Katy Magazine - 2020

Explore

KATY

W W W. E X P L O R E K AT Y. C O M

WHERE LIFE JUST COMES

natural .

Enjoying the great outdoors and creating those special moments comes Naturally in Cross Creek Ranch where residents find a bounty of “life is great” opportunities.

• Lamar CISD and Katy ISD schools • Two on-site Katy ISD elementaries with new on-site junior high & high school opening soon • Multiple water parks and playgrounds • Flewellen Creek Nature Preserve • More than 34 miles of trails • On-site fitness center • Tennis, basketball and sand volleyball courts • On-site Italian Maid Café • Nearby shopping and dining, including H-E-B *Pricing and availability subject to change without notice.

CrossCreekTexas.com New Homes from the $200s to $1 Million+

ENJOY THE

breath-taking beauty

& THE

country lifestyle

OF THE BRAZOS RIVER

Secluded in one of the scenic bends of the Brazos River, Laprada Landing offers an escape from the rigors of the city. Located 40 miles west of downtown Houston, Laprada Landing feels worlds away with dense stands of mature trees and sweeping vistas overlooking the Brazos.

The unspoiled, natural beauty of the tracts offers a pristine piece of the rural Texas countryside without having to sacrifice the amenities of city living. Laprada Landing, located just south of Fulshear, is easily accessible from Westpark Tollway and FM 1093.

Laprada Landing offers tracts ranging from Âą60 - 105 acres, each with its own unhindered view of the Brazos River. With varying tree coverage, each tract has its own features that set it apart from the others with no two being exactly alike. There is ample opportunity to build and create your own sense of place.

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HWY 99

Interstate 10

Westpark Tollway

FM 1093

FM 723

Stratman Rd

Laprada Trace

(Formerly Montgomery Rd)

r ive

sR zo

Bra

359 HWY

Bois D’Arc Ln

Winner Foster Rd

Secluded in one of the scenic bends of the Brazos River, Laprada Landing offers an escape from the rigors of the city. Located 40 miles west of downtown Houston, Laprada Landing feels worlds away with dense stands of mature trees and sweeping vistas overlooking the Brazos.

Beadle Ln

The unspoiled, natural beauty of the tracts offers a pristine F othe r mrural o r e Texas infor m at i o n cwithout o n t a chaving t piece of countryside to sacrifice the amenities of city living. Laprada Landing, ROLLER located just southMIKE of Fulshear, is easily accessible from 346-0222 Westpark Tollway and(281) FM 1093.

M I K E @ M OV E W E S T. N E T

Hello Friends + Neighbors,

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What a remarkable time this is. Defined by economic ups and downs, explosive population growth, all-to-recent floods, and now a pandemic, this season of life appears to call us, our community, and our nation to reveal our greatest strengths.

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LETTER FROM THE

Publisher

We always have and we always will come together and do the right thing for our families and for our community. Having grown up here, I can say that in my experience, Katy is resilient. If anything, this challenging time has made us stronger.

Photo Credit: iStock.com/ThomasMarx

Katy is a great hometown. It is also a vibrant and ever-expanding overall area. As Explore Katy magazine, it is our job to encourage everyone that calls Katy home to appreciate the uniqueness of our area and to take their place within it. After all, these are remarkable times and we’ll only go through them once. Let’s make the most of each moment.

On behalf of the staff at Explore Katy Magazine, I am pleased to present this, our second issue of Explore Katy Magazine. It is our hope that you will enjoy it as much as we have enjoyed creating it.

Daniel McJunkin Respectfully,

PUBLISHER, EXPLORE KATY MAGAZINE

Emergencies Can’t Wait.

NEITHER SHOULD YOU. Full-Service ER in Your Neighborhood

10

• 10 private treatment rooms • Free parking

1093

• Board-certified emergency physicians

26000 FM 1093 Richmond, TX 77406 832.522.6070 houstonmethodist.org/ER

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HOUSTON METHODIST EMERGENCY CARE CENTER IN CINCO RANCH

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WESTPARK TOLLWAY

the area, The Orchards occupies a portion of the famous Pecan Acres Ranch, the former Frost cattle ranch and pecan-orchard property.

The ranch is famous for pecan trees, parties, and pastures that served champion Brahman cattle. Now, horses abound with eagles, deer, waterfowl and an occasional Texas River Otter.

MAGAZINE STAFF DANIEL M c JUNKIN Publisher

KATIE MECHAM Art Director

JENNI M c JUNKIN Media Director

JACLYN RITTER Editor

DON M c COY

Chamber Consultant

Contents Location and topography make The Orchards a highly desirable site for residential development but there is an even more enticing component: the project is being spearheaded by David Frost Wersebe, a Frost grandson with close ties to the land and a reverence of his grandfather’s legacy. Wersebe, with his partners Santiago Macedo and Shannon Galway, P.E. is building on his family’s custodianship

TABLE OF

The building materials used along with biophilic architecture create Harmony with the natural surrounding. Photo: Kristian Alveo

Ester Kane, Marcos enjoy a morning Ma before mounting up Photo: Andrea Chia

PRODUCTION STAFF BONNIE M c FERREN Bookkeeping

TRACY MILLER Accounting

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS APRIL CANIK TERRY CROCKETT ASHLEY MANCHACA CJ M c DANIEL DANIEL M c JUNKIN TERRY OLIVER DOUG PIKE JACLYN RITTER BRENDA BEUST SMITH CHRISTOPHER SMITH

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF HEGER DANIEL M c JUNKIN KATIE MECHAM RHONDA KUYKENDALL JACLYN RITTER

EXPLORE.US DIVISION STEVE MULLEN JUAN RIVAS-CABAN JOSEPH SONNIER ADAM WINTERS

EXPLORE AMERICA, LLC GEORGE LANE Chariman & CEO

EXPLORE KATY MAGAZINE

Th

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Design vs. Build

Fulshear Magazine_2-Page Spread_Beth Wolff Realtors_March 2020 FINAL.indd 2

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A War Story WITHOUT WORDS

Simonton resident recalls his time as a combat artist during the Vietnam War

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It’s All About THE DOUGH

22

Gayle Bowen

PROMOTES FULSHEAR AS ONE BIG, HAPPY FAMILY

281-973-0633

4017 Penn Lane, Fulshear, TX 77441

EXPLOREKATY.COM © Copyright 2020 - Explore America, LLC All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

Cover Photo Credit: iStock.com/Dean_Fikar

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Get Your Motor Runnin ’ WITH THE WEST ENDER’S CAR CLUB

09

34

Andy s List ’

Laprada Landing

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66

Texas Mountain Lions

Coming Together

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NOW YOU SEE THEM. NO, YOU DON’T.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Put-ter There, Partner!

Lemon Squares

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72

Becoming Don

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SPRING RECIPE

Steinhauser s

THREE GENERATIONS OF SERVICE’ & QUALITY

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Yen Teppanyaki SUSHI STEAKHOUSE

This Little Piggy

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76

AND THAT ONE OVER THERE

Spring Gardening

The Next Generation

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Bass Time

OF BRISCOE

Summer Travel

EXTRAORDINARY DESTINATIONS

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Orchards at Pecan Acres

Fulshear, Texas Biophilic Ranch Estate

T

DesignvsBuild.com is featuring the first Orchards at Pecan Acres build on its new show.

he Orchards at Pecan Acres offers an entirely new vision of the Fulshear lifestyle.

Surrounded by the polo fields that have become synonymous with the area, The Orchards occupies a portion of the famous Pecan Acres Ranch, the former Frost cattle ranch and pecan-orchard property.

The ranch is famous for pecan trees, parties, and pastures that served champion Brahman cattle. Now, horses abound with eagles, deer, waterfowl and an occasional Texas River Otter.

Location and topography make The Orchards a highly desirable site for residential development but there is an even more enticing component: the project is being spearheaded by David Frost Wersebe, a Frost grandson with close ties to the land and a reverence of his grandfather’s legacy. Wersebe, with his partners Santiago Macedo and Shannon Galway, P.E. is building on his family’s custodianship

The building materials used along with biophilic architecture create Harmony with the natural surrounding. Photo: Kristian Alveo

Ester Kane, Marcos Villanueva and Mandy Villanueva enjoy a morning Matte at Orchards at Pecan Acres before mounting up for a few chukars of polo.

Photo: Andrea Chiappe

The natural setting brings a sense of peace as you watch the Texas river otters play while sipping your morning coffee. Photo: Kristian Alveo

In a state known for bigger and better, Frost was known for his memorable parties. The ranch’s country-club sized swimming pool and patio, which Frost built for his children, was the setting for The land presents a unique, distinctly high-profile charity and political fundraisTexas slice of history. Its former owner, ers. Author Edna Ferber completed part of Houston oil and gas magnate Vernon her research for “Giant,” her best-selling W. Frost, hailed from a family with deep book about Texas, at the ranch, and others Houston roots. Vernon Frost’s grandfather who came to stay included Roy Rogers, founded one of Houston’s earliest subdiDale Evans and Gene Autry, “The Singing visions in 1836, Frost Town, also known Cowboy.” as Germantown in a nod to the origins of its first settlers. Frost wrote an account of It is with respect for Vernon Frost’s enterprise that Wersebe has incorpohis purchase of Pecan Acres Ranch and its rated the principles of biophilic design subsequent colorful history as his family’s into his transformation of a portion of working ranch, pecan orchard and second Pecan Acres Ranch into The Orchards at home. He was working as a lease hound Pecan Acres. At The Orchards, superior for the legendary oil man Hugh Roy Cularchitectural interest focuses on conservlen in 1945 when, during a rainstorm, his ing and celebrating the native central car slipped into a ditch between SimonTexas environment. The biophilic design ton and Brookshire near the bridge at concept blends structures with sweeping Bessie’s Creek. Frost walked to the ranch vistas of the land and the individual pichouse at nearby Pecan Acres Ranch and, turesque surroundings of each homesite. in the course of having his car put right, Interiors link harmoniously with stunning struck a friendship with the ranch owner. landscapes and homeowners escape the A few months later, Frost purchased the big city while living within minutes of its 500-acre Pecan Acres Ranch and began amenities. to acquire surrounding properties to The Orchards’ 200-acre community edges expand his acreage. It was the start of the shores of Lake Lucille and Bessie’s a decades-long, highly successful Frost Creek, offering numerous estate sites with family enterprise that improved Pecan a water front. Development will be limited Acres Ranch and laid the groundwork for to approximately 40 residences, each of Simonton’s future growth and prosperity. which will harmonize with the unique, to repurpose and transform the land into a new kind of development, a biophilic design development, that truly functions in concert with the environment.

heavily equestrian Fulshear environment. Fulshear/ Simonton is the epicenter of Houston’s equestrian community, and The Orchards has kept the horse-themed landscape front-and-center as development proceeds.

Horse disciplines represented here range from polo to hunter-jumper to western-trail, and bridle paths will wind through throughout the neighborhood.

Shannon Galway, P.E. explains the build to a group of Architects from Austin.

Photo: Kristian Alveo

nearly every angle. It is ready for the right buyer to customize the interior features with a generous finish out allowance and make it their own. The home is constructed from materials complimentary to the environment such as hand-cut Texas limestone and hand-hewn beams from a 200-year old Amish barn. Norwegian Pine sustainably treated by the Kebony company gives the exterior a unique architectural look along with durability. Kebony is featuring this first house in their upcoming show “Design vs. Build”.

Wersebe has worked diligently to make the Frost family, past and present, proud of what has been done on their historic property. The professional talents of two of the present generation of Frosts have been tapped to ensure success: Award-winning interior designer Elizabeth Frost, a design associate with Jann Wisdom Designs in Houston, and consummate Beth Wolff Realtors Real Living A section of ranch estates realtor Vanessa Frost Ellis. David, Vanessa within The Orchards will and Beth and are bringing their unique further support the flourskill sets to bear on this project in hopes ishing equestrian lifestyle, of creating something as beautiful as and the first ranch estate is nearing completion. Located their Grandfather did, while at the same at 35711 Vernon Frost Road, time continuing the 184-year-old family this almost 6,000 square tradition of starting new neighborhoods foot home on 3+ acres offers in Texas. beautiful views of open spacThe estate home at 35711 Vernon Frost es and pecan orchards from Road is priced at $3,100,000 and listed by A beautiful architectural pallet Vanessa Frost Ellis with Beth Wolff Reis created for buyers to come altors Real Living. For more details, visit add their personal touch.

BethWolff.com.

Photo: Silvina Alvarez Leiza

S E RV I N G O V E R

500 TEXAS

C O M MU N I T I E S

A War Story

Without Words

WRITTEN BY JACLYN RITTER, PHOTOGRAPHY BY RHONDA KUYKENDALL

Art

has the power to evoke a multitude of emotions. It can tell a story. It also has the ability to inform or educate.

No one knows this better than former combat artist, Ken Haley. His job - to document the Vietnam War through drawings and paintings.

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From a young age, Ken could often be found sketching and doodling on whatever he could find. Who needs paper? As a ten-year-old boy selling newspapers, Ken used to draw on the sides of white cars – with pencil, of course. In his late teens and twenties, while working for the railroad, he would create masterpieces on the sides of boxcars with chalk. “I guess you could say I was an early graffiti artist,” jokes Ken. To this day he cannot help but keep a pen or pencil handy for when inspiration strikes.

“I was not very good at English or math in school,” Ken says. “In fact, I didn’t test very well in general, but I always excelled in art class.” Having very little support from home, and practically on his own since the age of ten, Ken attributes his art teachers for encouraging him to pursue art outside of school. They supported him and invested in him when few others did. In a way, those art teachers paved the way for what was to become a very fascinating art career for Ken. However, it is unlikely even they could have predicted the surprising direction Ken’s raw talent and love for art would take him.

The Army

Called Ken was drafted into the Army in 1967, at the age of nineteen. He attended boot camp in Fort Bliss, Texas where the military first took note of his mechanical skills. From there Ken was sent to Fort Dix, New Jersey for training and then transferred to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for mechanical training on heavy artillery vehicles. In January of 1968, Ken was deployed to Saigon, Vietnam during the Tet Offensive, one of the largest campaigns during the Vietnam War. Ken was sent to Long Binh Post outside of Bien Hoa Army Base, with the 720th MP Battalion, where he worked as a mechanic on everything from quarter-ton jeeps, to thirteen-ton armored personnel carriers. Being a member of a Military Police battalion was an honor in itself. The MP patch signified authority and came with a lot of responsibility. “Some think the military police just sat around guarding buildings and such,” says Ken. “But really, we did whatever was needed of us, because we were simply short of hands.” In addition to his mechanic duties, Ken ran convoys as a gunner, performed highway security, river patrol, and search and destroy missions.

During the little down time he had, Ken sketched his buddies’ girlfriends for extra money on the side. His

Photo by Daniel McJunkin

Simonton resident recalls his time as a combat artist during the Vietnam War

Photo by Daniel McJunkin

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“I had a .45 on my right hip, a camera slung around my neck, a sketchpad in my left hand, and a paintbrush in my right hand.”

- Ken Haley homesick friends had pictures to carry around with them, and Ken was able to practice his portraits. This proved to be the much-needed creative outlet for Ken during the eighteen months spent as a mechanic with the MP Battalion.

Finding

Art in War

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Whether it was sheer luck or divine intervention, Ken was able to graduate from sketching his friends’ loved ones to attaining a job where he could utilize his artistic talents.

Word got out that Ken’s battalion was looking for two artists and a journalist. Ken applied and was offered the opportunity to remain with his group with the sole purpose of capturing and depicting the Vietnam War through art. More specifically, his role as combat artist was to document the activities of the Military Police.

Whether it was transporting supplies or guarding prisoners, Ken’s job was to relay a positive image and glorify the MPs.

“I was to submit one piece a week,” says Ken. “So, wherever the Military Police went, I went. I had a .45 on my right hip, a camera slung around my neck, a sketchpad in my left hand, and a paintbrush in my right hand.” On the streets of Vietnam, right in the middle of the chaos, Ken sat with a pen and paper, taking in his surroundings and crafting, to the most intricate detail, a perfect replica of the scene before him onto paper.

When asked if he found it difficult to portray the Vietnam War in the form of art, Ken shook his head. “No, I chose to look at it solely as my job. I was there to capture what was really going on—the desolation, the thick and smothering clouds of dust, and the remarkable acts of heroism.” Ken felt that by focusing on the details and achieving a sense of reality on paper, the emotion would naturally manifest itself upon the canvas. His job was not to focus on emotion, but to portray what he saw as realistically as he could.

All of the pieces of art Ken produced during that time belong to the United States government. To this day, he does not know what became of them. “We were told the art was being sent back to the States to be distributed amongst all the army bases,” says Ken. “But who knows. They are out there somewhere.”

Finding

the Positive Sergeant Ken Haley proudly returned from his tour in Vietnam in January of 1970. Ken was fortunate to be able to return to his pre-military job, working full time night shifts as a switchman for the Rock Island Railroad.

Thanks to the GI Bill, he also took the opportunity to apply to the Kansas City Art Institute.

“I guess you can say the Vietnam War was basically in vain,” Ken says. “There was a lot of death and destruction, for very little gain.” It was his strong faith in God that helped a very young Ken Haley return home from Vietnam in one piece and one mind. “My faith helped me find the positive within the whole experience. Taking the job of combat artist proved to be a stepping stone for me. When I left Vietnam, I had a whole portfolio of photography, plus the few sketches I was able to keep. I submitted them with my application to the Kansas City Art Institute. With it being such a prestigious art school, I cannot help but think if it weren’t for my time as a combat artist, I would not have made the cut.” Ken graduated with a split major in Graphic Arts and Fine Arts.

Circling Back to His Own

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Artistic Expression “As my priorities became working to pay the bills and provide for my family, my art had to take a backseat,” says Ken. That is not the case anymore. After five years of serving in the missionary field in Mexico, and twenty-eight years growing a high-end custom painting company in Houston, Ken retired in 2016. Ken and Faith, his wife of 43 years, have built a beautiful home on 6.5 acres in Simonton. Situated on the west side of the property, positioned between a picture-perfect pond and their thriving chicken coop, sits Ken’s workshop. Now that he has expanded his art to include glass and carpentry, the workshop is equipped with a woodworking side and a painting side. The walls are covered with art in various stages of development. It is a space that lends itself to a creative mind.

Ken has expanded his talents from realistic art to impressionistic art. After transposing exactly what he

The History of

C o m bat

A rt i s t s

Documenting and preserving the images of war in the form of art has been an integral part of the American Army for decades. “Recognizing the importance of military art as both a historical record and a positive influence on morale,” according to the National Constitution Center, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, “the Army commissioned a team of eight artists into the Corps of Engineers during World War I and sent them to France to record the activities of the American Expeditionary Forces. Their mandate was to depict the activities of the Army or the individual soldiers in the style or medium in which they felt most comfortable.”

The Army chose to revive the art program during the time of WWII.

To this day, Army soldier-artists travel the globe documenting wars and humanitarian efforts. These men and women have bravely documented our nation’s history from the front row in the form of art.

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Beginning in 1966, the US Army sponsored thirty-six soldiers to serve as combat artists during the Vietnam War. Our very own Ken Haley was one of that exclusive and talented group.

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saw to paper during his time as a combat artist, Ken now enjoys the freedom of portraying his personal style and his impressions of the world around him. Working with several mediums, including oil, acrylic, watercolor, and pen and ink, Ken depicts the likes of serene meadows, rough sea waters awaiting an impending storm, and grassy cliffs overlooking an inviting lake below.

Those grade school art teachers would be proud to know that Ken never lost sight of his passion. Choosing to continue his education and stay current, Ken attends weekly art classes to continue expanding his abilities as an artist – proof that we never stop learning and growing.

Ken is quick to thank the military men who recognized his talents and who gave him the platform to do what he does best for the country he was so proud to serve.

Thanks to these early opportunities, art has had a presence in all stages of Ken’s life. It has been his one constant. “I love the creativity and emotions that I can evoke through my art,” says Ken. “It is the ability to say a whole lot, without words.” With no place to store all of the art, the entire collection was turned over to Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of American History. d To see some of his work and information about his future gallery openings visit: https://www.facebook.com/ArtistKennethHaley/ Ken is back to painting the sides of trains…the Blessington Farms barrel train that is! Next time you visit the farm, be sure to check out Ken’s fun and mobile art!

This beautiful, yet humbling piece was drawn by Ken Haley during his time as a combat artist in Vietnam.

It depicts a military jeep driving through a temple near Tay Ninh, Vietnam. This drawing shows all the intricacies of the building itself, the tiny bullet holes, and the wear and tear bestowed upon it during the war.

“When I sat there in front of this temple

many years ago, I imagined all the history stored in its walls, and

the stories

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only the temple could tell. Such

A beautiful building, and yet the war was destroying it.”

it’s All About

t he Dough WRITTEN BY CHRISTOPHER SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY BY RHONDA KUYKENDALL

Big

Paulie’s Pizzeria started as a dream between friends. Together, they wanted to bring the old style local Italian kitchen, the type that is popular on the east coast and Midwest, to Fulshear.

In July 2017, Chris Smith and Paul McCurdy witnessed their dream become reality. Chris spent his whole life cooking in kitchens from coast to coast, picking up every tip and trick he could from the nation’s best chefs. Meanwhile, Paul worked in construction, building beautiful schools as a masonry contractor in Houston. Now, together, they are committed to providing quality Italian fare, at a good price, while still giving 5-star service.

Since opening their doors, the menu at Big Paulie’s has gone through a few revisions, thanks to the wonderful feedback and suggestions from loyal customers.

Chris and his staff work tirelessly to ensure the food and service are spot on 100% of the time. Their fried mozzarella appetizer is a true fan favorite. With pizzas made from scratch daily, an assortment of pasta dishes, and their famous 8 layer lasagna, it is easy to find something the whole family will enjoy. “So many people think we are only pizza,” says Chris, “but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.”

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“We wanted to be more than just a sports bar with food,” adds Chris. “Those seem to be on every corner these days. Instead, we want to help families slow down after a busy day and enjoy a delicious home cooked meal, without having to fight over who does the dishes. In a day and age where quality family time is hard to come by, it warms our hearts to see families breaking bread together at our restaurant.”

Most of the staff at Big Paulie’s restaurant has been with them from the very beginning. “We have had very little turn over, which is unheard of in the restaurant business,” says Chris. ”This allows for consistency, not

only in the food we serve, but more importantly, in the service we are providing.” Chris and Paul pay close attention to reviews and comments on social media so that they can continue to grow and improve the restaurant. “We strive to provide delicious meals each and every time you dine at our establishment, but here at Big Paulie’s, we know that good service is truly what brings people back.”

The staff arrives early every day to prep all the food and recipes that make their dishes taste fresh and consistent. There is rarely a day that Chris and his manager, Marc, are not there from sunrise to sunset. Chris knows that this business requires a 24/7 mentality if you want to see growth. And grow it has, as most nights the dining room is packed with hungry customers. “One of our biggest issues right now is space,” says Chris, “but that is a great problem to have.”

Chris estimates that 80% of the business is from repeat customers. “We not only focus on how to bring in new customers, but also how to better serve and maintain our repeat customers as well.” One of the ways Chris does this is by consistently adding new items to the menu – keeping people interested and excited to try something new. “You could almost say that we embrace changes to a fault around here, I never want my customers to get bored with our menu.”

With the addition of numerous chain restaurants popping up in and around the Fulshear/Katy area, Big Paulie’s is proud to stand out as a locally owned restaurant that caters to the whole family. They go out of their way to know their customers by name and make them feel special. “If you don’t feel at home at Big Paulie’s,” says Chris, “we have not done our job.” d

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“it warms our hearts to see families

breaking bread together

at our restaurant.”

Center Left: Marc Sutter - Manager, Center Right: Chris Smith - Owner, and Staff Members

bigpauliespizza.com (281) 346-8405 • 6420 FARM TO MARKET 1463, 100 • FULSHEAR, TX

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- owner chris smith -

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GAYLE B OW EN

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Gayle Bowen

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P r o m o t e s

F u l s h e a r

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a s

One Big, Happy Family

ow do you describe a local real estate legend in just one word? Fulshear and Katy folks paused to ponder the challenge of defining longtime RE/MAX realtor Gayle Bowen in a few syllables. Words like respected, loyal, effective, driven, proactive, and knowledgeable rolled off their tongue, but they could not stop there.

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Friends, business partners, and clients, such as Kevin Motsinger, feel compelled to elaborate.

Kevin says, “The one word I would choose would be family, because we have known Gayle for 30 years and have always trusted her to handle our realty affairs. She not only finds people homes, but she goes far beyond what they ask for.”

For Keri Burdette, executive vice president of Frontier Title, Gayle is best known as the “Queen of Fulbrook.” Notes Keri, “When I met Gayle, I was in awe of what she was accomplishing in the Fulshear market, and particularly the acreage community of Fulbrook. She was transforming this charming town long before many people knew what or where it was.”

A third generation Houstonian, Gayle has found the serene lifestyle and small town charm of

Fulshear easy to promote. “I grew up within the inner loop, so I have a special appreciation for the wide open spaces in far west Houston. The natural beauty throughout this slice of heaven allows me to see homeowners enjoying the oxbow lakes in a kayak or seeing eagles or deer along the hiking trails in Fulbrook.”

Back to the Future

Gayle credits her signature work ethic and entrepreneurial skills to her family role models who led by example. “I learned responsibility in my father’s grocery store business as a child because it was completely up to our family to cover all the bases,” adds Gayle.

After high school she worked for several attorneys and considered going to law school.

Coincidentally, she got a call to work in commercial real estate first. “I learned about the challenges of working in a volatile market firsthand after transitioning to residential real estate during the downturn,” she shares.

Gayle quickly mastered those challenges, evidenced by a stack of awards and certificates that could fill a room. Joining RE/MAX in 1988,

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WRITTEN BY APRIL CANIK, PHOTOGRAPHY BY RHONDA KUYKENDALL

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Gayle has since become a certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist, earned hundreds of prestigious awards, and consistently enjoys special recognition in the RE/MAX Hall of Fame as a top producer. Local charities and chambers might also put Gayle in their Hall of Fame for her track record of giving back to the Coastal Conservation Association and other worthy causes. Jokes Gayle, “I am particularly a self-proclaimed pushover at a charity auction!”

In 2018, The Gayle Bowen Team hosted the first annual “Fulbrook Furry Friends Festival” to help raise money for Fulshear’s animal rescue organization, The Petterie. The team is excited to host the second dog-themed family event this year.

Gayle’s team also collaborates with business partners to provide continuing education and special community events. “Gayle has been a long time member of the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce, and we value her active engagement with the Chamber and her contributions to the Katy area’s business community,” adds Chamber Vice President Rick Ellis. She readily supports the Fulshear Chamber as well.

Then and Now

Among the many evolutions within the real estate profession, perhaps the Internet is the most impactful.

“Exceeding expectations is as important now as it was 30 years ago,” says Gayle, “but I don’t tend to drive clients around to see houses anymore since they prefer to meet me there.” Additionally, her buyers appreciate the ability to shorten their list of favorites by previewing homes through virtual tours. Gayle also notes an exponential jump in the price point of homes from when she entered the real estate profession. “If you sold a $100,000 home back then you were, as they say, in high cotton. Nowadays, the parallel would be in the millions.” Additionally, in the early years, she focused almost exclusively on marketing to the public, but now markets to other realtors as well.

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Local residents agree that Gayle Bowen serves the community as an enthusiastic cheerleader for Team Fulshear, as well as The Gayle Bowen Team. History is repeating itself once again, giving Gayle another

generation of clients to serve – her clients’ adult children.

She is also thrilled to add her own daughter, Stephanie Sykes, to The Gayle Bowen Team. “Rather than me, I am thankful to say we,” adds Gayle, “because each person on the team works in tandem with others to deliver results to buyers and sellers in the Katy, Brookshire, and Fulshear areas.” Other team members include Kristin Cady, Sonya Simmons, and Danny Curtis.

Being named to the RE/MAX Top 20 in Texas on a regular basis is one of many testaments to the power of teamwork.

“One piece of wisdom I can pass along,” adds Gayle, “is to keep mixing it up and trying different things in your profession, to avoid burnout and to continue to enjoy what you do. One of my greatest joys is meeting new people and becoming part of their family’s journey in or out of a new home; every person and every property is uniquely different, which makes my job truly rewarding.”

“The Frontier Title escrow team speaks highly of The Gayle Bowen Team, in saying that they are easy to work with and have proven systems, and the can-do attitude Gayle is known for,” adds Keri.

“Gayle Bowen is the most knowledgeable person in the Fulshear area when it comes to real estate,” shares Michael Pelletier of Fairmont Custom Homes. “She has longstanding roots in the community and touches so many lives by helping them find their forever dream home. I’m sure I speak for many in saying I feel fortunate to know her.”

Many local folks consider Gayle Bowen to be a fixture of Fulshear, a cherished compliment she takes to heart.

“It makes me happy to see residents enjoying Fulshear’s natural beauty and that contagious small town charm that we feel whether we are at a parade or in a parking lot. I will always be a cheerleader for Team Fulshear.” d

The Gayle Bowen Team - Sonya, Danny, Gayle, Stephanie, Kristin Photo by Debi Beauregard

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Family Fun Facts

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“My grandfather, Frank Azzarello, opened Houston’s first oyster bar and strategically located it in the city’s bustling downtown,” shares Gayle. “The Massa brothers worked for him then, and now have their own seafood restaurant downtown.”

“Seven of the grandest grandkids call me Gaga, ranging from age 1 to 21, and running a close second on my list of loves is my basset mix, Beaux.”

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“Thanks to my daughter’s research on ancestry.com, I recently visited New Orleans where my great grandfather once lived. I am thankful to have a keepsake picture of me with him in front of his original ‘shotgun house.’”

laying the foundation for tomorrow, today

281.232.7777 | 34507 FM 1093, SIMONTON, TX 77476 | mscearthwork.com

CLU B M E M B E R S M A RK & LISA HA A G’S 1963 ROLLS ROYCE

GET YOUR M OTOR RUN N IN ’

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Get Your Motor Runnin’ WITH THE WEST ENDER’S CAR CLUB WRITTEN BY JACLYN RITTER PHOTOGRAPHY BY RHONDA KUYKENDALL

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Do you remember your first car?

Many of us remember pulling out of our driveways for the first time on our own and experiencing a small taste of freedom. We compared cars in the school parking lot and dreamed of one day having a sleek sports car. In a blink of an eye we find ourselves older and often proud owners of a practical car – a van or SUV for hauling the

kids and dogs around town, or a small eco-friendly one to save on the daily commute. For some, cars grew to be so much more than just a way to get from point A to point B; they became a culture, a lifestyle.

The West Enders Car Club is comprised of men and women from varying backgrounds and careers who have a passion for cars.

Forming & Organizing

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THE CLUB George Kelley, a resident of Weston Lakes and club founder, is a self-described “gearhead” who hails from Detroit. “I got my first hot rod in 1962,” shares George.

“A ’31 Ford sport coupe (cabriolet) body with a later flathead Mercury engine.”

The West Enders Car Club has come a long way since George and Jim threw the initial idea on the table. To date, the club is comprised of over forty active member with roughly one hundred fifty cars among them! One member alone owns over 100 cars, all housed in a private 15,000 square foot facility. And while the club originated in Weston Lakes, it is open to everyone.

Current members hail from Simonton, Sealy, Katy and downtown Houston.

“We have always been an open-format type of club,” emphasizes George Kelley. “We welcome all types of specialty cars: vintage, sports, custom, muscle and exotics.” In fact, members do not have to have a specialty car to join the club. Appreciation is the only requirement.

Former West Enders president, Pete Sandy, extrapolates on this by saying, “That’s what is so great about the club; it is a multi-make, multi-year car club.” Pete’s interest in cars began at a young age. “As a kid in London, I was infatuated with the Austin Healey 3000. I managed to buy one in 1968 and had it until we moved to the United States in 1993. After retirement, I just began acquiring more cars--Jaguars, MGs, corvettes and, my favorite, the Austin Healey.” The car club has helped keep Pete active and engaged post retirement from the oil industry. “It’s recreational psychology for me, getting my hands dirty and working on the mechanics of a car.”

CLU B F O U N D E R G E O R G E K E LLE Y WITH HIS 1 9 6 7 B U I CK G S CO N V E R T I B L E

F O R M E R CLU B P R E S I D E N T B I LL HEEDE WITH HIS 1940 FORD

“It was an American Graffiti kind of time; it was the culture.”

Vice president and Cross Creek Ranch resident, Bill Heede, can relate. “I grew up in southern California in the 50s, and that is when hot rods were big. I had a Jaguar convertible XK120 in school, and I enjoyed racing it. It was an American Graffiti kind of time; it was the culture.”

A culture that Bill and other club members have enjoyed long after it was cool.

CLU B M E M B E R M A R K H A A G , H I S 1 9 6 2 CORV ETTE, A N D H I S D O G S CO U T

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Through the years, George could not help but notice the surprising number of classic cars throughout the Fulshear area. The idea of a club--whose purpose was simply to get the local car folks together to share the collector car experience, help each other with technical support and go to car shows--was born. George and his friend Jim Lovelace put a blurb in the community newsletter seeking others, like themselves, who have an interest in cars and would like to see this idea up and running. To their surprise, roughly twenty people showed up for the initial meeting, and many more indicated an interest.

GET YOUR M OTOR RUN N IN ’

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Activities & Outings West Ender club members can be seen out and about town on a regular basis. Besides their monthly meetings, they make a habit of cruising around town and grabbing a bite to eat as a group. They can be seen every Saturday morning from 8:00 to 9:30 at Shipleys Donuts, located at 6300 FM 1463. They enjoy coffee and donuts with friends, while showing off their cars and swapping garage stories.

A favorite activity amongst the group is attending various car shows around the area. Many of the club’s members even return home with a trophy or two. West Enders Car Club was awarded the Participating Club Award winner for four years in a row at the Wallis Fine Ride car show. They are proud to acknowledge that, while they show their cars individually, they attend the shows as a group. Many members lean on one another for tips and tricks to ready and improve their cars. Member Chuck Heath, and owner of Fulshear Car Care, if often their go-to guy.

“It’s recreational psychology for me, getting my hands dirty and working on the mechanics of a car.”

F O R M E R CLU B P R E S I D E N T P E T E S A N D Y & H I S 1967 A USTIN HEA LEY

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CHECK O UT T H E UP C O M I N G A N N UA L “C OPS AND ROD D E R S ” C A R SH O W S E P T 1 9 , 2020 TO BE HELD AT PA R KWAY F EL L O WSH I P C H URCH .

BENEF ITS THE F UL SH EA R P O L I C E F O UN D AT I ON .

T H I S Y E A R , T H E A N N U A L CA R S H O W I S A DDIN G A SPECIA L I N T E R E S T G R O U P O F CA R S , F E AT U R I N G C ORV ETTES. A LL 5 H O U S T O N - A R E A CO RV E T T E CLU B S H AV E B EEN IN V ITED. T H E V E N U E H O LD S I N E X CE S S O F 300 CA RS.

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C L UB ME M B E R D AV E F O S H E E & H I S 1 9 4 1 W I LLY S

Educating Younger Generations While these men and women enjoy the camaraderie and support the club offers, they are actively looking to reach out into the community and educate younger generations on the art of mechanical classic cars.

“Our sport and our passion could be dying if we don’t continue to have folks who can work on and appreciate these cars,” says Pete Sandy. “Cars of today are all software driven, while ours are mechanical.” Bill Heede adds, “It is difficult to interest the kids of today in these old cars, unless you do it through their fathers and grandfathers.”

Club members hope to spread the word. They are actively trying to stock local libraries with books and magazines on classic cars and their mechanics. Members have also reached out to the local high schools to inquire about starting up auto-shop classes. Some have gone as far as offering to donate their cars to the schools for demonstration purposes.

West Enders Car Club is centered on an appreciation and passion for cars. Only by working closely with these kinds of cars can you truly appreciate the little nuances that make each car unique. While camaraderie and technical support are the primary focus, the group hopes to spread the excitement classic cars bring with younger generations.

After all, the cars of today will be the antiques of tomorrow. d WA N T T O K N O W MORE ABOU T TH E W EST ENDERS CAR CLU B? C O N TA C T B IL L H E E DE AT (847) 980- 7246 OR WI L L I AMHEEDE@AOL . C OM WEST ENDER SC ARC L U BT X. C OM FA C EB O O K GROU P PAGE: W ESTENDERS CAR CLU B

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George Kelley, member and founder, would like to see the club’s membership expand and draw more young people into an interest in automobiles from both a sport and technical perspective. “Many of the advances in engineering over the last one hundred years were driven by the automotive industry and competition between the manufacturers to keep up with enthusiast demands.”

A N DY’S LIST

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ANDY’S LIST WRITTEN BY DANIEL McJUNKIN

V

oters chose Andy Meyers to be Commissioner for Fort Bend County, Precinct 3 in 1996. When he took office January 1, 1997, he hit the ground running. In the years that have followed, Andy has presided over the most unprecedented and expansive population growth that Fort Bend County has ever seen.

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- ANDY’S WAY From then to now, Andy has developed his own unique style and effective approach to accomplishing the various tasks before him, in order to get things done for his constituents. The real work, however, is found after the planning ends and the implementation begins. Completing a plan takes a lot of work and relies heavily on the cooperation of many agencies,

organizations, and people. Every project that Andy completes is successful, largely due to the personal and professional relationships he has cultivated since becoming Commissioner.

ANDY’S LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS HAS GROWN COMMENSURATE WITH HIS TIME AS COMMISSIONER. During his tenure, these have included impacts to virtually every level of growth and development under his charge in Precinct 3. The pressure to provide county services has grown and property values have climbed. However, Andy is proud that, while he has

been Commissioner, he has been able to provide property tax relief by lowering the county property tax rate 30%, and securing the maximum homestead exemption available. His goal has always been to improve home affordability without sacrificing county services.

- GRAND PARKWAY, WESTPARK, FULSHEAR, AND KATY

planned to stop the Westpark Tollway at State Highway 6 - a huge 4-1/2 miles short of the Harris - Fort Bend county line. This would have left this signature mobility corridor with absolutely no connection from Fort Bend County. To Andy, this was a non-starter. It took him two years of hard work to convince Harris County leaders to change their minds. Today, thanks to Andy’s insistence, the Westpark Tollway runs to Spring Green Blvd. It is now seen as a testament to how counties can work together to achieve remarkable outcomes when innovative leadership presents a greater vision.

If you look a bit deeper at how our area has grown, you will see Andy Meyers’ fingerprints on virtually every public project in Precinct 3, and even throughout much of Fort Bend County. While relatively few people may actively express appreciation for his accomplishments, it is important to note them here and to give credit where credit is due. After all, life in precinct 3 is better than it might have been if Andy had not been in charge.

Improving mobility is recognized as the key to ensuring that an area will prosper as it develops. Consider what it would be like to have FM 1093 remain a two-lane road all the way to Fulshear until 2035, as TxDOT had planned. That was until Andy got involved. Because of his unwavering persistence, FM 1093 is now complete all of the way to James Lane, with longer-range plans already in the works to widen it all the way to Simonton.

Really? Yes. Imagine, if you will, the Grand Parkway having toll overpasses at Kingsland and Bay Hill, as TxDOT had originally planned - that was what was about to happen until Andy stopped them in their tracks. To this day, those toll-free overpasses have saved drivers endless toll fees.

Imagine Katy’s growth along the I-10 corridor without fixing the FM 1463 intersection at I-10, or adding multiple turn lanes and traffic lights along FM 1463 all of the way to FM 1093. Consider Katy without Katy Mills Mall and the economic engine it is for the City of Katy - Andy did his part to facilitate that. How would traffic flow if there was no Cane Island Parkway relieving traffic headed to Tamarron, Cinco Ranch, Cardiff Ranch, and Cross Creek Ranch.

Most would agree that the Westpark Tollway has become essential, and even integral, to our area’s mobility, development, and growth. Residents today may find it hard to believe that Harris County originally

- A TEAM APPROACH To be fair, these projects were not Andy’s alone.

Many groups and people were involved in solving each issue. But, without Andy’s active engagement, building coalitions, interceding with these projects, and insisting on the best outcome for the taxpayers that he represents, each of the respective outcomes would have been decidedly different. How different?

Thanks to Andy, we will never have to know.

- WHAT IT TAKES Andy’s process to get each individual project on track works something like this. Once a need is determined, a project scope is established. Andy develops his plan, establishes a budget, overcomes identified roadblocks, and seeks to have a budget included in the County’s annual budget. Ultimately, it takes the approval of the entire Commissioner’s Court, and the political process, in the end, dictates which projects take priority for each Commissioner.

COMMISSIONER ANDY MEYERS

Through his twenty-two years in service as County Commissioner, Andy has learned how to best determine what his constituents want and need.

He knows the County’s budgetary limitations and the overall tax burden that his requests and actions will place on his constituents. Andy is best prepared to manage the often-extended timelines and find budgetary balance as he deals with multiple, often opposing, needs.

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A N DY’S LIST

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Andy with Cinco MUD 1 Board Member, Dana Cleland, and ABHR attorney Steve Robinson following a very productive meeting discussing the various projects on the Grand Parkway.

Above is an example of the Texas Heritage Parkway roundabouts.

Below is the Texas Heritage Parkway as viewed from ground level.

Commissioner Meyers serving a meal at the 2019 annual Fort Bend Seniors Thanksgiving Luncheon

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Commissioner Meyers speaking with constituents at the annual Falcon Ranch H.O.A. meeting.

Commissioner Meyers and Manager of Policy and Administration, Robert Pechukas, discussing regional infrastructure projects.

Imagine being County Commissioner and managing a single project from beginning to end. It would be daunting. But, for a single project, it would be do-able.

It surely would be no big deal for an experienced professional manager - if that is all there was to it.

The job of County Commissioner, however, demands that multiple projects be coordinated - including perhaps twenty or more projects at a time - each with different priorities, and some in different stages, of a multi-year process. Now, imagine bearing the burden of the measure of success that requires that each of the projects be completed on time, within budget, and to the satisfaction of over 200,000 constituents.

It is a tall order. The project management pressure factor must be overwhelming.

Andy makes it look easy, but being County Commissioner is not a role that anyone can just walk into and be productive. It takes acquired knowledge.

Working with others, while knowing some of them may be poised in opposition to you, is not for the faint of heart. Success as a County Commissioner takes years to achieve. It requires the right team and a pragmatic approach to solving problems. It takes a full understanding of what needs to be done, how much it will cost, and how long it will take. It takes the right person to lead the team.

- FLOOD MITIGATION Significant portions of Fort Bend County have been impacted by multiple recent flood events. In fact, many areas that never flooded are now considered to be at increased risk because of it. Interestingly, after Hurricane Harvey hit, and while countless property owners were still in the process of rebuilding, Commissioners Court was poised to pursue a facilities bond, which was intended to pay for a number of non-flooding-related projects within the county. Andy knew that a flood mitigation bond would have far greater benefit within the county. Being both a leader and a great team player, Andy convinced the other Commissioners to change their request accordingly.

Consequently, in 2019, voters throughout Fort Bend County agreed with Andy and voted to approve the 2019 flood mitigation bond. This allowed the county to fund a number of truly important programs to help deal with this difficult and complex issue. Andy plans to continue working to fully implement that bond.

- REGIONAL FLOOD MANAGEMENT When Hurricane Harvey struck in 2017, Andy was among the first to recognize that surrounding counties should work together on a regional flood and traffic

management plan. For the sake of those at greatest risk of increased flooding, he intends to have his regional plan fully implemented by 2024.

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Andy holds a key board position on the influential Houston-Galveston Area Council, (H-GAC). Through this group, he chairs the H-GAC Water Resources Development Committee, which plays an important role in allocating Federal grants for flood mitigation in the region. Due to his concern for the residents of Precinct 3 as well as the region as a whole, the fair allocation of such resources is a topic of great importance to Andy.

- MOBILITY To alleviate area traffic issues in Precinct 3, Andy is presently overseeing a number of mobility projects that are in various stages of the process. Some of the more recognizable ongoing projects include: Begin construction on Texas Heritage Parkway to improve traffic flow between Fulshear and Katy Continue with Phase II of Cane Island Parkway widening project to relieve congestion Connect Peek Road to SH 99 to improve traffic flow Build SH 99 access roads from Fry road to FM 1093 to improve safety and end bottlenecks Build two “direct connectors” (elevated roadways) from Westpark Tollway to SH 99 to improve safety, reduce bottlenecks, and improve travel time for drivers Widen FM 723 to improve traffic safety Extend Huggins Road from FM 359 to Charger Way in Fulshear to relieve traffic on FM 1093 while improving parent access to local schools Andy is pushing to complete construction on these projects on time and within budget.

- PUBLIC SAFETY Andy has made it clear that public safety is a high priority for residents of Precinct 3. He is committed to working with area Emergency Service Districts to ensure that they continue to have the resources they need to build more local fire stations. He knows that this is the best way to improve residents’ coverage and help to lower their homeowner’s fire insurance rates.

Special Districts are voter-approved taxing districts that provide funding for specific services. Andy secured the legislation allowing creation of these special districts to keep Houston or a developer from grabbing that sales tax revenue so it could be spent for the benefit

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Perhaps most importantly, Andy knows the players and he has learned how to get - and keep - them engaged and on board. It is no small task, and it takes years of networking know-how, to build a team that can keep everyone focused on the same positive outcome.

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of Precinct 3 residents. Funding from special districts can pay for important community projects, such as crosswalk signals, mid-block crossings, community parks, pedestrian walkways, more roads and more law enforcement patrols.

- FIGHTING FOR ETJ RELEASE Andy is a firm believer in self-determination and landowner rights. Recently, the Texas Legislature acted to stop cities from being able to forcibly annex property that is not in their city limits, but is in their own Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ). He is actively engaged in the fight to allow communities to petition for disannexation from Houston’s ETJ. Andy is also working to pass legislation that would require Houston to spend a portion of the sales taxes they collect in certain ETJ areas on projects that benefit Fort Bend County.

- WHAT’S NEXT? With so much success to build on, what else does Andy Meyers hope to accomplish in his next four years?

Andy says that his highest priority is to continue to provide the highest level of services, while maintaining the lowest county tax rate in the region.

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The population growth in Fort Bend County has created the need for improved access to county

services. Andy is presently overseeing the construction of a new Public Safety Annex as well as working on the beginning stages of building the new Fulshear Library.

His plate is full, but he has room for more.

Andy Meyers takes on each day as if it were his first day on the job. Having served as County Commissioner since 1997, he says, “My job keeps getting better.”

He continues planning and working to make Fort Bend County a great place to call home. All things considered, Andy Meyers’ mission is to serve the voters. As he sees it, “That’s the reason I’m here.” By all accounts, Andy truly is the taxpayers’ best friend. d

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TEX A S M OUN TA IN LION S

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MOUNTAIN

LIO NS

NOW YOU SEE THEM. NO, YOU DON’T. WRITTEN BY DOUG PIKE

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ccording to scientific data collected over decades by really smart people, there aren’t a lot of mountain lions in Texas. According to folklore, only a couple dozen Texans, half of whom arrived yesterday, have not yet seen a mountain lion.

Law enforcement, rightfully, tends to err on the side of caution where mountain lions and people cross paths.

Even if struck squarely with a tranquilizing dart, an adult male mountain lion could still be strong enough to do some damage before the sedative kicks in.

The real deal, of course, a bona fide mountain lion, is hard to mistake for something else – for anything else.

To reiterate, however, legitimate sightings are quite rare, even in Texas. Most game wardens, police officers and county sheriffs never will be called upon to deal with a cougar. Despite what people think they’ve seen, it’s usually something else.

North America’s largest wild cats grow to roughly three feet in body length, maybe a little longer, and that’s before you tack on nearly as much tail. They stand roughly two feet tall, as well, which separates them by significant margin from the continents other cats.

The only way to absolutely confirm where the tawny cats have been in Texas is to mark where there has been valid mountain lion mortality. From the 254 counties in which they have been sighted, only 67 have this type of confirmation.

Casual mention of mountain lions in May, on my radio show (weekend mornings on SportsTalk790 in Houston), generated several calls from listeners who all were certain, beyond doubt, that they’d seen mountain lions here or there across southeastern Texas.

I’m not opposed to the hunting of mountain lions where it is lawful, either for sport or as a means of protecting livestock, but I have no desire to hunt them myself. There’s something about these animals that evokes in me a special level of respect and acknowledgement of their position in the wild food chain.

In fact, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, with over 20 years of data collection, has reports of mountain lion sightings in each and all of the state’s 254 counties – and in the same paragraph qualifies that sightings are not the same thing as confirmed sightings.

Mountain lions are elusive, solitary animals that, on the whole, do their absolute best to avoid human contact. They’re not always successful.

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In California this past year, an adult mountain lion wandered into a fairly large city and had to be removed (the hard way, at least on the cat). There and elsewhere, whenever big cats stray too close to human populations, wildlife officers have only two choices.

The best-case outcome is a tranquilized cat that’s relocated far, far off the beaten path. Otherwise, to protect human life, the cat must be killed before it even has the chance to shred someone.

That, and they’re just really cool animals.

An adult male can weigh 150 pounds and live longer than a decade. Either sex, if necessary, can leap from a standing start high enough to settle onto a second-floor balcony.

Cougars are the continent’s most capable and formidable predators south of grizzly country. They eat most anything they can catch, including everything from rodents to elk.

They can exist, even thrive, as well in extreme cold as in extreme heat. Their hunting territories are expansive, and they’re respectful of each other’s territories except during breeding periods that seldom last a full week.

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Attacks on people, despite our spending millions of hours traipsing through lion country, are nearly as rare as credible sightings. Through 110 years of record keeping on the subject, there have been fewer than 100 documented attacks, and only 17 of those resulted in fatality. For comparison, since the 1960s, there have been 40-something unprovoked shark attacks along the U.S. coastline annually.

There are many things on this continent that can kill you and even more that can scratch you up pretty good, but a mountain lion is highly unlikely to be what ultimately does either. And that’s almost equally true whether you hike remote areas daily or spend the better part of your time on a couch.

Across southeast Texas specifically and the entire state generally, my single hunting buddies are more likely to encounter two-legged cougars than four-legged ones.

Mountain lion sightings make great stories, but next time someone shares such a tale, ask to see the pictures.

Running or turning your back is what rabbits and deer do, and we know what happens to them. Don’t do either.

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AND IF THE COUGAR DOES ATTACK, FIGHT BACK WITH EVERYTHING YOU’VE GOT. Find the eyes or throat if you can navigate past the teeth and claws; make the situation more unpleasant for the cat than even for yourself. That’s your best chance, and it’s a good one.

The alternative is unthinkable. d

PUT UP YOUR DUKES In the unlikely event that you find yourself whiskers-to-beard with an ears-back, growling mountain lion, says the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, keep cool. (Easier said than done, I’ll admit.)

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Make yourself large, raising your arms or waving a stick, and maintain eye contact. Speak calmly, and scoop up the kids to keep them from moving suddenly and possibly sparking an attack.

Photo: ©iStock.com/gatito33

PUT- TER TH ERE, PA R TN ER!

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PUT-TER THERE, PARTNER! WRITTEN BY CJ McDANIEL

MANAGING PARTNER, CRENSHAW GOLF

Of all the tools in the golfer’s sack none is as personal to him as his faithful trusty putter.

GOLFER BOBBY JONES

Photo: “Classic Instruction” American Golfer, 1998

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obby Jones, when he won the Grand Slam (the British Open and Amateur and the US Open and Amateur) in the same year, did it with the help of a special friend he called Calamity Jane, a hickory shafted stick with three narrow bands of whipping at the base. Those little wisps of thread might have made all the difference to Bobby Jones, but subsequently did little for anyone else when the design for Calamity Jane was mass produced.

Calamity Jane is probably the best known of all putters used by great golfers. And as much as Bobby Jones loved it…and as well as it worked for him, it was rusty and sort of beat up, and no doubt had several owners before it ever got to him he once said. Charles Price, one of golf’s most revered writers once said, “It is the worst putter I have ever held in my hands. If a pro left it in a barrel of clubs in his shop at a dollar apiece, nobody would buy it.” Bobby Jones using it was akin to Vladimir Horowitz performing on a dusty, out-of-tune piano in an Elks Club basement.

“IF YOU CAN FIND THE PERFECT CLUB, YOU CAN MAKE THE PERFECT SHOT.” ARNOLD PALMER

Some golfers are known to buy a new putter every month and with it continue to knock the ball harmlessly by the hole, usually never even scaring the cup. American golfers purchase putters like jelly beans. According to DataTech, sales of putters in 2012 was $152,000,000. No, I did not add too many zeros, I meant million! Thinking about this in terms of cash…I was told that 10,000 one hundred dollars bills can fit into a briefcase and weigh about 20 pounds. Let’s see, that would be 152 briefcases; not even Southwest Airlines will let me on with that many bags for free. The average price of a putter in 2014 was $145. I have a friend who bought 13 used putters last year.

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So what about Ben Crenshaw, the best putter in the modern era. He has putted with the same putter for a career.

He started using “Little Ben” when he was 15 years old and won 21 times with it on the PGA Tour including the 1984 Masters. That’s a pretty special relationship with such an inanimate object. Over that time it has been stolen, lost and even kicked a few times. But, has always found its way back to Gentle Ben. The model is actually a Wilson 8802.

Charlie Crenshaw, Ben’s dad said of the original 8802, “It was just a putter in Harvey Penick’s shop. Ben felt it and waggled it around for a while. ‘Dad, I’d like to have it,’ he said, so I bought it for him. That club’s been the best provider in the family.” The putter cost Crenshaw’s dad $20.

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So, here we are in the age of social media, high technology, exotic metals, new kind of polymers and every shape you might imagine on a putter. There have been so many designs over the years that the ruling bodies of golf, the United States Golf Association and the Royal and Ancient Golf Society have established guidelines for putter design. I definitely won’t bore you with the details, but there is an entire section in the Rules of Golf dealing with all the elements of the putter.

And me? Well, I started playing with a used set that came with a putter that had a brass head that looked kinda like a putter head. The shaft was some kind of fiberglass or resin, but definitely not hickory or metal. It had a leather grip that had to be 35 years old and had one wrap of dirty white medical tape around the top. And you know what….I putted great with that putter.

I used it the entire time I was learning the game (which at 70, I am still doing).

But along the way, I ended up with one of those famous old 8802s like Little Ben…and I used it from 1970 until 2005 when I finally decided that maybe this technology stuff would help me make more putts. Guess what? The only thing that will help me make more putts is to make the hole bigger. Lee Trevino told me once, “listen, partner, it’s not the arrow, it’s the archer.”

I know exactly what he meant.

Equipment has helped many of us, but the talent is the key. But, that is not what makes golf so great. Having played the game since I was 21 and having had the fortune of being involved in many different facets of golf, I can say without any hesitation that it truly is the game of a lifetime, whether you are a good putter or not and whether you have an old rusty putter or a bright new Scotty Cameron. What other sport can you play well into your 80’s with people B EN CRENS H AW your own age or even younger and Technology in putter design never entered the picture until an have pure enjoyment of the game in common. There is just unknown named Karsten Solheim came along in the 1960s. He something about the fresh air and the smell of fresh cut grass was an engineer at General Electric and somewhat a golf nut. that makes a golf course special.

His engineering background and his passion for golf combined in his Phoenix garage where he began working on his putting I was told that the easiest shot in golf is the fourth putt…the game not by practicing his stroke, but by creating a new good news is I don’t ever remember that happening….maybe putter. Though he made several playable prototypes, only one it did and for my own good, I blocked it out. But, I do know made it out of his garage in the end: the original PING putter, that our goal in our company is to help people to enjoy the so named by his wife because of the sound the putter made game more. Ben Hogan told me once, “As you walk down the when it struck a golf ball. He received a patent on the original fairway of life, you must smell the roses, for you only get to play PING way back in 1959. one round.”

Solheim’s Anser putter - a revision of the original PING - was used

by Julius Boros to win the Phoenix Open in 1967, and sparked a

And remember, “Golf is a game invented by the same people who think music comes out of bagpipes.” d

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The infamous Bobby Locke is regarded as maybe the best putter of all time. At age nine, he was given a putter by an old professional, T. D. Lighthouse. It was a hickory-shafted steel blade putter that he used until 1960 (32 years) and he finally replaced it with an identical club.

trend that’s continued to this day: heel-toe weighting in putters (and perimeter weighting in all other clubs). Solheim’s PING putters spread the weight towards the heel and toe to minimize distance loss on off-center hits, effectively enlarging the sweet spot. Almost every putter today uses heel-toe weighting.

Photo: Art.com

I’m told that of the more than 12,000 clubs in Arnold Palmer’s collection, more than 2,500 of them are putters. Arnold once said in an interview, “if you can find the perfect club, you can make the perfect shot.” When asked if he had found the perfect putter, his response was a quick “not yet!” And, Mr. Palmer is now 85 years old.

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Photo: bencrenshaw.com

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Becoming

Don WRITTEN BY DANIEL McJUNKIN

e man our community has come to know as T hDon McCoy, the colorful President of the Fulshear

Katy Area Chamber of Commerce, took the long way home. Before the Chamber called his name, he traveled the world and made many friends. For him, the journey has been a wild and meaningful ride.

A Father’s Best Bet

Prior to Don’s birth, his father, Warren, worked for oilfield services firm, Brown and Root. Warren and his wife, Judy, had been transferred to Marlin, Texas for business. As happens with young couples, the two were soon anticipating the birth of their first child and they were very excited. Their excitement was muted, however, because after Don’s birth, they lacked the funds to pay the hospital for the birth of their son.

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What was a young father to do? The hospital bill had to be paid. It became a turn of the cards that would determine the family’s next move. Seeing it as his best solution, Warren got into a poker game at a local gas station in Marlin. Family lore holds that, lacking funds and being out of options, Warren laid the title to their 1954 Pontiac on the table and let it ride.

For the first and only time in his life, Warren drew a royal flush - the highest hand in poker - and claimed his winnings. In true Kenny Rogers “Gambler” fashion, he immediately returned to the hospital and paid the $200 bill. Taking no chances, he then collected Judy and their newborn child and left town, headed to Pasadena, Texas. There, the McCoy family would live quietly for the first five years of Don’s life.

Early school picture of Don - 3 years old.

Moving On

The impacts of Warren’s career choice would undoubtedly be instrumental for his family. For Don, his father being transferred to Brown and Root’s offshore division, would set the family on a whirlwind course that would not let up for well over a decade.

The family’s first assignment was to move to Venezuela.

Don’s dad left for Venezuela in June of 1964, ahead of the family. Don and his mom went to Hobby Airport to see him off. The two stood on the observation deck at the top of the airport and watched his plane as it left until they could no longer see it. Don’s dad sent for the family weeks later, and through the course of time, his work assignments sent the family to various locations in Venezuela.

Don entered first grade in a Venezuelan elementary school where he says, “I was the only guy that spoke English in the whole class.” He learned Spanish through immersion and proudly says, “I just learned visually, and

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Photo by Colt Melrose Photography ColtMelrosePhotography.com

then over the course of that year, I ended up learning Spanish, and I still speak Spanish pretty fluently to this day.”

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Lamenting the number of distractions kids have today, Don recalls, “When you live in a country like Venezuela growing up, TV is not your friend. If anything, there were maybe one or two channels - all in Spanish. The only thing that was really cool on TV in the early morning was ‘Casper the Friendly Ghost’, in English.”

With little to interest him on TV, Don stayed busy and was never bored. He remembers frequent group outings and events that formed the social fabric for the American workers. Don says, “We’d go out on the lake and go fishing. We had fish fry’s. We had parties and played volleyball. The oil-working community was very tight. The kids were too.” Don tells about how all of the kids got around their “camp” on mini-bikes, saying, “It was a blast.”

Early school picture in Las Morochas, Venezuela - 9 years old.

Don kept up with life in America by listening to Armed Forces Radio. He says, “It was all in English, which is how I became a Dallas Cowboys fan.” Without ever seeing him play, Don was a die-hard Roger Staubach fan. Having justified his affinity for the “other” Texas team, he jokes “...so, don’t hate me for that.” Then, with what sounds like a defensive afterthought, he concedes, “...I was a Houston Oilers fan, too, I really was.”

Venezuela was just the first of many countries that would expand Don’s access to the world and to its many opportunities. The family also went on to set up houses in Norway, Scotland, and Lavan Island, just off the coast of Iran in the Persian Gulf.

Life in London

When Don was 15, the McCoys were transferred, once again. This time the family ended up in London, England, where Don attended high school.

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Don at 10 Years old heading back to the U.S. off the Island of Lavan in Iran.

Don recalls his time in London fondly, having enjoyed a wide array of events there. He laughs, saying, “I saw some of my most memorable concerts at sixteen.”

He continues, “I saw Led Zeppelin at Earls Court. I still have a copy of the tape that I recorded on a Radio Shack recorder.”

Recalling his youth, Don says, “What an adventure it was. At the American Community School in London, we didn’t have big sports teams except a basketball team where we drew the number on our jerseys.

But, we did have a rugby team where I broke my collarbone. But, those weren’t our only distractions.

We had some great class trips during Spring Breaks and Holidays.” He recalls, “We took a train all across France to Switzerland, all together. I learned to snow ski in Switzerland and Austria. I got to go to Dubrovnik in present day Croatia on a history tour. I even got to cycle around the island of Majorca, Spain.”

For Don, living in England allowed him access to travel in Europe. “I had a great time growing up,” says Don.

“What’s sad is that I don’t have many pictures of those days - we didn’t have cell phones to just click pictures.

The memories just have to reside in my mind.”

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One particular memory stands out for Don. While preparing to ski down a mountain at the top of the Alps, between Switzerland and France, his friend called to him to start their ski run. Don told him to go on without him. As Don recalls, “I remember just standing there, standing on the top of that mountain, looking over the whole area and thinking, ‘Wow, there are people that dream all their lives to be right here where I am right now.’” He concludes, saying, “I really implanted that moment. Even to this day, I can still close my eyes and visualize it.”

As Don reflects on the memories from his youth, he comments that, “When I came back to the United States, people would ask me where I enjoyed living most. People just don’t know how good we have it here.” He continues, saying, “The things we take for granted are the things people dream of in other countries.”

Back to Texas

As all good things must come to an end, after attending different schools, and as Don was going into his Junior year of high school, his parents were transferred to Norway. Having no American school there, Don returned to the states to live with his Grandmother in Pasadena, where Don would complete his primary education at Deer Park High School.

Don in his Junior Year at Deer Park High School

During his senior year at Deer Park High School, Don experienced what he calls “culture shock”. He also experienced an odd form of discrimination as he was the new kid among others that had largely attended school together all of their lives. Thinking Don was British, some of his new peers would occasionally call him “limey”. But, Don was quick to remind them that he was, in fact, born in Texas.

Joining In + S tanding Out

Don describes walking on stage the first time by saying, “It was exhilarating, it wasn’t scary at all.” He reasons that, “When you go to so many different schools, you just try to be yourself and not worry about what other people think.” He continues, “I did catch an acting bug - that was my first.”

While in Venezuela, Don’s parents were active in a local amateur American theater group. Don recalls,

Don’s very first performance as Nanki Poo in “The Mikado” at his elementary in Venezula.

“My mother went to competitions and was in oneact plays. My dad was in Man of LaMancha, so I was around a lot of theater types.” Don compares the time in his youth with the distractions that kids have today, such as video games, tv shows, and Netflix. He says, “If I were to give anyone advice, it would be to take these sorts of things away from your kids and let them use their minds creatively.” He adds, “I think today, that’s why I’m so creative in what I do...because my creative mind was honed and exercised at a young age.”

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Don joined the high school football team and participated in the senior play as Earthquake McGoon in their production of Li’l Abner. He points out that this was not his first acting role and recalls fondly that while in Venezuela, he played the lead of Nanki Poo in his elementary school’s (Escuela Bella Vista) production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operetta The Mikado - as Don puts it, “Because I could sing then before my voice changed.”

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Al Mitchell and Don as “extras” in the movie “Trip to Bountiful.”

Patrick Swayze and his Arabian. Don was in the TV Mini Series “North and South” as the Northerner with Patrick.

lacks any Animal House misadventures, he built many friendships - along with many memories. Some of his best friends to this day are his fraternity brothers.

The Call of the Theater

Patrick Duffy and Don on the set of “Dallas.”

He had a bartender role that day.

To College + Beyond

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Following high school, Don planned to attend Baylor University, but it was a bit pricey. A high school friend was planning to attend Stephen F. Austin State University. Consequently, when the opportunity arose, Don went on a campus visit with him and fell in love with the university and its surroundings.

Having been a hospital volunteer and operating room orderly, Don initially wanted to go into medicine. But after his first two years, he decided that Business/ Marketing was more to his liking.

While at Stephen F. Austin, Don joined a fraternity and accepted a leadership role. Though his time there

Don’s college graduation would have to wait, however, because with just one class left to take, a good friend of his invited him to attend acting school at CBS Studios in Hollywood. Don jumped at the chance. Without looking back, he took off for Los Angeles. While there, in classic fashion, Don lived at a boarding house, but his film school classes were held on the actual set of The Bob Newhart Show. Building many relationships and learning everything he could about the film and television industry, Don caught the acting bug and he soon began to work as an extra in shows such as The Devlin Connection, which featured Rock Hudson. He was in the movie Slapstick of Another Kind, with Jerry Lewis, Madeline Khan and Marty Feldman. Speaking of his time there, Don says, “I felt that I was too creative to be just a businessman. As an actor, I can be anything I want...and get paid for it!”

After finishing film school, Don still had that one class to finish in order to receive his Business degree. In the summer of 1982, he returned to Stephen F. Austin State University and took his final class: accounting.

Subsequently, he officially graduated from college and began considering his next move.

Onward + Upward

With his business coursework behind him, Don moved to Plano, Texas where he put his acting training to work on the hit television series Dallas. Beginning as an extra, he became a stand-in for Patrick Duffy, and

eventually got a few speaking roles in the series. Don is matter-of-fact regarding acting in the series. He jokes, “The old adage is ‘oh, you’re an actor? What restaurant do you work at?’” He says, “It was part of the sacrifices you make as an actor.”

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Don was able to put his experience working on Dallas, to good use. He accepted a position with Criterion / Pat Summerall Productions. Here, he produced and hosted a number of eight-minute “vignette” marketing videos for various companies. During this time, he continued going on auditions and accepting a number of small roles. One such part was as a stunt double for Gil Gerrard in the 1985 movie, Stormin’ Home. In another role, Don was in the movie Time Bomb with Billy D. Williams and Morgan Fairchild.

Showing progress in his acting career, Don says, “I had a significant speaking role in the Oliver Stone-Kevin Costner film JFK, playing the part of Johnny Brewer the shoe store owner who followed Oswald into the Texas Theatre. I actually got to meet Johnny Brewer himself.

If not for him, they may have never caught Oswald.”

Don as a stunt double for Gil Gerard (Buck Rogers) in the TV Movie “Stormin’ Home”.

As a member of the Dallas Press Club, Don regularly performed in the group’s annual “Gridiron Show”.

Here, his biggest acting role was that of Ross Perot where Governor Ann Richards was the headliner and guest of honor at the show.

Coy Don Mc The Actor

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Continuing his acting career, Don accepted other roles, including a small speaking role in the television mini-series North and South, which featured Houston native, Patrick Swayze. He had a recurring role as a priest in a television sitcom called 13 East. With a smile, Don says that he “...even hosted the television presentation of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Finals for a couple of years.”

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Patrick Swayze, Don’s mom Judy, Don, and Patrick’s Mom at a charity event.

Don and his dear friend Burton Gilliam recently at a screening of his film “Blazing Saddles” at Alamo Drafthouse.

Living the life of a young actor, Don honed his craft by day and waited tables at night, and found a level of success in each. As he continued to take on various roles, Don attended a Dallas-area acting class with Lou Diamond Phillips. He says, “I was there when he [Lou] got the role of Ritchie Valens in La Bamba.”. Don says, “That was pretty neat.”

Don then began producing car commercials, calling the experience, “awesome” because, “It was steady work and I made a lot of commercials.” Before long, he was asked to produce content for the Learning Channel and the Speed Channel. Shortly, he began to cover Supercross racing, which he really enjoyed.

In addition, he became good friends with Burton Gilliam of Blazing Saddles fame, casting him in a local marketing video.

Reviving “Blue”

Don as Ross Perot with Governor Richards in the Gridiron Show by the Dallas Press Club.

Along the way, Don’s unique path has provided him many opportunities to impact the lives of others. As Don recalls, one such time was an interaction that he had while casting a marketing video that he was producing.

The subject of the video was Mr. Bill Mack, the voice of the syndicated radio program, Midnight Cowboy Trucking Show. It was through this interaction that Don had the honor of participating in ‘kick-starting’ the career of one of America’s most notable contemporary singers, LeAnn Rimes.

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As Don got to know Mr. Mack, he learned that among his talents as an on-air personality, he was also an accomplished singer and songwriter. Don found it fascinating that in 1958, among his other songs, Mr. Mack had written and recorded a song titled “Blue”.

As fate would have it, at the time, Don was the Master of Ceremonies and host responsible for introducing the then twelve year old up-and-coming singer, LeAnn Rimes, at a series of showcases around the Dallas area. So, being the true connector that he is today, Don had an idea.

Don sent Mr. Mack a cassette recording of her singing the “Star Spangled Banner” and suggested that he allow young LeAnn to perform his song, “Blue,” at her next showcase. According to Don, after hearing just the first half of the recording, Bill exclaimed, “Who the hell is that?” and instantly agreed that she should be the one to re-introduce his song. Country music history now remembers “Blue” as the song that would become LeAnn Rimes’ first number one hit, and set her onto the road to stardom.

In a nod to radio giant, Paul Harvey, Don says, “Now you know the rest of this story.”

Coming Home

Don reflects on his thoughts from the time, “In this business, you have no weekends and no holidays because that’s when everybody else comes to see the shows.” He says, “I wasn’t going to church, I was working every day, not seeing my family. My dad passed away in 1999.” In 2013, Don’s brother, Mike, asked him, “Why don’t you come back home?” Don says that something inside him told him, “Yeah, go home.”

Still being drawn to the entertainment industry, Don was offered a management and marketing position at the new “Palladium” movie theater. At the time, his only local personal contacts were his mother and his brother, Mike McCoy, a police officer, now Captain, with the Fulshear Police Department. Don found that it was his time for a new beginning.

Reboot

Don’s brother, Mike McCoy, introduced Don to Cheryl Stalinsky. As Don recalls, “She told me that they were trying to start a local Chamber of Commerce in Fulshear and needed someone to run it.” Don was chosen for his new role and proudly says, “Six plus years later, we are larger than half of the chambers in the United States. We have over 660 members, and are still growing.” Sounding a bit prouder, Don adds, “We are doing fun, creative things, really making a difference in the community, helping businesses grow, connecting people, and I’ll tell you what, my contact list is bigger than it’s ever been.”

It’s not just about business for Don. He says, “Probably the best thing that ever happened to me was that I found my faith again. I’m now a member of Second Baptist Church, 1463 campus.” He says, “I was baptized again in 2014. Now, I’m a Deacon at the church, a Sunday School leader, and I’m born again career wise and religion wise.”

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Don recalls a conversation that he had with his friend, actor, Jon Voight. The noted actor told him, “You should celebrate the little victories along the way because if you sit here and wait to celebrate your big victory, you’re going to miss so much along the way.”

“For me,” Don says, “That was pretty impactful.”

Asked who his best friend is, Don replies thoughtfully, “I’ve had best friends in Venezuela and around the world, I’ve had best friends in high school, and I have best friends in my fraternity.” He continues, saying, “Right now, I have 660 best friends in this chamber - I consider every one of them my best friend. I would be very sad if I had only one best friend - and I hope I’m that best friend to a lot of people as well.”

Upon Reflection

“Looking back on my life,” Don says, “I wouldn’t change anything I’ve ever done, because I ‘getit’ now.” Giving credit to his Creator, he adds,

“No matter what you do, whatever situations you’re put in, it will help you grow. God puts you where he needs you at every given time.”

How does Don apply his understanding? He says, “As Chamber President, I draw on every single experience I’ve ever had. Every time I come up with an idea for the chamber or our community, whether it makes sense or not, something in that idea is useful. I think it is because I have drawn on my life experiences, followed my heart, and found a passion for helping people, businesses, and our communities.”

Don says of his future plans, “I’m going to make it very simple: Wherever God wants me to go, I’ll go.” He continues, “My goal is to be a good person and to do the best I can. “I just hope that when my time comes, the first things I hear is my Dad in Heaven, saying, ‘Atta-Boy!’ and Jesus saying, ‘Well done’.” d Don and his friend Jon Voight at a Charity Benefit in Houston.

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Don speaks of the people in his life who have impacted him the most. He is thankful for his Granddad who, on his dying bed, told him, “Whatever you do, be honest.”

He honors his father who told him, “Always do what’s right, and do it the right way.” He credits his mom, whom he says, “...impacts me with her unwavering love and unconditional support.” He admires and respects his Brother, Mike, “...who is a man of true and unrivaled character.”

EXPRESS WASH PAC K AG E S

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PAC K AG E S

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(281) 533-9959 29602 FM 1093, Fulshear, TX HulaCarWash.com

YEN TEPPA N YA K I SUSH I STEA K H OUSE

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TEPPANYAKI SUSHI STEAKHOUSE

quality restaurant brings unique dining to Fulshear WRITTEN BY JACLYN RITTER

F

ulshear residents tend to be very loyal to their local restaurants and coffee houses. While there may not be an abundance of options, the available establishments have been embraced and supported from the beginning. While neighboring towns have a plethora of options, it sure is nice to ditch the drive and stay close. Yen Teppanyaki Sushi Steakhouse is one of the new kids on the block, and, in a short time, has already proven to be a staple amongst Fulshear residents.

Why Fulshear?

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Yen may be a new restaurant, but the gentlemen behind it have been in the game for a long time.

The owners, Jason Wang, Tony Wang, and Leo Dong opened Sushi Hana, a very successful restaurant in the Shops of Bella Terra along the Grand Parkway, in 2007.

With Fulshear’s consistent growth, the three jumped at the opportunity to share their craft with its residents.

Yen Teppanyaki Sushi Steakhouse opened on March 7th, 2016 along FM1463. Tony Pham, manager at Sushi Hana, was eager to get to work on the new restaurant. During college, Tony worked at a local Florida restaurant to help fund his degree in electrical engineering. Twenty-five years later Tony Pham is still in the food industry and he would not change a thing. “If you do not love what it is you are doing, you can never truly do it right,” smiles Tony. “I love what I do and am glad I chose the path I did.”

A New Style of Dining

Tony, along with owners, Jason, Tony, and Leo, opted for a more contemporary interior for Yen Teppanyaki, instead of a traditional Japanese decor. While the menu at Sushi Hana was more fusion, offering a variety of Asian cuisines, Yen is more focused on traditional Japanese sushi and hibachi. Their seafood dishes tend to be the most popular, however they have chicken, three different cuts of steak, and vegetable entrees to please a broader palette. Tony’s favorite – the filet mignon lobster.

When it comes to dining, guests have four different options: the sushi bar, traditional table dining, hibachi grill dining, and the VIP room, which is available to reserve for parties and corporate events. To experience the real deal, opt for the hibachi grill!

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Hibachi is a style of Japanese teppanyaki cooking that integrates gas heated hotplates into tables that seat multiple people. This more family oriented

57 style of dining is not only about the food, but also about the experience. The chef puts on a show, all while preparing a mouthwatering meal.

Hibachi chefs are specially trained. There is no wall separating the dining room from the kitchen. Their work is on display for all to see. They must be aware of any food allergies amongst the group, know how everyone likes their meat cooked, masterfully cut and dice to perfection, all while putting on a show. This is multitasking at its best! Diners are witnessing true performance artistry. One minute, ingredients are being tossed around the grill with flair and precision, and then the next, the whole grill is set aflame.

Yen’s lead chef, Bobby Wang, is proud to say that every chef is experienced. They know that the key to delicious food is in the details. Steak needs to cook on a hot grill and be transferred to a hot plate. The inexperienced chefs will stand out because they cook their steaks on the side of the grill, for fear of overcooking it. An experienced and confident chef places it right in the center and knows the precise moment to remove it from the grill to achieve that tender, juicy, and flavorful piece of meat that cuts like butter. This is true attention to detail.

If you do not love what it is “ you are doing, you can never truly do it right.

”

- Tony Wang

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Consistency is Key

The key to Yen’s early success is consistency consistency in both service and quality of food.

Tony knows that if customers are confident that they will get the same great experience each and every time they dine at Yen’s, that they will spread the word and likely return.

Yen Teppanyaki Sushi Steakhouse is proud to call Fulshear home. They quickly became members of the Fulshear Area Chamber of Commerce. In the years to come, they hope to become even more active with area schools, churches, and local events.

The love the owners, manager, and chefs have for the restaurant is apparent - from the moment you walk into the restaurant, all the way until your last bite. There is a sense of pride in what they do, and they do it well. d

What is Teppanyaki?

Teppanyaki translates to “grilling on a hot plate.” Introduced to the United States following WWII, “Japanese Steakhouses” became more and more popular.

Teppanyaki encompases all Japanese food cooked on an iron grill, or hibachi grill. Dishes usually consist of thinly sliced meat, rice, vegetables, and soy sauce.

TEPPANYAKI SUSHI STEAKHOUSE 6630 FM 1463, Fulshear, TX 77441 (281) 665-3917

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www.yenhibachi.com Email: info@yenhibachi.com

LUNCH Thurs-Fri • 11-2pm DINNER Mon-Thurs • 5-10pm, Fri • 4:30-10pm Sat •11:30-10pm, Sun • 11:30-9:30pm

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SPRING

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GAR DENIN G WRITTEN BY BRENDA BEUST SMITH LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS HOUSTON GARDEN NEWSLETTER

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or much of the country, gardening is just getting started. Gardeners in the Greater Fulshear area, we are beginning to prepare for the relentless summer heat. It’s really too late, for example, to start tomatoes. Best to wait until July or August and plan on fall tomatoes instead.

Or buy fully grown plants that are already bearing fruit.

It’s too late now to plant spring bloomers (pansies, Shasta daisies, poppies, larkspur and other typical English border plants) because the weather is getting too hot. Instead, pick sun-lovers like blackeyed Susan’s, russellia, lantanas (Dallas Red is really beautiful), hardy salvias, Mexican flame vine, or thunbergia. If you’d like my list of super-hardy Lazy Gardener’s Favorite Plants, email your request to lazygardener@sbcglobal.net.

In “The Lazy Gardener & Friends Houston Garden Newsletter,” (www.lazygardenerandfriends.com), we’ll be focusing on how to make gardening easier, mainly by picking Lazy Gardener plants.

These are Gulf Coast hardies that, once they become established, will survive and thrive with little or no interference from me! A lot depends on a good start, and preparing your bed correctly.

Great gardening advice abounds. In the 45 years I’ve written a gardening column for the Greater Houston area, I’ve never seen a Gardening Events Calendar as extensive as the one we’re now publishing weekly in the LazyGardener & Friends Newsletter at www.lazygardenerandfriends.com. d

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For us, drainage is probably the biggest issue. Our spring and fall monsoons and clay soil separate us from the rest of the state. It’s great to plant the highly-touted, low-water Central Texas natives.

But unless they get excellent drainage, usually by raising the beds, the roots are going to suffer during our monsoons. And what happens above ground is usually a reflection of what’s going on below ground.

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Bass Time

WRITTEN BY DOUG PIKE

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he rod tip bounced and the line came tight, angling to the left along the reed-rimmed shoreline. Rickey and I watched Liz Coulter lower the rod, reeling to keep pace, and, then, finally, stricking hard to the open side of the johnboat.

A two-pound largemouth bass promptly jumped, showing an open mouth, flared gills and the flapping plastic worm pinned in the corner of the jaw. The hooked bass fell back, pulled hard, then jumped again. Rickey Morris nudged the stern-mounted electric trolling motor, maneuvering to deeper water.

“Good job,” he said. “You did that exactly right.”

“It’s about time,” Liz laughed. “I didn’t do so well on the first two strikes. Or ‘taps,’ or whatever you call them.”

We were fishing a small lake near Morris’ home south of Houston. The bass plodded close and I reached with thumb and curled index for the classic “lip grab.”

I held the chunky green and gold fish aloft.

“Congratulations; your first bass.”

We snapped several photos then released the fish. It flashed away, diving into the clear green.

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Coulter is an avid saltwater angler, but that recent foray was her first for largemouth bass. She was wielding a 6 1/2-foot two-handed rod and a freespool casting reel, and handled the casting tackle with growing confidence as Morris eased the 12-foot aluminum boat along the shoreline.

The lure of choice was a crawfish-type soft plastic rigged snagless “Texas style” on a 4/0 worm hook below a 1/4-ounce bullet-type slip sinker. The same setup, with various modifications, has been used a jillion times in the lakes and ponds of southeast Texas, and it remains a killer for summer bass.

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The weighted “worm” is relatively easy to cast; the compact lead bullet sinker provides a positive payload for tentative lobs. Conversely, other effective bass lures demand a higher skill level for smooth deliveries. Air resistant payloads such as tandem-bladed spinnerbaits and balsa thin-minnow floating/diving plugs are among the worst.

For example, during the same session, I attempted to wham a thin-minnow plug into the gusting southeast wind and, well, the backlash easily was among the top 10 in my 50-year fishing career. Maybe the top five. The spool was absolutely buried amid exploded monofilament.

One look and I started snipping with line clippers. It was brutal, especially with semi-pro credentials riding on the effort.

Also an advantage, the pace is slow with a bottombumping weighted plastic. You don’t wear yourself out with chunk-and-wind. And, on the sluggish days of summer, allowing the bait to dawdle in a “fishy” spot gives lurking bass plenty of opportunity to seize the moment.

Finally, bass absolutely love soft-plastic baits. The strikes usually are confident and fish tend to hang onto (even attempt to swallow) the lure. The hit typically transmits as a “tap” or “bump” then the line comes tight as the fish moves off with the chewy plastic in its mouth. This deliberate tempo gives the angler time to react.

The single drawback at the beginner level for fishing bottom-bumping Texas-rigged plastics is the violent hookset required to set the barb. Remember, the hook point is pressed back into the soft body of the lure to keep it from snagging as it bounces and flutters over the bottom contours. Also, the line in deeper water encounters more water resistance as the angler raises the rod on the strike.

Liz missed the first two fish simply by not hitting back hard enough. The bass were there but she failed to reach them with a soft reaction. No question, bass are more difficult to hook on Texas-rigged worms than on fastmoving plugs with exposed trebles. On the latter, the solid contact is automatic.

But the tuned angler willing to pay attention can make the adjustments. During our two-hour late-afternoon session, Coulter caught six bass to three pounds. Her skill level increased markedly as she understood the drill.

I caught four bass. Of course, I was in the center seat and forfeiting most of the “ice cream” water. Well, that sounds good. Rickey caught two but he was driving the boat and, way back in the stern, fishing seriously used water. Needless to say, in a desperate game of catchup, I was giving him few uncontested shoreline shots.

Come to think of it, even with solid contact on the hookset, I jumped off a “solid 5.” So did, well, never mind about her.

But, regardless of experience and on large water or small, the angler using a snagless soft plastic has taken a major step forward in catching summer bass. d

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It also is an excellent choice for the newcomer. First, with the hook point turned back into the soft plastic lure body, the offering is virtually snagless amid “hard” cover such as logs, stickups. and reeds.

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A NEW STYLE

OF

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COUNTRY

WRITTEN BY JACLYN RITTER, PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF HEGER

hat was it about the city of Fulshear that drew you in? For many, it was Fulshear’s small town feel and undeniable charm.

It is here where families can acquire sizable property and experience a bit of the country, all while being a short drive away from the city and its multitude of amenities. As Houston continues to push westward and Fulshear grows, open acreage become harder to come by.

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LIVING

Nestled along a bend in the Brazos River, Laprada Landing offers that much needed escape from busy city life. This Highland Resources property, located just three miles southeast of Fulshear, is unlike anything else. With 720 acres divided into just nine tracts, buyers

will have the unique opportunity to let their imaginations run wild. The vast views of wildlife, flowers and mature trees draped in delicate Spanish moss overlooking the river, paint a picture of nature at its finest. Whether it be intended as the family ranch, or a second home away from downtown, Laprada Landing is what everyone is talking about.

LAND RICH IN HISTORY Laprada is no ordinary piece of land, it is part of Texas’ rich history. Its unique narrative begins in 1824 when David Randon and Isaac Pennington acquired land from Stephen F. Austin, joining the prominent group of

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Texas’ first settlers – the Old Three Hundred. Randon and his wife Nancy McNeel ran a successful plantation on the property until 1859 when they sold the land. After being passed through a few more hands over the years, Highland acquired the 2,000 acres in the late 1970’s. After thirty years of cattle ranching operations, the decision was made to market the southernmost 720 acres.

President and CEO. “It was never in the cards to do a development property, it is just too pretty.” In fact, they have incorporated protective covenants within the deed to ensure that the location remains secluded and not built up like the tightly packed communities nearby.

For example, only one residence is allowed per 60 acres and every home site must be set back off the road a minimum of 300 feet.

While they could easily sell to a residential developer who would likely strip away the property of its charm, displacing the wildlife and thinning out the trees, Highland has chosen to divide the acreage into nine tracts, ranging from 60 to 105 acres. “We have owned this property for over thirty years, so we have had a long time to think about its future,” says Charles Wolcott,

Highland is so proud of the property’s legacy, that they have taken it a step further and applied through the Fort Bend Historical Commission for a historical marker. They are pleased to say that just recently they have been accepted. The marker will be called the Randon and Pennington Grant of 1824. Charles is pleased knowing that it is no longer hearsay, it is proven historic record.

HIS POWER FOR GOOD. CALMNESS OF MIND IS ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL JEWELS OF WISDOM.”

INFLUENCE,

-

JAMES ALLEN

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“THE MORE TRANQUIL A MAN BECOMES, THE GREATER IS HIS SUCCESS, HIS

LA PRA DA LA N DIN G

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“We hope that by acquiring this historical marker people see the deep history tied to the property and that they are not just buying a piece of ranch land, but a piece of Texas history.”

NATURE AT ITS FINEST “We are excited to be involved with this property,” shares Gloria Catalani, operations manager at Highland. “I even find myself escaping the city and relaxing amongst the vast wilderness just to get away from the day to day strife.” This comes as no surprise because the aura of Laprada Landing is truly magical. There the air smells sweeter, the grass is greener and the stars seem to shine brighter.

Situated on newly named Laprada Trace, a county road that dead-ends within Laprada Landing, buyers can rest assured that there will be no through traffic. Majestic pecans, live oaks and water oaks cover the property.

In the spring, the area is draped in color thanks to the beautiful Texas wildflowers.

“The river is the large selling point – the gem,” says Charles. There are no land locked tracts. All nine front a large stretch of the Brazos and have buildable home sites. The land is perpetually preserved and protected from dense development as portions of this property are within floodway and floodplain delineations that were finalized by FEMA in 2014.

Highland was looking for a name as unique as the property itself – something evocative of the feel of the land. Laprada is a play on words of the Spanish word la pradera, meaning meadow. The name has since been trademarked as to remain unique to the property.

PRIME LOCATION “We want to be different than anything else in the area, but still blend in,” notes Gloria. “We are working to create understated country elegance in a unique and secluded location.” Located right around the corner from the highly sought after Fulshear area, and only 40 miles west of Houston, there will be no sacrifice of the desirable amenities city living brings. Residents will be minutes from local stores and restaurants.

This kind of property is hard to find. Laprada Landing is a place you can go to escape, to breathe, to be closer with nature – and call home. A place with as rich a history as this is meant to be preserved and enjoyed. It is now time for a new generation to be part of that legacy. d

Energy Corridor

10

8 Katy

ay Westpark Tollw

The Galleria

Houston

610

99

Fulshear

36

90

For more information about LAPRADA LANDING contact Bra z

r ve Ri os

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Sugar Land

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MIKE ROLLER at (281) 346-0222 MIKE@MOVEWEST.NET

RE/MAX REALTY WEST

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COM IN G TOGETH ER

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Citizen Carrie showing a beautiful Brookwood plant available in the Gallery Furniture greenhouse.

COMING TOGETHER

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to Make a Difference WRITTEN BY JACLYN RITTER

It can be said that the measure of a person is not how much they have achieved in their life, but how their achievement has improved the world they live in. This is the story of two such people, who through their mutual compassion and respect, with a combined appreciation for others, have made life better for many in need. Their friendship and kinship are a shining example in of how we can all make a difference within our community.

Yvonne Streit, founder of the Brookwood Community, knows Mack’s generosity first hand. He donated a large part of his new store to Brookwood, providing another location for its residents to sell their handmade goods and further support their community. This relationship stemmed from an appreciation and admiration of one another’s dedication to giving back. By teaming up, they are capable of making an even greater difference in the world.

JIM M c IN G VAL E Known for his fast talking commercials, fun giveaways and for his emphasis on great quality, “Made in America” furniture, Mack is not afraid of hard work.

From his humble beginnings in 1981 to building his wellestablished brand and world-class locations today, Mack has truly created something from nothing. Now, at a time in his life where he could easily take a step back to enjoy his accomplishments, Mack is just as present and dedicated to his business and to his customers as he was at the beginning. His committed work ethic is unmatched as he regularly works fourteen hour days, seven days a week. This local icon’s energy and enthusiasm is infectious and no one knows the furniture business better.

Not only has Mack done an amazing job growing his business, but he has also done wonderful things to improve lives within his community.

Mack shares his time, talents and resources as a mentor and motivator for business students. He regularly steps up as a lifesaver for local needy families who are in need of something – sometimes something as simple as a bed. He is widely known for his work with Texas Children’s Hospital, Texas Medical Center and his work with the very first Mobile Stroke Unit. As many will remember, Mack even reached into Fulshear recently when Gallery Furniture donated all of the furnishings for the new Fulshear Police Department! These causes and generous donations do not even scratch the surface of the kinds of things Mr. McIngvale does on a routine basis.

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allery Furniture opened its third location on the Grand Parkway in June of 2015. With 165,000 square feet of floor space, this is their biggest location to date. Jim McIngvale, owner and operator of the stores, has turned this location into way more than just a furniture store, it is a destination. Jim, better known simply as Mack, is wellknown around Houston for so much more than just furniture – he is known as a giver. Mack is a giver of time, knowledge and money.

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“My dad taught me that it is easier to give than receive,” says Mack. “I want to be known as a giver. I am a firm believer in “capitalism with a cause.” One cause that is very near and dear to Mack is the Brookwood Community.

Yvonne’s solution started small as she began homeschooling Vicki. This soon grew into a learning group that included other local children with special needs. Over time the learning group outgrew Yvonne’s backyard and the group was graciously welcomed by a nearby Baptist church. It was not long before the church also had become too small, as word spread about Mrs. Streit and her efforts to help young people with special needs. It was a joyous day indeed when the Brookwood Community opened its doors in 1985.

Today, the Brookwood Community is an internationally known example of how one dedicated person with a vision can make a difference and change lives throughout the world.

Not only does Brookwood provide a loving and welcoming community for its residents, but also the opportunity to work. Whether they work in crafts making handmade unique gifts, or in the greenhouses, nursery, café or gift shop, each resident walks away with a sense of pride, knowing that they are useful and they are contributing to the world.

Mrs. Streit and Mr. McInvale at the Gallery Furniture groundbreaking.

Y VO N N E S T R E I T

“Individuals with special needs learn differently,” notes Yvonne. “They are a square peg, and society is trying to fit them in a round hole. So we built them a square hole.” Like all people, they want to have a purpose, and Brookwood gives them that purpose.

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Yvonne experienced every parent’s fear, and through it all created a loving community that not only saved her daughter’s life, but thousands of others like her through the Brookwood Community. “It all started with God, He founded Brookwood and I worked for Him,” says Yvonne Streit, founder and Executive Director Emeritus of the Brookwood Community. Today, the community’s purpose is to provide opportunity through education for adults with special needs.

The Brookwood Community was born out of Yvonne’s personal tragedy. At the age of one, Yvonne’s daughter Vicki came down with the mumps. Due to unavoidable complications caused by the illness, her daughter was left with brain damage. Yvonne’s life instantly turned upside down. Her focus turned to finding a loving and safe environment where Vicki could learn necessary life skills. When she could not find it, Yvonne began working tirelessly to create it.

The Gallery Furniture groundbreaking with Mrs. Streit and Mr. McInvale.

S H A R I N G S I M I L A R G OA L S Years ago, Jim McIngvale was invited out to Brookwood to do a walk through and voice any retail ideas that could help them grow their cause. After just a few visits,

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Mack became a huge Brookwood fan. “I am amazed by the energy Yvonne has, and the passion she has for each and every resident,” says Mack.

While they may seem like an unlikely pair, Mrs. Streit and Mr. McIngvale have one big thing in common – their dedication to providing jobs for those who need them. “When you go to Brookwood and see how giving someone a job can improve their self-esteem and view of self-worth, you know that that is what it is all about,” shares Mack. “I believe that work is life’s greatest therapy. It saved my beautiful daughter Elizabeth’s life.” Elizabeth was told due to her severe obsessive compulsive disorder she would never graduate high school. She worked hard to prove every doubter wrong and went on to earn a PHD in social work. “When she became a social worker it gave meaning to her life.”

Mack goes on to say, “People need meaning in their lives and meaning comes through work.”

money earned goes right back to the community. In fact, Gallery Furniture even covers all of their utilities.

“Mack does these wonderful things behind the scenes and does not get enough credit for them,” says Yvonne.

“He is a true community leader with integrity and forth rightness.”

Yvonne Streit has helped the world see that individuals with special needs have special gifts. They, like anyone else, have the right to feel like a citizen, one who has purpose and gives back. Jim McIngvale is proud to know her. “She is fighting for these people,” he says.

“When society tells them they can’t, Yvonne is there telling them they can!”

The Brookwood Community has changed the world and has become the premier facility for adults with special needs. Through his platform, Mack has helped spread the word and share the community’s vision. He still remains one of Brookwood’s biggest fans. d

THE BROOKWOOD COMMUNITY 1752 FM 1489 - Brookshire, TX 77423

281-375-2100 www.brookwoodcommunity.org The Brookwood store inside Gallery Furniture.

“I believe in Brookwood because they value work like I do,” Mack shares. “Of course I want to make money, but I also want to make a difference.” When it came time to design the new Grand Parkway Gallery Furniture, Mack was quick to sit down with Yvonne and share with her a unique plan to help introduce people to the great products and people that make the Brookwood community so special. Subsequently, Mack generously donated 12,000 square feet of space to the Brookwood Community where residents can create and sell the goods they produce. One hundred percent of the

7227 West Grand Parkway South Richmond, TX 77407

(281) 810-9746 www.galleryfurniture.com

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COMING TOGETHER

LEM ON SQ UA RES

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LEMON

SQUARES WRITTEN BY JACLYN RITTER

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hen spring rolls around, I cannot help but think about eating more fresh and flavorful foods as opposed to the comfort foods I crave during the winter time. Fruit and citruses find their way into just about everything I make! There is one recipe in particular that I make every year without fail – lemon squares.

This recipe has been a favorite in my family for over 25 years. I remember my Grandmother making these when I was really young, but I would never touch them. They did not contain chocolate so I concluded that they must not be any good. All it took was one taste and I was hooked! They were not decadent like chocolate, but instead, they were light, fluffy and full of flavor.

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THESE LEMON SQUARES TASTE LIKE SPRING ON A PLATE. My mom has added to the recipe over the years and has taken it to a whole new level. This recipe even pulled me a win at my husband’s company bake off! While my husband and kids request these often, mine never turn out the same as my Mom’s or Grandmother’s. It is more than just the eggs, sugar and flour – it is the love and time that goes into the food and straight to my heart. Enjoy! d

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LEMON SQUARES RECIPE

CRUST: 2 cups flour ½ cup powdered sugar ½ pound margarine (2 sticks) FILLING: 4 eggs 2 cups sugar ¼ cups flour ½ teaspoon baking powder 6 tablespoons lemon juice ½ - 1 teaspoon lemon powder

CRUST: Sift together the flour and

powdered sugar. Using a pastry blender, cut in the margarine until crumbly. Press into a metal, nonstick 9 x 13 pan. Bake 20-25 minutes.

FILLING: During the final 5-8

minutes that the crust is baking, prepare the filling. Beat eggs, gradually adding sugar until light yellow and fluffy. Blend in the sifted flour and baking powder. Add in the lemon juice and lemon powder.

Pour over hot crust and bake an additional 20-25 minutes. Cool completely and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

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OVEN: 350 degress

STEIN H A USER’S

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• Steinhauser’s •

Three generations of Service & Quality E XP LO RE. US

WRITTEN BY JACLYN RITTER, PHOTOGRAPHY BY RHONDA KUYKENDALL

Family owned businesses are the backbone of our American economy. According to Business Week, about 40% of U.S. family owned businesses become second generation businesses.

Surprisingly, only 13% are passed down successfully to a third generation.

Steinhauser’s, a modern-day general store for those who live and love the country lifestyle, has earned the right to include themselves in this rather small percentage. What’s the secret to their success? Good ‘ol hard work driven by deep rooted passion.

• A l l i n t h e Fa m i ly •

in the grain – crawling, tunneling and burying themselves in it. For them, Steinhauser’s was an endless playground.

H. H. Steinhauser was the very best business man. He put his whole heart and soul into his seed store in Flatonia, Texas. Mr. Steinhauser was not out to make millions, he just wanted to be the best in his business. Customers were friends and his store was the hot spot in town. His son Lloyd grew up watching his dad educate customers on proper techniques and identifying the proper merchandise to raise healthy horses and livestock, as well as maintaining thriving lawns and gardens. Lloyd learned the “ins-and-outs” of the business at an early age.

As they got older, the children found themselves acquiring more and more jobs around the store. After school it was straight to the store to pick up a few hours.

As David recalls, this was the routine all the way through high school. The day after graduation, David found himself back at Steinhauser’s, only this time he was a fulltime employee. “This is truly all I’ve known,” David notes.

“It is not a glamorous job by any means, and you don’t get into the feed business to get rich, but it is what I really enjoy.”

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In 1965 the Sealy Oil Mill went up for sale. H.H. Steinhauser purchased the mill, not with the intention of running it, but in helping his son start his own business. Originally a cotton seed processing business, H.H. expanded it to a retail feed store in 1969. In 1971 Lloyd was ready to take the reins and purchased the business from his father.

Lloyd was proud to run Steinhauser’s. His entire childhood prepared him well for the road ahead. The journey was not always an easy one, but he and his wife Virginia’s strong work ethic and business skills pulled them through.

Together, the couple passed these positive attributes on to their four children.

• S e rv i c e Pa r t n e r e d w i t h Q u a l i t y • H.H. Steinhauser insisted on carrying nothing but the finest feeds in the industry. Not only that, he also provided first class service to all of his customers. Lloyd, David and Mike Steinhauser have continued the family tradition of service and quality at all nine of their locations. In fact, if you do not see what you are looking for in store, they will do their best to find it and order it. They even have you covered for all of your bulk feed and delivery needs!

“We know that we are not the only people doing what we are doing – there are other places people could go and buy our products,” says David Steinhauser. “People often choose where to shop based on quality of service over anything else, and we want to be the one customers choose.”

David and Mike Steinhauser have chosen to follow their father Lloyd and join the family business. “From a very young age I knew that this is what I wanted to do,” says David Steinhauser. “I never really considered anything else.”

The love and pride the Steinhauser family has for their business shows to any and all who walk through their doors. How else can one open nine successful locations in such a short period of time?

• G r ow i n g u p i n t h e S t o r e • David Steinhauser cherishes the time he spent growing up in the store. His dad was his idol. “I can remember getting up each morning as a kid, excited to join my parents at the store for the day,” shares David. At the beginning it was all in fun. David and his siblings had no problem keeping themselves entertained while their parents were busy with customers. They enjoyed playing

• Learning from the Best • The success of the Steinhauser brand is attributed to strong family ties. While Lloyd, Mike and David run different locations, they operate as a team when overseeing the company as a whole.

“My grandfather was one of the hardest working people I have ever known,” remembers David. “He truly came from nothing and in turn created a life for himself and future generations.” H.H. Steinhauser never expected instant gratification. He knew that success comes from hard work, passion and sacrifice. David says proudly, “Mike and I learned what it takes to run a successful business from our father and grandfather.”

With their dedication and attention to service, Steinhauser’s will certainly continue the legacy and see a fourth generation! d

STEINHAUSER’S • Built by Quality Products & Great Customer Service • www.steinhausers.com

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Mike, Kyle, Lloyd and David Steinhauser

Steinhauser’s knowledgeable employees are able to answer questions and point you in the right direction.

They provide so much more than just a product, they share experience and tried and true practices.

THIS LITTLE

TH IS LITTLE PIGGY

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AND THAT ONE… AND THE ONES OVER THERE… AND THAT BIG BUNCH UP THAT WAY… WRITTEN BY DOUG PIKE

WE WERE PIG HUNTERS BEFORE PIG HUNTING WAS COOL. Some friends and I, many years ago, recognized three important things about Texas’ “little problem” back then with wild hogs: They did lots of damage, that small issue was only going to get larger, and at 35-75 pounds or so, wild pigs are really, really tasty.

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So we set out, along with a handful of others whose pastures were being ravaged and deer populations bullied by feral swine, to eradicate wild hogs in Texas.

We kept at it for years, too, accepting every invitation from every rancher and hunting buddy we knew. We shot pigs all over the state, mostly by day and sometimes at night. Our numbers didn’t match the tens of thousands of hogs whacked by state-hired sharpshooters, but we did our best.

And we didn’t make a dent. It seemed on many ranches, in fact, that shooting one pig only resulted

in the appearance of three or four. There’s more than marksmanship required to knock back a population of animals in which every female can produce 10 or more offspring per year.

For reference, just in this state, a Texas A&M University study pegged the number of wild hogs killed statewide, in 2010, at more than three quarters of a million animals.

Despite that heaping pile of bacon, however, I have yet to hear of any region statewide where you just can’t hardly find a pig anymore.

Since the first hog escaped off a sailing ship moored along the Gulf Coast after crossing from Europe, it’s quite likely that some reasonably smart men thought the beasts could be eradicated. Those guys a century and change decades ago, and along with them went their dreams of killing Texas’ last wild pig.

Not to be undone by a bunch of pigs, we Texans – and the good people from the 35 or so states where the animals have established populations – decided to turn them into money.

Trappers take hogs away from places where they’re unwelcome – which is almost everywhere – and deliver them, still snorting and gnashing their teeth – to ranches on which sometimes significant fees are charge to hunt them.

Texas hogs are being exported also to high-end meat markets across western Europe. Apparently, somewhere between here and there, the meat from feral hogs becomes a delicacy. My guess, though, is that if you just crossed halfway to Europe with a pig carcass and brought it back here, it would still taste about the same and still be worth as little.

MEANS + METHODS

a night-vision scope and walks quietly around his place down near the Gulf Coast. Usually, he hears the pigs long before he sees them or they see him.

Occasionally, however, one surprises the other. The “fun” part, as Null describes it, is in not knowing which team will do the surprising and which will be surprised. So far, the guy with the rifle has always won, but the pigs on his place don’t show much interest in quitting the game or leaving the field.

My closest call with a pig came on a bowhunt nearly 20 years ago. I tired if standing in a makeshift tree stand and, bow in hand, hopped the six or so feet to the ground. As my knees flexed to absorb the landing, my body buckled, and the nocks of arrows in my quiver tapped muddy ground.

I leaned against the tree and, with a little stick, began to flick the dirt from those nocks.

One arrow short of completing the task, I heard a grunt.

Close. When I looked up from the chore, my eyes met those of an exceptionally large boar. It was 10, maybe 12 feet directly in front of me and seemed nearly as startled as I by the encounter.

The state of Texas places few restrictions on how, when or where we can yank another wild hog from the population. You can shoot them day or night, and there is no restriction on how many you can stack in a session.

Neither of us was exactly in full defensive or offensive position. There came an awkward pause between us, a few really weird seconds through which neither of us took or gave ground.

If you want to hunt them by day, by traditional methods, go ahead. Only know that within two or three sessions, after a couple of pigs are removed from the same herd, the rest of that herd will seem to vanish. The only way you’ll know they’re still on the property is by the damage they’ll continue to do when you’re not looking.

I stood slowly, silently. The pig stood its ground. I stared at the hog, and the hog stared at me.

Night hunting is an exciting way to go after hogs, and not the least dangerous way if you do it on the ground.

A good friend, Scott Null, isn’t scared of much. He uses

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And finally, we exchanged a telepathic agreement to walk this one off. I turned north, and the pig turned south.

It probably went on to sire a thousand more of its kind. I have one son. The war between Texans and Texas hogs, it seems, may never be fair. d Photos: ©iStock.com/jevtic, ©iStock.com/predrag1

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Since then, 10 times as many smart people figured we at least could control wild hog populations. Most of them have passed, too, and anyone who still thinks as much is wrong.

It

all started on a flight to Las Vegas when Bill and Jorden Briscoe Mahler, father and son owners of Briscoe Manor, had a conversation about the future of the Briscoe property on 723 in Richmond. That drawing on a paper napkin turned into a successful and unparalleled wedding and event venue nestled with large pecan trees that create the perfect backdrop and serene atmosphere. As Briscoe Manor approaches their 13th anniversary since creating their first happily ever after, Jorden reflects back on the beginning. “It was definitely a lot of hard work in the beginning with some ‘figure it out as we go’ mentality, but seeing our staff grow from just two people working every angle of the venue to our now 9 full time on-site staff; it is humbling, to say the least.”

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“We are Texas all the way, but not in a cheesy, overused way.”

Jorden explains that Briscoe Manor offers a subtle yet elegant rustic setting. The heritage behind the Briscoe family and land is rich and those involved with Briscoe Manor exude that ideal and make it their priority to keep that history alive. Jorden feels that the majority of the brides that choose Briscoe Manor as the place to have their wedding hold the same type of southern Christian family values, far from the bridezillas that you see on TV.

Briscoe Photo by Agape House Studio

The Next Generation of

One thing you should know is that Briscoe Manor is more than just weddings. They recently added The Barn at Briscoe Manor in 2017 that provides a space for smaller events such a corporate parties, birthday parties, anniversary dinners and bridal showers. “We also have a large paved private parking

WRITTEN BY ASHLEY MANCHACA

lot that a lot of other venues just aren’t putting at the top of their priority list; they are forcing people to pay for valet for their car to sit who knows where during the events.” Jorden’s wheels are always turning to provide new ideas to keep Briscoe Manor fresh in the already hot wedding industry, especially with the rise of new event venues. He is always trying to put money back into the business. In 2015, they added Ella’s Décor Barn which is an area for booked brides to design and rent items that the Briscoe Manor staff have noticed were popular amongst their current brides. In a world of Pinterest and DIY, this creative barn allows a bride the look and feel she is going for without having to buy numerous inventory items that she has no need for after the wedding. Jorden details the purpose in explaining, “It is all about trying to make it convenient for the bride.” Additions like this are what creates that edge that Briscoe Manor has above all other local event venues. So what lies ahead? Time will tell.

They are always thinking of their next venture.

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Briscoe Manor’s legacy is something that is important and on the forefront of Jorden’s mind. When asked, he states, “For our legacy, I hope it’s one that created good jobs for our employees that they felt like they could take pride in and feel as though they are a part of something bigger than themselves.

As for our Brides and Grooms, we treat people the way we want to be treated and that is largely proportionate to our success.

Looking back, the families that choose Briscoe Manor for more than just one of their children …that’s when you know you’re doing it right.” d

Photo by Carlino’s Photography

Jorden’s

R U N D O W N H

I love thinking ahead and trying new things as a business owner.

H

Growing up, I thought my grandpa was one of the smartest people I’ve ever known…and he was, even with a sixth grade education.

H H

The BIG 4-0 is happening for me this year.

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Children will bring out your parents in you real quick…it’s true.

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Always…be nice. I don’t care who you are, it doesn’t impress me and treat everyone the same.

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Amy Briscoe Mahler was my grandma and probably the sweetest lady I have ever known.

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Easton and Ella are our 5 year old twins. This year they will start kindergarten!

Photo by Jason Smelser Photography

Smoking meat on my BBQ smoker is my new favorite hobby right after hunting.

My desk is a mess, yet I know where everything is.

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This year marks the 8-year Anniversary with my wife. We met in 2002 at Texas State.

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My degree is actually in Criminal Justice, but someone how I managed to find myself owning a wedding venue.

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Briscoe Manor is the best wedding venue in the Houston area…I like to think and I like to also think that we are the bar setter for all of the others to follow.

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Jeans, boots and a cap are my attire almost daily.

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October 2019 marked our 13-year Anniversary here at Briscoe Manor, crazy how time flies.

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My Dad, Bill has played a much larger part of my life than he probably realizes. He retires this year and we can’t wait to hang out with him more!

Photo by Kelly Costello Photography

Weddings • Corporate Special Events ( 2 81) 2 3 8 - 4 700 5801 FM 723 Richmond, TX 77406 i nfo @bri scoem a n or .com www. bri scoem a n or .com

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Extraordinary Destinations WRITTEN BY TERRI OLIVER, PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATIE MECHAM

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hether planning a trip for parents with children, grandparents with children, or intergenerational travel, the prospect of creating a vacation with opportunities for everyone to enjoy themselves and each other can be daunting. Visions of Chevy Chase’s Vacation may color our minds as we contemplate traditional kid-friendly venues. How does one book a vacation that pleases both the adults and the children?

There is an easier way that can pay even bigger dividends than we were hoping for. Today there are many reputable travel vendors that offer carefully “curated” itineraries for all types of family travel. The focus here is on trips that are available in the U.S.A. and appeal to the various ages, stages, and tastes of the American family. Additionally, such curated itineraries offer an opportunity to explore, learn, experience, and appreciate our rich American history and the majestic, almost impossibly beautiful natural wonders right here in our own backyards.

Travel is an investment of two very precious resources— our valuable time and money. We only have so much vacation time and travel resources. Perhaps of more importance is the fact that we have only so many years to take our families on vacations before they are off with families of their own. There are many and varied travel companies that offer complete itineraries for pulling off a truly rich and memorable family vacation experience.

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Imagine a vacation that includes cycling through the natural beauty of Maine’s lighthouse strewn coastline, and peddling through quaint New England villages, while inhaling the combined fragrance of majestic fir trees and crisp salted sea air.

Wouldn’t it be fun to travel back in time? We could witness history coming alive before our very eyes in Williamsburg, Virginia or Washington D.C.. Enjoy the phenomenal D.C. on/off trolley system that takes you to

the larger than life Presidential monuments, the iconic Smithsonian Institute, and the many other edifices that are the hallmarks of our American Democracy.

For families that prefer a “big city” experience, but may be short on time, Disney has the ticket. They offer an exciting extended weekend in New York City, featuring showbiz delights like a backstage visit to Good Morning America, a Broadway dance experience, and a live Disney Broadway musical. Enjoy a tour of all the famous sights of Manhattan while aboard a luxurious, multimillion dollar, state-of-the-art motor coach.

Further south there are trips aboard beautifully appointed steamships on the Mississippi River. Different itineraries provide numerous opportunities to explore our nation’s first highways…our country’s rivers. New Orleans to Memphis, Memphis to St. Louis, as well as other routes all tell stories of our American heritage.

Way out west, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and California’s Redwood Forests reveal nature’s seemingly endless array of grandeur and beauty. Active itineraries can include hiking, biking, rafting, canoeing, or kayaking all tailored to the various skill levels of family participants.

The best part of a curated vacation is that these trips are planned in detail and most include all accommodations and meals as part of the itinerary. This benefit leaves you and your loved ones the time and energy to concentrate on the journey and each other.

By not trying to piecemeal a trip on your own, you reduce the stress associated with choreographing the numerous moving parts of your trip and enjoy the peace of mind knowing that your trip has been created and proven to provide the best memories that any vacation has to offer. The dividends of meaningful family travel begin immediately and endure for many, many years into the future. d

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There are

many choices when it comes to curated travel

It is never too early to start planning your family’s travel.

It can be as simple as contacting a travel professional who can suggest destinations that are perfect for your family.

You have a choice in emergency care.

You can’t keep emergencies from happening, but Children’s Memorial Hermann at Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital can make it a better experience. Our ER is specifically designed for kids, and the affiliated emergency medicine physicians, pediatricians, nurses and staff understand the emergency medical care children need. Our child-friendly equipment is suited – and sized – just for kids, and Child Life specialists help families cope with the unfamiliar and make kids feel more comfortable.

Visit childrens.memorialhermann.org/ER to see how we’re caring for kids in your community.

23900 Katy Fwy Katy, TX 77494

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