Pinpointe Greater Fairfield by Intown Magazine

Contents ON THE COVER: The Royer Family Photo Credit: Patricia Hudson

Serving the Community of Greater Fairﬁeld including Lakes of Fairhaven, Fairhaven Estates, Saddle Ridge Estates & Villages of Cypress Lakes

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Resident Profile: Laura Royer

15 Important Numbers

Care Packages Bring a Touch of Home

16 Best of Cy-Fair: Black Bear Diner

College Bound Freshman Finds Strength in Trying Times

18 Fearless: Finding Your Passion

The Impact of College on a Cypress Kid

10 Making Peace With Screentime 12 Cypress Veteran Honored

20 Cypress School News 22 Cypress Happenings 23 Best of Cy-Fair: Athena's

Laura Royer

RESIDENT PROFILE

By Patricia Hudson

I first met Laura several years ago, through a partnership between the Cy-Fair Women’s Club and Cy-Fair Helping Hands, the non-profit organization of which I serve as one of the Executive Directors. As President of CFWC, Laura impressed me with her leadership, positivity, and warmth. Dedicated to her family, work, and personal causes, she is a Cypress resident worthy of note. Husband’s Name: Shawn When/Where did you meet? We met through mutual friends, watching football at Buffalo Wild Wings. We both knew within a few weeks that we’d be together. Where did you get married? We eloped with the blessings of our families. A family friend blessed us with the use of their beautiful home in South Fork, Colorado. We were married in the snow, on the banks of the Rio Grande River, surrounded by mountains. Employment: Shawn and I have been self-employed since 2007. We are owners of Houston Permit Service. How long have you lived in Cypress? Shawn went to 4 July | August 2020

Photo Credit: Patricia Hudson

Cy-Creek High School, and has lived in the area most of his life. I grew up in Tomball, went to Tomball High School, and have lived in the Cypress area for 11 years. Children? We have one son, Trent, age 9. He will be starting the 4th grade at Swenke Elementary next school year. He loves science, Lone Star Express

Laura and Trent Photo Credit: Patricia Hudson

Covid-19 Reflections

By Laura Royer As written and shared on Facebook - June 19, 2020

15 weeks since Trent has been in a classroom. 100 days since the pandemic reached Houston. So much has happened in the last 100 days. Sickness, death, job losses, shortages, ventilators, masks... and now, protests, riots, division. My family has learned so much in the last 100 days. We’ve spent time worrying, praying, hoping and watching the world around us. I think about the things we, as a society, are failing, and where we are doing well. I think about how I want my son raised, what I want him to know and understand, and what I hope he never will.

Baseball, and fishing. (Note: While Trent normally plays catcher or third base, he recently pitched a perfect game in Game 1 of the World Series 2020 at Farm League Park in Klein). Family Time: It usually involves baseball, swimming, boating, and lake life. Lake Striker, a hidden gem in east Texas, is our favorite destination.

I think about my Grandparents more, how they lived, lessons we were taught from their hardships growing up. I remember my Greek Grandmother never owning paper towels or any disposable items. Everything was used, washed, and used again. Food was made at home, never in a restaurant. I remember eating fresh garden vegetables from my Cajun Great Grandmother’s garden, figs off of the neighbor’s tree, and fresh meat from whatever was hunted or caught that day. I wonder how my Italian Grandfather felt growing up in Chicago in the 1930’s and 40’s with a Mom that didn’t speak English, and a Father that had abandoned them? How did he feel joining the Air Force at 17 and being shipped off to Korea? My Mom’s parents were self-employed most of my life. They had failures and successes in their businesses, but always lead with integrity. My Mom and Dad sold off everything they owned and moved across the country to start over when the economy crashed in their town. It takes guts to pack it up, sell it all off, and move where no one knows your name, especially with a two-year-old and another on the way. Phone calls were long distance and expensive, no face time, no zoom. They were all so different, but all had one thing in common. Work hard, only buy what you need, and appreciate what you have. My Mom told me once that when she was growing up, it was frowned upon to live a lifestyle of excess. Now, we live in a world where it is celebrated. We, as a family, fight this battle on a daily basis. It’s so easy to “add to cart” online and eat out every night. But we are working on it. The last 100 days have helped re-focus our priorities as a family. As I sit here typing, Trent is reading his book to earn video game time later. After 2-1/2 years of him asking, I finally let him download Fortnite, an online game. We talked about how much time he wants to spend playing it, and how many fun things he has done in the last 2-1/2 years instead of playing a video game. I want him to understand how precious is time. During this 15+ weeks, Trent has spent his days fishing and playing with friends while we were at home. We’ve spent weeks at our lake house fishing, boating, building campfires and cooking. We are lucky in that Shawn can work from anywhere, hasn’t had to release anyone, and is still in business. We spend day after day in the swimming pool, and have had some great cookouts with the neighbors. All in all, we are very lucky, and we know it. Life is short, the economy is unstable and society is fragile. We still choose to look up to God for his guidance and walk in faith.

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Favorite Causes: Cy-Fair Women’s Club, (Board member for 6 years, 2 years as President, due to term limits, and served as Chairperson for Shop ‘Til You Drop, our annual fundraiser); Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo,(Shawn has been on Top Hand Cookers for 24 years, and a Rodeo member since 2010. He is the Vice Chairman of the School Art Auction Committee and on the Calf Scramble Donors’ Committee. I have been on the Area Go-Texan Committee, Horticulture, and the Souvenir Program Committee); and Cy-Fair Helping Hands, (Donor and Community Pantry volunteer).

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College Bound Freshman Finds Strength in Trying Times By Stephanie Suddreth It goes without saying that this year has been a wild ride, causing the senior year for the class of 2020 to come to a screeching halt. Even now, there are so many unanswered questions about our first year of college. All current events and world news aside, our lives are about to change more than they ever have before. Personally, I have never been more eager to see what the future holds, now that college is next on the line-up. This entire experience has taught me the importance of rolling with the punches and adapting to my environment, something I’m sure I’ll find useful this first college semester. I think my generation especially fantasizes about the future, and it’s crazy to try and comprehend that our future is here. Undergoing one of the biggest changes of my life amidst all the circumstances is of course, scary at times. However, I think that’s part of the fun of it. There’s something to be said about the summer before your first year of college, the last moments of your present life before you submerge yourself into a completely new world. I’m sure many of the people in my situation can agree that we already feel like we’ve aged since high

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school, despite knowing that this is only the calm before the storm. I’ve always been the type to romanticize the future, and being the very first chapter of my adult life, college has been something I have felt ready to take on, especially over the last couple of years. One of my biggest fears has been not being prepared enough, as I’ve always felt like I was supposed to have all the answers even before experiencing something, college being the biggest example of this fear. While some of those feelings still linger, I am growing to learn that no one will ever have all of the answers or feel like they know exactly how to handle

new experiences. Especially now, with all these unanswered questions about what our next semester is going to look like, learning as you go seems to be the way to live life as a college student. All in all, I feel terrified and excited and ready all at the same time. Something we’ve all learned in these past few months is the power of feeling connected to each other; this has helped me to overcome some of my fears of the future. While it’s easy to say that a pandemic is what defines our present, I think the excitement for the future links us all together. I continue to remind myself that the lessons I am learning now are only setting myself up for success in college, and even beyond. I find comfort in the peace within the hectic moments, though there have been many, even in the weeks since I’ve graduated high school. There is still so much I have to learn before leaving for college, but I can’t help but think that all of this has happened for a reason, forcing us all to cherish the tiny moments that have gone unappreciated. About the Author Stephanie Suddreth is a 2020 graduate of Bridgeland High School. She plans to study Communications at Texas State University this fall.

Care Packages

By Patricia Hudson

Bring a Touch of Home for College Students The car is packed, and the time has come to send that son off to college. Choking back tears, mom hugs her “child” fiercely. With a sense of false bravado, her son turns and waves as he drives away. How will he make it without mom’s hot breakfasts, appointment reminders and fresh laundry? Never fear; as a mom of a college grad, I can assure you that somehow, you and your child will survive! While that college student is certain to experience new and exciting things, he will most definitely miss the familiarity of home. Show him some love; send him (or her), a Care Package. Through my online research, I found several creative ideas. A “Birthday in a Box,” might include freeze-dried ice cream, a microwave cake, streamers or a birthday banner, birthday hats, noisemakers, and some favorite snacks. College can be rigorous, so a “Stress Relief Box” might be a great idea during mid-term or finals week. Pack up a Slinky, a marshmallow gun with marshmallows, some silly string, Silly Putty, Play Dough, a Bop It and throw in some card games. Cy-Fair families have their own Care Package suggestions.

Mac, coffee, creamer, and homemade cookies to share with the dorm. “Snickerdoodles! The kids love them and they travel well.” Lily Locke Cossé opted to send her daughter Valerie Lacy “Chocolate chip cookies, breakfast bars, pretzels, trail mix, and always, a little cash thrown in.” Susan Baldwin Glass says, “Both of my boys loved my Care Packages, at least that’s what they said!” Garrett, 27, attended Texas State, and Dillon, 24, went to Webser College in St. Louis. “I sent homemade goodies, gift certificates, and most importantly, hand written notes. Also, a quick tip: empty aluminum foil or plastic wrap containers are the perfect size for mini cookies or cut up cookie bars! Easy to pack in a Care Package.” Sarah Rathbun Pyles sent her son, Lee, chips and Easy Mac. “Actually, I found that my son really didn’t appreciate care packages like I thought he would. Sometimes, they sat for days in the mail room before he picked them up!”

When Madison, Stacie Guidry’s daughter, attended Stephen F. Austin, Stacie mailed off gift cards to Kroger and CVS. “She had a food plan, but would also find that essentials needed to be supplemented.” Cherri Rustad Barker, mother of SFA alumni Sydney and her brother Carson, filled packages from home with “Microwaveable food and quick to grab breakfast bars.” Veronica Swift, a talented cook and baker, knows how to make her boys Gabe, (Trinity University grad, 2020), and Jared, (Texas A&M soon-to-be sophomore), happy. “Homemade goodies! Chocolate chip cookies, banana bread, flour tortillas, Chex Mix, and meals: lasagna, enchiladas, chili. The boys lived close enough so when they came home for a weekend, I made up food for them to take back. I made them a 'finals' package that consisted of a meal and snacks to share with the roommates.” Glory Ferguson Hoeflich’s son Matthew will be a sophomore at the university of Arkansas. She plans to send him Easy PinPointe Magazine

Making Peace With Screentime By Liz Arrington

et’s just get one thing out in the open right oﬀ the bat. My kids are on screens right now. Trying to juggle a million diﬀerent distractions that pop up all day long and a looming deadline for this article, I’ve reached that point where it’s “every man for himself”. I, like so many other parents, rely on screens to survive the hours and hours of time that my kids are home with me. And, for the past two and half months, those hours have felt endless.

I feel a twinge of guilt, I don’t remember the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for screen time for my 13 and 5 year-old boys. Without looking it up, I’m fairly confident that on most

days we far exceed the amount of time that’s recommended. Why does screen time trigger such feelings of guilt and shame for parents? The truth is, technology in early childhood does not have to be detrimental. It can even be beneficial when it’s socially interactive, is based on developmentally appropriate principles, has good content, and is used in the proper context. Technology use can support different pathways to learning, with unlimited potential to connect with your child’s specific learning style preference. My goal is to empower parents to seek out and embrace technology that promotes and inspires creativity and learning. Using screens in a way that builds connections with the outside world, provides community, and helps us to balance the time and attention that our home lives require of us. Qualities to look for in choosing an app or screen activity:

● Does it allow the child to learn and grow (build on interests, engage in creative play)? ● Does it encourage communication (provide opportunities to talk about the activity, oﬀer ways to play or create together, connect with friends and other family members)?

● Does it connect diﬀerent experiences (bridge activities between locations such as home and school, prepare the child for new experiences)?

The Three Cs

10 July | August 2020

Author Lisa Guernsey bridged the gap for modern parents to make informed choices about screen time, encouraging us to keep the “Three Cs” in mind;

Content: How does it help children engage, express, imagine, extend, discover? Context: Consider when, where, and how media is used in the home and classroom and whether it complements or interrupts the child’s natural play. Child: How do we choose the right tech tools and experiences for each child’s needs, abilities, interests, and developmental stage? Recommendations for screen time are based on the physical and mental development of young brains, and time is certainly an important factor to keep in mind. Any parent who has witnessed the behavior of a preschooler who has been on a screen for too long can attest, there are limits. Taking steps to ensure that the time spent on screens is productive rather than passive can help support the use of technology as a tool for learning and entertainment.

Liz Arrington combines her background in working with children and families with her love of music, to provide early childhood music and movement classes to the families of Cypress. Online music classes also available. See more at www.songfulbeginnings.com.

Include your kids in the process of making choices and setting limits for screen time. Teaching your little ones skills of self regulation and self awareness around technology use is an important lesson to learn early on. Children are empowered when they have ownership over their behaviors and choices. As a parent, it is much easier to uphold expectations about screen time when it’s something you’ve discussed and agreed upon ahead of time. Parents, I release you from screen guilt. I still haven’t looked up the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. You might want to, but I’m not going there right now. We’re working on a balance of healthy technology habits, and some days are healthier than others.

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Cyess Veteran Honed Recounts Full Life of Hard Work, Determination, and Service By Patricia Hudson

Margret Mundo admires her neighbor, Louis Benjamin, whom she calls “an exceptional man, husband, and father.” When she discovered that he would turn 92 years old on Memorial Day, Margret rallied the Cypress Creek Lakes community and staged a surprise drive-by celebration, a parade in his honor. More than 30 vehicles, including police cars and motorcycles, passed by the delighted nonagenarian’s home, honking horns, waving signs, and calling out birthday greetings as he sat in his driveway, waving back. Cars continued to pass by for nearly an hour after the parade had ended. “Louis served and fought selflessly. I am happy to honor one of our own, our local hero. While his health has waned, Louis is a fighter, but with a gentle, humble soul,” emphasizes Margret. Louis was born on May 25, 1928, in New Orleans, Louisiana. “I was the third of seven children; I always had someone to play with after school. My older sister died at 28, and my older brother, Robert, joined the Navy in 1943.” Louis graduated from high school at age 15. “My father always preached the importance of getting an education, but only my sister Jeanette and I finished high school.” There were many memories of growing up in New Orleans. Louis recalls living in a house that was built by his father. Unfortunately, that home was built on someone else’s land. “The real landowner came and evicted us. Food was easy to come by because we could grow food on any vacant lot. Our neighbor made cast nets. I would swim in Lake Pontchartrain, 12 July | August 2020

Louis Benjamin. Photo by Patricia Hudson

while my neighbor caught fish.” Louis graduated high school at the age of 15, and left f o r t h e University of California B e r k l e y o n D-Day, December 12, 1944. “I needed money to continue school. UC Berkley was $27.50. but it cost another $150.00, being out of state. Working after school didn’t pay enough.” With little money for college tuition, and at the age of 16, Benjamin joined the Merchant Marines, in 1945. “My most memorable experiences with the Merchant Marines? Going through the Panama and Suez Canals. Traveling around the world to Singapore, Africa, Europe, Egypt, Japan, Philippines and the South Pacific Islands, and taking supplies to Nagasaki, where it was too ‘hot’ to go ashore.” Benjamin retired from the Merchant Marines in 1950. “I was drafted into the Army Infantry, and served in the 24th regiment, which was the last all black regiment to be disbanded.” Louis served 11 months in the Korean War, where he remembers “climbing all those hills. Wearing the big parka jackets in the winters of ’51 and ’52. The last six weeks, I guarded prisoners. Left Korea in February of ’52.” In 1953, the infantryman received an honorable discharge. Military service behind him, Louis was finally able to realize his dream to go to college. He attended Dillard College and graduated in three years. It was there that he met the love of his life, Juanita. “I always talked about Mr. Benjamin as being the one who answered all the questions in the front of the biology classroom. The Professor, Dr Charlie Bugs, always had Lou verify all the answers in Biology. I came up

to the front to introduce myself. I was his sister Louella’s best friend. He was eight years older, and had already been around the world, so we’d never met before Dillard. We only lived a block away, so we rode the bus to school together after that,” recalls Juanita.

Louis with Juanita. Photo by Patricia Hudson

In 1958, Benjamin was awarded a Master’s Degree in Chemistry from St. Louis University. He began work on his doctorate at Saint Louis University, where he presented his research to the American Chemical Society. As a black man, he was unable to get a job in his field in The South, despite the acclaim he had received from his research presentation. Louis moved his family to upstate New York. “The only real prejudice we encountered was when we first moved to New Jersey, where we did encounter some ‘red lining.’ We were one of the first five black families to buy a home in Livingston, New Jersey. After moving in, the families on both sides of us tried to sell their homes. One neighbor became our friends. The other neighbor never allowed his son to play with us even though ours was in the same grade,” recounts Louis. Working as a research chemist from 1967-1991 for Norwich Pharmaceuticals and Hoffman La Roche, in New Jersey, Benjamin retired at age 63. Meanwhile, Juanita taught kindergarten through eighth grade.

She retired in 2008 from the New Jersey Livingston School System, after teaching a total of 48 years. The couple moved to Cypress, Texas in 2012. His friendship with the famous pianist, singer, song writer Antoine “Fats” Domino, evokes fond memories for Benjamin. “I was trying to teach him how to play the piano. Obviously, Fats didn’t need my help,” he quips. Louis and Fats remained friends until Fats’ death in 2017. He was 89 years old.

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been positive. We were always looking forward to a better life. We support the feelings of each other,” explains Juanita, who turns 84 in August.

Margret Mundo, the Benjamins’ next door neighbor, celebrates with the family on Louis Benjamin’s 92nd birthday.

(From left to right) Master Bennet from Kansas City, MO Alfred Barbarin “aka Rabbit”, Louis Benjamin

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Louis and Juanita have maintained a loving relationship for 62 years. “We found very early in our marriage that Louis will never answer in with an angry voice. Thus, he waited until the angry one could discuss the pros and cons of the item. We never got angry at the same time, so we never argued. Our relationship has always

Benjamin attributes his personal longevity to “Retiring at age 59, and good genes. Basically, a stressfree life. I loved my work as a chemist.” For one that has lived such a long and colorful life, what advice Louis would give to today’s youth? His response confirmed his mental acuity. “Find positive role models and mentors that can influence your career. See the world at a young age so that you understand and appreciate what America has to offer. Make sure you strive to maintain positive relationships in all aspects of your life. Too many people spend too much time on negative things that really don’t directly impact their lives. Last, find your passion and do what you love.” The Benjamins have three children: Louis Jr., Kevin, and Lyle. Louis Jr. received his Bachelor’s degree from Harvard and lives in Houston. Kevin earned a Bachelor’s from UConn, and a master’s from IU. He teaches Geometry at Jersey Village High School. Lyle lives in Cincinnati and received his Bachelor’s degree from Fairleigh Dickenson University. The couple has five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

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BLACK BEAR DINER

The Best of Cy-Fair P L AC E S TO E AT By Patricia Hudson

y husband and I checked out Black Bear Diner for a late lunch recently. My first thought was that the entire restaurant appeared to have been picked up and transported, wooden bears and all, from the Great Smoky Mountains. It was very clean and very empty; we shared the dining room with only one other couple, a hostess, several waiters, and a cook. The wait staff was friendly and helpful. The menu, available as a QR code or as a four-page “newspaper,” offers a wide variety of down-toearth, stick-to-your-ribs comfort food such as hamburgers, fried chicken, meatloaf, and pot roast. Breakfast is served all day. Choices include classic egg combos, omelets, pancakes, waffles and French toast. I opted for one of the heartiest of breakfasts, The Volcano. The meal consists of a huge stack of three delicious sweet cream pancakes, two strips of bacon perfectly fried, two sausage links, and two eggs, ($9.99). I was barely able to eat half of the generously portioned meal, and enjoyed the second half for a late-night snack. My husband ordered the Bigfoot Chicken Fried Steak with green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy. He chose the minestrone “Soup of the Day” over a side salad. My husband wasn't impressed with the chicken fried steak, but scarfed down the

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rest of the meal. (We later discovered that the chicken fried steaks are not made “in house.”) He especially enjoyed the delicious piping hot cornbread muffins with butter. We made a return trip before the week’s end, so my husband and son could try The Volcano; the massive meal definitely met with their approval. The next time I go back, it will be for their FRIDAY after 4 p.m. All-You-Can-Eat Fish Fry, and, yes, one of those tempting desserts showcased at the register. Black Bear Diner 19823 Northwest Freeway Houston, TX 77065 346-277-9027 blackbeardiner.com Days/Hours of Operation: Sunday-Saturday: 6am-10pm

For more restaurant reviews visit: www.bestofcyfair.com. And follow us on facebook: Pinpointe Magazines - Cypress

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FEARLESS

FINDING YOUR PASSION AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR CORNER OF THE WORLD by Allison Okuneye

Photos by Anthem In Art Photography @ NASA Model: Hope Cloutman

MORE THAN HEADWEAR I started DK Design Headwear 4 years ago after the passing of my grandmother, Dolores Kroes. I wanted a way to honor her memory, but also fill a void that I saw when working with cancer patients. My Grandma was a kind woman, who was always thinking of others. She also understood the impact of a handwritten card. Her love and thoughtfulness was something that stuck with me. Even in her last days when cancer had taken over her body, she made sure to write my daughter a birthday card and have it in the mail, it ended up being the last card she ever wrote. I thought change makers were reserved for certain occupations. Missionaries, nonprofit organizations, teachers, etc. But the truth is, there is an opportunity to be a change maker no matter where you are in life. It is all about selflessness. My grandma was a great example of never making anything â&#x20AC;&#x153;all about herâ&#x20AC;?. This is a trait that we rarely see these days. How can I bring this approach to my business? I would argue that if this mentality is not part of your outlook on life, it will not translate into business. The person you are behind closed doors is the type of business person you will be. Change can be made in ANY business, in ANY job, and in ANY situation because impacting our community can be done on an individual basis. Taking the time to laugh, cry, and empathize with those that are struggling, investing energy in people and taking the time to truly connect with people without always being in sales mode has truly impacted my life, and the lives of those in my of my corner of the world.

Style Questions for next issue? Email highheelsnmohawks@gmail.com 18 July | August 2020

I have learned that in order to truly connect to people, you can't always be in sales mode. There are so many situations where I have just listened, encouraged, and connected with women who are hurting... and was not a business owner looking to “gain” from every relationship in my life. When you approach your day with the mindset, “Am I making the world a better place?” this impacts all of your interactions. In a world where we have become more “connected” than ever, we are longing for something, anything that seems real. I encourage you to approach your corner of the world the same way. Every job in our community is important and has the potential to make a difference in someone’s day. We need change makers in the world now more than ever. My corner of the world deals with headwear, so I look for ways to be a positive impact there. Where is your place of impact? Are you making the world a better place? Be a game changer, and as always, stay fearless friends.

Aison

REASONS TO WEAR A TURBAN • Your hair hates you today... show your hair who is boss. • You are fighting a fierce battle in your body, and still need to look fab. • The sun will fade your expensive dye job. Turban has you covered. Literally. • M a y b e y o u r k i d s w o n ’t recognize you with one on. Boom. A few minutes of peace and quiet. • Celebrities wear them. • Bedhead has taken over your life. • When you wear a Turban people want to know more about your life. • It gives you confidence, or at least makes you look like you have confidence. • You automatically transform into a happier person when wearing one. This is proven by science... lots of science. • Fashion is about having fun, Turbans are fun, you are fun, but let’s face it... you are more fun in a Turban.

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CYPRESS SCHOOL NEWS News Source: CFISD News

Cody Weatherly awarded CFisd secondary Teacher of the year

CFisd Celebrates serving 1 Million Curbside Meals The CFISD nutrition services department celebrated serving its millionth curbside meal on June 30, more than three months after launching the free community service on March 16 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Curbside meals have been available to children 18 years and younger at 19 CFISD school locations. Each child is provided with breakfast and lunch. Children do not have to be present in the car, but adults must have some form of documentation for each child, including the student’s school ID, birth certificate, report card or attendance record. Curbside meals will continue Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. through August 21 at many Cy-Fair campuses. Visit bit.ly/2XzaQSO for site info and menus.

CFisd land slated for Performing arts Center, Offices

Bridgeland High School world geography teacher and assistant baseball coach Cody Weatherly was selected as CypressFairbanks ISD’s Secondary Teacher of the Year. He will be honored Aug. 3 at the Region 4 Education Service Center Teachers of the Year Ceremony.

Bridgeland Junior Makes Over 200 Masks for Community

A new $65.9 million ISC is proposed for the 26-acre plot of land owned by CFISD adjacent to Cy-Fair High School, to provide office and meeting space. A new performing arts center is proposed for the same parcel of land to accommodate growth in band, orchestra, choir, dance, theater and fine arts programs. The new facility would seat about 1,500. The average high school theater seats 800, and the Berry Center’s theater seats 490. Julie Hinaman, CFISD Board Trustee, reports that about 180 of the district’s more than 1,600 annual performances take place at external venues due to lack of capacity.

Bridgeland High School junior Ruth Poole made more than 200 cotton masks for Cy-Fair community members amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Poole recognized a need for masks, especially among the elderly community. “I feel really good about being able to provide masks to those who need them,” Poole said. “Oftentimes, community service is more of a long-term project, but by doing this there was near-instant fulfillment of a need and I am proud to have contributed.”

softball athletes named to 2020 academic all-district Teams Softball athletes named to the academic all-district teams finished the season in good standing and earned a composite weighted grade point average of 5.5 or higher for all classes for the two identified six weeks that make up the majority of their regular season. The following student-athletes were named to the academic all-district teams: Bridgeland Trinity Allen Hailey Stum Mallory Bonvillain Shelby Frazier Makenzi Jenkins Kaylee Kelso Lindsay Polleschulz

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Brodie Quinlan Tyler Scott Jaelyn Simmons Avery Wagner Emily Jara Raina Lange Acie Prince Mackenzie Stuart

CyPress ranCh Vanessa Soza Adelyn Becerra Ariana McCarthy Caylin McCorkle Molly Yo Ashley Buss Camryn Carmouche

Delaney Phares Emily Strupp Kendall Johnson Khloe Jowers Britton Rogers Madyson Wiggins Khloe Jowers of Cy-Ranch

Cy-Fair students named to 2020 academic all-district Baseball Teams Thirty-two Bridgeland and Cypress Ranch student-athletes qualified for the Academic All-District 14-6A and 17-6A baseball teams, released earlier last month. Athletes who earned academic all-district recognition finished the season in good standing and earned a composite weighted grade point average of 5.5 or higher for all classes for the two identified six weeks that make up the majority of their regular season. The following academic all-district athletes were recognized: Bridgeland Murphy Brooks Ryan Williams Tripp Cromer Kyle Dickey Liam Koleci Conner Motsinger Josh Phillips Ethan Brockman Matthew Garza Landon Herrmann Patrick Hogan Bryce Hughes Jaxon Jordan Taylor Phillips Ethan Sipes Ryan Stevenson Chris Wattinger

CyPress ranCh Royce Congi Alex Renfrow Christian Salazar Griffin Abercrombie Connor Fulbright Parker Harris Jason Kelly Mason Neal Weston Williams Colby Wilson Connor Sprouse Blaine Burris Fabian Mayfield Mitchell McAfoose Luke Negrete

Cypress Ranch High School graduate Fabian Mayfield was named to the 2020 Academic All-District baseball teams.

golfers named to 2020 academic all-district Teams Nineteen Bridgeland and Cypress Ranch student-athletes qualified for the Academic All-District 14-6A and 17-6A golf teams. Athletes who earned academic all-district recognition finished the season in good standing and earned a composite weighted grade point average of 5.5 or higher for all classes for the two identified six weeks that make up the majority of their regular season. The following academic all-district athletes were recognized: Bridgeland Carson Chandler Ryan Woods Cole McClellan Nicholas Labarbera Andrew Nichols Tyler Hebert Braeden Burditt Adam Cain Lucas Borrero Mattew Andrews Kolton Nunez

Bridgeland High School juniors Cole McClellan, left, and Nick Labarbera both qualified for the Academic All-District 14-6A team.

CyPress ranCh Drew Dean Leo Luo Michael Rivich Zachary Smart Joshua Fourie Davis McNeely Nicolas Yargo Logan Stiba PinPointe Magazine

CFhh Backpack & school supply drive - JUly 6 to JUly 30 Cy-Fair Helping Hands will hold its Annual Backpack and School Supply Campaign for client children attending CFISD. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we anticipate the need will be greater than ever. We ask that you enlist your family, company, church or organization to provide backpacks, complete with school supplies, and deliver them to CFHH at 7520 Cherry Park Drive, Suite B, Houston, TX 77095, during our campaign. (List of supplies to be provided). For monetary donations: mail checks to: 7710 Cherry Park Drive #T-385, Houston, TX 77095 for “Backpacks and School Supplies” or donate at www.cyfairhelpinghands.org. For more information, please contact Pat Hudson at phudson@cyfairhelpinghands.org.

aquatic athletes earn Tisca academic all-state honors Twenty-two of the Thirty-four CFISD swimmers, divers and water polo players named to the Texas Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (TISCA) Academic All-State Team represented Bridgeland and Cypress Ranch High Schools. To qualify for academic all-state honors, athletes are required to have a minimum GPA of 3.750 on a 4point scale, for five semesters (juniors) or seven semesters (seniors); be classified as a junior or senior; and lettered in their high school program (swimming, diving or water polo) during their junior or senior year. TISCA recognized the following students: Bridgeland Aldercy Bui Lianne Duran Ashley Harris Lane Hovorka CyPress ranCh Kevin Pham Eric Gabriel Azcoitia Dev Randalpura

22 July | August 2020

Mia Lawton Hanna Vinklarek Jackson Dement Hayden Faulk Ezequiel Imbern Vedaant Kaura James Gavin Wyatt Fredrickson Pranav Sosale

John McMahon Jonathan Ware Nail Wright Nicholas Wright

Cypress

HAPPENINGS

Cy-hope Blood drive Wednesday, July 15, 2020 • 10am-4pm The Hope Chest Resale Market • 12015 Barker Cypress & Tuesday, July 21, 2020 • 10am-4pm Cy-Hope Headquarters • 12715 Telge Road By Appointment Only. Offering FREE Beach Towels & FREE COVID-19 Antibody Testing to all successful donors. Please wear mask coverings. 713.466.4673 or cy-hope@cy-hope.org

Benefit for hPd helicopter Pilot, Chase Cormier Austin Jones Colin Wenger

Sunday, August 23, 2020 • Noon-6pm Bareback Bar & Icehouse • 19940 Kuykendahl • Spring $10 for Adults, $5 for kids 12 and under (3 & under free). Live Music with Neal McCoy. All Proceeds go to the Cormier Family.

The Best of Cy-Fair

ATHENA’S GREEK & EUROPEAN KITCHEN

P L AC E S TO E AT By Nancy Eugenio

finally hit up Athena's Greek & European Kitchen for lunch today and everything was fabulous! The restaurant is a lot bigger than I expected, so there is plenty of room to space out.

I started with a delicious hummus and warm pita, which was fantastic. I ordered beef Souvlaki for my main course. The beef was well seasoned, extremely tender and cooked to a perfect medium rare. The Souvlaki also came with a side of Greek salad. The portion size for what I had was very good. I ate the whole kabob, but not all the fries. For the kabob and the hummus, I paid less than $20, and the hummus was a generous portion. I wish that I had asked for more pita, though. Service was fantastic. Everyone was polite and the server always made sure our glasses were full. Everyone wore masks and social distancing was enforced. The owner, Maria, came by to check on us and to see how we liked the food. She was very nice. I visited Greece (Mykonos) almost 17 years ago, and still dream about the food. Especially the Greek salad and the slice of feta they would put in it. I’m hoping this place will fill that void. Athena’s Greek Kitchen has an extensive menu, and you betcha I am planning on trying out almost everything. Next up will be the lamb chops because if you know me, you know (that) I love them. Athena’s Greek & European Kitchen 13250 FM 529 • Houston, TX 77041 832-328-5494 • athenasgreekkitchen.com Days/Hours of Operation: Sunday-Thursday: 11am-8pm Friday & Saturday:11am-9pm Locally Owned & Operated. Restaurant Seating is at 50%. Curbside Pickup & Delivery within 5 miles.

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Nancy Eugenio is Co-Administrator of Cypress Area Eats, a social media facebook page for all things food related.

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