POSTCARDS MAGAZINE - Lake Conroe - Oct. 2022

Dillon & Nicholas Federico / Lamplight Ghost Tours / Dryer Vent Wizard

Cover Photo by Cade Crippin Postcards 2021 Cover Photo Contest

THERE’S A BETTER APPROACH TO CANCER CARE in The Woodlands

At Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center, we treat every aspect of your cancer. Leading oncologists work with our specialists across disciplines to minimize cancer’s effects on major organs. One comprehensive team — dedicated to your individual care — uses the latest research, treatments and technology to stop your cancer. From infusion and clinical trials to surgery and reconstruction, our innovative care is available in The Woodlands.

That’s the difference between practicing medicine and leading it.

Your health and safety are our priority. We are taking every necessary precaution to keep you safe.

Publisher’s Post

Karen Altom

Music City News

As I write this, I am sitting on a hotel balcony in Nashville, overlooking a lovely fountain and thinking about last night. Hubby’s birthday is in September, and I had planned a trip for him to experience the Hell’s Kitchen restaurant in Las Vegas. He really enjoys watching cooking shows (suits me, since he cooks more than I do), and I thought it would be fun to surprise him. So, how did we end up in Nashville? Well, that was because of a different TV show.

We normally don’t watch America’s Got Talent, but we happened to catch it one night when a country group called Chapel Hart performed. Chapel Hart (three young black women from Poplarville, Mississippi) are two sisters and a first cousin, and their harmonies are the special ones only families can make. When asked after their audition if they had been trying to break into the music business for long, they got a little emotional and said it had been tough because, “Country music doesn’t always look like us.” Chapel Hart ended up getting 5th place overall on AGT, but they won big when they received an invitation to perform on the Grand Ole Opry. Their debut performance was last night…and that’s how we ended up in Nashville.

I had forgotten what I love about the Opry…the old, the new, the different varieties of music. But what I really love (and was reminded of) was when Chapel Hart took the stage and asked for all current and former military, veterans, and first responders to raise their hands. My sweet Wes never looks for public recognition, but after a poke in the ribs from me, his was one of those hands. They thanked them and sang their original song, American Pride Then, these young women looked at the audience and acknowledged what we at Postcards believe to be true. As Americans, as children of God, we can get through all the junk that divides us if we join together as community and love each other.

I felt like she knew us.

Community. It’s what we do. Hell’s Kitchen can wait. Until next time, ~ Karen

If you would like to receive our magazine and are not currently on our mailing list, subscriptions are available. MAILED to select postal routes in Conroe, Willis and Montgomery.

FREE rack copies at advertisers and businesses in towns listed above.

Published Monthly by Altom Consulting & Marketing, Inc.

Karen Altom

Wes Altom

Jolly Marshall Altom

Online: www.PostcardsLive.com

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Office: 936.293.1188

We reserve the right to edit or reject any material submitted. The publisher assumes no responsibility for the return of any unsolicited material. No material from Postcards Magazine™ can be copied, faxed, electronically, or otherwise used without express written permission. Publication of articles, advertisements or product information does not constitute endorsement or approval by Postcards Magazine™ and/or its publisher. Business Focus stories printed in Postcards Magazine™ are drawn at random from contract advertisers.

© 2022 by Altom Consulting & Marketing, Inc., All rights reserved.

Dear Gabby

Welcome back to the Dear Gabby advice column. It’s October, generally a cool, pleasant month. And then there’s Halloween. Every year, I pretend to be the same thing--not at home. I stopped leaving my porch light on when Batman told me he could only accept no high fructose, gluten free, non-GMO, milk product-free, nut-free and locally sourced candy. When my kids were young, they took everything I said literally. I told them to “only eat the wrapped Halloween candy.” The next year, I had to add that they should unwrap it before eating it. Drop me a line to Dear Gabby at PostcardsLive.com. I hope you don’t have a scare in the world.

DEAR GABBY

I’m seriously thinking of proposing to my longtime, long distance, lady friend and wondered if you could share some insight on what to expect when we are not so long distance. I expect there are some major differences in male/female marriage expectations, but I have no clue what they are.

CLUELESS

DEAR CLUELESS

Make some popcorn and have a seat. To be happy with a man, a woman must understand him a lot and love him a little. To be happy with a woman, a man must love her a lot and not try to understand her at all. A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn’t. A man marries a woman expecting that she won’t change, and she does. A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband, while a man never worries about the future until he gets a wife. The bottom line is--there are two times when a man doesn’t understand a woman – before marriage and after marriage. The fact that you care about expectations speaks volumes. You’ll be fine!

CONFIDENTIAL TO “LOSING IT”: Don’t worry about it; it’s caused by birthdays. Some days, I amaze myself. Other days, I look for my phone while I’m talking on it!

GABBY

From Our Readers

Recipes and Teacher spotlights are my favorite.

Denise Winston

I love seeing pics of the pets, grandkids, and high school kids.

I love how you spotlight local businesses!

I enjoy finding out about local businesses.

Heike Ness

I love to see the Star Students!

Cathy G. Schweitzer

Tanya Hollas

Seeing all the local businesses and people! I love that we celebrate our people!

COLLEGE OF ARTS & MEDIA

OCTOBER EVENTS

Theatre & Musical Theatre AIRNESS

By Chelsea Marcantel

Sept. 29 – Oct. 1 | 7:30 p.m. October 1 | Matinee | 2:00 p.m. Showcase Theatre, UTC Art

THRESHOLD EXHIBITION

September 6 – October 8 Reception | September 8 | 6 p.m. University Gallery, HFAB Free Admission

Theatre & Musical Theatre

GREEN DAY’S AMERICAN IDIOT Music by Green Day Lyrics by Billie Joe Armstrong Book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer

October 13 – 15 | 7:30 p.m. October 15 | Matinee | 2 p.m. Erica Starr Theatre, UTC

Art 63RD ANNUAL FACULTY EXHIBITION

October 16 – November 23 Artists’ Talks | October 20 | 5 p.m. Reception | October 20 | 6 p.m. University Gallery, HFAB Free Admission

Music

JAZZ ENSEMBLE AND JAZZ LAB BANDS CONCERT October 20 | 7:30 p.m. Payne Concert Hall, GPAC Dance

MASTERS OF DANCE October 20 & 21 | 8 p.m. Dance Theater, GPAC Music

SOMETHING “OPERA” THIS WAY COMES October 27 – 29 | 7:30 p.m. Recital Hall, GPAC

FOR TICKETS & INFORMATION

shsutickets.com | tickets@shsu.edu | 936.294.2339

To view our full list of events, visit shsu.edu/CAM

Melissa Allen

Karen Denman

Let’s Celebrate!

This Month’s Business Anniversaries:

1995

Celebrating 27 years

McKenzies Barbecue & Burgers

See their ad on page 29

2003

Celebrating 19 years

New Waverly Veterinary Hospital

See their ad on page 19

2005

Celebrating 17 years

Neuwirth Slaughter & Associates

See their ad on page 29

2013

Celebrating 9 years

Bill Fick Ford

See their ad on page 44

Inspirations

& Nicholas

Story by Darlene Dufour

Photos by Gina Turner

Dillon and Nicholas Federico, two elementary school-age brothers in Conroe, have been honored by the American Legion Auxiliary - Unit 305, with the Youth Hero Award. The brothers’ quick-thinking actions saved the life of a four-year-old child on Saturday, October 23, 2021.

Four-year-old Stella Blouin from Sacramento, California was visiting their home with her father and his girlfriend. This was Stella’s first visit with her Texas family. Nicholas (age 11) and Dillon (age 9) had never met Stella and didn’t know anything about her except that she was their cousin.

The family gathering was bittersweet. Family had come together from Texas, Illinois, and California to celebrate the life of Gerald Mulvihill, who was Dillon’s and Nicholas’ great-grandfather. Kari Federico, the boys’ mother, had invited the family to gather at her new home.

Even though it was October, the Texas 80-degree weather was warm enough for Dillon and Nicholas to swim in the backyard pool.

Mary Sanchez, the boys’ grandmother, lives with the family and homeschools the boys. She is a retired teacher and school principal. According to Mary, “This was the first time we had several people at the house. There were about 30-40 people here. We just got this house right before my dad had died.”

Kari bought the house because it had a pool, and the boys are such great swimmers. They took swimming lessons at the YMCA when they were five or six. Swimming was so natural to them that it never occurred to either of the boys that maybe Stella shouldn’t be on the float.

“My daughter Kari and others were in the kitchen preparing food for everyone. I was sitting outside with another group of adults,” Mary said.

Nicholas remembers the event like this: “That night, I had a baseball game, and I was sitting in a chair beside the pool in my uniform. It was about two hours before the game, so I decided to change and go swim. I saw Stella on a blue float when I went in the house. But when I came back, she was in the middle of the pool. She was on her stomach floating with her head in the water.

I thought maybe she was just playing around or something. That’s why I told Dillon to bring her over to the shallow end just to be sure. Dillon pulled her over from the middle of the pool to the side. I went over to the shallow end where she was, but when I didn’t see her moving, I picked her up out of the water. She started spitting out water. She was all blue and everything.

Nicholas Dillon

But after she started spitting out water, I didn’t know what to do, so I just held her out of the water and let her breathe. Then she started screaming and the adults came over. They dried her off and put her in a blanket. She fell asleep. Someone called 911, and the firefighters came over and checked her out for about 20 minutes.”

Mary Sanchez remembered, “It was her screams that got our attention. None of us adults saw what happened, because a built-in serving counter blocked the view of the pool to anyone sitting on the patio.

My sister is a nurse, so she checked her out, but when she saw Stella’s lips were still blue and it wasn’t going away, she told us to call the EMTs. They got here within minutes. They checked Stella out and gave her oxygen.

Stella’s dad asked her what happened, and she said, “I was floating on the blue float, and then I just slipped, and I went under the water. I kept trying to come out of the water, but I couldn’t, so I fell asleep.”

The boys agree that they would do the same thing again if they had to, but Nicholas added.

“Yeah, once I got her out of the water, I’d get an adult.”

Members of American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 305, nominated the boys for the Youth Hero Awards. The unit serves The Woodlands, Spring, and Conroe. Members began the process. First, they completed the formal paperwork and sent it to the Texas State Department of ALA in Austin for consideration. The state office then forwarded the application

to the national headquarters, who approved the award and sent the certificate and medals.

Throughout the process, Dillion and Nicholas were unaware of any of the activities until the day they were to receive the award. The American Auxiliary presented the award to Nicholas and Dillon at their May meeting at Saints Simon and Jude Catholic Church in The Woodlands, where they meet the third Thursday of the month.

Even after receiving the recognition, the boys don’t consider themselves heroes. Their days are spent being homeschooled by their grandmother, Mary Sanchez. Nicholas said “The advantage to that is we get breaks in the middle of the school day. We get off early.”

Dillon points out that, “One drawback to being homeschooled is that we’re not around too many other kids.” They agree that science is their favorite subject. Math is their least favorite, closely followed by history or English.

Baseball is important to the whole family. Clues to the family’s love of baseball are obvious from the baseball-themed wreath on the front door and the doorbell’s ring.

Mary said “We eat, sleep, and breathe baseball. We’re huge Astros fans. We were at a game last night. Nicholas, show her what you got.” Nicholas leaves and returns quickly. He proudly hands over an autographed baseball and explains: “The guy who signed it is Martin Maldonado, Number 15. He’s the catcher for the Astros. He was warming up in the bullpen. I went over there and asked him if he’d sign my ball. I threw the ball over the

bullpen fence. Maldonado signed the ball, threw it back over the fence to me, and pushed the pen back through the fence to me.”

The boys play baseball with the Montgomery Little League and the homeschool Mustangs teams. In addition, both boys take private baseball lessons every week with Lance

Miles, a private coach. They also participate in summer baseball camp a couple of days a week.

Although they are young to have plans for after graduating high school, Nicholas hopes to get a college scholarship for baseball and play for Texas A&M or Texas Tech. “I do some catching, pitching, and second base for the Mustangs.” After college, he wants to play major league baseball. He hopes to eventually start a business in baseball memorabilia.

Dillon is leaving his options open, but he doesn’t seem enthusiastic about attending college.

Fortunately, both boys are eligible for financial assistance to attend college because of their mother’s service. She was in the Army for eight years, including 33 months as a combat medic in Iraq. The Hazlewood Act provides qualified veterans an education benefit of up to 150 hours of tuition and fee exemption at Texas state-supported colleges or universities.

Mary said, “I don’t think people know how much the American Legion does to honor civilians as well as veterans. The ALA loves to honor youth who do good deeds. It doesn’t

have to be heroic. They like to hear stories about kids doing good deeds and heroic deeds. The Legion has a Good Deed Award as well as a Youth Hero Award, and seeks to honor our youth, as well as adults and our veterans. Unit 305 serves the Woodlands, Spring, and Conroe. To nominate someone for an award in this area, email mcatsanchez@ yahoo.com.”

Shirley said the greatest thing that came out of her weight loss was the confidence she gained and the changes that she experienced on the inside!

Hudson & Camber Grandchildren of Warren & Mary Neville

Mason & Katherine Shuck Grandchildren of Kevin & Lisa McKenzie, and Charles & Tina Shuck

Abby Gresham Grandchild of Charlie & Kim Moore

Share Your Grandkid Photos with Us! PostcardsLive.com

Julian Bucheli Grandchild of Ed Gray

Porter & Harper Grandchildren of Grammie & Grandpa Baumbach

By Kim Bius

Fall Planting Season has arrived! The Garden Post

October is a very busy month in the world of gardening, and we will touch as many topics as possible.

Fall Color

October first marks the beginning of pansy season, and garden centers will be filled with every color, size, and variety of this adorable and hardy winter annual. Pansies are sun lovers and will not fare well in a shaded location, but beware…deer love pansies. Violas, the tiny, delicate looking mini pansy (annual) will take the shade and has been more deer proof than not in garden trials. Dianthus and flowering kale/cabbage are a great “go to” if deer are a problem. Snapdragons, marigolds, stock, rosemary, plumbago, and ornamental grass are also great candidates for deer proof container gardening. The all- time, perennial favorite for fall is the chrysanthemum (or mum, as we often call them). Mums are sun lovers, require light, loamy soil with great drainage, and do not fare well if not watered consistently…but no wet feet. Mums will bloom September through mid- October and rarely past Halloween.

Beds/Mulch

De-weed the beds and apply a pre-emergent to deter seed germination for 60 days. My “go to” favorite is Hi-Yield Turf and Ornamental Weed and Grass Stopper. Now is a great time to apply two inches of mulch for winter protection, to conserve water, and to deter weeds. Does it really matter which one you use? Yes! Acid lovers (such as azaleas, camellias, gardenias, roses) have a tendency to become sickly when a hardwood mulch is applied, as the Ph level is affected by the alkalinity in the mulch. If you do not mind applying soil acidifier a few times a year as this occurs, problem solved.

Plant Non-Drought Tolerant Plants

Azaleas, camellias, dogwood, dwarf Japanese maple, roses, fern, and most trees often fare better if planted in the fall. Planting now gives plants time to establish a root system before the heat returns; rain is often more plentiful; disease and insects are dramatically

decreased; and it is a pleasant time to be outside.

Pumpkins

To keep your fall pumpkins fresh through the season, place them out of direct afternoon sun, keep them elevated and off damp ground or surfaces (place on a small, brick, wood block, or such) and preferably out of the rain or sprinkler system. We often cover/tarp the pumpkins in the pumpkin patch if a heavy rain is on the way…blow dry them with a yard blower to remove excess water from stem area. Wipe the pumpkin with bleach or an antibacterial agent to keep rotting at bay, and do not carve until just a few days before Halloween.

Winterizer

Winterizer is a late fall, fertilizer application designed to help lawns store more food for winter survival and to encourage thick and rapid growth and rooting in the spring. A lawn winterizer is NOT meant to encourage fall growth of grass. The higher potassium level gives plants hardiness to withstand cold.

Roses

Roses put on a “fall flush” when the temperatures break and will benefit from a light pruning mid- September and fertilization. The rule of thumb has always been not to prune in October as it may promote dormancy; but, if the first freeze comes in late January, you miss out on beautiful roses through Thanksgiving. It is a gamble, but I do it yearly, and am sure one year I will get “snake eyes” on the roll.

First Freeze Date

The average date is November 17-18th, for the first killing frost of the season In our area. What does that mean? It means harvest is over, but planting season continues as long as the temperatures are above 35 degrees and ground is not frozen. Since 1985, we have only experienced two years where temperatures and light ice occurred in late October/Halloween.

“Seens” from our World

We’re not THAT close.

Seen by: PC Staff

Hmm...must be an albino!

Seen by: Abby Boyd

We want to see what you’ve seen! When you see the unusual, funny or absurd, break out your camera, take a picture, and submit to us with a description at: PostcardsLive.com

Story by Ruth Fields

Photos by Gina Turner Just for Fun

It was a dreary afternoon when the Postcards team assembled in Montgomery, and in the early evening, the rain began to come down in torrents across the town. There was thunder and lightning, then the electricity went out, leaving the windowless room in total darkness. The team agreed it was the perfect evening to meet with Leah Lamp, Lamplight Ghost Tour’s owner, founder, researcher, and guide.

Learning to love Montgomery

When Leah moved to Montgomery in 1986, she was an impressionable teenager. She had previously attended a high school in Louisville, Kentucky with about 3,000 students, so Montgomery High School, which had about 400 students enrolled at the time, was a shock to Leah. She was also surprised there were dirt roads near her family’s home in the country. “My teenage heart hated this town,” she confesses. “I couldn’t wait to grow up and move away.”

Understandably, Leah had never studied Texas history during her school years in Kentucky, so she was unaware of Montgomery’s noteworthy background. Over time, however, she learned to love the historic town, and she is now proud to call Montgomery home. All four of her children have attended Montgomery schools. “We”—the town of Montgomery and Leah—“kind of grew up together,” she quips.

As most parents of Montgomery Junior High School students know, seventh graders participate in a historical scavenger hunt every year. Created in 1999 by Brenda Beaven, a tenured Texas history teacher, the scavenger hunt sends students on a deep dig into the history of Montgomery, one of the oldest towns in the state. When Leah’s oldest

child Drew took Texas history in seventh grade, the scavenger hunt was as educational for Leah as it was for her son. She was surprised and captivated by the town’s unique history, and a thought bubbled to the surface of her consciousness. What the town really needed, Leah mused, was a ghost tour. Knowing what she did about historic locations, she was sure there were stories of local hauntings.

Leah, a multi-talented writer, podcast host, and graphic artist, has long been a fan of ghost tours. She has attended several cities’ ghost tours, including those in Galveston, New Orleans, and Old Town Spring. “Whether you believe in ghosts or whether you don’t, a ghost tour is fun,” she says. “It’s a fascinating glimpse into the town. It’s a crash course in the culture and the feel for the people of the town, because it’s their stories and lore and legends. It’s rich, and it’s beautiful.”

Leah ultimately helped all four of her children complete the seventh-grade scavenger hunt. There was also other homework to supervise, plus many duties around the house. Years passed, but Leah did not seem to have the time to create a ghost tour. “When the kids got older, I tried to get it off the ground a couple of times, and nothing quite happened,” Leah says. Then she found someone else had started a ghost tour; not wanting to compete, she put her idea to rest.

“I always wanted to take the tour,” Leah says, and one day in early 2022, she looked into it. When she discovered that Montgomery’s ghost tour was no longer in operation, she realized it was time to start her own. “I started calling people and emailing people,” she says. Because she has lived in Montgomery for decades and had four children pass through the school district, Leah knows many

Because Pets Are Family Too!

Quality Veterinary Care

Montgomery residents. She soon discovered a lot of people had stories, and some people suggested others that she should call. The Montgomery Historical Society was helpful, as were longtime residents of the town. “Doors opened. Things happened,” Leah says.

Lamplight Ghost Tours

Just in time for the spooky season of the year, Lamplight Ghost Tours is now accepting reservations for 90-minute walking tours of Montgomery. It all begins at Phil’s Road House and Grill, where tourists will be served complimentary refreshments at 6:30 p.m., with tours beginning promptly at 7:00.

As Leah leads her tour groups through the historic town, she will share about a dozen stories she has gathered. She promises that she did not make any of them up. She collected each story from “people who lived through it and experienced it,” and feels a great responsibility to the locals who shared stories with her. “When people tell you a story, they are entrusting it to you,” she says. “They have given them to me to pass on.” She also notes that while some of the stories might be a little unnerving, her tours are not meant to be

Funded in part by a grant from the City of Conroe.

frightening. “No one is going to jump out and scare you,” she says.

Although Leah says she does not like to “play favorites,” she is particularly fond of the ghosts of Confederate soldiers, who are featured in a couple of stories. (Some Confederate soldiers are buried in Montgomery’s “New Cemetery,” which was founded in 1868, and the “Old Cemetery,” founded in 1838.)

While most of the stories told on the tour are first-hand accounts of hauntings, participants will also learn tidbits of Montgomery’s history. “You will remember history if it is attached to a ghost story,” Leah says. “In one night of fun entertainment and a nice little walk around town, you can be introduced to the character of the town.”

Leah has a great appreciation for the Montgomery Historical Society, which has honored the town’s history by keeping it alive for decades. Even as the town grew and prospered, it still kept a firm grip on its history. “Not every town embraces its history. Not everybody knows about it, because it’s not told and passed down and made important,” Leah says. “Knowing history ties you to a place. You are now a part of that. You have an intimate

connection to those who came before.”

Does Leah believe in ghosts? Maybe.

“It’s egotistical to think we know everything,” she says, but she also acknowledges the power of suggestion. “All of the stories are one hundred percent historically accurate,” she says. “The ghost stories--you are going to have to decide for yourself.”

Lamplight Ghost Tours are available most Friday and Saturday nights throughout the year; in October and November, some Thursday and Sunday night tours will be available, as will hayride tours for those with mobility issues (or those who prefer to ride). Tickets are $25, with a discount to seventh grade

students who are participating in the Montgomery scavenger hunt.

Private tours can also be arranged.

Although tours are designed to be exercise sessions,

comfortable shoes are recommended.

As she launches her new venture, Leah’s excitement is infectious. “A ghost tour,” she says, “is a way to gain a personal connection with the flavor and the stories of a town that should not be forgotten.”

For more information and to book tours, visit lamplightghosttours.com

By Steve VanWagner, D.V.M.

Equine Wound Management

Know when to call your veterinarian; when in doubt, give them a call anyway. Understand wounds in proximity to or involving eyes, joints and tendon sheaths, abdomen, and other body cavities may be very serious and may require immediate veterinary attention. Depending on the location, age of wound, degree of contamination and other factors, your veterinarian will choose whether a wound should be sutured.

HEAD WOUNDS

The head has an excellent blood supply that helps with rapid healing, but there is little extra skin over the bones of the face. Thus, wounds with significant skin loss take a long time to heal. Head wounds often result in loose flaps of skin. A veterinarian should repair these wounds as soon as possible. Suturing these wounds saves months of healing time and results in improved cosmetic appearance. Wounds near to or involving the eye require a veterinarian’s assessment immediately. Proper repair of eyelid lacerations is critical to the future function of the eye.

BODY WOUNDS

The critical question is whether the wound involves deeper structures. A wound that penetrates into the abdominal cavity or chest introduces life-threatening infection into the cavity and results in severe illness within hours. Whether or not body wounds are sutured depends on many factors, including location, age of wound, degree of contamination, and muscle damage.

LOWER LIMB WOUNDS

For the best outcome, any wound below the hock or carpus (knee) should be evaluated by an experienced veterinarian. Excessive movement, little loose tissue for contraction, and a poor blood supply in the lower limb results in difficult and slow wound healing. Suturing of selected lower limb wounds is usually accompanied by careful bandaging or casting, and long-term confinement. A properly applied cast can result in a quick, cosmetic and functional outcome in what otherwise would be a slow and difficult healing process.

UPPER LIMB WOUNDS

Upper limb wounds generally heal rapidly. There is a better blood supply here and additional tissue mass, which aid wound healing. Veterinarians sometimes choose to repair these wounds by suturing, but often recommend treatment leaving the wound open.

While there is an early window of opportunity to suture wounds, many other factors determine whether suturing is the treatment of choice. Phenylbutazone (bute) is a potent pain reliever and anti-inflammatory. It and other anti-inflammatory medications can be helpful in some wounds to reduce swelling and pain, but should only be used under the supervision of your veterinarian. They can be dangerous when used incorrectly. Ointments should be used cautiously and under the direction of your veterinarian. While some have positive effects, many actually retard healing or add time and complications to the clipping and cleaning of the wound. Always call your veterinarian immediately if a wound causes lameness visible at the walk. The largest uncomplicated wound may heal uneventfully and with little scarring, whereas the smallest wound in the wrong place can be life-threatening.

VLADIMIR loved by Luis, Lynne, & Louie Benavides

WINSTON

loved by Phyllis Barrett

MINNIE MAE loved by Kyndal, Sadie, Emersyn, & Holden Ehlert

PEPPER

CHICKEN

& Heike Ness

by Jacob, Lucrecia & Jackson

by

by Brittany McClure

We are living in strange times… or are we?

For the last couple of years there has been a lot of discussion about getting back to normal. Nobody has ever really defined what normal means, but in the context of the pandemic and economic shutdowns I guess 2022 has been more normal. But is this really the normal everyone has been hoping for?

The first several months of 2022 have been challenging from an investment standpoint. Add to that the highest inflation American households have experienced in 40 years, and it creates a lot of uncertainty. For many investors this is the worst combination of falling markets and high inflation they have ever lived through, or at least the worst they can remember living through. But this is not the first time (nor will it be the last) that we have faced challenges of this type. It always feels like the worst time when you are in the midst of it.

We often talk about process. It is times like these that really show the value of a process. We employ a process that attempts to help us identify when to be invested in stocks, and when to move to more conservative positions.

Specifically, this year we have been in money market positions since late in the first quarter. We do still take the opportunity to “dip our toe” back in the market for short periods of time in an effort to find some positive results. But the majority of time has been spent in those more conservative (money market) positions. It has allowed us to slow the market related losses in accounts that we manage for our clients. The portion of any specific account that would be in stocks or in money market varies based on the individuals risk tolerance. As a result, there are varying levels of outcomes, but the process has allowed us to avoid some of the market volatility as compared to simply maintaining an allocation to stocks.

We understand that for many of you, any losses are hard to live with. As with past market downturns, this will be a temporary occurrence and before you know it, we will be back to the “normal”. Again, I am not sure how to define normal. While these may be strange times, they are not unprecedented.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your investments, please do not hesitate to reach out. We are always here to answer your questions or provide you with a second opinion on your current investment strategy. We would love to help you “Enjoy More, Worry Less”.

From the Mouths of Babes...

Conversations between me and our now 5 year old daughter Gracie.

Gracie: Since it’s MY birthday coming up, I get to decide what to watch.

Me: You think you get to decide even though your birthday isn’t for another week or so?

Gracie: Yes. But what does that have to do with what we’re talking about???

Opening her juice box:

Mom, I need a little help here. It’s verrrry complicated. I don’t even really know what complicated means

Conversation one morning as she was getting dressed:

Gracie: Can you help me get my Encanto dress on?

Me: Yes. You have it on backwards and your arms aren’t going through the right holes.

Gracie: I know. I always put it on wrong….and this is a monologue, not a dialogue.

In the days leading up to hosting a baby shower at our house:

Every time a package arrives Gracie says, “Is that for me or the baby shower?”

When a new foster baby arrived at our house: The baby was crying and we got the pacifier in her mouth to calm her down and Gracie said “No more baby problems!”

Followed up by: “Can we get one that doesn’t cry?”

Submitted by: Brian B Smith, CFP , Bryan M Masten, CFP & Riley W. Smith

Submitted by Kelli Stevens

What

Donna Mitchell reading A Gentleman in Moscow

By Amor Towles

Johnna Bryant reading Walk to Beautiful

By Jimmy Wayne with Ken Abraham

Happy 45th anniversary to Kenneth & Barbara Richter!

Happy 4th birthday to Burke Randall Spencer! Burke is the son of Nathan & Megan Spencer. He is the grandson of John & Renee Spencer and Darrell & Susan Massey.

What’s Cookin’

Sheet Pan Buttermilk Pancakes

Ingredients

cooking spray

3 cups baking mix

2 cups buttermilk

4 large eggs

¼ cup granulated sugar

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a large sheet pan or jelly roll pan with parchment paper. Spray the parchment paper with cooking spray.

Step 2: Combine baking mix, buttermilk, eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl. Mix until the ingredients are well combined, but don’t overmix. Pour batter onto the parchment paper-lined pan.

Step 3: Bake in the preheated oven until lightly golden, 15 to 18 minutes.

Step 4: Remove sheet pan from the oven. Lift the parchment paper with the pancake from the pan and set it onto a cutting board. Slice the pancake sheet into squares using a pizza cutter or into your desired shapes with a cookie cutter.

Cook’s Note: One of my favorite breakfast hacks for busy mornings or breakfast meal prep. This sheet pan pancake recipe can be easily customized by adding your favorite fruit or other pancake toppings on top of the batter before cooking.

CONROE ADVANCED DENTISTRY

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New Patients Only Complimetary

Second Opinion

Lemon Panko Crusted Salmon

Ingredients

6 Tbs panko breadcrumbs

1 Tbs grated Parmesan cheese

½ tsp lemon pepper

½ tsp dried thyme

½ tsp dried parsley

1/8 tsp granulated garlic

1/8 tsp lemon zest

2 (4 oz salmon fillets

1 Tbs butter, melted

Directions

Cook’s Note: Margarine is NOT recommended.

Step 1: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.

Step 2: Combine panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, lemon pepper, thyme, parsley, granulated garlic, and lemon zest in a bowl. Arrange salmon on the prepared baking sheet and brush with melted butter. Sprinkle breadcrumb mixture evenly over salmon fillets.

Step 3: Bake in the preheated oven until salmon flakes easily with a fork, 20 to 25 minutes.

peace of mind

Tailgating Spicy Taco Cheese Ball

Ingredients

¾ cup dried parsley

4 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend

1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, softened

¼ cup mayonnaise

1 (1.25 oz) pkg hot taco seasoning mix

¼ cup pickled jalapeno peppers, chopped

Directions

Step 1: Sprinkle parsley in a shallow baking dish. Set aside.

Step 2: Mix Mexican cheese blend, cream cheese, mayonnaise, taco seasoning, and jalapeno peppers in a large bowl until well blended. Divide the mixture into 3 portions and roll each portion into a ball. Roll each ball in the parsley until completely covered. Wrap individually with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.

Sam Houston Memorial Museum & Republic of Texas Presidential Library

Texas Archeology Month FREE evening presentation

Sea of Mud: The Retreat of the Mexican Army Following San Jacinto

Tuesday October 18th 6:30 pm Reception 7:00 pm Presentation

Katy & E. Don Walker, Sr. Education Center

1402 19th St. • Huntsville

936-294-1832

Chocolate Spiders

Directions

Step 1: Chop the chocolate confectioners’ coating and place into a heatproof bowl over simmering water. Cook, stirring occasionally until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in the chow mein noodles so they are evenly distributed. Spoon out to desired size onto waxed

paper. Let cool completely before storing or serving.

Cook’s Note: Make sure you have enough of the chocolate coating as it will be hard to make these stick together if it isn’t “wet” enough. Also, you can pop the mix in the microwave if the chocolate starts drying too much as you make the spiders. I used butterscotch chips (point side down) for the eyes. My daughter said that they looked like spiders or mummy-babies, and I think if you used white chocolate coating, it would really look like a mummy head (I’d use chocolate chips for eyes with that one). Very easy and popular.

Sat:10:00am-6:00pm Mon-Fri:9:00am-7:00pm (936)283-5450

my

Don’t corner something that’s meaner than you.

Never saw on the branch that’s supporting you, unless you’re being hung from it.

There’s never a lane so long that it won’t have some hills and curves.

National Physical Therapy Month in October recognizes the importance of physical therapy in healthcare.

Join us for our upcoming Lunch and Learn/Shoulder Workshop

Monday, October 12th 12:15 pm - 12:45 pm

He’s as wild as a peach orchard hog.

Physical therapy helps patients improve movement, strength and manage pain after an illness or injury.

Scan the QR Code to go to our website and reserve your spot!

No use in me arguing with her - it’s like bringing a knife to a gunfight.

Count the orchard by the fruit it bears and never by the leaves that fall.

When it’s your butt that’s about to go for a ride, try having more common sense than pride.

You didn’t fall in love; you just tripped over it.

Story by Darlene Dufour

Photos by Tom Miller Business Focus

“Dryer vents are all we do.”

“Dryer vents are all we do.” Sometimes, what a man IS speaks more loudly than what he DOES. So it is with Kenneth Carney, the Dryer Vent Wizard of Montgomery County, Texas.

A year ago, 35-year-old Kenneth Carney and his wife Melissa moved from New York to Texas to find a better place to bring up their two children, Emilia, who was aged 2, and Jackson, aged 7 months. Kenneth had been working the 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM shift as a building engineer, servicing and maintaining the HVAC, water, and electrical systems in a cancer treatment facility in New York. It was a good job, but the couple wanted a different environment to raise their family. They began nationwide online research in 2020 to find a new location and found several sites that ranked Montgomery County as the best place to buy a home and to raise a family.

“We visited the area in December 2020 and fell in love with the people.” Soon afterward, they bought a house in Montgomery sightunseen, based on working with a realtor who did a video showing of a new-construction home. Shortly afterward, Melissa contacted a life group at Restoration Church in

Montgomery on Fish Creek. The family bid goodbye to New York. Kenneth drove the moving van and towed his wife’s car to their new Texas home. Their beagle Porter rode shotgun and kept him company.

Kenneth felt welcome right away. “I was surprised when John and Kayme Pokorny, a husband and wife from Restoration Church, showed up unannounced the next afternoon and helped me unload the moving van. I didn’t know they were coming, but I sure appreciated their help. And they’ve been our best friends ever since.”

Melissa, the children, and Kenneth’s mother Christine Carney, flew in from New York a few days later, and the family settled in their new home.

Most people relocate because of a job first, then find a community to reside in. Not so with the Carneys. “We wanted to live in a community that better represented our values.” Kenneth explained. So, they chose to first find the right community to bring up their family, and then find a job. “I was willing to commute to Houston to work, but I always

wanted to own my own business because of the possibilities for growth and for employing other people.” Kenneth said.

That’s when a friend in New York introduced Kenneth to Neighborly franchises. After a three-month vetting process, Kenneth was able to purchase the Dryer Vent Wizard franchise for Montgomery County.

Kenneth spent a week in North Carolina, shadowing an experienced franchise owner who taught him the ropes and ladders of dryer vent cleaning. He purchased a colorful company van complete with special ladders, vacuums, brushes, and other equipment designed to protect clients’ roofs, vents, and gutters.

Fortunately, he didn’t have to start his business from the ground. The previous owner had retired and moved to Florida, so Kenneth began by servicing the existing clients. Soon, word-of-mouth led to expanding his services into Conroe, Magnolia, Tomball, Willis, and the rest of Montgomery County.

“Cleaning the dryer vent is an important safety measure for your home. The clothes

dryer is the second leading cause of housefires, because the dryer is the only household appliance to move a flammable material past a heating source,” Kenneth explained.

“Upon arrival, we conduct a full diagnostic and safety inspection of the entire vent system. Then we discuss any services that we recommend with the homeowner before completing any work.”

In addition to the safety issues, a clogged dryer vent can cause homeowners two more problems. There will be increased energy costs if the dryer is not operating efficiently and must run more than one cycle to dry the clothing. That leads to increased wear and tear on the dryer, which shortens the life of the appliance.

The initial inspection fee costs $55; the total cost of the service depends upon the length of line and where it exits the house. There are different designs of dryer vents, and they need to be taken care of based on whether they exit the house six inches away or go all the way to the roof.

Comfort for the ones you love.

Carney discusses these details with the client upon completion of the inspection and prior to doing any work.

Service calls usually take one to two hours, depending on the size of the home and the dryer vent structure. The service includes full diagnostic tests of the dryer, ventilation, visual safety, building code violations, and installation or replacement of ventilation.

Both mind and body are important to Kenneth. The body art on Kenneth’s arms displays his life’s journey and reflects his Christian values. “I got my first tattoo when I was young, because I wanted to be like all my friends, especially my best friend Keith.”

His first tattoo was ’Tomorrow Ain’t Promised.” Kenneth’s father had died when he was 16, but he had no clue how prophetic that expression would be in his life, because his friend Keith died a few years later. “I had his face put on my arm as a way of honoring his memory.”

Other tats reflect Kenneth’s devotion to God and country. “Jesus, Lion of Judah” reminds him of the strength of Jesus. “We the People,” the Empire State Building, and other art reflects his love of the United States and Christ. Still others remind him of his wife Melissa, their children, and memorable trips they have taken to Thailand and Arizona.

Being physically fit is important in Kenneth’s job, as well as his family’s life. He and his wife Melissa do CrossFit together, as well as run 5K races for fun.

Kenneth leaves home each morning at 4:15 am to coach a 5:00 am class at CrossFit Laco. His athletes range from 18 to 70 years old. “It’s an opportunity to help people condition their minds and bodies. It’s one of my ways of giving back to the community. I also enjoy helping out at my church when I have the opportunity.”

For more information on Dryer Vent Wizard, visit on Facebook @DVWof TheWoodlands or their website WoodlandsDryerVent.com.

Call (713) 992-0902 or email kcarney@dryerventwizard.com. to schedule your appointment for what may be the chance to prevent a fire in your home. Like the adage says, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

By James W. Jones, MD, PhD, MHA

A lifestyle improvisation I have employed throughout my adult lifetime is to ferret out areas of experience that are vital, but considered secondary and just exist on their own without requiring attention. These issues, once identified, are fully evaluated, and a determination made whether they can be improved; if so, one’s personal standard of living would be significantly enhanced. Certainly, one such area is our personal vocabulary.

Our beginning vocabularies of English words were brought to England during the 5th to 7th centuries from Western Germany by AngloSaxon immigrants displacing Celtic languages. Wow! That part of the English lexicon is known today as Old English, because it underwent substantial revamping when the Normans conquered Britain in 1066.

Words are the magical illuminators of our thought realms. They cheer up, clarify, circumscribe, comfort, and even coerce--depending on choice of words and intonation. Vocabulary can be used to estimate the intelligence of persons by listeners and readers, and consequently indicates the merit of individuals. Candidates for jobs, admission to organizations, and esteem

of associate’s level of lexicon differentiates. Thus, it seems enhancing one’s vocabulary is a worthwhile pursuit. Indeed!

When listening (or especially when reading), paying close attention to the words is crucial.

Eagerly look for new words you do not understand fully and make a note of them.

I have a list of many pages of such findings accumulated over years. Included are words that were recognized, but of which I was not fully certain, and included were particularly meaningful words I don’t usually utilize.

An easy and significant system to supplement your vocabulary is to subscribe to a “Word of the Day” site. Merriam-Webster is excellent, as are several others, to feature an interesting, useful word that just pops up, fully defined, in your email.

The vocabulary enhancement process requires a dictionary be handy to obtain precise definitions of newly found words. I have copies of the standard, bound dictionaries handy. However, modern technology provides easier and much more efficient means of finding definitions. An especially helpful source is a website named “OneLook Dictionary,” which is certainly true

to its name because, when the word is entered, many top dictionaries offer definitions.

Utilizing a thesaurus when gaining access to new words is helpful to see shades of meaning of similar words.

Flashcards are a souped-up approach to jumpstarting vocabulary acquisition for those so inclined with the intellectual aptitude and forbearance, but this is not for everyone. In choosing that approach, start slowly with a few cards; gradually add more to fit your tolerance, so as not to strain your memory capacity.

A further enhancement to memory of new words is to know their etymology. Vocabulary as a “list of words with understanding of their meanings” comes into the English language in the early 1500s from the Medieval Latin word vocabularium “a list of words,” from Latin vocabulum “word,” which derived from

13

Thru 9

Brenham

“Crimes of the Heart” unitybrenham.org

Thru 23

Dallas

State Fair of Texas bigtex.com

1

Conroe

The Brian Black Show w/Twitty and Lynn outhousetickets.com

Galveston

Neil Berg’s 50 Years of Rock ‘n’ Roll thegrand.com

Huntsville

Fair on the Square faironthesquare.com

13-15

College Station

“The Other Mozart” mscopas.org

Huntsville

“Green Day’s American Idiot” shsutickets.com

15

Conroe

Relay for Life/Bark for Life of Montgomery and Walker Counties relayforlife.org/mocotx

Madisonville

Annual Texas Mushroom Festival txmushfest.com

Willis

“Chills Down Your Spine” –Conroe Symphony Orchestra conroesymphony.org

1-2

College Station

“Disney’s Winnie the Pooh” mscopas.org

Huntsville

Homecoming – Cook Springs Baptist Church cooksprings.org

15-16

Huntsville St. Thomas Fall Festival saintthomashuntsville.org

15-23 Bryan

Brazos Valley Fair and Rodeo brazosvalleyfair.com

2

Huntsville

“Reba – The Tribute” – Corrie Sachs cooksprings.org

6-7

Conroe

Lobsterfest chamber.conroe.org

6-16

Waco

Heart O’ Texas Fair and Rodeo hotfair.com

8

The Woodlands

10 for Texas Run visitthewoodlands.com/10fortexas

15-31

Trinity

7th Annual Pumpkin Patch firstumctrinitytx.org

21

Conroe

“Barefoot in the Park” owentheatre.com

Sugar Land

Steve Martin and Martin Short smartfinancialcentre.net

21-22

Galveston

Island Oktoberfest galvestonoktoberfest.com

Nacogdoches

Full Moon Concert visitnacogdoches.org

21-Nov 6

Conroe

“RENT” crightontheatre.org

Madisonville

Tour de Madisonville Bike Ride 936-348-4602

Palestine

Hot Pepper Festival visitpalestine.com

Sugar Land

Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons smartfinancialcentre.net

Galveston

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

– A Celebration of the Music of Aretha Franklin thegrand.com

Sugar Land

Disney Princess: The Concert smartfinancialcentre.net

College Station

Back Home Again: A Tribute to John Denver mscopas.org

25-Nov 9

Houston

“The Secret to My Success” tuts.com

Galveston

“Pride and Prejudice” thegrand.com

Huntsville

Scare on the Square

huntsvillemainstreet.com

COLLEGE OF ARTS & MEDIA PRESENTS CAM ARTIST SERIES

HARMONIA STELLARUM HOUSTON, TALES OF ICARUS AND APOLLO Music by Bononcini,  Štěpán, and Handel

November 5 | 7:30 p.m. Recital Hall, GPAC

HOLIDAY CONCERT December 1 & 2 | 7:30 p.m. Payne Concert Hall, GPAC

To view our full CAM Artist Series and season, visit SHSUTICKETS.COM

SALE-LEASEBACK

Access Your Capital

MHW specializes in helping businesses free up much-needed capital by accessing equity from owned real estate assets through sale-leaseback opportunities. In a sale-leaseback, an owner sells their property, and then immediately leases it back from the buyer within the same transaction. This allows the seller to access capital and still retain the use of the property. Thus, the seller is able to convert the asset into funds that can support their needs without losing the ability to conduct business from the site. There are a variety of needs for an influx of capital: ability to purchase new equipment or product, growth, expansion and acquisitions, mitigating expensive debt, ownership consolidation, succession planning, etc.

Benefits of Sale-Leaseback

MHW can assist in creating beneficial lease terms and offer professional advice. We work with investors across the country that invest in all types of property. So, why is now a good time to consider a sale-leaseback?

Greater cash flow. A sale-leaseback allows the previous owner to access capital that would otherwise be unavailable in the ownership of the asset.

Leasing offers better tax advantages than ownership

All terms of the lease are determined by the Seller

Sale-leaseback gives you immediate access to capital. This allows business owners to reinvest capital back into their business for equipment upgrades, to pay off debt, or to expand to another location. With a lease in place, the business owner can continue to stay operating in the same building without the hassle of moving. A sale-leaseback also better positions business owners to access long-term capital at a lower cost, further improving your income statement.

TX

Mustard Seed Moments

by Wes Altom

If You Know, You Know?

Recently, while attending a high school athletic event, I noticed each class had made a poster and put it up in the gym. The 10th grade banner proudly proclaimed “SOPHMORES.” I had to chuckle at the misspelling. This made me recall having previously heard the word origin.

“Sophomore” is derived from the roots sophos meaning “wise”and moros meaning “foolish, dull.” Yes, sophomore literally means “wise fool.” Such is our world today, and if we admit it, we each individually have our sophomore moments. Like the well-meaning young banner makers, there are times when we think we know, but we really don’t have a clue. This is dangerous ground, and it can make us lose track of how much we truly don’t know. Self-examination, reflection, and a humble heart are vital to our daily walk and spiritual growth. May God increase our hunger to continually learn and to be filled with His knowledge and goodness.

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

James 4:10

“I, the Lord, am your God, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Psalm 81:10

H H H H H

What our patients are saying about us!

H H H H H Love Dr. Cameron and her entire staff. Always have a very professional interaction with the staff; and I appreciate the competent interaction and enjoyable experience with each appointment or phone call. She was able to help me with her advanced dry eye equipment where doctors in the Woodlands couldn’t. So glad they are on Lake Conroe!

~ Kay M.

H H H H H I am so glad I took my son to Cameron Optical! These people helped find out why my son was having so many headaches. They were extremely thorough with their exams. Dr. Bonnie was so nice and made him feel so comfortable during the whole visit. Realizing the situation my son was facing, they went above and beyond to help me be able to get him the lenses he needed to not only stop his headaches, but fix the problem causing it. They stepped in and helped my son get exactly what he needed when I was struggling to figure out how to afford them. I have never met such an amazing group of people with such big hearts! They don’t just treat you as a patient, they treat you with the love and care of a family member. Without them, my son wouldn’t have what he needed. I am eternally grateful for what they did for my family. I will never trust anyone else with our family’s eye care again.

~ A. Speight

Join our Cameron Care program today and let us help you begin a lifetime of wellness, good health, and perfect vision!

& Glaucoma Specialist

Dr. Bonnie J. Cameron Glaucoma Specialist Pediatric Specialist Therapeutic Optometrist

Mark Soveral, A.B.O.C.