Around Town July 2011
(L- R): Hazel Ellis, Heritage Trails DAR Media Award recipient; Lynn Forney Young, NSDAR recording secretary general and Texas Honored Daughter; Pat Spackey, Regent of Heritage Trails DAR chapter; Shaune Stauffer, Heritage Trails DAR Media Award recipient; and Terri Jaggers, Heritage Trails DAR Community Service Award recipient.
HERITAGE TRAILS NSDAR CHAPTER HONORS OUTSTANDING WOMEN.
Outstanding members of the Montgomery County community were recently honored during the Heritage Trails chapter NSDAR Awards luncheon held at The Woodlands Country Club.
Honoree Terri Jaggers, member of the Board of the Montgomery County Child Protective Services, became active in child welfare and foster care programs beginning in 1985. As a one-time foster child herself, she has been determined to improve the lives of foster children and the families and organizations that work to care for them. She and her husband Pat have been foster parents to 25 children and have formally adopted 5 children. She has organized many events and programs producing hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations of goods and services and has been instrumental in placing over 50 children to adoptive homes. She is the Community Service Award recipient.
The Heritage Trails DAR Media Award recipients are Hazel Ellis and Shaune Stauffer of On Location Live, an interactive news and event show produced weekly that highlights events in Montgomery County. The program is hosted and written by Shaune Stauffer and produced and directed by Hazel Ellis. Ellis has a degree in art from Sam Houston State University and has also been involved with the prestigious “Shattered Lives” program since its inception.
The Heritage Trails DAR chapter meets the third Tuesday of each month. For details, contact Pat Spackey at pat.texasflaglady@sbcglobal.net or visit the the website, www.texasdar.org/chapters/HeritageTrails.
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Participating in the “Best Tomato Creation” Challenge at Tomato Mania was the People’s Choice Award Winner, Pallotta’s Italian Grill.
TOMATO MANIA BENEFIT TAKES OVER VILLAGE CENTER.
Grogan’s Mill Village Center was abuzz with activity at Veggie Village’s “Tomato Mania” on Saturday, June 4. Hundreds of individuals attended and were entertained with live music, kids’ activities, fresh veggies and a chef cook-off of tomato-based creations from several local restaurants. With nine local restaurants competing in the “Best Tomato Creation” Challenge, the People’s Choice Award was given to Pallotta’s Italian Grill. Hubbell & Hudson won the Most Creative Use of Tomato, and Rico’s Restaurants the Best Presentation Award.
Additionally the event featured a home-grown tomato contest and the winners were: Best Tasting – Stephanie Wallace, Ugliest – Ed Naspinski, Prettiest – Stephanie Wallace, and Biggest – Atkinson Farms.
All proceeds from the event support Interfaith of The Woodlands’ Veggie Village Donation Garden. The Garden is a special project of Interfaith of The Woodlands providing fresh produce for Interfaith of The Woodlands food pantry. For more information about Veggie Village, contact Kathy Rifaat, at 832-615-8208 or Sylvia Campbell, at 281-363-9910. or visit www.woodlandsinterfaith.org .
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(L-R) Shaune Stauffer, host of On Location Live and Ms. United America; Pat Spackey, descendant of Charles B. Stewart; and Lynn Forney Young, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution recording secretary general and Texas Honored Daughter.
LONE STAR MONUMENT AND HISTORICAL FLAG PARK OPENS.
San Jacinto Day in April was chosen as the day to celebrate the unveiling and dedication ceremonies of the Lone Star Monument and Historical Flag Park, located on I-45 in Conroe adjacent to the Montgomery County Central Library. The park features 13 of the flags that flew over Texas between 1821 and 1839.
Artist Craig Campobella created a bust of Montgomery County patriot Dr. Charles B. Stewart, located at the entrance to the park, and the Texian statue, which stands at the center of the park and represents all Texans. Several of Stewart’s descendants were present at the unveiling.
Honored guests who raised one of the 13 flags were: Michael Thornton, Congres-sional Medal of Honor recipient; Marty Stuart, musical artist; Pat Lopez, U.S. Navy Seal; Congressman Kevin Brady; Gary P. Nunn, musical artist; Frederick Newhouse, Olympic Gold and Silver medal winner; Patti Atkins, Daughters of the Republic of Texas; Lynn Forney Young, Daughters of the American Revolution and Texas Honored Daughter; Newton M. Warzecha, director of Presideo La Bahia Goliad; Clint Black, musical artist; Sam Clark, Sons of the Republic of Texas; and Sam Houston IV, Sons of the Republic of Texas and Head of the Texas Army. The last flag to be raised was the Lone Star Flag of Texas by junior high students and Boy Scouts.
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(L-R) Dr. Ann Snyder, Patricia Gail Bray, and Debra Sukin, Interfaith Community Clinic Board Member and CEO, St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital & St. Luke’s Lakeside Hospital hold the hefty “check”
INTERFAITH COMMUNITY CLINIC GETS $100,000 GRANT.
The South County Community Clinic, better known as the Interfaith Community Clinic, has been awarded a $100,000 matching grant from St. Luke’s Episcopal Health Charities.
Established in 1996, the Clinic, located in Oak Ridge North in South Montgomery County, is a nonprofit healthcare center that provides quality medical and dental care, counseling and social services to those who have no insurance and who do not meet criteria to receive care in another setting, such as governmental or county assistance programs. Funded by donations, the Clinic is staffed by licensed physicians, nurses, dentists, dental assistants, dental hygienists, social workers, translators and support people who volunteer their time and services to run the Clinic.
Ann Snyder, president of Interfaith of The Woodlands and Interfaith Community Clinic, added, “We are extremely grateful for the continued support of St. Luke’s Episcopal Health Charities and could not do what we do without their support.”
For more information about the Clinic, visit www.interfaithcommunityclinic.org.
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Andrew O’Brien and Fernando Lopez competed as Team Easter Seals in the first-ever Ironman Texas competition.
IRONMEN WITH BIG HEARTS RAISE $14,000 FOR EASTER SEALS.
Andrew O’Brien and Fernando Lopez competed as Team Easter Seals in the first-ever Ironman Texas competition on May 21 in The Woodlands. Even before they reached the starting line, the dynamic duo had surpassed their goal of raising $10,000 to help Easter Seals Greater Houston. O’Brien and Lopez raised over $14,000, and every cent of it will go to provide much-needed services to individuals of all ages with all types of disabilities.
O’Brien and Lopez also enjoyed support from many people. Entergy donated $500 in support of O’Brien, an Entergy employee in The Woodlands. The mission of Easter Seals is close to O’Brien’s heart. “Witnessing a child struggle with a disability has been an eye-opening experience for me and one that compelled me to take action,” he says. “I’m hoping to successfully use my Ironman experience as a platform to raise awareness and financial support for children with special needs.” He and Lopez, both residents of The Woodlands, are doing just that.
O’Brien also reached another personal goal, finishing the race in 10 hours and 36 minutes, shaving 27 minutes off his previous record. Lopez also did extremely well, finishing in 11 hours and 53 minutes.
For information about the agency’s programs, visit www.eastersealshouston.org.
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One of the WineFest sponsors, Jeff Harder of Winstead PC, is thanked by Montgomery County Women’s Center board member Nell Belanger (left) and executive director Sarah Raleigh.
WINEFEST POURED A SUCCESS FOR WOMEN’S CENTER.The generosity was flowing as over 500 guests turned out to show their support of the Montgomery County Women’s Center at the recent WineFest 2011. Held inside Macy’s Furniture Gallery at The Woodlands Mall, this year marked the 10th anniversary of the event. WineFest guests helped the Center raise over $90,000.
Montgomery County Women’s Center provides safe shelter, crisis intervention, counseling, legal and support services to victims/survivors of family violence, sexual assault, stalking and abuse in Montgomery County and nearby counties, and provides education to the community.
“One again, we were amazed by the turnout and support we received that evening as we celebrated our 10th year of hosting WineFest,” said Sarah Raleigh, executive director of Montgomery County Women’s Center. “We could not have called it a success without the generous sponsors and guests whose contributions helped us meet our goal and, in turn, enable us to continue to provide critically needed services to our community in times of crisis as well as healing and rebuilding their lives.”
Sponsors incluced Tom Cox, Macy’s, Anadarko Petroleum Corp., Gauntt, Earl & Binney LLP, Precision Printing, The Friendship Center, The Woodlands Development Co., Joe and Delvin Ash, Nell and Ed Belanger, EOG Resources Inc., The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau, Winstead PC, Brian Unterman-Northwest Oral Surgery and many more.
To inquire about sponsorships or volunteering, please call 281-292-4155 ext. 231.
