We want Houston. The phrase that was heard from Astros’ postseason opponents. The phrase that turned into a triumphant battle cry from Houstonians. More than a million Houstonians of all different walks of life gath ered downtown for the Astros parade. It was crowded. But the vibe was joyful, everyone there for the same reason. I went solo and was surrounded by strangers but, somehow, it felt like Houston was a small town. Everyone was on the same team. This month, we highlight a story of childhood friends who know the small-town feeling well and have stayed connected to each other and their hometown through adulthood, especially through a horrifying tragedy there. You’ll also find a story about a resident who bought her beloved childhood home years later. Also, read about holiday traditions with deep spiritual meaning. However you celebrate the holidays, we wish you a season full of joy and connectivity. joni@thebuzzmagazines.com
Bissonnet, Suite 100,
& Media,
Editor-in-Chief Joni Hoffman Publisher Michael Hoffman Editor Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld Editorial Assistant Caroline Siegfried Design Manager John Duboise Staff Writers Tracy L. Barnett
Sharon Albert Brier Cindy Burnett
Andria Frankfort Dilling Angie Frederickson
Todd Freed Cindy Gabriel Cathy Gordon Michelle Groogan Dai Huynh Cheryl Laird
Annie Blaylock McQueen Jennifer Oakley Pooja Salhotra Cheryl Ursin Account Managers Andrea Blitzer Leslie Little Jo Rogers
I loved the article on “A Virgin Island Thanksgiving” [Travel Buzz by Tracy L. Barnett, Nov. 2022]. The Luman family’s Thanksgiving trip to the Virgin Islands National Park sounds idyllic – escaping to a beautiful place to relax and enjoy time in nature as a family. The trip sounds like a great mixture of leisure and exploration and I appreciated Becky’s sensi tivity to the sustainable development of the island. What an important balance to put measures in place to protect the natural environment and wildlife while allowing visitors to enjoy and explore the island’s beauty.
I also was really inspired by the Luman family’s attitude and perspective on traveling as a family – visiting 45 states and 90 National Park System sites! The article has inspired our family to set a goal to hit all 50 states before our kids graduate from high school (thankfully they are still young and we have some time). Thanks again for a great article and inspiration to travel!
Melissa Turnbaugh‘Sort of’ memoir is certainly a hit Cindy, just read your piece [Life: Mine for Instance: Cindy Gabriel starts a memoir – sort of, Nov. 2022] and it made my day! Your words are like honey – with a bit of cynicism – a combination that sets off many memories for me.
You’re a terrific storyteller – with a life full of good copy. I think you should go for a full-on autobiography. Besides, you have many great author photos for the book cover. You are adorable with your glass of wine in Montreal.
Nancy BambergerJoni’s Editor’s Note [in Nov. 2022] gave me a good laugh. I don’t purport to understand anything about Texas university rivalries (I’m a Maryland girl myself), but her struggle to find the fanny pack resonated deeply. I was finally able to order one from Lululemon after waiting six months – and they mistakenly sent two! I have an open offer to her and any other staff member – you want it, it’s yours!
Thank you for the reading material. I truly enjoy it and think you and your team do great work.
Editor’s note: Nicole, your kind letter made Joni’s day! She’s happy to report that she finally scored the trendy fanny pack but truly appreciates the offer. Thank you for the thoughtful gesture and feedback.
I loved reading the Hallo-Queen article about Mia Parker’s incredible Halloween decorations [The Hallo-Queen: Mia Parker loves Halloween by Cheryl Ursin, Oct. 2022]! My daughter, Emmy, had so much fun helping
Mia last year and our whole family has enjoyed getting to know her bet ter. We’ve heard from friends all over the city in response to the article, including Emmy’s kindergarten teacher! This year our younger daughter, Lily, and one of Emmy’s friends, Alice Oates, helped out as well! We were so excited to see the final Halloween display especially the addition of Davy Jones!
Kari BeckI read your lovely piece about love [Just Love: It’s a no-brainer by Cindy Gabriel, Feb. 2021] and was so reassured by it. It brought tears to my eyes in fact, to be reminded that there are so many wonderful loving people out and about in our big city and they are all in their own quiet ways giving and taking love, soothing our collective ragged nerves right now.
Thanks so much for being one of these people; your article helped me a lot.
Amanda Godfrey Thiele
Editor’s note: Amanda, thank you for writing in and for reminding us about this truly lovely article. If you want to re-read it (or read for the first time), see thebuzzmagazines.com, where you can find all of our past articles.
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.
We are looking for residents for upcoming articles who:
• Have a special love story.
• Have family recipe traditions.
• Know a buzzworthy neighbor to feature.
• Have a unique passion, hobby, or collection.
• Have a compelling travel tale.
If this sounds like you or someone you know, please contact us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com or 713.668.4157, ext 12.
by Cindy Gabriel, staff writer
Allow me to introduce you to my spon sors, Sandra and Clymer Wright. It’s their wedding day, February 12th, 1954 in Biloxi, Mississippi. She was 19. He was 21. I would come along nine months and two days from the date of this picture, much to my grand mother’s relief, on November 14, 1954. We three kind of grew up together.
One complaint I have about my parents is that they weren’t travelers. Typical of who they were, no honeymoon. They were headed to an army base in Ft. Benning, Georgia, where Dad would be stationed for basic training. The Korean War officially ended that summer, yet somehow the army nabbed him. So I was conceived somewhere along the road to Ft. Benning, Georgia. I hope they got a room.
I thought about calling this piece “She Should Have Married the Catholic.” Mom would say it a time or two when she was particularly frustrated with Dad. She was kidding. I think. But the truth is, Mom’s mother, Leola Lee, played an important role in diverting my parents toward one another. I should add her to my sponsor list.
It seems that Mom was engaged to a Catholic boy right after high school. Her Baptist parents thought their daughter’s mortal soul was at stake. They made her wait by sending her to college. In the '50s, it wasn’t common to send your daughter to college, unless it was to get her MRS degree.
My grandmother, Leola, who I would call “Mimmie”, arranged a tour for herself and her daughter on the campus of Southern Mississippi College in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Mom expressed an interest in journalism, so the student tour guide led them to the journalism department first thing.
There Sandra Lee, my engaged mom, met Clymer Wright, editor of the Student Printz campus newspaper. Leola took one look at this tall, handsome editor, gambled on him not being Catholic, and dismissed the tour guide. “This young man will give Sandra the rest of the tour,” my future grandmother directed, as if she were the college president.
Dad turned out to be Methodist; not ideal,
but, in her mind, a hell of a lot better than being Catholic. Perhaps my grandmother forgot about her own mixed mar riage, she a Southern Baptist, my grandfather, a Primitive Baptist. Their marriage lasted over 60 years, though they never went to the same church.
After four months of basic training, Dad was shipped off to Korea, then to Japan, while Mom went back to her parents’ house in Biloxi, Mississippi to wait out his tour of duty. He was already overseas when she found out she was pregnant. My father wouldn’t lay eyes on me until I was almost a year old.
The news of his discharge from the army meant they could resume their original plans to move to Rosenberg, Texas where Dad would become editor of The Fort Bend Reporter. His grandfather, A.M. “Ikey” Cohen was a newspaper man, on the advertising side of things. Ikey bought the Rosenberg paper later in his life, with the understanding that he would put my father through college. In return, Dad would come back and help run the paper. His bride Sandra, who had completed her MRS, with two years as a journalism major, was an added bonus.
Mom’s sister Sylvia, “Aunt Sibbie,” was five years younger than Mom. She said the plan was for Mom and her family to caravan the six hours with two stuffed cars, to a tiny garage apartment in Rosenberg. This was way before seatbelts, car seats, air bags, etc. Get this, my grandfather, an auto mechanic, decided to take the entire back
seat out of Mom’s car. He put my full-sized baby bed in its place. When I wasn’t in the baby bed, my aunt Sibbie was there to hold me in the seatbelt-less front seat. Aunt Sibbie’s job was to hold me so that Mom could drive, when I wasn’t in my crib chewing on lead-based paint.
Sibbie said Lee (his name was Omar Lee but everybody called him Lee) was appalled at the old Hudson car Dad bought Mom to drive. “You could see the road through the floorboard.”
Last month I said we’d talk about “Knives on the Left, Forks and Spoons on the Right” in this column. But it took longer than I thought to get everybody to Rosenberg. I’m exhausted. I’m still in diapers, cloth ones with giant safety pins, that weren’t so safe. The scene is set. Next month I’ll set the table. Maybe.
By the way, Aunt Sibbie, Mom’s little sis, got married eight years after Mom, in 1962, to her childhood sweetheart, Bob Lee, a Catholic. They just celebrated their 60th anniversary and so far, lightning hasn’t struck anyone.
Joyce Schechter is about as close to a fairy godmother as you can get, having given countless hours to so many Houston organ izations. As generous as Joyce is when it comes to nonprofits, she’s just as generous with her home. She is always entertaining family and friends, setting the most beautiful and elaborate tables filled with pieces from her many collec tions: pumpkins of all colors and sizes, a rainbow of intricate porcelain fruits and vegetables, hearts, antique silver wine cups. And dreidels, the spinning tops used for the Hanukkah game of dreidel
“If you’ve been in Joyce’s apartment, you know she is a collector,” says Roy Walter, Rabbi Emeritus at Congregation Emanu El. “She has an eye for beautiful things, and her apartment is filled with them because of that. Because being Jewish is such an important part of her life, that is an important part of what she collects.”
“I started collecting silver dreidels when I had grandchildren,” Joyce says. “It felt important for me to have Judaica [Jewish art and historical pieces] for them.”
With her husband Arthur, the former United States ambassador to the Bahamas, Joyce has five of her own grandchildren plus four more who are technically her sister’s grandchildren, but who she considers to be her own. They range in age from 21 to 29.
“I wanted my family to have the traditions I had. So I started finding dreidels, thinking they would go into a collection that I could eventually give to my grandchildren.” Through the years, Joyce has amassed a significant collection of silver (and some crystal) dreidels. “I bought them in antique shows, or from synagogues,” she says. “Some of them were given to me as gifts, some I bought in Europe.”
Her favorites are the antique dreidels. “There’s just a certain romanticism about them,” she says, eyes twinkling. “What family were they in? How did they get out of the hands of that family so that I could buy them? Some are engraved with initials. It makes you wonder whose initials they were and what caused them to lose the dreidel.”
The silver dreidels are more than just interest
ing to ponder and pretty to look at. “In Judaism, there is a custom called hiddur mitzvah, which means any object we use for a holiday we embel lish and make beautiful,” Rabbi Walter says. “It is a symbolic object, not just an object. That’s where the idea of collecting dreidels – or beautiful menorahs or Shabbat candlesticks –comes from.”
Joyce holds up one of the more unique small dreidels. “This one opens, so maybe you would have put little prizes in there, or maybe it would have been spices inside to make it smell sweet, like a spice box.” Joyce also has a beautiful collection of elaborately carved and filigreed sterling silver spice boxes in special shapes (there are several tall, thin windmills, some buildings), which are used in ceremonies marking the end of the Sabbath with the sweet smell of spices, usually whole cloves or cinnamon chips.
“The idea is, as you end the Sabbath, which has a sweetness of its own as a gift from God, we enter the new week hoping it will be sweet,” explains Rabbi Walter.
As the owner of the now-closed Quaint Corner Antiques and Gifts, Joyce knows what to look for to distinguish an old silver piece from a new one. “Anything made after 1920 has to have a ‘made in’ mark,” she explains. “If they were stamped just with the country, but not ‘made in,’ those were older. And if they had no markings except a silver mark, those were the oldest.” When in doubt, Joyce has a little silver book she consults. “It’s like a dictionary, and it
has all the markings so you can exactly look up the year things were made.”
Joyce’s annual Hanukkah parties promise potato latkes (fried potato pancakes), gelt (gold chocolate coins), and games of dreidel. “Gammy and Saba [Joyce’s and Arthur’s grandparent names] always played with the kids, and we always had prizes for the winners,” she says. “When they were little, it was little toys, games, books. Once they hit about 12, the prizes became money.”
Joyce says she’s thought about putting some of her many collections away, out of plain sight in her home brimming with remarkable objects, each piece and each collection with a story. She admits that’s sometimes with a little urging from her husband. “But,” she says, smiling, “they have brought me joy for so many years, so why would I put them away?”
by Michelle Groogan, staff writer
There is a rare, unique quality inherent in the holiday decorating at the Bellaire home of the Zarzour family. Beyond the sparkling lights adorning the outside of the home, the 12-foot trimmed tree on the inside, and the garland festooning the staircase, visitors discover the family crèche.
Crèche is a French word for cradle or nursery; in America it has come to be known as the rep resentation of the Nativity scene. But there’s
nothing ordinary about this Nativity scene. It starts with five bags of sand and two bags of dirt poured out onto tables in David and Alejandra Zarzour’s formal dining room. It’s the foundation for the miniature holy city meticulously detailed with 300 plus pieces made up of villagers, stucco homes, farms, livestock, lakes, and fishermen. Even crinkled, spray-painted builders paper lines the walls to resemble rock…it’s literally a whole village welcoming the wise men drawn by the
bright star to a holy manger.
David, an anesthesiologist with U.S. Anesthesia Partners, can’t remember a time in his life when the family crèche was not on display in all of its diminutive glory. While some seasons demanded smaller productions than others, like the first years of marriage to Alejandra, an oncologist at MD Anderson, nev ertheless, the deep meaning remained constant – a tradition that for this
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family can be traced back three centuries.
“It’s something my dad did, because his dad did and his dad and so on,” said David. “It’s one of those traditions that really means a lot to my family, and I take great pride in it. I’m teaching it to my three girls. Hopefully they carry the tra dition on also.”
When it comes to the joyful task of picking out a new piece for the crèche, 11-year-old Sophia, 9-year-old Elena, and 6-year-old Christina are all part of the process
“I like looking at the individual characters and when they all come together it makes a real-
ly cool scene,” said Sophia, a sixth grader at the St. Thomas More Parish School.
“Building the crèche is such a unique family tradition,” said Alejandra Zarzour, David’s wife. “It is a labor of love. The kids enjoy putting it together as much as they enjoy decorating the tree. More importantly it symbolizes the true meaning of Christmas.”
The family crèche in David’s childhood home was four times as large as the crèche being displayed in the Zarzour home this Christmas. David’s dad, Steven Zarzour, passed away almost 20 years ago and the crèche was divided among David and his brother who lives in San
Antonio. While David has curated his own large collection of pieces, with only half making it out into the scene, it’s the pieces from his father’s crèche that retain deep sentimental value.
“My dad hand-painted many of the figures himself. He would add embellishments,” recalled David. “I can remember him sitting for hours and hours painting, and he would use these baby paintbrushes.”
Even to the first-time observer, those pieces are obvious because his dad used a shinier, metallic paint, which makes them glisten in the light. To the delight of their mother, Beverley, it’s a special
childhood memory still reenacted in the homes of both Zarzour brothers every Christmas.
“My dad would drag us to every mom-and-pop Christmas store around to buy new pieces,” said Steven Zarzour, David’s brother, an attorney for Whataburger. “We made a whole adventure of it. One time we drove all the way from Houston to Frankenmuth, Michigan to get one piece.”
Catholic scholars believe the nativity tradition started in the year 1223, when St. Francis of Assisi had live animals and hay at the Midnight Mass in the small Italian village of Greccio, about an hour and half from Rome. According to writings about him at the time, Francis was becoming concerned about the cav alier attitude that many had toward Christmas and the increased focus on gift-giving.
“The spiritual side of the reenactment and why St. Francis did it, was to help him see with his own eyes what this must have been like; to help people see how Jesus entered the world,” said Father Clark Sample, Pastor of St. Thomas More Catholic Church who attended seminary at The Vatican and actually spent a week in Greccio for a silent retreat. “It affirms the imagination and how art really helps us go deeper into the mysteries of the faith to help you envision what Christmas was all about.”
Most of the pieces in the Zarzour family crèche are from the Fontanini brand, made in Italy. However, many pieces are so old they are no longer in circulation. The brothers estimate their cumulative collection has a value of about $20,000 and yet for the Zarzour family, this sacred act of faith defies any worldly appraisal as
a source of inspiration. This ritual honors both Christ Jesus and the generations of their family from Egypt that carefully preserved this expression of reverence.
“We don’t hold any kind of open house or anything. We just like to put on some Christmas music, turn down the lights, and just be present,” said David. “If we never put a Christmas tree up again that’s okay. This is holy to me. This is the real deal.”
The whole process of building the crèche takes about two weeks; David tweaks scenes all the way up to Christmas Day with plenty of contemplative moments. He has a favorite piece, a commoner at the water well.
“This is my G.I. Joe from when I was a boy that my dad painted and dressed up. So this one is probably the most valuable to me.”
by Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld, staff writer
Tis the season for joyful gatherings with family and friends. And there are lots of opportunities for festive fun around town. Here are some ways to celebrate the sea son around Houston this month.
5th Annual Levy Park Holiday Festival
Levy Park, 3801 Eastside St. Dec. 3-4, 12-5 p.m.
Free
The two-day festival features a holiday market, a craft station, live music performances throughout the park, a performance by River Oaks Dance, a free photo booth with Santa Claus, and food and drink concessions.
Reliant Lights Mayor’s Holiday Spectacular
Hermann Square at City Hall, 900 Bagby St. Dec. 3, 6-8 p.m.
Free
The annual Mayor’s Holiday Spectacular includes music, Santa, fireworks, and family fun. A towering holiday tree will light up the streets of downtown Houston this holiday season.
Bayou Bend’s Christmas Village
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, 6003 Memorial Dr. Dec. 9-30; closed Dec. 24-25; SundaysThursdays, 5:30-9 p.m. (except Thurs., Dec. 22); Fridays-Saturdays (and Thurs., Dec. 22), 5:3010 p.m.
After a two-year hiatus, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, brings back the Christmas Village tradition at Bayou Bend, featuring a beautiful trail of lights, carolers, a hand-crafted model train, animated projections, and festive activities, including a cotton snowball toss, reindeer games, and sledding on a grassy slope. Photo opportunities with Santa (through Dec. 23). Holiday-themed tours of the first floor of Ima Hogg’s historic mansion feature live actors, theatrical effects, and Christmas decorations.
13th Annual Gingerbread Build-Off
Levy Park, 3801 Eastside St. Sat., Dec. 10, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free to attend
Architecture Center
Houston hosts the annual Gingerbread Build-Off in which teams will compete to create masterpieces using 100 percent edible materials. More than 4,000 spectators are expected to attend and cheer on the teams, play in the kids’ construction zone, participate in a scavenger hunt, and see Santa.
Houston Botanic Garden, One Botanic Lane
Through Jan. 1 (entry from 5:30-8:30 p.m.; trail closes at 10 p.m.); closed on select nights
Timed tickets, at 15-minute intervals: $28/adult; $18/child. Flex passes available.
Lightscape, presented by Reliant, lights up the Houston Botanic Garden for its second year. The internationally acclaimed lights and music event features an outdoor illuminated trail including dazzling new immersive instal lations set to seasonal tunes along a winding path through the Garden. Visitors can also enjoy festive food and drinks, along with fire pits for roasting s’mores.
Constellation Field, 1 Stadium Dr., Sugar Land
Through Jan. 1 (Sun.-Thurs.: 6-9 p.m.; Friday-Sat.: 6-10 p.m.)
Tickets vary by event date; kids 3 and under don’t require a ticket
The 9th annual Sugar Land Holiday Lights presented by Houston Methodist offers a holiday experience including more than three million lights, 10 themed areas, holiday shopping, food, movie nights, Santa Claus, a carnival, and more.
City Lights Downtown Holiday Magic
Downtown Houston
Through Jan. 2.
Houston First and Central Houston, Inc. teamed up to turn downtown into a festive hol iday destination, spanning eight themed villages
across downtown, including holiday markets, a hot chocolate bar, roaming carolers, movie nights, sweet treats, and more. Experiences include: Deck the Trees and Live Music at the Plaza at Avenida; Texas Winter Lights at the Marriott Marquis; Holiday Ice Village at Discovery Green; Land of Sweets at Hilton Americas; Sugar Plum Plaza at the Wortham Theater; Mistletoe Square at Market Square Park; Santa’s Village at Main Street Square; and Winter Wanderland on Bagby Street.
Houston Zoo, 6200 Hermann Park Dr.
Through Jan. 8 (5:30-10:30 p.m.); closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Admission: starting at $22/adult (for nonmembers); kids under 2 are free price varies depending on date/time
The Houston Zoo will be transformed into an illuminated winter wonderland at the annual Zoo Lights presented by TXU Energy. New this year: Enjoy a “snowy” scene featuring ski lifts; life-sized animal lanterns along the Zoo Lights path; an illuminated, interactive dance floor; a new, colorful holiday light tunnel.
Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney
Through Jan. 31
Tickets: $17, includes skate rental; discounted tickets on select nights
Glide around Green Mountain Energy ICE this holiday season. There will be themed events each evening including College Nights, Skate with Santa, DJ Nights, Skate with Storybook Stars, and more.
Editor’s note: See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for links with more information. Plus, see our online event calendar for more upcoming events.
by Cathy Gordon, staff writer
Small towns. Where conversations extend beyond platitudes, and everyone knows your name. Close connections are born here. Friends and neighbors are like family, the fabric of what you become. And when buoyant youth, brains tilled like fertile soil, spring from the hometown nest, precious memories are etched in their soul.
Uvalde, population just over 15,000. It’s such a place to this pack of gal pals, seven unflappable, fun, vibrant women who are as tethered to each other as ship to anchor. Whether life is handing out roses or crumpling like a worn cardboard box, they’re there for one another.
“I barely remember a time before them,” says Wilchester resident Kami Buri of her childhood friends from the Hill Country town, 80 miles west of San Antonio. Two of those friends live nearby: Sally Cone of Bunker Hill and Amanda Hughes Pickering of West University. The three, along with Kyley Houck of Huntsville, Tania Leskovar-Owens of Austin, Sami Harris of Waco, and Charla Jenkins, still in Uvalde, are 1997 graduates of Uvalde High School, land of the maroon and white fightin’ Coyotes. But their friendships started long before their teen years, with squirmy little wiggles and giggles at each other’s breakfast tables. Their families –indeed, the entire community – raised them, as was the case for all their Uvalde classmates.
The Uvalde Girls, as they call their text thread, are in it for the long haul. They’re the glue that binds life’s chapters. Weddings, birthdays, parenthood, deaths. They’ve grieved together at the loss of friends’ parents, and rejoiced at the birth of babies, 18 children in all among them, ages 3 to 14.
So, when a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers within the walls of Robb Elementary School in May, the school where their friendships took flight, it was an affront to their very foundation. They mourned for the town that raised them, their family. And they turned to each other, their rock.
“I immediately checked in on Charla because she has four kids and one of them was elemen tary age, third grade. But her kids don’t go to
Robb; her kids are in a dual language program in Uvalde, at a different campus,” explains Kami, whose mother was Robb Elementary’s school nurse when she and friends attended there. “We have family history there. And we have multiple friends whose sons and daughters were at Robb Elementary that day. Eva Mireles, the wife of one of our classmates, was one of the teachers killed. It was personal, knowing so many affected. We know several teachers who were there at the time. They were in our grade, our classmates. We graduated together. Even if you don’t know someone directly, being a small town like this, it affects everybody. There’s a ripple effect.”
“Total shock. I just remember thinking there’s no way that happened in our town. It’s just the sweetest little town,” joins in Amanda. “It was surreal.”
Sally, voice breaking, recalls that day, too. “A dear friend of our families, her son was shot in the arm. So many people, so many connections. I had to get home. I collected my family and within 48 hours we were there. We loved on each other at the town square. Our kids joined in with other kids, chalking the sidewalks with messages and hearts.”
Uvalde has its claims to fame. Historically, it’s known as the Honey Capital of the World for production of huajillo honey, a light-colored version of the liquid gold, discovered in the late 1800s. Oscar winning actor Matthew McConaughey, actress Dale Evans, and former Governor of Texas Dolph Briscoe were born there. Garner State Park, one of the most visited state parks in Texas, is named after John Nance Garner, Vice President to Franklin D.
Roosevelt, who called Uvalde home.
Adding the incomprehensible tragedy at Robb Elementary to the town’s “known for” category is a hard pill to swallow, say the women.
“It’s not easy when the hometown you love is suddenly known for this horrific act. It’s so much more than that. It’s a wonderful place. It’s where we fostered all these great relationships,” says Kami of her friends who regularly schedule girls trips. Next month they’ll travel to Savannah to decompress from their busy lives and take in the sights.
Uvalde is the model for how they want to live life.
memories are, indeed, sweet, their families as intertwined as dangling gold chains. They knew each other’s moms, dads, and grandparents from school, sports, church…. right down to the uncles, aunts, and cousins. Their parents were teachers, coaches, assistant principals, boy scout leaders, city officials. Everywhere you look, a parent, not necessarily your own, had eyes on you. They knew each other’s children like a compass knows north. They championed them as if they were their own.
“I tell people all the time
(continued from page 20)
about how tight Wilchester is. I feel like I live in this little pocket that mimics what we had in Uvalde. I could, on any given day, call one of 20 moms to go get my kids at school,” Kami explains. “My kids are growing up knowing a lot of their friends’ aunts, uncles and cousins, grand parents, just like I did growing up.”
“Here we are in the fourth largest city in the country and our little hometown carries us. It’s just sweet,” says Sally. “My kids have the same small town feel here in Bunker Hill. They ride their bikes to school. How many kids do that, in the middle of Houston? It’s what we want for them, the same close connections and morals and standards that Uvalde taught us. I’m growing up with those Uvalde friends still. Our kids are, too. We might live 250 miles from there, but that community is in our hearts, and we’ve kept up those connections.”
Kami and Sally’s boys compete against each other in sports. Another generation developing ties. Amanda’s daughter, 3, is the youngest of the group’s children. “She is going to be a big city girl because we live in a big city, but I, too, want those kind of Uvalde values for her. The older I get, the more I feel how important that is,” Amanda agrees.
“You couldn’t get in too much trouble because there was accountability,” adds Amanda, with a laugh. She recalls one time her dad, city attorney for 25 years, and legal counsel at the bank, held her accountable.
“He called me when I was in high school and said ‘Can you stop writing hot checks? It’s embarrassing. Every time they read off the hot check list in the board meeting, your name is on there.’ I was such a kid. I wasn’t paying attention to the fact my account got overdrawn.”
Amanda’s mom taught in the local schools, as a substitute.
Sally’s dad was president of the Land Bank Association, now known as Capital Farm Credit. He loaned money to ranchers and farmers in the rural community, neighbors, and friends. He led a Boy Scout troop. Her mom was a teacher and taught Sunday school. The couple helped develop youth groups.
“Being the nurse’s kid, I didn’t get away with any stuff. You didn’t catch me faking a stomachache to get out of class,” says Kami, who followed in her mom’s footsteps, becom ing a nurse. Her dad worked in various teacher, coach, and athletic coordinator roles
in the school district for 37 years, including football coach and assistant principal at Uvalde High School.
“I remember classmates saying to me, ‘Your dad is so strict!’ I remember telling them ‘Just do what you need to do, and you won’t get in trou ble!’” exclaims Kami. Her parents divorced. Her stepmother was the cross-country and track coach. “And my uncle was the tennis coach. So, I had a lot of family involved there. I had to walk the straight and narrow!”
When Amanda’s dad died in 2005 at age 59, it hit hard. Of the seven in the girlfriend group, Kyley and Charla have lost their dads, too.
“Those deaths are always hard because those men raised us,” explains Kami. “The dads drove us 30 minutes to Garner State Park to go dancing. All the Houston cute boys would go, and we weren’t yet driving age. They’d bring their fold-out chairs and sit there the entire time, qui etly, till it was time to take us home.
“I adored Amanda’s dad,” Kami continues. “I would always sit in the kitchen and chit chat with him while waiting on Amanda. Amanda was always late.”
“Guilty,” Amanda quips,
adding, “It was like each other’s parents were everyone else’s parents, too. They all wanted us to succeed.”
“I think the spirit of Uvalde touches so many people, whether it’s people who come here from other places to hunt or to go to Garner State Park to camp. It’s such a beautiful area,” says Sally of the
region’s majestic Cypress trees, rivers, and cliffs.
The seven couples, children in tow, take advantage of that beauty the second weekend of each June, renting a large house in nearby Concan in central Uvalde County, along the spring-fed, crystal-clear Frio River. The dads –bonded, with their own text thread – float the
waters and golf with the older children.
Kami, Sally, Amanda, and their gal pals talk and talk, side conversation upon side conversation, afternoons morphing into evenings. Food, drinks, laughter. Lots of laughter. And they tuck their feet under each other like those little girls that shared dreams and secrets under a wide-open Uvalde sky.
People from all points of the globe responded to the Uvalde tragedy with donations and support for the victims’ families, and the town itself, reeling from the deadliest school shooting in the United States in a decade.
“People all over the world care,” says Sally, who, along with her girlfriends’ respective families did what they could “from our little corner of the world. It’s been an amazing outpouring of help all around the world.”
Kami reached out to Wilchester Elementary. The principal included a link in her weekly email where parents and staff could donate directly to the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District’s (UCISD) Amazon teacher wish list or make monetary donations directly to its PTO. She and husband, John, made a personal donation, matched by his employer, and her in-laws donated, too, through their involvement with their bingo committee.
The couple met with the UCISD PTO in September to deliver their check. “Hearing all the things the PTO has done is remarkable, trying to fill gaps for families and regain a sense of normalcy,” Kami explains.
“I’ve gotten so many emails from friends who live all over. People doing amazing things in response. And they are still doing it,” says Amanda, who assists with philanthropy for her employer, The Friedkin Group. They joined with Toyota Motor North America, providing sub stantial funding to several nonprofit organizations in Uvalde that are helping those impacted by the shooting.
Sally and husband, Matthew, donated to the Robb Memorial Fund through the First State Bank of Uvalde, and directly to a family who was impacted. “We support and encourage other Uvalde friends who have launched their own fundraising initiatives that are making great impacts.”
One of the women’s Uvalde classmates and friends, Roland Ramirez – head athletic trainer and director of sports medicine for the Houston Texans – was part of a contingent that surprised Uvalde High School football players at a dinner before the Coyotes’ season opener in September. The Texans organized transportation and a suite for the Uvalde team to attend Houston’s opener against the Indianapolis Colts. The Texans wore “Uvalde Strong” decals on their helmets and gifted the Coyotes new uniforms provided by Nike.
“People just do what they can, and that makes a difference,” Kami says.
Robb Memorial Fund donations are accepted through Zelle at: robbschoolmemorialfund@gmail.com or via check to 200 E. Nopal St., Uvalde, TX 78801.
Donations to the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District PTO can be made via PayPal (see this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for the link) or checks can be sent to Uvalde CISD PTO, PO Box 5401, Uvalde, TX 78802.
by Cheryl Ursin, staff writer
Van Burkhart’s earliest childhood memories are of his grandparents’ farm, and in particular, of the tractors on that farm.
Of the first one he can remember, he says, “I always wanted to ride that tractor, and my grandfather would start it up for me. I had no idea at the time that he had to work so hard to get that big old John Deere tractor going.”
Van, age 77, explains that the tractor, which had to be hand-cranked to start, was what’s known as a “Poppin’ Johnny,” one of the twocylinder tractors John Deere made from about 1918 to 1960. They get their nickname from the
distinctive “pop, pop” sound their engines make.
This year, the same kind of “Poppin’ Johnny,” a 1936 John Deere B, sits on Van’s lawn in Tanglewood, adorned with Christmas lights and the figures of Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and in a very rare antique manure loader attached to the front of the tractor, the Grinch.
Every year, Van hauls a few of the antique tractors and their implements from his collec tion, kept at his farm in Limestone County, about a 2½-hour drive away, to decorate his yard for the holidays. He’s been doing this since 2010.
People stop to take pictures and ask about the
tractors. “Dad loves that,” says Van’s daughter, Lizzy, who lives nearby and helps set the equipment up in the yard every year.
Van tells a story. “I was picking up my dry cleaning and gave the woman behind the count er my address,” he says. “She said, ‘I know right where you are. You’re near that bozo with the tractors in his yard.’” He laughs.
Van has about 25 tractors that are completely restored and roughly about 100 more that he has fixed to the point that they run. (“Well,” he clar ifies, “They have run. You can’t just walk out there and crank them up, but they
have run.”) Lizzy estimates that he has over 100 more tractors that have yet to run or that he’s using for their parts. He keeps them at his farm outside Groesbeck, stored in sev eral barns. He also has an air-conditioned work shop there to work on them.
Why is Van fascinated with tractors? Well, for one thing, they remind him of his grandparents’ and parents’ stories about farming. “It was a tough, tough, tough life,” says Van. “My parents could remember my grandparents having mules. In fact, when my grandparents bought their first tractor, which cost as much as a house, they couldn’t keep it running, so they switched back to mules for several years.
Tractors back then were just so unreliable.”
But Van is also one of those people who just has an affinity for and an appreciation for machinery. (We call these people “handy” and ask them to help us when something of ours breaks.) This affinity has been a theme through out his remarkable life.
He was a senior at Baylor University when he went to see an air show performed by the Blue Angels, the flight demonstration squad of the U.S. Navy. “That’s the first time I had ever been that close to high-performance aircraft,” he remembers.
Perhaps not coincidentally, two weeks later, there were recruiters for the Navy’s Aviation Officer Candidate School on the Baylor campus. Van signed up, and after passing both the writ-
ten and physical exams, he was in. He graduated from Baylor on a Saturday; the following Monday, he reported for duty in Pensacola, Fla.
He went through almost 18 months of gener al flight training to “earn his wings,” then an additional number of months (“four months, at least,” Van says) of training on the aircraft he would fly, the A-3. The A-3, to this day, is the largest aircraft, at about 70,000 pounds, to ever operate on an aircraft carrier. “It’s right at the limits of weight,” says Van. “In fact, it’s the only jet that doesn’t have ejector seats because they were saving on weight.”
His last training requirement was to perform six night-time landings onto an aircraft carrier.
Van performed his, on the (continued
(continued from page 28)
USS Constellation off the coast of San Diego, on the night of July 20th, 1969, the night of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Van and his fellow aviators were watching that first moon landing on television as they waited their turns. “I thought, ‘Boy, I don’t think that guy (Neil Armstrong, about to walk on the moon) can be any more scared than I am right now,” Van remembers with a chuckle.
Van went on to fly 160 missions during the Vietnam War and eventually became a Navy flight instructor for the A-3. The A-3 plane now on display aboard the USS Lexington in Corpus Christi is a plane that Van flew.
After the Navy, Van flirted with the idea of becoming an airline pilot, or rather, the airline companies flirted hard with him. As an A-3 pilot and a flight instructor, he was the perfect candidate. By now married with a young child, though, Van did not want to be away from home as much as an airline pilot would be.
He decided to come home to the Houston area. One of his brothers-in-law introduced him to the owner of Alamo Barge Lines, a marinetransport company that ran pushboats up and down American rivers. A cousin to tugboats, pushboats, as their name implies, push, rather than tug, their barges. The owner of Alamo invited him to take a two-week ride back and forth from Baton Rouge to Chicago on one of the company’s pushboats to see if he’d like to work for the company.
Van did like it. His job, in operations, included building pushboats from scratch and buying old pushboats and modernizing them. It was his favorite part of the job.
Eventually, he started his own company, Capital Towing. By the time Van retired, his company was running 14 pushboats. “There are very few places on the major waterways in the U.S. that our boats didn’t go,” he says.
By the time his children, Lizzy and Jake, were at Memorial High School, Van started to become interested in antique tractors. “I went from jets to pushboats to tractors,” he says with a laugh.
The tractors have been fun for the whole family. They’ve often driven them in parades in
Groesbeck. Lizzy and Jake drove them in home coming parades while at Baylor. “I remember watching Lizzy drive a ‘Poppin’ Johnny’ in a Baylor parade,” says Van. “A man in front of me said, ‘Look at her go! That gal grew up on a farm!’” Van smiles. “That gal grew up in Memorial.”
Van, his wife Susan, Jake, and Lizzy lived in Hunter’s Creek. Tragically, Susan died of cancer in 2001. A few years before, the husband of Susan’s friend Bridget Murchison died of a heart attack. Van remembers being at Spencer’s funeral with Susan. “I would never have thought I’d be there just a few years later for Susan,” he says. The two families had known each other for years, lived several blocks apart; the children of both families went to school together since preschool. Years later, Van and Bridget met again at a pre-wedding party for some friends of their children. They ended up marrying in 2004 and moved from Hunter’s Creek to Tanglewood.
Van is far from alone in his love of antique tractors. While his hobby has more adher ents in rural areas in the Midwest than in Houston, there’s a whole community of antiquetractor lovers and experts out there. “With this hobby, I have met so many interesting people,” he says. There are companies that make replacement parts for these antique machines. There are auctions and tractor shows. One of Van’s favorites, held by the Texas Early Day Tractor & Engine Association, takes place in Temple, Texas every October. There are reference books and websites and magazines devoted to specific types of antique tractors, such as The Green Magazine, about John Deere tractors, which are green and yellow, or Red Power Magazine about Farmall tractors, which are red.
When Van first started collecting tractors, he saw that one of a model his paternal grandpar ents had, a Bull tractor, was going to be sold at an auction in Arizona. Bull tractors are distinc tive because they have three wheels, with just a single wheel in the front. “I thought maybe I’ll go out and buy that old Bull because that’s the first tractor my dad could ever remember,” says Van, “but when I got out there, they said the
first bid on it was $30,000, so … maybe not.” That particular tractor, which was not fully restored, though it did run, eventually sold at the auction for close to $60,000.
Part of the appeal of his hobby for Van is the tinkering. “It just puts a smile on my face to get something running that hasn’t run in 30, 40, 50 years,” he says. Tractors are particularly satisfying to work on, says Van, because they are “simplicity in its best form.”
Studying all the different variations and developments in tractors and their implements, such as corn binders and front loaders, also fascinates him. “It’s the history, the appreciation for those generations who went from using horses and cutting wheat with sickles to becoming more mechanized,” he says.
Ironically, when it comes to collecting, some of the rarest and most desirable tractors and implements are the ones that were, well, flops in the marketplace. Perhaps they were too expen sive, or they were dangerous to operate, and therefore, only a few were made. In other cases, very specialized tractors, such as ones designed to be thin and streamlined to work in orchards between the trees or a kind of Farmall tractor that was only used in the sugar-cane fields in Louisiana, are rare and desired by collectors.
Van knows that antique tractors are not to be found in rural areas that were close to railroad lines because, during World War II, farmers were encouraged to donate old equipment to scrap-metal drives for the war effort. He can look at an old tractor and know that it came from West Texas because of the way it rusted, or rather, didn’t rust, over the years. He can recognize when a tractor has an unusual set of wheels on it or an unusual transmission, making it more collectible.
The Texas Early Day Tractor & Engine Association, which runs the annual show in Temple, has the slogan, “Saving yesterday for tomorrow.” Van does that as well. He loves bringing them to Tanglewood for people to see.
“People will stop and ask me if they can take pictures of them,” says Van with a smile. “Of course. That’s why I brought them here.”
Her memories loom as large and clear as her home’s front picture window. “It’s the eye to the neighborhood,” says Terese Wagner of the expansive glass pane in the living room of her 1953 ranch house, the walls that shaped her childhood, little toes dip ping into shag carpet, the colors of a coral reef. “Dark blue and neon green. It was the hippest thing you’ve ever seen.”
Yes, home to Terese is the home she grew up in. It’s where she roller skated on parquet floors and played hide and seek with younger siblings, Loraine and Thomas. Where relatives and friends gathered for anniversaries, holidays and Andy Warhol-style parties, her parents, Joan and Frank Marik, the perfect cocktail hosts. Memories are stacked here, like layers upon layers of strata, imprints of different times, rich with energy. And they are being made still.
“It’s never been anything but wonderful, living in this house,” says Terese of the mid-cen tury gem in Old Braeswood, awash in original ash wood paneling and mid-century features like a time capsule from earlier times. An old-fash ioned silver tinsel Christmas tree sparkles from that picture window, bedecked in souvenir orna ments from travels and a plethora of Houston Astros rings and mementos.
Yes, season ticket holders here. Terese is even retro when it comes to baseball, keeping score, pencil to scorecard, every single game. “I’ve done it my entire life, since going to the Astrodome with my grandfather. He taught me. Those memories are priceless, along with memories in this house.”
Oh,
if walls could talk…. Wait. They can.
“We kind of are those walls,” continues Terese, who moved back to her childhood home in 2001, raising her children Michael, Andrew, and Allison there with husband, Gary. Her mother sold the house in 1989 to Carol Mancusi-Ungaro, then chief art conservator at Houston’s Menil Collection, who loved the home for its mid-century charm.
Serendipity is a wonderful thing.
Terese’s son, Michael, wanted a playdate with a certain friend from school. Terese looked up
the family, finding they lived on her childhood street. Right next to her childhood home.
“I mentioned to the mother of Michael’s friend that we were look ing for a house. We’d outgrown our current one in Braes Heights. She said ‘Oh, the house next to me… she’s going to sell it.’”
On a Friday in 2001, the night of the Houston Rodeo’s chili cook-off, Terese and Gary, all duded up in boots and cowboy hat, stopped by the oh-so-familiar house, knocked on the door and entered a déjà vu moment to beat all déjà vu moments, breathing in a sanctum of memo ries along with a tour. Gary knew the house, too, from when they dated. Terese lived in it until they married in 1986.
HOME Terese Wagner and her family live in the same house where she grew up. “It’s never been anything but wonderful, living in this house,” she said. Here, she’s pictured with her old-fashioned tinsel tree, decorated with souvenir ornaments from travels and Houston Astros mementos.
Lines are drawn in the wood, with dates and names at varying levels, growth spurt marks climbing like a vine, year after year – the heights of children, their friends, and relatives who lived and loved in this house, even the cats.
“It was like home. Of course, she had it done up differently, but it was perfection,” Terese recalls. “She had the most authentic mid-cen tury modern furniture, fixtures, you name it. She was a curator, a very sharp lady. How she found all these authentic things before eBay and Amazon, I’ll never know. Of course, she took every fixture with her when she moved.”
A few days after the tour, Carol paid a visit to Terese and Gary. There was another interested party, she said, asking Terese: “Why do you want this home?”
“I told her about all my memories and warm feelings and the importance of the neighborhood to me and that it was such a quality home,” Terese recalls. “She put her hand on mine and said, ‘You will have this house.’”
Terese embraces the house like a guardian to a child, pointing out precious scribblings on the inside of its kitchen pantry door.
Her dad started this panel of permanent record back in 1968. When her parents sold the home to Carol, she continued it with her chil dren. When Terese bought the childhood home, her kids, too, stood straight, heel to door, enshrining their heights, year after year. An archeological measure of life within a house.
“It’s a wonderful house,” says her mother, Joan, admitting homesick pangs when she sold the property in the late 1980s. When she and her husband purchased it in 1968, it listed for $39,000, says the Bellaire resident. “But, oh gosh, my most favorite thing about the house is the bar. We had all kinds of parties when we lived there. Halloween, anniversaries, birthdays, dinner parties, you name it.”
The mirrored bar is a star feature against the den wall. It pulls out from its mooring to reveal a full-blown cocktail extravaganza, replete with sink and all the fixings. You couldn’t do any bet ter on the set of the spectacularly mod drama Mad Men, set in that period.
“This whole thing can be pulled out into the room,” explains Terese, maneuvering the
home’s showy attribute into the den. “I love to have parties. Any excuse to pull out this bar.”
Joan moved there with Frank, two kids in tow – Terese and younger sister, Loraine. “I found out I was pregnant right after we moved in.”
Baby Thomas was a bright spot in the family, says Terese, who fought with Loraine over holding him. “I just adored him. I remember one time he hid in the hamper in the bathroom, and I could not find him. I was beside myself. I thought he was lost!”
Joan and Terese bemoan the low surfaces in the house, but, hey, it’s just another fun quirk. Sinks, countertops. The home was originally built in the 1950s for the Gordon family, of Gordon Jewelers. “The wife was really short,
apparently,” recalls Terese. “I don’t remember what we did to remedy that. It was terrible,” says her mom.
In some cases, like the kitchen, they solved the problem somewhat by lowering floors, removing layer upon layer of linoleum, Terese explains.
One of the bathrooms in ’50s blue upon blue tile had to be gutted and redone, due to a persistent leak. So, countertop height solved.
Other fun attributes abound in this mid-century gem. Magnificent round pulls that look like gigantic coat buttons on cupboards, a retro vegetable bin in the kitchen, a utilitarian looking wall panel in the master bedroom that her par ents used to turn off house lights at night. An especially fun feature is a secret door, a panel
that parades as an architectural piece of siding to the side of their front door. In fact, it’s another door, a secret passageway of sorts into the house that allows service people access. It leads to a large utility room, replete with multi-colored linoleum floor.
“That door is particularly fun at Halloween,” Terese says, with a chuckle. “Trick or treat and I’ll scare you.”
Also fun is the main bathroom off the front hallway, a testament to mid-century spunk in pink and turquoise with original sink and pink toilet, a pristine throne from the era. “I love it. Love it,” enthuses Terese, who admits it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. “When people see it, it’s ‘Oh, how cute.’ They don’t
know what to think of it. I don’t care. I love it.”
Like most ranch houses of that era, three bedrooms are clustered down a long hallway at one end, with the family areas and kitchen to the other side. This house has room in spades. It is 3,261 square feet, to be exact, but it seems larger, especially since Terese and Gary had one wall removed that separated the breakfast room from the den. It has a garage apartment, too.
She found a “miracle worker,” she says, to fashion parquet floors – flooring composed of wooden blocks arranged in a geometric pattern – in the dining and living rooms, matching orig inal parquet in the front hallway, den, and breakfast room. “Can’t tell the difference.”
Her mom recalls hearing about a long jumper in the 1968 Olympics who careened 29 feet to set a record. “And that’s about the length of that living room,” Terese says. The room is 24.5 feet long, to be exact. Someone who owned the home before her mother painted the room’s flagstone fireplace white. Sacrilege to Terese and her geologist husband. Terese painted gray grout lines to break up the stones and make it look more appealing.
While she doesn’t outfit her home in midcentury furnishings like the previous homeowner, Carol, she appreciates the style. Instead, she prefers an eclectic look. “I like a mixture of things and unusual things,” she says, pointing out two empire style chairs, reupholstered in the silk fabric from her wedding dress.
“Terese definitely has her own style,” says her uncle, Joel Barna, a writer, and former Galveston magazine editor who knew the home’s previous owner, Carol, when she lived in Galveston. In 1979, he received a phone call from a woman proposing to write a story for his bi-weekly magazine about The Feast of the Seven Fishes, a traditional Italian Christmas eve dinner. “Years later, my sister Joan mentioned when she sold her house that it was to a woman named Carol Mancusi-Ungaro. It was a remarkable coincidence. That’s the woman who contacted me and wrote that story. I got to know her and her husband a bit. They were delightful people.”
He remembers staying with his sister and her family in his early 20s, before he went into the Peace Corps, living in their garage apartment. And he recalls dumplings. Lots of dumplings. “There was an anniversary party for my parents, and we were all involved in the preparation and there was a priest, an immigrant from China, who came to make dumplings. We were all doing vegetable chopping because he was going to make, like, 10,000 dumplings.”
He remembers, too, long days in the den, watching Watergate hearings that dominated the country.
The neighborhood, while it has changed, is still a gem of a place to live, close to conveniences, with wonderful neighbors, says Terese. But, boy, have the features changed.
“It’s like we lived in the suburbs back then,”
she says, recalling the long-ago since demolished Shamrock Hilton, then the grandest hotel in Texas at 20 stories tall. Her playground of choice. She and friends would hop on their bikes, swimsuits under clothes, and race to the Olympic-sized pool with a 10-meter diving board, where her parents had a membership. “It was so huge, they used to lower the water in the pool and have water skiing shows in it every year,” she recalls.
She would climb up the diving board, feet dangling over water, and watch the fireworks from Astroworld. “It was heaven.”
The house is still the gathering place for fam ily. Thanksgiving, parties, anniversaries, birthdays. Terese wouldn’t have it any other way. She doesn’t plan to go anywhere anytime soon, though they have a second home in
Wimberley. “Friends keep asking me there when we are just going to move to Wimberley, but I love my house. I don’t know, maybe I’m just delaying things because I know someone will just tear it down after we leave. I’m putting that off. It’s home. Nothing fancy schmancy, but I love it. I’m comfortable here.”
Terese points out a lone swath of original wallpaper – a geisha with parasol and a man playing the strings, floating against a coralsalmon lattice design. The Asian scene has taken up residence on the walls of the home’s coat closet for decades, a remnant paper trail linking past to present. A greeter, of sorts, to all who have lived in the house. Take your coat off and stay a while.
“This home makes me happy,” says Terese. “It did as a kid, and it does now. Nothing but warm feelings.”
by Sharon Albert Brier, staff writer
Tiger fest. The Frostwood Tiger Festival gave passports and wristbands to the participants that wanted to be entered into a raffle. If one completed six games, you were eligible to win one of the big gifts. The sunny day had lots of fifth-grade students dunked in the dunk tank – a very popular event. Second grader Blakely Eckhardt tossed rings to win a big UT ball and was successful! First grader Abigail Kleiderer could barely hold her well-earned large stuffed animals. There were some America’s Got Talent potentials singing Don’t Stop Believin’ at the karaoke section in the pavilion while trampoline bungee, putt putt, and a rock wall entertained others. Astros mascot Orbit made a surprise appearance. The committee – Lauren Bernard, Julie Boyd, Jeanne Barker, Rachel Gillespie, Kendall Eckhardt, Hailey Kleiderer , and Melissa Winkler – happily roared at the success. Fiesta. The Astros were playing but 250 still attended the Mayor’s Hispanic Heritage Awards Ceremony. Mayor Turner presented awards to unsung heroes in the Latino community. Co-event chairs Tim Martinez and Lauren Soliz and co-chairs of the Mayor’s Hispanic Advisory Board Roland Garcia and Lenora Sorola-Pohlman cheered that $75,000 was raised for outreach to the Latino community. The honorees included Jose Longoria, Sandra Rodriguez, Dr. Adriana Tamez, Dr. Flor Munoz, Dr. Maria Bottazzi (dual award) and for Lifetime Achievement, Aylin Rodriguez and Adan Medrano and Christian Navarro (posthumous) (dual award).
Jamboree. A mechanical bull, a zorb (inflatable human hamster walking ball) rolling on a water track, a trackless train roving throughout the grounds were some of the more unique events found at the Valley Oaks Jamboree. Jaxon Turner had his face painted like a monster pirate. Lake and sister Brooke Taylor posed in front of the flowerscape balloon décor with giant smiles as mom Amanda Taylor snapped a pic.
Fun fall fest. At St. Cecilia Catholic Church, a whole football field of booths kept families busy: food hopping after face painting,
pony rides, and more. Enjoying the beautiful day and festivities were Casey Sherlock Koehler and daughters Catherine and Mary Colleen Koehler and friend Claire Higgs. Others seeking shade and ice cream were Chris Schneider, Alec Schneider, Matthew Calhoun and Chris Christianson, and Jana and Sam Moore. Carrie and Jonathan Kurtz were busy in many directions with children, Danielle with a squirrel painted on her cheek, Julien with a pumpkin on his face.
Don’t miss out. It wasn’t about the tea sandwiches or the tea at the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary Membership. Who knew it would be so fun to sign up for activities like ring ing a bell for contributions during December. wrapping gifts or getting toys organized for gifts for. The SAWA gals turn it all into a party. Friends sign up with friends and soon you have several worthwhile events to saturate your inner charitable self. Judy Gee Chong, grant chair, was thrilled to announce the recipients of the $590,252 worth of contributions. Some members in the mix were Peg Austin, Helen Perry, Mary Maxey, Deborah Laws, Harriet Gertner,
Alason Connell, and Mary Nurre
Night owls. The 19th “Evening For Rice’s Honour” celebrated Rice’s success in intercollegiate athletics. Co-chairs Walter and Linda McReynolds and Bucky and Cynthia Allshouse helped to raise over $400,000 as Rice Athletics prepares for entrance into the American Athletic Conference. The Distinguished Owl Club Awards went to Thomas O. Clanton, MD; Julie Griswold, Jen Rigg Kneale, Mark Thomas Scully, Christopher Allen Shoppa, and Robert L. Waltrip. Over time, six million has been raised for scholarships and athletic endeavors. Some athletic supporters included Molly and Jim Crownover, Phoebe and Bobby Tudor, Lilly and Thurmon Andress, Channing Allshouse, Paula and president Reginald DesRoches, Fred and Carol Hansen, Glenda and Doug Nicholson, Christine and Trevor Cobb, Julie Griswold, and Jarett and Sarita Dillard
See Rumor Has It at thebuzzmagazines.com for additional photos. Have some good news to share? Email us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com.
. by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer
Buzz Baby is a column about life with little ones. Writer Annie McQueen is a mother of four children under the age of 8.
As my entire family waited in the drivethrough line of Whataburger, my four kids, all under the age of 7 at the time, were fighting over a silly toy. Suddenly, my phone rang. It was a little after 6 p.m. on a chilly Thursday before Christmas 2021.
I answered. I heard a kind voice. “Annie?” “Yes, this is she,” I replied. “I got a cancellation for a carriage ride. Can you all be here in 15 minutes?” he asked.
Well, 15 minutes usually is not even enough time for my kids to put on their shoes, but as fate had it that wintery evening, we were just down the street from the meeting spot of these horsedrawn carriage rides to look at Christmas lights. We decided to go for it.
I had spoken to the man in November, hop ing to book a picturesque carriage. He explained that not only was he full but he’d been full for months. I asked if he could put me on a cancel lation list just in case. He took down my num ber. I sort of forgot about it.
Well, that phone call was our moment. Here was the Christmas memory I had dreamt of for my kids – riding with blankets and hot chocolate past colorful twinkling lights while the steady beat of horse hooves played in the background.
We pulled up. At least 12 horse-drawn carriages filled the lot. Parents and kids, head to toe in perfect holiday outfits, awaited. Everyone had gloves and blankets and Yetis filled with hot chocolate. And there we were. Ketchup was all over my toddler’s face and my older son did not like the shoes he brought. He insisted on walking to the carriage without shoes on. Sigh.
I was wearing workout clothes from the day’s holiday errands. All four of my children had disheveled hair. Even though it was chaotic, I believe that if I had tried to plan a perfect holi day outing in advance, it not only would not have gone as planned, but it might not have happened at all. Because life happens. Life with kids happens.
As we loaded into the carriage, I grabbed my phone to snap a photo of my kids in the car riage. It was not an Instagram-worthy photo. It was reality. The moment was chaos, but it was beautiful chaos, and it filled my heart. That chaotic night is burned in my brain. It was not perfect by any stretch. It was real.
The holidays can add extra stress for parents, especially parents with young children and babies. It is the pressure to have the gifts wrapped in perfect matching paper. Have matching dresses and make picture-perfect sug ary iced cookies. Do not forget to snap beautiful photos for the ’gram (Instagram for those who do not know).
THIS IS REAL LIFE Mom-of-two Caroline Lecky had the perfect matching Christmas outfits
her son Preston and
Scarlett, then 16 months and 3 years old, for pictures with Santa. But life doesn't always go according to plan – especially life with little ones.
Well, what if we did not give in to that stress? What if in the “Instagram versus reality” world, we leaned into reality instead of the picture-per fect Instagram scene? What if we skipped the gram-worthy photos and embraced the chaos?
Erin Dickerman, a mom of three, says she tried to make the holidays extra special in 2020. “I wanted to make up for not being able to do any of the normal stuff that year,” she said. She tried all sorts of crafts and home activities that year. She tried to make some cute Pinterest crafts that she says she rarely tackles at home. “One of the crafts we tried to do was make cinnamon dough ornaments,” said Erin. She set up the ingredients and supplies. In her mind, she envisioned creat ing these save-worthy ornaments to hang on the tree and keep year after year.
Erin had three kids under the age of 3 – big brother Spencer, and baby twins, Lucy and Crosby. The supplies were out, and it was a mess. Lucy attempted to eat the paint. Fail. But she remembers it as a fun day.
The Dickermans, who also celebrate Hanukkah, got Spencer a “laser dreidel” when he was 2. “He was terrified,” said Erin. They took a video of Spencer, shrieking and running away from the light-up dreidel, which spun around the room.
A few years ago, Buzz mom Caroline Lecky planned a visit with Santa for her two children, Scarlett and Preston. She purchased adorable matching tartan plaid outfits for them to wear. From their outfits to their socks, shoes, and Scarlett’s little bow, everything was on point and running smoothly. As Scarlett was walking up to enter, she tripped outside in the parking lot and cut her knee. Caroline had to put two large blue band-aids on the cut, which showed up in the picture. It makes for a funny story now, even though it was not too funny at the time.
As a parent, it can be a challenge to relax during the holidays. We have in our minds the way we want things to go, and the way they do go. So, whether you devise your family’s holiday plans months in advance or accept a last-minute carriage ride cancellation, just try to forget about taking those perfect Insta-worthy photos. Let us all post the failed attempts – the real ones. Happy Holidays.
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by Cindy Burnett, staff writer
Buzz Reads is a column about books by reviewer Cindy Burnett. Each month, Cindy recommends five recently or soon-to-be released titles.
American Cartel by Scott Higham and Sari Horwitz (nonfiction) – In the U.S., death by opioid overdose has consistently climbed over the last two decades. Unlike previous drug crises, the opioid epidemic was sparked by U.S. drug manufacturers and further flamed by those same drug companies, pharmaceutical distributors, pharmacies, and doctors. American Cartel chronicles how a small group of DEA agents and a band of lawyers worked diligently for years to stem the flow of these drugs and to make these bad actors pay for the crisis they created. While the book starts slow and slowly builds up steam, the second half reads like a thriller though if it were fiction the “bad guys” would appear comically drawn –the behavior these drug companies and distribu tors engaged in seems so over-the-top it is hard to believe that they and the scores of people working for them actually behaved so horrifically. American Cartel is a stellar (and at times horrify ing) read that proves the continued importance of high-quality investigative journalism in today’s world and how greed created a national emergency that has swept the country unchecked.
Blood & Ink by Joe Pompeo (nonfiction) –Blood & Ink chronicles the killing of Reverend Edward Hall, whose congregation at St. John the Evangelist was filled with the city’s wealthy citizens, and Eleanor Mills, a member of the church and choir where Hall preached; both individuals were married to other people. The two bodies were discovered on the morning of Saturday, September 16, 1922, on the edge of town, arranged together as if sleeping on the ground under a crabapple tree. From the start, local offi cials mangled the investigation. By the afternoon of the couple’s discovery, thousands of people turned out to see the bodies, trampling over grass and the crime scene to view the couple while no one attempted to preserve the crime scene. New York City newspapers caught wind of the story and started covering it in what would eventually lead to a three-way fight to sensationalize the case and ultimately to the birth of tabloid journalism.
Pompeo weaves in how the advent of this tabloid phenomenon began and how this particular mur der contributed so heavily with its splashy headlines and sensational photos relating to the crime. Blood & Ink explores our fascination with true crime and tabloid journalism and how the two are closely interconnected.
The Call of the Wrens by Jenni L. Walsh (historical fiction) – This dual timeline tale follows two women born several decades apart who work as WRENS, in the Women’s Royal Naval Service, delivering messages via motorcycle during war time. Marion joins in 1917 to avoid homelessness while in 1936, Evelyn has overcome a disability and has a passion for auto mobile racing. She gets drawn into service when she learns about the WRENS. Both women find their purpose and passion during the two world wars as WRENS and eventually their two stories weave together in an emotional conclusion. The Call of the Wrens highlights a courageous group of women whose stories are less well known and whose contributions to both world wars will now not be forgotten.
WHAT TO READ This month’s picks include two nonfiction books, one about the opioid crisis and the other an exploration of true crime and tabloid jour nalism and how the two are interconnected, and three historical fiction books set in Colorado, Europe, and Harlem.
tolary format and enjoyed the presence of Langston Hughes in the book as well as learning more about 1920s Harlem.
Cora’s Kitchen by Kimberly Garrett Brown (historical fiction) – This epistolary novel set in 1928 Harlem stars Cora, a librarian at the 135th Street library, who longs to become an author. Langston Hughes is a library patron who has left for college, and one day she decides to write him a letter asking for advice on following her dream of writing. He writes back launching a correspon dence that galvanizes Cora to pursue her literary ambitions. When Cora must take a leave of absence from the library to fill in for her cousin as a cook at a wealthy white woman’s home, Cora unexpectedly befriends her employer Eleanor, and the two enter into an alliance that will help them step outside the roles and expectations society places on them. I love novels written in epis-
Gilded Mountain by Kate Manning (historical fiction) – Set in the mining town of Moonstone, Colorado at the turn of the 20th century, this epic tale follows Sylvie Pelletier as she comes of age as well as telling the story of coal miners and their struggles against ruthless mine owners during this time period. Sylvie loves writ ing essays in school and lands a job at the local newspaper owned by Miss Redmond, who started her own newspaper when no one else would hire her. Eventually, Sylvie is offered a higher paying job as a secretary to the wife of the mine’s owner, Mrs. Padgett, and she sees how the wealthy live. As conditions at the mine worsen and violence seems inevitable, Sylvie tries to navigate between the two different worlds and struggles to choose sides amid conflicting relationships. Lyrically written, Gilded Mountain explores the always relevant topics of coming of age, belonging, justice, equality, and family while detailing a period of history not often covered in fiction.
Editor’s note: Southside Place resident Cindy Burnett also writes our weekly Page Turners column at thebuzzmagazines.com. She hosts the Thoughts from a Page Podcast, is co-creator of the Houston literary event series Conversations from the Page, runs the Instagram account @thoughtsfromapage, and regularly speaks to groups about books.
. by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer
It was an epic sojourn through ancient histo ry. Turkey is the birthplace of Roman kings, Trojan warriors, Sufi saints, and Old Testament prophets; it was the home of the Apostles John and Paul and the Virgin Mary. This crossroad of cultures straddles Europe and Asia and is, in many ways, the cradle of modern civilization.
Little wonder, then, that when Antonio and Alexia Benavides were invited to join a tour led by the Turkish geologist Dr. Pinar Oya Yilmaz a dear friend to Antonio’s sister Marita Benavides naturally they jumped at the chance.
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to go on the trip, and our friend had been organizing the itinerary with so much love and care for over a year,” said Alexia. Oya, as her friends know her, retired two years ago from her position as a high-level Exxon executive, and had meticulously planned the trip for herself and her best friends. In all there were nine in the group that traveled together, plus a local driver and guide.
In preparing the itinerary, Oya showcased a bedazzling window into Turkish culture. She spared no effort to feature the very best of Turkish cuisine, arranging special seatings and tastings in some of the finest restaurants. She included plenty of time for rug and silk and ceramic shopping and haggling fun. Of course, being a geologist, she included an overview of Turkey’s jaw-dropping geology, with spectacular formations and sites displaying every era dating back to the Jurassic.
After a nonstop flight from Houston, the journey began in Istanbul, as have many journeys over the millennia – although under the Greeks and then the Romans, it was known as Byzantium (660 B.C.-196 A.D.); and under the Eastern Orthodox Christians, it became Constantinople (330 A.D.) before the conquest by the Ottoman army led by Sultan Mehmed II in 1453.
“This is the point at which East meets West,” said Antonio. “Obviously I’m fascinated by the history and geopolitics of Turkey, which has been invaded since the beginning of mankind by every kind of civilization and world power.” At the same time, he was surprised at the extent of modern infrastructure, equal to any contem
porary metropolis, Turkey being one of the world’s top 20 economies.
AMONG THE GODS Alexia and Antonio Benavides walk among the toppled heads of sculptured deities that once adorned the temple-tomb of King Antiochus I of Commagene (69-34 B.C.)
It was Antonio’s first time to Turkey, and although Alexia had been to Istanbul once, it was with her parents, 30 years ago, and that had been on the European side of the city. This time they would stay on the Asian side of the city, where Oya’s apartment was. After three days in Istanbul, they would set off for Eastern Turkey – the “fairy castles” and underground cities of Cappadocia, the Biblical city of Antioch, and other ancient cities all the way to the border with Syria.
But first there was Istanbul to explore, and that was an endless source of wonder in itself.
Beginning from their home base in the upand-coming Eastern neighborhood of Moda, they enjoyed a ferry ride across the Bosphorus, docking at the bustling Eminonu pier. From there, they made their way to the fragrant 16th century Spice Market, and the cavernous Grand Bazaar, shopping to their hearts’ content before continuing on to Sultanahmet, the Old City, and to some of the world’s most stunning archi tecture: the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Basilica Cistern.
The Grand Bazaar, built in the 1400s, is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and some 4,000 shops – often called the world’s oldest shopping mall. The vibrancy of the city markets, in an area that was a hub of commerce for millennia, was what most impressed Antonio, who recalled that the Silk Road ended here in Istanbul, bringing untold exotic treasures from the Far East for more than 1,500 years.
Alexia was surprised at the number of highend jewelry stores she saw in the Bazaar.
“I did not expect an open market like that to have all those precious pieces of jewelry being sold: emeralds, gold, diamonds,” she said. “The whole window was just full of gold… and then the next one… the sparkle was pretty impressive.”
Finally they headed for Sultanahmet, the ancient walled city, where they saw the nearly
1,500-year-old Hagia Sophia, the world’s largest cathedral for nearly a thousand years; the magnif icent Blue Mosque, with its blue-tiled interior dome and its exquisite Ottoman architecture; and the remains of Byzantine Hippodrome, a pleasant walkway that served during Roman times as an arena for chariot races and other entertainment.
There in the ancient city they descended to see one of its most impressive sights: Yerebatan Sarayi, or the Basilica Cistern, whose name literally means “sunken palace.” A basilica, built during the third and fourth centuries, once stood here and was a stunning work of architecture in itself. In the sixth century, Emperor Justinian I built the cistern, according to ancient texts, on the backs of 7,000 slaves, many of whom died. The cistern was the water source for the nearby Topkapi Palace complex.
The forest of marble columns and ornate stonework remains intact, and their reflections shimmer on the water-covered floor. Sculptures abound, most unforgettably two massive Medusa heads – one upside down, and one on its side, both held firmly in place under massive marble columns – perhaps, as tourist guides say, to pro tect passersby from their evil gaze.
Alexia was stunned to learn the extent of the waterworks engineered during Roman times, with hot water and rooms heated with steam even the floors were heated. “It was just mindboggling, the things that were done in ancient times,” she remarked.
On their fourth day they flew to Sanliurfa, also known as Urfa, a portal to the ancient past that defies the imagination. Urfa lies in the eastern part of Turkey, near the border with Syria. Here in this sacred city that was part of the ancient kingdom of Babylon, the prophet Abraham, Father of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, is said to have been born in a cave that has become a pilgrimage site for thousands. Every day people remove their shoes, don head
scarves, and line up to enter the cave. Alexia saw people weeping with emotion and filling bottles with the holy water from the pool.
Abraham’s Cave is on the grounds of Golbasi Park, known for its historic mosques and gardens. Here, according to legend, the Mesopotamian King Nimrod threw Abraham into a fire as punishment for refusing to worship idols. But the prophet was saved when the fire turned to water, and the firewood turned into goldfish whose legendary descendants swim hap pily in Abraham’s Lake.
Six miles outside the city lie the remains of a Neolithic site believed to be the world’s oldest known temple: the amazing Gobekli Tepe, built some 11,000 years ago 6,000 years before Stonehenge, and before metal tools, the wheel, or even pottery, these builders arranged and carved giant stone pillars, some up to 16 feet tall, with elaborate and lifelike figures of foxes, scorpions, lions, vultures, and other animals.
“It shows a really advanced level of culture for them to have been able to build that such a long time ago,” said Alexia, still marveling at the sight.
The next day they headed to the ancient city of Harran, once one of the most important cities of Northern Mesopotamia. Founded around 5,000 years ago, Harran is famous for its kümbets, tall adobe beehive houses, designed to manage the sweltering desert heat. Occupied over the centuries by the Babylonians, Assyrians,
Hittites, Persians, the Alexandrian Empire, Romans, Byzantines, and Seljuks, among others, the city served as the capital of Islam for a time, and was home to one of the world’s oldest universities. It was raided in 1028 by the Crusaders, but it was rebuilt; however, in 1260, it was sacked and nearly destroyed by the grandson of Genghis Khan. The city continues to this day as a small village, mainly sustained by tourism.
“We were so close to the Syrian border, we could see the Syrian flag – that was a little bit of an adren aline rush,” said Antonio. Other than that, the bor der seemed amazingly “uneventful,” he said.
But more incredible forays into ancient his tory awaited. Three hours north of Urfa, on one of the tallest peaks of the Taurus Mountains, lies a UNESCO World Heritage Site atop Mount Nemrut, home to a 2,000-year-old tomb and monument to a king who declared himself a god. There King Antiochus I of Commagene built three-story statues of himself, flanked by two lions, two eagles, and a variety of deities reflecting his Greek and Iranian heritage. Originally the statues were seated and inscribed with the names of each god. Apparently, the statues fell victim to vandalism at some point, and the heads lie scattered about as an eerie reminder of the vanity of human glory.
The pattern of damage to the heads notably the smashing of noses suggests that they were deliberately damaged by iconoclasts, Oya told the group. Next the group headed to Gaziantep,
a city awarded the title of Creative City of Gastronomy by UNESCO in 2015. And gastronomy was at the top of the group’s agenda. With more than 30 varieties of kebabs, 20 different types of pastries, 30 types of soup, 50 varieties of vegetable dishes the challenge was to have a representative sample.
The city is famous for its pistachios, harvested young and ground fresh to make what has been called the world’s best baklava. Their unforget table dinner was at the Gaziantep Hisvahan Hotel, which is built literally on top of the archaeological site that was discovered while preparing for construction, as often occurs in Turkey. Now the restaurant and hotel’s glass floors and walkways allow viewers to peer down into the remains of a caravanserai – a roadside inn for travelers along the Silk Road.
The next day it was time to witness Gaziantep’s main attraction: the world’s largest mosaic museum. The Zeugma Mosaic Museum was created to house the abundance of fine Roman mosaics that were discovered during the damming of the nearby Euphrates River. Among the 1,700 square meters of mosaics was the enigmatic Gypsy Girl Mosaic. Called the “Turkish Mona Lisa,” the girl’s eyes have the uncanny ability to follow a viewer from place to place.
“The story of that mosaic is incredible,” said Antonio. “Her eyes follow you all over the exhibit.
“All the world powers have come into Turkey and looted every (continued on page 48)
thing, you know, starting with the Crusaders. So the mosaic ended up in Bowling Green State University in Ohio in 1965. And they had to shake every level of gov ernment to get it back.”
The mosaic, which is made of 12 separate panels, was finally returned to Turkey and reassembled, opening to the public in 2018. The image is widely featured in travel advertisements, including in Turkish Airlines’ magazine.
The Gypsy Girl was only the most memorable of a huge and spectacular collection. “These people really knew their trade, because they were absolutely fantastic,” said Antonio. One of the group’s favorites was of a cheerful skeleton, with a Greek inscription that translated to something like “Enjoy life because tomorrow you’ll be like this.”
“We had a lot of fun with that one,” said Antonio.
The next day they headed to Antioch, where they stayed at the unforgettable Museum Hotel, also built over an archaeological site.
“So you’re checking into your room and you look down and you see all these villas and mosaics and how the Romans heated their hous es through the floor with steam. Incredible,” said Antonio. “It's a five-star hotel, but it’s unlike any other I’ve ever stayed at in the world.”
Here in this Biblical city they went to see the UNESCO-designated St. Pierre Church, believed to be the founding site of all Christianity and the cave where St. Peter first preached the gospel. The cave was later turned into a church, with its facade carved into the mountainside.
In the afternoon the group had a special visit, organized by a friend of Oya, to the Antakya Orthodox Church, one of the oldest operating churches in the world. There they were person ally greeted by Father Dimitri, who welcomed the group warmly and told them the fascinating story of this Byzantine church that still operates today.
“I was surprised to hear Father Dimitri is mar
ried and has kids, and has also a very normal or ‘secular’ life on top of his religious responsibili ties,” commented Alexia.
The day came to a marvelous close with din ner at the renowned Konak restaurant, where Oya was able to secure reservations at the high terrace, usually reserved for the Governor.
Finally on the last leg of their trip they drove five hours to Cappadocia, famed for its spectacular geological formations known fancifully as “fairy castles.” They were to have taken a balloon ride over the whole spectacle as is customary but sadly two Spanish tourists had died the day before in a ballooning accident so on their only day in Cappadocia, there were no balloon rides.
Nevertheless, Cappadocia revealed its magic to them in multiple ways. First, they took a tour through the astonishing Kaymakli Underground City, built in the 8th and 7th centuries BC to offer protection from foreign invaders. The fourstory underground city had a holding capacity of 3,500 people. It was used first to escape various waves of invaders, including the Mongols, and then, years later, for several centuries throughout the Arab-Byzantine wars. Carved into the soft volcanic rock of the region, the city was continually expanded to include stables, homes, storage areas, a communal kitchen, and a church.
Turkey’s strategic location made it a target for wave after wave of invasions, and Kaymakli was just one of several underground cities where the people took refuge; another, called Derinkuyu, extends to more than 85 meters below the Earth’s surface, and includes 18 levels of tunnels.
“We just descended four levels into the cave through narrow tunnels, and that was enough for me,” said Alexia. “Even though there were places for animals, and even wineries in the sys tem, I think it must have been really difficult to spend more than three days down there.”
Cappadocia’s landscape itself defies description. More than 7,000 square miles, it is home to over
200 underground cities that have been carved into the rock over the millennia; in some areas, layers of soft pink and yellow hued dune-like hills come to a sharp point. The rocks near the Cappadocia city of Göreme eroded into hundreds of spectacu lar pillars and minaret-like forms.
As Oya explained it, the Cappadocia region is underlain by soft sedimentary rocks formed in lakes and streams, interspersed with hard ignimbrite deposits that erupted from ancient volcanoes from nine to three million years ago, during the late Miocene to Pliocene epochs. The people of the region carved out houses, churches, and monasteries from the soft rock formations and some are still inhabited to this day.
The city of Göreme became a monastic center in 300–1200 AD, with the first settlement period dating back to the Roman period. The group paid a visit to the Göreme Open Air Museum, one of the most famous sites in central Turkey. The complex contains more than 30 churches and chapels carved into the stone, some of which contain superb examples of Byzantine frescoes dating as far back as the ninth century.
“There’s just so much culture that for us who grew up in a Western environment, it’s just not something you’re aware of,” said Alexia. “In Houston, you dig down and you find clay. Over there, you dig and you find a 10 million-year-old fossil, or a 10,000-year-old archeological site. It’s a country so rich in history that you feel very humbled by it.”
For Antonio, the trip really opened his eyes to the depth of human history. “You learn to really appreciate ancient cultures,” he said, “and how insignificant our history of 200 years is compared to those cultures.”
Editor’s note: Buzz travel
Lowell Thomas
info@thebuzzmagazines.com
L.
by Dai Huynh, staff writer
Customers make a beeline for Urbe’s pas try case, lined with big, fat pan dulce buns. Executive pastry chef Ruben Ortega eyes the sugar-coated churros and spiced pumpkin donuts, rich with tangerine cinnamon sugar. Since early morning he has been proofing and baking.
We know the proverb: Behind every great man is a great woman. In the case of James Beard Award-winning chef Hugo Ortega, it’s his wife and restaurateur, Tracy Vaught. But the story wouldn’t be complete without younger brother Ruben, who works alongside Hugo, and was a finalist for this year’s James Beard Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef. His imagination elevates Mexican-inspired desserts and ingredi ents, resulting in dazzling pastries and whimsical creations that sometimes paint pictures on the plate and other times inspire squeals of delight. Take El Coco, a hollow chocolate orb that requires a wooden mallet to break through the “coconut” filled with buttercream and ganache.
Here, the 51-year-old dessert phenom shares his childhood memories of Christmas in Mexico and holiday treats, along with becoming one of the best Texas pastry chefs by “accident.”
Hugo is the oldest, the big brother. Where are you in the mix of eight siblings?
I’m No. 4.
Christmas must have been a wonderful time, especially with all your siblings, in Mexico.
It was the best. We ate like there was no tomorrow. It started on the 16th of December with the posada. That’s when everyone strolled through the streets, reenacting Joseph and the Virgin Mary’s search for lodging. Every night, for nine nights, until December 24th, we would go from home to home. And everywhere you go, there is always food. That was the best time of the year. People would offer tamales, pozole, hot chocolate, and this and that.
So, what are some traditional desserts you would enjoy during the holidays?
So many things. They would have creamfilled puff pastry, or cuernitos rellenos, and arroz con leche, or rice pudding. In the morning, you would sip champurrado or hot chocolate with masa. There are all sorts of traditional sweet
breads and sweet pump kin candy. On Christmas morning, you might enjoy a cup of hot chocolate with sweet tamales or churros. I have many good memories of those days. It’s been a long time since I had one of those Christmases.
Your aunt baked and sold bread in Mexico City. Was she the reason you chose pastry as a career?
I’ll be honest with you. This happened by accident. In 1989, before coming here, I worked in San Jose, California, at an Italian restaurant. They used to bring stu dents from Italy to work in the kitchen. It was a small restaurant, but it was very authentic. We made our own pasta and cured our meat, the whole nine yards. That’s why Italian is my sec ond favorite food – after Mexican, of course. So, when I came here in 1991, I started cooking at Backstreet Café. Then, one day, I remembered Hugo saying, ‘I think it would be a good idea for you to take over the desserts. Why don’t you go to school and try it?’ I didn’t like the idea. I wanted to be a cook. I didn’t want to do pastry. But Tracy said, ‘Try it, just once.’
So, you reluctantly took their advice and went to the Houston Community College downtown to learn from one of the best bakery and pastry instructors in the industry, Eddy Van Damme?
I walked into the class, and Eddy said, ‘Sit down. See if you like it. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to come back.’ Ok, so I sat down, and the next day I came back. I guess I liked it.
At the time, in ’93 and ’94, it was a small pro gram, very hands-on. Hugo also attended HCC. But he was the second generation, and I was part of the third generation. Now, when you go to HCC, each student has their own table and their own mixer. I’m like, ‘Wow.’ When I went there, it was one long table, and we had to share one mixer. After HCC, I went to work at Prego, and then we opened Hugo’s in 2002. At the
time, most people didn’t know about Mexican food. They only knew about Tex-Mex. We were very nervous.
Hugo’s set the stage for future successes, and now, H-Town Restaurant Group operates not only your brother’s namesake and Backstreet Café but also Xochi, Urbe, and Caracol. You now supervise a pastry team of 25. And you were one of five James Beard finalists in the outstanding pastry chef catego ry, selected from a pool of nominees across 50 states. That’s huge. Were you disappointed when you lost to Warda Bouguettaya of Detroit?
No. The goal was to make it to the finals, and we did. We made it to the finals. I felt honored.
Ruben recalls how the unique, earthy scent of Mexican hot chocolate filled the air at Christmastime. Mexicans traditionally whip their hot chocolate into a froth with a hand blender known as a molinillo. Here is his recipe for chocolate caliente and other Mexican holiday desserts from “Hugo Ortega’s Street Food of Mexico” by
The best early morning breakfast on the streets is a nice hot cup of chocolate caliente with some churros, sweet tamales, or fresh-baked sweet goods from a bak ery. In this particular recipe, water and milk can be used interchangeably. At Hugo's restaurant, we make our own chocolate criollo but any brand of Mexican chocolate can be used for this recipe. Usually sold in 3-ounce tablets, it is available
in Mexican grocery stores or in the Hispanic/ethnic foods aisle in local supermarkets. In this recipe, use a hand blender to create the foam in the chocolate before serving. Always use caution when dealing with hot liquid.
4 cups whole milk or water
2 tablets (3 oz. each) Mexican chocolate, bro ken into chunks
Combine milk or water and chocolate in a pot and place over medium heat. Bring to a boil, about 10 minutes. Stir continuously to com pletely dissolve chocolate. Remove from heat.
Using a hand blender, mix liquid until foamy, about 2 minutes. Serve hot. Makes 4 servings.
These Mexican cornucopias filled with pastry cream are easy to make, thanks to the availability of puff pastry sheets in local supermarkets. Another important element for this recipe is the cream molds or small stainless-steel cones found at baking equip ment stores.
For filling: 2 cups whole milk
3/4 cup granulated sugar, divided
4 egg yolks
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
4 tablespoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
To assemble:
1/4 cup granulated sugar or as needed
1 (9-inch by 9-inch) puff pastry sheet, thawed according to package directions
Powdered sugar as garnish
For filling (make ahead up to 3 days): Combine milk and half the amount of sugar in a medium saucepan and place over
(continued from page 52)
medium heat. Stir to combine ingredients, making sure sugar does not stay at the bottom of pan. Bring to a boil, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat. In a separate bowl, whisk together yolks, salt, cornstarch and remaining sugar until thick and pale. Temper yolks by slowing whisking in ½ cup hot creammilk mixture. Gradually add remaining mixture in a steady stream into yolks, whisking vigorous ly. Return the egg yolk mixture or custard to a clean saucepan and place over medium heat. Continue cooking until it thickens, whisking continuously, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and transfer to a bowl. Place over an ice bath to cool. Place plastic wrap directly on the custard to prevent a skin from forming as it cools. Once cool, transfer to a pastry bag and refrigerate until ready to use.
To assemble: Preheat oven to 350°F. Place sugar on a small plate and set aside until ready to use.
Place puff pastry on a clean cutting board. Cut into 16 equal strips. Lightly coat cream molds with a light layer of unflavored cooking spray. Working one at a time, brush one side of each puff pastry strip with water; this will be the side touching the mold.
Starting at the tip of the cream mold, slowly wrap the puff pastry strip onto the mold, overlapping the edges as it spirals to the top. Two puff pastry strips will be needed for each mold. Lightly brush water on the cuernito and roll in the sugar. Place raw cuernitos on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. If re-using molds, place puff pastry strips in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Place cuernitos in the oven on middle oven rack and bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside to cool slightly. Remove molds. Pipe about 1/4 cups of pastry cream into each cuernito. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving. Makes 8 servings.
Frozen eggnog ice pop, perfect after a heavy holiday meal.
2 cups whole milk
¾ cup granulated sugar
1 cinnamon stick
3 egg yolks
1 ¼ cups heavy cream
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon dark rum, optional
Combine milk, sugar, and cinnamon stick in a medium saucepan and place pan over medium heat. Stir to combine ingredients, making sure sugar does not stay at the bottom of the pan. Bring to a boil, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and steep for 15 minutes to infuse flavors.
Beat egg yolks in a large mixing bowl. Temper yolks by slowly whisking in the cup of hot liquid in a steady stream. Gradually add remaining mixture in a steady stream into yolks, whisking vigorously. Return the egg yolk mixture to pan and place over medium heat. Continue cooking until it coats the back of spoon, about 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Strain into bowl and cool completely over an ice bath, about 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Add heavy cream, vanilla, rum, and food coloring, if using.
Pour cooled base mixture into 8 ice-pop molds and place wooden sticks in center of each mold. Freeze until fully set in about 1 hour. Make 8 servings.
Editor’s note: Buzz dining columnist Dai Huynh is a James Beard food-journalism award winner and longtime Houston-based restaurant writer.
Tony Houle 281-303-7447 tony@kellyrealtyteam.com yourlakeliving.com LIC #743725
It was a historic season for the Memorial Mustangs tennis team, which advanced to the UIL State Tournament in team tennis for a record-breaking 14th consecutive season. “That’s a huge deal,” said Mustangs tennis coach Budd Booth. “It’s an extremely difficult feat to accomplish. Our kids work hard each and every year. Plus, we have a great staff and programs such as weight training, nutrition, and video work that put our players in the best position to be successful.”
This year’s team advanced to state final four with an undefeated 16-0 record before capturing a thrilling 10-9 victory over The Woodlands in the 6A state semifinals. The Mustangs ultimately came up one victory shy of its third state championship after being defeated by Round Rock Westwood in the state finals. It also marked the Mustangs’ one and only loss of the entire season.
For the Mustangs boys, Chase Scholz led the way as the team’s top seeded player. “Chase is one of our captains,” said Booth. “He came through with big wins all season in singles and also in the playoffs with his doubles partner Egor Morozov.”
On the girls side, Mustangs number one play er Sofia Mazzucato pulled out a thrilling victory in a second set tiebreaker to clinch Memorial’s state semifinal victory over The Woodlands. Mazzucato also teamed up with Tara Ahmadi for several key victories in the playoffs. “I’m just very proud of this entire team,” said Booth.
For the sixth time in the last ten years, the Kinkaid Falcons are SPC football champions. The Falcons captured the SPC 4A championship with a 17-6 victory over the rival Episcopal Knights in the SPC title game. “It was an incredible win for our guys,” said Falcons head coach Nathan Larned. “It was a similar feeling to our 2015 championship when we pulled off a huge upset for the victory.”
This year’s championship seemed somewhat improbable with the Falcons losing three quar terbacks to injuries even before the season start ed. “We had to totally restructure our offense just to get through the season. It was a pretty
unique season to say the least,” said Larned. Fortunately for Kinkaid, the Falcons were led by a unique talent in senior Micah Bell. The Notre Dame commit had a remarkable 44 carries for 208 yards in the championship final victory over Episcopal. “Micah carried us against a physical and tough defense that’s exceptionally athletic,” said Larned. With Bell leading the way, the Falcons sealed the victory with an epic 28 play-16-minute drive that culminated with a field goal and an 11-point lead.
“Our defense also played lights out,” said Larned. “Miles Roeder was phenomenal despite playing with a broken thumb suffered a week earlier. He had an interception at the goal line and forced a couple of fumbles. Plus, Nico Gomez had a huge game for us both on defense and at fullback. Nico, Miles, and Micah are kind of the heart and soul of our team.”
In volleyball, the Episcopal Knights capped off a sensational season by winning the SPC 4A Volleyball Championship. Episcopal captured the title with straight set victories over Kinkaid, Dallas Greenhill, and Hockaday in the SPC championship tournament. For the season, the Knights boasted a lofty 37-7 record while going a perfect 9-0 against SPC opponents.
“I definitely believe we peaked at the right time,” said Knights first-year head coach Cydryce McMillian, who just a season earlier
guided St. Agnes Academy to the TAPPS 6A State Championship. “As a staff we came in knowing there were key returners and solid per sonnel who returned from last year’s team, but we also identified the necessary steps to establish a culture of excellence in every facet of the program. We challenged our kids every day in practice and they ultimately rose to the occasion. They put in the time and commitment while also holding each other accountable. It was beautiful to cap it all off with a championship.”
The Knights’ talented lineup was led by a pair of standout seniors in middle blockers Farah Farooq and Ava Harrington. “Farah was a tremendous offensive threat while Ava is also phenomenal,” said McMillian. “Ava is a stud blocker who just shuts down opponents.” In addition, the Knights also boasted a dynamic libero in junior transfer Mykayla McMillian. “We talk with our girls daily about working to out-team the opponent, and everyone was dialed in and unafraid to keep pushing for great ness,” added McMillian.
Editor’s note: Todd Freed is the host and executive producer of H-Town High School Sports, which airs Saturday at 10:30 p.m. on CW39 and Monday-Thursday on AT&T SportsNet SW. To submit high school sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, please email todd@thebuzzmagazines.com.
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nikky@lawellphoto.com www.lawellphoto.com
Welcome to SportzBuzz Jr., a column spotlighting neighborhood ath letes in elementary and middle school.
It was another great weekend for the Spring Branch Heat Elite softball team, as the girls finished an undefeated 6 and 0 to become the Fall State FASA 10U Champions and earned a berth to a World Series in Branson, Mo. The team battled with solid defense and batted against some strong opposing pitchers. Starting pitcher Sonali Kapoor pitched 19 innings with a 0.75 ERA for the weekend. The championship game was a rematch against the Houston Bengals team. While most of the game was a back-toback defensive showdown, with each team allowing no runs, Heat Elite was able to put up five runs in the second inning, leading to a final score of 5-0 after four innings of play. Coach Jeff Treadway said, “These girls are special. They all love each other and play for each other. They get along, have fun, and truly build each other up. I speak for all the coaches when I say it’s a privilege to be on the field with them.” Pictured (top row, from left) are Coaches Justin Higgs, Jeff Treadway, Jared McCurley; (middle row, from left) Isabella Galindo, Ashley Drum, Ainsley Pendray, Charlotte Slania, Taylor McCurley, Greta Gordon; (front row, from left) Avery Treadway, Grace Lyons, Claire Strickler, Abigail Burger, and Sonali Kapoor. Not pictured: Molly Marshall.
Recently, some players from the Spring Branch-Memorial Sports Association 8U Spartans soccer team had a special fan come to watch one of their games: Wilchester Elementary School second-grade teacher, Emily Copeland. The team battled it out in the gold division play-offs bracket, after a 7-2 regular season record. The team had some losses early on but rallied as the season went on winning the last five games and giving up two goals over that time. They even had four shutouts in a row, allowing zero goals to be scored on them in those games. Pictured (from left) are players Dylan Treadway, Forest Marshall, Copeland, Walker Finch, Santiago Sanchez, and Calloway Sherill
In football news, the Memorial Middle School had an undefeated seventh-grade A team season, finishing 7 and 0. The players gathered for a team photo in the stadium after their last game. Pictured (top row, from left) are players Charlie Kanewski, Cade Perninciaro, Max Margraves, Cooper Cook, Joel Torres, Luke Hall, Brooks Terramiggi, Kaan Akin, David Hughes, Caden Graham, Cinco Brothers, Tanner Ball, (front row, from left) Luc Normand, Will Hickman, Walker Lanham, David Sanchez, Hudson Good, Gage Rogers, Graeson Sare, Sam Dunlap, Jack Lasseigne, Hayden Bray, and Gabe Silberman. The coaches (pictured, from left) are Coach Krohl, Coach Bell, and Coach Ezeilo.
SISTERS AND
grader Anna Nguyen (left) and sixth grader Sophia Nguyen (right) have teamed up to write and publish three children’s books about their Lionhead rabbits. This fall, they were invited to be Community Guest Authors for the Kinkaid Book Fair.
by Anna
, age 13
Ihave been interested in creative writing for as long as I can remember. I like writing fic tion because it helps me stimulate my cre ative mind, practice using my imagination, and express myself. In order to sharpen my creative writing skills, I took a summer course at Johns Hopkins Center of Talented Youth and a creative writing class at The Kinkaid School. From these courses, I have learned to love writing poems and short stories.
Because I enjoy creative writing, my sister Sophia and I decided to write and publish children’s books. Over the past three years, we have published three children’s books about our Lionhead rabbits, Fluffy and Snowball. They are pet therapy rabbits, and we take them to volun teer at the Brookdale Memorial nursing home
once a month.
Our first two books, The Adventures of Fluffy the Lionhead Rabbit and Fluffy’s Haunted Halloween, were published in 2020. Our most recent book, The Two Rabbits and the Great Texas Freeze, published this fall, is about how Fluffy and Snowball find themselves alone at home without electricity after their family had to leave them due to the Texas freeze. The rabbits find other animals in need and try their best to help them survive. Although terrifying, the Texas winter freeze brought all the animals together and taught them the importance of cooperation and kindness.
This year, my sister and I were invited to be Community Guest Authors for the Kinkaid Book Fair. Our third book, The Two Rabbits and
the Great Texas Freeze, was featured at the Kinkaid Book Fair from Nov. 6-8. A portion of the book’s proceeds was donated to The Kinkaid School and the rest was sent directly to National Compassion Fund - Uvalde Together We Rise Fund, to support the survivors of the deceased and those directly affected by the horrific shooting at Robb Elementary School.
We are proud of our work because we used our love of creative writing to write and publish children’s books while also helping others in need.
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.
A few years ago, I wrote about whether there really was such a thing as a hypoallergenic dog. The answer was “sort of.” Breeds that claim to be hypoallergenic, like a Bichon, produce just as much dog allergen per square inch of body-surface area as Golden Retrievers. But Goldens are bigger than Bichons, so one Bichon produces less allergen than one Golden. Also, Bichons shed a lot less than Goldens, so the dog allergen stays on the dog, and doesn’t spread all over the house.
What if you’re allergic to your dog? It’s best not to have the pet you’re allergic to, but dogs become part of the family, and it can be hard to part with them. Allergy shots work great for dog allergy, if your allergist is fol lowing the latest Practice Parameters for Allergen Immunotherapy. Unfortunately, that’s a big “if.” Most allergists only test for one dog allergen, either Acetone Precipitated (AP) dog, or dog epithelium. AP dog is great because it has about 50 times more of the most important dog allergen than dog epi has. But using it alone isn’t good enough. AP dog doesn’t have any of the minor dog allergens. That’s why we test for and treat for both AP dog and dog epi. I can’t tell you how many patients we have seen where their previous allergist told them, “You’re not allergic to dog,” and then find out they’re just allergic to the other dog allergen.
Now we even have a blood test to confirm if using AP dog, dog epi, or both is best for an allergy shot recipe. The test also tells us if you’re allergic to dog prostate antigen (Can f 5), in which case you should stick with female dogs or get a castrated male.
Sometimes, the patient who has allergy symptoms around the dog really
isn’t allergic to dog at all. Dogs go outside to walk and do their business, and their fur is good at trapping pollen grains and mold spores and bringing them inside. And mostly inside dogs who use the same soft bed usually share that bed with lots of dust mites. Dust mites aren’t picky; they don’t mind eating shed human skin or dog dan der. Dust mite-avoidance tips should be applied to the dog’s bed, too; wash the bed covering in hot water once a week and prevent the humidity from getting too high where the dog sleeps.
If possible, keep your bedroom free of pets. If that’s not possible, then at least keep the dog out of your bed. And if despite the avoidance measures listed above you are still having allergy symptoms when around your dog, then it’s time to make an appointment to see us.
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.
David B. Engler, M.D., The Allergy Clinic, 7707 Fannin, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77054, 713.797.0993, *1200 Binz, Suite 1400, Houston, Texas 77004, 713.522.9911, www.allergyclinic.com, *Operating as Houston Allergy and Asthma Clinic
I’m Ollie and I just got back from a crazy adventure. My mom decided to take me and my sibling cat Sammi in a basket on the back of her bike. It was the thrill of a lifetime to see so many things go by so fast, but I was getting a little sick – and afraid of all those big moving things with wheels. I saw an opening in the mesh bas ket and just kept making the hole bigger until I could escape. I found myself in uncharted territory! I wandered around from August to October, when my whining was noticed by some nice ladies walking by. The next day I followed them home. They took me to the vet, who saw I had a tracking chip. Finally, I was reunited with my mom! She’d been looking for me for months. I was so happy to see her! She says I used to be a fat cat.
Got a cute critter? Email a picture of your pet with approximately 150 words to info@thebuzzmagazines.com or mail it to The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401.
The winter holidays bring festive songs, cooler weather – and, often, the resurfacing of guilty feel ings or long-held grudges among family members who gather to celebrate the holidays. This can make for a volatile situation. But when we’re visiting our elderly, ailing parent, grandparent, or spouse, we must put those feelings aside. Agree to disagree and move on to spend time with that ailing loved one. Rather than dredge up those old feelings, try to focus on living in the moment.
The point is to make this time enjoyable and meaningful for yourself and your loved one – even if they’re the one you’re feeling resentful toward. Neither of you is likely to change your mind about what’s causing the rift. For one day, let’s make special memories.
Sibling discord can also affect the care your loved one receives. I’ve seen it many times: Siblings fight over what’s best for their parents. Nobody wants to give up decision-making powers – or, the opposite, nobody wants to take responsibility for making these critical decisions. In either case, I recommend hiring an objective care manager and caregiving team to take over care of the parent. That will lessen the tension and conflict.
This advice doesn’t have to be limited to the holidays. Whenever you’re with your ailing parent or family member, remember to put differences aside. You’ll be happy you did.
S. Gerber & Associates, 3730 Kirby Dr., Suite 1200, Houston, TX 77098, 713.857.3227, sid@personalcaregiving.com
Visit thebuzzmagazines.com to vote for The Buzz Magazines’ 2022 Pet of the Year. Here is a sampling of the contestants. The winner will be announced on our website, Monday, December 12. To have your pet considered for our Neighborhood Tails column, please email a high-resolution photo and 150 words to info@thebuzzmagazines.com.
The most dreaded proceeding known to the law is a guardianship. Death penalty cases are a close second. In Texas, the Estates Code provides for the appointment of a guardian of an incapacitated person, including 1. a minor; 2. an adult who, because of a physical or mental condition, is substantially unable to provide food, clothing, or shelter for himself, to care for his physical health, or to manage his financial affairs; or 3. a person who must have a guardian to receive money from a governmental source,
Guardianship is dreaded by heirs because it is so expensive. So long as the ward lives, someone is billing to do things most people do for themselves, or that family could do for them. There are hearings, accountings, CPAs, and lawyers. Usually, none of that is free.
Guardianship is despised by wards, because it marks the loss of autonomy, either before or after the order revoking their civil rights and appointing a guardian of the person (medical) and/or a guardian of the estate (financial).
Guardianship can be necessary. People are rotten, and too many love mom or dad’s money more than mom or dad. Elder exploitation is real. Some people grow old alone, and if the state does not intervene, no one will. Self-neglect is real.
Guardianship can be limited. This is a new concept. Before 1993, limited guardianships were the exception rather than the rule. Refused to stop driving? You could lose more than your driver’s license, you could lose the right to make your own medical decisions or the right to choose where you lived. Now, the probate courts must consider any feasible alternative that would avoid the need for a guardianship.
Some alternatives to guardianship require a court order, e.g., a management trust under Chapter 1301. Most don’t, e.g., a medical power of attorney, a durable power of attorney, or a joint bank account. If you give the probate court a good excuse to avoid a guardianship, they can’t create one. If you are at least partially successful, the court must limit the guardianship. You might lose the right to drive or manage money, but keep the right to pick your doctor or your residence.
Age, not accident, explains most dis abilities. It is usually an unforced error to become disabled without a medical or durable power of attorney. Picking the wrong agent can be as bad. If you enable people to steal without court oversight, some will. An honest alter nate agent can avoid a guardianship, but might require a court order to can cel the dishonest agent’s authority first.
We write wills and go to probate court. 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, bellaireprobate.com/blog
create a lasting memory in remembrance of John. To learn more and contribute to the scoreboard, please visit scoreboardforjohn.com.
On Nov. 5, 2021, the Memorial community lost a beloved friend and family member. John Hilgert, a freshman at Memorial High School (MHS), tragically lost his life during the Astroworld concert. Only 14 years old, he was a gifted athlete who played many sports, and baseball was his favorite. MHS senior Logan Lee, and sophomores Blake Dardis, Ben Barnett, and Cole Armitage are leading the fundraising effort for a new scoreboard at the baseball field in memory of John. The John Hilgert Scoreboard will be 22 feet tall by 16 feet wide, with multimedia functionality, video, and sound. Members of the community can make a donation to help
Wes Bergeron, Jude Bergeron, Jonathan Destoughes, Stephen Flowers, James Dickinson, Justin Joyce, and Blaine Joyce (pictured, from left) participated in the Wilchester Men’s Club (WMC) service project. Club members and their families dedicated a day to service and completed some outdoor projects for Thornwood Elementary School. The day included donating and assembling two large picnic tables, painting, and landscaping the school property. WMC is a nonprofit association for men living in Wilchester, Wilchester West, Nottingham, and Nottingham West that raises funds to pro vide support for people and organizations in the community who need assistance. In addition to the service day, WMC hosts events throughout the year, including neighborhood favorite, the Pecan Bowl Football Tournament.
Chita Craft, Kelley Lubanko, Kelli Weinzierl, and Jordan Seff (pictured, from left) helped make the Houston Zoo’s Centennial Ball – Once in a
Lifetime a huge success. At this year’s black-tie gala, a record-breaking crowd of more than 700 Houstonians celebrated 100 years of the Houston Zoo and raised $2.3 million. The sold-out event, hosted by co-chairs Kelli and John Weinzierl and Kelley and Stephen Lubanko, was themed to highlight the Zoo’s 100-year history, and welcomed honoree Kathrine McGovern, a longtime Houston philanthropist and well-known friend to the Houston Zoo. In addition to enjoying dinner, dancing to music by the Georgia Bridgwater Orchestra, and a live auction, partygoers got to meet and mingle with ambassador animals including a north American porcupine, a tarantula, and an American alligator.
24 years of empowering more than 46,000 women
the community by providing professional attire and other assistance. More than 500 guests gath ered at The Revaire and raised $620,000. The evening program began with a welcome from KHOU Channel 11’s Mia Gradney and an update from DFS Houston president Lauren Levicki Courville. Auction co-chairs Susie Cunningham, Kate Dearing Fowler, Monica Richards, and Katherine Orellana Ross kept the bidding wars going with fabulous, curated pack ages, and Kristine Mills
Houston seniors at Belmont Village Senior Living hosted an art show and auction that raised funds to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. Patricia Will and Jan Kaiser (pictured, from left) organized the event for residents, guests, and members of the community. The art pieces up for sale were created by residents of Belmont Village. Residents have enjoyed finding their inner Picasso in art classes that began before the pandemic and have recently resumed due to high demand. The senior artists have been honing their skills during weekly watercolor classes led by a fellow resident and artist. In addition to enjoying creativity and social interaction, partic ipating in the arts encourages healthy aging by strengthening cognitive function and memory.
Spring Branch Education Foundation (SBEF) held its annual Style Show and Luncheon
Soirée de Jardin at The Westin – Galleria. Melissa Wilmoth, Hillary Hiler, Becky Fenn, Tiffany Lim, Valerie Chase, Spencer Chase, Lindsay Lanham, Minou Feinstein, Emily Sweeney , and Alicia Ross (pictured, from left) joined the sold-out crowd of 670 enthusiastic members of the Spring Branch ISD community. Co-chairs Stephanie Pancioli and Kristin Thomas coordinated the event featuring beautiful fashions by Chloe Dao, Frock Shop, and M. Penner, modeled by familiar faces from the communi ty. The crowd cheered on models from throughout SBISD: Andrew Atkinson, Bronson Beauchamp, Lisa Bown, Spencer Chase, Caroline Clay, Linda Dang, Chris Earnest, Dominique Harvey, Jan Ingersoll, Melissa Melnar, Anne Moran, Lauren Nix, Kate Robinson, Will Ruez, Leslie Sloan, Felicia Stevens, Jennifer Welker, Allison Whisler , and Chris Winstead . This year’s event raised more than $165,000 to support grants available to all Spring Branch ISD campuses.
Marc Thiessen, Cami Faust, Taly Thiessen, and Michael Faust (pictured, from left) sport ed astronaut costumes to watch the Astros take on the Phillies during an early game of the World Series. The excitement could be felt throughout Minute Maid Park, with eager Houston fans ready to watch the beloved home team deliver strikes, base hits, and hope fully a home run or several. It was the start of an action-packed series, and the fans were there through it all, cheering all the way to the
Game 6 victory that clinched the Astros’ second World Series title. Find more photos on our Buzzworthy blog at thebuzzmagazines.com.
Rummel Creek Elementary School (RCE) moms Danielle Kiser, Katherine Pitzinger, Whitney Ruldolph , and Amy Beller (pictured, from left) kicked off the auction-party season in style. In anticipation of the Midnight in Paris-themed school auction in April, the fundraising parties have begun. A group of RCE parents, the Swillings, Bousheris, Gentrys, Greens, Hillers, Hobsons, Lambs, McCullochs, McDonalds, Moraleses, Schlossers, and Stockwells hosted a costumed bash that sold out in just 15 minutes, raising $9,000 for the PTA. (continued on page 68)
Guests enjoyed food by La Viva, dancers, a DJ, juggling acts and flame throwers, along with signature cocktails “To Kill Ya” and “Vampire’s Bite.”
Christopher Dang, Ruby Dang, Tony Award and Grammy Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, Claudia Dang, and Dr. Joseph Dang (pictured, from left) gathered at the home of Gilbert Andrew Garcia and DeeDee Garcia to support the Latino Victory Fund. Lin-Manuel’s parents, Luis A. Miranda, Jr., chairman of
Latino Victory Fund, and Luz Towns-Miranda, were also in attendance at the festive event that raised almost $300,000 to support Latino candi dates nationally. Guests heard remarks from LinManuel and his father, and then were treated to a surprise: several bars from various Hamilton tunes, sung by Gilbert Andrew Garcia
Jeff and Rachel Bagwell (pictured, from left) were among the more than 700 supporters of Houston Children’s Charity at the 25th annual gala that raised a record-breaking $3,625,000. The rock ‘n roll
provide beds, vans, school supplies, clothing, and holiday gifts for Houston’s underserved, abused, and disabled children. The evening began with master of ceremonies Houston Astros sports announcer Todd Kalas, followed by an invocation from Reverend Mary Gracely of One Spirit Interfaith Community. After a very successful live auction and fundraising activities, the crowd rocked the night away as Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo took the stage to perform their top hits, including “Heartbreaker”, “We Belong”, “Shadows of the Night”, and “Hit Me with Your Best Shot”.
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.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and happy holiday season! The most wonderful time of the year is wonder ful, and it’s also busy with all the things we want to do to make it special. For many of us, that list includes gifting our neighbors and work colleagues with a little something cheery. For me (maybe other people too?), it feels like an annual scramble to come up with something fun and festive that friends will enjoy.
This year, though, I am skipping the scramble because some Buzz readers have shared their top ideas for neighbor gifts. Hopefully their suggestions can help us all keep the “want-tos” on our lists from becoming “need-tos.”
For 16 years, Kelly Evans has been making and giving away almond bark using a recipe from her mother-in-law Patti Evans Evans (aka “Gigi” to her grandchildren), a former San Antonio headmaster who made it annually for the staff at her school. “I give it to neighbors, every teacher my child has ever had, and all of my husband’s nurses and staff at the clinic and hospital,” Kelly says. (Her husband is Scott Evans, chair of pulmonary medicine at MD Anderson Cancer Center.) “One of Scott’s nurses retired a few years ago and asked for the recipe, because she couldn’t imagine not getting her treat each year!”
Gigi's Holiday Almond Bark
This recipe is easily multiplied.
1 large block of almond bark vanilla flavored coating
3 cups mini pretzels
1 cup cocktail peanuts
3 cups La Choy Chow Mein Noodles
1 cup golden raisins
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. In a heavy, medium-sized pot, melt the almond bark coating over medium-low heat, stirring continuously. When it is melted, remove from the heat and add the dry ingredients, a cup at a time, stirring into the melted coating between each addition to completely coat every-
thing.
Scoop the mixture onto the prepared bak ing sheet and let it set. When it is dry, break the bark into pieces and place in decorative containers lined with foodsafe holiday wax paper (find at The Container Store or Amazon).
Colorful art glass catchalls, bright candles made of hand-rolled beeswax, and acrylic blocks showcasing gorgeous photography – these are a few of the gifts you will find at Celebration Company, a program of Jewish Family Service Houston. “Giving a gift from Celebration Company also gives the gift of meaningful employment to adults with disabilities,” Rachel Davis, JFS’s chief development officer, says. Soaps, gift cards, tote bags, and more are made by or feature artwork made by Celebration Company employees, who, through their work, are equipped with life skills and purpose. store.celebrationcompany.org
Pediatrician Lindy McGee told us about the sticky notes she likes to give friends, saying, “I generally like gifts that you use up!” The “You Are Very Smart and Pretty Sticky Note Packet” from Em & Friends gives encouragement each time it’s used. Begun when founder Emily was diagnosed with cancer and realized friends drifted away because they didn’t know what to say, Em & Friends offers cards and gifts that speak honestly – and bluntly – to real life stuff. Who doesn’t want to hear Your hair is exceptional or You are a shining example of “hell yeah!” on the daily? Emandfriends.com/products/you-are-verysmart-and-pretty-sticky-note-packet
“I like to make and deliver spice sacks to simmer on the stove and give your house that scent of freshly baked gingerbread (without the mess
or effort!). I used to buy tons of ingredients and lay them all out in the kitchen,” Barbara Trautner says of the days when her children were small. She would package the spices in clear plastic bags tucked into festive paper bags along with this recipe, printed on red or green paper:
Scent of the Season
1 fresh ginger root
3 cinnamon sticks
16 whole cloves
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 or 2 tablespoons pickling spice
Slice the ginger root and place all the ingredients in a pot of water. Simmer slowly on the stove. Enjoy the wonderful scent, but do not eat it!
The Wall Street Journal recently showed some love for Madagascar ground vanilla, which HISD Trustee Bridget Wade cleverly thought would make a great neighbor gift tied with a ribbon. “Bakers in the know are stocking up,” the WSJ espouses. “It delivers the intensity of the [vanilla] bean plus the convenience of extract.” beyondgood.com/products/pure-ground-madagascarvanilla-powder
Here are a few more suggestions from our neighbors:
“Homemade tamales.”
“Quarts of soup.”
“My answer is always alcohol.”
“Anything that can be regifted!”
