Winter 2015 - Westchase District

WESTCHASETODAY
YEAR 17 | ISSUE 4 | WINTER 2015
BUILDING HIGHER VALUE SINCE 1995
Mattress Mack Delivers Recognition
To Gallery of Top-Drawer Honorees
Creativity and constancy of area businesses celebrated at District’s 20th anniversary event
Good Times: (Clockwise from top left) Jim McIngvale (in red) poses with lunch attendees; 20 for 20 awards on display; Jim Murphy presents to Philip Schneidau;
Mattress Mack delivers a meaningful message; Murphy addresses an attentive audience; no celebration without dessert; Jacque Daughtry (center) with Making It
Better accepts a check from Westchase District Community Fund board members Tim Johnson and Dave Gilkeson.
O
ne of the most successful entrepreneurs
of his generation, Jim “Mattress
Mack” McIngvale is world-famous for
combining skillful promotions with community
service.
Speaking at Westchase District’s 20th
anniversary celebration in October, the 64-year-old
founder and CEO of the Houston-based Gallery
Furniture retail chain also laid claim to strong
ties to West Houston. Along with Linda, his wife,
McIngvale owns and operates Westside Tennis and
Fitness. He remained true to form at the lunch,
wearing a Gallery Furniture t-shirt while delivering
a heartfelt message on the power of work and
personal relationships.
“Work is not a human right, it’s an instinct,”
McIngvale told the crowd of about 300 attendees.
“It’s life’s greatest therapy and without it, people
lose the will to live. It’s up to us as practitioners of
free enterprise to get people employed so they can
work, make friends, get challenged and become
somebody.”
Community Fund Support
The lunch also was a fundraising event for
the Westchase District Community Fund, the
charitable arm of the District formed in 2010 to
advance its goals and objectives as well as align
donor support with area needs.
“The fund’s board seeks out the frayed corners
of our community, stitching them back together
with stronger threads of timely funding and
business partnerships,” said Tim Johnson, the
organization’s chairman. “This year the WDCF is
focused on providing financial support for local
charities assisting vulnerable families and inspiring
children.”
For more information on how to donate,
sponsor or volunteer, visit wdcfund.org.
Outward Focus
Rather than recount the District’s many
accomplishments, staff decided to put the focus on
honoring others in the community for their efforts in
supporting Westchase District.
(Continued on page 8)
INSIDE
2 Community Companions
6 Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza
2 On Target: Rick’s Darts and Games 7 Employment for Autistic Adults
3 Holiday Gifts at Farmers Market
7 Neighborhood News
4, 5 Beautification Along Beltway 8
8 20 for 20 Celebration (continued)
6 Patrol Officer Profile: Diego Morelli
Address Service Requested
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WESTCHASETODAY
Westchase TODAY is published quarterly by
Westchase District, a municipal management
district funded by local property owners in
a 4.2 square-mile area centered on the Sam
Houston Tollway between I-10 and US-59
on the west side of Houston, Texas.
We promote economic growth by enhancing
mobility, beautification, public safety,
planning and development of the District.
Jim Murphy
Dave Gilkeson
General Manager
VP, COO
Sherry Fox
Irma Sanchez
VP, Communications
VP, Projects
Mark Hubenak
Jonathan Lowe
Public Safety Director
Assistant
Communications Director
Louis Jullien
Projects Director
But Wait, There’s More
E
ach year it seems that we roll out new
projects and programs aimed at helping us
build higher value in Westchase District.
Our recent 20th Anniversary really brought this
into focus as so many of our heralded, established
programs were once, of course, new.
Starting successful programs results in
expectations of their continuation. Stakeholders
rightfully want the successful programs of the past
continued along with new efforts employing updated
concepts, partners, technology and metrics. Hence
the title for our column. Like that Public Safety
program from 2015? We’ll bring it back in 2016. But
wait, there’s more! Each year there is indeed “more”
and all of our stakeholders benefit.
Making sure these goals are set and supported is
the role of our Westchase District Board of Directors
and keeping all this in balance and on track is where
the staff focuses. The results have been tremendous
and recognized by people in and around Westchase
District. You can learn more about these successful
efforts on our website and in the articles in this
edition of Westchase Today.
Our Westchase District resources are limited,
but we want to keep providing more benefits. Now
we have an answer. We have turned our support
structure from a monopole into a tripod over the
past few years. We are confident all the engineering
and architecturally-minded readers see the structural
improvement from the change, but let us expand this
description.
Our recent event featured two companion
organizations: the Westchase District Community
Fund (WDCF) and the Westchase District Advisory
Board (WDAB). They are each making a positive
impact and providing benefits that are outside
the day-to-day scope of the Westchase District.
We supply limited logistical support, but each
organization is run by its independent board.
The WDCF has adopted a focus of benefitting
youth in our community. It operates under the able
Westchase District General Manager Jim Murphy and
Board Chair Philip Schneidau
leadership of Tim Johnson, an area resident who
works at The Alexander Group. The WDCF is a
501(c)(3) charity which has raised and distributed
tens of thousands of non-tax dollars to local charities.
These charities are reviewed and approved by the
WDCF Board and do not receive United Way
funding. WDCF funding recipients to date include
the Quillian Center, Girls Inc., Making it Better and
the Alief Independent School District’s COMET
Program.
The WDAB meets quarterly and includes
representatives of major employers, property owners,
community leaders and area ministers. Its chairman
is Jim Russ who leads the engineering firm of EHRA.
Board members critique our work, serve as an ideas
laboratory and were the inspiration behind our
well-received Welcome Kit.
These groups augment our work and provide new
avenues of leadership and fundraising. If you’d like
to support their work or become involved, we’d be
delighted to hear from you.
John Carey
Farmers Market Manager
Monica Garcia
Operations Assistant
Kathy Kaufman
Administrative Assistant
Chairman of the Dart Board
Rick Osgood sells traditional family games in Westchase
District
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Copyright © Westchase District. All Rights Reserved.
2
W
hether it’s a solitary challenge like a Rubik’s cube or
friendly social competitions like cards or chess, people
of all ages love to play games. Games also make great
gifts since they bring countless hours of leisurely fun and provide
balance in today’s hectic world.
As luck would have it, Westchase District is home to one of the
city’s best resources for traditional family games. Billed as “America’s
oldest Darts Pro Shop – Since 1974,” Rick’s Darts and Games is
located at Woodland Park Center.
In business for 41 years, 18 of them in Westchase District, owner
Rick Osgood features an impressive variety of family games as well as
some of the most comprehensive expertise around.
“At first I only sold kites and gliders,” Osgood said. “But then I
realized I needed something for customers to buy that didn’t depend
on good weather.”
Shopping at the Other Target Store:
Around since 1974, Rick Osgood,
owner of Rick’s Darts & Games,
knows how to zero in on the right gift.
The Twelve Days of Christmas – Farmers Market Style
The most fun place to shop in Westchase District
The English Christmas
carol “The Twelve Days of
Christmas” is a joyful telling of
a series of increasingly grand
gifts given on each of the twelve
days of Christmas. But if ten
Lords-a-Leaping or four Calling
Birds aren’t you’re thing, come
out to the Westchase District Farmers Market any
Thursday and you’ll find a selection of great gifts for
family and friends, plus most of the fixins’ for your
holiday celebrations.
featuring her soaps, lotions, body butter and lip balms
for $20 to $50. Or you could buy individual products
for stocking stuffers. You can pre-shop their products at
www.monicacharlesdesigns.com. But don’t buy online;
come meet them at the market and learn first-hand
about their unique and quality products.
No Lump of Coal: It’s no accident that Brenham
Kitchens’ dried fruits and nuts are packaged to
drop straight into a Christmas stocking.
blueberry.
Food for your holiday table
Our farmer vendors (Apollo Farms, PEAS Farm,
Atkinson Farms and Heirloom Organic Farms) can
provide you with all the produce you need for your
green bean casserole and sweet potato pies. Speaking
of pies, pick up a fruit pie from Julie Puig’s European
Bakery and save yourself the trouble of rolling out the
dough yourself.
So sing along: On the 12th day of Christmas, my
true love gave to me – a dozen tamales, eleven chocolate
croissants, ten Oreo Cookie cupcakes, nine cups of
coffee, eight jars of jam, seven pounds of shrimp, six
kinds of honey, five bars of soap, four pounds of green
beans, three dozen eggs, two Cattleya orchids, and a
handmade wood cutting board. Yes, you really can find
it ALL at the Westchase District Farmers Market.
Great gifts for foodies and friends
Gifts for Him: These hand-turned razors and
exotic wood pens are crafted by Brady Orand at his
Richmond wood shop.
Your first stop should be Monica Charles, a relatively
new market vendor selling handmade Texas cutting
boards, hand-crafted pens, and all-natural soaps,
lotions, balms and oils made by the husband and wife
team of Charles “Brady” and Monica Orand. Brady
makes the cutting boards and cheese trays using walnut,
cherry and maple woods, accented with purpleheart,
yellow heart and padauk woods. All are finished with
Brady’s special “board butter” made from bee’s wax and
mineral oil.
Brady also makes hand-turned razor handles using
local and exotic woods, plus hand-crafted pens, some
made with rifle cartridges. “Nothing says Texas like a
bullet pen,” says Brady.
Monica’s soaps are made with a variety of oils,
including olive oil, palm oil, castor oil, sweet almond
oil and coconut oil. She has pre-packaged gift sets
A few steps away, you’ll find the Texas Hill Country
Olive Company. Floyd Force is always happy to let
you taste his extra virgin olive oils, some infused
with jalapeno, lemon, or garlic. He also has Balsamic
Vinegars, from the traditional to those infused with
blackberry, blueberry, fig, mandarin, peach and many
more flavors. Special holiday gift packages are also
available.
A beautiful dried fruit and nut package from
Brenham Kitchens could be gifted to all of your
co-workers. Brian Smith from Brenham Kitchens says
October to December is his busiest season. In addition
to all the farmers markets they serve, they also work
many holiday shows. His dad makes all the product, so
they stay particularly business throughout the holiday
season.
Have a holiday party or open house to attend?
Any hostess would appreciate some of Anadil Bham’s
gourmet desserts. She’ll package tasty French macarons
in special gift boxes. She’s perfected this classic recipe,
baking macarons in a dozen flavors, including the
classic almond, chocolate ganache, pistachio and
To say that Osgood has widened his scope of merchandise is putting it mildly.
He now sells everything from a $6 Slinky to $400 handmade chess sets. Interested
in playing cards, dominoes, mah jongg, backgammon or dice games? He’s got you
covered. What about table tennis, checkers, chess, disc golf, billiards or jigsaw puzzles?
Rick’s your man
Master of Fine Darts
However, as the store’s name implies, Rick’s specializes in darts: everything from
soft-tipped to steel-pointed, from tournament-grade dartboards to self-scoring
electronic units. Plus dartboard cabinets and wall protectors to protect your game
room wall. And then there are the darts themselves.
“Darts have four components to them: the point, the barrel, the shaft and the
flight,” Osgood said. “While one can still have fun without proper technique, there are
certain throwing basics that will improve one’s game. We have dartboard here in the
store, so we can offer throwing tips while you try out darts sets”. “It’s like golf clubs
or tennis racquets; people have different preferences. Fortunately, we have hundreds of
various dart sets and accessories to satisfy them all.”
While a set of three darts can run from $15 and $250, basic darts lessons at Rick’s
are always free. “Because I’m so busy running the store, when I’m sharing tips and
tricks is about the only time I’m able to play darts myself,” Osgood said. “So I’m
always more than happy to help others improve their games.”
Pubs and Proximity
One of Osgood’s claims to local fame is being responsible for nearly singlehandedly expanding the number of public places offering dart games. “When I started
Gifts from Her: In addition to Julie Puig’s baked
goods, she makes a wide variety of jams, jellies and
sauces, which can be combined to make a custom
gift basket.
Westchase District Farmers Market
Year-round, rain or shine, Thursdays @ 3 p.m.
St. Cyril of Alexandria Catholic Church
10503 Westheimer Road
(at Rogerdale Road, one block west of Beltway 8)
www.westchasedistrictfarmersmarket.com
back in 1974, there were only three establishments in Houston where adults could
play darts. I spent many years promoting darts and darts leagues in local pubs.” he
said. Today, his website lists more than 200 pubs throughout greater Houston where
customers can play darts, including six locations in Westchase District alone.
“Since 1999, I’ve purchased my dart supplies from Rick, as well as all of my chess
and backgammon boards,” said Ciarian “Mr. C” Simon, owner of Westchase Tavern.
“Besides his great customer service, what makes Rick special is his encyclopedic
knowledge and expertise about every game in his store.”
Pub owners from across Houston and beyond visit Rick’s to replace and add to
their dart equipment, something Osgood said is made easy to do because of his store’s
location.
“Being in Westchase
District allows my
customers to reach me
easily from all over town,”
he said. “That’s one of the
main reasons I’ve stayed in
the area for so long.”
Rick’s Darts & Games
11396-B Westheimer Road
713-952-5900
ricksdartsandgames.com
Not Missing Anything: Like finding the right golf
or tennis equipment, dart enthusiasts want choices.
Rick aims to please.
3
Long-term Beautification Efforts Pay Off
Landscaping master plan helps District’s stretch of Beltway 8 flourish with flora
T
he next time you’re driving in either direction along the West Sam Houston
Parkway, exit at either Deerwood Drive heading south or Westpark Drive
heading north and take the feeder road for a mile or two. We don’t want you
to stop to smell the roses (that could lead to a motor vehicle collision), but glance out
your car window for a moment to notice the Knockout roses. You’ll also see the dwarf
oleanders, Indian hawthorn, Asian jasmine and crape myrtles.
“I challenge anyone to find more attractive greenspace along a major highway in the
city,” said Jim Murphy, Westchase District’s general manager. “For more than a decade
we’ve actively improved and maintained Houston’s best-looking publicly landscaped
areas, to the point where now our beautification efforts are an essential feature of the
Westchase District brand.”
Singular Supervision
While the scope of beautification projects has been varied, one factor has remained
constant – Irma Sanchez, Westchase District’s vice president of projects. During the past
decade, Sanchez has overseen the entire scope of the District’s beautification master plan.
“When I started out, I knew a fair amount about public landscaping,” she said. “I’m
amazed by how much more I’ve learned about what works, and what doesn’t in this
urban environment.”
Dig That Crazy Scene: Landscapers recently planted Louisiana irises along the
slopes between the W. Sam Houston Tollway and the feeder road.
Fizzled Sparklers and No-Go Grasses
“About 10 years ago, we planted lots of ‘sparkler’ carex, a decorative ground cover
with leaves that radiate out from its stems like a July Fourth sparkler,” Sanchez said.
“They never really thrived. We now plant dianella, which is much more drought
tolerant. We also learned the hard way not to plant Blue Daze flowers in our seasonal
beds.”
According to Sanchez, other ornamental grasses to avoid planting in the area include:
Gulf Coast muhly, miscanthus, porcupine grass and purple fountain grass.
Irma Sanchez, Westchase District’s vice president of projects
Landscaping Wisdom
Not everything planted by the District over the years has blossomed as expected.
Certain species which grow well west of Beltway 8 don’t fare as well on the east side.
During a 15-year process that’s been equal parts educated projections, unforeseen
obstacles and instructive trial and error, Sanchez has become pretty shrewd when it
comes to picking flora that will flourish in Westchase District.
Sound Decision: Trees adjacent to the tollway not only provide a green view to
motorists, but also deliver a slight sound barrier against vehicle noise.
Dry Beds Are the Answer to
Wear and Tear from Wetness
A “bed-time” story: a long time ago (well, only about 15 years), Westchase District would place
plants and mulch along Beltway 8 only to see them wash away with every hard shower. Rainwater
would gush from drainage outlets along the West Sam Houston Parkway down to the feeder
roads, often cluttering them with soil and vegetation.
“The Harris County Toll Road Authority designed the tollways to prevent flooding for
motorists,” said Jim Murphy, Westchase District’s general manager. “Unfortunately, good drainage
makes for erosion problems for the greenspace.”
The solution: dry creek beds to the rescue. “The boulders and river rock used in the beds
not only slow the flow of water to the area that normally floods, but they filter debris from the
water as well,” said Irma Sanchez, Westchase District’s vice president of projects. “We plant roses
and oleander further down the greenspace slopes so that the flowers are irrigated slowly by the
runoff and not flooded. The beds save us money on our water bill, plus it’s another creative visual
addition to our landscaping,” she added.
“Besides the practical aspect of improving landscape drainage, these features can also be quite
attractive,” said Dana Coté, landscape architect with the Texas Department of Transportation.
“Their meandering courses look more natural than straight barriers.”
Thanks to the dry creek beds, the tollway, the feeder roads and the greenspace in between lived
together happily ever after.
4
Mini-Murals
In upcoming months, dozens of the District’s
traffic signal control cabinets will receive unique
murals like the one pictured below, created by
artist Anat Ronen of UP Art Studio.
The Sweet Smell of Shrubbery Success: An attractive evergreen shrub for warm climates, oleander (planted
along Beltway 8) produces heavily scented colorful flowers all summer and fall.
Sanchez said that for splashes of color, the District
has enjoyed better success with blooming plants such as
Knockout roses, society garlic, and oleander. “I’m fond of
the species we don’t have to trim often,” she said.
More Control, Less Wasted Water
One example of improved performance with less
maintenance comes courtesy of the District’s new Rain
Bird® “smart” water controllers.
The wireless, centrally-controlled, weather-based
irrigation system requires less effort to manage and
prevents waste when it’s raining.
“By irrigating with the right amount of water at the
right time, we’re improving the care of our landscaping
at the same time we’re practicing water conservation and
saving money,” Sanchez said. “That makes everything
greener.”
Passed with Grounded Colors
The most recent Beltway 8 landscaping project
received its first test last May. After workers had just
applied the last layer of mulch to esplanades along
Briarpark Drive, Memorial Day rains eradicated
newly-planted Drift roses, foxtail ferns and flax lillies.
However, plant life along the greenbelt of Beltway 8 held
steady.
“I am so glad that Briar Forest was not landscaped
prior to the storm. Otherwise, the plant material
and mulch would have been on its merry way to the
gulf,” Sanchez said. “The good news was that our
newly-installed dry creek beds slowed runoff and
preserved our new dwarf oleanders, Indian hawthorn
and Knockout roses. The creek beds did exactly what we
designed them to do.”
The first installation is located at the
southwest corner of Richmond Avenue and
Rogerdale Road, one block west of Beltway 8.
It’s the District’s way of adding flashes of flair and
fun to the functional. Check out more examples
at minimurals.org.
The murals garnered front-page coverage
in the Houston Chronicle, which reported that,
“Houston has 2,400 traffic control boxes, plenty
of 8-foot-by-4-foot canvases to go around. Each
mural costs $2,500, $1,000 of which goes to the
artist.”
The District plans to install about 40 of the
mini-murals throughout the area over the next
several years, including about 10 in 2016.
For details on partnership opportunities and
how you can get a traffic signal control cabinet
painted in your area of the District, call Louis
Jullien, 713-780-9434.
From Pilots to Various Planes
Another major improvement led by Sanchez was
to correct erosion-related problems. “We’ve used a
combination of dry creek beds [see sidebar below] and
ground covering to slow the runoff,” she said. “We started
implementing those features in 2011 on our esplanades
as a pilot project to see how they would work. The
esplanades are much flatter planes than those along the
Beltway, but the problem is still the same. Once we saw
how well they worked and how well they were received
by the community, we started applying them to the
landscaped frontage areas of Beltway 8.”
Exclusive Video Content Online
Check out a video clip of Irma Sanchez giving
viewers a guided tour of the landscaping
features along Beltway 8.
To watch the video, visit:
westchasedistrict.com/video
5
Diego Morelli: “I Want to Put the Bad Guys in Jail”
Three Tours in Iraq and Two Days a Week on District Patrol Make for One Tough Officer
During a recent vehicle patrol of
Westchase District, HPD Officer
Diego Morelli spotted fellow
officers detaining a male and a
female behaving suspiciously in a
motel parking lot. A search of the
pair’s vehicle uncovered a stolen purse, stolen checks
and IDs, and a metal window punch spike. Further
investigation revealed they had a room at the motel.
Could others be part of this couple’s criminal racket?
With weapons drawn, Morelli and a colleague
entered the room to find it empty, but discovered
more stolen IDs. Adrenaline was flowing as officers
contacted the district attorney’s office for arrest
warrants. As he further questioned the suspects,
Morelli looked sufficiently imposing sporting his
black sunglasses, though he later denied wearing them
for effect. “Since I work nights, my eyes have grown
sensitive to daylight,” he said. “Of course, if you think
it creates a perception of authority, it doesn’t hurt.”
Hollywood to Haditha to Houston
Morelli has sided with the authorities most of
his life. As a teenager living in North Hollywood,
California, Morelli’s younger brother was robbed in
nearby Sylmar by gang members, an incident that had
a profound effect on the elder Morelli’s career choices.
“Since I was a kid, I had always wanted to be in law
enforcement. After my brother was robbed, I decided I
would do everything I could to stop such crimes from
happening to other people. I guess I’ve always wanted
to put the bad guys in jail.”
He served three tours in Iraq, in which he worked
as a mortarman and trained Iraqi police in Haditha
to patrol their city. Upon his honorable discharge,
he followed his Houston-born girlfriend to Texas,
got married and graduated from the police academy
in 2006. “Yeah, 2006 was a pretty big year for me,”
Morelli admitted. “Lots of big changes that have lasted
for a long time.”
Hot Spotter
Rarely off duty: Whether on patrol in western
Iraq or West Houston, HPD Officer Diego Morelli
remains on alert.
During high school, Morelli participated in the
LAPD’s police explorer program that acquaints youth
with a career in law enforcement. After graduation in
2001, Morelli joined the U.S. Marines for four years
as an infantryman, rising to the rank of Corporal.
Assigned to the South Gessner station for his
first year, Morelli transferred to the Houston Police
Department’s Gang Division Crime Reduction Unit,
where he’s been for nearly nine years. “I investigate
narcotics hot spots from north of I-10 to the southeast
side of Houston,” he said. “In those areas, there’s
plenty of opportunity for me to experience the job
satisfaction of arresting someone up to no good.”
Morelli has been with the Westchase District patrol
since 2014.
Because of its status as a relatively low-crime area,
Morelli said he faces the frustration of coming up
empty handed more often in Westchase District.
“It’s actually more challenging patrolling the District
than it is in my main job since there’s not as much
activity,” he said. “But I still know how to patrol the
hot spots.”
Manage your Mozzarella at Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizzas
At Woodlake Square, Pizzas will be round, not long...and ready in about four minutes
The word “Blaze” has five letters, as
do the words “pizza” and “happy.”
Food & Coincidence? We think not. Bharat
Renu Aggarwal, owners of the
Drink and
new Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza, agree.
Blaze, located in the Woodlake
Square Shopping Center at 9650
Westheimer, features an open kitchen concept – think
Subway, Chipotle or Salata.
Customers go through the line building their
own thin-crust pizzas for a flat (no pun intended)
rate of $7.65 each, regardless of how few or how
many toppings are added. Then, as their mouths
water, patrons can watch their pizzas being cooked
in an open-flame oven, which are ready to eat in
three to four minutes. Premade grab-and-go salads
complement the pizzas and no visit is complete
without trying a unique and decadent s’more pie.
“All of our dough is made in-house and all of our
ingredients are non-GMO,” said Keshuv Aggarwal,
vice president of KK Brands, the company that owns
the Westchase location. “We think it’s gourmet food
at a value price.”
20 years of experience with fresh and
fast
d fa
ast ffare
aree ma
ar
made
de
the choice to expand business into D
DIY
pizza
IY
Yp
piz
izza
za p
pie
ie a
no-brainer.
“The great thing about Blaze is that
at
customers have the flexibility of playing
ng
it safe with familiar traditional recipes
or trying something more daring
all within the same pizza,” he said.
“Because the pizzas are 11 inches, it’s
not as intimidating to experiment
with toppings as it might be with a
larger pizza.”
The Boom of the End Cap
Keshuv said he didn’t feel like there wa
w s
was
much experimenting when it came timee ttoo
decide where to open up shop – Westchase
District
haase D
Dis
istr
tric
ictt
was an easy choice.
“We like the area and we love the location at
Woodlake Square,” he said. “The corner end cap is
always a strong position for a store and with neighbors
like Corner Bakery and Ragin’ Cajun, we felt like we
had other quality restaurants anchoring our presence.”
With quality ingredients, a snappy business
model and affordable prices, Blaze Pizza seems well
positioned to catch fire in Westchase District.
The Popularity of Personalization
The Aggarwals are quite familiar with the
“build-your-own” concept: they own 55 Subway
franchises throughout Houston, including the
Westchase District store at 3710 South Gessner
Road. The Blaze Pizza location in Westchase District
is their second of that franchise and the only Blaze
Pizza currently in Houston. Keshuv said his family’s
6
Thumbs Up: Keshuv Aggarwal delivers his verdict
on his family’s new Blaze Pizza store.
Blaze Pizza
9650 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77063
713-780-0800 blazepizza.com
Practical Solutions in District for Adults with Autism
Nonprofit technology company nonPareil Institute offers training, community for crew
O
n the surface, Jacob looks like any other
“techie” in his t-shirt and jeans, sporting a
scruffy beard and designer glasses. Ask him
how he’s doing, however, and the 26-year-old author
and illustrator’s autism becomes apparent. He sighs
deeply, avoids eye contact and takes five minutes
before he utters “fine.”
Such social deficits belie his vast talents and
while Jacob would have difficulty functioning for a
traditional employer, he has found meaningful work,
friends and hope for his future through a unique
Plano-based technology company with new offices in
Westchase District.
Online Apps and Art
Since 2009, nonPareil Institute (pronounced
NON-puh-RELL, from the French meaning “without
equal”) has provided technical training to adults on
the autism spectrum. The nonprofit’s focus is on
3D modeling, software development, art design,
voiceovers and sound effects.
Families do pay tuition, however, the institute
is not a school and there are no tests or grades. The
continuous training program includes one-on-one
instruction as well as group classes and voluntary
social activities.
“Many services exist to provide early intervention
and treatment for children on the autism spectrum,
but what happens when these kids grow up?” asked
Gary Moore, co-founder and president. “Though
many autistic adults have incredible intelligence and
gifts, even high-functioning ones often drop out of
school and are unable to hold down traditional jobs.
My partner Dan Selec and I decided to become an
employer that ‘gets’ autism.”
So far, nonPareil has more than a half-dozen free
games rated “A” for all ages available in the Apple
and Android app stores. Titles include: Sorban; TapIt;
Card Track; Space Ape; Dot & Boxes; and its new
Friendly and For Sale: Friendly Al: New Friends
and Old Memories is a book written and digitally
drawn by a crew member at nonPareil Institute.
It can be found online at iBooks.
“freemium” app, Fast & Furriest. Several ebooks for
children also are available for purchase, including two
by Jacob in his Friendly Al series, communicating the
value of friendship and accepting others.
A Business Model, a Living Model
While the institute brings high tech products to
market, for Moore and Selec, the nonprofit is more
a mission of love than one of technology. Both are
fathers of autistic sons and they share the concerns of
parents of kids on the autism spectrum regarding their
children’s futures.
Moore keeps a large box of tissue on his conference
room table which are regularly used by emotional and
worried parents he meets with who are concerned
about their kids’ futures as the parents grow old and
are unable to care for their children. Tim, Jacob’s
father, said that while Jacob graduated from high
school and even earned a two-year technical degree in
welding, positioning Jacob to be successful as an adult
has been a struggle.
“Through most of his schooling we couldn’t get
Jacob to write a word, but through his experience
with nonPareil he’s opened up and expressed himself
through graphics and gaming,” he said. “We’re still
searching for the right place for him in the world, but
nonPareil certainly gives us hope.”
Moore and Selec envision a campus living model
that would include residential facilities offering a
lifetime of support for those who choose to be a
working part of the community.
“Often autistic adults become lonely, isolated and
depressed,” Moore said. “Creating residential facilities
where there’s structured interaction and appropriate
levels of care can help to supply that sense of purpose
that autistic individuals, and really all of us, need.”
To serve the needs of thousands of adults with
autism, nonPareil is working to open multiple
branches across the country. The institute’s Westchase
District location, the first one outside of Plano,
opened earlier this year and enrollment has already
doubled. Eventually, the Houston campus could
accommodate up to 125 crew members. Currently,
Moore is looking to fill a variety of positions and is
always welcoming interested volunteers.
nonPareil Institute
10675 Richmond Avenue, Suite 120
972-900-9476 www.npitx.org
Neighborhood News
T
he Westchase District Community Fund has
been busy lately, disbursing $11,200 in checks
to Westchase-area nonprofits including:
• Girls, Inc.
• Literacy Advance
• Making It Better
• West Houston Assistance Ministries
• Westside Homeless Partnership
“We’re excited to grant real dollars to these worthy
organizations,” said Tim Johnson, the community fund’s
board chair. “We feel we’re investing in the future, and
the people, in and around Westchase District.”
Tim Johnson, WDCF chair; Susan Bolling,
Westside Homeless Partnership executive director;
and the WDCF’s Blair Johnson and Dave Gilkeson.
C
ongratulations to HPD Lieutenant Paul
George, Officer Brandon Baker and Officer
Jose Demeterio, who received honors as
Westchase District Patrol Officers of the Month for
July, August and September, respectively.
Westchase District Public Safety Director Mark
Hubenak recognizes officers during quarterly Public
Safety Alliance meetings for their outstanding work
while on patrol.
“Each of these patrol members has made
significant contributions in apprehending suspects
and representing our commitment to public safety,”
Hubenak said. “All of them have earned our respect
and deserve recognition.”
Also, C&J Energy Services, a leading provider of
well services to the oil and gas industry and a major
employer in the District, accepted the District’s Public
Safety Partner Award.
Hubenak commended C&J for its commitment to
public safety for its employees and customers alike.
I
f you have not tasted the Sri Lankan cuisine at
Yaal Tiffins, then you’re missing out on what the
Houston Chronicle says is one of the 100 best
restaurants in the Houston area.
The restaurant, which is named after the
take-away lunch boxes sold on weekdays, is located
in the Lakeside Village Shopping Center at 10928
Westheimer. For more information, visit yaaltiffins.
Sri Lankan Special: From top left: iddiyappam
noodles; sothi vegetable stew; rice pudding; sambol;
curried goat; and tandoori chicken. Yaal Tiffins
also caters to vegetarians as well.
7
(Continued from page 1)
“We didn’t get here by ourselves,” said Jim Murphy,
Westchase District general manager. “We’ve had
tremendous assistance from the community over the
years and we feel it’s important for us to give credit where
credit is due: to those who have helped us to bring higher
value to property owners.”
Westchase District’s 20 for 20
As part of the day’s celebration, 20 area businesses
were recognized for their enduring contributions to the
area.
“Some are property owners. Some are major
employers. All are leaders and influencers,” said
Sherry Fox, Westchase District’s vice president of
communications. “They are as much a part of the District
as our safety officers, traffic planners and landscapers.”
Here are some highlights of the companies and
individuals recognized:
First Methodist Houston
In 1999, First Methodist chose 27 acres in Westchase
District as the location for a satellite to its downtown
campus, a new home to the Quillian Recreation Center
and the establishment of Wesley Academy, a private
Christian school. The Quillian Center is home to the
Westchase District Corporate Challenge. The church
has partnered with the District to host Wonderland in
Westchase, one of the city’s best free Christmastime
festivals that regularly draws more than 6,000 neighbors.
Houston Community College
After reshaping former Chevron offices in 2009, the
Westchase District campus now offers a unique early
college high school program and an engineering program
awarding four-year degrees for less than $20,000.
In 2016, the campus will become home to the West
Houston Institute, a one-of-a-kind campus emphasizing
innovation and collaboration. Its influx of quality
students and educators represents significant advances
in higher education within Westchase District (pictured
below, right, Butch Herod, vice chancellor, Houston
Community College).
(pictured above: Greg Cardwell, Real Estate Services
manager, Phillips 66).
Richfield Real Estate Corporation
Richfield burst onto the West Houston real estate
scene when it acquired and repositioned the Carillon
Shopping Center in 1988.
Diversifying into offices with West8 Tower, and into
multifamily with Portico at West8 apartments, Richfield
holds a 100 acre-parcel just south of Westheimer – one of
the hottest properties in Houston.
With a strong portfolio and desirable land, Richfield
is positioned to be a long-term real estate force within
Westchase District (pictured below left, Pamela Culver,
Senior Real Estate Manager, Richfield Real Estate
Corporation).
Burnett Specialists
Officing in the District a full decade before its
formation, Sue Burnett has been a pioneer and a mentor
for women in business. Serving on the Westchase
Business council and later on the Westchase District’s
board of directors, Burnett was instrumental in the
District’s formation. As a founder and president of her
own company, she has grown Burnett Specialists into
Texas’ largest employee-owned staffing service and
placement firm.
EHRA Engineering
An industry leader in the field of low impact design,
EHRA has served such communities as Camillia
Development, Kolbe Farm, Queenston Manor, Spring
Woods Village and Towne Lake. The firm marks its 79th
anniversary this year.
Since 1987 EHRA has demonstrated a high level of
community involvement in Westchase District. Jim Russ,
Regional Principal and Executive Vice President (pictued
below, right) also serves as Chairman of the Westchase
District Advisory Board.
Houston Marriott Westchase
Built in 1980 as the Adam’s Mark Hotel, the hotel
boasted the best place to party in the 1980s and 90s at
Quincy’s and West Houston’s best champagne brunch.
Converting to the Houston Marriott Westchase in
2004, it continues to be one of the largest convention
hotels in Houston.
As management continually upgrades the property to
meet the needs of out-of-town visitors, “The Marriott”
remains relevant and vibrant...even without Quincy’s.
Houston West Chamber of Commerce
Encouraging economic development, community
betterment and networking, the chamber’s focus aligns
closely with the District’s.
Since 1975, other chambers of commerce – notably
Spring Branch and The Galleria – have combined with
the Houston West Chamber giving it immense reach
across the area.
Since Jeannie Bollinger became president and CEO
13 years ago, chamber membership has increased by 178
percent.
Phillips 66
Still a relative newcomer to the District, the
diversified, multinational, Fortune 5 energy company’s
move to the District in 2012 created a “boomlet” among
clients eager to be near them.
With construction of its 1.2 million square-foot world
headquarters in Westchase District nearing completion,
Phillips 66’s presence undoubtedly will continue to create
a positive ripple effect throughout the local economy
8
Weingarten Realty
The Houston-based real estate investment trust is
Houston’s largest commercial real estate property owner,
representing more than 47 million square feet of real
estate.
Currently, Weingarten is repositioning and relocating
Whole Foods Market from its location on Wilcrest across
the street to the Westchase Shopping Center, doubling
the store’s size to 45,000 square feet, opening in 2016.
Exclusive Bonus Content Online
Read profiles of all of our honorees, including
our two public sector partners. Plus, browse our
gallery of pictures from the lunch.
To see more, visit:
westchasedistrict.com/20for20