Houston Style Magazine vol 30 No 46

November 14 – November 20, 2019

Houston’s Premiere Weekly Publication

Volume 30 | Number 45-

Complimentary

Jesse Jackson

Risking Lives In Endless Wars Is a Moral Violation and Strategic Failure

Astroworld

Thrills, Chills, and Cranes, Oh My!

The Grace, Beauty and Grit of

Vanessa Williams

Words by Allison Kugel and Photography by Gilles Toucas Follow Us #TeamStyleMag

Instagram @HoustonStyleNews

Twitter @HoustonStyle

24th East End Chamber Awards

Facebook: @HoustonStyleMagazine

Houston’s Heroes Veterans Day

Thanksgiving

5 Traditions for Your Family to Adopt

Ghana Reception

N E W S | C O M M E N TA R I E S | S P O R T S | H E A LT H | E N T E R TA I N M E N T Support Black Owned Businesses

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Novmber 14 – November 20, 2019

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04 Publisher Francis Page, Jr. Associate Publisher Lisa Valadez Managing Editor Jo-Carolyn Goode editorial@stylemagazine.com

Turner’s Anti-Human Trafficking Approach and Initiatives

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Social Media Editor/Videographer Reginald Dominique reggiedominique@me.com Sports Editor Brian Barefield

NATIONAL WRITERS

Jesse Jackson jjackson@rainbowpush.org Roland Martin www.rolandmartin.com Judge Greg Mathis www.askjudgemathis.com

5 Strategies to Beat the Holiday Blues

PHOTOGRAPHERS VICKY PINK vhpink@gmail.com

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William Ealy Williamealy1906@gmail.com Semetra Samuel semetra@artistikrebelcreative.com Mike Munoz artrepreneur91@gmail.com Robert Franklin editorial@stylemagazine.com

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Texans Prepare to Battle the Baltimore Ravens

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November 14 – November 20, 2019

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COMMENTARY

Risking Lives In Endless Wars Is a Moral Violation and Strategic Failure

By Jesse Jackson, National Political Writer

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e just celebrated Veterans Day, paying a to the young men and women who have served our country. Across the country, families gathered at the gravesites of those who gave their lives. Veterans drank toasts to their fellow soldiers. In football and basketball stadiums, crowds offered a moment of silence for the fallen. The rituals are heartfelt, but far from complete. Too often ignored is the far greater number of lives that are lost not on the battlefield but at home, not from the enemy’s guns but from our veterans’ own hands.

Now, in the sober aftermath of the celebration, there should be a reckoning.

On an average day, a staggering 20 veterans commit suicide. The deaths from

POLITICAL

M

ayor’s Office Approach: We empower City of Houston departments and other Mayor’s Offices across the U.S. and world to include anti-trafficking measures in their day to day operations, close the gaps in services by providing systematic and expedited access to emergency shelter, transitional housing, medical and psychological care via strategic partnerships, increase victim identification streams by screening for victims in public health spaces and intersecting at risk populations – adding to law enforcement efforts to recover victims and balance the anti-trafficking conversation by focusing on big labor trafficking and the corporate community with the overall goal of effectuating systems and behavioral change. This division is led by the Special Advisor to Mayor (SATM) and 4 team members.

Honors and Recognition: In October 2018 SATM was awarded the Presidential Award for Extraordinary Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons. This is the highest civilian and military

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suicide outnumber the losses on the battlefield in Iraq and Afghanistan. The risk to veterans who served in combat holds true for all generations. It doesn’t matter if the war is popular or unpopular; the veterans celebrated or controversial. Even the Greatest Generation that fought in World War II suffers current suicide rates four times that of civilians.

In a stunning essay, Matthew Hoh, an Iraqi veteran who came close to suicide himself, tries to put this in perspective.

The famous Vietnam Memorial, he writes, “is a wall that contains 58,000 names. It would have to lengthened by some 2,000 feet to include the 100,000 to 200,000 plus Vietnam vets who are estimated to have been lost to suicide, while

keeping space for those yet to come. VA data reveals that almost two Afghan and Iraq veterans die by suicide each day on average. That adds to an estimated 7,300 veterans who have killed themselves since just 2009, after coming home from Afghanistan and Iraq, a number greater than the 7,012 service members killed in those wars since 2001.”

basic precept of all religions. In war, the state gives soldiers the mandate to kill.

The military has perfected ways of conditioning young men and women to be able to kill in combat. Yet, Hoh argues, the conditioning does not prevent some from seeing themselves in the enemy, from feeling deeply the violation that comes from violence.

The military is aware of the depth of this horror and has dedicated a billion dollars in trying to solve it. The New York Times reports that the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) is incredibly active, staffed 24/7 at 800-273-8255. This service, only available since 2007, has helped stave off hundreds of thousands of potential suicides. More than 30 times a day, VCL responders call police, fire or EMS to intervene in a suicide situation.

Thirty times a day.

There is a lesson from this. We should reject the easy assumption that the U.S. military should police the world, that we’ve perfected ways of fighting wars with drones and air power and with limited U.S. casualties from “boots on the ground.” The national security managers who too often have never served in the military should be far more constrained in sending our soldiers into combat.

There are many explanations offered for why veterans -- and the families of veterans -- are at greater risk of suicide: the difficulty of readjusting to civilian society; the macho military culture that keeps soldiers from seeking help; the post-traumatic stress disorders that result from combat.

Hoh, wisely in my view, offers a broader explanation: that veterans suffer from a moral injury -- a shock to their own sense of themselves, their basic moral values from what they have done or have not done in combat: The killing of the enemy, the failure to save the life of a comrade, the mistaken shooting of the innocent. Thou shalt not kill is a

War is hell. It is hell for those who fall in combat -- and for their families and friends suffering their loss. It is hell for those who survive it -- and for their families and friends dealing with their struggles on return. Risking lives constantly in endless wars is a moral violation and strategic failure. If we are truly to celebrate the service of our veterans, we should demand that war not be a routine part of American policy, but a last resort used rarely and only to defend our people when attacked. The best tribute to our combat veterans would be to create fewer of them in the future.

You can write to the Rev. Jesse Jackson in care of this newspaper or by email at jjackson@rainbowpush.org. Follow him on Twitter @RevJJackson.

Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Anti-Human Trafficking Approach and Initiatives

POLITICAL

By StyleMagazine.com Newswire

honor in the country for this issue. In March 2019, SATM was named a Public Official of the Year by U of H’s MPA program.

Position and Financial Information: The position was created on June 29, 2015. Since this position was established, SATM has secured $1.6 million in city, state and private funding, and approximately $500,000 in in-kind donations for the efforts outlined below and other programs. SATM is paid from the Abatement Fund and the Associate Director and 2 case managers are grant funded.

Insttutionalize the City of Houston’s Response and Implement Trainings • HPD’s Differential Response Team canvassed illicit massage parlors multiple times; reduced ads for sex from 283 to 228 by inspecting 208 unique locations 569 times in 2 years.

• Mayor Turner signed Executive Order (EO), “Zero Tolerance for Human Trafficking in City Service Contracts

Novmber 14 – November 20, 2019

and Purchasing”. Bloomberg Law published an article in its White Collar Crime Report stating that the City of Houston was on the “compliance vanguard”, we are using our purchasing power to push the envelope with major financial and legal institutions.

• It is the first EO of its kind by any major U.S. city and international organizations like the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe have taken notice.

• 8 city departments or divisions have been assessed for opportunity and are engaged in combatting trafficking.

Raise Awareness at Scale • The Watch for Traffick media campaign was on TV, radio, billboards, 950 Metro buses and 50 taxis and generated 93 million impressions and miles driven; increased calls to the hotline by 80% and cases confirmed by 61% during saturation, and 49% overall. It ran for 8 months before, during, and after the Super Bowl.

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• Co-developed a social media campaign with a non-profit and purchased ads spanning the greater Houston area for youth and caregivers about the dangers of online activity and what to do if your child is being recruited by a trafficker online; generated 3.8 million impressions in 3 months.

• Hosted screening of Siddharth Kara’s movie about sex trafficking, Trafficked, at The Wortham in 2016.

• During Hurricane Harvey we went cot to cot in the shelters to warn residents about the nexus between disasters and increases in sex and labor trafficking.

• We also educated the corporate community about trafficked labor in their supply chains through corporate risk mitigation presentations, presented to approximately 30 corporations – oil and gas and financial institutions.

These presentations culminated in the 10/29/2018 Hobby Center event called Conscientious Capitalism:

BRIEFS

Uptown Holiday Lighting Returns Thanksgiving 2019

StyleMagazine.com Newswire he 32nd Annual Uptown Holiday Lighting event will return on Thanksgiving evening, November 28, 2019, kicking off the holiday season on a newly transformed Post Oak Boulevard from 4-7pm. This FREE family event draws more than 100,000 people to the Boulevard between Westheimer and San Felipe for live entertainment, a visit from jolly Saint Nick, a fireworks extravaganza and a dazzling new light show. An iconic and time-honored Houston tradition, the family-friendly celebration is being reimagined with the introduction of over 300 all-new, 20-foot-tall holiday trees that will line Post Oak Boulevard from the West Loop to Richmond Avenue.

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11th Annual “Operation Thanksgiving—Stuff the Squad Car & Fire Truck!”

StyleMagazine.com Newswire

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n the spirit of giving, “Show Me City” citizens, officials, staff and volunteers partnered again this year to host the 11th annual “Operation Thanksgiving—Stuff the Squad Car & Fire Truck.” All City departments collaborated to sponsor the operation, and donations assisted individuals and families in need during the holiday season. Residents and stakeholders were encouraged to come out and fill at least 11 police squad cars and 2 Fire & Rescue Services trucks with canned and non-perishable food items. The goods were donated to Bethel Ministry and the Fort Bend County Women’s Center.

Local Church Brings Hope and Showers to Houston’s Homeless

StyleMagazine.com Newswire n Saturday, November 30th Pastor Darrel W. Boson of New Hope Baptist Church will have their 5th Annual Hope for Houston Showers & Blessings event. Operated solely from donations and volunteers, Hope for Houston has provided hot meals for the homeless community the past four years. The day’s event will kick off at 10 am. Upon arrival, showers will be set up and ready for individuals to take a hot shower. They will be provided with clean towels, toiletries and new clothing to choose from once they’re done. After showering, they will be given a ticket to receive their meal which they can enjoy there or take it with them.

Pastor Boson and his volunteers feed over 327 homeless people in 2018 with 32 cases of fish and 50lbs of chicken.

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Comprehensive Study Of Health Care In Harris County Finds Alarming Trends

HoustonPublicMedia.com first of its kind study provides data and research on health care in Harris County and suggests ways to improve it. Some of the takeaways of the study are that life expectancy varies widely depending on which part of the county you live in and that the population has outgrown the health care infrastructure of the region. The study found that the average life expectancy in Harris County is 78.7 years.

However, it’s as low as 65 years and as high as 89 years in certain parts of the county. For example, life expectancy ranges from just 72 years, on average, in the East Little York-Settegast area to 82 years in the Memorial-Bear Creek area. Researchers analyzed factors like access to health care and mental health.

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Pol. adv. Sylvester Turner Campaign

Thank you!

WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH to express my gratitude for the support of our community that propelled me to a first-place finish in the November election — nearly 20 points ahead of my nearest challenger.

NOW WE MUST FINISH THE JOB by coming back and voting one more time in the runoff election on Saturday, December 14.

WE HAVE A SIMPLE CHOICE: An experienced leader who has delivered results for more than 30 years or a Donald Trump imitator who will say, do, or spend anything to get elected.

I PUT MY TRUST IN YOU.

In the runoff election on Saturday, Dec. 14,

With gratitude,

VOTE ONE MORE TIME! VOTE EARLY NOV. 27 AND DEC. 2–10 SYLVESTERTURNER.COM www.stylemagazine.com

November 14 – November 20, 2019

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ENTERTAINMENT

Travis Scott’s 2nd Annual AstroWorld Fest Brings Thrills, Chills, and Cranes, Oh My!

By Bradford Howard, Special to Style – Photos by: Mike Munoz

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ho knew that a little boy from Fort Bend ISD would grow up to be a conductor of chaos?

chaotic energy in live performances - the fans that fed off the rock-music undercurrent on Rodeo and its mixtape predecessor Days Before Rodeo.

And yet, that’s exactly what Travis Scott has become.

Travis Scott understands his audience isn’t a monolith. That’s why the Houston All-Stars - which included Paul Wall, Bun B, and Lil’ Keke, to name a few performed. That’s why Da Baby brought out backup dancers in blow-up baby costumes and crowd surfed. Why Sheck Wes encouraged a mosh pit during his set. That’s why, despite a postponed set, Megan Thee Stallion was able to bring aspiring “hotties” onstage for a twerk contest while she strutted back and forth in a leopard print outfit and a long ponytail to rival Rapunzel’s. Why Pharrell had the crowd moving to songs he’d produced, contributed to, or made over the last two decades. And that’s why the twilight acts were rock legend

Over the course of multiple mixtapes, projects, and three studio albums, the Houston artist has curated a following all on his own. When his ASTROWORLD album released last year and quickly reached #1 on the Billboard 100, it wasn’t Travis’s “I’ve arrived” moment - it was him saying, “I can’t be stopped now.”

Tapping into Texas culture and Houstonians’ known longing for an in-city amusement park, Scott launched the inaugural ASTROWORLD Fest last fall, taking over NRG Park with inflatable heads, carnival rides, state fair-caliber food, and live music acts. Last Saturday, ASTROWORLD Fest returned to NRG

Marilyn Manson and Latin singer on the rise Rosalia before Travis took the main stage. There was, quite literally, someone for everyone.

Park for a second consecutive year.

Those who hadn’t prepared last year were very ready in 2019.

Before NRG Park even opened, festival attendees were lined up outside of the gates - ironically not unlike how visitors would anxiously wait in lines at the early part of the morning for Six Flags AstroWorld to open up once upon a time. But where the inaugural festival aimed to bring back the nostalgia of Six Flags, this year’s ASTROWORLD Fest seemed more like Travis Scott creating an “AstroWorld” of his own.

The music stages were branded “Thrills” and “Chills,” respectively.

Booths for carnival games bore the names of Travis’s memorable lyrics and song titles. A post-apocalyptic theme was all over the place, fire booming into the air on either side of a large inflated skull at the park entrance and golden skeletons at rest atop stacked shipping containers. Inspired by Scott’s “Cactus Jack” persona and their Cactus Jack shoe collaborations with Travis, Nike had ranch-style setup complete with a barn and bales of hay. And fans waited in lines for hours for merchandise,

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whether it was at the two-sided tent for official ASTROWORLD Fest gear or at the Screwed Up Records & Tapes replica booth, which featured archived mixtapes and exclusive shirts and hats.

join in the “AstroDome,” a sort of incubator for an enclosed rave that employed a countdown and flashing lights, and played snippets of previously unreleased Travis Scott songs.

Standard carnival fare like a ferris wheel and fun house (as well as a ride that would’ve given Six Flags old-heads serious “Dungeon Drop” vibes) were present, but there were ASTROWORLD Fest-themed attractions, as well. Participants could navigate total darkness in the “Black Out Maze,” for example; or

The main attraction, of course, was the music acts, a lineup that Scott handpicked himself. Travis Scott’s fanbase isn’t just the hip-hop fans that came along with Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight and ASTROWORLD, however - it’s the fans that rocked with Owl Pharaoh. The fans familiar with Travis’s

Novmber 14 – November 20, 2019

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The man of the hour made the most of his moments, too. Comedian Dave Chappelle formally introduced Travis.

He brought out his mentor Kanye West as a surprise special guest. But he started out his set on a crane - because being up in the air high above the crowd was the only proper way to perform his single “Highest in The Room” - and his stage transformed into different palettes of color behind him, his “ASTROWORLD” logo projected in ice blue during one song and the lettering covered in flames during the next song.

When the night ended with fireworks ascending into the sky and the artist being lauded with thunderous applause and cheers, it signaled something bigger than Scott himself.

With three albums and now two festivals (and counting) under his belt, you can’t call Travis Scott just a rapper anymore. He’s a rockstar now, and ASTROWORLD Fest is becoming his annual personal playground.

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November 14 – November 20, 2019

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FEATURE

The Grace, Beauty and Grit of Vanessa Williams

By Allison Kugel, Style Entertainment Writer

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anessa Williams is a creature unlike any other. It’s as though she came here to impart the ins and outs of living life on one’s own terms. From unwitting societal lightning rod during the 1980s to multi-platinum selling recording artist; and Broadway, film and television star, Vanessa Williams slayed the male-dominated Hollywood dragon long before the #MeToo movement happened. You can tell from talking to her that, both, the scars of past judgment she endured, and the fruits of her sweet success have made their impact. Both created indelible imprints.

same show for eleven or twelve seasons, and it’s a great cash cow. It’s great to have that kind of consistent salary where you can budget and put money away. God bless everyone who has had a series on the air for ten years, but there is an energy that keeps you kind of hungry when you are always looking for the next thing and you don’t know what that next thing is.

Allison Kugel: I want to go back a bit and talk about the beginning. I think people may forget because it was so long ago, but you broke through a pretty significant glass ceiling in your twen-

In more recent years, Williams stunned audiences with sultry scene-stealing characters on hit series like Desperate Housewives and Ugly Betty. Her recent film starring Orange is the New Black’s Uzo Aduba, Miss Virginia, tackles the socio-economic and educational inequities that urban students of color endure, showcasing a more socially conscious film portrayal.

ties by being crowned the first African American Miss America. You became this societal lightning rod at the time.

In 2008, when President Obama was elected as our first African American president, did you feel a connection or kind of kinship with him, since he broke a barrier in a similar way?

Vanessa Williams’ exotic beauty strikes you dead on arrival, but Williams does not lead with her looks. She prefers to enter a conversation with intellect, boldness and strength.

Williams is now preparing to take her Broadway-honed stage skills across the pond to London’s West End, where she will be starring in a production of City of Angels, opening at the Garrick Theatre in 2020. She’s also added fashion designer to her packed resume, launching the sexy and sophisticated Vanessa Williams collection for HSN, and fresh on the heels of a multi-album deal with BMG, Williams is working on new music to reflect a collection of musical genres she is currently passionate about.

A renaissance woman for the ages, Vanessa Williams’ life is nothing if not purposeful.

Allison Kugel: Something told me to read your 2012 memoir, You Have No Idea, which I read cover to cover yesterday. I’m so glad I read your book,

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because it was the missing piece to really understanding you. The one constant theme throughout your life, it seems, is that you are a natural born rebel!

Vanessa Williams: (Laughs) Yeah.

Allison Kugel: That quality plays out in one way when we’re young, but changes as we get older. How do you express that side of yourself now?

Vanessa Williams: It’s now about being unafraid to take chances. In terms of my career, I just signed on to do City of Angels on the West End [of London]. It’s not a lot of money, but it is an opportunity to work on the West End. It’s always been a dream of mine to live overseas, and to study in London. I’ll be working at the Garrick Theatre. We start rehearsals in January, we open in March, and the show will be running until the end of July. There are no guarantees, in terms of leaving my life in the states behind, but it’s something that excites me. At this stage of my life it’s all about asking myself what I want to do that I’ve never done. The challenge of it excites me, and doing the same thing bores me.

Allison Kugel: When nude photos of

Novmber 14 – November 20, 2019

you surfaced during your 1984 reign as Miss America and you were forced to relinquish your crown ten and a half months into your year-long reign, you were counted out there for a while in your twenties. Do you ever pat yourself on the back these days and say, “I did it!”? Broadway, films, television, platinum-selling recording artist and on and on… do you feel vindicated?

Vanessa Williams: No, I really don’t. I don’t think that, because there’s always that next goal, like, “but I want to originate a role on Broadway;” “but I want to do a movie musical.” There is always something yet to be done. It’s not that I’m never satisfied, but there is always another goal on the horizon. When you’re an actor, it’s like being a gypsy. You jump into another circle of players, and it’s great. Then when it’s over, it’s heartbreaking, but then you’re ready to move on to the next circle. That’s what excites me and that’s what will always propel me to say, “Ok, what’s next?”

Allison Kugel: Clearly, you value adventure over routine.

Vanessa Williams: Well, I look at some people who have been on the

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Vanessa Williams: Oh, absolutely, in terms of his safety, and his presence was worldwide. But there is an expectation that comes with that honor of breaking barriers. It’s also a tremendous fear, not only for yourself, but for family members; because there is such division, which doesn’t seem to leave us. I thought it was over in the 1980s and it wasn’t; I thought it was over in the 2000s and it wasn’t; and, obviously, it’s still apparent now.

So, there is a specific fear and uncertainty that you have, but you have to be brave and you have to continue to do what you were chosen to do, and the job that is before you.

Shop the Vanessa Williams collection at HSN and pre-order tickets to see Vanessa Williams star in City of Angels at the Garrick Theatre in London’s West end. Visit VanessaWilliams.com.

Allison Kuge is a syndicated entertainment columnist, author of the memoir, Journaling Fame: A memoir of a life unhinged and on the record, and owner of communications firm, Full Scale Media. Follow her on Instagram

HEALTH

5 Strategies to Beat the Holiday Blues

By BlackDoctor.org

feel can dampen the festivities.

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he holiday season is usually the time of the year where spirits are high and most people are filled with joy and cheer. This is however not the case for everyone. For some, this time of the year causes stress, anxiety, loneliness, and depression.

Holiday blues are more common than you think, and they occur for a variety of reasons. The holidays can be very lonely when you don’t have a significant other, if you don’t have family, or if you live far away from your family. As other people make fun plans, you are reminded of how alone you are. If you’ve experienced the loss of a loved one, this time can be especially difficult. You remember past holidays spent with them and the grief you

Stress levels also increase due to the pressures of gift-giving and the commercialism that accompanies the season. You may feel guilty or even ashamed because of your financial difficulties. And finally, many people are also affected by the lack of sunshine during the winter months. The cold, dark weather can deplete your energy and make you depressed.

Here are 5 Strategies to Beat the Holiday Blues: 1. Take Care of Your Health Limit your alcohol intake to one or two drinks when you attend parties and avoid overeating as this can affect your mood and energy levels. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Going to bed and waking up at the same time can improve your body’s internal clock, which tends to get thrown off during the short, winter days.

And finally, don’t skip the gym. Maintain your exercise routine as much as possible.

2. Stay Busy Schedule events so that you are occupied and not alone for extended periods of time. Resist the temptation to isolate, as

this will only worsen your loneliness. Go to a coffee shop or a bookstore so that you are around people or check out that new Meetup group you’ve been thinking about attending. If you know someone who is also spending the holidays alone, reach out and connect with them.

3. Volunteer If you are feeling down, volunteering in your community is a sure way to lift your mood. You will feel better about yourself and you’ll get your mind off yourself and your problems as you focus on someone else. Volunteering is also a great way to meet new people and feel more connected. You can serve food at a shelter, stock shelves at a food bank or give your time at a clothing drive. There are a variety of volunteering opportunities around this time of the year.

4. Take a Social Media Break We see photos of family gatherings, smiling children and couples in love and we start to compare our lives to the highlight reels, which our friends post on social media. But remember no one’s life is ever as perfect as it seems. You might want to limit your social media consumption

during this time. Unfollow or mute any accounts that make you feel bad about yourself.

5. Be Kind to Yourself Many people are sad and lonely during the holidays, so you are not alone in feeling this way. Take the pressure off yourself to be happy if you really don’t feel happy.

Fighting against or suppressing your emotions will only make you feel worse.

Accept them for what they are and be compassionate to yourself.

Whatever the reason for your sadness, remember that this is just a season that will soon be over. If, however, your symptoms of depression become overwhelming or if you feel like nothing you do is helping, think about getting help from a professional. Reach out to your doctor or a therapist.

Physician, Health and Wellness expert, Coach, Author and Speaker! Dr. Kelly Wood, MD is board certified in Internal Medicine as well as Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. Beyond the stethoscope, Dr. Kelly is recognized as “The Bounce Back Coach,” helping high-performing women to bounce back

MEDICARE PLANS CHANGE YEAR-TO-YEAR. Use the new Plan Finder at Medicare.gov to more easily compare: • Part D prescription plans for cost, coverage, and convenience.

• Medicare Advantage Plans for extra benefits, changes in network providers, co-pays, and more.

• Supplemental (Medigap) plans for costs and benefits.

Is your current plan still your best choice for 2020, or could you do better? Compare plans now.

Use the new Plan Finder at Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE. TTY 1-877-486-2048.

An Important Message from Medicare

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Limited resources? You may qualify for Extra Help to pay prescription drug costs.

Go to ssa.gov/benefits/medicare/ prescriptionhelp/ to find out more.

Paid for by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

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November 14 – November 20, 2019

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THANKFUL 5 Thanksgiving Traditions to Adopt and Love

By Jo-Carolyn Goode, Managing Editor

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he holidays are one of the few times a year where everyone enjoys looking back to implement activities of yesteryear. You look at how you have changed, how your family has grown, and how you will move forward in the future. Time honored traditions are repeated in the manner in which they have been passed down as those who have passed on are remembered and those who are living teach the next generation to keep the legacy going.

Whether big or small every family has at least one Thanksgiving tradition that it cherishes. Houston Style Magazine took a poll to find out what are some of the most popular traditions next to watching football and going to the movies.

1. Being thankful Just the name of the holiday alone

almost commands that one be thankful. Many families make it a tradition to answer that call in a variety of ways.

To start families must reflect. Mary Saraswati Mitraya Garrett reflects on her gratitude and abundance throughout this year. Next is to share what you are thankful for. Some may adhere to the way that Derek Hardeman and his family do it by having each family member write on a big paper that they are thankful for. Afterward, hang the papers on the walls for all to see and discuss.

Another way is to give thanks around the dinner table like Beverly Rivers Dancer’s family. “Before dinner, each person tells what they are thankful for. Then we bless the food ...and throw down.” A thankful way to bring s smile to someone’s face is to send cards to individuals that you are most thankful for expressing why

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you are so grateful for their presence in your life. The key is to be thankful and outwardly show it.

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Novmber 14 – November 20, 2019

2. Cooking Thanksgiving Dinner The Thanksgiving Feast can take days to prepare and cook. From perfect feast to turkey mishaps, the dinner is the star of the show and you want to get this right. However, the time can past faster and the workload made lighter if tasks are shared with others. Cooking the Thanksgiving feast with family is one way to connect while passing down guarded recipes. Peeling potatoes for the sweet potatoes casserole, basting the turkey to keep it juicy, layering the cheese for best macaroni & cheese together is a classic tradition for Tameya Sam’s family. They even have a cooking schedule. Wednesday is reserved for baking. Thursday is the cooking day.

Each person loves to prepare his or her own favorite dish. Although they make separate dishes, preparing them in the same space with those you love is what makes holiday cooking special.

3. Volunteering Volunteering is the rent we pay to live on Earth is a quote that is often heard during this time of year. It is part of sharing your holidays with others.

Houston has plenty of opportunities to volunteer. Because food is such a big part of Thanksgiving, serving others at Thanksgiving Feasts has become a highly popular duty. Volunteering at the City Wide Club of America’s Super Feast at George R. Brown Convention Center on the morning of Thanksgiving is something that La’Torria Lemon’s family looks forward to yearly. Because of families like the Lemons, last year 2.1million meals were served at the feast and attendees received clothes, medical exams and more. Handing out meals door-to-door to people who otherwise

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can’t make it out of their homes for a mixture of reasons is another option.

Leah Clemons’ family gets in some exercise with their volunteering by doing just that with Meals On Wheels.

4. Black Friday Shopping Christmas seems to come faster than you can put the leftover turkey away. So the earlier you can start on your shopping list the better and saving money while doing it is the ultimate win. For many families, after they have stuffed their bellies, shared a few laughs, and had their third piece of dessert its time to go shopping to snag those Black Friday deals. You can maximum the most of your time by planning ahead.

Gather all the circulars and look to see who has what for the best price that is on your list. Next, make a list of where you are going and what you are buying.

Get even more organized and have a little fun by splitting up the family into teams, assigned each team various stores and items to get, and see who can get it done the fastest and make it back to the house.

5. Get In the Christmas Spirit Shopping is one means to get into the Christmas spirit. Decorating for the holiday takes it another level. Untangling lights, hanging tinsels, picking out the tree just makes people smile with a grin that they couldn’t stop even if they tried.

Once all the lights are strung, enjoy a cup of hot chocolate while singing carols by the fire. Patricia Roberts said her immediate family tradition is to put the Christmas tree up with her children, niece, and grandchildren.

Traditions make the holidays momentous for all involved. Revive customs to preserve history. Create new ones for the journey. As long as the family is blissfully cheery then we all can smile wistfully.

SPORTS

Statement Game 2: Texans Head to Baltimore for a Tough AFC Matchup Against the Ravens

By Brian Barefield, Style Sports Writer

O

ver a month ago the Houston Texans were faced with a very difficult situation. They had to go into hostile territory and defeat a team that is one of the perennial favorites to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. Houston defeated the Kansas City Chiefs by a score of 31 – 24 in Arrowhead Stadium to make a statement to the rest of the NFL that they wanted a say in that representation of the division.

one in total defense last season.

“Earl is a great player,” O’Brien said.

“Very instinctive. He can do a lot of different things in that defense: blitz, play in the deep part of the field, and play down near the line of scrimmage.”

For as much that is said about Jackson, the same could be said about Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, who is also on that short-list of 2019 MVP candidates. Watson has displayed his growth and maturity this year by leading Houston to a 6-3 record which has them in familiar territory and that is atop of the AFC South. The Texans have the fourth-ranked offense (396.7 yards a game) in the league thanks to Watson, who averages 270 of those yards through the air. He has completed over 70 percent of his passes this year, which gives Ravens head coach, John Harbaugh, some concern.

Well, the Texans are about to play in another statement game this week against the hottest team in the NFL right now against the Baltimore Ravens.

Baltimore, which has a 7-2 record, is a very unique team that can cause long nights for the coordinators on both sides of the ball. Led by NFL MVP candidate Lamar Jackson, the Ravens have placed themselves in position to be mentioned with the Chiefs and Patriots (a team they defeated earlier this season) as the top team in the AFC. Jackson, the former Heisman Trophy Award Winner (2016), has set the NFL on fire this year by throwing for over 2,000 yards and rushing for 700 more that has led to a combined 21 touchdowns.

“He is very instinctive, very smart, and has a great command of their offense,” said Texans head coach Bill

O’Brien. “Competitive, great runner, great thrower. He can do it all. He is an MVP candidate for a reason. He has two games where he’s had a perfect rating.

He’s playing at a high level.”

For as much hype as the Ravens get on offense, they also have a quarterback per se on the defensive side of the ball. In the offseason the Ravens signed former Seattle Seahawks safety, Earl Thomas to bolster a defense who ranked number

“Very tough,” Harbaugh said when asked about stopping Watson. “That’s the first thing that jumps out at you on tape are all the different elements that they’re in. Deshaun Watson operates in all of those worlds and then he puts his own flavor into the thing and makes plays. So, yeah, it’s really tough.”

Kickoff is at noon.

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November 14 – November 20, 2019

11

EAT WITH STYLE

Think Outside the Oven this Holiday Season

By Family Features

W

Cool brine mixture; add ice water and mix well.

hen most families think of holiday cooking, they typically picture baked goods and time spent in the kitchen near the oven. This year, you can take your seasonal meal prep outdoors with cooking methods often overlooked during the winter: grilling and smoking.

As one of the most popular dishes during the holidays, turkey is an easy way start creating festive flavors using a grill or smoker. To help keep your bird tasty and juicy, this Art of the Turkey Brine requires just a few simple ingredients before transferring the turkey to the grill. Pair it with this Sweet ’n’ Savory Sausage and Cornbread Stuffing that combines a soft, familiar interior with crispy edges.

If you’re aiming to create dishes like these in your own backyard this season, head to a destination like Ace Hardware for all your grilling essentials and holiday inspiration. With 72% of U.S. households located within 15 minutes of an Ace store and products from Big Green Egg, Traeger and Weber all under one roof, it’s a helpful place to take your holiday meals to the next level.

Place turkey in bucket and cover with water and brine. Place bucket in refrigerator or cooler.

Brine 45 minutes per pound.

Find more ideas to change the way you think about holiday cooking at acehardware.com.

Art of the Turkey Brine Recipe courtesy of chef Jason K. Morse of 5280 Culinary and Ace Hardware Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: About 2 hours; allow 2-3 hours to cool - Servings: 6-8 1/3 package 5280 Culinary Brine mix 2quarts water, plus additional for cooling and covering turkey, divided ice 6-8pounds turkey breast with rib cage, cleaned 15-gallon Ace Hardware bucket and lid In pan, mix brine with water. Heat to high 5 minutes to dissolve sugar and salt.

Remove turkey from brine.

Heat wood fire grill to 350 F. Cook turkey 20 minutes then turn temperature to 275 F. Cook 1 hour, 40 minutes until internal temperature reaches 170 F. Allow turkey to rest about 15 minutes prior to carving to allow juices to settle.

Sweet ’n’ Savory Sausage and Cornbread Stuffing Prep time: 15 minutes, plus 1 day for drying Cook time: 20-25 minutes Servings: 10-12 1 package cornbread 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, ground 1/2cup carrots, peeled and diced 1/2 cup celery with leaves, diced 1/2 cup yellow onion, peeled and diced

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Novmber 14 – November 20, 2019

1/4 cup dried blueberries 1/2 cup dried apples 1 teaspoon fresh garlic, crushed barbecue rub 1-2 cups low-sodium chicken stock nonstick cooking spray Cook cornbread according to package instructions; allow to cool. Leave uncovered and let dry 1 day. Break into medium pieces.

Heat wood fire grill to 350 F. Heat medium skillet and add sausage.

Cook until half done and fat is rendered.

Add carrots, celery, onion, blueberries, apples and garlic. Saute until caramelized. Add cornbread pieces and stir to combine. Add chicken stock until slightly wet or pasty; stir well to combine.

Season, to taste, with barbecue rub and transfer stuffing from skillet to pan lightly sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

Grill, uncovered, 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.

GEORGIA ON MY MIND:

CELEBRATING THE MUSIC

OF RAY CHARLES NOV. 22, 7 PM

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BOOK

“24/6: The Power of Unplugging One Day a Week” by Tiffany Shlain

By Terri Schlichenmeyer, Book Reviewer

© 2019, Gallery Books $26.00

phones are our friends, they’re not good for us. Our world runs ‘round the clock, but employees who do the same aren’t nearly as productive as well-rested ones. Shlain cites a Neilsen study that says American adults spend nearly eighty hours a week looking at a screen; other studies show that such activities alter our brains and our attention spans.

B

etween two inches and three feet.

That’s the average distance between you and your cell phone when it’s not in your hand because you must have it close. What if someone needed you? What if The Boss called?

What if there was an emergency? Or, as in the new book“24/6” by Tiffany Shlain, what if you just unplugged from it?

Nearly a dozen years ago, in the same week, Tiffany Shlain learned that she was pregnant and that her father had in-

curable brain cancer. Nine months later, she says, “… my father left this world and my daughter entered it – within days” of one another, and all Shlain wanted was to “slow down time.”

Shortly afterward, she and her husband found a way to do that, in the form of what she calls a “Technology Shabbat”: adapting one of the Ten Commandments, Shlain and her family take a rest one day a week from all internet-based devices.

Research shows that while smart-

Even so, detaching cold-turkey may be difficult, at best. Start by seizing nonphone hours on the weekends and work your way up. Get a landline, and print important phone numbers on a piece of paper, so you’re not tempted to turn on your cell phone. Learn to keep notes, so you can jot down reminders and things you need to do later. Make the day important, with a special meal or treat. Tell family and coworkers about your “Tech Shabbat.”

And finally, remember that “a culture needs those common days of work-free reflection, to undertake activities both idle and vital. We languish without it.”

Overworked and underpaid. We say that, we laugh, and then we go back to work. But is disconnection the answer?

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Author Tiffany Shlain says it is, and in “24/6,” you’ll see why.

And therein lies a problem: a lot more heed is paid to the why and what of a “Shabbat,” which is information that’s really pretty intuitive, but there’s very little on the how; fewer than 15 pages, in fact, offer cohesive, solid tips forreaching a point where you can survive a one-day turn-off. Those instructions can be read in about 10 minutes.

The rest of this book largely consists of various repetitions on reasoning; a basic history of Judaism, religion, and culture; and personal stories from Shlain’s life and family. Interesting, yes.

Readable, absolutely, but not a whole lot of help to a time-crunched, frustrated business person who feels permanently attached to a cell phone.

This is a book to read, or maybe just to skim; it’s useful, but only to a certain point. You’ll get some information from “24/6,” but it just doesn’t quite go the distance.

Share this story online at stylemagazine.com.

November 14 – November 20, 2019

13

2019

FORMER FIRST LADY OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA RECEPTION HOUSTON CITY HALL

FORMER FIRST LADY OF REPUBLIC OF GHANA

C

PHOTOGRAPHY BY VICKY PINK

2019

ongresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee hosted a reception in honor of the former First Lady of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings. As a pioneering woman of Africa and the world, Mrs. Agyeman-Rawlings has spent her life empowering women in developing nations and promoting democracy much like Congresswoman Lee. Mrs. Agyeman-Rawlings’ husband, former President of Ghana, Air Force Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings, has a strong legacy of his own. Known for his peaceful democratic transition of government in the Republic of Ghana, he helped the Republic of Ghana to elect five successive Presidents in a peaceful democratic process that has placed the country on a path to prosperity.

The current Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Ghana is worth over 65.56 billion

24TH EAST END CHAMBER AWARDS HOUSTON MARRIOTT SOUTH

24TH EAST END CHAMBER AWARDS

T

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMIR PINK

he East End Chamber of Commerce hosted the 24th Annual Awards Celebration where they recognize and award Chamber Members whose efforts and leadership further the growth of the East End area. Carlos De Aldecoa Bueno | Giant Bourbon/Aldecoa Coffee was the Honorary Chair. Our very own Vicky Pink was honored with Telemundo Houston, Texas Port Recycling, Valero Houston Refinery, Lira Consulting Group, Spanky’s Pizza, VICO Manufacturing, Captain Bill Diehl, Roger Guenther, Craig Rohden, Liz Lara Carreno, Susie Rodriguez Molina, Barrio Dogs, Community Family Centers, Tejano Center for Community Concerns, Rebecca Roberts, Christina Romo, and Michael Walter. Proceeds from the event will further the East End Chamber’s mission to connect businesses and promote economic expansion and development in the area. A portion of the proceeds will benefit our continuing workforce and scholarship initiatives with the youth of the East End Area.

14

Novmber 14 – November 20, 2019

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2019

COH VETERANS’ DAY CELEBRATION AND PARADE DOWNTOWN HOUSTON

COH VETERANS’ DAY CELEBRATION

H

PHOTOGRAPHY BY VICKY PINK

2019

ouston paid tribute to men and women in the military at the annual “Houston Salutes American Heroes Veterans Day Celebration.” This civic celebration honors and celebrates the brave men, women, and families who have fought and sacrificed for our liberty and freedom. At the 11th hour on the 11th day, there was a Moment of Silence in memory of the 101st anniversary of the signing of the Armistice, which ended WWI. Joe Walsh was this year’s keynote speaker.

LIVE AFTER 5 WITH RADIO ONE AVENIDA HOUSTON

LIVE AFTER 5 WITH RADIO ONE

L

PHOTOGRAPHY BY VICKY PINK

ive After 5’s 2019 season concluded with an epic night at Avenida Plaza! Making up for the week of terrible flooding attendees had with Tropical Storm Imelda, Majic 102.1 brought the party to the people! Headlining the night? None other than Tucka! It’s was a down-home party with GT Mayne and the Hutson Percussion downtown and J Paul Jr. & The Zydeco Nubreeds delivering the kind of zydeco funk that you can’t get anywhere else!

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November 14 – November 20, 2019

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