Bee by Selina Yuan First Place, Nature
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
We are excited to share the winners of our 21st annual Buzz Photo Contest, which is a favorite issue of mine and one that generates a lot of reader response. I am often asked why certain photos were chosen. While there are certain elements of photography which must be met, but with any contest like this, decisions are inherently subjective. Our judges, professional photographers, take the judging seriously, and there is much discussion and debate. Often, my personal favorites are not among the winning images, but I am not a professional photographer or one of the judges. I do, however, sit in on the judging and have a good understanding of what the judges look for (read about this on page 22). However, our readers have a voice as well. The top 50 finalists were shared to our Facebook page, and the photos with the most likes became our Readers’ Choice winners. Congratulations to all of our winners. Thank you to everyone who entered, to sponsor The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa, and to our judges for their time and expertise. We hope you enjoy this visual feast and look forward to seeing more of your photos in next year’s Buzz Photo Contest. michael@thebuzzmagazines.com
THE BUZZ MAGAZINES
BELLAIRE • WEST UNIVERSITY • MEMORIAL • TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS
Published by Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401 info@thebuzzmagazines.com • p: 713.668.4157 • f: 713.665.2940
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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 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
Interns Rebecca Bloome, Alden Farrow, Bailey Johnson, Caroline Blocker Martinez
On our cover: Selina Yuan, 15, took this photo of a Western Honeybee in a garden in Prague while she was on vacation with her family. Selina is an incoming junior at Saint Thomas’ Episcopal School.
The Buzz Magazines has made all reasonable attempts to verify the accuracy of all information contained within. Advertising claims are solely the responsibility of the advertiser. Copyright © 2025 Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of this magazine by any means without written permission is strictly prohibited. Printed on recycled paper. Please remember to recycle.
Your letters, thoughts, opinions
From a renowned Houstonian
I wanted to extend my heartfelt thanks to Michael and Joni Hoffman and to the brilliant Cindy Gabriel for her warm overview of my life [Charlie Wilson’s War: The Houston woman behind the whole thing by Cindy Gabriel, May 2025]. I was truly honored to be featured. It is rare for a local magazine to be so far reaching. I even heard from an Esquire writer in Chicago.
Thank you for remembering me and my television career. That experience played a significant role in shaping my future, especially during the years I was actively involved in planning and executing wars. The skills I gained from speaking on television gave me the confidence to communicate comfortably with heads of state and other influential figures. Cindy thoughtfully reminded us that the work we do in our early years often shapes our future.
You have an extraordinary magazine that you’ve built for the love of your neighbors and your city.
Since the article was published, I’ve been flooded with calls from friends and loved ones, as well as over 100 messages from strangers. I've been deeply moved by the positive responses and how accurately and thoughtfully you depicted me. Thank you and the brilliant Cindy Gabriel again.
Joanne King Herring
Timely travel tale
This month’s article on Bob Parsley’s family visit to the Vatican and Italy [Vatican Secrets and Tuscan Villas: Following the Parsleys to Italy by Tracy L. Barnett, June 2025] was not only interesting but timely. Who could have predicted when you wrote the article that its publication would immediately follow the election of Pope Leo XIV? Having read O’Neal’s book of how George Strake Sr. funded the Vatican’s secret plan to find S. Peter’s bones, it was fun to read of his grandson’s family visit to the completed project, the Scavi. Your article on the Vatican and their restaurant experiences makes us want to return to Italy to visit the Scavi and enjoy the great food.
Kelly Frels
Connecting through aspirational career path
I really enjoyed reading the June issue of The Buzz about local high school grads [Class of 2025: Where are they headed? by Caroline Siegfried]. One girl, Olivia B., expressed interest in a career in music therapy, the field I have loved for 50 years. I’d be happy to offer her counsel if she wishes.
Ginger Clarkson, Music Therapist
Editor’s note: Ginger, thank you for reaching out. We shared your correspondence with Olivia and love when neighbors connect with other neighbors – especially young adults like Olivia – through The Buzz.
Words and wisdom
I praise Ben Portnoy for his extraordinary May contribution [What’s the Word?: And what would Mr. Hickey say by Ben Portnoy, May 2025], devotion to the love of language, and to the memory of his teacher Mr. Hickey. May Mr. Portnoy continue to enlighten us!
Walter Mark Buehler
Can’t resist the print magazine
Although I don’t receive the West U Buzz at home and although my elderly house is a fire hazard full of printed goods, I usually can’t resist picking up a Buzz magazine from the stand. I love it! I write to request a copy of the Oct. 2020 issue. I’ve kept many back issues but can’t find that one – and I need to share Dr. Marco’s story [When Life Has Other Plans: A spine surgeon’s journey with quadriplegia by Cathy Gordon] with someone.
Thanks also for the story on Joyce Pounds Hardy [The Bubble Gum Lady: The story of a fierce Rice fan by Cindy Gabriel, March 2022] some time ago. She was a fine lady, a fine friend/fellow poet, and I love her book you spoke of. Keep up the great output!
Geraldine Greig
Editor’s note: We were happy to send a copy of the Oct. 2020 issue to Geraldine. The stories she references can be read online at thebuzzmagazines.com. But trust us, we understand the power – and pleasure –of holding a printed magazine in our hands. There are Buzz racks at select Walgreens around town.
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.
We are looking for residents for upcoming articles who:
• Have special fall traditions.
• Were recently married and would like to participate in an upcoming Wedding Buzz column.
• Know a Buzzworthy neighbor to feature.
• Have an interesting travel tale.
• Have a unique passion or hobby.
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
4 Editor’s Note
Mailbag: Letters from Readers
The Buzz Magazines’ 2025 Photo Contest
In this issue, we present the winners of the 2025 Photo Contest. Congratulations to Catherine Yüksek, whose photograph Salt Cure won grand prize, and to all of our winners.
A Look at Lizards: A brief consideration of our reptile neighbors by Ben Portnoy
Look around and you’ll notice little lizards – anoles – everywhere in Houston.
A Guide to Independence Day: Where to celebrate July 4th by Annie Blaylock McQueen
Get your red, white, and blue ready, and find a guide to Buzz-area Fourth of July happenings.
Pizza Night: A dinner to make everyone happy by Andria Dilling Pizza Night brings together the whole family.
Summer Reading: Books recommended by Buzz residents by Cindy Burnett
Buzz neighbors recommend books to add to your summer-reading list.
Buzz Reads by Cindy Burnett
Book reviewer Cindy Burnett recommends five recently or soon-to-be released titles.
Travel Buzz: Antarctica Adventure by Tracy L. Barnett
Debbie Paseur and daughter Jenna took a transcendent trip to Antarctica.
SportzBuzz by Todd Freed
SportzBuzz Jr. by Annie Blaylock McQueen
Buzz Kidz: Ascending the stage as a dancer by Iniya Rajan
Neighborhood Tails by Bella
Buzz About Town by Angie Frederickson
Back Porch: 713 Day: An ideal Houston day by Andria Dilling
What’s your perfect day in Houston? In light of 713 Day this month –the unofficial celebration of Houston on July 13 (7-13, like the area code that covers much of our city) – Andria Dilling polls Buzz residents on their favorite things to do and places to go.
by Ben Portnoy, staff writer
A Look at Lizards
A brief consideration of our reptile neighbors
One of the things I enjoy about living in the Houston area are the lizards. You may call them geckos or chameleons, but these names are not correct for the reptiles we commonly see around here. They are properly named “anoles.” I don’t think they actually care what you call them as long as there are adequate insects for them to eat.
When I first moved to Houston many years ago, the anoles were almost all the green ones. These are the Native American lizards of this area. As a kid in Cincinnati, Ohio, the green anoles were sold as “chameleons” at the circus that toured through town each year. They came with a thread-like leash, and the creature would change color from green to a darker shade or even brown as it clung to your shirt. Anoles change color to darker shades to absorb heat, not to match surrounding colors. I do not recall that they lived long in Cincinnati captivity, but in the wild here they are said to live five years or more. To be proper, the green anoles are also called Carolina anoles or even more properly Anolis carolinensis
What about all of those brown anoles that seem to be everywhere? Well, they are invaders from Cuba or the Bahamas. Somewhere in the 1940s, they began to appear in Florida. It is thought that they were imported on plants from these Caribbean locations. Now, they have migrated to Texas and outnumber the green anoles. The brown anoles change colors, too, but the change is from brown to a darker shade or almost black.
Cuban anoles eat the same insects that the greenies do, but they also on occasion dine on their green cousins. The brown anoles prefer to remain close to the ground. The greenies are happy to climb up on plants and trees, and that is a safer location as it keeps them away from the nasty brown anoles. Should you encounter a brown anole and wish to address it formally, please refer to this lizard as Anolis sagrei. I had a neighbor over 30 years ago who was an otherwise nice person, but he had a hatred of anoles. Once, I was chatting with him as he did a bit of gardening. He was leaning on a small shovel as we talked. I think he was discussing
planting some bulbs. A daring anole popped out from under a bush and scurried a few inches over a flagstone. My neighbor lifted his shovel and brought it down swiftly on the poor lizard severing it into two twitching pieces. I was shocked.
“I hate those things,” he said, and went on talking about bulbs.
My neighbor is not the only one anoles should fear. Two years ago, during the winter months, the Nature Discovery Center in Bellaire had a visiting Great Egret who would come every day for lunch. He was almost tame, and you could stand a few feet from him (or maybe her) without the bird appearing to care. We named the bird Edgar. Well, Edgar feasted on anoles, and he did not care if the lizard was green or brown. Edgar would stand very still until he spotted one. Then he would slowly move close, take aim, and in a flash grab the unsuspecting anole in his bill. The next second, the creature would be slithering down the egret’s esophagus, and you could see a telltale bulge in the bird’s very slender neck. Edgar was a bit of a pig, too, and I watched him on several occasions down no less then 10 or 12 anoles. As it is said,
“Everybody’s somebody’s lunch.”
You have probably seen an anole sitting on a log or a tree branch puffing out a yellow or orange-red bag under its jaw. That is a dewlap. It is mostly a male ornament, and it is supposed to attract females. I don’t see the attraction, but anoles apparently respond to the bright color or UV reflections that we humans cannot see.
We have all seen anoles scurry off our driveways in the summer as we pull into our garages, but where are these lizards in the cold of winter? They do not hibernate, but they bide their time hidden under logs, bark, or other debris. I have found anoles in the winter hiding under the cover of my yard light timer. On warm days, they do come out to see if any insects are around for a snack, then back to hiding. The Cuban anoles do not survive the cold as well as our native green ones.
I don’t know why these anoles please me so much. Maybe I envy them as they live their lives without needing extraneous pleasures like great wines, luxurious cruises, or snazzy cars. Juicy bugs seem enough for their happiness. Is this a lesson for us? Who knows?
LOVE FOR LIZARDS A handsome Carolina anole thinking about doing a lizard push-up.
Ben Portnoy
by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer
A Guide to Independence Day
Where to celebrate July 4th
Every Independence Day in Buzz neighborhoods, you’ll see neighbors coming together decked out in red, white, and blue. Families decorate bikes and wagons, line the streets with folding chairs, and wave flags as local parades roll by.
Whether a first-timer or a July Fourth veteran, there are many nearby celebrations worth checking out. We put together a guide to what is happening this year for the Fourth of July.
Memorial Villages Independence Day Parade
July 4, 9:45 a.m.
Memorial Church of Christ Free to attend bunkerhilltx.gov
The Memorial Villages Independence Day Parade is a cherished neighborhood tradition that brings all the small-town feels. A fun run and bike ride (no pre-registration required for the bike ride) start the fun at 9:45 a.m. at Memorial Church of Christ on Gaylord, where participants show off their patriotic pride as they head down Piney Point Road.
Rachel Dickerson, a mother of three, says the parade is her favorite part of the holiday. “Our family tradition is to meet at the start, ride our bikes in our red, white, and blue in the parade, then find some friends and post up to watch the floats and fun patriotic cars drive through," Rachel said.
They continue the fun throughout the day. "Our kids look forward to it every year. We follow that with some pool time, grilling, fresh apple pie and fireworks, and it is the best little at-home July 4th."
The morning starts with a 1.776 mile run along flag-lined Piney Point Road, followed by children on their decorated bicycles and finally, a flotilla of decorated cars, trucks, and floats.
“The Memorial Villages Police Department (MVPD) always looks forward to this community event and the joy it brings to participants and spectators alike,” said Larry Boggus, an officer/UAV pilot with the MVPD.
Following the bike ride and fun run, the parade kicks off at 10 a.m. The route runs from
the church on Gaylord down to Ecclesia. Participants are encouraged to arrive early. Event parking is available in nearby church and school lots. Streets will be closed briefly from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
“The parade has become an annual tradition for the six cities that make up the Memorial Villages enclave,” said Officer Boggus.
Families should set up along Piney Point with chairs or blankets. If you live nearby, walking to the event is your best bet. The event will take place rain or shine; in the event of lightning, the parade will be canceled, so be sure to follow weather.
West University Independence Day Parade and Pool Party
July 4, 2025, 8:45 a.m.-12 p.m.
Starts in front of West University Elementary School; pool party at Colonial Park
Free to attend westutx.gov
West University’s annual Fourth of July parade is a lively patriotic celebration. Participants line up in front of West University Elementary School, sporting patriotic bikes, wagons, and scooters to kick things off, followed by a pool party at Colonial Park. No pre-registration is required.
The fun starts Friday, July 4, with parade lineup at 8:45 a.m. in front of WUE on University Boulevard. The parade begins at 9 a.m. sharp and ends at the Colonial Park Pool, where the celebration continues with music, refreshments, and a fun pool party.
Parking is limited and
(continued on page 14)
FUN ON THE FOURTH The Dickerson family and the Dunk family, including siblings Brooks (back, at left) and Charlie Dunk (front, at left), and Mason (back, at right), Carter (middle), and Eloise Dickerson (front), attend the Memorial Villages Independence Day parade together each year.
(continued from page 12)
University Blvd. will close to traffic between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Walking or biking is encouraged. Pack bathing suits (or wear under clothes), towels, sunscreen, water bottles, and do not forget flip-flops for the pool. Decorate bikes the day before to skip the morning rush.
City of Bellaire Celebration of Independence Parade and Festival
July 4, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Parade starts at S. Rice/Valerie St., festival follows at Bellaire Town Square
Free to attend bellairetx.gov
The City of Bellaire hosts a traditional parade, a post-parade car show, and a fun-filled community festival at Bellaire Town Square. The parade lineup begins between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. at South Rice Avenue and Valerie Street. The parade kicks off at 9 a.m. The Children’s Bike Parade starts at S. Rice Ave. and Evergreen St.
Christi Blakkolb Munz says, “The Bellaire 4th of July parade has become an annual tradition for our family! The kids look forward to setting up chairs and sitting at the start of the parade route every year.”
Lauren Soliz and her daughters, Riley and Kinley Canonico, have also enjoyed the parade over the years. Lauren said it is a fun way to see friends and catch up with neighbors over the
summer break and to celebrate the Fourth with community.
“If we are in town, you can count on the Canonico sisters to attend the annual parade,” Lauren said. “The girls enjoy running into friends and neighbors there and cheering on the parade participants.”
After the parade, be sure to stick around for a car show and festival along South Rice Avenue. Streets will remain closed through noon.
Freedom Over Texas
July 4, 4-10 p.m.
Eleanor Tinsley Park
Tickets are available online for $11, including fees but not taxes. Children 5 and under are free with a paid adult.
houstontx.gov/july4
Houston’s Fourth of July celebration, Freedom Over Texas, features live entertainment, a massive fireworks show, and family fun along Allen Parkway.
A portion of food and drink sales will benefit the Houston Food Bank. Paid parking is available at the Hobby Center Garage (800 Bagby) and Theater District garages via Rusk Street.
Singer Lee Brice and special guest Ashley McBryde will headline this year. There are also family-friendly fun zones, food trucks, a beer garden, and tributes to U.S. military branches.
Buzz resident Whitney Miller attends each year. “We’ve attended Freedom Over Texas over the years, and it truly is a beautiful display of patriotism. The fireworks against the Houston skyline are breathtaking.”
Be sure to bring a blanket or lawn chairs and arrive early to beat the crowds.
Tips and Tricks for the Fourth
Houston in July is hot (!!!), so dress light. Wear breathable fabrics, sunglasses, and widebrimmed hats. And don’t forget your red, white, and blue.
Stay hydrated. Bring your own water bottles and bring lots of water. It is a good idea to arrive early to the parades to grab a shaded spot.
Pack a small bag with sunscreen, snacks, wet wipes, and a portable fan.
Check road closures before you go. Streets around parade routes will close about 30 minutes before starting times. If you can, walk or bike to avoid the hassle.
Whether you plan to bike through the streets of West U, wave from the sidelines in Bellaire, or run down Piney Point in the Memorial Villages, it is sure to be a fun way to wish America a Happy Birthday.
Editor’s note: Share your best red, white, and blue photos with us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Check thebuzzmagazines.com for parade coverage.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA Top left: Clara and Evelyn Estes race to Colonial Park after the West University July 4th Bike Parade and Pool Party in 2024; bottom left: the Freedom Over Texas event lights up the downtown skyline; right: Siblings Isabella, John Luke, and Sienna Munz (from left) celebrate with red, white, and blue at the annual City of Bellaire Celebration of Independence and Festival.
Jenna
Christi Blakkolb Munz
Richard Carson
by Andria Dilling, staff writer
Pizza Night
A dinner to make everyone happy
There is a very rare thing in a blended family – or any family, for that matter: the dinner that pleases everyone.
And I don’t mean a dinner that merely appeals to a wide spectrum of tastes, although that is certainly a big part of a happy family dinner. The bigger part is the dinner that brings everyone together and leaves no room for grouchiness. Because anyone with a family –blended or biological – knows that, in the way that moms are only as happy as their least happy child, family dinner is only as pleasant as the least charming family member.
So, how in the world to achieve that elusive combination of tastiness, compatibility, and joviality, short of a big platter of Chick-fil-A nuggets (although there is definitely a time and place for that)? It’s called Pizza Night.
Pizza Night at our house had an improbable beginning. One Saturday this spring, before either the sun or I was up, my husband went deep into pizza oven research, prompted by an ad he saw somewhere he probably can’t remember. By the time I had gotten dressed, my husband had announced that we would be making a same-day trip to Wimberley for the Ace Hardware store there, because that was the only place within 100 miles of San Antonio (where we mostly live) that held in stock the exact pizza oven he wanted (Gozney) in the exact color (green) at that exact moment. No ordering and waiting for us, thank you very much. A plan that thought-out would have given me too much time to analyze and protest, which of course would have ruined everything.
So, as with much of our life, I was along for the ride. Whether or not we wound up with a pizza oven wasn’t too concerning to me. But we did wind up with a pizza oven. And that one bulky, imposing overbuy transformed Sunday nights for our family.
What was once a forced-march of grilled steak and corn (the only “vegetable” anyone could agree on; and did I mention I really don’t like steak?) became a make-your-own buffet come to life with endless tweaks to toppings and pizza crust doughs and oven temperatures. All of that tinkering became a project that not only
TEST RUN Lucy Frankfort and Marshall Dilling are working on one of many pizzas. This one is topped with fresh mozzarella, pepperoni, and bell peppers.
gave all seven of us something to work on, but also resulted in something delicious that we could compare and critique. Which crust did we like better, the one from the prepared case at Central Market or the one I made with super-
fine “00” flour? Did pizza cooked over a woodburning flame taste better than one cooked using propane? Which tomato sauce did we prefer – a simple, oregano-spiked tomato puree or Carbone’s pizza sauce or Rao’s marinara? Would
fig preserves spread on the crust of a fig-and-prosciutto pizza burn under the heat of the oven?
The pizza questions and combinations are as infinite as the moods of our five (grown) kids and two parents, one of whom will always be “step” to certain of the children. And it is those endless new attempts, and the analyzing of such, that provide the backdrop for a lively and relaxed, if not unduly messy, family dinner that may or may not include friends. (If it does include guests, get ready for compliments: Five young women joined us one Saturday night a couple months ago, and they are still telling their own families that they ate the best pizza of their lives at our house.)
All of that is to say this: If we can bond over Pizza Night, so can anyone. Do you have moody teens or tweens? Sibling rivalries? Rough work weeks? Or are you just bored with the same chicken-steak-pasta-insert-your-own-standarddinner? Pizza Night is your answer.
If a pizza oven isn’t in your backyard or on your wish list, not to worry. Pizza stones and pans are widely available at stores like Williams-Sonoma and even (of course) on Amazon. In a story we published in October
2020 ( Cooking Through It: These guys have a new quarantine hobby), Wayne Kearney shared his passion for pizza-making and his own Friday Pizza Nights. Along with a “72-Hour Pizza Dough” recipe, Wayne recommended a pizza pan from BakingSteel.com, which he described as a steel version of a pizza stone. “The theory,” Wayne said, “is that it holds heat more consistently than a stone.” There’s a lot of research out there to sift through if you’re so inclined.
Similarly, dough recipes are limitless: Some promise thin, cracker-like crusts; some are made for deep-dish pies; others claim to straddle the chewy-crunchy divide. My goal this summer is to master the sourdough version of a crust (which involves first mastering – or let’s just say learning – basic sourdough). Or, you can always just pick up some pre-made dough at Trader Joe’s or Central Market.
We’re still figuring Pizza Night out, but I have learned a few things:
1. Nobody needs ground beef, pancetta, pepperoni, crumbled Italian sausage, and sliced Italian sausage all in one night. Rein it in.
2. Likewise with the cheese. Zero in on one
or two options: shredded mozzarella, fresh mozzarella, grated parm, shaved parm, fontina, goat cheese, whatever. Just keep it simple.
3. Ingredients look more appetizing when served in bowls or ramekins. Also, they look the opposite of appetizing after pizza #2 has been assembled and someone starts complaining that the pepperoni now has onion in it.
4. In our family (but you might need the reminder, too), someone needs to remind my husband, who gets very excited about his pizza topping options, not to forget to put cheese on his pizza. Every time.
5. Very importantly, plan pizza nights carefully: Don’t do this the night before an occasion that calls for a squeaky-clean house.
However you make Pizza Night happen, I can promise it will be a solid and very delicious conduit for connecting. Buon appetito!
Crispy-Chewy Pizza Dough
This is the dough version we have had the most success with for thin-crust pizzas. For us, it made four small pizza crusts, but you might want to make one big pizza or two medium pizzas. Please share your own successful crust
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PIZZA PARTY Darby Buras and Claire Frankfort survey the many pizza-topping options, including sliced Italian sausage, bell peppers, figs, pesto, tomato slices, and more; store-bought pizza dough versus homemade, both with pepperoni.
recipes with us. Comment on this story online at thebuzzmagazines.com or email info@thebuzzmagazines.com.
1 packet active dry yeast
1 cup warm water
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for oiling the bowl
3 cups pizza flour (00 flour)
Place the yeast, water, and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. Stir to dissolve the yeast and let the mixture stand for about 5 minutes, until it is bubbly. Add the salt and olive oil and mix. Add the flour ½ cup at a time, mixing on the lowest speed. When the dough comes together, increase the speed to medium. If it is crumbly, add water 1 tablespoon at a time; if it is wet, add flour 1 tablespoon at a time. Mix using the dough hook for 5 minutes. Transfer the dough to the counter and knead it for another 5 minutes, forming a ball. Coat the mixing bowl with a little bit of olive oil and place the ball of dough in the bowl, turning it to coat it in olive oil. Cover with a tea towel and let the dough rise for about 1 hour, until it doubles in size.
When you are ready to make pizzas, punch the dough down and cut it into 4 equal pieces. Use a rolling pin and your hands to stretch it into a thin circle before adding toppings. Bake in a 500-degree oven for 12-15 minutes, or bake in a pizza oven according to the oven directions.
Pizza topping ideas:
Tomato sauce
Shredded mozzarella
Pepperoni slices
Olive oil
Fig preserves
Shredded fontina
Thinly sliced fresh figs
Arugula
Prosciutto
Balsamic reduction (add the arugula, prosciutto, and balsamic reduction after the pizza has been cooked)
Tomato sauce
Shredded mozzarella
Browned hamburger meat
Chopped green bell peppers
Chopped or thinly sliced white onion
Olive oil
Pesto
Thinly sliced tomatoes
Sliced fresh mozzarella
Olive oil
Pesto
Cubed or sliced grilled chicken
Sliced fresh mozzarella
Fresh basil leaves (add after cooking)
NEW CHALLENGE Top photo: Formerly the master of the grill, Marshall Dilling has taken to pizza-making; bottom photo: Pizza topped with fig preserves, fontina, figs, prosciutto, and arugula.
by Cindy Burnett, staff writer
Summer Reading
Books recommended by Buzz residents
Summer is here, and what a great time for reading! Schedules are slower for many, which provides additional free time and allows for more books. I believe summer reading should not be limited to any particular genre –if it sounds good to you, read it! More important than the genre is an engaging plot, solid prose, and whether the story appeals to the reader. I polled Buzz residents about their recommendations for books to pick up this summer and was happy to see a wide range of suggestions. Additionally, I include some selections of my own at the end.
Kelly Hogan: “How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin is a great summer read! It is a light British whodunnit that is similar to a fun Agatha Christie-style novel. The book toggles back and forth between present day and the past of the main character (who is also the murder victim) leading up to the crime. It is so easy to read or fun to listen to since the narrators offer accents. It is also a great choice for a fun summer book club complete with high tea and a second in the series to follow up with.”
Catherine Gentry: “This summer I’ve got a very long list! I just finished Emily Henry’s Great Big Beautiful Life, about two writers vying for the opportunity to write the biography of an 80-year-old heiress and former tabloid princess and of course, falling in love along the way. I also loved The Wedding People by Alison Espach. It’s funny and poignant and a tender portrayal of love gone wrong filled with quirky characters, wedding guests at someone else’s wedding, who help a brokenhearted woman find love again.”
Sally Mason: “I just finished reading How To Read A Book by Monica Wood and loved it! It is about complex family dynamics, redemption, forgiveness, and starting over. (A retired English teacher leads a book club in a woman’s prison.) The character development is fabulous! How To Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley is a feelgood novel about friendship, aging, and the importance of social connection. A group of London senior citizens (all with different personalities) become allies when their community center is threatened with closure. It is funny,
frank, and brings up real challenges for older folk! The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff is a family saga about a Texas family and four generations dealing with losses and surprises of inheritance. Her character development is fabulous. When Women Ran Fifth Avenue: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion by Julie Satow portrays the golden age of department stores and the visionary women who led them. You get a feel for what life was like then and a sense of loss for our times now when everything seems to be moving to online shopping. The Briar Club by Kate Quinn is a historical mystery set in a boarding house in Washington, D.C. during the ’50s. It focuses on a group of women and their friendship, loyalty, and secrets during the McCarthy era. Captivating as all her books are!”
Ann Strang: “All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall is being compared to the sci-fi classics Station Eleven and The Road. A cataclysmic storm has driven the protagonist and her family from living on the roof of the American Museum of Natural Science, where they have protected its exhibits, to pursue a life anew while honoring all that they have rescued. Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (author of Migrations and Once There Were Wolves). A family lives on an island near Antarctica that is home to the largest seed banks in the surviving world. During a monstrous storm, a woman mysteriously washes ashore. What choices will the family make to protect the seed banks and to protect their secrets. Who is the mystery woman?”
Celia Anderson: “A great series of mysteries is the Cormoran Strike series. Strike is a downand-out detective in contemporary London. An ex-child of a superstar rocker, ex-military spe-
cialist who lost part of a leg, and an ex-boyfriend of super models, he starts a detective agency. Along comes a beautiful, sweet temp to help him pull it together. Seven books are already out and the eighth one comes out in September. Can’t wait! The author of these books is Robert Galbraith aka J. K. Rowling. The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai is an absorbing book that takes you through 20th-century Vietnam history. The story is told with beautiful, stirring language through the lens of a North Vietnamese grandmother and granddaughter. The strong love and loyalty for family is front and center.”
Paige Erwin: “I just read James by Percival Everett and loved it! It is Mark Twain’s story of Huckleberry Finn told from Jim’s perspective. Such a great story of resilience and perseverance told in the style of Twain. A real page turner! One of my friends read James and Huckleberry Finn simultaneously and found it quite easy to do. After reading James, my husband reread Tom Sawyer and then Huckleberry Finn.”
Jay Hachen: “I just read In the Shadow of 10,000 Hills by Jennifer Haupt. It is a beautiful but heart-wrenching story set in Rwanda around genocide in the late 1990s. The book addresses how people can cope with the worst humanity has to offer, while showing love and forgiveness.”
PAGE TURNERS Buzz resident and author Catherine Gentry recommends some fun reads for summer.
Here are some books that I have read recently and loved, and think will make great reads this summer:
Park Avenue by Renée Ahdieh (fiction) –Junior partner Jia Song has worked hard her entire life hoping to find success and security. When she is asked to manage a crisis for her firm’s biggest client, a Korean family worth billions of dollars, she finds herself thrown into a world of extreme extravagance. What results is an appealing romp across the world with a dysfunctional family whose fortunes are mind-boggling. Ahdieh deftly contrasts the two Korean American experiences while providing commentary on what happens when a long sought-after goal may no longer be desired. I loved this one.
We Don’t Talk About Carol by Kristen L. Berry (mystery) – We Don't Talk About Carol is a deeply haunting, twisty mystery based on a 60-year-old cold case involving six missing Black women whose stories were forgotten by the world but never by their families. Berry expertly explores the themes of family secrets, community, trauma, and motherhood while unraveling a mystery that has some fabulous twists and turns. She also highlights the racial disparities that occur in missing person investigations, which made for tough but compelling reading.
Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild (fiction) – Honor seems to have everything. She adores her daughter Chloe and her husband Tom. But her longing for another baby threatens to eclipse it all until a shocking event changes their lives forever. My recommendation is to go in blind on this one. The story is so unique – the events, the narrator, and the way it all unfolds. I felt like I was watching an
impending train wreck with no way to stop it, and I could not put the book down until I had finished it.
Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje (fiction) – Spanning 20 years in Croatia, Slanting Towards the Sea is a love story as well as a powerful exploration of what it means to come of age in a country younger than oneself. Ivona has experienced so much loss and struggles to come to term with her current life. Hilje chronicles her attempts to move forward against the backdrop of Croatia’s culture and food. Croatia is a stunningly beautiful country that comes alive on the pages of this debut, and the prose is so graceful and lyrical.
Songs of Summer by Jane L. Rosen (fiction) –30-year-old record shop owner Maggie Mae Wheeler books a trip to Fire Island to crash the season’s biggest wedding in search of her biological mother. But along the way, she also happens to find some small-town drama, an identity crisis, and even some romance of her own. The small-town vibes, island setting, and frequent music references made this such a fun read. While this one ties in with Rosen’s other Fire Island books, it is a standalone and reads like one.
The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick (historical fiction) – Four dissatisfied ’60s-era housewives form a book club that will hold fast amid the turmoil of a rapidly changing world and eventually alter the course of each of their lives. When they read The Feminine Mystique, the group finds themselves considering the status (or lack thereof) of women in the 1960s. In this engrossing tale, Bostwick demonstrates that books open up new worlds for people, start conversations, transport readers, and enable the power of human connection and friendship.
The Beast in the Clouds: The Roosevelt Brothers’ Deadly Quest to Find the Mythical Giant Panda by Nathalia Holt (nonfiction) –For lovers of history, nature, and adventure, The Beast in the Clouds is the true story of Theodore Roosevelt’s sons and their 1920s Himalayan expedition to prove the existence of the panda bear to the western world. After the success of the brothers’ expedition, the panda bear sadly became the focus of Western hunters, but their discovery also led to a new era of animal conservation and began to change the way scientists studied mammals. The book contains some fabulous photos of their journey.
Hunger Like a Thirst by Besha Rodell (memoir) – Traveling around the world, Rodell takes us on a delicious, raw, and fascinating journey through her life and career as a restaurant critic and explores the history of criticism and dining and the cultural shifts that have turned us all into food obsessives. Her career coincides with the rise of bloggers and subsequently influencers who really changed the way restaurants were reviewed, and I found that fascinating and very similar to the shift that happened in the book world. I listened to this one, and her Australian accent was an added bonus.
Happy summer! Enjoy the slower schedule and escaping the heat in whatever manner you can. I would love to hear about the fabulous reads you enjoyed.
Editor’s note: Book reviewer Cindy Burnett also writes our monthly Buzz Reads column and 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.
SUMMER READS Left: ParkAvenue by Renée Ahdieh explores the Korean American immigrant experience from several perspectives in this engaging and entertaining tale; right: Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild is an engrossing debut that will surprise readers.
Cindy Burnett Cindy Burnett
The Buzz Magazines’ 2025 Photo Contest
Although The Buzz Magazines’ annual photo contest is exclusively for local amateur photographers, the quality of photos we receive astounds us each year. With any contest like this, the process is inherently subjective. However, there are basic principles of photography that must be met, such as lighting, focus, exposure, and composition. Each judge – local professional photographers – prioritizes different factors in their deliberation, but they all look for images that are purposeful, powerful, and stand out in terms of the uniqueness of the shot. The judges consider the level of skill required to capture each photo and take the time to scrutinize the smallest intricacies. And there are personal elements to consider, some difficult to define: a photograph’s essence, the emotions it evokes, the artful nature of its expression. Judging for the photo contest is blind, as the judges do not see names or information about the photographers.
As always, there are many excellent photos left behind. We’d like to thank all the talented photographers who submitted images, and our expert judges for their careful deliberation, time, and expertise.
The results are not entirely up to the experts: our readers have a voice in the contest as well. The top 50 finalists were posted to our Facebook page, and the photos with the most likes became our Readers’ Choice winners.
Congratulations to all our winners, and especially to our grand prize winner, Catherine Yüksek, for her winning image, Salt Cure. Catherine will receive a Weekend Getaway Package for two, compliments of our contest sponsor, The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa.
If you have a knack for photography, keep our contest in mind this upcoming year. Look out for our call for entries on our website, social media, and in our March 2026 print issue.
Grand Prize, Salt Cure
Catherine Yüksek, 44, took this photo of her daughters, Serena and Sage, with their friends Sage, Stella, and Vivi, in Galveston during the last weekend of Sept. 2024 on a brief getaway to celebrate Stella’s 10th birthday. Catherine says, “After enduring a derecho, Hurricane Beryl, and months of relentless heat, the temperature and humidity finally dipped just enough that spending hours on the beach felt not only tolerable but joyful. This welcome break in the weather happened to coincide with one of those rare, magical Galveston days – something I’ve only experienced three times in my life as a native Texan – when the normally opaque Gulf water transforms, Cinderella-like, into an almost-blue-if-you-squint, crystal-clear oasis. It’s a brief, beautiful phenomenon, and within hours (or a couple of days if you’re lucky), you’re back at the sink scrubbing tar stains out of your bathing suit, wondering if it was all just a dream.
“That weekend, and this photo speaks to the magic of childhood. Time (especially summertime) seems to stretch out indefinitely, and it feels like there’s room for nothing inside your small body but a giant imagination and an even bigger heart – both of which allow you to see the extraordinary in the ordinary.
“The name Salt Cure is a reference to one of my favorite quotes by Isak Dinesen, which I love (and live by), ‘The cure for anything is salt water – sweat, tears, or the sea.’”
Comments from Our Judges
Catherine Yüksek submitted this photo at 11:58 p.m. – just two minutes before the Photo Contest deadline! – and we’re so glad she did. Here’s what our judges had to say about Salt Cure:
“This black and white photo grabbed me right away – it feels iconic the moment you see it. All the girls are looking right, but one glances slightly left, catching the wind and stealing the scene. That subtle shift gives the image its edge. It's composed with care but also has attitude. The photo doesn’t just capture a moment; it declares one.” – Dylan Aguilar
“What truly makes this image stand out is its narrative depth. There’s an unspoken story between the girls – a bond, a moment of shared experience, or simply the innocence of youth in nature’s playground. The range of expressions and body language – joy, contemplation, distraction – make the viewer linger longer, inviting interpretation. Salt Cure is a masterfully captured moment that transcends mere portraiture. It is evocative, timeless, and deeply human – a true standout in its category.” – Eric Forsythe
“The light is highlighting the blonde hair of the girl on the right, who seems to be in her own little world while the other four are reacting to something off to the left of the frame. Great B&W tonality, a candid, camera-unaware moment beautifully captured by the camera being right down on the same level as the subjects. A great slice-of-life moment.” – Michael Hart
Category: Animals
First Place, Baby Elephant
Scott Kinsel, 47, took this photo in the summer of 2024 in Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. “We were en route to a local school to do some volunteer work and came across a very large herd. I had never seen a calf that small, so we spent a little time at a safe distance watching them. Always fun to see the little ones trying to figure out how to control their trunks. Thankfully, the position of our vehicle allowed for great composition. Often that is something you can’t control. Lots of luck involved.”
Second Place, Buck at Dusk
“There are a few dream scenarios of wildlife photo opportunities that I have, and this one is at the top of the list,” says David Holland, 70. He describes: “I'd seen this buck in velvet earlier during our family vacation near Horseshoe Bay. Late one afternoon (July 2024) I went looking for him (or any buck in velvet for that matter) hoping for a backlit photo. I only had minutes before the sun would set.
“Suddenly I saw several deer on the golf course and there he was in the middle of them! I jumped out of the vehicle and raced to where it appeared he was headed. When I got there, I noticed the sun was setting near the same spot. Hoping my settings were accurate, I followed the sun in the viewfinder and eased toward the grazing buck, trying to align the sun directly behind to silhouette him. I took a few insurance shots with the sun and the buck in the same frame, but really hoped they'd both be perfectly aligned.
“Sure enough, the sun fell right behind him, and he looked directly at me! This was the dream shot! The sun set and the buck crossed over the hill into darkness. I stood in disbelief as to what I'd just done.”
Third Place, Galloping Oryx
David Holland was with friends in central Texas in May 2024 when they spotted a large herd of Scimitar Oryx. They split up, positioning themselves for possible photos. He says, “I laid low on the ground with only my camera exposed. Suddenly I heard the rumblings of the Oryx running. I made a quick camera settings adjustment and waited. This one ran directly at me and veered as I raised the camera. I was able to capture the Oryx at full gallop as it passed by.”
Fourth Place, THR Buck
David Holland took this photo in Nov. 2024 at a ranch near Llano. He was hoping to get a close-up image of a mature Whitetail Buck from a low angle. He says, “I knew the wind would have to be correct and that I’d have to be motionless. I had my camera on a very low tripod with the silent shutter engaged. I was properly hidden and the only movements I made were slow turns of the camera on the tripod. As the sun was setting, this buck walked within 10’ of me, the sky was clear of trees, his antlers positioned nicely, and I was able to get this shot as he tried to figure out what/who I was with his ears and eyes at full attention.”
Fifth Place, Hank the Rhodesian Ridgeback
Alex LeBuffe, 44, took this photo of Hank the Rhodesian Ridgeback (aka the “Lion Dog”) in April. Alex says when his friends, Kim and Tres Young, are on vacation, 4-year-old Hank stays at his house. He says, “We love watching our friends’ dog, Hank, whenever they're on vacation. He's a dignified, kind, and incredibly intelligent dog. This image, taken in our living room, perfectly captures his wonderful disposition.” He adds: “Interesting fact: This fearless and loyal breed originated in South Africa as a lion hunter.”
Category: Landscapes
First Place, The Shining Light in a Dark World Loyd Dalton, 77, took this photo in early February. He was traveling with a fellow photographer to Miramar Park in La Porte, Texas to shoot sunrise images over a pier that extends out into the bay. He says, “What was to be a classic sunrise turned out to be a temporary disappointment! The weather looked terrific for that sunrise shoot until we reached about half a mile from the water’s edge. The fog had rolled in off the water and had consumed everything in its path, including the pier. As we got out of the car to survey the location, I was immediately attracted to the light on the pier trying to break through the dark fog! It instantly reminded me of an Eternal Source that brings hope, peace, and guidance in challenging times! Thus: The Shining Light in a Dark World!”
Second Place, Man in Red Darren Inoff, 56, took this photo in April 2024 of the Moonscape Overlook. Located just outside of Hanksville, Utah, it’s a popular spot known for its otherworldly views and unique geological features. Darren says, “The man in red gives the photo a sense of scale to the valley below.”
Third Place, Sacred Sunrise
Loyd Dalton took this photo in Aug. 2024 on a trip to Glacier National Park. He describes: “I drove before dawn from our hotel to Apgar, Montana. I was planning to take a sunrise at the boat ramp on the west end of Lake McDonald in the Park. The forecast called for lots of clouds for a classic sunrise shot that morning. But, upon arrival, I disappointedly discovered there were no clouds at all. I thought at the time, all that effort for nothing! But, as my photography mentor once told me, ‘Sometimes you have to make lemonade out of lemons!’ Seeing the colored boats lined up and the corresponding reflections in the water of the mountains compelled me to make the image! What I thought was going to be a disastrous photo op, turned out to be another Sacred Sunrise!”
Fifth Place, The Music Hall
Robert Davis, 74, took this photo of the Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles, Calif., the fourth hall of the Los Angeles Music Center. Designed by Frank Gehry, it opened in Oct. 2003. “It is fascinating and futuristic architecture. A photographer’s dream from many angles. This image is representative of its angles, curves, and contrasts.”
Fourth Place, The Bridge
Chip Charlton, 18, took this photo of a bridge in Taroko Gorge National Park in Taiwan last year. “I took the photo because I wanted to capture the scale and beauty of the park with the bridge and people as reference.” He was in Taiwan for a school trip to learn about its culture and customs, and says this is one of his favorite photos from his trip. He is a 2025 graduate of The Awty International School and is heading to University of California San Diego, where he plans to study astronomy and astrophysics.
Category: Nature
First Place, Bee Selina Yuan, 15, took this photo of a Western Honeybee in a garden in Prague while she was on vacation with her family last July. “I had just figured out a hack where I used a selfie stick to get close up to the bee while avoiding being stung and I was really excited to see what shots I could get. Out of the 50 or so photos, this one turned out the best!” Selina is an incoming junior at Saint Thomas’ Episcopal School.
Second Place, Egret Transfer
David Holland, 70, took this photo at the Smith Oaks Rookery at High Island, Texas in March 2025. He says, “These two Great Egret adults were in the process of building their nest when the male returned with a fairly large branch. The exchange was so gentle, the light was hitting their breeding plumage uniquely and I zoomed in and took the shot. I liked the interaction and lighting.”
Fourth Place, Great Horned Owl
Kevin Zhang, 56, says that since he got his first Nikon D500 camera, he became interested in bird watching. He began visiting Texas state parks to look for various birds. This photo was taken in March 2024, one of a series of photos he took of a family of Great Horned Owls in Brazos Bend State Park. He describes, “I went to the park every weekend from Feb. 18-April 26, 2024, until the family left the park after the little owls learned to fly. During the day, the male owl stayed in another tree. The female owl sometimes left the nest to find food for the young birds. Unfortunately, one day, one of the little owls fell from the tree in front of me, and I captured this moment with my camera. The little owl had to be sent to a sanctuary, where it was taken care of by a ranger. I don't know if it survived in the end.” He blogged about this 11-week journey (kevinzhangphotography.com).
This photo features the mother owl with two one-week-old babies under her wing.
Ant
took this photo of a Carpenter Ant in her backyard in March. “I had just gotten a new phone and I wanted to test out the macro function. The day the photo was taken was quite windy, so it was difficult to get a focused shot, but I'm happy with how this photo turned out!”
Fifth Place, White River Braids
Darren Inoff took this photo of Icelandic glacial river braids by drone in June 2024. He says, “High above the earth, these river braids make these incredible, ever-changing patterns.”
Third Place, Little
Selina Yuan
Category: People and Portraits
First Place, Shy Monk Payman Karimi, 57, was visiting eastern Bhutan in March when he and his group came across a local monastery, Khewang Lhakhang. Payman describes, “As we walked in the courtyard, we saw this young monk who peeked through the curtain/drape which acted as the door to his room. He must have just woken up when he heard us talking and was curious to see the strangers! He seemed to be very shy, although not camera shy, and happily allowed us to take pictures of him while keeping his beautiful smile on his face all that time. The contrast between his red sweater, the golden curtain, and his tan smiley face with the door frame under the soft morning light created a perfect moment to capture. This young boy did not speak English, but he kindly allowed us inside his modest room later with the universal language of kindness and humility.” Payman says meeting him and spending time at the monastery was a wonderful experience. He adds, “Bhutan is a fascinating country with the kindest and most humble people. I would like to share a fact about the country which attracted me to visit Bhutan in the first place: Bhutan uses a concept called Gross National Happiness, instead of GDP index, as a guide for overall well-being and happiness of its citizens.”
Second Place, The Man on the Bus
Kate Phillips, 21, took this photo on a weekend trip to Florence during her study abroad program in Siena, Italy. “The bus pulled up in front of me and the light from the window perfectly lit up a single man, making the perfect shot. This photo is part of a wider portfolio of Italian street photography from my study abroad in Italy.” Kate is an incoming senior at The University of Texas at Austin; she is a studio art major studying photography, painting, and digital sculpture. She graduated from St. Agnes Academy in 2022.
Third Place, On Grandma’s Lap Payman Karimi took this photo in March of an indigenous grandmother and granddaughter who live in the mountains of Bhutan. They were attending the Punakha Tshechu festival, one of the most famous annual events. He says the vibrant festival attracts locals and indigenous people from all over Bhutan as well as international tourists. He says, “By the time we arrived, the courtyard of the Dzong (fortress-monastery) was completely packed. We managed to squeeze ourselves into a tight spot at the far end corner of the courtyard, where I noticed the grandmother and her granddaughter, dressed in very interesting Bhutanese indigenous clothing, sitting on the ground in front of us. What attracted me was their unique, different headwear and the beauty it created between the two generations.” He says the grandmother and granddaughter are part of the Layap minority group, “indigenous people living in the high-altitude mountains (>12,000 ft) of northwest Bhutan. They are known for their semi-nomadic lifestyle and unique costumes.”
Fourth Place, Kenyan Grandmother Leba Glazner, 73, took this photo in 2024 of a woman who lives in a small village of the Datooga Tribe in Tanzania. “Everyone called her ‘Grandma,’” Leba says. “I was motivated to take this photo as she was the senior member of the village, surrounded by children of all ages and younger women. At one moment I caught her sitting alone, looking contemplatively out the window of her mud hut. Her beautifullylined face and pierced earlobes helped to tell her life story.”
Fifth Place, Dying Fabric in India
“This year, I am focusing a year-long photo project on women ‘who create,’” says Leba Glazner. “This photo is taken of a woman in the Jaipur area of India, who works in hand-dying the fabrics that are used in making beautiful Indian clothing.” Leba took this photo in April. “I saw this woman pulling heavily-soaked material out of a large trough filled with blue dye. Her tight grip on the fabric with blue dye dripping down her hands showed her strength and dedication to her hard, tedious work.”
Category: Sports, Action, and Miscellaneous
First Place, Back Into It
Bellaire High School student Daniel Flores, 17, took this photo at the 6A UIL State Basketball Championship in San Antonio between Bellaire High School and Duncanville High School. In the photo is Cam Smith of the Duncanville basketball team helping up his teammate Beckham Black after Black had fallen, trying to defend a dunk from one of Bellaire basketball's players. “I took this photo because I thought it perfectly displayed the teamwork of the Duncanville team, showing that each player had each other's back.”
Daniel is an incoming senior at BHS.
Second Place, Branding Season
David Rose, 58, took this photo last June at the Hoodoo Ranch located between Cody, Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park. He says, “This photo was taken during a morning of observing cattle ranchers branding a herd of beef cattle. As a longtime Houstonian, this was the first time I’ve ever seen how what we see at the rodeo translates into the life of working ranchers. As guests of the ranch, we were invited to observe the entire branding operation. (We were also invited to take a turn at branding the calves, which was far easier than the more skilled work of the cowboys on horseback.) In a process that I’m sure has been honed over generations of ranching, I was impressed by the speed at which the team could brand, vaccinate, and geld a calf before releasing it back into the herd. Rendering in black & white changes everything about this photo. It becomes timeless and the cowboys could easily be from a bygone era. But more interesting is the smoke which, in black & white, is no longer just an artifact of the cattle brand but instead becomes an important lighting element as it drifts across the scene, seemingly funneling light from the sky above onto the activity at-hand.”
Third Place, Tubing
David Holland took this image in July 2024 at Horseshoe Bay. He says, “These cousins were laughing, screaming, and making memories. I wanted to capture the moment with their exciting expressions and the tube airborne!” Pictured (from left) are Luke Quinn, Walker Stahl, George Stahl, and Annie Quinn – the four oldest of his 13 grandchildren.
Fourth Place, Roar
As historian of the Bellaire Mighty Cardinal Band, Daniel Flores takes photos of the band throughout this year. This photo is of band members (from left) Elizabeth Gamero, Rahul Nanjundan, and Matthew Guzman, cheering while the rest of the band plays their tunes. The photo was taken at Butler Stadium during the Bellaire vs. Lamar football game. Daniel says, “During football games, we always do this thing called Hype Train, which is where the band goes down to the student section to play some music, dance, and be hype, and this is my favorite band tradition to take photos of. The football game was the biggest of the year besides Homecoming, because it was against Lamar. Lamar and Bellaire have had a very longstanding rivalry with everything, but especially football. It is always the game with the best student section, and the most hype.”
Fifth Place, The Glow of Victory
Brianne Wheeler, 41, took this photo of the West University Softball Association’s 10U Kingsnakes team on May 3, right after winning the end of season 10U championship. “There is a tradition in softball of taking a championship ring photo on the home base plate; particularly because they had two rings, I wanted to snap the photo to capture all of their bling!” She adds: “The team received two rings: one for winning the championship, and a second for their second-place regular season record. These girls worked hard, playing two games in the heat that day. In their first game they went behind versus one of the best teams in the league and came back to win it. That made the championship game win that much sweeter!” Pictured are Kingsnakes members Penelope Allanbrook, Gemma Baird, Raquel Cordova, Lauren Dewalch, Ila Epley, Lola Gallagher, Lily Iwinski, Stella Nelson, Madeleine Owen, Brooklyn Ripper, and Julia Skaug.
Category: Readers’ Choice
First Place, Belly Flop
Dana Katz, 48, took this photo last December on a Royal Caribbean cruise. She says, “Some of my friends and family were relaxing in the pool as spectators, while I had the best view – from an air-conditioned lounge directly above! From that perfect vantage point, I caught the excitement of the lively belly flop competition in action.”
Second Place, Ariana
“I took this picture of our dear family friend, Ariana, an exceptionally talented member of the Emery/Weiner Varsity Cheer team, at the annual Emery Cheer Clinic this past September,” says Dana Katz. “Ariana’s athleticism and dedication shine both on and off the field, and I love capturing Ariana’s and the cheer team’s impressive skills.”
Third Place, Vintage Air Travel
Mark Newman, 51, took this photo in December in the lobby of the TWA Hotel at JFK Airport in New York City. He says, “This was the original 1960s-era airport terminal, converted to a vintage-inspired hotel in 2019.” Mark says he asked the gentleman in the photo if he was a paid actor due to his vintage suitcases and outfit, but he said no – he just liked the “vintage vibe.” Mark adds, “It exemplified the vintage aesthetic of the hotel. The 1958 Lockheed Constellation (Connie) airplane in the background was converted to a lounge/bar.”
Seth
,
took this photo of a desert bighorn sheep last May at Valley of Fire State Park in Clark County, Nevada. He says, “I was about to leave the park to head to a Pearl Jam concert in Las Vegas and spotted some large wildlife high up on the rocks hiding out in the shade. I waited patiently to see if one would emerge and captured this image.” He adds, “If you are in the Las Vegas area and would rather see some nature instead of gambling and walking the Strip, I highly recommend driving into the nearby state parks for some great hikes and views!”
Fifth Place, Hank Hank by Alex LeBuffe also received fifth place in the Animals category.
Fourth Place, Bighorn Sheep, Valley of Fire
Miller
47,
Judges’ Bios
Dylan Aguilar is a filmmaker and creative producer with an MFA from SCAD, where he made award-winning short films – one even caught the eye of Variety . His work blends experimental storytelling with genre filmmaking. In grad school, he was at the forefront of an emerging technology, directing a film entirely within a virtual production soundstage. This led to an internship with Tesla’s Product Knowledge Team, where he produced content for the company’s YouTube channel. Dylan now works with Lucky Number Eight Productions and was Associate Producer on Luv Ya, Bum , a forthcoming Houston Oilers documentary that won an Audience Award at SXSW 2025. Off-set, he travels, runs, and works in his garage studio mixing darkroom photography with motion graphics – a Leica always close by. dylanaguilar.com dylan.m.aguilar@outlook.com
Eric Forsythe has been a full-time photographer for over 15 years. His work has been featured in several magazines and regional journals, including Time, The Ferrari Club Magazine , and Success magazine. His images have been shared on Larry King Live, Piers Morgan Live, Good Morning America, and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon , to name a few. Eric’s clientele includes automotive icons such as Ferrari, Porsche, and Lamborghini, as well as entertainment companies like MGM, Paramount Pictures, Capitol Records, and Integrity Music. He is based in Houston, but his passion guides him to continuously explore in search of optical stimuli. He believes that photography is not motionless and tries to establish a sense of movement in his photos. www.forsythefotography.com eric@forsythefotography.com
Michael Hart photographed an NBA game at the age of eight with a Brownie Holiday Flash camera while living in Fort Wayne, Ind. He completed his first paid assignment at age 14, when the whole world was still in black and white! He has had a commercial photography business in Houston, Texas since the late ’70s and regularly travelled the globe doing annual reports and other assignments for corporations, design firms and ad agencies, racking up a million and a half air miles in the process. While still fulfilling commercial assignments his primary focus is now on his personal photography, which is driven by a deep appreciation for design and composition, where every frame is carefully crafted to balance form, light, and space. Recent awards and exhibitions include the 11th Annual Allegany National Photography Competition and Exhibition; The SE Center for Photography “Shades of B&W” and “The Landscape,” and “All About The Light”; Black and White Spider Awards; Texas Photographic Society “TPS 32: The International Competition” and “Foto Texas III”; The Visual Arts Alliance “40th Juried Open Exhibition”; and The International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum “Black and White and Monochrome” Exhibition. His book, Biggio: The Final Game, is in the library of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and a photo from it is in The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. michaelhartfineart.com mhart@hartphoto.com
. by Cindy Burnett, staff writer
Buzz Reads
Five picks for July
Buzz Reads is a column about books by reviewer Cindy Burnett. Each month, Cindy recommends five recently or soon-to-be released titles.
Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding by Lian Dolan (contemporary fiction) – This delightful and charming novel tackles the popular wedding storyline from a completely fresh perspective. The stars of this tale are the two mothers –the mother of the bride (MOB) Greek-born Alexa Diamandis, a single mother and travel planner, and the mother of the groom (MOG), Abigail Blakeman, an old-money member of the Daughters of the Revolution who resides in Connecticut. When Penelope and Chase announce their engagement, neither mother is excited for the pending nuptials. What ensues is an often funny and touching romp about two women who overcome their differences and some of their own personal issues while planning an amazing wedding with their adult children. Interspersed throughout the novel is an advice column by Aunt B to “Dearly Beloved and Betrotheds” which hilariously pokes fun at how weddings bring out the crazy in people. Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding will appeal to fans of light-hearted stories and standout characters; it is a true joy from beginning to end.
Culpability by Bruce Holsinger (family drama, mystery) – A family’s world is upended after their car swerves, causing an accident that results in the death of two elderly people in an oncoming car. Oldest child Charlie was in the driver’s seat and grabbed the wheel right before the wreck, but the car was self-driving with AI technology. Who exactly is at fault? This engrossing novel explores culpability in the age of technology, and as AI becomes more prevalent, what our role is as humans in a world dominated by machines. Against the backdrop of technology, Holsinger also explores family dynamics, grief, secrets, and parenting. I have not stopped thinking about this page turner since I finished it; it is a must-read that is both timely and chilling. Culpability is for fans of thought-provoking premises, cutting-edge stories, and family dramas.
Far and Away by Amy Poeppel (contempo-
rary fiction) – When Lucy’s teenage son, Jack, makes a mistake he can’t fix, and Greta’s husband takes a job in Texas without telling her, the solution seems obvious: The two families will swap houses for a while. Lucy’s family moves to Berlin, and Greta and her crew relocate to Dallas. But unfortunately, trading houses doesn’t completely provide the escape either family wants. What results is an engaging, funny, and heartwarming story about the family we are born with and the family we make as our own. Frequently humorous, Far and Away addresses friendship, social media, culture clash, marriage, parenting, and more, resulting in a heartfelt and heartwarming tale. This will be a great fit for those who enjoy engaging tales with humor and heart.
WHAT TO READ This month’s selections include a fun and frothy book about a wedding, a thought-provoking novel about a family whose lives are upended by an accident in a self-driving car, a 1980s hair band romp, a story about families who house swap, and a page turner set at the dawning of the internet.
technology, and family; it will stay with me for a long time. This book is for fans of stories about current events and technology and for those who love beautiful writing.
What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown (mystery) – In What Kind of Paradise, Janelle Brown evocatively wrestles with the effects of progress, technology, and power through the lens of a fierce and lonely girl and her paranoid and extremist father. Jane has spent her entire life in rural Montana living off the grid with her father. He is evasive about their past, claiming only that her mother died in a car crash that led them to move to Montana. He educates Jane with 19th-century philosophical works and leaves her regularly for week-long jaunts. When she accompanies him on a trip that ends in murder, she realizes that nothing is as she believed it to be. This gorgeously told story captivated me from page one. Brown brings to life the early days of the internet with vivid detail, creating such a tense experience for the reader who understands how drastically different things are today from how early internet pioneers wanted or expected them to be. This haunting page turner explores right and wrong, extremism,
The Whyte Python World Tour by Travis Kennedy (fiction/thriller) – This hilarious and irreverent novel stars Rikki Thunder, a member of Whyte Python, a heavy metal band who is recruited by the CIA in the late 1980s to go behind the Iron Curtain and help spark a revolution through the power of rock. While this might sound like a strange premise, it is loosely inspired by allegedly true events. The Whyte Python World Tour is one of the most entertaining books that I have read this year. Rikki Thunder is a gem: naïve, unintentionally humorous, and a fabulous narrator. Kennedy weaves humor, heart, history, music, travel, and so much fun into this page turner. It is one of my top reads of 2025. This one will appeal to fans of creative stories, 1980s nostalgia, genre mashups, and laugh-out-loud stories.
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.
Cindy Burnett
TRAVEL
. by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer
Travel Buzz
Antarctica Adventure: A
Mother-Daughter Journey to the End of the World
At 2 a.m., most people are fast asleep. But Debbie Paseur was wide awake, scrolling through her phone, when fate intervened in the form of an email from Quark Expeditions.
“I saw that you clicked a link sometime back for Antarctica,” wrote expedition consultant Olivia Zimmerman. Without hesitation, Debbie called and left a voicemail in the middle of the night. Her mission: to surprise her daughter Jenna with the trip of a lifetime to the world’s last wilderness.
The Last Frontier Calls
For years, a well-worn National Geographic magazine about Antarctica had lived on Debbie’s coffee table. “I mean, who gets to go to Antarctica?” she wondered.
Both women were seasoned travelers who had conquered five continents by 2017, but Antarctica represented something different. Including their first trip to South America, this would be continents six and seven, Jenna explained. “And there’s something about going to Antarctica... it’s kind of like the last wilderness.”
For Debbie, who suffers mobility challenges, the trip represented the ultimate surprise. “I thought, where's the one place that I could take her that she would never dream of being able to go?”
When Debbie explained her situation to Olivia – “I am older. I am disabled. I am determined, Olivia, to get my daughter to Antarctica. But I’m also limited in funds,” – the consultant worked magic, securing a great deal. The secret?
“We did this all in two months. So we got a last-minute deal,” Jenna explained. “If you're flexible in your departure dates, you can get really good deals to Antarctica within eight weeks.”
For Jenna, who was pursuing photography, Antarctica offered the perfect opportunity for wildlife photography in one of the world’s most pristine settings.
Secrets and Surprises
Living in the same house, Debbie conducted whispered phone calls with Olivia, carefully
planning while Jenna remained oblivious.
“I had already given up on that idea of going to Antarctica,” Jenna recalled. “And then one day, she’s like, ‘So, Antarctica.’ And I thought we were just going to have a conversation, which was going to end in us not going. And then it turned out that she had been working behind the scenes to book a trip.”
Within weeks, they were flying to Argentina using accumulated points and miles, then boarding their expedition ship in Ushuaia.
First Glimpse of Another World
The Drake Passage welcomed them with unusually calm conditions. “The captain told me later... We’re calling it ‘the Drake Lake’ because we’re not getting thrown about so much,” Debbie recalled. This stroke of luck got them to Antarctica half a day early.
Debbie’s transcendent moment came under the star-filled sky over the Drake Passage with her traditional travel hot chocolate. “I still get chill bumps when I think about it, the stars and
the constellations and the black sky, and just such clean air... that’s what it reminded me of, when Star Wars first came out.”
For Jenna, revelation arrived when crew members opened their porthole. “For me, when we woke up in Antarctica, it was them opening the portholes and looking out for the first time, and all I saw was just massive mountains coming right out of the ocean. It was amazing.”
Life in an Icy Village
Their ship carried 198 other souls, creating an intimate community. This smaller size proved crucial: “If your ship has over 200 people, you can’t actually land on the continent,” Jenna explained.
The ship was like a little village populated by experts, Jenna said. “It wasn't like a luxury cruise. It was really an expedition. There were glaciologists, marine biologists, historians.”
Best of all was a photographer who has since joined the team of National Geographic. For Jenna, this was invaluable. “He gave me a lot of
ANTARCTICA TOGETHER Debbie Paseur (left) surprised her daughter Jenna (right) with a trip to Antarctica, the journey of a lifetime. The trip marked the last two of the seven continents that the two of them have traveled together. Here, Debbie and Jenna are touching Antarctic soil for the first time.
really good tips, which really, really helped,” she recalled.
Close Encounters and Conservation Awakening
Antarctica’s natural world revealed itself in all its glory. The clarity and freshness of the air and the water, the abundance of the wildlife, the amazement of 24 hours of daylight – all of it put the two women in another dimension. Peering over the side of the boat into the water was a revelation unto itself.
“I could see 100 feet down; the water was amazingly clear. It’s just so pristine,” Jenna marveled. The icebergs were mesmerizing: “When you look down off the zodiac, you can see how it expands, almost like the roots of a tree. It’s incredible.”
Conservation education is a core part of the expedition's focus, and it transformed both women. “Before I went, I was not as focused on that as I probably should have been,” Jenna admits. “There were no water bottles. They gave us a reusable water bag. Plastic was generally not used very much.”
“I started looking at the way that people care for Antarctica as the way we should probably care for most of the world. So it was life-changing in that way, for sure.”
The Great Ship-Steering Caper
The crew held a conservation auction during
the cruise, and Debbie found herself bidding against a British gentleman for the chance to steer the ship. When the price climbed too high, she employed her best persuasive powers.
“I got down on my knees and I crawled over to him and said, 'Please, please stop bidding. I want to do this so badly,’” she recalled. Then she made her case with characteristic Southern charm, promising to return the favor if he ever visited Houston and appealing to the spirit of hospitality at the “southernmost part of the globe.” Her heartfelt plea worked, and they agreed to split the experience.
When Debbie's turn came, the Russian captain was delighted. She made a ship-wide announcement: “I said, from Texas, to all over the globe, I just need to say yippee-ki-yay. Y'all take that with you.”
Her companion for this triumph? Mr. Bill, the small Saturday Night Live figurine she'd found in Edinburgh for “maybe 50 American cents” and taken to every continent. The captain recognized the character. “He said, ‘I'm truly loving Mr. Bill here.’”
When Adventure Meets Reality
Despite mobility challenges, Debbie never let physical limitations dim her spirit. When she slipped on black ice, her rescue became a cherished memory. “Out of nowhere, running towards me were three men... these guys were
muscular, good-looking, like firemen,” she recalled.
The German crew member was particularly gallant. Debbie mimicked his deep German accent as the two laughingly recalled the exchange: “He said, ‘Miss Paseur, I’m going to now lift you into the air with my arms and put your head at my chest.’ And he said, ‘Are you okay with this?’ And I said, ‘Oh, gee, let me think.’ Yeah, that’ll be okay.”
For anyone with concerns, Jenna offers encouragement: “If somebody is thinking that maybe they can’t go because of issues like that, they even told us that there was a guy who was wheelchair-bound, and even he went.”
A Mother’s Gift
The trip’s most profound impact was on their relationship. “I think it made us closer,” Jenna reflects. “There was no internet. So we couldn’t be scrolling our phones. We really spent a lot of quality time together.”
Late one night, Debbie experienced a moment that crystallized the journey's meaning. “I looked over and Jenna was asleep. And I was just watching her sleep... And I thought, here we are in Antarctica and this is my baby. And I’ve been able to bring her to one of the most incredible places in the world... and I surprised her with it.
“I said, thank you. Thank you for letting us get here. It was like a bless-
FROM PENGUINS TO THE PILOT'S SEAT Upper left: Adélie penguins pick up pebbles, preparing to give them to their mate before mating season begins. Right: Debbie steering the ship after bidding on the experience, with Mr. Bill – the small SNL figurine she’s taken to every continent – at the controls. Bottom left: The expedition ship and penguins from a hill on the first Zodiac landing.
ing. Everything fell into place, whether it was the money, the timing, everything.”
Transformation in the Ice
Both women returned fundamentally changed. “Going to Antarctica really reminded me that we’re just another species on Earth, and we’ve got to really take care of this planet,” Jenna explains. “That was probably the biggest way that it changed me.”
Debbie’s change was equally profound. “I came back thinking of myself more as a steward of the Earth rather than just a passive participant in the environment. It was probably the most joyous, peaceful, and beautiful moment of my life.”
Their memories serve a deeper purpose. As Jenna explains: “These are long-term memories that we’re creating. It’s something that we’ll always remember.”
The Last Word
Antarctica remains exclusive – “less than 5 percent of the people on the planet have been there,” Debbie noted. For the Paseur women, it represented the culmination of a mother’s love and the power of shared adventure to deepen bonds across generations.
“It absolutely brought us closer because we were in an environment where we had to be present. We had to be in the moment, totally different from Houston where you have everything at your fingertips all the time.”
In a world where experiences trump possessions, their Antarctic adventure proves that the most precious gifts can't be wrapped – they must be lived, together, at the ends of the Earth. Sometimes with a small figurine named Mr. Bill, who has now seen all seven continents and helped steer a ship through the world's last wilderness.
Tips from Our Travelers
By Debbie and Jenna Paseur
Worth the splurge: Go 2-3 days early, stay at a nice hotel, enjoy Buenos Aires at night!
Don’t miss: A real tango in Buenos Aires, and the beef! Buying a tourmaline. Walking through the main square in Ushuaia. Lemaire Channel, watching or participating in the polar plunge, Deception Island
Favorite restaurants: El Sanjuanino for empanadas in Buenos Aires. Any Churrascaria. Coffee bars!
Currency exchange: US Dollar is okay in most locations. If you choose to do exchanges – do them before you leave.
Packing: Minimal as possible. Travel-size toiletries. Moisturizers! Hand and foot warmers. Completely waterproof pants (you can't go ashore without them), three base layers, waterproof glove liners to take off your outer gloves but still be warm when you want to shoot with your camera. Balaclava for facial warmth on the Zodiacs, a warm hat, two warm scarves, a swimsuit for the polar plunge, waterproof camera bag, waterproof backpack.
Don’t bring: Anything you would be devastated if you lost it. Anything that makes your bag overweight for the charter flight – they weigh your luggage and you'll have to leave things at the airport.
Don’t forget: Camera with multiple lenses, specifically a telephoto lens, and extra batteries, memory cards, and battery charger. Adapters South America specific.
Avoid this local scam: Unlicensed taxis
Local favorite: Penguins in Antarctica, a tango experience in Buenos Aires, steak and chimichurri, Recoleta neighborhood of Buenos Aires
Safety tip: Arrange travel within Buenos Aires through your hotel – they will find reliable drivers.
Not really worth the trouble: Arranging your own way to Ushuaia; let your expedition company do that.
Beware travel rating scams: Look at multiple sites for hotel and restaurant reviews. Some people are compensated for good reviews – check Google, not just Yelp.
Unexpected hit: Going to an art exhibition in a gorgeous colonial-era post office (the Kirchner Cultural Centre).
SMALL BOATS, BIG VIEWS An Antarctic mountain rising from the sea with fellow passengers on Zodiac cruises.
SportzBuzz SPORTS
. by Todd Freed, staff writer
In a dramatic finish that came down to the final hole of the tournament, the Second Baptist Eagles rallied to win the TAPPS 5A Boys State Golf Championship. Eagles senior Matthew Elder connected on a four-foot putt on the 18th green to seal a one-stroke victory over rival The Woodlands Christian Academy.
Along with the clutch putt by Elder, there was no shortage of heroics down the final stretch of holes for the Eagles. “It wasn’t looking good for us to win it going into the last three or four holes, but in the last 45 minutes or so, all five of our players were sinking every putt ranging from three-footers to 15-footers to even 35 feet. I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Eagles head golf coach Jenny Murdock.
On the second-to-final hole, Elder’s twin brother and fellow senior Carson sunk a 15-foot putt for birdie then closed out on the 18th hole with a spectacular 35-foot putt for back-to back birdies. In addition, junior Christopher Torn capped off his round by making good on a pair of big putts including a nine-footer on the closing hole.
The low scorer for the Eagles on the day was freshman William Carlson with a one-over par 73, followed by the Elder brothers who both shot 75s with Torn (77) and senior Jake Miers (80) rounding out the scoring in the ultimate onestroke victory.
“We hadn’t defeated The Woodlands Christian in district or regionals in the previous six years I’ve been here,” added Murdock. “I’m just especially proud and happy for our seniors. Our guys have worked so hard and are such a great group of kids.”
It was one of the best seasons ever for the Memorial Mustangs boys golf team which, along with winning its regional championship, then went on to finish second in the state at the UIL 6A State Golf Tournament. “To finish right near the top of the leaderboard in Texas 6A golf is always a great accomplishment,” said Mustangs golf coach Michael Martin. “We finished third in the state last year and, with a lot of kids returning, I’m super excited about the future of our golf program.”
Among the returnees for Memorial is sophomore Grant DeLorenzo, who shot an even par 72 to finish fourth individually at the state meet while gaining all-state honors. In addition, junior Davis Shoaf finished sixth individually at state with a one-over par 73 while junior Austin Le shot a 75 to finish 13th overall and sophomore Davis Pinion and Gus Montgomery each carded a 79 over the 18 holes. As a team, the Mustangs finished 11 strokes behind state champion Austin Westlake.
For his part, Le previously won the 6A Region III Championship with DeLorenzo and Shoaf finishing third and fifth respectively at the regional tournament. “We have a multitude of great players,” added Martin. “Between our varsity and junior varsity teams, we had 27 players who averaged in the 70s over the course of the season. Our team has a lot of depth and it’s just a great crop of kids.”
Led by a sensational performance from senior DJ Taylor, the Episcopal Knights dominated the field to win the SPC Boys Track and Field Meet for the third year in a row. Remarkably, Taylor captured gold medals in six events including first-place finishes in the long jump, triple jump, 100-meter dash, 110-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles, and as part of the winning 4 x100 meter relay team.
“In the 20 years I’ve been here at Episcopal, I
haven’t seen anything like it,” said Knights Track and Field Coach Isaiah Coleman. “It’s just a phenomenal performance. Six gold medals including five individual victories is truly special. To be honest I don’t think I’ll see something like this again.”
For Taylor, who’ll next run track and field for Texas A&M, the performance was somewhat of a dream come true. “It’s something I’ve thought about since my freshman year. I came into the meet with the mindset of winning six gold medals and I was extremely happy to make it happen.”
Taylor has made great things happen in a spectacular senior season in which he ran the nation’s fastest high school time of the year in the 300-meter hurdles at the prestigious Bluebonnet Invitational at Texas A&M University. “I had to watch the meet from the stands last year because I was injured, so to come back and run the fastest time in the nation in one of the biggest meets made it extra special,” said Taylor.
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.
SOLID GOLD Episcopal senior DJ Taylor captured a remarkable six gold medals to lead the Knights to the SPC Boys Track & Field Championship. Taylor will run track next season for Texas A&M.
Now accepting applications for reporters in the 2025-2026 school year. DEADLINE AUG. 14.
The Buzz Magazines offers a unique program, School Buzz, in which high school students write about what's happening at their schools from their perspectives.
Due to the program’s growing popularity, we have chosen to accept a limited number of reporters this year in order to give each reporter more personal feedback.
As a School Buzz reporter, you'll:
• Gain experience writing, reporting, and taking photographs
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See thebuzzmagazines.com/school-buzz for more information and to apply for the 2025-26 school year. Questions? Email Caroline Siegfried at caroline@thebuzzmagazines.com.
. by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer
SportzBuzz Jr.
Welcome to SportzBuzz Jr., a column spotlighting neighborhood athletes in elementary and middle school.
National champs
The Pin Oak Middle School Company was named National Champion in the Small School Team Division at the Crowd Pleasers Dance Competition, which was held in Galveston. The POMS Company, made up of seventh- and eighth-grade dancers, earned top honors under the direction of POMS Dance and Cheer director Jonahira Cordero. Their families and friends cheered the girls on as they danced to victory. Pictured are (back row, from left) Lorelai Niggli, Joude Khraibani, Kourtlyn Kyle, Lauren Lee, Laila Edwards, Ms. Cordero, Sophie Ballard, Lilliana Rissmiller, Blake Phillips, Julia Rodriguez, manager Aubrey Stanberry; (front row, from left) Vivienne Lustgarten, Macey Collins, Bella Shabelansky, manager Angely Gobellan, Camila Remond, and Savannah Law. Congratulations to the team.
Comeback season
The Bellaire Little League AL Division Yankees clinched the playoff championship after a dramatic 11-inning 3-2 victory, capping off a perfect 4-0 postseason run. The fans roared as the boys worked hard to claim victory, despite all odds. Entering the playoffs as the lowest seed from regular season play, the Yankees stunned the division by sweeping their playoff bracket and emerging as champions in a hard-fought final game. Pictured (back row, from left) are coach Jeff Peskin, Owen Queener, Jonah Spelkin, Matthew Hill, Ben Lee, Liam Whitley, coach Roy Queener, coach Dan Spelkin; (middle row, from left) Benjamin Peskin, Asher Braun, Owen Gallagher, Noah Longo, Ashton Palmer, and (front) manager Dan Braun. The Yankees’ playoff run was marked by teamwork, finishing with their extra-inning title win. Memories and lifelong friendships were formed both on and off the diamond.
A District title
The Pin Oak Middle School Chargers softball team, led by coach Eric Meyer, ended the season on a high note as undefeated district champions for the third consecutive year. The team included sixth-, seventh-, and eighthgrade students who came together with hard work and determination to clinch the title of district champions. Pictured (back row, from left) are Keelie Cordova, Catherine Pieper, Lila Elliott, Catherine Cune, Lily Hughes, Zarina Godiwalla, Vivian Foreman, Michelle Gaw, Madison Pinnix; (front row, from left) Cynthia Westin, Taylor Fefer, Allie Kim, Khayla Juarez, Avery Marx, and Reethi Kavaipatti, and (not pictured) Stella Boyd.
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 Iniya Rajan, age
15
Buzz Kidz
AAscending the stage as a dancer
rangetram is a Tamil word that means to “ascend the stage.” And, on May 25, 2025, that’s exactly what I did. After six months of grueling practice, I ascended the stage of the Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston (MATCH) to give my arangetram to an audience of around 300 people.
Prior to my arangetram, I’d always been a lover of the Indian classical dance form Bharatanatyam. I started learning it when I was 5, under the tutelage of Dr. Sunanda Nair, a respected and famous Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam artist. Since then, I’ve performed on stages around the United States and have cultivated a deep and sincere love for this ancient art form. As I’ve grown and seen more performances, I found part of myself on that stage. And so, doing my arangetram
became my next wish.
Practices started in August of last year and in those 10 months, I’ve gained a lot. My stamina has increased, I’ve become a stronger dancer, and I’ve learned so much about my culture. My dancing has given me a way to display who I truly am, who I have always been, and who I want to be through the rhythmic motions of my hands and the intricate footwork of my feet. By dancing, I feel as if I'm one with my ancestors from ages past, like I'm carrying on the torch first lit so many years ago. And so, getting to do my arangetram meant the world to me.
Through mistakes and confusing choreographies, through two-hour practices and even longer photo shoots, I never once regretted it.
Yes, the process was tiring, and yes, I’d often wake up sore all over, but getting to dance so much was my dream, and I was simply fulfilling it. And on May 25, my hard work paid off.
Before the arangetram, I was incredibly nervous. A two-hour solo performance, more complex than anything I’d done before, was no small feat. But with the expert guidance of my teacher and the music of the live orchestra, everything flowed. I’m so thankful that I was able to complete this milestone, and I can’t wait to dance more!
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Neighborhood Tails
Bella, age 4, Labrador Retriever, University Blvd.
Hello world! I’m Bella, the dog on the left. I was born in Pennsylvania, so I’m no stranger to snow, but I haven’t seen much since we moved to Houston. What fun was the snow day in January! Since there was little traffic, I frolicked in the snow with other pups near Wier Park. My mom and I walk the neighborhood almost every morning and evening. I love smelling what’s new and giving wet kisses to all my furry friends along the way. You might also see me running alongside my dad’s bicycle to get some exercise in. At home, fetching toys is my favorite activity (especially the ones Mom puts treats inside). On warm days, I love fetching in the pool! When I get tired, I hang onto a noodle while my mom swims and pushes me doing her laps. At the end of the day, snuggling between Mom and Dad on the sofa is the best. See you around!
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Banking on death
Death is expensive. Dad dies, his credit cards are cancelled, and, by law, your power of attorney terminates. How do you pay for the funeral, keep Mom’s lights on, and start probate? Beneficiary designations require a death certificate, which can take weeks. If none, did Dad make Mom a joint owner on a bank account? Or you? That may provide access, before and after death, although bank policies can frustrate those plans.
Texas allows banks to honor a decedent’s check 10 days after death, longer if they don’t have actual notice. Banks following other states’ law may not have that authority. The 10-day grace period is not mandatory, and banks may dishonor a decedent’s check anyway. Under Texas law, banks must freeze the account on request of an interested person, e.g., family.
Texas shares death reports with Social Security, which compiles a Death Master File. Banks and credit card companies subscribe. Larger banks monitor the probate courts and obituaries and share information with other banks. Social Security asks banks to return benefit checks for the month of death. Customer deaths don’t stay a secret for more than a few weeks, if that.
When caregivers or rotten kids “helped” Dad write checks, asking the bank to freeze accounts is safest. If that’s not a concern, Mom may want to move most of the money to a new account, e.g., joint with you and Mom, leaving behind enough to cover bank fees and autodrafts for utilities and insurance. Some banks honor a surviving spouse’s transactions, and when the death is discovered later, they don’t object.
Joint accounts confuse banks. Mom and Dad own 100% of their contributions to a joint account, even if a child is also a joint owner. That’s
trumped on death by rights of survivorship agreements, which pass the entire account pro rata to the surviving owners. In contrast, Dad’s interest in a joint account without right of survivorship passes to Dad’s probate estate.
Conservative banks will freeze 100% of joint accounts (with or without survivorship), pending a death certificate and maybe a new account agreement to replace Dad’s SSN with a survivor’s, so IRS Forms 1099 report the new taxpayer. Some freeze only Dad’s share. Others freeze nothing, leaving any one joint owner full access to Mom and Dad’s funds.
From personal experience, if you know Dad will die first, the better (albeit still uncertain) option is to add Mom and one child to Dad’s account as joint owners without right of survivorship. Go ahead and make Mom the primary owner, so there’s no need to change the SSN on Dad’s death and trigger a freeze.
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
Little party on the prairie
Lucie Harte Arnoldy and Daniel Arnoldy (pictured) chaired the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center’s 2025 Alfresco Gala. Little Party on the Prairie honored 50 years of volunteers and raised nearly $450,000 for the Arboretum’s conservation and education programs. The Alfresco Gala was held on the Nature Center’s courtyard and lawn, where 400 nature-loving guests enjoyed dinner, a hibiscus and rosemary margarita specialty cocktail, and dancing under the stars to live music from local favorite The Spiffingtons. Other highlights of the evening included a silent auction, wine and tequila pull, and a photo op with a live donkey and hay bale.
SFL spirit
Former Southwest Football League (SFL) cheerleaders (pictured) gathered for a reunion at
Evelyn’s Park. Moms and former cheer coaches Margaret Pinkston and Susie Tannery keep in touch with many of the girls, who are now on their high school cheer or dance teams, and they decided to get the gang back together. With the help of Evelyn’s Park executive director and SFL cheer-mom alum Terry Leavitt-Chavez, the ladies put together a fun afternoon. SFL Cheer started in 2003 with a small group of girls and has grown to 235 girls across four teams directed by Mallory Rissmiller. The cheerleaders, in grades one through six, practice in the Rice University Bubble and perform at halftime at one Rice game each season, in addition to cheering for SFL games on a regular basis. Pictured are SFL Cheer alums (from left) Brooklyn Fontenot, Lauren Young, Samantha Alleyne, Samantha Chavez, Lainey Burrow, Ella Gibson, Taylor Vondenstein, Macyn Tannery, Teresa Pinkston, Jordan Young, Jenna Bayne, and Zoe Clark
Hope endures
Whitney Kuhn Lawson and Molly Mead (pictured, from left) were among more than 400 guests at River Oaks Country Club for the CanCare HOPE Survivorship Luncheon. The 35th annual event, chaired by Michele Leal Farah and Tony Bradfield, raised more than $350,000 for CanCare programming that pairs cancer survivors with patients currently facing a cancer diagnosis. Chairs from previous survivorship luncheons attended this year’s event, including Donna and Norman Lewis, Jordan Seff,
and
. Emcee Lisa Malosky introduced CanCare president and CEO Darcie Wells, who interviewed featured speaker Dr. Katy Rezvani about research and new breakthroughs in cancer treatment. The Mir Family was recognized as the community honoree, with Marisa Mir, Beckie Mir, Marcie Mir, Gasper Mir III, and Gasper Mir IV accepting the award.
Hats, hearts, and horseshoes
Kelley Lubanko, Stephanie Tsuru, honorary chair Frank Tsuru,
Phoebe and Bobby Tudor, along with 2026 luncheon chair Kristy Bradshaw
Debbie Gregg and Denise Bertness (pictured, from left) sported their best Kentucky Derby attire for the Bo’s Place 9th
Daniel Ortiz
Jacob Power
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Anthony Rathbun
Jacob Power
annual Derby watch party. Hats, Hearts & Horseshoes was hosted at The Post Oak Hotel, and 350 guests gathered to watch the “most exciting two minutes in sports” while raising $362,000 for grief-support programming. Christina and David McAllen and Maddy and Patrick Moffitt chaired the event, with honorary chairs Fady Armanious and Bill Baldwin, Amanda and Terry Boffone, Julie and Stephen Chen, Megan and Luke Hotze, Jayne and Garrett Johnston, Alice and J.W. Lodge, Carol Lee and Allen Lyons, Alissa and Kevin Maples, Hannah and Cal McNair, Sheridan and Robert Plumb, Millette and Haag Sherman, Christie and Mark Sullivan, Hallie Vanderhider, and Kelli and John Weinzierl. Guests socialized, while sipping traditional mint juleps and sampling a variety of delicious bites, and enjoyed a festive heads-ortails game and bourbon pull. Carol Lee and Allen Lyons received the Champion of Hope Award, and Carol Lee shared her experience with Bo’s Place programming for herself and her daughter Annie after the death of her husband.
Celebrating Challenger baseball
Challenger Baseball, a division of West University Little League (WULL) for boys and girls ages 5-22 with physical and mental challenges, celebrated another great season on the fields. This season saw a record number of players, buddies, and fans, with the added bonus of no rainouts. Challenger players and buddies work together to enjoy the game of baseball and make new friends, with many young athletes returning to the program season after season. To wrap up the season, everyone gathered on the final Sunday for games, music from a DJ, and food donated by Johnny Carrabba. Pictured are Challenger Auxiliary members (top row, from left) Allison Laird, Erin Salsbury, Angela Alexander, Claire Bormaster, Georganna
Miles, Iris Allen, Jennifer Dellinger; (bottom row, from left) Jill Hord, Kristen Berger, and Ashley Hulsey; not pictured: Carrie Feighl.
Reunited again
Lamar High School’s Class of 1958 is a tightknit bunch. After celebrating their 65th reunion two years ago (see 2023 Buzz story by Andria Dilling, Like No Time Had Passed: Sixty-five years after Lamar graduation) they decided to add more fun to the calendar and start reuniting every two years instead of the traditional 5-year gatherings. This 67-year celebration brought the classmates together at Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen on Woodway for fun and reminiscing about the old days. Pictured are reunion planning committee members (standing, from left) Eleanor Powers Beebe, Jo Ann Dougall Levering, Bonnie Bryan Mayor, Gus Comiskey, Julie Shaw Hodges, Judy Tucker Earle, Ron Woliver,
celebrated at the 25th annual Rock ’n Roll on Rice block party. For the last 25 years, neighbors on Rice Boulevard have gathered to enjoy each other’s company. Next-door neighbors Fawaz Hashmi and John Stokes have planned and organized the beloved event each year. Ten years ago, at the 15th annual block party, guests were surprised with a flash-mob coordinated dance to Pharrell Williams’ hit “Happy.” To commemorate the 25th anniversary milestone, West University Mayor Susan Sample and Councilperson Matt Hart surprised the party planners with a proclamation of appreciation. Pictured (from left) are Hashmi, Mayor Susan Sample, John Stokes, and councilperson Matt Hart.
Making tennis history
Recent Saint Thomas’ Episcopal School graduate Timothy Nguyen (pictured) made tennis history. The standout athlete was the first tennis player to win four consecutive Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) 4A Men’s Singles Tennis State
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Davis
Brooke Hamilton; (seated, from left) Carole Stevens Mattingly, Ellen Dillingham Heemer, and Terrylin Gregory Neale. Rock ’n Roll on Rice
Neighbors
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Championships. This was the perfect finale for his exceptional high school career, both on the court and in the classroom. Timmy’s academic and athletic record earned him a spot in the incoming freshman class at The University of Chicago, where he will play tennis while working towards a bachelor’s degree. “Timmy is a top-100, 4-star recruit,” said STE athletic director Chris Twine. “We are very proud of him and are excited to continue following his trajectory after graduation!”
Brunch, Cinco de Mayo style
It was a Cinco de Mayo fiesta on Jessamine Street, compliments of Andrew Fuller and Karen Vine Fuller. More than 90 guests enjoyed the lively brunch gathering with breakfast tacos, bagels, fiesta-themed sugar cookies made by neighbor Meredith Vela, coffee, juice,
and toasting with margaritas, mimosas, bloody Marys, and micheladas made by next-door neighbors Mike and Yaha Bravo who set up the bar in their driveway. Special guest Joey, the miniature donkey, wore saddlebags filled with ice and beverages. The Fullers were thrilled to unite people from many chapters of their lives, including family, neighbors, and friends from Condit Elementary School, Pin Oak Middle School, St. Thomas High School, West University Methodist Church, Bellaire Little League, Houston Public Media co-workers, Faith Lutheran’s First Place for Health, and Corpus Christi’s King High School 1980s alumni. With the exception of Joey the donkey who went home early, guests fiesta-ed in the Fullers’ yard well past brunch time, until 10 p.m.
Vivaldi in the garden
Jonathan Godfrey, Ana Treviño-Godfrey, Sarrah Petersen, and Jim Petersen (pictured, from left) enjoyed an evening of music benefiting Prelude Music Foundation. Vivaldi in the Garden: An Enchanting Evening of Music & Giving raised funds for early-childhood music education in local
communities. Sarrah and Jim Petersen hosted the event in their garden full of dahlias, juniper, hibiscus, and milkweed. Event co-chairs Caroline Reichert and Lauren Sanders planned the evening featuring a concert of chamber music, light bites, and wine. Sommeliers from Everywine shared wines from vineyards in Spain, South Africa, Italy, and California, and oenophiles stamped their “wine passports.” Prelude Music Foundation co-founder Jonathan Godfrey, along with fellow Mercury Chamber Orchestra sextet members Jacob Schafer, Hannah Watson, Katie Carrington, Kristiana Ignatjeva, and Antoine Plante, presented Piazzolla’s “Libertango” and “Oblivion,” Vivaldi’s “Winter” and “Summer” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, and Gardel’s “Por Una Cabeza.” After the performance, guests were invited to play a favorite childhood game with a grown-up twist: musical chairs to live music provided by the sextet.
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.
. by Andria Dilling, staff writer
Back Porch
713 Day: An ideal Houston day
Houston has a spirit all its own. As the fourth largest and second-most diverse city in the country, home to the beloved Houston Astros, and the origin of the now-universal lament Houston, we have a problem, our city occupies its fair share of the spotlight.
But out of the spotlight, Houston is just our city. Where we live and work and play every day. With more than 2 million Houstonians running around, inside or outside the Loop, on this or that side of I-10, in the Museum District or in the Heights, we all have our own thoughts on what the perfect 713 Day* would be. Closer to home, Buzz neighbors shared their ideal Houston days.
Tina Pyne says her ideal morning starts with a brisk walk in Memorial Park (memorialparkconservancy.org) capped off with coffee and a croissant at Vibrant (wearevibrant.com), “the park’s cozy café.” Her day continues at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (mfah.org), where she loves “wander[ing] through the galleries, losing track of time,” and making a last stop in the Cullen Sculpture Garden for “a quiet moment of reflection.” Dinner is Ruggles Black (rugglesblack.com), for the lively atmosphere and paleo-inspired menu. “Houston truly has so much to offer,” Tina says. “A unique blend of nature, culture, and cuisine.”
Untitled Art (untitledartfairs.com) is an exciting art fair expanding to Houston (from Miami) on Sept. 19. While you can only mark your calendar for the vibrant round-up of established and emerging contemporary artists and galleries, Michael Slenske, director of Untitled Art, Houston, offers suggestions leading up to the fair: Seven Sisters gallery (sevensisters.gallery), a Fourth Ward space focusing on art, craft, and design; and Reeves Art & Design (reevesartgalleryhouston.com), “a real cabinet of curiosities…[where] you can pick through [art] like used vinyl at a record store (and acquire for almost store-like prices).”
Tracy Kapiloff visited the Houston Zoo (houstonzoo.org) recently and said, “They have put so much into it, so many new attractions and animal housing. The gardens are beautiful; it looks nothing like the zoo of my childhood.”
Participate in regular Meet the Keeper Chats and other events like the Elephant Bath Experience, Giant Anteater Encounter, and Gorilla Encounter.
As the board chair of Holocaust Museum Houston (and the first third-generation Holocaust survivor to hold that position), Elyse Kalmans says her ideal Houston day would include a trip to HMH (hmh.org). Ours is the fourth largest museum in the country dedicated to the memory of the Holocaust, educating students and the public about the dangers of hatred and prejudice. “Time spent there gives visitors hope for what we can each do as upstanders. And it’s free on Thursdays!” Elyse says. Elyse also wants to tour the ice cream shops in Houston: Amy’s Ice Creams, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Ben & Jerry’s, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Breakfast at the classic Avalon Diner (avalondiner.com) is the way Nancy Beck would start her perfect day, then she would suit up for the Polaris Slingshot Tour of Houston (houstonslingshotrental.com/tours; you’ve seen the three-wheeled, low-profile, cross between a car and a motorcycle driving around town). Afterward, she would wind down at Arthur Storey Park’s Yin Yang Tai Chi Court (cp4.harriscountytx.gov/Explore/Parks/park/arthur-storey), where a giant black and white Yin Yang symbol on an elevated concrete slab is an excellent spot to practice Tai Chi. She’d take a walking tour of Asiatown (asiatowntourhtx.com), shop for dinner at the Hong Kong Food Market (shophongkongmarket.com), and go home for an Asian-themed movie night (she recommends Extraordinary Attorney Woo on Netflix). Wendy Burgower says, “A perfect day always depends on the company and the weather, and unfortunately it’s too hot to be outside in the dead of July.” Her indoor perfect day with a friend starts with massages at the award-winning
A COOL 713 DAY There are countless ways to celebrate our city on 7-13 (July 13) or any day.
Trellis Spa at The Houstonian (trellisspa.com), continues with a spa lunch and pool time, and concludes with late-afternoon facials. Another option? “Go to The Museum of Fine Arts or The Menil (menil.org) and have a happy hour at the [Hotel] Zaza (hotelzaza.com/houstonmuseum-district).
Steve Cherek shares lots of ideas that would take up more than a day, but that make up an excellent summer bucket list: 1) Astros afternoon game with dinner downtown after; 2) concert on the Skylawn rooftop of POST (posthtx.com/program/concert-series-on-skylawn); 3) MoonStruck Drive-In theater downtown (moonstruckdrivein.com); 4) Cidercade unlimited arcade hall and hard ciders (cidercade.com/houston); 5) walk the downtown tunnel system and have lunch there (downtownhouston.org/experience/downtown-tunnels); 6) Puttshack downtown electronic/indoor minigolf (puttshack.com/locations/houston); 7) nine holes of golf and dinner downtown at East River 9 (eastriver9.com); 8) lasertag at Battlefield Houston (battlefieldhouston.com); 9) indoor go-kart racing at K1 Speed (k1speed.com/houston-location.html); and 10) ice skate at the Galleria (iceatthegalleria.com).
*713 Day is the unofficial celebration of Houston, happening on 7-13 (like the area code that covers much of Houston), or July 13.
