Rumor Has It - May 2024

Secret beach. They discovered the Secret Beach in Belize was not so secret. It was on the west side of the Ambergris Caye with the clearest water and lots of bars and restaurants to serve you at your lounge chair. Charles and Rebecca Turner along with their kids Ben (a 10th grader at The Kinkaid School) and Julia (a freshman at the University of Tennessee) kept busy there during spring break. The energized family spent a full day snorkeling and sailing around the barrier reef on the east side of the island and spent a few hours exploring Caye Caulker island. They made a trip to the mainland of Belize to zipline in the rainforest and go cave tubing. They also caught barracuda and snapper on a fishing expedition where they explored all the bay islands around Ambergris.

THE TRIO Lucy Baker Moorman, Kathy Trammell Scruggs, and Martha Hill Jamison learned to harmonize to their favorite folk songs in the sixties. The trio recently got together to make an album. (Photo: Jack’s Photos, Austin)

The trio. The friends have been singing together since they were in the sixth grade, and now that they have all crooned into their seventh decade, they made an album. For fun, Lucy Baker Moorman, Kathy Trammell Scruggs, and Martha Hill Jamison, 1970 grads of Memorial High School, spent a week at Beebe Gunn Studio at age 70. Soon after, they debuted their creation of ’60s and ’70s music at a party with their former classmates at The Continental Club. Their melodies mixed well with the served tacos, Topo Chicos, beer, and wine. Party favors were a USB stick, CD or Vinyl LP of course. They wanted to preserve their expression, and at this age, “never say never,” as Martha chanted many times.

No one swam. The 75th birthday cake featured photos of people and events in the life of Michael Johnson inside of giant numbers 75. Michael’s wife, Kristi Johnson, hosted the birthday party at their home, where friends danced by the pool to the tunes of the Jimmie Hunter Band. The food was catered by Los Tios. Their daughters Paige and Lauren were celebrating along with their husbands Tanner Maffett and Stephen Miller. Other guests included Carla and Mike Harrington, Vickie and Rick Staff, Susan and Bob Porter, Teresa and Ken Rossy, Amy and Ed Williamson, Carol Brejot, and Twyla Butts and Dick Eicher. 

Covered in flies. It was a surprise, but they were prepared with nets over their hats. Sandy Wilkens and friend Steve Beckham, on a trip of a lifetime with the University of Texas Longhorns to Australia and New Zealand, were immersed in flies in the Outback. A few unexpected highlights on their 25-day trip were: Phillip Island penguins, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, viewing Uluru at dawn, Milford Sound, and Queenstown Waiheke Island off Auckland. They walked in the steps of Edmund Hillary at Mount Cook, where he trained for his conquering of Everest. And lots of wineries. No flies there.

No stage fright.  Nearly 200 people attended Queensbury Theatre’s annual gala, chaired by Michelle Enszer and her team Megan Sakkal, Annelyse Frugoni, Mary Celano, and Sheri Stegent. Nancy Martin, board president, was quite thrilled The Room Where it Happens raised over $140,000 for the theatre to continue its educational and professional programming. Two student emcees, Will Larrabee and Declan Barbosa, and live entertainment captivated the guests in the theater. A paddles up campaign and silent auction of over 30 items added to the fun. Longtime benefactors Jay and Charlotte Tribble were thanked dramatically.   

EVERYTHING BLOOMING The Memorial Drive Garden Club took a field trip to the Brookwood Community, where they had a colorful tour of the nursery and made many purchases. Front row: Sushila Mathew, Marsha Floyd, Geetha Mammen, Sharon Brier, Hansa Mehta, Jeannette Nestvold, Barbara Upchurch, Susan Davis, Diane McDaniel, and Judy Glasford; Back row: Rachel Messina, Jana Stiffel, Rochelle Lootens, Amy Winstead, Sherry Boni, Pat Moon, Christine Padon, Susanna Jeu, Alice Bing, Spook Willoughby, Sharon Roark, Sandy Wilkens, Landa McClain, Mary K Burtner, Beverly Mattern, Mala Salvador, Carol Maresh, Jenny Blanc, Sue Shefman, Susan Diehl, and Connie Dalton. 

Everything blooming.  The Memorial Drive Garden Club enjoyed a field trip coordinated by Beverly Mattern and Sue Shefman, where the group traveled via bus to the Brookwood Community in Brookshire for a tour and gourmet lunch and two opportunities to shop in the vast gift shop and garden center. Thirty members of the garden club attended and were in awe of the facilities and productivity that houses and provides jobs for adults with disabilities. Some citizens, as they are called, come on a daily basis. The center offers pottery making, painting and molding and features a horticultural center. Some of those walking out with gorgeous plants to try their green thumb were Hansa Mehta, Rachel Messina, and Pat Moon.

15-mile route. It started at 7700 San Felipe and ended at Allen’s Landing. The 52nd Annual Buffalo Bayou Partnership Regatta had 400-plus paddlers on a perfect day. A decorated boat featured companions with dogs in life vests so doggies wouldn’t have worry about doing the dog paddle. After the race, the bayou fans gathered at Allen’s Landing for music, food, and an awards ceremony. The paddler with the best overall time was Tommy Yonley, at 1:30:33.5. Gabe Haarsma and Helena Finley with BKO Services won the Team Sponsor Cup with a time of 2:03:09. Karen Farber announced all proceeds go towards Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s work to create dynamic public spaces along Buffalo Bayou. 

Lifesaving funds. A combined love of running and a personal traumatic experience led Caryn Honig to create Poppy’s Run for Life. The second annual 5K run on March 17 benefited suicide prevention, education, and awareness. Approximately $70,000 were raised for The Montrose Center and Alexander Jewish Family Service to help those with mental health concerns receive the attention and support they need. There was confusion if a rogue duck who crossed the line first should have won. A shoutout goes to the young professionals group, Rising Leaders. The Montrose Center’s team had award-winning runners in several age brackets and won first place for the largest volunteer team. Applause to Melanie Camp of KPRC for being the emcee.  

From the South to the South. Welcome Fred and Robyn Steinman back to Houston from Memphis, Tennessee where they lived for 30 years. Although Robyn is from Augusta, Georgia and Fred is from New Orleans, Louisiana, they met in Texas. Robyn went to the University of Texas at Austin, and Fred was in an anesthesiology residency and later, a cardiac anesthesiology fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. When Fred joined an anesthesiology group in Memphis, Robyn found friends and taught school. They recently returned since their daughter Haley lives here. She missed Ninfa’s on Navigation, and it’s on the list of places to go.

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