The Memorial Buzz - January 2014

Christy Robertson and Christy Labban

High-Tech

Fitness

by Andria Frankfort

Affording College Resolutions Times 100 Racing and Hoping Digital Garage Sale Houston, TX Permit No. 2047 PAID US Postage PRSRT STD

This Month in Dining: Cooking Classes

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

I

promise to… Yep, it’s a New Year, and that can only mean one thing: New Year’s resolutions. Love them or hate them, we all make them, and unfortunately we all break them. Well, maybe not all of us. Buzz resident Anna Jones made seven New Year’s resolutions last year and found a creative way to actually achieve almost all of them. You can read about Anna’s strategy and perhaps gain a bit of inspiration for yourself in this month’s Back Porch column, Resolutions Times 100. If you have young children there’s a good chance you’ve already made the resolution to start saving for their college education. Whether you’ve just begun to save or are in the home stretch with a college senior, be sure to check out Cheryl Laird’s article, Affording College, packed with great money-saving ideas. My resolution? To not wait until the last minute to write this publisher’s note each month. I’ll start next month. Promise. michael@thebuzzmagazines.com

THE BUZZ MAGAZINES BELLAIRE • WEST UNIVERSITY • MEMORIAL • TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS Published by Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401 info@thebuzzmagazines.com • p: 713.668.4157 • f: 713.665.2940 memorialbuzz.com • facebook.com/memorialbuzz Editor Publisher Associate Editors Vice President, Sales Staff Writers

Contributing Writer Manager, Interactive Media Designer Manager, Business Administration Account Managers

Sales Associates

Joni Hoffman Michael Hoffman Cheryl Laird Annie Blaylock McQueen Jay Janecek Tracy L. Barnett Sharon Albert Brier Andria Frankfort Angie Frederickson Todd Freed Michelle Casas Groogan Dai Huynh Dave Schafer Cheryl Ursin Michelle Maresh Jordan Magaziner John Duboise Leslie Little Andrea Blitzer Darsey Swaim Erin Thompson Laura Callan Helen Hamilton Michele Luke

On our cover: Friends Christy Robertson and Christy Labban (from left) sync their Jawbone UP wristbands to compare activity and sleep habits.

Cover photo by Michael Hart Photography, www.hartphoto.com The Buzz Magazines has made all reasonable attempts to verify the accuracy of all information contained within. Advertising claims are solely the responsibility of the advertiser. Editorial content does not necessarily express the opinions of the publisher. Copyright © 2014 Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of this magazine by any means without written permission is strictly prohibited. Printed on recycled paper. Please remember to recycle.

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 4

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 5

MAILBAG

Your letters, thoughts, opinions Setting holiday table early I thoroughly enjoyed reading the Easy Entertaining article (by Annie Blaylock McQueen, November 2013) and the wonderful advice that was shared. Around this time of year I am always looking for suggestions to make entertaining as stress free as possible. I especially found Marian Hilpert’s advice about getting easy things out of the way, like setting the table a couple of days in advance. [It is] something I will do when preparing for our next holiday celebration.

Missy Belcher Go, Tarzan I really enjoyed the article about “Tarzan’s” house (You Live Here?!, by Alex Daily, December 2013). It is great when people march to the beat of their own drum. I would like to see more photos of the house. Thanks.

Brooke Hamilton Thanks for photo of photos Many thanks for the article (Buzz Pics – Our Ancestor Wall: A photo collection in a quiet family home bursts with tales of predecessors’ heroism, hard work and frontier spirit, December 2013). I was pleased and surprised to see it in this issue. It was very nice to work with the Buzz team. Many thanks for your kindness and work.

Joy Hall Online stories never die Thanks so much for your quick response. It’s great to be able to reach Mr. Josey through you. I am not old enough to be easily impressed by technology and communications in today’s world, but it’s really quite fascinating that one moment I am reading about a person whom I’ve never met, who lives 10,000 miles away in Texas, and the next moment I have a way to reach him directly and get in touch. I came across the Buzz article (Soldiers In Arms, by Terri Scott, March 2011) searching the Internet to find toy soldier collectors, particularly of the Lucotte brand. It was fun to read! Again, thanks so much for your help.

Jorge Ignacio Oría, Buenos Aires, Argentina Editor’s note: Mr. Oría contacted the magazine to reach local toy-soldier collector Lenoir Josey. Mr. Oría’s father had collected more than 1,000 antique Lucotte figures, most in Argentina and Uruguay in the 1970s. Many originally were collected decades earlier in Paris and Italy. We were happy to get the Texan and Argentinian together.

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 6

Yay for expanded delivery Greetings. Although I do not live in Bellaire per se, I live “next door.”

My wife and I do a lot of business in Bellaire including meals at Jax, Auntie Pasto’s and others. Our dentist and dry cleaner are in Bellaire. In short, we feel like we are part of the Bellaire community. That’s why we like to read The Bellaire Buzz. Unfortunately, we were not always able to do so because the only place we could find it was at Jax Grill, which sometimes had no copies left! Imagine my surprise recently when we received a copy in the mail. Yes, we were “Our Neighbors At,” but we got it nevertheless. Not sure whose idea it was to send it by mail, but please allow us to applaud and thank you for that decision. We will faithfully read each edition, look at the advertisers, and enjoy the stories. Thanks for including us who are “almost in Bellaire.”

Jonathan House Editor’s note: For those readers who live elsewhere, you may be interested to know that The Buzz publishes four neighborhood magazines. For all four, see thebuzzmagazines.com.

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

What’s your story?

We are looking for residents for upcoming articles who: • have a funny summer camp story to share.

• have a unique Spring Break planned.

• are or know a daredevil.

• have a personal photo with a meaningful story behind it.

• know a fascinating Buzz-neighborhood resident we should profile.

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

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 7

BUZZ PICS

Racing and Hoping A 12-year-old boy takes on a 70-mile triathlon on behalf of his twin brother and younger sister, who are both fighting a rare, fatal disease.

Submitted by Lagenia Clark When and where was this photo taken?

It was taken Nov. 3 at the Oilman Texas HalfIronman Triathlon finish line.

Who is pictured?

Justin, Jared and Lexi Clark. Jared is a seventh grader at Pin Oak Middle School, Justin is a seventh grader at Crossroads School, and Lexi is a third grader at Horn Academy.

What is happening here?

At 12 years old, Jared was the youngest competitor of the 700 participants. An experienced triathlete, he’s competed in 50 races of varying distances and sizes. However, this race was different.

At 70.3 miles, not only was it the longest race Jared had ever attempted, but it also held significant meaning. He was racing to raise awareness and funds to help fight GAN – an extremely rare, fatal, genetic disease that has affected his twin brother Justin and younger sister Lexi. In August, Justin was diagnosed with Giant Axonal MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 8

Neuropathy (GAN). After further genetic testing, it was determined that Lexi also has the disease.

Roughly only 50 children worldwide have GAN, and research is sparse. Fortunately, there is hope.

A nonprofit organization called Hannah’s Hope Fund (HHF) is helping fight GAN. Scientists hired by the fund have found a potential cure, and HHF hopes to get approvals from the FDA to start human clinical trials at the National Institute of Health in 2014. These trials are the only lifeline that Justin, Lexi and other GAN kids have.

Why is this photo special to you?

I am Justin, Lexi and Jared’s mom. When Jared learned his siblings had GAN, he decided to dedicate his upcoming half-ironman race to them and ask supporters to pledge a dollar amount per mile that he was racing. With approval from his doctors, Jared trained for his race with swimming, spin class, cross-country running and biking. He completed the Oilman Triathlon with a time of 8:18:05.

Jared achieved his goal. Not only did he finish the race, but he raised awareness for GAN. Television crews, newspapers and social media followed the story. HHF received donations from around the world, and pieces ran throughout the United States and Europe. However, this is not the finish line for our family. If you would like to help, please go to Justinstriumph.org or hannahshopefund.org and consider making a taxdeductible donation to help cure this disease.

Every picture tells a story. Buzz Pics highlights a resident’s special photo and tells the story behind it.

To submit your own Buzz Pics, send a high-resolution photo and answers to the Q&A questions. Total word length, including the questions, should be 300350 words. Send to info@thebuzzmagazines.com, or call 713-668-4157, ext. 22. With a print photo, bring it by or mail to The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, TX 77401. Please include your email, phone and home address. Stories may be edited for clarity or space.

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To advertise, call 713.668.4157, ext. 19 or email advertising@thebuzzmagazines.com

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 9

NEIGHBORS

by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

High-Tech Fitness

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 10

seeing how little things – housework, stairs – count as much as intense cardio. I try to get those little bars to go from yellow to orange to dark orange, which means my intensity level is high.”

Carla Buerkle is a food stylist and bought a Fitbit wondering if the steps she took at work between the kitchen and studio were significant. “I really want to make those 10,000 steps a day,” she says. “I found that I was putting in three to six miles at work, which helped with the CHECKING UP Christy Robertson and Christy Labban (from left) motivate each other guilt of not work- by syncing fitness stats on their Jawbone UP wristbands. ing out on days I have a shoot. And for change. “I realized how little good sleep I was I see that I am not very active on days I work in getting. So I turned off the TV and saw myself the office, so I have to go work out.” getting better quality sleep.”

Alternatively, Ernie Rapp, vice-president for Beyond fitness, there are deeper waters to finance at FROSCH Travel, says his 2-monthexplore if you’re curious about personal tracking. old Fitbit “didn’t exactly take the fun out of the Tinke gives real-time vitals like heart and respiholidays” this year. When asked if wearing it has ratory rates and blood oxygen levels, translating changed his habits, Ernie admitted, “Not yet. data into Vita (vital stats) and Zen (stress levels).

But it’s made me aware of how little I’m exercisMoodpanda tracks moods and what influences ing as opposed to what I need to be doing. them. Momento is a journal-writing app.

“Now that I know my daily benchmark, there 42Goals tracks goals. Mint tracks finances. will come a time when I have to change my Facebook tracks events, places you’ve been, habits and double my steps. Eventually I’ll be friends and photos. And if you want to track your able to track my overall health better.” tracking, Klout measures the likelihood that A mom of three agrees. “Wearing the Fitbit friends will comment on your Facebook posts. only made me more aware of what I was doing.

Personally, I’m holding out for the gadget that It didn’t change my lifestyle.” But when her tracks calories eaten and drunk and burns them attorney husband wore one, while his activity off upon consumption. level remained constant, he used the sleep data www.hartphoto.com

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hink a healthy diet and solid exercise routine are all you need to carry you to your New Year’s fitness goals? Some say think again: On their own, these tactics just might be passé.

Enter the world of quantifying. Everything. Or as Gary Wolf, a contributing editor at Wired magazine and co-founder of the blog the Quantified Self, calls it, “self knowledge through numbers.”

Much of that knowledge is being tracked by ordinary people wanting to live fitter lives, people wearing smart fitness devices, using numbers in an effort to improve. These gadgets in their various forms – watches, wristbands, armstraps – track all things physical, from sleep to calories burned to steps taken. The devices sync with smartphones and computers, some wirelessly and some via plugging in, to provide visual, quantified aggregates of the wearer’s lifestyle. Cost for basic smart wearables ranges from $99 to $150.

Cassie Gallagher, a personal trainer and owner of West U Fitness, is a proponent. “For the average person driving and sitting all day, you’d be surprised at how inactive you are,” Cassie says. Wearing a smart device like a Fitbit or Nike+ spotlights activity – or lack thereof.

Depending on the device you choose, you might also be able to track fitness goals, sleep quality, how much you’ve eaten and how much of it you’ve burned.

The idea is that by tracking the information and filtering it into goals and numbers and graphs, you’ll be motivated to do more and be better.

Sometimes that’s the case, sometimes it’s not.

An energy consultant who asked to remain anonymous is a competitor at heart. So when the company she was working for gave employees Nike+ FuelBands and formed teams to compete for the farthest distance run, she was in. “It definitely changed my behavior,” she says. “At the end of the day, I’d check to see where my team stood. If we were behind, I’d go out for a run that night to get us ahead.”

Mom Christy Labban has used another smart wristband, Jawbone UP, for the past several months. She syncs with friends: “We can see each other’s activity and how we slept the night before,” she says. “What’s really motivating is

NEIGHBORS

by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Digital Garage Sale

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 12

borhoods include West University Trading and Westbury/Meyerland/ Bellaire Trading, which are “closed,” not “secret,” groups, meaning you can “see” the group page and ask to join. Any current member can approve and add you.

The social/support group Bellaire Young Mothers also has a trading site, but it’s not on Facebook. To join, an application is required through the group’s website, bellaireyoungmothers.org, along with proof of a 77401, 77005, 025, 027, 081 or 096 zip code and a child under the age of 5.

Tricia Onufer, a mom of two, has used the Bellaire Young Moms’ email listserv for years.

The group has come in REPURPOSED Katie Shackelford Bennett (standing) created the Facebook handy for locating near- group Memorial Area Trading, where residents like Lucy Branca (seated) can ly impossible-to-find buy and sell items. items, like breast milk. grandmother’s dining table. She willed me all “There was a mom who was looking for breast this furniture. I don’t know what to do with it milk for a premature baby. At the time I had a now,’” said Jackie. three-month supply in our freezer,” said Tricia.

“I have people tattle tale a lot. There was one “She was looking to buy it. I just gave it to her.” lady who emailed and said, ‘Is there any way to Jennifer Buechler, a mom with four kids, is a make it a closed group because my family in member of all four groups. Memorial City Mall New Jersey is watching everything I am selling is her meeting spot of choice for Memorial-area on Facebook,’” said Jackie, who agreed to trades. “My husband keeps asking me, ‘Why are change the security settings. you going to the mall again?’” She has even wonJennifer Oakley, a mother of five and member dered what the mall security guards think when of West University Trading, turned the overthey see her accept cash in trade of her goods. whelming task of redecorating into a fun game Jackie Sharbrough, owner of the annual by furnishing an entire room in her house with Urban Market Houston Antique Show, started finds on West University Trading.

Facebook’s West University Trading.

Instead of swiping her credit card at a pricey “Because of Urban Market, my friends would store, now she can just check her Facebook feed. come to me all the time and say, ‘I have my www.hartphoto.com

K

atie Shackelford Bennett is a busy mother of three. She spends a lot of time on Facebook but not looking at funny dog videos. She is the founder and administrator of a Facebook group with more than 3,000 members called Memorial Area Trading.

It’s a “secret” group where members can buy and sell high-end goods by posting photos, like a neighborhood Craigslist. To join a secret group on Facebook – it doesn’t show up in search results – a current member must add you and the request be approved by the group administrator.

The first member to comment, “Interested,” under a photo has first dibs and can then choose to buy or “Pass” the item. Items range from a used pair of skis to shoes to an antique armoire.

It was slow to catch on for residents after starting in March 2013, but with more than 3,000 members now, mostly women, it has gained momentum. Even Katie’s friends who are on the site, like accountant Lucy Branca, have to follow the rules.

“My husband and I bought a vintage Coke machine [on the site] from Katie and her husband,” said Lucy. Lucy followed protocol by commenting, “Interested.” “I didn’t want to get in trouble with Katie,” she said, laughing.

Katie’s duties, among others, are to put out little digital fires.

“Someone sent me a private message with three very long paragraphs complaining because people were ‘Liking’ the items she was posting but not buying them. She wanted me to make it a part of the rules people can’t ‘Like’ items,” said Katie. “I want to say, ‘Take it as a compliment.

Calm down.’”

Members of the group best mind the rules of the game. “I removed one person from the site.

Six people reported her for not showing up to look at an item,” said Katie. “I get about six personal messages a day from members.”

Katie spends a lot of her personal time running the site, without pay, just because she thinks it’s a cool idea for her community. “My husband is not happy with [the site], but I spend less time than he thinks I do as far as administrating it,” she said, laughing.

Other Facebook trading groups in Buzz neigh-

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Starve or feed a cold?

As we head into cold and flu season, many of us will catch a viral infection that will give us symptoms of a common cold: runny and/or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, headache, and yellow mucus. So if we’re infected, we should take an antibiotic, right? Wrong! Antibiotics don’t work on viruses, and viruses cause colds. A review of sinus infections from the New England Journal of Medicine (2004;351:902-910) stated that using antibiotics is usually not recommended until the mucus has been discolored for at least 7 or 10 days. Many of the patients we treat for allergy to multiple antibiotics develop those allergies when their antibiotic is changed over and over again. It gets changed because they take the first antibiotic when the “cold” first appears. Amazingly, the antibiotic does nothing to treat the virus, which runs its course. The patient, not feeling any better, asks for another antibiotic. And sometimes another.

For years, the line about chicken soup was, “Will it help?” “Well, it couldn’t hurt.” Scientific evidence suggests that chicken soup actually does help. It contains the amino acid cysteine, which has been shown to thin out thick mucus secretions and help relieve congestion. Hydrating by drinking Gatorade, water or any non-caffeinated beverage helps further.

What about “feed a cold, starve a fever.” It’s actually not a bad idea. A fever without cold symptoms may be the flu (influenza), another viral infection often manifest by nausea and vomiting. Starving the fever by withholding food is reasonable if one is nauseated, but make sure you drink plenty of fluids. Gatorade is a good choice here, too.

What else works when you have a cold? Rinsing your nose out with a

salt-water solution a couple times a day.

Some people prefer a Neti Pot, and others like the NeilMed squeeze bottle.

Whichever you use, mix the salt with distilled water, not tap water. I’m sure the city makes clean drinking water, but I’m not as confident in the old pipes it runs through.

Mucinex works by increasing the water content in the mucus, so that the mucus thins out and you can cough it up or blow it out. For a stuffy nose, you may want to consider a decongestant spray such as Afrin. But don’t use Afrin more than 5 days in a row or you may become physically dependent on it (addicted).

And remember: Skip the antibiotics until the mucus is yellow or green for at least a week.

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 180, Houston, Texas 77004, 713.522.9911, www.allergyclinic.com, *Operating as Houston Allergy & Asthma Clinic

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MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 13

NEIGHBORS

by Cheryl Laird, staff writer

Affording College

T

hink you make too much money for your kids to get financial aid for college?

There’s a good chance you’re wrong.

So says Buzz resident Brannon Lloyd, a bearded and blunt college planner on the seminar circuit. He takes a topic that manages to be simultaneously scary and dull and, with rapid-fire delivery, spurs sleepy audiences to frantically scribble notes.

If you’re new to the college-admissions process, every word seems like manna.

“Private schools are often cheaper than state schools. Ignore the list price.”

“You can negotiate with a college, but don’t call it that. Call it ‘review’ or ‘appeal’ and show competing offers.”

“It is less expensive to send two kids to college at the same time, the way the formulas work.”

At a recent PTO meeting at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, these were some of the first bombs Lloyd threw into the room. Parents sat up and reached for pens and paper. Their notes looked something like this: • Apply to some less prestigious schools that would consider you a top recruit, in the top 1020 percent of incoming freshmen. They will give you money.

• Consider private schools. Although the sticker price is high, many give away lots of money. Also, you’re more likely to graduate in four years from a private college.

• Only a tiny percentage of available college money is in private scholarships. The rest is from the government and the college. Focus first on those options.

• Don’t make lots of income in your child’s “base year,” the year before college starts.

• Most money in the child’s name – savings accounts, etc. – counts against you more in financial-aid formulas. Kids should take out Roth IRAs with money they earn.

• A trust in the student’s name often counts against you. You can move the money back to a trust later. Or spend it on a major-related summer program during high school, especially at a college of interest.

• Loans make college more expensive, not less. Try for free money first.

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 14

PRICE OF EDUCATION Evan Mintz said Rice University and Cardozo School of Law in New York were affordable, despite this 2011 photo spoof, thanks to then-lower tuition, the Texas Tomorrow Fund, a National Merit Scholarship, a law-school scholarship and parents who helped pay off his loans.

• Sticker prices aren’t the real price.

• Google “cost of attendance,” or COA, and the name of the school to add in room/board, fees, books, etc.

• Google the school’s name and “net price” for a calculator to see how much financial aid you can expect and your EFC, “expected family contribution.”

• Don’t assume you make too much money to be eligible for financial aid. Fill out the forms.

• When you fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), don’t list assets you don’t have to, including your primary residence and retirement accounts.

• The older the oldest parent, the more assets you get to exclude.

• Apply to exactly eight schools. Too many, and the colleges see you as a long shot. Too few, and they see you as too eager for their school.

They know the schools you apply to because you list them on the FAFSA form.

• Alphabetize the schools on your FAFSA. Otherwise, if you list a college first, it will think

it’s your first choice and that it doesn’t need to lure you with money.

• The optimal date to send in the FAFSA is Jan. 18. Don’t wait until your taxes are done.

Once you file your taxes, update your FAFSA. • Do not file an extension on your taxes that year. The colleges will not release money to you until your taxes are done.

• Check out Texas’ student-loan site, hhloans.com. It may offer lower rates than the federal loans.

• The Abe and Annie Seibel Foundation gives interest-free loans to Texas students going to Texas colleges.

• Avoid scholarship scams. It’s free to apply for a scholarship.

• The PSAT is as important as the SAT for getting a scholarship.

• Best scholarship book: Peterson’s Scholarships, Grants, and Prizes.

• Best scholarship website: fastweb.com. But they sell your information, so use a new, unique email address to sign up.

• Another good scholarship site to visit: collegeboard.org • Good site for college reviews and breakdown of majors, but take with grain of salt because student-reported: collegeprowler.com • If you want ethnicity-based scholarships, apply to a region and college that needs you the most, where you are not the ethnic majority.

• Grades are the most important factor for admissions; standardized test scores are the most important factor for financial aid.

• Look for a school that has a new major/program it wants to fill with students.

• Look for a school that is very strong in one major and then apply under a different, lesserknown major.

• If you apply binding early-decision, you have a 30 percent greater chance of being admitted. But early-decision means you will get less financial aid since you have promised to attend.

• Don’t let schools know they are first choice until final appeal when you show them competing financial-aid offers at other schools.

• While well-intentioned, 529 plans can reduce the money given by colleges because the college knows you must spend that money on education.

• The College Board’s CSS (College Scholarship Search)/Financial Aid Profile form is easy to fill out incorrectly, so be careful. It’s used by fewer than 400 schools, but they are the better schools.

• If grandparents help pay, they should write a check to the parents or child, not directly to the school. It can cause the college to reduce aid.

• When you pay tuition, line itemize the fees and don’t pay for what you don’t want – parking, sports tickets, etc.

• Health insurance often is cheaper through the university than your family plan.

At this PTO seminar, Lloyd, who has children at Carnegie Vanguard High School and Pin Oak Middle School, said he was on a mission to demystify the admissions process. He also hoped to drum up a few clients for his company, The College Money Guys, which provides student counseling as well as college admissions and financing services. For those who can’t or won’t pay the several thousand dollars, he said, families certainly can tackle college funding themselves.

One local parent, Dr. Helene Sheena, did just that, along with her oldest daughter, Michelle, who received multiple offers and accepted a fullride scholarship to Tulane University. It helped that Michelle made good grades, played sports, volunteered and was a longtime Girl Scout.

Michelle is a Lamar High School graduate, and her two younger sisters, Brittney and Erin, both go to Lamar. Their mom says the high school guidance counselors (and Google) helped them find scholarship opportunities. And mom attended all the college-prep talks. “I went to every one of those. Even once I had heard it all, I kept going,” she said. “Start planning early. It’s just a matter of planning.”

GREEN WAVE Sisters Brittney, Erin and Michelle Sheena (from left) celebrate homecoming with Tulane University president Scott Cowen. Brittney and Erin attend Lamar High School, and Lamar graduate Michelle is at Tulane on scholarship.

Also, she says, some universities will tell you up front what tuition discount you are likely to receive based on your GPA and scores, assuming you are accepted.

It’s no secret that students don’t all pay the same tuition. Last year, the average tuition discount rate for full-time freshmen at private schools was 45 percent, according to a survey released by the National Association of College and University Business Officers. Public schools also offer some discounts, and, in some situations, offer in-state tuition to out-of-state students.

A lot of tuition discounts go to high-achieving and/or low-income students, and advice to middle- or upper-income families on how to get a piece of the rest varies. Each family’s situation is unique, and the guidance out there isn’t consistent.

While Lloyd preaches against 529 plans because they count against you in the needanalysis formulas, other advisors say the penalty is minimal.

Christopher Maurer, a certified financial planner, says it depends, but Roth IRAs or life insurance generally are good choices: “An equal amount of money in a 529 plan would result in less financial assistance than would the same amount of money positioned in cash-value life insurance or a Roth IRA. All three provide for no tax deduction when money is contributed, tax-free/deferred earnings and tax-free distributions. However, if the child does not go to college or the money isn’t needed for education, the funds in the Roth IRA or life insurance can

be used for the parents’ retirement.

“A client of mine (husband and wife) retired in their early 50s. Their daughter elected to go to an expensive out-of-state college. Most of their wealth was positioned in exempt assets – life insurance, retirement accounts and home equity. While their cash flow is high, their taxable income is low due to how we have it structured for tax purposes. Their daughter received significant financial aid even though the family’s net worth is in excess of $3,000,000. Had there been no 529 plan, their daughter would have received in all likelihood received an even greater amount of financial aid.”

Maurer says another creative planning technique is for parents in a high tax bracket to give appreciated assets, such as stock, to their 18-orolder child, who most likely is in a 0 percent tax bracket. The child can then sell the stock, paying no taxes.

A finance-savvy, middle-income Buzz parent with a child at The University of Texas at Austin says her daughter didn’t qualify for aid.

She relies on cash-flow strategies, the annual $2,500 American Opportunity federal tax credit and the UT-offered payment plan to avoid debt.

She recommends Zac Bissonnette’s Debt-Free U: How I Paid for an Outstanding College Education Without Loans, Scholarships, or Mooching off My Parents.

MORE ONLINE See this story online at memorialbuzz.com for links to more resources.

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 15

NEIGHBORS

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by Sharon Albert Brier, staff writer

Rumor Has It Great prizes. Monks served wine, and a mime dressed like a St. Francis statue greeted guests for the Mission de St. Francis fiesta for St. Francis Episcopal Church at Stephanie and Mark Deverka’s smashing new home.

Stephanie, Elizabeth Mills More and Tiffany Wong were the co-chairs who created the clever atmosphere of designer light designs on the fences and a pony piñata filled with gift cards and jewelry to raise extra funds for the St. Francis missions.

Doctor’s orders. With 200 friends at The Wynden, Dr. Carl Schmulen thanked his wife, Lynn, for the 65th birthday dinner/dance and mark of his retirement. He told amusing stories from his 35-year career as a gastroenterologist.

The stand-up routines continued from family members Caren and Rob Sweetland, Danielle and Mark Schmulen, and Lindsay and Mark Schmulen, plus partner Dr. Ray Verm and friends Richard Rosenberg and Richard Josephson. There was an amusing video of seven grandchildren with their own quips. Party favors were Schmulen Happy Pills (jelly beans) packaged in prescription bottles labeled from the Schmulen Family Pharmacy.

Pizza and paintball. Most of the boys had never played paintball when they arrived for a birthday party to celebrate the 10th birthdays of Zac Gould, Derek Nguyen and Caleb Wendler, who are classmates at Hunters Creek Elementary. The moms, Gail Gould, Kim Dao and Laurie Wendler, gave the party for 20 guy pals at Tank’s Paintball in Katy. To prepare for the three-hour adventure the boys wore masks and padded vests over long-sleeved shirts and pants. They devoured pizza and birthday cake afterward. It was a colorful day.

They met at El Patio. While Kristin Nicole Garcia was at a party eating guacamole, Aaron Stire Blomquist satisfied his thirst after golf in 2008. Carrying on the Mexican theme, Aaron later proposed to Kristin in Cabo in 2012.

Their September wedding was at the Driskill in Austin, with a double bouquet throw. The first hit the chandelier, and the second was spiked by one of Kristin’s super enthused girlfriends. A photo booth, a cigar roller and silhouettes by MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 16

WINE AND MIME With the help of a mariachi band, Stephanie Deverka, Elizabeth Mills More and Tiffany Wong (from left) greet party goers at the Mission de St. Francis fiesta.

Cindi kept guests entertained. They honeymooned on the Amalfi Coast and Florence.

They sent thanks to supportive parents Roland and Karen Garcia, Nancy and Jim Gainey, and Larry and Kathy Blomquist.

No flour needed. Although she turned 65, Paulette Levine celebrated with sweet 16 friends at Arturo Boada Cuisine. Paulette’s fave bakery, Roland’s, used to be in the location that Arturo’s is in now. She has missed it for years, but she randomly found them one day before her birthday and ordered divine flour-less chocolate cakes to have at the party. Jean Robin organized the party and Baccarat gift. Joan Lebow, Sharon Maloney and Nancy Gross were faces in the intimate crowd.

Superwoman’s bucket list. Elaine (Ewing) Ver Halen and husband Jon Ver Halen, with their 6-month-old daughter Charlotte and their nanny Cheryl Welch, arrived in Panama City Beach for the Ironman Florida so Elaine could participate in the triathlon. She compared her experience of swimming in an ocean for 2.4 miles with approximately 3,000 other athletes to swimming in a wave pool at Schlitterbahn. The

1:34:24-hour swim was followed by a near-7-hour, 112-mile bike ride, followed by a 26.2-mile marathon. It took her 14:05:43 to complete.

Elaine and John are in a triathlon club, and she has run 30 marathons. Look for John and Elaine at the 70.3 miler in New Orleans in April and for Elaine in Ironman Texas 2016.

It was pinky. Princess Sophia Malavansos, a Chihuahua that played Bruiser in the musical Legally Blonde at Stratford Playhouse, learned to break her habit of barking thanks to dog trainer Rachel Long. Sophia’s owner, Missy Malavansos, who is a former SHS Playhouse actress, was ecstatic at the unexpected benefit.

Missy’s sister, Molly Richter, was in the show in three roles. Kudos to Ashley Karolys and Emily Lindsey, who each alternated show dates to play Elle Woods, and the 38 cast members, 45 crew and 20 band members and two directors, CeCe Prudhomme and Christian Holmes, and choreographer Monroe Moore. Standing ovation. West Side Story is next.

Have some good news to share? We want to know. Email us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com.

TRAVEL

by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer

Travel Buzz Tourist vs. Traveler

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elissa Law would love to take on the “when in Rome” mentality when traveling, but having three small children has compelled her and husband Marshall to plan ahead and take the tourist track.

Amanda Rutt grew up with traveling parents who eschewed attractions and practiced learning from the locals. Now a mother of two, she teaches her sons to travel in the same way.

Maybe you’re a Melissa; maybe you’re an Amanda. More likely, you’ve got a bit of both in you. We’ve called on both Houston travelers to offer their stories and their advice.

First, Melissa. This summer, the family took its first trip to Disney World. A month out from the trip, Melissa felt confident in their plans. She had booked the hotel and planned the drive. She knew that she could buy park tickets from the hotel concierge. But then she talked to a friend who asked, “Which parks are you going to?” Confused, she asked, “Parks? We are going to Disney World!”

Suddenly she learned that Disney World was actually made up of four different theme parks, each with its own ticket for admission and means of transport. Fast Pass lines? Character breakfasts? It was enough to send her into panic mode. She went online and bought the three best-selling books on Disney World and spent the next two weeks poring over them as if she were studying for the LSAT. Here’s what she’s learned: • Research, research, research! Read books, blogs, anything that will give you “insider” info so you can maximize your time at your destination. Know where to park, when to arrive, what to do first, and where to eat.

• If you think a trip will take X amount of hours, double that amount if you are traveling with kids. Figure in diaper changes, food stops, potty breaks, trips to the store to buy Nature’s Miracle when someone pees in his car seat, and time to let the kids run around.

• As you arrive into a new city or town, Google city parks and playgrounds where the kids can run around.

• If you have a DVD player in your vehicle, rent DVDs from a Redbox along the way and return them to a different one farther along.

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 18

QUINTESSENTIAL TOURIST The Spaceship Earth geosphere at Epcot was on Melissa Law's list for mustshoot family photos at Disney World. Clockwise from left: Melissa; Savannah, 1; Marshall; Colt, 3; and Maverick, 5.

• If you didn’t plan certain events like Disney character breakfasts over a year in advance and they are sold out, call 30 days out, 2 weeks out and 1 week out to see if there are any cancellations.

Amanda grew up with parents who went to New Orleans twice a year, staying in the French Quarter and renting a residence-type house among the locals. They never went to Emeril’s or signed up for a swamp tour; instead they got to know the locals and took them up on every invitation possible. As a young woman, she traveled to Brazil. Instead of heading to glamorous Rio, she went with a Brazilian friend to visit her mother in Salvador Bahía, a city on the northeast coast known for its Afro-Brazilian culture and laid-back authenticity.

As a mom, the destinations are less exotic, but the same principle prevails. When her eldest, Jackson, was studying Mount Rushmore in school, they jumped in the car and made a road trip – in the dead of winter. They found friendly, relaxed locals in nearby Rapid City ready to share their lovely artsy community with the travelers – very different from the frantic scene during tourist season.

Here’s what she’s learned: • Skip the guidebooks. Use the locals and real-life experience to help you know the real essence of where you are going.

• Get to know someone who’s from the place where you’re going and ask what they like to do for fun.

• Make a personal connection if you can.

Having a friend who can show you around makes all the difference.

• Not only is it more economical to travel off the beaten trail, but the people will be friendlier, too, because they’re not tired of the tourists.

• Follow the signs along the road. Last summer, she took the boys on a drive to Luling, where they found a watermelon ranch, a chicken farm and a watermelon festival.

• Avoid pre-packaged tours, which are just manufactured for tourists.

• Just get out of the car, walk around and talk to people. Ask them: If they had someone coming to town, where would they take them?

Whatever route you decide on, do it with all your heart. Whatever happens, remember: It’s all part of the adventure.

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Deadline-driven goals As we begin the New Year, we take time to reflect over the past and establish goals for the future. Upon review, we may discover that some of our goals are repeats, and year after year, we fail to accomplish them. Persevering, we carry them over to next year’s resolution list. These goals are usually important, but we find they are not urgent, nor do we have anyone holding us accountable for the final result. In other cases we feel intimidated by complexity and postpone the action. The late Stephen Covey wrote that highly successful people made time to work in the “Not Urgent but Important” quadrant rather than always operating from the “Urgent but Important” or worse “Urgent but Not Important” quadrants of time management.

Wealth planning can fall into the “Not Urgent but Important” category. It is obviously important; it affects you, your loved ones and your overall finances.

But without a sense of urgency or deadline, we often procrastinate tackling our personal planning. In many case, wealth planning becomes urgent when our situation becomes urgent, which can reduce the value and thoughtfulness of the planning. For example, you might be a business owner. Hopefully you have had a successful year. Planning may become urgent for you when your CPA calls with your final tax bill. However, now it is too late to engage in some of the planning that helps reduce that tax burden. In other cases, you delay planning until your health changes for the worse, which effectively closes the door on several planning options to protect yourself, your income or your loved ones.

The thought of comprehensive wealth planning can also be daunting because the financial world is complex and contains so many “gray” areas.

However, you can delegate much of that complexity by working with an

expert to manage the process in line with your goals.

It is easy to get caught up worrying about all the details involved. The good news is that it only takes a phone call to your trusted advisor. Let them guide you and hold you accountable to ensure you execute your wealth planning goals.

Whether it is your retirement plan, business-succession strategy or grandchild’s college fund, it starts with the first step of reaching out to a trusted source. Acting while it’s important but not urgent can Ali Nasser and Geordie Hrdlicka ensure better success and chances are, you will check off one more goal come year-end.

Altruista LLC – www.altruistawealth.com, 713.581.2440 & Verde Wealth Group LLC – www.verdewealthgroup.com, 713.929.3250 – both located at 2323 S. Shepherd Dr., Suite 840 & 845, Houston, Texas 77019 Financial planning offered through Altruista LLC and Verde Wealth Group LLC state Registered Investment Advisors. Securities offered through Valmark Securities. Member FINRA/SIPC. Third Party Money Management offered through ValMark Advisors. An SEC RIA. 130 Springside Drive, Suite 300, Akron, Ohio 44333. 800-765-5201. Altruista LLC, Verde Wealth Group LLC & ValMark Entities are separate.

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 19

HOME

by Michelle Maresh, contributing writer

W

elcome to Buzz Home, a column spotlighting different readers’ homes each month. This month we’re taking a look inside a variety of Buzz-neighborhood kitchens.

Maybe you’re thinking of sprucing up your own kitchen. To express your personal style, say many designers, begin with one show-stopping feature that will create the look you want, whether it is traditional, transitional, contemporary or even eclectic. Not every part of the kitchen has to be overthe-top fabulous to be stylish and a good fit for your needs. Traditional design has long been the status quo; however, trending now is a cleaner, more minimalist design that has a contemporary influence. We hope these photos inspire you.

Photography by Julie Soefer

Buzz Home: Kitchens

Photography by Michael Hunter

Photography by Julie Soefer

Editor’s note: Michelle Maresh is the publisher of Houston Design Resources.

To submit homes for consideration, email info@thebuzzmagazines.com.

HEART OF THE HOME Bottom left: The Cook family lives in this Tanglewood estate. Interior designer: Connie LeFevre. Top right: Scott and Dotty Sonnemaker’s new construction is located on Lindenwood in Memorial. Interior designer: Jane Page Crump; builder: Chris Cunningham. Middle right: Larry and Deana Blackburn’s design of this gourmet cook’s kitchen keeps with the Tudor styling of the house. The layout was designed for Deana’s particular patterns of cooking and desire to have a very “English” palette and colorful decor. Interior designer: Jennifer Burgess Loh. Bottom right: This Memorial area 1960s ranch home was renovated with greendesign features, including overall energy efficiency. Interior designer: Sandra Lucas.

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 20

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MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 21

SPORTS

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by Todd Freed, staff writer

SportzBuzz W

ith back-to-back SPC Championships under its belt, the Kinkaid Falcons girls basketball team is off and running to another sensational season.

In the first two weeks of the season, the Falcons defeated three of the state’s top 10 private schools, including Westbury Christian, Second Baptist and Concordia Lutheran. “The win over Concordia Lutheran was especially gratifying,” said Falcons head coach Stacey Marshall. “They’re a phenomenal team, and our girls made an incredible comeback in the final minute to win the game in overtime.”

The Falcons are racking up victories behind a talented lineup that includes senior guard Brecca Thomas, who’ll play at the University of Colorado next year. “Brecca is our team leader,” said Marshall. “She’s a great scorer and just a tremendous overall player.”

Meantime, junior forward Tyjae Scales has been a dominant force for the Falcons, averaging 12 rebounds and 10 points a game. In addition, Marshall describes Raevyn Rogers as a key defensive stopper while Frances Andrews, Kristen Moore, Cynthia Ormiston and Tyra Collins are experienced back-court players who are all excellent shooters. Plus, youth is served quite well for the Falcons with a pair of outstanding freshmen players in Alexis Johnson and Chinaza Ndee.

With a No . 5 statewide ranking one month into the season, St. Agnes Academy also boasted one of the state’s best private school basketball teams. The Tigers returned several of their top players from a team that advanced to the TAPPS 5A State Semifinals, including 6’2” senior sensation Michelle Nwokedi. Nwokedi, who’ll play collegiately at Pennsylvania, is averaging a lofty 22 points, 13 rebounds and eight blocks a game.

“The amazing thing about Michelle,” said Tigers head coach Jeff Hollinger, “is that even though she’s 6’2” tall we play her at guard. She can do it all on the court.”

Meanwhile, the Tigers’ lineup also includes another 6’2” player in senior Lexi Onigbanjo, who averages nine points, nine rebounds and two blocks a game. Aside from the twin towers MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 22

in Nwokedi and Onigbanjo, the Tigers feature a talented senior trio of guards in Ava Ring, Corinne Kelly and Marissa English.

“Ava sets the pace for us and is one of the quickest guards in the city,” said Hollinger. “All three of those girls play a lot of minutes and are huge contributors.”

With those big contributions, the Tigers have more than held their own against some of the state’s premier public school programs, even finishing third overall in the 32-team Corpus Christi Riviera ON THE RISE Duchesne Academy’s Madelyn Eastham (left) and Gabriella Roundup tournament. Miggins converge on the ball in a match against St. Pius this season. Their team “It was a top-notch field advanced to the second round of the playoffs. of public school teams, The other big thing, said Blazer, was developand that was a great showing for us,” said ing a system around the team’s biggest strength, Hollinger. The Tigers’ only loss was a close game which just happened to be outside hitter Nenye to San Antonio Reagan, which is ranked in the Okoro. Okoro, who’ll play Division 1 volleyball state top 10 in UIL Class 5A basketball. at St. Louis University, accounted for about 50 The volleyball season may be over and done percent of the team’s kills this season. “She can with, but there are plenty of great things to look kill the ball at any opportunity,” said Blazer. Her back on and look forward to for Duchesne kill percentage was unreal, and we had put ourAcademy. Under first-year head coach Leon selves in position to get her the ball whenever Blazer, Duchesne posted a 14-8 record while possible.” advancing to the second round of the state playBlazer also credited the senior leadership of offs. The playoff victory capped off an amazing middle blocker Madelyn Eastham and outside turnaround season for a program that won only hitter Katie Johnson for the team’s incredible one game against 15 defeats just last season. It turnaround. “To get the rest of the team on board also marked the school’s best volleyball season I had to reach out to our seniors. They set great since back in 1993. examples and provided invaluable leadership.”

“I knew coming in we had to change the culture of the program. The drive and desire to be Editor’s Note: Todd Freed is the Emmy Awardsuccessful in recent years just wasn’t there to be winning co-host and producer of the KUBE competitive,” said Blazer. “I stressed to the girls SportsZone, which airs Saturday and Sunday at 6 that this isn’t last year’s team, and they took it p.m. on Channel 57-KUBE. To submit high school to heart. We had some great comeback victories sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, early in the season, and the girls started to please email todd@thebuzzmagazines.com. believe in themselves.”

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SBS leads in technology

Probate in Texas

Second Baptist School remains on the cutting edge of technology, giving students access to the newest resources available.

Through the one-to-one laptop program, Middle and Upper School students at Second Baptist School each possess a MacBook Air. Additionally, Lower School students use iPads daily in the classroom.

Students educated at SBS graduate aware and prepared for today’s ever-changing global community. Second Baptist School’s participation in emerging technology gains national attention, as it is the only private school in the state of Texas and one of 87 schools nationwide to earn the title of Apple Distinguished School, which it has won twice.

SBS stays current by exploring other ongoing innovations in technology.

Members from the SBS Technology Office were picked as beta testers for Google Glass to assist with the development of this product before its public release. Students competed for and were awarded the use of Google Glass for a day. So far the students have used it for many things, and each can see myriad possibilities this tool has for the classroom and in everyday life.

To learn more about the technology at SBS and how to contribute to making SBS even more cutting edge, visit secondbaptistschool.org/technology or secondbaptistschool.org/supportsbs.

Second Baptist School, 6410 Woodway, Houston TX 77057, 713.365.2310, sbingaman@secondbaptistschool.org

Compared to other states, probate in Texas is much simpler. Texas provides for a procedure called an independent administration of estates.

This means that an executor can settle an estate with very little court supervision and without a court bond. Avoiding probate does not have to be a goal when an individual is creating his or her estate plan.

In order to take advantage of independent administration, a valid will must be executed, and specific wording must be included in the will. Under this type of process, probate may become much quicker, simpler and less expensive than the alternative situation where a person dies without a will.

After a court hearing where the judge approves the will, certain notices must be filed, as well an inventory. However, an executor need not seek court approval for every step of the estate administration. This will save an executor from having to spend estate funds on court costs and legal fees.

Sloan & Moyer LLP is offering 10% off estate plans packages if you sign up in the month of January 2014. If getting your affairs in order is on your resolution list for the New Year, bring a copy of this ad to our office.

Nancy L. Hamilton and Mitzi D. Rivero are attorneys practicing in the West Houston area. Nancy L. Hamilton, Board Certified – Estate Planning and Probate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Contact our office to schedule a free consultation for your estate planning needs.

Sloan & Moyer LLP, 11767 Katy Fwy. Suite 1130, Houston, Texas 77079, 832.327.1180, www.sloan-moyer.com

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 23

David Shutts

NEIGHBORS

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by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Buzz About Town Made for walking

Memorial Drive Elementary students, including (pictured, from left) Trey Duffield, Carson Hesse and Hank Huthnance, recently raised more than

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 24

$16,000 for Texas Children’s cancer-center patients in the school’s annual walk-a-thon. For two weeks, students walked a total of about 8,000 laps around the school track during recess and collected donations from friends and family members to help children fighting cancer. Students presented a check for $16,038 to Dr. Rayne Rouce at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center.

The walk was organized by MDE’s Campus School Health Advisory Committee.

Runways and rescue The annual Mother-Daughter Tea for the National Charity League, Memorial chapter,

was held at the Houston Country Club, chaired

by Ann Cochran, Susan McConn and Jana McHenry. The mothers and daughters were treated to a style show produced by Ursaline and pictures by David Shutts Photography. The models, including Episcopal High School class

Kim Coffman

of 2014 student Addy Purdy (pictured), were from the NCL Memorial chapter class of 2014 and wore holiday attire from Tootsies. Attendees donated items for K9 Angels Rescue, a rescue group dedicated to helping homeless animals in Houston. A few of the models rocked the runway with K9 Rescue dogs available for adoption.

Purple Pandas win

Congratulations to the Spring Branch-Memorial Sports Association Senior Division girls’ middle school soccer team the Purple Pandas, who won first place in the regular season and first in the championship. Pictured from left (back row) are asst. Christina Edgarton, coach Henry Lee, asst.

Jay Quine, and (middle row) players Maddie Graham, Lillian Puntarelli, Giovanna Puntarelli, Leslie Moreno, Camille Macicek, Hannah Kral, Molly Macicek, (front row)

Natalie Lee, Sheyla Moreno, Maddie Quine, Reagan Ralston and Jacqueline Moreno.

Excitement grew for Coach Henry, who has been coaching daughter Natalie’s soccer team since Natalie was 4 years old and has never won a championship until this year, which happens to be his last year of coaching.

Crystal Ball Cooler fall weather greeted a black-tie crowd of 400 at the 25th anniversary of the Huffington Center on Aging at Baylor College of Medicine

at River Oaks Country Club. The event honored philanthropic families Joan Lyons, Ted and Stacey Lyons, Greg and Linda Lyons Brown, Jaleh and Bruce Sallee, Margaret Alkek Williams, and Randa and Charles Williams. Mistress of ceremonies Jan Carson led the evening. Co-chairs Donatella and Fred Benckenstein, Mehrnaz and Ned Gill, Betty and John Hrncir, and Bain Pearson and John Pitts, along with honorary chairs Terry Huffington, Dr. Ralph Dittman and Michael Huffington, were pleased (continued on page 26)

Expertise • Service • Satisfaction D SOL Susan Aggarwal

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Jean Risha

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Tracie Pierce

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12850 Memorial Drive, Suite 1155 • Houston TX 77024 • www.garygreene.com • 713.461.6800 ©2012 Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. Better Homes and Gardens® is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation licensed to Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Franchise is Independently Owned and Operated.

If your property is currently listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers.

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 25

(continued from page 25) with

the event that brought in more than $471,000 to support the center’s mission to improve the lives of people as they age by funding research. Pictured (from left) are Benckenstein, Hrncir, Gill and Pearson.

Buzz of romance

Past Buzz cover kids Grace Kimble (The Memorial Buzz, August 2009) and Evan Fichter (The West University Buzz, October 2009) met in college at the University of Georgia and are now dating. The two had never met until 2012 at UGA. Grace will graduate this May with a degree in nursing from the Medical College of Georgia, and Evan, a junior, is in the UGA

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 26

Terry College of Business majoring in accounting. The two like to spend their spare time with their sorority and fraternity, Kappa Kappa Gamma and Kappa Alpha Order.

his wife Margaret began the dictionary project for the Spring Branch school district in 2003.

Coffee talk

Look it up Rummel Creek Elementary third grader Michael Mouton (pictured) was recently nose-deep in his new dictionary. Rummel Creek third graders received dictionaries through a donation made

by Spring Branch Independent School District

John Michael Talbot (pictured, at right), a singer-songwriter, guitarist and motivational minister, recently spoke at a prayer breakfast at Holy Name Retreat Center in Memorial.

Clayton Cannon (at left), a Memorial resident and fan, enjoyed a meet-and-greet with him.

Talbot played the guitar and sang inspirational songs for the onlookers.

Worth a thousand words Good Neighbor group. The dictionary gifts are part of a larger national program called The Dictionary Project. SBISD volunteers Ormonde Smith and

Supporters of Bo’s Place, a bereavement center offering grief-support services, attended the opening of an exhibit at the Williams Tower Gallery. The educational exhibit, called “Life & Death…Let’s Talk About,” was created for Bo’s

Sarah Austin

Place by photographer Karen Sachar (pictured, at left, with board president Richard Kroger).

The exhibit comprised inspiring photographic images that capture the resilient spirit of families

Craft, as well as Trailblazer chair Michelle Wasaff.

Go, Chargers who have been impacted by a death and who have come to Bo’s Place for grief support.

Rodeo ritual The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo of Houston recently honored five outstanding volunteers with 2014 Trailblazer Awards. These productive women were selected for their volunteerism with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Pictured (from left) are Sharleen Walkoviak, vice president and officer in charge of Trailblazers, and 2014 honorees Ann Page, Betty Wiseman, Julie Shannon, Wendy Vandeventer and Nancie

Congrats to the Hunters Creek Elementary Flag Football Team the Chargers, who recent-

ly won the Spring Branch-Memorial Association Flag Football Tully Bowl Championship for boys ages 5-6. The score was 29-13 against the Redskins. Pictured (front row, from left) are Blake Dardis, Pierce Aspinall, Clark Conrad, Warren Dooley, Cash Scarborough, Cameron Ertan, (top row, from left) Dade Dooley, Wesley Genung, Ben Barnett, Wade Kurtz, Steven Francis and coaches Todd Barnett and Derek Dooley.

Be seen in Buzz About Town. Send your high-res photos and community news to info@thebuzzmagazines.com or 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, TX 77401.

Items are published on a space-available basis.

A Hidden Gem in the Heart of City Centre Open House for 18 months – 4 year olds Wednesday, January 29, 2014 from 11:30am – 12:30pm Kindergarten & Bridge Open House Thursday, January 30, 2014 from 7:00-8:00pm Registration January 29, 2014 – February 14, 2014 Pines Presbyterian Preschool 12751 Kimberley Lane • Houston, TX 77024 www.pinespresbyterianpreschool.com • 713.467.9358

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 27

A FOREIGN PERSPECTIVE Cameron Henkel, a ninth grader at Stratford High School, moved to Houston from Aberdeen, Scotland, and went to his first “American football” game this year.

KIDS

by Cameron Henkel, age 14

Buzz Kidz

When football isn’t football

P

ass to the right! Fake to the left! GOAL!” This is what I expected to hear when I went to the Stratford vs. Memorial football game this fall. Instead, I watched a brawl between two teams fighting for an oddly shaped ball. I moved to the Houston area six months ago from Aberdeen, Scotland, and so I misunderstood what people meant by a football game.

Football is, in my experience, what most Texans call soccer. Over the four years I lived in Scotland, I was surrounded by people who would call what the Spartans played “American football.” This starts to explain my perception of the game. And the differences weren’t just limited to what was happening on the field.

Hot dogs and hamburgers and fries! Oh my!

The concession stands in Scotland pale in com-

parison to what I saw at the game. The Scots serve meat pies and stovies, crisps, chips and bottles of Lucozade, a popular energy drink in the United Kingdom. The concession stand at Tully Field provided popcorn, candy, soda and, most surprisingly, Chik-fil-A sandwiches. In Scotland you would be hard pressed to find a football stadium that served food of any type that came from a restaurant.

Back at the game, I decided that American football is very slow. Start. Stop. Start. Stop.

Watching from the bleachers it felt like I was watching old gears desperately trying to move, and when they finally did move, someone would blow a whistle and everything would stop abruptly. Between team time outs and penalties, the clock seemed to stop every 10 seconds.

Scottish football/soccer, on the other hand, is fast paced and only ever stops for halftime or for a life-threatening injury. All throughout the game the clock is winding down. If the two sports were named after dances then American football would be the “robot” while real football would be the worm – a fluid, ever-moving game.

Although I might not agree with the naming of the sport, I do plan on attending more games. School spirit translates the same in both countries.

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, TX 77401.

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In the fine neighborhoods of RIVER OAKS • TANGLEWOOD MEMORIAL • WEST U/ MUSEUM For all your real estate needs

Have fun and meet new people while playing the world’s best card game!

Beginning bridge Tuesdays, Feb 18 - Apr 8 from 10 am-12 pm and Thursdays, Feb 20 - Apr 10 from 1 pm-3 pm St. Martin’s Episcopal Church 717 Sage (at Woodway), 77056

520 Post Oak Blvd., Houston, TX 77027

Contact Joyce Ryan 713.977.3360 jryan9620@sbcglobal.net

713.203.4079 Cell maryf@johndaugherty.com

J O H N D AU G H E RT Y. C O M

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 28

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Ask Reneé, the Realtor

Next-dimension filler

What is the forecast for 2014? Houston’s real estate markets have had an exceptionally strong year, and conditions remain positive as we sail into 2014. The inventory of homes for sale is at a 12-year low, and local home builders say there’s a shortage of lots to build on.

Top 5 on the forecast list: 1. Houston home prices will rise as much as 5 percent.

2. Food is foremost. Grocery stores will dominate local retail construction.

3. Mortgage rates will rise, but not much. Mortgage rates were at record lows in 2012. The 2012 annual average of 3.66 percent was the lowest in 65 years, Freddie Mac reports. By comparison, the annual average mortgage rate was 4.45 percent in 2011 and, when inflation was at its worst, 16.63 percent in 1981.

4. Apartments surge. The National Association of Realtors is forecasting a 4.6 percent gain in the nation’s rental market. Houston apartment renters should face rent increases.

5. Empty office space will get harder to find. Commercial rates are raising fairly dramatically, having surpassed $30 per square foot.

Thinking of buying or selling? In this market, rely on the experts. Reneé and her firm are consistently recognized and recommended as the ones to go to for real-estate needs. Email your questions to: Reneé Davy Oakum Properties, 12900 Queensbury, Suite 101, Houston, Texas 77079, 713.647.8278, renee@davyoakumproperties.com, www.davyoakumproperties.com

One of the early signs of aging is volume loss in the mid-face and cheek area, which can lead to sagging skin and hollowing that increases over time.

Now, people who want to improve their appearance have access to a new facial filler, Juvederm Voluma.

Voluma is the first and only hyaluronic acid (HA) filler that is FDA-approved to instantly add volume to the cheek area, resulting in a subtle lift that helps highlight and restore cheek contour.

Hyaluronic acid is a hydrating substance found naturally in youthful skin. As people age, many lose HA, which can lead to facial-volume loss as well as wrinkles and folds around the nose and mouth. Prior to the approval of Voluma, the only option was to fill in the wrinkles; however, adding volume to the cheek area can be an additionally effective way to create a more youthful appearance.

As always, natural results are desired, and physicians with the knowledge of facial structure are best with placement and volume of correction for restoration of cheek contour. Like all HA fillers, Voluma is reversible, able to be dissolved if you do not like the results. An in-office consultation is the best way to see if you are a candidate.

Voluma is already approved in 72 countries and has been shown to last for up to two years. In addition, the procedure is convenient. It is done in the office, produces immediate results, causes minimal discomfort, and requires minimal down time.

Dr. Bonnie Baldwin, 7700 San Felipe, Suite 275, Houston, Texas 77063, 713.791.1975, www.bonniebaldwinmd.com

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MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 29

DINING GUIDE

by Dai Huynh, staff writer

ev1pro.com

This Month in Dining: Cooking Classes Restaurant Listings $ (under $10) $$ ($11-$30) $$$ ($31-$60) $$$$ (over $60) Prices include drink, tax and tip per person Dai Huynh is a James Beard food-journalism award winner and longtime restaurant writer. Her visits to restaurants in our Buzz Dining Guide were anonymous, and she paid for her meals to maintain objectivity. We’d love your thoughts too.

Write to info@thebuzzmagazines.com with your own dining opinions and suggestions. Also, you can contribute in the Comments section under the online version of this story at memorialbuzz.com.

Bite Macarons EDIBLE EDUCATION Post Oak Grill's Polo Becerra shares his culinary secrets during a cooking class.

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hese days, restaurants serve up not only good food, but also entertainment. On a recent evening, Polo Becerra transformed the Post Oak Grill (1415 S. Post Oak Lane, 713-9939966) into a culinary theater – complete with a Frank Sinatra-style crooner. Fresh grapefruit and truffle oil wafted from the stage as the owner-chef demonstrated how to make a coffee-chocolate-crusted filet and a grapefruit-avocado salad.

In the first row, Charo McGinley and 20 of her closest friends sipped on sauvignon blanc while watching Becerra cook and banter with the audience. “Truffle oil is like Chanel No. 5,” declared the chef.

McGingley attended a previous class on quinoa and enjoyed it so much, she invited a few friends to this four-course cooking class. They in turn invited their pals. “Suddenly, I was calling the restaurant and telling them, ‘I have eight people coming. I have 12 coming, 15, 20.’ It’s so much fun, though, and something different.”

Like Becerra, more Houston chefs are tapping into their inner Julia Child, dishing out their kitchen know-how not only in grocery stores and other retail outlets as the norm, but right in their dining room or kitchen.

Monica Pope combines her love of cooking and teaching by customizing classes for groups of all sizes on the second floor of her Sparrow Bar + Cookshop (3701 Travis St., 713-524-6922). At the Four Seasons (1300 Lamar, 713-652-6248), chef Maurizio Ferrarese showcases Italian standards upon request.

His students have ranged from a couple on a date to a 16-member team-building corporate function.

From Tex-Mex soups to meatless enchiladas, Sylvia Casares of Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen (6401 Woodway and 12637 Westheimer, 713-334-7295) reveals her secrets for perfecting Tex-Mex favorites during her bi-monthly classes. Meanwhile, Susie Jimenez successfully launched a trio of classes at her Latin Fusion restaurant Trenza (2800 Kirby, 713-526-1414) last month and plans to hold a few more next year.

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 30

French pastries Neighborhood: West University Making macarons is a dare, especially in Houston’s soggy climate. These delicate orbs in a multitude of colors and flavors are finicky.

Their golden, smooth crust turns into dud-like chews at the hint of humidity. Macarons also demand surgical precision in the sifting of superfine sugar and ground almonds, combined with the beating of egg whites. A misstep and the result is a gritty fistful of chalk. And so, it was a treat (and surprise) to bite into the puffedup salted caramel and pistachio renditions from Bite (recently opened in the Kroger shopping center). At last, the search for macarons “almost” like those from the venerable Ladurée in Paris is over. Granted, the weather was perfect that day – hardly a hint of humidity, nor a disappointed face at this charming white-gloss dessert-coffee house. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sun. 5172-B Buffalo Speedway, 713-664-2483. $

Bombay Sweets Indian vegetarian Neighborhood: Sharpstown The buffet steams with aromatic basmati, vegetable curries and sautés. Patrons also come

for chaats, such as samosas, idly rice cakes, lentil doughnuts and pani puri, a crispy hollow pastry filled with chili-spiked potatoes. A salty, sweet and tart explosion detonates when you pour the accompanied spice-fueled tamarind water into the shell. The chaser? Soothing masala chai.

Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 5827 Hillcroft St., Houston, 713-780-4453. $

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

Del Frisco’s Grille Casual American classics Neighborhood: Upper Kirby This casual offshoot of the high-end steakhouse features sandwiches and salads, along with a patio for al fresco dining or energetic tykes. At brunch, over chicken-fried steak and eggs, sip a

carafe of build-your-own Bloody Marys with Tito’s Vodka and a plate of fixings that includes pickled green beans, olives and lime wedges. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 2800 Kirby Drive, Suite A-132, 832-623-6168. delfriscogrille.com. $$$

Étoile Authentic French Neighborhood: Galleria area When several talented French chefs urge you to try the food at Étoile, it’s hard to dispute their keen taste for the food of their homeland. Just as they said, the flavors here are true, and ownerchef Philippe Verpiand and wife Monica Bui have created an alluringly warm showcase for a hearty coq au vin and tender sole meunière with lemon caper sauce, fingerling potatoes and roasted cauliflower – both brunch items. Briny mussels flavored with tomatoes and onions are served with homemade pomme frites and garlic aioli. The beauty of this place is almost everything is made from scratch, including the crusty baguettes. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sun. 1101 Uptown Park Blvd., 832-668-5808. etoilecuisine.com. $$

Huynh Restaurant Contemporary Vietnamese Neighborhood: East Downtown Pho Huynh closed on Milam Street, then reopened as Huynh Restaurant in old

Chinatown. The food, still under the guidance of Mama Van Bui, shines on contemporary white plates. She specializes in dishes from Hue, the culinary core of Vietnam. Delicate steamedrice crepes glisten with well-seasoned pork and black mushrooms. Her boluc lac explodes with flavors of pan-seared tender beef threaded with smoky jalapeño and caramelized garlic. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sat. 912 Saint Emanuel, 713-2248964. huynhrestauranthouston.com. $$

Island Grill & Juice Bar Smoothies and burgers Neighborhood: West University/Tanglewood Granted, the smoothies with natural juices at Island Grill are pretty lush. The Island Oasis is ripe with sweet pineapples, strawberries, coconut juice and vanilla yogurt. The juices – from wheatgrass to coolers made with veggies and fruits – are refreshing.

But surprisingly, this neighborhood joint is noted for breakfast bagel sandwiches, pita sandwiches and muscular 8-ounce Angus burgers on soft buns.

Breakfast, lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. (closes 4:30 p.m. Sun.), 4024 Bellaire Blvd., 713-665-5388. 5709 Woodway, 713-334-4036. islandgrillhouston.com. $$

Jonathan’s The Rub American classics Neighborhood: Memorial It isn’t unusual to find a chef or restaurateur at this BYOB eatery, (continued on page 32)

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 31

deliers, refurbished tea sets and ornately framed photos of famous tea sippers, including Marilyn Monroe, Elvis and Michael Jackson. Fragrant organic teas – hibiscus blossom oolong, masala chai and cabernet assam – gently brew in glass orbs while regulars fork into lemon and chocolate pies topped with solidly crisp, snow-white meringue. The Southwestern pulled-pork quiche with shortbread-like crust is the envy of other chefs. Lunch & dinner, Tues.-Sat., 5305 Bissonnet, Bellaire. 713-218-6300. mchughtea.com. $

Osteria Mazzantini

ÉTOILE Mussels are on the menu at this authentic French restaurant. (continued from page 31) chomping down on one of

the juiciest grinders in town. It’s that good.

Burger aficionados around Hedwig Village pay homage to the 9-ounce chargrilled ground chuck seasoned with chef-owner Jonathan Levine’s secret rub seasonings. Available at lunchtime only, you can build your own, or opt for the original Rub with the usual fixings on sweet sourdough bun. There’s also the Blue with chunky blue cheese, the AVO with grilled avocado and the Latino Nuevo with chipotle mayonnaise and Mexican cheese. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Fri. and dinner Sat., 9061 Gaylord, 713465-8200. jonathanstherub.com. $$

Kasra Persian Grill Classic Mediterranean Neighborhood: Tanglewood/Memorial Tables brim with savory mezzes, such as creamy hummus, eggplant dips and toasted rice topped with kidney beans and beef.

Complimentary feta cheese, fresh mint, parsley and radishes with yeasty, golden flatbreads are served upon arrival. Mint tea, grilled beef on dill-scented rice and moist Cornish hens on fluffy barberries-laced rice scent the air. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 9741 Westheimer Road, 713975-1810. kasrahouston.com. $$

La Casa Del Caballo Mexican steakhouse Neighborhood: Montrose Gregarious Latin voices ring through this Mexican steakhouse that buys its premium beef from the storied Allen Brothers in Chicago.

Owner-chef Carlos Abedrop butchers a whole rib rack himself to ensure the right cut. The steak here isn’t the buttery, tender sort American diners have come to expect. Here, it has the kind of chew that bursts with forceful flavors from beef grilled over mesquite fire. The lamb, too, while tender, is resilient with its characteristic gamey nuances. Meats are good by themselves even MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 32

with the standard sides of smoke-kissed beans, skin-on fried potatoes and three-alarm salsas.

Lunch & dinner, Mon.-Sun., 322 Westheimer, 832-623-6467. lacasadelcaballo.com. $$$

Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot Northern Chinese Neighborhood: Galleria/Uptown Paper-thin slices of lamb bob in bubbling broth fragrant with herbs and spices. Friends gather around, wielding chopsticks to cook meats and vegetables at this interactive Chinese-fondue establishment, famous in China but under the radar here except among China natives in the know. Houston is lucky to have one. Platters of raw ingredients (beef, chicken, lamb and seafood) arrive with a yingyang hot pot divided by a mild broth in one side and a fiery chili-infused broth in the other. Meats are dipped in the broths, followed by noodles, tofu and vegetables. Lunch and dinner, Mon.-Sun., 5901 Westheimer, 713-975-0687. littlesheephotpot.com. $$

Lucille’s Creative Southern Neighborhood: Museum District The fried green tomatoes – lightly crisped and anointed with a rich, bright-orange remoulade sauce – know few peers around town. This and a glass of New Zealand sauvignon blanc, in this refurbished brick building, would do just fine for lunch. That and a side order of chef-owner Chris Williams’ hot rolls. Look around. You’ll see many breaking bread while waiting for shrimp and grits and the pan-roasted white fish on a pile of pancakes, surrounded by candied-sweet cherry tomatoes. Lunch and dinner, Tues.-Sun., 5512 La Branch, 713-568-2505. lucilleshouston.com. $$$

Upscale rustic Italian Neighborhood: Galleria/Uptown Whipped lardo butter arrives with pillowy potato bread. If diners don't succumb to chefowner John Sheely's opening act, then they'll likely fall for his house-made ravioli, stuffed with earthy sweetbreads and kale, then lightly tossed in seared browned butter dotted with aged balsamic vinegar. The flavors are appealing – caramelized saltiness shot through with sweet and sour notes. Desserts are creative but grounded in Old World flavors, such as a mousse made with limoncello and an orange-olive oil cake with olive oil ice gelato and zabaglione. Lunch and dinner, Mon.-Sun., 2200 Post Oak Blvd. No. 140, 713-993-9898. osteriamazzantini.com. $$$$

Pass & Provisions Inventive modern fare Neighborhood: Fourth Ward A duo eatery in one space – white-tablecloth Pass and bustling Provisions. Pass is a caviar affair, while Provision serves casual edibles, including smartly donned sandwiches and billowy pizzas with such toppings as kale with pork sausage and duck confit with potato and pickled currants. There are some crossovers of dishes and kitchen playfulness between the two menus.

Provisions, lunch & dinner Mon.-Sat; Pass, dinner only. 808 Taft, 713-628-9020.

Passandprovisions.com. $$-$$$$

Post Oak Grill Gulf Coast classics Neighborhood: Tanglewood Happiness exists in a bread basket at this popular outpost for business lunches. The basket usually cradles oven-fresh biscuits fragrant with green onions, bacon and cheddar cheese. One really isn’t enough; nor is two or three. Slow down, though, or you’ll fill up before the perfectly grilled rainbow trout arrives, glistening lightly with butter-caper sauce. Polo Becerra is a classic chef with a timeless approach of keeping ingredients simple and clean, with just a sheath of sauce to elevate the flavors of beef and seafood.

Lunch & dinner, Mon.-Sat., 1415 S. Post Oak Lane, 713-993-9966. postoakgrill.com. $$$

McHugh Tea Teahouse and more Neighborhood: Bellaire This shabby chic corner charms with its English ambiance illuminated by tea-cup chan-

Quattro Contemporary Italian Neighborhood: Downtown Talented chef Maurizio Ferrarese brings the

flavors of his native Italy to Quattro at the Four Seasons Hotel. The dining room is an elegant affair. Quality is high, and almost everything is made in-house. Just as engaging is the adjoining Vinoteca Quattro bar where an eclectic group of downtown workers unwind over Italian beers, wines and Italian small plates during happy hour. From 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, guests can purchase a wine or cocktail and allyou-can-eat antipasti for $18. Breakfast, lunch & dining Mon.-Sun. 1300 Lamar, 713-6501300. quattrorestauranthouston.com. $$-$$$$

Sparrow Bar + Cookshop Modern American Neighborhood: Midtown Monica Pope is forever reinventing herself and her restaurant concept. Her latest incarnation, the Sparrow Bar + Cookshop, applies beautiful, subtle flavors to farm-fresh local ingredients. Bronzed Texas quail nestles on warm yellow-corn grits hinting of orange zest.

Caramel miso and blossom butter enhance hanger steak. Creativity carries over to a dynamic cocktail menu. Pope grasped the value of using fresh fruits and herbs in drinks long before it became a trend. Her hand-crafted cocktails push boundaries to offer new, exciting flavors, such as a vodka creation with roasted red bell pepper puree, shiitake mushroom vermouth and jalapeño syrup. Lunch and

dinner, Tues.-Sat., 3701 Travis, 713-524-6922. sparrowhouston.com. $$$

Super H Mart Korean food court Neighborhood: Spring Branch A handful of family kiosks and tables line the right side of this mega Korean supermarket, where shoppers dine on homey dishes, from crispy fried Korean chicken and bibimbap to oyster pancakes. The centerpiece is Daddy & Daughter, with its nourishing, briny seafood noodle soups. It’s also praised by Koreans for the comfort dish jajangmyeon, noodles tossed with pork and an unctuous sweet, salty black bean paste. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 1302 Blalock Road, 713-468-0606. hmart.com. $

Texas de Brazil Brazilian steakhouse Neighborhood: Memorial Two things are required to appreciate this Dallas churrascaria chain: a big appetite and friends to cheer you on while forking endless skewered meats that are paraded around the cheery room. The waiters are charming, even after your third visit to an extraordinary salad bar, featuring every vegetable imaginable. The Brazilian steakhouse also offers a light menu for about half price.

Dinner Mon.-Sun. 822 Town & Country Blvd., 713-730-3013. texasdebrazil.com. $$$

The Lemongrass Café Asian fusion Neighborhood: Bellaire Polite service and a thoughtfully conceived menu endear Lemongrass Café to Houstonians. Chef-owner Fah Vorarittinapa marries the flavors of Chinese, Thai, Japanese, French and American cooking. Her signature dish remains the juicy tiger shrimp, stuffed with bacon and swaddled in crisp kataifi noodle, anointed by a sweet, spicy tamarind sauce. Pad thai is given a twist with a Japanese egg crepe. Her trio soup sampler is a composition of the soup of the day, French mushroom consommé and Thai tom yum chicken. Lunch & dinner, Mon.-Sun., 5109 Bellaire, 713-664-6698. lemongrass-cafe.com. $$

Teotihuacan Tex-Mex originals Neighborhood: Northeast Houston Diners pack in day after day for grilled steaks, chiles rellenos and flautas in a room decorated with festive streamers. Co-owner Silvia Galvan applies soy sauce and black pepper to make fajitas and juicy sirloins with grilled onions. A must try: grilled shrimp, bathed in garlic butter, particularly satisfying wrapped in homemade corn tortillas and a dollop of lush guacamole.

Breakfast, lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 4624 Irvington, 713-695-8757. teomexicancafe.com. $

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 33

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Bite and body

Deducting business meals

Did you know your bite affects your body? Do you experience unknown causes for headaches and migraines or pain in the jaw, neck, back or shoulder area? Do you have tingling finger tips, limited mouth opening, ringing in the ears, postural problems or insomnia? Do you take medication for these symptoms? Persistent grinding or clenching of the teeth can cause enamel loss, sensitive teeth and damage to the jaw joint. Grinding and clenching can also cause teeth to move and crowd; as this happens they become more worn and eventually can fracture. Your bite can be a factor in many types of pain or functional problems because of the interrelationship of the overall musculoskeletal system. Since there is a relationship between the teeth, jaw joints, head and neck muscles, and head posture, a problem in any one of these areas may affect others. Dr. Barras is familiar with this under-diagnosed problem, and has devoted countless hours learning and treating these issues. Dr. Barras offers a variety of custom treatment options including custom orthotics and Invisalign®. Pain-free is a nice way to live! Dr. Barras and his team invite you for a complimentary consultation. Mention this ad and receive $700 off Invisalign® for the month of January. Offer expires Jan. 30, 2014.

Dr. John Barras, 1330 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 1300, Houston, Texas 77056, 713.993.9814, www.johnbarrasdds.com

Deducting business meals and entertainment on your taxes can be confusing. Generally, you can only deduct 50 percent of the cost for business meals and entertainment. You must show a business motive or a general expectation of future business benefit. In all cases, a business discussion must take place the same day. You need to keep good records of who, why, where, the cost and the date in a timely fashion in some kind of journal. The IRS rules say that no receipt is required, as proof, if the cost is under $75.

There are several exceptions that allow you to deduct 100 percent of meals and entertainment. Food served at a seminar or presentation open to the public is 100 percent deductible. A party for employees is 100 percent deductible, such as for an employee Christmas party. Also 100 percent deductible are tickets you buy for charitable events like a golf tournament that donates all the proceeds to charity and use volunteers.

Call us at 281-890-1111 for our most popular free publication, “57 Top Tax Tips for Business.” It includes tax-saving ideas for your S corporation, PC, PLLC, LLC, LLP, partnership or professional practice. We prepare tax returns for all of these.

Our CPA firm has prepared more than 40,000 tax returns for businesses and individuals over the past 28 years. Our motto is “More Knowledge. Less Taxes.”

Lawrence Rohal, CPA Services LLC, 2909 Hillcroft, Suite F, (near Westheimer), 77057, 281.890.1111, Amazing02@msn.com, www.AmazingTax.com

Craftsmanship By John

A Custom Builder Specializing in Remodeling

Wine Room All cabinets were custom made by CBJ

2012 GHBA Remodeler of the Year Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR), Graduate Master Builder (GMB) Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS)

www.craftsmanshipbyjohn.com • 713.984.8834 MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 34

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Get your feet in shape

Meet your new neighbor

Before beginning an exercise program, take a step in the right direction and get relief from your painful foot problems.

Dr. Weinstein is a board-certified podiatric physician specializing in the treatment of foot and ankle disorders.

Several warning signs warrant a visit to your podiatrist. Your heels may hurt, especially after first standing up after periods of rest. A toenail has become thickened or discolored, which could be signs of fungus. You may have growths that look like calluses with black dots in the center, which could be a plantar’s wart. An ingrown toenail has become red, swollen and painful – signs of an infection. Your toes are over-lapped and bent or misshapen with growths. You have diabetes. Your toes feel numb or burn, or you have pain in between the toes of your feet. You may be experiencing pain caused by bunions.

Our office is designed with your comfort in mind, and we want you to know that we are dedicated to providing you with quality foot health care.

Don’t hesitate to bring your foot ailments to us for relief. Call for an appointment today. Wishing everyone a very happy and healthy New Year!

Bellaire Podiatry/Nail Laser Center of Houston, Dr. Barry P. Weinstein, 4909 Bissonnet, Suite 120, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.721.5500, www.BarryWeinsteinDPM.com

Coldwell Banker United, Realtors, Memorial Office welcomes Marlene Johnson, its new vice president. Marlene brings a wealth of real estate and management experience, having been the VP of the Cy-Fair office for eight years and with Coldwell Banker United, Realtors for 13 years. Marlene’s sentiment about her new home away from home: “Here is a group of the most quality agents in the city. The experience of the staff and agents is so phenomenal, not to mention our office building is beautiful. My goal is to support our agents and clients throughout their careers and the entire real-estate transaction.” Marlene, a native Houstonian, is a wife and a mother to two sons – one a firefighter in Austin and the other working for Fox in New York. She comes from a family of Houston firefighters, her grandfather, uncles, cousins and father and, now, her son Buck.

Marlene’s philosophy in real estate will permeate through her leadership at the Memorial office: “Imagine yourself in a beautiful home that you can call your own. Your private place to unwind and entertain your friends and family. What you work for every day. Your home. That is my goal for our agents – to find our clients that special place. Our office is not just about business. It’s about people!”

Coldwell Banker United, Realtors 14201 Memorial Dr, Houston, Texas 77079, 713.722.6800, mkjohnson@cbunited.com, www.cbunited.com

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 35

sponsored by

PETS

Neighborhood Tails

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Clean water for homecoming 713.662.2119 www.roveroaks.com

Ashten, age 11, Llewellin Setter, Timberknoll St. Hi! I was rescued at the age of 10, and now I am celebrating my one-year anniversary with my new family. It was an adjustment for all of us since my playmate is a 11year-old dachshund, Jessie, who rules the house, and being 35 pounds larger took some getting used to for my new family. They are still not convinced I am a lap dog. But I know they love me because I have taken over the leather ottoman and the big leather chair when I can get away with it, and no one yells at me. Everyone says I should be on the cover of a famous hunting magazine because I look so regal. I am a Llewellin Setter and love to point at things. Most of my time is spent pointing at lizards in the backyard. Occasionally I spot a bird, squirrel or rabbit and consider that a big day.

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, TX 77401. Featured pets receive two passes to Rover Oaks Pet Resort. Each pass can be redeemed for one day of lodging in a Bunk House Suite, 25 percent off your next grooming appointment or 25 percent off one obedience training class.

MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 36

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Homecoming at Houston Christian High School is a time of celebration – school spirit, football and the crowning of the Homecoming King and Queen. It is also an opportunity to give back.

For the last five years, students have participated in HC’s Mums for Water campaign to benefit Living Water International, which builds water wells in underdeveloped countries. In addition to the traditional mum and garters, HC students raised more than $5,500 to build a third water well by purchasing buttons that read “Mine Went for Clean Water.”

It’s not unusual for students at HC to participate in such activities. Last year more than 100 students stood for 27 hours to bring attention to the 27 million people affected by human trafficking, and each year HC students participate in mission trips and volunteer their time locally. Fostered by a curriculum that integrates leadership lessons and a commitment to teaching the whole student, HC students make a difference in the world.

Houston Christian is a non-denominational, college preparatory school dedicated to the highest academic standards, development of moral character, enrichment of spiritual lives, and growth in Christian ideals. HC is currently accepting applications for the 2014-15 academic year. For more information or to schedule a tour please contact the admissions office at admissions@houstonchristian.org or call 713-580-6020.

Houston Christian High School, 2700 W Sam Houston Parkway North, Houston, TX 77043, 713.580.6000, www.houstonchristian.org

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Healthy New Year’s resolutions

A minute with Maisie

Would you like to reduce or eliminate your diabetes medications? Get back to your favorite sport? Play on the floor with your children?

Embrace life again? Make a decision to finally meet your health, fitness and weight goals.

UT Physicians’ obesity medicine specialist Dr. Deborah Horn at the UT Center for Obesity Medicine and Metabolic Performance (COMMP) specializes in comprehensive medical treatment to help optimize your metabolism. You can become strong and metabolically healthy, no matter what your age.

Founded on scientific evidence and best clinical practices, the COMMP team provides a program tailored to you.

Together, you will utilize nutrition, physical activity, medication and behavioral support to guide your body to a healthier weight and teach your metabolism to run efficiently again. Using specialized equipment, Dr. Horn can measure your individual metabolic rate, your lean muscle mass vs. fat mass and your internal biomarkers to build a program to help your body optimally manage food as fuel for a more active life.

UT Physicians invites you to join us at our free informational seminar January 20th and February 17th, 5:45-6:30 pm, at our Bellaire location. To join us for the seminar or schedule a free 10-minute program consultation with Dr. Horn and the COMMP Team, please call 713-892-5500.

Dr. Deborah Bade Horn, UT Physicians, 6700 West Loop South, Suite 500, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.892.5500

Many clients ask me, “Will my spouse’s business be considered in my divorce?” Texas law presumes that all property is community property, and that includes ownership in businesses. There are a variety of ways one can claim ownership in a business so it is important to understand the type of organization and how the spouse holds any claim to the company. Once you know the type of organization and how it is owned, there are multiple approaches to handle the division.

Additionally, you always want to know the fair market value of the spouse’s business interest.

More often than not, this involves hiring an expert to value the spouse’s interest in the company. Many times, this is of critical importance because the majority of community property is contained within the business.

Hiring an experienced attorney with knowledge of these issues is key in any divorce involving business interests.

Maisie A. Barringer is a partner at Jenkins & Kamin, L.L.P., a full-service boutique family law firm specializing in divorce, child custody modifications, grandparent access, paternity, adoption, premarital and postmarital agreements. Maisie A. Barringer has been recognized as a Texas Rising Star

by Texas Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters service printed in Texas Monthly magazine for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013.

Jenkins & Kamin, L.L.P., Maisie A. Barringer, Partner, Board Certified in Family Law, Two Greenway Plaza, Ste. 600, Houston, Texas 77046, 713.600.5500, www.jenkinsandkamin.com

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MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 37

NEIGHBORS

by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

Back Porch

Resolutions times 100

A

nna Jones has set an impressive record for New Year’s resolutions made and kept.

At the start of 2012, she delved into a project that would take an entire year and reveal determination that is rare for goals laid out Jan. 1.

That’s when Anna instituted what she calls “My 100s,” a set of seven goals, each to be accomplished 100 times.

“I started out needing to walk and see my trainer more,” Anna says. “I was thinking about New Year’s resolutions, but everyone knows once you get to February, your enthusiasm has gone down the drain. It’s like dieting – one bad day and the whole thing is over.

“So I decided to be more flexible and give myself a year to reach my goals.”

Anna planned systematically. She arrived at the number of 100 repetitions because “you can do just under two times a week” and meet the annual goal. “So if you’re going on holiday and skip a week, it’s okay.” She used a lined notebook and allocated four blank pages, 25 lines each, to each of seven goals.

“I love to write lists,” Anna says. “So I tracked goals that way.” She kept the notebook on the kitchen counter and logged each activity upon completion, every one a step closer to filling the pages and reaching her goals. “It’s like mowing grass,” she says. “You can’t see progress looking forward, but you can look behind you and see you’ve done a great job.”

For exercise, Anna’s attorney husband Gregg, who walks every morning, inspired her. “I’m generally lazy,” she says. “If I got in the car to go see my trainer, I would think, ‘I really don’t want to do that today,’ and I would drive on.” Once she set her 100s, Anna started walking to and from visits to her trainer. Eventually she would walk two miles, stop at the trainer’s, meet a friend, and walk two miles again with the friend after the training session. Her trainer would check in periodically to ask how far into her goal she had progressed. In all, Anna took 104 walks and saw her trainer 107 times.

She also read 108 books, becoming the go-to source for friends needing reading ideas.

Although she recorded every book she read, she MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2014 38

doesn’t remember each one. That’s where the records come in. Anna knows she turned the last page of her last book on Dec. 31. Her favorite?

America’s Medicis: The Rockefellers and Their Astonishing Cultural Legacy by Suzanne Loebl. Number two was Lynne Olson’s Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in its Darkest, Finest Hour.

Anna’s DVD selections – 164 in all – were all about “happy endings and beautiful sets. I wanted to be taken away from the drama you read about in the papers.” The Way, starring Martin Sheen and written and directed by his son Emilio Estevez, made the top of her list.

Next up was the Irish musical film Once, then KEEPING TRACK To record progress toward her "100s" goals, Anna Jones the TV shows Justified kept a lined notebook on her kitchen counter and logged every step. and In Treatment. these expensive, esoteric liquors, and you only Anna says she “tends to be shy in new social need two tablespoons per recipe.” She made situations,” so her 100s included a social comnine cocktails. ponent. “I pushed myself to say yes when friends Looking back, Anna says, “My girlfriends, called, and I participated in 108 social ‘events,’” who were all very enthusiastic and supportive, ranging from school coffees to meeting friends wanted to know if I was going to make up a new for lunch to black-tie galas. “Whew. What a list for 2013. I thought maybe I’d attack my social butterfly I turned out to be!” friendship rolodex and have 100 people to dinRecipes were easy. “In a single meal, I could ner, but then I thought I’d just let sleeping dogs try several new recipes. I like to cook and have lie. It was really fun and gave me a great sense a lot of cookbooks. This part was really fun.” of satisfaction.

Anna made 133 new recipes. Monkey Bread, “It was easy, because my goals were to do more Tangerine Chess Pie and Creamy Broccoli of the things I like to do. Anyone can do it. Just Cheese Soup topped the experiments. tailor your goals around your lifestyle.”

The only goal Anna didn’t reach was making The downside? “Now I have a liquor cabinet 100 new cocktails. Once she started examining full of bottles with two tablespoons missing.” cocktail recipes, she realized, “they call for all Kevin Long, www.gulfcoastshots.com

.