The West University Buzz - August 2014

Mark Cox and Jacob Padden

School Buzz Introducing our correspondents

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Buzz Home It’s a labor of love

EDITOR’S NOTE It all started with a tall, nonfat latte. On a springtime trip to Chicago, I met former Buzz intern Elisa O’Neal for coffee, and that’s when the concept for School Buzz was born. We would carve out a dedicated online spot for high school correspondents to share what was happening in their schools. Our goal is that it would be good for the aspiring writers, and good for the community. Digital media manager Jordan Magaziner started contacting local schools. To pull this off for 2014-15, we needed student writers to commit during May. They were cramming for final exams, but they sent writing samples, came in for interviews, started assignments, and ultimately attended a photo shoot during summer break. It’s encouraging to me that so many students are passionate about writing, photography and journalism. We hope you enjoy meeting our high school correspondents in this issue. You can follow the new School Buzz blog at westubuzz.com. 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 westubuzz.com • facebook.com/westubuzz Editor Publisher Associate Editors Vice President, Sales Staff Writers

Contributing Writers Digital Media Manager Designer Account Managers

Sales Associates

Interns

Joni Hoffman Michael Hoffman Cheryl Laird Annie Blaylock McQueen Jay Janecek Tracy L. Barnett Andria Frankfort Angie Frederickson Todd Freed Michelle Casas Groogan Dai Huynh Dave Schafer Cheryl Ursin Cathy Gordon, Jacob Padden Jordan Magaziner John Duboise Andrea Blitzer Leslie Little Darsey Swaim Laura Callan Helen Hamilton Michele Luke Mark Cox, Alex Daily, Jacob Padden, Madison Tebbe

On our cover: Jacob Padden and Mark Cox, seniors at Lamar High School, will work together to report school news for The Buzz. Thanks to Bellaire High School and The Emery/Weiner School for permission to use their campuses for our photo shoots.

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

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ AUGUST 2014 4

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MAILBAG

Your letters, thoughts, opinions The Buzz takes flight Thanks so much for publishing the interview Tracy Barnett wrote about our family reunion [Travel Buzz – Family Reunions: Getting Away to Get Together, July 2014]. The article turned out so nice that I decided to give a copy to my mom in assisted living in Denton. As Southwest carried me towards Love Field today, I finished reading The Buzz, then left it face-up on my tray table while I looked for a pen. Tammy, the friendly flight attendant, spotted the award-winning photo of the damselflies [2014 Buzz Magazines Photo Contest, First Place, Nature Category: Shu Cheuk, Honeymoon on Pink] and said, “Wow, what a pretty magazine! Where did you get it?” I replied, “It’s my neighborhood magazine.” I quickly grabbed my business card and copied down the Buzz website from page 4. When Tammy came back by, I gave her the website. She was thrilled and said she’ll definitely check it out. Gotta love Southwest and The Buzz!

Carolyn Johnson Editor’s note: If some of you missed the July issue and want to read this family-reunion travel story or see the winning photos in our annual photo contest, go to westubuzz.com. As always, all past stories and photos are searchable in our archives.

Pup’s pop says thanks How very kind of you to publish the story of my Teddy in Neighborhood Tails [Teddy, age 1, Golden Retriever, Sackett St., The West University Buzz, July 2014]. I can’t wait to get copies to share with all my friends.

Leonard Rutan Editor’s note: If you’d like to see your pet in print, email info@thebuzzmagazines.com.

Big on burger story I had just finished eating lunch when I opened The Buzz and read your article from The Burger Blogger, Russell Weil [This Month in Dining: Burgers, July 2014]. His descriptions including jalapeño fried eggs, kimchi, pickled and crispy shallots, Dr. Pepper marmalade, moist challah rolls and pillow-soft buttery buns made my mouth start to water! I can’t wait to follow his blog at eat-more-burgers.com. My own personal favorites are from Barnaby’s, Brooklyn Athletic Club and anything made by The Eatsie Boys.

Liz Aussenberg

about their activities or events that they don’t think to mention in conversation. Writing seems to bring out the details.

Nan Chandler Editor’s note: If you live in a Buzz neighborhood and are or know someone 18 or younger who would like to write a 350-word essay for our Buzz Kidz column, email info@thebuzzmagazines.com.

Glad for youth-sport coverage I look forward to receiving The Buzz each month and will immediately turn to the SportzBuzz, Jr. column. I love seeing the great pictures of the younger kids in action. The column has opened my eyes to the wide variety of sports that are available to the youth in our area. I also would like to commend Jacob Padden on extending his love of sports by editing the column each month. What a great way for a young adult to hone his writing skills while putting smiles on the faces of the younger kids in the community when they see themselves in print.

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

What’s your story?

We are looking for residents for upcoming articles who: • Love Halloween and host outlandish parties.

• Have experienced a recent travel mishap (for example: flew to the wrong destination).

Liked seeing Bill in The Buzz Thank you so much for presenting Bill with the opportunity to write an article for and be published in The Buzz [Buzz Kidz – Bill Chandler: Blue Monday no more, The Memorial Buzz, June 2014]. What fun! What an honor! We really appreciate that. As an English major, I am especially thrilled when I see my children expressing themselves with written language. I love to read about their experiences because they will write things WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ AUGUST 2014 6

• Have a unique home-movie theater and/or host home-movie nights.

• Know of a beautiful and unique home we should profile.

• Have a unique annual holiday tradition.

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

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KIDS

School Buzz Introducing our correspondents

F

rom the first day of freshman year to graduation, high school is a whirlwind of academic and social pressures, exams, homework, clubs and extracurricular activities. There are daily highs and lows, from bombing an exam in a dreaded class to meeting a teacher who will be a lifelong inspiration or getting to know a friend who will forever be like family.

If you’re a student or parent and want to know what is going on at your school – or you simply want to experience for yourself what high school is like today, follow our new School Buzz blog at westubuzz.com.

We have lined up a roster of motivated young neighbors to highlight happenings in their schools. Each student applied and was interviewed for one of two positions: a “reporter” to write and/or produce multimedia stories and an “editor” to coordinate with Buzz digital media manager Jordan Magaziner.

We’re excited to introduce you to them.

Editor’s note: Students interested in being correspondents for School Buzz, especially those from local schools not yet represented, should contact Jordan Magaziner at jordan@thebuzzmagazines.com.

Bellaire High School Mackenzie Ward, senior, School Buzz editor: “This year I will be captain of the women’s soccer team and president of Leading Ladies, a girls-only philanthropy organization. This summer I am working at Rover Oaks Pet Resort, playing with the dogs and taking photos of the pups to send to their parents. Something a lot of people don’t know about me is that this past school year my family and I hosted a foreignexchange student from Brazil, which was one of the best experiences of my life. In the future, I hope to pursue a career in the medical field (for animals or older folks) or as an entrepreneur. I am psyched to begin School Buzz because I love taking pictures and enjoy participating in new activities.”

Claire Weddle, senior, School Buzz reporter: “I enjoy writing about people and events, and I love when people read my work. Last year, I was a news writer for my school’s newspaper, and I WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ AUGUST 2014 8

am currently the news editor. During my spare time, I like to volunteer at the Houston SPCA, and I am also a foster parent for sick or injured animals. Some of my hobbies are photography and drawing, and I love to go to concerts and art exhibitions. I have been learning Spanish for five years now, and my goal is to become fluent. I’m BRITTANY AARONSON AND CARA MAINES Brittany, a senior at looking forward to this Episcopal High School, loves to write and wants to become a speech pathologist. coming school year and Cara, a junior at St. John’s School, says Houston’s diversity is inspiring to a writer. being able to connect School Buzz editor position because it is such an my high school with the School Buzz program.” amazing opportunity for me to improve my writCarnegie Vanguard High School ing skills and learn more about journalism – my dream career.”

Ari Rotenberg, junior, editor: “I have been Matthew Hall, senior, reporter: “I am the interested in writing ever since second grade goalie and one of the captains of the lacrosse when my teacher read an assignment of mine team, as well as the president of the Mock Trial and told my parents that I would not write the Club. I am so excited to work for The Buzz next great American novel. Since then, I have because I love reporting on current events and done my best to develop my writing skills, and, being able to show people what is going on even though I do not plan on writing that around me. My goal for the future is to study novel any time soon, I will still do my best to communications in college and be a sports prove my former teacher’s statement false. I reporter. I cannot wait to start reporting.” look forward to working as a School Buzz ediBrooke Kaplan, senior, reporter: “I applied tor and improving my writing abilities through for the School Buzz program to explore my interthis experience.” est in journalism. I recently discovered my passion for writing through my college essays. I have Emery/Weiner School enjoyed writing more creatively, much like what Miranda Levy, senior, editor: “I love to write. this program allows its writers to do. This year, I That is – ironically – not the most articulate way will be participating in both the basketball and of describing who I am, but in many ways it is lacrosse team at Emery and am currently the the most accurate. I have always enjoyed writing regional treasurer of Lonestar Region BBYO. I more than reading because it gives me an ability am also doing teen leadership work at the Jewish to make my own stories, with my own characters Community Center by helping plan teen proand my own endings. Last year I went on a writgrams. My dream job would be working on the ing program with National Geographic, and I got E! Network as a news anchor. The thing I love to explore journalistic travel writing in Greece most about Houston is the food scene. There are and Italy. This program gave me a passion for so many diverse cultures that we are really able not only travel writing, but traveling in general. to have authentic foreign foods, which I think I am doing the program once again this summer, is very unique.” this time in Ireland. I am so honored to have the

Brittany Aaronson, senior, editor: “Recently, I have discovered a passion for writing because I was asked to write the Buzz Kidz article in The Tanglewood/River Oaks Buzz (June 2014), and I enjoyed it so much. I applied for the School Buzz program because I feel like it is a good opportunity for me to channel my thoughts and become a better writer, and I am so thrilled to be part of it. I am excited for this upcoming year because it is my senior year, and I am looking forward to applying to colleges and having fun with my friends! My goals for the future are to get into the college of my choice, and potentially become a speech pathologist.”

High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Cyrus Pacht, junior, editor: “I am a creative writing student at The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. HSPVA is one of the most unique schools in Houston, and I look forward to letting the world know about its concerts, readings, galleries, shows and more. I was thrilled to learn that I got the role of School Buzz editor. By the age of 7, I was writing incomprehensible epics of elementary school fantasy that presented themselves as novels, and since then I have been unable to kick this nasty habit. When not writing for The Buzz or elsewhere, I can be found playing Kabalevsky and Bach on the piano, composing music for flute choir, building a telescope or robbing a bank. I see my future self as an author, editor, translator, professor, philosopher, humorist, amateur linguist, composer and astronomer: a holder of innumerable odd jobs. In 30 years, you may recognize me as the author of the Very Good American Novel.”

Incarnate Word Academy Monica Da Jose, senior, editor: “I enjoyed telling stories as a child and eventually realized that committing them to paper gave them permanence. This led to my love of writing, which now manifests in a comic that my best friend and I co-author in our free time. I’m excited to report for School Buzz because it will give a glimpse into IWA and its unique campus culture. I realize that this will be a lot of work, and my goal is to balance this, theater, handbells, volunteering and school. I will be graduating next year, and I hope to be a physical therapist in the future. No matter where the future takes me, I never want to stop writing.”

Lamar High School Jacob Padden, senior, editor: “I was born and raised in Houston except for a brief period when my family moved to Singapore when I was 2-4 years old. I love living here, one of the most important reasons being the amazing food. I have always been involved in sports and follow the Houston teams religiously. I am excited to head the School Buzz program at Lamar because

it will allow me to report on things I can relate to and thoroughly discover journalism.”

Mark Cox, senior, reporter: “Writing is something about which I have always been passionate. I can’t wait to start writing for School Buzz, as I will be able to share my school’s news and happenings with the community. In addition to writing for School Buzz, I play the trumpet in my school’s band. I hope to one day become a physician and to move to California.

This summer I visited San Francisco and enjoyed hiking through the redwood forest. I love playing basketball with my friends when I have free time. The thing I enjoy most about living in Houston is the Mexican food.”

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Episcopal High School

Memorial High School Madison Tebbe, senior, editor: “The School MIRANDA LEVY AND MATTHEW HALL Miranda is passionate about travel writing, and Matthew loves sports reporting. Both are seniors at The Buzz program initially Emery/Weiner School. caught my interest because I thought it was a great way to get the Robert M. Beren Academy inside scoop on what goes on in the different Lilly Gelman, senior, co-editor: “I am school areas around Houston, and I knew that I extremely excited about School Buzz. It is such had to be a part of that. I’ve been writing stories a great opportunity to inform the community since I was little, and English has been my about all of the goings-on in our schools. Along favorite class for as long as I can remember, but with writing, I enjoy art, music and biology. One my passion for photography developed when I of the downsides of attending an orthodox decided to take a photojournalism class in Jewish school is that few people outside of the school my junior year. In addition to working Jewish community are aware of all of the amazwith School Buzz this year, I’ll be a member of ing programs and events that we have at our the yearbook staff as well. I’m so excited for my school. School Buzz will be a fantastic outlet to last year of high school because I believe that express to the readers what we are passionate between my work for the yearbook and School and enthusiastic about. I cannot wait to share Buzz it will provide an excellent foundation for an amazing year with you!” a possible writing career in my future.”

Brett Kleiman, senior, co-editor: “One of the Nancy Nguyen, senior, reporter: “Due to my main reasons that I applied to the School Buzz interest in math, I plan on majoring in fields program is that I love taking on and trying new related to finance or statistics in college. things. I love the rush because it builds character.

However, I hope to expand my horizons by parAs clichéd as that might sound, it’s true. I have ticipating in the School Buzz program and gone on several international youth exchanges to expressing my creative side. By incorporating places like Hungary, Germany and Spain. I also other aspects of my life, such as dabbling in pole love writing. Grandparents on both sides of my vaulting and playing the ukulele, into future family were great writers, especially my grandpa, blog posts, I hope to keep posts interesting for Jerry Ribnick, who was a prominent sports writer the readers. I am very excited to share my ideas back in the day. I look forward to sharing much and collaborate with others to ensure that this more about my school with our community.” new program evolves into something phenomAdam Hoffman, freshman, reporter: “A enal and exceeds all expectations.” passion of mine is composi- (continued on page 10)

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ AUGUST 2014 9

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STORIES FROM STUDENTS Some of our School Buzz editors and reporters gather to brainstorm for the upcoming year. Bottom row, from left: Jacob Padden, Lamar High Sc er, from left: Brittany Aaronson, Episcopal High School, Mackenzie Ward, Bellaire High School, Brittney Reese, St. Agnes School, Nancy Nguyen, Memorial High School. Thir Maines, St. John’s School. Fourth bleacher, from left: Mark Cox, Lamar High School, Morgan Goldsmith, St. Agnes School, Taylor Brittain, Stratford High School, Megan Routbo (continued from page 9) tion of essays and non-fic-

tion. Writing absorbs hours of my day and slots of my schedule. I was overjoyed to hear about the School Buzz program because I knew that it would be a perfect fit for me. Not only would I be able to put my writing skills to use, but I would also be able to share news about my school with the community. I’m looking forward to a fantastic year with The Buzz.”

Second Baptist School Rachel Blakes, senior, editor: “I will serve as the 2014-15 publicity prefect at Second Baptist School, which is why the director of communiWEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ AUGUST 2014 10

cations recommended that I apply to be a part of this program. I’m from New Orleans, Louisiana, but I’ve lived in Houston for about nine years, and I’ve always loved the shopping. I identified my passion for writing in the sixth grade. I also have a passion for theater; this year I will participate in my school’s fall drama, Anne of Green Gables, and our spring musical, Cinderella. I intend to continue both of my passions in college by double majoring in journalism and theater.”

Sara White, senior, reporter: “Senior year. The year that everyone looks forward to in high school.

You are not only one of the oldest students, but you are also entering a new chapter in your life. You are

most likely applying to college, and you are taking on new leadership roles at school. You are saying goodbye to the normal, however. You have your last first day of school, your last homecoming game and your last prom. While all of the things are exciting, it’s bittersweet. I’m excited to write about my senior year for the School Buzz program, and hopefully I will be able to use my posts as an outlet to reflect. Although I begin to say goodbye to the normal this year, I will say hello to new, just like I’m saying hello to The Buzz.”

St. Agnes Academy Brittney Reese, junior, editor: “Being an avid

hool, and Ari Rotenberg, Carnegie Vanguard High School. First bleacher, from left: Rachel Blakes, Second Baptist, and Madison Tebbe, Memorial High School. Second bleachrd bleacher, from left: Amara Nelson, Westbury Christian, Cyrus Pacht, High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Adam Hoffman, Robert M. Beren Academy, and Cara ort, St. John’s School. Top bleacher, from left: Sam Kretzschmar, Strake Jesuit, and Nick Ferguson, St. Pius X High School.

reader, writing has always come naturally. Over the years, crafting stories and poetry became my outlet of creative expression. I am absolutely thrilled to be a part of School Buzz. Since the beginning of freshman year, I have spent countless hours working the set of our theater productions, doing everything from staining wooden furniture to constructing an entire sorority house with a team of students. I also enjoy being a member of clubs, including ones centered on poetry, books and environmental welfare.

Outside of school, I volunteer at the Houston SPCA. My heart is completely captured by all sorts of canines; however, I am scared by some of

the smaller dogs. I would rather cuddle a Saint Bernard than walk a Chihuahua!”

Catherine Gassiot, sophomore, reporter: “This year will be my sophomore year at St. Agnes, and I can say truthfully that it has been one of the best experiences of my life thus far due to the amazing sisterhood I have experienced. I applied for the School Buzz program because I have a genuine love for writing. I am always writing poems in my spare time and posting stories online, and I also love to read, absolutely devouring anything I can get my hands on. Like most teenage girls, I never go anywhere without my phone, text 24/7, and am

constantly binge-watching a show on Netflix.

At school, I am on the speech and debate team, JV lacrosse team and Model UN. Each team is unique and offers opportunities to bond with people in other grades, helping with teamwork, which is essential to all three. I’m looking forward to an awesome year with School Buzz.”

Morgan Goldsmith, sophomore, reporter: “I originally hated writing until I discovered a book series [The Hunger Games trilogy] that changed my life and inspired me to begin writing short stories. I applied for School Buzz because I think everyone should have a little bit of insight as to what goes on in the estro- (continued on page 12) WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ AUGUST 2014 11

(continued from page 11) gen-filled halls of SAA. I

am also interested in journalism and want to get a taste of what is in store for the future.

Hopefully, I can brighten a Buzz reader’s day with my blog posts. I can’t wait to begin writing!”

Frances Wheeler, junior, reporter: “I applied to the School Buzz program because I love attending St. Agnes Academy and want others in the community to stay updated about what is happening there! I discovered my passion for writing at a very young age when I would find myself writing poems and short stories to share with my family. This next year, other than writing for The Buzz, I will be president of the business club and will be spending time with friends and family. I enjoy living in Houston because so much is always going on. My favorite time of the year in Houston is rodeo season.”

St. John’s School Megan Routbort, senior, editor: “As future editor-in-chief of our award-winning newspaper, The Review, the School Buzz program was a natural fit for me. I first discovered my love of the written word reading Harry Potter books with my father; my love has evolved from voraciously reading, to writing fiction, to its most recent manifest in my passion for journalism, which combines my thirst for adventure with language.

I’m an amateur backpacker and outdoorswoman; I’d love to pursue travel writing and foreign correspondence in the future. I am currently collecting cancellation stamps from all 397 sites in the national parks system, and I hope to backpack the entirety of the Pacific Crest Trail someday.

But I’ll always love Houston because there’s nothing better than the Reese’s Pie at Ruggles after a week of trail food.”

Cara Maines, junior, reporter: “I have been passionate about writing from a young age because I love words and finding different ways to express myself. The School Buzz program seemed like the perfect opportunity for me because it would allow me to write in a new setting for a different audience. I am interested in pursuing a career that involves writing, though I am not sure what that will be yet. I love living in Houston because it is such a diverse, cosmopolitan city, and it has so much to offer – a constant source of inspiration!”

St. Pius X High School Nick Ferguson, senior, editor: “I joined this program because I feel that this is a great opportunity to practice my writing, which is something that I enjoy a lot. This upcoming year, I will probably not be joining any clubs. I see this as an advantage because I am not tied to anything; now I can jump between clubs and see what’s going with different people and have much more to write about.”

St. Thomas’ Episcopal High School Noah Melendrez, senior, editor: “I applied to the School Buzz program to help exposure of my school. I have been writing for the yearbook WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ AUGUST 2014 12

since freshman year and have really enjoyed being part of the program. I am president of Student Council and part of my school’s orchestra, where I play cello. My goal is to become a psychologist. One of my favorite things about living in Houston is the Museum District. It’s really amazing to be able to learn so much and experience so many things without having to go too far from home.”

St. Thomas High School Karch Calkins, senior, co-editor: “I have lived in Houston my whole life and love this city. I attended St. Michael and St. Cecilia for grade school and middle school. Outside of the demanding schoolwork that St. Thomas requires, I play basketball and write for the school newspaper, and am a senior leader at school retreats, where I help the younger students. I am very passionate about my St. Thomas experience and hope to show how great it is through School Buzz.”

Carson Storie, senior, co-editor: “I was born here in Houston and am the oldest of three boys.

My mom grew up in Beaumont, and my dad is from a small town on the Mississippi coast. I went to St. Michael from Pre-K through eighth grade.

On top of a tough academic load, I play multiple sports, including football, rugby and track. I have participated in student council all four years at St. Thomas and will serve as head of committees this year. I am also a senior leader, which means that I will help at all underclassmen retreats. Last year, I wrote for the school paper. I see the School Buzz program as an opportunity to continue practicing my writing and as a great way to represent St. Thomas High School.”

Strake Jesuit Sam Kretzschmar, junior, editor: “I’m very excited to be working alongside The Buzz to bring you enticing stories that flourish within the Strake Jesuit community. I currently play lacrosse as a goalie. I also enjoy partaking in activities with Strake’s Business Club. I aspire to attend law school after completing my undergraduate degree. A fun fact about myself is that despite being a native Texan, I am an avid hockey fan for the Boston Bruins. I love living in Houston because of its massively diverse culture and fantastic eateries.”

Stratford High School Scott Kennedy, junior, editor: “I discovered my love for writing in seventh grade, and in high school I decided to try journalism and ended up loving it. I was a sports editor of our school paper, The Oracle, last year, and am going to be co-editor-in-chief this upcoming year. I also play football and am involved in Student Council and Young Life. I would love to go into some form of business, journalism or ministry later in life.”

Taylor Brittain, junior, photo editor: “Photography is extremely important in the journalism world because a picture captures what is happening and freezes a moment, making it last forever. I am thrilled to be a part of the new School

Buzz program and can’t wait to start photographing the events and stories around my school. In addition to being on the newspaper staff I am also a member of my school’s broadcast journalism team.

My dream job is to one day be in the world of broadcast journalism. I am very excited for the upcoming year and I can’t wait to get started!”

Cameron Henkel, sophomore, reporter: “I’m very excited to be a reporter for this new and interesting blog. I live right next to Wilchester Elementary, so I’m always near the action when big school events like the fair are going on. While writing for School Buzz will be my first priority, I’d also like to film local events and make videos for the community as well. I am looking forward to writing about all of the unique experiences going on in schools around the Memorial area. I hope to accurately portray all students as well.”

Haley Wilson, junior, reporter: “I have grown up in the same house along with my two older brothers and loving parents my entire life. Starting at age 3, three days a week and every Saturday were dedicated to soccer. Moving into middle school, I took great interest in the yearbook staff at John Paul II, but it wasn’t until after I tore my ACL at the end of eighth grade that photography became so fascinating to me. It amazes me that a picture truly does say a thousand words. I can’t wait to be a reporter for School Buzz. I am looking forward to learning about all the interesting things students are doing at school.”

Westbury Christian School Laura Nelson, senior, editor: “I first became active in journalism to fill an elective credit with my friend Amara Nelson, and we both loved it.

Unfortunately, the school newspaper was discontinued, but on the bright side, Amara discovered the School Buzz program and now here I am! I hope to participate in volleyball and acting next school year as well. Eventually I hope to travel the world and engage in international politics. Joining the School Buzz program helped me realize that I might be able to do that through the media. A fun fact about me is that I love to read Gothic literature, and yet I cannot stand horror movies.”

Amara Nelson, senior, reporter: “I’ve been writing stories since I was 7, and I enjoy creating new worlds and having power with words that allow me to express myself. Writing as a journalist allows me to tell the stories of the people around me, and it puts me in a setting where I can meet new people and go find the stories that need to be told. I have a strong interest in pursuing a writing career, and my dream job is working as a travel journalist for National Geographic along with being a published author. I enjoy spending my free time reading books and volunteering at animal shelters.”

MORE ONLINE You can follow our School Buzz blog at westubuzz.com. Also, be sure to “Like” The Buzz Magazines on Facebook for links to School Buzz posts, as well as all the other local stories in The Buzz.

Your smile can last forever Open House November 9.

Schedule a tour today.

Please call 713-864-6348.

Houston’s 114-year all-boys Catholic college preparatory high school, a socio-economically and ethnically diverse community which teaches Christ’s message while upholding human dignity and fostering a just society.

St. Thomas ignites minds and promotes life-long learning in the Basilian Fathers’ tradition of Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge.

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WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ AUGUST 2014 13

NEIGHBORS

by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

Block Parties Getting to know the neighbors

M

ari and Dale Rude met when both were dorm resident assistants at Iowa State University, responsible for making sure a floor of 50 or so disparate students interacted. Forty years later, Mari, a nurse practitioner, and Dale, associate professor of management at the University of Houston, are still helping people interact. But now they do it with neighbors at biannual block parties.

“We moved on our block in 1990,” Dale says.

“In 1994, I went to Bellaire City Hall and saw two neighbors standing five feet in front of me.

We didn’t speak to each other.

“There were 26 houses on our street, and we knew only five or six of the families. So we and two other sets of neighbors, Susan and Lu Christ and Karen and George Persely, decided to organize a block party. They’ve continued on since.”

Dale says the Cedar Street block parties in Bellaire have “transformed our street into a neighborhood. Now I know my neighbors.

People with kids feel like there are extra sets of eyes watching. We all feel more secure.”

Especially helpful, say neighbors, is the phone list that Dale updates and distributes to every house.

The connections are lasting. Even after the Perselys moved and George passed away, Karen and teen Josh returned for block parties. At one, they held a remembrance ceremony for George at the handprints he and then-tiny Josh had left in the cul de sac sidewalk. Even now, when longtimers walk their dogs and see those handprints, they think of their old friends.

When new families move to the block, Dale says, “we let them attend one party, and then we ask them to sponsor the next one. It gives them sweat equity, everyone knows who they are, they feel like they belong. Much more than if they just attended.”

Two families host each party. They decide on the date, always a Sunday in April and October, distribute invitations, buy burgers and hot dogs, and bring paper plates. Then they set up and grill. Neighbors bring sides, desserts and their own drinks and lawn chairs.

In West University on Vanderbilt, they’ve recently begun having block parties of a different sort. The “Vanderbilt Vixens” started getting WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ AUGUST 2014 14

NEIGHBORS GETTING TOGETHER The "Vanderbilt Vixens" in West University recently started gathering; they're adding new members all the time. Front row, from left: Millie Sall, Karen Craft, Wendy Schiller, Kristine Klavers, Ann Malcolm, Lauren Burke. Second row, from left: Joann Philpott, Amanda Dearborn, Janet Landry, Anne Schwartz, Alberta Totz, Abby Ackerman, Kari Greenwalt, Kathy Butler, Cat Karmel-Tawa, Patricia Hammond, Nancy Talkington.

together last August, and since then they’ve met five times. As the name suggests, this group is women-only.

“It started as a way for new neighbors to meet each other and has evolved into a much larger gathering,” says Karen Craft, an ad-sales rep.

Names and e-mail addresses are being added to the list all the time.

“We do not invite the husbands. They stay home with the kids while we get to know the neighbors.

“The best thing,” Karen says, “is that there are some women I have known and seen around town for years and had no idea they lived on my street. Now we’ve become friends.”

The host provides the home and the food, and everyone else brings drinks. So far, the Vixens have hosted catered dinners, visits from decorators and fashion advisors, and a post-Christmas white elephant party, where Karen says, “We got to know everyone’s personality pretty well, based on the gifts they wanted to get rid of!”

At the Four Leaf Towers on San Felipe, there’s no block to speak of, unless you count the elevators and lobby. Last October, Phyllis Milstein, who lives in the West Tower, was in an elevator with a woman – a neighbor – she didn’t know. They started chatting, and the woman asked Phyllis if neighbors in the building acknowledged her.

“I told her, ‘If you’re asking me if people say

hi, the answer is yes,’” Phyllis says. “‘If you’re asking me if we invite each other over, the answer is no.’

“So I started thinking and decided we should get together. That was Monday night. Thursday afternoon 35 ladies showed up in my condo.

And a month later, 55 ladies showed up at my neighbor Sharon Katz’s condo.”

What began as the Four Leaf Ladies’ Social Group has morphed into the Four Leaf Social Group, with some 125 couples and individuals belonging. Everyone is invited; most pay nominal dues, which allow for a secretary who coordinates and emails a monthly calendar, along with weekly updates and reminders.

There’s a yoga group, a water exercise group, a book club, standing mahjong games and a speaker series that invites discussion of topics from investing to what’s happening on Post Oak Boulevard. “The most popular thing has been that several residents who have fabulous art collections have opened their homes to entertain the group,” Phyllis says.

“One lady said to me, ‘Now when I see someone in the lobby I have something to say to them.’”

Editor’s note: Inspired by this article? If you’ve recently hosted or attended a block party of your own, be sure to send us your photos. westubuzz.com/submit-your-story

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ AUGUST 2014 15

SPORTS

by Dave Schafer, staff writer

Competitive Sports It’s a family thing

B

ill Dickson doesn’t go fly fishing very often any more. He used to fish in Galveston two or three weekends a month.

Now, his weekends are spent at softball tournaments, or volleyball tournaments, or shuttling one of his two daughters to practice.

And he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Megan, 15, is a 10th grader at Lamar High School and a member of the Impact Gold Fisher select softball team. Sarah, 13, is an eighth grader at Trafton Academy and member of the 692 select beach volleyball team.

“I get so much enjoyment watching my girls do what they love doing, and doing it well,” said Dickson, a landscape manager with Thompson+Hanson. “We’re only going to have them for three and five more years, and we want to make the most of that time.”

Lots of kids play recreational sports after school or at a YMCA around the corner in a season that may last 6-8 weeks. But the Dickson girls, like many other serious athletes, are beyond that. They are deeply into the highly competitive, time-consuming realm of youth sports practiced under pros’ eyes in private gyms and fields, or on select club teams.

Individual sports, such as equestrian, fencing, gymnastics and swimming, may call for practice and events 4-6 days a week. Team sports are similarly time-consuming, with select or club team practice 2-3 times a week, on top of school-team practice, plus weekend tournaments, many out of town, 2-4 times a month.

During weekday rush hour, it takes the Dicksons an hour to get Megan to practice at Collins Park in Spring. On tournament Saturdays, the family is often out the door by 6 a.m. and doesn’t return until midnight or later. Then, they’re back out early again Sunday morning.

“There’s a reason we only had two children,” mom Kathy said with a laugh. “The poor dog is neglected.”

The Vincent family understands. Sometimes they divide and conquer. One parent will take daughter Ellie, a sophomore at Memorial High, to a swim meet while the other parent takes Tom, 12, a Memorial Middle School seventh grader, to a baseball tournament or a swim meet.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ AUGUST 2014 16

This can be especially interesting when they have competitions in different cities, as in 2012 when Tom attended a baseball tournament in Orlando and Ellie traveled to Boca Raton with her club team, Dad’s Club, for a swim tournament.

Mom (Melanie) and Dad (Griffin) went with Tom to watch his Saturday games, and then Melanie drove over to Boca Raton to watch SETTING UP THE SHOT Ella Hawes, #4, moved to a club volleyball team when she was 12 because she wanted to play more, practice more, and be challenged by Ellie swim Sunday more competitive players. and get her on a Megan Dickson is now on one of Impact plane back to Houston to attend a swim camp.

Gold’s top select teams. As a high school freshMany young athletes begin sports in a recreman, she played on her varsity teams and won ational league, where they discover their love of offensive player of the year and MVP and allthe game and learn the rules. But eventually, they district newcomer of the year awards. want to play against a higher level of competition Even with that, she has to try out for the in tougher leagues with professional coaches. select team each summer, her spot as a utility Both Dickson parents coached softball in the player not guaranteed by what she did last year.

West U rec league. “It gave the girls the basic Those tryouts can be stressful, players say. skills and let them see what was out there.

And that’s one of the great character-building Because of that, we were able to say, ‘You know, aspects of competitive leagues, parents said. The let’s go select,’” Bill said. children learn the value of hard work, earning The West U Softball Association is different what they get, and dealing with failure. than most rec leagues, though. The largest softAnother life skill they learn, discipline, helps ball league in Texas, it accepts all players, but it them balance the hours of practice with their also fields summer all-star teams that go to tourhomework – never mind the attempts to have a naments out of town. That league is very comsocial life. But they understand that dedicating petitive, said Corbitt Burns, who has coached themselves to the sport will pay off more than West U softball for the last eight years and sitting in a darkened theater for two hours, whose four daughters play in West U softball but Megan said. Practicing hard means she’ll have never played for a select team. improve, she says, which will allow her to get on “If I lived on the outskirts of town, I’d be in select the best select team, which will get her more league because it’s hard to find enough players to exposure to colleges. She hopes that that expoform competitive rec teams out there,” he said.

BEHIND THE PLATE Being on a select team, with its professional coaches and more competitive opponents, has helped Megan Dickson improve her play.

sure will help her get fast-tracked into the upperechelon college she’ll choose.

“Many of my friends are also in competitive sports, so they understand when I have to practice or have a tournament,” Megan said.

When there’s a big event she doesn’t want to miss, she simply tells her coach about it and misses practice that night, Megan said. “The coaches want us to have a social life.”

Megan chose to skip a big tournament in Dallas Memorial Day weekend this year because the school district used the planned off day as a makeup day, and she suddenly had two finals that Monday. The tournament wouldn’t have left her time to study.

“She understands that school comes first,” Bill Dickson said. “That’s the thing that will get her where she wants to go.”

Ella Hawes, 15, a 10th grader at Bellaire High School who plays for Texas Alliance Volleyball Club, said, “Making the tradeoffs between school work, playing volleyball and hanging out with friends can be a drawback. It’s a balancing act – wanting to do something and having to pass on it because there other things I have to get done.”

Sometimes she has to skip going out with friends, and she’d love to go to a water ski camp this summer, but it’s the same week as volleyball camp. She was torn about which to attend.

And, she admits, she misses sleeping in on Saturdays. But she loves the sport and playing on the team, so she’s able to drag herself out of

the comfy bed.

Tournaments start at 8 a.m., and the family typically leaves the house at 6 a.m. Her sister, Emma, 13, a seventh grader at River Oaks Baptist, plays volleyball for the Houston Skyline Juniors. Both girls play beach volleyball with Breakaway Speed.

Club teams also require parents to make a financial sacrifice – with team fees, travel, hotel rooms and private lessons, the costs can add up. It costs $2,500-$4,000 in club volleyball fees to play on a team traveling to out-of-state tournaments.

Private lessons can cost $30-65 an hour.

“I’m sure that all families who allow their children the opportunity to pursue a hobby, whatever that may be, spend money to pay for it, and that money comes out of the family budget,” said Melanie Vincent. “In addition, there are many social aspects to the club games and travel that make those events family entertainment/vacations. For instance, instead of going to sleep-away camp this summer, Tom is in Cooperstown, N.Y., playing baseball, staying in the barracks with his teammates and coaches and having the time of his life.”

Studies show fewer than 1 percent of high school athletes get a scholarship to college, and in many sports, fewer than 20 percent of high school athletes even play college sports. But while some players hope that playing a sport at a high level will give them an edge in admittance to college, they’re not all playing with an

eye toward a free ride.

When the Hawes family drives to tournaments in San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, St. Louis, Denver, Los Angeles and elsewhere, they have traditions along the way. Their father, David Hawes, says the routines reduce the stress the girls feel. They often stop at Whataburger for breakfast taquitos, and they don’t talk a lot during the ride as the girls spend the time thinking about the competition. If the tournament is out of town, they stop at Buc-ee’s for beef jerky and a snack.

After the tournament, David does a lot of listening to whatever is on his daughter’s mind.

“It’s not always exclusively about the volleyball games,” he said. “But it’s a time to make sure our girls know they are loved, always, unconditionally, regardless of any outcome on the court. It’s become part of their competitive experience.

“The whole crux of it is that we’re doing this because it’s what the kids want,” said David, who used to ride in the MS150 bike ride each year. Now, there’s a 600-team volleyball tournament in Dallas that weekend that he attends with his daughters.

“Rec leagues are less stress, and they’re fun.

But my girls prefer a competitive experience.

They prefer playing with and against the best players around, to be taught by professional coaches who have played at a high level themselves, and they want to compete to be the best they can in their chosen sport.”

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ AUGUST 2014 17

TRAVEL

by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer

Travel Buzz Stepping out of the bubble

F

rom the traffic of ultra-modern Berlin to the forested mountain trails of the Alps, from the beautifully rebuilt Dresden to the Lederhosen-clad denizens of Bavaria, Deutschland revealed herself in all her diverse splendor this summer to 21 Memorial High School students who took a giant step forward in claiming their global citizenship with a month of travel and study in Germany.

Memorial is one of several Houston schools that participate in the non-profit German American Partnership Program, which has been fostering U.S.-German relations through cultural exchange since 1972. A handful of the young travelers gathered recently with their teacher Frau Susan Sisler to share their impressions over Skype with The Buzz from the living room of Sisler’s exchange partner, Frau Dagmar Carra, an English teacher at Werner Heisenberg Gymnasium in Garching, a suburb of Munich.

If the excited clamor were any indication, they were enjoying the adventure enormously.

Learning to negotiate the public transit system, figuring out how to budget their euros, getting to know their host families and simply trying to order a meal in a restaurant – every day had its own built-in curriculum, not even counting the official itinerary.

Highlights in Berlin included mixing with

HOUSTON MEETS MUNICH Memorial High School exchange students stop for a photo op at the Biergarten am Chinesischen Turm. From left: David Salas, Nathan Morgan, Ethan Barr, David Lueders, Dori Hauk, Sam Kroger, Aaron Genin, Lillie Kram, Sam Altum, Nicholas Reger, David Cook, Rebekah Koehn, Carlos Fidalgo, Peyton Hance, Katie Ohman, Gabby Henning, Breno Nasser, Johnny Hurley, Caius Selheimer, Arabella Benavides and Philip Millmaker.

thousands of jubilant soccer fans watching the Germany-Portugal World Cup game on Berlin’s famous Fanmeile, projected on eight theatersized movie screens near the Brandenburg Gate; perusing the graffiti on the Berlin Wall, preserved for posterity in the East Side Gallery; climbing to the top of the Reichstag, home of the German legislature, or Bundestag; and reflecting on the horrors of the Holocaust at a maze-like memorial to the victims.

In Munich, it was more the experience of daily life among the Germans. Instead of staying in a hostel, as they had done in Berlin, each of them went to a different host family spread out among three different suburbs and commuted to school each day on trains, buses or bikes, just as the local kids do.

6 reasons to study abroad Student-exchange programs are nothing new, but in today’s increasingly interconnected world they are more relevant than ever.

To learn more, check out exchangestudentworld.com, a website by and for exchange students and their host families.

There are many reasons to join a student-exchange program. “Frau Sisler” shares a few, gleaned from more than 30 years supervising them.

1. You learn another language in its real-life context.

2. You appreciate your own community from a different perspective.

3. You learn more about yourself by challenging your own assumptions, reconsidering your beliefs and values.

4. You become more informed and expand your worldview.

5. You learn to act independently, problem-solve and cope with unexpected situations.

6. You experience the joy of discovering and experiencing new things, and finding that your comfort zone is much larger than you thought it was.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ AUGUST 2014 18

Rebekah Koehn was particularly impressed with this custom. One of the more nervous ones in the group, it was her first trip abroad.

“It’s cool to see how kids here from 6 to 7 years old are riding the trains by themselves,” she said.

“In America you see 6 to 7 year olds getting walked to school holding their parents’ hands. I learned it’s okay to step out of your comfort zone.”

The experience was an eye-opener for all of them. As Peyton Hance put it, “I learned I can do things by myself. I don’t need my parents to help me all the time. And I learned to be more resourceful…. It’s good to be doing this before we go to college.”

Some of the kids, like Arabella Benavides and Breno Nasser, are veterans of world travel. For Arabella, whose parents are from Peru, the journey had an extra dimension; she was able to meet a German-Peruvian relative who had immigrated to Europe, married a German wife and raised his family there.

For Breno, who is from Brazil, the trip was a reminder of the need to “step out of the bubble” that is life in the United States.

Frau Sisler, who began studying German in the ninth grade like most of her students, summed it up for the group.

“I love the GAPP exchange because I get to see my students improve their German-language skills and learn about German culture, history, and daily life,” she wrote after the group interview. “In addition to that, they learn real-life skills and become responsible and self-sufficient. But most of all, they find that they are ‘at home in the world.’ German hikers have a saying, ‘Der Weg its das Ziel’ – ‘The journey is the destination.’”

bookwalterphotography.com

NEIGHBORS

by Cathy Gordon, contributing writer

Buzz Home It’s a labor of love

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ AUGUST 2014 20

bookwalterphotography.com

bookwalterphotography.com

J

ust call her the Plant Lady. Evelyn Leightman knows a thing or two about houseplants. While others were hawking Tupperware, her company sold greenery on the home-party circuit. “No burping airtight containers, just lovely plants with a hostess gift and everything,” she recalls of former days in Washington, D.C. suburbs.

She opened a 3,000-square-foot, interiorplant store near the nation’s capital next, supplying the original ficus trees for the Kennedy Center.

In 1989, after a stint in California, her green thumb hitched a ride to Houston where husband Dan’s career as an international tax attorney took off. With her son settled into college in the Golden State and a daughter in middle school, she satisfied her horticultural craving as head of Teas Nursery’s interior-plant department in Bellaire.

And that is how it started, this love affair with her house.

She had admired the contemporary River Oaks dwelling from afar while en route to clients. Fate intervened in the form of a Sunday newspaper advertisement.

“It was for sale. I had to see what this place was about,” she says. “But the front door opened, and I was in shock.”

Two ficus trees in the home’s marble-lined atrium were clinging to the last shreds of life with not a leaf on them. Beds were choked with weeds. To Evelyn, it was massacre by neglect. “I just about flipped out! It looked like a battle zone. I mean, how could anyone leave those trees like that?”

Add to this bleak scene water leaks, white carpet marred with black splotches, tacky lattice work and a brass staircase that had turned black from neglect (“I thought it was wrought iron,” she says) and she was ready to bolt.

But something about the place beckoned. It had good bones, potential. And after looking at the house again with Dan, they bought it.

Evelyn went about triage duty on the ficus trees and a few months later invited 75 of their closest friends to a pre-construction party at the fixerupper. “Very casual, no air conditioning, no toilets

LUSH LIVING Top photo: The home’s atrium is lush with greenery thanks to Evelyn, the plant whisperer.

Bottom left: A mirrored wall, curvy sofas and cabinets full of art glass, minerals and other treasures give this living room pizzazz. The original Picasso above the fireplace is a favorite piece. Bottom right: The master bathtub, one of the home’s few original items, doubled as seating during a party for the Houston Ballet. “It was the perfect gathering point for the dancers. They had a ball!” says Evelyn.

bookwalterphotography.com

bookwalterphotography.com

bookwalterphotography.com

ALL ABOUT FAMILY Left: A cherished sculpture from Israeli artist Ben Shalom was purchased while there for their son’s Bar Mitzvah years ago. “We take all our family photographs by that piece,” Evelyn says. Top right: A round kitchen makes for fun round-table conversation at parties. Bottom right: Dan and Evelyn in their front garden.

that really worked,” explains Evelyn with a chuckle. “We had a contest asking guests to predict how long it would take to renovate the house. One friend said, ‘Oh, it’s going to be a year.’”

Bingo. That person won a meal prepared by Evelyn and a spectacular bottle of wine.

It took that full year “and then some to really bring it to life,” says Evelyn who tackled the project with gusto, playing off the curves of the staircase in her design. No square kitchen here. “It’s rounded, the better for people to mingle around.”

These days, the atrium is its standout feature, brimming with bromeliads, orchids, Chinese evergreens and ivies below two lush ficus trees.

The home’s positive energy is palpable.

“I’m the only person crazy enough to have taken this on,” she quips. “But we love it. It’s a house of music, minerals, plants and art. All the things we love.”

They’ve added a wine room off the dining room as well as an exercise suite and all-purpose room upstairs. A dilapidated back porch was done away with during construction, replaced with a new breakfast room. And a comfy den now sits where a bedroom used to be.

“It’s a great party house,” says Evelyn. A throng of 300 packed the place at a 2004 preSuper bowl party, the year Houston played host.

The couple opens up their home routinely for charity and fundraising events. Evelyn, a chronic lymphocytic leukemia survivor, works closely with the Texas Gulf Coast Leukemia and Lymphoma Society hosting and organizing galas and other fundraisers. “My goal in life is to raise money that is going to fund research into a cure for blood cancers,” says Evelyn, a former president of the group.

They’ve also opened their doors to the

National Council of Jewish Women. Evelyn was president of the group’s Greater Houston Section for two years. For these contributions and more, she was honored with a 2009 ABC13 Women of Distinction Award.

And not many couples can boast a bevy of ballerinas sitting around their bathtub. “We had a opening-night party here for the Houston Ballet,” explains Evelyn. “It was the perfect gathering point for the dancers. They had a ball!”

The couple are longtime patrons of the ballet.

Dan has served on the foundation board for 23 years, and Evelyn is a past president of the Houston Ballet Guild. She also chaired the popular Nutcracker Market with – what else – flowers as the theme.

“No real surprise there. Reliant Center was brimming with flowers,” she says. “Flowers, plants, they just make everything better.”

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ AUGUST 2014 21

SPORTS

.

by Todd Freed, staff writer

SportzBuzz

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ AUGUST 2014 22

16 from fine arts and 10 from academics.

“This award is a great honor for our school,” said athletic director Clayton Harrell. “It’s the second time in the last three years we’ve won the award, and it shows what a wellrounded educational experience we provide at St. Thomas’.”

Over at St. John’s, the girls lacrosse team closed out the school year by winning the Texas Girls High School Lacrosse League State Championship. The MAVERICKS LAX St. John’s senior Eden Epner helped lead the Mavericks to Mavericks beat neigh- the Texas Girls High School Lacrosse League state championship. Epner also was boring rival Lamar in honored as a US Lacrosse All-American. the state final. The vicservice and extracurricular activities. tory also marked the 11th consecutive season Riedel was named the Scholar Athlete of the the Mavericks have won either the state chamYear in boys golf, while DiGregorio represented pionship, SPC title or a combination of both. boys soccer and Kirchhofer won the award in “It was a great victory for our girls,” said St. boys swimming.

John’s head coach Angie Kensinger. “We had a Meanwhile, a number of other local athletes very young team with only four seniors.” were Scholar Athlete of the Year finalists in Several players won major post-season their respective sports, including Ben Graber awards, including senior Eden Epner and soph(Memorial baseball), Brenna Black (Memorial omore Lindsey McKone, who were both softball), Abigail Brown (Stratford softball), named US Lacrosse All-Americans. In addiBrian Doyle (Strake Jesuit basketball), tion, McKone, junior Nell Copeland and senior Campbell Ross (Stratford golf), Margaret captain Grace Winston were part of the allSherwood (Memorial soccer), Taylor state team, while Eden, McKone and junior Troutman (Stratford soccer), Brianna Burns Jessica Nyquist were named to the SPC All(Memorial swimming), Daniel Gawerc Conference team.

(Memorial track and field), Colin Thompson The school year closed out with major aca(Strake Jesuit track and field) and Kimmie demic honors for Memorial’s Grant Kirchhofer, George (Strake Jesuit cheerleading).

Stratford’s Benjamin Riedel and Thomas DiGregorio of Strake Jesuit, who were all named Editor’s Note: Todd Freed is the Emmy Awardthe Greater Houston Scholar Athletes of the winning co-host and producer of the KUBE Year for their respective sports. The awards were SportsZone, which airs Saturday and Sunday at 6 presented by the Touchdown Club of Houston p.m. on Channel 57-KUBE. To submit high school at its 48th annual Spring Sports Scholar Athlete sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, Banquet, with the judging based on athletic and please email todd@thebuzzmagazines.com. academic achievement as well as community Kevin Long, www.gulfcoastshots.com

A

fter a strong showing in this summer’s Texas State 7-on-7 Championships, the Lamar Texans football team appears to have all the makings of another powerhouse season.

The Texans advanced to the 7-on-7 State Tournament for the 10th time in the last 13 seasons. “We had really great participation in our summer weight and conditioning program, and I like what we did in 7-on-7,” said Lamar head coach Tom Nolen.

With 12 players from last year’s team moving on to play college football, the Texans will have some big holes to fill this fall, but by no means is the Lamar roster short on talent. Senior defensive back Holton Hill is being recruited by multiple Division 1 schools, while fellow senior Traveon Duncan is an athletic defensive back as well.

Offensively, the Texans received a major boost in the off-season with Fort Bend Marshall quarterback J.W. Ketchum and Episcopal running back Tyreik Gray both transferring to Lamar.

Ketchum actually played at Lamar his freshman season before moving to Fort Bend and now back to Houston. At Marshall, he established himself as one of the Houston area’s top quarterbacks.

“J.W. has always been a great athlete. We’re thrilled to have him back,” said Nolen.

Meanwhile, Gray is regarded as one of the top running back prospects in the state, and he’ll join senior Ronnie Wesley to give Lamar an explosive one-two threat in the backfield.

Wesley helped lead Lamar to the state finals two years ago, and just last season rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and 19 touchdowns. Lamar also returns standout offensive linemen Trey Jones and Jonathan Veaudion.

Saint Thomas’ Episcopal enters the school year as the winner of the TAPPS 3A Henderson Cup, beating out 46 other schools for the award.

The Henderson Cup goes to the school with the top sports programs over the course of the entire school year, with added points for achievements in fine arts and academics.

Along with winning the TAPPS 3A State Championship in boys basketball, STE also boasted high statewide rankings in several sports over the 2013-14 school year. STE scored 87 points in winning the cup, 61 of which were from athletics,

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WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ AUGUST 2014 23

SPORTS

SportzBuzz, Jr.

Karen Haysley

by Jacob Padden, contributing writer

W

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

District champs

Lacrosse-ing Aidan Clark (middle photo), an incoming eighth grader at Pin Oak Middle School, plays summer lacrosse for the Class of 2019 Hurricanes Team. This summer, Aidan’s team competed in the Texas Draw Tournament in Plano, finishing with a 5-1 tournament record and third place. Aidan, who usually plays defense, has been playing lacrosse since fourth grade.

Yvette Clark

The Bellaire Little League 9U All-Star team won its district tournament, overcoming other District 16 foes, including West U and Post Oak. They advanced to the Section 3 Sub Sectional Tournament (the farthest they could advance) in Pearland and made it all the way to the championship game, finishing in second place. The members of the squad include (top photo, pictured, from left) Evan Wei, Trey Russo, Taylor Bazarsky, Griff Hay, Jake Haysley, Milan Narayan, Seth Broadwell, Colin Sloan, Aidan Orozco, Matthew Evans, Ryan Josef, Quinn Harrison and Mike Melton. Bellaire Fall Ball registration is now open at www.bellairell.org.

Made it to sectionals

Editor’s note: Send your best high-resolution photos and behindthe-scenes stories about young local athletes, in both team and individual sports, to SportsBuzz, Jr. at info@thebuzzmagazines.com.

Include all contact info, names, ages, grades and schools. Featured athletes must live in Buzz-circulation neighborhoods. Items will be published on a space-available basis.

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Joe Bailey

The West University Little League 13U All-Star team competed in the Texas East Section 3 Sectional tournament this summer after advancing through the district round.

Pictured is Michael Hansen (bottom photo). Teammates are Tucker Alch, Jake Arthur, Connor Bailey, Peter Bambace, Nolan Berens, Brendan Cumming, Kevin “Clay” Didway, Jacob Doxakis, Sachin Jaggi, Michael Keene, Cooper Padden and Thomas Williamson. Their coaches are James Williamson, Cape Bell, Adrian Turnham and Douglas Cubberly.

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1. Pencils 2. School uniform 3. Allergy treatment With the start of the new school year just around the corner, parents are on the hunt for ways to ensure their children are on the path to success. Treating your child’s allergies may be just as essential to ensuring academic success as starting them off each morning with a good breakfast. In a recent survey, 94 percent of the allergic respondents stated that their allergy symptoms affected their quality of life, including their performance at school and work.

Allergy symptoms such as nasal congestion, drainage, sneezing and sore throat can impair a child’s ability to sleep well, often leading to fatigue and daytime drowsiness. This can have a tremendous impact on your child’s ability to perform well in school. Children dealing with untreated allergy symptoms often find it difficult to concentrate and may have behavioral problems such as increased irritability or hyperactivity. Your child’s allergies can even affect activities outside of the classroom, with diminished interest and performance in extracurricular activities such as sports, band or special interest clubs.

If your child has allergies, there is a possibility he or she also has asthma, as allergies and asthma often go hand in hand. If left untreated, asthma can also hinder performance in academic and extracurricular activities. The shortness of breath, wheezing and nighttime cough associated with asthma can impair sleep, leading to fatigue and decreased concentration. “Asthma attacks” can impair athletic performance, and the fear of having an attack is enough to discourage some children from participating.

Children with allergies and asthma also miss more days of school due to flare-ups, which can lead to decreased academic performance as well as

missed work for parents.

The good news is that many treatments are available for allergy and asthma symptoms.

Unlike many older medications, which have a high incidence of sedation, current regimens will allow your child to be awake and alert during the day and sleep well at night. Irritability may decrease when children are no longer suffering from constant allergy symptoms, and involvement in extracurricular activities may be easier when they can breathe freely and have improved concentration. Immunotherapy, in the form of allergy shots, drops or tablets, can also lead to improvement in symptoms, and with continued use may eliminate the need for daily medications.

Remember, a child who does not feel well may not learn well. If your child has allergies or asthma, make sure he or she is getting the essentials needed for academic success.

No one nose allergies like we do.™ Note: Information contained in this article should not be considered a substitute for consultation with a board-certified allergist to address individual medical needs.

Lisa Dargel, MS, MPAS, PA-C, The Allergy Clinic, 7707 Fannin, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77054, 713.797.0993, *1200 Binz, Suite 180, Houston, Texas 77004, 713.522.9911, www.allergyclinic.com, *Operating as Houston Allergy & Asthma Clinic

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WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ AUGUST 2014 25

NEIGHBORS

.

by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Buzz About Town Pitch perfect

at an Astros game, with the first pitch thrown out by West University Little League player William Hoffman (pictured, middle, with Stephen Keener, at left, and Hugh Tanner).

Friends and family watched with excitement at Minute Maid Park. Little League was formed in 1939 and is the world’s largest youth-sports organization.

Women WOWed Little League International is celebrating its 75th anniversary. The milestone was recognized

Over 120 fashionistas, including Jacqueline Torres and Chloe Dao (pictured, from left), flocked to the 11th Annual Women of Wardrobe Membership Drive at Dress for

Success Houston. It was a success, with over 40 of the attendees signing up to volunteer for the organization that helps less-privileged women get back into the work force. The Dress for

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Woman’s Health Group, PLLC, DBA Heidi Purcell, M.D. 7580 Fannin Street, Suite 330, Houston, TX 77054 713-797-0060 • womanshealthgroup.com

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ AUGUST 2014 26

Success building on Eastside was turned into a pop-up shop featuring goods from designers Dao Chloe Dao and Temple Street Jewelry. Also in the mix were WOW president Paige Branam, Rebecca Emrick, Helen Yancy, Ashley Authorlee, Sara Connell, Jason Kaminsky, Michaela Williams, Millie Fitzpatrick, Allie Trail, Danielle Johnson and Natalie Berko.

dancing at The Parador. The maid of honor was the bride’s sister, Kathryn Sawyer, and bridesmaids were Allison Assel, Lauren Assel, Autumn Caldwell, Jessica Caldwell, Julia Domning, Nora Reardon and Brooke Thompson. The groom’s best man was Sonny Reil, and groomsmen were Eric Cummings, Ethan Fitzgerald, Wylder Green, Raymond Loving and Max Vaclavik. Ushers were Garrin Raymond and Dustin Teague. The bride’s parents, Carol and Chuck Sawyer, and groom’s parents, Rayland Pless and Michelle Wildman, had a ball watching their children marry. The couple ventured to the beautiful Bora Bora for a honeymoon in paradise.

One year later

West University residents brought lawn chairs and boogied on the big wooden deck at Colonial Park Pool during the Party on the Patio concert series this summer. Popular bands The Fab Five, Ezra Charles Band and Grady Gaines and the Texas Upsetters played for the relaxed residents.

The evenings were sponsored by Direct Energy and benefitted Friends of West University Place Parks Fund. For upcoming events at Colonial Park, see the Parks & Recreation Special Events page at westutx.gov/events or call 713-662-7460.

©2014 George Street Photo & Video, LLC

Musical chairs

Making a splash

Lamar High School grads Melissa Sawyer and Blane Pless tied the knot exactly one year after getting engaged, at West University Methodist Church, followed by a night of dinner and

West University dads competed at the annual Colonial Park Pool "Daddy Belly Flop Contest" after the West University (continued on page 28)

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(continued from page 27)

4th of July parade. As neighbors and friends enjoyed music, food and swimming, they watched the 15 competing dads flop in the pool one by one and get scored. After the first round, there were seven left. Then, in a sudden-death round, Craig Friou scored a perfect 10 and won first place, with his proud wife,

Jane, and kids Elliot, 6, and Elise, 7, cheering him on. They proudly took home their trophy.

Volunteers celebrate Celebrating at Susan G. Komen Houston’s Laugh and Live for the Cure Impact Awards Luncheon was three-time breast-cancer survivor Lourdes

Hernandez, who was presented with Komen’s “Promise of One” national award for outstanding volunteer service. More than 400 attendees filled the Royal Sonesta pink-washed ballroom brimming with blush centerpieces and treats donated

by Janice and Bobby Jucker of Three Brothers Bakery. E! Fashion Police star Joan Rivers had the room in stitches. Pictured (standing, from left) are Jeannie Frazier, Nadine Eidman, Margaret Pfeiffer, G.G. Hsieh, Lourdes Hernandez, Allen Wilson, Dorothy Paterson, (seated, from left) Karen Funk and Arza Funk.

Eat for a cause

Get ready to take a bite out of Houston’s food scene at The Parador, 2021 Binz St., with Camp For All’s Young Professionals at the second annual Camp Culinary Challenge. Save your appetite for Sept. 18, 7-10 p.m., when you can sample chefs’ contest entries and vote for best

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ AUGUST 2014 28

mac ‘n’ cheese and best s’mores. Enjoy a drink at the bar, plus entertainment, while supporting Camp For All’s mission of sending kids and adults with disabilities to camp. Enjoy entries from past s’mores winner chef Bobby Jucker of Three Brothers Bakery, new competitors Sorrel Urban Bistro and Kris Bistro and more. Pictured (from left) are Whitney Mears, Mark Montgomery, Kathy Mosbacher, Freda Montgomery, Katie Mears and Sandy Parkerson. See campforall.org.

drive, which Taylor helped organize. Taylor’s father, Howard Bookstaff, came by to support his daughter and donate. After he donated, Taylor gave him an exclusive tour of the KPRC studio.

The two even got to sit in the anchors’ desk.

Lunch packs punch

Dad-daughter day

This summer, Taylor Bookstaff (pictured, with her dad Howard), a sophomore at The University of Georgia, is interning in KPRC Local 2’s creative services department. On June 19, the station held its annual summer blood

Movie in the pool Aug. 7

The Brookwood Community hosted a one-hour luncheon at the Hilton Americas that brought in an impressive $1,025,000. The funds will help the nonprofit’s mission as a residential facility that provides vocational programs for adults with disabilities. Pictured (from left) are Frank Tucker, Stephanie Tucker, J. Brady Lum and Brad Tucker. Chairs were Dan and Mary McCulloch. Other noteables involved were Lora Jean Kilroy, Danny and Robin Klaes, Sam and Melinda Stubbs, Dr. Patrick and Domitille McCulloch, Les and Anne Csorba, Howard and Kay House, Jim McIngvale, and Marty and Mary Goosen. See brookwoodcommunity.org.

Swim in the Bellaire Town Square pool and watch the movie Men In Black at the same time.

The Bellaire Buzz, Patrons for Bellaire Parks and the City of Bellaire are presenting Dive-In Movie Night Thursday, Aug. 7, at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 on the day of the event. Admission is limited to 250 people, so we recommend purchasing in advance.

Guests get inflatable noodles for floating, compliments of Patrons for Bellaire Parks. This event is recommended for ages 10 and up, but all ages are allowed with parental guidance.

Food and drinks available from the poolside food court, included free in the price of admission. To buy tickets, see bellaireparks.org or call 713-661-7275.

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

Items are published on a space-available basis.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ AUGUST 2014 29

LOVE OF LANGUAGE Pierce Hollier, who will start high school at Strake Jesuit this fall, scored high on the National Spanish Exam. He is pictured wearing his medal with St. Mark’s Episcopal School’s headmaster, Garhett Wagers.

KIDS

by Pierce Hollier, age 14

Buzz Kidz

Hola, y’all

I

From the first time I was introduced to the language, I absolutely loved it. I always came home and talked about it to my parents and practiced what I had learned. I have dedicated hours of my time outside of school to learning the language. The ability to continue my Spanish experience throughout my education has been a blessing and will continue to be, as I hope to take Spanish all through high school, and I plan to go to Costa Rica or Spain after my junior or senior year of high school. Being immersed in the language is very important and is the final step to really becoming fluent.

I certainly recognize the need to learn Spanish, as the United States is becoming increasingly more integrated. I want to be able to communicate with everyone I meet and

recently took the National Spanish Exam in our eighth-grade Spanish class at St. Mark’s Episcopal School. I scored third out of all testing eighth graders at my level in the United States. It has been an incredible journey learning Spanish over the years that I have been in school.

My entire class did well on the exam. I think this is most likely due to the fact that my school begins foreign-language instruction in kindergarten. I went from knowing nothing of the language to being able to carry on a conversation completely in Spanish. I really appreciate the work of all of the Spanish teachers at school. I also worked with a family friend who spoke to me only in Spanish and would carry me beyond what I was learning in the classroom.

understand them. It will also be a great tool to use during my adult life. I will most likely minor in Spanish in college since I hope to become a reconstructive surgeon and would prefer to not need a translator to communicate with my patients. Regardless of my career path, Spanish will always be a part of my life and what I do.

Want to be a Buzz Kid? Email approximately 350 words, a high-resolution photo and caption to info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Or mail it to The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, TX 77401.

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Re-think college education The world of education your children and grandchildren face is not the one you grew up in. For starters, a college degree is much more expensive today, as reflected in sky-high levels of student debt. According to the New York Federal Reserve Bank, U.S. student debt nearly tripled from 2004 to 2012.

It’s ironic that students are taking on so much debt to pay for education at a time when, thanks to the Internet, information and knowledge flow more freely than ever before. But many students (and their parents) are stuck in the conventional thinking that an aspiring collegiate must gain acceptance to the most elite institution possible, then do whatever it takes to pay for it.

The encyclopedia, newspaper and music industries offer a lesson in what happens when conventional thinking collides with a new technological reality. Education is in for a similar sea-change.

People have long suspected that undergraduate instruction at elite universities might not be worth the price of admission because the faculty is so focused on research. Now there are studies showing that most students who are good enough to gain admission to the most elite schools do just as well in future earnings when they attend a less elite, more affordable school.

For the ultimate in affordability, Khan Academy has gained the support of Google and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in the goal of providing “a free world-class education for anyone anywhere.” The academy offers over 3,000 videos on a variety of subjects for free online. Prestigious schools such as Rice, Stanford and Yale have followed suit, making their own course videos freely available.

And while tuition for traditional classes continues to rise, the amount families actually pay for college has declined since 2010, thanks to economizing. Opportunities to economize will only increase with the growing availability of quality education from a variety of sources.

The lesson you should take from this is to embrace the brave new world when planning for the education of your children or grandchildren. For instance, rather than an expensiveto-obtain degree, you might consider an honors program at a state university. These offer small classes and even select residence halls filled with exceptional students focused on learning rather than partying.

Carefully research and consider all options, from online study to a hybrid education that combines, say, two years of online community college with two years at a university. Most importantly, don’t wreck your child’s finances or your own just to get a “prestigious” name on a diploma. Rethink your child’s college-education strategy and don’t get caught off-guard by a tsunami of change.

James Waters, CFP®, PartnersInWealth, 3400 Bissonnet, Suite 145, Houston, Texas 77005, 713.964.4028, jrw@partnersinwealth.com, www.partnersinwealth.com

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ AUGUST 2014 31

DINING GUIDE

by Dai Huynh, staff writer

This Month in Dining Dine and do good during Houston Restaurant Weeks

Restaurant Listings $ (under $10) $$ ($11-$30) $$$ ($31-$60) $$$$ (over $60) Prices include drink, tax and tip per person If a limited budget has slowed the pace of your restaurant visits this year, this is your chance to catch up. This month’s restaurant listings highlight some of the city’s best dining spots, offering pre-fixe lunches and dinners at reduced prices during Houston Restaurant Weeks. The common denominator? Other than combining efforts and talents to raise money to end hunger in Houston? These chefs and restaurants use as many local and artisanal products as possible.

Canopy

VALLONE’S The Tex – two cheese enchiladas served with a center-cut, house-aged filet – is one of the dishes featured at Vallone's in Gateway Memorial City during Houston Restaurant Weeks.

W

ith fork and knife, Buzz resident Victor Roberts has launched his annual steak hunt. The goal is to taste as many steaks as his pocketbook permits, compare the marbled cuts and find the best. The only rule is that the steaks must come from one of more than 150 restaurants participating in Houston Restaurant Weeks (HRW) from Aug. 1 to Sept. 1. This month-long charity event raised about $1.3 million for the Houston Food Bank last year, and more than $4 million since 2003.

“Houston Restaurant Weeks is the largest primary fund-raising event,” says Brian Greene, president/CEO of the Houston Food Bank. “Of the $35 meal, $5 goes to the Houston Food Bank. For the typical diner, it equates to one meal. But for the Food Bank, it translates to 15 meals.”

Diners can select from two-, three- or four-course prix-fixe menus. Dinners will be $35 or $45, depending on the menu, with $5 and $7, respectively, going to charity. Lunches will be priced at $20, with $3 going to the non-profit. Brunch – a new category – was added this year for $25.

Roberts appreciates the chance to contribute to the Food Bank with the added bonus of testing out new restaurants and getting a few fancy meals at a lower cost. “A good night at a nice steakhouse will typically run you about $100,” he says. “Here, I can get a three-course steak dinner for $45.”

He plans to sample Vallone’s, a recent addition to the steakhouse scene, along with The Capital Grille at CityCentre and Lynn’s Steakhouse. Some other participating eateries include Nara, Bradley’s Fine Diner (BFD), Artista, Maggiano’s Little Italy, Peli Peli, Latin Bites, Mezzanotte Ristorante and Tony’s. All participating restaurants and their menus are posted on the HRW site at houstonrestaurantweeks.com.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ AUGUST 2014 32

Creative Gulf-Coast cuisine Neighborhood: Montrose When the weekend arrives, Houston’s motor shifts into idle, and Canopy greets its favorite meal – brunch. The austere space with blond furniture bubbles with conversations as Claire Smith’s reliable kitchen sends out babyspinach salads with pulled chicken that is peppy with a dessert-wine vinaigrette, apples and roasted red grapes. Try, too, eggs benedict on sweet potato English muffins and an earthy four-mushroom pot pie. Breakfast, lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 3939 Montrose, 713-5286848. canopyhouston.com. $$

Caracol Mexican coastal cuisines Neighborhood: Galleria Hugo Ortega is largely credited with introducing Houstonians to the foodways of Mexico. His namesake restaurant, Hugo’s, on Westheimer captivates with interior specialties, while Caracol showcases Mexico’s lilting coastal cuisines.

Ceviches and crudos shine against a snow-white interior dressed with deep-sea creatures by renowned illustrator Charley Harper. Jalapeño and ginger give great spark and crunch to conch,

while scallops combined with sweet mango, papaya and lime crudos dance merrily between sweet, salty and tangy. A house favorite is oysters smoked in a wood-burning domed oven, then drizzled with a luscious chipotle butter. The menu leans toward seafood, but there are meatier options, such as bone-in short rib with cocoa nib and roasted duck with pumpkin seed sauce. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 2200 Post Oak Blvd., No. 160, 713-622-9996. caracol.net. $$$

Costa Brava Bistro French-and-Spanish cuisine Neighborhood: Bellaire Working backward at this Spanish-inspired restaurant, the refined desserts include crema Catalan with a miraculous crunchy sugar glaze and an apple tart that smartly blends smoky caramel with buttery pastry. The flavorful seafood paella from owner Angeles Duenas’ grandfather sports perfectly al dente rice. Moist roasted duck and shrimp piquant with garlic make this upscale spot pleasing. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Fri. and dinner Sat. 5115 Bellaire Blvd., 713-839-1005. costabravabistro.com. $$$

Étoile Authentic French Neighborhood: Galleria area When several talented French chefs urge you to try the food at Étoile, it’s hard to dispute their keen taste for the food of their homeland.

Just as they said, the flavors here are true, and owner-chef Philippe Verpiand and wife Monica Bui have created an alluringly warm showcase for a hearty coq au vin and tender sole meunière with lemon caper sauce, fingerling potatoes and roasted cauliflower – both brunch items. Briny mussels flavored with tomatoes and onions are served with homemade pomme frites and garlic aioli. The beauty of this place is almost everything is made from scratch, including the crusty baguettes. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sun. 1101 Uptown Park Blvd., 832668-5808. etoilecuisine.com. $$

Hugo’s Regional Mexican Neighborhood: Montrose Tex-Mex was the game in town until risk takers such as Hugo’s owner-chef Hugo Ortega set out to educate Houstonians about the food of his motherland. Many traditional Mexican establishments have failed, but not the highceiling, palatial Hugo’s, with such comida tipica as a soulful off-the-menu oxtail soup, earthy moles and snapper tamales fragrant in banana leaves. Perennial favorites are the wood-grilled rib-eye steak and baby pig roasted in banana leaves, not to mention pan-fried grasshoppers, which taste like popcorn and are delicious when paired with a blanco tequila. The crown jewel is Hugo’s Sunday brunch – a majestic cornucopian spread, worth every peso. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sun. 1600 Westheimer Road, 713-5247744. hugosrestaurant.net. $$$

LUCILLE’S Chef-owner Chris Williams of Lucille's in the Museum District takes an innovative approach to Southern classics, some of which will be featured on his Houston Restaurant Weeks' prix-fixe menu.

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

Owner-chef Carlos Abedrop butchers a whole rib rack himself to ensure the right cut. The steak here isn’t the buttery, tender sort American diners have come to expect. Here, it has the kind of chew that bursts with forceful flavors from beef grilled over mesquite fire. The lamb, too, while tender, is resilient with its characteristic gamey nuances. Meats are good by themselves even with the standard sides of smoke-kissed beans, skin-on fried potatoes and three-alarm salsas. Lunch & dinner, Mon.-Sun., 322 Westheimer, 832-623-6467. $$$

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

Quattro Contemporary Italian Neighborhood: Downtown Talented chef Maurizio Ferrarese brings the flavors of his native Italy to Quattro at the Four Seasons Hotel. The dining room is an elegant affair. Just as engaging is the adjoining Vinoteca Quattro bar where downtown workers unwind over Italian beers, wines and Italian small plates during happy hour. From 4 to 7 p.m. on

Thursday, guests can purchase a wine or cocktail and all-you-can-eat antipasti for $18. Breakfast, lunch & dinner Mon.-Sun. 1300 Lamar, 713-6501300. quattrorestauranthouston.com. $$-$$$$

Tony’s Upscale Gulf Coast Italian Neighborhood: Upper Richmond Old World Italian provides a water-walled backdrop for star sightings, anniversaries, birthdays and engagements over Riedel glasses and Christofle flatware. Cinematic plots unfold under the watchful eye of restaurateur Tony Vallone, whose Gulf Coast Italian menu sparkles with chef Grant Gordon’s flavors. When available, try the pea ravioli with lamb sausage, which shimmers with creamy richness. Lunch & dinner Mon.-Fri. and dinner Sat. 3755 Richmond, Houston, TX 77046, 713-622-6778. tonyshouston.com. $$$$

Vallone’s Modern-American steakhouse Neighborhood: Memorial The option of adding any homemade pasta, such diminutive corn ravioli or short-rib tortellini, to your steak dinner for $9 adds to the appeal of the impeccably hand-cut slabs of steaks. But really all that is required for the juicy, charred, dry-aged, bone-in ribeye is a side of fries and a robust California cabernet.

With his new steakhouse, restaurateur Tony Vallone again illustrates that he knows good food, and his impeccable tastes are expertly translated on the menu. Normally, we skip sauces, especially when the steaks (wet and dry age) shine with just a dash of salt. But in this case, the cabernet foie gras jus and spicy béarnaise are hard to pass up, as is the Colorado lamb chop with chickpea purée. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. and dinner Sun. 947 Gessner, 713-395-6100. vallonessteakhouse.com. $$$$

MORE ONLINE For more restaurants and to comment, visit us online at westubuzz.com.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ AUGUST 2014 33

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How’s your thinking?

If you are honest, at some point you will admit that your memory is not what it used to be. But a little memory loss isn’t the same as cognitive problems. Or is it? And how would you know? And why would you want to know?

These issues were covered by a recent article about SAGE, the SelfAdministered Gerocognitive Examination, a self-assessment test from Ohio State University to help detect early signs of dementia (Ann Carrns, “A Test for the Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease,” The New York Times, June 19, 2014, nyti.ms/1qwFRQW).

Although the article focused on Alzheimer’s, the test itself is a screening tool for any kind of memory or thinking problem. The test can be done in 10 to 15 minutes at home. It is best scored by a doctor, but the test and scoring instructions are available to anyone at bit.ly/1cWqCIe. There are four versions, so you can take one at home before asking a doctor to grade you on a different one. Spanish translations are available.

A score of 17 or higher is considered normal. Anything lower calls for a visit with your doctor and perhaps neurological and psychological testing. A low score doesn’t mean Alzheimer’s. Often, the cause of cognitive problems is something more treatable, such as thyroid issues, stroke or sleep apnea.

In the worst case, an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, there are several advantages to early detection. Drugs can treat some symptoms, and clinical trials may be available for those whose condition is not too advanced.

The Times reports it costs roughly $57,000 per year to care for an

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Alzheimer’s patient and that family pays about 60 percent of that. The more time available for financial planning, the better.

Early detection makes it more likely that you will transfer control on your terms, and before you make a big mistake with your money. Too often, successful investors continue managing everything even after they become aware of difficulties handling money. Anyone with enough snap to take their own SAGE test can and should help transfer household finances and investment management to someone else. The best option varies from family to family, but may include a spouse, a responsible child, an agent under a power of attorney, an investment advisor or a trust company.

The National Institute on Aging offers fact sheets for financial and legal planning on its website at 1.usa.gov/1rcWOgL, and so does the Alzheimer’s Association at bit.ly/19qnFl4.

We write wills and go to probate court. We offer no-obligation initial interviews for estate planning and administration, so it costs nothing to hear specific recommendations that suit your needs. Foreign nationals and international families welcome.

Russell W. Hall, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Board Certified – Estate Planning and Probate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 6750 West Loop So. Ste. 920, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.662.3853, www.rwhpc.com

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Enriching your cat’s life

A minute with Maisie

Most veterinarians and cat experts now recommend that cats should live indoors their entire lives. While the health and safety of our pets is always paramount, it’s important to stimulate their brains and keep them active as well. For many cats, this means bringing the outdoors inside. Here are some ways you can help your cat experience the outdoors from the safety of the indoors: • Create an outdoor enclosure such as a screened-in porch. Your cat will love being closer to the sights, smells and sounds of the birds, squirrels and other outside activity.

• Mount bird and squirrel feeders near windows to provide year-round entertainment for your feline friend.

• Bring in potted plants such as cat grass or catnip and place them by a sunny window. (Make sure the plants you choose are not toxic to cats.)

• Invest in a cat tree or perch and locate it next to a window. Your cat will have a blast jumping, climbing, scratching and hiding in the cat tree, not to mention pretending to hunt the birds and squirrels he can see.

More external stimulation throughout the day will help keep your cat busy and happy, not just a cat couch potato!

Rover Oaks Pet Resort, 2550 West Bellfort, Houston, Texas 77054, 713.662.2119, www.roveroaks.com

Many clients ask me, “What do you do when your co-parent refuses to follow the court order?”

Texas courts issue orders every day with the expectation that parties will follow them and avoid the need for further litigation. However, family law cases involve ex-spouses, blended families and children’s changing needs and activities. Therefore, when a co-parent refuses to follow a court order, the legal remedy is to file an enforcement action requesting the court to punish the person and request attorney’s fees.

These are very technical pleadings and require significant detail, so it is best to try to work out your differences and rely on an enforcement action as a last resort. Always try to communicate with the other parent about these issues without involving the children. However, if you have tried to communicate, but the other parent refuses to cooperate with you, an enforcement action may be the correct course of action.

Maisie A. Barringer is a partner at Jenkins & Kamin, L.L.P., a full-service, boutique, family law firm specializing in divorce, child-custody modifications, grandparent access, paternity, adoption, and premarital and postmarital agreements. Maisie A. Barringer has been recognized as a Texas Rising Star by Texas Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters service printed in Texas Monthly magazine for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013.

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

From her first steps through graduation.

A portrait remembers.

Mention The Buzz and receive a $75.00 studio session and other back-to-school specials. Call for details.

Offer valid through August 31, 2014

Reserve your session now A portrait remembers 713.523.4916 nikky@lawellphoto.com www.lawellphoto.com

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ AUGUST 2014 35

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PETS

Neighborhood Tails

713.662.2119 www.roveroaks.com

Casey, age 2, Golden Retriever, Buffalo Speedway My name is Casey. My father sometimes calls me “Quesadilla” because I act like a “big cheese.”

I was born in Eagle, Oregon, at a kennel called Tamarack. My lineage is from generations of champion golden retrievers, so my father introduced me to conformation dog shows at 7 months. Right now I am a Champion Conformation Dog, working on becoming a Grand Champion. Since my father thinks I am pretty smart, which I am, I plan to get designations in Obedience and Rally next. Every day I trot next to my father on his bike with a Frisbee in my mouth. (Guess who has the more difficult exercise?) I must confess, what I love best is curling up next to my family in our nice air-conditioned house. Oh, the joys of simplicity. I just wish our two-legged companions could enjoy it as much as we dogs do.

Got a cute critter? Email a picture of your pet with approximately 150 words to info@thebuzzmagazines.com or mail it to The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, TX 77401. Featured pets receive two passes to Rover Oaks Pet Resort. Each pass can be redeemed for one day of lodging in a Bunk House Suite, 25 percent off your next grooming appointment or 25 percent off one obedience training class.

The Best Fajitas in Town!

We Deliver Free Queso with Minimum Purchase of $40 Through September 30, 2014.

713.723.8100 • www.fajitapetes.com

4050 Bellaire Blvd, Houston TX 77025 (next to Whole Foods) • We Cater!

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ AUGUST 2014 36

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The St. Thomas standard

New way to exercise

The St. Thomas High School Class of 2014 was awarded nearly $10 million in merit scholarships for academics, athletics, leadership and talent.

And among the five National Merit Scholars, five National Merit Commended Students, six National Hispanic Scholars and 34 members in the National Honor Society are those who chose service beyond scholarship.

Joseph Lowery and Chris Zook (U.S. Military Academy), Joshua Reece (U.S. Air Force Academy) and Tim Zallar (Embry Riddle Aeronautical University) are all extending a 100-year STH legacy of courage and valor.

“It’s just great to know that I’m part of a glorified alumni,” Lowery said.

“And I’m proud to be serving my country. I’ve always wanted to serve others.

Now I’m not just serving a few.”

Lowery maintained a solid A average while earning three varsity letters in football, track and wrestling, where he was a TAPPS state champion and qualifier for the National Prep Championships. His drive and versatility were proven again after winning first at TAPPS State with his Senior Ceramics and Art portfolio.

Lowery is but one example of the many St. Thomas students whose faithbased experience included rigorous academic challenges plus the opportunity to participate in nationally recognized Forensics and Engineering programs, the state’s premiere private school athletics program, award-winning publications and fine arts.

St. Thomas High School, 4500 Memorial Dr., Houston, TX 77007, 713.864.6348, www.sths.org

If your goal is to burn fat, experts recommend high-intensity interval training (H.I.I.T) – not 30-60 minutes of cardio and traditional exercise every day, but rather short spurts of H.I.I.T. The magic of H.I.I.T. is its ability to keep you burning fat even after your workout.

This phenomenon is referred to as EPOC, which stands for Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption. After intense exercise, your body has to expend a lot of energy putting itself back together, metabolically speaking. So, while you may burn fewer total calories during a brief high intensity exercise session, in the end, you burn more as a result of your efforts. However, for many of us, “high intensity” sounds intimidating, so the key is to find a program where you get the fat burning in a safe environment.

The Exercise Coach (TEC) specializes in Right Intensity Training, a scientific exercise protocol designed to match each individual’s current fitness level. TEC combines some of the most advanced bio-adaptive exercise technology with personal trainers to deliver results in just two 20-minute sessions per week. Courtney Bastien, manager of TEC in West University, brings close to a decade of experience to her clients. TEC is currently offering four free sessions for first-time clients.

The Exercise Coach, 4060 Bissonnet St., Houston, Texas 77005, 713.766.5300, www.exercisecoach.com

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ AUGUST 2014 37

NEIGHBORS

by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

Back Porch

Parents embarrassing their kids

F

or three years, I did exactly what I was not supposed to do as the parent of a middleschooler. Every morning in carpool line, when my older daughter would leave the car and head down the walkway into school, already encumbered by a colossal pink backpack and the daily providence of middle school, my younger daughter would roll down the back-seat car window. Then she’d stick her head out of the window and yell at the top of her lungs, “BYE SISTER! I LOVE YOU! HAVE A GREAT DAY!” And with a giant satisfied smile, she’d quietly roll the window back up, and we’d be on our way.

I did not stop this. Actually, I must admit to encouraging it just a tiny bit by intentionally not locking the passenger windows. But it was worse than that. For the entire first year of this routine, temperature be damned, my younger daughter wore a bright blue, Cookie Monster knit hat with earflaps and googly eyes on top of her head.

This is what was hanging out of the window yelling at her sister, earflap pompoms blowing in the breeze.

It was perversely pleasurable, this turn of events, my daughter being the one embarrassed, I having the perspective (and age) to enjoy it. I grew up embarrassed. Pretending like my mother didn’t actually sing to my fifth grade class. (I still cringe.) Like my dad didn’t drive my friends and me to Madonna and Phil Collins concerts in a van emblazoned with “The Eye Clinic of Texas” along the sides. (Consolation: He bought the seats, and they were good.) What is it they say about becoming your parents? My poor children.

Recently I surveyed a few teenaged kids to get their thoughts on embarrassing parents. (Many declined to talk to me. Too embarrassing.) Ben Feldman, 18 and about to go off to the University of Washington in Seattle, has us summed up. “In my mind my dad doesn’t accidentally embarrass me,” Ben says. “He knows exactly what he’s doing.

“For instance, during my bar mitzvah party he put a naked baby photo in the slide show that everyone saw. I refuse to believe he just didn’t know he was embarrassing me! But on the off chance that he’s just oblivious to the things he WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ AUGUST 2014 38

says around my friends, basically he should just think before he talks.

Dirty jokes are funny, but they’re weird coming from parents.”

When I called Hannah Cohen to ask what her mom does that’s embarrassing, she said, “She’s not that bad at embarrassing me. But my brother is looking at me saying otherwise.”

Hannah and her twin brother Ben, both entering ninth grade at St. John’s School, say it’s hard just to shop with their parents. “It’s probably worst when she’s picking out extremely ugly clothes in stores and yelling, ‘Hannah, come try this on!’

Everyone looks over at her and I try to look the other way and ignore it a little bit. But I’ve never walked away and been like, ‘I don’t know REALLY, MOM? Like most soon-to-be-high-schoolers, Hannah and Ben Cohen (pictured here with mom Dorene) are pretty easily embarrassed by their parents, who this lady is.’ That especially, it seems, when they are shopping in public. would just be mean. I “Like if we’re in line at Pappas Burger, and my just feel like it’s awkward and everyone’s looking brother [who is 10] refuses to order, my parents at me.” try to make him [to teach him how]. But other Her brother Ben says his mom doesn’t embarpeople are waiting behind us. It’s just unnecesrass him as much as she does his sister. But pretty sary, wasting other people’s time like that.” quickly he comes up with his own stories about Ben, Hannah, Ben and Alec are relatively lucky. shopping with his dad. He recalls being at a shoe Their parents aren’t the mom we saw on Facebook store “where they sell shoes with pink sequins who had posted a picture of her teenaged son holdand the sort of shoes that are basketball shoes of ing a frozen (nonalcoholic) drink with the line many colors, not the sort of shoes I’d wear.” He below reading, “This is a virgin.” was mortified just to be there. That his father But they’re teenagers. And just about everywould suggest finding shoes in that particular thing is an embarrassment. I’m pretty sure I’m locale – even worse. mortifying someone just writing this. So if whatAlec Gibson, entering ninth grade at The ever we do, however benign, is going to elicit Kinkaid School, says it’s mostly his parents’ dealeye-rolls, why not have a little fun? ings with his younger siblings that set him off. lawellphoto.com

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