< Previous30 COASTMONTHLY.COM | FebruArY 2023 FEATURE ‘IT’S IN MY DNA’ Islander celebrates Mardi Gras year-round while honoring sister story by JOSÉ MENDIOLA photos by JENNIFER REYNOLDS F or many locals, Mardi Gras is a time of revelry, enjoyment and excess. But for islander Laura Pen- nino, it’s also about remembering her roots and family. Pennino, who was born in New Orleans and lived there for much of her life, in November 2020 moved to Galveston, where she now lives in a historic house built in 1903. Moving from New Orleans to Galveston might seem like quite the change, but the island reminds Pennino of the The Big Easy, she said. “I love it here,” Pennino said. “This has truly become my new home. Everyone who comes and visits says it’s like New Orleans.” Mardi Gras isn’t just something Pennino celebrates each year for a couple of weeks — she celebrates it all year every day, she said. She even decorated her Christmas tree with Mardi Gras-themed ornaments. And the tree might not come down until the end of Mardi Gras, she said. “I celebrate all the time basically,” Penni- no said. “When you’re from New Orleans, celebrating Mardi Gras is in your blood. It’s in my DNA. You know you’re from New Orleans when you think Mardi Gras is a national holiday.” Pennino has been collecting Mardi Gras posters since the 1980s and her collection steadily has grown. Even her dogs, Romeo and Casey, are known to wear some Mardi Gras festive beads from time to time. A room in her home that’s decorat- ed with Mardi Gras masquerade masks, COASTMONTHLY.COM | FebruArY 2023 31 Laura Pennino, who moved to Galveston from New Orleans two years ago, celebrates Mardi Gras year- round. Her living room and kitchen feature a collection of New Orleans Mardi Gras posters and masks.32 COASTMONTHLY.COM | FebruArY 2023 FEATURE beads and posters is dedicated to her eldest sister, Joan, who died in February last year. “Joan was kind and beautiful and she loved Mardi Gras,” Pennino said. “When she had passed, I knew I was going to commemorate her life through this room. I was in New Orle- ans when I heard the news.” Pennino also has joined Tutu Live Krewe, which has a mission to em- brace Mardi Gras culture and promote community awareness. “I may have lost one sister, but I’ve gained 80 more,” Pennino said. “Ev- ery step I take is dedicated to Joan. My house has the spirit of love and happiness.” (Clockwise from top left) Laura Pennino’s dogs Romeo, left, and Casey, both rescue Shelties, show their Mardi Gras spirit in beads and hats; Mardi Gras-inspired stencils by New Orleans musician and artist Cyril Neville, hang in the living room; Mardi Gras masks hang above the range in the kitchen; the first Mardi Gras poster in Pennino’s collection is artist Andrea Mistretta’s “Mercredi Des Cendre.”Images, descriptions, and information provided are representational and conceptual based upon preliminary development plans, for illustrative purposes, may not be shown to scale, may contain non-standard optional features, and are subject to change. The Developer reserves the right to make modifications and changes to the project in whole or part including amenities and features and to the information contained herein without notice. Please refer to the Condominium Information Statement and the proposed condominium documents included with same for further information and disclosures. @TIARAONTHEBEACH/TIARAONTHEBEACH SALES GALLERY OPEN DAILY 4918 Seawall Blvd. Ste C · Galveston TX, 77551 Fill your day with more. Ownership at Tiara will offer you the finest in beachfront condominium living with an abundance of five-star resort-inspired amenities that include Pickleball, Climate Controlled Wine Lockers, a Pet Wash, and Private Beach Access with chair and umbrella valet. With so many choices, what will you do first? One, Two & Three Bedroom Condominiums from $1M | TiaraOnTheBeach.com · Call 409.974.4537Red Curry Salmon SPECIAL EVENT VENUE EATcetera offers an elegant space for up to 32 seated guests for private events. This is the perfect island spot for your private dinner, party or event. The restaurant and sidewalk café are totally private and reserved just for your celebration. Call 409-762-0803 or 409-939-9403 Join us for LUNCH EATcetera is a Local Family Eatery serving a variety of salads, sandwiches, paninis, burgers, and desserts. Dine inside or enjoy the dog-friendly sidewalk cafe under our signature red umbrellas. At EATcetera we like to say, Everyone Eats Together. A multitide of vegan and gluten-free offerings available. Dessert too! Call 409-762-0803 See us on DoorDash.com Open Monday-Saturday, 11 am - 4 pm Art Walk Evenings, 6 - 9 pm 408 25th StreetJimmy Rasmussen Prepares for Retirement . . . . . . Allan Rasmussen Named HomeTown Bank President and CEO Jimmy Rasmussen Allan Rasmussen As my fat her, Jimmy Rasmussen, settles into retirement after serving over 30 years as President and CEO of HomeTown Bank, it is hard to look towards the future without acknowledging his brilliant career as a community banker in the Great State of Texas. Throughout his career and certainly throughout my lifetime, Jimmy has worn many hats. He’s been a coach, a sports fan, an outdoorsman, a boss, a civic leader, a community leader, and an industry leader. He has served as the Chairman of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas, a Class C Director on the Dallas Federal Reserve Board, and he is enshrined in the Texas Community Bankers Hall of Fame. He has reached the pinnacle of his profession with integrity, and has thoroughly and genuinely enjoyed every minute of it. Although the hats are plentiful, my two favorites are “Dad” and “Poppy.” He is my hero, and he should rest easy and welcome retirement w ith reflection on great accomplishment. Looking towards 2023, I am both honored and humbled to serve as President and CEO of HomeTown Bank. This institution has been my “home” for almost 23 years and the people who work here are my “family.” We strive to serve every customer and member of our communities and, with your support, a bright future lies ahead! Sincerely, Allan Rasmussen A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN: I have great confidence in Allan Rasmussen. I have watched Allan grow into his new role as President and CEO since his arrival in 1999, and in those years, have been impressed by his leadership ability and by his genuine commitment to our communities. M.J. Gaido, Jr., Chairman Board of Directors Galveston • Friendswood • League City • Alvin • Pearland36 COASTMONTHLY.COM | FebruArY 2023 Denise Parsons’ home on Tiki Island includes a two-story pool house and four-story guest house connected decks and boardwalks. PHOTO: CO ur T e SY MYL e S ST r AN e PHOTOG r APHY COASTMONTHLY.COM | FebruArY 2023 37 HOMEPORT COZY COMPOUND Architect helps design a stunning Tiki Island home and guest house story by BARBARA CANETTI I nitially, Denise Parsons and her family wanted a little getaway from living and working in Houston. But over the past two decades, she has gotten far more than she originally wished for, she said. Parsons’ home on Tiki Island overlooks an area where five canals come together and form “Tiki Lake,” she said. The views from her extensive docks, which are a special place to gather and entertain, are special. With the help of island architect David Mullican, Parsons and her late husband, Rocky, designed their three-bedroom home and completed its con- struction in 2005. She even included a small studio for herself in the house to work on quilts, which now hang on virtually every wall. Now retired, she spends most of her time on the island. “My husband made sure everything was well thought out,” she said. “We did a lot of the work ourselves. We always needed a project. We had many here.” Hurricane Ike in 2008 destroyed the house next to theirs. Eventually, the Parsons and their other neighbor bought the property in between them and split it. The Parsons’ portion came with a pool, which needed some serious repairs. And to go with the pool, they had Mullican design for them a two-story pool house with an outdoor kitchen and accommodations for sleeping, if needed. “It’s my compound. But outside, there is always a nice breeze and great views from any of the decks or docks.” DENISE PARSONS38 COASTMONTHLY.COM | FebruArY 2023 HOMEPORT But Denise always had wanted a large dining room, which wasn’t part of her original home. So, back to the drawing board in 2016, when Mullican designed for them a four-story guest house with a large dining area, a kitchen, two bed- rooms and a fourth-floor green- house for Rocky to experiment with his plants. The natural light from the windows and skylights in this room is fabulous. When Rocky passed away, Denise repurposed it into a workspace where she and her quilting friends gather and gab. She put large tables in the room to lay out the quilts as they worked on them. It still has the spigots for water, flat drains and river rock flooring, but Parsons quilts better than she gardens, so the room is being well used, she said. From the street view, the house is made of separate but matching structures. But from the back, the structures are connected by boardwalks, patios, decks and walkways. And, on the water, she has two floating docks for fishing and keeping her boat. It’s easy to get from one building to another. “It’s my compound,” she said. “But outside, there is always a nice breeze and great views from any of the decks or docks.” The main house is where she spends most of her time. Each of the interior walls is decorated with samples of PHOTOS: J e NNIF er re YNOLDS “I definitely get my steps in every day just making the rounds here.” DENISE PARSONS COASTMONTHLY.COM | FebruArY 2023 39 (Opposite, clockwise from left) Denise Parsons sits in the living room of her Tiki Island home she and her late husband, Rocky, built in 2005. They later added a pool house and four-story guest house; Parsons is an avid quilter. The walls are decorated with samples of her quilting art in a variety of styles. (Above, clockwise from top) The living room has views of “Tiki Lake,” where five canals come together; the kitchen features birch cabinets, room for a small table and bar seating at the counter between the kitchen and living room; a low table against the window in the living room was made by Parsons’ husband from a sweet gum tree he’d cut down many years earlier. PHOTO: J e NNIF er re YNOLDS PHOTO: CO ur T e SY MYL e S ST r AN e PHOTOG r APHY PHOTO: CO ur T e SY MYL e S ST r AN e PHOTOG r APHYNext >