Houston Style Magazine Vol 33 No 47

By Jo-Carolyn Goode, Managing Editor

COMMENTARY SEVEN TOP TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS YEAR’S MIDTERMS

By Ben Jealous

A“Red Wave” evaporate, it’s time to take a deep breath and take stock of what we’ve learned. There are many takeaways from the elections this year – and here are a few that top the list for me. If there’s one thing that’s crystal clear by now, it’s that elections don’t end on Election Night.

Another development is that early voting is here to stay. One day before the election, nearly 41 million Americans had cast early ballots. Geor gia broke its all-time record for early votes. Early voting is totally legitimate and a great idea. Do it if you can. By now we’ve all seen the attempts by farright activists in Arizona to scare people away from early voting, by camping out fully armed near dropboxes. We have to recognize that the Right may become more aggressive in its efforts to suppress the vote. The Justice De partment stepped in this time to protect the vote and it will have a role to play in protecting it in the future; we should expect and welcome that.

These are all aspects of the new normal in our election process. But what about the issues? What are the takeaways there? There’s no question that Americans came out in force to support reproductive freedom. In state after state where measures on abortion rights were on the ballot, people voted to uphold those rights. In California, Michigan, Vermont, Montana, and even deep-red Kentucky, voters came out for the freedom to control their own bodies.

Abortion rights were also among the top issues motivating voters to go to the polls. Exit polls show infla tion topped the list with abortion second – and way ahead of crime, which the Far Right had hoped to use as a winning issue against progressives. Of course,

the Right’s spin – that progressives’ only answer is to “defund” police – was never accurate anyway, and we shouldn’t ever let that argument about public safety stand. Progressives have plenty of alter natives to offer when it comes to public safety and ending police violence. We need to be more clear and more forceful in making that case.

As for election deniers on the ballot, it comes as a relief that some of the loudest and potentially most dangerous ones were defeated. Yes, it’s true that a significant number of them won or kept seats in Congress and lower offices, and that’s deeply disturbing. But Doug Mastriano will not be governor of Pennsylvania, Tim Michels will not be governor of Wisconsin, and Tudor Dixon will not be governor of Michigan. Lee Zeldin will not govern New York, and Derek Schmidt will not govern Kansas. Election-denying candidates lost secretary of state races in Michigan, New Mexico and Minnesota. I’ll go out on a limb and say I hope the Right is learning that election denialism is not a ticket to victory.

I’ve saved one of the biggest takeaways

Photo by Unseen Histories on Unsplash

for last, and it’s one that’s close to my heart. It’s the importance of down-ballot races like sheriff, state representative, or city council person. These candidates don’t get all the attention and the big rallies like folks at the top of the ticket. But these are critical positions where a small amount of support can make a huge difference. They’re also the races where you’ll find rising stars: people like Malcolm Kenyatta in the Penn sylvania House, Anna Eskamani in the Florida House, and Darrin Camilleri and Sarah Anthony in the Michigan Senate – part of a wave that flipped the state’s senate this year. We need to pay attention to these races, and we need to support these young people who are our future. Thanks for voting – this time and every time.

This is the history of a nation that followed an avowed racist and an ti-Semite who never finished secondary school, who possessed no discernable skills other than oratory, and who never rose above the rank of corporal in the German army. Germany followed him into World War II and to a destruction of its own making. In 1927, German

citizens were at a crossroads. And they failed their country. By ignoring the threat of fascism that year, Germany was unable to resist it after the stock market collapsed in 1929.

Today, Americans find them selves at a similar crossroads. Grievance politics and economic instability have led to the scapegoating of immigrants and minorities by a segment of our society that sees fascism as the answer to its problems, even if it is not called by that name. The critical question at this hour is: Can America become the democracy it claims it wants to be, or will it devolve into the chaos of fascism as Germany did a century ago?

Overcoming this danger re quires a desire for equality that has been lacking throughout this country's history.

The myth of a democratic America has never been more than an aspirational concept. But we can no lon ger deny equality and a decent quality of life to portions of our society and expect to be rewarded with their loyalty and support. Shared strength must result in shared power. A democratic America must share power or disappear.

THE LEAGUE’S COUNTY ELECTION WEBSITE REVIEW FINDS FEWER COUNTIES WITH OUTSTANDING WEBSITES

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

Inpreparation for the 2022 General Election, the League of Women Voters of Texas completed its ninth review of county election websites. The League commends the 35 websites rated as “outstanding” and the 32 websites rated as “very good” We offer congrat ulations to these counties and celebrate all counties, large and small, which meet the needs of their voters.

While fewer counties earned the League’s ratings of outstanding or very good at this review, the survey showed improvement in the ease of finding the elections page on county websites, more counties including tools for voters to update their registration online, and the new Vote-by-Mail ballot tracker is now included on over 100 websites!

The League encourages coun ties to enhance their website security by properly identifying their websites as official websites by using a “.gov” domain address. Using a “.gov” domain

gives voters confidence they are on the official website, and avoids voters using partisan websites to get official, unbiased information.

As part of the website review, the League also evaluates the content of the Texas Secretary of State’s elections website VoteTexas.gov. A leading con cern regarding the website is the number of English language links found on the Spanish voter website Votetexas.gov/es. Also, there is inadequate information to give student voters information on voter registration and elections, in particular, where they should register and where they can vote.

“The League acknowledges that the 2022 General Election in Texas has been conducted under the continuing stress of a new, massive election bill, Senate Bill 1, which created challenges for the Secretary of State, county elec tion officials and Texas voters. County election officials are under additional

strain due to wrongful accusations of election fraud, misinformation and dis information.” said Joyce LeBombard, president of the League of Women Voters of Texas. “We will continue to support our hardworking Texas election officials, and provide voter education to encourage voters to participate in our elections.” Previous and current county website reviews can be found on the League’s County Election webpage.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER

HOUSTON

BREAKS GROUND ON NEW CLUB

IN ROSENBERG, PART OF THE FORT BEND COUNTY COMMUNITY CENTER

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

Commissioner Ken DeMerchant. Com missioner Prestage, a BGCGH board member and staunch advocate for youth, is credited with laying the groundwork for the Clubs in Fort Bend County. Kuznar has been actively involved as a mentor to members of various Fort Bend Clubs for many years.

“We are thrilled to further ex pand our footprint in Fort Bend County with its growing population and strong sense of community values,” says Hattery. “The Boys & Girls Club will be an invaluable addition to the neigh borhood, offering a safe, inviting space for children and teens who will greatly benefit from targeted programming from academics to healthy lifestyles to workforce readiness. The support from Fort Bend County officials has made for a strong private-public partnership in advocating for youth.”

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Hous ton (BCGHC) held a ceremonial groundbreaking event Nov. 3 for construction of a new Boys & Girls Club as part of the future Fort Bend County Community Center in Rosenberg. This brings the total number of clubs in Fort Bend County to five. The two-story, 20,000 square foot building is on land owned by nonprofit Attack Poverty, which works in partnership with BGC GH to serve the community.

Attended by Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, leadership, staff, public officials and other stake holders, the official "turning of the dirt" event signified the expansion of the organization's reach and its commit ment to families in the Fort Bend-area community. Located at 1820 Avenue E in Rosenberg, the Boys & Girls Club in the Fort Bend County Community Center will serve up to 300 youth per day, providing extensive after-school

and summer programming, with an an ticipated opening in the second quarter of 2023. There will be a dedicated space for teen members.

Participating in the event were Kevin Hattery, BGCGH President & CEO; Mike Kuznar, BGCGH board member and Sugar Land resident; Fort Bend County Commissioners Vincent Morales and Grady Prestage and Bran don Baca, CEO of Attack Poverty. The Club is located in Precinct 4 under

The new Club in Rosenberg will be named at a later date. The architect for the facility is Blueline, while the general contractor is Teal Construction. The other Fort Bend-area BGCGH clubs include Fort Bend, Mission Bend, Rich mond-Rosenberg and Stafford.

For more information about Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, please visit www.bgcgh.org.

Groundbreaking TEAL executive, Mike Kuznar, Commissioner Vincent Morales, Brandon Baca, Kevin Hattery, Commissioner Grady Prestage, architect from Blue Line

HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR ITS HOMELESS PROGRAM

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

Harris Health System recently received a silver badge award for Health Center Quality Leader from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), a division of the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, for the system’s Healthcare for the Homeless Program. The award marks the program’s fourth national recognition in 2022 from the agency: Advancing Health Information Tech nology for Quality; COVID-19 Public Health Champion; and Patient Centered Medical Home.

“The great care we provide our homeless patients from primary to specialty care is remarkable,” says Dr. Esmaeil Porsa, president and CEO, Harris Health. “These awards and rec ognitions are the result of the dedicated staff who work in mobile units and through our homeless shelter partners to ensure all patients receive the best primary care and essential well-being

checks that keep them healthy members in our community.”

Tracey Burdine, director, Healthcare for the Homeless Program, Harris Health, credits her team of pro viders, nurses and support staff for the achievements. “Regardless of where a homeless individual may enter into our ‘circle of care,’ he or she will be able to connect to all the services that we provide within the homeless program and also within Harris Health,” she says. “You can enter the circle through a den tal visit where a staff member can find out that a patient is not receiving entitled

Social Security benefits. Staff can then say, ‘Let me connect you to one of our social workers.’ While the social worker visits with the patient, she may find out that the patient hasn’t had a physical in a while, so then the social worker makes a doctor’s appointment with the medical provider.” Burdine says the homeless program offers robust services in medicine, dental, mental health, sub stance use disorder and vision. Staff is committed to easily connect patients to “multiple services where we’re able to address both their healthcare and social needs. That’s our mission, and I guess

that’s why we’re special,” she adds.

In 2021, Harris Health’s home less program provided care to about 5,000 unique patients:

• 87% Adults (18-64)

• 74% Racial/ethnic minority

• 15% Hispanic/Latino

• 26% White

• 59% Black/African American Harris Health’s program is also helping patients manage their chronic diseases of hypertension, cardiovascular and diabetes. Additionally, the program offers preventive health screenings for cervical, breast and colorectal cancers, as well as, depression, HIV and obesity, and ways to quit smoking. “To serve the homeless community and work in this department is a wonderful experience. It’s not just a job, it has to be your mis sion,” Burdine says.

Read more at: StyleMagazine.com

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM MEDICARE

Medicare Savings Programs, run by your state, can help lower your healthcare costs.

If you’re single with an income of $20,000 or less, or if you’re married with an income of $25,000 or less, you may be eligible to save with Medicare Savings Programs. Call

1-800-252-9240.

Contemporary artist Janavi Mahimtura Folmsbee's dramatic vision for the 'Aquarius Art Tunnel' was selected out of 347 Texas artists vying for the op portunity to design the space connecting Terminals D and E at International Airport of Houston (IAH), named the BEST AIR PORT in North America at the 2020 World Airport Awards.

Inspired by her deep-sea dives at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, off the Texas Coast, the art in stallation has been endorsed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Sanctuary in Galveston. The project was commissioned by the Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs, on behalf of the Houston Airport System, through the city's Civic Art Program and the Houston Arts Alliance.

The title pays homage to the con stellation Aquarius, the water-bearer. The word "Aquarius" can also be broken down into: "aqua," representing water and "ri," inspired by the Hindi word "humari," which translates to "ours," and finally "us." "Taken together, the words signify that water has the

power to unite us," said Mahimtura Folmsbee. "Water is ours -- for all of us!"

This, at a time, when we are deeply immersed into the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (20212030), a framework for diverse stake holders to co-design and co-deliver solution-oriented research needed for a well-functioning ocean.

The tunnel has a special sig nificance for Mahimtura Folmsbee; it is where she, and countless others, take the flight home to India. "I hope to create a bridge between science and art," said Mahimtura Folmsbee. "I want to shine a light on an essential natural resource, marine life, that is in dire need of our help, now more than ever."

For more information visit: fly2houston.com

Janavi Mahimtura Folmsbee

Dr Reginald DesRoches

ERNIE HUDSON CONTINUES TO LEAP ONTO

SMALL AND BIG SCREENS

By Jo-Carolyn Goode, Managing Editor

There are those who spend their lives studying it and those who spend their lives doing it," was a lesson legendary actor Ernie Hudson learned early on in his career to become an actor. He, of course, wanted to live the second half of this statement, so he got to work. Now with over 55 years in the biz, Hudson has racked up a body of work not limited to almost 100 films, over 150 television shows, five video games, and one web series. Having everything and more than he ever dreamed of for himself, one might think the 76-yearold veteran actor would be slowing down, but it seems he is speeding up. Currently, Hudson is starring in NBC’s reboot of Quantum Leap, producing a television show called Family Business, and preparing for the release of three new films. Hudson is putting himself in high gear. He slowed down long enough for Houston Style to chat about his new show, Ghostbusters Afterlife, and what he would tell his younger self.

Thirty-three years ago, Quan tum Leap, a show about time traveling to the past to right the wrongs in peo ple’s lives, leapt onto television shows and dominated the airwaves for four years. Fans fell in love with the story of Dr. Samuel Beckett (played by Scott Bakula) and his guide through time, Al Calavicci (played by Dean Stockwell), and rooted for him to return home, but we know that never happened. Now in the reboot of the show, fans will want to root for the new protagonist, Dr. Ben Song, as he explores time travel. Song restarts Project Quantum Leap when he takes an unauthorized trip to the past in the new reboot of Quantum Leap currently airing on NBC.

In the original Quantum Leap series of the eighties, the focus was mostly on the characters of Dr. Beckett and Al, and the cast was male domi nated. Now the cast has expanded in both numbers and diversity to explore the lives of the people at the lab of the agency who are feverishly trying to get Dr. Song home. Most of the characters are new to viewers, while others are old. One character is unique as he is the only one to know for sure that Project Quantum Leap works. Allow me to reintroduce you to Herbert "Magic" Williams.

Magic (played by Ernie Hud son) was US Navy Signalman 2nd Class Herbert Williams, who was a sailor with the SEAL teams in the Vietnam War in season 3 of the original Quantum Leap. Williams had escaped death twice to

earn the nickname "Magic." Dr. Beckett leapt into Magic to help save the life of his brother, Tom. After almost getting killed, Dr. Beckett as Magic was able to save Tom's life and not die . Fast for ward to modern day, and Magic is still working for the military as the head of Project Quantum Leap, balancing the team of scientists and the folks at the Pentagon. In this position, while doing some research, he sees his name on a file and learns about how the project helped to save his own life.

"We saw them (Sam and Al) and their experience," Hudson said, thinking that viewers may wonder like him, "Who is upholding this? "What goes into the making of this whole thing (Project Quantum Leap) happening?" He continued, "The core of the show is the leap, but there are a lot of con sequences, especially for Magic, my character, because he really worked and is primarily responsible for getting it (the project) up and running. "So he is under a lot of pressure, and right now when Ben Song, played by Raymond Lee, decides to leap, it just puts every thing at risk, and we don’t know if we can bring him back."

Hudson thinks the cast is one special group of people. He gives special credence to one of the show’s original creators, Debra Pratt, who en sures that the cast and writers stay true to the original theme of the show in the modern era. "The show tries to reflect the world," commented Hudson.

Hudson is a fan of the show, watching the original version with his

now grown sons. Although the Hudson men have not watched the new show together, they all still love it and have had some of their thought-provoking discussions. "The idea of not just walk ing in someone else’s shoes but being in someone else’s body at a time of crisis and the decisions that we all make and if we could make them differently, but it is not exactly us making them." "It is someone else making that decision that we know is in our best interest," said Hudson. "I have discussed it (time travel) with my two older boys, who I can say are big fans of the show."

The idea of someone traveling back in time is interesting to Hudson as a discussion topic, but not something he might try for himself. He is a man of no regrets and would not change things that have happened in his life. Although one might be able to twist his arm for time travel for Hudson to learn about his par ents, his mother died when he was a few months old, and he has never known his father. He is very interested in their story of how they met and fell in love. Hudson would have to leap into the body of one of his parents or a family member that was alive around that time to find out the history of his parents’ journey.

Hudson’s own journey contin ues with a look to the past with another sequel in the Ghostbusters franchise with the new film, Ghostbusters After life. At the time of the interview, Hudson had just spoken with the studio, which would send him the script soon after he let out the secret that filming would start in March of next year. He had no

idea that he would still be part of a film series that began 38 years ago. To this day, people on the street still yell out to him, "Ernie, who ya gonna to call?"

"Ghostbusters, like Quantum Leap, crosses generations. Kids love it. My grandkids. My great grandkids like it. I am just thankful," said Hudson about the film’s appeal. "I knew it would be big at the box office. I just didn’t know it would dominate the summer and the next 10, 20, 30 years. That is nice. I am very thankful to have that in my filmography." That filmography of his keeps growing. He plans to have three new films come out soon. One starring Woody Harrelson that he shot in Winni peg called Champions will be released on March 24, 2023. Brian Cox and Kate Beckinsale star with him in The Prison er’s Daughter, which recently showed at the Toronto Film Festival. Hudson was in the Cayman Islands when he shot The Retirement Plan with Nicolas Cage and Lynn Whitfield, which is coming out this November. Then add that he is the producer of the television show Family Business, which hopefully will go into its fifth season. Quantum Leap also got picked up for a second season. Hudson is booked and busy, and he loves it.

Hudson has portrayed a lot of roles, and he says he has done pretty much everything he wanted to do except one. He has never been the guy who got the girl. "I want to be in a romantic comedy or at least a good adventure sci-fi, but I want to be the guy who gets the girl. While I am still able to get the girl, I want to be the guy that the story is about…. I want to be in the center of the adventure," laughed Hudson.

Life has been and still is pret ty sweet for Hudson, for which he is blessed and thankful. He didn’t know when he started out in this business if everything would pan out, especially not in the way that it has for him. Knowing that things would be ok for him is one thing that he wishes he had known when he was younger. "Sometimes, in the middle of stuff, I don’t know if it is go ing to work out. I am trying to make this happen. I stress over stuff. But things do work out, and I just would have trusted maybe a little bit more. But maybe—I don’t know—but maybe all that pushing forward was necessary. But it would have been nice to know things would work out." Hudson said, "If I could say something to my younger self, it would be to just do your best work and relax. Things are going to be fine." Just fine indeed, Mr. Hudson.

Ernie Hudson

AARP Texas, the leading organiza tion for older adults, announced its top priorities and funding requests for the 2023 legislative session today. The requests include a call for nursing home reform, steps to bolster utilities for the medically vulnerable, and action to address hunger and adult financial exploitation. The priorities aim to help Texas face the challenges and opportuni ties of a rapidly aging population.

“AARP Texas seeks a bright future with livable communities where Texans can thrive as they age, which means preparing today for tomorrow’s aging population,” said AARP Texas Director Tina Tran. “I’m confident that these legislative requests, if accom plished, will help Texans recover from the pandemic and assist our growing state in meeting the demands of the future.”

Nursing Home Reform: AARP Texas is calling for greater transparency in the allocation of public dollars going to Texas nursing homes. AARP Texas will: advocate for full transparency in nursing home ownership, seek changes to ensure that public dollars go toward direct care of nursing home residents rather than nursing home profits, and will urge that any new funding be dedicated to staffing needs. Utilities to protect the most vul nerable: While the Texas legislature took initial steps in response to Winter Storm Uri in 2021 that left millions without power and 246 people dead, most of them older Texans, additional action is needed to protect our most vulnerable from extended power outages. AARP Texas will advocate for Texas to create a funding mechanism to help with the cost of emergency backup power for income-eligible medically needy Texas households. Action also is needed to require long-term care facilities to have adequate back-up power.

Interagency Council on Aging: With one out of every five Texans being over 65 by 2050, AARP Texas will ad vocate for the creation of an Interagency Council on Aging. The Council should include representatives from state and federal agencies, higher education in stitutions, and aging interest groups.

Connecting Texans: Last session, the Legislature created the Office of Broad band Development within the Office of Comptroller of Public Accounts. AARP Texas will advocate in 2023 for increased funding to support this office and ensure that Texans across the state have access to high-speed internet.

Full practice authority for Advanced Practice Nurses (APRNs): APRNs provide high-quality health care and, as a result, they comprise almost half of the state’s primary care workforce and fill numerous other roles. Outdated licensing requirements prevent these highly trained medical professionals

AARP TEXAS 2023 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR A MORE RESILIENT TEXAS

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

from providing care to the fullest poten tial of their training, making our health care system more costly. AARP Texas will advocate for ending these lifelong and expensive delegation requirements.

Revising the SNAP vehicle asset test: Eleven percent of older Texans face food insecurity. One of the best resources to address this is the Supplemental Nu trition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Because of a burdensome requirement that places limits on the value of vehi cles counted as an asset, some seniors do not qualify for the program. AARP Texas will advocate for removing or up dating this requirement so more seniors can receive SNAP. Access to medically tailored meals: For individuals who are low income and living in poverty, access to nutritious food and adequate health care is often unattainable. As a result, a decline in their health occurs, making it more costly for them and the State of Texas. Medically tailored meals designed by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) can help reduce this cost through delivery to individuals living with one or more chronic illnesses. AARP Texas will advocate for the creation of a pilot

program, reimbursed by Medicaid, that provides these meals.

Data Privacy: Older adults are wary about their privacy online. AARP research finds that 34 percent of people 50 and older cite privacy concerns as a barrier to adopting new technology, like high-speed internet. Older Texans de serve to have confidence in the privacy of their data so they can live their best lives, from completing basic tasks to accessing essential services, like telehealth. AARP will support efforts to ensure that effec tive data privacy safeguards are in place.

Better funding for vital ser vices: The 88th Legislature will benefit from a state budget surplus going into the session. AARP Texas will advocate for the Legislature to increase funding in these areas: Texas Health and Hu man Services budget to address needed staffing improvements. The department is severely understaffed, impacting the administration of Medicaid and the Sup plemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Texas Health and Human Ser vices budget for the Texas Lifespan Re spite Care Program (TLRCP), expanding the availability of respite services for

family members who care for a person of any age with a chronic health condition or disability.

Adult Protective Services di vision for the Purchase Client Services program. This provides basic needs items, including mental health services, for senior adults facing abuse or neglect.

Adult Protective Services divi sion budget to address elderly financial exploitation. This provides additional specialized staff to investigate these cases. Texas Health and Human Services budget to address wages for community attendants. This workforce provides essential services for clients with dis abilities, including assistance with daily needs like dressing, bathing, household chores, and errands so clients can live as independently as possible.

For more information visit: Local.AARP.org/houston-tx

Eight -time Grammy Award-win ning superstar Anita Baker, The Songstress, has announced a special run of live dates for 2023. The Songstress’ tour, produced by Live Nation, will bring her to 15 cities kicking off on February 11th at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL mak ing stops across the U.S. in Atlanta, Baltimore, Houston, and more before wrapping up in Oakland’s Oakland Arena on December 23rd.

LEGENDARY SONGSTRESS ANITA BAKER ANNOUNCES 2023 TOUR DATES

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

The tour celebrates Baker’s 40 years as a music icon in the in dustry since the release of her debut album, The Songstress, was released in 1983. These dates mark the first time she has been on a full tour since 1995 and it is also the first time The Songstress will be performing her classic hits live since winning back the rights to her masters.

Baker, born in Toledo, OH, and raised in Detroit, MI, is one of

the most popular singers of soulful ballads during the height of the quiet storm period in the 1980s. Starting her career in the late 1970s with the funk band Chapter 8, Baker released her first solo album, The Songstress, in 1983. In 1986, she rose to stardom following the release of her Plati num-selling second album, Rapture, which included the Grammy-winning single “Sweet Love.” Baker has won eight Grammy Awards and has four Platinum albums, along with two Gold albums. Baker is a contralto, with a vocal range that extends her register to at least three octaves.

TICKETS: Tickets go on sale starting Thursday, November 17th at 10 AM local time on LiveNa tion.com.

PRESALE: Citi is the official card of Anita Baker’s tour. Citi card members will have access to presale tickets beginning Nov. 14th at 10 AM local time until Nov. 16th 10 PM local time through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com.

2023 TOUR DATES: * Not a Live Nation Date Sat Feb 11 – Hollywood, FL – Hard

Rock Live*

Tue Feb 14 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena

Fri Feb 17 – New Orleans, LA –

Smoothie King Center

Wed May 10 – Newark, NJ – Pruden tial Center

Fri May 12 – Belmont Park, NY –UBS Arena

Sun May 14 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena

Fri Jun 30 – Chicago, IL – United Center

Sun Jul 02 – Detroit, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre

Sat Nov 18 – Greensboro, NC –

Greensboro Coliseum Complex

Wed Nov 22 – Memphis, TN – Fe dExForum

Fri Nov 24 – Atlantic City, NJ – Hard

Rock Live at Etess Arena*

Fri Dec 15 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center

Sun Dec 17 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center

Fri Dec 22 – Los Angeles, CA – Cryp to.com Arena

Sat Dec 23 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena

For additional information, vis it www.livenationentertainment.com.

HISD POLICE DEPARTMENT UNVEILS NEW REPORTING TOOL FOR INCREASED SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

and allow us to work with our commu nity to ensure our students stay safe in a way that is transparent.”

To use the Axon Citizen for Communities portal, visitors would click Submit Evidence at the bottom of the page. After they enter their infor mation, click Send Link. A private link will be sent to their email taking them to the website where evidence files may be uploaded. After uploading is complete, site visitors should click Submit to receive the email. The private link for submissions expires after three days.

Citizens should be aware that in order to access the Axon Citizen for Communities Portal, they must provide

the HISD Police Department with their contact information, including their name, birth date, address, and phone number. The HISD Police Department may use the information for a variety of purposes, such as contacting the re porting citizen to answer any follow-up questions about the submission, or to establish the veracity of the submission. Any item they provide will remain prop erty of HISD.

Community members are also encouraged to continue utilizing alter native reporting tools such as the Sandy Hook See Something Say Something application or calling the HISD PD 24hour hotline at 713-892-7777.

For more information on the HISD Po lice Department visit www.houstonisd. org/police.

The Axon Citizen for Communities portal will be an online tool where citizens can upload videos, pictures, or documents for review. The portal will also be easily accessible through the de partment’s web page. The department hopes to bridge the gap between citizens and police by creating a new avenue for community members to assist the department directly.

“We have always said that safety is a collaborative effort, and we want to make the collaboration easier,” said HISD Police Chief Pedro Lopez. “This will be another tool to build trust

Chief Pedro Lopez Jr.

PROJECT ROW HOUSES ARTIST ROUND 54: SOUTHERN SURVEYBIENNIALAND

DEBUT OF THE DR. DINA ALSOWAYEL AND TONY CHASE PRH SOUTHERN SURVEY BIENNIAL PRIZE

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

the European tradition. Oliver shares that she is “honored to serve as the inaugural juror for what I hope will become a vital platform for artists working within the southern region that is now being acknowl edged for its historical and contemporary significance.

saying they are “delighted to be a part of such an incredible endeavor. Partici pating artists: Carlie Trosclair, Kandy G Lopez, Naomi Lemus, Rashayla Marie Brown (RMB), Rehab El Sadek, Sedrick E. Huckaby, and Victoria Ravelo. For more information, please visit projec trowhouses.org.rock.

The Project Row Houses fifty-fourth Artist Round: Southern Survey

Biennial opened Saturday, October 8th, 2022. The inaugural round was guest curated by Valerie Cassel Oliver, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Artists. Round 54 will remain on view Wednes days through Sundays from noon to 5 pm through Sunday, February 12, 2023. One artist will be selected for The Dr. Dina Alsowayel and Tony Chase PRH Southern Survey Biennial Prize for $25,000. PRH Curator Danielle Burns Wilson created the Southern Survey Biennial to spotlight contemporary visual artists living and working in the American South.“In a way,

the Southern Survey Biennial is a callback to our founders’ intent to create a platform for artists like themselves, who, because of their race and the places where they worked, were routinely ig nored and even actively excluded from professional opportunities in the tradi tional seats of art world power.

A great deal has changed since 1993, but artists from communities long neglected by the art world still need more opportunities to show, grow, and build their audience.”Guest curator Valerie Cassel Oliver has been in the vanguard of bringing Black art into the museum and academy, giving it the same treatment long afforded to art rooted in

Oliver explained the intentionality of inviting artists in the region to submit for consideration, saying that the seven select ed “mirror the diversity and vital energy of a new South. Their work has something to teach us about survival and the stubborn persistence of being, isolation and loss, and the intention of being deliberate,” Valerie states. The Southern Survey Biennial aims to highlight artists living and working in the South and create more viable opportu nities specific to the Southern region. Inaugural prize sponsors Dr. Dina Also wayel and Tony Chase were eager to be involved. “Project Row Houses is one of Houston’s treasures.

It is also a cultural landmark in Third Ward,” they explained,

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THE ASTROS FOUNDATION HOSTED BIRTHDAY ROAST

FOR SCARFACE WITH APPEARANCES

BY J. PRINCE, WILLIE D, ANDRE JOHNSON, BUN B, TERRELL OWENS, & MORE!

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

On, the evening of Wednesday, No vember 9th, The Astros Foundation hosted a special event for Scarface in an exclusive lounge at Minute Maid Park. The star-studded event brought out many familiar faces such as Rap-ALot CEO J. Prince, Slim Thug, Willie D, Bun B, Wreckshop Records CEO D-Reck, Comedians Grossman & Joe Torry, Former NFL Players Adrian Peterson, Andre Johnson, and Terrell Owens, and many more. Guests en joyed top-tier lite-bites while listening to sounds by Def Jam Blaster. As the celebration progressed, some of Scarface & friends roasted the legend

in front of a crowd of over 300 guests. Laughs filled the room as Joe Torry took the stage and talked about the original Geto Boy!

The event was fun and games, but it also had an element of awareness as Scarface's son, Chris Jordan informed the audience about his Kidney Founda tion. During the pandemic, Scarface caught Covid-19 which caused him to have kidney failure. His health began to decline at a rapid level which caused him to need a Kidney Transplant. Chris was a perfect match for his father and provided him with a kidney.

Public Health flu monitoring indi cates the Texas flu season kicked off a few weeks earlier than usual this year. That’s why the Texas Department of State Health Services encourages Texans to get vaccinated now to protect them selves and their families from flu as the holidays approach.

“Vaccination remains our best defense against severe illness from flu, especially for more vulnerable popu lations like older adults, very young children, people with chronic health conditions and pregnant women,” said Dr. Jennifer Shuford, DSHS In terim Commissioner. “That’s why we recommend that everyone six months and older receive their flu vaccine each year. And it’s especially important to get vaccinated now since it takes the body two weeks after vaccination to fully produce antibodies to fight flu.” Reporting from around the state confirms more influenza-like illness occurring earlier that recent flu sea

sons, which matches flu reporting from across much of the country. The flu vaccines for this 2022-2023 season have undergone substantial changes since last season, which will allow them to better protect against the flu viruses that are now circulating.

Anyone feeling ill or experienc ing flu symptoms should stay at home and contact their healthcare provider. There are effective anti-viral treatments

available for the flu, which are highly recommended for people at higher risk of flu complications, such as people with asthma, diabetes or heart disease. Other ways people can protect themselves and the people close to them from flu is to wash their hands often, cover their coughs and sneezes and stay home if they don’t feel well. Eligible Texans can also safely and conveniently get their flu shot and updated COVID-19 booster at

the same time. The updated COVID-19 booster is designed to protect against the Omicron variants, which are causing the most COVID-19 illness in Texas right now.

Visit Vaccines.gov to find lo cations near you where flu vaccine and COVID-19 booster doses are available.

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

5015 Owner, Steve Rogers & Scarface

Grossman pictured with Former NFL Player, Adrian Peterson

Photo Credit: Almeda Hospitality Group

5 STEPS TO PROPERLY MANAGE BLOOD PRESSURE

By Family Features

Nearly half of all American adults have high blood pressure, or hypertension, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Pre vention. Of those, about 75% don’t have it under control, and many may not even realize they have it unless they experience other complications.

In fact, high blood pressure is a leading cause and controllable risk factor for heart disease and stroke as well as other issues such as kidney failure, vision loss and sexual prob lems. However, the American Heart Association recommends taking these simple steps to help control your lev els and manage risks.

Know Your Numbers

In most cases, normal blood pressure is 120/80 mm HG or less. Readings consistently higher than 130/80 are considered high blood pressure. Have your blood pressure measured

at least once a year by a health care professional and regularly monitor it at home with a validated monitor then discuss the readings with your doctor. Getting accurate readings can help ensure the most appropriate treatment should any problems arise.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

If you’re overweight or obese, you’re at increased risk of high blood pressure. Losing just 3-5% of your body weight can help im prove your numbers. There are an

abundance of plans and programs available that can assist with weight loss, and taking positive steps with a friend or family member may help with motivation.

Get Active

To maximize health benefits and help keep blood pressure in the normal range, the American Heart Associa tion recommends adults get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate ac tivity, 75 minutes of vigorous activity or a combination of the two. Try ac

tivities like brisk walking, swimming, bicycling or dancing. For example, the Get Down with Your Blood Pres sure campaign uses music and dance to help remember the four easy steps to self-monitor blood pressure:Get It – grab your self-monitoring blood pressure (SMBP) device

Slip It – slide the SMBP cuff up your arm Cuff It – wrap the cuff snugly, but not too tight Check It – check your blood pressure on the device.

Eat Well

Making small, simple changes to your eating habits can go a long way toward keeping you and your family healthy. Eating fruits and vegetables, such as mangos, avocados and blue berries, can lower blood pressure over time.

Read more at:

StyleMagazine.com

LAKE GENEVA: A TREASURED VACATION DESTINATION

By Reginald Dominique, Features Writer

Prepare to be immersed in a gran deur society as Lake Geneva pro pels you into a Renaissance-like world. Known as one of the most stun ning lake destinations in the country and located just 80 miles from Chicago and 40 miles from Milwaukee, Lake Gene va, known as the “Newport of the West” and the “Hamptons of Chicago” due to its notoriety in the late 1800s, the small lake town became known as a summer home retreat for prominent families like The Wrigley’s, Wackers, Chapins, Drakes, and Schwinns which drove many to want to see the Southern Wis consin lakeside retreat for themselves.

More than 100 of those homes are still standing in their Gilded Age glory - however, today, Lake Geneva is known for more than its star power. The four-season resort town is a favorite for families with young children, chef-driv en cuisines, trendy shopping, and tons of water activities!

A grand welcome to Lake Gene va is a stay at a AAA, Four-Diamond re sort. Welcoming their guest with luxury at its finest is the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa. Originally opened in 1968 as the Lake Geneva Playboy Club Hotel (yes,

you read that right!), this unique prop erty offers its guests luxurious rooms, suites, and opulence unlike no other. Decadent dining options include the Geneva Chop House specializing in hand-selected, custom-seasoned steaks prepared to perfection by Executive Chef Dustin Urbanik and his staff. The Iberico Pork and Japanese Whisky Por terhouse both are highly recommended and can be paired with the perfect wine by the resident sommelier Andy Kula kowski. A must-see during your Lake Geneva visit is the Yerkes Observatory. Since 1897, Yerkes Observatory has welcomed astronomers and astronauts to its majestic and iconic location of scientific discovery and education of space. It is most famously known as the home to the world’s largest refracting telescope and was one of the two places Albert Einstein asked to see on his 1921 tour of America.

Working up an appetite is no problem in this town. You have a lot of dining options throughout Lake Geneva, but PIER 290 serves up Lake Life as the only waterfront restaurant on Lake Geneva! Known as a friendly restaurant with delicious food, PIER

290 invites you to enjoy beautiful lake views in its large dining room, front deck, or covered canopies. The menu features casual American fare for lunch, dinner, and boozy brunch on the week ends. Along with dining options, you can also sit with a drink in your hand on the lakefront beach and your toes in imported sand around fire pits. The fun doesn’t stop when summer ends, PIER 290 is your year-round spot for weekly specials, lakeside dining, live music, and fun!

Although Lake Geneva is known for its beautiful waters, there is more beyond the lake shores including several wineries for sipping and savor ing. A day of wine tasting starts at Hill Valley Dairy. Full of fun and flavor, Hill Valley Dairy offers both, great wines and small-batch, high-quality cheeses with locally sourced milk. Growing up on a dairy farm, Ron Henningfeld loved working alongside his family members, caring for the animals and farmland.

Today that passion still exists as he and his wife are creating a variety of artisan cheeses with Romari Farms fresh milk. He remains passionate about making quality cheeses using quality

milk and connecting local people to local food products. Make sure you try the black pepper cheddar, whiskey gouda, and cheese curds!

If fruit wines are your thing, Ap ple Barn Orchard and Winery is for you! Described as an attraction fit for all ages, this 4th generation farm invites parents to bring the kids for strawberry picking in June, apple and pumpkin picking in autumn, or leave the kids at home to enjoy some of their award-winning fruit wines. If that's not enough, their bakery is consistently utilizing their seasonal fruits in delicious goodies like apple cider donuts (I ate mine before I got in the car), strawberry/rhubarb pies, and much more. I’d recommend enjoying your tasting selections outside under the beautiful 140-year-old maple tree.

Now that you have gotten an idea of what Lake Geneva has to offer, remember that this one-of-a-kind desti nation is conventionally located just 10 miles north of the Illinois state line, and easily accessible from Chicago, Madi son, and Milwaukee.

Learn more about the city of Lake Geneva at visitlakegeneva.com.

EXPERIENCE

e Mystique and Beauty of China Before Communism

Shen Yun’s unique artistic vision expands theatrical experience into a multidimensional, deeply moving journey through one of humanity’s greatest treasures— the five millennia of traditional Chinese culture. Featuring one of the world’s oldest art forms—classical Chinese dance— along with innovative multimedia effects and all-original orchestral works, Shen Yun opens a portal to a glorious civilization of unrivaled beauty, artistry, and inspiration.

“An extraordinary experience... Exquisitely beautiful!”

—Cate Blanchett, Academy Award-winning actress

“This is the best I have ever seen. It was so uplifting. It spoke to everything that is good in this world.”

—Glen Duncan, Grammy Award-winning musician

“It makes you dream of a heavenly world. It’s something that really restores you, regenerates you.”

—Filippa Giordano, famous Italian-Mexican singer

HYDE PARK GOODS CLOTHING BRAND: BREAKING BARRIERS IN THE FASHION WORLD

By Reginald Dominique, Feature Writer

From the brain of a graffiti artist, break-dancer, and graphic design er to now being one of the most recognized, newly developed brands throughout the nation, Hyde Park Goods is a fashion-forward American clothing empire that is creating its own niche in the fashion industry.Meet Jacob Joseph, the creative force behind the brand and founder/owner of Hyde Park Recreation Center. With over a decade in the appar el and print industries, he has had the opportunity to work with Fortune 500 companies, local non-profits, and influ encers with large audiences, and is now creating his own path with Hyde Park headquartered in Houston, TX.

Known for its focus on captur ing authenticity, providing quality, and consistently innovating the brand has been seen worn by celebrities including Actor Tyler Lepley, Rapper Jeezy, Rap per Glorilla, Rapper, Saucy Santana, and Comedian DC Young Fly to name a few. Houston Style’s Reginald Dominique caught up with designer Jacob Joseph to discuss the vision, launch, and passion behind his groundbreaking collection and here is what he had to say: Houston Style: For those who may not be famil iar, introduce yourself to our readers.

Jacob joseph: Hyde Park Jacob. De signer, artist, and creative entrepreneur.

HSM: How long have you been in the fashion industry as a designer? JJ: Hyde Park has been around for a year and a half now, but in total, a long time. In the beginning, more tangentially. My art journey started through hip-hop culture in the mid-to-late-90s.

I had gone to this park by my house one day to practice breakdance, and they just so happened to be this guy from Chicago, he was maybe like two years older, and he was pop-locking and was sketching in a black book. I didn’t know what graffiti was then, and he turned me onto that. What he showed me in that book was NY/Chicago, bombing or “throwies/throw-ups,” wild style. He told me graffiti was the language you wrote in hip-hop culture. If dancing was a way to express yourself and rap was

what you listened to, then graffiti was like hip-hop & written communication. It unlocked a whole new world for me. From that point, I was a break-dancer and a graffiti artist. I was in 2 crews, which the city and state determined to be gang-related. They identified us as gang members, but I was so young and the world was so small that I couldn’t comprehend what that meant - so I kept getting thrown in jail. I couldn’t understand why because I was mak ing art. Because of my affiliation with these activities, I was profiled as a gang member. I taught myself graphic design, which turned into working with Fortune 500 companies and people asking me to design their apparel. I started creating for several social media influencers and helping them build an apparel reve nue stream from the ground up. I helped a lot of people, but at what expense? Doing projects for other people killed my soul. I wanted to get back to my roots - so Hyde Park was born.

HSM: How did you come up with the concept of Hyde Park Goods?

JJ: Over the past decade, I realized social media would cause people to seek attention or approval from others. Even in my own experience, I could see that. I wanted to make Hyde Park a passion project–not to make money but to express myself creatively. During the pandemic, I had a lot of time to reflect. I was miserable doing nothing, and at the same time, I had helped launch and curate all these other successful brands, so it was kind of like all my creative restlessness just came bursting out, and I had to go with it.

HSM: Where are the clothes and accessories available for purchase?

JJ: Mostly on our website through monthly drops, where people have shown love from London, Tokyo, etc. And you have to have the password to shop. We’re also in approx imately 60+ stores across the U.S., with some international interest growing, which is exciting.

HSM: As a creative, in your opin ion – what makes Hyde Park Goods

uniquely different from other up-andcoming brands?

JJ: From a mechanics point of view, I don’t think many streetwear brands do everything in-house. The design, print ing, sewing, fulfillment, distribution, marketing, sales, and finance–it’s all in-house. For example, I hand-draw everything, so you won’t find our font out there unless it’s been stolen.

From a more humanistic point of view, it’s simply connecting with and nurtur ing a relationship with someone over time. The early years are about building the foundation of a brand’s legacy.

HSM: Hyde Park is described as a brand capturing authenticity, pro viding quality, and consistently inno vating. Where do you see Hyde Park in 10 years?

JJ: We have a few things cookin’ in the kitchen, but I can’t spill anything quite yet. Just know that you’ll look back on this interview one day and think, “Hot damn! They changed some shit up in the culture.”

Hyde Park releases new prod ucts in 70 hype stores worldwide and on its website. For more on Hyde Park Goods visit: www.hydeparkgoods.com (but make sure you have the password)

A special thanks to Kevin Scott, Public Relations for Hyde Park Goods.

More information at StyleMagazine.com www.grupodeteatroindigo.com

The Collective 35th Anniversary Gala

For 35 years The Collective has been the catalyst that provides inspi rational and educational sources for artists and citizens so that they can use their talents and creative abilities to solve economic, cultural and social challenges in the natural and built environments in which we live, work and serve. The Collective 35th Anniversary Gala was "A Night for the Arts." will feature works of art, performing artists, a silent and a live auction, a dinner and refreshments. Some in atten dance were Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Artist Jesse Lott, Shawn Taylor, Judy Foston, Hilary Harmon Green, Councilwoman Letitia Plummer, Danielle Bess Keys, Gerald Womack, and Licia Green Ellis.

IEACF Returns to the Runway

The Ivy Educational and Charitable Foundation of Houston, Inc. Return to the Runway with their 39th annual Scholarship Fundraiser. Each year the ladies honor those in the commu nity for their professional and philanthropic efforts. The honorees are Dr. Robert Bostic, Superintendent of Stafford Municipal School District; Dr. Lesia L. Crumpton-Young, President of Texas Southern University; Mr. Millard House II, Superintendent of Houston Independent School District; Mrs. Courtney Johnson Rose, Chief Executive Officer of George E. Johnson Development Inc.; Mr. Chris Williams, Founder of Lucille’s Hospi tality Group I and Founder & Executive Director of Lucille’s 1913; and Mrs. Vanessa E. Wyche, Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Others in attendance were Foundation President Diedra Fontaine, General Chairman Staci Taylor Fullmighter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.® Alpha Kappa Omega Chapter President Cherise Story, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.® South Central Regional Director Joya T. Hayes, and Congressional leaders Sheila Jackson Lee & Al Green.

Photos by: Andre Humphery