Bay Area Houston Magazine September 2013 by Bay Group Media

WE ARE PROUD SUPPORTERS OF THE PETROCHEMIC AL & M ARITIME INDUSTRIES

September 2013 www.BayAreaHoustonMag.com

Complete Health Dentistry w i t h

Integrating Mind, Body, & Soul

I N T HI S I S S U E :

A SPECIAL SALUTE TO THE PETROCHEMICAL & MARITIME INDUSTRIES

SEPTEMBER 2013

features 9

Sleep your dental fears away

Nassau Bay Town Square to add new restaurant

Clear Lake ladies in Washington D.C.

Answering your automotive service questions

Celebrate the lake this October

Remembering George Mitchell and Frans Gillebaard

High schools ranked among the best in Texas

Light at work

Complete health dentistry integrating mind, body and soul

Massage envy spa under new management

Six percent raise to take effect

Executive Vice President Patty Kane

Hometown feel with access to big city amenities

Vice President & Creative Director Brandon Rowan

Lockheed Martin wins key space agency award

ON THE COVER Dr. J. Derek Tieken, DDS and Dr. Eric Broberg, DDS. Photo by Brian Stewart.

President & Chairman Rick Clapp Publisher & Editor in Chief Mary Alys Cherry

Director of Graphics Media Victoria Ugalde

They Lived Life at the Top of the Hill On the Road with Joan and Eddie Boatoberfest on Clear Lake Bay Area Houston Loses Two of its Best Area Schools Do Well in 2013 State Ratings Church Sends Students Back to School Prepared Tieken Smiles What Women Want CCISD Hikes Teacher Salaries The City of Deer Park Business Buzz

A special section celebrating major contributors to our economy

Saluting the Petrochemical and Maritime Industries

Port of Houston to celebrate 100th anniversary in 2014

Natural gas and the Houston Port Region play leading role in recovery

Ensuring today’s students meet tomorrow’s workforce needs

Ship Channel Key to Area’s Economic Development We Shale Prevail May the Workforce Be With You

columns

Digital Strategy Consultant Pierr Castillo Photography Mary Alys Cherry Brian Stewart

Sydney Schroder crowned Lunar Rendezvous Queen

Distribution Tim Shinkle

The last of my line

All the rage: Ford Focus ST

The joys and headaches of waterfront living

Community Affairs Director Lillian Harmon

Public Relations Alison Sidoran Bay Area Houston Magazine is produced monthly. All rights reserved. Material may not be reproduced by any means whatsoever without written permission. Advertising rates are available upon request.

Clear Lake Chatter Texas Meditations In Wheel Time The Admiral’s Log

42 CLICK! Boot scootin’ longhorn social

in each issue

Please address all correspondence to: Bay Area Houston Magazine P.O. Box 1032 Seabrook, TX 77586 www.BayAreaHoustonMag.com R.Clapp@Baygroupmedia.com

281.474.5875

64 6

Developer seeks community views

55 Finance Coping with expensive kids’ extracurricular activities

Sales & Marketing Shannon Alexander Patty Bederka Debbie Salisbury Amber Sample Editorial Don Armstrong Mary Alys Cherry Michael Gos Capt. Joe Kent Betha Merit Pat Patton Dr. Edward Reitman

Dental Health

Bay Area Houston Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2013

Advertiser’s Index

Lakewood Yacht Club News and Events

Let Us Entertain You

Photos by Mary Alys Cherry

A Busy

Bay Area economy picking up steam

Summer

By Mary Alys Cherry

Sheryl Berg, the new president of Space Center Rotary, goes over plans for the coming year with Treasurer Darryl Smith, President-elect Scott Rainey and Secretary John Branch, from left, before recent luncheon meeting at Bay Oaks Country Club in Clear Lake.

Bob Gebhard, right, of Pasadena, new district governor of Rotary District 5890 receives congratulations from outgoing District Governor Chris Schneider during special ceremonies at the Pasadena Convention Center.

BayTran President Barbara Koslov, second from left, welcomes Port of Houston Commissioner John Kennedy, Pearland Assistant City Manager John Branson and Seabrook City Councilwoman Laura Davis, from left, to the Bay Area Houston Transportation Partnership monthly luncheon at Cullen’s Upscale American Grille.

he Bay Area Houston economy just keeps rolling along, getting better and better each month. Spending was on the upswing all around the Bay Area and across the state, resulting in $2.2 billion in state sales tax revenue – up 7.3 percent over July 2012. “Texas sales tax revenue has increased for 40 consecutive months,” Texas Comptroller Susan Combs says, meaning we’re spending more and eating out more. “The retail trade sector bolstered the latest growth in monthly revenue, and collections from the construction and the oil and natural gas sectors continued to show strength.” Combs said the $671 million August local sales tax allocations she is sending cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts is up 6.2 percent compared to August 2012. Several area cities experienced double digit growth for the month, including Dickinson, Taylor Lake Village, La Porte and Texas City with Nassau Bay, Friendswood, Baytown, League City, Alvin and Pasadena not far behind. Dickinson and Taylor Lake Village also had big yearto-date gains, when compared with last year – 37.54 percent and 36.62 percent respectively with El Lago, Deer Park and Texas City having double digit year-todate gains. Only municipalities showing little change were Clear Lake Shores, Kemah and Webster. Houston, of which Clear Lake City is a part, received $56,773,128 in tax rebates in August for tax collected in July bringing its year-to-date total to $406.7 million – an increase of 8 percent when compared to last year. Five years ago in August 2008, before the recession, Houston received $48,160,494, bringing the year-to-date total to $337.9 million. So, yes, we’re B-A-C-K.

HOW WE DID Monthly payments in the Bay Area, the increase are decrease for the same period last year; the year-to-date total in parenthesis, plus the percentage increase or decrease follow: Alvin — $437,477, 17.72; ($1,818,779) 8.08; Baytown -- $1,369,063, 7.37; ($9,841,442) 9.12; Clear Lake Shores — $156,474, 1.68; ($1,137,932) 1.35; Deer Park — $445,542, 6.20; ($3,367,040) 10.83; Dickinson — $599,180, 18.24; ($4,271,371) 37.54; El Lago — $12,123, 4.00; ($82,681) 10.57; Nassau Bay Mayor Mark Denman, right, goes over plans for the municipality’s new city hall with, from left, Councilmen Jonathan Amdur, David Braun and John Mahon, during recent city council meeting. They plan to lease the bottom floor of the building to Barrios Technology and have the city offices on the second floor.

Five Bay Area firefighters were named recipients of the Space Center Rotary Distinguished Service Award with Webster Assistant Fire Chief Fred Spencer being named Firefighter of the Year. Taking part in the awards ceremony were, from left, Constable Phil Sandlin, who chaired the Rotary Excellence in Public Service Committee; Jack Bridges and Thomas Cones of the Houston Fire Department; Dustin Blue and Robert Sunaca of the Kemah Fire Department; and past club president, Marilyn Musial. Spencer was unable to attend the ceremony.

Outgoing Pasadena Rotary President Paul Covell passes the gavel to the new President Dana Philibert during an installation ceremony at the Pasadena Convention Center that also included the installation of Bob Gebhard of Pasadena as the new Rotary district governor.

Friendswood — $457,654, 7.80; ($2,776,302) 8.26; Galveston -- $1,901,816, -5.76; ($11,486,246) 4.48; Houston — $56,773,128, 5.05; ($406,766,048) 7.98; Kemah — $328,990, -1.49; ($2,196,409) 3.87; La Porte — $693,334, 10.57; ($4,677,725) 3.09; League City — $1,478,947, 8.70; ($9,923,249) 2.75; Nassau Bay — $78,081, 7.92; ($578,629) 8.17; Pasadena — $2,722,756, 9.61; ($18,898,022) 8.83; Pearland — $2,233,971, 4.53; ($15,891,549) 7.07; Seabrook — $230,975, 5.54; ($1,492,929) 6.22; Taylor Lake Village — $11,332, 29.81; ($84,080) 36.62; Texas City -- $1,548,814, 22.44; ($12,314,013) 10.77; Webster — $1,169,146, 1.95; ($9,510,328) -1.26.

SEPTEMBER 2013 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

Advertiser’s Index Alan’s Swampshack Page 39 www.theswampshack.com Amadeus Page 40 Baubles and Beads Page 48 Bayer Page 61 www.bayer.com Bay Group Media Page 62 www.baygroupmedia.com Bayway Homes Page 18 www.baywayhomes.com BIC Alliance Page 67 www.bicalliance.com Big Shots Page 43 www.bigshotshouston.com Big Splash Web Design Page 50 www.bigsplashwebdesign.com Black Rose Steel Page 62 www.blackrosesteel.com Boatoberfest Page 23 www.texasboatoberfest.com Chevron Phillips Page 58 www.cpchem.com Christus St. John Hospital Page 3 www.christusstjohn.org City of Dickinson Page 52 www.ci.dickinson.tx.us City of Pasadena Page 63 www.pasadena-development.com Coastal Plastic Surgery Page 51 www.tadammd.com Cock & Bull British Pub Page 38 & 41 www.thecockandbullbritishpub.com Dana Philibert Page 62 www.danaphilibert.com Duke’s Texas Cheese Steak Page 36 The Davenport Page 38 www.thedavenportlounge.com Deer Park Page 4 www.visitdeerpark.org Don Julio’s Page 40 www.donjulios.com Dr. J. Derek Tieken Page 13 www.tiekensmiles.com Encore Resale Shop Page 46 ExxonMobil Page 59 www.houstonnaturalgas.com Fondren Orthopedic Page 2 www.fondren.com Frazier’s Concrete Page 19 www.fraziersconcrete.com G.C. Model Railroad Club Page 46 Gina’s Italian Kitchen Page 40 www.ginasitaliankitchen.com Glass Mermaids Page 21 www.glassmermaids.com Harbour Plastic Surgery Page 12 www.harbourplasticsurgery.com Herb Cafe Page 36 www.herbcafeandmarket.com Houston Technology Center Page 53 www.houstontech.org Island Furniture Page 48 www.islandfurniture.net Kemah Boardwalk Page 44 www.kemahboardwalk.com Kemah Greek Fest Page 45 www.kemahgreekfest.com Las Haciendas Page 40 www.lashaciendasgrill.com Latitudes Page 38 www.latitudes29.com Lee College Page 60 www.lee.edu Maid to Clean EZ Page 46 Maid to Perfection Page 15 www.mtphoustonsouth.com Mamacita’s Page 41 www.mamacitasmexicanrestaurant.com The Man Cave Page 39 www.tmc-cigars.com Massage Envy Page 47 Meador Staffing Page 65 www.meador.com Mediterraneo Market & Cafe Page 41 Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy Page 32 www.medicineshoppe.com/1984 Melissa Hulvey Page 46 Memorial Hermann Page 5 www.memorialhermann.org Mobil Steel Page 63 www.mobilsteel.com Moody Health Center Page 62 www.txchiro.edu My IT People Page 15 www.myitpeople.com Norman Frede Chevrolet Page 21 www.fredechevrolet.com Oasis Salon and Medispa Page 33 www.oasisclearlake.com Opus Bistro Page 41 www.opusbistro.net Pomodoro’s Page 36 www.pomodorosonline.com Ron Carter Clear Lake Page 29 www.roncartercadillac.com Salon La Rouge Page 47 www.salonlarouge.org Sea Lake Yachts Page 27 www.sealakeyachts.com Second Chance Pets Page 45 www.secondchancepets.org Shades Salon Page 52 www.shadessalontx.com Shoreline Properties Page 25 www.shoreline-properties.com South Shore Harbour Resort Page 25 www.sshr.com Space Center Auto Page 47 www.spacecenterautomotive.com Star Toyota Page 49 www.startoyota.com Stylin’ With Linda Page 48 Supreme Lending Page 8 www.supremelending.com Texas Coast Yachts Page 25 www.texascoastyachts.com Texas First Bank Page 55 www.texasfirstbank.com The Hop Page 38 Trustmark Bank Page 58 www.trustmarkbank.com Tuscan Lakes Page 31 www.tuscanlakes.com Unicare Dental Page 68 www.drnoie.com Weiner-Robinson Theater Page 30 www.WRTheater.com XTL Inc. Page 63 wwwXTLonline.com

Bay Area Houston Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2013

DENTAL HEALTH

Sleep Your Dental Fears Away By Farid Noie DDS, DICOI, FAGD, AFAAID

magine this: you are going about your daily business and all of a sudden a single thought crosses your mind. Almost instantly your heart starts racing. You find yourself feeling anxious and uneasy. You might even notice that your blood pressure has gone up. Many people report sweaty palms or a knot in their stomach. What could it be? Well, there are only a handful of thoughts that can affect us to that degree. You are either in love, getting ready to be audited by the IRS, or you just remembered you have a dental appointment. Of course I am making light of the dental fear, but for many people these responses are very real. Your logical side knows that you need to keep your appointment, and you will. But your emotional side does not want to be anywhere near your dentist’s office. When it’s time to go to your dentist, do any of these physical and emotional reactions sound familiar? Regrettably for too many people they do. There are those who express their fear of dentists openly but most of us take the brave route and keep it together by hiding our fear. Then there is the third group, people who completely give in to fear and just avoid going to the dentist altogether until something hurts to a point that it can no longer be tolerated. They then reluctantly go see their dentist and usually do just enough to relieve the pain. They might even decide to get as much as they can done on the same visit because they know once they leave, they will not come back until the next toothache becomes unbearable. What percentage of population do you think belong to each of these three groups? More than thirty percent of people belong to the third group according to Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation (DOCS). Even for those in group two who bravely visit their dentist regardless of their apprehension (like me), the experience is not very pleasant or relaxing. After all, it is completely natural to get uneasy when a sharp, long needle is approaching your mouth. Over the last 18 years I have rarely seen a patient who enjoys getting dental work done. Actually, on rare occasions (maybe once in a couple of years), I have come across some who enjoy getting anesthetic injections or teeth pulled. I always find that alarming and usually proceed to ask a few more questions to assure they are mentally sound. There are some special occasions in life that you want to remember. Getting dental work done is not one of them. The damage caused by dread of dental work goes beyond just sweaty palms and heavy palpitations. It causes many people to avoid routine dental checkups and early detection of the oral problems

when they are still small and easily correctable (and inexpensive). Some common oral health problems like Gingivitis are painless, so they get very little attention simply because they don’t hurt. Other problems such as development of tooth decay remain pain-free until the nerve of the tooth gets infected. By then the problem becomes more complicated, more painful to treat, and far more expensive. All of which further reinforces the original fear theory. I call that “oral catch 22.” Wouldn’t you rather be sound asleep while getting your dental work? That would be ideal, wouldn’t it? Well, the delivery of sedative drugs during the dental procedure will eliminate feelings of discomfort and ensures a pleasant experience for the patient. Even though there are other forms of sedations available, they are usually not as effective or easily to titrate as intravenous (IV) sedation. The process is extremely simple. It is very similar to getting blood work done or donating blood. The specially trained dentist will establish an IV line and then give you some sedative drugs intravenously until you fall asleep. Next thing you remember, you wake up and your dental work is completed. It all seems like minutes as opposed to hours. Most people don’t even remember the whole experience. It is as though your mouth got magically fixed while you were sound sleep. I understand there are some of you who still prefer to feel and remember the whole experience. Those are usually the ones who have never experienced IV Sedation in a dental office. I dare say that if you try it, you would not go back to awake dentistry.

“It is as though your mouth got magically fixed while you were sound sleep.”

Dr. Noie has been in private practice in the Bay Area since 1996. He is a Diplomate of Int’l Congress of Oral Implantologists, Fellow of Academy of General Dentistry, and Assoc. Fellow of American Academy of Implant Dentistry. He has completed his surgical training at New York University as well as Medical University of South Carolina, Temple University, and Wright state University School of Medicine. He completed his oral Anesthesiology training at University of Alabama in Birmingham. He is a member of American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

SEPTEMBER 2013 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

Developer seeks community views By Mary Alys Cherry

Nassau Bay Town Square has a brand new retail wing across from the entrance to the Johnson Space Center that soon will be home to several new businesses.

riffin Partners, the developer, hopes to fill one of the spots overlooking NASA Parkway with an upscale restaurant for the community to enjoy. In fact, Griffin is conducting a survey to determine what type of restaurant the community would most enjoy – French, Mexican, Asian, Indian, Seafood, German, perhaps a steakhouse, etc. And, they are inviting you to take your pick or offer a suggestion. The tenants in this new retail section are expected to open late in 2013 or early 2014. The Bay Area community first realized the face of Nassau Bay was about to change in April 2007 when Griffin Partners announced it had purchased 11 buildings on 29 acres around Nassau Bay City Hall --across from the entrance to the Johnson Space Center -- from Nassau Development and was planning a $150 million development. Built 40 years before to house NASA and aerospace employees, the aging office buildings along NASA Parkway and Space Park Drive had few tenants and some were completely empty. They would be torn down, along with the city hall building and adjacent city fire station, which moved to a different location, to make way for construction of a new mixed-use development at the intersection of NASA Parkway and Saturn Lane. It would be called Nassau Bay Town Square, Griffin Partners’ Fred Griffin said in making the announcement with then Mayor Don Matter.

When completed, he explained, it would be home to office buildings, a fourstory, multi-family housing complex, Marriott Hotel, conference center, retail space and the Nassau Bay City Hall. Part of the project included building the city a new city hall. In the meantime, the city offices were moved to 18100 Upper Bay Road. “Our agreement with Griffin is that he’s going to provide us with a city hall that is of the same general character that we have right now,” then City Manager John Kennedy said. By early 2008, the old buildings began coming down and the land was cleared. The housing complex was completed in 2010, and quickly filled up, with the groundbreaking for the retail phase next on the calendar. Over the next two years, the first office building went up, quickly followed by the Courtyard by Marriott, and most recently, the just completed second retail section. With that done, Griffin plans to build another office building and replace the Nassau Bay City Hall. Not quite done, but getting there. Scan QR Code for survey To offer your preference, take part in the survey (below) and mail it to Bay Group Media, P.O. Box 1032, Seabrook, TX 77586 or complete the survey online at

www.surveymonkey.com/s/3KJV2FW

COMPLETE THIS SURVEY FOR A CHANCE TO WIN OVER $500 IN PRIZES! Grand prize includes a two night weekend stay at the Nassau Bay Courtyard Marriott, four tickets to Space Center Houston and dining certificates from Bullritos, BreWingZ, Tutti Frutti Yogurt and more! Drawing for the winner will be held on the first of October.

1. How often do you eat for lunch or dinner at a food establishment in Nassau Bay Town Square? (Current establishments include: Bullritos, Jimmy John’s Sandwiches, BreWingZ, Tutti Frutti and Mornings Kolaches) • 0-1 times per week • 2-3 times per week • 4-6 times per week • 7 or more times week 2. What influences you decision the most when visiting a restaurant in Nassau Bay Town Square? (Choose up to two answers) • Proximity – it’s close to where I live or work • Value – the prices fit within my budget • Variety – I have choices as to what I can eat • Ambiance – the aesthetic and feel of the restaurants 3. What type of dining concept would interest you the most as an addition to Nassau Bay Town Square? • Quick Service Restaurant – These include restaurants like Panera or Chick-fil-A • Upscale Casual Restaurant – These include restaurants like Chili’s or Gringos • Fine Dining Restaurant – These include restaurants like Perry’s Steakhouse or Landry’s • OTHER:_______________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

4. In the food and dining category, what type of cuisine would interest you the most as an addition to Nassau Bay Town Square? (Choose up to two answers)

7. On a scale of 0 to 10, how likely are you to refer a friend to food and dining establishment at Nassau Bay Town Square? (Circle one)

• American / Steakhouse

• Asian / Sushi • Mexican / Tex-Mex • Mediterranean/Greek • Italian • Seafood • Sweet / Dessert Specialty • OTHER:_______________________________________________ 5. On average, how much do you usually spend for an upscale food lunch? • $4-8 / person • $9-13 / person • $13-17 / person

8. What specific brands in the food and dining category would you like to see open in the future at Nassau Bay Town Square? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ 9. Fill in any general comments or suggestions about how we can make your experience at Nassau Bay Town Square better: ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

• OTHER:_______________________________________________

______________________________________________________

6. On average, how much do you usually spend for dinner at an upscale restaurant?

10. City of residence and email address:

• $15-20 / person • $21-25 / person • $26-35 / person • $36-45 / person • OTHER:_______________________________________________

Bay Area Houston Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2013

______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

Mail to: Bay Group Media P.O. Box 1032, Seabrook, TX 77586 Or take online at:

www.surveymonkey.com/s/3KJV2FW

SEPTEMBER 2013 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

Sen. John Sherman Cooper (R-Ky), right, who came with his wife, Lorraine, congratulates Charlie and Kathy Harlan at their wedding in 1963. Kathy Harlan prepares to offer a marguerite toast. She gives speeches about keeping busy and volunteering so, she says, “I have to practice what I preach.”

THE HILL By Mary Alys Cherry

wo Clear Lake ladies – Kathy Harlan and Joan Wade – not only saw their teenage dreams come true, they spent part of their early adult years caught up in the excitement of life in the nation’s capital. Both worked for well known U.S. senators and soon found themselves a part of some of history’s greatest moments – witnessing events the rest of us have only read about. Both later moved to Clear Lake when their husbands joined NASA’s Johnson Space Center – trading the excitement of Washington for the excitement of the space race to the moon and a new life as community volunteers. Both were elected to their respective city councils – Joan to the Nassau Bay Council and Kathy to the Taylor Lake Village Council and both were later honored at the Men and Women of

Heart Gala for their community endeavors. Kathy first went to Washington the spring of her junior year while a student at the University of Redlands in Redlands, Calif. “There are experiences that literally change your life, and that was one,” she writes in her book, Songs of My Life. Besides taking classes at American University in Washington, she attended seminars with congressmen and White House officials, played touch football on the mall, partied and attended concerts and plays – all the while observing the inner workings of the Hill. “I attended a presidential press conference, a Lincoln Day Dinner at which I sat close to three presidents, congressional hearings and church with President Eisenhower.” All this while still a college student.

Bay Area Houston Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2013

personally inspected and interviewed. The senator had a limo driver but often Charlie’s beat-up VW, with KJ sprayed on the hood, sat in the senator’s parking place in front of the Senate. “To the dismay of the Capital Police, he sometimes liked to ride about town as an ordinary citizen. The ambassador to India and later East Germany, and Representative to the United Nations, reminisced about his life as they drove around. He had a great time leaving security behind and riding around the city with Charlie and I.” The senator and his wife, Lorraine, both attended the Harlans’ wedding in 1963, after which the newly weds settled in Clear Lake and Charlie went to work over at Johnson Space Center, where he eventually became its chief safety officer and Kathy, an excellent writer, became one of the area’s hardest working volunteers while becoming an outstanding tennis player and starting a couple of small businesses. Joan, also has been to the mountain top. In fact, she was born in a hospital on a mountain top in Pikeville, Ky., in the Hatfield-McCoy area but later spent most of her formative years in Arlington, Va., just outside Washington. She, too, was drawn to the congressional excitement and while in college at William and Mary worked summers for Senators Estes Kefauver (D-Tenn) and Allen Ellender (D-La) and took a leave of Joan Wade remembers back to the absence from college days when she worked on The Hill to work on President

“A perfect day,” she remembers, “would be to sit high in the gallery of the U.S. Senate, listening to the ‘giants’ of our country debate. The exchanges between Lyndon Johnson and Everett Dirksen evoke the times when debate was intense, yet civil and often humorous.” The bug had bitten, and after earning her degree, Kathy headed back to the nation’s capital – this time to work for Sen. John Sherman Cooper (R-Ky), which she calls “one of the great privileges of my life.” He introduced her to Colonel Sanders and Prime Minister Nehru and taught her how to introduce someone whose name you can’t remember. She sat on the floor of the Senate with him as they passed the Medicare bill – which he called the most important legislation of their lifetime -- and grieved with him over the death of his friend, President Kennedy. He treated her like she was his daughter and always called her Miss Jarrel. “My apartment and my new boyfriend, Charlie Harlan, were

Today, Joan Wade spends her days as a Clear Lake housewife and volunteering in the community.

for Sen. Wayne Morse (D-Ore)

Eisenhower’s re-election at the Republican National Committee. “My boss, Dr. McCaffrey, wrote the Republican Platform and his wife, Mary Jane McCaffrey, was a secretary for Mamie Eisenhower.” After Ike’s re-election, Joan worked briefly for Sen. Warren Magnuson (D-WA), chairman of the Senate Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee before returning to William and Mary to complete work on her B.A. in Government. Soon afterwards, she was offered a job in the office of Sen. Wayne Morse (D-Ore), where she worked for two years as a case worker on such issues as Social Security, Veteran’s Administration, the military, railroad retirement and other problems. Sitting in the front office, she got to meet many illustrious people, including famous newspaper columnist Drew Pearson, Oregon Gov. Mark Hatfield and Republican

“Sitting in the front office, she got to meet many illustrious people.” Vice Presidential nominee, Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. She also got to attend a rare Joint Session of Congress and the McCarthy Hearings. Senator Morse, Joan confides, would often close the office, gather the staff around his desk and tell them what transpired in the Senate Foreign Relations meetings, such as the one with Russian Premier Nikita Khruschev. Talk about bad luck, Joan had a little of that too. Because of the friendship between Senator Morse and President-elect John Kennedy, Joan and her fiancé were invited to Kennedy’s big inaugural ball with privileged seating. “However, the day before the inauguration there was a terrible snow storm. When I left my office at 5 p.m.to go home and change for the ball, my windshield wipers froze and I had to abandon my car in the middle of the street leading to the 14th Street bridge. I got in a car with strangers to go to Virginia and then walked 10 blocks in the snow, arriving home at 10 p.m. “My car was impounded, and I missed both the ball and the inauguration.” Later, she worked as office manager for Rep. John B. Bennett (R-Mich) until her son was born. Then in 1966, her husband, Lew, a space scientist and author, accepted a

job with NASA at the Johnson Space Center. Joan remembers that shortly after moving to Nassau Bay, Kathy, who lived a few houses down the street, came to visit. “We discovered we had worked on The Hill at the same time and I had often visited her office. I still had many Kentucky ties and considered Senator Cooper to be my senator. I also was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel by the Kentucky governor. “Kathy and I have been good friends ever since, and we laugh that she was a Democrat working for a Republican and I was Republican working for a Democrat.” Today, both are still active. Kathy stays busy making some speeches and giving programs for caregiver and health conferences -- the most recent was a breakout group at the Women’s Health Conference sponsored by St. John Hospital last month. “I talk about humor and health, and the importance of keeping busy and volunteering. I write an article almost every month for Life Is Good Magazine. And I played the triangle(!) with the 6th grade band at Westbrook Intermediate at its year end concert. I don’t do the same type of volunteering that I used to but I have to practice what I preach.” Joan, meantime, has been busy working with the Houston Symphony League Bay Area, the Bay Area Republican Women, Interfaith Caring Ministries and other organizations. It’s been a long time, but there are days when both Kathy and Joan find their minds drifting back to The Hill. Joan might focus for a moment, for example, on her visit to Jimmy Hoffa’s headquarters, a magnificent building overlooking Capitol Hill and how amazed she was at the opulence of the building with ornate marble and elaborately dressed elevator operators; how his secretary took her to lunch in the cafeteria, where the delicious food was prepared by a French chef and free to employees; and how she also got a tour of Hoffa’s private office and its spectacular view of The Hill. While Kathy might think back to the morning she stood in the snow for President Kennedy’s inauguration, shivering in the icy wind as the inaugural parade went by and standing with Charlie, four years later, as Kennedy’s caisson moved slowly through those same streets and how they stood in the long line that extended from the rotunda of the Capitol for one final farewell. Sometimes, it seems like a dream….. SEPTEMBER 2013 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

Photos by J. Pamela Photography

Coronation Ball Chairman Georgette Curran, left, and Co-Chairman Marla Magness Myers can hardly contain their excitement as the 48th annual gala gets underway.

Lunar Rendezvous royalty gets together for a photo during the Coronation Ball at the San Luis Convention Center in Galveston. They are, from left, 2013 Captain John Thomey and Queen Caitlin Huston, 2014 Captain Grant McGough, newly crowned Queen Sydney Schroder, King Dr. Greg Smith and Queen Alternate Ashton Reason, and 2013 Queen Alternate Kristen Bush.

Sydney Schroder crowned Lunar Rendezvous queen A PRETTY BLONDE, Sydney Alyse Schroder, daughter of Angela and Greg Schroder of Clear Lake, is the new queen of Lunar Rendezvous. The Clear Lake High senior will reign over the 2014 Lunar Rendezvous Festival with another local beauty, Queen Alternate Ashton Allie Reason, daughter of Jill and Dan Reason Jr. of League City and a senior at Clear Creek High, and Capt. Grant Anthony McGough, son of Elaine and Steve McGough of Clear Lake and also a senior at Clear Lake High. They were among a royal court that included 10 little ladies in waiting and

MARY ALYS CHERRY

pages, 9 lieutenants and 59 princesses presented before a crowd of several hundred at the 48th annual Coronation Ball at the San Luis Convention Center in Galveston. Outgoing Queen Caitlin Huston

and Queen Alternate Kristen Bush assisted in the crowning of the new queen, who then danced the first dance with her school superintendent, 2013 King Dr. Greg Smith. Georgette Curran was Coronation Ball chairman with Marla Magness Myers serving as her co-chairman. EARLIER in the week, Lunar Rendezvous Fashion Show Chairman Cindy Lewis and Co-Chairman Lori Tieken welcomed another large crowd of several hundred to the San Luis Convention Center for the 48th annual style show extravaganza. Produced by fashion guru Lenny

Matuszewski Jr., the show featured a bevy of beauties showing off fashions from Adelaide’s, Casanova’s Downfall, Dillard’s, Jill’s Fashions and Bridals, The Clothes Horse, Tina’s on the Strand, Tootsies and the Unzipped Denim Bar. Sheree Frede grabbed all eyes as she strolled out on stage as Lucy of I Love Lucy fame in a gorgeous Don Loper gown and wound up being part of a Hollywood Wives fashion show. Afterwards, the crowd enjoyed Gorgonzola Stuffed Chicken Breast, followed by Triple Chocolate Cheesecake.

Photo: Mary Alys Cherry

Sheree Frede, dressed up as Lucy of I Love Lucy fame, is surrounded by Fashion Show Chairman Cindy Lewis, right, and CoChairmen Lori Tieken prepare to welcome the crowd to the Clear Lake pals attending the Lunar Rendezvous Fashion Show at the San Luis Convention Center in Galveston. With her are, from left, Angie long-running festival event. Weinman, Ava Galt, Gloria Wong and Ann Wismer Landolt.

Bay Area Houston Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2013

Panhellenic Style Show Chairman Kay Lee Benoit, left, and Co-Chairman Judie Ferguson show off their shirts advertising the theme of the Nov. 1 event, “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend,” as they get to work on the luncheon. Co-Chairman Jo Kat Bruce is absent from the photo.

Mike Reeves, Lunar Rendezvous Advisory Board chairman, presents the Lunar Rendezvous Spirit Award to volunteer Lea Bodie at the Coronation Ball in Galveston.

Photos by Mary Alys Cherry

Lew and Joan Wade, left, are happy to see Jim Mouton at Bay Oaks’s Silver Soiree. His wife, the late Barbra Mouton, was the first president of the Bay Oaks Women’s Association.

Panhellenic readies two big fall events CLEAR LAKE PANHELLENIC members are more than a little busy. They have two big events coming up in the not-too-distant future. First is their annual Fall Friendship Tea, which helps kick off the social season in the Bay Area. It’s coming up Sunday, Sept. 8 at the Bay Oaks home of Cathy Osoria, 3214 Oak Links, in Clear Lake. President Laurie Vaughn and other officers – Kim Barker, Judge Holly Williamson, Kay Lee Benoit, Michelle Richardson, Wendy Shaw and Barbara Dickey -- will serve as co-hostesses. The second is their always popular fall fashion show luncheon at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 1, at South Shore Harbour Resort in League City. Kay Lee Benoit is chairman of this year’s extravaganza with Judie Ferguson and Jo Cat Bruce as co-chairmen. Theme this year is “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” and already committee members are wearing black polo shirts advertising the Friday, Nov. 1, event at South Shore Harbour Resort. “We will all once again be amazed by the talents of Lenny Matuszewski with his eye for selecting the perfect runway fashions from Dillard’s for this special event. Plan to attend with your friends and enjoy a glass of champagne as you peruse the unusual silent auction items we will have for your

Robert and Sue Ann Goodwin at Bay Oaks celebration.

Judie and Cecil Ferguson, right, stop to say hello to Sue Ellen and Dr. John Jennings during the Silver Soiree celebrating Bay Oaks Country Club’s 25th anniversary.

selection this year,” Kay Lee says. Tickets are $75 and $100 for runway tables. For reservations, call Sue Ellen Jennings at 281-5381257 or reach her by email at sueellen@verizon.net All proceeds go to Panhellenic’s CrawfordZbanek Scholarship Foundation, which awards college scholarships to Bay Area women and which has awarded $408,500 in scholarships since 1967. For more information about Panhellenic, visit www.clearlakepanhellenic.org

Bay Oaks celebrates with a Silver Soiree BAY OAKS Country Club members could hardly contain their excitement as they arrived at the 25th Anniversary Silver Soiree. Can it be – 25 years already? Some like Ina and Roger Donnelly, J. Henderson, Becky and Jimmy Jamison and George and Glenna Crist had been founding members. Others such as Lucille and Dr. Michael Terraso, Judie and Cecil Ferguson, Rose Sobotik, Ann and Dr. Jim O’Malley, Kathleen Parrish, Lew and Joan Wade, Patrick McKinney, Glenn and Carlene Langford, Janet and James Watkins, Lyla and Barry Nettles, Jeanne and Ray Olsen, Jim and Kari Hollway, Cheryl and Jim Maultsby, Michael and Marie Keener, Sharon and Michael Buchanan,

Lyla and Barry Nettles join the Silver Soiree crowd.

Ina and Roger Donnelly at Bay Oaks Silver Soiree.

Bay Oaks Women’s Association President Jennifer Simmons and her husband, attorney Richard Simmons, join the crowd at the Bay Oaks 25th Anniversary Silver Soiree.

Gordon and Sharon Christman, John and Roemehl and Francis and Carole Haider, had been a part of Bay Oaks for many years. All took time to toast both the past and the future during the champagne reception, including Women’s Association President Jennifer Simmons and her husband, Richard; Nassau Bay Mayor Mark Denman and his wife, Diana, Robert and Sue Ann Goodwin, Jason and Lea Bodie, Jon Ebbeler and Sue Broughton, Jan and Janine Hoenagels, Jim Mouton and Mary Keathley and Sue Ellen and Dr. John Jennings. After dinner there was dancing to the Brass, Rhythm and Reeds in the Lakeview Room and a Piano Bar by Scott Graham in the Lounge.

Coasting around . . . . HOUSTON SYMPHONY LEAGUE Bay Area has inked the Omni Brass to entertain at its first meeting of the new season Sept. 11 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Nassau Bay…. The 12th annual Divots for Devereux Golf Classic, benefitting the Devereux School and Scholarship Program, will be Monday, Sept. 16, starting at 1:30 p.m. at Sweetwater Country Club in Sugar Land. For details, visit wwwdivotsfordevereux.com or call 281-316-5423.

Ann and Dr. Jim O’Malley at Silver Soiree.

SEPTEMBER 2013 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

texas m e di tat i o n s

By M i c ha el Gos

The Last of My Line Concan, Texas My line ends with me. I can’t even begin to explain how it feels. It’s sort of like the Indy 500. If you haven’t stood there and watched a car go down that 5/8 of a mile straightaway at 230 miles per hour and then gracefully make a left turn, there is nothing in your brain that allows you to imagine what it looks like. You can’t get it from TV; you have to see it in person. Since your line probably continues, you won’t understand how this feels either…or will you? I was late to discover Garner State Park in Concan. At the start of each semester I ask my writing students to do a brief, in-class essay about a place that is important to them—not for a grade, just so I can see how they write. Every semester about a half dozen choose to write about Garner. They tell me about their annual family trips there and how each year something new and different, but always exciting, happens. They talk about meeting new friends, falling in love and then being broken-hearted when it is time to part. They even share intimate details, some of them in a clever way. I’ll never forget the young man who wrote, “Finally, I disposed of my virginity. Finally!”

After hearing comments like this for 15 years, I decided to go see Garner for myself. I tried unsuccessfully to go on two occasions. The first time was during Mayor Bill White’s Hurricane Rita debacle. A whole lot of people in the Bay Area did the same thing I did—headed west before the government tried to evacuate Houston and made us go north, directly into the likely path of the hurricane. My running buddy, a 100 pound

Bay Area Houston Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2013

Labrador retriever, and I had a motel room in Leakey and we just wanted to spend a day of play at the park while we waited out the storm. But the place was so swamped by Rita Runners wanting to camp that they closed it to new arrivals altogether before we got there. My second attempt was spring break in 2009. On this occasion, the cars waiting in line for campsites stretched all the way to Highway 83. The sheriff

wouldn’t let us stand in line and wait on a road obsession. Then, a few years go by and suddenly with hills, a blind curve and a 70 mile per hour you think, “Oops! Have I forgotten something speed limit; he made us move on. important?” Finally, on my third attempt, I got in, and I’ve had For many of us, our main contribution to the no trouble since. I always go on a Tuesday so I can world is our progeny. One reason for wanting to pick up lunch at Chicken Earl’s in Leakey (he’s only pass on the family name is that some day, one of open on Tuesdays) and then picnic on the river. my descendants just might do something great for Sometimes we stay late and take in the dance. mankind. But by not having kids, I have eliminated I was sitting on the wall at the pavillion during that possibility. For a long time I felt guilty the evening dance. Next to me was a family with about that—about being irresponsible. Now I’m three kids who looked to range from about age 4 beginning to look at it in a different way. to 11. The kids took turns dancing with Mom and Don’t get me wrong—viewing our kids as our with each other while Dad and I talked. He told main contribution to mankind could conceivably me they were the fourth generation of his family work out for some of us. It did for the parents of to spend their summer vacations at Garner. He was sure they’d like it more and more as “It’s funny. When you are young and single, they got older, just like he did as a kid. He you expend great effort and considerable was even more certain that when they grew up they would continue the tradition with money trying to avoid procreation.” his grandkids. He was describing an experience I will never know since I am the last of my line. My dad was the only one in his family to marry. I had a brother, but he died young. I have no kids. When I die, my family name dies with me. It is not a good feeling. It’s like I have let down the hundreds of generations that came before me. As individuals, we do have certain responsibilities. For us men, perhaps our main duty is to pass on the family name. By society’s standards, I have shirked my responsibility—I have failed miserably. It’s funny. When you are young and single, you expend great effort and considerable money trying to avoid procreation. It is almost an

great artists like Frank Lloyd Wright and Ernest Hemingway. But realistically, how often does that happen? And what about the parents of a mass murderer? I’m sure they wouldn’t be so proud of their contribution to society. I’m starting to think that I may not have been so lax in my duties after all— and that maybe the truly irresponsible position is the belief that our most important contribution is to have children. We are all here to make our own individual mark on the world. If our major accomplishment is merely to have procreated, haven’t we simply passed our responsibility on to the next, or subsequent, generations? Today I see my situation not as a screw-up on my part, or even as a problem. Rather, I see it as a gift. I don’t have the option to take the easy way out. I have no children to continue the family line until someone in it achieves greatness. That leaves me with the responsibility to act—to do something with my life now. I hope what I leave behind will be memorable and important, but whether it is or not, it’s clear it is up to me to do something. I can’t pass that responsibility on to future generations. When I removed the fallback position of “my kids or grandkids might do something great,” I am left with only one option—to get moving and do it myself. When you think about it, aren’t we all in this same position? Don’t we all have this same responsibility? While the family name might live on through our children, there will never be another me—or another you. In that sense, each and every one of us is the last of his line. And we have responsibilities.

SEPTEMBER 2013 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

i n wheel t i m e

By D o n A r m st ro n g

All the Rage Subaru BRZ and Ford Focus ST: Ready to Party Are our children even interested in cars anymore? If yours are, chances are they have their eyes on these two; the Subaru BRZ and Ford Focus ST, hot rods for the 21st century.

Ford Focus ST With 252 horsepower from at 2.0-liter Ecoboost engine, a 6-speed quick shifting transmission, model specific front fascia and rear spoiler, leather Recaro bucket seats, beefed up suspension and steering and an EPA-estimated rating of 23mpg-city and 32-highway, the Focus ST is what most car lovers drool over. At least we do. Whether you’re a recent college grad or going through a mid-life crisis, this little screamer is also easy on the pocket book with a starting price of $24,115. Tack on extras like navigation, special paint, a few other goodies, plus shipping and you’re still under 30 grand. With sports car handling and more power than most would ever use, this Ford hot rod sedan easily scores 5 out of 5 stars in our book. Let’s not forget that grown adults actually fit in the back seat. There’s ample storage inside the hatch and with the seats folded down, a trip to see fall color, with a couple of steamer trunks tucked inside, will be a cinch. We even liked the Tangerine Scream paint color. This is one road rocket that gets two thumbs up.

Subaru BRZ

Weighing in at a paltry 2,762 pounds, the Subaru BRZ has received some pretty substantial ovations from fellow journalists. Not only for its all new design, rear-wheel drive configuration and good looks, but it seems to have hit the sweet spot in affordability, competitive handling and decent fuel mileage. These are the same attributes that helped the Mazda Miata become the go-to car for weekend autocross competitors. Powering the BRZ is Subaru’s FA-series 2.0-liter Boxer engine. It delivers 200-horsepower through

Bay Area Houston Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2013

a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission. EPA mileage is rated at 25-MPG combined. The horizontally opposed 4-cylinder configuration allows the power plant to sit much lower in the engine bay than the typical, upright in-line, motors found in most other vehicles. This is important to handling and allows the BRZ to corner like a race car, since the center of gravity is a very low 18.1-inches. Its shape is classic sports car while retaining a 2+2 seating configuration. There are two trim levels, Premium and Limited. Pricing starts at $25,495.

Joan McKinney and Eddie Cox work together to give their customers excellence in sales and service.

the second is to put less waste oil into our environment. If you choose not to have your oil changed at a GM Dealer you probably are not receiving the factory recommended oil unless you specifically ask for a synthetic blend oil which normally is substantially more at an independent shop.

‘ON THE ROAD’ Our #1 service question: Should I follow my oil life monitor? Answer: Yes is the correct answer because GM now requires a dexos synthetic blend oil which can extend the range of your oil change from the old conventional three months or 3,000 miles to as much as six months or 6,000 miles. This is why it is so important to use the factory required

dexos blend. According to General Motors the average oil life for a GM vehicle across the Country is 5,200 miles which can vary depending on your driving habits and climate conditions. There are two main reasons for changing to dexos blend oil; one is to cut the cost of maintenance by extending the life of an oil change and

Our #2 Service question: How often should I rotate my tires? Answer: GM recommends every 7,500 miles, we recommend every time you change your oil. Some people like to rotate every 3,000 miles, either way it will not hurt your tires. What will hurt the life of your tires is under inflation and lack of rotation. Our #3 Service question: When do I need to replace my tires? Answer: With the recommended rotation and proper inflation you should get at least 35,000 to 40,000 miles before having to replace tires. Wear and tear can be checked by tread depth, looking for sidewall cracking and keeping a proper alignment. All GM vehicles built since 2007 have tire inflation monitors in each tire that will alarm you when the pressure is five pounds or more below recommended inflation. Norman Frede Chevrolet does a multipoint for every vehicle that comes in for service, we check all fluid levels, battery condition,

windshield wipers, tire condition and several other inspections at no charge. When replacing tires check for recommended size which is inside the driver’s door of every GM vehicle. All four tires must be the same size but not necessarily the same brand. If you choose to get a larger size tire you should check with your local GM Dealer to make sure the tire size is supported by GM. A different size tire can affect the ABS breaking and speedometer and may require a computer download to the vehicle to let it know you have put a larger tire on it. The download will then correct the speedometer and ABS system if supported by GM. If the tire size is not supported by GM it can affect your warranty and make your speedometer read inaccurate.

(281) 486-2200 16801 Feather Craft Ln., Houston, TX 77058 www.fredechevrolet.com

SEPTEMBER 2013 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

By Capt. Joe Kent

THE JOYS AND HEADACHES

OF WATERFRONT LIVING This is usually an article about fishing, so what does waterfront living have to do with that sport?

ishermen are one of the top markets for this type of home and while there are a large number of non-fishermen that live on the water, an assessment of the pros and cons should interest anyone thinking of relocating to a waterfront home. I live on the water and love it. Since 1978 we have enjoyed having a place on the water whether as a permanent home or weekend place. Throughout those years I have experienced just about all of the pros and cons associated with owning property on the water both as a weekender on a canal in the Sea Isle Subdivision on West Galveston Island and as a

Those that enjoy the water most are owners who benefit from the location and not just the view. Fishermen and boaters are the two top candidates for having a place on the water. For purposes of this article our discussion will be focused on properties fronting on the bays and canals and creeks leading into a bay system. Fishing is one of the big selling points for locating on the water. Having a private dock to fish from is a real luxury, especially at night when your lights, underwater and overhead, attract lots of fish. A boat slip attached to your dock or bulkhead allows you to use your

“Having a private dock to fish from is a real luxury, especially at night when your lights, underwater and overhead, attract lots of fish.” permanent resident on Lake Madeline in Galveston. Still, I do not desire to live elsewhere. The first thing I want to emphasize is that living by the water is not for everyone.

boat more, fish more and come and go quicker than if you were having to make it to a launching ramp or marina. It also allows for more spontaneous trips that might not be made due to the hassle of launching

Bay Area Houston Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2013

or driving to where the boat is kept. Kayaks and small aluminum boats and sailboats like the Sunfish can be easily launched and retrieved from most bulkheads and docks therefore elimination the need for trailering. In many areas swimming from one’s own dock is an added attraction. The views of the water along with sunrises and sunsets sell the property and the other benefits are just lagniappe for enticing a purchaser. The more you benefit from aspects other than the view, the easier you will tolerate the negatives. Now, let’s discuss the bad side of living on the water. The initial cost of waterfront property all along the Galveston Bay Complex has skyrocketed over the past decade. Most of the newer homes have drifted away from the smaller weekend houses on pilings commonly seen along older subdivision canals to high-dollar homes bordering on mansions. The initial cost is just the beginning of the high expenses for owning a waterfront home. The higher the value of the property, the higher the taxes will be. Coastal living requires an additional insurance policy, windstorm coverage, which is normally part of homeowner’s insurance farther inland. Premiums for Flood and Windstorm policies for coastal residents have risen dramatically since recent hurricanes and for many residents are almost not affordable. An example would be to compare a waterfront windstorm policy premium to what the same amount of insurance offered in a conventional homeowner’s policy 50 miles

inland would cost. It is likely that the windstorm premium would be close to that of a conventional homeowner’s policy that included windstorm along with fire and other insurance. In many areas, erosion is an issue with waterfront property which is not covered by insurance. Bulkheads are the preventative and must be maintained and replaced every 20 years or so depending on the location. Security is a big issue with waterfront homes, especially those with boats and boat docks. Thefts of boats and equipment are much higher than for boats stored most other places. The homes themselves are at much greater risk of burglary and vandalism. Waterfront occupants also have other issues with which to deal. Probably the most common headache is the wake of boats. In most areas where concentrations of homes on the water exist, a no wake zone has been established. Most boaters try to adhere to the five mph speed limit in such areas; however, many ignore it. Not adhering to the rule results in residents who get upset easily and stay in a state of frustration due to the wake washing against their bulkheads during periods of heavy boat traffic. If you cannot live with this, waterfront living is not for you. As mentioned earlier, I have experienced just about all of the pros and cons of a waterfront homeowner and still would not want to live anyplace else. For most newcomers to living on the water, after enjoying this lifestyle, most do not want to return to a landlocked home.

News & Events 2014 Pensacola Race Slated for May

ffshore Race Chairman Jim Winton has announced to area sailors that a long-distance, offshore race hosted by Lakewood Yacht Club, Galveston Bay Cruising Association and Pensacola Yacht Club will be held next year from Galveston to Pensacola, FL Friday, May 23 and the PHRF Fleet will start on Saturday, May 24. The race is open to the public and with it being a little over 450 nautical miles, from start to finish will take at least three days, depending on wind conditions. The Awards Banquet will be held at Pensacola Yacht Club on the evening of Thursday, May 29 or Friday, May 30. “This is a ‘save the date’ notification as we realize that sailors generally have to plan their vacation time,” explained Winton. “We will have a Kick-Off Party with more details on Saturday, Feb. 8, at the ballroom of Lakewood Yacht Club, where racers can ask questions they might have about the race.” If racers’ families wish to drive the eight or so hours from Houston to Pensacola, they can enjoy that city’s beautiful beaches and the National Museum of Naval Aviation where one can see almost every aircraft the Navy has flown, still in flyable condition. A Safety Seminar for the race is scheduled for Saturday, March 29 while the Skippers Meeting is slated for Friday, May 16, both to be held in Lakewood Yacht Club’s ballroom 2425 NASA Parkway, Seabrook. For further information in the future, please check Lakewood’s website under “Racing” at www.lakewoodyachtclub.com

Seabrook Title Sponsor for 4th Annual J/Fest Southwest Regatta

akewood Yacht Club J/Fest Southwest Regatta Chairman Al Goethe has announced that the City of Seabrook has, again, stepped up to the plate to be the title sponsors of this regatta for the fourth consecutive year. The regatta is open to the public and is slated for the weekend of Nov. 2 and 3. “We are very pleased and proud to have the support of the city for this nationally known regatta,” related Goethe. “We expect over 70 onedesign J boats from all over the country to come to Seabrook and participate in this two day regatta on Galveston Bay, which is hosted by our Lakewood Yacht Club in association with J/Boats Southwest.” “Seabrook is excited to partner with Lakewood Yacht Club in sponsoring this regatta, which is a terrific opportunity to promote tourism for the

HARVEST MOON REGATTA® TO BE A “CLEAN REGATTA”

ith the focus on making Galveston Bay a beautiful, clean place to enjoy, the 2013 Annual Harvest Moon Regatta® (HMR) will be run as a “Clean Regatta” which is sponsored by the Save the Sea Foundation Slated for Oct. 17 – 20 this fall, the Harvest Moon Regatta® is a 150 nautical mile off-shore race from Galveston to Port Aransas hosted by Lakewood Yacht Club (LYC). “As a new initiative, the Harvest Moon Regatta committee is asking all racers to run a clean race. So, the HMR will be doing its part in running a clean regatta,” stated Harvest Moon Regatta® Chairman Tom Frankum. To run a clean regatta, paper less processing for the race will be employed and recycled paper will be used by the LYC staff in producing HMR

Bay Area Houston Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2013

city,” responded Mayor Glenn Royal. “This event will bring in a large number of boat crews and their families to stay in our motels, eat in our restaurants, and enjoy our water-front lifestyle. We look forward to a successful regatta and expect it will grow even larger in years to come.” Through the help of the Bay Area Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau, Seabrook motels will be offering a special J/Fest discount to racers and their families for the weekend. The Bureau has broadcasted the event throughout Texas so that racers can plan the trip to Seabrook. The J/Fest Southwest Regatta will be a Circuit Stop for the J/24’s, J/70’s, and the J/80’s. It will be a Fleet Event for the J/22’s, J/105’s, J/109’s, J/ PHRF’s and the J/Cruise boats. “It is important for sailors to know that there will be a free crane available for launching the larger J/Boats such the J/105’s and J/109’s” added Goethe. Additional sponsors making this regatta possible and a “can’t miss” event are J/Boats Southwest, Bay Access, West Marine, Torqeedo, Rejex, J/World Annapolis Performance Sailing School, UK, Hayes Rigging, Harken, Blackburn Marine Supply, North Sails, Velocitek, Quantum, the Sundance Grill II, Hays Insurance, North U and Marlow. For more information and to register for the regatta, please visit the website www.jfestsouthwest. com.

documents, to name just a few examples on how HMR is working with other entities to help make Galveston Bay and other bodies of water a clean and enjoyable experience for every boater. Other examples include HMR providing every racer with a reusable water container to be used by the crew on every race boat. In addition, HMR is providing environmentally cleaning products to every boat. HMR sponsor Bay Access, which is a not-for-profit, charitable organization fostering amateur boating, has also agreed to join the “Clean Regatta” team and will do their part in helping to keep Galveston Bay a beautiful and clean place. To register to race in the Harvest Moon Regatta® go to the website www. harvestmoonregatta.com. To learn more about the “Clean Regatta” please click on clean regatta to take the reader to the Save the Sea Foundation/Clean Regatta website for more information. Racers should know that there will be a Roundtable Safety Seminar for them on Saturday, Sept. 14, followed by an Early Entry Party sponsored by Bacardi Rum U.S.A. that evening at Lakewood Yacht Club’s ballroom, 2425 NASA Parkway, Seabrook.

SEPTEMBER 2013 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

E B RF O T

B OA

BENETEAU RENDEZVOUS PACKED WITH FUN

he 2013 Beneteau Rendezvous, presented by Sea Lake Yachts, will be held at Lakewood Yacht Club from Friday, Sept. 20 through Sunday, Sept. 22, and promises to be packed with fun activities for Beneteau owners. Last year’s Rendezvous was a huge hit with more than 30 boats in attendance, and this year 50 boats are expected! Beneteau Sailboats, as well as Beneteau Power Boats are invited and will be gathered together in Lakewood’s Inner Harbor over the weekend. Most of the activities will be pool-side, with a tent set up for all of the attendees to gather throughout the weekend. Friday night will include a mixer, along with registration. Saturday will be full of activities beginning with breakfast and mimosas by the pool. Afterwards, guest speakers will include Cruising Destinations on Galveston Bay, presented by Phillip Kroff. This presentation has been very well received in the past, giving boat owners specifics on fun places to go in the area. Also speaking will be Kevin Wilson of Stix n Rig’n who will be discuss proper care and feeding of in mast furling and roller furling systems. Patrick McAndrew with True North Marine will speak on Marine Electronics as well. There will be poolside activities after the speakers conclude that will include lunch, demonstrations by Leigh Ann Hawboldt with KO Sailing, and a demonstration of an inflatable life raft in the pool. Saturday will also include a silent auction benefiting Boys and Girls Harbor and vendors will be set up by the pool for individual questions and demonstrations, “boat show style.” One of the favorite activities in the past has been the Smorgasaboard, which will be held at 5:30 Saturday night. All of the boat owners will prepare their favorite appetizers and guests will sample these and vote, after which a winner will be picked. The Saturday night party and dinner will wrap up this fun filled day. Sunday is the Unruly Regatta, which is a fun race on Galveston Bay and will be followed by trophy presentations and lots of prizes will be given away. For information or to sign up for the rendezvous, contact Angela Pounds at angela@ sealakeyachts.com or call her at 281-248-6001.

On Clear Lake

CELEBRATE

THE LAKE

ometimes it’s difficult to find the time during the weekend to enjoy our surroundings but in late October, the Houston Texans will have a BYE week and Bay Area Houston residents will have the opportunity to “Celebrate the Lake” at the latest event being hosted at the Endeavour Marina on NASA Parkway, Seabrook. Boatoberfest on Clear Lake will be four days of fun, on and around the water, starting on Thursday, Oct. 24, and running through Sunday, Oct. 27 offering everything from an end of season boat sale to in-water events and a craft beer garden. The centerpiece of this exciting four days will be an incredible boat sale, with all types of boats on display, both onshore and in-water, and all at great end of season prices. Sportfish and center consoles will be on display to tempt the saltwater fishing guys, with cruisers and day boats for the more relaxed lifestyle, plus some really awesome sailboats to test the skills of the blue water sailors. Companies like Texas Coast Yachts, Sea Lake Yacht Sales, Jay Bettis & Co., Fox Yachts and JK3 will also have some of their most seasoned representatives on hand to answer any questions relating to the boating experience you might have. Peter Fox of Fox Yacht Sales and Tommy Nolan of Texas Sportfishing Yacht Sales will be able to help you with questions regarding deep sea fishing and what you need to know to get out there safely. Ron Hoover and Tracker Boats are just two of the companies able to assist with your boating requirements for the Lake and Galveston Bay fishing, both with some financially creative ways to get you into your first boat or even your second! Whilst the in-water boats will be featured at the MarineMax docks, the on-shore boats and a wide variety of vendors will be located at the Endeavour Marina to display the latest in fishing and boating gear, technologies, products, services, accessories and apparel - all the great stuff you need to help you enjoy the boating and outdoor lifestyle. While looking around the boats on display, take a look at the new 2014 Silverado from Chevrolet – just what you need for towing that boat - and make some time to climb aboard some of the awesome RV’s being displayed at the show.

Bay Area Houston Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2013

WOW! Is all there is to say as you enter the show and are confronted by the featured attraction of the 50’ canary yellow Miss GEICO Offshore Powerboat, with a top recorded speed of 194 mph this is one of the fastest boats ever built for offshore powerboat racing. When visiting the Miss GEICO display area show attendees can also register to win great prizes and giveaways. Craft Beer enthusiasts will be excited to hear that the event will also feature a Craft Beer Garden, presented by the Saint Arnold Brewing Company, Houston’s very own craft beer brewery, with a selection of craft beers to satisfy even the most ardent beer aficianado. As the craft beer industry continues to grow this is a perfect event to showcase Texas’ oldest craft brewery and visitors will be able to experience the different and delicious beers on offer and, in keeping with the theme of the event, Elissa, Endeavour and Oktoberfest will be just a few of the beers on offer from Saint Arnold. Saturday morning sees the arrival of some of Houston’s best gourmet food trucks for the NASA Parkway Food Truck Rally. See the line up of food trucks featured in the Rally on the show website before you arrive to view the varied menus and come hungry. Saturday also sees the show come alive with the in-water events on the Lake – Battle of the Badges pits the local Police, Fire and USCG against each other in a series of on water events with all important bragging rights at stake, so come and make some good old fashioned noise to cheer on your favorite team. Wait around for a chance to see Seabrook local, Bruce Bullock, from Bullock Marine, put some of his offshore monsters through their paces on the Lake, and yes, you will hear them before you see them! Make sure to visit the show website for exciting news on other in-water events as they are confirmed. Another activity to look out for is the Boatoberfest Chili Cook-Off, which will take place on Sunday and include some great chili cook-off teams. Judging will be by “people’s choice” and show attendees are invited to participate and vote for their favorite chili. Judging will also be on “showmanship” so look out for some creative displays and help pick the winner – or put a team together and join the fun - the Tiki Bars will be on standby with plenty of cold beer and soda available to cool those palates after the tasting. With all of this taking place, perhaps something more leisurely is necessary, so bring your folding chair and relax on the grass viewing area, next to the Lake, and enjoy some island style sounds courtesy of Jerry Diaz and Hanna’s Reef along with other local favorites. If you enjoy the outdoor lifestyle and being on the water, invite some friends and come on down to Clear Lake to visit Boatoberfest on Clear Lake this October. Visit www.texasboatoberfest.com for details of the show, exhibitors and events taking place.

“Craft Beer enthusiasts will be excited to hear that the event will also feature a Craft Beer Garden, presented by the Saint Arnold Brewing Company.”

Bay Area Houston loses two of its best Remembering George Mitchell and Frans Gillebaard By Mary Alys Cherry

ometimes we don’t know just how valuable something is until we lose it. So it was July 26 when Bay Area Houston slowly came to realize it had lost two of its most valuable assets with the deaths of both George Mitchell and Frans Gillebaard on the same day. Mitchell was 94 and Gillebaard was 73. Both were brilliant. Both changed the shape and face of the area – spending their lives giving back to their communities, helping others and making our lives more enjoyable. Both made sizeable donations to charity and educational institutions. One lived with a secret until his death. Mitchell, who operated on a grand scale, changed the face of his hometown Galveston, building the San Luis Hotel, restoring many historic buildings including the Hotel Galvez and reviving Mardi Gras there, and developed The Woodlands. Born to Greek immigrant parents, he used the skills learned while earning his degree in petroleum engineering and becoming valedictorian at Texas A&M to form a Fortune 500 company, Mitchell Energy, and later develop hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling which has led to an unprecedented boom in U.S. energy production and earned him the title, “father of fracking.” He could have patented the technology behind fracking but instead gave it to the world. He thanked his alma mater by donating more than $100 million to the College Station university over the years. Gillebaard, meanwhile, launched what has since become the Kemah Boardwalk, opening first The Flying Dutchman and then the Brass Parrott and the Kemah Cantina, restaurants that were later sold to Landry’s, which

expanded even more and turned the sleepy bayfront village into one of the state’s top tourist attractions. In addition to the restaurants, he also headed a real estate and investment business, Amstel Holdings, and later he and his wife, Diane, gave many millions to the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Gillebaard, after living under Nazi domination during World War II, emigrated to the United States with his family in 1952 and became a U.S. citizen in 1957. Both were remembered as down-to-earth individuals. Bob Mitchell, president of Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership in which Gillebaard was active for many years and a member of its executive committee, remembered him as “a man whose vision shaped our region, whose generosity … both influenced and saved lives and whose impact on all who knew him was profound. “To know Frans was to have a story about Frans. He was one of those rare individuals whose personalities left an indelible impression and whose comments and questions always left us thinking about how we could make the world a better place.” Bay Area Houston Magazine Chairman Rick Clapp remembered first meeting Mitchell at the inaugural Mardi Gras in 1985 and later working with Mitchell to help promote The Strand in Galveston in the mid-90s. “My best memory of Mr. Mitchell was during the My Celebrate America Fourth of July family event on The Strand. It was a laser light show and he was sitting with me in a window watching the activities. “He was so excited and happy for all the families having a fun time on The Strand. He said it reminded him of old times. He was a very kind, humble, soft spoken and encouraging. He gave me what I needed to do a good job. He was not only a good man – he was a great man.” Perhaps the most startling thing about Gillebaard is he could not read or write – a secret he carried to his grave. His wife, Diane, divulged that to the audience at a memorial service held for him at Lakewood Yacht Club. He was dyslexic and because he was an immigrant was never given the training youngsters receive today, going to great lengths to cover up this shortcoming, his wife said, explaining that he never served as chairman of any committee that might require a written report. A startled look swept over the faces of those in the crowded ballroom. No one had ever had a clue.

Gardens galore await your visit in League City

eek at some of the most imaginative gardens in League City when the League City Garden Club hosts its 3rd Annual “Going Green” Garden Walk on Saturday, Sept. 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Garden Tickets, which are $10 in advance or $15 on event day, can be purchased from any League City Garden Club member and be available Aug.14 at the following League City locations: •

League City’s Chamber of Commerce -- 1101 W. Main St. Suite R

•

Nana’s Attic -- 501 E. Main St.

•

Tate’s Frame Shop -- 1818 W. Main St.

•

Butler Longhorn Museum -- 1220 Coryell

Maps are included with each ticket purchase. The self guided tour includes six private home gardens hosting hidden havens filled with bonsai trees,

Bay Area Houston Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2013

orchids, a Koi pond, a family of box turtles, prairie restoration, native and heat tolerant plants, raised vegetable beds, rain water catch systems, dry creeks, orchards, birds, bees, butterflies and much more. Also showcased are five community gardens which include one of League City’s first “Going Green” business landscapes, the League City Garden Club ‘Wildflower Project” Area, League City’s Eastern Regional Park, Clear Creek High Schools-“Alternative Academic” Garden and Urban Harvests-“Plant A Seed Feed A Need” Community Garden. Contact the club at leaguecitygardenclub@gmail.com

Area schools do well in 2013 state ratings By Mary Alys Cherry

or families with children in public schools, Bay Area Houston is a good place to live. Almost all of the area school districts did quite well in the 2013 Accountability Ratings handed down by the Texas Education Agency. The Clear Creek School District, one of the area’s largest, had much to celebrate, Communications Director Elaina Polsen said, with the district and all 43 campuses “scoring well above the state’s standards regarding student achievement, student progress from year-to-year, closing the achievement gap and postsecondary readiness.” Under the new Texas accountability system, a school and school district can only be rated as Met Standard or Needs Improvement. This is a departure from the traditional ratings of Exemplary, Recognized, Acceptable and Unacceptable. The new accountability system is based on four categories, Polsen said. “The means in which each category is calculated by the state is complicated, but essentially a school and school district must have achieved a certain percentage in each area or higher to be recognized as a Met Standard district or school.” Districts and schools are ranked either “Met Standard” or “Improvement Required.” Friendswood, Pearland and Alvin also met all standards, as did Deer Park, Galveston, Santa Fe, Texas City, La Porte, Dickinson and Goose Creek in Baytown. While Galveston ISD met the standard, 6 or its 14 schools got the Improvement Needed rating. Pasadena ISD, the area’s largest school district met the standard but had seven campuses that earned “Improvement Required” ratings, while all the rest “Met Standard.” La Marque ISD didn’t fare very well with the district earning an “Improvement Needed” rating and only 4 of its 10 schools earning the Met Standard ranking plus 2 that were Not Rated.

“While the names of the ratings have changed, our mission has remained the same, and that is to ensure all students graduate college and career ready,” said Dr. Greg Smith, CCISD superintendent. “This transition from TAKS to STAAR has been a herculean effort on the part of our teachers, students, and parents. Yes, the state’s system is confusing, but the simple message to walk away from on this report card is that we are not complacent, we will continue to meet the needs of all children, and raise our own expectations every year. That is the CCISD Way.” “The state utilized student performance on the STAAR exams, STAAR performance growth of specific student groups over two years, high school completion rates, and the percentage of students who graduate on the State’s Recommended and Distinguished plans to determine a campus and district rating,” Polsen said as she explained the ratings. Dr. Smith encourages parents and the community to not look at the state’s report in isolation, recognizing that there are multiple indicators of student success. “Over the last two years we have been engaging our community in the discussion of what they value as measurements of success, and it cannot be solely based on the STAAR exam. We have students who excel in many areas that are not measured by a standardized test. Those successes should be highlighted such as the growing number of students who are receiving state certifications in the areas of health, manufacturing, and culinary arts allowing them to enter the workforce today and positively contribute to the community.” Smith also points to student performance on college entrance exams. Based on the latest SAT results, CCISD students outperformed their peers in all areas. The 2012 college bound seniors’ mean score was a 520 in Critical Reading on the SAT compared to 496 for the nation. The mean score for CCISD was a 546 in Mathematics compared to 514 for the nation. The 2012 mean score for CCISD was a 504 in Writing compared to 488 for the nation. Nearly 30 percent of the Houston and Aldine schools got the needs improvement rating, while Katy, Cy-Fair, Conroe and Fort Bend had either a 100 percent that met the standard or was in the high 90s.

Area high schools ranked among the best in Texas By Mary Alys Cherry

our area high schools have been ranked among the best in the state by U.S. News & World Report for 2013. Three were in the top 100. The four are Clear Horizons Early College High School, Clear Lake High and Clear Springs High, in the Clear Creek School District, and Friendswood High, which is in the Friendswood School District. Clear Horizons was ranked No. 57 in Texas and No. 517 in the nation while Clear Lake High was No. 68 in Texas and 643 in the U.S. and Friendswood was

Bay Area Houston Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2013

No. 83 in the state and No. 793 in the U.S. Clear Springs High was ranked 128 in Texas and 1384 nationally. Alvin High was ranked No. 167 in Texas and 1921 nationally. U.S. News said it teamed up with the American Institutes for Research (AIR) of Washington, D.C., one of the largest behavioral and social science research organizations in the world, to produce the rankings. A total of 21,035 public high schools were analyzed. “AIR implemented U.S. News’ comprehensive rankings methodology, which is based on the key principles that a great high school must serve all of

its students well, not just those who are college bound, and that it must be able to produce measurable academic outcomes to show the show is successfully educating its student body across a range of performance indicators,” U.S. News said. Four Houston schools were ranked in the top 10 for Texas – Carnegie Vanguard High, 3; DeBakey High School for the Health Professions, 5; YES Prep, 7; and Eastwood Academy, 10 – with Memorial High ranked No. 32, Woodlands High No. 50 and Stratford High No. 53. The School for the Talented and Gifted in Dallas was ranked No. 1 in Texas and in the U.S.

Light

@ wor k By Steve Lestarjette

screenings, haircuts, and fingerprinting. There’s much more. On Aug. 3, more than 350 hearty volunteers endured oven-hot temperatures to distribute 4,000 bags of school supplies and more than 70,000 pounds of groceries. Lines of people began forming more than two hours before doors opened. Of those served, more than 3,600 were children. Special applause goes to Todays Vision for more than 350 eye exams, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Care Van for Children which immunized 300 children, San Jacinto College Central cosmetology students for 300 haircuts, Sam’s HEARING for 275 screenings, It’Z Family Fun & Food for feeding 1,200, and Grocers Supply for helping another 100. The Houston Police Department, along with its mounted patrol and K-9 unit, did the fingerprinting. Other vendors offering services, entertainment or “boots on the ground” included AFLAC, World Financial Group, Nerium International, and Hard Hats. Because of its partnership with the McKinney Group through the Pasadena Independent School District, the health fair’s special touch reached 216 homeless people, of which 136 were children.

Church sends students back to school with screenings, supplies

ong before governments or civic organizations awoke to the need of helping the underprivileged, churches and synagogues were already on the front lines, reclaiming lives and dreams through a variety of unique, compassionate services. These unheralded outreach ministries touch individuals and families, and are making a big difference in our community. Most are envisioned, funded and served by unpaid volunteers whose sole motivation is to “give back” a portion of their good fortune to those who need it most. Like the congregations themselves, outreach ministries come in different shapes and sizes. Most, however, are designed to serve a specific need in the immediate vicinity. One church in an area populated by the homeless provides shelter and clothing. Another serves food. Several are dedicated to helping unwed mothers, runaways, or battered women. Another offers job networking for the unemployed. The list is virtually endless. Besides the compassion that spawned them, these amazing operations — which touch thousands of families in the greater Bay Area — have another characteristic in common. None receive a dime in federal or state funds, which makes the quality, sustainability and comprehensiveness of these programs even more remarkable. Case in point: CT Church at 9701 Almeda Genoa Road has held a community Back-to-School Health Fair the first Saturday in August for the past 10 years. The event draws nearly 5,500 moms and dads with school-age children to the church campus to receive much-needed school supplies and health screenings they might not otherwise afford. Services include immunizations, eye exams, dental screenings, scoliosis and chiropractic

Bay Area Houston Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2013

All services and gifts were absolutely free — with no strings attached — to those who came by needing them. “We realize neighborhoods around the church are changing demographically,” said event coordinator and associate pastor Susan Nordin. “We want to see that every child goes back to school healthier, with a full backpack of supplies, ready for the new school year.” Is it making a difference? Pastor Susan says many families write letters or come by later to express their gratitude. Quite a few, she reports, say they experience a “sense of family” and acceptance through the outreach. Of these, many return to adopt the CT family as their own “community of faith.” “As I walk around campus during the health fair, I witness doctors, nurses, community organizers, nutritionists, educators, volunteers, pastors and teachers working tirelessly together for the community’s improved health. I get to see my church integrally woven into the fabric of the community’s identity and goals. There are few things more powerful than the feeling of contributing to a much larger whole,” she says. Serving others is at the heart of it, Susan Nordin says. “As we serve our community in meaningful ways, we are ambassadors of God and reflect His love, compassion and character to those being served. The health fair is one way we can do that. Through this single event, we have seen many lives changed. As long as we can make that kind of difference, we’ll keep going.”

Tieken Smiles Complete Health Dentistry Integrating Mind, Body, & Soul By Betha Merit

“Your mouth ‘talks’ to your body and your body ‘talks’ to your mouth.” The professionals at Tieken Smiles Complete Health Dentistry embody this quote in their approach to your dental health, and go beyond your mouth to treat your mind, body, and soul.

very treatment, procedure, and diagnosis works in combination to see you as more than just a beautiful smile. Their complete health approach joins together dentists and physicians in consulting for the patient’s best overall outcome. “We know that oral health is a critical part of systemic health. So when patients have heart conditions, diabetes or other medical health issues, the state of their oral health matters even more. It’s not just about dental versus medical conditions anymore,” says Dr. J. Derek Tieken, DDS. Renowned providers like the Mayo and Cleveland Clinics are avid supporters of this new approach to overall health. Tieken Smiles Complete Health Dentistry remains a technology frontrunner in general and cosmetic dentistry, and now partners with your physicians to focus on your overall body, mind, and functional health issues as they account for all of your health concerns in your treatment planning. “Our alliance with community physicians is unique—needed, and adds a new level of overall quality care and understanding for every patient we treat. The

Tieken Smiles team is proud to be a part of this great new approach to health for our community,” says Dr. Tieken. For almost 25 years, Dr. Tieken and his team have served 1000’s of families offering state of the art dentistry. A native of Bay Area Houston, Dr. Tieken graduated from the University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston. His passion and training for cosmetic dentistry offers local residents the latest skills and technologies available in the field. Dr. Tieken has been named a Top Dentist by the Consumer Research Council, Texas Monthly’s Best Dentists for years, and has been selected as Best Dentist of the Bay, for the past 11 consecutive years. Associate, Dr. Eric Broberg, DDS grew up in Texas, and is also a University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston graduate. Dr. Broberg has been with the practice since July 2012. He was an instant hit and is a perfect fit, as he comes from a family of physicians, which contributes to his ease in integrating the mind, body, and soul approach to overall dental health. Dr. Tieken and Dr. Broberg explain how their mind, body, and soul approach works. It begins with their minds, including professional experience and continuing education, which they pursue as new techniques and discoveries are made in the dental health and cosmetic field. Their desire to grow with dental advancement leads them to invest in the state of the art technologies and equipment now offered. The mind approach also involves educating their patients on the connection of their mouth to their body, and also about what dental treatment plan will benefit them. Interacting with patients’ own physicians brings in the mind and

Bay Area Houston Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2013

expertise of each physician to enhance and balance all treatment plans for the individual. Secondly, the body is a focus. Periodontal disease is linked to many health issues. Tieken Smiles Complete Health Dentistry offers Lutronics CO2 laser technology for soft tissue periodontal treatments that are painless and require no anesthesia. The American Academy for Oral Systemic Health lists the following: bacteria in your mouth travels to other parts of your body in your bloodstream; gum disease increases the risk of head and neck cancer; diabetes and bleeding gums increase your risk of premature death by 400-700%; mouth bacteria can cause heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke; cavities are caused by a germ that spreads while kissing and sharing food; 93% of people with gum disease are at risk for diabetes; the Surgeon General reports that at least 80% of

with the patient’s physician, depending on whether this is a case of simple snoring or health issues are already part of the equation. Tieken Smiles has invested in the VELscope, which is an oral cancer screening system to detect abnormalities while they are still easily treatable. Additionally, Tieken Smiles utilizes digital x-rays, which require up to 90% less radiation and are quickly viewable on a computer monitor. And there are other faster, smarter, painless systems and procedures to make your Tieken Smiles experience a breeze. Thirdly, your soul is a part of your dental health. A beautiful smile is still a goal that Tieken Smiles Complete Health Dentistry gets behind. “We like to say that the mouth is a window of your soul,” says Dr. Tieken. “We are well-known in Bay Area Houston for our cosmetic dentistry results, and we continue to pursue state of the art technology towards this value.” A healthy smile can affect a person’s self esteem and confidence, and Tieken Smiles will always support the effort to achieve just that. Their website, www.tiekensmiles.com has a page highlighting their Smile Makeovers that will blow your socks off. And yes, your mouth will drop open and you will either smile or laugh out loud. You might even tear up. Amazing. Other cosmetic procedures are listed on the website and include Invisalign (for which they are a Premier Provider), veneers, lumineers, crowns, bridges, bonding, implants, dentures, and teeth whitening. “We aim to make the patient’s experience both soothing and high level clinically,”

says Dr. Tieken. “We will always pursue the cutting edge of technology. If there is something out there that benefits our patients, we will have it.” Giving back to the community is a huge part of the heart of Tieken Smiles Complete Health Dentistry. The Tieken Tooth Fairies is a program that offers dental services to local students in grades K-12 at the beginning of the school year. They are ongoing in educating and speaking to local schools and students about oral hygiene and healthy practices. A candy buy-back is a Halloween competition organized by Dr. Broberg and Tieken Smiles, where individual classes compete to raise the most money by bringing their Halloween candy in to be counted/weighed. Proceeds go to the local school, with the winning class receiving a bonus. “Our community has been so great to us,” says Dr. Tieken, “we want to give back.” A list of other community outreach areas is listed on the website. There you have it. Tieken Smiles Complete Health Dentistry is changing lives one smile at a time and applying the strengths of mind, body, and soul (both yours and theirs) towards making that happen. Professional affiliations include the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, and the Greater Houston Dental Society. Dr. Tieken is also a graduate of LVI Global—the prestigious Las Vegas Institute—a premier post-graduate institute for advanced dental studies. Now Located at 3033 Marina Bay Drive, Suite 230, League City, Texas 77573; 281.334.4944.

“We like to say that the mouth is a window of your soul. We are well-known in Bay Area Houston for our cosmetic dentistry results, and we continue to pursue state of the art technology towards this value.”

American adults have gum disease. There are more health risks listed, but that would take another page. Suffice it to say that your body is affected by your dental health. And, vice versa. Tieken Smiles Complete Health Dentistry offers treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, a condition that interrupts your breathing and ability to get a restful night’s sleep and may cause snoring. Sleep Apnea affects your body’s health as well as the health of anyone within sound of your snoring or affected by your lack of sleep. Tieken Smiles has invested in technology that provides in-office diagnostic testing and calibrating of the patient’s exact breathing specifications, in order to provide an orthodontic appliance that maximizes what angle and size works to open that individual’s airway. No more small, medium, large, or one size fits most! Follow up sleep studies may be done

SEPTEMBER 2013 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

Let Us Entertain You

Pomodoro’s Pasta Fagioli Soup • 4 cloves fresh chopped garlic • 3, 12 oz cans Cannellini beans • 4 oz can tomato sauce • 4 oz chopped Roma tomatoes • 2 tbsp EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) • 1/8 lb prosciutto • 1 lob fresh spinach • 1 ½ quart chicken stock • 4-5 leaves of fresh basil • ½ lb pasta (i.e. chopped spaghetti, ditalini, shells or elbow) • ½ tbsp red pepper flakes (optional) • Salt and pepper • Parmesan cheese Sauté the garlic, prosciutto and chopped tomatoes in the EVOO, then add basil, Cannellini beans, chicken stock, and tomato sauce. Let it cook for about 8 -10 minutes. Turn off the flame, add spinach, salt & pepper to taste, 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional), add the pasta and mix together. Spoon into small soup bowls and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

ot Ph ll ne sh Bu al

James Bond was back at the recent James Bond Ball! The ball was held at the Cock & Bull British Pub owned by David and Jeanette Walker. Odd Job made an appearance, as well as other James Bond movie characters. A fun evening was had by all, with dining, dancing and music from the iconic Bond movies. Tuxedo clad James Bond look a likes were there to add to the ambiance of the evening along with, of course, a lot of beautiful Bond girls.

DUKE’S TEXAS CHEESE STEAK

By Ali Sidoran

nless you live in the heart of Philadelphia, it’s quite a challenge to find a good cheese steak. Every restaurant claims to have the best one in town, but I think I’ve finally found one that holds true. Duke’s Texas Cheese Steak takes the original sandwich, and turns it “Texas.” Of course it includes the freshly sliced onions and cheese, but the meat is specially slow cooked with steak seasoning. In fact, anything you order you can expect to be cooked fresh to order. They pickle their own jalapenos, cut their own chips and fries, and slice their meat in-house. Small details like these give the restaurant its unique and desirable flavor. Some of their most intriguing dishes include the whopping 10” original cheese steak, The Presidente, The Duke, and The Loco Pollo. Also be sure to grab some of their piping hot sweet potato fries. Maybe even better than their mouthwatering food, is their prices; everything is very affordable. If the food and the price aren’t enough

to keep you coming back for more, the atmosphere sure will. They serve you as if you’re in their own home; hospitable and kid-friendly. It’s the perfect place to take the entire team this fall after football and sports games.

“It’s the perfect place to take the entire team this fall after football and sports games.” They even cater for all of your special events in the area, and they deliver! Next time you’re near Bay Area Blvd, skip your usual lunch spot and check them out! Their hours are MondayFriday 11-8pm. Plus they’re under new management, so I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.You can also find them online at www.texaschzstk.com. Enjoy!

Empty tables at your restaurant? ADVERTISE IN OUR ENTERTAINMENT SECTION!

281.474.5875

r.clapp@baygroupmedia.com

SEPTEMBER 2013 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

Bay Area Houston Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2013

SEPTEMBER 2013 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

CCISD hikes teacher salaries by 6 percent By Mary Alys Cherry

eachers in the Clear Creek School District finally are getting a break this fall – a 6 percent pay raise to make up for the two years they went without one when the Texas Legislature cut CCISD funding by some $23 million and they were forced to work with larger classes. Three percent of the raise was approved in March. Paraprofessional and auxiliary staff will get increases of 5 percent, and the district increased its monthly contribution toward employee health care from $225 per employee to $265 per employee. With more legislative funding expected this year, Clear Creek ISD officials have been looking at ways to provide its teachers and staff with a satisfactory salary increase. That came when school board trustees met for their monthly workshop Aug.12 and heard both Superintendent Greg Smith and Deputy Superintendent Paul McLarty explain how CCISD salaries had fallen considerably behind other area districts and ranked behind most. For example, CCISD’s starting salary last year for a first year teacher, $44,600, ranked 15th among 18 area districts and salaries for more experienced educators ranks 16th and 17th. With the raise, a first year teacher will earn $47,000. Last spring, before they knew what action the Texas Legislature would take on funding education, trustees voted to reward them with a three percent pay hike this school year. Now that some of the funds taken

away by the previous legislature have been restored, they felt they should increase their salaries even more. Besides wanting to make up for the two years the educators have gone without a salary increase, trustees worried they will begin losing teachers to area districts that have already increased salaries by 3.5 to 4.5 percent and are planning more pay hikes. “I don’t know if we have a choice if we are to remain competitive,” Trustee Ken Ballard said before the unanimous vote. Cost for the raises will be $12 million -- $10.5 million for the salary hikes and $1.4 million in health care premium assistance. Competitive salaries and keeping up with the cost of living are important strategies in recruiting teachers and keeping them, McLarty told the school board when trustees first began focusing on raises at the July meeting, reminding them that “CCISD needs to provide a salary and benefit package that is competitive with peer districts and local employers.” He feels the district should provide a salary that at least approximates the average salary of its peers. Starting in 2004 when the district ranked 19th among area school districts in pay, CCISD began increasing teacher pay by 4 percent that year, 3 percent in 2005-06, 7 percent the next year and then 3.5, 3.6 and 3 percent before the economy began its free fall around 2010-11 and teachers only got a 1 percent pay hike.

Paul Robert Guthrie December 15, 1953 – August 12, 2013 Paul Robert Guthrie, 59, born in Temple Texas, died August 12, 2013. He died at home in Seabrook Texas, after a long battle with cancer. Paul was a graduate of the University of Houston with a BA in Accounting. He owned Bay Area Tax, an accounting practice for 25 years. He was a resident of Seabrook Texas for the last 28 years. Paul was an avid outdoorsman enjoying hunting, sailing and fishing. He was preceded in death by his father James Calvin Guthrie and younger brother Scott Roger Guthrie. He is survived by his loving wife Lisa, mother Bette Allen, brother, Jim Guthrie and his wife Judy, and his faithful dog Starr. The family suggests donations be made to Coastal Conservation Association at www.ccatexas.org to best honor Paul’s memory.

Bay Area Houston Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2013

Deer Park A Hometown Feel with Access to Big City Amenities By Betha Merit

eer Park is known as the birthplace of Texas, and it is now on the national radar for a lot more than that. Since 2010, nationally recognized accolades have begun to stack up at Deer Park’s door. CNNMoney placed it in their #10 rankings for most affordable places to live in the U.S. Bloomberg Businessweek has featured Deer Park as the best suburb to live in Texas. And of course, the question to ask is, Why? First of all, Deer Park is a business friendly environment. Local small businesses are consistently setting records within their respective franchises; such as Firehouse Subs, Chick-Fil-A, and Bullritos. And there remains a strong collaboration between manufacturing and midrange businesses, many in relation to the petrochemical industry which has a huge presence along the Houston Ship Channel. So business is good in Deer Park and statistics show it. But there is much more going on here, that draws national attention. It is called quality of life. Deer Park is a central hub for both visitors and locals with easy access to Southeast Harris County and all its amenities. “Truly Deer Park is a 15 to 20 minute drive to Houston Downtown attractions, the Kemah Boardwalk, Baytown, Clear Lake, and close to Galveston Island,” says Tim Culp, President and CEO of Deer Park Chamber of Commerce. Culp is known for saying, “Isn’t it a great day to be in Deer Park?” And apparently the locals agree. The community of Deer Park feels like a small town with market days, parks, community events, and a lack of traffic congestion. Also, you have big city advantages. Deer Park ISD has Recognized status by the state of Texas due to its outstanding facilities, education, and staff. Deer Park students feed into nearby San Jacinto College, Texas Chiropractic College, and the many campuses of University of Houston. Access

to health care is a big draw in Deer Park, as well as housing and subdivisions that fit your income and lifestyle. Their outstanding website, www.visitdeerpark.org, is very user-friendly and features four links to pages that answer the question of why you might follow their motto to, “Work, Stay, Play, Explore,” in Deer Park. When questioned about the air quality of Deer Park, due to its proximity to petrochemical industry businesses, Culp commented, “We are confident with the air quality in Deer Park, and confident in the precautions taken by the companies in partnership with our city who go above and beyond the call of duty to make and keep it safe.” Culp began his time as Chamber president and CEO in 2010. “I am hard pressed to find any negatives in Deer Park,” says Culp. As to history, Deer Park is rich. General Sam Houston and his ragtag settlers defeated General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna’s well trained Mexican Army on April 21, 1836. This secured Texas’ independence from Mexico. The Houston Ship Channel and Port of Houston brought sea access and trade to Deer Park’s back door in the 1870’s. The actual town of Deer Park was founded and named in 1892 by Simeon West of Illinois who saw the large herds of deer that roamed the area, and foresaw a “community of opportunity.” Other historical sites in Deer Park and the vicinity include Patrick’s Cabin, a replica of where the Treaty for Texas Independence was signed between Santa Anna and Sam Houston; the San Jacinto Monument, which is the world’s tallest memorial column; and Battleship Texas – BB35, located on the San Jacinto battleground where Texas won her independence. Deer Park has slightly more than 32,000 residents and is a little bigger than 10 square miles. What it offers is a small town environment with big city possibilities, which is a nod towards our roots and getting the attention of our nation.

“Bloomberg Businessweek has featured Deer Park as the best suburb to live in Texas.”

Bay Area Houston Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2013

Lockheed Martin wins key space agency award

ockheed Martin was recently named the Large Business Prime Contractor of the Year by NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The award recognizes sustained excellence in meeting or exceeding small business requirements during the nine years the company has held a contract to prepare and process cargo for the International Space Station. In the last year the contract has exceeded five of seven small business utilization goals by 20 percent or more. “Lockheed Martin values our relationships with small businesses, recognizing that working together provides NASA with innovative and diverse solutions,” said Rick Hieb, vice president of exploration and mission support for Lockheed Martin’s Information Systems & Global Solutions. “Together we’ve supported human spaceflight at Johnson Space Center for more than 50 years, and we look forward to continuing that relationship.” Lockheed Martin was also named the Johnson Space Center Large Prime Contractor of the Year in 2008 in recognition of subcontracting initiatives on the Aircraft Simulation Program. Under the Cargo Mission Contract, Lockheed Martin procures, sustains, maintains and processes flight crew equipment ranging from laptops to clothing to housekeeping materials. The company also packs the cargo for launch. The team includes GHG Corporation, Bastion Technologies, LZ Technology, University of Texas at El Paso and Rothe Enterprises. Lockheed Martin also holds contracts at JSC for Mission Operations Directorate facilities development and operations and is the prime contractor for the development of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle. The company is a subcontractor to Wyle on the Bioastronautics contract that supports the ISS and Human Research Programs with space medicine, engineering and life science expertise at JSC. Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 118,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products, and services. The Corporation’s net sales for 2012 were $47.2 billion.

Nassau Bay updates zoning ordinance Nassau Bay is undating its zoning ordinances in an effort to make the city more developer friendly, combining its two commercial zones into one. The new ordinance, passed unanimously by the city Planning Commission and the City Council, updates parking requirements, includes provisions for shared parking, establishes specific design and building standards and consolidates and streamlines processes associated with development. No residential changes were made.

Coleman given Lifetime Award

used to burn waste gases. Once fully implemented, the pollution controls required by the settlement will reduce harmful air emissions of sulfur dioxide, volatile organic compounds including benzene and other hazardous air pollutants by an estimated 4,550 tons or more per year. These controls will also reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by approximately 260,000 tons per year.

Barrios honors five employees

Eugene Coleman, right, former UH-Clear Lake professor of fitness, is presented the Boyd Epley Award for Lifetime Achievement during the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s 36th National Conference by NSCA founder Boyd Epley.

Retired University of Houston-Clear Lake Professor of Fitness and Human Performance A. Eugene Coleman has been awarded the Boyd Epley Award for Lifetime Achievement by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He received the award at NSCA’s 36th National Conference in Las Vegas. Coleman earned this honor in recognition of excellence in Barrios employee Suzanne Domin, third from left, is presented a First Quarter Silver Bear Award. Joining in the presentation are, from left, are exhibiting historical impact, Barrios Program Manager Robert McAfoos, Barrios President and CEO achievements and dedication Sandy Johnson and Deputy Manager Kirk Shireman, ISS Program. Domin to the association throughout was one of five employees recognized. his career. has more than 4,000 employees and “It is a tremendous honor is headquartered in Houston, with to be recognized by your peers and offices in Pasadena, Nederland, such a highly respected professional Ingleside and Gonzales. certification agency,” Coleman said. “There are a number of men and Shell Deer Park women in the NSCA who are equally to cut pollution deserving of this award, and it’s an Shell Oil has agreed to resolve honor to be recognized as being on alleged violations of the Clear Air par with these individuals.” Act at its large refinery and chemical Coleman joined UH-Clear Lake plant in its 1,500-acre complex in in 1978 and helped create and grow Deer Park by spending at least the Fitness and Human Performance $115 million to control harmful air program for the School of Human pollution from industrial flares and Sciences and Humanities. His work other processes, the Department of with NASA’s Astronaut Training Justice and the U.S. Environmental Manual and the Houston Astros Protection Agency announced. contributed to this prestigious honor. Shell also agreed to pay a $2.6 He retired from the university in million civil penalty and spend July. $1 million on a state-of-the-art

Chamber honors Munday Companies

The Mundy Companies have been named 2013 Industry of the Year by the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce. The recognition came at a special chamber luncheon. The firm, privately owned by David Mundy and Shane Burder,

Bay Area Houston Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2013

system to monitor benzene levels at the fence line of the refinery and chemical plant near a residential neighborhood and school and to make the data available to the public through a website. Shell will spend $100 million on innovative technology to reduce harmful air pollution from industrial flares, which are devices

Barrios Technology recognized five of its employees with the quarterly Silver BEAR Award. Each of these employees provided a high level of expertise in their jobs supporting NASA’s Johnson Space Center and the International Space Station program. Employees recognized for the first quarter of 2013 were Suzanne Domin, Nancy Dunn, Phuong Henry, Bill Kowalczyk and Roiann Nimis.

Launch vehicle passes review NASA has achieved a major milestone in its effort to build the nation’s next heavy-lift launch vehicle by successfully completing the Space Launch System (SLS) preliminary design review. Senior experts and engineers from across the agency concluded that the design, associated production and ground support plans for the SLS heavy-lift rocket are technically and programmatically capable of fulfilling the launch vehicle’s mission objectives. NASA is developing the SLS and Orion spacecraft to provide an entirely new capability for human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit, with the flexibility to launch spacecraft for crew and cargo missions, including to an asteroid and Mars.

Lori Garver leaving NASA NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver is leaving the space agency to become the new general manager of the Air Line Pilots Association, the largest airline pilot union in the world which represents more than 50,000 pilots at 33 U.S. and Canadian airlines. In expressing his regrets over losing his “co-pilot,” NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said she would be in charge of ALPA’s day-to-day operations and responsible for managing its 300-person staff. Her last day with NASA will be Sept. 6.

Coping with expensive kids’ extracurricular activities

hen budgeting for back-to-school expenses, parents generally include routine fare like clothes, school supplies and maybe a new backpack. But if your kids participate in extracurricular activities, whether it’s sports, music lessons or art classes, you could be on the hook for hundreds – or even thousands – of dollars in additional expenses throughout the year if you’re not careful. As parents, we hesitate to stifle our children’s athletic and creative urges, especially when it can be so difficult to drag them away from their iPods and Xboxes. But sometimes you’ve just got to step back, weigh the different options available and decide what you can afford without upsetting your other financial goals and responsibilities. You’ll face tough questions like, “Is it better for my child’s future to spend $500 on a soccer day camp he’ll really enjoy or to invest the money in a 529 College Savings Plan?” My wife and I commonly wrestle with these types of questions. For example, last fall our son had outgrown his baseball equipment and was begging us for a new bat that cost $125. A year later, it sits on the sidelines because he prefers to use a friend’s bat. (We’re not complete pushovers, however: When he recently obsessed over a $200 pair of high-tech gym shoes, we said no.) Among the best advice I’ve received from other parents is, when your kids are exploring new activities, don’t overcommit your time or money until you know whether they’ll stick with it or quickly move on to the next thing. For example, before you sink a small fortune into private swimming lessons, start small with a summer class at your local Y or recreation center. If your kid shows a genuine aptitude and doesn’t balk at long hours of practice, then you can explore more costly alternatives. Just remember who’ll be driving to practice and out-of-town swim meets;

in other words, make sure you can honor the time commitment before signing on. Here are a few tips for prioritizing extracurricular events and keeping your costs down: • Focus on one sport or activity per kid, per season, especially if they involve multiple practice sessions or games per week. • Form carpools with other parents. You’ll save gas money and time, especially if your kids are practicing at different locations. • Learn how much equipment and instruction the sport requires. Some, like soccer and basketball can be relatively inexpensive; while others, like horseback riding, golf and ice skating involve expensive equipment or facility rental time. • Rent or buy used sporting equipment (or musical instruments) until you’re sure they’ll stick with the activity. Visit Play It Again Sports stores, online ad sites like Craigslist and yard sales. • Seek out or form a sports equipment exchange in your community where families can donate outgrown or cast-off equipment and uniforms for others to use. • It’s probably better to invest in new safety gear, like helmets and masks, than to buy it used – and potentially damaged. The same goes for items like shoes or baseball gloves that become molded to a child’s body – unless they were hardly used. Sometimes the cost of an elective program is worth making sacrifices elsewhere in your budget. Our daughter loves theater arts, so we decided it was worth shaving our vacation budget to send her to theater camp. She’ll make new friends and hone her dramatic and social skills in an environment that public school just can’t duplicate. This article is brought to you by a partnership between Visa and Texas First Bank and was authored by Jason Alderman, who directs Visa’s financial education programs. For more information, follow Texas First Bank on Facebook, Twitter and You Tube or visit us at www.texasfirstbank.com. SEPTEMBER 2013 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

A properly maintained Ship Channel key to area’s economic development These are exciting days over at the Port of Houston. Not only are they getting ready to celebrate their 100th anniversary in 2014, they are busy preparing for the expansion of the Panama Canal and the increase in port traffic it is expected to bring.

major step toward realizing the port’s – and the area’s maximum potential for economic development – is ensuring the Houston Ship Channel is properly maintained at its federally authorized depth of 45 feet and width of 530 feet to

accommodate the deep-draft vessels that soon will be able to sail through the Panama Canal. Part of this is happening this summer and fall as Orion Marine Construction dredges the channel, removing two million cubic yards of material between Morgan’s Point (continued on page 61)

Bay Area Houston Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2013

and the Exxon Reach and including the Barbours Terminal Channel and nonfederal berthing areas. Working under an $8.9 million U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contract it was awarded, Orion is using a hydraulic pipeline dredge to do the job, which it expects to complete in November. “This dredge work allows the Corps to fulfill its mission of providing safe and navigable waterways for vessels importing and exporting goods to and from the Port of Houston,” said Tricia Campbell, an operations manager with the Corps’ Galveston District. All the dredge material will be placed in the Spilman Placement Area, she added. Actually this is only part of the dredging picture. “About $40-$50 million in dredging is needed each year,” Spencer Chambers, the Port’s government relations director, said, adding that about $30 million has already been spent this year. With Ship Channel industries planning $35 billion in capital investments in the next two to three years, keeping the waterway at its authorized width and depth is a must, Port Bureau President Bill Diehl says. “Companies are expanding or relocating to our port region because the port gives them access to global markets. In essence, companies are saying, ‘We are investing to expand

Port of Houston Authority Vice President Charlie Jenkins, third from left, updated the Clear Lake Area Chamber on Port achievements at the monthly chamber luncheon in July. With him are, from left, Chamber President Cindy Harreld, Business Development Division Chairman Janette Alford, Straterion Consulting; Karl Garcia, Clear Creek CommunityChurch; Program Chairman Charity Ellis, Advocare International; and 2012-2013 Chairman of the Board Mike Furin, My Flooring America.

“Today, Texas is ranked as the No. 1 exporting state in the country. Not just this past year but for the 11th year in a row, 2012 statistics recently released by the U.S. Department of Commerce show.” our markets beyond our shores,’” Diehl said. “The confidence of these ship channel industries, that their investments will pay off hinges largely on our ability to accommodate deepdraft vessels by ensuring that the main ship channel is properly maintained. Inadequate federal funding to finance that vital dredging intensifies that

challenge,” Port Executive Director Colonel Waterworth added. “As we approach the 100th anniversary…we see indicators on several fronts that show that Houston’s port will enter the next century at full thrust and the Port Authority and its private industry port partners are preparing for what promises to be a bright and prosperous future.”

The Port of Houston is home to the largest petrochemical complex in the nation, and many of the other top goods move across Port Authority docks. Today, Texas is ranked as the No. 1 exporting state in the country. Not just this past year but for the 11th year in a row, 2012 statistics recently released by the U.S. Department of Commerce show. Houston, the federal agency said, is the nation’s top metropolitan area for exports in 2012. Merchandise exports from the Houston-Sugar LandBaytown metropolitan area totaled a record $110.3 billion, an increase of 6 percent or $5.8 billion from 2011 to 2012. Texas exports for 2012 totaled $265 billion, a 5.4 percent increase from the $251 billion recorded in 2011 with Mexico ($94.8 billion) the leading recipient, followed by Canada ($23.7 billion), China ($10.3 billion), Brazil ($10.0 billion) and The Netherlands ($9.5 billion), respectively. Petroleum and coal products, chemicals, computer and electronic products, non-electrical machinery and transportation equipment were the leading export industries. A recent study by Martin Associates says ship channel-related businesses contribute more than one million jobs throughout Texas, up from more than 785,000 jobs cited in a 2007 study.

SEPTEMBER 2013 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

Bay Area Houston Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2013

SEPTEMBER 2013 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

WE SHALE PREVAIL From Houston Mayor Annise D. Parker

How the Houston Port Region is Playing a Leading Role in the US Economic Recovery

Greetings, As Mayor of Houston, I am proud to support the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region and the Port of Houston. I am thrilled that this conference is taking place right here in the Houston area. We are nearing the 100th anniversary of the Port of Houston and business continues to boom. The Houston metropolitan area was just named the top exporter in the nation for the first time and I know the coming expansion of the Panama Canal will mean even more growth. Petroleum and coal products are our largest exports, totaling $36.6 billion in value. And we’ve exported another $31.2 billion worth of chemicals. Needless to say, collaboration between petrochemical and maritime leaders is vital for our region’s economic health. As your companies thrive and grow, so does the entire region’s economy. In the last three years, the Houston area has created more than 250,000 jobs and issued permits for the construction of nearly 74,000 single-family homes in the last year. According to a recent study, industries will invest up to $35 billion in capital and maintenance in the Port of Houston this year. That could result in 111,700 additional direct construction jobs and 154,100 indirect jobs. It is great to be in Houston. This whole region has prospered in a way no other part of the country has. I look forward to continuing to work with you to find new opportunities for growth and prosperity. Sincerely,

Mayor Annise D. Parker

he United States leads the world in natural gas production due to a potent combination of available resources, geological know-how, and a robust extraction and transportation infrastructure. Second only to China, the U.S. contains 3 percent of the world’s total reserves of which half is produced right here in Texas and Louisiana, according to a recent news story by NPR. In fact, Texas leads the nation in natural gas produced from the Eagle Ford and Barnett shale plays. Beyond its important role in the US energy mix, natural gas is also the primary feedstock for a robust U.S. petrochemical industry, an industry that is a driving force behind the nation’s economic recovery. Much of this industry is located right here in East Harris county. Neils Lyngso, Director of Maritime Affairs for the West Gulf Maritime Association, recently stated “Not only will the economic growth in the United States help pull Europe out of their recession; it is specifically the growth in Texas that will pull the United States out, and more specifically East Harris County.” Neils is not alone in making this claim, it has become a statement echoed in the hallways of the almost 200 companies located with the Houston Port Region. But why? What is it that is driving this development and how can Neils and others make this claim with such confidence? The answer lies with the earth at shale plays concentrated in Texas, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania (see map). These shale plays have dramatically increased domestic production of natural gas and conversely lowered its price. Natural gas is currently $3.46/

Bay Area Houston Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2013

MBTU in the U.S. as compared to $11.60 in Europe and above $15.00 in Asia. Consequently, the chemical industry is expanding production capacity along the Gulf Coast to take advantage of a long-term market play. Products created from the methane off of natural gas are intermediate in nature like PVC, styrene, polystyrene, vinyl chloride, polyethylene; all of which are used to make finished products that supply markets in clothing, medical, automotive, food, and housing. The average consumer does not realize the ubiquitous nature of these products. Consider ethylene alone in this example. A working mother wakes up and gets ready for a day at the office. She reaches over to the nightstand to “Natural gas put on her glasses, the lenses contain ethylene. is currently She starts her day with $3.46/MBTU a diaper change. The diaper contains ethylene. in the U.S. as She next begins to ready compared to herself for a day at the She runs the $11.60 in Europe office. faucet in the bathroom to and above clean her face; the water through pipes that $15.00 in Asia.” runs contain ethylene. The wash cloth she uses was washed in detergent that lists ethylene among its ingredients. The hosiery, shoes, and the suit she puts on contain ethylene. She walks across her carpeted hallway, the backing of which is in part comprised of ethylene, to the kitchen to take out the trash in a bag containing ethylene. She gets into her car, drives on tires containing ethylene, through a Duncan Donuts in the morning to get a cup of coffee served in a cup that contains ethylene. You get the picture. There is hardly an aspect of everyday life that is not touched by the petrochemical products produced right here in the Houston port region, and this example was just about one -- ethylene.

The potential on the upside is great. This resurgence could lead to nothing less than a shift in the balance of trade with the U.S. becoming a net-exporter of petroleum-based petrochemical products and natural gas. So what does this mean for our region? In order to meet future production needs the most immediate challenge is workforce.

Right to left: Chad Burke, Senator Dan Patrick, Senator Larry Taylor, Brenda Hellyer.

May the Workforce Be With You How the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region is Working Now to Help Ensure Today’s Students Meet Tomorrow’s Workforce Needs

conomic growth and job growth are inextricably connected. Even before the rest of the country began to recover, the Houston Port Region had been reporting growth in the form of new companies, company expansion, capital investment, and jobs. In 2012, the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region (the Alliance) facilitated business activities to create nearly 1,500 new jobs and over $1.5 billion of capital investment to the Houston Port Region. The momentum has continued into 2013 which to date the Alliance reports three wins accounting for $755 million in investment and over 100 new jobs. The estimated capital investment in Texas is $70 billion between 2012 and 2015 with projected capital investment in the Houston Port Region alone estimated at $35 billion. The next 3-5 years will see an added 111,700 jobs in construction alone, not to mention the concurrent expansion in the

maritime, petrochemical, and logistic jobs market. This welcome growth is exacerbating the existing shortage of skilled labor already prevalent in our region. Many area stakeholders recognized the need for positive action to ensure those who live in this community would be poised to step into these well-paying positions. The harsh truth is that if companies cannot fill these jobs from within the talent pool of our region, they will be forced to import talent from the outside translating into a huge missed opportunity for East Harris County. Seeking to avoid duplication of efforts, and to leverage area assets effectively, Chad Burke,

“The next 3-5 years will see an added 111,700 jobs in construction alone, not to mention the concurrent expansion in the maritime, petrochemical, and logistic jobs market.”

President and CEO of the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region, saw the need to pull disparate stakeholders together in a coordinated effort. Thus, the Workforce Development Committee was born with Dr. Allatia Harris of San Jacinto Community College and Niels Lyngso of West Gulf Maritime Association as co-chairs. The Committee objectives are threefold: 1. Regional coordination of all programs and stakeholders 2. Creating a marketing program for students, teachers, counselors and parents to expose career paths, jobs and opportunities to all, beginning at the junior high level 3. Inventory of jobs/careers available and qualifications and requirements for employability The committee includes representatives from: • San Jacinto & Lee Community Colleges •

Nine regional school districts

•

Construction & Maintenance Education Foundation

•

Chemical & refining manufacturing industry – East Harris County Manufacturing Association

•

Plant services and construction industry

•

Employment companies

•

Local cities and country representatives

•

Port of Houston

•

West Gulf Maritime Association

•

Other interested regional companies

The committee has already begun to pull together a speakers bureau and develop presentations aimed students, their parents, counselors, and teachers to market the opportunities and lay out career pathways in the maritime, logistics, petrochemical, and civil service arenas. If you would like to be a part of this effort you are invited to the next Workforce Development Committee meeting to be held on Tuesday, Sept. 17 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Economic Alliance offices 203 Ivy Ave., Ste 200, Deer Park, Texas. Contact Marisela Cantu by emailing marisela@allianceportregion. com or call 281-476-9176. For more information on becoming a member of the Economic Alliance, please visit www.allianceportregion.com or call 281-476-9176.

July Workforce Development Committee Meeting.

Exhibitors for the 2013 Petrochemical & Maritime Outlook Conference 1 The Port of Houston Authority 2 Houston Maritime Museum 3 East Houston Regional Medical Center 4 Shell Federal Credit Union 5 LJA Engineering 6 Delane’s Ad Specialties 7 Bay Area Houston Magazine 8 Choice Energy Services 8 Lee College 9 ABC Greater Houston Chapter 10 BB & T 11 Main Event Entertainment 12 “HDR Engineering, Inc.”

13 14 15 16 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Bay Area Houston Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2013

BBVA Compass Star Fleet Yachts Hagemeyer “Fugro Consultants, Inc.” “Citibank, NA” “XTL, Inc.” Phelps Insurance Equipment Depot JSC Federal Credit Union Escayg & Associates with Ameriprise Financial Intergulf Corporation Rabalais I & E Constructors “Conestoga - Rovers & Associates, Inc.”

(Listed by booth number and company) 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39

BIC Alliance CMEF Tolunay Wong Engineers Whitney Bank Your Town TV San Jacinto College “Gulf Winds International, Inc./University of Houston” WT Byler Co. Trustmark National Bank Gexa Energy Candlewood Suites Bay-IBI Group Architects Houston Pilots