The West University Buzz - November 2023

EDITOR’S NOTE

One of my favorite parts of my job at The Buzz is meeting fascinating neighbors. Many blow me away with their passions, talents, and personal journeys. But a great sense of humor always captures my heart. Such is the case with Tina Pyne. She did not answer my initial phone call. Her voicemail cracked me up: “I am not available, leave a message. Also please know that I am making major changes in my life. If I do not call you back, honey, you are the change!” Even if she did not call me back, which she did, it was worth the call to hear her Southern voice and witty message. In this issue, enjoy her Spinach Pie recipe, along with highlighting other beloved neighbors and their treasured Thanksgiving recipes and traditions. As always, and especially this time of year, I am so grateful to have the opportunity to meet such interesting, impressive, and funny residents. Thank you all for your readership and trust in The Buzz to share your stories. Wishing you a happy and fun holiday season. joni@thebuzzmagazines.com

THE

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Editor-in-Chief

Publisher

Editor

Joni Hoffman

Michael Hoffman

Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld

Associate Editor Caroline Siegfried

Design Manager

Staff Writers

John Duboise

Tracy L. Barnett

Sharon Albert Brier

Cindy Burnett

Andria Frankfort Dilling

Angie Frederickson

Todd Freed

Cindy Gabriel

Cathy Gordon

Michelle Groogan

Dai Huynh

Annie Blaylock McQueen

Jennifer Oakley

Cheryl Ursin

Contributing Writer Pooja Salhotra

Account Managers

Andrea Blitzer

Leslie Little

Jo Rogers

On our cover: Every Thanksgiving, Jill Garde (center) and daughters Lauren Garde (left) and Sarah Little (right) work together on their family’s favorite homemade rolls.

Cover photo by Nikky LaWell, lawellphoto.com

The Buzz Magazines has made all reasonable attempts to verify the accuracy of all information contained within. Advertising claims are solely the responsibility of the advertiser. Copyright © 2023 Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC.

Your letters, thoughts, opinions

The barber battle

Loved the piece on the barber bond [The Barber Bond: More than just a buzz cut by Russell Weil, Oct. 2023]. My father stepped into the barber role when I was five and he wanted to save money. He bought plug-in electric clipper and went to town on my head.

I quickly learned that, when he mentioned the word haircut, it was time to hide. On one occasion I dragged the family laundry basket into a corner of the dining room and dumped its contents on top of myself, hoping I was covering every inch of me.

No such luck. I quickly ended up on a kitchen barstool. Bonding is not how I would describe what transpired.

Six years later the Beatles were on the Ed Sullivan Show. The mop tops performed not once, but three times. All bets were off. The battle began.

I lost. After all, it was me against Dad.

I didn’t grow my hair long until I left for college, when I didn’t cut it for six months.

Then the semester ended, and I was looking forward to being with my family for the holidays. To avoid open warfare, I went to the barber shop. At this point my hair brushed my shoulders.

“I want it cut short,” I told my barber. She cut off an inch.

“No, I mean really short,” I said. She cut off one more inch. I realized that this could take all day, so I pointed to a guy getting a truly short haircut. “Like his,” I said. She got the message and did a splendid job of making me look clean cut. The holidays were enjoyed by all. And my hair grew back.

Dennis Fehr

Brought back memories

Cindy: You are such a gifted (and fun!) writer. I just read your growing up in the ‘60’s/Beatles memories [It’s Too Hot to Write: But here goes anyway by Cindy Gabriel, Sept 2023]; lovely, and what a cute photo. It all felt so familiar to me, except I grew up in the ’50s swooning over Elvis and Little Richard and all of the other Black singers that my Texas raised father totally disagreed with. Thanks for starting my day with a smile and a warm heart.

Sharon Kirby

Correction: Wrong date

In response to It’s Too Hot to Write [by Cindy Gabriel, Sept 2023]: Hi, friends tell me that my pop culture knowledge that makes me a champion in pop culture trivia, is so vast, that I should teach a college course on Pop Culture 101. So I could not let Cindy Gabriel’s glaring error about the Beatles’ very first appearance on American TV. She said 1965 for their American debut. Wrong! In fact, 1964 (when I was 9 years old) was so important, it was the topic of one of my blogs that went viral. I saw their

first movie A Hard Day’s Night in summer 1964 at least 10 times where I, along with many other girls, would scream through the entire thing.

Arlene Lassin

Editor’s note: Thank you for the close read, Arlene. The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show on Feb. 9, 1964. We updated this on the online version of the story.

Connecting community members

Appreciate the way The Buzz brings community interest stories to the readers and the digital world. The Baseball Collecting story [For the Love of Baseball Cards: From Hank Aaron to Robin Yount by Karen Vine Fuller, Buzzworthy] was a good example of why The Buzz helps build personal links to neighbors.

John Collier

Editor’s note: John, thanks for your feedback and for sharing your story with The Buzz! This article ran online on our Buzzworthy blog, Sept. 25, 2023. See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com.

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

What’s your story?

We are looking for residents for upcoming articles who:

• Have inspirational stories related to New Year’s resolutions.

• Have a special love story.

• Know a Buzzworthy neighbor to feature.

• Have a milestone life event to share.

• Have a compelling travel tale.

If this sounds like you or someone you know, please contact us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com or 713.668.4157, ext 102.

NEIGHBORS

by Cindy Gabriel, staff writer

The Highs and Lows of Life

A Thanksgiving perspective

This month I’ll be 69, the end of another decade. Stan is already 70. It’s funny how our definition of old age changes. When anyone dies within 15 years of our current age, we say, “Wow, they were young!” There is something inside of us that always feels ageless. What is that?

Never mind that I had to hold onto Stan and Jason-the-Jeep-Driver for dear life to maneuver myself to this rocky peak at Imogene Pass, just outside Telluride, Colorado. Balance has been a problem for me since 2009 when, at the age of 54, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor, a meningioma, not cancer, thankfully. But I could not help but think about my own mother, Sandra Wright, who died of cancer at the age of 54. It had metastasized to her brain when they discovered it, so we called it a brain tumor. It was hard not to draw the connection, though this was a very different thing.

My tumor image looked like a tennis ball suspended in the middle of my head. Doctors said it had probably grown slowly over some 10 years. The hardest part was that my surgery wasn’t scheduled until August, three months after the diagnosis. It wasn’t immediately life-threatening so others with more urgent needs went before me.

That gave me some 90 days in hours, minutes, and seconds to pre-worry – about every outcome I could imagine. Will I be able to do all this important thinking in the future? Will I be able to speak, walk, remember, read? There is no such thing as minor brain surgery, right?

I thought back to my radio days in the ’70s and the first time I was about to read the news live on the air. I was breaking out in hives, literally. An old radio veteran stuck his head in the door and said, “Relax, it’s not brain surgery.”

I thought about the 1980s while working with Dr. Red Duke as producer and scriptwriter for the UT Medical School Health Reports that aired on Channel 13. He was reluctant to do a report about the brain. Dr. Duke said, “It’s interesting, but what the heck is it?” He said that the brain can comprehend the whole body better than it can understand itself. It reminded me of the Shakespeare line (paraphrased): “The eye cannot see itself.”

No one could tell me the reason for the tumor. I wondered what I had done to cause it. I’ve always been an over-thinker. I could exhaust myself thinking and never leave the sofa. I’ve heard it called Monkey Mind, when thoughts jump around prompted by anxiety and indecision in a completely dysfunctional state. Maybe I thought my way into this. (This is not official medical information, obviously). None of the scenarios I pre-imagined happened. And even if they had, would pre-worrying have done any good?

I woke up after a 10-hour surgery, looking like Benjamin Franklin, with the top of my head shaved into male pattern baldness with dirty blond hair stringing below. My neurosurgeon, Dr. David Baskin, and an entourage of the residents who had attended the surgery came by on their morning rounds. I knew that paralysis on my left side was a risk. So, as a dozen or so white coats looked in on me, I raised my left leg and they all applauded. I pointed to my head saying, “This is the last time I’m coming here for a haircut.” They laughed. My ego loved it. Walking would take more time.

The following day, it took two nurses and a walker to get me into the shower, a little like the feeling of climbing that rocky mound last summer at Imogene Pass. During the 10-hour surgery, my father, Clymer Wright, his wife Katherine, and my husband at the time, George Flynn, all sat anxiously, along with my oldest daughter, Laura Gabriel. I moved through recovery with their help and support. Then in the coming years, it would be my job to lay the older three to rest one by one – Katherine in 2010, my father, 2011, and George in 2013. Six years would go by before meeting my current husband, Stan-the-Man.

I’ve always thought it was kind of shallow to only be thankful for the so-called good things that happen. That’s just a set-up for a lot of pre-worrying about what might be coming next. It’s no way to live. I prefer the 13th century advice from Rumi, the Persian poet: “Live as if everything is rigged in your favor.”

By the way, I think the part of us that always feels ageless is the truest part of who we are, the part that never dies. (Again, this is not official medical advice.)

FINDING PERSPECTIVE Cindy Gabriel and husband Stan Ehrenkranz see the world asiflifeisriggedintheirfavor.

by Michelle Casas Groogan, staff writer

Ready To Launch

Supporting adults with special needs

Aprofound desire for purpose and fulfillment is at the core of most of our lives. For adults living with disabilities, that journey to belonging can be particularly difficult, filled with vocational roadblocks and daunting societal challenges.

“No one can do everything, but everyone can do something,” is the motto over at Together at Mikey’s Place, a new social services organization located in Memorial. Bunker Hill area resident Ingrid Monroy started the nonprofit upon discovering the lack of vocational services. Her son Mikey, now 23, had a stroke at birth that resulted in cerebral palsy and intractable epilepsy. He walks but also uses a wheelchair. Ingrid knew her son was capable of working, but he would need lots of training and job coaching. Services are available through the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), a government agency which has a program to help young adults with disabilities get supported employment. Ingrid recalls when Mikey’s TWC counselor visited him in high school.

“She said, ‘Well, I just visited Mikey in his classroom. I don't know what I can do for you, sorry,’” said Ingrid. “It was another one of those milestones and slaps in the face, but I knew it was coming; because of Mikey’s medical issues, he can't just go somewhere and work and or even volunteer by himself, he needs somebody with him. And he would love to roll around and stock shelves in a store, but they're not going to allow him to bring an aide.”

Back in 2006, Ingrid printed a 30-page guide full of all the resources she gathered for parents with special-needs children. Today “Mikey’s Guide” is 300 pages long and about to go digital. Her new venture, Together at Mikey’s Place, now employs eight adults with disabilities who make ceramic pottery. The artisans are paid minimum wage but get a great deal more from their new sense of independence.

Together at Mikey’s Place will be one of 50 vendors at an upcoming holiday market hosted by the Steel Magnolia Moms, a national nonprofit organization based in Houston, 2,000 moms strong – all mothers who have children with disabilities. Their vision is to be a place

where specialneeds moms have the resources, support, and sisterhood they need to be the best moms they can be. The Steel Magnolia Moms Holiday Market takes place Thurs., Nov. 2, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at The Powder Keg.

“We are proud to provide a market that has been growing in popularity every year and supports local vendors of which some employ individuals with disabilities. It gives them an opportunity for face-to-face time with customers in a real-world working environment,” said Maribel Farish, SMM Holiday Market event chair and founding board member. “Our goal is to not only spread awareness in our community but support an inclusive business model. We are showcasing the unique Godgiven abilities of our children and shining a light on their potential and future possibilities.”

they’re still not ready to fly. They don't have skills, they don’t have the resume, and they don't have the social competency to be able to break into that world. It's really, really, really hard.”

Those possibilities start with critical vocational skills, said Wendy Dawson, a Memorial resident and founder of the local nonprofit Social Motion Skills. Since 2010, while trying to help her young stepson with autism, she has been teaching parents that vocational skills must start early because they are essential for their children to achieve independence.

“Life does not happen by magic, so you’ve got to find what motivates them so that you can steer them in the right direction,” said Wendy, who recently merged her organization with The Center for Pursuit, a nonprofit that helps individuals affected by autism and intellectual disabilities. “There has got to be better transition services. The schools are trying to work on it but it's not enough and all the parents we talk to say, the kids are coming out of these programs and

Anne Marie “Rie” Buckle, 23, has autism. She is practicing to live independently in a garage apartment at her parents’ house near West University. Rie has three part-time jobs and a small business making and selling her own salsa. She will be a vendor at the SMM Holiday market selling Rie’s Pleasing Picante as well as some other homemade treats. She not only values work but thinks it’s fun.

One of Rie’s part time jobs is at Bitty & Beau’s Coffee in Rice Village. The for-profit business with 25 locations nationwide exclusively hires people with disabilities and opened in January in Rice Village. Bitty & Beau’s boasts their inclusivity; slogans on the walls and shirts read: “Radically Inclusive” and “Changing the Way People see other People.” And it’s proving to be a profitable business model with little turnover; 11 months after the grand opening, many of the original employees that were hired, including Rie, are still there in some capacity.

“I absolutely love meeting people. Being a cashier gives me the oppor-

MAKING THE CUT Greg Thomas and Matthew Young (from left) prepping ingredients for Guest Chef meals at Belong Kitchen in Memorial.

Marlo Wise Photography

tunity to do just that. I have even become friends with some of my repeat customers and co-workers,” said Rie. “I am very grateful for this chance to work closely with the other Bitty & Beau's employees to grow their skills and mine. You see, I get better at being a cashier when I am showing others the steps in performing the job.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, people with disabilities have an unemployment rate roughly double that of workers without disabilities.

“The current labor market is facing a significant challenge as there seems to be a shortage of available workers. This situation is particularly frustrating because there is a large pool of autistic adults who are eager and ready to work but are unable to secure employment opportunities,” said Heidi Stieglitz Ham, PhD, who lives in West University and is the founder of Spectrum Fusion, a nonprofit that provides services and community to adults with autism. Her vision includes giving members a creative outlet, which led to the creation of Spectrum Fusion Studios, which is made up of a team of seven adults, all of whom have autism. “The stereotype of an autistic adult that excels in math and science abilities overlooks the incredible talent and creativity of those with different neurodivergent profiles. Our organization is committed to championing the creative potential of individuals, providing them with the opportunities they deserve to excel and thrive.”

Memorial resident Kim Brown is also championing the cause. She wanted to help her daughter, Ellie, have anything but a life on the couch when she graduated from Memorial High School in 2020. With a developmental disability, college wasn’t an option. So Kim started a grab-and-go kitchen in her backyard, an enterprise which has blossomed into a restaurant called Belong Kitchen in Memorial with 30 employees, all who have disabilities.

“It really is life-changing for Ellie and our employees. The confidence that it gives them; the dignity that comes with earning a paycheck,” said Kim. “And then there’s other positive things that come in addition to employment, there’s social interaction between the employees, the customers, and the volunteers who support the employees in the kitchen. It’s just been really neat to see the community come together to make this work.”

And for Ellie it truly feels like a place she belongs.

“I love seeing my friends at work every day,” said Ellie. “And I like washing the dishes and making macaroni and cheese.”

Inclusive Community Organizations

Belong Kitchen

Nonprofit grab-and-go kitchen that provides meaningful employment for adults with intellectual and development disabilities.

belongkitchenhtx.org

713-636-2875

Village Towers Plaza

9655 Katy Freeway, Ste. 3105 Houston TX, 77024

Open Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat., 8 a.m.12 p.m.; closed Sun.

Bitty & Beau’s Coffee

Coffee shop that employs individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. bittyandbeauscoffee.com

713-205-6137

2367 Rice Blvd. Houston, TX 77005

Open daily, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

The Brookwood Community

God-centered nonprofit residential and vocational community for adults with disabilities. Gift & Garden Center; café; seasonal fundraisers brookwoodcommunity.org/shop/

1502 FM 1489, Brookshire, TX 77423

Retail Store: 281-375-2149; Garden Center: 281-375-2327

Open Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Celebration Company

Program of Joan and Stanford Alexander Jewish Family Service that provides life skills and meaningful employment to individuals with disabilities. store.celebrationcompany.org

4131 S. Braeswood

713-986-7860

Open Mon.-Thurs., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat-Sun. closed.

Mikey’s Place

Informs, connects, and supports families who are raising children with disabilities. Together at Mikey’s Place is a vocational program for young adults. mikeysplace.net

713-591-1965

See mikeysplace.net/programs to order Mikey’s Guide ($15), which contains over 300 pages of information about specialized programming for all ages and a range of special needs.

Social Motion Skills

Nonprofit that serves children with autism and similar special needs and their families. Offers classes providing social skills and programs providing job skills.

Socialmotionskills.org

713-461-7200

4400 Harrisburg Blvd. Houston, TX 77011

Spectrum Fusion

Nonprofit that helps improve the possibilities for individuals with autism. The Reactor Room Program empowers young adults to help find their purpose.

spectrumfusion.org

832-208-5786

Steel Magnolia Moms

Nonprofit that supports moms of a child with special needs.

steelmagnoliamoms.com

Steel Magnolia Moms Holiday Market: Thurs., Nov. 2, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., The Powder Keg, 1300 Brittmoore Rd., Houston, TX 77043

The Center for Pursuit

Nonprofit that promotes the pursuit of choices, growth, and independence for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, or similar conditions. Offers employment services, enrichment services, adult day program.

thecenterforpursuit.org

713-525-8400

4400 Harrisburg Blvd. Houston, TX 77011

CREATIVE EMPLOYMENT Diana, Cristobal, Cathy, Jeffrey, and Mikey (pictured, from left) are employed by Together at Mikey’s Place to make colorful concrete candles and pottery. The group just celebrated their first anniversary and has sold more than 1500 candles. The group will be a vendor at the Steel Magnolia Moms Holiday Market.

by Cindy Burnett, staff writer

Book-Club Reads

Titles that will foster discussion

Book clubs provide an engaging way for individuals who love to read to meet and discuss books. Picking your next read can be the hardest part of having a book club. Striking a balance between a compelling read and one that engenders plenty of discussion is trickier than it should be.

I have participated in numerous book clubs over the years, and each club has chosen their reads in a different manner. One club selected monthly with a complicated process comprised of several rounds of voting, another chose the books for the year in January by committee, and for a third, we just casually chatted about books until we eventually decided on the next month’s

read. Sometimes, book clubs will pair menu items with the book selected or decorate according to the theme of the book selected for that month to make the meetings more festive.

I have gathered some titles that have enough depth to foster discussion and that will have members thinking about the books long after the group finishes reading them.

Acts of Violet by Margarita Montimore (fiction) – This engrossing tale focuses on magician Violet Volk who vanished mid-act a decade previously. As the 10-year anniversary of her disappearance approaches, the host of a podcast devoted to Violet seeks to finally interview Sasha, Violet’s sister, about what happened. The

book’s creative use of podcast transcripts, emails, newspaper articles and more propels the story along, and there is much to discuss with this thought-provoking and inventive story.

The Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal about Identity, Race, Wealth, and Power by Deirdre Mask (nonfiction) – When Mask stumbled upon a research paper called “Addressing the World, An Address for Everyone” and learned that many households in the world do not have street addresses, she started investigating. Her research led her to write this fabulous and fascinating history of how streets are named, who counts and who doesn’t, and what happens today

GOOD FRIENDS AND GOOD BOOKS The West U Wonders recently met to discuss Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez.

when someone does not have an address. Readers will learn a lot and have tons to deliberate.

The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd (literary mystery) – When Nell Young’s estranged father, a renowned cartographer, is found dead in the New York Public Library where he works, she discovers that he was clutching the very same basic gas station map that caused their falling-out years before. Curious about the importance of the map and its potential link to her father’s death, Nell conducts research and discovers that the map is exceedingly rare, in fact it is the only one left of its kind. Baffled by this bizarre discovery, Nell sets out to uncover the secrets behind the map. This unique and creative tale is a page turner with an intelligent and engaging plot.

Cover Story by Susan Rigetti (thriller) –NYU student Lora Ricci’s internship at ELLE Magazine introduces her to the cutthroat world of fashion and the wealthy people who populate the industry. When Cat Wolff, a contributing editor to the magazine and daughter of a wealthy mogul, takes Lora on as a mentee, Lora is initially thrilled. She agrees to become Cat’s ghostwriter and drops out of school to focus full time on writing. As the two begin working on the book, Lora soon realizes that all is not as it seems; Cat comes and goes at all hours, and bills seem to go unpaid. The book and its format (emails, FBI reports, diary entries, and more) are fabulous, and it is a wild and crazy ride that will leave everyone wanting to debate the tale.

Dust Child by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai (historical fiction) – In this stunning tale set in 1969, two sisters Trang and Quỳnh leave their village in an effort to help their parents pay off debts and travel to Sài Gòn to become “bar girls.” Against her better judgment, Trang gets involved with Dan, an American helicopter pilot. Many years later, Dan, with his wife Linda, decides to return to Vietnam in an effort to make peace with his past. Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai has an amazing ability to portray the legacy of war from a very human standpoint – she compels readers to understand the long-lasting effects of conflict on both the land and the thousands upon thousands of people impacted by war.

House of Sticks by Ly Tran (memoir) – Ly tells the story of how her family moved to the United States as part of a relocation program from Vietnam when she was three. Speaking no English, they are placed in an apartment in Queens and required to find their own work. Ly’s father spent 10 years in a Vietnamese prisoner of war camp and is saddled with severe PTSD. While navigating the immigrant experience, her family is also coping with his anger and irrational choices. For several years they perform sweatshop work as the kids go to school during the day and work a lot of the night. Ly tells her family’s story with grace, and she provides interesting insight into what the immigrant experience is like for one family.

Land of Big Numbers by TePing Chen (short stories) – Land of Big Numbers is a collection of short stories set in modern-day China depicting its history, politics, culture, and people. The stories combine razor-sharp commentary on life in a country governed by a Communist regime combined with elements of satirical magical realism, and the effect is almost always superb and at times surreal. Te-Ping’s inspiration for the stories comes from her years spent as a Wall Street Journal correspondent living in Beijing, and these riveting stories will inspire great conversations.

Last Summer on State Street by Toya Wolfe (fiction) – This coming-of-age story stars a 12year-old girl named Fe Fe Stevens who lives in the Robert Taylor Homes on the south side of Chicago in 1999, right as the buildings are slowly being torn down by the Chicago Housing Authority. Her building is next in line to come down, and for a brief time she forms an alliance with two other girls in her building – one the daughter of deeply religious parents and the other a member of the family who runs the gang that “protects” her building. The author herself lived in the Robert Taylor Homes, and the story is engaging and heartbreaking. Wolfe vividly depicts what it was like to live there: the daily gun battles, the dangers involved in taking the elevator or the stairs, the lack of lighting provided, and more.

A Shoe Story by Jane L. Rosen (contemporary fiction) – Following college, Esme put her dreams of moving to New York City and pursuing a career at an art gallery on hold to care for her father when he had a car crash. Seven years later, she is offered a month-long job dog sitting in a Greenwich Village apartment where the owner has an amazing collection of designer shoes, which Esme asks to borrow. Every day, she tries a new pair as she works to make friends, regain her old life, and decide how much of her old dreams are still relevant to her now. The intergenerational relationships, the focus on friendship, and the shoes make this a standout tale with much to deliberate.

Silent Came the Monster by Amy Hearth

Hill (historical fiction) – This book chronicles the real-life shark attacks that inspired the movie Jaws. Set against the backdrop of World War 1 and a polio epidemic, people are disinclined to believe that a shark could kill anyone. With the knowledge humans have today, it is intriguing to see how little people knew about sharks in the early part of the 20th-century and how humans' responses to things unknown/unseen then were eerily similar to how people still respond today.

The Spectacular by Fiona Davis (historical fiction) – Fiona Davis bases each of her books in an iconic New York City building, and The Spectacular is set at one of the city’s most wellknown and beloved locales, Radio City Music Hall. Nineteen-year-old Marion is selected as a Rockette, performing at Radio City Music Hall, much to the chagrin of her parents and her boyfriend. Then one evening, a bomb explodes in the theater, and Marion’s personal connection draws her into the investigation. The behind-the-scenes glimpses into both Radio City Music Hall and the Rockettes are fascinating, and aspects of the story are more personal for Davis.

Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez (historical fiction) – This sad but important book highlights what happens when those in charge think they know what is best and take matters into their own hands regarding forced sterilization. With the recent focus on reproductive rights in our country, this is a particularly relevant and compelling story that will provoke a healthy dialogue.

Happy reading!

CULTIVATING CONVERSATION These four titles all provide depth and plenty to discuss for book clubs.

Cindy Burnett

NEIGHBORS

by Andria Frankfort Dilling, staff writer

Community of Resources

Filling the gaps in HISD schools

If you’re a Buzz reader, you most likely read the magazine in your home, maybe sitting in a comfy chair, maybe with a drink and a snack. Or maybe you stand over the kitchen counter, flipping through the pages before making dinner.

Just around the corner, closer than we think, there are thousands of HISD students who don’t have food in their kitchens. They might not even have a kitchen to call their own.

That is what prompted two book-club friends, Kay Wasden and Anne Furse, to found Community of Resources Houston. COR is a nonprofit dedicated to providing HISD schools and students with basic needs like toothpaste, underwear, and bath soap.

Kay, an accomplished pianist and accompanist for groups like Houston Grand Opera and Rice University, says Covid set her down the path of creating the nonprofit. “That first year,” she says, “there was nothing at all going on in music. Then, the kids were getting ready to go off to college.” Ben is now a junior at The University of Texas at Austin, and Kate is attending medical school in Boston. Like so many new empty-nesters, Kay says, “I was looking for something.”

She found herself at a book-club gathering, talking to other moms about the college-prep books sitting around their houses. “They are quite expensive, so we thought we would give them to a needy school. I volunteered to take them.”

A Meyerland resident, Kay reached out to Westbury High School and Fondren Middle School. She was directed to “wraparound resource” specialists. “I didn’t know anything about this, but it’s a term HISD uses to talk about the people who help with nonacademic issues and needs affecting kids’ academics, like if they didn’t have access to Wi-Fi, or if parents died during Covid, situations like that. If a parent was incarcerated. It’s kind of a new concept to address these needs. After Covid, every HISD school currently has one.”

Anne Furse volunteered to help Kay deliver the books. “We were introduced to two wraparound specialists, we toured the school [Westbury], gave them the books. They asked if

we would like to get involved, and we asked what was needed. They had some ideas, and we got EHS and Shell to donate some computers.” (Kay’s children graduated from Episcopal High School, and her sister-in-law Carol Wasden is Director of Admission and Financial Aid there. Her husband Fred is retired from Shell.)

A week later, the freeze of 2021 happened. “One of the wraparound specialists we met texted me in all caps WE NEED FOOD AND WATER,”

Kay says. “They had families suffering. I showed the text to my husband, and we were both taken aback. Of course we brought stuff over to Fondren [Middle School], and then Westbury.

“Then we asked the schools What do you really need? They said hygiene supplies, socks. Fondren asked us to collect dress shirts and ties, because there are kids who’ve never had access to those. Now they have sort of a clothing pantry, where parents can come if they have a job interview or a funeral or something like that.”

In June 2022, Kay and Anne officially created COR Houston as a nonprofit to benefit underserved HISD schools and students. “We doubled our volunteers from two to four,” Kay says, adding that her friend Nancy Hosman wanted to help, and Nancy’s friend Kathleen Holt joined soon after. Another friend, Anne

Hutton, signed on to help with bookkeeping.

“We did a lot of research as we went through the nonprofit application process,” Kay says. “We asked questions like ‘Is this worth doing?’ and ‘Is anyone else doing this?’ We decided it was worth pursuing. Nobody is filling in the missing pieces for each school. We’d be filling a gap.”

When COR began, HISD had 274 schools, with 254 of them being Title 1, meaning 40 percent or more of students qualify for free lunches. “There are only 20 HISD schools that are not Title 1,” Kay says. “Isn’t that shocking?” At 183 of the schools, at least 90 percent of students qualify for free lunches.

Today, COR serves more than 90 schools. “Ideally,” Kay says, “we will be in all of the 183

IT TAKES A COMMUNITY Friends Kay Wasden, Anne Furse, Anne Hutton, Nancy Hosman, and Kathleen Holt are working together to make life a little better for HISD children. Pictured, from left: Kay Wasden, Anne Hutton, Foerster counselor Yvette Thumbutu, Nancy Hosman, Foerster wraparound specialist Paulette Hawkins, Kathleen Holt, and Anne Furse.

schools by the end of the year.”

The COR team is looking for more support. “We are constantly applying for grants,” Kay says. Kathleeen hosted a big Christmas party last year and asked friends to bring items on schools’ wish lists. They collected thousands of items to donate. “When we get money,” Kay says, “we buy things on the lists and give them to the schools that need it.”

Iveth Reyes has been a wraparound specialist at Braeburn Elementary for five years. “We have a lot of immigrants who have just arrived,” she says. “If a parent loses their job, they won’t qualify for food stamps if the children aren’t citizens. It’s nice to be able to fill those needs without

asking for documentation.

“With insecurities at home, we see behavior issues at school. When the children see ‘these people are helping me not just with homework but also that I’m getting fed at home and have warm, clean clothes,’ they feel safe here. We see improvements. Not miracles, but improvements.”

Kay says one specialist sent her photos of a child’s feet in the “before and after” shoes. “There was such a huge difference in size,” Kay says. “I wondered how that poor kid was even walking before.” Another specialist reported that a little boy was given a small can of playdough. The teacher told him he could bring it home,

and he teared up and said, “I can keep this?”

“It’s so easy to give stuff,” Kay says. “We live in an area of town in a city where so many people have an excess of stuff. When we were first asked for deodorant, I thought I have five in my drawer. I have a bunch of toothbrushes.

“Stuff doesn’t fix everything. But it’s an easy thing to fix.”

To learn more about COR Houston, see corhouston.org. To donate items or volunteer, email info@corhouston.org to arrange a pick-up or dropoff. Some most-needed items are new deodorant, shampoo, and conditioner, toothpaste, unopened packs of underwear (all sizes), and new tennis shoes (sized kids’ 12 to 5 and adult 5 and up).

Community of Resources: By the Numbers

In its first year of operations, COR distributed:

17 inflatable beds and bedding

818 bags of rice and beans

1,232 toothbrushes

1,431 cans of food

1,712 cans of deodorant

2,054 pairs of underwear

2,411 pantry staples

7,050 feminine hygiene products …and more

$100 will provide:

1 inflatable bed with bedding OR

4 food packs of pantry staples OR 9 pairs of shoes OR 100 pairs of underwear OR 10 deodorants, 20 bars of soap, and 12 tubes of toothpaste

$5,000 will provide:

100 food packs of pantry staples, 525 pairs of underwear, and 15 inflatable beds with bedding OR 450 pairs of shoes OR

500 cans of deodorant, 200 uniform shirts, 100 pairs of pants, 200 bars of soap, 200 tubes of toothpaste, 300 toothbrushes, and 200 pairs of socks

A GIFT OF A PARTY From left: Nancy Hosman, Kathleen Holt, Kay Wasden, and Anne Furse gather around the gifts friends brought for HISD students and families at a Christmas party given by Kathleen last year.

by Andria Frankfort Dilling, staff writer

Thanksgiving Specials

Traditions on the table

Thanksgiving specialties – those once-ayear sides, desserts, turkeys, and more –are not just recipes rarely referenced. They are memories, traditions we’ve adopted that have become our personal symbols of the season. How many of us remember that one time when someone tried substituting the cornbread dressing with a fancy sourdough and sausage stuffing?

Here, a few Buzz families share their most traditional and most beloved Thanksgiving favorites, along with recipes and the reasons why they are so adored.

The Garde and Little Families

Sarah Little is a young mom to six-monthold Clyde, who, someday soon, is sure to love his grandmother Jill Garde’s homemade Thanksgiving rolls.

“Thanksgiving has always been my mom cooking at [her] house,” Sarah says. “My mom is like a drill sergeant ordering everyone around.” In fact, her mom, a full-time product manager at a chemical company, has a Thanksgiving spreadsheet: “I can tell you exactly when the turkey goes in, when the potatoes need peeling, and at the end of the spreadsheet is dinner,” Jill says.

Other than the turkey, which Jill begins brining three days earlier, everything is made on Thanksgiving. Jill, Sarah, and sister Lauren Garde cook while Tim Garde peels potatoes. “That’s his contribution,” Sarah says of her dad. “But we always get mad at him because he thinks it’s his job to fix the car or fix the fence or do something around the house on Thanksgiving. We’re like, ‘No, your only job is peeling potatoes!’”

On the menu: turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes, several casseroles, and stuffing. “It’s ‘stuffing,’ not ‘dressing,’ because my parents are from the north, and that’s what it is there, stuffed inside the bird.” Then there are those homemade rolls.

“I’m always messing around with recipes, and these rolls are no different,” Jill says. “People are afraid of dough. But this recipe I tweaked especially for The Buzz. It’s the easiest way I know to make rolls that are soft and delicious.”

Two keys to success: timing and the temper-

ature of the wet ingredients (to activate, but not kill, the yeast).

Sarah and Lauren arrive at their parents’ house around 8 a.m. and start prepping for the 2 p.m. lunch. “The special thing about Thanksgiving is not really the eating, it’s the fun of having my family there, making things together,” Jill says.

With the addition of Baby Clyde, this Thanksgiving might look a little different. “I’m sure my mom will just want me to hand the baby over so she can play with him and still order me around the kitchen.”

Jill Garde’s Thanksgiving Rolls

1 cup beer (you can use milk, but Jill says beer imparts extra flavor)

¼ cup honey

1 stick butter, cut into 5 to 6 pieces

1 egg

1 egg yolk (save the white for brushing the tops of the rolls)

2 2/3 cups flour

½ cup whole wheat flour

1 tablespoon instant yeast (or 2 envelopes)

1 teaspoon salt

Mix the dough 2 hours before your turkey will come out of the oven.

In a 2-cup, microwave-safe measuring cup, combine the beer, honey, and butter. Heat in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring each time. After 3 to 4 cycles, the liquid should reach the temperature of 130 to 140 degrees. Use an instant thermometer to be sure not to overheat. Set aside and allow the mixture to cool to 120 to 130 degrees.

In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and egg yolk. Set aside.

In a stand mixture, com-

LOVE AND BREAD Lauren Garde, her mom Jill Garde, and sister Sarah Little (pictured, from left) follow Jill’s schedule to be sure their Thanksgiving rolls are just baked when the turkey is ready to carve.

bine the flour, whole wheat flour, yeast, and salt. On low speed using the dough hook, mix the dry ingredients. Check the temperature of the beer-honey-butter mixture, ensuring it is between 120 and 130 degrees. With the motor running, add the warm beerhoney-butter mixture. Add the whisked eggs. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl, and knead by hand or using the dough hook for 10 minutes. Form a ball of dough, place back in the bowl, and cover with a damp kitchen towel and place in a warm location to rise for 1 hour.

Butter an 8 inch-by-8-inch baking dish. Generously sprinkle the countertop with flour. Remove the dough from the bowl and knead it gently 4 to 5 times, using floured hands. Portion the dough into either 9 or 16 pieces, depending on the size and quantity of rolls you wish to make. (Jill weighs each roll: for 9, each weighs 100 grams; for 16, each weighs 55 grams.) Place the rolls in the prepared baking dish. Cover with a damp kitchen towel and allow to rise for 20 to 30 minutes more.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Whisk the reserved egg white with 1 teaspoon water. Brush the tops of the rolls lightly with the egg wash. When the turkey comes out of the oven, the rolls go in. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes while your turkey rests. Remove from the oven and allow the rolls to cool in the pan until you are ready to serve. Use a fork to separate the rolls. These are best served warm.

The Martin Family

Former attorney-turned-charcuterie creator Allison Martin comes from a large Greek family. “It’s a lot,” she says. “We have at least 25 to 30 people at every gathering. It’s very loud.”

Thanksgiving home base rotates for her big family. “It’s often at my parents’ [Anne and Dan Pappas], or we’ll be here at our house, or I have three sisters and we’ll go to one of their houses. The cousins range from 2 to 20 – there are 12 of them – and it’s really fun to all be together.”

Allison’s Thanksgiving favorite is a Roasted Vegetable Salad with Cider Vinaigrette, adapted years ago from a Southern Living recipe. “My daughter has a dairy allergy,” Allison explains. “Everything at Thanksgiving is pretty heavy and creamy or casserole-based, so I was looking for something for her. This was my way of making sure she has something to eat.”

Generally, Allison’s family table includes an oven-roasted turkey, traditional stuffing, and sweet potatoes. “We’ll have half with marshmallows, half without, because that’s a thing.” They’ll also have Allison’s mom’s homemade rolls. “They are amazing, and I have not taken on that task,” she says. “It’s a labor of love, and I want my mom to do it forever.”

An option from all the heaviness of the casseroles, Allison’s roasted veggies also provide a colorful counter to the usuals. “Food should always be aesthetically pleasing to the eye,” Allison says. “So I like to use rainbow carrots, anything with color. I feel like Thanksgiving is

kind of a beige meal, and this puts some pretty colors in there.”

One big bonus: “You can eat this and still have room for pie at the end of the meal,” Allison says.

Allison Martin’s Roasted Vegetable Salad with Cider Vinaigrette adapted from Southern Living 1 pound parsnips, peeled and cut lengthwise 1 pound carrots, peeled

A FAMILY AFFAIR Jill Garde (center) and her daughters Sarah Little (left) and Lauren Garde (right) work together on the homemade rolls the family looks forward to every Thanksgiving.

(continued from page 22)

and cut lengthwise (Allison uses a mix of regular carrots and rainbow carrots)

5 to 8 mini peppers, split lengthwise, seeds removed

1 pound butternut squash, peeled and cubed (can use frozen/thawed) or 2 sweet potatoes, cubed in 2-inch pieces

1 cup frozen pearl onions, thawed

1 pound small brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved

2 to 3 small purple or new potatoes, quartered

3 fresh thyme sprigs

5 tablespoons olive or avocado oil

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 head radicchio, separated into leaves

4 tablespoons fresh pomegranate seeds

Apple Cider Vinaigrette (recipe follows)

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Divide the vegetables between two parchment paper-lined sheet pans. Drizzle with the olive or avocado oil, salt, and pepper and toss to coat. Spread the vegetables in a single layer,

don’t overcrowd. Roast the vegetables for 20 minutes, stir, and roast for another 20 to 25 minutes. Cool completely and store the vegetables in the refrigerator at least 2 hours and up to 2 days.

To serve, allow the vegetables to come to room temperature or heat in a 200-degree oven for 20 minutes. Pour ¼ cup of the vinaigrette over and toss to coat. Arrange the radicchio leaves on a serving platter, then spoon the vegetables on top of the leaves. Season with salt and pepper and serve the remaining vinaigrette on the side.

Apple Cider Vinaigrette

¾ cup extra virgin olive oil

¼ cup fresh orange juice

¼ cup apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons finely chopped shallot

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon honey

1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Put all the ingredients in a mason jar or shaker and shake to combine. After refrigerated, let it stand 10 minutes at room temperature before using.

The Pyne Family

A quintessential entertainer, cook, and gardener, Tina Pyne has a lot of favorite recipes. But for Thanksgiving, her Spinach Pie is tops.

“I’ve doctored this recipe by adding a few things like pine nuts and feta, which give it another dimension,” Tina says of her Spinach Pie recipe, which originated with Ina Garten and Barefoot Contessa. “Instead of using phyllo dough, it’s puff pastry, because phyllo and the Barefoot Contessa’s is layers and layers and layers. This tastes as good but is easier to bake.”

Which is part of the reason Tina chose this particular recipe to share. “Sometimes when people look at a recipe, they go Oooooh this is too difficult. But this is just so freakin’ simple. I’ve made it so many times I could make it in my sleep.”

Tina likes to take the pie

(continued on page 26)

PRETTY ENTICING Allison Martin thinks food should be as pretty as it is delicious, and her roasted vegetables showcase that philosophy. Her children Bennett and Charlotte are happy to benefit from their mom’s time in the kitchen.

(continued from page 24)

to dinner parties as a hostess gift. “It’s not something you get all the time,” she says. “Everybody wants it, and it’s more of a novelty than a bottle of wine. And it’s not your dreaded cheese tray!”

One of eight children growing up in New Iberia, LA, Tina says her house was where all the kids gathered. “My mother cooked and fed everybody,” she says. “During Covid when we were spending time in Maine, I’d cook for the neighbors and bring it over and say, ‘You haven’t met me, but I’m bored s--less.’ When my daughter [Cameron] went to law school in New Orleans, she didn’t know anybody. I said, ‘Look, you cook, invite someone over, and tell them to bring friends.’ Food is an act of love. If you wanna meet people, feed ’em.”

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 yellow onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 ½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

1 pound frozen chopped spinach, thawed

1 cup cottage cheese

¼ cup grated parmesan

½ cup feta, crumbled

¼ cup pine nuts

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

3 large eggs, divided

1 sheet puff pastry, thawed

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

In a medium sauté pan over medium heat, sauté the onions and garlic with the olive oil

until translucent and slightly browned, 10 to 15 minutes. Add the salt and pepper and allow to cool slightly.

Squeeze out and discard as much of the liquid from the spinach as possible. Put the spinach into a bowl and then gently mix in the onions and garlic, cottage cheese, parmesan, feta, pine nuts, nutmeg, and 2 of the eggs. Lightly dust a work surface with flour, and roll the thawed puff pastry out until it’s just slightly larger, 10 x 10. Drape the rolled pastry dough over a pie plate. Pour the spinach mixture into the middle of the pastry dough, and neatly fold the corners up and over the top. The pastry will not fully cover the top. Lightly whisk the remaining egg and brush it over the dough. Bake for 45 minutes or until the top has puffed and turned golden. Serve at room temperature.

Tina Pyne’s Spinach Pie

A PIECE OF PIE Tina Pyne can cook almost anything, and she chooses to serve a beautiful spinach pie at Thanksgiving. She also says the pie makes a great hostess gift.

by Pooja Salhotra, contributing writer

Family, Friends, and Football

A Thanksgiving tradition spanning generations

For more than 20 years, Adam Finkelman has begun Thanksgiving morning the same way. He wakes up, fires off a few texts to friends urging them to come to Godwin Park for the annual Thanksgiving Day touch football game. He then laces up his cleats, grabs breakfast for his teammates from the Kolache Factory and heads to the park in Meyerland, the neighborhood where he grew up.

It doesn’t matter if the players are exhausted from a late night with old friends at Little Woodrow’s, or if there’s a torrential downpour outside. This Turkey Day ritual persists against all odds. And the only marker of the passage of time each year is the inevitable change in the players’ athletic prowess. While the younger

boys grow stronger and faster, the older men tend to slow down.

“When you get older, you forget that you can’t move how you used to,” said David Finkelman, the eldest of the Finkelman brothers. “I’m fit, but that doesn’t mean I’ll be able to run a four-four-forty [yard dash] ever again.”

David, 39, speaks fondly of his teenage years, when he dominated the game with his athleticism and speed. Now, he says he’s satisfied if he makes a couple of strong plays.

For others, the bar for success is even lower. “For a while, winning was very important,” said Keith Shaftel, 73, part of the original group of players. “Then, for the last few years, if I could walk off and all my toes were pointing in the

same direction, it was a win.”

The annual football tradition traces back to the 1960s, when David’s father, Alan, and his contemporaries in Meyerland like Keith played pickup football and softball together on the weekends. When David was a teenager and a student at Bellaire High School, he and his friends joined their dads. Soon, they formalized the holiday tradition of a game between the fathers and sons.

As David and his high school friends went off to college, they made it a point to continue to return for the game. The night before Thanksgiving, they’d all get together at Little Woodrow’s. The next day they’d wake up early and play ball before their Thanksgiving feasts.

IN IT TO WIN IT Friends and family of the Finkelmans have maintained an annual Thanksgiving Day football game for more than two decades. Pictured here after a game are (top) Noah, Levi, Alan, Josh, and David Finkelman, James Reed Long, Brooke Kantor, Curtis Kantor, Sheldon Bootin, Hirsh Bootin; (bottom) Adam Finkelman, Dean Zubowski, Craig Bernstein, Bryan Binder, Danny Shaftel, and Sean Kantor.

David’s younger brothers Adam and Joshua also joined, and more recently, their two younger half-brothers, Levi and Noah, who are both teens, have participated.

On some occasions, Godwin Park was packed, and the game was relocated to Horn Elementary or Johnston Middle School. But David said most players like to stick with Godwin Park because it’s nostalgic.

Some of the original players, now in their 70s, have retired from the game, instead cheering and taking photos from the sidelines. Younger players like David have graduated to the older team, which includes anyone over the age of 30.

“It’s funny to now be the older guy,” Dean said. “You feel like a superpower when you’re running against these older guys. Now, you’re on the other side of the field.”

Keith, who no longer plays, said he’s enjoyed watching the younger kids grow up and eventually

outplay him. His son Danny still plays every year.

“There’s nothing like seeing your kid become your peer and then blow right past you,” Keith said. The game is like a metaphor for life in some ways, where Keith’s children have joined him in running a gem business.

The matchup has never exactly been fair. The young guys can usually outrun their elders. Still, the game is always close, the players say, and one way or another, it becomes competitive.

“The older guys are good at manipulating the size of the field and the rules,” Dean said. “They’ll do whatever they can.”

A recurring point of contention is how many seconds defensive players must count before they can rush the quarterback.

“All of a sudden you’ll hear people yelling about how someone is counting one alligator, two alligator too fast,” Adam said.

The game usually starts out friendly but eventually gets more heated. There was one

particularly standout year that all the players vividly remember. A younger player wore metal cleats, which provide superior traction to plastic ones but can be dangerous to other players. During that game, the players’ cleat slashed another player in the calf causing a deep wound.

“I had never seen a wound like this before,” David said. “There was a lot of blood.” Needless to say, metal cleats are no longer allowed.

Adam, now 29 years old, sits at the inflection point between the young and the old. This year will mark the last time he plays with the younger team and in some ways signals a turning point as the balance shifts towards more new players and fewer of the original guys. But even as he transitions to a new team, Adam says he’ll hold onto this Thanksgiving tradition, something he looks forward to each year.

“It’s just a great way to spend Thanksgiving morning.”

MAKING MEMORIES Top left: Brothers Adam and David Finkelman go head to head during the annual Thanksgiving game. Top right: (Top row) David Finkelman, Alan Finkelman, Danny Shaftel, Dean Zubowski, Scott Bernstein, Steven Shannon; (middle row) Josh Finkelman, Nick Barrow, Noah Finkelman, Levi Finkelman, Adam Finkelman; (front row) James Reed Long, Sean Kantor, Bryan Binder, and Brooke Kantor take a breather after the game. Bottom left: Levi, David, Adam, Josh, and Noah Finkelman, and their dad Alan. Bottom right: Adam Finkelman runs towards the end zone. Also pictured are (from left) Josh Finkelman, Ian Hartman, Noah Finkelman, Andrew Rubenstein, Ryan Hecht, and David Finkelman.

. by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Buzz Baby

For the love of lovies

Buzz Baby is a column about life with little ones. Writer Annie McQueen is a mother of four children under the age of 9.

Babies and toddlers adore their security blankets – sometimes called lovies or stuffies. There is something special about the way their favorite lovey blanket smells, feels, and even the way it looks.

This month, we share the story of one lovey that went missing, Ellie the Ballerina Elephant. Ellie went missing in Bunker Hill, where neighbors helped mend one child's broken heart.

It all started on a busy weekend full of fall sports. Buzz mom Rachel Dickerson found herself at a loss when Ellie suddenly vanished. Three-year-old Eloise was inconsolable. Rachel started retracing their steps for the day. They had been to a lot of places, so the chances of finding her felt very slim.

Ellie the Elephant, a soft, cuddly elephant, had been a gift from Eloise's grandmother on her first birthday, and from that moment on, the two were inseparable.

Ellie was not just a toy; she was a confidante, a companion, and a source of comfort for Eloise. Ellie the Elephant accompanied Eloise on every journey, from bedtime to school, from playgrounds to sporting events. She was a constant presence in Eloise's life. She would join Eloise for tea parties, play the role of Eloise's “daughter” during family playtime, join the Dickerson family at dinnertime, and even attend every one of Eloise’s big brothers’ games, always ready to cheer on her favorite team. Like so many stuffies for young children, Ellie had become a beloved member of the family.

Rachel tried substituting Ellie with other baby dolls, soft stuffed animals, and cozy blankets, but nothing could fill the void left by Eloise’s beloved Ellie. Soon, hours turned into days, with no sign of Ellie.

Rachel turned to social media in a last-ditch effort to reunite Eloise with her cherished friend. She made an Instagram post that resembled a missing pet poster. It read: “Help! Ellie the elephant is missing! If you've seen her anywhere in the last 48 hours, please let me know!” Within

two hours, something happened that felt like a miracle.

Rachel’s friend Jessica Stargel responded, saying she had seen Ellie in the parking lot by Bunker Hill Elementary School’s track, where the boys practiced football. She had placed Ellie on the sidewalk, hoping that whoever it belonged to would return for it. But that was Friday, and now it was Sunday morning. Another message came from a neighbor, Linda Wolf, confirming Jessica’s sighting. Linda commented, “I saw Ellie, and she was on the sidewalk by the track at BHE near the football practice area this morning.”

Without hesitation, Rachel raced over to the school. Her heart raced with anticipation as she arrived, and there, on the sidewalk, lay Ellie the Elephant, exactly where Jessica had left her for her owner to find. When Rachel brought Ellie home, Eloise came running out to the car, jumping with excitement. The reunion between a little girl and her elephant was a moment of pure happiness.

“It was the best feeling in the world to see the pure joy in her eyes that little stuffed ballerina elephant brings,” said Rachel. “I have never been more grateful to live in such a beautiful community with neighbors and friends who truly all come together as a village to love our children, support each other, and lend help whenever needed. They say it takes a village, and it absolutely does.” The Dickerson family now makes sure to keep an extra eye on Ellie whenever they bring her out and about, just to be safe.

Another child, Charlotte Matkins, 4, rarely leaves home without her beloved lovey. “She prefers the Angel Dear brand,” said her mom, Holly. “She has had blue lovey, brown lovey, and pink lovey.” Charlotte does not have one particular lovey, just a brand of preference, so her mom stocked up on different colors. Her favorite for a while was the brown one, but she left it behind on a playground. She left the blue one at Target one day, both never to be found. “Charlotte cried for hours when blue lovey was lost,” said Holly. Charlotte said to her mom, “It was my job to keep him safe and now he is in the lost and found.” Charlotte’s current favorite is the pink lovey. She buckles her into the car seat, and takes her everywhere she goes.

Lovies, stuffies, security blankets – whatever you like to call them – find a special place in the heart of a child. They are their comfort and their friend. Just like with Eloise’s Ellie the Elephant and Charlotte’s pink lovey, they are irreplaceable in the heart of a child.

ELLIE THE ELEPHANT Eloise Dickerson (pictured) misplaced her beloved lovey at an elementary school field. Through social media, her mom Rachel was able to reunite the pair.

by Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld, staff writer

Festive Fun

Holiday happenings this month

It’s beginning to feel a lot like the holiday season. We’re making Thanksgiving plans and marking our calendars for all of the fun events ahead. As you’re looking ahead to the holiday season, here are some upcoming events happening around town.

Steel Magnolia Moms Holiday Market

Nov. 2, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

The Powder Keg, 1300 Brittmoore

Admission: $5

Steel Magnolia Moms, a local nonprofit for moms of children with special needs, is hosting its fourth annual holiday market in which local artisans will sell clothing and accessories, household items, gourmet food items, art, gifts, jewelry, and more. Proceeds will support programs that help families with children who have special needs.

Nutcracker Market

Nov. 9-12; times vary each day

NRG Center, 1 NRG Park

Admission: $20 general admission

The beloved four-day shopping event will host more than 270 merchants from across the country, featuring a collection of unique holiday items, gourmet food, apparel, jewelry, accessories, home décor, gifts, toys, and more.

Frostival & Green Mountain Energy Ice at Discovery Green

Frostival: Fri., Nov 10, 5-10 p.m. The Ice: Nov. 10-Jan. 28; times vary each day. Open Thanksgiving Day, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney

Admission to Frostival: Free; Admission to The Ice: $17, plus tax, including skate rentals

Skate around the ice rink at Discovery Green, Houston’s only outdoor skating rink. The annual Frostival event (Nov. 10) kicks off the season – make snow angels in the snow zone, take a photo with Santa, watch hip-hop dance performances, check out colorful art cars; and enjoy a DJ set from H-Town Frankie. Throughout the Ice season, there will be special events and happenings at The Ice, including Skate with Santa, Skating Stars, DJs, and more.

Bioluminaire by Input Output at Discovery Green

Opens to the public on Nov. 10, 6 p.m. during the grand opening of Green Mountain Energy Ice. Viewable every day, 6 a.m.-11 p.m., through Jan. 31.

Houston-based artist collective Input Output has created art installation Bioluminaire, on display at Discovery Green this winter. Inspired by the majestic live oak allée along the Brown Promenade at Discovery Green, the interactive installation consists of eight, tree-like sculptures that respond with light and sound to visitors’ touch. Visitors who engage with the sculptures will hear layers of sounds comprised of music and field recordings taken over the year at Discovery Green. Throughout the season, there will be public art programming, including DJs, films with live music, dance performances, art workshops, and more.

Bellaire Arts and Crafts Festival

Sat., Nov. 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Paseo Park, 5000 Bellaire Blvd.

Admission: Free

The Bellaire Arts & Culture Board hosts the Arts and Crafts Festival, which will include a variety of local artisans selling crafts, artwork, and more. Beer and wine will be available at the event.

The Galleria's Annual Tree Lighting and Ice Spectacular

Sat., Nov. 11, 12-6:45 p.m.

The Galleria, 5085 Westheimer Rd.

Admission: Free

The Galleria's 34th Annual Ice Spectacular celebrates the holiday season with the lighting of its 55-foot Christmas tree. The 45-minute tree-lighting show will feature a performance by Jershika Maple, The Voice Season 21 con-

testant. The event will culminate with the lighting of the tree by Skating Santa and a fireworks display.

Houston Zoo Lights

Nov. 17-Jan. 7, 5:30-10:30 p.m. Last entry at 9:30 p.m.

Houston Zoo, 6200 Hermann Park Dr.

Admission: Adult/child (ages 3+): Starts at $22.95

The Houston Zoo will be transformed into an illuminated winter wonderland at the annual Zoo Lights presented by TXU Energy. Enjoy a “snowy” scene featuring ski lifts; life-sized animal lanterns along the Zoo Lights path; an illuminated, interactive dance floor; a colorful holiday light tunnel.

Radiant Nature at Houston Botanic Garden

Nov. 17-Feb. 25; open Fridays-Sundays; open certain weeknights around the holidays. See the website for specific dates. Timed entry is offered at 30minute intervals from 6-8:30 p.m. each night the show is open. Last entry is 9 p.m. Radiant Nature closes at 10 p.m.

Houston Botanic Garden, One Botanic Lane

Admission: $28/person. Children ages 3 and under are free.

New this year: More than 50 large Chinese lantern installations come to life in stunning displays that showcase the beauty of nature and celebrate the Lunar New Year. View a majestic 200-foot-long dragon, a soaring 12-foot-tall peacock with a fan that gracefully unfurls, and

THE ICE Skate around The Ice at Discovery Green this winter. The annual Frostival event on Nov. 10 kicks off the season.

Lawrence Elizabeth Knox, courtesy of Discovery Green

more. Explore an interactive zone buzzing with illuminated swings, whimsical seesaws, a digital kaleidoscope you can step inside, and other immersive features. Vendors will be on site offering festive food and drinks for purchase.

74th Annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade

Thurs., Nov. 23, 9 a.m.

Downtown Houston, starts at Smith and Lamar

Admission: Free

Every year, several hundred thousand Houstonians line the streets to cheer on parade participants. The parade will travel over 20 city blocks and will feature elaborate floats, colorful marching bands, high-flying balloons, and some unique Houston elements.

Holiday in the Plaza

Sat., Nov. 25, 12-5 p.m.

CityCentre, 800 Town and Country Blvd.

Admission: Free

Visit and take photos with Santa and two of his reindeer during CityCentre’s annual Holiday in the Plaza presented by Sewell Cadillac. Dance to holiday classics with performances by the Houston Show Choir.

City of Bellaire’s Holiday in the Park

Thurs., Nov. 30, 6-8:30 p.m.

Bellaire Civic Center, 7008 S. Rice Ave.

Admission: Free

The City of Bellaire hosts its annual Holiday in the Park, including school choir performances, snow slides, food, and more.

West U Christmas Tree Lighting

Mon., Dec. 4, 6:30 p.m.

West U Community Building and Senior Center, 6104 Auden

Admission: Free

The City of West University Place welcomes the holiday season with the lighting of the Christmas tree. Also, in celebration of West University Place Centennial, the City’s Centennial logo will be unveiled for the first time. Take home a special commemorative ornament to add a piece of local history to your Christmas tree.

Worth the Drive

Texas Renaissance Festival

Open weekends through Nov. 26, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

Texas Renaissance Festival grounds, 21778 Farm to Market 1774, Todd Mission, TX

Admission: Tickets are date-specific; $10-34

The nation's largest Renaissance event includes a wide range of attractions for the whole family. The festival features more than 20+ stages of music and stage acts, more than 500 shoppes and artisans, rides and games, unique food and drink, and much more. Themed weekends include Heroes and Villains (Nov. 4-5); Barbarian Invasion (Nov. 11-12); Highland Fling (Nov. 18-19); Celtic Christmas (Nov. 24-26).

Santa’s Wonderland

Nov. 10-Dec. 30, every evening, including major holidays. Hours vary.

Santa’s Wonderland grounds, 188898 Hwy 6, College Station

Admission: Tickets range depending on date. Onsite adult admission is $54.95; children $49.95. Discounted tickets in advance online. Some activities are excluded from general admission.

Santa’s Wonderland, located in College Station, Texas, features a multitude of festive, family-friendly holiday attractions spread across acres of wonderland. Activities include Santa's Hayride Tour, Meet Texas Santa (who will be clad in cowboy boots and hat), Snow Tubing, Snow Playground, Walkable Trail of Lights, Christmas Shopping, Santa’s Barnyard (including a petting zoo and pony rides), campfires, live music, Christmas movies, and more.

Polar Express Train Ride

Nov. 10-Dec. 23, weekends and select dates

Galveston Railroad Museum, 123 25th St.

Admission: Adult tickets start at $39; child tickets (3-12) start at $34.

Set to the soundtrack of the motion picture, The Polar Express is theatrically recreated to immerse passengers in the sights and sounds of the classic children’s tale while they travel for a magical one-hour trip to meet Santa. Meet many of the characters from the film. Come dressed in PJs and enjoy cookies and hot chocolate served by singing chefs. The train ride consists of six separate cars pulled by vintage locomotives from the Galveston Railroad Museum’s collection.

Space Center Houston’s Galaxy Lights

Nov. 11-Jan. 7, 6-10 p.m.; closed Nov. 13-16, Nov. 23, Dec. 7, Dec. 24-25

Admission: $19.95-27.95; kids 3 and younger are free

Galaxy Lights, presented by Reliant, is a space-themed holiday light show. Light displays give a nod to Houston and our city’s role in the history of space exploration. Enjoy festive treats

and cozy bonfires, including make-your-own s’mores, and hot cocoa.

Sugar Land Holiday Lights

Nov. 17-Jan. 1; Sun.-Thurs., 6-9 p.m.; FridaySaturday and holidays, 6-10 p.m.

Constellation Field, 1 Stadium Dr., Sugar Land

Admission: Varies by event date. No ticket needed for kids 3 and younger.

The 10th annual Sugar Land Holiday Lights presented by Houston Methodist features 3.5 million lights, Santa Claus (until Dec. 23), a dazzling 40 ft. lit-up tree, light shows, numerous themed displays, plus holiday vendors offering gifts to browse and great food.

Holiday in the Gardens

Nov. 18-Jan. 6

Moody Gardens, Galveston, One Hope Blvd.

Admission: Ice Land: Starts at $29 for adults; $24 for kids/seniors; Festival of Lights: Starts at $25 for adults, $21 for kids/senior. Holiday Pass and other packages available.

Moody Gardens transforms into Holiday in the Gardens, offering festive, family-friendly attractions include Ice Land, Festival of Lights – a mile-long walking trail decked out with two million lights and filled with sound-enhanced, lighted, and animated displays themed to holiday music – an outdoor ice rink, an Arctic Slide, train rides, holiday 3D and 4D films, and more.

Dickens on The Strand

Dec. 1-3

The Strand, Galveston

Admission: Adults: $20 in advance; youth: $15 in advance. Separate tickets for special events.

Travel back in time during the 50th Annual Dickens on The Strand, a holiday street festival that turns the Strand into the Victorian London of Charles Dickens. The festival includes costumed characters, street performers and vendors, parades, holiday food and drink, Victorianinspired crafts and more. Attendees are encouraged to dress in period costumes.

ILLUMINATING New this year, Houston Botanic Garden will feature Radiant Nature, in which more than 50 large Chinese lantern installations come to life in stunning displays that showcase the beauty of nature and celebrate the Lunar New Year. Pictured is the Wisteria Tunnel.

. by Cindy Burnett, staff writer

Buzz Reads

Five picks for November

Buzz Reads is a column about books by reviewer Cindy Burnett. Each month, Cindy recommends five recently or soon-to-be released titles.

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord by Celeste Connally (historical mystery) –Houstonian Celeste Connally (writing under a new name) is back with a Regency-era mystery. Following the death of her fiancé, Lady Petra has declared herself a spinster, a status she has the ability to maintain as a woman of independent means. After she learns that her friend Gwen has passed away after a short illness and there will be no funeral, her suspicions are aroused when someone reports seeing Gwen after she allegedly died. She sets out to determine what really happened to Gwen. While this is set during the Regency period, Petra is a strong female protagonist unwilling to allow the strict rules of the time period to govern her life. This is a strong start to a series, and I look forward to following Petra’s future adventures.

Being Henry: The Fonz…and Beyond by Henry Winkler (memoir) – Henry Winkler’s first big role in Hollywood, as The Fonz in Happy Days, defined him for decades after the show went off the air. His incredible story starts earlier with a troubled home life and undiagnosed dyslexia and follows him through his role as The Fonz and into the acting roles he has subsequently played and children’s books he has written. Fans of Happy Days will enjoy the details he divulges about the show, including the origin of the term “jumping the shark” and how he was treated significantly better than the rest of the cast and the tension that created. I listened to this one; Winkler and his wife Stacey narrate, and I felt that they were personally telling me their tales. This would make a great holiday gift.

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters (historical fiction) – A Mi’kmaq family travels every summer from Nova Scotia to Maine to pick blueberries, and one summer their 4-year-old daughter Ruthie goes missing while in Maine, last seen by her 6-year-old brother Joe. Interspersed with their story is Norma’s tale of growing up in a wealthy Maine household, overly protected by her parents with dreams of an earlier life that feel more like

memories. The story is not what happened to Ruthie, because we know that she is Norma; instead it is a tale of trauma and how two families cope with the aftermath of Ruthie’s abduction as well as how secrets can destroy families. While The Berry Pickers is not a happy story, it is a beautiful and powerful one about grief and tragedy and the lifelong repercussions. I loved learning about blueberry picking in Maine as well as the Mi’kmaq culture, and the sense of place is incredibly strong for both Maine and Nova Scotia. This book will appeal to readers who like character-driven stories, family sagas, and/or tales steeped in other cultures or locales. I highly recommend it.

WHAT TO READ This month’s selections include a marvelous celebrity memoir, a Regency-era mystery, two books set in Maine – one a mystery and the other a family drama – and a compelling tale set on the plains of Reconstruction-Era Texas.

The Madstone by Elizabeth Crook (historical fiction) – This beautifully crafted story set in 1868 Reconstruction-Era Texas is narrated by 19-yearold Benjamin Shreve to a young child, Tot, that he meets on the Texas frontier, recounting the journey the pair embark on with the child’s mom Nell across the state to a distant port. Nell and Tot are on the run from Nell’s husband, a dangerous man affiliated with a gang that harasses newly freed Black citizens. The trio, joined by a treasure hunter and a Black Seminole who is a veteran of several wars, make the dangerous journey across the Texas plains encountering all manner of hardships and peril. Benjamin’s smart, heartfelt, and witty narration makes the story as well as the manner in which Crook brings 1860s Texas vividly to life. Her writing and sense of place are stunning. This will be one of my favorite reads of the year. Have tissues handy when you read it.

The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen (mystery) –Purity, a small seaside village in Maine, is home

to a group of retired CIA agents including Maggie Bird, who has been enjoying a quiet life with her chickens following a long career that ended with a mission gone wrong. She, as well as several other former agents, are thrust back into an old operation when a dead body turns up on Maggie’s driveway. Complicating matters is Jo Thibodeau, Purity’s acting police chief, who is unused to homicide investigations and cannot understand why the group won’t answer her questions but seems to know more than she does about the murder. The maturity of the well-developed characters as well as the spy aspects of the tale combine to make The Spy Coast a standout. This is the start of a series, and I am eagerly awaiting book 2.

Editor’s note: Southside Place resident Cindy Burnett also writes our weekly Page Turners column at thebuzzmagazines.com. She hosts the award-winning Thoughts from a Page Podcast, is co-creator of the Houston literary event series Conversations from the Page, runs the Instagram account @thoughtsfromapage, and regularly speaks to groups about books.

Cindy Burnett

. by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer

Travel Buzz

The Iyers: Traveling the Multigenerational Way

The Iyers have always been very close as a family. Rama, an entrepreneur, and Raijini, an obstetrician, raised their two daughters, Arti and Aparna, in Anaheim Hills, California. But the girls grew up and went off to college, and so the Iyers decided to leave the empty nest. The couple organized their schedules so that they could travel and see the world.

When their daughters settled and started their careers and their families in Texas – Arti, a radiologist, in Bellaire, and Aparna, a psychiatrist, in Dallas – things began to get complicated.

Rama and Raijini would come to Texas for two weeks at a time – a week with each of their daughters’ families – and then would return to

California. Finally they decided to move to Dallas to be closer to their kids, and they continued to travel. “But we missed our grandkids,” said Rama. “And so I began to think, what if we were to combine both, how would it be?”

The idea made sense on lots of levels, said Rama. “There's not a natural means for us to get together as a family. Even though both of my daughters are in Texas, they are 4-5 hours apart in a car. So it’s hard to coordinate and have us all get together.”

Typically when they do get together, it’s just for a weekend, and it goes by so fast.

“The kids are getting along very well together,” added Rama. “When they go off to college,

they’ll be all scattered, so why not give them a chance to know what the others are like while they’re still young?”

So he started talking with his daughters and they liked the idea, too, but it was hard to coordinate, with five children and six adults in the family. Five of them are busy physicians – Rama is the only adult who is not a doctor.

Their first multigenerational trip was in 2016, when Arti was pregnant with her first child. Rama and Raijini were planning a trip to Iceland at the time, and Rama got the idea to invite the others to join him. That time, Arti and her husband Karthik and his parents were able to come.

ALOHA MEMORIES Multigenerational family photoshoot capturing the beauty and serenity of Oahu. From left: Kasen, Arti, Karthik, and Ahayli Jonna, Raijini and Rama Iyer, Thea Nair, Aparna Iyer, Avani, Arjun, and Roshan Nair.

Kim Ebert Photography

“That's when I realized this could be really fun,” recalls Rama. So he decided to make the selection of the destinations and planning of the itinerary an educational experience for the kids. They start the process a year in advance, and Rama makes a spreadsheet, where he compiles the kids’ findings. At this stage, the three eldest cousins are doing most of the planning. Aparna’s eldest, Roshan, 10, takes the lead, along with his sister Avani, who like Ahayli is 8. And Ahayli pitches in from a distance.

The most important criteria at this stage, according to Ahayli – a winsome child with a clear and eloquent presentation – was that the destination had to be kid-friendly.

“Adults would be allowed to come, but only if they behave,” Ahayli clarified. Her grandfather, seated at her side, grinned and beamed in pride as Ahayli went on.

“The flight couldn’t be too long. The beaches need to be pretty. Ummm…”

Rama jumped in. “I think it needs to be an all-inclusive, at that point, right?”

“Right, all-inclusive. And the weather needs to be nice.”

Since then, the family has taken three multigenerational trips with everyone together, and they’re now planning their fourth one.

So in 2019, the children were big enough to travel, and it was their first trip all together as a family. The destination: Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas.

Covid put a stop to their plans for a while, but

not for long. In 2021 they went on a Disney Cruise. And in the spring of 2022, they all went to Disney World.

Perhaps the most adventurous trip to date was their trip this summer to Hawaii. Like many Californians, Arti and Aparna had grown up vacationing with their parents in Hawaii, and had many happy memories of the islands. Their husbands and their children had never been there, so they wanted to share the experience with their families.

Aparna and Roshan did most of the itinerary planning for this trip.

“We used to do these ‘plan chats’ every so often and kind of go over what we wanted to do together, what we didn't want to do, like which kids were old enough to do what,” recalled Arti. This time, they would be staying on the island of Oahu the whole week with an Airbnb on the northern side of Oahu as their home base.

They planned to hit the ground running the morning after arriving in Honolulu, with a 6 a.m. hike up Diamond Head volcano. But sadly, Southwest Airlines canceled their Saturday flight and they weren’t able to fly out until Sunday, missing much of their Sunday itinerary.

“It was so sad because especially my daughter really wanted to go because her older two cousins were going. And she's also at the age now where she is starting to really be interested in not just going to those all-inclusives with a pool; she wants to actually experience the place, see some of the history.”

But they did get there in time to catch their tour of the Dole Plantation, riding on the Pineapple Express and enjoying a Dole Whip cone. Though that wasn’t their favorite part; really the most exciting adventure for Arti and her family was the helicopter tour, where they got to look down into the vast crater of Diamond Head and see the people hiking up, as they would have been doing had their flight not been canceled.

Other favorite memories were swimming at Shark’s Cove; snorkeling at Hanauma Bay; then there was the exhilarating hike to Waimea Falls, where they dove in and swam under the waterfalls themselves. They went to Lanikai Beach to watch the turtles, and only saw big black crabs climbing all over the rocks – which they also loved, but they learned that the turtles only come out in the evening. So they came back at sunset and sure enough:

“These turtles just come out of nowhere,” said Arti. “And they had people there to protect the turtles. They know the turtles are going to come, so they block it off so nobody touches them. But they are absolutely huge. And they just park themselves there, which is really neat.”

But as fun as all the outings were, Arti says, for her the best parts were just staying at home in their VRBO and sharing time together –something that is rare back in Texas.

“Yeah, we had a great time. I mean, we never really do anything together other than some holidays, but it's not the

(continued on page 38)

THE JONNAS Left photo: Karthik, Kasen, Arti, and Ahayli Jonna on the beach. Right: Ahayli, Arti, Kasen and Karthik preparing for their first helicopter ride above Oahu.

Kim Ebert Photography

(continued from page 37)

same,” said Arti. “We all cook together, like one person is cutting, one person is cooking, my brother-in-law is barbecuing outside... we're all doing something. And those are the really fun parts, you know?”

It was all over much too soon, and they were on their way home with suitcases full of memories. So Hawaii was close to their hearts when, a few days after their return, they learned of the Maui fire; they had visited the island as children and treasured their memories of a Maui untouched by the recent catastrophe, and they were devastated. Arti said it’s important to support the recovery of Maui by pitching in on the fundraiser of their choice and to continue traveling there.

“We encourage people to continue going to Hawaii,” she said. “Some of those families had homes burned down but work elsewhere and their businesses are still open, so they need to be working.”

Now, however, they’ve begun the destination

selection for the 2024 multigenerational vacation: Puerto Rico or maybe Turks and Caicos. Rama wants to introduce the children to Latin America, maybe beginning with a trip to Mexico, so they can get to know the cultures and practice their Spanish.

Ahayli has been practicing Spanish with her nanny, a Salvadoran woman named Irma – she’s already learned a few words, “and it feels kind of good,” she said.

Arti reflected on the importance of these trips for the family, now that they’ve begun them.

“The reason we even started doing this in the first place was, you know, my parents don't really ask for anything. But this is the one thing that is really important to them. And so it's also honoring their wishes to have the family all be together … even though we're all physicians, so, you know, we're all very busy, and the kids are in school – to take that moment to really stop and appreciate the

Tips from our Travelers

bond that we all have, how we all grew up together, how these times for us to be family are most important.”

How to Help Maui

The recent Maui wildfire, one of the worst in US history, took at least 115 lives and left thousands displaced. Tourism to the west end of the island was halted until early October with an estimated loss of $11 million per day; recently authorities put out a call to the world to come back and enjoy their island while helping to rebuild.

National Geographic recommends donating to organizations like the Hawaii Community Foundation’s Maui Strong fund or the Maui Food Bank, and if you actually go, to buy local to the extent possible – patronizing local businesses instead of national or international chains – and perhaps even volunteering while on vacation.

Worth the splurge: Helicopter ride!

Don’t miss: A luau. We did the Toa Luau in Waimea. While it’s a little touristy, the food was great and the dances and fire show kept the kids thoroughly entertained!

Favorite restaurants: Ted’s Bakery, Matsumoto Shave Ice

What to pack: Sunblock, hats, snorkel gear, water shoes. Don’t bring cold-weather clothes; you won't need them!

How to prepare: Don’t forget to book excursions/activities ahead of time as many get sold out in advance.

Safety tip: Do not walk alone at night! The highways are single lanes with curves and not a lot of lighting. Otherwise, very safe.

Not really worth the trouble: Dole Pineapple Factory – there is a lot of hype and the Dole Whip can be purchased in many other places (like Disney World!). The train ride always has a long hour-plus wait.

Unexpected hit: Family photos! We had a photographer right at sunset when it was dinner time for the kiddos, but they all enjoyed playing in the sand and the water while taking pictures.

FAMILY FUN Left photo: Avani, Roshan, Karthik, Ahayli, Thea, Rama, Kasen, Arjun, Aparna, Arti, Raijini (pictured, from left) keeping themselves busy while waiting for the train at the Dole Plantation. Upper right: The strong bond of cousins; pictured, from left: Ahayli, Thea, Roshan, Avani, Kasen. Lower right photo: The kids having fun in the water during the family photo session; pictured, from left: Roshan, Ahayli, Avani, Thea, Kasen.

Kim Ebert Photography

Kim Ebert Photography

by Dai Huynh, staff writer

Chef’s Corner

Making the Cut: Charcuterie boards

November and December are months filled with holidays, kicked off by Día de Los Muertos. What a run it will be, from Diwali to Thanksgiving, then Hanukkah and Christmas, loaded with honey-baked ham, rib roasts, shortbread cookies, and bûche de noël. Something else we’ll be looking forward to – shared plates, small plates, and charcuterie boards.

According to the National Restaurant Association, charcuterie is a superstar. About 500 professional chefs surveyed in the 2023 What’s Hot Culinary Forecast said charcuterie is a small-plate favorite. While the art of arranging meats on a board has been around for hundreds of years, it has become a social media phenomenon in the last couple of years, and the trend shows no signs of waning. So, we’ve gathered tricks and tips from chefs and restaurants specializing in charcuterie because leading into the holidays, boards of all kinds land on tables as quickly as Justin Verlander’s fastball.

“During the holidays, people get into the spirit of sharing and giving, so naturally, when people host gatherings, we see an uptick in our bruschetta and cheese boards at the restaurant and through our catering services. Wine and cheese are synonymous with holidays,” says Danny Kirgan, Texas area director for the Phoenix-based Postino Wine Café.

Postino offers six different kinds of boards on reclaimed wood, including a gluten-free version. However, the signature board, available at six Houston-area locations, is the bruschetta board, with a choice of four out of 12 options per board. Each piece of bruschetta is cut into bite-size slices so everyone can have a sample. Along with the classic mozzarella, tomato, and basil combo, you’ll find such creative combinations as prosciutto with fresh fig and mascarpone, ricotta cheese with dates and pistachio, and smoked salmon with pesto.

A charcuterie board can be a statement piece and a time-saver because it typically requires little to no cooking. Once you gather all the nibbles, it takes minutes to assemble. Plus, you can make it and store it in the fridge until it’s ready to be served – and your guests can graze on it for

hours. Talk about effortless entertaining. So, why not come up with several boards?

Brandi Key of Five 12 Restaurant Concepts did that for Daily Gather (800 Sorella Ct., No. 940) in CityCentre. The culinary director and executive chef created a board for daily pastries; another for smoked salmon; an elaborate $80 chef’s board with deviled eggs, Oysters Rockefeller, and beef tartare; and the Ultimate Brunch Board, which serves up to eight people. But she started with a simple, classic charcuterie board of artisanal meats and cheeses – curated by Houston Dairymaids owner Lindsey Schechter and including seasonal fruits, honey, sliced bread, and bar nuts (cashews and pecans) roasted with rosemary salt.

You can assemble your own board quickly at home using Brandi's five key components: cheeses, cured meats, fruits, spreads, and bread or crackers. “A really good charcuterie board needs to have a whole lot of different textures,” the chef says. “The goal is to have different cheeses, different meats, and some nice crunchy things, fruit always, so as you’re eating through the board, many textures and experiences hit different places in your palate.”

When it comes to cheese, the more variety, the better. For this particular board, the rule of

three applies, i.e., choose three different cheeses for the board. Offer a sharp cheese and a more mild option, or a soft cheese with a hard or semihard cheese for textural contrast. For example, Brandi says, “We’re using Red Rock Blue, a beautiful slight blue-vein cheddar from Wisconsin. It’s one of my favorites. We’re also using Baby Belletoile, a tiny brie that is soft and spreadable. Then we’re using PataCabra, a goat milk cheese from Spain. It’s nice and hard with lots of protein crystals, making it interesting.”

APPETIZING Regarding Postino’s popular bruschetta, selecting a board of four varieties from the dozen options is the toughest part.

Blake Bonillas

In terms of presentation, slice one block of cheese and fan the slices across the board while keeping another block whole. Mix it up visually to make it enjoyable. If you’re uncertain what cheeses to get, these days – along with Spec’s, Central Market, and Whole Foods – there’s Houston Dairymaids (2201 Airline Drive) and Montrose Cheese & Wine (1618 Westheimer Road), whose hands-on staff can help walk you through their curated selections of cheeses.

Next, pick two or three cured meats, such as a mild sausage, a smoked salami, and a third with a little more bite, such as Italy’s Levoni Salame Finocchio, a spiced salami with fennel seeds. Whether you opt for prosciutto, serrano, capocollo calabrese, soppressata, mortadella, French-style salami, or Spanish chorizo, get your meat thinly sliced. These are easy to arrange in folds, curls, or piles, making them pretty and easy for guests to grab one at a time.

Many experts prefer a combination of crackers and sliced baguettes on their boards. Again, the goal is to create textural variations. Highquality bread is a no-brainer, but getting a sturdy cracker that can withstand the weight of meat and cheese is also essential. Make the bread exciting and include a few varieties, such as a seeded one and another flavored with herbs.

The fourth element of a board is spreads, such

as jams, preserves, and even honeycomb, which can add a slightly bitter or fruity sweetness to complement salty meats and cheeses. One of chef Philippe Schmit’s favorite spreads for a charcuterie board is truffle butter. “It’s so simple to make and such a nice addition to a board,” says the co-owner of PS-21.

At PS-21 (2712 Richmond Ave.), Philippe has taken the traditional French charcuterie tray one step further and introduced guests to the beloved tradition of l’apero, which is short for apéritif. An hour or so before dinner, guests unwind over cocktails and snacks, including charcuterie, tapenades, cod brandade, escargots, sardine rillettes, and other small bites.

Research always helps with finding new ideas, and there are plenty of places from which to sample and borrow ideas. We procured Philippe’s recipes for truffle butter and green olive tapenade, but we also wanted dips for the charcuterie board. The modern Israeli restaurant Hamsa (5555 Morningside Drive, No. 100) in Rice Village features the Wholeshebang, which features nine salatim, a catchall Hebrew term for spreads, dips, salads, pickles, and slaws. The salatim – which includes matbucha tomato-bell pepper compote, lemon tahini, labneh, tomato-feta salad, and carrot harissa – provided color and vivid flavors.

The final essential player on the board is the fruit. Some people keep it seasonal, such as peaches and figs. Most rely on grapes, which pair great with wine and cheese, and why not? Apples and pears are good, too. The role of fruit (olives and gherkin pickles, too) is to lend that acidic pop of flavor, which cuts through rich meats and cheeses. Fruit is a palate cleanser.

Once you have all the essential ingredients, add the extras to the board, such as dried fruits (dates, apricots, cranberries, etc.), pickles, crunchy veggies, and seeds or roasted nuts. Use these guys to fill in the blank spaces and add another dimension to your board.

Traditionally, charcuterie boards elicit visions of artisanal cured meats, but these days, creative boards are topped with everything from fresh fruit to chocolate. We won’t delve into the craze of the pounds of butter being spread, smeared, and swept across boards. But we are keen on dessert boards, and founder Sara Brook of Dessert Gallery Bakery & Café tried selling kits that included sweet treats and a template for her customers to make one at home. It contained miniature cupcakes, pecan pie bars, sand tart cookies, cake balls, truffles, tiny cookies, candied pretzels, sprinkles, and other goodies except fresh fruit.

“We mapped it out so

CHEERS TO CHARCUTERIE Top left: Daily Gather’s classic charcuterie board with meats and cheeses curated by Houston Dairymaids. Top right: Wines, cheeses, and deli meats from Montrose Cheese & Wine. Bottom left: Various spreads, salads, dip, and pickles from Hamsa. Bottom right: Tablescape of wines, cheese, and various charcuterie from Montrose Cheese & Wine.

Kimberly Park

Kristen Gilliam

Julie Soefer Photography

Zachary Horst

you can see exactly how we did it. We gave them everything, including a picture. It was so cute, but people didn’t want to do it. They wanted us to do it,” Sara says.

PS-21 Green Tapenade

1–1½ pounds brined green olives, such as Castelvetrano

8 basil leaves

8 garlic cloves

½ cup olive oil

¼ cup capers, rinsed

4 white anchovies, rinsed

White pepper to taste

½ cup corn oil

½ cup extra virgin oil

To pit olives, cover a cutting board with a kitchen towel. Spread olives in a single layer on the towel. Also, work in batches if necessary. Cover olives with a second towel, then use a heavy skillet to bash olives once or twice. Pits and flesh should separate easily. You should have about 1 cup of pitted olives. Transfer into a bowl and set aside.

This step is optional, but if you want a really vivid, green olive tapenade, blanch the basil in boiling water for one second, then immediately plunge the leaves into ice-cold water; set aside.

Place the garlic in a cup of cold water and bring to a boil, then immediately transfer the garlic into another small pot containing the olive oil. Bring the garlic to a simmer over medium-low heat. Reduce heat and simmer garlic for about 30 minutes.

Make the tapenade in a small food processor when the garlic is ready. Start with the dry ingredients and combine the garlic, olives, capers, and anchovies with one pulse. Next, add the basil and a pinch of white pepper. Finally, drizzle in the extra virgin oil and corn oil. Pulse one last time. If you prefer a smoother texture, pulse until you reach the consistency you like. To store, transfer to an airtight container. It will keep for a couple of weeks in the refrigerator. The tapenade may be served with toasted crusty bread and fresh, mild cheese or drizzled on sliced steak. Makes about 2 to 2½ cups.

Chef Phillippe Schmit’s Truffle Butter

Winter truffle season is from November through February. Central Market is a good source. When choosing, you’ll want the little fungi to be firm and avoid soft, spongy truffles.

½ cup (1 stick) salted French or Irish butter ½ ounce fresh winter truffle, finely chopped

Allow butter to sit at room temperature for about an hour. In a bowl, mash together butter and truffle.

Spoon the mixture onto a piece of parchment paper or plastic wrap, form into a log, and wrap well. Chill for at least a day or, even better, two days before using. Makes 8 servings.

Chef Brandi Key’s Baked Brie

1 ripe pear, chopped

1–2 tablespoons honey

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

225–300 grams wheel of brie Baguette slices, crostini, or crackers for serving

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, combine pear, honey, and cinnamon.

Unwrap the brie and place the cheese in an oven-proof round casserole dish or small castiron skillet. Spoon the chopped pear mixture over the brie and cover with foil.

Place in the oven and bake for 12–15 minutes or until the brie is warmed through and melted. Serve with baguette slices, crostini, or crackers. Makes eight servings.

Note: There are so many ways to dress up brie. You can use apples or add toasted walnuts to the combo above. If you want more gooey goodness, cut off the brie's top rind, bake it, and add apricot preserves and roasted chopped walnuts. Makes 8 servings.

Editor’s note: Buzz dining columnist Dai Huynh is a James Beard food-journalism award winner and longtime Houston-based restaurant writer.

DIP, DIP PS-21’s trio of dips: Green tapenade, harissa pepper, confit garlic hummus, served with toasted bread.

. by Todd Freed, staff writer

SportzBuzz

Just one season removed from the adoption of water polo as an official sport by the UIL, the Lamar Texans have emerged as one of the state’s top boys teams. The Texans raised their record to 19-7 after winning the UIL District 14 championship. The Texans victory total included wins over state number three ranked Strake Jesuit as well as the state’s 12thranked Pearland Dawson Eagles. For its part, Lamar was ranked 13th in the state at the end of the regular season.

“The guys have great chemistry,” said Texans water polo coach Sally Woolweaver. “Most of our starting lineup competed in Junior Olympics water polo this past summer and it’s really exciting to see how well they’ve come along.”

The Texans were led by the play of goalie John Hajdik, who was named the MVP of the district tournament. “It all goes through our goalie,” said Woolweaver. “He’s just phenomenal. John is great with blocks and feeding the ball and he even leads the district in steals. I really think he’s one of the best goalies in the state.”

On offense, senior Carlos Camarena is the Texans’ top scorer and was named the district’s offensive player of the year. “Carlos plays in the middle and our offense runs through him,” said Woolweaver. “He’s bigger and stronger this year and has been a tremendous player for us.”

Defensively, Texans senior Augie Loredo was a first team all-district selection. “Augie defends the other team’s best post player. He’s really great at locking down opponents and preventing the ball from getting into the post. We also have a pair of sophomores in Carson Banks and Rayce Bagley that have really stepped it up this season,” added Woolweaver.

After finishing last season as the nation’s number five ranked team in girls field hockey, the St. John’s Mavericks remain a national powerhouse this season. The Mavericks owned a 10-2 record with a number seven national ranking through the first portion of the season including victories over some of the nation’s premiere field hockey teams.

“We traveled to the Max Field Hockey National Invitational early in the season and beat

the Hill School out of Pennsylvania, which was the pre-season number one team in the nation. We have great skills players who work extremely hard and have a special team chemistry,” said Mavericks field hockey coach Rebecca Elliott.

“Our defense is a huge part of our success,” added Elliott. “Senior goalies Juliana Boone and Libby Smith do a really nice job of controlling the backfield and keeping everyone cool, calm, and collected on the playing field.”

The Mavericks are also led by senior captains Kaitlyn Chang, Alexandra Madrid, and Kristina Johnson. “Those are really talented and skilled players who lead by example with their attitude and effort,” said Elliott.

In addition, a foursome of Mavericks were selected by USA Field Hockey to play in this past summer’s AAU Junior Olympic Games including sophomores Montgomery Ferguson and Josephine VanHoutan as well as freshmen Valentina Baizan and Sofia Ruegg. “It’s a total team effort,” added Elliott. Our girls take great pride on being their very best.”

In volleyball, the Bellaire Cardinals were well on their way to another undefeated District 20-6A Championship. With its 7-0 start in district play, the Cardinals also raised their district winning streak to 47 straight victories dating back to October of the 2020 season.

This season, second-year head coach Melissa Martin says several players have been major contributors to the Cardinals’ success including senior captain Alexandra Ryans. “Alexandra is our starting setter and runs the court. She leads the team in assists and, as our only senior, the other players look to her for leadership, which she displays through her hustle and hard work.”

In addition, sophomore outside hitter Lucy Bannerman leads Bellaire in kills and aces. “Lucy is quiet but consistent,” said Martin. “She produces big plays at crucial times.” In the middle, junior captain Bentley Sloan is the team leader in blocks and is also second in kills. “Bentley is our vocal leader,” said Martin. “She keeps her teammates in the matches with her positive talk and hustle in the middle position.”

In addition, libero and defensive specialist Christine Dimacali leads the Cardinals in digs. “We look to Christine for both her offensive and defensive leadership,” said Martin. “Her passing and defensive skills are a big part of our success.”

Editor’s note: Todd Freed is the host and executive producer of H-Town High School Sports, which airs Saturday at 10:30 p.m. on CW39 and Monday-Thursday on AT&T SportsNet SW. To submit high school sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, please email todd@thebuzzmagazines.com.

GREAT GOALIE Lamar Texans goalie John Hajdik helped lead the Texans to the UIL District 14 championship. Hajdik was named the MVP of the district tournament with Lamar also winning its second straight district title.

St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School

PK4 – 8th Grade

NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL RELIGIOUS EDUCATION, ADVANCED ACADEMICS, S.T.E.M. CERTIFIED, FINE ARTS, AFTERSCHOOL ENRICHMENT & ATHLETICS

For Open House info and to apply online visit saintvincentschool.org 6802 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, TX 77025

Get Your Morning Buzz

Every weekday morning, enjoy your coffee + the buzz in your inbox. Our e-newsletter, Morning Buzz, features buzzworthy stories about neighbors every day, Monday-Friday.

Sign up to find out what we’re buzzing about at thebuzzmagazines.com/morning-buzz.

. by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

SportzBuzz Jr.

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

Fighting Irish

The Southwest Football League Fighting Irish Freshman Flag team has learned to tackle challenges, make unforgettable memories, and score big victories this season. Their opening game against the Longhorns was no exception. The team was down 14-0 at the half. The kids stayed positive and were determined to come back in a big way. Irish Quarterback Peter Eagleton never gave up throughout the game, throwing a touchdown pass to George Dols among other highlights. It was a team effort and the defense stepped up to stop the Longhorns in the second half and stopped any further points. The kids are learning the game, developing their skills, building resilience and personal growth, and fostering lifelong friendships. The Irish ended up winning that game 20-16 in a great opening game. The head coach is Matthew Luke (pictured, in green shirt), assistant coach Chris Eagleton (blue shirt), and players are (pictured,

Tigers on track

The St. Vincent de Paul Tigers track team left the competition in the dust at the annual XC Anahuac Invitational track meet this fall. For the second year in a row, the SVdP girls' and boys' teams both took first place. The team worked hard to achieve their victories and smiled with their coaches after their hard-earned victories. Pictured (from left) are Lauren Martin, coach Marion Jones (back), Ava Terwel, Cristi Curtin, Ella Sweeney, Valentina Rubio, Cate Hughes, Georgina Gonzalez, Claire Bonura, Bella Fiore, Cecilia Bass, Drew Belanger, Nico Pacini, Barrett Fowler, Nico Curtin, Matthew Urbani, Tommy McCullough, William Benoit, William Louis, Ryan Cowles, Jax Calato and coach Linzy Taylor (back).

Squad goals

Southwest Football League first-year cheerleaders and buddies including (pictured, from left) Zoe Blumberg, Julia Feinstein, and Ella Crow are making memories during their first season of cheering together for SFL. The girls and their fellow cheerleading teammates practice once a week and cheer at one game a weekend. The girls smiled on the sidelines after cheering on a first- and second-grade team in their debut. They work to learn their routines from their coaches and perform cheers during the game and dances during halftime. They got the crowd cheering on in excitement during the game. Julia’s brothers, George and Joshua Feinstein, are playing in the older division and are proud to see their little sister out there, too.

Editor’s note: Send your best high-resolution photos and behind-the-scenes stories about young local athletes, in both team and individual sports, to SportzBuzz, Jr. at info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Include all contact info, names, ages, grades and schools. Featured athletes must live in Buzz-circulation neighborhoods. Items will be published on a space-available basis.

from left) Jacob Luke, Jack Laughlin, Peter Eagleton, Bruce Dorrell, Julian Berry, George Dols, Andrew Rohrbach, Conrad Mericli, Sebastian Garza, Will Caraway, and (not pictured) Henry Shanahan

In praise of mediocrity

The aphorism, “The perfect is the enemy of the good,” means that insistence on perfection inhibits modest but achievable improvements. Nobody tests that more than my clients. They avoid investment advisors and achieve higher returns with self-directed investments. They prepare their own tax returns, and are never audited. They do their own budgeting and retirement planning and achieve levels of independence that are the envy of the personal financial advisors that crave their business.

They also experience the same morbidity and mortality rates as the rest of us. They grow old, get sick, and die, too. And their caregivers and survivors struggle just as much as others’ do to pick up the pieces and move on. My clients invest in real estate no one else can (or cares to) manage, they employ trading strategies that require unsustainable skills and diligence, or they simply hang on too long, refusing to delegate until it’s too late.

The irony is that until about five minutes before the wheels fall off, my clients’ confidence in their own abilities is warranted, and they are right when they imagine that no one else could do better.

Unfortunately, it takes closer to five years than to five minutes to perfect the transition from do-it-yourself. A team of professionals needs to be assembled, the right ones confirmed, the wrong ones replaced, family introduced to them all, and a pattern established of regular meetings and a gradual shift of communication and responsibility if not authority from principal to agent, whether family or professional.

For personal finance this means engaging an investment advisor and maybe a separate personal financial planner. If asset management is not

consolidated in a single person, each player on the team needs full financial disclosure. Account and investment information has to be keyed into some kind of aggregator, so that balances, income, and expenses are always complete and current.

For income tax purposes, this means sharing access, often online credentials, with someone who has no immediate need for the information but eventually will be downloading statements and tax forms and collating all for the CPA.

Hardest of all, decisions have to be made, reduced to writing and signed, about whom you trust, and their authority now, on your disability, and at your death.

These are intrusive and burdensome tasks, and the cost of professional services in these areas can be eye watering. As I ask my clients, though, “If you don’t trust the kids to do the work, how can you trust them to pick your replacement? Who better to manage the transition than you?”

We write wills and go to probate court. 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 South, Suite 920, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.662.3853, bellaireprobate.com/blog

by Arnav Adhikari, age 17

NURTURING A SOLUTION Arnav Adhikari, a senior at Carnegie Vanguard High School, crosses his fingers for luck on the first test for his efficient irrigation prototype in the Southside Community Garden. He hopes this system will help bring fresh food to Houston’s food deserts.

Buzz Kidz

ISmart irrigation

n Houston, nearly half a million people reside in food deserts. These are areas where accessing healthy foods is a challenge, which can lead to serious health implications. Despite Houston being a massive metropolis, many areas, especially low-income neighborhoods, lack proximity to grocery stores and fresh food farms, or have inefficient farming practices. A pressing issue in food farming is the overuse of fresh water. While the Earth is 70 percent water, only a minuscule amount is fit for human use. Astonishingly, 70 percent of this precious resource is used for irrigation, and half of that is wasted due to inefficient methods, escalating water bills. With water prices surging and droughts on the rise, we must prioritize water conservation.

During my visits to community farms in Houston and beyond, I noticed a gap in irrigation techniques.

Each time, a nagging question persisted: could there be a way to ascertain whether the crops needed watering at any specific moment? That's when I started my experiment at home. My goal was clear: develop a system to promote efficient water usage. I believe that such a creation could be pivotal in driving conservation, reducing costs, and inspiring the inception of more community gardens.

Leveraging my engineering and programming skills, I developed the SmartSprout irrigation system. It's a cutting-edge innovative approach that integrates smart sensors and artificial intelligence to assess soil moisture, ensuring crops get water only when they need it. Thanks to a grant from the City of Southside, I was thrilled to be able to test SmartSprout in the Southside Community Garden. Since its inception in December 2022, the results

have been promising and surpassed expectations. The system managed to save approximately 50 percent of water, all while preserving the perfect soil moisture level crucial for crops. The system adjusts to various crop types and weather patterns automatically. My vision is for SmartSprout to transform irrigation in community gardens across Houston.

I hope to revolutionize farming with these smart irrigation techniques. By ensuring maximum crop yields with minimal water usage and costs, these techniques can make a lasting positive impact on our community and environment.

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

Maximizing your home’s value with smart updates

If you’re looking to sell your home and want to maximize its market value, carefully planned updates can make a significant impact. These improvements not only enhance your home’s appeal but also offer a strong return on investment.

Curb appeal matters: First impressions are crucial, and your home’s exterior is the initial point of contact for potential buyers. To create a fresh and inviting exterior, an easy fix is to power wash sidewalks, patios, and driveways to remove dirt and stains. Next, a fresh coat of paint or touch-up can also work wonders. Maintaining a well-landscaped lawn, trimming trees and shrubs, and planting vibrant flowers is also recommended, as well as enhancing nighttime aesthetics and security with outdoor lighting.

Kitchens and bathrooms are focal points for homebuyers: Revamping light fixtures, showers and bathtubs, cabinets, countertops and refreshing floors will transform spaces. Invest in updated energy-efficient appliances for functionality and appeal.

Fresh paint and new flooring: A simple and effective update is a fresh coat of paint. Stick to neutral colors that appeal to a broad range of buyers. A newly painted interior creates a clean, inviting, and well-maintained atmosphere. Enhance room ambiance by modernizing flooring with materials like hardwood or replacing worn-out carpets for a transformative effect.

Energy-efficient upgrades: Appeal to eco-conscious buyers with energy-efficient enhancements. Consider an HVAC upgrade and improve insulation for reduced energy bills and increased comfort. Installing energy-efficient windows to enhance insulation and a programmable thermostat for energy savings

are ways to earn buyers’ confidence. Another upgrade that pays dividends is replacing the roof, eliminating concerns of leaks and damage.

Additional crucial steps to prepare your home: In addition to essential updates, prepare your home for a successful sale by decluttering, storing excess belongings to create more space, and staging to achieve modernization and appeal.

Thoughtfully investing in these upgrades can elevate your home’s worth and significantly enhance its attractiveness to potential buyers. It’s crucial to approach these enhancements with careful planning and consideration. At C&K Properties, we’ve assisted numerous clients in accomplishing their selling objectives by implementing these strategies and more. To find inspiration and view examples of our successful transformations, please visit our website at candkpropertieshouston.com. For expert guidance on making intelligent updates to maximize your home’s value before listing it for sale, don’t hesitate to reach out to Kristi Neal at C&K Properties. With her extensive experience, Kristi can offer invaluable insights on enhancing your home’s appeal and market value.

Kristi Neal, Attorney at Law, Mediator, Real Estate Broker, C&K Properties, 520 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 320, Houston, Texas 77027, kristi@candkpropertieshouston.com, 713-858-4595, www.candkpropertieshouston.com

Neighborhood Tails

Harley Ham, age 1, Goldendoodle, Bellaire Blvd.

Hi, I’m Harley. My parents call me Harley Ham. Ham is short for my last name and because I am such a ham. I am a one-year-old Goldendoodle and still bring the puppy energy. My parents are new(er) to the Houston area, so I am officially their Texas girl. Yeehaw! They brought me home in October 2022, and I love to explore Houston with them. During the week I like to see my puppy friends at my favorite CrossFit gym in the Heights and watch my parents work out. If I'm not playing there, I’m walking in the neighborhood and playing with my friends Ira and Bear, two Goldendoodles just like me. We live the good life, and always enjoy ending the day with a treat. Then I make sure to stretch out and hog the entire bed all night long – it’s so important to get good rest. Hope to see you around!

Got a cute critter? Email a picture of your pet with approximately 150 words to info@thebuzzmagazines.com or mail it to The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401.

Create a buzz for your biz.

Update on pneumonia vaccines

The bacterium Streptococcus pneumonia (nickname Strep pneumo) is the number one bacterial cause of pneumonia, bronchitis, sinusitis, and middle ear infections. The first pneumonia vaccine came to market in 1945, but was rarely used since the new wonder drug, penicillin, worked so well (at the time – we can cover resistance to antibiotics some other time!). That vaccine was “tetravalent”; it only covered four of the serotypes of Strep pneumo. Think of a “serotype” as “cousin” or “kinfolk” in the Strep pneumo family. There are about 24 serotypes that cause most of the Strep pneumo disease. In the 1970s, a 14 valent vaccine was developed, and in 1983, a 23-valent version came out that we still use today: Pneumovax.

The problem with the early vaccines is they didn’t protect against infection very well. A conjugated vaccine called Prevnar-7 came out in 2000. It used a much better technology that offered better protection against infection, but only protected against seven serotypes. It led to Prevnar-13 in 2011. For over 10 years, we immunologists would give an adult Prevnar-13 to get the good technology on board, then 8 weeks later, follow that with the old Pneumovax to offer some protection against all 23 serotypes. It was a good strategy, but we all wished that Prevnar would cover all the relevant serotypes.

In 2021, Big Pharma Pfizer said, “Your wish is my command” and came out with Prevnar-20. Now, when adults in the USA turn 65, they are advised to get Prevnar-20 instead of the older vaccines. Not to be outdone, Big Pharma Merck, who had come out with the 15-valent Vaxneuvance in 2021, is now working on a 21-valent version.

Of course, in life, the “law of unintended consequences” always exerts itself.

You may think that Pneumovax is of no value with the newer, conjugated vaccines that provide so much better protection. Usually, that’s correct, but there are no absolutes in medicine. Pneumovax is still critically important, not as a therapeutic measure, but as a diagnostic measure, so immunologists can determine if someone’s immune system knows how to mount an immune response using only IgG2. We don’t have vaccines for every pathogen, and patients with frequent infections who fail Pneumovax often benefit greatly from infusions of healthy antibodies. The problem is that with Prevnar-20, pharmacies no longer find it necessary to carry Pneumovax. Many small allergy/immunology practices can’t afford to keep it in stock if it’s used rarely and most of the box expires before it’s used. And some insurance companies, always using flawless logic, no longer reimburse for Pneumovax since it’s “obsolete”.

No one nose allergies like we do.™

Note: Information contained in this article should not be considered a substitute for consultation with a board-certified allergist to address individual medical needs.

David B. Engler, M.D., The Allergy Clinic, 7707 Fannin, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77054, 713.797.0993, *1200 Binz, Suite 1400, Houston, Texas 77004, 713.522.9911, www.allergyclinic.com, *Operating as Houston Allergy and Asthma Clinic

. by Angie Frederickson, staff writer

Buzz About Town

Team up with the Astros

Dr. Isaac and Lori Raijman (pictured, from left) celebrated at Silver Street Studios during the fifth annual Team Up event. Lance McCullers Jr., Jose Altuve, and Kyle Tucker teamed up to raise money for their foundations that support causes important to each of them. Event cohosts Kate and Steve Gibson welcomed more than 500 guests who raised $600,000 for organizations benefiting children and animals in our community. The Lance McCullers Jr. Foundation provides resources for pet rescue, pet adoptions, and shelter programs. Proceeds raised through the Jose Altuve Foundation will benefit The Sunshine Kids Foundation, dedicated to serving children with cancer. For Kyle Tucker, the evening focused on supporting hospice-care

organizations through the Kyle Tucker Foundation. Guests enjoyed the casual evening, led by emcees Julia Morales and Johnny Holloway, and had the opportunity to visit with many of their favorite Astros, including Ryan Pressly, Michael Brantley, Mauricio Dubon, Kendall Graveman, and Grae Kessinger

Bartender vs. bartender

Supporters of the Periwinkle Foundation including Matt Mogas, Melinda Mogas, Nick Postolos, and Tom Clancy (pictured, from left) gathered at the Lyric Market food hall in the Theatre District for the sold-out Iron Bartender event. More than 140 guests attended the fundraising celebration that pitted local bartenders against one another for the title of Iron Bartender Champion. Brian Choate of Refuge was named the 2023 winner. Other winners included: People’s Choice Award winner Rachel McQuity of Winnie’s, First Runner Up and Most Creative Cocktail winner David Perez of Lei Low, Best Seller winner Drew Bennett of Anvil, Bar Chef Award winner Sabrina Poe of Rosewood, and Best Bar Service winner Mauro Cisneros of Doris Metropolitan. The event, chaired by Sean Beck, raised $50,000 for Periwinkle’s camps and Arts and Survivor programs for children, teens, and families who are living with cancer and other lifethreatening illnesses.

Texas Heart Institute gala returns

After a seven-year hiatus, the Texas Heart Institute gala returned with a glamorous supper club. The Post Oak Hotel ballroom was trans-

formed into an iconic 1940s supper club to celebrate the beginning of the institute’s seventh decade of work to fight cardiovascular disease. Leslie and Eric Wade (pictured) were among the 400 supporters who enjoyed the evening with musical entertainment from Pink Martini. Kelli Kickerillo and Todd Forester served as cochairs, with Mary and Vincent Kickerillo as honorary chairs. The event raised more than $800,000 for the Texas Heart Institute.

Another season with Houston Ballet

Phoebe and Bobby Tudor (pictured) enjoyed Houston Ballet’s Opening Night Onstage Dinner at the Wortham

Daniel Ortiz

Jacob Power

Larry Geiger

Wilson Parish

(continued

Theater Center. The annual event celebrated the opening of the company’s 2023-2024 season and welcomed more than 220 guests for dinner and a performance of John Neumeier’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, based on Shakespeare’s romantic comedy. Elise and Russell Joseph and Jennifer and Christopher Laporte chaired the event that raised a record-breaking $250,000 for Houston Ballet. Between the performance and dinner, guests gathered in the Orchestra for a presentation by Houston Ballet executive director Jim Nelson recognizing Stanton Welch for his 20th anniversary with Houston Ballet.

Party at the podium

the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston’s Jerome Robinson Family Young Adult Division (YAD) 2023 kickoff event. Party at the Podium was held at The Podium at Porsche River Oaks and welcomed 100 young adults for a night of food and music. In addition to socializing, guests had the opportunity to receive reproductive and cancerscreening tests from JScreen to understand their

genetic risks. The Federation offered these tests free of charge from a fund held with the Houston Jewish Community Foundation for young adult genetic testing.

Healing through photography

ARTcetera Houston, an interactive live arts showcase, raised more than $80,000 for the Pablove Foundation’s Shutterbugs’ healing arts program that provides photography instruction to kids with cancer. Pablove’s Shutterbugs Adison Freeman, Trudi Mendez, Gael Cavazos, and Peyton Vasquez (pictured, from left) participated in the event at the Norris Conference Center that featured local artists and allowed the guests to interact with them and witness the creative process in action. In

addition to mingling with the artists, guests enjoyed food, cocktails, and silent and live auctions. The Pablove Foundation funds childhood cancer research through partnerships with MD Anderson Cancer Center and Baylor College of Medicine. To learn more about how families impacted by pediatric cancer can become involved in the Pablove Shutterbugs photography program, visit pablove.org/shutterbugs.

The Nutcracker Market is back

It’s time for holiday shopping! The 2023 Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market takes place Nov. 9-12 at NRG Center. This is the 43rd year for the beloved event, and shoppers will find their favorite holiday and home décor, gifts, food, jewelry, apparel, toys,

(continued on page 56)

Danielle Maislos, Josh Merwin, and Diana Polyak (pictured, from left) enjoyed

from page 52)

Buz Marvins

Aaron Jay Photography

accessories, and one-of-akind festive items. Decked in holiday lights and color, the market is prepared to welcome shoppers, with proceeds from ticket sales plus 11 percent of merchandise purchases benefitting Houston Ballet’s programming. Nutcracker Market chair Katrina Arnim, a longtime Houston Ballet Guild and Nutcracker Market committee member, and the committee (pictured), have been preparing for months to bring the holiday favorite back this year. General admission tickets are $20 (cash or check) at the door. Visit nutcrackermarket.com for more information.

Deep in the heart

Gala co-chairs Mark and Karen Edelman (pictured) are preparing for the JFS LiVE! 2023 Gala on Nov. 16 at the Hilton Americas Hotel downtown. Deep in the Heart of JFS, featuring entertainment by Haven Madison from season 21 of American Idol, will benefit Alexander Jewish Family Service (Alexander JFS) in their efforts to support local people and families in need, across all ages, faiths, and backgrounds. Rori Feldman and Caroline Rosen Funk will be honored with the Shirley and Allen Becker Leadership Award, and Greg Lewis will receive the John Alexander Chesed Award for commitment to service in the community. For tickets or additional information, visit alexanderjfs.org/events/jfs-live-2023.

The It List of fashion

Lauren Mallbot, Thebe Warren , and Stacey Ziems (pictured, from left) supported Dress for Success Houston’s Corporate Guild at the fall fashion event at Saks Fifth Avenue. The

It List of Fashion Night Out gave more than 150 of Houston’s women leaders a sneak peak of this year’s fall fashions while enjoying hors d’oeuvres and bubbles. Saks Fifth Avenue’s Hasina Starks and Anjali Barz shared fall 2023’s trends including the highshaft boot, absolute red, and metallic shimmer. Guests heard from Heidi Turney, Jess Rogers , and DFS Houston president Lauren Levicki Courville before enjoying the show and shopping.

Bringing the Mudhif to Houston

Becky Lao, Rice University president Reggie DesRoches, and Necole Irving (pictured, from left) joined more than 130 other guests in the home of Reggie and Paula Gilmer DesRoches to celebrate the grand opening of the Mudhif on the Rice campus. The Mudhif, which stands next to the Moody Center for the Arts, is a replica of a 5,000-year-old reed building that

served as a town hall, court, and gathering place in ancient Iraqi villages, and is the focal point of the Senan Shaibani Marsh Arabs project, which includes community events throughout the fall. Upcoming programs include a culinary event on Nov. 5 in which a meal from a 5,000year-old tavern discovered at excavations in Iraq will be replicated and a Family Day with free hands-on activities on Nov. 19. Guests learned about the project and its significance from speakers Dr. Aziz Shaibani, father of the late Senan Shaibani for whom the project is named, Becky Lao, executive director of Archaeology Now, the project organizer, Azzam Alwash, and President DesRoches. See archaeologynow.org/marsh-arab-project-events.

Be seen in Buzz About Town. Send your high-res photos and community news to info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Items are published on a space-available basis. Also share your upcoming-event listings on thebuzzmagazines.com.

Thomas Campbell

Henrich Perez

. by Andria Frankfort Dilling, staff writer

Back Porch Don’t Mess with My Turkey

Thanksgiving: It’s a hard holiday to mess with. And still, every once and a while we try.

One Buzz reader, a volunteer and mother of a daughter in college who prefers to remain anonymous, remembers being in her early twenties and offering to bring rolls to a friend’s Thanksgiving gathering. “Feeling fancy,” she says, “I decided to house them in a puff pastry cornucopia featured in [the] Martha Stewart [magazine]. Millennials have Pinterest to make them feel inadequate. We had Martha.

“To make the cornucopia, you had to make a cone form out of foil, and then wrap strips of pastry around it. Needless to say, it was a disaster. The top burned, the bottom was raw, there were big gaps and random poofs. The whole mess went into the garbage.”

Lisa Myers’ family tried one year to make a kosher Thanksgiving for her grandmother, who was coming to town from Pennsylvania for the holiday. “None of us keep kosher,” she says, “and usually Thanksgiving is so filled with butter and cream, and we put sausage in our stuffing. But my grandmother kept strict kosher, and she was not only religious but also superstitious, so if you did something wrong, something bad would happen. So Thanksgiving had to be kosher.”

Lisa’s sister came in early from California and did an advance test run, taking cream and butter out of it all (kosher rules dictate no mixing of milk and meat). “She substituted everything,” Lisa says, “even that string bean thing.”

On Thanksgiving, with 20-ish family members including grandma at Lisa’s house, they served the kosher dinner. But first, there was a little bowl of pine nuts on the table. “My grandmother is eating and talking,” Lisa says, “and then my sister serves everything, and my grandmother says, ‘I am so full from those nuts I can’t eat another thing.’ We all just looked at each other and laughed. She had no idea how much trouble everyone went to.”

Barbara Trautner’s earliest attempt at making Thanksgiving actually went well. It was her first Thanksgiving spent in Charlottesville, VA, with her boyfriend (now husband) Kevin, and she offered to make a small dinner for him and

it real

his roommate.

“Kevin felt very positive the only possible way to do this was to have his mother’s cornbread stuffing. So he called his mother [Carlene Kalokathis], and in his shaky, crazy, bad writing – because he went to both medical school and law school –he wrote down the recipe on an index card.” The highlight of Barbara’s little dinner was her future motherin-law’s stuffing. Twenty-something years later, Carlene’s Cornbread Stuffing is still on the Trautner table, and Barbara still works from the same index card, scribbled on in 1993. “All of my mother-in-law’s recipes are delicious,” Barbara says, “and they all start with a stick of butter.”

Carlene’s Very Traditional Cornbread Stuffing

1 ½ cups chopped celery

1 cup chopped onion

The funny part of that first holiday was Kevin’s roommate’s reaction to it. “I made a turkey breast as opposed to a whole turkey,” Barbara says. “As I was slicing and carving, the roommate was eating. I would slice, and he would eat.” It was a far cry from the table Barbara’s mother, Nancy Wells, sets. “My mom does the most beautiful floral arrangements for the whole length of the table, and it’s the best part of the meal. It’s not cooking, but she’s preparing the table that makes it so nice for us all. Apparently, that year my turkey was just irresistible.” So much for sitting down to the table in 1993, although the Wells and Trautner families have had many years of beautiful dinners – and beautifully carved turkeys – to make up for it.

If you’re feeling up to adding a new, super traditional twist to your family’s table, Barbara shares her mother-in-law’s treasured cornbread recipe here.

Happy Thanksgiving!

1/3 cup butter

8 inch-by-8 inch pan of cornbread, left out overnight, then crumbled

¼ cup chopped parsley

½ to 1 teaspoon dried sage (depending on your taste)

1 ½ teaspoons dried thyme

1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

2 eggs, beaten

¾ cup chicken broth

Butter an 8 inch-by-8-inch baking dish and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the celery and onion, and sauté until the vegetables are soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the crumbled cornbread, then the parsley, sage, thyme, salt, pepper, and eggs. Add the chicken broth. Transfer to the buttered baking dish and bake for ½ hour.