SB+ April 2024

The Refined Home

brings peace and tranquility to Spring Branch residents through organization

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/ April 2024 Send comments, thoughts, or ideas to springbranchplus@gmail.com 7 8-9

Children At Risk Golf Classic The Drunken Cyclist dishes on brunch-appropriate wines 10 Jack Christie and Memorial Chiropractic Clinic celebrate 50 years SBEF sporting clay tournament recap Save the date for SBEF’s Yellow Rose Ball 11 Construction begins on Spring Branch Trail 12 MHS alumna Bri Ellis takes Razorback softball by storm 13 SBISD Tommy Tune Award finalists 14-15 Community calendar 16 SBISD board of trustees election information

Leading Orthopedic Care to

KEEP YOU MOVING

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Business profile: SafeWay Driving Branching Out: The Branch reappears for a one-day pop-up 19 Celebrating Earth Day 20 RISE College Academy debuts at Northbrook High School 21 Local resident Ben Drews advocates for all through mountain biking 22 4Ever Young Wilchester’s grand opening 23 Spring Branch Color Run smashes goals in third year 24-25 SB+ summer camp guide 26 Pink Bows Foundation hosts Blingo & Bubbles Luncheon

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April 2024

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ON THE COVER

Spring cleaning takes on a new meaning with the ladies of The Refined Home. Alyssa DeLeon and Jaclyn Peschke, home organizers and stagers, tell SB+ how an organized space – and life – is a recipe for tranquility. Read the story on pages 4-6.

Cover photography by Jacob Power Photography.

Makeup and hair by Danielle Doyle for The Perfect Face (theperfectface.com).

Editor’s Letter to the Residents

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pring is most definitely in the air — and so is the pollen (achoo)! This season brings talk of being outdoors, warmer weather, summer camp registration, spring cleaning and organizing, and galas galore. Spring Branch’s beloved restaurant, The Branch, is coming back at the end of the month for a one-day fundraising pop-up; Northbrook High School debuts a college academy; a local resident and SBISD board of trustees candidate shares his passion for advocacy and mountain biking; SBISD theater students sweep the Tommy Tune Award noms; and an MHS alumna hits it big with Arkansas softball. Check out our cover story with two friends who formed a home organizing/staging business to bring local residents peace in their own spaces, no matter the season.

Spring is in the air,

Advertising Contact: Dawn Gunther

Check us out online!

Email: springbranchplus@gmail.com Phone: 713.828.4604 Pink Seat Media, LLC

Publisher/Editor Dawn Gunther

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Reclaim Your Space with The Refined Home

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By Liz Clearman

hile hiring someone to organize your home and your life is still considered a luxury by most accounts, I would argue — as someone who used to be a professional organizer over a decade ago — that employing an expert to help with organizing is becoming as common now as hiring a house cleaner. Making sure your living, sleeping, food prep, and more increasingly after the pandemic, working spaces are peaceful, organized, and conducive to a stress-free life is essential to maintaining peace.

Jaclyn Peschke and Alyssa DeLeon would wholeheartedly agree.

Friends for 8 years since their children started school together in 2015, they combined their talents and passions two years ago to create local business The Refined Home. “Jaclyn and I started it two years ago when we were sitting in a coffee shop brainstorming how she could help with staging for my real estate business,” said Alyssa. “We started discussing that, and how I had been considering starting a home organizing business, so we decided to put the two ideas together and that’s how our business was formed.”

A true Spring Branch/Memorial boutique business, Alyssa and Jaclyn prefer to stay within about a 10-mile radius of the area. “We feel like Spring Branch is such a unique and special area,” said Alyssa.

“You have the conveniences of the city, lots of locally owned restaurants and shops while being far enough away from the busyness of the inner loop.” Alyssa is a Spring Branch resident, and both women have children who attend a private school in Memorial. “This is an area we enjoy working in, and we would love to see our business grow here, serving our neighbors.”

Through The Refined Home, Jaclyn and Alyssa offer so much more than simply decluttering their stuff — they offer peace and stability. Alyssa explains that they “help clients organize their homes by implementing systems that will help them get rid of the things that they no longer need, and to help maintain [those systems] once we finish.” In addition, they style homes using furniture and decor the client already has or make suggestions for new purchases; install new furniture and decor; offer packing and unpacking services; and prep homes for clients getting ready to list for sale.

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They consider themselves a full-service operation, offering management of small jobs like organizing a pantry up to coordination of much bigger jobs like managing a whole-room remodel. “We work with two contractors and can help design custom storage solutions and manage the construction process,” said Alyssa. With two parttime assistants on hand to help the pair, there’s no shortage of hands to ensure that The Refined Home’s clients breathe a sigh of relief at the end of each project. “Since we are partners, we bring two unique perspectives to each job,” mentioned Jaclyn.

While their business is still new to the scene — they’re only two years old — their main struggle has been reaching a larger audience so that they can help more people, relying mostly on finding clients by word of mouth and through friends and family up until this point.

Utilizing social media has also been a bit of a challenge. However, their new arrival to the home organizing scene has had its peaks, too. “I think our biggest success has been seeing our clients’ spaces transformed, and seeing how incredibly happy they are with the final product. We’ve had nothing but good reviews, and it makes us so happy when we know that the client was more than satisfied. We had one client in particular who had a garage where you couldn’t see the floor, and we transformed it into a beautiful space with custom built-in cabinetry and a new enclosed laundry room and work bench,” Alyssa said.

Both women consider organizing and home staging to be a passion that lives deep in their bones. Jaclyn, who grew up in small-town Texas, said her background in home flipping as well as staging/design work began when she was a child — she loved rearranging her room, organizing her dad’s office, or using splashes of color to paint. While she graduated from Texas A&M University (whoop!) with a degree in economics, her love for designing remained a smoldering ember in her heart. After she entered the house flipping business with her family, the flame was stoked and her love for design was solidified. “My home philosophy has always been ‘neatness over cleanliness’ and I cannot stand to live in clutter,” said Jaclyn. When she’s not helping others organize their spaces, she loves being near or on the water, attending concerts, and pursuing competitive activities such as board games or backyard baseball with her boys.

Alyssa, a native Californian, also loved organizing her room as a child and making the home that she lived in with her father cozy and inviting. She moved to Houston after high school, earning her degree in education from the University of Houston, and taught 3rd grade for five years. After leaving the education field, she moved on to a real estate career and started a family with her husband. “My experience helping clients prepare their homes to go on the market rekindled my love for organizing and making people’s homes functional and beautiful,” said Alyssa. A licensed realtor with experience staging her own listings, Alyssa enjoys spending time with her husband and three kids, trying new foods, and traveling.

Given the state of the world today and the seemingly nonstop hustle of life in general, it’s no wonder clients from all over the Spring Branch/ Memorial area are increasingly seeking the services of small businesses like The Refined Home. Stress, anxiety, feeling out of control, the ease of ordering online, and our consumer-driven culture — resulting in more stuff on our social media feeds and more stuff coming into our homes — often leaves people feeling like they don’t know where to begin. “The thing we hear the most from our clients is that they are overwhelmed, don’t know where to start, or just don’t have the time,” Jaclyn noted. “They find themselves cleaning out the same space over and over, but don’t have the systems to maintain it. This is what we really focus on — making people’s homes more functional and enjoyable to live in.”

If you’re yearning for help organizing your home and your life, Alyssa and Jaclyn encourage readers to reach out. Their process involves six tried-and-true steps that they employ for every client. When you contact them, they’ll book a consultation with you to talk about your lifestyle and how you want your home to function. They know that every family has different needs, so they’ll keep that in mind when creating systems for your household. If you’re wanting to style your home, they recommend creating Pinterest boards to help them achieve your home decorating goals.

Next comes the planning process, where the duo will use their detailed notes from the consultation to come up with a custom design plan for either organization or home styling, along with purchasing (or having the client purchase) items to help bring the vision to life. The third step is what they call “the fun part” — getting to work. As any good home organizer does, they will gently guide you through letting go of items that aren’t serving you, but don’t worry. “We really tailor each job to the client’s needs and budget,” said Alyssa. “We also do not just come in and make the client throw everything away!” The pair will then categorize what you decide to keep and organize it in a way that’s both beautiful and maintainable. After the hard work is done, they will organize a walkthrough with you so that you can see your dreams turned into reality.

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The ladies won’t just leave you high and dry after your project is complete, either. About one month after they’ve worked their magic, they’ll schedule a 15-minute check-in call to see how your new systems are working. One thing that makes them especially unique is that the last step in their process, which is considering all of their clients to be “forever clients.”

Alyssa and Jaclyn encourage all of their customers, current or former, to keep in touch with them periodically. “There is no project too big or small, we’re happy to jump in wherever needed, and we really just want to be a resource to help make people’s lives a little bit less chaotic,” they said.

You can read more about their process, see galleries of completed home projects, meet Alyssa and Jaclyn, and contact them on their website at therefinedhome.co/. Don’t forget to follow them on Facebook (facebook.com/therefinedhome.co/) and Instagram (instagram.com/ the.refinedhome).

Join us at the 24th Annual CHILDREN AT RISK Golf Classic!

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HILDREN AT RISK celebrates 35 years of service this year and through the years, the Golf Classic has raised critical funds to support our mission to improve the quality of life for children across Texas.

Come out and support CHILDREN AT RISK while enjoying a day of golf. This event is hosted by Melissa Wilson of FOX 26, Chaired by Manny Panjwani, with Ben Patton as Vice Chair.

Lunch will be served before players head out for a putting contest, a round on the prestigious Clubs of Kingwood 18-hole private course with surprise hole activities along the way. The tournament will conclude with drinks and dinner. It’s sure to be a fantastic day on the green, so come out and join us!

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Getting Brunch Right D

By Jeffrey M. Kralik, Ph.D. (The Drunken Cyclist)

epending on when this issue landed in your mailbox, you either already celebrated Easter, or you are planning your brunch right now. If you are like me, the allure of brunch is that it gives one license to start drinking before noon. And that’s a good thing. Unfortunately, for many people, their idea of day drinking almost always includes what I consider to be the world’s worst cocktail, the mimosa.

Don’t get me wrong, I like orange juice as much as the next guy (although it has way too much sugar) and I have stated countless times in this space my complete adoration for sparkling wine, but putting them together? Dumb. That’s right, I just called America’s favorite brunch beverage dumb, and I would have no problem saying that to its face.

Kir Royale

Perhaps my favorite bubbling cocktail is also one of the easiest to make. It is the sparkling version of the classic Kir which combines a dry white wine with Crème de cassis. The traditional Kir Royale uses Chambord, a raspberry liqueur instead of cassis. The more liqueur you use, the sweeter (and stronger) the result.

Ingredients: • Chambord or another crème liqueur such as cassis (black currant), pèche (peach), or fraise (strawberry) • Dry sparkling wine, chilled • Fresh raspberries (optional) Directions: Put a couple of teaspoons of Chambord (and a raspberry or two) in a champagne flute; fill with sparkling wine.

Strawberry Bellini

The classic Bellini uses fresh peaches but since those can be tricky to find this time of year, I use fresh strawberries instead.

Ingredients: • 2 cups fresh strawberries plus a few more for garnish • Dry sparkling wine, chilled Directions: Purée the strawberries in a blender then strain to get rid of as many of the seeds as possible. Add about an ounce of the purée to a flute, top with sparkling wine. You may need to stir gently. Add a few diced strawberries to garnish.

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If the mimosa had a face. Even calling it a “cocktail” is ridiculous; mimosas are to cocktails what tricycles are to carbon fiber racing bikes.

Whoever “invented” the mimosa was either not all that clever, or just did not feel like trying that day.

I understand the screwdriver, which I believe was invented so that a) the harsh taste of vodka is muted and b) you can possibly fool your family into thinking that you are drinking orange juice and not trying to numb the pain of being around them for the entire day. The mimosa, on the other hand, makes both the orange juice and the sparkling wine worse and absolutely no one is fooled since they are almost always served in a champagne flute.

What really drives me up the wall, though, is when mimosas are made with champagne. Why on earth take a perfectly good (and expensive) bottle of champagne and then add something to it that will completely overpower the complex flavors and aromas of one of the world’s best wines? It’s akin to taking a perfectly cooked, dry-aged Wagyu ribeye and dousing it with a combination of A-1 sauce and ketchup. Dumb. And perhaps criminal.

Not all sparkling wine cocktails are dumb, however. I encourage you to try one or more of these instead of the mimosa when it is time to get your day-drink on at brunch. But don’t be dumb; use a less-expensive bottle of sparkling wine (e.g., Prosecco, cava, or an inexpensive CA sparkling wine) instead of champagne.

Aperol Spritz The last time I was in Italy, everyone was drinking some version of the Spritz. Personally, I prefer the original made with easy to find Aperol.

Almost every recipe for the Spritz calls for a dash of sparkling water.

Dumb. I just add more Prosecco.

Ingredients: • 2 oz. Aperol • 3 oz. Prosecco • Orange slice for garnish • Ice Directions: Fill a large wine glass with ice, pour in Aperol, stir, add in Prosecco, stir again. Garnish with orange slice.

Raspberry Mimosa

Yeah, I know, I spent ten minutes completely bashing the mimosa and then include one here. This drink takes a bit more effort, though, adds a bunch more flavor, and is by no means dumb.

Ingredients: • Chambord raspberry liqueur • Dry sparkling wine, chilled • Orange juice Fresh raspberries Directions: Pour about a teaspoon of Chambord in the bottom of a glass. Add a raspberry or two and muddle them with the handle-end of a wooden spoon. Fill the glass halfway with orange juice. Top with sparkling wine. Stir gently. Add another raspberry or two for garnish.

One last tip: Have a bottle of good “real” champagne on hand and chilled just in case I stop by. When I get my day drink on, I am more of a purist.

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SBEF Sporting Clay Tournament is a Win for Spring Branch ISD

APR 30 MAY 4

Press Release orty-five teams came together on Monday, February 5 to participate in the Spring Branch Education Foundation Sporting Clay Tournament, led by first-time Co-Chairs Stuart Ford and Taylor Wright. The event raised more than $120,000 to support grant funding for Spring Branch ISD campus and district programs.

Co-Chair and SBEF board member Stuart Ford is grateful for the support of this important event. “The Sporting Clay Tournament brings together so many groups to stand behind the staff and students of Spring Branch ISD. We are honored to chair an event that welcomes companies and individuals focused on the sole purpose of providing resources for innovative programs in our district. Even when budgets are limited, SBEF funds the initiatives that make our district unique.”

Since 1993, Spring Branch Education Foundation has worked alongside Spring Branch ISD to support both students and educators. SBEF partners with Spring Branch ISD and the community to fund programs that enhance education and prepare our students for the future. When the funds for public education do not meet the budgetary needs for SBISD, generous SBEF donors step forward to fill in some of the gaps to supplement the educational experience of students and the innovative programs on campuses and in district departments. For the last eight years, SBEF has given more than $1 million to Spring Branch ISD annually. In 2023, SBEF also funded every SBISD teacher grant request, provided school supplies for each economically disadvantaged student at every SBISD Title I and non-Title I pre-kindergarten, elementary, and middle schools, and awarded $319,500 in scholarships to graduating SBISD seniors.

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Dr. Jack Christie and his amazing team at the Memorial Chiropractic Clinic recently celebrated 50 years! They are appreciative of the more than 35,000 patients who have benefitted from chiropractic care and are excited to continue providing excellence in health, nutrition, and rehabilitation services.

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Construction Starting on Spring Branch Trail!

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From Spring Branch Management District

e have great news! The Spring Branch Management District and Houston Parks Board are starting construction this month [editor’s note: This was released in March] on the second segment of the Spring Branch Trail between Gessner Drive and Shadowdale Drive. This work is expected to be completed in the fall of 2024. Construction activities will occur Monday through Friday, with occasional Saturdays, from 7 AM to 6 PM. In cases of extreme heat, earlier starts for concrete pouring might be required.

The construction cost for this project is $2.1 million. The trail was designed by Halff and is being built by Ballew Construction. The Spring Branch Management District generously provided funding for the project as part of its 2015-2030 Comprehensive Plan.

The Spring Branch Trail is part of a larger vision that proposes connecting the Addicks Reservoir to White Oak Bayou Greenway with an 11-mile hike-and-bike trail through the heart of Spring Branch. The greenway links to a trail system into downtown Houston and beyond. To read more about the trail and the various phases, visit here: houstonparksboard. org/spring-branch-trail/. Houston Parks Board partnered with the Spring Branch Management District to host two community meetings to gather community input on the trail in 2021. Special thanks to all community members who participated in the meetings.

Notable features of Spring Branch Trail: • A new 0.8-mile-long, 10-foot-wide concrete path along the eastwest utility easement in Spring Branch • Neighborhood trail connections at Gessner Road, Triway Lane, and Shadowdale Drive • Connection to Harris County Precinct Three’s existing Emnora Trail, which is from Gessner to Northbrook High School • Pedestrian and bike safety improvements to the Gessner intersection with pedestrian beacon signal, crosswalk striping, and signage • Signage, plantings at road crossings, and trash receptacles To the east of this project is the first completed segment of the Spring Branch Trail, between Blalock Road and Wirt Road, to which this new segment will eventually connect.

Houston Parks Board is serving as the project manager and is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to expand, improve, and protect parks and greenspace in the Houston region.

Once the trail is completed, it will become part of the Houston Parks and Recreation Department’s park inventory. Trail maintenance will be provided by the Spring Branch Management District, including trash pickup, mowing, and trail and amenities upkeep.

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Bri Bombin’

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Theater Under the Stars Announces the Finalists for the 2024 Tommy Tune Awards

By Elizabeth Everett

emorial High School alumna Bri Ellis knew from a very early age that she was going to be a great softball player. Call it destiny or sheer determination, the Houston native has become somewhat of a household name among the softball community at just 21 years old.

Press Release

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Ellis began her college softball career in 2021 at Auburn University, etching her name in the school’s history as the only freshman in program history to hit 20 home runs and the first Tiger to win SEC Freshman of the Year outright. She was also the only freshman in the conference to win SEC Freshman of the Week twice that season. Her second season was equally as impressive with the sophomore raising her career total home runs to 34, affectionately dubbed ‘Bri Bombs’ by her fans, and leading the Tigers with 47 runs batted in (RBI). It was during this season that she earned the titles of both SEC Player of the Week and NFCA Player of the Week.

Despite leading Auburn to two consecutive postseason regional runs, Ellis entered the transfer portal in the summer of 2023. In an extended X thread, she expressed her gratitude for the women that fought for her to have the power to take her future into her own hands. She encouraged the numerous critics and trolls to ask themselves, “Why should we force ourselves to stay somewhere that we know isn’t right? Why should we limit ourselves to stay exactly where we are when we as humans are meant to expand and flourish?” Eventually, she chose to take her talents to Fayetteville, Arkansas, to join Coach Courtney Deifel. In just 25 games with the Razorbacks, she’s hitting .342 with 8 home runs, placing her record second highest in the SEC, and 28 RBIs, for which she is fifth.

One Bri Bomb in particular caught the attention of NASA’s (yes, NASA’s) X account. A video of the solo blast against Long Beach State

Bri Ellis University during the Bear Down Fiesta Classic tournament in Tucson, Arizona, was reposted and quoted by fan Bart Pohlman with the caption, “The sound this makes has me thinking the ball is now in space.”

NASA responded to Pohlman’s post saying, “We’ll keep an eye out.” This sparked a barrage of fan-made memes of the Houstonian’s hit, with Ellis herself chiming in suggesting a name, image, and likeness (NIL) deal with the space station. Hopefully, they’ll find that ball soon.

Ellis and the Razorbacks will be traveling down to her former home field at Jane B. Moore Stadium in Auburn, Alabama, for their first SEC series beginning March 22, 2024. There has been quite a bit of discourse online surrounding Ellis’s move to an SEC West rival, so you can expect it to be quite the show. You can keep up with all of her games on SEC Network+ on the ESPN app with an ESPN+ subscription.

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heatre Under The Stars (TUTS) announced the finalists for the 2024 Tommy Tune Awards on March 6 and the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Tommy Tune Awards!

The 2024 Tommy Tune Awards will be held on March 28 at 7 p.m. at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets for the event will go on sale to the public March 11, and will be available for purchase through TUTS.com, by phone at 713-558-8887 or by visiting the TUTS Box Office at 800 Bagby.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the 20th Tommy Tune Awards. The pandemic threw off our years a bit, but we can’t wait to come together and celebrate this program that has given so many students the opportunity to share their creative accomplishments with the Greater Houston community,” said Jacob Shideler, TUTS Director of Education.

The power of education, artistry and community comes together at the Tommy Tune Awards where students from across the Greater Houston community have the opportunity to share their artistry with one another. After evaluating the 62 participating Houston-area high school productions throughout the 2023-2024 school year, a team of 40+ Houston-based theatre professionals nominated students in 18 award categories.

The finalists for the 2024 Tommy Tune Awards are [editor’s note: Only SBISD high school nominees have been included here; for the complete list, please visit tuts.com/blog/tommy-tune-award-finalists-2024]: Outstanding Musical Finalists: Stratford High School – 42nd Street Outstanding Ensemble Finalists: Stratford High School – 42nd Street Outstanding Music Director Finalists: Marcy Baker and Tessa Throckmorton – 42nd Street – Stratford High School Outstanding Stage Management Finalists: Kate Diers – 42nd Street – Stratford High School Outstanding Lighting Design Finalists: Griffin Ferguzon and Caleigh Nickel – 42nd Street – Stratford High School Outstanding Scenic Design Finalists: David Clayton and Sean Eggleston – 42nd Street – Stratford High School Outstanding Costume Design Finalists: Frankie Miller and Maggie Dickinson – 42nd Street – Stratford High School

APRIL SPECIALS: $9/unit Botox $150 off Filler Hydrafacials starting at $179 (reg 209) IV’s Buy one get one 1/2 off Outstanding Sound Design Finalists: Grace Abdelnour – 42nd Street – Stratford High School Outstanding Lead Finalists: Kira Sledge as “Dorothy Brock” – 42nd Street – Stratford High School Michael Deis as “Billy Lawlor” – 42nd Street – Stratford High School Outstanding Supporting Lead Finalists: Andrew Dybala as “Andy Lee” – 42nd Street – Stratford High School Angelica Salva as “Maggie Jones” – 42nd Street – Stratford High School Christopher Melendez as “Lord Farquad” – Shrek The Musical – Spring Woods High School Emma Taylor as “Annie” – 42nd Street – Stratford High School Itzarie Amaro as “Dragon” – Shrek The Musical – Spring Woods High School Outstanding Singer Finalists: Emma Vogelsang as “The Witch” – Into The Woods – Memorial High School Isabella Allon as “Baker’s Wife” – Into The Woods – Memorial High School Every year, Houston area High Schools produce a full-length musical in order to compete in 17 categories: Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Lead, Outstanding Supporting, Outstanding Singer, Outstanding Actor, Outstanding Dancer, Honorable Mention, Outstanding Ensemble, Outstanding Technical Achievement, Outstanding Scenic Designer, Outstanding Costume Designer, Outstanding Lighting Designer, Outstanding Stage Manager, Outstanding Musical Director, Outstanding Orchestra, Outstanding Choreographer, and Outstanding Director.

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April Community note:

Memorial Villages Farmers Market @ First Congregational Church, 9 am

The Spring Branch Memorial Library will be closed for renovations until further notice

Spring Fest @ the MarqE Entertainment Center hosted

by The Feel Good Group, 11 am

Memorial High School prom

Queen of Hearts Game @ VFW Post 8790, 5:30 pm

15 Tax Day

25 Yoga for Beginners @ VFW Post 8790, 5 pm Parent U: 504/Special Education Accommodations in College (11th/12th grade) on Zoom, 6 pm Toastmasters! @ VFW Post 8790, 6:30 pm

National Decorating Month!

FoodieLand Night Market @ NRG Park, 1 pm

Houston Food Bank School Market @ Spring Woods Middle School, 4 pm

Save the date!

American Shuffleboard Tournament & Queen of Hearts Drawing @ VFW Post 8790, 2 pm

SBISD board of trustees regular meeting @ Duncan F. Klussman Education Center, 6 pm

All Month:

May1–4: Just Between Friends (see ad for details)

Katy Sip N Stroll @ The Ark by Norris, 6 pm Queen of Hearts Game @ VFW Post 8790, 5:30 pm

May 4: Park Revitalization Day @ Woodlawn Funeral Home (1101 Antoine Dr.), 10 am

The Women’s Fund for Health Education and Resiliency 9th Annual Wine Dinner @ Tony’s, 6:30 pm

1 April Fool’s Day 11 Yoga for Beginners @ VFW Post 8790, 5 pm

SBISD school holiday

Toastmasters! @ VFW Post 8790, 6:30 pm

Houston Food Bank School Market @ Spring Woods Middle School, 4 pm

13 Memorial Market @ The Lawn at Memorial City, 9 am

4 Yoga for Beginners @ VFW Post 8790, 5 pm

Memorial Villages Farmers Market @ First Congregational Church, 9 am

Spring Branch Super Neighborhood Central meeting @ VFW Post 8790, 6:30 pm

6 $20,000 raffle @ The Post Bingo The Tiny Market @ John Knox Presbyterian Church, 9 am sbmd-2024-sbplus-april-ad-print-border.pdf

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3/14/24

27 Memorial Villages Farmers Market @ First Congregational Church, 9 am

19 Pink Bows Foundation 2nd Annual Blingo & Bubbles Luncheon @ Postscript, 10:30 am

American Shuffleboard Tournament & Queen of Hearts Drawing @ VFW Post 8790, 2 pm

Parents’ Night Out @ Splat Zone, 5:30 pm

Queen of Hearts Game @ VFW Post 8790, 5:30 pm

20 Memorial Villages Farmers Market @ First Congregational Church, 9 am

American Shuffleboard Tournament & Queen of Hearts Drawing @ VFW Post 8790, 2 pm

Steak Night! @ VFW Post 8790, 6 pm

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston present the 2024 Great Futures Gala: “Walk a Mile in My Shoes” @ Hilton Americas, 5:30 pm

Spring Branch Super Neighborhood East meeting @ 1414 Wirt Rd., 7 pm

Farmer’s Bazaar @ St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 10 am

5 FoodieLand Night Market @ NRG Park, 3 pm

24th Annual Children At Risk Golf Classic @ The Clubs of Kingwood Golf Course, 11 am registration & 1 pm shotgun start

Hamburgers & hot dogs @ VFW Post 8790, 6 pm

7 FoodieLand Night Market @ NRG Park, 1 pm

Easter Monday

26 Spring Woods High School prom

18 Yoga for Beginners @ VFW Post 8790, 5 pm

Queen of Hearts Game @ VFW Post 8790, 5:30 pm

Energy Corridor Farmers Market @ 1520 Eldridge Pkwy, 2 pm

JDRF “Hope Grows Here” 2024 Promise Ball @ Hilton Americas, 6:30 pm

American Shuffleboard Tournament & Queen of April 2024 SB+ One-Third Ad 03.09.2024.pdf 1 3/9/2024 Hearts Drawing @ VFW Post 8790, 2 pm1:38:44 PM

10:42 AM

28 Pop-up fundraiser by The Branch at St. Jerome Catholic School, time TBA 30 Just Between Friends Consignment Sale @ Splat Zone, 12 pm (presale - ticket required)

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Spring Branch ISD Board of Trustees Election 2024

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By Nathalie Herpin

lection fatigue is real after contentious primary races and much news coverage, but there is another election that merits attention coming soon this May. The Spring Branch ISD Board of Trustees election is fast approaching and this is the opportunity for those who live in the district to make their voices heard. Candidates are already speaking out on issues that will affect residents across the district.

The school board is the governing entity that provides direction for the district, determines the tax rate, approves the budget, sets policy, and employs the superintendent. Spring Branch ISD is experiencing a reported $35 million budgetary shortfall that makes this election perhaps even more important than ever before.

Board votes over the last year have included choosing to withhold state recapture payments in protest, then months later voting to pay it nevertheless. The trustees voted to close six schools and shut down specialty programs that drew residents to SBISD. Teacher-to-student ratios have been increased and every single librarian position was terminated across the district as a result of this financial crisis.

The group of seven trustees affects the futures of over 33,000 students.

Each year, only a portion of the seats are elected. This year, two trustee positions will be on the ballot, though only one is a contested race.

Position 3, currently held by Minda Caesar, who is not seeking reelection, is considered an “open seat” and has four individuals vying to represent the students of the district. Position 4, currently held by Chris Earnest, is not contested and he will therefore automatically win re-election for his seat.

The four candidates on the ballot for position 3 are as follows, along with their websites and social media for further information that voters can use: • Ben Drews: bendrewsforsbisd.com; Facebook: Ben Drews 4 SBISD; Instagram: @bendrews4sbisd • David Slattery: slatteryforsbisd.com; Facebook: David Slattery for SBISD Trustee Position 3; Instagram: @slattery4sbisd • Matthew Cone: mattcone4sbisd.com; Facebook: MattCone4SBISD; Instagram: @mattcone4sbisd • Ronald Hanson: no website or social media found Early voting is April 22nd to April 30th. Residents may vote at any of the following locations: • Wayne F. Schaper, Sr. Leadership Center, 955 Campbell • Don Coleman Community Coliseum, 1050 Dairy Ashford • Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 7901 Westview • Ecclesia Houston, 325 Piney Point Rd • Spring Branch ISD West Support Campus, 2100 Shadowdale • St. Jerome Parish Activity Center, 2749 Hollister Rd

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Applications for ballots by mail must be received no later than April 23rd by 5pm. Election Day is Saturday, May 4th and voting must be at your zoned middle school. For more information, please visit springbranchisd.com/about/board-of-trustees/elections/current-elections.

See you at the polls!

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TDLR #C3442 ©2023 SafeWay Driving Systems, LLC

Local Business Profile: SafeWay Driving School

By Shelby Wallace

S

afeWay Driving has been in the business of educating new drivers for over fifty years. It was founded in 1973

by Memorial High School’s then-football coach, Gene, and his wife Jeanne Walker. The Walkers were dedicated to teaching young men and women to drive the safe way in their community. Their success in doing so led them to become the school that nearly every new driver in the Spring Branch and Memorial areas would attend.

In 2010, the Walkers sold the business to one of their former students, Brad Coleman, and his parents Brandon and Cindi. Brad not only attended SafeWay, but his grandfather, local legend Don Coleman, was Memorial’s basketball coach while Gene coached football there. It was a match made in Memorial heaven. Brad was a professional NASCAR driver at the time and had a unique platform

to promote this successful brand while also lending his driving expertise to the business.

Brad continued racing and representing SafeWay as he traveled the country speaking to high school students about the importance of driving safety.

With their combined business expertise and driving proficiency, the Coleman family went to work on modernizing the business by bringing the classroom online, updating cars, and promoting the business on and off the race track. A group of local investors were impressed with where SafeWay was heading and saw an opportunity to grow the company even further. After purchasing SafeWay from the Colemans, they created a franchise business model centered around serving local communities across Texas.

In 2022, Brad and his wife Ellie bought SafeWay back with a clear vision and renewed 17

focus on putting the customer first. With his lead, SafeWay is working hard to become the cutting edge in modern driver education that makes learning to drive engaging and intuitive. All while continuing to be the best in-car training that SafeWay is so well known for. And as a father himself, Brad knows how important it is to engage the coming, and current, generations of drivers in learning the skill of driving. Driving takes all of us to all kinds of places, and SafeWay’s goal is to make sure it is done the “safe way.”

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ou know what the world needs more of? Two teams of streetwise youths competing in breakdance competitions to save rec centers. Those were the good ole’ days, amirite? Parachute pantswearing teens spinning on their backs and heads on a cruddy piece of cardboard to the beat of Newcleus’ “Jam On It.” Well it’s been almost forty years since I both popped AND locked as a member of a breakdancing crew. Now the only thing that pops is my joints and my back is the only thing locking up. But I can get a crew together to try and help the community.

And as a matter of fact, I am doing just that. On Sunday, April 28, The Branch will be resurrecting itself for a One Day Pop-Up to raise money for St. Jerome Catholic School. St. Jerome has been serving the Spring Branch community for 60 years and my siblings and my kid have attended school there. I’d like to raise some moolah for them so that they can expand their STEM programs. Technology ain’t cheap, folks.

So how can you help? Easy breezy. Just show up at St. Jerome on Sunday, April 28 and buy some delishes [editor’s note: For those unfamiliar with Kyle’s social media posts, this is his fun and unique way of spelling “delicious”] food. How easy is that? There will also be a market and games and a raffle. Fun for the whole family!

If you’d just like to donate please send me an email at thebranchhtx@ gmail.com. Every little bit helps!

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In Honor of Earth Day

W

hile talk of saving the planet and recycling certainly isn’t new — I have memories of growing up in the ‘80s and ‘90s hearing the buzz around earth-friendly practices getting louder and louder — the concern about global warming and how humans are destroying the planet has reached a fever pitch over the past few decades, and rightfully so. We celebrate Earth Day every year on April 22, noting the anniversary of the beginning of the modern environmental movement in 1970. The advent of the Industrial Revolution in America, which started in the late 18th century and continued on until the 19th century, brought automobiles, machine-based labor, and production factories onto the scene, meaning leaded gasses and smoke permeated the air. Because this was all so new, there were no laws to regulate environmental pollutants, and Americans were blissfully ignorant of any lasting effects on themselves and on Earth.

In 1962 Rachel Carson, an American marine biologist, writer, and conservationist — a true pioneer of that time — wrote a New York Times bestselling book called “Silent Spring.” Piquing interest all over the world, the book sold more than 500,000 copies in 24 countries and was meant to raise awareness for our planet, all living things, and the link between pollution and public health. It represented a landmark moment in the way we perceived the previous decades of technological and industrial growth.

Following a massive oil spill in January 1969 in Santa Barbara, California, Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin took up the ecological cause, having long harbored a growing concern for the state of our environment.

He wanted to harness the passion that he saw with student anti-war protests and the newly formed public awareness of air and water pollution, so he and Congressman Pete McCloskey decided to organize teach-ins on college campuses across the U.S. They recruited young activist Denis Hayes to help make their idea come to life and chose April 22, a weekday 18

@awthtx

By Liz Clearman

that fell between spring break and final exams, to ensure that students could participate.

Hayes ran with the idea, bringing a staff of 85 people on board to help him with marketing this idea nationwide.

In 1970 they changed the name of the movement to Earth Day, cultivating massive interest across the country and involving various organizations, religious groups, and individuals. Earth Day took hold of the country and 20 million Americans were inspired to protest in streets, auditoriums, and parks against 150 years of industrial development and its detrimental effects on human growth and development. In the decade leading up to 1980, Earth Day became the world’s largest secular day of protest, multiple environmental legislation was passed (including the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Air and Clean Water Act), and the government created the Environmental Protection Agency.

Earth Day celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020 and still continues to be a major day of awareness and action not just in the United States, but globally. With the Earth’s oceans full of over 150 million tons of plastic, plastic microparticles literally raining down on us, and disposable and fast fashion culture permeating our lives, action isn’t just needed on the part of individuals — corporations, industries, and government have to step up and bring real, actionable solutions to the table.

Sources: earthday.org; cnn.com/2020/09/18/opinions/the-disturbing-truth-aboutplastic-recycling-totterman/index.html; pewtrusts.org/-/media/assets/2020/07/ breakingtheplasticwave_report.pdf 19

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Spring Branch ISD proudly announces the launch of RISE College Academy at Northbrook High School

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To learn more or view the summer camp catalog, please scan the QR code above!

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SBISD News

aunching for the 2024-2025 academic year, the RISE College Academy (RISE) brings to SBISD and Northbrook High School (Northbrook) a new model through which students are empowered to concurrently earn an Associate’s degree and their high school diploma.

An acronym for Raiders Invested in Scholarly Experiences, RISE directly aligns with SBISD’s T-2-4 Vision for Every Child to attain a technical certification, military training, or a 2-year or 4-year degree. The academy’s establishment demonstrates the district’s unwavering commitment to ensuring each student has a path to success and upholds Northbrook’s promise to deliver high school graduates with as many opportunities as possible.

RISE leverages and further extends the district’s long-standing partnership with Houston Community College Northwest (HCC), as well as the University of Texas OnRamps program.

The model provides a unique blend of highly rigorous collegelevel dual credit and dual enrollment courses to comprise the 60hour RISE course model and Associate’s degree plan. All at no cost to participating students, and in a cost-neutral model for the district.

The RISE model is specifically designed to provide substantial savings on college tuition fees and put students in a strategic position to advance toward higher education degrees either in line with or ahead of their age group in terms of affordability and time.

Unlike more traditional early college models, RISE is unique in that students will spend half their day learning at HCC in courses taught by HCC professors, and half their day in classes taught

by Northbrook teachers in collaboration with UT OnRamps professors. As a result, students will be deeply connected both to their cohort of RISE students, and to their larger school community. The schedule design enables students to maintain options for elective, extracurricular, athletics, fine arts, Career and Technical Education, and other high school experiences.

Over the past several years, Northbrook has expanded the number of higher-level dual credit, dual enrollment and Advanced Placement® courses offered as the school continues to increase the rigor and expand opportunities for all.

RISE will launch with an initial cohort of 50 students whose academic successes in 9th and 10th grades have prepared them to succeed in the rigorous program.

For further information regarding RISE College Academy at Northbrook High School, including details on the application process and benefits of the program, please visit springbranchisd.com/RISE.

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Ben Drews: Reminding People to “Go Ride A Bike!”

B

By Nathalie Herpin

en Drews is a man of many hats, all reflecting his dedication to service and community. He is a loving husband and father, a fierce advocate for mountain biking, an Army veteran, and now a school board of trustees candidate in Spring Branch ISD. He staunchly believes that when you build and support communities, you also build conversations that unite people.

Once Ben settled in Houston, he sought ways to connect with nature and find a healthy outlet away from technology. Living just north of Terry Hershey Park, he attempted the Anthills trails one day and thus began his love for the sport. Once his devotion to biking was cemented, his drive to make a difference in the lives around him culminated in joining the efforts of the Greater Houston Off-Road Biking Association (GHORBA).

GHORBA builds communities that build trails, looking to engage people to help make the sport more accessible to everyone, regardless of economic status or background. Ben’s advocacy skills and collaborative diplomacy led to joining their board in a new role that allowed him to develop connections previously unavailable to the organization. GHORBA now works alongside city and county officials, community organizations, and local activists to build and maintain fun, challenging, and sustainable trails across Houston.

Because of his successful approach, Ben was also invited to serve on the City of Houston’s Bicycle Advisory Committee as their first mountain bike advocate.

Ben’s main inspiration is his pint-sized doppelganger: his daughter Margo, a 3rd grader who has followed in her dad’s footsteps and is also a biking aficionado, just a few weeks ago mastering a gravity-defying 8’ ramp that flew her nearly 20’ into the air. Ben’s volunteer and advocacy efforts are driven by his desire to make the world a better place for Margo, and watching parents and children grow together keeps him motivated.

Treasa Antony, Executive Director of the Nature Heritage Society, who has worked alongside Ben on several projects, noted that they became friends due to their aligned ideology: “To seek to be the change we want to see in the world.” She shared a story that highlights Ben’s commitment to helping others. He invited kids from an underserved community to a bike skills clinic and after seeing their exuberance riding the bikes provided, Ben made it his mission to get each of these children a bike all their own. Over the next year, through donations and the hard work to refurbish used bikes, he delivered on his promise.

Ben remembers that first foray into independence as a child; the freedom and exhilaration of riding a bike for the first time. Now, he loves bringing that happiness to families, especially those in areas that don’t otherwise have access to these opportunities. He knows when people come together with a common goal, it’s easier to listen to each other’s stories and build a sense of unity. When he’s asked where he sees himself next, he says he just wants to expand his advocacy to have an even greater impact on the world around him and he hopes to see you out on the trails!

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• Bees/Wasps/Hive Removal • Fleas & Ticks • Bed Bugs •

Ant Control • Roaches & Silver sh • Carpet Beetles • Rodent Control • Moths

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Ever Young Wilchester hosted their grand opening party on March 1, accompanied by the brand-new location of Slowpokes right next door that graciously sponsored the event’s food. Cosmic Ice Cream made an appearance as well as various other food trucks. Ten lucky raffle winners walked away with prizes that totaled over $12,000 in value, and guests enjoyed a DJ, delicious food, and lively interaction with over 200 other community members. With support from neighboring 4Ever Young franchises, Wilchester location owner Dr. Kristen Weibel deemed the night “a great success” and shared that they sold more memberships than any other location in franchise history on the night of their grand opening.

Another Successful Spring Branch Color Run Left Its Mark on the District

By Liz Clearman

T

he third annual Spring Branch Color Run held at the Emnora Lane Bike and Hike Trail on Saturday, March 2 was, once again, a colorful and messy success! Students from all four SBISD high schools as well as other schools in the district ran, walked, and skipped through all the colors of the rainbow, bringing the fundraiser to a fruitful end and raising over $35,000 through sponsorships and event registrations. Color Run Chair Rebecca Barbier and her team of volunteers aim each year to keep overhead costs for the Color Run low so that as much of the money raised as possible is funneled to Spring Woods and Northbrook high schools, allowing each school to host an unforgettable prom for its senior class.

In attendance were SBISD Board of Trustees members Minda Caesar, Courtney Anderson, and Shannon Mahan, as well as City Council Member Amy Peck who helped kick off the run. “Together, we raised over $35,000, allowing us to again honor our commitment of $10,000 to each northside high school to help with their costs for prom. This allows them to keep the ticket price down to an affordable amount, giving more students the opportunity to attend,” said Rebecca. “Our goal has always been to create an event that can sustain itself with the base purpose always being to give back to the high schools.”

The 2024 Color Run was unique in that it was the first time a student board, comprised of students from both the northside high schools, was organized to help solicit funds from nearby businesses as well as recruit both runners and volunteers from each of the schools. “It was such a good experience to see student leaders from both schools working together toward the common cause,” Rebecca said. “It amazes me what all a group of friends who came together to help fill a need have been able to do.”

Rebecca, the students, and the entire Color Run team want to extend a special thank you to three-time senior sponsors Slattery Tackett Architects, Stephanie Morales for State Rep.-HD 138, Spring Branch Management District, Mac Haik Chevrolet, and VFW Post 8790 Auxiliary for their unwavering support. In addition, Don McGill Toyota was a new senior level sponsor this year, organizing their own team of runners for the event.

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Awaits with Day Camp Options for All Ages

I

By Liz Clearman

t’s April. Do you know what your child will be doing this summer? Fear not as Spring Branch Plus comes to your rescue with a comprehensive list of summer day camp options in Houston! Our city has no shortage of summer camp opportunities for kids of all ages, so I’ve compiled a list of some of the many options around town. I encourage you to register now as summer is a mere two months away and camps fill up quickly! (Disclaimer: As always, Spring Branch Plus does not guarantee availability or anything else about any particular camp. This list is strictly summer day camps and does not include sleepaway camps. Several of the camps listed did not have 2024 information listed on their websites as of the time of publication.)

Animals & Nature

Future Stars of Houston: futurestarsofhouston.com/summer-camps Glassell School @ MFAH: mfah.org/visit/glassell-junior-school HITS Theatre: hitstheatre.org/classes Houston School of Art & Design: artschoolhouston.com/houston-camps Invicta Theatre: invictatheatre.com/summer-intensives Kid Create Studio: kidcreate.com/houston/classes/camps Mad Hatter Arts Camp: artstudioontheblvd.com/2021-registration-information Main Street Theater: mainstreettheater.com/summer-camps McCheek’s Studio: mccheeksstudio.com/products/clay-craft-camp-1 Overture School of Music: overtureschoolofmusic.com/summer-camp Queensbury Theatre Tribble School: queensburytheatre.org/enroll Rise at The Warehouse: risewarehouse.com/camp Wildfish Theatre: wildfishtheatre.org/grades-k-12-summer-2024

Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary @ Houston Audubon: houstonaudubon.org/programs/youth/camps/edith-moore.html Halter Inc. (horseback riding): halterinc.org/copy-of-life-coaching Houston Arboretum & Nature Center: houstonarboretum.org/ programs-trips/childrens-programs/camps/summer Houston SPCA: https://houstonspca.org/resources-programs/things-for-kids/ Houston Zoo: houstonzoo.org/make-memories/kids-families/camp-zoofari Magic Moments Stable: magicmomentsstable.com/camps

Arts, Theater, & Music Alley Theatre: alleytheatre.org/education/for-youth Art Cellar of Houston: artcellarhouston.com/products/mindfulmovement-houston-summer-camp-2024 Artopia To Go: artopiatogo.com/summer-camp Bach to Rock Memorial: bachtorock.com/memorial/music-camps Crayola Imagine Arts Academy: nwhouston.imagineartsacademy.com/parents-camps Facepaint by Stormy art and lego camp: facebook.com/artisticstorm Freedom Floral Spring Branch: freedomfloral.com (Hint: search for “flower camp”)

Energy Dance Center: energydancecenter.com Fun Fair Positive Soccer: ffps.org/Camps/SummerCamps.aspx?s=Home&top=0&ms=3 Hauta Outdoors (fishing): hautaoutdoors.com/houston Hit! Indoor: hitindoor.com/camps/summer-camps/ Houston Academy of Dance: chasingperfectiondance.com/summer-programs Houston Elite Cheer: houstonelitecheer.com/summer-camp Hunter Dance Center: hunterdancecenter.com/summerdancecamps Just Play Sports: justplaysports.net/camps Little Gym of Houston-Memorial: thelittlegym.com/HoustonMemorialTX/parties-camps/camps Memorial Dance Center: memorialdance.com/summer-classes Memorial Indoor Soccer Academy: memorialindoor.com/summer-camp-1 Move Nation Dance Academy: movenationdanceacademy.com/summer-dance-camp Sam Sann Warriors: samsann.com/pages/camps Soccer Shots: soccershots.com/houston/programs/#summer-camps Splat Zone Indoor Paintball: splathouston.com/paintball-camp Sports Quest Soccer Ministry: sqsoccer.com/camps Texas Rock Gym: texasrockgym.com/youth-camps The Artz: theartz8.com/kidzone Uptown Dance: uptowndance.org/summer-programs

Adventure Kids Playcare: adventurekidsplaycare.com/camps Camp Regis: theregisschool.org/life-at-regis/summer-programs Camp West @ Faith West Academy: campwest.org Chapelwood United Methodist Church: chapelwood.org/sanctuary/recreation-summer-camps-2024 Duchesne Academy: duchesne.org/campus-life/summer-program Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center: erjcchouston.org/summer-camp Houston Public Library: campstream.houstonlibrary.org Houston’s First Baptist Daycation: daycation.org Idea Lab Kids: idealabkids.com/programs/camps Kids Play Garden: kidsplaygarden.com/houston-location/houston-camps/ Kidventure: kidventure.com/houston-summer-camp Magnolia School: magnoliaschool.org/summercamps Memorial Drive United Methodist Church: mdpc.org/ministries/children/reach-rec-sports/ Quillian Center: quilliancenter.org/camp-quillian Rice University: glasscock.rice.edu/creative-writing-camp St. Francis Episcopal School: stfrancishouston.org/life-at-st-francis/summer-camps St. Luke’s UMC: stlukesallday.org/summer-camp St. Mark Lutheran: gostmark.org/camp Steve & Kate’s Camp: steveandkatescamp.com/locations The Fay School: thefayschool.org/programs/extended-day/summer-camp The Village School: nordangliaeducation.com/village-houston/ outstanding-experiences/summer-programs University of Houston: uh.edu/about/community/summer-camps Western Academy: westernacademy.net/camps YMCA of Greater Houston: ymcahouston.org/programs/childcare-and-camps/summer-camp Yorkshire Academy: yorkshireacademy.com/featured-programs/summer-program

STEM & Academic Alianza Eco School: alianzaecoschool.com/spanish-immersion-summer-camp Bayou Bend: mfah.org/visit/bayou-bend-collection-and-gardens/ summer-history-camp-crafting-america Code Ninjas Memorial City: codeninjas.com/tx-memorial-city/camps Funtastik Labs Katy: funtastiklabs.com/summer-camps Houston Museum of Natural Science: hmns.org/education/youthfamily-opportunities/summer-camp iCode Memorial: icodeschool.com/memorial/camps Language Kids World: languagekids.com/camps Lavner Education Camp Tech Revolution @Rice University & The Village School: lavnercampsandprograms.com Little Beakers Katy/Memorial: littlebeakers.com/mini-camps The Health Museum: thehealthmuseum.org/education/summercamp2024 Space Center Houston: spacecenter.org/education-programs/explorer-camps

Sports & Athletic Albion Hurricanes FC: albionhurricanes.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1004287 Armored Sports: armored-sports.com/register-now Biron’s Gymnastics (no 2023 info): birons.com/camp-programs Camp Westside @ Westside Tennis Club: campwestside.com D-Bat West Houston: dbatwesthouston.com/index.php/camps-clinics Discover Gymnastics: discovergymnastics.com/camp

Cooking

Sur la Table: surlatable.com/cooking-classes/kids-teens-cooking-series Urban Chef Houston: urbanchefhouston.com/copy-of-cooking-classes-2 24

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WE SPOT ROOF PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY BECOME COSTLY REPAIRS

to Host 2nd Annual

Blingo & Bubbles Luncheon

P

Press Release

ink Bows Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that advocates for and promotes stronger safety protocols and provides safe spaces at large events, will host the 2nd Annual Blingo & Bubbles Luncheon on Friday, April 19, 2024 at 10:30 am at the new PostScript restaurant, 2800 Kirby Dr., Houston 77098.

Chairs Lori and Martin Shellist invite guests to “Bring the Bling” and dress in pink for the champagne lunch that will include six Bingo games, a luxury silent auction, and delicious cuisine courtesy of renowned Chef Bryan Caswell.

Emcee Audacy’s 96.5 The Mix Sarah Pepper and a special “guest host” will call the Bingo games while Monkee’s of Houston, a highend women’s boutique owned by Lisa and Scott West, present Spring fashions and host a raffle to win some of the outfits modeled throughout the luncheon.

Silent auction and Bingo prizes include a spectacular curated treasure trove of offerings, including travel to New York City, local cultural experiences, luxury handbags and gifts, dinners at Houston’s top restaurants, and much more.

For tickets and sponsorships, visit pinkbowsfoundation.networkforgood.com/events/67658-blingo-and-bubbles. For more information about Pink Bows Foundation, visit pinkbowsfoundation.org. For additional information or questions, contact Stella Simon at info@pinkbowsfoundation.org.

The Pink Bows Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Houston, was founded May 1, 2022, and promotes stronger safety protocols to be consistently implemented at entertainment venues, while providing safe spaces and protecting attendees to prevent avoidable injuries or death.

The Foundation provided their signature Pink Bows Safe Space™ at several Houston events in 2023, including the Bayou City Art Festival and “Deck the Hall Ball” hosted by Audacy, 96.5 The Mix, and Sarah Pepper.

The Safe Space can be found this Spring at the Bayou City Art Festival, Art Car Parade, Houston Pride Parade, and the Big As Texas Fest.

The Pink Bows Safe Space is designed for individuals who feel overwhelmed, anxious, or uneasy, and need a mental health break. The safe space offers a quiet and calming environment where attendees can remove themselves from the chaos and relax, take deep breaths, find a peaceful spot to sit, focus on an object, listen to soothing music, or speak to a Mental Health Counselor.

The Pink Bows Foundation is a tribute to the life of Madison Dubiski, who passed away at the age of 23 while attending the Travis Scott AstroWorld Music Festival. After Madison’s death, a local initiative called Pink Bows for Madison sparked an outpouring of love and support. The initiative quickly went viral and spread across the country and internationally, with thousands of pink bows being placed in her honor.

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