Bay Area Houston Magazine October 2017 by Bay Group Media

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October 2017 BayAreaHoustonMag.com

A PLEDGE OF COMMUNITY L-R back row: James Waguespack - Senior VP/Lender; Meg Clements - Senior VP/Lender; Jamie Ballard - VP/Lender, L-R: front row: Jay Farley, VP/Lender; Leslee Farley - VP/Lender; Frank L. Law - Executive Bank Office President; Libby McGee - VP/Office Manager; Bill Holbert - Senior VP/Lender

OCTOBER 2017

features 11

Several CCISD elementary schools affected

Harvey Damages Many Schools

Don’t let dental anxiety stop you

Dental Health

14 Barktoberfest Dog friendly event in Clear Lake Shores, Oct., 14

ON THE COVER L-R back row: James Waguespack - Senior VP/ Lender; Meg Clements - Senior VP/Lender; Jamie Ballard - VP/Lender, L-R: front row: Jay Farley, VP/Lender; Leslee Farley - VP/Lender; Frank L. Law - Executive Bank Office President; Libby McGee VP/Office Manager; Bill Holbert - Senior VP/Lender

President & Chairman Rick Clapp Publisher & Editor in Chief Mary Alys Cherry Vice President & Creative Director Brandon Rowan Graphic Designer Kelly Groce Sales & Marketing George Dismukes Judy Gaines Amber Sample Robyn Weigelt

Editorial Don Armstrong Mary Alys Cherry Rod Evans Michael Gos Capt. Joe Kent Betha Merit

Administration Lillian Harmon Tammy Lipsey Bay Area Houston Magazine is produced monthly. All rights reserved. Material may not be reproduced by any means whatsoever without written permission. Advertising rates are available upon request. Please address all correspondence to: Bay Area Houston Magazine P.O. Box 1032 Seabrook, TX 77586 www.BayAreaHoustonMag.com r.clapp@baygroupmedia.com

281.474.5875

Rotarians host 44th annual event on Oct. 14

Clear Lake Park’s Shrimporee

Breast cancer awareness, education and events

Allegiance Bank builds a better Bay Area Houston

Keep the sugar zombies away this Halloween season

Bay Area Houston Pink Pages A Pledge of Community Neighborhood Watch

29 Entertainment Movie filmed in Bay Area, Swan Lake and Golf Tourneys 30

Mayor Turner and BAHEP on protecting the region

Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership

Location in League City and Webster

Relief nurses lend a hand at Bay Area Regional Medical Center

Finding peace and coping after Harvey

Gym’s grand opening wrecked by Harvey

Tourney raises $18,500 for CCISD

Grazia’s Italian Kitchen

Donation Centers Set Up Nurses From Around the Nation Provide Relief Storm Stress Rebuilding Saltwater Gym CCEF Golf Tournament Bay Area Houston Magazine Cover Party

columns

Photography Hal Bushnell Mary Alys Cherry Brian Stewart Distribution Shinkle Distribution

Bay Area Houston Magazine | OCTOBER 2017

Mayor Thom Kolupski

Movers & Shakers

Style show becomes fundraiser

Fun Fall Rides: Chevy Corvette, Infiniti Q60

Fishing Galveston Bay after disastrous flooding

Harvest Moon will race on scheduled dates

Bay Area Houston calendar of events

Clear Lake Chatter In Wheel Time The Admiral’s Log Lakewood Yacht Club and Events Main Events

CCISD budget includes pay hikes, but tax rate remains the same By Mary Alys Cherry

Brookside Intermediate School

Harvey damages many CCISD schools By Mary Alys Cherry

ids always love a little break from school. But after many lost their homes or watched the waters -- stirred up by the winds of Hurricane Harvey, downgraded to Tropical Storm Harvey -- sweep into their houses and those of their friends, most were glad to get back to class when Clear Creek ISD reopened its doors Sept. 11 after a two-week closure. When school officials did a check on its 45 schools serving 42,000 students in Harris and Galveston counties, they found Brookside Intermediate in Friendswood suffered the most significant damage, and only one campus, Hyde Elementary, had no damage. CCISD Communications Director Elaina Polsen said that while Brookside will reopen, crews will continue work there for several more weeks. Costs for all the damages are not available at this time, she said.

High schools

Storm damages at Brookside Intermediate.

“Eighteen elementary schools had damages from various roof leaks and winddriven rain.”

Clear Brook High: Minor roof leaks, winddriven rain under doors, flooding to outdoor athletic areas Clear Creek High: Minor roof leaks, wet carpet and casework in certain areas will need to be replaced, flooding to outdoor athletic areas Clear Falls High: Baseball press box, softball press box, concessions/restrooms/storage batting cage all flooded with 8 inches of water plus synthetic turf damage Clear Lake High and Clear Lake 9th Grade Center: Minor roof leaks due to wind-driven rain- synthetic turf damage Clear Springs High: Outdoor athletic buildings, such as baseball and softball press boxes, concession stands and restrooms, flooded with 2-4 feet of rising water, minor roof leaks Clear View High: Significant roof leaks throughout building

Intermediate schools All of Clear Creek ISD’s intermediate campuses suffered some damage. At Bayside Intermediate all its athletic buildings flooded with 8 inches of rising water; minor roof leaks due to wind-driven rain Brookside Intermediate had significant damage to the entire building due to 4” to 5” of rising water; library

damage, all casework and carpet throughout school needed to be replaced, gym floor needs replacement League City Intermediate’s orchestra and choir area flooded with rising water, in addition to various roof leaks throughout the campus Westbrook Intermediate’s administration area flooded and the school had various roof leaks Both Clear Creek, Clear Lake and Victory Lakes Intermediates had various roof leaks, as did Creekside, Seabrook and Space Center Intermediates, which also suffered wind-driven rain around the schools.

Elementary schools Stewart Elementary in Clear Lake Shores had the worst damage of any of CCISD’s primary schools with its cafeteria and kitchen flooded with 3 inches of rising water and various roof leaks while Landolt and Hall has rising water in rooms adjacent to their atriums and various roof leaks. Eighteen elementary schools had damages from various roof leaks and wind-driven rain. These included Armand Bayou, Bauerschlag, Bay, Brookwood, Clear Lake City, Falcon Pass, Ferguson, League City, McWhirter, North Pointe, Parr, Robinson, Ross, Ward, Weber, Wedgewood, Whitcomb and White. (A more comprehensive list of school damages is available on our website BayAreaHoustonMag.com)

As Hurricane Harvey was taking dead aim at the Texas Gulf Coast, Clear Creek ISD trustees passed a $335 million budget for the 2017-18 school year – a slight increase over the previous year’s budget as enrollment grew by some 500 to 42,000 students across 45 schools. While property values increased over the previous year, district property owners got good news: the proposed tax rate for 2017-2018 will remain unchanged as it has the past nine years with $1.04 allocated for maintenance and operations and $0.36 for debt service – even though the state cut its funding by $7.1 million. There also was good news: salary increases of 2 and 3 percent for the entire staff, and 30 new teaching positions were added to reduce class sizes. Starting teacher pay was raised to $52,550 and those reaching five-year milestones in district service were given 6.2 to 7.2 percent raises. Assistant Superintendent Paul McLarty told trustees the budget for Texas’ 28th largest school district included revenues of $335,054,000 -- $224.7 million from local property taxes, $108.1 million from state and federal sources and $2.2 million from non-operating revenues. The revenues are $9.2 million more than last year. Breaking down the proposed budget, McLarty said CCISD has budgeted:  $245.8 million for instruction and school leadership;  $29.6 million for plant maintenance and operations;  $3.8 million for security and monitoring services;  $7.1 million for technology services;  $35.4 million for student support services including $12 million for transportation;  $7.1 million for administrative support services;  $6 million for other services. The budget was passed before the arrival of Harvey, which damaged 44 schools ranging from minor roof leaks to significant flooding due to rising water.

OCTOBER 2017 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

Bay Area Houston Magazine | OCTOBER 2017

DENTAL HEALTH

Don’t Let Dental Anxiety Stop You

e’ve all been nervous at some point in our life. Some fears

are irrational while others are well earned from negative experiences. We all know what it’s like to feel uneasy and anxious. With sedation, you can have a more relaxing visit while taking care of your oral health needs. Most people can deal with having some anxiety about going to the dentist. Unfortunately for those with dental phobia, however, the thought of a dental visit is terrifying. They may be so frightened, in fact, that they’ll do just about anything to avoid a dental appointment. A phobia is an intense, unreasonable fear.

“With sedation, you can have a more relaxing visit while taking care of your oral health needs.”

Types of Sedation Nitrous Oxide Sedation – Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is most often used for patients who are mildly or moderately anxious. It’s administered by placing a small mask over the patient’s nose. As the gas begins to work, the patient becomes calm, but is still awake and can communicate. When the gas is turned off, the effects of sedation wear off almost immediately. Oral Sedation – Patients who are more anxious may require something stronger than nitrous oxide. With oral sedation, the patient may be sleepy but can also be aroused if necessary and can respond to simple commands. Minor side effects such as nausea or vomiting can occur with some medications. You may need assistance to get home after sedation, and patients may need to stay for a short observation after dental treatment has been completed. IV Conscious Sedation – IV conscious sedation is usually used to help patients relax during surgery or more advanced dental procedures that take a longer to complete. During this form of conscious sedation an IV catheter will be placed in the patient’s vein (usually in the arm) in order to deliver the sedative medication cocktail. A patient is still able to respond to verbal commands and is aware of what is going on but the patient will not remember much of what happened during their procedure. This helps when dealing with a long procedure or patients that have a great deal of anxiety about

surgery or their specific procedure.

Deep IV Sedation –This form of anesthesia places the patient into a deep state of sedation. Patient will no longer feel any fear or pain and is completely unconscious. Deep IV sedation may be recommended for patients that suffer from DENTOPHOBIA. Unlike fear, phobia is not necessarily rational. Person suffering from it might not even remember why they become physically uncontrollably paranoid. Rationalization is usually ineffective with phobia. If the patient can’t relax or calm down enough for treatment to be performed safely, then conscious sedation is the technique of choice. Dr. Noie has over 16 years of experience in deep IV sedation with over 10,000 successful sedations to his credit, so you can feel confident that your pharmaceutically induced sleep experience will be safe and effective. To learn more about various sedation techniques in dentistry and to find out which method is ideal for you- in order to improve your oral health without triggering the fear factor, Call our office and ask for a complimentary consultation with Dr. Noie today. Dr. Noie has been in private practice in the Bay Area since 1996. He is a Diplomate of Int’l Congress of Oral Implantologists, Fellow of Academy of General Dentistry, and Assoc. Fellow of American Academy of Implant Dentistry. He has completed his surgical training at New York University as well as Medical University of South Carolina, Temple University, and Wright state University School of Medicine. He completed his oral Anesthesiology training at University of Alabama in Birmingham. He is a member of American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

OCTOBER 2017 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

Movers &Shakers Name: Thom Kolupski Occupation: Architectural/Engineering Project Manager; Mayor of Seabrook Hometown: Rochester, N.Y. Current home: Seabrook, Texas Family: My lovely wife Tamara, two sons Colin and Evan, and daughter Paige.

If I could switch places with someone for just one day, I’d choose: No one. If I did I wouldn’t be me, but on July 20, 1969, I would have like to have switched places with Neil Armstrong.

As a youngster, I wanted to grow up to be: Formula 1 racecar driver.

My favorite performers are: Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, George Strait.

The thing that bugs me the most is: I’m pretty laid-back. Very few things if any, really bug me.

I like to spend my leisure time: Traveling and creating driftwood sculptures.

My favorite writer is: Tom Clancy

If I could travel any place, I’d go to: Bali or Monaco.

Someone I’d like to meet: Elon Musk (Founder of Tesla Motors and Space X)

My favorite meal is: Blackened Redfish or a nice thick ribeye.

You’ll never catch me: Not doing or working on something.

My favorite movie is: Saving Private Ryan. Few people know: From August 15-18, 1969, I attended a small concert in Upstate New York, called The Woodstock Music Festival, and from 1972 thru 1996 I raced Formula race cars.

Woof! Woof! It’s almost time for Barktoberfest

B ADOPT US! Minkie and Markie are four-month-old marbled Tabby sisters. They are a stunning pair with striking markings and the softest fur. These two spunky gals are full of energy. They love to play with any kind of toy, though Markie is especially partial to springs (which she carries in her mouth!) They are a bonded pair that enjoys snuggling and sleeping together. If you are looking for a couple of sweet cats that will keep you entertained as they explore their surroundings, look no further. Minnie and Markie are ready to fill your life with love. Bay Area Pet Adoptions would like to thank the community for supporting the shelter during and immediately after Hurricane Harvey. Check out all of the deserving dogs and cats available for adoption at www.bayareapetadoptions.org or visit the facility at 3000 Avenue R, San Leon. The shelter is open every day except Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Some adoptable cats can be seen daily at PetSmart (1921 Gulf Freeway South in Dickinson). Dogs are shown at PetSmart on Saturdays 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Sundays noon - 4 p.m. Bay Area Pet Adoptions (Phone: 281339-2086) is Galveston county’s only non-profit, No-Kill shelter, pet rescue, and adoption organization.

Bay Area Houston Magazine | OCTOBER 2017

ay Area dogs are once again howling in anticipation of their favorite fall event – Barktoberfest, which is sponsored by the Clear Lake Shores Civic Club. Well, wouldn’t you howl a little if you got to strut your stuff before a crowd of dog lovers? It’s coming up Saturday, Oct. 14 in Jarboe Bayou Park at 815 Birch Road in Clear Lake Shores with all proceeds benefitting Bay Area Pet Adoptions, the only No Kill Shelter in Galveston County. Music will fill the air and fun will be had by all, Jennifer Maxwell promises, urging everyone to “Gather your family, dog, friends and come to Jarboe Bayou Park, 815 Birch Road, Clear Lake Shores Oct. 14 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. You will have a blast at Barktoberfest!” The day will be filled with exciting activities, she says, including flyball demonstrations, Police K-9 demonstrations, local vendors, pet products, a Chinese raffle, a silent

auction, food, refreshments, music and the parade of Bay Area Pet Adoptions’ adoptable dogs. Special dog competitions will include best trick, best costume and best in show. For alumni attendees there will be a group photo of Bay Area Pet Adoption Alumni dogs. Many other activities will fill the day, and best of all, attendance is free!

Rotarians to host 44th Shrimporee on Oct. 14 By Mary Alys Cherry

ungry for some big ole juicy shrimp? Word is you won’t have to wait much longer with the Space Center Rotary’s 44th annual Shrimporee and Auction just around the corner. Mark this down: Saturday, Oct. 14 in Clear Lake Park’s Landolt Pavilion on NASA Parkway in Seabrook with the fun starting at 11 a.m. and continuing until 4 p.m. Each year in mid-October, it’s become a tradition in the Clear Lake area for families to gather at

the pavilion and enjoy an afternoon of good food and good company – munching on shrimp, barbecue and brisket, sipping beer and wine and sodas and looking around for the dessert booth as the kids are enjoying the Bounce House, the Corn Hole Toss, the Dunk Booth, Face Painting, while woofing down hot dogs and sodas (which are free to 6 years and under). Dunk Booth? Fun times ahead. It hasn’t been announced, but you may get to dunk your favorite elected official or teacher. Stay tuned. Admission to the Shrimporee is

free, but tickets for the shrimp and barbecue/brisket plate with corn on the cob, beans and a drink are $20 each and may be purchased at the event. For dessert, the Clear Lake High and Clear View High Interact Clubs will offer an array of sweets at inexpensive prices. The Shrimporee is the Rotary club’s major fundraiser of the year, so rest assured they put a lot of effort into making it a memorable event, Chairman Nancy Anderson tells us. Much of the afternoon is spent on the always popular live auction. Businesses around town donate items to be auctioned, and sometimes the bidding gets really fierce as Judge Louie Ditta and former Port Commissioner Steve Phelps work hard to get everyone’s attention, with help from Jerry Smith, Janice Albro, Alan Wylie and Dr. Greg Smith. And, some lucky raffle ticket holder will win a $5,000 shopping spree at Lewis Jewelers in Webster that is being donated by Cindy and Slade Lewis. Tickets are $10 each, six for $50 and 13 for $100. All proceeds benefit local organizations and non-profits servicing the Clear Lake area.

Panhellenic cancels Fall Fashion Show The Nov. 3 Clear Lake Area Panhellenic Fall Fashion Show, that raises funds for the local CrawfordZbanek Foundation, which annually awards scholarships to outstanding and deserving young women in financial need, has been canceled due to hardships endured from Hurricane Harvey by many businesses and other supporters of the event in the Bay Area community. Questions? Contact Peggy Clause by email at pzclause@earthlink. net or by cell @ 281935-9343 or home @ 281-488-3800.

OCTOBER 2017 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

Chris Howland models a pretty blue dress from The Clotheshorse for BOWA members and their guests.

Susan Franklin, Jackie Daley and Amy Roppolo, from left, enjoy seeing one another at the BOWA Fall Fashion Show Luncheon after the long summer break.

Dee Wolfe shows off the latest in casual wear from The Clotheshorse.

Roemehl Dewey, Carlene Langford, Ann Dooley and Judie Ferguson, from left, catch up on each other’s summer news at the Bay Oaks Women’s Association Fall Fashion Show Luncheon, held at Bay Oaks Country Club in Clear Lake.

S t y l e s h ow b e c o m e s a f u n d r ais e r EACH YEAR the Bay Oaks Women’s Association begins the new season with a fashion show luncheon, so members can catch up on all their friends’ summer news and be up to date on the latest fall fashions. This year, however, board members considered canceling it, wondering if it would be appropriate with so much suffering in nearby communities because of Hurricane Harvey. While debating it, they learned that several country club employees were among Harvey’s victims, and decided to turn it into a fundraiser to help those employees get back on their feet. And, afterward, most seemed happy to get some normalcy back in their lives.

MARY ALYS CHERRY

President Jodi Schnabel, who brought Tori Bogle as her guest, was there to greet the arriving crowd that included Jackie Daley, Sandy Lantz, Emmeline Dodd, Marilyn Lunney, Gloria Cruz, Susan McCoy, Angela Swint, Sue Broughton, Cindy Zook, Janine Hoefnagles, and Darla McKitrick. Followed shortly thereafter by Sharon Dillard, Amy Roppolo, Ruth

Karen Reed, from left, goes over plans for the Bay Oaks Women’s Association style show with Sandy Carney and Dorinda Corbett of The Clotheshorse in League City as the crowd begins arriving at the country club.

Bay Area Houston Magazine | OCTOBER 2017

Beecher, Dee Wolfe, Lynn Stovall, Glenna Crist, Debbie Roan, Sue Laabs, Karen Reed, Linda Fincher, Beverly Braden and Pam Clary. Before long, it was time for the fashion show that featured the latest styles from The Clotheshorse in League City introduced by Sandy Carney and Dorinda Corbett and modeled by Judie Ferguson, Dee Wolfe, Mary Colombo, Jodi Schnabel, Chris Howland, Melissa McKinnie, Priscilla Ennis and Kathryn Robinson – much to the delight of Trisha Gunn, Bobby Moutz, Susan Franklin, Lisa Kaczmarek, Ann Dooley, Laura Jardine, Linda Herzfeld, Jane Dannecker and Marie Counts Bradley.

Susan McCoy, left, is happy to see Bobbie Moutz as she arrives at Bay Oaks Country Club for the BOWA fashion show luncheon.

Mary Alyce Hall brought Janet Atteberry as her guest and Lynn Brannan had Barbara Kimball as her guest while Priscilla Ennis arrived with Sandi Widmer, Lisa Maki, Jan Elsperman, Betsey Ennis, Kay Nute and Kathy Braeuer and Carlene Langford, brought Cindy Woodall and Roemehl Dewey as her guests, Still others bringing guests were Karen Gandy with Jennifer Carlisle, Lynn Brannnan with Barbara Kimball, Mary Smith with Donna Jerz, Mary Russell with Beverly Stroud, Virginia Hosea with Carrie Lee and Mary Ellen Vail, and Bridgid McVaugh, who had Cornelia Kiessling as her guest.

Kathy Braeuer, from left, visits with Gloria Cruz, Angela Swint and Sandi Wiemer during the Bay Oaks Women’s Association Fall Fashion Show Luncheon to launch BOWA’s fall season.

Retired Johnson Space Center Director Mike Coats, center, gets a warm welcome from Rotary President Ralph Kramer and Rotarians Kippy Caraway, far left, and Mary Alys Cherry as he arrives at Bay Oaks Country Club to address the club.

Space Center Rotary off to a lively start SPACE CENTER ROTARY is off to a great start to its new club year with two well known speakers and a new set of officers. Banker Ralph Kramer is the club’s new president, following aerospace executive Daryl Smith, who passed the gavel at the beginning of the new Rotary year. Other officers are President-elect Nancy Anderson, Secretary Michael Porterfield, Treasurer Raymond Moore and Sgt.at-Arms Michael Thomas. Mike Coats, the retired Johnson Space Center director, was the first to address the Rotarians as they began a new year, marveling at all the work done by astronauts and cosmonauts on the International Space Station. “What’s fascinating are the long stays

Bay Area Regional Medical Center Senior Vice President Santiago Mendoza, center, visits with San Jacinto College Vice Chancellor Teri Crawford and stockbroker Jerry Smith as he arrives at the Rotary luncheon at Bay Oaks Country Club.

in space,” he said. “There is a tremendous amount of research done on the space station. At any one time, astronauts are conducting 150 different experiments,” he said, noting that the ISS had been designated a national laboratory by Congress. But while he is fascinated with the work on the ISS, he was equally frustrated at all we have to pay the Russians to carry astronauts into space – “$80 million a flight. Half a billion a year!” And, he added, “I’m excited that next year sometime we’ll have two spacecraft flying (from the U.S.) at a cost of about $200,000 per flight to the ISS.” He also expressed hope the Space Council, revived by President Trump, will provide a clear direction for NASA. Santiago Mendoza, the senior vice president of Bay Area Regional Medical Center, brought the

Banker Ralph Kramer, center, is the new president of Space Center Rotary. With him are, from left, Treasurer Raymond Moore, President-elect Nancy Anderson, Past President Daryl Smith and Secretary Michael Porterfield. Michael Thomas, the sergeant-at-arms, was absent from the photo.

Rotarians back to Earth the next week as he described the hospital’s work and accomplishments as it focuses on healness and wellness, and continues to expand and grow. After giving a rundown of the hospital’s various attributes – 191 beds, 8 operating suites, 4 cardiac cath labs, a full service emergency room, 23 treatment rooms, 4 trauma rooms, plus a new women’s center, he pointed out that its just-opened Heart and Vascular Center is one of only five in Texas, and it recently was awarded a Certificate of Excellence in Surgery. And soon, he told the crowd, the new Women’s Center will start delivering “little miracles, providing exceptional care for both moms and babies with a family centered approach.” And for those with weight problems, the hospital has the Metabolic Weight Loss Institute

Special Rotary guests were Atiya Abouleish of Clear Lake and her brother, Mostafa Saleh, visiting from Cairo, Egypt, where he is a member of Cairo Rotary.

and its Bariatic Center has earned the Center of Excellence designation. Next, the hospital is in pursuit of the Level III Trauma Center designation, he said.

Before Harvey, we were all enjoying life. Here, Bay Oaks Country Club General Manager Stephen Morris, second from the left, welcomes, from left, Yvonne Perrin, Perry Laabs, Zack Seiberling and Megan Napoli to the Margaritaville new member mixer the club hosted during the summer.

OCTOBER 2017 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

By Don Armstrong

espite growing sales of SUVs and coupes, sport cars continue to intrigue aficionados and car lovers alike. This month, we look at America’s sport car and a 4-place coupe that will whet your appetite for fall weekend road trips in search of autumn leaves, crooked roads and cooler weather.

Chevrolet Corvette GS Readers of this column always ask us, “what is your favorite car?” Raising kids dulled sport car thoughts for the past two decades but a recent drive of a 2018 Corvette GS awakened sleeping desires. For 65 years, the Corvette has been the dream of every red-blooded, American kid, including me. I’ve owned many in my lifetime and enjoyed each one. The new 2018 GS is a notch above the base level Corvette and gives the driving enthusiast all the attributes of the ultra-powerful, Porsche-killer, Z06, but without its mega-horsepower. Let’s face it, the base 455-horspower, 6.2-liter V-8 that resides under the hood of the GS is enough to get even the most skilled pilot into some serious trouble. Equipped with a 7-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmission, this Chevy makes it easy to compete on the track and get you to the office

Bay Area Houston Magazine | OCTOBER 2017

in style. Add the carbon fiber package and ceramic brakes and you’ll announce to the world that you mean business. The entry-level Corvette begins at $56,490, add another 10-grand to get the GS package.

Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400 As the name implies, this is not your mama’s every day, run-of-the-mill, luxury coupe. New for 2017, the Q60 Red Sport 400 is Infiniti’s way of getting to the fast lane in style. What differentiates the Red Sport from the lower Q60 trim levels is the 400-horsepower, twin turbo V-6 that powers the rear wheels through a 7-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is available. Just by touching the paddles on the steering wheel, the Q60 comes alive with a whoosh of power. The 2-door sport coupe seats 4 in ultra-plush leather. Even the dash has supercar flair with its dual screens located in the laidback center stack. The instrument pod sits under a notable sunshade that rises in front of the driver. With adaptive steering and ride adjustability, road trip destinations will become the number one searched item on your new, expensive smart phone. The Infinti Q60 Red Sport 400 starts at $51,300. Add another 10-grand for a loaded up one, like our tester.

Three years ago, the first of a series of heavy flooding hit and eventually lowered the salinity levels and created some ideal conditions for growing our stocks of marine life, both fin fish and shell fish. In most cases, flood waters entering the bays do a lot of good for the basic component of the marine life cycle, and that is the estuaries. The nutrients that are washed into the

Galveston Bay in the aftermath of the disastrous flooding By Capt. Joe Kent

ots o f q ue st i o ns are being asked about the effects of the recent flood waters on the Galveston Bay Complex. Most of the questions are centered on whether the floods have a beneficial or detrimental impact on the eco-system and what we can expect in the way of fishing this fall. For a number of years, the Galveston Bay Complex was experiencing a serious drought that was beginning to change the ecology of the bay. High levels of salinity and restricted flows of fresh water from rivers and creeks were taking its toll on the wetlands and back bays.Concerns were mounting about a change in our fish patterns, in particular a possible migration of

As of late September, upper Galveston Bay and Trinity Bay both had low salinities.

certain species of fish out of the bays and an influx of different species into the bays. It certainly was a situation that warranted concern.

“Speckled trout especially, are going to be found in large concentrations closer to the coast.” rivers and other outlets help the vegetation grow and in turn provide a sanctuary for newly hatched marine life. This is obviously a real benefit to all who partake in saltwater recreational activities and most beneficial to anglers in all areas including those who fish offshore. On the other hand, flood waters that contain heavy concentrations of contaminants can be detrimental to the estuaries. Contaminants in the form of chemicals and metals are the most destructive, as they can and do kill the life line of the estuaries, the vegetation and in general pollute the waters. Just how our recent flood affects the sensitive balance in the wetlands is yet to be determined. While it remains to be seen as to the effects on the estuaries, there are a few things that can pretty well be counted on as far as the effects on fishing and crabbing.

Following the floods and during the time when heavy flows of water continued to pour into the bays, we have experienced a welcomed dry spell with northerly and westerly winds dominating under low humidity. This has helped to get the flood waters draining more rapidly. Most of Galveston Bay has been muddy and off color with little or no salinity. How long this will last is anyone’s guess. Most of the time, trout will move out of the upper reaches of the bay system and settle in areas that are closer to the Gulf of Mexico, such as those around the passes and jetties. In those areas, trout tend to stack up and become easy prey for anglers. Using last year as an example, our heavy floods came early in the summer and were followed by a similar pattern of hot, dry weather. It was at least two months before the bays started showing signs of improvement. If that pattern repeats itself, it could be November before the water returns to normal around the Galveston Bay Complex. This is especially true in light of the fact that this year’s flooding was more extensive and severe than in years past. So what does that mean for fishing? Well, for speckled trout especially, are going to be found in large concentrations closer to the coast. The jetties, surf and lower Galveston Bay should hold the prized game fish for quite a while. Reds and other fish likely will be the offering in the upper reaches of the bay system, as they are not nearly as sensitive to salinity as are trout.

OCTOBER 2017 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

New racing event on tap J/Fest Southwest organizers, in conjunction with Lakewood Yacht Club and J/Boats Southwest, have announced a new celebrity racing event featuring past World and North American champion sailors. For those of you looking to start enjoying the festivities surrounding this year’s regatta early, you’ll want to get here before 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, to enjoy the two planned celebrity races on Clear Lake the afternoon before the J/Fest Southwest Regatta. The celebrities include Jeff Johnstone, Scott Young, Farley Fontenot and Jay Lutz. They will be sailing J/24s loaned out by the J/24 Fleet. Each boat will have their celebrity name across the mainsail. There will be on the water judging, and spectators can watch the action from the newly opened Barge 295, in the location of the old Turtle Club. Live commentary will include humor and historical tidbits for additional entertainment value. The 8th Annual J/Fest Southwest Regatta will be raced on Galveston Bay Oct. 21-22, and this year’s event marks 40 years of J/Boat history. With over 50 boats entered so far, 2017 will be a landmark regatta. Don’t miss the Oct. 14 registration deadline. The entry fee is just $95 for all classes. Racers who register by 1700 hours on Oct. 14 will receive a free t-shirt and two wristbands to get you into the post-race dinner and party at LYC. Visit www.jfestsouthwest. com to register. Crew waivers and other valuable information, including information about local accommodations are also available. J/Boats are high-end, performance sailboats ranging in size from 22’ to 40’ in length that sport a variety of classes designed for cruising, day sailing or racing, many of which will be in Seabrook for this event. For regatta information or questions about the celebrity, contact J/Fest Southwest Regatta Race Co-Chair Chris Lewis at jfswatlyc@outlook.com

Harvest Moon Regatta 2017 will race on scheduled dates

ith the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey becoming clear, the Harvest Moon Regatta® Committee has had to reevaluate the ability of LYC and Bay Access to hold the race and the ability of our friends in Port Aransas to host the finish and party. “While LYC and Bay Access are in good shape and anxious for the race to proceed as scheduled dates, our good friends in Port Aransas, unfortunately, did not fare as well and will not be able to host the finish or party this year,” HMR Chairman Paul Dunphey said. “Thus, the Harvest Moon Regatta will be run as scheduled, but we will start and end in Galveston with the post-race party held at LYC in Seabrook. To support Port Aransas, we will hold the race in conjunction with a fundraiser, the Hurricane Harvey/ HMR Port Aransas Recovery Fund, to provide muchneeded assistance to our friends there.” An Amended Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions is on the HMR website to accommodate a course starting and finishing in Galveston with courses appropriate for both racing and cruising boats. Here are some of the highlights: •

The Harvest Moon Regatta will be an offshore race in the Gulf of Mexico starting from the Galveston Pleasure Pier at 2 p.m., Oct. 5, but this year we will finish the race in the Galveston area;

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There will be distance races appropriate for both cruising boats and racing boats;

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The awards presentation will be held in the South Pavilion area at Lakewood Yacht Club in Seabrook;

Bay Area Houston Magazine | OCTOBER 2017

•

The Bacardi Rum party with a live band, dinner and the HMR Port Aransas Recovery Fund presentations will occur on Saturday, Oct. 7;

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In support of the Hurricane Harvey/HMR Port Aransas Recovery Fund, Judy’s Mission® ovarian cancer foundation asks, instead of making additional donations to Sail-aThon™ 2017, that you make your donations to the Hurricane Harvey/HMR Port Aransas Recovery Fund;

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Lakewood Yacht Club will host racers in slips or on rafts in LYC’s Inner Harbor at no charge during the event;

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Racers who have already paid for dockage in Port Aransas may choose to have their money refunded or to donate the money to the Hurricane Harvey/HMR Port Aransas Recovery Fund;

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Raffle tickets are on sale now; Grand prize is a four-day stay in a condo in Los Cabos, Mexico with secondary prizes including a $5,000 sail from Bank Sails and rigging items and services from West Marine Rigging Service;

“We hope that the HMR racers will come out strong and enjoy the race and support our longtime friends in Port Aransas by donating to the Hurricane Harvey/ HMR Port Aransas Recovery Fund. Thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you at HMR 2017,” Dunphey added. Participants are asked to check the website www. harvestmoonregatta.com for further details. Questions should be addressed to 2017 HMR Race Chair Paul Dunphey at HMR@lakewoodyachtclub.com

OCTOBER 2017 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

Community is invited to Paint the Night Pink

ring your friends and loved ones to celebrate breast health and learn more about breast cancer prevention at Houston Methodist St. John Hospital’s second annual Paint

the Night Pink event on Thursday, Oct. 5, 5-7 p.m. “Last year’s Paint the Night Pink was a tremendous success, and I hope to see everyone again this year,” said Dan Newman, CEO. “These types of community events are an important

Bay Area Houston Magazine | OCTOBER 2017

component of our commitment to the health and wellbeing of Bay Area women and families; plus a great opportunity to enjoy an informative evening with friends and family.” Highlights of the event include a Crossroads Guardians of Hope Tour Stop, complimentary mini makeup sessions and chair massage, light bites, refreshments and other fun vendors. Each attendee will receive a complimentary gift. Paint the Night Pink will also feature a panel of breast health and breast cancer experts, who will discuss risk factors, the importance of preventive breast health care, and treatment options. “Last year, the audience engaged with physicians in a lively discussion,” Newman said. “I’m happy we can provide this opportunity for people to bring their questions and learn from our team of specialists, as well as from one another.” To continue to raise awareness of breast cancer – and celebrate Bay Area survivors and those who are currently battling the disease – the hospital’s tower will be lit pink throughout the month of October. One goal of Paint the Night Pink is to encourage women to schedule their annual mammogram. Studies show that one in every eight women

will develop breast cancer, and more than 85 percent of those diagnosed have no family history of the disease. The 3-D imaging technology and dedicated breast radiologists at Houston Methodist St. John Hospital can detect even tiny abnormalities earlier than ever, giving women a significant advantage if treatment is needed. “Early detection is key, and mammography is one of the most important screening tools we have. In addition, our dedicated breast radiologists are specially trained to detect breast cancer at its earliest stages and they review every patient mammogram at our hospital,” said Dr. Arti Jonna, breast radiologist. “We will be offering screening mammograms to women on the night of this event.’” Houston Methodist St. John Hospital provides 3-D mammography, breast ultrasound, and other imaging procedures. Women ages 40 to 44 should consider beginning annual mammograms, and women ages 45 and older should be screened every year. No doctor’s orders are needed to schedule your 3-D screening mammogram. Schedule online today at houstonmethodist.org/ appointments or call 281.333.8858.

OCTOBER 2017 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

Breast cancer no longer a death sentence By Mary Alys Cherry

•

• •

here is no sure way to prevent breast cancer, but there is likely to be a better outcome today than we might have expected even 10 years ago. In the past, getting breast cancer was almost a death sentence, making breast cancer one of life’s most dreaded diseases. Not so today. In fact, the news is much, much less bleak as approximately 2.5 million women alive today had breast cancer and survived. Although approximately one in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime, the number of women who die from the disease declines each year – most likely, doctors say, from advanced treatment and increased screenings. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and the second leading cause of cancer deaths after lung cancer.

THE RISKS

Determining one’s risk for developing breast cancer, doctors will tell you, is an inexact science. There is simply no way to explain why one woman gets breast cancer and another does not. Those 55 and older have a greater risk than younger women. Two-thirds of women with breast cancer are over 50 and most of the rest are between 39 and 49. Other factors include:

Bay Area Houston Magazine | OCTOBER 2017

•

Having a family history of breast cancer. A woman whose sister, mother or daughter has had breast cancer is two to three times more likely to develop it; Not having children until past 30; Starting your period before age 12; Having changes in the cancerrelated genes.

REDUCING YOUR RISK There are things you can do to lower your risk, such as changing things that are in your control. These tips may reduce your risk: • Drink less than one alcoholic beverage per day; those who drink a glass or two a day face a 21 percent increased risk of developing breast cancer; • Maintain a healthy weight for your height, especially after menopause; • Work out four or more hours per week. According to the National Cancer Institute, white, non-Hispanic women have the highest overall incidence rate among racial/ethnic groups, while Native Americans and Native Alaskans have the lowest rate. Men also get breast cancer but account for only one percent of all breast cancer cases. The American Cancer Society recommends yearly mammograms starting at 40 and a clinical exam by a doctor every three years for women in their 20s and 30s.

OCTOBER 2017 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

Allegiance Bank Building a Better Bay Area Houston

llegiance Bank is extremely proud to serve Houston as the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest community bank exclusively committed to focusing on Houston and building a stronger community. The local Clear Lake office is led

and operated by well-known local civic leader President Frank Law, who is well schooled in banking and has years of experience of leading financial institutions. He takes his leadership role seriously and has excellent business acumen. Allegiance Bank celebrates 10 years

Bay Area Houston Magazine | OCTOBER 2017

of serving the Houston metroplex area and the local Clear Lake landmark has been open providing financial service in the local community for the past four years. The Clear Lake bank has had a surge in business and has expanded its state-of-the art facility by 2,000

square feet to accommodate more bankers. Allegiance Bank “financing provided by” signs can be seen all over the Bay Area, helping our community expand and grow. Along with the bank’s growth and expansion, they proudly display a colorful patriotic logo, redesigned in 2015. Frank Law would like to thank the city leaders of Nassau Bay for their professionalism and the opportunity to work together. With the support and leadership of George Martinez, Chief Executive Officer of the bank and Chairman of Allegiance Bancshares, Inc., and the entire leadership team at Allegiance Bank, they have come up with a dynamic plan to meet the challenges created by Hurricane Harvey. They

Hunter at Trustmark Landscape. Furthermore, if your pets require veterinary assistance contact, Dr. Cindy Marcum at Sea Paws Veterinary Clinic. These businesses, among others, are just a few that are also helping build a better Bay Area Houston Community. Let Allegiance Bank help you rebuild or expand your business. Their well-skilled and trained bankers will create a workable solution for your business needs. Thank you Allegiance Bank for building a better community. are aggressively implementing strategies to help those that suffered losses due to the storm. A plan is already in the process of assisting individual and business customers financially with disaster based pricing and other products to help rebuild. Allegiance Bank is highly recognized for its entire team’s willingness to provide funding for the client and also with its expertise in their respected service businesses, making a perfect combination. So, whether you need heavy equipment to help rebuild, add or expand, call Sandy and Randy Williams at Clear Creek Equipment Rental. If you require landscape needs at home or office, call Matt

Frank Law, Executive Bank Office President.

OCTOBER 2017 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

kids to indulge a little this Halloween season, but keeping an eye on their eating habits is key in making sure they are living healthier for good.

Tips for the Trick-or-Treater

Who’s the Boss? Pass out one to two candies to the kids instead of letting them take their own helpings. This helps with portion control and controls your purse strings as well! Avoid the Whole Mess: Want to avoid candy and masses of kids at your door? Dress your family up in their costumes and go see a movie. Or deliver a healthy treat to your local police and fire stations!

Tips for the Thrill Seeker

Keep the Sugar Zombies Away this Halloween Season By Michelle Mason American Heart Association

andy corn. Caramel covered apples. Bags of chocolates with cream fillings. The allure of holiday eating is right around the corner. But attached to that sweet tooth are some scary monsters: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attacks, childhood obesity and strokes. That’s why the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association wants you to keep your heart in fighting shape against you and your family turning into sugar zombies on All Hallow’s Eve.

Healthy Kids are Sweet Enough You spent countless hours making sure your kids have the best costumes for October 31st, but did you skip the healthy dinner before trick-or-treating? Childhood obesity rates in the United States have tripled since 1963. Today, 1 in 3 kids is considered obese, and nearly none meet healthy diet and physical activity recommendations. According to the AHA, childhood obesity can cause many risk factors that could lead to heart attacks or strokes in adult life. Despite the statistics, it is perfectly alright for

Bay Area Houston Magazine | OCTOBER 2017

Fill Up First: The best way to make sure your kids hearts are working properly is by filling up on a healthy meal before hitting the neighborhood doorbells. Get Rid of It! Keep enough candy for one piece a day for one to two weeks (long enough for their excitement to wane), then throw away. Pair with a Healthy Snack: Pair each piece of candy with a healthy snack: an apple, a banana, some nuts or celery with peanut butter will keep your kids hearts happy, while that one special treat will keep Halloween tantrums under wraps. Get Moving: Make Halloween a fun, family activity. Challenge your kids to visit a certain number of houses in one night in a certain time frame. By the time the night is over, they will be too tired to dig into that bag of candy!

Up the Fright Factor: Serve healthy snacks dressed up in a spooky theme. Or put healthy snacks in scary lawn décor. The best part? Getting to see how many kids double dog dare each other to make the first move. Get them Moving: Tired of sitting by the door waiting to pass out candy? Dress up in a scary costume and wait behind the bushes for a group of kids to come to the door. The fright alone will send the kids running, which is good for their hearts! Fright Fest in the Garage: Turn your garage into the scariest haunted house in the neighborhood. Kids will be lining up the door to get in – forgetting all about candy and sugary drinks. Eating healthier is easier than you think, even if you indulge a little. The AHA’s Healthy for Good Platform is a revolutionary movement to inspire you to create lasting change in your health and in your life, one small step at a time. The approach is simple: Eat Smart. Add Color. Move More. Be Well. Don’t be a ghoul, make the smart choice today. For more healthy tips and recipes, visit www.heart.org.

Movie scenes filmed in Bay Area By Mary A. Proctor

must see movie with several scenes filmed right here in the Houston Bay Area by a Texas native. Bo Brinkman (made famous for his roles in the films Gettysburg and Gods and Generals”) wrote and directed the movie Last Man Club which is NOW available on Digital HD, DVD and most Cable/Satellite Platforms. Brinkman had major help from a former Bay Area resident and current Bay Area small business owner, Linda Pandolph. Clipper House Inn was used in several “Last Man scenes and the Club honors City of Kemah was gracious enough to veterans and allow the production has received 22 crew to park behind Film Festival T-bone Toms as their basecamp for a few Awards scenes being shot in including nine both the Kemah and for the best the La Porte areas. feature film.” Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Nassau Bay played a major role doubling as a VA hospital for Last Man Club spotlighting important movie scenes featuring the legendary Barry Corbin. The principal cast, Including James MacKrell, Kate French, Morgan Sheppard and Richard Riehle all stayed for several days at the Nassau Bay Courtyard by Marriott, where many were recognized and Bay Area locals got the actors autographs and snapped photos Last Man Club is a heartwarming, AllAmerican road trip adventure. To avoid a retirement home, a World War II veteran escapes to search for the last surviving members of his B-17 crew -- for one final mission. As Eagle sets out to find his buddies, a beautiful young woman fleeing her gangster boyfriend becomes an unlikely accomplice. With the police, the mob and the FBI now in hot pursuit, it’s a race to fulfill what might be their greatest adventure! The production plans to film another movie

Laura Massague and Annalise Jackson.

in this area soon and they have their eye set on Kemah as a prime location. “Houston, and in particular the Clear Lake Galveston Bay area, is a treasured community with so many diverse and interesting locations. “The people are very friendly and there are a lot of excellent restaurants and retail establishments that will meet our production needs,” Executive Producer Linda Pandolph said. “We are very anxious to make another film in this area.” Last Man Club honors veterans and has received 22 Film Festival Awards including nine for the best feature film. The principal cast members all won acting awards, and Bo Brinkman was awarded two Best Director trophies. To download, rent or own Last Man Club, visit the website at www.thelastmanclub.com The DVD is currently available exclusively on the film’s website but will soon be available on Amazon to “one click” order.

U pcoming Galveston Chamber Golf Tournament Monday, Oct. 16 Moody Gardens 8 a.m. shotgun tee-off 1:30 p.m. shotgun tee-off Moody Gardens Golf Course $250 per player (includes cart, fees)

BAHEP’s Annual Membership Golf Outing Monday, Oct. 23 Bay Oaks Country Club Free to members Registration 9 a.m. Putting contest 9:30 a.m. Tee off 11 a.m. Complimentary lunch Dinner buffet/prizes

G olf

Swan Lake comes to Clear Lake Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre will present the classic ballet Swan Lake the weekend of Oct. 13-15 with performances at the Bayou Theatre at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Friday and Saturday evening performances are at 7:30 p.m. and the Saturday and Sunday matinees will be at 2 p.m. For tickets, go to the BAHBT website at www. bahbt.org. Tickets can also be purchased by calling the office at 281 480-1617. Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre is Clear Lake’s only semi-professional dance company. The artistic director is Nelson Madrigal, formerly with the Cuban National Ballet and the Boston Ballet. Associate Artistic Director Natalie Zundel is a long time Clear Lake resident, who danced many roles with BAHBT before becoming an esteemed teacher, choreographer, and ballet mistress.

outings

League City Regional Chamber Fall Golf Classic Monday, Oct. 30 South Shore Harbour Country Club 10 a.m. registration 11:30 shotgun start 5 p.m. Awards dinner $150 individual; 4/$650

Clear Lake Chamber 2018 Spring Fever Golf Classic March 27, 2018 Magnolia Creek Golf Club More details to come, visit www.clearlakearea.com/events

OCTOBER 2017 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

[BAY AREA HOUSTON ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP] BAHEP President Bob Mitchell, at the podium, prepares to roll-out dynamic new storm surge protection video during a media event held Sept. 12 at Houston City Hall. Shown, from left are: Houston City Council Members Karla Cisneros, Dave Martin, David Robinson, Jack Christie, standing behind Mayor Sylvester Turner, and Mayor Pro-Tem Ellen R. Cohen. Next to Cohen are State Sen. Sylvia Garcia, State Rep. Dennis Paul, and Stephen C. Costello, City of Houston chief resilience officer and “flood czar.”

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner addresses the crowd of media, elected officials and other stakeholders present before inviting BAHEP President Bob Mitchell to make a few statements. Shown left to right are: Houston Council Member David Robinson; Mayor Michel Bechtel, City of Morgan’s Point; Mitchell; Houston Council Members Dave Martin and Michael Kubosh. (Photos courtesy of Guidry News Service)

Time has come to get serious about protecting our region and the nation By Kathryn Paradis

ictor Hugo, a French writer famous for penning Les Misérables, among many other works, wrote, “All the forces in the world are not so powerful as an idea whose time has come.” Following the massive destruction of Hurricane Harvey, roughly estimated to have caused $150 billion in damages, it appears that the time has finally come to take storm surge protection for the upper Texas Gulf coast under serious consideration. On Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017, less than 24 hours shy of the ninth anniversary of Hurricane Ike, the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership and the City of Houston rolled out the second in a series of videos produced to promote the critical need for a coastal spine system, an “Ike Dike” if you will, to protect the people, homes, businesses, industries and economies of the region, state, and nation. The film, Unprepared - A Nation at Risk, produced by Space City Films and funded by the Bay Area Coastal Protection Alliance, takes a hard look at the consequences of Houston suffering a direct hit from a major hurricane. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner,

San Jacinto College Chancellor Dr. Brenda Hellyer says hello to Col. Len Waterworth, Texas A&M Galveston executive professor.

surrounded by members of city council and other stakeholders, led the media event by stating, “I don’t think there is a better time to have this conversation than right now. As we work diligently to get back on track after the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey, we are also keeping our eyes on the vital need for strong surge protection in our region.” “It is very difficult,” he emphasized, “to have a conversation about rebuilding if we don’t have a serious conversation about mitigation … It needs to be a part of the rebuilding process.” The mayor continued, “I think that

Bay Area Houston Magazine | OCTOBER 2017

Bill Read, former director of National Hurricane Center, right, stops to talk with Chris Hext, left, East Harris County Manufacturers Association legislative chairman, and BAHEP Specialty Chemical Marketing Manager C.A. Shields.

Hurricane Harvey was a warning sign that we need to start talking, and, quite frankly, we need to start designing and building. There is no reason that in the package before Congress that they are considering that the coastal spine should not be fully funded.” Mayor Turner then invited BAHEP President Bob Mitchell to address the media and others in the overflow crowd in the Legacy Room at Houston City Hall. BAHEP, in

partnership with Texas A&M University at Galveston among many others, has been working since 2009 to gain support for a coastal spine system. “We’ve actually been able to accomplish more in the last 10 months than we have in the previous seven years,” Mitchell told the crowd, pointing out that the accomplishments would not have been possible without the assistance of many people, notably Dr. Bill Merrell of Texas A&M Galveston, the “father” of the coastal spine concept. “Without his foresight and creativity, there is no way that we would be standing here today,” Mitchell said. He invited everyone to watch the video, which spoke of Texas storms and their consequences, featured interviews with hurricane experts and elected officials, and outlined the potential financial impact on the nation of such storms and the aftermath of a major storm surge barreling up the Houston Ship Channel. The dynamic video can be viewed on YouTube at https://youtu. be/v_Ez1Xvkjqo.

“For donations of clothing, school supplies, etc. McWhirter Elementary is accepting physical donations at its free-standing gym.”

Donation centers set up in League City, Webster In an effort to help Bay Area families who were victimized by Hurricane Harvey, two local donation centers have been set up to help – one in League City and one in Webster.

“One thing that has jumped out at me throughout this catastrophic event, is the generosity in the City of League City and Galveston County. It has just been unbelievable. Neighbors helping neighbors and people like Libby Johnson chasing me around and teaming with my wife and daughter to get this set-up,” Hallisey said. “Our problem was that storm supplies and donations were starting to come quickly, and we needed a facility to be able to get them out to the community. Ryan Smith, the City of League City’s IT director has put in a lot of effort to coordinate the use of the Kroger storefront, forklifts and logistics coordination to help make this facility a reality. Ryan is our Radar O’Riley…he can do anything.”

By Mary Alys Cherry

he City of League City,

led by Mayor Pat Hallisey and a group of volunteers, has teamed up with Kroger to establish a League City Kroger Donation Center to support recovery efforts related to Hurricane Harvey and help the hundreds of families whose homes were flooded or destroyed. It is located in the empty store front at 176 Gulf Freeway South (at the intersection with FM 518 and I-45) in the League City Plaza. The other, set up by Clear Creek ISD which activated the CCISD Cares Support Resources Center at McWhirter Elementary School in Webster. “We all know we are here because Chad Davidson sitting up in Mustang, Okla., saw somewhere on the news that his hometown had flooded. We have some 6,000 homes that have had water in them. Most of our people are out there trying to recover right now,” Mayor Hallisey said.

Kroger a big help The mayor also highlighted the efforts of the Kroger team from Cincinnati, all the way down to the local store, jumping through hoops to make this happen. “Their generosity is something special. We made one call and within three hours we had the store keys and the beginning of the donation center,” he added. The empty store front had originally been set aside for Galveston County and the Red Cross to provide support, but Galveston County Judge Mark Henry said that facility was moved to Texas Agrilife Center in La Marque, opening the door for League City to begin establishing a single League City Kroger Donation Center, which will eventually consolidate facilities from Hometown Heroes and Walter Hall parks.

Bay Area Houston Magazine | OCTOBER 2017

CCISD Center activated In response to the devastating effects Tropical Storm Harvey are having on its staff, students and community, Clear Creek ISD activated the CCISD Cares support resources center at McWhirter Elementary School, 300 Pennsylvania Ave. in Webster. These resources include campus status updates, information on the donation and distribution site for clothing and school supplies, help for children, and other community resources that are at the ready for our families. When dropping off donations, donors are asked to enter at the front of McWhirter Elementary that faces Walnut, where the Enrollment Center sign is. Hours of Operation are Monday - Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturday – 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Services available include student registration and intake for displaced families, distribution of clothing for children and adults, school supplies, toiletries and personal hygiene items plus referrals to additional resources and support. For donations of clothing, school supplies, etc. McWhirter Elementary is accepting physical donations at its free-standing gym. For monetary donations, the Clear Creek Education Foundation, CCISD’s 501c(3) support organization, is serving as the collection point for gift cards and online donations which will directly benefit our families. To donate by check, make checks payable to CCISD. In the “notes” field, please add “CCISD Cares” and mail to: CCISD Education Support Center Attn: Cindy Stamps, Federal Programs 2425 E. Main Street League City, TX 77573 The center also received some welcome support from a four person Summerdale, Ala. team that drove through the storm with a goose-neck trailer to get much needed supplies into the Galveston County area. On Sunday the donation center will became a donation and distribution center. The donation and distribution center is taking all donations except clothing. Initially the center will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with volunteer check in beginning at 10 a.m. and continuing through the day. Volunteers, donors and those seeking assistance are asked to report to the appropriate entrances. People looking for volunteer information or bringing large donations for dropoff should contact Johnnie Waid or Carl Wankowicz at lctxharveyrelief@ gmail.com “We are grateful for all the support for those in need,” the mayor added. “It really shows the heart of our community. “

OCTOBER 2017 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

Visiting nurses from New Jersey, along with hospital CEO Stephen Jones Jr. and Chief Nursing Officer Michelle Henderson, RN, have a photo op with astronaut Clayton Anderson, center, while visiting here and lending a helping hand at Bay Area Regional Medical Center.

Nurses from far way lend a hand at Bay Area Regional Medical Center

urses from New Jersey,

New York, California and Massachusetts made their way to Bay Area Regional Medical Center in the days after impact to relieve staff to get much needed rest and to begin the process of cleanup and rebuilding. Bay Area Regional employees weathered the storm at the hospital for many days. Most slept in the hospital because of massive, widespread flooding. “Some essential staff was rescued by boat and by

large vehicles when the flooding first began,” Bay Area Regional CEO Stephen K. Jones Jr. said. “Thanks to many folks, we were able to rescue and transport many staff to the hospital. Many of whom had significant water damage to their homes and vehicles.” Nurses from New Jersey landed at Ellington Field Aug. 31 and have spent time helping at the hospital and volunteering to demo nurses flooded homes along with volunteering at shelters.

“I am humbled and in awe at the generosity and positive attitudes the wonderful community and staff of Bay Area Regional Medical Center have expressed toward us in light of the hardship they have endured,” said Brenda Lima-Mattessich, RN from AtlantiCare in New Jersey. “I worked 18-20 hours a day during Hurricane Sandy, so I know what the nurses here are going through. Everyone has embraced us with humbleness and grace.” Vanessa Jones, RN from Capital

Health in New Jersey commented, “We came here to help and we are leaving with a sense of family and relationships that we will have for years to come.” Bay Area Regional was “designed to withstand a category five hurricane with 225 mph winds and designed with the future mind in strength, quality and state-of-the-art equipment,” said Monzer Hourani, CEO of Medistar Corp. “While other hospitals had to evacuate or stop accepting patients, Bay Area Regional remained open and was unaffected structurally by the storm. In fact, the National Guard delivered patients to our hospital.” Relief efforts were still underway as the hospital welcomed nurses from Massachusetts on Sept. 6. “I am honored to have so many nurses from across the country ready to assist our staff in the recovery efforts after Hurricane Harvey,” Jones said. “We are truly blessed by each person who got on an airplane to come to Houston Bay Area and lend a helping hand to our wonderful community.”

Cost of Ike Dike is high…but so are the lives of thousands Counterpoint to Bob Stokes, Galveston Bay Foundation By Mark A. Denman

s Mayor of Nassau Bay,

I was troubled by Bob Stokes’ editorial suggesting the Rice SSPEED Center’s Centennial Gate concept be revisited “since funding for an Ike Dike may be problematic.” I have the greatest respect for Mr. Stokes and his accomplishments since taking on the role of President of the Galveston Bay Foundation. I personally participate and contribute to GBF (our city does the same), as many of their projects are of great impact to our Galveston Bay. Under Mr. Stokes’ guidance, I feel GBF has morphed from an organization of “just say no” to an effective force that puts its many backs and hands (volunteers and direct employees) where their mouth is.

While many in my community and fellow mayors around Galveston Bay are also staunch supporters of the Galveston Bay Foundation, we are near unanimously strong advocates of the coastal spine, “Ike Dike,” concept with 21 of our municipalities, and even more civic organizations, providing written endorsements. Moreover, many of us have formally rejected the Centennial Gate concept. The La Porte City Council was speaking clearly and for all of us when, in a resolution opposing the Centennial Gate, the Council stated it “does not accept the notion that areas of lower elevation seaward of Centennial Gate within any community fronting Galveston Bay should be considered collateral damage from the impact of a storm surge.” The Centennial Gate concept versus the Ike Dike concept has been carefully considered and has been laid to rest…and does not need to be debated again! It is

Bay Area Houston Magazine | OCTOBER 2017

counterproductive for Mr. Stokes to even raise that issue. Instead, we need to move forward and we are doing just that. His ideas about costs are also questionable. He states that the Ike Dike “could theoretically protect ‘everyone,’ but might cost $15 billion or more.” While I think it would be cost effective to protect everyone from surge at $15B, reliable cost estimates of the coastal spine range from $6B to $8B. With Harvey damage and recovery costs estimated as high as $180B, and the estimated cost of a major surge event surpassing $100B, costs of prevention in the $10s of billions seem very reasonable and cost effective - and let us not forget the human lives that will be saved. Since Harvey, there has been a remarkable convergence of public and political opinion saying it is time to do something to reduce both fresh and salt water flooding in our region.

Officials at the city, county, state, and federal levels have publicly endorsed action to reduce flooding. I believe that we now have the political will and public endorsement to work towards protecting our citizens and their families, as well as properties and jobs, from the devastating effects of flooding. Many possible actions have been proposed to reduce fresh water flooding from rain events, as well as to reduce hurricaneinduced surges. It is increasingly clear the Ike Dike is an important component to solving our surge problems and should be part of our collective regional solution. We need to come together and work on solutions. I hope the Galveston Bay Foundation will resist falling back into the “just say no” habit of the past and support a solution of the future, overwhelmingly supported by so many cities (too numerous to mention), counties, state and federal.

OCTOBER 2017 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

Storm Stress By Pastor Brad Heintz

y the time you are reading this article, it is over a month since Hurricane Harvey camped out on the Gulf Coast, and yet we are still feeling the impact. Like an unwelcomed house guest, Hurricane Harvey came ashore and didn’t leave for such a long time! Finally when Harvey left, everyone was asking, “How did you weather the storm?” We all had an answer. It was either, “A total loss, some loss or we were spared.” A month or so later, the stress from the storm may be settling in as agitation, tiredness, depression, strained relationships or even physical illness. This past Friday, I had breakfast with my adopted Dad, Rush Warren. There was something surreal about getting back to a normal routine after Harvey. Breakfast with Dad is something we try to do every Friday, which didn’t happen during the

storm or the weeks after. Usually, I get to the restaurant early to work on my message for Sunday and then have breakfast. But this time I ran into people I knew from Living Word Church and had some great conversations about the impact of Hurricane Harvey. Each couple shared how they are trying to handle the stress of the storm. One person said, “Do you realize that every person in our area not only experienced the storm but personally knows someone who flooded?” It is traumatic in so many ways and our recovery is going to take a long time. So what can we do? Learning to turn over whatever is bothering us to God and people who care can make a world of different in how we cope. Seek out God through your house of worship. Seek professional help from a therapist or counselor who is trained in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Seek out a good listener who will hear your story. A friend of mine noticed the days

Bay Area Houston Magazine | OCTOBER 2017

after the storm the bars were packed, the beer aisle in the grocery store was empty and the churches were filled. When you are in a difficult situation what do you do? How is your coping mechanism working for you now or is it causing mores stress? When I am in a difficult spot, I turn to my God, His Word and other followers to help. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7) I encourage you to find help that truly heals. If Jesus has the power to overcome death, he can deliver on his promise to help you overcome (John 16:33).

“How is your coping mechanism working for you now or is it causing mores stress?” If you are reading this article and live in the Houston area, Hurricane Harvey impacted you. The question is, ‘How much and for how long?” Was it a “total loss,” “some loss” or “no loss” for you? Are you coping well, not coping at all or just getting along?

Total Loss and Despair If you were completely impacted by Hurricane Harvey, do you feel as if everything is just gone, contaminated, lost? Let God and His Word speak into your situation. He will help and often he helps through people. Psalm 34:17-18 (The Message) Is anyone crying for help? God is listening,

ready to rescue you. If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath.

Some Loss and Frustration If you had some impact from Hurricane Harvey, you have probably said, “I’m not as bad off as others.” And that is true. Yet, you may feel a sense of frustration and maybe a little stuck. Let God and His Word speak into your situation. 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV) Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

No Loss – Guilt If you were spared, during Hurricane Harvey, are you feeling a twinge of guilt? That’s normal. But now what do you do with it? I encourage you to gain perspective. It is he who saved us and chose us for his holy work not because we deserved it but because that was his plan. 2 Timothy 1:9 (LB) Were you spared so that there was someone who could help? What is God’s purpose in all of this? Don’t let survivor’s guilt linger; replace it with actions that help make things better. Please don’t let the storm continue in the form of stress related problems. Learn to turn it over to God. Seek help from others and receive true peace. Pastor Brad Heintz is the founding pastor of Living Word Church in Seabrook, a vibrant family-style, nondenominational gathering of believers who take a pure, simple and real approach to faith and life. www.LWCBA.org

OCTOBER 2017 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

John Morton, owner of Saltwater Gym, rebuilds after Harvey’s wrath.

And the walls came tumbling down What started as a dream quickly turned into a nightmare. John Morton wanted to create a gym especially designed for the health and well being of the individual. By K Pica Kahn

ohn Morton had a vision

for his Saltwater Gym. Obtaining equipment and a location, he felt that he was on his way up. Mother Nature had other plans, and when Hurricane Harvey came barreling across the Texas Gulf Coast, it definitely left its imprint on the new Bacliff location at 4445 Highway 146. Set to open the week of Hurricane Harvey, his dreams of the gym were crushed when his new venture became flooded. Since then, he has been busy pulling up carpet and tearing out sheetrock in anticipation of an Oct. 1 opening. “It was hard,” said Morton, the vice president of operations. “We were definitely emotionally invested. But I feel good. It has been hard to watch, but we are grateful. So many others lost so much more. We are positive and moving forward, even able to salvage most of the equipment. It will be even better.” The name of the gym comes from the fact that the location is near the water. It is a saltwater kind of area. “We chose that location because we thought it was undeserved with nothing like it in the area really,”

Morton said. “We wanted to enhance it and bring something important to that part of the county. I live in Galveston. I am a transplant to the area from Illinois. I worked for many years for Caterpillar in research and development and was transferred here. “I was also a personal trainer, and one of my clients who had seen amazing results, approached me about the gym which had always been my dream. I wanted a change in my life: this was it. We are not like other corporate chain gyms. We are totally personal and have our clients’ best interests in mind. Open 24/7, there are plans for the future of the 7,500-square-foot Saltwater Gym, including a place to sell supplements, offering classes including yoga and bringing in a nurse practitioner. “The quality of the equipment is a point that separates the gym” said Morton. “Custom-made benches and special bars add value. We also take care to give our clients personal training and personal information to enhance their lives. We have a very high standard staff with four trainers including myself. I think often it is watered down in big gyms. They are often impersonal. Our sole mission is to change lives and be active in this community.” Yes, the walls came tumbling down. And what started as a dream quickly turned into a nightmare, but in the end, the sun came shining through.

Congressional delegation tours hard-hit storm areas U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, House Speaker Paul Ryan and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) led a congressional delegation that made an aerial tour of storm devastation and flood mitigation infrastructure Sept. 21. They also visited some of Friendswood’s hard hit areas and helped clean out storm-damaged homes. Others making the tour were Rep. John Carter (TX-31), chairman, House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee; Rep. Michael McCaul (TX10), chairman, House Homeland Security Committee;Rep. Kevin Brady (TX-08), chairman, House Ways and Means Committee; Rep. Pete Olson (TX-22); Rep. John Culberson (TX-07); Rep. Ted Poe (TX-02); Rep. Blake Farenthold (TX-27); Rep. Al Green (TX-09); Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (TX-18) and Rep. Gene Green (TX-29).

Bay Area Houston Magazine | OCTOBER 2017

OCTOBER 2017 | Bay Area Houston Magazine

CCEF golf tournament raises $18,500 for CCISD

he Clear Creek Education Foundation

raised an impressive $18,500 for the students and teachers of CCISD as it hosted over 200 guests at the 2nd Annual CCISD Alumni and Friends TopGolf Tournament in Webster. Nearly every bay was occupied with alumni of CCISD, as well as friends from around the area. Presented by Dvorak and Associates, alumni attending called the event a great afternoon full of fun, fellowship games and prizes. The $18,547 total raised will go directly back into CCISD classrooms through the foundation’s Give-A-Grant Program. This program includes Teacher Innovative Grants, Student-Teacher Innovative Grants, Mini-

(LEFT) Clear Creek ISD Superintendent Dr. Greg Smith, from left, joins CCEF Marketing Manager Kelsey Richardson, attorney Joe Barlow and Golf Tournament Chairman Traci Dvorak for a snack during the golf tournament. (RIGHT) Team Brouillard enjoys some fun and fellowship as they relax during the CCEF Golf Tournament. Pictured are, from left, Katherine Brouillard; League City Intermediate Principal Kim Brouillard, Victory Lakes Intermediate teacher John Brouillard and Bayside Intermediate teacher Melissa Brouillard.

Congressman named to head space agency

klahoma Congressman Jim Bridenstine has been selected by President Trump to be the new NASA administrator – a job that has not had a permanent administrator since Trump took office nine months ago. Jim Bridenstine The previous administrator, former astronaut and retired Marine Gen. Charles Bolden retired the day Trump took office. NASA’s associate administrator, Robert Lightfoot Jr., filled the post as temporary head of the space agency. Bridenstine, (R-Okla.), is described by The Washington Post as a strong supporter of Trump during the presidential race and “a former pilot whose goals for our solar system include installing humans on the moon and cleaning up space junk. He also has expressed skepticism about human-caused climate change.” “I am pleased to have Rep. Bridenstine nominated to lead our team,” Lightfoot said in a statement. “Of course, the nomination must go through the Senate confirmation process, but I look forward to ensuring a smooth transition and sharing the great work the NASA team is doing.” If confirmed, he would become the first politician to head the space agency.

Bay Area Houston Magazine | OCTOBER 2017

Grants and Special Innovative Grants, all of which encourage and support students and teachers in creating and implementing innovative learning experiences. The event was planned by a 14 person volunteer committee that included CCEF Community Marketing and Events Manager Kelsey Richardson, Chairman Traci Dvorak and committee members Janet Brown, Jonathan Cottrell, Eva DeCardenas, Jeanne Devezin, Elana Heinrich, Steve Jackson, Laura Mackay, Sarah Mathai, Jill Reason, Shelley Rodriquez, Carol Saxe, Jim Stewart and Kate Wilkinson.

UHCL Alumni Celebration to honor five pillars of industry, community

niversity of HoustonClear Lake’s 2017 Alumni Celebration will honor four graduates and a professor for their extraordinary accomplishments and ongoing contributions to their professions, the university and the communities they serve. The event is Saturday, Oct. 7 at South Shore Harbour Resort & Conference Center, 2500 South Shore Blvd., in League City with the program honoring recipients of awards for Distinguished Alumni, Early Achievement and Outstanding Professor. Distinguished Alumni honorees include:  Denise S. Navarro, founder and CEO of Logical Innovations Inc., which provides software, informationtechnology security and management services to NASA and other agencies.  Estella Hernández Gillette, who joined Logical Innovations as a consultant after a long career at

Johnson Space Center.  Michael Squyres, founder and president of Flow-Cal Inc., which provides software systems for the global energy industry. The Early Achievement Award honoree is Michael D. Larrañaga, principal consultant for Ramboll Environ Inc., a global company that provides environmental, sustainability and public health strategies. This year’s Outstanding Professor is Daniel Silvermintz, associate professor of humanities who joined the UHCL faculty in 2004. A cocktail reception begins at 6 p.m. with the dinner and program beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $125 each or $50 for UHCL students. Table sponsorships are available. For tickets, call 281-283-2040 or email alumni@uhcl.edu. For more information, visit www.uhcl. edu/alumni/events/celebration.

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BAY AREA HOUSTON MAGAZINE COVER PARTY | Grazia Italian Kitchen | Aug. 24

Lunar Rendevous Fashion Show Chairman Janis Blizzard and her husband, Bill,

Bay Group Media CEO Rick Clapp, from left, welcomes Gene Hollier and Emmeline Dodd and Michael Womack to the Bay Area Houston Magazine Cover Party at Grazia’s Italian Kitchen in Clear Lake celebrating the Houston Methodist Primary Care Group.

Dr. Mark Skellenger and his wife, Kila, right, an RN, visit with Renne Siewers at the Bay Area Houston Magazine Cover Party at Grazia’s Italian Kitchen.

Ron Carter Cadillac Marketing Director Chris Premont and Amie Gulli.

Clear Lake plastic surgeon, Dr. Sam Sukkar, and his staff. They are, Ruby Ashrhf, Robyn Weigelt, Neva Wortham and Amber Sample, from left, take a look at the restaurant’s wine room. from left, Darice Whatley, Sarah Levy, Mary Hill, Jessica Stavena, Leticia Sifuentes and Jana Strada.

YACHTY GRAS KICK OFF

Bonnie Lem, Rick Clapp and Maurine Howard enjoy a moment together during the Yacht Gras Kick Off Party at Marine Max in Seabrook.

LA DE DA LINGERIE

Wendell and Pat Wilson also celebrated their 49th anniversary at the party.

Congratulations to La De Da Fine Lingerie on their ‘sweet sixteen’ anniversary. The shop held an all day open house on Sept. 7 with hors ‘doeuvres, drinks, gift bags and door prizes for their patrons.

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Bay Area Houston Magazine | OCTOBER 2017