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Rogers revue
Stratford High School student Will Lynde lassoed a plum role. He plays Will Rogers in the Stratford Playhouse presentation Will Rogers Follies: A Life in Revue, which opens Jan. 26. The cast spent six months preparing for the show and trained with “Cowboy Doug” Whitaker to learn rope and lasso tricks. Pictured (from left) are the “Cowboy Singing Quartet” of McGregor Dalton, Isai Martinez, Graham Baker and Tucker May, along with Lynde. For more information or to buy tickets, go to www.shsplayhouse.com.
Thanksgiving medley
Three Memorial families enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving with an untraditional flair: As they have for several years, the Jewish Atnipp family hosted the Muslim Taghdisis and Christian Christopherson families. But their day was pure Americano, with the long-time friends celebrating each other’s family milestones, giving thanks together and enjoying a feast, including an oven-roasted turkey, a deep-fried turkey and three kinds of pies, prepared by Roni Atnipp. Pictured (back row, from left) are Saeed Taghdisi, Rana Taghdisi, Lailee Taghdisi, Doug Atnipp, Walter Christopherson, Will Christopherson, Ben Atnipp and Will Atnipp; (middle row, from left) Emma Christopherson and Sarah Atnipp; and (seated, from left) Catherine Christopherson, Roni Atnipp, Ellie Taghdisi and Julia Atnipp.
Helping the homeless
Fathers and daughters from Memorial Drive Elementary bought and distributed 200 backpacks filled with winter clothes, ponchos, water, food, hand gel, Bibles and religious tracts to the homeless around Houston, including at the Star of Hope and the VA. The fathers, led by Mike Rao, Larry St. Martin and Joe Marino, bought supplies while the daughters raised $320 by offering cookies and lemonade at the corner of Blalock and Starwood, explaining their cause to all the takers. Pictured at the stand (from left) are Marie Gulstadt, Ashlyn Feeney, Cate Glover, Ellie St. Martin, Samantha Glover and Sage Rao. Dentist Brad Gowan, HEB-Bunker Hill, Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, Houston’s First Baptist Church and the Cokinos family also donated to the cause, helping them raise more than $1,800. The group is already planning for a bigger and better operation next year.
Shriners spokesgirl
The Kinkaid School eighth-grader Kate Hickman has been taking her never-give-up message around the country to advocate for Shriners Hospitals for Children. Kate, who suffered third-degree burns over 35 percent of her body when she was in the second grade, is the National Patient Ambassador for Shriners Hospitals, speaking at public events about the treatment and care patients receive at Shriners. This year, she addressed the Imperial Session during Shriners’ annual convention, she met performer Justin Timberlake at his annual golf fundraiser, and she and her mother, Lisa, did a 30-minute Radio Disney interview. New Year’s Day, she rode atop the Shriners float during the Rose Bowl parade.
Charity chat
Thirty-two Houston notables and about 300 of their fans discussed fashion, food, energy, technology, art and meteorology at the Art of Conversation Luncheon chaired by Cindi Rose and Mady Kades to benefit City ArtWorks. ArtWorks funds afterschool visual art classes for 3,000 young children in 50 schools. Lynn Wyatt, Deborah Duncan, Frank Billingsley, Molly Glentzer, Shelby Hodge, Bill Stubbs, Dominic Walsh, Jan Carson, Arturo Boada and Rick Barongi were some of the leaders who chatted for charity. Committee members included Patsy Andrews, Sharon Brier, April Gauss and Barbara Hammer. Pictured (from left) are Rose, Wyatt and Kades. (Photo: Herb Hochman)
An Amazing fundraiser
Lifelong friends Susan Williamson (pictured, at left) and Dana Strake (right) co-chaired a luncheon to remember, raising a record-breaking $289,000 for Amazing Place, a daytime memory-care program for adults with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. Dr. Gustavo Román of the Nantz National Alzheimer Center, well-known in the neurological field, gave a presentation on ways to keep brains healthy. Strake is a longtime volunteer at Amazing Place; she started many years ago leading a Bible study for the participants. (Photo: www.AlexandersPortraits.com)
Science showcase
At Rummel Creek Elementary’s science fair, 80 first- through fourth-grade junior scientists showcased their understanding of the scientific method with more than 50 fun and innovative projects. Third-grader Jake Evetts (pictured) explains his project about texting and driving to PTA president Athena Cashiola.
Cardinals fly high
In an exciting game filled with diving tackles, passes, reverses, amazing runs and a Statue of Liberty play, the Bunker Hill Cardinals defeated the defending-champion Briargrove Redskins in overtime 25-18 to win the 2011 Tully Bowl in the Spring Branch Memorial Sports Association’s freshman flag football league. The team, composed of boys ages 5 to 7, became the first Bunker Hill Elementary team to win the Tully Bowl in more than 20 years. Pictured with their trophies are (top row, from left) Jackson Graham, Harris Manchac, Lee Fowler, Connor Masraff, Eric Fan, Cooper King and Robert Strock and (bottom row, from left) Brandon Hiemstra, Everett Wienert, Noah Brown, Ryan Kearns, Jackson McAllister and Johnny Rose. The coaches are (from left) Brian Fowler, Geoff King and Kyle Wienert.
Turkey Bowl
Sore hamstrings, bruised egos, laughs and catching up with scattered friends while – sort of – reliving the old glory days are traditions for some 1991 graduates from Memorial High. Each year around Thanksgiving, the men, usually six or seven but as many as 20 from as far away as Oregon, play a competitive and friendly game of tag football; then they enjoy cheap Mexican food and margaritas. This year’s game included (pictured, from left) Eric Hutzelman, Sam Brier, Adam Wexler, Beeman Strong, John Robertson, Curt Crofford and, not pictured, Dr. Peter Jung.
The Icepick cometh
When Frost “The Icepick” Murphy, a 1999 Memorial High grad, entered the professional Mixed Martial Arts ring for the first time Dec. 16, he did it for a good cause. Murphy’s first bout was in Legacy Fighting Championships 9, benefiting the HeartGift nonprofit. “The Icepick” (pictured, on bottom) also donated his purse to the organization. HeartGift, co-founded by Murphy’s soon-to-be father-in-law, helps children from other countries receive life-saving heart surgeries. Parents Frosty and Janice Murphy are in his corner. (Photo: www.thecagedoor.net © 2009)
Center stage
Chair Karen Pulaski performed quite a feat, pulling off an event for the Society for the Performing Arts’ 15th annual luncheon on the Jones Hall stage. The luncheon, which raised $155,000 to benefit SPA’s education and outreach programs, featured Tiger Mom Amy Chua as guest speaker. Patsy Fourticq was awarded the 2011 Ann Sakowitz Performing Arts Advocate Award, and the 320 guests enjoyed a champagne reception, lunch and decadent mini cupcakes prepared by Jackson Hicks. Pictured among the crowd are Anita Smith (at left) and Eileen Lawal. Also in the crowd were Greg and Gregory Fourticq, Diane Lokey Farb, Tana Wood, Dena Prasher, Terry Wayne Jones, Jay Jones, Chree Boydstun, Katy Caldwell, Kari Gonzales, Debra Grierson, Laura Baird, Kikki Wilson, Roz Pactor, Rosemary Schatzman, Arvia Few and Soraya McClelland.
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