Katy Today

November 2018

Katy Today

FRONT COVER

MAGAZINE

FreeRolls Poker Club New poker club concept creates fully-legal game play in Katy

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Katy Today MAGAZINE November 2018 PUBLISHER Terry Schaub 281.391.3141 tschaub@katytimes.com EDITOR Terry Schaub 281.391.3141 news@katytimes.com LAYOUT & GRAPHICS Sandra Boyer 254.220.6498 sandra@april-mariedesign.com ADVERTISING 281.391.3141 sales@katytimes.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Claire Goodman Tom Behrens CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Claire Goodman Tom Behrens Al Torres Photography

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Revolutionary poker club opens in Katy FREEROLLS POKER CLUB BRINGS FIRST FULLY-LEGAL POKER CLUB TO TEXAS

By Claire Goodman Photo Credits: Al Torres Photography Poker fans rejoice: Texas’ first fully-legal poker club is now in Katy.

FreeRolls Poker Clubs opened recently the doors for legal poker playing in Texas, a state notorious for its restrictive gambling laws. Poker clubs still operate in the state, but they do so by exploiting loopholes or flying under the radar.

FreeRolls Poker Club is 100 percent legal. Previously, poker players in Texas had to drive to Louisiana to enjoy their pastime. Now they can simply go to FreeRolls Poker Club, located directly off I-10 in Katy.

Founder Trent Daniel is an avid poker player with a strong business acumen. He realized that fully-legal poker was possible in the state of Texas, but it would require a new business

model. Daniel faced a quandary: how to create a legal gaming concept while still turning a profit for the business.

“The first step was analyzing the laws of poker in Texas and making sure we were 100 percent compliant with them,” explained Daniel. “We knew that in order to be compliant, we had to make sure we were following the letter of the law.

No loopholes. Full transparency. We looked at the law from the most conservative approach.”

It seems the current business model of poker clubs hasn’t changed since the inception of the game. As such, Texas was prohibitive to anyone wanting to host the game legally. That’s where Daniel saw his opportunity. If he were to reinvent the business model, he could open the door to a completely legal poker club that still turned a profit. But first, he had to examine the laws with razor-sharp attention.

November 2018 / Katy Today / 5

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By Texas law, poker establishments must be a private business. Players must be members, and there can be no backroom games operating inside a public place. To meet this criteria, FreeRolls requires an initial vetting through PatronScan, a system that uses a database of government-issued IDs to check for felony crimes. Anyone with a felony record will be denied membership.

The system also generates a feeling of security among its members. Knowing that none of the other players have a felony record means greater personal safety, which in turn is drawing in patrons who previously eschewed poker clubs.

Daniel said, “Some people want to play, but they don’t want to go somewhere seedy or under-the-radar. This place is making things safer. We’re bringing the game of poker out from the underground.”

The law also states that the odds of winning must be the same for all players. While the game of poker is inherently egalitarian in terms of odds, businesses would often sell perks in order to make an extra profit. “For example,” said Daniel, “(the business) might allow patrons to buy extra chips, which would automatically give them better odds.”

Winning the game had to come down to skill or luck for the game to be legal.

The last tenet of legal gambling was the most challenging: the business could not make money from the game winnings.

“Raking” is the system in which the establishment keeps a percentage of the winning pot, and it is strictly prohibited in Texas. FreeRolls charges a $10 hourly rate which establishes the pot of winnings, but the winner collects all of it. So FreeRolls keeps nothing from the hourly rate.

To make his enterprise completely legal, Daniel had to remove all the conventional revenue practices from his establishment. But as he was still running a business, he had to come up with a different way of generating income.

Essentially, Daniel had to devise a way to run a business without charging fees or making money off the game in any way. The problem was complex, but the answer was simple: advertising.

Each table in FreeRolls is equipped with a small tablet that delivers ads to the players based on their membership profiles. “We call it a win-win-win system. Players get to enjoy

legal poker without hidden or tacked-on fees. Advertisers get a captive audience of their target viewers. And we operate a fully-legal business that’s profitable and easy to expand,” said Daniel.

FreeRolls makes less money from the business itself but makes it up through advertising.

The ingenious concept is so profitable that Daniel went a step farther and removed all the fees from the game, not just the illegal ones. “There is absolutely no nickel-and-diming of our patrons. There are no hidden fees of any kind,” Daniel explained.

Advertisers leapt at the opportunity to market to players directly from the table. FreeRolls’ list of sponsors include hotels, car dealerships, restaurants and software companies.

Most impressively, the Coushatta Casino Resorts have purchased ads with FreeRolls. “We both specialize in gambling,” explained Daniel, “but we’re not in competition. We offer completely different experiences.”

The Coushatta Casino Resorts offer games that are blatantly banned in Texas, such as blackjack and roulette, but their target audience is the same as FreeRolls. Daniel added, “And since we’re located right on I-10, it’s just a straight-shot from here to Louisiana.”

With ad-based income, the possibilities for FreeRolls are nearly endless. The club can easily expand to new locations, and they are now partnered with enterprises previously outside the realm of Texas.

The World Poker Tour (WPT) has always shied away from hosting tournaments in Texas because of the state’s stringent laws. As the largest and most esteemed poker entertainment business in the world, WPT has a reputation to uphold, and aligning themselves with a poker club operating without full legality was out of the question.

But now, with Daniel’s revolutionary concept, the WPT is able to establish a presence in the state. As a result, FreeRolls is now an Official Satellite Partner of the WPT. “The WPT has never given its name to any place in Texas before,” Daniel said. Because FreeRolls is 100 percent compliant with Texas law, WPT confidently partnered with the club. For the first time ever, the WPT arrived in Texas.

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from Sept. 26 to Oct. 1. Professional poker players, celebrities and poker fans converged on the new FreeRolls location, which just opened recently.

And while Daniel was thrilled by the fanfare and prestige that the WPT brought to FreeRolls, it is not the main focus of his establishment. Daniel hopes his new concept model will draw in patrons who never played poker before.

“I’m a huge poker fan,” Daniel admitted, “but also I want people to come here who have never played the game before, and I want them to have a great time.” FreeRolls features a full-bar and live music, so anyone can enjoy the atmosphere, whether they play poker or not.

Daniel also plans to host several non-poker related events throughout the year. “We’re going to have an old-school Atari tournament. I think that’s what I’m most looking forward to.

We’re also going to do Monopoly Night, Mega Scramble, and maybe even have Playstation tournaments,” he said.

Daniel wants to see more women involved in poker as well. Said Daniel: “Poker is a game where 87 percent of the players are male. I want to change that. I want to host events like Ladies’ Nights to get women out so they can see what a great game it is.”

FreeRolls will operate from 11 a.m. until 3 a.m., but for the first three months, Daniel plans to keep the establishment open at all times. “We’re going to be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” he reported. He then added, “Of course, we’ll have to stop serving liquor at 2 a.m. to comply with TABC (Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission).”

It is also important to Daniel that FreeRolls becomes entrenched in the Katy community through philanthropy. He is already planning to host fundraisers for local law enforcement and charities. “The Katy area is growing, and we want to be a part of that growth by giving back to the community,” he said.

Most importantly, Daniel wants to see the game he loves out in the open and available to everyone. “The thing I care most about is,I really want people to have fun here,” Daniel said.

To learn more about FreeRolls Poker Clubs and the WPT, visit www.freerollspokerclubs.com.

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Katy ISD students serve up culinary arts at

By Claire Goodman

Old Town Bistro

The Old Town Bistro has a cozy atmosphere. The food is delicious and elegantly appointed, and the napkins are delicately folded on the plates. Behind a large set of windows is the kitchen where chefs shuffle around preparing food and serving plates. The lunch menus feature weekly specials and house-made desserts. It’s a popular dining establishment despite its small size; between breakfast and lunch, 30 to 60 patrons will dine in the restaurant.

In fact the only real difference between the Old Town Bistro and any other small, ambient diner is the staff. The servers and chefs are all high school students at the Miller Career and Technology Center (MCTC).

Students at the MCTC come from all over Katy ISD to attend the specialized trade-oriented classes offered at the school. Old Town Bistro is facilitated through the culinary program, which is available to juniors and seniors in Katy ISD. MCTC principal Russell Faldon said, “We are a campus that is comprised of all the high schools in Katy. The MCTC is like nowhere else in the district. Students come here from every campus. We’ve got students from Mayde Creek, Taylor, Tompkins and Seven Lakes all working together in one place.”

The majority of the students working in the Old Town Bistro are thinking of pursuing a career in the culinary arts.

The teenagers do everything, including cooking, cleaning, menu preparation and management. “The program gives kids a hands-on opportunity to learn. We give them real-world experience,” Faldon said.

The Old Town Bistro has been in operation for over a decade, but the program continues to expand. The bistro now serves breakfast and lunch on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

A morning crew comes in between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. to open the restaurant and serve guests. After their “shift” they return to their high school for classes, and the next group of students comes through to serve lunch.

Chef Chelsea Gumm heads the program. Like most of the teachers at MCTC, she has extensive experience in the subject that bolsters her curricular knowledge. In addition to years of experience in restaurant management and culinary arts, she is a member of the Texas Chefs Association and the American Culinary Federation.

Gumm sees to it that the students participate in the full-spectrum of restaurant management. The students must create and adhere to a budget. Just like any restaurant, the Old Town Bistro is self-sustaining from its income. The district does not pay for its operations. “It’s fullyfunctioning, just like any restaurant,” she said, “and just like any restaurant, you have to make sales to order food for the next week’s meals. So we are 100 percent generating all the funds. All sales go right back into the program.”

The students plan the menu and calculate operational costs. They work hard, but for teenages with a passion for culinary arts, it is well worth the effort. “This is an opportunity to shine in something they’re really passionate about,” Gumm said.

Students in the program may work like typical employees, but they are still graded on their work. Gumm grades them the way a restaurant manager might review employees. “I grade on a rubric system, looking at everything that a boss would look at. Are they coming in on time? Are they coming in proper uniform? Are they following through with recipes and following all the food safety procedures? Because when they don’t do these things, the customer suffers,” she explained.

Just like typical courses, the students working in Old Town Bistro have homework and final projects. The homework is unique, however, in that most of it earns the students official certifications they will need later in the culinary world.

“They do a food safety (public service announcement) in honor of food safety month. Then they get their ServeSafe certifications in their junior year. And all 23 students in the senior-level are manager-level certified in food safety,” Gumm reported. Some students who have graduated from

November 2018 / Katy Today / 11

the program have placed out of several certification classes required for restaurant management. “One student told me he placed out of his Sanitation Safety class because we did it here at MCTC,” she said.

Richard Redland is a student at Taylor High School.

He worked diligently in the kitchen, preparing the “Chef Special:” a fried chicken Kiev stuffed with garlic butter and paired with sides of green beans and mashed potatoes. Unlike core curriculum classes, Old Town Bistro gives students hands-on experience in the subject matter. Said Redland: “It really helps with real-world skills. Whereas, in normal school you learn practical application, (MCTC) goes beyond that.”

The program translates into real-life in the culinary arts realm, and many students who have graduated from the program have gone on to have distinguished careers in the food industry.

One of Gumm’s former students graduated from The Culinary Studio in San Antonio with a Pastry Arts degree and is now running her own successful cakery. Other students are enrolled in illustrious programs like the Culinary Arts Institute in New York.

12 / Katy Today /November 2018

Knowing that her eager students leave the program often go on to achieve great things later in life is deeply gratifying to Gumm. “At the end when (the students) come back and they tell me what they’re doing now, I get goosebumps,” she says, beaming with pride. “Then I have to run and brag about it to all my other kids and say, ‘Look, this is what you can do if you just stick it out, and you keep going and put your best foot forward’,” she added, laughing.

For the passionate students in the MCTC culinary program, graduation is only the beginning of a meaningful career in the culinary industry. “When they leave here, they’re at the beginning of their journey, not the end,” said Gumm.

The Old Town Bistro is open to the public and operates on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Breakfast is served from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., and lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. The restaurant is cash only, and reservations are preferred. For more information, or to make a reservation, visit the Katy ISD website at www.katyisd.org/campus/ MCTC or the Old Town Bistro’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mctcculinaryarts

Fashion Show

celebrates models with intellectual and developmental disabilities

By Claire Goodman Cameras snapped and music pumped as Lila strutted down the runway of the F-A-L-L- into Fall Fashion Show.

She modeled the latest fall formal wear: a long-sleeved black chiffon and tulle gown paired with a three-tiered statement necklace. As Lila strode in time with Pink’s song “Just like Fire”, the emcee said, “Lila loves to see people happy and succeed. Her goal is to be sassy and fabulous. Not only is she beautiful, but tonight, she’s a girl on fire.”

Lila is a client at Lifelong Learning Center, a non-profit day-center for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The organization is dedicated to positively impacting the quality of life for people with IDD or similar needs. They focus on enabling their clients to be more independent and to empower them to believe in themselves and their abilities. On Oct. 6, Lifelong Learning Centers put on a fashion show featuring models with IDD. Most of the models were clients of Lifelong Learning Center, but all individuals in the community with IDD were invited to participate in the event.

The purpose of the fashion show was to give the clients the opportunity to be celebrated in a way they are not often celebrated. Samantha Maney is a volunteer who helped organize and orchestrate F-A-L-L into Fall. She noted that there are not many opportunities for people with IDD or similar disorders to be cheered in the fashion world. “There’s not a lot of representation in fashion or many other opportunities for them to shine,” she said.

Maney explained, “Our main purpose for the event today is just to show them that you can do anything you want to do.

You can achieve more than what most people would assume you can achieve. Our main purpose will always be to empower them.”

Each model had their hair and make-up done by make-up

artist Beatriz Palomo, owner of Face-Beat by Beatriz. Palomo donated her time, services, and products to the show because she strongly believes that everyone should have the opportunity to feel beautiful. Said Palomo: “I volunteered because I love to have the chance to make someone feel beautiful. I wanted to be a part of this amazing event to bring awareness, as I feel it’s very important that everyone knows all lives matter no matter what differences we have.”

The models showcased fashions from Southern Gossip Boutique. After the show, the models got to keep the clothing they wore. Sisters Alexis Bailey and Angelique Bailey own Southern Gossip Boutique. Their boutique donated all the clothing items from the fashion show. Said Angelique: “This is just really special to all of us. We were so excited to donate our clothes. Everyone deserves to feel special.”

Alexis agreed, “We want to do anything to help out. We take this cause very seriously in our family, so anything we could do to help make (the clients) feel special we wanted to be a part of.”

The sisters believe that fashion is a unique avenue to making the clients feel empowered because of the glamour and beauty it embodies. “The models are beautiful, but society doesn’t always treat them like they should be as beautiful as everyone else, and we just don’t agree with that. We want to see that change,” said Angelique.

As the models advanced down the catwalk to their favorite songs, the emcee described each individual. Each model came up with their own description of themselves, making each biography as unique as the models themselves.

Lila, a client at Lifelong Learning Center was thrilled to participate in the fashion show. “I like to model with my friends, (who are) people with special needs. I think it’s great to be with them, and I had my hair and make-up done,” she said.

While Lifelong Learning Center put on the show, people

November 2018 / Katy Today / 13

with IDD throughout the community were invited to participate. Lifelong Learning Center assistant director Ebony Young felt it was important to include everyone with IDD. “We provide services to adults with IDD, so we thought about having a fall fashion show. Then we opened it up to the community. Anyone who had disabilities was welcome.”

So while many of the models were clients from the center, many were not.

The event emulated any mainstream fashion show, including recruitment of the models. “We had a casting call and we did a meet and greet. We did everything,” Young said. She was commited to making the show a true fashion experience, which is why each model got the high-fashion treatment before the event with hair and make-up. “The most important thing is making our clients feel celebrated in a way that they deserve but don’t always get,” said Young.

While this was the first year for the show, Young intends for the F-A-L-L Fashion Show to be an annual event moving forward. “This event was such a huge success. We’re going to do it every year,” she said.

and loves to help others. Her Favorite activities are Special Olympics, listening to music and dancing. She was most excited about the fashion show because she has the experience of wearing a wonderful wardrobe.

STEVEN:

BAILEYS:

Volunteer Samantha Maney escorts model Steven across the stage at the F-A-L-L into Fall Fashion Show. The fashion show gave adults with IDD the opportunity to shine and be empowered.

Southern Gossip Boutique owners Alexis (right) and Angelique donated all the outfits for the fashion show. After the show, models got to keep the clothes they modeled.

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ASHLEY: Ashley is sweet, bubbly, protective and quiet. She wants people to know that she enjoys volunteering with the elderly. She enjoys dancing, telling funny jokes and making people smile Her favorite activities are fishing and swimming. Ashley loves to rescue animals and make more friends.

LOLA: Lola is friendly and outgoing. She enjoys volunteering at church and listening to music. She was excited to see the clothes and get her hair and make-up done.

LILA: Lila loves to see people happy and succeed. Her goal is to be sassy and fabulous.

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Photo 1: Huntyce Moore (left), a teacher at Katy High School, browses ‘Little Bird Products’ with owner Doris Amstutz. PHOTO BY CLAIRE GOODMAN Photo 2: From left to right: Jordan Bittley and Sydney White are members of the Katy High School Bengal Brigade. They handed out maps and greeted visitors to the Heart of Katy Craft Show, which raised money for their program and school. PHOTOS BY CLAIRE GOODMAN Photos 3 and 4: The Heart of Katy Craft Show featured 100 vendors and attracted nearly 1,000 visitors. The event featured arts, crafts, clothing, decorations and jewelry. Many booths featured holiday items for the upcoming fall and winter seasons.

Heart of Katy Craft Show raises money for Katy’s Bengal Brigade

By Claire Goodman When it comes to fundraising, the Katy High School Bengal Brigade thinks outside the coupon books and wrapping paper sales. The dance and cheerleading team hosts some of the most creative and lucrative fundraising events in Katy.

On Sept. 8-9, the Katy High School Bengal Brigade hosted the Heart of Katy Craft Show in the Katy High School gymnasium. The show featured 100 vendors and attracted nearly 1,000 visitors over the two-day event. All proceeds from the event benefited Katy High School’s athletic and spirit programs.

The Bengal Brigade dancers and cheerleaders worked the event themselves. Jordan Bittley and Sydney White are both Katy High School students on the Bengal Brigade.

They greeted visitors, thanked them for supporting the Katy High School Bengal Brigade and handed out maps of the event. Bittley said, “I’m happy to be here helping the Bengal Brigadel. The money we make here goes to buying athletic equipment and helping the school.”

Show visitor Janet Marks said, “I think it’s neat that the kids are out here working this event. It shows how much they care about their school.”

The Heart of Katy Craft Show featured artwork, clothing, crafts, decorations and jewelry from local vendors. Some of the vendors sold the work they do for a career, but others like Doris Amstutz just came out for the fun of it. Amstutz

owns “Little Bird Products,” which she operates out of her spare bedroom.

Said Amstutz: “I retired from my job about four years ago when we moved to Texas to be closer to my daughter.

Instead of driving my kids and my husband crazy, I decided to get out my sewing machine and do something.”

This is Amstutz’ first time as a vendor at the Heart of Katy Craft Show. “This (craft show) is my creative outlet. I love being here. I love the crowd here, and the way they’ve set this all up is just perfect,” she said.

Huntyce Moore perused Amstutz’ booth, which featured hand-sewn decorations, home goods and apparel. Moore is a teacher at Katy High School. “I just love to come (to the show) because I like talking with these crafters and seeing some of the amazing things they’ve done. It’s a wonderful opportunity, and I love the fact that the Brigade makes money. It’s a really fun way to fundraise,” she said.

At every turn in the show, there was an opportunity for the Katy High School Bengal Brigade to earn funds for their school. The team had a large set-up selling school shirts and spirit wear. They sold lunches and baked potatoes. Patrons could buy raffle tickets for a chance to win a vendor-donated item.

The Katy High School Bengal Brigade also has a spring Heart of Katy Craft Show which will take place in February of 2019.

November 2018 / Katy Today / 17

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Allie Jarreau from Kendra Scott volunteered at the gala. Kendra Scott donated 30 pieces of jewelry for a jewelry “pull” to raise money for KCM.

Gala patrons enjoyed fine dining at the Beckendorff Farms venue where they gala was held.

The KCM Gala is the largest fundraising event for KCM.

The Katy High School String Quartet entertained with both classical and modern interpretation melodies.

Katy Christian Ministries

draws community support with gala

By Claire Goodman For nearly 35 years, Katy Christian Ministries (KCM) has been serving the Katy community. The organization provides food, social services, crisis counseling and other aid for local individuals and families.

Katy Christian Ministries hosted their 14th annual fundraising event, the “Transforming Lives Gala” on Sept. 25.

The event included a jewelry pull from Kendra Scott, dinner,

20 / Katy Today /November 2018

silent auction, live auction, raffle and door prizes. The keynote speaker for the event was Dr. Lance Hindt, superintendent of Katy ISD. The theme for the evening was “Remember, Rejoice, Revive.”

Kent Black, president of the Katy Christian Ministries board of directors, said: “Tonight we’re remembering where we’ve been. We’ve been here for 35 years helping the community. We’re rejoicing in what we’ve accomplished. And

we’re reviving our work in what’s to come.”

As gala visitors enjoyed the evening, the Katy High School String Quartet filled the Beckendorff Farms venue with both classical and revamped modern melodies. There was also live music on the main stage from The Barry Sames Quartet.

Kendra Scott donated 30 pieces of jewelry for the event.

Each piece was in a box, so the item was a surprize. Patrons could select or “pull” one box for $60 or two boxes for $100.

Each piece was valued between $50 and $200.

The Kendra Scott Jewelry Pull was the first attraction of the night. Allie Jarreau, community relations and event manager at the Kendra Scott in City Centre was on hand to volunteer at the event and represent her company. “We partnered with KCM because it’s such a great cause. One hundred percent of every piece sold tonight is going back to the organization,” Jarreau said.

Kendra Scott has a commitment to philanthropy and volunteering. “It’s our philosophy,” said Jarreau, “We always want to help anywhere in the community that we’re needed.”

Jarreau not only volunteered at the Katy Christian Ministries Gala, she has also volunteered at the KCM retail stores. “(The jewelry) is just one way we’re involved. We work in the community, too,” she said. The Kendra Scott pieces sold out almost immediately.

The silent auction was also a big hit at the event. Items ranged from spa days to sports memorabilia. Knowing that every item and gift basket sold went directly to supporting Katy Christian Ministries, gala supporters bidded generously on the 45 featured lots. For $20, gala patrons could also purchase five raffle tickets which they could use to try to win smaller items like gift cards and holiday decorations.

As bidders perused the silent auction, many sipped complimentary wine or beer. All the beer from the event was donated by No Label Brewing Co. Jennifer Royo, co-founder of No Label said that the brewery was excited to support an important cause like Katy Christian Ministries – especially because it’s a local charity. “No Label is proud to be a donor for KCM’s Gala,” she said. “We think they are doing amazing things. KCM is doing wonderful things in the community.”

The Katy Christian Ministries Gala is the biggest fundraising event for the organization. Board member Anita Mancini was on-hand to help with the jewelry pull and silent auction.

“We’re hoping not only to cultivate donors, but to bring in new volunteers and support awareness for the things we do for the community,” Mancini said.

Glenn Beckendorff was the emcee for the evening. Once the event began, he welcomed the crowd by telling the histo-

ry of Katy Christian Ministries. He said, “Nine churches got together to create Katy Christian Ministries on June 25, 1984, and since then they have grown to 35 churches.”

Beckendorff also noted the scope of the work Katy Christian Ministries does in the community using the donations they receive. “They have social services, which take care of the needs of people that don’t have the necessities to get by.

They have a food pantry, a resale store, a donations center, a domestic abuse center and a sexual abuse center, and they’re all run by donations.”

After his speech, gala attendees were invited to enjoy a barbeque dinner buffet from Midway BBQ. After the silent auction and raffle closed, Deysi Crespo, executive director of Katy Christian Ministries, opened the stage for Hindt, the keynote speaker for the evening. She praised Hindt for his involvement in the Katy community and for the aid he brought Katy Christian Ministries in their times of need.

“I had the honor to visit with Dr. Hindt one-on-one, and we walked around the (KCM) facility,” said Crespo. “I shared with him the conversations I had with elementary counselors up through high school counselors. I really captured that he was processing the information as it was going to his heart, because he cares so much about the students.”

Crespo also credited Hindt for his actions during Hurricane Harvey. “Dr. Hindt gave the approval to use buses to help with the rescue missions. He opened up shelters like Cinco Ranch Junior High and Cinco Ranch High School,” she said.

When Hindt took the stage, he spoke openly about his faith and the role it played in his life. “When (vice president of Katy Christian Ministries) Patty Lacy asked me to speak, I was assuming it would be about the district or the state of the schools, and without hesitation, she said, ‘We want to know about your faith, about Jesus, and we want to know your testimony.”

As superintendent of a large, successful school district, Hindt is no stranger to public speaking. He speaks with a casual air, often utilizing self-deprecating humor. But his words were powerful as he spoke of his life journey.

“I’m going to tell you something, folks: I have lived a life. I will tell you, God has had mercy on me,” he said.

Hindt recounted his childhood, which riddled with uncertainty, domestic upheaval and even domestic violence. “I was young at the time, and this is when I learned about fight or flight. I had no choice but to choose to fight.”

Hindt credits his religious grandfather for encouraging

November 2018 / Katy Today / 21

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faith to be a part of his life. “My grandfather is the one who used to talk to me about Jesus. He would talk to me about God. He would talk to me about Faith. He knew what was going on in my life at that time, and he was that person that helped me to realize that there is a saving Grace.

“I became a Christian by God’s miraculous intervention. This life has been one that I’ve got lots of stories to tell, but as I look back, God was always working in my life. Even when I didn’t invite Him,” he said.

Black was the final speaker before the live auction. “We’re looking forward and determining what our needs are in 2025. We’re looking forward to our Capital Campaign and asking the question, ‘How can we get a building and land to expand our services and function in the next 15 years?’”

The event concluded with a live auction, featuring high-end items like beach vacations and fine art photography.

In Black’s words, “All the people who are here are here so they can help someone else. Our job is to manage the daily work of a higher calling and to serve something bigger than yourself. It’s not just the individuals. It’s everyone.”

To learn more about the mission of Katy Christian Ministries visit www.ktcm.org.

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Cane Island Triathlon deemed a success

By Tom Behrens It was a new place but same success for the athletes and organizers of the recent Katy Triathlon.

“I think it went well,” said Lance LaCour.

He and Paul Kurt served as co-chairmen for this year’s triathlon, which was held at Cane Islasnd.

“We picked up an additional 50 on-site registrations on Saturday before the race,” said LaCour. “Initial entry projections for 2018 was about 550. I think the total count was close to 600.”

The week before the triathlon the number of entrants 435.

“The weather was awesome,” continued LaCour. “We had a very safe race, good turnout, and a great after the race party.”

Previously the event was held at Firethorne. Co-chairman, Kurt expressed some concern on the route of the bicycle part of the race. “When we had it at Firethorne we had people riding along Hwy.1463, Hwy 90, and coming back on I-10 sideroads. To me, that was just a disaster waiting to happen.

The bike course now takes all that stuff away.”

The new bike course began at Cane Island, taking a route going north through the city downtown, traveling up to Bechendorff Road then back down to Cane Island.

Not only were there 570-580 entrants in the triathlon, but the event had a lot of spectators and 200 student volunteers from Katy High School helping wherever they were needed.

“Our volunteer coordinator Melissa Santos recruited kids to participate,” said LaCour. “There were at least another 200 spectators cheering on friends, enjoying and watching the

24 / Katy Today /November 2018

race. Mayor Pro Tem, Durran C. Dowdle fired the gun for us to start the race.”

The 500-meter swim, 15-mile bike ride and three-mile run had entries from all over Texas, surrounding states. One participant was with U.S. Army stationed and in the Pacific. “All of our Triathlon events had entries,” said LaCour.

“We had the duathlon event this year, a new event, over 30 participants and 10 people in the aquabike that we think were real successful.” All the triathlon categories, male and female, had participants from all different age brackets. All winners received medals, a race towel and a tumbler donated by Igloo.

The venue was a hit. “Cane Island was real interested in having the triathlon there,” said Kurt. “A lot of good things kind of came together on that, and we’re excited about the new location.”

Kurt shared how the Katy Triathlon draws so much attention from Texas and across the U.S. “We get involved with them,” meaning the triathlon family. “We sent six e-blasts in the last four to six weeks, reaching out to 15,000 triathletes.

We were telling our story on our Facebook page and did radio interviews about our Triathlon. “ According to Kurt, the triathlon over the past years, has given about $400,000 in scholarships to Katy ISD high school students, other charities, and projects that have helped the Katy community over the history of the race.

First groups were in the water at 7 a.m.. A complete listing of all the runners, swimmers, and bicylists times and finishes in the different events are listed at www.katytriathlon.com.

‘Coffee with Cops’ shows the person behind the badge

By Claire Goodman

Generally speaking, encounters with police officers are not pleasant. On a good day, speaking to an officer means being handed a speeding ticket. On a bad day, it means there has been a serious emergency. Either way, it’s easy to understand why many people are uncomfortable around police officers.

The Katy Police Department is seeking to change that persona. They are committed to helping citizens see beyond the badge and recognize them as men and women who are a friendly and helpful part of the community. The department regularly participates in community events that show citizens that the police are their partners, not figures of authority.

On Oct. 3, the McDonald’s in Old Katy hosted “Coffee with Cops:” a casual morning where police and citizens could chat together as community members. Laurie Glaser-Swift is the owner of the McDonalds that held the event. She reached out to the police dept. because she saw an opportunity for the community to come together with the police force in a relaxed, laid-back setting. More than30 people came to “Coffee with Cops” including the officers and guests.

“I saw this as a way to bring the community together and thank our police officers for everything they do for us on a daily basis. It gave everyone a chance to speak with them and ask any questions they have and thank them for what they do,” Swift said.

Motorcycle patrol officer Jim Lieberman reported that the police force was happy to have the opportunity to meet the

general public in an unofficial capacity. “This is a different platform: just meeting people.It’s a different environment for people. They’re coming in getting breakfast and then talking with us, and I think it normalizes us for the community,” he said.

Lieberman admits that it’s rare to speak with a police officer under happy terms. “(Events like this) allow us to be the face of the police department even when we’re in uniform. Normally (people) see us at a traffic stop or there’s a problem, but here we’re talking over a cup of coffee. It’s relaxing and all of it’s on a personal level, just like we’re regular people,” he explained.

Officer Chris Mohr agreed. “People can ask you questions that they’ve always wondered or wanted to know the answer to,” he said. In the “Coffee with Cops” setting, diners could ask the things they’ve always wanted to know about police outside of negative circumstances. “They can ask us, ‘Why do you guys do these things?’ without being defensive,” he added.

The event was so easy-going that Mohr even worked in the drive through lane. He served a woman her breakfast tacos at the window. He laughed, “She kind of freaked out at first, but then she thought it was really funny.”

The Katy Police Department has several more similar upcoming events planned. During the Christmas season, the officers will dress up as elves and reindeer – wear wearing their belts and guns – to make kids laugh and see that police officers can have fun.

November 2018 / Katy Today / 25

Katy Police Dept. hosts

National Night Out celebrations

26 / Katy Today /November 2018

By Claire Goodman Thirty-five years ago, the National Night Out movement began. The purpose of the evening is to promote the relationships between the community and the local police force and to celebrate camaraderie among neighbors.

On Oct. 2, the Katy Police Department hosted its own National Night Out celebration at Mary Jo Peckham Park. The entire city of Katy was invited to the event, which featured games, hotdogs, face-painting, and most importantly, a fun evening with the local police force.

The police chose to host one large event with the public rather than several smaller events so the citizens could have the opportunity to mingle with a large part of the force as opposed to sending one or two officers out to each neighborhood. Assistant Chief Tim Tyler said, “We thought one big event would be the most fun and effective way to draw a crowd and let people get to know their local cops.”

There were between 10 and 15 officers in uniform present, including Hero, the Belgian Malinois K9 officer. Motorcycle patrol officer Jim Leiberman was on-hand to socialize with visitors at the National Night Out celebration. Said Leiberman: “It’s kind of a meet-and-greet with the general public so they can see us on a different platform.”

Officers in uniform played basketball with youths, laughing and having a good time. “It was an even playing field,” added Lieberman, “these kids aren’t used to see us running around shooting hoops and having fun.”

He added laughing, “We want people to know us better and see that it’s not all about pulling people over for traffic tickets.”

The event was designed to be fun, but it also had an important purpose: to make the community safer. When people trust police officers, they are more likely to turn to them for help. And getting outside and socializing with their neighbors not only strengthens the sense of community, it also adds an additional measure of security. “When you know who your neighbors are, you know who’s supposed to be in your neighborhood and who’s not. It helps cut back on crime when neighbors look out for each other,” said Tyler.

Despite the rains, the event had a good turnout. The Citizen’s Academy, a group of civilians who assist the police in their unofficial capacities, served up more than 550 hotdogs. Leiberman was happy with the turnout, which was considerable, especially given that it rained through much of the event. “A lot of people came out, especially families with kids The Pavilion was jam-packed because of the rain, but everyone had a great time with the hot dogs and sno-cones,” he said.

Vendors like Chick-fil-a set up booths, and country music station 93Q provided music for the evening. There were plenty of fun activities for children as well, such as face-painting and balloon animals.

The celebration is an annual event, and the officers already look forward to next year’s festivities. Tyler added, “We’re so glad so many people came out, and we really want to thank the support we’ve gotten from the community.”

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