September 2014 - Fort Bend Focus Magazine - People • Places • Happenings

COOKING WITH WINE

$2.95

SEPTEMBER 2014

Let'sRODEO!

+ HOME IS WHERETHE HEART IS

Mitchell& Duff:

LEGAL EAGLES

Small Firm, Big Results

CHI St. Luke’s Health–Sugar Land Hospital is the first in Houston to offer the da Vinci® Xi Surgical System—the latest minimally-invasive robotic surgery technology. This is one of the ways we provide an unwavering commitment to innovation and compassionate care. Learn more at stlukessugarland.com

For Houston it’s a first. For you, it’s simply amazing.

Sugar Land Hospital1317 Lake Pointe ParkwaySugar Land, TX 77478281-637-7000stlukessugarland.com

fort bend magazine • September 2014 1

1730 Williams Trace Blvd., Ste. K, Sugar Land, TX 77478 • 281-494-7777

Why Compounding Corner Pharmacy, Inc.® is the for compounded medications:

ACCREDITED: Compounding Corner Pharmacy is the ONLY PCAB-accredited compounding pharmacy in Fort Bend County.

ACCREDITED: BBB-Accredited business.

ENDORSED: by the American Medical Association.

ENDORSED: by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

ENDORSED: by United States Pharmacopeia (USP).

EXPERIENCE: Our staff is ACPE-accredited in primary basic training in compounding techniques in compliance with USP <795>.

EXPERIENCE: Our pharmacists are ACPE-accredited in Risk Level I,II and III aseptic compounding in compliance with USP <797>.

EXPERIENCE: Technicians undergo weekly competency assessments for: geometric dilution powder mixing, capsule weight variation, troche weight variation and observational audits for capsule, troche and topical cream compounding techniques.

EXPERIENCE: All of our staff are highly trained, ACPE-certified and state registered compounding experts, each with years of experience. This is not a teaching pharmacy. There are NO students making your prescriptions... Ever.

QUALITY ASSURANCE: Certificates of analysis are maintained for all ingredients. All active ingredients are verified by bar code scan.

QUALITY ASSURANCE: Digital scales are directly linked to lab computers, which verify and record the weights as well as calculate percent error.

QUALITY ASSURANCE: Samples are sent regularly to Eagle Analytical for microbial, endotoxin and potency product testing.

DISCOUNTS: 10% off active and ex-military, first responders and senior citizens.

BULK DISCOUNTS: 20% off 90 units of capsules, mL’s of cream, troches, etc. and 35% off 180 units (Discounts not combinable).

59 Southwest Frwy

Hwy 6

Lexington Blvd.

Will

iam

s Tr

ace

Blvd

.

Dulle

s Av

e.

CompoundingCorner

Pharmacy, Inc.

Gold Standard

Compounding Corner Pharmacy, Inc.®

SINCE 2004

Phot

o by

Nes

ossi

Stu

dios

Shannon Maguadog, Pharm.D.

http://www.compoundingcornerpharmacy.com/

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend .com • September 2014 2

New Home Owner? Our in Home Designer can assist you with Furniture Placement, Floor Planning, Color Schemes and more! Purchase any one of Hunter Douglas Products totaling $2500 or more to qualify. Offer ends October 15, 2014.

Michael-james Russo

Interior Design Consultant& Window Coverings

Specialist

281-403-6733 Ext. 305

832-544-2675

[email protected]

J & L Distributors

707 Avenue EStafford TX

M-F: 9:00 - 6:00Sat. 10:00 - 4:00Sunday Closed

Evenings available

by appointment only

281-403-6733

jlblinds.com

Ask about

FREEMeasuring and Installation

Ask about our FREE in home design consultation service.

Here’s one place where we don’t discount quality and service. Getting value means more than low price. It means quality, service, and confidence knowing your satisfaction’s guaranteed. Find it all at our Hunter Douglas Gallery®, stop in and see us today!

We also have additional offerings to help you with your design needs including: Custom Draperies, Bedding, Accessories & More!

Out With The Old...It’s Time For YourWindows To Have ANew Look!

Houston’s Leading Health and Vitality Expert

“Dr. Shel”Shelena C. Lalji, M.D.

Get Well with Dr. Shel!!

Save up to 20% on:

Valid through September 30, 2014.Must bring ad to receive discounts. Cannot be combined with other offers.

Irritability / Mood SwingsWeight Gain / Hair LossInsomnia / Low EnergyWrinkles / Loose SkinLow Libido / Low Testosterone

Ne

soss

i Stu

dio

s

Call TODAY to feel like YOURSELF again!

281-313-7435www.drshel.com

www.twitter.com/drshel www.facebook.com/drshel

Do you have...

Your #1 Resource for Inner Wellness and Outer Rejuvenation

• Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement• hCG & Medical Weight Loss• Coolsculpting / Cellulite Reduction• Ultherapy / Lasers / IPL• Botox / Fillers / PRP…and much more!

093147.01_BRABRA_AbsolutelyKaty_FP_MECH ROUND #: MECH Trim: 8.375” x 10.875” Bleed: 8.875” x 11.375” Live: 7.25” x 9.75” Color Space: CMYK Fonts: Helvetica Publication Name: TM: PM AS: CA AD: BL/BA PA: BA Date: 08/01/14 Loaded Date:

IT TAKES A TEXAN

here are lots of unexplored tastes in the world of wine. Braman Wines will navigate

you to the best, paired to occasion as much as to meal. Th is will be the Braman Legacy.

Learn more at BramanBrands.com.

T

Please drink responsibly.

3333 FM 359Tuesday - Thursday: 2 - 9 pm

Friday - Saturday: Noon - 10 pm

RICHMONDHWY 90A

1429 East 4th StreetThursday - Saturday: 2 - 8 pm

HALLETTSVILLE

Stop by our two tasting rooms and enjoy great Braman wine, our gift boutique and book private parties.

BUT DON’T TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT.

www.houston-lasik.com

093147.01_BRABRA_AbsolutelyKaty_FP_MECH ROUND #: MECH Trim: 8.375” x 10.875” Bleed: 8.875” x 11.375” Live: 7.25” x 9.75” Color Space: CMYK Fonts: Helvetica Publication Name: TM: PM AS: CA AD: BL/BA PA: BA Date: 08/01/14 Loaded Date:

IT TAKES A TEXAN

here are lots of unexplored tastes in the world of wine. Braman Wines will navigate

you to the best, paired to occasion as much as to meal. Th is will be the Braman Legacy.

Learn more at BramanBrands.com.

T

Please drink responsibly.

3333 FM 359Tuesday - Thursday: 2 - 9 pm

Friday - Saturday: Noon - 10 pm

RICHMONDHWY 90A

1429 East 4th StreetThursday - Saturday: 2 - 8 pm

HALLETTSVILLE

Stop by our two tasting rooms and enjoy great Braman wine, our gift boutique and book private parties.

BUT DON’T TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT.


C O V E R F E A T U R E

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

MITCHELL & DUFF: A SMALL FIRM DELIVERING BIG RESULTS With nearly five decades of combined vast legal experience, Amy Mitchell and Elizabeth Duff-Drozd are founders and partners of one of the largest female-owned firms in Fort Bend. Mitchell and Duff’s dedication to experience, knowledge, teamwork and community are at the core of their outstanding legal practice.

14

Jennifer Chiang, Amy Mitchell, Elizabeth Duff-Drozdand Stacey Severovich.

Photography by Nesossi Studios.

F E AT U R E S

22 THE 78th ANNUAL FORT BEND COUNTY FAIR AND RODEO:TRAILS OF YESTERDAY LEADINGTO TOMORROW’S DREAMS With numerous events, rides,food and entertainment, the iconichometown fair promises big time fun.

35 LEGAL EAGLES Meet Fort Bend’s Finest Attorneys

47 HOME IS WHERE THE HEART ISThese resources will help you turnyour house into your dream home.

C O L U M N S

18 FOCUS ON FINANCEStorm Flags Flying – Revisited

30 FOCUS ON HEALTHSocialized Health Care: Are You Ready?

40 THE 10 INCARNATIONS MAGNIFICENTLY PERFORMEDIN DASHAVATARFort Bend’s Rathna Kumar brings authentic Indian culture to the Wortham Theatre.

44 HIGH SCHOOL HOT SHOTMeet Eucharist Kun

74 THE MAKING OF FORT BENDStafford: More Than Just a Dot on a Map

80 LIVING THE SWEET LIFEFinding Home


CONTRIBUTORS

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 | V O L U M E 1 0 | N U M B E R 1 1

ON THE COVER:Elizabeth Duff-Drozd and Amy Mitchell.Photography by Nesossi Studios.

44

Joan FrancesContributor Page 44

46

Christopher HillContributor Page 46

73

Stephenie Coxabsolutely! focus mediaPage 73

80

Alisa MurrayAlisa Murray Photography Page 80

40

Zeenat Kassam MithaCultural Correspondent Page 40

Will HardeeHardee Investment Group Page 18

18

76

Amy GrossVineSleuth/Wine4.Me Page 76

Jonathan FaussetContributor Page 74

74

Dr. Peter OsborneTown Center WellnessPage 30

30

42

Donovan GreerContributorPage 42

64

Merilee KernKidsMakingHealthyChoices.comPage 64

N E W S W O RT H Y

23 FBFN FOUNDATION’S2014 FUNDRAISERFeatures Local MediaCelebrity and Noted Educator

31 2014 FORT BENDCHAMBER CHALLENGE

32 ALL ABOARD!For the RosenbergRailroad Museum Gala

33 BITES & BREWS: A Night Under the Stars

38 RUN FOR AUTISM

63 FORT BEND SENIORS Announces 40th Anniversary Groovy Party With The Beatles Theme

SNOWDROP FOUNDATION3rd Annual Run Over Cancer 5K and 10K

65 ONCE UPON A TIME4TH ANNUAL GALAFOR HOPE ENDOWMENT Presented by HoustonMethodist Sugar Land Hospital

N E W T O T H E N E I G H B O R H O O D

28 FORT BEND WELCOMESTHE KENSINGTON SCHOOL

34 DANCE WORKS STUDIO OPENS IN MISSOURI CITY

a b s o l u t e l y !H E A LT H Y L I V I N G

42 GRANDPARENTSAND FITNESS

64 HEALTHY SCHOOL LUNCH AND SNACK SOLUTIONS

FA M I LY N I G H TAT T H E M O V I E S

46 CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER

X-MEN: DAYS OFFUTURE PAST

GODZILLA

a b s o l u t e l y !A U T O R E V I E W

62 2015 LINCOLN MKC

M E D I C A L & B U S I N E S S

70 MEDICAL FOCUS

72 DAVID CROWLGraduates from Institute for Organization Management

ROBERT CULAKNamed Treasurer Of NationalCASA Board of Directors

absolute ly!DELICIOUS

73 A SMOOTHIE A DAY

75 MASTER YOURBACKYARD BARBECUE

76 VINE SLEUTHWhat Wines ShouldYou Use for Cooking?

I N E V E RY I S S U E

10 PUBLISHER’S POINT OF VIEW

24 SEEN ON THE SCENE

66 OUT & ABOUT INTHE HEART OF THE BEND

77 AMATEUR PHOTO CONTEST

78 COMMUNITYCALENDAR OF EVENTS

Steve KursarAuto Enthusiast Page 62

62

Tim Cashion, DDS Teresa Cody, DDS

Call us now!281-206-4482

17003 SW Freeway, Suite 100, Sugar Land, TX 77479Formerly Cashion & Cody Family Dentistry and Orthodontics

2

3

4

5

1

7

8

9

6

10

Ask �ese 10 Questions To Make Sure Your Dentist Stacks Up

www.candcdental.com www.candcortho.com

[email protected]

A $25.00 flat fee foran x-ray & consultation

A $74.00 valueLow cost way

to find out what’s wrong(Does not include cleaning)


Back to School Blow-Out!

BeautyBecomesYou.comBack to the Grind?Fall has finally fallen – at least on the

calendar – and I for one, couldn’t be more grateful. Yes, we all love the lazy, hazy days of summer, but I confess that by the first of August, I’m ready to fall back into a somewhat normal – if not more hectic – routine.

In my experience, I have found that there’s nothing routine about the chal-lenges attorneys face in their profession, and in this issue, we look at some of the finest legal firms in Fort Bend. On our cover is the largest female-owned firm in Fort Bend, and the two partners at the helm of Mitchell and Duff are not only proven professionals, they are immersed in our community with their passion for service. Amy Mitchell and Elizabeth Duff-Drozd of Mitchell and Duff are one small firm delivering big results for their cli-ents. Read about their incredible work on page 14.

One routine event my family and I look forward to each fall is the Fort Bend County Fair. This year marks the 78th anniversary of the Fair, and this legendary community event has it all: events, rides, live entertainment, shopping, a wine room and bar-be-que. This year, the Fair awarded 47 scholarships to Fort Bend youth from the proceeds of last year’s event. That’s something to be proud of! I’ll certainly be stopping by the Fair this year. Look for me – and complimentary cop-ies of our West Fort Bend magazine absolutely! Brazos – in the Grapes on the Brazos Wine Room in Building W. I hope to see you there!

Esteemed First Lady Jackie Kennedy said, “The only routine with me is no rou-tine at all.” While I may crave some semblance of a routine, the First Lady’s words accurately describe my reality. My real routine – with two high schoolers and four monthly magazines to produce – is frankly, no routine at all. Oh well, keeps things interesting.

Stay focused!

[email protected]

4655 TECHNIPLEX DR. STE 700STAFFORD, TX 77477

281-690-4242

WWW.FORTBENDFOCUS.C0M

Fort Bend FocusTM Magazine is published by absolutely! focus media, 4655 Techniplex Dr., Ste. 700, Stafford, TX 77477. Copy-right © 2014 by absolutely! focus media. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. Fort Bend FocusTM Magazine does not knowingly accept false or mis-leading advertising or editorial, nor do the publishers assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. Fort Bend FocusTM Magazine welcomes editorial submissions from its readers.

Vol. 10 No. 11September 2014

EXCLAMATION POINTS!THE INSIDE SCOOP STRAIGHT FROM THE TOP

Subscription requests are free to all Fort Bend addresses. Annual paid subscription

of $25 required outside the Fort Bend area.

P U B L I S H E RE DI TOR- I N - C H I E FPatti Parish-Kaminski

A S S O C IAT E P U B L I S H E RJessica Kij

M A NAG I N G E D I T O RSarah Bearden

AC C OU N T E X E C U T I V E SStephenie Cox

Susan DannhausJennifer Elliott

Kay GarrettJuliet Hubbell

Andrea RigamontiSuzanne Stiles

Bonnie Bell Woodrow

A RT DI R E C TORGrace Belleza

G R A P H IC DE SIG N E RGinger Garza

W E B DE SIG N E R Joey Belleza

P H O T O G R A P H E RNesossi Studios

O F F I C E A D M I N I S T R AT O RAdrienne Boring

C O N T R I BU T O R SStephenie Cox

Jonathan FaussetJoan Frances

Donovan GreerAmy GrossWill Hardee

Christopher HillMerilee Kern

Zeenat Kassam MithaAlisa Murray

Dr. Peter Osborne

I N Q U I R I E S281-690-4242

E D I T O R IA L SU B M I S S I O N [email protected]

Publishedby

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, PATTI PARISH-KAMINSKI

READER FEEDBACK

www.FortBendFocus.comFacebook.com/FortBendFocus

Ticket giveaways to area attractions and events.

My two high schoolers on the first day of school: Kolton, a freshman and Kassidi, a senior.

The “10 Key Milestones to Ensure that Your Child is Kindergarten Ready” on page 20 of the August issue was great. I love your magazine; it captures the entire demographic of Fort Bend.

John Williams

Dear Patti,I returned from a month long vacation to learn of

your new acquisition of the magazines and wanted to congratulate you! All of your hard work paid off. Keep up the great work!

Dee Koch

I teared up about the story of Mary Moore Sullivan and what Dr. Cress did for her. Her loss is never able to be replaced, but she can have joy again in the small things. She said it best: she has to be a parent to three more kids. From someone else who suffers from bad teeth, this is a beautiful story of compassion. Being able to smile in confidence even after a tragedy is huge! Way to go Fort Bend community! You all made this beautiful mom fight back her grief and keep going. I love my hometown! Keep up the great work.

Melissa Mosier-Prihoda

Eric Humble, M.D.Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

281•313•055516926 Southwest Freeway

Sugar Land, TX 77479

Back to School Blow-Out!

10% OFF Fillers

20% OFF All SkincareProducts

30% OFF UltheraFull Face & Full Neck

40% OFF CoolSculptingSome restrictions apply (Offer expires September 30, 2014)

Voted Top Doc 3 years in a rowBeautyBecomesYou.com

Like us onFacebook

Ph

otog

raph

y by

Nes

ossi

Stu

dios

.

BeautyBecomesYou.com

ONLY 4HOMES LEFT!

MODEL HOMES

NOW OPEN!

MODEL HOMES

NOW OPEN!

JOINT PAIN

Contact a

Memorial Hermann

Joint Center. And start

living pain free.

Staying active is key to staying healthy.

That’s why Joint Center specialists use

the most advanced treatments to get you

moving again. From new prescription

options, to minimally invasive surgical

interventions, our affiliated body of

experts is ready to help you find the best

path to the life you want to live.

Call 713.272.1888 or visit

jointpain.memorialhermann.org

for more information

or to make an appointment.

TAKE THE FIRST STEP

IN ELIMINATING

Amy Mitchell and Elizabeth Duff-Drozd.

The founders and partners of Mitchell & Duff, Amy Mitch-ell and Elizabeth Duff-Drozd, have combined nearly five de-cades of vast legal experience. Their philosophy of service is simple for an industry known for its complexity: experience, knowledge, teamwork and community. “With our broad-based knowledge of the legal field, we can assist people in Fort Bend County, whether their needs are business or per-sonal,” said Mitchell. Duff-Drozd concurs. “From defending clients in the courtroom to adopting a child, probating a loved one’s will, or creating a business, our firm can meet any civil legal needs for our clients.”

Vast Experience and KnowledgeThe partners created one of the first female-owned law

firms in Fort Bend in 2009 with offices at 210 Main Street in Richmond just blocks away from the historic Fort Bend County courthouse. Mitchell is an experienced civil litiga-tor with over 60 successful trials under belt. Named a “Top Rated Lawyer” in Texas Legal Leaders by the Texas Law-yer, National Law Journal and American Lawyer, Mitchell has nearly 30 years’ experience in personal injury, civil and commercial litigation, consumer debt litigation and complex litigation including class actions and multi-party death cas-es and appeals. She has represented a number of Fortune

COVER STORY

Photos by Nesossi Studios

Mitchell & Duff:A Small Firm Delivering Big Results

S ay the words Mitchell & Duff in Fort Bend County, and immedi-ately, people recognize the two

powerhouse women behind the firm: Amy Mitchell and Elizabeth Duff-Drozd. The two women, who are at the helm of one of the largest female-owned firms in Fort Bend, are synonymous with two things: stellar legal representation and service to community.


“As long as you have a good team,you don’t need a big firm to deliver big results.”

– Amy Mitchell

lege of Law, where she graduated cum laude. Severovich joined Mitchell & Duff in 2013, and she practices in all areas of general civil law, civil litiga-tion, and family law. She has been a qualified mediator since August of 2012 and has been published in the 500 corporations and has handled over

2,000 litigated cases from inception to conclusion. A graduate of Case West-ern Reserve, Mitchell is licensed to practice in all Texas state courts, the Federal Courts of the Southern Dis-trict, Northern, Western and Eastern District of Texas.

Duff-Drozd also excels in the court-room with her over 20 years’ experi-ence in family law including divorce, guardianship, probate, wills and trusts, adoption, parent rights and ter-mination. She is regularly appointed by Fort Bend County judges to act as both Attorney ad Litem and Guardian ad Litem in probate, guardianship and child protection cases and is trained in Family and Civil Law mediation. A large portion of Duff-Drozd’s clientele also includes representing individuals in business and transactional issues including contracts, corporate docu-ments, real estate transactions, col-lections, business issues and human resources. A graduate of South Texas College of Law, she is licensed in all Texas state courts and the United States District and Bankruptcy Courts in the Southern District of Texas.

Dedicated TeamworkFrom the beginning, Duff-Drozd

knew that forming a partnership with Mitchell was a win-win. “I have always been part of a productive, successful firm,” said Duff-Drozd. “But together, as a team, I knew that Amy and I could make an even greater difference in the lives of our clients.” And make a differ-ence, they have.

Judges and their peers have recog-nized Mitchell & Duff as one of the fin-est with an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Ratings. While they have had multiple successes in their tenure together, in 2013, the firm won a jury trial verdict in excess of one million dollars. This was a big victory for their client, a local businessman

who was originally sued by his busi-ness partners. The duo credit their success to teamwork. “Teamwork and dedication are the keys for a complex and lengthy litigation like this case,” said Mitchell. “As long as you have a good team, you don’t need a big firm to deliver big results.”

A boutique law firm, the team at Mitchell & Duff has recently grown to include two Associate Attorneys. Jen-nifer Chiang, a Sugar Land native, holds an M.B.A. from the University of St. Thomas and a J.D. from the Uni-versity of Houston. She joined the firm in 2012 and has a wide civil practice that includes commercial litigation, business transactions, real estate, oil and gas, probate, family law, veteran's disability and children's protective ser-vices. Chiang is licensed to practice in all state courts in Texas, as well as the United States District and Bankrupt-cy Courts in the Southern District of Texas. She is a Member of the Real Es-tate, Probate and Trust Section of the State Bar of Texas and a Member of the

College of the State Bar of Texas, an honor society of lawyers committed to increasing the professionalism of law-yers in Texas. Since 2010, Chiang has also been a Licensed Real Estate Sales-person in the State of Texas.

Stacey Severovich, a lifelong resi-dent of Fort Bend, holds an M.B.A. from the University of Houston-Victo-ria and a J.D. from South Texas Col-

South Texas Law Review. Severovich is licensed to practice in all state courts in Texas, as well as the United States District and Bankruptcy Courts in the Southern District of Texas.

Commitmentto Community

The two partners of Mitchell and Duff have lived in Fort Bend County collectively for over 60 years, and they are not only proud to call it home, they are staunch community servants. In fact, their dedication to the law is matched by their dedication to commu-nity.

Mitchell is currently serving her second term on Sugar Land City Coun-cil and has volunteered her time and talents with several non-profit organi-zations including the Exchange Club of Sugar Land (president 2009-2010), Aga Kahn Foundation (emcee at nu-merous events), Richmond Exchange Club (co-founder), Central Fort Bend Chamber Alliance (Board Member), Literacy Council of Fort Bend (Chair of Wine and Music for Literacy) and Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels (Chair of Groovy Party). She served for six years on the 5A Grievance Committee of the State Bar of Texas, two of which she served as the Committee Chair.

“Serving others is part of what we

Stacey Severovich.

Jennifer Chiang.

Phot

o by

Lar

ry P

ulle

n.

Phot

o by

Lar

ry P

ulle

n.


• Collections• Compliance and

Litigation Avoidance• Commercial Transactions• Corporate and Business

Formation• General Business

Representation• Insurance Law• Mergers and Acquisitions• Real Estate and Construction

Areas of Practice

Fort Bend County’s premier female-owned law firm, Mitchell & Duff,practices law in four major civil litigation categories including:

• Foreclosures and Options• Evictions• Pursuit of Deficiency

Judgments• Litigation Involving Title

Issues and Mortgage Fraud• Transactions: Real Estate

Sales, Residential andCommercial Lease Work and Consulting Services

Real Estate:

• Adoptions• Estate Planning• Family Law• Probate• Wills and Trusts

Personal Service Representation:

Corporate:

The firm also provides arbitra-tion and mediation services. For more information or to schedule a confidential consultation with the attorneys of Mitchell & Duff, visit www.MitchellandDuff.com or call 281-341-1718.

• Appellate and SupremeCourt Practice

• Banking Litigation• Class Actions and Collections• Commercial Litigation

and Arbitration• Construction and Consumer

Debt Litigation• Consumer Financial

Services Litigation• Dram Shop• Guardianship• Insurance Coverage• Litigation involving FCRA,

FDCPA, RESPA, TILA and other regulatory violations

• Personal Injury• Probate• Products Liability• Oil and Gas Related Disputes• Real Estate Litigation• Wrongful Death

Litigation:

Jennifer Chiang, Amy Mitchell, Elizabeth Duff-Drozd and Stacey Severovich.

do – both in our profession and in our personal lives,” said Mitchell. “Being able to serve our community has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my career.”

Duff-Drozd has served as a board member of the Fort Bend County Fair for over 10 years and is a former presi-dent of the organization. She serves on the Lamar Education Awards Founda-tion (L.E.A.F.) board and has been an active member of Richmond Rotary for over a decade where she has held nu-merous leadership positions including President. Duff-Drozd has held leader-ship positions in several additional or-ganizations including the Central Fort Bend Chamber Alliance, the American Red Cross and Rotary International. She served for six years on the District and 5A Grievance Committee of the State Bar of Texas, and she has been an active member of First Baptist Church of Richmond for over 40 years.

“I truly believe in being good stew-ards of our community,” said Duff-Drozd who has lived in Richmond since 1974. “By investing our time and resources in our community, we are investing in our future.”

Mitchell & Duff’s philosophy of team-work also carries over into the commu-nity service efforts or their two newest attorneys. Chiang is a board member of the Sugar Land Cultural Arts Founda-tion, Secretary of the Fort Bend Young Lawyer’s Association and recently served as the only female commissioner on the City of Sugar Land Charter Com-mission. A lifelong resident of Sugar Land, she is a graduate of Sugar Land 101 and is active in Fort Bend politics.

Severovich serves on the South Tex-as Law Review Advisory Board and is a member of the Fort Bend Bar Associa-tion and the Fort Bend Young Lawyers Association. Severovich is active in the Central Fort Bend Chamber Richmond Business Department and is participat-ing in the Central Fort Bend Chamber Leadership Class of 2015.

For more information about Mitchell & Duff and their dedication to experi-ence, knowledge, teamwork and com-munity, visit www.MitchellandDuff.com or call 281-341-1718 for a confiden-tial consultation.




Presented by the Hardee Investment Group and RBC Wealth Management

Storm Flags Flying – Revisited

FOCU$ on FINANCE

Here on the Gulf Coast, hurricane season is in full swing. It’s not something we look forward to. We’d rather be planning our summer vacation to the

beach or a Caribbean island. But it’s what you do to prepare.Investing is much of the same. An old adage on Wall

Street is “Sell in May and Go Away.” This saying came about decades ago as traders in New York City would sell their po-sitions in anticipation of spending the summer in the cooler environs of The Hamptons. This was well before electronic trading and cell phones.

However, there is a great deal of truth that still guides hu-man nature today. There are documented seasonal tenden-cies such as the best six months and the worst six months of the year. According to the Stock Trader’s Almanac, May through October has historically been the worst six-month period of each year. If you had invested $10,000 in the Dow Jones Industrial Average on May 1st and sold October 31st of every year since 1950, you would have lost money over the past 64 years. The above example is not an investment rec-ommendation. However, a wise investor, just like a wise va-cationer, plans for a hurricane this time of year, even as they go about their everyday business.

2013 produced double-digit returns for the year. The only hiccup was in May and June when the S&P 500 declined ap-proximately 7% on fears of rising interest rates. Even in good markets there can be turbulent times.

Don’t despair, just prepare. The average American can-not afford to retire on just their savings. They must invest to accumulate wealth. Our goal is to help you prepare for your future even as the “storm flags are flying.”

If you’d like to learn more about the “good” period of in-vesting, how we help manage “hurricane season” or strate-gies designed to accumulate and maintain wealth, contact us at www.hardeeinvestmentgroup.com.

The views presented herein are solely those of H.H. “Will” Hardee, and do not necessarily represent the views of RBC Wealth Management. Current status of issues discussed in this letter is subject to change based upon market conditions and indus-try fundamentals. Clients should work with their Financial Advisor to develop invest-ment strategies tailored to their own financial circumstances. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The name Hardee Investment Group refers to a group of Financial Advisor working in the Houston, Texas office of RBC Wealth Management. The Hardee Investment Group is not a separate legal or corporate entity. All services offered and all memberships referenced in the presentation refer to the services offered or registrations held through RBC Wealth Management. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets LLC, Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC.

RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets LLC, Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC.

© 2012 RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC.

Hardee Investment Group(713) 853-0879 • (800) 838-0757www.hardeeinvestmentgroup.com

Hardee Investment Group

Peace of MindAre you experiencing mental numbness regarding your finances during these challenging times? We can help implement financial strategies for managing and building long-lasting wealth. Let us do the work. Since 1977, we have been providing families and businesses guidance that is always In The Client’s Best Interest.

12-HC-401_Ad Peace.indd 1 9/12/12 10:46 AM


Peter Chang, M.D.Board Certified

in Plastic Surgery

Ankur Mehta, M.D.

• Free Consultations

• Concierge Care

• Surgical Excellence

• Beautiful & Natural Results

• Accredited Surgical Facility281-242-TIME (8463)

TimelessPlasticSurgery.com

Center of Excellence for Cosmetic Surgery

P L A S T I C S U R G E R Y

David H. KorfinDPM, FACFAS

Bunion Pain?You No Longer Need To Suffer

My staff and I offer apersonalized treatment plan, using

state-of-the-art medical and surgical techniques, provided in a warm, car-

ing, compassionate environment.

“ “

• Outpatient Surgery Using Local Anesthesia• Minimal Disability - Good Pain Management• Able to Walk in a Surgical Shoe the Same Day• State-of-the-art Medical & Surgical Technology• Dissolvable Pins and Fixation Techniques

• Bunion Correction• Laser Wart Surgery• Endoscopic Heel Surgery• Diabetic Wound Care• Ingrown Toenails• Sports Injuries• Hammer Toe Repair• Adult & Children’s

1327 Lake Pointe Pkwy, Ste 510 • Sugar Land, Texas 77478Located in the Professional Building attached to St. Luke’s Sugar Land Hospital

www.drdavidkorfin.com

• Diplomate, American Board of Podiatric Surgery• Board Certified Foot & Ankle Surgery• Certified Wound Care Specialist• Serving Fort Bend for over 25 years• Fellow, American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons• Past President & Current Member of the Harris County

Podiatric Medical Society.• Member of the Texas Podiatric Medical Association• Member of the American Podiatric Medical Association• Preferred Provider for most Private Insurance Plans

281-313-FEET (3338)Call today and take the first step to walking in comfort!

Board Certified Foot & Ankle Surgeon Podiatrist - Foot Specialist


All leaders in their specialties.

Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine1201 Brooks Street, Sugar Land, TX 77478281.690.4678

Methodist Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine Specialists16659 SW Frwy., Suite 421, Sugar Land, TX 77479 281.325.0005

Dr. Suneesh Nair

4780 Sweetwater Blvd., Suite 150, Sugar Land, TX 77479 281.242.2444

Dr. Bhadresh Shah

Houston Methodist Rheumatology Associates16659 SW Frwy., Suite 235, Sugar Land, TX 77479*By Physician Referral Only

Dr. Angela McCain

Houston Methodist Department of Surgery16605 SW Frwy., Suite 450, Sugar Land, TX 77479 281.275.0860

Dr. Timothy OppermannDr. Ashish SahariaDr. Michael Yaakovian

Houston Methodist Cardiovascular Surgery Associates – Vein Clinic16605 SW Frwy., Suite 505, Sugar Land, TX 77479 281.240.8400

Dr. Ulises Baltazar

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s

Physician Group of top specialists provides

you with all the leading-edge technology,

innovative treatments and world-class

care you have come to know and trust from

Houston Methodist.

Methodist Diagnostic Cardiology of Houston16651 SW Frwy., Suite 400, Sugar Land, TX 77479 713.776.9500 | 281.275.0330

Dr. B. Keith EllisDr. Ronald MahoneyDr. Earl Mangin Jr.

Dr. John PassmoreDr. Kesavan Shan

Methodist Sugar Land Cardiology Associates3527 Town Center Blvd. S., Sugar Land, TX 77479 281.491.6808

Dr. Toussaint Smith

Methodist Family Medicine Group16605 SW Frwy., Suite 400, Sugar Land, TX 77479 281.275.0800

Dr. Ana CortegueraDr. Jennifer DiamondDr. Yana FinkelshteynDr. Julie Hung

Dr. Seva PapageorgeDr. Tayma ShayaDr. Mona ShethDr. Melida Tellez

Houston Methodist Gynecologic Oncology Associates16605 SW Frwy., Suite 450, Sugar Land, TX 77479 281.275.0880

Dr. Tarrik Zaid

Methodist Sugar Land Neurology Associates16659 SW Frwy., Suite 131, Sugar Land, TX 77479 281.494.6387

Dr. Carisa LiewDr. Eddie Patton Jr.

Dr. Larry TranDr. Toby Yaltho

Houston Methodist Oncology Partners16659 SW Frwy., Suite 151, Sugar Land, TX 77479 281.276.5200

Dr. Jorge Darcourt

Dr. David BraunreiterSports Medicine

Dr. Dean Dominy, IIIHand & Upper Extremity

Dr. Carl HicksJoint Replacement

Dr. Jeffrey KozakSports Medicine

Dr. Mark MaffetKnee & Shoulder

Dr. Eddie MatsuJoint Replacement

Dr. Anthony MuffolettoSpine Surgery

Dr. Vincent PhanHand & Upper Extremity

Dr. Kenneth RenneySports Medicine

Dr. Timothy SitterKnee & Shoulder

Dr. Ray ValdezFoot & Ankle

Dr. Mark VannFoot & Ankle

Dr. Jeffrey WoodSpine Surgery

Houston Methodist Primary Care Group3424 FM 1092, Suite 220, Missouri City, TX 77459 281.208.3322

Dr. Deepshikha Sharda

5819 Hwy. 6, Suite 370, Missouri City, TX 77459 281. 276.0653

Dr. Adelola Ashaye

For a detailed list of services and physician bios, visit methodistsugarlanddocs.com.If you don’t see the specialty you’re looking for, please call 281.274.7500 for a physician referral.

All here for you.

Dr. Sherman Tang

Dr. Jessen Rajan

Dr. Priya Oolut


All leaders in their specialties.

Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine1201 Brooks Street, Sugar Land, TX 77478281.690.4678

Methodist Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine Specialists16659 SW Frwy., Suite 421, Sugar Land, TX 77479 281.325.0005

Dr. Suneesh Nair

4780 Sweetwater Blvd., Suite 150, Sugar Land, TX 77479 281.242.2444

Dr. Bhadresh Shah

Houston Methodist Rheumatology Associates16659 SW Frwy., Suite 235, Sugar Land, TX 77479*By Physician Referral Only

Dr. Angela McCain

Houston Methodist Department of Surgery16605 SW Frwy., Suite 450, Sugar Land, TX 77479 281.275.0860

Dr. Timothy OppermannDr. Ashish SahariaDr. Michael Yaakovian

Houston Methodist Cardiovascular Surgery Associates – Vein Clinic16605 SW Frwy., Suite 505, Sugar Land, TX 77479 281.240.8400

Dr. Ulises Baltazar

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s

Physician Group of top specialists provides

you with all the leading-edge technology,

innovative treatments and world-class

care you have come to know and trust from

Houston Methodist.

Methodist Diagnostic Cardiology of Houston16651 SW Frwy., Suite 400, Sugar Land, TX 77479 713.776.9500 | 281.275.0330

Dr. B. Keith EllisDr. Ronald MahoneyDr. Earl Mangin Jr.

Dr. John PassmoreDr. Kesavan Shan

Methodist Sugar Land Cardiology Associates3527 Town Center Blvd. S., Sugar Land, TX 77479 281.491.6808

Dr. Toussaint Smith

Methodist Family Medicine Group16605 SW Frwy., Suite 400, Sugar Land, TX 77479 281.275.0800

Dr. Ana CortegueraDr. Jennifer DiamondDr. Yana FinkelshteynDr. Julie Hung

Dr. Seva PapageorgeDr. Tayma ShayaDr. Mona ShethDr. Melida Tellez

Houston Methodist Gynecologic Oncology Associates16605 SW Frwy., Suite 450, Sugar Land, TX 77479 281.275.0880

Dr. Tarrik Zaid

Methodist Sugar Land Neurology Associates16659 SW Frwy., Suite 131, Sugar Land, TX 77479 281.494.6387

Dr. Carisa LiewDr. Eddie Patton Jr.

Dr. Larry TranDr. Toby Yaltho

Houston Methodist Oncology Partners16659 SW Frwy., Suite 151, Sugar Land, TX 77479 281.276.5200

Dr. Jorge Darcourt

Dr. David BraunreiterSports Medicine

Dr. Dean Dominy, IIIHand & Upper Extremity

Dr. Carl HicksJoint Replacement

Dr. Jeffrey KozakSports Medicine

Dr. Mark MaffetKnee & Shoulder

Dr. Eddie MatsuJoint Replacement

Dr. Anthony MuffolettoSpine Surgery

Dr. Vincent PhanHand & Upper Extremity

Dr. Kenneth RenneySports Medicine

Dr. Timothy SitterKnee & Shoulder

Dr. Ray ValdezFoot & Ankle

Dr. Mark VannFoot & Ankle

Dr. Jeffrey WoodSpine Surgery

Houston Methodist Primary Care Group3424 FM 1092, Suite 220, Missouri City, TX 77459 281.208.3322

Dr. Deepshikha Sharda

5819 Hwy. 6, Suite 370, Missouri City, TX 77459 281. 276.0653

Dr. Adelola Ashaye

For a detailed list of services and physician bios, visit methodistsugarlanddocs.com.If you don’t see the specialty you’re looking for, please call 281.274.7500 for a physician referral.

All here for you.

Dr. Sherman Tang

Dr. Jessen Rajan

Dr. Priya Oolut

A kickoff parade, turkey legs, carnival rides and rodeo action are all reasons to anticipate the 78th Annual Fort Bend County

Fair and Rodeo. The iconic event runs September 26th to October 5th at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds allowing families and friends to enjoy a home-town fair packed with big time fun. “Our fair represents many traditions from our youth that make us want to come back and enjoy it with our families today,” said 2014 Fort Bend County Fair Presi-dent Vickie Todd Autrey. “While we have many people who have attended our fair, we would like to invite everyone who may not have had the opportunity to come out. We truly have something for everyone to enjoy.”

From wine tastings at the Grapes on the Brazos wine room to lawn mower races in the arena, the fair’s schedule is packed with a wide range of entertain-ment. The barbecue cook-off will have grill masters creating savory creations, and aspiring artists will debut their work at the art auction. Best of all, the fun is close to home for Fort Bend Coun-ty residents.

The Fort Bend County Fair is com-mitted to helping youth achieve their educational goals. Forty-two $3,000 scholarships and five Queen Scholar-ships were awarded this year. For the first time in the Fort Bend County Fair’s 77 year history, the 2013 four auctions

totaled over $1,000,000. Hence, this year’s theme is Trails of Yesterday Lead-ing to Tomorrow’s Dreams. “This is what the Fort Bend County Fair is all about. It’s about our youth; it’s about our fu-ture,” boasted President Autrey. “We try to better people; they are our future leaders.”

The fair’s musical headliners will have people refusing to miss a day. “We are thrilled with this year’s line up! We found a great balance bringing in legend-ary favorites and hot Texas music acts. It is a country music lover’s dream,” said Susan Sillavan, Fort Bend County Fair Manager. “Some of these artists we’ve been trying to sign since 2013, and fi-nally this year it has all come together.”

Kicking off the fair is the veteran of Texas music chart topper Kevin Fowler. Fowler is known for his high energy and crowd-pleasing sounds only he can perform. “I’m looking forward to it. Fort Bend County, get ready. We are head-ing your way,” said Fowler. Texas na-tive and Aggie alum Granger Smith will take the stage with his talented twist on traditional country music on Saturday, September 27th.

Go Tejano Day is set for Sunday, Sep-tember 29th. The Grammy Award win-ning sensation La Mafia will headline the festivities. The Houston-based band is internationally known for their Latin sounds and true traditional licks. Also performing is the pride of south Texas, Los Palominos, whose Tejano sounds will thrill the crowd.

During the Fair’s second weekend, Steve Wariner will bring his guitar, song and vocal talents. Wariner has been pro-ducing country hits since the late 70s and has drawn a lifelong fan base. On Saturday, October 4th, Oklahoma na-tives Jason Boland & The Stragglers hit the stage. Closing out the Fair on Sun-day, October 5th is legendary singer Moe Bandy bringing his memorable, classic country hits to life for what is sure to be

a spectacular performance.Returning to the Fort Bend County

Fair on Wednesday, October 1st is a match roping between two gigantic, multi-world champion cowboys, Cody Ohl and Fred Whitfield. Eight-time world champion Joe Beaver will call the action. All three men have had their share of magical moments in the arena and countless accolades bestowed upon them for their calf roping talents. Ohl and Whitfield squared off in a Chal-lenge of Champions match roping at the 2004 Fort Bend County Fair. Ohl won the bragging rights that night and leads in other matches between the two, but Whitfield edges him out in career Gold Buckles.

The 2013 Fort Bend County Fair Bull Riding Champion Cody Teel.

Phot

o by

Bill

Rob

erts

on –

Mag

ana

Med

ia.

Melissa Navarre carried the American flag before a packed house at the 2013 Fort Bend County Fair.

“I don’t care if we are pitching wash-ers, when you have those three names involved, you don’t want to lose,” said Ohl about competing in the match rop-ing in the county where he grew up. Whitfield, winner of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) calf-roping title in 2012, is no stranger to Fort Bend County. “It could be the 10th round at the National Finals Ro-deo (NFR) or a game at the carnival, we are all going to be going for it,” Whitfield said. The competition is sure to be a fan favorite and will draw a large crowd to the Fort Bend County Fair.

Visit www.fortbendcountyfair.com for a full schedule of events or ticket information.

Phot

o by

Bill

Rob

erts

on –

Mag

ana

Med

ia.

The 78th AnnualFort Bend County Fair and Rodeo:

Trails of YesterdayLeading to Tomorrow’s Dreams



NEWSWORTHY

Fort Bend Friends and Neighbors Foundation (FBFN) invites the commu-nity to their annual fundraiser supporting the organization’s scholarship program benefiting the students of Fort Bend County. This year’s event, “Bloom Where You’re Planted,” will be held on Friday, October 24th at Safari Texas Ranch. Jacquie Baly, local radio/television per-sonality, is Honorary Chairwoman and event emcee. Ken Kaser, Director of the University of Houston Conrad Hilton Ho-tel Management College and author of acclaimed education textbooks, will de-liver the keynote address.

FBFN Foundation, the charitable arm of Fort Bend Friends and Neighbors social club, exists to carry forward its scholarship program through fundrais-ers, donations and community support. Proceeds from this event will advance the awarding of scholarships to eligible students within Fort Bend County who plan to attend college at one of the Fort Bend County colleges, including Univer-sity of Houston Sugar Land, Houston Community College and Wharton Junior College including Fort Bend Technical Center.

Registration begins at 10:30 am, and the event will offer several fun and excit-ing fundraising opportunities including a silent auction, wine pull, bakery cafe and much more. Sponsorship oppor-tunities are available ranging from $600 to $2,500. Sponsor benefits include premier reserved seating, complimen-tary program advertisement and more. VIP reservations of $60 include reserved seating and more. Individual reserva-tions are $40. Reservation deadline is October 9th.

For more information on sponsor-ships, donating silent auction items or volunteering, contact Carolyn Silva at [email protected] or visit www.FBFNFoundation.org.

FBFN Foundation’s2014 Fundraiser

FeaturesLocal Media Celebrityand Noted Educator


SE

EN

on t

he S

cene

Downtown Stomp Benefiting the Fort Bend County Fair

Margie Nowak, Linda Rulau, Louise Blair & Dawn Hopkins

Linda & Paige Mahaffey

Vincent M. Morales, Jr. & James Duke Sandra Macik & Bailey Blasingame James & Marcia Vogelsang

Mike Mercado & Ryan Tierney

Patti Parish-Kaminski & Elizabeth Duff Drozd

Dianne & Daniel Cortez Larry & Morgan Satterwhite


August 2, 2014 • Historic Downtown Rosenberg

Larry Deats, Margie Pollard, Vicki Autrey & Susan Sillavan with Cindy & Darren Schmidt

Tim Kaminski & Doris GoatesVivian Webb, Ginger Schultz & Rita Escobedo

Robert (Bubba) Blasingame & Alan Macik

David & Brenda Bowman

Kelly Gonzales, Dylan Clark & April Adams Pat & Norm Scholes

Vincent M. Morales, Jr. with Jamie & Brandon Campbell

Full Line of Spa Services:• Hair • Nails • Skin Care

• Massage • Full Body • Hair Removal

• Body Treatments• Specializing in Color Correction

Gift Certificates are available in any denomination. We specially package our AVEDA products to provide you with a hassle-free gift solution.

Give the Gift of

Beauty!

For a Phenomenal Fall, the

Ultimate Spa Experience for Hair, Skin, Nails & Body An Concept Salon & Day Spa Since 1989

15510 Lexington Blvd., Ste. G • Sugar Land, TX 77478(Between Williams Trace & Hwy 6)

www.SalonEbenDaySpa.com

281.980.5160

Celebrating 25 Years in Sugar Land


PinPointe is a quick, safe, and painless procedure that involves no anesthesia. It’s usually effective after only one treatment.

Dr. Y Bryan LeeInformed patients choose Board Certified PodiatristDr. Y Bryan Lee for all their foot health needs.

LOCATED AT56 Sugar Creek Center Blvd. #250(Sugar Creek Offices)Sugar Land, TX

8200 Wednesbury Ln. #210 (Wednesbury Medical Building)Houston, TX

Call Today to schedule your visit

We Treat Many Common Foot Problems Including:

Say Goodbye to Toenail Fungus

NEW! FDA Approved Patented Laser Technology

www.AdvancedFootDocs.com

Certified Provider

KILLSTOENAILFUNGUS

• BUNIONS• HAMMERTOES• HEEL PAIN• ACHILLES TENDON

PROBLEMS

• NEUROMAS• INGROWN

TOE NAILS• AND MUCH

MORE

281-242-FEET (3338)

thevintagepearl.com

15% OFFyour nextpurchase!

Enjoy

(cannot be combined.exp. 9.3.14.

use code:“FBFSept15”)

Fort BendWelcomes

The Kensington School

The Kensington School was founded by a group of educators and youth de-velopers that identified an unmet need for cutting-edge early childhood educa-tion in the Sugar Land, Richmond and Houston areas. They combine the best practices of Montessori education with a strong focus on 21st century skills, particularly through the integration of technology into the classroom, to bet-ter prepare young people for the world that we live in today. The Kensington School believes that this updated ap-proach to a Montessori education bet-ter prepares students to succeed in el-ementary school and provides a sound educational basis for long term success in college and the careers of the future.

The Director, who has Masters degrees in Teaching and Education, prepares a curriculum that draws on the best of Montessori education and supplements the Montessori model with proven educational practices like brain-based learning for children ages six weeks to 10 years. The curriculum prioritizes the development of critical thinking skills and effective commu-nication skills and creates opportuni-ties to collaborate and think creatively with the goal of preparing students for the educational demands of the future. Finally, The Kensington School values family engagement in the education of children and provides opportunities and tools for parents and families to stay involved in the education of their children.

As the Kensington School kicks off the new school year, stop by the school’s new Fort Bend location and learn about the program offerings, in-cluding before and after school care.

Call 281-232-4400, email [email protected] or visit www.TheKensingtonSchoolTX.com for more information.


All Major Credit Cards Accepted

T R U S T M E T O T R A N S F O R M Y O U R S M I L E .

GREG A. LINNEY, D.D.S., Inc.4660 Sweetwater Blvd., Ste 230, Sugar Land, Tx 77479

[email protected] • www.drlinney.com281-980-1733

Ask About OurNEW Oral Cancer Technology

Featured inAngie’s ListMagazineas a 2013

Top Dentist

Free Teeth Whitening(Valued at $350 Mention of Ad)

When you schedule a New Patient Appointment which includes:

Cleaning • X-Rays • Exam

A Healthy Smile is a Beautiful Smile!

THE KENSINGTON SCHOOLA 21ST CENTURY MONTESSORI

MONTESSORI METHOD + 21ST CENTURY SKILLS + BRAIN BASED LEARNINGThe Kensington School’s mission is to integrate the Montessori philosophy with 21st century skills

development practices and cutting-edge educational approaches to offer a program that is fun,addresses the needs of the whole child, and prepares our graduates to enter

elementary school with a sound academic foundation.

[email protected] • www.TheKensingtonSchoolTX.com • (281) 232-4400

NOW ENROLLING• Infants • Toddlers • Pre-K •

K-5th Grade After School ProgramBefore & After School Pickup/Drop Off

at Select Area Schools

6410 Sansbury Blvd. • Richmond, TX 77469(Behind Bucees on

Crabb River Rd. /99 Grand Pkwy.)

CALL OR EMAIL FOR A TOUR!

Receive a $150 Target Gift Cardfor Full Time Students whobegin by September 15th!


DID YOU KNOW?You have one of the country’s most advanced alternative medicine clinics right here in Sugar Land

7616 Bradford Place #110, Sugar Land, TX 77479281-240-2229 • www.TownCenterWellness.com

Dr. Peter Osborne

FOCUS ONHEALTH

By Dr. Peter Osborne

SocializedHealth Care:

Are You Ready?

For the past several years, you have probably followed the news and health media on prescription med-

ication recalls and warnings and been somewhat alarmed and confused. Below are some examples of recent events:

1. A study published in Lancet found that oral contraceptive use doubles a woman’s risk of invasive cervical cancer. Medications containing conjugated estro-gens are labeled with a black box warn-ing, because they increase the risks of myocardial infarction, stroke, invasive breast cancer, pulmonary emboli and deep vein thrombosis.

2. The pain medicine Vioxx was pulled off of the market, because it was found to double the risk for heart attacks and strokes.

3. Fosamax and similar medications used to treat osteoporosis (bisphospho-nates) have been found to cause esopha-geal damage and osteonecrosis of the jaw.

4. Popular acid reducing medications like Nexium and Protonix (PPIs) were recently found to increase the risk of hip fracture.

5. The FDA’s Pharmacological Drug Advisory Committee decided to put a black box warning on common antide-pressants (Cymbalta, Prozac, Zoloft and Lexapro).

The Journal of the American Medical Association published a groundbreaking paper. The study was conducted on ad-verse drug reactions (ADRs) occurring in U.S. hospitals. The conclusion of this study was very alarming. It was estimat-ed that in 1994, 106,000 people died from ADRs. When put into perspective, the top killers in the U.S. are heart disease, cancer and stroke, killing approximately 950,000, 750,000 and 150,000 people per

year respectively. Based on the study find-ings, that makes adverse drug reactions the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S.

These top three causes of death are treated medically with the use of prescrip-tion medication. Prescription medication could potentially be the fourth leading cause of death. Following this logic, how does it make sense to continue following a paradigm that obviously has such a pro-found flaw? The U.S. spends more money per person on health care than any other country in the world. Yet, among industri-alized nations, the U.S. ranks 26th in in-fant mortality and 24th in life expectancy.

How does all of this relate to socialized health care? Pharmaceutical companies have a lot to gain with this new plan. The new health care bill does not fund true, preventative care. It funds sick care. It funds a medical system that has failed to adequately address the health care issues in this country. The new bill will dump billions of your hard-earned dollars into providing treatments that have been iden-tified as one of the leading causes of death.

Combine the above information with the following: It has been hypothesized that as many as half of the doctors in the U.S. will retire or quit practicing once this new plan takes effect. Additionally, the

government funded health care will flood the system with an additional 30 million patients. This combination creates long waits and poor quality care. As it is cur-rently, many doctors’ offices offer wait times of 30 minutes to an hour followed by a five-minute visit with the doctor. Under the new plan, you can most likely expect longer delays and less personalized care from the doctor. Less personalized care leads to sicker patients and more drug prescriptions.

Does it make since to invest billions, perhaps trillions of dollars into a health care system that does not focus on the pre-vention of diseases, focuses on treatments that have historically failed, does not pay for dietary advice or lifestyle education and destroys a doctor’s ability to give ad-equate time and counseling to patients?

There is no such thing as free health care. The future of quality care will rest on the shoulders of doctors who disassoci-ate themselves from government funded care and move toward a fee for service system that allows them to spend quality time educating, treating and caring for their patients. The future of good health in the U.S. will rest upon the shoulders of the individual. There are no magic pills or products that will miraculously trans-form your health.

Look in the mirror and ask the follow-ing questions: “Do I exercise regularly? Do I drink plenty of water? Do I eat reason-ably? Do I manage my stress load respon-sibly? Do I have good hygiene? Do I get ad-equate sun exposure? Do I get adequate sleep on a nightly basis? Do I take time to educate myself about the proper care and function of my body?” If the answer to any of these questions is no, then you are not doing your part.

n Dr. Osborne• Is the only Board Certified Nutritionist in Sugar Land• Is a member of the ACA Council on Nutrition• Is a Doctor of Pastoral Medicine• Has held teaching appointments at Texas Women’s University and HCC’s nursing program • Lectures nationally to other physicians on the topic: drug induced nutritional deficiencies

n Origins Healthcare Centers• Offers genetic testing to match your lifestyle and diet to your genes• Offers complete laboratory nutritional analysis to identify vitamin and mineral deficiencies• Offers traditional and specialty lab services to assist in patient diagnosis• Offers state of the art Spinal Decompression therapy to prevent back surgery• Offers genetic and laboratory testing to identify gluten sensitivity


NEWSWORTHY

Planning for the 2014 Fort Bend Chamber Challenge Golf Tournament is well underway. This year’s premier tour-nament, presented by Classic Chevrolet and the City of Missouri City, will be held at Quail Valley Golf Course on Monday, October 27th beginning with a shotgun start at 11 am.

“The Golf Tournament is one of our favorite events because it’s not just ‘Par for the Course,’” said the 2014 Cham-ber Challenge sponsor Don Kerstetter. The tournament will be played on the El Dorado course at the Quail Valley Golf Course and set up in a scramble format. The day promises to be packed with fun and excitement for all players with awards ranging from first place teams to hole-in-one. Players will be well taken care of with complimentary snacks and libations. A live auction dinner is sched-uled as a part of the post-tournament festivities held at the fabulous City Cen-tre at Quail Valley.

There are opportunities available for networking and corporate sponsorships from tee-tumblers, auction items, golf tees, hole sponsors and business show-cases. Golfers and non-golfers alike are welcome. Corporate teams and individu-als are invited to participate for $800 and $200 respectively. To register online, visit www.FortBendChamber.com. For more information about the 2014 Fort Bend Chamber Challenge, contact Matthew Ferraro at 281-491-0277 or [email protected].

2014 Fort BendChamber Challenge

AuthenticArgentinian Food& Passionate Live

Entertainment!

15% OFF Entire purchase. Excludes alcohol. Must present coupon.Cannot be combined with any other offer. Expires 9/30/14.

Great ForAll Occasions

Largest Selection ofIce Cream

Let them eat ice cream! Feature a Southern Ice Cream Cart at your next event!

Also available:★ Ice Cream Truck Rentals★ Sundae Parties

13755 Greenland Dr., Stafford

281.499.9837www.southernicecreamtx.com

Classic Chevrolet’s Mark Kolon and Don Kerstetter with Missouri City Mayor Allen Owen.


All Aboard! for theRosenberg Railroad Museum

Sponsor opportunities are now available for the Rosenberg Railroad Museum’s annual fundraising gala All Aboard! sched-uled for Saturday, October 18th at Safari Texas, and this year’s event features a fun-filled evening with a dinner, Harvey House Bakery and live and silent auctions where guests can climb aboard in support of the Museum.

Proceeds from this year’s event will support program op-erations and general operating needs for the Museum to as-sist in preserving the rich heritage of the railroad industry and its contribution to the history of Fort Bend County. Serving as the Honorary Conductors for this year’s event are Rosenberg Mayor Vincent M. Morales, Jr. and Richmond Mayor Evalyn W. Moore. “For the past 161 years, the railroad has been a vital part of the economy and development of Fort Bend,” said Mo-rales. “The Rosenberg Railroad Museum’s mission to preserve and display the history of the eight railroad lines that brought wealth and commerce to our community is an essential part of our history.”

NEWSWORTHY

Mayor Moore agrees. “Vincent and I are excited to be a part of this worthwhile event benefiting the Museum, an important part of Fort Bend’s rich heritage. We celebrate what the rail-roads brought to our early communities, and we invite everyone to climb aboard for this year’s event to help preserve this his-tory for future generations.”

Last year, over 10,000 students, families, seniors and inter-national visitors stepped through the doors of the Rosenberg Railroad Museum to view rail cars, exhibits and to watch some 65 trains pass through Rosenberg daily. “Our annual gala raises the necessary funds to insure that visitors and guests can enjoy and learn from our educational programs and exhibits,” said Doris Gurecky, event chairman.

Packing their bags for All Aboard! are Chairman Doris Gu-recky along with committee members Kathy Kubelka, Robbie Reed, Lisa Ricker, Lupe Uresti, Marcia Vogelsang, Sandy Cam-pos and Janie Warstler.

Sponsorships are available for the event, and they range from $1,000 to $5,000. All sponsorship opportunities include tickets to the event, recognition in the program and on-site rec-ognition at the event.

All Aboard for the Rosenberg Railroad Museum! Individual tickets to the event are $75, and they, along with sponsorships, are available by contacting Doris Gurecky at 281-238-6603 or [email protected]. For more information, visit www.rosenbergrrmuseum.org/gala.

Rosenberg Railroad Museum Executive Director Ratha Chheang Liladrie, Rosenberg Mayor Vincent M. Morales, Jr., Richmond Mayor Evalyn W. Moore and Committee Member Sandy Campos are All Aboard! for the upcoming event scheduled for Saturday, October 18th. For more information, visit www.rosenbergrrmuseum.org.

Ann Bertles, MDBoard Certified Ob/Gyn

832.437.9690 (p) | 832.437.9694 (f)23232 Kingsland Blvd., Ste. E, Katy, TX 77494

www.myobgynofkaty.com

Comprehensive, compassionate and cutting edge care

for women of all phases.

Minimally Invasive & Robotic Surgery

Adolescent Gynecology

Routine and High Risk Obstetrics

Wellness Exams & Contraception

Evaluation & Treatment of Pelvic Pain

Treatment of Menopausal Symptoms

Preconception & Infertility Counseling

4D Ultrasound in Office

Second Opinions Welcome


TEXAS’ LARGESTLWRC DEALER!

832.363.3783FAX: 832.363.36941110 HWY 90A EASTRICHMOND, TX 77406WWW.XTREMEGUNSANDAMMO.COM

SPECIALIZING IN:

• CLASS 3 WEAPONS• THERMAL SIGHTS• SILENCERS• HAND GUNS• AMMO• NIGHT VISION

WE CARRY ALL MAJOR BRANDS!IF WE DON’T HAVE IT, WE CAN GET IT!

GUNSMITHON SITE!

CHL CLASSESOFFEREDMONTHLY

10%OFFAMMO*Excludes Bulk Ammo*

NEW LOCATION

On September 20th, invite your friends for an unforgettable evening un-der the stars at the Fort Bend County Museum, located at 500 Houston Street in Richmond, to Bites & Brews.

Bites & Brews will feature live music, fine cuisine, wine and beer, as well as the traveling exhibit Tropical [Im]pressions and a chance to view the beautiful his-toric 1883 Home of Congressman John M. Moore. Live music will be performed by local musicians The String Theory String Orchestra, a seven-piece string orchestra, and The Cool Tones will per-form favorite songs.

Samples of fine cuisine will be avail-able from the following restaurants: Tu-canos Brazilian Grill, Witt’s Catering, Ital-ian Maid, George Ranch Historical Park, The Swinging Door, Karl’s Restaurant and Bar, S&S Steaks and Spirits, Tradi-cao Brazilian Steakhouse and Joseph’s Coffee and Fine Cigars. Tastings of fine wine will be available by Braman Winery, along with beers from Saint Arnolds.

The historical Moore Home is located next door to the Fort Bend County Mu-seum at 406 South 5th Street in Rich-mond. Festivities will run from 6:30 pm through 9 pm. Advance tickets are $30 per person or $50 per couple. Tickets at the door are $35 per person or $60 per couple. Purchase advanced tickets through the Museum at 281-342-6478.

For more information, contact 281-342-1256 or [email protected].

Bites & Brews:A Night Under

the Stars


Cool Braces!

Now Offering Orthodontic

Services!

Friendly, gentle and caring staff

Offering Oral and I.V. Sedation

Now offering reversal to dental numbness

Most major insurances accepted

Specialist in dentistry for children from 6 months to 17 years of age

Ask About NO INTEREST PAYMENT PLANS

Se Habla Español

Dance Works Studio Opens in

Missouri City

New to the Missouri City area is a dance studio that is taking it to the next level: Dance Works Studio. De-signed for practice and performance, Dance Works’ new, 13,000 square-foot studio houses three dance rooms and a full-size gym.

With over 25 years of experience each, Dance Works’ directors challenge and nurture each dancer. Studio class-es and a competition team offer oppor-tunities to learn jazz, hip hop, ballet, leaps and turns, pom and more. The talented staff professionally teaches all genres of dance and continues to earn recognition in choreography.

Although Dance Works is award winning, God, school and family come first. Dance isn’t all about winning, but it is a great reward for all of the hard work. Practicing two to five hours a week proves to be successful for Dance Works Studio’s Majestics dancers who win multiple awards every year. All dancers perform and build confidence at their annual showcase.

At Dance Works Studio, friendships between dancers build memories, while working as a team builds leadership and commitment. Moms make new friends, and teachers become great mentors. Judges, parents and dancers appreciate Dance Works’ use of ap-propriate music and costume choices. Dancers learn from professional com-pany members, choreographers, judi-cators and dance educators. Both com-petitive and studio dancers receive the same quality teaching to improve.

Registration is still open for studio classes, so stop by Dance Works Stu-dio’s new Missouri City location at 7246 Knights Court for a schedule. For more information, call 281-208-7114 or visit www.danceworksmajestics.com.


PROFILES

Himesh GandhiRoberts Markel

Weinberg Butler Hailey PC

Meet the Finest in Fort Bend

LEGALEAGLES

Julia DeanThe Dean Law Firm, PLLC

Kurt AndreasonAndreason Law Firm

Farha AhmedFarha Ahmed Law


PROFILES LEGAL EAGLES

As a shareholder at Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey PC, Himesh Gandhi represents local individuals and entities in a wide variety of complex busi-ness transactions and litigation matters. His primary focus is in the areas of real estate, com-

mercial disputes, acquisitions, construction, collections, fi-nance and general corporate matters. In addition to practic-ing law, Gandhi strongly believes in community service. In 2012, Gandhi was elected to Sugar Land City Council and became the youngest at-large councilman in the history of the City taking office at the age of 35. Gandhi has served as a board member for several organizations, including the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, Child Advocates of Fort Bend and the Arc of Fort Bend. In 2011, he was named one of the Fort Bend Rising Stars by the Fort Bend Business Journal.

Himesh GandhiAttorney at Law

Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey PC

2277 Plaza Drive, Suite 290 • Sugar Land, TX 77479281-207-76970 • www.rmwbhlaw.com

L awyers will often provide a complimentary or low-cost consultation to learn the details of your potential case, as well as give potential clients an opportunity

to ask some questions about the attorney. To take advantage of this opportunity, have a list of questions in mind to ask during the initial consultation.

The questions should relate to the lawyer’s expertise, experience, fees, special knowledge and management of the potential case. Here are ten basic questions to help you pick the perfect lawyer:

1. How long have you practiced law? Ask whether the lawyer is a veteran or beginner attorney. Your legal

issue may very well be handled by someone who is fresh out of law school; however, you may need a veteran. It will depend on your case.

2. What type of cases do you typically handle, and what percentage of your practice is devoted to

this specific area? Determining a lawyer’s expertise – and how much of his practice is devoted to a certain type of law – is critical. If you need help with a minor custody issue, you may want to retain a family law lawyer.

3. Who is your typical client? Make sure you are in the right place. If you are an individual with a particular

legal problem, but the attorney you’re meeting with represents only corporations, this may not be the best fit.

4. How many cases have you represented that were similar to mine? Feel free to ask about the attorney’s

track record, including the number of cases won or settled.

5. What kind of special training or knowledge do you have that might apply in my situation? Some

cases, like DUI and patent cases, require specialized training in addition to a law degree. Be sure to inquire whether your case fits into that category.

6. What are your fees, and how are they billed? Will paralegals or legal assistants be working on my

case? If paralegals or legal assistants will be working on your case, ask about reduced costs. You need to know whether you can afford the lawyer’s services and how you will be required to pay. Ask about payment options if necessary and how you will be billed.

7. What is your philosophy in representing a case? Make sure the attorney is a good fit. For example, if you

are seeking an amicable divorce, but the attorney is known as an aggressive divorce lawyer, this may not be the right fit for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for a bulldog attorney to handle an upcoming corporate merger, you will want someone who is more aggressive.

8. Can I solve my legal problem without hiring an attorney? Always ask whether there are any

alternatives for solving your legal problem. Arbitration or out-of-court arrangements may work for you.

9. How will you let me know what’s happening with my case? Consistent communication is critical

when working with a lawyer. Find out how your attorney will communicate with you and how often.

10. What is the likely outcome in my case? Oftentimes, it is fair to ask the attorney whether

you have a good chance of winning your case. A direct, honest response will be helpful in determining your course of action, as well as help you be prepared. If you are in for a fight, it is helpful to know up front so you can be prepared.

These questions should give you general knowledge of a specific lawyer’s experience, expertise and skill level, and most importantly, whether the lawyer is a good fit for you.

To Finding the

PerfectLawyer

10 Questions


When clients walk through the door of The Dean Law Firm, PLLC, they are met with a welcoming, comfortable environment and personal service. This distinc-

tive element is cultivated by lead attorney Julia Dean, who strives to create a caring legal environment.

Dean is an exceptional woman whose extensive knowledge and compassionate heart are the perfect combination for assisting clients. Her goal is to let each client know they are valued and that their legal needs will be met with excellence. Dean’s professional experience encompasses a broad range of legal matters. Her primary emphases are estate planning, probate and civil appeals.

Julia Dean and The Dean Law Firm staff offer a unique legal experience as ex-pressed by recent clients Bill and Jill Miller. “Julia Dean is a highly ethical and compe-tent attorney who is also very sensitive to the individual needs of her clients. We are most satisfied with the high level of professionalism she recently exhibited while pre-paring new wills and a trust agreement for us. She frequently attends legal seminars to stay up-to-date on the latest changes in the laws pertaining to her work. We have recommended her to friends and family who have been similarly impressed with the services she provided to them.”

Whether you hope to establish your family legacy through an estate plan or you find yourself in the midst of the probate process, let the Dean Law Firm expertise, charac-ter and compassion bring you and your loved ones peace of mind.

Julia DeanLead Attorney

1650 Highway 6 South, Suite 100Sugar Land, TX 77478

281-277-3326 [email protected]

The Dean Law Firm, PLLC

PROFILES LEGAL EAGLES

Farha Ahmed has practiced law in Texas for over 15 years and represents her clients with zeal and compassion, particu-larly in the areas of commercial and real estate transactions, family law, probate and civil litigation. She is known for her sharp aggressive stance on behalf of her clients and is com-mitted to excellence. Clients value that Ahmed truly commits and sees a case to its end and seeks the best resolution for her clients. Farha is notable for her service on the Sugar Land Planning Commission and was recognized by the Mayor of Houston for her community service. Farha’s firm provides pro bono advice to victims of family violence and volunteers with Fort Bend Lawyers Care.

Farha AhmedAttorney at Law

Farha Ahmed Law

2150 Town Square Place • Sugar Land, TX 77479281-313-3839

[email protected]

Kurt Andreason, Attorney at Law, meets clients’ estate plan-ning needs with everything from basic will and trust planning to sophisticated strategies, includ-ing family limited partnerships, LLCs, long-term and dynasty trusts, business succession and

retirement account planning. Andreason is a graduate of the University of Texas Law School and has been practicing law in Texas since 1983. He is board certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law. Andreason is listed among the best law-yers in America in the Estates and Trust field and has been named a Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly. Call or visit his convenient, handicapped accessible office in Sugar Land for more information.

Kurt AndreasonAttorney at Law

Andreason Law Firm

4840 Sweetwater Boulevard, Suite BSugar Land, TX 77479

281-265-1561www.andreasonlawfirm.com


NEWSWORTHY

Lace up those sneakers, rally your friends and head to Fulshear for the First Annual Hope for Three 5K Run and 3K Walk for Autism. The event, which is open to the young, seasoned, uniquely-abled and abled, will kick off this year’s Fulshear Scarecrow Festival on October 18th.

Honorary event chairs are Fulshear Mayor Tommy Kuyk-endall, Katy Mayor Fabol Hughes, Simonton Mayor Daniel McJunkin and Weston Lakes Mayor Mary Rose Zdunkewicz. Each has signed on to bring autism awareness not only to each of their cities, but the surrounding area. “We have some stiff competition, all in the honor of team work, that is,” laughed Katie Wiseman, Hope for Three Executive Director. “Each of our honorary chairs and committee members vow to out-do the other.”

Autism is one of the leading disorders affecting children worldwide, with one in 50 school-aged children being diag-nosed. Run for Autism will bring awareness to the community and assist those with resources living in the Fort Bend County area.

Registration is now underway at www.hopeforthree.org/run-for-autism. Early Bird Runner and Walker fees are $25 per

adult and $10 per child until September 28th. Fees will then increase to $35 per adult and $15 per child until the morning of the event. Inaugural event t-shirts, as well as other good-ies, will be provided to all participants.

Along with the help of honorary chairs and supportive committee members, Hope for Three is able to host such a fun-filled event and provide resources to “ausome” kiddos. However, they need you to sign up as a walk/run participate, sponsor or underwriter. For more information, call 1-800-317-0787.

Run for Autism

Ready to run or walk for the “Ausome” Kids in Fort Bend living with autism are Darla Farmer, Fulshear Mayor Tommy Kuykendall, Weston Lakes Mayor Mary Rose Zdunkewicz, Simonton Mayor Daniel McJunkin and Katie Wiseman.

Phot

o by

The

resa

Cre

el.

2735 Town Center Blvd N, Suite ESugar Land, TX 77479

281-491-2930 • www.zeeneez.comMON - SAT 10-7; SUN Noon-6

Every stroke, precisely calculated. Each game, expertly calibrated to conserve the energy needed to exert a winning burst of power. For tennis icon Novak Djokovic, his watch runs on these same progressive principles. PROSPEX FLIGHT COMPUTER. Solar-powered to be eco-friendly, no battery change is ever needed. Equipped with the apex of aviation technology required by pilots, it also precisely performs for those with the goal to progress above and beyond. SeikoUSA.com

• Oral Health Education • Sealants • Intravenous Sedation• High Speed Digital X-Rays • Ora Verse Anesthesia Reversal• Laser Soft Tissue Removal• Accepting New Patients

Larry Caldwell, D. D. S.A N D A S S O C I A T E S

Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry

15200 SW FreewaySugar Land, TX 77478281.565.KIDS (5437)

www.larrycaldwelldds.comCheck us out on

Facebook!

Specializing in Dentistry forChildren and those with Special Needs

A SpecialPlace forSpecialPeople


Brian R. Heaps, MD, FACOGBoard Certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist

Welcoming new patients at

UT PhysiciansWomen’s Center

in Sugar Land

Call 713.486.1250 for appointmentswww.UTPhysicians.com

17510 West Grand Parkway South, Suite #550Sugar Land, TX 77479

*Take 50% o� “100 Blooms of Peruvian Lilies” and 20% o� minimum product purchase of $29. Discounts: (i) apply to the regular price of the products, (ii) will appear upon checkout and cannot be combined with other o� ers or discounts, unless specifi ed, and (iii) do not apply to dift cards or certifi cates, international delivery, shipping & handling, taxes, or third party hosted products (e.g. wine). Discounts not valid on bulk or corporate purchases of 10 units or more. Prices valid while supplies last. O� er expires 11/30/14.

100 Blooms of Peruvian Lilies with FREE glass vase

Plus, save 20% o� all gifts over $29*! Visit www.ProFlowers.com/Cheer

or call 800-542-9757

Site Price: $3998

Your Price:

$1999+s/h

+s/h

ENJOY 50% OFF*

SAVE50 %*

Order Delicious Gifts for Any Occasion

1 0 0 % S A T I S F A C T I O N G U A R A N T E E Dgiant strawberries | #1 seller | over 35 million strawberries dipped

To redeem this offer visit www.Berries.com/Always or call 800-550-6518

*20% off discount will appear upon checkout. Minimum product pur-chase of $29.00. Discounts do not apply to gift cards or certifi cates, same-day delivery, shipping and handling, taxes or third-party hosted products (e.g. wine) and cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Dis-counts not valid on bulk or corporate purchases of 10 units or more. Offer expires: 11/30/14.

Save 20%*

Treat anyone in your life for less!

HAND-DIPPEDBERRIES$1999from

+s/h

Save 20%*Save 20%*Save 20%

Growing up, most of my summers were spent as a counselor or director of youth camps where I had the opportunity to involve teenagers and young

adults in leadership, team building and cultural learning. All of this was mixed with fun and fantasy on an amphithe-ater stage. It was one of my most rewarding experiences. So, when the opportunity came to share a meaningful cultural play performed by some incredibly talented young dancers, I jumped in wholeheartedly.

The Indian play Dashavatar was performed at the Wortham Theatre earlier this year. The visionary behind this production was the well-known dance instructor Rathna Kumar. Kumar is the founder and owner of the Anjali Center for Performing Arts in Sugar Land, the first Indian Dance School in Texas, which opened more than 39 years ago.

In the Sanskrit language, Dashavatar refers to the 10 (dasa) incarnations (avatars) of Vishnu, the Hindu god of universal preservation. Sanskrit is an ancient Indic lan-guage of India in which the Hindu scriptures and classical Indian epic poems are written and from which many North-ern Indian languages are derived.

The curtain opened upon a handsome silhouette of Vish-nu with the voice of the narrator, Rathna Kumar, explain-ing the reason for the avatars. The avatars in which Vishnu manifested himself were to save the world from evil forces and bring peace. The performance was a continuous story-telling through dance and drama. Each act was linked to one of three groups of dancers who were the Sutradharis (cho-rus), summing up the story through countless hand gestures and speedy footwork.

The cast of 40 dancers in stunning costumes made espe-cially for this production gave a magnificent performance

filled with grace, beau-ty and consistency. The opening scene included the chanting of the Ve-das (from the Sanskrit word for “knowledge”). Then, there was the Demon Soma’s sneaky entrance and the chaos caused by his stealing the Vedas. With ocean-like waves cleverly formed with fabric, a picture-perfect mood was set for the perfor-mance. In the lead was

Venugopal Josyula, assistant director at the Anjali Center for Performing Arts, who glided in and out of various roles. His choreography for the seven male characters in the play was very nicely implemented in the dance drama.

Kumar’s choreography was a work of art. The lively vil-lage scene in the Balarama Avatar featuring young folk dancers added a wonderful, rustic element to the whole pro-duction. Remarkable in their coordination of movements and accomplished footwork were the core dancers, many of whom are residents of Sugar Land. In the midst of all of this action was the omnipresent Vishnu played by Nishka Bommareddy.

“Dashavatar was truly a team effort,” said Kumar. “The preparation on this took months, and everyone from the dancers to the staff and volunteers put their heart and soul into this production.” Kumar celebrates 40 years of opening up the Anjali Center for Performing Arts in Greater Houston, and the school, located at 2615 Cordes Drive off of Lexington Boulevard, celebrates its 12th anniversary in Sugar Land next year.

The use of levels on the stage was another talented idea. Avatars seemed to appear and disappear in a cloud of smoke. The aesthetic lighting elevated the choreography. Seetha Ratnakar, the artistic consultant for the production, de-signed all of the fabulous costumes and flew in from India especially for the show. Ramana Prasad and Shefali Jhaveri managed the props wonderfully for every scene. The music by Rajkumar Bharathi of Chennai was impressive.

It is encouraging to know that this production was funded in part by grants from the Texas Commission on the Arts and the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance. With such partnerships, we look forward to more of these delight-fully performed events and productions.

TO SHARE YOUR IDEASfor upcoming cultural stories and events, contact Cultural Correspondent Zeenat Kassam Mitha at [email protected]

By Zeenat Kassam Mitha.Photography by Krishna Giri.

Dashavatar performers Sudesh Pillutla and Venugopal Josyula.

Dashavatar performers Samyukta Hari, Shravya Arra, Sneha Peri, Harshini Ganesh, Rima Shah, Toshani Viswanathan, Tanooha Veeramachineni, Sanjana Jhaveri, Ragini Konde, Sreya Raju and Amulya Peri.

The 10 Incarnations MagnificentlyPerformed in

Dashavatar



Upscale Consignment of Womens, Childrens and Home Accents

8209 Broadway • Suite 106 • Pearland • TX 77581

6212 Highway 6 South • Missouri City • TX 77459(In Kroger Shopping Center )

281-778-1100

Hours: Monday - Saturday 10 am - 7 pm | Sunday Noon - 5 pm

facebook.com/BrookesBoutiquePearland @BrookesPearland

Now Accepting Fall Consignments

Follow Us on Facebook forupdates and promotions!

www.brookesboutiquepearland.com

RECYCLE YOUR STYLE!


People seeking cosmetic or reconstructive dental work should do research before making a decision in order to ensure proper care. As ADA recognized specialists, Prosthodontists are qualified to offer services in state-of-the-art procedures and techniques, such as: cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, complete and partial dentures, replacing lost or loose teeth, jaw joint problems (TMJ), traumatic injuries, snoring and sleep disorders and oral cancer reconstruction.

Achieve the Smile!Ultimate

before after

Replacing missing teeth in one day! Restore your smile with cosmetic dentistry!

before after

Stuart rimeS, DDS, mSCrowns, Implants, CosmetIC, reConstruCtIve DentIstry

BoarD CertIfIeD prosthoDontIst

15958 City Walk, Ste. 230, Sugar Land, TX 77479www.RimesDDS.com | e-mail: [email protected]

281-313-1565

Dr. Stuart RimesImplant Dentures in one day!

Dr. Nisa DadjooDr. Stuart Rimes welcomes Dr. Nisa Dadjoo, DDS, MSD to the practice.

Generous, Enthusiastic Men Serving

ing in triathlons, rodeos, MS 150 events and marathons. Fifty has become the new 35, and it’s primarily due to exer-cise training and fitness.

Physical fitness is very beneficial for older adults. As people age, their metab-olism tends to slow down, which causes an increase in body fat. They also tend to lose muscle tone, strength, balance and even the elasticity in their muscles.

Some common injuries that elderly citizens typically suffer from are hip fractures and traumatic brain inju-ries, which are typically caused by falling due to lack of balance and stability. Studies and evidence also show that physical exercise is a key player in the reduction of metabolic

syndrome, which increases diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabe-

tes, cancer, dementia and depression. Exercise can also help save lives.

Balance training can help not only re-duce an adult’s chances of falling, but strength training can also help them recover much faster from an injury al-

absolutely!HEALTHY LIVING

By Donovan Greer

ready sustained. The ability to balance on one leg is a very good test to see if one is prone to injury causing falls. If one struggles to balance on one foot, then that is an indicator that they are at risk for slipping and falling. Balance and stability exercise should be incorpo-rated.

Among those who have started ex-ercising at the age of 50 and continued for at least 10 years, studies show a dramatic decrease in their chances of premature death. And, for those looking for that magic fountain of youth, look no further. Exercise and physical fitness has been proven to protect the elderly from long-term memory loss and help slow down the rate of aging.

Exercise should become a regular part of your life, and it should be thought of as a way to enhance your quality of life. I have clients in their 50s and 60s who can run circles around teenagers. It’s all about attitude and finding ac-tivities that you love to participate in. If you’re a beginner – at any age – I en-courage you to find a personal trainer who can guide you with step-by-step instruction, or join classes such as yoga, mat Pilates or a dance class. After all, it’s never too late to start exercising.

and FitnessG randparents Day is September 7th, but instead of cel-

ebrating with a cake, how about going for a spin on a bike or walk around the park?

Grandparents

In today’s society, Americans age 50 and older are beginning to see longer life expectancies. An increasing number of adults over the age of 50 are compet-

Generous, Enthusiastic Men Serving

CASINO DINNERLIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Tickets & Sponsorship Opportunities 281-690-4242 www.absolutelyfocusmedia.com

Special Thanks to Our Official GEMS Contributors

Neil and Carolyn Banfield Hardee Investment GroupNesossi Studios Pamela Printing

May W. Tape, DDS LC Floral Designs

Safari Texas Ranch Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital

Thursday, October Twenty Three, Two Thousand and Fourteen

6:30 - 10 pm

Safari Texas Ranch Lodge

11627 FM 1464 Richmond, Texas

James D. RiceNeil Banfield Robert C. Brown, III

Benefiting

Join

Meet Eucharist Kun

By Joan Frances

D ulles High School is home to approximately 2,138 stu-dents. The standard for

educational excellence is a top pri-ority at Dulles, and recent gradu-ate Eucharist Kun is confirmation of its success. With devoted teach-ers and strong family support, Eu-charist is ready to take the next step in his educational process.

Eucharist and his family moved from Dallas to settle in Sugar Land when Eucharist was in first grade and became a student of Fort Bend Independent School District. At age six, he was introduced to the musi-cal world by learning to play the piano and a year later, the violin. While violin lessons were long, Eu-charist enjoyed the progress he made.

In his first year of high school, Eu-charist auditioned and was accepted to become a part of the orchestra. His teacher, Michael Isadore, taught him for the next four years. Because of his developed talent, Eucharist was engaged in the top two divisions of the orchestra, philharmonic and honors, all four years. When asked what stood out the most for him as a student, Eucharist replied, “Orches-tra taught me to take the initiative to improve my performance by dis-cipline and responsibility, and this

Eucharist

HOT SHOTHigh School

helped make me a leader.” The group participated in University Interscho-lastic League (UIL) competitions all year and earned outstanding ratings.

Eucharist is also a member of the Texas Music Educators Association All-Region Orchestra and the Tri-M Music Honor Society. When not practicing his music, Eucharist enjoys playing basket-ball and ultimate frisbee. Besides speak-ing English, he is fluent in Cantonese.

During the past five summers, Eu-charist attended a religious camp with Sugar Land Chinese Church at Forest Glen Park in Huntsville. This year, he was an assistant youth direc-tor at the week-long camp, which is filled with engaging games and fun activities. But, the overall objective is to get in touch with God and the fortunate life the campers are given.

Through the years, Eucharist has donated his time attending church mis-sion trips to China teaching English to Chinese students. He also went to poor communities to help those in need. One value that Eucharist lives by is, “Perse-verance and determination to never give up no matter how difficult the obstacles.”

Eucharist established valuable friendships that forged a bond through

teamwork and communication. He is a caring person and devoted to his family and friends. He enjoys spend-ing quality time with his family. Last summer, they took a trip together to Hong Kong to visit family, then to Ko-rea and California. Eucharist enjoyed visiting Hong Kong the most. Because Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, Eucha-rist and his family took time to shop and enjoy the sites. They also enjoyed spending the time with relatives.

Out of Dulles High School’s 530 seniors, Eucharist ranked in the up-per six percent academically and was one of the top 30 students in his class. A member of the National Honor Society, National Merit Schol-arship Finalist, AP Scholar with Distinction and Academic Honors, Eucharist was awarded two schol-arships: the College of Natural Sci-ences and The Longhorn Guarantee.

“Perseverance and determination to never give up no matter how difficult the obstacles.” – Eucharist Kun


Eucharist will attend the Univer-sity of Texas in Austin this fall and will major in biochemistry with a focus on either the medical field re-search or pre-med. Congratulations on your success, determination and talent, Eucharist! Good luck as you begin new challenges in Austin.

Saturday, September 13, 20142:00 - 5:00 PM Sugar Land Town Square

Sponsored by:

For more information visit www.TCRN-SugarLand.com


By Christopher Hill

Continuing last month’s reviews of films coming to the small screen, this month we highlight an action packed crop of big-budget features for home viewing.

F ilms are often stereotyped by category to what you can ex-

pect. A superhero movie is supposed to deliver over-the-top action with

some humor and only slight nods to developing characters. Captain Ameri-ca: The Winter Soldier takes the super-

hero formula and delivers not only the best superhero movie of the year, but one that defies its stereotype.

This is one of the most intriguing political ac-tion films in a long time. The action is intense. However, in the quieter moments, we see beyond the red, white and blue shield of Captain Ameri-ca and glimpse the warmer consciousness of top spy Natasha Romanov. Unlike previous Captain American appearances where a character can be

portrayed as somewhat stiff, The Winter Soldier shows Steve Rogers coming to terms with the past and finding the best path for the future.

Deeper still, the film shows what the age of information could really mean in the wrong – and right – hands. Harkening back to the political action films of the 1970s, the tension in the film is palpable. You may know from the beginning who is going to win, but the question is, at what cost?

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Release: September 9th

© M

arve

l Stu

dios

.

D irector Bryan Singer was challenged to weave away

the mistakes of X-Men: The Last Stand and build upon the enthusi-

asm from X-Men: First Class. Com-bining two separate casts is a daunt-

ing task, but the two separate teams meld into one flawlessly in X-Men: Days of Future Past. Singer was able to

make things right, and he did it in such a way that it provided the emotional context that was so lacking in the third X-Men specific movie. Retroactive continuity, or changing the facts of previously demonstrated work to fit a new narrative, is tricky. Without giving away the ending, Singer and his writers accomplish this in an emotionally satisfying way that opens the door to the next X-Men chapter.

The film begins in a very dark place but finds the light. There are enough cut-ting-edge special effects to keep the action junkies happy, but there is also a deep sense of character development on their journey to discovering their own personal path.


© 2014 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Legendary Pictures Productions Llc.

E ventually, someone is going to make

a Godzilla film that fea-tures the title star. In this film, it takes an hour

before you see the monster and even longer before it fights. Fans are there to see

battles, not cliché, paper-thin characters. The story is

as translucent as the characters, but the film provides action sequences that are memorable, albeit brief. You can-not go wrong with atomic fire breath and skyscraper-sized monsters, unless you don’t use them. In this category, it would be better to view Pacific Rim. It has the same level of storytelling but much more accomplished action.


© 2

0th

Cent

ury

Fox.

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

absolutelyHome Living

F E AT U R I N G

DIY Ideas For Every Room

Debbie Marcell

Garden Guy

The Frog Blinds, Shutters, Drapes

Imperial Sugar Land

Westin Homes

LBL Event Rentals

Pelican Builders

Riverstone

J&L Distributors

Arlene R. Rolsen, CRS

Tallas Insuranceand Financial Services

Five Simple Tips to Enhance Your Home’s Personality

Anja Drewes Properties

F rom simple storage solutions that freshen up messy rooms to projects that enliven a space, do-it-yourself (DIY) options are

a popular choice among many homeowners. Try out some of these ideas to make every room in your home feel new again, without having to empty your pocketbook or call a handyman.

count. When looking for organizational solutions to keep your clothing and acces-sories tidy, look for those that offer flex-ibility, such as ClosetMaid’s ShelfTrack®. These wire shelving units are available in kits and open stock, with shelves avail-able in a variety of depths and finishes.

For more ideas, visit www.closetmaid.com.

De-Clutter the KitchenFrom spices to coffee filters to cooking

oils, those kitchen cabinets have a way of filling up fast, and keeping these culinary tools in order can be a daunting task. Use these five tips to get your pantry and kitchen cabinets in order.

Utilize organization tools. Maximize the space in pantry and cabinets with turntables for spices and other storage solutions. Add a pop of personality to these areas with a lining product such as Duck brand Smooth Top Easy Liner.

Empty each shelf. Go through each shelf to properly wipe out dust and

Organize YourWork and Living Spaces

In order for personal style to shine, it’s important that your home is organized and clutter free, especially in the rooms where you work, play and relax. These are the rooms where so much family life takes place, so keeping it clean is essen-tial. Luckily, there are various solutions you can add without the need of a profes-sional, from small space savers to large statement pieces that improve the func-tion and design of a room.

Living room: When it comes to your living room, do you long for a space to stash toys, books and all of the other random trinkets that pile up? Enjoy the benefits of versatile storage with Closet-Maid’s new Premium Cubes. With a full back panel, these six or nine-cube orga-nizers are offered in two distinct looks. Choose the style that complements your décor.

Work space: Improve your efficiency with the proper tools for the job. Premium Cubes are also a great addition for those who want to add sleek, upscale elements to a work space or office. These stylish storage options offer a professional look and feel and can keep any work environ-ment properly organized.

Bedroom closets: While many homes are complete with bedroom closets to keep the clutter from view, it’s what’s inside those helpful storage areas that

crumbs and to sort through outdated food. Before you put the items back on the shelves, clean the base thoroughly and line each one with a non-adhesive shelf liner, which will create a protective, cushioned barrier on surfaces.

Survey food items. Go through food items and donate or dispose of those you won’t use. Seal boxes for donation with an easy-to-use packaging tape, such as Duck brand EZ Start packaging tape.

Group similar items. Move common items together to help keep track of your inventory. For further organization, sort based on expiration so you can use up food while it’s still fresh.

Create user-friendly spaces. Make your pantry more ergonomic and easier to access by placing commonly used items on eye-level shelves.

For other ideas for keeping your kitch-en tidy, visit www.duckbrand.com.

Finishing TouchesHere are a few other ways to enhance

the rooms in your home with stylish and useful updates:

Add a pop of color. Perk up a neutral room by giving an old chair, mirror or side table a new paint job. Simply spray your decorative item with quality paint, such as Krylon Dual Superbond Paint + Primer, which sticks to virtually any material, bringing life to your favorite household items.

Hang it up. Add a row of hooks to your walls for extra function. Hooks are perfect for use in the bathroom or kitch-en to hang towels or pot holders. A hook installed in an entryway or mudroom is a great spot for keys, jackets and back-packs.

Dim the lights. Install light dimmers throughout your home for an extra touch of ambiance and improved energy effi-ciency. The dimming function is especial-ly perfect for living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms.

Source: Family Features

DIY Ideasfor Every Room

Simple Steps to Update and Organize



#1 in TEXAS for sales!

(and #4 in the US)

Ashton Woods . Christopher Sims . Coventry . Darling . Fedrick, Harris . Highland . Lespreance Construction . Meritage . NewmarkPartners in Building . Perry . Peterson . Sitterle . Sterling Classic . Taylor Morrison . Toll Brothers . Trendmaker . Westin . Westport

From US-59 in Sugar Land, take Hwy 6 south 3 miles . 281.499.8700

UNIVERSITY BLVD. andSIENNA CONNECTION NOW OPEN!

Ft.

Bend

Pkw

y

8

Will

iam

s Tr

ace

59 6

90

LJ P kwy.

University

Blvd.

2013 GHBADeveloper of the Year

Luxurious Waterside Living in Fort Bend

com $300s-Millions

The #1 best-selling community in Texas(and #4 in the nation) is located right in your backyard!With elegant homes, world-class amenities, wooded and waterfront homesites—

and a location with easy access to U.S. 59 and the Fort Bend Parkway—

it’s no wonder so many people are choosing Riverstone to call home.

Visit us today to see why Riverstone is #1 in Texas!

RCLCO, 2014 mid-year report

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART ISAdvertorial


Armed with high energy, Debbie Marcell’s sincere commitment and dedica-tion to her real estate clients is demonstrated in the professionalism, compe-tency and hands-on personalized service she provides her clients. After several years in the President’s Circle and Gold Status, her success rose to an all-time high in 2013 with Marcell climbing to Emerald Elite Status, which recognizes the top two percent of agents in the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gary Greene network.

Marcell was named as a Five Star Real Estate Professional in Texas Monthly for 2014. As the listing agent for Sterling Classic Homes in Riverstone, she has sold all of this builder’s high-end custom homes in the exclusive Hartford Land-ing and Ivy Bend neighborhoods for the last three years. Most recently, Mar-cell closed on the first home being built in the new Majestic Pointe lake front neighborhood where this builder’s pricing begins at $1.5M and at $2.5M on the waterfront lots.

A 27 year resident of Sugar Land who is active in community service, Marcell has extensive knowledge of the market and is passionate about helping buy-ers and sellers throughout the county regardless of the price range. After an impressive career in the corporate world managing sales organizations, Marcell loves the up close and personal aspect of helping her clients and strives to put her past work experience to work for her clients’ benefit in every aspect of the transaction.

For more information, call 281-782-2102 or visit www.debbiemarcell.com.

Debbie MarcellBetter Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gary Greene

Listen to the sound of the songbirds and see the butterflies sipping nectar from wildflowers. Hear the splash of a cardinal bathing in your birdbath and see your children learning more about God’s creatures. This could be your backyard!

It doesn’t matter what part of Fort Bend County you live in or how much space you have, you can create a habi-tat for wildlife and even get it certified as an official Backyard Wildlife Habitat site with the National Wildlife Federa-tion (NWF). According to The National Wildlife Federation, there are few key things needed to create a wildlife sanc-tuary in your yard: food, water, cover and a safe place to raise young.

Food sources include seeds from a plant, berries, nectar, foliage/twigs, nuts, fruits, pollen, suet, bird feeders, squirrel feeders, hummingbird feeders and butterfly feeders. Water sources include a small birdbath, a pond or a trickling water feature. Small wildlife like a place where they can feel safe. Having bushes or short shrubs where they can feel protected from humans, predators and inclement weather is a must.

Fall will be here soon, and now is a great time to get a plan for creating a habitat for birds, butterflies and other amazing small creatures that visit the area.

Once you have installed these ele-ments into your yard and created a healthy and sustainable wildlife habitat, enroll in the NWF’s Certified Wildlife Habitat™ program at www.nwf.org/How-to-Help/Garden-for-Wildlife/Cre-ate-a-Habitat.aspx.

Garden Guy would love to help you create and install the elements for an amazing backyard wildlife habitat! For more information, call 281-208-4400 or visit www.garden-guy.com.

Creating a PrivateWildlife Sanctuary

Build your own dream home with long time highly regarded custom builder Sterling Classic Homes on this beautiful luxury homesite on 75 acre lake in Sugar Land. Plans currently under development for custom home. Features to include spectacu-lar view, 4 car garage, room for a pool, etc. Majestic Pointe is a gated community in Riverstone and excellent Fort Bend Schools. 14 Haven Shore. MLS # 94734324.

Charming & stately rare find Golf Course home w/views to die for! The expansive windows throughout bring outdoors in. Nestled in the trees on a quiet cul-de-sac, lovely Pool & Spa. Granite, butcher block island Kitchen. Gas Cook-top, Warming Drawer. Fixtures/Hardware, frameless showers. Carpet 2014. Side/side Sub Zero Frig/Freezer. Energy efficient with Pella Windows/Thermal Panes, two Electronic Air Cleaners. Unfin-ished bonus room/attic space. Central Vacuum. Work shop in the garage & low taxes. 15 Half Penny Ct. MLS # 93364644.

Wow! Huge price reduction. Sprawling Country Estate Cus-tom nestled on total of approx. 5 Wooded acres. Low taxes! Two lakes. Huge barn w/insulated Kitchen/Bath. Oversized carport & added slab for equipment/large vehicles. Green House. Open floor plan perfect for entertaining. Expansive dream Closets. Short commute to Hwy59 and 20 minutes to Sugar Land. Excellent Needville ISD! 7807 Fairchild Blvd. MLS # 88296174.

SWEETWATER

POOL / SPA

ON GOLF COURSE5+ACRES

BARN

NEEDVILLE/RICHMOND

MAJESTIC POINTE IN RIVERSTONE Debbie Marcell

Better Homes and GardensGary Greene

2323 Town Center Dr.Sugar Land, TX 77478281-782-2102 (o)281-980-5426 (f)[email protected]

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS Advertorial




THE FROGBlinds Shutters Drapes

2415 Westheimer, Houston • 713.840.0844 or 409.762.3764Serving Houston, Galveston & the Bay Area

Our associates are Hunter Douglas certifi ed and speak multiple languages to better serve our community.

Se habla Espanol • Marunong kami ng Filipino

frogblinds.com

Motorization Specialists

Silhouette A Deux™ lets you control light as never before by pairing a sheer shade with a roller shade all in one

headrail. Now you can choose to see the light.... or not.

Call or visit online toschedule a free consultation

See Room Darkening In a Whole New Light

The Frog Blinds, Shutters, Drapes offers the finest and widest selection of quality window coverings from sheers to shades, blinds to shutters and valances to draperies. As a Hunter Douglas Gallery, they can offer you the se-curity of the Hunter Douglas Right Choice Promise! The Frog also carries other national brands like Graber, Tex-ton, Lutron and Somfy.

The Frog Blinds, Shutters, Drapes has been serving the Greater Houston, Galveston and the Bay areas for over nine years. Their associates are Hunter Douglas certified and speak in multiple languages to better serve the com-munity. They are able to provide a warm, comfortable and stylish surrounding for your home or business at reason-able prices. The Frog Blinds, Shutters, Drapes specializes in motorized products for your window covering needs. They can also create custom draperies, valances, pillows and bedding. Their knowledgeable team can transform your space with the latest designs to fit your lifestyle – be it traditional, contemporary, casual or coastal.

The Frog Blinds, Shutters, Drapes is a member of the Greater Houston Home Builders Association and the Re-modelers Council. They are proud to have earned the prestigious Angie’s List Super Service Award for 2012 and 2013!

Come visit The Frog Blinds, Shutters, Drapes’ com-plete Hunter Douglas Gallery in Houston, located at 2415 Westheimer. They look forward to seeing you! The Frog can also send a mobile showroom right to your home.

For more information, call 713-840-0844 or visit www.frogblinds.com.

The Frog Blinds, Shutters, Drapes

Imperial Sugar Land Opens With All-NewLuxury Patio Homes and Townhomes

Sugar Land’s exclusive new address is Imperial, where active empty nesters and young families now can enjoy all-new, low-maintenance luxury patio homes and two-story townhomes in gated and lakefront neighborhoods, all within walking distance of winding trails, lush green-belts, a weekly farmers market and more.

Starting in the $450s, Imperial’s new lifestyle homes feature gourmet kitchens, outdoor entertaining spaces with custom fireplaces and summer kitchens, first-floor master suites, wine grottos and three-car garages. Plus, a limited number of Imperial’s patio homes will be located in the gated, waterfront neighborhood of Quiet Cove.

Imperial also features new, one and two-story town-homes from Trendmaker Homes from the $400s ranging from 1,900 to 2,900 square feet where open living spaces incorporate dining, gourmet kitchen and family room all in one area.

Located at Highway 6 and Highway 90A, the new mas-ter-planned community by The Johnson Development Corp. is Sugar Land’s most accessible address where families are walking distance to Constellation Field, home of the Sugar Land Skeeters, and the Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center, opening summer 2016 in a restored building with a look and feel similar to the award-winning Children’s Museum of Houston.

To experience Imperial’s all-new style of lock-and-leave, luxury lifestyle homes, visit one of the community’s three fully furnished, garden-style model patio homes from Sittlerle Homes, Darling Homes and Partners in Building.

For more information, visit www.imperialsugarland.com or “like” the community on Facebook at www.facebook.com/imperialsugarland.

fort bend magazine • September 2014 53IMPERIALSUGARLAND.COM

Darling Homes . Partners in BuilDing . sitterle Homes . trenDmaker townHomes

Sugar Land’s exclusive new address is Imperial, where active empty nesters and young families now can enjoy all-new,low-maintenance luxury patio homes and two-story townhomes in gatedand lakefront neighborhoods, all within walking distance of winding trails,

lush greenbelts, a weekly Farmers Market and more.

ImperIal Sugar land —perfect for You!

Grand Pkwy.

Westpark Tollway

Fort Be

nd P

kwy

sugar lanD’s Newest exclusive aDDress.



Pelican BuildersAnnounces Model Homes

Now Open atLake Pointe Commons

Model homes are now open at Lake Pointe Commons, a gated community of 46 single-family homes in the Lake Pointe mixed-use development of Sug-ar Land. Located minutes from High-way 59 and Highway 6, the epicenter of Sugar Land’s Town Center, Lake Pointe Commons offers luxury, convenience and access to unique lifestyle centers.

This new project by Pelican Builders offers five different floor plans ranging from 2,313 square feet to 3,154 square feet with a limited number of lake front lots available. Standard features in-clude oak hardwood floors in living ar-eas, stairs and hallways, stainless steel Bosch appliances and Jeld-Wen Low E Vinyl windows. All homes are elevator capable.

With a portfolio that spans over 30 years, Pelican Builders is dedicated to making a house a home. They un-derstand the fine balance between design, architecture and the highest quality construction. Each previous ho-meowner will attest to Pelican Builders’ exceptional reputation of consistently delivering quality homes nestled within defined and well-planned communities. At the end of the day, Pelican Builders’ hallmark continues to be their dedica-tion. Whether presenting a luxury high-rise or an elegant, single family home, they are passionate about what they do and it shows.

With gated access and privacy, el-egant architecture and common area features including a swimming pool, cabana and lake front access, come see why Lake Pointe Commons in Sug-ar Land is a great place to call home.

For more information, contact Lizz or Chris Sansone at 281-753-0333 or visit www.pelicanbuilders.com.

See ad on page 12.

For 20 years, Westin Homes has been a leader among Houston homebuilders offering the very best in quality and design. With both distinct and refined details, Westin creates the perfect balance of beauty and function. Westin has built a strong reputation as a builder of trust in delivering sophisticated luxury homes. From the impressive custom look of the home exteriors to the curved walls and archways, dramatic windows and soaring ceilings, onlookers will see the Westin Homes difference in every detail.

Westin Homes has built the company and its success on taking pride in de-livering the highest levels of satisfaction to every customer. Every Westin home is engineered to ensure that a customer’s new home not only meets but also exceeds their expectations. Compare the amount of brick on Westin homes’ exteriors, the brick use around windows, the interior details such as crown mold-ings, elegant trim, columns, art niches, Juliette balconies, rotunda entries and coffered ceilings; these all illustrate the enhanced value of a Westin home.

With upscale neighborhoods throughout the Greater Houston area, Westin Homes can be found in communities that offer convenience to all of the things you need: shopping, dining, entertainment, recreation and a major work center. Whatever you are looking for in your next home, Westin Homes has an ideal place where you will feel right at home.

For more information on Westin Homes, visit www.westin-homes.com or call 281-240-1551.

Westin Homes: Earning Trust Through Exceptional Quality and Design

LBL Event Rentals may be a new name, but the companies it represents have been a staple in Fort Bend. Sugar Land Antiques, Southern Hospitality Coffee and Linens by Lisa are moving from their Brooks Street location to 12999 Mur-phy Road, Suite B-7. A final sale will take place at Sugar Land Antiques through September 8th.

Linens by Lisa is changing its name to LBL Event Rentals to let customers know that they “offer more than just linens.” LBL Event Rentals, formerly Linens by Lisa, has the most up-to-date, in-style selection of linens in the Greater Hous-ton area. LBL Event Rentals services are tailored to fit clients’ special needs. Let your style come through with the colors and textures you choose for custom linens, chair covers, overlays and accessories. From breathtaking weddings to extravagant galas, let LBL Event Rentals help you build the atmosphere guests will remember for years to come.

Southern Hospitality Coffee, the home of Texas Sunrise, will head back out to the Imperial Farmers Market on the second Saturday of each month. Call ahead to order at 713-401-7615, or stop by the Murphy location to pick up a bag.

To learn more about the sale or market times, visit Linens by Lisa or Southern Hospitality Coffee on Facebook. For more information, visit www.lbleventrentals.com or call 281-498-0021.

LBL Event Rentals



12 9 9 9 M U R P H Y R O A D , S U I T E B 7, S T A F F O R D , T E X A S 7 74 7 7

L B L E V E N T R E N T A L S . C O M | 2 81 . 4 9 8 . 0 0 21 | L I S A @ L I N E N S B Y L I S A . C O M

A L L T O G E T H E R U N D E R O N E R O O F

Westin-Homes.comDue to Builder’s continual efforts to improve its plans and design, we reserve the right to change features, specifications and prices without notice. Tax rate information is subject to change and should be independently verified. 8/14

Westin homes are way more than beautiful exteriors. Our homes are value-engineered to ensure that your new home not only meets, but also exceeds your expectations. Compare the amount of brick on our home exteriors, interior details such as crown moldings, elegant trim, columns, art niches, rotunda entries, and coffered ceilings: these all illustrate the enhanced value of a Westin home.Visit one of our many Ft. Bend Area communities and see what makes Westin Homes so special.

NOW BUILDING IN:Brazos Town Center · Cardiff Ranch · Estates at Promenade Grand Mission · Lakemont · Rivers Run · Riverstone Trails of Katy · Willow Creek Farms · Woodcreek



Riverstone has moved up two spots to No. 4 on a recently released list of the na-tion’s top-selling master-planned communities. Riverstone is the top-ranked Texas development on the mid-year 2014 report by Robert Charles Lesser & Co. (RCLCO), a real estate advisory group, with 384 sales through the first half of the year. In all, there are nine Texas developments – all from the Houston area – ranked among the nation’s top 20 master-planned communities. Three of the developments – Riverstone, Cross Creek Ranch and Sienna Plantation – are projects of The Johnson Development Corp, the only developer with more than one community listed on the top 20 tally.

“Buyers have found our mix of housing styles, builders, waterside living and ame-nities – especially the country club setting of the new Club at Riverstone – very ap-pealing,” said Trey Reichert, vice president and general manager of Riverstone. “We anticipate our sales pace to continue throughout the second half of 2014 with more neighborhoods opening this summer and later this year.”

Nineteen builders offer homes in Riverstone priced from the $300,000s to the millions. Residents enjoy an array of amenities, including The Club at Riverstone, a 17-acre recreation complex that opened this summer with swimming, tennis and an 8,000 square-foot clubhouse. For more information, visit www.riverstone.com.

See ad on page 49.

Riverstone Ranked No. 1 Community in Texas

Sometimes inspiration strikes, and people feel the urge to do something drastic to better express their own personal style through home décor. J&L Distributors loves when that happens, because it means implementing a new, fun aesthetic and the opportunity to get creative with space. J&L Distributors’ in-home designer will come up with unique ways to incorporate window treatments into interesting and functional design plans.

Most homeowners think that one curtain, or a set of curtains, suffices in a room; most of the time it does. But, for a little something extra or for privacy and light, consider creating layers by hanging two sets of curtains or draperies. Or, hang sheer curtains at the center of a large bay window with heavier, solid panels at either end. This creates an opportunity to add a pop of color in a room while still maintaining a light airiness.

If a homeowner is not wild about the look of floor-to-ceiling curtain panels, they should consider Roman shades. These simple window treatments come in a variety of colors and sizes. Additionally, because they are not as dramatic as curtain panels, homeowners can opt for bold colors or patterns without fear of overwhelming the space.

To learn more about J&L Distributors’ custom drapery programs, visit their show-room at 707 Avenue East in Stafford or schedule a home consultation with J&L Win-dow Coverings Today! For more information, call 281-403-6733, visit www.jlblinds.com or email [email protected].

See ad on page 2.

Easy Ideas for Covering Windows

What an Unforgettable Year This Has Been!

Arlene Rolsen, CRS, has been help-ing buyers and sellers realize their dreams for over 36 years and believes that this last year has by far been the most unpredictable in her career. “Ho-meownership is an investment in your future, and it is how many American families begin to accumulate wealth. Despite the recent downturn, home-ownership still matters to many,” Rol-sen said.

Arlene Rolsen loves introducing families from all over the world to Fort Bend County where they can find great schools, places to worship, shopping, medical care, parks, recreation and di-versity. All have helped make her role such an enjoyable one. “We have truly been blessed with a market far different from any other place in the world.” The future continues to look bright for the area as more people continue to dis-cover Fort Bend as such a wonderful place to call home.

Rolsen always remembers one of her sellers’ remarks: “I have given a lot of thought about my house sale, and I have decided that the house is second-ary in the process. The buyer is actually buying the hope of a bright, happy fu-ture. As for the sellers, we are actually selling a place where memories were made.” This explains why Arlene Rol-sen has loved and enjoyed her years of helping buyers and sellers realize their hopes and memories.

For more information, call 281-414-8400 or contact [email protected].



[email protected]

Arlene R. Rolsen, CRS“Selling Fort Bend’s Finest Homes Since 1985”

Call Me For More Information

TELFAIR PECAN GROVE PLANTATION

Beautiful Perry designed home nestled on oversize corner lot. Home features study/living rm & dining rm w/wood flrs; family rm w/19-ft ceiling & cast stone f/p; island kitchen offers SS appliances, granite, & 42” cabinets; 1st flr master retreat + master bathrm w/granite and His & Her closets; 2nd flr offers game rm + bonus rm, 3 bedrms, 2 full baths. Huge backyard with covered patio, and 3-car detached garage w/porte-cochere.

Stunning 2-story home features hardwood flrs & gas log f/p in family rm; island kitchen w/granite, stainless double ovens, & custom cabinets; private study adjacent to 1st flr master bedrm; updated master bathrm offers antique-style tub & open shower. 2nd flr offers spacious game rm w/built-ins, 2 bedrms w/2nd full bathrm + guest quarters w/private bathrm & walk-in closet; plantation shutters & tons of storage space. Backyard oasis has sparkling pool/spa, BBQ area, & 2 covered patio areas w/tile flrs.

Feel good about your future?

(713) 271-2000 • [email protected] Southwest Freeway Building 5, Sugar Land, TX 77478

Jeff Tallas, CLU, LUTCFTallas Insurance & Financial Services

Has your current carrier increased your rates lately? Is your hurricane deductible 3 or maybe 5%?

Come visit us at our new locationin front of Sugar Creek.

Don’t Leave YourFamily’s Financial

Security to Chance

It is often the small things that make the biggest impact. When Tracy Bas-den reminisces about her dad, Eddie, she speaks about everyday things that made life with him fun, like how he could transform a trip to the grocery store into a family adventure. Those simple pleasures a child enjoys with a parent disappeared for Tracy when her father died after a long illness. She was 18, and her brother, Matthew, only 14.

But Tracy’s story of loss begins much earlier. Her mother died just weeks after Matthew was born, thrust-ing Eddie into the role of single parent. Eddie rose to the challenge, but the up-and-down nature of his work as a contractor sometimes made for tough financial circumstances.

It was during one of those down times that Eddie canceled a sizable life insurance policy he had purchased af-ter his wife died, not realizing the far-reaching impact that decision would have. It meant that upon his untimely death, Tracy became the legal guardian – and surrogate parent – to her broth-er and found herself working 90-plus hours a week to make ends meet.

Financially, life continues to be a struggle as Tracy balances both work-ing and studying to become a nurse. While money would not have brought back her parents, Tracy thinks of how things might have been different if they had purchased more life insurance. “Dealing with death is hard enough,” she said. “Dealing with death without any money is extremely hard. It’s defi-nitely important to have life insurance.”

For more information, contact Jeff Tallas at Tallas Insurance and Financial Services at [email protected] or 713-271-2000.

Life Happens is a nonprofit organization dedi-cated to helping consumers take personal finan-cial responsibility through the ownership of life insurance and related products. © 2014 Life Hap-pens. All rights reserved.



If you’re thinking about ways to add some personality to your space, consider these five simple (and wallet-friendly) improvements:

1. Replace a fixture.If cooking is integral to your per-

sonality, consider updating one of your kitchen’s most frequently used appli-ances: the faucet. Today’s kitchen fau-cets come equipped with a variety of fea-tures and make for a relatively simple do-it-yourself project.

The Delta Trinsic kitchen faucet, for example, features a magnetic pull-down wand that locks the spray head in place when it’s not in use and optional Touch2O Technology, which allows us-ers to turn water on or off with a simple tap. Like any good accessory, choose a

Five Simple Tips toEnhance Your Home’s

Personality

finish that complements your personal-ity and room, from the warm and invit-ing tones of Champagne Bronze to al-ways in-style chrome.

2. Paint your front door.First impressions start at the front

door. Consider your home’s exterior and outdoor surroundings as you’re se-lecting a new hue, but when narrowing down your paint palette, also focus on the tints that best reflect your family’s vibe.

A bright green door is both welcom-ing and fun, while a shiny black finish adds glamour. Even a crisp, white hue can be anything but boring, offering a clean backdrop for potted plants and ac-cessories that change with each season.

3. Install new hardware.Small details can make a big impact.

Customize furniture, closets or built-ins with stylish drawer pulls. Styles range from the whimsical, hand-painted op-tions available at craft fairs to more substantive handles and pulls available at your local hardware store. Take your time selecting pieces you love for a look

Y our home can say a lot about you. A state-of-the-art kitchen outfitted with a double oven likely means you

enjoy cooking and entertaining friends and family. Likewise, a backyard complete with play sets, a treehouse or a basketball hoop is a sure sign your house is also a hangout for the neighborhood kids.

“My house is more than just a haven for my fam-ily. It’s a real life scrapbook, art gallery and personal sanctuary,” said Michelle Hinkley, mom to three young boys and the lady behind the home and lifestyle blog www.4men1lady.com. “As much as I want it to be functional, I enjoy spending a little extra time finding ways to keep our home uniquely us.”

that’s both unique and functional.

4. Start a collection.Showcase your personality by decorat-

ing your space with small items or collect-ables. A collection of sea glass bottles or vases, for instance, could pay tribute to a favorite vacation spot, while ceramic ani-mals in bright colors show off your quirky and creative side. To create a cohesive fo-cal point, focus on collecting items similar in colors, materials or textures.

5. Build or craft something.If you’re really daring, try creat-

ing some inexpensive home décor for your space. Sites like Pinterest.com are great resources for compiling inspira-tion; many blogs also offer step-by-step guides for a variety of projects for the home. Whether you’re creating a one-of-a-kind piece of art or building a cof-fee table from scratch, your next project could be a fun opportunity to help truly customize your home.

Visit www.DeltaFaucet.com for more great tips.




Anja Drewes Properties:Making Dreams Come True

Whether she is helping a growing family sell or buy their home or helping a young professional get started with his first property, Anja Drewes enjoys every step of the real estate process with a perfect blend of experience, knowledge of the market, ethics and commitment to service. Drewes’ back-ground allows her to think strategically and provide disciplined advice, as well as execute this advice, so her clients can reach their goals.

When working with home sellers, Drewes employs individually tailored, cutting-edge techniques to gain her clients the most value in the shortest time. She is also an ideal partner for buyers, helping them make informed home-buying decisions with the least amount of stress. Drewes is a trained negotiator and problem solver. She was named Five Star Real Estate Pro-fessionals as featured in Texas Monthly four years in a row.

As expressed by Drewes’ clients the Mahoeny Family: “Anja Drewes is a pure professional who is great at her job and a top producer in her field, as one can see based on her many awards. Now having used her ourselves, we can tes-tify to the value that she adds to the home-buying experience. She calmed our fears, answered our questions, got tough when needed and gave us solid insight and recommendations that we followed to our benefit. We are ex-tremely pleased with the entire home-buying experience with Anja, and we will be using her services again during the sale of our other property.”

For more information, call 713-298-9177, visit www.buyandsellsugarland.com or email [email protected].



Beautiful Views From YourFuture Colorado Home Site

You may have dreamt about a retirement house in Colorado or just a vacation home. You may want to consider a master planned development that offers much needed utilities. This beautiful waterfront lot with picturesque mountain views in Pagosa Springs is close to the family-owned Wolf Creek Ski Area and the mineral springs that made Pagosa Springs famous. This lot is approximately .24 acres in the Pagosa Lakes development that has all utilities as well as several fishing lakes, a golf course and other amenities. $89,000

Interested?Please call

281-798-6432

Gorgeous Hill Country Home SiteWaterfront Lot in Comal CountyJust 20 minutes from San Antonio and minutes from the

Guadalupe River in Spring Branch, this 1.72 acre lot is your Hill Country dream come true!

Amazing views on the hillside lot that features a meadow with waterfront along Spring Creek, The Crossing at Spring Creek, an acreage home site community, is the perfect place to build your Hill Country getaway. The community offers all underground utilities, paved, county maintained roads, plus a beautiful 10+ acre owners-only park with scenic hiking trails, a swimming pool and pavilion and a playground. REDUCED $82,500

For Sale By Owner: 281.728.1204

Broker Associate

Answers, Guidance

& Service. That’s exactly

what I’m offering.

Rodney Lerner

Commercial / Residential Licensed Broker Associate Houston Association of Realtors

Ranks by ALL previous clients 4.97 out of 5 stars

Top 25 Residential Real Estate Team 2012 & 2013 – Houston Business Journal

30 years experience

#1Top Producing Teamin Sugar Land#1 Producing Team 2012 & 2013

16525 Lexington Blvd, Ste 260Sugar Land, TX 77479

Call Rodney:

[email protected]

Hire Rodney and put his expertise to work for you.

Rodney is the agent who has negotiated property sales and leasing on behalf of:

When you are buying or selling a

home, you want an experienced,

competent agent that provides -


The October issue of Fort Bend Focuswill be dedicated to breast cancer awareness

and breast cancer survivors.

To advertise, call: 281-690-4242www.absolutelyfocusmedia.com


absolute ly!AUTO REVIEW

By Steve Kursar

T he 2015 Lincoln MKC is the newest vehicle to enter the competitive compact luxury

utility vehicle line. It’s sure to catch on with car buyers looking to break away from the pack. The styling is decidedly youthful with touches of luxury that rival much more expensive brands. This is Lincoln Motor Company’s next determined step in capturing a young-er buyer than the brand has known for decades. This five-seater crossover is definitely not your grandfather’s Lin-coln.

Lincoln, as Ford Motor Company’s luxury brand, used to share the lux-ury automotive top spot back in the day when large land yachts cruised American highways. But starting in

the 1980s, Ford executives began to acquire other luxury car brands, and Lincoln sales slowly faded away as the brand was starved for resources. The spacious Lincoln Town Car was still a hit with the older folks, but Ford real-ized that something had to be done to bring new buyers to their showrooms. Last year’s introduction of the Lincoln MKZ mid-size sedan was an impres-sive first step, but the 2015 Lincoln MKC is proof that the car maker is back in a big way.

Although it shares a platform with Ford’s popular Escape, the MKC does not share any resemblance to its au-tomotive cousin. It does, however, share the split front grill with its stable mate the MKX, as well as the rear tail-

lamp design. But the interior is where the MKC truly shines. The Bridge of Weir leather seats just about melt to the touch, and the matte wood inserts highlight contrasting grain. Actual buttons and dials to make it easier to control radio

and climate controls and the MyLin-coln TouchTM touchscreen is easy to navigate.

At an MSRP of $33,100, a base MKC comes equipped with a 240 hp, 2.0 liter twin-turbo EcoBoost engine that delivers EPA estimated fuel economy ratings of 20 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. It’s available both in front wheel and all wheel drive configurations.

If you just have to have more pow-er, opt for the 285 hp, 2.3 liter EcoBoost engine that turns the MKC into more of a sports car with world-class han-dling and with only slightly worse fuel economy of 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. The Lincoln brand is back, no doubt about it. Do yourself a favor, and put it on your shopping list.

LINCOLN MKC2015


NEWSWORTHY

The upcoming Fort Bend Seniors Groovy Party highlighting The Beatles celebrates the 40th anniversary of the nonprofit organization founded in 1974 to assist older adults in Fort Bend County. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the “American Invasion” by The Beatles, the iconic British band who changed the face of rock ‘n roll music in the 20th century.

More than 350 guests are expected to break out bell-bot-toms and mini-skirts for a good cause at Groovy Party. The evening includes dinner, a special live performance, dancing and an auction. All proceeds will support Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels programs that help older adults remain in-dependent by providing necessary services and resources to improve their quality of life.

Juliana and Ron Ewer of Legacy Ford are serving as the hon-orary chairs of the popular annual event to be held September 13th from 6:30 pm to 11:30 pm at the Safari Texas Ranch Ball-room in Richmond. “We are honored to be involved in an event that raises much-needed funds to benefit seniors in the Fort Bend County area,” said Juliana Ewer. “This year’s party is a milestone celebrating 40 years of service by Fort Bend Seniors. The Beatles theme adds a fun, historical dimension through music and fashion, which should appeal to all age groups.”

Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels currently serves more than 1,000 hot meals a day to the elderly in our community, ensuring that this population is not at risk for health problems associated with malnutrition. This and other services offered by Fort Bend Seniors — including congregate meals, transpor-tation, case management, health screenings, information and

referral services and recreation — enable seniors to remain in their homes and to continue to be an integral part of the com-munity for as long as possible.

Underwriting and sponsorship opportunities for Groovy Par-ty range from $250 to $10,000, while individual tickets are $75 each. Tables and individual tickets are still available.

For more information about the Fort Bend Seniors mission, its programs or the 2014 Groovy Party, contact Manuela Ar-royos, Executive Director of Fort Bend Seniors Meals, at [email protected] or 281-633-7055.

Fort Bend Seniors Announces 40th AnniversaryGroovy Party With The Beatles Theme

Fondly reminiscing on their favorite Beatles’ songs are Fort Bend Seniors CEO Manuela H. Arroyos, Groovy Party Honorary Chairs Ron and Juliana Ewer, Fort Bend Seniors Board Chairman Ray Aguilar and Groovy volunteers Eloise Lucas, Katie Herrington and Cyndia Rodriguez.

Snowdrop Foundation 3rd Annual Run Over Cancer 5K and 10K

On Saturday, September 6th, Snow-drop Foundation is proud to partner with The Texas Running Company (TRC) for the 3rd Annual Run Over Cancer.

September marks National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death from disease in children. While researchers at the Texas Children’s Cancer Center, the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and many other pediatric cancer centers are making great progress in the search for a cure, they need more funding to continue their work. That’s why each September

during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Snowdrop Foundation, Inc. ral-lies to increase visibility of pediatric can-cer in our communities.

The Run Over Cancer 5K and 10K is a USATF Certified, mostly flat course with a slight hill in the middle. The race

includes prizes for overall male, female and individual 10 year age group win-ners, official chip timing and technical t-shirts to the first 300 registrants. The race will be held rain or shine.

Your support helps raise awareness for childhood cancer and provides fund-ing for continuous research to terminate pediatric cancer, as well as scholarships for pediatric cancer and patients and survivors nationwide.

More information about the race can be found at www.snowdropfoundation.org.

absolutely!HEALTHY LIVING

By Merilee Kern

HealthySchool Lunchand Snack SolutionsA s parents prepare for yet another back to school

season, they will scurry to malls in search of new clothes for their ever-growing child along with a litany of school supplies too numerous to name. But, let’s not forget healthy school lunches and after school snacks as we plan ahead for the upcoming school year.

It’s common knowledge that after school is prime time for snacking, and it is also a time when many kids make, shall we say, less than nutritious food and beverage choices. Try these waistline-friendly after school snack alternatives your kids are sure to love:

and blend until completely smooth. Top with a dab of fat-free sour cream, fat-free cheese, diced toma-toes, chopped green onions, etc.

Fruit Smoothies:These are a warm weather sta-

ple that can and should be enjoyed year-round. While fruit smoothie recipes abound, they need not be a complex process. Simply blend, in amounts to your personal liking, either plain or flavored fat-free/sugar-free yogurt with skim milk, ice cubes and either fresh or frozen fruit chunks. For added sweetness, you can add a touch of honey or an artificial sweetener, such as stevia. Blend and enjoy!

Healthy Ice Cream Sandwiches:These are a snap and always a

crowd pleaser! Purchase any type of round fat-free/sugar-free cookie on the market (preferably the new whole grain varieties) or bake any low-fat/low-calorie cookie recipe from scratch. Sandwich waistline-friendly sherbet, sorbet or gelato between two cookies and press to make a sandwich. For added excite-ment, flavor and visual interest, you can also roll the outside edge of

the “sandwich” in chopped unsalted nuts, shredded coconut, raisins or finely diced fresh or dried fruit.

Parfait:While the word “parfait” may

not be in your child’s vocabulary, he will love making – and eating – this snack layered with goodness. In a cup or bowl, simply create thin, alternating layers of non-fat yogurt, low-fat granola (or other heart-healthy cereal product) and fruit slices or whole berries. Make as many layers of each as you like and then dig in!

Jell-O®:Let’s not forget how much color-

ful, jiggly Jell-O® can delight, espe-cially when it is jam-packed with diced fruit.

Pizza:On a fat-free/low-calorie/low-

carb whole grain tortilla or whole grain bagel, smear tomato paste or sauce and top with fat-free cheese, whatever veggies the child likes, and even lean meats like ham or turkey dices. Bake at 350 degrees until cheese is melted with a few brown spots on top.

Potato Chips/Fries: Cut the potato in the desired

shape (round, rectangular, oblong, etc.). Fully coat with egg whites. Season with a touch of salt or other herbs as desired. Bake at 350 de-grees until golden brown. Serve with sugar-free catsup.

Popcorn:Air pop popcorn and on it drizzle

a moderate amount of powdered butter substitute, light parmesan cheese or even honey for a tasty twist.

Tortilla Chips:Cut Chinese wonton squares

(usually found in the produce aisle) in half diagonally so they become triangles. Spread out evenly on a baking sheet, lightly spray with cooking spray, and sprinkle on a dash of salt. Bake at 350 degrees until crunchy. Eat alone or serve with fat-free salsa or the Mexican bean dip described below.

Mexican Bean Dip:Drain and food process two

14-ounce cans of black beans. Add 3/4 cup of fat-free salsa and 1/2 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce


Here are a few great ideas to assure a happy school day is also a healthy school day:

Tuna fish is jam packed with oh-so-beneficial Omega-3 fatty acids. When mixed with low-fat mayonnaise, diced apple and if your child likes, a bit of onion and served in a wheat pita, it’s nothing short of delish and a healthy home run!

Skip the sugary juice box and send along a bottle of water instead to get your child in the habit of working toward his optimal fluid intake. Experts recommend one consume about .5 ounces of water per pound of body weight.

BLTs can also be healthy! Simply swap regular bacon for the turkey bacon variety (in moderation due to high sodium levels) and layer with lettuce, tomato and fat-free mayonnaise. Sandwich in whole grain bread or roll into a pita wrap. Your child will nary know the differ-ence between this healthy version versus its fat-packed counterpart.

What to serve on the side of the main school lunch item? Options abound! Low-salt pretzels; fat- and sugar-free yogurt or cottage cheese; celery sticks filled with low-fat/low-sodium peanut butter; any kind of pre-washed fresh fruit (nature’s gift to humanity); dried or dehydrated fruit, such as raisins; apricots, pears, ap-ples, roasted or raw almonds, walnuts or peanuts (not oiled or candied); low-fat string cheese or chunked low-fat cheese and even baked chips or healthy pita chips in moderation are all great choices.

Even the quintessential children’s sandwich, P B & J, can be made in a healthy way these days. Many peanut butter brands now offer low-fat and low-sodium ver-sions. That, coupled with an all-fruit, sugar-free jelly on whole grain bread makes this school cafeteria staple a guiltless pleasure.

Lean meat, such as shaved ham or turkey, on whole grain bread or in a wheat wrap with some let-tuce, low/fat-free cheese and a touch of low/fat-free mayonnaise or mustard is sure to please and nourish.


NEWSWORTHY

Hope Endowment is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to empower children in India to transcend poverty by providing a safe, caring, compassionate home and prepare them with education and social development. By blending these services, Hope Endowment seeks to provide a lifetime commitment to these children’s growth in the world.

The children Hope Endowment serves are between the ages of three and 18 years. All of the children are provided with housing, food, clothing, health care, educational oppor-tunities and social services. The organization provides finan-cial assistance to over 180 children across three homes in India that span from north to south located in Gujarat and Kerala.

Since inception, Hope Endowment has donated over $1,000,000 to meet the daily needs of the children it serves, increase awareness in society, create educational opportu-nities for growth, establish permanent dwellings in these lo-cales and most importantly, grow the endowment to allow the organization to help the children for years to come.

This year, Hope Endowment’s goal is to increase previous years’ donations. The ultimate goal is to raise $250,000 at the Fourth Annual Hope Gala. All fundraising dollars collected at the events from individual donors go directly to the children.

“We are honored to once again join Hope Endowment in their mission to empower children in India to transcend pover-ty by providing a safe, caring, compassionate home and pre-pare these children with education and social development,” said Chris Siebenaler, CEO at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. Hope Endowment thanks Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital for their continued support as the present-ing sponsor for the Hope Endowment’s Fourth Annual Once Upon a Time gala.

The Once Upon a Time gala, presented by Houston Meth-odist Sugar Land Hospital, is scheduled for Saturday, Septem-ber 20th at the Sugar Land Marriott Town Square. Visit www.hopeendowment.org or e-mail [email protected] for more information. Visit www.501auctions.com/hope for sponsorship opportunities or ticket purchases.

Once Upon a Time Fourth Annual Galafor Hope Endowment presented by

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital

Dan Hootman, Manager; Hemang Vyas; Chris Siebenaler, CEO; Lowell Stanton, CFO; Niraj Patel, MD; Leena Taneja, Director of Physician Relations; Amy Saenz, Physician Liaison; Minal Vyas; Marcia Barham, Physician Liaison; Vickie Lynn Tonn; Nina Desai, DO and Molly Philip, RN.


IN THEHEART

O F T H E B E N D

OUT&ABOUT

Enjoying the show were Patti Parish-Kaminski, dancers Susana Collins and Harold Carrillo, General Manager Eric Di Cesare and musician Pablo Dilauro.

Did you know that Tierra del Fuego, Sugar Land’s new Argentinean restaurant, features live entertainment including tango dancers?

The 10th Annual Impact a Hero Hall of Fame Gala Dinner, themed Diamonds & Denim, honored more than 50 wounded heroes injured in the post 9/11 combat and their families. The event gave Fort Bend attendees an opportunity to join national celebrities in thanking servicemen and women for their sacrifice.Photography by Larry Pullen.

Houston Texans Center Chris Myers and Lance Corporal Alex Rodriguez.

Cal and Hannah McNair with Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry, Medal of Honor recipient.

Chairman of the Impact A Hero Board Jim Hoelker, Dennis Derr and Founder and President of Impact A Hero Dick Lynch.


More than 200 people walked in support of the Amschwand Sarcoma Cancer Foundation’s (ASCF) celebration of International Sarcoma Awareness Week with its FIGHT.GIVE.LIVE. Sarcoma Awareness Walk.More than 150 participants – many from the Sugar Land area – walked at the Houston Galleria location in support of the almost 14,000 men, women and children who will be newly diagnosed with sarcoma in the U.S. this year.Photography by Traci Ling.

Mary Murray, Missy Bellinger and Lara Jones.

Wanda Jemelka and Lauren Stratton.

Isabelle and Thao Blanco.

Chloe Jones.

The Fort Bend Junior Service League (FBJSL) Sustainers hosted their “Come on Board” Membership Coffee for prospective members at the home of Judy Maddison.

Jaqueline Blankenship andSusie Kern.

Debbie Buckner and Lynn Halford.

Laura Leatherwood andNancy Malke.

Pat Houck and Judy Maddison.Liz Furman and Mary Favre.

Betty Baitland and Kelli Metzenthin.

Geraldine Whitt, Christine Jue and Theresa Reading.


IN THEHEART

O F T H E B E N D

OUT&ABOUT

Alumni of the Fort Bend Leadership Forum came to Classic Chevrolet Sugar Land for Tiki Time! The reunion and Class of 2015 reception was an opportunity to meet the new class and past graduates of the Fort Bend Leadership Forum while enjoying great music, food and fun.

Chris Breauxand Keri Schmidt.

Jim Kij, Charlotte Young andDon Kerstetter.

Ray Aguilar and Trey Reichert.Kandace Lytle andDavid Crowl.

Jenn Watson and Jeff Tallas. Tammy McCall and Kim Chambers. Jan Jenkins and Javier Infante.


Real Weddings

Coming January 2015

Submit your info todayand have your wedding detailsand photos published in printand online in our magazine.

Contact: [email protected] visit www.fortbendfocus.com.

Attention Newlyweds!

If you or your children have recently marriedand you would like to enter for a chance to

be featured in our Real Weddings, all you need is atleast ten high-resolution photos of the ceremony

and/or reception. It doesn’t matter where thewedding took place, as long as it was in the last year

and you or your parent/s reside in Fort Bend.Photographers are also welcome to submit photos.


MEDICALFOCUS

Missouri City residents now have convenient access to Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s leading emergency care capabilities. The new, state-of-the-art Houston Methodist Emergency Care Center opened July 15th in the heart of Mis-souri City at 8200 Highway 6 between the Sienna Plantation and Riverstone communities. The center is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week to treat patients of all ages who are ill or injured.

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital celebrated the new Emergency Care Center on July 10th with over 400 attendees. The 9,600 square-foot facility includes 10 private treatment rooms, full-service X-ray, CT and ultrasound capabilities. Most importantly, Houston Methodist Emergency Care Center is staffed by board-certified emergency medicine physicians spe-cializing in emergency care from pediatric to geriatric patients, working alongside specially trained nursing and ancillary staff with extensive experience in emergency care.

“The new Houston Methodist Emergency Care Center gives Missouri City residents a first-class ER right in their own neigh-borhood,” said Chris Siebenaler, CEO of Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. “Patients treated at the new center will have direct, expedited admission to Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital if needed, along with personal assistance from patient representatives in scheduling any necessary follow-up appointments. And the center accepts all insurance plans that are in-network with Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital in-cluding Medicare.”

“Our goal is to provide a streamlined, easy-to-navigate sys-tem for patients who enter the center,” said Dr. Scott Rivenes, emergency department medical director. “The new facility en-ables us to quickly assess patients as they come in, enabling them to see a board-certified emergency medicine physician as efficiently as possible. Since we have onsite imaging and

New Houston Methodist Emergency Care Center Now Open

in Missouri City

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospi-tal is the first in Fort Bend County to use an implantable cardiac monitor (ICM) that is smaller than a AAA battery on patients with an irregular heartbeat.

A board-certified electrophysiologist, Sohail Jalal, M.D., recently implanted the new Reveal LINQ™ monitor in a patient during a minimally invasive procedure

Houston Methodist Sugar Land HospitalDebuts New Implantable Cardiac Monitor

at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. The implantable cardiac monitor is 80 percent smaller than other similar im-plantable devices or approximately one-third the size of a AAA battery. The device allows physicians to continuously and wire-lessly monitor a patient’s heart for up to three years.

“The Reveal LINQ is a major step forward for patients who require ongoing monitoring due to cardiac arrhythmia, or what we call an irregular heartbeat,” said Dr. Jalal. “Because it is so small, it can be placed just beneath the skin through a tiny inci-Sohail Jalal, M.D.

laboratory services, we have access to the full range of diag-nostic services our physicians need without patients leaving the building.”

As a matter of fact, patients are already commenting on the quality care. “I live in Sienna and I am so glad Houston Method-ist Emergency Care Center is now open in my community. My daughter broke her wrist the same day the center opened, and I was thankful they were just around the corner. Everyone from the front office staff to the nurses and physicians were very kind and helpful, and the quality of care was just as if I had gone to their hospital, but without the drive to Sugar Land,” said Jen-nifer Carter.

The new center is part of Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s $131 million expansion to better serve patients from Fort Bend and surrounding areas. “Like many parts of Fort Bend, Missouri City has experienced tremendous population growth in recent years, and this new emergency center will defi-nitely enhance our service to the community,” said Siebenaler. “It is an amazing facility that will provide a substantial and posi-tive impact on the availability of high-quality care for people liv-ing nearby.”

To learn more about Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospi-tal, visit houstonmethodist.org/sugarland, and visit Facebook at facebook.com/methodistsugarland for the latest news, events and information.

Dan DiDonato, Emergency Care Center Manager; Becky Chalupa, Associate Chief Nursing Officer; Janet Leatherwood, Chief Nursing Officer; Dr. Jeffrey Jackson, Board Member; Sue Chiang, Board Member; Chris Siebenaler, Chief Executive Officer; Bill Schwer, Board Chair; Sutapa Sur, Board Member; Lonnie Meadows, Board Member and Scott Stover, Emergency Department Director.


Download the Free TCRN App today and take advantage of numerous Preferred Customer Offers or visit www.TCRN-SugarLand.com/mobile on your smartphone so you can start SAVING at the best businesses around town!

Search for ‘TCRN’

Featured Preferred Customer Offer of the Month

when you use your TCRN Preferred Customer App or Card!

Want to be a Preferred Customer? It’s Free!

search for more savings online at:

www.TCRN-SugarLand.com

$99 Custom Bleaching Trays & 50% off Opalescence Bleaching Gel

Certified Advance Xtreme Lashes and NOVA Lash

• CELLULITE REDUCTION• EUROPEAN / CUSTOM FACIALS• DERMACULTURE IDERMTM TREATMENT• MICRODERMABRASION• CHEMICAL PEELS• SKIN TAG / MOLE REMOVAL• WAXING• EYEBROW & EYELASH TINT• PERMANENT MAKE-UP

www.foreveryoungnewskin.com

Exp 12/31/2012with coupon

20% OFFNEW CLIENT

ONLYExp 9/30/14 with coupon

Joyce Long’s

Established 1989

Colonic - Detox - LymphaticWellness Institute

Internationally Certified Colon Hydrotherapist & InstructorNationally Certified Massage Therapist # ME0170

Services by appt only.

Joyce Long

1308 James Street • Rosenberg, TX 77471NEW FORT BEND LOCATION!

Massage Therapies • Lymphatic Drainage Massage • Lymphatic Facials Reflexology • Infra Red Saunas • Relaxing Ion Cleanse Hand & Foot Bath

Chinese Cupping • Gift CertificatesColon Hydrotherapy by M.D. Prescription Only (Yours Or Ours)

“Our clients become family and we are here to celebrate their WELLNESS”

www.joycelong.biz281-344-0095

sion, and once in place, it is nearly in-visible to the naked eye. The procedure is simple and easy for patients. Most importantly, patients with this device can undergo an MRI exam, which is not possible with conventional implantable monitors.”

Once in place, the Reveal LINQ ICM continuously monitors the heart so that physicians have a real time snapshot of the patient’s cardiac activity. In the event of a cardiac arrhythmia, the device alerts the physician via a wireless network so that early intervention is possible. The system’s remote monitoring capabilities can work almost anywhere in the world, sending data to a patient’s physician quickly and easily.

Remote monitoring of cardiac ar-rhythmia has been shown to improve patient quality of life, reduce hospital stays and improve survival rates. The im-plantable cardiac monitor can also lead to early detection of atrial fibrillation, the most common form of abnormal heart rhythm and a major risk factor for stroke. With early detection and treatment, a stroke can be prevented.

“Continuous, remote monitoring is the best way for patients who suffer from cardiac arrhythmia to protect them-selves from future episodes that may be extremely serious,” Dr. Jalal said. “The data we collect via monitoring enables us to better understand how the heart is working and allows us to identify prob-lems before they become life-threaten-ing. Symptoms of cardiac arrhythmia include fatigue, dizziness, fainting, rapid heartbeat or pounding, shortness of breath, chest pain and in extreme cases, sudden cardiac arrest.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Jalal or another electrophysiologist in your area, call 281-274-7500. Learn more about Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital at houstonmethodist.org/sugarland or visit facebook.com/methodistsugarland for the latest news, events and information.


Institute for Organization Management (IOM), the profes-sional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Com-merce Foundation, is pleased to announce that David Crowl, IOM, Director of Communications of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, has graduated from the program and has received the recognition of IOM. Awarded to all graduates of the Institute program, the IOM Graduate Recognition signifies the individu-al’s completion of 96 hours of course instruction in non-profit management. In addition, participants can earn credit hours to-ward the Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) or Certified Asso-ciation Executive (CAE) certifications. Nearly 1,000 individuals attend the Institute annually.

“Institute graduates are recognized across the country as leaders in their industries and organizations,” said Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE, the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s vice presi-dent of Institute for Organization Management. “These indi-viduals have the knowledge, skills and dedication necessary to achieve professional and organizational success in the dy-namic association and chamber industries.”

Since its commencement in 1921, the Institute program has been educating tens of thousands of association, chamber and other non-profit leaders on how to build stronger organizations, better serve their members and become strong business ad-vocates. The Institute’s curriculum consists of four week-long sessions at five different university locations throughout the country. Through a combination of required courses and elec-

tives in areas such as leadership, advocacy, marketing, finance and membership, Institute participants are able to enhance their own organizational management skills and add new fuel to their organizations, making them run more efficiently and ef-fectively.

Institute for Organization Management is the profession-al development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. It is the premier non-profit professional develop-ment program for association and chamber professionals, fos-tering individual growth through interactive learning and net-working opportunities.

David Crowl, IOM of Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce Graduatesfrom Institute for Organization Management

Robert J. Foulks, David Crowl and Peter Aust.

The National Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Association announced the appointment of Sugar Land resident Robert Culak as treasurer of its Board of Directors. Culak, a retired CPA who previ-ously served as VP of Financial Reporting and Compliance for Sysco Corporation, has served on the National CASA Asso-ciation Board since June of 2012 and on the Child Advocates of Fort Bend Board (CAFB) for over 13 years. He is currently serving as Treasurer of CAFB’s Board.

“I feel that every child should have the right to grow up in a safe, secure and emotionally stable environment. Families should be given every opportunity to stay together, but if chil-

dren are abused or neglected, society should step in to protect them. We need to do all we can to put an end to child abuse and neglect,” said Culak.

CAFB is a non-profit agency dedicated to providing a voice for abused and neglected children in Fort Bend County. With an army of volunteers, CAFB currently serves more than 400 children each month through its CASA Program and Children’s Advocacy Center.

“Bob is a tremendous asset to our agency and I know that he is invaluable to National CASA,” stated Ruthanne Mefford, CAFB’s Executive Director. “Bob and Gayle Culak are very committed to the children of Fort Bend County. Not only does Bob serve on our board, but Gayle is a longtime volunteer and served as an officer of our FRIENDS Council.”

Robert Culak Named Treasurer of National CASA Board of Directors

Robert Culak

BUSINESSBRIEFS

absolutely!DELICIOUS

By Stephenie Cox

A Smoothie a Day

Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie

Berry Good Morning Smoothie

Pineapple Mango Smoothie

Tropical Kale Smoothie

I am a big fan of smoothies for breakfast and snacks. I have even gone as far as to do a smoothie cleanse, most-ly because I still can’t commit to juicing and felt I need-

ed a reset. It is the best way to get the most nutrition in one glass. Smoothies can be the best energy lift and often replac-es the need for a sweet treat or caffeine boost in the after-noon when our bodies are craving protein and carbs. I may get made fun of with my green goop sometimes, but I cannot rave enough about how these delicious little smoothies set my day off right. I have been asked how I make smoothies, and when I go into, “Add a little of this and a little of that,” I am countered with, “No, a real recipe, not pie in the sky throw it all in the blender.”

Let’s take a moment to talk blenders. I love the magic bullet because it is an all-in-one compact cup that you take with you. But, it can only blend so much. I am alright with that, but I recommend a high performance blender. I confess I got sticker shock when I started shopping for one. Do they really have to be so expensive?

It took me a year to commit to buying a Vitamix. In the end, a high performance blender offers you more options for

your smoothies, as well as other things like salad dressings, soups, nut butters, etc. It makes a difference when you are adding veggies and oats to your smooth-ies creating a perfectly smooth smoothie.

My kids will drink just about every-thing because they don’t know it’s in there. Well, the green color gives it away, but maybe a blindfold for the first sip would help the picky ones.

Here are a few of my favor-ites, but remember that mak-ing it your own is the key to loving smoothies. Play with the recipes to perfect them to your taste.

For smoothies, place all ingredients in blender, and blend on low for 30 seconds. Move slowly to high until mixture is completely smooth. Enjoy!

• 1 cup fresh spinach• 1 ripe banana• 1 tablespoon organic

peanut butter• 1/4 cup organic oats• 1 cup organic

unsweetened vanilla almond milk

• 1 teaspoon organic flax meal

• 4-5 ice cubes• 1 scoop of Jay Robb’s

Vanilla Egg White Protein or 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt

• 1/2 chopped kale• 1/2 cup frozen

blueberries• 1/2 cup frozen

strawberries• 4-5 baby carrots

• 1 scoop of JayRobb’s Vanilla Egg White Protein or 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt

• 1/2 cup frozenpineapple

• 1/4 cup fresh spinach

• 1/2 cup frozenmangoes

• 1 cup organicunsweetened vanilla coconut milk

• 1 teaspoon ground chia seeds

• 1 cup choppedfresh kale

• 1 cup organicunsweetened vanilla coconut milk

• 1/2 cup frozen mangoes• 1/2 cup organic

strawberries• 2 scoops Pea

Protein Powder

• 2 scoops Pea Protein Powder (I like Kenzen Vital Balance)

• 1 cup organicunsweetened vanilla almond milk


We begin with a little bit of chroni-cled history. In 1830, William Stafford built a cane mill and a cotton gin that were credited as the first ones built on Steven F. Austin’s colony. On the march to Harrisburg, General Santa Ana and his army made a stop at Stafford’s plan-tation and had a feast on Stafford’s corn, sheep and hogs, and upon departure, Santa Ana ordered that the plantation be burned to the ground. After Texas won its independence from Mexico, Stafford returned to his home and re-

THE MAKINGOF FORT BENDBy Jonathan Fausset

More Than Just a Dot on a Map

Photos from The History of Stafford, Texas by Sadie Williams and Jean Court.


built his plantation. He lived there un-til his death in 1840 and was buried on his property, where his body remains to this day. William Stafford’s family and descendants have always supported the City of Stafford. Upon his death, they donated his gun to be displayed at the Stafford City Hall.

Stafford is the only city in Texas that has a municipal school district, Stafford Municipal School District (SMSD). It looks very different on paper than any other school district in the state. SMSD was set up 32 years ago after a Fort Bend ISD school board meeting, when a few parents who were uncomfortable sending their kids walking across the railroad tracks and four lanes of High-way 90 to get to school, got involved. This followed a school board budget cut that sent busses outside a two-mile ra-dius to pick up kids. When the parents told the school board they weren’t hap-py with this as it endangered their chil-dren, someone on the school board said if they didn’t like it, they could start

their own school district. That is exactly what they did, and the SMSD was born. Williams worked for the school district as the secretary for Stafford Middle School from its inception in 1982 until she retired in 2004.

Stafford was built in alignment with the railroad tracks. E.C. Laperouse was the local pharmacist in Stafford and very responsible to the commu-nity, making himself available to those who needed him. Around 1943, his son, Charles, who went to school in Sugar Land, was told by his father that if he wanted to keep going to school in Sugar Land, he was going to have to move out there or find transportation. Charles talked to the dingy engineer about needing a ride to go to school from Stafford to Sugar Land, and the engi-neer obliged his request. The dingy was the train that ran back and forth across the track in front of the sugar factory along Highway 90. Charles finished his schooling and stayed in Stafford to run the family business, Lap’s Drug Store. He later served with the Volunteer Fire Department.

I n my efforts to research the history of Stafford, I placed a phone call to the Stafford City Hall. The woman who answered my inquiry directed me to Sadie Williams. She assured me

that Williams was quite knowledgeable about Stafford’s history and gave me her phone number. She was correct. Williams was excited to talk history with me and told me the interesting things about Stafford – the history left out of the usual books – but not the book she co-authored about the history of Stafford with Jean Court. As the “unofficial” histo-rian of Stafford, Williams told me the types of stories that show Stafford as a community, rather than just a dot on a map.

Stafford:

Sadie Williams and Jean Court.

Nellie Hilmers, great-granddaughter of William Stafford, and Vernon Eschenfelder, Stafford Fire Marshal at the 1993 dedication of the monument in the William J. Stafford cemetery.

Stafford prides itself in having no property taxes. It attracts many busi-nesses and has four times the amount of people working in Stafford as it has residents. Texas Instruments had a production facility in Stafford, but as of 2012, the facility has been closed. Tex-as Instruments relocated near Telfair in Sugar Land, near the intersection of Highway 59 and University Boule-vard. The number of small businesses in Stafford keeps the economy afloat. Stafford may be a small town, but it has many opportunities.

A.J. Falsone, Manuel Rudy, A.K. Jacobs and E.C. Laperouse with Postmaster T.G. Bonano, seated, business leaders involved in the War effort. June 27, 1944.


absolutely!DELICIOUS

Coaxing layers of mouthwater-ing savory, smoky flavor out of grilled meat instantly trans-

forms a Labor Day backyard barbecue from ho-hum to heavenly. As the tem-peratures rise this Labor Day weekend, focus on flavor to take your backyard barbecue to a whole new level.

The distinct flavors of grilled foods come from three sources, according to Ardie Davis, renowned judge on the barbecue circuit and founder of the American Royal International BBQ Sauce, Rub & Baste Contest. These in-clude seasonings and marinades used to flavor food before grilling; smoky fla-vors that emerge during grilling itself (from wood chips, planks or sauces or seasonings applied while cooking) and finishing sauces applied after the food is removed from the heat.

Follow these easy tips from Davis:Tenderize with marinades. Mari-

nades transform tougher cuts of meat into flavorful and tender options. KC Masterpiece marinades will penetrate meat in 30 minutes, adding flavor and increasing tenderness.

Enhance with wood chips or planks. Build on the grill’s natural smoky fla-

vor with wood chips or planks that in-fuse subtle layers of new tastes, such as hickory or apple. Scatter dry chips directly on the coals and watch for them to begin to smoke before placing meat on the grill. Keep the lid closed in between turning the meat to create a stronger smoky flavor.

Keep meat moist. Use a spatula or tongs for flipping. Piercing meats can release flavorful juices and moistness, resulting in dry meat and diminished taste.

Top with Blue Ribbon flavor. Add smoky and sweet flavor to every bite with KC Masterpiece sauces, which can be used for broiling, baking and grilling and as an ingredient in many recipes. The sauce company celebrates the classic Blue Ribbon recipe that won “Best Sauce” at the first American Roy-al Barbecue sauce competition in 1978 and is made with real sugar and rich dark molasses.

Try Davis’ recipe for Kansas City Classic Ribs to bring authentic flavor to your favorite ‘cue. For additional tips and flavorful grilling recipes, visit www.kcmasterpiece.com.


Recipe created by sauce expert Ardie Davis.Makes: 4 servingsPrep time: 2 hours 30 minutesCook time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Marinade:• 1/3 cup soy sauce• 2 tablespoons roasted sesame seed oil• 1 teaspoon granulated garlic• 1 teaspoon powdered ginger• 1 cup KC Masterpiece Kansas City Classic barbecue sauce• 1 cup white or cider vinegar

Ribs:• 2 racks pork loin ribs, about two pounds each with the membrane removed• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Combine marinade ingredients in medi-um bowl and mix well. Place ribs in a large Glad® zipper bag and pour in marinade en-suring ribs are fully covered. Set aside and marinate for 2 hours or overnight in refrig-erator.

Set up two-zone fire for indirect grilling with Kingsford charcoal by situating char-coal on only one side of grill, leaving other side void. Heat to 400°F.

Lightly oil grill. Remove ribs from mari-nade and dispose of excess liquid. Place ribs, bone side down, over direct heat and cover grill for 6-8 minutes. Then turn ribs and cover for another 6-8 minutes. Con-tinue this process for 45 minutes to an hour or until ribs are tender.

Once tender, move ribs to void side of grill and coat with barbecue sauce. Cover grill for another 6-8 minutes.

Remove ribs from grill and cover with butcher paper or aluminum foil. Let rest for 10-15 minutes. Slice ribs into individual pieces and serve.

Kansas CityClassic Ribs

Master Your Backyard Barbecue

By Amy Gross

W hen cooking with wine, con-sider a bag-in-box type of wine, as its closure will keep

it from oxidizing – getting destroyed by coming in contact with air for too long –and enable you to keep the wine in your refrigerator, using it as you need it, for a much longer time than a wine closed with a cork or a screw top. An excep-tion to this would be if you are adding a small amount of wine at the end of a recipe when the wine is not likely to be reduced, and a fuller flavor of the wine will remain in the dish. If that is the case, use the wine you will be serving with the meal.

Other than that, try a red that is not overly tannic like Carlo Rossi Caber-net Sauvignon, which should be pretty easy to find, or something along those lines.

For recipes calling for a white wine, go for an unoaked Chardonnay, if pos-sible. An oaked one will be fine if you cannot find an unoaked, so don’t worry about that too much. In both cases, you want the fruit to be more prominent in the wine than the tannins or wood, as the fruit will be minimized as the wine reduces during cooking. Starting with a wine with low tannins in the case of red, or unoaked, in the case of white, will make a better dish.

Boxed wines may or may not be your favorite wines for drinking – there are some great ones out there – but they seem to be the best to keep on hand for regular cooking.

Do you have any wine related ques-tions? Shoot me an email at [email protected]. I’m here to help!

Cheers! And happy cooking!

Hi, I’ve been cooking for years but have never really cooked with wine. I would like to buy good, less expensive (hopefully less than $10) white and red wines that I can keep on hand to cook with. I have a limited knowledge of wines and get overwhelmed when I go to the store. I want to explore new recipes, and many call for wine. I think I wouldn’t be intimidated by them if I had a mixed case in the pantry.

Would you please make a recommendation? Thanks so much!– Dawn

A reader recently asked about cooking with wine:

What WinesShould You Use

For Cooking?



ENTER TO WINFort Bend Focus Magazine is looking for great amateur photos. Think you have a great shot? Any subject matter will be considered, black and white or color, special effects and/or edited are not necessary.

A WINNER EVERY MONTHEach month’s winner receives a $50 gift certificate to a restaurant and the winning photo will be published in our magazine. To claim your prize, call Adrienne at 281-690-4242. Runner-up photos may be published in our “Readers’ Photo Album.”

NO LIMIT TO ENTRIESTo submit a digital photo, e-mail the jpeg file to [email protected]. Digital photos must be HIGH RESOLUTION at least 300 dpi at actual size of at least 4” x 6”.

Please make sure to send some basic information about every photo you submit such as: who, where, when, a title, your name and daytime phone number.

By submitting an entry, the photographer gives the Fort Bend Focus Magazine the right to use and publish their photograph. There is no contest deadline.

September 2014 Winner

“Antelope Canyon’s Sunshine”By Kevin Kuo

Congratulations Kevin, you’ve earned a $50 gift certificate to a restaurant!

A M A T E U R P H O T O C O N T E S T


E V E N T S

Every Saturday, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, rain or shine

Presented By:

198 Kempner St. at Imperial Sugar Land

Water Treatment Specialists

ENVIRONMENTALPROTECH

All MonthLibrary Card Sign-up MonthFort Bend County Libraries want to make sure that your child is among the two-thirds of Americans who carry the smartest card of all – a library card. With a library card, you can access books, videos, DVDs, CDs, software and more.Call 281-341-2677 orvisit www.fortbend.lib.tx.us.

September 2nd, 6:30 – 8 pmMisheard Lyric TriviaMiddle school students grades six and up are invited to demonstrate their knowledge of the lyrics to all kinds of songs at the Sugar Land Branch Library, located at 550 Eldridge Road. Drinks and snacks will be provided. Bring a friend! Call 281-238-2140.

September 4th, 4:30 – 7 pmTexana Children’sCenter for Autism Open HouseCome enjoy light refreshments, music by Gail Best and tour Texana’s newest autism program. The Children’s Center for Autism at Sugar Land is located at 130 Industrial Boulevard, Suite 200. Visit www.texanacenter.com.

September 5th, 7 – 11:30 pmCasino Night and Hold ‘Em TourneyJoin Hope for Three for a Texas-sized night of hope at Sweetwater Country Club, located at 4400 Palm Royale Drive in Sugar Land. The entertaining evening includes endless food and drink, gaming, dancing, a raffle, a silent auction and prestigious prizes. The first 50 players to register for the Hold ‘Em Tourney are guaranteed a seat at the poker tables. Take a chance and support “ausome” kids! To purchase tickets and register,visit www.HopeforThree.org/casino-nightor call 800-317-0787.

September 12th and 13thFriday, 10 am – 6 pmSaturday, 10 am – 5 pmThreads Through Time Quilt ShowThis Coastal Prairie Quilt Guild Showcase includes two days of quilting fun at the Stafford Centre, located at 10505 Cash Road. The show features hundreds of judged quilts on display, vendor market, demonstrations, raffles, a charity sew-in and much more. Tickets are $9 and good for both days.Visit www.cpqgtx.org.

September 13th, 2 – 4 pmParents’ Survival Guide to CollegeThe Missouri City Branch Library, located at 1530 Texas Parkway, presents Parents’ Survival Guide to College for parents and college-bound students to gain a better understanding of college admission tests and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The presentation will be followed bya question and answer period. The program isfree and open to the public.Call 281-238-2100.

September 13th, 6:30 – 11 pmSugar Land Rotary Fall ClassicParticipate in a night of giving back to the community with the Sugar Land Rotary Foundation to support multiple local Fort Bend charities and the Rotary Foundation’s international initiatives. The event includes fantastic food, happy hour, a live auction, a bid board and a raffle to win a two-year lease of a 2014 Chevy Camaro! The event takes place at Constellation Field, located at 1 Stadium Drive in Sugar Land. For reservations, email [email protected] visit www.rotaryfallclassic.com.

September 15th, 6 – 7:30 pmDiabetes Support GroupJoin Memorial Hermann Sugar Land’s Diabetes Support Group, a wonderful and highly interactive group where people come to celebrate and learn more about living with diabetes. This month’s focus is Making the Most of Your Next Doctor Visit. All participants will enjoy a diabetic-friendly cooking demonstration and receive a recipe card. The free event takes place at Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital’s First Floor Conference Rooms, located at 17500 West Grand Parkway.To register, call 713-222-CARE (2273).

September 16th, 6 – 8 pmFreedom from Joint Pain SeminarCome learn from two leading physicians about the latest treatment advancements for hip and knee pain at the Main Hospital Entrance of Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital, located at 17500 West Grand Parkway. Refreshments will be provided. This event is free, but space is limited. To register, call 713-222-CARE (2273).

County Judge Bob Hebert shows off his Fort Bend County library card.


E V E N T S

SUGAR LAND TOWN SQUARE CALENDAR OF EVENTS

www.sugarlandtownsquare.comCall 281.313.SLTS

September 18th, 9:30 – 11 amBreakfast and BingoCome fellowship with peers, enjoy breakfastand play competitive rounds of bingo for great prizes at Missouri City’s Recreation and Tennis Center, located at 2701 Cypress Point Drive. Tickets are available at the Recreation andTennis Center by paying a $5 program fee.Visit www.missouricitytx.govor call 281-403-8637.

September 18th, 6:30 – 9 pmGreat Grown-Up Spelling BeeThe Literacy Council of Fort Bend presents the 5th annual Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee at the University of Houston-Sugar Land, located at 14000 University Boulevard. Come watch local corporations, friends and family members compete against one another in this exciting event Individual Spectator Bee tickets are $40 in advance, and there are numerous ways for you and your company to participate. Visit www.grownupbee.comor call 281-240-8181.

September 20th, 10 amUniversity Branch LibraryPresents Artist DemonstrationFort Bend County Libraries, in conjunction with Sugar Land Area Artists, presents a special artist demonstration of Techniques of Life Drawing at the University Branch Library, located at 14010 University Boulevard in Sugar Land. Guest artist Kathy Love primarily uses graphite pencil and charcoal to create complete, detailed works that pique the viewer’s interest. Call 281-633-5100.

Giving Spirits Concert SeriesFriday, September 5th7:30 – 9:30 pm

Time Warp Classic Concert SeriesSaturday, September 6th7:30 – 9:30 pm

Crossing BordersFriday, September 12th7:30 – 9:30 pm

Be the Match Walk/RunSaturday, September 13th8 – 11 am

Movie Under the MoonSaturday, September 13th7:30 – 9:30 pm

Blues & BrewsFriday, September 19th7:30 – 9:30 pm

Taste of Town SquareSaturday, September 20th4 – 9:30 pm

Dancing Under the StarsFriday, September 26th7:30 – 9 pm

September 23rd, 5:30 – 7 pmCare to Chat: Let’s Talk About Kids!Notable parenting and childcare experts, healthcare providers and educators will come together to offer new insights on different topics related to children, tweens and teens in this motivating adult-only series. Come early to enjoy complimentary appetizers, and be one of the first 30 to receive a free flu shot. All attendees will receive a first aid kit. The free event is held at the Fort Bend ISD Administration Annex, located at 3119 Sweetwater Boulevard in Sugar Land. Registration is required. Call 713-222-CARE (2273).

September 25th, 8:30 – 10:30 amChanging Our CommunityThe Fort Bend Community Prevention Coalition, a program of Fort Bend Regional Council on Substance Abuse (FBRC), is working to strengthen community partnerships to reduce youth substance use rates in the Fort Bend ISD community. At this meeting, the coalition desiresto hear from concerned citizens at the Fort Bend ISD Administration Boardroom, located at16431 Lexington Boulevard in Sugar Land.E-mail [email protected] call 281-207-2400.

September 26th – October 5thThe Fort Bend County Fair...UncorkedEnjoy a glass of wine or two at Grapes on the Brazos, the high styled Fort Bend County Fair event supporting the youth of Fort Bend County during the Fair’s 10 day run. The event is located at 4310 Highway 36 South in Rosenberg in Building W behind the Texas Stage. There will be white and red wine offerings, beer, sodas, water and snacks, as well as nighttime entertainment and restaurants serving heavy hors d’oeuvres on most nights. Pre-sale wine tickets are currently on sale. The book of tickets is valued at $25 for $20 before the Fair begins and contains coupons for local businesses. To purchase, contact the Fair Office at 281-342-6171. Proceeds from this event help contribute to scholarships and other opportunities for the youth of Fort Bend County. For a list of wine selections and a full schedule of events,visit www.fortbendcountyfair.com.

By Alisa Murraywww.AlisaMurray.comNationally recognized

portrait artist and award-winning columnist.

I f you think back to when you were a child, there are special things from that time in your life that you will duplicate as an adult. I never realized how much the

small things around you are some of the most influencing things about you until my recent visit with Ellen, or I should say, Mom.

When I was a child, I spent a lot of time with my mother’s best friend, Ellen. Mother and Ellen, as I wrote about years ago, were always crafting and doing things together. They even had a homeless lady, who the whole town called “Crazy Mary,” that they fed daily back in their day. Those two were involved with introducing the Junior Great Books program-ming into the public schools and directly responsible for the best Sunday school crafts in town.

Ellen became a second mother when my own was killed. In her telling me stories of who my mother was, she connected her life to my own. It was a patchwork of broken pieces, and although she could not make the whole quilt, what Ellen cre-ated was an amazing place to dream and feel loved despite the “wicked stepmother” who had moved into my home.

Ellen’s house was a spectacular place on what Daddy called “the wrong side of town,” making it that much more alluring to me. It was an old house with dark woods, creak-ing floors and special hiding places for that old game of seek and find. It always smelled of cookies or sausage, and each Christmas, we had our annual tea with Santa where Ellen gave a doll to a child who otherwise would not have gotten any present. Ellen was as close to being my mother than any-one ever could be, and despite all of the sacrifices that went along with filling those shoes, she did it.

This July, we as a family went to North Carolina. No trip to North Carolina is complete without a visit to see Ellen. This time, however, both Victoria Ann and James Edward

wanted to go with me. Ellen met us in the driveway saying things like, “Oh my” and “Just look at you!” After hugs and kisses and taking each other in, she invited us to go inside of her house. There on the counter was homemade sausage balls and orange juice. Victoria Ann gave me a funny look.

We sat down and began talking about life and catching up, and James Edward glanced up at the walls. There just above our heads were hands painted and stamped onto pa-per, carefully dated and framed. He smiled and said, “Just like at our house, Mom. Are those your hands?” I smiled and began to take inventory of my surroundings. Watching my children warm to her and feel as if they were “home” broke the bitter spell of my own home having been sold to strang-ers and no longer a place to visit or share with them. Ellen told them stories about their grandmother just as she had done for me when I was their ages. It was a beautiful visit and perhaps the best part for me of our trip.

Later as we were walking around, we saw on the door of the bedroom a large piece of paper where a child had drawn a story board about getting well. Ellen had taped it to the door as a prominent piece of art in the hallway. Jamesy looked up at me with a big smile. “She saves scribbles just like you do!” he exclaimed. I said, “Yes, she sure does!” Everywhere I looked, I could see similarities to our home here in Texas. I knew deep down we shared something super special, and like so many things about me and my life, Ellen and I never would have had that relationship if Mommy had not died. I did not realize, though, how all those little things that Ellen did and always had done were replicated in my own home.

We went to the living room, and I looked down and saw three little china doll babies. Immediately, as if reading my mind, Ellen picked one up and all at once gave it to Victoria Ann. A small treasure! When we got in the car, the children were talking about how much our house was like her house and how much everything I do was like her. They both said, “That was like going to see our grandma!” I told them that was because she is!

Remember your moments and take care of YOU!

Victoria Ann and Alisa Murray, Ellen McGinnis (Grandma) and James Edward Murray.

Living the Sweet Life:

Finding Home


Let our awards speak for usHERMES• 2014 Platinum Winner: Fort Bend Focus

100 Most Fascinating Things About Fort Bend

• 2014 Gold Winner: Fort Bend FocusFirst Annual Focus Favs

• 2014 Honorable Mention: absolutely! MemorialMemorial’s Model Gardener Kelly Emberg

• 2014 Honorable Mention: absolutely! BrazosLunches of Love

MARCOM• 2013 Platinum Winner: Fort Bend Focus

100 Most Fascinating Things About Fort Bend

• 2013 Gold Winner: Fort Bend FocusFort Bend Focus Honors the 2012 Jewels of Fort Bend

• 2013 Gold Winner: absolutely! focus mediaMarketing/Promo Campaign/Branding Refresh

TEXANA• 2013 - 2014 Platinum Winner: absolutely! Brazos

Media of the Year Award

• Hermes Creative Awards is an international competition for creative professionals involved in the concept, writing and design of traditional materials and programs, and emerging technologies.

• MarCom Awards is a creative competition for any individual or company involved in the concept, writing and design of print, visual, audio and web materials and programs.

• Texana Center’s Media of the Year Award received at the organization’s 4th Annual Reaching for the Stars Awards Ceremony.

BRAZOS • FORT BEND • KATY • MEMORIAL

www.absolutelyfocusmedia.com281.690.4242

absolutely!

Documents

September 2014 - Fort Bend Focus Magazine - People • Places • Happenings