Archive for September 2006

Space Cowboys

September 2006
Christer Fuglesang of Bellaire and Danny Olivas are getting ready to help settle the final frontier of space. (Photo: ##http://www.solarisstudios.com##www.solarisstudios.com##)

Some local residents will be taking a long, long trip soon—like flying to the International Space Station.  And while other local residents may not be going along for the ride, they play an integral part in these amazing voyages.

After a trip to Johnson Space Center when he was 7, West U’s Danny Olivas knew what he wanted to do …

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The Games People Play

September 2006
Husband and wife team Bill Baker and Betsy Dubose don’t mess around when it comes to playing bridge.

The sound of tiles clacking, enthusiastic snacking, and eager chitchat punctuated with the occasional strange sounds of “bam” and “crak” can only mean there is a local mah jongg game in progress. Likewise, the only trumps being talked about have no relation to that Donald that yells, “You’re fired!” It merely signifies another bridge game is taking place. Whether serious, …

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The Green Life

September 2006
Kathleen Carrier stands behind her belief that solar panels are a smart and responsible means of using energy efficiently.

Forget what Kermit said. These days, it is easy bein’ “green.” Several area residents are doing their part to give Mother Nature a break, and offer tips here for those of you that want to do more.

One of the most obvious green efforts in West U is its extensive recycling program. The city offers both curbside recycling and has …

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Buzz Kidz by Myles Siegel, age 18

September 2006
Myles Siegel learned to camouflage himself in the middle of the desert during a brief stay at a military base in Israel.

I’ll never forget my experience in Israel

A couple of months ago I decided to go to Israel with the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization’s Passport2Israel program group. I decided to go off the beaten path a little, and drag my best friend Warren Finn along on the Trek Israel trip. We hiked and experienced the country, not just saw it …

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Going to the Chapel

September 2006
Ruth

I now pronounce you man and wife.” When I hear these words come November, there will be reason to celebrate. My daughter will be married, and my husband and I can sit back, relax, and enjoy her wedding festivities. All the months of planning and fretting over details will be finis. Right now, I’m experiencing “wedding on the brain syndrome,” …

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Where the Wild Things Are

September 2006
Greg scratches under Kwame the okapi's furry jawbone and is treated to having his furry chin licked in return.

All day long, rain pelted down on Houston. And all day long, Kimacho the okapi refused to leave the comfort of his cozy, dry barn.

“If he hears the rain on the roof, that’s it. He stayed inside all day yesterday,” said Steve Fueglein, a zookeeper who is amused and only a little exasperated by the okapi’s stubborn streak. “No …

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BuzzFlix – September 2006

September 2006
IHON

I’ll never forget the first time I saw A Shot in the Dark (1964, .358 batting average, No. 556 all-time movie, No. 45 all-time comedy) during its initial theater run. Besides being one of my first car dates ever, I found myself laughing out loud repeatedly at the antics of Peter Sellers as the inept Inspector Clouseau. What burned the …

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Neighborhood Tails – Lily, age 1 year

September 2006
Lily

Lily, age 1 year
Bichon frise
Wordsworth Lane

Hi, my name is Lily, and I am a bichon frise. I used to be an only child, but my family decided that I needed a friend. Now my sister Emma, a four-month old Chihuahua-dacshund mix, lives with me. Having a new sister is nice, but it can also be quite troublesome. …

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The Woes and Wows of Technology

September 2006
Buzz Staff Writer Andy Blitzer can appreciate technology's advances, but still maintains there's nothing like receiving a handwritten letter.

Each day new technical advances provide us with opportunities and gadgets that delight or alarm us. The younger generation may be more comfortable with technology because they’ve known nothing else, while others may view devices as an intrusion. Buzz Staff Writer Andy Blitzer and college freshman/Buzz summer intern Caroline Matthews reveal their perspectives on the effects of technology.

Technology: For

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Travel Buzz – September 2006

September 2006
Judy Brunk (left to right), Fred Brunk, Dixie Swanson, Sandy Goodwin, Bailey Price, Mary Ella Price, Bob Shimp (kneeling), Mike Goodwin, Deke Dekle, Kathaleen Chenoweth, Bob Chenoweth, and Carol Shimp pose with a Terra Cotta Warrior in Xian, China.

CHINA
The Great Wall, Warriors, and the Yangtze River

“Going to China with a group of friends added so much fun to our adventure,” says Carol Shimp. “We definitely relied on each other for everything from companionship to watching out for each other. It was terrific!” Organized by some couples in the “Boomers” Sunday School class at First Presbyterian Church, …

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Buzz About Town – September 2006

September 2006
Radio Lollipop

Lollipop, lollipop
West U’s “Vivacious” Vita Montalbano enjoyed making a child and his parent’s stay at Texas Children’s Hospital brighter as a Radio Lollipop volunteer. Radio Lollipop broadcasts to patient rooms on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursday evenings with children phoning in song requests, telling jokes, and hearing their voices on the radio. Play and help kids with craft activities—and make …

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July 2006