Lakewood to host Heald Bank Race

April 3rd, 2017

Lakewood Yacht Club and the Bay Access Foundation have announced plans for the 2017 Heald Bank Race Lakewood is hosting April 29 and 30.

“This offshore race, which is open to the public, will be held in the Gulf of Mexico starting at marker #11 near the Galveston jetties,” says LYC Fleet Capt. Rex Bettis. “Participants with a spinnaker will sail approximately 90 nautical miles on a triangular course, while those with non-spinnakers will sail a two-leg course of about 60 nautical miles.”

The classes of boats invited to participate are PHRF Spinnaker, PHRF Non-Spinnaker, Cruising Non- Spinnaker (Classic Canvas, i.e. Dacron sails), Cruising Poleless Spinnaker, One-Design and Multihull.

Visit the LYC website at lakewoodyachtclub.com to view the Notice of Race or register before the April 26 entry deadline. Crew waivers and other valuable information are also available.

The entry fee is $75 with a $5 discount available to U.S. Sailing members.

“Heald Bank is lauded as an overnight, offshore race that’s fun for all,” says Race Chairman Bob Hunkins. “The contest will start Saturday afternoon of the 29th and will conclude Sunday. LYC will host the awards ceremony and post-event party on Monday, May 1.”

Heald Bank Race is the first in the three-event Texas Offshore Circuit. The Houston Yacht Club Offshore Regatta and the Galveston Bay Cruising Association Regatta constitute the other two TORC events. Crew sailing in the PHRF Spinnaker Class will be eligible to compete for the circuit championship trophy, the Texas Navy Cup, if they enter all three races. Competitors sailing in the PHRF Non-Spinnaker Class in all three events will also be eligible for the S. Rhoads Fisher Trophy.

For more information, contact LYC at 281-474- 2511 or [email protected] or Bob Hunkins, Heald Bank Regatta chairman, at [email protected] or 281-216- 4082.

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Four from LYC finish first in Bay Cup I Regatta

April 1st, 2017

Four Lakewood Yacht Club members were first place finishers in the 16th Annual Bay Cup I Regatta, which LYC hosted in cooperation with Bay Access.

This year’s regatta had 42 registered boats. Racers dealt with choppy, windy and rainy conditions on Trinity Bay throughout the duration of the March 4 race, but nine Lakewood members managed top-four finishes among the five race classes.

The 2017 Bay Cup I Regatta first-place winners include Houston Yacht Club member Ken Humphries in the PHRF Spin – (Non-Sprit) and LYC members Carl Drechsel in the Cruising Non-Spin Classic Canvas, Gerhard Wittich in the Cruising Poleless Spin, Ash Walker in the PHRF Non-Spin and Uzi Ozeri in the PHRF Spin – Sprit.

Complete race results can be found on the website, www.lakewoodyachtclub.com

A celebratory dinner, party and awards ceremony followed the race in the LYC ballroom. Sailors, spectators and guests enjoyed camaraderie over dinner and drinks and tuned in to live entertainment by Kelly McGuire, an award-winning singer and songwriter.

Interested racers should begin preparing for Bay Cup II, the second of this two race series. Overall trophies will be presented at the conclusion of that regatta Aug. 5.

“Many thanks to the land volunteers, on-the-water volunteers, scorers, protest committee and Lakewood staff for your efforts in planning and executing all of the activities for the Bay Cup I Regatta,” said Bay Cup I Race Chairman Larry Rogers. “We had another great day on the water, and the sailors enjoyed the festivities on land as well.”

The LYC Race Committee said it also would like to acknowledge the generous sponsors that helped make this a great long-distance sailing event including the City of Seabrook, George Ocean Rum, Bay Access, Little Yacht Sales, OJ’s Marin, True North Marine, Blackburn Marine, Alliant Marine & Energy Insurance and Davis Marine.

Sailboat classes eligible to compete in this series include PHRF Spinnaker, PHRF Non-Spin, PHRF under 30 feet, Cruising Poleless Spin, Cruising Non-Spin-Classic Canvas (i.e. Dacron sails), Shorthanded Offshore Sailors, Multihull and One Design Classes.

For further information about Bay Cup II, contact LYC at 281-474-2511 or Larry Rogers, Bay Cup I Regatta chairman, at 832-228-7052 or [email protected]

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Clear Lake Chatter: What fun it is to party every day!

January 1st, 2017

NO DOUBT about it – the Bay Area loves to party, and what better time than the holidays?

Actually, the wee set got the parties started with the Bay Area Houston Ballet’s Breakfast With the Sugar Plum Fairy at South Shore Harbour Resort and the Bay Area Museum Guild’s Toyland Fantasy breakfast at Bay Oaks Country Club.

What fun it was to watch the little ones in their party garb, dancing around and wearing smiles a mile wide.

Bay Area Museum Guild President Brandie Corrao welcomes Lunar Rendezvous Queen Madelyn Chicester and Festival Capt. Alex Struss to the Guild Holiday Open House at the museum.

And then the parties began with Museum Guild members opening the museum doors Sunday, Dec. 4 for their annual Holiday Open House, where President Brandie Corrao joined Co-Chairmen Ava Galt and Jan Larson in welcoming the crowd that included Taylor Lake Village City Councilman Tony Galt, Matthew and Angie Weinman, Delicia and Alex Struss, Cindy and Dave Kuenneke, Anita Fogtman and Emmeline Dodd.

Lunar Rendezvous Queen Madelyn Chicester joined the party, as did Festival Capt. Alex Struss with the Clear Lake Sound Waves providing entertainment.

 

UH-CLEAR LAKE kept up the beat, hosting its big annual Holiday Reception Dec. 7 at Bay Oaks Country Club, where retiring President Bill Staples and his wife, Darlene, were on hand to welcome the happy crowd.

Area Legislators Dennis Paul of Clear Lake and Ed Thompson of Pearland were among the crowd, as were Pearland Mayor Tom Reid, attorneys John Gay and his wife, Becky Reitz; Marilyn and Glynn Lunney, Alan and Peggy Hill, Theresa Presswood, Marilyn and Charles Sims, Ken and Nedra Gurry, Kippy Caraway, Mary Ann Shallberg, Rob and Karen Barbier and Rhonda Thompson.

Plus, Science and Engineering Dean Zbigniew T. Czajkiewicz, College of Education Dean Mark D. Shermis, Business Dean William T. Cummings and Human Sciences and Humanities Dean Rick J. Short.

 

Michelle Richardson, Kelli Baliker, Diana Shuman and Ondi Lyon, from left, share a light moment as at the Clear Lake Area Panhellenic Holiday Brunch at the Shuman home in Bay Oaks.

CLEAR LAKE Panhellenic kept up the beat the next day, Dec. 8, with Diane Shuman hosting the sorority alumnae group’s big annual Holiday Brunch at her home in Bay Oaks.

Diane, in a bright red outfit, joined Brunch Co-Chairmen Judie Ferguson and Sue Ellen Jennings, both wearing colorful Santa hats, and Panhellenic President Jill Reason, wearing white, in welcoming the festive crowd.

Among them were Peggy Clause, Lisa O’Brien, Jennie Hampton, Jo Cat Bruce, Michelle Richardson, Sue Broughton, Judie Ferguson, Kay Lee Benoit, Ondi Lyon, Ruth Beecher, Ellen King, Karen McCorkle, Diane Overman, Jo Nell Hunter, Kathie Wiley, Barbara Dickey, Judie Raiford and Kelli Baliker.

 

BAY AREA HOUSTON Economic Partnership members gathered at Lakewood Yacht Club later that day with Mayors Glenn Royal of Seabrook, Johnny Isbell of Pasadena, Carl Joiner of Kemah and Michel Bechtel of Morgan’s Point in the crowd that filled up the ballroom.

Joining them were State Rep. Dr. Greg Bonnen, Houston City Councilman Dave Martin and a host of business men and women celebrating the holiday season.

Plus, UHCL President Bill Staples,  San Jacinto College Chancellor Brenda Hellyer and Clear Creek ISD Superintendent Greg Smith.

 

JOHNSON SPACE CENTER Director Ellen Ochoa hosted another big party with a number of city officials and aerospace executives joining her and her husband, attorney Coe Miles, Friday, Dec. 9 in JSC’s Building 9 for some good conversation and an update that included noting that we have had a continuous presence on the International Space Station now for 16 years.

Familiar faces in the crowd included Mayors Jon Keeney of Taylor Lake Village and Louis Rigby of La Porte with their wives, Lynn and Marlene, Jacobs Technology Senior VP and GM Lon Miller, Barrios Technology President Robbie McAfoos and his wife, Victoria, and Clear Lake Area Chamber President Cindy Harreld DeWease and her husband, businessman Jeff DeWease.

Plus JSC Deputy Director Mark Geyer, who brightened up the party when he arrived in one of the most colorful jackets we’ve ever seen.

 

Assistance League Holiday Reception hostess Cecilia Dismukes, right, joins President Dee Cover, left, and Reception Chairman Elizabeth McCarty before the annual party at the Dismukes’ lovely home.

ASSISTANCE LEAGUE members were all wearing big smiles as Cecelia Dismukes hosted their big annual Holiday Reception at her home in Kemah’s Waterford Harbor.

ALBA President Dee Cover and Chairman Elizabeth McCarty joined the hostess in welcoming the arriving crowd, which included Yvonne Perrin, Pam Bungo, Melanie Lovuola, Kathy Panneton, Justine Powell, Badiha Nassar, Kim Barker and Lisa Holbrook.

Others you might have spotted were Brunella Altemus, Becky Richey, Barbara Groh, Katy Bastedo, Kathleen Courville, Mari Stockard-Young, Leslie Schwanke, Dee Wolfe, Janet Vallelungo, Elaine Rister, Barbara Weitenhagen, Jean Simms, Mary Vaughn, Brook Cimas, Betty Walcott, Sandra Kelver, Cookie Derderian, Amy Wortham, Betty Stoub and Joyce Alderman.

 

Houston Symphony League Bay Area President Mary Voigt, center, looks on as Dana Puddy, left, and Alice Steele prepare for the holiday party.

HOUSTON SYMPHONY League Bay Area members gathered at the home of Vicki Buxton in Clear Lake for their annual Holiday Reception, chaired by Special Events Coordinator Carole Murphy.

Buzzing around the Buxton home, you probably would have bumped into President Mary Voigt, Dana Puddy, Pat Biddle Kahl and Alice Steele and former Presidents Jim Moore and Patience Myers – just a few of the many who dropped by for the holiday celebration.

OTHERS joining the party-go-round included the Clear Lake Area Chamber and League City Regional Chamber Holiday Receptions at their offices, Recherche Christmas Brunch at Lakewood Yacht Club, Bay Oaks Country Club and Lakewood Yacht Club holiday parties for members and on and on…

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Lakewood Yacht Club Members Win Challenging Vineyard Race

October 1st, 2016

2016xvineyardxracexa_1288Lakewood Yacht Club members Chris and Karen Lewis, who have been competing on the East Coast this summer with their 44’ J-44 Kenai, won their IRC Class and took the overall IRC victory to win the Vineyard Light Ship trophy over Labor Day weekend.  The Vineyard Race, hosted by Stamford Yacht Club in Connecticut, was the 82nd running of this 240-mile event. Viewed by many as the most challenging offshore race, with segments in Long Island Sound and the open Atlantic, as well as two crossings of tidal races that mark the boundaries between sound and ocean. The trophy memorializes the Vineyard Light Ship that sunk in September 1944 with all hands on board during a hurricane.

Sailing with Chris and Karen were local sailors David Hinrichsen, Emmett Dickheiser, Pedro Gianotti, Alex Freas and Reed Cleckler. Two East Coast sailors, Alec Snyder and Gurhan Ozen, were also onboard.

During the passage out of Long Island Sound, they picked the wind changes as it swung from the gradient northeast breeze to a thermal breeze and finally a south easterly. At Vineyard Beacon turning mark, Kenai was lying 6th rounding with much faster race boats. At the finish after a 120-mile spinnaker leg home, charging in at up to 12 knots in a building breeze created by Hurricane Hermine, they corrected to finish 11 minutes faster than 2nd place Vamp, another J-44, after a 33-hour race.  Vineyard Race photos were provided Courtesy of Photo Boat.

Earlier this summer Kenai won the Rolex Cup participating as a two-boat team with fellow LYC boat Leading Edge owned by Tom and Diane Sutton.  Kenai also won IRC Classes in the Around Conanicut Island Race and the New York Yacht Club 162nd Annual Regatta and finished third in Class in the 50th Newport-Bermuda Race; making her Runner-up overall in the Onion Patch Series.

Chris and Karen, who first joined Lakewood in 1996, have owned Kenai for 20 years and over that time improved the boat to make her more competitive. The most recent change being the addition of a 1.5m sprit and giant 175sq m spinnakers. She has a modern sail inventory furnished by the local sail lofts North, Quantum and UK Halsey Sails.

In October the Lewis’ will sail south to compete in SORC events which may now include a Jamaica to Cuba race to be run after the Pineapple Cup from Miami to Montego Bay.

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Seabrook Gets a Jumpstart on Hurricane Preparedness

May 31st, 2016

ThinkstockPhotos-157341179Lakewood Yacht Club will host its annual hurricane readiness seminar Saturday, June 4 from 9 – 11 at the Lakewood clubhouse. The seminar is free of charge and open to the public.

Headlined by prominent instructors from the National Weather Service, City of Seabrook Mayor’s Office, and the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), topics will include evacuation planning, emergency preparedness and marine safety.

Kent Prochazka, meteorologist and senior radar and fire forecaster for the Galveston National Weather Service, will address areas related to hurricane readiness. Today more than ever, residents are equipped to be prepared in the face of severe weather events. The NOAA National Weather Service provides year-round information about all weather hazards and spring weather safety in the hopes that residents will have a plan ready and know how to respond to weather warnings.

From the City of Seabrook, Mayor Glenn Royal will speak about the Ike Dike — the proposed coastal barrier to protect Galveston Bay. Residents living in coastal zones are encouraged to find critical information about building an emergency supply kit in the event that a disaster strikes. The key to remaining resilient is to take proper precautions and be prepared. The dike project aims to add dramatic value to the existing Galveston Seawall with the use of floodgates to minimize impact to Galveston, Bolivar Peninsula, the Galveston Bay Area, and Houston.

Investing countless resources to assess the local community’s natural hazard risks, the Galveston County Office of Emergency Management presents Director Jeff Galyean to share his expertise about emergency communications and how to stay connected during emergency weather events. While forecasting techniques have improved greatly over time, the OEM strongly advocates for residents to sign up for notifications and stay informed during storm events.

Concurrent with the informational seminar, the Harbor Administration team from Lakewood Yacht Club will instruct participants about building an emergency evacuation plan and marina safety measures for boaters.

For more information about Lakewood Yacht Club, contact Marketing and Membership Development Director Troy Wise at 281-474-2511 or e-mail him at [email protected]

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34th Annual Shoe Regatta Results

May 16th, 2016

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J/22 Series Standing – 7 races scored

Pos,Sail, Boat, Skipper, Yacht Club, Results, Total Points
1. 53, Southern Belle, Stuart Lindow, None, 2-3-3-3-4-1-3- ; 19
 2. 388, USA 388, Michael McGagh, GBCA, 3-5-4-4-2-2-2- ; 22
 3. 365, , Vincent Ruder, None, 4-1-1-12/OCS-3-4-1- ; 26T
 4. 498, Classy with k, Robert Allen, None, 7-2-2-2-1-6-6- ; 26T
 5. 1531, Parrot Tales Light, Larry Blankenhagen, LYC, 5-4-5-5-5-7-7- ; 38
 6. 918, TILT, Christopher Morlan, Grosse Pointe Sail Club, 1-8-7-6-8-5-4- ; 39
 7. 951, , Dov Kivlovitz, none, 6-7-12/DNS-1-6-3-5- ; 40
 8. 732, Helms a Lee, Anne Lee, HYC, 8-6-6-9-9-8-9- ; 55
 9. 973, WooHoo, Andrea Zaite, HYC, 11-10-9-8-7-9-8- ; 62
 10. 392, Loose Cannon, Rick Duste, GBAC, 9-12/DNF-8-7-10-10-10- ; 66
 11. 1271, Razzmatazz, Jaime Balzac, PUR, 10-9-10-10-11-11-12/DNS- ; 73   

J/70 Series Standing – 7 races scored

Pos,Sail, Boat, Skipper, Yacht Club, Results, Total Points
1. 34, perseverance, bennet greenwald, san diego yacht club, 5-1-5-2-6-6-2- ; 27
 2. 175, , Matthew Romberg, Austin Yacht Club, 1-8-4-1-1-7-7- ; 29T
 3. 51, Black River Racing, Doug Strebel, Lakewood Yacht Club, 6-5-1-4-2-1-10- ; 29T
 4. 181, GB, Chris Lewis, LYC, 7-2-3-3-5-2-9- ; 31
 5. 852, Hoss, Glenn Darden, Fort Worth Boat Club, 3-3-9-6-3-5-5- ; 34
 6. 820, Nasty Baby, Rick Schaffer, Fort Worth Boat Club, 2-7-6-8-9-3-1- ; 36
 7. 3, 3 Ball JT, Jack Franco, LIYC, 4-10-7-11-4-4-3- ; 43
 8. 167, USA167, James Prendergast, Chicago Yacht Club, 9-4-2-7-8-9-6- ; 45
 9. 497, Chinook, Frank McNamara, Eastern Yacht Club, 8-9-8-10-11-8-4- ; 58T
 10. 850, Mojito, Forbes Durdin, LYC, 11-6-10-5-7-11-8- ; 58T
 11. 98, usa98, Al Poindexter, lyc, 12-11-11-9-13-13-12- ; 81
 12. 529, Bazinga, Robert Mcmahan, Lakewood YC, 10-12-12-15/DNS-12-10-11- ; 82
 13. 530, ApolloJ, Bruno Vibert, HYC, 13-13-15/DNS-15/DNS-10-12-13- ; 91
 14. 50, , Bruce McDonald, AYC, 15/DNC-15/DNC-15/DNC-15/DNC-15/DNC-15/DNC-15/DNC- ; 105

J/105 Series Standing – 6 races scored

Pos,Sail, Boat, Skipper, Yacht Club, Results, Total Points
1. 296, Stinger, J B Bednar, LYC/GBCA, 3-1-1-1-1-5- ; 12
 2. 624, Vici, John Barnett, Lakewood YC, 1-2-2-3-3-2- ; 13
 3. usa378, infinity, Uzi Ozeri, LYC, 2-3-3-2-5-1- ; 16
 4. 130, Tomahawk, Nat Kemberling, LYC, 4-4-6/DNS-5-4-3- ; 26
 5. 649, Radiance, Bill Lakenmacher, LYC, 6/DNC-6/DNC-6/DNC-4-2-4- ; 28

J/109 Series Standing – 6 races scored

Pos,Sail, Boat, Skipper, Yacht Club, Results, Total Points
1. 181, Hamburg, Albrecht Goethe, LYC, 1-2-1-2-2-1- ; 9
 2. 162, Leading Edge, Tom Sutton, LYC/HYC/GBCA, 5/DNF-1-2-1-1-3- ; 13
 3. 238, Airborne, David Christensen, LYC/GBCA, 2-3-5/DNS-3-3-2- ; 18
 4. 45, Harm’s Way, Andy Wescoat, GBCA, 5/DNC-5/DNC-5/DNC-5/DNS-5/DNS-5/DNS- ; 30

Cruising Classic Canvas Non-Spin Distance Series Standing – 2 races scored

Pos,Sail, Boat, Skipper, Yacht Club, Results, Total Points
1. 133, Stellar of Course, Ronald Eddleman, GBCA/TMCA, 1-1- ; 2
 2. 792, Chloe, Grahame Gay, GBCA, 4/DNS-4/DNS- ; 8T
 3. NA, Even Keel, Robert Terry, Bal Harbour, 4/DNF-4/DNS- ; 8T

PHRF N0n-spin Distance Series Standing – 2 races scored

Pos,Sail, Boat, Skipper, Yacht Club, Results, Total Points
1. 785, Magnum, Dennis Kokkinis, GBCA, 1-1- ; 2
 2. 1152, SEUTE DEERN, Hans Knickrehm, LYC, 2-2- ; 4
 3. 17, GOOD NEWS, Ash Walker, LYC, 3-4- ; 7
 4. 60120, Bad Girl, Nicole Laster, GBCA, 6-3- ; 9
 5. 2966, Wildcat, Kevin Orff, LYC, 4-7/DNS- ; 11
 6. 31707, Tanura, Tim Vogelsang, LYC, 5-7/DNS- ; 12

PHRF Spinnaker Distance A Series Standing – 2 races scored

Pos,Sail, Boat, Skipper, Yacht Club, Results, Total Points
1. 25527, Picante, Tony/William Nunes/Plant, Houston yacht club, 1-1- ; 2
 2. 178, Press to MECO, Glen Stromme, none, 2-2- ; 4
 3. 3407, Renovation, Warren Miller, HYC, 5-3- ; 8T
 4. 45, Figaro, Gerhard Wittich, LYC, 3-5- ; 8T
 5. 21335, Firewater, Walter Horton, GBCA, 4-4- ; 8T

PHRF Spinnaker Distance B Series Standing – 2 races scored

Pos,Sail, Boat, Skipper, Yacht Club, Results, Total Points
1. 398, Flyer, Ben Miller, GBAC, 1-1- ; 2
 2. 83076, FarFigNewton, David Nielsen, GBCA, 2-2- ; 4
 3. 110, Restless, Robin Rice, Waterford, 4-3- ; 7T
 4. 40645, Texas Ranger II, Chuck Wielchowsky, HYC, 3-4- ; 7T
 5. 2342, Rodeo Clown, Jason Seibert, Seabrook, 5-5- ; 10

PHRF Spinnaker W/L Series Standing – 6 races scored

Pos,Sail, Boat, Skipper, Yacht Club, Results, Total Points
1. USA74, Second Star, J.D. Hill, LYC, 3-1-1-1-1-1- ; 8
 2. US-51, Water Nymph lll, Brian Tulloch, HYC, 1-2-2-4-3-4- ; 16
 3. 77, 77, George Cushing, GBCA, 2-3.5/TIE-3-5-2-5- ; 20.5
 4. 5101, Pingo, Pedro Gianotti, GBCA, 4-3.5/TIE-5-2-5-2- ; 21.5
 5. 31, Little Joe, Dan Sullivan, Southern Yacht Club, 5-6/DNS-4-3-4-3- ; 25   

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LYC celebrates success of Bay Cup I Regatta

April 1st, 2016

4-1XBayCupX1X-XJXRogers-8810The 2016 Bay Cup I Regatta held March 5 finished as a huge success. Nearly 45 boats launched from Trinity Bay, with seven classes running multiple races through Saturday. Lakewood Yacht Club hosted the event, which featured long-distance, multi-leg racing.

Sponsors who helped make the Bay Cup I an amazing event included Don Q Puerto Rico’s Premier Rum, the City of Seabrook, Blackburn Marine, West Marine, Davis Marine Electronics, Edna Rice, Executive Recruiters Inc., Little Yacht Sales, Texas Coast Yachts, and True North Marine.

After the race, club members and sailors got to enjoy dinner and an awards ceremony. TCMA award-winning recording artist Kelly McGuire provided the evening’s live entertainment.

Race results are as follows:

Cruising Non-Spin Classic Canvas C:
1st Place: Bobby Fulmer

Cruising Non-Spin Classic Canvas B:
2nd Place: John Morse
1st Place: Maarten van Hasselt

Cruising Non-Spin Classic Canvas A:
3rd Place:  Robert Crosby
2nd Place:  Marty Pedowicz
1st Place:  David Penrose, Karen Atkinson

PHRF Non-Spin
4th Place: Ashley Walker
3rd Place: Ben Miller
2nd Place: James Apple
1st Place: Dennis Kokkinis

J/105
2nd Place: John Barnett
1st Place: Uzi Ozeri

PHRF Spin – (Non-Sprit)
3rd Place: Kevin Orff
2nd Place: Walter Horton
1st Place: Cran Fraser

PHRF Spin – Sprit
3rd Place: J.D. Hill
2nd Place: Gregory Way
1st Place: Al Goethe

Proceeds from the Regatta benefit Bay Access, a not for profit charitable organization fostering amateur racing and sailing on Galveston Bay.

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Clear Lake Chatter: With spring comes the fun times

April 1st, 2016

Trey Hafely, stirs his Lobster Bisque, as Rick Clapp, center, and Bobby Horton look on during the Seabrook Men Who Cook at Lakewood Yacht Club. This is Hafely’s 13th year as a chef and Clapp’s 20th year.

Trey Hafely, stirs his Lobster Bisque, as Rick Clapp, center, and Bobby Horton look on during the Seabrook Men Who Cook at Lakewood Yacht Club. This is Hafely’s 13th year as a chef and Clapp’s 20th year.

AS SPRING began blossoming out all over the area, many celebrated its early arrival at parties and luncheons.

First came the 22nd annual Seabrook Men Who Cook, put on at Lakewood Yacht Club by Seabrook Rotary to benefit its foundation and the Seabrook Police Charities with hundreds joining the fun.

Next was the annual Go Red for Women Luncheon at South Shore Harbour Resort, where several hundred gathered – all dressed in red – to raise $160,000 for the American Heart Association and pick Dr. Safi Madain of Clear Lake Regional Medical Center as their 2016 Heart Throb. Tama Brantley and Darcy Whatley served as co-chairmen of the event.

Still another big event was the Houston Symphony League Bay Area’s Day By the Bay Home Tour and its Pre-Tour Party in Brook Forest chaired by Martha and Ernie McWilliams, as the League continued its 40th anniversary celebration.

And, that’s just a few of the events that kept us on the run!

Kimberly Harding, Lauri Gordon, Susan White and Nancy Suarez, from left, were among several who spent many hours making the Go Red for Women event a big success.

Kimberly Harding, Lauri Gordon, Susan White and Nancy Suarez, from left, were among several who spent many hours making the Go Red for Women event a big success.

Retiring Nassau Bay Police Chief Joe Cashiola was honored at a farewell party at City Hall with hundreds of citizens dropping by. Former Mayor Don Matter, left, was among the many stopping by to wish the long-time chief and his wife well.

Retiring Nassau Bay Police Chief Joe Cashiola was honored at a farewell party at City Hall with hundreds of citizens dropping by. Former Mayor Don Matter, left, was among the many stopping by to wish the long-time chief and his wife well.

Former Nassau Bay City Manager Chris Reed, City Councilman Bob Warters, Constable Phil Sandlin and State Rep. Dennis Paul, from left, were among the hundreds who stopped by to say thank you to retiring Police Chief Joe Cashiola for his many years of work at farewell party the city hosted for him.

Former Nassau Bay City Manager Chris Reed, City Councilman Bob Warters, Constable Phil Sandlin and State Rep. Dennis Paul, from left, were among the hundreds who stopped by to say thank you to retiring Police Chief Joe Cashiola for his many years of work at farewell party the city hosted for him.

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Lakewood Lasers Take First Place at the Orange Bowl Regatta

February 1st, 2016

OrangeBowl_1Lakewood Yacht Club’s youth sailing team took first place in laser class at the Orange Bowl Regatta last month when Miami welcomed nearly 700 youth racers for the annual event in Biscayne Bay.

Asher Zittrer sailed the 13-foot laser that defeated 25 other teams in 11 races.

Held annually in conjunction with the Orange Bowl, the international youth regatta draws world-class sailors ages 8-18 to South Florida for the largest four-day international youth sailing event in the U.S. Attracting nearly 700 racers from all over the world, the event is an excellent opportunity for youth to go on to achieve even greater notoriety in the sailing world.

Several of the Orange Bowl competitors sail the race multiple times in multiple classes as their skills improve. This year, the regatta attracted contenders from 27 states and 23 countries worldwide.
Opti class, typically for beginner sailors, is a small, one-person dingy, while lasers are better suited for more skilled sailors. The 420 class, meant for advanced sailors, can be crewed by two. Racers like Asher Zittrer gravitate toward the sleek lasers for their speed and maneuverability in competition.

For 14-year-old Asher Zittrer, the Orange Bowl signified his first shot at a broader racing circuit. “You get more competitive with lasers since you get to race more aggressively. Since this was my first big laser-class race, I didn›t really know what to expect, so I didn’t expect to win.» But Zittrer soon got familiar with the competition he was up against, and drew on the solid strategies he’s been trained to use. “Toward the end, I focused on not taking many risks, but staying ahead of my immediate competition.”

After the first day, Zittrer was tied with a team from Great Britain. By the last day, he was only one point behind. He knew exactly who he needed to stay ahead of. In the first race on the last day, Zittrer took the lead. “I was more strategic and less aggressive. In the beginning, when I started off close to my competition, I took a lot of risks to get up in front. If I messed up, the other team would have immediately passed me and could have kept me behind. After I was ahead, I was more conservative. You take advantage of the other racers› mistakes. I followed the wind shift and stayed consistently in the top.”

Bringing home a medal and a trophy can be exhausting work. Zittrer slept on the plane the whole way home and was greeted by his parents and well-wishers when he returned. The house was decked out in a big banner that said ‘Way to Go, Asher!’ The following days were spent getting ready to go back to school and making plans for next year’s race.

Lakewood Yacht Club had two sailors compete in the 25-boat laser class, eight sailors in opti class racing with 225 other competitors, and 4 teams out of 36 competing in the international 420 class. The club recognizes Bryan Trammel for coming in 5th overall in laser class, Zane Rogers for finishing 10th overall in optis, and Wiley Rogers and Jack Parkin for a first-place win in 420 class. Big congrats to the Lakewood Race Team for another great event!

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Clear Lake Chatter: Party Time in the Bay Area

January 1st, 2016

Hostess Elaine Rister, center, thanks Suzanne Stephens, right, for chairing the Assistance League Holiday Open House at her Bay Oaks home in Clear Lake.

Hostess Elaine Rister, center, thanks Suzanne Stephens, right, for chairing the Assistance League Holiday Open House at her Bay Oaks home in Clear Lake.

IF YOU LIKE to party, the Bay Area is the place to be in December. It starts the first of the month and only lets up when word gets out that shopping days are numbered and that the reindeer are already practicing with Rudolph up at the North Pole.

In between, it’s run, run, run from party to party and catching up on everyone you haven’t seen in awhile. It began early for the Clear Creek Education Foundation, which launched its annual fundraising campaign with a breakfast hosted by Executive Director Kaci Hanson at Lakewood Yacht Club, where H.E.B Regional President Scott McClelland was the keynote speaker. Do I need tell you the crowd was disappointed he did not bring J.J. Watt?

Assistance League members Kathy Panneton, Shirley Lang and Marie Keener, from left, look for a recipe in the League cookbook during Holiday Open House.

Assistance League members Kathy Panneton, Shirley Lang and Marie Keener, from left, look for a recipe in the League cookbook during Holiday Open House.

Next stop was at UH-Clear Lake’s annual holiday reception hosted by President Bill Staples and his wife, Darlene, at Bay Oaks Country Club and then the Johnson Space Center Director’s Holiday Party, hosted by JSC Director Dr. Ellen Ochoa in Building Nine. Later you might have spotted many members of the business community at the holiday receptions hosted by the League City and Clear Lake Chambers and by Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership.

And this year we enjoyed beautiful spring-like weather.

THE BAY AREA Museum Guild kicked off probably the busiest week of the month with its annual Holiday Open House, where you could have bumped into Linda and Einar Goerland, Pat and Wendell Wilson, Mary Ann Shallberg, Peggy and Jerry Clause, Anita Fogtman, Cindy and David Kuenneke, Ava and Tony Galt, Sue Broughton, Frank Perez, Gloria Wong, Nina and Robert McGlashan, Jan Larson and Lewis and Joan Wade.

Jan Larsen, Pat Biddle and Ava Galt, from left, were on hand to welcome the crowd to the Bay Area Museum Guild Holiday Open House at the museum in Clear Lake Park.

Jan Larsen, Pat Biddle and Ava Galt, from left, were on hand to welcome the crowd to the Bay Area Museum Guild Holiday Open House at the museum in Clear Lake Park.

Some of the others in the crowd included Justine and Patrick Powell, Buck Rogers, Barbara and Frank Spencer, Rose Merle and Leo Symmank, Kimberly Barker, Shirley and Hubert Brasseaux, Pat Biddle and her husband, Ronald Kahl, and his daughter Diane, Michelle Krueger, Liz DeLeon, Annette Dwyer and Pat Monks, Laraine Eggers, Sarah Foulds, Nancy Poffenberger and Stephen Vega.

ASSISTANCE LEAGUE members were out in force the next day as Elaine Rister hosted the annual Holiday Open House at her Bay Oaks home, with Suzanne Stephens as chairman and Melanie Lovuola as co-chairman.

Among the crowd were President Peggy Clause,  Barbara Weitenhagen, Atiya Abouleish, Cathy Wolfe, Vicki Tallman, Shirley Lang, Christina Deane, Marie Keener, Sandra Sellers, Lisa Holbrook, Sharon Dillard, Beverly Braden and Kathy Panneton.

Hostess Carole Murphy and Houston Symphony League Bay Area President Jim Moore prepare to welcome the crowd to the group’s Holiday Brunch at the Murphy home in Brook Forest.

Hostess Carole Murphy and Houston Symphony League Bay Area President Jim Moore prepare to welcome the crowd to the group’s Holiday Brunch at the Murphy home in Brook Forest.

Looking around, you might also have spotted Yvonne Perrin, Joan Burt, Judy Raiford, Suzie Rogers, Pam Culpepper, Amy Wortham, Ginger Darnell, Cathy Wolfe, Brunella Altemus, Hillary Graham, Mary Vaughn, Marie Keener, Belinda Scheunch, Shirley Lang, Becky Richey, Georgia Piwonka, Melanie Lovuola, Jean Simms, Badiha Nassar, Arlis Miles and Betty Walcott.

CLEAR LAKE Panhellenic hostess Kim Krist joined Panhellenic President Kay Lee Benoit in welcoming the crowd to Kim’s Bay Oaks home in Clear Lake for their annual Holiday Brunch, which before long was overflowing with members, including Judie Ferguson, Dana Brown, Karen McCorkle, Judy Raiford, Kathy Arnold, Peggy Clause, Barbara Dickey and Diane Overman.

Judge Holly Williamson was in the crowd, as were Emmeline Dodd, Ruth Beecher, Monica Gibbs, Jo Nell Hunter, Sheree Frede, Kathy Atkins, Jill Reason, Ellen King, Karen Weber, Sue Ellen Jennings, Kim Barker, Laurie Vaughn, Sue Broughton and dozens more – all enjoying swapping holiday stories with one another or making plans to get together in the new year.

Houston Symphony League Bay Area members Bill and Sherry Straight, Betty Geehan and Bill and Anita Knowles, from left, enjoy the gorgeous weather out on the patio at their annual Holiday Brunch.

Houston Symphony League Bay Area members Bill and Sherry Straight, Betty Geehan and Bill and Anita Knowles, from left, enjoy the gorgeous weather out on the patio at their annual Holiday Brunch.

HOUSTON SYMPHONY League Bay Area President Jim Moore joined hostess Carole Murphy in welcoming members to the annual holiday party at Carole’s Brook Forest home.

And, it wasn’t long before her home was overflowing out onto the beautiful inviting back patio, where all were enjoying the delightful spring-like weather – including Bill and Sherry Straight, Betty Geehan and Bill and Anita Knowles, Joan Wade, Vicki Buxton, Jane Lackow and Glenda Toole.

WHILE ALL THIS was going on, there was much, much more. The wee set was partying at the Museum Guild’s Toyland Fantasy at Bay Oaks Country Club in Clear Lake, at Breakfast With the Sugar Plum Fairy hosted by Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre at South Shore Harbour Resort and at the Seabrook Rotary’s annual Breakfast With Santa.

Vicki Buxton, Jane Lackow and Glenda Toole, from left, ready plans for the Houston Symphony League Bay Area’s annual Home Tour while enjoying the group’s Holiday Brunch.

Vicki Buxton, Jane Lackow and Glenda Toole, from left, ready plans for the Houston Symphony League Bay Area’s annual Home Tour while enjoying the group’s Holiday Brunch.

Moms also were getting in a lot of early shopping at the Bay Area Turning Point Holiday Market over at NASA’s Gilruth Center, the Bay Oaks Women’s Association Holiday Market at the country club, the Lakewood Yacht Club Ladies Association Feliz Navidad holiday market at the yacht club, the Velvet Stocking at the Webster Civic Center and the various markets hosted by area churches.

And, Interfaith Caring Ministries, celebrating its 30th anniversary, held its biggest fundraiser of the year – the 22nd annual Festival of Trees Gala and Big Band Swing Night at South Shore Harbour Resort with dinner, several guest speakers, a wine pull and live and silent auctions.

Closing out a busy year, many were planning New Year’s Eve parties. Big ones include those at Lakewood and Houston Yacht Clubs and Bay Oaks Country Club for members and their guests. South Shore Harbour Resort is also planning a big New Year’s Eve Wine Dinner with the public invited.

Then we’ll all kick back for a few days and catch our breath.

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