Shelby About Town

High speed partying takes over Houston: At the race track, at Calypso and inprivate places

Dr. Syed Imitaz Anwar, from left, Taseer Badar andKraig Killough at the ZTWealth day at the race track.
Photo by Augustine Nguyen
The Lamborghini makes the rounds at the MSR Houston track.
Photo by Augustine Nguyen
Eloise Frischkorn, from left, Schuyler Evans, Meg Mcguire and Robert Buckwalterat Calypso St. Barth.
Photo by Jessica Crute
Michael Macedo Meazell, left, and James Bell at Canvases & Cocktails at CalypsoSt. Barth.
Photo by Jessica Crute
Elizabeth Sax, left, and Lilian Rendon at Canvases & Cocktails.
Photo by Jessica Crute
Hot wheels were on display at the ZT Wealth track event.
Photo by Augustine Nguyen
The Lamborghini makes the rounds at MSR Houston.
Photo by Augustine Nguyen
The Ariel Atom on the track.
Photo by Augustine Nguyen

While most Houstonians were out finishing up their holiday shopping over the weekend, a handful were zooming at break-neck speed around the race track at MSR Houston in Angleton, thanks to ZT Wealth/Altus Healthcare Management Services.

For the second year, the physician-friendly corporation invited friends out for a day of perusing hot wheels and spinning around the track at speeds over 150 mph in cars owned by member doctors and firm principles.

Race cars belonging to Beckert Racing, owned by Altus plastic surgeon Dr. Benjamin Beckert of Beaumont, zoomed the course along with an Ariel Atom, Ford GT 1100, Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Porsches and ZT Wealth owner Taseer Badar’s Mercedes SLS AMG (the Gullwing).

Professional drivers provided instruction and offered ultimate joy rides on the track. For those in the crowd of 150 guests uninterested in the high-speed experience, they could check out the cars when not in motion, view the track action from the grandstands and pick up sustenance from the Fusion Taco Truck. The event was sponsored by Alex Rodriguez Mercedes-Benz, which provided a number sleek new wheels for inspecting.

Joining the party were Altus intern and former Houston Texan Chester Pitts, Dr. Syed Imtiaz Anwar, Dr. Soroush Esfandiari, Farrukh Seyar, Kraig W. Killough, Sourabh Sanduja, Cruize Gaj, Chris White, Reyne Hirsch and Bellaire City Councilman Corbett Daniel Parker.

It's been a big season for ZT Wealth, which just held its "Toast To Living Well" gala, headlined by Joanne King Herring, and celebrated the grand opening of the renovated West Houston health center.

A passion for fashion and art

That would be the folks who turned out for the Canvases & Cocktails event at the new Calypso St. Barth boutique in Highland Village where Eloise Frischkorn organized the evening featuring an exhibition of paintings by Michael Macedo Meazell. The added beauty of the party was that the clothing, accessories and home decor items were 20 percent off and a percentage of sales went to Yellowstone Academy.

Sipping prosecco (as well as non-alcoholic beverages) and sampling cake balls were James Bell, Lilian Rendon, Elizabeth Sax, Robert Buckwalter, Meg Mcguire, Schuyler Evans and gallery owner Deborah Colton. Meazell regularly shows at Colton & Farb Gallery.

Sight 'ems

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst among the impressive group of gents attending the Coronado Club's annual wild game luncheon. Among those feasting on whole roasted suckling pig, leg of lamb, smoked pheasant enchiladas and more were Keith Mosing, Vidal Martinez, Jesse Marion, J.P. Bryan, Byron Hood, Ashley Smith, Bill Price, Michael Jusbasche and Bobby Wheless . . .

State Rep. Sarah Davis the center of attention in the River Oaks home of Kay and Ned Holmes, where political supporters included featured guest House Speaker Joe Straus. In the mix were Daphne Scarbrough, Herb Butrum, Jennifer Naedler, Karen and Byron Hood, Phil Aronoff, Mike Garver and the representative's husband, Kent Adams.

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Public memorials and services set for 'Houston's anchorman' Dave Ward

Photo courtesy of Dave Ward

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ABC13 anchor emeritus Dave Ward died on December 13 at age 86.

Members of the public are invited to pay their respects to the longtime newsman at visitations and funeral services this week. Plans include:

Wednesday, Dec. 17: Ward will lie in repose from 11 am-6 pm at the Crimestoppers of Houston Dave Ward Building, 3001 Main St., Houston, TX 77002.
Thursday, Dec. 18: Public visitation open to all at George H. Lewis & Sons Funeral Directors at 1010 Bering Dr., Houston, TX 77057 from 11 am-2 pm and 4-8 pm
Friday, Dec. 19: Funeral service open to the public at 12 pm at St. Martin's Episcopal Church at 717 Sage Rd., Houston, TX 77056.

ABC13 will carry the funeral live on television and streaming platforms.

For more than 50 years, Dave was Houston's anchorman. He began each newscast with his signature line, "Good evening, friends." That's how the legendary newsman felt about the viewers who shared his love for the city he was so proud to call his home.

His name was David Henry Ward, but he was known to thousands of Eyewitness News viewers simply as "Dave." Born in Dallas in 1939, Dave grew up in Huntsville and began his radio career with KGKB Radio in Tyler while attending college. Three years later, he joined the staff of WACO Radio as a staff announcer and quickly climbed to Program Director the following year.

Dave moved to Houston in 1962, where he worked for KNUZ Radio as a News Reporter and News Director for four years. He made the move to Channel 13 in 1966 as the station's only on-the-street news reporter and photographer, coming "inside" in early 1967 to anchor Channel 13's weekday 7 am. newscast.

Later that year, he became the first host of the wildly popular "Dialing for Dollars" program, which later evolved into "Good Morning Houston." Houston viewers flocked to see him and hear him, and by January 1968, Dave became the anchor of Eyewitness News at 6 and 10 pm.

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Read more about Dave Ward’s life and legacy, with video, on CultureMap's news partner, ABC13.com.

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