Connections West U April 14

April 2014

pg. 17 WULL Opening Day Photos • Going, Going, Gone: Tales of a Fundraising Auctioneer • A Book in Every Home: Local Mothers Provide Books to At-Risk Children Arcadia, CA Permit No. 318

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• Paying it Forward: West U Couple Opens their Home to Cancer Patients

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TABLE of CONTENTS

pg. 8 Going, Going, Gone: Tales of a Fundraising Auctioneer West U residents who attend fundraising events would probably recognize Jack Gibbs’ face, even if they couldn’t quite place it. But if they heard him speak it would likely trigger a memory of the last time they spent money for a good cause.

pg. 10 Fourteen Artists Interpret Stations of the Cross at St. Mark’s This Lenten season, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in West U is recreating the 14 Stations of the Cross through the eyes of its members by turning each station into a piece of art.

Featured on the Cover

pg. 17 West University Little League kicked off its spring 2014 season with its Opening Ceremonies at Wallin Field on March 1. Photo by Jamie Mock.

pg. 12 A Book in Every Home: Local Mothers Provide Books to At-Risk Children When Amy Barnes and Sandra Ahlhorn see elementary students hugging their books to their chest after a Books Between Kids book drive they know that they may have just given them their very first book.

pg. 14 Paying it Forward: West U Couple Opens their Home to Cancer Patients Ever since Ed and Renée Heathcott first opened their home to cancer patients seeking treatment the Houston Medical Center, there has been no shortage of people in need of help.

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Ireland … the perfect place for a family vacation am back from my latest adventure to the Emerald Isle with my good friend Marie.

We started our trip at Dromoland Castle, and spent four days feeling like guests at Downton Abbey.

The castle’s history began in the 16th century, was transformed into a luxury hotel in 1962, and then bought by a group of Irish Americans in 1987.

But back to Downton ... we settled in, unpacked and headed for the great rooms. And great they are with magnificent fireplaces, and wonderful comfy sofas and chairs where one can nestle.

Every time guests left, the staff meticulously flumped (that’s fluff+plump) the down cushions where someone had been sitting. I know this because

I spent a lot of time reading by said fireplaces on said comfy sofas!

And speaking of staff, simply the best at Dromoland. OK, maybe that’s because I spent four days there and I got to know them well, but honestly, they just took such good care of us!

We had a driver take us sightseeing our second day. Ireland has a great tradition of driver-guides, which are affordable and somewhat necessary.

And it’s a wonderful way to see a country without worrying about how you will get around -- much less whether you are driving on the correct side of the road.

We showed our driver Matthew the tour we would be taking after we left Dromoland, and he knew just where to take us.

Stopping first in Limerick, we saw the lanes typical of the kind where

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Frank McCourt lived and described in Angela’s Ashes, as well as St. Mary’s Cathedral, the oldest building in Limerick. Then we headed out to Loophead Peninsula.

Well … I’m at the end and I haven’t even begun to tell you about why Ireland is the perfect place for a family vacation.

You can go to my blog to read the rest of the story!

Connecting with Your Publishers

Editorial

Every month we find interesting people in the community to connect you with.

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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.

When we planned for the April issue our stories had a common theme: community service and giving back.

Jack Gibbs is a profession fundraising auctioneer and has been a familiar face and voice at many fundraising events and galas for West U organizations, such as the Park Lovers’ Ball and West U Little League. Jack emphasizes that these events are not about getting items cheaper, but about helping the organizations.

He is a very high energy person, and it was fun to hear his auctioneering stories. Read on page 8 how one couple ended up going home with a miniature donkey named Star.

Two West U area moms are in their second year of helping provide books to elementary students in HISD’s at-risk schools through a nonprofit organization they founded called Books Between Kids. Amy Barnes and Sandra Ahlhorn held book drives at their children’s schools and wanted more kids to be able to have books at home to read.

Amy and Sandra have provided books to more than 15,000 students at 22 HISD elementary schools. There are more than 90,000 HISD students living at or below the poverty line and Books Between Kids wants to someday be able to provide books to all 90,000 students.

Ed and Renée Heathcott have opened their home to cancer patients seeking treatment the Houston Medical Center since they moved into their West U home in 2008. It was a way for them to pay it forward after seeing so many people help Renée’s aging parents in Oregon. They have had nearly 80 people stay at their home for as short as four weeks and as long as four-and-a-half months.

The Heathcotts have helped so many people and have inspired other West U residents to do the same.

If you know someone who has an interesting story to tell, we would like to hear from you. We invite you to connect with us and let us know what you’d like to see in future issues.

Jamie Mock and Sara Barbatano Publishers

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•Children • • • •learn • • •about • • •gardening • • • • •at• the • • Wesley • • • •Community • • • • • •Center.

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Wesley Community Center Inspires West U Resident to Get Involved

By Sara Barbatano

It was Wesley Community Center’s early childhood education program that attracted West U resident Ron Restrepo, and he got involved. So involved he is now the board president, helping the organization serve more than 25,000 people, children and families in Houston’s Near Northside neighborhood, an area where four of every 10 residents live below the poverty line.

The center has responded to needs in the community for more than 100 years by providing early childhood education, youth development programming, community outreach, senior and social services programming and economic development services.

Ron attends St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and was approached about an opportunity to volunteer with the Wesley Community Center four years ago. He was at a point in his life where he was ready to give back and help others.

“I was really excited about what they’re doing,” he says. “It truly is a community center.”

The center was founded in 1904 by women who were members of First United Methodist Church of Houston.

“They saw that many of the women across the bayou were widows with children whose husbands had been killed working the rail yards,” according to the center’s history.

“Locked into poverty by more than geographical boundaries, the idea of their families having more than food and shelter seemed like a dream.”

Today, the center provides food assistance to 17,478 individuals, 109 seniors receive congregate meals and 2,250 people receive housing stabilization assistance.

Wesley serves 487 parents and children through their early childhood education program, which helps Pre-K children enhance cognitive, emotional and social development.

Wesley also operates a Financial Opportunity Center that focuses on improving the financial bottom line for low to moderately low-income individuals through career development, financial coaching and income support. The FOC has placed more than 70 people into employment and improved the net income and net worth for more than 200 people.

Children participate in a basketball league

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at Wesley’s Kurtz Education and Recreation Center, organized reading sessions and they learn about cultivating fruits, vegetables and healthy eating habits at the center’s community garden.

Wesley also has an Education Coach at the Houston Community College Northline campus to help students pursue scholarship opportunities for health care related careers.

How you can help: Volunteer Anyone interested in volunteering at the Wesley Community Center should contact Community Outreach Coordinator Leah Wade at lwade@wesleyhousehouston.org or 713-821-8907.

Leah can also arrange for a tour of the center, which aims at demonstrating to volunteers and supporters the impact contributions and investments has on the center and the people they serve.

Donate Monetary donations can be made through the Wesley Community Center website at www.wesleyhousehouston.org/donate or donate an item off of Wesley’s Wish List, which can also be found online.

Going, Going, Gone: Tales of a Fundraising Auctioneer

Jack, who has a full-time job in sales, moonlights as a professional fundraising auctioneer. Jack was the voice of the live auction at this year’s Park Lovers’ Ball, which raised a record $450,000 for the organization. He has also done live auctions for West U Little League, Mark Twain Elementary School, many private schools, Rodeo Houston and numerous charitable organizations across Houston.

About 15 years ago Jack was invited to a gala and became fascinated with the auctioneer and how he was getting the crowd energized.

“I thought, I really want to learn how to do this,” says Jack. “That looks like something that is so much fun.”

After doing some research, Jack realized that there was much more to auctioneering than just talking fast. Auctioneering is actually a highly regulated industry with specialties and licensing. Jack says he wanted to learn how to do it, but not necessarily become an auctioneer.

Jack found the largest auctioneering school in the country, located in Missouri, and they happened to have an upcoming class.

“I had some vacation time set aside, I figured why not,” says Jack. He signed up for the school, flew to St. Louis, and spent the next nine days immersed in the classes from “sunup to sundown.”

“Every night they took us to real sales and we sold real things to real people for real money,” he says. “And I had fun. When I went to auctioneer school, of course I thought I was crazy, everybody thought I was crazy, but I met some of the nicest people I have ever met.”

Speaking in front of large audiences is nothing new to Jack, who has had experience being in front of a camera since he was 10 years old. He participated in a program on Houston’s Channel 39 in which children reported the news.

Jack, who does about 30 auctions a year, says he is selective about the organizations he works for and only works for causes he believes in.

Jack Gibbs

West U residents who attend fundraising events would probably recognize Jack Gibbs’ face, even if they couldn’t quite place it. But if they heard him speak it would likely trigger a memory of the last time they spent money for a good cause.

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By Jamie Mock

“This is not a garage sale, this is not can we get to Cabo for cheap,” Jack says. “It’s how many kids can we send to camp or how many parks can we maintain.”

Jack has auctioned off items such as the opportunity to watch a space shuttle launch from Mission Control, shoes athletes have worn in championship games, parts of sports stadiums that have been demolished, parking spaces, a chance to fly in a Blue Angel and has even “sold” some of the Houston Firefighter Calendar participants as dates.

One of his most memorable items was a miniature donkey that was brought on the stage.

“Of course, since my name is Jack, we had some fun with it,” he says.

A couple from River Oaks bought the donkey, and Jack was so curious he had to ask them what in the world they were going to do with it – specifically that night when they got home. They said they were going to put it in their backyard, of course.

The wife said she told her husband he could not bid on the donkey but Jack got her “so knee deep in the cause” that she was now the proud owner of Star the miniature donkey.

Jack recounts another night when a husband left to go to the bathroom and came back to his table to find his wife holding an Australian Shepherd mixed breed puppy, sold for $17,000.

“The look on his face was priceless,” says Jack. “But at the same time, they were raising money. The puppy got a new home and look what they did for the school.”

“I have a lot of fun when I do an auction, I try to put a smile on people’s faces,” he says. Jack says a live auction is “like a fever.”

“If you can create that fever, then you have an auction,” he says. “The energy is in the room. You make people feel this has nothing to do with Cabo, I am asking for you to make a difference for the kids, for the parks. I do my best to try to change the dynamics for what the auction is really for. I see the people get it, and I see they understand that this is not about the items and all of a sudden the hands start to fly and the bidding frenzy begins, it’s almost like a pop.”

“When I show up and do an auction, I don’t just show up the night of, I do a lot of homework ahead of time,” he says. “It’s my job to come in and connect an audience with a cause or a unique purpose.”

Jack has already been asked to auctioneer next year’s Park Lovers’ Ball, and he is looking forward to it. He says he does his best at every fundraiser to connect the participants with the cause they are supporting.

He says auctions aren’t about the actual value of the items sold, it is about “making a difference for this organization, and I am using these unique items to do it.”

“I cannot guarantee how people will behave or how much they will spend, but my commitment is there,” he says. “If there is money to be donated in the room I will find every penny.”

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with New Customers

NNECTING with Your Council There are approximately 5,500 homes in West U and 623 of those homes are registered to people who have a “65-year-old exemption” with the Harris County Appraisal District. This equates to roughly 11.3 percent of the city’s homeowners.

West U Connections is the perfect place to share your marketing message and have it delivered straight into West University Place homes.

832-919-9462

marketing@embeepublishing.com Contact us for rate sheets and more information.

www.westuconnections.com

With such an ample number of senior citizens, the city is committed to keeping them active by offering a vast selection of programs and activities including exercise classes, day trips, line dancing, painting classes and bridge lessons, amongst others. West U also offers its seniors topical seminars from hearing loss to gardening, as well as monthly theme meals that provide them the opportunity to visit with friends, make new friends and listen to live entertainment.

In addition to fun and games, Senior Services is also home to The Good Neighbor Team, which is “neighbors taking care of neighbors.” The Good Neighbor Team consists of volunteers who visit homebound residents.The Team visits approximately 150 residents every quarter to deliver items residents might need, such as holiday flowers, household items, etc., or to check up on them.

Other services offered are the Handy Man service and transportation services. The Handy Man group is made up of volunteers who perform small maintenance duties for older citizens who cannot afford to pay to have minimal tasks done around the house. For those who are no longer able to drive themselves to doctor’s appointments and/or other vital appointments, Senior Services offers transportation to and from the appointment locations.

If you have time to volunteer by working in the office, being part of the Good Neighbor Team, being a handyman or if you have a skill to be an instructor, please contact Senior Services at 713662-5896.

For questions about the Senior Services Program or if you would like more information, please contact Senior Services Manager Toby Brooks at 713-662-5897 or e-mail tbrooks@westutx.gov. You can also visit the city’s website at www.westutx.gov for information.

Councilwoman Joan Johnson Liaison to the City of West University Place’s Senior Services Board

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Jesus falls the second time. Artist Cass McNinch. Photos by Jamie Mock.

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Fourteen Artists Interpret Stations of the Cross at St. Mark’s

By Sara Barbatano

This Lenten season, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in West U is recreating the 14 Stations of the Cross through the eyes of its members, and those associated with the church, by turning each station into a piece of art.

Since coming to St. Mark’s, Father Murray Powell has been coming up with ways for the church and its members to express themselves through art. Five shows have been on display over the past year and for Lent he asked 14 people to wrestle with what the Stations of the Cross convey to them.

From a plaque on the wall of the display: “Early Pilgrims to Jerusalem could easily retrace the steps of Jesus from trial to tomb, offering a prayer at a series of stops (stations) along the way. As Christianity spread, the custom developed to recreate the Stations in nearly every village. Different places used icons, statues or other works of art to portray something of the original place and action back in Jerusalem.”

The Stations are hanging in St. Mark’s Hauser Hall and will be on display until Good Friday, April 18. On Pentecost, June 8, the pieces

will be auctioned, with proceeds going to St. Mark’s outreach programs. West U residents are welcome to come and bid on the artwork.

This is the first time St. Mark’s has auctioned off pieces from its art shows. The proceeds from the show will benefit several of the outreach programs they support including Christian Community Service Center, Lord of the Streets, The Beacon, Bel Inizio and Bridges to Life.

The artists featured in the Stations of the Cross project are Phylis Tomlinson, Kaitlin Thibodeaux, Jane Davis, Murray Powell, Patrick Miller, John Price, Cass McNinch, Kate Connolly, Jean Harris, Kate Powell, Kelly Bourgeois, David Connolly, Doug Fordyce and Leila-Scott Price.

Murray says he is “elated” by how the project turned out and said the rest of the congregation cannot help but be affected by it.

From the Artists’ Perspective Station 3 - Jesus falls for the first time - Jane Davis

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First and foremost I wanted to treat this very solemn subject with respect. I also wanted to convey the message of the hope and joy to come at the end of this journey. And I wanted whoever looks at it to feel a sense of being included on the journey. In the past, when I have made my ceramic pieces, I have tucked in an image that I hope would bring a smile or evoke a pleasant memory. So I hope that the caravan of camels has that effect on the viewer.

Station 5 - Simon of Cyrene carries the cross - Patrick Miller I took a pilgrimage to Israel and participated in a Stations of the Cross walk in Jerusalem.

I took pictures along the way, and took a blurry picture of station V, which simply said, “Simon Crux:V.” I am not an artist per se, but I do consider the sermon effort my weekly artistic contribution. In 2010, I complied a series of sermons into a book, “Spoken.” My piece is a collage from the book, and the notes from the sermon, and a print of the blurry picture.

The sermon was on the rich man who Jesus

Jesus shows perseverance and his will to complete his journey as he gets up and continues

Jesus is condemned to death. Artist Phylis Tomlinson Jesus dies on the cross. Artist David Connolly

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Station 7 - Jesus falls the second time - Cass McNinch

What struck me most was Jesus’ selflessness in regarding the sadness of the women he cared about more than his own, current suffering (which was immense, as he was already tortured and dragging his cross). So in my piece I chose not to incorporate a figure of Jesus, but to focus primarily on the sorrowful women, making them the subject. However, as a Station of the Cross, I felt it needed an added element. I first thought to place a shadow of the cross, as could be seen as something realistic to have occurred.

But I didn’t care for the concept of a shadow, as Jesus was comforting them, bringing them light. So I took the artistic liberty of making the “cross” instead of a beam of light, a beam of hope for them in a time of darkness.

Station 9 - Jesus falls the third time - Jean Harris Thinking about which materials to use for my station, I immediately thought of the art of mosaic, which goes back at least 4,000 years. I knew I wanted to use natural materials, and most of this Station is designed using wood, shell, stone (agate, pyrite), Quartz crystals and gold leaf.

This piece was very labor intensive, and during some of those hours I thought about the subject and how it could resonate today. Like many parents raising children, sometimes it seems so difficult, or such a heavy burden to shoulder.

Sometimes things we try fail repeatedly, and each time we all have to find some reserve of strength to get up once again, and continue on. I think many people can relate to aspects of Jesus’ struggle; the failure of friends to support you, feeling betrayed, having a dangerous path to walk, or being so depleted that you aren’t Stations of the Cross continued on page 22

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When contemplating station 6 I began to explore the idea of the nurturing feminine energy of Veronica. When thinking about a current example of this, during a conversation with a dear friend, he commented on how hospice held such an energy. I then contacted Houston Hospice, who were all quite wonderful, and arranged a time for Hospice nurses to be photographed. One afternoon, I went to Houston Hospice and began speaking with a couple of the folks who work there, and what happened was fantastic. Instead of only hospice nurses, I sat with many different people there the chaplain, someone from bereavement, the business office, a social worker, someone from the admin office and several others. I wanted to capture portraits of the people involved in the transition of death. I placed these photos onto the cross and nailed them each with a rusty nail from the deck of our back porch.

Station 8 - Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem Kate Connolly

Veronica wipes Jesus’ face. Artist John Price

Station 6 - Veronica wipes Jesus’ face - John Price

I selected six people that represented a will to push past obstacles in their journey to realize their full potential. For Beethoven, Frida Kahlo and Stephen Hawking, the obstacles are physical disabilities. For Robert Downey Junior, Steve Jobs and Gandhi, it is about overcoming obstacles brought on by one’s own choices or beliefs. The seventh person in my painting is the “Everyman” who strives to persevere and overcome.

Jesus is nailed to the cross. Artist Kelly Boureois

The point of the piece is to recognize the total outpouring of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, whether we follow Jesus’ teaching or not.

How we encounter Jesus may be different, but the sacrifice stays the same.

with the cross.

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The second scenario has Simon selling everything. I included these pages in the collage. He has one last thing to sell, the land outside of Jerusalem. Same scene occurs. Same re-encounter. This time Simon meekly tells Jesus he did it, he sold it all, Jesus’ reply is “I know, I did too.”

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suggested sell all of his possessions and follow Jesus. I took artistic license and imagined that the rich man was Simon of Cyrene. I created two scenarios. One, he decided not to sell everything. On the week of the Festival of the Passover, he was in Jerusalem checking on a piece of property he owned. Chance has him swept up into the crowd, and forced to re-encounter Jesus, not as a teacher in Galilee suggesting he sell his possessions, but as a prisoner condemned to die. Simon meekly tells Jesus he didn’t sell everything, Jesus’s reply is “I know, but I did.”

Books Between Kids Co-Founders Amy Barnes and Sandra Ahlhorn.

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A Book in Every Home: Local Mothers Provide Books to At-Risk Children

By Sara Barbatano

When Amy Barnes and Sandra Ahlhorn see elementary students hugging their books to their chest after a Books Between Kids book drive they know that they may have just given them their very first book.

Oaks Elementary and Amy also organized book drives at West University Elementary for several years. They were motivated to start Books Between Kids because so many children do not have books in their homes.

Amy and Sandra are the co-founders of Books Between Kids, a nonprofit organization that serves Houston’s at-risk children by providing them with books to build their own home libraries. With more than 85 percent of Houston Independent School District elementary students living at or below the poverty line, or about 90,000 students, the organization’s goal is to help those in need by putting books into the hands of children.

Their decision to start a nonprofit organization together happened really fast and they decided “to just do it.” They both had the same vision, Sandra says. They started Books Between Kids in November of 2012.

Several years ago, Sandra was at a HISD meeting where Superintendent Terry Grier was talking about summer slide, when young minds sit idle for three months during the summer. She says it never occurred to her that some children did not have books to read at home.

“I couldn’t imagine kids not having books to read,” she says.

Sandra had organized books drives at River

Amy noticed one of Better World Book’s green bins in the Bering’s parking lot and called them. Next thing she knew, they were delivering an 18-wheeler with 70,000 books to them. They found a warehouse and started putting the mission for Books Between Kids into motion.

The organization has received books from school book drives, scout troops, individual donations, religious groups, church book drives, synagogues and school libraries, amongst others.

Amy says her boys have donated their own books and enjoy “sharing something they love with another child.”

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“They see this as something they should be doing,” she says.

Last school year, Books Between Kids distributed more than 15,000 books to 22 elementary schools in Houston. Students will receive their books from Books Between Kids in May to take home for their summer reading.

The following schools benefit from Books Between Kids and were selected based on their percentage of free or reduced lunch, geographic location and ability to hold a book distribution fair: Benavidez Elementary School, Blackshear Elementary School, Bonham Elementary School, Braeburn Elementary School, Brookline Elementary School, Cunningham Elementary School, Durham Elementary School, Emerson Elementary School, Foerster Elementary School, Foster Elementary School, Hartsfield Elementary School, Janowski Elementary School, Kashmere Gardens Elementary School, Lewis Elementary School, Looscan Elementary School, Mading Elementary School, McGowen Elementary School, Petersen Elementary School, Pugh Elementary School, Sinclair Elementary School, The Rusk School and Tijerina Elementary School.

Books Between Kids hopes to someday be able to provide books to all 90,000 students.

Amy and Sandra say that the most touching part of their effort is hearing the gasps from children as they pick out six books to take home and watch them walk down the hallway, hugging the titles to the chests.

“They do say to us, ‘these are our very first books,’” Amy says.

“You hear these stories and you realize it really is making an impact.”

Books Between Kids has received numerous letters from students, thanking them for their books and telling them how happy they’ve made them.

How you can help

dler books, Spanish or dual language books (Pre-K through 2nd grade).

Volunteer Books Between Kids is currently looking for someone with marketing experience and fundraising experience to volunteer with the organization. Contact Amy and Sandra online at www.booksbetweenkids.org/contact.

Volunteers help count, sort, box, take inventory and distribute books to selected schools.

Visit www.booksbetweenkids.org for upcoming volunteer days or contact them to set up a special volunteer group day.

Donate

They cannot accept books with torn binding, pages or covers, excess writing (name or minimal highlighting is OK), yellowed or discolored pages, or content that is inappropriate for children.

- Warehouse Space The organization is currently renting a warehouse and is in need of a donated warehouse space.

Anyone who may be able to help should contact Amy and Sandra.

- Books - Reusable Bags

“Thank you for six books. Now i could read different books every day. I’m so suppries, happy, excited. I give some to my consin becaus he could learn better and be smart,” one student wrote to Books Between Kids.

“Reading is fun and helps you alot of stuff that you didn’t know from last time. I even help my brother. I can’t believe it that I can not stop smileing. I hope you are happy like I am. I love books every much and I hope you love it too just like I love it.”

Books Between Kids is always in need of books. Donate gently used children’s books appropriate for Pre-K through 5th grade readers. Books can be dropped off at Speedy Printing 3433 W. Alabama, Suite C., Houston, TX 77027 and Blue Willow Bookshop 14532 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77079.

Books Between Kids is in need of reusable book bags for the children to take their books home in. They are looking for someone who can volunteer to organize the effort and sponsors to fund the bags.

- Monetary Donations

Books Between Kids is looking for story books, chapter books, learn to read books, children’s non-fiction books, activity/workbooks, children’s graphic novels, board/tod-

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Monetary donations are also needed. Visit www.booksbetweenkids.org/how-to-help to donate.

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Ed and Renée Heathcott. Photo by Sara Barbatano.

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Paying it Forward: West U Couple Opens Their Home to Cancer Patients

By Sara Barbatano

Ever since Ed and Renée Heathcott first opened their home to cancer patients seeking treatment at the Houston Medical Center, there has been no shortage of people in need of help.

The couple moved from Jersey Village to West U, where Ed grew up, in 2008 and built their house with the idea that it would be an option for people who needed a place to stay.

Opening their home to people in need is a way for the Heathcotts to pay it forward.

Renée says one of the things people ask is “did you have cancer?” She has not. Renée was an only child and her parents lived in Oregon. As her parents aged, it became harder for her to get from Texas to Oregon to care of them. Friends and neighbors stepped in to help them.

“It was huge to me. It’s kind of like paying it forward,” Renée says. “This is something I can do to thank them.”

The Heathcotts knew there was a need and decided to build their house with a private upstairs area so cancer patients could feel safe and comfortable.

Ed and Renée moved into their house in April 2008 and by July they already had their first house guests: a couple with pregnancy issues and who needed a place to stay right away. Their baby had a tumor in the chest cavity that was pushing the heart out. They stayed from July to September. A few years later they came back so the Heathcotts could meet their daughter.

Since 2008, they have had nearly 80 people stay with them. The longest someone stayed was fourand-a-half months, but typically someone receiving radiation stays six weeks and for chemotherapy eight weeks, Ed says.

“If we can take them we do, or if we can find something,” Renée says.

The Heathcotts are members of West U Baptist Church, which has also made it a mission to help people in need. A house was donated for cancer patients to stay in, called Mercy House, and

someone else donated an apartment, which is supported by the church. For more than 16 years Mercy House has provided a home away from home for patients and their families while they receive treatment here in Houston.

“You just hate to turn someone down,” Ed says. “There is such a tremendous need.”

The Heathcotts have had cancer patients from New Braunfels, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Seattle, Mississippi, Hawaii and many other states stay with them.

They are not affiliated with a placement service. Their invitation has spread by word of mouth, people who knew someone, who knew someone, who knew someone. Their phone has rung more in the last six weeks than ever before.

cousin who is a missionary in Ecuador. A woman who was battling cancer in Odessa had a sister-in-law who was also a missionary in Ecuador and the two missionaries connected the woman with the Heathcotts.

The couple takes a picture of everyone who stays with them and asks them to sign a guest book.

“All of them have stayed in contact with us.

Some of them more than others,” Renée says. “You really do establish a relationship with all of them. That’s been really nice. It’s wonderful for us. It has easily blessed us as much as it has them.”

“People from all over the world come here,” Ed says. “We have such a fantastic Medical Center.”

One of the things the Heathcotts have learned through this process is people who come from smaller cities are already facing financial hardship and coming to a big city can be daunting. Having someone who knows the area and can answer questions “takes some of the stress out of their lives,” Ed says.

One of their most interesting connections took place in another country. Renée has a

Their guests tell them they feel safe staying at their home and find that it’s a place of

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solitude and restfulness.

“Even though it’s in our house it’s a private area,” Renée says.

The Heathcotts have received numerous cards and letters from their house guests, expressing what it meant to them to be able to stay at their home.

From letters to the Heathcotts, “You have been a blessing to our family. It is truly admirable for you to open up your home to me and other cancer patients.”

“It is difficult to express in words our gratitude for your willingness to open your home to us for the past eight weeks. Our stay in your home has definitely been stress free.

Both of you have gone out of your way to make us feel at home and we truly do feel right at home. We feel the same peace here that we feel in our own home.”

In a letter to Ed and Renée, one woman Paying it Forward continued on page 22

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Click West U Click West U is an online service that helps the city be as responsive as possible. Want to report a water leak or a damaged traffic sign?

Report the issue through Click West U. Requests can be made online at www.westutx.gov/clickwestu or through the mobile phone application. Residents will complete an electronic form and a tracking number will be provided for each request. The request is then sent to the appropriate city staff person who will be dispatched to resolve the issue.

DirectLink West U is one of a few cities in the U.S. that can connect a resident’s security alarm directly to the police and fire departments through DirectLink. DirectLink sends an alarm signal from a residence or business directly to the city’s Emergency Dis-

patch Center, which forwards it to the correct responder—the West U Fire or Police Department. Without DirectLink, the security alarm signal notifies a third-party company that sends it on, and dispatch is delayed by critical seconds. Or longer. To get DirectLink contact DirectLink at directlink@westutx.gov or call 713662-5860.

Car Seat Inspections/Installations The West U Fire Department has personnel certified by Safe Kids USA to perform child restraint system inspection/installations. This service is provided only to residents of the community and is free of charge. To make an appointment, call 713-662-5835 and ask to speak to a fire officer.

Special Services for West U Seniors Transportation: Monday through Friday, transportation is provided to senior activities, doctors, dentists,

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beauty shops, drug stores, banks and post office. Thursdays are designated for grocery shopping.

Words on Wheels: Words on Wheels: Enjoy reading but can’t get to the library? Call 713-668-8273 to reserve your books. The city will bring them to you and return them.

Home Maintenance and Repair: Call to request assistance with small or odd jobs.

Medical Equipment Loans: Basic medical equipment available for temporary use.

Special Trash Pickup: For those with special needs, the city provides trash and recycle pickup at your door.

Call 713-662-5895 for any of these services.

West University Little League kicked off its spring 2014 season with its Opening Ceremonies at Wallin Field on March 1. WULL alumni of board members, auxiliary, coaches and players took to the field for a special ceremony at the event. Following the Opening Ceremonies, WULL hosted its annual carnival in front of West University Elementary. Photos by Jamie Mock.

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Photos by Jamie Mock.

View these photos on www.westuconnections.com.

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••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Mayor Bob Fry throws out the first pitch on WULL Opening Day

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West U resident Renée Heathcott hosted a Downton Abbey Tea for her West U Baptist Sunday School class. Guests dressed in period clothing and enjoyed answering Downton Abbey trivia questions and sipping on a variety of Downton Abbey teas, including Carson’s Below Stairs Specialty Black Tea, Downton Estate Blend, Grantham Breakfast Blend and English Rose Tea. Photos by Sara Barbatano.

ABOVE: Susan Russo.

TOP RIGHT: Jean Pennington and Patty Dreessen.

RIGHT: Ed Heathcott, Dianne Crookenden, Charlotte Finfer, Diana Freerksen, Renée Heathcott.

BOTTOM: Seated left to right: Amelia Strickland, Judy Chalkley, Mary Munsen, Hollie Scruggs, Marilyn Frank, Fran Shull, Virginia McNeely. Standing left to right: Michael Whatley, Jennifer Jefferson, Diana Freerksen, Renée Heathcott, Susan Russo, Jean Pennington, Patty Dreessen, Regina Wehunt, Connie Harper, Ed Heathcott.

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Southside Place neighbors enjoyed an evening of drinks, dinner and dancing during the annual Progressive Dinner on March 8. The dinner has been a tradition in Southside Place since 1976 and this year had 128 neighbors in attendance. Four homes hosted appetizers, six homes hosted dinner and the evening wrapped up with dessert and live music at the clubhouse. The Progressive Dinner was catered by Abuso Catering.

The event was sponsored by the Southside Women’s Civic Club and cochaired by Jill Cokinos, Daryl Hoover, Betsy Hirshfeld and Judy Stanley.

TOP LEFT: Nick and Jenny Smith, Vicki and John Piper, Carolyn Nichol and Susan Pereira.

TOP RIGHT: Monty Briscoe, David and Peggy Matthews, Marla Briscoe and Jill Cokinos.

RIGHT: David and Peggy Matthews.

RIGHT: Jill Cokinos, Daryl Hoover, Judy Stanley and Kelly Provenzano.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Renato Pereira, Randy Sim and Bret Stanley.

BOTTOM LEFT: August & JC Al-Uqdah, Bret Stanley and Sue Sim.

LEFT: The Progressive dinner ended with live music at the clubhouse.

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Paying it Forward continued from page 15

Stations of the Cross continued from page 11

wrote about her husband’s battle with lymphoma and the impact their hospitality had on their lives. Her husband had stage 4 lymphoma that spread to his spine and had tumors in his brain.

sure you can go on.

“It is so hard to believe that at this time last year I truly could have been going through a death watch for Bill. Even his doctors call his recovery a miracle. I do not know how I would have kept from falling apart emotionally if it had not been for my unbelievable good fortune to have been able to be with you throughout that time of crisis in Houston.

“It is almost too much at times to wrap my mind around the incredible journey we took from the gaping jaws of death back into a normal life. I don’t know if you can know objectively the impact of your own personal outreach to people who are in a situation such as I was. It was an affirmation to me of the belief that God can show us the overwhelming goodness of complete strangers who are also his own. How many lives you must have touched!”

“There are some miraculous recovery stories,” Renée says.

The Heathcotts have inspired other West U residents to open their home to cancer patients. Ed says he would love to see West University organize to help those in need for the brief time that they’re here.

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Station 11 - Jesus is nailed to the cross - Kelly Bourgeois My first feeling about painting the Crucifixion was that of panic; questioning whether or not I could do it justice. I thought of different perspectives for the viewer, but chose a composition that lends an up close and personal perspective.

There is historical debate as to whether or not Christ had long hair and a beard, so I decided to paint him as someone we could relate to now. I also wanted to depict Christ as innocent, and for this painting more the spiritual “Lamb of God” than the beaten human, thus there is no blood and gore. The crown of thorns is also merely suggested.

The sketch for the underpainting and the edges of the canvas were painted entirely in red, so the suggestion of blood is there; an important element in both the Crucifixion 2000 years ago and today’s Holy Communion. Yellows and reds are colors frequently seen in historic Russian icons depicting holy images.

The bright golden yellow background can be viewed as the hot sun under which Christ suffered, but also the eternal light of God. Combining all of these elements, my intent was to create an image of the Crucifixion that feels personal, timeless and speaks to all viewers.

April 2014 SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

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THURSDAY

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FRIDAY

SATURDAY

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Bellaire Area Moms of Multiples Garage Sale: Open to the public from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Westbury United Methodist Church, 5200 Willowbend. Cash only. Visit www.westuconnections.com for more information.

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

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

City Hall

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

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

27 West U Rec. Center open 8 a.m. - 7 pm.

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

City Hall

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

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

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West U ZPC meeting 6 p.m.

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

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Music Under the Easter Spring Stars: Zeger Strings Festival 7-9 p.m.

9-11 a.m.

Colonial Park West U Rec. Center Pavillion Fields

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

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

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Music Under the Stars: River Oaks Chamber Orchestra. 7- 9 p.m. at the Colonial Park Pavillion.

Enjoy a pleasant evening under the stars with music from around the area.

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

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

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