docks for easier food in-take and out-flow. With its expanded capacity, Gleanings, certified agent of the Houston Food Bank, is now recognized as the Galveston County Food Bank.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

The Galveston County Food Bank recently celebrated a milestone with a ribbon-cutting at their Texas City location. The ceremony, held on March 29, 2012, served as an opportunity to announce their newly acclaimed status as an official Houston Food Bank partner as well as unveil the redesigned logo for the organization.

“This organization, founded nine years ago as Gleanings From The Harvest, has reached a high point in our history,” said Davis. “The responsibility to serve our neighbors in need requires the help of everyone in the county and this event was a great platform to share that message.”

Stepping Up to the Challenge

Although food is plentiful in the United States, the challenge for social service organizations dedicated to helping hungry people lies in the logistics of securing, transporting, storing and distributing the food.

Through the Galveston County Food Bank system,

Galveston County has access to allocated USDA food as well as donated, salvaged and reclamated food, cleaning supplies and personal hygiene products from manufacturers and retail distributors. The food bank warehouses bulk quantities of fresh, frozen, canned and dry food products in readiness for distribution to partnering agencies throughout Galveston County, distributing over 5.5 million pounds of product each year.

Hunger Today

With a population just shy of 300,000 people, Galveston County is not immune to the ever-increasing problem of food insecurity. In the county, one in five individuals experiences food insecurity at least once a year. More striking is that these are not the individuals who typically come to mind when we envision “hungry people”. For example, out of the Galveston County households that receive direct services from the food bank, 36 percent have at least one employed adult and 17 percent have attended college or technical school.

The face of hunger is changing. “Individuals facing hunger can live next door to any of us and we may not know it,” says Davis. “What we do know is it’s going to take each and every resident of this county, you and me, to keep HUNGER at bay.”

Contact the Galveston County Food Bank today to find out how you can help in the battle against hunger… because no one should go hungry.

Galveston County Food Bank 624 4th Avenue North Texas City, Texas 77590 (409) 945-4232 (GCFB) Galvestoncountyfoodbank.org

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CITY OF DICKINSON PRESENTS THIRD ANNUAL RED, WHITE & BAYOU CRAWFISH AND TEXAS MUSIC FESTIVAL

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he City of Dickinson is gearing up for the 3rd Annual Red, White & Bayou Crawfish and Texas Music Festival. The event will be held on Saturday, May 19, 2012, from 11:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. at the intersection of FM 517 and Highway 3 in Dickinson.

The hugely popular Stoney LaRue will headline this year’s Festival, with five additional Texas Bands taking the stage throughout the day: Whiskey Myers, Kristen Kelly, Zydeco Joe and the H-Town Players, Herencia, and Fidelity Maxx. In addition to the outstanding musical entertainment, there will be plenty food for festival goers. At this year’s festival, you will enjoy amazing crawfish and a variety of delicious carnival fare, including the crowd-favorite funnel cakes. For those who like to shop, there will be various arts and crafts and other vendors showcasing their wares all day long. Feel free to bring the kids along too! There will be lots of kids’ activities, including a rock climbing wall, inflatable obstacle courses, a mobile video game trailer, and even a mechanical bull. And don’t forget to get your crawfish in shape because not only will you be able to eat the little mudbuggers, you’ll be able to cheer them on as they compete in the much anticipated “crawfish races”.

“In 2011, approximately 5,000 people came out to Red, White & Bayou to jam to our great entertainers, play in the kid zone, shop the more than 50 vendor tents, and eat over 8,000 pounds of crawfish and other treats,” says event chair, Julie Johnston, “and we can’t wait for everyone to experience this year’s Red, White & Bayou.

We’re excited to expand the entertainment to include an R&B and a Tejano band and the variety of foods that will be available for Festival-goers. I know it’s going to be a great time for all!” The City of Dickinson is grateful to this year’s sponsors including, but not limited to, Dickinson Management District No. 1, Del Papa Distributing Co., Dickinson Economic Development Corporation, Pate Engineers, Regions Bank, BP, 100.3 KILT, Waste Management, and Dickinson Festival of Lights.

While you’re having a great time, you will also be helping to raise funds to benefit local nonprofits. After the festival, any proceeds will be used to provide grants to local nonprofit agencies and organizations for projects and programs that help the Dickinson community.

For more information and to purchase tickets and/or kids’ activities wristbands, log on to www.redwhiteandbayou.com or call 281-337-6204 or email jjohnston@ ci.dickinson.tx.us.

Adult Admission: $3.00 before May 19 / $5.00 on May 19 Children 12 and Under Admission: Free Kids’ Activities Wristband (for all activities-all day): $12.00 before May 19/$15.00 on May 19

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MAY 2012 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

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THE GOLDEN KING AND THE GREAT PHARAOHS The Houston Museum of Fine Arts Exceptional Exhibit on Tutankhamun

By Pat Patton

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he Tutankhamun - The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs exhibit at the Houston Museum of Fine Arts was exceptional and incomparable. The exhibit featured more than 100 artworks, most of which had never been shown in the United States prior to this tour. These spectacular treasures, more than half of which come from the tomb of King Tutankhamun, included the golden sandals found on the boy king´s mummy; a gold coffinette that held his stomach; golden statues of the gods; and King Tut’s rings, ear ornaments, and gold collar.

Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs presented more than 130 treasures from celebrated Valley of the Kings tombs, all between 3,300 and

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3,500 years old. Fifty major artifacts excavated from Tutankhamun’s tomb joined over 70 artifacts from other royal graves of the 18th Dynasty.

Also showcased in the exhibit were objects associated with the most important rulers of the 30 dynasties that reigned in Egypt over a 2,000year span. The exhibition explored the splendor of the pharaohs, their function in both the earthly and divine worlds, and what “kingship” meant to the Egyptian people. Among the highlights was the largest likeness of King Tut ever discovered: a 10-foot statue of the pharaoh found at the remains of a funerary temple. The Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs exhibit ended on April 15.

Some of the Houston Museum of Fine Arts upcoming exhibits include: Shifting Paradigms in Contemporary Ceramics: The Garth Clark and Mark Del Vecchio Collection through June 3, Utopia/Dystopia: Construction and Destruction in Photography and Collage through June 10, Elegance and Refinement: The Still-Life Paintings of Willem van Aelst through May 28, Egyptomania through July 29, Modern and Contemporary Masterworks from Malba - Fundación Costantini from April 22–August 5, and Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Gainsborough: The Treasures of Kenwood House, London from June 3–September 3.

The Museum Of Fine Arts, Houston is located at 1001 Bissonnet Street, Houston. The telephone number is 713- 639-7300, and the website is www.mfah.org

Bay Area Habitat for Humanity Unveils Redesigned Website BAHFH was the winner of the Extreme Makeover Website Edition contest sponsored by Big Splash Web Design and Bay Area Houston Magazine.

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ay Area Habitat for Humanity has been building affordable homes for families in need throughout the Galveston County, Texas area for more than 20 years. During that time, they have experienced tremendous growth, which has given them the ability to extend their reach to more communities and families. However, like many service organizations, Bay Area Habitat strives to keep administrative costs to a minimum, but the group’s website was no longer meeting the needs of a growing Habitat chapter.

The new Bay Area - Houston Habitat for Humanity website, designed by Big Splash Web Design, was unveiled this week. Natalie Ainsworth, Executive Director of Bay Area - Houston Habitat said, “Thank you to Bay Area Houston Magazine and Big Splash Web Design & Marketing for the opportunity to showcase what we do in the community through our new website!

It has been a wonderful process working with the team at Big Splash Web Design; through their guidance and coaching we have re-invented our social media and online marketing strategies. We invite you to visit our new interactive website and see what’s new at Bay Area-

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Houston Habitat for Humanity! www.bahfh.org” The new site is designed to be interactive and user-friendly, so that volunteers, contributors, and homeowners can quickly access information on how to get involved, make a donation, or apply for a home. The new design also showcases the variety of programs and

“Bay Area Habitat for Humanity is an ecumenical Christian organization founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a decent, safe and affordable place to live.” events sponsored by the group, such as the Women’s Build, Aerospace Build, Youth United, and Building on Faith, and highlights the geographical area served by Bay Area - Houston Habitat. The site also incorporates space for the group to show off their vast collection of photographs. Visitors can also view profiles and learn

more about the families served by Bay Area - Houston Habitat. In addition to an updated design, more efficient navigation, and greater functionality, the new site will allow the Habitat team to manage the content on the site themselves.

Bay Area Habitat for Humanity is an ecumenical Christian organization founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a decent, safe and affordable place to live. Habitat for Humanity serves people in need regardless of race or religion. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses alongside partner families who live below 60% the Area Median Income. Habitat partner families put in over 300 hours of ‘sweat equity’ into building their home enroll in financial literacy classes and repay a zerointerest loan over 20 years. Carrying out the mission of Habitat for Humanity is only made possible through the partnership of corporations, churches, and dedicated volunteers. Bay Area Habitat for Humanity is currently looking for new corporate, church and organizational partnerships to further their service to the community!

Big Splash Web Design & Marketing is a full service website marketing agency specializing in web design, ecommerce web design (shopping carts), website hosting, graphic design, PPC Management (Pay Per Click) and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for small and medium-sized businesses and organizations. Their clients range from credit unions and attorneys to doctors, local businesses and online stores looking to expand and improve their online presence. The majority of their clients are from Houston, Texas, but they work with clients from all over the United States. View their website for more information www.bigsplashwebdesign.com

MAY 2012 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

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Spring and Summer Fun Starts Now At Clear Creek Winery

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pring is coming and as the days become longer and warmer, it is a great time to visit Clear Creek Winery and Resort. The Blessing of the Fleet is Sunday, May 6.

Have a glass of wine and see the decorated boats participate in this traditional ceremony. Come to the winery for “Fire & Ice” Fridays from June 1 to July 27 and cool off with frozen Wine-a-Ritas while enjoying spectacular fireworks over Galveston Bay. Plans are underway to have a mid-week farmers market starting this summer. Call or visit the winery Facebook page for details.

surrounding a common courtyard and gardens. With summer around the corner, Clear Creek Winery and Resort makes the perfect destination for a mini vacation or weekend getaway.

This is the time of year when brides start planning for their very special wedding day. Clear Creek’s unique

“The facility can accommodate weddings and events from small to over 200 guests.”

For those who want to just relax outside in the fresh air there is a beautifully landscaped outdoor deck and patio area providing the perfect atmosphere for enjoying a glass of Clear Creek Winery’s award winning wine.

Clear Creek’s knowledgeable staff is ready to make your winery experience both memorable and educational. The winery offers free guided tours daily or you can stroll the grounds and vineyards at your own pace. While at the winery you can view the fermentation rooms where the wine is made, tour the barrel room where the wine is aging, and on certain days watch the wine being bottled on the automated bottling line (check Clear Creek’s Facebook page for more details).

For those wanting to have a weekend retreat, just steps away from the winery is the Clipper House Inn Bed & Breakfast named Best of the Bay. There are eight enchanting cottages

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venue, with both indoor and outdoor options, makes it the perfect setting.

The facility can accommodate weddings and events from small to over 200 guests. Combine the lovely atmosphere of the winery with the surrounding grounds, the charming bed & breakfast with its beautiful gazebo, fine dining at Tabella and you have the options for the perfect wedding!

Elegant… warm…inviting. These are words to describe Tabella, the new restaurant located at Clear Creek Winery in Kemah. Atmosphere combined with a menu unmatched for culinary excellence makes Tabella legendary! This premier restaurant is in the old D’Vine Wine building at 709 Harris Avenue in Kemah and is the best thing that has happened to dining in the Bay Area in a long time. Weather permitting, Tabella also offers the option of outside dining where you can enjoy the cool gulf breeze.

With all this to offer, it’s easy to see why, for the third year in a row, Clear Creek Winery has won the Best of the Bay award for best winery/wine bar. For more information call the winery at 281334-8300, Clipper House Inn at 281334-2517 and for reservations at Tabella call 281-957-9090. Visit the winery on line at www.clearcreekvineyardcom.

Myna Mungle

State Representative Larry Taylor presents a Resolution to Owner of Royal Indulgence, Myna Mungle.

Treat Yourself Royally At Royal Indulgence Boutique Gallery & Design Studio

Kenny and Myna Mungle, Era Lee Caldwell and Representative Taylor Mickey Hobbs

Julie Johnson, Dawn Jackson, Robyn Weigelt

Elegance and the wow factor describe the new and now open Royal Indulgence Boutique located at 828 Marina Bay Drive, in Clear Lake Shores. Owner Myna Mungle and her Sales and Marketing Director, Era Lee Caldwell have created a showroom filled with a beautiful selection of china, crystal, stemware, linens, bar accessories, and other luxurious yacht and home décor items.

The grand opening was a great success. If you were not able to attend, make plans to go by the boutique and see the variety of beautiful and unique items.

Myna’s dream has always been to create environments of luxury and exclusivity that are tailored and customized to suit one’s lifestyle. Using her passion and talent to decorate the Mungle yacht, incidentally named Royal Indulgence, gave her inspiration to meet the need for quality nautical appointments for the Bay Area’s yachting community. The boutique features a wide variety of lovely accent pieces for any room and for entertaining on land or sea.

There is a fantastic selection from Edgar Berebi designs. His stemware can be found in the finest homes and collections worldwide. The stem is designed to be a timeless work of art and the glass bulb is interchangeable for white wine, red wine or champagne. You must see these classic designs in person to really appreciate the detail and the fabulous craftsmanship. Berebi’s collection also features picture frames, wine stoppers and letter openers with inlaid crystals.

Another must see is the Nambe` line of cookware and serveware handcrafted in a small village north of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The boutique also carries Nambe’s full-lead crystal collection, bone china, copper, granite, and silver pieces, some of which have been featured in the Museum of Modern Art permanent collection.

For the discriminating yacht or homeowner, the boutique has towels, plush robes and pajamas that can be monogrammed with your name, initials, family crest, or yacht name. All these options can also be placed on china and flatware for a very personal touch for your dining table.

Royal Indulgence offers in-home or on-board custom design services. Visit the boutique’s design center and see the possibilities. Open 10 to 6, Tuesday through Saturday, or shop online at www.Royal-Indulgence.com.

Marty Shattuck and Shelly Rogers

Helen Seitz and Louise Blanton

Myna and her son, Nick Noland

Lauren English and Carla Dispenza

Should You Adjust Your Tax Withholding?

By Jason Alderman

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ow that tax day has passed, chances are you’re either waiting patiently for your 2011 tax refund to arrive, it’s already been spent, or you just wrote the U.S. Treasury a check and are in budget-cutting mode.

It’s difficult to calculate exactly how much you’ll owe in taxes unless your income and family situation are identical from year to year. But going more than a few hundred dollars above or below your final tax bill is not a good idea: A big refund means you’ve been giving the government an interest-free loan, while significantly underpaying means you may have to pay costly penalties and interest on the amount.

Your goal should be to receive little or no tax refund. Better to use that money throughout the year to pay down credit card balances or other debt, build emergency savings, beef up your retirement plan contributions or invest it where you can earn interest or dividends.

Unless you’re self-employed, retired or had unexpected sources of income, the driving factor for how much tax you owe or have refunded is probably your W-4 form. That’s one of the many forms you filled out your first day on the job and probably never thought about again.

To refresh your memory: IRS Form W-4 determines how much federal income tax is withheld from your paychecks. The more allowances you claim on the W-4, the less income tax is withheld each pay period. When you file your yearly tax return, the government basically settles accounts with you: If they took out too much during the year, you get a refund; not enough and you pay additional taxes with your final return.

It’s a good idea to review your W-4 each year in case your financial or family situation has changed. For example, if you or your spouse: • Experience a significant increase or decrease in income.

• Add a second job, start or stop working (including retirement).

• Have a child (including adoptions).

• Reduce or increase how many dependents you’re claiming.

• Get married or divorced.

• Buy or sell a house.

• File for bankruptcy.

• Increase or decrease income adjustments for IRA/401(k) deductions, student loan interest payments or alimony.

• Significantly change your itemized deductions or tax credits.

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“The more allowances you claim on the W-4, the less income tax is withheld each pay period.”

If you have a sizeable change in taxable income not subject to withholding (e.g., self-employment income, interest, dividends, capital gains, retirement distributions), you may want to either increase the amount withheld from your paychecks or make quarterly estimated tax payments. Otherwise, the IRS may charge you an underpayment penalty come next April. Estimated tax rules are fairly complicated, so refer to IRS Publication 505 for details.

Ask your HR department for a new W-4, or download the IRS version that lets you enter your information electronically and print out a copy (search www.irs.gov.) The form contains worksheets for calculating personal withholding allowances and estimating income adjustments if you plan to itemize deductions.

Generally, you’ll claim one allowance for yourself and one for each of your dependents. However, you can adjust the number to avoid having too much or too little tax withheld from your pay.

If you need additional help with the calculations, see IRS Publication 919, use the IRS’s Withholding Calculator or use the calculator found in most tax preparation software packages.

This article is brought to you by a partnership between Visa and Texas First Bank and was authored by Jason Alderman, who directs Visa’s financial education programs. For more information, follow Texas First Bank on Facebook, Twitter and You Tube or visit us at www.texasfirstbank.com.

FINANCIAL FOCUS Brought to you by Can You Turn “Be a Millionaire Day” into Reality?

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f you look hard enough, you can find many obscure holidays, but few of them can instantly capture people’s interest as much as Be a Millionaire Day, which is “celebrated” on May 20. While amassing a million dollars may not be as significant a milestone as it used to be, most of us would still feel pleased if we could someday attain “millionaire” status. While there are no perfect formulas or guarantees, here are some steps to consider when working toward any investment goal: Put time on your side. The earlier you begin saving and investing, the better your chances of reaching your financial goal. You can’t expect to “strike it rich” immediately with any single investment, but by investing year in and year out, and by choosing quality investment vehicles, you have the opportunity to achieve growth over time.

Pay yourself first. If you wait until you “have a little extra money lying around” before you invest, you may well never invest. Instead, try to “pay yourself first.” Each month, move some money automatically from a checking or savings account into an investment. When you’re first starting out in the working world, you might not be able to afford much, but as you advance in your career, you can increase your contributions.

Control your debts. It’s easier said than done, but if you can keep a lid on your debt payments, you’ll have more money with which to invest.

Take advantage of tax deferral. When you invest in tax-deferred vehicles, such as a traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA) and your 401(k) or similar employersponsored retirement plan, your money has the opportunity to grow faster than it would if placed in an investment on which you paid taxes each year. Of course, when you start taking withdrawals, presumably at retirement, you’ll have to pay taxes, but by then, you may be in a lower tax bracket. And since you’ll have some control over your withdrawals, you can help control taxes, too.

Build share ownership. As an investor, one of the best things you can do to build your wealth is to increase the number of shares you own in your investments. So, look for buying opportunities, such as when prices are low. Also, consider reinvesting any dividends or distributions you may receive from your investments.

Don’t be overly cautious. For your money to grow, you need to put a portion of your investment dollars in growth-oriented vehicles, such as stocks. It is certainly true that stock prices will always fluctuate, sometimes quite sharply, and you may receive more or less than your original investment when sold. But if you avoid stocks entirely in favor of more stable vehicles, you run the risk of earning returns that may not keep you ahead of inflation. As you approach retirement, and even during retirement, your portfolio will probably still need some growth potential. Work with your financial advisor to determine the appropriate approach for you.

Think long term. By creating a long-term investment strategy and sticking to it, you’ll be less likely to take a “timeout” from investing in response to perceived negative news, such as market downturns and political crises.

Following these suggestions may someday allow you to reach the point when your financial goals become a reality for you.

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THE MORTGAGE MAN PRESENTED BY ENVOY MORTGAGE, LTD AND CASEY MONTGOMERY Q: Casey, many clients have asked me about new refinance programs. Can you explain to us some of the products available?

-Deborah Bly, Remax Space Center Agent

•

A: Deborah...a vast majority of all mortgages are currently owned or insured

by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or the FHA. It is in everyone’s interest (homeowners, servicers, neighbors, etc) for these agencies to work with current borrowers to reduce payments or lower terms. Fannie, Freddie and the FHA have offered new, more aggressive refinance initiatives in an attempt to reduce overall risk for their current portfolio while addressing issues that have kept borrowers with a strong payment history from the refinance market. I will be happy to offer a brief description of these products.

HARP 2.0 Highlights • Unlimited LTV for underwater homeowners

HARP 2.0 - Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac To qualify for a HARP 2.0 refinance, you must meet these requirements: • Your mortgage must have been sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac before June 1, 2009.

•

You must be current on the mortgage and have no late payments in the last six months. (A late payment is defined as one that’s more than 30 days overdue.)

•

You must not have more than one late payment in the past 12 months.

This must be your first refinance through HARP. If you have refinanced under an earlier version of HARP, then you do not qualify

•

Relaxed credit and income guidelines

•

Very low rates and no mortgage insurance

FHA STREAMLINE REFINANCE In April 2011, while the rest of the world was making it harder to get approved for a mortgage, the FHA was making it easier. I’ll list a few of the highlights below.

• No appraisal requirements •

Dramatically reduced mortgage insurance premiums to promote lower monthly payments

•

Relaxed credit, reserves and income guidelines

•

Perfect 12 month history required (no 30 day late payments)

I would suggest that any of your clients with interest rates above 4.5% for a 30 year and 4.0% on a 15 year note give us a call for a quick analysis. Odds are they will save a substantial amount of money over the life of their loan.

MAY 2012 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

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Bodies Revealed Exhibit

Sunday, April 1 - September 9 (Discovery Pyramid, 1 Hope Blvd., Galveston, TX) - All Day

38th Annual Galveston Historic Homes Tour

Saturday, May 12 (Various homes through the city, Galveston, TX) - 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Galveston Beach Revue Preview Party & Concert Friday, May 18 (2300 Strand, Galveston, TX) 7 p.m.

World Wild Game Championship & BBQ Cook-off Saturday, May 19 (Pier 21, 2100 Harborside Dr., Galveston, TX) All day

“Go Fish!” Learn to Fish Event

Saturday, May 19 (Galveston Island State Park, Galveston, TX) 9 a.m. -12 p.m.

Mainland Morning Quilt Guild Annual Show

Friday, May 25 (U.S. Custom House, 502 20th St., Galveston, TX) - 9 a.m. –5 p.m.

MAY 2012 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

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SECOND CHANCE PETS APPEARS ON GREAT DAY HOUSTON

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econd Chance Pets was invited as guests on KHOU’s Great Day Houston with Deborah Duncan on April 26th. Clear Lake Petco store manager Eric Vansco discussed tips and products that help eliminate pet allergies during the spring. SCP was featured with two puppies from a “Boxador” litter of nine (Boxer/Lab mixes) and a beautiful Viszla/Basenji mix.

Pictured left to right are SCP dog coordinator Jan Smith holding Midnight, Eric Vansco holding Shadow, Deborah Duncan and SCP

publicity volunteer Jennifer Maxwell with a very affectionate Chester. Many of the puppies are still available as is “kissing” Chester, who doesn’t bark, a unique Basenji trait. SCP adoptions are held on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Petco on Bay Area Blvd. near Space Center Blvd. All dogs are heartworm tested, on heartguard, fixed, vaccinated, de-wormed and de-fleaed. All pets are microchipped.

Puppies receive all shots. For more information, email pets2adopt@ yahoo.com or visit www.secondchancepets.org.

LOIS MARTIN Passed away April 5, 2012. She enjoyed many years living in Shoreacres, Texas and traveling with her beloved husband, Shell Martin. Lois was an excellent nurse and an extraordinary human being. She leaves behind her brother Tom Westerlage. She was admired by many and will be missed dearly.

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | MAY 2012

(Top left) Seabrook Mayor Glenn Royal and wife Diane enjoyed the Blessing of the Fleet and cool breezes from the club’s patio.

(Top right) Lakewood Yacht Club’s Blessing of the Fleet Ceremony participants and guests were treated to concerts by the Cy-Fair High School Marching Band and the Bayou City Pipes and Drums performed by the club’s Inner Harbor.

(Bottom Left) Enjoying a champagne reception prior to Lakewood’s Blessing of the Fleet were the club’s First Lady Gayle Ross, Immediate Past Commodore Tom Taylor, Past Commodore Tony Wessendorff, Fleet Captain Joyce Maxwell and past First Lady Trish Kugle.

(Bottom Right) Lakewood’s Commodore A. J. Ross (volunteer Chairman of the Board) took time out before the ceremony to review the script with newsletter editor Sandy Drechsel.

LAKEWOOD’S BLESSING OF THE FLEET A SUCCESS

O

n Sunday afternoon, April 1, several hundred friends, members, and guests were called to attention by Lakewood Yacht Club’s Protocol Officer Don Kugle to commence the annual Blessing of the Fleet and opening ceremonies. This is a traditional, nautical ceremony where members’ new boats are blessed and christened into Lakewood’s fleet.

Following a welcome by Commodore A. J. Ross, the audience was treated to a concert by the Cy-Fair High School Marching Band and the Bayou City Pipes and Drums. While the band played the Star Spangled Banner, there was a flyover by three planes in the

Commemorative Air Force, West Houston Squadron.

Attending the program part of the blessing were the club’s flag officers, board of directors, and past commodores who represented five decades of service to the club, all dressed in uniform. Dignitaries included area mayors and directors of numerous marine-related organizations.

Eighteen couples were introduced and given bottles of champagne by the commodore to christen their boats. After each boat was introduced by Fleet Captain Joyce Maxwell, the junior flag officers fired the cannon over the inner harbor where all the boats were docked.

Reverend George Aurich remarked about the beautiful weather and then proceeded to offer a blessing for this year’s Lakewood Yacht Club fleet.

Boat viewing and visiting the newly christened boats followed the ceremony.

“I think this was one of the most memorable blessings we have had since 1955 when the club was founded,” remarked Past Commodore Jack Thomas, whose christening when he was Commodore in 1991 was interrupted by a rain storm.

“Everyone seemed to have such a delightful afternoon and the ceremony, which is orchestrated by numerous member volunteers, went very smoothly.”

MAY 2012 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

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The FUTURE of ENERGY

By Bradford J. Snipes Solar Engineer We are downstream of peak oil. As the world’s finite oil supply of petroleum is further depleted and the world’s demand for oil continues its relentless increase, the cost of energy derived from its combustion will obviously begin to increase at an even more rapid rate than it has in the past. Historically, the cost of energy has increased at the exponential rate of about 5% per year. If governments gain control of the energy sector through proposed cap and trade mechanisms, they will take money from the fossil fuel industry and give it to renewable energy companies. This would be beneficial to the solar energy industry in the short term, but it will be disastrous for our economy. About 60% of our electricity comes from coal burning power plants. If they are penalized for carbon dioxide emissions they will only pass the burden of the carbon tax to the consumer. Electricity rates and gasoline prices will skyrocket.

Besides, disproving the junk science of global warming is easy. Historical temperature data prior to 1985 was very meager. Plenty of weather stations collected data for the industrialized areas of the world but data for the oceans and the continents of Africa and South America was almost nonexistent.

Even today, they could not determine the true average temperature of the world within ½ of a degree without a reasonable margin for error. Think about it, all data would have to be collected and analyzed instantaneously and there would need to be much more data collection in the oceans and undeveloped regions of the world. As an engineer having some knowledge of thermal processes I cannot accept their conclusions, nor can I condone their manipulation of the meager data set.

We should not be concerned about global warming. I am concerned about government involvement in the energy sector. The solar energy industry needs to be independent of government control as we end the age of fossil fuels and begin the age of solar energy and a hydrogen economy.

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | MAY 2012

The present focus of the renewable energy community is obviously to provide electrical power to the grid. But, the most beautiful aspect of solar energy is that it offers the possibility of energy independence and self-sufficiency to individuals. Energy independence is possible only with offgrid or microgrid renewable energy systems.

The recent advent of multijunction solar cells makes a new approach to the collection and utilization of solar energy possible. These solar cells have the capability of receiving concentrated solar energy and are almost 3 times as efficient as conventional roof mounted solar cell arrays.

A Texan Home Energy Collector positions a cylindrical array of Boeing Spectrolabs dense array solar cells at the linear focus of a multisegmented conical reflecting concentrator. This cylindrical array is enclosed within glass cylinder, which acts as a secondary refracting concentrator to focus all available energy onto the active solar cell area only. Using this two-step optical concentration, 1000 suns of solar concentration is delivered to the solar cells.

Assuming the reflectance of the conical reflecting surface is 90% and a transmittance of the glass refracting cylinder is 90%, the efficiency of the optical concentration system is about 81%.

The Spectrolab multi-junction solar cells convert 40% of the solar energy they receive to electrical energy. The remaining 60% of the solar energy is converted to heat and must be removed to prevent thermal degradation of the solar cells. Accounting for the optical concentration efficiency of 81%, a Texan Home Energy Solar Collector will convert 32% of the available solar energy to electricity and about 48% of the available energy to thermal energy.

Inside the secondary cylindrical glass refracting concentrator, the dense array solar cells are bonded to an extruded flat-sided octagonal tube. This tube is internally finned to maximize heat transfer. Water within the internally finned tube boils. The resulting low pressure steam may be used for ammonia absorption

air conditioning, home heating or hot water. A 30 foot diameter collector will provide about 3 kilowatts of average power and sufficient steam to produce about 2 tons of air conditioning. An off-grid home using this collector can be completely energy self-sufficient.

On a larger scale, solar farms of Texan Home Energy Collectors will provide electricity at a cost that will make its use for the electrolytic production of hydrogen practical.

As gasoline prices continue to increase, hydrogen can be expected to be the future automotive fuel of choice.

A tremendous potential market exists in providing the hydrogen refueling infrastructure. The low-pressure steam produced by these solar farms can be used for the multiple effect distillation of seawater.

So, as a fortunate byproduct of the hydrogen production, very large amounts of distilled water will be produced.

Enough water will be produced to irrigate thousands of acres of new farmland.

The United States military is mandated to convert military bases to renewable energy. In particular, the Department of Defense is interested in micro-grid energy systems. If a blackout or brown-out condition exists with the conventional grid, military bases must not be incapacitated. It is a national defense issue. Texan Home Energy Solar Collectors can be used to economically make many United States military bases self-reliant.

As the use of solar energy supplants the combustion of fossil fuels many of the world’s problems will be solved.

Our dependence on foreign oil will be diminished and the waste of a precious limited resource as fuel will be reduced.

The falsified fear of global warming will go away. It was completely trumped up anyway. It was never a problem.

But, more importantly, the rapid proliferation of this truly economical approach to solar energy collection will result in the creation of thousands of new jobs. The recession will end and we will enter in to a new age of prosperity, the solar age.

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | MAY 2012