Bay Area Houston Magazine June 2022 by Bay Group Media

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June 2022

Sail Away With Me!

SERENDIPITY YACHT CRUISES

Something New and Different… Coming Soon! (Story on page 18)

KEEP YOU MOVING without joint pain

Live life without joint pain. At Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, we know that joint pain affects every part of your life. With treatment plans customized for you, our specialists offer a full range of advanced nonsurgical and surgical techniques. Our expert joint care includes: • Innovative pain control methods • Physical therapy to improve mobility and range of motion • The latest technology, including minimally invasive surgical techniques that help reduce recovery time Clear Lake

Schedule an appointment: houstonmethodist.org/jointpain 713.363.9090

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We get to know you.

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Bank Office President

BARRY G. MCMAHAN Senior Vice President & Commercial Lender

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LESLEE A. FARLEY Vice President & Commercial Lender

LIBBY MCGEE Vice President & Office Manager

JIMMY L. BUTCHER Bank Officer & Commercial Lender

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MAY 2022 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

J U N E

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features 6

Summer Beauty Tips Blaine Ochoa

Fishing Tournament This is the Big One to Catch

Don’t Ignore Men’s Health Issues Memorial Hermann Gives Us the List

Lunar Rendezvous King Find Out Why Dan Reason was Great Choice

18-19

Cover Story Something Exciting This Way Comes

Finding Beauty in Brutal Reality Pastor Brad Navigates Us Through

ON THE COVER

21 23

Excitement builds as Serendipity Yacht Cruises brings a new adventure to the Bay Area

Chairman Rick Clapp

CCISD Top Students Valedictorians and Salutitorians Announced

Top Teachers CCISD Announces 2022 Winners

UHCL President Named Dr. Richard Walker Gets Named

President Amber Sample

Remembering Ken Clark The County Will Miss This Remarkable County Servant

Publisher & Editor in Chief Mary Alys Cherry

League City 60th Anniversary The City Celebrates and a Statue Goes Up

General Manager Patty Andrew

Fish Are Everywhere You Could Catch Your Dream Fish

Creative Director Kelly Williams Sales & Marketing Amber Sample Bill Sloan Alisa Star Robyn Weigelt

Officers of the Year Awarding Some of Our Cities’ Finest

Coming Events Fun Things You Won’t Want to Miss

Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre An Exciting New Season

Editorial Patty Andrew GH Andrew Don Armstrong Mary Alys Cherry Michael Gos Blaine Ochoa Alisa Star

columns 10

Clear Lake Chatter 1 Dr. Ellen Ochoa Receives Award

Clear Lake Chatter 2 Advisory Board Long Awaited Meeting

Photography GH Andrew Mary Alys Cherry

Fab 40 is Back in a Big Way

32 34

281.474.5875

Bay Area Houston Magazine | JUNE 2022

Rick’s Picks Wonderful Events from Around the Bay

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

Please address all correspondence to: Bay Area Houston Magazine P.O. Box 1032 Seabrook, TX 77586 Earth, The Solar System

In Wheel Time A Good Look at the Big Small Cars

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Rhythms of the Bay

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Bay Area Houston Magazine & The Kelly Williams Show

Amy Wilson

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JUNE 2022 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

SUMMER beauty Beauty with Blaine

Infinity Skin Care - Advanced Wri-Lax $165

This treatment will leave your skin looking as good as new. It is wonderful for minimizing wrinkles and reversing the aging process. It contains argireloxand marine peptides. It is cruelty - free, vegan and dermatologist tested. The product is perfect to improve your skin’s appearance and create a fresh look for summer. MedSpaInfinity.com

Misty Rockwell Cosmetics - Illuminating Foundation Primer $30

by Blaine Ochoa

Blaine Beauty - Blaine (Makeup) Blender $8

ello summer. Time to shine, refresh and bask in the new season. Whether you’re laying out by the pool, vacationing in the Caribbean, or getting ready for date night, these beauty items are perfect for summer and will keep you feeling and looking like a goddess.

Blaine Beauty - Blaine Gloss in Bombshell $26 Featuring my favorite lipgloss from my personal cosmetics line, is Blaine Gloss in Bombshell. It is a luxury gloss mixed with a gold champagne and light pink iridescent shade. It has vitamin E and antioxidants in the formula and the color transforms in the light. It smells wonderful and gives your lips a perfect glossy, flirty pout. BlaineBeauty.com Blaine Beauty, Blaine Gloss

Matrix - Total Results Length Goals Shampoo & Conditioner $17 apiece I love this shampoo and conditioner because it is reviving and prolongs the life of your natural hair and extensions (if you wear extensions). It gives the hair a smooth non-frizzy finish, that leaves the hair hydrated and healthy. The scent is amazing, consisting of watermelon citrus, rose and soft iris. Ulta.com

Bay Area Houston Magazine | JUNE 2022

I use this product almost daily. It is great to wear under your foundation or perfect to wear on its own. It gives just the right amount of coverage and creates a beautiful all over glow. It looks very natural and the primer leaves your skin hydrated, dewy and smooth. One of my all time favorites! MistyRockwellCosmetics.com

Our best selling makeup blender is a convenient item that helps to give an even makeup application and flawless finish. You can use the blender to apply concealer, foundation or setting powder. It is a black non latex blender that has a flat bottom as well as a round bottom. The Blaine Blender gives the perfect option of either or for the user.

I hope you give these beauty products a try this season and add to your beauty regimen. Cheers to summer!

Blaine

Leading Medicine

IN CLEAR LAKE

Advanced Care Close to Home

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HOUSTON

Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital provides specialized services, comprehensive emergency care and the most advanced technology and procedures available, ensuring patients receive the highest quality treatment and care — right here in our community.

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We are proud to offer: • Breast Care Center

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | JUNE 2022

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JUNE 2022 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

Photos By Mary Alys Cherry

Long-time UHCL friends Capt. Wendell Wilson and his wife, Dr. Pat Wilson, at left, and Dr. Ted Cummings, all now retired, talk about old times while enjoying the Space Gala.

Dr. Ellen Ochoa, former Johnson Space Center Director, is presented the National Space Trophy by former Johnson Space Center Director Michael Coats, left, and NASA Deputy Administrator Robert Cabana at the 2022 Rotary National Award for Space Achievement Gala.

Dr. Vissett Sun and his wife, Adrienne, look over the crowd as they arrive at the Hyatt Regency for the RNASA Space Gala.

Space Communicator Award winner and NASA senior photographer Bill Ingalls, left, is presented the award by Rob Navias, 2017 award winner.

Dr. Ellen Ochoa presented National Space Trophy

R. ELLEN OCHOA, a retired Johnson Space Center director, was finally presented the 2020 National Space Trophy at this year’s Rotary National Award for Space Achievement Gala after a twoyear delay due to the pandemic that brought the country to a standstill. The black-tie crowd of more than 700 cheered as Michael Coats, also a retired JSC director, and Robert Cabana, NASA associate administrator and a former Kennedy Space Center director, made the presentation in the Downtown Houston Hyatt Regency Hotel Ballroom. Looking out at the crowd, Dr. Ochoa told them, “there’s nothing that people can’t achieve when they work together for a common goal. To be part of that team for 30 years is the greatest possible reward, and this recognition by my peers tonight is icing on the cake…It seems to me that in the last two years almost all the positive and exciting news

National Space Trophy winner Dr. Ellen Ochoa receives congratulations from congressional candidate Jon Haire as the Space Gala comes to an end.

MARY ALYS CHERRY

in the world came from milestones achieved in human and robotic spaceflight.” "We get to make exciting discoveries . . . develop new technologies that enrich and improve people’s lives", she continued, glancing down at her husband, attorney Coe Miles, and two sons, Wilson and Jordan, “and by achieving astounding feats, we change people’s lives. And that last one, inspiration, is the hardest to measure but clearly the most significant. What could be more important than bringing hope, pride, or resolve to someone else’s life?”

Faces in the crowd at the RNASA Space Gala included ERC Program Manager Darryl Smith, left, and his wife Monique with Barrios Technology Vice President Robert McAfoos.

Bay Area Houston Magazine | JUNE 2022

Looking around as RNASA President Rodolfo Gonzalez welcomed the crowd, you might have spotted Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche and her husband, Attorney George Wyche Jr., Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro, Glenn Research Center Director Dr. Maria Davis and former Director Janet Kavandi, now president of Sierra Space. The guest list read like a Who’s Who in the space industry and included Lockheed Martin Space VPs Robert M Lightfoot Jr., Kirk Shireman and Mike Hawes, Barrios CEO Sandy Johnson, President Kelly Page and VP Robert McAfoos, MRI Technologies owners Debbie and Tim Kropp; former Marshall Center Director Todd May, now KBRwyle senior VP, Oceaneering GM Mike Bloomfield and VP David Cates, Bastion Technologies President Jorge Hernandez,

Bob Wren, one of the early founders of the RNASA Space Gala, and his wife Jordis join the crowd at the Hyatt Regency for the Space Awards Gala.

Eileen Collins, center, the first woman to command a space shuttle mission, visits with Space Center Rotarians Delia Stephens, left, and Mary Alys Cherry as the RNASA Space Gala ends as they prepare to head for home.

Photos By Mary Alys Cherry

Clear Lake City Water Authority President and Rotarian John Branch and his wife Patty were among early arrivals for the 2022 Space Awards Gala.

MRI Technologies President and Vice President Debby and Tim Kropp, from left, stop to visit with Lockheed Martin Senior Manager Linda Singleton and All Points Logistics Vice President Kevin Repa and his wife Joyce at the Space Gala at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

(Dr. Ellen Ochoa continued . . .)

SAIC Senior Director Charles Stegemoeller, Griffin Communications President Jeff Carr, Sierra Space President Dr. Janet Kavandi, Leidos Division Manager C.J. Loria, All Points Logistics VP Kevin Repa, BASRC Federal President Scott Altman, Jacobs VPs Joy Kelly and Paul Nemeth, several dozen from Boeing, Aegis Aerospace President Mark Gittleman -- many with their spouses. Along with several former Space Trophy winners you might have bumped into Bob Cabana, Eileen Collins, Dr. Michael Griffin,

Gen. Tom Stafford and Robert Lightfoot Jr. Plus a number of astronauts including Dr. Tracy Caldwell Dyson, Stephanie Wilson, Capt. G. Reid Wiseman, Col. Robert L. Behnken, Col. Dr. Megan McArthur and Stellar Award presenters, Randolph Bresnik and Dr. Jessica Meir. Lots of Space Center Rotarians and their guests in the crowd, too, including President Stan Galanski and his wife, Susan; Deborah and David Laine, Bob and Jordie Wren, Jorge and Rosi Hernandez, Dr. Vissett and Adrienne Sun, Frank Perez and Priscilla Ennis, Marilyn and Wayne Musial, Dennis and Eliza Paul, Michelle

RNASA Chairman Rodolfo Gonzalez joins his wife Anangela after welcoming the crowd to the 2022 Space Gala in the Downtown Houston Hyatt Regency Ballroom.

Krueger, Kippy Caraway, Delia Stephens, Jon Haire, Darryl and Monique Smith, John and Patty Branch, Duane and Linda Ross, Bill and Susan Taylor, Susan Zoch and Gary and Karen Johnson. Some of the other faces in the crowd were Galveston County Judge Mark Henry and his wife, Diana, the Brian Friedmans, Eleanor Alrich, Russell Alrich and Susan Alrich Zoch, Wendell and Pat Wilson and their UH-Clear Lake friend and former dean, Ted Cummings, Irene Chan, and Linda Singleton.

Advisory Board finally has face-to-face meet

It’s been ages since we last saw one another, Janet Greenwood, left, says as she walks up to Pat Wilson at the Houston Methodist Clear Lake Women’s Advisory Board Luncheon in the top floor of the hospital’s new medical building

OTS OF HUGS everywhere as the Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital Women’s Advisory Board members met in person for the first time in about two years. This time they assembled on the top floor of the new Medical Office Building on Upper Bay Road in Nassau Bay. After a welcome by Board Chairman Elaine Renola and an update by Regional Development Director Myrna Baker and Patient Specialist Derius Davis, Houston Methodist Clear Lake CEO Dan Newman offered a look at life in the medical world during the COVID-19 pandemic. Other speakers introduced by Yocselid Garcia were Jason Lee, who spoke about Stroke Awareness and Prevention; and Allyson Cook Lindsay, who discussed neurology and oncology.

Houston Methodist Clear Lake Regional Development Director Myrna Baker, third from left, welcomes, from left, Gaye Wylie, Ashley Carner and Kay Schmedding to the Women’s Advisory Board spring luncheon.

Mary Ann Shallberg, Kippy Caraway and Cheryl Maultsby, from left, catch up on each other’s news as they await the start of the Houston Methodist Hospital Clear Lake Women’s Advisory Board Luncheon April 28 in Nassau Bay.

Patsy Steele, Kim Krist and Susan Bailey, from left, stop for a photo as they arrive at the Houston Methodist Women’s Advisory Board spring luncheon on the top floor of the new medical office building in Nassau Bay.

JUNE 2022 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

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JUNE IS NATIONAL MEN’S HEALTH MONTH

MEN’S HEALTH: SYMPTOMS NOT TO IGNORE ‘It’s nothing.” That’s the classic retort you hear when you suggest that the man in your life see a doctor for symptoms he’s having. But it could be something—something which could endanger his health and interfere with his quality of life. Minor complaints needn’t worsen, especially since many of the latest treatments at Memorial Hermann can be minimally or even noninvasive. So, here’s how to get him to see a physician for some common health complaints.

FATIGUE, HEAVY SNORING

Symptoms: He gasps, chokes or even stops breathing while dozing. Likely culprit: He may have obstructive sleep apnea, in which excess throat tissue blocks the airway, says Fernando Gomez-Rivera, MD, an assistant professor of surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston and ENT (otolaryngology) surgeon affiliated with Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital. Sleep apnea deprives him of oxygen and may raise his risk of arrhythmias and difficult to control blood pressure. It also doubles his risk of stroke or heart attacks. Treatment options: “For sleep apnea, a Continuous Positive Air Pressure (CPAP) mask is the gold standard, but unfortunately there are a lot of issues with adherence to therapy and effectiveness due to multiple factors, frequently people find it uncomfortable and don’t use it,” Dr. Gomez-Rivera says. Dental devices or surgery can move the jaw or tongue forward to open the airway. Surgery can improve throat opening while sleeping and/or address nasal obstruction. As with many conditions, weight loss can make a big difference, in this case because that puts less pressure on the throat. Your doctor may recommend physical activity, healthy eating and portion control, with a weight-loss specialist’s support.

Adults with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and a body mass index (BMI) less than 35 may be eligible for Inspire, a device that’s like a pacemaker for the throat. During outpatient surgery, the doctor implants an Oreo®-sized battery in the upper chest. Turned on with a remote, Inspire sends a gentle electrical pulse to a nerve beneath the tongue with each breath. “That causes the tongue to stiffen and move forward,” Dr. Gomez-Rivera says.

HEARTBURN

Symptoms: He feels burning or pain in his chest after meals or at night, or is hoarse, or has a sour taste or trouble swallowing. Likely culprit: He may suffer from reflux, the upward surge of acid from the stomach via the esophagus to the throat, says Hoang Le, MD, general surgeon with Memorial Hermann Medical Group Southeast General Surgery. Habitual heartburn may be gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which erodes and inflames the esophageal lining and can lead to Barrett’s esophagus, a condition which boosts cancer risk, Dr. Le says. “White men over 50—especially those with round bellies and who smoke or drink—are more vulnerable.” Treatment options: If he is under 50 and over-thecounter antacids don’t correct the symptoms, he may be prescribed acid-suppressing drugs called Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs). He’ll also be discouraged from having heavy evening meals. If those measures don’t work, an upper endoscopy is performed which sends a narrow tube with a camera to the stomach and upper intestines to rule out ulcers or inflammation. “The gastroenterologist also can send down tools through the endoscope to seal bleeding vessels and do biopsies,” Dr. Le says. If he is over 50, the physician may do an endoscopy before prescribing medication. To confirm GERD, the doctor can do another procedure, in which a tiny acid- or pH-measuring probe (Bravo capsule) is attached to the lower esophagus. It comes with a monitor, whose buttons the patient presses when

symptomatic. Bravo stays attached for 4 days, then passes through the digestive tract. Reflux can be cut down by losing weight and stopping smoking and drinking. If not, he may need surgery to repair the valve (or sphincter) that serves as a flapping door between the esophagus and stomach. The operation, fundoplication, strengthens the flap by wrapping the top of the stomach around the lower esophagus.

FREQUENT BATHROOM BREAKS

Symptoms: He urinates urgently, slowly and with difficulty. Likely culprit: An enlarged prostate (benign prostate hyperplasia) can press upward on the bladder or curb urine flow by impeding the urinary tract as it moves through the prostate, says Angie Staller, MD, urologist with Memorial Hermann Medical Group Urology Associates Southeast. “Eventually the obstruction may lead to bladder dysfunction, inability to urinate and urinary tract infections. It also can progress to kidney (renal) failure,” Dr. Staller says. Treatment options: Medications can shrink the gland or relax the prostatic tissue, making it easier to urinate. Urologists can perform minimally invasive, in-office procedures to ease the flow, Dr. Staller says. The UroLift® procedure inserts tiny implants to separate prostate lobes, which lessens pressure on the urethra. Some treatments must be performed in the hospital. Aqua ablation uses a computer and high-pressured water, to destroy excess tissue while transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) uses heated electrodes or a laser to take out the central part of the prostate. Surgeons also can cut through the abdomen to do a simple prostatectomy, in which they remove the interior tissue of super-sized glands.

INTIMACY PROBLEMS

Symptoms: Difficulty achieving or maintaining

erections or decreased libido. Likely culprit: Erectile dysfunction or low testosterone. Erectile dysfunction may be an early sign of cardiovascular disease. Other causes of erectile dysfunction include diabetes, obesity, stress, depression. Patients with low libido and erectile dysfunction may be low in testosterone. Treatment options: “There are many effective and safe treatment options for men with erectile dysfunction” says Dr. Staller. First line treatment involves lifestyle changes, like diet and exercise. If that is not successful, there are several treatments such as medication and testosterone replacement. Urologists can even perform surgery in which a penile implant is placed which results in 90 percent to 95 percent satisfaction rating in patients and their partners.

LARGE WAISTLINE

Symptoms: He snores loudly, urinates often and has heartburn. Likely culprit: Obesity. His organs are surrounded by visceral fat and crammed into his tummy—and that’s bad news. “Obesity is a major killer because it’s

Fernando Gomez-Rivera, MD ENT Surgeon

linked to diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and other grave diseases,” says Etakarina Elliott, DO, an assistant professor of surgery at McGovern Medical School and bariatric surgeon affiliated with Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital. “Yet men don’t address their weight till their pain and medical problems are unbearable.” Treatment options: According to Dr. Elliott, it’s important to increase physical activity to keep the weight off and improve heart and lung health but making changes to your diet is the key to losing weight. For eligible candidates, bariatric surgery can lead to faster and perpetual weight loss. The minimally invasive surgery resolves not just obesity, but also many of the above issues. Yet only 1 percent of those eligible get the operation. “And of those, just one of five are men,” Dr. Elliott says, “even though they need it as much as women do.” According to Dr. Elliott, gastric bypass creates a thumb-sized pouch from the top of the stomach and connects it to the small intestine. Gastric sleeve, also called sleeve gastrectomy, cuts down your stomach by 70 percent until it’s the size of a banana “People can eat very little, yet they feel full,” she says. “Once

Hoang Le, MD General Surgeon

Learn more about men’s health and recommended screenings by age at memorialhermann.org/menshealth

Angie Staller, MD Urologist

men lose the weight, their quality of life is so much better.”

MAINTENANCE

Why it’s needed: His body is more complex than his car, but just like it, he needs regular checkups and maintenance. Providing those visits is his primary care physician (PCP), says Hailie Shah, MD, family medicine physician with Memorial Hermann Medical Group Clear Lake. “If a male has health issues, the PCP often is the first to recognize them. We can prescribe or adjust medications and decide what treatments are right.” Treatment options: He should have an annual physical at least yearly to measure blood pressure, height and weight, cholesterol, blood sugar and other key body metrics. His doctor may urge other tests or health screenings, based on his family or personal health history. It’s never too late to rev up for better health. Regular tune-ups will spare him from major mishaps down the road. “Screenings can discover a problem early and help stop it from worsening,” Dr. Shah says.

Etakarina Elliott, DO Bariatric Surgeon

Hailie Shah, MD Family Medicine Physician

Advancing health. Personalizing care.

star athlete Dan Reason from to king of Lunar Rendezvous

rowing up in Stone Mountain, Ga., Dan Reason Jr. was an accomplished athlete. He was an All-State swimmer and baseball player, earning more varsity letters than anyone in his senior class. He never dreamed of someday becoming a king. Yet, on April 3, Dan was introduced at the Lunar Rendezvous Festival Kickoff as the 2022 Lunar Rendezvous king – chosen by all the former festival kings. He attended West Georgia College, where he was president of Sigma Nu Fraternity and majored in history and political science. The highlight of his college career, he says, was meeting his beautiful wife Jill in a badminton class. After college they were married and moved to Houston, and he began working for Southern Bracing Systems LLC. After 35 years with the company, Dan is the most tenured and top sales employee. He serves the entire Southwest and Mexico region as the Hazardous Material/Transportation Cargo Bracing specialist. BASEBALL COACH Before having children of his own, he coached NASA Area Little League baseball. His team won league championships, and he coached the AllStar teams for years. Very active in his church for years, he taught the four-year-old class and Vacation Bible School and was a confirmation mentor for over five years. Once his four children were born, he spent every spare moment being a supporter in their lives. He coached Bayside Little League, League City Softball, and served as the Prop Dad for the Clear Creek Cavaliers for years. He was the production manager for Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre for 10 years a job that took over 500 hours through the years. Dan was the first one at the theatre and the last one to leave, ensuring

Coffee, Cars, & Church

Come and join us for coffee, cars, and church on Father's Day, June 19, 2022, in the G.W. Robinson Elementary Parking Lot, 451 Kirby Rd. Seabrook, Texas 77586. At this Father's Day car meet-up we welcome all cars, trucks, and jeeps to show at the event and all dads, grand dads, sons, and daughters to attend. Coffee and refreshments will be served 8-10:30 am. Join Living Word Church for worship in the School Gym at 10:30 am with our live band and then cruise down to Rudy's BBQ for lunch!

Cars are cool and Christ is King! www.LWCBA.org - 281-532-9000

everything was set and then cleaned up. Stepping in to play roles in The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Annie was a stretch but a joy to be on stage with his family. He was awarded the ballet’s Hall of Fame Award in 2008 and the Pas de Dad Award in 2010. Dan and his family support many organizations in our community -- Clear Creek Education Foundation, Communities in School-Bay Area, the Lunar Rendezvous Festival, Clear Lake Panhellenic, Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre, Galveston Food Bank, multiple elementary, Intermediate and high school PTAs and booster clubs, and many sports teams. He not only monetarily supports but is instrumental with their various events.

DAN REASON King of Lunar Rendezvous 2022

FATHER OF FOUR The light of his life is being the father to his four amazing children – Dalton, who is a physical therapist in Houston and College Station; Ashton, who works for an advertising firm in Boston; and identical twins, Sydney and Savannah, who are teachers at Lobit Elementary. Each grew up in the Lunar world. Sydney and Savannah were little ladies on the 2006 court. Dalton was a lieutenant on the 2011 court. Ashton was a princess on the 2013 court and served as queen alternate the following year. Sydney and Savannah were princesses on the 2015 court. April of 2019, the pride of his life entered the world and made Dan a “Poppy.” Collyn Jo, along with her little brother Dalton Jr., who arrived last year, make life complete. The pleasure of watching Dalton and his wife become amazing parents, fills Dan’s heart with the greatest joy. Today Dan Reason is the epitome of a spirited volunteer and community leader -- always doing whatever is needed to get the job done. Photo By Patty Andrew

Congratulations to Joe Marullo on his new book, "Story of My Mom's Quilt." Pictured with friends and family at his book signing at Pomodoro's Cucina in League City. Call 206-622-3738 to order a copy. JUNE 2022 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

FAB 40

BY GH ANDREW PHOTOS BY GH ANDREW

e’ve noticed that the returning events following the C-19 have been over the top and such it was with the Fab 40 Get Back show in May at the Discovery Green Park downtown. This lineup, led by Dave Bassingame, has a strong returning cast of musicians including an orchestra with over 20 members with Sitar players plus, this year, a live chorus. Pretty cool, eh? This show featured the Beatles album, Let It Be performed in its entirety plus an assortment of other Beatles favorites. (Let It Be was recently featured in Peter Jackson’s documentary, Get Back.) Local relevance of this show, in addition to good music, is the makeup of the band’s members - a cast of volunteers from across the greater Houston metroplex including the Galveston Bay region. This series of one-off performances has spanned over the decade and features iconic albums from the ‘60s with their original scores (remember albums?). Sadness struck the group a mere week before showtime with the sudden passing of co-front man John Senderling of Taylor Lake Village. John was musically connected with many and, notably, helping others through the Houston Music Foundation’s Artists for Artists crisis relief fund. Locally, Senderling performed with Andy and The Dreamsicles both on stage and at the Oleanders Festival. He leaves behind a young family and many friends and fans.

The reach of the Fab 40 runs deep and answering the last-minute show call was Johnny Ono, who has appeared on the Greater Houston music scene, and, locally on more than several occasions, with the band Already Gone at Jackie’s Bar & Grill. Ono fit in perfectly and it was onwith-the-show attended by a full house under the Houston skyline. This was an over-the-top performance that went down on a relaxing Mother’s Day Sunday evening. Well done, Johnny! Let It Be was the Beatles hit final album before the band broke up and scattering. Houston’s Fab 40’s passion for the music is sincere and appreciated by those who attended. The band’s cast has changed over the decade and the core team of members make room on the stage for new musicians. The members today were allowed to share the stage, back then, as youth, thus passing along the music across generations. Sounds like good karma to me…..

Play on!!!

JOHN SENDERLING

JOHNNY ONO

GREG TILLMAN DAVE BLASSINGAME 16

Bay Area Houston Magazine | JUNE 2022

The reach

FAB 40

Almost 1,200 graduate at UHCL

early 1,200 University of Houston-Clear Lake students were presented their degrees during ceremonies Saturday, May 14 at 10 a.m. for the Colleges of Education and Business, and 3 p.m. for the Colleges of Science and Engineering and Human Sciences and Humanities at NRG Arena, 1 NRG Parkway, Houston. Of the 1,195 graduates, 775 received their undergraduate degree, and 420 received graduate degrees. The Colleges of Education and Business conferred degrees to 183 and 388 graduates, respectively, including nine COE graduates who received doctorates. The College of Science and Engineering conferred 277 degrees, and the College of Human Sciences and Humanities 388. Student Government Association President Hiba Loya, who received her Bachelor of Science in Management from the College of Business, delivered the commencement address for the earlier ceremony. During her time at UHClear Lake, she served in Student Government for two years, and interned at

Ike Dike bill gets nod from both Senate and House committees By Mary Alys Cherry

he $31 billion Ike Dike project to protect the Galveston Bay area from storm surge found itself swimming in favorable waters in recent days as bills advancing the project to a vote on both the Senate and House floors in Washington was passed by Senate and House committees. Known as the Water Resources Development Act of 2022, the bill passed the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee unanimously, indicating that it probably will face little opposition as it moves forward. Among the several U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects across the country in the bill is the Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Feasibility Study -- the largest engineering study recommendation of its kind the

the Tahirih Justice Center, a national nonprofit that services immigrant survivors fleeing gender-based violence. She has been accepted to the University of Houston Law Center. The commencement speaker for the second ceremony was Isaiah McDuffie, who received his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Criminology from the College of Human Sciences and Humanities. He works as a youth development coach in Harris County Juvenile Probation Department, and trains others in restorative justice practices and serves in ministry for incarcerated youth. He’s currently a substitute teacher at Second Baptist School and is about to become the father of a little girl. This spring's graduates joined over 77,000 others who have graduated from the university. UHCL began as an upper-level university in 1974, admitting juniors, seniors and graduate students. The university expanded to admit underclassmen in 2014.

Corps has ever proposed. Meanwhile, in the House, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted to move its Water Resources Development Act of 2022 toward a vote of the full House. After the bills pass both houses of Congress, they will be merged for a final vote by the two bodies. NAMED AFTER STORM It got its name, the Ike Dike Project, after Hurricane Ike, a Category 2 storm, and its 22-foot surge that devastated the Bay Area in 2008. Later that year, Dr. Bill Merrell, Marine Sciences chairman at Texas A&M University at Galveston, proposed a coastal barrier designed to extend protection provided by the Galveston Seawall to the rest of Galveston Island and along the Bolivar Peninsula via a 17- foot-tall revetment near the beach. The project also would include flood gates at the entrance to the Houston, Texas City, and Galveston ship channels and at San Luis pass to provide an additional barrier against storm surges. But despite the fact a major hurricane hits the area every 12-14 years, creating the obvious need for the proposed barrier, the project dragged on for

a number of years while Congress spent $15 billion giving storm surge protection to New Orleans only five years after Hurricane Katrina and $4.2 billion to the New York region shortly after Hurricane Sandy. Some of the ideas in the Ike Dike concept are part of the Corps plan, but they are not the entire plan, a corps spokesman said. Merrell’s plan called for a set of gates but the Corps’ plan includes a multi-gate system across the mouth of Galveston Bay, surrounded by levees with lift gates that can rise or be lowered, depending on the level of the surge. MANY IDEAS "We brought people in from all over the world who've actually done this before. From Venice, from England, from the Netherlands and from St. Petersburg," the spokesman said. A major purpose was to protect the country’s largest petrochemical complex found along the Houston Ship Channel. Once Congress approves and provides the needed funds, the project will take approximately 15 years to complete and will cost between $23 billion and $32 billion. The Corps of Engineers has been working on the project for a number of years.

remembering and honoring on memorial day

JUNE 2022 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

with

By Patty Andrew

SERENDIPITY

erendipity Yacht Cruises (SYC) is coming to the Clear Lake/Galveston Bay very soon with its sensational new large event destination watercraft, Golden Opportunity. More than just a party boat, SYC is planning entire packages featuring great food, fine wine, full bar, and live music all on the water for both day and evening events. The Golden Opportunity will host all sorts of occasions: corporate, social, fundraisers, family, community, and more. SYC’s parent company has been sponsoring seminars in this area for many years, especially with all the oil and gas plants. With their familiarity with the area and true love of entertaining, SYC will provide a high-quality experience with the uniqueness of a yacht setting. Just imagine…

Savor the memories

It’s been 15 years since they have all been together, so everyone is eagerly climbing aboard the Golden Opportunity to relive what was, celebrate what is, and cheer what is to come. As they drift from deck to deck, they marvel at the beauty of water while giggling over high school memories of their Sweet 16 parties and their senior prom. On the water, it is quiet enough to hear the band playing the hits from their school days echo through the yacht as they all sing the words to their favorites. Here they can be the friends they once were, sharing their collective remembrances of volleyball and social studies. Thank you, Serendipity Yacht Cruises.

Saying “I do” to a wedding with wind and waves

As the sun dips down over Galveston Bay, the bride blinks back tears of happiness as she glides toward her fiancé holding on to her father’s strong arm. The great yacht gracefully moves through the waves while the couple make lifetime vows with their family and friends close by all waiting for that special kiss and first champagne toast. Plates of awardwinning dishes soon appear in front of the excited guests as they enjoy the early evening watching the last sailboats head toward docile Clear Lake. It is wedding like no other aboard the area’s newest addition to luxury event venues on the water with Serendipity Yacht Cruises.

Take time to relax

After several days of intense training, these professionals are looking forward for a time to unwind as they board chartered buses heading for the marina. As they walk down the dock, the lively music beckons them forward. In front of them is one of the largest party yachts in the area, decorated in full Tiki style with graceful hula dancers in grass skirts welcoming each guest with a lei and a special drink in a coconut glass. Mountains of food await them as the Golden Opportunity sets sail into the warm Galveston waters, leaving cares behind. It is time to make new friends at this luau extraordinaire as they dance, drink, and nosh the day away. Aloha!

Bay Area Houston Magazine | JUNE 2022

Yacht Cruises

SSHR, I decided to recommend the yacht company be based in League City. Prior, the thought was the East Coast, closer to the home office. The yacht cruise company idea sat for many months. Then, when seminars and conferences quieted down during Covid surges, the yacht cruise company idea emerged front and center. The first thing needed was selecting the name of the company. Serendipity Yacht Cruises was high on the list, which I zeroed in on while studying the phenomenon of serendipity and its results for many years. I discussed the name with the team, and everyone agreed, as many also benefitted from it. Random encounters and conversations trigger amazing, unique ideas, discoveries, and innovations, resulting in success and profitability; thus Serendipity was born. Companies and universities are reinventing their culture to become serendipity machines. As studies have shown, serendipity will not happen to you; it will happen because of you. Our themes and events will be about the meeting, connecting, sharing, and having fun. Everything is an opportunity if we have the right mindset and look at things with ”yes, and” vs. “yes, but.” We want people via SYC to also explore outside of their comfort zone. Serendipity is constantly at work if we look for it and recognize it. As we looked to the future of our new company, we knew uniting and bringing people together was going to be essential as we decided on a boat name. High on the list was Golden Opportunity. The team felt this projected the synergy we are planning for corporate events, team building, sales meetings, fundraisers, bachelorette parties, all types of celebrations, and special events. Thus, Serendipity Yacht Cruises featuring Golden Opportunity was born.

Watch for us soon in the waters near you!

The Story of Serendipity Yacht Cruises Lorraine Castiglia, SYC Director

he idea for Serendipity Yacht Cruises (SYC) began in August 2020 on a hot, sunny day in League City while on a boat ride planning for our first dinner event. Our planning team wanted to offer dinner on a yacht, so we checked out a few vessels but could not find one that met everyone’s needs so we headed back to South Shore Harbour Resort & Conference Center (SSHR), which had become “our home away from home.” While I sat on my balcony with my laptop, I began brainstorming about the boat we would need and thought about having our own yacht company. As I imagined the types of events we could have, I created ideas for the company name and its

first vessel. Without anyone knowing it, I did more research and kept a notepad by the bed as many ideas surfaced during the early hours of the morning each day at SSHR. I found being surrounded by such incredible views, the calming water, and many unique boats put my brain on a relaxing wave, recharging my batteries, and getting my creative juices in full gear. I realized that if we planned it differently and built it, they would come. The dinner event on a yacht needed to wait for now. With much assistance from Bridget Bear, Director of Sales & Marketing, the team found an excellent solution at SSHR using the local facilities there which sparked another idea. After researching the marketplace and experiencing the synergy at JUNE 2022 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

Finding Beauty in

Brutal Reality By Pastor Brad Heintz

T Donate your car!

Bay Area Houston Magazine | JUNE 2022

he other day I was driving down NASA Parkway and turned right onto TX-146, that major construction zone we used to call a highway, and I came to a dead stop. A major traffic jam caused by construction. Have you been stuck in traffic lately? It is becoming almost a daily occurrence. So here I was on a hot Houston day, in my daughter’s jeep without AC, crawling up the Kemah Bridge, and wearing out my clutch and calf muscle. Sorry to say, my first thoughts were of frustration. Then I looked to my left and saw the beautiful sun shining on the gorgeous Galveston Bay and a smile came to my face. Beauty in the midst of brutal reality. If I hadn’t been stopped on the bridge, I could have missed this beauty! We live in a world that is beautiful and broken at the same time. We visit the Grand Canyon and are amazed at awesome grandeur and stark beauty of a major water erosion issue from the past. My Bible tells me that our reality is both beauty and brokenness. God made a perfect universe and people broke it. I believe that the last few years have put a real exclamation point to that sentence. Yet, as a believer in Jesus Christ, my Bible also tells me that His resurrection is real (1 Corinthians 15) which means that Jesus takes our brokenness, heartache and tragedies and creates glory, calling, and meaning in our lives.

I was listening to a podcast recently and the host was interviewing an author of a new book “Redeeming Heartache: How Past Suffering Reveals Our True Calling,” by Dan B. Allender and Cathy Loerzel. Cathy said, “Thank God the resurrection is real – because you can’t live in this world and not see all the heartache, trauma and tragedy and yet we are also left looking at such beauty and gifting. So much of our work is figuring out how we live in this tension.” What in your past or current life is brutal or broken? What if that could be recreated into something beautiful? I believe it is possible, through faith in Jesus Christ, that God’s presence in my life can remold, remake and reclaim me and my brutal brokenness (Isaiah 61). How about you? What does it take? Turn and trust in God and you will have His resurrection power present in your life. Lean into the reality that you are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17-21) and let the old die away. Look for God’s provision and purpose so that your pain is not in vain. And if you need help, connect with a friend, a counselor, a church or a group because most, if not all of us, don’t have to do this alone. That’s one of the reasons I pastor a church and shepherd people who want to heal and help others heal. We aren’t perfect, far from it, but we are turning to God who creates beauty out of brokenness.The next time you are in the brutal reality of a construction zone or something worse, take a moment to look around, connect with God and let Him show you the beauty that He wants to emerge through your reality. Pastor Brad Heintz is the founding pastor of Living Word Church in Taylor Lake Village, Texas, a vibrant familystyle, non-denominational gathering of believers who take a pure, simple and real approach to faith and life. www. LWCBA.org

Officers of the Year Photo By Mary Aly Cherry

These five officers were honored by the Space Center Rotary Club of Clear Lake as Officers of the Year for their outstanding work over the past year at a recent luncheon at Bay Oaks Country Club. They are, from left, Nassau Bay Officer Clint Brown, Pasadena Officer Nicholas Colunga, Houston Police Officer Chase Lee, Constable Pct. 8 Deputy John Gomez and Webster Detective Vince Cesari. Each were named Officer of the Year and received a plaque and a token of appreciation at the Law Enforcement Distinguished Service Luncheon.

City elections results CLEAR LAKE SHORES Position Alex Scanion Position Randy Chronister Position Rick Fisher DEER PARK Position 4 Bill Patterson Position 5 Ron Martin Position 6 Georgette Ford DICKINSON Position 2 Jenna Simson Position 4 Jessie Brantley Position 6 Fred Linton El LAGO Position 3 Darin "Boot" Clark Position 4 Kris Kuehnel

Position 5 Ann Vernon

Position 6 Michelle Weller

FRIENDSWOOD Position 4 Robert J. Griffon Position 6 Brent Erenwert

SEABROOK Position 1 Jackie Rasco Ed Klein Position 3 Tom Tollett Position 5 Buddy Hammond

KEMAH Position 1 Teresa Vazquez-Evans Position 2 Darren Broadus Jeff Thompson Position 3 Doug Meisinger Position 5 Isaac Saldana NASSAU BAY Mayor Phil Johnson Position 2 Lucie J. Sommer Position 4 John Mahon James Abbey

CLEAR CREEK ISD District 1 winner Jessica Cejka At Large Position B Scott Bowen DEER PARK ISD Position 4 Lynn Kirkpatrick Position 5 Ken Donnell

TAYLOR LAKE VILLAGE Position 1 Mark Eisenberg Position 3 Kay Ann Jorgenson Position 5 Bob Davee

DICKINSON ISD District 5 Corey Magliolo District 6 Jessica Rodriguez District 7 Mary Anthamatten

WEBSTER Position 3 Chris Vaughan Position 4 Beverly Gaines Position 5 Edward Lapeyre

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CLEAR CREEK ISD

Clear Brook High School

Clear Creek High School

is Proud to Announce

the 2022 Valedictorians and Salutatorians from the district’s seven high schools Clear Lake High School

Valedictorian Allen Shen

Salutatorian Luana Liao

Valedictorian Abdulkader Almosa

Salutatorian Sarah Hammond

Clear Falls High School

Valedictorian Bailey Foulds

Salutatorian Acadia Ferguson

Clear Springs High School

Valedictorian Sidharth Pavuluri

Salutatorian Nithish Oommen

Valedictorian Alex Hu

Salutatorian Bliss Kim

Clear Horizons Early College High School

Valedictorian Eva Sharma

Salutatorian Jack Maddox

Clear View High School

Valedictorian Erin Scott

Salutatorian Stephen Lee

JUNE 2022 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

Clear Creek ISD Announces 2022

Teachers of the Year

Clear Creek ISD Superintendent Dr. Eric Williams congratulates Elementary Teacher of the Year Heidi Danner of Bauerschlag Elementary and Secondary Teacher of the Year Cameron Lingo from Clear Creek Intermediate.

ogether with the Rotary Clubs of League City, Seabrook and Space Center, Clear Creek ISD announced the 2022 Teachers of the Year nominees, finalists and top two winners at the traditional awards luncheon on May 9. Heidi Danner from Bauerschlag Elementary School was named the Elementary Teacher of the Year and Cameron Lingo from Clear Creek Intermediate School was named the Secondary Teacher of the Year. Lingo has been an educator with CCISD since 2019 and teaches math and science at Clear Creek Intermediate. He also serves as the assistant football and basketball coach and head golf coach. He strives for a strong collaboration model with his peer educators and highly-engaged student learning experiences. “Cameron Lingo is authentic,” said Clear Creek Intermediate Principal Kim Brouillard. “What you see is what you get and what you’re getting is a master teacher who cares about students, who cares about their success and cares about offering them experiences that are going to take them into their future.” Danner is currently a third-grade teacher at Bauerschlag Elementary and previously taught at McWhirter Elementary. She is a part of the core group helping develop and implement the Robotics, Coding and Computation Thinking (RCC) program at Bauerschlag, one of three schools piloting the program this year. “Ms. Danner is one of the best teachers I’ve ever worked with,” said Bauerschlag Principal Wendy Menachery. “She is thoughtful and reflective and has a clarity of purpose so that she knows exactly what her intentions are for the learning.” The finalists in the elementary and secondary levels were also recognized during the luncheon: Heidi Danner, third grade teacher at Bauerschlag Elementary, Kimberly Thomas, art teacher at Hall Elementary, Jessica Sellards, third grade teacher at Mossman Elementary, Cameron Lingo, math and science teacher at Clear Creek Intermediate, Heather Jefferson, vocational teacher at Clear Lake High, and Richard Cockerham, science teacher at Clear View High.

Bay Area Houston Magazine | JUNE 2022

Dr. Richard Walker named 6th president of UH-Clear Lake

r. Richard Walker has been named the sixth president of the University of HoustonClear Lake by UH System Chancellor Renu Khator after serving as interim president since last October. The appointment, effective May 20, 2022, pending the Board of Regent’s approval at their next meeting, comes after UH conducted “a thorough and exhaustive national search, aided by a search firm and search committee comprised of students, faculty, deans, alumni and other supporters, that helped yield a strong and diverse pool of experienced candidates for consideration,” Dr. Khator said. “Dr. Walker is a seasoned educational administrator who has demonstrated a commitment to students and academic excellence in each role he has served during his distinguished career as an educator,” Dr. Khator said. “He holds a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Miami, Bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University, and a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of Memphis. “Please join me in congratulating Dr. Walker . . . and wishing him well as he moves UH-Clear Lake to the next level of excellence.”

Hailey and Zayla experience the

Reptilian Nation Expo

KEN CLARK will be hugely missed

en Clark, a Wisconsin native moved to Galveston, Texas in 1987 under the urging of his fiancé Sherry Gavin Clark. They wed April 9, 1988. The couple have seven grown children and three grandchildren with a fourth due in June. 1988 was also the year Ken became active in politics attending his first precinct, county, and state conventions. Ken would go on to be a delegate to the national convention and serve as the presidential elector for George W. Bush. After moving to League City in 1990, Ken was elected to serve on his local municipal utility district board which he served on from 1990-1994, the last two years of which he served as President. It was during this time that he demonstrated his ability to work with others to decrease spending - the MUD saw a 34% reduction in their tax rate. Ken served on the state Republican executive committee from 1996-2004 Ken was elected Galveston County Commissioner precinct 4 in 1998 as the lone Republican on the court. Over the next 13 years, Ken worked hard to change that and is credited as a major political force in changing the court and a majority of elected offices from Democrat to Republican control. Even as the newly- elected commissioner, Ken was appointed by the court to represent the county on the Texas Conference of Urban Counties. Galveston County also deployed Ken as their representative to H-GAC, Houston Galveston Area Council in year 2008. H-GAC is a regionally based organization through which local governments participate to address local issues which arise from time to time in the service area. Members strive to seek out and implement common solutions to resolve area wide problems. Not as large as the CUC, but equally as critical to the citizens within the 13-county area in and around Houston/Harris County, Ken proved time and again to be well suited to lead as Chairman-Elect of The Finance and Budget Committee.

He was well regarded by both sides of the aisle with the long hours he put in serving as the past Chairman of the Transportation Policy Committee. He also sat on the Legislative Committee. Ken was instrumental in securing funding for the Pelican Island Bridge project as well as his work on I-45 and the Grand parkway The Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership lost a close friend and an invaluable ally with the passing of Galveston County Commissioner Ken Clark. His dedication to and work on behalf of Galveston County is well-known. Not as well-known is his active participation in BAHEP on behalf of the county. He attended every meeting possible of BAHEP’s Council of Mayors. Ken was also an important voice on our Political Protocol Committee. He could be found at many of BAHEP’s General Membership Meetings, as well, where he was always available to discuss pressing issues within Galveston County. We at BAHEP will miss our friend very much, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to Ken’s family and countless other friends.

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2. Push hard and fast in the center of their chest. Learn more at CPR.Heart.org JUNE 2022 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

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League City’ celebrates its 60th anniversary

he City of League City was officially incorporated with the State of Texas on May 14, 1962. Sixty years later to the date, League City hosted a series of events to celebrate the milestone, engage residents, and recognize our community’s namesake—John Charles (J.C.) League. The fun began at 8 a.m. in League Park with 33 teams made up of families, businesses, and non-profits competing in the A-MAY-ZING Adventure—a four-hour scavenger hunt across League City with challenges, games, trivia, and photos ops. The adventure concluded at Big League Dreams with a finish-line party and 60th anniversary celebration for the entire city from noon until 4 p.m. The free, family-friendly party included games, crafts, face-painting, inflatables, water slides, a dunking booth, rock climbing wall, a live band, a free League City 60th anniversary swag, and more. At 10 a.m. in League Park, League City Mayor Pat Hallisey and fellow councilmembers joined members of the League City Historical Society, Parks and 4B Board, and the Keep League City Beautiful Committee to meet the descendants of J.C. League and dedicate a six-foot bronze statue to honor his contributions to establishing and building our community over 120 years ago.

League was a Galveston businessman who in the late 1890s set out to create, build, and beautify a growing farming and ranching town located along the Galveston, Houston, and Henderson Railroad line in north Galveston County. The community, in 1902, was officially renamed League City in his honor. League helped to plat the town, dividing and selling lots of his land, while also donating a portion for a school, church, and park. In 1907, League shipped in two railroad cars full of live oak trees to landscape and beautify the town. Those trees still exist today along Main Street, League Park, and throughout the city’s Historic District. Now—120 years later, and on the 60th anniversary of League City’s incorporation with the state of Texas—Mayor Pat Hallisey issued a proclamation declaring May 14, 2022 as J.C. League Day. He also recognized League’s surviving family members and thanked them for their contributions and collaboration with city staff, the League City Historical Society, and the Keep League City Beautiful Committee to create a public work of art so all League City residents will know the city’s namesake, as well as its history over the last 100-plus years.

Statue of League City’s namesake, John Charles League, surrounded by his great-great grandchildren, John Waters IV and Nancy Dunn and great-greatgreat granddaughter, Alex Dunn.

Celebrating League City’s 60th anniversary.

JUNE 2022 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

picy, crispy, and bright red Nashville Hot Fried Chicken has been around for nearly 90 years. But, in the past decade, the Southern delicacy has exploded in popularity and is now broadly acclaimed. Legend has it that Nashville Hot Fried Chicken originated in Nashville in the 1930s after Thornton Prince was unfaithful to his girlfriend one evening. The scorned girlfriend smothered his fried chicken in hot pepper the next day as retribution. However, the punishment turned into an obsession. Prince began sharing the insanely delicious hot fried chicken with friends and family before opening his first chicken shack, BBQ Chicken Shack, in 1936. In 1989, he opened the iconic East Nashville location and renamed it Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack, now a magnet for Nashville tourists and spice connoisseurs. At the renowned Nashville restaurant, a chicken breast is bathed in a heap of cayenne pepper and deep-fried. Then, the blazing patty is topped with creamy coleslaw, crunchy pickles, and a drizzling of Kickin’ Ranch or Sweet Heat Sauce on a toasted bun. The City of Webster is home to more than 100 restaurants that dish out fried chicken, nearly half of which offer spicy options, and exactly seven that serve Nashville Hot Fried Chicken. For this edition of Bay Area Houston Magazine, the exceptional crew at the Webster Fire Department explored the world of Nashville Hot Fried Chicken because Webster Firefighters can handle the heat. Experience first-hand the reimagined Nashville Hot Fried Chicken served at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, Buffalo Wild Wings, Fuddruckers, Saltgrass Steak House, and Twin Peaks, and join Fire Chief Dean Spencer, Lieutenant Anthony Pearson, and Shift Commander Marshall Boyd as they prove their heat-handling capabilities at Delta Blues Smokehouse, Hopdoddy Burger Bar, and Texas Huddle Grille & Sports Bar.

BJ’S RESTAURANT & BREWHOUSE BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, located at 515 West Bay Area Boulevard, is known for its award-winning craft beer, world-famous Pizookie, and classic pub fare. The Nashville Hot Crispy Chicken Sandwich features a crispy filet of fried chicken doused in the cayenne pepper-packed Nashville Hot Sauce. A swipe of creamy ranch and crinkle-cut pickles are delicately positioned onto a toasted parker house bun and topped with the spicy patty. The mouthwatering Nashville Hot Sauce can also be tossed with a sizzling pile of wings as an appetizer. The luxe sauce creates a delicious heatwave no matter the shape or size of the chicken.

BUFFALO WILD WINGS Buffalo Wild Wings, located at 528 West Bay Area Boulevard, is the ultimate sports bar and grill, with cold beer and limitless wings in top-notch flavors. The delicious hand-spun wings can be served in 26 signature sauces and dry seasonings from “Smilin’ to “Screamin’.” The hot chicken oasis also serves a glorious Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich. The hand-breaded chicken breast is slathered in Nashville Hot Sauce and topped with pickled hot peppers, dotted with ranch, and placed on a warm challah bun. The Nashville Hot Sauce is a complete sensory rush and a musttry for spice aficionados.

DELTA BLUES SMOKEHOUSE

Above: Fire Chief Dean Spencer enjoyed his Nashville Hot Fried Chicken from Delta Blues Smokehouse. Dean Spencer has been protecting the life and property of Webster constituents for 44 years. As an expert heat handler he is the fearless leader of the innovative, top-rated, and forward-thinking department.

Delta Blues Smokehouse, located at 19901 Gulf Freeway, raises the bar with its sophisticated take on barbecue and refined southern fare. The slow-smoked meats fall off the bone, and the droolworthy sides are made from scratch daily. Naturally, Tim’s Crispy Buttermilk Chicken is extraordinary, but Roy’s Nashville Fried Chicken is an elaborate work of art. Made from a mix of white and dark meat, the fried chicken is a Blue’s favorite. The chicken is pressure cooked in red hot chili oil, giving it its crunch and flare, and a tender, juicy interior is revealed beneath the fried, flaky surface. Fire Chief Dean Spencer savored his Nashville Fried Chicken alongside perfectly roasted green beans and a buttery cream corn pudding.

FUDDRUCKERS Fuddruckers, located at 20001 Gulf Freeway, is driven to create the World’s Greatest Burger and, in the process, conceived a sublime Chicken Sandwich. The Grilled and Crispy Chicken Sandwich is a long-standing front-runner, but the

Bay Area Houston Magazine | JUNE 2022

Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich is a feisty newcomer. The spicy variation drowns the fried chicken patty in a cayenne-pepper-based spice blend, which tingles the taste buds. The patty is topped with crunchy purple pickled onions and sliced kosher pickles atop a fresh white bun. The Texas-based burger joint’s Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich is a savory-flavor bomb with the ideal balance of spice and tang.

HOPDODDY BURGER BAR Hopdoddy Burger Bar, located at 820 West Bay Area Boulevard, is renowned for its exceptional burgers, exotic fries, and spirituous drinks. However, the menu’s array of satisfying, hot, fried chicken should not be overlooked. Hopdoddy has mastered fried chicken, whether by the finger, by the bucket, or on a bun. Webster Fire Lieutenant Anthony Pearson fearlessly ordered the scorching Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich. The toasted and tender chicken patty is hand-breaded and dusted with a blazing blend of hot, peppery spices. Inside, the sandwich has a cool, crunchy kale cabbage slaw, creamy avocado mayo, zesty Alabama comeback sauce, and fresh and tangy pickle chips. Each bite is packed with an intense yet delightful burning flavor, leaving Pearson reaching for his glass of water to smother the flames.

Above: Lieutenant Anthony Pearson enjoyed the superb Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich from Hopdoddy Burger Bar. As Lieutenant, Pearson responds to emergencies and ensures that fire personnel and equipment are ready to respond to the needs of the community.

SALTGRASS STEAK HOUSE Saltgrass Steak House, located at 20241 Gulf Freeway, chargrills steaks, chicken, and seafood to perfection, with the flavor of the open campfire. The menu boasts the brightly-hued Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich exploding with heat and succulence. The cayenne pepper spiced fried chicken patty is topped with pickles and pickled slaw for the ultimate spicy culinary experience.

TEXAS HUDDLE GRILLE & SPORTS BAR Texas Huddle Grille & Sports Bar, located at 803 East NASA Parkway, is a lively, sports-centric bar with a colossal menu of tacos, pizza, wings, burgers, crawfish, and, most importantly, hot chicken. Wings dominate the menu with a roster of 18 signature sauces to explore; however, Shift Commander Marshall Boyd ordered the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich. The sandwich is the perfect harmony of sweet brown sugar and blazing cayenne pepper, topped with white American cheese, creamy coleslaw, and sliced pickles. The sinus-clearing sandwich has just the right amount of addictive burn.

TWIN PEAKS

Above: Shift Commander Marshall Boyd enjoyed his sizzling Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich from Texas Huddle. As Shift Commander, Boyd’s role in an emergency is that of an Incident Commander—size up the situation and determine what needs to be done to save lives and property.

Twin Peaks, located at 20931 Gulf Freeway, is the ultimate sports lodge, serving crave-able comfort food and carefully chilled 29-degree beer. The Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich is masterfully made with a hand-breaded crispy chicken breast drenched in Nashville Hot Sauce, drizzled with ranch dressing, and topped with creamy coleslaw and zesty pickles. The Nashville Hot Sauce can also be used on the restaurant’s wonderfully messy chicken wings. Read about all the glorious hot chicken joints in Webster, and learn about the spectacular Webster Fire Department in the upcoming Gateway Magazine, available soon at www.cityofwebster.com.

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www.gulfcoastmariner.com By Capt. David C. Dillman galvestonbaycharterfishing.com (832) 228-8012

Fish Are EVERYWHERE!

o far this year, it's been a wild ride. In my 34 years of guiding we've faced some windy Springs, but this year just might top all the previous years. This year has also been abnormally dry, which is good to some extent. Now, if the winds would only cease. The past two weeks, when the conditions allow, good catches of speckled trout have come from various locations. Normally, the Galveston jetties record the first steady catches of speckled trout. It's been a tough bite on the rocks, even for the most seasoned jetty trout angler. The fish are there but the rough conditions have limited the catches. Plenty of redfish are being caught in the meantime, along with the usual sheepshead, black drum, and gafftop. Lower Galveston Bay, including West Galveston Bay, has seen the most consistent trout landings. I'm not saying the "fish are jumping in the boat", but a few anglers are faring well. Those wading with live croaker are having the best success, for legal size trout in West Galveston Bay. Those anglers throwing shrimp in Lower Galveston bay, are catching their fair share of trout, along with black drum and redfish. The best catches in East Galveston Bay have been along the protected shorelines. We're entering into the time period that these same fish will slide out to the adjacent reefs, as the sun rises above the horizon. Birds will begin feeding over active schools of trout. If you find the right school, easy limits can be boxed. A word of advice, if you find a ratio of throwbacks higher than keeper trout, move onto the next set of birds. There's no need to catch and release these little fish. Trinity Bay has been good this Spring for

the first time in a few years. If the mighty Trinity River stays within its banks, this could be a banner year for Trinity. That hasn't been said for the last few years. Both shorelines, East and West, have been good depending upon the winds. As the winds relax, look for some good catches to come from the open bay. The fish will continue to follow the optimum salinity levels and will move north towards the mouth of the river. Of course, this all depends upon rainfall and how much discharge is being released from the Lake Livingston Dam. The area outside of Eagle Point has seen a flurry of trout catches. The winds have played havoc for those anglers that fish the open water. Both shorelines, South and North of Eagle Point, have been holding fish. The middle of the bay will soon come into play. As a reminder, this is the start of hurricane season, so have your evacuation plan in place.

PASADENA CHAMBER will host its Industrial Appreciation Luncheon honoring the Industry of the Year, Port Houston, Thursday, June 2 at 11 a.m. at the San Jacinto College CPET Building,7901 Fairmont Parkway. For tickets, which are $25 for members and $35 for nonmembers, call the chamber, 281-487-7871. BAY AREA WELCOME NEIGHBOR CLUB will hold its June luncheon at Bay Oaks Country Club on Thursday June 16 with a program on improving your overall health and fitness by Jake Trione, owner of TriFitness. Social begins at 10 a.m. and the program at 10:30 a.m. For luncheon reservations, email Mitra Saghafi: mitrasaghfi2@ghotmail. com, text or call 281-844-6151. 30

Bay Area Houston Magazine | JUNE 2022

Make sure you have a "ditch bag" which should consist of important documents: cash, non perishable food, prescription medicine a list of all medicines needed, and anything else you feel is important. Make sure your insurance policies are up to date and remember that material things can be replaced. So as you have read, anglers fishing this bay system have many options. Pick an area you want to fish, and you'll be successful. There hasn't been much fishing pressure on the bay, why? Economic reasons most likely. So count your blessings if you're still able to spend the money on fishing. Invite a neighbor or a friend to go along with you. This little act of kindness could make a difference in that person's life, as many are struggling in these troubled times. God Bless!

LUNAR RENDEZVOUS will host its annual Dining Night at 6 p.m. Monday, June 6 at the Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House, 113 Sixth St., San Leon. A MAYORAL PANEL BREAKFAST, including the mayors of League City, La Marque, Santa Fe and Dickinson, discussing their experiences being mayors and the work that goes into being mayor of a city, will be hosted by the League City Regional Chamber’s Young Professionals from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Friday, June 10 at the Johnnie Arolfo Civic Center, 400 W. Walker St. The public is invited. To register, visit www. leaguecitychamber.comMayoral Panel Breakfast – Jun. 10, 2022 (leaguecitychamber.com)

JUNE 2022 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

MAZDA CX-5

SMALL iS BIG ENOUGH By Don Armstrong

GMC TERRAIN

INTERIOR OF THE MAZDA CX-5

mall crossovers are by far among the most popular SUVs in the Bay Area and have been for quite some time. Every manufacturer builds at least one and sometimes, two, small “do-all’s.” This month we highlight a couple of favorites that start under $30, 000, and are major players in this segment. GMC TERRAIN The 2022 GMC Terrain gets updated styling front and rear that brings this small SUV more in line with other offerings in the GMC portfolio. The trim level you choose will determine the exterior chrome content. Our test vehicle was the AT4, a new off-road look for the Terrain that gets black wheels, black chrome accents and skid plate. The balanced dashboard exudes a

Bay Area Houston Magazine | JUNE 2022

touch of richness and attention to detail not found in many of its competitors. GM’s infotainment system is intuitive, easy to use and understand. New for ’22 is wireless connectivity to your Android Auto and Apple Car play, no more plugging-in the USB. Powering the Terrain is a turbocharged, 1.5-liter gasoline engine that delivers a meager 170-horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque. Even with a 9-speed automatic transmission, it struggles in the passing lane but gets a thumbs-up in fuel mileage with an average of 27 MPG. With a starting price of $27,900, we think the 2022 GMC Terrain should be on your “small” list.

center console controls screen functions that are not intuitive. The instrument pod holds all the right displays and the “5s” front bucket seats hug you like a sportscar. Mazda has quite a bit of experience in sportscars, namely the MX-5 Miata. There are similarities in the CX-5 that translate well, and the stiffer suspension reenforces that feel. All-wheel-drive is standard on all CX-5s and there are 3 engine choices. We had the midgrade, turbocharged, 2.5-liter 4-cylinder that delivers 227-horspower and gets 24-MPG combined. Coupled to the 6-speed automatic transmission, it zooms. The 2022 Mazda CX-5 starts at $26,250.

MAZDA CX-5 With its clean exterior styling, uncluttered nose and understated rear-end, we think the Mazda CX-5 is one of the sharpest looking small SUVs in a jam-packed segment. And with 7 trim offerings, this Mazda bundles options in an attractive way, making affordability a priority. The interior is attractive, but its smallish infotainment screen placement atop the dash seems like an afterthought. A knob on the

INTERIOR OF THE GMC TERRAIN

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thekellywilliamsshow@gmail.com JUNE 2022 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO SACRIFICED AND THANK YOU TO THESE WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS

TAKING A FUN AND NEEDED BREAK

RICK AND PANDA WORKING HARD

WORKING HARD TO GET READY TO HONOR THOSE ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Rick's Picks

GETTING READY TO HANG OLD GLORY

BEAUTIFUL BAY AREA VETERAN'S MEMORIAL IN SEABROOK

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CONGRATULATIONS ON 2ND PLACE IN THE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY FUNDRAISING RUN

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BETSEY AND RICK LOOKING SHARP AT THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOC. HOLLYWOOD GALA AT THE TREMONT HOTEL

Bay Area Houston Magazine | JUNE 2022

POSING FOR A QUICK PIC AFTER RUNNING IN THE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY FUNDRAISING RUN

PANDA ENJOYING THE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER AND A COOL DRINK

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Bay Area Houston Magazine June 2022

Articles inside

In Wheel Time

League City 60th Anniversary

Don’t Ignore Men’s Health Issues

Officers of the Year

Rhythms of the Bay

Clear Lake Chatter 1

Lunar Rendezvous King

Cover Story

Finding Beauty in Brutal Reality

Clear Lake Chatter 2