March-April 2022 - Absolutely Brazos Magazine

MARCH/ APRIL 2022

Serving Richmond, Rosenberg, Fulshear & Needville

Literacy Council of Fort Bend

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Treating Complex Conditions of the Spine and Brain

Annabelle’s Amazing Graces Medical FOCUS

THERE’S A

BETTER APPROACH TO CANCER CARE in Sugar Land At Houston Methodist Cancer Center, we treat every aspect of your cancer. Leading oncologists work with our specialists across disciplines to minimize cancer’s effects on major organs. One comprehensive team — dedicated to your individual care — uses the latest research, treatments and technology to stop your cancer. From infusion and clinical trials to surgery and reconstruction, our innovative care is available in Sugar Land.

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CONTRIBUTORS

{Features} MARCH/APRIL 2022 VOLUME 10 | NUMBER 2

{COVER STORY}

10 LITERACY COUNCIL OF FORT BEND COUNTY

Tanya Sterling Contributor Page 10

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Partners with Tramontina USA for Onsite Literacy Classes

13 ANNABELLE’S AMAZING GRACES Daniel and Shelley van Deursen started Annabelle’s Amazing Graces non-profit to raise awareness about the GNAO1 mutation and help find a cure for their daughter Annabelle.

Cathy Baker www.BakerMortgage.com Page 14

14 Alisa Murray www.AlisaMurray.com Page 16

16 Steve Kursar Auto Enthusiast Page 27

14 HOME & HEARTH

Tips and resources to turn your house into your dream home

Tsz Lau, M.D. and Derrick Sun, M.D. Photo by Morris Malakoff Photography.

6 TREATING COMPLEX CONDITIONS OF THE SPINE AND BRAIN

At the Houston Methodist Neuroscience & Spine Center in Sugar Land, Tsz Lau, M.D. and Derrick Sun, M.D. are part of a highly skilled team that includes board certified neurologists, neurosurgeons, orthopedic spine surgeons, pain management specialists, primary care sports medicine specialists and rehabilitation specialists who work together to provide comprehensive, personalized care, designed to help patients return to a productive lifestyle.

What this means for residents of Fort Bend County is that they no longer have to leave the area to receive comprehensive neurosurgical care.

{Column} 16 THE SWEET LIFE GARDENER How Much Should I Grow?

27 AUTO REVIEW

2022 Subaru Wilderness Edition

2

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

27

About Mortgages

22 MEDICAL FOCUS

Health Care News You Can Use

{Newsworthy} 11 DERBY DAY A Kentucky Derby Party for Reining Strength

{In Every Issue} 4 EXCLAMATION POINTS! 20 SEEN ON THE SCENE 26 OUT & ABOUT IN THE HEART OF BRAZOS

19 FBJSL SUPPORTS LOCAL NON-PROFIT AGENCIES God’s Garden and Attack Poverty

20 PARKS YOUTH RANCH 7th Annual Go Fish!

25 6TH ANNUAL ART WALK & MOTOR MADNESS Set for April 2nd

Historic {Downtowns } 11 ROSENBERG 21 RICHMOND

ON THE COVER: Tsz Lau, M.D. and Derrick Sun, M.D. Photo by Morris Malakoff Photography.

MARCH / APRIL 2022 l TO ADVERTISE, EMAIL: kay@absolutelyfocusmedia.com

WE MADE SURE THAT SHE DIDN’T JUST SURVIVE, SHE THRIVED

PROVIDING SUPPORT THAT GOES WELL BEYOND MEDICAL INTERVENTION At Memorial Hermann, you never face cancer alone. Across Greater Houston, our network of accredited Cancer Centers is here for you and staffed by caring, experienced cancer specialists. And, our specialty trained Nurse Navigators support you and your family throughout diagnosis, treatment and recovery. They answer your questions, coordinate your care, organize test results, find out about clinical trials, and connect you to available resources and support—creating a community centered around you and your survivorship. And with our enhanced safety measures at all of our facilities, you can get the care you need with peace of mind.

Advancing health. Personalizing care.

memorialhermann.org/cancer MARCH / APRIL 2022 l

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EXCLAMATION POINTS! Publisher, PATTI PARISH-KAMINSKI

Spring is Coming!

Spring is just around the corner, and I’m so excited for warmer days, spring showers, blooming colorful flowers and clear starry nights.

Springtime in Fort Bend County is always bursting with activities, and this year is no different.

From galas to community fun events, there is something for everyone!

Our cover featuring two of Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s brilliant neurosurgeons brings the most advanced surgical techniques to help Fort Bend patients with complex spine and brain conditions. Houston Methodist Sugar Land’s sophisticated imaging capabilities enable specialists to pinpoint issues and accurately diagnose each patient’s condition. Our community Jim and Kay Garrett attending is so lucky to have this cutting edge technology the Houston Livestock Metro Committee Boot Scootin Ball. in our own backyard.

With the beginning of spring, I begin to feel renewed as I spend more evenings outdoors on the back patio. I begin thinking of all the home projects I would like to do. To help you get motivated to start that home project, check out our Home and Hearth section. There are some great ideas and resources to get you started. Our Medical Focus section is one not to be missed as well. There you will find many articles from physicians to specialists throughout our community.

Speaking of opportunities, Brazos is buzzing with great happenings this spring!

There will be a new Wine Walk in Historic Downtown Rosenberg, a family fun fishing event at Youth Parks Ranch, an evening out at the ever-popular Fort Bend History Association’s Lone Star Stomp at The George Ranch Historical Park and a Derby Day Party benefiting Reining Strength Therapeutic Horsemanship. There truly is something for everyone. Check out our Community Calendar at www. absolutelyBrazos.com for even more great events. I hope to see you all out and about in Brazos!

I’m definitely ready for spring and hope you are, too! Wishing you a Happy Spring, a fun Spring Break and a Blessed Easter!

Absolutely yours,

Vol. 10 No. 2 March/April 2022 WWW.ABSOLUTELYBRAZOS.COM absolutely! focus media P. O. Box 1253 Richmond, Texas 77406

PUBLISHER Patti Parish-Kaminski A S S O C IAT E P U B L I S H E R Kay Garrett AC C OUNT EXECUTIVE Gena Horak A RT D I R E C T O R Grace Belleza WEB DESIGNER JOBpage Graphics S O C IA L M E D IA M A NA G E R Natalee Moore I T S U P P O RT A D M I N I S T R AT I V E / S A L E S A S S I S TA N T Kolton W. Kaminski CONTRIBUTORS Cathy Baker Steve Kursar Alisa Murray Tanya Sterling A D V E RT I S I N G I N Q U I R I E S Kay@absolutelyfocusmedia.com

Kay Garrett kay@absolutelyfocusmedia.com

E D I T O R IA L S U B M I S S I O N S Patti@absolutelyfocusmedia.com

Let us hear from you Send in any Spring Break pictures or school happenings to: kay@absolutelyfocusmedia.com 1. Pictures must be 300 dpi high-resolution.

2. Include the first and last names of each person in the picture in order, with a short description about the event.

Also, if you would like to have your wedding considered for our next wedding section, please visit our website at www.absolutelybrazos.com for submission details.

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Treating Complex Conditions of the Spine and Brain Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s team of neurosurgeons is providing the most advanced surgical techniques to help Fort Bend patients.

F

or months, Sugar Land resident, Richard Rivera, had been experiencing pain in his lower back that traveled down his left leg, leaving his foot numb.

As the pain progressed, he struggled to walk. After a couple of falls, he realized it was time to see the doctor.

Rivera’s primary care physician ordered an MRI, and the results were surprising – rather than degenerative disc disease or bone spurs, the most common issues related to his symptoms – the 56-year-old had a tumor in the thoracic, or chest region, of his spine that was compressing his Richard Rivera spinal cord.

Microsurgery for Complex Tumors Rivera was referred to board-certified neurosurgeon Derrick Sun, M.D., at Houston Methodist Neuroscience & Spine Center at Sugar Land. Sun specializes in diseases and disorders of the spine. He is unique in that he completed both a neurosurgery residency as well as an orthopedic spine surgery fellowship, allowing him to focus on complex injuries and disorders of the brain and spine.

COVER STORY

At the Houston Methodist Neuroscience & Spine Center, Sun is part of a highly skilled team that includes boardcertified neurologists, neurosurgeons, orthopedic spine surgeons, pain management specialists, primary care sports medicine specialists and rehabilitation specialists who work together to provide comprehensive, personalized care, designed to help patients return to a productive lifestyle.

Founded in 2010, the center treats common to complex cases using the most sophisticated techniques and technology, all close to home, for patients from Fort Bend and surrounding areas.

In November 2021, Sun performed surgery on Rivera to remove the tumor using a specialized operating microscope and micro instruments.

“Typically, tumors like this are very defined, almost floating,” said Sun. “They can be removed by just snipping both ends. But in this case, the tumor was attached to the spinal cord. So this was a much more complex surgery than we originally believed.”

Using microsurgery techniques, Sun identified the almost invisible border between the spinal cord and the tumor.

Eventually, he was able to cut away the tumor in one piece without damaging the spinal cord. The pathology report showed that the tumor was a type of hemangioma, a noncancerous vascular tumor.

After only two days in the hospital, Rivera was discharged to go home and continue his rehabilitation.

“He is doing very well now,” said Sun. “His leg strength has greatly improved, he is walking with reduced pain and the Derrick Sun, M.D. numbness.”

Relief from Challenging Conditions One of Sun’s colleagues at the Houston Methodist Neuroscience & Spine Center, board-certified neurosurgeon Tsz Lau, M.D., specializes in cerebrovascular procedures, including those involving brain tumors, blood clots and aneurysms. With his specialized training – he completed fellowships in both skull base cerebrovascular surgery and neuro-endovascular surgery – he performs procedures that were previously unavailable in the Fort Bend area.

One recent case involved a patient in her 70s, Maria Campos Torres, who suffered from severe tinnitus, or ringing in the ear. The condition was caused by a tumor at the base of her skull that was compressing two cranial nerves, impacting both her hearing and her balance.

In an intensive, five-hour procedure, Lau removed the non-malignant tumor, providing immediate relief.

The surgery required Lau to make an incision behind the ear, remove part of the skull and then cut out the tumor.

“This type of tumor, although benign, can severely impact a patient’s quality of life,” said Lau. “This patient couldn’t sleep at night due to the ringing in her ears, and she had lost her sense of balance which Maria Campos Torres made walking dangerous.

Photo by Morris Malakoff Photography.

Now she is living with minimal symptoms.”

Lau also recently treated a patient who had suffered an intra-cranial hemorrhage several years ago, due to a rare condition known as Moyamoya disease. April Vernon received an earlier cerebral bypass surgery that was unsuccessful and was told nothing more could be done by her previous doctor.

But when she developed April Vernon stroke-like symptoms due Photo by Morris Malakoff Photography. to continued bleeding in her brain, she made an appointment with Lau. “Using our advanced diagnostic technology – a specialized surgical microscope and micro instruments – we were able to see that the blood vessels in her brain were now large enough to attempt a direct bypass,” said Lau. “I harvested an artery from under her scalp, identified the existing recipient artery in the brain that had been affected by the disease, and bypassed it using the harvested artery.”

These types of procedures are extremely intricate.

The blood vessels involved are typically smaller than one millimeter in diameter.

“April is doing extremely well now,” said Lau. “It’s amazing to see her progress.”

Multidisciplinary Care for Diagnosis and Treatment One of the keys to the Houston Methodist Neuroscience & Spine Center’s success in performing complex procedures previously unavailable in the Fort Bend area is Houston Methodist Sugar Land’s sophisticated imaging capabilities – enabling specialists to pinpoint issues and accurately diagnose each patient’s condition.

Houston Methodist Sugar Land will soon introduce a new biplane suite, which will allow Lau to perform all of the neuroendovascular procedures. This will be the first and only comprehensive cerebrovascular service in Fort Bend County.

Tsz Lau, M.D. The hospital houses three whole-body, 3-Tesla MRI scanners – the industry’s most powerful technology typically found only in the nation’s top academic medical centers — as well as advanced CT scanners that provide more detailed views than traditional units.

Patients also benefit from the hospital’s highly trained and compassionate nursing staff, who are skilled in caring

for patients both during and after complex neurosurgical procedures.

Houston Methodist Sugar Land also offers one of the country’s leading physical therapy/rehabilitation programs, with four convenient locations across Fort Bend County. Highly trained physical, occupational and speech therapists work directly with Neuroscience & Spine Center physicians to create and implement treatment plans that help patients overcome their injury or condition, reduce or eliminate pain and regain their mobility.

In addition to treating back and neck pain, the Houston Methodist Neuroscience & Spine Center is also a leader in neurological care, using the most advanced therapeutic options to minimize symptoms, delay progression and improve the quality of life for patients with conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and memory disorders, multiple sclerosis, and much more.

Complex Care Close to Home The hospital’s commitment to offering the latest, most advanced surgical techniques for complex or uncommon neurological conditions means that patients can receive the care they need close to home.

“We can effectively treat anyone with complex cranial or spinal tumors or conditions using techniques that simply aren’t available everywhere,” said Lau. “And we can do it all right here at Houston Methodist Sugar Land.

That’s a tremendous benefit to the residents of Fort Bend County who no longer have to leave the area for comprehensive neurosurgical care.”

Sun encourages patients not to delay seeking treatment when unusual symptoms emerge.

“There is no need for people to suffer,” he said. “If you have pain or other neurologic symptoms, we can help. Our team works together to ensure that we have the right diagnosis – and the right treatment plan – regardless of your neurological condition.”

Request an Appointment

T

he Houston Methodist Neuroscience & Spine Center at Sugar Land has board-certified neurologists, neurosurgeons, orthopedic spine surgeons, pain management specialists and primary care sports medicine specialists who work together to provide comprehensive, personalized care, designed to help patients return to a productive lifestyle.

Patients can expect: • Expedited, timely appointments • Access to world-class specialists and sub-specialists at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital • Customized, coordinated care from a multidisciplinary team • Comfortable, accurate diagnostic testing with state-of-the-art technology

To request an appointment with one of the specialists at Houston Methodist Neuroscience & Spine Center at Sugar Land, visit houstonmethodist.org/neuro-sl or call 3 4 6 . 4 5 0 . 7 5 6 5 .

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Literacy Council of Fort Bend County Partners with Tramontina USA for Onsite Literacy Classes

By Tanya Sterling

A

pproximately 154,000 Fort Bend County residents (19%) function at or below Level 1 Literacy, says a recent nationwide survey from the National Center for Education Statistics.

This means that 154,000 adults living in Fort Bend County lack the reading and writing skills to manage daily living tasks that 81% of us accomplish every day.

Cognizant of these numbers, the Literacy Council of Fort Bend County (LCFBC) is now partnering with Tramontina USA, an international company who manufactures high-end houseware products, including cookware, cutlery and kitchen accessories, to bring live literacy classes onsite to their employees.

“The partnership is designed to provide educational support services to English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) learners in the workplace environment,” explained Terri Stuart, Executive Director, LCFBC. “Through this partnership, we hope to provide more contextualized educational opportunities by applying our workplace-approved curriculum in a real workplace environment. We hope employees see the value in this by being able to use their newfound skills immediately thus improving both employer and educational outcomes.”

Across many ESL programs, adult students report that their biggest motivation in taking classes is to improve their employment opportunities whether its through a promotion, training, education, etc. However, one of the biggest barriers adult students report is either not having the time to attend class or balancing classwork with job obligations. By bringing classes inside the workplace with employers who wish to invest in their employees’ futures, such as Tramontina USA, the Literacy Council hopes to help eliminate or minimize some of these barriers to improve the quality of life for all of their adult students.

“We provide a curriculum-based, comprehensive program which encompasses all aspects of literacy education, including reading comprehension, writing and grammar,” said Stuart.

“We also plan to use contextualized exercises made specific to employee

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functions, such as manufacturing and customer service, in order to enable to employees to use their skills in real time to increase their chances of success.”

The LCFBC has over 900 adults who are active in their GED, ESL and US Citizenship programs with over 80 volunteers who provide approximately 3,000 hours of instruction. Moreover, 90% of the adult students served are Fort Bend County residents.

“Tramontina USA is excited to partner with the Literacy Council of Fort Bend County to offer ESL classes to our associates this fall,” said Cristina Barrionueva, Human Resources Manager, Tramontina, USA. “We met with LCFBC late last year as we were exploring options to offer ESL classes onsite. We learned what a valuable resource they are to our community and how easily we could work together to offer classes

Cristina Barrionueva and Terri Stuart. for our employees. We look forward to a rewarding partnership.”

Onsite literacy classes are scheduled to start at Tramontina USA within the next few months. Stuart hopes to expand into future partnerships with other employers based on availability of resources.

Visit wwwftbendliteracy.org or call 281.240.8181 for more information about The Literacy Council of Fort Bend.

Presented by The Fred and Mabel R. Parks Foundation

Friday, March 25, 2022 6 pm Safari Texas Ranch Richmond Co-Chairs: Gena Horak & Patti Parish-Kaminski Honorees: Arlene & Len Rolsen Guest Authors: Don Johnston & Alyssa Wall Vicki Lawrence Actress TV Host Author Comedian Singer

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NEWSWORTHY

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Don your best Derby Day hats and dust off your boots for an event that brings the Kentucky Derby to Texas. The benefit will include a large screen live feed of the 148th Kentucky Derby Race Simulcast, seated dinner, live and silent auctions and hat and boots contests.

Each guest will choose their horse to cheer on during the race, and if he wins, you win a prize as well!

The Derby Day Party event benefits Reining Strength Therapeutic Horsemanship of Fort Bend County and the Greater West Houston, Texas area. Its programs serve individuals with physical, cognitive, social and emotional needs through therapeutic horsemanship, providing safe, effective services that meet and exceed PATH International Standards (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, Intl.).

Sponsorships and individual tickets are still available. Please contact Heather at heather@reiningstrength.org or call 832.451.6874.

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Annabelle’s Amazing Graces A

nnabelle van Deursen was born on November 6th, 2015, a healthy, beautiful girl. She was developing appropriately until about six months of age, and at this time, her mother, Shelley van Deursen, noticed she was missing developmental milestones. Shelley and husband, Daniel, voiced their concerns to their pediatrician, and at nine months, Annabelle was referred to a neurologist.

fers the coverage needed to diagnose patients rapidly and reliably.

Finding An Answer

Delayed Milestones At nine months, Annabelle wasn’t sitting, crawling or babbling much.

The van Deursen’s were told Annabelle had benign hypotonia. At her first neurologist appointment, Annabelle was referred for physical therapy, and several labs were ordered. In August of 2016, Annabelle began physical therapy weekly. Her blood work for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) came back negative, and her other labs came back normal. At a follow up with the neurologist in November, an MRI and additional blood work was ordered.

These tests came back relatively normal for her age of 12 months.

In January, Shelley became pregnant with Annabelle’s little brother, and at her prenatal genetic appointment, the counselor recommended the van Deursen’s meet with a genetics’ physician for Annabelle. They continued to follow up with Annabelle’s neu-

Annabelle van Deursen.

Photo by Laura Geisen photography.

rologist every three months with blood work and tests continuing to come back negative. The genetics’ physician then ordered the TRIO WES test for Annabelle, Daniel and Shelley. The Trio Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) is a highly complex comprehensive genetic test that identifies changes in a patient’s DNA that are causative or related to their medical concerns. By focusing on the entire protein-coding regions of the genome – the exome – WES of-

About GNAO1 Mutation GNAO1 (G Protein Subunit Alpha O1) is a Protein Coding gene. Some of the individuals with mutations on the GNAO1 gene suffer from seizures associated with early infantile epileptic encephalopathy-17. Others have mild to severe movement disorders. All seem to have some form of developmental delay. To date, 60 people worldwide have been identified as having a mutation on the GNAO1 gene.

Shelley was 35 weeks pregnant when she received the call from Annabelle’s genetics’ counselor with the WES results. Though the van Deursen’s were told the test results would take eight to 12 weeks, the results were in within about four weeks. “I will never forget that moment,” recalled Shelley, who was driving Annabelle to therapy.

“The counselor told me that they had found the source for Annabelle’s developmental delays. She proceeded to tell me that Annabelle had a GNAO1 mutation, and there were only eight reported cases in the world, all females, and the oldest was 18 years old. The only question I asked was, ‘What is her life expectancy?’ The counselor couldn’t answer that question for me. I hung up with her and immediately called my husband hysterically crying. I couldn’t lose this beautiful, sweet little girl.”

That night Shelley and Daniel searched the internet for anything they could find about the GNAO1 mutation.

They were surprised to find there were 50 children in the world with that mutation, all boys and girls. “We connected with families through a Facebook group and email,” said Shelley. “We met with Annabelle’s neurologist that Monday. Since the mutation is so rare, she didn’t know much about it. That week we also met with her geneticist.

He, too, did not know very much about GNAO1.”

The van Deursen’s continued to connect with families through social media and received much more information about Annabelle’s diagnosis. They discovered about 250 children diagnosed with a GNAO1 mutation in the world;

Finding A Cure The GNAO1 mutation is progressive and Shelley and Daniel see that in Annabelle. “I feel like we are in a race with time, which is why it’s so important for us to fund research for the GNAO1 mutation and try to stop this mutation from progressing and eventually find a cure,” said Shelley. “We started Annabelle’s Amazing Graces non-profit to raise awareness about the GNAO1 mutation and to try and cure our daughter. I remember telling my husband when we decided to host Annabelle’s Benefit that I couldn’t let this genetic mutation kill our daughter without trying to stop it. I still feel that way. It’s hard to watch your child suffer knowing you can’t do anything to help, so we are doing what we know to do and that is fund research to learn about the GNAO1 mutation and ultimately find a cure for it.”

there is a broad spectrum of symptoms, depending on the variant. Some variants are known to cause seizures, and some cause movement disorders. Every child diagnosed seems to have some sort of developmental delay. There is currently no cure for this GNAO1 mutation, but the van Deursen’s goal through Annabelle’s Amazing Graces is to change that through fundraising to provide funds for research.

Today Annabelle attends kindergarten and is loving every minute of school. Therapy seems to be Annabelle’s only treatment at this time. She does have hypotonia; she isn’t talking or walking independently, but she is the hardest working little girl according to mom and dad. She has made incredible progress, and now Annabelle can now scoot and crawl around the entire house, getting to where she wants.

She can get into a sitting position from lying down, she is walking beautifully in her walker, she can maneuver her wheelchair around, she can feed herself, and she is “talking’”using her AAC device. Shelley describes Annabelle as a “happy, beautiful, sweet and funny little girl. She is one of the biggest blessings in our life, and we are blessed that God has entrusted us to be her parents.”

April 2nd is the fourth year to host Annabelle’s Benefit, which is a 5K Run/1 Mile Walk with beer, live music, a wine pull, face painting, ice cream, princesses, snowcones and much more at No Label Brewery in Katy. It’s a fun family friendly event with the race starting at 8:30 am. For more information, visit www.annabellesamazinggraces.org.

The van Deursen Family: Daniel, Annabelle, Shelley, Matthew and James.

DERBY DAY PARTY Saturday, May 7, 2022 3:30 - 7:30 pm At Safari Texas

We Thank Our Sponsors!

A Limited Number of Sponsorship Opportunities are Still Available!

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Proceeds benefit Reining Strength Therapeutic Horsemanship & its programming for individuals with special needs.

Call Today For Event Details & Tickets: 832.451.6874 Heather@ReiningStrength.org

Reining Strength Therapeutic Horsemanship is a 50l(c)3 Organization 7126 FM 359 RD, Richmond, TX 77406

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Garden

Home

Landscape

Tips And Resources To Turn Your House Into Your Dream Home

Things You Should Know When Getting A Mortgage

By Cathy Baker

I

t’s kind of funny, most people who call me all want to know, “What’s the rate,” and I’ve had people tell me that’s all they need to know. Is that all you really need to know? Of course not! What’s just as important as the interest rate are the costs involved to get it. Looking at the interest rate without looking at the costs is like standing on the street corner and looking one way down the street. It looks good, so you step out into the street, and that bus called Closing Costs is going to hit you from the other side. Seriously?

Bottom line: You can get just about any rate your heart desires, but you’d be better be sitting down when you discover what some of those “teaser” rates will cost you. And as I’m always saying, look at the whole picture.

Before you tell someone, “l don’t want to pay any points,” just know that when you decide you’re not going to pay any points, know that you’re going to pay a higher interest rate than would be available if you were to pay a discount point (1% of your loan amount) or a partial discount point. I know it seems funny that we call something you pay for a “discount,” but it in

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effect is “discounting” the rate you’re getting by paying a point or points. Here’s the real deal as far as paying points. Whether or not it makes sense to pay for buying down the rate mostly depends on how long you’re planning on paying on that loan, NOT the loan term. In other words, who cares how much you’re going to save over 30 years if you’re only going to have the loan for 7 or 10 years? Look at the numbers over a realistic timetable for you, and consider all of your options before making a decision.

Credit

The rates and pricing that are available to you are largely dependent on what your middle credit score is when pulled on a mortgage credit report, or MCR. The credit score that your credit card company, bank or consumer credit report site is NOT going to be the same as it is on an MCR. The mortgage report is a much more thorough report, and the scores can be anywhere from 20-50 points lower than you’ll find on a consumer site, so have an idea what your credit scores are from a consumer standpoint, and when you get your own credit report, it doesn’t count as a hit against you. You never want more people than necessary to pull your credit and NEVER go online and put your social security number into a site. You’ll get a lot of unwanted company.

When it comes to credit, there are things it makes common sense to do that sometimes can hurt you credit score wise, even if it seems as if it would help you, so be careful and speak with someone who’s experienced working with credit BEFORE you start paying off old debts or collections. Another NEVER is NEVER close an account. If you aren’t using one, let it die it’s natural death, but it will HURT your credit score if you go closing accounts. The credit score modules want to see that you have plenty of available credit that you’re not accessing.

If you’re wanting to pay down debt, don’t start with the small ones; they’re not hurting you, or keeping you from being able t

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Advertorial o do anything. If you are trying to qualify for a home loan, the ones it will make a difference to pay down or eliminate are the ones with the larger monthly payments.

Do not consolidate your credit card debt and shove it onto one card. That ALSO will hurt you. It’s much better to have your debt spread out over several accounts. You also want to try to keep the balances on those cards at no more than 30% of the high credit limit. If you want to pay down the cards, spread out the amount you’re paying down if you’ve got several that are inching up towards the limit

Employment/Income If you’re thinking you’re going to be purchasing or refinancing a home in the next couple of years, this is the wrong time to decide to start your own business. Do the house first, THEN start the business. Timing is everything, right? It also matters if you get paid differently than you used to, and even if you’ve taken a job where “potentially” you’re going to make more money, we can’t use “potential” income, only what you’re actually receiving, and there are some limits on that as well. There are

also certain types of income that we either have to prove you’ve received for over two years, and other types where we have to prove you’re going to be receiving at least another three years for us to be able to use it as “qualifying income.” This is just one of the many reasons why the mortgage pre-approval process is really not a DIY project.

Terms Generally speaking, 15 year loans normally have lower rates than 30 year loans. There are also 10, 20 and 25 year terms available. If you are absolutely comfortable NO MATTER WHAT, with a 10 or 15 year loan, then there’s no reason not to consider those. But, what’s more important than the interest rate on your loan? The comfort level of your payment. It makes absolutely no sense to avoid a purchase or refinance loan just because you can’t comfortably afford the payment on 15 years. Do not make the mistake of going for a 15 year loan because the rate is lower than it is on the 30. Get something that’s comfortable for you, and if you’re refinancing, make sure it’s something that’s actually going to benefit you. We do many loans for retired folks, and just about every one of them does a 30 year fixed rate loan, because it offers the lowest payment and therefore, the most security for the borrower.

As we get younger every year, we get to appreciate and prioritize comfort. Make sure you do the same with your mortgage.

For more information, visit www.bakermortgage.com.

Refacing • Redooring • Cabinet Painting • Custom Cabinets • And More

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KitchenTuneUpSugarLand.com Proudly serving the greater Houston area south of I-10

BEFORE

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by Joe and Amanda Boyd MARCH / APRIL 2022 l

Try our ONLINE DESIGN TOOL

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How Much Should I Grow?

By Alisa Murray www.alisamurrayslivingthesweetlife.com

H

ey Sweet Lifers! There are so many challenges to think about when planning a garden, like understanding the way the sun lands throughout the day, the quality of the soil, and rotation and location annually. Unless it lives in the Sweet Life Garden year round, each year every bed is delicately and thoughtfully planned as a brand new piece of art to care for and then enjoy. The biggest and sometimes most overlooked challenge is not only what to plant, but how much of it to plant to actually have enough to feed your family. There’s simply no sense in planting a bed full of broccoli if your family will not eat it.

On the flip side, it’s frustrating to plant what you do love and realize that you did not plant enough to do much with!

That is why the first step in planning your garden is to think about what your family actually eats. The amounts per person must be considered, as well as accounting for interruptions in production due to pests and weather.

Additionally, it is also important to make the decision as to whether your garden will be exclusively a “feeding” one or also provide extras built in for preparing a canning and preservation resource for your kitchen. That changes the quantities of the plants you’ll want to sow and or purchase this spring.

For example, the average person will consume beans equal to 10 plants. For celery, six plants are needed per person, and for cherry tomatoes, you need to have one plant per person. I have created an easy graphic for feeding a family of four fresh veggies to help you decide how much you need to plan for. This does not account for canning and preserving for winter. If you know you want to can sauces and pickle cucumbers, then you’ll need to plant extra so that you’ll have enough to do both. If the amounts seem overwhelming, I recommend starting with a few vegetables that you really will enjoy and not try to plant an entire garden full. From my own experience I will tell you that a garden can bring great joy, satisfaction and teach patience in ways no other lovely experience in this life can; however, planting too much can also be stressful and overwhelming, so start with what you’ll eat and grow from there.

Once you have determined how much you need and what you need, the next step is to actually map out where these plants will go in your garden, account for what their individual needs are and the space you have to work with.

That will be next month’s task, but for now, I hope this helps you in thinking further about how to make your garden work for you!

Keep on growing!

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Advertorial

An Affordable Kitchen Remodel in Less Than a Week Are you tired of looking at your outdated kitchen? Does a kitchen renovation intimidate you? Too expensive? Too big a project that will take weeks if not months to complete? Most dream kitchen remodels are completed in less than a week without the mess or expense of a kitchen renovation.

Whether you want to refresh your cabinets, make a quick color change, or completely change the look of your kitchen, Kitchen TuneUp (KTU) has your solution. Meet with the experts at Kitchen Tune-Up Houston Sugar Land and take your dull, outdated kitchen and create the kitchen you always envisioned. You will be amazed at the transformation.

KTU will bring the showroom to you or visit their selection center where you can see all the options. Choose your style, color, cabinets, countertops, hardware, flooring, tile back splash and more. The options are limitless, and their designers are ready to get started.

They call the experience TUNIFIED: to make amazing while creating an extraordinary experience for the customer. They will be with you every step of the way.

What are you waiting for? You have been looking at that outdated kitchen long enough.

Let KTU TUNIFY your kitchen! KTU has options at different price points and financing is available.

Call Joe and Amanda Boyd at Kitchen Tune-Up Houston Sugar Land NOW. Get inspiration from their photo gallery at www.

KitchenTuneUpSugarLand.com or call 281324-8147. Visit the Selection Center by appointment only located at 1515 FM 359, Ste. 400 in Richmond, TX 77406.

See ad on page 15.

MARCH / APRIL 2022 l

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Advertorial

Your Brand New Bath Awaits Your Brand-New Bath Awaits!

Showers • Bathtubs • Conversions • Full Remodels Whether you are looking for a spa-like oasis or strictly form and function, we have a solution for you.

Our Collections provide you with curated concepts based on your unique vision for your space.

Contact us for a FREE CONSULTATION

281.609.9161

www.bathtuneupsugarland.com Franchise is locally owned and operated by Joe & Amanda Boyd.

Many Projects $ 199 to $499 per month

Are you tired of looking at that out-of-date bathroom? The number one reason bathrooms never get updated is too many choices and not enough time!

Bath Tune-Up Houston Sugar Land is poised to make our customers’ dreams come true by bringing them to life in their own homes. We strive to transform their bath dreams into a work of art with exceptional service, quality and dedication. The expectations of our clients are superseded by our expectations for ourselves. Work with our experts on your favorite look and then leave the rest to us.

At Bath Tune-Up Houston Sugar Land, we take your project from a vision to reality by narrowing down the endless options to a small, curated collection designed specifically for your space. Enjoy a brand-new space in just a few decisions – not hundreds. We are here to elevate the experience of remodeling through communication, customer service and curated concepts.

Take the first step in updating your bathroom by calling 281-609-9161 today for a free estimate. Visit website at www.bathtuneupsugarland.com.

Ornamental Iron • Wood • Chain Link

281.238.0735 www.Apache-Fence.com 18

MARCH / APRIL 2022 l TO ADVERTISE, EMAIL: kay@absolutelyfocusmedia.com

FBJSL Supports Local Non-Profit Agencies God’s Garden and Attack Poverty

NEWSWORTHY

The Fort Bend Junior League (FBJSL) continues to make a difference within the Fort Bend community through its Community Assistance Fund. The Fund can provide grants of up to $5,000 per League year, per agency, to local Fort Bend non-profits that need financial support to fund a critical need, pilot a program or expand a significant service to the community.

FBJSL is pleased to have recently helped through the Community Assistance Fund two worthy Fort Bend nonprofit agencies. The first award was to God’s Garden in the amount of $5,000 for gypsum to prep a new garden section for the planting of vegetables. God’s Garden produces organic vegetables that are offered free of charge to local food pantries in the Fort Bend community. To learn more about God’s Garden, please visit their website at http://godsgarden.us/. The second award was to Attack Poverty for $3,000 to fund the

Alexis Geissler, Co-Chair Misty Gasiorowski, Michael and Lorraine Streeb of God’s Garden, Monique Brown, Lori Gorewitz, and Co-Chair Jennifer Bombach.

NEW North Rosenberg Neighborhood Resource Center with new books and supplies for the Children’s Room and new supplies for the commercial kitchen. Attack Poverty offers food distribution, home repair, after-school program, ESL, GED prep, job readiness, finance and technology workshops and other

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community-based programs. To learn more about Attack Poverty, please visit their website at www.attackpoverty.org.

Fort Bend non-profit agencies interested in applying for a grant from the Community Assistance Fund can visit the request support page of FBJSL’s website at www.fbjsl.org.

Go Fish 2022!

Saturday, April 2nd 11 am - 2 pm Parks Youth Ranch

@absolutelybrazos

Tag Us as you are Out and About in the Heart of Brazos

11614 FM 361, Richmond, TX Kids fishing derby with trophies, bounce houses, lunch and more!

Tickets - $20 for children and adults All proceeds support our mission of providing emergency shelter, counseling and life changing services to abused and neglected youth ages 7-17.

The fred & mabel r.

TM

www.parksyouthranch.org/events/gofish2022 MARCH / APRIL 2022 l

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NEWSWORTHY

Seen on the Scene Annual Boots & Badges Gala Benefitting Behind the Badge Charities

Parks Youth Ranch 7th Annual Go Fish!

Parks Youth Ranch (PYR) invites families in the area to the 7th annual Go Fish! at PYR located at 11614 FM 361 in Richmond on Saturday, April 2nd. This family-friendly fishing derby allows kids of all ages the opportunity to experience fun in the great outdoors.

PYR has two ponds stocked with catfish and bass, which means all participants will have a chance to catch that special fish. Lucky anglers who catch the first fish in their age group will receive a trophy.

No fishing experience or fishing license is required.

Just bring your poles; PYR will provide the bait!

Go Fish! is PYR’s annual friendraiser. Each spring, friends and families are invited to join PYR at the Ranch for a fishing derby for kids, yummy food, carnival games, bounce houses and activities. This event helps educate our community about Parks Youth Ranch and the youth we serve while also having a great friendraiser for our community.

PYR provides emergency shelter, counseling and life changing services to at-risk or homeless youth.

The majority of the residents at the Ranch are teens who have been victims of emotional and physical trauma. Our shelter provides a temporary home for up to 28 boys and girls. While they live at our facility, PYR provides them with all their basic needs: their own bed, age appropriate and properly fitting clothing, food, personal care products, educational support and counseling. PYR provides these youth a Home for Today, Hope for Tomorrow and is the only non-profit, emergency shelter in Fort Bend County.

Tickets for Go Fish! are $20 for kids and adults.

Admission includes lunch, carnival style games, concessions and bounce houses. Event underwriting and sponsorships are available starting at just $100.

Learn more about PYR and Go Fish! by visiting www. parksyouthranch.org/events/gofish2022. For event updates, follow @ParksYouthRanch on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

February 12th • Safari Texas Ranch

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1 Ann Smith, Betty Baitland & Teresa Bathe 2 David Lanagan & Carlos Perez 3 Roy Cordes & Mary Favre 4 Jeff Sorbel & Kelly Crow 5 Bill Rickert & William Ferguson 6 Liz Furman & Rhonda Kuykendall 7 Cyndia Rodriguez & Jeanne Wallace 8 Allen Owen Photos by Mary Favre, Elsa Maxey and Liz Furman.

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Historic Downtown Richmond DINE • SIP • SHOP • LOCAL

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9 Elsa Maxey, Ray Aguilar & Laura Richard 10 Troy & Jill Nehls with Steve Onstad

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11 Nell Ciancarelli & Jo Ann Eagleton 12 David & Cee Cee Parker 13 Don Smithers & Sharlene Jacobson 14 Tracy Walker & Michael Andrade 15 Floyd & Linda Emery

Contact Kay Garrett

16 Claudia & Chad Bridges 17 Laura Thompson & Steve Stewart

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281-798-4910 Ad Size: 2.5” x 4.5” vertical

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Medical Focus Health Car e N e w s Yo u C a n U s e Free Digestive Health Webinar at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Stress, worry and anxiety can take a toll on your stomach: Just think back to how you felt the last time you went on a job interview, got pulled over for speeding or awaited the results of a medical test. Those nervous butterflies in your belly were hard to ignore.

“The enteric nervous system, a collection of neurons in the gastrointestinal tract, makes up your gut’s brain,” said Anam Omer, M.D., gastroenterologist with Houston Methodist Gastroenterology Associates at Sugar Land. “The entire system is very sensitive to moods — and stress can be a major contributor to many digestive problems.”

Here’s a look at common conditions and how they’re affected by stress: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is an intestinal disorder that’s marked by cramping, gas, bloating and a change in bowel habits. Stress doesn’t cause the condition, but some IBS sufferers find that it brings on flare-ups. Experts think that this may be because the colon is partly controlled by the body’s autonomic nervous system, which responds to stress.

Heartburn occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter muscle relaxes and opens up. This can cause stomach acid to back up into the esophagus. According to the National Heartburn Alliance, stress can cause problems with the way food makes its way through your digestive system, causing food to move upward instead of down. Research shows that heartburn sufferers who recently experienced a life-changing

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Anam Omer, M.D., gastroenterologist. event were more likely to develop severe symptoms.

Indigestion — or feelings of bloating or nausea, belching, gas and diarrhea — is often caused by eating too much or eating too fast, consuming high-fat foods or eating during stressful situations. “It can also be a sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or ulcers,” Omer said. “Indigestion tends to get worse during stressful times and improve in times of relaxation. Stress can worsen underlying health conditions and trigger unhealthy eating and smoking, both of which are known to worsen indigestion.”

Ease Anxiety and Bellyaches You can’t always avoid stress, but you can manage it and help ease your stomach woes. Some key strategies include:

Exercise. Regular activity helps reduce stress, control weight, regulate bowel function, and improve your overall well-being. Just make sure to exercise before eating or wait at least one hour after a meal.

Biofeedback. This mind-over-matter technique helps you learn to control certain body functions that may have fallen into an abnormal pattern, including bowel function, and bring them back to normal. Biofeedback also helps reduce muscle tension and slow heart rate, promoting a relaxed state.

Relaxation and breathing techniques. Try yoga or meditation, taking slow, rhythmic breaths to lessen stress and, in turn, cramps and pain.

Digestive Health Webinar March 31st Join us for a digestive health webinar with specialists from Houston Methodist Gastroenterology Associates to learn more about how stress may be affecting your digestive system and what you can do.

The webinar is scheduled for Thursday, March 31st at 6 pm.

Registration is required. To register visit join.houstonmethodist.org/ digestive-sl or call 281.274.7500.

Visit houstonmethodist.org/sugarland to learn more about Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.

MARCH / APRIL 2022 l TO ADVERTISE, EMAIL: kay@absolutelyfocusmedia.com

Medical Focus Mom: Make Sure Your Daughter Sees an Ob/Gyn Before Leaving Home for College Young women preparing to head off to college for the first time have a lot to do over the summer months – student orientation, coordinating with new roommates, packing, saying goodbye to friends, and so much more. The time between high school graduation and move-in day can fly by.

But there’s one important task that young college-bound women should make sure they don’t forget.

“It’s really important that young women see an obstetrician-gynecologist before they leave home for college,” said Elizabeth Mosier, M.D., a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist with Houston Methodist Obstetrics & Gynecology Associates at Sugar Land. “And often, it’s up to Mom to push for that appointment.

If your daughter has an obstetriciangynecologist already, encourage her to schedule an office visit over the summer. And if she doesn’t already have an obstetrician-gynecologist, it’s even more important that you work together to find someone your daughter likes and trusts.”

Although the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that girls have their first visit with an obstetrician-gynecologist between the ages of 13 and 15, that doesn’t always happen. Many teen-aged girls either continue to see their pediatrician or change to a primary care physician – putting off that first obstetrician-gyne-

Elizabeth Mosier, M.D., obstetrician/gynecologist. cologist visit until they are an adult.

But Mosier said that approach overlooks the specialized areas of health where an obstetrician-gynecologist can provide experienced counsel and support.

“Young women need to have a gynecologist they can turn to for information and advice that goes beyond what a primary care physician typically covers, such as gynecological health, sexual health, birth control and sexually transmitted diseases,” she said. “Young women may have questions that they don’t feel comfortable asking a parent or their pediatrician or primary care doctor.

Irregular periods can occur that first year of college with changes in diet, environment and stress. Questions about birth control can pop up. Safety and consent

Advertorial are also important conversations to have.

Having an initial visit with a gynecologist prior to going off to college gives young women an opportunity to begin building a long-term relationship with an OB/ GYN they can talk to comfortably and in confidence.”

Depending on the patient’s age and concerns, a breast exam and pelvic exam will be offered. Mosier said, “While we do recommend starting pap smears at age 21, a breast exam and pelvic exam can be offered earlier or later, and can be tailored to the patient’s needs.

A pelvic exam should never be painful or traumatic. At the first visit, I like to explain what a pelvic exam consists of and then let the patient decide for themselves. They may opt to complete their first exam or wait until the next time.

“Whether they get an exam or not, when a new patient comes in to see me prior to college, it helps establish the habit of having an annual visit,” said Mosier. “It’s a sign that the patient is taking responsibility for her health.”

Still, Mosier said, most young women will overlook the importance of a precollege visit unless Mom insists.

“There is so much going on during that time and the last thing a young woman wants to do is visit an OB/GYN, especially if she’s never been before,” said Mosier. “But when Mom said it’s important, they’ll get the message. And it’s actually a really smart move.”

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Mosier or her partner, Dr. Rosalyn Miller, visit houstonmethodist.org/obgyn or call Houston Methodist Obstetrics and Gynecology Associates at 346.874.2060.

Check out Community Events Want at www.absolutelyBrazos.com to know what’s going on in your And list your non-profit Community Event for Free! community?

E-mail patti@absolutelyfocusmedia.com MARCH / APRIL 2022 l

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Advertorial

Medical Focus Can We Overdose on Vitamin Supplements?

Popping a vitamin or several vitamins is part of a morning routine for many people in our community. Even though directions are listed on most bottles, it is very common to actually take more than needed. We are bombarded with health information saying that taking high doses of certain vitamins can benefit our health but taking too many vitamins can be quite dangerous.

When consumed naturally through foods, vitamins are unlikely to cause harm, even when consumed in large amounts. Yet, when taken in concentrated doses in supplement form, it’s easy to take too much, and doing so can lead to negative health outcomes. Although it’s extremely rare to die from a vitamin overdose, there have been reported instances of death related to vitamin toxicity.

For example, too much vitamin C or zinc may cause nausea, diarrhea and stomach cramps. Too much selenium may lead to hair loss, gastrointestinal upset, fatigue and mild nerve damage.

Adults who regularly far exceed the 4,000 international units (IUs) daily safe upper limit for vitamin D may end up with serious heart problems. There is no benefit for taking more vitamins than recommended. For these reasons, it’s important to use vitamins responsibly.

OakBend Medical Center’s Food & Nutrition Department features Clinical Dietitians and Food Service Specialists.

They provide food service to inpatients and outpatients according to physician orders. The dietitian provides specialized clinical nutrition therapy to assist inpatients and outpatients with implementing recommended nutrition goals.

To schedule an appointment, call 281633-4022.

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MARCH / APRIL 2022 l TO ADVERTISE, EMAIL: kay@absolutelyfocusmedia.com

Medical Focus

NEWSWORTHY

6th Annual ART WALK & Motor Madness Set for April 2nd

Professional Care With A Personal Touch YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR THERAPY PROVIDER!

• Why Pay More for Physical Therapy? “We are large enough to serve you and small enough to know you” • Why pay more out of pocket?

- Jack Warkenthien “You have been a SUPER group this time as you • Make the most of your have in each of my previous visits. You are truly medical experience, interested in patients as evidence by your caring call today and learn how! attitude and attention to each and everyone.” – K.K. RICHMOND/ROSENBERG 1500 Jackson, Suite 400 Richmond, Texas 77469 281-344-8900

5 STAR PATIENT REVIEWS

www.ptcare.net

KATY/FULSHEAR 26440 FM 1093, Suite A180 Richmond, TX 77406 281-347-8900

Providing Professional Care with a Personal Touch Physical Therapy Care and Aquatic Rehab of Fort Bend established in 2003. Each of their two locations provide innovative, multidisciplinary services dedicated to injury prevention and rehabilitation for the community.

Their qualified team of professionals promote and provide excellence in rehabilitation services through commitment to patients, advanced education and training and professional ethics. The experienced staff will work as a team with you, your caregivers, family and your physician.

Both locations are designed with your physical challenges in mind with convenient parking. The state-of-the-art facilities and equipment also include an on-site specialty pool for aquatic rehab, allowing complete therapy services. Services are provided to all age groups from pediatrics through adult patients. Physician referrals are accepted from widespread office locations and diverse specialties. They believe communication with their patients and their physicians are most important and make this a priority.

Most insurance plans are accepted, including commercial, Medicare and Worker’s Compensation. Physical Therapy Care and Aquatic Rehab of Fort Bend is happy to work with you and your insurance as an added convenience and are committed to professional care with a personal touch.

For more information, call 281-344-8900 or visit www.ptcare.net to schedule an appointment.

Historic Richmond Association (HRA) is proud to partner with the downtown merchants to bring the 6th Annual ART WALK & Motor Madness to historic downtown Richmond on Saturday, April 2nd from 10 am to 5 pm. Several events will take place along the stretch of Morton Street between 2nd to 5th Streets.

Classic car enthusiasts will be able to participate in the Motor Madness car show featured at City Hall on Morton St. between 4th and 5th Streets. For the second year ART WALK and Motor Madness brings Bark in the Park to this event.

Attendees will also find a selection of Artisan vendors and food trucks.

There will be beer and wine available to enjoy, as well as music throughout the day. Morton Street merchants will open their stores for artists to showcase their works while working live, and art lovers and attendees are invited to shop and sip wine while engaging with artists on the ART WALK. Plein air painters, youth art projects and sidewalk chalk art will complete the unique experience for attendees at 2022 ART WALK and Motor Madness!

This 2022 ART WALK and Motor Madness will offer something for all ages as all attendees are able to explore what Historic Downtown Richmond is offering the community on Saturday April 2nd, from 10 am to 5 pm. For more information, email hra.rtx@gmail.com or check us out on Facebook @artwalkrichmondtx.

MARCH / APRIL 2022 l

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OUT & ABOUT

The Houston Metro Go Texan Committee held its 29th Annual Boot Scootin’ Ball at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds benefiting scholarships for seniors at Lamar and Needville schools. It was a fun evening filled with dinner, auctions and dancing.

IN THE HEART

OF BRAZOS

Wagas Kurjee, Chad Nevesdba, Kay Garrett, Steve Cook, Alicen Swift, Joel Raymond and Noell Myska.

Rick Conn and Alisa Calabrese.

Bruce and Vicki Stevenson.

David and Kim Feldhoff.

Fort Bend supporters came out to see Governor Greg Abbot at a Celebration of Texas Tour on January 30th at Gallery Furniture in Richmond.

State Representative Jaycee Jetton, District 26, introduced Governor Abbott at the event highlighting Texas’ strengths.

These four “amigos” were among the Fort Bend participants. State Representative Jaycee Jetton, Gallery Furniture’s Jim McIngvale, State Rep. Phil Stephenson, District 85, and State Representative Gary Gates, District 28.

Photo by Elsa Maxey.

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absolutely AUTO REVIEW

By Steve Kursar

2022 SUBARU WILDERNESS EDITION 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness.

F

or 2022, Subaru has upped the game for two of their most popular models with the introduction of the Wilderness Editions for the Forester and the Outback.

The Subaru brand is known for building cars that are tough and reliable. And now, they have created these new Wilderness models engineered for off-road exploring with upgrades to their ground clearance, drivetrain and all-terrain capabilities.

Both Forester and Outback Wilderness Edition models share similar engineering design features. They both come standard with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, which provides traction in all kinds of weather and trail conditions. Nine inches of ground clearance puts you above rough terrain and a standard front skid plate gives extra protection against obstacles. Standard all-terrain tires allow for improved performance on mud, snow, gravel, and other surfaces and enhanced dual-function X-MODE with settings for Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud makes it safer to navigate through treacherous conditions. Even gear ratios have been revised for improved low-speed climbing power.

Each Wilderness Edition Subaru has redesigned bumpers with improved approach and departure angles for steeper climbing and avoiding larger obstacles and a re-tuned suspension to handle even tougher trails. In the interior, a durable, water-resistant upholstery called Star-Tex helps the

interior stand up to the elements along with any combination of passengers, pets and gear. All Wilderness Edition models are easily distinguished from the other Subaru models by distinctive badging and strategically placed bright orange patches.

2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness interior.

The Forester Wilderness Edition has a starting MSRP of $32,820, which is about $7,500 over a base edition. The Forester is powered by a normally aspirated 182 hp, 2.5 liter Boxer engine mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). EPA estimated fuel economy numbers are 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.

The larger Outback Wilderness Edition has a starting MSRP of $36,995, which is about $10,000 over a base model. The bigger Outback also gets a more powerful engine, a 260 hp, 2.4 liter turbocharged Boxer engine which is also mated to a CVT. The Outback’s fuel economy numbers are the same as the Forester, 26 mpg city/ 33 mpg highway.

Subaru used to be a car brand that was content building solid vehicles with sometimes quirky exterior designs. Over the last couple of decades, they’ve transformed into a mainstream car manufacturer with compelling designs to which new car buyers are flocking. Expect more models like the winning Wilderness Editions to appear in Subaru dealer showrooms.

2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness.

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