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My name is Wrigley, and I am a corn snake. I was adopted by my 9-year-old human while he was still in mourning over the tragic loss of Otis, his turtle. I love to be held, handled and played with. My human doesn’t mind feeding me the baby rodents that I require weekly. I sleep during the day, and I’m up at night. When the house is quiet, I like to climb in my tree and wrap around it and squeeze it tight to feel secure. Some people are a little creeped out, but once they meet me they find me very endearing. I am 2 feet long, and I will grow to be 5 or 6 feet. I love living with my siblings, Riley, a 10-year-old chocolate lab, and Gordon, an 8-month-old gecko. I probably won’t see you walking around the neighborhood, but I wouldn’t mind a visit sometime.

Got a cute canine or a photogenic feline? E-mail a picture of your pet with approximately 150 words to info (at) thebuzzmagazines (dot) com or mail it to The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, TX 77401. Featured pets receive two passes to Rover Oaks Pet Resort. Each pass can be redeemed for one day of boarding, four extra playtimes or one day in Doggy Day Camp (for approved pets).

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Debi McNabb just sent her son, Robbe, off to college, and she awaits new adventures with husband Bob.

This cycle in nature is not unlike our own, except we get a bit more time with our offspring before they fly off to make their own lives. We build our nests and then immerse ourselves in our children’s care, with much of our time revolving around their activities.

Then we watch our children go off, and suddenly, for many of us, there is a major void in our lives.

How we cope with that new stage of life is varied, though many go through a moping stage, as I did, where the sadness and loneliness are ever present.

It’s also the time when those of us whose lives revolved around the kids’ schedules feel there is way too much time on our hands. I took up sewing, knitting and blogging, and organized my house over and over.

After a while though, I began to celebrate my newfound freedom. I no longer had to do major food shopping, and cooking family meals were a thing of the past. I began to blossom by enjoying myself and the opportunities that the free time gave me.

Other empty nesters say they are experiencing this same range of emotions.

There’s still opportunity for family togetherness for (from left) Kyle, Kelly, Pam and Amanda Roberts.

“I find myself floundering a little bit these days. I was real involved with the school activities and went from one project to the next. Now I am wondering what I am going to do,” said Anna McLean, a homemaker whose third child, David, just went off to attend Southern Methodist University.

“It’s strange,” she said. “I feel like I need to justify my existence now.”

In the past, in imagining this time, Anna had thought she couldn’t wait for the time of “blissful quiet,” but now that it is here, she says she loved “all of the action and having David’s friends around.”

Debi McNabb, also a homemaker, is having mixed emotions as her only child, son Robbe, has just left for Texas Christian University.

“It’s bittersweet because I am very excited for him to see him stretch his wings on his new adventure,” Debi said. “It is quieter, and you look at your husband and say, ‘Honey, it’s just you and me now.’”

Debi has lots of plans to fill her time and hopes to travel with her husband, Bob, on his business trips all over the world. She hopes it will be like a second honeymoon. Also, as they close this chapter of their lives, they begin a new one as Bob’s daughter, and Debi’s stepdaughter, is having her first child, making them brand new grandparents.

Meredith Pinson-Creasey (second from left) is learning to enjoy down time now that her boys, Brooks (at left) and Austin (at right with David Creasey) are grown.

Some have prepared well and have skipped past the blues to enjoy this time of life.

Pam Roberts, an entrepreneur, wanted to take advantage of her newfound freedom by changing her career at the same time her son, Kyle, left for college because, all of a sudden, she didn’t have to be anywhere.

“It’s a great time for growing and learning and time to explore,” Pam said. “There is the freedom that you don’t have to be there for anyone or available at a moment’s notice. When you get your freedom back, if you are young and healthy enough to take advantage of this new stage of life, and if your kids are in good places, it will be a good time.”

Pam was in the handbag manufacturing and wholesale bag business, but sold her half to look around for new opportunities and creative projects. She said empty nesting is an easier transition when parents aren’t so caught up in children’s lives that they forget to have their own life.

Meredith Pinson-Creasey agrees wholeheartedly. Having enjoyed every stage of her children’s lives, she said, she looks forward to this one as well. “I had a great role model in my mother, who always had her own friends and activities, and my parents showed me how to gracefully let go,” Meredith said.

At times, Meredith misses the activities, but she is starting to enjoy the quiet, too.

“I am actually energized by the quiet and down time,” she said.

If you find yourself enveloped in the first stage of empty-nesting sadness, veteran parents of adult children say, take heart. Your children will soon be coming home for breaks. So will their laundry and their late nights out with friends.

Then, they say, it’s quite possible that you will be counting the minutes ‘til you have your quiet, peaceful house back to yourself.

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Debbie Shepherd does not have tales of that magnitude, but she and other local treasure hunters have many stories of enviable bargains. In Debbie’s case, they include a $300 Cuisinart food processor thrown in for free after she bought some furniture, a $10 purse that sells new for $400 and a $500 KitchenAid mixer for $10 with all the attachments, found in an unopened cabinet at an estate sale.

Growing up with less, realtor Debbie says, she had to learn to be creative and stretch her money. That started her life-long love of bargain hunting, especially for the unusual and interesting. Her Galveston vacation home is almost completely decorated in weekend finds, sporting, for example, a 6-foot-tall neon palm tree that she bought in Montrose for $8.

Megan Nicholas chooses vintage earrings at The Guild Shop of St. John the Divine, considered by many thrifters to be a top location to find upscale bargains.

But she doesn’t look only for household items. She is also a specialist at bargain-hunting clothing and accessories. She helps friends and coworkers dress their children for a complete season in name-brand clothing for under $50 for each child.

Some items are just too good to keep to herself, like the old oil painting she saw for $5 at an estate sale. The date said 1896, and the signature was “Ida Pace.” Internet research showed Ida to be an early member of Chi Omega sorority and the first editor of their national magazine. Debbie called Chi Omega’s headquarters, offering to sell the painting to them for $10.

Instead, Chi Omega paid her $100 so they could display it with their historical archives.

Part of bargain hunting is knowing where to look.

Megan Nicholas loves searching Montrose stores like The Guild Shop of St. John the Divine, 2009 Dunlavy, and The Blue Bird Circle Resale Shop, 614 W. Alabama, for jewelry, furniture and crystal candlesticks.

Debbie also has favorite stores for bargains, such as Value Village and Family Thrift Center, both with several locations, but most of her finds come from garage and estate sales. Her approach is to focus on certain zones – Montrose, Bellaire and West University – where the items she finds are most likely to coincide with her taste. She checks listings in local newspapers and online to see where sales are, and keeps her eyes peeled for signs as she is driving from one yard sale to the next.

She starts at 7 a.m. on Saturday mornings to beat “the hawks,” as she calls them, the professional garage sellers who re-sell to thrift stores for a profit. And she is fast. She can check out six sales in an hour if they are not too far apart.

Debbie’s friends call her “The Bargainnouncer” because when someone compliments her on a find, she likes to announce how inexpensively she bought it.

But other bargain hunters, such as an inner-loop attorney with a penchant for Ferragomo shoes, like to keep their great deals under wraps.

Thanks to eBay, only she and her computer know about the low prices she pays for her upscale heels, with a typical retail price tag of $400. She set up eBay alerts, so she gets notice whenever a Ferragamo pair in her size come up for auction. “I have not paid more than $30 a pair, and they have all fit perfectly.”

But if the hunt is part of the fun, what do avid hunters do when they run out of room for all their bargains? Some, like Sandy Holman and Pat Pixley, open a booth in an antique mall. Pat cycles interesting finds through her home, then sells them at the booth when she is ready for a different look. (They recently moved their booth to New Braunfels, where Pat has a second home.)

“Pat has a great eye for retail,” said Sandy, a teacher. “Sometimes, she can sense when something modern is going to be popular, and she will look for bargains on that. Other times, she will take something ordinary, like antique crystal salt shakers, fill them with talc and sell tons of them.”

Others are more like Debbie, a self-described “very organized stasher.” And she loves to share things with friends who are looking for specific items.

“I just love it when someone says to me, ‘Hey Debbie, I need a … if you ever run across one,’ and I can say, ‘Yeah, I just happen to have three of those. Come on over and take a peek!’”

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Ballet fans and moviegoers (from left) Larry and Daniel Scott, as well as Marcia, Anna and Mike Nichols, attend the benefit screening of Mao’s Last Dancer at the Museum of Fine Arts.

One last dance… While summer is normally a slow time for benefit galas, crowds turned out in force for the Houston premier screening of the movie Mao’s Last Dancer at the Museum of Fine Arts. Tickets sold out in minutes. Charles and Lilly Foster, Lynn and Oscar Wyatt, and Mike, Marcia and Anna Nichols enjoyed mingling with celebrities Bruce Greenwood and Kyle MacLachlan, who have starring roles in the film. The movie tells the story of young, poverty-stricken Li Cunxin from China and his inspirational journey as a world-class dancer and principal with Houston Ballet. Li joined friends and former dance partners Suzanne Longley, Janie Parker and Martha Butler at the July 31 benefit screening. As a young man he was discovered by Houston Ballet artistic director emeritus Ben Stevenson, who brought Li to America as part of the first cultural-exchange program allowed between China and the United States, with the help of immigration attorney Charles Foster. Tears and laughter filled the theater during the film, and the audience responded with a robust standing ovation when it was over. The film will be showing in Houston in September at Landmark River Oaks Theatre.

Madrid celebrates… World traveler Carla Villardo and her mom Terri pick a different locale to visit each summer, and this year it was Spain. As luck would have it, they were in Madrid when Spain won the World Cup. “It was crazy,” says 13-year-old Carla. “People were everywhere, hugging everybody, coming out into the streets wrapped in the Spanish flag as their clothes.” Mom Terri agreed. “I have been in cities when teams won, like Houston with the Rockets. But this was insane. The sheer number of people celebrating was overwhelming. Ladies had the player’s name written on their legs in lipstick.” They said Madrid was wonderful, but they would like to go next at a time which would be less crowded.

And it’s off to New York… The first half of the baseball season has not been kind to the Houston Astros, but season ticket holders and avid fans Katie Barnes, Lauren Petak and Pam Petak were hopeful in the stands when the Astros played the Chicago Cubs on July 27. The ‘Stros did not disappoint as Lance Berkman hit what was to be his final grand slam in an Astros uniform, bringing the fans in the stadium to their feet.

California Dreamin’… Sixty five-degree weather was not the only thing magical about the Jacksons’ northern California family vacation. Hiking in the redwoods, followed by a picnic lunch with fancy Frisbee throwing, digging holes in the sand, and playing “Pacific Ocean, I dare you to touch my toes!” at the beach have George, Shelli and Nathan all wanting to go back to Costanoa, a San Francisco-area resort, next year. Shelli says it is easy to have the best day ever when it is filled with family, artichokes and Chardonnay.

Gather at the river… Old friendships were renewed and new ones formed at First Presbyterian Church’s annual family retreat at Mo-Ranch in Hunt. Just as in years past, the Guadalupe River was a huge draw, with kids Adam Homeyer, Grace Homeyer, Ben Homeyer, Lilly Reamer, Eva Wolfe and Grace Wolfe playing in the rapids. Meanwhile, adults Robin and Scott Reamer, Paul and Shelley Homeyer, Chris Wolfe and Nora Dobin kept a watchful eye and relaxed in the limestone pools carved by the water’s current.

Have some good news to share? We want to know. E-mail us at (info@thebuzzmagazines.com) info (at) thebuzzmagazines (dot) com.

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Karen Goerl (at left) and Jennifer Roosth dress in a heavenly manner to reflect the 17th Annual Watermill Center Gala’s theme of Dante’s Paradiso. The gala was held in The Hamptons, N.Y.and welcomed a number of celebrities.

Mystery solved… Liz and Tim Jordan, along with their girls Cristina and Madeleine and 20 other family members, celebrated Tim’s 50th birthday with dinner at the Houston Racquet Club. When they returned home after dinner, they were surprised that a migration of 50 plastic birds had mysteriously landed on their front lawn, with a sign that read “U old Buzzard.” It wasn’t until the next day that a call from friends revealed the culprits – Therese and David Runnels and Tom and Cathy Zabel.

So many places in America are named after foreign places. Andy and Andrea Diamond saw a few of these originals. In Italy, they stayed at the Villa d’Este on Lake Como and took a boat ride to Bellagio Lake. One of the highlights was a spectacular fireworks display commemorating Bastille Day. They viewed the series of grand finales from a cruise boat on the Seine River. Paris Hilton was spotted onboard a neighboring boat and was also staying at the George V Hotel, as well. A magnificent display of thousands of multi-colored roses was in the lobby as a gift to Paris from an admirer. Oddly, the flowers were removed the day she left. Surely, she didn’t take them with her?

Animal adventures… Mehrnaz and Ned Gill and their children, Grant and Sarah, and Mehrnaz’s mom, Mahin Saeid, spent two fun-filled weeks in La Jolla, Calif. They explored the Birch Aquarium at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, San Diego Zoo, Wild Animal Park in Escondido (home to more than 3,000 wild animals), Old Town State Historic Park, Coronado Island and the Spreckels Organ Pavilion – featuring the world’s largest outdoor organ with 4,428 pipes. Their favorite place to chill out at was George’s at the Cove, where they marveled at the beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean after busy days of being tourists.

It’s all yours now… Outgoing Houston Junior Forum president Gayle Barnett handed the gavel to incoming prez Janet Juban for the organization’s 65th anniversary year. Janet’s first job will be to welcome members and guests along with luncheon chair Lynda Gilbreath at HJF’s Fall Luncheon and Fashion Show Sept. 8 at the Houston Country Club. The guest speaker, philanthropist Maureen Hackett, who serves as chair of the Greater Houston Community Foundation, will share her philanthropy wisdom. Seen at the installation were Bernadette Benichou, Marilyn Waldman, Penny Knutson and Marti Lund.

Is this for real… There may be a reality-television show in the works starring Leslie Tyler Fink. Leslie says she nixed her plans to participate in the on-again/off-again pilot pitch for a Real Housewives of Houston series after another producer from Los Angeles approached her with a better offer of doing her own program. She says the producer had seen Leslie on Channel 11’s Great Day Houston and her RSVPSocial.com website. The petite blonde says a reality-based program is in the works and had no idea how involved the process would be.

Ninety is nothing… Shirley Green is 90 and still knows how to show her friends and family a fun time. Her birthday celebration in July was at Four Leaf Towers with family members and friends, including daughter Diana Brackman, along with her children, Adam Brackman, Lauren and Eric Berger and their son, Ryan Berger. Shirley’s son and daughter-in-law, Harry and Brenda Green, were there to help blow out all those candles along with their children Leon and Leslie Green. Guests came and went all afternoon while enjoying the Maggiano’s feast and seeing Shirley so happy.

Mixed media… Two of Frances Carter Stephens’ oil-crayon drawings were selected for Lawndale Art Center’s annual Big Show this summer. Frances’ pieces were chosen from more than 976 submissions by 396 artists that Lawndale received for possible inclusion in the popular show.

Have some good news to share? We want to know. E-mail us at (info@thebuzzmagazines.com) info (at) thebuzzmagazines (dot) com.

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Recognizing community excellence

Leaving food allergies behind
Lace up your walking shoes and join thousands of other Houstonians Sept. 11 for the 5th Annual Walk for Food Allergy: Moving Toward a Cure event at Sam Houston Park. The walk is sponsored by the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN). Walkers from last year’s event included (pictured, back row, from left) Sonny and Theresa Sachdeva, Desiree Hearn, Jackie Wood, (front row, from left) Spencer, Miles and Caroline Sachdeva. The 2.5-mile walk is non-competitive, and there is no entry fee. Food allergies affect more people every year, and young children have the highest incidence. Last year’s FAAN Walk included nearly 2,000 Houstonians who raised more than $175,000 – making it the top fundraising walk among 35 similar walk events held nationwide. Funds raised will be used to increase awareness and support food-allergy research. Visit www.foodallergywalk.org for more info.

Standing tall at 100
Plans are underway to celebrate the 100th year of an architectural jewel in Houston, the John Staub-designed Forum of Civics Building located near the corner of Kirby and Westheimer. A centennial celebration will be held Oct. 27 at the Forum, a historic building and gardens which has withstood being torn down and replaced by new construction. The River Oaks Garden Club purchased the Forum in 1942 and has continued founder Will Hogg’s dream of gardening education, protecting native plants and birds, and encouraging civic planting and planning. Pictured reviewing plans for the upcoming celebration are (from left) honorary centennial co-chair Lynne Bonham, co-chairs Cathy Brock and Sally Matthews, and honorary co-chair Carol Butler. Contact Nancy Abendshein at nancyabend (at) aol (dot) com or Anne French at afrench454 (at) aol (dot) com for reservations. Go to www.riveroaksgardenclub.org for info.

One hopeful evening
Kaylan Findley Caballero and Roula Nassar (pictured, from left) are making final plans as co-chairs for the Evening of Hope Gala benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, located in Memphis, Tenn. The gala is set for Oct. 2 at The Hilton Americas Hotel and will honor former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Farouk Shami. Committee members, including Kim Brown, Sharon Campbell, Denise Evans, Janet Jenkins, Sophia Mafrige, Cathey Meagher, Joy Neely, Virginia Pederson, Lisa Prendergast, Rachel Purcell, Nicole Salha, Shellie Stone and Royce Walker, promise a silent and live auction to remember as well as dancing to the beat of the New Orleans Motown Band Sha’on and Success. For tickets, go to www.stjude.org/houston.

One last dance
Crowds turned out in force for the Houston premier screening of the movie Mao’s Last Dancer at the Museum of Fine Arts. Attending the premier were actors Kyle MacLachlan and Bruce Greenwood, who had starring roles in the movie. The movie tells the story of young, poverty-stricken Li Cunxin from China and his inspirational journey as a world-class dancer and principal with Houston Ballet. Li joined friends and former dance partners Suzanne Longley, Janie Parker and Martha Butler at the screening. As a young man he was discovered by Houston Ballet artistic director emeritus Ben Stevenson, who brought Li to America as part of the first cultural-exchange program allowed between China and the United States, with the help of immigration attorney Charles Foster. The film is showing this month at Landmark River Oaks Theatre. Pictured at the premier are (from left) Charles Foster, Gigi Huang and Valerie Greiner.

Let’s talk over dinner
Dialogues 2010 brought Houston notables together for an evening of lively conversation at the Jewish Community Center of Houston. Table hosts included local celebs such as Houston mayor Annise Parker, Houston Ballet managing director C.C. Connor, real estate mogul Ed Wulfe, clinical psychologist Dr. Ed Reitman and award-winning chef Monica Pope. Each table host led a discussion based on his or her own area of expertise. With only 10 tablemates, guests could have their questions personally answered at the intimate chat fest and dinner. Pictured are (from left) Patti and Dan Steiner, Ed Reitman, Sheila Johnstone, Richard Elbein, Rhoda Clamen and Allen Caudle enjoying the Dialogues event.

Swimming for a cure
Two days of swimming lessons for young children were provided as a summer fundraiser created by members of the Briargrove Barracudas swim team, spearheaded by their coaches, (pictured, from left) Meredith Mejia, Edward Taussig and Liz Gomez. Held at the Briargrove Pool, Swim Away Cancer netted $600 in donations to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. The fundraiser offered swim lessons for young children given by members of the swim team with the cost of the lessons donated by the swim team instructors. Team representative Delores Jones was on hand when the swim team presented their check to Andree Halpin at M.D. Anderson. Congratulations to the Barracudas for finding a way to combine their passions for swimming, teaching others and serving their community.

Ways to age gracefully
Oct. 27 is the date of the 12th Annual Women’s Health Summit featuring Emmy-award winning broadcast journalist Lesley Stahl, co-editor of television’s 60 Minutes news show. The event at River Oaks Country Club will feature educational programs about health from 10 to 11:30 a.m., followed by a noon luncheon. Mary Bain Pearson and Bain Pearson Pitts are the event’s co-chairs, and Nancy Dinerstein and Mary Ann McKeithan will receive the Spirit of Excellence Award. Kelli Cohen Fein and Denise Hazen will be recognized with the Excellence in Bloom Award.  Honorary chairs for the summit are Terry Huffington and Ralph Dittman. The summit is sponsored by the Huffington Center on Aging at Baylor College of Medicine and will offer up-to-date information on issues relating to women’s health. Pictured are (from left) 2009 honorees Kimberly DeLape and Diane Gendel, author and keynote speaker Barbara Taylor Bradford, Donatella Benckenstein and Betty Hrncir.

Wheels and wine
Drinking and driving is typically a no-no, but Susan and Norm Spalding and Theresa and Ralph Kelly hosted an unusual event combining the two activities for car and wine enthusiasts. Guests, including Nancy and Bob Rigney, Jan and Val Bennett, Nini and Tino Bekhradi, Stacey Strouhal, Karen Mann and Bill Monroe, enjoyed test driving an electric roadster by Tesla Motors before enjoying wines and nibbles. The unusual car caused quite a few double takes on Tanglewood Boulevard while it was parked in The Spaldings’ circle drive. Partygoers quenched their thirst alongside former Houstonian John Kelly, a winemaker and owner of Westwood Winery in Sonoma, Calif. He presented his latest releases of his estate-grown pinot noir and syrah. Pictured checking out the unusual roadster are (from left) Susan and Norm Spalding, Ross Rubman, John Kelly, and Theresa and Ralph Kelly.

Bee Seen in Buzz About Town
Send your local notices and announcements (approximately 100 words) along with a high-resolution photo. All submissions are due on the first of the month prior to publication. Items are published on a space-available basis. Items may be e-mailed to info (at) thebuzzmagazines (dot) com or mailed to The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, TX 77401. The Tanglewood Buzz reserves the right to edit all submissions.

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Leaving food allergies behind

Making softball waves
The West University Wave 10U Girls Tournament Team finished its summer season with some well-deserved time at the beach after a ninth-place finish in the USFA 10B World Series Tournament held in Panama City Beach, Fla. This national tournament is the largest USFA fastpitch girls’ softball tournament of the year, attracting more than 3,000 girls on more than 300 teams in six different age brackets. Participation in the 10B bracket included 66 teams from around the country, including two teams from Canada. The Wave, who qualified for the tournament by winning the USFA Texas state tournament in Beaumont in June, played 10 games, finishing 5-2 in bracket play. Pictured on the beach celebrating their season finish are (back row, from left) Sydney Beckham, Anna Winter, Elysa Tulek, Julia Waller, Alyssa Barrett, Jenny Perrotta, (front row, from left) Maddie Van Brunt, Grace Hansen, Zoe Narvacan, Abbey Parks, Megan Dickson and Jordan Howard. Manager Don Beckham, who has participated in several national competitions, praised the team for representing the West University Softball Association and the State of Texas.

One hopeful evening
Kaylan Findley Caballero and Roula Nassar (pictured, from left) are making final plans as co-chairs for the Evening of Hope Gala benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, located in Memphis, Tenn. The gala is set for Oct. 2 at The Hilton Americas Hotel and will honor former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Farouk Shami. Committee members, including Kim Brown, Sharon Campbell, Denise Evans, Janet Jenkins, Sophia Mafrige, Cathey Meagher, Joy Neely, Virginia Pederson, Lisa Prendergast, Rachel Purcell, Nicole Salha, Shellie Stone and Royce Walker, promise a silent and live auction to remember as well as dancing to the beat of the New Orleans Motown Band Sha’on and Success. St. Jude benefits pediatric patients in the Houston area as it shares its discoveries with our local scientific and medical communities. For tickets, go to www.stjude.org/houston.

Membership has its benefits
Houston members of the Roaring Fork Club, located in Basalt, Colo., celebrated the club’s 10th anniversary at the home of Ann and Don Short (pictured, center and right) this summer. The party included a private tasting of wines from the 32 Winds Wine’s 2007 vintage. Guests, including Jim Light, (pictured, left), one of the Roaring Fork Club founders, as well as members Nancy Moncrief and Fred and Claudia Lummis, enjoyed reminiscing about times spent at the Club, located close to downtown Aspen and known for its fly fishing, golf course, cross-country skiing and family activities. Seen in the crowd were Doug and Sheryl Bech and Ann Gregory.

Celebrating local theater
Gente de Teatro has brought the passion of Latin American and Spanish theater to Houston audiences for 15 years. To celebrate, a party will be held following the performance of Made in Lanús by Nelly Fernández Tiscornia on Sept. 10 at Rice University’s Hamman Hall. Pictured are the seven volunteer members who assist with each production. They are (front row, from left) Carmen Falla Aramayo, Marcela Salas, Claudia Soroka, Ana Scuseria, (back row, from left) Jorge Zambra, Esteban Gago and Sergio Amsel. All performances are in Spanish, and ticket prices are kept low. Made in Lanús will be presented Sept. 9-12. Contact 713-826-0445 or go to www.gentedeteatro.org for info.

Classmates reunite
More than 35 alumni from West University Elementary School’s Class of 1976 enjoyed a weekend of reunion festivities in July. Classmates attended a mixer at Casa Dominguez, a reunion at Edloe Street Café and an evening of fun at Dave and Buster’s. Class members who stopped by the school building on University for a photo op include Jack Huffman Scarborough, Dan Tevis, Eve Maulsby, Pamela Paquette Garza, Edmund Ranly, Dave DeJohn, Susan Couch Mallek, Kim Herb Spears, Lynn Eaves Young, Lorna Hawkins, Ted Currier, Leigh Range, Laura Bradham, Gaynor Keprta, Selena McPhail, Stephen Cameron, Courtney Farley, Kurt Simms, Alycia Bohner, Debbie Lorfing, Craig Wallin, Mark Scroggins, Kelli Lyn, Lisa Tsokos, Matthew Schulte, Elizabeth Olivé Johnson, Charles Candela and Garrett Gadbois. For future class-reunion news, email Ted at curriers714@yahoo.com.

Making beautiful music
Girls from all over the country came together at the University of St. Thomas this summer for the Royal School of Church Music – America Gulf Coast Course for Girls and Adults. While making new friends, the participants made worship music and learned about new ways to be musical leaders in their home choirs. Pictured are participants from St. Paul’s United Methodist Church including Maddy Auchter, Katrina Benwell, Audrey Black, Meg Brigman, Courtney Greenwell, Mallory Miller, Meghan Miller, Sara Olshefski, Autumn Watt and Emily Wolfe.

Going once, going twice
Now that the hallways of West University Elementary School are bustling with students, the auction committee is working full-speed ahead for the Nov. 6 auction fundraiser Rock the Night Away at Minute Maid Park. Pictured are event co-chairs (from left) Tara Wuthrich, Linette Courtney, Julie Jackson and Sherry Sinor toasting the hard work thus far which has secured big-board auction donations including airline tickets, vacation home packages, hotel stays, spa services, parties, sports memorabilia and home décor. Auction donations are still being accepted. Contact Tara at t.wuthrich0018 (at) att (dot) net for info. Proceeds from the event will fund curriculum-enrichment programs throughout the school year.

A whole lotta baseball
For the second year in a row, the West University Little League Senior team earned its spot at the Senior League World Series in Bangor, Maine. Led by manager Trey Cornelius and coaches Will McDaniel and Clint Sauls, the team of 15-16 year-olds sealed the deal by winning the Southwest Regional tournament in Seguin with a 6-3 win over the New Mexico state champions. The league is also proud of its 11U team, which captured the District 16, Section 3 and Texas East State titles alongside the Seniors who then went on to clinch the Southwest Regional championship before heading to the Senior League World Series. At Sectionals, the West U 11’s defeated Santa Fe 7-3 in the championship game. After a successful round of play at the Texas East State Tournament in Tyler, the boys went on defeat Lamar American by a score of 15-6 to complete their championship run. Members of both the Senior and 11U teams are pictured celebrating their strong performances on the field following their victories at the state championship games.

Bee Seen in Buzz About Town
Send your local notices and announcements (approximately 100 words) along with a high-resolution photo. All submissions are due on the first of the month prior to publication. Items are published on a space-available basis. Items may be e-mailed to info (at) thebuzzmagazines (dot) com or mailed to The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, TX 77401. The West University Buzz reserves the right to edit all submissions.

Related posts:

1. Buzz About Town – September 2010
2. Buzz About Town – September 2010
3. Buzz About Town – August 2010

Leaving food allergies behind

Shooting hoops, serving others
The International Sports Training Institute’s basketball players not only enjoy shooting hoops together but working on community service projects as well. Members of ISTI’s Bellaire 11U all-star team, including Grant Schneider, Kennedy Coleman, Kyle Stein, Joseph Fields, Camron Horry, Jake Greenberg, Jake Plantowsky, Ryan Bronston, Sammy Williams, Jordan Loev and Brandon Gomel, are working with the team’s coach, Ben Simmons, a former Purdue Calumet basketball standout, to improve their game and perform community service for those less fortunate . Team members (pictured, from left) Zachary Bell, Max Dokell, Jared Wiesenthal, Garrett Glover and Jonathan Stein recently served breakfast to the homeless at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church, and more community service projects are in the works. Check out www.istisports.net or email Ben (at) istisports (dot) net for more info.

One hopeful evening
Kaylan Findley Caballero and Roula Nassar (pictured, from left) are making final plans as co-chairs for the Evening of Hope Gala benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, located in Memphis, Tenn. The gala is set for Oct. 2 at The Hilton Americas Hotel and will honor former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Farouk Shami. Committee members, including Kim Brown, Sharon Campbell, Denise Evans, Janet Jenkins, Sophia Mafrige, Cathey Meagher, Joy Neely, Virginia Pederson, Lisa Prendergast, Rachel Purcell, Nicole Salha, Shellie Stone and Royce Walker, promise a silent and live auction to remember as well as dancing to the beat of the New Orleans Motown Bank Sha’on and Success. St. Jude benefits pediatric patients in the Houston area by sharing its discoveries with our local scientific and medical communities. Go to www.stjude.org/houston for ticket info.

Spiritual journey to remember
Imagine crossing the Jewish rite of passage, known as a Bar Mitzvah, in the same place that your ancestors experienced the same ritual for thousands of years. For 13-year-old Bucky Engel, having his religious ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem in June held special meaning because Israel is known as the spiritual homeland for Jews worldwide. Accompanied by family members Sabrina, Eddie and Natalie Engel, Hilary and Brent Kamin, Carol and Mark Mendelovitz, and Lilia Lopez, Bucky lead an intimate service at the Western Wall and enjoyed a few weeks in Israel touring and learning about its historical significance. Mazel Tov to Bucky (pictured) and his family.

Run Boomer run
It’s not every day that a kid swims 50 meters, bikes 1.2 miles and then runs a quarter of a mile on his own without any help from others on the sidelines. Horn Academy third grader Boomer Beasley did it all and celebrated finishing his first triathlon at the Kiwanis Kids Triathlon held in The Woodlands in August. As a competitor in the 8-year-old division, he was thrilled to make it to the starting lineup after training for a few months by going on long bike rides and swimming at the Evergreen Pool. Parents Tassy and Mitch Beasley and his brothers, Jake, Joe and Lee, met Boomer after he crossed the finish line to offer high fives. Boomer says his triathlon days aren’t over, and he has inspired his 6-year-old brother, Jake, to give it a try. Boomer looks forward to trying adventure racing with his dad someday and playing soccer this fall. Boomer was also excited that his friend, Ethan Tyler, who inspired him to train for the triathlon, also finished the race in the 9-year-old division.

Painting shades of hope
A live art-making event, Shade of Hope Paint Day, was held in July to benefit the Houston Furniture Bank, which helps local families in need receive home furnishings. Local artists, including Lori Betz, Shirlette Thompson and Michael Wooten, created works of art on-the-spot using roller shades and vinyl as canvases along with paints in various shades of color. The artists displayed and sold their creations in the Shade of Hope VIP Gallery inside the Furniture, Arts and Decor Expo at the George R. Brown Convention Center in August. Seen in the crowd were Esther Steinfeld and musician Jonathan Ross. Go to www.fb-houston.org to learn more about the Furniture Bank.

No picnic basket required
Nothing beats a summer weeknight picnic with bocce ball, badminton, croquet, horseshoes, barbecue and drinks. Shelley and Jim Rice opened their home and backyard in July to co-host Workshop Houston’s Summer Social and Backyard Bash. Seen in the crowd were co-host Eric Townsend, Frank Zamarron, Frank Zamarron Jr. and co-host Cheryl Alexander. More than 150 guests learned about Workshop Houston’s five shops that teach fun and practical hands-on skills to young people, including the Third Ward Bike Shop (do-it-yourself bike repair), the Chopper Shop (welding and metal fabrication), the Beat Shop (hip-hop music production), the Style Shop (fashion design) and the Scholar Shop (tutoring and academic enrichment). Check out www.workshophouston.org for more info. Pictured at the picnic are (from left) hosts Jim and Shelley Rice along with Mark Blackshear.

Wine, tapas and art
Cassie and Spencer Neumann will once again welcome guests to their home for the 3rd Annual Wine and Tapas Gala Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m. Kristi Coffey is co-chairing the event, and she anticipates raising even more than the proceeds from last year’s event, which netted $10,000 for park facilities in Bellaire. Proceeds from this year’s event are earmarked for the ongoing development of Bellaire Town Square, including the construction of a skate park, pavilion, plaza with an interactive fountain and great lawn. Wines from various regions will be paired with a selection of tapas. New to the gala is a showcase and art auction of pieces donated by local artists. Tickets are $40 in advance or $45 at the door and can be purchased online at www.bellaireparks.org or by sending payment to: P.O. Box 3228, Bellaire, TX, 77402. Patrons For Bellaire Parks board members are pictured enjoying the festivities at the 2009 event.

Mustangs storm the field
The Mustangs, a 7U baseball team, placed second in the recent Sugar Land Summer Splash tournament.  After beating the Angleton Crush 15-3 in the quarterfinals and the Missouri City Heat 12-4 in the semis, the Mustangs fought a tough battle against Barbers Hill Express in the championship game. The team is coached by (pictured, back row from left) Doug Goldstein, Jim Bartlett and John Johnson. Members of the team include (back row, from left) Drew Leach, Ben Johnson, Carson Brown, (front row, from left) Charles Galtney, Connor Bartlett, Jack Goldstein, Joshua Blum, Garrett Johnson, Wilson Woodcox and Parker Smith.

Bee Seen in Buzz About Town
Send your local notices and announcements (approximately 100 words) along with a high-resolution photo. All submissions are due on the first of the month prior to publication. Items are published on a space-available basis. Items may be e-mailed to info (at) thebuzzmagazines (dot) com or mailed to The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, TX 77401. The Bellaire Buzz reserves the right to edit all submissions.

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This birthday party created a lot of tail wagging, as the first birthdays of four pups were celebrated. Pictured are (from left) Mike Ho, Christine Ho (holding Maui), Mary Beth Cody (holding Cookie) Terri Krause, Annalise Krause (holding Brownie), Mark Krause and Harvey Cody (with Chip and Lola).

Mystery solved… Liz and Tim Jordan, along with their daughters Cristina and Madeleine and 20 other family members, celebrated Tim’s 50th birthday with dinner at the Houston Racquet Club. When they returned home after dinner, they were surprised that a migration of 50 plastic birds had mysteriously landed on their front lawn, with a sign that read “U old Buzzard.” It wasn’t until the next day that a call from friends revealed the culprits – Therese and David Runnels and Tom and Cathy Zabel.

An eye for art… Although Larry Spitzberg is an optometrist by profession, his passion to paint art has led him to annual summer trips to Paris, with a twist. This year, Larry and his wife, Susan Spitzberg, started their journey in Copenhagen with a bike ride on the fairytale Danish island of Aeroe, which attracts artists to its beautiful beaches and hills. They jaunted to the City of Lights where Susan claims that Parisian food, cafes, strolling musicians and art all begin to look Impressionistic after a nightly bottle of French wine. Larry clicked hundreds of photos for future inspiration at his easel back home. Check out his art show on Sept.16 at the French Alliance, 427 Lovett, 6-8 p.m. You, too, may be compelled to take an artistic journey. Merci beaucoup!

Mariachi wake-up call… It was 7:45 a.m. on July 22 when a band of mariachi players from HSPVA and Jeff Davis High School exited their van in front of Terry and Kathy Hatchett’s home. The front door opened, and they were invited inside thanks to the behind-the-scenes conspiring of housekeeper Yoli Sanchez, who secretly arranged for an hour of festive wake-up music to be played in celebration of Terry’s birthday. The Hatchetts’ guest from Spain, who had arrived the night before, thoroughly enjoyed the rousing morning music. Tequila shots were postponed until that evening.

Extreme summer… Don’t ask the Burrows what they did this summer unless you have time to hear all about it. Regan Burrows and 16-year-old daughter Susan Burrows started with a family reunion in Hawaii where they cruised around the Hawaiian Islands for a week, with two-day stops at each island. Their favorite swim was a snorkel with the turtles on Maui.  A day tour at Pearl Harbor was enlightening. Then they flew to Reno, Nev., where Susan’s volleyball team played in the Junior Olympics. Her team won the 16U American division’s bronze medal. Back in Houston, they volunteered at Summer Celebration at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church where Susan served as an assistant teacher for 9-year-old students. Never an idle moment for these two, as they jetted to New Jersey to visit family members before Susan attended Columbia University’s volleyball camp and another camp at Stratford High School.

Welcome, Olivia Jane Henderson, the first love bundle born to Elizabeth and Trey Henderson. She was born at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital on July 2 and weighed in at 4 lbs., 7 oz., and measured 17¾  inches long. Olivia’s excited grandparents are Diana and Jack Hoover and Jane and Joe Henderson of Huntsville.

The rain in Spain… Memorial High School seniors Mary Clare Bruce and Lauren Heyne spent a month in Spain this summer. The senoritas lived with a host family in Salamanca while studying Spanish and other electives. The lucky girls enjoyed weekend excursions to Madrid, Santander, Ciudad Rodrigo and El Escorial. Mary Clare says that watching the World Soccer Cup from The Plaza in Madrid on giant television screens with thousands of local fans was a thrill.

Have some good news to share? We want to know. E-mail us at (info@thebuzzmagazines.com) info (at) thebuzzmagazines (dot) com.

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