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Leaving food allergies behind
Lace up your walking shoes and join thousands of other Houstonians Sept. 11 for the 5th Annual Walk for Food Allergy: Moving Toward a Cure event at Sam Houston Park. The walk is sponsored by the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN). Pictured at the 2009 walk are (back row, from left) Stuart Miller, Adam Gross, Sammy Toys, Roger Greenberg, (middle row, from left) Mara Greenberg, Kara Gross, (in front, from left) Julia Miller and Skylar Gross. The 2.5-mile walk is non-competitive, and there is no entry fee. Food allergies affect more people every year, and young children have the highest incidence. Last year’s FAAN Walk included nearly 2,000 Houstonians who raised more than $175,000 – making it the top fundraising walk among 35 similar walk events held nationwide. Funds raised will be used to increase awareness and support food-allergy research. Visit www.foodallergywalk.org for more info.
Making softball waves
The West University Wave 10U Girls Tournament Team finished its summer season with some well-deserved time at the beach after a ninth-place finish in the USFA 10B World Series Tournament held in Panama City Beach, Fla. This national tournament is the largest USFA fastpitch girls’ softball tournament of the year, attracting more than 3,000 girls on more than 300 teams in six different age brackets. Participation in the 10B bracket included 66 teams from around the country, including two teams from Canada. The Wave, who qualified for the tournament by winning the USFA Texas state tournament in Beaumont in June, played 10 games, finishing 5-2 in bracket play. Pictured on the beach celebrating their season finish are (back row, from left) Sydney Beckham, Anna Winter, Elysa Tulek, Julia Waller, Alyssa Barrett, Jenny Perrotta, (front row, from left) Maddie Van Brunt, Grace Hansen, Zoe Narvacan, Abbey Parks, Megan Dickson and Jordan Howard. Manager Don Beckham, who has participated in several national competitions, praised the team for representing the West University Softball Association and the State of Texas.
One hopeful evening
Kaylan Findley Caballero and Roula Nassar (pictured, from left) are making final plans as co-chairs for the Evening of Hope Gala benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, located in Memphis, Tenn. The gala is set for Oct. 2 at The Hilton Americas Hotel and will honor former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Farouk Shami. Committee members, including Kim Brown, Sharon Campbell, Denise Evans, Janet Jenkins, Sophia Mafrige, Cathey Meagher, Joy Neely, Virginia Pederson, Lisa Prendergast, Rachel Purcell, Nicole Salha, Shellie Stone and Royce Walker, promise a silent and live auction to remember as well as dancing to the beat of the New Orleans Motown Band Sha’on and Success. St. Jude benefits pediatric patients in the Houston area as it shares its discoveries with our local scientific and medical communities. For tickets, go to www.stjude.org/houston.
Membership has its benefits
Houston members of the Roaring Fork Club, located in Basalt, Colo., celebrated the club’s 10th anniversary at the home of Ann and Don Short (pictured, center and right) this summer. The party included a private tasting of wines from the 32 Winds Wine’s 2007 vintage. Guests, including Jim Light, (pictured, left), one of the Roaring Fork Club founders, as well as members Nancy Moncrief and Fred and Claudia Lummis, enjoyed reminiscing about times spent at the Club, located close to downtown Aspen and known for its fly fishing, golf course, cross-country skiing and family activities. Seen in the crowd were Doug and Sheryl Bech and Ann Gregory.
Celebrating local theater
Gente de Teatro has brought the passion of Latin American and Spanish theater to Houston audiences for 15 years. To celebrate, a party will be held following the performance of Made in Lanús by Nelly Fernández Tiscornia on Sept. 10 at Rice University’s Hamman Hall. Pictured are the seven volunteer members who assist with each production. They are (front row, from left) Carmen Falla Aramayo, Marcela Salas, Claudia Soroka, Ana Scuseria, (back row, from left) Jorge Zambra, Esteban Gago and Sergio Amsel. All performances are in Spanish, and ticket prices are kept low. Made in Lanús will be presented Sept. 9-12. Contact 713-826-0445 or go to www.gentedeteatro.org for info.
Classmates reunite
More than 35 alumni from West University Elementary School’s Class of 1976 enjoyed a weekend of reunion festivities in July. Classmates attended a mixer at Casa Dominguez, a reunion at Edloe Street Café and an evening of fun at Dave and Buster’s. Class members who stopped by the school building on University for a photo op include Jack Huffman Scarborough, Dan Tevis, Eve Maulsby, Pamela Paquette Garza, Edmund Ranly, Dave DeJohn, Susan Couch Mallek, Kim Herb Spears, Lynn Eaves Young, Lorna Hawkins, Ted Currier, Leigh Range, Laura Bradham, Gaynor Keprta, Selena McPhail, Stephen Cameron, Courtney Farley, Kurt Simms, Alycia Bohner, Debbie Lorfing, Craig Wallin, Mark Scroggins, Kelli Lyn, Lisa Tsokos, Matthew Schulte, Elizabeth Olivé Johnson, Charles Candela and Garrett Gadbois. For future class-reunion news, email Ted at curriers714@yahoo.com.
Making beautiful music
Girls from all over the country came together at the University of St. Thomas this summer for the Royal School of Church Music – America Gulf Coast Course for Girls and Adults. While making new friends, the participants made worship music and learned about new ways to be musical leaders in their home choirs. Pictured are participants from St. Paul’s United Methodist Church including Maddy Auchter, Katrina Benwell, Audrey Black, Meg Brigman, Courtney Greenwell, Mallory Miller, Meghan Miller, Sara Olshefski, Autumn Watt and Emily Wolfe.
Going once, going twice
Now that the hallways of West University Elementary School are bustling with students, the auction committee is working full-speed ahead for the Nov. 6 auction fundraiser Rock the Night Away at Minute Maid Park. Pictured are event co-chairs (from left) Tara Wuthrich, Linette Courtney, Julie Jackson and Sherry Sinor toasting the hard work thus far which has secured big-board auction donations including airline tickets, vacation home packages, hotel stays, spa services, parties, sports memorabilia and home décor. Auction donations are still being accepted. Contact Tara at t.wuthrich0018 (at) att (dot) net for info. Proceeds from the event will fund curriculum-enrichment programs throughout the school year.
A whole lotta baseball
For the second year in a row, the West University Little League Senior team earned its spot at the Senior League World Series in Bangor, Maine. Led by manager Trey Cornelius and coaches Will McDaniel and Clint Sauls, the team of 15-16 year-olds sealed the deal by winning the Southwest Regional tournament in Seguin with a 6-3 win over the New Mexico state champions. The league is also proud of its 11U team, which captured the District 16, Section 3 and Texas East State titles alongside the Seniors who then went on to clinch the Southwest Regional championship before heading to the Senior League World Series. At Sectionals, the West U 11’s defeated Santa Fe 7-3 in the championship game. After a successful round of play at the Texas East State Tournament in Tyler, the boys went on defeat Lamar American by a score of 15-6 to complete their championship run. Members of both the Senior and 11U teams are pictured celebrating their strong performances on the field following their victories at the state championship games.
Bee Seen in Buzz About Town
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