bay area houston november 2012

November 2012

T H E B A Y A R E A ’ S F A V O U R I T E P U B L I C A T I O N

www.BayAreaHoustonMag.com

COME FOR THE SHOPPING. STAY FOR THE EXPERIENCE.

• The Community Congratulates Dr. Greg Smith• BAHBT Serendipity Ball• Where are the Flounder?• The 12 Gifts of Christmas• The State of CCISD

features

11 My Journey to Southeast Nigeria Dr. Noie provides aid during mission trip

14 Texas State Superintendent of the Year Community congratulates Dr. Greg Smith

20 Education The state of CCISD

24 2012 Beneteau Sailboat Rendezvous Sea Lake Yacht Sales and Lakewood Yacht Club

26 Baybrook Mall Come for the shopping. Stay for the experience.

28 Operation School Bell Bringing smiles to 1,725 students

29 The 12 Gifts of Christmas A special holiday shopping section

36 Yesterday’s Dream Now a Giant Hospital Clear Lake Regional celebrates 40th anniversary

40 50 Years of History and Tradition Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce

50 CLACC Celebrates 50th Anniversary Photos from the gala

50 Sales Around the Bay Area Increase The steady strengthening of local economy

columns

12 Clear Lake Chatter Ballet Ball provides many surprises

16 CLICK! Webster Business Alliance Luncheon

22 Admiral’s Log What happened to our stocks of Flounder?

in each issue

10 Advertiser’s Index

23 Lakewood Yacht Club News and Events

ChairmanRick Clapp

PublisherMary Alys Cherry

President Rob Kumar

Art DirectorBrandon Rowan

Vice President of SalesPatty Kane

Sales & MarketingPatty Bederka

Natalie EpperleyAmber Sample

Graphic DesignerVictoria Ugalde

PhotographyBrian Stewart

Mary Alys Cherry

Community Affairs DirectorLillian Harmon

Bay Area Houston Magazine is produced monthly. All rights reserved.

Material may not be reproduced by any means whatsoever without written permission.

Advertising rates are available upon request.

Please address all correspondence to:Bay Area Houston Magazine

P.O. Box 1032Seabrook, TX 77586

[email protected]

281.474.5875

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ON THE COVER

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Brian Schroeder, general manager of Baybrook Mall, and Mary Evans,

marketing manager of Baybrook Mall.Photo by Brian Stewart

Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2012 8

Former NASA Flight Controller Gene Kranz found that out when he addressed the Webster Business Alliance and took them along on the ill-fated Apollo 13, giving them a step-by-step

description of the work in Mission Control.You could hear a pin drop as the crowd of several

hundred hung on to his every word. While some were too young to remember how America held its collective breath back in mid-April, 1970 for six days until Mission Control got the three-man crew home, many thought back and wondered how JSC did it.

Kranz told them how, describing those days of terror, and how he told his crew that “Failure is not an option.” Despite overwhelming odds, he felt that somehow they could save the three astronauts, and, of course, as we know, they did.

But, despite the fact everyone knew the outcome, you would not have known they did if you watched the crowd watch Kranz. It was just that gripping.

And, he was wearing the white vest he always wore in Mission Control.

He illustrated his talk with vintage photos of himself and others who played key roles in the mission such as Flight Controller Glynn Lunney, whose team came on duty an hour after the Apollo 13 explosion; and Chris Kraft, who was by then the Johnson Space Center director.

And, of course photos of the Apollo 13 crew. The flight was commanded by James A. Lovell with John L. “Jack” Swigert as command module pilot and Fred W. Haise as lunar module pilot. Swigert was a late replacement for the original CM pilot Ken Mattingly, who was grounded by the flight surgeon after exposure to German measles.

What is most amazing is this was back in the days of slide rules when computers were just beginning to be used. “Most everything was done with pen and paper.” IBM was developing computers at the time, but, Kranz said, the company “did not trust us to operate these computers.”

There were other problems, too, he continued. “Back then, our rocket engineers spoke in German, and our egos were bigger than this room. But we knew we needed to work together.”

He had the entire room on the edge of their seats as he told how Mission Control realized that Apollo 13 was about to miss Earth as it returned – until corrections were made -- and how tense things were at JSC as they worked to save the crew.

In fact, he said, “it was so intense when the spacecraft finally landed in the South Pacific, we bought 700 or the finest cigars we could find and passed them out to those who had helped save Apollo 13. That was some of the sweetest smoke any of us has ever had in our lives.”

Before and after the luncheon the former fighter pilot and father of six autographed copies of his book, Failure Is Not An Option, for Webster Mayor Floyd Myers, other city officials and the many who sat spellbound after enjoying a Chicken Marsala lunch provided by Carrabba’s Italian Grill in Webster.

America certainly owes a debt of gratitude to Gene Kranz, Glynn Lunney and all the others who spent countless hours and with help from above got the crew safely home. Thank you from all of us who watched this drama unfold and come to a successful end.

Don ArmstrongIn Wheel Time

Zach TateMusic

Betha MeritTravel/Food/Wine

Dr. Ed ReitmanNourishing the Mind

Michael GosTexas Meditations

Mary Alys CherryClear Lake Chatter

Captain Joe KentFishing

Pat PattonClick

Roseann RogersThe Buzz

NOVEMBER 2012

Writers

Mary Alys CherryPublisher

Rod EvansBoating/Fitness

NOVEMBER 2012 | Bay Area Houston Magazine 9

Webster crowd goes on Apollo 13 journey

Webster City Secretary visits with Gene Kranz at luncheon.

Nothing quite excites a Bay Area crowd as much as taking a journey into space – either real or imagined.

Advertiser’s Index


It seems the secret is getting out about the Houston Real Estate market. According to the Urban Land Institute’s recently released “Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2013 Report,” Houston outlook has improved from last year’s 8th position to 5th nationally. In my opinion, this affirms we are on an upswing that will translate into a robust local economic recovery. Houston, the “Energy Capital of the World,” is poised to take advantage of exciting opportunities on the horizon; new developments, such as a fully realized connection with the Canadian tar sands oil via the Keystone Pipeline, could well put us on the road to full employment. The overall health of our local Real Estate Market is directly dependent on a strong job market. Fortunately, economic indicators continue to point towards a great future in the Bayou City.

Quantitative Easing 3Bernanke’s promise to buy

mortgage-backed bonds until the end of eternity. Regardless of your political position, it would be fiscally prudent to research what QE3 means

for you and your family. Interest rates are being drastically driven down as a direct result of this newly implemented policy. Many long-term clients are refinancing their interest rates again via a NO COST LOAN, which lowers their monthly payment while adding $0.00 to the principle balance of their mortgages.

I look forward to the day national employment is back on track and interest rates are driven higher as a result. This will mean there are millions more families with the resources and credit to purchase their dream home; however, the reality of our current market means that most families can greatly benefit from another refinance.

As always, my staff and I are available to answer any questions you may have regarding Real Estate Financing. We love meeting new people and enjoy helping those in our community reach their financial goals. Please stop in for a visit at our League City location or give me a call personally. I look forward to hearing from you.

-Casey Montgomery

Houston Texas a Top Five Real Estate Market to Watch

Matt & Mindy Duhon, owners of Sunsation Tanning and Unleashed Pets & Supplies celebrate the news that they will be the proud parents of a baby girl this March.

Oh boy...It’s a girl!

Ares Corporation Page 17 www.arescorporation.comArtworks at 102 Page 40 www.aw102.comBAHRMA Page 54 www.bahrma.orgBaubles and Beads Page 31Bay Group Media Page 32 www.baygroupmedia.comBayway Homes Page 45 www.baywayhomes.comBoudreaux’s on the Bayou Page 34 www.boudreauxsonthebayou.comCarol Mayne Page 40 www.loveyourface911.comCity of Kemah Page 41 www.visitkemahtx.comClear Lake Regional Page 19 www.clearlakemc.comClothes Horse Page 31Coastal Plastic Surgery Page 37 www.tadammd.comCruz Cortez Clothiers Page 34 www.cruzcortezclothiers.comDigitex Page 39 www.digitexcorp.comDragon Boat Regatta Page 46 www.texasdragonboat.comDr. J. Derek Tieken Page 29 www.tiekensmiles.comElan Transportation Page 32Elegant Nails Page 40Encore Resale Shop Page 31Envoy Mortgage www.envoymortgageapp.comFloyd’s Cajun Seafood Page 46 www.floydsseafood.comFondren Orthopedic Page 2 www.fondren.comGalveston County Food Bank Page 35 www.galvestoncountyfoodbank.orgGinger Snaps Page 30Gulf Coast Palapas Page 44Harbour Plastic Surgery Page 4 www.harbourplasticsurgery.comHead to Footsies Page 34Heard’s Fine Art Gallery Page 43HomeTown Bank Page 18 www.htbna.comHouston Technology Center Page 6 www.houstontech.orgIcon Bank Page 16 www.iconbanktx.comIsland Furniture Page 30 www.islandfurniture.netJan Laman Page 44 www.myharbourinsurance.comJeter Memorial Funeral Home Page 43 www.jeterfuneralhome.comJSC Federal Credit Union Page 18 www.jscfcu.orgKemah Boardwalk Page 51 www.kemahboardwalk.comKemah Gardens Page 43 www.kemahgardens.comKimberly Harding Page 19 www.kimberlyharding.comLakewood Photography Page 17Las Haciendas Page 22 www.lashaciendasgrill.comLee College Page 41 www.lee.eduMamacita’s Mexican Restaurant Page 45 www.mamacitasmexicanrestaurant.comMarci’s Cosignments Page 40 www.marciscosignments.comMediterraneo Market & Cafe Page 45Memorial Hermann-SE Page 5 www.memorialhermann.orgMethodist Hospital Page 7 www.sanjacintomethodist.comMogul Indian Restaurant Page 43 www.mogul-restaurant.comMommie Chic & Me Page 32 www.mommiechicandme.comNorman Frede Chevrolet Page 20 www.fredechevrolet.comOasis Salon and Medispa Page 47 www.oasisclearlake.comOne Stop Tents & Events Page 44 www.onestopparty.comOpus Bistro Page 43 www.opusbistro.netPark Avenue Showplace Antiques Page 31 www.parkavenueshowplaceantiques.comPatriot Bank Page 18 www.patriotbankusa.comRick Wade Page 17 www.rickwade.comRon Carter Clear Lake Page 3 www.roncartercadillac.comRon Hoover Page 24 www.ronhoover.comSalon La Rouge Page 32 www.salonlarouge.orgSealake Yachts Page 23 www.sealakeyachts.comShrimporee Page 32 www.spacecenterrotary.orgSignature Bistro Page 33 www.signaturebistro.comSignCo Page 34South Shore Harbour Resort Page 16 www.sshr.comSouth Shore Grille Page 25 www.soshoregrille.comSouthern Sophistication Page 30Space Center Auto Page 15 www.spacecenterautomotive.comStar Toyota Page 49 www.startoyota.comStylin’ With Linda Page 54Sunsation Tanning Page 19 www.clearlaketanning.comTexas First Bank Page 38 www.texasfirstbank.comTieken Dental Page 48 www.tiekensmiles.comTina’s on the Strand Page 34 www.tinasonthestrand.comThat’s Haute Boutique Page 19UHCL Page 14 www.uhcl.eduUnicare Dental Page 52 www.drnoie.comUnleashed Page 19Victory Marine Page 43 www.govictorymarine.com


In a matter of 10 days I went from hope to disbelief, to frustration, and finally a deep sadness. In response to a deep desire to share my skills with

true underprivileged, I decided to make a 14,000 miles house call. Last month I joined a medical mission group to Imo state in Nigeria. The idea was suggested to me by an old friend, Dr. Sonny Okorie who has established and operates a non-profitable outreach organization in Nigeria, called Relief Network Ministries. This is the story of my journey to the most populated country in Africa, and seventh most populated country in the world, Nigeria.

A Little HistoryAccording to U.S. Department of

State, Nigeria (a country about the size of California, Nevada, and Arizona) is rich in natural resources such as oil, natural gas, tin, columbite (a rare mineral made of iron and manganese), iron, coal, limestone, lead, and zinc. Nigeria is the fifth-largest exporter of oil to the United States. It supplies 8% of U.S. oil imports which is less than half of Nigeria’s daily oil production.

The oil boom of the 1970s led Nigeria to neglect its strong agricultural and light manufacturing bases in favor of an unhealthy dependence on crude oil. Today, oil and gas exports account for more than 95% of export earnings and over 80% of federal government revenue. New oil wealth and the concurrent decline of other economic sectors fueled massive migration to the cities and led to increasingly widespread poverty, especially in rural areas. Due to a collapse of basic infrastructure and social services since the early 1980s Nigeria’s per capita income had plunged to about one-quarter of its mid-1970s high. Agriculture has suffered from years of mismanagement, inconsistent and poorly conceived government policies, and lack of basic

infrastructure. Still, these neglected industries accounts for about 40% of GDP and two-thirds of employment.

Reality Check

Nigeria has become a sorry image of a nation as rampant corruption and scion continue to ravage the country. The lofty dreams and aspirations that achieved independence have all evaporated, leaving a fractured, insecure and predatory nation where life is tough, short and nasty. More than rampant Malaria, Typhoid, Hepatitis, Cholera, and HIV, Nigeria seems to have fallen victim to leadership whose path worsens by the day. The corruption is so legendary that the country appears leaderless in a world that more than ever favors transparency and competent leadership. With the possible exception of few and far in between, Nigeria has been struck by a series of amoral and ethically bankrupted leadership.

Nigeria today is a sad and disappointing case of what a nation should not be. It is a country that personifies failure of humanity. Upon its independence, Nigeria held the expectation of the renaissance and reinvention for the entire black race. Today those hopes are replaced with a painstakingly sad reality. Rich in natural wealth and highly intelligent human resources there is no rational reason to see Nigeria in the storm tossed state it is today.

My Personal ExperienceThe two states, Imo and Abia that

I visited, lack of adequate power grids and sustainable electricity and running water is sad reminder of total collapse of

once adequate and balanced infrastructure. Lack of an efficient sewage system and governmental neglect has led to a decayed road system. Even worse, lack of a functional sanitation system

and waste management has devastated these over populated cities. I have been to other poor segments of the world where people don’t have much more than a raggedy shack with a tin roof and little to no basic amenities. But never before I witnessed so much waste and trash piled up and sitting polluted water in public streets and heavily populated areas full of young children.

The educational and health sectors are in a state of total collapse with less than 40% literacy and life expectancy of only 47 years. The governmental neglect of agriculture and infrastructure has created a vicious circle of poverty. At the Imo State medical school/teaching Hospital I asked several fourth year medical students to establish an IV on a patient with severe abscess that I had just Incised and drained in order to inject her with a bolos I.V. Ampicillin. To my surprise, they did not know how to do so. Shocked, I asked “But you guys will be medical doctors in a few months” to which they replied with shame “They don’t teach us practical skills, just didactic.” Even worse, there were no sink, soap, toilet paper, or towels in the bathrooms at this State Medical school/teaching hospital. Half of the eight

days that our team spend in Imo State was wasted by visiting and waiting for various officials and chiefs to give us their blessing and protection. The gloom came when I realized that my main mission to offer some lasting help would not be realized. I was only able to provide some “Band-Aid” relief but nothing more. Fortunately the good people of Imo and Abia State are relatively unfazed by the chaos and collapse of the social structure around them thanks to a relatively unknown phenomenon called “Hedonic Adaptation.” It’s human ability to adapt to his habituating environment and maintain a relatively stable level of happiness despite major positive or negative events or life changes. I call it “Blessing in the skies.”

In ConclusionNigeria is a nation that has transitioned

from a self sufficient developing country living happily off the land to a totally oil dependent economy. Such transition has substituted government dependency on traditional industries for revenue to oil. That switch in source of income led to governmental neglect of the other core manufacturing and agriculture industries and consequent decay of those resources. Desperate for any source of income, people migrated and crammed into cities that were not designed for such an explosion in population and are crumbling as well. Nigerian alongside other oil rich Middle Eastern countries has become yet another victim of our insatiable thirst for fossil fuel. Medical and social outreach may be able to prolong or slightly ease the suffering but it will not cure it, nor will it slow the degradation in any meaningful way. The only way out is for us to encourage our elected officials to concentrate on an alternative, cleaner, and more humane source of energy. I learned that I didn’t need to travel 14,000 miles to help these wonderful people. I should have stated at home where the real problem lies.

My Journey to Southeast Nigeria

MARY ALYS CHERRY

Ballet Ball provides many surprises


EXPECT THE Unexpected, Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre Serendipity Ball guests were warned, and with good reason – Chairmen Ellen King and Karen Weber offered up many surprises at the annual gala.

Surprises that added up to a delightful evening for the 170 who cheered and cheered as the BAHBT dancers presented vignettes from the four productions scheduled this season.

And also enjoyed a dinner featuring Stuffed Quail and a Rabbit Cassoulet, plus Fried Oyster PoBoys, Salmon Lollipops and a Chocolate Mushroom dessert.

Emcee Pam Culpepper, who came with her husband, Peter Cronk, delighted the crowd as she conducted the live auction, bringing many chuckles from the crowd.

Early arrivals welcomed by ballet founder Lynette Mason Gregg and her husband, attorney Dick Gregg Jr., included Nassau Bay Mayor Mark Denman and his wife, Diana; former Seabrook Mayor Jack Fryday with his wife, Marcy; Judge Holly Williamson and her husband, Dr. Danny Williamson, former Kemah City Councilwoman Robin Collins and retired Johnson Space Center biggies Jack and Sue Garman and Doug Blanchard and his attorney wife, Judith.

They hardly had time to say hello when in walked the Texas Superintendent of the Year, Dr. Greg Smith, with

his wife, Kathy, and several Clear Creek ISD trustees – Dee Scott, Paige Rander and Ann Hammond – plus CCISD Communications Director Elaina Polsen, and soon found himself surrounded by many who wanted to congratulate him. Later in the evening, he received a standing ovation from the crowd.

Across the way, we spotted former Clear Lake High Principal Laura Keith, Lou and Alice Marinos, Ron Kahn and his wife, Pat Biddle, Mary Proudy, Pat Patton, stopping to say hello to Jill and Dan Reason, as did attorneys John and Becky Reitz Gay, Kimberly Campbell, Janet and Randy Brown, Sami O’Donohoe and Deed and Diane Vest, plus Ellen Weber and her husband, Rick.

Some you might have bumped into in the black-tie crowd along with Ballet Mistress Natalie Zundel were Jim and Jane Sweeney, Holly and Stephen Takach, Nancy and Jerry Smith, Bob and Judy West, Suzanne Streetman, Keith and Sally Jordan, Linda and Mike Olson, Wendy Shaw and Mark Lovfald, Lori St. George, Heather Steele, Eric and Domineque Westall and Allen and Myrna Baker.

Others included Terry and Tina Farrell, Jeff and Marie Butler, Vanessa Garner, Derek and Monica Gibbs, Csilla and Ben Stiles, Curt and Marcia Clark, David and Jennifer Jordan, Derek and Susan Sauls, Anne and Clarence Witson and Tom and Sharon Zaal.

Afterwards there was dancing to the music of Radio London.

Jill Reason wins Bravo! AwardSERENDIPITY FOLLOWS the BAHBT Kickoff

Reception at Bay Oaks Country Club and the presentation by ballet founder Lynette Mason Gregg of the Bravo! Award to Jill Reason.

Besides the evening’s top honor, three community volunteers, Donna Kline, Rosemary Lagrone and Suzanne Zerecheck, were inducted into the BAHBT Hall of Fame. Other volunteers given special recognition were Clarence Witson, Toni Howman, Kathy Pubentz, Dawn Kopra, Domineque Westall and Cathy Pincus.

The BRAVO! Award, Lynette said, was created to honor the invaluable contributions made by community leaders to BAHBT and honors those individuals who have greatly furthered BAHBT’s efforts to bring cultural enrichment to our community.

“BAHBT is celebrating Ms. Reason’s years of dedication, not only to BAHBT, but to the entire Bay Area Houston community,” Lynette said.

“Ms. Reason has been involved with BAHBT for the past 13 years and served as the volunteer executive director for the last five, and as chairman of the Scholarship/ Endowment Council for seven years, and also performed in many of our ballets and musicals.

Photos by Mary Alys Cherry

Serendipity Ball Co-Chairman Ellen King, left, and Terry and Tina Harrell take a look at the enchanting decor for the Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre gala at Space Center Houston.

Nassau Bay Mayor Mark Denman and his wife, Diana, right, visit with Rick Weber, whose wife, Karen, was a co-chairman of the Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre gala at Space Center Houston.

Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre founder Lynette Mason Gregg and her husband, attorney Dick Gregg Jr., right, welcome former Clear Lake High Principal Laura Keith to the Serendipity Ball.

Clear Creek ISD Superintendent Greg Smith has as his guests at the Serendipity Ball, from left, CCISD Trustees Paige Rander, Ann Hammond and Dee Scott and Communications Director Elaina Polsen.


Pretty Tables a knockout againEACH FALL the Bay Area Museum Guild members

light up Bay Oaks Country Club with their dazzling table designs for their Just A Pretty Table Luncheon, and this year was no exception. Many were simply awesome.

Chairman Angie Weinman and Vice Chairmen Anita Fogtman, Sandy Allbritton and Ava Galt were at the door to greet the arriving crowd of around 200 – many dressed in costumes carrying out their table’s theme such as Sheree Frede and Webster City Councilwoman Natalie Dolan, who were among several wearing red wigs and dressed as Lucille Ball.

Table designers included Dr. Cindy Castille, Raven Sanders and Nancy Sanders, Julie Howell and Michelle Kellet, Ann Wismer, Missy Rorrer and Sara Little, Dr. Kimberly Weathers and Peggy Green, Carole Murphy and Nina McGlashan, Steve Roberts, Carol Bergman, Sonya Moore, Cathy Osoria and Barbie Clariday, Anita Fogtman and Dr. Peggy Clause.

Others were Ava Galt, Melinda Lacy and Janine Fadner; Jan Larson and Sandi Allbritton; Krista Williamson; Joy and Jill Smitherman; Tracey Webb; Jason Holguin; Kathleen Courville and Julie Johnson; Robyn Weigelt and Era Lee Caldwell; and Susan Bailey and Lana Anderson.

Mingling with the crowd, you might have spotted Connie Lopez, Martha Ferebee, Sheila Cooper, Jeri Knapp, Mary McMullen, Rosalyn Turner, Karen Keesler, Lori Ray, Kelli Baliker, Tricia Gunn, Ann Brady, Georgette Curran, Terri Dieste, Johanna Mathera, Mary Beth Elkins, Ann O’Malley, Peggy Morrow, Barbara Phillips or Susan Bailey, to name a few.

Getting ready for the holidaysHOLIDAY DÉCOR set the tone for this year’s Bay

Oaks Women’s Association Fall Friendship Tea with Friendswood florist Lynn Lary McLean offering hints on decorating and gifts as she turned the club into a shopper’s delight.

Just ask Carol Bobo, Carrie Peters, Danette Spriggs, Cathy Gaines, Allyson Jackson, Laurie Hembree, Janice Gornto, Sue Ferguson, Linda DeMasie, Ann Brady, Peggy Clause, or Amy and Charlene Langford. They just had a delightful time mentally preparing for the holidays.

And, that came after going through the

breakfast buffet, where they had the choice of pastries, muffins, jams and preserves, scrambled eggs and bacon, cheese grits, seasonal fruits, juice and coffee.

Dozens were there to enjoy it all including Ruth Beecher, Phyllis Tharp, Nilse Deterling, Becky Hensley, Ginger Darnell, Barbara Miller, Joan Grant, Sandy Lantz, Lisa Scruggs, Mary Callier, Rita Johnson, Betty Woodhouse, Mary Colombo, Bo Lohec, Barbara Dickey, Wanda Kelly and Julie Gross and many more.

Top topic of conversation was the upcoming Nov. 10 BOWA Gala, which is about sold out.

Coasting around . . . .OCT. 5 WAS the 130th birthday of Dr. Robert H.

Goodard, for whom NASA’s Goddard Center is named, and who was the father of modern rocket propulsion. He is credited with creating and building the world’s

first liquid-fueled rocket . . . . Rodeo dates to put on the calendar: Rodeo Style Show Jan. 25 and Trailride Dance Feb. 19. The date for the Bus Trip has not been set.

Photos by Mary Alys Cherry

Mary Callier, right, and Ann Dooley check out the Mark Roberts elves on display at the Bay Oaks Women’s Association luncheon.

Just A Pretty Table Chairman Angie Weinman, from left, and Co-Chairman Sandy Allbritton, Anita Fogtman and Ava Galt prepare to meet the crowd arriving for the Bay Area Museum Guild benefit luncheon at Bay Oaks Country Club.

Sara Little, right, and her sister, Missy Rorrer dress for their roles as hostesses for the “Field and Stream” table at the Bay Area Museum Guild’s Just A Pretty Table Luncheon.

Judge Holly Williamson, Sue Broughton, Janet Greenwood and Amy Stublar, from left, get in the holiday spirit as they arrive at the Bay Oaks Country Club Women’s Association annual Fall Friendship Tea featuring holiday décor.


By Mary Alys Cherry

Clear Creek ISD Superintendent Dr. Greg Smith found himself the toast of the town after his selection by the Texas Association of School Boards as Texas Superintendent of the

Year. Everywhere he goes, people stop and congratulate him.Each of the 44 schools in the district posted

congratulations on the CCISD website and teachers and staff decorated CCISD headquarters in League City.

When he arrived for his Space Center Rotary meeting, his fellow Rotarians gave him a rousing standing ovation.

When he and his wife, Cathy, attended the Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre’s Serendipity Ball at Space Center Houston, the crowd gave him another standing ovation.

Yes, he gets a little embarrassed over it all.Dozens and dozens of community leaders and

educators gathered in Kemah to honor him at a buffet dinner and reception hosted by the Kemah Boardwalk at its Aquarium Restaurant Oct. 16, along with new TASB President Dr. Viola Garcia, who came down from Austin to present Dr. Smith with the engraved trophy naming him Texas Superintendent of the Year.

Besides CCISD Board President Ken Baliker and most

of the current trustees, the crowd included immediate past Superintendent Dr. Sandra Mossman, who was 2007 Region IV Superintendent of the Year, with her husband, Gary; State Rep. Larry Taylor, former Seabrook Mayor Dr. Gary Renola, and former CCISD Trustee Ralph Parr, who regaled the crowd with humorous memories of life in CCISD.

Some of the others enjoying the salute included Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership President Bob Mitchell and Executive Director Dan Seal, Clear Lake Area Chamber President Cindy Harreld and Chairman Mike Furin, Assistance League of the Bay Area President Lisa Holbrook, who represented State Rep. John Davis,

Texas Superintendent of the Year is humbled by signal state honor

(Below) TASB President Dr. Viola Garcia presents Dr. Greg Smith with the engraved Texas Superintendent of the Year trophy before the hometown folks in Kemah.


several teachers of the year and a number of school principals.

Others included attorney Joe Barlow, Clear Creek Education Foundation Executive Director Doug Frazior and Chairman Scott Rainey, BAHEP Education Chairman Harv Hartman and his wife, Gene Hollier and Emmeline Dodd, Johnson Space Center Education Director Susan White and LyondellBasell Site Manager Walter Pinto and Public Relations Manager Gayden Cooper.

“I am honored to have been selected as Superintendent of the Year and humble enough to know that it could not have happened without having a great team made up of trustees, cabinet members, staff, parents but most of all, great students!” Smith said of the signal honor.

Baliker was equally happy to hear the news. After all, it was the school board trustees who nominated him for the honor.

“The CCISD Board was delighted to hear the announcement honoring Dr. Greg Smith as Texas 2012 Superintendent of the Year. He is in elite company.

”Greg has been a model of courageous leadership in lean times facing public education, and we look to him to continue to provide instructional, financial and administrative leadership locally and through CCISD’s membership in the Texas High Performance Schools Consortium.

“Greg’s leadership style epitomizes the first “C” in CCISD, for Courage, as he has had the helm during a difficult fiscal period for public education and made decisions among competing priorities that keep kids’ education first. We are blessed that Dr. Smith calls CCISD home.”

Other state finalists for the prestigious award included René Gutiérrez, Edinburg CISD; Charles Dupre, Pflugerville ISD; Dennis McEntire, Presidio ISD; and

Michael Zolkoski, Ysleta ISD. Smith, CCISD superintendent for the past four

years, serves nearly 40,000 students and has 27 years of administrative experience. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Oakland University, master’s degree at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, and doctorate at Texas A&M University at College Station.

Candidates are chosen for their dedication to improving educational quality, board/superintendent relations, student achievement, and commitment to public support and involvement in education.

The state selection committee, which interviewed regional winners in Austin, focused on such issues as the demands for America’s workforce, public education funding and the pending school finance lawsuit, successful board relationships, technology integration, and academic excellence.

The selection committee noted that student success in the district could be credited in large part to Smith’s

attention to changing demographics and also noted that he faced recent funding issues by attacking the budget with a scalpel instead of a machete.

His efforts to host job fairs, keep children of laid-off NASA employees enrolled, and, after Hurricane Ike get school back in session in two weeks were also cited.

Shortly after joining CCISD, Smith rallied the entire community to create a vision for the children of Clear Creek ISD. While employee and parental involvement are naturally part of any strategic planning process, Smith made this more than a ceremonial procedure. He became the listener and the learner, allowing the aspirations of the school board, teachers, principals, parents and students help craft a five-year strategic plan.

The plan has fueled his every decision and discussion for the past four years and has resulted in an increase in student performance. In June, more than 97 percent of CCISD students graduated with plans to attend college, join the workforce or enlist in the military.

Smith was nominated for the award by the Clear Creek School Board for his student-centered leadership, Ballard said.

Superintendents from any of the state’s 1,034 school districts are eligible for nomination by their local boards of trustees. District nominees are submitted to a regional selection committee, which submits one nominee per region to the state selection committee. Smith received the award and a Superintendent of the Year ring from Balfour, program underwriter. State finalists also received an award from Balfour.

TASB is a nonprofit association established in 1949 to serve local public school districts. School board members are the largest group of publicly elected officials in the state. The districts they represent serve more than 4.9 million students.

Retired Clear Creek ISD Superintendent Sandra Mossman and her husband, Gary, right, congratulate Superintendent Greg Smith, second from left, as they arrive at reception hosted by the Kemah Boardwalk at The Aquarium restaurant to honor Dr. Smith. CCISD Board President Ken Baliker is looking on at left.

Through his expertise and dedication, Greg Smith has proven himself to be an administrator of outstanding ability and his contributions to public education have benefited countless young Texans. Congratulations and my sincere best wishes.

-Rick PerryGovernor of Texas

Dr. Smith represents everything GREAT in education and the very reason I picked CCISD for my kids when I left active duty. It’s a model the rest of the state should emulate.

-Mark HenryGalveston County Judge

Greg Smith is most deserving of this honor and recognition. The entire Bay Area is so proud to have his talents and abilities guiding CCISD.

-John DavisDistrict 129 state representative

Congratulations to Dr. Greg Smith on his selection as the ‘Superintendent of the Year’ by the TASB. Under Dr. Smith’s leadership and vision, Clear Creek ISD has become a shining example of educational excellence in Texas and a role model for the future of public education.

-Larry Taylor District 24 state representative

The Johnson Space Center congratulates Dr. Greg Smith on being named Texas Superintendent of the Year. As CCISD superintendent he has successfully dealt with severe budget constraints while maintaining the high quality education system for our children, and richly deserves the Texas Superintendent of the Year recognition. Well done to Dr. Greg Smith and his whole CCISD team.

-Mike CoatsJohnson Space Center Director

What I find remarkable about Dr. Greg Smith, what makes him so deserving of this honor, is that he has taken a great school district to the next level. Rather than rest on Clear Creek ISD’s laurels, he reached out to the community and encouraged all of us to take ownership in our school district. I see his vision and pride of CCISD shared everyday in the voices of our students, parents, teaching and administrative staff of our schools. Thank you Dr. Smith for a job well done!

-Glenn RoyalMayor of Seabrook

“Dr. Smith is not only an asset for both League City and Clear Creek ISD, but for the whole education system in Texas. We are so blessed to have him here over seeing the education of our children.”

-Tim PaulissenMayor of League City

Congratulations to Dr. Greg Smith on being named Superintendent of the Year by the Texas Association of School Boards. Our community is proud of you!

-Cindy HarreldCLACC President

Leaders from the CommunityCongratulate Dr. Greg Smith


State Rep. Larry Taylor presents Dr. Greg Smith with a proclamation from Gov. Rick Perry honoring him as Texas Superintendent of the Year.

Dr. Greg Smith is so deserving of this prestigious award. He is obviously the “face” of Clear Creek Independent School District; however, he is its heart and mind, as well. Not only is he ultimately responsible for each child’s academic growth within this large school district, he must also been keenly aware of and operate within the guidelines set forth by the state. It’s a huge job, and I can’t think of anyone who could do it better than Dr. Smith.

-Bob MitchellBAHEP President

I offer my congratulations to Dr. Greg Smith for achieving this well deserved recognition as the Texas Superintendent of the Year. Dr. Smith is a dedicated professional and his focus is clearly on the students of Clear Creek ISD and their success. He leads from the heart and I admire him greatly.

-Dr. Brenda Hellyer San Jacinto College Chancellor

“Greg Smith’s leadership of CCISD has been exemplary. He has led by example and continues to advance CCISD even under very challenging circumstances.”

-Dr. Wiliam Staples UHCL President

Dr. Smith leads a growing district noted for its high academic quality. When forced by severe cuts in State funding to slash millions from his budget, he wisely and creatively put the interests of students first and avoided cuts that compromised the high academic standards of the Clear Creek ISD.

-J. Larry DurrenceCollege of the Mainland Interim President Dr. Smith is a tremendous asset to our

community. He has led our school district, one of the state’s best, through very difficult economic times without compromising the quality of our children’s education. We are blessed to have him!

-Chris ReedNassau Bay City Manager

I extend my sincerest congratulations to Dr. Smith for a job well done. This honor is a credit to his leadership and the dedicated efforts of the entire CCISD team. Further evidence that the education of our children is in good hands.

-Judge Louie Ditta Pct. 8 Justice of the Peace

“Congratulations to Dr. Greg Smith for being named the 2012 Superintendent of the Year. As a student of the Clear Creek ISD system myself, I know firsthand how important it is to have a strong superintendent. His steady leadership and commitment to children is obvious in the quality education the students receive. It’s great to see this commitment to education recognized at the state level. Great job Dr. Smith!”

-Pete OlsonDistrict 22 Congressman

Congratulations on your well-deserved achievement.

-Floyd MyersMayor of Webster/Past President TASB

The City of Kemah congratulates Dr. Smith on his much deserved award as the Superintendent of the Year. CCISD’s academic excellence even during rapid population growth in the Bay Area is an integral part of the quality of life that all of our communities enjoy.

-Rick BeverlinKemah City Administrator

Congratulations, Dr. Smith, on your recent honor of being named 2012 Texas Superintendent of the Year. All of your fellow Space Center Rotarians are so proud of your accomplishments, both in winning this prestigious award and in your outstanding leadership of CCISD.

-Marilyn MusialSpace Center Rotary President

We are all very proud of Greg and his work as sure as he is proud of his fighting Irish!

-Brad EmelEl Lago Mayor

Leaders from the CommunityCongratulate Dr. Greg Smith



CONGRATULATIONS

Bay Area Businessesfrom these

CONGRATULATIONS

Bay Area Businessesfrom these

By Mary Alys Cherry

The state of the Clear Creek School District is good, but it could use a little help, Superintendent Greg Smith

says.In fact, it has experienced growth in

enrollment, despite the somewhat slow economy, he said as delivered his State of the District address.

But with $17.5 million in state funding cuts by the Texas Legislature, it hasn’t been easy. “We have eliminated 246 positions through attrition, and our classroom sizes are larger than they have been in years with the district applying for more than 100 waivers on classroom

sizes in grades K though 4.”Library staffs have been cut

and the district has moved to an every other night cleaning of the schools to save money -- leading to CCISD and several hundred other school districts

suing the state to live up to its constitutional obligation to fund education in Texas.

Besides those cuts, to offset the loss of funds, CCISD has also initiated a fee for extracurricular

activities, begun cutting off the lights and air conditioning as soon as school is out and reducing overtime pay. Teachers and staff have not had a pay increase in two years, although the school board recently approved a one-time

supplement.Yet, Dr. Smith, who was named

2012 Texas Superintendent of the Year, said, “we are committed to providing all students a world-class education” -- making them not only college-ready but workforce ready.

This extends beyond the quality of teachers and staff to walls, roofs and technology in the schools, he explained.

“The Board of Trustees has established a citizens committee to prioritize our needs and, if necessary, we will come to the voters to ask for their approval for a bond in May,” he told the crowd.

Possible projects they’ll review include are:

• The rebuilding of Clear Lake High School, built in 1972;

• The rebuilding of McWhirter Elementary, built in 1957;

• A technology plan that will offer all classrooms access and develop a funding mechanism to meet the needs to teach in the digital age.

“There’s also a movement to get our students a second stadium. We’ve grown from three to five high schools,” presenting problems juggling five varsity football games in one stadium, he explained, with many having to play on Thursday, a school night.

Smith noted that “CCISD spans 103 square miles, two counties, takes in 13 municipalities, has 44 campuses, 5,000 employees and serves more than 39,600 students.”

Turning to other subjects, he noted that:

• Clear Creek ISD has been selected to participate in what is called the High Performance Schools Consortium – a select group of 23 school districts that will work with the Texas Education Agency and the Legislature “to design new learning standards and most important, a meaningful assessment system. Currently 20 percent of the school year is spent on testing,” he said.

• 98 percent of the Class of 2012 are enrolled in college or have joined either the workforce or the military.

• CCISD boasts one of the most engaging career and technical education programs in Texas. Whether students are interested in nursing, culinary arts, architecture or construction, they have the opportunity to earn industry standard certifications often reserved for college. Others are introduced to engineering, automotive and other workforce principles.

Education

Clear Lake High now 40 years old

CCISD’s moving forward but road hasn’t been easy

Clear Lake High School is 40 years old this school year – the second oldest high school after Clear Creek

High in League City, which is 55 years old.

“We celebrated at our Homecoming this year by having Lake’s first homecoming queen in attendance at the pep rally, half-time festivities and the game. She lives in Texarkana and drove all the way to Houston to help us celebrate,” Principal Debra Dixon says.

Lake was built back when Richard Nixon was president and we were still fighting the Vietnam War when the first principal, the late George Carlisle, welcomed about 1,900 students on Aug. 17, 1972.

Then, on May 19, 1973, the school’s first senior class of 393 students became the first to graduate from the new school on Bay Area Boulevard in Clear Lake City.

Today, Lake’s enrollment is 2,682 and 820 seniors graduated this past June. But for a time before Clear Falls High School opened in 2010, Lake’s halls were considerably more crowded.

The school had more than 3,000 students for a number of years and the Clear Lake area population grew at a fast clip. There were 3,379 students on campus in 2004, swelling to 3,621 in 2007 and staying in that range for the next couple of years.

Over the years, it has grown in size. A Ninth Grade Center was added, as was the Bill Krueger Field House for basketball and volleyball. But parts of the campus are not in the best of shape, and Superintendent Greg Smith mentioned that a rebuild would soon be needed when he gave his State of the District Address last month.

T H E S TAT E O F C C I S D

By Mary Alys Cherry

“There’s not a lot for kids to do after school in Seabrook, so they start dreaming up things to do,” Bay Elementary Principal Erin Tite says.

Some have parents who have to work nights – starting about the time school is out. They need something to do to keep them out of trouble, and she has come up with an answer – an after hours community recreation center at the school.

It’s called Eagle’s Nest and will offer students from both Bay Elementary and Seabrook Intermediate a safe place to go after class, rather than roam the streets and possibly get into trouble, Tite told the Clear Creek Education Foundation Board at its monthly meeting. “Eagles Nest is a very appropriate name as this is the home of the Eagles and it will offer an after-school home away from home.”

With the opening of the Eagle’s Nest in Bay’s outside gym, the goal is to develop a sense of pride in the community and reduce vandalism while the school fosters good values and character and provides a connection between school and home.

Her idea has met with wide approval.

Grants Awarded The education foundation awarded Bay Elementary a

$3,400 grant to purchase computer stations so students can do research on the Internet for class assignments, while Seabrook Rotary donated $3,200 to go with a $35,000 Harris County Department of Education grant so the school can hire a full-time person to oversee the children after school and, as Tite adds, “get us a head start in achieving our goal.”

A variety of activities many children have never been exposed to are planned from 3:15 to 6:15 p.m. such as soccer, arts and crafts, karate, dance, boxing, crochet, ping pong, video games and Boy and Girl Scouts with more activities on the drawing board for the future. “We’re going to show them there’s a whole ‘nother world out there. They just have to reach out and grab it.”

When Tite started out at Bay eight years ago, the community was 11 percent disadvantaged, she said. Today it is 42 percent. “That’s a big, big change and a challenge for us.” There’s not a lot for kids to do, she pointed out. “There’s the library, we have the skate park, and then you have Kroger’s parking lot and shopping carts and children dreaming up things to do.”

On any given night you can find kids playing in Kroger’s parking lot, running the streets after dark, or finding trouble in the skate park, she said. “And, these are our kids I’m talking about – elementary students.” Many do not have access to the Internet at home. Teachers found students falling asleep in class, tardy on a regular basis and not taking their learning seriously. They didn’t see the need to go to school or the relevance of an education. The need for a connection between school and home was greater than ever.

Yet with all the vandalism, it wasn’t happening at the school. Tite feels that is because the kids consider the school their home and you don’t tear your home up. It was when Bay teachers noticed that link, that the idea for the Eagles Nest was born.

“Students who don’t have anyone waiting for them at home or have family who encourage education, find it difficult to make connections between school and life. They are unable to understand what a good education can provide for them in the future. They live one day at a time and don’t see the relevance in what they are learning at school. “If we want to break that cycle of poverty, then we have to show students that with hard work and an education, anything is possible.”

Cycle of PovertyThere is no cost for students to enroll in the Eagle’s Nest, and

15 students have enrolled so far. “We can’t change what they have at home but we can change what they choose to do with their spare time,” she told the foundation board.

“Children have to feel like they belong. If they don’t feel like they belong, they turn to gangs. This will help them feel they belong. And, once we get the kids in, we’re going to bring parents in,” she said as her voice trailed off and she looked into the future, picturing what Eagle’s Nest could someday become.”

Education

Eagle’s NestA Home Away From Home

CCISD to help develop new learning standardsBy Mary Alys Cherry

Clear Creek ISD’s success has not gone unnoticed, Superintendent Greg Smith said in his State of

the District address.In fact, it has an opportunity

to make a difference. It is among 23 school districts selected to participate in the High Performance Schools Consortium, which will work with the legislators and the Texas Education Agency to develop new learning standards, assessments and accountability systems.

Dr. Smith said CCISD is “thrilled to join 22 other high performing school districts in developing and piloting a more meaningful approach to assessments and accountability.

“We need our children to be innovators, problem solvers and self-directed learners – yet more than 20 percent of the academic calendar is spent on state-required testing. This doesn’t take into account SAT, ACT, or AP testing, the true measure of college potential,” Smith told the crowd, explaining how CCISD had teamed up with other districts to oppose the current assessment system by joining in a lawsuit.

Schools that will be directly involved in the process are Clear Horizons Early College High School; Clear Springs High; Clear View Education Center; Creekside Intermediate; Westbrook Intermediate; North Pointe Elementary; and Stewart Elementary.

Up until January 2009, flounder in Texas were under very liberal bag limits. Surveys by the Texas

Parks and Wildlife Department showed a progressive decline in numbers and quality of flounder. Something had to be done to save the popular sports fish.

Efforts were already getting started to replenish the stocks even before the TPWD took action. Sea Center Texas was embarking on a flounder hatching and restocking program that many anglers thought would never work.

Finally, with mixed support and opposition from flounder fishermen, a new set of regulations was enacted. The most drastic measure was to curb flounder fishing during November, the prime month for the annual flounder run or migration to the Gulf of Mexico for the winter.

At first, the TPWD looked at closing the fishery all together during November; however, they relented to the pressures of sportsmen to allow a two-fish per person limit that month while prohibiting flounder gigging all together in November.

Other changes included the reduction in the bag limit from 10 fish per day to five during all other months and elimination of the two-day possession limit.

While a large number of anglers opposed either part or all of the changes, another group while supporting the new regulations set out to work on restocking.

Two of the many local names that contributed to restocking efforts are Chester Moore, a well-known outdoor writer, and Bryan Treadway, an avid angler, who focuses on the Chocolate Bay Area where flounder had once been abundant.

Those guys along with others and with the support of the TPWD and CCA-Texas worked with Sea Center Texas in Lake Jackson to start a flounder hatchery.

The first batch of fingerling flatfish was introduced into the Galveston Bay Complex in West Bay. Annual stockings followed and, with all of the efforts combined, things soon began to change.

Flounder have withstood enormous pressure due to being a top choice for tablefare. Earlier, we called flounder sports fish and not game fish. Since they continue to be harvested commercially, they cannot be designated as a game fish.

During the 1990’s and first decade of the 21st Century, the stocks were showing significant decline. Once the efforts to save the stocks began taking effect, things

changed rapidly.The most recent survey of flounder

shows that during 2011-12 the catches of flounder increased 149 percent over the prior years controlled by the old regulations.

That statistic is even more amazing considering that the fishing effort in Galveston Bay declined during the same period. Ask most fishing guides and they will tell you that they are seeing and catching more flounder lately.

Today, anglers fishing the hot spots, mainly around the passages to the Gulf of Mexico, during November are taking easy two-fish limits of quality flounder. Prior to 2009, a lot of fishermen would leave with empty stringers.

While it appears that the efforts to save the flounder are working well, similar attention needs to be directed to another popular sports fish, the golden croaker.

While croaker still exist in good numbers around our area, the quality is way down. The fall croaker run has been almost non existent in recent times. Years ago, during October and November, a run of large croaker in the two pound and larger range would occur at about the same time as the flounder run.

Today, a few large or bull croaker are caught; however, it is nothing like two to three decades ago. Let’s enjoy this year’s flounder run and we will address golden croaker in a future article.

(Far left) Nevin Pinter with a pair of 24” flounder caught from a kayak in Kemah on Chicken Boy lures.(Left) Polly Kent with her own healthy November limit.

The title to this article leads one to believe that we will be discussing a big drop in the population of flounder in the Galveston Bay Complex. If this were prior to 2009, that would have been the case; however, today flounder are flourishing and stocks have increased dramatically.

By Capt. Joe Kent

“Ask most fishing guides and they will tell you that they are seeing and catching more flounder lately.”


By Capt. Joe Kent News & Events

1. Ladies Association President Jane O’Neal, from left, shares a light moment with Kathy Hall and Nancy Carrothers at the annual gala, “South Beach Nights.”

2. Fleet Admiral and Past Lakewood Commodore Don Genitempo, center, who is executive officer of the club’s new Texas Navy Sam Houston Squadron, welcomes Seabrook Mayor Glenn Royal and his wife, Diane, left, and State Rep. John Davis and his wife, Jayne, to a black-tie dinner at the club featuring the installation of squadron officers.

3. Faces in the crowd at the annual Ladies Association Gala included, from left,Jim Hertlein, Judith Shaw, Lis Hertlein and Roy Shaw.

4. Sue Warters, right, stops to visit with Rosemary Bettis, left, and Sue Collier during annual gala.

5. Commodore A.J. Ross and his wife, Gayle, left, stop for a photo with Fleet Capt. Joyce Maxwell and her husband, Darold, at the Lakewood Yacht Club Ladies Association Gala, which had a “South Beach Nights” theme.

Photos by Marcy Fryday

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Sea Lake Yacht Sales again sponsored this world class event which included guest speakers, cold drinks, good food and festivities. There was also lots of rum for the sailors and their guests to

enjoy. Regatta participants were treated to a plethora of door prizes, gift bags and raffle items.

Talk about fun, the Rendezvous began with Friday night’s awesome Beneteau Party on the Patio which overlooked the picturesque Lakewood Yacht Club’s inner harbor. It was filled with nearly 40 plus Beneteaus and their owners, the party was a very nice meet and greet gathering which included complementary hor d’oeuvres, beer, wine and good fellowship.

Saturday was a day of housekeeping, business and presentations by dynamic speakers such as Doug Hughes, Captain Steve Polk and Dr. Greg Kutsen, who spoke about medical care on board as well as Dave Lindsey of Cameron Sails who presented the proper way to trim your mast furling rigs to get maximum performance. Steve Hegyesi and Sea Lake’s Doug Hughes concluded business and provided important instructions for Sunday’s Rendezvous Unruly Regatta on Galveston Bay. That afternoon it was “Smorgosaboard” time. This traditional Scandinavian food hospitality custom was held on the individual Beneteaus who graced guests with personally made delicacies and imaginative drinks. Sailors Michael Brooks and Sunnie

Byenly served a mean rum concoction to their revelers. Another BBQ Party on the Patio was held along with an awards ceremony that night. The Best Beneteau award went to Carlos Townsend.

Sunday was back to sail business and the Regatta Winners of the Beneteau Unruly Regatta went to Larry and Jimmie last year’s winners. Sea Lake Yacht Sales provided the red carpet treatment for several owners of new Beneteaus and a new Lagoon. Congratulations to Scott and Kathy Moore on their new Lagoon, Ron and Karen Anderson, Rob and Deb Newman as they took ownership of their new Beneteaus respectfully.

Special thanks for organizing such a world class event goes to Marci Fryday, Angela Pounds, Jamie Bobcock, John Barnett, Steve Hegyesi and Doug Hughes.

Let me recommend a nice 40-foot Beneteau or Lagoon this Christmas. Enjoy the “Finest in Sailing,” Beneteau. Joyeaux Noel!

Sea Lake Yacht Sales and Beneteau a Winning Combination

By Rick Clapp

Recently, the majestic Lakewood Yacht Club hosted the exciting fun filled 2012 Beneteau Sailboat Owners Rendezvous.


t’s a place filled with fashion and friends and fun. Where stores are brimming with style and newness. Where visitors can

find new hairstyles, new spectacles, even brighter smiles. It’s a place to take a cooking class or

bring the family to enjoy a holiday event.Baybrook Mall is a place where friends

enjoy an afternoon of fashion. Where teens come after class. Where kids are invited to come

and sit on Santa’s lap. Where every day is different and every day revolves around you.

Great ExpectationsWith an unwavering dedication to

offering shoppers the best and the brightest, Baybrook Mall boasts some of the best names in the business.

“Without a doubt, it is Baybrook Mall’s number-one priority to provide shoppers with the best possible line-up of retailers in the city. We talk to our customers to discover where they want to shop,” says Brian Schroeder, general manager of Baybrook Mall. “As well as us looking for stores, retailers seek us out. Baybrook Mall is often the shopping center that a retailer will select to debut its first location in Houston. We opened the first H&M, the first LEGO store, the first See’s Candies and the first Vera Bradley. The list goes on and on.”

Fall ArrivesMore than just the best retailers in the city,

Baybrook Mall prides itself on offering one-of-a-kind experiences for visitors. This fall, the shopping center brought the richness of fall to life, ushering in the season with a rich, fiery-colored vignette for all to enjoy.

At the very heart of the shopping center, Baybrook Mall created an idyllic autumn scene to surprise

Baybrook Mall is many things to many people. It is at once a shopping destination, a gathering place, an indoor walking track, a place to dine, a place to gather. And more.

Baybrook Mall

visitors as they strolled and window shopped. There were trees and plants in rich reds, yellows and oranges. Wooden benches and street lamps that evoke the feeling of Central Park. The sounds of water rippling in a brook. Visitors stopped to enjoy the view across the colorful setting, listen to the babble of the brook and pose for photos to capture the memory.

As the days grew longer, the scene changed. Pumpkins sprouted in the landscape and plantings changed, offering visitors a late autumn scene and an ideal setting for a Thanksgiving photo of the

family. Thursday evenings the fall setting was alive with the sounds of rhythm and blues, with musical performances all to enjoy. For the kids, BooFest delighted with everything from costume contests to pumpkin decorating to folk singers and storytellers.

“To me, the most important aspect of Baybrook Mall is the ambiance, the environment. We want our shoppers not only to feel welcome and enjoy the shopping, but also to experience something new and fun. Our fall vignette was the setting for several events, from family photos to a garden club outing to a fashion show to kids in Halloween costumes,” says Mary Evans, marketing manager for the shopping center. “Our holiday showcase is just as pleasing, an experience that children and adults will enjoy.”

Welcome to The ClubAdding a personal touch to the shopping

experience, Baybrook Mall invites shoppers to become members of The Club, the mall’s program that sends e-mail notifications of sales and events to an exclusive list of opt-in members. Individuals who join are the first to know what’s happening and when.

Also, each member with a smart phone has access to The Club’s mobile app, which is like

having a customer service representative to go, providing users with sales information, real-time navigation of the mall, games that offer chances to win everyday and more.

Joining The Club is easy. Consumers can sign up to be a member online at www.baybrookmall.com or by stopping by the Management Office at the shopping center.

The Merrier ExperienceTo Baybrook Mall, the holidays are an

invitation to spread the merriment of the season. Along with halls that are decked with finery and a Santa who welcomes each and every person, Baybrook Mall puts the elves to work to create a fresh, snowy vignette for all to enjoy. The setting will offer a delightful winter stroll and will be an ideal, snowy backdrop for holiday photos.

On Black Friday, November 23, Baybrook Mall puts the shopping experience into

high gear. Opening at 6 a.m., retailers and department stores will be decorated for the season and brimming with special, one-day offers.

To add even more sparkle to the season, Baybrook Mall has a few surprises in store for visitors. Pets are invited to come pose for photos on Mondays beginning November 19. Children who stop in to visit will find a right-jolly old elf, Santa himself who’s ready to spend time with each and every little one, making the season just that much more special.

With EnthusiasmBaybrook Mall invites everyone to stop by

during the holidays and throughout the year. Enjoy the experiences. The shopping and the surprises. Come see. Come stay. Come enjoy.

Become a fan of Baybrook Mall on Facebook. Baybrook Mall is located in Friendswood at I-45 south and Bay Area Boulevard. For directions, call (281) 488-4627 or visit www.baybrookmall.com.

(Top) A fall vignette with the rich colors of autumn was the centerpiece of Baybrook Mall through October. (Right) Santa arrives at Baybrook Mall on Saturday, November 10 and will be at the shopping center through Monday, December 24. (Bottom Right) The new holiday decor at Baybrook Mall features a twist on the traditional holiday colors. Rich red is mixed with a soft green with accents of gold

“With an unwavering dedication to offering shoppers the best and the brightest, Baybrook Mall boasts some of the best names in the business.”

Photos and Story by Jenny Verghese

Some 1,725 students from financially challenged families in the Clear Creek and Dickinson school districts headed off the

class this fall with new clothes, thanks to the Assistance League of the Bay Area’s Operation School Bell program.

Working with officials from area schools, every year the Assistance League identifies children whose families are experiencing financial hardship and invites them to “shop” for new school clothes, during Operation School Bell.

Each summer, Assistance League volunteers transition their Resale Shop, located at 100 E. NASA Parkway, Suite 80, in Webster, into the headquarters of Operation School Bell. Retail racks are moved aside to make way, as shelves are stocked with new clothes, gallon-sized Ziploc bags are filled with shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, and toothbrushes,

dressing rooms are set up, and volunteers are scheduled to prepare for the throngs of families that will be invited to come as soon as school starts.

For two weeks, families come to the shop to receive clothing assistance. Students from grades k-5 come to be fitted with a wardrobe of new clothes, receive their own bag of hygiene items, and also a voucher for PayLess shoes purchased by the organization. League volunteers work with each child and parent, making sure the clothes fit.

Secondary students (grades 6-12) receive a voucher to shop at Target, and once they arrive at the store, receive shopping help from Assistance League of the Bay Area volunteers as well as Target team members.

400 in a dayFor the second year in a row, the

Assistance League was able to clothe 400 children from Dickinson ISD by joining

forces with Lighthouse Christian Ministries of Bacliff. While the Assistance League provided clothing, shoe vouchers, and hygiene items, LCM distributed backpacks and school supplies to the students on the same day.

Setting up the distribution at Bayshore Christian Fellowship in San Leon, volunteers from Assistance League of the Bay Area, LCM, Target, and staff from Dickinson

ISD worked the entire day – while the sky poured rain – cheerfully meeting the needs of families struggling to make ends meet.

Erika Steele, director of Lighthouse Christian Ministries, said the backpacks and school supplies were donated by Target, Clear Creek Community Church, CityMark, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Clear Creek Republican Women, Bay Area First Baptist Church, and Living Word Church of the Bay Area. Kroger provided water for the volunteers, and Chick-fil-A provided lunch.

Guided by Operation School Bell Chairmen Elizabeth Arceneaux, Cindy Senger Lewis, Kathleen Courville, Sarah Foulds, and Suzanne McMannis, nearly 200 volunteers were needed to make this program a success.

In all, 70 Assistance League members, 24 Assisteens and 90 members of the community, including Target team members, Dickinson ISD personnel, LCM volunteers, and members of Clear Creek Community Church, volunteered during Operation School Bell this year.

To learn more about Assistance League of the Bay Area, visit bayarea.assistanceleague.org, follow them on Facebook.com/AssistanceLeagueBayArea or Twitter@ALBayArea, or call 281-554-2594.

Operation School Bell bringssmiles to 1,725 student faces

Nancy Dionne, left, and Beverly Braden prepare baskets for the Assistance League’s Operation School Bell, which clothed 1,725 students this year.

There were lots of smiles as Cerenity Roberts, left, and her mom, Desiree Roberts, right, and Leslie Friesenhahn finish their shopping at the Assistance League’s Operation School Bell, in San Leon for Dickinson ISD students.

Alize Gonzalez merges from the dressing room in San Leon as Assistance League members dressed some 400 children from Dickinson ISD.



Fay Dudney, wife of the late Dr. Ned Dudney of League City, who helped turn a dream into reality, remembers it as if it was

just yesterday. “Dr. Larry Chapman came over from Seabrook to see us and when he walked in, he said, ‘Ned, I want you to help me build a hospital here in our area.’”

Dudney, like many doctors who had to put their patients in hospitals that were long distances from their homes, immediately liked the idea and “soon we sought out physicians all over the area,” Dr. Chapman said recently as he thought back to those heady days.

Joined by a Friendswood physician, the late Dr. Joe Symon, “the three of us

pursued things pretty hard, and before long, some 18 to 20 doctors practicing at Bayshore Hospital in Pasadena gave us their blessing.” And, their financial backing.

The group bought a 70-acre tract bounded by Highway 3 and Texas Avenue from Humble Oil Charitable Trust and on George Washington’s birthday, Feb. 22, 1970, a crowd of 500 gathered at the Webster site for the groundbreaking of the $4.2 million facility.

Webster Mayor Jodie McFadden, banker Walter Hall, who served as emcee; Dr. Robert Gilruth, director of the Manned Space Center, as it was called back then; Dr. Truman Blocker, president of UTMB at Galveston; Mrs. James Gilchrist, president of the Clear Lake Hospital Auxiliary; and Dr. William H. Rittenhouse, pastor of Nassau Bay Baptist Church, were but a few of the dignitaries joining Chapman, Symon and Dudney.

NASA Recovery Operations Chief Jerry Hammack, speaking on behalf of astronaut Frank Borman, who had been called out of town earlier that day, congratulated the local doctors for their efforts to establish the hospital.

Afterwards, Dr. Dudney, who spearheaded the drive to build the hospital, thanked the local residents for their support of the doctors’ decision to build the facility in the Clear Lake area. He promised “to search out the best avenue to take in establishing a hospital that will serve all our needs.”

Also taking part in the ceremonies were the Clear Creek High Symphonic Band, directed by Joe McMullin, and the Boy Scout color guard from Troop 502 in Webster.

The 150-bed acute hospital was designed by McGinty Partnership architects so it could expand to 600 beds, with Spaw-Glass Construction Co., headed by Frank Glass, as the general contractor.

A crowd of 3,000 was on hand Sunday, March 12, 1972 for the dedication and opening of the new Clear Lake Hospital, as it was called back then, including then-Mayor Jodie McFadden and attorney Floyd Myers, who is mayor today, along with Friendswood Development Corp. President John Turner and Webster State

Bank Vice President Gene Lindquist and Dr. William Powell.

Meanwhile Dr. Dudney and Dr. Symon quietly celebrated with Dr. Chapman, who was the first president of the hospital staff.

The hospital was privately financed by 20 physicians practicing in Clear Lake City, Dickinson and Seabrook and 26 doctors at Bayshore Hospital in Pasadena, according to an article published in The News Citizen at the time.

Since opening and delivering its first baby – Michele Elizabeth Hawkins, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hawkins of Webster – the hospital has grown considerably and today is ranked as the safest hospital in the Houston area and fourth in Texas by Consumer Reports.

Over the years, its name has changed from Clear Lake Hospital to Human Hospital-Clear Lake to Clear Lake Regional Medical Center. And, it has grown so much, it is barely recognizable when compared with 1972 photos. Around 2003, a new emergency room was added.

Then, in 2007, it completed the $55 million Heart & Vascular Hospital and spent another $17 million expanding that again in 2010, adding 72 additional private rooms, a pharmacy and dialysis unit.

Then earlier this year came the announcement the hospital was beginning a nearly $92 million expansion that will include a 154,000-square-foot Patient Tower with state-of-the-art operating rooms, pre-op and recovery rooms, plus a 30-bed adult Intensive Care Unit and a wide range of renovations.

“Our top priority,” said CEO Stephen K. Jones Jr., “is to provide accessible, unparalleled health care services to our region, from a superior medical staff to an outstanding team of employees. The enhancements we are planning allow us to continue that mission.”

Yesterday’s dream now a giant hospital and still growingBy Mary Alys Cherry

As Clear Lake Regional Medical Center celebrates its 40th anniversary, many in the medical community are remembering how it all got started.

“Over the years, its name has changed from Clear Lake Hospital to Human Hospital-Clear Lake to Clear Lake Regional Medical Center. And, it has grown so much, it is barely recognizable when compared with 1972 photos.”


The Ins and Outs of ePayments

Are you ordering far fewer checks for your bank account these days? Does a roll of postage stamps seem to last

a lot longer? Like most people, you’re probably performing many more financial transactions electronically, either by choice or because companies and government agencies have increasingly made it all but mandatory.

For example, most gyms require automatic deductions from a checking or credit card account. Utilities, mortgage lenders, insurance companies and others strongly encourage electronic payments. And many states now distribute benefits like unemployment, child support and disability assistance using prepaid cards instead of paper checks.

Electronic transactions have caught on because:

They’re cheaper. Businesses save on the costs of printing, processing and mailing millions of paper checks and statements; and with first-class postage costing 45 cents, customers rack up savings over time. And they save millions of tons of paper.

They’re faster. Bill payments, funds transfers and direct deposits to your bank account or prepaid card occur the same day (often instantly), versus being delayed in the mail. And, if you sometimes forget to mail payments on time, auto payment protects against late fees and overdraft charges.

They’re convenient. You can choose one-time bill pay, where you first review your bill and then authorize payment; or recurring bill pay, where your bills are paid automatically at a scheduled time – for either for the full amount (usually mandatory with utilities), the minimum payment due, or an amount you choose. You can usually have funds drawn from either your checking or credit card account (be sure to ask).

They’re safer. Even in these high-tech times, old-fashioned mail theft remains a major problem. For example, in 2010 more than 540,000 mailed federal benefit checks were reported lost or stolen and had to be replaced.

That doesn’t mean electronic transactions are risk-free. As with email or any kind of online activity, you should take precautions to protect your computer (and cell phone) from being hacked. For example:

• Make sure your anti-virus and anti-spyware software is up-to-date.

• When making online payments, look for safety symbols like a padlock icon in the browser’s status bar, an “s” after “http” in the URL, or the words “Secure Sockets Layer” (SSL).

• Review credit card and bank account statements regularly and report duplicate bill payments or suspicious/unauthorized charges to the card issuer.

• Ask whether your credit or debit card offers “zero liability,” which means you won’t be responsible for unauthorized or fraudulent purchases.

• Regularly order your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion), and review for errors or fraudulent activity. You can order one free report annually from each at www.AnnualCreditReport.com, or more frequently for a small fee from each bureau.

• Create complex, random passwords and change them regularly.

• Be a savvy consumer whenever using a bill-paying service:

• Ask if any fees are involved. • Before signing the agreement,

make sure you understand and accept the terms.

• To stop service, you must notify the merchant as well as the bank/credit card company. Cancellation may take a month or two to become effective, so plan ahead.

• If your payment card expires, the merchant will need new card information to ensure uninterrupted service.

• Track expenses carefully and keep your budget up to date.

This article is brought to you by a partnership between Visa and Texas First Bank and was authored by Jason Alderman, who directs Visa’s financial education programs. For more information, follow Texas First Bank on Facebook, Twitter and You Tube or visit us at www.texasfirstbank.com.

re you or your company working with unlicensed software? Do you, as the business owner or manager, know the software your IT consultant has loaded onto the office computer system?

The Business Software Alliance (BSA) recently reported its settlement of eight software piracy cases for amounts ranging from $120,000 to $625,000 per case. The eight companies included a small-town online retailer, a global e-commerce software provider, a Houston-area retail energy provider, an auto dealer network, and a major government defense contractor. The total value of the pirated software was claimed to be $2.5 million. Each of these cases involved a business using software for which it did not have a license.

The purchase of computer software is actually the purchase of a license to use the software. We all know the software licenses - those are the fine print documents that are thrown away without being read or that appear on the screen followed by a button that says “I accept.” With the exception of “open source” software, using software without a license is copyright infringement and a serious violation of federal law. Software companies are allowed to sue unlicensed users for the greater of the actual damages incurred or $150,000 for each program copied. Use of unlicensed software is also a crime, with each violation being subject to a fine of up to $250,000, a prison sentence of up to five years, or both.

These eight reported settlements prove that company leaders need to pay attention to the software loaded onto business computers. The settlements also prove that management is not paying attention or worse.

Business managers need to understand their

computer hardware and software and carefully manage their license agreements. All computer software should be archived, and licenses should be identified and inventoried. Pre-loaded programs acquired with a computer should be kept together. All software purchases should be made from reputable companies and coordinated through a designated IT expert or department. Employees should not be allowed to install software on any company equipment; only the IT expert or department should be allowed to do so.

Company computer systems should be audited periodically to confirm that only licensed software is loaded. Any unlicensed software should be removed immediately and the person who loaded the software counseled on the significance of software piracy.

Adobe, Apple, Computer Associates, Intel, Intuit, McAfee, Microsoft, Rosetta Stone, Symantec and other software and hardware manufacturers have teamed to organize the BSA to promote proper computer software use and enforce software licenses. These eight settlements resulted from claims of software license violations that were pursued by the BSA.

BSA regularly relies upon tips from past and present employees of the business to identify software piracy. Sometimes these are employees who themselves committed the piracy. Management should ensure that any person with authority for computer systems and software licenses has the personal responsibility to verify that all software licenses are in place.

Computer software is an important and costly asset in today’s business environment. Proper management of that asset is critical, both to maximize the value of the software to the business and to prevent the business’ liability for copyright and software license violations.

Bottom line…don’t do it. It’s just not worth the risk.

Greg Crinion is a partner atCrinion Davis & Richardson LLPwww.cdrlegal.com

By Greg Crinion

SOFTWARE PIRACYA Business Risk Not to Be Taken


By Mike Furin,2012-2013 CLACC chairman of the board

As we reflect on the past 50 years of the Clear Lake Area there are so many great memories

and accomplishments to be thankful for. Many of which have shaped our community, the Bay Area region where we all live and work.

Our history is an important part of who we are, like the beginning of the Johnson Space Center or the NASA Bypass to the regional development of the Bay Area Houston with all its diverse cities and unique destinations. We have so much right here in our own backyards. We have the best schools, some of the best healthcare, great hotels, restaurants, shopping, fantastic outdoor sports, water and leisure activities and so much more.

And thanks to so many great individuals and organizations who dedicated their time, talents and vision over the years, we will continue to enjoy a vibrant community into the future.

Like some of you, I didn’t grow up here or attend school in the Clear Creek Independent School District, but I got here as quick as I could, thus my family and I have called the Clear Lake Area our home for more than 20 years. One of the first things I did after settling into my position at Buddy & Wanda’s/My Flooring America was to get involved in the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.

This was one of the best decisions of my life. Since then I have participated in so many facets of the chamber and our community. I have been blessed to get to know so many the 50 Faces being honored during our 50th Anniversary year, not to mention so many more fantastic citizens of our community that have helped shape all that we are today. History is very important but vision is imperative and with the best of both the 100th Anniversary will be incredible.

The Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce is central to the foundation of so much within our community. Our organization continues to hold itself accountable to the mission of “business growth, educational excellence and community connections” to enhance the quality of life in the Clear Lake

Bay Area Houston. We continue to evolve and become the total resource hub for businesses and individuals in our community. With more than 1,000 members, growing the goal is always for the chamber to have a regional impact, with top of mind awareness, as the place to get connected.

Whether it is within the chamber with one of its many faceted divisions/committees or for the chamber to point you in the right direction to one of the various other great organizations/affiliations within our community, many of which got their start at the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.

As we embark on the next 50 years, will you be one of the many faces that help shape our community and our future or will you be one of the faces in the crowd? We have the foundation of success. We just need to be involved in building the future.

As Americans, as Texans and as citizens of the Clear Lake Bay Area Houston, we have an obligation to future generations to leave a legacy greater than we already have. Will you join with me and with the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce to be involved in some way and make a commitment to participate in building a brighter future?

My chamber, my community, our future, this is a real value and you are the key. Stay in touch and let’s all shape the future together. For more information go to www.clearlakearea.com


50 Years of History and InvolvementThe Launch Pad to a Brighter Future For Our Community

Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2012 44 Bay Area Houston Magazine | NOVEMBER 2012 44 M A R K E T P L A C E

NOVEMBER 2012 | Bay Area Houston Magazine 45M A R K E T P L A C E


By Mary Alys Cherry

The nation’s economy may not have fully recovered from the 2008 recession, but the Bay Area certainly has.

The cities around Clear Lake and Galveston Bay have not only recovered, they found themselves some $8.8 million richer as Texas Comptroller Susan Combs delivered sales tax rebates collected in September for sales in August.

Several local cities showed double digit increases over last year’s totals – some receiving boosts from new businesses.

State sales tax revenue in September was $1.96 billion, up 11.6 percent compared to September 2011, Combs said.

“Continued strength in the manufacturing and oil and natural gas sectors led to the sales tax revenue increase,” she explained. “Collections were also boosted by improvement in consumer spending at restaurants and

retail stores. State sales tax revenue has now increased for 30 straight months.”

Houston, of which Clear Lake City is a part, was up 12 percent in August and 12.43 percent for the year-to-date, compared with 2011.

Nassau Bay with its new businesses was up 39.55 percent, while League City jumped 19.52 percent and Dickinson was up 32.5 percent. Tax revenues in Taylor Lake Village, meanwhile, were up a whopping 99 percent over last year and registering a 66.78 percent increase for the year-to-date compared with last year.

Pearland, Pasadena, Deer Park and La Porte all showed double-digit gains in August, as did Galveston and Dallas. El Lago was the only city dipping below last year’s August revenues, although Friendswood’s year-to-date total was down slightly.

Monthly payments in the Bay Area, the increase are decrease for the same period last year; the year-to-date total in parenthesis, plus the percentage increase or decrease for the year follow:

Clear Lake Shores — $129,213, +4.19; ($1,391,852) +1.08;

Deer Park — $394,120, +16.63; ($3,792,163) +9.40;

Dickinson — $486,358, +32.48; ($4,061,908) +26.81;

El Lago — $9,761, -6.19; ($95,041) -8.96;

Friendswood — $346,190, +5.71; ($3,193,122) – 2.83;

Galveston — $1,742,267, +23.51; ($14,565,263) +8.71;

Houston — $46,658,819, +12.16; ($417,670,489) +12.43;

Kemah — $270,650, +3.41; ($2,693,942) +4.16;

La Porte — $582,397, +17.39; ($5,692,730) +22.95;

League City — $1,233,055, +19.52; ($12,000,579) +10.55;

Nassau Bay — $95,608, +39.55; ($700,239) +16.82;

Pasadena — $2,088,922, +11.18; ($21,466,151) +8.11;

Pearland — $1,797,582, +10.68; ($18,403,536) +11.34;

Seabrook — $158,460, +.99; ($1,741,180) +0.14;

Taylor Lake Village — $6,971, +98.93; ($75,872) +66.78;

Webster — $1,234,924, +9.30; ($11,980,014) +3.90.

Sales around the Bay Area on the increase

Betty Campbell, right, whose husband, Jack, founded the Clear Lake Area Chamber, chats with, from left, Alice and Bob Taylor and Joann Blackledge, whose husband Ben was a long-time mayor of Kemah

Joe Mayer, Clear Lake Area Chamber chairman who was the honoree at this year’s Chairman’s Ball, arrives at Space Center Houston with his wife, Robin; son, Spencer, and his date, Jennifer Watts.

Gala Chairman Richard Allen goes over the program with Clear Lake Area Chamber President Cindy Harreld, left, and Vice President Shari Sweeney as the gala gets under way at Space Center Houston.

Webster Mayor Floyd Myers, attorney Joe Barlow, realtor Jim Hargrove and former Seabrook City Councilwoman Lois Mohrhusen, from left, all long-time area residents, were among the 50 Faces honored at the Clear Lake Chamber ball.

New Clear Lake Area Chamber Chairman Mike Furin and his wife, Tracie, join the crowd at Space Center Houston for the 50th anniversary Chamber Gala.

Claudette Alderman, a chamber fixture for 37 years and 25 as president, says hello to retired banker Bob Scott and his wife, Elizabeth, at chamber gala.

Norman Frede, long-time Clear Lake businessman, with his wife, Sheree, left, and daughter, Marijane Smitherman, was among the 50 faces honored at the chamber gala.

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