ON THE COVER: Brenda Polivka (far left), President/Founder with the staff of Barkley’s Bookshelf Photo Credit: Daniel Arizpe Serving the Community Coles Crossing Contents 8 Barkley’s Bookshelf: Supporting Children’s Literacy 10 Half-Time Shows Are a Full-Time Passion 14 Best of Cy-Fair: Gulf Coast Bread Pudding Company 14 8 10
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•Volunteer at Book Fairs that will be held in September and October. Email us at info@BarkleysBookshelf.org for details.
•HostBookshelf.aBook
Photos by Daniel Arizpe
The official launch of Barkley’s Bookshelf was June 15th. In early August the first Book Fair was held at the ‘Back to School Bash’ hosted by Cy-Fair Helping Hands, where 576 books were distributed to children in need. Distributed books were donated by local businesses and individual donors. The fall schedule includes Book Fairs at Cy-Hope’s Hope Centers and Boys & Girls Country. “Literacy is the key to the future success of every child,” said Brenda Polivka, founder and president of Barkley’s Bookshelf. “If Barkley’s Bookshelf can provide books and be a small part of a child’s education journey, that’s important. It makes a difference.” How you can help? There are many opportunities for you or your organization to get involved with Barkley’s
B arkley’s Bookshelf partners with individuals and community service organizations to collect books for distribution through schools and nonprofits for children in kindergarten-5th grade, to inspire a passion for reading through book Barkley’sownership.Bookshelf, a 501©3 organization, was founded in March 2022 by five National Charity League, Inc. Sustainers with the goal of creat ing personal libraries for children in K-5th grade to support children’s literacy. The mission statement of Barkley’s Bookshelf is: Enriching children’s love of reading by providing books they can call their own.
Barkley’s Bookshelf: Supporting Children’s Literacy
8 September | October 2022
•Sort Books! Once book donations are received, they must be sorted to ensure quality standards.
Drive! Details are on the website at www.barkleysbookshelf.org under the ‘How to Donate Books’ tab.
PinPointe Magazine 9 If you know of an exceptional Greater Fairfield, Towne Lake, Bridgeland/Blackhorse Ranch, Coles Crossing, or Cypress Creek Lakes individual or family that needs to be featured in an upcoming issue of PinPointe Magazine, please contact me: texasteacher024@outlook.com. •Follow us on social media and share our posts! You can find us on: Facebook @BarkleysBookshelf Instagram at barkleys_bookshelf LinkedIn at Barkley’s Bookshelf Barkley’s Bookshelf is off to an exciting start. Together, let’s support children’s literacy in our community. For more information contact us at info@BarkleysBookshelf.org or https://www.barkleysbookshelf.org
There are few things more “Texan” than high-school football games! Experiencing that electric feeling of cheering on incredible student athletes, the nervous backand-forth on the scoreboard, and the pride of connection with a community invested in this common interest. Friday Night Lights- it really is so theatrical. We are entering my oldest son’s second year of high school, and suddenly the football schedule has become the center point for our family’s fall activities. Each week we sit among other parents, family members, neighbors, and friends with a kid who has a role to play in this spectacular production. I love the game, but I’m there for one thing. I’m with the Band. I’m unapologetically a Band Mom. I know I’m not alone, I’ve seen many of my local friends go through the same transition. Every weekend we’re posting pictures of our musicians- sweaty in the Texas heat under the lights in the stands. Shots of them dressed in full uniform- somehow playing a throwback song from the seventies while simultaneously walking sideways, backwards, and ending with a full-on sideways squat. Color guard members with their beautiful costumes, beaming out into the crowded stands as they twirl and toss their brightly colored flags. There’s a reason Marching Band counts for a physical education credit! As band parents- we are up sooo late on a Friday night, sitting in dark parking lots while the buses unload. Or, we’re riding those buses to volunteer as chaperones, loading and unloading heavy props, taking photos, fundraising, supporting our directors and student leaders. We’re showing up at the school on Saturdays to feed an army of band and color guard students before they head out for a day of competition. We wear the gear. Y’all. My closet is filling up with boxy printed t-shirts in blue and yellow. I’m not even embarrassed about this. What is style when you’re a band mom?
10 September | October 2022
HalfTime Shows Are a FullTime Passion
We do all of this because we see the ways that being in the band shapes our kids into incredible young adults. Their excitement about the music and the showmanship, the sense of family they build with one another. Over 250 high school students working together toward a common goal, it’s something to behold. It’s really hard not to get swept up in the energy and enthusiasm, the sound and the incredible way it all comes together.Itmeans so much to be a part of something like this. For me, it’s band. But for those countless other families sitting in those stands on Friday nights, I have no doubt there are parents just like me that can say that supporting their child’s high school activity gives them the same sense of purpose and satisfaction. Football moms, Dance moms, Cheer moms, Softball Moms, Baseball Moms… the list goes on and on.
It’s not about reliving the glory days, or channeling your own unfulfilled high school dreams. It’s about nurturing and sharing in an activity that fuels your child. Being there to witness their growth and maturity, to share with them in a sense of identity and vision for the future. To communicate your support in a meaningful, purposeful way. I think that’s what contributes so much to the energy that fills the stadium on Friday Nights, it’s filled with a thousand hearts beating with pride and love for these students. And really great music.
by Liz Arrington
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12 September | October 2022
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14 September | October 2022
by Patricia Hudson
Gulf Coast Bread Pudding Company PLACES Best of Cy-Fair
Nana’s Original
T O EAT The
T here are shops that specialize in coffee. There are cake bakers and cookie shops. Then, there’s Gulf Coast Bread Pudding Company. Max Peters, owner and originator of Gulf Coast Bread Pudding Company opened this unique shop at 17001 FM 529 in late January of 2022. “I saw a hole in the market as a bread pudding lover. Only restaurants serve it and there was no place that offered varieties in bulk. I saw the opportunity to create a one stop shop just like the cupcake and cookie shops,” explains Peters. Proudly developed by the owner himself, the recipes include delectable offerings such as Banana Rum, Coconut, Vanilla, Creole, White Chocolate, Cherry, Peach and Chocolate. Recommended sauce flavors for each pudding include Salted Caramel, Pecan Praline, Passion Fruit, Bourbon Caramel, Butter Rum, Lemon and Makers Bourbon. (For optimum enjoyment, detailed heating instructions come with each sale). Whether served hot, cold or at room temperature, Gulf Coast strives to offer the community a unique bread pudding experience. Gourmet bread puddings are sold by the slice, as Crusted Bread Puddings such as Crusted Sweet Potato, in “Puddin’ 4 Packs,” and by the pan.
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“The Banana Rum is the most popular on our menu: caramelized rum bananas baked inside a vanilla bread pudding with a Nilla Wafer crust,” comments Max. “Our recommended sauce flavor is butter rum. We like to do traditional bread puddings as well as Customersseasonal.” definitely have their favorites. “Mama’s traditional, (New Orleans style bread pudding with raisins and a sweet creole spice), is my favorite with the rum sauce; It reminds me of my grandmother’s bread pudding,” shares Karla Woods “Omigosh,” says Ryan Heath, “we had the coconut with passion fruit sauce and it was amazing! The traditional too! In fact, now that I’m thinking about it, I’ll be heading over to try another flavor this Rhondaafternoon!”Tichenor, who considers herself a “pro,” adds, “Absolutely, positively one of the best desserts I’ve eaten in a while.” As for me, the Banana Rum with Butter Rum sauce only served to tantalize my taste buds. I’ll be back Max Peters, I’ll be back. Gulf Coast Bread Pudding Company 17001 FM 529 Houston, TX 77095 (281) Wed-SatMon-Tues815-3068Closed11:00am – 7:00 pm Sun 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Crusted Sweet Potato Crumble
