Dave Rossman
NEIGHBORS
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by Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld, staff writer
Buzz About Town Jack Ferruzzo, a junior at Memorial High School, has been nominated to compete for the title Student of the Year by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Jack’s grandfather, Ken DeLorenzo, has been battling lymphoma for eight years, and his great-aunt Ginger Upton died from lymphoma four years ago. Jack asked a group of friends to join his team – Team Victory Royale – to raise awareness and campaign for Jack. Members of Team Victory Royale are from Memorial High School, The Kinkaid School, St. Agnes Academy and Episcopal High School. Each member has a close connection to someone who has battled cancer. LLS funds support research for treatments and has invested more than $1.2 billion. Team Victory Royale has set a goal of raising $100,000. They are hosting “spirit nights” at restaurants around Houston Jan. 11-March 1. The restaurants will donate 20 percent of proceeds to their campaign. Their first event is at Texadelphia (8383 Westheimer Rd.) on Jan. 15, 11 a.m. -9 p.m. Pictured are members (from left) Caroline Henderson, Caroline Melody, Laura Shepherd, Jack Ferruzzo, Michael
Duncan and John Austin Anderson. See events.lls.org/txg/HoustonSOY19/tvictoryro.
Iron sommelier The Periwinkle Foundation’s Iron Sommelier 2018, presented by AUTOSOL, included an event of wine, entertainment and fun for a good cause. Fourteen of Houston’s best sommeliers gathered at the Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa to showcase their expertise for the title of Iron Sommelier. Six hundred of The Periwinkle Foundation’s board members, supporters and wine aficionados enjoyed the evening, which raised a record $320,000 for Periwinkle’s Camps, Arts and Survivor programs for children, teens and their families challenged by cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. The competitors’ hand-selected wines were chosen to match their innovative themes, and sommeliers were rated on wine choice, presentation, creativity and knowledge. The expert panel included Craig Collins, Nick Hetzel and June Rodil. While the competitors were being judged, guests tasted wines and enjoyed pairings. Julie Dalton of Mastro’s, first-time event competitor, took
home the title of Iron Sommelier 2018 with her “Drink Gneiss Schist” theme. Event chairs were San Beck and John Clutterbuck. Pictured are Eric and Erin Otness.
Chili cook-off fun Jessica Sornson
Team Victory Royale
The School of the Woods Montessori School community enjoyed the annual Family Fall Festival and Chili Cook-Off. Students brought families and friends to enjoy a talent show, inflatable obstacle courses and bounce houses, face painting, a candy hunt, snow cones, photo booth and, of course, the chili cook-off. Eighteen chili chefs spiced up the event with their traditional chili, vegetarian chili and Korean style chili. Pictured are (from left) Palmer Defenbaugh and Diego Yuko.
Stop the presses Stratford Playhouse will present Disney’s Newsies the Musical Jan. 31-Feb. 9 under the direction of its artistic director, CeCe Prudhomme. A smash Broadway musical, Newsies is set in turn-of-thecentury New York City and tells the tale of Jack Kelly (played by Hudson Brown), a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged “newsies.” Jack rallies (continued on page 58) MEMORIAL BUZZ JANUARY 2019 56