Issuu

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A R T S + C U LTU R E

E N TE R TA I N M E N T

VETERANS AN D VENU ES TO REM EM BER

O RGAN IZ ATIO NS WILLIN G TO H ELP

LO CAL PRO DUCTIO N M AKES A DIFFEREN CE

Thankful to Those Who Serve N OV E M B E R 2 02 3

November 2023 PUBLISHER

Alison Kartevold | Alison.Kartevold@citylifestyle.com

LIFESTYLE LETTER

So Much to be Thankful For

EDITOR

Margie Taylor | margie.taylor@citylifestyle.com CONTR IBUTING WR ITER S

Kimberly Sutton, Morgan Freeman, Kelly Twedell, Melanie Saxton, Meghan Warren CONTR IBUTING PHOTOGR APHER

Shannon Matlock

Every day, even on the bad days, I try to remember to be thankful, for I am blessed. I have the love of my family and God. Yet, every day, we must choose how we will face the challenges before us. It is easy to become disheartened by world events or those in our own lives and become overwhelmed by them. Then I look around and see the hardships others must overcome or endure, and I am humbled. No matter how bad I think my burdens are, someone's are heavier. Today, I challenge you to stop for a moment and look outward. Do you see the heroes and servants all around you? We live in a place full of people who desire to do good. People who want to make a difference, who see a bad situation and choose to do something to make it better. Maybe their actions help their neighbor or a family member and garner no recognition at all. I, for one, am thankful to live in such a place. While some reach out to others through nonprofits or military service, others help by building and creating. In this issue, we share their stories of service with you. And we are, thankfully!

Corporate Team CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES Tiffany Slowinski

ALISON K ARTE VOLD, PUBLISHER @CONROECITYLIFESTYLE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson DIRECTOR OF FIRST IMPRESSIONS Jennifer Robinson TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Josh Klein AD DESIGNER Rachel Collins LAYOUT DESIGNER Andi Foster

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Proverbs 3:5-6 Conroe City Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Conroe area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Conroe City Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but

L I F E ST Y LE LE T T E R

the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

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inside the issue The Thankful Issue

F E ATU R E D

D E PA RTM E NTS

14 Thankful for Their Service

Lifestyle Letter

City Scene

Business Monthly

Local Limelight LI FE + C U LTU R E

Kids Corner EV ENT PLA NNI NG + SE RV IC E S

Giving Back A RTS + C U LT U R E

Our Town ENT ERTA I NMENT

Must See HO ME + DES I GN

Locally Sourced HEA LT H + W E L L N E SS

Events

Culinary Creations FO O D + B E V E R AG E

Two Local Veterans Relive their Stories as if it were Yesterday

24 Grateful to the Community Local Nonprofits serve vulnerable populations

30 Breaking Strongholds Honors its Namesake Small town, big impact series hits streaming services

34 Building a Future at Angel Reach Village Assisting Young Adults Bridge the Gap to Adulthood

O N T H E C OV E R

Photography: Shannon Matlock We are thankful to our Veterans who served our country keeping Americans safe. Ralph Yovino is a Korean War Veteran in Conroe who saved another soldier in 1952 Korea, posing next to a WWII aircraft.

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N OV E M B E R 2 0 2 3

city scene

Where neighbors can see and be seen. 1

C3 CREATIVE CONTENT CREATIONS

MONTGOMERY COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION

2 HOWARD HUGHES

MONTGOMERY COUNTY VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK

CASA CHILD ADVOCATES OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

DERRICK BRYANT PHOTOGRAPHY

MONTGOMERY LONE STARS

1: Cody Bartlett receives awards as Past President of the MCFA 2020-2023. 2: CASA Advocates is expanding services to justice-involved youth and truancy courts to help them succeed. 3: National Gold Star Mothers and Family Day Sunrise Service at Margaritaville. 4: The Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park remembers our First Responders on Patriot’s Day 9/11. 5: The 13th Annual Woodforest Bank Charity Run took place in downtown Conroe to benefit nonprofits. 6: Lorrie Parise, Howard Hughes, awarded “Marketing Professional of the Year” from Texas Association of Builders. 7: Korean Conflict Veteran Douglas Hicks, 94, received a Quilt of Valor by Montgomery Lone Stars.

Want to be seen in the magazine? Tag your Instagram photos with @ConroeCityLifestyle

C I T Y SC E N E

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NOVEMB ER 2 0 2 3 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / C O N R O E

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business monthly A round-up of exciting news from local businesses.

Dean & Draper Montgomery County Moves to Woodforest Bank Woodforest National Bank® has recently leased the third floor of its new bank building in downtown Conroe to Dean & Draper Montgomery County. Located at 400 West Davis, The insurance agency now occupies 10,720 square feet of office space of Woodforest’s building, encompassing the third floor. Dean & Draper, which acquired Soules Insurance Agency in 2013, moved from its previous location at 701 San Jacinto St., where it officed for the last fifty years. Photography: Conroe Lake Conroe Chamber

First Watch in Willis Opens Opened in August, First Watch Wilis serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch daily from 7:00 am to 2:30 pm, located next to H-E-B at 12360 I-45. Enjoy a selection from their juice bar, iced

B USIN E SS M ON T H LY

coffee, brunch cocktails, classic favorites, healthy choices, omelets, salads, pancakes, and sandwiches. View the menu at firstwatch.com/menu Photography: Conroe Lake Conroe Chamber

Jennifer Reitmeyer Promoted at CASA CASA Child Advocates of Montgomery County is pleased to announce the promotion of Jennifer Reitmeyer to the role of TBRI® Director. In her new role, Reitmeyer will lead the organization's efforts in trauma-informed care initiatives and community education. Reitmeyer volunteered for CASA as an Advocate for six years before joining the staff as a Case Supervisor in 2017. Photography: CASA Child Advocates of Montgomery County

Conroe Art League Celebrates 60 Years in Conroe! This year, the Conroe Art League is celebrating 60 years of offering beginner to advanced classes and workshops for adults and youth, art exhibits, juried shows, and scholarships for continuing art education in Conroe. Established in 1963, the Madeley Fine Art Gallery is free to the public to visit Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, featuring a new exhibit each month by local artists. ConroeArtLeague.com

Beautiful On-Site Lake View Walks

New Private Office Suites

Modern Office Amenities

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Photography: Conroe Art League CONTINUED > NOVEMB ER 2 0 2 3 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / C O N R O E

B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY C O N T I N U E D

Conroe ISD Named Best in State Employer for Texas Conroe ISD has been recognized on Forbes’ fifth annual list as one of its Best-In-State Employers for Texas for the second consecutive year. Conroe ISD is one of six school districts in the State to make the list. Established in 1892, Conroe ISD encompasses 348 square miles, the second-largest district geographically among the top 24 enrollments in Texas, and is the largest employer with more than 11,000 employees, including substitutes. Photography: Conroe ISD

Assistance League Meets Standards for Charity Accountability Assistance League Montgomery County has met the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Standards for Charity Accountability. This distinction helps donors verify the trustworthiness of the organization. The BBB seal demonstrates the organization goes beyond the requirements of the law by being transparent and accountable. To achieve this distinction, they met the twenty standards that established a baseline of performance in four areas: 1. Governance; 2. Measuring Effectiveness; 3. Finances; and 4. Fundraising and Information. Photography: Assistance League Montgomery County

B USIN E SS M ON T H LY

Thankful for Their Service Two Local Veterans Relive their Stories as if it were Yesterday

ARTICLE BY KIMBERLY SUTTON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHANNON MATLOCK

Listen with awe and gratitude to two Veterans who served our country to keep Americans safe and recognize that Conroe is “home” to two veteran-inspired venues, the Gulf Coast Wing of the Commemorative Air Force and the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park. The Conroe North Houston Regional Airport is fortunate to share space with the Gulf Coast Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). The Commemorative Air Force collects, restores, and flies vintage historical aircraft. A non-profit educational association, the CAF has over 12 thousand members and a fleet of 170 airplanes distributed throughout the country to 76 CAF units for care and operation.

The Navy JRB-6 “Little Raider,” 1947 Beechcraft model D185, is one of the world’s most widely used light aircraft, with 45 hundred used for military service during and after WWII. Longtime Conroe resident Ralph Yovino, 94, is a Korean War hero from the United States Army. They served in different wars, but both were integral to the survival of others. One clear morning, Mr. Yovino shared his story with us while standing next to the WWII aircraft. Yovino was assigned to a 53-man platoon that climbed a hill one evening to hold it overnight until the rest of his company could join them. But events took a sharp turn when Chinese soldiers, who fought with North Korea, ambushed them as they reached the top of the hill. CONTINUED >

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Ralph Yovino- Korean War Veteran NOVEMB ER 2 0 2 3 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / C O N R O E

Metals and cap from the Korean War Yovino earned while deployed in 1952. Photo by Kimberly Sutton

Article from 2008 when Yovino reconnected with Pariza after 57 years. Photo by Kimberly Sutton

LOCA L LIM E LIGH T | L IFE + CULTURE

“The Chinese were all over us with machine gun fire and grenades,” he said. “There must have been about two to three hundred enemy soldiers. We did not give up. We kept fighting, and I fired two weapons, my own gun and one of the officers’ weapons, who was right behind me. But after a half hour, we were taken over, and the enemy was everywhere.” A grenade exploded in front of Yovino, throwing him backward and blowing his helmet off. “I felt something heavy over my right eye and pain in my ear, pain and tremendous ringing in my ear,” he said. He quickly reached for his first aid kit and applied a patch over his wound when he and the others were ordered off the hill. As Yovino ran down the hill, he saw a man on the ground, who he would later find out was named John Pariza. A bullet had hit Pariza in his right leg. Yovino patched his wound and carried Pariza on his back down the hill. “In all, only 13 of 53 men survived,” Yovino said. Years passed, and the men lost touch with one another. Neither man remembered the other’s last name. However, 57 years later, the two veterans reconnected in 2008 after a friend of Yovino’s found Pariza’s name listed on a 5th Regimental Combat Team website. Today, Yovino enjoys talking about the love of his life, Nancy Lee Yovino, to whom he was married for nearly 40 years. Her travel agency served the Conroe area for decades, allowing them to travel worldwide, taking 60 cruises. In 1982, they married in Maui and honeymooned in Singapore and Hong Kong. While married, they flew all over the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe, visiting Russia, India, China, Chile, Great Britain, Mexico, and Bermuda. Sit with Yovino, and he will tell you about the years he “worked for the astronauts”- the first ones landing on the moon. He befriended the 21 NASA astronauts while servicing their corvettes in the Houston area. In early 1963, Yovino was the store manager at the Firestone on the corner of Harrisburg Blvd and Wayside in Houston, the same one AJ Foyt used before winning the Indianapolis 500.

Veteran Yovino in his apartment in front of the astronaut wall. Photo by Kimberly Sutton

US Navy JRB-6 Navigator

CONTINUED >

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Duke Coon of the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park

New signage at the MCVMP

LOCA L LIM E LIGH T | L IFE + CULTURE

“I felt something heavy over my right eye and pain in my ear, pain and tremendous ringing in my ear. In all, only 13 of 53 men survived,” Yovino said.

“On Sundays, since we were closed that day, my store was assigned to take care of all the astronauts’ cars, their Corvettes, plus their family cars,” Yovino said. “At this time, I worked on the cars of Alan Shepard, John Glenn, Gordon Cooper, Deke Slayton, Wally Schirra, Gus Grissom, and Scott Carpenter. Next, I took care of another two groups of seven astronauts: Neil Armstrong, Eugene Cernan, Pete Conrad, Buzz Aldrin, and many others.” The astronauts received their Corvettes from Jim Rathman’s Chevy dealership in Florida, and Yovino was charged with changing their tires and servicing the vehicles. “Most of the astronauts were great guys. I was closest to Gordon Cooper, Eugene Cernan, Wally Schirra, and Deke Slayton. I took Neil Armstrong to lunch at a Mexican restaurant one day while he waited on new tires for his Corvette. He was very shy and barely talked. He was a nice man,” Yovino said. “I think he had enchiladas.” Today, Yovino lives alone and has a caregiver that he says is “my adopted granddaughter.” In his book, “Memories of Ralph Yovino,” which he wrote in 2014, he says, “I’m old-fashioned. I thought as one got older, families became closer. I guess I’m just a romantic. I repeat: Love one another. Keep in touch. We, old people, love to hear from you. We get lonely and love get-togethers. One thing is for sure: we all will get older if you are lucky. God bless you all, and God bless America!”

Across town, the other landmark Veteran venue is the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park (MCVMP). It’s where Duke Coon serves as the vice chair of the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park and chairs the Building Committee. It was April 19, 1989, and 1987 Conroe High graduate Duke Coon was on board the Navy battleship USS Iowa working as a boiler tech when an unexpected “peacetime” explosion killed 47 of his shipmates. “It changed my outlook on life,” Coon said. “After that day and knowing God spared my life, I wanted to dedicate my life to a life of service and giving back to my community.” Since that dreadful day, Coon has lived up to that promise to himself. He has served 12 years on the Conroe City Council and enjoys serving on the Lone Star Family Health Clinic, board helping others with affordable health care, and serves at the MCVMP. He has assisted in receiving millions of dollars in funding to help Chairman Jimmie Edwards build this national treasure located at the intersection of I-45 and State Highway 105 in Conroe. A groundbreaking ceremony is planned on Veterans Day, November 11, at 9 a.m. for the Freedom Hall that will be built on the park grounds. Last month, a memorial of the B-17 aircraft was donated by Tony Gullo Sr and installed on October 8. “I try to live every day for my brothers on the ship,” Coon said. “I’m all in for Conroe and all in for the citizens here.” Learn more about the park at HonroedMission.org.

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5 Ways to Elevate Your Kids Thanksgiving Day Table Gobble Good Time! ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MEGHAN WARREN

Everyone has stories of being “stuck” at the dreaded kids’ table…it is the longest tale to be told - flimsy card table, hard metal chairs and having to sit with the babies. You would think it was ideal for all the kids to be at one table and the parents at the other, but parents were always having to get up and down to help smaller children with their needs and were never able to sit and enjoy their own meal. Here is your solution! Using these 5 tips, we will teach you how to create an interactive and stimulating kids’ table; encouraging play among their peers so the adults can indulge in their own time with friends and family. Tip #1 - Create an accessible space so the kids can move freely without help from adults. We chose a low table with layered textures for comfort and ease.

Tip #2 - Assign Seats and use place cards - kids love to see their name written and are overjoyed to see a space has been set aside just for them. We went one step further and created a connect the dots activity with their place cards. Tip #3 - Individual hands-on activities to keep those little fingers and brains occupied. This may mean choosing different activities for each child based on their age and abilities. We recommend 3-4 activities to keep them entertained. In addition to the projects at each place setting, we added a box full of coloring mats, crayons, colored pencils, and books. Tip #4 - Snacks! Do we really need to explain why- ha! Tip #5 - Have fun with it, be creative!

L E A R N M O R E : Meghan Warren found working as an Event Manager and Wedding Planner for both corporate and non-profit organizations exciting. While she loved the larger events, Meghan realized that she was longing for more of a connection with customers. With 20+ years of experience, MW Events now specializes in children’s parties and detailed intimate gatherings. meghanwarrenevents.com I G : @ M E G H A N WA R R E N E V E N T S / I G : @T H E C U T E R I E

K I D S COR N E R | EVENT PLANNI NG + S E RVI CE S

Use assigned seats and cute place cards!

Choose low tables for comfort and ease.

Layered textures make for festive decor!

Crafts and activities keep those little fingers and brains busy.

Beautiful tablescapes can be kid-friendly too.

The kids table - the best seat in the house. NOVEMB ER 2 0 2 3 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / C O N R O E

Woodfroest Foundation Awardees Nonprofits serving Youth and Families

Grateful to the Community Local Nonprofits serve vulnerable populations ARTICLE BY MORGAN FREEMAN | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

If you’re looking for ways to give back to your community, you’ll be happy to find that there are massive ways in Montgomery County to offer assistance. While the approaches may differ from serving a single population to helping anywhere to ensure worthy causes have the funding they need, New Danville, the Conroe Noon Lions Club, and the Woodforest Charitable Foundation are each supreme examples of success when it comes to service. “It’s a very specific population that needs our help,” says Mike Painter, the CEO and President of New Danville. Kathy Sanders founded New Danville in 2005 to serve

the needs of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization started in a military tent and today is housed on a 43-acre campus in Willis. Their goal is to provide their “wranglers” (the participants in the residency and day programs) the opportunity to live, learn, work, and grow. Currently, they service 36 fulltime residents and 115-day program participants. Operating in many ways, like a public school, New Danville traveled 102,000 miles getting wranglers to and from campus last year. Once there, wranglers take art classes, learn independent living skills like cooking, and participate in animal therapy. CONTINUED >

G IV IN G BAC K | A RTS + CULTURE

Local nonprofits are grateful for the community support. How many do you recognize?

Conroe Noon Lions supporting New Danville at their annual Spring Style Show

CEO Mike Painter meeting Wranglers at New Danvillewith

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“Jason Miller, President of the Conroe Noon Lion’s Club this year, puts a focus on “choosing to serve.” The idea is that service is not something we have to do; it is something we get to do.”

Mike says the biggest fear of many parents of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities is what will happen to their children once they’re gone. New Danville hopes to meet this need with Vision 2025. This expansion plan will double their resident capacity and build two assisted living facilities on campus for those wranglers who age out of independent living. “That would mean they can stay here at New Danville throughout their entire lives,” says Painter. New Danville offers opportunities for groups to volunteer and participate website in the Annual November golf tournament. New Danville is a master class in meeting the multiple needs of a single community, but theirs is not the only successful approach to serving. newdanville.org “Wherever there is a need, there is a Lion.” That’s what Jason Miller, President of the Conroe Noon Lions Club, says of their approach. The Conroe Noon Lions Club was charted in 1939 and has grown to be America’s second largest. “We Serve” is the official motto, which is broad for a reason. The five global causes of Lions Clubs are diabetes, vision, hunger, environment, and childhood cancer. While an entire list of what the Conroe Noon Lions Club does couldn’t fit in one article, here is a sampling of their various yearly projects: numerous scholarships for area students, conducting vision screenings all across Conroe, running an eyeglasses recycling center, delivering food baskets to the elderly at Christmas, mentoring children at Reaves Elementary, hosting a fishing tournament for special needs children, putting on a style show to empower the disadvantaged, honoring a hometown military hero, contributing money and time at

Texas Lions Camp (camp for children with various disabilities). They also put their hands to work with other area nonprofits, including Yes to Youth, Family Promise, the Montgomery County Food Bank, and Sleep in Heavenly Peace, to name a few. This year’s President of the Conroe Noon Lion’s Club, Jason Miller, focuses on “choosing to serve.” The idea is that service is not something we have to do; it is something we get to do. If you’re looking to help all sorts of people and causes in the community, Lions Club is a great place to be for adults, and you can be a guest on Wednesdays at noon to learn more. Conroe and the broader Montgomery County area are full of those willing to work for the benefit of others. Still, it takes more than manpower to support the massive effort of meeting community needs. It takes those willing to donate. Amy Sechelski, office manager of the Woodforest Charitable Foundation, says, “Here at the foundation, we’re honored to be able to partner with such great organizations that are really fulfilling the needs in our community.” Amy says that the leadership of Robert and Kim Marling and the rest of the Foundation’s board of directors is the reason that “we can continue to give.” According to their mission statement, The Woodforest Charitable Foundation “is dedicated to enriching lives and communities through social and public service programs. The Foundation supports 501(c) (3) charitable organizations in the communities served by Woodforest National Bank.” They aren’t kidding about the dedicated part. Recently, the Foundation distributed more than 4.2 million dollars in Montgomery and Harris County. The Foundation targets four community CONTINUED >

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Woodforest Foundation Hunger Relief Nonprofit Awardees

The 2nd Largest Lions Club in the Country!

Conroe Noon Lions Club preparing Christmas Boxes

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Lions Serve at Kids on the Lake

service areas in their donations: hunger relief, housing, health, and family support. A few of the local groups they support are the Montgomery County Food Bank, Interfaith of The Woodlands, Children’s Safe Harbor, YES to YOUTH, Family Promise of Montgomery County, and Montgomery County Women’s Center. You can learn more about the Woodforest Foundation through their website: woodforestcharitablefoundation.org. Our local nonprofits serve our vulnerable populations in the community, and we appreciate their work!

G IV IN G BAC K | A RTS + CULTURE

Amy says that the leadership of Robert and Kim Marling and the rest of the Foundation’s board of directors is the reason that “we can continue to give.”

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Actors Kyma Graham, Terry Weaver, and Gunjan Talwar on set.

Small town, big impact series hits national streaming services and reaches further than imagined.

O UR TOWN | ENTERTA INME NT

BREAKING STRONGHOLDS HONORS ITS NAMESAKE

Cast learning clearing tactics with Montgomery Sherriff's Deputy. Actors Gerald Presley and Terry Weaver pictured.

ARTICLE BY KELLY TWEDELL PHOTOGRAPHY BY ARROWHEAD PHOTO-SHANNON MATLOCK

The locally produced Montgomery, TX, mystery drama series Breaking Strongholds Season 1 hit new releases on Amazon Prime Video, and Season 2 is in post-production. The issuebased series is about harmful behaviors in our culture portrayed through an encouraging outlook. While it is entertaining and dramatically impacts all viewers, the positive impact spans the generations with a storyline about a missing person, a small-town detective, and his family in chaos. The idea behind Breaking Strongholds came to fruition and was largely inspired by its writer, director, and producer, Robin Murray. Robin went around the community-at-large interviewing people who have undergone traumatic experiences, and one of the people interviewed had a tremendous impact on the team. Kim Hess had tragically lost her daughter in 2015, and in processing the aftermath, the foundation Cassidy Joined for Hope began. The team knew this was not by chance and was timely. The series has a significant opportunity to support a local production company with local actors and enable the community to rally behind a positive narrative that the masses can view. Volunteers and donors were able to help this project launch from the grassroots stages. More than 3,500 volunteer hours have been accumulated, including

from the trained actors from the Houston and The Woodlands Next Level Acting Studios, with over 150 volunteers contributing to the project as a labor of love and support. Additionally, a list of community sponsors can be found on the website. Robin Murray wrote the series for Reflective Media Productions. The media company started in 2010 with a team and a vision around a small film project and made two other films since then. Robin wrote the first season of Breaking Strongholds, and Terry Weaver helped write a small segment of the second season’s content. The series’ lead actor was brought in before the production started to assist with fundraising and marketing efforts. Terry Weaver saw the challenging opportunity as an actor, and he was all in. He knew it was his calling. Terry is not an actor by trade, but after working alongside the organization and releasing his marketing videos for a Veteran nonprofit he organized, he was approached to audition for his first time in a narrative actor role. It was a sign for Terry, praying for seven months to find a unique way to let his light shine. He met the producer for another movie, We Are Stronger, that tackled veteran-specific issues like PTSD, and it resonated with Terry as a prior U.S. Navy service member who could relate to some more challenging days in the military.

Writer Robin Murray and Actor Calvin Pearson

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Filming on the Prayer episode

Actors Jewel Christian, Gerald Presley, and Cherrie Boston on set for the Retreat scene.

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Terry and Robin met in passing at a fundraiser, but she remembered his story and reached out to him seven months later. She sought him out from his social media videos, and he auditioned. The media company has performance directors who provide acting coaching on set and work as first assistant directors to help direct the performance under the director, Jake Allen. Many other actors in the production are trained and local from the Next Level Acting Studios. Breaking Strongholds, fully funded by the community, has already affected generations at different phases of their life stories. “Since the community fully funds it, we have been able to give it away,” Terry says. “God has used it somehow, and the show is now on a Securas tablet, similar to an iPad, which is given to every prison in the Texas prison system to further themselves, to include the prisoners on death row.” Through the data, Terry and the team have learned that most Texas prisoners have watched Breaking Strongholds. As a result, Terry got to go in and meet some of the folks and dialog with him about the show. When he visited the Texas prison, a few inmates recognized Terry as the leading actor in the show. “Even though we didn’t intend for it to reach that population, it’s been widely accepted and used; now it has been approved in 10 other states.” The message of hope resonates with the inmates, and the theme for students from Breaking Strongholds will be far-reaching. Breaking Strongholds has also been recently released on YouTube, one of the most popular platforms for youth, and has gained much traction. Besides starting the conversation, an educational opportunity, along with the show, presented itself through a training link where multiple training guides are linked on the website to help ordinary people become trained in ‘safeTALK,’ a productive way to start a tough conversation. “The good news is we can all make a difference,” says screenwriter Robin Murray. “The safeTALK program saves lives, and we are glad to present it in our series. We need to build a network of support in our communities. Teachers, counselors, medical professionals, clergy, and law enforcement are on the front lines. Still, we are all capable of learning how to keep one another stay safe.” Season one has already won more than 35 film festival awards. In an ever-changing world with so many loud messages and young people negatively influenced on social media, Breaking Strongholds is a light in the dark. Our community is proud to have this production and its team call Montgomery County home. Watch season one on YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Pure Flix. BreakingStrongholds.com

Actor John Chance on location at God's Garage.

Actors Kayce Clark, Ulises Larramendi, and Calvin Pearson joking around pre-film on set.

NOVEMB ER 2 0 2 3 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / C O N R O E

BUILDING A FUTURE AT ANGEL REACH VILL AGE AS S ISTI N G YOUN G AD ULTS B RID G E THE GAP TO A DULTHOOD

Be a donor to have a brick with your name on sidewalk.

ARTICLE BY MORGAN FREEMAN PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

M UST SE E | HOM E + D ES I GN

At 18 years, children age out of Foster Care. This leaves most with nowhere to go, but with support from area businesses and residents, Angel Reach strives to fill the gap between teenager and true adulthood. “We literally had kids knocking on the one and only house that we had at the time. Kids who were 18 and who had no place to go.” Jean Radach, Executive Director of Angel Reach, remembers back in 2011 when she was a volunteer. Kids aged out of the foster care system would show up to the organization’s single residence, a trash bag containing all their possessions in their hands, looking for support. Grown way beyond the garage where two foster moms swapped clothes and food, Angel Reach keeps kids aging out of the foster care system off the streets and provides them the skills and experience they need to become independent and responsible adults. Angel Reach serves three different types of clients: kinship families (children who have been removed from their living situation and now live with a relative), young adults ages 16-24 who have aged out of foster care and at risk for homelessness, and young adults in Montgomery County ages 16-24 who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. In 2022, Angel Reach housed 26 youths, provided 6,334 life skills coaching sessions, facilitated 1,258 counseling sessions, and logged 44,129 transportation miles. The assistance does not stop once the kids are out on their own. Through the alumni program, Jean says Angel Reach strives to “fill the gaps where these kids don’t have the support or someone to call when they have a question or when they get in trouble.” Angel Reach is in expansion mode thanks to the help of three builders (First America, Grace Point Homes, and Home Adide/ LevelTX). The organization broke ground in October of 2021 on the Angel Reach Village. The Village will more than double its current housing capacity by adding rooms for up to 30 additional residents. The project consists of 16 duplexes, about 550 square feet in size. Each features two bedrooms and will house one or two individuals. The extra room is needed as Angel Reach receives 30-35 referrals every month. “At LevelTX we truly believe in our culture of family and community first. And together with the wonderful people at Angel Reach, we can make a difference in people’s lives,” said Randall Dawson, VP of New Development at LevelTX Corporation. “When the opportunity came to us, it was unanimous to be part of this project. There are so many young people who just need the support and guidance to become happy, successful, and productive citizens. And LevelTX will continue to support Angel Reach to help grow the organization for the future.”

Angel Reach Staff After Adding Blessings to Walls

“W E LI TERA LLY HAD K ID S K N OCK IN G ON T H E O N E A N D O N LY H O U S E THAT W E HA D AT THE TIME . K ID S W HO WE R E 1 8 A N D W H O H A D N O PLAC E TO GO.” JE AN RADACH, E X E CUT I V E D I R E C TO R O F A N G E L REAC H, REMEM B E RS B ACK IN 2011 W HE N SH E WAS A VO LU N T E E R . KI DS AGED OUT OF THE FOSTE R CARE SYSTE M WO U LD S H OW U P TO T H E ORGA N IZATI ON’ S SIN G L E RE SID E N CE , A TR AS H B AG C O N TA I N I N G A LL THEI R POSSES SION S IN THE IR HAN D S, LOO KI N G F O R S U PPO RT.

The transitional living program offers at-risk youths a chance to learn responsibility and accountability with a safety net that most kids receive from their parents. Residents pay rent and utilities for their homes. Half of the rent goes into a SAL program (savings for adult living) that creates a nest egg for when the time comes for them to transition into more complete independence. Angel Reach is always looking for those who want to help through volunteer hours and donating funds. If you wish to contribute to the Angel Reach Village specifically, they are running a brick campaign to pay for the landscaping. Bricks can be purchased for $100. Each donated brick can be etched with a name or special message and will be adhered into the sidewalk or structure. AngelReach.org

ABOUT ANGEL REACH VILLAGE

Angel Reach Village will more than double its current housing capacity by adding rooms for up to 30 additional residents. The project consists of 16 duplexes, about 550 square feet in size. Each features two bedrooms and will house one or two individuals. The extra room is needed as Angel Reach receives 30-35 referrals every month.

NOVEMB ER 2 0 2 3 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / C O N R O E

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Children's activities at Harvest in the Hills

HARVEST IN THE HILLS

ARTICLE BY STAFF | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

THE WOODLANDS HILLS HOSTS A FALL FESTIVAL FOR FAMILIES

The Woodland Hills continues to give residents reasons to be thankful by donating the naming rights to some of its many parks and celebrating the wonder of the fall season. During this year’s “Harvest in The Hills” event, hosted by Howard Hughes, guests will enjoy touring 15 beautifully designed and decorated model homes with the chance to win one of two $1,000 gift cards and exciting fall-themed prizes. You must be over 18 to win, but no purchase is necessary. The family-friendly fall festivities will be hosted in and around The Woodlands Hills’ architecturally stunning Activity Center within the award-winning 17-acre Founders Park, which complements a beautiful dog park and five additional, uniquely themed parks. One of these masterfully designed parks is in the Maybell neighborhood. The Howard Hughes Corporation, along with the Woodland Hills Subdivision, graciously gifted the naming rights of this park to the Willis Education Foundation. It has been two years since Willis Coach Les Peacock died of cancer. It started in the colon,

LOCA LLY SOU R CE D | HE ALTH + W E LLNE S S

and by the time it was detected, it was Stage IIII in the colon, liver, lymph nodes, and lungs. “He fought valiantly for over two years, enduring the disease with dignity and a smile on his face,” says his widow, Gigi Peacock. So, when it came time to choose a name for the park in Maybell, the outgoing and gregarious Coach was a natural choice. The foundation honored the Peacock family by naming it after their loved one. “And so it became Coach Les Peacock Park or, as my grandsons lovingly call it, Pops’ Park,” says Gigi Peacock. “Our boys will always have a place to go to feel close to their Pops and live out Les’ legacy of loving others out loud. Our family has been blessed and humbled by the outpouring of love and support that the entire community has continued to pour out upon our family. We will forever be grateful and Willis Wildkat proud!” Every day of the year, the bright and colorful park has a variety of unique activities geared towards children of all ages, but on November 4th, all of The Woodlands Hills parks will be particularly festive. Attendees of this year’s “Harvest in the Hills” will “fall” for the bushel of fun activities, including dog trick shows, a fall patch, children’s crafts, balloon artists, face painting, and live music. The nationally acclaimed Bone-A-Fied Talent Group, featuring celebrity dogs of all breeds and sizes, will show off their unique and entertaining tricks and stunts on the outdoor events lawn. The pups, who have been featured in the TV movie “Junkyard Dogs,” will be available for photos and Paw-De-Graphs in between performances. For convenience, credit cards will be accepted at food trucks. Complimentary coffee will be served from a gourmet coffee truck while supplies last.

Dog tricks with celebrity dogs

Coach Les Peacock Park

“We invite the community to come out to celebrate fall at our fifth annual Harvest in The Hills,” said Steve Sams, Senior Vice President, of Master Planned Communities, Residential - Houston Region for Howard Hughes. “The Woodlands Hills offers a wonderful, wholesome lifestyle that is highlighted by healthy amenities immersed in nature and its acclaimed builders that proudly present quality homes in the community.” The award-winning community of The Woodlands Hills is beautifully set among 2,000 sprawling acres of forested, gently rolling terrain. The Woodlands Hills was the first master-planned community curated from scratch by Howard Hughes and complements two other award-winning master-planned communities in the Greater Houston area - The Woodlands and Bridgeland, also in the portfolio of Howard Hughes. This year’s Harvest in The Hills model home tour and fall festival will be on Saturday, November 4, from 10 AM until 3 PM at The Woodlands Hills Activity Center at Founders Park, 1460 N. Teralyn Drive in Conroe. For more information, visit www.TheWoodlandsHills.com. Gigi Peacock at dedication of the park that bares her late husbands name NOVEMB ER 2 0 2 3 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / C O N R O E

N OV E M B E R 2 0 2 3

events A curated selection of the most intriguing upcoming events in our area. NOVEMBER 4 TH-5TH

Sixth Annual Texas Custom Knife Show

LONE STAR CONVENTION CENTER 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM The 6th annual Texas Custom Knife Show (TCKS), held in Conroe, features an exciting gathering of former champions and contestants from the History Channel’s hit reality TV show “Forged in Fire.” Forged in Fire will be at TCKS to meet fans and participate in the show. Ticket and information are available at texascustom knifeshow.com. NOVEMBER 6TH

Play a Round for the Wranglers Golf Tournament

The 3rd annual Play a Round for the Wranglers golf event, benefitting New Danville, will be held at The Woodlands Country Club-Palmer Course on November 6. Please consider being a sponsor or player for this year’s event. Noon shotgun starts after lunch. Register to sponsor or have a team at newdanville.org/golf NOVEMBER 11TH

Veterans Day Observance at the MCVMP

MO NTG O ME RY C O UNT Y V E T E R A NS ME MO R I A L PA RK , 1 7 0 0 F R E E DO M B LV D, C ON ROE 9 :0 0 A M The Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park will be honoring all veterans at the park on Saturday, November 11, at 9:00 am. The event is free, and parking is available across the street from the Montgomery County Library at the Park & Ride Lot. Read more about the park and get your veteran's name on The Line at HonoredMission.org.

EVE N TS

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Turkey Trot 5K Fun Run

CARL BARTO N J R . PARK, C O NRO E | 9: 0 0 AM Event Date – Nov 18th at Carl Barton Jr. Park, Conroe. Registration: bit. ly/462cJbm. Conroe Residents receive a 25% discount. Check-in begins at 8 am, Race begins at 9 am. You can run, jog, walk, push your toddler in a stroller, or bring your dog on a leash. Children in strollers are free and will not be included in the award ceremony. N OV E M BE R 2 8T H

Annual Tree Lighting in Downtown Conroe

HERITAGE PLACE PARK | 6:00 PM The public is invited to attend Conroe's annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. FREE. After the ceremony, visit downtown for the Christmas on Main St. event. N OV E M BE R 2 8T H

7th Annual Christmas on Main

DOWNTOWN CONROE | 7:00 PM Enjoy an old-fashioned Hallmark Christmas after the Tree Lighting with letters to Santa, Carolers, jazz music, Christmas stories, and SANTA! Walk the 2 blocks down Simonton or Metcalf from the Tree Lighting to the shops in Downtown Conroe to vote with wooden tokens for Christmas Windows. All are Free from the Conroe Downtown Merchants Association.

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NOVEMB ER 2 0 2 3 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / C O N R O E

Easy Tips for Thanksgiving Gatherings SUR LA TABLE SHARES RECIPES AND RESOURCES

Holiday Pies Made Easily

ARTICLE BY MELANIE SAXTON PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

“Gone are the days of one formal way to gather. This season, make every tradition your own and personalize gatherings to fit individual lifestyles,” says Meredith Abbott, Sur La Table Culinary Director and Chef. “Cozy and familiar — this trend is built on old family recipes shared by loved ones, or try developing a new traditional recipe that gives you warm fuzzy feelings. In the kitchen, turn mainly to ovens and slow cookers, inviting people around your table with delicious aromas as well as complex flavors.” Look no further than the Lid & Ladle blog with Sur La Table, which launched in September 2022. This is the ultimate click-around resource for robust inspiration and helpful know-how throughout the fall season. Sorted by categories, you’ll find Tips & Tricks, Product Guide, Mains, Bakes, and Entertaining to navigate the best and most flavorful takeaways. You can also check out recipes that are timely, tasty, and full of wonderful ingredients. There is nothing better than sumptuous dishes (and cocktails too) for this time of year. We recommend:

Do you have the proper cookware?

Celebrate the holidays with a new cocktail.

1. 9 Pumpkin Recipes We’re Crazy About This Season 2. 9 Sweater Weather Bakes To Keep You Cozy All Season 3. 7 Harvest Recipes to Ease You Into Fall 4. Tips for Hosting A Fall Dinner Party 5. 9 Cocktails to Celebrate the Holidays Sur La Table has great in-store resources for busy shoppers who want to make the most of each visit. Have you tried the Chop Shop prep station with produce? Customers can slice, mince, chop, and julienne to their heart’s content. Browse through for ideas at learn.surlatable.com

Fall Soup Recipes

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