The Bellaire Buzz - September 2015

Bicycling in Houston Grandparent Love

by Cheryl Ursin

Fall Festivals Scout Trek

Darrell Rosenthal, Igor Cherches and Mark Mucasey

Father-Daughter Climb Houston, TX Permit No. 2047 PAID

First-Birthday Parties

US Postage PRSRT STD

Patio Dining

PUBLISHER’S NOTE We photographed this month’s bicyclingin-Houston story early, in the spring, to coordinate residents’ schedules and to avoid an outdoor session in the summer heat.

However, in the months that followed, we learned the tragic news that several residents in our communities had lost their lives in separate bicycling accidents, one of which occurred while cycling to a memorial bike ride in honor of another cyclist who died. We considered cancelling the article out of respect to the families, but instead staff writer Cheryl Ursin reworked the story with an emphasis on safety. As it happens, freelance writer Jennifer Oakley came to us about that time with an idea to write a story about Houston Ghost Bike, a non-profit organization that builds white-bike memorials in honor of bicyclists who have been killed in collisions with autos, including the Buzz residents so many of us have been mourning. We hope this issue inspires adventures and awareness on our roads. michael@thebuzzmagazines.com

THE BUZZ MAGAZINES BELLAIRE • WEST UNIVERSITY • MEMORIAL • TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS Published by Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401 info@thebuzzmagazines.com • p: 713.668.4157 • f: 713.665.2940 Follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter thebuzzmagazines.com Editor Publisher Associate Editors Design Manager Staff Writers

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Joni Hoffman Michael Hoffman Cheryl Laird Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld John Duboise Tracy L. Barnett Sharon Albert Brier Andria Frankfort Angie Frederickson Todd Freed Michelle Casas Groogan Dai Huynh Annie Blaylock McQueen Cheryl Ursin Cathy Gordon Amanda Ellison Harwerth Jennifer Oakley, Eric Uzick Jay Janecek Andrea Blitzer Leslie Little Kim Montgomery Darsey Swaim Helen Hamilton Michele Luke Morgan Bernard, Eric Uzick

On our cover: Darrell Rosenthal, Igor Cherches and Mark Mucasey (from left) are all avid cyclists.

Cover photo by Michael Hart Photography, www.hartphoto.com The Buzz Magazines has made all reasonable attempts to verify the accuracy of all information contained within. Advertising claims are solely the responsibility of the advertiser. Copyright © 2015 Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of this magazine by any means without written permission is strictly prohibited. Printed on recycled paper. Please remember to recycle.

BELLAIRE BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2015 4

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MAILBAG

Your letters, thoughts, opinions August issue hit home I love The Buzz! I especially love the one that arrived today [August 2015], as it featured such a special family, The Germains [Tackling Grief: Living life jelly side up, by Cathy Gordon]. Having just retired from Congregation Beth Israel, I was privileged to know this wonderful family. There are no words descriptive enough for Dana and her personal strength.

Thank you for highlighting and to Cathy Gordon for her sensitive handling of this family.

On a more somber note, I am in shock reading the words “Condolences to the Family of Sarah Pesikoff.” I had no idea she passed away, nor had I read anything in the Houston papers. Dr. and Mrs. Pesikoff have been wonderful to my family, so I will reach out to them immediately. Thank you for that tribute as well.

Kathy Cohn Knott

Appreciated school-safety story I wanted to thank you for the fun of being a part of your magazine [Playing It Safe: Preventing crime on campus, by Andria Frankfort, August 2015]. I didn’t realize Cole and I would be on the cover [of The Tanglewood/River Oaks Buzz]. What a wonderful surprise! And so many readers, who are also friends of mine, have sent me nice notes and copies of this month’s edition.

It has been a pleasure getting to know you. And I appreciate the article you allowed me to be a part of. One of the notes I got was from an acquaintance who is a former Israeli Special Forces member who now works with the U.S. government, local police, the U.N. and many other entities around the world (private and public) who have to think about security.

He was pleased with the article and said schools can be a “soft target.”

Bringing the issue of school safety to our community is important! What could be more important than keeping our children safe? So, on behalf of our community, thank you for raising awareness around this issue.

Tama Lundquist Editor’s note: Thank you to Tama, who detailed in our article how she has a safety plan in place for her son Cole, a student at Lamar High School. We want to give a shout out to an event Tama is co-chairing. The Houston PetSet’s 11th Annual Fierce & Fabulous Soiree, which helps fund local animal-welfare organizations, will be Sept. 11 at The Astorian. For tickets, see www.houstonpetset.org.

Look into student exchanges It’s so inspiring to see the courage that these kids have to go on BELLAIRE BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2015 6

exchanges [Travel Buzz: Youth exchanges shape lives, by Tracy L. Barnett, August 2015]. More kids and parents should really look into this. It’s not for everybody, but the impact it has is tremendous. Most American kids and parents, too, seem to be in this American bubble and have no clue on what is going on in the world, nor do they realize how good we have it here. Thanks again for all your support.

John Thornton

Book stories are good stories I saw your summer reading column [Back Porch: What to read this summer,

by Andria Frankfort, July 2015] in the July Buzz (my mom saves them for me!), and I was so happy to see the great book recommendations. I’m always looking for new books. It was also great to see the coverage of Katherine Center and her newest book, Happiness for Beginners. She’s a dear friend AND a great writer!

Katherine Seger Weber Editor’s note: If you are looking for a good book and missed this story, go to thebuzzmagazines.com, where all current and past stories are available and searchable. (Also, we’re fans of local writer Katherine Center too.)

Send letters to info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Please include your name, address, phone number and email address for verification purposes. Letters are subject to editing for clarity and space. Views expressed in letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Buzz Magazines, and The Buzz takes no responsibility for the content and opinions expressed in them.

What’s your story?

We are looking for residents for upcoming articles who: • Have memorable or funny stories about being part of a large family.

• Have compelling, holiday-related stories to share.

• Went on a last-minute or spontaneous trip.

• Know an interesting neighbor to profile.

• Have personality-filled pets who need to be in print.

If this sounds like you or someone you know, please contact us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com or 713.668.4157, ext 12.

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NEIGHBORS

by Cheryl Ursin, staff writer

Let’s Ride Bicycling in Houston

W

hat’s not to like about cycling? When you bike rather than drive, you cut down on pollution and traffic.

While you are doing that, you are exercising in a particularly beneficial way, one that’s easy on the joints and burns a relatively large number of calories, about 500 per hour even at moderate speeds.

And you can get places while you exercise. Jeff Horowitz, a 55-year-old attorney, commutes to work from West U to downtown, an eight-mile ride. Igor Cherches, a neurologist from Bellaire, bikes to work five miles on the Brays Bayou trail, “a great place to start your day and get your thoughts together,” he said. Regina Garcia, who bikes about three miles to El Meson, the Rice Village restaurant she and her husband Pedro own, reports that it takes about 15 minutes, the same amount of time it would take to drive.

And biking is just fun, in a way that brings back childhood memories. “I rode my bike to school until I could drive,” Horowitz remembered. “When I was a teenager, we’d ride on Brays Bayou all the way to Hermann Park. At 14, I rode my bike to my first job, at the Astrodome.” (He sold peanuts.)

“As a kid, your bike was your car,” remembered Tyler Garcia, who grew up in New Jersey.

Still an avid cyclist, Garcia, a counselor at Houston Community College, is one of the volunteer administrators of HTX Bike Social, a Facebook page with over 1,900 members, which lists group rides and cycle-friendly events happening around Houston.

Cycling can be dangerous, a fact brought home recently when five cyclists in Houston died in a single month. According to surveys, one of the most common reasons people give for not biking is concern about safety. And Houston, in particular, does not currently have a good record. According to The 2014 Bicycling and Walking in the United States Benchmark Report, done by the Alliance for Biking & Walking, out of the 52 largest cities in the U.S., Houston ranks 37th when it comes to bicyclist/pedestrian fatality rates.

Many factors account for this, from the design of our streets to our drunk-driving laws to how educated both drivers and cyclists are about safety.

BELLAIRE BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2015 8

BLAST TO THE PAST For Jeff Horowitz, cycling brings back happy childhood memories of biking at age 14 to his first job at the Astrodome, where he sold peanuts.

The good news for cyclists is that the City of Houston, in conjunction with a number of grassroots organizations such as BikeHouston and the Houston Parks Board, is working to make Houston more bike-friendly. The Bayou Greenways 2020 project is on schedule to create a network of 150 miles of hike and bike trails along the city’s bayous, connecting the city’s parks, with the Brown Foundation, Inc. and the Wortham Foundation most recently pledging grants, $2 million and $1.6 million respectively, to the project.

And for the first time in 20 years, the city has implemented a Bicycle Master Plan, which looks to establish safe bike routes that people can use to get all over the city. In March, it opened the first protected bike lane in Houston, crossing downtown on Lamar, from Sam

Houston Park to Discovery Green. This brightgreen lane, separated from cars by humps, allows cyclists, going in either direction, to get across downtown Houston more safely.

So, what do you need to know to bike in Houston?

First, know there are different types of bikeriding, from mountain-biking on the trails in Memorial Park to “training rides” on super-light road bikes over long distances, most often outside of Houston proper, often to get ready for events such as the BP MS 150, the two-day bike ride in April, from Houston to Austin, that raises money for the National MS Society. And there are more sedate bike rides, usually on sturdier, slower bikes, even on old-fashioned beach cruisers, the type of bike Pee-wee Herman rode, just for fun on the city’s ever-growing system of

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HAPPY NEW YEAR The Kvetchers cycling group, including (from left) Darrell Rosenthal, Mark Mucasey and Jeff Horowitz, use a shofar, a religious musical instrument made from a ram’s horn, to start their morning rides and celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, during September.

street and bayou trails.

If you want to try out cycling before buying a bike, you can use Houston B-Cycle, the city’s bike-sharing program, or rent a bike for the day from a bike shop. Also, yes, you can bring that old bike that’s been sitting out in the garage to a bike shop to see if it’s worth a tune-up. Often, especially if you’re just starting out, it is.

There’s no reason you can’t do several types of cycling. Roy Camberg, a River Oaks attorney and triathlete, regularly goes for training rides on his triathlon bike (specially designed to take the stress off certain muscles in the rider’s legs, to save them for the triathlon’s final event, a run) and also rides Houston’s bike trails, using mountain bikes, with his wife, Ellie Beard, on the weekends.

Second, bike shops often sponsor regular group rides, for all levels of experience. These rides can be found on the stores’ websites and also often on the website for the nonprofit BikeHouston. Regina Garcia is a founding board member of BikeHouston. She is also a certified bike instructor, through the League of American Bicyclists, one of approximately 70 in Houston who teach one-day classes on how to cycle safely on city streets and in groups.

Her safety tips, and those of other experienced cyclists, are not always what you might expect. For instance, Garcia feels safe riding at night, pointing out there is often less traffic. “Of

course, have a good set of lights on your bike,” she said, “but it’s also easier for you to see cars, particularly coming from behind, because they have their lights on.” And while cyclists are, of course, cautious about cars (“They weigh tons, you weigh pounds,” said one cyclist) and potholes, they are also concerned about expansion joints, spaces between the slabs of concrete of the road that allow the concrete to expand and contract without cracking. An expansion joint can catch the tire of a bicycle, sending its rider over the handlebars.

Many cyclists prefer riding in groups. “A group becomes an entity in itself, like a school of fish,” said Darrell Rosenthal, a member, along with Jeff Horowitz, of The Kvetchers, a group named after the Yiddish word for “complain.”

“In a group, you are more visible and cars treat you with more respect,” Rosenthal said. And if you have an injury or a problem with your bike, you’re not alone.

Plus, there’s the social aspect. “When you are riding with 20 guys on a Sunday morning, there’s a certain rhythm: You talk to one guy, then the group shifts and you’re talking to another guy. It’s a really relaxed way to socialize,” said Horowitz.

The camaraderie of biking with a group can be quite touching. When one of The Kvetchers stopped showing up for the group’s rides, though

he had been training for the upcoming MS 150, other members discovered that his father had died, and, in keeping with Jewish tradition, the man had been going to synagogue every day to pray, a practice he would do for a full year.

“He told us that he wouldn’t be able to do the MS 150 that year,” said Mark Mucasey, an architect from Bellaire. “We told him we would make sure we always had at least 10 men at every bike ride [the minimum necessary to form a minyan and hold a service]. For four months and for each day of the MS 150, we did this with him for his father so he could ride with us.”

There are some things to know when riding in a group: Pass on the left, saying, “On your left,” if you are going to be close, announce when you are slowing or stopping, and call out hazards, such as pot holes. Tyler Lopez recommends beginners bring a tube (easy to fold and carry) that fits your bike’s tire in case you get a flat. Though you might not yet know how to fix it yourself or have the tools, other cyclists are usually happy to help.

When looking for a bike ride to join, bear in mind the different types. Online listings make clear what to expect by listing the speed of the ride: 18 miles per hour and above is fast, 14-16 is moderate, and 12 is mellow. Some gung-ho rides will specify that they are a “drop ride,” meaning that, if you can’t (continued on page 10) BELLAIRE BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2015 9

you behind. The description of one recent casual ride, on the other hand, directed you to “leave your Lycra at home.”

Training rides are long-distance (30-70 miles) rides done on road bikes. These usually take place on routes outside of town, such as in Fulshear or Chappell Hill. Training riders look for routes where they can go fast, sometimes over 20 mph, safely for long distances. “You really need to ride distance to get ready for the MS 150,” said Brad Patt, a 50-year-old plastic surgeon.

“My favorite routes are from Katy to Bellville, around Montgomery/Lake Conroe and Coldspring on Lake Livingston,” said Cherches, who has cycled for about 20 years.

There are organized bike rides, supporting various charities, every weekend, especially from January until April, before the MS 150. These events are referred to as “supported rides,” since they feature routes closed to traffic, rest stations with water and snacks, bike mechanics and SAG (support and gear) wagons, vehicles to transport riders stymied by injuries, bike problems or just plain fatigue.

The more laid-back social rides posted on HTX Bike Social run the gamut. There are women-only rides, family-friendly rides, night-time rides, even rides with a group called “The Rusty Riders,” for owners of vintage beach cruisers. These rides, set up by volunteers, might feature a stop at the midpoint of the ride to see an art exhibit and then end at a restaurant for dinner.

When it comes to planning your own routes, there’s more to it than hopping on your bike and going. Garcia goes over how to plan your routes in her class. “You wouldn’t do the same route as you would driving,” she said. If the most direct route would take a traffic-heavy street, such as Kirby, “a good rule of thumb is to look one street over,” she said. When she first planned her com-

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(continued from page 9) keep up, they will leave

THE MORE THE MERRIER “Cycling is definitely social,” said Brad Patt, (center) riding with Darrell Rosenthal (left) and Igor Cherches. “The MS 150 is not a race; it’s a ride.”

mute to work, she rode it on off-times, to check it out, before she did it on a weekday morning.

Mark Mucasey plans routes for The Kvetchers. One route had them going over the Fred Hartman Bridge, a suspension bridge over the Ship Channel in Baytown. His routes always feature options: While the group is together for most of the ride, as they near the end, a rider can choose to go a shorter route (shaving 10 miles off the trip) or a longer way, with both routes ending at the same destination. When riding in town, that would be a restaurant for breakfast that is no more than three miles from anyone’s home. When riding out of the city, it’s a good barbecue restaurant.

Mike Skelly’s favorite in-town ride goes from

Market Square, east on Buffalo Bayou to Lockwood, then down Navigation to the Ship Channel and turning basin, then back up Brays Bayou to Columbia Tap and back downtown.

Skelly, who is involved with both BikeHouston and the Houston Parks Board, began riding around the bayous with friends years ago and leads monthly tours, through BikeHouston, of some of the bayou trails. “It’s a great way to explore the city and make friends,” he said.

MORE ONLINE See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for bike-ride routes and links to biking websites, including Houston’s bike-share system, Houston B-Cycle – the red rental bikes in the racks throughout central Houston.

How to drive safely with cyclists My husband and I were stopped at a light on Shepherd. It was rush hour, there was construction, and a cyclist pulled up alongside us, dwarfed by the cars and trucks.

“Man,” said my husband, an avid cyclist himself. “He’s as fragile as an egg out there, isn’t he?”

When it comes to crashes, “we don’t call them ‘accidents,’” said Michael Payne, executive director of BikeHouston, “because they are usually the result of someone not following the rules.” Payne estimated that about two-thirds of all bike fatalities are the result of a motorist’s mistake and one-third the cyclist’s.

Here’s advice from both BikeHouston and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about how to protect the safety of fellow road users, including cyclists: Don’t speed.

Don’t drive under the influence.

Don’t use your cell phone or otherwise distract yourself.

According to the latest data available from the NHTSA, nationwide in 2013, 3,154 people were killed and an estimated 424,000 people were injured in crashes involving distracted drivers.

BELLAIRE BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2015 10

And not using your cell phone means not using even a hands-free system and not texting even when you are stopped at a light. Multiple studies have shown that using a cell phone while driving leaves the driver as impaired as being drunk, and hands-free systems do not lessen that impairment. And texting is worse. According to A Deadly Wandering, a book by New York Times reporter Matt Richtel, it can take drivers 10 to 20 seconds to reorient themselves to what’s going on around them after they’ve finished sending a text, which is a lot of time to be moving when you haven’t registered that cyclist in front of you.

Give cyclists as much room as possible. In May 2013, the City of Houston passed the Safe Passing Ordinance, which requires motor vehicles to keep a distance of more than three feet when passing cyclists and other “vulnerable road users,” such as pedestrians, and at least six feet when trailing them.

Take care not to turn into the path of a cyclist, including when you are taking a right on red.

Watch for all types of road users, including bikes, when parking, backing up and pulling out, and look out for passing traffic before opening your car door.

BELLAIRE BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2015 11

NEIGHBORS

by Jennifer Oakley, contributing writer

Ghost Bikes White bicycles memorialize riders

BELLAIRE BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2015 12

people started listening to what we had been saying for years,” Chuy says.

“As an artist, I look at the Ghost Bikes as a functional installation: They are both a memorial and a warning sign. And, they are conceptual pieces that are supposed to jump out and surprise you, which is why they are all white.”

Houston Ghost Bike volunteers join the group via Facebook, and the numbers have mushroomed to 1,730 recently following several cycling fatalities.

“I only joined the group following DAVID'S BIKE Houston Ghost Bike members John Lucci, Christian Wendenburg, the death of Mason Courtney, Alexis Trevalise and Chuy Benitez (from left) pay tribute to David Rosenfeld at the Ghost Bike in his honor at Bissonnet and Newcastle, where he was [Meyerland resi- hit by a car in May on his way to the Jon Trevalise Memorial Bike Ride. dent] David the accident that claimed his father’s life. “My Rosenfeld. I didn’t know David, but he was a good dad and I spent thousands of miles together on friend of several of my friends, and it scared me to bicycles. We rode the MS 150 together eight think an experienced cyclist was hit and killed in times. We rode the Tour du Rouge from daylight on Bissonnet so close to my house,” says Houston to New Orleans three times. And every West U attorney Stacy Humphries. “I think the time now that I see a Ghost Bike it makes me memorial bikes are like public sculpture, and they sick to my stomach for that poor family. I fully also make an excellent tribute and reminder that support 100 percent the placing of these bikes we all need to be more aware on the road.” as a memorial and as a reminder for a topic of “I think it is a way to keep their spirit alive,” discussion and as a call to action.” says Jeff Friedman, a recreational bicyclist and The death of David Rosenfeld has struck a owner of Distinctive Life Cremations and particularly difficult chord for both Alexis and Funerals. He didn’t know Rosenfeld but still will Chris Trevalise. “I found out that David never forget his death. “I don’t think I will ever Rosenfeld took the time to leave his family to drive by the corner of Newcastle and Bissonnet honor my dad [in the second annual Jon again the same way.”

Trevalise Memorial Bike Ride], and when he got Chris Trevalise can’t drive by that corner – or to the corner of Newcastle and Bissonnet he was any place with a Ghost Bike – without re-living hartphoto.com

A

white bicycle affixed with a small plaque and colorful plastic flowers stands upright and still, chained to a signpost on the side of Shores Drive in Galveston.

It is a bittersweet sight for West U resident Alexis Trevalise, a painful reminder of where her husband, Jon, was riding his bicycle when a distracted driver hit him on Easter in 2014.

A year ago, Alexis would not have wished for this memorial. But these days, she sees her husband’s Ghost Bike as a place of healing, where she, family and friends can go and pay their respects to Jon. “At first I did not want to remember the accident. I was angry, and it was hard for me,” says Alexis. “But then I talked to my sons, and I realized the Ghost Bikes are there to make people aware of how many deaths there are, and I think it is a great idea.”

The Ghost Bike movement started in 2003 in St. Louis, Missouri. (According to the New York City Ghost Bike website, now there are more than 212 Ghost Bike groups worldwide.) Ten years after its creation, the movement made its way to Houston. Richard Tomlinson, who grew up in the Meyerland area, began Houston Ghost Bike after Chelsea Norman was struck by a car and killed while riding her bicycle home after she left work at the Whole Foods on Waugh Drive in December 2013.

“I got five or six people to join me,” said Tomlinson, who is a retired printer, “and I came up with a system that winter where I collected bikes and painted them and then I put them on a trailer and started putting them out.”

He placed the first Houston Ghost Bike in March 2014 on Old Katy Road in memory of bicyclist Cisco Rios, and as of the end of July, his group had set 62 bikes in the Greater Houston area. Volunteers collect donated bicycles, coat them with white paint and add plaques with the rider’s name and date of death.

“My objective is to get people in cars to stop hitting people on bikes,” Tomlinson says.

St. John's School faculty member and competitive cyclist Chuy Benitez has been a member of Houston Ghost Bike since its start. “Suddenly the whole cycling community had a voice, and

Chuy Benitez

hit by a car. Now he has a Ghost Bike on that corner. Now he and my dad both have Ghost Bikes. Hopefully people will pay attention.”

In Houston, the land of the car, cyclists have to be especially vigilant. “In May 2013, the City of Houston passed an ordinance that states that motor vehicles must give a 3-foot clearance when passing cyclists, and commercial vehicles are required to give a 6-foot clearance,” said Tomlinson. “If all cyclists and all motorists did their part and followed the laws that are in place, everyone on the road would be much more predictable, and there would be less chance for conflict.”

“It’s like that bumper sticker that says ‘Share the Road,’” says Larchmont resident and private investigator Christian Wendenburg, a triathlete.

“I am 150 pounds, and my bike is 18 pounds, and going up against a 3,500-pound car – well that is a losing battle, unfortunately. If you see a Ghost Bike then it’s a visual reminder that hopefully makes an impact – there should be no reason why we can’t all share a little bit of the space on the road safely.”

As a longtime cyclist who commutes to work on his bike each day, Memorial-area resident John Lucci is passionate about the mission of Houston Ghost Bike. “I am hoping they will raise awareness that we are out here.”

Mason Courtney, the volunteer who made the Ghost Bike for Jon Trevalise, spent hours

GHOST BIKES Houston Ghost Bike founder Richard Tomlinson stands among Ghost Bikes he painted to memorialize cyclists who died while riding their bikes on Houston-area roads.

cleaning, prepping and painting it. Then he took the bike to the Galveston location where Jon was hit. “Jon was very respected and very well thought of, and I felt like it was a duty I had to do,” he says.

For Alexis Trevalise, it has been a painful year and a half. “I go by David Rosenfeld’s bike every day, and I put flowers there for both David and

Jon now,” she says. “And so many people drive

by Jon’s Ghost Bike, and they will then text me and let me know they stopped and said a prayer or put flowers on the bike, and that is really special. It shows that he is not forgotten.”

To volunteer or donate bikes, money or supplies, see the “Houston Ghost Bike” group on Facebook or go to houstonghostbike.org.

nurturing young minds emphasis on individuality

respect for students

focusing on academics

Alexander-Smith Academy An extraordinary college preparatory high school

713/266-0920 • www.alexandersmith.com

BELLAIRE BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2015 13

NEIGHBORS

by Eric Uzick, contributing writer

Fall Festivals F

all in Houston is like spring in the north.

Finally, we can venture out of the climatecontrolled homes and offices we’ve been hiding in without keeling over.

To make your lovely weekends even more memorable, we offer these ideas.

Advocare Texas Kick-Off: Texas A&M vs. ASU

Kevin Brown/State Fair of Texas

Playtime in Houston’s best season

When: Saturday, Sept. 5, 6 p.m.

Highlights: Kick off the football season as the Texas A&M Aggies play the Arizona State University Sun Devils in an SEC/PAC 12 showdown.

Location: NRG Stadium Price: Tickets start at $70 Details: lsse.net/events/advocare-texas-kickoff

9th Annual Fiestas Patrias When: Sunday, Sept. 13, 1-5:30 p.m.

Highlights: Fiestas Patrias, a Mexican national holiday, commemorates the call to end Spanish rule in Mexico. The celebration will feature live music, dancing and Mexican food.

Location: Traders Village, 7979 N. Eldridge Price: Free, $4 parking Details: tradersvillage.com/houston

Running of the Bulls 5K Run/Walk When: Sunday, Sept. 20, 8:15 a.m.

Highlights: This fifth annual 5k winds throughout NRG Park with interactive water stops. There to cheer you on will be the Texans mascot Toro and cheerleaders. All participants will cross the finish line on the floor of NRG Stadium. Also a kids 1k.

Location: NRG Stadium Price: Starts at $35 Details: houstontexans.com/community

Houston Scream Festival When: Oct. 1-31; Monday-Thursday, 8-10:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 8 p.m.-12 a.m.

Highlights: This haunted house and activity zone offers plenty of scares, paintball with zombies, live bands, horror movies, carnival games, wandering characters and costume shopping.

BELLAIRE BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2015 14

TEXAS-SIZED WELCOME The 55-foot-tall Big Tex says howdy to more than 2 million visitors to the State Fair of Texas in Dallas every year. The fair starts the last Friday of September and ends 24 days later.

Location: 1500 Elton St., near Hobby Airport Price: $35 Details: houstonhauntedhouses.com

Original Greek Festival When: Oct. 1-4. Times vary.

Highlights: Weekend of Greek food, traditional music, dancing and folk art.

Location: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 3511 Yoakum Blvd.

Price: $5 for adults, free for 12 and under Details: greekfestival.org

ZiegenBock Music Festival When: Thursday, Oct 1, 12:30-11 p.m.

Highlights: Annual music festival featuring country music. There will be three stages of live music, plus autograph sessions and food vendors.

Location: Sam Houston Race Park, 7575 N

Sam Houston Pkwy. W. Price: $25-30 Details: ziegenbockfestivalhouston.com

Texas Contemporary When: Oct. 2-3, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Oct. 4, 12-6 p.m.

Highlights: Texas Contemporary calls itself a “contemporary and modern art fair that brings the country’s best galleries to the area’s discerning collector base.” It connects artists and enthusiasts with dealers and offers artist panels.

Location: George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida De Las Americas Price: To be determined Details: txcontemporary.com

The Houston Italian Festival When: Oct. 8-11. Times vary.

Highlights: Participate in such activities as

the adult bocce tournament, the grape stomp contest, the classic car show and the pastaeating contest.

Location: 3800 Montrose Blvd.

Price: $8; kids 12 and under free Details: houstonitalianfestival.com

Houston Poetry Festival When: Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 10, 2 p.m.; Oct. 11, 2 p.m.

Highlights: Celebrating its 30th year, the Houston Poetry Festival is one of the longestrunning festivals of its kind. Visitors will be able to hear poetry from established poets as well as submit their own poetry in a juried contest. The festival welcomes those new to poetry, with workshops and classes.

Location: Willow Street Pump Station, University of Houston-Downtown, 811 N. San Jacinto Price: Free Details: houstonpoetryfest.info

Trill Comedy Festival When: Oct. 9-11 Highlights: This festival, which features over 100 comedic performers, showcases national and local performers in improv, sketch, stand-up and film. Comics will hold workshops for those new to the comedy scene.

Location: Station Theater, 1230 Houston Ave. Price: To be determined Details: trillcomedy.com

Bayou City Art Festival Downtown When: Saturday, Oct. 10-Sunday, Oct. 11, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Highlights: The Bayou City Art Festival features the work of hundreds of artists from across the country, along with food trucks and activities.

Location: Hermann Square Park, 900 Smith St. Price: $10 Details: artcolonyassociation.org

2015 Korean Festival When: Saturday, Oct. 17, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Highlights: The Korean Festival (K-Fest) was created to unite the Korean community in Houston and showcase Korean culture. There will be traditional food, Taekwondo demonstrations and performances of both traditional and modern Korean music.

Location: Discovery Green Park, 1500 McKinney St. Price: Free Details: koreanfestivalhouston.com

Wings Over Houston Airshow When: Saturday, Oct. 17, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 18, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Highlights: See demonstrations by military aircraft, civilian performances in stunt planes and up-close looks at retired aircraft.

Location: Ellington Airport, 510 Ellington Field Price: $25-30 Details: wingsoverhouston.com

Full Moon Fest When: Friday, Oct. 23, 5:30 p.m.

Highlights: This annual Halloween celebration will feature pumpkin decorating, face painting and costume contests. Stay after the celebration for a movie in the park.

Location: Colonial Park Pavilion, 4130 Byron, West University Price: Free Details: westutx.gov or call 713-662-7420

Tents in Town When: 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 through 10

a.m. Sunday, Oct. 25 Highlights: Camp out with your family at Bellaire Town Square. Each camper will receive a T-shirt, dinner on Saturday night and breakfast on Sunday morning.

Location: Bellaire Town Square, 7008 South Rice Ave. Price: Each campsite, $60; plus each adult, $30; each child, $15. Benefits Patrons for Bellaire Parks Details: bellaireparks.org

International Quilt Festival When: Thursday, Oct. 29-Sunday, Nov. 1.

Times vary.

Highlights: Browse award-winning quilts, quilting machinery, sewing tools and antique quilts. Participate in a raffle for a chance to win a quilt made by Kimmy Brunner.

Location: George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida De Las Americas Price: $9-12; children 10 and under free Details: quilts.com/home/shows/viewer.php ?page=FallFestival

Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos Celebration When: Saturday, Oct. 31, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 1, 12-5 p.m.

Highlights: Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), one of the oldest Latin American customs, honors those who have passed in a festive way that celebrates life.

Location: National Museum of Funeral History, 415 Barren Springs Drive Price: $7-10 Details: nmfh.org/exhibits/dayOfDead/info.php Editor’s note: To see more events and to submit your own, click on “Events” at thebuzzmagazines.com.

Worth the drive Texas State Fair – When: Sept. 25-Oct. 18; 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays; 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays Highlights: Experience the essence of the Lone Star State at the Texas State Fair, with traditional Southern music, food and carnival games.

Wave hello to 55-foot Big Tex. Location: 3921 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Dallas • Price: $14-18 • Details: bigtex.com Austin City Limits – When: Oct. 2-4 and Oct. 9-11; 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Highlights: Started in 2002, this respected music festival is partially responsible for Austin being dubbed “The Live Music Capitol of the World.” This year’s lineup includes, among other top acts, Drake, Florence + The Machine, Foo Fighters and The Strokes.

Location: Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Road, Austin • Price: 1-day pass, $90; 3-day pass, $225-250 • Details: aclfestival.com Texas Renaissance Festival – When: Saturdays-Sundays Oct. 10-Nov. 29, plus the Friday after Thanksgiving Highlights: Enjoy live theater, falconry demonstrations, food, music, and shopping at this sprawling festival with its own permanent grounds in the woods.

Location: 21778 FM 1774, Todd Mission, about an hour northwest of downtown Houston • Price: Starting at $26 • Details: texrenfest.com 38th Annual Scarecrow Festival – When: Saturday, Oct. 10: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 11: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Highlights: Bring in the fall in classic Southern style. More than 250 vendors sell everything from home décor to jewelry, along with countrystyle food and live entertainment.

Location: 9220 Poplar Street, Chappell Hill, about an hour west of downtown Houston • Price: Free, $5 parking Details: chappellhillmuseum.org/scarecrow.html

BELLAIRE BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2015 15

NEIGHBORS

by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

A Grand Love In praise of grandparents “I’m just really lucky to have them.”

That’s what Lorn McLaren, 15, says of his grandparents, Olga and Theron McLaren, as they and Lorn’s brother Duncan, 12, drive back from a summer trip to New Orleans.

Olga, a longtime first-grade teacher at St. John’s School, and Theron, a retired engineer, “waited a long time” for grandchildren from their only son, and they’ve relished every minute since.

When the boys were young, Olga set up a playroom in her attic filled with “all the things that were developmentally correct,” collected during her years of teaching. And she has kept journals for the boys since the days they were born. “I wanted them to see all the things they have done from my perspective,” she says. “I’m on the third volume.”

Olga and Theron also started a tradition with the boys: weekly sleepovers with dinner at Grotto, pancake and egg breakfasts, “garage saleing” and a trip to House of Coffee Beans.

“I once was at a gymnastics class when a woman said hello to Lorn,” Tevia McLaren, the boys’ mom, says. “He was maybe 5 and said hi.

She was a regular at House of Coffee Beans and knew Lorn from his Saturday mornings there!”

In addition to making friends, the boys learned to bargain, asking, “How much do you want for this?” at garage sales, followed immediately by, “Would you take 25 cents?”

“As my children grew up, their [grandparents’] phone number was by the phone, and both boys could call at any time to ask to be picked up or spend the night or be taken to Baskin-Robbins, and over would come my in-laws.”

Studies show that when children report sharing close relationships with their grandparents, they also report greater academic and social competence, increased self-confidence, lower levels of depression and increased levels of maturity. Involved grandparents serve as role models and confidantes, and, echoing the sentiment, “It takes a village,” they support parents, decreasing stress in children’s worlds.

But grandchildren and their parents aren’t the only beneficiaries of such a supportive relationship. “When my father-in-law had bypass surBELLAIRE BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2015 16

TAKES A VILLAGE Theron and Olga McLaren began taking their grandsons (from left) Duncan and Lorn McLaren on overnight trips when they were very young. Here, the boys are 3 and 6, with their grandparents at the ranch Olga's father built.

gery, my mother-in-law put pictures of [the boys] all over his ICU recovery area to remind him why he had to live,” Tevia says.

Avril Danziger, a retired kindergarten teacher, says her relationship with her nine grandchildren (four in Houston, ages 10 to 16) is “the greatest enrichment I could ever wish for.

“I’ve always had a granny day from the time Emma was 10 months. I would take her for a day, and then when each one came along, I would do it with them. With four children, I knew they needed one-on-one time with somebody, and that was going to be me.”

Once the children started school, ‘granny day’ became the day when Avril would pick up one grandchild from school, take them home for homework, let them choose an activity, then do dinner and bathtime before taking them home to parents Susan and Paul Danziger. The activity could be anything from a baking project to a trip to Target.

“If all four wanted to bake, I’d bake four days a week,” Avril says. “Or I’d take them to Target.

Only a granny can stand around for two hours while they look at every doll or every nail polish or whatever.

“The two younger ones still have a granny day, and the two older will call when they have time and say, ‘I need a granny day.’ It’s usually when they need more nail polish or something like that. Whatever it takes.”

The Jinks family takes grandparent-grandchildren relationships a step farther. “Grandma and Grandpa moved in next door when our kids were little,” (they’re now 15 and 12) says Caroline Jinks. “Being so close gives the children and the grandparents security. It keeps the grandparents young to look out the window and see the children running and jumping in the pool with their friends.”

EllaDee Jinks (a.k.a. Grandma) says, “We just love having the kids pass through all the time.

We took down the fence and it’s just one big yard in the back. There’s hardly a day goes by during the summer that they’re not in the pool, and we get to know their friends.”

From seeing the children off at the bus on their first days of school to checking in every afternoon, EllaDee says, “They are a part of our daily life. We share so much we’re like one family in two houses. That adds a lot of joy to my life.”

hartphoto.com

WORKING TOGETHER EllaDee Jinks taught her grandson West Jinks how to operate the riding lawn mower and care for their shared backyard.

NEIGHBORS

by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer

Scout Trek Weathering the storm

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he Philmont Ranch, a vast wilderness near Cimarron, New Mexico, is the Boy Scouts of America’s premier high-adventure camp, and has been singled out by Backpacker Magazine for its “high mountain splendor.”

“They may meet only one other group of Scouts on the trail in an entire day of hiking,” according to the magazine. “Even in the most crowded destinations, each Scout group camps in isolation, out of sight and sound of all other groups.”

It’s a landscape that commands respect and caution. A flash flood this summer swept four Scouts into the river, taking the life of 13-yearold Alden Brock of Sacramento, Calif. Troop 46, which calls its base St. Luke’s Methodist Church of River Oaks, weathered that storm in a camp just down the trail from the tragedy, but didn’t learn of it until later.

For Christopher Gray, assistant scoutmaster of Troop 46 in the River Oaks area, the survival training he and other leaders had had as young men helped them weather the storm.

Accompanying Christopher and his son, Bellaire High School student Jackson, on this epic journey were Assistant Scoutmaster Daniel Krall and son Mitchell, a former HSPVA student; Assistant Scoutmaster John Kelly and son Christian Kelly, also of Bellaire; Alex Lee of St. Thomas High School; Scott Stegink of Lamar; and Will Partridge, who has since moved to Colorado.

The group prepared for the 12-day trip in true Boy Scout style – with exercise, gearing up, medical checks and planning. The boys, from 14 to 16, were experienced hikers who had done smaller trips; they knew how to cook on camp stoves, purify water and build a fire. “The kids were in charge; the adults are just the chaperones,” said Gray. “They read the maps, they figure out the route, they navigate, they organize cooking and setting up the tents.”

They set off for Philmont on Friday, June 19, and by Monday they were on the mountain with their big packs, hiking up to Deans Cutoff Camp.

On the third night they hiked up to Pueblano Ruins, where the boys roped a sawhorse and used a cattle brand to brand their hats. Day Four they made their way up to Baldy Town, a onceBELLAIRE BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2015 18

ON THE TOOTH OF TIME Scaling this geologic formation was a high point of the journey. From left, standing: Scott Stegink, Jackson Gray, Will Partridge. Seated, middle row: Christian Kelly, Alex Lee, Mitchell Krall, Daniel Krall. Seated, foreground: John Kelly and Christopher Gray.

bustling gold-mining town, now a staffed base camp with a commissary at 10,000 feet located at the base of Baldy Mountain, the ranch’s highest peak. They explored the nearby French Henry Camp, allegedly the site of an ancient Aztec mine, and got to pan for gold; then they left their packs and tents in Baldy Town and, newly lightened of their loads, continued on up, summiting Baldy Mountain at 12,441 feet.

“Some of us were struggling with altitude issues,” said Gray. “We got hailstones, and it was white everywhere you could see with hail.”

The boys took it in stride and set up camp that night in Baldy Town. The next day, Day Six, they hiked to the Head of Dean Camp, and that’s the night it rained so hard that it flooded the entire camp. They awoke to a watery world and found that the hike they’d planned was no longer possible because the bridges were washed out.

Little did they know that just down the trail, another group of Scouts had endured a night of horror that would make their own pale in comparison. Those boys were swept into the floodwaters of North Ponil Canyon around 4:30 a.m.; three were rescued by members of the camp staff, but they couldn’t get to Alden in time. A memorial service in Sacramento for the fallen Scout,

who was remembered as a courageous, skillful and highly beloved lad, was attended by 800.

In the next six days the Houston Scouts’ rerouted hike would take them rock climbing, trail building and hiking up on Urraca Mesa, a windwhipped highland redolent of spooky legends dating to indigenous inhabitants and Mexican vaqueros. They swapped ghost stories around the campfire. They camped at the foot of a towering formation called the Tooth of Time and in the morning, scaled it and had breakfast on top, surveying the green forests.

The boys made it home and declared the expedition a great success. The high point for Christopher was “seeing the kids work together as a group – cooking meals, pitching tents, organizing how things would get done. I learned the boys were capable of planning and organizing and taking the lead in these sorts of events, and the boys learned they could do it, as well.”

Grateful to be home safe, all took home a lesson they will not soon forget: one of the fragility of life in the face of nature’s fury.

Editor’s Note: See page 24 for writer Tracy L. Barnett’s Travel Buzz account of an ambitious father-daughter mountain trek.

BELLAIRE BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2015 19

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Mythbusters: allergy edition In the Internet Age, it’s hard to avoid hearing about the latest health trends. When it comes to allergies, there is a lot of misinformation out there.

You should always be skeptical when you see a social media post about allergies. Let’s debunk some common allergy myths you may have heard.

Myth #1: Consuming local honey or bee pollen can prevent allergies.

Consuming local honey or bee pollen does not have any benefit in treating allergies. You may have heard that eating honey made by local bees will help you deal with allergies by feeding you small amounts of the local pollens you are allergic to, allowing your body to form a tolerance to these allergens, similar to the way that allergy shots work. However, bees make their honey from flower pollen, and very few people are actually allergic to flower pollen.

The vast majority of people who have pollen allergies are actually allergic to the pollen from trees, grasses and weeds, not flowers. Therefore, consuming local bee pollen or honey will not improve your tolerance to the most common allergens in your local environment.

Myth #2: Using a humidifier in your bedroom will help you breathe easier at night.

Using a humidifier in your bedroom is probably one of the worst things you could do if you are allergic to dust mites, which many people are. Dust mites are microscopic insects that commonly live in our carpet and mattresses. They survive off of our skin cells and water absorbed from the air. If you make your room more humid with a humidifier, dust mites will thrive there.

What you really need if you’re allergic to dust mites is a dehumidifier.

Myth #3: You can outgrow your allergies.

While children with food allergies often outgrow their food allergies, unfortunately this usually isn’t the case with airborne allergies like pollen and mold.

Myth #4 My mom is allergic to cats, so I am probably allergic to cats too.

While the tendency to be allergic is often inherited, you don’t actually inherit the specific allergies that your parents suffer from.

Myth #5: Moving to another climate will get rid of your allergies.

If you’re allergic to dust mites, you can’t outrun this allergy. While dust mites do prefer humid climates, they’re still going to be present in even the driest climates. Eventually you will also become sensitized to the local pollens wherever you move. So don’t move to Arizona just yet.

The moral of the story is that it’s always better to speak with a board-certified allergist about how to deal with your allergies instead of trusting your health to the hands of Facebook or Dr. Google.

No one nose allergies like we do.™ Note: Information contained in this article should not be considered a substitute for consultation with a board-certified allergist to address individual medical needs.

Allyson Gelman, MPAS, PA-C, The Allergy Clinic, 7707 Fannin, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77054, 713.797.0993, *1200 Binz, Suite 180, Houston, Texas 77004, 713.522.9911, www.allergyclinic.com, *Operating as Houston Allergy & Asthma Clinic

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BELLAIRE BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2015 20

BELLAIRE BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2015 21

KIDS

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by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Buzz Baby

First-birthday parties

Buzz Baby is a column about life with babies from the perspective of a first-time mother. If you have baby stories to share, leave a comment under this article at thebuzzmagazines.com or email info@thebuzzmagazines.com.

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his summer, my husband and I survived planning and pulling off our twins’ first birthday party.

Our original idea was to have a small, intimate gathering with family only. However, our list grew, and before we knew it, we were booking our neighborhood clubhouse, arranging for a snow-cone truck, setting up James Coney Island and sending out invitations to over 50 people.

The party was a success, and even though I wanted to pull out my hair setting it up, I don’t regret throwing a huge bash to celebrate their big milestone.

Let’s admit it. A first birthday party isn’t really for the 1 year old. It’s for the parents. It’s to celebrate more sleep-filled nights (most of the time), the end (for some) of buying formula and (hopefully) surviving a year without having to call 911.

Global programs manager Lauren McCulloch and her husband Wyatt, a commercial real estate broker, have two daughters, Lyla, 3, and Lexi, 11 months.

For Lyla’s first birthday, they decided to make it easy and intimate, so they invited only family.

“Well, that ended up being about 50 people,” said Lauren. “It was a little hectic.”

That didn’t stop them though. The following year, they hosted a Mickey Mouse Clubhousethemed party for Lyla’s second birthday. They even rented a gymnastics truck to park in front of their house to entertain the kids.

Lauren, who was nine months pregnant at the time, says she made the mistake of searching for party décor ideas on Pinterest. “By the time it was all over with, I had created 100 pink and white hot dog trays with a stencil, stationary and a hot glue gun. The red and white [hot dog trays] that you can buy in bulk on Amazon just weren’t good enough,” she said, laughing. “It was so silly, but it sure was fun.”

This September, they’ll host yet another BELLAIRE BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2015 22

birthday party for Lexi, who turns 1 in early October.

Lyla’s birthday is in September. “We are just going to do a two-for-one-special and have one big joint party for both of them,” said Lauren. “We will have a bunch of family in town [for Lexi’s baptism that weekend], so they’ll be able to make it.”

Lauren says that doing the birthdays together will save her extended family a lot of FIRST-BIRTHDAY BASH When Lyla McCulloch turned 1, her parents, Lauren and b a c k - a n d - f o r t h Wyatt, threw a big party at their house. travel, and it will They picked the theme, which was “hoppy also save her sanity in planning two parties in hour,” as it was close to the Easter holiday. less than a month.

Custom invitations were mailed, and Dawn set The couple also says no more house parties. up bunny decorations all over the house.

It’s at the neighborhood pool this time. “Lexi More than 40 family and friends attended. won’t know that she got ripped off until she’s “The party had a great start. Pearce took a nap older. I’m sure she will need therapy because I beforehand so she was happy and smiling and deprived her of such an important milestone,” enjoying all the attention,” said Dawn. said Lauren, laughing.

When it was time for the smash cake, guests The menu for big first birthday parties often surrounded Pearce in her high chair on their isn’t as simple as peanut butter and jelly sandback patio and started to sing Happy Birthday. wiches. Some parents, like Alex and Anthony “Mike rushed out holding the cake with the Heins, hired caterer Taco Cart by Don Julio for burning sparkler candles. The cake slid right off their daughter Annabel’s first-birthday bash at the cake stand onto the deck,” said Dawn. their home in May. Fajitas normally aren’t on “Everyone gasped, and my father-in-law quickly the menu for babies, but the adults enjoyed it. screamed, ‘3-second rule!’ and scooped up the The smash-cake session is usually the highdestroyed cake and put it back onto the stand.” light of a first birthday party. A smash cake is a They placed the cake in front of Pearce, and she baby-sized version of the big cake, and parents dug in. often let the baby dig into it hands and face first Dawn says everyone continued to sing and after everyone sings Happy Birthday. laughed about the fallen cake, which is still a Dawn Persia, a mom of two, and her husband story they tell. “It made her birthday party so Mike, vice president of Scout Petroleum, threw much more memorable than if it had all worked a big party at their house when their daughter out as planned.”

Pearce turned 1 last April.

BELLAIRE BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2015 23

TRAVEL

by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer

Travel Buzz Father-daughter mountain climb

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oy Scouts and Girl Scouts may leave their badges, hats and uniforms behind along with their graduation caps, but the spirit and the skills last a lifetime, as Hal Means and Shane Kimzey would be quick to tell you. These two very grown-up Boy Scouts had taken their sons, James and Christopher, on Scouting expeditions, but this summer, the tales they brought back from a father-daughter expedition were enough to bring out the Scout in anyone.

Hal, a marketing professional, and Shane, a house attorney at CenterPoint Energy, found that their Scout training came in handy when their daughters decided they wanted to climb some of the world’s highest peaks.

It all started when Charlotte Means, then a sixth grader at St. John’s School, was reading a book called No Summit Out of Sight, the true story of Jordan Romero, the youngest person to climb the seven highest peaks in the world.

Means was so inspired that she proposed climbing Mount Everest – after all, Jordan Romero had done it when he was 13, she reasoned.

Hal was impressed with his daughter’s initiative but proposed starting with a peak a bit closer to home: Mount Whitney in California, the highest peak in the lower 48 United States. It turned out Charlotte’s brother Christopher, also a Boy Scout, and mother Aline were otherwise occupied for the days they had a permit to climb Mount Whitney, so she asked if she could invite friend and neighbor Reagan Kimzey, then a seventh grader at Pershing Middle School, and her father Shane. That’s how the idea for the fatherdaughter trek was born.

Training for high-mountain climbing in the flatlands of Houston was no easy feat. They settled on the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Memorial Park, a mountain biking trail with plentiful ups and downs, stadium stairs, and the hill surrounding the Miller Outdoor Theatre. They also enjoyed the Japanese garden near the theater – “It was really pretty and it kind of reminded us of hiking at Mount Whitney,” Charlotte said later.

Shane and Hal, both Eagle Scouts, already had abundant gear; Shane had climbed Kilimanjaro several years ago. They borrowed hiking poles from a friend to help with the steep climbing and BELLAIRE BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2015 24

FROM BELLAIRE TO THIN AIR Reagan Kimzey, Shane Kimzey, Hal Means and Charlotte Means (from left) take a break from their father-daughter climb of Mt. Whitney to catch their breaths and a few memories.

the descent, and they stocked up on moleskin and other first-aid supplies, iodine tablets for the water, rain gear and other incidentals.

“We each got a good pair of boots, and everyone broke in their boots really well before the trip so there would be no blisters,” said Hal. The fathers and daughters got to the trailhead and began hiking at 5:30 a.m. “It was pretty dark, and it was cold,” recalled Reagan. “When the sun started coming up you could see the sunrise through the mountains, and that was pretty cool.”

They climbed under a steadily rising sun, coming to a pretty, green valley blooming with wildflowers with a clear stream running through it and a waterfall.

“The landscape was like Narnia meets Lord of the Rings,” said Hal. Mt. Whitney’s western slope lies in Inyo National Forest, and the trekkers marveled at the giant Sequoias, some of the largest trees in America. Deer, chipmunks and an abundance of birds made their appearance. The girls were particularly charmed by the enormous, notched, log bridge that crossed a swampy area – “they were like human Lincoln logs,” commented Charlotte.

They made steady progress throughout the morning, climbing switchback after switchback.

Despite their good athletic condition – Reagan and Charlotte are both competitive swimmers –

the altitude began to take a toll.

“When we got to 11,000 feet, the altitude started really getting to us,” said Reagan. “I didn’t think I was going to be able to go on. I was not being able to focus, and my head was really hurting.”

They sat down and ate lunch somewhere between the 11,000 and 12,000 mark, and Hal was suffering as well. “I was feeling nausea, dizziness, and a headache – it was pretty bad. I had felt it a little earlier but you just rest, drink water, eat a little bit and keep going. There was a point I was so dizzy I had to stop, because I didn’t want to fall.”

The other three continued and were closing in on the 12,000 mark when they decided it was time to turn back.

“It turned out to be a bit farther than we thought,” said Shane. “We finally realized it would be too far to get there and back in one day.

It just wasn’t in the cards for that day. For safety’s sake and practicality, we decided that was far enough…. Mountain climbers have a saying: ‘Going up is optional, coming down isn’t.’”

Reagan was the one who took it the hardest.

“It was really frustrating,” she said. “We thought we only had 3 miles to go, and then we found out it was 5 miles. We thought we’d come so far when we hadn’t.”

Shane was quick to put things into perspec-

tive. “The girls climbed higher and farther than they’d ever climbed before,” he said. “For their ages, it was incredibly amazing.”

The girls had barely made it down before they began planning their return. “We know now where the campgrounds are and where to start out and what time,” said Reagan. “I think we could do it if we took two days. We all want to go to other mountains, too; instead of making us not want to do it, it made us want to do it even more.”

The trip included a drive through Death Valley, 282 feet below sea level, at the opposite extreme from Mount Whitney. “We got contrasts that were astounding,” said Hal. The group learned not to count on technology; cell phone apps to measure altitude and distance don’t necessarily work at that altitude, and they agreed it’s better to rely on good old-fashioned maps and compasses and know-how from guidebooks.

Reagan, who has asthma, knew that training was key, but so was attitude. “You have to know what you’re up against; you have to train and do what’s required. But you also have to know that you can do it,” she said. “I learned a lot about myself on this trip – I learned I can do a lot more than I thought I could.”

Charlotte agreed. “It was an amazing experience – and like Mr. Kimzey said, it’s not the destination, it’s the journey.”

HAPPY TRAILS AT 12,000 FEET Charlotte Means (at left) and Reagan Kimzey take a break above the treeline on the Mt. Whitney Trail, happy and proud of their progress.

“I agree,” chimed in Reagan. “We had some fun – and we learned that you don’t have to make it to the top to succeed.”

Editor’s note: See page 18 for Travel Buzz writer Tracy Barnett’s account of a local Boy Scout troop’s challenging trek in New Mexico.

Gearing Up - Be Prepared Most Scouts would agree that selecting the right gear is an important part of being prepared. For the Kimzeys and the Means, REI was a good starting point – both the store and the website. Here are their tips: BOOTS: Hal, Charlotte, and Shane all got theirs at REI: Lowas (Hal), Salomons (Charlotte) and Garmonts (Shane – they survived Kilimanjaro, Mt. Washington in New Hampshire and Mt. Whitney among others). Reagan’s were Columbias from Academy (so a bit cheaper, but they did the job). The key is to get boots that are comfortable, provide good ankle support, are not too heavy, have plenty of extra space at the end of the toe box (extremely important when descending!) and are well-broken in. It also helps if they’re waterproof, as Hal discovered when he slipped into one of the icy streams and submerged a foot. Extra socks are a must.

POLES: Adjustable trekking poles are extremely helpful.

PACK: A good-sized day pack to carry plenty of water, food, first aid kit, rain gear, and cold weather gear. Some people like to have insect repellent, as well.

PLUS: On Mount Whitney, you had to have a “wag bag” – something the National Park Service provides for you to hike out solid human waste.

Shane also shared the “Classic 10 Essentials” for hiking from REI.com – the classic version, plus the updated version. The original 10 Essentials list was compiled in the 1930s by The Mountaineers, a Seattle-based climbers’ group. In 2003, the group updated the list to a “systems” approach rather than listing individual items (for example, map and compass now fall into the Navigation “system.”)

Classic Ten Essentials 1. Map 2. Compass 3. Sunglasses and sunscreen 4. Extra clothing 5. Headlamp/flashlight 6. First-aid supplies 7. Firestarter 8. Matches 9. Knife 10. Extra food

Updated Ten Essential “Systems” 1. Navigation (map and compass) 2. Sun protection (sunglasses and sunscreen) 3. Insulation (extra clothing) 4. Illumination (headlamp/flashlight) 5. First-aid supplies 6. Fire (waterproof matches/lighter/candles) 7. Repair kit and tools 8. Nutrition (extra food) 9. Hydration (extra water) 10. Emergency shelter

MORE ONLINE For a link that explains more about these essentials, see this story at thebuzzmagazines.com.

BELLAIRE BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2015 25

FOOD

by Amanda Ellison Harwerth, contributing writer

Cooking Buzz Summer dining al fresco Cooking Buzz is produced in partnership with the Junior League of Houston, a women’s charitable and education organization founded in 1925.

A

cooking article? Those close to me will look twice to believe that I am writing a cooking article. While I am the lady of the house, I am not the lady of the kitchen.

It is my amazing husband, Craig, who is the established “master chef” of our family and friends. He will whip up Steak Diane with Truffle Risotto on a random Tuesday night. My family thinks it’s hilarious that I once refused to make iced tea because I didn’t want to “cook.”

Fast-forward a few years and a few kids, and now this kitchen novice is trying to conquer her fear of being a kitchen nightmare.

This summer I have focused on light but hearty summertime recipes for a dinner party al fresco or a weeknight family meal. I picked up the Junior League of Houston’s Peace Meals, and the results have not been a letdown.

For starters, I mix up the White Wine Sangria, a cool, fruity, fresh drink that is perfect for guests (or Daddy!) to sip on the patio on a hot summer evening. The kids love it when I make a second batch using lemon-lime soda.

The sangria is beautiful served in clear-glass pitchers on the table outside to act as colorful complements to my casual centerpieces.

The Butter Lettuce, Pomegranate and Walnut Salad is a simple, light start to the meal.

To make things even easier, I buy pre-packaged pomegranate seeds or sometimes substitute dried cranberries.

Most people in the South think of grilling steak or chicken when dining al fresco, but I love Sea Scallops and Orzo with Cherry Tomatoes. It looks impressive, but is surprisingly easy to prepare. I make basil chiffonade by simply rolling up fresh basil like a cigar and slicing into thin green ribbons to add a pop of green with the bright red tomatoes.

My son loves carrots, so we are always looking for new ways to prepare them, and the Balsamic Glazed Carrots are a variation on a favorite, hearty but not heavy.

Finally, I treat myself by preparing the BELLAIRE BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2015 26

Blackberry Raspberry Crisp – crunchy on top and sweet, warm berry goodness in the middle. If you’re like me and prefer a higher crisp-to-berry ratio, double the “crisp” portion of the recipe. I pair the dessert with vanilla ice cream to cool off my guests on a hot evening. I also like to substitute whatever berries are in the house as a great way to salvage ripening fruit and surprise the family with a spe- SEAFOOD FOR BEGINNERS Sea Scallops and Orzo with Cherry Tomatoes looks cial dessert. impressive but is surprisingly easy to make.

I’ve learned that 2 ⁄3 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese presentation is just as important as preparation.

1 ⁄3 cup fresh basil chiffonade I like to use blue and white plates, napkins and serving pieces, which add an element of crispness Cook the orzo according to package direcagainst the summer heat. I use tall vases with tions. While the pasta cooks, heat 1 tablespoon sunflowers, as they can withstand the evening of the olive oil in a large skillet over mediumheat with grace, and the height adds drama. I high. Sprinkle ½ teaspoon salt and pepper evenscatter decorative citronella candles around the ly over the scallops. Sauté scallops for 3 minutes table for function as well as ambience. on each side or until done. Remove the scallops I hope this inspires others to be fearless in the from the pan and set aside. Drain the excess liqkitchen. If I can do it, anyone can. uid from the pan and add the remaining 1tablespoon of olive oil. Add the onions, garlic and Sea Scallops and Orzo with Cherry red pepper, and cook for two minutes, stirring Tomatoes frequently. Stir in the pasta and scallops, and From Peace Meals continue to cook for 1 minute or until heated 1 cup dry orzo pasta through. Remove from heat, season with the 2 Tbsp. olive oil, divided 3 remaining salt and pepper and stir in the toma⁄4 teaspoon coarse salt, divided 1 toes, cheese and basil. ⁄4 tsp. freshly ground pepper, divided 1 lb. sea scallops 1 cup chopped sweet onion For other mentioned recipes, click on 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 Categories/Recipes at thebuzzmagazines.com. To buy ⁄4 tsp. crushed red pepper a cookbook, see www.jlh.org or call 713-871-6608.

2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved

MORE ONLINE

ASSORTED APPS A platter offering a variety of appetizers, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, asparagus and crackers, is a refreshing start to dining al fresco.

.

by Todd Freed, staff writer

Kevin B Long / GulfCoastShots.com

SPORTS

SportzBuzz A

fter Herb Kunz was promoted to defensive coordinator for the Bellaire Cardinals in January, the last thing he expected was to then begin the season as the Cardinals’ new head football coach. But when Trey Sissom unexpectedly left Bellaire this summer to become the new head coach at Fort Bend Travis, Kunz was chosen to replace him.

“I think it’s an outstanding situation,” said Kunz, who’s been coaching high school football for the past 20 years. “Bellaire has a standard of excellence that’s very attractive. I’m excited about our kids and our coaching staff. Coach Sissom and Trey Herrmann before him did a great job of building up the program, and the next step we’re looking towards is having success in the playoffs.”

Kunz is especially looking forward to the return of wide receiver Courtney Lark, who has committed to play college football at TCU. Another top returning player is senior linebacker Donovan Stiner, who’ll play college football at Baylor University. “I’m looking at Donovan and Courtney to provide a lot of leadership for our team,” said Kunz.

After losing 11 players to the college-football ranks, the Lamar Texans will be looking to reload this football season. A state finalist three yeas ago, Lamar posted a lofty 11-1 record last year. “We have a smaller senior class than usual, but I’m still pretty optimistic about the season,” said Texans head coach Tom Nolen.

The Texans’ biggest high-profile player is senior offensive tackle Dixie Wooten. The 6’5”, 310-pound senior has committed to play for the University of Houston next year. Meantime, 6’3”, 265-pound center Brian Bourgeois has a college offer from Davidson, but is also looking at several Ivy league schools as well as Rice University. Another highly regarded returning player is three-year starting defensive back Logan Latin. In the backfield, juniors Owen Holt and Carlton Smith are competing for the starting quarterback spot left by the departure of quarterback J.W Ketchum, who is playing college football at Baylor.

If history is any indication, the Texans should again be a powerful force, having won five conBELLAIRE BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2015 28

secutive district titles and earned a playoff berth in 28 of the 30 seasons Nolen has coached at Lamar.

“We’ve got a great school, with a really good football program and a stable coaching staff,” said Nolen.

After defeating rival St. Pius to win this summer’s TAPPS 7 on 7 State Championship, the St. Thomas Eagles have their sights set on winning a state title when it matters most this coming fall. “We definitely have the makings of one of our best teams here at St. IN THE CARDS The return of standout wide receiver Courtney Lark should be a major boost for the Bellaire Cardinals this season. Lark will play college football Thomas,” said head at TCU. coach Tim Fitzpatrick. whole, I really like what I see from the girls as “At the skills position, we have all our players far as their work ethic and how well they play back. We should have a pretty potent offensive together as a team.” attack.”

The Mustangs team is led by senior middle Leading the offense is senior quarterback blocker Maddie Phillips, who will play Division Michael Keating, who threw for over 1,800 1 college volleyball at Lipscomb University. yards while rushing for another 900 yards last “Maddie has a really quick arm swing and is year. Running back William Heck, who rushed extremely agile at the net,” said Gammill. “She’s for 900 yards despite being slowed by a highjust a great player.” ankle sprain late in the season, is back this seaOther returning starters include senior outson, as is fellow running back Walter Hinckley. side hitter Amanda McCloskey and junior The Eagles also welcome the return of standout libero Alexis Pratt. “Amanda is a very smart, receivers Landon Malouf and Drew Guidroz, hard-hitting player with great court vision, while as well as highly touted Episcopal transfer Alexis is a tremendous defensive specialist who Jhanmon Ausbon. The 6’4” junior has already can dig the ball out of nowhere. She’s just all committed to Baylor University. over the court,” said Gammill. “This is just a In volleyball, the Memorial Mustangs are really fun team to coach.” looking to build upon last season’s undefeated district championship. Memorial went 12-0 in Editor’s Note: Todd Freed is the Emmy Awarddistrict and 28-9 overall, but was eliminated winning co-host and producer of the KUBE from the playoffs in the first round by Jersey SportsZone, which airs Saturday and Sunday at 6 Village. p.m. on Channel 57-KUBE. To submit high school “I think we’ll be a better team defensively,” sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, said Memorial head coach Beth Gammill. “I please email todd@thebuzzmagazines.com. know we’ll have a stronger back row. As a

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SPORTS

.

by Angie Frederickson, staff writer

SportzBuzz, Jr. W

elcome to SportzBuzz, Jr., a column spotlighting neighborhood athletes in elementary and middle school.

In the zone The Kyle Chapman Titans team, many of whom have been playing in Little League together since they were 5, went to the PONY League Zone Tournament in Burleson, Texas. On Saturday, with one win and one loss under their belts, they beat the Central Austin Youth League Angels 13-8 in the morning; then they played the San Juan PONY team in the evening and came away with a 13-3 victory. They finished as the runner-up in the Elite Bracket.

After, the team and their families celebrated with fried and smoked chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, gravy, biscuits and desserts at Babe’s Chicken Dinner House in Old Town Burleson. The tournament was the “last hurrah” for many players before these long-time Little League friends head to different high schools. Pictured (top photo, from left) are manager David Pincus, Matthew Weber, Joshua Ben-Shoshan, Connor Kolb, coach Rob Johnson, Isaac Villafan, Brennan Hoffman, Walker Whitney, Tommy McGuire, Mitchell Robbins, Daniel Portugal, coach Mike Pappert and (kneeling, from left) Jack Schell, Evan Cox and Tony Chuo.

Nationally ranked swimmers Estefania Lopez-Salas and Ainsley Dodson (middle photo, from left) competed in the Long Course Texas Age Group Championships in Austin.

Swimmers who qualified to participate from across the state, ranging in age from 9 to 14, gathered for a weekend competition that is the equivalent of a state championship in Texas. Both girls began swimming for the Briar Club summer swim team and then started swimming year-round, as members of Houston Country Club League, a USA Swimming league. Ainsley, a seventh grader at St. John’s School, qualified for the finals in four events and finished fifth in the 50-meter breaststroke for the 11-12 age group. Estefania, a fifth grader at River Oaks Baptist School, qualified for two event finals and finished first in both the 50-meter breaststroke and 100-meter breaststroke. Ainsley and Estefania are both nationally ranked in breaststroke.

Learning the basics Reid Lium and Dillard Jennings (bottom photo, from left) played for the West University Little League Rattlers team. The Rattlers ended their season in a six-way tie for first place in the American Varsity division. The division does not keep score, but instead focuses on having fun and teaching

the fundamentals. Learning the rules of the game and showing good sportsmanship are the primary goals. The 6-year-old friends and teammates attend West University Elementary School.

Editor’s note: Send your best high-resolution photos and behind-the-scenes stories about young local athletes, in both team and individual sports, to SportzBuzz, Jr. at info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Include all contact info, names, ages, grades and schools. Featured athletes must live in Buzz-circulation neighborhoods. Items will be published on a space-available basis.

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NEIGHBORS

.

by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Buzz About Town Hometown pride Bellaire’s own Tyler Duffey made his debut on Aug. 5 with the Minnesota Twins against the Toronto Blue Jays. Tyler is a 2009 graduate of Bellaire High School and played baseball at Rice University for three years before being drafted by the Twins. His dad, Tim Duffey, took a flight out of Houston to bring

Tyler his passport, and they road-tripped to Toronto together. Family members and friends who also traveled to cheer him on were brother Travis; fiancée Sarah Hutchins; Joe, Jonell and Will Hutchins; Becca Irey; James Walls; Nathan Mitchell; Chris Minifee; and Jason and Chrissy Shields. According to Bleacher Report, only .5 percent of high school baseball players ever play in a Major League game.

Down river Horn Academy fourth grader Luke Brandt (pictured, with his dog Tyler), stayed cool while canoeing in Village Creek near Silsbee. The

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family drove an hour and a half from Houston for the day adventure. They rented canoes at Eastex Canoe Trails and were dropped off at the put-in point. The canoe trip lasted three hours, and they stopped along sandbars to get in the water and cool off. They are making plans to do it again.

Bonjour This summer, Pin Oak Middle School students traveled to France to put their classroom lan-

Museum, Monaco and the beach. Pictured are Ashley Baker, Claire Gore, Amber Parker, Graham Revilla, Caroline Burnett, Sarah Szafranski, Louis Diara, Niameh Roman, Luke Richardson, Mae Boutwell, Chloe Baker, Callie Gray, Kaley Gilbert, Ileana Michel, Manon Giot, Rebecca Zivley, Sophia Perepelitsia, Isabella Mueller, Sara Tomlinson, Mia Liu, Silvia Marenco, Aditi Ranganathan, Zak Pham and Cameryn Scott.

It all adds up The Bellaire High School Math Department welcomed more than 150 freshman to campus this summer and gave students a jump start on their math courses for ninth grade. Over 40 upperclassmen volunteered their time to make math camp run smoothly. A big thank you also was extended to teacher Kay Gratke Kubena and the other teachers and staff who put together the camp. guage skills into real-world practice. The trip included 21 students and three teachers, who completed an 11-day immersion tour with EF Educational Tours. They visited Paris before taking the high-speed train to the French Riviera, where they studied and took language classes at an EF language school in Nice. The classes lead into immersive activities like a cooking class, a scavenger hunt with local students, and a dinner with a host family. They also visited the Matisse

Planes, trains and automobiles Twins George and Joshua Feinstein (pictured, from left, with mom Alli and dad Jeffrey) turned 2, and they had a party at Colonial Park in West University Place to celebrate. The weather was perfect, and the boys chose the theme “Modes of Transportation.” There were toy trains, trucks, planes and cars scattered around the park. The kids darted around the

playground, buried themselves in the ball pit and ran around the big grassy green. Afterward, it was cake time.

Best friends Best friends Lexi Clark, Peyton Cantrell and Riley Evans (pictured, from left) enjoyed a week of Girl Scout camp at Casa Mare. This was the second year for the girls to attend.

Although they weren’t in the same cabins, they still got to see each other at (continued on page 34)

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(continued from page 33) mealtime and ride to

camp together. Casa Mare, located in Seabrook, is for girls who have completed third grade.

Younger girls can attend Camp Misty Meadows, near Conroe, where horseback riding is the main attraction.

Tickled pink Bellaire residents Lauren Soliz and Chris Canonico, who are expecting a girl on Sept. 23, were showered with love and gifts this summer at a baby shower. The party was co-hosted by 12 friends, Miya Shay, Jessica Michan, Megan Newton, Kim Padgett, Katie Sherborne, Corbett Parker, Thomas Davis, Jerry Peruchini, Sonia Soto, Catarina Gonzales, Marissa Taler and

Monica Aizpurua. Over 50 guests attended and participated in the baby-shower stations, which included jotting down wishes for baby, writing a note on diapers to lift their spirits during late-night diaper changes, and a baby-tree where each person left a thumbprint to create a tree. The parents-tobe plan to frame and hang the baby-tree picture in Baby Canonico’s pink and gray nursery.

Pictured (from left) are Newton, Davis, Jerry Greenspan, Soliz, Peruchini, Ben Granger, Erik Vidor and Canonico.

Cool off and tee off The cooler temperatures of Colorado greeted Texans at The Methodist Hospital’s “Peak Performances” event featuring several top docs mingling at the Aspen home of Cam and Rod Canion. More than 120 guests attended the event, hosted by Nancy and Jack Dinerstein and Susan and Dr. Dick Stasney. Music from a string quartet provided by the Aspen Music Festival greeted guests as they walked outside to scenic views, with waterfalls, ponds, mountains

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and fabulous weather as the backdrop. Pictured (from left) are Tom and Lesha Elsenbrook, Jack and Nancy Dinerstein, Rod and Cam Canion, and Drs. Marc and Julie Boom.

Helping others

Girl Scout Troop 21173 made snack bags for guests at the Christian Community Service Center. They were intended for the children of less fortunate families who come in for assistance

and get food, clothing or other services. The children keep occupied by snacking and coloring while parents get the help they need. The girls decorated paper bags and filled them with water bottles, granola bars, apple sauce, coloring sheets and crayons. Some of the girls helping were Jenna Bartley, Alexis Bartley and Emily Vaughan.

Boy Scouts. Pictured are Kirby Gray, Dylan Daniel, Joshua Ni, Vir Shah, Rushil Chetty, Will Dems, James Kimzey, Owen Christ, Nikhil Shah, Evan Chang, Grant Griffiths, Jake Haegner, Blake Burkhart, Ali Faruqui, Charlton Miller, Ashton Vaporciyan, Camron Lande, and den leaders Shane Kimzey, Eric Christ and Sharon Chetty.

From Cub to Boy

Be seen in Buzz About Town. Send your high-res photos and community news to info@thebuzzmagazines.com.

Items are published on a space-available basis. Also share your upcoming-event listings on thebuzzmagazines.com.

Cub Scout Pack 130 held its graduation ceremony at Bellaire United Methodist Church. The graduates will transition in the coming year to

BELLAIRE BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2015 35

CLASS CLOWN Jackson Rozowski, a sixth grader at Lanier Middle School, loves to make others laugh.

KIDS

by Jackson Rozowski, age 11

Buzz Kidz

Jokin’ around

Q: How are teachers and trains different?

A: Teachers say to spit out your gum while trains say, “Choo! Choo!”

One thing I enjoy is telling jokes and riddles.

I like making others laugh. Whenever I think up jokes I put them in my “Jokepedia,” and then test them on my friends.

Every morning I read a riddle to wake up my brain. Jokes can be very useful. I sometimes use them to get out of being bullied and not get in trouble with the safety patrols.

Once, a really mean bully told me that he was going to give me a knuckle sandwich. I said, “Knuckle sandwich? I thought I ordered a ham sandwich!” He was too busy laughing to punch me.

Another time, a saftey patrol caught me run-

ning in the halls. He told me I wasn’t in a race, but I told him that I was in a race, the human race, and he didn’t write me up.

My English teacher at Condit Elementary, Ms. Melanie Mulhollan, always enjoyed my comic relief. Many times, I got in trouble with her and then cracked a joke to get out of it.

Teachers do appreciate my humor. I hope it works in middle school too. I have learned that any tense situation can be remedied with a joke or clever wordplay.

I guess my love of comedy started with my dad. He is funny-ish. My mom usually laughs at my jokes too. I started telling jokes when I got a joke book for my sixth birthday. I’ve been stuck on jokes ever since and have a built-in audience with my two younger sisters.

“When quality and honesty meet…reliable.”

I would like to be a “sit down” comedian when I grow up because standing makes me tired. If I make it to the big time, I won’t wear a watch. I will be doing what I love.

I recently heard a book talk by a very funny author – Chris Grabenstein. He made me realize I could also be a writer of funny stories and not just a teller of funny jokes. It is great to have choices.

Q: Why don’t sharks eat clowns?

A: Because they taste funny!

Want to be a Buzz Kid? Email approximately 350 words, a high-resolution photo and caption to info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Or mail it to The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401.

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DINING GUIDE

by Dai Huynh, staff writer

Where to eat outside

Greater Houston Convention and Visitor Bureau/Photographer Julie Soefer

This Month in Dining

BRENNER'S You can dine with a view at Brenner's Steakhouse on the Bayou, a two-story hideaway along picturesque Buffalo Bayou.

O

utdoor dining is on everyone’s mind when temperatures start to drop. Granted, humidity is still high in September, but it’s nothing that Texans can’t handle with rosé wine or sangria.

Patio pioneers Backstreet Cafe, Brennan’s of Houston, El Pueblito, Original Goode Co. Barbeque, Brasil and Tiny Boxwoods lead the pack, but the city is jam-packed with al fresco options, including the following: Go for people watching: El Big Bad’s patio overlooks Travis and Prairie, and when the 5 o’clock bell rings, downtown workers pour onto the streets like ants. Suddenly, the city comes alive, with birds chirping above the second floor of El Big Bad balcony, where there are about 65 seats, most of BELLAIRE BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2015 38

them occupied during happy hours. Chef Jonathan Jones is in charge of the comida, and he does so with finesse – as always – from the butternut squash empanada to the slow-roasted goat with pickled veggies. (419 Travis Houston, 713-229-8181).

Go for craft beers: The Hay Merchant patrons can fork into homemade bratwurst, boiled shrimp, sweet-and-spicy pig ears and gargantuan chicken-fried steaks while sipping a cold brew at this Westheimer attraction. Long picnic tables, fashioned from refurbished wood, line the patio with a view of downtown. Here, an eclectic Texas tavern menu is paired with 80 craft beers on tap, including five cask ales. (1100 Westheimer, 713-528-98050).

Go for the views: Brenner’s Steakhouse on the Bayou boasts one of the most scenic views inside the Loop. No wonder it’s coveted by so many brides. Perched above a wooded retreat along Buffalo Bayou, this upscale steak-andseafood restaurant has a back deck that affords a view of a quaint, white gazebo, cascading waterfall and lush foliage. The idyllic scene makes a post-meal stroll a must. (1 Birdsall St., 713-868-4444).

Go for Sunday breakfast: Maria Selma Restaurant is an atypical Houston restaurant in the sense that most diners are on the patio rather than inside, even in the hottest months.

This is because owner Rene Hidalgo successfully re-created a patio reminiscent of palapas in Acapulco. A beautiful thatched roof keeps diners cool while they sip frozen margaritas and chow down on huevos con chorizo sausage.

(1617 Richmond Ave, 713-528-4920).

Go for late-night bites: The expansive upstairs patio at Rosemont Social Club blends two worlds. Marvelously cool, the open-air expanse above Uchi restaurant in the heart of Montrose is furnished with red-orange chaise sectionals that scream South Miami Beach while swaying palms and ornate canopies bring to mind sand-swept Morocco. Here, hipsters toast with Veuve Clicquot rosé and nibble on flatbreads, artisanal cheeses and meats along with hand-crafted cocktails. (910 Westheimer, 832-530-4698)

Restaurant Listings $ (under $10) $$ ($11-$30) $$$ ($31-$60) $$$$ (over $60) Prices include drink, tax and tip per person

along with abundantly friendly service and a homey vibe. Every meal begins with complimentary bruschetta and ends with a gracious smile. In between, there are simple, satisfying antipasti.

Many customers order pastas as their entrées, but for those who must have meat, consider the deftly prepared osso buco – an occasional special – or the grilled angus fillet. Dinner Mon.-Sat. 2311 Bissonnet, 713-521-1155. anticarestaurant.com. $$$

Arnaldo Richards’ Picos Dai Huynh is a James Beard food-journalism award winner and longtime restaurant writer. Her visits to restaurants in our Buzz Dining Guide were anonymous, and she paid for her meals to maintain objectivity. We’d love your thoughts too. Write to info@thebuzzmagazines.com with your own dining opinions and suggestions. Also, you can contribute in the Comments section under the online version of this story at thebuzzmagazines.com.

Antica Osteria Regional Italian Neighborhood: Southhampton Antica Osteria, in a vintage brick house, attracts an eclectic mix with its warm, old-fashioned feel.

There are Turkish movie stars, socialites, ingénues, young lovers, media types and, even, parents with well-behaved children. The attractions are the well-prepared pastas; spaghetti carbonara lush with cream and pancetta makes the strongest impression,

Regional Mexican Neighborhood: Upper Kirby Many remain nostalgic about the old Pico's location on Bellaire. But upon entering the new locale, it's hard to fault owner Arnaldo Richards for moving into this graciously appointed, hacienda-inspired space made warm and inviting with coral tablecloths, ceiling beams and dark furniture.

His food, too, has been tweaked, often with winning results. The tomato salsa sings. The ranchera salsa smolders with charred tomatoes. The chicken consommé soup is still a cure for the blues, swimming with pulled chicken, onion, cilantro, Mexican rice and avocado. A dash of Serrano pepper provides a mild, welcome kick. And his signature huachinango a la Veracruzana (red snapper) is elegantly draped with an exquisitely light tomato sauce flavored with green olives, capers and chiles güeros. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 3601 Kirby, 832-831-9940. picos.net. $$

BRC Gastropub London-inspired gastropub Neighborhood: Rice Military Lance Fegen marinates his chicken in a honey brine prior to encasing the moist interior with a crisp, nutty crust. Short-rib brisket burgers evoke contented sighs while fried oysters are light but forcefully flavored in this wood-paneled masculine beer haven with engaging feminine touches, such as flamboyant wallpapers inspired by the glossy Viceroy, a boutique hotel in Santa Monica.

Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 519 Shepherd Drive, 713-861-2233. brcgastropub.com. $$

Brooklyn Athletic Club Modern American Neighborhood: Museum District Food and play go hand-in-hand at this concept influenced by Shepard Ross’ childhood in Brooklyn, where bocce ball highlighted family gatherings. The fork-tender pork osso buco and robust pasta and meatballs are made more enjoyable watching friends challenge each other at croquet. Lunch & dinner Tues.Sun. 601 Richmond Ave., 713-527-4440. thebrooklynathleticclub.com. $$

Canopy Creative Gulf-Coast cuisine Neighborhood: Montrose When the weekend (continued on page 40)

Come try our authentic Mexican food

5427 Bissonnet, Suite 200 Houston, Texas 77081 832.623.6467 www.saltillomexicankitchen.com Mon - Thur 11am to 10pm Fri - Sat 11am to 11pm Sunday 12pm to 5pm

BELLAIRE BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2015 39

for Cajun and classical French, elements that can found throughout the menu. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sat. 2736 Virginia Street. 713-5689196. cornertablehouston.com. $$$

Étoile Authentic French Neighborhood: Galleria area When several talented French chefs urge you to try the food at Étoile, it’s hard to dispute their keen taste for the food of their homeland.

Just as they said, the flavors here are true, and owner-chef Philippe Verpiand and wife Monica Bui have created an alluringly warm showcase for a hearty coq au vin and tender sole meunière with lemon caper sauce, fingerling potatoes and roasted cauliflower – both brunch items. Briny mussels flavored with tomatoes and onions are served with homemade pomme frites and garlic aioli. The beauty of this place is almost everything is made from scratch, including the crusty baguettes. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sun. 1101 Uptown Park Blvd., 832668-5808. etoilecuisine.com. $$ CANOPY One of Canopy's offerings is grilled, tandoori-spiced salmon with lentil-basmati pilaf, tomatoes, sautéed spinach and mango-ginger chutney. (continued from page 39) arrives, Houston’s motor

shifts into idle, and Canopy greets its favorite meal – brunch. The austere space with blond furniture bubbles with conversations as Claire Smith’s reliable kitchen sends out baby-spinach salads with pulled chicken that is peppy with a dessert-wine vinaigrette, apples and roasted red grapes. Try, too, eggs benedict on sweet potato English muffins and an earthy four-mushroom pot pie. Breakfast, lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 3939 Montrose, 713-528 6848. canopyhouston.com. $$

Neighborhood: Rice Village Like Coppa Ristorante Italiano, this casual rendition applies the principles of Italian cooking by allowing ingredients to speak with minimum interference. Chef Brandi Key’s clarifies ingredients and judges flavors finely. Pizzas shine. Creamy burrata shimmers with peppery extra-virgin olive oil. Spaghetti carbonara crackles with black pepper and the creaminess of raw eggs and Parmesan cheese. Calabria chili and Meyer lemon brighten shrimp linguine with parmesan cream. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 5210 Morningside, 713-5223535. coppaosteriahouston.com. $$

Caracol Mexican coastal cuisines Neighborhood: Galleria Hugo Ortega is largely credited with introducing Houstonians to the foodways of Mexico. His namesake restaurant, Hugo’s, on Westheimer captivates with interior specialties, while Caracol showcases Mexico’s lilting coastal cuisines.

Ceviches and crudos shine against a snow-white interior dressed with deep-sea creatures by renowned illustrator Charley Harper. Jalapeño and ginger give great spark and crunch to conch, while scallops combined with sweet mango, papaya and lime crudos dance merrily between sweet, salty and tangy. A house favorite is oysters smoked in a wood-burning domed oven, then drizzled with a luscious chipotle butter. The menu leans toward seafood, but there are meatier options, such as bone-in short rib with cocoa nib and roasted duck with pumpkin seed sauce. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 2200 Post Oak Blvd., No. 160, 713-622-9996. caracol.net. $$$

Coppa Osteria Artisanal pastas and pizzas BELLAIRE BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2015 40

Corner Table Contemporary American Neighborhood: Upper Kirby The Paleo Diet – a nutritional regimen centered around eggs, nuts, pasture-raised meat, fresh fruit and vegetables – is no longer a fringe movement. It has charged into the mainstream, spawning how-to books and glossy magazines.

There are restaurants inspired by Paleo, including Corner Table, a multi-faceted space that boasts a luxe wine room reminiscent of France's Louis XIV era, a live-music lounge and a cozy mixology room with a speak-easy vibe. At the center is the restaurant, which shines even brighter with a culinary rising star at the helm.

Currently, Corner Table's kitchen is under the watch of New Orleans transplant Brandon Lampert, whose signature dishes include rainbow trout with brown lemon butter and pistachio. Another crowd favorite is braised short ribs with French onions and potato au gratin.

Lambert – who worked for James Beard Awardwinning chef John Besh and Food Channel iron chef Masaharu Morimoto – has a soft spot

Hugo’s Regional Mexican Neighborhood: Montrose Tex-Mex was the game in town until risk takers such as Hugo’s owner-chef Hugo Ortega set out to educate Houstonians about the food of his motherland. Many traditional Mexican establishments have failed, but not the highceiling, palatial Hugo’s, with such comida tipica as a soulful off-the-menu oxtail soup, earthy moles and snapper tamales fragrant in banana leaves. Perennial favorites are the wood-grilled rib-eye steak and baby pig roasted in banana leaves, not to mention pan-fried grasshoppers, which taste like popcorn and are delicious when paired with a blanco tequila. The crown jewel is Hugo’s Sunday brunch – a majestic cornucopian spread, worth every peso. Lunch & dinner Mon.Sun. 1600 Westheimer Road, 713-5247744. hugosrestaurant.net. $$$

Local Foods Chef-driven gourmet deli Neighborhoods: Rice Village; Upper Kirby Hand-crafted sandwiches and salads from chef Dylan Murray draw a diverse crowd.

Savor duck confit smothered with melted brie, aioli and cranberry preserves on wheat bread.

Shrimp-and-crab on ciabatta with green goddess dressing is another must-try. Sandwiches come with two sides that include Tuscan kale with golden raisins and potato chips speckled with Old Bay seasonings. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 2424 Dunstan, 713-521-7900.

Local Foods Upper Kirby, Lunch & dinner Mon.Sun., 2555 Kirby Drive, 713-255-4440. houstonlocalfoods.com. $$

NEW LISTING! North Italia Modern Italian Neighborhood: Galleria area

Following the success of True Food, Phoenix-based Fox Restaurant Concepts has launched another winning venture with this reasonably priced Italian eatery, where community dining is part of the appeal, along with homemade pastas and pizzas. A soaring space lit by bulbous overhead lighting and wellcoiffed customers, North Italia manages to captivate and nurture our love affair with Italian cooking. Dishes to try include the seasonable vegetable salad, the highly touted bolognese, fig-and-prosciutto pizza, ricotta gnocchi with braised beef short ribs with horseradish crema, and Italian donuts. Call ahead for reservations or avoid peak hours if you hate to wait. North Italia, with a view of the kitchen behind floor-to-ceiling glass, is packed and loud during prime times. But that's part of the fun. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 1700 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 190, 281-6054030; northitaliarestaurant.com. $$

NEW LISTING! The Republic Smokehouse and Saloon Texas barbecue Neighborhood: Midtown The 2007 demise of Williams Smokehouse, which occupied a wood-paneled cottage in Acres Homes, left a void. Williams’ meaty, tender, oak-smoked pork ribs never disappointed. Now the folks behind Hearsay and

Mr. Peeples have lured Cedric Williams, the youngest of Willie Williams' three sons, to fire up its state-of-the-art pit at Republic Smokehouse and Saloon in Midtown. Against a fancy honky-tonk backdrop and red neon lights, Cedric continues to honor the family tradition with his blend of seasonings, which also can be found at Kroger stores. Give his gigantic 1.5 pounds of slow-smoked beef short ribs a try. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 1910 Bagby Street, Suite 100, 832-925-8871; republicsaloon.com. $$

Seasons 52 New American Neighborhoods: Highland Village/Memorial Seasons 52 is reminiscent of Houston's on Kirby, with similar synergy and dimly lit decor.

There are multiple booths, each with its own lamp for an intimate, yet casual setting. The interior is well thought out, unified like most chains, but more upscale. Seasons 52 is motivated by seasonal ingredients, like a chef-driven restaurant, changing its menu quarterly along with showcasing new weekly specials. A plus?

Nothing on the meal is more than 475 calories.

It also has gluten-free and vegetarian menus.

Consider the Winter Vegetarian Tasting with quinoa-citrus salad, soft black-bean taco, seasonal roasted vegetables and an amazingly innovative, yet simple cedar-roasted tofu. There is the

standard grilled rack of lamb, roasted chicken and stellar flat-bread pizzas. The mini desserts in a cup are sensible, diminutive, four or five bites at most. Try the pecan pie with vanilla mouse or carrot cake with cinnamon honey. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sat. Locations: Highland Village, 4410 Westheimer Road, 713-621-5452; CityCentre, 842 W. Sam Houston Parkway, 713-464-5252. seasons52.com. $$

Triniti Contemporary American Neighborhood: Upper Kirby Eye-catching modern architecture aside, chef Ryan Hildebrand and his kitchen staff, which includes talented chef de cuisine Greg Lowry, manages to bridge wildly inventive cuisine (check out the nightly eight-course tasting menu) with updated steakhouse classics, such as a perfectly seared garlic-thyme prime New York steak accompanied by a roster of sauces. You can choose up to three, such as the samba-sake butter or whole grain mustard.

The menu also features accomplished desserts, such as the hazelnut mousse. Lunch Fri.-Sun. & dinner Wed.-Sat. 2815 South Shepherd. 713-527-9090. trinitirestaurant.com. $$$$

MORE ONLINE See thebuzzmagazines.com for all reviewed restaurants. Use our restaurant finder to search by area, cuisine and price.

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Immigration physical provider Joint debts in divorce The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services require that an applicant filing for adjustment of status to that of a permanent resident must submit form I-693 completed by a designated civil surgeon.

Dr. Leslie Nowitz has been on the roster of civil surgeons for a number of years. His staff is trained to facilitate immigration physicals efficiently and as timely as possible in order to verify the good-health criteria and meet requirements set forth by the USCIS. The form I-693 requires that the applicant undergo a medical examination, as well as provide proof that there is no evidence of communicable disease. This requires that there is no active tuberculosis and proof of immunization against mumps, rubella and measles (1 shot) and varicella (chicken pox). In addition, the applicant needs to be current with tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough (1 shot).

Proof of immunization is accomplished by either legal proof of prior immunization, having two immunizations, or showing antibody resistance on blood work.

All the above seems complicated, but is easily accomplished in two office visits (the second visit is to evaluate the results of the tuberculosis screen and any blood-test results).

Our office is equipped to do all of this, and it can be accomplished with a same-day appointment if required.

Dr. Leslie Nowitz, Primary Care for Adults and Adolescents, UT Physicians Bellaire Family Medicine Clinic, 5420 Dashwood, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77081, 713.218.8175

Clients often are frustrated when they realize that, after getting a divorce, you may be financially tied to your ex-spouse if you had joint debts. The decree of divorce will detail who is responsible for debts in both names (i.e. mortgage, credit cards, loans, taxes, etc.), but if the person ordered to pay the debt does not pay, then the creditor will come after you to pay the debt and may not care if the decree details a different agreement.

If both parties’ names are on a credit card, they will not allow one person to be removed.

The best course of action is to agree to pay off joint debts and close the accounts to avoid receiving calls from collection companies if your ex does not pay the debt. The person keeping the home should refinance so you are no longer on the mortgage. If this can’t occur, you can protect yourself with a deed, but need to make certain one of these options is done to break ties with your spouse.

K. Nicole Voyles, a partner at Jenkins & Kamin, L.L.P., a full-service, boutique, family-law firm, has been recognized as a Super Lawyer for 2014 and 2015 and Texas Rising Star by Texas Super Lawyers for 2008, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Jenkins & Kamin, LLP, Two Greenway Plaza, Suite 600, Houston, Texas 77046, 713.600.5500, www.jenkinskamin.com

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Transfer on death deeds Probate of a will clears title to real estate in that county. If Ward’s will leaves all to June, once she probates his will, their home becomes hers alone. If Ward left the farm he inherited in another county, June has to record the probated will in that county, too. Even then, she might not get property and casualty insurance on her own without also recording distribution deeds in both counties.

Probate is inexpensive in Texas, but these steps are not free. For families of modest means, the cost can be a great burden.

Effective September 1, a transfer on death (TOD) deed becomes a cheaper alternative. Ward can record one TOD deed designating June the beneficiary of the house and a second TOD deed designating her beneficiary of the farm.

On Ward’s death, both properties go to June, and without probate.

TOD deeds have unusual features. They are revocable, but not by wills.

If Ward changes his will, e.g., because June develops Alzheimer’s, the property still follows the TOD deed.

Although subsequent wills don’t defeat a TOD deed, subsequent deeds do.

If Ward later records a deed to Eddie Haskell, June gets nothing. The real property records are public, but watching them for competing deeds is tiresome.

TOD deeds against the spouse are void on divorce.

There are so many outs that some attorneys are advising their title companies not to insure property with a TOD deed in the chain of title. Their concerns will likely wane if the beneficiary’s deed goes unchallenged for a couple of years. June may get a property on Ward’s death, but find herself unable to sell immediately except to a cash buyer.

Other aspects of TOD deeds are more helpful, especially to poorer families. Property under a TOD deed isn’t listed on the probate inventory, and is not liable for the decedent’s debts until the probate estate is exhausted.

According to the Texas Real Property Transfer on Death Act, TOD property is also immune from Medicaid Estate Recovery.

The Act includes a model TOD deed, revocation form, and instructions. www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/84R/bill text/pdf/SB00462F.pdf#navpanes=0.

TOD deeds seem most useful for smaller estates, or for Medicaid planning. Because of the concerns title companies have, TOD deeds for larger estates might be reserved for beneficiaries who already live on the property, or who can afford to hold it a while. Ward to June is a safer bet than Ward to Wally and Theodore.

We write wills and go to probate court. We offer no-obligation initial interviews for estate planning and administration, so it costs nothing to hear specific recommendations that suit your needs. Foreign nationals and international families welcome.

Russell W. Hall, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Board Certified – Estate Planning and Probate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 6750 West Loop South, Suite 920, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.662.3853, www.rwhpc.com

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Cooper, age 6 months, Malti-Pom-Poo, Spruce St. Hello! My name is Cooper. I am supposedly a malti-pom-poo. I’m not really sure what I am, but that’s what I’ve been told. Either way, I think I’m pretty cute. I was rescued by Poodle Rescue of Houston and adopted by my family a few months ago. My name at the shelter was Kaiser Pooh, but my family now calls me Cooper. I’m pretty happy with that name, even though the little girl in the family (who’s 2 years old) keeps calling me Pooper. I love to run around as fast as I can, play fetch, chew on anything I can find, get hugs, and take walks. I think I’m going to like my new home and this place they call Bellaire. If you ever see me in the neighborhood, please come and give me a paw, or if you ever think of adding a furry friend to your family, please visit my old friends at Poodle Rescue. They’d love to go home with you.

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NEIGHBORS

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by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

Back Porch

Wrapping and gabbing

BELLAIRE BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2015 46

behance.net/runamokstudios

S

o much changes when kids leave for college. I miss my children already, and one hasn’t even hit her stride in middle school.

This is not just about the space kids leave behind. What about the friendships we’ve made with other parents? The ones who we love to be with but don’t necessarily see outside school hallways and extracurricular events?

A group of moms who call themselves Wrappers and Gabbers have handled the dilemma supremely. They get together once a month to “wrap” care packages for their far-away children, creating the perfect chance to “gab” in the process.

“We’d been sitting on the bleachers for four years together, and we knew [when our boys graduated] that we were never going to see each other,” says Vaughan Clark, the group’s ringleader, whose youngest son Anderson is a sophomore at Sewanee. “For some of us, this was our middle or last child, so we did Wrappers and Gabbers so we could stay in touch.”

Eleven moms of 11 former Episcopal High School lacrosse players joined the group. “The boys were pretty close,” says Kristin Wallis, whose son Garrett is a sophomore at Baylor.

“They were a special little group, and all went on their senior trip together to Europe. I knew that once the kids left high school I wasn’t going to see the parents all the time. This is a great way to catch up and find out what the boys are up to.

The moms don’t hear. They’re boys, you know.”

Each mom agrees to host a month of Wrappers and Gabbers. As hostesses, they provide 11 12x12x12 boxes, pens, cute paper, stickers – and dinner. “We mostly gab,” Vaughan says.

Upon arrival, the hostess has pre-assembled the empty boxes. Each mom brings 11 of something to pack in the boxes, and they pass around paper so that everyone can send each boy a personal note. “We pop all the stuff in the boxes, then we have dinner and chat and chat and chat,” Vaughan says. “After dinner we quickly wrap everything up, and everyone mails their own box.

“We’ve sent underwear, flashlights, coin purses with laundry money,” she says.

“They mostly like getting the food,” Kristin says. “And so do the roommates.” Edibles included chips and salsa (bubble-wrapped),

WRAPPED UP A group of moms called Wrappers and Gabbers get together monthly to send their college boys care packages wrapped in boxes decorated to be a little bit embarrassing.

candy (“a staple,” according to Kristin) and, once, even a red-velvet cupcake in a mason jar (that one got everyone’s attention).

Treats were seasonal, too. “We’d do whatever was the theme of the time,” says Bridget Wade, whose son Will is a sophomore at The University of Oklahoma. “So for Valentine’s we’d send Valentine candy. For finals, we sent notecards for studying and study snacks. For St. Patrick’s Day I found some boxes at Target with clover leaves all over them and got a bunch of those. The Spring Break box was really fun. We did footballs and visors and sunscreen and beach towels.” Kristin says, “They really loved those beach towels.”

The care packages even helped the boys keep up with college football during the season, with the addition of Sports Illustrated magazines.

In true mom fashion, the Wrappers and Gabbers decorated the outsides of the boxes, knowing that most of the boys would have to pick up their packages at a mail room and carry them home to dorm rooms across campus. “We’d use stickers and write stuff all over them like, ‘Go,

Will Wade!’ so when they got the box it was this embarrassing thing,” Bridget says. Vaughan says, “It’s just a little bit mortifying.” And Kristin says, “Maybe we shouldn’t have done that, but we did.”

Being boys, the emptied boxes stayed in dorm rooms. But that worked out: Will said the best thing was that he loaded up the boxes with books when it was time to go home in May. For moms thinking of following the Wrappers and Gabbers lead, Vaughan suggests keeping the count to 12 or less. “It’s kind of tortuous to buy 20 of whatever,” she says. She adds, “I want to be clear that this was not my original idea.” She was asked to join a Wrappers and Gabbers group when her oldest son Lyon was a college freshman. “He’s married now, and that Wrappers and Gabbers group gave him a shower.” They’ve done the same for all the boys getting married.

“It’s long-reaching,” she says.

“We’re all in different directions now, but on occasion we’ll get together and just have dinner.” All because their boys brought them together years ago.