T H E
B AY
A R E A’S
FAV O U R I T E
P U BL IC ATION
June 2012
RENAISSANCE MAN Unicare Center for Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry
INSIDE
JUNE 2012
features
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ON THE COVER Dr. Farid Noie with his daughters Nikki and Hanna. Photography by Brian Stewart.
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Chairman/Publisher Rick Clapp President Rob Kumar Art Director Brandon Rowan Vice President of Sales Patty Kane Sales & Marketing Patty Bederka Natalie Epperly Colleen Martin Amber Sample
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Great Photography From Both Events!
Miss Kemah Pageant/BAHM Cover Party
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The Lung Nodule Clinic at Memorial Hermann SE
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Rock the Dock Summer Concert Series Schedule
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Unicare Center for Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry
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Family Growth and Involvement
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AMOCO FCU Announces $2,500 Winner
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Soccer Showdown on the Island - July 2
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Unique Pieces From Both Local and Global Artists
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How to Respond When the Worst Happens
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Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
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Financial Issues for Gen X’ers
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Promising Trends in the Bay Area Real Estate Market
At the Forefront Kemah Boardwalk Cranks Up The Tunes The Renaissance Man - Dr. Farid Noie First Baptist Church of Seabrook Earn or Burn Home Edition Galveston Pirates Take On Monterrey Art of Ricardo Gallery Identity Theft A Half Century of Lessons Financial Focus The Mortgage Man
columns 16
The Buzz in the Bayou City Neighborhood Vineyard
17 CLICK! Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre HAIRSPRAY
Graphic Designer Victoria Ugalde Photography Brian Stewart
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Fun, New Rides Under 20k
Community Affairs Director Lillian Harmon
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Excellent Table Fare Swimming in Galveston Bay
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.
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Choosing the Venue
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In Wheel Time The Admiral’s Log Texas Meditations
in each issue
Please address all correspondence to: Bay Area Houston Magazine P.O. Box 1032 Seabrook, TX 77586 www.baygroupmedia.com R.Clapp@Baygroupmagazines.com 281.474.5875
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Bay Area Houston Magazine | JUNE 2012
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Advertiser’s Index
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Lakewood Yacht Club News and Events
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Events Calendar
Two International Airports Are Vital For Our Growth
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ithout a doubt Houston shall rival any international city in the world with two international airports. Shame on United Airlines for their shortsightedness and narrow-mindedness. One would think these guys would understand that competition is a reality in the business world, it makes you better, it makes you more creative and ultimately it forces you to produce a better product. United complaining about little Southwest Airlines getting a small piece of the lower yield paying passengers is ridiculous. These guys survived deregulation in the 80s; tough economic times in the 2000s and they are one of only a handful of U.S. flag carriers, along with American and Delta Airlines, in service today. Continental Airlines has had a monopoly for many years on the Houston international travel market and especially its routes to the Caribbean, Mexico and South America. That is one of the major reasons the merger with United made sense. If I was President of United I would relish in the fact that Southwest Airlines would enter the short haul and intermediate haul routes to Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America and parts of South America. Southwest Airlines product is totally different. It offers no frills, smaller aircraft, limited capacity and fewer domestic feeder routes. As partners with United they could develop an awesome route system not only to Latin America, but also beyond. We could then officially boast “Houston – Gateway to the Americas and the World.” Bottom line, both carriers will feed each other. Passengers can decide if they want, and can afford, first class or business class service with all the frills and a comfortable, wide-bodied jet ride or a no frills flight. Look what happened with deregulation in the 80s. It produced lower rates; more airlines, more people hired, and new hotels were built. It provided new routes for the consumer to enjoy and choose from. More people travel today than any time in our history. International business and global competition came from this worldwide deregulation. In the 80s you could fly on a quality, scheduled airline like Continental, KLM, British Airways and Lufthansa from Houston to Europe for only $399. Needless to say, that was twenty some years ago and fuel prices have gone up but wages and travel agent commissions have not. Another factor why Houston should have another international airport is that the U.S. government declares that all airlines are to support and operate in the best interest of the people and the community they serve. Having another international airport is a nobrainer, especially now. Houston has the opportunity
to make a huge impact in the international trade and business arena. It will also further develop the oil, gas, energy, manufacturing, transportation, tourism, healthcare, medical, and real estate industries. This means more jobs, higher wages and more fees and revenues for our city. Service from Hobby will also provide a major convenience for the international traveler coming from south Harris County and the Galveston area. Finally, let’s keep politics out of the decision-making. Having another international airport will help the Port of Houston, which is booming, especially with the completion of the Panama Canal in 2012. Medical patients originating from the Caribbean, Central and South America can choose to use the world-class medical facilities located in Clear Lake and the Galveston Bay Area at UTMB. Houston has the necessary infrastructure to handle the growth with our hotels, limos, taxis, restaurants attractions and tourism that are presently operating under capacity. Houston is an excellent transportation center that offers airfreight, ground, rail and water routes beyond Texas. Airfreight means more jobs such as freight forwarders, expeditors, delivery services and it also represents high yield revenues for the airlines. Hobby International Airport will be a big boon for Bay Area Houston and the Clear Lake area! Let’s make it happen! God Bless America!
Writers Don Armstrong In Wheel Time
Rod Evans Boating/Fitness
Michael Gos Texas Meditations
Captain Joe Kent Fishing
Andrew Jeffries Bay Area Bandstand
Betha Merit Travel/Food/Wine
Pat Patton Click
Dr. Ed Reitman Nourishing the Mind
Roseann Rogers The Buzz
Zach Tate Music
Rick Clapp Publisher/Chairman
JUNE 2012 | Bay Area Houston Magazine
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Advertiser’s Index Amadeus Page 41 www.kemahcitylimits.com/amadeus Art of Ricardo Gallery
Page 37
Back Bay Boutique
Page 15
www.artofricardogallery.com
Baubles and Beads
Page 42
Bayway Homes
Page 30
www.baywayhomes.com
Bella’s Carpet
Page 34
www.bellascarpet.com
Best Publications
Page 40
Big Splash Web Design
Page 3
www.bigsplashwebdesign.com
Boudreaux’s on the Bayou
Page 43
www.boudreauxsonthebayou.com
Buccaneer Page15 www.buccaneerconstruction.com Bungalow Dry Goods
Page 43
City of Dickinson
Page 41
Claudio & Mattia’s Piano Bar
Page 15
Coastal Plastic Surgery
Page 35
www.tadammd.com
College of the Mainland
Page 14
www.com.edu
Cullen’s Upscale American Grill
Page 28
www.cullenshouston.com
Di Amici Upscale Events
Page 33
www.diamiciupscaleevents.com
Dickinson BBQ
Page 39
www.dickinsonbbq.com
www.ci.dickinson.tx.us
Digitex Page 32 www.digitexcorp.com Dr. J. Derek Tieken
Page 4
www.tiekensmiles.com
Edward Jones
Page 40
www.edwardjones.com
Elegant Nails
Page 10
Encore Resale Shop
Page 10
Envoy Mortgage
Page 41
www.envoymortgageapp.com
First Baptist Church Seabrook
Page 32
www.fbcseabrook.org
Floyd’s Cajun Seafood
Page 25
www.floydsseafood.com
Fondren Orthopedic
Page 2
www.fondren.com
Frog at Home
Page 13
www.frogathome.com
Galveston County Food Bank
Page 6
www.racetoa1000.org
Ginger Snaps
Page 42
Harbour Plastic Surgery
Page 49
www.harbourplasticsurgery.com
Head to Footsies
Page 43
www.headtofootsies.com
Houston Technology Center
Page 48
www.houstontech.org
Island Furniture
Page 36
www.islandfurniture.net
Jeter Memorial Funeral Home
Page 37
www.jeterfuneralhome.com
JuJu’s Beachwear
Page 45
Kemah Boardwalk
Page 46
www.kemahboardwalk.com
Las Haciendas
Page 34
www.lashaciendasgrill.com
Mamacita’s Mexican Restaurant Page 37
www.mamacitasmexicanrestaurant.com
Martha Turner Properties
Page 51
www.marthaturner.com
Mayfield Manor
Page 14
www.hauntedmayfieldmanor.com
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Page 7
www.findyourMDAnderson.com
Mediterraneo Market & Cafe
Page 40
Memorial Hermann
Page 5
www.memorialhermann.org
Oasis Salon and Spa
Page 21
www.oasisclearlake.com
Opus Bistro
Page 14
www.opusbistro.net
Park Avenue Showplace Antiques Page 42
www.parkavenueshowplaceantiques.com
Prestige Flooring
Page 10
www.prestigeflooring.com
Ron Carter Clear Lake
Page 19
www.roncartercadillac.com
Royal Indulgence
Page 14
www.royal-indulgence.com
Salon La Rouge
Page 45
www.salonlarouge.org
Salute to Heroes
Page 44
www.rjhfoundation.org
Schlitterbahn Page 29 www.schlitterbahn.com Sea Lake Yachts
Page 24
www.sealakeyachts.com
South Shore Grille
Page 33
www.soshoregrille.com
Spine Center
Page 47
www.texasspinecenter.com
Star Toyota Page 12 www.startoyota.com Stylin’ with Linda
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Bay Area Houston Magazine | JUNE 2012
Page 10
Tackle Time Fishing Tournament Page 24
www.tclmjaycees.com
The Terrace
Page 15
www.horizonbay.com
Texas First Bank
Page 38
www.texasfirstbank.com
That’s Haute Boutique
Page 42
Unicare Dental
Page 52
www.drnoie.com
Victory Marine
Page 34
www.govictorymarine.com
Bay Area Houston Out
MISS KEMAH PAGEANT 2012
Photography by Zach Tate
BAHM MAY COVER PARTY - CLAUDIO & MATTIA’S PIANO BAR
Photography by Amber Sample and Patty Kane
JUNE 2012 | Bay Area Houston Magazine
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Bay Area Houston Magazine | JUNE 2012
M A R K E T P L A C E
M A R K E T P L A C E
JUNE 2012 | Bay Area Houston Magazine
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Neighborhood Vineyard Thirty miles west of Houston in Fulshear Creek Crossing, they’re bottling their own wine from grapes grown in neighborhood vineyards. With the help of Houston winemaker Simon Payne, who supervised creating a customized recipe at Vintner’s Own Winery, the first vintage produced an impressive 750 bottles of Blanc de Bois. To sample new neighborhood wine, you can stop by any model home at Fulshear Creek Crossing. Fulshearcreekcrossing.com
Cakes, Glorious Cakes Coming up with cakes is something Three Brothers Bakery knows a little something about. The familyowned and operated business recently expanded its empire with a new concept bakery cafe in the Memorial City area. With nearby Memorial Hermann Hospital, residential, and retail shops, it was the perfect fit for the bakery-coffee house. According to owner and fifth-generation baker Bobby Jucker, this is the first of many expansions that focuses on cafe services with take-out, breads, pastries, cupcakes, and free WIFI. 12393 Kingsride Lane.
Beauty Buzz What’s the buzz with Botox and Dysport? Plastic surgeon Dr. Forrest Roth is here to give us the inside scoop. “Botox and Dysport are prescription medicines that are injected into muscles to correct facial lines or wrinkles between the eyebrows in patients 18 to 65 years old,” says Roth. Both are temporary. However, Botox has been around a little longer with an FDA approval in 2002, while Dysport was approved in 2009. Patients who are allergic to cow’s milk protein should not have Dysport. The differences between the two are similar to the differences between Coke & Pepsi. Dysport is a little less expensive than Botox. So really it comes down to a personal preference. Plasticsurgeonwestave.com or 713-559-9300.
Local Designers Summer is almost here and while retailers have the store shelves stocked and racks full of the latest trends, designers have already sprouted their fall collections. Kate Kills Pretty, which debuted during New York Fashion Week, is the new line by sisters Aries and Autumn Milan. The whimsical, feminine collection, with a flash of rebellion, is inspired by their roots growing up in Hawaii. While August resides in Maui, Aries is focusing on her life-long obsession of fashion with her River Oaks boutique, Coquette. 1848 Westheimer. 713-527-7377.
Fashion Stylist Before celebrities grace the red carpet, they call professional stylists like Rachel Zoe to create their special look. Former model-turned-fashion stylist Ashley Allen is back from the Big Apple to provide her services to fashionistas all around Houston. Style packages include everything from the Very Vogue Vacation for the glamorous jet-setter to the Basic Bump: Top 10 basics and classy cuts to bump up your wardrobe. You can contact Ashley at 281-475-7136.
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Bay Area Houston Magazine | JUNE 2012
Baby Ready Grandparents Premier Baby Planning is now branching out to provide Grandparent Boot Camp in an effort to close the gap between grandparents and new parents. The boot-camp focuses on health, safety, and most importantly, communication. Grandparents learn everything from infant CPR, car seat safety, viruses and newborn care, crying and swaddling techniques. The cost is $75 per person. For more information, go to premierbabyplanning.com
Chic Kids A new and unique shopping experience is coming to the Houston-area. At AnDi’s Closet you will find new and kindly worn upscale designer children’s clothing, for boys and girls, in sizes newborn to 12. Stop by their upcoming trunk shows to find incredible deals on apparel from European and US designers including: Burberry, DKNY, GUCCI, Hannah Banana, Haven Girl, Haute Baby, Jacadi Paris, Ralph Lauren, True Religion Brand Jeans and many others. AnDi’s Closet will help your children be the best-dressed kids in town...for the right price. Monday, June 11 – Michael Saldana Salon (Midtown), 1319 W. Webster Street, Houston 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For information on consigning your children’s clothes with AnDi’s Closet, go to www.andisclosethouston.com
i n wheel t i m e
By D on Ar m strong
Chevy Sonic Brings New Game to Subcompact Lineup
like instrument cluster, but not sure if we can categorize the entire interior under the “motorcycle’ heading. The rest of the dash comes in your choice of two-toned colors, dark titanium or brick. We had the latter, and it looked like a million dollars. Way to go Chevy! Two power plants are available, the 138-HP, 1.8-liter 4-cylinder that gets 26 mpg-city and 38-highway or a 1.4-liter turbo that has the same HP but slightly more torque. Pricing starts at $14,765 for the hatch and $13,865 for the sedan. How can you say no to that?
Filling the void created by the welcomed departure of the Aveo, the all-new Sonic puts Chevrolet at or near the top of goodness in the highly competitive subcompact war. The Sonic is offered in two formats, the sedan or 4-door hatch with designated trim levels LS, LT and the loaded LTZ. As with most other carmakers, the mid and upper trims simply add more packaged features to the base LS. Chevy says the interior is “inspired” by motorcycles. We think it has a motorcycle-
Is it a Coupe or Sedan?
Hyundai calls it a 3-door coupe, but we’ll call it Veloster. This is an all new vehicle for Hyundai with one door on the driver’s side and two on the passenger side. Weird? You bet. Does it work? Yes, it does. Hyundai’s take on the full size, passenger-side rear door is that it allows much easier access to the back seat without having to open the front door. The correlation
is drawn with the likes of the now defunct Mazda RX-8, with its half-sized, rear-hinged back doors. The Veloster is another car whose design, Hyundai says, “takes inspiration from a high-performance sport bike.” We don’t understand the fascination of car manufacturers taking away anything from motorcycles, unless it’s to capitalize on their current popularity among the buying demographic. The interior is
competitive in the segment, and we’ll leave it at that. Powering the Veloster is a 1.6-liter I-4 engine that buzzes out 138-HP through a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission. Our tester is rated at 29 MPGcity and 38-highway. Look for a 200-HP turbo late this summer. If you’re in the market for very hip little sub-compact, the Veloster starts at $17,300.
Listen to In Wheel Time on Houston’s 1560 The Game/Yahoo Sports Radio! Tune in to 1560AM The Game every Saturday morning from 10am to 1pm for Houston’s best car radio show with experts Mike Herzing and Don Armstrong. 18
Bay Area Houston Magazine | JUNE 2012
At the Forefront: The Lung Nodule Clinic
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n an effort to diagnose lung cancer earlier – when it is easier to treat – Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital has opened the Lung Nodule Clinic. The Clinic is unique in that it offers a multidisciplinary approach to treating the patient. A multidisciplinary team consists of your primary care physician along with an affiliated pulmonologist, medical oncologist, radiologist, radiation oncologist, pathologist, thoracic surgeon and a Memorial Hermann oncology nurse navigator, who coordinate your care to give you the best possible outcomes while keeping you informed.
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Catching Cancer Before Symptoms Start Identified by a computerized tomography (CT) scan or chest X-ray, a lung nodule is an abnormal growth on the lung that may be cancerous. If a patient’s primary care physician finds a nodule, the patient is referred to the Lung Nodule Clinic to determine the diagnosis. At the Clinic, patients are tested to find out if their nodules are benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). “The earlier lung nodules are spotted and lung cancer is diagnosed, the more treatment options there are – and the better the outcome,” says
Bay Area Houston Magazine | JUNE 2012
Krystie Fenton, R.N., certified oncology nurse navigator at Memorial Hermann Southeast. “When patients are examined in the Clinic, lung cancer can be diagnosed before symptoms begin.” If possible lung cancer is found, the multidisciplinary team meets to discuss the best path of care for the patient, who is then referred for treatment. If the nodule is benign, the patient is monitored for any future warning signs of lung cancer.
Technology Offers Doctors Bird’s-Eye View Memorial Hermann Southeast is one of only a handful of hospitals in the Houston area that offer the iLogic ENB system. This advanced technology uses
GPS-like guidance during a patient’s CT scan to create a 3-D image of the lungs, allowing physicians to locate, test and plan treatment for lung lesions and lymph nodes difficult to access with traditional bronchoscopy. Lung cancer can be detected even before symptoms are evident, enhancing patient treatment options. Could iLogic™ benefit you or a loved one? The Memorial Hermann Southeast Lung Nodule Clinic is located at 11920 Astoria Blvd., Suite 100. Physician referral is required. To schedule, have your physician call 281.481.LUNG (5864).
By C apt. Joe Kent
DON’T FORGET to register for the Texas City-La Marque Jaycees 2012 Tackle Time Fishing Tournament at the Texas City Dike on June 29 - July 8. For more information please visit www.tclmjaycees.com.
The Excellent Tablefare Swimming in Galveston Bay Flounder, trout and reds are referred to as the Big 3 along the Texas Gulf Coast and are the most sought after fish by saltwater anglers. There are two reasons for this, first, two of the three, reds and trout, are labeled as game fish and second, the high rankings for all three as tablefare. ll three of the fish are aggressive feeders and hit artificial lures as well as live bait. Reds and flounder will take natural baits, known more commonly as dead bait; however, speckled trout tend to be more finicky and rarely hit anything but lures or live bait. Bait camps all along the Texas Coast thrive on selling baits, particularly live shrimp, that are used when fishing for the Big 3. Conditions have to be right in order to have a good chance of success in catching those popular fish and many anglers find that if the conditions are not favorable, meaning good water clarity and tidal movement, they return home with empty stringers and nothing for the table. During those off days for game fish, fishermen will catch and curse what they call trash fish or undesirables and toss them back in the water. What a mistake if one of the objectives is a good meal. Let’s take a look at some of those fish, where to catch them and some of the pros and cons about them. Two of the best fish for table fare are sand trout or Gulf trout and sheepshead. Anglers use the terms sand trout and Gulf trout interchangeably although they are two different species; however, for eating purposes, there is no difference. Sand trout, on average, are smaller than their cousins speckled trout; however, when dining upon both, hardly anyone can tell the difference. Sand trout have thinner skin which often makes them harder to filet and they do not maintain their fresh taste after freezing as well as specks. For the table, you are missing out on some delicious fish if you ignore them. Sand trout are scattered everywhere in the bays and are easy to catch with both live and dead bait. There is no bag or size limit on sandies. Sheepshead offer some of the finest white meat of any fish; however, they are not as easy to clean as the Big 3.
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Bay Area Houston Magazine | JUNE 2012
Sheepshead Once an angler masters the art of filleting sheepshead, rarely do they toss them back. Sheepshead are found around the jetties, piers, pilings and other structure. There is a bag limit of five, with a minimum length of 15 inches. Whiting and croaker are excellent to eat; however, the larger sizes, ¾-pound and greater, are the only ones worthwhile to clean. Both filet well, there are no bag and size limits and the fish are found just about everywhere in saltwater.
quite good. There are fishermen who concentrate on gafftop due to the tough fight they offer and the good tablefare afterwards. These fish are found all around the bay complex. Spanish mackerel is another variety of fish that anglers consider questionable when the species is mentioned. Too bad because when cooked fresh, they are excellent. Recipes calling for broiling or baking fish are best for Spanish mackerel. Smacks, as they are called, are prolific fighters when hooked.
“Once an angler masters the art of filleting sheepshead, rarely do they toss them back.” Black drum are much like sheepshead when it come to cleaning. Puppy drum are best for the table and offer tasty meat. Many anglers shy away from black drum due the presence of parasites (worms) when cleaning. Still, there is some excellent seafood using fresh drum for your recipes. Black drum have a five-fish bag limit and only slot drum between 14 and 30 inches may be retained. The fish is found in just about any location in the Galveston Bay Complex. Gafftop also are fish that anglers find difficult to clean. Large gafftop offer good quantities of meat and, when cooked using one of the popular recipes, they are
The fish is in the mackerel family and is oily, which results in their not freezing well. There is a generous 15-fish bag limit and minimum size of 14 inches associated with Spanish mackerel. Anglers focusing on smacks tend to concentrate on clear green water in the surf and around the jetties. During the summer months the fish can be found all around the area when conditions are right. If fishermen would add the fish we discussed to their objectives when fishing, it could reduce the pressure on the Big 3. It certainly would not take away from the quality of your tablefare.
News & Events SAILORS INVITED TO BAY AREA HOUSTON AREA THIS FALL
U.S. youth racers who qualified for the world championship are pictured at the Opening Ceremonies for the Laser 4.7 Worlds in Argentina. Pictured are Liam McCarthy (St. Petersburg, FL), Sophi Naughton (Marblehead, MA), Sydney Mendlebaum (New York, NY), Hannah and Howdy Hughes (Lakewood Yacht Club, Seabrook, TX).
LAKEWOOD YOUTH RACERS COMPETE IN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
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akewood Yacht Club Seahorse racers Hannah and Howdy Hughes competed in the Laser 4.7 MacLaren World Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina over the first week of April. This was their second world championship to compete in as they both qualified for last year’s championship held in San Francisco. They were among seven youth from the United States who qualified to compete in this year’s world championship. Other sailors were from Marblehead, Maine and St. Petersburg, Florida. The Hughes siblings were coached by Todd Fedyszyn out of St. Petersburg and were accompanied on the trip by their parents, Howard and Jill Hughes of Seabrook. Hannah is a junior at Clear Falls High School while Howdy is a freshman at the same school. On the Rio del la Plata, which flows through Buenos Aires, twelve races were held over six days with light winds in the beginning increasing to 15-20 knots the last two days. Both Hannah and Howdy prefer the heavy breeze as it compares more closely to the winds of Galveston Bay where they usually race for Lakewood. “There was also some river current which kept us on our toes,” related Hannah.
Hannah finished 25th out of the 46 girls, scoring a 7th in one race which was the highest individual race finish for the U.S. girls. Opening and closing ceremonies, along with nightly dinners, gave the racers a chance to mingle with competitors from all over the world. Upon returning to Seabrook, the Hughes siblings presented Lakewood Yacht Club Commodore A.J. Ross with a burgee (yacht club flag) of the Yacht Club de Argentina.
When the sailing season ends in most parts of the country, there is still a full calendar of racing activities during the fall and winter seasons on the Gulf Coast and Galveston Bay. “With our temperate climate, we have yearround racing on Galveston Bay,” related Bay Area Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau President Pam Summers. “Racers don’t have to put their boats in storage for the fall and winter. They should trailer them to our area for a few extra months of racing and enjoying the weekends on the water,” added Lakewood Yacht Club Fleet Captain Joyce Maxwell. Several local yacht clubs, boatyards, and businesses are making provisions for free boat storage in between events for racers’ convenience. For details, please check the website: www.JFestSouthwest.com The organizations hosting autumn racing include the following: •
September 22-23: Houston Yacht Club One Design Regatta (J/22, J/24, J/80, J/105, and J/109) (www.houstonyachtclub.com)
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October 6-7: Galveston Bay Cruising Association BBVA Compass Bank Regatta (www.gbca.org)
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October 13-14: Lakewood Yacht Club J/Fest Southwest Regatta (www.lakewoodyachtclub.com)
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October 25-28: Lakewood Yacht Club Harvest Moon Regatta (race from Galveston Bay 150 miles south to Port Aransas, TX)
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November 17-18: Galveston Bay Cruising Association Turkey Day Regatta
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The first regatta of the New Year starts in early January!
All regattas are held on Galveston Bay unless otherwise noted. For added activities and notice of races, please check the above organizations’ websites.
JUNE 2012 | Bay Area Houston Magazine
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KEMAH BOARDWALK CRANKS UP THE TUNES DURING ‘ROCK THE DOCK’ THIS SUMMER Enjoy a free summerlong concert series every Thursday, May 3 – August 30 Pump up the jam as summer approaches and the heat rises at the Kemah Boardwalk with the fourteenth annual Rock the Dock summer-long concert series. Music lovers will rejoice as they enjoy beats from the best local and regional bands starting in May and continuing each Thursday evening through August. The free concerts will feature a wide variety of rock ‘n’ roll sound and are held on the Plaza from 6:30 p.m. -10:15 p.m. each week.
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Bay Area Houston Magazine | JUNE 2012
MAY May 3 May 10 May 17 May 24 May 31
THE SLAGS – Dance Rock BIG BOOM – New & Classic Rock FAL SKYE – Rock Star New & Classics RAT RANCH – Rock ‘n’ Roll VELCRO PYGMIES – Rock & Roll
JUNE June 7 June 14 June 21 June 28
HAMILTON LOOMIS – Blues ADRENALINE – Rock & Roll THAT 80’S BAND – 80’s Hair Bands TEXAS UNLIMITED BAND – Pop Rock
JULY July 5 July 12 July 19 July 26
RAT RANCH – Rock ‘n’ Roll COLD SHOT – Rock Hits SPACE ROCKERS – Austin Dance Rock ZACK KING – Dallas Power Rock
AUGUST August 2 August 9 August 16 August 23 August 30
THE SLAGS – Dance Rock FAL SKYE – Rock Star New & Classics RAT RANCH – Rock ‘n’ Roll VERTIGO – 80’s Rock 11TH HOUR – Rock Variety Classics
A PERSONAL INTERVIEW Q: What are the varied services you offer at Unicare Center for Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry, in addition to general dentistry?
Noie: In addition to general dentistry, we are able to offer our patients: • Oral surgical services such as extraction of simple or complicated wisdom teeth, guided hard (bone) and soft tissue (gum, connective tissue) regeneration and repair • Deep IV sedation, available for all procedures as needed • Surgical placement and restoration of dental implants • Sinus lift and jaw bone rehabilitation • Cosmetic focused dentistry • Adolescent and adult orthodontics, both traditional and invisible braces • Root canal therapy using the latest CT 3D-scanning technology Q: What can your patients expect as far as the experience in your office?
Noie: They can expect a warm and friendly environment, smiling faces and the most advanced equipment and technology available. We offer all our new patients a complimentary 3-D CT-scan of oral-maxillofacial if needed. They can also expect to receive all their dental needs from initial examination, to orthodontics, simple and complex dental restorations, cosmetic and smile makeover, dental implants, and guided bone and soft tissue regeneration, as well as routine check ups and examinations under one roof while resting
The Renaissance Man of Unicare Center for Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry 26
Bay Area Houston Magazine | JUNE 2012
Q: You are a published author and write articles on many topics other than dentistry, a true Renaissance man. Does your passion for new thoughts and information help you relate to your patients in a unique way?
comfortably in an IV-sedation induced deep sleep. Our dental hygienist, Laurie, is by far the best hygienist with whom I have had the pleasure of working. We are also able to file our patients’ surgical procedures such as dental implants with their major medical insurance as well as dental insurance. Q: In researching your practice and background for this article, we discovered that you have a huge breadth of educational experiences. Will you tell us a bit about that road and how you came to fulfill your passion in cosmetic and implant dentistry?
Noie: It all started during my senior year at UT Dental School. I have never been a fan of pure memorization without complete understanding. While dental school had a comprehensive training curriculum on subject matters such as restorative dentistry, root canal therapy, and simple extractions, it offered limited hands-on training in other subjects such as invasive surgical and periodontal procedures, orthodontic therapy, TMJ dysfunction, and artistic restoration of the cosmetic zone (smile zone). After completing the limited orthodontic hands-on required training, I realized that I still didn’t feel fully comfortable with the subject matter. While understanding a concept gives you hypothetical knowledge, practicing that knowledge will lead to experience and eventually a thorough understanding. When I graduated, I turned my attention to orthodontics, the subject to which I had the least exposure during doctoral training. After completing a two-year postdoctoral training in orthodontics, I gained the understanding that I was after. I then continued my postdoctoral training in cosmetic and rehabilitation for severely compromised cases to further my understanding in that field. I trained with L.D. Pankey Institute for Dental Excellence until I felt fully competent in cosmetic, TMJ dysfunction, and full mouth rehabilitation.
By that time dental implants began to make their way into mainstream dentistry and offered what I viewed as the “missing piece of the puzzle” for a truly comprehensive dentistry. Before dental implants, dentists were forced to replace the missing teeth by grinding down at least two healthy teeth and connecting them together like a choo choo train. Or they could offer removable teeth that were uncomfortable to chew with and gradually eroded the teeth used for clasp. I initially referred my patients to oral surgeons for surgical placement of the dental implants. After a few cases, I realized that a thorough understanding of both surgical and restorative fields is needed, not only during the restorative phase, but also the surgical phase. The only logical solution for me was additional training in oral maxillofacial surgery. That decision sent me on a five-year postdoctoral surgical training. I also completed my oral anesthesiology training during that period. I finally was able to put all the pieces together and offer my patients a truly comprehensive treatment plan. There is an old saying; “to a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” Let’s just say I prefer to carry some screwdrivers and pliers in my toolbox as well. My multi-discipline training has allowed me to become a more efficient diagnostician and practitioner. But more importantly, being able to offer a wide range of specialty services allows me to meet the oral needs of my patients and all their family members from teenagers all the way into their senior years.
“Pursuing our passion turns any craft into an art and unleashes the artist in us.”
Noie: Actually, it does. I believe all people are multi-dimensional. Sometimes conventional wisdom leads us to judge the book by the cover. Only when we look deeper, we realize there are always many more layers. In my case, when I realized that I had unique views on certain topics, I decided to put them in writing. Over time I am learning to better express my thoughts and ideas in words. The same mentality also helps me when I interact with my patients. A thorough clinical examination and review of radiographs and lab results are crucial to a proper diagnosis, but they are not the only things that should be considered. We must never forget to look at the person as a whole and discover all the dimensions that make each and every one of us unique. Q: Would you describe your work as that of an artist?
Noie: I learned a long time ago that the alternative to really loving what you do, especially what you do everyday, is being miserable and unfulfilled. In my opinion life is too short to choose a path that we don’t love. Pursuing our passion (no matter what it might be) turns any craft into an art and unleashes the artist in us. Q: Besides making people healthy, beautiful, and pain free, what are some of your areas of community involvement in Bay Area Houston?
Noie: I subscribe to the belief that it’s best to “Give your gifts in private” (Matthew 6:4). I however, would like to use this platform to announce that I am currently working with “Relief Network Ministries” to organize a medical mission trip to Africa toward the end of September 2012. They welcome any healthcare professional who is willing to volunteer his or her time and can afford the trip cost for a period of seven to ten days. For more information please visit: www.reliefnetworks.org. Q: It’s your turn. What would you like to tell our readers about yourself from hobbies to skills to adventures and more?
Noie: Besides pursuing my passions for excellence in my craft, lecturing and sharing my knowledge with other colleagues, and writing, I am busy raising my two beautiful girls, Nikki (11), and Hanna (8). We love water sports and bicycling in the summer and skiing during winter. Unicare Center for Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry is located at 20814 Gulf Freeway, Suite 40, Webster, TX 75598; 281.332.4700; www.drnoie.com. JUNE 2012 | Bay Area Houston Magazine
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texas m e d i tat i o n s
By M i c ha el Gos
Choosing the Venue Quihi, Texas
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learned to do the Texas twostep at the Quihi Gun Club. It took me almost 20 years to do it. I really have no excuse though; I had lots of opportunities. In the nineties I had two different offers from students willing to teach me. One occurred at a formal dance on campus, the other on a student trip to Kansas City. I turned down the first because I knew the initial stages of learning to dance are always awkward and I didn’t want to embarrass myself in front of dozens of my students. I rejected the second because Missouri is no place to learn to two-step. A few years later I had another offer at a small, private dance in West Texas, but it just didn’t seem right to learn something so important to Texas culture in the party room of an apartment complex. I don’t know. Maybe deep down, I didn’t really want to learn. I generally try to avoid situations where I will embarrass myself and this definitely had that potential.
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Whatever the reason, here I was going on 20 years a Texan and I still couldn’t do our national dance. The situation grew critical when I began spending more time in Hill Country. I found myself around
dancing sometimes two and three times a week. All I could do was sit and listen to the music. I wasn’t happy about it, but it had become clear—it was time to learn to twostep. There is an old Buddhist proverb that says, “When the student is ready, the teacher will come.” And of course, she did. When I accepted her offer, I was upfront with her. I explained my concern about the potential for embarrassment. She understood and formulated a plan. She would teach me at her house. There would be no one around and no reason to be embarrassed when I messed up. Then, when I got more comfortable with it, we could take it to a small bar with a dance floor. After a few nights’ practice there, I’d be good enough at it that we’d be able to go to even the big name places like Gruene Hall. Her plan made sense to me, but I was still apprehensive. I told her I’d think about it. She renewed the offer at the next three times I saw her. And still I put her off.
Ernest Hemingway often wrote that we should not speak to others about any truly life-changing experience we’ve had because the act of telling about it forces us to re-live the event in our minds. The more times we tell it, the more times we re-live it. Over time, that repetition drives the special to commonplace. He called it “talking it away.” I couldn’t agree more. The truly important events in my life, and the effect they’ve had on me, remain mostly private. As such, I have been able to keep them special. But I’ve also stumbled, quite accidently, on another truth that Hemingway may have overlooked. We can make any event more meaningful by making it happen in a special place. I suppose brides have known this since time immemorial. They try to choose spectacular places for weddings and honeymoons. I think it is far more critical that we think this way about the other important events in our lives—events we will later understand as transcendent. That was my thinking when I made the decision. It’s not an understatement to say that, over the years, learning to two-step had taken on enormous significance to me. In fact, it had gotten to be of monumental importance. An event of that magnitude deserved a venue of equally mythical proportions. I realized the only place I could take on this task was at the Quihi Gun Club. Built in 1890 as the Quihi Schuetzen Verein (shooting club), the club was initially created to defend against Indian attacks. It has been in continual existence since. Today it is one of the oldest social clubs in the
“We can make any event more meaningful by making it happen in a special place.” world. Tucked in between two creeks, the dance hall is built on stilts, the response to two previous buildings washing away in floods. I first heard about the Quihi Gun Club in my second week in Texas. Initially I had no idea where Quihi was, but the idea of combining dancing and a gun club seemed uniquely Texan and the notion was just romantic enough to capture my interest. That was nearly 20 years ago and it only grew from there. Over the years the very name Quihi Gun Club began to carry an almost mythical romance for me. It had to happen there. I told my teacher my plan. She looked at me as if questioning my sanity. Quihi was the polar opposite of the private lessons we had discussed. Walking in, I was immediately overwhelmed. I had been to Gruene Hall, the Broken Spoke, even Billy Bob’s, but I’d never been to a place quite like this before. The cavernous hall went on to forever. It was beautifully rustic with tiny white lights near the stage. The floor was enormous, and I’m told it is one of the finest in the world for dancing. The place was packed and at any given time there were at least 100 people out dancing, sometimes many more than that.
I still had some reservations about this whole idea even as we chose our seats. In truth, I was just plain scared. My teacher had explained the dance steps to me and I thought I understood, but I’d never tried it and I wasn’t sure how the steps fit the music. I would have to learn that out on the floor. I watched for a few dances just to see what others were doing and I was thankful for the huge crowd. I figured it would allow me to disappear in that mass of humanity. Maybe this wasn’t going to be so bad after all. When I finally got up the nerve to go out and give it a try I realized that I hadn’t taken into account the fact that, because of the size of the crowd, I would cause a major pile-up every time I lost the rhythm and had to stop, then start again. And of course, that happened countless times. Amazingly everyone seemed to understand, and once they regained control of their own movements, my victims moved on with no accusing looks at all. It took several dances before I got beyond feeling like a pig on roller skates, but eventually I started to catch on. I never got past the stiffness that intense concentration causes and the effort made me sweat, but I had a real sense of accomplishment when we were finally able to dance an entire song without stopping to regroup. I never did become comfortable, but at least I could do it. Looking back today, I realize that evening could not have gone any better. I had indeed chosen the perfect venue. When the night was done, I could not only say that I learned to two-step, but that I learned to two-step at the Quihi Gun Club. I will have that always.
JUNE 2012 | Bay Area Houston Magazine
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FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF SEABROOK Offers Family Growth and Involvement
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uring this time of uncertainty when most concerns end with a question mark, many people have begun to doubt the answers to Who? When? How? and Why? All legitimate questions need truthful answers and First Baptist Church of Seabrook strives to be a safe place to seek these answers. When asked about the importance of church involvement in seeking the answers, First Baptist Church of Seabrook, Pastor Rob Purdy responded, “God’s plan for us is all about relationships…. a relationship with Him, a relationship with our families, and a relationship with the local church. We need all three to truly be complete.” First Baptist Church of Seabrook offers a Christcentered family environment where everyone can grow in the Lord. The weekly schedule includes two Sunday morning services, 9:30 and 11:00 a.m., with a full children’s church during both. Wednesday evenings (6:30 to 8:00 p.m.) offers opportunities for all ages including our FaithWorks Kids Club (children 4 years to 6th grade), a R.E.F.U.G.E. Student Ministry (youth 7th to 12th grade) and the Adult Worship and Bible Study. Nursery is provided (NB to 3 years) during all services. Summer activities kick-off in June with the annual “All Day” Vacation Bible School and “Everybody” Bible study. VBS 2012 is scheduled during the week of June 11 through
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June 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Pre-registration is required. The six-week “Everybody” Bible study begins on Monday, June 18th at 7:00 p.m. featuring John Ortberg’s, “If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat.”
“God’s plan for us is all about relationships...” For more information on these and other activities, please visit First Baptist Church of Seabrook online at www.fbcseabrook.org.
JUNE 2012 | Bay Area Houston Magazine
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AMOCO Announces Earn or Burn Home Edition $2,500 Winner
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MOCO Federal Credit Union’s Earn or Burn Home Edition announced Sandra Behmer as their $2,500 winner. Over the past eight months AMOCO has hosted a seminar series about the process of purchasing and financing a home. Behmer along with 17 others attended all eight seminars which placed them into a drawing for $2,500. Behemer was announced as the winner during the final seminar that took place May 14 at the AMOCO Friendswood branch community room. All those that attended walked away with a certificate of completion and a new home tool kit. Earn or Burn Home Edition was held October 2011 through May 2012 with a set of eight seminars which covered the various topics associated with home buying. Each person that attended walked away with knowledge about budgeting, financing, insurance, taxes, mortgages, and how to look for the right home. Speakers included: Tina Linquist, vice president AMOCO Federal Credit Union; Jennifer Demers, business development specialist AMOCO Federal Credit Union; Elizabeth Stevens vice president Credit Union Division, SWBC Mortgage; Deeanna Rosenbaum sales representative Liberty Mutual Group; Cheryl E. Johnson, Galveston County Tax Assessor Collector.
Financial education combined with guidance and assistance from AMOCO Federal Credit Union is the first step towards financial freedom. Those interested in learning more about the Earn or Burn Home Edition seminar series should contact Jennifer Demers at (281) 534-5511. AMOCO Federal Credit Union is a member-owned financial organization. AMOCO‘s mission is to “serve and satisfy its members” and has done just that over the past 70 years. For more information please visit www.AMOCOfcu.org or call Jennifer Demers, business development specialist at 281.534.5511.
(Above) The crew of Ron Carter Hyundai on location at the dealership off the Gulf Freeway in Friendswood, which is the largest Hyundai dealership in Texas. Ron Carter Hyundai was the number one volume dealer for the Houston area in October 2011, December 2011, January 2012, February 2012, March 2012 and April 2012. The dealership also set an all times sales record for the Houston area in April 2012. Visit www.roncarterhyundai.com for more information on sales and service.
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and our TV partner Azteca 51, we have been able to coax the Mexican giants to come to Galveston to participate in this challenge match.” continued the Irishman. “This will be the Rayados reserve team we will be playing against, not the under 21s or academy side and we expect their squad to be littered with official first team squad players as they prepare for their new season. This match will be important to them as they try and get the players back to match fitness and preparedness for the 2013 Torneo Apertura.” “We finish our NPSL season against Regals SCA on Saturday June 30th and this challenge match is scheduled for Monday July 2nd, so it’s going to be an exciting few days for all involved with the Pirate franchise.” “Monterrey was very approachable with regards to this match, and agreed to the details without much discussion needed. They look like being very good opponents and their organizers have been gentlemen throughout the process.” “We look forward to seeing the bleachers packed at Courville Stadium come July 2nd and hopefully with this stadium being smaller than the 38,000 Technologico Stadium they are used to, it will work in our favor and perhaps give us a level playing field with the Mexican giants.” Ticket prices are set at $20 and available for sale online at Galvestonsocial.com or by contacting the club directly at 832-748-1001. Stay Tuned folks, Club de Futbol Monterrey is coming to town!
Galveston Pirates Arrange CONCACAF Champions Monterrey Challenge Match July 2nd
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hampions League winners, Club de Futbol Monterrey Rayados are headed to Galveston for a challenge match with local professional soccer club, the Galveston Pirate Soccer Club, in what is sure to be the biggest sporting event ever to have landed on the island. The Rayados only recently won the Champions League for the second consecutive year, making them the best soccer team in the whole of North and Central America and to be able to bring such an illustrious soccer side to the area is a major coup. The CONCACAF title also allows them entry to play in the FIFA Club World Cup along with Champions of
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Europe, Asia, Australia and South America. Pirate coach Brendan Keyes said “this is huge, perhaps the largest sporting event to have ever taken place in the Galveston area. We will be playing at Courville Stadium for this match as the capacity is 10,000 and the buzz around this game already tells us that tickets for the game will be like gold dust.” “We have a large Mexican population in the area so it will interest a large demographic of soccer fans from across the region.” “Typically, only the Houston Dynamo in the MLS would be able to attract a team of Monterrey’s quality but thanks to the growth of our club through the NPSL
ART OF RICARDO GALLERY
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he best kept secret in the Bay Area is Art of Ricardo Gallery! The gallery features original art by nine local artists from the Bay Area and other artistic items from around the world. The Gallery was founded in 2009 by Ricardo and Marcia Gomez to showcase Ricardo’s colorful and vibrant acrylic paintings. Other artists featured in the gallery work in various media such as acrylics, oils, watercolor, and multi-media. The Art of Ricardo Gallery has three aspects to it, the studio, the gallery, the shop. The studio is “Inspirations in Glass” owned and operated by Christine Alexander. Christine designs and makes fantastic stained glass pieces plus repairs stained glass. Don’t be shy about going into her studio to see her latest works! The gallery is where you can find art by the member artist Ricardo Gomez—acrylic paintings that are full of movement and color. Carole Browne’s art consists of stained glass, oils of fish, birds and mermaids, plus multimedia pieces. Jo Claire Hall’s art displays
include playful colorful paintings and prints, magnets, wallets, pendants and other cool items. Cassie Barrera likes to create acrylic paintings of animals done in a wonderful fantasy outlook. Carver Shivers enjoys painting fantastic fine portraits done in oil.
The shop contains small antiques, pottery by Marcia Gomez, and eclectic items from around the world. The Art of Ricardo Gallery is located at 2102 Bay Area Boulevard and is open Thursday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Be sure to check out the website at www.ArtofRicardoGallery. com for the latest news and event postings. For questions or further information call 281-488-5558.
JUNE 2012 | Bay Area Houston Magazine
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By Jason Alderman
When your private financial information gets into the wrong hands, the consequences can be devastating.
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et there are many ways you can help protect yourself on a daily basis, from taking precautions while online to checking your credit report periodically. If you should fall victim to identity theft, it is important that you act quickly. Contacting the correct agencies and filing the necessary reports will go a long way toward minimizing any damage to your financial wellbeing.
Who to Contact Credit Bureaus: Immediately contact the fraud departments of each of the credit bureaus listed below. Alert them that you are a victim of identity theft, and request that a fraud alert be placed in your file. You can also request a security freeze, preventing credit issuers from obtaining access to your credit files without your permission. This prevents thieves from opening up new credit cards in your name. Law Enforcement: Report identity theft to your local police department. If the crime occurred somewhere other than where you live, you may wish to report it to law enforcement there as well. The police will create an “identity theft report” and you can request a copy. Federal Trade Commission (FTC): The FTC does not investigate identity theft cases, but they can share information that you give them, such as the identity theft report number, with investigators nationwide. For more information about fighting back against identity theft, visit the FTC’s Identity Theft website. The Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft Hotline is 877-IDTHEFT (877-438-4338)
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“It is important that you act quickly.” Credit Bureau Contact Information Equifax Order Credit Report: 1.800.685.1111 Fraud Hotline: 1.888.766.0008 www.equifax.com Experian Report Order: 1.888.397.3742 Fraud Hotline: 1.888.397.3742 www.experian.com Trans Union Report Order: 1.877.322.8228 Fraud Hotline: 1.800.680.7289 www.tuc.com 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.
A Half Century of Lessons
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By Dion McInnis
ifty years ago, a Chamber of Commerce formed to help a developing community and its businesses harness the energy of growth and adventure born in space exploration. There were pioneers in many fields of work. They weren’t the only pioneers. A new community was being created while new frontiers were being discovered in space. None of this would have ever been possible without one key ingredient: great people. When Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Joe Mayer asked if I would create profiles of some of the key people in the community as part of the Chamber’s 50th anniversary year celebration, I was both humbled and inspired. I countered with the concept of interviewing, photographing and writing profiles of 50 people as part of the 50th anniversary. The concept was accepted and the volunteer effort began June 2011 for 50: Years, Stories, Faces. The project will be completed summer 2012 and a book will be designed for fall 2012 release thanks to the volunteer design efforts of Mindi Funderburg. This project celebrates those great people and the lessons learned by their efforts, courage, risk-taking, vision and commitment. I had completed only about six of the interviews when a simple, clear lesson was already coming into focus: the Clear Lake area is truly a story of pioneering. Every interview has developed and illuminated that reality. Few people lived in the coastal towns and “villages” of the area when pioneers came to settle, influenced by
the creation of the manned space center. Some came to work for the country’s space effort and some came out of curiosity or adventure. Whatever the motivation, they came. They pioneered, coming into an area with their families or to create families, but also leaving behind relatives and friends. The people who arrived counted on each other and a close-knit community was forged. Just as the United States’ pioneer development had stages, this area had similar ones. Pioneers arrived and began to settle, followed by a bit of a “Wild West” phase and then development when the pioneers’ children went through school and stayed in the community. In only 50 years we have seen the phases lived out. The wonderful growth and development of the area came through the efforts of people that are well known and whose names reside on streets and buildings; it also came from many largely unknown by the general community. It came from developers, teachers, investors and artists; it came from elected officials, entrepreneurs and Chamber leaders. It came from a mix of the bold and the sublime, the visible and the unseen. It came from…people with character and conviction. The process of the 50: Years, Stories, Faces initiative reminds me and shows us all that this community came from the efforts of great people. It also reveals that this area’s future is in the hands of great people today. By listening to the 50, we have learned what we need to succeed for the future.
JUNE 2012 | Bay Area Houston Magazine
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FINANCIAL FOCUS Brought to you by Gen X’ers Must Juggle a Variety of Financial Issues
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f you’re part of “Generation X” — the age cohort born between the mid-1960s and the early 1980s — you’re probably in one of the busiest phases of your life, as you’re well into your working years and, at the same time, busy raising a family. But just as you’re “multi-tasking” in your life, you’ll also need to address multiple financial goals. In seeking to accomplish your key objectives, you may be asking yourself a variety of questions, including the following: Should I contribute as much as possible to my IRA and 401(k)? In a word, yes. Your earnings on a traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA) and a 401(k) grow on a tax-deferred basis, so your money can accumulate faster than it would if placed in an investment on which you paid taxes every year. Plus, since you typically make 401(k) contributions with pretax dollars, the more you contribute, the lower your taxable income. And your traditional IRA contributions may be tax-deductible, depending on your income. If you meet income guidelines, you can contribute to a Roth IRA, which provides tax-free earnings, provided you meet certain conditions. Should I put away money for my kids’ college education? It’s not easy to fund your retirement accounts plus save money for your children’s college education. Still, college is expensive, so if you feel strongly about helping to pay for the high costs of higher education, you may want to explore college funding vehicles, such as a 529 plan, which offers tax advantages. Should I pay down my mortgage or invest those funds? Most of us dream of freeing ourselves from a mortgage someday. So, as your career advances and your income rises, you may wonder if you should make bigger mortgage payments. On one hand, there’s no denying the psychological benefits you’d receive from paying off your mortgage. However, you may want to consider putting any extra money into your investment portfolio to help as you work toward your retirement goals. Work with your financial advisor to determine what may be most appropriate for your portfolio. Do I have enough insurance in place to protect my family? You may hear that you need seven or eight times your annual income in life insurance, but there’s really no “right” figure for everyone. You may want to consult with a financial advisor to determine how much life insurance is appropriate for your needs. Am I familiar with my parents’ financial situation and estate considerations? Now is the time to communicate with your parents about a variety of issues related to their financial situation and estate plans. The more you know, the better positioned you’ll be to provide assistance and support if and when it’s needed. Just to name one example, you should inquire of your parents if they’ve designated a durable power of attorney to make financial decisions for them in case they’re ever incapacitated. By answering these questions, you can get a handle on all the financial issues you face at your stage of life. It may seem challenging, but taking the time now can help you better position yourself to reach your financial goals.
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THE MORTGAGE MAN PRESENTED BY ENVOY MORTGAGE, LTD AND CASEY MONTGOMERY Q: Casey, are you seeing any promising trends in the Bay Area real estate market? I would like to buy a home but want to make sure it is the right time to move forward. Slayden in Friendswood, TX A: Yes, the current market is hot... the best I have seen in ten years. Local realtors are busy and properties are moving quickly. Furthermore, home prices are low and market values are steadily increasing. The Bay Area is fortunate to benefit from a vibrant, multi-faceted local economy. The Port of Houston, oil and gas industries, NASA, and state-ofart medical facilities drive newcomers to our area, and encourage current residents to put down roots. We experienced an economic downturn over the past several years, but indicators point toward a real estate market on the upswing and increased consumer confidence. These positive factors, combined with historically low rates, make today a great time to consider investing in the Bay Area Houston real estate market.
Q: Mortgage Man, I have a question. Is it as hard to get a home loan as everyone makes it out to be? Jonathon Cone, San Leon, TX A: Jonathon, the difficulty in securing a home mortgage has been greatly exaggerated. If you are working with the right company, the process can go very smoothly. While it is true that more documentation is required these days than in the recent past, it is also true that more products are available to consumers creating an accessible lending atmosphere. Due to the influx of government initiatives, refinancing is easier than ever. And on the purchase side, down payment and credit requirements have (thankfully) relaxed. There are more products to suit potential homebuyers’ needs. We see this as a welcome relief from the overly stringent guidelines of the past few years. As always, we, at Envoy Mortgage/ The Montgomery Group, tailors a mortgage to suit your specific needs. Please feel free to call me directly to discuss your unique situation or stop by our Bay Area office located at 1011 East Main Street in League City.
JUNE 2012 | Bay Area Houston Magazine
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Hotel Galvez 101st Anniversary Brunch Sunday, June 10 (Hotel Galvez, 2024 Seawall Blvd, Galveston, TX) - 11am – 3pm Juneteenth Jubilee Parade Saturday, June 16 (McGuire Dent Park, 28th & Seawall Blvd., Galveston, TX) - 4pm Ohana 2-Day Surf Camp Saturday, June 23 - 24 (Hershey Beach, Galveston, TX) Animal Parade Wednesday, June 27 (Rosenberg Library, 2310 Sealy St, Galveston, TX) - 10am SUMMER SAFARI 1: Rainforest (ages 5-6) Friday, June 29 (Moody Gardens, 1 Hope Blvd., Galveston, TX) - 8am – 5pm GCVA RED White N Volleyball Saturday, June 30, 2012 (Stewart Beach, Galveston, TX) - 9am JUNE 2012 | Bay Area Houston Magazine
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ADOPT A PET IN NEED BRUISER & JACK
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wo white boxers were recently abandoned after their family was evicted from a rent house in Clear Lake. Fortunately, a good neighbor and the landlord fed and watered the nine-month–old puppies until Second Chance Pets was able to acquire, vet and neuter them. SCP volunteers have evaluated them and found them friendly and playful. Bruiser has a little black around one eye and Jack is the thinner dog. They had obviously been loved, but were certainly neglected medically. They are now with a foster and reportedly slept in her bed the first night. Currently they romp with three other boxers and get along well with them. They were perfect gentlemen at their first adoption day last week, allowing admirers to scratch and pet them, not barking once. SCP hopes to adopt the brothers out together since they have been confined in a backyard together since birth. These truly are lovers and would make wonderful family pets. SCP pets are shown on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Petco at Bay Area Boulevard near Space Center. For more information email pets2adopt@yahoo.com or go to www.secondchancepets.org.
University of Houston-Clear Lake graduate student Brittany King participated in the Clinton Global Initiative in Washington D.C. March 30 – April 1. She was selected to participate after submitting her Commitment to Action, a plan that addresses campus, community or world challenges. King, who will receive her Master of Business Administration degree from UH-Clear Lake in fall 2012, joined students from every state in the U.S. and more than 80 other countries for the event held at George Washington University, where nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs, celebrities and about 1,000 students gathered.
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Jeanette Williams Foundation Celebrates Tenth Anniversary aboard the Spirit of Texas Paddle Boat
Bay Area Military Officers’ Wives’ Club Installs New Officers
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he Jeanette Williams Foundation and a host of supporters set sail on the Spirit of Texas Paddleboat at South Shore Harbor Resort, April 28 from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. A pre-cruise champagne staging started at 6:30 p.m. at South Shore Harbour Resort and Conference Center lobby bar, courtesy of generous supporter, Roy Green, General Manager. The foundation hosted a tropical theme dinner cruise, docking at 7:00 p.m. at the fuel dock of South Shore Harbour Marina. Catering by Opus Bistro, dancing to the music of Southbound, caricature drawings by Jody and an open bar made for a lively cruise. The children from UTMB cancer ward decorated the boat with their artwork. The live auction was conducted by Eddie Harper and Chiquita Taylor of Wiredin. Some of the live auction items included a Utah skiing trip, three day stay at El Presidente Hotel in Cozumel, Mexico, a private sunset cruise around Clear Lake, one week for several guests at the Lakeway
Resort in Austin and a Costa Rica travel package. Raffle items included restaurant and event gift certificates, jewelry, a golf package, spa visits and much more. We are grateful to our sponsors: Fusion, Inc., Nexen Inc., Pat and Clovis Westbrook, Royal Indulgence, Alex Rodriguez Mercedes Benz, AUTOSOL, Bette Burton, Bonnie Lem, Island Operating Co, Inc., Petro Amigos Supply, Inc., Corsair Investments Inc., Wiredin and Bay Area Houston. Dianne Troop’s Board of Directors is comprised of Jayne Gillis, Bette Burton, Julie Johnson, Julie Osborn, Mary Ellen Arledge and honorary board members, Bonnie Lem and Era Lee Caldwell.
The Jeanette Williams Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) organization founded in the memory of Dianne Troop’s mother, Jeanette Williams for the purpose of helping children with these illnesses to have one week of uninterrupted fun and laughter. “We always want to make a difference in these children’s quality of life” said Troop. Please visit www.jeanettewilliamsfoundaiton.org for more information.
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he following officers were installed for 2012-2013 at the May luncheon at Bay Oaks Country Club. Seated left to right are Carolyn Schmidt, president; Wanda Icenhower, vice president; Adee McSherry, treasurer; standing are Dolores Gregory, member-at-large, Ways and Means; and Carolyn Bennett, member-at-large, Welfare. The secretary, Anne Prosser, was installed, but unavailable for a photo. After the installation, Mrs. Schmidt gave her acceptance address to the membership and named her committee chairmen. They are Bridge: Donna Taylor and Peggy McDonald; Courtesy: Marjory Haithcoat; Membership: Judy Drottz; Newsletter and Publicity: Wanda Symmonds; Reservations: Virginia Stonestreet and Carolyn Bennett, and Telephone Committee: Jeanette Koerschner and Sue Martin. Hostesses for the meeting were Mary Jo Thibodaux and Wendy Peters. The room was decorated in a red, white and blue color scheme with patriotic American flags as centerpieces.
LRF 2012 The Lunar Rendezvous Festival has announced that Clear Lake native and former Air Force fighter pilot Jay Gurry will preside as this year’s Lunar Rendezvous King, along with Queen Peyton Barrier, Queen Alternate Danni Cantu, and Captain Brooks Kubena.
JUNE 2012 | Bay Area Houston Magazine
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