institution Ragin’ Cajun finds its second home in the Branch
/ October 2023
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7 Steel Magnolia Moms holiday market Save the date for SBEF’s annual golf classic
8 Why you need vitamin D3 from NeuMed this season
10-11 The Drunken Cyclist pairs wine with Halloween candy
12-13 Community calendar
14 Halloween costume ideas
15 Save the date for Spring Branch FFA’s show and sale in the spring
I16 Dr. Blaine chosen as a Top 30 Influential Women of Houston honoree Spring Branch business profile: PJ’s Coffee
17 Brighter Bites feeds hungry Houston kids
18 SBISD shines in Good Reason Houston report
19 Breast cancer awareness month: Where to get a mammogram in Houston
20 Back to the Past Car Show
21 “Reed” All About It — new column!
22 Spotlighting small business Three Mums for HOCO season
Editor’s Letter to the Residents
Dominic Mandola of the famed Mandola restaurant dynasty opens up a brand-new Ragin’ Cajun on Wirt Road, delighting crawfish and seafood lovers all over the neighborhood. Read the story on pages 4-6.
t’s officially spooky season and fall is in the air, as well as homecoming, breast cancer awareness month, and pumpkin-flavored everything. This month, we welcome both PJ’s Coffee and Three Mums, two locally owned businesses, to the Branch as well as Houston restaurant and crawfish staple Ragin’ Cajun. New guest columnist Reed Ingersoll makes his debut with “Reed” All About It, where he’ll discuss the happenings at his very own Memorial High School. Fun events are on the horizon too, so be sure to check out the save-the-dates.
A Houston Restaurant Legacy Lives on Through Spring Branch’s New RAGIN’ CAJUN
By Liz Clearman
If you’ve lived in Houston for any length of time and are even vaguely familiar with our nationally famous restaurant scene, you’ve likely heard of the Mandola family, who owned the delicious trio of Nino’s, Vincent’s, and Grappino di Nino on West Dallas and who still operate multiple other establishments that dot the landscape of the city — Mandola’s Deli, Tony Mandola’s Restaurant, Ciro’s, and Damian’s Cucina Italiana — just to name a few. The Mandolas hold the record as the biggest Italian family in Texas with over 950 members, 550 of whom descended onto Houston last October for a massive family reunion.
While Italian restaurants are obviously the default Mandola setting, Dominic Mandola along with his father, Luke B. Mandola Sr., own and operate Ragin’ Cajun, a well-known institution in Houston. Why the departure from what might seem like a family-mandated restaurant genre? The simple answer is love. While at the University of Louisiana Lafayette (formerly the University of Southwestern Louisiana), the elder Mandola fell hard for Joan Benoit, a Cajun girl from Lake Arthur, Louisiana, they got married, and the rest is history. Luke managed French Quarter Po-Boys in Lafayette after college and was
thrown feet first into the intricacies of Cajun cuisine, starting a lifelong love affair with all things Louisiana. To this day, the recipes for Ragin’ Cajun’s gumbo and red beans and rice are Mama Mandola’s. “Lots of my family and uncles were in the restaurant business, so it intrigued me from a young age,” said Dominic. “All of them did Italian restaurants and my father opened a Cajun restaurant!”
The original rendition of this Cajuninspired restaurant was opened inside the 610 loop in 1974 by Mandola Sr., Frankie B. Mandola, and Ray Hay, and they dubbed it Ray Hay’s Cajun Po-Boys. The oil boom of the 1980s saw an influx of Louisiana residents moving to Houston; homesick for Cajun flavors and desperate to connect with their roots, Ray Hay’s brought authentic po-boys straight from the bayou country and was an immediate hit. In 1976, the trio decided to introduce parking lot crawfish boils — another Cajun tradition — to the Houston area, which were so successful during the spring that they began serving crawfish directly from the restaurant, becoming the first establishment in Houston to do so.
In 1981, Luke Sr. partnered with Frank Messina, who bought out Frankie and Ray Hay’s portion of the storied po-boy shop, and they renamed it Ragin’ Cajun in honor of the Ragin’ Cajuns of University of Lafayette Louisiana, where Luke graduated from in 1972. The restaurant held onto its initial popularity throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s, gaining a reputation for having high-quality
Cajun cuisine as well as the best boiled crawfish in the city. In the 2000s, Luke Sr. and Frank partnered with Mandola’s sons Luke Jr. and Dominic to expand, opening locations in the Westchase District, the downtown tunnels, Sugar Land, and The Woodlands. Today, the “Original” location on Richmond Avenue remains open and bustling, and Dominic and Luke Sr. are carrying on the tradition by opening the new Spring Branch location — lucky for us — on Wirt Road.
The restaurant industry was almost quite literally built into Dominic’s DNA. From a young age, he said, he’s had a passion for the business and for serving people, having fond memories of going up to his dad’s restaurant and watching him work. It didn’t take long for him to get his hands dirty, so to speak, as he started working at the Original Ragin’ Cajun when he was a mere 16 years old and attending St. Thomas High School. After graduation, when he left Texas to attend Ole Miss and earn his bachelor’s degree in consumer science, Dominic worked for a Mississippi restaurant called City Grocery and discovered a
love for cooking and a desire to learn more about being a chef, leading him to obtain his associate’s degree in culinary arts from the Art Institute of Houston in 1999. Just one short year later, in May of 2000, he opened his first Ragin’ Cajun restaurant on Westheimer and Gessner as the executive chef at age 24.
Ironically, Dominic and his wife, Ashley, met for the first time at the Ragin’ Cajun Westchase location on Fat Tuesday in 2003. They moved to Spring Valley Village in 2006 when they bought their first home in the area. “We love the city of Spring Valley [and] our community, and it’s a great place to raise our family. The people of Spring Valley are awesome. Ashley and I have met great friends through the neighborhood schools and sports. Everyone looks out for each other and helps each other,” said Dominic.
With four extremely active children — Ryan Elizabeth, 15, who is involved in tennis and volunteering through a local chapter of the National Charity League; Dominic, 13, who keeps busy with his chosen sports of
football, baseball, and basketball; 11-year-old Gia Marie who plays volleyball and basketball; and the baby of the family, 8-year-old Anna Grace, who loves soccer and tennis — the Mandolas try to have family dinner as often as possible, but with the kids’ schedules, two bustling restaurants, and a catering company (Ragin’ Catering, Dominic’s full-service company, offers Mexican, Texas BBQ, and other American classics, in addition to the traditional Cajun fare), it’s a wonder that they have time for anything else.
“One thing that brings our family together is enjoying great food with each other,” Dominic said. While food is front and center — he and Ashley enjoy trying new restaurants both in Houston and when they travel — he also makes time for fishing and tennis, catering events for his kids’ schools,
staying involved in their sports and other activities, and serving on the ACTS Retreat Team for St. Cecilia Catholic Church. With family in Louisiana and Rockport, Texas, they make it a point to visit several times a year, but their favorite place to spend time is their annual pilgrimage to the Cayman Islands. “Paradise,” Dominic mused. “The clearest water ever!” The entire family also enjoys college and professional sports, following the Astros, LSU Tigers, Ole Miss Rebels, and the New Orleans Saints.
When it came time to expand the restaurant’s purview, Dominic said that opening the establishment in Spring Valley was a no-brainer. “It was my dream to open up a Ragin’ Cajun in my community for a place for all my friends and family to experience my Cajun culture and cuisine. Also, my kids can
be a part of it since we live in Spring Valley. It’s a true community to be a part of and involved in, through the people, schools, SBMSA, and churches.” As a family-run business, it’s important to Dominic — and the Mandola name — that everyone who walks through the establishment’s front doors feels like family. With employees that have been with the company for up to 30 years, the culture is one of acceptance, diversity, a great time, and damn good food that will keep you coming back for more.
The Original Ragin’ Cajun’s 50th anniversary is coming up in 2024, and its place in Houston history has been wellearned. “My dad has seen the oil bust in the ‘80s and ups and downs in the ‘90s. I started opening Ragin’ Cajuns in the year 2000 and operated four to five restaurants for 18 years, so I have seen ups and downs also,” Dominic reminisced. COVID, however, was a different animal. With restaurants being hit hard, he opted not to renew the lease on the Westchase location when it ended in 2020 after 20 years, not knowing what the future would hold. “Closing that restaurant gave me the chance to open up a restaurant in Spring Valley, my community,” he said. “God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good.”
Ragin’ Cajun has become one of the most recognized restaurant names across both Texas and the United States and has been featured in People magazine, on NBC’s Dateline, and the Food Network, as well as various other television and radio shows. Specializing in South Louisiana Cajun cuisine, they use the freshest and best quality ingredients to bring guests the best Cajun food west of the Sabine River. Dominic still buys his crawfish from the same farmers in Branch, Louisiana that the original trio has used since 1981 so that he and his team can continue to bring authentic Cajun food to Houstonians. Shrimp po-boys, seafood gumbo, and blackened salmon are their top items year-round, with their chargrilled oysters not far behind in popularity. Even non-seafood eaters will have their palates satiated with offerings such as Mandola’s spaghetti and meatballs, New Orleans Roast Beef Debris po-boy and red beans and rice with sausage.
Upcoming events include Cajun-style turkeys for Thanksgiving (orders open on October 20th, so don’t wait!) as well as their 50th anniversary serving the city in 2024 — keep your eyes open for celebratory events. For more information, visit their website at ragincajun.com, and drop in to their Spring Branch location at 1725 Wirt Road or The Original institution at 4302 Richmond Avenue.
Save the Date for Steel Magnolia Moms’ 4th Annual Holiday Market!
Steel Magnolia Moms is a Houston area non-profit organization for moms raising children with special needs. The group is showcasing their 4th annual holiday market that you don’t want to miss. More than 60 local artisans and businesses will be selling items at the event on November 2nd from 11:00 am–6:00 pm at The Powder Keg (1300 Brittmoore Road, Houston, TX 77043). Many of the vendors are adults with disabilities or businesses who employ people with disabilities.
Steel Magnolia Moms’ mission is to positively support one another and share in the joys and challenges of raising a child with special needs. The funds raised from the market will go toward supporting programs such as Head to Heart, which provides private psychotherapy to members, Magnolia Wellness, Moms Camp, and Happy Campers which sends members’ children with disabilities to summer camp.
Save the date and bring your friends for a shopping frenzy. There is something for everyone including clothing and accessories, household items, gourmet food items, art, children’s clothing and gifts, jewelry, men’s activewear, and more. The event is open to the public and admission is $5. Visit steelmagnoliamoms.com for more information about sponsorship, admission, and raffle tickets. The Steel Magnolia Moms Market is sponsored by Cadence Bank and Linscomb & Williams.
HAnnual SBEF Golf Classic Supporting SBISD Students and Teachers
undreds of golfers will gather at the Wildcat Golf Club on Monday, November 6, 2023 for a day of supporting Spring Branch Education Foundation and the students and teachers of Spring Branch ISD. Last year’s SBEF Golf Classic raised more than $200,000 for funds to be used for grants for innovative teacher and district initiatives within SBISD. Golfers also raised $7,000 in scholarships for graduating seniors in the Class of 2023.
Co-chairs Linda and Tom DeBesse recognize the importance of supporting Spring Branch ISD this year. SBEF Golf Classic Chair Linda DeBesse said, “State funding has not kept up with the cost of educating our SBISD students, so events like the SBEF Golf Classic are opportunities to raise funds to support educational initiatives for every child in our district. Our community supports our children in big ways, so we are excited to have another dedicated group of individuals, businesses, and organizations hitting the links on November 6.”
To register for the Spring Branch Education Foundation Golf Classic, please visit sbef.springbranchisd.com or contact the SBEF office at (713) 251-2381.
Warren Sloan
Why Every Ghoul and Goblin Needs Vitamin D3 from NeuMed This Halloween
By Carley Teers, NeuMed
Boo! Before you’re lost in dreams of jack-o’-lanterns and haunted houses, there’s a potion you shouldn’t forget this Halloween: vitamin D3. And, we’ve conjured up some spellbinding reasons why NeuMed is the ultimate haunted mansion for your vitamin D3 needs.
1. Sun’s Shy? We’ve Got the Magic!
Autumn casts a chilly spell, making the sun more mysterious than a ghost story. But fear not! At NeuMed, we summon the magic of vitamin D3 so you’re not left in the dark.
2. Immunity’s Shield Against Curses
While witches brew their potions, your immune system is warding off seasonal hexes. With vitamin D3 in your arsenal, you’ll be the strongest spellcaster in town!
3. Bone Dance Ready
Skeletons might have a dance advantage, but with vitamin D3’s boneboosting properties, you’ll be moonwalking with the best of them in no time.
4. Ward Off Autumn Shadows
The eeriness of long, shadowy nights can sometimes dampen spirits. Here’s a charm: Vitamin D3, known to lift moods, ensures you’re ready for every monster mash.
5. A Simple Spell: Painless & Cost-Effective
NeuMed offers a potion without the hocus pocus. A painless intramuscular injection once a month is all it takes. For just $29/month ($19 for members), it’s like finding a treasure in a haunted house.
6. We’re Open, No Trick, All Treat!
Cauldrons bubble from 8 AM to 8 PM at NeuMed. Walk-ins are welcome, and we’re open on weekends and most haunted holidays!
7. NeuMed: Witch-Approved!
Ever wonder where witches get their vitamin D3 top-up for broomflying? NeuMed! With a team more skilled than any coven and advanced potion methods, you’re guaranteed a supernatural experience.
This Halloween, while you’re carving pumpkins and preparing your costume, don’t forget the bewitching benefits of vitamin D3. For a magical health boost, NeuMed is the enchanting destination to choose. Visit neumed.com for more information.
Happy Haunting, and may your D3 levels bewitch all night long!
Halloween Candy Wine Pairings, Reluctantly
By Jeffrey M. Kralik, Ph.D. (The Drunken Cyclist)
By the time this goes to print, we will hopefully be out from under the heat dome that dominated our weather system for what seems like forever. The focus now shifts to fall activities and chief among them, Halloween. I was not surprised when the fine editors here at Spring Branch Plus suggested that I write an article with a Halloween theme, specifically, pairing wines with Halloween candy. There were three major hurdles to get over when it came to the request. The first is that I swore I would never write an article pairing wine with candy.
Oh well.
Second, I really don’t like Halloween all that much. In fact, I don’t like it at all since it brings back some childhood memories that I would rather forget. No, my parents weren’t dentists, and nobody died, nor was I poisoned, abducted, or hit by a car. I wish.
No, for every single Halloween when I was a child, I was required, no forced to be … a clown. Not only did I and my three siblings all have to be clowns, but my mother handmade all our costumes. To make matters worse, I am the third child so I received the hand-medown clown-fits from my older brother (who had managed to stain or rip them in some fashion) or, when I complained too much, I would have to wear the previous year’s costume from my older sister. Yeah. I know. You want a sure-fire way to get me a little hot under the collar? Call me a “clown.”
The third reason the pairing of wine and Halloween candy is a bit of an issue for me: The vision of some poor clown rifling through his or her unsuspecting kid’s candy bucket to pull out all the Baby Ruth bars and then running to the wine rack to find the “perfect pairing” is, well, one of the saddest images I can conjure (other than an eightyear-old “clown” heading out to trick-or-treat, of course).
An assignment is an assignment, however, and without any further ado, here are my suggestions on pairing wine with Halloween candy.
First, a few general comments:
1. Let’s get this out of the way immediately: Both Almond Joy and Mounds bars are abhorrent and should be immediately thrown in the trash or better yet, refused at the door. They are by no means “a treat.” I’d rather get a toothbrush.
2. There is absolutely no reason to break the bank (with one exception) here. Reminder: You are pairing wine with candy.
3. The one exception is champagne. I am a firm believer that champagne/sparkling wine pairs well with just about anything.
4. Sweet wines and fortified wines are the obvious choices here, but being obvious is annoying. Almost as bad as being a …
Now on to some specifics:
1. M&M’s, Hershey’s Kisses, Kit Kats, and plain chocolate bars use milk chocolate, which is quite sweet, so stay away from wines with a lot of tannin. Instead, go with a light pinot noir or a fruity zinfandel. Look for Raeburn Pinot and Pedroncelli Mother Clone Zinfandel.
2. Candy corn, Sugar Babies, Pixie sticks. These are all, essentially, just pure sugar and should suffer the same fate as Almond Joy, but instead grab an unoaked chardonnay and make sure it is really cold. Look for Chalk Hill Chardonnay.
3. “Fruit” candy such as Skittles, Starburst, SweeTarts, and the like have absolutely nothing to do with fruit, but they would work best with fruity but also tart whites. Either a sauvignon blanc or an off-dry riesling. The Rodney Strong Charlotte’s Home SB is fantastic, and the Château Ste. Michelle Riesling is a wallet pleaser.
4. “Fringe candy,” the treats that are loaded with sugar but focus on a different sensation such as Sour Patch Kids and Hot Tamales, I would match up with an ice-cold, fruity rosé. If you can find it, treat yourself to a Les Sarrins Rosé from Provence.
5. Last, for the best of all Halloween candy, Snickers (and Baby Ruth or even Payday), I would break out a California cabernet sauvignon. My suggestion? Freakshow from Michael David. It seems to fit, doesn’t it?
So, there you have it, an article I swore I would never write, but we have to all embrace challenge and change. No, this does not mean I am considering dressing up as a clown this Halloween. I mean, come on.
APPETIZERS
Beef Empanadas (2)
$6
Chicken Empanadas (2) $6
Argentinian Sausage $6 with Chimichurri Sauce (1)
Parmesan Truffle Fries $8
Chimichurri Steak Sliders $8
Mango Ceviche $12
Mandarin Almond Salad $10
Gnocchi served with Pink Sauce $12
Organic Chicken Wrap on Bacon $12
Cheese and Meat Plate $20
WHITES
Chardonnay $8
Sauvignon Blanc $8
Pinot Grigio $8
Rose $9
Prosecco $12
REDS
Malbec $9
Cabernet $9
$6
$6 OTHER
Well Drinks $10
Caipirinha $10
Mojito $10
Sangria (White or Red) $12
713.468.8408
8408 Katy Freeway #220 Houston 77024
NeuMed Fall Festival, November 11 & 12, 10 am
Kids’ Meals Harvest Luncheon, November 13
@ Marriott Marquis Houston, 10 am
1 Second annual Biergarten @ CityCentre, 11 am
2 Preschool Story Time
@ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 2:15 pm
Book Buddies @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 4:30 pm
3 Werewolf! @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 4:30 pm
4 Just Between Friends Houston Central sale @ Splat Zone Indoor Paintball, 9 am
Baby Time! @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 10:15 am
Lego League @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 4 pm
5 Just Between Friends Houston Central sale @ Splat Zone Indoor Paintball, 9 am
Teen Chess Club @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 4:30 pm
Yoga for Beginners @ VFW Post 8790, 5 pm
Spring Branch Super Neighborhood Central meeting @ 1560 Foley St., 6:30 pm
6 Just Between Friends Houston Central sale @ Splat Zone Indoor Paintball, 9 am
SBISD student holiday
3D Printer Orientation @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 4 pm
Live! On the Lawn @ The Lawn at Memorial City Mall, 5 pm
Steak Night! @ VFW Post 8790, 6 pm
7 Just Between Friends Houston Central sale @ Splat Zone Indoor Paintball, 9 am
The Tiny Market @ John Knox Presbyterian Church, 9 am
Memorial Villages Farmers Market
@ First Congregational Church, 9 am
Crafternoon @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 2 pm
American Shuffleboard Tournament & Queen of Hearts Drawing
@ VFW Post 8790, 2 pm
Queen of Hearts Game @ VFW Post 8790, 5:30 pm
8 Second annual Biergarten @ CityCentre, 11 am
9 Indigenous Peoples’ Day
SBISD staff and student holiday
Blood Drive @ Memorial City Mall, 10 am
Preschool Story Time @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 2:15 pm
Book Buddies @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 4:30 pm
10 HTML Coding Class for Teens
@ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 4:30 pm
Page Turners Book Club
@ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 6:15 pm
11 Baby Time! @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 10:15 am
KP’s Kitchen Community Giveback @ KP’s Kitchen, 11 am
Board at the Library @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 4 pm
12 SBISD parent-teacher conferences — elementary early dismissal
Energy Corridor Farmers Market @ 1520 Eldridge Pkwy, 5 pm
Yoga for Beginners @ VFW Post 8790, 5 pm
Toastmasters! @ VFW Post 8790, 6:30 pm
Stratford High School homecoming game vs. Spring Woods @ Tully Stadium, 6:30 pm
13 SBISD parent-teacher conferences — elementary early dismissal Live! On the Lawn @ The Lawn at Memorial City Mall, 5 pm
14 Farmer’s Bazaar @ St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 9 am
Memorial Market @ Memorial City Mall, 9 am
Memorial Villages Farmers Market
@ First Congregational Church, 9 am
Fall market @ Terrace United Methodist Church, 10 am
Bayou City Art Festival Downtown @ downtown Houston, 10 am
Strides for CJD relay & race @ Spring Valley Village Park, 10 am
Oktoberfest and Market
@ John Knox Presbyterian Church benefiting Mission of Yahweh & Spring Branch Color Run, 1 pm
American Shuffleboard Tournament & Queen of Hearts Drawing @ VFW Post 8790, 2 pm
Queen of Hearts Game @ VFW Post 8790, 5:30 pm
15 Bayou City Art Festival Downtown @ downtown Houston, 10 am
Second annual Biergarten @ CityCentre, 11 am
16 Preschool Story Time
@ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 2:15 pm
Book Buddies @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 4:30 pm
17 HTML Coding Class for Teens
@ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 4:30 pm
18 Baby Time! @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 10:15 am
Kid’s Craft Corner @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 4 pm
19 Yoga for Beginners @ VFW Post 8790, 5 pm
Spring Branch Super Neighborhood East meeting @ 1414 Wirt Rd., 7 pm
20 Cajun-style turkey ordering from Ragin’ Cajun opens!
Live! On the Lawn @ The Lawn at Memorial City Mall, 5 pm
Hamburgers & hot dogs @ VFW Post 8790, 6 pm
21 Spring Branch FFA Alumni Association Sporting Clay Shoot
8:30 am
Back to the Past Car Show
@ Spring Branch Academy of Choice, 10 am
Memorial Villages Farmers Market
@ First Congregational Church, 9 am
American Shuffleboard Tournament & Queen of Hearts Drawing @ VFW Post 8790, 2 pm
Queen of Hearts Game @ VFW Post 8790, 5:30 pm
22 Second annual Biergarten @ CityCentre, 11 am
13th Annual Rockin’ Resiliency Luncheon by The Women’s Fund for Health Education and Resiliency
@ Omni Houston Hotel, 11:30 am
23 Preschool Story Time
@ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 2:15 pm
Book Buddies @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 4:30 pm
SBISD board of trustees regular meeting
@ Wayne Schaper Sr. Leadership Center, 6 pm
24 HTML Coding Class for Teens
@ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 4:30 pm
25 Cars & Clays Event benefiting Kids’ Meals
@ Westside Sporting Grounds, 9 am
Baby Time! @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 10:15 am
It’s Just a Bunch of Hocus Pocus!
@ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 4 pm
26 Linked-In: Tips and Tricks
@ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 4:30 pm
Yoga for Beginners @ VFW Post 8790, 5 pm
Energy Corridor Farmers Market @ 1520 Eldridge Pkwy, 5 pm
Toastmasters! @ VFW Post 8790, 6:30 pm
27 Fall floral workshop @ Freedom Floral, time TBA
Live! On the Lawn @ The Lawn at Memorial City Mall, 5 pm
28 Memorial Villages Farmers Market
@ First Congregational Church, 9 am
American Shuffleboard Tournament & Queen of Hearts Drawing @ VFW Post 8790, 2 pm
Paws for Literacy @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 2 pm
Queen of Hearts Game @ VFW Post 8790, 5:30 pm
29 Second annual Biergarten @ CityCentre, 11 am
30 Mindfulness for Kids @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 3 pm
Book Buddies @ Spring Branch Memorial Library, 4:30 pm
31 HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
THIRD FRIDAY EVERY MONTH
Pick Your Poison:
To predict the top Halloween costumes for the year, all you have to do is think back on the previous nine months or so to see what pop culture icons have made their way into our collective conscience (Barbie, anyone?). While certain costumes will always be popular – think princesses, ninjas, and creepy clowns – every Halloween brings a new surge of smiles watching the wide variety of costumes from both kids and adults alike as they traipse down the streets in search of the best candy. 1. Barbie. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. If you’re part of a couple, a Barbie and Ken duo would be fun, too.
2. The Little Mermaid. Due to Disney’s amazing reimagining of this classic, you’ll see plenty of kiddos donning Ariel’s red hair and mermaid tail.
3. Wednesday Addams. While we’re all still eagerly anticipating the release of the nowconfirmed season 2 of “Wednesday,” the iconic all-black wardrobe and long braids never go out of style. This is a fun, easy costume for all ages.
4. Spider-Man and Spider-Gwen. If you haven’t yet seen “Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse” yet (and its precursor, “SpiderMan: Into the Spiderverse”), you might not understand the hype. Miles Morales burst onto the Marvel scene as the youngest of the Spider-Man characters and inspired kids all over. Let’s not forget Spider-Gwen, too, who plays a huge role in both movies.
5. Queen Charlotte. This Bridgerton spinoff focuses on Charlotte of MecklenburgStrelitz, who becomes queen after she marries King George III. Who wouldn’t be inspired to dress as Charlotte with her fantastic
By Liz Clearman
hairstyles and stunning ball gowns, not to mention bravery in the face of strife?
6. Ted Lasso. Need I say more? Ted’s iconic visor, coach’s whistle, zip-up jacket, and khaki pants have made their appearance as a popular Halloween costume since the show premiered in 2020.
7. Bluey. If you’ve got littles, Bluey is likely on your radar. There are plenty of adorable options if your kiddo wants to emulate this lovable blue heeler.
8. Ahsoka Tano. This brand-new Star Wars series is a spinoff of “The Mandalorian,” and Ahsoka’s outfit and amazing headwear make a stunning costume option.
9. M3GAN. Whether you’ve seen the movie or not, this is an easy and cute costume for adults and kids. Creepy, wide robot eyes optional.
10.Riverdale. This dark but binge-worthy series just ended, and with the ‘50s-era feel (although it was set in present day, for the most part), dressing like Betty or Jughead will satisfy that vintage costume itch.
Community Support is Key for SBISD’s FFA Program Success
Spring Branch ISD’s FFA program, a student-led organization, has been a part of the SBISD family since 1949. SBFFA is supported through the Guthrie Center and includes a 17-acre barn that is home to Spring Branch ISD’s FFA program. This year will be SBFFA’s 46th Annual Show and Sale. Community support for this event is key to a successful FFA program. FFA’s mission is to “make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.”
While fostering leadership and career success are cornerstones of SBFFA, students also have the opportunity to earn scholarship money through the SBFFA Annual Show & Sale. The SBFFA Show & Sale includes Livestock Projects (steers, pigs, lambs, goats, turkeys, broilers, and rabbits) Horticulture (floral design, container gardens, terrariums), Ag-Mechanics (metalworking, woodworking), Creative Arts (ceramics, textiles, sculpture), Photography (color and black & white) and Foods (cookies, cakes, breads, canning), as well as the AgriScience Fair (food products & processing systems, plant systems).
Abby Green, a sophomore at Memorial High School, participates in SBFFA along with softball, Sweethearts, YoungLife, and Campaigners. Last year Abby was successful in raising a lamb, a commitment that teaches responsibility and time management. Abby told us, “I originally joined FFA because my older cousin was in it and it sounded fun. I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy it. I love animals. I love being outside. But most of all, I love the people involved in FFA.”
Please come out and support SBFFA by attending our upcoming fundraising events. We hope to see you at the Farm! Visit sbffaalumni.com for more information.
SBFFA Events
October 21, 2023: Alumni Association Sporting Clay Shoot (proceeds support Show & Sale) February 8-10, 2024: 46th Annual Show & Sale (show dates February 8 and 9)
Spring Branch Business Profile: PJ’s Coffee
By Liz Clearman
SBISD Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Blaine
Named as 2023 Top 30 Influential Women of Houston Honoree
By Liz Clearman
Congratulations to SBISD Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Blaine on being named as a 2023 Top 30 Influential Women of Houston honoree! She, along with 29 other changemaking women in the Houston area, were honored on August 25 at an awards gala.
According to the organization’s website, “The Top 30 Women celebrate the accomplishments and giving spirit of hundreds of diverse, influential, and powerful women in Houston and the surrounding areas. But what really makes these women influential is their journey to the top. They have all taken risks, embraced falls, believed in themselves, and remained courageous and resilient throughout their climb. Their fearless attitudes have allowed them to break glass ceilings and establish themselves as leaders committed to growth and professional excellence in their respective fields and in the community. The Top 30 Women honor these champions.”
Known for their iced coffee and a tasty frozen coffee beverage called the Granita, PJ’s Coffee on Long Point doesn’t mess around with brewing the lifeblood that many consider their morning caffeine fix. This fall, they have three new drinks on the menu to welcome in the season (let’s ignore the outside temps for the time being): Pumpkin Latte, Pumpkin Sweet Cold Foam Cold Brew, and S’mores Velvet Ice. Say no more — I’m all in for the pumpkin-flavored … well, anything.
Nate Brown, owner of the recently opened coffee shop, has always wanted to start his own business and is now a full-time entrepreneur, owning not just PJ’s Coffee but his own accounting firm and car rental company, among other businesses. His passion for coffee, he said, “started during late nights studying in college and blossomed over the years as I developed a more sophisticated palate and began traveling the world.” A CPA by trade, Nate spent eight years in the corporate world before deciding to take the plunge and attach his name to the PJ’s brand. “I believe we have the highest quality coffee around at prices comparable to everyone else,” Nate said. “One reason we chose the PJ’s brand for this entrepreneurial endeavor was because of how much they care about the quality and integrity of every product on their menu.”
With a full coffee menu as well as pastries baked in-house and sandwiches assembled fresh every day in the kitchen, Nate takes great pride in his team and his quality offerings and hopes to show Spring Branch how good their coffee really is. While he’s not (yet) a resident of the Branch, his initiation into this community began when his son joined a basketball team in the area, and he saw firsthand how much pride the residents have. He quickly realized there was no better location for PJ’s to introduce its brand of coffee to the Houston market.
While National Coffee Day (September 29th, which Nate firmly believes should be a federal holiday) will have already passed by the publishing of this issue, the PJ’s Coffee team hopes you’ll visit them and make every day a national coffee day. PJ’s Coffee Spring Branch is located at 9221 Long Point Road.
403 W. Grand Parkway S. Ste P Katy, Tx 77494
832.810.9222
Houston’s Brighter Bites Ensures Access to Fresh Food for All
By Liz Clearman
Co-founders of Brighter Bites Lisa Helfman and Dr. Shreela Sharma know how important it is for kids to have access to healthy, fresh food. Over a decade ago, after hearing her six-year-old turn down birthday cake at a party (I wouldn’t even do that!) in favor of blueberries, Lisa realized the impact that taking part in a weekly fruit and vegetable co-op was having on her family — especially her children. After witnessing her son’s pivotal moment, she wondered what having access to fresh produce could do for all kids, especially underserved children who live in “food deserts” or areas where grocery stores stocked with fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as nutritional information and education, are severely limited or completely inaccessible. A seed was planted.
The first step was to collaborate with Dr. Sharma, an expert in nutrition as well as a professor of epidemiology at UTHealth School of Public Health. From there, they formed the nonprofit Brighter Bites in 2012 with the goal of creating communities of health through fresh food with the goal of changing the behavior among children and their families to achieve long-term health. Since its inception, the organization has delivered more than 60
million pounds of produce and millions of nutrition education materials to more than 1 million individuals (including teachers) across Austin, Bakersfield, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Salinas, San Antonio, Southwest Florida, and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
Brighter Bites is a multi-component elementary school, preschool, and summer camp program that is USDA Snap-Ed and CDC approved, as well as being designated by the National Cancer Institute as an Evidence-based Cancer Prevention and Control Program. You could say they’ve done their research — literally — as the nonprofit was also the subject of a two-year study by the UTHealth School of Public Health with results published in a scientific peer-reviewed journal called Preventive Medicine. “Brighter Bites is a theory-driven, evidence-based health promotion program that mitigates fruit and vegetable waste and converts it into a public health opportunity by systematically sourcing and channeling primarily donated produce into underserved communities,” said Dr. Sharma on the Brighter Bites website.
Their successful process includes eight steps: Engage communities, select the week’s variety, load up, bag the produce, teach brighter choices,
sample & share, take home the fun, and replicate. The team works with organizations such as Sysco and H-E-B to ensure a wide variety of produce options for the kids served as well as stringent standards of food safety and quality. Families receive two bags of fresh fruits and vegetables at each site, meaning that between 200-800 bags will be lined up and delivered. Bags also contain nutritional information, tip sheets, and recipes that incorporate the week’s produce.
To learn more about Brighter Bites, please visit brighterbites.org, and to donate to Brighter Bites and the back-to-school campaign, please visit justgiving.com and search for the “Brighter Bites Back-to-School 2023 Campaign.”
Spring Branch ISD Shines in Good Reason Houston Report
Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD) largely outperformed a comparative group of Houston area districts on the Spring 2023 STAAR test for grades three and eight and Algebra 1 and English 1 End of Course (EOC) exams, based on the Region Districts Data First Look report released this week by Good Reason Houston, a local public-education focused non-profit organization. Good Reason Houston defines the comparative group as those districts within its service area with at least one campus in Houston and a majority of campuses serving 70%+ Economically Disadvantaged students.
SBISD is spotlighted in the report as one of only two districts that met or exceeded pre-pandemic performance levels for third grade math, and the only district to exceed pre-pandemic performance for eighth grade math and Algebra I. Since the 2018-2019 school year, the report credits SBISD with increases in third grade reading of 14 percentage points. In a year-over-year comparison between the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years, SBISD third grade reading results increased by five points, the largest increase among the comparison districts. Additionally, SBISD had the strongest Meets Grade Level or Higher performance, with 61% of students scoring at these highest levels last year.
Third grade math scores also indicate SBISD had the greatest gains from pre-pandemic performance levels among the comparison districts, with an increase of 5 percentage points since 2018-2019. Last year, SBISD also had the strongest Meets Grade Level or Higher performance for third grade math, with 52% of students scoring at these highest levels. For eighth grade math, Spring Branch ISD had a 25-percentage point gain, 19 points ahead of the state, just in the last year alone. SBISD is the only district cited in the report that has shown growth in eighth grade math since 2019.
SBISD’s English I EOC scores have risen sharply since 2019, too, up 37 points, an increase of 218%, per the Good Reason Houston analysis. These strong results are a testament to the district’s laserlike focus on reading and math, two key priorities identified by Dr. Jennifer Blaine when she became Superintendent of Schools in July 2019. “Even with a redesigned test, our teachers, school leaders and students did a great job, as indicated by the preliminary results. Our unyielding commitment to professional learning communities with data-driven attention to the academic growth and development of Every Child is apparent in these results,” Dr. Blaine proudly stated. “These results also affirm the district’s commitment to aligning resources to priorities. Over the past three years, we leveraged ESSER funds to further expand instructional coaching and classroom supports across content areas and grade levels. Our results are a testament that with the proper funding in place, SBISD will always prioritize our resources to support student needs and success.”Dr. Blaine also noted, “With ESSER funding now ended, and no new per student funding from the state, we are focusing strong attention on how to sustain these supports beyond this school year.”
WHERE TO GET A MAMMOGRAM IN HOUSTON
By Liz Clearman
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, we’ve compiled a list of places you can go in Houston to get your yearly mammogram (this is by no means exhaustive). Keeping up with breast health is critical, and women should start screenings on a regular basis between the ages of 40-44, continuing annually until about age 55, when you can switch to every other year according to the American Cancer Society (of course, listen to your doctor on recommendations specific to you).
1. MD Anderson Cancer Center has six locations in Houston and surrounding areas, including one in 77079 (mdanderson.org).
2. Houston Methodist Breast Care Centers have 11 locations around the Houston area with one in the west Houston/Katy area (houstonmethodist.org/womens-services/locations/texas-medicalcenter/breast-care-center).
3. With 11 mammogram campuses to choose from, Kelsey Seybold’s Breast Diagnostic Centers make it easy to schedule your mammogram in a convenient location (kelsey-seybold.com/ medical-services-and-specialties/cancer-center/breast-diagnosticcenter).
4. Solis Mammography, while part of The Woman’s Hospital of Texas, has 22 independent locations spread out around the city, and they offer multiple services such as diagnostic and screening mammograms, bone density scans, and breast biopsies (solismammo.com).
5. Memorial Hermann boasts 16 imaging centers to get your mammogram, with the Bobetta Lindig Breast Care Center at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center located right down the street on I-10 (memorialhermann.org/services/ specialties/imaging/breast-care).
6. The Rose Breast Center of Excellence is a fantastic option for those who are underinsured or uninsured — regardless of your ability to pay, they make access to breast health affordable for everyone. They also offer a Mobile Mammography Program that brings mammograms to 43 counties across Southeast Texas (therose.org).
“REED” ALL ABOUT IT
By Reed Ingersoll, Memorial High School student
Chances are you’ve probably seen Memorial High School cross country team members
Brian Jones, Keith Jones, and Ian McCormack running around Spring Branch as they prepare to capitalize on their senior season. As the top 3 runners for the past 2 years, these guys have the huge ambition of qualifying for the state cross country meet in October. And as captains, they have led the team to hundreds of miles all while investing countless hours into the sport.
Growing up, the boys attended Valley Oaks Elementary School and Spring Branch Middle School. They found their love for running when they joined the Spring Branch cross country and track teams. What started out as just a way to run to Starbucks with the team on Fridays, quickly became more serious as they began to see improvements in their running. “With a lack of talent in coordination, running in circles seemed to be a good route,” Keith said. Even when they weren’t sure what to expect in high school, the boys knew that cross country would be part of their journey.
After finishing a disappointing junior season that was tainted by injuries and sickness, the boys are determined to make their final season a good one. “I want to make sure that the team as a whole is setting ourselves up for a strong season,” Ian said.
The boys run upwards of 50 miles a week, consisting of runs that are over 13 miles long. They run 6-7 times a week, sometimes twice a day, and wake up at 5:30am every day before school to “beat the heat.” They push themselves to the limit every week to win races and improve
their times. “It’s the hard days that make you stronger,” Keith said. “Consistency is key and the tough days add to that.”
So far this season, the boys have clocked in elite times in the 5k of 15:35, 16:22, and 17:10. At the Run the Dogpound Invitational, Brian and Ian placed 2nd and 11th out of a field of 94 runners. Not only are they winning races personally, but they have led the way for the best cross country team Memorial High School has had in over 10 years. “The team aspect of cross country is good because it helps us push each other to improve and it also makes running more enjoyable since you get to be with your friends,” Brian said. Keith’s goal is to break 16:15 and place well at regionals, Ian wants to qualify for state, and Brian’s goal is to be the regional champion and get the school record in the 5k (15:15).
They feel that there is more to running than just winning though. “Running started off as just a sport but through hard work it has become so much more to me,” Ian said. “Running is a blessing to me and my life wouldn’t be the same without it.” After graduation, Brain hopes to become an engineer, Ian wants to get a degree in political science or anthropology, and Keith wants to major in kinesiology. “The competition has allowed me to become the best version of myself I can be,” Brian said.
Memorial High School will be running at the Region 3 meet in Huntsville on October 23rd, where you can see Brian, Ian, and Keith run to qualify for a spot at the 6A state championship in Round Rock, Texas.
Three Mums Helps Sprinkle Homecoming Spirit (and Glitter) Around Spring Branch & Memorial
By Liz Clearman
Texas might not be known for our fall weather during the actual fall season, but we are most definitely known for our obsession with homecoming and football, including the “everything’s bigger in Texas” mums. If you’re looking to pawn the responsibility for designing a mum off to a local business with homecoming expertise, you’re in luck. Three Mums is a new, small mum business in the Memorial area owned and operated by three friends — or Three Mums, if you will — who came together to spread their love of crafting and spreading school spirit.
Ana Wohlfahrt, Jen Roden, and Priscilla Crosser met when their (now-graduated) sons were in primary school. Bonding over their shared craftiness for school events, plays, and sports, the trio became fast friends. While they all had full-time careers, it was important to them to carve out time for their classroom creations as well as spending time cultivating their newfound friendships. Over a girls’ weekend focused on scrapbooking, they put their heads together and decided to help foster school spirit at Westside High School where their sons were enrolled by dipping their toes in mum-making. During their first year, they sold mums for homecomings at Westside, Ridge Point, Clements, Stratford, Strake Jesuit, Elkins, and Katy Taylor high schools, seeing immediate success.
“The philosophy that carries Three Mums is friendship, faith, and spreading school spirit. We enjoy making mums for the students and enjoy putting all of the little details and sparkles on each ribbon,” said Ana. For all three of the moms — er, mums — their biggest inspiration is their families, and the ability to work with lifelong friends doing
something they all are passionate about doesn’t hurt, either. “We each have our specialty that we put into each mum and the business. It is truly a perfect balance,” Ana noted.
They have fun while working, too. Ana recounts an instance last year when she, Jen, and Priscilla were knee-deep in glitter and hot glue gun burns after a long work week for all three, looking for a place to hang completed mums besides the already-full walls, laundry racks, mirrors, and doors. Ana waltzed in with a singsong-y “Hello!” followed by a hanging cart for their mums. The women burst into giggles (although, Ana pointed out, their husbands most certainly did not) as Ana explained, “I’m sorry I’m late. We were putting this together. We need it!” Since then, the mantra “We need it, we have to buy it, we have to drive there!” has become an oft-repeated phrase for the business owners.
Ana Wohlfahrt is the artist and owner behind The Sugar Jar (her jaw-dropping cookies can be found at facebook.com/TheSugarJar) as well as a wife and mother to two boys, one in Aggieland and one at Nottingham Elementary. Jen Roden is an engineer by day and the owner of Paper and Peonies (facebook.com/PaperAndPeonies) by night, spreading joy and beautiful stationery with her staff appreciation and teacher gifts and cards. A wife and mother of four, her oldest son graduated from Westside High School earlier this year while she’s still got a junior in high school, an 8th grader, and a 6th grader at home. Priscilla Crosser, married to Sam (of maS taco and now-closed Sam’s Burgers, Fries, & Pies fame), is a dyslexia teacher in Alief ISD, owns Screamy Mimi Spirit Shop and Personalization (facebook.com/profile. php?id=100086522290607), and can be found personalizing adorable banners and other school spirit-related items in her spare time. Her son is also at Texas A&M University while her daughter is a junior in high school.
“We’d love for our neighborhood and community to know we are happy to help you in the HOCO craziness of September and October. We plan, learn, shop, and prepare all year for these two fast and furious months. We’d love for you to have us make your child’s mum or share our name,” said Ana. You can find them on Facebook by searching for “Three Mums.”
