3 February | March 2017
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Contents ON THE COVER: Suzanne & Darrin Lewis
Serving the Community of Greater Fairfield including Lakes of Fairhaven, Fairhaven Estates, Saddle Ridge Estates & Villages of Cypress Lakes
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Transplanted Family Finds Community in Cypress
10 Cypress Happenings 12 Astros Dog Days Delights Fans, Elevates Canine to Celebrity Status 14 PinPointe Magazine Salutes Community Eateries, Beverage Businesses and Artisans for Charity Fundraising
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16 This is Home: A Letter to My Community 18 How Watching Cartoons With My Child Made Me a Better Parent 20 Canine Corner 21 Lily Wachuku: Empowering Girls Worldwide to Succeed by Living Life The Girl Way 22 Cypress School News
Transplanted Family Finds
Community in Cypress
PINPOINTE RESIDENT PROFILE
By Patricia Hudson
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t was Divine Intervention. Darrin and Suzanne Lewis met at church, when Suzanne was invited to attend by her terminally ill patient, and Darrin headed the Sunday school. “When we married, I was 24 and he was 25. When Darrin proposed, he gave me three gifts. The first was a Precious Moment figurine of a bride and a groom. The second was a board game; he said he wanted us to be able to spend our life, enjoying our time together. The last was an envelope which held an insurance policy. At the bottom, was my name, as his fiancée. He said, ‘I want to make sure that if anything ever happens to me, that you'll be taken care of.’ That is how he let me know that he wanted to marry me,” recalls Suzanne. Darrin is a Business Analyst with Alight Solutions. “I am the in-between person with the client and our technology group. I oversee the changes, updates and fixes that need to be completed to the client’s system. I have been with the same company for 24 years.” A 30year veteran of the healthcare field, Suzanne began her career as a Combat Medic in the Army Reserves at Ft. 6 September | October 2021
Sam Houston. “I am board certified as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, and a Certified Health and Wellness Coach. I also work in Corporate Health and provide Primary Care Services and Wellness Education. Darrin and I own Avery Integrative Healthcare Services. We provide community education, Holistic PatientCentered Care, Health and Wellness and Mindset/Behavior Change Coaching.” A family move from Wisconsin to Texas in 2012, resulted from Suzanne’s diagnosis of an Inflammatory autoimmune disease. “The cold winter months and the added stress from completing my Nurse practitioner program created the perfect storm for a flare up of the disease processes in my body,” she explains. “This sparked my journey into Integrative health and wellness, as well as our journey to warmer weather.” “When we moved to Texas, one of our biggest concerns was whether we would have the community that we had back in Wisconsin/ Illinois area. To our surprise, we had
that, and more. When our kids started high school, they became a part of the band. While we had been actively working in ministry, our goal was to find a ministry in which our kids could be engaged. Our communities came as a result of our engagement with their school band, as well as our local church. Many of the lasting friendships that we have- we don't even call friendship anymore, we simply refer to them as family- started with the connections we had with some of the band parents. Our church home played a big part. We began to attend Community of Faith Church because our kids were so engaged in their youth program. We did what was natural for us; we begin to serve. In serving, we found more community, more connection, and Cypress quickly became our home. We love the diversity of Cypress, and that people are authentic. We quickly learned that Texans will tell you
how they feel in a second, and be there to support you in a heartbeat,” surmises Suzanne. Darrin and Suzanne have two adult children: Demetrice, 24, and Justin, 23, graduates of Cy Ranch High School. “Demetrice attended Lonestar College and is currently living and working in Spring, TX. He has a love for cooking, different genres of music and music production. Justin recently married his high school sweetheart, Hannah, in February. Justin and Hannah are May 2021 graduates of Stephen F. Austin. Justin is a Youth Pastor for Fairfield Baptist Church, and Hannah will be teaching chemistry at Cy Woods High School. We are so proud of all of them as they begin their adult journeys. We look forward to watching them grow and developing our relationships with them as adults,” comments Suzanne.
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“So, we are now empty nesters. We laughed and chuckled the other day, and gave each other a high five, realizing that we had successfully put two humans out into the world. We are excited and thankful to be a part of their journey. One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned as parents is that it's not ours, but God’s plan; we trust that He has good plans in store for them.” “Our Faith, our Family and our Relationship are the most important factors in our lives,” asserts Suzanne. “Darrin and I have grown individually and as a couple in the past 25 years. We’ve navigated through difficult times and have learned to enjoy and be present in the sweet moments that life brings. Along the way, we have picked up some bits of knowledge and wisdom. The most important things for us is to share our journey, our growth, our life lessons. We truly believe in service. One of the things we love that we're currently doing is teaching and mentoring young couples as a part of a pre-marital program.” Darrin adds, “We have a heart for people, seeing them fulfill their purpose. We enjoy supporting and seeing them blossom and grow. We simply want to provide the tools and knowledge to help people be the best version of themselves.”
able to celebrate and be a part of the wedding of one of the couples we mentored in our pre-marital class!” “Our hope in life is to leave a legacy of faith and service for our children and our family. Our greatest joy is to see others grow and walk out the call and purpose on their lives. For us, healthcare and education are tools we use to equip people with the foundation to transform their lives. Even in our imperfections, we are capable in Christ. We encourage, support, and motivate to help others see their own potential. So, whether it’s caring for patients, serving in ministry, teaching a class, or having a simple conversation on a porch, we hope that our lives in some way reflect God's love," concludes Suzanne.
After celebrating their 25th anniversary, the couple had decided to save up and to go on a “dream trip” to Hawaii. Suzanne explains, “We didn’t make it! Instead, we exchanged it for a trip for four to Jamaica. We gifted our son and daughter a honeymoon/graduation trip. We were
If you know of an exceptional Greater Fairfield, Towne Lake, Coles Crossing, Bridgeland/Blackhorse Ranch, or Cypress Creek Lakes individual or family that needs to be featured in an upcoming issue of PinPointe Magazine, please email: texasteacher024@outlook.com. 8 September | October 2021
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Cypress
HAPPENINGS
Bridgeland Farmers Market (2nd & 4th Sundays) 10519 Fry Rd. • Cypress, TX 77433 • 12:30-3:30pm Boardwalk @ Towne Lake Farmers Market (3rd Sat) 9945 Barker Cypress Rd. • Cypress, TX 77433 • 12:30-3:30pm
Fairfield Farmers Market (Starting in Feb 3rd Sundays) 15103 Mason Rd, Cypress, TX 77433 • 11am-3pm
VFW Post 8905 September BBQ Cook-Off Thursday, Sept. 9 - Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 21902 Northwest Fwy • Cypress, TX 77429 Presented by VFW Post 8905 and the Post 8905 Auxiliary VFW Post 8905 and Auxiliary would like to invite all cookers to compete in our annual September BBQ cook-off. This will be an IBCA sanctioned event. Cash prizes and trophies. Raffles, Cake Bake, 50/50, and more! www.vfw8905.org
Bridgeland Community Friday Night Bites Second Friday of every month Friday, September 10 & October 8, 2021 • 6-10pm Lakeland Village Center • 16902 Bridgeland Landing • Cypress, TX Grab your lawn chairs, blankets and enjoy great food truck fare and live music!
The Jersey Village Farmers Market (1st & 3rd Sundays)
Cy-Fair Women’s Club Shop ‘til You Drop
Jersey Village Civic Ctr. Parking Lot 16327 Lakeview Dr. • 12-3pm This family-friendly event features locally grown food and handmade merchandise.
Saturday, Sept. 11 • 9am-5pm Berry Center • 8877 Barker Cypress Rd. • Cypress, TX 77433 Strollers and wagons will not be allowed to facilitate social distancing. It is recommended that people wear masks inside the Berry Center. Hand sanitation stations will be available throughout the venue. Guests should stay home if they have respiratory illness symptoms consistent with COVID-19, have tested positive for COVID-19, are awaiting results from a COVID-19 test or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive. www.cyfairwomensclub.org
Tomball Farmers Market (Saturdays) • 9am-1pm A year-round weekly North Houston Farmers Market, with over 60 local vendors featuring farmers, producers, bakers, artisans and more. Located in historic Downtown Tomball, TX TFM provides a diverse, fun, pet friendly, family outdoor shopping experience. Visit www.tomballfarmersmarket.org • (832) 422-5669
10 September | October 2021
Fun Run/Walk For Heroes
Pawsome Shopping Night Sponsored by: The Andrea Curran Team Wednesday, September 15, 2021 • 6-8pm Brook Home & Gift 12344 Barker Cypress • # 160 • Cypress, TX 77429 20% of all purchases will be donated to Cypress Lucky Mutt Rescue.
Dewberry Farm 2021 Fall Festival Open September 25 - November 14, 2021 77045 FM 362 @ Morrison Road • Brookshire, TX 77423 Over 40+ Attractions to enjoy during Fall! www.dewberryfarm.com
Oktoberfest Music Fest Saturday, October 2, 2021 • 11am-11pm The Burger Ranch Restaurant & Lounge 16702 House & Hahl Road • Cypress, TX The Burger Ranch and Cypress Music Scene have partnered up for one full day of family fun with 5 great artist groups, food, and vendors. General Admission $25. Ages 6-12 $7.50.
Saturday, October 16, 2021 • 8am Festival Park • Bridgeland Landing Drive START TIME: 8:00 am for adults and 9:00 am for children 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place trophies for the 5K &10K race winners. Registration is $35 for adults/ Kids 10 & under $15-20 Join us during and after the race for a Children’s Superhero Costume contest, vendors, food trucks & more! Register at: www.bridgeland.com/event/fun-run-walk-for-heroes/
13th Annual Bridgeland NatureFest Saturday, October 23, 2021 • 10am-4pm Oak Meadow Park • House & Hahl Rd, Cypress, TX 77433 Featuring zoologist Jack Randall, Jack Randall Petting Zoo, Food Trucks, Bounce Houses, Rock Wall, Outdoor Laser Tag, Paddle Boat Rides Canoeing, Kayaking, and more! Admission, stage performances and many activities are free of charge, while some will require a small fee to participate. All proceeds will be donated to Cy-Hope, an amazing local organization whose goal is to bring hope and opportunity to every child in the Cy-Fair area. For more info, call 281-304-5588.
For more upcoming Cy-Fair events, visit: www.bestofcyfair.com
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Astros Dog Days Delights Fans, Elevates Cypress Canine to Celebrity Status Story by Patricia Hudson • Photos by Juli Radcliff
The term Dog Days of Summer typically conjures up images of hot, sultry nights in the South. For Houston Astros fans, the annual August Dog Day event is an opportunity to have canine family members join in the fun at Minute Maid Park. While a late rally by the Seattle Mariners resulted in a loss for the Astros, it didn’t seem to faze these park visitors. One Cypress dog basked in the limelight, garnering the attention of delighted fans. Kuzco Radcliff, a Pomeranian/Husky mix with astonishingly piercing eyes, is a resident of Blackhorse Ranch, and makes his home with his dad, Jeff, mom, Juli, and his human siblings, Carter and Brady. Big brother, Tyler, and his new bride, Kasside, came along for the fun. “He made the Jumbotron and the Houston Astros twitter,” shares Juli delightedly.
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PinPointe Magazine Salutes AROUND Community Eateries, Cy-Fair Beverage Businesses and Artisans for Charity etta’s Local Eats Dine Out for Charity culminated its 2021 second quarter fundraising with an M Fundraising awards presentation held at Creekwood Grill. With Story by Patricia Hudson Photos by David Postma - Genesis Photographers
more than 40 food and beverage businesses participating, the event recognized the top fundraisers. MLE Dine Out for Charity raised over $30,000, surpassing the $27,000 raised for Cy-Fair Helping Hands’ programs in 2020. “These funds will allow us to better serve the homeless, as well as Cypress families struggling to put food on the table,” explains Executive Director of Community Outreach, Pat Hudson. “We are grateful to each of the participating restaurants, bakeries, and beverage businesses. We would also like to express our appreciation to the Metta’s Local Eats ‘foodies,’ for supporting Dine Out for Charity and to the hard working and caring Dine Out for Charity Executive Board.” Award Recipients in each category were presented with a framed certificate. In place of this edition’s restaurant review, PinPointe Magazine recognizes the top fundraisers.
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Metta’s Local Eats Dine Out for Charity 2nd Quarter Top Contributors 2021
Cottage Baker/Artisan 1st - Old 300 Ranch 2nd - Alchemy Bake Lab 3rd - The Spice Hippies 4th - The Flour Petal Bakery
Fred Stewart, GM - Backyard Grill with Committee
Restaurant 1st - The Backyard Grill 2nd - The Union Kitchen Cypress 3rd - Cypress Trail Hideout/Pappa Charlie’s Barbeque 4th - The Union Kitchen Katy 5th - Bao Bros Bistro
Multiple Location 1st - The Union Kitchen 2nd - Ambriza 3rd - Romero’s Las Brasas
Craft Beer/Wine 1st - Brew: 30 Taphouse 2nd - Wicked Boxer Brewery 3rd - The Hidden Cellar Wine Bar
Anthony Messina, GM - Union Kitchen Towne Lake with Committee
Storefront Baker 1st - Angel’s Churros ‘n Chocolate 2nd - Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee and Bakery 3rd - Cake Fine Pastry 4th - The Cupcake Cowgirls 5th - Just Love Coffee
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This is Home.
A LETTER TO MY COMMUNITY.
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BY ALLISON OKUNEYE
here is no place like home. A phrase that we have heard a million times. Most of us know that it's never actually about the "home". It is the feeling, energy and love that we all want to experience inside of the home. The thing that I missed THE MOST about Cypress for the last 2 years was that Texas "feeling".If you know, you know. I never realized how important that feeling was in my daily interactions until we moved away. It's the little things, like chatting with the cashier at the grocery store, driving around without people honking their horns in anger at 16 September | October 2021
everyone,the genuine care and consideration for those around you, and the willingness to help and give whenever you are able. (I could go on and on..but you get the vibes) We knew we had to get back to this community, and two years later, here we are. Before we even had luggage out of the car we had neighbors offering their help. The thing about Texans, when they offer something, they truly mean it. That feeling, experience and community that we missed so badly was there right away upon arrival.
I got choked up and emotional because this was what we missed. This was Home, and I had not even stepped into our house yet. Over the next few days we met so many people who showed us so much love (and bourbon) and the genuine, caring, authentic excitement that was shown was overwhelming. There was a genuine excitement to welcome us into their homes and lives with open arms. I wanted to share this experience as a reminder to all of us that we are active participants in the lives of those around us and THAT is what makes this community unique. We all know how great Texans are at in times of need (Ice storms, Harvey, etc.) and
we should also keep that same energy in our daily, mundane interactions with each other. The love that we felt from our neighbors, and our community at 11:30 pm on a random Friday night in July after a 15 hour drive, meant EVERYTHING to my family. Thank you to our neighbors for the warm welcome, and thank you to our community for making the adjustment so easy. There TRULY is no place like home, and we are officially HOME.
Style Questions for next issue? Email highheelsnmohawks@gmail.com
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Watching Cartoons With My Child
How
Made Me a Better Parent by Liz Arrington
’m cuddled up on the couch with my six-yearold son to watch a new show that I’ve heard a lot of friends talking about. Classical music plays as the first scene opens to a family of cartoon dogs playing together in their living room. The dad is pretending to play piano, and then the bongos, on his two daughters while they squeal with laughter. What happens next can only be described as absolutely delightful mayhem. Bluey- the big sister- is not sharing with her little sister, causing conflict and frustration during the game. Eventually the sisters work out their conflict, ending the episode sitting contentedly together while Dad remains fully committed to his role in their silly game. It’s hilarious, meaningful, musical, playful, and magical all at once. We are immediately hooked.
Through Bluey, my kids and I were able to reconnect through the power of play. I found myself drawing inspiration from the episodes and was served with many reminders to be more aware of my tone of voice, my willingness to slow down and connect, and just generally enjoy more of the time I spend with my kids.
Over the course of our long summer break, my family has watched every episode of this Australian children’s show- appropriately named, Bluey. Even my teenager secretly admits that he likes it. Ever since my little one and I watched that first episode
As Bluey is gaining popularity in the US, reviewers and early childhood professionals alike are pointing out the significance of this show for today’s young families. It really seems to capture the essence of modern parenting.
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together, he frequently climbs into my lap and starts singing the tune that is played in that first scene. Without speaking, I understand what I’m meant to do, and I begin vigorously “playing” the tune out on his back, like a wiggly little keyboard. This show has brought the game of “Keepy-Uppy” into our house, a game called “Octopus”, as well as countless other small ways of adding more playful interactions into our daily life.
This idealized image of parenting can make some parents uncomfortable and possibly left feeling a little guilty as they watch the grown ups in Bluey’s world play and entertain their children in the most over-the-top and spectacular ways. But, it’s not all fun and games. Some storylines are genuinely touching and emotional. Particularly one episode where the mom, Chili, recounts intense worry and competition with other babies in Bluey’s playgroup, until a more experienced mom gives her a hug and a pep talk. The parents have to leave to go to work, or engage in hobbies, fix a toilet, or hang out with friends. Sometimes they’re a little impatient, too tired to play, or just bored. But they show us how to parent through the imperfection, empowering their littles ones in the process. If I could sum up a few of the key lessons for parents as demonstrated in the world of Bluey, here are a few of them:
● You can be playful and fun, while still maintaining boundaries and structure for children.
● Imaginative playtime is the best playtime, and doesn’t have to involve a lot of “stuff”. ● Don’t be embarrassed about how your playful parenting looks to others.
● Your children learn by practicing and working through problems on their own. ● Messes can always be cleaned up.
● Engage fully when you can. A brief moment of fully engaged play is far more connecting than a long period of distracted or rushed play.
● Play is how children communicate and process their world. Play is the language of childhood. Liz Arrington combines her background as a professional children’s therapist with her love of music to provide early childhood music and movement classes to families of Cypress. Outdoor, Weekday, and Saturday classes available. See more at www.songfulbeginnings.com
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Canine Corner
H
appy Fall, y’all! My mom and I often wonder what ever happened to the dogs whose stories we have shared. Have they found loving homes? Are they living their “Happily Ever After?” We featured Beau, a sweet basset fostered through Basset Buddies Rescue of Texas in 2019. We were so excited to hear that right after our article was published, Beau was ADOPTED! Alison Malone, his foster mom, says, “He is spoiled rotten!” The Bartletts, his adoptive family, was happy to share some photos and an update by their teenaged daughter, Gabby, who has forged an amazing bond with Beau. “Beau has been with us for a little over two years now. For those two years, him and I have been best friends. Ever since the first day we got him, he’s been a sassy ball of light in our life, and loves swimming and snuggling with us. He’s blended so well with our whole family and our other dogs, constantly putting up with their craziness and them forcing him to “play” with them. Ever since the day we saw that Beau was looking for a home, we knew that our family needed him as much as he needed us. This turned out to be a decision that constantly keeps us all smiling.” If you know of a dog rescue organization with a foster in need of a forever home, please contact texasteacher024@outlook.com.
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By Patricia Hudson and Sophia Hudson, the Rescue Yorkiepoo
Beau
Lily Wachuku Empowering Girls Wldwide to Succeed by Living Life e Girl Way By Liz Chevalier Recently I had the pleasure of speaking with Lily Wachuku, a senior-to-be at Cy-Ranch High School. Lily is no ordinary high school teenager; She is on a powerful mission to change the world. The founder of the Girls’ Empowerment Organization, “Live Life the Girl Way,” (livelifethegirlway.com) Lily is seeking support from the Cypress community.
Where did you grow up? Tell me about yourself… I grew up right here in Cypress. I am from a family full of very diverse interests and a mindset for self-improvement and world betterment. This has definitely impacted me since the very beginning of my life. I have been raised to believe in myself, to strive for the best in all that I do, and to use my gifts and talents to positively impact the world. Schooling? I am currently a senior in high school and my academic plan is focused on STEM and French. I love learning new things and growing as a person! How did the organization begin? How many years? Tell me what you do, your mission...what do you want your audience to know. I started my Girls’ Empowerment Organization “Live Life The Girl Way” (livelifethegirlway.com), in the fall of 2018 to empower and encourage girls globally to work toward achieving all of their goals and dreams, to be confident in themselves and their abilities, and to never close the doors on great opportunities even when they seem like stretch goals. My organization's mission and platform are structured around providing helpful resources such as articles, YouTube videos, podcast episodes, and inspirational Twitter posts to help girls and young women to have access to the examples, habits, and way of thinking that they need to continue to work towards achieving lofty goals and ambitions. What’s your driving force behind the organization? For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to change the world positively. I always believed that I could make a positive change in the world if I tried. Three years ago, when I was thirteen years old, I finally took a step towards
positively impacting the world and future generations by creating my organization. My driving force was definitely the belief that I could use my gifts and talents to inspire and empower girls everywhere. How did you decide to start your organization? Much of my talent lies is writing and speaking, so I thought that the best way to inspire and empower girls was to incorporate those talents for the most positive impact. I found that the internet was the best way to reach many people while using my talents of speaking and writing, so Live Life The Girl Way was born soon after via the website livelifethegirlway.com. Grades? Favorite subjects, talents, activities? I am currently in the top 9% of students in my graduating class. My favorite class is AP English because I can spend an entire hour each day doing what I love to do, which is reading and writing! My favorite things to do for fun are painting, reading, listening to music, and working for my organization. What challenges have you experienced running the organization in the pandemic? The pandemic makes it difficult to have events that make it possible for me to connect with my amazing community. This challenges me to find creative ways to connect with and inspire others! When things are the toughest, you…? I read a good book, write poetry, or watch a ‘feel good’ or comedy movie to remind myself that better days are ahead. Family time usually involves…? Before the pandemic family time usually involved fun trips to Houston’s Museum District and Uptown Park Houston, but now family time
usually involves family movie nights. What do you do to relax? Hobbies/Activities? Running a Girls’ Empowerment Organization while being a full-time student at age sixteen can definitely be very stressful! To relax, I like to listen to music, to dance, and to create art. What has helped you to get through Covid-19, any thoughts, correlations to what you do? Creating content for my organization has definitely helped me to get through COVID-19 because it gives me a greater purpose, which is to inspire and empower girls everywhere. I am so grateful for my organization during this time because it keeps me grounded and inspires me to stay positive and keep trying no matter what. Any additional comments? I am most excited about my new “Fuel Her Dreams” initiative. Recently, my Girls’ Empowerment Organization launched the “Fuel Her Dreams” initiative in collaboration with UNICEF USA. When I learned that many girls in Malawi were not given the chance to complete their education after primary school I was displeased; and when I heard that because of this many were exploited through child marriage I was angry. So, I launched my “Fuel Her Dreams” initiative to provide 20 girls in Malawi with an entire year of education this year. I need $3,540 to accomplish this goal. I am working as hard as I can to achieve this goal, but I still need help. I would greatly appreciate your donations to this fundraiser to help to save girls in Malawi from child marriage today. Learn more about my campaign to educate girls this year by googling “Fuel Her Dreams” today to find our GoFundMe page! charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/fuel-her-dreams1
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CYPRESS SCHOOL NEWS Source: CFISD News Media
Salyards Middle School Teacher Selected for Classroom Makeover CFISD teachers were awarded hundreds of dollars to enhance their classrooms for their students as they were selected as winners of Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union’s Extreme Classroom Makeover competition. Salyards Middle School special education teacher Laura Coulter was chosen as one of the three $500 recipients.
Bridgeland HS Students Recognized at FBLA National Conference Bridgeland High School juniors Rithvik Katikaneni and Shreyan Katta received national recognition during the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) National Leadership Conference, held virtually this summer with more than 12,000 students from across the country participating.
Salyards Middle School special education teacher Laura Coulter
For Coulter, she said winning the money has helped her create a more welcoming and inclusive space for her students. “I am so excited about my new teaching environment,” Coulter said. “It has been so exciting to put in place all of my ideas for a classroom that will help my students with various accessibility differences. I cannot thank Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union enough for choosing me to win this amazing gift.”
Shreyan Katta, left, and Rithvik Katikaneni
Katikaneni and Katta were recognized during FBLA’s Awards of Excellence ceremonies for their competition finish. The pair worked together as a team to place eighth overall in Introduction to Business Presentation. This is the first time students from Bridgeland placed at the national competition. In addition to Katikaneni and Katta, Bridgeland sophomores Samah Ahmed, Shiv Palla and Rajvi Mishra competed in Introduction to Social Media Strategy at the national conference.
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