Bay Area Houston Magazine - MARCH 2024

PRIMARY CARE

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Our Houston Methodist primary care doctors provide personalized care for you and your family, including physicals, immunizations and preventive health services.

Many of our practices:

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Allegiance Bank and CommunityBank of Texas have come together as Stellar Bank .

While our name has changed, our commitment to serving our customers and supporting our local communities will stay the same.

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Makes it Pain-less

10 NASA Milestone Exploration Park Established

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Picks Fun Snapshots From Around The Bay

12 BAHEP Business Spotlight Meador Staffing

15 Its Early Better? Pastor Brad is On Time

16 Texas Meditations Wait For Yesterday

19 Sing It Loud Bay Area Chorus’ Upcoming Event

19 CADD Making A Positive Ripple Effect

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Halie Briggs Joins BAHM

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Lake Chatter 1

Lake Chatter 2 More BAHEP Quasar Gala

CUSTOMS REPAIRS APPRAISALS

2700 Marina Bay Dr Ste L, League City, TX 832. 385. 6246 Follow us

On Thursday, February 15th, The Longhorn Project's Chairman of the Board of Directors, Andrea Wilson, was joined by a team of dedicated board members, including Dr. Glenn Freedman, owner of EduSafe Systems, Inc., who brilliantly facilitated the mee�ng, Rick Clapp, owner of Bay Area Houston Magazine, and Henry Wilson who also serves as the Project Manager, to discuss and brainstorm ideas for future partnerships

Dis�nguished guests at The Longhorn Project's partnership discussion mee�ng included Dr. Jeffrey Savell, Texas A&M University Vice Chancellor & Dean of Agriculture & Life Sciences; Dr. Kerri Gehring, Texas A&M University Associate Chancellor for Academic Collabora�on & Associate Dean for Administra�on; Dr. Christopher Maynard, University of Houston-Clear Lake Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost; Sandy Peck, Community Outreach JSC Robo�cs & Science Educator; Cyndy Butcher, District Manager for Texas State Representa�ve Dr. Greg Bonnen; Joshua Lyrock, Cons�tuent Services Manager for Texas State Senator Mayes Middleton; Juan Molina, owner of JSH Hydroponics/Microgreens; Robert Mitchke, Lead Grower for Eden Grower Systems; Lucy Fisher, Recycling, Sustainable Acquisi�ons & Outreach Lead for Straughan Environmental, Inc.; and Susan Parker, who serves as the Longhorn Project’s lead science

&

teacher

educa�onal coordinator.

L-R Back Row: Robert Mitchke, Lucy Fisher, Dr. Christopher Maynard, Joshua Lyrock, Dr. Glenn Freedman

L-R Middle Row: Sandy Peck, Cyndy Butcher, Andrea Wilson

L-R

Front Row: Rick Clapp, Juan Garcia, Dr. Kerri Gehring, Dr. Jeffrey Savell, Henry Wilson

Photo by Susan Parker (third from le� in upper right photo)

Atendees le� feeling inspired a�er engaging in conversa�ons filled with crea�vity regarding possible joint ventures between these esteemed organiza�ons aimed at crea�ng mutually beneficial rela�onships.

The Longhorn Project at Johnson Space Center’s Center for Agriculture, Science, and Engineering (CASE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides agricultural and STEM educational programs to youth. For more information, visit thelonghornproject.com.

“No Pain, No Gain” is NOT normal

Common phrases such as “no pain, no gain” and “feel the burn” have us believing that it is completely normal, and somewhat expected, to experience pain and discomfort when exercising. While slight pain and discomfort during and slightly after exercising is normal and often a good sign, you should not be experiencing extreme muscle soreness or joint pain or any type of pain that lasts for hours or even days.

Experiencing extreme muscle soreness after workout sessions can be avoided. Learn more about how pain and exercise are related, how to relieve sore muscles after workout sessions, and discover some things you can do to prevent muscle and joint pain.

Are Sore Muscles a Good Sign After Exercising?

To determine if sore muscles after exercising is a good sign or a bad sign, you must consider two factors: severity of the pain and how long the soreness lasts.

Minor muscle soreness while working out is a good sign. It indicates that the muscles in your body are getting stronger. This “good pain” should be extremely minor and it should only occur while you are working out and for a very brief period after you have finished exercising. If the pain interferes with your regular daily activities or it lasts for several hours or even days, it is no longer considered “good pain” and is instead considered “bad pain”. At no time, during, or after workout sessions, should you experience any type of extreme muscle soreness. In addition to muscle soreness, you should also not experience any type of joint pain or discomfort.

Pain, either of the muscles or the joints, that occurs after your exercise is often caused by inflammation. There are several reasons why the muscles and joints in the body become inflamed after exercising. Some of the reasons why you may be experiencing moderate to extreme muscle soreness and joint pain after exercise include:

*Overtraining

*Not properly warming up before exercising

*Performing exercises or movements that your body is unprepared to do

*Failing to allow the body proper time to heal before working out again

*Not working out regularly – prolonged periods in between workout sessions can cause the muscles in the body to weaken. When you do exercise again, the muscles will need to build up strength which results in you experiencing pain and discomfort.

*Underlying health problems or conditions such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis

Tips on How to Avoid Extreme Muscle Soreness and Joint Pain After Exercise

To avoid extreme muscle soreness and joint pain you have to think of exercising as a process and not a single activity. When you think of it as a process, you are encouraged to look beyond the activities and movements and instead focus on what you are doing before, during, and after your exercise session. By focusing on what you are doing before, during, and after, you can make sure you are doing specific things that help to prevent muscle soreness and joint pain.

Some of the things that you can do before, during, and after exercise to help you avoid extreme muscle soreness and joint pain include:

*Staying properly hydrated – with proper hydration your body will be able to fight off inflammation. Proper hydration will also help your muscles get the essential nutrients they need to properly heal after exercising.

*Carefully plan out your exercise routine – try to mix up your exercise routine. For example, one day work on core strengthening and the next day work on arms or legs. By mixing up your routine, you give the muscles in your body time to rest and heal. This can help you to avoid feeling any soreness or pain.

*Properly warm-up before exercising – immediately jumping in and performing strenuous or vigorous exercises can be stressful to the body. Warming up reduces the amount of stress your body experiences by preparing the muscles and joints for exercise.

*Alternate between intense and light workouts – after an intense workout, your body needs time to rest and heal. That doesn’t mean you should avoid all exercise. Instead, do a lighter workout next such as yoga or stretching.

*Massage the muscles after a workout – gently massage the muscles either by hand or with a foam roller after a workout

*Maintain a proper diet that is rich in vitamins and minerals

*Get the proper amount of sleep

*Focus on practicing good technique while exercising – if you aren’t properly performing a specific move or activity you could strain the muscles which will result in pain and discomfort

*Take a turmeric supplement to help the body naturally fight against inflammation

How to Relieve Sore Muscles Fast

Sometimes no matter how hard you try to avoid muscle soreness and joint pain after exercising, it still happens. If you happen to experience moderate to extreme muscle soreness or joint pain after working out, you can try the following things:

*Rest – if you experience extreme muscle soreness or joint pain it signals that you have overworked the body. Cut back on the intensity of your workout until the pain and discomfort have gone away.

*Apply ice - the cold from the ice reduces inflammation and helps reduce pain and discomfort

*Take an Epson salt bath – Epson salt helps encourage the muscles in the body to relax

*Take a natural supplement that has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities

How to Treat Sore Joints After Exercise with Turmeric Supplements – A Natural Anti-Inflammatory

Taking a natural turmeric supplement daily can help you find relief for joint pain especially if it occurs after exercising. A turmeric supplement, like Nuvothera’s SuperMicronized Turmeric Curcumin, provides you with relief from muscle soreness and joint pain by working as a natural anti-inflammatory. When looking for a turmeric supplement that helps you avoid joint pain and extreme muscle soreness after a workout, you want to find one that has the following qualities:

*Use of all-natural ingredients

*Contains no absorption enhancers such as black pepper or other chemical additives

*Uses whole root turmeric and full-strength curcuminoids

*Formulated to be quickly absorbed by the body, Nuvothera’s Super-Micronized Turmeric Curcumin Supplement has all of these qualities. It uses advanced micro-particle technology to deliver rapid and maximum absorption. The use of this advanced technology makes this turmeric supplement 100 times more potent than leading supplement brands.

Add a daily turmeric supplement to your routine and you will start to notice that after you exercise your joints and muscles aren’t so stiff and painful. Order Nuvothera’s Super-Micronized Turmeric Curcumin Supplement and feel confident that you may find relief from joint pain and stiffness because you are taking the best natural turmeric anti-inflammatory supplement.

Dare | Unite| Explore Marks a Milestone: Exploration Park Established

By Sumer Loggins

NASA and the Texas A&M University System announced an agreement Feb. 15, 2024, for underutilized land at Exploration Park, a 240-acre development at Johnson Space Center. This initiative represents a key achievement of Johnson Space Center’s 2024 Dare | Unite | Explore Commitments, focused on remaining the hub of human spaceflight, developing strategic partnerships, and paving the way for a thriving space economy.

The A&M System is the first to develop on Johnson’s land to create a facility that propels human spaceflight research and bolsters the commercial space sector. The lease agreement opens the door for a collaborative development environment that increases commercial access and enhances the United States’ competitive edge in the space and aerospace industries. The park is envisioned as an innovative hub for space hardware development, fostering teamwork among academic scholars, aerospace enterprises, and innovators alongside NASA.

The launch of this ambitious project was announced by Johnson Director Vanessa Wyche, Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp, and Texas A&M University President Mark Welsh III at the AIAA-hosted Ascend Texas (ASCENDxTexas) Conference at South Shore Harbour Conference Center.

“NASA JSC and Texas A&M have a long history of collaboration, and we’re eager about what we will accomplish together as we delve deeper into our partnership,” Wyche said. “The research at Exploration Park will focus on space exploration’s greatest challenges bringing the best and brightest minds to the task for the benefit of all humanity.”

Exploration Park is designed as a multifaceted space, blending research, technology development, and commercial ventures. This initiative aligns with efforts to foster a local aerospace hub and develop capabilities akin to lunar and Martian surfaces, where government, industry, and academia could formulate, design, test, and operate projects supporting the Artemis missions.

The research conducted at Exploration Park will tackle space exploration's most daunting challenges, including human factors, robotics, in-situ resource utilization, and planetary science. These endeavors aim not only to advance space exploration but also to apply these insights to improve life on Earth, such as through sustainable construction practices inspired by space habitats.

“All of this research will expedite our progression as we explore and establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon and venture onward to Mars,” Wyche said. “The future of Texas’ legacy in aerospace is bright as Exploration Park will create an unparalleled aerospace, economic, business development, research and innovation region across the state.”

The park will serve as a nexus for research collaboration, technology commercialization, and career development, ensuring a robust future workforce for the space industry and beyond. Exploration Park represents a strategic use of Johnson's surplus land, embodying the center's vision as a leader in human spaceflight for the coming decades.

NASA and the Texas A&M University System sign an agreement for a 240-acre Exploration Park on underutilized land at Johnson Space Center at the AIAA-hosted Ascend Texas (ASCENDxTexas) Conference at South Shore Harbour Conference Center. From left: Texas State Rep. Greg Bonnen, NASA Johnson Director Vanessa Wyche, Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp, and Texas A&M University President Mark Welsh III. Credit: NASA/Josh Valcarcel

Emergencies happen. We’re right here when they do.

A health emergency is something most of us would rather prevent than plan for. But when you need medical care fast, the closest emergency room is a smart thing to know. As your community partner, St. Luke's Health is your direct path from feeling scared or uncomfortable to feeling better. Get to know more about our ERs before an emergency strikes.

Find your nearest location at StLukesHealth.org/Emergency.

Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership Spotlight

MEADOR STAFFING

In the heart of Pasadena, Texas, where the spirit of industry thrives, Meador Staffing has been a steadfast pillar of support for businesses and job seekers alike. With a rich history dating back to 1968, Meador Staffing has played a pivotal role in shaping the employment landscape. We have had a keen focus on the Clear Lake area where Meador Staffing opened our first branch in 1971.

Founded by Ben Meador, Meador Staffing began its journey with a singular vision: to connect talented individuals with reputable companies, fostering mutually beneficial relationships that drive success. What started as a modest endeavor soon blossomed into a trusted resource for both employers seeking top-tier talent and individuals seeking rewarding career opportunities.

Meador Staffing continues to be a family-run

business with Melinda Torrison sitting in the President/COO seat. The decision to establish our first branch office in Clear Lake was a strategic one, driven by a commitment to serving the needs of local businesses and residents. Clear Lake, with its burgeoning economy fueled by the industrial space, maritime, and aerospace, presented an ideal setting for Meador Staffing to plant its roots. From the outset, our presence in Clear Lake was met with enthusiasm and support from the community, propelling us forward on a trajectory of growth and success.

Over the years, Meador Staffing has weathered economic fluctuations and industry transformations, adapting our services to meet the evolving demands of the workforce. Our unwavering dedication to excellence, integrity, and personalized service has remained constant, earning us the trust and loyalty of clients and candidates alike.

At the core of our success are the relationships we've cultivated – with employers who rely on us to deliver top-tier talent that drives their businesses

forward, and with candidates who trust us to guide them toward fulfilling career opportunities. Our team of seasoned professionals possesses a deep understanding of the local market dynamics and industry trends, allowing us to provide strategic workforce solutions tailored to the unique needs of each client.

Beyond our role as a staffing agency, Meador Staffing is deeply committed to giving back to the communities we serve. Through partnerships with local organizations and charitable initiatives, we strive to make a positive impact, supporting causes that enrich the lives of others and contribute to the greater good.

As we reflect on our journey spanning more than five decades, we are immensely proud of the legacy we've built and the countless lives we've touched along the way. Looking ahead, we remain steadfast in our commitment to excellence, innovation, and service, as we continue to write the next chapter of the Meador Staffing story.

Space Center Houston CEO honored at gala

EACH YEAR Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership honors an outstanding member of the community at its annual Quasar Award Banquet, selecting Space Center Houston President and CEO William T. Harris as the 2024 recipient for his many contributions to the development of Space Center Houston and its notable impact on the region.

“Through his foresight and guidance, Space Center Houston has become an international attraction with 319,708 guests in summer 2023 alone and about 1.3 million guests this year,” BAHEP President Brian Freedman said while presenting the award at the Jan. 26 banquet at South Shore Harbour Resort in League City. Much to the delight of the black-tie crowd of about 550 that included the new mayor of Houston –

John Whitmire.

But he wasn’t the only mayor there. Glancing around at all the VIPs, you might have spotted several others such as Mayors Jeff Wagner of Pasadena, Thom Kolupski of Seabrook, Donna Jasso of Webster, Michel Bechtel of Morgan’s

Point, Louis Rigby of La Porte, Jon Keeney of Taylor Lake Village and Phil Johnsonof Nassau Bay and their spouses, Tamara Kolupski, Joe Jasso, Jenny Bechtel, Marlene Rigby and Catherine Johnson.

And, city councilors such as Fred Flickinger and Sallie Alcorn of Houston, Martin Graves, Edward Lapeyre, Beverly Gaines and Chris Vaughn of Webster; James Abbey, Sarah Horton, Chase Waterwell and Paula Tomasi of Nassau Bay; Tom Crews of League City and Buddy Hammann of Seabrook and their spouses. Along with, long-time former League City Mayor Pat Hallisey and his wife, Janice; and former long-time Dickinson Mayor Julie Masters and her husband, Assured Partners of Houston President Ron Masters

Space Center Houston CEO William Harris, third from left, stops for a photo after Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership honored him with the Quasar Award at the annual Quasar Banquet. With him are,

from left, Congressman Brian Babin, new Houston Mayor John Whitmire, 2023 BAHEP Board Chairman and MRI Technologies Executive Vice President Tim Kropp, 2024 BAHEP Board Chairman and CEO of Griffin Communications Gwen Griffin and BAHEP President Brian Freedman

GB Tech owners Gale and Jean Burkett were happy to run into retired BAHEP President Bob Mitchell, right, during the Quasar Banquet over at South Shore Harbour Resort.

MRI Technologies President and Vice President Debbie and Tim Kropp, left, share a light moment with Assured Partners of Houston President Ron Masters and his wife, Julie, the former mayor of Dickinson, during the BAHEP Awards Banquet.

Everyone seemed happy to see new Houston Mayor John Whitmire, second from left, at the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership Awards Gala, including, from left, retired BAHEP President Bob Mitchell, Kippy Caraway and Tim Kropp, who happily joined him for a photo.

Space Center Houston CEO honored at gala continued. . .

Texas legislators State Reps. Dennis Paul and Dr. Greg Bonnen and their wives Eliza and Kim, were also there, as were retired Sen. Larry Taylor and his wife, Pam; Judge Holly Williamson and her husband,Danny, former Houston Mayor Pro-tem Dave Martin and Galveston County Commissioner Robin Armstrong. As they greeted one another, a number of key area educators were joining the crowd – UH-Clear Lake President Dr. Richard Walker, San Jacinto College Chancellor Dr. Brenda Hellyer and Vice Chancellor Teri Crawford, Texas A&M at Galveston President Col. Michael Fossum, Clear Creek ISD Superintendent Dr. Karen Engle and Communications Director Elaina Polsen, Dickinson ISD Superintendent Carla Voelkel and Superintendent Melissa Duarte of Texas City ISD. And catching up on all the school news.

Meanwhile, in walked last year’s honoree, Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche and her husband, ARVO Realtors Advisors President George Wyche, who made their way to the Honoree Table to join Brian Freedman and his wife, Dr. Erica Roberts; the incoming BAHEP Board President Gwen Griffin and the outgoing Board President Tim Kropp and their spouses, Al Saylor and Debbie Kropp. Plus, the new Houston mayor and this year’s Quasar Award winner.

Nearby, you might have spotted Lockheed Martin Vice President Kirk Shireman, Boeing Vice President John Mulholland and his wife, Sarah, Boeing’s ISS Research Director Scott Copeland and his wife, Sheree, visiting with Congressman Brian Babin and his wife, Roxanne, and State Sen. Mayes Middleton.Other aerospace biggies included GB Tech owners Gale and Jean Burkett, their Vice President Randy Parker and his wife, Gloria, and Arturo Sanchez, JSC director of the External Relations Office, and his wife, Jayme

Turning around, you probably would have seen bankers Kenny and Kristi Koncaba, Space City Films CEO Marc Havican and his wife, Marie, chatting with Glenn Freedman while Adrienne and Dr. Vissett Sun were saying hello to Charlie Stegemoeller over at the Leidos table; and State Rep. Dr. Greg Bonnen and his wife, Kim, were visiting with Griffin Communications Vice

President Jeff Carr and his wife, Mengo and Barrios President Kelly Page headed up her company’s table as CEOs Jeannie and Darren Crowellshared the Cimarron table with President Brad Cothran and Vice Presidents Kurt Restemyer and Rich Larson and their wives, Terra, Kelley and Melissa; and CEO Stephanie Murphy and Murph Murphy headed up the Aegis Aerospace table filled with company execs and their wives -- Mark and Joan Gittleman, Bill and Molly Hollister and Nick and Krista Skytland.

Talk about some interesting table guests. Retired Lockheed VP John Wilkins, owner of CLC Properties, and his wife Shari, had as their table guests retired JSC Director Mike Coats and his son, attorney Paul Coats; Eagle Energy President and CEO Doug Shows and his wife, Val; and Barrios Technology Vice President Robbie McAfoos and Molly Hudson. Nearby, former Kemah Mayor Carl Joiner and his wife, Colene, put together a table that included Seabrook Mayor Thom Kolupski, and the former mayors of League City and Nassau Bay – Pat Hallisey and Mark Denman.

Other faces in the crowd included Clear Lake Chamber President Cindy DeWease and her husband, Jeff; HCA Houston Healthcare CEO Todd Caliva and Christi Maynard, Aulds Media CEO T.J. Aulds and his wife, UH-Pearland professor Dr. Beth Lewis; CCISD Board member Jonathan Cottrell, Memorial Hermann exec Rebecca Lilley, former City Councilman Mike Sullivan, retired BAHEP President Bob Mitchell and his wife, Frede Chevrolet GM Joan McKinney; attorney Dick Gregg Jr. and Dick Gregg III and their wives, Kaye and Kim. Plus, Jim and Jane Sweeney, Peggy Zahler, Barbara Cutsinger, Harriet and Jon Pilgrim and Mark Mitchell of BAHEP; Amy Skicki, Marcy Fryday, Harv and Caroyn Hartman, Teresa and Greg Vencil, Don and Shari Sweeney, Marie and David Flickinger, Laura and Jamieson MacKay and Glenn Royal. Plus many, many more.

Early arrivals for the Quasar Banquet at South Shore Harbour Resort in League City included, from left, San Jacinto College Chancellor Dr. Brenda Hellyer and her husband, Rusty; new Houston City Councilman Fred Flickinger and his wife, Leslie, and his mom, Southbelt Leader editor Marie Flickinger, plus his dad, David Flickinger at far right; Karen Wheeler and former City Councilman Mike Sullivan.

Everyone was happy to welcome back former BAHEP President Bob Mitchell and his wife, Joan, to the BAHEP extravaganza, held at South Shore Harbour Resort.

Clear Creek ISD Superintendent Dr. Karen Engle and her husband, Mike, a NASA engineer, arrive at South Shore Harbour Resort for the annual awards banquet.

Long time Bay Area community activists are happy to bump into one another at the BAHEP Gala. They are, from left, Clear Lake Chamber President Cindy DeWease, Sharon Maaz, Norman Frede Chevrolet General Manager Joan Mitchell and BAHEP exec Barbara Cutsinger.

IS Early BETTER?

By Pastor Brad Heintz

Inever thought I’d answer this question with a resounding, “YES!” Why? But because I am a recovering night person in a morning person’s world, I am learning this truth. I am also learning that this truth is true for the Holiday of Easter.

Easter is early this year. In fact, it is one of the earliest dates it can ever be. Why is that? Why does this holiday move around and almost all the other ones don’t. Easter is based off of the lunar calendar and not the solar calendar. Easter is based off of when is the holiday of Passover. Passover is the Jewish holiday that remembers the deliverance of the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt. According to the Bible, it is when the angel of death passed over all the houses whose door posts were marked with the blood of the lamb. After which Pharaoh let the people go free.

But why does the date move? I was curious about this and discovered that Easter is always the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Well, that is as clear as mud, rather complicated, and more than my mind can easily comprehend. How about you? Maybe you are wondering why you asked.

Whether or not Easter is early or late, according to the Bible, Easter Sunday is the day that Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus celebrated the Passover meal on Thursday night and then shed His blood on the cross on Good Friday as the sacrifice to break the chains of the slavery of sin. As John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that HE gave his one and only Son, so that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” He became the greatest deliverer for all people. When Jesus rose from the dead He conquered sin, death and the devil and ushed in the possibility for victory over sin and new life for eternity for everyone who turns and trusts in Him.

“On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, … “He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee.” 8 Then they remembered his words (Luke 24:1,2,6&8 NIV).

Early is important. It is better to be early than late. It is better to receive Jesus early in life than later. Although anytime is best! Maybe that is why Easter is early this year. Maybe we need it to be early because of what is going to happen next. Maybe early is better because early in 2024 we get to be reminded that someone loves us so much that they gave their life for us. Maybe we need to experience the chains of the slavery of your sins to fall off early so that we can live free the rest of 2024. Maybe early is better! And anytime is best!

Pastor Brad Heintz is the founding pastor of Living Word Church in Taylor Lake Village, Texas, a vibrant family-style, non-denominational gathering of believers who take a pure, simple and real approach to faith and life. www.LWCBA.org

Attorney Dick Gregg Jr. and his wife, Kay, left, say hello to Dr. Vissett Sun and his wife, Adrienne, as they arrive at South Shore Harbour Resort in League City for the annual Quasar Award Banquet honoring Space Center Houston CEO William Harris Friday, Jan. 26.

New Houston Mayor John Whitmire is happy to see former State Sen. Larry Taylor and his wife, Pam, at the BAHEP Banquet. Both served together in the Texas Legislature for a number of years before retiring last year.

Former League City Mayor Pat Hallisey and his wife, Janice, front, get a warm welcome from Shari and John Wilkins and Colene and Carl Joiner, from left, back row, as they join the crowd at the 31st annual BAHEP Awards Banquet in the South Shore Harbour Resort’s hotel ballroom

The 2023 BAHEP Award winner, Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche, visits with BAHEP President Brian Freedman, left, and State Legislator Dr. Greg Bonnen as she makes her way through the massive crowd to join her husband, George, at their table

Honoree William Harris thanks the crowd for all their good wishes after receiving the Quasar Award at the BAHEP Banquet.

By Michael Gos

Wait for Yesterday

decision to rebuild. The land is so low that the one set of remaining ruins, that of the courthouse, are only sometimes visible under water. Surely, they could see that this would happen again . . . and again.

Indianola is a strange place. I’ve been to lots of Texas ghost towns, but here, there are not really any ruins, not even foundations of old buildings (well, there is one foundation remaining, but it is underwater). There are a few homes, a parking and picnic area on the beach, and even a fishing “resort.” But we were here to find a couple of monuments we’d read about that memorialize the town’s past. There is only one road, Ocean Drive. We drove up and down it repeatedly, finding nothing. We stopped and talked to four people we saw, but got no useful information. Two of them, who lived right there on the beach, had not even heard of the monuments we were looking for. But how hard could it be? So we drove up and down, again and again. Eventually, we stumbled across our goals.

The first, though further down the road than we expected, was fairly easily seen. It is an Arte Deco sculpture of Robert Cavelier, Sieur de LaSalle. Growing up on the south end of Lake Michigan, I was as familiar with La Salle. He was a part of our Indiana history studies in junior high and there are lots of streets, businesses and neighborhoods all over Chicago and the northwest Indiana named for him. I was surprised to learn that, in 1685, he also explored the Texas coast and claimed it for France. The Louisiana Purchase would later make this spot a key port in Texas for immigration from France, Germany and eastern European countries.

These new immigrants built a city which they named Indianola. By 1875, it had become a major port on the Gulf Coast. But then things got interesting. That year, the town was wiped out by a hurricane. It was quickly rebuilt, only to be destroyed again by the storm of 1886. While there were meager attempts to rebuild it yet again a bit further inland, fire ended hopes for that, and Indianola slipped into history. The second monument, harder to find, is a memorial to the city that once thrived here. It tells the story of how the city began, grew, and died.

I sometimes wonder about the people of Indianola and the thought processes that led to the

I have noticed that, as a species, and especially as Texans, we tend to react, quickly and assertively, to events in our lives, especially events we see as negative. It was impressive watching our neighbors move immediately to clean-up after hurricanes Ike and Harvey. I admire that. In Texas, we don’t wait for someone in Washington, or even Austin, to save us. We jump in and do it ourselves. That is what makes Texans special.

But this kind of “go-get-‘em” attitude can have negative effects as well. Not taking time to think through the likelihood of repeat events, or other consequences, caused the people of Indianola to lose money, sweat and lives, in what turned out to be a futile effort.

My take on this is that, for all practical purposes, for the people of the city, the hurricane of 1875 didn’t really happen. Of course there was a storm, and of course, the damage and deaths were real. But I think, for most of the people, the storm was only a blip that was in the past—not real, not a part of their lives now. It was time to move, to get busy.

Our apparent need to hurry and take action after events gets us on task and keeps us that way. Being busy means we are focused on the job at hand. It occupies our thinking. As a result, we never give ourselves an opportunity to really process what has happened. We make hasty, often bad, decisions and then have to deal with problems they cause—the unintended consequences. Until we can process an event fully, it hasn’t really happened, not yet. We see only ghosts of the event, not the thing itself. Without understanding, we can’t act effectively and, as a result, we are susceptible to all manner of negative results. I’m not saying we should sit, paralyzed, after negative events. Only that we need to fully think things through before we make major decisions. In the case of Indianola, clean up? Absolutely. Rebuild? Let’s think about this. Are we sure this is the best move?

It is easy to assume that this kind of problem happens only in cases of “bad” events because most of us have ample experience in these errors of thinking. When teaching my students about the philosophy of stoicism, the idea that we are disturbed not by events, but by our opinions of

those events, I ask them how many have ever been devastated by being dumped by someone they loved. Every semester, at least three quarters of the hands go up. I then ask how many of them still see that event as a tragedy. The most common response I get is “It was the best thing that ever happened to me.” The passage of time between the events themselves and my question allowed the students to process, and really understand, what happened. For them, the event has now, finally, really happened. These students are perfect examples demonstrating the fact that the key to understanding is to wait for yesterday. It didn’t “happen” until you’ve sorted it out.

This idea also applies to events we see as positive. Great experiences are especially enjoyable to ponder, even re-live in our minds. That makes us more likely to think about them. But thinking about, and understanding, are two different things. Reliving for pleasure does not provide insight. All events are really complicated tangles of little mini-happenings that work together to masquerade as a single event. They need to be examined, disentangled, and only then do we really understand them. That doesn’t happen immediately. And if we haven’t taken the time to do that, for all practical purposes, the event hasn’t really happened for us yet. We need to be patient—and wait. It will happen—and then it will finally be real.

The people of Indianola did finally “get it.” But at what cost? It took two hurricanes and a fire for them to finally learn to wait for yesterday. We have much to learn from their mistake.

Indianola, TX

hazardous material onboard. Fuels, sewage, oils, other chemicals and electronics need to be dealt with safely and appropriately.

Our Mission:

To work hand in hand with our local and state authorities to legally remove abandoned and derelict vessels posing an environmental and safety risks to boaters and the public Clear Lake and Galveston Bay.

Beginning in August of 2023, a group of citizens had concerns with a derelict boat abandoned at the Clear Lake Boat Ramp. As these citizens started asking questions, we quickly found out that there was no funding available by the State of Texas who has jurisdiction on the waterways. In February, we organized and filed a Certificate of Formation as a Texas non-profit corporation to assist with the reduction and removal of abandoned and derelict boats. We are seeking IRS approval to become a charitable organization.

Our Group works hand in hand with the local towboat and salvage companies as well as local, county, and state entities to reduce and remove the abandoned and derelict vessels. We recently removed a sunken sailboat that had become a navigational and safety hazard. The boat had sunk and the only thing visible was the mast. The boat was not visible in either in sunlight or at night. There was no lighting at all.

Not only are these hazards scattered throughout the area, but there are also some that have

Citizens Against Derelict umping, Inc. (CADD),with the help of private donations, works to assist the local, county and state entities in any way we can to protect and preserve our waterways. See our Facebook page - CADD @CitizensAgainstderelictdumps For more information.

Russell Lavigne 713-204-0126

Citizens Against Derelict Dumping, Inc.

Welcome Halie Briggs to the Bay Area Houston Magazine Team!

MEET HALIE BRIGGS:

Halie Briggs joined our BAHM team back in October of 2023 as the Features Editor and now will also be writing some of our articles. Halie grew up in the Bay Area and is a graduate of Clear Creek High School. She has been married to her husband Kyle for one year this March.

Halie has been a high school and middle school English teacher for 8 years. She is a first-generation college graduate from the University of Texas with a masters in education from the University of St.Thomas in Houston. In her free time, she enjoys reading thriller novels, correcting people’s grammar, redecorating the house, and traveling anywhere and everywhere with her husband.

They are hoping to hit all 50 states and all 7 continents together. In the last two years alone, they have visited Colorado, Arizona, Washington, Oklahoma, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Antigua & Barbuda, Italy, and The Netherlands. They live in Houston with their two dogs, Bagby and Bean, and their cat, Mumble. We are excited to have Halie as a part of our amazing team!

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Good Friday

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Easter Saturday

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GIRL POWER

& Flour

By Halie Briggs

Patties, that help fund local troop activities.

Wondering how you can do more to support Girl Scouts? Get in touch with your local council to learn how to become a volunteer! There are 200 troops in the Houston-Bay Area alone. Find more information on volunteering, joining, and donating at GirlScouts.org.

IN 1912, BEFORE WOMEN COULD EVEN VOTE, A young group of girls in Savannah, Georgia, banded together to change the world. Founder Juliette Gordon Low, also known as “Daisy”, and seventeen other girls became the very first Girl Scout troop in history.

The goal of these brave, strong-willed young women was to inspire girls to embrace their unique qualities and curiosity to create their own opportunities in life. Since then, Girl Scouts have been making history by assisting in relief efforts in the Great Depression, World War II, and Korean War; fighting for racial and political equality; and promoting literacy, research, and STEM education through their programs….and, of course, their cookies.

"I am proud to show case some of our amazing, local, Girl Scouts of America this month.These young women represent what is good in our country. God Bless these dedicated and hard-working girls."

RICK CLAPP CEO Bay Area Houston Magazine

Today, Girl Scouts are known nationwide and even have centers around the world. Troops are made up of varying ages and levels of girls K-12. Their iconic uniform is a connecting symbol for Girl Scouts past and present and illustrates all the hard work that is accomplished with each patch. One patch in particular, Girl Scouts Give Back, demonstrates pride in the participation of helping out in one of the many national service projects: Tree Promise Service Project, Fighting Hunger Service Project, Promote the Vote Service Project, and more.

On top of building leadership and humanitarian skills, the most popular season for Girl Scout supporters is creating young entrepreneurs and businesswomen: cookie season. With cookies making their debut for the girls in 1917, there are now twelve delicious flavors, including the ever-popular Thin Mints and Peanut Butter

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KIA SELTOS

Fiercely Competitive New Rides - Priced Right

By Don Armstrong

Competitors among automotive brands come in many shapes and sizes, but you can bet that if brand X makes one, brands Y and Z make one too. That can be a good thing for buyers, each of them vying for your hard-earned money, but it sure makes decision-making difficult. Here are a couple of examples that are priced within $1,500 of each other.

SUBARU IMPREZA

By definition, the Subaru Impreza is a hatchback, but in some cases, it can be placed in the small station wagon or SUV category. If you’re shopping for a compact SUV, we think the Impreza is worth a look-see.

The Impreza’s full-time all-wheel drive system is as smooth as they come and if you frequently drive in inclement weather then the Subaru lineup is a good choice. Like all Subaru’s, the boxer-style engine gives the Impreza a competitive edge in handling because of its

lower center of gravity. Ride quality is superb for such a small vehicle, making long trips a breeze.

The redesigned Impreza offers a standout interior with comfortable seating, plenty of legroom for 4 adults, and a big, easy-to-use infotainment screen.

A real bonus is fuel mileage. The larger, optional engine is connected to a continuously variable transmission that returns 29 mpg.

Pricing starts at $22.995.

KIA SELTOS

With no fewer than 6 SUVs in its lineup, choosing a Kia that fits your style might be difficult, the hybrids and EVs add even more selections. For our comparison, the Kia Seltos is priced competitively with the Subaru Impreza, so we’ll focus on that.

With redesigned front and rear styling, new wheels, and other eye-appealing tidbits, this is one good-looking runabout. Although the Seltos stance is more SUV-looking with slightly more interior space, the number of seats is the same as the Subaru.

We like the unified instrument and infotainment screen that is big and easy to read. There is plenty of tech at this price level and is straightforward in design and it’s easy to use. Seating is comfortable, with upper trim levels offering attractive color options, giving the Seltos a more upscale ambiance.

The ride quality isn’t quite as engaging as the Subaru, but the Seltos can keep up with the mileage rating of 29 combined.

Pricing begins at $24,390.

SUBARU IMPREZA

We were on our way to Huntsville for an early retirement party for an old friend. We approached our exit off I-45 just after sunset as the last bit of remaining daylight made the atmosphere an eerie blue. As we passed the giant statue of Sam Houston, I couldn’t help but be amazed at the beautiful shades of blue and the shadows on it. I had passed this way scores of times before but always in full daylight. I never saw it the way I did this night; it was magnificent. In the gloaming, old Sam made me think about why we were here—a dear friend was about to transition into the evening of her life, and into freedom. This was truly a moment for celebration.

As you would expect, the crowd kept her busy and she tried to spend some time with everyone who came out to honor her. So for a couple of hours, we concentrated on the wine and cheese and the few people there we knew. Finally, she got around to us. Hugs and tears led to a puzzling conversation about what she was going to do with herself now that she wouldn’t have 100 badlywritten papers to grade each week.

She said, “What should I do? I’m open to suggestions. Honestly, I don’t have a clue. And I’m really scared about it. I don’t want to die of boredom, or just sit around and get old. What do I do now?”

That surprised me. It never occurred to me that a question like that even existed. When I retired, I had options galore. I considered buying a place in Hill Country and raising wine grapes. But grapes can take up to seven years to reach the point of marketability and I wasn’t getting any younger. I wrote that dream off as the result of a mid-life crisis. Then I realized people don’t live to be 140. I considered several other options but then remembered something I read once and I immediately knew exactly what I would be doing, and maybe more important, what I wouldn’t be doing! I assumed the process was this easy for everyone. Apparently it was not so with her.

As schools at all levels switch from education to indoctrination and accommodation, more and more professors are choosing early retirement as their only way out of a broken system. Like my friend, many do so quickly and spontaneously, before thinking about what comes next. Most are too young and active for a rocking chair life, but they have never known anything but school—as children, young adults and as a career. It surprised me that she hadn’t decided what to do next. She was always so sharp and level-headed. Turns out, though, her situation is not all that rare.

The two bookends of our work life, choosing a career and retirement, are alike in a lot of ways. In both instances, the question we see is, what should I do with my life. Whether choosing a college major, a career or a retirement recreation, the question is the same—what do I do next? The good news is we all knew the answer to that question way back when we were just children.

Reading widely has immeasurable benefits for every aspect of our lives. Probably the most important for me is the fact that, whatever the question I’m pondering, someone has already answered it. In this case it was Carl Jung who said, “What did you do as a child that made the hours pass like minutes? Herein lies the key to your earthly pursuits.”

He certainly was right in my case. I wrote my first “novel” in first grade (The Dragon at Dawn City) and my first non-fiction “book” (All About Snakes) in third grade. Once I remembered what Jung had said, my career path and retirement activities were set in stone. In talking to friends, I find their lives often followed the same pattern.

One friend told me about the times he used to get in trouble as a child for taking apart his family’s radios, TVs and lamps. When he put them back together, they always worked, although he never could figure out what to do with the leftover parts. He spent his career as an electrical engineer and

TEXAS MEDITATIONS

By Michael Gos

the PATH forward

in retirement, he uses his expertise volunteering as a handyman for a church and for Habitat for Humanity.

Another friend spent her childhood teaching her dolls. She became a teacher but unfortunately, failed in retirement. Long after official departure date, she still substitute teaches for much less pay and with a fairly heavy schedule.

But what I find it most fascinating these days is to look at the other side of the equation, very young children, toddlers mainly, and guess their future paths based on what they love. One lad I know loves to collect a number of objects, all that he can carry at one time (cars, toy animals, etc.) and arrange, rearrange, then repeat. I’m convinced he is destined to be designing our highway system. He will fit in just fine with the now 50-year-long design process of the Gulf Freeway.

Another boy likes to build things, particularly by stacking. He likes Jinga blocks best but anything will do in a pinch—assorted toys, books, lunch dishes or even his brother’s clothes. But building is not his real interest; it is only a means to an end. He is doing it for one purpose only—to destroy! His biggest joy in life comes when he can attack his finished work with full force and send pieces flying all over the room. I figure his future will be as a demo expert—or an outside linebacker.

One neighbor boy refuses to wear shoes and socks and in spite of his mother’s best efforts, he spends a good part of his day removing his and those of his friends. Here we have a future surfer dude/beach bum. And then there’s the future salesman down the street who grabs a finger and drags adults to where he wants them. Well, maybe he’ll be a tour guide instead.

But one lad has me stumped; the little guy who gets down on the floor and unloads cabinets. He piles the contents on the floor around him, then starts handing the pieces, one at a time, to any adult who will play along. When the adult receives the piece and says, “Thank you,” he always responds, You’re welcome,” and then hands over the next piece. When he finally runs out of pieces on the floor, he asks for them back. One at a time, he says, “Please,” takes the object and puts it on the floor next to him. Then he asks for the next one. The only possible guess I can make for this boy is that he will become a government bureaucrat.

Trying to be helpful, I told our retiree about Jung’s proposition. I asked what it was she did, perhaps was obsessed with, as a little girl.

“I wanted to be a professional football player. I ran around crashing into things, spinning away and continuing toward the goal line, the location of which I never had a clue. But it didn’t matter. I ran till I dropped. I wanted to play for the Bears!”

Well, good luck with that one.

Huntsville, Texas