Bay Area Houston Magazine November 2021

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November 2021

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SOTHEBYSREALTY.COM | 281.333.3034 © 2021 Sotheby’s International Realty. All Rights Reserved. The Sotheby’s International Realty trademark is licensed and used with permission. Each Sotheby’s International Realty office is independently owned and operated, except those operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. The Sotheby’s International Realty network fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. All offerings are subject to errors, omissions, changes including price or withdrawal without notice.

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N O V E M B E R

2 0 2 1

features 11

UH Clear Lake

12

Houston Mayor and Bay Tran

14

Beauty with Blaine

17

UHCL Presents

17

Coming Events

18

Celebration Seabrook 60 Years

20

Cover Story - Texas Artisan

22

Thinking About Bariatric Surgery?

25

Bites of the Bay

33

Gulf Coast Mariner Boating & Fishing

President Amber Sample

33

CCISD Adopts New Tax Rate

Publisher & Editor in Chief Mary Alys Cherry

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Gospel Brunch

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ON THE COVER

TEXAS ARTISAN -The Little Shop around the corner - is becoming one of the hottest obsessions in the Bay Area.

Chairman Rick Clapp

18

General Manager Patty Andrew

University Gets a Change in Leadership Working Together She’s Keeping us Looking Great this Winter Sustainable Film Fest What’s Happening in the Bay Area?

Music, Family, and Fun! The Little Shop Around the Corner Find Out if it’s Right for You Hottest Spots in the Bay Area Tail Light Problems?

Lowest Rate in 30 Years Music, Food, and Fellowship

36 Thankful

With Pastor Brad

Creative Director Kelly Williams Sales & Marketing Amber Sample Bill Sloan Alisa Star Robyn Weigelt

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Editorial Patty Andrew Don Armstrong Mary Alys Cherry Michael Gos Blaine Ochoa Alisa Star Photography GH Andrew Mary Alys Cherry

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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.

Please address all correspondence to: Bay Area Houston Magazine P.O. Box 1032 Seabrook, TX 77586 Earth, The Solar System www.BayAreaHoustonMag.com r.clapp@baygroupmedia.com

281.474.5875

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2021

columns 10

Clear Lake Chatter

13

Wait For Yesterday

24

Rick’s Pics

35

In Wheel Time

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Rick at Nite

Panhellenic Friendship Tea Texas Meditations Favorites from this month Bronco - Old Meets New Pampered Pink, Astros, and Tookies

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2021

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Photos by Connie Zieba

Michelle Richardson, left, and her daughter, Kelsey McNeil.

Fall Friendship Tea Chairman Wendy Shaw, left, with her daughter, Sophie Shaw.

Corinne McVay, left, stops to chat with Connie Zieba at the Fall Friendship Tea.

Hostesses for the Clear Lake Panhellenic Fall Friendship Tea -Karen Weber, Robyn Fitzpatrick, Wendy Shaw, President Kathryn Vernau, Kay Lee Benoit and Becky Hensley, from left -- await the crowd as the popular event gets underway.

President Kathryn Vernau, right, with her mother, Linda Kmiecik.

Lisa O'Brien, Corinne McVay, Linda McCormack, Ruth Beecher and Jenny Frantz, from left, arrive at the Clear Lake Panhellenic Fall Friendship Tea.

New season begins with Panhellenic Friendship Tea

MARY ALYS CHERRY

A

s is the custom each year, Clear Lake Area Panhellenic kicked off the Bay Area’s social season with its annual Fall Friendship Tea at the home of home of Robyn Fitzpatrick in League City.

Wendy Shaw, who served as chairman of the event, and Co-Chairman Karen Weber joined the hostess in welcoming the crowd that included Linda Kmiecik, Sarah Lowe, Kim Heitzman, Mariah Arnett, Connie Zieba, Lori Jonson, Bridget Robinson, Marcy Ortega and Jenny Frantz.

Three mother-daughter pairs were in the crowd: Linda Kmiecik came with her daughter, Panhellenic President Kathryn Vernnau, as Michelle Richardson arrived with daughter Kelsey McNeil, and Wendy Shaw was accompanied by her daughter, Sophie Shaw.

And, what a delightful afternoon it was for those attending – especially so after a year of minimum socializing during the COVID19 pandemic. Just ask Kay Lee Benoit, Becky Hensley, Sue Broughton or Past President Darla McKitrick, who were among the many attending.

They had hardly had time to say hello when in walked Peggy Clause, Sophie Shaw, JoCat Bruce, Ruth Beecher, Ellen King, Judie Ferguson, Macy Williams, Sheryl Williams, Katie Hill, Hazel Harron, Stacy Lyon, Dewanna Norris, Corinne McVay, Julia Sykes, Aggie Bourgeois, Linda McCormack and Jill Reason – all ready to enjoy the delicious refreshments, fantastic flowers and creative décor that awaited them.

Join Us for the Next Gospel Brunch at TBone Toms in Kemah- December 12

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2021

UH-Clear Lake gets change in leadership

By Mary Alys Cherry

U

niversity of Houston Vice Chancellor Richard Walker has been appointed interim president of the University of Houston-Clear Lake by Chancellor Renu Khator, replacing Dr. Ira K. Blake.

The change became effective Oct. 9 as Dr. Blake accepted the Dr. Khator’s invitation to serve as special assistant to the chancellor, assisting her “in developing new initiatives toward student success at our four institutions.”

Dr. Walker, who also serves as vice president for student affairs and enrollment services at both UH and the UH System, brings nearly four decades of experience in higher education, at both public and private institutions.

“His many leadership roles, as a skilled administrator and stalwart educator, reflect his commitment to students and to higher education,” the chancellor said. “I am confident he will provide a steady hand at UHCL and continue the growth and progress the university has been enjoying.”

She also named Dr. Daniel Maxwell, associate vice chancellor and associate vice president for student affairs for the UH System and UH, as the interim vice president and vice chancellor of that division. He joined UH in 2012 and during the 2018-2019 academic year served as interim vice president for student affairs at UHCL. “He has great depth and strength to provide leadership and administrative oversight in this interim role,” the chancellor said.

Dr. Walker earned his Doctor of Education degree at the University of Miami after graduating from Harvard Graduate School of Education and earning his Master of Education at Memphis State

Dr. Daniel Maxwell

Dr. Richard Walker

University and B.S. in History at Middle Tennessee State University.

To accept this challenging new assignment, Dr. Blake plans to draw on her extensive background in higher education and personal interest in students to inform and shape system-wide initiatives that bridge the gap between dreams and opportunity, tackling pressing issues ranging from improving access and degree attainment to creating innovative new programs that better prepare students for their future careers, she said.

“This is not a decision she had made lightly,” Dr. Khator said. “Since being named UHCL’s fifth president in 2017, she has forged many lasting relationships on campus and off while leading the university to gains in enrollment, increased diversity and inclusion and expanded civic and corporate partnerships.”

Blake grew UHCL in size, reaching record enrollment in 2019. She also expanded the footprint of the university with the opening of four new

buildings that create more space for learning and engagement.

She led the university's strategic plan implementation "Impact 2025 and Beyond," which focuses on opening doors to accessible education and was launched in spring 2020. She joined UHCL after serving as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania since 2009. She holds a master's degree in educational psychology from San Francisco State University and a second master's degree and a doctorate in developmental psychology from Columbia University. “I want to offer my deep appreciation to President Blake for the energy and dedication she brought to UHCL, and I look forward to working with her as she undertakes this new assignment,” Khator said.

A national search for a new president of UH-Clear Lake will begin in November.

DUST OFF YOUR BOOTS - IT'S A PARTY! Birthday Bash for Rick Clapp & Kelly Williams Benefits The Longhorn Project at Johnson Space Center.

Cost: $5 donation

Wednesday, November 17th

5:00 PM until ...

WHERE: Jackie's Brickhouse DRESS: Western Wear

Titanium Tequila Tasting

Door Prizes

Food & Drinks NOVEMBER 2021 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

11

Working together is the key, Houston mayor tells BayTran

By Mary Alys Cherry

Photos by Mary Alys Cherry

H

ouston Mayor Sylvester Turner thinks it is

imperative that we stop thinking of flooding

or freezes or fires, for example, as an issue for one community, because “what affects

together,” he told the audience that included a number

said, turning his thoughts to Houston’s three regional

goals include making travel safe, connecting

airport and a licensed federal Spaceport. “The City of

of area mayors, adding that “Houston’s transportation neighborhoods, strengthening the economy,

eliminating climate issues such as flooding, and moving people efficiently with fewer vehicles.”

"Houston is the epitome of a regional city,"

one, affects us all.”

he continued. “We don’t have one Central Business

Partnership luncheon at the Hobby Marriott Hotel, he

morning and commutes home from every evening.

Speaking at the Bay Area Houston Transportation

went on to add, “Transportation is exactly the same.

People travel just like the weather does . . .they just

want to get where they’re going. All roads should be

safe, sidewalks shouldn’t stop midblock and all buses, trains and bike networks should connect.

“That makes it critical for us. . .to remember

that our region works best when our region works

Executive Director Amy Skicki welcomes several mayors to BayTran’s luncheon at the Hobby Marriott Hotel. They are, from left, Mayors Carl Joiner of Kemah, Thom Kolupski of Seabrook, Mike Foreman of Friendswood, Joe Zimmerman of Sugarland, Kevin Cole of Pearland and, seated, Pat Hallisey of League City.

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2021

District where half the region commutes into every We have half a dozen different business districts,

each one with different travel patterns. To thrive, we

must have safe, reliable multimodal transportation to each of these districts. Our highway networks must provide access and connectivity without displacing the people they are intended to serve. The future

is not just horizontal travel, but vertical as well,” he

BayTran Executive Director Amy Skicki and Chairman Carl Joiner, from left, prepare to introduce Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, who arrived to address the luncheon crowd, and Mayor Pro tem Dave Martin to the luncheon crowd at the Marriott.

airports, which includes Ellington, that is both an

Houston and Houston Airports. . .have invested more than $30 million in Spaceport infrastructure to date.

This supports home-grown Houston companies like

Axiom Space in building a commercial space station,

Intuitive Machines in landing commercial payloads on

the moon, and San Jacinto College to grow the EDGE aerospace workforce development center, providing opportunity for area students and helping meet the demand for highly skilled labor in the aerospace industry.”

He was introduced by Houston Mayor Pro-Tem

Dave Martin after a welcome by BayTran Executive Director Amy Skicki.

Galveston County Commissioner Ken Clark, from left, stops to visit with Friendswood Councilor Sally Branson, Houston Mayor Pro tem Dave Martin and Texas City Mayor Dedrick Johnson at the BayTran luncheon at the Hobby Marriott Hotel.

TEXAS MEDITATIONS

Wait for

By Michael Gos

I

Indianola, Texas

Yesterday

ndianola is a strange place. I’ve been to lots of Texas ghost towns, but here, there are not really any ruins, not even foundations of old buildings (well, there is one foundation remaining, but it is underwater). There are a few homes, a parking and picnic area on the beach, and even a fishing “resort.” But we were here to find a couple of monuments we’d read about that memorialize the town’s past.

There is only one road, Ocean Drive. We drove up and down it repeatedly, finding nothing. We stopped and talked to four people we saw, but got no useful information. Two of them, who lived right there on the beach, had not even heard of the monuments we were looking for. But how hard could it be?

So we drove up and down, again and again. Eventually, we stumbled across our goals.

The first, though further down the road than we expected, was fairly easily seen. It is an Arte Deco sculpture of Robert Cavelier, Sieur de LaSalle.

Growing up on the south end of Lake Michigan, I was as familiar with La Salle.

He was a part of our Indiana history studies in junior high and there are lots of streets, businesses and neighborhoods all over Chicago and the northwest Indiana named for him. I was surprised to learn that, in 1685, he also explored the Texas coast and claimed it for France. The Louisiana Purchase would later make this spot a key port in Texas for immigration from France, Germany and eastern European countries.

These new immigrants built a city which they named Indianola. By 1875, it had become a major port on the Gulf Coast. But then things got interesting.

That year, the town was wiped out by a hurricane. It was quickly rebuilt, only to be destroyed again by the storm of 1886. While there were meager attempts to rebuild it yet again a bit further inland, fire ended hopes for that, and Indianola slipped into history. The second monument, harder to find, is a memorial to the city that once thrived here. It tells the story of how the city began, grew, and died.

I sometimes wonder about the people of Indianola and the thought processes that led to the decision to rebuild. The land is so low that the one set of remaining ruins, that of the courthouse, are only sometimes visible under water.

Surely, they could see that this would happen again . . . and again.

I have noticed that, as a species, and especially as Texans, we tend to react, quickly and assertively, to events in our lives, especially events we see as negative. It was impressive watching our neighbors move immediately to clean-up after Hurricanes Ike and Harvey. I admire that. In Texas, we don’t wait for someone in Washington, or even Austin, to save us. We jump in and do it ourselves. That is what makes Texans special.

But this kind of “go-get-‘em” attitude can have negative effects as well.

Not taking time to think through the likelihood of repeat events, or other consequences, caused the people of Indianola to lose money, sweat and lives, in what turned out to be a futile effort.

My take on this is that, for all practical purposes, for the people of the city, the hurricane of 1875 didn’t really happen. Of course there was a storm, and of course, the damage and deaths were real. But I think, for most of the people, the storm was only a blip that was in the past—not real, not a part of their lives now. It was time to move, to get busy.

Our apparent need to hurry and take action after events gets us on task and keeps us that way. Being busy means we are focused on the job at hand. It

occupies our thinking. As a result, we never give ourselves an opportunity to really process what has happened. We make hasty, often bad, decisions and then have to deal with problems they cause—the unintended consequences.

Until we can process an event fully, it hasn’t really happened, not yet. We see only ghosts of the event, not the thing itself. Without understanding, we can’t act effectively and, as a result, we are susceptible to all manner of negative results. I’m not saying we should sit, paralyzed, after negative events, only that we need to fully think things through before we make major decisions. In the case of Indianola, clean up? Absolutely. Rebuild? Let’s think about this.

Are we sure this is the best move?

It is easy to assume that this kind of problem happens only in cases of “bad” events because most of us have ample experience in these errors of thinking.

When teaching my students about the philosophy of stoicism, the idea that we are disturbed not by events, but by our opinions of those events, I ask them how many have ever been devastated by being dumped by someone they loved. Every semester, at least three quarters of the hands go up. I then ask how many of them still see that event as a tragedy. The most common response I get is “It was the best thing that ever happened to me.” The passage of time between the events themselves and my question allowed the students to process, and really understand, what happened. For them, the event has now, finally, really happened. These students are perfect examples demonstrating the fact that the key to understanding is to wait for yesterday. It didn’t “happen” until you’ve sorted it out.

This idea also applies to events we see as positive. Great experiences are especially enjoyable to ponder, even re-live in our minds. That makes us more likely to think about them. But thinking about, and understanding, are two different things. Reliving for pleasure does not provide insight. All events are really complicated tangles of little mini-happenings that work together to masquerade as a single event. They need to be examined, disentangled, and only then do we really understand them. That doesn’t happen immediately.

And if we haven’t taken the time to do that, for all practical purposes, the event hasn’t really happened for us yet. We need to be patient—and wait. It will happen—and then it will finally be real.

The people of Indianola did finally “get it.” But at what cost? It took two hurricanes and a fire for them to finally learn to wait for yesterday. We have much to learn from their mistake.

NOVEMBER 2021 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

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BEAUTY with Blaine Winter Edition Nars Climax Liquid Eyeliner $24

I recently switched to this eyeliner and I am in love! It is an intense black matte liquid liner. It glides on very smoothly and lasts all day and night. You can contour your eyes in any way with this eyeliner because the brush and formula are so incredible. I love doing a winged top eyeliner look with this product. Highly recommend! Available on Narscosmetics.com

KNESKO Skin Face Mask Nano Gold Repair $45

I

by Blaine Ochoa

t’s my favorite time of the year! Time for holiday parties and celebrations.

Whatever event or celebration you’re planning to attend, these beauty items are perfect for any occasion. They will add an extra sparkle to your appearance and help you look and feel even more fabulous. I hope you love them as much as I do.

Blaine Beauty Eyeshadow in Starstruck $24 This is my favorite eyeshadow from my brand Blaine Beauty. It gives the perfect amount of shimmer and shine. It can be applied on the eyes, on the apple of the cheek and on the center of the nose to highlight. It is a luxury eyeshadow, light off-white seashell color that is triple milled and highly pigmented. It can even be used wet as eyeliner. Available on BlaineBeauty. com Blaine Beauty Blush in Princess $28

This mirror compact blush is perfect on an array of skin tones. It consists of a pink and gold shimmer shade. Blush is Princess is also from my beauty brand Blaine Beauty. It is a frosted, triple milled fine powder, highly pigmented, and glides on smoothly and evenly. Definitely a favorite and perfect for on the go! Available at BlaineBeauty.com

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2021

This is by far the best single face mask I’ve ever used. It’s a little higher priced for a one time, at home application but you can definitely tell the difference in the quality of the many beneficial ingredients and see tremendous results. It is a luxurious, hydrating and firming, anti-inflammatory collagen face mask. After one application you will immediately feel rejuvenated and see a brighter, glowing, hydrated difference in your face. Available on Knesko.com

Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo $26 This is my favorite dry shampoo of all time. The smell is absolutely amazing and I can immediately see a refreshed look to my hair when I use it. This dry shampoo eliminates oils and adds volume to the hair. It is great for on the go and when your hair needs a little pick me up, and also works well when using styling products. A few sprays at the root of your head and you’re ready to take on the day! Available on Drybar.com

I encourage you to give these beauty products a try this Winter, I know I can’t live without them!

Whether it’s for your body, face or hair, these products are top notch and will help you look

and feel your best. Everyone have a wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving!

XO!

Blaine

JUST PLAIN FUN! To Be a Guest on

The Kelly Williams Show Contact us: 281.474.5875

thekellywilliamsshow@gmail.com 16

Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2021

UHCL Presents Sustainable Stories Film Fest

By Eric Despard & Michael Brims

F

rom November 17th - 19th UHCL will present numerous events and activities related to sustainability including an art exhibition in the UHCL Art Gallery, two evenings of short film screenings in the state of the art 500 seat Bayou Theater, a community partner exposition, and additional panel discussions and workshops.

Founded by UHCL Associate Professor of Communications and Digital Media Professor, Michael Brims, and UHCL Senior Lecturer of Business, Kathleen Garland. Sustainable Stories’ mission is to empower filmmakers who create films focused on sustainability related subjects by showcasing their work.

Eric Despard, Director of Cultural Arts at UHCL says “The university and its central role of serving as a portal for internal and external communities

is a really crucial element of sustainability.” Brims says “with this festival we bring in productions from around the world, globally, but also from the local community. We bring these films to the local Houston community and to the Houston Clear Lake area specifically to expose the local community to sustainable projects.”

Begun as a conversation between Brims and Despard while kayaking on the Armand Bayou, the Sustainable Stories Film Fest became increasingly collaborative. Student professionals Shawn Domingues, Emma Wright and Kaira Jackson were added and soon Professor Garland and Executive Director of UHCL’s Institute of Human and Planetary Sustainability Megan Topham rounded out the team's executive committee.

Professor Garland says “We need environmental sustainability, social sustainability, an economic system that is just and equitable for everybody, and education for everyone in our community to understand how these things are related. That’s the

The League City Regional Chamber will host its first ever Yachting with the Mayors Monday, Nov. 8 from 6-8 p.m. with the community invited to mingle with our area mayors aboard the luxurious Boardwalk FantaSea Yacht at 3 Kemah Waterfront St. Reservations are $100 each. For questions, call the chamber, 281-338-7339.

The Bay Oaks Women’s Association will host its annual Holiday Market on Monday, Nov. 8 from 4-8 p.m. at Bay Oaks Country Club with the public invited to attend. Tickets are $10.

The League City Chamber will hold its 2021 State of the Legislature Luncheon, featuring local legislators, on Thursday, Nov. 11, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Grace Church, 14545 Gulf Freeway. To register, visit www.leagueitychamber.com or contact Briana@LeagueCityChamber. comTickets are $25 for members.

The Clear Creek Education Foundation will host its annual Awards Dinner Thursday, Nov. 11 at 5:30 p.m. honoring a number of community residents at South Shore Harbour Resort in League City. For tickets, call 281-284-0031 or visit CCEF@ccisd.net The City of Seabrook and the Sam Houston Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution plan to honor veterans and their families – including those taken prisoner and those missing in action -for their service and sacrifice in a special ceremony on Saturday,

purpose of a film festival around sustainability: to hear from artistic voices that can creatively express these different concepts in ways maybe people haven’t thought about before.”

Stuart Larson, MFA, Associate Professor of Art & Design at UHCL highlights the importance this festival has for education: “It is really critically important to give students a new perspective, to show them that there are more creative outlets and that they can be part of this. "Creative projects are really hard to find!" Wright says. “It allows a gateway for young people to see sustainability projects they wouldn't normally have access to and it’s presented in an entertainment form. I would like to be more sustainable. So this is a way for me as a Communication student to learn more about it and apply it to my life.”

For more information on the festival visit https:// www.sustainable-stories.org

Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. at the Bay Area Veterans Memorial at 1106 Main St. in Seabrook. The public is invited to attend.

The State of Healthcare will be the topic for the League City Chamber breakfast on Wednesday, Nov. 17, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at the Johnnie Arolfo Civic Center, 400 W. Walker, featuring several CEOs in the hospital field. To register, visit the website, www.leaguecitychamber.com or contact Briana@LeagueCityChamber.com Bay Area Welcome Neighbor Club will host members of the Music Box Theater – named the Best Cabaret in the Houston Press – at its Thursday, Nov. 18 luncheon, starting at 10 a.m. at Bay Oaks Country Club, For luncheon reservations, email Bonnie Rimmel at bonnier0521@icould.com or call her at 281-380-9277.

Bay Area Genealogical Society will meet in an online webinar Friday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m. to hear certified genealogist Cari Taplin discuss “Using Church Records to Find Ancestral Origins.” For details, visit the BAGS website, www.TxBayArea Gen.org or call Kim at 281-992-2636.

Interfaith Caring Ministries will hold its 28th Annual Festival of the Trees Gala Thursday, Dec. 2 from 6-10:30 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel, 3000 E. NASA Parkway. To purchase tickets or sponsor a tree, contact Johnnie Hubbard at jhubbard@icmtx.org or call 281-332-3881, ext. 1112.

SEPTEMBER 2021 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

17

Celebration Seabrook:

By Patty Andrew

I

n the bright October sun and blue skies, the City of Seabrook hosted Celebration Seabrook in honor of the 60th Anniversary of its incorporation. Nestled on the shore of Galveston Bay, Seabrook created a community in the 1800’s.

However, as the City of Houston was annexing land around Harris County in the early 1960’s, Seabrook chose to incorporate in 1961 to maintain its uniqueness as a city and to honor its heritage.

So, the city-by-the-sea rightly threw a fabulous music and art fest on October 9th to mark this important moment in history and the vibrant place it has become.

Celebration Seabrook featured food, live music, and fun for all at the lush grassy acreage of the Rex L. Meador Park. The famous painted pelicans of Seabrook welcomed visitors at the entrance.

Food Trucks lined up on the North side of the area next to convenient picnic tables that dotted the field. Colorful vendor booths offered art, jewelry, and more to eager shoppers. The City itself even sold commemorative t-shirts and hats for this big day.

Art of all descriptions enhanced the festival grounds including beautiful chalk drawings in the vendor pavilion. The city sponsored a historical display of Seabrook photographs from the past with descriptions of what was. Visitors crowded around the posters to learn about the past and marvel of what has occurred over the decades in their beloved city.

Families flocked to The Kid Zone where fearless children scurried up the rock-climbing tower that loomed over the area. More adventure awaited at the bounce houses and slide as kids clamored over and over to experience the excitement. Because this is Texas by the water, a mechanical shark beckoned young and old alike to take a chance on this bumpy adventure. The innovative Kid’s Beach invited youngsters to enjoy the yards of sand for hours of active play.

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2021

The Kid Zone’s Art Area offered plenty of opportunities for the children to creatively express themselves. Kids sported colorful designs from face painting next to their smiles as they colored a t-shirt and decorated pumpkins. The Evelyn Meador Library offered additional arts and crafts as well as information on their wonderful facility that adds so much to this community.

Celebration Seabrook is the current rendition of the annual festivals that the city routinely sponsors. As in previous years, live music is the glorious highlight of the event, and this year was no exception. Celebration Seabrook hosted three popular country artists to provide musical entertainment to event attendees: Hayden McBride, Jake Worthington, and Sam Riggs.

The guitars pound out rock rhythms among the country lyrics. Some of the musicians sported hair of the 2020’s with man buns, dreadlocks, and shoulder length waves under various gimme caps.

Most impressively, all of the day’s performers gave kudos to the others.

As the sun set over the last tunes of the day, a couple of jets from the nearby airshow paid their respects before heading back to base. It was a nice send off for a successful day of Celebration Seabrook.

60 Years of Excellence Photography by GH Andrew

SAM RIGGS

HAYDEN MCBRIDE

HAYDEN MCBRIDE- Hayden McBride offered up many original tunes during his set at Celebration Seabrook. This young singer and songwriter from Mt. Pleasant, Texas made the four- and half-hour journey to his first visit to Seabrook and engaged the crowd with songs of heartache and beer-drinking.

He released a new album just two months ago called "Worth the Wait"; sample singles on YouTube and other social media platforms. I especially liked the dynamic, “Drinking You Goodbye.” The personable Hayden is very engaging with his strong vocals and his band’s excellent musical prowess. Pay attention to the greatness of his lead guitarist – a true rock influence helps him generate such great sound as in “The Flames.” Find Hayden McBride Music on Facebook and get ready to enjoy some lively Texas Country music.

JAKE WORTHINGTON

JAKE WORTHINGTON - You might recognize Jake Worthington from The Voice where he was a runner up during the sixth season. Or you may simply recognize him because he is a local from La Porte, Texas. Even if he does not look familiar, you will remember his music and his voice once you see him perform. It is easy to see and hear why Jake has had three Top 20 Singles as well as a record deal since last January. “That [record contract] was the bright spot of COVID,” the shy Jake stated in a quick pre-set chat.

Jake is a solid country musician with a full strong voice that he easily commands during the spirited anthems like “How Do You Honky Tonk?” and “Hell of a Highway.” He effortlessly adds flourishes (called “ornaments” in vocal singing) which embellish his sound and add character to his performance. Jake accompanies himself on his trusty acoustic guitar and does some fancy picking. His band includes a lead guitar, a bass guitar, steel guitar, and drums – a talented group who manage both their ensemble and solo playing with ease and skill. Learn more about Jake at www.thejakeworthington. com and Facebook, plus listen to his music on YouTube and Spotify.

Jake Worthington

SAM RIGGS- Headlining the Celebration Seabrook musical entertainment

was the powerful Sam Riggs, exploding on to the stage surrounded by rotating lights, giant speakers with animated LEDs, and tsunamis of sound. Sam bills himself as a country music singer and songwriter but the rock and roll influences scream from him and his band’s performances. Sam has a very successful social media presence with millions of streams and views across several platforms. His musical prowess pushed his song, “Collide” from the album, "Outrun the Sun", to be included on the television show, "Nashville".

Sam Riggs and company play music with a big sound. The bass reverberates through your chest. The drums bounce through you to your chair.

Sam’s voice cuts through it all, expanding through space until everyone is captured and enthralled. He coyly declared, “Thanks for letting us make noise in your city.”

While many of his songs have more of a rock vibe, Sam has a way of bringing out the country, especially when he plays his violin or banjo. The sultry “Until the Stars Burn Out” pulls toward that Nashville sound while his violin on “Hold One and Let Go” reminds you of the music from the Texas Hill Country.

Sam continues to surprise and delight with a Cajun fiddle solo in “Callin’ Baton Rouge” and his banjo lilts in “Ain’t No Way You Mend a Broken Heart.”

Whether on his acoustic or electric guitar, Sam thoroughly entertained the crowd who enthusiastically sang along with his songs, clapping and waving all afternoon long. Become a fan yourself by following his tour schedule at https:// www.samriggsmusic.com/ and link to his music via the platforms listed on the website.

Celebration Seabrook NOVEMBER 2021 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

19

TEXAS ARTISAN

By Rick Clapp

T

he moment you walk into Texas Artisan, you will understand how this neighborhood of a gem has become a Houston destination store.

You will be anesthetized by the tantalizing scents and smells of the season. The atmosphere and incredible array of gifts and home décor is where your shopping experience begins.

This unique “Little Shop Around the Corner” is solely owned and operated by the marketing, sales, and interior design guru, Terrie Ward. “My goal is to provide our customers with the ultimate shopping experience whether for themselves, a friend, a loved one, or a client,” Terrie explained during a recent visit. Texas Artisan offers a plethora of gifts, original art, and one-ofa-kind home décor items.

Texas Artisan boasts works from three accomplished Texas artists: Robin Collins, Mollie Podoll, and Susan Parker. These artists are happy to provide you with a nice piece of art for your home, office, or yacht.

Texas Artisan is both corporately and socially responsible. “We donate to charities and non-profits for fundraising purposes, whenever possible. We have decided to become a donation partner with American Heart Association. Texas Artisan will be hosting an upcoming Go Red and Green Event benefitting the American Heart Association on November 18th from 4:00 to 8:00 PM. Everyone is encouraged to attend - just some of the fun activities include live music by Kelly Williams, live art, sip and shop, face painting, and the event has partnered with Amy Doherty and Robinette Company & Catering. Check Facebook or call the store for details.

It’s our way of giving back,” stated Ward.

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2021

the little shop around the corner.

“Lady Entrepreneur” Ward is a very savvy dynamic and creative businessperson. She has had a highly successful career in sales, marketing, and business ownership. Furthermore, Texas Artisan celebrates its second year of business in the Bay Area. She recognizes her husband Kelly for all of his support.

So, what are you waiting for? I just completed my entire Christmas Gift Shopping at the one stop Texas Artisan. There are no parking, crowd, or traffic problems like those incurred at the mall. Just pull up to the store front and enter and enjoy the intoxicant sweet smells and the huge variety of offerings of the “Little Shop Around the Corner.”

Merry Christmas and God bless all.

NOVEMBER 2021 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

21

I will be “mom” again.

Thinking about bariatric surgery, but not sure where to turn?

HCA Houston Healthcare has the answer.

For Heather Sarten, one particularly difficult memory she lives

Sarten is now the director of Bariatric Navigation with the

with involves a trampoline.

Redefine Clinical Weight Loss Program at HCA Houston Healthcare. Her story is inspirational, uplifting and incredibly relatable. So many people in this country struggle with their weight for a myriad of reasons. Having the strength to change

Her children had just received the big-ticket item for Christmas, and Sarten’s son was begging her to join him for some bouncing.

When Sarten agreed, and started climbing up, something caught her eye – the trampoline tag. Sarten couldn’t help but notice she exceeded the weight limit all on her own.

“I proceeded to sit in my yard and cry,” Sarten said. “This was the moment I knew something had to change.”

The situation was hard to swallow, but it was a turning point for Sarten. She began looking into her options and learned about lap

your circumstances makes the difference.

Sarten, for her part, was never obese until her early twenties.

That’s when her thyroid stopped working and she gained 100 pounds in nine months. She tried improving her diet and exercise routine, but struggled to lose the weight, even after undergoing thyroid treatment.

band surgery.

If that powerless feeling sounds familiar — or you’re unsure whether bariatric surgery might be an option for you, we’ve

“I decided I would take that path,” Sarten said. “I had the surgery

turned to the experts from the Redefine Clinical Weight Loss program to help answer some of your biggest questions.

and started losing weight, and feeling so much better.”

For more information about Redefine Clinical Weight Loss program, visit HCAhoustonhealthcare.com/redefine-weight-loss or call 833.203.9816.

What is bariatric surgery?

Bariatric surgery helps limit food intake and absorption, and allows for the maintenance of long-term, healthy weight loss goals, according to HCA Houston Healthcare. Weight loss procedures can dramatically improve and control complications from health conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and sleep apnea. Benefits can also include increased fertility during childbearing years and relief from depression due to improved body image.

Who is a good candidate for bariatric surgery?

“A person with a body mass index (BMI) higher than 40, or who is more than 100 pounds overweight; a person with a BMI over 35 who also has at least one or more obesity-related condition such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea and other respiratory disorders, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, osteoarthritis, lipid abnormalities, gastrointestinal disorders, or heart disease; or someone who has been unable to achieve a healthy weight loss sustained for a period of time with prior weight loss efforts,” says Dr. Khoi Du, general and bariatric

Patients should also start an exercise routine, as exercise will be very important for them afterward to help shed the weight and keep it off.

In the weeks leading up to a patient’s surgery, a psychiatric evaluation may be required. This is to ensure patients are doing the surgery for the right reasons, have realistic expectations, and are prepared for the limitations of their new way of life. Rigorous blood tests, sleep apnea tests and a liquid diet in the days immediately preceding surgery may also be required.

How invasive are the surgeries?

Almost all bariatric surgeries are now minimally invasive, with surgeons making six small cuts in the abdomen. Recovery time is much faster than it used to be, with most patients going home the day after surgery and feeling fully recovered within two or three weeks.

How does COVID-19 impact people with high BMIs?

surgeon with HCA Houston Healthcare.

Obese patients typically have more fatty tissue in the trunk area that decreases air flow. Many also have other conditions like high

What are the different types of bariatric surgeries?

blood pressure, fatty liver and diabetes which can make recovery from COVID-19 more difficult. Excess weight also makes it harder to intubate when breathing becomes difficult.

There are several, but among the most common is gastric bypass. This reduces the size of your stomach, then reroutes your small intestine to limit the number of calories and fat your body absorbs. Sleeve gastrectomy is also common, which removes about 80 percent of the stomach, leaving a smaller “sleeve” in its place. Duodenal switch is the most complex, essentially combining sleeve gastrectomy with gastric bypass. This type of surgery can offer greater weight loss and metabolic effects, but it also carries a higher risk of complications than the other two types.

How do you decide which procedure is best for you?

Sleeve gastrectomy is best for those who have had multiple abdominal surgeries, along with high-risk patients, severely morbidly obese (those more than 500 pounds), and people who take multiple medications. The duodenal switch is good for patients with severe obesity, are good at following doctor’s orders, and those with metabolic diseases.

What’s involved in preparing for the surgery and how does your life change afterward?

For anyone who might be interested in talking to an expert, HCA Houston Healthcare wants to help. The Redefine Clinical Weight Loss program is unique in that it wants to assist its patients every step of the way. Deciding to undergo bariatric surgery is no small consideration, and experts from the program can get involved early when it comes to insurance, determining whether surgery is the right option and what kind of surgery each person might require. From pre-surgery counseling and preparation to post-procedure support and education, Redefine Clinical Weight Loss is there.

Take it from Sarten, who had been working as a wound and ostomy nurse prior to her weight loss surgery. It was a twist of fate that landed her in her current role with HCA Houston Healthcare.

“The surgeon I worked with asked if I could help him get the program started,” Sarten said. “I realized that was exactly what I wanted to do – help others feel as great as I did. I eventually lost 110 pounds. I looked and felt healthier.”

After gastric bypass the stomach is the size of a D battery; after a sleeve, the stomach is the size of two stacked C batteries.

To prepare, patients should start practicing a healthy diet with fewer carbohydrates and more protein long before their surgery.

For more information about Redefine Clinical Weight Loss program, visit HCAhoustonhealthcare.com/redefine-weight-loss or call 833.203.9816.

Rick’sPICKS 24

Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2021

146

30 24

45

Americano Cafe c

OG Express

Angelo’s Escalante’s 22

Floyd’s

16 Lukas BBQ

29

BB’s 20 31 El Tiempo

39 40

Sokols Greek

Sawa

Dan’s

Habanero’s

Chelsea Wine Bar

r l e a

Boondoggles

10

46

l a kBARge 295 e

Scotty’s 14 28 Mediterraneo 44 11 9 Texas Huddle 37 12 Noon & Mirch 34 Las Haciendas 36Nobi Pomodoro’s 26

Masa Sushi

Cabo

35

Tookie’s Seafood

Crazy Alan’s

27

18

Bakkhus

38

Schafer’s

45 Tookies 8

Jackie’s Brickhouse

33 Las Haciendas

42

Wong’s Chef Classic Cafe

Sundance

Opus

19 11

32

A GUIDE TO THE BEST BITES AND BREWS IN THE BAY g a l v e s t o n

b ay

Skallywag’s

Dan’s Pizza

25

13

T-Bone Tom’s Kemah Cafe

17 Lukas BBQ

Red River Cantina

Gilhooley’s

AMERICAN ASIAN BBQ CAJUN ITALIAN MEDITERR. MEXICAN PUB/FUSION SEAFOOD

41 43

Red Oak Cafe

Marais

Gio’s

BITES OF THE BAY

AMERICAN 1. Jackie’s Brickhouse 1053 Marina Bay Dr. Kemah, TX (832) 864-2459 jackiesbrickhouse.com 2. Red Oak Café 6011 W Main St., #106, League City, TX (832) 905-3150 redoakcafe.com 3. T-Bone Tom’s 707 TX-146, Kemah, TX (281) 334-2133 tbonetoms.com 4. Cabo Bar & Grill 2513 NASA Rd. 1, Seabrook, TX (281) 532-2691 caboclearlake.com 5. BARge 295 2613 1/2 E NASA Pkwy, Seabrook, TX (281) 549-7603 thebarge295.com

21 15

Pier 6

Dickinson BBQ

23

13. Kemah Café 1201 TX-146, Kemah, TX (281) 535-9405 kemahcafe.com

25.Dan’s Pizza Wings ‘N’ Beer 800 Bradford, Kemah, TXW | (832) 551-3267 danspizzaco.com

14. Oriental Gourmet Express 1354 NASA Road 1, Houston, TX (281) 335-4567 orientalgourmetexpresstogo.com

26. Pomodoro’s Cucina Italiana 2700 Marina Bay Dr., League City, TX (281) 334-5950 pomodorosonline.com

BARBEQUE 15. Dickinson BBQ 2111 FM 517 Rd E, Dickinson, TX (281) 534-9405 dickinsonbbq.com

MEDITERRANEAN 27. Bakkhus Taverna 605 6th St., Kemah, TX (281) 538-1800 bakkhustaverna.com

16. Lukas BBQ 17052 Saturn Ln, Houston, TX (281) 286-8669 lukasbbq.com

MEDITERRANEAN

17. Lukas BBQ 1415 TX-146, Ste C, Kemah, TX (281) 334-0050 lukasbbq.com

6. Opus Bistro & Steakhouse 2500 South Shore Blvd, League City, TX (281) 334-5225 opusbistro.net

CAJUN 18. Crazy Alan’s Swamp Shack 310 Texas Avenue, Kemah, TX (281) 334-5000 crazyalanswampshack.com

7. Americano Café 2900 E NASA Pkwy, Suite 310, Seabrook, TX (281) 957-7830 americanocafe.us

19. Floyd’s Cajun Seafood 20760 Gulf Fwy, Webster, TX (281) 332-7474 floydswebster.com

8. Tookie’s Burgers 406 Texas Ave, Kemah, TX (281) 942-9334 tookiesburgers.com

20. BB’s Tex-Orleans 1039 Bay Area Blvd, Webster, TX (281) 767-9644 bbtexorleans.com

9. Texas Huddle Grille & Sports Bar 803 E NASA Pkwy, #100, Webster, TX 832-240-4694 texashuddle.com

21. Marais 2015 FM 517 W., Dickinson, TX (281) 534-1986 maraistx.com

ASIAN

ITALIAN

10.Wong’s Chef 2900 NASA Rd 1, Seabrook, TX (281) 532-3027 wongschef.com

22. Angelo’s Pizza & Pasta 400 Bay Area Blvd A, Webster, TX (281) 332-2404 angelospizza-pasta.com

11. Masa Sushi 977 E NASA Pkway, Webster, TX (281) 486-9688 masasuschitexas.com

23. Gio’s Flying Pizza & Pasta 650 FM 517 W, Dickinson, TX (281) 337-0107 giosflyingpizza.com

12. Noon Mirch - Cuisine of India 505 E NASA Parkway, Webster, TX (281) 333-4343 noonmirch.com

24. Dan’s Pizza 15148 TX-3, Webster (281) 480-9700 danspizzaco.com

28. Mediterraneo Market & Café 1400 NASA Parkway, Houston, TX (281) 333-3180 mediterraneomarket.com 29. Sawa Mediterranean 16608 El Camino Real, Houston, TX (281) 286-2989 sawarestaurantgrill.com 30. Sokols Greek Deli & Café 2410 Bay Area Blvd, Houston, TX (281) 286-2989 sokolsgreekcafe.com

PUB/BAR/FUSION 36. Nobi Public House 241 E NASA Pkwy, Houston, TX (832) 932-5111 nobipub.com m o

s e s

l a k e

37. Scotty’s Pub 3202 Marina Bay Dr. League City, TX (281) 339-7474 www.scottyspubhouston,com 38. Skallywag Suds & Grub 600 6th St. Kemah, TX (281) 538-8877 skallywag-kemah.com 39. Boondoogles Pub 4106 E NASA Pkwy, El Lago, TX (281) 326-2739 boondogglespub.com 40. Chelsea Wine Bar 4106 E NASA Pkwy, Ste F, El Lago, TX (281) 326-5282 chelseawinebartexas.com SEAFOOD

MEXICAN/TEX MEX

41. Gilhooley’s Oyster Bar 222 9th St. San Leon, TX 281-339-3813 gilhooleystx.com

31. El Tiempo Cantina 20237 Gulf Fwy, Webster, TX (713) 802-1500 eltiempocantina.com

42. Tookie’s Seafood 1106 Bayport Blvd, Seabrook, TX (281) 942-9445 tookiesseafood.com

32. Habañero’s Tacos 1908 Hialeah Dr., #2, Seabrook, TX (281) 474-4400 havanerostacos.com

43. Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House 113 6th St., San Leon, TX (281) 339-1515 pier6seafood.com

33. Las Haciendas - Webster 1020 W. NASA Rd. 1, Webster, TX (281) 557-3500 lashaciendasgrill.com

44. Sundance Grill II 800 Mariners Dr., Kemah, TX (281) 535-5350 sundance-grill.com

34. Las Haciendas - League City 2951 Marina Bay Dr., League City, TX (281) 334-2175 lashaciendasgrill.com

45. Schafer’s Coastal Bar & Grills 1002 Aspen Rd., Clear Lake Shores, TX (281) 532-6860 schafercoastalbarand grille.com

35. Red River Cantina 1911 E Main St. A, League City, TX (281) 557-8156 redrivercantina.com

46. Seabrook Classic Café 2511 NASA Pkwy, Seabrook, TX (281) 326-1512 seabrookclassiccafe.com

NOVEMBER 2021 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

25

2700 Marina Bay Dr. League City, TX 77573 (281) 334-5950

26

Bay Area Houston Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2021

Thanksgiving Meal

$115 Inclusive | Feeds 4-6 • Ham/Turkey • Cornbread Dressing/Mashed Potatoes • Green Bean Casserole/Rolls/Gravy • Pumpkin Pie

Pickup Times Nov. 25, 2021 @ 11:30 | 12:15 Curbside Pickup Cut off date for orders: Tuesday 11/23/21 3pm | Sorry, no substitutions

AT

SOUTH SHORE HARBOUR RESORT

FOR ORDERS CONTACT 281-334-1000 x 2037

NOVEMBER 2021 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

27

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2021

Benefitting

Come and Get 'Em

"Shop with a Cop"

CHRISTMAS PUB CRAWL through the Kemah Lighthouse District

Friday, December 10th 6:00 PM Start at T-Bone Tom’s

Bring a WalMart or regular Gift Card for Families in need

Wanna roll instead of stroll?

Donate extra $10 to Shop with a Cop!

1415 Hwy 146 #Suite C Kemah, TX 77565

SPECIALS

SEAFOOD & MORE!

$4.99

$9.99

FRIED ZUCCHINI FRIED MUSHROOMS FRIED PICKLES CHEESE STICKS CHEESE CURDS

SPICY CRISPY CHICKEN SHRIMP POBOY FISH POBOY KEMAH BURGER $6.99

BUFFALO BBQ CHICKEN WINGS $8.99 SHRIMP SALAD $10.99 CHEESESTEAK SANDWICH $11.99

ALL KIDS MEALS $5.99 CHICKEN TENDERS SAUSAGE ON A STICK KIDS BURGER CHOPPED BRISKET SANDWICH KIDS MEAL SHRIMP NOVEMBER 2021 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

29

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2021

NELSON MADRIGAL | ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

December 3 - 5, 2021 December 10 - 12, 2021 Bayou Theater

University of Houston - Clear Lake

A classical holiday tradition filled with toy soldiers, dancing snowflakes and the magical Land of Sweets.

Bay Area Houston’s perennial family favorite.

BAHBT.ORG/THENUTCRACKER

November 20, 2021

Breakfast at 8:00 AM Tea at 2:00 PM South Shore Harbour Resort BAHBT.ORG/BREAKFAST

CAITLIN CANNON PHOTOGRAPHY

CLEAR LAKE

NOVEMBER 2021 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

31

EAT MORE

COLOR The best way to get all of the vitamins, minerals and nutrients you need is to eat a variety of colorful fruits and veggies.

RED & PINK blackberries blueberries black currants dates eggplants

plums prunes purple figs raisins grapes

GREEN artichokes asparagus avocados bok choy broccoli Brussels sprouts celery collard greens cucumbers green beans green cabbage green grapes green onions green peppers kale

kiwis leeks limes mustard greens okra pears peas romaine lettuce snow peas spinach sugar snap peas watercress zucchini

WHITE

bananas cauliflower garlic Jerusalem artichokes

EAT SMART

32

Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2021

beets cherries cranberries pink grapefruit rhubarbs strawberries tomatoes watermelons

pomegranates radicchio red radishes red apples red grapes red peppers red potatoes

ORANGE & YELLOW acorn squash butternut squash apricots cantaloupes carrots corn grapefruit lemons mangoes nectarines oranges yellow squash

orange peppers papayas peaches pineapples pumpkins summer squash sweet potatoes tangerines yams yellow apples yellow peppers

mushrooms onions potatoes parsnips shallots

MOVE MORE

BE WELL

heart.org/HealthyForGood ©American Heart Association 2021 DS16480 8/20

www.gulfcoastmariner.com

By Capt. David C. Dillman galvestonbaycharterfishing.com (832) 228-8012

I

have always tried to be creative when it comes to my writings. Most of my articles are not the typical related fishing stories, like one would expect to read in this type of column. With Christmas around the corner, here is a gift idea, “for that hard to buy for” angler.

We are heading into our high season, for a hurricane to threaten the coast of Texas. All boat owners need to make sure that their trailer is road worthy. Wheel bearings, winch strap. bunk supports, axles, all need to be checked. Last but not least, test the trailer lights. How many times have you plugged in those lights and nothing lights up? If you have owned a boat for any length of time, the answer is many.

In 2010 Slick Sticks was founded by a gentleman named Tim Krejci. Tim grew up in Victoria, Texas and upon graduation, he received a scholarship to play baseball at The University Of Texas at Arlington. During the summers, when he was not fishing, Tim played semi-pro baseball in Mexico. Forgoing a contract offer to play professional baseball, he enrolled back into school and obtained a business degree from UT at Arlington.

An avid fisherman, boat owner, and somewhat a perfectionist, Tim always thought those white PVC guide post, looked horrible on trailers. One day while having his orange and white boat detailed, and not liking the look of those PVC pipes, he decided to have them painted black. He liked the look. Then he thought about the trailer lights. Always having trouble with his lights, the idea came to him, that having those lights mounted up high on the guide post, would be much more functional and depend-

Trailer Light Problems? able. Thus, the idea of Slick Sticks was formed.

The first prototype was made from aluminum pipe with inserted LED lights. During the first few months of having the guide post lights on his trailer, people would approach him, asking where they were available for purchase. Being the businessman, he began to take orders and have them built. He even went a step further, featuring Slick Sticks at the Houston Boat Show, with 70 units and promptly sold out. McClain trailers expressed interest in them, and became the first major retailer, while Krejci was developing a new concept for the product.

It took a little over two years for new design. Using an epoxy fiberglass resin mix, the first set was popped out of the mold. Then he found a company that could make the lights in series, to insert into the mold. The labor intensive and time consuming process had been shortened. He now had a product that was marketable.

Slick Sticks are made here in the Houston area and assembled in Hitchcock, 100 percent made in the USA. It is a family run business with just two employees, himself and Macy Leopold. This little company has grown in the past few years Now available retail in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and of course Texas. Check them out online at getslicksticks.com.

My belief in this product is the only reason why I wrote this article. I see so many problems with boat trailer lights, while driving in wee hours of the morning. Also this country was founded on small businesses. I much rather support these, then others that are based overseas.

Fishing should be really good for speckled trout this November. The fish typically will be shallow, and along the shorelines with structure. Many will be staging in the northern reaches of Trinity Bay, as tides continue to drop, with each passing cold front.

Baitfish and shrimp will be pushed out of the marsh, and speckled trout and redfish, will be waiting.

Clear Creek ISD board adopts its lowest tax rate in 30 years

T

he Clear Creek ISD Board of Trustees adopted the District’s lowest tax rate in 30 years at the Sept. 27 meeting. The 2021 total adopted rate is $1.1797 per $100 taxable value, which is a decrease of 8.62 cents from last year.

The tax rate consists of two components, the maintenance and operations tax rate of $.8897 and the interest and sinking tax rate of $0.29. The maintenance and operations rate is a result of TEA’s Maximum Compressed Rate calculation and is the lowest possible rate without incurring financial penalties.

Taxable property values have seen an increase of 9% from last year. The school district sees the majority of taxable values from single family residences, which make up 72,549 total accounts.

The board gave taxpayers the opportunity to discuss the proposed rate during a public hearing held before the August 2021 regular meeting. The 2021-2022 general fund budget of more than $371 million was also approved at the August meeting which included a 3% salary increase for all employees and an increase in the District’s health insurance premium contribution.

NOVEMBER 2021 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

33

TE! A D HE T E V SA

Star

reach for the

FAMILY PROMISE of CLEAR CREEK gala & auction Saturday . November 13, 2021. 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Lakewood Yacht Club

live entertainment provided by

PHIL STACEY

from the 6th season of American Idol

Sponsorships are Available.

Donations for Live and Silent Auctions are gratefully accepted.

Information: fundraising@ccfamilypromise.org 832.932.9363 34

Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2021

Ford Bronco

Old meets New

By Don Armstrong

C

ar makers are beginning the transition.

When the first Ford Bronco hit local showrooms in the fall of ‘65, no one knew the SUV market would become what it is today. Clearly a lot has changed.

All-new, purpose-built, body-on-frame SUVs are a rarity these days, but Ford decided it was time to challenge the venerable Jeep Wrangler once again. When Ford used the Bronco name to battle the much larger, 2-door Chevy K 5 Blazer, Ford abandoned the fight with the smaller Wrangler.

Those days are over.

The all-new 2022 Bronco is a throwback to the original and it is an instant hit – short front and rear overhangs, slab sides and a modern grille, harken back to the pre-Woodstock era original.

Today’s Bronco comes in 2 and 4-door models, each with removable doors and roof panels.

The base engine is a turbocharged I-4 with up to 300 horsepower. A turbo V-6, 6+1 manual transmission and 10-speed automatic are also available, but there are constraints depending on the trim package you choose.

One of the many things Ford did right on the Bronco is options, from mild to wild. If you’re into serious off-roading and want to go “all-the-way,” there are two 4 X 4 modes from which to choose, and that’s just for starters. Bronco’s Trail Toolbox includes items such as Trail Control™, a cruise

control for low-speed trail driving, Trail Turn Assist to tighten off-road turning radii through torque vectoring, plus Trail One-Pedal Drive acceleration/ braking control for more precise slow-mode rock crawling.

In the cabin are well marked controls, comfortable, yet supportive, seats with optional “feel good” adjustments. Our loaner Badlands edition had the optional 12-inch LCD infotainment screen paired with the SYNC® 4 system that provides software updates and integration to the available FordPass™ Performance app with offroad navigation - it allows you to plan, navigate and share off-road adventures.

For the mudders who prefer to hose-out their Broncos, rubber floor coverings with drain plugs are on the order sheet too.

We really liked our Bronco 2-door, and with all the “thumbs-up” and “hey, can we look inside” parking lot banter we received, seems like a lot of other

folks do too.

The 2022 model will start at about $30,000 and goes on sale any day now. As you can imagine, it’s selling like hot cakes so be prepared to wait for your order to arrive.

NOVEMBER 2021 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

35

Thankful for …

By Pastor Brad

I

t’s November. Thanksgiving is around the corner and we have the annual reminder to be thankful. Many times when we are asked for what we are thankful, we tend to share some “thing” verses some “one.”

If we have learned anything over the last few years, there are a lot of “whats” in our life for which we aren’t thankful. This list could include worsening weather, painful politics, floundering finances, or hazardous health to name a few. If we have learned anything, it is more important to be thankful for someone. Why would this be more important? Because our “whats” can be constantly in flux, here today and gone tomorrow.

But those who stick around, whom we can call at

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2021

3am, who have shown us love are the ones we should thank.

God’s Word says, “A person of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24 ESV) When I personally think of whom to be thankful, at the top of my list is God. God has been there through thick and thin and has helped me so much in times of trouble. When I don’t feel His presence, don’t see His help or don’t know if He will deliver, I remember that God has always kept His promises.

The proof of that is in Jesus Christ. He not only said words of encouragement, He actually backed them up with what He did. Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13 ESV) Then Jesus gave His perfect life as a sacrifice for my imperfect life.

If He can keep this promise, then I know that He will be there for me no matter what happens.

First, I am thankful for Jesus and second, I am thankful for those people in my life who are the

hands and feet of Jesus. Sometimes I forget that God shows up in people and what they do.

When imperfect people show up with the perfect love of God, then I want to give thanks.

Jesus said, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35 ESV).

Third, I am thankful for those imperfect people to whom I can show God’s perfect love. It says in the Gospel of Luke, “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35 ESV).

So let’s look around the table this Thanksgiving and thank the special people in our lives, starting with God who chose us first, then those who choose to love us and then those whom we choose to love.

Thankful for you… for reading this article and choosing to be thankful.

May God bless you with a Happy Thanksgiving!

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We wish you and your family a blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!

NOVEMBER 2021 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

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Salute to Service Gala at SSHR

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2021

Gary Puckett with some fans at Salute to Service Gala at SSHR

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Salute to Service Gala at SSHR

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