Mailbag - September 2024

Hailey Sutin, 12, doesn’t let her deafness define her. (Photo: Dylan Aguilar)

Made a difference 

The response from the article [Resounding Resilience: The Deaf embrace life in a hearing world by Cathy Gordon, Aug. 2024] and cover [Bellaire Buzz, Aug. 2024] has truly been one of the best things. People really didn’t know, and I can’t say it enough, thank you! You seriously gave us the greatest gift of educating and informing about Hailey [Sutin] and her hearing. I am really so grateful for this opportunity.

Even if it just opens the eyes of one person, The Buzz Magazines has made a difference in Hailey’s life…. Not to mention the other hearing-impaired kids in our community.  

Leslie Sutin  

Exemplifying resilience 

As the article is aptly titled [Resounding Resilience], Hailey is an incredible example of resounding resilience. We hope she always feels the vibrations of love from her community of friends and family. 

Lynnea Ladouceur Roth 

In tribute to the PR Fairy 

Cindy’s tribute to Susan [Farb Morris] [Fairy Dust: May it never settle by Cindy Gabriel, Aug. 2024] was absolutely touching, meaningful, and so very special. As I told Cindy, she captured so many “Susans” – from her own experience with Susan, and to what she heard while watching the service.

Reading it felt like Susan was in the room, and oh my how I wish that was so.  

As we all learned at the service, Susan would use the word “Inspirement” to describe her continued acts of “Susan-ing” (as I call it) vs. using the word “retirement.” I’m hoping Cindy’s article might light an “inspirement spark” for all who read it, proving that Susan’s fairy dust indeed continues to make its magic.  

Dee Dee Dochen

Captured Susan’s essence

I read Cindy Gabriel’s wonderful story about our precious Susan Farb Morris. She really captured her essence. Thank you so much for honoring her memory in this way. I know you [Joni and Michael Hoffman] had a close relationship with her, as did I. Susan was a force of nature and exuded kindness. We often shared PR advice, and I always appreciated her creative ideas. I miss her so much!

Carol Brejot  

Spotlighting student success

What a treat to read Lucy Walker's profile of Anna Oliva [Sine of Success: Carnegie senior wins big at international science fair] in the July issue. As a high school teacher, I'm mightily impressed by the abilities and accomplishments of today’s students, and both Anna and Lucy are exemplary. And as a newspaper adviser, I'm quite familiar with Lucy’s work – she's received numerous journalism awards and has written several cover stories for The Review. This year, she will continue writing her online music column “She Said” while also serving as one of our editors-in-chief.

I’m so grateful that The Buzz continues to offer meaningful internship opportunities so aspiring journalists like Lucy can tell the amazing stories of other talented teens like Anna. 

David Nathan, Student Publications Adviser, St. John's School

Editor’s note: Thank you, David. We were also blown away by Lucy’s talent for writing and her maturity and dedication, especially as a high school student. Over the years, we have been fortunate to work with many talented summer interns who contribute greatly to The Buzz, especially on our website, but rarely do students get the opportunity for a bylined feature article in the print magazine – much less a cover story. Lucy did an incredible job and Anna was certainly a worthy topic.  

Correction

In our Aug. 2024 Buzz About Town column, the item “PetSet and Pet Green” had the wrong date for Houston PetSet’s annual Fierce & Fabulous Soiree. We apologize for the error. The event will take place Sept. 6 at The Post Oak Hotel, featuring a live concert from Pat Green. 

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