The West University Buzz - September 2020

James and Ashley Moseley

Private School Directory Margie Doesn’t Remember Getting Old Aparna Is a Netflix Star

Teachers Teaching Their Own Kids

Love Blooms Chef’s Corner: Virtual Restaurants Quarantine Recipes We’ll Keep Traveling the World after Cancer

by Pooja Salhotra

Cindy Gabriel: A Teacher’s Magic Houston, TX Permit No. 2047 PAID

Buzz Baby: Story Time

US Postage PRSRT STD

Jake Ryan and Our 2020

EDITOR’S NOTE September is a good month. On the fourth, my mom turns 91. During our nightly chats, in the pre-coronavirus era, I often would rush her off the phone. But lately, I have taken the time to really listen. I’m hearing stories for the first time.

Or it is quite possible, at my own age, that I have heard them and forgotten.

Regardless, my mom is a great storyteller, and I’m a sucker for a good story. I am lucky that finding and hearing stories is my job every day at The Buzz. We are fortunate to have the trust of our neighbors, who in turn trust our writers to bring their memories and experiences to life. We have some more good ones this month, including a Netflix star who lives in the neighborhood, the love story and quarantine wedding of a couple who met at the Astros’ World Series parade, and the 97-year-old author of I Don’t Remember Getting Old. I love my job. joni@thebuzzmagazines.com

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

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

On our cover: Chalk art is a go-to quarantine activity for River Oaks Baptist School art teacher Ashley Moseley and her son James.

Cover photo by Nikky LaWell, lawellphoto.com The Buzz Magazines has made all reasonable attempts to verify the accuracy of all information contained within. Advertising claims are solely the responsibility of the advertiser. Copyright © 2020 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 SEPTEMBER 2020 4

Your smile can last forever Anna Maria Salas, D.D.S., M.S. Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics

713-481-4885 3642 University Blvd.

Suite 102 Houston, TX 77005 www.westuortho.com

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 5

MAILBAG

Your letters, thoughts, opinions Creating calm through crisis Pooja, I felt moved to comment on your wonderful yoga piece [The Myth of Certainty: From control to corona to yoga, by Pooja Salhotra, August 2020].

First of all, yoga has also saved my sanity during this quarantine. Besides the great exercise, being still has allowed me to feel the subtle signs of anxiety in my body and tells me that it is time to practice.

Next, my daughter, who is a senior, and you have pointed out to me that the life I thought I controlled was a farce. Reality is what reality is.

What we can do is stay centered in our values and take a breath as we look around at our immediate surroundings and judge if we are safe at the moment.

Thank you for your willingness to be vulnerable and honest about the reality that plagues us all and for reminding us that discomfort and growth are positive forces.

Christi Roquemore-Gordy

To new adventures Pooja, your story [The Myth of Certainty] brought tears to my eyes. I’m so happy and excited (and nervous) with/for you! I love your writing, and I’m so happy that you’re on your way to NYU. As one who gave up the obvious path (law) for their passion (cookies!), I fully love, admire and appreciate your bravery. Wishing you all good things. I can’t wait to see where this takes you!

Sara Brook, founder of Dessert Gallery

Shutterbug The Buzz Photo Contest is always fun. Over the years it has become quite popular; you can see many beautiful pictures from very talented photographers. It is a great way to show your work and what inspires and moves you as a photographer. Also, it gives you the chance to have your pictures seen and evaluated by expert judges. Congratulations to this year's participants and winners. This is a well-organized contest, so if you are a photography enthusiast or just like great pictures, this contest is for you. Thank you to the Buzz staff and judges.

Mauricio Recinos Editor’s note: Thank you to all who submitted photos. Winners of our 15th annual photo contest appeared in our July 2020 print issue and on thebuzzmagazines.com.

Correction In August 2020’s Chef’s Corner featuring Charles Clark, the location of Clark Cooper Concepts’ health-driven concept, Satisfy, was reported incorrectly. Satisfy will open on the first floor of San Felipe Place at 2229 San Felipe. Find this story at thebuzzmagazines.com.

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

Another Pooja fan Pooja, I have loved every one of your articles since you started to work for The Buzz. You are a truly gifted interviewer and writer, and your honesty in tackling difficult subjects – particularly of mental health and “resetting” – have been inspiring and helpful for many in this community.

I selfishly hope that we will see many more of your articles, but at the same time I wish you the very best in getting to NYU, pursuing the path of journalism and all the detours and wonderful things you throw your heart into (like yoga!) along the way. Hoping to tune into one of your classes soon.

Gerry Waters

Cindy’s story hit home I read this article [An American Story: Red, white and blue isn't black and white, by Cindy Gabriel, July 2020] with chills. I also grew up in south Louisiana not far from where Mr. Champagne was born. My grandfather grew up very close to where Mr. Champagne did, they both served in WWII, both fluent in French (Cajun) and served as translators, and both worked in the mess hall. I like to think that they probably knew each other and possibly defended our country side by side.

Ann Hebert WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 6

What’s your story?

We are looking for residents for upcoming articles who: • Have an uplifting story relating to neighbors during this “new normal.”

• Have special holiday traditions.

• Know a Buzzworthy neighbor to profile.

• Have an interesting hobby.

• Play a musical instrument and would like to be part of our “Name That Tune” video series.

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 SEPTEMBER 2020 7

Courtesy of Aldine High School 1972-73 Roundup Yearbook

NEIGHBORS

by Cindy Gabriel, staff writer

A Little Magic Would be nice

T

hese times. 2020. Unprecedented, uncertain, unpredictable, unlike any other. I’d throw in fascinating too. This would make a great novel if we weren’t all in it.

But what about the future? Since human beings are notoriously bad at predicting it, I took a time travel back 50 years in last month’s Buzz.

If there is ever a time to seek out time-honored truths, it’s now.

Last month, I introduced you to Bobby Ezell, a teacher who taught about life, under the guise of English literature.

I never felt judged or worried about grades in his class. I was too busy soaking in the world he presented through literature. While English was always my favorite subject, for the most part, I was an average student, probably too rightbrained for true-false or fill-in-the blank answers. In my world of nuance, I wanted to argue with the premise of the question.

Years later, Mr. Ezell, turned Dr. Ezell, would tell aspiring teachers at Sam Houston State University that good teachers love their subject, love kids, and don’t judge the students who don’t love their subject.

He still has his first report card, which is a series of check marks by comments such as “Talks too much,” “Wastes Time,” and “Annoys Other Children.” Today’s Bobby Ezell gets a kick out of various versions of that same kid.

“Football players can sleep with their eyes open,” he would say. He would open class by acknowledging their preference to be with their girlfriend on a Friday night over being in English Literature at 8:30 Monday morning.

One football player, whom he remembered by name, said, “I might like Shakespeare if I understood it.” Mr. Ezell took that to heart. He would later tell his aspiring teacher-students that a teacher can inject a little magic into any subject.

“Fake blood is a great prop,” he said. He would get students to read parts in class, mixing up male and female roles or playfully typecasting the villain by asking the class to pick out the meanest person in the class. Not all classroom atmospheres are safe enough to pull something off like this.

He had control without being controlling.

Janet Jones Spradling, a shy beauty with a

EMBRACING LEARNING Bobby Ezell poses with Aldine High School seniors Ken Villasenor and Pat Mikulin for the Aldine High School yearbook, The Roundup. This 1973 issue was dedicated to Mr. Ezell.

peaches and cream complexion, still loves the nickname he gave her, “Scarface.”

Sometimes, Mr. Ezell wouldn’t come to class as himself, but as the Shakespeare character of the moment. “I’m sorry Mr. Ezell couldn’t be here today. My name is Macbeth, and I will be your substitute.”

A fellow classmate, Pat Mikulin, has written and performed music most of his life. Pat said Mr. Ezell was the first adult who showed appreciation for his songwriting. “He made me feel safe, like an adult, an equal. He wasn’t condescending. He opened up his world for me to come in and experience.”

Mr. Ezell had a personal humility that made him approachable. His early life of deep East Texas poverty is something he shared with me recently.

He was born in 1943, in Freestone County. He lived in a house with no electricity, no indoor bathroom and no car. He says the subject of catching a ride was constant family discussion.

“I had heard of a place called school, but I wasn’t sure I would be able to attend because the idea of going some place every day was out of the question,” he said. At the age of 5, he asked his mother if he would go to school. He has a vivid memory of her answer.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 8

“She said, ‘Yes,’ and she explained to me that there was a yellow and black school bus that came by our house each morning about 7:40 a.m. To assure me, mother would have me sit each morning and watch out the windows and when the bus passed by, Mother would say, ‘Bobby, next year you will be able to catch that bus and go to school.’

“I remember many, many mornings of watching for that bus. Something special happened as I watched.” He learned that hope can come in a yellow and black school bus.

He uses the word “learned” a lot.

It never occurred to me until our recent talk that learning can actually be an antidote for sadness. He shared a quote from The Once and Future King by T.H. White on the adventures of King Arthur and the magician Merlin.

“The best thing for being sad,”replied Merlin, beginning to puff and blow, “is to learn something. That’s the only thing that never fails….

Learn why the world wags and what wags it.

That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust and never dream of regretting. Learning is the only thing for you.

Look, what a lot of things there are to learn.”

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

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 9

NEIGHBORS

by Pooja Salhotra, staff writer

From Bellaire to Netflix An Indian Matchmaking adventure Photo courtesy of Netflix

F

or all of us, 2020 has been an unusual year.

For Aparna Shewakramani, the coronavirus pandemic isn’t even the half of it.

In a matter of days, the 35 year old went from being a Houston lawyer living a private life in Bellaire to an international sensation garnering thousands of followers on social media.

Aparna, who attended Condit Elementary, Lanier’s Vanguard magnet program and Bellaire High School, is a standout character on Indian Matchmaking, a Netflix reality show that released July 16. Since the show aired, Aparna has become the subject of endless memes, emotional Twitter debates and national news articles.

How is Aparna handling it all? She’s just enjoying the ride.

“It’s been a rollercoaster,” she says. “But a fun one – I’d do it again.”

“It” all started about two years ago, when Aparna, an avid traveler, was at the airport in Los Angeles waiting to board a flight to Houston. The flight was delayed, she recalls, so she was killing time by scrolling through Facebook. She spotted a post from a friend that read: “Are you single? Are you South Asian?

Are you looking for your life partner?” Aparna checked all those boxes and proceeded to click through the post and fill out an application to be cast on a dating show. She submitted the application on the spot.

Aparna had no idea she’d be cast on the show, let alone that it would become an instant hit worldwide. “In my mind, it’s so strange that I did something so rushed on my iPhone and it created this,” she says.

On the show, Aparna is one of several clients of Sima Taparia – a woman in Mumbai who earns a living as a matchmaker, connecting hopeful brides- and grooms-to-be with their future partner. The show delves into arranged marriage, an age-old practice that remains common in parts of South Asia. In traditional arranged marriages, parents – sometimes with the help of a matchmaker – select a spouse for their son or daughter, considering a person’s family background and education along with physical traits like height and attractiveness.

Indian Matchmaker shines light on this system

DATE NIGHT Aparna Shewakramani enjoys a date at Bosscat Kitchen & Libations while filming for the Netflix series Indian Matchmaking.

and the realities of modern dating – among both Indians in India and around the world.

Aparna, who challenges traditional gender norms and Indian cultural stereotypes with her strong opinions, career focus and blunt remarks, quickly emerges during the first episode as a polarizing character.

To some – including Sima the matchmaker – Aparna is self-centered, picky and negative. To others, she’s the show’s ultimate heroine.

Progressive and headstrong, Aparna knows exactly what she wants in her life partner. She isn’t about to compromise on her values or settle for anyone who doesn’t fit into her life.

In Episode 1, Aparna is first shown in her Bellaire home with her two best friends, pouring a glass of wine and grabbing a slice of pizza “kicking off a Fat Pants Friday,” as Aparna calls it.

Over the course of the episode, she reveals the multitude of men she’s rejected in the past – the football fan, the “funny man,” the one who didn’t know that Bolivia had salt flats – apparently that’s a deal breaker for Aparna.

Viewers learn that Aparna’s mother, Jotika, who also lives in Bellaire, was only 19 years old when she got engaged. “I was put under a lot of pressure,” Jotika says on the show, explaining that she was unhappy in her marriage and got divorced after 11 years. “I believe every human

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 10

being, unlike myself, has the right in their life to make decisions, life choices. I was not given that opportunity to make a decision for my life. So I want my child to have every possible choice.”

Aparna has a close relationship with her mom, with whom she bears a striking resemblance, along with her older sister Vansa, who is married. Aparna calls these two women her friends and cheerleaders. Their close ties come through on the show – both Jotika and Vansa seem invested in Aparna’s dating life, openly sharing their opinions about men’s “biodata.”

And since the show aired, the trio has been spotted walking in their neighborhood, engrossed in conversation while Aparna’s beloved pup Conan rides in a stroller.

Today, messages are flooding Aparna’s Instagram. People from all around the world – the Netherlands, Russia, India – are sharing their thoughts. Some people are critical of the show, saying it perpetuates toxic views like colorism and casteism. Others appreciate that Netflix took on the topic of arranged marriage.

Many find certain scenes entertaining, such as when Sima consults astrologists and face readers to figure out whether two people will have a successful relationship.

Aparna says she is focusing her time and attention on the positive (continued on page 12)

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713-322-8920 Evan Capital LLC dba Evan Capital is a registered investment adviser in the State of Texas.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 11

Photo courtesy of Netflix

Divya Pande Photo courtesy of Aparna Shewakramani

FROM TEEN TO ON SCREEN Bottom, left: Aparna Shewakramani grew up in Bellaire and attended Bellaire High School. Here, she sports red and white on the school’s spirit day. Top, left: Aparna Shewakramani has always been close with her mom Jotika (right) and older sister Vansa (second from right), pictured as a newlywed with husband Darrin. Right: Sima Taparia, a matchmaker based in Mumbai, India, is the glue of Netflix’s series, Indian Matchmaker. (continued from page 10) feedback and the interest-

ing questions being asked. She says she does not get bogged down or discouraged when a viewer says something hateful on social media.

“Like I say on the show and what I stand by is: I like me,” Aparna says. “I think it’s very important to say. If you know you’re doing your best, if you know you’re progressing in your own life, if you’re focused on growth and evolving, then you can’t really worry about what other people say. In my particular circumstance, I can’t worry about what people I’ve never met – who are hiding behind a screen saying hateful things – are saying. I’m a lot more focused on the positivity and the great dialogue that’s happening.”

What Aparna considers constructive feedback is quite enough to keep her busy. The Vanderbilt Law School grad is deftly balancing her full-time job at a law firm with non-stop media requests, Instagram Live events and podcast interviews, not to mention the travel business she’s building. She gets three to four hours of sleep and then starts the balancing act again.

In her few free moments, Aparna personally responds to direct messages from strangers.

“I’ve been surprised by how many women have reached out to me,” she says. “Some are very raw and honest and candid, and they explain situations where they’ve been quieted, or where they didn’t feel like they had the right

to stand up for themselves…. It’s incredible to me that so many women are watching the show and gaining some strength in their own voices.

That was never the intention for me when I went on the show. I was just going on to find a husband through the matchmaking process.” *Spoiler alert. Stop reading now if you don’t want to find out what happened on the show.* As it turns out, the show did not exactly fulfill that husband part. While Aparna signed on for a chance to meet her soulmate, today she’s still single – and it seems that most, if not all, of the show’s other characters are, too.

Over the course of the eight episodes, we see Aparna date four different men. One she rejects after the first date because the man did not have a plan for his life. Other dates seem like they have potential, but chemistry is lacking.

Aparna doesn’t seem at all put off by the fact that a relationship didn’t pan out. In fact, she says she remains close friends with at least two of the men she dated – Dilip and Shekhar – and has found a sense of camaraderie with the show’s entire cast.

She also appreciates that the show puts a spotlight on Houston, a city she loves for its culture and dining scene. Houstonians are curious where Aparna’s dates took place, and Aparna is happy to share – date spots included Goat Yoga Texas in Cypress, Bosscat Kitchen & Libations on Westheimer, Liberty Kitchen at the Treehouse

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 12

and a Well Done Cooking Class in the Heights.

Aparna reveals on the show that she has a favorite spot for first dates, which she strictly limits to 55 minutes. She times the date such that the prospect has only an hour until the restaurant closes. That way, it’s not another wasted long evening if her date turns out to be a bore. Those dates usually take place at Sonoma Wine Bar, she says.

What’s next for Aparna? The fiery attorney has been considering a move to New York City for some time, though coronavirus has delayed it. She’s also excited to grow her travel business, My Golden Balloon, which curates travel tours for small groups and offers guides on where to stay, eat and tour in different cities. As far as love is concerned, Aparna has not been actively dating since the pandemic, but she’s open to whatever might come her way.

“I have never shot down an opportunity to meet someone new, whether that comes through a friend or a blind date or a matchmaker or an app,” she says. “I’m open to all avenues, and I remain that way. I don’t think there’s any reason for me not to think that the person could come from anywhere, at any time.”

MORE ONLINE See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for dating tips from Aparna.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 13

lawellphoto.com

NEIGHBORS

by Cathy Gordon, staff writer

And That’s Margie Tales of love, loss and laughter

S

printing after a moving bus in sweltering heat, arms flailing, isn’t fun. But if you’re going to fail at the mental arithmetic of bus-chasing, you should at least have Margie Jenkins by your side.

“Mom drove me to the bus every morning to catch my ride to my summer department-store job in downtown Kansas City,” recalls Margie’s eldest daughter, Toby Gilbert, of a decades-old event, hot-seared to memory. “As we got there, the bus pulled away, and we honked, but we knew we could catch it at the next stop. It pulled away quickly at the next, too, because no one got on, so we are honking and driving to the next stop. It pulled away again. And it proceeded like that to where I’m running all the way downtown behind a bus.”

Hair mangled, clothes askew and basted in sweat, her Forrest Gump attempt (Run, Forrest!

Run!) at catching public transportation put her in a monstrous mood. “I was hot and mad. I arrived at work looking like I’d been set on fire and left on the side of the road!”

But hunched over the steering wheel in sidesplitting convulsions sat Margie, howling in laughter at their cat-and-mouse chase with a bus driver oblivious to his harried followers. When Toby saw her mom’s reaction, she, too, dissolved in laughter.

“And there you have it,” says her daughter.

“That’s Margie. She perseveres. She’s positive.

She always finds the light.”

A

uthor Margie Jenkins, 97, sits in a sunlit office in her home, reflecting on grief that swamped her like a murky tide: the 2016 death of her husband, Bob Jenkins, known as Jenks.

He was tall, handsome, smart and the owner of Margie’s heart since their high school days in Kentucky. They were married 70 years.

“The loneliness gets to me the most,” Margie says. “I miss him so much.”

But she found the light.

She took comfort in a writing exercise, daily missives to her late husband called Letters to Jenks. “I wrote about anything and everything, as if I was talking to him and telling him about my day,” she says. The cathartic routine mor-

MARGIE’S MEMORIES Author Margie Jenkins, 97, reflects on her third book, I Don’t Remember Getting Old, a candid, witty account of a life of love, laughter and loss.

phed into her third book, a heartwarming memoir, I Don’t Remember Getting Old, that spans the entirety of Margie’s life: family vignettes of love and loss; fun times and hardships, all laced together in a breezy, candid style that delights the reader.

“You have to have a schedule and a project,” says Margie, who wrote the book to “remember my life and encourage others to remember theirs. You have to have something to get up for, to keep you moving. It was a great memory jogger.”

Speaking of jogging, no, she doesn’t. But she does exercise daily and is an avid reader. “I don’t walk well, I don’t hear well, I don’t see well, but otherwise I’m perfect,” she quips.

“Her book, to me, is what the world needs now. Margie’s wisdom,” daughter Toby says.

“Having survived the Great Depression, the death of a brother in WWII and other things that life brought, she’s the epitome of resilience.

With the social upheavals today and the pandemic, it’s great for readers to see how she’s weathered storms and reinvented herself through perseverance. She’s got grit, survival skills and love to share.”

“She’s a force,” agrees Margie’s eldest son, Rick Jenkins. “I hope we are all doing as well at 97. She’s very determined and extremely focused when she gets something in her mind.”

“I think it’s important to have an attitude of gratefulness. And we should all live as bodaciously as we can,” Margie says. “We can be missionaries of happiness. And when things happen

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 14

that you’re worried about, give it to God. God has a lot of my stuff.”

F

rom an early age, Margie knew what she wanted.

“When I grow up, I will marry a tall, handsome man like my brothers, have two boys and two girls so everyone has a brother and sister, but have them close together so they can all be friends,” she writes in her fifth-grade essay. “All the kids will have chores to do so that they will feel an important part of the family. I am going to live in a white house and have lots of puppies.

My family will play together and have lots of fun, and everyone will love each other.”

As if embracing Margie’s wish list, the universe aligned and produced two boys and two girls: first Toby, then Rick, Susan and Bob. And, of course, their beloved German Shepherd, Dana Von Blitzen of Augsburg (who, indeed, had lots of puppies).

“And, yes, we had chores,” says Rick of his Sunday cleaning-dishes routine.

Jenks’ executive career at ConocoPhillips meant multiple moves. Margie bloomed where planted. “We had just moved from Kansas City to Houston in the late ’60s, and our neighborhood needed someone to help organize the building of a pool for the adults. My mom volunteered,” recalls youngest son Bob. “Did she have any construction experience whatsoever? No. But I have a distinct memory of a guy with a backhoe, and Mom is telling him where to put giant boulders. That’s a pretty good (continued on page 16)

Genesis Photographers

Courtesy of the Jenkins family

WISH COME TRUE Left photo: Margie’s longing for a family of two girls and two boys came true, as predicted in her fifth-grade essay. From left: Rick Jenkins, Toby Gilbert, Bob Jenkins, Susan Jenkins and husband Bob “Jenks” Jenkins with Margie. Right photo: Margie stands amid sentimental family possessions, including a portrait of her mother, Mabel Hope Martinis Little, at age 21 and a 1754 rocker handed down to her grandmother. (continued from page 14) indicator of how she is.

She just steps up and does what’s required.”

Neighborhood newbie Margie also baked cookies, delivering them door-to-door to help her children make friends and new connections.

“She created a support system for us wherever we went because we knew nobody,” says youngest daughter Susan. “To this day, I don’t have any trouble at all meeting people.”

B

ut life wasn’t just about cookies, kids and puppies. Once the nest emptied, Margie had plans.

The urge to help people is embedded in her DNA, as sure as a handprint dried in cement.

As a child, she’d organize family nights with dancing, games and treats to lift moods when things felt heavy. Now she was feeling the pull of graduate school. She’d get her master’s degree in social work.

At the time, a woman of 52 applying to graduate school was a rare occurrence. The University of Houston rejected her application.

She insisted on an appointment with an admissions counselor. Nervous, palms sweating, she listened to all the reasons he thought it a bad idea. Could she keep up at such an advanced age? Spots needed to be reserved for “people who can make a difference. And we want to save places for minority students.”

To which Margie replied, “Sir, I am an older woman. I would be a minority student.”

She was accepted.

“I was their token little old white lady in graduate school.”

She signed up for a class to “test my brain

skills as an elder student” before facing graduate school rigors. The only course available was Human Sexuality, a class of 999 young college students. And Margie. “I figured I was married and had four kids. I could pass that.”

The class was enlightening. “I didn’t know everything.”

Mid-lecture, seven men, naked except for hats, belts and sneakers, streaked across the auditorium stage, jumped down next to Margie, then ran out the door. The professor asked if anyone was offended. Margie’s hand went up.

“What offended you?”

“There were no women represented.”

The audience erupted into foot-stomping cheers, says Margie, who made an A in the course. She wrote daughter Susan, also in college, to share her academic success. Susan sent her a dollar.

“We kids got a dollar for every A we made during school,” says Susan. “She deserved it.”

M

argie excelled at graduate school, received her master’s in social work and, at 60, opened a private practice, counseling clients, ages 9 to 90. Soon, she’d add newspaper columnist to her accomplishments, writing the column Sixty-Something that addressed topics of interest to older adults, many of whom were facing end-of-life issues.

At 79, Margie penned two books on the subject: You Only Die Once and My Personal Planner, widely revered as expert guides.

“It’s a difficult subject, but the biggest gift we can give to someone we love is to talk about death and write things down, what our wishes

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 16

are,” Margie says.

She recalls a terminally ill 9-year-old boy who told her, “I don’t have long to live, so I have to live fast.” Margie counseled him and his parents.

And the boy, who raised butterflies, made final wishes known: that his parents release his case of cocoons to transform and fly away when he died. “I can still get teary thinking about that.”

Always her biggest cheerleader, Jenks joined in her mission after retiring. The couple produced a DVD and CD called Don’t Slam the Door On Your Way Out, talking to groups nationwide – from the FBI and military organizations to churches and retirement homes – about the importance of discussing humankind’s one collective fate, death.

“As funny as it might sound, we had a great time going around talking about death together.

Jenks was so much fun, and he was the perfect person to help share that message,” she says, recalling his sweet words just weeks before he died. “He told me he was so grateful for the amazing life we’d had together and how our marriage was more than he could have ever hoped for.”

And once he died, he told Margie, he wanted to return as a great blue heron, the magnificent bird that cruised over their neighborhood lake with slow, deep wingbeats.

“The day Jenks died, a beautiful blue heron landed in our garden,” she writes in the book. “I knew it was Jenks coming to say he was okay, and I would be okay, too.”

Editor’s note: “I Don’t Remember Getting Old” and Margie Jenkins’ other books are available on Amazon.com.

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FOOD

by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

Quarantine Bonus Discovering recipes we’ll keep

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t’s the comment heard on every neighborhood street corner, from an acceptable social distance, of course: “I have never used my dishwasher more than I have this year.”

That’s because the pandemic and quarantine have confined us to our homes, and to our kitchens. It started when restaurants began closing in March, and here is September, and we are still running our dishwashers. We never even got to “close the kitchen” for the summer, as many of us aim to do each year.

Sure, Houston restaurants have worked hard to make things easier with family-dinner take-out menus. (Thanks for the migas kit, Goode Company Grocery!) Still, we can’t pick up every breakfast, lunch and dinner. And we can’t supersede the need to cook, a lot more than we were used to.

Six months in, we need some recipe inspiration.

Enough with the sourdough and the baking and the sheet-pan dinners. Let’s inject some new life into our kitchens. Here, we’ve asked readers and neighbors what recipes they’ve found and loved during the pandemic. We hope their sharing will light the fire that keeps you cooking this fall.

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hen talk first started about stocking up our pantries and freezers, my sister Julie Walter and I talked frequently about the conundrum of what to buy. Julie has three kids and a husband – that’s three big boys to feed (plus herself and a not-so-big daughter). So she took stocking up pretty seriously. Eventually, she was left with a surplus of frozen food.

“To use up all the frozen spinach I bought early on, when I didn’t know if we would be able to get to a grocery store,” Julie says, “I started making this dip.” It’s one of her family’s favorite quarantine finds.

The Best Spinach Artichoke Dip From TheKitchn.com 1 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach 1 14-ounce can or jar artichoke hearts packed in water, drained and chopped 3 medium scallions, sliced thin 2 cloves garlic, minced 4 ounces low-moisture mozzarella cheese, shredded and divided (1 cup total)

1 ounce parmesan cheese, grated (1 cup) 8 ounces cream cheese, cut into 8 pieces 1 cup sour cream ½ cup mayonnaise ½ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper TURNING STORE-BOUGHT INTO HOMEMADE Tiffany Smith perfected her Finely grated zest of 1 recipe for Trader Tiff's Paleo Plus Almond Meal Muffins, a riff on Trader Joe's Almond Meal Muffins, during quarantine. medium lemon Crackers, tortilla chips, baguette slices, crostini or crudité Tina Pyne’s Meatloaf and Meatballs 1 package of Italian sausage Arrange the oven rack 5 to 6 inches from the 1 3-pound bag grass-fed ground beef (from broiler element. Heat the oven to broil. Coat an Costco) 8-inch by 8-inch baking dish with cooking spray. ½ cup breadcrumbs Microwave the frozen spinach in 1-minute 2 eggs bursts until defrosted. When the spinach is 1 large onion, chopped cool enough to handle, squeeze the excess Chopped fresh herbs, like rosemary and moisture from it. Place the spinach in a large oregano saucepan, and add the artichokes, scallions and Salt and pepper garlic. Add ½ cup of the mozzarella, all the Tomato paste parmesan, the cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, salt and pepper to the saucepan. Cook Remove the sausage from its casing and mix the dip over medium heat, stirring frequently it together with the ground meat. Add the until the cream cheese is melted and the dip is breadcrumbs, eggs, onion, herbs of your choice evenly combined and steaming, about 8 to 10 and salt and pepper. Pour some tomato paste minutes. Remove the dip from the heat and stir into the bottom of a couple of small, disposable in the lemon zest. meatloaf pans. Divide the meat into meatloaves Transfer the dip to the baking dish and spread and place in the pans, on top of the tomato paste it in an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining ½ (the tomato paste makes a glaze when you turn cup of mozzarella over the top. Broil until the the cooked meatloaves over). Cover with foil cheese on top is melted and golden, about 3 to and freeze. When you are ready to cook the 5 minutes. Serve warm with crackers, tortilla meatloaves, bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or so. chips, baguette slices, crostini or crudité.

Roll the rest of the meat into meatballs for pasta. If you’d like, add chopped bacon or grated ina Pyne is known to be a fabulous gardener, parmesan. Freeze in zip-top freezer bags. When entertainer and cook. She says her favorite you are ready to cook the meatballs, add them pandemic meals have been meatloaf and meatto pasta sauce or bake them at 350 degrees for balls “that I can make and freeze for many meals about 30 minutes. to come. It’s instant meals, or meals to share.”

When we asked for her recipe, she answered, ennifer Kalinsky is feeding a husband, a 17-year“Are you kidding?” but gave us her best guess at old daughter and sometimes a 24-year-old stepmeasurements, encouraging us to use our own son. “I’m so sick of cooking,” she says. “I didn’t like taste as a guide. it much in the first place!” (continued on page 20)

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(continued from page 18) But this shrimp scampi has

been “a huge hit” with her family.

“It is easy and quick and everyone loves it. I like to pick up fresh pasta at Fresco [Café Italiano] to go with this recipe,” she says. “Helps support local restaurants, and it’s delicious.”

Lemon Garlic Shrimp Scampi From TheRecipeCritic.com 3 garlic cloves, minced ¼ cup butter ¼ cup olive oil 1 pound uncooked medium shrimp peeled and deveined ¼ cup lemon juice ½ teaspoon pepper, divided ¼ teaspoon dried oregano ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese ¼ cup dry breadcrumbs ¼ cup minced fresh parsley 8 ounces linguine, cooked (or pasta of choice) In a 10-inch skillet, sauté the garlic in the butter and oil for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the shrimp, lemon juice and ¼ teaspoon pepper.

Cook and stir until the shrimp turn pink.

Combine the remaining ¼ teaspoon pepper, oregano, Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs and parsley in a small bowl. Sprinkle on top of the shrimp and broil for 2 to 3 minutes until the topping starts to brown. Serve with hot pasta.

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lthough I really enjoy cooking, it has been a challenge to keep everyone fed and on their particular dining schedule,” says Margaret Young, director of alumni affairs and annual giving at Episcopal High School.

Her solution: She stocked her refrigerator with a variety of pre-cooked ingredients that her children pick and choose to make “bowl” meals.

Meals-in-a-Bowl Ingredients Grilled chicken, cubed Grilled shrimp Chickpeas, drained and rinsed Black beans, drained and rinsed Quinoa, cooked Corn, grilled and cut off the cob Steamed vegetables, cut into bite-sized pieces Carrots, celery, cucumber, cut into sticks Hummus Avocados Snack-sized containers of guacamole (from Costco) Cherry tomatoes that have been sautéed with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, shallots or onion, with basil added after turning off the heat.

(Margaret says that makes a good dressing.)

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hen Tiffany Smith left her job at The Kinkaid School three years ago, “I was 54 and thinking I needed to focus on living a healthier lifestyle,” she says. She started following a Paleo diet emphasizing fruits and vegetables high in vitamins and antioxidants, lean meats, nuts and foods containing probiotics.

“When we got the stay-at-home order in March, I decided to use some of my time to work on recipes that fit my lifestyle, and I sort of created my own ‘Paleo Plus’ diet incorporating oats and limited dairy into traditional baking recipes,” Tiffany says.

“One thing I love but didn’t want to go out to buy is Trader Joe’s Almond Meal Muffins.

They’re basically a carrot and zucchini muffin made with almond flour, so I looked at their list of ingredients and QUARANTINE REFRESHER Minty Watermelon Margarita Poptails from The then looked up similar Defined Dish are a boozy version of summer on a stick. recipes online and came up with my own.” clean. Let muffins rest in baking pans about 15 minutes. Remove to rack to cool completely.

Trader Tiff’s Paleo Plus Almond Best if kept refrigerated.

Meal Muffins

2 cups almond flour 1 cup old-fashioned oatmeal ½ cup oat flour or bran ¼ cup chia seeds 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon nutmeg 2 eggs ½ cup maple syrup and/or honey ½ cup butter, melted and cooled slightly (can substitute coconut oil) 2 teaspoons vanilla 1½ cups grated zucchini (about 1 large), press with paper towel to release some moisture 1 cup grated carrots (about 3 medium), press with paper towel to release some moisture ½ cup grated apple (about 1 small), press with paper towel to release some moisture, or ½ cup applesauce (can use individual serving cup of applesauce) ¾ to 1 cup dried cherries and/or cranberries, to taste ½ to ¾ cup walnuts and/or pecans, to taste Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray large muffin tins with cooking spray or line with paper cups. In a medium bowl, whisk together dry ingredients. Set aside.

In large bowl or KitchenAid mixer, mix together eggs, maple syrup, melted butter and vanilla until well blended. While the paddle is running, stir in zucchini, carrots, apple, dried fruit and nuts. Gently add dry ingredients to wet mixture and stir until combined, but don’t over mix.

Scoop batter into muffin cups; fill to the top if using traditional-sized muffin cups. Bake 30 to 35 minutes (if baking at 350 convection, bake 20 to 25 minutes), or until a toothpick comes out

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t might not be a recipe you can feed the entire family, but this is one that you can use to keep yourself smiling while you are feeding everyone else.

From The Defined Dish, Watermelon Poptails are grown-up popsicles that marketing executive Dena Prasher says she started making early in the pandemic. “Now, we and a lot of our friends keep them stocked in the freezer!”

Minty Watermelon Margarita Poptails From The Defined Dish 5 cups seedless watermelon, cubed (about ½ of a large watermelon) ¼ cup lime juice (juice of about 2 limes) ¼ cup agave nectar 5 large mint leaves ½ cup tequila Dixie cups 3 limes Popsicle sticks (preferably “craft spoons,” which can be found at Joann’s or Michael’s) Place watermelon, lime juice, agave nectar, mint leaves and tequila in a blender. Blend until smooth. Strain the mixture through a mesh sieve or fine strainer to remove the watermelon pulp. Line the cups on a baking sheet, and distribute the strained mixture evenly by filling cups ¾ full. You will have about 8 to 10 poptails.

Prepare the limes by slicing 4 to 5 slices from the middle section of each lime (discard the ends). Insert short popsicle sticks or craft spoons through the center of each lime. Place the lime sticks on top of the poptails. Carefully transfer the dixie cups, on the baking sheet, into the freezer and freeze the poptails overnight, or for at least 4 hours. When frozen, sprinkle the lime ends with salt just before peeling the dixie cups off the poptails and serving.

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NEIGHBORS

by Jennifer Oakley, staff writer

Love Blooms Angela Nobles Photography

When the wedding went on

SEALED WITH A KISS Meredith Clark and Aaron Taylor started their wedding day with a kiss under an arch of trees just prior to their ceremony.

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ometimes a love story is so meant to be it starts to take root on the day a couple meets. Such is the case for Meredith Clark and Aaron Taylor, who were introduced by a mutual friend three years ago and whose love has blossomed exponentially over time.

In the midst of a pandemic, their romance continued to grow. This spring, their commitment was celebrated by a unique and socially distanced wedding in the garden of Meredith’s childhood home in River Oaks.

Back in 2017, with more than 1 million people in attendance at the downtown parade for the World Series-winning Houston Astros, it’s a statistical wonder that two people could meet, much less fall in love. But that’s what happened with Meredith and Aaron, who have matching outgoing personalities.

“We had a mutual friend who invited us with a group to the parade, and it was love at first sight,” Meredith says. After the parade was over, they did not want the day to end. “Aaron walked me back to my car at the Lofts at the Ballpark, and we stayed on top of the parking lot and talked for five hours and watched the sunset.” Once the sun set, they still did not want

the night to end, so they decided to go have dinner at El Tiempo on Navigation. The pair reluctantly said good night to each other at midnight.

They had each other’s names, but not their phone numbers. In a modern-day Cinderella move, Aaron found Meredith – not with a glass slipper, but with an Instagram post. He posted a video on Instagram of the sunset they watched together and tagged Meredith’s account. From that post onward, Meredith and Aaron have been together.

They continued to bond over their shared interest in music, worship and cooking. “Aaron grew up in the church, and his dad was a pastor in Ohio,” says Meredith, who is a family-law attorney. "I am in a Bible study at The Story, and I have had an amazing faith journey that has been paralleled by the love of this wonderful man. He makes me feel so loved and secure in myself and that allows me to feel God’s love for me, and that has been a life-changing experience.”

This past Super Bowl Sunday, the couple decided their love was for keeps. They started planning: an out-of-town engagement and a big, in-town winter wedding. Meredith found a wedding dress. Aaron got a tuxedo. The calendar

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was stretched out in front of them – and then coronavirus put a stop to all the planning.

“We were gonna get married in December, and we had a deposit down on a place,” says Meredith. “Then Covid started hitting, and we were not able to travel and do our engagement trip since it was April and we were supposed to travel in May, and it started looking like we could not get on a plane in May. And even though we had plans for December, we did not know if they could go on then. That’s what happens with people in the time of Covid.”

Unsure of where they would be able to celebrate, the couple was sure of one thing: They wanted to be married. Instead of waiting for the world to open up, they decided to just go for it.

“I was like, ‘Well, Aaron went out and got rings, and I had the dress and he had the tux – we could get married!’” says Meredith with a broad smile. And so they did, on Monday, April 20, with help from Meredith’s mom, Martha Jamison, who planned their wedding in record time.

“They told me they were getting married in five days!” laughs Martha, who says she was up to the challenge of pulling the wedding together. To turn her yard into a wedding (continued on page 24)

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Angela Nobles Photography

Angela Nobles Photography

OH, HAPPY DAY Left: Meredith Clark and Aaron Taylor greeted a parade of wedding guests at their “drive-by” reception. Here, Meredith’s aunt, Stephanie Jamison, celebrates the couple out of the sunroof of her car driven by husband Bryan Jamison. Right: Martha Jamison holds up a laptop with a video camera to stream the wedding and reception to friends and family, especially Aaron’s parents, William and Alecia Taylor, who were watching from their home in Ohio. (continued from page 22) oasis, she enlisted the help

of friends and husband Bruce Jamison.

“Stephanie Jamison, my sister-in- law, recently retired as a floral designer, but she still had a big floral arch that she lent us, and Bruce brought that home,” says Martha. “Then I called Adele Spalding, my old college friend, and asked her to help with the flowers. At the time, it was so hard to get flowers, but she had one wholesaler, and she ended up doing the whole arch, beautifully.

She clipped a few things from my backyard, and she also made a really pretty wreath on the front door. She did a wonderful job.”

With the flowers checked off the list, Martha turned to music, food and drink – and monogrammed face masks. The social-distancing requirements at the time dictated that they have 10 people or fewer, so family and friends had to do double duty. “One of Meredith’s good friends is a worship leader at St. Luke's United Methodist, and we wanted to have live music,” says Martha. “So we told her if you are going to be one of 10 or fewer who can attend, you have to sing! She was also the wedding coordinator.”

Meredith says she was especially grateful for her friend Ashley Hymel. “I called her and said we are going to get married in my mom’s backyard on Monday. Will you sing a song? And she said yes and she brought her fiancé to play piano,” says Meredith. “And she even curled my hair for me too!”

Martha, a retired judge, got help from some of her former judge friends. “I had been on a Zoom call with Judge Ken Wise, and wouldn’t you know that Ken knew they would have to go to Galveston county for a wedding license,” says Martha. “And Alistair Dawson, who was also on the Zoom call, told me that Elizabeth Harvey makes wedding cakes. So I called Elizabeth, and

she was able to put together a beautiful, appropriately sized cake for Monday when I called her on Sunday. It all lined up!”

Martha and Bruce met and married at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, so it was a joy for their entire family when they found out that a St. Luke’s minister, the Rev. Katie Montgomery Mears, could officiate in their backyard.

When it was time for the ceremony to start, Martha was put in charge of emceeing for the guests who were tuning in via Zoom. “I was really glad to do that,” says Martha, smiling. About 160 friends and family tuned in to her broadcast.

“I carried the laptop around so everyone could see the wedding.”

Even more people watched via Aaron’s Instagram Live from his phone, which was propped up next to the musicians.

“It was so precious watching Bruce walk Meredith down the aisle, even though that aisle began at our mudroom door,” says Martha of the path out their back door onto a flower petalstrewn walkway through their grassy backyard to the altar. At the end of the ceremony, Meredith’s brother Matt, a musician in New Orleans who drove in for the ceremony, sang Can You Feel the Love Tonight? for the in-person and virtual crowd.

Martha continued the Zoom connections after the wedding for virtual guests to make toasts. The highlight of the wedding, she says, was Aaron’s father, William Taylor, giving a toast with wife Alecia from their home in Ohio. “My heart broke because they could not be here because they were quarantined there,” says Martha. “But he gave the most heartfelt, tear-filled speech, out of the computer. Oh, it was adorable. Meredith and Aaron hovered over the computer and leaned in – it was ten-

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der all around.”

“You know, I think I did have fun because with a regular wedding, something goes wrong, and you do not want it to,” says Martha. “Well, with this one, if anything went right, it was the opposite. It was beyond expectation. The day itself just had God all over it. This is what was supposed to happen, where it was supposed to happen and how it was supposed to happen.”

Meredith and Aaron agree. “My mom did everything,” says Meredith. “It was the most special – nothing will ever compare to how that day felt.”

Aaron, a regional sales manager for Vivint Smart Home, looks back on the day with gratitude. “I never really believed in love at first sight until I met Meredith, and I never felt I would meet the woman of my dreams, but she is way better than the woman of my dreams.

Her family is amazing, and for what they did to make this wedding happen during Covid, I am so grateful.”

Once the ceremony was over, a “drive-by” reception took place in front of the house.

People arrived via foot, car, bicycle and even Vespa. “I was completely surprised by everyone’s enthusiasm,” says Meredith. “These were the most enthusiastic wedding guests! Car after car was honking, and people had balloons, posters and even a life-size Mick Jagger cutout!

Everything was so cool and unique, and they all had authentic joy.”

Meredith and Aaron stood in the street and waved at everyone passing by. Meredith’s other brother, Sam, handed out party favors to the drive-by guests: individually wrapped cookies and small pots of herbs with tags that read: “Meredith and Aaron – Let Love Grow.”

And grow it has. Meredith and Aaron are expecting a child this winter.

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KIDS

by Pooja Salhotra, staff writer

Living and Learning When the parent is the teacher how to give herself grace.

“I think self-care is so important,” she says.

“Set up what you need to set up in order to do your top priorities, and then let everything else go. With teaching, that meant having my kids watch a show while I was in a meeting. It OUTDOOR ART Chalk art is a go-to quarantine activity for River Oaks Baptist meant allowing myself School art teacher Ashley Moseley and her son James. not to record a video the driveway. five times. If there’s a mistake, you just have a “I learned just how life-giving art can be,” mistake in there. Honestly, putting your best out Ashley says. “We are tapping into the student there and not worrying about being perfect.” having an experience. Being able to have an Part of what’s helping Ashley get through escape is a very healthy way to gain control. To these strange times, she says, is her underlying feel like they can do something even when they love of teaching art. Ashley decided she’d are isolated – letting kids lead in their creativity.” become an art teacher back when she was in college at Vanderbilt University. She fell in love n Bellaire, mom and teacher Casey Croley with the subject while taking a course on art realized that teaching prekindergartners how education and then went on to get a masters in to use Zoom was one thing; doing so while K-12 Art Education at Belmont University. She simultaneously entertaining two rambunctious landed her first teaching job at ROBS, the same boys was quite another. school she attended as a child.

At St. Michael Catholic School, where Casey Even though everything is upside down, there was teaching pre-K last school year, quarantine are bright spots, like the creative quarantine lesclasses were a combination of pre-recorded lessons, including one she called “spreading love sons and live Zoom meetings. Casey recalls the by sharing your art.” Students were encouraged first few weeks of online teaching as overwhelmto hang up their art in the windows so neighbors ing, as she learned to balance teaching while could feel the love during evening strolls. engaging sons Henry, 5, and August, 3. While Nature-inspired art projects motivated kids to Casey’s husband, Anthony, was working from go outside. Students made a pot by molding and home, his job soon required him to travel, so baking biscuit dough in their kitchen oven.

Casey was sometimes managing on her own.

Art class has become an escape from reality – Casey started out by setting a detailed routine a chance to leave behind the computer screen for her kids. “I had this whole printed-out schedand Zoom lectures and to create something from ule, and every day we’d talk about what we’re imagination. going to do. We’d start with our little morning Art has become the go-to activity for Ashley’s meeting and read a book.” own two kids, who normally attend But the routine only worked for a week. Casey Southampton Montessori School. After Ashley quickly realized that, on some days, her kids pre-recorded a lesson for her students, her kids were bursting with energy, and getting them to did their own projects. The windows are plassit down and read a book first thing in the morntered with their art. Rainbows drawn with chalk ing was nearly impossible. A more useful morndecorate the sidewalk in front, and phrases like ing activity on those days (continued on page 28) “Houston is working together” are etched onto

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lawellphoto.com

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he first time Ashley Moseley tried to institute “quiet time” with her two children, her 5-year-old daughter chopped off her own hair. Another time, her 3-year-old son bolted out the front door in his underwear.

“It was pure chaos,” Ashley admits as she looks back on the spring semester, when the coronavirus pandemic upended lives and forced schools worldwide to shift to distance learning. “There was always something. The haircut or a runner…”

Ashley, 33, teaches kindergarten through fourth-grade art at River Oaks Baptist School.

Her kids, Alice and James, are usually in school or daycare while Ashley is in the classroom. But beginning in mid-March, going to school became a public health threat, and both Ashley and her children were stuck at home.

Ashley thought she’d be back in the classroom by May. May rolled into summer, and then fall. Today, nobody knows how long it will be until schools are back to normal. This semester, most Houston schools have begun classes online, or, as in the case of ROBS, in a hybrid format. Plexiglass dividers separate desks, face masks are required, and only half of lower and middle school students are allowed on campus at a time to reduce crowding. Ashley is continuing to teach art through recorded lessons while also assisting in classrooms.

Ashley, upbeat and with a bright smile, doesn’t hesitate to share that she’s had some breakdowns over the past few months. There were moments when she wondered how she could possibly get up the following day and do the whole thing all over again – waking up at 6 a.m. and finding ways to deliver a meaningful art curriculum online while also entertaining her energized children all day on her own. Ashley’s husband, Seth, is an anesthesiologist and is working on the frontlines of the pandemic. He recently started a second job at a new hospital in Cypress.

Now, Ashley laughs as she recounts the time son James escaped from the house and ran down the street wearing nothing but his underwear.

Or the times daughter Alice was playing in the background of her teaching videos that hundreds of students and parents would watch. In the midst of this madness, Ashley discovered

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Casey Croley

lawellphoto.com Ashley Moseley

LEARNING IN A PANDEMIC Bottom, left: Siblings Alice and James Moseley paint on “The Art House,” a home in West University that families were invited to paint on this year prior to demolition. Top, left: Casey Croley, who teaches at Presbyterian School, is balancing teaching during a pandemic with parenting her two little ones, Henry and August. Right: Henry Croley works on a scavenger hunt, identifying objects that begin with the letters “S-P-R-I-N-G.” (continued from page 26) was going on a bike ride.

Other days, the weather prohibited outdoor activities, or the kids were more settled, and morning physical activity was not necessary.

“I realized really quickly that school doesn’t translate to the house,” said Casey, who is now teaching kindergarten at Presbyterian School.

“Learning can look like all different kinds of things. You can use opportunities from real life.

If you’re having a day when you’re struggling to teach numbers, you can say, hey, let’s bake some chocolate chip cookies and use measuring as the math lesson that day. Or go on a nature walk and look at the license plates as you walk by the cars and see if the kids can ID the numbers.”

As Casey reflects on distance learning, the challenges are obvious. Early-childhood education is usually hands-on, and beyond academics, school teaches children social skills. On Zoom, kids struggle to understand that they can’t talk over each other on the platform, and they don’t get the same interaction with peers. “Not only did they not understand that they couldn’t randomly start talking, but they have siblings in the background and all kinds of stuff going on.”

Despite the challenges, it’s also apparent that her kids and students learned quite a bit. Henry learned how to ride his bike without training wheels, for instance. August’s vocabulary skyrocketed as he was spending more time with his older

brother. Many students developed strong relationships with parents or other family members.

“A lot of times we worry so much, but they are going to be okay,” says Casey. “Kids are resilient.”

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t is undeniable that teaching classes online is far from ideal. For Clay Guinn’s 11th- and 12th-grade English classes at St. John’s School, a sense of connection and flow was getting lost through Zoom, the platform Clay used to teach his students. (Teachers are continuing to use Zoom at St. John’s, which postponed in-person learning to Sept. 8, contingent upon improved coronavirus situations in Houston.)

“What I love about being an English teacher is that at the beginning of the class I know we’re going to talk about a book, but I don’t know where it's going to go,” said Clay, who is balancing teaching with parenting his two elementary school-aged daughters.

On Zoom, Clay explained, some spontaneity is lost. Students are usually muted during class and must be called on to talk. Unlike a classroom, where Clay can sense from a student’s body language if they have a thought they’d like to share, on Zoom they are relegated to tiny squares.

At the same time, Clay has found some unexpected boons to online teaching. One key learning is the value of online discussion boards, where students could post responses to questions and interact with their classmates. Clay was

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skeptical about them at first, but students had fun engaging with literature that way.

“I think when we’re back full-time, I’m going to figure out how to use them again because I like having students write low-stakes stuff as an English teacher,” says Clay.

In a similar vein, Ashley says she plans to give more open-ended art projects to her students, as she has discovered the value in letting kids lead their own projects.

And Casey will bring more real-life lessons to her classroom, engaging kids in a way that they don’t even realize they are learning.

Ironically, a new sense of community may be fostered through online learning, one that might even bring students and teachers closer than they have been in person.

Ashley says parents who live in the neighborhood walk or drive by her house and ask about her kids – they know them now from the athome videos. Casey has empathized and grown closer with parents struggling to juggle it all.

Clay says online learning offers a reminder that teachers are humans, too.

“It became intimate really quickly,” says Clay.

“At the same time as it got more distanced, it was like ‘oh, I know what your house looks like now…’ When my kid walks in and she still has bedhead, my students see me as human. They don’t expect me to be something else.”

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Private School Directory F

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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 post-high school, has been a valuable resource to our residents and readers, both in print and online, for many years. This year, it should be especially useful, with the many online and in-person options emerging to safeguard student health.

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 at thebuzzmagazines.com/private-school-directory, where you will find links to schools’ websites. Additionally, see our Schools section online for more articles related to schools, and check out our popular School Buzz blog for stories about local high schools written from students’ perspectives.

See thebuzzmagazines.com.

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Annunciation Orthodox School Early Childhood / Lower School / Middle School Co-ed • Est. 1970 3600 Yoakum Blvd., Houston, Texas 77006 713-470-5600 • admissions@aoshouston.org • www.aoshouston.org Molly Khalil, Director of Admission Open House Dates: Virtual visits begins Sept. 21. Applications available Aug. 17.

Annunciation Orthodox School offers an educational experience that extends beyond academic excellence and includes the development of strong character in an Orthodox Christian environment. Every day, we celebrate the distinct talents and diverse backgrounds of our students, cultivating empathy, resilience, confidence, and agape (unconditional love in action) while fostering a joy of learning. Our students mature into grounded and compassionate members of society, prepared for future challenges.

The Awty International School Early Learning / Lower School / Middle School / Upper School Co-ed • Est. 1956 7455 Awty School Lane, Houston, Texas 77055 713-580-0579 • admissions@awty.org • www.awty.org Chantel Olufsen, Chief Advancement Officer Open House Dates: Early Learning, Sept. 23 and Oct. 20, 2020, 6:30 p.m.; Lower School, Oct. 16, 2020, 9 a.m.; Middle/Upper School, Nov. 8, 2020, 2 p.m.; French Program (All Grades), Nov. 13, 2020, 9 a.m.

The Awty International School, Houston’s premier international school, educates over 1,700 students, from PK3/Petite Section through 12th grade/Terminale, to become responsible world citizens. The leader in international education, Awty is a diverse community of students and teachers hailing from over 60 nations. In the culminating grades, our students pursue either the French Baccalauréat or the International Baccalaureate. Join us on campus to learn more about Awty!

Becker School 15 months through 5 years Co-ed • Est. 1989 1500 Sunset Blvd., Houston, Texas 77005 713-535-6400 • sarahw@emanuelhouston.org • www.emanuelhouston.org Sarah Williams, Interim School Director Open House Dates: Call to schedule a tour 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.

British International School of Houston Age 3 through High School Co-ed • Est. 2000 2203 North Westgreen Blvd., Katy, Texas 77449 713-290-9025 • admissions@houston.nae.school • www.bishouston.org Jane Chastant, Director of Admissions Open House Dates: Call to schedule a tour.

The British International School of Houston (BIS Houston) is a private international school for children ages 3-18. At BIS Houston, students experience WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 32

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outstanding academic progress and continuity of learning, whether in the classroom or virtually. Our students consistently demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, and many graduates receive offers to study at the top 100 universities worldwide. Connect with us to find out why 92 percent of BIS Houston parents agree the school provides a stimulating learning environment. Now enrolling.

Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart Pre-K / Lower School / Middle School / Upper School Girls • Est. 1960 10202 Memorial Dr., Houston, Texas 77024 713-468-8211 • admissions@duchesne.org • www.duchesne.org Tony Houle, Head of Admissions and Strategic Imperatives Open House Dates: Oct. 18, 2020, 2 p.m., Nov. 12, 2020, 6 p.m.

Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart is Houston’s only all-girls Pre-K3 through 12th grade college preparatory school. At Duchesne, we help girls seek an active faith, embark on challenging intellectual journeys, put social awareness into forthright action, participate in a vibrant campus community, and develop independence. Our single-sex education ensures that our classes and community offer the support, challenges, and freedom that allow girls to shine.

The Emery/Weiner School Middle School / High School Co-ed • Est. 1978 9825 Stella Link Rd., Houston, Texas 77025 832-204-5900 • csarnoff@emeryweiner.org • www.emeryweiner.org Caroline Sarnoff, Director of Admissions Open House Dates (Virtual): Middle School, Nov. 10, 2019, Upper School, Oct. 30, 2019 The Emery/Weiner School is a private, college-preparatory middle and high school offering an exceptional education in a supportive, hands-on, experiential environment, framed by and infused with progressive and pluralistic Judaism. Our unique, inclusive culture values diversity and 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 – as was further proven when Houston schools made the temporary change to distance learning. Emery students graduate with a profound sense of moral self-reliance, empowered to advocate for themselves and others.

Gateway Academy Grades 6-12 Co-ed • Est. 2006 3721 Dacoma St., Houston, Texas 77092 713-659-7900 • Mjoseph@gatewayacademyhouston.org • thegatewayacademy.org Michele Joseph, M.Ed., Head of School Open House Dates: Tours available by request.

Gateway Academy serves 6th-12th grade students with academic and social challenges through innovative approaches to learning, physical fitness, and social awareness. Our graduates face a changing world with self-advocacy, opening a path to personal significance in college, career, and community.

Houston Christian High School High School Co-ed • Est. 1997 2700 W Sam Houston Pkwy. N, Houston, Texas 77043 713-580-6020 • adalton@houstonchristian.org • www.houstonchristian.org Anne Dalton, Admissions Open House Dates: Virtual and in-person tours available by appointment.

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 St., Houston, Texas 77002 713-227-3637 • ssheppard@incarnateword.org • www.incarnateword.org Sarah Sheppard, Director of Admissions Open House Dates: Call for details.

Incarnate Word Academy, a Catholic college preparatory high school for young women, is uniquely situated in downtown Houston. Since 1873, 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 builds in-demand leadership skills upon a foundation of strong personal character. (continued on page 34) WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 33

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Lutheran High North High School Co-ed • Est. 1980 1130 W. 34th Street, Houston, Texas 77018 713-880-3131 • admissions@lhnlions.org • www.lutheranhighnorth.org Courtney Adkinson, Director of Admissions and Marketing Open House Dates: Please call to schedule a private tour.

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!

Memorial Lutheran School Infant / Pre-K / Elementary / Middle / High School Co-ed • Est. 1980 5800 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas 77057 713-782-4022 • rhanson@mlchouston.org • www.memoriallutheranschool.org Ruth Hanson, Office of the Headmaster Open House Dates: Personal tours by appointment.

Memorial Lutheran School's mission is to "build a strong foundation" for the love of God and neighbor. This is done through the spiritual foundation of the preaching and teaching of the Gospel and the academic foundation of a comprehensive, classical education.

Memorial Private High School Middle School / High School Co-ed • Est. 2004 14333 Fern Dr., Houston, Texas 77079 281-759-2288 • registrar@memorialprivateschool.com • www.memorialprivateschool.com Pamela Camp, Admissions Open House Dates: By appointment The micro-school format that MPHS started with 16 years ago is more helpful now than ever. The small student-to-teacher ratio and self-paced work, combined with a structured classroom setting, differentiate MPHS and keep us safe in these times. MPHS is highly selective in admissions, maintaining a maximum of a 60-student count. The individualized challenge and constant innovation create a less stressful environment. Those who have learning issues make great strides in their academics. MPHS is having in-person learning for the 20-21 school year, with Zoom remaining an option for those who choose. Cognia/AdvancED/SACS accredited.

Montessori Learning Institute 3 months through 8th grade Co-ed • Est. 1987 5812 Maple St., Houston, Texas 77074; 5701 Beechnut St., Houston, Texas 77074 713-774-3793 (Maple) • 713-771-5600 (Beechnut) info@montessorilearninginstitute.com • www.montessorilearninginstitute.com Montessori Learning institute My Le Vo, M.Ed., School Director Developing outstanding, Confident scholars Open House Date: Call to schedule a tour.

Montessori Learning Institute is the school where each child is respected for his/her uniqueness and inspired to develop a strong mind and a caring heart. Our safe environment, with small student ratio and dedicated, talented teachers, nurtures confident, responsible scholars and future world leaders. Our students have a record of high achievements and excellent conduct at prestigious high schools and colleges.

The Next Step Academy Preschool through 12th Grade Co-ed • Est. 2005 5400 Mitchelldale St., C1, Houston, Texas 77092 281-715-2888 • info@thenextstepacademy.org • www.thenextstepacademy.org Lauren Abel, MS, BCBA, LBA Open House Date: Call or email to schedule a personal tour.

The Next Step Academy is a unique learning environment that focuses on delivering therapeutic education that changes the lives of children with autism and their families. Our goal is to give parents hope – for your child, your family and the future. Our program is fully customized to meet the needs of the individual child. We offer a variety of services including Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Therapeutic Services, Educational Services, Outdoor Recreation and Vocational Training.

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Pines Presbyterian Preschool 18 months through Kindergarten Co-ed • Est. 1970 12751 Kimberley Lane, Houston, Texas 77024 713-467-9358 • www.pinespresbyterianpreschool.com Connie Pike, Executive Director Open House Dates: 18 months through age 4, Jan. 27, 2021, call for details; Bridge Class and Kindergarten, Jan. 28, 2021, 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 St., Bellaire, Texas 77401 1010 Autrey St., Houston, Texas 77006 713-661-6688 • admission@postoakschool.org • www.postoakschool.org Ashley Krug, Admission Director Open House Dates: 14 months-Grade 6, Nov. 5, Dec. 1; Grades 7-12, Oct. 20, Dec. 8 Post Oak students challenge the norm. Instead of learning only for tests and knowledge quickly forgotten, you’ll find collaboration and camaraderie, independence and self-confidence, creativity and perseverance, from the youngest students at 14 months old through 12th graders. Post Oak’s two campuses are Montessori environments serving the needs of students at each level of their development, including year-round internships for high school students at partner institutions in the Museum District, Texas Medical Center, and downtown.

Presbyterian School Early Childhood / Lower School / Middle School Co-ed • Est. 1988 40 Oakdale St., Houston, Texas 77006 713-520-0284 • kbrown@pshouston.org • www.pshouston.org Kristin Brown, Director of Admission and Financial Aid Open House Dates: TBD If you want your children to achieve and be happy while they do it, send them to Presbyterian School. It’s the future of education, with a faculty, curriculum, building, and location that make the most of the best new research about how students learn and how they can thrive while doing it. All of this in a Christ-centered setting. Come and see why we believe our way is not merely different – it’s better.

The Regis School of the Sacred Heart Pre-K / Lower School / Middle School Boys • Est. 1991 7330 Westview Drive, Houston, Texas 77055 713-682-8383 • questions@theregisschool.org • www.theREGISschool.org Dennis P. Phillips, Head of School Open House Dates: Visit www.theREGISschool.org/Admissions.

The Regis School of the Sacred Heart is Houston’s only all-boys 3 Pre-K through 8th grade school. Through a unique mix of challenging academics and the values of the Sacred Heart, Regis empowers students of all faiths to become authentic, compassionate leaders. Regis students develop a passion for learning and a foundation of moral character that serves them – and allows them to serve others – for a lifetime, regardless of how they ultimately define success.

River Oaks Baptist School Preschool / Lower School / Middle School Co-ed • Est. 1955 2300 Willowick Rd., Houston, Texas 77027 713-623-6938 • admission@robs.org • www.robs.org Kealey Malott, Director of Admission Open House Dates: Contact the admission office to schedule your virtual visit 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, apply now. (continued on page 36) WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 35

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The Saint Constantine School Pre-K through High School Co-ed • Est. 2015 7177 Regency Square Blvd., Houston, Texas 77036 832-975-7075 • admissions@saintconstantine.org • www.saintconstantine.org Lily Yee, Director of Admissions Open House Dates: Private tours available by appointment.

With a commitment to small classes and outdoor learning and play, we are ready to handle the challenges of on-campus learning in our changing world. Because education is essential to the mental, socioemotional, and spiritual health of children, we work to deliver reasonable, balanced learning options on campus and online. At school, young students are not overburdened with take-home work, and spend many hours outside in our natural playground and garden. Older students receive rigorous instruction in dual-credit courses, giving them a head start in college and preparing them for life as independent adults.

Saint Thomas’ Episcopal School Elementary School / Middle School / High School Co-ed • Est. 1955 4900 Jackwood St., Houston, Texas 77096 713-666-3111 • admissions@stes.org • www.stes.org Danny Kahalley, Director of Admissions Open House Dates: For open houses and visit information, go to www.stes.org/visit-us.

Saint Thomas' Episcopal School (STE) is celebrating its 66th year as a kindergarten through 12th grade Christian college preparatory school offering a classical education. STE students have won recent academic competitions, as well as state awards in soccer, basketball, swimming, cross country, orchestra, choir, and yearbook. We also offer a world-renowned Scottish Arts program that includes bagpiping, drumming, and Highland dance. Graduates attend universities throughout the nation, with recent acceptances from Cornell, Georgetown, Columbia, Rice, Penn, Colorado School of Mines, UT, and Texas A&M. STE will open a new academic building for fall 2021.

Second Baptist School Pre-K3 through 12 Co-ed • Est. 1946 6410 Woodway Dr., Houston, Texas 77057 713-365-2310 • admissions@secondbaptistschool.org • secondbaptistschool.org Andrea Prothro, Director of Admissions Open House Dates: Visit secondbaptistschool.org/admissions for information on tours and events for prospective families.

The mission of Second Baptist School is to equip students to think critically, live biblically, and lead courageously to impact the world for Jesus Christ.

The Shlenker School 15 months through Fifth Grade Co-ed • Est. 1982 5600 North Braeswood Blvd., Houston, Texas 77096 713-270-6127 • tgassett@shlenker.org • www.shlenker.org Tara Gassett, Director of Admissions Open House Date: To schedule a tour, please contact the director of admissions.

Families choose The Shlenker School because of the school’s commitment to an outstanding secular education with integrated Jewish studies. Our curriculum fosters the whole child in a developmentally appropriate learning environment that is both nurturing and challenging. When you visit our campus, you will feel the warmth of our community and see why students and families strongly believe in the foundation that The Shlenker School provides.

Shlenker students graduate with confidence, knowing that they are prepared for the next stage of their academic life and beyond.

St. Anne Catholic School Elementary School / Middle School Co-ed • Est. 1930 2120 Westheimer Rd., Houston, Texas 77098 713-526-3279 • admissions@stannecs.org • www.stannecs.org Dawn Martinez, Principal Open House Dates: Visit www.stannecs.org for information on virtual tours.

Since 1930, St. Anne Catholic School has been committed to teaching the Basilian philosophy of “Teach Me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge,” in a nurturing environment. The St. Anne philosophy embraces the uniqueness of the whole child and celebrates the diversity of the student body.

In collaboration with the family as a partner, St. Anne endeavors to provide an opportunity for the optimal growth of each child, while celebrating our Catholic heritage.

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St. Cecilia Catholic School Pre-K3 through Eighth Grade Co-ed • Est. 1958 11740 Joan of Arc Dr., Houston, Texas 77024 713-468-9515 • admissions@saintcecilia.org • www.saintceciliacatholicschool.org Jeff Matthews, Principal Open House Dates: Individual tours are available by appointment.

Our mission at St. Cecilia Catholic School is the ongoing Catholic formation and education of the whole child in mind, heart, and spirit, in preparation for an adult life of commitment and service.

St. Mark Lutheran Church and School Six weeks through Eighth Grade Co-ed • Est. 1949 1516 Pech Road, Houston, Texas 77055 713-468-2623 • kramon@stmarkhouston.org • gostmark.org Kerstin Ramon, Director of Admissions Open House Dates: Check gostmark.org/tour for more information or to schedule a tour.

St. Mark Lutheran School seeks to introduce Houston families to the life-changing love of Jesus through scholarship, ministry, and leadership.

St. Mark’s Episcopal School Early Childhood / Elementary School / Middle School Co-ed • Est. 1960 3816 Bellaire Blvd., Houston, Texas 77025 713-667-7030 • aduplantis@stmes.org • www.stmes.org Amanda Duplantis, Director of Admission Open House Dates: Contact the admission office to learn more about our events for the 2020-2021 school year.

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. Pius X High School High School Co-ed • Est. 1956 811 W. Donovan St., Houston, Texas 77091 713-692-3581 • guedryj@stpiusx.org • www.stpiusx.org Jeff Guedry, Enrollment Management Open House Date: Nov. 11, 2020 St. Pius X is Houston's premier co-ed Catholic high school. Founded in 1956 by the Dominican Sisters of Houston, SPX is recognized for its strong academic programs, its tradition of champions in athletics and fine arts, and its wide range of co-curricular activities. Education at SPX is rooted in the Four Pillars of the Dominican charism – Prayer, Study, Community and Preaching. St. Pius X is a welcoming community that embraces diversity.

St. Stephen’s Episcopal School Pre-K / Elementary School / Middle School Co-ed • Est. 1971 1800 Sul Ross St., Houston, Texas 77098 713-821-9100 • admission@ssesh.org • ssesh.org Office of Campus Life Open House Dates: TBD. For a virtual tour, visit ssesh.org/admission/tours.

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. At St. Stephen’s, students are valued for who they are. We are a proud progressive Episcopal school, rooted in our values, accepting families of all faiths, backgrounds and lifestyles. Our students approach challenges from multiple perspectives and have the confidence to question, create and contribute, ultimately matriculating to Houston’s finest private and public high schools.

St. Thomas High School College Preparatory Boys • Est. 1900 4500 Memorial Dr., Houston, Texas 77007 713-864-6348 • admissions@sths.org • www.sths.org Maxwell Holmes, Director of Admissions Open House Date: Dec. 6, 2020, 1-4 p.m.

St. Thomas High School is a Catholic college preparatory institution for young men in grades 9-12. With more than 120 years of teaching tradition, the Basilian Fathers’ sacred mission of teaching goodness, discipline, and knowledge inspires 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. (continued on page 38) WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 37

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St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School Pre-K / Elementary School / Middle School Co-ed • Est. 1943 6802 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, Texas 77025 713-666-2345 • rmccurry@svdp-edu.org • www.saintvincentschool.org Renee McCurry, Director of Admissions Open House Dates: Virtual tours coming soon. Please visit our school website for admissions information at www.saintvincentschool.org.

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.

Thrive Academy First through Eighth Grade Co-ed • Est. 2018 1231 Wirt Rd., Houston, Texas 77055 713-263-3800 • contact@thriveacademyhouston.org • thriveacademyhouston.org Dr. Christopher Zaddach, Admissions Director Open House Dates: Please call for information.

The mission of Thrive Academy is to create a joyful environment where children love to learn, teachers are passionate about student success, and parents are confident that their children will excel.

Trafton Academy Pre-K / Elementary School / Middle School Co-ed • Est. 1973 4711 McDermed Dr., Houston, Texas 77035 713-723-5888 • admissions@trafton.org • www.trafton.org Yvonne Cosgrove, Admissions Director Open House Dates: To be determined; please check the website for updates. Virtual tours and individual meetings by appointment.

Trafton Academy provides the environment and opportunity for the maturation of each child into a well-adjusted adult, equipped to succeed in the world in which we live. Education is student-centered; each child is recognized as an individual with unique interests, needs, and abilities. Students learn most effectively in a low student-teacher ratio environment, and class sizes do not exceed twenty students. The staff is dedicated to cultivating a love-of-learning in students while helping them develop organizational skills, a strong work ethic, team spirit, discipline, and self-worth.

Veritas Christian Academy of Houston Preschool / Elementary School / Middle School Co-ed • Est. 2002 7000 Ferris St., Bellaire, Texas 77401 713-773-9605 • admissions@veritasca.org • www.veritasca.org Kim Berger, Director of Admissions Open House Dates: Oct. 21, 2020, 9 a.m.; Jan. 13, 2021, 9 a.m.

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

The Village School Pre-K / Elementary School / Middle School / High School Co-ed • Est. 1966 13051 Whittington Dr., Houston, Texas 77077 281-496-7900 • admissions@thevillageschool.com • www.thevillageschool.com Katherine Brewer, Head of School Open House Date: Our admissions office is safely offering private virtual/on-campus tours where possible. Call or email to set up a tour.

The Village School has a tradition of rigorous and highly personalized learning paired with hands-on innovative methods of teaching. Located in the Energy Corridor of Houston, Village offers an American educational experience to its diverse and international student body who represent six continents and more than 80 countries. The Village School is known for its excellence in math and science and utilizes a collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to enhance its widely recognized STEAM curriculum. The Village School is a proud member of the Nord Anglia Education’s network of schools.

West U Baptist: A Children’s Village Preschool Ages 1 through 5 Co-ed • Est. 1997 6218 Auden St., Houston, Texas 77005 713-667-5180 • acv@wubc.org • www.wubc.org/acv Patina Sehorn, School Director Open House Dates: We offer tours every Wednesday at 10 a.m. Please call to schedule yours.

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A Children's Village is a licensed Preschool/Mother’s Day Out program for children ages 1 year (by Sept. 1) through 5. We offer a 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 Christian School Pre-K3 through 12th grade Co-ed • Est. 1975 10420 Hillcroft St., Houston, Texas 77096 713-551-8100 • admissions@westburychristian.org • www.westburychristian.org Nathan Wagner, Interim Head of School Open House Dates: Wildcat Wednesday Open Houses are 8:30-10 a.m. Oct. 7, 2020; Nov. 4, 2020; Feb. 3, 2021; Mar. 3, 2021; Apr. 7, 2021; and May 5, 2021. Sunday Open House is 2-4 p.m. Jan. 24, 2021.

Westbury Christian School exists to provide each student with the opportunity to acknowledge and respond through faith to the word of God while participating in an educational program, which stresses academic, social, emotional and physical development.

Yorkshire Academy Preschool through Elementary School Co-ed • Est. 1984 14120 Memorial Dr., Houston, Texas 77079 281-531-6088 • admissions@yorkshireacademy.com • www.yorkshireacademy.com Janet Howard, Principal Open House Dates: Jan. 28, 2021, 5-7 p.m.; Open House Coffee, Jan. 29, 2021, 10-11 a.m.

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 coding, tennis, 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. Yorkshire invites you to visit to see for yourself why its tagline, “A Little School Making a Big Impact,” rings so true.

Join our team. Become a School Buzz Reporter.

Now accepting applications for the 2020-21 school year.

Buzzworthy opportunity for high school students who love writing or photography: The Buzz Magazines offers a unique program, School Buzz, which gives high school students the opportunity to write about what’s happening at their schools.

See thebuzzmagazines.com/school-buzz for details and to apply. Questions? Email jordan@thebuzzmaagzines.com.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 39

KIDS

by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Buzz Baby

lawellphoto.com

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Story time

Buzz Baby is a column about life with babies.

Writer Annie McQueen is a mother of four children under the age of 6.

P

utting a toddler or a baby down to sleep has steps: bath, bottle/nursing/cup, closed blinds, maybe a white-noise machine.

One of the most magical bedtime steps is curling up to read a special book to your child.

Books are a great way to introduce children to some of life’s most important lessons, from inspirational messages (The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper), to learning to conquer anything you set your mind to (I am Truly by Kelly Greenawalt).

Story time is also a nice way to get a kid to wind down. Even babies as young as 6 months old can enjoy it. It is never too early to add story time into the routine. When a young child is read to, wonderful things happen. Their eyes light up as the pages turn, and their minds fill with ideas. Whether the pages are tattered from reading (or reciting from memory) one book so many times – so many times – or shiny new, it is always an opportunity to expand their minds and soak up their snuggles.

Researchers have said reading to a baby or toddler, or even a baby in utero, can boost earlylanguage skills, increase emotional intelligence, build a better understanding of the big world around them, and improve a parenting bond.

Also, little ones need a chance to switch their brains to calm-down mode, just as adults do.

Buzz mom and blogger Kristina Hale is expecting her third baby this fall. Kristina and her husband, Blake, have two children, daughter Scarlett, 4, and son Luke, 2, and they are a family that loves story time. Kristina is a former elementary school teacher, so it’s not surprising that reading to her children is important to her.

They make story time a family affair, starting with Scarlett and Luke selecting their favorite books and gathering in Scarlett’s room. Kristina hung acrylic bookshelves on the wall, creating a display of the kids’ favorite books. “Blake and I will take turns reading each book,” said Kristina. “We started reading to them when they were very young.”

Since Kristina is pregnant, the kids currently are into an interactive board book called Snuggle the Baby

READY TO READ Former elementary-school teacher Kristina Hale has read to children Scarlett and Luke before bed since they were babies.

by Sara Gillingham. She thinks it is helping Luke and Scarlett feel ready to care for their new baby sibling. (Other books, like My New Baby and Waiting for Baby by Rachel Fuller, also are good choices for kids about to welcome a baby in their house.)

Kristina’s favorite book to read to her kids is Sam’s Sandwich by David Pelham, and she still has her own, special, childhood copy. “As a former teacher, I understand how important it is to model reading at a young age,” said Kristina.

“Reading aloud to kids truly enhances your child's speech and vocabulary skills.”

Story time does not always go as planned – sometimes Luke and Scarlett do not agree over which book to read. “We read Where’s Spot religiously because Luke loves that series and the interactive flaps,” said Kristina. “However, most of the flaps have been ripped out, so the book is filled with tape binding the flaps back together.”

Other parents have said they, too, have had to buy multiple copies of Where’s Spot?.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 40

Buzz parents chimed in with their favorite books to read to small children: Goodnight Moon

by Margaret Wise Brown, On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman, Sweet Dreams, Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Eric Carle and Bill Martin Jr., Goodnight, Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle, Pete the Cat books by Eric Litwin and James Dean, The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld, Sandra Boynton’s board books, Chicka-Chicka-BoomBoom by Bill Martin Jr., Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt and Love You Forever by Robert Munsch (grab your tissues for that one).

It would not be a list of great children’s books without Dr. Seuss’ name on it, with favorites like Green Eggs and Ham, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, The Lorax, Fox in Socks, The Cat in The Hat and Oh, The Places You’ll Go! As Dr. Seuss wrote, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 41

NEIGHBORS

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by Cindy Burnett, staff writer

Buzz Reads

Five picks for September

Buzz Reads is a column about books by reviewer Cindy Burnett. This month, Cindy recommends five recently released titles.

C

ut to the Bone by Ellison Cooper – This intelligent mystery features the highly likeable FBI neuroscientist Sayer Altair. A bus filled with 24 D.C.-area high school students disappears an hour after it sets out for a tournament in Atlanta, and Agent Altair is called in to locate the missing students.

She is drawn into the absorbing case filled with red herrings, where nothing is as it appears. In addition to the solid and clever mystery with a highly satisfying resolution, Cut to the Bone contains architectural facts and details about Washington D.C., including the incorporation of Egyptian symbolism throughout the U.S. capital and details about historical locales.

Another plus is a fabulous cast of supporting characters and a solid balance between the mystery and Altair’s personal life.

Everything Beautiful in Its Time: Seasons of Love and Loss by Jenna Bush Hager – Hager’s heartwarming and emotional collection of essays honors her beloved grandparents, President George and First Lady Barbara Bush and her mother’s mother, Jenna Welch, who died within 13 months of each other. To find comfort, she shared their words and wisdom with family and friends, and they urged her to memorialize these anecdotes in a book. Hager uses various formats, including letters to her grandparents, sharing stories that she wishes she could tell them personally; my favorite was the letter Jenna wrote on her 37th birthday to Barbara Bush where she recounts the stark absence of Barbara at the family’s summer home in Maine. Before you start reading, grab tissues – Hager’s tales are charming and touching and will have you contemplating what matters most in your world.

The Nemesis Manifesto by Eric Van Lustbader – The Nemesis Manifesto is a timely, terrifyingly relevant, unrelenting political thriller that starts with a bang and never lets up until the very last page. Evan Ryder works as an agent for a black-ops division of the U.S. Department of Defense. Assigned to investigate the mysterious

deaths of fellow agents, she travels across the world to get to the source of the trouble. The author uses rippedfrom-the-headlines plot threads, including Russian hackers flooding U.S. social media with invented conspiracies, Nazis trying to stage a comeback, and foreign groups taking advantage of divisiveness. I felt like I was reading the literary version of a WHAT TO READ This month’s picks include two nonfiction books, a heart-pounding Mission Impossible thriller, historical fiction, and a fascinating and intelligent mystery. movie.

Wandering in Strange Lands: A Daughter of before he took up with Wallis Simpson and the Great Migration Reclaims Her Roots by made history by abdicating his throne for her.

Morgan Jerkins – During the Great Migration, While the portions of the book detailing over 6 million black people left their rural Thelma’s relationship with the Prince of Wales Southern homes seeking better economic are captivating, my favorite parts are those that prospects in the North, West and Midwest. include Thelma’s twin sister, Gloria Morgan, Taking a personal approach to the effects of the spouse of Reggie Vanderbilt, son of Cornelius Great Migration, Jerkins recreates the paths her Vanderbilt II and Alice Vanderbilt. Gloria and ancestors took out of Georgia and South Carolina Reggie were married for only two years before he and studies the loss of familial knowledge and the died from cirrhosis of the liver; they had one impact on personal identity. Her premise provides child, the renowned fashion designer and a fresh and enthralling deep dive into one socialite Gloria Vanderbilt. After Reggie’s woman’s attempt to understand her roots and her death, Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt was eventually family’s legacy. There is a Houston connection – sued for custody of her daughter Gloria by her Jerkins’ paternal grandfather was born and raised sister-in-law, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney in Frenchtown, a subcommunity within the Fifth (founder of the Whitney Museum of American Ward, created when 500 Louisiana Creoles Art). This sweeping historical-fiction tale promoved to Houston in 1922 seeking a better life. vides a fascinating glimpse into an earlier era.

Thought-provoking and incisive, Wandering in Strange Lands is a timely read. I listened to the Editor’s note: Southside Place resident Cindy audiobook, which Jerkins narrates.

Burnett also writes our weekly Page Turners column The Woman Before Wallis: A Novel of at thebuzzmagazines.com. She hosts the Thoughts Windsors, Vanderbilts, and Royal Scandal by from a Page Podcast, is co-creator of the Houston Bryn Turnbull – In her debut novel, Turnbull literary event series Conversations from the Page, tells the story of Thelma Morgan, the American runs the Instagram account @thoughtsfrompage, woman who was involved with Prince Edward and regularly speaks to groups about books.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 42

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 43

TRAVEL

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by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer

Travel Buzz

A different kind of journey

T

ravel has always been a mainstay for Pam Zane and husband Randy. Nurseryschool sweethearts who married at 19, raised two daughters and traveled the world together, they continued to do so long after Andrea and Stacy had left home, launched productive careers and given them three beautiful grandchildren.

So it was that she was on a trip – this one in South Carolina – when a whole different kind of journey began.

She remembers she had just gotten out of the shower in a nice hotel in Charleston when she began itching all over.

“I thought, maybe it’s the lovely toiletries at this nice hotel we were in,” she recalled with a wry laugh. “But I just continued to be itchy for the whole trip – and I was joking about it when we were with friends. Then I started to have stomach issues – but diarrhea while traveling is not unheard of. I didn’t feel quite right, but never in a million years would I have thought it was something serious.”

After they got home, and she was still itching, she started playing “the Google game” – “which I know you shouldn’t do, my husband is against that – but I was googling things and start seeing things about the bile duct. ‘I think I might have bile duct cancer,’” she told Randy – “but we were laughing, and he said, you don’t have to be concerned, that’s ridiculous.”

Randy, who is a head and neck surgeon, thought maybe it was something with her gall bladder. “We were like, ‘Oh, that will be a piece of cake – the gall bladder is no big deal.’”

But her first test was a sonogram, and there was nothing wrong with her gall bladder.

“My husband said, ‘That’s odd, I’m a little worried about that.’ And my husband’s not a big worrier, so when he worries I get freaked out.

‘Well, no,’ he said, ‘I just thought it would be your gall bladder … I’m just curious as to what could be going on.’”

The following week she had an endoscopy with general anesthesia. She vaguely remembers a nurse saying, “You have a tumor on your pancreas.”

“I said, ‘What? What are you talking about?

That can’t be right – where’s the doctor?’”

WORLD OF EXTREMES Pam Zane’s travels have opened her eyes to the planet’s vast diversity – from the soaring peaks of the Andes to the exquisite landscapes of the South Pacific. Here, she treks in Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, and kayaks in Bora Bora.

The doctor was on the phone with her husband, discussing the findings. The next day, on Labor Day weekend of 2016, she received the definitive diagnosis: pancreatic cancer.

She was devastated. She thought of her brand-new grandson, Knox, born just six weeks

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 44

before. “I thought: ‘Why does God want to take me away from my grandchildren?’ We just thought it was a death sentence.”

Randy had encountered cases in his residency in medical school, and he knew that it was a very tough cancer to beat. (continued on page 46)

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 45

ADVENTURES NORTH AND SOUTH Pam and Randy’s travels have taken them to the polar extremes. Here, she is on the Arctic Svalbard Polar Bear Cruise. She’s been to Antarctica twice, and also to the remote Rapa Nui, or Easter Island, of Chile.

“We’ve known several people who had it, and they’re not around,” Pam said.

Randy was even more distraught than she was.

“Initially it was very hard,” she said. “The first few weeks there was a lot of crying and a lot of depression. My husband was worse than me; my daughters were more worried about him. I think he felt like our world was turned upside down.”

But after meeting with the oncologist, Dr. Robert Wolff of MD Anderson, she began to take heart. “It is a bad cancer, but it’s not impossible to beat it,” she learned.

Pam was fortunate in that her cancer was confined to the head of the pancreas and had not spread, making her among the 20 percent of pancreatic cancer patients eligible for a type of surgery known as the Whipple procedure.

Normally it’s an 8- or 9-hour surgery, but her surgeon, Dr. Wade Rosenberg of Houston Methodist Hospital, did it in 3½ hours. “He came out to my family and they thought it was to just give an update, but he said, ‘No, I’m done.’”

She was in the hospital eight days, and went home on the ninth day – “but the great news was that I had all clean margins and no lymph nodes. So I was so happy. I had really the best news I could have.”

The couple had a long list of travel plans – all of which, they assumed, would have to be canceled. But Pam decided to put the question to her oncologist.

“I said, ‘I don’t want to do anything to disrupt treatment, but I have these trips planned, and is there any way to do them?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, we’re going to work around this, and you’re going to be fine. You’ll skip one treatment here, but you can have it just a week later.’”

She texted Randy right away.

“I said, ‘You’re not going to believe this but I can handle this – I’m going to have chemo every three weeks, and I can go in this trip, and we can go on that trip – he was so overwhelmed. He said, ‘You’re amazing. I can’t

(continued from page 44)

believe you’re saying this.’ And I said, yes, I think I can. I kind of surprised myself, but I left there feeling good, feeling like I have a chance.

I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m going to live while I’m here.

“I won’t say I didn’t cry plenty, but when I was with my daughters and my grandchildren, I enjoyed them. I would just do things that I enjoyed.”

After the diagnosis, the couple’s first trip was a fall foliage cruise from New York to Montreal.

It was a little over two weeks, and Pam had her chemo the day before they left and the day after their return.

“I tolerated the chemo and radiation very well, for whatever reason,” she said. “I’m not really the strongest person; I’m not super athletic or in the best shape, but for some reason, it didn’t bother me.”

She’s had her ups and downs, of course – for example, the two times when she got an abscess in her liver and had to be hospitalized for a procedure that ended up being more complicated and painful than the original surgery.

All of which made her hesitant to sign up for the cruise to Antarctica – they’d already been once, and she was worried about what might happen. But a group of friends were going for a more in-depth cruise, and she was intrigued.

Finally, she decided to go for it – and was glad she did.

“I really kind of surprised myself because I come from a typical Jewish family of worriers,” she said. “I’m not really a hypochondriac at all, but I surprise myself that I don’t dwell on it that much.”

Ethiopia was another one that made her hesitate for a moment – but only for a moment.

She’d been to Africa once, going on safari in Tanzania and gorilla watching in Rwanda. She’d always wanted to go to Ethiopia.

“Ethiopia is fascinating — when you see the people in these villages where time stood still for them,” she said. On the downside, there were

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 46

really no comfortable accommodations, and she worried about hygiene, especially when she noticed that there were no washing machines in the rustic cabin area where they stayed, and realized that the sheets were being washed in a dirty river that ran nearby. She ended up sleeping in her clothes.

“I know that it sounds cliché, but sometimes you don’t realize what you’re capable of – you hear that people rise to the occasion, and I think I did,” she said. “I made up my mind: I want to have that surgery and do whatever I can to get that thing out of me. I sure was not going to give up.”

The pandemic made the couple take a pause from their peripatetic lifestyle. But it was more because of cancellations than from fear of the virus.

She takes it seriously, and they take all the precautions – masks, distancing, and anything else they can do to be considerate and cautious.

“I don’t dismiss that people have died — my husband’s a doctor, and he’s the kind that doesn’t worry unnecessarily, but he takes it seriously too.

“However, I do still want to travel and go places, and I’m not really afraid. I think I have a sort of a bravery in me that I didn’t have before.”

The couple has a trip coming up to Greece, and – if they are allowed inside the European Union country — they will go.

“A part of it is that you don’t know how much time you have. And that’s true for anybody, I know that — but if you have a cancer diagnosis you have more of that feeling, like you really don’t know.

“It makes you really take it to heart that you just don’t know what’s around the corner, and you cannot live in a box.”

Editor’s note: Buzz travel columnist Tracy L. Barnett is a Lowell Thomas travel journalism award winner and longtime travel and environmental writer. Email her at info@thebuzzmagazines.com to share your own travel tales.

DINING

Chef’s Corner T

Allison Moorman

by Dai Huynh, staff writer

Virtual restaurants

he restaurant industry has faced highs and lows, but you always can count on it to bounce back from a flood or hurricane. Restaurateurs can project when their new eateries will open even amid such calamities.

This isn’t the case now.

Despite uncertainty around the pandemic, some are moving forward with new concepts, but expect coronavirus to reshape the dining business for years to come.

A growing number of restaurateurs are creating virtual brands available for delivery only. For example, there’s Levi Goode’s to-go-only Goode Bird, which operates out of Goode Company’s Armadillo Palace (5015 Kirby).

Orders can be placed over the phone for daily pickup, or get the buttermilk fried chicken and the spitfire-roasted version delivered, along with to-go cocktails, such as the Double Birdie, a single-barrel bourbon concoction with freshbrewed tea and lemonade.

“We’ve sold out of chicken every day,” says Goode, who is donating 1 percent of Goode Bird earnings to Houston charities. “As crazy as it’s been, it has been slightly refreshing to take a fresh look at everything. We ask ourselves, ‘What does the future demand?’”

For others, it’s a way to maximize their kitchens and hire back employees, even though social-distancing restrictions have shackled dining rooms. Some chefs even view this as an opportunity to expand their culinary reach and bolster dwindling dine-in revenue.

When restaurants were capped at 50 percent capacity, chef Alex Au-Yeung decided to expand his takeout business to inside the Loop.

Launched in September, the ghost (virtual) concept Phat Kitchen preps meals in a rented 400-square-foot kitchen space in Cloud Kitchens’ Blodgett Food Hall, between Third Ward and the Museum District. Phat Kitchen serves many Malaysian specialties from AuYeung’s brick-and-mortar Phat Eatery in Katy.

After the rollout of popular Phat items such as curry laksa, roti canai and beef rendang, AuYeung intends to introduce two more Asian virtual concepts – YELO and Pig+Duck – which will feature a modern twist on Chinese roasted

duck and barbecue, such as char siu.

YELO was intended to be a brick-and-mortar Vietnamese banh mi and coffee shop, but with construction delays from the pandemic, AuYeung and executive chef Cuc Lam plan to operate YELO as a virtual concept until they can open the physical location next to Phat Eatery in the bustling Katy Asian Town, at I10 and the Grand TO-GO Levi Goode spent countless weekends over the year perfecting his southParkway. ern fried chicken before launching to-go-only Goode Bird.

“Instead of building a anticipated waterfront restaurant, with former brick-and-mortar, we can get started much Brennan’s executive chef Joe Cervantez penquicker this way and reach a much broader audining the modern seafood menu, was set to open ence,” Au-Yeung says. in July. Now Halili is shooting for a fall opening.

Before the pandemic, a bevy of new restau“Right now, you just have to go with the flow rants were set to open this fall in anticipation of because everything can change tomorrow,” says the holiday rush. Now, investors are taking a the second-generation oyster man, whose family wait-and-see approach, keeping their fingers operates Prestige Oysters Inc., one of the largest crossed for those restaurateurs and chefs who are providers of fresh bivalves in the country. The struggling to stay afloat while lobbying for finanprocessing house is about six blocks down the cial help. Still, with the ball already rolling, a road, and diners can expect waterfront views of few have moved forward. working oyster and shrimp boats while forking Although Clark Cooper Concepts plans to into wood-grilled oysters and fresh catches, open its health-driven Satisfy (2229 San Felipe) along with Cervantez’s fresh, modern twist on this fall, everything else, including the concept seafood fare. replacing Punk’s Simple Southern Food, is on For now, Cervantez is focusing on to-go hold. Meanwhile, Punk’s is home to Daddy’s lunchboxes in lieu of dine-in restrictions, but he Burgers, a pop-up that Grant Cooper and his anticipates a time when limits are lifted and partner, chef Charles Clark, have been testing guests can choose their preferred wood and comduring the pandemic with success. Plans are to pound butter, then sit back and watch their find a permanent home to serve their grass-fed shellfish roasting. burgers and tater tots.

“It’s hard to plan because we don’t know Editor’s note: Buzz dining columnist Dai Huynh when it’s going to settle down. It may be the is a James Beard food-journalism award winner and middle of the road, but I’d rather go 100 perlongtime Houston-based restaurant writer. cent,” Cooper says.

One of the most anticipated concepts this year is Raz Halili’s Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com for the recipe House (113 6th Street in San Leon), between for Levi Goode’s favorite cocktail, the Double Birdie.

Red Fish Island and Prestige Point. The much-

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 48

MORE ONLINE

SPORTS

by Todd Freed, staff writer

SportzBuzz

Donald Boyle

.

L

ocal high school football teams had reason to celebrate as the UIL announced an official start date of Sept. 24-26 for Class 5A and 6A schools.

“When the news was released, we were ecstatic and on cloud nine,” said Stratford Spartans football coach Trent Miller. “The biggest thing is that we finally had a date to work with, and given what our sports programs have been through in recent months, it was some muchwelcome great news.”

With the coronavirus pandemic, sports such as baseball, softball, soccer and track and field were cancelled last semester. The speculation of a shortened or even cancelled football season this fall had loomed until the UIL cleared the way for a full season, albeit with a delayed late September start. “Our hearts still go out to all the athletes who didn’t get to finish their seasons this spring, so we’re keeping them in our thoughts,” said Miller. With the delayed start, the regular season will extend beyond the Thanksgiving break, with the playoffs continuing through early January.

“On the field, I kind of feel this is our year to make a strong playoff push,” said Miller. “We have several key returning starters, including receiver Ben Moseley, running backs Darese Steptoe and Diego Denson, as well as quarterbacks AJ Abbott and Dylan Shoemake.”

Defensively, Miller says he expects major contributions from nose tackle Reco Griffin, linebacker Drew Arend and defensive back Luke Simonich. Also, Connor Able is considered one of the nation’s top deep snappers.

Strake Jesuit’s Klay Kubiak enters his third season as the Crusaders’ head coach, with high expectations and excitement for the upcoming season. “Our campus has been shut down all summer, so we’ll be playing our first game on either the last week of September or the first week of October. It is just reassuring to know that we finally have a target date for the start of practice followed by our first games. I expect us to have a really good team, so we’re extremely anxious to get back to work.”

The Crusaders should have plenty to work with, including a strong senior class from a team

STATE CHAMPIONS The Kyle Chapman Baseball 17U team beat out 32 of the top select teams from across the state to win this summer’s Texas Premiere 17 and under state championship.

that went a lofty 10-3 last season while advancing to the third round of the Class 6A playoffs.

“Our offensive line should be especially strong with starters Max Merrill, Luke Melton and Sean Lade all back,” said Kubiak. The Crusaders also return all-district receiver Robert Smith as well as talented running backs Alex May and Joel Crawford. On defense, the Crusaders are experienced, with the return of standout linemen Jacob Psyk and Reid Codwell, as well as twoyear starting defensive back Lance Saizon and linebacker and team captain Jayce Bordelon.

The Kyle Chapman Baseball 17U team, featuring highly touted players from several local high schools, captured this summer’s Texas Premiere 17 and Under state championship. In the championship-game victory, Episcopal Knights product Tanner Witt struck out 10 batters while Episcopal rising senior Stephen Pena was named the tournament MVP. Stratford outfielder Tab Tracy, Second Baptist first baseman Bryce Calloway and Pearland Oiler RJ Patrick were also named All-Tournament. In addition, Strake Jesuit’s Carson Brown pitched the final inning in the title-game victory.

“We had 32 of the best select teams competing from across the state,” said Kyle Chapman

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 50

Baseball Program director Michael Rutledge.

“We were fortunate enough to be able to play the tournament in Franklin, Texas, near College Station, where there hadn’t been any cases of the coronavirus. Most of the other fields across the state were simply shut down.”

With the high school season cancelled, having the Summer Select league available to the players became even more critical to showcase their skills to collegiate scouts. “It’s going to be a lot more difficult for these guys to find a place to play college baseball with all that’s been going on with the coronavirus, but we were at least able to have a number of Division 2 and Division 3 collegiate scouts at our state tournament,” said Rutledge. “We also had games on video feeds for college scouts to see them, so this was a big avenue for our kids to display their talents.

“Plus, our guys just wanted to play and compete since their high school seasons were cut really short this spring. We overcame a lot of key injuries in the process, and it turned into a really fulfilling championship for our kids.”

Editor’s note: To submit high school sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, please email todd@thebuzzmagazines.com.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 51

SPORTS

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by Angie Frederickson, staff writer

SportzBuzz Jr. W

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

Legends on the field The Texas Legends (top photo) are 14U baseball tournament champs.

After playing games at the Bear Creek baseball fields and The Rac in Waller, the team won the PG South Texas Youth summer championship.

Led by head coach John Arredondo and assistant coach/general manager Walter Lynch, the Legends defeated a team from Hunter Pence Baseball Academy to win the final game with a score of 4-2. Most of the boys have been playing together for about a year, and look forward to more tournaments in the future. Tournament champs are (top row, from left) Mason Chiu, Ryan Coco, Jacob Murillo, John Corder, Mason Sly, Chase Gray, David Chiu, (bottom row, from left) Dawson Tiras, Alex Leif and Cooper Durham. Not pictured: Austin Conte.

The road to nationals Softball players and their dads celebrated Father’s Day weekend at the Father and Me tournament in Splendora. The 10U Stix Hustlers (middle photo) won the tournament and continued playing in other tournaments for the next five weekends, leading to Nationals, where they came in fourth place.

Coach Juan Garcia prepared the team with practices for small groups of players, so they could keep a safe distance from each other, and led the girls to a winning summer. The Stix team includes (top row, from left) coaches Juan Garcia, Dan Bass, Kris Westbrook and Billy Forney, (middle row, from left) Lucy Burke, Kirsten Moon, Riley Most, Ceci Bass, Isabella Vaquero, Celeste Reed, (bottom row, from left) Kathalina Garcia, Caroline Loper, Lexie Forney, Rebecca Balke, Sadie Westbrook and Penelope England.

Successful summer The Houston Royals Blue 11U select team (bottom photo) wrapped up a summer of tournaments. The team played in the PG Double Play Classic, Line Drive Classic, 1st Annual Splash Bash and Summer Kickoff tournaments. Strengths of the team that carried them through the season included turning double plays, pick-offs, diving catches and 3-pitch innings. Most of the boys have been together for five years, and they have welcomed new players over the last few seasons. Heading into the fall, the team plans to play every other weekend through early December. The 11U Houston Royals Blue players are (from left) Hudson Cozart, Aaron Becerra, Logan Myers, Maveric Clarin-Jante, coach Walby Hiraldo, Blake Livingstone, Jack Cook, Reid Houston, Nick Starling and Charlie Garms. Not pictured: Grant Berry and Will Paterson.

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.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 52

St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School PK4 – 8th Grade NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL RELIGIOUS EDUCATION, ADVANCED ACADEMICS, S.T.E.M. CERTIFIED, FINE ARTS, AFTERSCHOOL ENRICHMENT & ATHLETICS Apply online at saintvincentschool.org 6802 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, TX 77025 WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 53

CAMP DURING QUARANTINE Avery Hildreth (pictured, cooking), a seventh grader at St. Mark’s Episcopal School, enjoyed Periwinkle Day Camp, which took place virtually this summer.

KIDS

by Avery Hildreth, age 12

Buzz Kidz I

Summer camp, from home

heard Periwinkle is a very cool day camp.

This year, it was a virtual day camp. For my first virtual camp, it was fun! My sister Ella did virtual camp with me also. All the campers’ brothers and sisters were there too. I think it made it more fun with family involved.

Periwinkle is a foundation that sends kids with cancer to camp.

We did many different activities every day on Zoom. Periwinkle sent us both a big purple box of activities to do during camp. Each day started with morning energizers for everyone at camp.

Then the leader told us what we were doing that day, and we got to move to different rooms with our counselors.

On the first day we got to do a scavenger hunt! The first thing we were asked to find was

a piece of fruit, and kids were so fast! Then we did something with wheels, which was kind of hard. Finally, we had to find a remote and tell the counselors our favorite TV show.

My other favorite activities were playing No Crust, I Spy, and learning how to do origami.

We had a very fun origami teacher, and she taught us how to make cat hats out of a sheet of paper. She also gave us more origami crafts to do on our own after camp. My sister loved the fortbuilding challenge the best.

Our Periwinkle box also had some activities to do after camp. One of the ones I enjoyed the most was cooking. I cooked mac and cheese one day. It was so fun to make, and it was yummy. One of the crafts we did was planting flowers. That was really cool too, and now my

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flowers are growing.

Periwinkle Camp was super fun. The counselors were funny, nice and helpful with questions. Periwinkle Camp means a lot to me, and it helps a lot of kids. I want to thank all the counselors and Periwinkle donors who helped make this camp possible.

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

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PETS

Get Your Morning Buzz

Neighborhood Tails Dolly, Cavapoo, age 2, Community Dr. Do you know someone who drives you crazy, but you can’t help but love them? Yep, that’s me – Dolly. I am a Cavapoo, and I just turned 2 years old. I can make my family want to scream from my mischief, but then they forgive everything (most of the time) when I cuddle close or roll onto my back for a belly rub. Our backyard is full of lizards and butterflies – you should see me pounce into the bushes trying to catch them! I have a 14-year-old poodle-mix big brother who I like to chase and wrestle with. We are sure to let our family know if someone comes to the door or walks past on the sidewalk. Maybe we are loud, but really, all we want to do is play!

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.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 56

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

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

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Can you be allergic to marijuana?

Yes, you can be allergic to marijuana. As more states have legalized medical and/or recreational use of marijuana, the prevalence of allergic reactions has increased. While most reactions are mild, some can be life threatening.

The Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology published a review of marijuana allergy in 2015 (Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 114 (2015) 187-192).

Lead author Dr. Thad Ocampo stated: “It wasn’t necessarily a surprise that a pollinating plant could cause allergies, but I was surprised by the variety of allergic conditions that have been attributed to cannabis use and exposure.” Besides rhinitis symptoms of runny nose, sneezing or watery eyes, exposure to marijuana can also cause hives or dermatitis. However, sometimes symptoms can be very severe.

Kathryn is a former police detective in a small town outside of Houston.

She began to experience anaphylaxis upon indirect exposure to marijuana in 2010. She would get itchy skin, then her throat would close up and a few seconds later, she would lose consciousness. After calling several allergy clinics and being told that severe marijuana allergy either does not exist or is something that can’t be treated, she called us. We found a medical regimen that kept her out of emergency rooms, though she does still get mild reactions (tingling of the skin) when exposed, and we presented her case (Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Vol. 131, Issue 2, AB215) at the 2013 annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

Unfortunately, the best way to treat marijuana allergy is to avoid it.

There is no commercially available method to test for it and is no current method to desensitize to the allergy, like how we would use allergy shots

to treat dust mite or pollen allergy, or how we use oral peanut solution to treat severe peanut allergy.

Per Dr. Ocampo, there are many allergens in marijuana, so it’s possible to be allergic to hemp or CBD oil as well.

For those living in states where marijuana is legal, avoidance may involve changing occupations. Although still relatively uncommon, allergic disease associated with marijuana exposure and use has been reported with increased frequency, and will undoubtedly increase further as more states legalize it. Direct treatment of marijuana allergy by use of desensitization is not yet on the horizon, but if exposure cannot be avoided and symptoms are bothersome, we should be able to devise a treatment plan to minimize symptoms.

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

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

Voted #1 Local Jewelry Store in Houston 2020

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Family settlement agreements in probate In popular imagination, probate is divorce court for dead people, with similar drama and expense. More often probate is like watching paint dry.

Family settlement agreements are one reason why.

Rather than litigate, Texas encourages family to negotiate. On death, title vests immediately in your beneficiaries (if you left a Will) or heirs (if you did not). They are free to change your plan of distribution. They can also, legally, suppress your will, and agree not to probate it. At some point, it’s their money, not yours.

Family settlement agreements can be set aside for fraud. Full asset disclosure is the best policy. Sometimes probate is necessary to gather enough information. In those cases, settlement follows probate rather than avoids it.

Court approval of the settlement is always available but not always required.

Beneficiaries can agree not to fund a trust. If Dad wrote his will in 1980, he probably included a bypass trust to minimize the estate tax burden on Mom’s death. The exclusion amount then was only $161,000. That same bypass trust may be downright silly in 2020, with an exclusion amount today well over $10 million. Rather than fund the trust and bear the expense of funding and administration, the trustee and beneficiaries may agree to instead distribute the money directly to family.

When an agreement shifts value from one beneficiary to another, the result can be a taxable gift, with the tax payable by the donor rather than the donee. The burden falls on the one who gave up the money, not the one who received it. There are significant exceptions enabling transfers without taxation, including i) compromise and settlement of threatened estate liti-

gation and ii) conforming distributions to decedent’s original intent. An unhappy family can sort things out tax-free, and so can the happy one if all they do is clean up Mom’s mistakes and do what she wanted.

For complete relief, every distributee of Decedent’s estate must join the agreement.

That can mean all family and maybe a trustee, but not necessarily the executor or creditors. When a charity is involved, the Texas Attorney General must receive notice.

Court approval is usually required for minor beneficiaries, although virtual representation by a parent is authorized for certain trust settlements.

This article was not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by the taxpayer, for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer.

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, bellaireprobate.com/blog

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by Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld, staff writer

Buzz About Town Drive-by baby shower Baby Ellie Sylvester was showered with love at a drive-by baby shower. Mom-to-be Elisabeth’s (in middle) best friends, Claire Juist (on left) and Ginny Alagugurusamy (on right), hosted the coronavirus-friendly celebration in Ginny’s front yard. The yard was decorated with pink, white and gold balloons, and guests were offered a drive-by taco station and a mimosa station, with to-go cups personalized with Ellie’s name.

Guests decorated their cars with pink tulle. Baby Ellie is due Sept. 11, which is meaningful because it’s Elisabeth’s grandfather’s birthday. Dad-to-be Jonathan Sylvester enjoyed the occasion, taking photos and saying hello from a distance. Thrilled grandparents-to-be are Claudia and Andras

Bognar and Ray Sylvester and Gena Sylvester.

Elisabeth said the celebration was truly special, especially since she’s been leaving home only to go to doctor’s appointments.

Mask on Patrick Tsang, a seventh grader at St. John's, has been using his 3D printer and laser-engraving skills to produce a number of Covid-friendly creations. He donates the money he earns to the Houston Food Bank. Patrick’s face mask keeper consists of a premium paracord, break-away safety connector, and a name tag and push button adjuster. The idea is to help the mask fit better and be more comfortable while letting people safely store their masks (hanging around their

necks) while eating. In March, Patrick started making ear savers, providing comfort for medical workers. He has created and donated over 2,000 ear savers to date. In addition, he creates and sells mask strap extenders, name tags for face shields, and signs like #MaskOn. For more and a link to Patrick’s website, search “Mask On: Student Makes Mask Life Easier while Giving Back” by Julie Beasley at thebuzzmagazines.com.

School supplies mitzvah project

Jillian Garrett and Zev Goetz were called to the Torah at Congregation Beth Yeshurun for their B’nai Mitzvah on Aug. 21-22. Zev and Jillian are eighth graders at The Emery/Weiner School.

Their Torah portion focused on justice, so they decided their B’nai mitzvah (continued on page 62) WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 60

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(continued from page 60) project would be centered

around social justice, including access to education. They chose to sponsor Lockhart Elementary School, located in Third Ward, and donate to local nonprofit Eight Million Stories, which helps educate and provide practical skills to vulnerable youth. Jillian and Zev collected school supplies from friends and family, through an Amazon Wish List and by placing donation boxes in front of businesses. They delivered school supplies and monetary donations to the school and will donate a portion of their B’nai mitzvah gift money to Eight Million Stories. Zev and Jillian will be accepting items through mid-October; find their Amazon Wish List by searching Lockhart Elementary Wish List: Garrett Goetz.

21 Garden Club of Houston board of directors: (front row, from left) first vice-president Meg Tapp, corresponding secretary Sheila Mayfield; (middle, from left) immediate past-president Margaret Pierce, president Julie Griffin, treasurer Ruth Kelly; (back row, from left) second vicepresident Greta Zimmerman and recording secretary Gwen Smith. See houstonhospice.org.

supplies for three projects. Tess recommends the kits for kids in kindergarten and older. See Tess’ website at loopedtogether.com to request a kit or to see her demo videos.

Bark Mitzvah

Looped together

The spirit of Houston The nonprofit Houston Hospice’s 22nd annual Spirit Award Dinner will honor The Garden Club of Houston. This year, the celebration will be a hybrid event – a live-stream and in-person – Oct. 28, 7-9 p.m., at the River Oaks Country Club. The Laura Lee Blanton Community Spirit Award recognizes a community leader or organization that has made a positive impact on the Greater Houston Area. The Garden Club of Houston has supported many Houston-area green spaces, including The Garden at Houston Hospice, in addition to providing educational programs to children, teens and adults. This year’s speaker will be New York Times bestselling author and breast cancer survivor Elin Hilderbrand.

Chairs are Elizabeth and Peter Wareing.

Elizabeth is a longtime supporter of Houston Hospice and is also the daughter of Laura Lee Blanton, the namesake of the Spirit Award.

Pictured (photo taken pre-coronavirus) are 2020-

Tess Pacetti, a seventh grader at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School, was looking for something to learn over quarantine and decided on crochet. She taught herself using online resources, and then taught a few friends over Zoom. Then she decided to create video tutorials to teach others. Tess wanted to provide kids with supplies, so mom Kimberly took to a local Facebook group to see who had yarn to spare.

They ended up with a garbage bag full of colorful yarn, which helped provide the basics to create crochet kits. The kits include a hook, yarn and

The Musher family celebrated Samson’s Bark Mitzvah this summer. Samson was brought home as a stray 13 years ago, and Karol and Daniel Musher wanted to honor him with the ceremony. Shortly after Samson was rescued, the couple went to synagogue, and, undecided on a name for their new furry family member, they were struck by the rabbi’s mention of Samson that day. They agreed it was a fit. For the last 10 years, Karol has met regularly on Sunday mornings with a group of dog owners in the neighborhood, stopping for coffee and puppy lattes. Some of these neighbors gathered in the Musher’s lawn for the socially distanced Bark Mitzvah. Samson skipped the Torah reading, opting to lounge on the lawn instead, but he did wear a kippah. Daniel said a short prayer, and Karol baked and served individual muffins for each pup, made with peanut butter and topped with a dog biscuit. Karol and Daniel’s son, Benjamin, attended the Bark Mitzvah with wife Lydia and their children Talia, Avi, Noah, and Eli, who decorated a tablecloth with paw prints.

For more, search "Bark Mitzvah: Samson’s Celebration" by Deborah Lynn Blumberg at thebuzzmagazines.com.

Remembering McGee McGee brought joy to the O’Donnell household – and the entire neighborhood – for the last 12 years. Sadly, McGee recently passed away.

Sandra O’Donnell created a sign to inform their neighbors of their loss, and many reached out with kind words of sympathy. McGee was known as a charming “Houdini” due to her tendencies of slipping through (continued on page 64) WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ SEPTEMBER 2020 62

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Rotary member Bob Geary, West U Rotary member Cecile Schutter, West U Rotary member Geoff Lanceley, and West U Rotary member and food rescue driver John Thornton in front of Second Servings’ fourth refrigerated van. See secondservingshouston.org to learn more about how the nonprofit is helping, especially during the coronavirus, and see www.westurotary.org to learn more about upcoming happenings.

Slime story

she’s paid for the rest of her supplies. In the past, she sold slime at Little League games, the Houston Jewish Culture Fest, a birthday party and on Facebook. During quarantine, Sadie has spent lots of time working in her “slime room.”

She decided to donate proceeds to Texas Children’s Hospital; she had a positive experience there when she broke her arm and she knows so many Houstonians are sick due to coronavirus. She’s looking forward to selling slime at an in-person event in the future.

Paper art

(continued from page 62) an open door or jumping

a fence to explore the neighborhood on her own. Sandra and Pat met a lot of neighbors due to McGee’s antics over the years. After McGee passed, neighbor Zoe Drake, age 13, painted a beautiful portrait of her. Sandra and Pat hadn’t met Zoe or her parents before – she had seen the sign about McGee and, after losing her own dogs two years ago, she knew how heartbreaking the loss of a pet is. The O’Donnells say McGee will be missed and that they’ll always treasure the memories and the portrait. Pictured are Pat and grandson Nate holding the portrait of McGee.

Rotary for Second Servings Fifth grader Sadie Schwartz became enthralled with making slime about three years ago. She started watching YouTube videos, learning about ingredients and creative items to put in slime. She decided to start her own business selling homemade slime. Her parents bought her first round of supplies, and her grandparents gave her her first booth-rental cost; since then,

Photo courtesy of Second Servings

The Rotary Club of West U’s annual Golf Tournament fundraiser was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic – and then, on the scheduled day, cancelled due to inclement weather. Despite these challenges, club members raised $32,000, which will go toward Second Servings of Houston. The golfers received a voucher to play at a future date.

Pictured are (from left) founder and president of Second Servings Barbara Bronstein, West U

This summer, sixth grader Alexander Montoya had his hands full – of paper. The self-taught paper artist, finding himself with lots of extra time, focused on his original, detailed paper structures.

He’s created several Model Ts, a tiny observatory, an ice cream shop, a baby grand piano and a car trailer. Mom Heather loves displaying his artworks in glass boxes, including a home he made her for Mother’s Day. She also thought it would be nice for him to make a replica of a West U home featured in one of friend and author Chris Cander’s books, which Chris loved. Alexander said paper art takes a lot of time and focus and that paper thickness is key; he prefers notebook or printer paper. See “The Art of Paper Art” by Rachel Teichman at thebuzzmagazines.com for more.

Rodeo scholarships Although rodeo season was cut short this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo officials recently announced 644 students who received one of the organization’s educational scholarships.

Each student received $20,000 to apply toward a four-year undergraduate degree. Buzz-area recipients include Samiha Zaman, Bellaire High School; Scott Lai, BHS; Tasnim Gadalla, BHS; Starr Martin, BHS; Sara Thurman, Lamar High School; Tina Huynh, Lamar; William Moore-Jones, Lamar; Ana-Sofia Ruiz, Memorial High School; Alexander Hong, Stratford High School; Tran Banh, Stratford; Brennan Rouhana, Westside High School; Hanade Abdalla, Westside; Mary Parra Roman, Westside. See rodeohouston.com.

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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KIDS ROBOTIC ACADEMY ROBOTIC & COMPUTER PROGRAMMING Daily one-hour classes • Ages 3 - 14 Children’s STEM focused activities in the construction of robotic mechanisms and programming languages SPECIAL HALF DAY ARRANGEMENTS AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS SCHOOLING FROM HOME DURING COVID ADJUSTED SCHEDULE 713-454-7004 Ext 2, Bellaire/West U Ext 4, Fort Colony, Riverstone, Sienna Plantation 4007 Bellaire Blvd, Suite KK, Houston, TX 77025 kidsroboticacademy.com admin@kidsroboticacademy.com

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by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

Back Porch R

Jake Ryan and our 2020

emember Jake Ryan, the dreamy heartthrob from the ’80s movie Sixteen Candles? He was the boyfriend every teenage girl wished for. Even today, they swoon at his mention, 30 years later.

Well, Jake Ryan turns 60 this year. And it won’t be one of those “he looks the same as he did 30 years ago” birthdays. No, lots of us in our 40s and 50s suffered quite the shock upon seeing Jake’s recent photos (actually those of Michael Schoeffling, who played Jake Ryan), which circulated cross-country at warp speed via text and Instagram.

Jake Ryan’s massive descent from stud to oldschool kind of sums up 2020. This year stepped in with a bang: A new decade! A palindrome year! And then.

And then Jake Ryan got old.

It’s not just poor Jake. We’re all feeling pretty old by now, a full six months into this pandemic, roughly 24 weeks of cancelled graduations and rescheduled weddings and rearranged life-as-weknew-it.

I can’t speak for everyone else, but when we went into lockdown – on Friday the Thirteenth of March, no less – I was giving it two weeks. I was totally baffled by the question of how to stock a pantry that would last without a weekly or bi-weekly trip to the store. (Proof: the stories “Back Porch Table: The prepare-your-pantrybut-don’t-panic-edition” and “Back Porch Table: The let’s-get-real-about-the-pantry-edition.”) Looking back, I realize the pantry-stocking conundrum was akin to the feeling new parents have when their baby starts solid food. It’s daunting for about a week, and then you realize there are going to be a whole lot of exponentially trickier issues.

Starting in March, the month that felt like 476 days, we entered a world where no one knows whether it’s Tuesday or Saturday. And, really, at the start of this new reality, did it even matter? Officing at our dining room tables didn’t require a tightly kept calendar. Nor did it require a wardrobe that included buttons or zippers.

And the lack of buttons and zippers, along with so much extra time spent not in our cars and not in the gyms, which had closed, led us

straight to: “I’m baking everything I’ve wanted to bake for the past 10 years but haven’t had the time!”

We couldn’t give any of those yummy treats away because nobody wanted to touch anything we’d gotten close to (remember, social distancing).

Hence, buttons and zippers will be just a memory, at least for the foreseeable future.

Thank goodness NOT NORMAL In a year when the actor who played '80s heartthrob Jake Ryan turned 60, the Best Picture was a movie called Parasite, and many of us didn't leave the house for Zoom only has months at a time, we just have to try to roll with the punches. room for headwhich is now just Normal, we started enjoying and-shoulders images. Like a mullet (business in neighborhood walks with friends, socially disthe front, party in the back), we can now throw tanced happy hours on front lawns, family game a jacket or semi-presentable top over our PJs, nights. Even if our kids tried (unsuccessfully) to and no one is the wiser. Meetings and happy buck our insistence that they stay at home, I hours got a whole lot more comfortable. have to think that we shared some quality And then…Netflix and Tiger King and Joe laugh-till-you-hurt moments watching the thouExotic. There is no way a series about an altersands of TikTok videos getting posted daily by nate universe of people obsessed with big cats celebrities, bored teenagers and whole families could have become viral, except in an alternate trying to entertain themselves. That is, until we universe where the world was so bored at home were told to erase the app ASAP because that this kind of a show could engage millions TikTok is actually spying on all of us. of us. Maybe we should have guessed that hard And what about the killer hornets? times were ahead when, in January, the The weight of the events of 2020 cannot be Academy Award for Best Picture went to a film overstated, especially the killings of Ahmaud called Parasite.

Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. And Even in the first, relatively quiet two months the coronavirus and deaths and the economy of 2020, we had lived through a presidential and more. We are living in serious, hard times. impeachment and acquittal. There was Prince But we’ve got to find a way to live in them, Harry exiting London, Kobe Bryant’s tragic heland, at least for me, a big part of that is being icopter ride, Harvey Weinstein going to jail, and able to shake my head and laugh when I can. those poor koalas in the Australian brush fires.

Like when Jake Ryan – my lifelong crush – Still, we were oblivious to the changes coming turns 60. our way.

None of this must be real.

Once we settled in to our New Normal,

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