SB+ July 2023

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7 Business profile: Kolache Kings

9 Celebrating Independence Day with a bang

10-11 Community calendar

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

13 Twenty years of Houston Restaurant Weeks

ON THE COVER

14 Big Brunch for Children recap

15 Sensor y-friendly immersive Disney animation

16 SBEF awards scholarships to graduating seniors

17 SBEF grant awards

18 SBEF welcomes new board members

Editor’s Letter to the Residents

The 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

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.

Fix What Ails Your House with Home Remedy

By Liz Clearman

For 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

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.

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.

Spring Branch Business Profile: Kolache Kings/Kidz Grub

By Liz Clearman

The 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

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.”

Celebrating Independence Day with a Bang

By Liz Clearman

Fireworks 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

Where to Watch the SKy BoomS (FireWorKS) thiS Fourth

By Liz Clearman

There’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.

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

all month

Dinos alive immersive exhibit runs July 1-31 except for tuesdays

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

24 Studio movie Grill Summer Series: “Shrek 2”

@ SMG CityCentre, 10 am

Preschool Story time @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 2 pm

Spring Branch Super Neighborhood North meeting

@ 10355 Centrepark Dr. #220, 6:30 pm

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

tuesday Nights @ the Library: Baking tarts @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 7 pm

26 cinemark Summer movie clubhouse: “Dc League of Super Pets” @ 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

Dacamara - music encounters @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 2 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

July Bouquet Workshop @ Freedom Floral, 6 pm

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

Blood Drive @ Memorial City Mall, 11:30 am

american Shuffleboard tournament & Queen of hearts Drawing @ VFW Post 8790, 2 pm

Queen of hearts Game @ VFW Post 8790, 5 pm

31 Studio movie Grill Summer Series: “the croods: a New age” @ SMG CityCentre, 10 am

Preschool Story time @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 2 pm

the FiVe StePS to hoStiNG a WiNe taStiNG Party

By Jeffrey M. Kralik, PhD (The Drunken Cyclist)

Summer 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.

Houston Restaurant Weeks Celebrates 20 Years of Feeding the City

By Liz Clearman

Houston 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.

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.

Botox $9.99 per unit

Restylane $3.99 per unit

The 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!

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

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

Khambrel Marshall, Dr. Peter Hotez, Dr. Jean Raphael, Dr. Bob Sanborn JoAnn & Dan Longoria

Dr. Karla Fredricks, Marissa Kiefer

immersive Disney animation hosting Sensory-Friendly Viewings this Summer

Accommodations Include Reduced Volume, Comfortable Lighting, Sensitivity Warnings

Immersive 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 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:

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.

Photo credit: Kyle Flubacker

SPriNG BraNch eDucatioN FouNDatioN aWarDS SchoLarShiPS to 183 GraDuatiNG SeNiorS

Spring 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.”

Amy Mason Williams Memorial Scholarship

Alyssa Landa

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

First In Line Scholarship

Phoenix Nguyen

Frank Bain Memorial

Scholarship

Dalia Nambo

Friends Scholarship

Jordan Robertson

Frostwood Elementary

Alumni PTA Scholarship

Ellen Baik

Housman Elementary

Alumni Scholarship

Yahir Jimenez

Houston Spring Branch

Lions Club Scholarship

Gadiel Montero

Taylor Whitley

Hunters Creek Elementary

PTA Scholarship

Vaidehi Vaidehi

Jennie Vought Baker

Memorial Scholarship

Helen Gordon

Katherine Van Arsdel

John Hilgert Memorial

Scholarship

Avis Tang

Binh Tran

Edward Li

Kassey Guardado

Theodore Bonzelet

Judy Weisend Scholarship

Emma Zhou

Los Carnales & La Familia

Houston Motorcycle Club

Scholarship

Ingris Monjares-Mejia

Make it Happen Scholarship

Danny Gutierrez Vasquez

Kimberly Villalta

Leslie Alejandro

Sara Garcia

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

Mallory & James Shaddix Scholarship

Dylan Barela

Jorge Garcia

Meadow Wood Elementary

PTA Scholarship

Alex Skoutelakis

Memorial Drive Elementary

Dad’s Club Scholarship

Alex Canedo

Memorial Drive Elementary

PTA Scholarship

Elizabeth Martinez

Memorial High School

Booster Club Scholarship

Chase Goodwin

Memorial High School PTA

Scholarship

Jonathan Ji

Memorial High School Track and Field Scholarship

Caroline Shoaf

Memorial Middle School

PTA Scholarship

Ben Duong

Emily Manuel

Mom of Boys Scholarship

Hoan Do

William Wylie

Monica Nuebauer

Scholarship

Abigail Tomaski

Caroline Zaleski

Noreen Burger Memorial

Fund Scholarship

Arleth Flores

Northbrook Raiders PTSA Scholarship

Vicente Soria

Nottingham Elementary

PTA Scholarship

Turner Ivey

Prosperity Bank Scholarship

Hannia Torres Garcia

Rachel Pendray Scholarship

Ana Martinez

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

SPriNG BraNch eDucatioN FouNDatioN FuNDS SBiSD iNNoVatorS

Spring 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:

Spring Branch ISD

Academics – Curriculum &

Instruction: Summer Reading 2023

Administration and Talent Division:

Middle School P.E. Swimming Class

Administration and Talent Division:

Sports Nutrition Education Program

Communications Division:

J. Landon Short Mini Grants for Educators Program

Communications Division:

Character Without Question

Communications Division:

SpringBoard Mentoring

Communications Division:

ReadSBISD & SBISD Counts!

Learning Resources for Pre-K Families

Special Education – West Support

Center: Go Talk Now-Communicate

Participate Forever

Special Education – West Support

Center: I Model, You Do

Special Education – West Support Center: Go, Talk, Communicate!

Altharetta Yeargin Art Museum

Adventures at the Altharetta Yeargin

Art Museum

White Room Challenge

Bear Boulevard

Bear Boulevard Outdoor Discovery!

BBS Study Trip Shirts and

Personalized Name Tags

Bendwood Elementary

STEM in Action: The Hovercraft Project

Buffalo Creek Elementary

Cognitive Development in the Buffalo Creek Library

Bunker Hill Elementary

Meeting Every Child’s Needs in both Library and APPLE

BHE Stock the Science Lab and Math Closet

Cedar Brook Elementary

Music Therapy and Sensory Supports in SBS

Hollibrook Elementary

Let’s Get Moving!

Zensory Zone

Massive Reading Practice Library

Lion Lane

Harvesting Vocabulary

Memorial High School

Video Camera for MBC713

Productions

Nottingham Elementary

Brain Balance Behavior

Breakthrough

Science Scholars

Pine Shadows Elementary

STEAM Lab

Spring Forest Middle School

Dissecting Curiosity

Texian Time Machine

Let There Be Light: Auditorium

Lighting Upgrade – Phase One

Spring Woods High School

Careers in Laboratory Sciences

Future Officials Academy Grant

Fabulous Faces – Makeup Design for Stage and Screen

Spring Woods Middle School Lights Camera ACTION

Terrace Elementary

Coding the Future at Terrace

Thornwood Elementary

Family Math Night

Valley Oaks Elementary

PLC Reboot

Westchester Academy of International Studies

Amplify the Math Classroom with Desmos

Westwood Elementary

Drumming Up Learning and Engagement

Repair and Upgrade the Audio System in the Westwood Stage / Cafeteria

Wilchester Elementary

Dinosaur Detectives at the Wilchester Museum

Boredom Busters

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

act: The Grass isn’t Greener where you water it

The Grass is Greener where it’s Arti icial

The Grass is Greener where it’s Arti

Spring Branch education Foundation

Welcomes

New Board members

Spring 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