february 2016 - absolutely memorial magazine

FEBRUARY 2016

Memorial SweetheartsMemorial Sweethearts

LOVE ISin the Air

Find Your TREASURESuper Bowl Swap Up

INSIDE FRONT

The signs and symptoms of coronary heart disease in women are

not easily recognizable. At Houston Methodist, our expert cardiologists

offer the most advanced technologies and specialized treatments to

help women avoid the disease. By assessing the individual risks

of every patient and helping establish a plan to maintain greater

heart health, we’re preventing heart disease in women before

it can even begin.

To learn if you’re at risk, visit connect.houstonmethodist.org/heartquiz

and take a heart disease risk assessment, or call 713.790.3333 for a

physician referral.

1 IN 3 WOMEN DIE FROM HEART DISEASE. EARLY DETECTION CAN PREVENT IT.

S: 7.25”S: 9.75”

T: 8.375”T: 10.875

B: 8.875”B:11.375”

Women’s Heart DiseaseAbsolutely Memorial (Split with HMW) 8.375X10.875”

www.absolutelymemorial.com l FEBRUARY 2016 1

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A hop, skip and a jump.We’re right here in West Houston andready to partner with you in the healthcare of your child.

With a dedicated pediatric emergencyroom, pediatric intensive care unit andmore than 20 pediatric subspecialties conveniently located on site, we offer topcare for kids, close to home. From sportsmedicine to gastroenterology to ENT, ourspecialty clinics are staffed by experts in their fields using the most advancedtechnology, in facilities designed specificallyfor children.

Texas Children’s is ranked #4 in the nationby U.S.News & World Report and is thehighest ranked children’s hospital in thesouthwest. The next time your childneeds medical care, come to us. We’re allabout kids. For maps and information, visit westcampus.texaschildrens.org.

Texas Children’s Urgent Care is now in yourarea. Visit urgentcare.texaschildrens.org tofind hours, location and conditions we treat.

© 2016 Texas Children’s Hospital. All rights reserved. Texas Children’s Hospital is the only children’s hospital in Texas on U.S.News & World Report’s 2015-2016 Honor Roll. WC560_120215

Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus

18200 Katy FreewayHouston, TX 77094832-227-1000

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FEBRUARY 2016 l TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.absolutelymemorial.com4

ROSES ARE RED . . . MEMORIAL SWEETHEARTS Having butterflies in your stomach, being tongue-tied, having shaking knees or sweaty hands – all simply because your loved one is near. What could be better? Four Memorial couples –The Bouffards, The Peregos, The Grahams and The Colemans – share how their love stories began and where they are today.

10

Mary Kay and Don Coleman.Photography by Hallie Keller.

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6

C O V E R S T O R Y

F E AT U R E S

14 LOVE IS IN THE AIRMemorial Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

20 THE KIDS’ READING ROOMMemorial resident Trish Schappell is promoting literacy and instilling the love of reading in children throughout the community.

24 MEMORIAL’S MOST MEMORABLES Carly Freels shares what she’s been doing since gracing the cover of absolutely! Memorial in 2012.

35 BUSINESS PROS Meet the finestbusiness professionals in Memorial.

C O L U M N S

22 absolutely! FABULOUS FINDS

26 KIDS’ CORNER Accept Your Kids, Even When You Disapprove

28 JAN GLENN’SPAWSITIVELY PURRFECTPet Fun and Frolic

33 FAMILY LAWLove and Marriage . . . and Love During Divorce?


F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6 | V O L U M E 1 2 | N U M B E R 2

a b s o l u t e l y ! H E A LT H Y L I V I N G

42 absolutely! Q & A Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus AnswersYour Questions About the Flu

a b s o l u t e l y !A U T O R E V I E W

44 2016 MINICOOPER CLUBMAN

a b s o l u t e l y ! D E L I C I O U S

46 SWAP UP For Big Game Day

47 absolutely!DELICIOUS LISTING

I N E V E RY I S S U E

8 EXCLAMATION POINTS!

16 SEEN ON THE SCENE

30 MEMORIAL MENTIONS

34 COMMUNITY EVENTS

38 OUT & ABOUT INTHE HEART OF MEMORIAL

48 A LITTLE PIECE OF HISTORY

B R A I N T E A S E R

15 HEARTS AND FLOWERS

N E W S W O RT H Y

28 FIND YOUR TREASURE

32 LOCAL AUTHORAND NON-PROFIT FOUNDEROffers Encouragementin New Book

SPRING BRANCH-MEMORIAL SPORTS ASSOCIATIONAnnounces Change in Leadership

36 COVENANT HOUSE TEXASPresents Annual Spring Gala

THROUGH THE EYESOf a Poet

40 SPRING BRANCHEDUCATION FOUNDATION Announces Fall Grants

CONTRIBUTORS

26

Patrick BironBirons Youth Sports Center Page 26

20

Jennifer Elliottabsolutely! focus mediaPage 20

Nancy L. Rommelmann Family Law Attorney Page 33

33

Debbie Clemensabsolutely! Fabulous FindsPage 22

22

Myles Mellor Contributor Page 15

15

Stephanie ValtasarosContributor Page 34

34

Suzanne StilesMemorial MentionsPage 30

30

Steve KursarAuto EnthusiastPage 44

44

28

Jan GlennJournalist Page 28

ON THE COVER:Don and Mary Kay Coleman. Photography by Hallie Keller.

REAL MUSCLEIN HEART

Learn more at heart.memorialhermann.org

Setting the pace in cardiovascular care. Across Memorial Hermann, affiliated heart and vascular physicians performed more than 50,000

procedures last year alone. Break that down and you’ll find Memorial Hermann’s lifesaving expertise

extends from heart rhythm disorders and heart attacks to treatment for advanced heart failure,

including the most complex vascular surgery and heart transplant. Their groundbreaking work

puts this program at the forefront of advancing heart health, and that means patients have a better

chance of recovering faster and returning to the things they enjoy sooner. So for true strength in

cardiovascular care, turn to Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular Institute – Memorial City.


EXCLAMATION POINTS!THE INSIDE SCOOP STRAIGHT FROM THE TOP

Associate Publisher, LARA BELL4655 TECHNIPLEX DR. STE 700

STAFFORD , TX 77477281-690-4242

WWW.ABSOLUTELYMEMORIAL.COM

absolutely! MemorialTM Magazine is published by absolutely! focus media, 4655 Techniplex Dr., Ste. 700, Stafford, TX 77477. Copyright © 2016 by absolutely! focus media. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. abso-lutely! MemorialTM Magazine does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial, nor do the publishers assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. abso-lutely! MemorialTM Magazine welcomes editorial submissions from its readers.

Vol. 12 No. 2February 2016

Subscription requests are free to all Memorial and Galleria addresses. Annual paid subscription

of $25 required outside the Memorial/Galleria area.

Publishedby

P U B L I S H E RPatti Parish-Kaminski

A S S O C IAT E P U B L I S H E RLara Bell

M A NAG I N G E D I T O RSarah Bearden

S E N I O R AC C O U N T E X E C U T I V EJessica Kij

AC C OU N T E X E C U T I V E SJennifer Elliott

Molly Ellis Kay Garrett

Andrea Rigamonti Suzanne Stiles

A RT DI R E C TORGrace Belleza

G R A P H IC DE SIG N E R S Camille Hay

Marinela Taylor

W E B DE SIG N E RJoey Belleza

P H O T O G R A P H YHallie Keller

C O N T R I BU T O R SPatrick Biron

Debbie Clemens Jennifer Elliott

Jan GlennSteve KursarMyles Mellor

Nancy L. RommelmannSuzanne Stiles

Stephanie Valtasaros

I N Q U I R I E S281-690-4242

E D I T O R IA L SU B M I S S I O N [email protected]

Happy Mardi Gras and Valentine’s Day! This cover is so special to me because I love hearing about love stories. When I got married 13 years ago, I always asked friends who had been married a long time what their secret was, and everyone’s was different. In this special issue devoted to love, you’ll meet some Memorial sweethearts and hear their secrets.

Also in this issue, you will meet a poet from Stratford who in her short time has written some beautiful poetry. We also have some fun events coming up. On Tuesday, February 9th, join us for a Fat Tuesday party from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Gateway featuring Vallone’s, Churrascos, Goode Company, Reginelli’s and more. It’s free, and we love free!

It is also time for you to dust off your boots and get your tables together for the Spring Branch-Me-morial Sports Association’s Boots, Buckles and Ballgames Gala on Saturday, April

2nd. I co-chaired this gala two years ago and know the amount of work that goes into the event. It will feature live, silent and big board auctions with a ca-tered dinner and fabulous entertainment by Gary P. Nunn! There will also be a raffle to win $30,000 toward the price of a new car from any Group 1 Au-tomotive dealership! Ticket and table information is available at www.sbmsa.org. Hope to see y’all there!

Absolutely! yours,

LaraLara [email protected]

READER FEEDBACK

Dylan Milam.

@larabell

Suzanne,

Double and triple thanks for the photo and write-up in the January issue regarding the wine tasting event. The ChiO’s are going to be over the moon!

Thanks again!Connie Zieba

Brooks Milam.

Editor’s Note:We incorrectly identified the florist used in the Byrd-Bosse wedding in last month’s issue. Flowers were by Events in Bloom. We apologize for the error.

Sarah, We received our copy of absolutely!

Memorial Magazine in the mail yesterday and were so excited to see Malorie and Wade’s photos included in your wedding write-up. Thank you! They both were thrilled, and we received several e-mails and phone calls late yesterday from family and friends about the article.

Kind regards,Laurie O. Tyler

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“My mom and dad met through my dad’s friend, who later became my god-father, Robert Eastwood. He was my mom’s boss at the phone company, and dad had just come back from being stationed in the army for two years in France,” said Stiles. What made their marriage work for 56 years was the idea that their marriage was a cove-nant and not just a contract. “Not being married was not an option. My mom al-ways said my dad made her feel secure and safe, which she dearly needed and wanted since her own father died when she was 20 years old.”

So, thank you Charlie for not only being a sweetheart to Ruth, your daughter Suzanne and granddaugh-ters, but also to your church and com-munity. Here are some other Memorial sweethearts we heard about from some cute little cherubs flying around with bows and arrows.

MemorialSweethearts

W hen I set out to write a cover story for February, I wanted to

feature Memorial sweethearts but was on the fence, because it

is so typical! Then on December 11th, just when I was leaning

toward something else, absolutely! Memorial columnist and my dear friend

Suzanne Stiles unexpectedly lost her dad, Charlie Gerum, of a heart attack.

Charlie and his wife, Ruth, have been longtime Memorial residents and

members of Memorial Lutheran Church for over 36 years. They

are also sweethearts who were married 56 years.

Roses are Red...Ph

oto

by F

red

Kein

z.

Ruth and Charlie Gerum.

COVER STORYBy Lara Bell


“I t was 1982 at Spring Woods High School where my new friend, Katy Bouffard, introduced me to her very

handsome brother, Andy. As he was two years older, we were never in any classes together, but I saw him here and there around school. That summer, Andy was the lifeguard at our neighborhood pool and surprised me one afternoon by pag-ing me to come to the office. I was with my friends and was tickled when I walked up and saw that it was Andy just fool-ing around. I played it off as no big deal, and being so much younger, I continued to simply admire him from afar.

“Fast forward to my junior year. Katy and I had become very good friends. It was a few weeks before my junior prom,

Chuck and Joanna Graham.

The Bouffardsand my current boyfriend broke up with me. I was in a panic because I no longer had a date. Being the great friend that she was, Katy quickly let me know that Andy had a tux, was coming home from college that same weekend and would take me. I was thrilled! He was a great date but turned around and went back to school the next day. I went on with my life, and he went on with his.

“Fast forward another four years. I was back home from college student teaching. Katy and Andy had both graduated and were also working in Houston. One evening, Katy, Andy and a few other friends met up at Kay’s Lounge. Andy and I talked a bit, but not as much as I would have liked. When we were heading home, Andy asked if anyone wanted to go for a late night/early morning breakfast. I was too embarrassed to say I would, because no one else wanted to go. Once I got home, I called his house – praying Andy would answer and not Katy – and he did! He picked me up 2 am, and we went to a 24 hour breakfast spot and talked until 6 am. He asked me out the next day!

“Twenty-five years and two fabulous college-age kids lat-er, here we are. It’s just the two of us again beginning the next chapter of our lives as empty nesters. I love and admire this man and am so thankful I no longer have to do it from afar! Happy Valentine’s Day to my forever love!”

– Kristen Bouffard

“I ’ve always been a determined person and believer in setting goals. Funnily, I never thought that would also

apply to finding my husband. In reality, we truly found each other, but I did notice him first!

“I’ve had a crush on my husband since I was in the seventh grade. When I would play that MASH game that predicts who you marry, I would write Chuck Graham as my husband in every row since I knew I would marry him one day, despite the fact that he was a grade ahead of me and didn’t know who I was! I watched from afar as he went through high school with lots of girlfriends, watched him move to Florida and happily saw him return. I distinctly remember being infatu-ated with this boy who was voted Most Handsome and cap-tain of the football team. Perfect daydream material!

“When I was a junior, his twin sister, a fellow member of my high school drill team, came up and said he liked the way I dressed. My mind went blank, and I asked who her brother was. When she said ‘Chuck Graham,’ I screamed. He of course told his sister because he knew she would let it slip, and then he asked me out. We went on dates for about a year, and my senior year, we were officially boyfriend and girlfriend. From that point on, we just waited to get married. We went off to Texas A&M University and were married in

The Grahams

my last year, because we couldn’t stand waiting any longer. I actually went on Wheel of Fortune and won a trip to Napa Valley, so we were married on the Monticello Estates vine-yard and honeymooned there.

“We’ve now been married 17 years and together for 22! We’re thrilled to have two precious boys, Dawson and Caden. It’s so special to have found my soul mate at such a young age and to see that my ‘dream guy’ has turned out to be better than I could have imagined.”

– Joanna Graham

Andy and Kristen Bouffard.


“W hen asked to write about our marriage and what makes us work as a couple, I wasn’t sure where to

begin. My first thought was to begin at the beginning in 1973 when the coach and the teacher married, thinking love and marriage meant gazing at each other like one beautiful sun-set gazes at another, ready to take on a world that belonged only to us and to let the rest of the world go by. Then, I would end by assuring the reader that the coach and the teacher lived happily ever after in a state of bliss. The end.

“Not being confident that readers would buy this, with courage I turned off the Duke basketball game, turned to Coach, gazed into his eyes and asked him why he thought we have had a successful marriage. Not usually quick to respond these days, Coach surprised me. He leaned forward and said, ‘Because I have always been able to talk to you about any-thing I needed to, and we need to do more of it.’

“Instantly, I recalled a quote from Anne Morrow Lind-bergh’s Gift From the Sea: ‘Good communication is as stimu-lating as black coffee.’ It took me back to the summer of 1986, 13 years after we married. We were sitting on Adirondack chairs looking out over the waters at the Blackpoint Inn in Maine, Coach with his clipboard planning team strategy and I buried into to a well-worn Gift From the Sea. I was recover-ing from a challenging change of career from education to the financial services industry. Life had changed. We were not just gazing at each other. Our life had become more com-plex. It involved not only job demands but family demands, community demands, church demands, charitable and other demands on the good citizen.

“I was admittedly feeling a longing for the days of simply gazing at each other while letting the rest of the world go by when I came across this quote from Lindbergh’s book: ‘Secu-

The Colemansrity in a relationship lies neither in looking back to what it was in nostalgia, nor forward to what it might be in dread or anticipation, but living in the present relationship and accepting it as it is now.’ She went on to say, ‘The web of marriage is made in the day to day living side by side, look-ing outward in the same direction.’ Or as Coach, the tennis player and my anchor in life, often said when I would and still do fret over matters of the present and future, ‘Get a grip Mary Kay. We need to keep our eye on the ball.’

“C hris and I met at Spring Oaks Junior High School in Spring Branch ISD. We were in German class togeth-

er and had to sit in alphabetical order, so my maiden name Price put me next to Perego. We became fast friends, but we were both too shy to actually admit we liked each other. We

The Peregoswent to separate high schools but kept in touch, and when we turned 16 and could drive, we started to officially date.

“Our first date was November 21, 1992. We went to see the movie Dracula and ate at Bennigan’s. I guess you could say the rest is history. We never broke up, even though I went to The University of Texas and he went to Texas State Uni-versity. We spent a lot of time on I-35 driving between Austin and San Marcos. I even had to go rescue him off the side of I-35 one time at 3 am when his car broke down after a Merle Haggard concert.

“We were engaged in October 1999 at Gruene Hall and married August 5, 2000 at Chapelwood. We celebrated our 15th anniversary this year and have two kids and three dogs! Our moms still live in the houses we grew up in Spring Shad-ows, just minutes apart from each other.”

– Lauren Perego

“So today, the coach uses a cane instead of a racquet, and the teacher buys orthopedic flats instead of Ferragamo heels. Life continues to challenge us with new complexities involv-ing the present and the future; however, by keeping open communication, by accepting the inevitability of change, by continuing to live life side by side looking in the same direc-tion and by keeping our eye on the ball, we can still recover those lovely moments to simply gaze adoringly at each other and to let the rest of the world go by.”

– Mary Kay Coleman

Mary Kay and Don Coleman.

Lauren and Chris Perego.

Photo by Hallie Keller.


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Across1 Takes out4 “Tie a yellow ribbon round the old oak _____”7 Got introduced to9 Brazilian hot spot10 Basic building blocks of trust11 Kind of poodle13 Mischief-maker14 “Summer time, when the living is ____”16 “The Lord of the Rings” good guy17 A gentleman opens it for a lady19 Did you find the right ___?21 Romantic instrument for love songs23 Wedding material26 Tango or salsa27 Taylor and Burton, for example28 Go word for a latino lover29 Meeting time, about32 Banjo sound33 Madonna’s ex35 Watch chains39 One of the most romantic movies of all time41 Diamond measurement44 Valentine’s day present46 Leave47 Excellent48 Bank holding49 Alumna bio word50 Dearest

Down1 Word for a loved one2 Spring flower3 Classic date time (2 words)4 Oz man

5 Romantic flowers6 “Gone With the Wind,” for example7 Flower to be kissed under8 Helen of ___9 Most well-known lover of all time?12 “Fields __ Gold” Sting15 Rainbow shape16 Compass heading18 Alternative word

19 Start & go romance (2 words)20 Drinks a little champagne, perhaps22 “Strength, Courage and Wisdom” singer (2 words)24 Happening!25 React to a break-up?28 Mariner’s direction30 D.H. Lawrence initials31 Cleopatra’s lover32 Symbol

34 Lovely!35 ____ head over heels for36 Floating ___ (2 words)37 Snack38 “__ of a Woman”40 “Love __ love you, baby”42 Sharp feller43 Where are you __?44 ___-do attitude45 Garden tool

BR

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AS

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My

les M

ello

rHearts and Flowers

See answers on page 41.


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M ost of us have a few cher-ished books we remember from our childhood. We

carry that forward and read to our own children, building little libraries of our favorites as we go. As grandparents, we attend book fairs with our grand-children, adding more stories to the shelves and delighting in the moments we can read them aloud.

Yet for many children in the Spring Branch ISD area, there are simply no books in the home. Additionally, there may not be a person in the home who reads to the children. As the interdis-ciplinary coach at Rummel Creek Ele-mentary, Trish Schappell understands the massive issue of illiteracy that surrounds us on a daily basis. After attending a reading training seminar in the summer of 2013, she became in-spired to do something about it.

“I began to jot down ideas of how I could get books in the hands of students in need in my school district. Could vol-unteers read to students? Could I set up a place to read right in the students’ apartments?” explained Schappell.

“The hardest part was actually go-ing to speak to an apartment manager about this idea I had. I picked an apart-ment near our home, and luckily, Joei Hayes at Castlewood Apartments wel-comed the idea with open arms.”

Schappell created a Facebook page, and the books started pouring in to create the reading room. “Books from people I didn’t know just came to my front door,” commented Schappell. Scouts helped build shelves. People do-nated sofas and other furniture. Grants provided additional funding. The first Kids’ Reading Room was born.

“We created a safe and inviting en-vironment where kids can come and curl up on a couch and read a good book right in their own backyard!” said Schappell. Now, several apartment complexes donate space for Schappell to set up a reading room. The room is open to elementary age kids in that

complex once a week. Volunteers read to the students, and the kids can also check out books, just like a library.

Pre-K teacher at Lion Lane Lindsey Copp volunteers almost every week. “I know how beneficial having this time to sit and read is and how important it is to have

By Jennifer Elliott

access to books this close to home.”Part of the program includes read-

ing incentives, where students log reading minutes to win prizes, earn certificates and get their name on the wall of honor. The kids love it! Student Rafael Pantojna likes to come “because everyone is nice to me, and we can read books.” Erika Flores said she comes “for reading and because I can learn new stuff.”

For Schappell, the sky is the limit, and she would love to see The Kids’ Reading Room everywhere in Spring Branch and Houston. She and her hus-band Vincent can only do so much, and they welcome more books and more help. “Our mission is to promote lit-eracy and instill the love of reading in children. I know we can provide oppor-tunities for the students to grow. I be-lieve these kids will grow up and work in their communities to serve others just as we do,” Schappell said.

For more information on volun-teering or donating, please visit www.kidsreadingroom.org or email [email protected].

Erika Flores and Querly and Yeimi Colorado chose books to check out.

Trish Schappell with new books for The Kids’ Reading Room.


Dr. Kasia Lindhorst

8800 Katy Fwy., Ste. 220Houston, Texas 77024

713.461.1509 www.smiles-for-kids.com

Q&AWith Dr. Kasia Lindhorst

It is a condition of the bite where bottom teeth overlap the top teeth as opposed to the other (correct) way around. Kids can have this happen in the back (pos-terior crossbite) or on their front teeth (underbite or anterior cross-bite). Posterior crossbites are of-ten caused by prolong pacifier use or thumb sucking, but anterior ones are mostly genetic.

Who and when will fix that?

Crossbites are usually fixed by either a pediatric dentist or an or-thodontists as early as possible to allow for proper jaw growth. Ap-pliances, which expand the upper jaw, are used for posterior cross-bites and sometimes in unison with braces. Anterior crossbites can be corrected by simple appli-ances but often require a jaw ad-justment with head gear and full orthodontic treatment.

What is a dental crossbite?

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You may know me as a Memorial mom of four fabulous boys and wife

to Roger Clemens, but what you may not know is that I love finding cool and unique products because, let’s face it, in a house full of boys, a girl needs her girl stuff! So, here are some things I absolutely love... and hope you will too!

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Lay and Go Cosmo Makeup BagThese drawstring bags that lay flat are smart, chic and washable. This is a great way to carry all of your essentials! They have other patented bags that are bigger too. What a time saver to keep everything inside the bag, pull it up, and you are ready to go!www.layngo.com

Relaxing Bath OilsTry these oils in your bath to moisturize your skin while you soak. Relax, because you deserve it! Elizabeth W oils condition and nourish skin, which is a wonderful treat! www.elizabethw.com

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“We are in the process of interviewing builders. Which questions should I ask to make the most informed decision?”Most people want to know “how long

will it take” and “how much will it cost” but there are other questions that will

help you decide which builder is the best personality fit for you and your family.

Who will be my primary point of contact?Does your builder have a

superintendent? How often can you expect to meet your builder in person?

Answers to these questions will help you ascertain how involved the builder will

be in the overall project.

Can you provide references from previous clients?

One of the best ways to get to know builders is through the eyes of their clients. Was their project on time

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How do you handle the budget and change order process?Change orders can be the biggest source of friction between builders and clients when not handled properly. How does

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AM: Carly, we met in Octo-ber 2012 when you were

battling Hodgkin’s Lymphoma as a senior at Memorial High School. Since we last met, what have you been doing?

Carly Freels: Well, since we last met I have been up at Texas A&M University working toward get-ting my degree in Education. I am a junior now and absolutely love it! Also, as of this past July, I am three years cancer free and counting! God is so great and really proving how He continually answers our prayers.

AM: I know you lost your volleyball coach Tina

Young to cancer in February 2014. You both were battling cancer as student and teacher. What thumb-print did she leave on your life?

CF: Coach Young was always an inspiration in my life simply because of her character, but as you saw in your previous interview with us, she truly became a personal mentor when I was

diagnosed. She so willingly took on this role as she supported and guided me through my own battle, and I will always appreciate all she did for my family and me. I know I can speak for everyone who had the privilege of knowing her that, although she is gone now, we will never forget the countless ways she blessed each one of us.

AM: I heard you wrote a book. That is ambitious for a 21

year-old! What was your inspira-tion?

CF: Yes ma’am, I did! It is titled When Faith > Fear. It just came out, and we are all really excited! During my battle with cancer, I turned to books to try to seek guid-ance on how my family and I were supposed to han-dle our newfound situation, yet I noticed that ev-ery book I picked

M E M O R I A L ’ S

Most MemorablesBy Lara Bell

up either failed to even mention faith or was focused on adult cancer. Af-ter realizing this, I decided to write a book that was not only faith-based but incorporated the perspectives of everyone involved – not just my own. Everyone is touched by can-cer either directly or indirectly, and I wanted to allow the millions of those affected to see that it is possible to keep faith through those times. The Lord proved his miracles in my own life, and I wanted to share that story.

AM: Where do you see your-self in 20 years?

CF: Oh wow – 20 years is crazy to think about when I am only 21 now! If I had to say though, I would love to be living in Houston, teaching elementary school and raising my family, but who knows in entirety what the future holds. The unexpected moments that are thrown at you in life are half the fun!

More information on Freels’ book can be found at whenfaithfear.com.

Carly Freels. Carly Freels in 2012.Photo by Hallie Keller.

O ne of our most talked about covers featured with Memorial High School student Carly Freels,

who in 2012, insisted on going bald on our October magazine cover. She had recently gone through chemotherapy, and while this is typically girls’ most self-conscious time in life, Freels embraced and owned her illness with bravery and grace. We recently caught up with this cover girl to see what she has been doing the last three years. This is one girl to keep your eye on!


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NEWSWORTHY

Find Your Treasure

The Memorial High School Fresh-man Class of 2019 is collecting old treasures for its big fundraiser this month to benefit the senior prom fund. Collection days are Sat-urday, February 6th and 20th from 10 am to noon. Sale days are Thurs-day, February 18th from 4 to 8 pm with a $15 entrance fee, Friday, Feb-ruary 19th from 9 am to 2 pm and Saturday, February 20th from 8 am to 2 pm.

This massive “garage sale” has become popular thanks to the com-munity’s generous support of both giving items and shopping at the sale. Denise Khan and Rhonda Mc-Cary are in charge of this immense undertaking, and student volunteers from Memorial High School help col-lect, sort and pack the trucks and work the Saturday sale days, earn-ing valuable volunteer hours for graduation credit.

Residents who are cleaning out their garages or attics are encour-aged to bring any items they are willing to part with to the garage sale location at 10321 Katy Free-way in Benignus Plaza, near Jason’s Deli. Donations are tax deductible. And those who are in the market for some great deals on some good stuff are invited to come by during the sale days!

For more information, follow Me-morial High School Freshman Ga-rage Sale on Facebook.

Rhonda McCary and Denise Khan.


Kids’ CornerBy Patrick Biron

Fundamentally, children require acceptance to live a happy and fulfilled life. If a child feels that he will only be accepted because of what he accomplishes, chooses or avoids, there are negative, scientifically documented consequences that can last a lifetime. Conversely, children who feel assured of their acceptance have higher grades, take leadership positions amongst their peers and are exponentially less likely to bully other children.

Richard Lavoie, an expert in child social behavior, said, “The number one need of any human is to be liked by other humans. But our kids are like strangers in their own land. They don’t

understand the basic rules of operating in society, and their mistakes

are usually unintentional.” Children who don’t feel

accepted are more likely to have depression, anxiety, poor grades, experiment with ille-gal substances and

seek out unhealthy relationships later in life.

Your child desperately needs to know at his core

that he is acceptable to

you, especially during those times when he doesn’t succeed, makes mistakes or falls short. An easy way to describe this is unconditional love. Parents need to always be an advocate for their children. Make sure you prioritize them and that they know they are your priority. Stand up for them as long as that acceptance doesn’t blind you toward bad behavior, because after all, they are just children.

All of that is very different from approval. Acceptance is all about the child as a person, but approval is all about their choices and behavior. For example, the following are actions you should always disapprove with your child:

• When they lie.• When they disrespect others.• When they abuse drugs.• When they hurt others.Disapproving of these actions should be framed in a loving

way if possible, such as, “I love you so much, it makes me so disappointed when you make bad choices.” It takes purposeful parenting to walk the fine line between approval and acceptance, but if you apply this correctly, you might even one day hear your kids say that famous phrase, “I want you to yell at me – just please don’t be disappointed!”

If you have a topic or question you’d like covered or simply want more information, e-mail Patrick Biron at [email protected].

W e have a saying at the gym: “Praise the

child, punish the behavior.” Put another

way, we should always accept a child for who

they are but actively disapprove behavior when

needed. This is an incredibly difficult distinction

but can be even more challenging when dealing

with our own children. Let’s be honest – it’s just

way easier to lose our patience with our own

kids than others’, blurring the lines between how

we view them and how we view their choices.

Accept Your Kids, Even When You Disapprove


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Jan Glenn’sPawsitively Purrfect

Malibu is Mleynek’s third schnauzer. After four days of fostering him, Mleynek called the treasurer at MRSH and said, “How much do you want for him? Because I’m not giving him back.” Malibu is liver-colored with light brown eyes and a beard like Albert Einstein’s. Although he loves both Mleyneks, he prefers Jeff’s calm demeanor over June’s rowdy behavior.

We started talking about pets and the different areas of animal rescue and pet sitting that she is involved in. It is the love she has for all of these projects and her three schnauzers that inspired me. The compassion she feels for animals and the charities she works with spreads outward to everyone she meets.

Mleynek has been having fun for years by living and playing with animals. She grew up in the country outside of Bellville and knows how important animals are to human lives. These days, she and her husband, Jeff, are bonded to their three schnauzers. They make the good times better and the bad times more bearable.

Sailor was Mleynek’s first schnauzer. “A coworker came to work with a litter of schnauzer puppies. I have never been able to pass up a puppy, so Sailor came home with me that day,” Mleynek said. “Sailor is big for a Miniature Schnauzer. He is calm, friendly and doesn’t shed. It only took one schnauzer to get me hooked on the breed.” I agree with that! Calm, friendly and doesn’t shed? Give me one of those!

Surfer was her second schnauzer. “I got him from a breeder, and he was

Pet Fun and FrolicI was introduced to someone recently who inspired me to write

this month’s column. Her name is June Mleynek, and I met her while buying some fun things at the Houston Livestock Show and

Rodeo merchandising department. Mleynek is the coordinator of the mail center and merchandise.

These pets are the Mleynek’s play-mates. The schnauzers participate in charities by dressing up and even giv-ing out kisses at a kissing booth. They have been known to wear some of the most creative costumes. Jeff has built the floats for MRSH for the Doggy Party on the Plaza the last four years, as well as the kissing booth that June takes to events. The booth is especially created for Surfer, so he can utilize his special skills of licking and kissing.

Pets have a wonderful sense of knowing how a person feels. If they are bonded to the owner, they can read a person loud and clear! They have needs that humans have to fulfill. They also know when to give their two-legged pals some space.

This is the time of the year when the hectic schedule starts for Mleynek. The Houston Livestock Show and Ro-deo begins the end of February with the Trail Rides coming in to Houston for the big parade and the World’s Cham-pionship BBQ in full swing at the NRG Stadium parking lot. These traditions are the opening events for the Rodeo, and Mleynek will work long hours. Her schnauzers have been through this be-fore, and they know that after a while, it will end. Then, their fun and frolic starts again with the charities, fun runs, kissing booths and helping to welcome guests they bring in from pet sitting services.

The Mleynek’s lives are happy and filled with the love of animals. That “hu-man-animal bond” is such a mutually rewarding experience. Pet owners usu-ally include their animals in all of the high points, crises, joys and sorrows of family life. They provide love, companionship and therapy that humans need. That just about says it all!

Surfer, Sailor and Malibu in the flowers.

June Mleynek and Surfer the smoocher.

Jeff and June Mleynek with their pals Sailor, Surfer and Malibu.

only six-weeks-old when he joined the household. He is strong-willed, hilari-ously funny, vocal and the smartest dog I have ever had. He loves to play fetch, swim in the pool – especially if I am in the pool with him – and play with any dog that can tolerate his bossy personality.”

Surfer and Mleynek are so bonded that Surfer will go through any obstacle to get to her. When they make runs to bring in schnauzer rescues for Miniature Schnauzer Rescue of Houston (MSRH), Surfer rides shotgun. He is also the of-ficial “smoocher” for MSRH.



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MentionsMemorial

BY SUZANNE STILES

[email protected]

Noah Kassner was a star at Wilchester Elementary’s third grade musical titled I Need a Little Christmas Vacation.

George Washington Carver and The Kinkaid School practiced in preparation for their second set of joint performances this month at The Kinkaid School on February 26th and 27 at 7 pm and February 28th at 2 pm. Practicing together were Kyle Ward, Mia Munn, Gerra Gistand, Brock Looser and Ashton Lambert.

Vinson Evans shook it up at the Wilchester Elementary third grade musical.

Pin Oak Charity Horse Show supporters, volunteers and Memorial area residents Mary and Rich Jones are gearing up for the show, held March 22nd through April 3rd at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy.

Bendwood Elementary students Kendall Parker, Anisia Gibson, Savera Karia and Gracie Howard enjoyed a field trip to Barnes & Noble.

Brothers Pierce and Will Barineau, Alpha Charity League Memorial Class of 2018, made sandwiches for Food for Life, a charity supporting the Houston Food Bank and Kid’s Meals.


Madeleine Chadwick and Georgia Ashley enjoyed their winter party at Wilchester Elementary.

Cousins Harry and Becca Haywood spent time this Christmas at their grandparents’ vacation home in Fort Davis.

Memorial Middle School Coaches Charles Barnes and Chris Thornton discussed strategy with the eighth grade “A Team” football players #33 Keanan Ngo, #50 Michael Clark, #8 Jaevon Brandon and #2 John Troutman. The team played a great District Title game against Spring Branch Middle School, winning 24-22 in a very close and exciting game.

Wilchester Elementary students Jane Kim and Savera Karia were all dressed up for International Day.

Bill, Preston and Kim So enjoyed the festivities at Wilchester Elementary’s International Day.

When the new Rummel Creek Elementary opened its doors in January, students, staff and visitors saw improvements across the campus that were made possible by the school’s generous Parent Teacher Association (PTA). The group contributed $500,000 toward the new building in the form of many extras, such as a large playground structure and swing set, an upgraded track, a gazebo and much more. Celebrating were Nancy Harn, Janet Spann, Karen Ross, Rhonda Hetman, Susan Marks, Ginger Messer, Heather Sheffield, Melissa Schultz, Mary Chamberlain, Han Wright and Shannon Otermat.

Joanne Thomas and Kaitlyn Hicks celebrated the season at Wilchester Elementary’s winter party.


NEWSWORTHY

Local Author and Non-Profit FounderOffers Encouragement in New Book

Spring Branch-Memorial Sports AssociationAnnounces Change in Leadership

The Spring Branch-Memorial Sports Association (SBMSA) Board of Directors is pleased to announce their new leader-ship team for the 2016-2017 calendar with the appointments of Lewis Gissel as president, Mano DeAyala as vice president, Tim Heckler as secretary and Keith Stubbs as treasurer.

Gissel assumes the role of president after serving the last four years as director of the SBMSA basketball program. A for-mer SBMSA participant in the late 70s and early 80s, Gissel and his family have been proud members and supporters of SBMSA for 10 years, and he looks forward to the challenges and opportunities that will come with leading SBMSA through its next level of growth. DeAyala, Heckler and Stubbs all were re-elected to serve in the current positions with Heckler con-tinuing his role as director of the SBMSA softball program.

The SBMSA Board of Directors would like to thank outgo-ing SBMSA President Dee Aldinger for her many years of great leadership and congratulate her on a job well done. Aldinger served as president for 24 years and dedicated herself to SBMSA for 35 years total. Her unique combination of vision, understanding and communication enabled SBMSA to grow

Memorial area resident Robert Wes-theimer’s spiritual life followed a safe path for over 40 years. His spiritual ticket was punched in all of the right places, but his journey with God had no elements of risk-taking or adventure.

But all along, he heard a whisper, nudging him to something more, some-thing new, something that went beyond. When he finally answered God’s call, Westheimer discovered there was no business plan. Embarking on the ven-ture called for all of the skills of an entrepreneur.

In his book When God Calls, How Do You Answer? pub-lished by Bright Sky Press, Westheimer offers encouragement for those who are hearing that persistent whisper and cannot rid themselves of the sense of being called. Meditations, scrip-ture and quotes take the common fears and misgivings that a spiritual entrepreneur encounters and reminds the reader to give them over to God. With deep empathy, Westheimer shares his experiences following his calling, as well as the inspiration that has proved most helpful along the way.

Robert Westheimer is the founder and chairman of News-pring, a Christ-centered, not-for-profit organization focused on economic development in the Spring Branch area. Through a variety of programs, Newspring equips young would-be en-trepreneurs to define and achieve a bright economic future. A primary area of focus is visual arts, where Newspring pro-vides youth with career mentors whose professions range from graphic design to photography, interior design, architecture and more. Newspring also operates three art studios in Spring Branch where students can work after school and in the sum-mers. Twice a year, Newspring sells student art and also provides four ac-tive college scholarships. Newspring also mentors small business owners in the area and conducts an annual busi-ness plan competition in partnership with Houston Community College’s Spring Branch campus.

When God Calls, How Do You Answer? is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and brightskypress.com.

Robert Westheimer

into the amazing organization it is today. Aldinger has been a valuable asset to the organization, an invaluable partner with Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD) and a stal-wart supporter of the community.

SBMSA was founded in 1961 and has grown into a six sport, year-round recreational program for approximately 5,000 young people. SBMSA has two main goals. First, SBMSA strives to provide every child in the Spring Branch-Memorial School Dis-trict and surrounding private schools with the opportunity to participate in a sports environment that allows for their growth and development in a safe, fair, positive and competitive league regardless of financial concerns. Second, SBMSA works in partnership with SBISD to improve the quality of existing fields, gymnasiums and facilities, as well as provide a secure endow-ment that will help sustain and grow the organization for the fu-ture. SBMSA emphasizes the importance of building character, sportsmanship and team unity in order to obtain the goals of building personal growth and champions.

For more information on the program, visit www.SBMSA.org.


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Love and Marriage . . . and Love During Divorce?By Nancy L. RommelmannFamily Law Attorney

“There needn’t be ‘broken’ families, defined by divorce decrees and the like. Families can be defined and bound by love and other matters of the heart.”

Y ou’ve heard the phrase, “Love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage,” but can love

be shown during a divorce?

Consider the following ways to love while going through a divorce:

1. Love yourself: Take care of yourself. Do healthy activities that make you feel good about yourself (exercise, get involved with your church or spend time with good friends). Don’t beat yourself up. Don’t indulge in addictive behavior. Spend your energy on positive pursuits that allow and promote personal growth. Daily evaluate your motives and actions and hold yourself accountable to honorable behavior, which actually results in you gaining power with your soon-to-be ex-spouse.

2. Love your children: Children don’t want to be in the middle of a divorce. Be sensitive to your children, their needs and what they are going through. Give them the gift of your time and undivided attention during this difficult time. Show the other parent respect while in the presence of the children.

3. Love your soon-to-be ex-spouse: Okay, maybe it’s difficult to show love to your soon-to-be ex-spouse, but you can show respect and be nice. Take the high road. Don’t be petty. Do the right thing for the right reasons, particularly as it relates to your children who are subject to the divorce. Your children deserve to see this behavior from both of their parents. This is hard work at a personal level, due in part to the mix of emotionally charged issues that come up throughout a divorce, but do the “work”…you won’t regret it.

Many readers enjoyed this from last year, and I think it’s worth the read again.


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February 6thMagic Tree House: A Night in New OrleansMain Street Theater presents Magic Tree House: A Night in New Orleans based on the book A Good Night for Ghosts Magic Tree House #42. Adventure awaits as Jack and Annie, beloved Magic Tree House characters, take on their next mission in 1915 New Orleans. Their task is to inspire Louis Armstrong to bring jazz to the world. This musical will introduce young audiences to the sounds and history of jazz. The performance takes place at Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston, located at 3400 Main Street. For tickets and show times, visit www.mainstreettheater.com.

EVENTSBy Stephanie Valtasaros

February 12thIn The MoodThis brassy, upbeat 1940s musical revue celebrates America’s greatest generation through song, swing dance and the music of Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Frank Sinatra and other idols of the 1940s. Forty unforgettable songs are performed live on stage including Chattanooga Choo Choo, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, In The Mood and more. The production takes place at the Hobby Center, located at 800 Bagby Street. For more information and tickets, visit www.thehobbycenter.org or call 713-315-2525.

February 19thThe World According to CPLYVisit the Menil Collection to see the work of American Artist William Copley, also known as CPLY. Copley worked without formal training and is known for his unique figurative and narrative style that reveled in the absurdities of high and low culture. This exhibition will be the first comprehensive look at the artist’s work in the United States, examining the arc of Copley’s career from the early 1950s to the 1990s. The exhibit runs through July 24th and is free at the Menil Collection, located at 1533 Sul Ross Street. For more information, visit www.menil.org.

February 25th The Sleeping BeautyIn celebration of his 80th birthday, the Houston Ballet will revive Artistic Director Emeritus Ben Stevenson’s spectacular staging of The Sleeping Beauty, which launched Stevenson’s career as a choreographer in London in 1967. The ballet is based on the classic French fairytale by Charles Perrault: A beautiful princess is cursed by an evil fairy and doomed to sleep for 100 years only to be awakened by the kiss of the handsome prince who loves her. The performance will take place in the Brown Theater at Wortham Theater Center, located at 501 Texas Street at Smith Street. For tickets and show times, visit www.houstonballet.org or call 713-227-2787.

Photo from thehobbycenter.org


PROFILES

Born and raised in Houston, Kim Padgett serves as the president of The Padgett Group, a strategic marketing and public relations firm. She brings more than 25 years of experience to clients in the retail, restaurant, hospitality, non-profit, energy, finance, legal and real estate industries.

The Padgett Group has built a solid reputation for its creative approach to campaigns to provide its clients with relevant, valuable and unique information, contacts and as their “eyes and ears” in the community. The agency team enables clients to choose appropriate organizations and events for target markets, build name recognition and credibility and develop strong relationships with business, media and community partners.

The Padgett Group services include: Marketing Communications, Public and Media Relations, Social Media, Community Relations, Executive Positioning and Special Events Publicity.

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D r. Olson completed her undergraduate studies in Biology at Yale University, fol-lowed by medical school and residency in Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery

at Baylor College of Medicine, where she is a current faculty member. This intensive training at the world famous Texas Medical Center led her to obtain an extremely competitive fellowship position in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of California at Irvine. She is board certified by both the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and The American Board of Otolaryngol-ogy. In addition, she is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Olson strives to provide her patients with optimal care while addressing their concerns ranging from facial enhancement and rejuvenation to complex facial recon-struction. Her background in science blends perfectly with her artistic interests and this combination results in a unique approach to patient care.

Dr. Olson’s practice covers all realms of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery including rhinoplasty and nasal reconstruction, skin cancer reconstruction, blepha-roplasty and facial rejuvenation. She seeks to combine this detailed training and ex-pertise with her interest in natural remedies-cultivated in large part by growing up in southern Mexico. She is fluent in Spanish and travels frequently back to what she considers her hometown in search of alternative methods to help with everything from facial skin conditions and skin rejuvenation strategies to natural remedies for sinusitis.

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NEWSWORTHY

The excitement is building for the 2016 Covenant House Texas (CHT) Gala coor-dinated by the CHT Guild of volunteers. The theme this year is Vintage Houston, a nostalgic look back at early events and architecture in Houston, and the event takes place Saturday, March 5th at the Omni Hotel. The event will also look back at the early years of Covenant House Texas, which has been helping youth under the age of 21 with shelter, services and programs for over 32 years.

Gala honorees this year are Randall L. Walker, a longtime supporter and board member of CHT, and Greg Hernandez, CHT board member and former CHT youth. CHT is also honoring some of their wonderful guild members with a Special Guild Recognition Award. Receiving the award are Peggy Edwards, Annette Gordon, Bar-bara Jean Lauratis, Diane Poole, Mary Ann Rapp and Beatty Watts. Together, these ladies have dedicated thousands of hours to the CHT youth over the years. The guild coordinates all of the fun holiday activities for CHT kids, as well as the wonderful an-nual fundraising gala.

Two of the CHT youth will speak at the event. Don’t miss their stories of courage! Former Astros pitcher J.R. Richard will also speak. KHOU Head Meteorologist David Paul will serve as emcee for the event. As the number one fundraising event for CHT, the annual gala helps make it possible for CHT to continue providing homeless and runaway youth with the services and support they need to be successful.

Table sponsorships and tickets are available, as well as the opportunity to donate items for the silent auction. For more information, contact Kate Ryther at 713-630-5636 or at [email protected]. For tickets, visit www.covenanthousetx.org.

Covenant House TexasPresents Annual Spring Gala

Covenant House Texas Guild President Jacqueline Fair with Gala Chairs June Reeder Leppard, Patti Turner and Marlene Nondorf.

Through theEyes of a Poet

Sasha Isabella Alexander.

Sasha Isabella Alexander is a fresh-man at Stratford High School and writes poetry in order to reflect the world around her. “Poetry tells stories about people, covering all of life’s experiences. To create a poem is an art form. To be able to tell a story in rhyming words cre-ates a tone for each poem depending on the theme,” said Sasha.

Christmas Snowflakes was Sasha’s first published poem. As a southern girl growing up in Florida and Texas, Sasha’s Christmas was different than the Christ-mas her family experienced in the north. “I thought about what Christmas would be like if I woke up to see snow falling out of my window and what adventure the snowflake took to get there,” Sasha explained. Christmas Snowflakes was published in 2012 in an anthology called A Yuletide Treasury of Poems, Carols and Songs by Bristol Park Books in New York City. Sasha’s poem was later adapted as lyrics to a new composition by one of Canada’s leading composers, Laura Hawley. In 2015, the song was published by Rhythmic Trident Music Publishing in Vancouver, Canada.

Sasha’s second poem Wildfire was published in 2015 in an anthology called Beyond the Sea by Eber and Wein Pub-lishing. The poem is a reflection on what life is all about and how one can handle the many stresses it bears. Her latest poem An Old Friend’s Arrival is currently being edited for publication. For now, Sasha said she will continue to observe life in general through the world of poetry and see where it will take her.

Submit newsworthy [email protected]


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IN THEHEART

M E M O R I A L

OUT&ABOUT

Representatives from MetroNational delivered more than 350 toys to Children’s Memorial Hermann Memorial City during the holiday season. The toys were donated by MetroNational tenants and attendees of Jingle & Mingle at Gateway Memorial City.

Kevin Hart, Karen Childs and Harry Hadland.

absolutely! Memorial hosted its 4th Annual Holiday Soiree featuring community partners Memorial City Mall, Vallone’s and Kuu Restaurant. Guests rang in the holiday season with lite bites and fabulous company.

Amy Lonsway, Desiree Walton, Phil Lonsway, Parker Walton and Michelle Ortiz.

Patti and Tim Kaminski. Adam and Suzanne Stiles.

Fire Controlman 2nd Class J. McPherson from Houston climbed a caving ladder during a visit, board, search and seizure drill aboard USS Carney. Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, forward deployed to Rota, Spain, is conducting a routine patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe.

Photo by Theron J. Godbold.


Houston Girls’ Cotillion Class of 2017 Junior Dance, When in Rome – An Evening In Italy, took place on December 5th at the Bell Tower. Houston Girls’ Cotillion is a long-standing social club that promotes interschool friendships by bringing together students from six different area schools in a fun, formal dance environment. Membership is limited to girls attending Duchesne Academy, Houston Christian High School, Lamar High School, Memorial High School, Second Baptist School and St. Agnes Academy.

Maureen McCarthy and Drew Johnson.

Shelby Skeete and Sloan Stefanakis.

Maddie Taff and Harris Cooley.

Sydney Wallace, Tucker Britt and Rebecca Coker.

Madeline Burleson, Kendall Howard, Avery Myers and Katie Klaff.

Kendall Spurlin, Matthew Clay, Alyssa Aramburu and Liam Bunnell.

Emily Ellis and Dennis Bardwell.


NEWSWORTHY

Spring Branch Education Foundation Announces Fall Grants

At its December board meeting, Spring Branch Education Foundation (SBEF) approved $98,567 in grants to fund diverse education-enhancing proj-ects throughout Spring Branch Indepen-dent School District (SBISD). Twice each year, the foundation calls for grant ap-plications, up to $5,000 each, from any of its 46 school campuses. District-wide projects are eligible for larger grants. Both faculty members and volunteers are encouraged to apply.

“Through these grants, the Education Foundation provides students and staff with opportunities for innovative proj-ects,” said Donnie Roseman, a member of the SBEF Board of Directors and chair of the Program and Assessment Com-mittee. “Community members make these grants possible by donating to the Foundation and supporting its fund-raisers.”

The Foundation awarded three dis-trict-wide grants:

• School-Age Parent Program – Por-table infant equipment and laptops will benefit parenting students.

• Senior to Senior – Northbrook and Spring Woods juniors and seniors will take part in a community service event with senior citizens and participate in a college visit.

• Houston PREP Summer Camp – Transportation will be provided for rising seventh and eight graders to attend Uni-

versity of Houston Downtown’s summer science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) program.

Other grants were designated for projects on SBISD campuses:

• Cedar Brook Elementary – Dur-ing International Week, all classes will study a country’s history, culture and physical characteristics ending with a “world tour.”

• Edgewood Elementary – Stu-dents will practice communication and technology skills with a new broadcast system.

• Lion Lane – A sensory motor lab will promote action-based learning and sensory motor skills necessary for whole brain development.

• Meadow Wood Elementary – Per-sonalized programs will target specific reading and math learning opportunities for students in grades one through four.

• Memorial High – New Chrome-books will be given to the school’s One-Goal classroom, which assists students with the college application process and ACT/SAT support.

• Northbrook Middle – Students will travel to a Houston-area college and in-vestigate a variety of career opportuni-ties during visits with professionals.

• Shadow Oaks Elementary – Stu-dents in grades three through five will participate in monthly Super Cool Sat-urday School to explore sports, crafts,

science and technology.• Sherwood Elementary – The

school’s Two-Way Dual Language teach-ers will use this grant to develop a cur-riculum for word study and grammar.

• Spring Branch Middle – New mi-croscopes will prepare students for fur-ther study of and preparation for STEM careers.

• Spring Oaks Middle – Ten teach-ers will attend the Pre-AP Middle School Institute at Rice University to continue growing the school’s Pre-AP program.

• Spring Shadows Elementary – First graders will dive into reading with new books that supplement the grade’s current guided reading library.

• Spring Woods High – The math de-partment will receive TI Nspire CX calcu-lators for student use.

• Westchester Academy for Interna-tional Studies – A class set of United States History: Preparing for the Ad-vance Placement Examination will be available to AP students.

• Westwood Elementary – Chrome-books in third grade classrooms will fa-cilitate research and blended learning.

• Wilchester Elementary – Health Fit-ness students will use iPad minis to learn bones and muscles, time activities and integrate academics.

• Woodview Elementary – Students, staff and parents will learn strategies to overcome negativity and bullying and develop a positive outlook.

“We encourage PTAs, principals and teachers to apply for these grants,” said Cece Thompson, SBEF executive direc-tor. “Our next call for grants is Febru-ary 2016, and the recipients will be an-nounced in May.” Community members who wish to support a specific program at a designated campus can make a tax-deductible donation to the foundation and earmark it for that school.

Call 713-251-2381 or visit [email protected] for more informa-tion.

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Q: WHAT IS THE FLU?The flu is a contagious, respiratory illness caused by the

influenza virus. The annual flu season typically starts in the fall and ends in the early spring, with peaks occurring from Novem-ber to March. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between five and 20 percent of the United States population gets the flu, and as many as 200,000 people are hospitalized for flu-related complications each year. Sadly, 141 children died from the flu and flu-related complications during last year’s flu season.

Q: WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF THE FLU?Most children with the flu will develop fever, headache,

runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, de-creased appetite, muscle and body aches and fatigue. Although many will recover within seven to 14 days, some children may develop flu-related complications, such as ear or sinus infections, pneumonia, dehydration, worsening chronic medical symptoms and even death. Some people are at a higher risk for developing flu-related complications requiring hospitalization. They include:

• Children younger than two-years-old.• People, including children, with chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, neurological conditions (i.e., cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, seizure disorder), chronic lung disease (i.e., asthma, cystic fibrosis), heart disease, blood disorders (i.e., sickle cell disease), endocrine disorders (i.e., diabetes mellitus), kidney and liver disorders, metabolic and genetic disorders and those with a weakened immune system (i.e., cancer).• Women who are pregnant or postpartum, within two weeks of delivery.• Adults older than 65 years-old.

Q: WHERE SHOULD I TAKE MY CHILD IF HE IS SICK?

Most healthy children with mild symptoms can be safely treated at home. Parents should provide their ill child with fever and pain-reducing medications, such as acetaminophen or ibu-profen, plenty of fluids and lots of rest. However, if a child is at high risk for developing flu-related complications or exhibiting worsen-ing symptoms, he should be taken to the pediatrician, urgent care or emergency center.

Q: HOW CAN I PREVENT MY CHILD FROM CATCHING THE FLU?

There are a number of ways parents can help decrease the spread of flu and prevent their children from getting sick, including:

• Getting their child a flu vaccine each year.• Covering their child’s nose and mouth with a tissue while sneezing or coughing.• Throwing away tissues immediately after each use.• Encouraging frequent and proper hand washing.• Cleaning surfaces in the home and toys with a household disinfectant.• Discouraging kids from sharing drinking cups, utensils, toothbrushes and towels.• Keeping ill children at home until he is no longer

contagious or without fever for at least 24 hours.

Each year, the influenza virus causes mild to severe disease in children of all ages. Although most children can be safely observed and treated at home, if your child ever develops worsening or severe symptoms, such as rapid or increased work of breathing, pale or bluish skin color, persistent vomiting, significant dehydration or decreased or minimal responsive-ness, please seek immediate medical care. Texas Children’s Emergency Center at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus is open 24/7 and Texas Children’s Urgent Cares clinics have evening and weekend hours.

EXPERT: Dr. Katherine Leaming-Van Zandt, pediatric emergency medicine physician at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, answers some of the most common questions about the flu.

The Fluab

solu

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Q A&

Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus.

It’s “ah…ah…ah…fluuuu” season, and the sounds of sniffles, sneezes and coughing have been echoing through the Texas Chil-dren’s Hospital West Campus emergency center walls! Caring for a sick child is not always easy or straightforward, so here are some flu basics to help your family get through this flu season.


absolute ly!AUTO REVIEW

absolute ly!AUTO REVIEW

By Steve Kursar

T he all-new 2016 MINI Cooper Clubman is the answer for par-ents who long to own one of

these iconic sports cars but also need space and cargo room that most fami-lies demand. The new Clubman is longer and wider than its predecessor with a roomy enough interior to transport five relatively comfortably without any of the fun parts for which MINI is known. Driv-ing one will assuredly make you one of the cooler parents in the carpool lane.

The Mini began life back in 1959 as a cleverly designed small car manufac-tured by the British Motor Corporation. The car quickly became one of the defin-ing symbols of the hip culture in 1960s

2016MINI COOPER CLUBMAN

With four doors and room enough for several suitcases behind the back seat, you’ll easily be able to get the kids and all of their stuff to school and to prac-tice. The split rear doors allow for easy loading, and they look cool too. Some interior design features might seem a bit quirky at first, but being different is a hallmark of the MINI brand.

The new Clubman is sure to bring so many new devotees to the brand simply because of its four doors and a roomy interior. But, this is no ordinary family se-dan. This car is still all MINI.

Follow Steve Kursar at KursarOnCars. blogspot.com.

London. Performance versions of the little car were also very successful on the rally circuit. However, due to economic reasons, the brand became part of a group that was sold in 1994 to BMW. In 2000, the German carmaker rejuvenated the brand as MINI but made sure to keep the car distinctive, fun to drive and just plain fun.

The new Clubman is available with two different powerplants. The base model, with an MSRP of $24,100, has a 134 hp, 1.5 liter inline three-cylinder twin turbo engine. Mated with the manual six-speed transmission, estimated EPA fuel economy is 28 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. If you need a little more sports car in your Clubman, then the Cooper S can deliver with a 189 hp, 2.0 liter inline four-cylinder twin tur-bo engine. This larger engine definitely delivers a lot more fun with just a slight drop in fuel economy getting 26 mpg city/32 mpg highway.

The interior may not rival a full-size SUV, but compared to the other MINI models, the Clubman is in its own class.


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Use Unexpected Ingredients. Many dips and sides prominently feature the gooey goodness of cheese. Put a fresh spin on these dishes with high-quality, sophisti-cated options that feature more robust flavors, such as pungent blue cheese, smoked Gouda or tangy goat cheese.

Sweeten up Your Spread. To mix in sweet with the savory options, find a spot on the table for some fresh fruit flavor. Favorites such as fruit salad, fruit pizza or fruit kabobs can make for a delectable treat to accompany the rest of your game-day fare.

Mix It Up. Smoky flavors and bourbon are trending upward in kitchens, backyards, bars and restaurants across the country. Combine the two for a creative spin to your beverage spread. Seep Johnsonville Fully Cooked Smoked Brats in bourbon for about a day to extract smoky and savory flavors, and mix the bourbon for a mod-ern twist on the Manhattan cocktail.

Find more creative recipes to spice up your game-day spread at Johnsonville.com.

Directions:1. De-case sausage and sauté in large pot; use wooden spoon

to crumble sausage as it cooks. 2. Once sausage is nicely browned, stir in onion, garlic,

chili powder and cumin and continue cooking until onion softens, about 5 minutes.

3. Add beer or broth and allow it to simmer for an additional5 minutes, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan.

4. Stir in tomatoes and tomato paste and allow it to simmer,uncovered for an additional 10 to 15 minutes on medium-low, stirring occasionally.

5. Taste and adjust seasonings with salt and pepper.6. Finally, stir in beans and corn.7. Let this come to a simmer, and it’s ready to serve! Can be

prepared a day ahead.

Ingredients:2 Packages of Johnsonville Hot Italian Sausage Links (use mild links for less spicy chili)1 Large onion 3 Cloves garlic, minced2 Tablespoons chili powder (use mild chili powder for less spicy chili)1/4 Teaspoon cuminSalt and pepper

1 Bottle (12 ounces) dark beer or one cup beef stock1 Can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes2 Tablespoons tomato paste1 Can (15.5 ounces) red kidney beans1 Can (15.5 ounces) black beans1-1.5 Cups corn (frozen or fresh off the cob)

MVP Chili

C hicken wings, guacamole and cheesy dips are America’s top choices for most big game day menus, but the same reci-

pes year after year can get tiring. Forget the same-old spread, and surprise your guests with a little more taste and pizazz this year. Put these tips into play for a winning combination your team can celebrate.

Big Game DaySwap up for

Swap Up with Sausage. Transform typical dishes by swapping sausage into recipes, such as chili and nachos, which typically incorporate ground beef. The built-in flavor lends great taste and convenience to these dishes. Instead of chips and queso, add brat sausage to nachos to make “brat-chos.” Or, give this MVP Chili recipe a try!

Source: Family Features

absolutely!DELICIOUS


Most of the time, farmers gather the produce and eggs for sale at our corner market the morning of the day you buy them. L ikewise , our artisanal products such as cheese, jams, jellies, honey a n d b a k e d g o o d s a r e prepared within hours of sale, giving you the absolute best in taste and nutrition.

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A B S O L U T E LY ! D E L I C I O U S L I S T I N G

MASRAFF’S1753 Post Oak Blvd.

77056713-355-1975

www.masraffs.com

Hands on proprietors, Russell and Tony Masraff, recognized premier Houston restaurateurs, offer affordable elegance, attentive yet unobtrusive service and ex-quisitely fresh American cuisine prepared with the best ingredients from around the world. Located in the heart of the Galle-ria, Masraff’s features the perfect ambi-ence for business and social gatherings. Whether dining in one of the elegant dining rooms, stunning bar area with the elevated fireplace or The Patio on the Boulevard by the waterfall, Masraff’s impeccable service offers a dining experience to remember.

JAPANESE CUISINE

KUU RESTAURANT 947 Gessner, Ste. A180

77024 713-461-1688

www.kuurestaurant.com

Situated in the new Memorial Gate-way complex, Kuu Restaurant has now opened to bring upscale Japanese dining to West Houston. Executive chef Adison Lee, formerly of Nobu, has brought his talent and passion for Japanese fusion cuisine to the Memorial area. Focusing on artistry and complementary flavors, Kuu has a constantly changing menu featuring locally raised ingredients. With an exten-sive wine list and private dining area, Kuu is well equipped to handle any event.

ITALIAN & AMERICAN CUISINE

THE DEVINE AFFAIRRESTAURANT & WINE BAR

14021 Memorial Dr.77079

281-759-6300 www.thedevineaffair.com

This casual, fine dining neighborhood res-taurant is located in the heart of the Memo-rial/Energy Corridor. Established in 2010, the restaurant is proudly owned by native Houstonian and Texas Aggie Lindsey Jef-fery. Recognized by Open Table and Trip Advisor as one of Houston’s “Top Best Italian Restaurants” and “Neighborhood Gem,” Devine Affair offers a variety of dishes including seafood, steaks, pastas, homemade desserts and daily specials. Devine Affair offers exceptional food, wine, service and ambiance in a friendly, com-fortable atmosphere at an affordable price.

CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN CUISINE

T he Shamrock Hotel, located on the southwest corner of Main Street and Bellaire Boulevard,

opened in 1949 with the grandest St. Patrick’s Day party the city of Houston had ever seen. Glenn McCarthy, who had made and lost millions in the oil-fields, lavished a fortune on the open-ing celebration of his magnificent hotel. A glamorous array of Hollywood stars along with the top ranks of the oil in-dustry and Houston’s social elite were all present. In the days following the grand opening, The Citizen Newspa-pers published a special edition devot-ed to The Shamrock Hotel. The edition both described and glorified the hotel, and numerous local Houston busi-nesses congratulated McCarthy while also advertising their products. Most importantly though is the snapshot the paper provides of the design of this grand Houston icon.

The paper offers a detailed image of The Shamrock showing floor plans, drawings and pictures of the lobby, the variety of guest rooms, suites and apartments and elegant banquet and dining rooms. The exterior of the build-ing was described as having “cream-colored brick walls, marble trim and limestone facades that blended into an imposing edifice.” The grounds fea-tured “tree-lined walks,” and the loca-tion of the hotel offered convenience but was “removed from downtown noises and confusion. On every side is evidence of the handicraft and skill of the best artisans. From its commo-dious transient rooms to the lavish Presidential Suite, from public din-ing rooms accommodating a dozen for a luncheon to The Emerald Room with banquet facilities for 1,000, it is the culmination of the designer’s and craftsmen’s very best.”

Upon arrival at The Shamrock, “an attendant parks the patron’s car in the adjoining five-story garage, and he steps through the flag-bedecked main

entrance directly into the lobby. Hid-den tubes of simulated daylight light-ing reflect from warm-toned alcoves covered by Lucite ‘clouds.’ The floor is a muted green. The walls are pan-eled Honduras mahogany above a 25 inch wainscoting of Colorosa Traver-tine marble. The effect is warm, fresh and inviting. To the left of the foyer is the entrance to the Shamrock Room for public dining and dancing. To the right is the entrance to the spacious Emer-ald Room for banquets. A promenade leads to the Pine Grill, Grecian Room, private clubroom, drug store and many fine shops.

“The kitchens, bake shop, refriger-ated lockers, ice plant, laundry, dry cleaning plant and other service fa-cilities are behind the three main din-ing rooms on the first floor or in the basement.” Smaller dining rooms and kitchens, along with a medical depart-ment, were located on the third floor. Single guest rooms were located on the lower floors. “Doublettes,” or one-room efficiencies, were located on middle floors. Apartments and penthouses were on the top floors. Each room, regardless of size, contained a radio “offering push-button selection of any four radio stations, recorded music or

hotel entertainment.” Meeting Olympic specifications, the

famed Shamrock pool was “expected to attract regional and national swim-ming and diving contests to Houston,” and it did! The pool was a “modified fan-shape” with rounded corners and was 165 feet long. At the deep end, it was 62 feet wide and at the shallow end, 142 feet wide. It varied in depth from just over three feet to 14 feet and five inches and had nine swimming lanes. According to The Citizen News-papers’ special edition, “The Shamrock drilled two deep wells to supply the 177,000 gallons of water for the pool. The water is constantly recirculated, and the filter system is capable of a complete turnover every eight hours. For the diver, there are two one-meter spring boards, two three-meter spring boards and a specially designed diving tower with one five-meter and one 10 meter diving platform.”

In 1955, The Shamrock was sold to Hilton Hotels and operated for over three decades as The Shamrock Hil-ton. When the hotel was demolished in June of 1987, the pool became a park-ing lot. Now, all that remains of this once glorious Houston hotel are the im-ages, souvenirs and memories.

A drawing of the exterior of The Shamrock Hotel from The Citizen Newspapers’ special Shamrock superlative edition. Image from The

Heritage Society Permanent Collection. Gift of Mrs. Jeff Jordan.

The Shamrock Hotel: Gone But Not Forgotten

A LITTLE PIECEOF HISTORY

By The Heritage Society


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