Tanglewood/River Oaks Buzz - June 2019

Alex Frumovitz

From Novel to Netflix A Family Confronts Mental Illness Leaving Harvard Law School Father-Son Adventure Travel Exploring the Third Ward

Class of 2019

by Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld

Ghosting Stan-the-Man Chef’s Corner: Frédérick Perrier Summer Reading Houston, TX Permit No. 2047 PAID US Postage PRSRT STD

Cooking for Teens

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EDITOR’S NOTE B’shert is one of the very few Yiddish words that I know, and it has always been my mantra. It means “meant to be.” There are many times in my life that things did not go as planned. More than 30 years ago, as newlyweds, Michael and I dreamed of starting our own business. It didn’t work. And it didn’t work again. And again. After several attempts and several crazy ideas, the craziest of all – The Buzz – is the one that stuck. I count my blessings to work in a business that I love with people I love. This month’s issue showcases our sixth annual “Where Are They Headed” feature on graduating high school seniors, and I’m feeling sentimental. These students were born the same year The Buzz was born. In this evolving media world, we have not only survived, but thrived.

We are so grateful to have the best team, committed to each other and to quality for our readers and advertisers. We wish the Class of 2019 all the best and want them to know that although their paths will likely change course – probably more than a few times – it’s not only okay, it’s b’shert! 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 Editorial Assistant Design Manager Staff Writers

Contributing Writer Account Managers

Joni Hoffman Michael Hoffman Cheryl Laird Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld Pooja Salhotra John Duboise Tracy L. Barnett Deborah Lynn Blumberg Sharon Albert Brier Andria Frankfort Angie Frederickson Todd Freed Cindy Gabriel Cathy Gordon Michelle Casas Groogan Dai Huynh Annie Blaylock McQueen Jennifer Oakley Cheryl Ursin Russell Weil Becky Pivec Andrea Blitzer, Stephanie Goldfield Leslie Little, Jo Rogers

On our cover: Class of 2019 graduate Alex Frumovitz is heading to the University of Pennsylvania, where his parents met as college freshmen.

Cover photo by Nikky LaWell, lawellphoto.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 © 2019 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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MAILBAG

Your letters, thoughts, opinions Trees that give I just finished reading the sweet article about Brantley’s Giving Tree [The Giving Tree, by Jennifer Oakley, May 2019]. We also planted a sapling in our front yard when our first grandson was born in 2008 which is now at a second floor level. We call it Will’s tree, and marvel also at its growth.

There are several huge oak trees on the track near the LS [St. John’s School Lower School] that have big beautiful acorns every year. My husband, Bill, loves to grow trees from seed, so he has grown at least 10 “St. John’s Oaks” that I can remember. We moved into our house on Tangley in 1992, and, like Johnny Appleseed, he planted 4 or 5 on our street. The one next door is really gorgeous! Trees with a story are so much fun!

Kathy Van Wie

Inspiration after devastation Trees that Feed Body and Soul [Bearing Fruit, by Jennifer Oakley, April 2019] seemed to be calling out my name. Then, as if by magic, the Levys delivered a fruit tree! From Harvey who almost destroyed us to Syma and Darryl who inspired us … they gave us a housewarming gift of a tree. Not just any tree, but a satsuma orange tree that will grow and give us beautiful satsumas just like Darryl grows in their backyard. Life does go on, and this gift will be our "Giving Tree" for years to come. And the Levys have now inspired me – I bought a kumquat tree to grow by the satsuma. A big shout out to The Buzz and an even bigger thank you to Syma and Darryl Levy!

Next year I hope to have fruit for everyone!

Randi and Marty Rosenkrantz

L Barnett, April 2019]. I wanted to somehow inspire others to visit Petra and the Holy Land, so I appreciate this more than you know.

Allen Emerson

Loud restaurants are pet peeve I was so pleased to read the article about noise in restaurants [Restaurant Noise, by Dai Huynh, May 2019] and am delighted that this issue is being discussed. Very loud restaurants have been a pet peeve of mine for years.

Much has been made of volume (and potential damage) when using earbuds and headphones. And yet, people seem happy to sit with their children in a restaurant so loud that you have to shout at the person next to you to be heard.

However, the article did not mention music volume which, in my experience, is often the culprit. And, music volume is perhaps the easiest and least costly thing to change. Several times in the recent past while dining in popular restaurants (not fast casual), I have been unable to hear my server and vice versa because the music was so loud. There are several restaurants that I like but no longer go to because the level of noise ruins the dining experience. I hope you will continue to cast light on this issue.

Sharon Turner 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.

Fruits of their labor I never thought there are so many people interested in citrus trees! The article [by Jennifer Oakley, April 2019] was so beautifully written; I especially loved the lemon tree story. So many friends have reached out to us inquiring about where to get satsuma and kumquat trees and which variety to buy. I even connected a client, and now good friend, with Darryl because her grandson has asked her for an orange tree of his own. I can’t wait to see the first fruits of this child’s tree and even better to see his face when he picks and eats the fruits of his labor. In the past month, Darryl has planted a citrus tree in the home of our really good friends, we have given two trees to some special people to show our appreciation and delivered a tree to a family, who flooded two times, and just moved back to their new build home as a housewarming gift. Of course, all these trees were given with a lovely card ... The Buzz with Darryl’s autograph!

Syma Levy

Kudos to travel writer Tracy I have always enjoyed reading your Travel Buzz column. Never boring, very intuitive and always intriguing. Travel and photo journalists have always been inspiring to me. Thank you for sharing my thoughts and photos with your readers. You made it seem so effortless [In the Holy Land, by Tracy TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ JUNE 2019 6

What’s your story?

We are looking for residents for upcoming articles who: • Have traveled for music festivals.

• Have interesting travel stories.

• Have unique hobbies or collections.

• Have funny or unusual parenting stories.

• Know a Buzzworthy neighbor to profile.

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

Outdoor Living All Year Long!

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lawellphoto.com

NEIGHBORS

by Deborah Blumberg, staff writer

From Novel to Netflix Teacher’s Moxie heads to screen

J

ennifer Mathieu was on break in the Bellaire High School teacher’s lounge when her agent called with the news. It was 2016, the year before she published her fourth novel, Moxie.

Producer, writer and actor Amy Poehler – from Saturday Night Live and Parks and Recreation – wanted to option Moxie, her agent said, and she wasn’t the only one.

Mathieu, a Westbury resident whose fifth young adult book, published by Macmillan, comes out this fall, sat there, stunned by the prospect of Moxie becoming a film. “It didn't seem real,” she said. “I wrote down, ‘Amy Poehler’ on a piece of paper like I would forget or something. I called my husband immediately afterward. I was in a state of shock.”

Her book tells the tale of 16-year-old Vivian Carter, who’s frustrated with how girls are being treated at her Texas high school and starts a feminist zine to spur change. The novel was inspired by a Seventeen magazine article about the Riot Grrrl movement and Mathieu’s love for punk rock music.

Mathieu dialed into a call with her agents, Poehler, and executives from Poehler’s film company, Paper Kite Productions, to talk details. “I was so nervous I was breaking out in hives.” Poehler had read the book and suggested scenes for the film version. “She was very down to earth and friendly,” Mathieu said. “The stories she’s involved with treat women like complicated characters. I knew I would be in good hands.” So, Mathieu signed on with Paper Kite.

Then, she waited. She met with the screenwriter in Los Angeles. Paper Kite Productions sent Christmas gifts – a baking whisk with a note, “Let’s whip up a great year.” After 18 months, it renewed its option. Mathieu was hopeful, but she knew many optioned books never actually end up as films.

One day this February, when Mathieu checked email, she saw a note from a Paper Kite executive.

“It was very casual,” said Mathieu. “It said, we just sold the film to Netflix. The announcement will be out tomorrow. Let us know if you have any questions. And I freaked out.”

Filming on Moxie starts this fall, with a release date to be determined. It will join a host of teen-

centric movies Netflix recently has produced from books. Poehler told Mathieu she was especially taken with the relationship between Vivian and her mother, a single mom and widow, Mathieu said.

Both are strong women navigating changes in their lives. “She said it will be a great movie for a mom and daughter to see together.”

A lifelong writer and PAGE TO SCREEN Jennifer Mathieu balances novel writing with her teaching reader, Mathieu, 42, fre- job at Bellaire High School. Inset photo: Her book, Moxie, is heading to the quently had her nose screen with Amy Poehler's Paper Kite Productions. Filming starts this fall. buried in a book growstarted writing, she sold her first book, The Truth ing up, often one by Judy Blume or Cynthia About Alice. It was also inspired by a Seventeen Voigt. She moved to Houston in 2000 for a job magazine article, about a high school girl who as a reporter for the alternative-newspaper was the victim of vicious rumors.

Houston Press. Previously, she worked in Mathieu, who grew up in the Washington Chicago at a nonprofit.

D.C. area, attended a conservative, religious “While I liked journalism, I didn’t have the high school. She weaves experiences from her taste for blood,” she said. Her mother-in-law, a own adolescence into her works. In her dedicateacher for 32 years, suggested she pursue education to Moxie, she mentions her 12th-grade tion. Mathieu got certified and began teaching Current Topics teacher who called her a “femiEnglish at Johnston Middle School (now nazi” in class. “You insulted me,” she writes, “but Meyerland Performing & Visual Arts Middle you also sparked my interest in feminism, so School). She loved it. In 2016, she started at really, the joke is on you.”

Bellaire High School, where she teaches sophoShe’s currently working on her sixth novel. more English and goes by the name Jennifer Her fifth and latest, The Liars of Mariposa Island, Blessington. Being around teenagers inspires her, comes out Sept. 17. Set in the 1980s, it follows she says. “They have huge hearts, and they’re teen siblings Joaquin and Elena and their conbeginning to see the hypocrisy of the adult world.” trolling mother, a refugee who fled the Cuban At a teachers’ conference in Chicago, revolution as a teenager. The idea for the book Mathieu came across free advanced-reader stemmed from an episode of the radio show copies of YA novels. “I was like a kid in a candy “This American Life.” But, it also draws from store,” she said. She shipped a whole box home Mathieu’s family history. Her mother escaped and spent the summer reading. “Then I started the Cuban revolution at age 11. thinking, maybe I could do this.”

“This is my most ambitious project yet,” The next year, at night and on weekends she Mathieu said. “The plots are more complicated, wrote. She completed two manuscripts that my writing is stronger, there’s a big twist. I “will never see the light of day,” but were good pushed myself. I feel like I’ve really grown as a enough to land an agent. From there, she honed writer. But still, I’m dumbfounded that people I her craft, getting input from fellow writers and don’t know read my books.” teachers. Then, in 2012, five years after she

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NEIGHBORS

by Cindy Gabriel, staff writer

Ghosting Stan Online dating (way) after 40

I

like you more than food.” That was Stan’s most recent attempt to put his feelings in words. I think that means I’m just below his canine children, Chester and Trap. ’Lest you haven’t been waiting on the edge of your sofa for the next Buzz to arrive with the latest installment of whatever this is – “Dating After 40,” ok, waaaay after 40 – here’s the back story. (You can make a quick stop at thebuzzmagazines.com if you need a refresher.)

First, there was the May Issue, Crickets: The quiet before the Stan. And, if you really don’t have anything better to do, this is best read in the context of the April issue, An Old Crush: That I did something about.

Where are we? Oh yeah, online dating. So, after getting the feeling that I was smack dab in the middle of Stan’s Maybe List as someone he might like, and considering he was the first person I went out with, I decided to get out before I got in. First, I turned down a movie date with him. Then, I just kinda quit responding to his texts. I had just paid for three months of online dating and wanted my money’s worth.

Frankly, this was not my first online attempt.

Years earlier, I went to coffee a couple of times with two nice guys, six months after my husband George died. Why coffee? Both happened to be in AA. But, my addiction is coffee. I felt wired and unsettled after each visit and quickly retreated into hiding for five “Crickets” years. I can’t tell you how important that time was.

That little blond girl born in the ’50s had some natural curiosities that now, parentless, husbandless, and, with children out of the nest, had some inner exploring to do. I re-met myself without the attachments, challenged my own assumptions about life, religion, the universe, nature – all in the context of this crazy world, which seems to be changing at a rate that matches my own.

I questioned everything I was taught not to question, growing more and more comfortable with living in the mystery. It was the perfect setup for adventure. I wanted to know about other religions, particularly how they began, including my own Christian history. The fact that Stan was Jewish fed into that curiosity.

I went out, again, with two other men.

Still, Stan remained at the top of the list. Two weeks went by. I missed him.

Then, clever girl that I am, I thought of an “Oh, by the way” text about his favorite subject, food. I mentioned a bar/restaurant under new ownership that was walking distance from his home.

“I thought you ghosted me” was his comeback within seconds.

Wow, he noticed. I had never heard such a hip term, but it made me feel kinda cool.

He would later admit that my move to distance him took him by surprise. As it turns out, Stan was quite in demand, as a single man with a job and no CINDY'S ONLINE FIND Stan-the-Fan Ehrenkranz has never met a baby he noticeable missing parts, didn't like. Here he is with his granddaughter Arden Evans. but hair. In the 60-plus that, I grew up.” His large, loving family includes dating world, he’s a bit of “a catch.” three sisters, Aimee, Heather and Mindy, who At least I think he’s a catch. Am I lucky to offer him wise, supportive advice about me like, land the first man I went out with online, or just “Don’t blow this, Stan.” desperate?

He never met a baby he didn’t like. Like me, No, Stan is not the man of my plans. He’s not he is a new grandfather, who is prone to actually going to fix my house, or do my taxes. But he waking up a sleeping baby just to visit with cooks healthy meals, and is comfortable with them. Stop that, Stan! expanding the table for last-minute company.

He takes me to Shabbat services and tags He’s such a foodie that when he retires he wants along with me to an occasional Methodist gathto work at Trader Joe’s, where he always picks ering. He’s a terrible driver. I’m not much better. up fresh flowers, both for his home and mine.

We pray a lot.

He never finishes one meal without a plan for So, for now, I like him more than coffee. another. It’s a family thing. He has spent over a Think I’ll keep my accountant and see what hapdecade delivering Meals on Wheels, again food. pens next. He may not be the man of my plans, He’s an extrovert who listens, which may but he might just wind up the man of my dreams. account for his array of lifelong friends, who say Hope I don’t blow it. things like, “Stan and I grew up together. Make

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Pooja Salhotra

NEIGHBORS

by Pooja Salhotra, staff writer

My Quarter-Life Crisis Leaving Harvard Law School for home

W

hen the in-flight safety video flipped on, the reality of my situation sunk in. It was my 25th birthday, and instead of eating cake and sipping champagne with friends, I was sandwiched between two strangers on a flight from Houston to Boston.

As I sat in transit between the comforts of home and Harvard Law School – an institution that brought out doubts and fears I never knew I held – I blasted music on my headphones and made a birthday wish that 25 would become more than a quarter-life crisis.

Let me back up.

One week earlier, I had packed a suitcase and dragged myself home to Texas. I was four weeks into my first semester of law school at Harvard, and things were not going as smoothly as I had hoped. Though I had spent the first two weeks enamored with brilliant professors and engaged in new classes and non-stop events, I was soon drowning in reading and paralyzed by a constant fear of the infamous “cold-call” during class. I’d sit on the edge of my seat, dreading the moment when I would be caught dumbstruck by a professor’s question. I was scared of failing to live up to Harvard’s standards and failing to live up to my own expectations for myself.

Adding to the academic workload, the mindboggling array of extra-curricular activities, the looming summer-internship applications and the rush to find a new best friend pulled me in different directions, testing my limits.

Slowly, I felt myself spiraling. When I tried to read cases, my mind rushed with thoughts, questioning my place at Harvard. I spent nights lying awake, unable to fall asleep as my mind raced, too anxious to rest despite feeling exhausted from the busy days.

Psychologists describe the relationship between stress and performance with the “Yerkes-Dodson Law,” which dictates that performance increases with physiological/mental arousal, but only up to a certain point. The relationship resembles a bell curve, with the peak indicating the optimal level of stress. If I had to pinpoint myself on that curve during those first few weeks of law school, I was well past the peak.

I was probably at the right tail of the curve, har-

boring excessive stress and experiencing low performance.

I tried to talk myself out of this state, but my body and mind wouldn’t let up.

I decided to go home. I told my parents I was coming for a couple days, but in reality, I wasn’t sure I would go back. In THE PERFECT PAIR After returning to her hometown of Bellaire, Pooja Salhotra adoptHouston, I found ed 2-year-old Pearl in February, and they’ve been inseparable ever since. myself thankful for my education to make a social impact. I also home-cooked meals and words of support from wanted my career to align with my personal valfamily, but I was soon itching to go back to school. ues. Law school seemed like the best way to After having spent months studying for the LSAT learn tools and acquire the credentials to begin and giving up a great job to go to law school, a meaningful career. wouldn’t it be a waste to give it all up?

After reaching that decision in 2017, I wasn’t From a young age, cultural, societal and familready to throw in the towel just because law ial norms told me I was supposed to aim for gradschool was hard. So with a meditation book and uate school and secure a stable, well-paying job mild anxiety medication in hand, I booked a with opportunity to rise – in medicine, law or flight back to Boston and found myself sitting in business. Those were the options. My parents transit on my 25th birthday. both have doctorates in scientific fields, and my Back at Harvard, I made it through another brother holds a law degree from Harvard. week and was relieved when fall break rolled Between the three of them, they have attended around. I spent the break in the empty library, four of the most prestigious academic institucatching up on assignments. But while my classtions in the world. mates returned from break rejuvenated, I came And I was following that same path. After back drained. I felt as if I had spent the long graduating from St. John’s School in 2012, I weekend digging myself out of a deep hole and went on to Yale University, where I studied that, just when I made it to ground level, somepsychology and economics – psychology one had dumped a truckload of dirt over my head. because I loved it and economics because it was Once again, I was inching past the peak of the more practical.

Yerkes-Dodson curve. I could barely focus on My high grades earned me a marketing job at readings, and my mind wandered during class. I PepsiCo, but within my first year there, I was knew it was a privilege to be at Harvard and that already looking ahead to graduate school. I felt many people vied to be in my position. But I unsatisfied in a job where decisions were moticouldn’t escape the feeling that this wasn’t what vated by profit margins, and many of my peers I was supposed to be doing and that, no matter were thinking about applying to graduate how prestigious the law school was or how hard school. Without knowing exactly what I wanted I had worked to earn my place there, something to do, I decided on law school. In a world with was not quite right. (continued on page 14) innumerable problems, I knew I wanted to use

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ON THE TEAM Pooja Salhotra was part of The Buzz Magazines/Crime Stoppers of Houston team at the Reliant Rodeo Roundup cooking charity contest. Here, Pooja, Russell Weil, Nichole Christoph, Tania Cruz and Joni Hoffman toast a successful event.

During those tense weeks, I’d often ponder all I had given up on in order to attend law school – the friends I hadn’t spoken to in weeks, the family group chat I had silenced on my phone because my exams would conflict with the family wedding they were discussing. I started to ask whether I was willing to give up on things I cared about to strive for a legal degree. Why did I decide I wanted to be a lawyer, anyway?

Over the next week, I agonized over whether or not to stay at Harvard. Since middle school, I’d been a robot, programmed to work hard on each assignment in order to earn high grades and gain admission into a top school. In college, I worked doggedly to achieve a high GPA and find a respected job. After a year spent working, it was back to the books to study for the LSAT and apply to law schools. Even after I applied, I took no time off. The idea of doing so seemed absurd. Instead, I secured an internship at a legal non-profit in NYC and found side jobs to earn some money.

For days, I weighed the pros and cons of staying vs. leaving Harvard. I desperately wanted to take time off to decompress and carefully consider my career goals. But I also didn’t want to jump off the treadmill while everyone else powered ahead. I sought advice from fellow students, friends and family, and I even confided in professors. But there didn’t seem to be a “right” answer. If I left, I had no idea what I would do with myself, and if I stayed, I was committing to

(continued from page 12)

a grueling semester for a career I wasn’t 100 percent sold on. I wavered, one day deciding to leave and the next day spending hours in the library to finish reading assignments.

On one Sunday morning in October, I made up my mind. I had just finished my toughest week of the semester, and I had signed up for a Sunday morning yoga class to relax. But the Vinyasa flows that normally brought peace instead amplified my stress. My muscles were contracted and aching, even though I hadn’t worked out in weeks. When the yoga teacher instructed the class to move into Warrior II pose – a position that exudes power and stability – I felt weak and unsettled. My legs trembled, my heart palpitated, and my mind filled with anxious thoughts about school. While the class transitioned to a more challenging pose, I turned to my mat and sat in child’s pose. The room was spinning around me, and something inside of me was screaming that it was time to get out.

I ran out of class into the cold Boston air. I suddenly saw my situation with clarity. Even an activity that once brought contentment was increasing my frustrations. That morning, I called my family and told them my decision: I was coming home. By Wednesday, Harvard had approved my request for a year-long leave of absence, I’d said goodbye to classmates and professors, packed up my suitcase and returned textbooks to the bookstore.

Within hours, I went from a law student to an unemployed 25 year old with no job prospects,

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living in my childhood bedroom in Bellaire.

But it was right when I hit rock bottom that things started looking up. I was sitting in my neighborhood Starbucks when I looked up from my computer and spotted a familiar face. Within a moment, I was embracing Joni Hoffman, editor of The Buzz Magazines. I hadn’t seen her since 2012, when I spent the summer interning at the magazine, but we quickly set up a time to meet and talk about a potential job at The Buzz.

The following day, I was in the conference room at the magazine’s office, brainstorming story ideas. Within a week, I had written an article that was published online and had become a part of the editorial team.

When I look back on the past year, I’m in awe of all that’s happened. I moved from NYC to Boston to Houston. I transitioned from a nonprofit to law school to a community magazine. I turned 25 on an airplane. I made it through lows and celebrated triumphs – training to run a marathon, writing several articles a week, becoming a proud new dog mom.

Perhaps I should know where my life is headed, or at least where I want it to go. I have some ideas, but I have few clear answers. I recently decided to extend my leave of absence from law school for another year, and I plan to continue writing in the meantime. For the first time in my life, I’m not following a path, and I’m refusing to let unspoken rules or societal norms guide my decisions. I don’t know what’s next. It’s a little scary, but I like it.

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NEIGHBORS lawellphoto.com

by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

A Family Together Confronting mental illness Kate and Jim Lykes and their children Payton, 18, Joe, 16, Mackie, 12, and Glynis, 10, are about as picture-perfect a family as you’ll ever see. Kate is a retired CFO, and Jim is executive vice president at Origin Bank. They both love a party and, like their children, are fun, funny and smart. The whole family also happens to be beautiful. They’re the kind of people everyone wants to be around.

What you don’t see in the Lykes’ family picture, though, is their struggle with mental illness. Payton, the Lykes’ oldest daughter, has borderline personality disorder (BPD), a disease often marked by feelings of low self-worth and fear, and struggles with selfimage, direction and relationships. In the United States alone, more than 4 million people have BPD. In typical fashion for them, the Lykes made the decision to use their experience with mental illness to help others. For that reason, they recently chaired Menninger’s Annual Signature Luncheon, which combats the stigma of mental illness while raising funds for research and training at The Menninger Clinic, and they are publicly sharing their own family’s story.

I

n the beginning, Kate remembers noticing behavior that was out of the norm for Payton, who they knew as animated, gregarious and just the right amount of mischievous.

“You don’t know what it is,” she says. “You just know something’s not normal for your kid.”

“I think the first thing we saw was Payton becoming distant with her friends. Her grades began to suffer,” Jim says. “And when she was 12, she started self-harming. That was a go-time moment for us.”

“We were typical parents,” Kate says. “We sought help.”

But, Jim says, “We felt alone. Because even though we were always open about it, we didn’t know who to talk to. Now we have a network, but in the beginning, we didn’t have that.”

Payton also felt alone, although she didn’t feel she could be as open as her parents. “This was never talked about in my schools or where I grew up, and it seemed like I was the only one who was going through it, which made me want to hide it,” she says. “But now that it’s out there, there is a huge peer group of people struggling

SPEAKING UP Payton and Kate Lykes share their family's story to encourage other families living with mental health issues.

with the same. That’s really important for kids and parents to know.”

Both known to be organized and conscientious, Kate and Jim went first to Payton’s pediatrician. “We started with a very traditional, once-a-week appointment,” Kate says. “For many, that’s fine. But when your child’s behavior is disrupting daily functioning, once a week is not sufficient. We wound up spending every session catching up on the previous week’s events, with no time left for therapy or real growth. It’s too slow. You find yourself in this catch-22 where providers are by appointment, but a child’s needs are not.”

Payton and her parents went through a difficult year of trial and error, trying to find a fit with doctors and a medication that was helpful.

“Then we landed at a time when Payton could no longer go to school and had suicidal ideation, and we realized she was not safe,” Kate says.

They started looking into residential treatment.

“We didn’t know where to go,” Jim says. “We were struggling, knowing our daughter needed help quickly. You look up residential treatment centers online, and they scare the hell out of you. A friend recommended using an education-

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al consultant. Through a Google search, we found one who helped us understand what our options were and who would be best equipped to help our child.” Based on the consultant’s recommendation, Payton went to a wilderness program for three months of stabilizing intensive therapy, then into a residential program.

Insurance companies covered treatment – weekly therapy and hospitalization – until Payton entered the residential program. Then, after two years of claims and diagnosis codes, they stepped in to say a different protocol should have been followed. “But our clinicians made recommendations based on Payton’s path, not a protocol,” Kate says. “Her life was in danger, and Payton will tell you those recommendations saved it.” The Lykes paid for 95 percent of two years of residential treatment.

Financially, “it was an easy call for us,” Jim says.

“If it was anything else, it’s a huge issue. But when it’s life or death for your child, that’s a no-brainer.”

For those without the resources to pay on their own, options are scarce. “It’s easy to get 14 hours in the hospital paid for because of an attempted suicide, which can be significantly more expensive than long-term, proac- (continued on page 18)

TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ JUNE 2019 17

Jacob Power

FAMILY Jim Lykes, his mother Vicky, daughter Payton, wife Kate and Kate's father, Fellman Seinsheimer, gather at the Menninger Clinic's 2019 Annual Signature Luncheon, chaired by Kate and Jim. The luncheon raised $390,000 to support mental health care and programs. (continued from page 16) tive treatment,” Kate says.

“For intensive help, it’s much harder. Another route is the prison system – 70 percent of people in the system have mental health issues. Or, you do nothing and go undiagnosed, but you’ll likely end up hospitalized or in prison…”

“Or dead,” Jim says.

Throughout the process, the Lykes painstakingly educated themselves. “My dad went to Menninger years ago for treatment for bipolar disorder, but we didn’t know what they did there,” Jim says. There is a hereditary component to mental illness, but Kate is quick to point out that someone with bipolar disorder will not necessarily have a descendant with bipolar disorder.

“That was part of Payton’s original misdiagnosis,” she says. In the beginning, a doctor used a half-page, 40-question test that, they said, determined bipolar disorder. There are similarities between that and BPD, but treatment is different.

“We spent the next nine months in a whirlwind of medications that did more harm than good, making Payton tired and unproductive, which led to her feeling worse about herself, leading to more isolation, more suicidal ideation.”

When Payton was 13, after a three-day, 800question evaluation, including observation, clinicians suspected BPD but did not want to diagnose that young. At 17, BPD was officially confirmed.

“People with BPD often focus on the negative side of people and the world,” Kate says. “Their unhealthy coping mechanisms create more shame, and they become even farther removed from the people they love. It perpetuates the unhealthy behavior and starts a downward spiral

that there is no hope for things to be different.”

Today, Payton appreciates participating in Alternative Peer Groups, which provide professionally staffed, positive peer support. “That’s a great thing for me, because I am able to be with other kids who are just like me,” she says. She also benefits from a treatment called Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which teaches interpersonal skills, emotional regulation and mindfulness. “Payton is learning to be proactive,” Kate says. “She’s learning to say, ‘What’s the one next step I can take?’”

Often that “one next step” is determined, Payton says openly, when her parents notice unhealthy patterns surfacing. “They’ll sit down with me to make a list of my goals. Then I’ll start making strides toward those,” she says. “I go through this quite often.”

“Payton has all the tools now to help herself cope with things, but she struggles,” Jim says.

“With mental health, you have highs and lows.”

As a family, Kate says, “We love each other, forgive, forget, support and learn.”

“There’s not a choice,” Jim says. “Kate and I are very conscious about supporting Payton any way we can, but at the same time we have three other kids to take wonderful care of. We go out of our way to do that; I’ll have date nights with the girls individually.” And he jokes, “Kate and I will have a lot of vacations and date nights later in life.”

“We made a commitment very early on that we would be better together,” Kate says. “This is hard enough with each other. Everybody’s cried. There are times we don’t always agree, but we make sure we present a unified front. We also

TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ JUNE 2019 18

have to remember that we have to take care of ourselves as well, because otherwise we’re no good to anyone. We’re making a conscious effort to get a good night’s sleep, or go for a walk, or go on a date night. This is about hard work.”

Kate and Jim encourage parents to be open and talk to their kids. “Wouldn’t we rather know how our children feel and what is going on in their lives than wonder and hope that no news is good news?” Kate says.

Jim says being aware is paramount. “The signs can be different,” Jim says. “We’re talking anything from ADHD to bipolar. If your children start acting differently, you need to be conscious of it. Don’t think it will just go away.”

It can be difficult to distinguish something serious from typical teenage behavior. Payton shares some signs to watch for: “One of the biggest patterns with me and my peers [when we regress] is how our relationships with our parents change. I start disconnecting from my parents, stay in my room, my stuff gets messy. I’m not working out or eating healthy. I’m not doing okay when I’m doing that, even though I think I’m okay. That reflects how I’m feeling on the inside.”

When she does relapse, Payton says the most important thing “is that my parents aren’t getting down on me. That pushes me away. Instead of sending me texts like, ‘Where are you?’ they send texts like, ‘I love you and I care for you.’

Parents need to show love and support, because really that’s all that we all want.”

Payton was accepted to several colleges, including TCU, both her parents’ alma mater. She has decided to attend the University of Houston next fall.

TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ JUNE 2019 19

Marc Furi

NEIGHBORS

by Pooja Salhotra, staff writer

Exploring Houston Hidden gems: Third Ward

S

o where in Houston are we exactly?” my dad Atul Salhotra asks from the passenger seat of the car, as he peers out the window reading aloud street names he’s never heard before.

“This is so close to our house!” he continues, shocked that after more than 27 years in Houston, he’s never been to the Third Ward neighborhood, situated about two miles south of BBVA Compass soccer stadium and just west of the University of Houston.

Driving east off 288-N, I drive my dad by Texas Southern University, a historically African-American university, and then I point out the site of the original Frenchy’s Chicken, a local favorite that Beyoncé famously rapped about in her track I Been On. But my dad is most interested in the neighborhood’s history. When I drive him north on Emancipation Avenue, he notices Emancipation Park, a 10-acre piece of land that stands as the city’s oldest park. In 1872, that lot was purchased by four former slaves for $800.

As soon as I begin sharing the park’s history, my dad wants to know more: “What was the park used for back then? Who owns it now? Is it frequently visited?”

My dad’s a genuinely curious person who is an encyclopedia of information – history, science, you name it, he’ll offer answers. So he seems genuinely surprised that he knows little about this part of Houston. After some research, I explain to him that the park was originally used to celebrate Juneteenth, the anniversary of the day in 1865 when General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston with the news of the Emancipation Proclamation, ending slavery in the state of Texas. Today, that park is owned by the city, and it’s still the site of Juneteenth celebrations.

When I think about it, my dad’s reaction is sound. We should be alarmed by our ignorance.

There’s something deeply troubling about the fact that it took writing an article about the Third Ward neighborhood for me to learn, for example, that Emancipation Park’s swimming pool housed the only public pool in Houston where black people could legally visit until the 1950s. Apparently living and attending K-12th grade in Houston does not make me any kind of

ART Project Row Houses is a community organization that focuses on social engagement and art. Artists are invited to display their work in seven traditional row houses. Here: artist Marc Furi’s 2017 “I Love 3W.”

expert on this city’s history.

Thanks to a $33.6 million investment, the park received a facelift and reopened in 2017 – the rec center now is dazzling with long glass windows and rust-colored rectangles arranged in a geometric pattern. My dad, an environmentalist, notices the solar panels flanking the roof. And as an avid gardener, he admires the manicured lawn where the community gathers for movie nights.

For many, these changes to Emancipation Park are symbolic of larger transformations to the community. Once a bustling center of AfricanAmerican life, a number of forces – including racial integration and, more recently, gentrification – have changed the face of the neighborhood. New investments and housing developments have translated to higher property taxes that many former residents simply cannot afford.

“I think [the Emancipation Park renovation] is positive, but at the same time, when you make that type of investment, you also need to stabilize the community,” says Carl Davis, a lifelong Third Ward resident who leads the Emancipation Economic Development Council (EEDC), a collaboration among faith-based organizations, non-profits, government entities and businesses trying to revitalize the neighborhood while preserving its history.

Carl remembers his childhood in the Third Ward, then a thriving business corridor filled with restaurants, grocery stores, barber shops and pharmacies owned and operated by AfricanAmericans. “We had everything we needed to live and to survive,” he says.

But in the mid ’80s, the neighborhood entered

TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ JUNE 2019 20

a period of decline. The end of segregation meant Third Ward residents started shopping and frequenting areas outside of their own neighborhood. Growing prosperity motivated wealthy African-Americans to move to suburbs such as Missouri City. And, external forces, such as construction of new freeways like 288, disrupted the community and displaced many residents.

Now, groups like the EEDC are working to preserve the culture, heritage and history of the Third Ward and ensure the safety and prosperity of long-time residents. In doing so, iconic structures have popped up, illuminating the history of the neighborhood.

After showing my dad Emancipation Park, we walk across the street to Crumbville, a locally owned bakery famous for its vegan treats.

Outside of Crumbville stands TréSonik, an artpiece part of a larger installation that seeks to highlight the culture of the Third Ward.

TréSonik looks like an old payphone, so my dad naturally picks up the phone and starts dialing a number. But you can’t place a phone call from TréSonik – instead, with each button, my dad hears different ambient noises of the neighborhood, recorded by Marc Newsome, also known by his artist name Marc Furi. The sounds include the background noises you would hear at the original Frenchy’s drive-through, the rhythm of TSU’s Ocean of Soul marching band practicing and the sounds of St. Mary’s Catholic Church’s annual gumbo cook-off.

The payphone is decorated with Marc’s motif: a Monopoly board. “It’s kind of a snarky take on gentrification,” Marc says. (continued on page 22)

TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ JUNE 2019 21

Pooja Salhotra

(continued from page 20) “Because what does [gen-

Editor’s note: This article is the second of a threepart series exploring different parts of Houston. Next up: the Greater Heights.

Pooja Salhotra

Photo courtesy of Marc Furi

trification] make me feel like? A big giant Monopoly board.”

Marc bought a “fixer-upper” house in Third Ward in the early 2000s. The property value has since skyrocketed, and his property taxes have gone with it. Even so, Marc is a proud Third Ward resident. When I meet him, he dons an “I heart 3W” T-shirt he designed himself, and he’s quick to rattle off a list of gems in the Third Ward. There are restaurants like the Turkey Leg Hut, which Marc describes as “what it would be like if the rodeo has a restaurant,” and Alfreda’s Soul Food, which Ella Russell, founder of Crumbville, likens to “if your grandma and all her sisters opened up a restaurant.”

My dad and I drive down Almeda Road, and he points out the new high-rise developments along the way. Alfreda’s Soul Food, which opened in 1964, is one of the few older establishments still around. A year-old mural outside the restaurant features national AfricanAmerican heroes including Dr. Martin Luther King, President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and pianist Duke Ellington, and it also highlights local heroes, including Houston-born civil rights leader Barbara Jordan and artist John Biggers, who served as the chair of the art department at TSU. “The Almeda strip was initially owned by African-Americans,” said Victor Gaddie, who painted the mural. “We wanted to preserve some sense of history and convey that to those that would be passing by. Ultimately, that should never be forgotten.”

Residents aren’t the only ones who have recognized the need to preserve the community’s culture. Earlier this year, Preservation Texas recognized Houston’s Emancipation Freedom Colonies – which includes the Third Ward neighborhood along with the Fourth and Fifth Wards – as one of the six “most endangered places” in the state.

The announcement notes that this area has “suffered in recent decades from extensive demolition, architecturally inappropriate redevelopment and gentrification,” and it calls for “action to protect and preserve the fragile historic resources that remain, including modest residential structures, brick streets, commercial buildings and sacred places.”

Ultimately, it’s perhaps inevitable that any neighborhood will change with time. But what cannot be forgotten is the neighborhood’s history, or the people who influenced it.

“This is a family-oriented community,” Carl said. “Families still live here who I grew up with.”

“It’s a fun place to be. You have the opportunity to experience the culture, and it was at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement too. A lot of great things happened in the Third Ward.”

DISCOVERIES Top: Atul Salhotra listens to ambient Third Ward sounds through TréSonik, an art installation located outside Crumbville. Middle: Artist and Third Ward native Marc Furi sells his T-shirts at a pop-up at the Houston Museum of African American Culture. Bottom: Emancipation Park, Texas’ first public park, was rededicated in 2017 after a $33.6 million renovation.

TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ JUNE 2019 22

MAKE HISTORY WITH YOUR EVENT

• Weddings – Bar/Bat Mitzvahs – Birthday Parties – Corporate Events • Original horse and carriage fire station 3 • Listed on the national register of historic places • Breathtaking views of the downtown skyline • Private gated Parking

S TAT IO N3 VE NUE. C O M H O U S TO N ARTS DISTR ICT - MINUTES F ROM DOWNTOWN | 832.831.8113 TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ JUNE 2019 23

KIDS

by Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld, staff writer

lawellphoto.com

Class of 2019 Where are they headed?

C

ongratulations to the Class of 2019!

Once again, as part of our annual tradition, we asked our graduating neighbors to share their college plans with us. What are they most looking forward to in the next chapter of their lives? What advice would they give their kindergarten selves if they could? And, looking back on their high school years, what was a stand-out memory?

Alex Frumovitz – The Kinkaid School Alex Frumovitz is headed to the University of Pennsylvania, where his parents met as college freshmen. He’s undecided on his major but is excited to meet new people and explore a new city. As far as a dream job? He says, “Now that being a professional baseball player is looking a little less realistic than it used to be, perhaps a surgeon.” And if he could give his kindergarten self a piece of advice, he’d say: “Training to win the fourth-grade Field Day sack race starts now.”

Lizzie Wiesen – Second Baptist School Lizzie Wiesen is headed to The University of Texas at Austin and will major in public relations. She’s excited for the freedom and for something new. Her favorite moment from high school was cheering on the sidelines. “I have been a cheerleader for five years, and I just love hyping up the student body. I am a very gregarious person, so anything involving social events is my favorite thing!” she says. She dreams of being a mom one day and raising her future children. She’d also love to be an event coordinator or an elementary school teacher. If she could, she’d tell her kindergarten self: “Enjoy every moment! Your time living with your parents and family flies by. Also, don't put your identity in what others think of you. Be your true self! That is when you will be the happiest.”

Eli Maierson – River Oaks Elementary School, Pin Oak Middle School, St. John’s School Eli Maierson is heading to Amherst College and will major in English. He’s looking forward to taking interesting classes and making new friends in college. If he could, he’d tell his kindergarten self: “Never stop reading!”

FAMILY FOOTSTEPS Alex Frumovitz’s parents, Karen and Michael, met at the University of Pennsylvania.

The first week of school, Michael asked Karen to hold his sweatshirt while he went out to the quad. She never gave it back. They’ve since celebrated many years of marriage and milestones together. Alex is pictured as an incoming freshman wearing that same sweatshirt.

Jenna Bobbora – St. Francis Episcopal Day School/Hunters Creek Elementary School, Second Baptist School Jenna Bobbora is headed to Texas Christian University and will major in musical theater.

She’s looking forward to being independent, being able to take classes that interest her and TCU athletics. Her dream would be to perform on Broadway one day. Her favorite moments from high school included performing in shows

TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ JUNE 2019 24

with her friends as well as enjoying football games. If she could, she’d tell her kindergarten self to enjoy the time you have with your friends and “be yourself!”

Sammy Gerber – River Oaks Elementary School, Pin Oak Middle School, The Emery/Weiner School Sammy Gerber is off to Rhodes College to study environmental sci- (continued on page 26)

Marlo Wise Photography

lawellphoto.com

Lizzie Wiesen – The University of Texas at Austin

Jenna Bobbora – Texas Christian University Ashkan Image Photography

lawellphoto.com

Eli Maierson – Amherst College

Claire McAdams Photography

Mark Katz

Alex Frumovitz – University of Pennsylvania

Barbara Samuels

Milan Crespo – Kenyon College Jaime Leigh Sonnier, Casa de Camera

Sammy Gerber – Rhodes College

Alexandra Herrera – Brown University

Ethan Samuels – Amherst College TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ JUNE 2019 25

Elaine Matte Mut

ward to being independent and living in a new city. If he could, he’d tell his younger self: “Learn how to balance work and fun.”

Elaine Matte Mut

(continued from page 24) ence. He’s looking for-

Milan Crespo – Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart Milan Crespo is heading to Kenyon College and will major in economics/English. If she could, she’d tell her younger self: “Listen to your parents.” In college, she’s looking forward to the opportunity for personal growth, and she’s excited to focus her studies on specific interests. Her dream is to become a handwriting analyst, a hobby of hers “because you get a psychological assessment of a person by certain characteristics within their writing style.” Her favorite part of high school was the independence she gained from the moment she learned to drive to managing her own schedule with school and extracurricular activities, which felt empowering to her.

Alexandra Herrera – Annunciation Orthodox School, Episcopal High School Alexandra Herrera is headed to Brown University to study biology. In college, she hopes to make new friends from all over the world, get to know her professors, and participate in research and volunteer work. One day, she hopes to attend medical school and complete a residency in dermatology. Her dream is to become a partner in a dermatology group and enjoy life in sunny southern California.

Reflecting on high school, she says that seeing herself and her peers experience personal growth and witnessing their journeys since the first day of freshman year is memorable to her. If she could, she’d tell her kindergarten self: “Never give up. Hard work is what will get you places.”

Ethan Samuels – The Shlenker School, The Emery/Weiner School Ethan Samuels is off to Amherst College and will double major in economics and film and media studies. He’s most looking forward to meeting new people from diverse backgrounds from across the country. His dream would be to become a film director. His favorite high school moment was winning the baseball state championship his sophomore year. “It's a journey that I will carry with me for the rest of my lifetime,” he says. If he could, he’d tell his kindergarten self: “Grow out the ’fro every once in a while.”

Nicole and Michelle Mut – Poe Elementary School, Lanier Middle School, Lamar High School Nicole and Michelle Mut are both headed to Washington University in St. Louis. Nicole will major in engineering, and Michelle will study biology on a pre-med track. Nicole (at right in senior photo) is looking forward to independence and exploring who she will become, and Michelle (at left in senior photo) is excited to take classes that she’s truly interested in and meet new people. Nicole’s dream job is “to be an engineer that

Nicole and Michelle Mut – Washington University in St. Louis

furthers the field of renewable energy. I am also interested in entrepreneurship. My main goal is to create positive impact,” she says. Michelle would love to become a neurosurgeon. Nicole says some of her favorite high school moments were leading NHS meetings. Michelle’s favorite moment was dancing with her friends at prom.

Nicole (at left in kindergarten photo) would advise her younger self: “Always pursue what you love!” Michelle (at right in kindergarten photo) would tell her younger self: “Find a balance between work and play!”

Sophie Newell – Second Baptist School Sophie Newell is headed to Drexel University and will major in international business. She’s excited about “the endless possibilities of dorm living, study abroad, and campus traditions.” Her dream job would include traveling around the world, having face-to-face communication and utilizing her Chinese speaking abilities within the business world. Her favorite high school moment was when she was named the Bob Rollins Swimmer of the Meet during her senior year at the TAPPS state swimming championship – the best female swimmer out of the meet. If she could, she’d tell her kindergarten self: “Don't run if you have Crocs on!”

Cabot Barton – Presbyterian School, Houston Christian High School Cabot Barton is heading to the University of Mississippi and will major in business administration. He’s looking forward to his college years.

If he could, he’d tell his younger self: “‘It's good to be as tall an emperor penguin.’ In kindergarten I was the tallest child in the class, and my teacher gave me that advice to make me feel better about my height. I would tell myself to lis-

TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ JUNE 2019 26

ten to your teachers more.”

Claire Theroux – Incarnation – St. James (New Jersey), Villa Victoria Academy (New Jersey), Incarnate Word Academy Claire Theroux is heading to San Diego State University to study business management. She’s looking forward to taking classes that are focused on what she’s interested in pursuing. Her favorite high school moment was spirit week during her freshman year when they had a water bottle flip challenge; she loved participating and hearing her classmates cheering her on. If she could, she’d tell her younger self to take advantage of nap time.

Elyse Pedrick – Annunciation Orthodox School, Episcopal High School Elyse Pedrick is headed to Wake Forest University to study business. She’s looking forward to meeting new people and discovering new passions. Moving to a place with all four seasons is a bonus, she says. Her dream job would be to become a behavioral analyst at the FBI. Her favorite moment from high school was her firstever dance concert and seeing all her friends there to support her. If she could, she’d remind her kindergarten self: “Enjoy every moment and keep beating to your own drum. Always follow your heart and don't sweat the little things. Also temporary hair dye is never that temporary.”

Mackenzie Kim – Veritas Christian Academy, Second Baptist School Mackenzie Kim is off to Baylor University to study business. She’s most looking forward to meeting new people and transitioning into a new atmosphere. She would like to work in business one day and make an (continued on page 28)

Sean E. Barton

Paige McInturff Photography

Cindy Crofford

Cabot Barton – University of Mississippi Emma Wiederhoeft

Sophie Newell – Drexel University

Elyse Pedrick – Wake Forest University

Kurchi Basu

Hunter McConn – Austin Community College Vic Clark

Mackenzie Kim – Baylor University

Vic Clark

Taryn Melgoza

Claire Theroux – San Diego State University

Sydney McConn – The University of Texas at Austin

Andrew Duong – Trinity University TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ JUNE 2019 27

(continued from page 26) impact on the lives of

those in her community. Her favorite moments from high school were cheering at the football games on Friday nights. If she could, she’d tell her kindergarten self: “Keep on dreaming and thinking big.”

Hunter McConn – West University Elementary School, Pin Oak Middle School, Lamar High School Hunter McConn is headed to Austin Community College and will major in liberal arts. He’s looking forward to meeting new people in college. His dream job would be to become a sports agent. He doesn’t have a specific favorite moment from high school but enjoyed meeting people who are now his best friends. If he could, he’d tell his younger self: “Make sure to stay on top of your work at all times.”

Sydney McConn – West University Elementary School, Pin Oak Middle School, Lamar High School Sydney McConn is heading to The University of Texas at Austin. She’s undecided on her major but is looking forward to meeting new people and making lifelong friends in college. If she could, she’d tell her kindergarten self: “Hard work really does pay off.”

Andrew Duong – West University Elementary School, Pershing Middle School, St. John’s School Andrew Duong is headed to Trinity University to study biology. He’s looking forward to meeting new people who come from different areas. He hopes to participate in Ultimate Frisbee, intramural sports and other clubs. His dream job would be to become a sports medicine doctor for the Texans or Rockets. Andrew’s favorite high school memory was senior prom.

If he could, he’d tell his kindergarten self: “Just have fun. Enjoy every moment with friends and family because you're going to be old before you know it. Have fun during recess, cherish nap time, and appreciate everything you have.”

Caroline Moseley – The Kinkaid School Caroline Moseley is off to Northwestern University and will major in theater and premed. She is excited to make new friends and is looking forward to gaining a new independence in college. Her dream job is to be a dermatologist or pediatrician. “I think the skills that theater teaches you – communicating ideas, empathy, conveying emotions and synthesizing ideas – are actually essential to being a good physician. One day I hope to apply my background in theater to some sort of healthcare position!” If she could, she’d advise her younger self to get outside and play in the sun.

“As you get older, you get to spend less and less time outside in the fresh air and you spend more working indoors.”

Carson Traylor – Longfellow Elementary School, Johnston Middle School, AlexanderSmith Academy Carson Traylor is heading to the University of Houston to study business management. He’s looking forward to meeting new people and forming life-long relationships. He says, “Going to a large university in my hometown allows me to go into school already having friends on campus, but also allows [me to] make several new friends.” He’s especially excited to work with students in the School of Business. His dream is to own his own vintage resale shop one day. If he could, he’d tell his younger self: “Always strive to be your own boss.”

Whitney Thode – Second Baptist School, Southwest Christian School (Fort Worth), Second Baptist School Whitney Thode is heading to Baylor University, and she’ll be part of the Business Fellows program, majoring in biology, Spanish and business on the pre-med track. Her dream job would be working in pediatrics to combine her love for people, kids, science and service.

“Being on Second Baptist Church's JUMP Team the past four years, I have seen my love for kids manifest and flourish, so I believe pediatrics would be right up my alley!” she says. Her favorite high school memory was when she and her friends spent senior year Spring Break together on a cruise with their moms (specifically, karaoke night on the cruise). If she could, she’d tell her kindergarten self to fill each day with things that bring joy while being yourself.

Celia Houston – Saint Thomas’ Episcopal School Celia Houston is headed to the United States Coast Guard Academy to study marine engineering and naval architecture. She says: “I have gone to a very tight and small-knit school my whole life. For better or for worse, we know everything about each other. I am going to miss everyone, but I am very excited to make new friends and live outside of Houston.” Her dream would be to go to sea on a Coast Guard cutter or work search and rescue in the Northeast. She hopes to help make the maritime industry more eco-friendly and ecoefficient. Her favorite high school moment was when the girl's cross-country team missed its start at state and ended up beating multiple teams. If she could, she’d advise her kindergarten self to take as many naps as possible.

Kelly Thomas – Veritas Christian Academy, St. Agnes Academy Kelly Thomas is heading to Northeastern University to study journalism. She’s looking forward to exploring her interests in a new environment and the opportunity to grow as a person. “My dream job is to be a globetrotting journalist, documenting the world and sharing it with others in hopes of promoting its preservation,” she says. Her favorite high school moment

TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ JUNE 2019 28

was teaching fifth graders in Guatemala City about the world’s climates while on a service trip with St. Agnes students. If she could, she’d tell her younger self to cherish nap time.

Sarah Tomlinson – Condit Elementary School, Pin Oak Middle School, Gateway Academy Sarah Tomlinson is off to the University of St. Thomas to study studio arts. She’s excited to make new friends and learn about a subject that she’s interested in pursuing. Her dream has always been to be a designer, “an inventor of sorts, designing things that could revolutionize the modern world and help everyone who needs it. Art means a lot to me, and I want to do something that can help the world, so not only would I be designing things for use, I would also be designing things have style,” she says. Her favorite moment from high school was being the lead in her school’s rendition of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. If she could, she’d advise her younger self to go after her dreams.

Arthur Levy – Robert M. Beren Academy, The Emery/Weiner School Arthur Levy is headed to The University of Texas at Austin to study public health. He’ll be part of the Health Science Scholar program.

He’s not sure of a specific dream job, but he’s interested in oncology. He’s looking forward to gaining more independence in college and living with a friend. His favorite moment from high school was looking around and seeing all of his friends wearing their college T-shirts. If he could, he’d tell his kindergarten self: “The hard work, stress and anxiety that you will put yourself through is definitely worth it. You will graduate high school extremely proud of your transcript and accomplishments.”

Megan Garney – St. Thomas More Parish School, Incarnate Word Academy Megan Garney is headed to the University of Arkansas, Honors College to study nursing.

Her dream is to be a nurse practitioner and to also be a traveling nurse; she wants to explore the world while doing something she loves.

She’s looking forward to meeting new people, continuing her studies in college and experiencing new things in her new home. Her favorite high school memory is Foundation Day where the students enjoy a school-wide celebration honoring the founder of the school. If she could, she’d advise herself to have fun and make memories. “My school years moved very fast. I would tell my kindergarten self to enjoy every moment like it would be your last.”

MORE ONLINE See thebuzzmagazines.com for more graduating neighbors. Also, check out – and contribute to, if you haven’t yet – our annual database of collegebound Buzz seniors. Additionally, read about some of the teachers who inspired these graduates along the way.

Margaret Rotan Photography

Carson Traylor – University of Houston

Whitney Thode – Baylor University

Katherine Begala

Cindy Crofford

Caroline Moseley – Northwestern University

Arthur Levy – The University of Texas at Austin

Morgan Lynn Razi

Sarah Tomlinson – University of St. Thomas Charla Wood

Kelly Thomas – Northeastern University

Elegant Portraits by Kian

Megan Fisher

Celia Houston – United States Coast Guard Academy

Megan Garney – University of Arkansas TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ JUNE 2019 29

NEIGHBORS

.

by Sharon Albert Brier, staff writer

Wine-derful.

Marilyn and Ben Rosenthal spent three weeks on a special Tauk tour with only 36 people. They flew on seven private planes from Melbourne around Australia and New Zealand. In Uluru (Ayers Rock), Queensland, they held a baby kangaroo that was orphaned when its mother was killed by a car at night. It is being raised by a couple who nurses creatures until they can be returned to the wild.

The Sydney Opera House will close for two years to improve the sound system, but they were there. In New Zealand, they quenched their thirst in the wine country and ate greenlipped mussels. They watched dogs herd sheep down a mountain and were awed on a cruise surrounded by cliffs. On Waiheke Island, they had a unique wine-tasting lunch at Mudbrick Vineyard that resulted in adding to their wine inventory at home.

The setting is Austin. Memorial High and Texas A&M grad Stephanie Perkins wrote an award-winning, cozy mystery novel, Murder Once Removed, under her pen name, S.C. Perkins. (There’s another “Stephanie Perkins” author out there.) The genealogy-themed mystery was unveiled at a discussion for 40 fans, led

by Stephanie, for the Houston Junior Forum and friends at Judy Perkins’ home. Stephanie won The Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Novel contest with this book. Cookies with silhouettes of “relatives” on a family tree were served since a genealogist-turned-amateur sleuth is the root of it all.

Artsy women. The Art Circle members sponsored by the Holocaust Museum had a real treat at John and Julie Cogan’s historic home.

Five local women artists were celebrated and introduced by Mirl Cohen. Diane Gelman, Sandi Seltzer Bryant, Ellen Orseck, Orna Feinstein and Roberta Harris shared their background and displayed their art. The common thread was a lifelong passion early on, and each has their own studio. While each woman has a unique style, their art portrays happiness and color.

Spring on over. It was a perfect spring day when 38 Tangle Lane neighbors walked over to Howard and Vicky Dyer-Smith’s home,

Hung Truong

Rumor Has It

CELEBRATING ARTISTS It was a colorful event for the Art Circle, sponsored by the Holocaust Museum.

From left: home hosts Brian and Terri Caress, Julie and John Cogan, and Irene Perlman.

party central for the street to welcome in spring with cocktails and appetizers. The newest neighbors, Marie and Kevin Brown, are remodeling.

Sharon and Mo Cordes, Jennifer and Chris Van Arsdel, Bill and Alisa Johnson, Carolyn and Harry Rosenthal, Liz and Rob Andrews, Delia Stroud, Anita and Robert Eigler, Byron Pond, Susan Williams, Jim and Iva Ann King, Sue Howe, Michele Hosko, Sally Salners and Peg Austin were mixing around.

Inspired. Bruce Williams, after a 30-year layoff from swimming, started again at the age of 50 and has risen to be one of the top competitors in his 65-69 age group. He competed in the U.S. Masters Swimming Championships in Mesa, Arizona, with 2,000 other swimmers from across the nation. He swims for the local Rice Masters Swim Team that includes college students through 90 year olds. In April, he won three individual events, placed second in another and was a member of two relay teams that also placed first. In 2018, Bruce’s times in five events were ranked in the top 5 worldwide. He makes a splash alright!

Reflections on style. The Chic Boutique Runway Show and Luncheon, themed Prancing with a Purpose and presented by the Salvation Army Auxiliary, raised over $6 million. A horse in front of the River Oaks Country Club greeted the guests to pay respect to honoree Judi McGee, an avid horse lover whose farm hosted an Easter egg hunt with 7,000 eggs

TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ JUNE 2019 30

for 250 underprivileged children from Boys & Girls Harbor. Gina Saour, auxiliary president, welcomed the guests at the sold-out event that spilled into the adjacent room. Event chair Darlene Clark and committee members Leigh Newton Alvarez, Lynn Clayton, Tammy McDade, Dev Stern and Connie Wallace were impressed with the quality and bargains of the recycled designer fashions that were sold later the next day in the pop-up Chic Boutique.

Wall of videos. The Society of IranianAmerican Women for Education held its gala event at LifeHTX to celebrate the Iranian/Persian new year (Nowruz) and to honor its Texas college and university scholarship recipients. A wall projection of cherry blossoms swaying in the breeze provided a wow and ambient spring background as the 200-plus guests mingled. A short video of the celebration in countries worldwide was projected as keynote speaker Dr. Mahnaz Afkhami, event chair Heidi Kashani and auction chair Neekie Kashani spoke. A magician from Magic Island and DJ Radu Jon, “The Violin Guy,” entertained. In the crowd were Ambassador Hushang Ansary and Shahla Ansary, Monsour Taghdisi, Henry Richardson and Nazey Azimpoor.

MORE ONLINE See Rumor Has It at thebuzzmagazines.com for additional photos. Have some good news to share?

Email us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com.

TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ JUNE 2019 31

KIDS

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by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Buzz Baby

Summer outings

Buzz Baby is a column about life with little ones.

Writer Annie McQueen has three children age 4 and under.

B

y the time June arrives in these parts, there’s pretty much a guaranteed component that comes along with it: heat.

When the sweltering, sweaty days set in, it’s hard to stay outside all day with young children, yet they can get bored at home.

Tami Clark, a fan of travel and adventure, has found some not-too-hot summer activities for her four young children. She and husband Justin have 9-year-old Elle, 7-year-old Eden, 5year-old Ryan and 3-year-old Chelsea.

One favorite summer spot, even though it’s outdoors, is The Houston Zoo. They arrive early before the heat sets in and stick mostly to indoor exhibits with air conditioning like the aquarium, reptile house, bird house and Naturally Wild Swap Shop, where kids can bring items that they found in nature to learn more about. After walking around, they cool off with Dippin’ Dots or find a breeze while riding around the carousel.

They finish the day at the zoo’s splash pad.

Tami packs her kids spare clothes in plastic bags, so after the splash pad, they can change into dry clothes for the ride home. She recalled one visit when her kids promised they would be ok riding home wet when they didn’t have dry clothes. “They were totally fine until we walked with wet clothes through the zoo and got into the car.” Tami had to strip them down, and they rode home with barely any clothes on.

“I died laughing from my driver’s seat mirror looking at them,” she said.

Tami keeps a small cooler in the back of her car in the summer with ice blocks for snacks, waters for the kids and sparkling water for her.

Last summer, as a different outing, she drove her kids around Houston on a self-guided artwall crawl. “The children loved the adventure of looking out the window for the next art wall, and I think it gave them an appreciation of alternative forms of creativity and art,” she said. To plan the day, Tami Googled “Houston painted walls” and printed a map. “That’s my

favorite memory because it was so out of the ordinary and allowed us to see some fun parts of Houston.”

They also went to see the 64-foottall Waterwall, the waterfall fountain created 35 years ago that juts out of the Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park, 2800 Post Oak Blvd., in the Galleria area.

Unfortunately, the fountain was turned off that day, so they headed to the Dandelion Fountain (Gus S. W o r t h a m M e m o r i a l Fountain) in SUMMER IN THE CITY The Clark family visited the Gus Wortham Memorial Fountain on Allen Parkway last summer. From left: Elle (holding sister Chelsea), Eden Buffalo Bayou and Ryan Clark.

Park – it’s near the ice cream at Red Mango.

Waugh Street “bat bridge” (where you can Fish Gallery, 2909 Fountain View Dr. The watch bats emerge at dusk) on Allen Parkway. retail fish store has a 4,000-gallon tank, four Other favorite summer spots for the Clark ponds and a rare turtle and hosts a summer family include indoor church playgrounds reading on Wednesdays in July and August.

(Christ the King Presbyterian Church or Call 713-523-3474.

Memorial Drive United Methodist Church), Houston Public Library, houstonlibrary.org. the Tot Spot at The Children’s Museum, the Curl up and read a book or find activities in the McGovern Centennial Gardens and Hermann kids’ corners. Story times, toddler playtimes Park and Discovery Green. “Discovery Green and more. has so many fun activities for toddlers,” she Nature Discovery Center, 7112 Newcastle St. said. “There’s a new baby area with a padded, Story time, craft and nature walk Wednesdays closed-in play area, a splash pad and playat 4 p.m. ground.”

Memorial City Mall, off I-10 inside Beltway Here are a few more suggestions from Buzz 8. Indoor playground, train, carousel and stores. parents: Tuesdays at Studio Movie Grille, 822 Town Editor’s note: What are your favorite cool sumand Country Blvd. Studio Movie Grille offers mer outings? Email info@thebuzzmagazines.com or $5 movies all day on Tuesdays. Then let the comment under this story at thebuzzmagazines.com. kids run around the green at CityCentre or get

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TRAVEL

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by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer

Travel Buzz W

Like father, like son

yche and William Fowler are like most fathers and sons in that they like to share a good adventure. In other ways, they’re in a category of their own.

Wyche is a former U.S. Senator who resides part-time in his native Georgia and part-time in West U, teaching at Rice University so that he can be closer to his son. William is a just barely 15-year-old wise soul and a freshman at Episcopal High School, whose favored travel companions, besides his dad, include scientists and researchers.

Together, the two have created a treasured tradition that they hope to carry on for many years more: a series of journeys into the wild, to learn about and appreciate nature in all its glory.

“I wanted to spend some quality time where there was just the two of us,” said Wyche. “In this commercial shopping mall world that we live in, I did want him to appreciate the glory of the natural world. All of our trips have been outdoors in different environments, in different ecosystems – and, most importantly, fun.”

From the rainforests of Costa Rica to the glaciers of Iceland, and a little closer to home but just as wild, in the backwoods of Colorado and Wyoming, the pair have found some of the Earth’s most special places to immerse themselves and test their mettle against a variety of backdrops.

It’s not that either of them is the rugged outdoors type – three days of horseback riding in the Rockies left them saddle sore and bleeding; but they are aware of the vanishing forests and the shrinking glaciers, and they want to experience those together, while there is still time to see them in their current state.

Most recently, during this year’s Spring Break, they were able to accompany an epic whalewatching expedition in the remote San Ignacio Lagoon of Baja California, one of three lagoons on the southwest coast of Baja – and the only one that remains undeveloped – that are the winter home of the gray whale. The whales take refuge from the high seas in these shallow, warm waters to care for their baby calves. The lagoon is within the El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, designated a Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Getting there was an adventure in itself, beginning with San Diego, with a trip to the Old Town and the famous San Diego Zoo; there they met their guides and took a shuttle over to Tijuana, and then a 3½-hour flight on a Embraer twinengine 10-seater right to TICO TRAVELS William (at left) and Wyche Fowler, a former U.S. senator and their campsite. diplomat, enjoyed one of their first adventures together in Costa Rica, where they “It’s as close as you’re explored cloud forests, volcanos and beaches. going to get to being a who actually seek out human interaction. The bird,” said Will, still a little bit exhilarated from peak moment, which people come from all over the experience. the world to experience, is when they come close Air taxis fly lower than jets, at around 10,000 enough to touch – or in many cases, to kiss, feet, so you can see everything, said Wyche. according to Alice Short of the Los Angeles Times.

“You could see for quite a while the Pacific “One whale came up right in front of my Dad – Ocean over on the right and the Sea of Cortez on and he was kind of shocked at first, but then he just the left, and we were flying over the spine of the grabbed him with his two arms and gave him a big Mexican mountains through the Baja Peninsula.” whale hug,” recalls Will. “I reached over and At the end of the flight they landed on a dirt touched it, but he really got a faceful of gray whale.” strip in the middle of nowhere, with nothing but Wyche chuckled at the recollection. “It was a couple of wooden shacks. From there they a special moment in my life. I was so shocked – took a shuttle and then a boat to the campsite.

I grabbed him with both hands, and everyone “It’s actually where the desert meets the ocean,” on the boat said, ‘Oh my goodness – he just said William. “You just walk out of your tent and hugged a whale.” take a seat, and you can watch whales from your The lasting impression was not what one seat. The stars come out after the sun goes down might expect. “I can tell you one thing, they – there’s no light pollution for 600 miles. It’s about have bad breath,” said Wyche. “We could smell as away from the world as you can get.” it through the blowhole because it had been eatBut this trip would involve so much more than ing all that fish – it’s a distinctive smell.” sitting on the shore. It was a full-immersion expeOn a more serious note, the pair will never rience, shared with marine biologists, oceanograforget watching the gentle giants “spy-hop,” or phers, naturalists and other types of researchers. emerge up to the level of the eye to take a look Twice a day they would board a panga, a light around. And watching them breach, especially eight-person boat, and head out into the lagoon from the water, was awe-inspiring. to observe the gray whales – named by John “They’ll come up three-quarters and someEdward Gray in 1865. times turn sideways and slap down on their “We’d go out not even five minutes and we’d side,” said Wyche. “It is colossal when you see see one – and you could go up to it. But you them at any time, but many times they were can’t chase the whales, you have to shut the only 40 or 50 feet from our boat, and it’s terrifymotor off. The babies come close and they ing and astounding also.” might get hit by it.”

Adult gray whales grow to an average of 50 Some of the whales – about 10 percent, feet in length, while babies (continued on page 36) according to William – are known as “friendlies,”

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TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ JUNE 2019 35

FATHER-SON ADVENTURE Top left: Sunrises and sunsets on the Laguna de San Ignacio were equally unforgettable. Bottom left: Wyche (at left) and William Fowler enjoyed their fourth deep immersion in the natural world together with a whale-watching expedition on the Laguna de San Ignacio in Baja California. Right: Watching a whale breach alongside your boat is one of the great experiences of a lifetime. (continued from page 34) are born at around 1,000

pounds. They get all their nourishment from their mother for a couple of months, but after three or four weeks they weigh over a ton, just from their mother’s milk.

In the old days, when fishermen would go out to hunt the whales, the mothers would come out of the water and land on the boat, smashing it along with everyone in it. But those days are long past, and nowadays these humans and whales seek only an unforgettable inter-species connection.

The sunsets were unforgettable, as were the night skies. They’d fall asleep to the sound of tents flapping in the wind, and every now and then they’d wake up to a calm space where they could hear the whales coming up.

“You could hear blowholes all night long,” said Will.

From jungle to glaciers to Wild West The pair’s first outing was to Wyoming, when Will was just 11. It was in August, but the mountain chill was a harsh surprise. “It went down to 23 degrees at night, and we were sleeping in tents on the ground,” recalled Wyche, laughing at the memory. “I gave Will my blankets, and I almost froze to death.”

It was a great adventure, three days on horseback winding through thick forest and rough terrain. It was harder for Wyche, who hadn’t been on a horse in 20 years, unlike William, who had

been on several recent horseback outings.

“I remember how bloody we were, because the horses brush up against the brush that has a lot of snags and broken off limbs – we were getting stabbed every 10 minutes or so,” said Wyche. “It was a little scary for me – we had streams to cross where the horses would crouch and leap – and thankfully neither of us fell off.”

The next year they chose Costa Rica, for its spectacular cloud forests filled with wildlife and its colorful and friendly culture. William loved the giant tree sloths and the toucans, the live volcano and the mist that draped over the mountains. The football-length swinging foot bridges over the gulches were something Wyche could have lived without, but for William, they were a blast.

The following year they chose Iceland, with hopes of observing the elusive aurora borealis.

As nature lovers, they also were eager to experience the island nation’s unique geology and geography, and were impressed with its strong green ethic – its energy is all renewable, and its culture is highly environmentally sensitive.

Up there with the northern lights for William was the chance to strap on crampons and use an ice pick to climb a glacier – he was all ready to sign up for pickaxe and climbing school, but Dad didn’t sign on for that one.

After three nighttime outings to see the aurora borealis, they almost gave up – cloud cover wasn’t letting anything through. But as luck would have

TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ JUNE 2019 36

it, the clouds parted at around 1 a.m. on the last night, giving them the light show of their lives.

The journeys have given them much to ponder – for Wyche, who leaves behind a legacy as a champion of environmental legislation, and for William, who will live with the consequences of the political system’s successes and failures.

“For me, I’m pretty young, and all these natural wonders of the world – glaciers and tropical rainforest, for instance – are diminishing, and not so slowly. We wanted to explore these different spots that may not be around when I’m an adult.”

It’s sad, agreed Wyche – but the journeys themselves were not, and he’s pleased with how they’ve been turning out.

“It’s one thing being a father going to baseball game and to Dave & Buster’s. It’s another thing to go to some of these unique places and to share those experiences together – in my case, to see it through his eyes. To see him ask questions, and learn from the scientists about the whales, for instance, and see it for himself. So it’s me learning more about him, and him learning about the world around us.”

Editor’s note: William and his mother, Dawn Bloomer, appeared in Travel Buzz’s “All aboard: travel by train” in November 2016. Buzz travel columnist Tracy L. Barnett is a Lowell Thomas travel journalism award winner and longtime travel and environmental writer.

by Becky Pivec, contributing writer

Cooking Buzz Teens at the table

Photo courtesy of the Junior League of Houston

FOOD

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

T

he title of this article is a little bit of a misnomer. As a mom to two high schoolers, I know that all of us being able to eat at the table together is a challenge.

Between after-school activities, time with friends, sports and work, evening hours are precious. As school winds down and summer swim ramps up, our dinner focus is on somewhat healthy meals that are also filling. Active teenagers are hungry!

For athletic kids, lean protein is always a good idea. The Pan Seared Tilapia with HoneyJalapeño Vinaigrette from Peace Meals is a straightforward recipe that tastes complex and delicious. We often use snapper in lieu of tilapia, but catfish, cod or any flaky white fish would work as well. The spice is easy to alter depending on your crowd’s tolerance for heat.

The fish goes well with a simple kale salad, but if you’re not excited about a leafy green vegetable, try Mashed Potatoes with Rosemary Butter from Stop and Smell the Rosemary. The recipe calls for using your electric mixer, but this is really the perfect time to enlist your kids to mash and mix the potatoes for you. One less thing to clean, and my kids are usually up for helping when asked (depending on the request, of course).

Teens are notorious for changing plans on the fly. If I need to throw something together quickly that checks the boxes of lean protein, starch and vegetable, I love to make the Penne with Sweet Italian Turkey Sausage and Arugula from Peace Meals. This meal can be made in one pan, which makes it even more appealing for a tired parent.

For dessert, all nutrition rules go out the window. The Toffee Chocolate Pecan Pie from Stop and Smell the Rosemary has been a staple for special events in our house for years. Add a little ice cream to beat the summer heat.

While eating a home-cooked meal is our goal, life does not always allow for it. For meals in a pinch, we rely on Dream Dinners or frozen items from The Pantry at the Junior League.

A QUICK BITE Finding time for the family to eat together can be challenging. Try quick, healthy meals like this Pan Seared Tilapia.

Penne with Sweet Italian Turkey Sausage and Arugula From Peace Meals 12 ounces penne pasta 2 Tablespoons garlic-infused olive oil 1 pound Italian turkey sausage, casings removed 1 large onion, thinly sliced 1 cup grape tomatoes ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper Coarse salt 2 cups baby arugula ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 1 cup reserved pasta water

From Peace Meals 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar 2 Tablespoons chopped white or red onion ¼ teaspoon coarse salt 1 teaspoon plus ¼ cup olive oil, divided 1 to 2 medium jalapeños 1 Tablespoon honey 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro 1 clove garlic, finely minced 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard Freshly ground pepper 6 tilapia fillets (about 5 to 6 ounces each) (may substitute any flaky white fish)

Place the pasta in a large pot of boiling water.

As the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a sauté pan over medium-high. Add the sausage and brown while breaking it apart until crumbly.

Add the onion slices and sauté until transparent, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, red pepper and a pinch of salt to the sausage and onions.

Stir to break up the tomatoes slightly. When the pasta is just short of al dente, add the arugula to the sausage mixture and stir to combine. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water before draining the pasta. Drain the pasta and add it to the pan with the sausage mixture. Raise the heat to high and stir to coat the pasta. Add the cheese and the pasta water to the pan, stirring to create a sauce.

Place the pasta in a serving bowl and drizzle with additional olive oil, if desired. Serves 4 to 6.

Combine the vinegar and onions in a small bowl; season with the salt and let stand for 10 minutes. Heat 1 teaspoon of the olive oil in a small skillet over medium-high. Add the whole jalapeños and cook, turning, until charred on all sides, about 3 to 5 minutes. Cool slightly and remove the charred skin; stem, seed and finely chop the jalapeños. Whisk the jalapeños, honey, cilantro, garlic, mustard and remaining ¼ cup of the olive oil into the reserved vinegar-onion mixture. Season vinaigrette with salt and pepper. Lightly oil a large nonstick skillet and heat over high. Season the fillets with salt and pepper, and sear for 6 to 8 minutes, turning once, until opaque throughout. Transfer the fish to a platter. Whisk the vinaigrette and spoon over the fish. Serves 6.

Pan Seared Tilapia with HoneyJalapeño Vinaigrette

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MORE ONLINE See thebuzzmagazines.com for more recipes.

TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ JUNE 2019 39

Alexa Volchev

DINING

by Dai Huynh, staff writer

Chef’s Corner

Frédérick Perrier

Find out about your favorite chefs in our Chef’s Corner column. This month, restaurant writer Dai Huynh interviews master chef Frédérick Perrier.

O

n the TV show MasterChef with Gordon Ramsay, amateur chefs compete for a title and go on to sign TV deals or open restaurants. That's the Hollywood version. To earn the title in France, chefs must be inducted into the prestigious, and very exclusive, society called Maître Cuisiniers de France.

It’s one of the highest honors.

And Texas – Houston, to be precise – can boast of five master chefs. No other city in the Lone Star State has a master chef of France.

While New York – the largest city in the United States – has dozens, our second largest city, Los Angeles, can claim only two, and Chicago, the third largest, has one.

In Houston, we have David Denis of Le Mistral, Jean-Luc Royere of The Post Oak Hotel, Philippe Verpiand of Étoile Cuisine et Bar, Philippe Schmit of the shuttered Philippe Restaurant and Frédérick Perrier, who, after a long absence inside the Loop, has returned to oversee the menu at the globally inspired Bisou (4444 Westheimer) in the River Oaks District.

Here, the 56-year-old toque shares his storied career and know-how for ripening cheese (something Americans rarely think about but is written into the French’s DNA).

You and your wife Michelle moved to her hometown, Houston, in 1997, to raise kids and open Grille 5115 (now 51fifteen) inside the then-new Saks Fifth Avenue. Before that, you were a rising star, garnering fans at several New York restaurants, including La Cité, Le Chantilly and La Bohème.

You were featured in The New York Times and several national food publications. You also cooked for celebrities, French ambassadors and other dignitaries. Raised in a food paradise, Lyon, France, you started in the kitchen at what age?

At 12 years old, I went to see the dean of culinary apprenticeship. At 13, I started a preapprenticeship at Les Trois Dômes in the Hotel Sofitel. I hated it. Those people were maniacs – throwing pots and pans at you. It was crazy.

Luckily for you, the following year, you landed

in the quaint village of Vonnas and on the doorstep of the legendary Georges Blanc’s three Michelin-starred La Mère Blanc, one of the great gastronomical shrines of CHEF PERRIER Frédérick Perrier is back inside the Loop with Continental-inspired Bisou, France. which opened last fall.

It was a twoSpeaking of charcuterie. You had a little butcher starred restaurant at the time, and Georges shop, Meat and Greet, but eventually, you closed wasn’t in the kitchen very much. He relied on it because it was challenging, finding someone deft a young guy, Alain Richard, who was a tough at making European-style cold cuts and ripening cookie. He was cutting-edge. Paul Bocuse and cheese. others were doing traditional dishes. But In France, when you go to a cheese shop, they Georges and this young chef, they were doing will ask you, “Camembert? How would you like something new and more creative. We went it ripened? Are you going to eat it tomorrow or from heavy dishes to lighter ones, like maria week from now? Do you like it firm or runny?” nating salmon with a brush of lime juice and For me, unless it’s fairly ripe, it tastes like plaster. olive oil.

So, I will let my cheese sit at room temperature In 1980, you worked for Bocuse, followed by a until it ripens to my liking in seven or 10 days. year on the island of Saint Barthelemy in the French With Camembert and Brie, as they ripen, they West Indies, then New York. Eventually, after do get more pungent. So some people might preGrille 5115, you opened several restaurants in fer Saint-Andre and Delice de Bourgogne. Both Houston, including the acclaimed Aura in Missouri are triple cream, super creamy and mild.

City in 2007. Aura has since closed, but you still What should we order when we visit Hoggs ’n operate Live Oak Grill (12935 Dairy Ashford Chicks? And where are the places you and Michelle Road, Sugar Land) and Hoggs n’ Chicks (8817 like to eat?

Highway 6, Missouri City). Both are casual, family I like our chicken fried chicken, the jalapeño friendly restaurants and very different from your latchicken slider and the beer battered fish tacos. est venture, Bisou, which means “kiss” in French.

We make everything from scratch. As for The idea came from the Clé Group, with favorite places, Michelle loves Coltivare (3320 partners Zack Truesdell, Andrew Estes, Salim White Oak Drive). I like B&B Butchers (1814 Dehkordi, and Dallas Rodriguez. I’ve known Washington Avenue) for steaks. We’re also fans Zack forever, and for years, he’s been saying, of Nancy’s Hustle (2704 Polk), and in “Let’s do something like Brasserie 19.” But with Chinatown, we like Mein Restaurant (9630 a twist. Bisou is inspired by restaurant/club Clarewood Drive). They have this cold pork Bagatelle, which has 10 or more locations dish that strangely reminds me of charcuterie. It around the world. So, you have a chef-driven comes with a hot chili sauce with fresh ginger restaurant during lunch and from 5-8 p.m. After and other things. I really love it; many people 9:30 p.m. or so, it’s party time. My vision is to don’t. And believe it or not, I like Gringo’s create a great dining experience, so along with Mexican Kitchen. There are several locations. my foie gras and horseradish-crusted pork chops, I’ve added charcuterie plates and a small sushi Editor’s note: Buzz dining columnist Dai Huynh bar for the crowd who likes to nibble and socialis a James Beard food-journalism award winner and ize. There is no dancing here. But we do have a longtime Houston-based restaurant writer. live DJ weeknights and on Sunday.

TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ JUNE 2019 40

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TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ JUNE 2019 41

SPORTS

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by Todd Freed, staff writer

David Shutts Photography

SportzBuzz T

he Kinkaid Falcons capped off a magnificent 31-2 season by beating rival Episcopal 1-0 to capture the SPC Baseball Championship.

“It was an incredible year,” said Falcons head baseball coach Steve Maas. “This was by far the most unselfish team I’ve ever coached. They were truly a special, hard-working group, and I couldn’t be any prouder of this team.”

In the SPC tournament, the Falcons defeated Dallas Greenhill 15-0 behind a complete-game nohitter from pitcher Michael Duncan. Then, after beating a strong John Cooper team 6-5 in the semifinals, Kinkaid pitchers Cade Moulton, David Shaw and Stone Simmons combined for the thrilling 1-0 shutout victory over Episcopal. “Cade grew up in a huge way for us this year and gave us four strong innings of one-hit baseball,” said Maas.

“David followed and did a great job to keep Episcopal scoreless, and then Stone came in with two runners in scoring position to strike out the final two batters and secure the championship.”

Those last two strikeouts, numbers 100 and 101 on the season for Simmons, set a Kinkaid alltime school record for most strikeouts in a single season. “Stone just has that special ability to handle the moment,” said Maas. “He’s come through for us time after time in tough situations during his tremendous career at Kinkaid.” Simmons, who’ll next pitch at Furman University, is one of several Falcons who’ll play major college baseball next season, in addition to Cade Moulton (Air Force), Carlos Abello (Princeton), James House (Dartmouth), Wyatt Young (Oregon State) and Chris Stallings (Air Force).

The championship tradition continues for the Episcopal Knights softball team, which secured its third straight SPC title and 10th championship in the last 21 years. “Coach Kim Randolph, who retired from coaching this season, did such a phenomenal job in building a winning tradition here, and this title is a testament to his legacy,” said Knights first-year head coach Caitlyn Cain. Cain actually played for Randolph for four seasons between 2004 and 2007, with the Knights winning championships in all four of those seasons.

As for this season’s title, Cain credited the

BASEBALL CHAMPS The Kinkaid Falcons captured the SPC baseball championship with a thrilling 1-0 victory in the SPC title game. For the season, the Falcons earned a No. 2 state ranking with an overall 31-2 record.

hard work of every player for the team’s success.

“We lost so many amazing seniors from last year’s championship team, but our girls put in the dedication to continue the winning tradition. We lost our first seven games, but I’m so proud of how they were able to turn it around to win 14 of our last 15 games.”

For the season, junior first baseman Lexi Sagers led the team in hitting with a .484 average while accounting for 24 RBIs. Senior third baseman Rachel Boeker, who homered in the SPC final victory over St. John’s, was a major contributor with a .406 batting average, while junior outfielder Ka’lyn Watson tied a school record with 11 homers this season. Watson, who won athlete of the year honors at Episcopal, also hit for a .394 average with 26 RBIs. On the mound, the tandem of Reese Barrett and LeAnn Dromgoole led the way, with both boasting 2.75 ERAs. With their two-game sweep of Bellaire in the first round of the UIL 6A baseball playoffs, the Memorial Mustangs raised their record to a lofty 29-4 on the season. Prior to that, the Mustangs had closed out the regular season with a No. 13 state ranking and a District 17-6A championship to its credit.

“Since we were freshmen, one of our big goals was to win that district championship, and it was really a nice accomplishment,” said Mustangs

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senior catcher Jackson Appel. For his part, Appel is one of six Mustangs who’ve already signed or committed to play collegiate baseball.

Along with Appel (University of Pennsylvania), other top commits or signees include senior pitcher Jarod Plank (Rice), senior pitcher Cole Robertson (Hamilton College) senior pitcher Trey Howard (UT Dallas), junior pitcher Thomas Vincent (Texas A&M), junior outfielder Ben Dukes (Rice) and junior Jack Riedel (North Carolina).

“These kids have worked really hard since they were 4 or 5 years old to get where they are today,” said Mustangs head baseball coach Jeremy York. “They’ve committed themselves to getting better and better at the game, and they’re also a fun group to be around. The biggest thing is just how they go about their business.”

“We just have that grit and drive to get better every time out,” added Mustangs senior Clark Henry. “We just love working with each other and building a unique team chemistry.”

Editor’s note: Todd Freed is the Emmy Awardwinning co-host and producer of the KUBE SportsZone, which airs Saturday and Sunday at 6 p.m. on Channel 57-KUBE. To submit high school sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, please email todd@thebuzzmagazines.com.

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SPORTS

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by Angie Frederickson, staff writer

SportzBuzz Jr. W

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

First-place golfers Golfers and classmates Cason Wakefield and Cormac Steranko (top photo, from left) participated in the 13th annual First Tee of Greater Houston National School Program Champions Challenge. The Wilchester Elementary fourth graders were among those chosen to represent the Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD). Approximately 400 fourth graders, representing 29 schools, competed at the golf event, and the team of SBISD students won first place. Along with competitors from around Houston, Cason and Cormac competed in individual and team events in putting, chipping, pitching and full swing.

Undefeated super champ Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart middle school tennis player Katie Garofolo-Ro (middle photo) is the undefeated line 1, middleschool singles tennis champ. The eighth grader, a USTA super champ, defeated each of the other line 1 players, including three other super champ-rated players, to earn the title. She won singles matches against each of the private schools in the middle-school conference, including The Kinkaid School, St. John’s School, St. Francis Episcopal Day School, River Oaks Baptist School, The John Cooper School and The Village School. After finishing the regular season, Katie won first place in singles play at the Houston Junior Preparatory Conference championship tournament. Off the court, she still finds time to study and maintains a 4.0 grade point average.

Champion wolf pack The St. Francis Episcopal Day School Wolves golf team (bottom photo) dominated the Sharpstown Park course to earn the 2019 Houston Junior Preparatory Conference title. The boys’ team won and defended their title with a strong 25-shot margin over rivals from The Kinkaid School, River Oaks Baptist School, St. John’s School and Annunciation Orthodox School. Eighth grader Jaivir Pande was at the top of the leaderboard, as first medalist, after shooting a 65 for the day. Coach Ted Lakoski praised his team after the victory. “For our boys to defend their HJPC championship title speaks to long hours on the green and true teamwork,” he said. The winning golfers are (from left) Bradley O’Donnell, Ford Montgomery, Teddy Lakoski, Gus Montgomery and Jaivir Pande.

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.

TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ JUNE 2019 44

In the fine neighborhoods of:

Tanglewood, Galleria, River Oaks, Memorial, West University, Rice Military 5050 Westheimer, Suite 200 Houston, TX 77056 713-621-2555 wrigby@weldonrigby.com www.weldonrigby.com

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STEPS TO SUCCESS Bailey Maierson, an incoming junior at St. John’s School, choreographed a dance for the Student Choreography Showcase.

KIDS

by Bailey Maierson, age 16

Buzz Kidz T

Just dance

his past winter, I choreographed a dance piece to Billie Eilish’s song Ocean Eyes for STUCHO, the Student Choreography Showcase at St. John’s School. My first task as a choreographer was to assemble a crew of fellow dancers. Because the other girls were my good friends, it was sometimes awkward to instruct them and critique them. It was also my responsibility to coordinate my team’s schedule for rehearsals, which took place before, during and after school.

I had never choreographed a dance before, so creating a dance from scratch was by far the most challenging task. It took me several weeks to create the ideal steps that not only complemented the music, but also matched my original vision and would appeal to the audience. Each day after I completed my homework, I went straight to

work on the next part of my dance; nights felt endless as I often choreographed past midnight for several weeks. In December, my dance was finalized. We were ready.

Unfortunately, my plan for my fellow dancers and me to take the stage on Dec. 7 was crushed when the entire evening of performances was cancelled due to inclement weather.

The choreographers and dancers who were scheduled to participate in the showcase were devastated to learn that a severe thunderstorm and flood warning had emerged that very afternoon. The performance ended up being postponed until Jan. 9, after winter break, which seemed like it was decades away. Weeks of hard work and practice suddenly felt useless to me.

Even though this temporary setback was diffi-

cult to accept, we eventually were able to put on a very successful dance program for a packed house. I was thrilled with the way my piece turned out and how the dancers performed.

Learning how to choreograph a dance allowed me to become more confident and skilled as a dancer. I am excited to continue choreographing during my next two years of high school.

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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sponsored by

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Separate-property houses

Neighborhood Tails

713.662.2119 www.roveroaks.com

Elliott, age 13, American Longhair, Doliver Dr. Hello. My name is Elliott, and I am king of all the cats in Tanglewood, mostly because I am the biggest cat in Tanglewood. Although I can be fierce, I am a gentle giant and have been known to play with bunny rabbits in the front yard and share my bed with the dog. I love snuggles, and also like to climb on top of the walls around my house and survey my kingdom. My ultimate fears include the sound of the garage door and most male humans. I enjoy sitting on my human’s computer keyboard and face, although she doesn’t seem to like it as much for some reason. Please note that I will only eat full pieces of cat food, no broken pieces for me. I am royalty, after all.

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.

If you marry and intend to live in one of your separate-property houses, understanding the law may help you decide if this is the right choice.

When you marry, payments made toward a separate-property house may allow for a reimbursement claim for the community estate; however, reimbursements are not dollar for dollar (i.e., the community estate is only entitled to reimbursement for the principal reduction, not the entire payment on a mortgage payment). The community is also not entitled to an increase in value during the marriage.

Another issue is reimbursement for home improvements, which is the improved value, not cost, so the amount spent may not match the reimbursement (cost of kitchen may be $50,000, but the improved value is $25,000).

This is important if you use community funds to improve a separate-property house or if you use your separate-property money to improve your spouse’s separate property. Parties can do premarital agreements to help eliminate issues in a reimbursement claim and/or could agree to enter into a conversion agreement after marriage to share ownership more equally during the marriage.

K. Nicole Voyles is a partner at Tindall England PC, a family-law firm specializing in divorce, child-custody modifications, grandparent access, paternity, adoption and premarital and postmarital agreements. K. Nicole Voyles has been recognized as a Super Lawyer by Texas Super Lawyers 2014-18.

Tindall England PC, K. Nicole Voyles, Partner, Board Certified in Family Law, 515 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 500, Houston, Texas 77027, 713.622.8733, www.tindallengland.com

Courtesy of Houston Cinema Arts Society

Discover Buzzworthy Events

You’ll find tons of Houston happenings on our events calendar.

Go to thebuzzmagazines.com and click on Events to find out what’s happening around town.

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Stretching made easy Boy, can those aches and pains get in the way of everyday life! From getting up in the morning and hurting, exercising and hurting, sitting at the office all day and hurting, what can we do to combat these annoying pains?

There are two main contributing factors to why we may be aching. It can be from shortened (overly active) muscles or stretched out (loose) muscles.

There are a few strategies to address these shortened/tight muscles. First, a personal favorite, is “foam” rolling. This doesn’t have to be on a foam roller; you can use a softball, a fancy massage tool, or a friend’s elbow to put a little pressure on the knotted-up tissues and just let them release on their own.

Rolling up and down isn’t necessary; it is simply the pressure that can cause those muscles to release. Spend about 60 seconds on those knots before moving to another location. Patience and relaxation is key!

Stretching the muscle is another technique that can help. There are a variety of ways to stretch, but use whichever you feel most comfortable with. One thing you should notice each time you go into a stretch is an increase in range of motion and a feeling of looseness around the muscles/joints. The benefits of stretching and having good flexibility are numerous; however, making sure you are stretching only those muscles that need to be stretched is important.

Sometimes the feeling of tightness might not be a muscle that’s short; maybe it is a muscle that is already stretched, and that’s why it’s feeling tight (like a stretched rubber band). The following are a list of muscles not to stretch, unless otherwise directed by a health and wellness professional.

• Stay away from stretching your hamstrings, even though this is an easy

stretch to do. It is more than likely not tight or needing to be stretched unless you are an Olympic sprinter or professional bobsledder.

• Don’t stretch your glutes. These muscles are often lengthened and typically need strengthening over stretching.

• No need to stretch your shoulders by bringing your arm across the body. These muscles are much like your hamstrings and are often lengthened and not needing stretching at all.

Instead focus on foam rolling and stretching the calves, quads, lats (back muscle) and chest.

These are the common muscles that need the most amount of stretching.

Likewise, they are the ones that typically cause most of the aches and pains we run into on a daily basis. Foot pain, knee pain, back pain and shoulder pain (pretty much summed up in all those aches and pains most people complain of) can usually be attributed to these muscles.

In addition, there are a few great programs focused on improving mobility, with coaches located all around the Buzz area. Good luck beating those aches and pains, and don’t let them get the best of you!

David Boettcher, Team Member, Pledge to Fitness and Director of Education for the National Personal Training Institute, 4665 Southwest Fwy., Suite 209, Houston, Texas 77027, 713.401.2841, www.pledgetofitness.com

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The itch that rashes meets its match Atopic dermatitis, or eczema, is a miserable condition. Itching brings on the scratch, which spreads the rash, and a vicious cycle ensues. Many rashes itch, but with eczema, the rash does not appear until after you scratch it. Thus, instead of being a “rash that itches,” it is known as the “itch that rashes.”

In mild cases, using skin moisturizers and creams or ointments that contain steroids provide adequate control. In more severe cases, we have to use stronger doses of steroids that are taken by mouth and can cause terrible steroid side effects if used too long. Over the past 30-plus years, medical researchers have studied how white blood cells communicate with each other to regulate the immune system. One class of regulators is called interleukins (IL). IL-4, IL-13 and IL-31 play a role in eczema, so research has been done on how to block these signals to control the eczema.

In March 2017, the FDA approved the biologic dupilumab (Dupixent), an injectable medication that inhibits both IL-4 and IL-13. In a pivotal study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2014, Dupixent provided much better relief when compared against steroid creams and ointments placed on the skin. Much larger studies confirmed this benefit in a 2016 NEJM manuscript. We have now started several patients on this treatment and have been amazed by how well it works.

With eczema of any severity, rule No. 1 is moisturizing the skin. Dry skin is more likely to itch than is moisturized skin, and if we can control the itch, we control the scratch, and thus minimize the rash. Many allergic patients do not tolerate fragrances, so try a moisturizer that is “fragrance free.” It’s not good

enough if it says “unscented” because many unscented products have irritating fragrances that are offset by other masking (also irritating) fragrances. Many patients tolerate Vanicream, Cetaphil and CeraVe. Moisturizing can also be achieved from the inside out – staying well hydrated helps, as does ruling out and correcting Vitamin D deficiency.

Oftentimes, the rash will get infected with bacteria, which complicates the situation.

We sometimes have a patient pour half a cup of bleach into a bathtub full of water to kill the bacteria. Many patients find this unpleasant, and using a bleach-containing cleanser, like Cln, is almost as effective.

If you are suffering with uncontrolled eczema, please ask for help. Better control is now within reach.

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.

Alnoor A. Malick, M.D., The Allergy Clinic, 7707 Fannin, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77054, 713.797.0993, *1200 Binz, Suite 180, Houston, Texas 77004, 713.522.9911, www.allergyclinic.com, *Operating as Houston Allergy and Asthma Clinic

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To advertise in The Buzz Magazines, contact us at 713.668.4157, ext. 11 or advertising@thebuzzmagazines.com TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ JUNE 2019 50

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Marital and cohabitation agreements in Texas When planning a wedding, the last thing you’d want to think about is the possibility of a divorce. Although divorces are on a decline, the unfortunate truth is that they are still pretty common. Frequently, couples who intend to marry take advantage of pre-planning in preparation for the worstcase scenario, with a premarital agreement. Premarital agreements are signed before marriage and can be used to do a broad range of things, including characterizing property, determining the management of property during the marriage, designating homestead interests and the rights and obligations of the parties, addressing the disposition of property in the event of a divorce, death, or some other event, characterizing debt, and much more.

Premarital agreements are not just reserved for the wealthy. The agreement can not only help the couple to avoid arguments, but also can help if one or both have property they would like to pass to children of a different marriage, if they are marrying (or remarrying) later in life and already have their financial situations established, or if they are marrying young but have separate property from an inheritance or gift.

Many couples today opt to live together rather than marry or for a period of time prior to a contemplated marriage. In this situation, a cohabitation agreement is helpful to outline the rights and obligations of the parties.

These cohabitation agreements typically define the relationship by saying that there will be no informal marriage and the parties will not be considered married until there is a formal, lawful, ceremonial marriage. They also can establish a plan for the couple’s finances and expectations, and develop a plan for what happens if the relationship were to end.

Signing a cohabitation agreement has many of the same benefits as a premarital agreement with one caveat. If a couple gets a divorce in Texas without a premarital agreement, they fall into the default of Texas law. There is expansive law on what happens after a divorce, which guides the courts in property characterization and division. If a couple is unmarried and living together with no cohabitation agreement, there is little Texas law governing what happens.

There are no fair standards or “just and right” division to guide the courts.

Because of this, it’s very important to enter into a cohabitation agreement if you’re unmarried and living with your partner.

With either a marital agreement or a cohabitation agreement, it’s important that each person be represented by independent counsel to ensure the terms are fair to each of them.

This article is not intended to be used as legal advice. This article is general information and exceptions may apply. Please contact your attorney or schedule an appointment with us to be assured your questions are properly answered.

Alyssa L. McCreight, Associate Attorney. James E. Brill, P.C. 3636 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas 77027, 713.626.7272, www.brillfirm.com

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by Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld, staff writer

Buzz About Town Focus on safety Crime Stoppers of Houston honored community members who have contributed to make the city safer. The annual Houston’s Heroes Awards Luncheon, which was held at the Royal Sonesta Hotel and attended by more than 400 guests, raised over $200,000. Dana Tyson, host of the Sunny 99.1 Morning Show, emceed. Awardees included Lt. Ralph Ohland, Special Agent Louie Verdeja and Sgt. Jeff Thomas from the Harris County Violent Crime Unit and the DPS Texas Anti-Gang Center Violent Crime Unit, Phillips 66, Glenda and Russell Gordy, Michael D. Wilson, Harris County Commissioner R. Jack Cagle, Houston police Chief Art Acevedo and Assistant Chief Bobby Dobbins, The Houston 20, Jennifer Hohman, Amy Pierce and the winner of the inaugural Dave Ward Excellence Award, Ted Oberg.

Pictured are Kelly Burke, Lauren Granello, Jaffray Getz, Jennifer Shellist, June Lovland, Elva Akin, Rina O'Malley, Megan Pond, Jessica Barrett and Nicola Brown.

Hats and horseshoes The third annual Hats, Hearts & Horseshoes benefiting Bo’s Place drew more than 400 supporters to the home of Paige and Tilman Fertitta during the running of the Kentucky Derby. Chair was Hallie Vanderhider. She and honorary chairs Megan and Luke Hotze and Hannah and Cal McNair were thrilled to raise more than $350,000. Hallie shared a personal story of how much Bo’s Place means to families who have experienced the death of a loved one.

The afternoon was led by emcees Stephen Lewis and Chita Craft. Guests wore fabulous hats, sipped on mint juleps and watched the race on large screens. Pictured are Hannah McNair, Cal McNair and Vanderhider.

Over the edge

Quy Tran Photography

Nearly 140 guests gathered at The Bayou Club for fine wines, spirits and hand-rolled cigars. The event, hosted by J.P. Bryan and The Bryan Museum’s Delegados Associate Board, raised $125,000 for the museum’s children’s-education efforts. Guests enjoyed western music with a mod-

ern flair by Alligator Handshake. A highlight was Delegado chair Joe Jaworski sitting in with the band for Dwight Yoakam’s Fast As You. Pictured are John Bryan and Andrea Edmundson.

Camp For All

Gary Fountain

Western vibes

Forty-two people, including Jack Maddox (pictured), strapped in and rappelled 20 stories off Hotel Alessandra in downtown Houston in support of Camp For All during the Over the Edge fundraising event. Camp (continued on page 54) TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ JUNE 2019 52

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All yearly helps 11,000 children and adults with special needs and illnesses. Faith Melton, the “One-Armed Wonder,” rappelled using her one arm and leveraged her legs to push off the wall and drive her momentum down the side of the building.

Approximately 200 supporters gathered to watch.

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70 years and counting

Power of horse therapy

Cherish our children More than 330 guests filled The Junior League to support the third annual Cherish Our Children International luncheon benefiting the No More Victims Program. Emcee was Dominique Sachse. A video featured teenagers of incarcerated parents who have gone through the No More Victims program and told how it changed their lives. A panel discussion featuring

Dr. Chris Greeley, director of the Child Abuse Pediatrics Program at Texas Children’s Hospital, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, Dr. Khalilah Campbell, principal of Worthing High School, and Marilyn Gambrell, founder of No More Victims, allowed guests a look into the program.

Co-chairs Franelle Rogers and Caren and Darrell Rosenthal, along with host committee chair Heidi Rockecharlie, set a record, raising more than $206,000. Pictured are (from left) Franelle Rogers, Betty Hemus, Heidi Rockecharlie, Cissy Abel and Lynda Transier.

Plogging away

Jenny Antill Photography

SIRE Therapeutic Horsemanship celebrated 35 years of transforming the lives of people with special needs through horse therapy with SIRE Under the Stars, held at River Oaks Country

Club. The event raised $200,000 for the nonprofit. Carol and Jim Farnsworth and Mary Elizabeth Wise Sand co-chaired the western chic-themed event that honored Jana and Scotty Arnoldy. More than 185 guests enjoyed the festivities, which included on-site welcomes from four of SIRE’s horses and entertainment by country artist Aaron McDonnell. Pictured are (from left) Mary Elizabeth Wise Sand, therapy horse Gertie, Jana and Scotty Arnoldy, therapy horse Rosie and Carol and Jim Farnsworth.

Pooja Salhotra

Beth Yeshurun Day School hosted its annual gala. To commemorate the school’s 70th Anniversary, the theme was “The Enchanted Garden Gala: 70 Years and Growing.” BYDS honored Marian and Gabriel Braun with the Rabbi Jack Segal Excellence in Education Award, and Barbara and Ron Brounes with the Robin and Joshua Berry Volunteer Award. Gala co-chairs were Randee Berman and Jodi Skorupski who, along with volunteers, transformed Congregation Beth Yeshurun into a garden of bright, spring flowers and oversized glitter butterflies. Pictured are (from left) Gabriel, Marian, and Dan and Taryn Braun.

In honor of Earth Day, The Buzz Magazines teamed up with the Memorial Park Conservancy to host a community “plogging” event at the Memorial Park trails. Plogging means Picking up Litter while Jogging (or walking) and is a great way to help protect the environment while getting exercise. Pictured are John Pitts and his daughters Polly Pitts (front) and Bee Pitts (on shoulders) as they prepare (continued on page 56) TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS BUZZ JUNE 2019 54

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(continued from page 54) to go plogging. See more

photos by Pooja Salhotra by searching “plogging” at thebuzzmagazines.com.

AlexandersPortraits.com

Daring to show up

The Jung Center’s 2019 Spring Benefit, Dare To Show Up, raised a record-breaking $350,000.

More than 500 gathered to honor Terry Huffington and hear Brené Brown speak.

Dorothy and Malcolm Paterson and Lourdes Hernandez and Randy Hulet chaired. Brown discussed her newest No. 1 New York Times bestseller Dare to Lead while praising Huffington for her contributions to the community and The Jung Center for offering Houstonians a place to find insight, meaning, and transformative conversation. The Jung Center’s Mind Body Spirit Institute (MBSI) offers programs that reduce stress and anxiety, improve health, and nourish the human spirit. Pictured are (from left) Huffington, Dorothy Paterson, Alejandro Chaoul, Brown, Hernandez and Scott Fletcher.

Mission possible with Grace Grace School third graders visited Fire Station 69 to deliver thank-you posters and treats as part of their “Mission Possible Kids” unit about making a difference in the world, locally and globally.

Teachers who visited the fire station include Allison Bussey, Betsy Crafton and Angela Krampitz.

Interfaith celebration Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston celebrated 50 years of dialogue, collaboration and service at its annual Tapestry Gala at The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston. Nearly 600 supporters raised $650,000 for four areas of service: Meals on Wheels /Animeals; Refugee Services; Interfaith Relations and Community Partnerships; and Volunteer Houston. Gala emcee was KHOU Great Day Houston host Deborah Duncan. Honorees were Brigitte and Bashar Kalai. Co-chairs were Shaista and Shahzad Bashir, Bimla and Swatantra Jain, Dr.

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Sushma and Devinder Mahajan, Lorraine and Ed Wulfe, and Nihala and Shaukat Zakaria.

Singers Mike Kahn, Dee Dee Dochen and Ken Gayle took the stage. The Rev. Gregory Han, IM’s director of Interfaith Relations, led a multifaith invocation accompanied by community faith leaders. Rabbi Roy A. Walter was presented with the inaugural Spirit of Respect award. Pictured are (from left) Laura Ward, Alicia Smith, Maryam Mireskandari, Dr. Yasmine Haddad, Brigitte Kalai, Farida Abjani and Sima Ladjevardian.

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

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NEIGHBORS

by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

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hen she’s not leading a trust practice or mothering two teenaged daughters, you might find Jennifer Grosvenor plotting with a co-worker about what book to read next. Jennifer and her colleague Ben Fedorko have a long list of recent reads under their belts. Here, they’ve shared their thoughts on what books we should add to our own lists this summer.

Jennifer’s top recommendation is A Gentleman in Moscow: A Novel, by Amor Towles. “It was every bit as good as everyone said it was,” Jennifer says of the mega-bestseller that is soon to become a television series. “[Towles] has this beautiful, lyrical style. It’s a story about a member of the Russian aristocracy who is in house arrest in a hotel for decades, and the way he makes this really small physical existence feel much larger by the way he interacts with other people. [Towles] takes a sad premise and makes it hopeful and uplifting. One of my favorite books in the last few years.”

The Library Book, by Susan Orlean, is another of Jennifer’s favorites. “I loved libraries as a little kid,” says the native Galvestonian who grew up going to Galveston’s Rosenberg Library, Texas’ oldest library. “This book concentrates on a gigantic fire that happened in the Los Angeles Public Library. [Orlean] took that event and wove in stories about the history of libraries in America, what they do for people and how they’ve changed and adapted in recent years. It reads like a novel.”

A bestseller and winner of several top book awards, The Library Book has been called “exquisitely written,” “mesmerizing” and “riveting.”

Jennifer, who leads Northern Trust’s Houston office, says her final suggestion is The Power, by Naomi Alderman. A New York Times 10 Best Books of the Year and a top book on a staggering number of lists, The Power is “about women who suddenly develop this power, and they can kill people with it if they so choose. It draws an interesting parallel to the way men have traditionally been so ‘in charge’ and deals with how women, who suddenly become powerful and in charge, figure out how their relationships with men and with each other change.”

Ben, a senior trust advisor and attorney, perus-

es the weekly top-books lists and then Googles the top five to see what interests him. Among his recent favorites, Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou is “a fascinating story about an ambitious young woman who had a lot of great ideas but took it too far.

It’s amazing how many really high-profile and powerful people were drawn in and deceived.

Extremely entertaining.”

Named to many Best Book of the Year lists, this is the rise-and-fall story of Theranos, the biotech company founded by one-time superstar Houstonian Elizabeth Holmes.

Ben says Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens, “is a great, great summer read with lots of themes to interest lots of different people. It’s set in nature, in the TIME TO READ Summer is the perfect time to dig into a long list of good books.

Carolinas, and there is a This is a book that will make you cry throughlove story, a murder mystery weaved through, out.” Ben named his youngest daughter, 9the joy of being outside on the beach. It’s the month-old Mattie, after the character in Berry’s story of a girl raised in a poor family with an abunovel Jayber Crow who “is full of grace and kindsive father – she winds up raising herself – and ness and just has a sweet spirit,” Ben says. her coming of age in this unique environment.”

“Completely off my normal reading path but The New York Times Book Review calls Owens’ hilarious” is how Ben describes Davis Sedaris’ debut novel “painfully beautiful.”

Calypso. “A good, lighthearted read about getBen also recommends anything by Wendell ting older and how you can make that a little bit Berry, especially Hannah Coulter: A Novel. funny. It looks at what it’s like to retire and not “Hannah’s first husband goes off to war during have a day job and what you do with your time.”

WWII and doesn’t return. She has a child who New York Magazine says, “…the audiobook verwas born around that same time. The story is sion of Calypso will be the perfect travel comabout rebuilding her life, what it’s like to be a panion during road trips and getaways this mom and part of a rural community during a time spring and beyond.” when there were so many changes taking place.

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