Bay Area Houston Magazine - August 2023

NUVOTHERA SALES ARE FLYING

August 2023

We empower people to thrive.

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

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

We look forward to a bright future together.

LUCKYSTROKE

By Rick Clapp

The new Luckystroke Putt Club is Bay Area Houston’s most unique attraction. It was created by two culinary and entertainment local adventurous brothers, Pat and James Henson along with Chef Cliff Marsters. The Henson brothers have a well-turned culinary past. Patrick attended the esteemed Culinary Institute of America located in New York. Both Henson brothers spent time perfecting their cooking and chef skills under their mentor Matt Smith, the Maitre d’ at Lakewood Yacht Club. They are also the proprietors of the popular local Kemah Cool Cow Creamery ice cream company.

Luckystroke’ award winning concept was created to provide customers with a dynamic, fun, whimsical spot with awesome food, tantalizing bits, libations, and treats for friends and the entire family to enjoy. They have done exactly that. The environment at Luckystroke is relaxed, sort of like a Cheers type pub where everyone knows your name and the bartenders know your drink. Furthermore, it has a wholesome and high energy feel with their large, lit up spinning wheel on the wall at the end of the bar. For only $5 a spin, you can win your drink of choice. Everyone is a winner at Luckystroke.

The Henson’s, in keeping with their fun family theme, have added an indoor Putt Putt course which is enjoyed by adults and children alike. “As kids growing up in Clear Lake, we always liked going to Putt Putt on NASA Road 1 for family entertainment, birthday parties, celebrations, and, later, dates,” said the owner, Pat Henson. “Luckystroke helps us create family nostalgia.” The course is fun, exciting, colorful, and challenging for all to enjoy.

Luckystroke Putt Club’s menu it to “die for.” Not only are the appetizers and food eye appealing, but they also taste off the charts. Luckystroke’s kitchen makes most all their food from scratch with fresh ingredients. As Chef Marsters says, “We only use the best for our fine food.” There is not enough room to write about their entire eclectic menu. However, here are four popular signature items you will not be disappointed with.

Winners on the appetizer sharables include an authentic New Orleans duck confit taquito served with six taquitos, roasted tomatillo salsa, hot sauce, avocado crema, queso fresco, and cilantro. The tender duck meat in the taquito fried in duck fat makes the dish fly. Another goodie are the chicken cracklins served fresh and hot and are sure to please. The Baller’s Board is beyond good as it feeds an army. This has cured meat and pimento cheese plate with your choice of two other sharables served on their beautifully designed custom grazing board.

Luckystroke puts their money where their customers mouths are. The burgers and sandwiches are masterfully prepared. No bogeys here. Favs are the huge gourmet Texas Burger made of two tender 80/20 meat patties, bacon

jam, pork belly meat candy, cheddar cheese, Tex-Bama white BBQ cause, crispy shallots, fresh lettuce, and tomato. The burger is an eagle.

The birdie does not want to be outdone by the eagle. The hot chicken sando takes the trophy when it comes to a bird sammich. The battered chicken thigh is complimented with hot dips, magic dust seasoning, celery seed, Napa cabbage slaw with Kale, and shaved brussel sprouts.

If burgers and sammiches aren’t your choice, try the flat breads. The perfect Tee Shot is the Farmhouse featuring homemade pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, roasted garlic, fresh heirloom cherry tomatoes topped with arugula dressed with tasty basil olive oil dressing.

A must is their beyond-this-world milkshakes using the freshest ingredients from Cool Cow Creamery. The S’mores milkshake takes the title with chocolate, graham cracker crumbles, toasted marshmallow, chocolate ice cream, and pirouette wafer.

Luckystroke’s Henson brothers have a solid team including the ubiquitous marketing, sales, and customer relations director, Chloe Murray, a Clear Falls High School graduate. The supporting cast includes manager and barkeep Rachel Henson who hails from Deer Park and has many years of experience in the food and beverage industry.

Next time you want to have a drink, great food, fun, and family activity, or celebration in a most unique whimsical setting try Luckystroke. You will not be disappointed.

Luckystroke Putt Club is in the “Heart of Kemah” 609 Bradford Avenue, Suite 203 in Toucan Alley. Open six days a week, closed on Monday. Tuesday –Thursday, 2 – 10 pm, Friday – Saturday 11 am – midnight, Sunday 11 am to 10 pm. Sunday Brunch is coming soon. Find out at https://luckystrokeputtclub.com or on Facebook.

“Where Every Swing is a Celebration”

CCISD superintendent, UHCL president honored

AWHO’S WHO crowd of Clear Lake leaders turned out when long-time resident Kippy Caraway hosted a Happy Hour Meet & Greet Party honoring the recently named University of Houston-Clear Lake President Dr. Richard Walker and Clear Creek ISD Superintendent Dr. Karen Engle at the lovely Caraway home. The first guests the two honorees got to meet? Kippy’s young grandsons, Armand Bayou Elementary student Grayson Brown and his younger brother Graham, who she has already been teaching the value of a good high school and college education, and their parents, Mike and Kristy Caraway Brown Wasn’t long before the crowd began arriving with Texas State Rep. Dennis Paul, CCISD Trustees Jay Cunningham and Jonathan

Cottrell, Houston Mayor Pro-tem Dave Martin, Pasadena City Councilman Thomas Schoeinbein, MRI Vice President Tim Kropp and Houston Port Commissioner Clyde Fitzgerald and his wife Vicky among the early arrivals.

They hardly had time to say hello when in walked Michael Landolt and his wife, Ann

Wismer, Clear Lake Chamber President Cindy DeWease, Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital exec Rebecca Lilly, realtor John Nugent, Peter and Pam Culpepper Cronk, Karen McCorkle, Diane Vest, Jessica Beemer and retired UHCL exec Mary Ann Shallberg

Attorneys Becky Reitz and John Gay were also in the crowd, as were Harris County Precinct 8 Constable Phil Sandlin and his wife, Marissa; BAHEP President Brian Freedman; Greg Ploss and Chris Rylant and Clear Lake City Water Authority President John Branch and his wife, Patty Kippy, a former Houston ISD assistant superintendent who moved here in 1974, has long been an advocate for both the Clear Lake area and education.

New Assistance League officers begin their work

REBECCA SAAVEDRA, new president of the Assistance League of the Bay Area, presided over her first meeting of the 2023-2024 Executive Board when they met at the United Way Building in Clear Lake in mid June after being inducted during the “Walk the Red Carpet” Luncheon earlier at the Clear Lake NASA Hilton.

While focusing on the organization’s mission, the members addressed the strategic plan and set goals and objectives for the coming year. The leadership team later joined the board for special training in the chapter’s operations.

Joining the president on the 20232024 board are: President-Elect Linda Byrd, Vice President Membership Sharon Guzzino, Vice President Philanthropic

Programs

Izella Dornell, Vice President

Resource Development

Sandra Kelver, Vice President Marketing Charlene

Donovan and Vice President Operations

Betty Suagee, Treasurer Barbara

Weitenhagen and Secretary Sarah Foulds, plus Assisteens Liaison Roxann Zamora, Perri Fox as Education

Chairman, Kathy Tamer as Strategic Planning Chairman, Marie Keener as Finance Chairman and Parliamentarian

Valerie Piercy

Assistance League of the Bay Area is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that changes lives through philanthropic programs in the Houston Bay Area community. For more information on how you can help change lives, visit the website at www.assistanceleagueba.org

Harris County Precinct 8 Constable Phil Sandlin and his wife, Marissa, right, share a laugh with Houston Port Commissioner Clyde Fitzgerald and his wife, Vicky, while enjoying the Meet and Greet at the Caraway home.

JClear Creek ISD Superintendent Dr. Karen Engle, center, gets to meet one of her CCISD students, Grayson Brown, and his younger brother, Graham, as she arrives for the Meet and Greet. Joining them are, from left, CCISD Trustee Jonathan Cottrell, the boys’ mom, Kristy Caraway Brown; their dad, Mike Brown; and CCISD Trustee Jay Cunningham.

New Assistance League officers get together for a photo. They are, from left, Marie Keener, Sandra Kelver, Kathy Tamer, Sarah Foulds, Sharon Guzzino, Barbara Weitenhagen, Izella Dornell, Charlene Donovan, Valerie Piercy, Rebecca Saavedra. Linda Byrd is absent from the photo.

Hostess Kippy Caraway, second from left, welcomes UH-Clear Lake President Dr. Richard Walker to Meet and Greet at her Clear Lake home, along with, from left, Ann Wismer Landolt, State Rep. Dennis Paul and Michael Landolt.

Wearing big smiles, Greg Ploss and Chris Rylant, from left, join the fun at the Meet and Greet, along with MRI Technologies Vice President Tim Kropp and Clear Lake City Water Authority President John Branch and his wife, Patty.

Grand time enjoyed by all at 58th LR Fashion Show

THE MOON & BEYOND, was the theme for this year’s 58th annual Lunar Rendezvous Fashion Show, and it made a perfect theme considering that both the style show and Johnson Space Center have more or less grown up together.

The always popular event was held Tuesday, July 11 again in the Galveston Island Convention Center at The San Luis Resort with Festival General Chairman Phoebe McCourt joining Fashion Show Co-Chairmen Katie Jones and Elizabeth Olin in welcoming the crowd.

A crowd that included the co-chairmen of the Sunset Service, Cameron Miller and Courtney Tylka; Coronation Ball, Victoria Driscoll and Kim Heitzman; Dining Night, Mandie Crowder, Rachel Gibbs and Audra Bentley; the Kickoff Party, Kari Cook and Heather Monteleone; the Royal Court, Demerle Monks; Princesses and Lieutenants, Allyson Biddy and Jennifer Robinson; the Little Court, Savannah Reason and Sydney Reason; Raffle, Erin McDonald and Scarlett Wood; Corporate Sponsor Coordinator, Kim Woods; Program and Ads, Kasey Drapela; Auction, Jill Kaale and Joy Nagel; Publicity, Susan Muehe; with Lisa Holbrook as treasurer.

After an hour of socializing and the welcome by Festival Chairman Phoebe McCourt, members of the Royal Court and their mothers came down the runway before the Fashion Show, which featured fashions from Adelaide’s Boutique, The Clotheshorse Boutique, Dillard’s, Dress Galaxy, Moxie District 31, Tina’s on the Strand and Tootsies, and was produced, as usual, by Lenny Matuszewski, who this year is also the festival king!

A number of former festival chairmen also were in the crowd such as Jill Reason, Michelle Holland, Mary Ann Shallberg, Kippy Caraway, Ann Wismer Landolt, Gloria Wong, Wendy Drapela, Mike and Kathy Reeves, Kelly McCorkle Byrd, Jill Williams, Terri Dieste, Jana Miller, Wendy Shaw, Annette Dwyer, Pat Wilson, Peggy Clause and Cathy Osoria – all probably reliving the past just a little and having a grand time.

After a delicious luncheon that included Airline Chicken Breast and Lemon Beurre Blanc with Spinach Ravioli and Cauliflower Mousseline, the Live Auction caught everyone’s attention with such items as a 10-person brunch and champagne reception donated by Tootsies, a two-night stay at the

San Luis Resort & Spa, a two-night stay at a Galveston Beach House, runway models (up to 8) for next year’s style show, and a runway table for 10 at the 2024 festival fashion show – all of which left the crowd trying to decide, decide, decide.

Just ask Sheree Frede, Judy Raiford, Joyce Abbey, Angie Weinman, Melonie Lovula, Diane Overman, Ellen King, Judie Ferguson, Michelle Richardson, Judy Doggett, Michael Landolt, Wendell Wilson, Badiha Abu-Nassar, Macy Osoria Parrish, Courtney Atchley, Sally Jordan, Emmeline Dodd, Tisa Foster, Diane Overman, and Kay Lee Benoit

Looking around, you might have spotted Jonathan Cottrell, Jay Cunningham, Terri Diest, Melanie Lovuola, Georgette and Sabrina Curran, Kelly Williams, Pam Cronk, Jana Miller, Linda Knapp, Linda Byrd, Darla McKitrick, Ava Galt and Giovanna Lococo enjoying it all.

This was followed by the announcement of the Raffle Prize winners that included a VIP Spa Experience for five, courtesy of Woodhouse Baybrook, a Catered Dinner for 12 courtesy of Robinette Caterers & Co. and a Designer Clutch Purse courtesy of Tootsies. Just a delightful luncheon!

Meet the 2023-2024 Lunar Rendezvous Royal Court introduced at this year's Coronation Ball -- 2023 King Lenny Matuszewski, Queen Savannah Bullock of Clear Springs High and Queen-Alternate Katie Best and Captain Sebastian Vivero, both students at Clear Lake High.

Kelly Williams, Addison Holland, Festival Advisory Board Chairman Michelle Holland and Ange Mertens, from left, arrive at the Galveston Convention Center for the Lunar Rendezvous Fashion Show.

Lunar Rendezvous Festival Chairman Phoebe McCourt, from left, joins Fashion Show Co-Chairmen Katie Jones and Elizabeth Olin as they prepare to greet the arriving crowd at the Galveston Island Convention Center.

Terri Dieste, left, and Pam Culpepper Cronk are ready to get the Lunar Rendezvous Fashion Show started

Lots of history in one shot. Tom Wong, the 2006 Lunar Rendezvous king, is happy to see twins Savannah and Sydney Reason, at left, who were Little Ladies when he was king and are now co-chairmen of the 2023 Little Ladies. At right is Cameron Miller Cannon, the 2006 queen.

Photos courtesy of Rhonda Floyd Photography

Long time Lunar Rendezvous friends Cathy Dodd Osoria, Georgette McMillan Curran and Courtney Read Uthman, from left, can hardly wait for the Fashion Show to begin.

JOIN YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY AND CO-WORKERS TO BE A RELENTLESS FORCE FOR A WORLD OF LONGER, HEALTHIER LIVES.

8:00 AM

NUVOTHERA: Sales are Flying

As a business development executive for Galdenna, a Fort Worth pharmaceuticals company Art Clapp was a drug seeker, spending a lot of time looking worldwide for products to license and develop.

"I was looking for drugs all over the world," he jokes dryly. At one point, Clapp even lived in Paris for five years, spending his free time flying an airplane he owned across Europe.

Funny thing then, that Clapp, 58, who retired from Galderma at age 55 after two decades with the company to look for an entrepreneurial project, ended up developing his own product. Clapp expects to go to market in October with an over-the-counter topical treatment - a cream - for psoriasis, a painful, chronic skin condition. There are other treatments on the market for psoriasis, but Clapp says his treats the symptoms and underlying condition to keep it from coming back. "There's no good treatments today," he says.

Clapp, CEO of the startup he founded, NuvoThera, has completed product development and now is in pre-launch,working with a contract manufacturer in Carrollton to make his treatment,called Prosoria. In February, he closed his first round of fund raising, declining to say how much he raised, that included investments by eight members of the Cowtown Angels angel group. Clapp plans initially to sell the product through online channels like Amazon. com, dermstore.com and the company's website. He'll target dermatologists for referrals. Then he'll move to retail, looking to get Prosoria into large drugstores like Walgreen's and CVS and mass merchandisers like Walmart and Target.

The initial product line is a three-product kit that includes an anti-microbial gel,treatment gel, and exfoliating moisturizer. Clapp estimates the U.S. psoriasistreatment market at more than $7 billion annually, with more than 7.5 million sufferers and growing 3-4 percent per year.

Worldwide, psoriasis has 125 million sufferers. Clapp cites American Academyof Dermatology figures showing more than 85 percent of patients reporttheir psoriasis symptoms are not well controlled with current therapies. Clapp hasn't disclosed his pricing yet, but he expects to be able to price strongly. "The psoriasis market is a well-priced market," he says. "People will pay more to control their condition because of its severity. It used to be thought of as leprosy.

Not only do they have to deal with the disease, they have to deal with people looking at it. The more nervous they get, the more it flares."

PATHWAY: BOTANICALS

When Clapp, a Floridian who has undergraduate degrees in biology and bio-chemistry from the University of South Florida and an MBA from TCU, started to develop the psoriasis treatment and look for a path to bringing the medication to market, he started down the path of botanicals, because those ingredients are already generally considered safe by the federal Food & Drug Administration.

"That's still the pathway," Clapp says, but he included some ingredients that appear on the FDA's "OTC Monograph," a list of approved ingredients that appear in other treatments on the market. The goal in combining the ingredients is to "get them to work together and work additively," he says. Prosoria controls skin scaling and inflammation, and the anti-microbial kills bacteria and fungus that can trigger frequent flare-ups, he said. In human trials, NuvoThera saw results in patients in as early as one or two weeks, he said. "There seems to be a microbial link" to psoriasis, Clapp says. "These people have a genetic predisposition." Current treatments don't address chronic flare-ups, he said. "They make it go away, and it just comes back." Current topical treatments can atrophy the skin or suppress the immune system,he says. The history of treatment for psoriasis has included peeling off the diseased skin and treating with ultraviolet light.

"The majority of people today, their symptoms remain uncontrolled," says Clapp, who figures 80 percent of people with mild to moderate symptoms can be treated topically. More serious cases would still have to be treated with oral or injected medication, he says. "If you could use steroids every day, you wouldn't have a problem. Very rarely are people totally clear."

Prosoria can be used as a "great piggyback treatment" alongside prescribed treatments, Clapp says. "I don't want to replace prescription drugs that the doctor gives them. I want to be additive."

Early Lab Rat Clapp grew up the son of a "can-do“ military pilot. His mother immigrated to the United States after World War II. The family coat of arms reads "Do the Right Things Despite the Consequences." As a child, he gravitated quickly toward science. "I just liked the research side of things," he says.

During a conversation about college one day, his brother, an entrepreneur, recommended a career in sales and marketing, Clapp says.

Clapp entered pharmaceuticals as a sales representative and then moved into development, becoming Galderma's vice president for business development. "I always took the leader-ship roles as a kid," Clapp says. "I got into pharma, and I liked it. I knew consultative selling really well." One early manager encouraged him to go down the road of "canned" approach, which Clapp says he resisted. "I knew the science; I could communicate at their level."

Galderma hired him to launch Differin, a new acne treatment, and moved him to Paris for five years to handle the job. Clapp, a pilot who obtained his license at age 17, shipped an airplane he owned - a single-engine, two-seat RV-4 sport plane - to Europe for play. Today, he owns a Russian acrobatic plane that he keeps in the Vintage Flying Museum at Meacham International Airport. "I always do at least one roll when I fly it," he says.

Also while at Galderma, Clapp started studying botanicals, "as we used to do a couple hundred years ago," where pharmacies had "jars of plants." A lot of the ingredients are considered safe and known to combat symptoms such as inflammation.

He views over-the-counter treatments as fertile ground for innovation. "That's the trend of what's going on today" in health care, he says. "The government doesn't have to pay."

ENTREPRENEUR IN RETIREMENT

In weighing the decision to retire early, Clapp says, "I could have continued my career and left at 65 or left at this time and tried this. There was an opportunity to create products that can help people." After leaving Galderma, he looked into ideas on psoriasis, warts, toenail fungus, acne, and eczema, starting initially on a product for warts before settling on psoriasis.

Clapp has one partner in former colleague Mike Yankovoy, NuvoThera's chief financial officer, who lives in Penn-sylvania and has held senior finance positions and run business units at Air Products and Galderma. Clapp and Yankovoy are considering taking on another partner, a biomedical engineer. NuvoThera joined the TECH Fort Worth incubator more than two years ago with a proposed device that could be used to treat another ailment before he moved on to psoriasis, recalls Darlene Boudreaux, the executive director, who built her own contract manufac-turing company and sold it and has known Clapp since his days at Galderma.

TECH Fort Worth, as it does with other entrepreneurs, gave Clapp a raft of referrals and helped him talk through the business. he formed an advisory board and sought access to legal and marketing people and bankers. “When we have an issue, it’s great to be able to tap into that expertise,” he says. Among the various referrals TECH Fort Worth gave Clapp was one to TMAC, the Texas public-private partnership that provides technical assistance and training to businesses. TMAC offers its first $10,000 of services free to clients.

TECH Fort Worth also helped Clapp put together his slides and presentation for the pitch last fall to the Cowtown Angels, which TECH Fort Worth and Boudreaux founded in 2013.

“We talk a lot” Boudreaux says of TECH Fort Worth’s relationship with Clapp. “Art is a guy who (spent a career) looking for companies to acquire. He cam to realize it’s a whole different story when you acquire your own company.”

NuvoThera received a total of $275,000 in investment from the eight Cowntown Angels members in the first round of fundraising.. Clapp declined to disclose how much total he was raising in the round, other that to say it’s struc-tured as convertible debt and he hasn’t surrendered equity to investors. He also declined to say how much money NuvoThera has invested to this point in Prosoria

“We were bootstrapping all of this,” says Clapp, adding he came up with the formula quickly, “We spent a fraction of what we do at Galderma.”

ENTER INVESTORS

Ken Stephens, who spent 22 years working as a corporate “fix-it-guy” for the Perot family before logging his 4 millionth mile flying a retiring at 49, is the lead Cowtown Angels member on the group’s NuvoThera investment. “When you’re fixing stuff that’s on fire, you’re working hard,” he says. “I wanted to do something that legitimately added value, but I just didn’t want to work that hard anymore.

Stephen joined the Angels three years ago and estimates he’s done 22 investments in 18 companies in that time. “Some of these companies are doing very well and generally changing the world,” he says. “It’s genuinely great stuff.”

He remembers the NuvoThera pitch. “We’re all equals” at the Cowtown Angels, Stephens says. “When a compa-ny comes in the door, we all assess it. Somebody has to raise their hand and volunteer to be the lead. If nobody raises their hand, we kill the deal. I raised my hand.” What he saw in NuvoThera: “There is some real value in over-thecounter medications that are coming to the mar-ket,” he says. "They're a little more creative than we've seen in the past. It doesn't have to be pre-scription. It doesn't have to be harmful to the body."

He feels younger consumers are driving some of the change. "There's a huge wave of the younger generation embracing natural stuff," he says. "It's drinks, it's clothing, it's everything. They want healthy stuff." Moreover, he liked Clapp. "Art has a long track record."

The Angels also like to consider companies they feel can break into a billiondollar-plus mar-ket, Stephens says. He remembers pitches for a bar and, recently, a wedding planning company where "if they blew it out," the company would approach $1 million in annual sales. Awe-some," Stephens says, but that's not to the scale the Angels will consider. "If the target market doesn't approach a billion dollars, you start questioning the investment."

Some investors in NuvoThera are also exiting investors in Encore Vision, a TECH Fort Worth-spawned, Cowtown Angels-backed eye care company that in December sold to the giant Novar-tis for as much

as $465 million. But the Encore Vision investors committed to NuvoThera before the Encore Vision announce-ment, Stephens says. "All of the investors committed several weeks before Encore Vision cashed out, and they all provided their checks at least a month before they got their Encore checks," Stephens says.

While TECH Fort Worth's profile, and that of the Angels, is increasing with the success, the An-gels remain "very conservative," says Stephens, who drives a 2002 Chevrolet pickup with 231,000 miles and says he could easily afford a new truck, but doesn't want one.

"And I wear jeans and a sweat top," says Stephens, who joined the Angels after several mem-bers invested in Encore Vision and was not in on that deal.

"There's no sort of craziness going on. There's nobody throwing money around. Nobody going 'drinks on me.' It's all very conservative, very intelligent. So when things like Encore Vision hap-pen, there's a flutter of noise, but it's just a flutter." New Products, Then the Exit

As for the future, once NuvoThera moves Prosoria into retail channels, Clapp says he'll look to launch new products. "Then you start looking for an exit at that point," he says.

He expects to be able to develop other products and channels using the same approach he did for Prosoria. "We have a nice platform," he says. Costs of goods are "quite acceptable," time to market is quicker, margins are good, and exit multiples are "usually really good."

The ability to use today's technology to market digitally also represents a big asset in building a new-era health care company, Clapp says. "The time is right to reach out to people and have them reach out to us."

Clapp views the international markets as strong for the products he'll pursue. "We can sell these products in Asia and Latin America," he says. Clapp views current treatments for warts, eczema, and toenail fungus to be "poorly effective solutions."

Of his wart fancy, he says, "Cut 'em, burn 'em, freeze 'em. There's no good treatment today. The sky's the kind of the limit. There's no lack of people we can help."

If you are interested in being one of our lead investors, please contact Art Clapp: 817-905-2784

Free Drag Queen Bingo

Pearland selects new city manager

Trent Epperson, who has served as the interim city manager of Pearland since November 2022, and has been appointed by the Pearland City Council to the role permanently.

"We are thrilled to have Trent Epperson as our new city manager," Mayor Kevin Cole said. "After conducting a thorough search and comparing all of the qualified candidates, it was evident that Trent possessed the right combination of skill and experience to meet our expectations. We look forward to working with him to continue building Pearland into the community of choice."

Epperson brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the position having served in key Pearland posts over the past 17 years.

"I am honored and proud to be appointed as the city manager of Pearland,” Epperson said. “I am deeply committed to our community and excited to continue working with our city officials, staff, and residents to achieve our goals. As city manager, I hope to foster innovation, trust, and teamwork in all that we do, and ensure that Pearland remains a great place to live, work, and play."

Epperson graduated cum laude from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Distribution. He has been married to his wife Johnna, a Pearland native, for 26 years and has two adult children.

OPEN:

Movers & Shakers

Name: Doreen Hughes

Occupation: : I wear a few hats, all of which I’m passionate about; Realtor with Coldwell Banker/TGRE. Certified John Maxwell Coach and social columnist with Galveston Daily News

Hometown: Dickinson, Texas

Current home: Dickinson, Texas

Family: My son, my beautiful daughter-in-law, and my precious granddaughter, Kennedy.

My Favorite Movie: E The Godfather.

My favorite performers: Elvis, Mick Jagger, Prince, and Tina Turner.

My favorite author: Brene´ Brown

Someone I’d like to meet: : Michelle Obama, and ask her how it felt waking up on the first day in the White House.

The thing that bugs me the most is:  Unkind people.

You’ll never catch me: Eating sour cream.

If I could travel any place, I’d go to: Portugal

As a youngster, I wanted to grow up to be: As a youngster, I wanted to grow up to be: Truck driver because I could go and see cool places

If I could switch places with someone for just one day, I’d choose: Serena Williams. I admire her bold, take no prisoners, competitive attitude.

My favorite meal is: Lunch

I like to spend my leisure time: Hanging out with friends over good wine, delicious foods, and great conversations.

Few people know:  I’m a good cook and marathon runner.

L e a g u e C i t y ' s h o m e f o r e x t r a o r d i n a r y g o l f o f f e r i n g t h e b e s t g r e e n s a n d v a l u e i n t h e a r e a !

S o u t h S h o r e H a r b o u r C o u n t r y C l u b p r o v i d e s a n e x c e p t i o n a l g o l f a n d l i f e s t y l e e x p e r i e n c e f o r i t ' s M e m b e r s , o f f e r i n g 2 7 h o l e s o f g o l f , p r a c t i c e f a c i l i t i e s , g p s e n a b l e d c a r t s , f u l l s e r v i c e d i n i n g , a n a c t i v e s o c i a l c a l e n d a r , t o u r n a m e n t a n d e v e n t s p a c e a n d m o r e !

Dr. Jeffrey Jaglowski

Dr. Brandon Low

Dr. Charlie Moulton

By Pastor Brad Heintz

hat makes a house a home? A house is easily defined as any structure where people can live and sleep. But what makes your house a home? Some say, “Home is where the heart is.” Other say, “Home is where you are always welcomed and surrounded by those you love.”

In the Bible there is only one word for a big house. Yet in the Bible it doesn’t just say “Big House.” When a king lives in a big house, it is called a palace. When refering to a house of worship where God and His people dwell, it is called a temple. So Biblically speaking, a home is defined by who lives in it.

Then when the God who dwells there loves you dearly, moved heaven and earth to save you and who is preparing an eternal home for you in Heaven, then you truly have a big house that is a true home!

Living Word Church just opened a new church home and community center. We call it a church home because that is where The Church gathers to worship God, study His Word, serve people and share His love. The church is not a building it is the people.

W“Don’t you realize that all of you together are the house of God, and that the Spirit of God lives among you in his home?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)

We would love you to visit our new church home or any of the houses of worship in our area. We pray that you would be welcomed home and dearly loved. That it would be come your spiritual home. That is what we strive for at Living Word.

Give us the opportunity to welcome you home and then experience what one our guests experienced when she said, “Living Word feels just life family … but in a good way!”

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

Fishing With A Wounded Warrior

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

Recently, Capt. Juan Cruz and I had the privilege to fish with Col. Rob Hanson and his two sons, Chandler and Tyler. There's a story leading up to the fishing report, so I'll try my best to give the "CliffsNote" version.

Around 3 months ago, I received a call from a woman in charge of donations for a Wounded Warrior fundraising project. She introduced herself then said, "We have a mutual friend in Randal Reeder." Reeder is a former professional wrestler turned actor, biker, and pastor of Saved Savages, although he doesn't call himself a pastor. He's also involved with veterans of the military. Anyway, she asked if I would donate a fishing trip, and I said, "Sure!"

About four weeks ago, I received a call from Rob Hanson, and he said, "I received the fishing trip as a gift from my wife, but I don't think you can accommodate me as I'm in a wheelchair." I thought to myself, my boat isn't wheelchair friendly, but Capt. Cruz's might work. I then told him, "Don't despair; I think I can make it work." After talking to Cruz, a war vet himself, I called him back saying, "We can make it happen." He was more than happy because, since becoming paralyzed, he hasn't fished nor has he ever fished from a boat with his youngest son Tyler. I said, "Well, that will all change come Monday, June 26."

Monday morning, Cruz and I readied his boat, and they arrived on time. The two boys jumped out of their Yukon and grabbed their dad's chair as he climbed out from behind the steering wheel and lowered himself in. We all exchanged short

pleasantries, and I said to him, "You live in Conroe, right?" He said, "Yes." I then just asked by chance, "Do you know Randal Reeder?" Reeder has a house in Conroe. His eyes widened as he said, “Yes! He was just at our house a couple days ago." I told him that Randal and I are friends. We then took a selfie and sent it to him. God sure can make the world seem small at times.

Harmon managed to get into the boat by himself, with slight help from his oldest son Chandler. I was amazed at this man's will. He got up in the seat in front of the console as we left his chair, at his request, at the dock. As we headed out of the marina, I found out that Harmon served 30 years in the Army and obtained the rank of Colonel.

After a few minutes of fishing, Harmon hooked into a bull red. After a brief battle, Cruz netted a 45 inch bull red, his largest ever. We took a few pictures and sent it back into the water. Shortly after, he landed the biggest trout of the day, which measured 23 inches. Meanwhile, Tyler was

catching black drum then landed a nice slot redfish. Chandler was catching sheepshead and black drum then hooked into another redfish. At around 10:30 a.m., they had had enough. Cruz eased the boat back into Eagle Point Fishing Camp.

On the way back, we chatted about his injury. The injury wasn't from what most people would think, like artillery fire, but from being exposed to toxic chemicals on a Russian base while serving in Afghanistan. He was already retired when he started to develop the symptoms of paralysis.

This particular fishing adventure took place the weekend before July 4 of this year. It made me reflect upon the sacrifices by those that serve to protect this country and our freedoms. I've always said, "Freedom doesn't come without a price." There are many groups that provide much needed assistance to our "Wounded Warriors." If you can find time, volunteer to help or donate to one of the many Wounded Warrior charities. My thoughts and prayers go out to all our military and their families.

Two New in Your Garage

One new car in your driveway is common, but two at once, why not? Perhaps you won the lottery, inherited Aunt Matilda’s estate or you’re tired of ever-growing repair bills on the current fleet, what fulfills your needs? We dream.

GMC DENALI 2500

With your newfound wealth, you bought a 30foot catamaran and prefer to tow it to various bays and lakes. We found the perfect tow vehicle, the GMC Sierra Denali 2500 crew cab. It’s a whopper, at almost 21-feet long and over 6 1/2 – ft tall, so you may have to modify the garage to get it inside. The massive grille takes up the entire front acreage, slab sides with a bed step and folding running boards complete the concierge service. You’ll want to equip this beast with the MultiPro Tailgate too, a genius invention.

The interior is nicer than most living rooms. Leather appointments throughout the cabin with airplane-style controls - buttons, switches and displays will really impress the neighbors - all of it positioned in just the right spot. The big infotainment screen is what you’d expect in this towing and hauling masterpiece.

The Duramax diesel gives you all the confidence needed to tow up to 9 tons with its 445-horsepower and 910 lb.-ft. torque.

Our top-of-the-line Denali starts at $74,995.

MERCEDES-BENZ GLC 300

With the boat in the water, it’s time now for some nerve-calming luxury and a quick run to the grocery for supplies.

The Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 is a sweet little SUV that slots in the middle of the brand’s SUV lineup, and it’s also the top seller.

Although the size and shape of this small SUV hasn’t changed much, we think it’s a great size. Its snappy grille is a giveaway that the 300 has a little more to offer this year including an upgraded infotainment system and a mild hybrid powertrain.

Now, you may not like its optional pinstriped dash, we do, and it’s attractively designed too. Attention to interior details is top-notch with a color palate to match.

The new GLC 300’s power source is one to tout - a turbocharged, 2.0-liter, mild hybrid. No, not a plug-in or full electric, just a helper. Output is 258-horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. torque delivered through a 9-speed automatic transmission in either 2 or 4-wheel drive. Mileage is an impressive 26-MPG.

Pricing starts at $47,100.

By Don Armstrong

GMC DENALI 2500

Women Who Wine

Women Who Wine held their Christmas in July event at Sally Brooke Event Center and raised $2700 - plus collected a large amount of hygiene products. 100% of their donations goes right to children in need.

I’ve heard it said that the eyes are the window to the soul. That is an important piece of information to have at your disposal if you are looking for a lifetime partner. Once, long ago, I met a woman who had the same eyes as mine. It surprised me at first, but over time I began to sense that something important was happening there. I pursued her until she finally agreed to marry me. I saw my eyes, and perhaps my soul, in her.

We were on our way to Port A for a few days R&R at our favorite dive motel on the beach, but first, we had to take a side trip. A friend had told me about a large mural in the tiny town of Sinton that he insisted I needed to see. Now, I generally am not into wall murals in towns. They just don’t touch my sense of excitement in art. My tastes lean more toward Raphael’s School of Athens, or better yet, Pannini’s Interior of a Picture Gallery. I guess just about any Baroque art or architecture gets my attention. While I do appreciate the Impressionists, later painters like Kandinsky and even Picasso don’t move me at all. I just see something from a kindergarten art show. That is not meant to be a quality judgement; I am not an art expert or critic. It is just what I see personally, one layman’s opinion. But I had told my buddy I’d stop to see the mural on this trip since Sinton was not far off our route, so we did.

When we got to town, the mural was not hard to find. It was on the side of a building, right downtown. I have to admit, on first look, I had no idea how my friend could imagine I would like this. It is nothing more than a long silhouette, so long it runs the entire length of the building. It depicts a near life-size ranch fence that has several cowboys

TEXAS MEDITATIONS

By Michael Gos

ART AND LOVE

sitting on it. We see no detail, just flat, twodimensional, solid black objects against the off-white paint of the wall. Given my taste in art, I should have hated it, but instead I found that I was somehow attracted by it — and that surprised me. When it comes to art, I want reality, near photographic detail, and frankly, ornamentation. That is who I am — not this blank, black shadow on a wall. As I puzzled over this attraction I was feeling, I remembered experiencing this same dissonance somewhere in my past. It was about music.

My taste in music has always baffled me. I am in a beach mood when listening to Buffett, a cowboy mood when I play country and western, and a scholarly mood when I play classical music. A split personality perhaps, but I wouldn’t give up access to any of the three. I’m not sure of the direction of the cause and effect here. Do I pick that music because of the mood I am in, or do I get in that mood because of the music I’m hearing? Either way, some part of me identifies with the music. Like Baroque art and architecture, the music I like touches who I am —at an intimate level. Good art—be it painting, sculpture, music or architecture—lets us see a reflection of ourselves in another person’s work. That is why we are attracted to it.

I think about the dogs I’ve been closest to in my life. I always knew what they were thinking and they knew my thoughts even more completely. Sitting quietly on a couch, when a thought of a walk in the woods occurred to me, the dogs would always jump up, ready to go— and I hadn’t yet moved a muscle. It seemed there wasn’t much separation between the two things, the dog and the man.

Whether it be dogs I lived with or the horses I worked with at an equine rescue, when I saw the ones I was really closest to, I could always see in them a reflection of myself. I could see the same confidences, the same insecurities and the same feelings of affection that were so much a part of me. I saw, and more importantly felt, myself in them.

I think this might be a universal trait in humans and perhaps it explains why mothers, and especially grandmothers, are so crazy about the little ones. They see themselves in something, someone, that is “not me.” The same seems to hold true for lovers. If I can’t see any bit of myself in you, how can we ever become close? The more of me I see in you, the more we can understand and open up to each other.

Perhaps I like the mural in Sinton for the same reason. Somewhere in it I recognize a part of myself—maybe it is the cowboy part of me that listens to country and western music. I definitely recognize something there, even if it is at a subconscious level. When I look at the mural, I can see myself, sitting right there alongside those cowboys on that fence, wearing a hat, boots and chaps–in essence, I see me in that picture. It is no longer a mural; it is a part of who I am. It is me on that wall.

But it is not just art that operates this way. Interestingly, the same concept seems to hold true for love. When we look at the people we love (and here I include dogs and horses, of course), I’m not sure we see them, as much as we see a reflection of ourselves in them.

I guess when you stop to think about it, art and love are really the same thing — the process of seeing yourself in something, or someone, that is not you.

Sometimes, we can even see our own souls in the eyes of our soulmates.

Sinton, Texas

"Good art . . . lets us see a reflection of ourselves in another person’s work"

SUMMER Rejuvenation

Improve your self-image, feel comfortable in your skin, and be confident knowing you’re taking the best care of yourself from the inside out. These four incredible businesses in the beauty, health and wellness industry will help rejuvenate your body and will encourage and motivate you to put your health and wellness needs first.

lieves in a patient-centered approach, combining years of experience with a compassionate touch to guide you towards optimal wellness and lasting relief.

IG: dr.davidescalante (346) 240-9868

www.vitalitycrw.com

O.P. BEAUTY LAB

This hot, new full service beauty salon opened in January of 2023. Owned by two Boss Babes, Olesya and Ashley, the salon is the perfect place to come and take care of all your beauty needs.

By Blaine Ochoa

fun and refreshing!

IG: o.p.beauty_lab 832-232-4294

Opbeautylab.com

IPHARMA PHARMACY

SECRET SKIN STUDIO

VITALITY

Taking care of your health and wellbeing needs to be a top priority. Dr. David Escalante, D.C. is an esteemed Chiropractor located in Houston, Texas. He has been practicing for five years and as of September 2022 became the full owner of his current practice, Vitality, which focuses on chiropractor care, recovery and wellness.

He was inspired to become a chiropractor from his personal experience with his Dad. He was able to see his Dad’s incredible transformation and recovery journey with the help of chiropractic care, it forever made a positive impact on him and his family. “I thought it would be fun and amazing to help people with just my hands. No medications needed.”

Dr. Escalante’s business not only focuses on chiropractic care, but also encompasses the health and beauty sectors, to provide patients with an overall wellness and self care experience. Getting a chiropractic adjustment is important to do once a month and incorporate into your health and wellness routine. An adjustment can help with lower back pain, neck pain, headaches and muscle pain. He is the only chiropractor in Houston to offer the Emsella and Emsculpt treatments. Both are non-invasive and one helps with incontinence and improving women’s intimate health, and the other helps to build and tone muscle and sculpt your body.

Dr. Escalante handles sports medicine, therapeutic rehab and also personal injury. Some of the other rejuvenating treatments he offers is deep tissue massages, cupping, rehabilitation exercises and knee decompression. Dr. Escalante be-

Olesya and Ashley both have an extensive professional background in the beauty and aesthetic industry and are able to showcase their passion and expertise through O.P. Beauty Lab.

It can be time consuming and inconvenient going to a variety of places to receive different beauty services. At O.P. Beauty Lab you can receive a variety of luxurious treatments all at one location, which is rare to find. I tried the Russian manicure and I absolutely loved it. The attention to detail was like none other and my nails turned out to be perfect. The formula used was Polygel, which is a hybrid of gel and acrylic. My nails have latest longer and look healthier than any other manicure I’ve received due to the high quality products and incredible technique. Other top notch services that the salon offers is eyelash extensions, permanent makeup, lip blush, hair treatments and extensions, body contouring, massages, Madera Therapy and Sea Kelpt wraps.

Enhance your beauty and spend the day relaxing and pampering yourself at O.P. Beauty Lab. The staff is wonderful and the ambiance and vibe is

In the ever changing and sometimes inconclusive health and wellness industry, it’s refreshing to feel you’re not just another number or patient. To be confident you are receiving the best medication and treatment for you and your overall wellness is appeasing. Located in the Houston heights, iPharma Pharmacy is a locally owned community pharmacy that specializes in compounding formulas and customized prescription medication. Owned by Maryam Emadi, the pharmacy is dedicated to the well-being of the community and to creating a personalized level of care to all patients. “Compounding involves combining, mixing, or altering ingredients to produce medications and medication forms that are tailored to the unique needs of the patient.” Ipharma can produce compounded formulations pertaining to dentistry, dermatology, functional medicine, hormone replacement therapy, pain management, and veterinary. I’ve tried iPharma’s compounded dermatology formulations, the Healthy Skin Care and Anti-Aging Kit, and

Owner Aleida Rodriguez, is a Licensed Cosmetic Tattoo Artist and has worked in the modeling and beauty industry for over 5 years. She opened Secret Skin Studio in November of 2022. Her business specializes in minimizing the appearance and size of stretch marks, while improving the texture and increasing collagen production and elastin. This skinregeneration procedure is noninvasive and is called the Inkless

have seen a wonderful improvement in my skin. My skin tone is more even and has a healthy and natural glow. iPharma also offers personalized high-grade multivitamins and nutritional supplements. iPharma’s highly trained health experts and pharmacists will work closely with patients and doctors to determine the best course of action for your individual health and wellness needs. If you live in the Houston area they can also deliver your medication directly to you!

IG: iPharmarx

833-474-2769

ipharmapharmacy.com

Stretch Mark Treatment. Stretch marks can be a big insecurity for some people, especially during the summer months when bikini season is in full swing. Aleida started her business in order to “help women and men of all ages and backgrounds regain confidence and boost their self image.”

The Inkless Stretch Mark Treatment is a natural procedure that can be used for all stretch marks. The treatment involves using a device to create a “microscopic abrasion to the dermis layer of the skin.” The technique also uses organic oils and serums to aid in the rejuvenation process. Red Light Therapy is also offered at Secret Skin Studio. It reduces inflammation in cells and increases collagen production, and specifically helps after the stretch mark treatment.

“My goal is to set realistic expectations, assure as much comfort as possible, and create results that make you feel confident and beautiful in your skin.” Check out Secret Skin Studio to say goodbye to stretch marks, rejuvenate your skin and boost your self confidence.

IG: secretskin.studio aleida@secretskin.studio secretskin.studio

BOONDOGGLES PUB Celebrates 25 YEARS