Serendipity Yacht Cruises and Events Leis Roots in the Bay Area (page 8)
Convenient, easy-to-access locations for primary, specialty and emergency care in Clear Lake and surrounding communities
We offer a full spectrum of care, including:
• Primary care physicians for you and your family, providing personal care and service
• Specialists with innovative treatments and customized programs for all conditions
• Collaborative teams of experts using the newest technologies and latest research
To find care near you, visit houstonmethodist.org/care-clearlake or call 281.333.8899.
While Bill’s time with us was short, his impact was large. We celebrate the life lessons, practical wisdom and humor he imparted to all. To his customers, he shared his expertise, business acumen and creative solutions to help businesses thrive. To his colleagues, he was a leader and mentor throughout his banking career. To his community, he dedicated his time, talent and resources to serve others. To his family and friends, he was a loving husband, dedicated father and genuine friend. His positive and encouraging words made a difference to everyone he met and our memory of him will last forever.
Benefitting the Make-A-Wish Foundation / Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana
South
INCREDIBLE LUAU BUFFET FEAST COMEDY SHOW DRINKS
DJ SILENT AUCTION LIVE AUCTION
Lots of Fun!
Beginning in May of 1999, committed visionaries Ronnie and Tina Lockridge began their lifelong dream with three key factors in mind: family, integrity, and resilience. With these values at hand along with faith and hard work, Lockridge Packaging was born.
For the years leading up, Tina was in the business of financial controlling for a large chemical company here in the Bay Area while Ronnie was a sales manager for a local distributor in Houston. After being asked to relocate to Pennsylvania by Tina’s employer, they came to a crossroads - to move with their three small children, away from their hometown of Friendswood, Texas or to take a risk and place their principles over everything else. Each possessing an entrepreneurial spirit and a self-motivated drive, they went with the latter.
As a family owned and operated small business, Lockridge Packaging provides personalized
service, working closely with their customers to provide solutions that work for them with quality and value built in. Providing the industrial/shipping and janitorial/breakroom supplies required to keep their customers day-to-day operations running smoothly, the company has been supplying business and government agencies alike with the materials they require for the past 25 years. With a combination of 50+ years of experience in the industry of making certain all customers’ requirements are met, just to name a few of the value-added services offered are vendor-managed inventory, warehousing for just-intime deliveries, and supply closet stocking.
Lockridge Packaging began as an aspiration with the goal of family first. They believe their
employees and customers are family and should always be treated as such. Much of their success is attributed to the Bay Area as well as having been blessed with their loyal customers and vendors, many of whom have been a part of their family from the very beginning. Ryan Lockridge, the eldest child, came to work with Lockridge Packaging after graduating from SHSU in 2012. Adhering to their beliefs, Lockridge Packaging goes beyond traditional social responsibility with employee engagement in giving back to their community. When he is not with his family or working to grow the business, Ryan devotes his time to implementing the company’s philanthropic values by volunteering for the Cole Gordon Helping Hands Foundation and contributing to HLSR.
Having both been born and raised in Friendswood and graduating from Friendswood
High School, Ronnie and Tina set out to be an asset to their hometown. After leasing a small warehouse in the area, they purchased property where Baywood Commercial Park came to fruition. Development began in 2005 and today Lockridge Packaging occupies one-third of the property while leasing out the remainder of the warehouses.
Looking back on the past 25 years, CEO Tina Lockridge has led her company through many hardships, from 9/11 to the recession of 2008 to the COVID pandemic. Her leadership, vigor, and persistence has been proven throughout the company’s many accomplishments as a statewide HUB (Historical Underutilized Business) and a WOSB (Woman-Owned Small Business), certified by WBEA (Women Business Enterprise Alliance).
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.
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
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
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
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.
George W. S. Abbey, former director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center and a Fellow in Space Policy at the Baker Institute of Rice University, died Sunday, March 24, at Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital, not far from JSC and surrounded by family after an illness. He was 91.
“A true visionary, Mr. Abbey demonstrated transformational leadership as Johnson’s seventh center director. During his tenure, the space shuttle flew more than 25 successful missions; the joint U.S. and Russian Shuttle-Mir Program was completed, providing important information for long-duration spaceflight,” said JSC Director Vanessa Wyche. “He was instrumental in the Johnson team’s involvement in developing and launching the first elements of the International Space Station, which marked the beginning of a new era in space exploration. On behalf of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, we send our condolences to Mr. Abbey’s loved ones during this difficult time,” she added.
Born in Seattle, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and was a helicopter pilot and engineer in the U.S. Air Force before beginning his long and storied career in human spaceflight with NASA in 1964 that continued beyond his retirement from the agency. As the director of flight operations, he oversaw selection of NASA’s first space shuttle astronauts, mission operations, and the new shuttle program’s approach and landing tests.
From 1987 to 1993, Abbey supported NASA Headquarters in Washington, serving in key roles in human spaceflight, and on the National Space Council. He returned to Johnson in 1994, first as deputy director, then director, leading the development and launch of the space station. Abbey retired from the agency in 2003.
The Saturn V rocket display park outside JSC’s main gate is named for Abbey, who instituted the Longhorn Project, a vital STEM program that provides students with hands-on agricultural experiences and academic scholarships. He leaves behind a legacy of excellence and lasting impact as he will continue to inspire over 1.2 million visitors who
visit the George W.S. Abbey Rocket Park annually.
“Abbey’s dedication to human spaceflight remained steadfast.
As the NASA family mourns his passing, we are grateful for his leadership and the legacy he leaves behind,” Wyche said.
Abbey is survived by his five children, his eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Tom Stafford, one of NASA’s early astronauts, who flew in space four times including a trip to orbit the moon and then a historic rendezvous with Soviet cosmonauts, has died. He was 93 when he passed away March 18 after battling a long illness.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said on X, formerly Twitter, “Today Gen. Tom Stafford went to the eternal heavens which he so courageously explored as a Gemini and Apollo astronaut, as well as a peacemaker in Apollo Soyuz. Those of us privileged to know him are very sad but grateful we knew a giant.”
Thomas P. Stafford was born in Weatherford, Okla., in 1930 and later recalled, “As a little boy I wanted to fly airplanes and then later, be a fighter pilot. I wanted to go higher and faster. And [space] was just the next logical step. Stafford graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and then was a test pilot in the Air Force wo rose to lieutenant general. NASA selected him in 1962 as part of the second group of the space agency’s astronauts.
He flew in space aboard Gemini 6 and then on Gemini 9. He commanded Apollo 10 in 1969, the second time NASA orbited the moon. That was the dress rehearsal before NASA’s first landing on the moon two months later. Stafford, along with Gene Cernan, flew the lunar module to within nine miles of the surface before eventually returning to Earth. In Stafford’s final trip to space in 1975, he and two crewmates flew an Apollo spacecraft and rendezvoused with a Soviet Soyuz capsule. The event was marked with photos of Stafford and cosmonaut Alexey Leonov shaking hands where the two craft were joined.
The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project flight was the first joint mission and was followed by others aboard the Mir and International Space Stations.
Before this mission, Stafford spent two years learning Russian and traveling to Moscow. He told NPR in 2016, the mission was important because it ended the space race. “We proved that two countries with different languages, differing units of measurement, certainly vastly different political systems could work together to achieve a common goal,” he said.
Stafford logged a total of 507 hours of space flight. After the deaths of Wally Schirra, Eugene Cernan and John Young, Stafford was the last surviving crew member of Gemini 6, Gemini 9 and Apollo 10.
The Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) Foundation has selected Dr. Christopher Scolese, director of the National Reconnaissance Office, to receive the 2024 National Space Trophy at its 36th annual banquet Saturday, April 26 at the Downtown Hyatt Regency Hotel in Houston.
Rodolfo González, president of the RNASA Foundation, said, "The RNASA Foundation is thrilled to host Dr. Scolese as the guest of honor at the 2024 Space Awards Gala. The annual RNASA Gala is organized to recognize outstanding achievements in our field, and we look forward to celebrating Dr. Scolese's contributions to space discovery, exploration and advancement."
"I am honored to receive the National Space Trophy," Dr. Scolese said. "This award is a tribute to the collaborative efforts of the entire space community, and it fuels my commitment to advancing innovation and exploring the limitless potential of space."
Dr. Scolese was nominated for the award by former Johnson Space Center Director Michael Coats. In his nomination letter, Coats wrote, "Dr. Scolese has consistently demonstrated technical brilliance, exemplary administrative skills, and outstanding leadership during a 32-year NASA career, culminating with seven years as [Goddard Space Flight Center] director and currently as the director of the NRO."
satellites that provides critical national security data to the U.S. Intelligence Community, the U.S. Department of Defense, and America's allies around the world. Dr. Scolese's direction builds on the NRO's legacy of advancing technologies, building key partnerships, and identifying threats around the world. His career began in 1987 at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., where he served in a number of posts before being named center director in 2012. While there, he led a team of scientists and engineers in the development of a number of systems and missions including the James Webb Telescope, an ambitious project that has returned staggering images of the first galaxies that were formed more than 13 billion years ago. He also served as chief engineer of the space agency, as associate administrator and as NASA’s acting administrator for six months in 2009, and has been the recipient of several NASA Distinguished Leadership Awards. Dr. Scolese, who retired from NASA in 2019, holds a B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of New York at Buffalo; a M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from George Washington University; and a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from George Washington University. Both the aerospace community and the public are invited to attend the black-tie event. Those wishing to attend should visit rnasa.org to reserve a table, purchase tickets, or inquire about sponsorship opportunities. Those who would like to reserve a room for the evening, should contact the Hyatt at 713-654-1234 and inquire about the RNASA group rate.
Dr. Christopher Scolese
In 2023, Kelly was chosen to be a part of Kathy Ireland's Your Home TV Network - which has quickly become the fastest growing OTT Channel in the world. "I am beyond excited that God blessed me to be a part of such an incredible network! Being able to promote people and businesses on a local, national, and global level is a dream come true!"
This past February, Kelly was chosen to represent the Your Home TV Network on Radio Row in Las Vegas for Super Bowl Week!
Just a few of Kelly's amazing guests include: TV Actor - J. Eddie Peck (The Young and the Restless), former Super Model turned Mogul - Kathy Ireland, Hollywood Producer/Director - Bo Brinkman, R’Bonney Gabriel - Miss USA 2022 / Miss UNIVERSE 2022, the famous Blue Man Group, U.S. Congressman - Randy Weber, and local favorites such as Barry Terrell, Jackie Powell, and Lisa Halilli, just to name a few. The list goes on and on.
With a viewership of over 1.45 million and growing daily, The Kelly Williams Show is quickly reaching that WOW Factor, and has become the place to be seen and to promote your business while having a great time.
From the beginning, the show's slogan has always been, "Tune In and Turn On Your Happy," for a reason. Kelly's show is a beacon of positivity, sharing stories and promoting local and national guests and businesses, all with the aim of spreading joy and enlightenment.
You can catch The Kelly Williams Show anytime on the Your Home TV Network at YourHomeTV.com and on ROKU where Kelly's warmth and charm shine right through the screen.
For more information on how to Advertise your business, be a Show Sponsor, or be a Guest on the Show - DM us on Facebook or Instagram or thekellywilliamsshow@gmail.com.
By Pastor Brad Heintz
Are you surprised with spring? Every year I am. You would think that after 57 springs this Heintz would come to expect it. And in some ways, I do. I am a hopeful, cup-halffull and faith-filled person. But there is dullness, nothings growing and lots of things are dead. Then spring surprises us. The tree that has no leaves starts to bud. The frost-bitten bush begins to sprout. The brown grass starts to green. And everything starts over and grows especially the weeds! This year even Easter surprised us by being early on March 31st. Everything seems to be springing up up early this year!
Why does spring surprise? I think it is because we live in the deadness of winter for so long that we just get used things being dull, not growing and somewhat dead. If we were to admit it, a lot
of times nature imitate life and life imitates nature. Figuratively speaking that which is dull, not growing and even dead can spring into new life, growth and hope. Spring’s surprise is birthing hope. That what I have discovered through faith in Jesus Christ. Since He gave his life as a sacrifice and rose to new life anyone who turns and trust Him also can rise to new life.
This month I am praising God for the spring surprises that create hope in my life and yours. God’s Word says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.” (1 Peter 1:3-4)
May your spring surprise give birth into a living hope!
Taylor Lake Village, Texas, a vibrant family-style, nondenominational gathering of believers who take a pure, simple and real approach to faith and life. www.LWCBA.org
CLasses offered in
TAP
BALLET POINTE JAZZ
LYRICAL
CONTEMPORARY
AERIAL FABRIC HIP HOP
LYRICAL JAZZ
ACRO
ADULT TAP
ADULT VARIETY BOYS CLASS SHINING STARS AND MORE!
Celebrating Years
Teaching excellence in dance and values for life!
Now enrolling for Summer camps and classes!
THEMED WEEK LONG SUMMER DANCE CAMPS
SUMMER INTENSIVES FOR EXPERIENCED DANCERS
ONGOING CLASSES
CLEAR Lake Masonic Lodge# 1417 WM Matthew Wyrick and his Officers presented Leiza Whitecotton of Interaith Caring Ministries the 2023 - 2024 Masonic Community Builder Award. A reception and dinner was held . A Special thanks to Brother Jim Whitecotton.
JUST A PRETTY TABLE, AN ODE TO THE LATE JOY SMITHERMAN AND HOSTED BY THE ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF THE BAY AREA TO CELEBRATE ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY, WILL BE HELD AT 10:30 A.M. THURSDAY, APRIL 11 AT SYLVAN BEACH PAVILION, 1 SYLVAN BEACH DRIVE IN LA PORTE.
THE GO RED FOR WOMEN LUNCHEON, SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION AND UTMB HEALTH, IS COMING UP FRIDAY, APRIL 25 AT 11 A.M. AT SOUTH SHORE HARBOUR RESORT IN LEAGUE CITY.
THE 36TH RNASA SPACE AWARDS GALA WILL BE HELD SATURDAY, APRIL 26 AT THE DOWNTOWN HYATT REGENCY WITH BOTH THE PUBLIC AND THE SPACE COMMUNITY INVITED. FOR DETAILS, VISIT RNASA.COM
HOLLYWOOD NIGHTS GALA, HOSTED BY SAN JACINTO COLLEGE, WILL BE HELD FRIDAY, MAY 17, FROM 6 TO 9 P.M. AT THE LYONDELLBASSELL PETROCHEMICAL CENTER ON THE CENTRAL CAMPUS IN PASADENA WITH THE COMMUNITY INVITED TO THE GLAMOROUS BLACK-TIE EVENT FEATURING A COCKTAIL HOUR, DELICIOUS MENU AND AN ENTERTAINING EVENING WHILE RAISING FUNDS FOR THE PROMISE @ SAN JAC SCHOLARSHIP THAT PROVIDES A DEBT-FREE DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE.
SAVE THE DATE – COMEDY NIGHT OUT AND LUAU, HOSTED BY SERENDIPITY YACHT CRUISES AND EVENTS, WILL BE SATURDAY, AUG. 10 AT SOUTH SHORE HARBOUR RESORT. DINNER, DRINKS, DANCING, AND COMEDIAN MASON JAMES (HOUSTON’S FUNNIEST PERSON 2023). TICKETS WILL GO ON SALE SOON.
On March 5, 2024, in Johnson Space Center’s Teague Auditorium, NASA celebrated the graduation of its 23rd astronaut class. The astronauts were welcomed into the ranks as they earned their wings and became eligible for spaceflight.
After completing over two years of rigorous training, the candidates are now official members of NASA’s Astronaut Corps, showcasing their readiness to venture into the great unknown. They will have ample opportunities to embark on multiple missions aboard a myriad of spacecraft.
Their new wings will propel them to journeys aboard the International Space Station and future commercial destinations in low Earth orbit, laying the groundwork to pioneer toward the Moon and future voyages to Mars.
The 2021 class of astronauts is Nichole Ayers, Marcos Berríos, Christina Birch, Deniz Burnham, Luke Delaney, Andre Douglas, Jack Hathaway, Anil Menon, Christopher Williams, and Jessica Wittner along with two United Arab Emirates candidates from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center Nora AlMatrooshi and Mohammed AlMulla. The class is comprised of individuals with skill sets and backgrounds in medicine, physics, aviation, and engineering.
The ceremony began with opening remarks from chief of the Flight Operations Directorate Norm Knight, deputy chief of NASA’s Astronaut Office Shannon Walker, and Johnson Director Vanessa Wyche.
“This is a very exciting day for our nation and for all of humanity,” said Knight.
Walker praised the candidates’ wide-ranging expertise and unique contributions, stating, "The breadth and depth of experience that this class brings to our space program is nothing short of amazing."
Students from the La Porte and Clear Creek Independent School District and Texas High School Aerospace Scholars also attended the ceremony. Wyche shared an inspiring message with the students, “These astronauts were once just like you—full of curiosity and dreams. You are the future explorers, scientists, engineers, inventors, and mathematicians of the Artemis generation,” she said.
Special guests included NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free, NASA Deputy Associate Administrator Casey Swails, U.S. Reps. Brian Babin, Dan Crenshaw, Sheila Jackson Lee, and Sylvia Garcia, Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia, Councilman Fred Flickinger, and representatives from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
The ceremony recognized the new astronauts, affectionately known as the Flies, and underscored the importance of teamwork, dedication, and the pursuit of dreams within the space community.
NASA astronauts Frank Rubio and Jessica Watkins, and Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman, took the stage to encourage their friends and colleagues on their new journey.
“You will set records, but the best part is you’ll watch your friends break them,” said Wiseman. “You will shape the future of this office and you will contribute to our space program simply by being yourselves.” Wiseman introduced a special guest to the podium with praise. “We stand on the shoulders of giants and there are none larger than Apollo 17 astronaut, geologist Dr. Harrison Schmitt,” he said.
Dr. Schmitt joined Apollo 17 as the lunar module pilot and became the first scientist and the 12th person to step on the Moon in December 1972. He opened the speech by throwing moonballs at the cheering audience, a tradition he shares at every public event where he presents.
Dr. Schmitt expressed his gratitude to the new graduates for their friendship and dedication to the agency’s mission. “Hard work, dedication, and freedom have brought you this far. Let’s stick with it,” he said.
Free shared his own words of encouragement. “You represent humanity's shared goal to explore. You embody the ideas we hold of who we can be when we are at our best,” he said. “We are lifting you up every day. Our commitment to you and your loved ones is to ensure you fly safely.”
Chief of the Astronaut Office Joe Acaba took the honor of pinning the new astronauts. Then Christina Birch took the stage as the class lead of the Flies.
“Spaceflight is the ultimate team sport,” said Birch. “The team is not just the 12 of us here on the stage - it really is the entire NASA community.” Birch extended a big thank you to all of the NASA teams that made the ceremony possible.
The unified message was clear: “In the words of one of my colleagues, you have records to break, space to explore, humans to inspire, vehicles to fly, and dreams to achieve. I am so proud of each and every one of you and I cannot wait to see the dreams that you will continue to accomplish as astronauts,” said Walker.
After the ceremony, guests gathered in the Teague lobby to catch a glimpse of the various missions and programs at Johnson. NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement organized interactive activities for students, such as a crew assembly setup and an electrostatic moon duster project in which students delved into the engineering design process, simulating the role of engineers on NASA’s dust mitigation engineering team.
NASA’s Astromaterials Research and Exploration Division displayed a collection of Moon rocks and meteorites. Exhibits featured astronaut gear including spacesuits, gloves, boots, and tools alongside details on the Artemis lunar rover, the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, or VIPER, that will explore the Moon for ice and other resources this fall. Space Center Houston also hosted a booth where attendees could write their aspirations for the future of space exploration on a postcard.
In this momentous event, NASA reaffirmed its commitment to advancing human spaceflight, inspiring new generations of explorers, and fostering collaboration across the global community to explore the unknown and achieve extraordinary milestones in human spaceflight.
Like everything in life, the masonry around your home will need maintenance at some point. Brick walls and stucco can begin to show cracks, and leaks can occur, among other issues brought on by the elements. But even with unpredictable Texas weather, you don’t have to settle for unsightly cracks or mismatched mortar. Masonry restoration company Brick Restoration, Inc. has been repairing homes for 30 years in Houston and two in Dallas—and has proven that they can take on even the toughest projects and make them as good as new. We talked with President Betty Mooney about the keys to Brick Restoration’s success.
How was Brick Restoration born? My father, Roberto Zumeta, started Brick Restoration out of our garage in 1993 in Houston. Back then, the standard masonry repairs left homes with an ugly patch job or scars from cracks in the brick and mortar. He saw the need in our neighborhood and around our community for a brick repair service that didn’t just repair the brick but also made it blend into the original look of the home. That’s where we got our tagline: “We restore to original beauty.” He’s always been an inventor at heart, so he invented some proprietary products and did some different things with masonry materials.
What services does Brick Restoration offer?
We provide seamless repairs for all types of masonry— brick, stone, and stucco. We help homeowners, property managers, and HOAs repair and enhance their biggest assets. Homeowners often call us because they have cracks and damaged brick on their homes, leaning columns, or leaking chimneys, and sometimes their home is simply lacking some curb appeal. Property managers and board members often need help with repairing their neighborhood monument signs or a brick perimeter fence. For all these problems, we have ways of restoring, enhancing, and maintaining the beauty of masonry. One of our most popular services with homeowners is our Brick Deco Wash, which is a masonry coating we
apply over the brick or stone that completely transforms the look of the home. The application techniques include White Wash, German Smear, and Slurry, and they can be applied in a range of colors.
Why is having good masonry work on your house so important?
The brick, stone, or stucco on your home is the first line of defense for protecting it against the elements—especially water. Water is the biggest enemy of any home, and ensuring your masonry is free of cracks that could cause leaks is critical if you want to prevent more costly damage later. The masonry walls, columns, and other features around your home also provide protection and curb appeal, and keeping those in good shape enhances the value and beauty of your property.
What is one surprising element of masonry restoration?
Most people don’t know there are simple repairs that can be done to brick. They usually think that damaged or cracked brick is something they have to live with or that they have to completely replace. I had a customer in Leauge City, and one side of their home had two or three cracks from the roof line down to the foundation. All they needed was for us to come in and install some fasteners. We were able to refasten the wall to the framing of the house because it had come loose. We were able to then repair the cracks, and it cost them a fraction of what it would have cost to demolish and rebuild.
What sets Brick Restoration apart from other companies serving Houston?
We live by three brand promises. First, every customer gets a five-star service experience regardless of the size of their job. Next, we promise clarity and accuracy in price and scope. Finally, we promise an undetectable repair at a glance. I let customers know it is possible that if you know exactly where a repair was done, you might be able to pick it out. But anyone walking by or up to your home will never be able to tell work was done there. Our mission is to improve properties and improve lives—the lives of our customers, our employees, and our partners. Our specially trained technicians are not just masons; they are true artisans.
before after
By Don Armstrong
We are all attracted to luxury SUVs, some more than others. When faced with a choice of spending $80,000 or $120,000, does price really make a difference? We say, “No, I like that one,” and buy it. When life offers an opportunity to live large, we’ve learned to go for it, and that’s what we look at here.
For one of the newest brands in the world, Genesis has hit a grand slam with the 2024 GV 80, a mid-size SUV that doesn’t cut corners in the luxury category. From the oversized, inyour-face grille to the sloping roofline and quad taillights, the look from any angle is beautifully modern.
Our tester was a top-of-the-line Prestige Signature model with a sporty 4-place seating layout; unusual in today’s “more is better,” mindset. Attention to quality materials, fit, and
finish are evident the moment you open the door. Designers had a sports car in mind while penning the GV80,
The 375-horsepower, 3.5-liter turbocharged V-6 is a perfect match for this cruiser. Allwheel drive adds to its offroad capability, but our guess is it won’t see much of that. Ride quality is what you’d expect; controlled and comfortable.
The Genesis GV80 is at home on a 4-lane toll road cruising 80 MPH, and you’ll want to be behind the wheel.
Beginning at $57,700.
LEXUS LX 600
If you’re out to impress the neighbors, you shouldn’t have much trouble with the new flagship Lexus SUV LX600.
Lexus was the first with the oversized grille theme, and just when you think it couldn’t get any bigger, here’s your sign. Bulging wheel openings, blacked-out side steps, and detailed lower rear valence give it the appearance of a serious off-roader. As it should with the underpinnings of the Tundra pickup.
The interior is a work of art with luxurious appointments throughout the cabin and seating for as many as 7. The F Sport version adds a bit of modern hipness to it all and we just like saying it, “F Sport.”
The 3.4-liter turbocharged V-6 powerplant delivers a respectful 409 horsepower through a 10-speed automatic transmission to a fulltime all-wheel drive system. It works well on the road, and we can only imagine it off-road. However, 7,000 pounds of heft is a lot when climbing riverbanks.
Begins at $90,815
Huntsville, Texas
I’ve spent the last 20 years writing about the importance of “place” to both our health and happiness and to our overall well-being. But sometimes an event in life will force us to reevaluate our truths. I’ve learned over the years that when that occurs, it’s critical we pay attention. That happened recently in La Porte.
We had spent about an hour walking the San Jacinto battlefield, studying the positioning of the two camps, the terrain, the elevations, vegetations and all the other factors of the place that influenced events the day of the battle. When we were satisfied we had a basic understanding, we climbed to the top of the San Jacinto monument (rode the elevator actually, but climbed sounded more manly!) for a bird’s-eye view.
It is only right that this is the tallest monument in America, even eclipsing the one to ol’ George Washington over there in D.C. After all, everything is bigger in Texas (except the deer). Signage by the windows helped to give us a better idea of what happened on the field below in the 18-minute fight that gave Texas its independence (Thank you, Emily Morgan!). After studying the info there to my satisfaction, I decided to take advantage of the lofty position we momentarily occupied and widen my view. I spent some time looking out over the
landscape far beyond the location of the battle itself—the ship channel, the refineries and chemical plants and the cities in the distance. As I looked east, I could see La Porte and I couldn’t help but remember a time, years ago, when I made almost daily journeys to the old part of town and the coast of the bay—trips to visit my father.
My parents lived in Florida for twenty years after Dad’s retirement. They had a house on the west coast north of Tampa and were less than a half mile from the Gulf. While Mom seldom ventured out, Dad would head out most evenings for dinner or a couple of beers at neighborhood establishments. All was well for two decades— until Mom died.
With Mom gone, it wasn’t long before Dad got lonely and became lethargic and then lax in taking care of himself and the house . . . and he knew it. One day, I guess he decided that if he didn’t change something fast, there was trouble ahead. He called me and said he wanted to move to Houston to be closer to me. He said, “Maybe one of those old adult living places that include meals would be nice.”
We found one he liked that was just a couple of miles from my house and for two years, he seemed to be doing just so-so. But not being a gregarious, or even slightly outgoing person, he made no friends. He took better care of things, including himself, but his spirits didn’t improve at all.
Then the health issues began. He broke his hip and the resulting fall left him with torn ligaments in the shoulder. He was wheelchair bound after the pelvic rebuild. He stopped eating well and started to become frail. One day, on my visit to have lunch with him, he looked at me matter-of-factly and said, “Maybe it’s time.”
We found him a spot in the nursing home in old La Porte. It was an incredibly beautiful location, right on the water. The meals seemed acceptable (although at this point, the only thing he really wanted, all day, every day, was chips and beer) and since Dad had always been an avid reader, I thought it was a bonus that it had a decent library of a few hundred books that could keep him occupied. He knew he always had access to anything in my library as well if he wanted it. The yard and gardens were beautiful. He could sit out there in the sun or the shade depending on the weather, listen to the waves and read all day or converse if he wanted to. I was sure he’d love the place. It didn’t happen that way.
Because the facility was located halfway between home and work, I was able to visit him almost daily. But my presence didn’t seem to help. It was
obvious he was becoming more and more depressed. He said to me repeatedly, “It doesn’t pay to get old.” I probably heard that line 200 times in the next year. He continued to feel that way till the very end.
I was struck by the fact that this man, who loved beautiful places, who used to take me for long walks in the woods when I was a child, who picked his bars and restaurants in Florida based on their proximity to the water, didn’t appreciate the place he now lived. It was, without a doubt, the most beautiful place he has ever lived—and he didn’t even see it. I didn’t get it.
It wasn’t until that day, when we were standing at the top of that obelisk, looking out over the world below, that I finally began piecing it together. When I did, suddenly, the questions in my mind about what was going on melted away.
While all those beautiful places he was drawn to in his younger years were important to him and gave him great joy, his world was my mother. The add-ons made life beautiful, but Mom was life itself. As long as she was around, he felt comfortable enough to look at, and be enchanted by, the world out there. With her gone, everything else became non-existent as well.
Dad lived five years in a beautiful place and he never saw it. Life for him ended when Mom died. Maybe I’ve been wrong all these years. Maybe it’s not the beautiful places that fill our souls and make life worthwhile. Perhaps only people (and dogs are people too, of course) can accomplish that for us; the rest is window dressing. Maybe, like Dad, without the right people, the beautiful places simply don’t exist for us.
Hurricane Ike took out the place he once lived, but I’m sure, if he were still with us, he wouldn’t consider that important at all. After all, Mom was never there.
Our care revolves around you, to get you back on your game and keep you there. Whether you need relief from tendinitis or a torn ligament, you’ll get the same leading-edge treatments that we provide to the Houston Rockets. To help you come back sooner and stronger. This is orthopedic care designed around you.
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