Digital Version: West U

May 2014

pg. 10 ‘Years and Tears’: Inside a University Boulevard Mansion • Resident Brings New Life to Older West U Homes • Keeping it Local: Brothers with West U Ties Open Side-bySide Businesses • West U Easter Festival Photos

The Tutoring Center of Houston 3361 Westpark Dr. Hou, TX 77005 713-589-7061 houston1tx@tutoringcenter.com

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TABLE of CONTENTS

pg. 7 Resident Brings New Life to Older West U Homes Most people looking at homes in disrepair see a teardown. West U resident Vernon Tyger sees a house that can be saved.

pg. 14 Keeping it Local: Brothers with West U Ties Open Side-by-Side Businesses Brothers James and Joe Beck say they are developing a sense of community in the West U area for their two businesses that neighbor the area they have ties to.

Featured on the Cover

pg. 10 ‘Years and Tears’: Inside a University Boulevard Mansion When driving down University Boulevard, one can’t help but notice the newly built home at the corner of University and Rutgers. The house has a presence on the block and it should, having been inspired by the Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina.

West U residents Tommy and Joy Welch purchased their 18,000 square foot lot several years ago with plans to build their home, which Joy refers to as “the mini Biltmore.” Tommy refers to the house as “years and tears” because it took them three-and-a-half years to build.

pg. 17 Connecting with Your Council Catch up with Councilman Dick Yehle.

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Southside Place Detective Mike Barnett and Bellaire Officer Tracie Mathews-Segura arranged a personal safety and self defense class for the group. Participants learned how to use the palm of their hands, their elbows, knees and forehead to effectively strike an attacker.

“The best thing you can do is not get in a fight or attacked in the first place,” Detective Barnett told the girls. “Be aware of your surroundings.”

The detective told the high schoolers that being aware of their surroundings meant not being on their cell phones, staying out of the wrong neighborhoods and walking away from strangers.

The self defense class aimed at giving the girls the information and skills to be able to break away and run away from an attacker. The class was a partnership between the City of Southside Place and the City of Bellaire.

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Southside Place Officer Ben Cruz takes hits from members of the National Charity League. Photo by Sara Barbatano.

Local high school girls involved with the National Charity League got to experience trying out some self defense moves on Southside Place police officers.

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Local High School Girls Learn Self Defense

Connecting with Your Publishers

Editorial

When passing by a beautiful home, it is not uncommon to think, “I wonder what it looks like inside?” This month we’re giving you an inside look at a mansion on University Boulevard in our

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Publishers Jamie Mock jamie@embeepublishing.com 832-919-9462 Sara Barbatano sara@embeepublishing.com 281-770-8983 Graphic Artist Jason Aleman For advertising information: marketing@embeepublishing.com West U Connections is published monthly by Embee Publishing, LLC. P.O. Box 270623 Houston, TX 77277 www.westuconnections.com Like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/WestUConnections West U Connections is delivered to more than 8,000 homes and businesses in the 77005 zip code, including every home in West University Place.

feature story on page 10.

Anyone who drives down University on a regular basis is bound to have noticed the massive new construction at the intersection of Rutgers. We were very excited when Tommy and Joy Welch agreed to let us, and our cameras, inside the house for a tour.

It took two hours to completely tour the home, not just because it is 9,000 square feet, but also because of the detail in every room.

The home itself is gorgeous and impressive, but even more impressive is the passion the couple has for every detail.

From the fabrics on the walls, paintings on ceilings, marble inlays on the floor, one-of-a-kind sinks, bathtubs, tiles, striking lighting fixtures and breathtaking design elements, Tommy and Joy can tell you everything you need to know about each piece, each element, each choice they made in the years they spent designing and building their “mini-Biltmore.”

View more photos of their house at www.westuconnections.com.

We also featured West U resident Vernon Tyger who has saved several original West U houses in disrepair by renovating and restoring them. The first home he restored was on Talbott Street in the 1990s. Vernon recalls that when his daughter first saw the house she thought it was haunted. No one would confuse the house as haunted today. It truly underwent a transformation and the current owners have done even more to change the house.

Vernon and his wife Lynn currently live in a house on Wroxton that they transformed. They were told the house should be torn down, but they knew its potential. The house is currently being considered for LEED Gold Certification.

Check out more photos from their projects on our website.

We hope you enjoy a look inside these homes as much as we did.

Jamie Mock and Sara Barbatano Publishers

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Most people looking at homes in disrepair see a teardown. West U resident Vernon Tyger sees a house that can be saved.

“Typically every house I’ve bought has been called a teardown,” he says. “I like the old architecture.”

Vernon has restored or remodeled homes on Talbott, Darcus in Southside Place, Buffalo Speedway, Belmont, Vanderbilt, Jarrard and Wroxton.

Prior to moving to the neighborhood, he would drive through West U and Southside Place looking for a “for sale by owner” sign.

In 1995, he purchased his first West U home on Talbott, where he lived with his late wife Cristina and their two children, Carol and Paul, for several years.

“When my daughter first saw it she thought it was haunted,” Vernon says. “It just looked terrible.”

The house is a 1930s original West U home and at the time it needed new windows, doors and a roof. Vernon painted the outside, tore down the garage and built a new one. He also remodeled the front entrance of the home.

The home sits at the corner of Talbott and Wakeforest with a view of Whitt Johnson Park. Vernon says he could eat breakfast and see children playing in the park, his favorite thing about the house. His kids rode their bikes to the park and played kick the can with all their friends on the block. His son Paul says Vernon was also one of the “kids” who played with them.

In 2002, the Tyger family lived in Southside Place on Darcus, the only home that Vernon renovated that wasn’t built in the 1930s or 1940s. He replaced carpeting and did work on the windows and garage apartment.

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West U Homes continued on page 8

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Vernon Tyger spent a Saturday afternoon with Clayton Williams and Doug Drough fixing a clothes dryer and mulching a yard for their church’s Men: Serve program.

By Sara Barbatano

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Resident Brings New Life to Older West U Homes

West U Homes continued from page 7

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Vernon and Cristina used to take walks around the neighborhood and she would tell him that her favorite home in West U was on Buffalo Speedway and that if it ever came up for sale she wanted to buy it.

After Cristina lost her battle to breast cancer, the house came up for sale. Vernon purchased the home in 2004.

When he bought the 1930s home on Buffalo Speedway, it was a three bedroom, 4,000 square foot house. He added 2,000 square feet of living space to the house and redid the windows. He tore down the garage and connected it to the house. There is a two-bedroom apartment above the three-car garage. The house also had a huge pool and game room, which were his son Paul’s favorite things about the house.

Vernon purchased two original West U homes that he renovated and remodeled for an investment, including a home on Belmont and a home on Vanderbilt. The Belmont house had work done on the exterior as well as landscaping. In the Vanderbilt house he increased the size of the master bedroom, relocated the side entrance to the front of the house and enclosed the balcony on the back of the house.

In 2008, Vernon and his wife Lynn purchased a home on Jarrard, the first home that they restored together. They added a bathroom, replaced the roof, did landscaping and built a breezeway between the house and garage. It was the only house he restored that did not have a garage apartment.

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Talbot house after. Photo by Vernon Tyger.

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Wroxton house after. Photo by Sara Barbatano.

Wroxton house before. Photo by Vernon and Lynn Tyger.

Talbot house before. Photo by Vernon Tyger.

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West U Homes continued on page 22

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Tommy and Joy Welch call their home on University Boulevard the “the mini Biltmore” and “years and tears.” Photo by Jamie Mock.

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‘Years and Tears’: Inside a University Boulevard Mansion

By Sara Barbatano

The couple moved into their new home in mid-December and will finish the last details this year.

Tommy and Joy started planning for the house in 2009, taking two years to draw the house plans. Tommy “travels the world” and the couple decided that the Biltmore House would be the inspiration for the fourth and last home they’ve built together.

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The family room has painted ceilings and a carved marble mantle. Photo by Jamie Mock.

West U residents Tommy and Joy Welch purchased their 18,000 square foot lot several years ago with plans to build their home, which Joy refers to as “the mini Biltmore.”

Tommy refers to the house as “years and tears” because it took them three-and-a-half years to build.

Tommy made the plans for the house himself, placing all of the rooms where they wanted. Every detail of the 9,000 plus square foot home was given extensive thought, from the marble floor with different inlays in every room, to the wall coverings, some made of Italian fabric and others hand painted, to the

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When driving down University Boulevard, one can’t help but notice the newly built home at the corner of University and Rutgers. The house has a presence on the block and it should, having been inspired by the Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina.

Swarovski crystal studded handles on their kitchen cabinets, drawers and refrigerator.

Neither Tommy or Joy know how many rooms they have in their home, but each one was given an unique design.

Even from the outside, passersby can see some of the detail that awaits on the inside.

The doors to the home on the first and second floor are made of copper and were handmade by a craftsman in Hangzhou, China. Each panel of the doors were made by hammering from the backside. The copper is overlaid on a stainless steel frame. Tommy found the pattern for the doors in an old book of a French Chateau. The doors took two years to make and four trips to China to check on them.

Stepping into the foyer, a 1,054 pound bronze chandelier hangs from the ceiling. The chandelier is from the French Embassy in

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amuel and Omana Abraham have opened a new store front location in the area where their business first started 40 years ago. What started as a favor for a friend who lives in West U grew into a family business that involves traveling the world to hand select the most beautiful rugs.

The idea of opening near West U was one of convenience, being in the heart of the city, to serve their existing and new clients and also a strong suggestion from their Houston and Gulf Coast Designers.

The Abraham’s new storefront for Abrahams Oriental Rugs is now open at 2515 Bartlett St., directly behind Goode Co. BBQ. Samuel and Omana moved to Houston from India in 1974. Samuel is an attorney and Omana was a professor. A friend who lived on Quenby Street in West U asked Omana to decorate her home with some

of her dhurries that she brought back with her from India. The next thing she knew, they were being shown at a West U home and Omana sold her first rug.

price,” Samuel says. “That is our motto.”

“We started out with 10 rugs and a prayer,” Omana says.

The Abrahams are so well known for their knowledge and expertise that when new rugs become available from estates across the country, they are often the first people contacted.

Now their inventory is so vast they can’t even tell you how many rugs they have, but they can tell you where they purchased each and every one.

“We get the first pick of the very finest,” Annie Abraham Thomas says. “If you’re looking for something truly unique you should come to Abrahams.”

The Abrahams pride themselves on being able to understand the vision of their clients and be able to pick out a rug to match the vision they have for their room.

Get tips on how to clean your antique rugs in the next issue of West U Connections.

“We have really developed an understanding of how to listen very well,” Omana says.

“We certainly enjoy the process of buying - to find the right rug, the right design, the right color, the right size and the right

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Advertorial • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

The Abrahams can help you find the perfect rug for any room

Call the Abrahams at 713-622-4444 to schedule a personal consultation or stop by the West U store Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A view of the formal family room. Photo by Jamie Mock.

Looking up from the study, a chandelier hangs from the second floor. Photo by Jamie Mock.

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The marble staircase winds itself up to the second flood.

Photo by Jamie Mock.

The doors to the home on the first and second floor are made of copper and were handmade by a craftsman in Hangzhou, China. Photo by Jamie Mock.

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Years and Tears continued from page 10

To the left of the foyer is a marble staircase that winds itself up to the second floor. The steps were imported from Spain and the 350 pound marble newel posts from China are heavy enough to not be connected to the staircase.

To the right of the family room is a breakfast room and a home office that lead into the kitchen. A chandelier hangs over the kitchen

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The handles and knobs on all of the drawers, cupboards and fridge are inlaid with Swarovski crystals.

Argentina and can be lowered to change the light bulbs. Tommy and Joy found the piece in an antique store in Los Angeles, where they bought most of the chandeliers in their home.

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island, its blue color playing off of the hand painted backsplash tiles that Joy spent weeks laying out. The handles and knobs on all of the drawers, cupboards and fridge are inlaid with Swarovski crystals. The vent hood over the stove is made with marble from France and two antique ceramic pigs stand on the counters.

To the left of the kitchen is a bathroom and the laundry room. Joy’s favorite room in their house is that bathroom, which has a custom-made sink. Water pours from a hand-crafted ceramic pitcher, surrounded by a large rooster.

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Joy and Tommy Welch. Photo by Sara Barbatano

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A view from the second floor game room overlooking the family room. Photo by Jamie Mock.

A crystal ceiling fan hangs in the center of the master bedroom. Photo by Jamie Mock.

Years and Tears continued on page 22

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Down the hallway, on the way to the master

The bathroom in the master bedroom features a 1,600 pound marble tub. Photo by Jamie Mock.

Off of the kitchen is the pantry that features painted tiles by artist Julia Sweden. Joy loves the smiling faces of the pigs and cows. Tommy’s favorite thing about the pantry is the access to his sprinkler timers.

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The piece was designed by artist Tammy Sharp. Joy waited three years for the piece, which had to be remade by the artist several times because it kept breaking.

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Brothers Joe and James Beck at the line of demarcation between their two store fronts. Photo by Jamie Mock..

Keeping it Local: Brothers with West U Ties Open Side-by-Side Businesses

By Sara Barbatano

Brothers James and Joe Beck say they are developing a sense of community in the West U area for their two businesses that neighbor the area they have ties to.

James and Joe have side-by-side businesses on Bellaire Boulevard, across the street from the West U Recreation Center. James opened iBurn in 2013 and Joe opened Liberty Armory in March. Their two buildings are connected to each other, with Joe’s business on the left and James’ business on the right.

Joe and his wife Summer live on Community in West U and James, his wife Amy and their children live in Meyerland. The Beck’s parents, Jim and Denise, lived in West U for several years with Denise running for city council.

The brothers attended Mark Twain Elementary and Pershing Middle School. James went to Bellaire High School and then the family moved to California where Joe went to high school.

When they moved back to Houston, James had a career in the sales business and opened up a financial planning firm. He also received his degree in computer science.

Joe went to Baylor University and received his degree in hotel restaurant management. He

helped open a bar in Midtown and a bar on Washington Avenue.

Never one to be afraid of trying spicy foods, James says he tried his first fresh habanero in a store in 1994.

I’ve always loved spicy stuff,” he says. “I couldn’t have a nacho without a jalapeno on it.”

James started reviewing hot sauces for his website, EatMoreHeat.com, and it became a full time job. People started sending him hot sauces to try and he launched an online store in 2012.

One day when James was stuck at the train tracks, he saw a “for lease” sign on the building at 4227 Bellaire Boulevard. They were desperate for a tenant and the space was vacant, he says. He met with the property owner and signed his lease for the iBurn storefront in early 2013. Joe signed a lease for the other half of the building in July 2013. iBurn is the only hot sauce store in Houston where as Liberty Armory is one of 190 Federal Firearm Licenses in the city. Liberty Armory is working on building out an indoor shooting range in the back of the building, which they hope to have open in July or August.

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Joe says the focus at Liberty Armory is security and safety, quality of their products and an emphasis on education. Joe says it’s not about putting a gun in your hands, but giving consumers the knowledge to use it.

“The informed consumer is the best kind of consumer to have,” he says.

While Joe has been shooting since he was six years old, he says his brother is the better shot.

“Even though I own the gun store, James is the better shot,” Joe says.

The brothers say they get their work ethic from their parents. Their father is a former oil executive and has an oil business, which Joe is still involved in. Their mother has an MBA. “We pick up our work ethic from our parents,” Joe says. “Work ethic is very important to us.”

Although their businesses are side by side, the brothers say they are so busy that they rarely see other but appreciate the times that they can.

“Life keeps us apart but business keeps us together,” Joe says.

Tuesday, May 13: The Importance of Film with Rice Professor Charles Dove - College lecturer, Professor Dove, screens a film and discusses the importance of this medium. 3 p.m. This is a free event.

Wednesday, May 14: Waco Heritage Craft/Agrarian Village Precinct Trip - Step back in time with crafts such as furniture, pottery, blacksmithing, spun linen and an 1810 restored barn. Horse-drawn hayride and lunch included. 7:45 a.m. Cost to attend is $31.

Thursday, May 29: Memorial Day Crafting with Cameo Care - Join us for this entertaining project. Supplies provided by Cameo Caregivers. 10:15 a.m. This is a free event.

Pay Utility Bills Online The City of West University Place offers several methods of payment for utility bills: cash, check, money order, bank draft and credit card.

The option to pay by credit card online is available to residents through a third-party; there is a convenience fee charged to use your credit card and it is computed at 2.75 percent of the actual billed amount.

To view your bill online, visit www. westutx.gov and have your account number ready to set up this service.

Shop West U West University Place is home to a variety of businesses, churches, and civic organizations. The city has compiled a listing of all the businesses and organizations on their website at www.westutx.gov under

Tuesdays: Yoga Fusion - Traditional series of yoga poses, stretches for flexibility, lengthening and balance.

Class also includes strength training, resistance work, light cardiovascular and Pilates. Yoga fusion assists you in improving your flexibility, increase muscle tone, strengthening bones, improving balance, building a strong core and breathing techniques. Please bring your own yoga mat, resistance band and water. 4 p.m. Cost to participate is $30 for six week sessions.

Mondays (10:30 a.m.) or Thursdays (5:30 p.m.) - Bonjour, Conversational French: Class is designed to give you the opportunity to speak French. We learn through conversation, different themes, travel, culture and ways of life. Class size is limited

the “Community” drop down bar at the top of the web page.

For questions or comments about the businesses and organizations listing, contact the city at info@ westutx.gov.

Smoke Detectors As a service to the community, the West U Fire Department will assist those in need with their smoke detectors. The fire department will come to your house and check your smoke detectors function and/ or replace batteries as needed. To schedule, call 713-662-5835 and ask for a fire officer.

Special Services for West U Seniors West U Senior Services takes seniors on a monthly shopping trip to Wal-Mart and Meyerland. The West

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so register early. This is a six week class, for a one hour session cost is $45.

Tuesdays - Beginner International Folk Dance – no partner needed!! International Folk Dance is a genre of dance wherein selected folk dances from multiple ethnic groups are learned. You need not be a member of any particular ethnicity to enjoy and learn the steps to these traditional and cultural dances. Folk Dancing is fun exercise in a motivational and social setting. All that is needed is an interest in learning new steps. Wear casual clothing and let Roberta Stokes teach you the choreography for these traditional favorites. Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. on May 6, 13, 27. Cost is $15.

U bus departs at 10 a.m. For those who need a ride, the city will pick you up. Call 713-662-5895 for more information.

Do you know what to do if you continue to get telephone calls from unwanted and seedy sources trying to collect personal information from you? You can call the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-382-4357 to report potential telephone scams.

You can also contact the Attorney General at 1-800-621-0508 for consumer protection. It is important to never give out any personal information, Medicare numbers, birthdates, or addresses.

NNECTING with Your Council About a year from now West U will be electing a new city government. For those who are unaware, the elected positions in West U include a mayor and four (at large) city council members. All current officeholders will be restricted from running again by virtue of term limits. When they leave office, they will have contributed a collective 26 years of service in their elected positions, so a lot of institutional knowledge will be lost.

This creates an opportunity and a necessity for West U residents who are interested in serving to beginning thinking about how they might best help their city. Ideally there will be many people seeking to fill the vacancies.

In the past, candidates have come from all backgrounds. Some had previously served on West U boards, commissions or task forces, while others have run on the strength of their outside credentials. The common theme of candidates who run, win and are successful is that they are motivated to look after the long term success of the city rather than focusing on a single issue. The city council is like a board of directors which primarily establishes policies, passes new laws and provides general oversight of operations. The delivery of the city services is managed by the city manager, who works for the city council and takes direction from them.

The most important issue in recent years has been minimizing taxes but there have also been strategic decisions on flood control, park development, parking, recycling and zoning. Our solid tax base and fiscal conservancy has made budget matters much easier to manage than in many other cities.

For anyone who would like to serve West U by running for office, it is not too soon to start forming your thoughts, getting familiar with West U government and planning for the future.

The campaign season is mercifully short from about March 2015 to May 2015. People interested in knowing more about the process should feel free to contact any current or former mayor or councilmember. Information about the process is also available from the city secretary, Thelma Lenz.

Councilman Dick Yehle

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Hundreds of children came out to the city’s Easter Spring Festival at the West U Recreation Center on April 12. The event featured numerous local businesses and vendors along the Easter Trail as well meeting the Easter bunny, holding a furry friend at the petting zoo and riding a mechanical shark.

Photos by Sara Barbatano.

TOP LEFT: Jessica Peterson, age 2, stops by the West U Connections booth at the city’s Easter Spring Festival.

TOP RIGHT: Justin Ding, age 5.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Ellie Tasker, age 4 BOTTOM LEFT: Kate Burke, age 5 ½.

BOTTOM MIDDLE Chris Qiu, age 4.

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TOP LEFT: Gabrielle Baker rides the mechanical shark at the festival.

TOP RIGHT: Marcela Hernandez, age 3.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Children enjoyed climbing the rock wall at the event.

BOTTOM LEFT Kiera Swiger, age 9.

MIDDLE RIGHT: One of the highlights of the Easter Spring Festival was the sack

race.

Photos by Sara Barbatano and Jamie Mock.

Page 19 | Dedicated to Keeping Your Community Connected

The City of West U recently recognized longtime West U resident John Neighbors for 50 years of service to the community. The city named one of the rooms at the Community Building after John and held an event to recognize him. John served as a city commissioner from 1968-1970, was mayor of West U from 1970-1972 and has served as the co-chairman of the Senior Service Board since 2002, amongst other notable achievements.

TOP LEFT: Parks and Recreation Director Tim O’Connor with Stan McCandless. Stan was awarded a Star Citizen Award for 15 years of service as the co-chair of the Senior Board.

BOTTOM RIGHT: State Rep. Sarah Davis presents John Neighbors with a proclamation.

TOP RIGHT: John Neighbors and State Rep. Sarah Davis outside the John Neighbor’s Activity Room at the Community Building.

BOTTOM LEFT: Sally and Stan McCandless with Mayor Bob Fry.

Page 20 | Dedicated to Keeping Your Community Connected

Challenger Baseball is celebrating its 10th season this year. Challenger Baseball has been a dream come true for hundreds of children with special needs since the first pitch in 2005. The impact on the community is far reaching, as teams from area high schools assist each week in addition to middle and high school students who make a commitment to serve as buddies. Challengers and buddies alike have learned valuable lessons about working as a team, inclusion, friendship, and putting others first as they play baseball each week.

TOP LEFT: Riley getting high-five’s from the Strake Jesuit Crusaders.

TOP RIGHT: Aryn keeps her eye on the ball. She caught the first pitch from Former First Lady Barbara Bush in 2005.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Andrew Leibman with John.

BOTTOM LEFT: Kirk is all smiles after a big hit.

Page 21 | Dedicated to Keeping Your Community Connected

West U Homes continued from page 8

Years and Tears continued from page 13

The Tygers currently live in a house they restored on Wroxton. The house sat vacant and boarded up for many years before the couple bought it in 2010.

They restored the 1,800 square foot house and garage apartment even though they’d been told the house was a teardown. The house is also a candidate for LEED Gold Certification, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

bedroom, is a cherub powder room with a gold leaf sink with cherub wings made out of hundreds of pieces of inlaid wood. The house has an elevator with Christopher Columbas’ map stretched on canvas on the walls. A compass is carved into the wood floor and a telephone that is required by city code sits on a stand. Before stepping into the elevator, a sign above the door says “Ascenseur.”

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Lynn’s favorite thing about the house is the kitchen and Vernon likes the dormers in the upstairs bedrooms. All of the homes Vernon restored have not been torn down. “I did save them,” he says.

Vernon says his passion for restoring homes comes from a lifetime of being busy and working on things.

Growing up, his father owned a gas station and auto shop. It was a business that seven days a week they’d be working. “I’d open my Christmas presents and then be pumping gas,” he says. “I was rebuilding engines before I could drive.”

In addition to the homes Vernon has restored himself, he also volunteers his skills to help others. Vernon and Lynn are members of Houston’s First Baptist Church. Vernon is part of the church’s Men: Serve program and spends weekends doing home repairs for people in need.

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In the master bedroom, the floors are made from reclaimed oak and a crystal ceiling fan hangs in the center of the room. Crystal light fixtures are also placed on the walls throughout the room. Tommy’s favorite part of the house is the bathroom in the master bedroom. It was his special project and features a 1,600 pound marble tub that is four inches thick. Water pours from a pitcher that a “mystical maiden” holds in her hands, as Tommy likes to refer to her. The shower is lined with marble elephants that were waterjet cut.

The house has six bedrooms and an apartment over one of the garages. Joy wanted a whimsical design for several of the bathrooms, some featuring under the sea themes, fish and ducks, in the forms of tiles, paintings, mirrors and drawer pulls.

Several of the bedrooms are located upstairs as well as the exercise room with trees stenciled on the walls so it’s “fun to work out in.” Joy also uses one of the bedrooms as her sewing room for her business, “Applique for Kids.”

There is a game room with 3D wall paper on the ceiling and a movie room with stadium seating consisting of big comfy chairs and fabric covering the walls.

A stonemason from Dallas did the exterior of the home, which has a steel and concrete porch on the rear second story and a green and purple New England slate roof. The roof is made of the same material that is on the Biltmore and federal buildings. The backyard has an outdoor kitchen. Joy says her favorite thing about the house is “finally being in it.”

Page 22 | Dedicated to Keeping Your Community Connected

May 2014 SUNDAY

4

MONDAY

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West U Rec. Center open 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

11 West U Rec. Center open 7 a.m. - 7 pm.

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12 West U City Council meeting 6:30 p.m.

City Hall

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7 West U Library: Lap sit story time 10:30 a.m.

13 West U Library: Preschool story time 10:30 a.m.

14 West U Library: Lap sit story time 10:30 a.m.

20 West U Library: Preschool story time 10:30 a.m.

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WEDNESDAY

6 West U Library: Preschool story time 10:30 a.m.

West U Rec. Center open 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

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TUESDAY

21 West U Library: Lap sit story time 10:30 a.m.

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Colonial Park Pool Memorial Day Schedule: The pool will be open May 24-26 for public swim. The pool will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday.

28 West U Library: Lap sit story time 10:30 a.m.

Page 23 | Dedicated to Keeping Your Community Connected

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

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8

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Mom’s Spa Day: West U moms are invited to enjoy a kid-free day by the pool complete with massages, facials and mimosas. Call 713-662-7420 to register or visit www.westutx.gov/events.

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Spring Scuba Day: The pool is open and ready for fun in the sun during the Spring Scuba Day at Colonial Park Pool. Learn about West U’s Scuba Program and test out some of their gear. Call 713-662-7420 for more information.

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Colonial Park Pool open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

West U ZBA meeting 6:30 p.m.

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24

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31 West U Rec. Center open 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.