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3 February | March 2017

PinPointe Magazine

Contents ON THE COVER: The Lopez Family Photo Credit: Misa Constante

Serving the Community of Cypress Creek Lakes

Veteran Family Brings Caribbean Fire to Cypress

14 Best of Cy-Fair: Eji’s Culinary Catering

Soldier Honored with Welcome Home Parade

16 2021. The Year of Ownership.

10 Farmer’s Markets Provide a Breath of Fresh Air for Shoppers

18 Parenting Pep Talk

11 Canine Corner

19 Tips For Getting Your Home Ready For Spring and Selling Season

12 Metta’s Local Eats Dine Out for Charity Smashes Fundraising Goal for Cy-Fair Helping Hands

20 Cypress School News 22 The Chef’s Bag Opening in Copperfield

PinPointe Magazine

PINPOINTE RESIDENT PROFILE

Story by Patricia Hudson

arcus and Iris Lopez began their lives nearly 2,000 miles apart. A proud 7th generation Texan, Marcus was born in Houston, while Iris was born in Barranquilla, Colombia. Her parents moved the family to Texas when Iris was 13 years old. The couple met in their junior year at Alief Elsik High School. “We became friends, but did not start dating until we ran into each other in college,” Iris explains. “Not long after we married, Marcus moved from being a U.S. Army Reservist to Active Duty. We moved to Germany months after our wedding. Marcus served a total of 11 years active service before we finally made it back home to Texas. We have been married 28 amazing years.” Iris earned an Associate degree from Austin Peay State University, while living in Clarksville Tennessee, outside

6 February | March 2021

Photos by Misa Constante

of Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. Marcus attained his degree from the University of Kentucky. “Military members know that you take classes when you can, so it was an accumulation of all classes I took from duty station to duty station, and getting my degree while stationed at Ft. Campbell,” replies Marcus. Since leaving the military, Marcus has been in IT and Consulting; he has spent the last 10 years consulting in the Construction industry, and now manages a group of ERP consultants for Viewpoint Construction Software. With 20 years in the banking industry, Iris has held positions from Personal Banker to Branch Manager. She is currently a Business Relationship Consultant for Regions Bank. The Lopez name is well known in Cypress food circles. “Marcus’ mother, Marge, hails from the Caribbean

nation of Trinidad and Tobago. Growing up, his mother always made a pepper sauce that was unique to the Caribbean. People loved it,” explains Iris. “Our children knew very little about Trinidad, so in an attempt to help the girls understand some of their heritage, we decided to help them learn through food. What a better way than to make and market my mother’s pepper sauce? We shared it with friends and family who loved it. ‘One day,’ Iris said, ‘we should sell your mom’s pepper sauce!’” recalls Marcus. “We wanted to stick to why we started making it in the first place. It was about heritage and tradition. As Caribbean Fire Pepper Sauce grew in popularity, we started selling at farmers markets,” comments Marcus. Daughters Cassandra, 23, and Audriana, 18, both excellent scholars, graduated from Cypress Ranch High School. After attending Lone Star College, Cassie chose a career in banking and moved to North Carolina with her fiancé, who is

currently serving in the Army at Ft. Bragg. Photographing historical graves and history intrigues Cassie. Fitness buffs, the couple enjoys anything outdoors. Audriana attends Lone Star College, and plans to transfer to UT and obtain a degree in liberal arts. “She enjoys perusing her passion in history and archeology, tutors in the neighborhood, and loves to help out,” says Iris. Marcus and Iris moved their family from Katy to the Cypress Creek Lakes community seven years ago. “When our oldest daughter finished middle school and was starting high school, we thought it was a perfect time. Audriana was just finishing elementary, so the timing could not have been better,” recalls Iris. Marcus serves as the Admin for Residents of Cypress Creek Lake, a social media Facebook page that he started shortly after moving to CCL. “It was a means to

PinPointe Magazine

Photo Credit: Patricia Hudson

keep up with our friends, plan get-togethers, parties and dinners. One of the great things that has come out of the page is having the forum to inform and help. Any charity, organization or person needing help can always post,” shares Marcus. The Lopez family sheepishly admits to relaxing with TV binge watching. Marcus takes pleasure in his hobby of metal detecting. “So much history right under our feet, here in Cypress. My friends Eric, Rich, and I try to get out and find relics before they are lost forever. I found my first Civil War era bullet near Mound Road,” exclaims Marcus. Iris likes to spend time crafting and scrap booking. “I also love going to auctions. One of my favorite activities is camping as a family. Just getting away and relaxing. Summer is all about sliding open the fence between our neighbor’s home and ours. We light up the grill and relax around each other’s pool. As a family, we love to travel and experience new cultures. One rule on family vacations was that the girls would have to give us three facts about the place where we were going. Once there, we visited the place and expanded on the information they had shared. It was a great way for the girls to build memories of the places we visited. Our favorite place to escape is Cancun! Quick plane ride, great people and Marcus can get his cigars,” quips Iris.

8 February | March 2021

Local Soldier Honored With Welcome Home Parade By Patricia Hudson

rivate James "Dominick" White, a 2017 graduate of Cypress Ranch High School, left home 341 days ago to join the U.S. Army. “Saying goodbye to him in January was hard, but who knew how hard it was going to be? Since Covid19 hit this year, it canceled his BCT, (Basic Combat Training) graduation and the family weekend. He went straight to AIT (Advanced Individual Training), and again, no family graduation. They did not allow him to have leave after all his training, due to Covid. He was then shipped to his duty station nearly 4,000 miles from home. My heart was hurting for him not being able to come home and see friends and family, and me not being able to hug him,” explains Joan Peters, Pvt. Peters’ mother.

and cry. I am so proud of him and his decision to serve our country,” shares Joan. To honor Pvt. White, friend and neighbor Phyllis Kruger organized a “Welcome Home parade on December 19. “I showed him my

post on the Fairfield Facebook page; we had over 900 likes. He was in shock that so many people took the time to LIKE and leave comments for him. He was very humbled,” comments his mother.

When the opportunity finally presented itself, Dominick jumped at the chance to come home. “When Dominick walked in the back door, all I could do is hug him

PinPointe Magazine

Farmer’s Markets Provide a Breath of Fresh Air for Shoppers Story and Photos by Patricia Hudson Searching for the freshest produce, the butcher’s best cuts, the hottest sauces, or maybe even the newest beauty products in your area? If you are longing to leave the confines of your home, a weekend stroll through your local farmer’s market might be just what the doctor ordered. Bridgeland Farmers Market (2nd & 4th Sundays) • 12:30-3:30pm 10519 Fry Rd. • Cypress, TX 77433 Boardwalk @ Towne Lake Farmers Market (3rd Sat) • 12:30-3:30pm 9945 Barker Cypress Rd. • Cypress, TX 77433 Fairfield Farmers Market (Starting in Feb 3rd Sundays) • 11am-3pm 15103 Mason Rd, Cypress, TX 77433 The Jersey Village Farmers Market (1st & 3rd Sundays) • 12-3pm Jersey Village Civic Center Parking Lot 16327 Lakeview Dr. This family-friendly event features locally grown food and handmade merchandise. Tomball Farmers Market (Saturdays) • 9am-1pm A year-round weekly North Houston Farmers Market, with over 60 local vendors featuring farmers, producers, bakers, artisans and more. Located in historic Downtown Tomball, TX TFM provides a

10 February | March 2021

diverse, fun, pet friendly, family outdoor shopping experience. Visit www.tomballfarmersmarket.org • (832) 422-5669 Focusing on Fresh Produce The Farm to Kitchen Collective is a co-op/ CSA hybrid that has brought locally grown, fresh vegetables to multiple locations across Cypress, Tomball and Northwest Houston for nearly six years. Locally owned and operated, the Farm to Kitchen Collective offers a ‘farm share’ each week on Wednesdays. With multiple memberships available, the Farm to Kitchen has options to fit into busy lifestyles. Visit www.FarmtoKitchenCollective.com for additional information.

Canine Corner

By Patricia Hudson and Sophia Hudson, the Rescue Yorkiepoo

hank you to Julie Kuenstle, VP of Communications & Marketing at the Houston SPCA for sharing this bio about one of their lonely dogs that has been at the SPCA for some time. Just like the dogs that are in foster care with dog rescue organizations, he deserves a furever home.

I am Duke, and I am quite the playful dog looking for a home where it’s safe to run and just let loose.

Duke

Houston SPCA Dedicated to Animal Rescue and Protection 7007 Old Katy Road Houston, TX 77024 Hours: Open 24 hours

The Houston SPCA rescued me from a tough situation, but that’s all in the rearview mirror now. I’m looking forward to a new life. Maybe it’s with you? I am heartworm + because of my past, but that’s okay, because the Houston SPCA and VCA will cover the cost of my medication. If you have an active lifestyle, and don’t mind showing me the ropes a bit, then I’m definitely your guy! I am available for adoption for $55, so be sure to make an appointment to spend some time with me at the Houston SPCA. The average cost to prepare a pet for adoption at the Houston SPCA is more than $400. Duke’s adoption fee includes a veterinary exam, microchip, neuter surgery, updated vaccinations, free post-adoption exam from a VCA Animal Hospital and a free sample bag of Hill’s Science Diet. Please make an adoption appointment today by calling 713.869.7722 (SPCA) ext. 130 between 8:30 am – 5 pm to meet Duke and all the other adoptable pets. You can also find them at www.houstonspca.org

PinPointe Magazine

Metta’s Local Eats The Best of Cy-Fair P L AC E S TO E AT Dine Out for Charity Smashes Fundraising Goal for Cy-Fair Helping Hands

t was a community of food enthusiasts, coming together on social media to share favorite recipes, give restaurant reviews, and provide an avenue for food related selfpromotion on Work It Wednesdays. Enter Admin Metta Archilla-Ishida, who not only lives and breathes anything food-related, but is also a talented chef and entrepreneur, food blogger/ photographer, and is married to Chef Elias. With a heart for “food, fellowship and community,” Metta jumped in to assist Cy-Fair Helping Hands in serving the homeless and hungry in Cy-Fair. “We were so proud of our 1st Annual Bash Out Hunger initiative in 2018. We held a peanut butter and jelly drive and collected 800 pounds of food and $700 in donations! Last year’s event was much bigger; we were able to fill CyFair Helping Hands’ pantry shelves with more than 4,200 pounds of nonperishables and around $4,000 in donations,” shares Archilla gleefully. Fast forward to 2020. Led by the lady herself, Metta’s Local Eats Dine Out for Charity’s Executive Committee, (Lisa

12 February | March 2021

By Patricia Hudson Participating Restaurants and Artisans 1101 Southern Kitchen

Johnson, Nancy Eugenio, Keri Holloway, Vannessa Henley, and Ashley Clarabut), developed a plan which would ultimately involve 42 restaurants, local artesian shops and a cast of businesses in a collaborative effort to better serve the community. Each participating restaurant and food-related enterprise selected an item or two from their menu, and set a donation amount for each item sold during the months of October through December. “A big shout out to our supportive community of Cypress area patrons, along with participating restaurants and vendors of culinary treats and their generous sponsors. In October, Metta's Local Eats Dine Out for Charity 2020 Event raised over $7,500 for Cy-Fair Helping Hands. The November numbers came in at over $9,000…that’s over $16,800 in the first two months, comments Metta, happily. The final numbers for December were tabulated and revealed at the Metta’s Local Eats Dine Out for Charity awards presentation recognizing the top restaurants and cottage bakers on Thursday, January 14, 2021. Total donation numbers topped the $27,000 mark. “We are excited to note that 90% of our participants are committed to

2 Guys 1 Pit Adriatic Café Italian Grill Alchemy Bake Lab Ambriza Boardwalk Cypress Ambriza Mexican Kitchen Vintage Andy’s Kitchen Cypress The Backyard Grill Brooks’ Place, LLC Cake Fine Pastry Captain Brad’s Coastal Kitchen Center Court Pizza & Brew Vintage Park Charlie D’s Pizza CookieGram Copper Kettle Chocolate Factory Creekwood Grill Cupcake Cowgirls Bakery Dinner Winners Duck n’ Bao Giannina’s Pizza & Catering Hanan’s Café Jersey Bagels The Kaffe Spot Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee & Bakery Nyam Nyam Café Pho Houston Copperfield Plum Coffee Shop Rita’s Cantina Mexican Kitchen Rockwell Grill Sizzle & Brew Suzybeez Bakery Tacoland Mex Mex Union Kitchen Boardwalk Towne Lake Union Kitchen Katy Vival Restaurant Yokohamaya Japanese Restaurant Business Sponsors: Lisa Benoit, Abby Realty (Graphics) Cindy Boutwell, Boutwell Properties Energy Capital Credit Union Craig Hoffman Righteous Cause Band Scott Realty Group David Canale, State Farm

joining us in April, for the second quarter of MLE’s Dine Out for Charity,” reports Archilla. “In these very difficult times, food and funds for our Homeless Initiatives and Community Outreach programs are crucial,” reports Patricia Hudson, Executive Director of Community Outreach, Cy-Fair Helping Hands. “Jean Dreyer (Founder and Executive Director of Homeless Initiatives) and I are so very grateful for MLE and this giving community!”

Award Recipients for Top Sales include: Overall: First Place: Duck N Bao Second place: Andy’s Kitchen Third place: Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee & Bakery Artisan Bakeries: First place: Jersey Bagels Second place: Cake Fine Pastry Third place: Alchemy Bake Lab

Most Sponsors: Andy’s Kitchen

Multiple Location Participation: The Union Kitchen - Boardwalk Towne Lake The Union Kitchen – Katy Top: MLE Dine Out for Charity winners Bottom: MLE Committee Photo credit: David Postma, Genesis Photographers

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PinPointe Magazine

EJI’S

The Best of Cy-Fair

Culinary Catering & Food Truck

P L AC E S TO E AT By Patricia Hudson

any of our most treasured memories are centered around the family kitchen. For Eji’s Culinary owners, Dustin and Gina Reed, this is exactly how their love of cooking evolved. Dustin's grandmothers, Emma Joy and Irene, were the namesakes for Eji's Culinary. Through Grandma Emma Joy's holiday meals and Grandma Irene's Sunday fried chicken, Dustin saw, firsthand, how important a role food plays in family gatherings. Dustin attended the Le Cordon Bleu Program at Scottsdale Culinary Institute. He worked in hotels and restaurants in Austin, and the Hill Country, before moving to Houston, and among other culinary experiences, joining Sodexo, and becoming the Executive Chef at NASA/Johnson Space Center. Gina’s upbringing in an Italian family mirrored the importance of food, family, and friends. “I will never forget our Sunday dinners at my Grandma Sedita’s house every week. Those were the best times! No one left hungry, there was always plenty of spaghetti and meatballs, roast, chicken stew, cookies, cakes and pies… The day was filled with eating, talking, laughing and playing with cousins. My best memories are of Gina & Dustin those times!” Gina’s Reed culinary history includes more than 20 years in Arizona and Texas with Marriott International, the JW Marriott Galleria, before signing on with Sodexo as Catering Manager at ConocoPhillips. These experiences in food and beverage and event planning proved invaluable in Photo by forming Eji’s Culinary. Patricia Hudson 14 February | March 2021

“We focus on fresh, local ingredients that we procure from local farms and vendors within a 250-mile radius. While we are not ‘niche food’ oriented, we are a traveling bistro/café, with attention on bringing the best, freshest hand/scratch made food with a hint of trend and foundation of the classics to our customers. Fresh, local Texas ingredients with an international flair,” comments, Gina. Eji’s offers catering services for corporate events, business luncheons, weddings, and receptions, as well as intimate get-togethers with family and friends. “We can customize a menu to fit your tastes,” assures Dustin. A private dinner catering for a couple and their small group of friends included a menu of Chipotle Salmon Cake with Arugula, Avocado and Suno Mono Salad, Balsamic Braised Lamb Shank with Goat Cheese Scallion Mash, Haricot Vert, and Flourless Dark Chocolate Torte with Raspberry Coulis and Crème Chantilly. Ahi Tuna

Eji's Culinary's catering company added a mobile food unit mid-year, and is permitted in Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery Counties. “Our food truck business has been Eji’s Burger

coming along very well. Our catering business, without the trailer, has dropped off quite a bit. We’re hoping that with the new vaccines coming out, it will return once again,” shares Gina. The food truck is available for Cypress/CyFair community events, and has found success in multiple bookings at Bearded Fox Brewing Company and Mancuso HarleyDavidson Crossroads.

Honey Adobo Chicken Tacos

My first experience with Eji’s Culinary was at a grand opening, where their gazpacho “shooters” with shrimp garnish wowed the guests. An early fall visit in the Cypress Creek Lakes community provided an up close and personal tour of their new food truck and an opportunity to sample some of their upscale menu. At Dustin’s suggestion, I ordered the wild caught Togarashi Yellowfin Runs BLT, homemade potato chips, and a blueberry lemon bread pudding with a citrus glaze. On second thought, I added an orange cranberry with citrus glaze, triple chocolate with chocolate glaze, and pumpkin with pumpkin spice glaze bread puddings to my order. I cannot begin to tell you how amazingly mouthwatering that Tuna was! I LOVE seafood, so when I tell you that this sandwich ranks in my top five all-time favorites, know that

it was amazing! The chips were crisp and so tasty. I selfishly chose to scarf down the blueberry lemon bread pudding before guardedly offering the others to my husband and son. While not usually fans of bread pudding, they were complimentary of each flavor-filled morsel. A new Eji’s menu was introduced in November. Chicken Fried Shrimp, Wild Caught Yellowfin Togarashi Tuna, and Honey Adobo Chicken Tacos are served with Pico Slaw, Roasted Corn, Sriracha Lime Aioli, Flour Tortilla, and House Chips. Looking for a distinctive flavor profile? Texas Akaushi Steak Milanese Sliders with Panko Crusted Akaushi Beef, Caramelized Onion, Bacon Jalapeno Jam, Pure Luck Goat Cheese, Farm Fresh Fried Egg, Spring Mix, Challah and House Chips should do the trick! Go to www.ejisculinary.com for their complete menu. Eji’s Culinary Gina Reed, Marketing/Owner • Dustin Reed, Chef/Owner 713-423-7976 • info@ejisculinary.com

For more restaurant reviews visit: www.bestofcyfair.com.

PinPointe Magazine

2021. T H E Y E A R O F O W N E R S H I P. BY ALLISON OKUNEYE

Ok so maybe it is the unofficial year of ownership. It is time we take an inventory of our relationships as we start off this new year. What is working? What needs to be reworked? We all have those relationships that just feel easy. They don't require any pomp and flair, where you can truly be your authentic self. We all love those relationships and we love the people that give us the space (judgement free of course) to be ourselves. So if we are talking about ownership, we have to look inward. We want great relationships, but are WE being great IN our relationships?

16 February | March 2021

As a friend we expect loyalty, honesty, and someone who truly listens. Are you holding grudges, and not being honest about your feelings, or never opening up and getting vulnerable, trash talking, and are you negative all of the time? You cannot expect the reward of deep and meaningful friendships, if you want great friends YOU also have to be one. When you look at your friendships are you constantly feeling drama? Is it a safe place for you? What are YOU doing to contribute to that vibe? In our romantic relationships we expect loyalty, love, affection, honor and faithfulness (among other things). These are all

crucial in a loving partnership. We all want this, but are WE modeling these characteristics? We often complain about what our partner doesn't do for us, without taking ownership or acknowledging that what we may be asking for is not something that we are willing to do.

The good thing about taking inventory and ownerships of your relationships is that you get to see where you need to improve, and what is holding you back. Ownership is great for determining where YOU can grow and also help you see which relationships are beyond saving.

We are all responsible for who let have emotional and physical space in our lives. We are all capable of fixing our own shortcomings, and we each can set up boundaries to protect our joy. We are all responsible for the life that we live. This year we will do a better job at creating peace in our own lives. This can mean letting people in, or showing them the door. This year WE are in charge of our relationships, our happiness, and our future.

**Keep in mind it is EASY to show people the door and find shiny new relationships! But the deep, authentic, and meaningful connections are NEVER squeaky clean. There will be tears, miscommunication, and low points. So never expect perfection in ANY relationship. But hard times should bring closeness, and a stronger sense of love and depth.

PinPointe Magazine

by Liz Arrington spend a lot of time with parents, especially moms. Most often, the ideas I have for my articles for Pinpointe magazine come from the conversations I have with my own friends, parents I work with in my music classes, what I observe in various different mom groups and influencers on social media. I look for patterns and consistency in the memes we share, the questions we ask each other. The fears, concerns, and successes that we share with each other online and, less often these days, on playgrounds. These conversations and social media trends are a valuable barometer for what is going on in our community, and a reflection of our culture.

Let me tell you what I’m hearing and seeing right nowwe are exhausted. Conflicted. Trying to make decisions about schooling, social interactions, extra curricular activities. We are trying to balance the health and safety of our families and community against the needs for our own sanity and well-being. We are trying to work, provide for the growth of our children, plan for the future, maintain relationships with friends and family, and make room for our own physical and mental health needs. It’s really a lot. We’ve been carrying this load for nearly a YEAR. This current stage of confusion and overwhelm is different than what we collectively experienced last spring. I almost have to laugh at my early attempts to maintain “normalcy” in the early days of quarantine. So many craft projects, so many “schedules”, so much screen time. I was so worried about the unknowns, trying to redefine my own parenting style, reevaluate my priorities and values. I have had countless conversations with other parents who have been growing through this process along with me. 18 February | March 2021

As we have moved through the months, making adjustments as we go, I am picking up on a renewed sense of “we got this”. We may be overwhelmed, tired, conflicted, unable to plan more than a month into the future. But we are living this life. We have become more flexible, more understanding, more open to embrace the uncertainty and celebrate small victories. Our kids are learning, they’re growing, developing amazing new talents and skills. They are funny, and smart, and even when it seems like they aren’t listening, they are watching. I am so encouraged by the parents that I interact with out here in the world. You are enough, you have taught your kids so many important life skills by simply making it through this past year. I am seeing more and more messages of hope for the future, confidence in our own abilities, and faith in our community to lift up and support each other through yet another year. May we be the encouragement and inner voice that tells our children that they are valuable, powerful, and deserving of every opportunity they dare to dream of. This is reflected in the ways that we speak to each other, how we participate and engage in social media and online interactions, the messages we give our children about the world and our role in it. We have the opportunity to keep moving ahead in a positive and uplifting way in spite of ongoing tension and uncertainty. Our children really are watching. Keep it up parents, you got this! Liz Arrington combines her background in working with children and families with her love of music, to provide early childhood music and movement classes to the families of Cypress. Online music classes also available. See more at www.songfulbeginnings.com.

Tips For Getting Your Home Ready For Spring and Selling Season By Cindy Boutwell, Boutwell Properties

1. Make a master list of maintenance items that you know need to be addressed. (That broken doorbell or hole in the ceiling). Walk your home’s exterior; look for faded paint, rotted wood, missing caulk, mildew, dirty spots and high soil.

2. Are your bushes or trees in need of a trim? If they are touching your home, for sure trim them.

3. Check your gutters and roof for debris, and remove.

4. Power wash or clean pool decking, patio, and walkway if black and dingy. 5. Verify all doors and windows open easily.

6. Clear any obstructions to furnace, HVAC, hot water heater and electric panel. 7. Have your HVAC serviced.

8. Your HVAC unit: Are the lines going into your home sealed up? Seal them to help prevent rodents from entering. 9. Replace batteries for your smoke detectors.

10. Check toilets and faucets for water leaks and that they are secure and not loose. Check for proper draining for bath faucets.

11. Your front door: Clean with soap and water. If it is a stained door, refresh with a product like Formsby’s. Paint, if faded (Check with your HOA, if needed).

12. Clean oﬀ your front porch/entry. Remove bugs, spider webs, and leaves. 13. Are your light ﬁxtures faded? Paint or replace them. Make sure all lights are bright.

14. Update your welcome mat.

15. Check lights to make sure all bulbs are the same color.

16. Check each room for paint touch-ups and caulk cracks, as needed.

17. All rooms: Pull blinds up, dust oﬀ, wipe down window sills. Clean windows if needed. 18. Check baseboards for dust/dirt/grime.

19. Wipe smudges oﬀ of light switch plates. (Replace broken and missing plates).

20. Does your furniture placement make sense for selling?

21. Wipe oﬀ decor and pictures.

22. Remove items from the front of your fridge and any food items on top of your fridge. 23. Declutter your pantry and cupboards. It’s okay to throw away all those plastic lids that don’t ﬁt anything. Organize your canned goods, turning the cans to face the pantry door. Keep what you are willing to pack.

24. Primary bedroom: If your bedding is 5+ years old or you are still using your bedding from college, replace it.

25. Primary closet: Color coordinate your clothes. Trust us on this one! Pick up a few colorful bins or baskets and store loose items in these. 26. Primary bath: Scrub it! Clean oﬀ your counters. Only have items on your counter that would be in a model home. Put toothbrushes, make-up, etc., away in a cubby.

27. Run hot water in primary bath tub if not used often. If you have a jetted tub, run it, as you may need to add bleach to the water. 28. Organize your linen closet, color coordinate your towels, and fold your extra bed linens neatly. Put medication in sealed containers. 29. Secondary bedrooms: straighten up and declutter. Donate old or unwanted items.

30. Clean and wipe down cabinets, baseboards, and ceiling fans.

31. Check the smell of your home. Do you have pets? Ask a friend if your home smells. If yes, consider having ﬂoors professionally cleaned by a recommended cleaning company. 32. Garage: Remove cobwebs and sweep out. Get rid of old paint cans. Purge items not used.

33. Backyard: Check fence pickets. If in good shape but older, consider power washing to freshen up. Replace broken pickets, secure loose ones. Get rid of ant beds.

34. Consider adding lights or sitting area.

35. Update your curb appeal with fresh mulch, plant some seasonal ﬂowers. 36. If you have a pool, check for leaks around your equipment. Make sure your pool is blue.

PinPointe Magazine

CYPRESS SCHOOL NEWS CFISD Theatre Arts Students Excel at Texas Thespian Festival More than 85 CFISD high school theatre arts students received first and second place rankings at the Virtual Texas Thespian Festival, held over multiple weekends between Oct. 24 and Dec. 5. Students receiving these designations have qualified for the national competition, sponsored by the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA), scheduled for June 22-25 and to be held virtually. The following students earned awards or special recognitions at the competition:

All 12 CFISD High Schools Receive LTE 1:1 Chromebooks All 12 CFISD high schools have received Chromebooks for students as part of the district’s LTE (Learning Together Everywhere) 1:1 program. Rollouts began before the Thanksgiving holiday and were completed before winter break. More than 75,000 CFISD students have received a Chromebook, which includes 100% of high school students having their own device. In addition, 52% of elementary students and 46% of middle school students have received their individually issued Chromebook. CFISD has met all requests of CFISD Connect students who indicated a need for a device in order to be successful while learning remotely. “Successfully deploying individually issued Chromebooks to all high school students in CFISD is an incredible feat that could not be accomplished without the support of the community and the CFISD Board of Trustees,” said Katie Gentry, director of 1:1 and inventory systems. “These devices will enable teachers to transform learning anytime, anywhere, allowing students to reach their full potential for college and career readiness. The spirit of CFISD was evident in this project as many departments stepped up and heeded the call to think outside the box to make this happen in an expedient manner for our high school students across the district.”

20 February | March 2021

BRIDGELAND Amanda Nichols ...............Costume Construction Sheldyn Ely.........................Costume Design Alexis Hunt.........................Duet Acting Reed Macleod...................Duet Acting Luke Hill...............................Duet Acting Nathan Schutt ...................Duet Acting Paris Fulks ..........................Duet Acting Tyler Hill...............................Duet Acting Rex Koern...........................Duet Acting Joshua Cremer..................Duet Acting Anthony Barrios................Marketing Kailey Hatter ......................Monologue/Solo Acting Benji Gussler .....................Scenic Design Archer Phillips...................Short Film Jarob Abbott......................Short Film Jean-Patrick Mercier......Short Film Karson Davis......................Short Film CYPRESS RANCH Colin Vargas.......................Monologue Izabella Perez ....................Solo Musical Julia Theriot.......................Solo Musical Payton Gamble..................Duet Acting Maximillian Silva Cipollaro...Duet Acting Niccolo Garcia ..................Duet Acting Skyla Lopez ........................Duet Acting Myiah Kapp........................Sound Design Isabella Bozo .....................Costume Design Nathan Hale.......................Lighting Design Emily Childs........................Group Musical Elizabeth Harrison ............Group Musical Kylie Jowers ......................Group Musical

CYPRESS RANCH (cont.) Caitlin Martin .....................Group Musical Emma Schiller ...................Group Musical Kayden Watkins................Group Musical Cameron Arce...................Group Musical Carly Beckstrom ...............Group Musical Gabby Brugno ...................Group Musical Lizzy Elder...........................Group Musical Caleb King ..........................Group Musical Gabriel Lopez.....................Group Musical Amanda Luong..................Group Musical Timi Odufuye ......................Group Musical Tyrese Randall...................Group Musical Chloe Rothe........................Group Musical Hailey Scherb....................Group Musical Hope Vanderburg .............Group Musical Alec Anderson ..................Group Musical Xavier Brewer ...................Group Musical Trey Fitt................................Group Musical Dillon Fitzgerald.................Group Musical C.J. Friend...........................Group Musical Daphne Garza....................Group Musical Logan Hardin .....................Group Musical Julia Kachich.....................Group Musical Nneoma Mgboji ................Group Musical Mary Kathryn Nobles ......Group Musical Avery Grace Payne..........Group Musical Landon Rouse....................Group Musical Alexa Stracener................Group Musical Mali Velasquez..................Group Musical Makenzie Woolridge .......Group Musical Makayla Wright ................Group Musical

CFISD Student-Athletes Earn THSCA Academic All-State Honors One hundred forty-nine CFISD athletes in cross country, football and volleyball earned Academic All-State honors and accolades for the 2020-2021 school year from the Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA), with Bridgeland High School senior Randy Smith (cross country), Cy-Fair High School senior Sidharth Shyamkumar (cross country) and Jersey Village High School senior Sami Farooqui (football) attaining Elite recognition. Twenty-nine students across nine high school earned firstteam honors. Partnering with the Texas Army National Guard, THSCA recognizes students who earn all-state honors while excelling in the following categories: gradepoint average, class rank and ACT/SAT scores. Honorees then earn Elite, first-team, second-team or honorable mention honors based on their scores and averages.

The following students earned THSCA Academic All-State honors:

ELITE

SECOND TEAM

BRIDGELAND H.S. Cross Country Randy Smith

BRIDGELAND H.S. Cross Country Edward Berning Enrique Gonzalez Kaleb Funderburk Ryan Wilbanks Venkata Yalamanchili Football Jett Booker Ethan Hajdik Conner Motsinger David Cartwright Colby Long Luke Brooks John Lembeke

CYPRESS RANCH H.S. Cross Country Lexie Burk Noah Tan Football Blane Channel Jensen Wester Robin Neely Volleyball Elyssa Escobar Karlee Eaton Ava Martinolli

FIRST TEAM BRIDGELAND H.S. Cross Country Ethan Conville Everett Owens Jacob Grosch Jorge Cantu Volleyball Jessica Frannea Isabel Serralde Bella Griffin

CFISD Football Players Named to 2020 All-District 16-6A Team District 16-6A football coaches released the All-District Team on Jan. 5, following the conclusion of each teamâ€™s postseason. Five different CFISD teams were represented among the district superlatives. Bridgeland High School junior quarterback Conner Weigman was unanimously voted Offensive MVP. Bridgeland Head Coach David Raffield was voted Coach of the Year. The following CFISD athletes earned first and second team and honorable mention all-district recognition:

FIRST TEAM CY-RANCH Justin Jones Caleb Collier Bryce Simpson Ben Postma Wide Receivers Edwin Smith Dylan Caddle Chibuikem Nwajuaku Blane Channel Ashton Porter Christian BrathWaite Conner Motsinger Xavier Watson Roderick Edwards Romario Noel Zachary Gibson BRIDGELAND Hunter Wallis Dylan Goffney Atravion Hunter Andrew Maleski Oghenemine Imarah

Gavan Kaspar Bryce McMorris

SECOND TEAM CY-RANCH Jensen Wester DJ Ciers Jonovan Dennis Orlando Thibodeaux Landen Nowak Teylan Nelson Charlie Feris BRIDGELAND Chance Scheiffele Ethan Bogert Gage Geaslin Dylan Crippen Mason Culton Nathan Earle Brayden Amacker Daniel Grisbee Charles Moore Jack Grier Kamren Amao PinPointe Magazine

The Chef’s Bag Opening in Copperfield

AROUND

Cy-Fair

By Patricia Hudson

“All Local All the Time”

evin Mason, owner and Executive Chef of Mason's Creative Catering, was born and raised in Houston. He lived in New Orleans for ten years, working with other talented chefs to marry the “big bold Texas style cooking to New Orleans flavor and spice.” Finding a commercial kitchen was a matter of necessity. Mason, together with other local chefs and bakers, needed a space for their culinary endeavors. Following a chance meeting with fellow chef Philippa “PJ” Jenkins, The Chef’s Kitchen was born. Mason, together with business partners, PJ, of Office Party Houston, and JBistro Style Chef Services owner, Jennifer Burnett, formed ChefsUnitedHTX LLC two years ago, at 17527 Huffmeister Road A, Cypress TX 77429.

Chef’s Bag Businesses:

“The concept for The Chef’s Bag came from our desire to build on the success of The Chef's Kitchen. Not only did we want to give small local businesses a commercial kitchen in which to produce their goods, but we wanted to give them a place to showcase and sell these products,” explains Mason. While Farmer’s Markets are one resource for small businesses, weighing the application process, once weekly opportunities, shortness of staff and lack of means to cover multiple markets weekly, convinced ChefsUnitedHTX LLC to seek out another solution. “We wanted to offer the same experience as a Farmer’s Market, but five days a week, for an extended time frame. The Chef’s Bag is a market where only local products will be displayed and sold, a one stop shop for all your local favorites,” comments Chef Kevin. The Chef’s Bag held its soft opening on Monday, January 18, 2021. An array of enticing sauces, spices, rubs, popcorn, cracklins, and bakery goods from more than a dozen local businesses currently fill the shelves, cooler and freezer space. Chef Jennifer expects their new business enterprise to take off. “We anticipate having close to two dozen vendors represented in The Chef’s Bag by our Grand Opening, scheduled for Saturday, February 6, from 10a.m. to 1p.m.”

22 February | March 2021

Masons Creative Catering What’s Crackalackin Jbistro style Goodies by Southern Belle Remix Savour Lit Salsa Kick n Dips and Salsa Reaux of Sweets Moo Moos Beef Jerky Piquant Popcorn

Flavour! IncrEdiballs Fruit Baskets by OPH Juiced Zydeco BBQ Sauce Coming Soon: Dos Margaritas Salsa Burnt Skillet CNC Smokehouse Davis Culinary Creations Lisa’s Lunchboxx

The Chef’s Bag Chef's United HTX, LLC 7510 Cherry Park Dr. • Ste. G • Houston, TX 77095 832-427-6189 • chefsunitedhtx@gmail.com Days/Hours of Operation: Tuesday – Saturday 10a.m. - 6p.m.

PinPointe Magazine