The Texan Newspaper (Bellaire and Houston, Tex.), Vol. 38, No. 25, Ed. 1 Wednesday, June 27, 1990 Page: 1 of 8
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1
Texan Newspaper -
Community News
For Over 36 Years
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Letters P. 2
Bellaire Connection P. 4
Memories P. 4
Senior Chronicle P.5
Calendar P.6
Serving The Southwest Houston Area Since I9S4
Volume 38, Numb»f25 «June27, 1990 » P.O. Box 999 « Bcllalf, T»»o» 77402-0999 • (713) 771-7061 * 7320 Ashcrott, #201 • Houston, Texas 77081
Stretch, Splash; Bend, Splash
"Exercise Guru" Keeps 'Em Moving
By Ann Allender
It’s 6:30 in the morning and the parking
lot is jammed. Swing music blasts out of
a boom box and the Bellaire pool is filled
with adults of all ages bopping and exer-
cising to Elaine Wood’s water exercise
class.
“I can’t teach without music,” laughs
Elaine, Bellaire’s exercise guru. ‘‘It
makes it fun. Especially when you get to
Swing.”
Elaine began the water exercise pro-
gram in 1980 with 15 students.' "We used
to hold it at Noon, but we learned fast we
didn’t want it at that time because of the
sun,” she says.
Over the past 10 years, her 15 followers
have grown to nearly 200. And she’s
expanded her program to include the
Jewish Community Center as well as
Bellaire.
“People over the past few years have
begun realizing the benefits of low stress
aerobics,” smiles Wood. “The buoyancy helps people with
arthritis, strokes and injuries."
And for those taking the class simply for vanity, Elaine shoots
before and after photographs. "We see a lot of results in the legs,"
she says.
The class includes jogging, aerobic dancing and calisthenics, all
done in the water with participants wearing tennis shoes to protect
the feet and for extra resistance.
Randy Mullins, 47, was one of the first to join Elaine’s water
exercise program. Then a few years ago, Randy was in a car
accident and broke her back and both her arms. "I couldn’t drive,
because I couldn’t sit for any period of lime,” she says of her re-
covery.
"But Elaine insisted that 1 try the water
class again. I saw so much improvement in
my arm strength and flexibility that I con-
tinued the program,” she says.
Before her accident Randy ran daily and
was an assistant aerobics teacher. “The
water exercise allows me to do the aero-
bics that I haven’t been able to do,” she
adds.
And the program isn’t limited to
women. “I’ve been taking the water exer-
cise class now for three years," says Max
Koushel, who describes himself as a
young 78-year-old.
"I had a triple by-pass five years ago. I
ride my bike to class. Go to the water
exercise class and then sneak in a little
swim before I leave," he laughs.
"The class is fabulous. It isn’t too
strenuous,” says Max, who’s lived in Bel-
laire for 30 years.
Iris Bullard, 70, began the class this
summer and had to leave town to help her children. “I really
missed it,” she says. She’s busy making up missed classes as well
as attending her regular class.
"I had a stroke last September and the class helps me im-
mensely,” says Iris who began the class this summer. "When I
come out of the water I’m exhausted. I’m just thrilled this is
available to me."
Betsey Booth, 74, began the water exercise program five years
ago because of her arthritis. Since starting the class, she’s had sur-
gery to remove arthritic nodes on her back and has had hip replace-
ment surgery.
“I recovered over the winter and then went right back to the
Continued on page 4
HCAD Repudiates Their Commitment to West University
The Mayor and City Council of West University Place are out-
raged by the June 20 vote of the Harris County Appraisal District
which directly repudiates a commitment by the District to hold
protest hearings in West University Place instead of at the Ap-
praisal District.
Many of those wishing to protest are elderly and find it difficult
to get to the District Headquarters.
The City Council, in conjunction with a large number of citizens
led by Beth Ann Bryan of the West University Party, had negoti-
ated a compromise that provided a reduction of approximately 28
percent of the property appraisals in West University and estab-
lished that the protest hearings would be held at the St. George
Orthodox Church, which has often volunteered their facilities for
civic use.
Despite the rollback, the 1,500 protests estimated by Harris
County Appraisal District had expanded to 2,200 by the first of
June.
In a special workshop session Mon., the West University City
Council discussed a plan to monitor regularly the manner in which
Harris County Appraisal District appraises residential property in
West University.
Mayor Laura Higley and the city’s Finance Director, Donna
Sims, met with the upcoming Chief Appraiser, Jim Robinson and
staff members Tuesday, at their request, to establish a method to
accommodate the large number of protests in the City of West
University Place.
Robinson and the staff assured the City that the majority of the
protests would be held in West University and that if any problems
arose, the Mayor would be notified before the meeting. The City
was never notified of any problem.
The mayor and members of City Council, Buddy Bell, Jim
Jenkins, Janet Rcdcker and Bill Watson, are amazed by the bad
faith and duplicity of the Harris County Appraisal District. The
willingness of a public entity to honor a bargain which was agreed
to by former Chief Appraiser Kenneth Graeber and reported in the
press will be a deep disappointment to the citizens of West U. and
other communities in the district. It appears to be an overt effort
to stifle legitimate public protest.
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
West U. Has Parades &
Prizes the Fourth of July
Join the City of West U. for its Fourth of July Festivities. All the
fun begins with a bike parade at 9 a.m. Participants should line up
at 8:45 a.m. in front of West U Elementary School. The parade
finishes at Colonial Park, 4130 Byron, where prizes will be given
to the best decorated bikes. Following will be a sand dune dig for
children 3 and up. Free swimming at Colonial park 10 a.m. - 7:30
p.m. For information on any of these events call 662-5847 or 662-
5844.
Galleria Area Has New
Breakfast Chapter of ABWA
Sally Andrews, an attorney with Devlin, Naylor and Walker will
be the guest speaker at the June 28 meeting of a new Galleria area
breakfast chapter of the American Business Women’s Associa-
tion. “Misunderstandings and Misconceptions about Wills and
Probate” will be the topic of Andrews’ presentation. The meeting
will be from 6:45-8 a.m. at the Marriott West Loop by the Galleria,
1750 West Loop South. For reservations or information call Gail
Grigar, 968-3594.
Clayton Williams Speaks
At Houston Partnership
Clayton Williams, Republican candidate for Texas governor, will
be the speaker at a luncheon hosted by the Greater Houston Part-
nership. The luncheon will be held June 27th at the Hyatt Regency,
1200 Louisiana from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30p.m.Call Richard Velafor
information at 658-2456.
Christian Singles Network
At West U. Church of Christ
A seminar sponsored by the Christian Singles Network will be held
on Saturday, June 30 from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the West
University Church of Christ, featuring guest speakers Todd Gentry
and Randy Thomas. Preregistration: $5; at the door, $7. Lunch is
included. For information call 666-3535.
Bellaire Budget Workshop
Scheduled for July 9th, 7 p.m.
The FY 91 Budget for the City of Bellaire is currently in the
preparation process. Consideration and review of the budget will
begin the latter part of June. A Budget Workshop is scheduled for
Monday, July 9 at City Hall Conference Room beginning at 7 p.m.
Interested residents are encouraged to attend.
"Honey I Shrunk the Kids"
At West U. Community Bldg.
The summer movie, Friday, June 29 at West U. Community Bldg.,
6104 Auden is "Honey I Shrunk the Kids”, beginning at 12 noon,
cost $1 per person. Children 5 and under must be accompanied by
someone 12 years or older. Children should bring a sack lunch and
something to sit on. Information: 662-5847.
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The Texan Newspaper (Bellaire and Houston, Tex.), Vol. 38, No. 25, Ed. 1 Wednesday, June 27, 1990, newspaper, June 27, 1990; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth641739/m1/1/: accessed July 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Bellaire Friends Library & Historical Society.