Cole and Tama Lundquist
Back-to-school
Safety by Andria Frankfort
School Buzz 2015-16
Living Life Jelly Side Up Youth Exchanges Emoji Takeover
Houston, TX
Make-ahead Meals
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Baby’s Day Out
EDITOR’S NOTE Thank you for trusting us with your personal stories. Because of this, our team was able to create what I think is an especially compelling back-to-school issue. A few months ago, Rania Mankarious, executive director of Crime Stoppers of Houston, told us about the School Safety Program. At first, I wasn’t sure about including a crime-prevention story in our typically upbeat magazine, especially the back-toschool issue. After connecting with neighborhood parents passionate about this program, I’m glad staff writer Andria Frankfort tackled the story and that Rania outlined real-life safety scenarios involving local students. This packed issue also introduces our 2015-16 School Buzz correspondents, who report on happenings at Buzz-area high schools. And Cathy Gordon has written a story about the Germain family’s response to loss and grief that, in 14 years of The Buzz, has touched me perhaps more than any other. We wish Dana Germain and her children a safe and wonderful adventure around the world. joni@thebuzzmagazines.com
THE BUZZ MAGAZINES BELLAIRE • WEST UNIVERSITY • MEMORIAL • TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS Published by Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401 info@thebuzzmagazines.com • p: 713.668.4157 • f: 713.665.2940 Follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter thebuzzmagazines.com Editor Publisher Associate Editors Design Manager Staff Writers
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Joni Hoffman Michael Hoffman Cheryl Laird Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld John Duboise Tracy L. Barnett Sharon Albert Brier Andria Frankfort Angie Frederickson Todd Freed Michelle Casas Groogan Dai Huynh Annie Blaylock McQueen Cheryl Ursin Cathy Gordon, Rania Mankarious Megan Hundahl Streete Angie Wickert Jay Janecek Andrea Blitzer Leslie Little Kim Montgomery Darsey Swaim Helen Hamilton Michele Luke Morgan Bernard, Eric Uzick
On our cover: Tama Lundquist, a Crime Stoppers of Houston board member, counsels her son Cole on their family's backup safety plans. Cover photo by Michael Hart Photography, www.hartphoto.com The Buzz Magazines has made all reasonable attempts to verify the accuracy of all information contained within. Advertising claims are solely the responsibility of the advertiser. Copyright © 2015 Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of this magazine by any means without written permission is strictly prohibited. Printed on recycled paper. Please remember to recycle.
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Your letters, thoughts, opinions Happy for contest opportunity I was very happy to find out a couple of my photos were published in The Buzz Magazines [The Buzz Magazines 2015 Photo Contest, July 2015]. One photo of my daughter (Isabella) won fourth place in the People category, and my family dog (Chica) photo won first place in the Animal category and was published on the cover of The Tanglewood/River Oaks Buzz magazine. This contest gives a great opportunity to amateur photographers to show some of their work, which is great. For me, it also is a good excuse to do what I like, take pictures. Often I chase my daughters, Isabella and Marianna, so I can take pictures of them. They are very sweet and are always willing to help. Chica is a great dog, a miniature Dachshund that sometimes is a little naughty. I think that makes her very special. She was an excellent addition to our family. Thank you to The Buzz Magazines for having this contest. It’s been a lot of fun. Mauricio Recinos Editor’s note: Thank you and congratulations. We received so many excellent photos that this was a tough contest to judge. We hold this photo contest every summer, so we hope you and your amateur-photographer neighbors keep that in mind as you shoot photos throughout the year. Look for details next spring in our four print issues and at thebuzzmagazines.com.
Wait, that’s my kid What a great surprise and blessing to see Blake [Fox, pitcher for Rice University] on the cover of The Bellaire Buzz photo contest issue [Second Place, Sports and Action category, July 2015]. We have never met Carl Henry, the photographer who took the picture, but would like to meet him the next time he ventures out to a Rice baseball game. We love to get The Buzz each month to see which of our neighbors are being featured and hear each of their fun and unique stories. Thanks again. Linda and Mike Fox
Cover girl is pleased I am thrilled to have been chosen by the panel for the People category [The Buzz Magazines 2015 Photo Contest, July 2015] and by the readers in your photo contest for the photo of my daughter painting. My daughter calls it her magazine. Your staff did a great job [on] the photo for the cover of the [West University Buzz] magazine. I am getting my new photos ready for next year's contest. Bradley Sabloff Editor's note: That was a lovely photo of a beautiful girl. Heads up that our website has all the stories and photos from all of our print magazines, as well as additional online-only content. If you would like to see the covers of all four Buzz print magazines, go to thebuzzmagazines.com and click on "In Print."
Road trip immortalized A big thank you to the entire team at The Buzz Magazines (and especially to Tracy Barnett!) for the fabulous article on road trips with kids that TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ AUGUST 2015 6
was published in your July issue [Travel Buzz: Summer road trips with the kids, by Tracy L. Barnett]! It was so much fun to see the story of our road trip captured on your pages and to share it with friends and family – it is something we will treasure forever! Cathy Johnson Editor’s note: Thank you for sharing your story with our veteran travel columnist, Tracy Barnett, and for writing your own accompanying online-only article, Tips for Road Trips, full of helpful suggestions born of experience. For those readers who haven’t seen it yet, go to thebuzzmagazines.com and click on Travel, or search “Catherine Johnson.”
Condolences to Sarah's family We are so sorry to have lost Sarah Pesikoff, who recently appeared on our West U cover looking so beautiful. We hope her love of gardening and the tips she shared [Truly Local: Gardening in the backyard, by Andria Frankfort, May 2015] will continue to inspire readers. Joni and Michael Hoffman, editor and publisher, The Buzz Magazines 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: • Chose to attend a parent’s alma mater. • Have fun Halloween stories, including costume ideas. • Recently went on a memorable trip. • Know an interesting neighbor to profile. • Have pets with personalities. If this sounds like you or someone you know, please contact us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com or 713.668.4157, ext 12.
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KIDS by Andria Frankfort, staff writer
Playing It Safe Preventing crime on campus tail end, why don’t we start at the beginning and educate children and young adults on how to respect officers and not get involved in crime?’” To that end, the Safe School program recently produced eight safety videos – on alcohol abuse, bullying, child abuse, cyberbullying, domestic violence, drugs in schools, human trafficking and teen dating violence – to be used as conversationstarters in schools. Lane Deaver, a senior at Memorial High School, recently “starred” with several classmates in the video on human trafficking. “I learned that you really have to be aware of who you meet, who you date,” Lane says. “There’s bad people ANONYMOUS REPORTING Allana Webb and her mom Yvette, a board member at Crime Stoppers of Houston, like the Crime Stoppers app as a means of reporting out there and you crime anonymously. can’t trust everyone “I don’t live my life afraid, but I’m always thinkyou meet. Also if you see something happening ing,” Tama says. “So if there was ever a major and you think someone’s in trouble, you have to incident at school and it was utter chaos, if get help for them and talk to them about it and there’s no cell-phone service, we’ve talked about let them know you’re worried for them.” what to do. We have one, two and three backLane is proud to be part of the videos. “We’re up meeting points. We’ve walked through the letting people know what’s going on and that steps of keeping your head about you. this isn’t just something happening on TV.” “I tell Cole that the likelihood of something Tama Lundquist has a safety plan in place for happening is slim and try to cover the bases her son Cole, a freshman at Lamar High School.
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ith summer drawing to a close, parents’ minds start the race: Do last year’s uniforms fit? Do we need new backpacks? Have we gotten all the school supplies? Have we talked about school safety? Back up. What about school safety? Isn’t that a worry parents can generally hand over to school administrators? Yes and no. “The assumption is that you’re sending your kids to school in a safe environment where they’re protected from fraud, theft, bullying – crime of any type,” says Yvette Webb, a wealth advisor and mother of Allana, a sophomore at St. Agnes Academy. “But what we’ve come to realize is that crime is everywhere. They’re not as protected as we think.” Yvette sits on the board of Crime Stoppers of Houston and advocates for its Safe School program, which educates parents, faculty and students in kindergarten through grade 12 on crime prevention, safety tips and reporting sketchy behavior. Through it, Yvette says, “we’re educating children, giving them a voice so if they see something, they have a place to report it anonymously, with no fear of retaliation.” That reporting vehicle is Crime Stoppers’ new app, launched last year, which gives kids the ability to directly report, via call or text, anything from a fight in a school hallway to drugs or weapons on campuses. Students can even take a discreet photo of what they’ve seen and send it to Crime Stoppers anonymously and quickly. The app is free to download; type in “Houston Crime Stoppers ” in the app store. “This is an incredible program for all schools who are interested,” Yvette says. Kathryn Childers worked in the district attorney’s office for eight years before retiring to care for her two boys, Staton McCrae and Wyatt, students at St. John’s School. Kathryn also likes the app for reporting but stresses the importance of crime prevention. “When I became involved [with Crime Stoppers, as a member of the board], we were just a tip organization. You see a crime, you report it, you get a reward. “As a mom, that kind of bothered me. I thought, ‘Instead of spending all our focus on the
immediately lose control of it. “These kids are not criminal,” Kathryn says. “Used to be they’d call your parents and send you home. But if we don’t monitor and help our children learn to use the Internet appropriately, we do a complete disservice to them. “There is not a school in Houston, private or public, where [crime is] not happening, whether it’s drugs, assault, weapons, bullying,” Kathryn says. “It doesn’t do anybody any good to act like, ‘It’s not hap- INTERNET SAFETY Kathryn Childers, with sons Wyatt and Staton McCrae (from left), monitors her boys' interactions on the Internet so that they are safe pening in our school.’ and aware of possible issues. We have to educate morning, ‘Good choices, good manners.’ If you teachers and parents to help kids so they know remember those two things, you can stay away what to do and feel safe. Anything we can do to from a lot of the bad in the world.” give them the tools they need is what Crime Stoppers is trying to do. Editor’s note: To have Crime Stoppers of “This is about how to be a good citizen. How Houston visit your school for a free safety program, to prevent bullying, how to be respectful. It’s contact Michelle Sacks at 832-849-1585 or about creating kids with good moral character,” msacks@crime-stoppers.org. Kathryn says. “I tell my own children every hartphoto.com
without scaring him. But if something were to happen, we have a plan.” While mass incidents may seem remote, there’s no disputing the immediate need for Internet safety controls. Rania Mankarious, executive director at Crime Stoppers, says, “I can tell you right now that I haven’t been to a middle or high school where they haven’t had a problem with inappropriate pictures. Every single one.” But are inappropriate pictures actually crimes? Surprisingly, to many, yes. Photos of children 18 years or younger, scantily clothed or unclothed, sent over the Internet, are lawfully considered child pornography. Even a child who sent a photo of himself or herself can be charged for distribution. “Kids don’t even realize some of the things they’re doing are illegal,” says Michelle Sacks, Crime Stoppers’ Safe School program manager. “The legal age you can be charged with a crime is 10.” Parents, as owners of the phone containing the inappropriate photo, are liable as well. That indecorous picture making its way around the sixth grade just got serious. To make matters worse, kids think photos they send via Snapchat vanish within seconds. But screen shots can be taken, and computer experts can retrieve “deleted” information that the average user isn’t tech-savvy enough to wipe out. The take-away: Once you send information over the Internet, even if it’s to one person, you
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KIDS by Rania Mankarious, contributing writer
Safety Tool Box Back-to-school guide for families Writer Rania Mankarious is executive director of Crime Stoppers of Houston.
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hildren of every age need their parents or caretakers to talk with them about crime before it happens – and, most importantly, walk them through solutions in advance. Children shouldn’t be left to make critical decisions during stressful times without training. The following scenarios involving students, from elementary through high school, are actual situations reported to Crime Stoppers of Houston.
Online dangers Kids of all ages find themselves online – either they are using social media or playing games or looking at photos. No matter how you try to protect them, the online world will creep into your children’s domain.... Parents: Teach your young child social skills and manners early. Manners in the real world must also apply to interactions online. It’s critical to make sure children understand that just because you’re not face to face, it doesn’t mean your words and actions aren’t as painful to others. Be kind in the real world, at school, on the playground and online. Start planting the seeds now against cyberbullying.
Inappropriate situations During reading time, Sally is asked by someone at school to go with him/her into the classroom closet. The closet has the lights turned off and is very dark. She feels scared and does not know what to do… Parents: Prepare your children in advance to make smart judgments about the people in their life. Teach them to recognize behaviors that are inappropriate, uncomfortable or abnormal. This will help them identify and be able to say “no” if faced with a difficult situation or request. Discuss the roles of people in their lives. For example, the role of their math teacher to teach math and not personal or private subjects. Teach them to tell people no if they make them feel scared, confused or sad.
Guard against strangers Luke and his baby sister are at the park with their afterschool caretaker. While the caretaker is distracted changing the baby’s diaper, a woman with a cute puppy approaches Luke and asks OUT OF HARM’S WAY Rania Mankarious, executive director of Crime Stoppers of Houston, and Michelle Sacks, head of the Safe School program (from if he wants to pet him, left), work to keep children safe at school. and, of course, he does. She then asks if he wants to go to her van to see the Reconsider that monogramming other three puppies she has. Distracted by the Mom and dad, if you’re going to monogram puppy’s cuteness, Luke goes to the van without heseverything on your child, will you please remind itation... them that strangers who call out their name Parents: Teach your children to never talk to don’t know them but are rather reading their anyone they do not know, unless they have your names off their backpack, shirts or other items? permission. Teach them to stay close to their caretaker when out in public, and tell them they Online strangers and friends should inform the caretaker of an unfamiliar perMichelle is in eighth grade and recently met a son or if someone has made them feel uncomcute boy through her new Facebook account. After fortable. Remind your children that strangers only a few days, he wants to meet her after her look like wonderfully kind people and often volleyball practice at the mall near her school to approach with things like candy, puppies, games “hang out.” She was curious as to how he knew and other items your child would like. The point so much about her, but was so into him that she of items is to attract your child, not necessarily did not stop to think about the possible dangers of to bestow gifts. meeting him... Parents: Talk to your child about Internet Know your information dangers, such as online predators and the danger Timothy is at a busy playground with his afterof revealing too much information online. school caretaker, Molly, and gets lost while having Tell students: People online are not always too much fun with his friends. He looks and looks who they say they are. Photos often have trackfor Molly but can’t seem to find her. He starts to ers. Savvy predators can pinpoint not only panic... where you live but where your room is in your Parents: Teach your children their full home. Don’t take images of yourself you name, parents’ names and phone numbers, wouldn’t want everyone to see. Ignore, block caretakers’ names and phone numbers, and and tell if someone tries to contact you online street names. Teach them how to actually dial several times, pushing to meet you in person. the number. Teach them to find a trusted adult Any time you post a picture onto an app or like a police officer or another friend’s parent social-media site, it becomes that site’s property and ask to use their phone to contact you or and they can do what they want with your the caretaker. When you go to public places, photo, including selling it or posting it without determine a meeting spot from the beginning your permission. Pictures posted online can in case somebody gets lost. For example, when remain online for years. Pictures you post today you walk into a supermarket, determine a may hinder your chances of being admitted into meeting point at “cash register 4” should you a school in your future. Things you post even off get separated.
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school grounds can still lead to disciplinary action at your school. Everyone in high school lives primarily online. There is a drive to get as many “friends” as possible and as many “followers” as possible. That said, do you accept friend requests from “friends of friends” but people who are ultimately strangers? Parents: The answer is no. A “friend of a friend” is not needed on your child’s socialmedia page. Challenge your children to take a “social media inventory.” If they are willing, go through their online contacts and see how they know each person. You’d be surprised to learn how many people they actually do not know but give open access to online.
Bullying Michael is being bullied online and has received threats warning him to “watch his back” because he was going to be beat up at school. He is afraid to return to school... Sam uses his phone to take pictures of other students at school. The next day the teacher sees that some students are threatening to beat him up. The teacher finds out that the pictures were posted online, with funny captions under each… Parents: Recent laws protect students against bullying. If your child is being bullied you can request to move schools or have the perpetrator transferred to another school. Teach your child to talk to trusted adults: a parent, aunt, uncle, teacher, counselor, school nurse, police officer. Their friends, although well meaning, may lack the skills necessary to obtain help. Teach them to keep telling – even if the trusted adult fails to obtain help or remedy the situation.
Walking alone Stacy walks home whenever her parents are not available to pick her up. Even though she lives close to the school, she should always try to walk with a friend or other walkers that might be on the same walking route... Parents: Remind your child to walk with a friend or others on the same route. Never walk alone. Find another parent willing to watch her/him walk home. Teach children to never talk to people they do not know and never get in the car with anyone offering a ride. Determine “safe spots,” places or homes that they can run to in the event of an emergency. Tell them: Never change your route; never go through secluded paths; always stay where others can see you.
Synthetic marijuana Your friends at school are pressuring you to try a drug called K2, or Kush. It’s synthetic, made in a lab, and can be easily found at a local convenience store. It’s easy to get, not expensive, supposedly less dangerous than other drugs, and everyone is doing it... Parents: Beware. The synthetic marijuana, K2, or Kush, is gaining popularity among teens and ‘tweens. It’s packaged specifically to entice your children. It’s easy to get and readily avail-
able. One local teen suffered permanent brain damage and is not able to walk.
On the road You are among the first of your friends to get your driver’s license. Your parents are kind enough to have a car for you, and your friends all want you to be the go-to driver... Parents: Talk to your kids about the fact that motor-vehicle deaths are the leading cause of adolescent fatalities. There can be no texting or cell-phone usage while driving. Everyone must wear seatbelts. The car is not the place to start the party; it’s just the means to get to and ACTING OUT Lane Deaver, Denver Fesmire and Meredith Rauch (from left), all students at Memorial High School, "starred" in Crime Stoppers' new videos on from the location safe- crime recognition and prevention. ly. And, of course, no bery, theft, threats, vandalism and weapons. drinking. Texas has a zero-tolerance law; that Teach children how to anonymously report to means no alcohol, at all. And finally, never Crime Stoppers: take a stranger along for a ride. • Call 713-222-TIPS • Go to www.crime-stoppers.org or tipsubDating and violence mit.com. Bill has been dating Deana for a few months now. • Download the app: Houston Crime She is controlling of him and does not let him hang Stoppers out with his friends. He is only “allowed” to study • Text TIP610, followed by your tip, to with her. He has lost most of his friends because of CRIMES (274637) her. Last week, Bill hung out with a few friends after school without telling her. A few days later he had Keep phone charged several bruises on his arm. His friends suspect she Susan catches a ride with her friends to a Friday hit him… night house party. After a few hours, she notices that Parents: Teach your child that this behavior her friends are nowhere to be found, and unfortuis not okay. Make sure teens know they can nately she cannot call them because her phone is come to you or a trusted adult, not just their dead. She begins to panic... friends, with this kind of information. Teach Parents: Remind your children to always keep them to keep telling, even if they don’t get help their phone charged, especially when out with right away. Title IX is a federal law that protects friends. Should an emergency arise, they should your child against sex-based discrimination, always be able to call you or a trusted person to harassment or violence. Your school has a help them. responsibility to respond promptly to known sexual harassment or sexual violence, including Be aware of surroundings dating violence. Students can have a protective, David notices a suspicious male run up to the no-contact order so they do not have to be in school and enter the school through the west entrance the same classes as the perpetrator. They can of the gymnasium. He has never seen this individual, also request to move to schools or have the and it makes him uneasy... assailant transferred to another school. A public Parents: Teach your children to report all susschool is required to have a coordinator on campicious activity to a trusted adult on campus. pus to assist students in this situation. Make sure they are familiar with the school’s visitor rules and check-in process. Anyone seen not Witnessing crime following these rules should be reported immeAmy notices a classmate with a suspicious item in diately. Teach them to be aware of their surhis backpack. She thinks it might be a gun... roundings when walking to the car, visiting with Parents: Make sure your child understands friends or just going about daily life. Being aware that all suspicious activity, crimes and potential is a clear sign to a potential criminal that they dangers should be reported: abuse, assault, bulare not a good target. lying, drugs, fighting, gang activity, graffiti, robTANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ AUGUST 2015 11
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KIDS by Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld, staff writer
School Buzz Meet our 2015-16 team
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ne year ago, we launched The Buzz Magazines’ School Buzz project. We interviewed local high school students, chose correspondents and dedicated a space on our website for them to share what was going on at their campuses through stories, photos and videos. Since then, our School Buzz editors, reporters and photographers have created more than 150 blog posts offering insight into their world – from the first-year jitters of freshmen to tips from seniors on how to survive and thrive. Now our returning and new correspondents are getting ready for a fresh year of high school – and of School Buzz, with more than 40 students ready to represent 17 local schools. Heard about this too late? Interested? No worries. See thebuzzmagazines.com and click on School Buzz to apply to a school team or to start a new one. Or email associate editor Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld at jordan@thebuzzmagazines.com. See below to learn a little about some of our 2015-16 correspondents. For a full list of School Buzz bios, see the online version of this story at thebuzzmagazines.com.
Alexander-Smith Academy Alec Born, senior, editor: “I have had the opportunity to visit all seven continents. I even had the opportunity to visit Cuba as a participant in a People To People program that emphasized its history, art and architecture. This was before the United States loosened the restrictions of the Cuban embargo, so every moment had to be accounted for and recorded. I have found that the best part of travelling is meeting the people who live there.” Katy Boyd, senior, photo editor: “When I was in middle school, my friend told me about her photography class. I never joined the class, but I ended up buying my own camera and joining a photography camp at A&M Galveston. After my first year of camp, I fell in love. I couldn’t stop taking pictures and editing them online. I learned tricks and angles to take the ‘perfect’ picture. I’m excited about blogging because every picture has a story to tell.” Denielle Braxton, senior, reporter: “Along
AFFINITY FOR ARTS James Cravens, a senior at Alexander-Smith Academy, is passionate about the arts, including writing and drawing.
with writing poetry and prose, performing was a close second when I used to participate in debate and speech tournaments. My urge to interpret and move an audience is not the only way the arts impact my life. Since age 5, I have competed nationally and internationally figure skating as a soloist and with my Theatre On Ice team. Something that would surprise most people about my school is that with a ratio of 5-7 students per teacher, in less than one week, you can probably talk to the entire student body.” James Cravens, senior, reporter: “I first discovered my passion for writing in middle school during a number of creative-writing assignments. I enjoy drawing and art in general, specifically sequential art, and I even have my own comic. One thing that I love about living in Houston is the food, especially Tex-Mex and sushi.” Cameron Kimmel, junior, reporter: “I’m not sure when I got into writing or photography; I just
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know that one day I realized that I enjoyed capturing images and expressing myself through words. I guess it’s a matter of self-expression. I’m still figuring that out myself, but I like to live by the phrase ‘nosce te ipsum,’ which is Latin for ‘know thyself.’ On a similar topic, I’m trying to learn coding, photo editing and sound/video editing. I plan to act on these ambitions next year.”
Bellaire High School Liana Wang, editor, senior: “I’ve always been amazed by the power of the word – whether written or spoken. The shelves crammed full of novels in my room attest to that – my favorites include The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, The Color Purple by Alice Walker and Atonement by Ian McEwan. This year, I will continue on the debate team. I especially look forward to competing in the International Public Policy Forum, which combines my love of the written and spoken word. I
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look forward to another year of School Buzz, showcasing Bellaire High School happenings.” Erin Rice, senior, photo editor: “I fell in love with photography when I was 12. I have thought about a career in photojournalism, so when I found School Buzz, I had to seize the opportunity to sample my dream job. I also will be playing varsity soccer for my fourth year at Bellaire as well as holding the position of president of the non-profit Leading Ladies. Many people associate Bellaire High School with the wealthy community that surrounds the school. However, Bellaire encompasses students from every cultural, monetary and ethnic background.” Isabella Garcia, senior, reporter: “When I was younger I loved reading. One of my favorite series was Harry Potter and this opened me up to a world in which I still live in today. Over the years, reading evolved into writing. Something that would surprise most people about my school is all the clubs, including the normal clubs for languages and volunteering, but also less unusual clubs such as culinary and anime. There is a lot of student involvement in activities and officer positions.” Angela Liu, junior, sports reporter: “Next year will be Bellaire High School’s 60th anniversary; Bellaire is one of Houston’s oldest high schools. It will be undergoing renovations the year after next. I’m both thrilled and nervous for the unknown. At school, I’m a member of the Carillon yearbook, on the varsity dance team and president of Bellaire’s Red Cross Chapter and Step Up club. I’m excited to join School Buzz and hope it exposes me to photojournalism, which is something I consider as a future career.” Maya Kanani, sophomore, reporter: “Bellaire has over 3,000 students, but the student body is broken into smaller ‘families,’ making it seem like a more close-knit school. This year, I am excited to continue sharing the stories of our school, not only in School Buzz, but also in our school newspaper. In addition to writing, this summer I volunteered at the Houston Zoo for the third time. I love being able to share stories about my school with the community and am looking forward to another year with the School Buzz team.” Sena Sarikaya, senior, reporter: “In elementary school, I wrote and illustrated a children’s book, and ever since, writing has fascinated me. I’m excited to be a reporter for School Buzz again. I’ll be able to explore and unveil different microcosms of my school. Did you know that Bellaire High School offers 128 clubs so everyone can find something that interests them? I love getting to meet people as I interview them because I get to hear a brand-new story about someone who lives in the same vibrant city, with a different perspective.” Skarleth Velasquez, senior, reporter: “People would be surprised at how much diversity there is at Bellaire. Not only because we’re a language magnet school, but the students and staff come from all over the world. I’m so glad to go to a school where you meet people with different backgrounds and cultures. I hope to some-
HSPVA HAPPENINGS Seokhyun Baek is a creative-writing junior at The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.
day travel the world as well as meet new people and get their stories out there, through writing and photography.”
and working on the yearbook staff. Most people don’t know that I love drawing.”
Carnegie Vanguard High School The Briarwood School Matthew Gregg, junior, editor: “This will be my second year writing for School Buzz. At Briarwood, I participate in football, basketball, track and field. Something that would surprise most people about my school is that Briarwood is a pretty normal school. Although we’re small and specialize in teaching kids with learning differences, kids still get the traditional high school experience with events like sports, drama and homecoming.” Jordan Oakum, senior, reporter: “I learned to love writing in seventh grade, when I would write for the yearbook. I am excited to write for School Buzz because I will get the opportunity to blossom as a writer. I plan on running for executive council, playing golf for my third year
Rukmini Kalamangalam, sophomore, editor: “I’ve always loved to write, as it gives me an outlet to express myself that little else can. Besides writing, I love to belt Broadway songs at the top of my lungs and write slam poetry with my teammates at Meta-Four Houston. Carnegie was my dream school when I was at Lanier Middle School. I can’t wait to show others what I love about Carnegie. Something that would surprise people about my school is although it’s academically focused, Carnegie has competitive sports teams.”
Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart Andie Chilson, senior, editor: “Being a native Houstonian, I have (continued on page 14)
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BACK TO SCHOOL BUZZ Some School Buzz correspondents gather to brainstorm for the new year. Bottom row, from left: Katy Boyd, Alexander-Smith Academy; High School; Natalie Lee, Memorial High School. Second bleacher, from left: Sena Sarikaya, Bellaire High School; Addie Symonds, Westbury Christian School; Alexandra Parris, Incarnate Word Academy; Rachel Amran, Memorial High School; Seokhyun Baek, The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Fourth St. Agnes Academy; Ellie Delgado, Lamar High School; Jordan Oakum, The Briarwood School. (continued from page 13) grown up infused with the
energy and creativity that the city is known for. Houston’s limitless mindset has cultivated my passion for writing, specifically journalism. Embarking on my second year with School Buzz, I am more excited than ever to represent Duchesne and all that it has to offer. Something that would surprise most people about my school is the substantial impact we have in our community despite our small size.”
The Emery/Weiner School Amanda Barsky, senior, editor: “I’ve always loved to read and I’ve come to realize how much I enjoy writing as well. Something most people probably don’t know about me is that I love cleaning and organizing almost as much as I like tea. Something that would surprise most people about
Emery is that most of our activities and traditions are created by students. The faculty listens to students’ ideas and implements them. For example, this past school year, a couple of students came up with the idea of having hot drinks before school. Within a month, Emery had arranged for a coffee food truck to come periodically.”
The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Seokhyun Baek, junior, editor: “My first interaction with writing was a fifth-grade assignment where we had to imitate one of the passengers of the Titanic in diary form, and ever since, I’ve been improving my skills. I’m in creative writing at HSPVA, and I joined School Buzz to try to bring more life into journalism by using emotions and taking a closer look at things
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rather than taking a bird’s eye perspective full of facts and figures. Houston is a prime place for this attempt because there’s a multitude of things to complain about and praise. Something that would surprise most people about my school is the collaboration between students who major in different art areas.” Cyrus Pacht, senior, editor: “Born in the murky depths of the Mississippi River Delta, I was raised by an alligator and a she-wolf. The stability rendered by my parenting yielded an intense desire for adventure, and I quickly took to the streets. There, I made a decent living in the businesses of bookbinding and selling amphetamines. In a serendipitous twist of fate, I stumbled upon an anthology containing The Holy Bible, the Bhagavad Gita and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which altered
Matthew Gregg, The Briarwood School. First bleacher, from left: Taylor Brittain, Stratford High School; Skarleth Velasquez, Bellaire High School; Liana Wang, Bellaire Madison Belcher, Westbury Christian School. Third bleacher, from left: Deborah Brown, Robert M. Beren Academy; Grace Armstrong, The Post Oak High School; bleacher: Dylan Jackson, Lamar High School. Top bleacher, from left: Sidney Phillips, St. Agnes Academy; James Cravens, Alexander-Smith Academy; Anna Costantini,
my path and led me down the safer route of literature. Today I pursue creative writing at HSPVA and practice writing through School Buzz – and would be happy to blur the line between the two. Among the uncommon and unsung aspects of HSPVA, the school’s balance between academics and the arts is worth mentioning, with about three hours per day dedicated to each.”
Incarnate Word Academy Alexandra Parris, senior, editor: “Most people don’t quite know that the gray building next to Minute Maid Park, awnings a bright scarlet, is a high school rich with 145 years of history. Incarnate Word is part of what makes Houston such an incredible city, helping young women from all over the Greater Houston area learn
and become superior leaders. I am a stage manager with our Falcon Theatre, an active participant in the IWA Vocal Choir and a tutor for students in English and French. Writing has been my rock, and I cannot wait to share my experiences with School Buzz.”
Lamar High School Cameron Valenzuela, senior, editor: “I discovered my passion for writing in eighth grade while attending Pershing Middle School. I was enrolled in a journalism class where I soon became fond of literature and the ability to express myself through the power of words. I enjoy discussing and exploring controversial topics in my community. This year I will be one of the drum majors for marching band. In the future, I see myself becoming a pediatric dentist.
The thing that I love most about living in Houston is the Tex-Mex that you cannot seem to find anywhere else.” Ellie Delgado, freshman, photo editor: “I am the second oldest of a blended family with seven kids. I went to Roberts Elementary and Pin Oak Middle School, where I was on the yearbook staff. This year, I’m going to be a freshman at Lamar, where I will be a cheerleader. I have a passion for photography and have been lucky to travel to Paris, Nice, Yellowstone, Colorado and New York to capture some great shots. I am looking forward to sharing all the great things about Lamar – Go, Texans.” Dylan Jackson, senior, reporter: “I love to read, play sports and do community work at my church. Something that would surprise most people about my school is (continued on page 16)
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only public schools with a uniform. Our uniform consists of a white or navy Lamar polo and a plaid or khaki skirt for girls or khaki pants or shorts for boys. My friends from other schools ask what it’s like to have a uniform and, as much as I would love to dress however I like, I feel that the dress code is enforced due to safety reasons. In the future, I plan to study criminal justice and law and become an attorney.”
Memorial High School Rachel Amran, junior, editor: “I became interested in writing as a sort of balanced default with all the scientific and mathematic brainiacs in my house – my dad is a doctor and my mother an accountant. I am enthusiastic about journalism and, next year, will be a news editor for the Memorial High School Anvil. A fun fact about me is that I have a twin brother, and my older brother and sister are also twins. I’m excited to share my experience at Memorial through School Buzz.” Natalie Lee, sophomore, photo editor: “Even though Memorial High School is academically focused, it is impossible to form a society with only future doctors and lawyers. There are many clubs that support a variety of interests. Next year, I will participate in journalism and the theater program as well as School Buzz. My interest in writing sprouted from my love of reading, including novels by Rainbow Rowell, Neal Shusterman and, of course, J.K. Rowling. A fun fact about me is that I was born five days before the school cutoff, so I’m going to start my sophomore year as a 14 year old.”
The Post Oak High School Grace Armstrong, senior, editor: “As a senior, I will be returning to my position as student representative on the Community Council, the student government of my school, and will be busy completing college applications. I joined School Buzz because I love sharing stories about the amazing things my classmates and I get to do, and I get to read the stories of students from schools I have never heard of before.”
Robert M. Beren Academy Adam Hoffman, sophomore, editor: “I have loved writing since I can remember. I plan to report on many activities, including basketball and tennis. I also look forward to joining Beren’s student organization, MAD Houston, and serving on the Model UN team. With 70 kids in the high school, students are close. Seniors can be seen hanging out with freshmen. The tight-knit atmosphere also allows for close relationships between teachers and students. I will concede that Beren may not include as many extracurricular opportunities as a larger school, but I would confidently choose the intimacy of my school over the former.” Deborah Brown, junior, reporter: “I’ve known since I was little that I love reading and writing. In fourth grade, my classmates wrote
four- or five-page ‘short stories,’ and my story was more than 20 pages long! Many of the activities that I take part in at school reflect my creativity and love of words, including the Beren drama society, the Model United Nations team, National Honor Society and No Place For Hate. I think people would be surprised at the range of clubs and activities that there are at Beren, a small, private Jewish school.” Leora Geralnik, sophomore, reporter: “I discovered my love of writing through reading. Since a young age, I would read whatever was put in front of me and would write stories based on what I read. I’m LAMAR REP Dylan Jackson, a senior at Lamar High School, is an aspiring attorney. excited to particigrade when I joined the school newspaper. This pate in School Buzz and further my writing skills. year, I am excited to be part of School Buzz I will be on my school basketball team, and I also because I can share news about my school and volunteer at Texas Children’s Hospital.” meet new people. I also plan to play basketball and participate in clubs. Something that would St. Agnes Academy surprise most people about my school is that we Frances Wheeler, senior, editor: “I discovered all mostly get along, and there is rarely any my passion for writing at a young age when I condrama between the girls.” stantly wanted to write stories and poems for my Anna Costantini, junior, reporter: “Since friends and family. This year, I will be president the days of Junie B. Jones and Magic Tree House, of the business club and will participate in my I have been a bookworm. My childhood sumschool’s yoga class. Something that would surprise mers weren’t spent practicing with my local most people about my school is the academic swim team or vacationing at Disney World, but rigor. This year, I will also be going through the reading through piles of books stacked around college-application process. My favorite part of my bed. When I ran out of books to check out living in Houston is rodeo season!” at the library, I resorted to composing my own. Natalie Farrell, junior, sports reporter: “I In addition, I spend my free time baking, doing run cross country and track at St. Agnes. Most yoga and maintaining a slightly obsessive relapeople think that since we are a small, all-girl tionship with my phone. Something that would Catholic school that we would be bad at sports, surprise most people about St. Agnes is most of but we actually have many teams that have won the students actually love going to school withstate championships. I am also part of the yearout boys.” book staff, and that’s where I discovered how Simal Mian, junior, reporter: “Something much I love writing and taking pictures. One that would surprise most people about my school fun fact about me is that my favorite animals are is that, although it’s relatively small, the passion squirrels, and I collect squirrel objects. I am of our students is anything but. The number of excited to be part of School Buzz and share my clubs and activities we offer would seem almost writing and pictures.” excessive if it weren’t for the people who activeEllery Wheeler, sophomore, sports reporter: ly participate in them. I am a member of a few “My love for writing mainly began in eighth
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(continued from page 15) that Lamar is one of the
St. John’s School Christian Maines, junior, editor: “I have been an avid reader and writer from a young age, but I began to pursue journalism my freshman year and have been hooked ever since. Aside from writing for my school newspaper, I have completed fiction and nonfiction works on my own time and I compete on my school’s golf team. Something that would surprise most people about my school is that, despite its reputation as being perhaps the least athletic school in all of Texas, St. John’s regularly fields one of the best field hockey teams in the region.”
St. Thomas High School Travis Carroll, senior, editor: “I’m the stereotypical, artsy, angsty, painfully self-aware music/theater kid, the kind of teenager for whom The Smiths made music. Or maybe not. I might not be apathetic enough to fit that stereotype. I have dedicated the majority of my high school career toward performing in the St. Thomas band, choir and theater department, as well as with HITS Theatre. My favorite role was Mal Bieneke in ‘The Addams Family’ at Miller Outdoor Theater with HITS Theatre. My ultimate goal is to become a professional classical singer, so I will study vocal performance in college.” Peter Huggins, senior, editor: “I believe everybody has a voice that deserves to be heard, and writing is one way to put my opinions and thoughts into the world. I play football, basketball and lacrosse, participate in the Spanish club, and am a member of the Model UN team at school. I want to provide an unbiased view of
what is going on at my school. I have always prided myself on finding and telling the truth. I look forward to providing a look inside the life of a St. Thomas student athlete.”
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community service clubs, including UNICEF, Lunches of Love and Key Club. This year, I will also be a part of Student Council on the Energy and Environment Committee. I’ve enjoyed writing from a young age, and hope to continue pursuing this interest through School Buzz.” Sidney Phillips, junior, reporter: “Writing has been an important part of my life. I am excited to be part of School Buzz because it will give me another outlet to explore my interest in journalism. At school, I participate in speech and debate, library advisory committee, and theater at our brother school, St. Thomas. The thing that would surprise most people about our school is how cool our teachers are. For example, last year, our teachers and faculty got to be students for a day, following our schedule and wearing uniforms (yes, even some of the male teachers).” Channing Smith, sophomore, reporter: “School Buzz piqued my interest because I want to open people’s eyes to the hectic world that is St. Agnes Academy. Last year I served as a sound engineer and part time producer for Veritas Television, the school morning show. When I’m not writing, I find joy in cooking and appreciating all forms of art. I love reading literary works that are thoughtful and introspective, across different genres. I look forward to developing my interest in all outlets of journalism and media production.”
Strake Jesuit C o l l e g e Preparatory Sam Clark, senior, editor: “Something that would surprise people about Strake Jesuit is that it doubles as an art museum. Strake’s campus is home to over 300 pieces of art, even work by Pablo Picasso. I play lacrosse and appreciate writing and photography. I love Houston’s rich, unique culture. What’s not to love about a big city built on a bayou? I especially like Houston’s music scene.” Sam Kretzschmar, senior, editor: “I’m excited to participate in School Buzz again because it gives me the opportunity to show WRITTEN WORD Deborah Brown, a junior at Robert M. Beren Academy, loves people what makes my to read, write and report. school so great. year, I took pictures on the sideline at football Something that would surprise most people games, and I loved it.” about Strake is its sense of community. I will be playing lacrosse this year and participating in the Westbury Christian School entrepreneurship club. A fun fact about myself Addie Symonds, senior, editor: “When I was is that I run my own power-washing business in a kid I really liked to read, and I still do, but I my spare time. I love Houston for its vast variety found myself getting frustrated with the stories of food.” and would write my own endings. For a long time I wanted to be an actor, but I realized I was more Stratford High School interested in the story than the acting. This year Scott Kennedy, senior, editor: “I realized that I am the vice president of the senior class, and I I loved writing in seventh grade and haven’t am active in the film club and the school plays. stopped writing since. I joined our school newsEven though my school is relatively small there paper, The Oracle, my sophomore year as a sports are still many opportunities to get involved.” editor, and became an editor-in-chief my junior Madison Belcher, senior, reporter: “I discovyear. At Stratford, I’ve played football all four ered my passion for writing in my eighth-grade years, and I’m involved in Young Life, English class, where we were encouraged to Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Student write creative stories. I’m excited to share the Council, which I will be the president of this student life of Westbury Christian School year. Stratford feels more like a small town than through School Buzz. I am senior class president a school. We call it ‘Stratford America’ because and president of the film club, and I have parit has a unique culture that you have to be part ticipated in theater for the past five years. I enjoy of to fully understand.” filmmaking and writing scripts. I love Houston’s Taylor Brittain, senior, photo editor: diversity and close-knit communities, and I “Stratford teachers and students work together, hope to learn more about them.” and our school spirit shines. I am a member of National Honor Society and photo editor for Editor’s note: Thank you to Bellaire High the school newspaper, The Oracle. I realized my School for the use of its campus for our School Buzz love for photography when I was a freshman takphoto shoot. ing journalism and photojournalism classes. Last TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ AUGUST 2015 17
NEIGHBORS by Megan Hundahl Streete, contributing writer
Online Round Top How Facebook trading groups work This is the third in a series of articles on community Facebook groups.
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re you a picker and bargain hunter who can’t pass by a resale shop or estate sale without slamming on your brakes? Save yourself the time and sore feet. As a member of a local Facebook trading group, you can simply type “ISO” or “INT” from the comfort of your couch, and the bargain hunt begins. For those of you who need translation, this is the group’s lingo for “In search of” and “Interested in purchasing.” Facebook group members have their own acronyms for quick communications. Quick is an understatement. Your fingers best move like Carl Lewis. Some members type “INT” before reading the item description just to be the first in line to purchase. Change your mind? Just type “PASS,” and the next member in line is given the purchasing option. Every group has its own rules, but it’s considered rude to hold up a sale. Manners are encouraged – and demanded via banning if necessary. These are your virtual neighbors. But since you may not know the person in reality, completing sales requires some safety sense. Trading groups encourage members to meet in public locations such as malls or grocery stores. Some buyers and sellers never even meet if it’s a
Facebook shopping lingo NWT = New With Tags NWOT = New Without Tags EUC = Excellent Used Condition OBO = Or Best Offer GUC = Gently Used Condition Cross Posted = Posted in more than one group TIA = Thanks in Advance PM = Private Message PPU = Porch Pickup ISO = In Search Of INT = Interested BUMP = Moves item to the top of the sales list
“PPU.” That’s “Porch pickup.” Yes, you can leave or pick up an item on the front porch and designate where the payment should be hidden, generally for lowdollar sales only, of course. No one knows the Facebook trading-group market better than Claire Wilson. Wilson participates in over 51 Houston-based groups. FACEBOOK FIND Writer Megan Hundahl Streete's 19-month-old daughter, Macy Taylor Streete, checks out the new "Time Out" chair her mom bought on While most members the Memorial Area Trading Facebook group. are selling personal generally “impossible to sell.” items, Wilson is a professional. As the owner of Cordray, a member of the Memorial Area The Salvage Savant, she restores and sells Trading group, decided to post the china on antique lighting and décor. MAT on a whim. Within a few hours, Leslie had “Facebook groups have opened the door to over 12 MAT members type “INT.” The first those who have treasures to sell but aren’t interfive people soon changed their minds and typed ested in quitting their day job,” Wilson said. “PASS,” but the sixth one, who said she had a “Facebook is the go-to option for those who may niece whose recent nuptials made her new inihave inherited their aunt’s antique furniture, but tials “MLL,” ended up buying the china as a have modern taste. These one-off sellers have wedding gift. filled the Houston vintage scene with rich new I am a sucker for an estate sale and addicted options.” to my phone, so for me the combination of these Wilson says staging pictures is important for two has become a marriage conundrum. the best sales result. “I take the time to make sure Recently, I scored my own jackpot, an antique, my lamps are showcased with proper lighting and child’s, French, upholstered, fauteuil chair. I stage a background that complements them. realize my daughter probably would have prePosting great pictures can start a selling frenzy.” ferred a bean bag from Pottery Barn, but the Leslie Knott Cordray, a retail buyer for Stage junk gypsy in me couldn’t resist. As I pointed Stores, experienced the power of the Facebook out to my husband, other chairs similar to this phenomenon first-hand. Cordray was helping were going for over $2,000 on eBay. It was such her family sell her great grandmother’s 200-piece a steal listed at $100. The chair found its way set of Haviland china. Being a china collector, into the back of my car. “SOLD.” Cordray knew the china was in perfect condiMegan Hundahl Streete has been a senior protion and a rare find. Unfortunately, no one in ducer for CNN news shows and a creative consulther family would be able to put the set to use. ant for TV producer Shonda Rhimes. She currently Her great grandmother, Mabel Lipper Levy, works in client communications, including marketaffectionately called “Big Mommy,” had had the ing and social media. white china hand painted in gold with her monogrammed initials, “MLL.” Cordray emailed Antiques Roadshow china See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for links expert David Lackey for his advice and said he to some local Facebook trading groups. replied that antique monogrammed china is
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MORE ONLINE
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1. Pencils 2. School uniform 3. Allergy treatment With the start of the new school year just around the corner, parents are on the hunt for ways to ensure their children are on the path to success. Treating your child’s allergies may be just as essential to ensuring academic success as starting them off each morning with a good breakfast. In a recent survey, 94 percent of the allergic respondents stated that their allergy symptoms affected their quality of life, including their performance at school and work. Allergy symptoms such as nasal congestion, drainage, sneezing and sore throat can impair a child’s ability to sleep well, often leading to fatigue and daytime drowsiness. This can have a tremendous impact on your child’s ability to perform well in school. Children dealing with untreated allergy symptoms often find it difficult to concentrate and may have behavioral problems such as increased irritability or hyperactivity. Your child’s allergies can even affect activities outside of the classroom, with diminished interest and performance in extracurricular activities such as sports, band or special interest clubs. If your child has allergies, there is a possibility he or she also has asthma, as allergies and asthma often go hand in hand. If left untreated, asthma can also hinder performance in academic and extracurricular activities. The shortness of breath, wheezing and nighttime cough associated with asthma can impair sleep, leading to fatigue and decreased concentration. “Asthma attacks” can impair athletic performance, and the fear of having an attack is enough to discourage some children from participating. Children with allergies and asthma also miss more days of school due to flare-ups, which can lead to decreased academic performance as well as
missed work for parents. The good news is that many treatments are available for allergy and asthma symptoms. Unlike many older medications, which have a high incidence of sedation, current regimens will allow your child to be awake and alert during the day and sleep well at night. Irritability may decrease when children are no longer suffering from constant allergy symptoms, and involvement in extracurricular activities may be easier when they can breathe freely and have improved concentration. Immunotherapy, in the form of allergy shots, drops or tablets, can also lead to improvement in symptoms, and with continued use may eliminate the need for daily medications. Remember, a child who does not feel well may not learn well. If your child has allergies or asthma, make sure he or she is getting the essentials needed for academic success. No one nose allergies like we do.™ Note: Information contained in this article should not be considered a substitute for consultation with a board-certified allergist to address individual medical needs. Allyson Gelman, MPAS, PA-C, The Allergy Clinic, 7707 Fannin, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77054, 713.797.0993, *1200 Binz, Suite 180, Houston, Texas 77004, 713.522.9911, www.allergyclinic.com, *Operating as Houston Allergy & Asthma Clinic
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NEIGHBORS by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer
Host Families Parents to the world
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t took a hip-hop dancing, NBA-loving Taiwanese student to teach Jan and Jim Barkley something important about life: Once you’re a parent, you’re always a parent. Their son Drew, 21, had gone off to college at Emory University in Atlanta, and daughter Kate, 18, was off in Belgium having an exchange of her own. Patrick, 18, was the one to fill the empty nest. “Patrick is funny – he’s a really great kid,” said Jan. “It was fun to see Houston and America through his eyes – this was all new and different to him. We got to see the ideas he had about American lives before he came here. He kept saying, ‘This is not like in the movies!’ He thought we’d all have horses and oil wells in our yards.” Patrick quickly learned the bike route to Bellaire High School, but Jan still preferred to drive him. “You kind of miss that car time with your kids, when you talk about the things they did during the day – with Patrick it was nice, I’d ask how was your day, and he’d talk about his hip hop dance class.” Just like a mom, Jan gave him chores and “fussed at him” to do his homework. And like real parents, the couple took him out to the family ranch, where he got to drive a tractor and start a campfire. They carved pumpkins at Halloween and celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas as they always did. They planned road trips with him, like one to Atlanta to see Drew, one to Washington, D.C. and one out West, just the three of them, to Moab and Canyonlands, Utah. “Those are the kinds of things he’d never done before,” Jan said. Patrick was with the Barkleys for five months – the first five, as luck would have it. It was hard at first. “I would be telling him something, and he’d get a glazed-over look, and I’d say, ‘You don’t understand what I’m saying, do you?’ and he’d say, ‘No.’” So Jan would try a different way. After a couple of months they’d just laugh, and eventually Patrick felt more comfortable asking when he didn’t understand. “It made me really realize I did have to be careful with him and not use a lot of colloqui-
alisms or sayings that he might not understand, and to use simpler words sometimes,” she said. They would talk about expressions he hadn’t learned in his English class. “We talked a lot about ‘fixin’ to’ – fixin’ to go to the store, for example. He’d say, ‘It’s not like it’s broken.’ I’d explain, ‘It’s kind of a Texas thing.’ He’s now very proficient at y’all.” Language differences can be the source of much CAPITAL JOURNEY Patrick joined host family members Drew and Jim Barkley on hilarity, as Carol an unforgettable tour of the nation’s capital, one of several road trips the family took Lester, host mother to share their country with their Taiwanese exchange student. for a Brazilian stuJessica when he came home from work frustrated, dent, Felipe, and later an Italian student, complaining about the bad things that had hapFederico, soon discovered. pened, the traffic, and so forth. “Do you have a “I laughed often, and about everyday things,” bad life?” she asked him. “It just nailed me in my she said. “Federico getting the chills and telling tracks. She started to point out all the things we me he has ‘skin of the duck’ (goose bumps), or have. ‘No,’ I said finally. ‘I don’t have a bad life.’” seeing the clothes in J. C. Penney and telling me Nancy Loncarich was impressed with the he was in paradise! Felipe, from a town in Brazil, level of courage it required for a young person to amazed by the selection on the cookie aisle in commit to a year abroad. She and husband Kroger and telling me, ‘American cookies are David received Anaelle, 18, in their home for world famous.’” 3½ months this year, from Thanksgiving to John Thornton, who serves as regional incomSpring Break. ing coordinator for the West University Rotary “I just thought it would be incredibly brave Club, says hosting an exchange student can be a coming to a new country like that,” she said. “I real eye-opener on many levels. He hosted a thought we’d want to show her America, show her Belgian student, Jessica, several years back. Texas, show her American ways and customs, that “We thought we’d have a big impact on her, but sort of thing, and learn about her culture at the she had a big impact on us,” he recalls. “We were same time. We could not have gotten luckier.” so focused on showing her the U.S. and everyFor Wesley and Molly Ward, showing off thing we had to offer that we didn’t realize what Texas and the dramatic American West has an impact she’d had on us. It made us stop and been a major highlight of their Malaysian think about all the things we take for granted.” exchange student’s stay. Wesley and Vimal, 18, Years later he still recalls a conversation with
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ROCKY MOUNTAIN MEMORIES Vimal and his American host siblings, Wylie, Ava and Lily Ward, traveled to Elk Creek Ranch in Colorado, where everybody roasted ice cream cones filled with marshmallows and chocolate over the fire.
were having the time of their lives when they received a call from The Buzz in Amarillo during a cross-country road trip. “We’re just wiping the sweat off our brows after seeing Cadillac Ranch,” reported Wesley, a state district court judge on a rare two-week vacation. He had taken his guitar, and while they walked around Stanley Marsh’s monument to self-made art, he made a little of his own art. Then they made their way to Palo Duro Canyon State Park and capped off the day watching the outdoor musical TEXAS, set against the spectacular backdrop of the towering canyon walls. “I love Texas, and I have had just the best time being an ambassador of our state and showing someone from another part of the world how cool Texas is and how much cool stuff there is to do here,” Wesley enthused. “It’s been fun, in addition to showing these things off, just seeing these things.” Besides the road trip, which took them beyond Texas borders to Albuquerque to see a Minor League baseball game with the Isotopes, Roswell with its UFO Museum, and Vimal’s first real snow in Colorado, Wesley says it’s been fun to share attractions closer to home. “We’ve been enjoying doing the things around here that you oftentimes don’t do living in your own town, like going to NASA, the Art Car Parade, and Mardi Gras in Galveston. Things you might skip otherwise – but because Vimal was here, we made time in the schedule to do it.” Vimal says the whole experience has been amazing. “Everything is new – the blue jeans, the hats, the boots,” he said. “Mexican food is
one of my favorite foods – I’m going to miss it!” Vimal made his host parents proud when he overcame his fears – learning to love George, their big yellow lab, even though he was terrified of dogs and had specifically asked not to be placed in a home that had one. And later, learning how to swim, and after just a few lessons, jumping off the cliffs of Inks Lake into the depths below. Hosting an exchange student is not always easy, and it does require a certain frame of mind, Molly cautioned. “They’re part of your family, so they know everything,” she commented. “They’re just like a fly on the wall, watching everything you do – watching the good and the bad that comes with family life. You’re opening your family to the most personal glimpse that there could be.” The relationship will also have a lasting impact for the Wards. “I’m very fascinated to see how his life will turn out and what he becomes,” Molly said. “It’s just like with your own children; you’re interested to see what their life will hold. I feel the same about him. I’m cheering for him, and I will think of him often.” Unlike the Barkleys, the Loncariches and the Lesters, who hosted Rotary Exchange students, the Wards invited Vimal through AFS, which places students with just one host family, so Vimal was with them for six months. Rotary Exchange students stay with two to three families, with a typical stay between three and five months. “This is a volunteer job, 24-7, for six months,” said Molly, “but the impact is going to be amazing for the student. It really does make the world
a better place to do this. It seems like it’s small, but it’s hugely impactful to our world.” Jan Barkley, too, offered advice to families who might be considering taking on an exchange student. “I would highly recommend it,” she said. “You do need to make sure you have the time to give to it. It’s extremely rewarding if you do, because you learn so much from the kid and they’re so grateful. “It was challenging but also rewarding at the end. You could see the changes; his language skills were so much better and his confidence level was so much better. As a parent it’s very rewarding to see that – even if it’s a kid you have for five months.” Carol Lester, who recently returned from Italy to see Federico, now serves as a youth exchange officer for the West U Rotary. “If you enjoy young people, you would love this experience. These kids arrive scared and nervous and place their trust in you to guide them. It is a gift to be able to touch a life in such a dramatic and memorable way, and make no mistake, their exchange year will forever be the best year of their entire lives.” Editor’s note: The cost of hosting an exchange student is just the basic cost of living, plus whatever extras each family chooses to provide. Rotary provides its exchange students with a cell phone and a stipend of $125 per month. For more information, see www.westurotary.org or contact John Thornton at jdt62@aol.com or 281-415-6390. For a student perspective, see “Travel Buzz: Youth exchanges shape lives” in this issue of The Buzz.
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NEIGHBORS by Cathy Gordon, contributing writer
Tackling Grief Living life jelly side up
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omewhere on this planet, at this very moment, is a happy family of Germainiacs, globetrotting from country to country with nothing but backpacks as luggage. Living light. Embracing life. “Living life jelly side up,” mom Dana Germain calls it. A year and a half ago the Bellaire family was sinking under the weight of loss. Dana’s husband, Rich, died unexpectedly of a heart attack in January 2014 at 52, leaving behind four children and a wife who adored him for his sense of adventure. “We always called ourselves the Germainiacs,” says Dana, who met her match through work, the two zipping around the globe handling renewable-energy finance in developing countries. They exchanged vows on Halloween 1999 in a black-tie, jungle-theme wedding. Four kids with their vagabond genes would surely love a trip around the world, they figured. “The Germainiacs on a year sabbatical,” says Dana. She and Rich had been visiting the idea “more and more.” On Father’s Day, also her youngest son’s birthday and 1½ years after Rich had passed, Dana set off on a meticulously planned, yearlong, worldwide homeschooling adventure with twins Alegra and Ryker, 13, Ellery, 10, and Davis, 9. They’ll sail the seas, scuba dive, ride camels and hang with orangutans, among other exploits. One month in, they’d already eaten their weight in kabobs and tzatziki across Greece and Turkey. They are in a healthy place, thanks in part to individualized grief therapy through the Trauma and Grief Center for Youth at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, says Dana. “I was not going to rest until my kids were okay. They helped my kids.” The worst day of their lives is etched in memory. Dana was on a Paris trip with daughter, Alegra. Coincidentally, one of Dana’s best friends, Jeryl Golub, was also in the city with family, staying nearby. The families had gone to dinner. Back at the hotel, Dana discovered a dozen missed texts and Facetime messages from son Ryker who was on an outing with his father, sis-
BACKPACKING IT Traveling light is key, says mom Dana with kids (from left) Ellery, Ryker, Davis and Alegra. Dana is homeschooling during the trip, but normally twins Alegra and Ryker are students at Lanier Middle School while Ellery and Davis attend The Shlenker School.
ter Ellery and brother Davis at the Hyatt Wild Oak Ranch in San Antonio. Strange, she thought. “The first text was like, ‘Hey Mom, give me a call.’ The last was in all caps. ‘I HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM HERE. WHY AREN’T YOU CALLING ME BACK?’” Dana’s head whirled. “There was something really wrong here.” She used her phone’s Facetime feature to call and see Ryker. “Daddy never woke up,” he said, nervously. “What do you mean he never woke up?” she replied. “Did you have a busy day and he’s taking a nap?” “No, Mom, he never woke up today.” Her head reeled in time zones. What time was it in San Antonio anyway? What do you mean he never got up today? She calmly told Ryker to take his siblings into the adjoining room of the hotel suite, shut the
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door and call the hotel manager. “Tell them you have an emergency and that your dad needs an ambulance,” she instructed. Minutes pass. She remembers the punch of the hotel manager’s words as he informs her, discreetly, “I’m sorry to tell you this, but your husband is very clearly dead.” “I’m numb, in shock, panicked. Worried for my kids. How can he be dead? I’m now looking at my three children in a hotel room with their dead father, and the East Coast is shut down with major snowstorms, and I need to get home immediately.” She tells Ryker that his dad is ill and will be taken by ambulance to the hospital. She wants to deliver the devastating news to them at home, in person. Dana alerted her friend, Jeryl, who worked to get them home. “At some point over the hours I had to tell Alegra,” says Dana, who felt anything but strong for her daughter. “I was inca-
pacitated and scared. It was chaos. I didn’t even have the capacity to comfort her at that point because I was trying to deal with detectives and get home.” Authorities typically take minors into custody when they are in a strange city with no family or friends. Dana couldn’t let that happen. A hotel manager agreed to take temporary custody until Dana’s sister, Dori Leib, of Detroit, and one of her closest friends, Christine Laskin, could get there from Bellaire. The two-day trip home was a blur. Tears. Exhaustion. Emptiness. Just breathe. Once home, Dana gathered her children. “It was the single worst thing I’ve ever had to do in my life. There was crying and wailing, and some of them were just stunned. My arms weren’t big enough to hold all four of them. It was just horrific.” Depression. Anxiety. Post-traumatic stress disorder. This is the face of grief. Rich Germain left a deep void. This was a dad who, despite a busy, executive position at ConocoPhillips, led Troop 806 Cub Scout meetings and cheered at soccer games. He was fun. He enjoyed scuba diving and biking, whether with the kids or off road in the red-rock terrain of Moab, Utah. He had a quick wit and sense of humor. And he was smart. “If he was on your Trivial Pursuit team, you’d be in good shape,” Dana quips. Family descended. Friends saw to every need, bringing food, words of comfort and helping with chores. But death was at every turn. Within a week of Rich’s death, their cat suffered a seizure and had to be euthanized. The next week, Rich’s mother died. “Everyone was afraid to exhale because if you exhaled somebody else would die,” Dana says. Random bad luck plagued the family too. The garage door spring snapped, trapping their car. A city water pipe burst in their front yard, causing flooding. They had four flat tires, a car accident… “none of which individually was a big deal,” says Dana, “but it all occurred within eight to 10 weeks of my husband’s death. The kids thought we were jinxed.” For Spring Break, the family went to Luray Caverns in Virginia with her brother’s family. Legend has it that for every drop of water that falls on you comes a year of good luck. Her kids emerged sopping wet. They took comfort in a hand-shaped Hamsa icon, said to ward off evil spirits. “I had called one of our rabbis asking what I could do to give my kids a sense of security and dispel the myth that we were jinxed,” says Dana, who called on Rabbi Adrienne Scott at Congregation Beth Israel. “The rabbi suggested the Hamsa and then she came over and blessed them and our house. It really registered with them.” The family went to counseling at Bo’s Place, a non-profit that offers grief support. “I was feeling angry. I told them just give me a date when I can feel healthy and happy and life returns to normal,” says Dana, her family in turmoil. “It would only take one small burst of negative
AHOY MATEY Dana Germain cherishes this picture of Rich as head pirate taken on the family’s Spring Break 2013 Pirates in the Caribbean Disney cruise. The children (from left) are Alegra, Ellery, Davis and Ryker.
air from someone and then it was like entropy, chaos, a free-for-all. And it happened every night in a hundred different ways. There would be crying or screaming, depression, sadness. There were days when no one would speak and there was just an awful silence. We needed help.” Bellaire friend Dana Katz mentioned a Trauma and Grief Center for Youth at the University of Michigan run by a friend, Dr. Julie Kaplow. Perhaps the family could check it out? “She told me about it a couple of times, but I was busy working because you just can’t shut things down,” says Dana, who raises private equity and venture capital funds. Coincidentally, Kaplow established a center in Houston, a mile and a half from Dana’s house, six months after Rich’s death. Kaplow and Dana met for coffee. “I told Dr. Kaplow, get your center set up. I have the first four patients for you. We are drowning here.” Treatment revealed surprises. Detailed psychological assessments on each child showed some were dealing with high levels of post-traumatic stress, but not necessarily the ones Dana suspected. “Having empirical data in front of you that says this child is X but not Y was really helpful,” she says. “I’ve learned that everyone’s grief is different.” Slowly, but surely, the family has healed. “Counseling gave my kids their life back, made this trip possible,” says Dana. So why the trip around the world? She credits Bellaire friend Norri Leder’s inscription in the National Geographic book Four Seasons of Travel for inspiring the grand adventure. The book was a gift after Rich’s death. She remem-
bers crying alone with a glass of Merlot at 3 a.m., staring at her friend’s words. “Basically it said, ‘This is a terrible terrible thing that’s happened but don’t forget the things that were most important to you and Rich, and I hope looking at the pictures in this book brings you joy.’” “We are finding that joy,” says Dana, who is blogging about the trip. She looks for the trip to “rebalance the scales in a world that has been completely out of wack.” “My children and me, we are going to be okay,” she says, recalling the moment she knew this to be true. It was a discussion about rental cars. Her husband never met one he didn’t damage, says Dana. “Over 15 years of marriage we spent our fair share fixing them.” He backed out of the garage and ripped off a mirror and scraped the entire top of a mini van when underestimating the height of a parking garage. Then there’s the time he locked the keys in the trunk, requiring someone to break the locks. “Someone joked at dinner about needing a rental car and said, ‘Oh, the good news is you won’t have to spend so much on a rental car this time,’ and we all laughed,” Dana says. “It wasn’t uncomfortable, and it wasn’t sad. Bittersweet, yes. But it’s the moment when I knew we were coming back to life.” Follow the family on their trip at www.germainiacsgoglobal.com.
MORE ONLINE See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for more on the University of Texas Trauma and Grief Center for Youth.
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NEIGHBORS
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by Sharon Albert Brier, staff writer
Rumor Has It The Price is right. Donna and Harry Price treated their family to Playa del Carmen for fun and frolic in the sun. The Barceló Palace, with its five resorts and six specialty restaurants, had something for everyone. Marty, Kim, Marley and Blake Price had just sold their Meyerland home (days before the flood) and moved to Austin before the trip, another reason to celebrate. And speaking of water, the children enjoyed swimming with the dolphins. Bring an appetite. An intimate group of 25 celebrated Marcia and Joe Alexander’s 25th anny with a home dinner party. A meal prepared by Chef Francesco Castello included three flights of food, with three courses in each that included seafood and a meat flight of lamb lollipops, duck and aged filet. Joe and Marcia recited touching and witty poems for each other. Gluten-free cake balls were provided by their “adopted” daughter, Erika Morton, and a macaron-tiered cake by Macaron by Patisse. Their son, Joshua Alexander, joined the toasts. A law student at the University of Kansas, Joshua did an internship with Judge Frances Stacy before he left to study in Ireland for the rest of the summer. Flooded with love. Natalie Naughton and her wedding gown were headed to Austin from New York on Memorial Day. The rains and supposed tornado diverted it to Houston. After waiting for her at the airport, parents Lana and Dr. Craig Armstrong got to their Austin home in time to see the kitchen flooded with an inch of rain and inches away from ruining wedding programs, monogrammed napkins and guest gift boxes on the kitchen floor. Natalie’s dad drove to Houston from Weimar and brought her back to Austin. A rainstorm passed through 30 minutes before the beginning of the rehearsal dinner on a riverboat cruise on Lady Bird Lake. The sun surfaced, and Craig Callow and Natalie married May 31 under a summer tent at Allan House, a restored 1883 Victorian home. Craig and Lana, Don and Karen Naughton, and Elaine Callow, parents of the couple, agreed that nothing could dampen this day! Adventure in Asia. Although Rebecca Putterman and Sam Silberman were married Nov. 22, 2014, they decided to have a honey-
PRICELESS TRIP The Price family takes an annual play-cation to Mexico. From left are Ben, Jake, Samantha, Brian, Argenae, Jordan, Eric, Madison, Donna, Harry, Kim, Blake, Marley and Marty.
moon worth waiting for, and that happened this May. They will never forget their culinary experiences in Tokyo with raw shrimp and scallops and Hibiki, a highly rated Japanese whiskey. Thailand offered an experience in elephant ownership when they fed, bathed, swam with and hiked with “their” elephants at Patara Elephant Farm in Chiang Mai. Parents of the couple, Nanette and Barry Putterman and Mary and Herb Silberman, are waiting to be invited over for a Thai meal now that the couple is back. Tree house. A tour and lecture about a unique mid-century home on Tiel Way, influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright, was hosted by Mary Hale McClean. Author and professor Stephen Fox gave the history of the home’s notorious owners, who owned it twice. The original one-bedroom home, with several decks, is set in the trees and overlooks the bayou. Ledge bricks and cork floors are part of the charm. Charles and Diane Ofner, Jane Page Crump, Judge Vanessa Gilmore, Jeffrey and Margaret Lanier, Heidi Sheesley and Lynn Goode joined in. Anne Frank Hadassah Fun Raiser. A Night in the Vineyard was a sizzling and sparkling sold-out event in June. The Culinary Institute LeNôtre/Kris Bistro were the
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perfect spots for the dinner and silent auction. Chair Evelyn Leightman, with her effervescent energy, greeted guests with a wine glass on her head as her hubby Dan Leightman snapped photos. Drs. Lisa and Stan Duchman, who donated wine from Duchman Family Winery, and co- presidents Vicky DyerSmith and Sharon Maloney were grapeful for the fun event. Hardy perennials. When the rains poured, Clayton and Sheldon Erikson graciously moved the outdoor party indoors, where the 200 guests could mingle at the Katy Prairie Conservancy’s Prairie Bash 2015. Co-chairs Debbie and Chris Patton and guests Carla Knobloch, Dianne and Eliot Tucker, Lynn and Ty Kelly, and Fairfax and Risher Randall were thrilled to stay dry. This year’s Prairie Bash honored The Garden Club of Houston, which shares a common bond with KPC to improve our city through horticulture and conservation of natural areas as well as education.
MORE ONLINE See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for additional photos. Have some good news to share? Email us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com.
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TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ AUGUST 2015 25
NEIGHBORS
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by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer
Buzz Baby
The world of gear
Buzz Baby is a column about life with babies from the perspective of a first-time mother. If you have baby stories to share, leave a comment under this article at thebuzzmagazines.com or email info@thebuzzmagazines.com.
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hristen Myers, a mom of three, is no rookie when it comes to managing dirty diapers. She had to learn through trial and error. She uses the Ubbi Diaper Pail, which she calls a step up from the plastic Diaper Genie. “The stainless steel doesn’t hold odor or bacteria. I wasn’t using the one in my bedroom for a few months; there was a very old diaper in there, and I never noticed,” said Christen. Before the Ubbi, she had a Diaper Genie with baby No. 1, a Diaper Dekor with No. 2 and finally found the Ubbi. Twin mom Lucia Clark says she just uses a regular trashcan and puts the diapers in plastic grocery bags. Easy. The never-ending baby-gear options on the market these days can be overwhelming to expectant parents. I remember arriving on the diaper aisle when my husband and I registered. It can’t be that hard to pick diapers, right? “Pampers Swaddlers are the best,” said my friend, a mom of four. “We just use the Target brand, and they are fine,” said my neighbor. My brother-in-law said not to use Huggies overnight. I have learned in my one year of parenthood that what works for one baby may not work for yours. (I went with the Pampers Swaddlers, and we never looked back.) Christen says her biggest baby-gear fail was purchasing a “travel system,” which has a carseat base, detachable car seat with a carrying handle and a stroller that the infant car seat fits into that later converts to a toddler stroller. Most new moms are told this is a must have. “They are a waste of money,” said Christen. “The strollers are cheap plastic, break easily, and they are hard to maneuver and turn.” Lucia agrees and says her solution has been the Joovy Roo Car Seat Stroller (and they make one for twins and singletons). It’s lightweight with a side-facing mount that holds an infant car seat. “It’s the only reason I am about to go
anywhere with twins. It’s cheap, folds up easily and holds tons of stuff in the bottom,” said Lucia. Lucia says her biggest baby-gear fail was the popular Comotomo bottle, which has a 4.5 out of 5 star review average on Amazon. These ballshaped bottles are designed to closely mimic breastfeeding and are popular items for registries. “I used [the bottles] for the first eight weeks. Every single feeding was miserable fail,” said Lucia, laughing. “Formula would leak out everywhere and I could GEAR GURU Mom-of-three Christen Myers has tested a lot of baby gear over the years. With her third child, Jonathan (pictured, at 6 months), she has finally never tell how much figured out what works best for her. they actually consumed.” (www.bayoucitymamas.com). “Friends, coLucia had better luck with Dr. Brown’s bottles. workers and other parents are always willing to The 4Moms Mamaroo Bouncer is another give feedback on baby products.” new baby invention. It’s a Jetsons-like baby Consider lifestyle. “Are you active? If so, a swing that has five settings, including car ride, jogging stroller with a car-seat adapter would suit kangaroo, tree swing, rock a bye and wave. It’s your lifestyle,” said Lane. “Do you live in an $240. Is it worth it? apartment? A compact fold for storage might be As usual, it depends. “I obsessively loved it,” at the top of your list.” said Christen. “My son [Jonathan] had horrible And then there’s another philosophy: minicolic and reflux, and it would give me a few minmalism. It’s a favorite with veteran parents who utes of peace a day.” realize that baby gear can take over one’s house, Mom-of-three Sarah Stamey, whose three yard and car. They know that babies are more kids hated the Mamaroo, says her biggest babylikely to play with saucepans and leaves than gear fail is feeling like she had to have the pertoys anyway. fect nursery set up before her first arrived. “I went from a full-size stroller and giant dia“Little did I know, [Gracie] didn’t sleep in her per bag stuffed for every possible scenario,” says crib until she was 6 months old,” said Sarah, one local mom, “to no stroller and a small fanny laughing. Neither did her other two kids. “So pack on my hip that my youngest sat on when [Gracie and Gage] had perfect nurseries, even she was tired. It was easier.” though Gage’s was in a converted closet, and poor [Piper] still doesn’t have a room. She just Editor's note: Want to share your own baby-gear has a crib in a former guest room.” faves and fails? Leave a comment under this story So, how do you avoid baby-gear fails? “Ask at thebuzzmagazines.com. Your comment may be around,” said Lane Gulottoa, co-founder of featured in an upcoming Mailbag column. Bayou City Mamas, a local moms’ group
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KIDS by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer
Baby’s Day Out School time for little ones
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n a chilly December day, Molly Russell Evans wore all black in mourning. As she drove to work, tears streamed down her face. She wasn’t mourning a loved one’s death. She was mourning the end of her maternity leave and the start of her then-13-week-old daughter McGregor’s first day of “school.” It was something she never wanted to have to do, but there she was, dropping her baby off at Memorial Lutheran School. “I thought for sure she was going to die of starvation because I was not there to nurse her,” said Molly. “I was heartbroken someone else got to spend more time with my baby girl than I did.” A lot of parents, like Molly, who works at a title company, and her husband Drew, a real estate agent, begin the school routine at a very early age. Despite tears, Molly survived the first day. “I worked, pumped, drove to her school at lunch to nurse, pumped, and then it was 5:30,” she said. After several weeks, Molly says she began to embrace the new routine of full-time daycare, and so did her daughter. “Now that she is almost 2, she runs into her classroom screaming with excitement. I am happy to drop her off.” Molly also has enjoyed making friends with her classmates’ moms. “[Another mom] and I text every day about what our children are wearing because it’s so important when you aren’t even 2,” Molly said, laughing. “It’s ridiculous. The more monogrammed and smocked outfits and bubbles the better.” In addition to full-time daycare, a lot of schools offer a Mother’s (Parent’s) Day Out program. The child can attend for one day or a couple of days a week without the commitment of full-time daycare. Stay-at-home mom Liz Rubinsky and her husband Scott, an attorney, signed their son Tyler up for the Mother’s Day Out program at Beth Yeshurun Day School. He had his first day in January. Liz says Tyler’s first day was an emotional experience for her, which ended on a high note. “I seriously fought back tears the whole way to school,” said Liz. “Walking in, I swear you would have
MOM’S DAY OUT Liz Rubinsky dropped her son Tyler, 1, off at his first day of Mother’s Day Out this year at Beth Yeshurun Day School. Liz says she waited until she got in her car to get emotional about his first day.
thought I was dropping him off at sleep-away camp. [Beth Yeshurun] encourages parents to make the goodbyes quick and easy, so I put Tyler down and waved “bye-bye” and then walked out of the school and went to my car and cried.” She then says she drove around the corner to Starbucks to meet up with some of the other moms and ease their nerves over a cup of coffee. “Fifteen minutes later, after sitting and talking, we all received texts from the school with pictures of our kids playing and enjoying school.” Parents shopping school programs need to weigh in several factors, according to Candice Alexander, director at The Little School at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church. “Make sure that enrollment in the program will make mom’s day easier – not harder,” says Candice. She says to pick a school with a convenient location and good hours. “Make sure that the teachers and director have a philosophy of taking care of the children as they would their own children.”
Family tradition is also important, at least for Diana and Elliot Bridger, parents of 1-year-old William, who will start school at St. Martin’s Episcopal Preschool this fall. “We are members of the church, and I grew up at their Mother’s Day Out and school programs,” said Diana. The application fees for early childcare programs are typically non-refundable, yet space is limited, so it’s a toss-up for a lot of parents on how many schools to apply to. “We were fortunate to be accepted to our first-choice program,” Diana said. “I believe being members of the church and a legacy student helped.” She says there are some questions she faces as she approaches the start of school. “I’ll have to change his schedule, like dropping the morning nap. How will he adjust to one nap a day? And on a nap mat, not a crib?” So as parents prepare to drop their kids off at school this month, give thought to the ones doing it for the very first time.
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TRAVEL by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer
Travel Buzz Youth exchanges shape lives
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harlotte Thornton was just 17 when she found herself alone at the Buenos Aires airport, trying to understand as Argentine officials explained why she couldn’t board the last leg of her flight to Paraguay. So was Kate Barkley when she had to work her way through an uncomfortable host-family placement in Belgium. Both were Rotary Youth Exchange students, recent high school grads taking a “gap year” before beginning college. And both say the experience has shaped their lives profoundly. Charlotte – an outgoing, fun-loving St. Agnes High School graduate – was, in the words of her father, a “Chik-fil-A, Starbucks kind of girl” when she headed for Paraguay. A year later she came back with a global understanding, a strong sense of self-confidence but also, paradoxically, of humility. The youngest daughter of West University businessman John Thornton, Charlotte had a bumpy landing. She hadn’t known that Paraguay, unlike most other Latin American countries, required a visa acquired in advance, through a consulate. Fortunately, Rotary came to the rescue and several hours later, Charlotte was on her way. She still had a long way to go – by plane, taxi and a bus hung with chicken cages –and it was 5 a.m. when she finally disembarked in her new home. No one was there to pick her up, so she sat on her suitcase and looked around. She saw a dark shape moving toward her in the distance; as it emerged, she made out a cow, crossing the street, right in downtown Coronel Oviedo. Down the street was what looked to be a big campground, with people moving about under big tarps; later she learned it was a homeless camp. The first days were not easy. She began with a cold shower (“I came down to ask how the hot water worked and discovered there was none”) and unrecognizable food. John recalls one distressed phone call in which Charlotte described eating food like a tree root (mandioca, or cassava root, is a Paraguayan staple). She’d taken microwaveable macaroni and cheese only to discover there was no microwave.
“I don’t think I’m going to make it,” she told him. But John encouraged her to hang on. “We always taught our kids, once you start something, you finish it.” A turning point came soon after her arrival. She had started school mid-year and needed a new uniform. “My first family lived a very modest lifestyle, but my host mother went to the market and bought me a whole new ON TOP OF THE WORLD Charlotte Thornton strikes a precarious pose in uniform,” Charlotte Patagonia on a trip with Rotary Exchange students through southern Argentina. recalls. “Her eyes began Charlotte took them around and shared what to water as she gave me the biggest hug. At that she’d learned. Her parents were proud and moment, I felt at home and knew I was going to impressed. John asked his daughter about the embrace this new culture, no matter what.” project proposal for Rotary. “I’m working on it Before she left, the West University Rotary – don’t worry,” she said. Club had challenged Charlotte to develop a She submitted her proposal 3½ weeks before project for the community and the club would she left. Her school didn’t have textbooks, and fund it. She settled in and the weeks passed in a the teachers would read or recite the lessons of blur; she learned to love the empanadas and terthe day. Charlotte proposed purchasing computeré (cold yerba mate tea), to not be bothered by ers, projectors and screens, which teachers could the cold showers, and to cherish a way of life use to project the lessons. The technology was that values time spent with friends and family delivered right before Charlotte’s departure in an more than material possessions. emotional ceremony; the principal wept with joy. “The people of Paraguay have nothing, and “I asked her why she had waited; she said, they’re happy,” she told her dad. “We have ‘Dad, you’re like a typical American – Americans everything, and we’re still not happy.” always want to fix thing as soon as they get there. He and her mother, Diane, came to visit in You can’t do that to their culture.’” her eighth month. There was another aspect, too. “I didn’t want “It blew me away to see the love on the part the stigma of – ‘Oh, here comes the American of family and friends,” said John. “They treated kid, buying these expensive things.’ I wanted it us like we were the king and queen of the to be a parting gift.” United States.” John may have learned as much from his The night of their arrival, 75 people awaited daughter’s exchange as she did. them at the home of Charlotte’s host family. “The people of Paraguay knew everything They greeted them joyfully with a huge feast folabout the U.S., while Americans don’t have a lowed by karaoke and dancing until 2 in the clue about what’s going on in the world. She morning. “It was just crazy. Every night there came back and said, ‘We’re a selfish, arrogant, would be dinner at a different house, with wasteful, greedy country, and we complain about around 30 people in attendance.”
TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ AUGUST 2015 28
THREE COUNTRIES While on her exchange, Kate Barkley got to see the meeting point of Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands.
such trivial things.’” Three years later, now a junior at The University of Tulsa studying international business, she still carries the lesson with her. “Don’t get me wrong – I love my country, but taking a step back can make all the difference,” she says. Kate Barkley, also a St. Agnes grad, had a much different experience. No cows wander the streets of cosmopolitan Belgium. But there were other kinds of barriers to surmount. For starters, she wasn’t fitting into her host family. She thought maybe it was her, so she tried to tough it out, but it didn’t get easier. “They were lovely people, just maybe not the best people to have an exchange student,” Kate recalls. “I was lonely, sitting a lot at home, thinking maybe I’d made a mistake.” Talking to the other Rotary students, she realized her host family wasn’t like the others. There were no family outings, dinner-table discourses or host sisters or brothers to make her feel at home. “It was tough,” her mother, Jan, recalls. “She would Skype with us and be pretty distraught, and you as a parent want to rush in and solve their problems – but you can’t.” She went on to discuss the matter with Rotary leaders. “By the end of the meeting, one of the Rotary members said, “You’re coming home with me.” Despite the awkward beginning, she wouldn’t trade her year in Belgium for anything. Her
three other host families took her in like one of their own. The holidays were hard – it was the first Christmas away from home, and she soon discovered that cowboy boots are not made for the snow – but her hosts went out of their way for her. The first family took her to picturesque, German-influenced Alsace in northeastern France. She learned to navigate the public transit system with ease. And she made lifelong bonds with other Rotary Exchange students in her city, the Rotary bus tour of Spain with about 50 of them being a highlight. She’d heard Belgians were cold and aloof, but that’s not what she experienced. “All the Belgians I’ve met are incredibly warm, caring people, and they were super excited to meet people from different countries,” she said. By the time she settled in with her second family, she felt right at home. “I could banter with them; I had reached a point in my French where I could be more myself instead of using stilted robot-speak.” When Jan and Jim, Kate’s father, came for a visit at the end of April, she was ready to show them around in style. “It was wonderful to see her in that environment and culture, speaking the language, leading us around, showing us places,” recalls Jan, who hosted an exchange student of her own during Kate’s absence. Kate took them to Alsace, and when Jim gassed up the diesel-
engine rental car with unleaded, Kate intervened without missing a beat. “We were in the middle of nowhere in France, where no one speaks English, and she had to talk to the rental-car company. She worked it out,” said Jan. “We were impressed.” Even the problems were an important part of the experience, said Jan. “When she came through that, she looked back on it and said, ‘I learned so much in going through that. I learned how to deal with difficult people….’” As Kate savored the last weeks of her exchange, she felt happy to be going home, but sad to be leaving her friends and her new life. She will attend Rhodes College in Memphis this fall. “I can’t stress enough how much I think everyone should do this,” she said. “Once you start college you’re put on a path and you have to finish college and find a job. When in your life are you going to get the opportunity to spend a year meeting really awesome people and visiting awesome places? You learn a lot, but it’s not the kinds of things you learn in college.” Editor’s note: The approximate cost for a Rotary exchange is $6,000, including airline ticket and insurance. For more information, see www.westurotary.org or contact John Thornton at jdt62@aol.com or 281-415-6390. For the flip side of exchange, hosting a student, see the story, “Host Families: Parents to the world,” in this issue.
TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ AUGUST 2015 29
FOOD by Angie Wickert, contributing writer
Cooking Buzz Make-ahead meals Cooking Buzz is produced in partnership with the Junior League of Houston, a women’s charitable and education organization founded in 1925.
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all is just around the corner, and for many that means back to school. If you are anything like me, planning ahead makes the days run more smoothly. While I am not yet packing lunches for kiddos, making meals ahead of time that can be enjoyed throughout the week is helpful for both the young and old. A rule in my household growing up was that we were not allowed to leave for school without something in our stomach. My mother was convinced that a hearty breakfast led to more focus in the classroom. As I grew older, I did my best to stick to this rule, but it became more difficult to find time in the morning to make breakfast. Making something on Sunday was a great way to ensure that I had something prepped for breakfast all week. I love making the Tender Scones or the Lemon Yogurt Muffins from the Junior League of Houston cookbook Stop and Smell the Rosemary. Both are great make-ahead options that my husband and I can grab in the morning on our way out the door. If I am looking for something on the lighter side, the Blueberry Basil Compote from Peace Meals is not only a good choice for breakfast, but also for dessert. For breakfast, I pair it with Greek yogurt, but try it also on vanilla ice cream. I eventually got in the habit of making a variety of meals ahead of time that I could use all week for lunch and dinner. Some of my favorites are Italian Wedding Soup, Autumn Rice Salad with Turkey and Cranberries and Homestyle Spaghetti with Meat Sauce from Peace Meals. All three of these dinners save really well in the refrigerator or freezer and can be reheated. Occasionally, I don’t even reheat the Autumn Rice Salad because I like how it tastes cold too. I always have the best intentions to prep as much as I can over the weekend, but as we all know, life sometimes gets in the way, and I put off that meal prep for a couple more hours of shopping or pool time. That’s why I like to stock up my freezer with several meals from the Junior
League Pantry that require no other effort from me other than simply reheating them. This is a great backup plan for all the times you did not make it to the store or you just got home and are too tired to cook. The best part of using part of my Sunday for prepping meals (or relying on the Pantry) is that it gives me more time during the week to spend with family and friends. This sometimes even includes a cocktail. RICE SALAD The Autumn Rice Salad with Turkey and Cranberries can be made One of my ahead of time and reheated later, or even served cold. favorites is the and cubed Rosé Wine Freeze because, as anyone from 1 cup chopped fresh Italian flat leaf parsley Houston knows, fall doesn’t necessarily mean Whisk together the orange juice, preserves, cooler temperatures. vinegar, shallots, mustard and garlic. Slowly Autumn Rice Salad with Turkey whisk in the canola oil to combine; set aside. Bring the chicken broth to a boil in a medium and Cranberries saucepan over high heat. Add the rice and From Peace Meals return to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low. Vinaigrette: Cook the rice according to the package direc¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice tions, or until the liquid is absorbed. Remove ¼ cup apricot preserves from heat and allow to sit covered for 5 minutes 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar more. Fluff the rice and set aside to cool com3 tablespoons minced shallots pletely. Transfer the rice to a large serving bowl; 2 teaspoons prepared Dijon mustard add the pecans, cranberries, green onions and 2 teaspoons minced garlic turkey. Drizzle the salad with the desired amount ½ cup canola oil of the vinaigrette; add the parsley and stir to Salad: combine. Serves 6-8. 2¼ cups chicken broth 1 cup long grain rice, such as basmati 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted For other recipes mentioned in this story, click on 1½ cups dried cranberries Recipes at thebuzzmagazines.com. To buy a cook½ cup sliced green onions book, see www.jlh.org or call 713-871-6608. 2 cups cooked turkey breast, skin removed
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Don’t suffer from heel pain
Venetian Blind wins award
If your ability to get around is limited by heel pain, you could be among a large group of people who suffer from what is known as heel pain syndrome. Heel pain syndrome, also known as plantar fasciitis, is caused by a strain of the plantar fascia muscle, a fibrous band which runs from the heel to the front of the foot. If your foot moves incorrectly, the plantar fascia may become strained. Heel spurs can form as a result of this. You may experience pain in the bottom of your foot, especially first thing in the morning. Pain usually occurs on the inside of the foot, near the spot where your heel and arch meet. Pain may lessen after a few steps, but will come back after rest. Often, the discomfort of plantar fasciitis can be relieved with appropriate foot support. Treatment for this condition can range from the use of orthotics to cortisone treatments and surgery. Surgery is only recommended when conservative treatment has failed to relieve the discomfort. Heel pain and other foot pain can cause great discomfort, limiting your everyday activities. Be good to your feet, and they will be good to you! Don’t hesitate to bring your heel pain or other foot ailments to us for relief. Bellaire Podiatry/Nail Laser Center of Houston, Dr. Barry P. Weinstein, 4909 Bissonnet, Suite 120, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.721.5500, www.BarryWeinsteinDPM.com
The Better Business Bureau has recognized Venetian Blind Carpet One Floor & Home with the Pinnacle Award for the second time in four years. In addition, 2015 marked the eighth straight year the longtime Houston company was recognized as an award of distinction winner. The Better Business Bureau Education Foundation honors BBB-accredited businesses that maintain a superior commitment to ethics, overall excellence and quality in the workplace. “We are extremely honored to be included in this group, and we are fortunate to have such loyal customers and employees to foster our growth and reputation in the community,” said Tom Connell, president of Venetian Blind Carpet One. Venetian Blind has long been a member of the Carpet One flooring cooperative, the industry’s premier resource for flooring, window coverings and countertops. Since 1952, builders, architects and designers have relied upon Venetian Blind Carpet One Floor & Home to help create their dream homes. Conveniently located on Bissonnet just east of Kirby in West University, Venetian Blind Carpet One Floor & Home offers the area's most extensive selection of premier flooring, countertops and window coverings, all under one roof. Venetian Blind Carpet One Floor & Home, 2504 Bissonnet, Houston, Texas 77005, 281.668.8590, www.vbaf.com
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SPORTS
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by Todd Freed, staff writer
SportzBuzz F
ar removed from their days as all-star players for Bellaire Little League, Blake Glauben, Ryan Olive and Bennett Notestine have had quite the reunion on the collegiate baseball level. The trio recently led the Rhodes College Lynx to the first conference championship in school history, with the NCAA Division III team winning the Southern Athletic Association title. “It was really a coincidence that the three of us landed back as teammates after all these years,” said Notestine. “Rhodes College has a pretty good pipeline to Houston, and we actually have several other Houston guys on our team.” Notestine, who played high school baseball at The Kinkaid School, and Glauben, an Emery/Weiner School alum, played on the 2007 12-year old Bellaire Little League team, while Olive, a St. Thomas High School graduate, was on the 2006 Bellaire squad. “Admittedly, we still talk about those Little League days, and we try and keep up with the guys from back then who went on to play college baseball,” said Notestine. At the collegiate level, Notestine is the Lynx starting left fielder, and he led the team in hitting with a .387 average. Olive, the starting centerfielder, led the Lynx in RBIs (42) while hitting for a .319 average. Glauben, a starting pitcher, also led the team in saves, including saves in both wins at the conference championship series. “It was awesome to win the school’s first ever championship and pretty much kick off a new age of baseball for Rhodes,” said Notestine. “Plus, to do so with guys I played Little League baseball with is pretty special.” Over at St. Agnes Academy, it’s been a special reunion on the high school level for a group of nine players who are all products of the West University Softball Association. This past season, Maddie and Colby Heno, Quinn Biggio, Jordan Howard, Zoe Clutterbuck, Alice Watts, Zoe Narvacan, Maddie Van Brunt and Taylor Lee helped lead St. Agnes to the TAPPS 5A regional finals. “We’ve all been great friends since we started playing softball at WUSA,” said catcher Maddie Heno, a three-time TAPPS 5A all-state player.
“WUSA really gave us a solid foundation with great coaches.” Heno’s sister Colby, a freshman pitcher, was also named first team all-state, as was shortstop Quinn Biggio. “I can’t say enough about what the WUSA program has meant to these girls,” said Maddie and Colby’s father, Scott Heno. “The league emphasizes the development of young women through sports- CHAMPIONSHIP REUNION Former Bellaire Little Leaguers Ryan Olive, Blake Glauben and Bennett Notestine (from left) have reunited to lead the Rhodes manship, leadership and College baseball team to its first conference championship in school history. They teamwork.” are pictured right after the Lynx won the Southern Athletic Association title. It isn’t only at St. (Girls Soccer), Alexandra Buscher (Girls Agnes that the WUSA players are making an Swimming), Lauren Deutser (Girls Track) and impact, with approximately 100 products of the David Van Slyke (Boys Track) were named league currently playing high school softball in Scholar Athletes of the Year for their respective Houston. In addition to St. Agnes, the majority sports, as was Stratford Spartan Reese Davis of the girls play for Episcopal, Lamar, Bellaire (Boys Basketball). Judging was based on athletic and St. John’s. and academic achievement as well as commuAs for Episcopal, where the Knights have nity service and extracurricular activities. won three straight SPC titles, seven players Meanwhile, a number of other local athletes started in the WUSA program, including allwere Scholar Athlete of the Year finalists in SPC picks Emily Fraser, Izzy Haugh and Sarah their respective sports, including Stratford Venker, as well as Daryn Grams, Jenny Lillard, Spartans Kathryn Arcy (Girls Basketball), Charlotte Spector and Christian Cain. For Lauren Newman (Girls Soccer), Javier Lamar, University of Kansas commit Courtney Lehtinen (Boys Tennis) and Timothy Purvis Taylor is a product of WUSA, as are Mary (Boys Golf). Also making the list were Tindall (NYU commit), Meghan Dickson, Memorial’s Will McNulty (Baseball), George Allie Burns, Alex Rocha, Peggy Polydoros and Doykan (Boys Golf) and Elizabeth Doykan Gracie Burns. The St. John’s softball team has (Girls Golf), as well as Strake Jesuit’s Ashton five WUSA alumni, including Georgetown Radvansky (Boys Golf), Anthony Ashley commit Anna Brooks Pacha, plus Alyssa (Boys Swimming), Blake Bordelon (Boys Barrett, Laurel McKelvey, Julia Waller and Track) and Gus Sulentic (Boys Wrestling). Tanvi Varaduchary. If all that weren’t enough, Bellaire freshman Jolie Dong, the District 20Editor’s Note: Todd Freed is the Emmy Award6A MVP, is from WUSA, as is her Bellaire winning co-host and producer of the KUBE teammate, Sydney Moore. SportsZone, which airs Saturday and Sunday at 6 It was an impressive showing by a contingent p.m. on Channel 57-KUBE. To submit high school of Memorial Mustangs at the Touchdown Club sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, of Houston’s 49th annual Spring Sports Scholar please email todd@thebuzzmagazines.com. Athlete Banquet. Memorial’s Rebekah Koehn
TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ AUGUST 2015 32
SPORTS
.
by Angie Frederickson, staff writer
SportzBuzz, Jr. W
elcome to SportzBuzz, Jr., a column spotlighting neighborhood athletes in elementary and middle school.
Cooperstown memories The BPT Hammer (top photo) played in the American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame Invitational Tournament in Cooperstown, N.Y. Led by head coach and former Major League player Al Benjamin, they competed against 102 other teams from across the country. The team finished strong, winning four of their last five games and playing into the fourth round of the championship tournament. A highlight of their time at Cooperstown was playing late into the night, ending with a 12:38 a.m. victory. The BPT Hammer players and coaches are (back row, from left) coach Rod Desroches, Ford Lancaster, Mark Thiele, Adam Desroches, coach Lantz Howell, Leyton Howell, Blake Petry, Dylan Shoemake, head coach Al Benjamin; (front row, from left) Cade Alpard, Vincent Ori, Jason Ferworn, James Todd, Diego Denson and William Kight. Not pictured (injured): Thomas Jackson.
Track and field pioneers The Family Point Speed team (middle photo) is the first youth track-andfield team in the Memorial area recognized by the USA Track and Field Association. Currently, there are about 20 recognized youth track clubs in the Gulf Coast region. Family Point Speed, which serves student athletes ages 7 to 18, is part of Family Point Resources, a nonprofit organization. The newly formed team welcomes beginners and competes in a competitive developmental league. Team members are (top row, from left) Morgan Harris, Emanuel Morphin, Jeffrey Paduano, Ryan Muigai, Tim Hunter, Madeline Gentil, Nikolos Davis, Cade Watson, Tyler Harris; (second row, from left) Arno Bommer, Dominik Hunter, Joseph Pena, Jona Morford, Aniyah Silvain, Royale Jordan, Jasmine Green, Alyssa Bommer, Alexis Rushing, Josiah Robinson; (third row, from left) Casey Brand, Rogelio Perez, Alondra Castillo, Pierce Curley, Patricia Flores, Amelia Bommer, Angel Paduano, Amoree Johnson, Noah Watson, Christin Gentile; (bottom row, from left) Brandon Stribling, Sofia Perez, Dianne Lopez, Angela Pena, Lailah Nelson, Daniella Pena, Giselle Gillett, Amoree Johnson, Michael Vincent, Luis Baltazar and Michael Eyre.
Solid swinging Memorial Middle School rising eighth grader Ashleigh Stoehr (bottom photo) plays golf about six days each week at Lakeside Country Club. She plays 18-hole tournaments in the Southern Texas PGA, and placed second
in her most recent competition. During the summer, she attended golf camp at The University of Texas. Ashleigh first hit the golf course at age 3 with her dad, Blake Stoehr. This father-daughter time was fun for both of them, and Ashleigh has since become passionate about the sport. Ashleigh’s main goal is just to have fun, although she does aspire to play in both high school and college. She is well on her way with a personal-best score of 81. Editor’s note: Send your best high-resolution photos and behind-the-scenes stories about young local athletes, in both team and individual sports, to SportzBuzz, Jr. at info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Include all contact info, names, ages, grades and schools. Featured athletes must live in Buzz-circulation neighborhoods. Items will be published on a space-available basis.
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NEIGHBORS
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by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer
Buzz About Town 70 years of service
The Houston Junior Forum, a nonprofit women’s volunteer organization providing charitable service to children, youth and seniors,
installed a new executive board for the 2015-16 year. HJF will celebrate its 70th anniversary this year. New members include (pictured, from left) Jodie Parker, Susan Patterson, Kim Vidor, Debbie Berner, Linda West, Spencer Hills, Marilyn McDowell, Melanie Franks, Jan Arrington, Martha LeRue, Paula Howeth, Judy Perkins and Kay Newman. Women who would like to become members should contact Marilyn McDowell at rmcdo10636@aol.com.
Ties that bind Nearly 250 guests, including (pictured, from left) Linwood Olson and Kristen Olson Lyons,
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poured into the Houston Country Club in support of the Spaulding for Children inaugural luncheon. The nonprofit organization places children who have endured abuse, neglect or abandonment in adoptive homes. KPRC’s meteorologist Frank Billingsley served as master of
borhood and ended at the Briargrove Pool for a pool party.
All for Emily
ceremonies. Billingsley is adopted and shared memories of his own adoption and recent experience in finding his biological family. Houston Mayor Annise Parker spoke to the audience about her experience with Spaulding for Children more than 10 years ago when she and wife Kathy Hubbard adopted their daughters from Spaulding for Children.
New Grady Gators Grady Middle School rising sixth graders, including (pictured, from left) John Cypher, Christian Zenner, Charlie Dollinger, Pete McConn, Donovan Barrera and James Murnane, had a ball at the Briargrove Elementary annual fifth-grade parade this summer. The students paraded through the neigh-
John Black (pictured) will take on the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, in October to swim 2.4 miles, cycle 112 miles, and run 26.2 miles. He is doing it all to raise funds for blood-cancer research and patient services funded by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. He is a member of Team In Training, and his fundraising goal is $150,000. A year ago, John met fellow Ironman athlete Bob Jordan, whose daughter Emily had passed away from leukemia. Twenty years earlier, Emily had asked her daddy what he wanted for his birthday, and Bob said his wish was for her to get better. Emily (continued on page 36)
TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ AUGUST 2015 35
(continued from page 35) told her dad he needed to
make a different wish, so Bob shared his dream of racing in the Kona Ironman. Emily lost her battle with leukemia at the age of 5, but before she passed away she wrote a letter to Ironman race officials asking them to “pick her daddy” to race in Kona. In 1997, Bob read Emily’s letter on national television and learned that he had been selected to participate in the Ironman World Championship. Emily died four weeks before the race, but Bob went on to complete the race in his daughter’s memory. Donations can be made online at pages.teamintraining.org/txg/ironworl15/jblack.
Music to ears
The 20th annual AFA Summer Concert Series kicked off with Middle School Festival Day. Notable performances included those by several school string orchestras conducted by Penny Meitz (pictured) of The St. John’s School and
Ana Payne of Beverly Hills Intermediate School, as well as chamber music under the direction of Rodolfo Morales of The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Among those students performing were Lanier Middle School students Hanna Chong-Ahmed, Kalli Davidson and Robin Newberry. AFA offers year-round and summer programs for young musicians in Houston.
TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ AUGUST 2015 36
Back in the saddle Lone Star Saddlebreds, a horseback riding academy in Magnolia, didn’t have a rough ride when some of their Buzz-area competitors, including Story Sinex (pictured, with her horse WC Boogity Boogity), gained favor with the judges at a Texas American Saddle Horse Association show at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy. Some of the riders who won ribbons at
the show were Fran Iyer, Chris Tresten, Patricia Reed and Krista Sinex. Lone Star Saddlebred owners and trainers Milo Jones and Koren Mercer led the group.
The Brain
help. So together, they formed a “complete brain,” as the joke went. They each have a bracelet with a silver disc with the word “brain” stamped into it. They snapped pictures in various places on their trip, showing off their bracelets.
A delicious night
A group of old friends and Memorial High School class of ’84 grads, including (pictured, from left) Patty Reed Bourlon, Teri Garrett Koerth, Rene Bennett Flood, Jennifer Pardoe Gilliam, Carol Ann Smith Suffel and Michele DeGuerin Luke, went on a girls’ trip to Aspen. The women, who have all been friends (with the exception of Emma) since childhood, say this was their first girls’ trip in over 10 years. They call themselves “The Brain,” a name with a history to it. When they were all pregnant and/or nursing at about the same time, they say they used to joke that none of them could really form a coherent thought without the others’
cocktails, and bid on unique auction packages. Proceeds will benefit more than 700,000 Houstonians who suffer from asthma, lung cancer, emphysema or COPD. McLean has lived with asthma for numerous years and is a supporter of the organization. Register online at action.lung.org/savorhouston.
Preserving nature
The American Lung Association is hosting a fundraiser, and Tony’s executive chef (and one of the night’s honorees) Kate McLean (pictured, center, with her parents, Anna and Scott McLean) and other supporters invite everyone to bring their appetites. The culinary event, Savor Houston – A Masquerade Night!, will take place Oct. 22 at Nouveau Antique Art Bar, 6-10 p.m. Guests can sample creations from some Houston restaurants, sip on signature
Ty Kelly, chair of the of Bayou board Preservation Association, was honored with Volunteer Houston’s Greater Service Environmental Award for his efforts to improve the water quality in Houston’s bayous. The Bayou Preservation Association is a non-profit organization that supports projects and spreads public awareness about the area’s waterways. Be seen in Buzz About Town. Send your high-res photos and community news to info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Items are published on a space-available basis. Also share your photos and videos, plus upcoming-event listings, on thebuzzmagazines.com.
TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ AUGUST 2015 37
CAMP FOR ALL Anna Costantini, a junior at St. Agnes Academy, volunteers at Camp Spike ‘n’ Wave, a camp for children with epilepsy.
KIDS by Anna Costantini, age 17
Buzz Kidz T
A life-changing week
he first thing people ask when they hear that I volunteer as a counselor at Camp Spike ‘n’ Wave, a camp hosted at Camp For All for children with epilepsy, is simple: Is it scary? Many times I have found myself puzzled at this question. When a child has epilepsy, a seizure disorder, assuming the role of caretaker is intimidating. However, when I reflect on camp, “scary” doesn’t make the list of the top five adjectives I would use to describe it. It wouldn’t be truthful to say that the first few seizures I encountered didn’t make my heart race. Despite seizure first-aid training, a fear that a camper will seize keeps me on my toes. Experiencing this unease opened my eyes to the lives of parents of epileptic children. I’m sure they understandably feel the need to supervise
their child every moment. This led me to realize the effect of epilepsy on kids. While epilepsy might not limit a child’s physical abilities, it substantially affects each child’s life. When they’re not at camp, they don’t feel like other kids. They can’t run or play without parents trailing them. But at camp, kids feel free to be kids. Camp For All provides the campers with a week of unforgettable experiences – zip-lining, horseback riding, canoeing and other activities that make the week special. There is nothing like the excitement shining in campers’ eyes as they listen intently to the activities planned for the day. And nothing is more gratifying than the innumerable amount of times I have heard a camper say that camp is
the best week of his or her life. So is camp scary? No. Camp is fun, life-changing, exciting and exhausting, but not scary. Because while the fear of a seizure might seem overwhelming at first, it is overshadowed by the excitement brought by each day. And of course the first-aid training and available medical staff help, too. Editor’s Note: Anna will be a correspondent for our School Buzz blog. Look for her reports at thebuzzmagazines.com/section/school-buzz. Want to be a Buzz Kid? Email approximately 350 words, a high-resolution photo and caption to info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Or mail it to The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401.
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TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ AUGUST 2015 38
TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ AUGUST 2015 39
DINING GUIDE
by Dai Huynh, staff writer
Dine for a cause
Alec Lasar
This Month in Dining
REPUBLIC SMOKEHOUSE Tender, smoked barbecue is popular at the Republic Smokehouse and Saloon.
T
rying out a new restaurant is a crapshoot. You never know if the gamble will pay off. Will you walk away feeling full and happy, or irritated that you paid too much? A few of my friends have found a way around this. Once a year, my foodies make their rounds, trying out as many new eateries as possible during Houston Restaurant Weeks. In fact, an outgoing 35year-old friend likes to meet his online dates at various HRW-participating restaurants. He reasoned, “I can check out the restaurant and my date, and if the food or the date doesn’t turn out to be something wonderful, I’ll still feel good because the HWR deals are pretty good, and my money went to a good cause.” Proceeds from Houston Restaurant Weeks go to the Houston Food Bank. The event takes place
TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ AUGUST 2015 40
Aug. 1-Sept. 7, when participating restaurants make donations based on how many brunches, lunches and dinners they sell. Diners can choose from two- to three-course lunches for $20 each, three- to four-course dinners for $35 or $45, or a three-course brunch for $25. With more than 200 participating restaurants, Houstonians can “dine for a cause” every day for the full five weeks. Folks can revisit old HRW alumni, including Latin Bites, Caracol, Mockingbird Bistro Wine Bar and Vallone’s. Or take this opportunity to check out new HRW additions. About 40 restaurants are participating for the first time. Here are some of the newbies: Amalfi – Talented Italian chef Giancarlo Ferrara serves the seafood dishes and fresh pastas that he grew up eating along the Amalfi Coast. 6100 Westheimer; 713-532-2201. Añejo – The brainchild of the same folks who brought us upscale Southern comfort food at Max’s Wine Dive, here you’ll find dolled-up Tex-Mex. 1180-1 Uptown Park Boulevard; 713963-9032. Harwood Grill – Touting itself as a ranch-totable restaurant, Harwood Grill chef Craig Bianco fries citrus-brined chicken and sears aged, richly marbled Akaushi beef. 2300 Westheimer, 713-360-7757. Hearsay on the Green – Near the George R. Brown Convention Center, this younger sibling of Hearsay Gastro Lounge serves New American with a Southern twist. 1515 Dallas; 832-377-3362. Sud Italia – Restaurant veteran Shanon Scott shares his passion for Southern Italian food at this rustically quaint West University establishment. 2347 University Boulevard, 713664-7571. The Republic Smokehouse & Saloon – A barbecue joint, dance hall, sports bar (30 flatscreen TVs) and live music venue, this latest Midtown resident is best known for its gigantic, 1.5-pound, slow-smoked beef short ribs, aka the Brontosaurus. 1910 Bagby, 832-925-8871. Paul’s Kitchen – This Upper Kirby eatery with Paul Lewis at the kitchen’s helm highlights a seasonal menu with global influences. 2502 Algerian Way; 713-360-2002.
Restaurant Listings $ (under $10) $$ ($11-$30) $$$ ($31-$60) $$$$ (over $60) Prices include drink, tax and tip per person
Dai Huynh is a James Beard food-journalism award winner and longtime restaurant writer. Her visits to restaurants in our Buzz Dining Guide were anonymous, and she paid for her meals to maintain objectivity. We’d love your thoughts too. Write to info@thebuzzmagazines.com with your own dining opinions and suggestions. Also, you can contribute in the Comments section under the online version of this story at thebuzzmagazines.com. This month’s restaurant listings highlight some of the city’s best dining spots offering pre-fixe lunches and dinners at reduced prices during Houston Restaurant Weeks. The common denominator? Other than combining efforts and talents to raise money to end hunger in Houston? These chefs and restaurants use as many local and artisanal products as possible. More than 200 restaurants are participating this year in Houston Restaurant Weeks. Here are some of those to consider.
Antica Osteria Regional Italian Neighborhood: Southhampton Antica Osteria, in a vintage brick house, attracts an eclectic mix with its warm, oldfashioned feel. There are Turkish movie stars, socialites, ingénues, young lovers, media types and, even, parents with well-behaved children. The attractions are the well-prepared pastas; spaghetti carbonara lush with cream and pancetta makes the strongest impression, along with abundantly friendly service and a homey vibe. Every meal begins with complimentary bruschetta and ends with a gracious smile. In between, there are simple, satisfying antipasti. Many customers order pastas as their entrées, but for those who must have meat, consider the deftly prepared osso buco – an occasional special – or the grilled angus fillet. Dinner Mon.-Sat. 2311 Bissonnet, 713-5211155. anticarestaurant.com. $$$
Arnaldo Richards’ Picos Regional Mexican Neighborhood: Upper Kirby Many remain nostalgic about the old Pico's location on Bellaire. But upon entering the new locale, it's hard to fault owner Arnaldo Richards for moving into this graciously appointed, hacienda-inspired space made warm and inviting with coral tablecloths, ceiling beams and
dark furniture. His food, too, has been tweaked, often with winning results. The tomato salsa sings. The ranchera salsa smolders with charred tomatoes. The chicken consommé soup is still a cure for the blues, swimming with pulled chicken, onion, cilantro, Mexican rice and avocado. A dash of Serrano pepper provides a mild, welcome kick. And his signature huachinango a la Veracruzana (red snapper) is elegantly draped with an exquisitely light tomato sauce flavored with green olives, capers and chiles güeros. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 3601 Kirby, 832-8319940. picos.net. $$
Brooklyn Athletic Club Modern American Neighborhood: Museum District Food and play go hand-in-hand at this concept influenced by Shepard Ross’ childhood in Brooklyn, where bocce ball highlighted family gatherings. The fork-tender pork osso buco and robust pasta and meatballs are made more enjoyable watching friends challenge each other at croquet. Lunch & dinner Tues.Sun. 601 Richmond Ave., 713-527-4440. thebrooklynathleticclub.com. $$
Caracol Mexican coastal cuisines Neighborhood: Galleria Hugo Ortega is largely (continued on page 42)
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as a soulful off-the-menu oxtail soup, earthy moles and snapper tamales fragrant in banana leaves. Perennial favorites are the wood-grilled rib-eye steak and baby pig roasted in banana leaves, not to mention pan-fried grasshoppers, which taste like popcorn and are delicious when paired with a blanco tequila. The crown jewel is Hugo’s Sunday brunch – a majestic cornucopian spread, worth every peso. Lunch & dinner Mon.Sun. 1600 Westheimer Road, 713-5247744. hugosrestaurant.net. $$$
Quattro
QUATTRO One option is the veal tenderloin with rare, seared tuna, tonnato sauce, puffed pantelleria capers and anchovy.
Contemporary Italian Neighborhood: Downtown Talented chef Maurizio Ferrarese brings the flavors of his native Italy to Quattro at the Four Seasons Hotel. The dining room is an elegant affair. Just as engaging is the adjoining Vinoteca Quattro bar where downtown workers unwind over Italian beers, wines and Italian small plates during happy hour. Breakfast, lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 1300 Lamar, 713-276-4700. quattrorestauranthouston.com. $$-$$$$
Seasons 52 (continued from page 41) credited with introducing
Houstonians to the foodways of Mexico. His namesake restaurant, Hugo’s, on Westheimer captivates with interior specialties, while Caracol showcases Mexico’s lilting coastal cuisines. Ceviches and crudos shine against a snow-white interior dressed with deep-sea creatures by renowned illustrator Charley Harper. Jalapeño and ginger give great spark and crunch to conch, while scallops combined with sweet mango, papaya and lime crudos dance merrily between sweet, salty and tangy. A house favorite is oysters smoked in a wood-burning domed oven, then drizzled with a luscious chipotle butter. The menu leans toward seafood, but there are meatier options, such as bone-in short rib with cocoa nib and roasted duck with pumpkin seed sauce. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 2200 Post Oak Blvd., No. 160, 713-622-9996. caracol.net. $$$
Coppa Osteria Artisanal pastas and pizzas Neighborhood: Rice Village Like Coppa Ristorante Italiano, this casual rendition applies the principles of Italian cooking by allowing ingredients to speak with minimum interference. Chef Brandi Key’s clarifies ingredients and judges flavors finely. Pizzas shine. Creamy burrata shimmers with peppery extra-virgin olive oil. Spaghetti carbonara crackles with black pepper and the creaminess of raw eggs and Parmesan cheese. Calabria chili and Meyer lemon brighten shrimp linguine with parmesan cream. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 5210 Morningside, 713-5223535. coppaosteriahouston.com. $$
Costa Brava Bistro French-and-Spanish cuisine Neighborhood: Bellaire Working backward at this Spanish-inspired
restaurant, the refined desserts include crema Catalan with a miraculous crunchy sugar glaze and an apple tart that smartly blends smoky caramel with buttery pastry. The flavorful seafood paella from owner Angeles Duenas’ grandfather sports perfectly al dente rice. Moist roasted duck and shrimp piquant with garlic make this upscale spot pleasing. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Fri. and dinner Sat. 5115 Bellaire Blvd., 713-839-1005. costabravabistro.com. $$$
Étoile Authentic French Neighborhood: Galleria area When several talented French chefs urge you to try the food at Étoile, it’s hard to dispute their keen taste for the food of their homeland. Just as they said, the flavors here are true, and owner-chef Philippe Verpiand and wife Monica Bui have created an alluringly warm showcase for a hearty coq au vin and tender sole meunière with lemon caper sauce, fingerling potatoes and roasted cauliflower – both brunch items. Briny mussels flavored with tomatoes and onions are served with homemade pomme frites and garlic aioli. The beauty of this place is almost everything is made from scratch, including the crusty baguettes. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sun. 1101 Uptown Park Blvd., 832668-5808. etoilecuisine.com. $$
Hugo’s Regional Mexican Neighborhood: Montrose Tex-Mex was the game in town until risk takers such as Hugo’s owner-chef Hugo Ortega set out to educate Houstonians about the food of his motherland. Many traditional Mexican establishments have failed, but not the highceiling, palatial Hugo’s, with such comida tipica
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New American Neighborhoods: Highland Village/Memorial Seasons 52 is reminiscent of Houston's on Kirby, with similar synergy and dimly lit decor. There are multiple booths, each with its own lamp for an intimate, yet casual setting. The interior is well thought out, unified like most chains, but more upscale. Seasons 52 is motivated by seasonal ingredients, like a chef-driven restaurant, changing its menu quarterly along with showcasing new weekly specials. A plus? Nothing on the meal is more than 475 calories. It also has glutenfree and vegetarian menus. Consider the Winter Vegetarian Tasting with quinoa-citrus salad, soft black-bean taco, seasonal roasted vegetables and an amazingly innovative, yet simple cedar-roasted tofu. There is the standard grilled rack of lamb, roasted chicken and stellar flat-bread pizzas. The mini desserts in a cup are sensible, diminutive, four or five bites at most. Try the pecan pie with vanilla mouse or carrot cake with cinnamon honey. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sat. Locations: Highland Village, 4410 Westheimer Road, 713-6215452; CityCentre, 842 W. Sam Houston Parkway, 713-464-5252. seasons52.com. $$
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. $$$
The Epicurean Publicist
AMALFI Chef-owner Giancarlo Ferrara grates lemon zest onto pasta at Amalfi Ristorante Italiano & Bar.
Tony’s Upscale Gulf Coast Italian Neighborhood: Upper Richmond Old World Italian provides a water-walled backdrop for star sightings, anniversaries, birthdays and engagements over Riedel glasses and Christofle flatware. Cinematic plots unfold under the watchful eye of restaurateur Tony Vallone, whose Gulf Coast Italian menu sparkles with chef Grant Gordon’s flavors. When available, try the pea ravioli with lamb sausage, which shimmers with creamy richness. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Fri. & dinner Sat. 3755 Richmond, 713-622-6778. tonyshouston.com. $$$$
Triniti Contemporary American Neighborhood: Upper Kirby Eye-catching modern architecture aside, chef Ryan Hildebrand and his kitchen staff, which includes talented chef de cuisine Greg Lowry, manages to bridge wildly inventive cuisine (check out the nightly eight-course tasting menu) with updated steakhouse classics, such as a perfectly seared garlic-thyme prime New York steak accompanied by a roster of sauces. You can choose up to three, such as the samba-sake butter or whole grain mustard. The menu also features accomplished desserts, such as the hazelnut mousse. Lunch Fri.-Sun. & dinner Wed.-Sat. 2815 South Shepherd. 713-527-9090. trinitirestaurant.com. $$$$
Vallone’s Modern-American steakhouse Neighborhood: Memorial The option of adding any homemade pasta, such diminutive corn ravioli or short-rib tortellini, to your steak dinner for $9 adds to the appeal of the impeccably hand-cut slabs of steaks. But really all that is required for the juicy, charred, dry-aged, bone-in ribeye is a side of fries and a robust California cabernet. With his new steakhouse, restaurateur Tony Vallone again illustrates that he knows good food, and his impeccable tastes are expertly translated on the menu. Normally, we skip sauces, especially when the steaks (wet and dry age) shine with just a dash of salt. But in this case, the cabernet foie gras jus and spicy béarnaise are hard to pass up, as is the Colorado lamb chop with chickpea purée. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sat. & dinner Sun. 947 Gessner, 713-3956100. vallonessteakhouse.com. $$$$
MORE ONLINE See thebuzzmagazines.com for all reviewed restaurants. Use our restaurant finder to search by area, cuisine and price. TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ AUGUST 2015 43
sponsored by
PETS
Neighborhood Tails
713.662.2119 www.roveroaks.com
Dandy, age 2, Maltipoo, Indian Circle My name is Dandy because I was born on the Fourth of July. I am proud to be an American. Actually, today I have my rodeo outfit on. It has a red and white design on the top, so my colors are red, white and blue. My biological mom is a red toy poodle named Brigitte Bardot, and my biological dad is a white Maltese named Prince Andrew. I was destined to be a special girl! I like going to the office with my human mom. I am very sociable. I like my doggie pals and my extended adopted family. I have a special rescue friend named Bo. We like to jump over each other. I like when Mom chases me around the living room; I choose a special toy and she says, “I’m going to get you!” We play tug of war. Life is good. Got a cute critter? Email a picture of your pet with approximately 150 words to info@thebuzzmagazines.com or mail it to The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401. 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.
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A good fit
Social media in family law
In the last two issues of The Buzz, we looked at the benefits of a well-run doggie-daycare program and tips for starting out “on the right paw.” One of the important steps that top quality daycare programs require is a “social evaluation” or “temperament test” to determine if your dog is a good fit with the other dogs in the program. In other words, does the staff think your canine companion will play well with the other dogs? There are a lot of factors that influence a specific pet’s “fit” for a particular doggie-daycare program and a particular group of dogs including: (1) the number of dogs and size of dogs in the play group, (2) the activity level of the play group, (3) the amount of space where the dogs can run and play, (4) your dog’s natural instincts, personality and behavior, and (5) the other dogs’ instincts, personalities and behavior. Furthermore, it’s important to realize that many of these factors may change frequently – even daily – if there are different dogs in the play group each time your pet comes to play. So the concept of a “good fit” is actually quite fluid. Pet owners should remember this fact and learn to trust a well-trained staff that should be continually assessing whether each pet is enjoying the experience and “playing well with others.” Rover Oaks Pet Resort, 2550 West Bellfort, Houston, Texas 77054, 713.662.2119, www.roveroaks.com
If you are involved in litigation or believe you will be involved in litigation, do not post pictures or posts on social media that could be viewed as negative and ask family members/friends to refrain as well. Once involved in litigation, you should not remove postings or pictures from social media. Clients do not realize how posting negative comments on social media may play into custody determinations. They also do not recognize how pictures of drinking or debauchery can be used against them, even if they themselves did not post the pictures. In about 60 percent of my cases, parties bring me social media they would like to use against the other party. Many times this type of evidence sways the judge regarding the other party’s parenting. I won one case in part because the mother posted inappropriate comments and pictures on her Facebook page that her teenage daughter had access to. Educate yourself by talking with a family lawyer about what not to do during litigation. K. Nicole Voyles, a partner at Jenkins & Kamin, L.L.P., a full-service, boutique, family-law firm, has been recognized as a Super Lawyer for 2014 and 2015 and Texas Rising Star by Texas Super Lawyers for 2008, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Jenkins & Kamin, LLP, Two Greenway Plaza, Suite 600, Houston, Texas 77046, 713.600.5500, www.jenkinskamin.com
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NEIGHBORS
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by Andria Frankfort, staff writer
Back Porch
Emoji takeover behance.net/runamokstudios
B
y nature, we’re nonverbal communicators. We smile, or we grimace. We raise our eyebrows, we talk with our hands, we hug. Or we don’t. Translating all that innuendo into words typed onto a tiny screen with our thumbs (or, for some of us, an index finger) isn’t natural. But while it’s hard to convey anger, excitement, confusion or joy via a short, plain-word text, there’s an emoji for that. Emojis – those tiny illustrations also dubbed “emoticons” – are the cartoons we’ve come to rely on to imbue white-bread texts with feeling. And lately they’ve had quite a run. Rapper Drake tattooed Person With Folded Hands onto his forearm, resulting in a social-media explosion, with people debating whether the emoji meant praying hands or a high-five. A fan of Beyonce’s song Drunk In Love translated it into emoji, stringing the little symbols together like hieroglyphs set to music. And the entire classic novel Moby Dick was translated into emoticons, now existing as Emoji Dick. Not long ago, I’d seen my children and their friends using emojis. Rarely I’d get one myself, or I’d get a text with a “J” at the end, not knowing what that was supposed to be. Finally I figured it out – someone had tried to send a smiley face that didn’t translate to my computer or phone. But now the Unicode Consortium ensures compatibility across computer languages like Microsoft, IBM and Apple, and the emojis generally come through legibly, whether we’re texting with someone using an iPhone or an Android. Everyone can get the joke. Or at least we have the capability of getting it. Kind of like texting when it first hit, I thought I wasn’t supposed to be using emojis. I was too old and low-tech. If I wanted to express emotion I’d make a lunch date or get on the phone. Texting was perfunctory: Where is the party? What time is early dismissal? I left you a voice message. But suddenly, it seems, I’m searching several times a day for just the right cartoon to text, like the Party Popper emoji on birthday texts. (When did birthday texts rate enough, and how am I possibly so lazy?) Or Smiling Face with Open Mouth . Or Face Throwing a Kiss if I feel like I’ve used “xoxo” one too many times,
LOST IN TRANSLATION When your kids have to provide a dictionary with their emojis, you know you need to catch up.
or if I want to end a text conversation and don’t know how else to do it. Something short for, “I love you, but I’ve got to wind up this back-andforth now… Face Throwing a Kiss!” A friend ends texts with Cyclone – to her the blue spiral says, “Okay! Everything’s good! I’m tired of exclamation points and I’m signing off!” She thinks of it as “a modern 10-4.” (Names of specific emojis courtesy of Emojipedia.org.) Admittedly I’m in the slow lane when it comes to texting and emoji deployment. A 2012 Pew study reports that 63 percent of teenagers text daily (that’s 100 percent in my world), compared to only 39 percent who actually converse on their cells. (Or a mere 14 percent who talk over a landline, but do we really need to age ourselves that much?) All those texts cry to be clever. And apparently much thought goes into that. A recent conversation from the backseat of the car: “Is that Satan (referring to Japanese Ogre) ?” “Yes.” “Oh, I’ve been using him.” “When?” “When I’m grumpy but not grumpy enough to use the red grumpy face.” “Well I think that one is Satan, so maybe he’s
TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ AUGUST 2015 46
grumpier than the grumpy face.” And another: “What’s your favorite food emoji?” “I like the eggplant and the cookie.” “Omg, Claire! You can’t use the eggplant! There’s underlying meaning!!!” That was new to Claire and me, but apparently a universal. Upon further research, I learned there are several emojis with questionable innuendoes – the eggplant , peach and cherries each correspond to a similarly shaped R-rated body part. Omg – have I texted that eggplant?? Another issue: When your eyes are 40-plus and you can’t see the emoji. Like the friend who texted Grimacing Face : “I thought it was a grin, and my friend wrote back and said, ‘Why are you mad?’ I didn’t know what she was talking about. Apparently I’d used an angry face that I thought was a smiley face.” Or that one that, to me, looks like a red blob. Someone sent a few over to say, “Have a good day!” What was that red blob? “She’s the Tango Girl [Dancer, according to Emojipedia]. She’s dancing, like, ‘Woohoo!’ Like, ‘Have a great time! Party!’” Of course. Does that count if your eyes are too old to make out the picture?