School Buzz
Jackson Yi and Emma Mankarious
by Caroline Siegfried
EDITOR’S NOTE
In this issue, meet our 2025-26 School Buzz correspondents. Every fall, we kick off our School Buzz program with a photo shoot. Students, ranging from high school freshmen to seniors, coming from 19 local schools, gather to get their photos taken, meet each other, and learn more about the program. I love asking these passionate young journalists why they applied to School Buzz, which has gotten more competitive over the years. Many said they grew up reading The Buzz (music to my ears). No matter what brought the students to us, we are excited to continue offering this opportunity to the students and to the community. Also in this issue, meet a couple who celebrates Halloween in a big way; get in the spirit of the holiday with creepy reads and thrillers recommended by book reviewer Cindy Burnett; and read about kids who participate in youth running clubs. This issue is full of neighbors who go the extra mile. Know a Buzz resident who’s doing something Buzzworthy? Let us know. As always, we love to hear your feedback and stories. joni@thebuzzmagazines.com
THE BUZZ MAGAZINES
by Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401
Editor-in-Chief
Joni Hoffman
Publisher Michael Hoffman
Editor Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld
Associate Editor Caroline Siegfried
Design Manager John Duboise
Staff Writers Tracy L. Barnett
Sharon Albert Brier
Cindy Burnett
Andria Dilling
Angie Frederickson
Todd Freed
Cindy Gabriel
Cathy Gordon
Michelle Casas Groogan
Dai Huynh
Annie Blaylock McQueen
Jennifer Oakley
Ben Portnoy
Cheryl Ursin
Accounting & Contract Administrator Meena Dost
Account Managers Andrea Blitzer
Leslie Little
Jo Rogers
Your letters, thoughts, opinions
A shared passion
We read this article [Caterpillars to Companions: How monarch butterflies turned neighbors into family by Cathy Gordon, Sept. 2025] with great interest as we are huge butterfly enthusiasts!
We would love to make contact with Laura Van Syoc and Joe Cialone because we have had few butterflies and butterfly larva this year in our West University yard compared to other years and are so disappointed and would love to know if Laura and Joe are experiencing the same thing. In addition, we have tons of milkweed to share with them if they need it.
Marlene Hollier and Frank Foster
Editor’s note: Thank you for reaching out. We’ve passed your correspondence onto Laura and Joe and hope you all connect!
Connecting neighbors
Ms. Cathy Gordon: Much enjoyed the lengthy article on those beautiful monarch butterflies. It is certainly a small world that neighbors Mr. Cialone in his 80s and the Van Syoc sisters young enough to be his great-grandgirls are all into monarchs.
Of interest I just read online is that those east of the Rockies migrate as far north back and forth Canada to central Mexico and some to Florida, while those west of the Rockies head for California or northern Mexico. Furthermore, some migrate less than a hundred miles, and some don’t migrate at all.
As is often the case with animals, they are in decline for a number of reasons.
Bennett Fisher
Top-notch Buzz feature
Last night, after my husband and I finished dinner, he asked if there was anything interesting to read in this month’s Memorial Buzz. I told him I bet there was and started flipping through the issue that laid on the kitchen table in search of the article that went with the cover photo [Runways and Reins: A trio of friends saddle up at IAH by Cathy Gordon, Sept. 2025]. I ended up reading the entire article to him, something I have never done before. We both learned something new. It was so interesting!
I honestly think it was one of your best features. Thank you for sharing your story.
Francine Gorelic
Todes
Buzzing about The Beehive
We are so blessed to be a part of The Beehive events [as featured in The Buzz about The Beehive: The sacredness of belonging by Michelle Casas Groogan, Aug. 2025]! Such a great group of teens that treat our kids with dignity and true friendship! My son Carter comes home talking a million miles a minute after every Beehive event. He is typically not very commu-
nicative but comes alive after these social events.
Susan Collins
Everyone is connected
Thank you, Cindy Gabriel, for the article Before the Flood, After the Flood [Aug. 2025]. And thank you for the beautifully written obituaries for Blake and Blakely. Your words touched me, and I am sure many others who read the insightful article.
My husband Randy and I were to be at Mo Ranch the weekend after July 4th with our First Presbyterian Church family. Obviously, it was canceled…we had church families that were directly affected with the loss of precious granddaughters. As you said, “everyone seems to be connected to one or more of the grieving families in some way.”
Thank you for sharing your G-d/God given talent of writing with us!
Beverly Schorre
Email us at mailbag@thebuzzmagazines.com. Or send to Mailbag, The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet St., Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401. Please include your name, address, phone number and email address for verification purposes. Letters or emails addressed to The Buzz Magazines become the property of the magazine, and it owns all rights to their use for publication. Addresses, phone numbers and email addresses will not be published. Letters are subject to editing for clarity and length. Views expressed in letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Buzz Magazines, and The Buzz takes no responsibility for the content and opinions expressed in them.
What’s your story?
We are looking for residents for upcoming articles who:
• Have special holiday or New Year’s traditions.
• Know a Buzzworthy neighbor to feature.
• Have a milestone life event to share.
• Have a sweet multi-generational story.
• Have a compelling travel tale.
If this sounds like you or someone you know, please contact us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com or 713.668.4157, ext 102.
Inside This Issue
School Buzz 2025-26 by Caroline Siegfried Meet our 2025-26 School Buzz correspondents.
Buzz Reads by Cindy Burnett
4 Editor’s Note
Mailbag: Letters from Readers
Youth Running Clubs: Moving bodies and minds by Annie Blaylock McQueen
Running clubs can be a fun way to encourage kids to get active and get outdoors, together.
Spooky Reads: Thrillers, mysteries, and ghost stories for Halloween by Cindy Burnett
Get in the Halloween spirit with these reads.
A Creepy Addiction: Taking Halloween over the top by Andria Dilling
Claudia and Bryan Jarrard go all out for Halloween.
Rumor Has It by Sharon Albert Brier
Travel Buzz: Houston Scouts Navigate Maine’s Allagash Waterway by Tracy L. Barnett
Boy Scouts from Troop 599 completed a 50-mile backcountry canoe trek through Maine’s remote Allagash Waterway.
Book reviewer Cindy Burnett recommends five recently or soon-to-be released titles.
SportzBuzz by Todd Freed
Bellaire High School football; St. John’s School girls volleyball; Memorial High School girls volleyball.
SportzBuzz Jr. by Annie Blaylock McQueen
Buzz Kidz: Entrevamp: Empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs by Aishwarya Singh
Neighborhood Tails by Chloe
Buzz About Town by Angie Frederickson
Back Porch: Teen Vocab: 2025 Edition by Andria Dilling
Feeling delulu when you listen to teens talk these days? This month’s Back Porch will help. No cap. 56 62 54 46 44 48 52
by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer
Youth Running Clubs
Moving bodies and minds
On a quiet Sunday morning in west Memorial, neighborhood kids and their parents gather near a driveway and lace up their shoes.
There are no timers. No finish lines. Just kids, ranging from age 6-13, ready to run, and parents ready to encourage them along their route. A typical morning has anywhere from 8 to 15 kids join.
They are the Thornwood Running Club, which started as something small in fall 2024. Mom-of-two and runner Augie Rayner and her husband Josh wanted to help their daughters, Amelia, 11, and Lucía, 8, train for the We are Houston 5K in January 2025 for the Chevron Houston Marathon weekend.
Their neighbors Kim and Kevin Lane, who have kids the same age, decided to join the family running club. What began as a family initiative soon expanded to include friends and eventually most of the neighborhood kids.
“We started running on Sunday mornings from our driveway,” Augie said. “It was about 1.5 to 1.75 miles at first. Then we added cul-desacs.” They worked on growing their goals, hitting one to four miles, depending on the kid’s age, while having fun along the way. The kids now conquer anywhere from one to four miles, depending on their age.
The young runners talk on their route, running without headphones, encouraging one another. “They evolve into their groups as they continue to develop their endurance,” said Augie. “Sometimes they are just running with friends, and sometimes they push each other to be more competitive.”
The idea behind TRC is simple: Keep kids moving, teach them how to set and complete small goals, and demonstrate consistency. “Our run club is really fun,” said 11-year-old Amelia Rayner. “I like how everyone does what is good for them. We go at a great pace for endurance and at the end, you can choose to stop or keep going with the faster part of the group.”
Josh often bikes ahead to lead the route and make sure everyone is staying safe. Other parents space out along the way to guide and motivate. “I love our run club because it is fun to run with other people and it makes everybody a little
stronger every time,” said 8-year-old Lucía.
Sometimes the kids are eager, other times less so. “We try to get them to commit to the number of cul-de-sacs before we start,” Augie said. “Usually, they surprise themselves by doing more.”
The group has participated in Houston running events such as the West U Halloween Dash and Kids Fun Run and the We Are Houston 5K. They trained through the school year, raced trails at Stephen F. Austin State Park, and even organized a holiday lights run, celebrating with treats afterward.
Another running group, The Houston Harriers, which was created in 1975 and restructured in 2017 by Doug Storey, focuses on competitive training but also keeps the club’s legacy in place by supporting athletes of all levels. Though the Harriers have long had a focus on adult athletes, the group is laying the groundwork for kids’ programs to introduce kids to track and cross country. It is taking off and growing in numbers.
Their event, Night of PRs, held annually in November, welcomes all ages to Rice University’s track. It is a chance for runners to push themselves and experience a real race environment. (See houstonharriers.com.)
Evie Faykus, an 8th grader at Pin Oak Middle School, participated in the event in 2024. It was her first time running a mile in a competition setting. She crossed the finish line, breathless. “I shouted to my mom who cheered from the sidelines, ‘that was terrible and so hard!’” said Evie. After cooling down, she began to smile. Her mom asked her if she would do it again. “Definitely,” she responded. The Harriers plan to hold the next Night of PRs in mid-November (see HoustonHarriers.com).
Mandarin Immersion Magnet School is intro-
ducing running to kids. Their running club was founded in 2019 by parents Flora Lai and Christy Bonahan. It has grown from 25 to over 100 student participants. “I loved running and wanted to share it with my energetic kids,” Flora said.
The format is low-key but structured. Students meet once a week and track their laps for over 12 weeks with a goal of reaching the marathon distance, 26.2 miles, by the end of the season. “We try to mimic the race experience,” Flora said. “We hold a 5K at the end of the program with medals for the finishers.” The group’s coaches are Flora Lai, Sarah Kegel, and Carrie Andrade.
For many of these kids, running is not about winning or being the fastest kid. It is about testing themselves and showing up.
For the parents, helping children set – and complete – running goals helps them learn the importance of moving their bodies. Along the way, these kids are learning that running does not just move bodies. It builds confidence, and it brings people together.
Editor’s note: This year, the West U Halloween Dash and Kids Fun Run takes place Sat., Oct. 25, 2025. See westutx.gov. The We Are Houston 5K takes place Sat., Jan. 10, 2026, and Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Half Marathon take place Sun., Jan. 11, 2026. See www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com.
TAKING OFF Youth running clubs are gaining popularity across Houston. Pictured (top photo): Pin Oak Middle School 8th grader Evie Faykus runs a mile at the 2024 Night of PRs at Rice University, representing the Houston Harriers, a club for both adults and youth. Pictured (bottom photo): The Thornwood Running Club, which meets for runs ranging from one to four miles. Pictured (back from, from left) are members and neighbors Taylor Nguyen, Ela Qureshi, Fiona Nickel, Ashley Nguyen, Everley Austin; (front row, from left) Riley Lane, Lee McClung, Hayden Dickinson, Ava Stanley, Lulu Austin, Lucía Rayner, and Blythe Wibel.
by Cindy Burnett, staff writer
Spooky Reads
Thrillers, mysteries, and ghost stories for Halloween
October often brings cooler weather, warmer clothes, and Halloween decorations. In the book world, October is associated with mysteries and thrillers as well as creepy ghost stories. I selected some fabulous books in that vein to help you enjoy the season. Grab your pumpkin spiced latte and get in a fall state of mind.
Thrillers with a supernatural vibe:
Home Before Dark by Riley Sager –Baneberry Hall, a Victorian mansion in a remote area of Vermont, is the setting of Riley Sager’s 2020 thriller. Twenty-five years ago, Maggie and her parents Ewan and Jess Holt lived in the house for three weeks before fleeing in the dead of night, never to return. Following their dramatic escape, Ewan wrote a non-fiction account, entitled House of Horrors, recounting the terrors and evil hauntings they experienced while living at Baneberry. Following Ewan’s death and with no memory of the events that he relays in House of Horrors, Maggie returns to the house determined to put the past behind her and prove that the property is not haunted. Alternating between the chapters of House of Horrors and Maggie’s present-day inhabitance of Baneberry Hall, the story slowly unfolds as Maggie begins to experience the events that happened in her father’s book and begins wondering if Baneberry is actually inhabited by ghosts. The story starts slowly but picks up momentum as the creepiness factor ratchets up, and I thoroughly enjoyed the clever and unexpected ending.
The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James – The Sun Down Motel is a creepy, rundown motel serving as a pit stop for travelers on their way through Fell, New York that also provides a place for locals to hide out. But when Viv and Carly, two women 35 years apart, learn there is someone or something else living at the Sun Down, they both become determined to find out who or what is haunting the motel and why. St. James’ pacing is perfect, and the book is awesomely creepy but not overly scary. The characters are so well developed, and I rooted for both Viv and Carly as they sought to understand
what was happening at The Sun Down Motel.
We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer – Eve is home by herself when Thomas and his family knock on her front door. Thomas explains that he grew up in the home Eve and her partner, Charlie, recently purchased. While she initially hesitates, Eve is a people pleaser and eventually allows the family in to look around. As soon as the family enters the home, strange things start happening, including the disappearance of the family’s youngest child somewhere within the dwelling, and the family refuses to leave. The eeriness factor is off the charts; We Used to Live Here is dripping with dread, tension, and a fun creepiness factor that kept me turning the pages, but it wasn’t so scary that I couldn’t sleep at night. Kliewer also sows doubt about whether Eve is actually experiencing these events or whether it might all be in her mind, which kept me guessing and crafts a spectacular ending.
ket. This thriller definitely fits the bill, and I loved the Texas setting as well.
Thrillers set in chilly settings:
Night Will Find You by Julia Heaberlin –Texan Julia Heaberlin hit it out of the ballpark with her thriller, Night Will Find You. At age 10, Vivvy Bouchet became famous when she made a prediction that saved a boy’s life. Years later, she is an astrophysicist who does her best to suppress the visions she sees. Mike, the boy she saved, grows up to be a cop, and believes that Vivvy still sees things that others do not. Mike ropes Vivvy into helping his friend Jesse, a skeptical police detective who only believes in things he can see, with a cold case regarding a kidnapped girl. I am always on the lookout for unique and entertaining thrillers – ones that don't read like countless other ones on the mar-
The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf – While staying at a remote farmhouse, true-crime writer Wylie Lark ends up snowed in as she is trying to write her latest book. The location would be ideal, except that decades earlier, at this same house, two people were brutally murdered and a girl disappeared who has not been seen since. As the storm settles in, Wylie finds herself stuck in the house, haunted by both its secrets and her own secrets. When she heads out to walk her dog, she finds a small child alone in the snow right outside the house where she is staying. She brings the child inside for warmth and safety and then begins to hunt for the child’s parents. The twists and turns were a lot of fun in this one; it was a page turner with a highly satisfying resolution.
Shiver by Allie Reynolds – Shiver is a closedcircle mystery set in the French Alps, which brings a group of friends
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HAUNTED HOUSES Fans of supernatural stories will enjoy We Used to Live Here and Home Before Dark
Cindy Burnett
together for a reunion. Upon arrival, the friends realize that nothing is at is seems and that someone will go to extreme lengths to solve a mystery from the past. The plot, the characters, and the mystery itself are all skillfully developed and kept me on the edge of my seat. The French Alps setting is very vivid, and the toggling back and forth between the past and present works very well to slowly unveil the relevant details to the reader.
The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh – This psychological thriller is set at The Shore, an exclusive community of lake lodges, at Llyn Drych (also known as Mirror Lake) under the shadow of Pen y Ddraig mountain and near the village of Cwm Coed, just inside the Welsh border with England. The town has a New Year’s Day tradition of a morning swim in the freezing cold Mirror Lake, but this year the swim is cut short when the body of a man is found floating in the lake. The victim, Rhys Lloyd, a local celebrity and has-been opera singer, is the developer of The Shore with his business partner Jonty Charlton. Due to The Shore’s location on the Wales/England border, a joint investigation with DC Ffion Morgan from North Wales and DC Leo Brady of Cheshire Major Crimes from the English side results. The story is written in a dual timeline format – the events that build up to the murder are relayed in the past, while the investigation into the murder is told in the present day – which works well for the mystery. I loved the Welsh setting with a glimpse into the Welsh culture and history and the solid cast of characters. This is book one of three to date in a series, and all three are fabulous.
Thrillers about missing persons:
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley – This atmospheric thriller takes place in a creepy, once-elegant apartment building in Paris where secrets lie just below the surface. As the book opens, Jess escapes a bad situation in England and flees to Paris to stay with her half-brother Ben, but when she arrives, Ben is gone. Bewildered by his absence since they had texted the day before, she approaches the other residents to inquire about Ben, but quickly realizes that no one wants her there nor do any of them want to talk about her brother. Foley combines a myriad of clever twists and turns, a fantastic setting, and a satisfying ending to create a thriller that you will not want to miss.
Don’t Look For Me by Wendy Walker –Molly Clarke disappeared one night with scarcely a trace, and her family doesn’t believe that she chose to walk away from them and the tragedy that defines them all. When a new lead surfaces soon after the investigation stalls, Molly’s daughter Nicole decides to investigate in the poor, decrepit town where her mom was last seen. Alternating between Molly’s and Nicole’s perspectives and shifting back and forth in time from day 1 of the disappearance and day 14 as Nicole launches her own search, the story rap-
idly unfolds as the reader learns more about Molly, Nicole, and the creepy town of Hastings and its inhabitants. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat until the clever and satisfying resolution.
The Last Flight by Julie Clark – The Last Flight is a high-octane thriller that begins with a bang and never slows down. Two women eager to flee their own lives agree to swap tickets for their flights at the last minute: Claire gives Eva her ticket to Puerto Rico and takes Eva’s ticket to Oakland. When the flight to Puerto Rico crashes into the ocean, Claire realizes she must assume Eva’s identity to survive, but quickly learns that Eva was not who she claimed to be. Toggling back and forth between the two women, the story rapidly unfolds revealing jaw-dropping twists and turns that you will not see coming. Clark skillfully blends great characters, beautiful writing, and a superb mystery, and I loved racing through it.
Standout thrillers that keep you turning the pages:
Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter –Twenty years ago, Luke Ryder was murdered in the garden of his swanky London home – and the killer was never found. In the present day, his stepson, TV director Guy Howard, hopes to solve the case by revisiting the crime through a Netflix docu-drama series entitled “Infamous”. Guy has assembled a panel of experts in various fields to sift
through the evidence and hopefully solve the case. Using a unique format divided by episodes and in script format, the investigation and evidence are presented in the form of emails, text messages, and newspaper articles and reviews, as well as discussions among the “experts” as they sift through the documents and debate the relevance of each detail. I am a huge fan of stories told in unique and clever formats, and Murder in the Family is a clear standout with a stunning ending.
These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant – Kimi Cunningham Grant’s compelling and haunting thriller stars a father and daughter duo who have been living in a remote cabin off the grid for eight years in the northern Appalachian woods. Lacking electricity and running water, Cooper and Finch’s only connection to the outside world are Cooper’s friend Jake, who owns their cabin and brings them supplies once a year, and a mysterious older guntoting neighbor named Scotland. But when Jake does not show up with supplies and Finch begins to push back on their isolated lifestyle, a series of events are set in motion that will challenge the life Cooper has created for them. This tension-filled story is a page turner.
For more book recommendations and bookish thoughts, see Cindy’s monthly Buzz Reads column, her award-winning Thoughts from a Page Podcast or follow @ThoughtsFromaPage on Instagram.
CHILLS AND THRILLS Looking for some spooky reads for the season? Try The Sun Down Motel or Night Will Find You to get in the spirit.
Cindy Burnett
by Andria Dilling, staff writer
A Creepy Addiction
Taking Halloween over the top
Last year, Claudia Jarrard called her husband from an antique shop in the Heights. She wanted to buy a coffin.
“They actually had a coffin,” Claudia says with excitement. “It was a prop, in a typical coffin shape, with a door. I took a picture and sent it to my husband and said I think we need this.”
And that is how Claudia’s self-described “sickness” for all things Halloween presents in the life of the Jarrards – Claudia, an interior designer, her husband Bryan, an international tax specialist, and their daughter Sofia, a grad student at the University of Houston.
It’s no wonder Claudia’s Halloween decorations collection lives in its own custom-built wall of shelving along two walls of the Jarrards’ garage. “I’ve probably been collecting for over 20 years,” she says, remembering a meme she once sent to her girlfriends: A house overshadowed by a giant, tall garage dedicated to Halloween decorations storage.
“It’s a disease,” Claudia explains, “so I can’t pass up something I see. If it’s unique, I’ll get it.”
Claudia shops all year for the decorations. “Pottery Barn, World Market, TJ Maxx, Michaels – I go crazy,” she says. Years ago, she worked as an in-house designer for the West University boutique Blue Leaf. “Let me tell you, the owner went all-out for Halloween. I still have decorations from that store. They are some of my favorite prized possessions.” Her stash includes a witch collection, a Dracula collection, and several special figurines signed by artists. The giant skeleton in the Jarrards’ front yard is from Costco.
When they lived in a one-story house, Claudia says, decorating was easy. “Kids would always come to our house and say it was their favorite.” Now in a two-story home, “it all looks like stick figures. It’s more challenging.”
For 10 years or so, Claudia and Bryan have been hosting an all-stops-pulled Halloween party. “We love the spookiness,” she says, “anything haunted and paranormal.” When asked why he loves Halloween, Bryan says diplomatically, “Primarily because my wife likes it.” (He’s speaking to us on the phone from Home Depot, where he has joined Claudia to buy new 2025
CREATIVE COSTUMES Claudia and Bryan Jarrard go all out for Halloween. For the past two years, they have dressed up with their friends Hallie Keller and Mitch Patterson. One year, Bryan and Claudia, Hallie and Mitch (pictured, from left) took costume inspiration from a Lucha Libre wrestling match.
decorations. What were they buying? “A big tree, it looks like, and a cat,” he reports.)
The party started when the Jarrards were, as Claudia says, “the oldest people on the block.”
All the neighbors are invited, via Evites and word of mouth, along with the Jarrards’ friends and the neighbors’ friends. More is merrier. “The funny thing is,” Claudia says, “the first [Halloween party] we had, three couples ended up pregnant [soon after].”
Usually held the Friday night before Halloween, the Jarrards’ party brings anywhere from 30 people (during the pandemic) to more than 70. “The front of our house is always the photo opp of the neighborhood!” she says.
The number-one party rule: Guests must come in costume. And they go all-out. Some of Claudia’s favorites through the years: a couple dressed as Smurfs, covered from head to toe in blue; someone dressed as Queen singer Freddie Mercury from the Live Aid concert in 1985, complete with glued-on underarm hair; and her own version of a devil, when she painted her
entire body in red paint and dressed her dog Blackberry up as a little devil sidekick, both wearing horns and tails. “For the next several weeks, I kept finding red body paint everywhere – in the ice machine, the fridge, the bathroom walls. Everywhere.
“There’s something about getting dressed up that I love, and it’s funny because so does my husband. I love the makeup and being someone else.”
That same year, which was the last one before Covid, Bryan dressed up like a character from a Charles Dickens novel. “I think that was my favorite year,” he says, “because it was the last really big party we had.” It was also before he and Claudia started coordinating their costumes.
For the past two years, Claudia and Bryan have dressed up with their friends Hallie Keller and Mitch Patterson. Last year they were vintage circus characters – the bearded lady, strong man, clown, and ringleader. The year before, they had taken a trip to Mexico City and attended a “Lucha Libre” masked wrestling match. “We looked at all the masks and
(continued on page 20)
(continued from page 18)
looked at each other and said This is what we need to dress up as this year! All four of us wore the masks and Lycra with tennis shoes. We had so much fun.”
The next day, they were talking about what to dress up as next year. “It’s so much fun preparing, ordering all the wigs and eyelashes and whatever we need. We live for it. It’s our Mardi Gras.”
In addition to the usual – a margarita machine, a DJ playing Top 40, country, salsa music –Claudia comes up with themed party snacks and drinks that are always a hit. “We’ll have Jell-O ‘blood’ shots in a basket, I’ll add roaches or spiders to things. Whatever looks gross or creepy.” Her favorite was the skull that she draped in prosciutto to look like it had no skin.
Claudia, who is originally from Venezuela and went to college at the University of Houston, comes to party-giving naturally. (She and Bryan
also spent a few years in Caracas prior to 2001, when he accepted an overseas assignment.) “It’s very much a cultural thing,” she says. “In Venezuela, everyone is inclusive; people want to gather and have a good time.”
As a single mother in Venezuela, Claudia’s mom supported her family by providing décor for birthday parties, baptisms, first communions – all the lifecycle events. And her grandmother was a caterer, a specialty of hers being wedding cakes. “In the Latin culture, we go all out for celebrations,” Claudia says.
“I was always helping my mom, watching her being so creative. She was a phenomenal cook,” Claudia says, adding that her mother went to pastry school. “The cooking gene bypassed me, and I took on the design gene,” she laughs. “But I still love to cook and love to host and love to decorate seasonally. I just grew up seeing it all.”
Sadly, Claudia’s mother, who married her high school sweetheart and moved to Houston when Claudia was 21, is no longer cooking or entertaining. “She has Alzheimer’s, and one of the first things to go was the ability to follow a recipe. She’d forget whether or not she put in an ingredient.”
Claudia posits that it might be her October birthday that makes Halloween so appealing, but it’s not just orange and black at the Jarrards’. “Oh no,” Claudia says. “I go all out for the Big Five.” And by “Big Five,” she means Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. “My house is a very neutral backdrop, so I can change it seasonally. Once Halloween is over, it’s all turkeys and pilgrims. Then comes Christmas. Then Christmas goes down and Valentine’s comes out. I’m a decorator. This is what I like to do.”
She also likes to share the
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NO TRICKS Clockwise, from upper left: (Back row) Molly Determan, Karen Wu, Jamie Pierce, Lisa Perrien, Emily Hammer, Abby Salmon, Sofia Jarrard, Thao Nguyen; (front row) Ana Castellano, Claudia Jarrard, and Hallie Keller all dressed up for one of the Jarrards' annual Halloween parties; "Bat Truffles" are cake balls disguised as friendly bats; a prosciutto-wrapped skull looks extra spooky; James Light dares to cross the giant skeleton to enter the Jarrards' Halloween party.
(continued from page 20)
celebrations. Claudia always hosts a Galentine’s brunch in February, and she’s hosted Thanksgiving for the past 23 years. “I have up to 50, so I set up tables everywhere with linens and silver,” she says. “I love doing tablescapes. And then for Christmas, you know, it’s the usual,” Claudia says, knowing that her “usual” might be another person’s “over-the-top.”
Still, Halloween will always be a favorite for Claudia, even though she shares (with a little remorse) the update: “I didn’t get the coffin.”
Mini Pumpkin Cheese Balls
From InspiredByCharm.com
2 packages (16 ounces) cream cheese, softened
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
½ cup finely chopped roasted red peppers, drained and patted dry
2 green onions, finely chopped
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper to taste
Crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos, paprika, and/or black sesame seeds
20 pretzel sticks
Minced flat-leaf parsley
Assorted crackers, for serving
In a medium bowl, use a wooden spoon to combine the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, roasted red peppers, green onions, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Add salt and pepper to
taste. Cover and chill for about an hour. Put the crushed Doritos, paprika, and black sesame seeds in separate, shallow bowls. Use a tablespoon measuring spoon to scoop the cheese mixture, roll into a ball, and set on a baking sheet. Continue until all of the cheese is rolled into balls. Roll 1/3 of the balls in Doritos, 1/3 in paprika, and 1/3 in sesame seeds. Use a wooden skewer to make marks up the sides of each ball and across the tops to resemble a pumpkin. Place half of a pretzel stick into the tops of each mini cheese ball, then garnish with a small leaf of parsley. Refrigerate until you're ready to serve.
For more fun Halloween recipe ideas, go to Claudia Jarrard’s “Halloween Food for Party” Pinterest board. (www.pinterest.com/cjarrard72/halloween-food-for-party/)
SPOOKS AND SNACKS Clockwise, from upper left: The Jarrards' front porch offers a Halloween photo opp; witches dance around a tree; mini pumpkins are made of boursin cheese and pretzels; a cheese ball takes on the look of a spider, thanks to a roll in poppy seeds.
. by Sharon Albert Brier, staff writer
Rumor Has It
Bring your card. The Houston Racquet Club Tuesday Mahj Squad embarked on their first annual retreat at Sheryl Fisher’s stunning Lake Travis home for a two-day Mah Jongg frenzy! With a tally sheet to track the wins, no one was “dragon” at the five sessions. Diane Roberts was crowned the Mahj Queen. A morning boat ride started with the East wind. The gals passed around and over the cooking jobs. Others there were Susan Weisselberg, Diane Rager, Cheryl Kramer, Denise Wilhite, Jane Grace, Mandy Wigginton, and Lynne Williams; Stephanie Jamison, Liz Butler, Sue McFarland, and Helen Crowe missed out on the fun!
Pink and green. Madelyn and McCartney Van Brunt are over the moon with their little bundle of joy, Greer Susan Van Brunt, born on July 12, 2025! Her room is a pink and green paradise with dog-themed decor, including watercolor prints featuring their black Labrador, Rita. Greer dreams of growing big and strong, being kind and courageous, and playing dress-up. With Rita and their two cats, Fletch and Loosa, watching over her, Greer is surrounded by love and laughter. Grandparent love is shared by Gretchen and Alan Hilyard and Greta and Eric Van Brunt. House concert. Sue Shefman, the hostess with the mostest, threw a Hippo House bash. Brian Kalinec strummed his guitar, singing folk tunes by musicians like Woody Guthrie and John Steinbeck. Neighbors and friends from all over Houston grooved to the music and raised $1600+ for the Alzheimer’s Association! Jill Rose, Kay Hoss, Carol Mahoney, and Pat Sussman joined the fun. Want to help? The 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer's - Houston takes place Sat., Nov. 8. See act.alz.org/goto/TeamCheerio.
Multiple celebrations. Julianne Youn's 80th birthday kicked off with a splash in the Blue Lagoon and a blue curaçao drink while cruising to Iceland and the Faroe Islands. Back in Houston, the party continued on her actual August birthday with a dinner arranged by Kim Sharp for 30 Korean community friends at Casey’s Share Office. Days later, Eric and Monica Youn hosted an art show at Bori Art
Gallery, showcasing Julianne's stunning florals, abstracts, and portraits under her name Chan Ju Youn. The proceeds benefitted Korean American Association of Houston. The array of sushi and fruit was as artistic as the gallery walls.
Generosity is always in style. After a prism of summer activities, Houston Junior Forum’s president Sharon Cook unveiled the year’s theme, Kaleidoscope, at the HJF Fall Call luncheon. Board members Lu Chambers, Dawn Frazier, Lauri Wasmuth, Dale Kurtz, Melinda Vanzant, and Linda West were thrilled that over 175 women gathered at Lakeside Country Club to hear Nick and Diane Marson share their unlikely love story, inspiring with tales of kindness when their plane was forced to land with 38 other commercial flights on 9/11 into Gander, Newfoundland, a town with 10,000 residents. No, there were not enough hotel rooms! “Daily Essentials” for seniors and other projects that benefit children and seniors are partially funded from Houston Junior Forum’s City Market, April 9-10, 2026. Details at houstonjuniorforum.org/.
Calico cruiser. Cory Wimberly never owned a cat before he was found by one. While he was unloading his film equipment truck, a calico rubbed up against his leg. Ten hours later when he finished filming for MotorTrend, the cat was still there. Cory, who had only owned dogs but was petless then, decided the cat was meant
to be his new companion. He named it TPuss. She was about one when he was found and two when she began riding on his bike. She is now 2.5 and delighted to be a voyeur in a secured basket on Cory’s handlebars at the Memorial Villages Farmers Market every Saturday. Meow. They’ve got frequent flyer miles in their DNA. Sally and Max Easley are no strangers to packing boxes – or passports. Originally hailing from Alaska, they made their way to Hunters Creek by way of Calgary, Alberta. With one daughter stationed on the East Coast and the other holding down the fort in Houston, the Easleys figured Hunters Creek was the perfect quiet landing spot – at least for now. No surprise that Max is in the oil and gas industry. He is also a hot rod enthusiast with a soft spot for every sport known to mankind, while Sally prefers the calmer joys of reading and getting her hands gloriously muddy in pottery and ceramics. Their labradoodle Reggie has wasted no time establishing dominance over the local squirrel population. Fun fact: This is house number 18 for the Easleys. They’ve lived in four countries, eight cities, and probably know more about bubble wrap than most professional movers.
MORE ONLINE
See Rumor Has It at thebuzzmagazines.com for additional photos. Have some good news to share? Email us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com.
BAM! Enjoying the Houston Racquet Club Tuesday Mahj Squad’s first annual retreat were (pictured, front row, from left) Susan Weisselberg, Diane Rager, Cheryl Kramer; (back row, from left) Sheryl Fisher, Denise Wilhite, Jane Grace, Diane Roberts, Mandy Wigginton, and Lynne Williams. Missing out on the fun were Stephanie Jamison, Liz Butler, Sue McFarland, and Helen Crowe.
. by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer
Travel Buzz
When Boys Lead the Way: Houston Scouts Navigate Maine’s Allagash Waterway
Wyatt Smejkal stood knee-deep in a Maine river, watching his canoe slowly fill with water. The 16-year-old Houston Christian High School junior had successfully navigated six rapids that June morning, but it was the calm stretch that caught him off guard. Reflecting on the experience a month later, he said that he and fellow Scout Alden Binnion “tipped over on a very easy part that we should not have tipped over on,” he recalled wryly.
For seven days, Wyatt served as crew leader for nine Boy Scouts from Troop 599 – paddling through Maine’s North Woods – a responsibility that meant waking exhausted teenagers at 5:30 a.m., assigning dishwashing duties to close friends, and keeping spirits up when mosquitoes bit through hammocks and rain soaked through tarps. It was a far cry from Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, where the troop has its weekly meetings. And unlike the precisely choreographed programs at national Scout camps that book 18 months in advance, this trek through the Allagash Wilderness Waterway put the boys firmly in charge of their own adventure.
It was a trip that tested the mettle of every boy on that trek, Wyatt said, and after an initial period of disorganization, every one of them rose to the challenge.
“I saw people be more willing to do stuff just because they knew that somebody had to do it,” Wyatt recalled. “And if they were assigned, usually no one complained. It was less and less (challenging) as we went on.”
That transformation from chaos to competence didn’t happen overnight. When the Houston crew first arrived at Maine High Adventure base – on the northeast corner of Baxter State Park, accessible only by pontoon boat to an island on Grand Lake Matagamon –they dove into a signature ritual. Instead of receiving a predetermined itinerary, the boys got to choose their own 50-mile route through three million acres of privately owned timberland.
“Other high adventure trips, you’ll go there knowing what kind of adventure you’re going to go on, where you’re going to go, what you’re going to do,” explained Dustin Oglesby, one of the older Scouts. “At Maine High Adventure, you get to
go to a map room and choose whether or not you want to do whitewater rafting, sightseeing, or rump-bumping” – the latter being the term for floating through rapids without a boat, wearing a life jacket “like a diaper,” as Dustin described it.
The boys chose a route that would test every skill they’d learned: six days of paddling across windwhipped lakes and through boulder-strewn rapids, nights of cooking over a campfire (gas stoves were considered “a last resort”), and a three-quarter-mile portage through fallen trees.
Scoutmaster Don Paullo had visited family in Maine’s mid-coast since boyhood and knew about this lesser-known base from his canoeing research – knowledge that proved invaluable when the troop needed a last-minute alternative to overbooked national camps. Now, watching his Scouts navigate the same northern wilderness he’d explored as a young visitor, he maintained a deliberate distance. “Boy Scout trips are intended to be boy-led,” he explains. “The adults are really there just to offer guidance and for safety.”
That first night showed their inexperience. According to Don, “The first day we arrived in camp, the boys were a little bit disorganized, and
it took them a longer time to set up camp and prepare their food and get their water purified.”
The water purification routine – 45 minutes of iodine treatment – proved particularly challenging. “There wasn’t enough time to clean the water, so we didn’t have a lot of water at all times,” Wyatt explained.
Matthew Le spent one miserable night learning about Maine weather the hard way. “They said, there’s a 20 percent chance of rain tonight. And I didn’t want to sleep in the tent because, you know, outside it’s really pretty. But then it rained really bad that night.” He spent five hours using his air mattress as a rain cover, getting no sleep before their longest day of whitewater paddling. By day three, something had shifted. Wyatt had developed a system: “I would assign people to start the fire, gather firewood, set up the rain cloth… and one person from each tent would go and set up their tent.” The cooking rotation settled around Dustin, Zachary Parks, Luca Paullo, and Jonathan Lackey – “because they were always the ones pretty good at it.”
The morning routine became precise, aided by the shocking reality of
(continued on page 30)
HIGH ADVENTURE CREW Boy Scouts from Troop 599 completed a 50-mile backcountry canoe trek through Maine’s remote Allagash Waterway. Pictured, from left: Luca Paullo, Assistant Scoutmaster Adrian Binnion, Jonathan Lackey, Alden Binnion, Diego Vasquez, Dustin Oglesby, Wyatt Binnion, Wyatt Smejkal, Matthew Le, Zach Parks, Guide George Ellis, and Scoutmaster Don Paullo.
northern summer days. “The sun’s up by like 4:45 a.m.,” Don notes. “Part of why we got going early was the sun was up but also the winds pick up on the lakes. So you really want to be moving across the lakes in the morning when the water’s flat.”
Some mornings offered unexpected gifts. When prevailing winds aligned, the boys fashioned a sail from their dining fly – an 18-by-12foot tarp – and held their canoes together. “I think it was a three- or four-mile lake and I think we did it in 45 minutes,” Don calculated. “If we were paddling, that would have probably been an hour and a half or two hours.”
The true test came on what they called their “12-hour day”: 14 miles that began with sailing, transitioned to seven sets of rapids, and ended with a brutal portage. They were already exhausted by the time they hit this three-quarter mile obstacle course, where they had to drag and carry the canoes, laden with packs on their backs, through a passage with fallen trees everywhere blocking their path.
For Wyatt, one of the biggest challenges came in exercising leadership when it came to the chores.
“I don’t really like assigning,” he reflected. “It was all my friends, and you’re trying to choose someone to do dishes or something not very favorable. And that wasn’t very fun, having to choose one of your friends to do something difficult.”
The physical challenges were matched by unexpected moments of wonder. “We saw a moose, and we got up pretty close to it,” Wyatt said. The boys saw “lots of moose, lots of bald eagles,” according to Don, who noted “some of the boys saw as many as five moose. Everybody saw at least one moose...probably saw a half dozen bald eagles.”
Perhaps most remarkably, the boys adapted quickly to life without phones. “I don’t think anyone really wanted to use their phone,” Matthew observed. “You’re busy all day. You don’t have time for your phone. And at night, you’re just too tired.”
The skills they practiced in Scouts took on
SAILING, SCOUT STYLE With the right wind and a little creativity, Troop 599 transformed a simple dining fly into a makeshift sail for a breezy start to their whitewater day. Guide George Ellis rudders the improvised sailboat while Luca Paullo and Dustin Oglesby hold the dining fly poles and Jonathan Lackey and Assistant Scoutmaster Adrian Binnion hold the support lines.
new urgency. “Tying knots. You know, you’re supposed to learn them, but you never really get to practice them on almost a daily basis,” Matthew explained. But now, “it’s really easy to knot or sail, because you do it really fast.”
By the final morning, the evolution was complete. “By the end of the week, after they’d understood it and learned what to do, they were a lot quicker,” Don observed.
Back in Houston, as Wyatt prepares to serve as senior patrol leader for the troop’s upcoming school year, he carries lessons from those seven days in Maine. Asked what he’ll remember years from now, there are so many snapshots: running the whitewater rapids, turning their dining fly into a sail and skidding across the lake, watching a moose up close – and, of course, getting comfortable with taking on a leadership role.
For a group of teenagers used to Houston’s predictable heat, the North Woods offered something they couldn’t have anticipated: a fresh, cool, sometimes wet and cold embrace of
Tips from Our Travelers
a whole different kind of nature. As Wyatt put it, recalling the mountainous green landscape: “It felt like a movie to me, just looking at it.”
After the six-day canoe trip and one final night on the island base, the crew traded paddles for postcards with two days exploring Maine’s rugged Atlantic coast – fishing off the rocks and enjoying the obligatory lobster dinner.
The return trip added one last twist to the adventure: a missed connection meant an unplanned overnight at Chicago Midway. True to the Scout motto of “Be Prepared,” Scoutmaster Don’s son Luca had stashed a sleeping bag and pad in his carry-on. Assistant leader Adrian Binnion took things a step further, stringing up a hammock between two airport columns and settling in. Days later, Binnion did a double take when the TSA posted a photo of a similar airport hammock setup with the caption: “Not all heroes wear capes, some just find the right columns.” It wasn’t him – but clearly, great minds pack alike.
By Don Paullo
Scoutmaster Don Paullo has been spending time in Maine for many years, and shares tips for visitors:
Don’t miss: Maine is much more than Acadia, Bar Harbor, and lobster. If you are really interested in connecting with Maine’s rich logging history or canoeing the historic waterways, take a couple of days to explore Baxter State Park or The North Woods. You might even see a moose.
Favorite restaurants: I like my lobster with a view, and my two favorite lobster shacks with epic scenery are Shaw’s Fish & Lobster Wharf in New Harbor and Five Islands Lobster Co. in Georgetown.
Packing: Don’t forget a sweatshirt; it’s cooler in the evening than you expect – and don’t forget a raincoat.
Don’t forget to bring: A travel fly rod. There are many brooks full of brook trout, and in the north, you can catch the elusive landlocked salmon.
Avoid: The larger coastal cities on days the cruise ships are in port.
Local favorite: Order the blueberry pie; it’s made with local berries. Also, the state is full of seasonal ice cream shops. Go try them.
Safety tip: Should you see a moose, take your pictures from a distance, particularly if it is a cow with a baby.
Visit: The Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, and the Maine State Aquarium in Boothbay Harbor. Also take the lobstering tour in Kennebunkport; you will learn a lot about these singular crustaceans, and from the water you can view Walker’s Point and see the summer home of the Bush family.
Unexpected hit: Visit Portsmouth, N.H. It’s a cute colonial town with cobblestone streets.
School Buzz 2025-2026
SCHOOL BUZZ A group of 2025-26 School Buzz reporters gathered at Saint Thomas' Episcopal School (STE) to meet each other and take headshots for the upcoming year. Front row, from left: Vishakha Medha Rao (Awty), Alexis Kiew (DeBakey), Elizabeth Koo (Kinkaid), Mimi Wright (Episcopal), Ella Bibi (Kinder HSPVA), Marin Hammonds (Duchesne), Sophie Lighvani (Kinkaid), Keira Donovan (Memorial); second row, from left: Kelsy Donovan (Memorial), Megan Wang (Bellaire), Olivia McCray (STE), Gray Hevle (Memorial), Olivia Koo (Bellaire), Ralph Satija (Strake Jesuit); third row, from left: Camila Putman Patino (Lamar), Kate Burke (Emery), Vivian Buchanan (Carnegie Vanguard), Tessa Brown (Cathedral), Selina Yuan (STE), Raoul Kumar (Strake Jesuit), Emma Mankarious (Memorial), Simon Zamberk (Kinder HSPVA), Sophia Cyamara Aguirre (Lamar); top row, from left: Adela Nicolae (Carnegie Vanguard), Jackson Yi (Houston Christian), Tiffany Li (St. John’s), Johanna Dorn (St. Agnes), Emily Xie (St. John's), Chloe Tran (Carnegie Vanguard), Dhara Agrawal (Bellaire), Adarsh Mohanty (DeBakey), and Chinedu Abiaziem (STE).
This fall marks the 12th year of School Buzz. Each year, our student reporters write about their schools and share their perspectives with Buzz readers. Students join School Buzz for all sorts of reasons. But one of the answers that has become more popular – one that I love to see – is to engage more with their own school. To talk to strangers, to find new organizations, to dig for stories. This program opens a door; it gives students a reason to engage deeply with the world around them. Returning reporters often talk about how a story pushed them into something new – a class, a club, an event – that they ended up loving.
Out of a large pool of exceptionally talented applicants to the 2025-26 School Buzz program, we chose 41 students, from 19 local high schools. To the student reporters: I hope that this program helps you get out into your school and see the stories all around you. Read on to learn about how these students started writing, and their favorite stories, in their own words.
Chinedu Abiaziem, Saint Thomas' Episcopal School
I discovered my passion for writing when I was still in Nigeria, where stories weren’t just on paper but woven into everyday life, through songs and traditions. When I moved to the U.S., writing became the way I carried that world with me. It was how I made sense of change, of feeling caught between cultures, and of noticing the quiet details
others often overlook. I want to write for School Buzz because I see it as more than a publication; it’s a voice for the school community. I want to tell stories that might otherwise go unnoticed: the small acts of kindness that shape our hallways, the unexpected traditions that bring us together, and the ways students’ lives stretch beyond academics. For me, writing is a connection. By contributing to School Buzz, I hope to spark conversations, preserve experiences, and give others the same feeling that writing has always given me, that their story matters.
Chloe Tran, Carnegie Vanguard High School
I can’t exactly pinpoint my love for writing –since I was little, I’ve always found myself spontaneously writing in a journal. My love for writing news, however, started when I wrote my first feature for my school newspaper. It involved interviewing one of our custodians on campus who always seemed to get along with both the teachers and students, and getting to learn more about people and events that I wouldn’t have otherwise was an exhilarating feeling. I haven’t written much school news since then, so I’m looking forward to writing for School Buzz where I can showcase my experience as an upperclassman at Carnegie while sharing more about my school’s unique culture.
Olivia Koo, Bellaire High School
I can’t remember a time I ever disliked writ-
School Buzz 2025-26 Reporters
ing. Books have always been there for me, and writing was simply a natural overflow for the words I was consuming. I loved creating picture books in elementary school, I enjoyed making short stories in middle school, and, recently, I’ve found a passion for essay assignments. What drew me in was not just the power words wielded – although that was a major factor – but the way those words fit together into sentences, into paragraphs, and into pages. And crisscrossing those pages were the reverberating connections – the relationships linking character to character, author to audience, literature to world – that reached out and made me a part of the story as well. I believe every individual has a story to tell. Someone just needs to write it.
Mimi Wright, Episcopal High School
I was introduced to journalistic writing in seventh grade at River Oaks Baptist when I was unexpectedly placed into a journalism class. I didn’t know anything about it, but the moment I stepped into the classroom and into the world of publications, I was hooked. I loved both the straightforward, news-centered writing style and the more opinion-based pieces, as they gave me a way to connect more deeply with my community. This year will be my first on School Buzz, and I couldn’t be more excited! Being hands-on in my community is one of my favorite parts of journalism, and through School Buzz I’ll be able to immerse myself in campus life and share it with
The Awty International School
Anya Bhojwani • Vishakha Medha Rao
Bellaire High School
Dhara Agrawal • Megan Wang • Olivia Koo
Carnegie Vanguard High School
Adela Nicolae • Chloe Tran • Vivian Buchanan
Cathedral High School
Tessa Brown
Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions
Adarsh Mohanty • Alexis Kiew
Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart
Marin Hammonds
The Emery/Weiner School
Emerson Weinberg • Kate Burke • Noah Sonabend
Episcopal High School
Mimi Wright
Houston Christian High School
Audrey Seaworth • Jackson Yi
Kinder HSPVA
Ella Bibi • Simon Zamberk
The Kinkaid School
Elizabeth Koo • Sophie Lighvani
Lamar High School
Camila Putman Patino • Hallie Taaffe
Jennifer Russell • Sophia Cyamara Aguirre
Memorial High School
Emma Mankarious • Gray Hevle
Keira Donovan • Kelsy Donovan
Saint Thomas' Episcopal School
Chinedu Abiaziem • Olivia McCray • Selina Yuan
St. Agnes Academy
Alexandra Wong • Johanna Dorn
St. John’s School
Emily Xie • Tiffany Li
St. Thomas High School
Patrick Daily
Strake Jesuit College Preparatory
Ralph Satija • Raoul Kumar
The Village School
Nina Koshy
others. Episcopal has been such an incredible place for me to grow, and I’m looking forward to highlighting and celebrating it in The Buzz.
Tiffany Li, St. John’s School
I want to write for School Buzz because I see it as a platform to uplift student voices and highlight their unique perspectives, creativity, and experiences. When I was younger, I always looked forward to reading The Buzz, especially the sports section. As a swimmer and a softball player, it was always a column I felt deeply connected to and eagerly anticipated with every new issue. That experience inspired me to write for School Buzz, so I can create stories that excite and inspire others in the same way. School Buzz gives me the opportunity to combine my love for storytelling with my desire to have a positive impact, one word at a time.
Sophia Cyamara Aguirre, Lamar High School
My love for words is hereditary. My mother, who was a journalist herself, passed on her passion for writing from the womb. When times got tough, she found comfort in the Bellaire City Library. From a young age, I found that the best way to share my innermost thoughts and feelings was through the art of storytelling – at the age of five, I began writing my own stories in my school notebooks based on the experiences around me. Just like my mother, literature gave me a refuge when
I needed it most, providing me with friends when I struggled to make them. As I’ve matured, writing is still a vital part of my life, which I now hope to use as a tool to console others as it’s done for me.
Gray Hevle, Memorial High School
Joining School Buzz last year taught me that crafting articles independently is in many ways different from writing as part of a staff. You have to find your own story ideas, your own interviews, and your own drive, as there is no one to push you to finish any deadlines except yourself. It was a daunting task, but as I began my first article, I discovered that this new challenge made journalism all the more fulfilling. Embracing my curiosity and creativity, I scoured my school for intriguing stories, and I never returned empty-handed. Through School Buzz, I not only further developed my identity and skills as a journalist, but I also was granted the opportunity to highlight many fascinating aspects of my community, such as my school’s first student-run Model UN conference and an initiative led by a teacher’s nonprofit to raise money for students’ mental health counseling. I am incredibly grateful for what School Buzz has taught me, and I am so excited to see what I will learn next as I enter this new year.
Alexandra Wong, St. Agnes Academy
I had not been The New Student since
kindergarten, so facing the glass rotunda doors of St. Agnes for the first day of high school daunted me. As expected of every incoming freshman, everything felt foreign: I was worried about getting lost on the way to Biology, how I would make friends, and if I would feel at home in such a big, unfamiliar space. I could never have imagined the role The Buzz Magazines played in helping me find my place. At the time, I just knew I loved to read and write, so I applied to School Buzz on a whim. After covering longstanding St. Agnes traditions to cherished faculty that year, I began to see St. Agnes not just as a building full of classrooms but as a community built on sisterhood and stories. Writing for School Buzz pushed me to explore every corner of campus life and involve myself in the heart of St. Agnes. It offered me more than just a creative outlet; it gave me a way to connect with my school.
Simon Zamberk, Kinder HSPVA
I wrote my first story around the age of six. My elementary school had a writing contest for each grade level, and my first-grade teacher tried to get everyone to submit. I was one of the few who was up to the task, working hard on my story, and I ended up winning the class prize. While I don't remember exactly what my story was about, it lit a spark inside me that inspired me to write, and each year (continued on page 36)
Mimi Wright Tiffany Li
Sophia Cyamara Aguirre
Chinedu Abiaziem
Chloe Tran
Olivia Koo
(continued from page 35)
for the rest of elementary school I submitted a story for the contest. This continued into high school, as I won a spot in the Creative Writing Department at HSPVA, where I have gotten the chance to continue my writing journey. Now I am able to develop my story ideas, improve my writing craft, and learn from some of the best writing teachers in Houston. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the spark I got writing that first story.
Selina Yuan, Saint Thomas' Episcopal School
It was in first grade when I was first introduced to poetry through a class project where we created our own poetry books. Each page featured a different style – haiku, ode, acrostic, cinquain… But my favorite? Free verse. There were no rules, no strict structure, just my ideas and however I chose to express them. As I grew older, I realized it wasn’t just poetry I enjoyed, but writing in general. Poetry had simply been the door that led me into a larger world of creative expression. In middle school, while most students groaned at the mention of journaling in composition notebooks, I was delighted. To me, it felt like opening a window and letting in fresh air. Over time, writing became more than just a school assignment; it turned into a personal outlet. That poetry book wasn’t just a school project – it opened the door to a passion I still carry today.
Emily Xie, St. John’s School
I’m Emily, and I love cooking, cards, and being around people! I’ve also developed a love for writing, and it wasn’t until I started consistently journaling that I discovered my passion for it. As a self-aware two-faced Gemini, a part of me loves expressing myself through speech, with loud banter and laughter, while the other half prefers a piece of paper, and taking the time to make words paint a story in a way speech can’t. I’ve found that there’s a bit of magic hidden behind the mighty pen and paper that constantly inspires me to find that sparkle whenever I write. Just this summer, I moved to Houston, where I now attend St. John’s School. When I saw an advertisement about becoming a School Buzz reporter, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to push and immerse myself in my school community. I’m looking forward to building my journalism toolbox, capturing special moments, and sharing them with you.
Ella Bibi, Kinder HSPVA
My love for storytelling began on stage. In theatre, I have been able to tell stories of many characters through singing and acting. But I have learned that storytelling isn’t only limited to performing, that it lives in writing as well. Writing allows me to express my emotions, ideas, and creativity in a different way. The reason why I want to write for School Buzz is
because as an actor, people will always write about you. I want to be able to write about theatre as someone who has seen all the magical moments behind the scenes and on stage.
Emma Mankarious, Memorial High School
For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a deep affinity for writing. I noticed early on that clear thoughts in my head came out as inconsistent strings of words on paper. It began to make sense when I was diagnosed with dyslexia at eight years old. But I refused to give up on writing. I kept forcing the words to behave and fall into place. Soon I realized that dyslexia wasn’t going to stop me from writing, rather, it drove my curiosity. By the time I entered middle school, I could make words leap onto the page with rhythm, cadence, and emotion. I discovered the beauty of poetry. Since then, poems fall off my pen with ease. My young writer’s spark turned into a beautiful flame, one that I cherish.
Elizabeth Koo, The Kinkaid School
I discovered my love for journalism in an unexpected place: on a toilet seat. Ever since I was little, our bathroom has been stacked with magazines. My favorite? The Bellaire Buzz. While my mom was probably wondering why I took such long bathroom breaks, I was lost in The Buzz’s glossy pages, reading about local sports teams, a winner of a national competition, and
Selina Yuan
Emily Xie
Ella Bibi
Gray Hevle
Alexandra Wong
Simon Zamberk
a mother-daughter duo whipping up something delicious. As an introvert, I often felt left out at school, but those stories made me feel connected to my community. As soon as I joined my middle school newspaper, I was hooked. There’s something magical about words that bring people together. When I see a classmate’s eyes light up reading my work in The Falcon, I know I’ve made them feel like they are part of something bigger. I hope to do the same through School Buzz.
Dhara Agrawal, Bellaire High School
I’m five years old and discovering my love for chapter books; flash forward five years, and I’m handed my first camera. Five more years pass, and I’m starting on the school newspaper, the Three Penny Press. And that is where I discovered my passion for writing and journalism. Now, I love being able to report on the things that I’m interested in, and share that curiosity with other people. But the longer I’ve been on staff, the more I have noticed that its reach is limited. That’s why I want to write for School Buzz. It provides a platform to highlight the stories of Bellaire that will reach outside of the school walls. Whether it's photos or words, journalism is such a powerful way of sharing aspects of my community, and I want to be part of that.
Audrey Seaworth, Houston Christian High School
In fourth grade, I met author Crystal Allen.
She invited students to submit stories that would be published on her website, and my story was one of the ones chosen. She passed out small, spiral bound, brown journals and brown pens with a red clicker cap. She said words that still hold a special place in my mind: “Promise me that you will never stop writing.” Today, I will write in my little brown journal, with pages smelling of great potential, once again. I want to write for School Buzz because I would like to pursue journalism. My school does not have a newspaper, so I would like to learn from The Buzz staff about how newspapers and magazines operate, and I would like to share the uniqueness of my school with our community. My commitment to giving readers the unvarnished story is one of the main reasons I have been drawn to journalism, which I think is becoming increasingly important in today’s society.
Camila Putman Patino, Lamar High School
I have always been a storyteller, since before I could remember. I often filled notebooks to the brim, full of ideas, drawings, and stories that crossed all genres. While most other children my age dreamed of being a doctor, an astronaut, or perhaps an athlete, my love began with books and literature. That original “spark” I had felt years prior had grown, and led me little by little to not only engage with the world around me, but also discover parts of myself I had not previ-
ously recognized or claimed. Writing for my own school magazine (Lamar Life) and seeing my stories on paper allowed me to not only gain confidence in myself and my ideas, but also encouraged me to connect with a diverse audience and individuals from all backgrounds. After becoming the co-writing editor, it has been a journey to see my peers’ and my ideas flourish and come to life with every issue, spread, and interview, while mentoring new writers to perfect their own craft and skills. I believe that everyone has a story to tell, and I am determined to shine light on every journey – big or small.
Raoul Kumar, Strake Jesuit College Preparatory
I first discovered my passion for writing in middle school. I realized that putting pen to paper can sometimes convey emotions and thoughts better than talking. As time progressed, writing provided me with an outlet to think, formulate, and process my ideas. The time and thought process that go into writing have developed my ability to reflect on personal experiences, which has helped me learn more about myself and about other people through our shared experiences. That’s why I want to write for School Buzz. I want to document the experiences of myself and others from Strake Jesuit. I want to tell the stories of the countless successes shared by my classmates (continued on page 38)
Audrey Seaworth
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and give them the spotlight. School Buzz will provide an environment that fosters my growth as a writer. It will equip me with the skill set to report, research, and delve into the intricacies of journalism.
Johanna Dorn, St. Agnes Academy
I developed a passion for writing at a young age. The ability to capture words and experiences has served as such a vital asset in my life. When the opportunity to be a School Buzz reporter arose, I had no hesitation about whether to apply. The Buzz has always been a staple in my home. I am still eager to flip through it just as I used to, reading compelling stories and coming across familiar faces. I look forward to highlighting others' stories and experiences to Buzz readers, as well as furthering myself as a writer.
Vivian Buchanan, Carnegie Vanguard High School
I have loved writing from a very young age, and my love of books and reading fueled my passion. I knew that I was serious about writing when I decided to write a 100-page story in second grade! I only got to page 72, but I was determined to continue writing. Writing has been a constant in my life thus far, and I especially enjoy using my writing as a tool to inform others about stories and information I believe
need to be acknowledged. This has led me to the art of journalism and writing to inform others. I have encountered many fellow students with stories that showcase determination and innovation, and I would like to tell those stories through School Buzz.
Vishakha Medha Rao, The Awty International School
I'm Vishakha Medha Rao, a junior and a returning School Buzz writer. One of the most important values for me is connecting with my community. But this has been difficult, especially in recent years due to factors like technologyguided isolation, academic pressures, and postCovid loneliness. However, through my platform with School Buzz, I have had the opportunity to connect with and feature the amazing voices and talents from my school community. I am excited to continue my time at School Buzz and connect even more people together with the power of journalism!
Adela
Nicolae, Carnegie Vanguard High School
I am a senior interested in pursuing biomedical research with a focus on immunology, neuroscience, and mathematical modeling of infectious diseases. When I'm not counting C. elegans worms under the microscope, baking peanut butter-chocolate banana bread, painting a the-
atre set, or writing a novel journalism article, you can find me playing a quick game of Solitaire or Canasta on cardgames.io! From a young age, creative writing and learning languages were the lenses through which I viewed the world. I spent my elementary school summers writing poems in writing camps and my free time crafting short stories, which I often published in my school's literary magazine. Wanting to keep in touch with my “writing side” during high school, I joined my school's online newspaper. I wanted to continue exercising my creative writing skills while positively impacting my community. I was able to interview not only extraordinary students, but also teachers and administrators, who shared the stories of their lives with me and offered wise advice. Each person I conversed with allowed me to explore the world from their perspective, and I was delighted to share this with others through my writing. I hope to bring the same mentality of curiosity, exploration, storytelling, and community building to the world of School Buzz and the Bellaire community in which I have grown up.
Megan
Wang, Bellaire High School
This is my second year as a School Buzz reporter. From what I’ve written so far, my favorite story was about the International Dance Festival at Bellaire. It was so exciting
Adela Nicolae
Megan Wang
Keira Donovan
Johanna Dorn
Vivian Buchanan
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to see new styles of dance from different cultures and experiencing how dance connects people across cultural backgrounds. In general, I love interviewing students and seeing their passions shine through when they recall an event they were proud to be involved in. There is such a diverse display of activities at Bellaire, and I love how School Buzz encourages me to explore Bellaire’s vibrant community filled with talented and diverse students. School Buzz makes me more connected to my community while being supportive of my peers and their involvements in school!
Keira Donovan, Memorial High School
School Buzz has given me the opportunity to find my voice in writing and learn more about my school from a different perspective, through a journalistic lens. By having the responsibility of writing an article every other month about my school, School Buzz has emboldened me to explore what is happening on my campus in a way I never would have otherwise. It has given me the confidence to get out of my comfort zone and learn more about the community around me, which I have developed a newfound appreciation for. By exploring, new doors have opened up for me that I never could have imagined, such as believing in myself, taking advanced English courses, and joining clubs that I never knew existed.
Kate Burke, The Emery/Weiner School
My favorite School Buzz story I’ve written so far was about my school’s choice to ban cell phones during school hours. Reporting on it allowed me the opportunity to interview my head of school and other authorities within my school’s community, which are conversations I wouldn’t have had access to without my article. Through those interviews, I gained a behind-thescenes perspective on how important decisions are made regarding students, and how they connect back to my school’s core values. It was rewarding to take a widely debated topic within the U.S. and draw attention to the reasoning behind and effects of the ban on a smaller scale within my own school. Writing that piece gave me the chance to explore my school on a deeper level and taught me how to engage with different perspectives to get a well-rounded story.
Olivia McCray, Saint Thomas' Episcopal School
In third grade, I did a project on African wild dogs. I surprised myself with how much fun I had writing my report. Even so, I didn’t do anything with that knowledge until I took a journalism class in seventh grade. Two of my articles were published in the school newspaper, and I remember being so excited to show my friends and family. Then, the summer before eighth grade, I had to write an essay about a book. I
chose Little Women and wrote the paper in a day because I procrastinated. Even though it was rushed, my dad enjoyed reading it so much that he printed it out to show his friends. Last year, in tenth grade, I took a creative writing class. Now I have two short stories published in anthologies with Young Writers of America and have taken up writing as a hobby. I want to write for School Buzz because I want to tell the community about how seemingly small things at school can help students discover their passions.
Alexis Kiew, Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions
I discovered my passion for writing through herpetology, funnily enough. Herpetology is the study of amphibians and reptiles. Ever since childhood, I have enjoyed exploring the world of squamates (scaled reptiles). One particular pastime I had was writing comprehensive guides and fact sheets. Eventually, after many years of informative writing, I chose to switch directions and give creative writing a go. With this newfound approach, I had a creative funnel that managed to bring me joy I hadn’t found in any other activity. I hope my writing will be able to inspire others to find a similar outlet for their ideas and creativity.
Adarsh Mohanty, Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions
I discovered my passion (continued on page 40)
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Olivia McCray
Alexis Kiew
(continued from page 39)
for writing through debate. The process of looking at what's happening in today's world, forming logical thoughts, and presenting ideas helped me develop strong writing skills. Over time, I realized that writing wasn’t just about presenting facts; it was about telling a story, persuading others, and creating something that resonates. Debate taught me how to organize my thoughts clearly and concisely, and I’ve come to love using writing as a way to communicate ideas and engage with an audience. From events to achievements to just the little moments that make our community unique, I want to help share those stories. Being a part of the School Buzz team is going to be a great way for me to connect with more people and keep improving my writing!
Kelsy Donovan, Memorial High School
Reflecting on my previous years as a School Buzz writer, I am eager to return this upcoming year to further my writing skills and continue engaging with my community. I have thoroughly enjoyed reporting stories regarding Memorial High School to the broader Buzz community. I believe that there are so many amazing stories and events taking place within my neighborhood that others need to hear about, and I’m so grateful for the chance to facilitate that connection. The School Buzz program initially sparked
my interest in journalism, and after my first year, I joined my school’s newspaper and applied for an editor position on the yearbook staff. Entering my senior year, I spend most of my time writing and editing stories for Memorial’s publications, and I plan to continue exercising this passion in college. School Buzz will always have a place in my heart for leading me to the thing I love so much!
Tessa Brown, Cathedral High School
I discovered my passion for writing in school. I have always loved to read, and writing quickly became a skill for me as well. Grammar rules and vocabulary came easily to me. This gave me the confidence I needed to look into writing more. School Buzz provides me with the opportunity to practice my writing and journalism. I want to represent my school and my talents, and School Buzz is a great way to get my writing out into the world. Getting better at writing and having fun doing it are the main reasons I want to write for School Buzz. My hope is that I can represent my school and my passion for writing through this program.
Noah Sonabend, The Emery/Weiner School
Two years ago, I discovered the power of my words. Walking downstairs on the morning of October 7th, 2023, I was greeted by my parents' solemn faces as they described the horrors that
had just taken place in her home country. Hearing the terrible atrocities, I knew I had to do something. Feeling helpless, I took comfort in writing. Little did I know that my written words could have such an impact. I showed my poem titled “A Broken World” to my teacher, who asked me to recite it for our school. Receiving praise from peers, I submitted my poem for publication in a local magazine, and a national poetry competition for which I received a gold medal and a publication. This experience taught me the power of words, which have the ability to unite a community and sparked my passion for writing.
Hallie Taaffe, Lamar High School
Writing has always been one of my biggest passions. It’s an artistic form of communication that allows me to present myself and my creative pieces through different lenses. Contributing to School Buzz is an extraordinary opportunity, one that lets me share my work not just for others to see, but to truly enjoy. I hope to create articles and stories that inform, entertain, and leave someone feeling as inspired and connected as I do when I write. That’s the vision I’m chasing, and I believe School Buzz can help me bring it to life.
Marin Hammonds, Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart
On Saturday mornings, you could sleep
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Anya Bhojwani
Ralph Satija
Noah Sonabend
Hallie Taaffe
Marin Hammonds
the early hours away or you could write poems and stories at your second-grade teacher’s house. For much of elementary school, I chose the latter option. I discovered my passion for writing after a teacher encouraged me to join her and a few other students for a writer’s workshop in her home. My love for writing grew as I spent my early years building creative storytelling skills and listening to the work of my peers. Now, as a junior, writing for School Buzz feels like the first step into the journalism career I hope to pursue. I was drawn to this program because it is a combination of my two favorite aspects of writing: storytelling and community. Not only am I excited to share stories from my school and allow others to fall in love with Duchesne, but I am eager to once again be part of a community of students who enjoy filling their time with writing. I am so excited to join this program alongside so many talented student writers!
Nina Koshy, The Village School
As editor in chief of my school newspaper, our stories typically reach classmates, faculty, and families. School Buzz has allowed me to expand my outreach citywide, which gives me the chance to highlight talented student voices and showcase the impact of my community to a much larger audience. This experience has been meaningful to me as it has pushed me to write articles even after the school gates have closed. I’ve learned to frame stories for readers all across Houston, not just in my school, which has strengthened my writing. School Buzz has let me represent my school in ways I would not have been able to otherwise. This has inspired me to continue my passion for journalism beyond high school and into my professional career.
Anya Bhojwani, The Awty International School
Last year, I had the opportunity to represent The Awty International School as a School Buzz reporter, sharing stories about the interesting current events going on at my school to the
broader Houston community. While I wrote many fascinating articles, my favorite story was about Awty’s transition from their uniform provider, Dennis Uniforms, that suddenly went bankrupt. I investigated the closure of the company and explored its impact on Awty and its students. Through this process, I developed skills in investigative journalism by diving into research about the company and conducting interviews with Awty’s leadership team. I found enjoyment in writing this story and became personally invested in it, as I hope the readers did as well. My experience with School Buzz has helped me to grow into an investigative journalist, and I am excited to continue that journey this year.
Ralph Satija, Strake Jesuit College Preparatory
I first realized my love for writing when I noticed how it served as a bridge between my thoughts and the page. Writing gave me the ability to articulate ideas that lived only in my head, transforming fleeting sparks of curiosity into something lasting and shareable. As I explored my passion for neuroscience and healthcare through shadowing in clinics and engaging in research, I discovered that writing could be a tool for advocacy. Whether it was explaining the complexities of neurological conditions or raising awareness about overlooked public health issues, I found myself drawn to the challenge of making science and medicine accessible to others. Writing for School Buzz excites me because it allows me to connect my passion for the brain with the art of communication, giving voice to stories that can inform, inspire, and create a deeper understanding within our community.
Emerson Weinberg, The Emery/Weiner School
I grew up with The Buzz Magazines , and I can still remember sitting with my parents at the kitchen counter, flipping through the pages together. Those moments are still very special to me, and it made me realize how writing has the power to create and foster
connections. When I was younger, my interest in writing came from something simple and quite vain: I wanted to show off my vocabulary skills. What began as a fun way to show off to my friends, family, and teachers shortly developed into a genuine passion, as I discovered how writing could capture ideas, share perspectives, and create a lasting impact. That is why I want to write for School Buzz. This publication has always been a part of my life, and I want to highlight the voices and stories of my peers, while continuing the same cycle of connection that inspired me years ago.
Jackson Yi, Houston Christian High School
As I look back to consider where I got my writing passion from, it always came down to one thing: due dates. I’ve always been a procrastinator. Despite the downsides, I know that this habit has trained me to think quickly, write under pressure, and bring energy onto the page. Despite being a small school, there is so much passion and dedication in our students that often goes unnoticed. I want to write for School Buzz because I believe that each student has a story that needs to be shared.
Patrick Daily, St. Thomas High School
I discovered my passion for writing this past year when I was on the St. Thomas magazine staff. Learning how to write for the magazine changed my perspective on writing. I began to enjoy researching and learning more about sports programs, clubs, and whatever else my peers and I would write about. I found that journalism is different from English class, and writing about things I enjoy made me discover my passion for writing. I want to write for School Buzz because I want to show my community how great of a school St. Thomas is. St. Thomas has given so much to me, and being able to display that to the rest of Houston is something that I find captivating.
Check out the School Buzz blog (thebuzzmagazines.com/school-buzz) throughout the year as these correspondents share school happenings.
Emerson Weinberg
Jackson Yi
Patrick Daily
. by Cindy Burnett, staff writer
Buzz Reads Five picks for
Buzz Reads is a column about books by reviewer Cindy Burnett. Each month, Cindy recommends five recently or soon-to-be released titles.
Buckeye by Patrick Ryan (historical fiction) – Set in the fictional town of Bonhomie, Ohio, this character-driven tale weaves together the stories of two couples – Becky and Cal Jenkins and Margaret and Felix Salt. The couples are bound by a secret, and secrets do not stay hidden forever, especially in a small town. Ryan captures life in rural America beautifully across four decades that include both World War II and the Vietnam War, and the manner in which both events impacted and altered those living in Bonhomie. The characters are well developed, the sense of place is very strong, and the time period provides a rich background. This epic saga expertly delves into the themes of love, betrayal, secrets, acceptance, and forgiveness as well as addressing the often long-lasting impact of questionable choices. This one will appeal to readers who love family dramas and stories spanning decades as well as beautiful writing.
Gone Before Goodbye by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben (thriller) –Thriller writer Harlan Coben and Academy Award-winning actress Reese Witherspoon, founder of Reese’s Book Club/Hello Sunshine, collaborated to create this page turner, interweaving in cutting-edge technology, AI, and an uber-wealthy setting. Following a crushing loss, Maggie McCabe loses her medical license. When she is approached about an off-the-books surgery for an anonymous, elite client, she accepts and performs the surgery. But when the client goes missing right after the procedure is performed, Maggie realizes that all is not as it seems. The book is engaging from beginning to end, but the true standout is the novel manner in which grief is addressed and discussed, especially for a thriller, and those aspects of the book have stayed with me long after I finished the book. This one is great for readers who like thought-provoking premises, fast-paced stories, and novels about technology.
The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes by Chanel Cleeton (historical fiction) – One book con-
October
nects three women in
The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes, which spans three time periods. In 2024, Margo, who lives in London, is hired to find a rare book (only one copy exists) that is more than 120 years old.
In 1966, Pilar is working as a librarian in Havana during the Castro regime, and she is tasked with protecting books, including a mysterious 60-year-old book, from the government. In 1900, Eva Fuentes visits the United States as an exchange student during a massive push for Cuban independence. After her trip to the United States, she writes the book that ties these women together. Cuban history is woven through all three timelines, and readers will love the immersive story and descriptive writing. The women’s stories tie together beautifully, something that can be tricky with three time periods, and the timeless appeal of a story about the power of books will resonate as well. The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes is for fans of unique settings, learning about other cultures and countries, and books about books.
past to life with fascinating descriptions of the Widener Library and the Titanic, and the focus on books and the manner in which they bring people together make this one a fabulous read. This one is a good fit for fans of stories based on true events and books about books.
The Missing Pages by Alyson Richman (historical fiction) – Loosely based on real events, The Missing Pages is a lovingly-crafted tribute to books, the power of love to mitigate loss, and the manner in which the past coexists with the present. Harry Widener, a young book collector from a wealthy and prominent family, boards the Titanic with his parents. When the ship begins to sink, he races back to his cabin to save a rare item, and he is never seen again. To honor his memory, cement his legacy, and house his expansive book collection, his mother creates the Harry Widener Memorial Library at Harvard. Decades later, Harvard sophomore Violet Hutchins begins working as a page at the Widener Library. Grieving her own loss, she begins to wonder if someone from the past is communicating with her. Richman brings the
She Kills: The Murderous Socialite, the Cross-Dressing Bank Robber, and Other True Crime Tales by Skip Hollandsworth (nonfiction) – Since he joined Texas Monthly in 1989, Skip Hollandsworth has written a plethora of true crime stories, covering the genre before it exploded into the national zeitgeist on podcasts, documentaries, and television shows. In She Kills, he revisits some of his most memorable cases, focusing on crimes carried out by women, because women often commit crimes for different reasons than men. Each case contains drawings, photos, and a postscript updating the story from his original reporting, and a number of the cases prove the adage that “truth is stranger than fiction.” This book will appeal to fans of true crime, books about the human psyche, and stories set in Texas.
Editor’s note: Book reviewer Cindy Burnett also writes our weekly Page Turners column at thebuzzmagazines.com. She hosts an award-winning book podcast entitled Thoughts from a Page Podcast www.thoughtsfromapage.com, runs the Instagram account @thoughtsfrompage, and regularly speaks to groups about books.
WHAT TO READ This month's selections include a thriller centered around cutting-edge technology, a saga set across four decades in a small American town, historical fiction based on real events, historical fiction set in Cuba, and a true crime book focused on crimes committed by Texas women.
Cindy Burnett
SportzBuzz SPORTS
. by Todd Freed, staff writer
As a standout senior offensive tackle for the Bellaire Cardinals in 2014, little could Devonte Jones ever have imagined that a mere 11 years later he would be back at his alma mater as the school’s first-year head football coach. “It feels great to come back and lead these young players,” said Jones, who at only 27 years of age became one of the youngest coaches in Texas football history to take charge of a UIL 6A football program.
“I had the opportunity to play college football [at Stephen F. Austin University] and I would love to guide the guys who want to go in that direction, or if not, we want to instill discipline, hard work, and teamwork to be successful in the real world even if they choose not to play sports,” said Jones.
In week two of the season, Jones posted his first career coaching victory in a 36-0 victory over Sam Houston. “It felt great to get that first win,” said Jones. “To see these guys develop and all their hard work starting to pay off is huge. One of the big things we’re working on is execution and increasing our competitive level on a consistent basis. We tell the kids to just do your job, day in and day out.”
In the previous three seasons, Jones was the Cardinals’ offensive line coach, so he has great familiarity with the current Bellaire roster. “These are hard-working players with a lot of natural leaders. We’re a real senior-heavy team with lots of experience.”
Now, as he’s just turned 28 and coaching a major UIL 6A football program, Jones says he more than welcomes the challenge. “I’ve been around the game since I was a kid and have been on the firing line as a player. I work well with people of all ages so I’m just going to take what I’ve learned over the years and apply it to football here at Bellaire.”
After advancing to the SPC Championship final in volleyball last season, the St. John’s Mavericks were well on track to another great season on the hardwood, having defeated a number of powerhouse UIL 5A and 6A programs leading into the SPC portion of its schedule.
“We’ve had a strong team the last several sea-
sons, so I wanted to put together a schedule to challenge us at the beginning of the season,” said Mavericks head volleyball coach Shelbi Irvin
The Mavericks certainly have lived up to that challenge with victories over perennial large UIL powers such as Pearland, Waco Midway, Shadow Creek, Prosper, Clear Falls, and others. In addition, the Mavericks came within a couple of points of defeating a Friendswood Mustangs team that’s considered a strong state title contender in UIL Class 5A Volleyball.
“Along with our talent, I really love the resilience I’ve seen from our girls,” said Irvin. “If we struggle early on in a match, they are able to put it behind them while staying the course to bounce back and win the match. We have 18 players on the roster and they’re a tight-knit group with a genuine love for each other. I think that close bond translates to success on the court.”
On the court, the Mavericks are led by a pair of standout attackers in junior Jacey Carroll and senior Kiran Rio. Through the first 26 matches of the season, Carroll had already accounted for 370 kills, and Rio will play collegiate volleyball at Cornell University. Meantime, Irvin said junior setter Olivia Landahl has been a huge contributor to the Mavericks success.
The Memorial Mustangs entered the District 17-6A portion of its volleyball
schedule with several notable victories under its belt, including the silver division championship of the Texas Showdown Volleyball tournament just north of San Antonio. “It was a really good field and we even beat the overall champion Buda in pool play,” said Mustangs head coach Kaddie Platt . “We gained a lot of confidence from that tournament.
“We have a fun team with lots of high energy. The girls are defensively scrappy and give lots of effort in everything they do. They’re just real fun to watch,” she added.
Among the players to watch out for this season is 6-foot-2 middle blocker Anna Scott Torn , who has given the Mustangs a big offensive presence. In addition, four-year varsity player Ella Ross was the District 176A offensive player of the year last season while senior libero Kassia Tan was last season’s District 17-6A Defensive Player of the Year.
Editor’s note: Todd Freed is the host and executive producer of H-Town High School Sports, which airs Saturday at 10:30 p.m. on CW39 and Monday-Thursday on AT&T SportsNet SW. To submit high school sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, please email todd@thebuzzmagazines.com.
MIGHTY MUSTANGS The Memorial Mustangs celebrated after winning the silver division bracket of this season’s Texas Showdown Volleyball tournament.
. by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer
SportzBuzz Jr.
Welcome to SportzBuzz Jr., a column spotlighting neighborhood athletes in elementary and middle school.
Ravens soar
The Ravens flag football team, Rummel Creek Elementary School’s Spring Branch-Memorial Sports Association first-grade team, took off for their exciting fall football season. Coaches Aaron Rice and Greg Gilbert (pictured, back row, from left) are leading the boys this season as coaches. The boys are having fun learning the game, building teamwork, and strengthening their friendships. Pictured (front row, from left) are the players on the team including Lucas Rice, John Carter, Harrison Burton, Logan Wentz, Brannum Krienke, Tres Gilbert, Jaxson Hatfield, Logan O’Connor, Octavio Pimentel, Hudson Bucher, Wes Olivier, and Daniel Antony. Find them soaring to new heights this fall on the fields of SBMSA.
A fencing medalist
Bunker Hill Village resident Alexa Ramey (pictured), 13, competed at the USA Fencing Summer Nationals in Milwaukee, Wis., and earned a medal in the Y12 Women’s Épée division. The USA Fencing Summer Nationals is the largest fencing tournament in the world and marks the end of the competitive season. Alexa takes fencing at Dragon Heart Fencing Academy, where she has flourished in the sport. She has been fencing for four years. She trains under coaches Silvia Brandt and Evandro Duarte at Dragon Heart. Dragon Heart was founded to encourage athletes of all ages and skill levels to learn discipline while fostering a welcoming atmosphere. Alexa’s success at nationals highlights the program’s dedication for not only the coaches but students like Alexa who train hard to achieve their goals.
Tournament winners
The Memorial Hooks 9U baseball team recently had an unforgettable weekend when they claimed victory at Baseball USA. The team won the 2025 Perfect Game Tournament, bringing home some new hardware and big smiles for their victory. Pictured (front row, from left) are players and Rummel Creek Elementary School students, including Gaines Bradshaw, Hunter Nguyen, Jack Frost, Lucas Castilla, Holden Nguyen, Wallace “Wally” Thompson, Jaxon Jurkash, Zach Rice, Owen Stolpman, Will Alleman, and Parker O'Connor; not pictured are Jackson Jaggers, Phillip Gillespie, and Hudson Hicks. The team’s coaches are (pictured, back row, from left) John Thompson, Aaron Rice, and Joey Jurkash.
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.
by Aishwarya Singh, age 17
Buzz Kidz
ASEARCHING FOR SOLUTIONS Aishwarya Singh, a senior at Carnegie Vanguard High School, is Chief Community Catalyst at Entrevamp, an organization that provides entrepreneurial education to students. Founded by Madhavan Vinod, Entrevamp works with students to use entrepreneurship to tackle real-world challenges and create positive change.
Entrevamp: Empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs
s the Chief Community Catalyst at Entrevamp, an organization that provides entrepreneurial education to students, I lead the growth and engagement of a global network of young innovators. Entrevamp is a small but ambitious nonprofit founded by Houston high schooler Madhavan Vinod and powered almost entirely by high school students. What began as a grassroots effort to create a space for young innovators has grown into a youth-led movement teaching entrepreneurship, creativity, and problem-solving to peers around the world.
So far, Entrevamp has impacted over 100 students through workshops, mentorship programs, and hands-on activities designed to demystify entrepreneurship and make innovation accessi-
ble. We are partnering with nonprofits across Asia to design educational content and workshops that spread our mission globally. These programs encourage kids to think like changemakers and learn skills to turn solutions into real projects.
What makes Entrevamp unique is our leadership. Our staff is made up of high school students, young people who know what it is like to navigate limited resources, big dreams, and the challenges of being taken seriously in adult-dominated spaces. This peer-to-peer approach makes our programs relatable, inspiring, and effective.
As Chief Community Catalyst, I design and host workshops that empower students with creative problem-solving skills, manage our vibrant online and offline communities, and drive strategic expansion through partnerships with
organizations worldwide. I also oversee our social media presence to amplify and connect with aspiring changemakers, while initiating outreach to expand Entrevamp’s mission.
Through peer-to-peer learning, hands-on projects, and cross-cultural collaboration, Entrevamp creates an inclusive environment. Workshops ensure students gain practical skills and the confidence to launch their own ventures. Entrevamp is more than a platform for learning; it is a student-driven movement that empowers young people to transform ideas into action and become lifelong innovators and entrepreneurs.
Want to be a Buzz Kid? Email approximately 350 words, a high-resolution photo and caption to info@thebuzzmagazines.com.
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. Get Your Morning Buzz
Neighborhood Tails
Chloe, age 9, Shichon, Bryonwood Dr.
Bonjour! I’m Chloe and my mom tells me I’m the prettiest little girl in the whole wide world. I start every morning bright and early taking my dad on his walk before he goes to work. I’m one of the best personal trainers in the neighborhood as I make sure he gets in at least a mile. Along with training, I also provide dietary services, making sure the family stays on a healthy track – my favorite foods are eggs, tuna, and of course, Skinny Pop popcorn. During the day I work private security at our home. Sometimes possums try to illegally cross our backyard via our fence. I have a special bark known as my “possum bark” reserved just for them. And in the free time I have left, I’m a social influencer and Instagram model. You can follow me on Instagram at @comealongwithchloe!
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.
Cons of assisted living centers
I’ve been meeting with a client who is in his second assisted living community. The first facility didn’t meet his needs, and his condition deteriorated. So, he went into one of the highest levels of care at the second facility, thinking that would provide the care he needed.
It hasn’t. Like all these facilities, there isn’t enough staff for the one-on-one attention and care he needs. Nobody is monitoring him minute-by-minute or even hour-byhour. He can only get a few minutes of their time – only getting more after something alarming happens.
This man rarely leaves his room because he’s uncomfortable there and he enjoys his privacy, which are also common issues – it’s just not as comfortable or as private as their home. Plus, any community of ailing people increases the risk that your loved one will get sicker.
We’re sending caregivers to supplement this man’s care, ensuring he receives the care he needs, but he’s essentially paying twice for it. That’s not the strategy you want for your loved ones. It’s far better to pay for the best service in the first place – and that service has proven to be in-home healthcare.
Learn more about solving health issues for your home-bound loved one at www.youtube.com/@SidGerberPCS
S. Gerber & Associates, 3730 Kirby Dr., Suite 1200, Houston, TX 77098, 713.857.3227, sid@personalcaregiving.com
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Death with dignity
Texas has never passed a right-to-die law. You may sign advance directives asking your doctor or enabling your medical agent to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment, but you must go to another state or country for physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia.
Texas offers four advance directives: the directive to physicians (giving patients with irreversible or terminal conditions different choices for lifesustaining procedures), a medical power of attorney (letting you pick the person that makes the choices you didn’t or can’t), an out-of-hospital DNR, and an in-hospital DNR.
Reading each directive’s boilerplate is hard enough, but knowing whether your doctor or family will read it the same way in a crisis is harder still. For better or worse, Section 166.037 of the Texas Health & Safety Code leaves wiggle room. Maybe. Once your physician certifies your condition is terminal or irreversible, and in writing, your actual desires trump your directives, allowing you to change your mind or explain what you really wanted. Directives have formal written requirements, with witnesses or a notary; patient desires don’t. Your wishes before the directive was signed apparently still count, even if unwritten, e.g., conversation with friends 20 years ago. A directive memorializes your thoughts on a good day, but your real opinion still counts on a bad one. Whenever you spoke, they must listen.
Homegrown directive forms abound. In 2017 or so my father signed a M.O.S.T. form (Medical Order Respecting Scope of Treatment). It’s something of an enhanced DNR, unblessed by the Texas legislature, and edited often enough that it’s hard to identify a consensus around the best version.
He used it to avoid fluid support, including antibiotics, in the event of another urinary tract infection. It expressed his wishes in greater detail than a directive to physicians. At the time, no in-hospital DNR had been promulgated, and his form, signed by his cardiologist, was readily accepted. There is no reason a M.O.S.T. form should not be honored as an expression of patient desires, but in the hospital, the physician’s signature probably counts for more.
If assisted suicide is preferred, don’t do it here. Anyone who helps has committed a felony. Texas’ natural death framework doesn’t permit more than the withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining treatment. Hospice can legally assist and provide pain and symptom relief, anti-anxiety medication, and even amnestics. You will be more comfortable in hospice than you ever were while worrying about politics or religion. Neither Oregon nor Vermont have residency requirements for their assisted-suicide programs. Flying there for the cure may be legal. Flying back to take it here is not, and family who assist are in legal jeopardy.
We write wills and go to probate court. Foreign nationals and international families welcome.
Russell W. Hall, Bellaire Probate, Attorneys at Law, 6750 West Loop S. Ste. 920, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.662.3853, bellaireprobate.com/blog
. by Angie Frederickson, staff writer
Buzz About Town
It’s holiday shopping time
Glynis Rogers, Susan Maclvor, and Mary Allen Yelverton (pictured, from left) are gearing up for the holiday season and the Hearts and Hands Holiday Market. The 39th annual shopping experience hosted by Memorial Drive United Women in Faith takes place Oct. 20-22 at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church (MDUMC). Shoppers will find Christmas treasures, unique gifts, stylish clothing, jewelry, and tasty treats from more than 70 vendors. Proceeds from market sales will support local outreach ministries for women and children. In addition to crossing gifts off your shopping list, guests can enjoy a silent auction, handcrafted creations from Mission Stitchers, and feast on boxed lunches and bake-sale treats. The Preview Party will be held
on Oct. 20, 5:30-8 p.m., and open shopping days are Oct. 21, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., and Oct. 22, 10 a.m.3 p.m. For more information about the event, volunteering, or purchasing Preview Party tickets, visit www.mdumc.org/heartsandhands.
High stakes and golden notes
The Houston Symphony League and Young Associates Council are hosting the second annual Symphony Casino Soirée. Lucy Lewis, Beth Wolff, Eric Lewis, and Betty Tutor (pictured, from left, at last year’s event) are ready for the return of the festive casino event that will be held Nov. 5 at The Ballroom at Bayou Place. Founding event chairs Aoife French, Betty Tutor, Karma Burford, and Liz Regenscheid will welcome supporters for an evening of games and a special jazz performance by members of The Houston Symphony. For tickets or information, contact Kamra Kilmer at Kamra.Kilmer@houstonsymphony.org.
A royal dancer
Anika Harpavat (pictured) danced at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle. Dancers from around the world auditioned for a coveted spot in the group, and Anika participated for five weeks as a performer this summer. A Scottish highland dancer since she was in kinder-
garten at Saint Thomas’ Episcopal School, Anika has competed nationally and internationally for several years. Last year, she placed second in the US, preparing her for the performances this year at Edinburgh Castle. The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is an annual event, and this year marked the 75th anniversary. Anika graduated from St. Agnes Academy in May 2025 and is now a freshman at Stanford University studying biochemistry and economics.
Calling all readers
Event chairs Monique Kaufman and Barbara Brounes (pictured, from left) are preparing for the 2025 Community Read event as part of the Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book & Arts Festival at the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center of Houston (ERJCC). This year, the chosen book is Counting Backwards by Jacqueline Friedland. Community Read is an annual event and shared literary experience for book clubs and individual readers. ERJCC is calling for book clubs and readers around the
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city to join the event by reading Counting Backwards this fall. Friedland, the best-selling author, will speak about her novel at the ERJCC on Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m. Counting Backwards can be purchased online at erjcchouston.org/tickets and in-person at the J’s front desk. For more information on Community Read, visit erjcchouston.org/jewish-book-arts festival/.
Get the scoop!
Siblings Naleena, Soren, and Bodhi P. enjoyed a sweet treat during River Oaks Baptist School’s (ROBS) Get the Scoop! Day. The new school year kicked off with the fun event for families and students. Families stopped by to pick up back-to-school packets, shop the new spirit merch, and learn about upcoming events for the year. Students also had the chance to reconnect with friends, meet their new teachers, enjoy fun icebreaker activities, and get excited about the year ahead. Get the Scoop! wouldn’t be complete without ice cream, and there was plenty on hand for students to enjoy.
Summer’s best soirée
Mia Gradney, Lauren Levicki Courville, Linn Preston, Norman Lewis, Donna Lewis, Dani Kattan, Mow Rahman, Sarah Evenson, and
Shelley Ludwick (pictured, from left) enjoyed the Summer Soirée benefiting Dress for Success (DFS) Houston. The 22nd annual shopping event was held at Tootsies, hosted by DFS’s Women of Wardrobe. Nearly 250 guests viewed the latest fall trends from designers including Marie Oliver and Houston’s own LeMel Jewelry. Savory, braised Korean short ribs and bourbon bread pudding were on the menu while fashion enthusiasts mingled and shopped. DJ Johnny Bravo provided entertainment alongside a photo booth and floral wall so shoppers could capture the moment. Late-night guests kept the party going at the after party that featured live music and a special selection of wines.
Working for a cure
The Nancy Owens Breast Cancer Foundation’s annual Luncheon and Auction will be held on Monday, Oct. 27 at the Hilton AmericasDowntown. Named for inspirational cancer survivor Nancy Owens, the foundation raises funds to support breast cancer research. This year’s luncheon features guest speaker Matt Iseman, a comedian, actor, cancer survivor, and charis-
matic host of American Ninja Warrior Foundation members have been actively involved in learning about how the funds are used for cancer research. This year, members met with research teams from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center at Baylor College of Medicine, and the Houston Methodist Research Institute’s Department of Nanomedicine. Pictured are foundation members and breast cancer researchers (from left): Terri Guerra, chairman, Nancy Owens Breast Cancer Foundation, Rachel Schiff, Ph.D.; Xiang "Shawn" Zhang, Ph.D., director of the Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center at Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Kent Osborne, Peggie Kohnert, Modie Piperi, Gloria Moorman, and Mary Piper. For more information about the Nancy Owens Breast Cancer Foundation or event and ticket details, visit www.nobcf.org.
Ready for school
The Christian Community Service Center’s (CCSC) Back To School program returned this fall to help prepare (continued on page 60)
Daniel Ortiz
children in the community to begin a new school year. The annual event provided new school supplies, backpacks, and clothing gift cards to more than 4,000 students in pre-K through 12th grade. Since 1986, CCSC has collected and distributed supplies to children. Families registered for the event at Bellaire United Methodist Church and supplies were distributed at Faith Lutheran Church with the help of hundreds of volunteers. Pictured are 2025 CCSC Back To School committee members (top row, from left) Sara Hans, Alma Lopez, Jessica Canizales, Priscilla Aguilar, Karen Womack, Terri Drabik-O’Reilley, Amy Holmes, Sarah Lopez, Anne Stewart; (bottom row, from left) Kenya Rodriguez, Shellyn Shoenthal, Leisa Novak (chair), Miriam Zatarain, Elizabeth
Honoring Coach Nolen
Former Lamar High School football coach Tom Nolen (pictured, left) was inducted into the HISD Athletics Hall of Honor at Delmar Field House by Andre’ Walker (pictured, right), HISD Senior Executive Director of Athletics. The beloved coach led Lamar’s football team for 33 years and retired in 2018 with an impressive list of career accomplishments. When he retired, Nolen was the Houston area’s winningest coach with 364 wins between his years at Lamar and seven seasons at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory School. Lamar made 31 playoff appearances under Nolen’s leadership, and several of his play-
ers advanced to the National Football League (NFL), including Rod Babers, Brian Orakpo, Darrell Colbert, Jr., and Anthony Cook.
Second Saturdays
Elliot Foxley and Sidney Watts (pictured, from left) helped spruce up the playground and garden at Sharpstown Baptist Church as volunteers for Project One Day’s Second Saturday event. On the second Saturday of each month, volunteers gather to garden, repair toys, assemble furniture, power wash, and paint things that need improvement for the Project One Day childcare program. Project One Day provides free, faithbased childcare through a cooperative model where parents volunteer one day a week in exchange for five days of childcare. What started in a small rental home has now grown into a thriving center at Sharpstown Baptist Church with 35 children in three classrooms. To learn more about Project One Day or Second Saturdays, visit www.podhouston.org.
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.
Detweiler, Perla Kenley , and Courtney Lerch ; not pictured: Maria Berretta and Whitney Anderson.
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Jonathan Pinzon
. by Andria Dilling, staff writer
Back Porch
Teen Vocab: 2025 Edition
Here we are again, a full six years after our first “Vocab Primer for Grownups” in 2019 and the subsequent “Teen Vocab Primer: Second Edition” in 2021. I am giggling out loud to myself reading these old stories, remembering so many teenaged eyes rolling my way as they wondered how in the world I didn’t understand what they were talking about when they asked What do you think of this ’fit? or said Wow Chuck Bass really had a glow-up. (Meaning, What do you think of this outfit? and Wow, Chuck Bass, the character in “Gossip Girl,” has really gotten cute.)
As fast as you can change your ’fit, the Gen Z slang is new again. Those born between 1997ish and 2010 might(?) say bet to our list (keep reading if you don’t understand; I’m not sure I do), but the rest of us need help. Many thanks to the stellar Buzz summer interns – Brandeis University junior Rebecca Bloome, Northwestern University freshman Alden Farrow, St. John’s senior Bailey Johnson, A&M junior Caroline Martinez, and Phillips Academy Andover senior Prisha Shivani for sharing their dialectical mastery. Here we go.
Aura farming – This means you are trying to look cool, while trying to look like you aren’t trying to look cool. Dude is totally trying to aura farm by posting that Grateful Dead vinyl on his story…I bet he can’t name five songs.
Bet – Intern Caroline says, “If someone says bet, that basically means okay, or I got it.” Back in 2019, we used I’m down. So: Do you want to go out Friday? Sure, I’d be down has turned into: Do you want to go out Friday? Bet!
Cap – We visited cap back in 2021 and 2019 both, but we were using no cap, which meant you’re telling the truth. Example: I stayed up all night studying, no cap. Use cap in the reverse way: He says he’s having a party when his parents go to the UT-Georgia game, but that’s cap
Chopped – Synonymous with “unattractive.” I look so chopped today, I haven’t showered in two days
Cooked – Cooked means you are in a difficult situation and are worn out. I’m cooked for that test
Cooking on – Unlike cooked, if you are cooking on something, you are doing something great. I was cooking on that test.
Crashing out – If you’re crashing out, you’re
having a breakdown. I spilled coffee on my perfectly clean white shirt this morning and crashed out Delulu – Stemming from our word delusional, delulu is what you are when you think studying for your mid-term will only take one night. Do it for the plot –Intern Rebecca defines this one as “the spiritual successor to yolo” (acronym for “you only live once”). Basically, doing something to contribute to the plot of your life.
Huzz – Husband? No. Well, maybe. This is a person you find attractive. I’m hoping to run into the huzz tonight Next level is gruzz, which might, but probably not in my house, be used as a term of endearment for a grandparent.
THE MORE THINGS CHANGE Even though there are many new additions to our newest list of young-people slang (aura farming, anyone?), a few have stayed the course. Like slaps according to this image published in our Teen-vocab primer No. 2 from 2021. No cap.
“Also,” explains intern Alden, “huzz can become chuzz, because chopped plus huzz, and it just takes on the meaning of chopped.” Okay. It’s giving – A phrase that, according to intern Caroline, describes a vibe or impression. I put that dress on, and it was giving Barbie in a bad way. Lock in – When you’re super-focused, you’re locked in. I’m locking in for the test Friday. Looksmaxxing – Doing all the things to make yourself attractive; essentially maxing out your physical appeal. There’s also hardmaxxing , referring to the more permanent efforts like Botox and diets, and softmaxxing, meaning what you’re wearing or the way you cut your hair.
Main character – You can use this to describe someone who is bossy or self-focused. If James is acting like he’s in charge, you could say
James is giving that main character energy Rizz – Short for charisma, rizz, according to Rebecca, “basically just means game.” Or to be more specific: if someone has rizz, they possess a lot of charm. Rizz also can be used as a verb: I’m gonna rizz her up means I am going to use my charm to flirt with her.
Slaps – On the 2021 list, slaps still means something is superb. This song slaps. Snatched – Meaning someone is looking stylish. You look snatched in that ’fit!
Sus – Used when something is shady or suspicious. When your teenager comes home a little late, you might say Are you up to no good? This feels a little sus.
Unc
– Old. As in, uncle. In intern Alden’s words: I feel so unc not knowing any current slang.
