The West University Buzz - October 2017

School Buzz

2017-18

Eli Maierson

by Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld

Private School Directory Flood of Humanity Harvey, Houston and Heart Oktoberfest at Home Chef’s Corner: Yunan Yang Global Family: The Kramers Houston, TX Permit No. 2047 PAID

Local Author: Caroline Leech

US Postage PRSRT STD

Texas’ Painted Churches

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

PERSONALCFO – a knowledgeable and trustworthy single point of contact you can count on

Here at The Buzz, stories and photos are assigned well in advance of the publication date. But we have to be flexible, depending on what’s going on in our neighborhoods. Never has that been truer than with this issue. After Harvey hit, we had to regroup – first, making sure our team was safe and, second, taking another look at the October issue.

We talked with residents, writers and advertisers.

Everyone checked in with one another and shared Harvey stories – everyone has a Harvey story. We were struck by how interconnected everyone is, especially during the traumatic times, like hurricanes. We’ve been stunned by tales we’ve heard of loss and fear, and also of incredible kindness and generosity. In this issue, you’ll find Buzz residents’ Harvey stories, plus reflections on our city. You’ll also find non-storm related stories, about food, travel and more, and meet our 2017-18 high school correspondents, many of whom shared their Harvey experiences on our School Buzz blog. You can read it at thebuzzmagazines.com/school-buzz. michael@thebuzzmagazines.com

THE BUZZ MAGAZINES BELLAIRE • WEST UNIVERSITY • MEMORIAL • TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS Published by Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401 info@thebuzzmagazines.com • p: 713.668.4157 • f: 713.665.2940 Follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter thebuzzmagazines.com Editor Publisher Associate Editors Design Manager Staff Writers

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Joni Hoffman Michael Hoffman Cheryl Laird Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld John Duboise Tracy L. Barnett Sharon Albert Brier Andria Frankfort Angie Frederickson Todd Freed Cathy Gordon Michelle Casas Groogan Dai Huynh Annie Blaylock McQueen Jennifer Oakley Cheryl Ursin Deborah Lynn Blumberg Rania Mankarious Jennifer Dennis Weinstock Andrea Blitzer Leslie Little Kim Montgomery Amber Lewis Dylan Aguilar

On our cover: Eli Maierson is a School Buzz reporter at St. John’s School.

Cover photo by Dylan Aguilar 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 © 2017 Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of this magazine by any means without written permission is strictly prohibited. Printed on recycled paper. Please remember to recycle.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ OCTOBER 2017 4

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ OCTOBER 2017 5

MAILBAG

Your letters, thoughts, opinions Making breakfast better for us all I have had tons of responses to the cover and people that are looking forward to trying all the recipes [The Breakfast Club: Home cooks who rule the morning, by Jennifer Oakley, August 2017]! I have even had high school kids of friends saying how they cannot wait to try the ham and egg cups! I am super excited to try the other recipes. I checked out Maroscooking [food blog] and already printed off some recipes from her blog. I had no idea The Buzz had a daily newsletter, so I will sign up for that and spread the word that it is available.

Christy Smith Editor’s note: Thanks, Christy, for inspiring us with your breakfast recipes and appearing on our Bellaire cover. If the rest of you missed the story, you can find it, as well as other current and past stories and photos in our four neighborhood magazines, at thebuzzmagazines.com. That’s also the place to sign up for our morning e-newsletter, with links every weekday to three original stories about your neighbors.

Role model for living with Type 1 Kudos to The Buzz for the excellent insights in Tackling Type 1 [When diabetes is part of the family, by Jennifer Oakley] in the September issue.

As someone who has witnessed first-hand William Hagans’s dedication to helping JDRF find a cure for the disease, it was wonderful to see his family’s unflagging support highlighted. From chairing gala fundraisers to organizing “Team Hagans” every year for the annual Walk (my family and I look forward to the JDRF Walk, as we do every year, on Oct. 28), William and his family do it all. And William is an outstanding example for parents coming to terms with how a diagnosis might impact their own children. College basketball player and successful trial lawyer in one should give others hope that an extremely bright future is still in store even when grappling with Type One. Nicely done!

Kathleen Weir Bertolatus

Dual-language story got around Hi, Cheryl [Ursin]. I had no idea how many people read The Buzz, but I have been approached by a lot of people since the magazine went out, and everyone thought it was a very nice article [Breaking Barriers: Becoming bilingual at school, by Cheryl Ursin, August 2017]. Thanks so much for covering the dual-language programs, and the great job in making us appear better than we are. Take care.

Giao Nguyen Editor’s note: Giao Nguyen’s four impressive children went through Mark Twain Elementary’s Spanish/English program. They are also fluent in Vietnamese.

Thanks, Mr. McDonough I served as the principal of Pin Oak Middle School from 2004-2010, and am currently about to begin my sixth year as principal of Bellaire High School. This community has supported me and my family for nearly a dozen WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ OCTOBER 2017 6

years, and I have always taken pride in how well this community rallies when needed. Whether in response to Hurricane Harvey or the upcoming HISD Bond Project that brings a new Bellaire HS building to 5100 Maple, I have always looked to The Bellaire Buzz as another staple within this community. For my dozen years within Bellaire Schools, I have appreciated your commitment to highlight the best of Bellaire while also maintaining yourself as a strong source of information. The Bellaire Buzz is another partner for Bellaire schools and one that I know I can always count on. I value your dedication and look forward to many more years of support. Thanks.

Michael McDonough Editor’s note: We appreciate your kind words, Mr. McDonough. Thank you for what you do.

Another Tracy Barnett fan Tracy’s article this month, Travel Buzz: Global Family: the Germains, [by Tracy L. Barnett, August. 2017] was especially good. The best ever, in fact! I would like to tell her how much I liked the article. (She wrote one about my summit climb of Kilimanjaro in 2012.) Please keep articles like this coming!

Sherry Chesshir Irvin 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: • Would like to recognize a person or group for their help after Hurricane Harvey.

• Have special holiday traditions.

• Have interesting travel stories.

• Know a compelling neighbor to profile.

• Enjoy unique hobbies.

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

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ OCTOBER 2017 7

NEIGHBORS

by Jennifer Oakley, staff writer

Flood of Humanity Heather Shuvalov

Our neighborhoods during Harvey

E

veryone has a hurricane story. Time is measured by the names of the storms.

When Harvey hit, Houstonians braced. In a city used to flooding, what happened next was unfathomable: the most rainfall recorded in American history. What happened after that was not a surprise: neighbors helping neighbors in acts of selfless giving. Here are just some of the stories across our neighborhoods.

Tom King: Aug. 27, Meyerland They had minutes to leave. Water had risen 18 inches inside Tom King’s home in just 20 minutes. The math didn’t look good. If the water kept rising, Tom calculated, he and his kids, Max, 11, and Kenna, 9, would soon be overtaken in their one-story house. When a friend called to say rescuers were near, Tom grabbed the children, their 14-year-old Weimaraner, Kaminsky, and rescue dog Luna.

It took a dump truck and then a boat to get them to a Kroger parking lot. With his cell phone down to 7 percent, Tom got a call. A friend could meet them with an inflatable raft.

Tom borrowed a shopping cart for Kaminsky – “I didn’t think she was going to make it.” Then they all trudged a mile in the swirling flood waters to where school friends from St. Vincent de Paul came over to rescue them.

“One of the craziest days I have ever had. We are sad, as our home will be under a different roof for a long time, if not permanently. And at the same time, I am so incredibly grateful that we are alive.”

Gordon Center: Aug. 26, Southgate Harvey was a different beast. As a volunteer firefighter with Southside Place Fire Department, Gordon Center is used to flooding.

But this was new. High-water rescues began Saturday night and kept going straight through Monday. “It was absolutely surreal to have a jon boat and a dump truck to make our rescues,” says Gordon, a teacher at St. John’s School. The calls for help were nonstop. “We took nurses to the Medical Center in a dump truck.” Off Holcombe, Gordon found himself in water over his head. “One guy said, ‘My dogs are in there,’ WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ OCTOBER 2017 8

WEATHERING THE STORM Residents of Hudson Forest in Memorial are rescued via air boat when their homes flooded during Hurricane Harvey. Heather Shuvalov took this photo from the second story of her neighbor’s house as she was being rescued.

and I went and rescued a big dog named Molly.”

By Monday, the efforts moved to restoration.

Gordon took his kids, Anna, 14, and Thomas, 11, to Meyerland to help a co-worker. More than 100 showed up to help. When the work was done at that house, they went door to door, helping strangers. “It’s the world you decide to rebuild that becomes that history that is written, and I feel confident about the history that the city of Houston is writing for itself.”

Tara and Curtis Wray: Aug. 28, West U The hospital was encircled by water. Air was the only way in. Dr. Curtis Wray buckled up.

“Honestly, it was my first flight in a helicopter, so I was a little apprehensive,” says Curtis, a surgical oncologist. “We were flown via Memorial Hermann LifeFlight helicopter to Memorial Hermann Northeast. We were there for 48 hours to provide emergency coverage.” Tara Wray was also on emergency call. “I was one of three nurse practitioners on the Ride Out Team

for the Department of Surgical Oncology at MD Anderson,” says Tara. “I was prepared to stay in the hospital for three to five days. We provided support and relief for our surgical fellows so they could return home or take a break so that they could check on damage to their own homes.”

Chris Beavers: Aug. 28, Memorial The sound was deafening. But Chris Beavers was glad to hear it. Neighbors at the back of his subdivision had the bayou roaring into their homes. He needed a boat. Chris, a media strategist, called Harris County Commissioner Steve Radack. Help came in the form of an airboat, propelled by that powerfully loud engine. “I had a laminated map of the neighborhood, and we made eight trips. We pulled out 50 people.

There were people coming out of second floors, over railings. We had all ages from some preschoolers up to extremely elderly people and the nurses who take care of them. They were extremely grateful. Even (continued on page 10)

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Rakesh Agrawal

RAIN AND CATS AND DOGS Southside Place volunteer firefighter Gordon Center (at left) rescued pets and their humans during the massive flooding. With him is a flooded resident, we are told, but we don't know his name. Do you? (continued from page 8) the pilot said, ‘These are

the nicest people I have ever encountered.’”

Chris helped rescue neighbors he had never met: “My line all afternoon was: ‘I would rather meet you on Halloween!’”

Keesha Organ: Aug. 29, Southside Place All it took was an email. Keesha Organ sent it to every family that her boys, Tres, 13, and Tate, 10, had ever played sports with. The subject line read: “Harvey Impact – Rally the Troops.” Keesha and husband Robby had heard about Tom King in Meyerland and about Sandra and Randy Stavinoha’s Bellaire home flooding.

“We had an army of people who dropped everything to walk into these people’s homes. We showed up, and we moved all the furniture out, pulled out all the carpets and boxed up the kitchen. Then we started cutting sheetrock, pulling insulation, pulling up floors.” More than 100 volunteers helped. “That’s the blessing of our friends and folks we have the pleasure of connecting with – it may have started with a baseball game or a football game, but it turns into an extended family. I saw all the good in people. I have seen God’s blessing in this process.”

Asif Ali: Aug. 30, West U He grabbed his doctor’s bag. Dr. Asif Ali knew the evacuees would need help. “I got blood pressure and diabetes meds and also items for stomach pains, constipation and breathing treatments,” says Asif, a cardiologist. “I grabbed my stethoscope and blood pressure machines and just got going.” There was no shortage of needs when he went to Mattress Mack’s furniture showroom. “There were people with blood pressures over 200, people with breathing issues.

There were people with cuts and bruises, and I

sutured someone’s chin.” Next, Asif went to the George R. Brown Convention Center. “We probably saw 200-300 patients an hour at the peak. All kinds of issues: post-traumatic stress disorder, a lot of coughs, colds, flu-like systems from being in that water. It was like a MASH unit. People were very grateful to the responders.

We are a very accepting city for all races, religions and creeds. I think everyone will forever remember where they were and what they did when Harvey hit.”

Julia Scruggs: Aug. 31, Southside Place Two stranded animals were in need. Julia Scruggs had to move fast. She had gotten the call that there were baby river otters near Little Cypress Creek. Julia asked her sister, Heather Scruggs Waters, to join her for the volunteer mission. Turns out, they were actually baby beavers, born at the height of Harvey. “The babies were reunited for the first time when I was there,” says Julia, who works for the Houston Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership. “They instantly cuddled with each other. It is very important for their health for them to have that bonding.” Julia learned how one beaver had been discovered. “A family had gone outside to look at the flooding, and they saw a little brown thing clinging for dear life onto their fence. What a hard way to start your life.”

Julia transported the babies to the Wildlife Center of Texas in Memorial.

Sherry Cheng and Wei Jiang: Sept. 1, Memorial They connected through music. Quietly, carrying their instruments into the George R. Brown Convention Center, they set up in a corner. Hall E housed the cafeteria, and thousands of evacuees were getting a warm meal. The

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Houston Symphony's Fidelis String Quartet, with violinists Rodica Gonzalez, Mihaela Frusina, violist Wei Jiang and cellist Jeffrey Butler, began to play. The hall filled with Bach, Mozart and Gershwin. Folks appeared in waves.

“Children wanted to touch our instruments.” recalls Sherry, a music educator, whose husband is violist Wei Jiang. “The music was able to bring some beauty to some otherwise rough times.” Wei says, “We just wanted to do something to be of help to people. Music is what we do best. I felt connected to the people we played for. Music touches the human in all of us.”

Tom King: Sept 7, Meyerland Tom King surveys his house. One week after the flood, it is still but for the whir of fans and dehumidifiers. “I choose to be optimistic and positive,” he says softly. “In the flood, I lost something that was very, very precious to me. It was a flash drive of family videos when my wife Karlyn was alive. Karlyn and I bought this house together. The day we closed was the day she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She passed 14 months later. If I had to save one thing, outside of my children, it would be that flash drive. I have it, but that thing got damaged.” He worries he will never see the images again. “I’ve got lots of love for this city,” he says. “It’s looking up. It helps when you feel like you’re drowning, and all of a sudden you have 100 people there inching you along.”

MORE ONLINE See an extended version of this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for more memories and photos from Harvey. If you have a tale to share, or people to thank, you're invited to leave a comment under the story online.

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NEIGHBORS

by Rania Mankarious, contributing writer

Houston Rises Falling in love again with our city www.istockphoto.com/portfolio/paulrommer

Rania Mankarious is executive director of Crime Stoppers of Houston and a blogger for thebuzzmagazines.com.

T

he transition from August to September has always been one of my favorite times of the year. It packs some of the hope of New Year’s without the regret of unmet goals.

Kids excitedly get ready for school, routines return to normal, everyone comes back to Houston and gets to work, a new season for fashion kicks off, and the pre-holiday festivities start filling our calendars. If we’re lucky, the weather even becomes more bearable.

This year, however, Hurricane Harvey swept through the Greater Houston area (nearly the same size as my hometown state of Massachusetts) and left a massive footprint.

Harvey’s non-discriminatory flooding produced images that left the nation speechless. The historic storm, which smashed meteorological records in the U.S., left many billions of dollars of destruction.

All that said, Harvey’s mighty impact revealed our city’s mighty uniqueness. Its destruction brought us to our knees but revealed our ability to rise, arm-in-arm, with stubborn power. And now, weeks out, I continue to reflect on not just the strength Harvey showed us we have, but on the richness that makes us one of the greatest cities in the nation, and to celebrate Houston for: Being an international community of one that represents a new and elevated society.

Whether you look from the top down or bottom up, Houston is a community of people woven together who care about each other. Harvey showed that, but so did Hurricane Katrina.

Houstonians jumped in to aid Katrina victims and evacuees, with arms open, willing to help.

What an incredible characteristic this is for a thriving city. What we’re doing is right. I hope other major cities are watching and taking notes.

Being diverse down to its core. Houston is one of the most diverse cities in America, maybe the most. A recent study from the Kinder Institute for Urban Research and the Hobby Center for the Study of Texas at Rice University

HEART FOR HOUSTON Rania Mankarious, executive director of Crime Stoppers of Houston, reflects on the strength that Houstonians showed during and after Harvey.

found that of the 10 largest U.S. metropolitan areas, Houston had the most equitable distribution of the nation’s four major racial and ethnic groups. From our habits and culture to the people we elect, we have shown the world how to live together in a color-blind and bipartisan way.

Regardless of political affiliation, color or creed, Houstonians are Houstonians first and everything else, second.

Being financially sound and philanthropically minded. Houston has an entrepreneurial spirit. We care about economic development, city growth, educational outlook and quality of life. We invest in ourselves and in each other and use the resources we have. The oil and gas sector, the Medical Center, and rising stars of entertainment, food and arts are just a few things that come to mind. At the same time, Houstonians give back. Until very recently, Charity Navigator had Houston listed as the most philanthropic city in America. Whether volunteering or supporting charity events, Houston is a city with sharp financial senses and a bursting philanthropic heart.

Growing. We just keep growing. Researchers

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estimate that our city grows in population by 20 percent every decade. I don’t blame those who flock to this city, eager to find a way to make it their own. Not only do we lead the nation in population growth, but we also lead when it comes to wind energy, job growth and GDP growth. A few years back, we even led the nation in department-store spending.

Public safety-minded people. Living with public safety at the forefront of my everyday life, I cannot tell you how many people tell me how they support law enforcement and other first responders and want to get involved in the effort to keep Houston safe.

Houston got pushed around by the storm and will be rebuilding for quite a while, but we are fortunate to be rising from a great foundation.

Harvey may have trampled on my favorite time of year, but its footsteps left me thanking my lucky stars I live here.

Editor’s Note: Every Sunday at thebuzzmagazines.com, Rania Mankarious shares safety tips and perspectives on what’s going on in the news. Click on Buzzworthy and then Sunday Mornings With Rania.

KIDS

School Buzz Meet our 2017-18 correspondents

by Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld, staff writer

T

his fall marks the fourth year of our popular School Buzz blog, a place for high school students to share what’s happening at their campuses. In that time, we’ve seen freshmen transform into seniors and high school grads head off to college.

School Buzz correspondents have created hundreds of blog posts – at thebuzzmagazines.com/school-buzz – over the years, giving behind-the-scenes glimpses into their campuses, students, teachers, classes and activities. Now, we’re welcoming new writers, photographers and videographers into the program. Currently, we have more than 60 students representing 21 local schools.

If you’re in high school and are passionate about writing, photography or creating videos, it’s not too late to apply. Fill out the form on our website or email jordan@thebuzzmagazines.com.

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lawellphoto.com

SCHOOL BUZZ 2017-18 Some of our correspondents gathered before the start of school to coordinate for the upcoming year. Front row, from left: Eric Hang, St. John’s, (standing); Miriam Yampuler, Carnegie; Marie Collazo, St. Agnes; Anna Rosenfeld, St. Agnes; Deena Ali, DeBakey; Kelly Thomas, St. Agnes; Sarah Birenbaum, Bellaire; Nicki Miller, Emery; Reena Kudchadker, Saint Thomas’ Episcopal. Middle row, from left: Claire Furse, St. John’s; Emily Villarreal, Houston Christian; Bronwyn Fogarty, Houston Christian; Andi Minter, Memorial; Jenna Talisman, Emery; Katie Davis, Houston Christian; Liana Salehian, DeBakey; Maya Kanani, Bellaire; Madeline Muschalik, Memorial; Zaid Ali, Bellaire (standing). Top row, from left: Prithvi Krishnarao, St. John’s; Eli Maierson, St. John’s; Allison Clark, St. Agnes; Amin Abou-Gallala, Lamar; Abigail Standish, St. Agnes; Brady Brazda, Kinkaid.

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lawellphoto.com

(Clockwise, from top left) Miriam Yampuler, freshman, Carnegie Vanguard High School; Maya Kanani, senior, Bellaire High School; Nicki Miller, senior, The Emery/Weiner School; Emily Villarreal, senior, Houston Christian High School

lawellphoto.com

(From left) The Briarwood School students Mackenzie McAnear, senior, Lila Gutman, junior, and Kelli Reichert, junior

(From left) Incarnate Word Academy seniors Susannah Wilson, Emily Marquines, Mary Boneno WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ OCTOBER 2017 16

Zaid Ali, freshman, Bellaire High School, and Deena Ali, sophomore, DeBakey

Gracie Blue, senior St. John’s School

Andi Minter, senior Memorial High School

Elyse Pedrick, junior Episcopal High School

Prithvi Krishnarao, junior St. John’s School

Grace Smith, senior Alexander-Smith Academy

Tara Nored, senior Second Baptist School

Paige Clark, senior, Duchesne Academy

Abby Cohan, senior The Emery/Weiner School

Sarah Birenbaum, sophomore Bellaire High School

Reena Kudchadker, sophomore St. Thomas’ Episcopal School

Sophia Wayne, senior Episcopal High School

Brady Brazda, junior The Kinkaid School

Amin Abou-Gallala, junior Lamar High School

Emily Villarreal, senior Houston Christian High School

Trevor Schneider, senior Strake Jesuit College Preparatory

Liana Salehian, junior DeBakey High School

Claire Furse, senior St. John’s School

Bronwyn Fogarty, sophomore Houston Christian High School

Jenna Talisman, sophomore The Emery/Weiner School

Nicki Miller, senior The Emery/Weiner School

Eric Hang, junior St. John’s School

Sara Koch, senior Episcopal High School

Miriam Yampuler, freshman Carnegie Vanguard High School

Katie Davis, junior Houston Christian High School

Hailey Newman, senior The Emery/Weiner School

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TRAVEL

by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Texas’ Painted Churches Day tripping to Schulenburg Christina Pereyda

I

f there’s something Texans are good at, it’s rebuilding their communities after a storm.

That’s been happening long before the wrath of Harvey.

In July 1909, in the first Czech settlement of Texas, called Dubina, a big storm made landfall, destroying buildings in the community.

Included in the destruction was a church built by settlers in 1877. The community raised over $5,500 to build a new church.

That church and around 20 more, built in the 19th century, are still standing today near Schulenburg in Fayette County, between Houston and Austin off Highway 290. From the outside, they look like plain wooden churches, but they are filled with spectacular and unexpected painted interiors. They are called the “Painted Churches.” Bright colors, inscriptions, symbols and stories are splashed across the ceilings, walls, pillars and pews, depicting the heritage of these early Texas settlers. Thousands of travelers visit them each year.

Among them, recently, was Buzz resident Joan Ounanian, who organized a guided tour of the churches for around 25 of her friends.

The native New Orleanian recruited friends through email, and then organized a bus and driver, for $48 each. “I called the Chamber of Commerce in Schulenburg. They were super nice and they got a tour guide for us. They also recommended places for lunch,” said Joan.

She made a lunch reservation at Ina’s Kitchen in Schulenburg and had menus printed up ahead of time. She passed them out on the bus so everyone could order.

Joan said she is in awe that the churches have endured the tough Texas climate and storms since the 1800s. “When you walk in these churches, they are just beautiful, old wooden churches. What strikes you is the fact that they have survived. The other thing that struck all of us was what a hard time these settlers had getting there and setting up a community.”

The conditions of the area were unforgiving at the time the settlers were establishing their towns. Many made the grueling journey to Texas, often in freezing rain, in wagons pulled by oxen. To see the beauty they left behind with

LEGACIES OF IMMIGRANTS The beautiful 19th-century "Painted Churches" (including St. Mary’s Church of the Assumption in Flatonia, pictured), date to the 19th century and are toured daily by visitors from all over.

these churches is inspiring. Joan and her friends gazed at the vibrant paint and gilded gold details of vines, oak leaves and angels. Inscriptions are in German and Czech.

Joan had estimated the group would arrive back in Houston around 3 p.m. after the day trip. They didn’t get home until closer to 7.

“I didn’t have one person complain,” said Joan. “Really it was just a girls’ day out. We could have gone to see grass grow. We were laughing all day.”

Kitty Rohde, a mother whose hobbies include cookie baking, cycling and running, also enjoys traveling. She took the tour with her parents, Bob and Dorothy Silco, two years ago.

They turned it into a long weekend, spanning three days. They stayed at a friend’s house in nearby Smithville. In addition to the Painted Churches tour, they ate at The Garden Co. Marketplace Cafe and tested beer at the Spoetzl Brewery, where Shiner Bock beer is made.

Kitty said they reserved a private tour guide through the Schulenburg Chamber of Commerce, as opposed to venturing out with a map on a self-guided tour, which many opt to

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ OCTOBER 2017 18

do (anyone can purchase a $5 map at the Chamber as a tool). “The cost [of a private tour guide] is a little bit more but well worth it,” said Kitty. “I drove my own car and picked up our tour guide in Schulenburg. It was great to have him in our car, and we could hear him perfectly and ask as many questions as we wanted.”

They visited Saints Cyril and Methodius Church in Dubina, Nativity of Mary Blessed Virgin Catholic Church in Schulenburg, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Schulenburg, and St. Mary's Church of the Assumption in Flatonia, picking up nuggets of information from their tour guide along the way.

“The men [settlers] sat in the front pews,” said Kitty. “The women [sat] in the ones behind, and they had a hat clip at the pew for the men to put their hats on when at church.”

She and Joan say that if you’re driving from Houston to the Hill Country, carve out some time to check out these Texas gems.

To set up a tour or for more information, contact the Schulenburg Chamber of Commerce at 979743-4514 or schulenburgchamber.org.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ OCTOBER 2017 19

NEIGHBORS

by Deborah Lynn Blumberg, contributing writer

Author: Caroline Leech Spinning tales of Scottish farm life In a new series, we profile Buzz-area authors.

Rory Leech

C

aroline Leech quit her public-relations position at the Welsh National Opera, moved with her family overseas to Houston and decided to become a novelist.

She had never written fiction before. She had always been captivated, however, by her parents’ tales of their experiences in Scotland and England during World War II. In Texas, she didn’t have a visa, but needed to work. She also wanted a flexible job that would allow her to take care of her three kids, Jemma, now 20, and her 16-year-old twins, Rory and Kirsty. Jemma has cerebral palsy and lives at home.

Leech’s husband, Perryn Leech, had accepted a job as the Houston Grand Opera’s technical and production manager, prompting the move. Leech is now HGO’s managing director. “We decided moving to Texas would be an adventure,” she said. “I had the chance to reinvent myself.”

That was 10 years ago. This spring, Leech’s first young-adult novel, Wait for Me, was published by Harper Collins. She’s currently finishing edits on her second manuscript and is pitching ideas to her editor for a third book.

Wait For Me is a historical romance that tells the tale of Lorna Anderson, a farm girl in Scotland in 1945 whose life is turned upside down when a German prisoner of war is assigned to her family’s farm as a workhand.

The work of fiction draws from Leech’s family stories. Her mother was evacuated from London at age 8 the day after the war broke out. Her father, from Edinburgh, joined the war in 1944 when he turned 18 and served in India, Burma, Java and Palestine. Her parents told her stories of rationing food, blackouts and listening to the BBC on the wireless.

“It’s about a pocket of domestic life away from the battlefront,” said Leech, a self-professed wantto-be opera singer who grew up in Edinburgh.

“I’m Scottish, but the book is very much a Texas baby. Houston is so open to the arts, welcoming and supportive. We love it here.”

Once in Houston, she signed up for an online course in writing children’s literature with the Institute of Children’s Literature in Connecticut.

WHAT TO WRITE When Houston’s weather is pleasant, Caroline Leech often sits outside to craft her characters and story lines. Here, she is in Evelyn’s Park.

She picked up a copy of the young-adult vampireromance book Twilight and read an interview with author Stephenie Meyer. “She would write at the pool while her son took swimming lessons,” Leech said. “I suddenly thought, yes, I can do this.”

By the end of the course Leech had completed a draft of a novel. And while that manuscript—about a mermaid legend in northern Scotland—still sits tucked in a drawer, it wasn’t long before she set to work on Wait for Me. Leech knew she needed a deadline to complete Wait for Me, so signed up for National Novel Writing Month, known as NANO, a global event that unites writers in completing a novel in one month. She found a writing partner, and spent two to three days a week writing in her local Starbucks; home offered too many distractions.

She started by scribbling an outline and details about her characters’ lives in pencil in dozens of spiral notebooks. To write, she needed a cup of Earl Grey tea on hand. Leech enjoys reading dialogue-heavy books, and mimicked that style for her novel. Google Maps helped her paint a picture of the town in which her story is set until she later traveled there herself.

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She eventually submitted 20 pages of her manuscript to two Romance Writers of America contests – the Lone Star Contest and The Emily Contest – both run by Houston RWA chapters, and won the YA category in both. Her soon-tobe editor was a judge. “She ended up asking for the whole manuscript,” Leech said. “And two weeks after she read it, I had the deal.”

What followed were months of excruciating edits. Her original manuscript was 180,000 words; her editor told her to cut it to 80,000.

Leech has found her novel not only appeals to teens, but also to older adults, both men and women. Several older women who remember the war years have contacted her after reading the book, she says, to thank her for triggering fond memories from their childhood.

Leech’s second book is also set during World War II, but in the Scottish Highlands. In that one, Maisie is a 17-year-old girl who leaves home to join the Women’s Timber Corps, a British organization that put women to work as “lumberjills,” providing wood from the forests to support the war effort. The novel is set to be released in the spring of 2018.

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Why your advisors should meet One of the most formidable creatures in Greek mythology is the Hydra – a beast that has several heads to attack its enemies with. It’s a potent demonstration of the idea that multiple heads – or minds, for that matter – can be more effective than one alone. That idea applies to finances as well.

Financially successful families may have more than one advisor working on different aspects of their wealth. These might include a CPA, wealth manager, pension consultant, insurance agent, estate lawyer, etc. Getting such advisors out of their separate “silos” and working in sync for you can make a dramatic improvement in your situation.

For example, one of my clients, Michael, is an attorney, and his wife Audrey owns a small consulting firm. The pair came to us in a strong place financially, but I had a sense there was room for improvement.

Since collaboration is one of our core principles, I arranged a meeting with the couple’s CPA and Audrey’s pension consultant, just to compare notes and brainstorm. With everyone in the same room, we kicked around ideas and came up with a valuable insight. By restructuring Audrey’s small business retirement plan, she could increase her contribution to it while shifting more of the plan’s assets to her. This saved the couple $80,000 per year in taxes.

Not everyone will save $80,000 per year from collaboration. But the potential for improvement is too strong to ignore. That’s why we invite clients to bring their other advisors to our meetings. Their presence can be valuable in a number of ways.

By bringing together different kinds of expertise, we can more effectively

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evaluate complex alternatives. Should we gift assets to the kids? What are the implications of purchasing a second home? Questions like these can easily cross expertise boundaries.

Having different advisors present means quicker and better decisions.

Also, by simply having more smart people in the room, someone may see an opportunity (or a pitfall) that otherwise could have been missed.

Finally, gaining a better understanding of your total financial situation will magnify each advisor’s ability to work for you, even after they are back in their “silos.”

Knowing they are part of a team working for your benefit will strengthen their relationship with you going forward.

At some point, of course, too many cooks spoil the broth. For that reason, we limit the number of other advisors joining us to between one and three in most cases. Which advisors are best to include depends on the specific situation, and may vary from meeting to meeting. But it’s a crucial step in the process of getting the best possible solutions for your unique situation.

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

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Private School Directory F

inding the right fit for your child’s education is vital to academic and personal growth. Buzz-area residents are fortunate in that Houston is home to many of the nation’s top private schools, most of which are located right here in our neighborhoods.

The Buzz Magazines Private School Directory, for Pre-K through high school, has been a valuable online resource to our residents and readers for many years – so much so that it is being included in print again this year.

This list is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all private schools. Instead, our goal is to provide readers with a snapshot of each school, as a starting point in the research process. You can also view this directory online (thebuzzmagazines.com/private-school-directory), where you will find links to schools’ websites. Additionally, find Buzz articles that mention these schools on our Schools section (thebuzzmagazines.com/schools).

Note: This directory was completed prior to Hurricane Harvey. Please be sure to call or check the school website for possible changes to Open House dates.

Alexander-Smith Academy High School Co-ed • Est. 1968 10255 Richmond Ave., Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77042 713-266-0920 • www.alexandersmith.com Pam Rameau and Margaret Waldner De La Garza, Admissions Open House Dates: TBD, please call Alexander-Smith Academy’s mission is to offer a college-preparatory high school education in a relaxed and safe environment. Treating students as young adults fosters graduates who are equipped to lead productive lives. ASA’s primary goal is to create an environment in which each student can acquire the knowledge necessary to develop intellectual maturity. A structured curriculum is fundamental in achieving this goal, as is the unique class size of five to seven students and daily tutorials.

Annunciation Orthodox School Pre-K / Lower School / Middle School Co-ed • Est. 1970 3600 Yoakum Blvd., Houston, Texas 77006 713-470-5600 • www.aoshouston.org Rob Wise, Director of Admissions Open House Dates: Middle School; Nov. 12, 2017, 1 p.m. The rest of our tours are made by appointment at www.aoshouston.org.

Annunciation Orthodox School, having grown from a ministry of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, celebrates the diverse and individual qualities of all children and their families. AOS provides a superior education in a secure and stimulating Christian environment which encourages the individual child to achieve academic, spiritual, emotional, social and physical excellence, and to become a responsible member of our society. We live by our motto: "The School for Hearts and Minds.”

Becker Early Childhood Center 15 months through 5 years Co-ed • Est. 1989 1500 Sunset Blvd., Houston, Texas 77005 713-535-6400 • www.emanuelhouston.org Paula Katz, Early Childhood Director Open House Dates: Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017, 9:30 a.m.

We nurture children to grow intellectually, socially, emotionally, spiritually, and physically through a developmentally appropriate curriculum that respects each child. We believe young children learn best through play and need opportunities to investigate their interests in a meaningful way. We understand that children’s growth and development is enhanced by the respectful, individualized relationships developed between the teachers and parents. Family and community participation are a priority in creating a positive environment for the children and our families.

Bellaire United Methodist School for Little Children Mother’s Day Out / Preschool Co-ed • Est. 1950 4417 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire, Texas 77401 713-666-1111 • www.bellaireumc.org Rhonda Sampiere, Director Open House Dates: Call to schedule a tour.

School for Little Children provides a safe, nurturing environment that promotes the development of the “whole child.” Experienced teachers provide developmentally appropriate activities and experiences that encourage intellectual, social, emotional, physical and spiritual growth.

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Bertha Alyce Early Childhood School Pre-K Co-ed • Est. 1987 5601 S. Braeswood Blvd., Houston, Texas 77096 713-551-7200 • www.erjcchouston.org Bonnie Kasner, Director of Admissions Open House Date: Aug. 27, 2017 The Bertha Alyce Early Childhood School of the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center provides a nurturing environment where young children learn through an emergent curriculum anchored by values of community, kindness and compassion. We’re identified as a Sheva Lab Community School by the Jewish Community Center Association of North America. Our program is NAEYC-accredited and a 4-Star Texas Rising Star. BAS offers a balance of child-initiated and teacher-directed experiences so children become flexible and successful learners.

Beth Yeshurun Day School Early Childhood / Elementary Co-ed • Est. 1949 4525 Beechnut, Houston, Texas 77096 713-666-1884 • www.byds.org Lauren Kupor, Director of Admissions Open House Dates: Next-year previews for individual grades start December 2017.

Beth Yeshurun Day School combines Jewish tradition with innovation to create an extraordinary dual program. Families join our school to be a part of a welcoming, nurturing community, and families stay for the individualized instruction through small classes. Our administration’s open-door policy offers parents the support they need when they need it. Since 1949, more than 2,000 students have graduated from BYDS, becoming doctors, attorneys, businessmen and women, civic leaders, and leaders in the Jewish community.

The Briarwood School Elementary / Middle School / High School Co-ed • Est. 1967 12207 Whittington Drive, Houston, Texas 77077 281-493-1070 • www.briarwoodschool.org Debbie Etheridge, Director of Admissions Open House Dates: Sept. 14, 2017, 9 a.m., Oct. 3, 9 a.m., Oct. 19, 9 a.m., Nov. 30, 9 a.m.

The Briarwood School is one of the premier schools in the country for children with a broad range of learning differences. Our Tuttle School is designed for children with developmental disorders. The goal of Briarwood is to provide a learning environment that fosters the total development of each student and builds academic skills, increases motivation, and bolsters self-esteem. By identifying a child’s learning style, remediating weaknesses, and teaching to strengths, Briarwood provides each child with a solid foundation that serves as the basis for future successes.

Chapelwood School for Young Children Infants though Pre-K Co-ed • Est. 1958 11140 Greenbay, Houston, Texas 77024 713-465-4657 • www.chapelwoodschool.org David Walker, School Director Open House Dates: Oct. 18, 2017, 10 a.m., Nov. 14, 10 a.m., Jan. 18, 2018, 9:30 a.m.

Children are a gift from God. We build a strong foundation for faith, learning, creativity, community and confidence so that your children grow confident in God’s love and fully prepared for life.

Crossroads School, Inc. Elementary / Middle School / High School Co-ed • Est. 1977 5822 Dolores Street, Houston, Texas 77057 713-977-1221 • www.crossroadshouston.org Tami Riggs, Director of Admissions Open House Dates: Call to schedule a personal tour.

Crossroads School, Inc. is a private, not-for-profit school that prepares students with learning differences (K-12) to integrate into a conventional school or college by facilitating maximum academic and social potential in an emotionally safe and supportive environment. The school employs individualized curriculum, targeted teaching strategies and multi-sensory approaches to learning. Specializing in the education of children with learning differences since 1977, Crossroads accepts students with learning difficulties such as ADHD, dyslexia, expressive/receptive language disorders, auditory/visual processing disorders and gifted and talented.

Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart Pre-K / Lower School / Middle School / Upper School Girls • Est. 1960 10202 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77024 713-468-8211 • www.duchesne.org

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(continued from page 25) Beth Anchondo, Head of Admissions and Mission Communications

Open House Date: Nov. 9, 2017, 6 p.m.

Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart instills the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus’ intellectual and spiritual graces into each girl’s mind, heart, and life from age 3 to grade 12. Your daughter’s formation starts with heart – hers and ours. Enveloped in Duchesne’s joyful, stimulating, and compassionate community, each girl grows into a unique, complex, and conscientious young woman who uses her clear voice, affirming spirit, and discerning mind to fulfill her God-given purpose.

Ellen Boniuk Early Childhood School Pre-K Co-ed • Est. 1989 1120 Dairy Ashford, Houston, Texas 77079 281-556-5567 • www.erjcchouston.org Jenny Rochkind, Director of Admissions Open House Date: Aug. 27, 2017 The Early Childhood Schools of The Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center of Houston embrace the JCCA’s Sheva Early Learning Framework as our primary curriculum source. Children learn through active investigation of their environment and in partnership with peers and teachers. Our teachers help children become independent, confident and inquisitive learners, while aiding in their social, emotional and cognitive development. We maintain a low child-to-teacher ratio with talented, credentialed educators.

The Emery/Weiner School Middle School / High School Co-ed • Est. 1978 9825 Stella Link Road, Houston, Texas 77025 832-204-5900 • www.emeryweiner.org Ms. Caroline Sarnoff, Director of Admissions Open House Dates: Middle School, Nov. 12, 2017, Upper School, Nov. 1, 2017 The Emery/Weiner School is a private, college-preparatory middle and high school offering an exceptional education in a supportive environment, framed by and infused with progressive and pluralistic Judaism. Our unique, inclusive culture encourages students to pursue a wide range of academic, athletic, and artistic interests while developing a strong sense of self and community. Small class sizes allow for talented teachers to help students grow in confidence and competence. Emery students graduate with a profound sense of moral self-reliance, empowered to advocate for themselves and others.

Episcopal High School High School Co-ed • Est. 1983 4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, Texas 77401 713-512-3400 • www.ehshouston.org Carol Wasden, Director of Admissions Open House Dates: Nov. 8, 2017, 7-9 p.m.

Episcopal High School is an institution of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, established for the purpose of providing a superior education in preparation for college and a significant life thereafter. Through a rich offering of academic, spiritual, artistic, and athletic programs, the school provides an opportunity for each student to reach his or her maximum spiritual, intellectual, social, and ethical potential. Operating as a Christian community within the beliefs and traditions of the Episcopal Church, EHS in its teaching philosophy emphasizes understanding and responding to the individual needs and capabilities of each student. In an effort to reflect the community we serve, EHS strives to maintain a student body that represents social, economic, ethnic, and academic diversity.

The Fay School Primary / Elementary Co-ed • Est. 1991 105 Post Oak Lane, Houston, Texas 77024 713-681-8300 • www.thefayschool.org Allison Teare, Director of Admissions Open House Dates: Oct. 24 and Dec. 5, 2017, 9 a.m., Jan. 10, 2018, 9 a.m.

The Fay School is a nondenominational, not-for-profit, co-educational school in which children of diverse talents and backgrounds with average to above average academic abilities are offered a high-quality education in a secure, nurturing, and academically challenging environment. Here children learn and grow intellectually, physically, socially, ethically, and artistically while developing self-confidence and a lifelong love of learning through an active partnership among educators, parents, and students.

Fusion Academy Houston Galleria Middle School / High School Co-ed • Est. 1989 5065 Westheimer Rd., Suite 840, Houston, Texas 77056 713-963-9096 • fusionhoustongalleria.com Elizabeth Beguerie, School Director Open House Dates: See FusionHoustonGalleria.com.

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Fusion Academy Houston Galleria is a revolutionary, accredited private middle and high school where positive relationships unlock academic potential.

With one teacher and one student per classroom we’re able to personalize curriculum and teaching to students’ individual strengths and learning styles.

Our campus includes a Homework Café® where students complete all homework before going home. Fusion students are all unique but have one thing in common: traditional school doesn’t work.

Houston Christian High School High School Co-ed • Est. 1997 2700 W Sam Houston Parkway N, Houston, Texas 77043 713-580-6020 • www.houstonchristian.org Anne Dalton, Admissions Open House Dates: Oct. 2, 2017, 7 p.m., Nov. 2, 2017, 7 p.m.

Houston Christian is an exemplary, college preparatory high school providing outstanding academic and leadership programs aimed at preparing each student for collegiate study and beyond. HC offers a distinctive curriculum and a spiritual focus, all while giving students the opportunity to compete and perform in award-winning sports and fine arts programs. Located in the heart of Houston’s growing west side, HC is housed on a 45-acre collegiate-styled campus.

Incarnate Word Academy High School Girls • Est. 1873 609 Crawford Street, Houston, Texas 77002 713-227-3637 • www.incarnateword.org Kate O’Brien, Director of Admissions Open House Dates: Nov. 5, 2017, 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Incarnate Word Academy, a Catholic college preparatory high school for young women, is uniquely situated in downtown Houston. For the past 144 years, IWA has empowered Women of the Word with a rigorous education rooted in academics, values, and spirituality. IWA is home to the innovative Young Leaders Program, a four-year character and leadership development curriculum that develops in-demand leadership skills built upon a foundation of strong personal character.

Lutheran High North High School Co-ed • Est. 1980 1130 W. 34th Street, Houston, Texas 77018 713-880-3131 • www.lutheranhighnorth.org Kendra Benson, Admissions and Marketing Open House Dates: Please call to schedule a private tour or visit us at our Friday Night Lights Open House, Oct. 20, 2017, 5:30-8:30 p.m. School tours at 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Kickoff at 7 p.m.

Lutheran High North has a rich history of preparing and equipping students to become Christian leaders in their communities and places of vocation.

Many opportunities exist at LHN, both academically and within the different extracurricular activities, which help to promote and develop our students' leadership qualities. At LHN, we are proud to claim that Every Day is a Great Day to Be a Lion!

Marine Military Academy Boarding School Boys • Est. 1965 320 Iwo Jima Blvd., Harlingen, Texas 78550 956-423-6006 • www.MMA-TX.org Jay Perez, Assistant Director of Admissions Open House Dates: April 13, 2018, 8 a.m.-12 p.m.

Marine Military Academy is a college-preparatory boarding school for young men in grades 8-12, with an optional post-graduate year. Since 1965, MMA is the only private school in the world based on the traditions and values of the U.S. Marine Corps. Located in Harlingen, Texas, MMA has been home to thousands of sons from across the world and is home to the historic Iwo Jima Monument.

Memorial Lutheran Classical School Pre-K / Elementary / Middle School Co-ed • Est. 1980 5800 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas 77057 713-782-4022 • www.memoriallutheranschool.org LouAnn Webber, Director of Admissions Open House Dates: Pre-K Preview (ages 3-4), Nov. 9, 2017, 11:30 a.m.; Prospective Families for K to 8th, Nov. 14, 2017, 6 p.m.; Kindergarten Preview, Nov. 29, 2017, 11:30 a.m.

Building a Strong Foundation through classical education is our mission at Memorial Lutheran School. It reflects our commitment to give children both a strong spiritual foundation and a strong academic foundation. Memorial Lutheran School provides excellence in comprehensive, classical education, preparing students to be successful learners and effective leaders. Band, Orchestra, Choir, Art, Physical Education, and field trips add the enrichment component to our strong core curriculum of Math, Science, Language Arts, History/Geography, and Latin. Memorial Lutheran serves children 6 weeks to 8th grade. (continued on page 28) WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ OCTOBER 2017 27

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(continued from page 27)

Montessori Learning Institute 3 months through 8th grade Co-ed • Est. 1987 5812 Maple Street, Houston, Texas 77074 5701 Beechnut Street, Houston, Texas 77074 713-774-3793 (Maple) • 713-771-5600 (Beechnut)• www.montessorilearninginstitute.com My Le Vo, M.Ed., School Director Montessori Learning institute Developing outstanding, Confident scholars Open House Date: Sept. 28, 2017, 5 p.m.

The faculty and administration of Montessori Learning Institute are committed to provide the most nurturing and stimulating environment, in which each student is respected for his uniqueness and encouraged to blossom into the best he or she can be. We foster our students' total development – academic excellence, strong moral character, and a lifelong joy of learning. We strive to develop confident and responsible scholars who will work together to build a peaceful world.

Pilgrim Lutheran School Early Childhood / Pre-K / Elementary / Middle School Co-ed • Est. 1954 8601 Chimney Rock Road, Houston, Texas 77096 713-432-7082 • www.plshouston.org Megan Hill, Admissions and Marketing Director Open House Dates: Call to schedule a private tour.

Save the date, Saturday, December 9, 2017, as we celebrate Pilgrim's 70th Anniversary. Nurturing God-given gifts and talents through academic excellence, Pilgrim Lutheran School is a private school offering a traditional education to students 18 months through 8th grade who live in the Greater Southwest Houston area.

Pines Presbyterian Preschool 18 months through Kindergarten Co-ed • Est. 1970 12751 Kimberly Lane, Houston, Texas 77024 713-467-9358 • www.pinespresbyterianpreschool.com Connie Pike, Executive Director Open House Dates: 18 months through age 4, Jan. 24, 2018, 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Bridge Class and Kindergarten, Jan. 25, 2018, 7-8 p.m.

We are committed to teaching the whole child. Our curriculums are age appropriate and holistic, so that children learn life skills as well as academics.

Children discover Christian faith through an atmosphere of love and concern. Our goals are to support each child in early development so he or she can become a confident, self-sufficient and caring individual.

The Post Oak School 14 months through High School Co-ed • Est. 1963 4600 Bissonnet Street, Bellaire, Texas 77401 1010 Autrey Street, Houston, Texas 77006 713-661-6688 • www.postoakschool.org Vivian Blum, Admission Director Open House Dates: Elementary, Oct. 10, 2017; High School, Oct. 3, Nov. 7, Dec. 7, 2017, Jan. 11, Feb. 6, April 3, 2018 Post Oak offers a comprehensive education from infancy through high school, which includes the International Baccalaureate diploma program for grades 11 and 12. Students at each level benefit from carefully prepared environments including a second campus dedicated to adolescent development that accesses partner institutions in the Museum District, Texas Medical Center, and downtown. As life-long learners, our students develop academic, social, and entrepreneurial skills that help them pursue their passions and live purposeful, successful lives.

Presbyterian School Early Childhood / Lower School / Middle School Co-ed • Est. 1988 5300 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77004 713-520-0284 • www.pshouston.org Kristin Brown, Director of Admission and Financial Aid Open House Dates: Early Childhood/Lower School, Oct. 25, 2017, 6 p.m.; Middle School, Nov. 15, 2017, 6 p.m.

Presbyterian School believes children should be educated in an environment integrating the three major institutions in their lives (family, school, and church). The school is rooted in 21st century technology, skills and habits of mind that appeal to a diversity of learners. In the heart of Houston, Presbyterian School is the destination for families who seek a Christ-centered community that inspires perseverant leaders and servants to grow in belief and understanding, wisdom beyond knowledge, character above accomplishment, and confidence to last a lifetime.

The Preschool At Christ The King Preschool Co-ed • Est. 2017 1201 Silber Road, Houston, Texas 77055 713-892-5464 • www.thepreschoolatchristtheking.com WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ OCTOBER 2017 28

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Katie Whitehead, Preschool Director Open House Dates: Please visit the website to schedule a tour.

The Preschool at Christ the King is a ministry of the church that works alongside families to educate children in a Christian environment and point them to a life of glorifying God. We believe that all children are a gift from God, created in the image of God for his glory, and that the years of early childhood provide a unique opportunity to encourage, inspire and establish strong educational practices and lay the foundation for a life of faith in Christ according to Biblical principles.

Rainard School Pre-K / Elementary / Middle School / High School Co-ed • Est. 1986 11059 Timberline Road, Houston, Texas 77043 713-647-7246 • www.rainard.org Tara Tomicic, Ph.D., Head of School Open House Dates: Please check our website for details.

Inspiring joy in learning, Rainard is Houston’s only school dedicated to gifted education. Our classrooms are designed to help bright, inquisitive students thrive socially, emotionally, and academically through like-minded peer relationships, differentiated instruction, rigorous academics, small class sizes, and a close connection with nature.

The Regis School of the Sacred Heart Pre-K / Elementary / Middle School Boys • Est. 1991 7330 Westview Drive, Houston, Texas 77055 713-682-8383 • www.theregisschool.org Beth Schneider, Director of Admissions Open House Dates: Every other Wednesday beginning Sept. 27, 2017 through Feb. 21, 2018, 9-10:30 a.m. Register online.

The Regis School of the Sacred Heart, educating boys in Preschool 3 through 8th grade, offers an advanced educational curriculum specifically designed to teach and motivate boys. For 25 years, Regis has been educating scholars and gentlemen. With our small class sizes, combined with experienced teachers who know how to inspire boys to learn and grow, Regis graduates are well-prepared to attend the high schools of their choice.

River Oaks Baptist School Preschool / Elementary / Middle School Co-ed • Est. 1955 2300 Willowick, Houston, Texas 77027 713-623-6938 • www.robs.org Kristin Poe, Director of Admission Open House Dates: Preschool and Lower School, Oct. 12, 2017; Middle School, Nov. 9 ROBS melds ambitious academics with abiding Christian values, preparing students to identify and solve nuanced problems in an ever-changing world.

Through our student-centered approach, ROBS will challenge your child to be the example of an eager mind guided by a faithful heart. Our graduates become leaders in Houston’s top high schools, premier boarding schools, and beyond. If your hopes for your child include intellectual curiosity and a strong moral compass, come visit us.

Robert M. Beren Academy Pre-K / Elementary / Middle School / High School Co-ed • Est. 1969 11333 Cliffwood Drive, Houston, Texas 77035 713-723-7170 • www.berenacademy.org Loren Chorn, Director of Admissions Open House Dates: TBD, please call Robert M. Beren Academy is a Modern Orthodox Jewish day school that adheres to standards of academic excellence and exemplary moral conduct as it prepares its students to become self-confident, compassionate, practicing Jews. RMBA students are committed citizens and life-long learners. We provide an integrated college preparatory education in an atmosphere of excellence with a commitment to Torah and to the Jewish people. We foster the development of a spiritual bond with Israel and dedication to our American heritage and achievement in contemporary society.

Saint Thomas’ Episcopal School Pre-K / Elementary / Middle School / High School Co-ed • Est. 1955 4900 Jackwood, Houston, Texas 77096 713-666-3111 • www.stes.org Danny Kahalley, Director of Admissions Open House Dates: Kindergarten and Kindergarten-Bridge, Oct. 4, 2017, 9:30-11 a.m.; Middle School and Upper School, Oct. 25, 7-9 p.m.

Saint Thomas' Episcopal School (STE) is celebrating its 63rd year in Meyerland as a Pre-K through 12th grade Christian college preparatory school offering a classical education. Over the last three years, STE students have won state championships in soccer, swimming, cross country, orchestra, choir, and yearbook. We also offer a world-renowned Scottish Arts program that includes Highland dance, bagpiping, and drum- (continued on page 30) WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ OCTOBER 2017 29

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(continued from page 29) ming. Graduates attend universities throughout the nation; acceptances in 2017 came from a wide array of universities, including

Yale, Dartmouth, Cornell, Rice, UC Berkeley, and Carnegie Mellon.

School of the Woods Pre-K / Elementary / Woods Middle School / Woods High School Co-ed • Est. 1962 1321 Wirt Road, Houston, Texas 77055 713-686-8811 • www.schoolofthewoods.org Sara Sornson, Admissions/Registrar Open House Dates: November, 2017, and January, 2018. Call the office for dates or to schedule an appointment.

School of the Woods offers a continuum of Montessori education for pre-school through grade 12 in Houston, Texas. It is an independent, nonsectarian, Texas non-profit corporation. Founded in 1962, Woods Middle School was established in 1985, and Woods High School in 1999. The school provides an educational program proven and strengthened through more than five decades of successful experience. Applications are accepted at any time.

Second Baptist School Pre-K through 12 Co-ed, Christian • Est. 1946 6410 Woodway Drive, Houston, Texas 77057 713-365-2310 • secondbaptistschool.org Andrea Prothro, Director of Admissions Open House Dates: Lower School, Oct. 17, 2017, 8:30 a.m.; Middle School, Sept. 19, Oct. 20, Nov. 9, Dec. 6, 2017, 9:30 a.m., Jan. 29, 2018, 9:30 a.m.; Upper School, Oct. 4, 9 a.m., 2017, Oct. 27, 5:30 p.m.

The mission of Second Baptist School is to train students in areas of knowledge that will allow them to understand clearly, to think deeply, to judge wisely, and to have the courage to live their lives on the great principles and convictions of Biblical truth as they engage an innovative and digitallybased global community.

The Shlenker School Pre-K / Elementary Co-ed • Est. 1982 5600 North Braeswood Blvd., Houston, Texas 77096 713-270-6127 • www.shlenker.org Tara Gassett, Director of Admissions Open House Date: Oct. 24, 2017, 6:30 p.m.

Families choose The Shlenker School because of the school’s commitment to an outstanding secular education with integrated Jewish learning and values.

We provide an outstanding education that prepares our students for the next stage of their academic life. We foster the whole child in a developmentally appropriate learning environment that is nurturing and challenging. When you visit, meet our faculty, and speak with Shlenker parents, you will understand why Shlenker graduates have become scholars, professionals, and leaders within and beyond our community.

St. Anne Catholic School Elementary / Middle School Co-ed • Est. 1930 2120 Westheimer Rd., Houston, Texas 77098 713-526-3279 • www.stannecs.org Paige McCauley, Director of Admissions Open House Dates: Tours each Thursday, 9 a.m., throughout the school year Since 1930, St. Anne Catholic School has been educating children from the Houston area with the Basilian philosophy of “Teach Me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge.” More than 85 years later, our commitment to educating students in the Catholic faith continues. We are blessed with a rich history, a committed and energetic faculty and staff, and a diverse community that reflects the city of Houston.

St. Francis Episcopal School Pre-K / Lower School / Middle School / High School opening in 2018 Co-ed • Est. 1952 335 Piney Point Road, Houston, Texas 77024 713-458-6100 • www.stfrancishouston.org Morgan B. Scoville, MEd, Head of Admissions and Enrollment Management Open House Dates: Primary School, Oct. 19, 2017, Nov. 29, Dec 4.; Lower and Middle Schools, Oct. 22, 2017, Nov. 2, Nov. 30; Upper School; Sept, 24, 2017, Oct. 22, Nov. 8, Dec. 5 Founded in 1952, St. Francis combines rigorous academics and thoughtful religious instruction with competitive athletics, superb fine arts, advanced technological instruction, and compassionate service learning to create a truly inspired education. Mission: In the Anglican tradition, St. Francis Episcopal School challenges and motivates students in an academically and spiritually stimulating environment to become imaginative, critical thinkers and people for others. Cornerstones: Faith, Dignity, Courage, Scholarship.

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St. Mark Lutheran Church and School Infants / Pre-K / Elementary / Middle School Co-ed • Est. 1949 1515 Hillendahl, Houston, Texas 77055 713-468-2623 • www.gostmark.org Gabriella Gonzalez, Director of Admissions Open House Dates: PS-8th, Nov. 15, 2017, 9-10:30 a.m., March 7, 2018, 5:30-7 p.m.

St. Mark Lutheran School has integrated Christian principles and values with a demanding academic curriculum since 1949. Students benefit from high academic standards, competitive athletics, computer-assisted learning including a 1:1 iPad program for 6-8th grades, and diverse fine arts opportunities.

Our dedicated teachers know their students personally and give them the guidance, encouragement and challenges they need to realize their full potential.

St. Mark’s Episcopal School Early Childhood / Elementary / Middle School Co-ed • Est. 1960 3816 Bellaire Blvd., Houston, Texas 77025 713-667-7030 • www.stmes.org Matt Burgy, Director of Admission Open House Dates: Oct. 25 and Nov. 8, 2017 The community of St. Mark's Episcopal School celebrates the uniqueness of each child. We are stewards of our students' intellectual curiosity, faith, and passion for discovery. We cultivate joy, playfulness, and growth in a child-centered environment.

St. Michael Catholic School Pre-K / Elementary / Middle School Co-ed • Est. 1954 1833 Sage Road, Houston, Texas 77056 713-621-6847 • www.stmichaelcs.org Tana Adamo, Director of Admissions Open House Date: Oct. 6, 2017, 9:30 a.m.

Established in 1954, St. Michael Catholic School integrates faith and knowledge in the tradition of providing a Catholic education to boys and girls from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. We educate the whole person, promoting growth and development of the mind, body and spirit. We take pride in the history of our Catholic beliefs, while cultivating the values of faith, conscience, scholarship, and service to empower our students to be leaders and good stewards of the community.

St. Stephen’s Episcopal School Pre-K / Elementary / Middle School Co-ed • Est. 1971 1800 Sul Ross, Houston, Texas 77098 713-821-9100 • ssesh.org Ky Willson, Director of Admissions Open House Dates: Tour dates are Thursdays, 9:30 a.m., Sept. 7, 2017, Nov. 9, Dec. 7, Jan. 18, 2018, Feb. 1, April 5, May 3, June 7. Prospective Family Tour and Luncheons are Fridays, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Oct. 27, 2017, March 2, 2018.

St. Stephen’s Episcopal School educates students 15 months-8th grade using the curricula of Montessori and IMYC with a fully integrated and robust fine arts program. St. Stephen’s leads in student acceptance, where everyone is valuable for who they are. We are a proud progressive Christian school, rooted in Episcopal values, accepting families of all faiths, backgrounds and lifestyles. Our students approach challenges from multiple perspectives and have confidence to question, create and contribute.

St. Thomas High School College Preparatory Boys • Est. 1900 4500 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77007 713-864-6348 • www.sths.org Taffy Daussin, Director of Admissions and Recruiting Open House Date: Jan. 7, 2018, 1-4 p.m.

St. Thomas High School is a Catholic college preparatory institution whose sacred mission is to teach goodness, discipline and knowledge in the tradition of the Basilian Fathers with a vision to develop the complete student ... faith-filled, lifelong learners who think critically, communicate effectively and prepare thoroughly to excel personally and professionally. A man of St. Thomas actively serves his community and integrates Christian morality into all aspects of his life.

St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School Pre-K / Elementary / Middle School Co-ed • Est. 1943 6802 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, Texas 77025

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(continued from page 31) 713-666-2345 • www.saintvincentschool.org

Renee McCurry, Admissions Open House Dates: Oct. 8, 2017, 2:30-4 p.m.; Nov. 5, 2017, 2:45-4:15 p.m.

St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School is a 2016 Blue Ribbon and fully accredited school. Its mission is to develop students to their fullest potential in an environment permeated with Gospel values.

Trafton Academy Pre-K / Elementary / Middle School Co-ed • Est. 1973 4711 McDermed, Houston, Texas 77035 713-723-5888 • www.trafton.org Yvonne Cosgrove, Admissions Director Open House Dates: Grades 4-8, Oct. 5, 2017, 8:30 a.m., Nov. 8, 8:30 a.m.; Pre-K-Grade 3, Oct. 18, 8:30 a.m.; Small group tours, Oct.-Dec. (sign up on website beginning in October); Individual meetings by appointment Trafton Academy's mission is to provide the environment and opportunity for the maturation of each child into a well-adjusted adult, equipped to work in and enjoy the world in which he or she lives. Education is student-centered; each child is recognized as an individual with unique interests, needs, and abilities. Students learn most effectively in low student-teacher ratio environment, and class sizes do not exceed 20 students. The school establishes an atmosphere in which students develop abilities to think originally and analytically, to draw logical conclusions and to express these thoughts in written and spoken form.

Veritas Christian Academy of Houston Preschool / Elementary / Middle School Co-ed • Est. 2002 7000 Ferris Street, Bellaire, Texas 77401 713-773- 9605 • www.veritasca.org Zachary Villafuerte, Director of Admissions and Communication Open House Dates: Oct. 4, 2017, 9 a.m., Jan, 17, 2018, 9 a.m.

Veritas is an independent Christian school in the classical tradition that prepares students for lives of service and learning through Biblical literacy, academic excellence, character formation, and intentional engagement opportunities.

The Village School Pre-K / Elementary / Middle School / High School Co-ed • Est. 1966 2005 Gentryside Drive, Houston, Texas 77077 281-496-7900 • www.thevillageschool.com Jen McMahon, Director of Admissions Open House Dates: STEAM Day, Nov. 8, 2017, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Pre-K through Middle School, Feb. 9, 2018, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

The Village School has a tradition of a rigorous curriculum and a highly personalized learning approach. Located in the energy corridor, its student body represents more than 60 countries and six continents. It's known for its excellence in math and science, and recently announced a new collaboration with The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which will enhance its widely recognized STEAM curriculum. The Village School is a proud member of the Nord Anglia Education’s network of schools. Limited placements for Preschool 2s through grade 12. An International Baccalaureate School.

West U Baptist: A Children’s Village Preschool 6 months through Pre-K Co-ed • Est. 1997 6218 Auden, Houston, Texas 77005 713-667-5180 • www.wubc.org/acv Patina Sehorn, School Director Open House Dates: Sept. 7, 2017 A Children's Village is a licensed Preschool/Mother’s Day Out program for children ages 6 months (by September 1st) through pre-K. We offer differentiated curriculum adopted from two popular programs: FunShine Express and Mother Goose Time. These are aligned to Texas State Standards and provide activities that support cognitive, motor, language, social, and emotional development. They also include faith-based lessons – Experience God & Faith Lesson – that link directly to the monthly themes. These lessons are consistent with the Christian principles of West U Baptist.

Westbury Baptist Church Weekday Programs Pre-K Co-ed • Est. 1969 10425 Hillcroft Street, Houston, Texas 77096 713-723-6428 • www.WBCHouston.org/weekday-programs Geneva Ponce, Director Open House Dates: TBD, please call WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ OCTOBER 2017 32

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Westbury Baptist Weekday Programs encompass four primary programs: Day School, Childcare, Mother's Day Out, and Playcation. The staff is selected to be warm, loving, and trustworthy with children. The teachers are examples of Christ's love through the use of positive guidance techniques and their modeling of caring, acceptance, and cooperation. The curriculum used allows all the experiences a child has at school to make constructive growth socially, emotionally, intellectually, creatively, physically, and spiritually.

The Westview School Pre-K / Elementary / Middle School Co-ed • Est. 1981 1900 Kersten Drive, Houston, Texas 77043 713-973-1900 • www.westviewschool.org Becky Mattis, Director of Admissions Open House Dates: Tours given year-round by appointment The Westview School is a private, non-profit school for high-functioning children with autism spectrum disorder from ages 2 to 15 years. Westview’s challenging, well-rounded curriculum includes a full range of academic programs and a strong emphasis on social communication and social skills. We offer opportunities to pursue the arts, extracurricular activities, and real-world experiences. The enhancement of self-esteem and the development of appropriate behavior allow our students to become successful members of the community.

Yorkshire Academy Preschool through Elementary Co-ed • Est. 1984 14120 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77079 281-531-6088 • www.yorkshireacademy.com Yvonne Galloway, Admissions Director Open House Dates: January 25, 2018 Yorkshire Academy, a private school located in the Memorial area, was established in 1984, with its primary goal being to create an environment in which children can develop to their fullest potential at their own individual rate. Students range in age from 18 months to Grade 5. Yorkshire’s extensive afterschool enrichment program offers classes as diverse as engineering, yoga, chess, piano, tae kwon do and dozens more. Its summer program consists of academics, over 50 enrichment camps, theme-based camps for little ones, and full time care. These programs are open to the community, and attract families from all over the Houston area.

Watch Their Smiles Grow

Oral healthcare for the growing & developing child Joel J. Vela, D.D.S. Bellaire Pediatric Dentistry, P.A. 6750 West Loop South, Suite 795 713.661.1100 • www.bellairesmiles.com

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Two quick pathways to allergy relief Allergy shots are unique in that they make you less allergic to the pollen, dust mites, mold and/or animal dander you’re allergic to. They do this by helping your body to switch from an “allergic” response, to more of a “tolerance” response. In essence, your body no longer tries to fight off the allergens; instead, it learns how to ignore them. We have to start shots at a safe dose because you’re allergic, but the shots don’t help until you reach a high dose. After we finish building up your dose, you take a “maintenance dose,” usually once a month.

Since 1995, The Allergy Clinic has safely performed Rush on over 3,000 patients. This one-day procedure provides very rapid desensitization, getting you to that highest dose, or at least 90 percent of the way, in one eight-hour day, providing quicker relief of symptoms. Rush is a great procedure for those with busy schedules who would find it difficult to come in at least once a week for up to six months, which is what is typically required with more traditional methods of building to the high or “maintenance dose.”

But what if you can’t spend the entire day in our office? Or what if you can only come on Saturday mornings? Cluster is also a great option, and is almost as fast as Rush. With Cluster, we essentially do a series of “minirush;” that is, we give a set of allergy shots, observe the patient, then give another set of allergy shots, again observe the patient, and then give a final set of allergy shots for that day. So you spend 1.5 or 2 hours in our office, once or twice a week, for a total of 8 or 9 visits before you reach your maintenance dose.

With Rush, we have patients take several medications for three days

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beforehand to reduce the chance of severe allergic reactions. With Cluster, you only premedicate with antihistamines. That’s because your immune system has at least 36 hours to process the previous set of shots, so the risk of having allergic reactions to the shots is less.

All insurance companies, excluding Medicare, cover Rush and Cluster, but there are some limitations. For instance, Humana will only cover it if we desensitize the patient to stinging insects, or to drugs (e.g., penicillin); however, Humana excludes coverage for the Rush or Cluster if it is done for airborne allergens, such as ragweed or dust mites.

Rapid allergy desensitization procedures such as Rush or Cluster are safe, effective options that are covered well by insurance companies and get your dose of shots where you receive relief much more quickly.

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

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

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KIDS

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by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Buzz Baby

Visiting the Pumpkin Patch

Buzz Baby is a column about life with little ones.

Writer Annie McQueen has three children under the age of 4.

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ne of my favorite fall outings is taking our kids, 3-year-old twins, to a pumpkin patch. The past two years, we’ve had a great time.

That wasn’t always the case. When they were babies, my husband and I took them in their smocked pumpkin outfits for a photo at the Nature Discovery Center in Bellaire. The whole thing was, well, a big fail, not because of the pumpkin patch, but because they were, well, tiny babies.

At only 3 months old, they couldn’t sit up yet.

They were tired, fussy and very hot. The adorable pumpkin pictures I had always envisioned were a complete joke. I can laugh now, but at the time, I wasn’t laughing.

Apparently, I’m not alone.

Allison Wardroup, an early-childhood specialist at Yellowstone Academy, took her son Nolan, now 2, to see the pumpkins and take a picture at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church.

Nolan attends school at St. Luke’s, so the drill was easy for the family, who also went to support the patch’s cause. “When you purchase a pumpkin, it raises money for the St. Luke's choir, which my aunt and uncle are a part of,” she said.

The then-new mom (who recently welcomed her second child, Boone) had a perfect day planned. “I packed his little smocked pumpkin outfit – that I spent too much money on – in his backpack. [My plan] was to pick him up from his class, change him and head to the patch for photos. I even scheduled [husband Michael] to arrive in time for the big event.”

Allison, like a lot of new parents, had high expectations. “You want to document every little thing to perfection,” she said.

On the day of the photos, Nolan had other plans. “He was tired, cranky and just not having it from the moment he saw his first pumpkin.

He did not get the memo that I needed an adorable photo for the baby book and social media,” Allison said, laughing. “No amount of singing, clapping or snack-bribing could've

NO THANK YOU, MOM At left: Nolan Wardroup, now 2, didn’t enjoy his first visit to the pumpkin patch.

Mom Allison Wardroup said, “I decided that in 10, 15, 20 years to come, we're going to look back on this photo and have a lot more laughs than if I had gotten the perfect smiling picture.” At right: Mason Arnold, now 9, fell asleep during his photo session as a baby at the St. Luke’s Methodist Pumpkin Patch.

forced a smile. But it’s all about the memories, no matter what they are. Motherhood has taught me that hardly anything ever goes according to plan, and smocked outfits do not equal perfect pictures.”

Amanda Arnold, a communications manager at The Parish School, and her husband Eric Arnold, an instructional lab manager at The University of Houston, have a 9-year-old son, Mason. He fell asleep during his first pumpkinpatch photo session long ago.

The Arnolds love the St. Luke’s pumpkin patch, though. “They have such a huge variety of size and types of pumpkins,” said Amanda. “They leave wagons, hay and stools out in the patch for photos, and the volunteers working are so sweet and helpful. Their wagons are also so helpful in bringing pumpkin purchases to your car.”

They would take Mason every year until he was about 5 to the pumpkin patch in his Halloween costume. “The first year, we dressed him in a pumpkin costume, and he cried the entire time” and fell asleep, she said, laughing. “As a 2 year old, he dressed as a giraffe, and it was so cute.”

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As the kids get older, into toddlerhood and beyond, it’s fun to road trip to pumpkin patches that offer family activities beyond photo opps, like Blessington Farms in Simonton and Dewberry Farm in Brookshire.

My favorite so far is Blessington Farms, about 20 miles from Katy, which opened for the fall on Sept. 23 this year. It is not only a huge pumpkin patch, but there are games and activities so the kids can go nuts. They can dig up bones in the fossil dig, take a ride in an old-fashioned tractor hay ride and get lost in a corn maze. It’s fun to take home a huge pumpkin to carve, too.

“After teaching preschool for 6 years, I've been to my fair share of pumpkin patches,” said Allison. “My favorite pumpkin-patch experience, so far, is at the Houston Oil Ranch in Hockley. [Visitors] can do everything from milking a cow to playing mini golf. My personal favorite is Tike's Town, for toddlers.”

Good luck to all of those parents striving to get that perfect pumpkin-patch photo this fall.

But don’t be disappointed no matter what happens. You’ll look back on it and laugh.

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TRAVEL

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by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer

Travel Buzz

Global family: the Kramers

This is the third in a three-part series on families who take their kids on an extended study-abroad program. In August we visited with the Germains, and in September, with the Waters. Both families traveled around the world. The Kramers’ approach was to move to Paris for a year – which has now turned into a planned three.

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lene Kramer came home one day and found husband Don cooking up an idea. Don, a retired anesthesiologist and health-industry businessman, was looking into a new project.

“What do you think if we buy an apartment in Paris?” he asked her. She liked the idea. And, he said, “Can you be at the airport in two hours?’

Indeed she could, and the next thing she knew she was touring Paris under the guidance of a real estate agent. After three days, they found the perfect apartment, just a 10-minute walk from the Eiffel Tower. The idea began as an investment, and it turned into an adventure.

The family had begun dividing their time between Houston and Telluride in 2014 and became acquainted with a whole community of families who travel – not as a vacation, but as a way of life.

“They’d go to Costa Rica for a year and learn Spanish, then they’d go to Hawaii and learn how to surf, then they’d go to Telluride and learn how to ski, and they’d just enroll their children in school wherever they were,” said Ilene. “So the parents were free to follow their passions, and the kids would benefit from studying in various countries and cultures.”

The Kramer family had been involved in organizations hosting international students and travelers for years, and more recently, Don had served as consul for the Republic of Botswana to the United States. “The idea that our family would have cultural experiences was always important to us – and that’s part of who we are,” he said. Hence the idea of a year abroad.

They proposed the idea to their teen girls – triplets Isabel, Jacquelyn and Nicole, who were at The Emery/Weiner School at the time – and they loved it. So two days before they would have gotten their driver’s licenses on their 16th birthday, on Aug. 12, 2016 (“a strategic move,”

their father joked), they landed on Parisian soil and began their new life. They invited cousin Madison, also 16, to come spend the year with them. Now a year has turned into a planned three, with the exception of Madison, who returned home to her family in New York in June.

They all enrolled in the American School of Paris for 10th grade, and the transition was fairly A L’ECOLE! The Kramer triplets – Jacquelyn, Nicole and Isabel – are on their seamless, with the way to catch their school bus. The Eiffel Tower stands in the background. school a key ally in oria walking city rather than a driving city makes enting themselves to their new city. They found a big difference.” the school to be highly diverse, with only 30 At first they were shocked by the cultural difpercent of the students from the U.S. Another ferences. For one, a much higher proportion of 30 percent are French, and the rest are from teens in France smoke cigarettes, as many as 44 other countries. percent, according to Ilene.

“You really hear so many different languages “In America it’s so taboo; it’s unheard of for spoken at my school as you’re walking down the kids to smoke,” said Madison. “Here, it’s just a hall – it’s amazing,” said Jacquelyn, who goes by part of their culture.”

Jackie. She has classmates from Korea, Brazil, Another surprise, said Nicole, was the vibrant Egypt and Spain, just to name a few. nightlife among teens; it’s common for high For Don, it’s been gratifying to discover a kinder schoolers to go “clubbing,” she said.

Paris than the one he visited as a sightseer.

This was more challenging for the parents “One surprise is discovering that Paris is a than for their girls. friendlier city than I knew as a tourist,” he said.

“When I came here my kids told me that their The city is very international, he explained, friends go out at 11 or midnight, which is when with many English speakers who can step in and I would normally have them come in; here it’s explain when necessary – and with six years of common for high school students to come home French in school, he and Ilene can get around around 2:30,” said Don. “It took me a little while pretty well. “Nowadays if you don’t speak French to understand there are cultural differences in you can get by.” how people live their lives, particularly the kids, A big surprise has been the level of freedom and I needed to let go.” that teens in Paris enjoy compared to their U.S. The family developed several strategies to counterparts, said Nicole. Public transport help them adapt to this reality, operating on a makes mobility easy, and Uber is everywhere. philosophy of “trust but verify,” in Don’s words.

“I feel more independent here,” said Jackie.

They negotiated curfews; they learned to track “I’ve always lived in a city where I had to ask my their location on their iPhones. parents to drive me around. Now I’m walking or Most importantly, said Don, “we got to know taking the bus.... I just walk to my friend’s house, the parents of the girls’ (continued on page 40) the neighborhood café, the museum…. being in

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TAKING IN THE TUILERIES Jacquelyn, Nicole and Isabel Kramer explore one of Paris’s historical landmarks, the Tuileries Garden near the Louvre. (continued from page 38) friends and with that has

come an understanding and a certain comfort level. We know the kids with whom ours are associating and where they are.”

Other aspects of the Parisian lifestyle are enchanting: the outdoor cafés, the gardens, the architecture, the museums and the outdoor concerts, the people-watching.

“Paris is so beautiful; every time you walk down the street there’s so much to see,” said Ilene. “With all the hidden parks, people are out picnicking… people who live in Paris don’t often have their own backyards or green space, so those parks become more important.”

The markets, stocked with a wide variety of fresh produce and prepared gourmet treats, make something as mundane as grocery shopping a culinary adventure.

“It’s so exciting to go to a shopkeeper or stallkeeper, and not only is he picking out the zucchini for you but he’s also telling you how you should eat it and what you should eat it with,” Ilene said.

The café culture is everywhere. “The outdoor cafes are always full of people; even in the winter people are sitting under heat lamps just to be outside,” she said. “People go out at 5 p.m. after work, and everyone is having glass of wine or a cup of tea or coffee, and sitting outside with a friend.”

Of course Paris has its serious side as well, and

particularly now, with political tensions, the refugee crisis and the very real threat of terrorism. Living in Europe has opened their eyes to the world in a way that Houston never did.

“You really realize that you are a global citizen,” Ilene said. “The world feels very small, and you begin to realize that you can’t really separate yourself from others, but you really are a part of everyone.”

The problem of homelessness has been a disturbing one, said Don, with tent camps under bridges and around the city. Encountering people with their children begging in the streets is not unusual.

During their first semester, Isabel said, the influx of refugees reached a peak. The problem is a longstanding one, but it has been exacerbated by the refugee crisis. Many times only one family member – the father, the eldest son, or perhaps both parents – will come alone because of the difficulty and danger in the journey north.

The asylum process takes a year and a half.

Usually they are able to get a work permit during that time, but they send most of the money back home, leaving them without enough to cover their own expenses, and many live in the tent camps.

“I’m very open to letting refugees in because things are very bad back in Syria,” said Jackie, “but they need to have a better system.”

The refugee crisis was a central issue in the

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French presidential campaign, which the family followed with interest. President Emmanuel Macron beat right-wing, anti-immigrant candidate Marine Le Pen in a fiercely contested battle.

The election of Macron has given France a sense of youthful optimism, said Don. “He’s 39 years old; he’s their John Kennedy.”

Macron’s advocacy of global citizenship – like Europe itself, which has an extremely interdependent nature – stands as a sharp contrast from the politics and policies of the current U.S. administration, Don said.

For Ilene, attending the Women’s March held a few blocks from their home in conjunction with marches around the world following Donald Trump’s inauguration was “very, very exciting…. It was all about women having a voice, and especially having daughters, being at the Women’s March was very moving.”

Overall, the girls agreed, the experience has been one they would recommend to their peers back home, despite the initial homesickness and fears of not fitting in.

“At first it’s a little difficult and you might want to go back,” said Isabel. “I struggled with leaving my friends behind, but then I was making new friends. It was very difficult at that point and it took awhile. But you’ll get over it… and you’ll learn so much more that you wouldn’t have learned living in Houston your whole life.”

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FOOD

by Jennifer Dennis Weinstock, contributing writer

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

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illkommen, Oktober! Fall is in the air, with its cooler weather, football and upcoming holidays. I like to take this time to catch my breath and reconnect with family and friends. This month is perfect for celebrating my heritage through food and a fun German-themed meal. I turn to several recipes to transport guests to Munich or Berlin without ever leaving the comfort of home.

If there is one thing about German food, it’s that every meal seems to begin with pork. I suggest the Pork Tenderloin in Creamy Mustard Sauce from the Junior League’s Stop and Smell the Rosemary cookbook. The pork is lightly sautéed rather than deep-fried like traditional German schnitzel. It offers the same comfort-food feeling without all the fat. The creamy mustard sauce is decadent without being too heavy.

I would accompany the pork with two traditional sides. First, from Stop and Smell the Rosemary, the Sweet & Sour Braised Cabbage is a one-pot wonder that can even be made a day in advance and reheated when guests arrive.

Gloria’s Hot Potato Salad from the Houston Junior League Cookbook is the traditional German potato salad I grew up on, with bacon, vinegar and green onions. As an alternative to the potato salad, you could also serve the pork with simple buttered egg noodles.

To make ahead and heat up on a busy weeknight, consider the Stuffed Cabbage Leaves from the Houston Junior League Cookbook. If you have never had these before, you’re in for a treat. Green cabbage leaves are stuffed with ground beef, seasonings and rice, and then topped with a sweet and tart tomato-based sauce with just a touch of honey and sour cream. Although they are somewhat labor intensive to make, you can mix them up and assemble the casserole on a weekend, and then pop in the oven on a weeknight.

At every family gathering when I was a child, one thing was for sure. We would end our meal with sweet rice and sometimes have it for breakfast the next day. My grandmother and her four

sisters would each make their own variation of the rice pudding.

Don’t tell my grandmother, but Aunt Stella’s was always the best.

For a modern twist on this classic dessert, try the Coconut Lime Rice Pudding in Peace Meals. One tip: Use medium grain rice in place of the basmati rice.

My Aunt Stella’s secret to the creamiest sweet rice was medium grain rice because it contains more gluten than long AND FOR DESSERT Writer Jennifer Dennis Weinstock’s daughter Neely likes Soft grain. You could Ginger Cookies. also opt for the salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper in a plastic bag. Add not-too-sweet Soft Ginger Cookies from Peace pork in batches and toss to coat. Melt 1 tableMeals, or better yet, serve both. spoon butter in a skillet over medium-high heat Finally, add your favorite German beer or and add one-third of pork. Sauté until brown wine and enjoy. Prost! and cooked through, about 3 minutes per side.

Transfer pork to a platter and keep warm.

Pork Tenderloin in Creamy Repeat with remaining pork in two more batchMustard Sauce es, adding 1 tablespoon of butter for each batch.

From Stop and Smell the Rosemary Add green onions to skillet. Sauté until tender, 1-1½ pounds of pork tenderloin about 1 minute. Stir in wine. Bring to boil. Boil ½ cup all-purpose flour until liquid is reduced to 2 tablespoons, about 3 ¾ teaspoon plus ¼ teaspoon salt minutes. Stir in whipping cream and simmer ½ teaspoon plus ¼ teaspoon freshly ground until thick, about 5 minutes. Whisk in mustard. pepper Return pork to the skillet with the mustard 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter sauce. Heat thoroughly. Serve immediately.

3-6 green onions, white parts only, sliced Serves 4 to 6. ⅓ cup dry white wine 1 cup heavy whipping cream ¼ cup Dijon mustard For other recipes mentioned in this story and in past columns, see thebuzzmagazines.com. To buy Cut tenderloin crosswise into ½-inch slices. a Junior League of Houston cookbook, see jlh.org Place pieces between waxed paper and pound to or call 713-871-6608. a ¼-inch thickness. Combine flour, ¾ teaspoon

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ OCTOBER 2017 42

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WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ OCTOBER 2017 43

Ryan Qin

DINING

by Dai Huynh, staff writer

Chef’s Corner

Yunan Yang

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

W

hen we caught up with Pepper Twins chef-owner Yunan Yang, she was rushing out the door to pick up friends who had been flooded from their Pearland homes. "They need to get to the Medical Center," she explained over the phone.

A week after Hurricane Harvey, she had six people living in her home. "They're leaving today, but we have five more coming to stay with us. So many people need help right now," said the 37-year-old Sichuan native.

Helping folks isn't new. Yang was a doctor in China's populous Sichuan province and then, later, a breast-cancer researcher in Madison, Wisconsin. But in 2015, she abandoned a distinctive medical career to open Cooking Girl, a bustling Sichuan restaurant in Montrose recently rechristened Pepper Twins.

How did you end up in Houston?

When I was 20 years old and a medical student, my cousin took me to meet this blind person. This person told me how I would meet my husband and, too, that I would have two children – a girl and a boy. And I have a girl and a boy. Also, this person said that I would finish my studies abroad, but that I needed to go north for my studies. But for my business, I needed to go south.

So, I got out a map and saw that Houston was south of Madison. I didn't know anyone here or anything about Houston. I remembered that when I got here, I saw an ad for the Fairview location and, then, signing the lease, I didn't even know it was located in the Montrose area. I remember asking people later – after we opened Cooking Girl – what is this Montrose? I went by faith. In China, we have this belief that your heart will give you directions.

Why did you stop practicing medicine?

I was a radiologist, researching cancer. I got very ill from being exposed to radiation and almost lost my life and my second child. That's when I decided to change careers and to open a

restaurant. I wanted to introduce authentic Sichuan.

At the time, it was hard to find good, authentic Sichuan. Now in large cities, like Houston, there are places. But for the most part, people don't focus on quality, or the flavors are too strong, too oily, or too spicy. We use the best ingredients possible, and the Sichuan peppercorns are flown in from my hometown in the mounCHEF YUNAN YANG Doctor-turned-restaurateur Yunan Yang shares her scorching tains. Every branch Sichuan family recipes at Pepper Twins. has nine leaves, so with Mr. & Mrs. Smith because they’re a nice I call it nine-leaf peppercorn. combination, yet they're very feisty. It's one of In 2015, you and your sister, Lily Luo, our best sellers now. I like to pair it with our garopened Cooking Girl on Fairview. It was soon lic cucumber made with Persian cucumbers, red followed by the bustling Pepper Twins (1915 oil and garlic.

W. Gray). Now, you've changed the name of In China, we would have those two things Cooking Girl to Pepper Twins (315 Fairview). with a cold beer, and that's enough. But for a There is still one Cooking Girl in Sugar Land. third dish, you might try the ginger fish or the My sister runs that one, and I am 50 percent mustard tofu. owner. But my focus is Pepper Twins. My goal is When you’re not working, where do you go to have 200 locations. Right now, we have five for Chinese and other foods? locations. We opened a third one at 3915 Kirby On Mondays when we're closed, I sometimes and a fourth in Katy. In October, we opened go to Mala Sichuan (9348 Bellaire) in Pepper Twins Mini in Pearland. Pepper Twins Chinatown. I love the brunch at Yauatcha Mini is a new concept, about half the size and (5045 Westheimer) for dim sum. The flavor at with a limited menu. It's very fast, very express.

Yauatcha is light, not heavy or too oily. Steak is Next year, I hope to roll out more Pepper Twins. my favorite food. There are a couple of Brazilian For people unfamiliar with Sichuan and the steakhouses along Westheimer I like. But for lemony, tingly overtones of Sichuan pepperAmerican steak, I love Taste of Texas (10505 corns, what do you recommend they try on Katy Freeway). their first visit?

Mr. & Mrs. Smith. It's a wonderful dish that Editor’s note: Buzz dining columnist Dai Huynh takes us two days to make. I didn't think is a James Beard food-journalism award winner and Americans would order it if I called it beef longtime Houston-based restaurant writer. tongue and beef tendons in red oil, so I came up

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ OCTOBER 2017 44

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ OCTOBER 2017 45

SPORTS

.

by Todd Freed, staff writer

SportzBuzz T

he games were cancelled, but there was no shortage of off-the-field heroics from local football teams in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. The St. Thomas Eagles and Kinkaid Falcons, instead of playing each other in the season opener, teamed up.

“We tried to make the most out of an extremely difficult situation,” said St. Thomas athletic director Mike Netzel. “Our head coach, Rich McGuire, contacted Kinkaid head coach Nathan Larned about our two teams joining forces in the massive clean-up. We had up to 30 teams of players representing St. Thomas and Kinkaid jointly who went to work across the city. They went to Kingwood, Cypress, Missouri City, Meyerland, Garden Oaks and other hard hit-communities, working feverishly from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. I think that football took a backseat to real-world events.

The kids just said to themselves that we’re going to get out there and help out.”

One of the flooded homes belonged to St. Thomas junior linebacker Seth Deitz, who saw his teammates rally. “My teammates started working on our family home, and then we all went from home to home around the neighborhood to help in the relief work,” said Deitz.

“There were so many people in desperate need of assistance in the neighborhood, and the football team was just incredible. It was amazing how everybody was helping everybody.”

The tradition-rich St. Thomas vs. Strake Jesuit game was also cancelled as a result of the hurricane. “We’ve been playing that game for something like 56 years straight, so that was a tough pill to swallow,” said Netzel. “The game was going to be at NRG stadium, and there were so many great events planned around the matchup. I feel especially bad for the seniors, who won’t have that experience of playing at

FROM RIVALRY TO PARTNERS The St. Thomas Eagles football team worked their way across Greater Houston to help in Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. St. Thomas joined forces with the Kinkaid Falcons to assist in the massive clean-up.

NRG. Still, given the devastation of the last few weeks and where we’re at today, it’s hard to complain too much.”

The Memorial area had its share of hurricanerelated devastation, but that wasn’t about to stop a large contingent of Memorial Mustangs in the relief efforts. “Our baseball team really came out in huge numbers to help out, as did a lot of our athletes from football, volleyball, lacrosse and several other of our sports,” said Memorial head baseball coach Jeremy York.

“It’s really been a school-wide effort.”

Two brothers who play for both the Memorial football and baseball teams were among those whose home was flooded by the storm. “The home was just south of Memorial Drive, so we sent out an email blast for help, and we quickly had Mustangs from several of our sports helping out,” said York. “Just today, we received word of a couple of families in a nearby townhouse complex that were in huge need of help, and our kids responded tremendously. It’s really been a fantastic effort by the entire Mustangs community.”

The Bellaire High School community was certainly hit hard by the hurricane, with Cardinals head football coach Herb Kunz estimating about 24 families in the football program alone severely impacted by the storm. “We first had to organize our players to help our own fam-

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ OCTOBER 2017 46

ilies in the Bellaire and surrounding area. It’s been a huge effort. I’m very proud of how our young men have stepped up and truly displayed the finest qualities in helping people in time of need. I’ve heard story after story about the efforts of these kids.”

Bellaire baseball coach Nick Ozuna also saw his players volunteer across the community under the most difficult of circumstances. “The guys could’ve just been sitting at home, but instead they’re helping out dozens of families in the neighborhood. Our players have been breaking down walls, loading furniture, packing boxes and just doing whatever it takes to come to the aid of their neighbors across Bellaire and Meyerland.

“Our mission is to be great on the field, in the classroom and in the community. To see these players simply take the bull by the horns under tragic situations has been incredibly gratifying.

It’s a selfless group of kids. We talk about playing for the name on the front of the jersey and not the back, and this is a prime example.”

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

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ OCTOBER 2017 47

SPORTS

.

by Angie Frederickson, staff writer

SportzBuzz, Jr. Y

oung Buzz-area student-athletes stepped up to help victims of Hurricane Harvey and learned about the importance of giving back.

When they returned to school after time off from the storm, the students no doubt brought with them a renewed sense of responsibility and appreciation for others. Thank you, coaches, for guiding your athletes to be a real help in our neighborhoods.

Teaming up to help Students and their families (top photo) helped Condit Elementary teachers who needed assistance after the storm. Representing several youth-sports teams, the kids helped move furniture so the Condit Dads’ Club could remove sheetrock and flooring. In helping others, they learned that small acts of kindness mean a great deal to people who were devastated by Hurricane Harvey.

The Condit volunteers are (top row, from left) Ashok Gowda, Samir Mehta, Julian Cran, Omar Medeiros, Tapan Kadia, Quinten du Vigneaud, Sadie Rose du Vigneaud, Davis du Vigneaud and Sham Sidhu; (bottom row, from left) Nikhil Gowda, Sania Mehta, Sydney Cran, Tiago Medeiros, Maya Kadia, Anderson Cran, Jushin Sidhu, Bella Gowda, Suria Mehta and Michael du Vigneaud.

Demolition off the field Armed with work gloves and protective masks, members of the MHS boys lacrosse team (with help from a soccer player) provided volunteer demolition services to flooded homes. Sean Kennedy, Thomas Cooper (soccer player), Will VanHogerwou, Luke Chapman, Benjamin Bradshaw and Grayden Zantout (middle photo, from left) removed damaged furniture, carpet, sheetrock and hardwood floors. Along with about 20 other teammates, members of the high school and middle school girls’ teams, coaches and parents, the boys worked in homes all around the city, including Memorial, Katy and Spring. The lacrosse team coordinated with First Baptist Church to identify homeowners who needed help in the aftermath of the storm.

All-star champions West University Little League’s American League 12-year-old All Stars (bottom photo) won the 2017 District 16 Little League championship. The team defeated Post Oak Little League twice in a three-game series to advance in the tournament. This was West University’s first district title in the Majors tournament since 2011, and only their second since 1993.

WULL players have a strong history of volunteering in the community, and many of these All Stars gave time and effort to help flood victims.

Their coaches and parents are proud to watch them pitch in and help. The teammates are (top row, from left) coach Winn Davis, coach Jeb Brown, manager Scott Richardson, coach Jonathan Ross; (middle row, from left) Caleb Davis, Hyatt Brown, Jonathan Redding, Will Ryals, Nick Wachel, Jordan Ross and Andrew Roy; (from row, from left) Jack Keeler, Clay Richardson, Luke Sullo, Riley Gilder, Brayden Crow, Corbin Dawes, Logan McAlpin and Nash Chickering.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ OCTOBER 2017 48

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

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When irritability becomes a problem We’ve all experienced irritability – from childhood through adulthood, it’s sometimes a part of life. But when it seems to be something that’s happening on a regular basis, a mental health professional’s help may be needed.

Common symptom Irritability is a common symptom among many psychological issues.

From autism, anxiety, depression, anger management, sleep disorders and more, irritability also cuts across all age groups. It’s one of the primary symptoms of depression and anxiety, often indicating that something is going on that needs to be addressed with a professional.

“Irritability, in part, is related to difficulties with emotion regulation,” said Michelle Patriquin, PhD, staff psychologist with The Menninger Clinic’s Outpatient Services. “Stressors, which include stress at work, marriage problems, parenting challenges or struggles coping with a medical diagnosis, among others, can decrease an individual’s threshold for managing their emotions, leading to irritability. Therapy that focuses on understanding emotions and developing effective coping skills can be really helpful in improving irritability.”

When is help needed?

Since irritability is part of the human experience from time to time, how do we know when it might be a symptom of a more significant issue?

“If the irritability lasts for more than two weeks, or if it interferes with family or work relationships, it’s time to seek professional help,” said Dr. Patriquin. “And if it affects you at both home and work, then it’s definitely

time to address it.”

Working with a professional A mental health professional can help you identify the underlying psychological factors that are driving you to react to different situations or people with irritation. Working with such a professional can also help you: • Develop skills in emotion-regulation techniques that can target the irritability, and • Discover ways to avoid the emotional explosions that irritability often leads to.

“Many people find themselves asking ‘Why can’t I get my reactions under control?’ or ‘How can I stop having these kinds of emotional responses?’” said Dr. Patriquin, who is also an assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine. “The good news is that with the help of an experienced therapist, they often can successfully address the issues driving this behavior.”

To make an appointment with Dr. Patriquin or another clinician with Menninger’s Outpatient Services team, call 713-275-5178.

The Menninger Clinic, 12301 S. Main Street, Houston, Texas 77035, www.MenningerClinic.com

Karastan Sale – Lowest Prices of the Season*

*Limited time offer. See store for details.

We are Texas Strong, Houston Strong.

2504 Bissonnet Street 281.668.8590 www.vbaf.com Family Owned Since 1952

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ OCTOBER 2017 49

KIDS

Joey Watkins

FROM ACTING TO ANIMALS Lillian Yarbrough, a fifth grader at Mark Twain Elementary and an actress in Madagascar, took a behind-the-scenes tour at the zoo to learn about the endangered species of Madagascar.

by Lillian Yarbrough, age 10

Buzz Kidz I

When you’re Lynn the Lemur

love acting. It is fun, and it helps me express myself through my characters. Acting helps make my imagination grow with every character I play. It’s also nice to be around other caring actors that I can make friends with easily. This summer, I had an opportunity to audition for a musical called Madagascar with the A.D. Players Theater Arts Academy. I was one of the youngest to audition, and fortunately I was cast for three roles!

My main role was Lynn the Lemur. What made Lynn unique is that she loves partying and dancing and is a good jumper. I had to memorize lines and perform a musical solo. One of my favorite scenes was when the fossa were hunting for lemurs. I like that scene because I enjoy acting like I’m scared when being chased. I also played a lioness and a New Yorker who played a

pivotal part in the subway scene. The rehearsals were fun, but long and hard, and in the end it was all worth it. The cast always encourages one another, and that is one of the things I love the most about being part of a production.

What made this experience so interesting is that the cast had an opportunity to partner with the Houston Zoo. The cast and crew went on a guided tour of the zoo to learn more about the endangered species of Madagascar. We saw lemurs and a fossa, which is one of Madagascar’s most dangerous predators. This field trip helped us with character development and to bring our characters to life on stage.

We also had the ZooMobile come to our final show at the theater and bring some ambassador animals for the theatergoers to enjoy. We

learned more about how deforestation affects the animals of Madagascar, and we even got to touch some of the animals, which included a hissing cockroach! The volunteers with the zoo were great, and the entire cast and crew had a wonderful time learning more about how we can help the endangered animals of Madagascar.

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.

LUTHERAN HIGH NORTH It’s a great day to be a LION!

Applications Open October 1st www.lutheranhighnorth.org/admissions Friday Night Lights Open House • Friday, October 20, 2017 Tours at 5:30, 6:00 and 6:30. Prospective students receive a t-shirt, free game entrance, and a free meal voucher 1130 W 34th St., Houston, TX 77018 www.lutheranhighnorth.org • 713-880-3131

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ OCTOBER 2017 50

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Harvey thanks and resources Thanks – I live in Meyerland with my wife and kids. Our home flooded. I’d like to acknowledge everyone who helped, but don’t know or remember half of you. Here goes anyway.

The Peng, Lynn, and Mayo families offered shelter in the storm to my family, my neighbors, and complete strangers.

Lovett Elementary School teachers forced their way into our house and began cleaning up. Angela Thompson, Jennifer Pollard, Amber Yother, and Connie Buchanan (and son Nathan) are our Kindergarten Commandos.

The Lovett Dad’s Club moved furniture. The list is incomplete, but includes Mark, Elkin, Thad, Tim, and Bill.

A volunteer army packed and moved our dry contents. Thank you, Thuba To and Tri Nguyen, Vang and Tuong Nguyen, Anh Le, Quynh Phan, Nhu Phan, Anne-Marie and Trung Nguyen, Lisa Huynh and Steve, Cuc Le, her daughters Truc and Thao, her sister and brother-in-law, and MD Anderson, Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine.

Richard Ayala served barbecue on Labor Day from the bed of his pickup.

We thank those who showed up to help, even if we turned you away. The show of support lifted our spirits. The red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese icing weren’t bad, either. Everyone who worked their regular jobs is appreciated, especially those who themselves flooded. It meant the world to have contractors, trash pickup, gasoline, police patrols, building supplies, and fast food.

Liz's Angel of Care Staffing, Koco Wiggins, and Liz Hamilton got my parents through the storm and found them an apartment. Neighbor Enrique Solano put plywood on windows.

My in-laws are the best, especially Luan. They provided café sua da, clean beds, hot food, laundry, wi-fi, vehicles, contractors, equipment, storage, repairs, babysitting, and more.

To my clients – We are open. If you lost your wills, we can print new originals. We’ll provide a notary and witnesses. No changes, no charge. If you just want copies for now, we can print those for pick up.

To the community – All flood victims should register with FEMA, apply for an SBA loan, and keep or get flood insurance. See IRS Publication 547 about claiming your 2017 Harvey losses on your 2016 income tax return. Who couldn’t use a refund now?

Register with FEMA at https://www.disasterassistance.gov/. See also http://www.lonestarlegal.org/. Are you a lawyer who wants to help others? Start at www.texasbar.com/disasters/.

I’m practicing disaster law on myself now. I cannot answer questions, but am sharing tidbits as I go. Follow me on www.facebook.com/russell.hall.7330763.

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

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

Island Facts: We cook with extra virgin olive oil We use certified Angus Beef We use Boar’s Head deli meats We use hormone-free chicken We use fresh eggs whites Our smoothies are made with real fruit Our fish is wild cod from Norway and Alaska FREE HUMMUS with purchase of TWO Entrées 4 locations to serve you 5709 Woodway, 77057 • 979 Bunker Hill, 77024 4024 Bellaire Blvd., 77025 • 2365 Rice Blvd. @ Morningside, 77005 islandgrillhouston.com

Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

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WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ OCTOBER 2017 51

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PETS

Neighborhood Tails

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Painful foot problems 713.662.2119 www.roveroaks.com

Bob, age unknown, Mixed Breed, Arbuckle St. To read this the way Rapper Bob intended, just lay down a beat and the words get blended…. My name is Bob, and my looks make you chuckle; I live with my family on Arbuckle. I met my mom on the street one day; she said, “Well, we can try this, but you’ve got to obey!” I don’t know where I came from, my history is murky. I try to be good, but my mom says I’m “quirky.” I like my treats and my kong and my food. Walkin’ ’round the neighborhood elevates my mood. I eat a lot of things that I shouldn’t, you can bet. But I’ve made some nice friends at the Sunset vet. I got a pet peeve, and I’m giving you a sign: I can be no friend of a furry feline! I cost a lot in healthcare, and I don’t have a job, but Mom keeps me around ’cause she loves her some Bob! Got a cute critter? Email a picture of your pet with approximately 150 words to info@thebuzzmagazines.com or mail it to The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401. Featured pets receive two passes to Rover Oaks Pet Resort. Each pass can be redeemed for one day of lodging in a Bunk House Suite, 25 percent off your next grooming appointment or 25 percent off one obedience training class.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ OCTOBER 2017 52

Various factors contribute to the development of a bunion, such as misalignment of the joint, which pushes the big toe toward the other toes, poor foot mechanics or simply the way you walk. Your inherited foot type can also contribute to bunions.

Wearing shoes that are too tight can cause pressure on toe joints, possibly leading to development of bunions.

Your big toe is the hardest-working toe.

Every time your foot pushes off the ground, this toe supports most of your body weight.

Because the big toe is so critical to movement, any problems with it can make walking or even standing painful. A bunion is one of the most common big-toe problems. Besides causing pain, a bunion changes the shape of your foot, making it harder to find shoes that fit. There are options in treating bunions. If you think you may have a bunion or other foot ailment, call today for an appointment.

If you have nail fungus, don’t forget to schedule your appointment today for laser therapy. Before you know it, spring will be here and we will be looking to wear our favorite open-toe shoes. It could take several months for new nail growth to appear following laser treatment. Schedule your treatment today to be ready to bare your toes in the spring.

Bellaire Podiatry/Nail Laser Center of Houston, Dr. Barry P. Weinstein, 4909 Bissonnet, Suite 120, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.721.5500, www.BarryWeinsteinDPM.com

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IWA experts in the classroom

A minute with Maisie

Working at an all-girls high school is quite a contrast from what Incarnate Word Academy physics teacher Mary McGivern calls her “former life.” In 1975, she graduated with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and was the only woman in her class to major in an engineering field. At graduation, the boys in her grade gave her an award simply “for putting up with them.”

After earning an MBA and a 25-year career in marketing, product and business management at Chevron headquarters, Mary McGivern retired as the general manager of the Alpha Olefins business. Mary was ready for her next stage in life: inspiring young women to pursue STEM degrees and careers.

Today, far from being the only woman in the classroom, Mary stands in front of 20 young women five times a day, teaching Physics I, II and Honors to Incarnate Word Academy students. She is one of many teachers at IWA who are experts in their fields; many IWA teachers have entered education after long, fruitful careers in engineering, politics and business. IWA’s dedicated faculty and staff are just one reason why IWA students love learning.

Attend IWA’s Open House on Sunday, Nov. 6, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. to learn more!

Incarnate Word Academy, A Catholic College Preparatory for Young Women Since 1873, 609 Crawford Street, Houston, Texas 77002, 713.227.3637, www.incarnateword.org

Many clients ask me, “Who is the judge who will preside over my case?” There are 10 family law courts in Harris County, Texas, and each court contains an elected district court judge, as well as an associate judge who is appointed by the elected judge. Additionally, there is one court that hears family violence cases, exclusively. Each of these district court judges is an elected official. I encourage each of you to be an informed voter. Get to know these elected officials, as well as the candidates running against them, as family law judges make decisions that can affect every aspect of your life when litigating in their court. For example, a family court judge has the right to determine the frequency and conditions under which you will see your children. This is an extremely broad power, requiring a fair-minded judiciary and an informed public to ensure fairness and access to justice is equally available to everyone.

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

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

Celebrate Family With the holidays approaching, now is the time to reserve your portrait session.

Mention The Buzz and receive 50% off your studio session.

Ask about our other holiday specials.

Offer valid through October 31, 2017

A Portrait Remembers 713.523.4916 nikky@lawellphoto.com www.lawellphoto.com

Proudly serving children with Autism Spectrum Disorders since 2008 • Early Childhood Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Program • One-on-One ABA Therapy • Diagnostic and Psychological Services • Parent Training Services • Serving children 12 months - 6 years old All services by appointment only • Health insurance accepted 5959 West Loop South, Suite 202 Bellaire 77401 832-632-2177 ext. 105 • www.thereasonforhope.com

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ OCTOBER 2017 53

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First orthodontic checkup: age 7 Ask Dr. Balaraman One of the most common questions that Dr. Vladimir Tabakman and Dr. David Wadler hear from parents is “What age should I bring my child in for a checkup?” The American Association of Orthodontics recommends all children get a checkup with an orthodontic specialist at age 7.

In the past, parents were usually told to wait until their child’s baby teeth were gone and all of their permanent teeth were in, or to wait until their dentist told them they were ready to see an orthodontist. However, this has changed over the years.

At an early age, orthodontists can spot problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth while baby teeth are still present. Even though your child’s teeth may appear straight, there could be a problem that only an orthodontist can detect. Early treatment may prevent serious problems from developing and may make treatment at a later age shorter and less complicated. This will give your orthodontist the chance to correct problems when children's natural growth processes are in full swing.

Keep in mind that timing is everything, and not all kids need early treatment. In fact, most kids don't begin active orthodontic treatment until they're 9-14 years old. You can trust the orthodontic specialists, Dr. Tabakman and Dr. Wadler, at Bellaire Family Orthodontics with your family’s precious smiles and to help you make the right decision. Call 713-7661921 today to schedule your free consultation, or get a second opinion.

Dr. Vladimir Tabakman and Dr. David M. Wadler, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 105, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.766.1921, www.rocknbraces.com

C. Rosenberg asks: What is Coolsculpting? Does it work immediately? How much weight will I lose? Will it tighten loose skin after weight loss?

Answer: Coolsculpting is a popular, non-invasive fat-reduction procedure. It involves cryolipolysis, a process that permanently destroys fat with cold temperature. Since it takes your immune system several weeks to remove destroyed fat, it’s necessary to start treatment at least three months prior to your target date. And in order to maintain your results and prevent the formation of new fat, it’s important to engage in a healthy lifestyle.

Coolsculpting is well tolerated with minimal downtime. Most patients are able to return to their daily routine immediately. While some patients may lose weight, it is more common to experience a drop in dress size or feel that clothes fit better. It’s especially effective in eliminating stubborn fat pockets that are resistant to diet and exercise, including bra fat, muffin tops, love handles, banana rolls, double chin and inner thighs.

Coolsculpting is not used for weight loss or to tighten skin after weight loss. Skin tightening is best achieved with radiofrequency or ultrasound energy. Transformative results, whether to ready your beach body or to feel better about yourself, are best achieved with a personalized treatment plan.

Brundha Balaraman, M.D. is a board-certified dermatologist specializing in advanced cosmetic dermatology and is known for her expertise and warm personality.

Brundha Balaraman, M.D., DermSurgery Associates, 4747 Bellaire Blvd., Suite 240, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.669.9222, www.dermsurgery.org

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Home flooded. Now what?

Staying centered despite stress

Did your home flood? Did you know most financial institutions will not lend on a current distressed home?

How do you finance repairing/remodeling/elevating your home? I need to throw in a disclaimer: Everybody’s financial circumstance is different. There is not a onesize solution for all, so I am speaking in generalities.

To repair your home, the first option is to use your insurance refund, assuming it is sufficient. A second way is to get Small Business Administration (SBA) loan.

The third option is to access your liquid assets (savings, stocks, or retirement funds). And lastly, there is a Renovation Loan Mortgage.

To simplify, think of the Renovation Loan Mortgage program as a cash out refinance that you can access on a flooded property. The bank will lend you up to 80 percent of the home’s future value, and during the renovation period the payments are interest only. The benefit to you is that touching your savings may be minimal. This loan can also be used to purchase a flooded home to repair, and is only available for primary or second homes. Fixed or adjustable rate options are available. Interest rates are not inflated, and loans can go as high as $2 million. There are certain criteria to qualify for a Renovation Loan Mortgage. Call me to find out your options.

Consider me for all your mortgage needs. With over 15 years’ experience and over 2000 loans closed, I provide the right experience and customerservice level you are looking for.

Craig Levin, Mortgage Loan Originator, NMLS 6066, 3773 Richmond Ave., Suite 1100, Houston, Texas 77046, 678.469.9012, Craig.Levin@regions.com

There is nothing more painful than the loss of your loved ones and your home.

Hurricane Harvey touched the most feared part of ourselves, the fear of losing control.

Some simple steps we can take to keep us centered in times of stress: Closing your eyes and taking deep, slow breaths with conscious focusing on your breath will help you from getting overwhelmed with tough situations.

Leaning into your fears. Loss unravels us, but that is not necessarily bad.

Allowing the fear to pass through you rather than avoiding it will reduce anxiety and keep you moving forward rather than feeling stuck.

Having gratitude and joy doesn’t necessarily come from our materialistic possessions but from the love of our family, community and, most importantly, love for oneself. Redirect your attention towards and be thankful for even the simplest of joys, your family, health, food, etc.

Saying simple prayers that can keep you spiritually grounded like “this too shall pass,” “help me to rise above my circumstances,” “I trust in you,” etc.

Our prayers go out to all who have suffered, and as many big calamities that may come our way we can always be sure that the love we have for one another always rises higher every single time.

Bhardwaj Health, Rishi Bhardwaj, M.D. and Manoj Bhardwaj, M.D., 6800 West Loop South, Suite 228, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 832.412.1600, www.BhardwajHealth.com

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Priscilla Dickson Photography

NEIGHBORS

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by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Buzz About Town Fashionable fundraiser

An evening at the opera Ishwaria and Vivek Subbiah (pictured, from left), along with more than 150 guests, gathered

Daniel Ortiz

More than 300 young professionals, including Bria Wall, Mary Patton and Lauren Granello (pictured, from left), attended the 14th annual Women of Wardrobe Summer Soiree to raise funds and awareness for Dress for Success Houston, which helps disadvantaged women get back on their feet. The event was co-hosted by Women of Wardrobe president Granello, Patton of Mary Patton Design, Wall and the

event emcee, KHOU’s Mia Gradney. Dress for Success Houston vice president Lauren Levicki Courville spoke at the event about the 3,500 women who will be helped this year by the nonprofit. WOW assists DFSH through fundraising and volunteerism. See dfshouston.org.

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at The Webster clothing store to celebrate the Houston Grand Opera and HGO’s Young Patrons Circle. Guests sipped bubbles and enjoyed bites from Artisans (continued on page 58)

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Restaurant as HGO’s assistant artistic director, Paul Hopper, hosted a preview of the season, which opens Oct. 20 with a new production of Verdi’s La Traviata.

HGO studio artists, bass Anthony Robin Schneider and pianist Peter Walsh, wowed party-goers with a performance of Verdi’s “Il Lacerato Spirito” from Simon Boccanegra.

(continued from page 56)

days of life, Charlie experienced a solar eclipse and Hurricane Harvey.

Spooky fall fun

Adults can enjoy the shopping bazaar. The school welcomes the entire community to the fundraising event for WUES. See Westupto.org.

A sweet success

Children’s Museum gala Oct. 14 The Children’s Museum of Houston will host its annual gala, themed Miami Vice, on Oct. 14 at The Corinthian. Proceeds from the evening will benefit outreach programming of the CMH. Cochairs are Gina and Dr. Devinder Bhatia and Molly and Matthew LaFauci; underwriting cochairs are Caroline and John Harrell and Rachel and Sebastien Solar. Auction chair is Kelly Sklar, and honorary gala chair is Millette and Haag Sherman. Tables of 10 start at $5,000.

See cmhouston.org.

Baby Charlie’s here West University Elementary School fifth-grade twins Sofia and Gaia Giuliani (pictured, from left) are gearing up for the 92nd annual Fall Carnival and Bazaar (Boo Bash) on Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is open to the public on the school grounds on University Boulevard. School-age children are invited to play games, visit the sweet shop and more.

Mom365

Thomas Charles “Charlie” Leonard Jr. was born on Aug. 15 at 7:55 a.m. to parents Sommer and Thomas Leonard. Big sister to the strawberry-blonde baby boy is 3-year-old Aubin, who affectionately calls him “my baby.” His maternal grandparents are Kelly and Marc Socha and Eddie and Teresa Pool of El Campo, and his paternal grandparents are Ann and Charles Leonard of Bethesda, Maryland. In his first 10

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River Oaks Baptist School sixth graders Ava Sklar, Lizzy Black and Lauren Shu (pictured, from left) were looking for ways to help after Hurricane Harvey. Lizzy's grandparents were particularly hit hard. Lizzy helped by cleaning flooded houses and volunteering at a supply drive, but she wanted to do more. She called her friends Ava and Lauren, who are seasoned in bake-sale fundraising – they previous- (continued on page 60)

THE STORYBOOK SANTA EXPERIENCE Would your children like to meet Santa Claus in a private one-on-one setting?

As soon as you enter our Storybook Santa studio, the magical, nostalgic feeling of Christmas will overwhelm you.You will sit back and watch your children experience Santa’s workshop where he will share his magic, find their names on the Nice List, read a story, have milk and cookies and more. We will capture as many scenes and as many natural expressions as possible.

Santa would like to bring smiles beyond this experience by donating a portion of the proceeds from all October bookings to Harvey Relief efforts.

Visit Santa’s Open House!

See website for details

Book your one-of-a kind experience today 12151 Westheimer Rd.

281.726.1657 www.sockmonkeyphotography.com

Where Magic and Memories Meet WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ OCTOBER 2017 59

and a list of needed supplies at cpointchurch.org.

Anyone is welcome to volunteer.

A new ride

(continued from page 58)

ly helped coordinate a successful bake sale as part of a school project.

The group baked brownies, cookies and more sweets, and all sales benefited victims of the flood.

You Are In Day on Nov. 11, Camp Dermadillo Reunion for former campers on Dec. 29 and a happy hour FUNdraiser on Feb. 9, all held at The Health Museum. See achildrenshouse.org.

More than skin deep

#HoustonStrong

More than 50 children and family members impacted by skin conditions and birthmarks gathered at Camp Dermadillo Family Day sponsored

by A Children’s House for the Soul. Pediatric dermatologist Dr. Alanna Bree (pictured, center, with Camp for All Director Kurt Podeszwa, at left, and pediatric dermatologist Dr. Meena Julapalli, at right), founder of A Children’s House, organized the event to bring together people who truly understand what makes them unique and to empower affected children and teens by building self-confidence. Upcoming events are the non-profit’s annual Love The Skin

Since Harvey hit Houston, West U Baptist and Crosspoint Church have deployed 800-plus volunteers to 300-plus homes and provided cleaning supplies to families who have come by for help.

Pictured (from left) are volunteers Vaughn Davidson, David Jenkins, Will Russo, Trey Russo, Brent LeBlanc, Leo Kern, Parker Davidson, Tony Gray, Bobby Gray, Brady Patterson, Bob Russo and Roger Patterson as they helped with a cleanup. “It has been a great week of working beside, loving and helping our neighbors,” said Robynn Estrada, a financial assistant. Find details about upcoming volunteer plans

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Incarnate Word Academy students are enjoying a new school bus, the result of an effort by more than 100 IWA community members during the 2017 Super Bowl in Houston. Pictured (from left) are students Jade Cao, Kaethe Habenstein-Leal, Olivia Ochoa and Isabella Altman. For the past eight years, Incarnate Word Academy’s Athletic Booster Club has kept a partnership with Aramark, the food services and merchandising company that serves NRG Stadium. Aramark invited Incarnate Word Academy student-athletes and their families to volunteer for a return of a portion of the profits.

In total, 37 IWA students worked the Super Bowl event with their families and coaches from 6:30 a.m. until midnight that night – an 18-hour day.

Volunteers folded inventory, assisted customers, and checked out the excited fans. IWA graduate Chrysta Joy Jaucian said, “I wanted to leave my own little mark by helping to contribute to the ‘super bus’ effort. It was a great experience, and hearing the crowd roar at the final touchdown was a memory that I’ll never forget.”

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.

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WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ OCTOBER 2017 61

NEIGHBORS

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by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

Back Porch

Harvey, Houston and Heart behance.net/runamokstudios

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here’s been so much talk lately that defines us all on our surfaces. Black or white. Conservative or liberal. Gay or straight. Muslim, Christian, Jewish. It’s the kind of talk that, truly, I have never heard in my lifetime. Things being said and judgments being made that I read about in history books but didn’t believe still existed except maybe in some small corners of our world that I wasn’t too terribly worried about.

And then things started happening around our country: rallies, protests, discussions that weren’t discussions, but people shouting so loudly they couldn’t hear – much less understand – what their neighbors also were shouting.

Questions about freedom of speech and history and statues, and about whether what’s legal also has to be moral. And what is moral, anyway?

But then, in a matter of days, through my own very large corner of the world, came the undoing of all that. That undoing was Hurricane Harvey.

A natural disaster like none most of us had seen, Harvey took his time moseying through southeast Texas, flooding homes, destroying memories, rearranging lives, unapologetically leaving what felt like chaos and catastrophe in his wake.

In the midst of that chaos, though, something even bigger happened in Houston.

Everyone became human again, at a very base level. People needed each other – not just an extra penny at the cash register or a hand with the gas pump. But we needed help evacuating homes filling with water, sometimes off of roofs when the water had already risen too high, carrying pets and children and backpacks through that water, and then figuring out what to do next. We needed drinking water. And it didn’t matter whether we lived in a run-down rental or a River Oaks Georgian. None of it mattered: not the color of our skin, not our political leanings, not our sexuality, not our religion.

Indiscriminately, Houstonians who could jumped in boats. Lawyers, bar owners, real estate investors, people who drove here from three hours away wanting to lend a hand.

Neighborhoods that no longer resembled streets as much as rivers became meeting grounds for residents in the most diverse city in the country.

ALL TOGETHER No matter their differences, Houstonians came together to help each other during and after Hurricane Harvey.

As one Houstonian put it, “Everyone looks the same when they’re getting rescued by a boat.”

In the days that ensued, those rivers turned to aisles of debris – sheetrock, carpet, sofas, washing machines. And still we turned out. Teenagers, adults, anyone who was able helped as best we could. Neighbors moved from house to house tearing out wet gunk from homes of people we’d never met. People pulled coolers filled with drinks and snacks, offering them to strangers. Families cleaned out closets of extra food, clothing, toys and art supplies to occupy the newly homeless in the giant shelters at NRG Stadium and Toyota Center and every Gallery Furniture store in town.

Or we bought new supplies and delivered them to donation points, or directly to homeowners cleaning out wetness, whether we knew them or not.

When we realized the need, we jumped so far in that lines to donate all these necessities wrapped round multiple city blocks. Volunteers – and donations – were actually being turned away. Because the need was great, but the heart of Houston was that much greater.

So now what? As of this writing, we’re still fresh, still digging in and making small progress-

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es. We haven’t started the rebuilding process that is bound to take months for some, years for others. But something big has changed. Or maybe it hasn’t changed. Maybe it was there all along but just got buried under all the definitions and all the political squawking.

Here’s what it is: We’re stopping to talk to each other. We’re taking time to ask, “How is your family? How are you?” Sometimes, the answers aren’t great. Someone has lost everything. Someone is physically and emotionally exhausted. But more often, the answer sounds something like, “I’m lucky, we only lost one car,” or, “We just had a couple of inches, nothing as bad as so many,” or, “Everyone is safe, that’s what counts.”

We’ve all realized what precarious foundations we live on. Things change in the blink of an eye, life is short, materials don’t matter – all truths. Truths Harvey showed us all firsthand.

And in the midst of all that truth-telling, Hurricane Harvey showed us that when we need help, and when we help, we are all the same. No definitions, no second thoughts. We just get the job done, in this town full of heart.

TRUST LOOKS LIKE THIS.

When you choose UT Physicians, you are selecting individualized care from a team of more than 1,000 clinicians ready to meet your medical needs. UT Physicians offers advanced technologies with a personalized touch at our flagship location in the Texas Medical Center and a growing number of sites throughout the greater Houston area.

1-888-4UT-DOCS UTPhysicians.com