SB+ July 2023

Spring Branch’s Home Remedy aims to fix your home’s ailments S p r i n g

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/ July 2023 Send comments, thoughts or ideas to springbranchplus@gmail.com

Spring Branch’S home remedy aimS to fix your home’S ailmentS S p r i n g

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ON THE COVER

Spring Branch home renovation specialist Mike Crigler shares how his company, Home Remedy, stands out from similar businesses and builds trust with its clients. Read the story on pages 4-6.

Cover photo by David Shutts Photography.

7

Business profile: Kolache Kings

14

Big Brunch for Children recap

9

Celebrating Independence Day with a bang

15

Sensory-friendly immersive Disney animation

10-11

Community calendar

12

Drunken Cyclist’s five steps to hosting a wine tasting party

16

SBEF awards scholarships to graduating seniors

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SBEF grant awards

13

Twenty years of Houston Restaurant Weeks

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SBEF welcomes new board members

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Editor’s Letter to the Residents

he year is more than halfway over, things have slowed down a bit with school out for summer, and while we’re still in the thick of the hot months of Houston, there’s a lot to look forward to in July. In this month’s issue, we’ve got the history of pyrotechnics as well as a list of fireworks displays both in and around the city (bring your mosquito spray), the Drunken Cyclist’s take on hosting a successful wine tasting party, and we spotlight a local business, Kolache Kings, and the critical work they do through their nonprofit, Kidz Grub, to feed food-insecure Houston kids. Houston Restaurant Weeks starts in August — the list drops on July 15th — and we’ve got the story behind the founder and philanthropist Cleverley Stone and how her daughter is carrying on her legacy. While news out of SBISD is slower during the summer, the Spring Branch Education Foundation updates us on new board members, school/teacher grant awards, and the multiple scholarships given to deserving graduates. We hope you’ll enjoy digging into July’s content.

Happy Independence, America!

Advertising Contact: Dawn Gunther Email: springbranchplus@gmail.com Phone: 713.828.4604

Pink Seat Media, LLC

Publisher/Editor Dawn Gunther

Content Coordinator Liz Clearman

Cover Photographer

David Shutts Photography

Fix What Ails Your House with Home Remedy

By Liz Clearman

F

or two decades, family-owned Spring Branch-based business Home Remedy has been a leader in remodeling services from kitchens, bathrooms, patio covers/pergolas, decks, exterior wood repair and replacement, interior and exterior painting, custom cabinetry, and just about anything else you need to “remedy” your home’s needs. Owner Mike Crigler, otherwise known as Mike Sr., and four out of his five adult children work for the company — a pretty impressive recruitment record — so they truly are keeping it all in the family. The project manager position is filled by Mike Jr., a.k.a. Mikey; Shannon Taylor serves as office manager; Jamie Salgado oversees the money as finance manager; and Casey Poché is responsible for marketing and design. Two other project managers,

Dennis Chernov and Revis Ryan, have been with the company for 20 and 15 years, respectively, and at this point are considered part of the family. The eighth member to round out the Home Remedy team is Richard Enriquez, who is a runner and job materials manager.

“I feel like construction and creating has always been in my blood,” said Mike Sr. “My father was an engineer and so was my father-in-law.

As a young man, I worked operating heavy machinery and loved the challenges that came with building something. I knew that I wanted to do just that, but I also knew I didn’t want to be trapped inside the walls of an office.” Early in his career Mike started a sunroom company in Houston, eventually selling the business when it didn’t go as anticipated, and also spent several years working in sunroom sales for

4

another company. But it felt out of place for the family’s patriarch.

“There was something in this position that wasn’t quite fulfilling the expectations I had for myself and so I decided to step away from that role. In 1997, I purchased a home rehab franchise.

While there were many positives that came from this, in regards to a learning standpoint, there were also many difficult lessons.

I remember being at a crossroads as to what would come next in my journey. That is when Home Remedy LLC was created. After one failed business, I knew that I would need to use what I had learned in previous years to not only achieve but exceed the goals I set for myself when I decided to start and grow Home Remedy,” said Mike.

Landing in Spring Branch was no accident. Back in the ‘70s, when Mike was in middle school, his family moved to the Spring Branch area, where he attended Spring Oaks Middle School. All five of his kids carried on that tradition by attending SBISD schools and graduating from Spring Woods High School, wife Edith has been teaching at Spring Oaks for 39 years, and daughter Casey also was a teacher in the district.

To the Criglers, building a business in the community was a no-brainer. The family is comprised of Mike and Edith, who have been married for ten years, and between them there are five kids, 12 grandkids, and one great-grandchild, with four of the five adult children planting their own roots in Spring Branch. The couple owns a beautiful property in the heart of Spring Branch that Mike Sr. has turned into a veritable oasis for his family complete with a pond, treehouse, gym, and even a goat pen for their goats Buddy, Sugar, and Oreo.

The physical location of this little corner of Houston doesn’t hurt, either. Mike sings the praises of Spring Branch and Memorial with its proximity to major freeways, restaurants, and entertainment.

“Spring Branch and Memorial have everything that you could possibly need or want in a neighborhood. The home values in this area have stayed steady for many years and have continued to rise in more recent years. Young families are flocking to the area and it is

fun to see this progression. We have enjoyed working on homes that were original to the area and great in their own right and transforming them into new, updated, and more functional spaces for their current owners.

We see neighborhoods coming together to create a great culture and cohesiveness for our area,” Mike noted.

Home Remedy differentiates itself from other home renovation companies through its streamlined, one-manager process. When you contact them, you’re immediately connected with a project manager (PM), and that’s your point person throughout the entire renovation, from day one to the finishing touches. Your PM will initially schedule an appointment to talk to you, see the potential job, and write up a proposal. During the actual construction, they will also manage the crew and make sure that you are satisfied with everything along the way. The crew is proud of their philosophy of no sales gimmicks or multiple project managers to deal with — they want the process to be as simplified and seamless as possible. In addition, everyone at Home Remedy — from the office manager to the construction workers — is committed to delivering the highest quality of work, and every job is completed by quality craftsmen with results that go above and beyond each customer’s expectations.

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During COVID, as with many other small businesses, the Home Remedy family had to adjust to initially slower demand and other trials, but it also brought about new clients as families who were both working and schooling at home had to rework their spaces to accommodate ever-changing needs. Another surge in business happened during the “Great Texas Freeze” in February of 2021 when the icy weather caused pipes to burst and other home remodeling nightmares — but because the team is familiar with Houston rain and other severe weather complications, they were able to ensure that their customers didn’t have to live with leaks, flooding, and ruined floors for longer than necessary.

While focused on guaranteeing ultimate customer satisfaction, also crucial to everyone at the company is giving back to the community. Mike is a board member of The Mission of Yahweh, a homeless shelter for women and children in Spring Branch with “life-changing programs focused on ending the cycle of homelessness and dependency”; the company has completed various projects for the nonprofit throughout the years. In the spirit of both family and community, they also award the Rachel Pendray Memorial Scholarship to one deserving student in SBISD each year. Rachel, a college student at Sam Houston State University who was tragically killed in 2019, was a huge part of the Home Remedy/Crigler family’s lives and her passing greatly impacted them all; they aspire to keep her memory and legacy alive through this scholarship. The Home

Remedy team also passionately supports the SPCA, Wounded Warriors Project, and Heifer International. This year, they helped complete the Barbara Bush Children’s Library at the Spring Branch Family Development Center on Pitner Road.

Mike and the entire Home Remedy crew are here to help you with any of your house renovation and remodel projects, and would welcome the chance to speak to our Spring Branch Plus readers. You can reach them through their website at homeremedyhouston.com, at mike@letsmakeitbetter.com, or by calling 713.939.7717. Home Remedy has won awards from Angie’s List and Houzz, and is a member of the Texas Association of Builders, Greater Houston Builders Association, and the National Association of Home Builders.

Clearly, their handiwork speaks for itself.

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Spring Branch Business Profile: Kolache Kings/Kidz Grub

By Liz Clearman

T

and we’ll put it in one [a kolache].” While the kolache concept isn’t new — Ken already has a thriving catering company — it was only 10 months ago that the retail side of the for-purpose business was born to help support their over 5-year-old nonprofit, Kidz Grub. The commercial space next to where the catering company was housed opened up, and that’s all they needed to make the main focus of Kolache Kings ensuring that no local kids go hungry.

The philosophy behind Kidz Grub is simple — “Feed the kiddos.”

Officially, the 501(c)(3)’s mission statement is “At Kidz Grub, our sole purpose is to provide children a well-rounded dinner, educational assistance, and support in becoming positive members of the community.” Feeding Texas estimates that 1 in 8 Texans, which translates to about 4 million people, are food insecure. While this is a staggering number, Ken and Kolache Kings want to do all they can to help eliminate that problem in at least the Houston area, which has over 163,000 at-risk “kidz.” As of today, they’ve helped 3,480 of those children and served 115,250 meals.

The easiest way to support Kidz Grub by way of Kolache Kings is to go buy one of their “meat-stuffed pillows from Heaven.” Located at 1829 Bingle Road, they’re open Monday-Friday from 6 am until they’re sold out (it depends on the time), and on Saturday-Sunday from 7 am-sold out. Stop by to show your support, say hi to the team, and help feed hungry Houston “kidz.” Find more information about Kidz Grub at kidzgrub.org/home and Kolache Kings at thekolachekings.com/#home or on Facebook by searching “Kolache Kings.”

he best-selling double breakfast sausage, egg, and cheese. Sweet chipotle. Best Stop boudin. Brisket. (Don’t forget the donuts, fritters, and cinnamon rolls. Anyone else’s stomach rumbling?)

Those are only a few of the absolutely mouth-watering kolaches you can buy from Spring Branch’s very own Kolache Kings, a family-run business owned by Ken Brunecke. He said they’ll put anything into those pillowy pastries, and joked that “We often tell customers to bring their flip flop in

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Celebrating Independence Day with a Bang

By Liz Clearman

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religious ceremonies. During the Renaissance in Europe, pyrotechnic schools were popular, especially in Italy. Italians became the first culture to make fireworks colorful using various metals and other additives — prior to that, most displays were simply orange with some faint gold traces. The earliest recorded display of fireworks in England was in 1486 for Henry VII’s wedding day, and they didn’t make it over to the New World until Captain John Smith set them off in Jamestown in 1608.

July 4th, 1776 was the date we all know as the signing and adoption of the Declaration of Independence by Congress after the Revolutionary War. While the majority of the delegates didn’t actually sign the actual document until August 2nd, the first reading of the Declaration on July 8 in front of local troops in Pennsylvania and New Jersey did spur on some small celebrations. The first organized celebration of Independence Day, however, wasn’t until July 4th, 1777 in Boston, when Colonel Thomas Crafts of the Sons of Liberty set off fireworks and other shells. Other cities continued to host their own celebrations that included picnics, parades, and fireworks, but Boston was the first city to officially declare July 4th a holiday in 1783; Congress established Independence Day as a national holiday in 1870.

Source: history.com

ireworks are a time-honored tradition for marking the Fourth of July in our nation — with Americans spending over $1 billion on them each year — but have you ever wondered why we use these pyrotechnic contraptions to acknowledge Independence Day? I’ve never really thought about it, so I decided this was the perfect time to explore a bit. Let’s start with the actual history, dating back to around 200 B.C. in China (this point seems to be disputed a bit amongst historians; many believe that fireworks originated in China while others claim they came from the Middle East or India).

Around 600-900 A.D., Chinese alchemists invented an early type of gunpowder (this wasn’t necessarily intentional as they were thought to be trying to create an elixir for immortality, possibly) by mixing saltpeter, charcoal, sulfur, and other ingredients. They stuffed this explosive mixture into bamboo shoots that were thrown into fire, creating a loud bang — and the first fireworks were born. Eventually, they replaced the bamboo stalks with paper tubes and discovered that these explosive creations could be used in military skirmishes to fire at their enemies, which became the first known rockets.

By the 13th century, fireworks became more common ways to celebrate military victories and also to provide a spark to public celebrations and

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here’s nothing like watching explosions of color and sound in the night sky during the Fourth of July each summer. Arm yourself with water (or an adult beverage — which is what I’ll be doing), mosquito spray, and the wonderment of a child seeing fireworks for the first time and pick a place for oohing and ahhing at the pyrotechnic gems lighting up the Houston skyline this Independence Day. *CityCentre’s Independence Day Fireworks 2023, 7-10 pm with live music and a 10-minute fireworks spectacular at 9:30 pm. citycentrehouston.com/event/independence-day-fireworks-2023 *City of Houston’s 2023 Shell Freedom Over Texas, 4-10 pm at 901 Bagby St. along Allen Parkway. houstontx.gov/july4 *City of Katy’s Freedom Celebration, 9 pm at Katy Mills Mall. cityofkaty.com/government/city-departments/parks-recreation/ events-calendar *Kemah’s Fourth of July Celebration at Kemah Boardwalk, 9:30-11 pm, live music and a fireworks show. kemahboardwalk.com/ events.asp#6 *Galveston’s Fourth of July Parade on Seawall Boulevard, 6-8 pm followed by fireworks over the Gulf. visitgalveston.com/events/ annual-events/4th-of-july Pro tip: There are typically fireworks displays from smaller, private clubs, but if you pick an open parking lot in the area (my daughter, mom and I often go to the TJ Maxx parking lot on Memorial), you can view multiple displays in the area from one spot.

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All Month Dinos Alive Immersive Exhibit runs July 1-31 except for Tuesdays

8 Memorial Villages Farmers Market @ First Congregational Church, 9 am Memorial Market @ The Lawn at Memorial City, 10 am Crochet for a Cause @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 2 pm American Shuffleboard Tournament & Queen of Hearts Drawing @ VFW Post 8790, 2 pm Queen of Hearts Game @ VFW Post 8790, 5 pm

1 Memorial Villages Farmers Market @ First Congregational Church, 9 am Hotel Zaza’s Pup Palooza @ The Lawn at Memorial City, 9 am Dungeons and Dragons @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 1 pm American Shuffleboard Tournament & Queen of Hearts Drawing @ VFW Post 8790, 2 pm “Wicked” @ The Hobby Center, 2 pm & 8 pm Energy Corridor Berry & Melon Series Farmers Market @ 1520 Eldridge Pkwy, 2:30 pm Queen of Hearts Game @ VFW Post 8790, 5 pm 2

10 Studio Movie Grill Summer Series: “How to Train Your Dragon” @ SMG CityCentre, 10 am Tech Help Hour @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 2 pm Houston Ballet Dance to Learn @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 2 pm

“Wicked” @ The Hobby Center, 2 pm & 7:30 pm

11 Studio Movie Grill Summer Series: “How to Train Your Dragon” @ SMG CityCentre, 10 am Page Turners Book Club @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 6:15 pm Tuesday Nights @ the Library: Soundtrack Karaoke @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 7 pm

3 Studio Movie Grill Summer Series: “The Land Before Time” @ SMG CityCentre, 10 am Preschool Story Time @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 2 pm 3D Printer Orientation @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 4 pm 4 Happy Independence Day, America!

Studio Movie Grill Summer Series: “The Land Before Time” @ SMG CityCentre, 10 am Independence Day fireworks @ CityCentre, 7 pm

12 Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse: “The Bad Guys” @ Cinemark Memorial City, 9:30 am Studio Movie Grill Summer Series: “How to Train Your Dragon” @ SMG CityCentre, 10 am Baby Time! @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 10:15 am

5 Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse: “Mummies” @ Cinemark Memorial City, 9:30 am Studio Movie Grill Summer Series: “The Land Before Time” @ SMG CityCentre, 10 am Baby Time @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 10 am

Studio Movie Grill Summer Series: “How to Train Your Dragon” @ SMG CityCentre, 10 am Toddler Time @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 10:15 am Energy Corridor Farmers Market @ 1520 Eldridge Pkwy, 4 pm Summer Socials @ CityCentre, 5 pm Yoga for Beginners @ VFW Post 8790, 5 pm Toastmasters @ VFW Post 8790, 6:30 pm

6 Studio Movie Grill Summer Series: “The Land Before Time” @ SMG CityCentre, 10 am Toddler Time @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 10:15 am Storybook Opera Presents The Armadillo’s Dream @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 10:15 am Energy Corridor Farmers Market @ 1520 Eldridge Pkwy, 4 pm Yoga for Beginners @ VFW Post 8790, 5 pm Spring Branch Super Neighborhood Central meeting @ 1560 Foley St., 6:30 pm

14 Friday Movies @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 2 pm 15 Memorial Villages Farmers Market @ First Congregational Church, 9 am Buttercup’s Tavern @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 11 am American Shuffleboard Tournament & Queen of Hearts Drawing @ VFW Post 8790, 2 pm Queen of Hearts Game @ VFW Post 8790, 5 pm

7 Friday Movies @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 2 pm Steak Night @ VFW Post 8790, 6 pm

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July Spring Branch Super Neighborhood North meeting @ 10355 Centrepark Dr. #220, 6:30 pm

16 Disney Immersive @ 10:15 am 17 Studio Movie Grill Summer Series: “The Secret Life of Pets” @ SMG CityCentre, 10 am Preschool Story Time @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 2 pm

25 Studio Movie Grill Summer Series: “The Secret Life of Pets” @ SMG CityCentre, 10 am

18 Studio Movie Grill Summer Series: “The Secret Life of Pets” @ SMG CityCentre, 10 am Tuesday Nights @ the Library: Board Gaming @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 7 pm

Tuesday Nights @ the Library: Baking Tarts @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 7 pm

19 Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse: “Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank” @ Cinemark Memorial City, 9:30 am Studio Movie Grill Summer Series: “The Secret Life of Pets” @ SMG CityCentre, 10 am Baby Time! @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 10:15 am

Studio Movie Grill Summer Series: “The Secret Life of Pets” @ SMG CityCentre, 10 am

26 Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse: “DC League of Super Pets” @ Cinemark Memorial City, 9:30 am

Baby Time! @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 10:15 am DACAMARA - Music Encounters @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 2 pm

20 Studio Movie Grill Summer Series: “The Secret Life of Pets” @ SMG CityCentre, 10 am Toddler Time @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 10:15 am Energy Corridor Farmers Market @ 1520 Eldridge Pkwy, 4 pm Barbie Party! @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 4:30 pm Yoga for Beginners @ VFW Post 8790, 5 pm Spring Branch Super Neighborhood East meeting @ 1414 Wirt Rd., 7 pm

27 Studio Movie Grill Summer Series: “The Secret Life of Pets” @ SMG CityCentre, 10 am Toddler Time @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 10:15 am Energy Corridor Farmers Market @ 1520 Eldridge Pkwy, 4 pm Excel Basics @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 4:30 pm Summer Socials @ CityCentre, 5 pm Yoga for Beginners @ VFW Post 8790, 5 pm

21 Parachute Play Time @ CityCentre, 9 am Friday Movies @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 2 pm Parents’ Night Out @ Splat Zone, 5:30 pm Hamburgers and hot dogs @ VFW Post 8790, 6 pm Jazz+: A Summer Sunset Series @ The Lawn at Memorial City, 7 pm

July Bouquet Workshop @ Freedom Floral, 6 pm

22 Memorial Villages Farmers Market @ First Congregational Church, 9 am American Shuffleboard Tournament & Queen of Hearts Drawing @ VFW Post 8790, 2 pm Queen of Hearts Game @ VFW Post 8790, 5 pm

Blood Drive @ Memorial City Mall, 11:30 am

24 Studio Movie Grill Summer Series: “Shrek 2” June2023 SB+ One-Third @ SMG CityCentre, 10 am Ad 06.10.2023.pdf 1 6/10/2023 12:37:20 PM Preschool Story Time @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 2 pm

31 Studio Movie Grill Summer Series: “The Croods: A New Age” @ SMG CityCentre, 10 am

Toastmasters @ VFW Post 8790, 6:30 pm 28 Friday Movies @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 2 pm 29 Memorial Villages Farmers Market @ First Congregational Church, 9 am American Shuffleboard Tournament & Queen of Hearts Drawing @ VFW Post 8790, 2 pm Queen of Hearts Game @ VFW Post 8790, 5 pm

Preschool Story Time @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 2 pm

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The Five Steps to Hosting a Wine Tasting Party

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ummer is upon us and for me, that means it is wine-drinking season (OK, it is always the season to drink wine in my house but I needed some sort of tie-in to summer). It is also time to ramp up our wine-themed tastings and parties; the kids are out of school, the boss might be on vacation, and well, no one really does any work in the summer months, so we might as well pop a few corks. Since as long as I have been into wine, we have hosted get-togethers, dinners, and tastings centered around fermented grape juice. Over the years, I have learned the steps to conduct a “perfect” wine event.

Step One: Determine the degree of seriousness. In other words, are you wanting more of a party with a slew of wines to try? More of an actual tasting, as you are hoping to learn more about wine? Or a more formal affair so that you can really get your “wine-geek” on?

Step Two: Choose a theme. It can be simple or complicated, but the theme is absolutely the next step. Some examples: Price: Pick a relative price range (e.g., under $15, $20-40, over $30) and leave it at that. Variety: Compare the same variety (e.g., pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon) from different regions or vintages.

Region: Gather different wines from the same relative spot on the globe; it can be as general as “France” or as specific as “Burgund y Grand Cru” (no need to invite me to the first one, but you must invite me to the second). Food Pairing: “Barbecue wines,” “wine with oysters,” or “Korean cuisine” (don’t bother with that last one, I have been trying to figure it out for years).

Of course, you could come up with something else or combine two (or more) themes (“German rieslings under $30 to pair with Korean BBQ” — don’t laugh, that was actually one of my tastings). I also strongly suggest tasting the wines “blind” which does not involve blindfolds (although…) but rather placing each wine in a numbered paper bag and not revealing the identities until the end of the tasting. It adds a bit of mystery into our otherwise drab existence (wait, that was meant for my therapist).

Step Three: Number of guests. Each standard 750ml bottle contains 25 ounces of wine which means you could have eight pours of three ounces each, about half the “normal” pour one gets in a restaurant. So, if you want to have more than eight people (don’t forget to include yourself!) at the tasting, you are going to need a second bottle of each wine.

Step Four: Wine glasses. Ideally, all the glasses would be the same and you would have enough so that each guest could have two glasses, so as to compare wines side-by-side (I often try to provide two glasses per couple, since I assume they are not averse to sharing glasses, but these days, you never know).

Step Five: Food. If you want to be merry, you can’t just drink, you also have to eat, so providing some sort of food at the event is essential. My advice? Keep it relatively straightforward and avoid overly spicy or vinegar-laden dishes since both will detract from the wine. It is a good idea to have the food ready and available from the start of the event; consuming a bunch of wine on an empty stomach is something I tried in college. That did not go so well.

That pretty much covers it, but some additional considerations include: Have a dump or spit bucket. I know it sounds pretty disgusting, but I consider it essential to any tasting. No one may use it, but you should have it just in case.

Don’t fret too much about glasses. Wine geeks (like me) tend to freak out about the quality of the glasses but you probably don’t want to be friends with them anyway. As long as you have enough glasses and they are all pretty much the same, you should be fine. Don’t be afraid to farm it out. Have your guests each bring a bottle that meets the tasting criteria. I have also had wine dinners that were potlucks and everyone brought a dish. It all depends on how much control you need to have. Still overwhelmed? Hire a professional to help you. I happen to know a good one: me. Reach me at jeff@thedrunkencyclist.com. Have fun.

Remember: wine is a beverage. A beverage.

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Houston Restaurant Weeks Celebrates 20 Years of Feeding the City

By Liz Clearman

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ouston Restaurant Weeks, or HRW (which now spans a little over a month at the end of summer from August 1st-September 4th), has been a fixture for our restaurant scene since 2003, when the “Diva of Dining,” Houstonian Cleverley Stone, decided to make it her mission to help end hunger in the nation’s fourth-largest city. Her efforts to “Dine Out and Do Good” have culminated in the biggest annual fundraiser of its kind, raising over $18.8 million for the Houston Food Bank in the process and distributing more than 56 million meals for food insecure residents. While August is historically an “in the red” month for restaurants here, the impact of HRW not only directly benefits the local economy but has turned the blazing hot month into one of the most profitable for Houston eateries.

Cleverley Stone is a widely recognized name for her immense contributions to feeding the hungry through HRW and as the host of The Cleverley Show, a food talk radio program on CBS Sports Radio 650/KIKKAM and the longest-running show on the

station. In addition, she was the food segment contributor on Houston’s Fox 26 Morning News starting in February 2008. The Diva of Dining sadly passed away on May 28, 2020, at 68 years old after a battle with cancer, and her dying wish was that HRW continue in her name. Daughter, professional poker player, and media personality Katie Stone Cappuccio decided to carry the torch and now runs The Cleverley Stone Foundation, which produces Houston Restaurant Weeks as well as the newer Eat Drink HTX, a lower price-point week of dining that runs February 15th-28th of each year. Eat Drink HTX has a similar prix fixe pricing structure to HRW with proceeds benefiting not only the Houston Food Bank, but the Galveston County and Montgomery County food banks as well, who then distribute food through various smaller, local charities.

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For reference, a $25 brunch or lunch during HRW generates $3 for the Houston Food Bank, providing nine meals to hungry Houstonians; a $39 dinner is a $5 donation from the restaurant and provides 15 meals; and a $55 dinner allows a restaurant to give $7 per meal to the Food Bank, giving 21 meals to the community. Last year, over 240 restaurants from Galveston to the Woodlands participated, so there’s something for every budget and palate — the top contributors to HRW in 2022 were B&B Butchers, Brennan’s of Houston, Eddie V’s, and Traveler’s Table. The restaurant list for this year’s event will be released on the HRW website (houstonrestaurantweeks.com) on July 15th and will be updated continuously until August 1st.

Sponsors and partners include Fox 26 Houston, Tellepsen, OpenTable, Beth Rutherford Creative Design, Stevens Group, Stella Artois, Houston BMW Centers, Astoundz, and Stellar Bank.

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The Big Brunch Benefiting Children At Risk was a Big Success!

Khambrel Marshall, Dr. Peter Hotez, Dr. Jean Raphael, Dr. Bob Sanborn

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he weather was hot, but the chefs were hotter. Ready to compete for the savoriest cuisine of the day, chefs from some of Houston’s top restaurants prepped and served their favorite fare at The Big Brunch.

Hosted by statewide nonprofit CHILDREN AT RISK, guests dined on delicious small bites from Andiron/Candente/The Pit Room, Cadillac Bar, CIEL, Dumpling Haus, Marmo, King Ranch, Milo’s Meals, Momma’s Tamales, Ostia, The Ballroom at Bayou Place, Meat + Cheese Project, and Thunderbirds HTX. The crowd favorite: Momma’s Tamales!

JoAnn & Dan Longoria

Texans came from Dallas and as far west as El Paso to support CHILDREN AT RISK as they celebrated Texas Pediatric Advocates Dr. Hilda Loria, Dr. Karla Fredricks, and Dr. Anu Partap. Emceed by CHILDREN AT RISK president and CEO Dr. Bob Sanborn, and KPRC-2 journalist and meteorologist Khambrel Marshall, the annual event was inspiring to the 300 plus guests.

Dr. Peter Hotez and Dr. Jean Raphael served as honorary chairs. Marissa and Chris Kiefer and Dan and JoAnn Longoria were the co-chairs of Houston’s premier brunch event 14

Dr. Karla Fredricks, Marissa Kiefer

which raised over $130,000 for programs that benefit children and families in Texas. One auction item, a 7-night trip for two to Bali was the best seller. It sold for $3,100 four times!

Guests also wore their most stylish hats for the “Best Hat Contest.” Houston Hip & Haute editor Jana Phillips was crowned first place.

Photos by Quy Tran Photography Media Contact: Rashena Franklin, 713.301.4577

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NewTrustRE.com Immersive Disney Animation Hosting Sensory-Friendly Viewings This Summer Accommodations Include Reduced Volume, Comfortable Lighting, Sensitivity Warnings

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Sunday, July 16 – 10:15 a.m.

Saturday, August 19 – 10:15 a.m.

Creating iconic animated stories for all ages for nearly a century, Walt Disney Animation Studios has joined forces with North America’s top creator of experiential projection exhibitions (including The Original Immersive Van Gogh) to present the music and artistry within Disney Animation’s canon of films—from hits of today like Encanto, Zootopia and Frozen, to all of the classics including The Lion King, Peter Pan and Pinocchio. Audiences will feel like they’ve entered the incredible worlds of beloved Disney characters and become one with them.

Additional interactive features within the projection show include responsive floor projection design that moves with the audience and custom bracelets that light up in sync with the projections and based on the audiences’ movements through the galleries. In a particularly showstopping moment, the Gazillion Bubbles special effects team fills the 500,000 cubic feet of galleries with bubbles.

Collaborating with Lighthouse Immersive is the Creative Legacy team of Walt Disney Animation Studios, helping bring their library of films to audiences in a manner never before experienced.

mmersive Disney Animation (600 W. 6th Street) has announced a slate of viewings for audience members in need of sensoryfriendly accommodations. These accommodations include reduced sound volume, reduced capacity, comfortable gallery lighting at all times with no blackouts, sensitivity warnings for potentially agitating content and quiet areas outside the gallery where visitors can take a break from the show. Tickets for sensory Photo credit: Kyle Flubacker friendly viewings of Immersive Disney Animation are priced the same as regular viewings, and are on sale now at lighthouseimmersive.com/disney/sensory-friendly.

“Inclusion is important to us with all of our offerings, but all the more so with Immersive Disney Animation, which is truly an exhibit where everyone should feel welcome,” says Lighthouse Immersive Producer Corey Ross. “These viewings reduce the sensory output of the show to offer a relaxed environment and judgment-free zone where the wonderful worlds and characters of Disney Animation Studios can be enjoyed by all.”

Dates and times for sensory friendly viewings of Immersive Disney Animation can be found below: 15

Spring Branch Education Foundation Awards Scholarships to 183 Graduating Seniors

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pring Branch Education Foundation is honored to support the educational journey of 183 graduating seniors in the Class of 2023. Scholarships are one of the many ways the Spring Branch Education Foundation supports the educational journey of students in Spring Branch ISD. SBEF Scholarship Committee Chair Evan Perroni believes, “This was one of the strongest groups of applicants we have seen. Each year, our students raise the bar with their accomplishments, challenges they have overcome, and goals for the future. We are honored to be able to support their future educational plans and are grateful they share their stories with us.”

These scholarships were funded by generous corporate partners, PTAs, community groups, organizations, and individuals. The staff of Spring Branch ISD also contributed throughout the school year to fund Employee Scholarships for graduating seniors whose parents work for SBISD. If you would like to fund a scholarship for a student graduating from an SBISD campus in the future, please contact Cece Thompson, Executive Director of the Spring Branch Education Foundation at cecilia.thompson@springbranchisd.com or 713-251-2381.

Amy Mason Williams Memorial Scholarship Alyssa Landa

Mallory & James Shaddix Scholarship Dylan Barela Jorge Garcia

Bill Burger Memorial Fund Scholarship Evelyn Lim Bright Stars Scholarship Abdulaziz Aziz Ameya Matele Ava Zander Avi Patel Bianca Perez Ouhirra Bradley Marrs Caroline Holub Cathy Zhai Daniella Sosa Eimaan Dossani Elle Espey Emma Linscomb Franshesca Arnao Perez Grace Garrison Hannah Harp Hatien Nguyen Hoang Mai Isabelle Burkhart Ivan Chan Jackson Stubbs JoJo Olagues Katelyn Cutter Kendall Emery Luke Richardson Mackenzie Arend Madeline Bregenzer Madeline Stieglitz McKayla Aguilar Mia Pancioli Olivia Gonzalez Orianna Fong Rajveer Surti Reagan Farrow Riley McCloskey Ryan Peyton Sarah Harp Sarah Hwang Sydney Krenz Tayseer Wahbeh Tulsi Parikh Veronica Sirota Bunker Hill Elementary Alumni Scholarship Ella Davison

Cedar Brook Alumni Scholarship Hudson Perroni Cornerstone Academy PTA Scholarship Meredith Vajdos Daniel Marks Memorial Scholarship Peter Hong DeBesse Family Scholarship Paul Skoutelakis Employee Campaign Scholarship Abigail Stallworth Aidan Villegas Alecia Lopez Alisa Cruz Alondra Bernal Anna Kovacs Ariana Chavarria Audrey Clayton Brenna Payne Cade Hanlen Citlalli Camarillo Corin Kenny Cristina De La Fuente Daisy Jimenez Daniel Guillen Diego Garcia Eddie Luna Elizabeth Medellin Evany Orellana Francisco Escalante Giancarlo Chelala Harris Timmreck Isabella Villalobos Jasmine Lopez Jaylee Velasquez Kayden Nickel Leah Munoz Logan Pace Madelyn Mealey Margaret Parker Mariana Bran Meagan Dickinson Nash Rankin Natalia Rocha Natalie Justiss Sahyhley Gutierrez-Meza Samantha Poncio Sayyid Mendoza Thien-Nhi Do

Travis Barbier Tyler Novero Ulises Negreros Weam Aldojan William Jones Zakir Ashford

Meadow Wood Elementary PTA Scholarship Alex Skoutelakis

First In Line Scholarship Phoenix Nguyen

Memorial Drive Elementary Dad’s Club Scholarship Alex Canedo

Frank Bain Memorial Scholarship Dalia Nambo Friends Scholarship Jordan Robertson

Memorial Drive Elementary PTA Scholarship Elizabeth Martinez

Frostwood Elementary Alumni PTA Scholarship Ellen Baik

Memorial High School Booster Club Scholarship Chase Goodwin

Housman Elementary Alumni Scholarship Yahir Jimenez

Memorial High School PTA Scholarship Jonathan Ji

Houston Spring Branch Lions Club Scholarship Gadiel Montero Taylor Whitley

Memorial High School Track and Field Scholarship Caroline Shoaf Memorial Middle School PTA Scholarship Ben Duong Emily Manuel

Hunters Creek Elementary PTA Scholarship Vaidehi Vaidehi Jennie Vought Baker Memorial Scholarship Helen Gordon Katherine Van Arsdel

Mom of Boys Scholarship Hoan Do William Wylie Monica Nuebauer Scholarship Abigail Tomaski Caroline Zaleski

John Hilgert Memorial Scholarship Avis Tang Binh Tran Edward Li Kassey Guardado Theodore Bonzelet

Noreen Burger Memorial Fund Scholarship Arleth Flores

Judy Weisend Scholarship Emma Zhou

Northbrook Raiders PTSA Scholarship Vicente Soria

Los Carnales & La Familia Houston Motorcycle Club Scholarship Ingris Monjares-Mejia

Nottingham Elementary PTA Scholarship Turner Ivey

Make it Happen Scholarship Danny Gutierrez Vasquez Kimberly Villalta Leslie Alejandro Sara Garcia

Prosperity Bank Scholarship Hannia Torres Garcia Rachel Pendray Scholarship Ana Martinez

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Denise Sanchez John Hernandez Rummel Creek Elementary PTA Scholarship Emma Hickman William Marks Rummel Creek Men’s Club Education Scholarship Artin Seyrafi Austin Yap Dev Patel Ian Sidik Kate Sullivan Kirby Crow Molly Higgins Quinn Otermat Ruth Gerum Memorial Scholarship Ayush Kothari Sarah Chidgey Scholarship Elizabeth Dolan SBISD Council of PTAs Scholarship Rachel Fan SFASU: Ragusa & Rose Scholarship Ithzel Rodriguez Shadow Oaks Elementary Alumni Scholarship Jason Zuniga Sherwood Elementary Alumni PTA Scholarship Sergio Calvillo Spring Branch High School Alumni Foundation Scholarship Alan Mendez Brian Le Emerson Guzman Jersson Veliz Hernandez Katrina Kasyan Spring Branch Middle School PTA Scholarship Ryan Zaragoza Spring Forest Middle School PTA Scholarship Stephanie Machado-Pena

Stratford High School PTSA Scholarship Hailey Bates Suzanne & Adam Stiles Scholarship Aiden Madaffri The Karen Harrel RCE Scholarship Marco Ferrier The Raymond Family Scholarship Deisi Huerta Lynne Vu Madison Campbell Samantha Rodriguez Tommy Neumann Music/ Fine Arts Scholarship Isaiah Liggins Laura Lee Treasure Forest Elementary Alumni Scholarship Brianna Lopez Valley Oaks Elementary Alumni Scholarship Julia Williams Westchester Academy of International Studies PTA Scholarship Chinh Le Westchester Alumni Association Scholarship Alexander Guzman Ashley Lara Camila Trujillo Carlos Ramos Kayla Kitana Tina Thai Wilchester Elementary School PTA Scholarship Anna Thielemann Wilchester Men’s Club Scholarship Berkley Graham Bryce Oliphant Henry Davis Humphrey Xu Nolan Zeng Philmore Jeon

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Spring Branch Education Foundation Funds SBISD Innovators

pring Branch Education Foundation is honored to fund a record $283,950 in grants to support SBISD departments and campuses.

Each year, SBEF fulfills its mission to support the education of each child in Spring Branch ISD through funding creative initiatives throughout the district.

SBEF Executive Director Cece Thompson explains, “This is why SBEF exists. We work with the entire SBISD community to support programs that enhance the education of every single child in our district. We are honored to be part of the educational journey of more than 35,000 students every year.”

If you would like to support funding for future grants, please contact Cece Thompson, Executive Director of the Spring Branch Education Foundation at cecilia.thompson@springbranchisd.com or 713-251-2381.

Grants awarded to SBISD departments and campuses this year include:

Hollibrook Elementary Spring Branch ISD Let’s Get Moving!

Academics – Curriculum & Instruction: Summer Reading 2023 Zensory Zone Administration and Talent Division: Massive Reading Practice Library Middle School P.E. Swimming Class Lion Lane Administration and Talent Division: Harvesting Vocabulary Sports Nutrition Education Program Memorial High School Video Camera for MBC713 Communications Division: Productions J. Landon Short Mini Grants for Nottingham Elementary Educators Program Brain Balance Behavior Communications Division: Breakthrough Character Without Question Science Scholars Communications Division: SpringBoard Mentoring Pine Shadows Elementary STEAM Lab Communications Division: ReadSBISD & SBISD Counts!

Spring Forest Middle School Learning Resources for Pre-K Families Dissecting Curiosity Special Education – West Support Texian Time Machine Center: Go Talk Now-Communicate Let There Be Light: Auditorium Lighting Upgrade – Phase One Participate Forever Special Education – West Support Spring Woods High School Center: I Model, You Do Careers in Laboratory Sciences Special Education – West Support Future Officials Academy Grant Fabulous Faces – Makeup Design for Center: Go, Talk, Communicate!

Stage and Screen Altharetta Yeargin Art Museum Adventures at the Altharetta Yeargin Spring Woods Middle School Lights Camera ACTION Art Museum White Room Challenge Terrace Elementary Coding the Future at Terrace Bear Boulevard Bear Boulevard Outdoor Discovery! Thornwood Elementary Family Math Night BBS Study Trip Shirts and Personalized Name Tags Valley Oaks Elementary PLC Reboot Bendwood Elementary Westchester Academy of STEM in Action: The Hovercraft International Studies Project Amplify the Math Classroom with Buffalo Creek Elementary Desmos Cognitive Development in the Westwood Elementary Buffalo Creek Library Drumming Up Learning and Bunker Hill Elementary Engagement Meeting Every Child’s Needs in both Repair and Upgrade the Audio Library and APPLE System in the Westwood Stage / BHE Stock the Science Lab and Cafeteria Math Closet Wilchester Elementary Cedar Brook Elementary Dinosaur Detectives at the Music Therapy and Sensory Supports Wilchester Museum Boredom Busters in SBS

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Fact:

The Grass isn’t Greener where you water it...

The Grass is Greener where it’s Arti icial

Spring Branch Education Foundation Welcomes New Board Members

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pring Branch Education Foundation welcomes 11 community leaders to the Board of Directors.

Board Chair Joe Elliott explains, “Spring Branch Education Foundation is led by a strong board of talented individuals committed to the education of every child in Spring Branch ISD. As state funding continues to be a challenge, our Board steps up to find creative solutions to support our district.”

The Foundation has added the following individuals for a term beginning in July 2023:

Jay Beasley – Shell Energy Mindy Bradley – Raise Up Families Kyle Cooper – DTE Energy Trading Michelle Dudley – Pfluger Architects Jared Field – Field Industries, LLC Laura Horn – Community Volunteer Tina Mares – CNOOC Petroleum Allison Melnar – Community Volunteer Heather Osecki – CNOOC Petroleum Thomas Stokes – Shell Energy Kristin Thomas – Kimco Realty

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