December 2014 - Absolutely Memorial Magazine

$2.95

DECEMBER 2014

Dr. John Stephens

Chapelwood's New Pastor CLARYSSA'S

Stor y of Hope

+ CHRISTMASGIFT GUIDE

HOLIDAY Spending Tips

This is your city.Memorial City is truly a city-within-a-city that is growing and thriving every

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DECEMBER 2014 l TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.absolutelymemorial.com6

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CHAPELWOOD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH’SNEW SENIOR PASTORA devoted husband, dad, golfer and man of faith,Dr. John Stephens is passionate about his new pastoral position – and his family’s first Christmas in Memorial.

14

Maddie, Sarah Mac, Stephanie and John Stephens.Photography by Hallie Keller.

F E AT U R E S

20 RACHEL’S CHALLENGE:CHAIN REACTIONA day of fun turns into a life-changing experience for theSpring Branch Middle School staff.

28 KICKING FOR THE EAGLESMemorial Middle School student Ashton Kettler proves herself on the football field.

30 CLARYSSA’S STORY OF HOPE Gracewood provides a home, hope and healing for a single mom.

32 AVOID COMMON PETDANGERS THIS HOLIDAY SEASONBe aware of these dangers tofurry friends as you deck the halls.

34 10 TIPS TO CONTROLHOLIDAY SPENDINGShop for the holidays without breaking the bank.

54 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDEFind fabulous gifts from local retailers

C O L U M N S

16 absolutely! FABULOUS FINDS

18 JAN GLENN’S PAWSITIVELY PURRFECTSaving Lambs on Christmas Eve

43 FAMILY LAWMuses for the Holiday Season

60 SPRING BRANCH SPORTS SPOTLIGHTMeet the SBMSA U10 Three Lions

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 4

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CONTRIBUTORS

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 4 | V O L U M E 1 0 | N U M B E R 1 2

N E W S W O RT H Y

17 MEMORIAL RESIDENTNAMED A TOP-IDEA MAVENBy The Woman’s Advantage®

21 CITY BALLET OF HOUSTON Presents The Nutcracker

29 MEMORIAL CITY MALLAnnounces Frolic’s Castle

31 SPRING BRANCHEDUCATION FOUNDATION Launches Young Leaders

33 MOM’S CHOICE AWARDSSELECTS MEMORIAL PUBLISHER AND AUTHORSBest in Family-Friendly Products

36 KAPPA HAS HEART

38 WHAT IS TREES OF HOPE?

a b s o l u t e l y !H E A LT H Y L I V I N G

48 absolutely! Q&ATexas Children’s Hospital West Campus AnswersYour Questions on Sickle Cell: Part Two

N E W T O T H E N E I G H B O R H O O D

35 CAREPARTNERS TOGETHER

37 URBAN KITCHEN: Memorial’s New Neighborhood Restaurant

44 PARTNERS IN HEALTH PEDIATRICS: Dedicated to the Health of Children and Youth

absolute ly!AUTO REVIEW

46 2014 BMW M235i COUPE

absolute ly!DELICIOUS

56 SHOPPING AND A BITE

58 VINE SLEUTHWhat Happens at a Wine Competition?

62 absolutely! DELICIOUS LISTING

M E D I C A L & B U S I N E S S

63 MEDICAL FOCUS

I N E V E RY I S S U E

12 PUBLISHER’S PREVIEW

22 SEEN ON THE SCENE

40 OUT & ABOUT IN THEHEART OF MEMORIAL

50 COMMUNITY EVENTS

52 MEMORIAL MENTIONS

64 A LITTLE PIECE OF HISTORY

ON THE COVER:

Stephanie, John, Sarah Mac and Maddie Stephens.

Photography by Hallie Keller.

Suzanne Stiles Memorial MentionsPage 52

52

Jan GlennJournalistPage 18

18

Brandee SmithSpring Branch Middle School LibrarianPage 2020

Dr. Laura NoakerVERGI 24/7 Animal Emergency& Critical Care HospitalPage 3232

Stephenie Coxabsolutely! focus mediaPage 56

56

Jennifer Elliottabsolutely! focus mediaPage 28

28

Debbie Clemens absolutely! Fabulous FindsPage 16

16

Steve KursarAuto EnthusiastPage 46

46

Nancy L. RommelmannFamily Law AttorneyPage 43

43

Stephanie ValtasarosContributorPage 50

50

Steve SieboldHow Rich People ThinkPage 34

34

Amy GrossVineSleuth/Wine4.MePage 58

58

Tammy HamptonContributorPage 60

60

C E L E B R A T E C H R I S T M A S A T

HOUSTON’S FIRST!

Pastor Gregg’s messages and local worship leaders available each Sunday at our other campuses

Cypress @ 11a | Downtown @ 11a | Sienna @ 9:30a & 11a

SUNDAYS AT THE LOOP CAMPUSIDENTICAL WORSHIP SERVICES EACH SUNDAY AT 9:15a, 11a & 5p

DEC 7“HEAVEN”

by Pastor Gregg Matte

Worship led by

Natalie GrantFive-time GMA Dove Award winner for

Female Vocalist of the Year

DEC 14“THE EARTH”by Pastor Gregg Matte

DEC 21“THE HEART”by Pastor Gregg Matte

Worship led by

The Choir & Orchestra at Houston’s First Baptist Church

Worship led by

Preschool, Children’s, Student, and Adult Choirs

Downtown Campus (1010 Lamar @ Fannin – Tunnel Level)Sienna Campus (4309 Sienna Pkwy)

Our musical presentation of the Spirit, the Songs, and the Story of Christmas

returns next year on December 10–13, 2015!

Christmas EveCANDLELIGHT SERVICES

The Loop Campus4p & 6p

Cypress Campusat historic Tin Hall4p & 6p

Sienna Campus4p & 6p

The Loop Campus (7401 Katy Freeway)Cypress Campus (10300 Warner Smith Blvd)

Pastor Gregg Matte


Christmas blessings from the team atabsolutely! focus media.

4655 TECHNIPLEX DR. STE 700STAFFORD , TX 77477

281-690-4242

WWW.ABSOLUTELYMEMORIAL.COM

absolutely! MemorialTM Magazine is published by absolutely! focus media, 4655 Techniplex Dr., Ste. 700, Stafford, TX 77477. Copyright © 2014 by absolutely! focus media. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. abso-lutely! MemorialTM Magazine does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial, nor do the publishers assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. abso-lutely! MemorialTM Magazine welcomes editorial submissions from its readers.

Vol. 10 No. 12December 2014

EXCLAMATION POINTS!THE INSIDE SCOOP STRAIGHT FROM THE TOP

Subscription requests are free to all Memorial and Galleria addresses. Annual paid subscription

of $25 required outside the Memorial/Galleria area.

Publishedby

P U B L I S H E RE DI TOR- I N - C H I E FPatti Parish-Kaminski

A S S O C IAT E P U B L I S H E RLara Bell

M A NAG I N G E D I T O RSarah Bearden

S E N I O R AC C O U N T E X E C U T I V EJessica Kij

AC C OU N T E X E C U T I V E SStephenie Cox Jennifer Elliott

Molly Ellis Kay Garrett

Juliet Hubbell Andrea Rigamonti

Suzanne Stiles Bonnie Bell Woodrow

A RT DI R E C TORGrace Belleza

G R A P H IC DE SIG N E RGinger Garza

W E B DE SIG N E RJoey Belleza

OF F IC E A DM I N I ST R ATORAdrienne Boring

I N T E R NErin De Veyra

P H O T O G R A P H YHallie Keller Photography

C O N T R I BU T O R SDebbie ClemensStephenie CoxJennifer Elliott

Jan GlennAmy Gross

Tammy HamptonSteve Kursar

Dr. Laura NoakerNancy L. Rommelmann

Steve SieboldBrandee SmithSuzanne Stiles

Stephanie Valtasaros

I N Q U I R I E S281-690-4242

E D I T O R IA L SU B M I S S I O N [email protected]

Associate Publisher, LARA BELL

Happy Holidays everyone! What a wonderful time of year. This is such a beautiful issue that is full of blessings. This Christmas season, we intro-duce you to the new pastor of Chapelwood United Methodist Church, Dr. John Stephens, and his family. When a pastor retires after serving the community for 20 years as Dr. Jim Jackson did, it is news!

Also in this issue, you’ll meet Memorial Middle School’s kicker, and wait until you read what she has to say. December is a month of many festive events, including the Houston Kappa Kappa Gamma Charitable Founda-tion’s Holiday Pilgrimage Home Tour and Margo Marshall’s The Nutcrack-er. Stephenie shares some fun places to grab a bite to eat while finishing up that last minute shopping, and we let you in on Spring Branch Education Foundation’s newly launched Young Leaders committee.

We hope this is a wonderful holiday season for you and your family. We here at absolutely! Memorial Magazine wish you a Merry Christmas!

Absolutely! yours,

LaraLara Bell-Milam

[email protected]

@larabell

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Everyone was right. Dr. Jackson was just who we were looking for in a pastor. So, when I learned this past spring that Dr. Jackson was retiring, I was naturally crushed. I thought to my-self on many occasions, “How are they going to replace him?” Dr. Jackson had been at the church since 1994 and is an inspiration to many, including myself. I also felt a little sorry for the guy who had to follow in Dr. Jackson’s shoes. That is, until I met Dr. John Stephens. I recently sat down with him, and all I can say is whoever “they” were – you know, the ones in charge of finding a replacement for Dr. Jackson – in my opinion, got it right.

AM: What kind of kid were you?

Dr. John Stephens: I was a pretty normal kid. I grew up playing out in the streets riding my bike. My neigh-borhood was my playground. The streets were safe, and my friends lived nearby. Things changed for me when I was 14 and my father walked out on us. I had to grow up pretty fast after that. I started working and earning my own money, because my mother was work-ing two jobs just to make ends meet. As I look back on it, I think I was pretty blessed.

AM: When did you know you wanted to be a pastor?

JS: When I was about 17 or 18 years old, I realized that

God had been calling me into minis-try for a while. I fought it pretty hard. I wanted to either go into the military – both of my grandfathers were retired army full-bird colonels – or be a law-yer. A preacher was not in my plans. I remember when I was about 17 that my pastor in Columbus, Georgia came down to the altar and prayed with me. He said, “God is calling you to be a prophet.” That was an important part of my discernment and acceptance to go into ministry. The ironic thing is my pastor at the time was Jim Jack-son, who I am following at Chapelwood. That is a God thing!

COVER STORYBy Lara Bell

I can remember attending Chapelwood United Methodist Church with my mom when I was in my twenties, because she has many lifelong friends at the church.

This was way before I lived in Memorial and before I even had a permanent church home. I always heard of this amazing preacher, Dr. Jim Jackson, so when my husband, children and I moved into the area, Chapelwood was a natural choice for us.

United Methodist Church’s

New Senior Pastor

Chapelwood

Maddie, John, Stephanie and Sarah Mac Stephens.Photography by Hallie Keller.


AM: How did you meet your wife Stephanie?

JS: We met in college at Geor-gia Southern. We were in a

choir together in the Wesley Founda-tion, and we had to draw for prayer partners. She drew my name. I always kid her by saying she peeked in the hat and saw my name and chose it. She was dating a guy at the time, and it wasn’t going well. I also tell people that my greatest counseling was while we met over lunch, and I counseled her out of that relationship. There was no conflict of interest at the time. I was only a college student!

AM: How did you get the job at Chapelwood?

JS: Once Jim Jackson decided to retire, the Leadership

Transition Team at Chapelwood began the search process. It was a combina-tion of names collected from a search firm and recommendations. They start-ed with a lot of candidates and finally narrowed it down to four that they brought in for extensive interviews. I feel truly blessed to be at Chapelwood. The people in the church and this com-munity are so amazing. That was a big part of the decision process for us. We realized that folks in Houston are just like folks in Georgia – warm and wel-coming. We also sensed a real call from God to come to Chapelwood.

AM: What are some of your favorite programs Cha-

pelwood has in place?

JS: A few things that stand out to me are the diverse wor-

ship options, the amazing people, the fantastic youth and children’s program and our unique call to local missions in the Spring Branch area. Chapelwood has seven worship services each week-end, and each one is very different. I’ve been to a lot of churches that have many worship services, but many of them are the same. There is something at Chapelwood for everyone, no matter who you are or what you are facing in life.

AM: What would you like readers to know about

Chapelwood?

JS: Chapelwood is a community that embodies grace. This

is a central part of Chapelwood’s iden-tity reflected in our mission “to embody God’s grace as we receive it, to those who need it.” I have found this to be more than just a statement of who we say we are. I have found it to be a true description of who Chapelwood really is.

AM: You have two daughters, Maddie and Sarah Mac.

How have they adjusted to the Me-morial area?

JS: They’ve made many friends and love their schools. It has

been a big adjustment as you can imag-ine from Georgia to Houston. Junior year at Memorial is pretty tough. New schools and new friends can be pretty daunting for teens. The girls have done really well and love it here. It is anoth-er confirmation of God’s hand at work in coming here.

AM: I heard you are a pretty good golfer. What is your

favorite course?

JS: I moved here from one of America’s golf meccas, Sea

Island, Georgia. I have played on some amazing golf courses. But I have to say that Houston has some really great courses! I have played only a few, but so far Lakeside, Cinco Ranch, Pine For-est and Shadow Hawk have been really nice. I am looking forward to playing others soon, but it has been really busy as I learn the church and the commu-nity. There hasn’t been a lot of time for golf.

AM: This is the first Christ-mas season at Chapel-

wood for you and your family. What are you most looking for-ward to?

JS: We are really looking for-ward to Christmas in Hous-

ton and the Memorial area. Christmas Eve at Chapelwood should be exciting. We have seven services on Christmas Eve, but I will be involved in three of them at 7, 9 and 11 pm. My family is really looking forward to experiencing our first Texas Christmas!

AM: Lastly, if you could play golf with anyone, who

would it be and why?

JS: I would have a pretty odd group. First, I would choose

my stepfather who recently passed away. He was not a very good golfer, but he loved to play the game. I’d love to spend some more time with him. Sec-ond, I would choose my brother. He is a Southern Baptist minister in Georgia, and we always have a great time play-ing together. Third, I would include one of my mentors, Terry Kelley. He was my youth minister in high school and gave me my first job. He also took me on my first golf trip. He loved golf. He passed away in 1997. Fourth would be the Dalai Lama. According to Carl Spackler in the movie Caddyshack, the Lama is a big hitter. When you ask my dream group, it is made up not of professional golfers but the people who have the biggest impact in my life.

To learn more about Dr. Stephens and Chapelwood United Methodist Church, visit www.chapelwood.org.

John and Stephanie Stephens.

Sarah Mac and Maddie Stephens.


Mimosa by Bramanbrands.comFinally, Vitamin C combined with fabulous champagne! Fresh orange juice with a bit of bubbly never tasted so good. This is made in Texas and family proud. Take a bottle of it to your next party. Enjoy!www.bramanbrands.com

BY DEBBIE CLEMENS

FabulousFinds

You may know me as a Memorial mom of four fabulous boys and wife

to Roger Clemens, but what you may not know is that I love finding cool and unique products because, let’s face it, in a house full of boys, a girl needs her girl stuff! So, here are some things I absolutely love... and hope you will too!

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Adidas OriginalsAdidas ZX flux love parade sneakers are the ones for me! These Adidas originals by Italia Independent are multi-color animal print. I have asked for them for Christmas from Santa!www.luisaviaroma.com

Lulu DK TattoosThese metallic tattoos are so easy to put on, wear well and look like jewelry! They’re very fun if you’re going to the beach and go great with a beautiful tan.www.luludklifestyle.com

Gucci CosmeticsA new 200 piece cosmetic line just recently launched,

and it’s no coincidence that much of the color palette

evokes Gucci’s fabrics and leathers. If you are a fan

favorite of Gucci, you are going to love this!www.saks.com


929 Gessner, Suite 1300 – 13th Floor • Houston, Texas 77024 Memorial Hermann Medical Tower – Garage 5

UT Physicians Women’s Centerat Memorial City

UT Physicians Women’s Center at Memorial City offers Comprehensive Care for Women of all ages with a personalized touch at our premier location in Memorial City. Our board certified OB/Gyns, Dr. Barbara Schroeder, Dr. Tiffany Tarrant, Dr. Merrill Sue Lewen and Dr. Jenny Van Winkle are affiliated with UT Health and are able to provide the most comprehensive medical care available in a private, personal and compassionate environment.

For your first gynecologic exam through childbirth, for complex gynecologic issues, for easing the transition through menopause and for staying healthy whatever your age, UT Physicians Women’s Center at Memorial City is uniquely poised to be with you every step of the way.

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Physicians: Tiffany Tarrant, MD; Merrill Sue Lewen, MD;Barbara Schroeder, MD and Jenny Van Winkle, MD

UT Physicians Women’s Center at Memorial City

Memorial Resident Named a Top-Idea

Maven by TheWoman’s Advantage®

NEWSWORTHY

Shirley Barr, chair of ShirleyBarr Public Relations, was selected from more than 5,000 submissions to be fea-tured in The 2015 Woman’s Advantage®

Shared Wisdom Calendar. The calendar provides advice for women business owners from influential women leaders across the U.S. and around the world.

Mary Cantando, Growth Expert of The Woman’s Advantage, recently an-nounced that Barr’s advice is included in the calendar, which was released this fall. Barr’s quote, “Never confuse move-ment with action,” was one of 350 se-lected and appears on the page-a-day style calendar on Friday, January 23, 2015.

“Shirley Barr’s quote was selected because it was powerful, yet easy to un-derstand. Her idea is relevant to almost every woman in business today,” said Cantando. “Women business owners and those who dream of starting a busi-ness will learn so much from the advice provided by successful women quoted in the calendar.” The Woman’s Advan-tage 2015 Calendar provides sound bites of advice on key business issues including organization, promotion, sales and human resources.

Shirley Barr

Jan Glenn’sPawsitively Purrfect

Iwas going through my

Christmas photo albums

the other day and ran

across some photos of

Daddy bottle-feeding some

baby lambs in my parents’

garage. In a flash, I was back

in time to that Christmas

Eve when Daddy and I went

out on a snowy, windy and

bitterly cold Christmas Eve

to save his baby lambs from

freezing.

Christmas in the Texas Panhandle can either be 80 degrees or freezing, but you can count on it being windy, always! The wind cut right through us, and it seemed the mama sheep always wanted

to have their babies when the weather turned cold.

Barney Glenn hollered, “Let’s go!” and the two of us headed out so bundled up we looked like Pillsbury Dough Boys. We were heading out for another great adventure, and we had to get the lambs before it got too dark to find them. We needed to get them back to the warmth of the garage to be bottle-fed. They were only two or three days old.

According to my brother-in-law and veterinarian Dr. Granvel Killian, lambs are susceptible to hypothermia. Also, coyotes roam the Panhandle and are a threat since lambs are a prey animal. They have little will for survival, and mothers aren’t very attentive. We had to save them.

At the pasture, we were able to locate about eight babies and get them back to our house in Wellington, Texas. That is not an easy task. Everyone should try keeping lambs together for a ride in the back of a pickup truck at least once in their lives.

In the garage, the babies had to be bottle-fed with a milk replacement every four hours. Since my family was at my

Saving Lambson Christmas Eve

Jan Glenn feeding one of the lambs.

Barney Glenn shepherding the little lambs.

Barney Glenn feeding the lambs.

parents’ house for Christmas Eve, that wasn’t a problem. All were on board to take care of them, because they were just so darn cute. In fact, after a few hours, the lambs ended up inside the house because it was warmer. That last-ed until one had an accident, and back outside to the garage they went.

Eventually the temperatures would rise, the snow would melt and the lambs would need to go back to their moms. Dr. Killian said, “As soon as possible, they need to return to the field to be with their mother, but she might not want them. They are just not good mothers. Some mothers have babies and just leave them after birth. These are called ‘dogie lambs.’”

That Christmas in 1989 was a special celebration. We had a gorgeous tree, played the usual board games with fam-ily, devoured mother’s usual fabulous meal and opened our presents. Howev-er, the true gift was in the garage. Those precious lambs were safe, warm, con-tented and enjoying their Christmas with my family.



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T hanks to the recent generosity of the Spring Branch Middle School Parent Teacher Asso-

ciation (PTA), the entire staff had the opportunity to participate in an amaz-ing experience. Rachel’s Challenge is the story of Rachel Joy Scott, the first student shot in the Columbine High School Massacre. Her family has tak-en Rachel’s passion for kindness and is spreading it around the world. The non-profit organization’s mission is “to inspire, equip and empower every person to create a permanent, positive culture change in their school, business and community by starting a chain re-action of kindness and compassion.”

Chain Reaction is a program that Rachel’s Challenge uses to extend their message of kindness and compassion. The morning started off by meeting two presenters, Jonathan Oliver and Colleen Kirk, who led ice-breakers, games and challenged the audience to be completely present. Spring Branch Middle School staff laughed, ate baby food, sang and even crawled across the gym floor before digging into the really tough stuff.

Many of the staff said the most pow-erful activity of the day was “Cross the Line.” Oliver marked off two lines in the gym. One was for participants to stand behind, and the other was for them to cross as Kirk read a list of statements. As each statement was read, participants were to “Cross the Line” if it applied to them. Some of the statements included: Cross the line if you were bullied in school; cross the line if someone has said something neg-ative about you on social media; cross the line if you have a family member serving in the military; cross the line if a family member has died in the past two years and cross the line if you have

Joan Cullum, Jill Cliffe, Chenique Whitney, Meagan Martin and Mariah Pellicer completed the Hula Hoop Challenge.

Rachel’s challenge:Chain ReactionBy Brandee Smith

ever been made fun of because of your racial background. This was a com-pletely silent activity, and many tears were shed. At the end of the day, there was a definite change in the staff’s en-ergy and unity.

Visit www.rachelschallenge.org for more information on Rachel’s Chal-lenge.

It was an extremely rewarding experi-ence. I felt it gave us

a chance to renew relation-ships that may have gone stale, form new bonds and find common ground. It seems the atmosphere of our school is so muchbetter for our united experience. – Eleanor Dickey

Meagan Martin, Marianne Johnson, Stasia Mckenzie and Josh Fuchs.

Chain Reaction reminded me that everyone is doing

their personal best. It’s so simple, yet so effective. We are all doing the best we are capable of at any given moment, and Rachel’s Challenge: Chain Reaction was a refreshing reminder to give others – and myself – the benefit of the doubt. Each day since has been a better day with that in mind.– Melanie Morrison


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NEWSWORTHY

City Ballet of Houston has delighted audiences with its production of The Nutcracker for over 30 years! This re-gional dance company and its official school, Margo Marshall School of Bal-let, were founded by Margo Marshall in the Spring Branch Memorial area many years ago.

In the 1980s, City Ballet of Houston and The Grand 1894 Opera House in Galveston’s historic Strand District part-nered to produce the holiday classic The Nutcracker. The beautifully designed Victorian theater served as a stage on which ballet great Anna Pavlova once danced, and it managed to survive the hurricane of 1900. However, by the 1970s, the theater fell into a decrepit state. Painstaking renovations brought this venue back to its prime and ready for City Ballet of Houston to take the stage!

Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo bal-let legend Frederic Franklin staged this classic version of The Nutcracker. Now under the artistic direction of Mary Eliza-beth Arrington, City Ballet of Houston continues this magical holiday tradition at The Grand on December 13th and 14th. In addition to the fantastic theater, costumes, sets and dancing, audience members of all ages are invited to hear a presentation about the ballet, meet the dancers and take photos. For more information, visit www.thegrand.com or call 1-800-821-1894.

Rachel Standefer, Daniela Maarraoui and Sarah Beth Aucoin performing in The Nutcracker.


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50th Anniversary Golden Jubilee Benefiting The Nature Conservancy

Don & Ann Short with Allison & Troy ThackerAdileh Kassai & George Cole

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A s the Memorial Middle School (MMS) football team heads out for practice, a stream of players exits the boys’ locker room. One lone player exits from the

girls’ locker room. Ashton Kettler kicks for the seventh grade team, and yes, Ashton is a girl.

“Last year in health fitness, some boys were kicking the football. So then I tried it,” explained Ashton. The boys must have been impressed, because they suggested she try out for the football team. They might have been kidding, but Ashton likes a challenge. She tried out for the team in the fall and became the Eagles’ starting kicker.

Ashton’s mother Kristen Kettler said, “I was a little wor-ried because of the nature of the sport.” In the end, she decid-ed, “If this is something she wants to do, she needs to pursue it.” As a kicker, Ashton handles kickoffs and extra points. She said she is willing to stay in the game for the kickoff re-turn, but the coach tells her to “grab the tee and run off” after she kicks the ball.

Ashton credits her kicking success to her experience play-ing Albion soccer. “Two trainers really helped me in my kick-ing for soccer. That led to kicking for football,” explained

Ashton. A busy athlete, Ashton currently plays football, vol-leyball and soccer. She plans to run track in the spring.

The coaches have been very supportive and flexible with Ashton’s practice schedule. “We are very thankful to the MMS coaching staff and of course the Albion Hurricanes Football Club staff for the training and development she has received over the years,” said Kolby Kettler, Ashton’s father.

Although it took a little while to get used to playing in pads, Ashton likes playing football. “It’s lots of fun, and it builds my confidence that I can really kick it far,” she said. Most of the boys are fine having a girl on the team. “One or two boys laugh if I miss the kick in practice, but I ignore it. I know the guys I can talk to. They pat me on the helmet when I make an extra point,” commented Ashton.

Kristen said, “It’s been a great, positive experience for Ashton.” Ashton agreed and said she would like to play in eighth grade as well. “We are very proud of Ashton and are thrilled with her involvement in athletics,” Kolby stated. “We believe that athletics provides our youth with many valuable life experiences and were excited that she was given the op-portunity to prove herself on the football field.”

By Jennifer ElliottPhotos by Sarah Elliott.

Kicking Eaglesfor the

Ashton Kettler


Ashton Kettler

Memorial City MallAnnounces Frolic’s Castle

NEWSWORTHY

Hear ye, hear ye, all children who love to play. Frolic’s Castle, the largest indoor retail center soft play area in the world, is open and ready for children to discover. Me-morial City Mall has opened a fabulous new play area featuring the castle home of Frolic the friendly green dragon, his purple wife Felicity and their young son Puffy.

The fully Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) acces-sible 3,010 square-foot play area is custom designed by Playtime, LLC and features a three-level medieval cas-tle with a drawbridge surrounded by a magical garden featuring wizards, catapults, knights and fire breathing dragons. Interactive sound features include a snoring giant, a bubbling cauldron, a grumpy ogre and much more! Tunnels, slides and climbing features are sprinkled throughout the magical land to encourage physical ac-tivity and dexterity. The fully enclosed play area is de-signed for children 48 inches tall and under and meets all American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) safety guidelines.

“Frolic’s Castle is any young knight or princess’ dream come true,” commented Harry Hadland, Vice President of Property Management, Retail and Hospitality for Metro-National. “This wonderful play area encourages the art of play, stirs the imagination and promotes physical activity. We are excited to provide this venue to our community.” Frolic’s Castle is located in the Sears wing of Memorial City mall and is open during mall hours.

Loc McNew, Jane Perez, Irvin Cuadros, Anderson Chira, Julie Baggerly, Chloe Lieb, Ezrah Smith, Jasmine Sotelo and Harry Hadland celebrated the grand opening of Frolic’s Castle.


Claryssa Blackburn wanted to see the world. She joined the army and left for basic training in South Carolina just

eight weeks after her high school graduation. She was assigned the role of communications specialist, working on computers and radios. Blackburn was happy and enjoyed the army and her work.

Story of Hope

In 2008, while stationed in Hawaii, Blackburn met a fel-low soldier. They were soon married and within a year had their first son, Syrus. Their second son, Blayze, was born two years later. “I grew up in an abusive household, but my kids have taught me how to love,” Blackburn shared.

During her career with the army, Blackburn was deployed to Iraq and then Afghanistan, assigning her boys to her mother’s care. After five years, her marriage had dissolved amid alcoholism and abuse. Once she left the army, Black-burn took on a series of low-paying jobs that left the young, single mom broke and without a place to live. She used her last cash to stay in a day motel until the money ran out.

And then, the unthinkable. “I would never have thought of myself in this situation. Never.” Out of options, Blackburn found a warm corner behind a dumpster. She kept the boys close and feared for their safety. Eventually, she was approached by a woman who had a heart for helping the homeless. This “angel” paid for a motel for a few days and gave her a phone and money for meals. She referred Blackburn to a shelter.

One day, the good Samaritan told Blackburn she knew of a place for the boys and her. Blackburn was grateful but didn’t like the thought of another shelter. She was assured that this

place was different. During her interview at Gracewood last spring, Blackburn’s counselor noted how much she had been through by age 25. She said, “You won’t see it right now, but God’s been holding your hand every step of the way.”

Gracewood is a beautiful campus environment where resi-dents receive counseling, mentoring, financial planning and referrals to community services. “I am in awe of this place,” said Blackburn. “It is a loving, uplifting environment. I feel like I’ve moved from darkness into the bright light. My boys are thriving, and the chaos is behind us. Gracewood has giv-en us hope.”

Blackburn now has a job at a law firm as a tech specialist, using skills she learned in the

army. She is focused on working, saving money, repairing her emotional state

and caring for her boys.Gracewood’s Christian ministry

rescues single moms and their children by providing home, hope and healing. “We honor God by helping our families reach their full potential,” said Debbie Rippstein, executive di-rector of Gracewood. “We are here for those who need a safe

place to land and rebuild their lives.”

To donate or volunteer at Gracewood or sign up for a Grace-

wood Home, Hope and Healing tour, visit www.childrenatheartministries.org/

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Frank’s Nursery has everything you need for

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Spring BranchEducation Foundation

Launches Young Leaders

When a group of 20 and 30 somethings gathered at Hugh’s Hangar at the end of August, they were doing more than catch-ing up on their post-high school years. They were looking ahead to ways they can pay forward an excellent education. They are the Young Leaders of Spring Branch Education Foundation (SBEF).

Class of 2010 organizers Marcie Baker, Stratford High School (SHS), and Alexa Junek, Memorial High School, used social

media to gather adults who graduated from Spring Branch ISD (SBISD) schools in the last 10 years or who have a vested interest in enhancing educa-tion, such as young SBISD teachers or ad-ministrators.

“Now that college is behind us, Marcie and I were looking for ways to network,” said Junek, a Deloitte senior marketing specialist. “At the same time, we know that our parents and others like them have put a lot of time and energy into our public school education. We’d like to begin pay-ing it forward for the next generation. We received a great education, and we want to make sure the same opportunities are there for others.”

“Right now, we’re planning get-togeth-ers to get reacquainted,” said Baker, who teaches choir at SHS. “Soon, we’ll plan a fundraiser for the foundation. Most of us probably ran in the annual Running for the Arts without knowing it was an SBEF event. We remember field trips to the Alley Theatre or Houston Symphony but may not know that those field trips were funded by Run-ning for the Arts. Now, we can help raise money for a similar program. And at some point, we’ll elect officers, and the chair will serve on the SBEF executive board.”

Contact [email protected] or call 713-251-2381 for more information about SBEF’s Young Leaders.

Marcie Baker


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Poisonous PlantsHoliday plants are not usually deadly, but they can still cause

severe problems. Almost all of the seasonal plants, including poinsettias and holly, can cause vomiting and painful irritations to your pet’s mouth. In addition to vomiting, pine needles on the Christmas tree can produce lethargy, trembling and weak-ness in the rear. Mistletoe can also cause breathing difficulties, collapse, unpredictable behavior, hallucinations and even death when ingested. As you decorate with these holiday plants, be aware and try and keep them up high and out of your pet’s reach.

Holiday Not So SweetsAnother holiday pitfall is the lure of sweets. Chocolate toxic-

ity is the most important one, causing vomiting, diarrhea, hy-peractivity, heart arrhythmias, tremors and even seizures. Nuts found in many cookies and candies are also worrisome. Al-monds and pistachios can cause an upset stomach or a gastro-intestinal obstruction, and macadamia nuts can cause seizures. One solution is to have special treats to help your pet celebrate the holidays. If you’re having a party, let your guests know the rules for your pet’s food.

Decoration DangersCats are fascinated by tinsel and ribbons and can’t resist

pouncing on this festive prey. Christmas lights bounce off of tinsel, plus they sparkle and move with the slightest breeze. Un-fortunately, if your kitty ingests it, the intestines will try to pass it but can’t, so it just gets bunched up like an accordion, causing an obstruction. Emergency surgery is usually the only answer to this unwelcome dilemma. Also, make sure decorations are out of your pet’s reach. Strategically place ornaments so your pet won’t sit and play with them, and be sure to secure fragile ornaments to prevent them from falling and shattering.

We all love our pets, so let’s take the few extra steps to keep them healthy and happy this holiday. If you do run into holiday issues, VERGI Emergency and Critical Care Hospital is avail-able 24/7.

H olidays are not only festive, but they are also an exciting and busy time for all. Oftentimes, pets are just as delighted as they investigate their

new holiday environment of plants, Christmas decora-tions and delicious goodies. Here are a few common dangers to be aware of as you deck the halls.

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Mom’s Choice Awards Selects Memorial

Publisher and Authors Among Best in Family-

Friendly Products

The Mom’s Choice Awards® named River Royals: Master the Mississippi by Memorial resident Katie Clark and Sarah Wynne, published by Bright Sky Press, among the best in family-friendly media, products and services, awarding a Silver Medal in the Children’s Picture Books: Adventure, Adventurers and Heroes cat-egory.

The Mom’s Choice Awards (MCA) is an international awards program that rec-ognizes authors, inventors, companies, parents and others for their efforts in cre-ating quality family-friendly media prod-ucts and services. Parents, educators, librarians and retailers look for the Mom’s Choice Awards Honoring Excellence seal of approval when selecting quality mate-rials for children and families.

An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts, as well as parents, children, librarians, per-forming artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scien-tists and others.

MCA judges are bound by a strict code of ethics that ensures expert and objective analysis free from any manu-facture association. The evaluation proc-ess uses a propriety methodology in which entries are scored on a number of elements, including production quality, design, educational value, entertainment value, originality, appeal and cost.

Memorial resident Katie Clark, co-author Sarah Wynne and Illustrator Penny Weber with their book River Royals: Master the Mississippi.


Steve Siebold, author of How Rich People Think, and a self-made multi-millionaire who has interviewed more than 1,200 of the world’s wealthiest people, offers this advice on not breaking the bank this year:

1 Don’t fall for marketing campaigns that make you feel as if you’re getting a great deal when you’re really not.

(i.e. Buy it today; pay for it tomorrow.)

2 Allocate a certain amount of money for each person you plan on buying gifts for, and don’t overspend by even a

dollar.

3 Don’t even think of using a credit card unless you are 100% sure you can comfortably pay it off at the end of

the month.

4 Don’t get caught up in the moment. If your shopping cart is overflowing, step back, regroup and make sure you

can really afford everything you plan to purchase.

5 Kids learn by example. Even parents who have failed to reach their financial dreams can still teach their kids

important lessons about money during the holiday season.

6 There’s no shame in telling people that this year will be a lean holiday season when it comes to exchanging gifts.

7 Ask yourself if you would rath-er have the short-term sat-

isfaction of expensive material possessions, or the long-term results of financial freedom and abundance.

8 There are good deals to be had during the holiday

shopping season, but be men-tally tough to know when enough is enough.

9 When it comes to spending this holiday season, leave your emotions on the shelf, and let reason be your guide.

10 Limit charitable giving. Helping others is a nice ges-ture and certainly in the spirit of the holidays, but

until you’re financially comfortable yourself, you can’t give what you don’t have. A little leftover change is one thing, but those who try and support every cause known to man but can’t afford to are doing more harm than good.

For more information on Steve Siebold and his book, visit www.howrichpeoplethinkbook.com.

N ovember’s Black Friday celebrat-

ed the official kickoff of the holi-

day shopping season. Last year,

Americans spent a whopping $57 billion dur-

ing Thanksgiving weekend shopping. And

for many of them, it led to more debt, higher

monthly credit card payments and financial

ruin.

Tips toControl10

By Steve Siebold

H liday Spending


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If you have ever served as a fam-ily caregiver, you know all too well the stresses associated with that role. Find-ing quality services or help, managing the costs of care or securing enough time in the day to accomplish never-ending tasks is more than enough for all caregivers. For the last 28 years, In-terfaith CarePartners has offered free caregiving services through a core of volunteers to residents of the Greater Houston area.

On an annual basis, this nationally recognized, award-winning organiza-tion provides free in-home or on-site, non-medical care and educational ser-vices to 5,000 to 6,000 individuals who are dealing with difficult diagnoses and to their family caregivers. Now, Interfaith CarePartners is proud to announce the launch of its new subsid-iary Personal Assistant Service (PAS), CarePartners Together.

CarePartners Together is a com-petitively priced, fee-based service that provides quality companion care to individuals across the age range who may be dealing with a particular diag-nosis or who may just need some basic help around the house. CarePartners Together attendants provide excellent non-medical care, including trans-portation, meal preparation and light housekeeping, to families and individu-als looking for a little extra assistance.

CarePartners Together is licensed by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS), bonded and insured. They are equipped to pro-vide care for as little as a few hours a week to as much as 24/7 care. They are currently running discount spe-cials for the holidays and new year, so please call CEO John K. Burk, Ph.D. or Administrator Veronica Seivwright, GCM, LMSW at 713-263-7277 to learn more about how CarePartners Togeth-er can help you “Make Days Better.”


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Kappa Has Heart

The Houston Kappa Kappa Gamma (KKG) Charitable Foundation will host its biannual holiday Pilgrimage Home Tour from December 5th through 7th and will honor one of its members, Dr. Steph-anie Coulter. Dr. Coulter is currently the director of the Texas Heart Institute’s Center for Women’s Heart & Vascular Health.

The Pilgrimage Holiday Home Tour is the longest running home tour in Hou-ston and has raised more than $3 million to benefit local charities since its incep-tion in 1941. Four exceptional homes will be on the tour this year, two in Riv-er Oaks and two in the Memorial area. Tickets for the home tour will be sold to the public at various local retailers and online.

This will mark the first time in the event’s history that a Pilgrimage Hono-ree will be named. “We are very excited to have this added new dimension and put the spotlight on Dr. Coulter, who is such a champion for women’s heart health,” said Pilgrimage Co-Chairs Kim Hillin, a KKG Alum from The University of Texas, and Kim Martin, a KKG Alum from Baylor University.

Dr. Coulter was a Kappa Kappa Gam-ma at Texas A&M University. As Direc-tor of Texas Heart Institute’s Center for Women’s Heart & Vascular Health, she is pioneering research in the understud-ied field of cardiovascular disease in women. Dr. Coulter earned her Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston. She interned in Internal Medicine at Beth Is-rael Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts and completed a fellowship in general cardiology at Massachusetts General Kim Martin and Kim Hillin.

Hospital, the teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. She began practicing in 1991.

“Our goal at the Texas Heart Institute is to make a significant impact on human suffering and the escalating costs asso-ciated with heart disease in women, and we’re well on the road with research and programs underway,” Dr. Coulter said. Dr. Coulter was honored prior to the Pil-grimage at the Kappa Kappa Gamma 2014 Celebrity Chef Party in October featuring Houston’s top chefs raising funds for local charities.

For more information on Kappa Ka-ppa Gamma and the Pilgrimage Holiday Home Tour, visit www.houstonkappas.org.

Dr. Stephanie Coulter.


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Finding a great restaurant that is both casual and chic is far from an easy task. However, this is exactly what Barry and Dinorah Barnes set out to do, and when their search proved fruitless, they decided to create their own.

As a result, Urban Kitchen opened its doors. Located at 14008 Memorial Drive at the corner of Memorial and Kirkwood, just blocks away from the Energy Corridor, Urban Kitchen offers an eclectic menu that combines the de-light of comfort food with a trendy ver-sion of contemporary American cuisine.

Whether it’s a business lunch or a so-cial night out, Urban Kitchen provides the perfect ambience for every occasion with a welcoming interior and a peace-ful terrace. And whether craving an American classic or something a little more adventurous, patrons will find the perfect meal served by a friendly staff. With an outdoor smoker greeting din-ers and the ever-changing “Catch of the Day,” diners should never expect the same specials twice.

The owners of Urban Kitchen set out with a mission. They wanted to es-tablish a neighborhood restaurant that would both charm and surprise local residents. However, it is easy to see how word of mouth will soon attract diners from across the city.

Next time you’re on the lookout for a unique meal, just remember that Urban Kitchen is right around the corner. For more information, call 281-531-7550 or visit www.urbankitchenhouston.com.


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What Is Trees of Hope?

Founded in 1990 by Carloss Morris, a long-time friend and donor of Star of Hope, Trees of Hope celebrated its 25th an-niversary this year. Morris established Trees of Hope as a non-profit corporation with the specific purpose to conduct fundrais-ing activities for the exclusive benefit of Star of Hope, Houston’s largest agency for the homeless. The original board included four members elected by Star of Hope: Melinda Ginter, Becky and Sharon Morris and Sherry Smith.

What began as a weeklong Festival of Trees involving the whole family and hundreds of volunteers evolved into a one-night black tie gala in 1996 with an entertainer, a live auction, a silent auction of trees and wreaths created by talented Houston artisans, other holiday items and unique gifts and The Hope Tree, which allows guests to make a direct donation for the children’s programs at Star of Hope. Today, the glittering gala continues its holiday-themed auction of signature trees. Trees of Hope has been very successful with its unique concept, hav-ing donated over $8.3 million to Star of Hope over the past 24 years.

In addition to raising funds, the organization has raised awareness to a population that otherwise might never have heard of the mission. “Trees of Hope does everything with ex-cellence, and they are committed to helping Star of Hope reach out to people who are in desperate need of a helping hand,” stated Randall Tabor, President Emeritus of Star of Hope. Hank Rush, President and CEO of Star of Hope, said that Trees of Hope’s annual gift continues to be the single largest gift for chil-dren’s programs at Star of Hope each year.

Through its fundraising efforts, Trees of Hope on behalf of Star of Hope helps to make the promise of a better life a reality for thousands of Houstonians who struggle with the burden of homelessness. They are fortunate to have many underwriters, donors and volunteers who join hands with them. Their stead-fast generosity helps Star of Hope implement programs that are transforming lives. For more information on Trees of Hope, visit www.treesofhopehouston.org.

Heather Holmes, Hank Rush, Lynn Wyatt and Michelle Stewart at last year’s check presentation.


Dr. Kasia Lindhorst

8800 Katy Fwy., Ste. 220Houston, Texas 77024

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Q&AWith Dr. Kasia Lindhorst

What foods are most harmful to teeth?

The biggest dangers to enamel, as hard as this tissue is, are in the form of acid and sugar. Acid will drop the pH of the oral environment, and that makes perfect con-ditions for cavity-causing bacteria to work on dissolving teeth. Sugar gives those bac-teria fuel to form cavities. So foods that are highly acidic and sugary are the worst enemies to teeth. Some examples of these culprits are juices, Gatorades, Sourpatch Kids, Skittles and sodas of all kinds.

Why frequency matters... Time of exposure of teeth to sugar

matters both on the large scale, as it takes months for cavities to develop, and the small scale of how long given food stays in the oral environment. Frequency of ex-posure of teeth to sugar and acid is much more important than the amount of sugar. What that means is that a cup of juice – or Coke, Sprite, Skittles or any other sugary and acidic treat – that is consumed in sips and bites over a long period of time is much worse than having a pile of candy for din-ner and consuming it in 10 minutes. Why? Because with every sip and bite, acidity of the mouth drops and the environment advantageous to cavity-causing bacteria persists for a long time. So have your treats, but have them in a short amount of time!

Frequency vs. Amount of Sugar

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Joe Stiles surveyed the silent auction.

Theatre Under the Stars’ Alexa Magro and Hannah Keller were beaming after the opening night of Bring It On at the Hobby Center.

Nia Watson with Natalie, Laurie and Nate Sun.

Pauline Borally, Shelley Iglesias, Nikki Simpson, Stacey Hamilton, Keely Krhovjak, Martha Rutledge, Kristine Fote, Kristin Abello, Jerry Jeff Walker, April Abello, Teresa Ferruzzo, Heather Gunn, Leslie Shofner, Angie Clinton, Kristi Hyzak and Lindsay Laudadio. Photo by D. Smith Photography.

Houston West Chamber Board Members Dan and Martha Ceballos with Richard Nevins.

Zest in the West was a roaring success! The grand evening featured a live auction benefiting the West Houston Leadership Institute, a relaxation zone and interactive displays, as well as culinary offerings from the finest local restaurants.

Natalie and Nate Sun sold their artwork to neighborhood friends with all proceeds benefiting Westside Homeless Partnership.

A bunch of two steppin’ cuties got together recently to raise money for the Institute for Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR) Foundation.


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May peace be your gift at Christmasand your blessing throughout the year.

Muses for theHoliday Season

On Love…Love people who treat you right, and pray for the ones who don’t.Don’t worry about who doesn’t like you. Spend your time and energy loving the people who love you.“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” – Mother Teresa

On Life…Sometimes the thing that is holding you back…is all in your head.“He who laughs...lasts.” – Erma Bombeck

On Peace…Peace within you begins the moment when you choose not to allow another person or event to control your emotions.Acknowledge and believe the fact that you can-not change another person, only your response to them.Peace is marked by the ability to move away from drama and people who create it.Distance yourself from perpetrators of negativity and criticism.

On Friendship…Life is not about the people who act true to your face. It’s about the people who remain true behind your back.Friends make you laugh, focus on the good, for-get the bad, know all about you and still love you.“Friendship is born at that moment when one man says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . .’” – C.S. Lewis

On Divorce…Be strong enough to stand alone, smart enough to know when you need help and brave enough to ask for it.Be willing to let go of life as you’ve planned it, so you can embrace the life that is waiting for you.

On the Future…Today is the day to start over and get it right.Everybody has “baggage” to deal with. Thedifference between people is whether they choose to be laden with their “baggage” or choose to deal with their “baggage” and get on with the good things life has in store for them.Moving forward doesn’t mean that you forget about the past; it simply means accepting what happened, sharpening your skills to discern and make deliberate choices to create a happy future.


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Board certified in pediatrics, Dr. Umair provides com-prehensive pediatric care. Her special interests include

infant nutrition, pediatric dermatology and childhood vaccines. She is a proud member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Texas Medical Association.

Fluent in Hindi, Urdu and Spanish, Dr. Umair sees patients from newborns to age 18. She works closely with families providing guidance on growth and development in rais-ing a child. Dr. Umair stays up to date with current management trends in pediatrics and loves to educate her patients and families.

At Partners in Health Pediatrics, Dr. Umair’s philosophy is that children thrive and excel in a nurturing and caring environment. Pediatricians are

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By Steve Kursar

F or the last couple of decades, American and Japanese luxury carmakers have benchmarked

their German counterparts as a way to catch up to them in several areas. As a result, the non-German brands have started to look, feel and drive more German. Well, the Germans haven’t exactly been sitting back and watch-ing all of this happen. Nope, they were busy designing and engineering their cars to stay one or several steps ahead.

A perfect example is the new 2014 BMW M235i Coupe. This is the BMW that is made for the entry-level luxu-ry segment, essentially the “afford-able” step into a luxury vehicle, which means it is priced somewhere in the mid $30,000 range, although the final price tag can be much higher.

But if you do drive either or more of the worthy rear-wheel drive competi-tors to the BMW 2-Series, what you’ll discover is the emotion that only the BMW elicits from its driver. I think that comes from both that German high-way speed limits allow drivers to com-monly push their cars over 100 miles per hour and that Germans just take driving more seriously. No German would consider sipping a Starbucks Mocha Latte while driving the Auto-bahn. Both hands on the wheel and both eyes on the road at all times.

The base BMW 2-Series with an MSRP of $32,100 is the 228i with a 240 hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cyl-inder engine that gets fuel economy numbers of 23 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. The M235i is the more expensive – and way more fun

to drive – model that has a has a 320 hp, 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine.

The M235i has the abil-ity to make everyday driv-ing a dream, where just a supermarket run is fun. But throw it into Sport mode, and that’s where it shines. My daughter

loved getting on the Tollway ramp when I was able to accelerate to over 70 mph very quickly. Unfortunately for both us, there’s no Autobahn with-in driving distance. There’s a Sport mode that removes the traction con-trol feature, but I didn’t dare go there.The standard Sport mode was enough excitement for me.

The BMW M235i Coupe has thrown down the gauntlet to the American, Japanese and soon Korean carmakers looking to offer American car buyers with the best driving cars on the road. But it’s all good news for us, because all cars just keep getting better and better.

BMW M235i COUPE2014

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Q A&Sickle Cell: Part Two

Q: WHAT IS THE TREATMENTPLAN? WHAT ARE SOME

TREATMENT OPTIONS?At Texas Children’s Sickle Cell Center,

our first treatment approach is to pre-scribe an antibiotic called penicillin. Tak-ing penicillin twice daily for at least the first five years of life has been shown to significantly reduce serious infections and death in young children with severe forms of sickle cell disease. Immuniza-tions are also important to prevent infec-tions.

Blood transfusions can be used to treat certain types of sickle cell disease complications. Additionally, a small num-ber of children may require blood trans-fusion monthly to prevent stroke.

Hydroxyurea (a medication taken by mouth) has been proven to reduce painful crises, acute chest syndrome (a pneumonia-like lung complication), need for transfusion and hospitalizations in children and adults with sickle cell dis-ease. It has also been shown to prolong life and improve the quality of life in adult patients.

A bone marrow transplantation, also called a stem cell transplant, is the only

curative therapy for sickle cell disease. This therapy has significant risks and should be carefully balanced with the benefit to an individual patient. The most successful transplants come from a matched (full) sibling, limiting the num-ber of patients eligible for transplant.

Q: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR A CHILD WITH SICKLE

CELL DISEASE TO BE SEEN BY A PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGIST?

Children with sickle cell disease should be followed by a pediatric hema-tologist – a specialist who sees children with blood disorders – at least every six months. This allows the child to be screened for potential complications, as well as for the family to be provided in-formation about the disease. Depending on disease severity and treatment op-tions, some children may need to come more frequently.

A lot has changed in the care of chil-dren with sickle cell disease, especially in the last 10 years. A pediatric hematol-ogist will work with a child’s primary care doctor to screen for potential complica-tions and provide education on sickle cell

disease and associated complications, as well as on treatment options for the child.

Additionally, our clinic is multidisci-plinary – meaning that we have a team of people to help parents and caregiv-ers take care of their child. Our team includes patient care coordinators, social workers, child life specialists, psycholo-gists and pulmonologists. This team ap-proach allows us to take better care of children and families.

Q: WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT TEXAS CHILDREN’S

SICKLE CELL CENTER?Serving close to 1,000 children each

year, Texas Children’s Sickle Cell Center is the largest center of its kind in Texas, and one of the largest in the U.S. The multidisciplinary team is made up of board certified pediatric hematologists, hematology-trained nurse practitioners and physician assistants, research staff and social workers. Texas Children’s Sickle Cell Center offers ambulatory ser-vices, including outpatient blood trans-fusion and pain treatment programs, a sickle cell pulmonary clinic, sickle cell stroke clinic and genetic counseling all in one location.

The program conducts state-of-the-art clinical and laboratory research aimed at gaining a better understanding of the disease, preventing its complications and ultimately finding a cure. The cen-ter’s research funding is provided by government grants and the philanthropic support of a variety of community-based organizations. This partnership allows us to offer even more novel therapies to our sickle cell patients.

To learn more about Texas Children’s Sickle Cell Center, please visit http://txch.org/sickle-cell-program.

Experts: Hematologists at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus

Dr. Alex George and Javon Reed.

Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus. Photo by A. Kramer.

SpecialAdvertising Section

Coming in our January Issue

New Year, New You

Call to Advertise:281-690-4242


By Stephanie Valtasaros

EVENTS

SUBMIT YOUR EVENTSE-mail [email protected]. Include the event date, time, location and a short description of the event.

December 13th, 8:30 – 11 pmArboretum at Night: Geminids Meteor Star PartyExperience the Geminids Meteor Shower with members of the Houston Astronomical Society and their assortment of telescopes at the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, located at 4501 Woodway Drive. The moonless night sky is the perfect setting to view falling starts and deep sky objects like star clusters and nebulae. Warm wine, bubbly beverages, fresh fruit and a variety of cheeses will be served to please your after dinner palette. To register, visit www.houstonarboretum.org.

December 13th and 14th, 5 – 9 pmThe Heritage Society’s 52nd Annual Candlelight TourThis year’s Candlelight Tour will have decorated buildings, historic characters relating stories of the past, carolers, the Houston Boychoir in St. John Church, Santa Claus and his workshop, an art market in Connally Plaza, a family musical, magical entertainment and holiday fare at the Candlelight Café. The Heritage Society is funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. To purchase tickets, visit www.heritagesociety.org or call 713-655-1912.

December 19th, 4 and 8 pm The Trans-Siberian Orchestra Presents The Christmas AtticMaking a stop at the Toyota Center for two shows during its Winter Tour 2014, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra will perform their rock opera The Christmas Attic live. The group includes an orchestral string section, a full rock band, multiple vocalists, a narrator, extensive pyrotechnics, a stunning laser and light show and even a snowfall. To purchase tickets, visit www.houstontoyotacenter.com or call 866-4HOUTIX.

December 19th – 22nd A Really, Really Big Christmas Show Original songs, a cast of hundreds and a creative presentation of the Christmas story make this show an experience to be remembered for years to come. This year’s Really, Really Big Christmas Show will excite and energize your Christmas season! Show times are Friday at 7 pm, Saturday at noon, 3 and 7:30 pm and Sunday and Monday at 4 and 7 pm at Second Baptist Church’s Woodway Campus Worship Center, located at 6400 Woodway Drive. Ticket prices range from $7 to $22. For tickets, call 713-465-3408 or visit www.second.org/West.

December 20th, 7:45 am Houston’s 12K of ChristmasRegister now for this fun, Christmas-themed Houston 12K run that the whole family can enjoy! Post-event festivities include hot cocoa, appearances by jolly old St. Nick and his elves, Christmas carolers and much more holiday fun. The start and finish take place at Fish Plaza, located in front of the Wortham Theater Center at 500 Texas Avenue. All 12K finishers receive a finisher’s shirt and medal. To register, visit www.houston12k.com.

December 6th, 10 am Radio City Christmas SpectacularThe Hobby Center for the Performing Arts presents a special performance of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes as part of the Hobby Center Foundation’s Autism Theatre Initiative. This show is geared toward individuals on the autism spectrum and their families by providing a welcoming, supportive environment at The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, located at 800 Bagby Street. Tickets may be purchased at 50 percent off the regular price at www.thehobbycenter.org/RCCSAutismFriendlyShow. Call 713-315-2580 for more information.

December 8th, 10 am – Noon and 2 – 4 pm Yuletide Concert and CoffeeBayou Bend and River Oaks Chamber Orchestra (ROCO) host a Yuletide chamber-music concert overlooking Bayou Bend’s beautiful Diana Garden. Along with the performance, guests enjoy pastries, fruit, cider and coffee at festive tables inside a holiday terrace tent. The first floor of the house opens for 30 minutes before and after each performance for guests to take a peek at Bayou Bend’s beautiful Yuletide exhibition. The event takes place at the Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, located at 6003 Memorial Drive. To purchase tickets, call 713-665-2700 or visit www.mfah.org.

December 13th, 10 am – 4 pm Santa’s Holiday MarketCITYCENTRE will host Santa’s Holiday Market, sponsored by Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, in the outdoor plaza highlighting quality artists and unique vendors. The market comes just in time for shoppers to purchase gifts for everyone on their list. Santa will be available for holiday photos from noon until 4 pm, so be sure to bring a camera and dress in festive attire. CITYCENTRE is located at 800 Town and Country Boulevard. For more information, call 713-629-5200.

The Rockettes.

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Real Weddings

Coming January 2015

Submit your info todayand have your wedding detailsand photos published in printand online in our magazine.

Contact: [email protected] visit www.absolutelymemorial.com

Coming in January!

If you or your children have recently marriedand you would like to enter for a chance to

be featured in our Real Weddings, all you need is atleast ten high-resolution photos of the ceremony

and/or reception. It doesn’t matter where thewedding took place, as long as it was in the last year

and you or your parent/s reside in Memorial area.Photographers are also welcome to submit photos.


MentionsMemorial

BY SUZANNE STILES

[email protected]

Sandy Lewis, President of the Houston Alumnae PanHellenic Foundation, presented at the Foundation’s annual Wine Tasting event.

Bunker Hill Elementary student Patricia Lynn posed with Melissa Blandford’s class submission for the pumpkin contest.

Rachel Reagan and Molly Ellis were thrilled to meet jewelry designer Kendra Scott at the Memorial Hermann Razzle Dazzle luncheon held at the Memorial City Westin.

Judy’s Mission Ovarian Cancer Foundation held their annual fundraising event, themed Let’s Talk It “Ovar,” an evening of conversations with notable Houstonians. The event took place at the Ethan Allen Post Oak Design Center. Pictured are Aimee Friend and Gracie Cavnar.

Astronaut Leroy Chiao, ballet dancer Mireille Hassenboehler and cancer survivor Megan Silianoff all attended the Let’s Talk It “Ovar” event.

Memorial High School freshman tennis team members Diana Velarde, Sydney Reilly and Katie Jones were ready for competition.

Mothers and daughters got in the groove for the Katy Perry concert! All dressed up were Marissa and Lisa Hines with Lauren and Kristy Wall.


Donna and David Jackson and Shelley and Mike Curry enjoyed a vacation to Pennsylvania to play at the Latrobe Country Club, which is the home club of Arnold Palmer. They lucked out and were able to meet the famous golfer in the clubhouse!

Jenna Jackson, Elaine Turner, Heather McLeskey and Jess Rogers were in the Elaine Turner CityCentre boutique after shooting a video diary series, Elaine’s Big Life.

Behold the queen! Rummel Creek Elementary crowned its annual Fall Festival queen, and this year’s lucky winner was Olivia Friend. Fifth graders enter a raffle to try and win the coveted royal king and queen spots. The lucky winners move to the front of the line at all of the festival rides. This year’s annual fundraising event was a tremendous success, with hundreds of students and families participating in the festivities. At the festival were Lena Sugg, Olivia Friend,Hailey Whidden and Kendall Koster.

St. Francis Episcopal Day School student Katherine Johnston enjoyed sorting books at the Books Between Kids warehouse as a part of the seventh grade service day.

St. Francis Episcopal Day School sixth graders Travis Cummins and Cole Graydon converged on the Houston Food Bank and local hunger relief organization Kids’ Meals to sort donations, stock shelves, pack lunch bags for the homeless and enjoy the timeless gift of giving to others.

Amelia Mannetti, Suzannah Gilmartin and Addison Reilly enjoyed participating in the sixth grade service day at the Houston Food Bank.

During Rummel Creek Elementary’s annual Back to School Night, second grade teacher Courtney Briggs spoke to a packed classroom of parents. Janet and Jason Spann picked out their son Tyler’s self-portrait among a sea of Picassos.

HOLIDAY


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Holiday shopping will never be the same thanks to Anything Bling Boutique, which opened its fourth location in Town & Country this past fall. Catering to women 16 to 60, this family-owned and operated boutique receives new merchandise every day, so they always have new, unique items to make your holidays spectacular!Anything Bling Boutique, 791 Town & Country Boulevard #142 in Houston.Call 713-464-8844; www.anything-bling.com.

NATURAL PAWZ

Located in the Lantern Lane Center next to Fresh Market, Natural Pawz is Houston’s largest locally owned pet store focused on healthy food, treats and that perfect toy for the holidays.Natural Pawz, 12512 Memorial Drive in Houston. Call 832-426-4325; www.naturalpawz.com.

ELEGANTPERSIAN RUGS

Give the one-of-a-kind giftof a beautiful Oriental rug. Stop by to view the fabulous collection of luxury antique rugs, Persian rugs, arearugs and Oriental rugs of the finest quality.David Oriental Rugs,3215-21 Fondrenin Houston.Call 713-266-7772; www.davidorientalrugs.com.


HOLIDAY TREATS AT NOTHING BUNDT CAKES

With a variety of flavors and decorations available in bite sized bundtinis, personally portioned bundts and 10 inch decorated cakes, Nothing Bundt Cakes is sure to make your holidays one to rememberwith a tradition that will last a lifetime.Nothing Bundt Cakes,5000 Westheimer Road, Suite 108in Houston Uptown. Call 713-552-9100.

DISCOVER AGELESS BEAUTY

Discover ageless beauty in the blink of an eye at Sugar Land Plastic Surgery. Their 2-in-1 Neocutis Eye Intervention System contains an anti-aging bio-serum and eye cream, and when used in combination, completely rejuvenates eyes for an absolutely amazing transformation!Sugar Land Plastic Surgery. Call 281-980-8000;www.mybodysurgeon.com.

A CUSTOM OUTDOORLIVING SPACE

Give a gift that will add value to your home – a new outdoorliving space for entertaining,grilling or relaxing by the fire.Call Texas Custom Patios today! Texas Custom Patios.Call 281-265-1994;www.TexasCustomPatios.com.

RIDE IN STYLE

Get a hot new ride this holiday season from TexasDirectAuto.com. With

thousands of vehicles in stock, you’re sure to find a ride that you will love!

Texas Direct Auto,12053 Southwest Freeway

in Stafford. Call 281-499-8200;www.TexasDirectAuto.com.

GREAT GIFT FOR GOLFERS

Take the holiday fun outdoors from clean, soft, attractive, synthetic lawn surfaces to home golf greens that look and perform like country club

greens. Let Green Links help beautify your home and take the games outside. Green Links.

Call 713-932-9997; www.greenlinksinc.com.


The adventurous hunt of finding the perfect gift for loved ones can either be the best of experiences or the worst. When we zero in on the perfect trinket or sought after jewel, it is amazing. But, crowds and grumpy co-shoppers can quickly make it miserable.

This year, ensure fun and relaxed shopping days with good food and drinks. Fuel up on a good breakfast, grab a friend, head to your shopping spot before they open, get a primo parking spot and start the gift hunt. Plan to reward yourself during your shopping day with a quick bite and a holiday drink. Sit back, relax and enjoy the moment. Here a few favorites of mine.

HigHland Village

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro at 4094 Westheimer serves lunch and dinner and offers a taste of authentic Chinese. Each dish is cooked to order and is complemented by a full bar and wine list featuring more than 50 selections by the glass or bottle. Enjoy classic favorites such as Mongolian Beef or Chang’s Spicy Chicken while relaxing in their stylish, up-scale bistro style dining room. They are open 11 am to 11 pm Monday through Thursday, as well as Sunday, and 11 am to midnight Friday and Saturday.

Uptown park

Arturo’s Uptown Italiano at 1180 Uptown Park Bou-levard will charm you with its Tuscan gold hues and lime-stone walls, a whimsical mural, red booths, soaring ceilings, soft lighting and romantic music. The food will sweep you off your feet. As one of the area’s premiere Italian restaurants, Arturo’s offers the perfect environment for your next shop-ping excursion bite. The extensive wine list and dessert menu will make the perfect finishing touch. Try the Saltimbocca Di Vitello…è deliziosa. They are open for lunch and dinner every weekday, as well as 4:30 to 11 pm Saturday and 11 am to 3 pm Sunday.

T he holiday season is bright with hope and excitement as we plan our celebra-tions. We take on the stress of creating

a picture perfect holiday and quickly get caught up in the busyness of the season.

Shoppingand aBite

galleria

Bistro N - Nordstrom Houston Galleria at 5192 Hi-dalgo Street is a stylish, yet comfortable restaurant featur-ing a contemporary American interpretation of classic bistro

Panna Cotta at Arturo’s Uptown Italiano. Photo from www.arturosuptown.com.

absolutely!DELICIOUS

By Stephenie Cox


cuisine. The exhibition kitchen provides a stage for chefs to prepare dishes in view of guests, creating an energetic and entertaining environment. This restaurant is perfect for lunch or dinner between shopping. Café Bistro is committed to bringing customers sustainable and organic foods when available, as well as products free of hydrogenated or par-tially hydrogenated oils. My mouth is watering just thinking about the Grilled Shrimp and Asparagus Risotto. Top off your meal with the signature white chocolate bread pudding. The menu is complimented by a well-chosen selection of wine and beers that pair nicely with the menu. They are open Monday through Saturday 10 am to 9 pm and Sunday 11 am to 7 pm.

town and CoUntry

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar at 788 West Sam Houston Parkway North pairs a passion for service and seasonal ingredients with the finest USDA prime beef. They focus on every detail so that you’ll savor every bite. With the Fleming’s 100®, an award-winning list of 100 wines by the glass, you can discover the perfect wine for every mood. If you find you are still shopping late in the day, stop in for one of their small bites or appetizers. The Sliced Filet Mignon with shitake risotto, chili oil and porcini butter drizzle is scrump-tious. They open for dinner each day at 5 pm.

CityCentre

Eddie V’s at 12848 Queensbury Lane, Suite 200 is known for seafood, but their specialty is excellence. Fish arrives dai-ly from pristine waters around the world, including swordfish from Block Island, scallops from Georges Banks and yellow fin tuna from the Caribbean. From making fresh tortillas by hand for their lobster tacos to including a half-pound of jumbo lump crabmeat in their crab cakes, they go above and beyond in every step of preparation. As you wander CITYCENTRE, keep in mind that Eddie V’s opens each day at 4 pm, and save your appetite for two of my favorite things, Chilean Sea Bass Hong Kong Style and their delectable Bananas Foster.

MeMorial City Mall

Kuu is more than just a name. The word translates to “the art of eating,” and this modern Japanese restaurant at 937 Gessner Road, Suite A180 specializes in locally raised, season-al, tapas-style dishes. They have an extensive wine list, along with handcrafted cocktails. What could be a better break from shopping than some sushi and sashimi? Order many different dishes to share, and you won’t be disappointed. They are open Monday through Thursday 11 am to 2 pm and 4:30 to 10 pm. They stay open until 11 pm on Friday and are open Saturday 4:30 to 11 pm and Sunday 4:30 to 10 pm.

The Crab Stack at Bistro N features jumbo lump crabmeat, mango, avocado and a cilantro lime vinaigrette. Photo from www.shop.nordstrom.com.

A Fleming’s steak topped with king crab and caviar. Photo from www.flemingssteakhouse.com.

The Tartare of Pacific Ahi Tuna at Eddie V’s.Photo from www.eddiev.com.

The cuisine at Kuu Restaurant focuses on artistry and complementary flavors.Photo from www. kuurestaurant.com.

tives of the competition. Sometimes, different competitions have different aims. The HLS&R aims to honor deli-cious wines that Houstonians are sure to enjoy and give medals to those that are especially appealing.

Before the training session, though, the competition collects entries from wineries. The HLS&R competition usually receives about 3,000 different wines to be judged in a variety of cate-gories. Wineries pay fees to be included in the competition, and those fees go toward the millions of dollars in schol-arships the HLS&R awards.

Do the judges know what wines they are tasting?

We have absolutely no idea of the specific wines we taste. We know the variety (type of grape) and a price range, but we do not know the specific brand of any wine. A lot of work goes into making sure this is the case.

T he Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo (HLS&R) just announced the winners of this year’s international wine

competition, so as you are out snatching up as many of the delicious winners as you can, I thought I’d fill you in on what it’s like to judge the wines and pick the best of the best for you.

By Amy Gross

I taste a lot of wine – about 3,000 wines each year. I evaluate and learn about wines at Houston Sommelier As-sociation meetings, at wine dinners and lunches hosted by wineries and distrib-utors, at other trade tastings, at wine conferences, on press trips, through samples sent to me for review and of course, in my own enjoyment of wines with friends and family. These experi-ences help me to be a better judge for wine competitions, such as the HLS&R and the California State Fair.

Since we just wrapped up judging for the HLS&R, I thought I’d give you a peek behind the scenes and answer a few of the questions that I often get asked about judging.

What happensbefore the judging?

Each competition has a brief judge training session prior to judging to be sure the judges understand the objec-

What Happens at a Wine Competition?



The competition area is divided into three zones to keep wine identity secure. There is the back room, where the wine is poured into glasses labeled with numerical codes to identify the wines, the neutral zone where the wine is handed off to the serving team and then the judging area where the wine is served and judged. The people who deliver the wines to judge don’t even know what wines they are serving. Be-cause the judges do not know what we are tasting, this is called “blind” judg-ing, and it ensures fairness.

What happensduring judging?

For the HLS&R, judges are placed on panels of five with each panel judg-ing up to 100 wines on the first day and fewer on the second day. People bring us flights, or collections of wines that typically have about 12 glasses of wine with about two ounces in each glass. The glasses are identified by a long string of numbers. Each judge tastes and evaluates each wine individually, determining what medal to award each wine, and then the panel discusses the wines as needed to determine final medal award-winners in each category, as well as double-gold winners.

To determine the absolute best of the best, competitions have a “super

panel” to judge the top-scoring wines and recognize winners such as Best of Show. For the HLS&R, there is a super panel of 23 judges, which meets after the initial judging finishes on the sec-ond day. Each judge is poured the top wines to select the top winners in a va-riety of categories, including best red, white, sparkling, value, Texas wine and best wine from the featured region.

Judging in the super panel the first time was a bit nerve wracking, as the table in front of me filled with wine glasses, and I wondered how I would keep them all straight. Soon there were about 100 wines in front of me, all delicious, and it was up to me to pick the best of the best. Once I got to work, sniffing and tasting, making notes here and there, the judging part kicked in, and it was easy to pick out my favor-ites, as well as what I thought Houston wine drinkers would love.

How do you staysober and keep

your palate fresh?Spitting is absolutely required. Yep,

it’s true. We don’t swallow all of those delicious wines. Instead, we swirl, smell, sip, swirl in our mouths and spit.

When tasting so many wines, it is critical to keep your palate and head fresh. Consuming alcohol will impair

that, so spitting is essential.I make it a point to drink extra wa-

ter for the day leading up to an evalu-ation and also drink a lot of water dur-ing an evaluation. Then, of course, I spit after every taste.

I also try to drink some sparkling water a few times during an evalua-tion, as the bubbles seem to refresh my tongue. I also eat a bit of cheese and sometimes olives to cut the acid from the wines. At the end of judging, it is most often a can of beer that wine judg-es reach for rather than another glass of wine. Again, those bubbles seem to refresh our tongues.

Judging wine is a fantastic way to

experience a lot of wines at one time and test the palate. Plus, it’s a blast to be with so many others who en-joy wines and share stories between flights, as there is a lot of waiting time involved in judging. I also enjoy serv-ing as a wine judge because it is excit-ing to be a part of a group that gets to choose wines you know others will en-joy. I love sharing my love of wine with others and helping to make wine more approachable. Serving as a wine judge is another way I can do that.

So, is anyone else up for spitting out hundreds of wines with me over a weekend? What about thousands over a year? It’s all in a day’s work.


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BOOK A PRIVATE DINING ROOM BY DECEMBER 30th FOR EVERY $500 OF FOOD & BEVERAGE SPENT, RECEIVE A $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO USE FOR DINNER ON A FUTURE DATE.

RING IN THE NEW YEAR at 024 GRILLE!

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A B S O L U T E LY ! D E L I C I O U S L I S T I N G

GRILLE

024 GRILLE945 Gessner77024281-501-4350Facebook.com/024Grille

024 Grille combines the atmosphere of a local bistro and the classic tradition of a Texas steakhouse. This contemporary restaurant provides a full menu of locally-inspired foods for freshness and classic dishes with a twist. Complete with four intimate private dining rooms, a sophisticated wine list and a signature cocktail menu, 024 Grille is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN CUISINE

MASRAFF’S1753 Post Oak Blvd.77056713-355-1975www.masraffs.com

Hands on proprietors, Russell and Tony Masraff, recognized premier Houston restaurateurs, offer affordable elegance, attentive yet unobtrusive service and exquisitely fresh American cuisine prepared with the best ingredients from around the world. Located in the heart of the Galleria, Masraff’s features the perfect ambience for business and social gatherings. Whether dining in one of the elegant dining rooms, stunning bar area with the elevated fireplace or The Patio on the Boulevard by the waterfall, Masraff’s impeccable service is sure to offer a dining experience to remember.

MEXICAN

CANTINA LAREDO11129 Westheimer77042713-952-3287www.cantinalaredo.com

Cantina Laredo specializes in authentic Mexican dishes in a so-phisticated and upscale atmosphere. The entire lunch, dinner, Sunday Brunch and Cantina menus are all available for take-out, some delivery and catering. Selections such as Ensalada de Cilantro y Pollo, Cascabel Ribeye and Tacos al Carbon are divine, not to mention the Mexican apple pie that is served with a warm brandy butter and choice of cinnamon or vanilla ice cream.

JAPANESE CUISINE

KUU RESTAURANT 947 Gessner, Ste. A18077024 713-461-1688 www.kuurestaurant.com

Situated in the new Memorial Gateway complex, Kuu Restaurant has now opened to bring upscale Japanese dining to West Hou-ston. Executive chef Adison Lee, formerly of Nobu, has brought his talent and passion for Japanese fusion cuisine to the Memorial area. Focusing on artistry and complementary flavors, Kuu has a constantly changing menu featuring locally raised ingredients. With an extensive wine list and private dining area, Kuu is well equipped to handle any event.


THE WYNDEN1025 South Post Oak Lane 77056281-768-6070www.thewynden.com

Masraff’s has long since been known for excellence and uncompromising quality, and this tradition continues with our event venue, The Wynden. Nestled in the center of the prestigious Galleria area, The Wynden features a picturesque courtyard along with a Tuscan setting for indoor events. Perfect for corporate or social, wedding or fundraiser, Masraff’s exquisite cuisine and impeccable service will ensure that your next event will be a memory made to last a lifetime.


URBAN KITCHEN14008 Memorial Drive, Ste. F77079281-531-7550www.urbankitchenhouston.com

This casual yet classy neighborhood restaurant is tucked in a centric shopping center located at the corner of Memorial and Kirkwood, just blocks away from the Energy Corridor. Urban Kitchen features the perfect ambience for business and social gatherings. The terrace is surrounded with beautiful planters providing a perfect setting for those who enjoy the outdoors. Regardless if you visit during lunch, dinner or Sunday brunch, Urban Kitchen offers a dining experience to remember.


Limit 1 coupon per customer.Expires January 1, 2015

Southwell ’sHamburger GrillBuy one hamburger, fries and drink, get another hamburger

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5860 San FelipeTX 77057

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MEDICALFOCUS

Doctor Sends Patients to the “Farmacy” at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center

Renowned bariatric surgeon and ad-vocate of plant-based eating, Garth Da-vis, M.D., has partnered with Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center and the Rawfully Organic Co-Op to open Houston’s first hospital-based organic produce stand. The project is an exten-sion of Dr. Davis’ “Farmacy” program that he launched earlier this year.

“Along with a recommendation for regular exercise, I write all of my pa-tients a prescription for more fruits and vegetables,” said Dr. Davis, who created special “Farmacy” prescription pads for this purpose. “Eating five or more serv-ings of fruits and vegetables each day has been shown to prevent cancer, lower the risk of heart disease and help people live longer. It’s a form of medicine for the body and soul.”

The idea to sell fresh fruits and veg-etables in a hospital came to Dr. Davis as he was making his patient rounds. “As physicians, we perform surgery or prescribe medications to our patients to make them well,” added Dr. Davis, who sees most of his patients at Memorial Hermann Memorial City. “Why not also educate them on healthy eating and make fresh fruits and vegetables readily available? These foods are also a form of medicine that can heal from the inside out.”

Dr. Davis reached out to Kristina Car-rillo-Bucaram, founder and chief co-op-erator of Rawfully Organic, the nation’s largest non-profit organic food co-op based in Houston. Together, they came up with the idea of the “Farmacy Box” and presented it to hospital leadership. “Dr. Davis and I agree that eating raw foods that are fiber-filled, organic, ripe and colorful should be a part of every-one’s daily routine,” said Carrillo-Bucar-am, also known as FullyRaw Kristina. “I am so thrilled to partner with Dr. Davis and the hospital to bring my knowledge of healthy eating and the freshest local

and organic produce to their patients.”Rawfully Organic delivers fresh fruits

and vegetables directly to the hospital for pick-up. The produce stand is lo-cated in the East Tower at 921 Gessner. Free parking is available in Garage 3.

Patients who have received a pre-scription for a Farmacy Box by Dr. Da-vis or other hospital-affiliated physicians can order their box online and then visit the hospital between 10 am and 2 pm to pick up their food. Orders must be placed by 9 am the Tuesday before pick-up.

Each Farmacy Box costs $25 and includes four apples, four oranges, two pears, one bunch of bananas, a berry of the week, one head of romaine lettuce, one bunch of celery, one bag of carrots, spinach or broccoli and tomatoes. Ad-ditionally, patients who have a written “Farmacy” prescription from Dr. Davis or another physician can redeem it for $10 off their box.

“The concept of Garth’s ‘Farmacy’ links directly to Memorial Hermann’s vi-sion to advance health,” said Keith Al-exander, CEO of Memorial Hermann Me-morial City. “We understand the value of good nutrition, diet and exercise, and we fully support Garth and the folks at Raw-fully Organic as they work to promote the importance of a healthy lifestyle.”

Garth Davis, M.D., and Mary Gutierrez.

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W hen Houstonians seek medi-cal care today, they have an infinite number of choices for

health care providers and institutions, either in the prestigious Texas Medi-cal Center or in the growing number of suburban satellite complexes. In the early 20th century, however, Houstonian George Hermann traveled far to search for remedies for his various maladies. Hermann traveled to places like Battle Creek Sanitarium in Michigan and Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. With a concern for the health care plight of less prosperous citizens, Hermann eventually left the bulk of his multi-million dollar estate to establish a public hospital in Houston “for the benefit of the poor, in-digent and infirm residents of the City of Houston.”

Hermann’s life story is a prime ex-ample of Houston’s can-do spirit and endless opportuni-ties. His parents, John and Verina, came to the new town of Houston in 1838 from Da-vos, Switzerland

to seek their fortune. They established one of the first bakeries on Main Street between Commerce and Franklin. The bakery prospered, and John Hermann was able to expand his commercial activi-ties to include a dairy business and the acquisition of land. By the time George was born in 1843, the family lived in a two-story house located on a full city block bounded by Walker, Smith, McKin-ney and Brazos streets. Eventually, John Hermann owned extensive property downtown and a large tract in the south end.

George Hermann was an indifferent scholar and never finished high school. At the age of 18, he enlisted in the 26th Texas Calvary and fought for the confed-eracy from 1861 until May 1865. While he was serving, both of his parents died.

One of his first ventures after returning from the war was to establish and oper-ate a sawmill. Later, Hermann became involved in the cattle business.

In 1872, he went into business with W.J. and Julius J. Settegast to sell both cattle and land. His two bachelor broth-ers would subsequently die, leaving Her-mann as the sole heir of the Hermann real estate holdings. By 1884, his deal-ings were entirely in real estate. One of his most notable transactions was when he traded a team of horses and a buggy for 30 acres of land just north of Houston. This tract turned out to be located in the center of the big oil producing field that was discovered in Humble in 1904.

Despite the huge fortune he amassed, Hermann lived frugally, preferring to save rather than spend. He never mar-ried, claiming that wives were “too expen-sive.” His one documented extravagance was taking a grand tour of England, France and Switzerland. On the way to Europe, he stopped in New York City, where he visited Central Park and made this entry into the diary he kept: “Cen-tral Park is wonderful. I wish my town of Houston had one like it. Perhaps they will someday.”

In June 1914, just four months before his death, Hermann donated 285 acres of land in the south end to be used as a public park, stating in the deed that he was giving the park “in consideration of my desire to promote the general welfare of the City of Houston and the health, comfort and happiness of the citizens thereof.”

Hermann was in poor health during his later years and traveled all over the country seeking treatment. He died on October 21, 1914 in a hospital in Balti-more, Maryland. His funeral, which was held in Houston on October 27, 1914, was an event to behold. Flags flew at half-staff, and Houston schools, businesses and government offices were all closed by public proclamation. The funeral was held downtown in the new City Audito-rium. Thousands of mourners marched in a mile-long procession down Main to Franklin and then down Washington Av-enue to Glenwood Cemetery.

A LITTLE PIECEOF HISTORY

By The Heritage Society

Hermann and his family owed their prosperity to their own industry and to the opportunities the city offered to those willing to work hard. The generous gifts Hermann gave back to the citizens of Houston included the land for Hermann Park, the site of the family home down-town, named Martha Hermann Square after his mother, which would become the site of the City Hall reflection pond and Hermann Hospital, the charity hos-pital that would be the cornerstone of the future Texas Medical Center.

George Hermann’sGifts to Houston

George Hermann.

George Hermann’s well-attended funeral on October 27, 1914.Photo courtesy of the Houston Public Library, Houston Metropolitan Research Center (HMRC).

The entrance to Houston’s Hermann Park. Photo courtesy of The Heritage Society

Permanent Collection.


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December 2014 - Absolutely Memorial Magazine