Clear Creek ISD Superintendent Dr. Greg Smith, center, is honored by Clear Lake City’s Space Center Rotary Club Dec. 14 for his many contributions to the community as he nears retirement. With him are, from left, Space Center Rotary President Raymond Moore; Houston Mayor Pro-tem Dave Martin; Kippy Caraway, who put the surprise celebration together; club member and State Rep. Dennis Paul; and former member Kelly Waterman, representing Congressman Brian Babin.
By Mary Alys Cherry
CLEAR CREEK ISD Superintendent Dr. Greg Smith was honored at a number of farewell events as he prepared to retire this past Dec. 31.
Clear Creek Education Foundation was among the first, hosting a virtual “Roast & Toast” Nov. 5 via Facebook Live. Others honoring him included the Clear Lake Area Chamber and Space Center Rotary.
The CCEF roasters, handpicked by Dr. Smith and including Dr. Laura DuPont, Dr. Glenn Freedman and Gail Love, all took turns “Roasting” Dr. Smith with many fun memories and jokes throughout his 12 years in the district. He, of course, had a chance to rebut and the event concluded with a champagne toast, sponsored by Ron Carter Cadillac Hyundai, to honor all his accomplishments and wish him the very best moving forward. More than $90,000 was raised during this virtual event to support innovative programs in the Clear Creek Independent School District.
“It was such an honor to pay tribute to Dr. Smith who so willingly, once again, supported the Foundation’s efforts to raise funds! He’s such a good sport, which made this event so entertaining, meaningful and worthwhile,” CCEF Chairman Katy Bastedo said.
Starting a few days prior to the virtual event, over 23 specialty baskets were available for bidding online that were personally designed and created by teachers and staff at CCISD schools in support of CCEF. Guests registered on the online bidding platform and had fun bidding against their friends virtually. The big component of this was a 2003 50th Anniversary Edition Corvette that was generously donated to CCEF by Board Member Mickey Wooten. With just over 13,000 miles and in pristine condition, CCEF sold 500 raffle tickets at $100 each raising $50,000! This is the largest raffle in Foundation history! The winner of the Corvette was drawn on Facebook Live immediately following the Roast & Toast Event.
“So many in our community stepped up to support the Foundation and raise the funding needed to support CCISD programs for students and teachers,” CCEF Executive Director Deborah Laine said. “We are truly blessed and most appreciative to everyone who played a part in this success.” The event was planned by an 11 person volunteer committee that included CCEF Community Marketing and Events Manager Kelsey McNeil and committee members Joyce Abbey, CCEF Chairman Katy Bastedo, Traci Dvorak, Roy Green, Carl Joiner, Greg Ploss, Jill Reason, Chris Rylant, Mary Ann Shallberg and CCEF Executive Director Deborah Laine.
Rotarians stage a surprise party
SPACE CENTER ROTARY members wanted to say thank you to beloved member Greg Smith for all his hard work on various Rotary projects through the years as he retired as superintendent of CCISD, so they turned their Rotary luncheon at Bay Oaks Country Club into a surprise celebration that he won’t soon forget.
We must say he looked a bit startled when long time member Kippy Caraway, who put the impressive celebration together, called him to the podium, where a past Rotary member, Kelly Waterman, representing Congressman Brian Babin of the 36th District of Texas, presented Greg with the U.S. flag that flew over the nation’s capital in Greg’s honor as Rotarians Tim Kropp, David Cazes, Jorge Hernandez, Dr. Gary Renola, Teri Crawford, Dr. Jean Walker, Geoff Atwater, Bill Geissler, Delia Stephens, Richard Dvorak, Dr. Karen Engle, Suzie Howe, Paul McLarty, Walt Huff and John Branch smiled their approval.
State Rep. Dennis Paul, also a club member, stepped up next to present Greg with a special commendation from the State of Texas, praising him for his nearly 13 years service that included being named Texas School Superintendent of the Year by the Texas Association of School Boards, followed by Houston Mayor Pro-tem Dave Martin, who presented a resolution on behalf of the Mayor Sylvester Turner proclaiming Dec. 14 Greg Smith Day in Houston as Rotarians Deborah Laine, Jerry Smith, Mark Hollis, Stan Galanski, Melinda Mintz, Dr. David Taylor, Raymond Moore, Bob Wren led the applause.
In closing, Kippy presented Greg with a gift from the club, a leather executive’s organizer, as Rotarians Mike Porterfield, Madella Williams, Jim and Carol Saxe, Mike Hesse, Olive Riker, Richard Kidder, Marilyn Musial, Steve Oglesbee, Alan Wylie, Michelle Krueger, Darryl Smith, Gary Johnson, Art Wood, Patty Cooper and Deborah Davis led another round of applause by the masked crowd.
Rotary District Governor Scott Rainey added, “This is a guy whose heart is as big as any stadium and his compassion for people is unsurpassed.”
Fortunately, Greg and Kathy plan to continue being a part of the Bay Area Houston community as he will become executive director of the Fast Growth School Coalition, which advocates for fast growing school districts in Texas.
Clear Lake Area Chamber President Cindy DeWease, right, Chamber Chairman Robert Davee, left, thank retiring CCISD Superintendent Dr. Greg Smith for his many years of service to the community at a luncheon in his honor at the NASA/Clear Lake Hilton.
C.L. Chamber says thank you
CLEAR LAKE CHAMBER members also honored Dr. Greg Smith at a luncheon in the ballroom of the NASA/Clear Lake Hilton with dozens arriving in masks to thank him for his many years of service and one after another speaker telling how he had earned a special place in the heart of this community.
Both State Sen. Larry Taylor and State Rep. Dennis Paul presented proclamations after emcee Jamieson Mackay introduced them, along with San Jacinto College Vice Chancellor Teri Crawford, Chamber President Cindy DeWease and Chairman Bob Davee, plus past Chamber Chairmen Mike Furin, Carl Joiner, Jamieson Mackay, Sharon Proulx and Richard Simmons and Education Chairman Dr. Peter Wuenschel; Nassau Bay Mayor Mark Denman and Council members Ashley Graves and John Mahon; City Manager John Baumgartnerof League City; CCISD Board Chairman Dr. Laura DuPont, and Clear View Principal Monica Speaks, who represented the Bay Area Alliance for Youth and Families. The program concluded with Dr. Smith thanking the crowd for all the kind remarks.
Holiday Party Chairman Sue Ellen Jennings, from left, welcomes Emmeline Dodd and Amy Kershner.to the 2020 Clear Lake Area Panhellenic Holiday Party at Bay Oaks Country Club in Clear Lake.
C.L.Panhellenic celebrates season
Sue Broughton, left and Barbara Dickey join the crowd at the 2020 Clear Lake Panhellenic Holiday Celebration Friday, Dec. 18 at Bay Oaks Country Club.
THERE WERE smiles aplenty at Bay Oaks Country Club as Clear Lake Area Panhellenic members gathered for their annual Holiday Party, as many had not seen each other in weeks. Just ask Amy Kershner, Diane Overman, Beverly Stroud, Demerle Monks, Annette Dwyer and Kathryn Vernau.
Chairman Sue Ellen Jennings couldn’t stop smiling as she greeted one after another following a long stretch of staying home to avoid the virus. All wore masks but removed them briefly to sample the refreshments or to pose for a photo.
Looking around, you might have spotted Lisa O’Brien, Stacy Lyon, Connie Zieba, Barbara Dickey, Janet Jones, Ruth Beecher or Linda Kmiecik as they joined the partying crowd.
Others catching up on each others’ news included Judy Ferguson, Sue Broughton, Jill Reason, Becky Hensley, Aggie Bougeois, Linda McCormack, Sally Jordan, Emmeline Dodd, Ellen King and President Darla McKitrick, who welcomed the crowd.
1. Rick Clapp, center, Bay Area Houston Magazine chairman, stops by to congratulate Bay Area Houston Ballet Associate Artistic Director Natalie Zundelstop and Executive Director Jill Reason, front, from left, and a number of the dancers on their outstanding performances during the Sugar Plum Fairy Weekend at South Shore Harbour Resort.
Sugar Plum Fairy growing, growing
IT USED TO BE called Breakfast with the Sugar Plum Fairy, when some 500 youngsters and their parents would gather in the South Shore Harbour Resort Crystal Ballroom to have breakfast as Clara, and all the cast members would mingle with the crowd. Both parents and kiddos would arrive in their fancy outfits and watch the program put on by the Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre’s upcoming Nutcracker cast.
This year, because of the pandemic protocols, there were six events instead of one.
Executive Director Jill Reason explains how it all worked this year. The fun began on Friday, she said, with Dinner with Clara in the Reef Restaurant, followed by a special treat from the Sugar Plum Fairy for those who had a hotel room. Next morning, the usual total of 500 had to be cut in half, so the Sugar Plum Breakfast had an audience of 250. Another 250 were invited to tea that afternoon, followed by the After Party for adults Saturday night, with everyone – all wearing big smiles — finally saying goodbye at still another tea for 250 on Sunday.
Festival Drawing winners named
ANN WISMER and TJ Aulds were the big winners in the Lunar Rendezvous Festival Opportunity Drawing in December. Ann, a former Lunar Rendezvous Advisory Board chairman and a former festival chairman, won Drawing I, which was a Christmas tree decorated with gift cards worth more than $2,000 and donated by the Festival staff, board members and members of both the Big Court and the Little Court.
TJ won Drawing II, an in-store shopping spree at Lewis Jewelers in Webster, which donated the $1,000 prize. TJ is well known in the area for his popular Show, I-45.
