Do We Even Care About Dallas?

When the State of Texas asked Dallas to house 40,000 disabled evacuees from the Houston area in case of another hurricane – these would be the blind, babies on life-support, lame octogenarians – Dallas said, “No.” Why are we not surprised? Big D’s reply was in keeping with the city’s tradition of welcoming friendliness – especially to visiting presidents.

So that’s yet another reason for Houston to hate Dallas, right? Wrong. To hate someone/something, a person has to feel strongly, even passionately. But Houstonians don’t feel strongly toward Dallas. Actually, we don’t feel much of anything toward, or even think much about, that city up I-45, not nearly as much as they think about us.

It’s rather like the UT-OU game. Do you ever notice that it is a big deal in Oklahoma if OU beats UT in the Cotton Bowl? Beating the Longhorns makes the Okies’ season, while on this side of the Red River, for UT fans it’s just another game. Ho-hum. There is the OU game, the A&M game, the USC game, the whoever-is-next-to-beat-for-the-national-championship game. Sooners spend a lot more time worrying about UT than any Texan ever spends wondering about the Sancho Panza of the Big XII.

Thus, it is that Houstonians go about their business with scant regard as to what is going on in Dallas. For one reason, the two cities have very little in common. Oh, sure, to the uneducated outsider both are big cities in Texas and both take pride in being Texans, but Houston far more so than Dallas, because the Bayou City is certainly more Texan than Dallas. Big D is penny loafers, brie and chardonnay. It looks toward the East. Houston is cowboy boots and hard hats, “a whiskey and trombone town,” that looks in the mirror. The Dallas social season starts when Neiman’s throws out the first catalogue. Our biggest social event is the Houston Livestock Show &Rodeo. I rest my case.

Houston has a strong form of mayor, which is a full-time job and pays $198,205 a year, although Mayor Bill White has not accepted the last two raises and takes home $165,817. Dallas hires a professional city manager while the part-time mayor gets $60,000 annually.

The hugely successful TV show “Dallas” portrayed to the rest of the world a city filled with scheming, adulterous, greedy and fairly stupid people. In Houston, “Dallas” was considered a reality show. Big D has zoning, but Houstonians have the unique possibility of building a million-dollar mansion while still having the convenience of a muffler repair shop or topless bar move in right next door. Houston has River Oaks. Dallas has Highland Park. Advantage: Dallas.

According to the latest stats available (2004), Dallas led Houston and the national average in crimes per 100,000 – repeat, per 100,000. This includes murder, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, theft and auto theft. Houston, however, leads in white-collar thieves, causing the loss of billions of dollars and thousands of jobs.

Houston has given civilization Howard Hughes and Walter Cronkite, the first domed sports stadium, the space program and the world’s largest medical center. Unfortunately, Houston gave Dallas Nolan Ryan. Dallas gave the world Bonnie and Clyde. Houston was founded in 1836 and was named for one of its residents, Gen. Sam Houston, victor at San Jacinto, president of Texas, signer of both the Texas Declaration of Independence and the Texas Constitution. Dallas was a buffalo hunters’ trading station when founded in 1841, and was named for an obscure vice president, George M. Dallas, who never set foot in Texas and never had anything to do with the city or the state.

Dallas gave us the first convenience store (7-11), the first car radio, suburban shopping center, drive-up bank window and frozen margarita. The first integrated circuit, which became the microchip, was invented by Jack Kilby in 1958 at Texas Instruments in Dallas. Houston was home to the first Weed Eater. Dallas’ Lamar Hunt, owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, inspired by his daughter’s Super Ball, coined the term Super Bowl. The Cowboys have been in eight of them, but Dallas has not hosted a Super Bowl. Houston has hosted two – as spectators.

The Cowboys’ Texas Stadium has a hole in the center of the semi-roof so that – all together now – “God can watch His team play.” Notice that the unique design was so successful not a single other stadium in the world copied it, and now the Cowboys are building a new stadium that will look remarkably like Reliant Stadium. We built a Galleria and, guess what? A few years later Dallas built a copy – although smaller.

Populations are hard to compare. For example, Dallas has Fort Worth right next door and counts it in the population of the Metroplex. Houston doesn’t have a large city next door. On the other hand, Houston doesn’t have any kind of plex – metro, com or otherwise. In more comparisons, there are 663 million trees in the Houston area. That breaks down to 87,000 trees per square mile. Dallas has so few trees they have nicknames.

True, the Dallas Morning News saluted Houston for all the help we gave Katrina evacuees, and Houstonians have to fly through D/FW to go to hell. But from Dallas that’s a commuter flight. Still, after all is said and done, Dallas and Houston don’t hate each other. Actually, the two cities really get along like brothers – Cain and Abel.

Ashby is a proud second-generation Dallasite.

The Aquarium that is Little Cayman

Less than a three-hour direct non-stop flight from Houston, lies one of the most pristine coral reefs left in the world. There are three islands that make up the Caymans Islands: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, which is home to the oldest resort in all the Caymans, Southern Cross Club.

Above water, Little Cayman has not changed much since Christopher Columbus discovered it on his third trip to the new world. Indigenous species of ducks and birds are now protected in bird statuaries and the coral reefs by a marine park. Below water, or as Mike Emmanuel, one of the founders of Southern Cross likes to say, “in the thicker air,” drastic changes are afoot. According to Central Caribbean Marine Institute’s Dr. Carrie Manfrino, 40 percent of the architectural and reef-building coral has died in the past eight years. Diseases like White Plaque, Black Band and Coral Bleaching are taking their toll on the coral and the marine life that it supports. “This is despite the absence of common causes of coral degradation; commercial fishing, pollution, heavy coastal development, high tourism and diving traffic,” stated Peter Hillenbrand, Southern Cross Club owner and chairman of the executive board of CCMI. “It has to be global warming and the fact that man’s presence is as environmentally friendly as an oil slick.”

The saving grace for Little Cayman is its isolation. It did not have electricity or paved roads until ten years ago. With only a few homes on the island, a year-round population of 120, and 122 rooms between the five hotels, it is as close to being on a deserted island as one can get. Established almost fifty years ago as a bone fish club by Titians of American Industry, the XC-CEO’s of GE, Ball Industries and thirty-four of their colleagues, pitched tents in the coral sand under a grove of coconut palms. For more than forty years, the camp had generators for electricity and cisterns for water, and was a sharp contrast to the pastel luxurious bungalows, air conditioning and hot showers that Hillenbrand has shepherded the club into. With more than 50 percent of all guests returning time after time, they make Southern Cross the most coveted dive club in the Caribbean.

The resort compound is composed of thirteen widely spaced bungalows, a dining hall, and swimming pool with a cabana bar. With a staff of 20 to pamper a maximum of 26 guests, your days are filled with diving, fishing, swimming, snorkeling or laying in one of the 12 hammocks that dot the beach. As one of the guests who was celebrating her engagement said, “This place is the very definition of island paradise.”

One of the first things general manager Chris told us when we arrived by prop plane from Grand Cayman was that most activities at Southern Cross are on “island time,” which means give or take 15 or 20 minutes either way, except when it comes time for the dive boat to leave the dock. “The morning dive boat leaves, with or without you, promptly at 8 a.m.,” he said. So we awoke each morning at 6:30 a.m. for a buffet breakfast around 7. Most mornings, the buffet breakfasts included eggs, either scrambled or poached, tropical fruit, cereals, yogurt, breads and muffins. Breakfast is a hardy meal for the adventures ahead.

One morning dive, we had Henri and Lucy for dive masters and guides. Both are passionate about the coral and its aquatic inhabitants and regard them with great respect. Before we jumped into the “aquarium,” as Henri referred to the turquoise sea, he outlined the dive for us, including the coral valleys and alley configurations, and listed the “friends” we may see below and how long the dive would last. As we descended to the reef at 25 feet below, we ventured into what must be like the middle of Times Square during a ticket-tape parade of blue milar ribbon – for thousands of little blue fish swirled all around us. And in a flash, they were gone, courtesy of a five-foot reef shark. It was the first of three sharks we saw during our dives. One was “napping” on the sea bottom, and another, a small, three-foot shark that dive master Lucy had spotted, was curled inside a coral out-cropping. She motioned for us to reach inside the coral and pet its tail. Following her lead, and with great trepidation on my part, I petted its tail. Its skin felt like sand paper – thus its name, a sand shark. Lucy was also kind enough to point out shrimp smaller than your fingernail; spider-like crabs clinging to spider-like coral and a tortoise having its lunch. We were both given a fright when we had an aquatic close encounter of the fourth kind – the shared attention of a shark sucker fish who liked our hairy legs. Henri pointed out that he was perfectly harmless, yet it was a very weird sensation.

Each morning consisted of two dives, with a 45 minute-to-one hour break in between and a short boat ride to another dive site, equally as fantastic as the last. By the time we returned to the dock, we were famished, and after a quick change out of our wet swimsuits, we hit the hardy lunch buffet. One day it was turkey and dressing, another hot dogs and onion rings. There was always a soup, and the salad bar had the usual fixings and cookies or cake for dessert. If you weren’t going on the 2 p.m. dive, it was nap time all around, either in your wonderfully cool air-conditioned room or one of the many hammocks that dotted the beach.

Sometimes, weather permitting, there was a sunset or night dive. We were lucky to go on a sunset dive under a full moon. Dive master Henri was quite animated when he began his dive talk. He had a book that he opened to show the types of fish he expected us to encounter and described their moonlight activities in detail, before we all dove in. At about 30 feet, we did as Henri had instructed and set and watched the fish before us as if we were at a Broadway show. As Henri had predicated, we were privy to the mating dance of several species of fish – and they danced just as he had described. A brilliant blue male fish and his slightly darker girlfriend started “rounding up the wagons,” circling each other as they rose to the surface, their circle getting tighter and tighter as they went up ’til they were spiraling next to each other, and with two flicks of his tail, he broadcasted his sperm as she broadcasted her eggs, in what could only be described as underwater fireworks, before they bid adieu and darted out of sight. Other interesting mating dances we observed were two male fish, jaws wide open with snouts together, aggressively butting heads like we often see mountain rams in nature films. In another corner of the coral reef was a parrotfish herding his cows, while trying to keep the other males away from his harem. Unfortunately, while he was occupied with keeping one male away, a female would slip away from the group for a quickie on the side. TV Novellas have nothing on these fish!

During the ride back to the dock, Henri offered beers all around as we regaled each other in what we had witnessed. Henri let us in on a secret that tonight there would be a special celebration of owner Peter Hillenbrand’s birthday and a Mexican buffet dinner would be served on the beach. Dusk fell as the boat approached the dock, and on the pristine white sand beach were a series of long tables, decked in damask and decorated in multi-colored Christmas lights. Tiki torches burned along the pathway to the cabana, creating a festive scene. We rushed to change our clothes and join the party. New guests had arrived, including John Palmer, one of the original shareholders in the club, who had fought long and hard to keep the club just for fishing, along with many others who just wanted to wish Peter a happy birthday.

Chef Sheldon outdid himself with a lavish Mexican dinner buffet, including all of Peter’s favorites: chicken enchiladas, Mexican rice and beans, and creamy guacamole. As we all sat on the beach, guests and staff side-by-side, barefoot with our toes in the sand, we were startled by a loud noise. Pop! Pow! Bang! Fireworks were being sent into the night sky as the moon rose on the horizon. Pop! Pow! Bang! they went, splashing their colored embers above us, reflected in the surf. “Wow!” was the only word spoken during the entire 15 minute display. “Wow!”

When the fireworks died out, we all stood and toasted Peter. In less than 10 short years, Peter modernized the facilities, rebuilt the club after Hurricane Ivan’s wrath and turned a tented fish camp into a modern resort filled with friends that are family. What more could a man want for his birthday, and what a happy ending to an amazing underwater adventure!

Trip Resources: Southern Cross Club, www.SouthernCrossClub.com. Continental Airlines flies non-stop from Houston to Grand Cayman daily, with connections via Cayman Airlines between the islands.

All the Comforts

Explore these 10 amenities available for your personal oasis

Whether you are planning on purchasing a new home or renovating your current abode, there are a number of innovations that should be considered before you begin. State-of-the-art technologies have made it possible for homeowners to incorporate first-class luxuries into comfortable homes, and high tech no longer has to equate to “sterile.” Many of today’s innovations can be seamlessly incorporated into just about every type and style of home. From outdoor kitchens to indoor wine rooms, living the high life has never been easier.

1. Digital video surveillance
Home alarms are so last year. Digital video surveillance allows homeowners to keep an eye on their homes from anywhere they can access the internet. Not only is picture quality greatly enhanced, but videos are also saved on a computer for later review and made available on your TVs at home. www.tellipro.com

2. Home theater rooms
Why go to the movie when you can have a theater experience at home? Dad’s favorite recliner has evolved into the family’s favorite room – perfect for watching TV, playing video games, listening to music and catching a movie. The home theater rooms of today have such amenities as surround sound, speakers built into the wall and ceiling, plasma and LCD monitors, projection TVs, theater seating and much more. www.hometheaterstore.com

3. Wine rooms
No longer do you have to stock up before a party; wine rooms allow true wine aficionados the opportunity to store their favorite wines in their homes. Whether you choose to locate it in the basement or in the middle of everything, in-house wine rooms are a great way to add the spirit of romance into your home. Just remember: The most important concepts to consider are air temperature and storage design. www.bacchuswinecellars.com

4. Outdoor kitchens
Temperate weather year-round has made outdoor kitchens a popular addition to Houston homes. Although casual and comfortable, the outdoor kitchen of today has elevated itself immensely from yesteryear’s barbecue pit. Countertops and sinks, gas-burning stoves and happy hour bars are all finding their way outside. Perfect for a romantic meal or to accommodate a party of 20, outdoor kitchens have helped make entertaining others entertaining for you, as well! www.pittsandspitts.com

5. Mosquito repellent systems
Snowbirds aren’t the only guests Houston weather attracts. Mosquitoes can be an unbelievable nuisance during the summer. (Truthfully, they can be an irritation all year long!) Thankfully, technology has surpassed smelly sprays and ineffective candles. Mosquito control systems are able to take the itch out of outdoor fun with time-controlled misters and on-the-spot remote controls (similar to sprinkler systems). www.abcpest.com

6. Home automation
Let programming the coffee pot in the kitchen become a thing of the past! Home automation allows you to program pretty much anything and everything that runs on electricity – from wherever you want. From the air conditioner to the landscaping lights, the aforementioned coffee pot to the TV, you can now schedule times for use and remotely control your appliances from afar. www.smarthome.com

7. Multiple shower heads
Many homeowners are choosing to rethink their bathrooms. No longer do you have to go to the spa for an escape. Home showers have moved beyond simple faucet mounts to multiple shower heads that transport you to your own tropical island waterfall. Close your eyes, and relax! www.designerbath-kitchen.com

8. Heated flooring/cool flooring
You may have heard of radiant flooring, but did you know this? Not only can you heat the floor from within, but you can also cool it. Tubing underneath tiles, carpet and wood has been heating homes for years, but technology has finally caught up with Houston needs. Very rarely do you step out of the shower and get a bite of frost from the bathroom floor here, but every Houstonian could use some cooler temperatures during the summer. www.energy.gov

9. Geothermal heat pumps
Help the environment and lower your monthly bills in one fell swoop. Geothermal heat pumps differ from standard heat pumps because they utilize the earth’s natural heat, rather than outside air, to produce your hot water, air conditioning and heating needs. Not only are they quieter than ordinary heat pumps, geothermal pumps use 40-60 percent less energy. Can you imagine your next electric bill? www.energystar.gov

10. Misters
It might seem like many of these innovations have to do with keeping you cool inside your home, but have you been outside lately? Wall-mounted misters help to keep the temperature down while you’re enjoying your backyard. Combining a slight mist and a cool breeze from a fan, misters can make the Bayou City feel more like the windy one. www.microcool.com

52 Things Every Houstonian Must Do

1. Kemah
Everyone knows about the Kemah Boardwalk, and it’s cool – but did you know that Houstonians have been flocking here long before Tilman Fertitta developed the area? Across the bridge from the boardwalk sits a little peninsula dotted with fish markets full of fresh Gulf seafood at unbeatable prices. Catches are brought in daily from area fisherman, and seafood lovers in the know are able to reap the rewards. Waterfront District, Seabrook

2. Buffalo Bayou
A beautiful view of the downtown skyline, puppy park, jogging trail, disc golf course, rehabbed waterfront park and family-friendly festivals – Buffalo Bayou has become the place to soak in the city. www.buffalobayou.org

3. San Jacinto Monument and Museum
Texas’ independence from Mexico was won here in 1836, and in true Lone Star style, the tallest monument tower in the world now stands on the site of the battle. One Monument Circle, La Porte, (281) 479-2421, www.sanjacinto-museum.org

4. Tex Mex
When in Rome, do as the Romans do – and when in Houston, you have to partake in Tex Mex. The best place to get your chips and salsa, margaritas and fresh tortillas is the original Mama Ninfa’s (lovingly coined “Ninfa’s on Navigation”). Although the restaurant is now a chain, the original is the classic Tex-Mex experience. 2704 Navigation Blvd., (713) 228-1175

5. Barbecue
You simply can’t be a Houstonian without enjoying the occasional plate of barbecue, slaw and potato salad (garnished with pickles, onions and jalapeños, please). In fact, even the 41st president frequents one of the oldest joints in the city – Otto’s Barbecue. 5502 Memorial Drive, (713) 864-2573

6. St. Arnold’s Brewery
Not only do they make exceptional beer (and right here in Houston!), but they offer tours on Saturdays with tastings afterward. 2522 Fairway Park Drive, (713) 686-9494, www.saintarnold.com

7. Memorial Park
Run Memorial, and you’re sure to make friends. More than just a workout, this three-mile loop affords social opportunities, too. (Other activities of our version of Central Park include golf, biking, volleyball, soccer, softball and tennis.) 6501 Memorial Drive

8. Bayou Bend
The estate of Miss Ima Hogg 1 Westcott St., (713) 639-7750, www.mfah.org/bayoubend

9. Astros
Even Clemens can’t let a season pass without getting in the game at Minute Maid. 501 Crawford, (713) 259-8000, www.astros.com

10. Rodeo
Barbecue cook-off, bull riding and the Hideout – it’s been a tradition for 75 years. www.hlsr.com

11. Cockrell Butterfly Center
A beautiful three-story garden awaits, full of some of the most amazing butterflies in the world. Houston Museum of Natural Science, One Hermann Circle Drive, (713) 639-4629, www.hmns.org

12. Museum District
Perfect for a learning adventure, this lovely area is home to 16 different institutions within walking distance. www.houstonmuseumdistrict.org

13. Farmer’s Market
Shop at the more conventional Canino’s or haggle with the booth vendors – whatever you choose, you’re sure to leave with the freshest of produce for a fraction of grocery-store prices. 2520 Airline

14. Westheimer Curve
Start at Montrose and Westheimer, and wind your way down through the thrift shops, antique stores and more.

15. Galveston
Play in the water, search for sea shells, go fishing or stroll the historic district of Galveston Island. www.galveston.com

16. Glenwood Cemetery
Full of huge live oaks, amazing headstones and (if you can believe it) rolling hills, Glenwood is one of the most beautifully peaceful spots here. The final resting place for many of Houston’s most elite, you’re sure to see names that changed the history of the city. 2525 Washington Ave.

17. Greek Festival
Every year, Greek heritage is celebrated in October by the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral. (This year marks the 40th.) Come all three days, and experience one of the best festivals – and some of the best gyros! www.greekfestival.org

18. Port of Houston
Located inside the 610 Loop, Houston’s port ranks No. 1 in shipping foreign cargo, showcasing one of the biggest ports in the world. Learn more on a tour – you’ll be amazed. (713) 670-2416, www.portofhouston.com

19. Orange Show Center
Hail to the orange! For 20 years, Jefferson Davis McKissack built a visual masterpiece in honor of his favorite fruit – now guests are invited to tour the facility. www.orangeshow.org

20. River Oaks Theatre
This relic hosts old favorites, Indie flicks and commercial blockbusters, including midnight showings of “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” 2009 W. Gray, (713) 866-8881

21. 19th Street in the Heights
Go antiquing, pick up a unique gift, stroll art galleries or simply enjoy an old-fashioned downtown. 19th Street at Yale

22. Water Wall
A beautiful work of art, the Water Wall is the perfect place for a picnic. 2800 Post Oak Blvd.

23. Ice Skating
Laps around the rink in the Galleria are quintessential Houston. www.polaricegalleria.com

24. Last Concert Café
Tucked in the Warehouse District, just north of downtown, Last Concert Café doubles as a Mexican restaurant and live music venue. With a sand-filled backyard, picnic tables and outdoor stage, many music fans can be found here in drum circles, hula-hooping and sipping on frozen sangria. 1403 Nance, (713) 226-8563, www.lastconcert.com

25. Space Center Houston
After all, Houston is Space City, USA. 1601 NASA Road 1, (281) 244-2100, www.spacecenter.org

26. Bolivar Ferry
The only connection between Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula for motorists, this ferry service has been running since 1929 (toll-free since 1949). www.dot.state.tx.us

27. Houston Symphony
Founded in 1913, this musical masterpiece has been enriching the lives of Houstonians for nearly a century. www.houstonsymphony.org

28. Houston Zoo
Lions and tigers and bears – oh my! 1513 N. MacGregor, (713) 533-6500, www.houstonzoo.org

29. Loop 610
If you consider yourself a Houstonian, you have to have driven the complete Loop. Whether you were lost or just getting the lay of the land, not driving the whole thing is almost sacrilegious.

30. Alley Theatre
Catch a show! www.alleytheatre.com

31. Dim Sum
Perfect for Sunday lunch, trek to Chinatown for a memorable meal. Bellaire and Gessner

32. Midtown Vietnamese
Midtown is not only home to the hottest clubs. Many Vietnamese businesses are also located in this area, as well as authentic Vietnamese restaurants. If you’ve never eaten this fare, start off with spring rolls, Vietnamese egg rolls and vermicelli – and go from there.

33. Harwin Drive
A bargain shopper’s paradise, Harwin Drive is known for its imitation handbags, trendy jewelry and name-brand perfumes – at extremely low prices. Harwin Drive and Fondren

34. Miller Outdoor Theatre
Free concerts, musicals, festivals and plays are open to the public at this outdoor amphitheater. Get there early for covered seating or bring a blanket for the hill. www.milleroutdoortheatre.org

35. Flower District
Although it might seem perfect for your next late-night fight, the catalyst for the 24-hour flower stands along Fannin is their close proximity to the Texas Medical Center. Fannin and U.S. 59

36. Houston National Cemetery
Made up of more than 419 acres, this expansive cemetery is the final resting place for nearly 60,000 soldiers. 10410 Veteran’s Memorial Drive

37. Leisure Learning
Whether you choose to take belly dancing or photography, Japanese or Microsoft Excel, you’re sure to learn something about yourself in these life-enhancing classes. www.llu.com

38. River Oaks
Tour the winding streets of this grand neighborhood filled with palatial estates and old money.

39. Houston Grand Opera
An award-winning cultural experience www.houstongrandopera.org

40. Downtown tunnels
In an effort to reduce business-attire-induced heat stroke, the downtown tunnels are underground air-conditioned connections between some of the biggest buildings in the CBD. Filled with restaurants and shops, many spend their lunch break walking the tunnels.

42. ArtCrawl
Held in November, ArtCrawl is in its 14th year of celebrating local artists. With delightful trolleys running throughout downtown and the Warehouse District, patrons are encouraged to experience the galleries of the inner city. www.artcrawlhouston.com

43. Project Row Houses
Connecting revitalization and art, PRH tries to head off gentrification in the Third Ward through rotating artistic exhibitions about the African American culture. Every six months, a new group of literary, photography, paint and sculpture artists are commissioned to transform the houses into their visions. Renovating the community, PRH has also developed Row House Community Development Corporation and Young Mothers Residential Program. 25 Holman, (713) 526-7662, www.projectrowhouses.org

44. Beer Can House
You’ve got to see it to believe it. 222 Malone, www.orangeshow.org

45. Downtown
From state-of-the-art buildings to historical landmarks, pocket parks to artistic sculptures, exploring downtown expands your perspective of what Houston has to offer.

46. College Campuses
From the jogging trail at Rice to the new labyrinth at St. Thomas, more than 40 area colleges and universities offer a wealth of opportunities for learning and relaxation.

47. Houston Arboretum and Nature Center
A nature preserve in the heart of the city, HANC makes up 155 acres of Memorial Park, providing nature trails, classes and exhibits to the public to promote conservation and preservation. 4501 Woodway Drive, (713) 681-8433, www.houstonarboretum.org

48. Forbidden Gardens
Authentic Chinese gardens and miniature replicas located in Katy. 23500 Franz Road, Katy, (281) 347-8000, www.forbidden-gardens.com

49. City Hall Reflection Pond
Downtown’s reflection pool is the perfect place to sit and watch the world go by, read a book or catch one of the many festivals that surround it throughout the year. 901 Bagby

50. Redstone Golf Club
Golf is a year-round sport here, so you have plenty of time to practice. Compare your swing with those of the PGA – the Shell Houston Open is played here every year at Fall Creek’s Redstone Golf Club. 5860 Wilson Road, (281) 459-7800, www.redstonegolfclub.com

51. East End Murals
Encompassing the 16 square miles between downtown and the Port of Houston, the Greater East End holds a number of cultural finds, including the more than 24 murals decorating the area. www.greaterestend.com

52. METRORail
Take a ride on the high-tech light rail, traveling right through the heart of downtown, Midtown, the Museum District, Hermann Park and the Texas Medical Center – ending at the Reliant Center. www.redemetro.org

Little Cayman

Less than a three-hour direct non-stop flight from Houston, lies one of the most pristine coral reefs left in the world. There are three islands that make up the Caymans Islands: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, which is home to the oldest resort in all the Caymans, Southern Cross Club.

by Dick Dace

Above water, Little Cayman has not changed much since Christopher Columbus discovered it on his third trip to the new world. Indigenous species of ducks and birds are now protected in bird statuaries and the coral reefs by a marine park. Below water, or as Mike Emmanuel, one of the founders of Southern Cross likes to say, “in the thicker air,” drastic changes are afoot. According to Central Caribbean Marine Institute’s Dr. Carrie Manfrino, 40 percent of the architectural and reef-building coral has died in the past eight years. Diseases like White Plaque, Black Band and Coral Bleaching are taking their toll on the coral and the marine life that it supports. “This is despite the absence of common causes of coral degradation; commercial fishing, pollution, heavy coastal development, high tourism and diving traffic,” stated Peter Hillenbrand, Southern Cross Club owner and chairman of the executive board of CCMI. “It has to be global warming and the fact that man’s presence is as environmentally friendly as an oil slick.”

The saving grace for Little Cayman is its isolation. It did not have electricity or paved roads until ten years ago. With only a few homes on the island, a year-round population of 120, and 122 rooms between the five hotels, it is as close to being on a deserted island as one can get. Established almost fifty years ago as a bone fish club by Titians of American Industry, the XC-CEO’s of GE, Ball Industries and thirty-four of their colleagues, pitched tents in the coral sand under a grove of coconut palms. For more than forty years, the camp had generators for electricity and cisterns for water, and was a sharp contrast to the pastel luxurious bungalows, air conditioning and hot showers that Hillenbrand has shepherded the club into. With more than 50 percent of all guests returning time after time, they make Southern Cross the most coveted dive club in the Caribbean.

The resort compound is composed of thirteen widely spaced bungalows, a dining hall, and swimming pool with a cabana bar. With a staff of 20 to pamper a maximum of 26 guests, your days are filled with diving, fishing, swimming, snorkeling or laying in one of the 12 hammocks that dot the beach. As one of the guests who was celebrating her engagement said, “This place is the very definition of island paradise.”

One of the first things general manager Chris told us when we arrived by prop plane from Grand Cayman was that most activities at Southern Cross are on “island time,” which means give or take 15 or 20 minutes either way, except when it comes time for the dive boat to leave the dock. “The morning dive boat leaves, with or without you, promptly at 8 a.m.,” he said. So we awoke each morning at 6:30 a.m. for a buffet breakfast around 7. Most mornings, the buffet breakfasts included eggs, either scrambled or poached, tropical fruit, cereals, yogurt, breads and muffins. Breakfast is a hardy meal for the adventures ahead.

One morning dive, we had Henri and Lucy for dive masters and guides. Both are passionate about the coral and its aquatic inhabitants and regard them with great respect. Before we jumped into the “aquarium,” as Henri referred to the turquoise sea, he outlined the dive for us, including the coral valleys and alley configurations, and listed the “friends” we may see below and how long the dive would last. As we descended to the reef at 25 feet below, we ventured into what must be like the middle of Times Square during a ticket-tape parade of blue milar ribbon – for thousands of little blue fish swirled all around us. And in a flash, they were gone, courtesy of a five-foot reef shark. It was the first of three sharks we saw during our dives. One was “napping” on the sea bottom, and another, a small, three-foot shark that dive master Lucy had spotted, was curled inside a coral out-cropping. She motioned for us to reach inside the coral and pet its tail. Following her lead, and with great trepidation on my part, I petted its tail. Its skin felt like sand paper – thus its name, a sand shark. Lucy was also kind enough to point out shrimp smaller than your fingernail; spider-like crabs clinging to spider-like coral and a tortoise having its lunch. We were both given a fright when we had an aquatic close encounter of the fourth kind – the shared attention of a shark sucker fish who liked our hairy legs. Henri pointed out that he was perfectly harmless, yet it was a very weird sensation.

Each morning consisted of two dives, with a 45 minute-to-one hour break in between and a short boat ride to another dive site, equally as fantastic as the last. By the time we returned to the dock, we were famished, and after a quick change out of our wet swimsuits, we hit the hardy lunch buffet. One day it was turkey and dressing, another hot dogs and onion rings. There was always a soup, and the salad bar had the usual fixings and cookies or cake for dessert. If you weren’t going on the 2 p.m. dive, it was nap time all around, either in your wonderfully cool air-conditioned room or one of the many hammocks that dotted the beach.

Sometimes, weather permitting, there was a sunset or night dive. We were lucky to go on a sunset dive under a full moon. Dive master Henri was quite animated when he began his dive talk. He had a book that he opened to show the types of fish he expected us to encounter and described their moonlight activities in detail, before we all dove in. At about 30 feet, we did as Henri had instructed and set and watched the fish before us as if we were at a Broadway show. As Henri had predicated, we were privy to the mating dance of several species of fish – and they danced just as he had described. A brilliant blue male fish and his slightly darker girlfriend started “rounding up the wagons,” circling each other as they rose to the surface, their circle getting tighter and tighter as they went up ’til they were spiraling next to each other, and with two flicks of his tail, he broadcasted his sperm as she broadcasted her eggs, in what could only be described as underwater fireworks, before they bid adieu and darted out of sight. Other interesting mating dances we observed were two male fish, jaws wide open with snouts together, aggressively butting heads like we often see mountain rams in nature films. In another corner of the coral reef was a parrotfish herding his cows, while trying to keep the other males away from his harem. Unfortunately, while he was occupied with keeping one male away, a female would slip away from the group for a quickie on the side. TV Novellas have nothing on these fish!

During the ride back to the dock, Henri offered beers all around as we regaled each other in what we had witnessed. Henri let us in on a secret that tonight there would be a special celebration of owner Peter Hillenbrand’s birthday and a Mexican buffet dinner would be served on the beach. Dusk fell as the boat approached the dock, and on the pristine white sand beach were a series of long tables, decked in damask and decorated in multi-colored Christmas lights. Tiki torches burned along the pathway to the cabana, creating a festive scene. We rushed to change our clothes and join the party. New guests had arrived, including John Palmer, one of the original shareholders in the club, who had fought long and hard to keep the club just for fishing, along with many others who just wanted to wish Peter a happy birthday.

Chef Sheldon outdid himself with a lavish Mexican dinner buffet, including all of Peter’s favorites: chicken enchiladas, Mexican rice and beans, and creamy guacamole. As we all sat on the beach, guests and staff side-by-side, barefoot with our toes in the sand, we were startled by a loud noise. Pop! Pow! Bang! Fireworks were being sent into the night sky as the moon rose on the horizon. Pop! Pow! Bang! they went, splashing their colored embers above us, reflected in the surf. “Wow!” was the only word spoken during the entire 15 minute display. “Wow!”

When the fireworks died out, we all stood and toasted Peter. In less than 10 short years, Peter modernized the facilities, rebuilt the club after Hurricane Ivan’s wrath and turned a tented fish camp into a modern resort filled with friends that are family. What more could a man want for his birthday, and what a happy ending to an amazing underwater adventure!

Trip Resources: Southern Cross Club, www.SouthernCrossClub.com. Continental Airlines flies non-stop from Houston to Grand Cayman daily, with connections via Cayman Airlines between the islands.

The Museum Next Door

Lawndale Art Center showcases Houston’s best artists

Everyone has a little artist in him. The Lawndale Art Center certainly believes this and has the exhibitions to prove it. This unique museum, located in the center of Houston’s Museum District, has a special place in its heart for all things Houston. Every exhibition that is showcased at Lawndale is created by an artist from the city, which allows Lawndale to feel like a home for many Houstonians.

While this not-for-profit gallery is celebrating its 25th year of showcasing the work of local artists, the art deco building it now inhabits has been an architectural masterpiece on Main Street for more than 75 years, built by Houston architect Joseph Finger in 1930. When Lawndale took possession of the building in 1993, the museum created four different galleries inside for showcasing the work of local artists – so, now Houston-based artists can display their works in a Houston architect’s work of art.

Community service
Exhibiting art that appeals to the everyone, Lawndale strives to focus on the Houstonians behind the art. Close to 500 artists are featured annually in continually changing installations, so you have ample opportunity to get to know your neighbors. The exhibits exclusively showcase Houston-area artists, who can frequently be found working in tandem with the center. In fact, Lawndale’s board of directors is comprised of at least one-third artists, many of whom have been featured in exhibitions at Lawndale over the years.

Annual events
Because the center’s four exhibit halls showcase different artists’ works every few months, you wouldn’t think Lawndale would have people returning to see their “old favorites.” However, many people return each year for annual festivals like the 20th Century Modern Market and Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead, as well as the Big Show. The Day of the Dead special event is an educational art show held each fall focused on Mexican-American Houstonians’ artwork, including local grade school students’ artwork. Another tribute to Mexican-American culture is the Cinco de Mayo festival held each May. Though these affairs are centered around one holiday, the celebration at Lawndale extends longer, so the public has plenty of time to experience the local artists’ work.

Get involved
Memberships to the Lawndale Art Center are fairly inexpensive, and the benefits are fantastic. A single membership is only $35 a year, and it gives you mailed invitations to all Lawndale events, among other things. Supporting an art venue that is so community-oriented has never been so easy, or so enjoyable. The opportunity to see the changing installations, as well as gaining access to more than 20 exhibitions and special events, is something you won’t want to miss. – GS

4912 Main St.
(713) 528-5858
www.lawndaleartcenter.org

Houston’s Dream Team

Local organization helps at-risk children aim for the stars

Growing up as one of three daughters in a single-parent home wasn’t the easiest beginning for one of Houston’s first “Dreamers,” Debora. After her father passed away, Debora’s mother was left with the difficult task of raising her children alone in one of Houston’s inner-city neighborhoods. Being matched with a Dream Partner mentor served as a turning point in Debora’s life and gave her the tools she needed to finish high school, prepare for college and follow her dreams. After graduating from Baylor University with assistance from “I Have a Dream” – Houston’s scholarship funds, she began her career as a laboratory technician at St. Luke’s Hospital and continues to live and work in Houston today.

“I Have a Dream” – Houston (IHAD) has been helping individuals like Debora since 1987, when a group of caring Houstonians collaborated to create an organization that would provide long-term mentoring and dropout-prevention programs that promote higher education for low-income, inner-city children. Since then, IHAD has helped more than 700 students in the Houston area graduate from high school and pursue college, vocational school, a military program or a career plan.

How it happens
After selecting a school in need, IHAD teams up with teachers and administration members and adopts a group of up to 50 at-risk third graders, called “Dreamers,” to participate in the IHAD program. Schools are selected by the demographics of their student population, and all Dreamers are identified as susceptible to dropping out of school, qualify for free/reduced lunch and are indicative of the low-income family status. Each Dreamer is matched with one adult volunteer mentor, or “Dream Partner,” and the pair meets for at least one hour a week for one-on-one mentoring. Volunteer mentors for IHAD work with student Dreamers from their third grade year through their senior year in high school — and beyond.

Dream Partners provide individual support, academic assistance and social guidance for these at-risk students throughout many of the most influential years of their lives. In addition, IHAD facilitates programs and activities that focus on the five key areas of academics, career exploration, college planning, leadership and personal development, and social responsibility. Upon entry into the program, student Dreamers give their pledge to finish high school, and IHAD works to make this happen by providing tutoring, educational enrichment trips and community service projects. Student Dreamers that do fulfill their pledge of graduating from high school are eligible for scholarship funding of up to $4,000 each to pursue their education or career plans.

Joining the team
Dream Partners are continually needed to mentor student Dreamers. Every volunteer is expected to commit one hour of their time per week to mentor their Dreamer, as well as pledge to participate for at least one year. Mentors must be at least 21 years old and must attend a mandatory one-hour Show &Tell event, in addition to a four-hour orientation and training session. Dream Partners are also interviewed one-on-one by an IHAD staff member before beginning their experience as a student mentor.

A multitude of other volunteer opportunities with IHAD are available for interested individuals. While IHAD tutors provide individual and group academic assistance to students involved in the IHAD program, interpreters are needed to translate English to Spanish for phone calls and visits with many of the Dreamers’ parents. Others enjoy participating as activities volunteers by helping plan and chaperone field trips and program activities organized for the Dreamers. In addition, TreeKids volunteers help Dreamers beautify the city by planting trees at many parks and schools. Every volunteer with IHAD plays an integral role in shaping each student’s life and further assists in helping Dreamers move toward the ultimate goal of graduating from high school and pursuing a promising path in life.

Backing the cause
IHAD is a private, non-profit, 501(c) (3) tax-exempt, independent organization that receives no funding from the national “I Have a Dream” organization. All financial support is provided by individuals, foundations, corporations, churches and civic groups that help make the IHAD program possible. For $2,000 a year, a student Dreamer is provided with mentoring, tutoring and academic support to reach his educational goals. Funds donated to IHAD also help sponsor a scholarship program set up for student Dreamers who complete high school.

Supporting IHAD may be as easy as a swipe of a card for those who shop at Randalls in the Houston area. By linking your Randalls Remarkable card to IHAD, you can automatically donate a portion of your purchase to the organization at no extra cost to you. IHAD also gladly accepts school supplies from donors to supplement its many educational programs and activities.

“I Have a Dream” – Houston
3000 Richmond Ave., Ste. 360
(713) 523-7326
www.ihaveadreamhouston.org

The Next Big Thing

Houston’s new soccer team launches a new rivalry

Professional soccer is back in the Bayou City with the arrival of Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo. Last December, MLS announced the league’s newest franchise after moving the San Jose team to Houston.

The name honors the area’s ties to the energy industry and is one also shared by several European teams. Dynamo plays their home games at the 32,000-seat Robertson Stadium on the University of Houston campus.

On April 2, they kicked off in a big way with a 5-2 win over Colorado in front of more than 25,000 fans. Forward Brian Ching, later named to the 2006 U.S. World Cup team, scored four goals and Dwayne De Rosario, runner-up for the 2005 MLS MVP award, had four assists.

But the game circled on everyone’s calendar was the May 6 clash with FC Dallas. Houston built an early 3-0 edge and held on for a 4-3 win, despite FCD mounting a serious second-half comeback.

Other than bragging rights, they are playing for “El Capitan,” an 18th century Mountain Howitzer replica cannon that recognizes the winner as Texas’ best MLS team.

In a rematch just one week later at Frisco’s Pizza Hut Park, FCD led 1-0 before a late goal forced them to settle for a 1-1 tie. After two games in the series, Houston has four points to FC Dallas’ one. Teams get three points for a win, one for a tie and none for a loss.

They meet again on Aug. 12 in Houston and close out the series Sept. 2 in Frisco. The club with the most points after four games gets the cannon for one year and with it, bragging rights over their rivals.

There isn’t much bad blood between them yet, but Dynamo’s coaches and players see that changing. “I know the fans don’t like each other,” says Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear, 2005 MLS Coach of the Year while at San Jose. “I think as both teams play more that the rivalry will grow. But for now, the media coverage has been good, and the fan forums have also. All this just adds to it.”

Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis, who played with Dallas in 2003 and 2004, agrees. “It seems like the Houston fans can’t stand the Dallas fans and vice versa,” he says. “But as a player, you always want your club to be the best in your state.”

Being former Dallas players adds something to the rivalry for Houston players Davis and teammate Ronald Cerritos. “When you play against a former club, obviously there’s always that competitive edge,” says Cerritos, who was with Dallas in 2002 and 2003.

Davis agrees. “Whenever you’re playing a team you used to play for, you want to go out there and have your best game,” he says. “Playing against your friends, you want to go out there, compete and win.”

Dynamo midfielder Brian Mullan likes what the rivalry’s future might hold. “I believe it’s still in its infancy, but it’s been good so far,” Mullan says. “There has been lots of hype about it; and hopefully over the next few years, it will continue to grow. With the quality of the two teams involved, I am sure it will take off.”

Five current members of Houston’s roster were MLS All-Stars while in San Jose: defender Wade Barrett, Cerritos, Ching, Davis and 2005 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, Pat Onstad. Also, eight current Dynamo players played on at least one of San Jose’s MLS Cup championship teams from 2001 or 2003.

Thirteen games into the season, Houston sits in second place in the MLS Western Conference, only five points behind their in-state rivals.

Houston’s Other Energy Options

Ready, set, go – to the most energy-efficient fuel

Thirty years ago, a man flew into William P. Hobby Airport to visit his son. He rented a car and got onto the 610 Loop, quickly realizing that his hotel was one mile in the other direction. Thinking he could simply follow the highway until he reached his hotel again, he decided to take the 610 Loop full circle. Three hours later, he was finally at his hotel and better understood just how large the city of Houston was.

The city has expanded since then, and the Houston area now covers almost 6,000 square miles. The Texas Department of Transportation estimated in 2005 that more than 80 million miles are driven every day in the Houston area. In fact, more than 4 million cars were registered in Houston in 2005, and this fast-growing oil industry capital is starting to look to new types of energy as we move further into the 21st century.

Fast-food fuel
Drivers of diesel vehicles now have an alternative source for fuel – their local McDonald’s. An alternative to typical diesel fuel, biodiesel is made from processed vegetable oils and can even be made from the oil in which fast food restaurants use to fry their foods. (Some restaurants will give out used oil for free because it costs them to dispose of this waste properly.) Two groups in Houston are fighting to get this cheaper, cleaner-burning fuel into the mainstream for diesel automobiles.

The Rice University Biodiesel Initiative, founded by graduate students Christine Robichaud and Matt Yarrison, takes used cooking oils from the school’s cafeterias and refines them into biodiesel fuel for the university’s shuttle system and other diesel vehicles. Even Rice’s lawn maintenance equipment runs on the biodiesel created through this program – so, you can find riding mowers with exhaust smelling of french fries!

Chris Powers, founder of Houston Biodiesel, has opened the city’s first biodiesel station at 723 N. Drennan (in the East End). All of the fuel is made on the premises from recycled vegetable oils and boasts a high ratio of biodiesel to petrol. Houston Biodiesel even offers a variety of educational programs open to the general public on how to make your own biodiesel at home, and why it is a safer, cleaner alternative to fossil fuels. The fuel at Houston Biodiesel is currently priced about $0.30 cheaper than the average unleaded gasoline around the city. The filling station, built out of an old warehouse, is not your average gas station, either. There is no convenience store or touch-free car wash, but this renovated industrial building houses a knowledgeable and friendly staff who will help you with all of your biodiesel concerns.

The best of both worlds
Living in a city as large as Houston, many people are interested in getting the most out of their gas tank, especially commuters. Because of the size of the city and the distance between major attractions, Houstonians have begun to show interest in hybrid cars.

These vehicles drive just like normal automobiles, but they have gas and electric motors that work in tandem. Hybrid vehicles do not require special maintenance, and many come with high-tech features, such as the built-in computer and voice-activated navigation system available in the Toyota Prius.

Nearly every car manufacturer now has a hybrid vehicle on the market for a total of 12 vehicles currently available in the U.S., with more being designed for release in 2007 and 2008. From trucks to luxury sedans, economy cars to SUVs, styles of hybrids abound. Texans have shown their support for the hybrid car market, even in the midst of oil country. In 2005, Texas was third in the number of hybrid vehicle registrations, behind second-place Florida, as well as the top hybrid state, California.

A-‘maize’-ing cars
On June 5, 2006, the Kroger at 8550 State Hwy. 6 in northwest Houston opened the city’s first E85 fuel pumps. E85 is a mix of 15 percent gasoline and 85 percent ethanol and is cleaner-burning and cheaper than regular unleaded gasoline. The ethanol is made from corn, or maize, a major crop of the American Midwest. The corn grown by Midwest farms exceeds consumer demands, so farmers have begun to turn the extra crops into ethanol for E85 fuel. Because of the amounts of excess corn produced every year, it has been predicted that ethanol fuels could completely replace fossil fuels in the future. The Kroger at State Hwy. 6 and West Road is the first of a dozen gas stations slated to supply E85 to the Houston area.

E85 fuel, however, will not work in all vehicles successfully. The high content of ethanol will corrode rubber and metal pieces in the fuel systems of cars made before 1988; and while some have reported getting E85 to run successfully in their gasoline-designated car, experimentation with your automobile is usually very expensive.

There are 20 cars available in the U.S. that are designated as flexible-fuel vehicles, or FFVs, and most are highly affordable. Popular models like the Ford Taurus, Chrysler Sebring and Chevrolet Silverado are offered with flex-fuel options. General Motors’ flex-fuel vehicles have special decals proudly showing their versatility. FFVs can use either gasoline or E85, depending on what is available. Sensors in the gas tank send information to the engine about what type of fuel is in the tank. If you’re in the market for a new car, be sure to check out flex-fuel vehicles. You won’t want to miss out on this new, clean fuel of the future!

Rosine Chappell

All-American Cancer Fighter

When Cancer Fighters of Houston Inc. gave volunteer Rosine Chappell its All-American Award, she said, “This would mean so much to my father.” He would be proud of her volunteer efforts to make the world a healthier, better place – but he would be beaming at the “All-American” distinction. He went through a great deal to make sure his daughter would be an American.

Rosine’s father, Sam Joseph, was born in New York on Jan. 1, 1900. Seven years later, the family returned to Bucharest, Romania – but at age 24, Sam finally returned to the America that he loved. He spent a year and a half working for the new Neon Company in New York.

Rather than come to the United States as planned, Sam’s fiancée, Charlotte Klein, enticed him back to Bucharest for the wedding. Charlotte wanted to stay in Bucharest. Sam gave in and settled down in the “old country.”

Sam’s pride in his American citizenship and his desire to return never paled. He would tell his young daughter, Rosine, tales of a “wonderful America, where one could be whatever one’s heart desired and where the streets are paved with gold.”

As Nazi power grew and Europe became more dangerous for Jewish families, Sam (goaded by his older brother who lived in Corpus Christi, Texas) tried to get papers for his wife so they could go to the United States.

The Consulate in Bucharest made it very difficult, insisting he open an escrow account in American dollars to ensure that Charlotte would never be “a financial burden to the U.S, government.” But it was illegal for a Romanian Jew to have dollars. However, Romanians working at the consulate were paid in dollars. Sam spent years buying those dollars at greatly inflated prices.

Finally, with the all-important Affidavit of Admittance for Charlotte and an account in Switzerland, the Joseph family was scheduled to leave what had become a dangerous and repressive Romania on July 1, 1941. They had visas for Russia, Japan and San Francisco.

Luck was not with them. On June 2, 1941, Germany invaded Russia. Now, Turkey was the only escape route out of central Europe. It took Sam months to get that government to accept Charlotte’s papers. Istanbul was fascinating for the 13-year-old Rosine. But it is the food that she really remembers, “Fresh meat, especially. By then in Romania we had no fresh meat. If there was any, it was usually horse meat.”

The Josephs traveled by train through Syria to Baghdad, Iraq. Sam went to a bank and wired Switzerland. The reply was garbled. Every reply was garbled. The family was out of money.

Every day, Sam went to the bank. Finally, a banker told Sam to meet him outside. In hushed tones, he told Sam that he too was Jewish but no one knew. Baghdad had recently had a “pogrom,” or massacre, and many Jews were killed. For their safety, the banker had sent his family to Bombay, India. If Sam would agree to check on his family in Bombay, the banker would give him the money to get there.

The Josephs sailed on a Nordic cargo ship from Basra to Bombay. It was December 1941, and Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor. Like the Russian visas, the ones for Japan were now useless.

Sam, Rosine and Charlotte met the Bombay banker’s family and found them prospering. The family tried to persuade the Josephs to stay in Bombay and not risk the voyage to America – Nazi submarines were sinking passenger and cargo ships. But Sam was determined.

The President’s Line ship, USS Madison, on a mission to rescue missionaries stranded by the invading Japanese, made room for the Josephs. It was a three-month-long, circuitous, submarine-evading, zigzagging journey. They sailed from Bombay to South Africa to Rio and then hugged the South American coast up to New York.

As they sailed into New York harbor, everyone aboard sang “God Bless America.” Then, the ship turned around, causing the Josephs and others to fear they were being denied entry. They found out that a German submarine was in the harbor, and later that night they sailed back.

The ordeal wasn’t over. Immigration wouldn’t accept Charlotte’s Affidavit of Admittance. They were stranded on Ellis Island. Sam hired an attorney, and a week later they were on a train headed to Corpus Christi, Texas to join Sam’s brother.

Sam Joseph’s persistence paid off. Rosine went to school and improved the little English she had learned from the Anglican Nuns in Bucharest. Now, she is very opposed to bilingual education because she says, “Without the immersion in English, I don’t know how long it would have taken me.” Listening to her, you’d never know English wasn’t her first language.

She graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in Romance Languages and was teaching ninth grade Spanish when she met and married Cliff Chappell. His career with Shell Oil and IBM brought the couple and their three children to settle in Houston in 1967.

The Chappell family has done its part for Houston. Rosine was instrumental in creating the Concierge Desk at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the first hospital to have such a volunteer service.

She also joined Cancer Fighters at its inception in 1980. Cancer Fighters of Houston Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) charity. Its bylaws require the organization to be an all-volunteer organization with no paid staff. All money raised must go for “research, education and service in Houston.”

The volunteers raise seed money for cancer research. It is the “seed money” that allows doctors and scientists to begin their research. Rosine is one of five members of the Cancer Fighter’s Research Committee. They carefully study grant requests and interview prospective recipients to decide which projects will be funded.

Sixteen years ago, while helping fight cancer, Rosine was diagnosed with colon cancer; and now, Cliff is nine years into his battle with cancer. Yet, from the smiles on their faces and their easy relaxed style, you’d never know they had a care in the world.

Truly, Rosine Chappell is an All-American Cancer Fighter, who, with her brave father’s help, has more than earned the title.

Cancer Fighters is located at the Rose, 3400 Bissonnett, Ste. 185, Houston, Texas 77005. For more information, call (713) 668-2996.