P EOPLE
•
PL A C E S
•
H AP P E N I N G S
DECEMBER 2010
12
Days of Christmas Fort Bend Focus Man Of The Year
Mike Flory
A.K.A.
What’s Inside
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• Private Schools & Learning Centers • Seen on the Scene • Holiday Gift Guide
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www.fortbend
.com • December 2010
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features 26 Lynne Jones Salutes Homeless Female Troops by Sprucing Up the Place
Sugar Land resident and interior designer Lynne Jones lends a helping hand to the Santa Maria Hostel to help female veterans have a nice place to call home.
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40 FBISD’s Commonweath Elementary Students Share Vision for Ball Stadium Amenity Development Young patrons provide input and perspective on Sugar Land’s newest attraction – the new minor league baseball park by Opening Day Partners.
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42 Ann Weisgarber: One of Houston’s Best Kept Secrets
A look at this internationally-acclaimed author living in a little blue house in Sugar Land, Texas.
44 Sienna Plantation Hosts An ASID House Designing with the Stars
A preview of Sienna Plantation’s hottest new project showcasing one custom homebuilder and twenty fabulous interior designers.
42
50 Private Schools & Learning Centers
A preview of Fort Bend’s educational opportunities for youngsters.
74 Fort Bend’s 12 Days of Christmas
From “Christmas in Rosenberg” to “Deck the Halls” presented by the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra, a listing of holidays events for you and your family to celebrate the season.
44
80 Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame Announces Local Inductees
Two Fort Bend cowboys and life-long friends receive the ultimate honor: Induction into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame.
83 Shop Fort Bend for the Holidays 74
The ultimate guide in holiday gift giving.
fort bend
magazine • December 2010
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281-206-4482
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.com • July 2008
7
COVER STORY 14 Fort Bend Focus Magazine’s Man of the Year: Mike Flory
departments
His passion to help others coupled with a spirit of giving makes this man a real treasure to
18 Focus on Finance
the community. 19 Fort Bend Headliners 20 Caring for the Community 22 High School Hot Shot 24 Focus on Health 28 Seen on the Scene 48 Community Calendar 60 Fort Bend New Neighbor 62 Focus Cares 64 Focus Scrapbook 68 Focus Film Review 78 Focus Photo Winner 81 Fort Bend Kids Chalkboard 82 Business Buzz 86 Medical Focus 90 Focus Favorites - NEW!!! 92 Focus on Flavor Dining Guide 96 Living the Sweet Life
fort bend
magazine • December 2010
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ublisher’s Preview www.fortbendfocus.com
December 2010 Vol. 7 No. 2
Hello Fort Bend Friends, Oh, the holidays! The most important thing to me is my family. But with so much going on - the kids being off from school, meals needing to be planned and gifts needing to be bought and wrapped - we get so caught up in the moment that I just want to remind everyone how special it is to just be together. The greatest gift we can give our family is our time. So, Fort Bend Focus has once again published our annual “12 Days of Christmas” happenings around Fort Bend that you can do with your family. The holidays are also a time of giving where we are reminded to always be thankful for what we have and help those less fortunate. Mike Flory is such a great example of one such man who has always been there in times of need, whether to brighten someone’s day or volunteer endless hours for a charity. As you can read on page 14, his giving heart is featured in our cover story.
4655 Techniplex Dr. Suite 400 Stafford, TX 77477 To advertise call
281-690-4242
The Fredricksons on vacation in Colorado.
As we all celebrate in our own special ways this holiday season, my family and I will thank God for the most precious gift of all, His son Jesus Christ. Many blessings to you and your family as we wrap up another great year and look forward to a new one next month! Stay Focused!
Lisa & Michael Fredrickson Lisa@Fortbendfocus.com Michael@Fortbendfocus.com
TOLL FREE 1-888-430-7469 Direct mailed to subscribers and high value homes in Sugar Land, Richmond, Katy, Missouri City and Fulshear and picked up at demand distribution locations throughout Fort Bend. Single copy $2.95 PUBLISherS Michael Fredrickson Lisa Fredrickson MANAGING eDItor Patti Parish-Kaminski SeNIor ACCoUNt eXeCUtIve Jessica Kij ACCoUNt eXeCUtIveS Dena Perry April Lambert Shanna Sanders oFFICe MANAGer Norma Loredo
READERS FEEDBACK Thank you for running our article!!
An unforgettable experience...
The youth of fort Bend and all the board members of Fort Bend Cares so appreciate what your publication does for the community. Thank you so very much for taking the time to find space for our articles. What a great way to share all the good things that are in Fort Bend...Thanks for the TREAT this Halloween weekend! Kindest regards, Fort Bend Cares publicity
Dear Lisa and Michael, Being selected as a Jewel of Fort Bend was one of the highlights of my life. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would be chosen to be a part of this very special event. It was a very exciting, and at the same time a very humbling experience – one which I will never forget. Neil and I have been supporters of this event since its inception. We think it is such a great idea, while also benefiting deserving organizations in Fort Bend County. We are proud to have been a part of it this year. The beautiful red roses added a special touch. Fondly, Carolyn Banfield
I appreciate your beautiful Fort Bend County boosting magazine very much... Hi Ms. Fredrickson: You guys have kept up the quality of the magazine and made us Sugar Landers look very nice indeed. Thanks for all of the hard work and creativity. As an old-time Sugar Lander, we wish continued success with your beautiful Fort Bend County boosting magazine. Thank you, Julius Baumann
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Felt like Queen for a Day... Dear Lisa and Michael, I want to thank you for the honor of being chosen a Jewel of Fort Bend. It was such a specail day. I felt like Queen for a Day. You guys know how to put on an event. Thanks so much for all you do for this community. You have the true spirit of volunteering. Thanks again! Fondly, Lynn Halford magazine • December 2010
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CoNtrIBUtorS Will Hardee Don Maines Elsa Maxey Alisa Murray Nick Nicholson Dr. Peter Osborne Barbara Magana Robertson Tanya Sterling Melinda Wood Art DIreCtor Grace Belleza ASSoCIAte Art DIreCtor Joey Belleza GrAPhIC DeSIGNer Elizabeth Pace WeB DeSIGNer Joey Belleza (JOBpagegraphics.com)
oN the Cover
Mike & Lana Flory Cover Photo: Alisa Murray Photography The views and opinions expressed by our advertisers and columnists do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers and their staff. c 2010
One year subscription: $25
Imperial Performing Arts presents a
Sugar Land Opera production of
and
by Engelbert Humperdinck
an opera for all ages
DECEMBER 3 & 10 7:30 PM
DECEMBER 4 &12 2:00 PM
$30 adults $25 children/seniors/students/military This opera is appropriate for all ages No children under 4, please Seniors are age 55+
THE IMPERIAL THEATRE SUGAR LAND TOWN SQUARE SQUARE / 2210 LONE STAR DRIVE / 77479 Imperial Performing Arts, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) notnot-forfor-profit organization Tickets are available online, by phone, at the box office, and at the door Seating is limited and reserved / Group rates are available Please call for more information
Directed by NICOLE
JOSEPH
RAWLEY
ANNE
HEATH-WELCH
KENLEY ABIGAIL
COY
Conducted by DOMINIQUE
STACEY
WEBER
ROYEM LYNDA
KELLY
MCKNIGHT WAGUESPACK
Children's Chorus by FORT
BEND ISD STUDENTS Chorusmaster MELISSA NEALY And Featuring Child Dancer CATHERINE LEWIS
" When at night I go to sleep, Fourteen angels watch do keep . . ."
TICKETS — theimperial.org / 281.277.7444
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COVER STORY
| By Don Maines
Man of the Year:
Mike Flory M
ike Flory isn’t really Santa Claus. He just plays him in December. In fact, every December for the past 27 years, beginning with a pillow under his red suit at “Snow Fest” in the Quail Valley Shopping Center, and growing into the role as St. Nicholas for wounded war heroes and their families, Flory has donned the red suit. But playing Kris Kringle is just one expression of Flory’s year-round commitment to volunteer service. “Playing Santa is my fishing, golfing and hunting. It’s the main thing I do with my time,” he says. And that’s why Mike Flory is Fort Bend Focus Magazine’s Man of the Year. fort bend
magazine • December 2010
Alisa Murray Photography
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The Making of the Man Flory, who lives in New Territory, learned the lesson of teamwork when he was president of the junior class at his high school in Lawrenceville, Illinois, a town of 5,000 just across the Wabash River from his birthplace of Vincennes, Indiana in 1947. Lawrenceville didn’t have a community center for teenagers to hold dances and other activities, so Flory rallied parents and Lawrenceville movers and shakers, and raised the money to build one. “God has given me a little gift,” Flory explains, a talent that has come to be known as the ability to network and the ability to lead others. “For some reason, my memory recalls the simplest thing about a person,” he adds, explaining how he’s able to match someone with something to give with a person with that particular need. Flory’s giant database of names comes from a life well-lived, as a business owner, volunteer, manager, organizer and leader. He and his wife Lana have six children and 14 grandchildren. “I’ve always been involved in my children’s activities, believing the more time you spend with them, the less likely they are to get into trouble,” he says. ”A whole lot I do involves children. They’re our future.” Flory, who went to Indiana University on a baseball scholarship, coached his sons in Little League. Five of his children graduated from Dulles High School, with his youngest daughter attending Elkins High School as a member of its first graduating class. The Flory family attended Williams Trace Baptist Church (now Sugar Land Baptist), giving them additional opportunities to serve the community. “Everybody needs assistance at some time in their life, and the best exercise is to bend down and lift someone up,” says Flory. Volunteerism is something to be proud of, so what’s wrong with saying ‘yes’ to community service?” He adds, “Some people don’t get the fact that serving other people is the Great Command.” Flory moved to Texas with plans to
Mike and Lana Flory with Sylvan Rodriguez at the inauguration of the Sylvan Rodriguez Foundation. Mike founded the charity in 2000 to assist children with educational field trips.
Mike “Santa” Flory and Lana Flory comfort a baby in the hospital during the holidays. Mike delivers bags full of teddy bears, smiles and hugs to many during this season.
run an insurance agency in Beaumont. Instead, he became a salesperson for Texaco in Houston in 1973. The opportunity to partner in a car care center brought him to Missouri City in the 1980s, and he founded the Missouri City Business Association. In 1988, Flory founded the professional training and consulting firm Environmental Educational and Consulting Services. EECS has performed work nationally and internationally in areas of environmental and safety issues. Flory has led conferences and trade shows in the United States, Mexico, South America and Ghana.
Flory’s volunteer efforts are far too numerous to list, as each one has led to the next. “When I ask for help, people normally say ‘yes,’ and often, they ask me to get involved in something they’re doing,” he explains. Working on a charity golf tournament, Flory met Houston news anchor Sylvan Rodriguez, who lived in Sugar Lakes and enlisted Flory to join the Exchange Club of Sugar Land. “We kept getting closer and closer,” said Flory, and as Rodriquez battled cancer, Flory created and led the initiative of volunteers and supporters for seven events during the final year of Rodriquez’s life. Those events were the genesis of the Sylvan Rodriguez Foundation, which continues to provide educational programs in science, space science and medicine. Flory also chaired the 25th anniversary of the First Lunar Landing, and he cochaired the volunteer committee for the 2004 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Houston. With the NCAA Final Four coming to Reliant Stadium in April, Flory is already at work on helping host that event.
The Spirit of Giving In 2000, Flory became a member of the board of the Fort Bend YMCA, where his current project has raised more than $700,000 toward building a park and community center in Arcola, modeled after the program for at-risk children at the YMCA in Four Corners. “Mike has pulled together a team of community leaders who are intent on making a difference,” said Gladys Jones Brumfield, center executive at YMCA of Greater Houston. www.fortbend
.com • December 2010
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Continued on page 16
Continued from page 15 For 15 years, Flory has raised funds for agriculture students through the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. He’s a past chairman of the Speaker’s Bureau of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau. He assisted a ministry in feeding, clothing and sheltering refugees from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
Playing the Big Guy
Mike Flory (center) with wounded hero’s from Impact a Hero Gala 2010. Mike supports the fundraising efforts for the veterans.
Ho! Ho! Humble: The Gift of Giving
But among his many and varied successful career and volunteer activities, one accomplishment stands out: standing in for Santa Claus, first for children, and now for both children and adults when he visits hospitals, rehabilitation centers and nursing homes. That includes passing out thousands of stuffed teddy bears, what he calls his SantaBear Project.
“I
get more out of it than they do,” Mike Flory says of playing Santa Claus to those who have sat in his lap through the years, especially wounded and disabled soldiers he visits through Impact a Hero. “It really humbles me.” Flory often expresses his feelings in poetry. Upon being named Fort Bend Focus Magazine’s 2010 Man of the Year, Flory says, “I have a melody bouncing around in my heart to the tune of an old Ronnie Millsap song, ‘Stranger in My House.’ I’ve written this line to go with it: ‘There’s a quiet in my heart/That God put there from the start.’ It’s the peace I have inside.” To convey how it feels to bring alive the character of Santa Claus for American soldiers, Flory wrote the following:
Santa’s Tear
They came to me on a special night, Battered and torn from a vicious fight. Men, women, and officers too, Believers, all in the red, white and blue. They had spent their past in a circle of fear, And inside Santa’s eye there developed a tear. Not a tear drop Santa wanted to hide, But one restrained for the soldier’s pride. For they came not to me in fear or in fright, No, for sure, not on this special night. Their journey to Santa was one of joy, And remembrance of family and the manger boy. So out of hospital beds they all came, Some limping, some rolling and all dealing with pain. I saw smiles on their faces as they got near, And held tighter and tighter to that tiny tear. For my truest heart feelings really did lay, With the soldiers’ courage and love of the great U.S.A. Mike Flory 12/12/06
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magazine • December 2010
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In 2004, as part of Impact A Hero, Flory began playing Santa Claus to wounded soldiers from Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and Brooks Army Medical Center in San Antonio. Impact A Hero is a nonprofit organization that provides emotional and financial support for needy veterans and their families. “All the soldiers come and sit on my lap, and it’s like they go into their second childhood,” says Flory. “There are tremendous men and women out there serving and sacrificing for us, and it’s fun to cut up with them.” Jim Hoelker, chairman of the board of the national organization of Impact a Hero, describes the Santa in Flory. “Mike is such a giving person, who puts all others above himself. This is just one more way of doing that.” “What’s important is that a lot of these severely wounded soldiers in hospitals, some are cast-strapped, do not have the opportunity to go home, so Mike, as Santa, goes to them and puts the bright light of the true meaning of Christmas back into their hearts with his visits.” Hoelker adds, “No matter how old or how young the soldiers are, they line up to sit on Santa’s lap. Some are missing legs and some are in wheelchairs – they have families with children one, two and three years old. Mike is like a father to them as Santa is for all of us. He listens to what they say they want for Christmas, and he tells them how important they are to Santa and to our country.” And Flory doesn’t just play Santa, he actually delivers. “Mike gives everyone who sits on his lap a present,” says Hoelker. “One time, a father with two children took away the presents from them that Santa gave them, and I asked the father why he didn’t let them tear open their presents like the other kids were doing. He said to me, ‘You don’t understand. Those are the only presents they will get, so they will go under the Christmas tree.’” Flory says, “The real meaning of Christmas is Christ,” but it is obvious to others that Flory walks the walk all year long in the spirit of giving. Because of what a gift he is to others, Fort Bend Focus Magazine proudly honors Mike Flory as the 2010 Man of the Year. FBF
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Investment Planning for the New Year
T
he New Year has many of us making resolutions, plans and goals for the year to come. While 2010 has been a tumultuous year in the markets, it is time to think ahead to 2011. If fiscal fitness is one of your priorities for the New Year, like it is for many, consider making a financial calendar that will help keep you on track. Here are some ideas to help you get started:
New Year
January is the perfect time to plan. Set aside time to think about your budget, financial goals and the big expenses you’re anticipating for 2011. Look back at your check register and bank statements from 2010 to help estimate what you spend each month. It takes discipline to adhere to a budget, but it frees discretionary income for more important goals – like paying down debt or saving for retirement. In February and March, start getting ready for tax time. As you receive forms such as W-2s and 1099s, file them immediately. This will reduce time looking for them later. By mid-February, you should verify that you have received all necessary tax forms. Contact the appropriate company for any that you have not received. The deadline to file your 2011 income tax return or file an extension if need be is April 15. This can be done by phone or over the Internet. See the Internal Revenue Service Web site at http://www.irs. gov for details. Tax law also requires those who turned
70 ½ last year to start taking minimum withdrawals from their (non-Roth) IRA no later than April 1. Midyear If you’re expecting a tax refund this year, May is a good time to figure out how you can put that money to good use. Consider paying off debt, establishing a rainy day fund, or adding to your nest egg by putting the money toward your IRA, Roth IRA or employer-sponsored retirement plan. By the time the summer months roll around, it’s time to have a mid-year financial check-up. Are you on target with savings and investments goals? Now is the time to make adjustments if need be. Summer is also a good time for parents and students to think about college financial aid. The federal student financial aid deadline for the 2010-2011 school year is June 30, 2011. This means the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form must be submitted by this date. However, state deadlines may be earlier. See the FAFSA Web site at http://www. fafsa.ed.gov for details.
Year-end
If you participate in your company’s 401(k) plan, retirement account statements will start arriving near year-end. Ask yourself if rebalancing is necessary. If a certain fund outperformed your otherchoices, it might be taking up a bigger percentage of your stock portfolio than what you had originally intended.
Year-end is also a good time to check any remaining balances set aside in flexible spending accounts. Remember, in most cases, money not spent by the end of the year will be forfeited. And now that year-end is here, do you have any money left over? If you want to give to charity, consider giving shares of an appreciated investment (held greater than 12 months). You will get a full deduction in the current year for the full market value, and the non-profit will sell the investment tax-free. Are you interested in gifting appreciated securities or other financial services The Hardee Investment Group may be able to provide to you? Please call 713-8530869, click HardeeInvestmentGroup.com or listen live every Thursday from 11 until noon to Talk Radio 650 AM, where Will shares his most current market thoughts. We’d love to hear from you! Will, Teena, Kathy, Mark and Heather, The Hardee Investment Group “family” wishes your family the happiest of holiday seasons and a prosperous new year! This article is provided by H. H. “Will” Hardee, a financial consultant at RBC Wealth Management’s Houston Center office and was prepared by or in cooperation with RBC Wealth Management. The information included in this article is not intended to be used as the primary basis for making investment decisions nor should it be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell any specific security. RBC Wealth Management does not endorse this organization or publication. Consult your investment professional for additional information and guidance. RBC Wealth Management does not provide tax or legal advice. H
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fort bend
magazine • December 2010
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FORT BEND
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SUGAR LAND VEIN SPECIALISTS 4660 Sweetwater Blvd. Ste 130 Sugar Land, TX, 77479 Tel: 281 240 8400 Fax: 281 240 8405
Send your “Fort Bend Headliners” via e-mail to Lisa@FortBendFocus.com. Be sure to send only “high resolution” digital pictures as an “attached” jpg. Make sure your camera is set to “fine” or “high” in the setup screen. Digital pictures that have not been previously published are preferred. Please do not embed jpg in any page or layout program. Articles are subject for editing and space availability.
Ulises Baltazar is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Board Certified Vascular Surgeon, Registered Vascular Technologist, Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation.
Travis High School ProGrad Fundraiser Travis High School Senior Serve Dinner, Silent/Live Auction & Car Raffle is Travis ProGrad’s largest fundraiser of the year. Tickets are only $25.00 per person and are on sale now. This exciting event will be held January 30, 2011 at Safari Texas. Seniors will choose a theme, decorate their tables and, dressed in costume, will serve dinner. A silent and live auction will also be held, and for the first time, Senior Serve will be holding their First Annual Car Raffle. Car Raffle tickets are $50.00. The car will be on display at various Randall’s, HEB and other locations in and around the Richmond/Rosenberg area, over the next few weeks. A big Travis Prograd thank you to Finnegan Auto Group for their generous support. The raffle drawing will be held during the dinner and winner need not be present to win. Donations are now being accepted for the auctions. If you are interested in donating an item or want more information regarding the car raffle, please contact Laura Elliott at 281467-8775 or at seniorserve2011@gmail. com.
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Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital
Caring for the Community Texas Oncology and Memorial Hermann bring advanced cancer care to the community
A
joint relationship between Memorial Hermann and Texas Oncology provides cancer patients at Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital with convenient access to leading-edge diagnostic technologies and treatments, including participation in nationwide clinical trials. Texas Oncology-Sugar Land, located at 1350 First Colony Blvd., incorporates the latest, most effective diagnostic technologies, including PET/ CT imaging and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), to treat all types of cancer. It’s no longer necessary to drive to the Texas Medical Center to take part in some of the most promising cancer research and clinical trials in the country. Treatments are provided by a highly skilled network of affiliated physicians trained at the world’s top cancer centers. BRAC testing can detect risk for ovarian cancer One of those physicians is Aparna Kamat, M.D., a gynecologic oncologist who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of women with cancer of the reproductive organs. Dr. Kamat is a strong advocate of BRAC genetic testing, which can de-
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tect genetic mutations linked to hereditary ovarian and breast cancer. Studies show that women with BRAC mutations have a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer. “For women with a BRAC 1 mutation, the risk of getting ovarian cancer can be as high as 40 percent,” said Dr. Kamat. “With a BRAC 2 mutation, the risk is about 15 percent.” To determine if a woman faces such a risk, Dr. Kamat recommends BRAC testing for individuals with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer. Although Aparna Kamat, there are not good M.D. screening tools for the early detection of ovarian cancer, she said women with the BRAC mutation should be aware of the disease’s symptoms, and should undergo regular CA125 blood tests and vaginal ultrasounds. For younger women, increasingly aggressive measures can decrease their risk of developing ovarian cancer. “If you test positive for the BRAC mutation, using birth control pills for at least six months can decrease your risk of developing ovarian cancer,” said Dr. Kamat. “Once childbearing is completed, the ovaries should be removed.” Testicular self-exam leads to early detection of testicular cancer Zachary Mucher, M.D., is a urologist affiliated with Memorial Hermann Sugfort bend
magazine • December 2010
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ar Land and Texas Oncology. Testicular cancer is one of the cancers he treats and Dr. Mucher believes educating his patients is important. “When I see a young man for something other than cancer who is between 17 and 35, the age at which testicular cancer generally develops, I tell him the testicular exam I perform is the most important thing I will do for him that day,” said Dr. Mucher. Testicular self-exams are the most effective means for early diagnosis and should be performed monthly. A painless lump or swelling in either testicle should be examined immediately because if it’s cancer it can spread quickly. Back pain and breast enlargement can also be symptoms. “Once a testicular mass has been found, it should be removed,” explained Dr. Mucher. Removing the testicle should not significantly impair Zachary Mucher, testosterone producM.D. tion because the other testicle takes over, according to Dr. Mucher. If chemotherapy or radiation is required, sperm banking is a viable option for patients who wish to have children. World cyclist Lance Armstrong successfully used this option in his treatment for testicular cancer. If found early, testicular cancer has one of the highest cure rates of any cancer, 90 percent to 99 percent. Open House at Texas Oncology The public is invited to tour Texas Oncology-Sugar Land and meet its physicians and staff during an open house sponsored by the Central Fort Bend Chamber Alliance on Thursday, January 13, 2011. The event is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. H
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High School HOT SHOT
By Melinda Wood
Going the Distance
Kris Shumake (left) with his Cross Country teammates.
r e h p o t s i Kr
A
leader in the making, Kempner High School senior Kristopher Shumake juggles schoolwork with running on the varsity cross country team and volunteering with PALS. Kristopher joined the cross country team his sophomore year after playing soccer for his first year of high school. The switch was an easy decision for him to make. “I realized I was better at running during the games than playing soccer,” Kristopher shared. “I only wish I had been in cross country since my freshman year.” Kristopher is happy with his progress since joining the team two years ago and loves every minute spent with his team. In fact, Kristopher’s proudest moment in high school so far is from a cross country meet his sophomore year when he won first place.
“My proudest moment would be during a JV race my sophomore year,” Kristopher said. “I didn’t think I had the ability to win big. I ran in the meet before district and came in 60th out of 140 runners.” He continued, “It didn’t seem spectacular to me, but my coach told me I could make top ten in district. I didn’t believe him, but then during the district race, I started passing up runners, and I realized I was coming into the final stretch by myself. That was awesome.” But, Kristopher’s love for cross country goes beyond winning; it’s the camaraderie he builds and shares with his teammates. “You get to see the progress occur in everyone not just yourself,” Kristopher said. “It’s a lot of fun. It’s not just about working out and doing the sport. It’s like another family. Everyone’s very supportive of each other.” That love of team building and leadership carries over to another of Kristopher’s extracurricular activities – Peer Assistance Leadership, PALS. As part of a class, Kristopher and his classmates travel to three different elementary schools to mentor younger students.
Kristopher enjoys spending time in the elementary schools as well as the leadership opportunities PALS gives him. “Going to the elementary schools is a fun part of the day, but we go with a purpose in mind,” Kristopher said. “The kids have fun with us. We talk to them as an older friend. It doesn’t feel like we’re doing a job. We seem so interesting to them because they see that’s what they can be when they grow up. We give them a motive to do better in school.” Though overwhelming at times, Kristopher has already mastered the art of balancing priorities. “Balancing things is the hardest thing for students who want to achieve,” Kristopher said. “I can remember nights where I got four hours of sleep, but I figured out that I don’t have to be a part of everything. For my senior year, I decided to reduce what I did and focus on what I was passionate about.” He went on to say, “We [students] are so pressed to do as much as possible to be that well-rounded student, but I think now I have a good balance. It took me a year to figure out that was possible.” As Kristopher completes his last year in high school, he is anxiously awaiting college. Kristopher has already been accepted to his first choice school, St. John’s College in New Mexico. He plans on receiving a Bachelor of Liberal Arts. H
“Going to the elementary schools is a fun part of the day, but we go with a purpose in mind,” Kristopher said. fort bend
magazine • December 2010
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Health
By Dr. Peter Osborne
Gluten Sensitivity: A Common Problem or a Myth
M
any people today are going on gluten free diets. You can find extensive gluten free sections in Kroger, HEB, and Whole Foods. Gluten has been in the national spot light receiving recognition on Discovery Health, CNN’s Larry King, Oprah, David Letterman, The View, Good Housekeeping Magazine and more. There is even a “dummies book” available for those with gluten sensitivity.1 So What is Gluten? Gluten is a protein found in the following grains: wheat, barley, rye, and oats. It is also found in processed foods derived from wheat, barley, rye, and oats. Breads, cereals, and pastas are rich in gluten. Other foods and/ or food additives can be derived from gluten containing grains. Examples include soy sauce, gravies, soups, whiskey, and modified food starch. Traditional medical thought is that the protein gluten interacts with some people’s immune systems causing an autoimmune reaction which damages the intestine. However, newer research is identifying that the protein gluten is only part of the problem. Some scientists argue that many grains (including corn) can create similar reactions. So What is Gluten Sensitivity? It depends on who you ask. Many people use the term gluten sensitivity interchangeably with celiac disease (an autoimmune intestinal disorder). Some call gluten sensitivity a food allergy or intolerance. Both are correct to some degree. Gluten sensitivity causes celiac disease, but not all people with gluten sensitivity develop celiac disease. This is where the problem in traditional diagnosis can occur. The only way to confirm
whether or not a person has celiac disease is to perform an intestinal biopsy. If the results reveal villous atrophy (flattening of the intestinal folds) then celiac disease is diagnosed. If the results are negative, then both celiac disease and gluten sensitivity may be dismissed. Newer research is finding that gluten sensitivity can exist independently without causing celiac disease. There are more than 180 different disease conditions, syndromes, and symptoms that have been linked to gluten sensitivity in the medical literature.2,3 Some common conditions include thyroid disorders, seizure disorders, vertigo, osteoporosis, irritable bowel syndrome, and PCOS. There have been two proposed names in the medical literature for this classification of gluten sensitivity. 1. Non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance4 and 2. Gluten Syndrome.5 Diagnosing Gluten Sensitivity & Celiac Disease The proper tools must be used to accurately diagnose gluten sensitivity. Relying solely on a biopsy can delay a diagnosis for several years. I have personally seen cases of celiac disease where up to 8 biopsies were performed before a diagnosis was made. Blood antibody tests provide a better degree of accuracy but still have a great degree of false negatives. Genetic testing offers the greatest degree of accuracy and when combined with a patient’s history and examination a diagnosis can be made early and accurately. However, the greatest tool is patient improvement. If a person starts to feel better on a gluten free diet it doesn’t matter what blood tests or biopsies reveal. The proverbial proof is in the pudding.
Once Again, Common Sense Applies Several years ago, many Americans played an unknowing role in the social experiment known as the Atkin’s diet. This diet, largely devoid of grain provided many with better health through weight loss and reduction of many generalized symptoms of poor health. However, there were also those whose health did poorly on the Atkin’s diet. People are different and unique. Renowned Nobel Prize winning scientist, Roger Williams, wrote a book called Biochemical Individuality examining these individual differences. Bottom line: one diet is not right for everyone. Because going on a gluten free takes a great deal of education and commitment, it is recommended that proper testing be performed to identify whether the diet is right for you. Remember going gluten free is not a trendy diet; it is a permanent lifestyle that should be taken very seriously as even small amounts of gluten exposure can cause problems. This month I will leave you with a final thought on gluten and grains. When farmers want their cows and pigs to gain weight before going to market, they feed them more grain. In the past 100 years, grain consumption has dramatically increased, paralleling a rise in the incidence of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer. Despite the above facts many doctors and dieticians continue to blindly prescribe “heart healthy” diets high in grain. References: 1. Korn, Danna. Living Gluten-Free for Dummies. Wiley Publishing 2006. 2. Libonati, Cleo J. Recognizing Celiac Disease. GFW Publishing Jan 2007. 3. http://www.towncenterwellness.com:80/ webwellness_newsletter.html 4. http://www.gluten.net/about.htm 5. Ford, Rodney. The Gluten Syndrome. RRS Global Ltd publishing. Sept 2007.
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Lynne Jones Salutes Homeless Female Troops by Sprucing Up the Place By Melinda Wood
Lynne Jones, Karen Krenek, and Amy Robinson on Demolition Day.
Interior Designer Lynn Jones
T
his fall, homeless female veterans were given a warm, inviting place to lay their heads at night thanks to Project Independence. Working with the Greater Houston Builder’s Association [GHBA] and HomeAid Houston, Sugar Land resident and interior designer Lynne Jones lent her talents to this project. Santa Maria Hostel, an organization that is committed to helping women in crisis, recognized a need for a shelter for female veterans in Houston. GHBA’s remodeling council decided to take on the project in partnership with HomeAid Houston. A new member on the council, Lynne’s name was brought up as someone who might be able to help. “It broke my heart to know these women who have served my country didn’t have a place to live,” Lynne shared. “How could I say no? Absolutely, I wanted to be involved.”
“HomeAid Houston is only as strong as its volunteers, and Lynne is a perfect example of the types of volunteers we have,” Bette Moser said. The remodelers were charged with renovating five apartments with two common bathrooms. Each interior designer on the project was given a unit to restore. “They asked the interior designers to lend our service not only to select paint colors, but to bring in new bedding, window coverings and some accessories – anything we could think of on a shoestring budget to convert these units to look more welcoming and homey,” Lynne said. The project started with a demolition day where volunteers including Lynne fort bend
magazine • December 2010
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helped gut the space. “I had never swung a hammer to knock out toilets and walls,” Lynne said. “Working handin-hand with the remodelers was neat. I was in the dust. I have a whole new respect for the demolition men.” She added with a laugh, “I did make sure that I had on really cool designer gloves and a hot pink hat.” Two weeks later, Lynne was able start on her room. Little did she know how many people would want to help her turn her unit into a home. Friends, family and even her clients stepped in with donations to help her spruce up the place. “It resonated with people,” she started. “I had a client that had me remodel her master bedroom that I had originally done 16 years ago. She let me take her window coverings and fabric from the walls, which we utilized in my unit. I also had another client give me some old things and a good friend of mine who is an artist donated to the project.” To fill in the holes, Lynne also frequented resale shops to look for deals
and was able to put together a nice living area with her purchases. Always on a hunt for bargains, she even found one piece by a dumpster. “My assistant and I were leaving Williamson Supply who donated the drapery hardware,” she began. “We drove about a block away and there was a perfectly good lounge chair. We stopped and checked it out. I swear there was nothing wrong with it. It wouldn’t fit in my car, so I called my delivery guy. He couldn’t come get it until tomorrow. I told my assistant, ‘I’m going to walk this chair back to Williamson Supply.’ I figured it was fair game, so we walked this chair a block and half back. The owner of the supply store saw me come up and said, ‘You got a special delivery?’ He kept it overnight for us. It’s a great chair.” But furniture and throw pillows isn’t all Lynne brought to the project. Through some networking, Lynne was also able to bring in monetary donations to HomeAid Houston. Her mother-in-law and next-door neighbor both sent checks. A client of hers donated $1,000. She even had a fellow designer who posted information about the project on her Facebook page, which brought in more donations. “I was astounded at people’s reactions,” Lynne said. “Friends, relatives sent money to HomeAid Houston earmarked for me. The executive director of HomeAid Houston, Bette Moser, called me and jokingly said, ‘Lynne, would you consider coming to work for us? We’re getting money in the mail every day because of you.’” Instead of using all of the money for her unit, Lynne decided to spread it out among all the units. With the money she brought in, they were able to pay for all the bedding coverlets, pillows, shower curtains, wastebaskets and towels. For HomeAid Houston, volunteers like Lynne make all the difference in their mission to provide dignified housing for those in need. “HomeAid Houston is only as strong as its volunteers, and Lynne is a perfect example of the types of volunteers we have,” Bette Moser said. “Lynne came to Project Independence with a ton of talent, many resources and a huge heart. We were honored to have her work with us, and all of the designers
Members of the Remodelers Council volunteer to renovate five units into bedrooms for 23 homeless female veterans on September 11, 2010,
Lynne Jones and Lindsey Simpson, her design assistant, sit in their finished product.
made the apartments for our homeless female veterans a true home.” Looking back on the project, Lynne is very happy with the outcome. “It’s not cutting edge 2010 style, but it looks very feminine and inviting,” she said. “I have a feeling that it really made the ladies smile when they walked in. If I had been serving in Afghanistan, the room would have warmed my heart. It made me feel good that we gave someone a nice, cheery place to lay her head.” Lynne also hopes to work with HomeAid Houston again one day. “I www.fortbend
.com • December 2010
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know we’ll work together again,” she said. “I was impressed with how this went. It was very rewarding. Many times, we’ll just write a check, but this time, I felt like I was really hands on. When there’s a hurricane, we all want to step up, but lets’ face it, we never know where it’s going. With this organization, I know where it’s going. No doubt.” Tonight, in part because of Lynne’s work, there is a female veteran who not only has a place to sleep, but will be surrounded in care and comfort as she crawls into bed. ★
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Go to www.FortBendFocus.com Pictures are available online for this month only, download now. Compliments of Fort Bend FOCUS.
Groovy Party 2010
Benefiting Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels Friday, September 17 • Safari Texas Ballroom
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William & Theresa Reading
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Safari Texas Salute to Fort Bend 2010
Benefiting the Mamie George Community Center Saturday, October 9 • Safari Texas Ballroom
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Seen
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Go to www.FortBendFocus.com Pictures are available online for this month only, download now. Compliments of Fort Bend FOCUS.
Methodist Sugar Land Hospital and the Fort Bend Junior Service League Present the Swing For The Cure Charity Golf Tournament
Benefiting the American Cancer Society Monday, October 18 • Houston Golf and Country Club
Sylvia Smyth, Michelle Beeson, Beth Butler & Raj Patel
Pat Hogue, Marcia Barham, Kaelyn Stolhand, Leena Taneja, Lisa Nobles, Amy Saenz, Caitlin Salch, Kelly Pitts & Melissa Roca
Kristen Weiss, Jade Green & Natalie Tobias
Donnie Campbell, Chanes Paschal & Chris Martini
Russell York, John Tolleson, Perry Harrell & Marty Comeaux
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Kurt Watzek & Costa Bajjali
Donald Wayne, Jeff Kalina, Jeremy Finkelstein & Ernie Cockrell
Phillip Butler, Eva Short & Cowell Stanton
Leena Taneja, Niraj Patel & Amy Saenz
Richard Truong & Dan Chu
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Rosenberg Railroad Museum Gala
Benefiting Rosenberg Railroad Museum Saturday, October 23 • Safari Texas Ranch
Henry & Lucy Tucker
Cathey Holmes, Rene’ Lamb & Vickie Lynn Tow
Pamela & Jeff Messer
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2010 Pink Ladies Golf Tournament
Benefiting The American Cancer Society Monday, October 25 • Sugar Creek Country Club
Maureen Wallace, Barbara Conklin, Joy Rosner & Maureen Saenz
Shelena Lalji, Kathleen Koski, Elyce Kahn, Selena Van Prooyen
Gentre Bradford, Erin Pikoff, Betty Clark & Shannon Metz
Laura Stoltenberg, Peggy Jackson & Emelia Appel
Beth Murany, Tracy Taylor, Nikki Owen & Leesa Laurence
Lisa Daugherty, Christine Blitz, Patty Ward & Ann Holdsworth
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Party in a Pitcher!
FBISD’s Commonwealth Elementary Students Share Vision for Ball Stadium Amenity Development By Elsa Maxey
N
ow that the land for the minor league stadium in Sugar Land has started to be cleared and the new stadium design images have been released, exciting times are what nine students from FBISD’s Commonwealth Elementary School can see ahead of them. The 5th graders recently participated in a meeting at the Opening Day Partners (ODP) offices in Sugar Land’s Town Square. They made presentations addressing Mike Hobbs, Sugar Land’s project lead and baseball czar as he is affectionately called, Chris Hill, Vice President of Business Development with Opening Day Partners, and members of the media. This session was facilitated by Jay Clancy, a parent volunteer, who has taken a lead role in guiding the development of feedback from the young prospective patrons about the upcoming minor league stadium. The initiative for this was conceived by FBISD’s Commonwealth Elementary Principal Charmaine Hobin and Clancy to encourage students to have a voice and involvement in the community. Allison Bauer, Duyen Le, and Frank Angelo are volunteer parents who stepped up to the plate and participated in project support roles.
to display on walls made of earth friendly materials that could be in the shape of balls or other forms. There was definitely an emphasis on being environmentally conscious. By serving as resources in the community, these students placed what they learned and utilized in the context of the real world. The project itself, said its organizers, stressed student leadership, and there were also lessons to be learned about client relationships, community involvement, group brainstorming, team work, and the delivery of presentations. “The project has been a great experience for the students, and I have watched them grow tremendously in the last couple of months,” said Monica Clancy, who
Clancy calls this project “Designing the 2030 Workforce” for which he solicited ideas for an array of options as leisure and entertainment amenities that may be considered in the development of the stadium site. The 120 initial ideas from brainstorming, said Clancy, were narrowed down to 20, and then seven were selected for presentation to the group. The seven ideas include the stadium offering of a party or holiday room, a trophy room, having a moon bounce, a maze, tiles, a water park/splash pad, and even fishing tournaments complete with alternatives for fish stocking and even keeping the fish separated from other water features with the use of netting. For the tiles, these possibilities included images
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has been an active partner in the effort. She said there were a couple of students who seemed somewhat quiet and timid at the onset of the experience. “Looking at the students today, I can see them demonstrating much more confidence,” she said. And that they did. They fielded questions from their places, board room style, around a conference table at the ODP office. Their recommendations had merit and ODP’s Hill took copious notes to no doubt, look into them as the stadium enters other phases of development. The participating students include Sarah Angelo, Tristan Bauer, Nicholas Clancy, Alex Chaumette, Zachary Dagnall, Mycah Fairchild, Keagan Goldwait, Emme Le, and Trey Minter. They were accompanied by some of their parents and their school principal, Hobin, and assistant principal, Laurie Sanford, who watched their interaction with approving smiles of pride. As for ODP, Hill was totally focused on the importance this opportunity represented by the inclusion of feedback from an audience who is very much a part of their stadium project. The latest from ODP is that the team name announcement is forthcoming, and it is committed to the stadium’s opening on April 2012…and we just may see some of the student’s 2030 Workforce project features! ★
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Ann Weisgarber: One of Houston’s Best Kept Secrets By Tanya Sterling
O
nce upon a time, there was a couple who lived quietly in a little blue house across from the lake, in a quaint neighborhood tucked away in vintage Sugar Land, Texas. One would never guess that the woman’s recently published book, The Personal History of Rachel DuPree, was short listed for the United Kingdom’s Orange Award for New Writers in 2009, received the 2009 Steven Turner Award for Best Work of First Fiction (sponsored by the Texas Institute of First Letters) and was selected by the Chicago Sun-Times as one of ten fiction books for 2010 summer reading. Meet Ann Weisgarber, an internationally-acclaimed author, wife to Rob and a resident of Sugar Land. The Personal History of Rachel DuPree is a fictional tale about a little-told part of American history – African-American settlers in the West. It is a satisfying story that takes us to the core of why one black couple, Rachel and Isaac, would choose to stake a claim in the middle of South Dakota. The main character, Rachel DuPree, lives a life that is unforgettable and which will stay with you long after you turn that last page.
Ann and her husband, Rob, in London at the 2009 Orange Prize Ceremony.
The book’s author, Ann Weisgarber is just as unforgettable. She is pleasant, hospitable, full of laughter yet calm and reserved. She is also passionate about her writing and amazed that her book was even published. “When I started writing Rachel’s story, it was a personal project,” said Weisgarber. “I was so focused on giving Rachel an identity and a personal story that I did not think about it being published. I was simply fulfilling what had become a very real need to research and write her story - to give this woman a voice.” It is also noteworthy that while Rachel DuPree is an African-American woman, Weisgarber is a white woman who, while visiting the Badlands National Park in South Dakota, toured a dugout - the
hardscrabble homes that pioneers first built - and observed a well-worn path to an ancient cook stove. “I wondered about that well-worn path leading to that old cook stove as it was obvious that someone had cooked on it a lot, and I imagined how hard it must have been to provide three solid meals a day back then,” said Weisgarber. A few days later, she stopped at a roadside museum and saw a photo of an African -American woman sitting by herself in front of a dugout. Surprised as she had never heard of black settlers in the West, this solitary, unnamed woman in the photograph obviously had a story, and paired with the image of that well-worn path and that cook stove, an imaginative Weisgarber decided to tell that story, hence her debut novel.
Reviews of A Personal History of Rachel DuPree by Ann Weisgarber “An indelibly affecting teaching story: How unchecked selfish desires, regardless of their origins in historical cruelty and deprivation, lead inevitably to suffering. A suffering that can be alleviated only by the realization of a pure love for others greater than one’s desires for self. Rachel and Isaac DuPree and their tiny, vulnerable family stand as monuments to the forgotten millions of brutal, spirit deforming choices made and endured by so many brave and deeply wounded Americans.” ~ Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple “It is through our fiction that Americans have best honored the diversity and richness of our culture and history. In The Personal History of Rachel DuPree Ann Weisgarber tells the story of an African American family struggling to survive in the Dakota Badlands with a vividness and intensity by turns heart-breaking and thrilling. It is a story of human betrayal and human love, and a woman you will not soon forget.” ~ Robert Morgan, author of Gap Creek “[Her] book paints a vivid picture of the tenacity and pride it took to survive life on the plains, while reminding readers the heart and soul it takes to survive as a woman.” ~ Denise I. O’Neal, Chicago Sun-Times “It is a soul-satisfying story....Weisgarber’s prose is strong and simple, like Rachel. It delivers the right touch in a story that is fraught with tension…Be forewarned: Rachel DuPree’s story will claim some part of your spirit, too, and live there long after you finish the last page.” ~ Karen M. Thomas, The Dallas Morning News
It is no surprise that Weisgarber was vacationing at the Badlands National Park as she and Rob are avid hikers who try to visit one national park a year. “Rob and I enjoy the outdoors. We love hiking, and we love the water. If we are not hiking, we are at our beach house in Galveston or relaxing at home in our screened-in porch overlooking the water,” said Weisgarber. Born and raised in Kettering, Ohio, Weisgarber met her husband and graduated from Wright State University, in Dayton, Ohio with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. The couple still actively support their alma mater mainly because Wright State extends their opportunities of higher education to visually and hearingimpaired students, as well as those with learning disabilities. After graduating from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, Weisgarber was a social worker in a psychiatric hospital. “My parents raised my brother and I to always be grateful,” said Weisgarber. “I lived through the sixties civil rights movement and women’s liberation. I also vividly remember the race riots in Dayton, JFK’s assassination and the Vietnam War. As a child, you carry those memories around with you and so I think, subconsciously, I felt compelled to give back to our community and decided to be a social worker.” After the young couple moved to the Houston area, the first-time author earned a Master of Arts in Sociology at the University of Houston and taught high school and later, sociology at Alvin Community College and Wharton County Junior College. “I absolutely loved working with the non-traditional college student who was attending night classes, had a family and a job. I found it very rewarding,” commented Weisgarber. It is interesting to note that Weisgarber had never written before she stumbled upon that picture of that lone AfricanAmerican woman in the Badlands. She never dabbled in it and certainly did not have aspirations to be an international, award-winning author. However, once she decided to satisfy her desire to learn more about this unidentified woman, Weisgarber started researching the history of African-American settlers in the West and soon gave this woman a name and a story. “There were times while I was in the
midst of researching and writing that I lost my nerve to continue this project as it could get overwhelming, but then, I kept moving forward as no one was going to read it anyways,” laughed Weisgarber. “As my writing progressed, it transitioned from a short story into something more. So, I went to a writing workshop to get some help, as I was not a trained writer, and the instructor told me I had quite a novel in the making,” said Weisgarber. The eventual publication of this novel was no easy feat, but soon, the Weisgarbers were jetting across the pond to London to accept the UK’s Orange Award for New Writers. Her novel was simultaneously published in France. “It was amazing to walk into a bookstore overseas and see huge posters of myself plastered on windows and prominently displayed copies of my book,” laughed Weisgarber. “ It was a bit surreal as I am inherently a private person, yet I am so grateful.” Now that The Personal History of Rachel DuPree is published stateside, Weisgarber spends her days at book signings all over the country, appearing at
book festivals, speaking at book clubs and being interviewed by powerhouses like National Public Radio and Texas Monthly magazine. She is also working on her second novel centered around the 1900 hurricane in Galveston. When not writing, making appearances and being interviewed, Weisgarber and her husband enjoy their homes and spend quality time with a close circle of friends and neighbors. Weisgarber enjoys the simple things in life and is taking her newfound fame in stride. She is grateful that so much attention is being focused on her novel and looks forward to more research and more writing. “Writing is a seven days a week, all-consuming activity for me,” said Weisgarber. “I am fortunate to have such a supportive husband who understands when I need to grind on and get a chapter researched and written even if it’s on a Saturday night. I am definitely looking forward to the future.” And, the future is bright for this first-time, award-winning author who is living – and writing – her next great novel happily ever after. ★
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Sienna Plantation Hosts An ASID House Designing with the Stars Debuting April 2011
S
ienna Plantation, Fort Bend’s premiere Master-Planned Community by Johnson Development, is home to the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Showcase home for 2011. The project, An ASID House Designing with the Stars, selected Sienna Plantation’s exclusive The Sanctuary at Water’s Lake, a gated community featuring only 12 home sites on one-half to half-acre properties. “We are thrilled to be selected as the site for the ASID House Designing with the Stars project,” said Susie Goff, Marketing Director for Sienna Plantation. “Having this type of project in our community is a privilege. It gives us the opportunity to showcase the quality lifestyle we have created in Sienna Plantation, along with a spectacular showcase home.”
Sienna Plantation, Fort Bend’s premier Master-Planned Community, has been selected for An ASID House Designing with the Stars showcase. The home, being built by Regan Custom Homes, will feature the work of twenty ASID interior designers and is scheduled to debut in April 2011.
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The 5,944 square foot home is being built by Regan Custom Homes, a custom homebuilder who has built in the greater Houston area for over 15 years. “We were excited to participate in an ASID project,” said Shawn Regan, CEO of Regan Custom Homes. “The extraordinary quality of ASID’s showcase houses are well-known to both home buyers and the custom homebuilding industry. This project provided Regan Custom Homes with a unique to opportunity to exhibit our excellence and abilities in custom homebuilding, and we are thrilled to be a part of it.” Scheduled for completion in April of 2011, the house is being decorated by professional ASID interiors designers – twenty, in fact. According to Sharon Staley, ASID President, ASID recruited the designers to participate on the design team based on their ability to complete the project along with what they could give back to ASID. The house has been divided into twenty areas and each designer has been designated an area to showcase their talents. “There’s a lot of egos at stake
on a showcase home all trying to make sure that their design is executed to the best of their ability and to show what a trained designer can do with the proper tools and opportunity,” said Staley. The house will feature state-of-theart design features and technology including a custom lighting system by Lutron. Lutron began over 50 years ago with a life-changing invention: the dimmer switch. Today, Lutron builds a system based on a radio controlled master system that can do everything from turn on your lights and ceiling fans to opening and closing your blinds. And, best of all, the ASID showcase house will feature a stateof-the-art Lutron system – the newest element in home safety. Plans for the ASID House Designing with the Stars are continually developing with the homebuilder and designers working hand in hand. Substantial changes have already been made by the team including reconfiguring the kitchen, converting attic space for a home theatre and providing direct door entry access to the attic. A big change to the design was to make the house ADA (American Disabilities Act) compliant to provide the homeowner with options for an elderly family member, a small child or an individual with special needs. Located on the 18th hole of the Sienna Golf Course, the house will feature a summer kitchen, outdoor fireplace on the veranda and pool. The outside of the house will have a Hill Country feel with limestone and a metal roof. A water feature is also being created for the front porch. The ASID House Designing with the Stars will host a grand opening in April where visitors can preview the showcase home, and ticket information will be announced in January. For more information about tickets or the ASID House Designing with the Stars project, visit www.siennaplantation.com. ★
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Headliners continued from page 19
Kristin Weiss, FBS Director of Development; Andres Novoa, La Cocina Mexican Restaurant & Catering; Manuela Arroyos, FBS CEO; Sandy Matthews, FBS Operations Manager and Cynthia Spadoni.
Be A Santa To A Senior® Program Kick-Offs the Holiday Giving Season Program to Benefit Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels Home Instead Senior Care, the world’s largest provider of non-medical home care and companionship for older adults, has joined forces with Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels once again for the Be a Santa to a Senior® Program. The Be a Santa to a Senior® Program, which started in 2002 as a grassroots effort with Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels, is now a nation-wide program focusing on giving homebound senior citizens the opportunity to celebrate Christmas and will run from November 3 through December 10, 2010. The Be a Santa to a Senior® program isn’t just about gifts. Designed to give back to the seniors in need, the program also helps stimulate human contact and social interaction for older adults who are unlikely to have guests during the holidays. This year, over 600 ornaments for the program will be distributed to local businesses. Each ornament contains two to three “wish” gifts from a senior. Individuals interested in participating in the program are asked to pick up an ornament from a area business, purchase the items on the ornaments and return the gifts in gift bags with the ornament attached to the business it originated from by December 1st. All presents will then be delivered to Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels for distribution to the seniors before Christmas. Headliners continued on page 56
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Community Calendar
1st WEDNESDAY HANUKKAH BEGINS
1st WEDNESDAY, 6:30 - 8 PM FAMILY LAW WORKSHOP Fort Bend Lawyers CARE will hold its Family Law Workshop at the Child Advocates of Fort Bend office, 5403 Avenue N. This is an open forum available to low-income residents of Fort Bend with Family Law questions. Topics include divorce, child custody/ visitation, child support and adoption. Attendees are asked to bring any prior, related court orders with them. Call 281-239-0015 for information. 2nd THURSDAY, 10 AM LEARN HOW TO MAKE ORIGAMI Learn how to make origami holiday ornaments at Mamie George Branch Library. The program will be repeated on December 3 at 4 pm. The library is located at 320 Dulles Avenue in Stafford. Call 281-491-8086. 3rd - 5th FRIDAY & SATURDAY, 7:30 PM SUNDAY, 2 PM FOSTER HIGH SCHOOL’S “ALICE IN WONDERLAND JR.” Performances will be held in the Rogers Auditorium at the school. Tickets are $7.50 pre-sale and $10 at the door. To reserve your tickets, call 832-2233947 or e-mail kwilleby@lcisd.org 3rd – 18th FRIDAY & SATURDAY, 7 - 9:30 PM AUSTIN HS PRO GRAD’S HOLIDAY TOUR OF THE LIGHTS HAYRIDE Enjoy a tour of holiday lights in Pecan Grove on Friday and Saturday nights. Rides start 7:00 pm and continue every 30 minutes until 9:30 pm. Cost is $5 per person (2 and under are free). Pick up and drop off will be at the Pecan Grove Randall’s on FM359. Call 281-565-1314. PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Events, schedules and information may change without notice. Please refer to the event’s contact person or check the event’s website for more information.
December 2010
3rd & 4th, 10th & 12th FRIDAYS, 7:30 PM SATURDAY & SUNDAY, 2 PM IMPERIAL PERFORMING ARTS’ HANSEL AND GRETEL The classic fairy tale comes to life in Engelbert Humperdinck’s fantasy opera, Hansel & Gretel Featuring a professional cast of opera singers, a professional orchestra, a children’s chorus by Fort Bend ISD and the fabulous dancer Catherine Lewis, this opera will enchant and amaze audiences of all ages with its fantastical set, beautiful music, and gripping story! This opera is appropriate for all ages. For tickets, visit www.theimperial.org. 4th SATURDAY, 8 AM ELKINS SOFTBALL’S RUN HOHO-HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS 5K RUN/WALK & KIDS MILE RUN The 5K begins on Knights Court, travels down Thompson’s Ferry Rd., Hagerson’s Ferry Rd., ending at home plate. Afterwards, browse items in the Silent Knight Auction and participate or watch the Jingle Ball Home Run Derby. Cost to participate in the 5K is $25 ($15 for FBISD employees) and $15 for the children’s 1 mile walk prior to race day. Day of, on-site registration is $30. Register at www.signmeup. com or www.active.com (keyword: Run Ho-ho-home). For information, visit elkinssoftball5k.blogspot.com 4th SATURDAY, 9 AM - NOON OPEN AUDITIONS FOR THE FORT BEND BOYS CHOIR Boys age eight and older with unchanged voices are invited to audition. No previous singing experience is necessary. Auditions will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 3900 Lexington Blvd., Missouri City, TX. Scholarships and carpooling assistance are available! Find out more at www.fbbctx.org; or call (281) 240-3800 to schedule an alternate audition time.
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4th SATURDAY, 10:15 AM - 4 PM JOB-SEARCH SURVIVAL TIPS The Sugar Land Branch Library will present a free workshop in the Meeting Room of the library, located at 550 Eldridge. Learn tips on writing a better resumé, researching prospective employers, interviewing and nonverbal skills, making a great first impression, networking, and more. The workshop is free and open to the public. Registration is not required, and late arrivals are welcome. For information, call 281-341-2677. 4th SATURDAY, 2 PM RIDGE POINT HS BAND TO PERFORM AT SIENNA LIBRARY FOR HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE Fort Bend County Libraries will host a Holiday Open House with a performance by the Ridge Point High School Band in the Large Meeting Room at the Sienna Branch Library, 8411 Sienna Springs Blvd in Missouri City. The band will perform an assortment of traditional holiday carols. After the performance, the library’s Youth Services staff will present a special holiday craft for children to enjoy and the Adult Services department invites everyone to join in a Scavenger Hunt that will take place throughout the library. Refreshments will be served. For information, call 281-238-2900. 4th SATURDAY. 2 PM LAMAR CHOIRS TO PERFORM AT GEORGE MEMORIAL LIBRARY FOR HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE Fort Bend County Libraries will host a Holiday Open House with a performance by the award-winning Lamar Junior High Pony Choirs in the Meeting Room at 1001 Golfview in Richmond. Lamar Junior High’s Varsity Mixed Choir and Women’s Treble Choir will sing an traditional holiday carols. After the library’s Youth Services staff will present a special holiday puppet show and attendees will be invited to decorate cookies. Refreshments will be served. For information, call 281-341-2677.
4th SATURDAY, 5 - 7 PM AN EVENING WITH THE BRAZOS RIVER PICKERS AT BRAZOS BEND STATE PARK Enjoy an evening of olde-tyme and Bluegrass music with The Brazos River Pickers at the Amphitheater by the Nature Center. Bring snacks or a picnic supper, seat cushions or lawn chairs. Event is free with regular park admission. For information, visit www.brazosbend.org.
14th TUESDAY, 11 AM - 1 PM AMERICAN BUSINESS WOMEN ASSOCIATION’S SOUTHWEST AREA PROFESSIONAL EXPRESS NETWORK Join the Christmas Meeting at Sugar Creek Country Club. Christmas gift exchange and speaker on a healthier you. Vendors for last minute shopping will be on hand. To RSVP, visit www.abwaswapen.org or call 281-980-3322.
11th SATURDAY, 2 PM FREE HOLIDAY MOVIE Fort Bend County Libraries’ Sugar Land Branch Library will show two film versions of a traditional Dr. Seuss holiday at 550 Eldridge. A short, animated version will begin at 2:00 pm, and a full-length feature film will begin at 2:30 pm. Families are invited to attend either show, or they may stay to enjoy them both. The movies are free and open to the public. Light snacks and drinks will be provided. For information, call 281-277-8934.
18th SATURDAY, 11 AM - 12 PM MURDER & MAYHEM BOOK CLUB If mysteries and crime novels intrigue you, come to the Murder & Mayhem Book Club, at the Missouri City Library. The discussion will be on “Remains Silent,” written by Michael Baden and Linda Kenney. Call 281-238-2100.
11th SATURDAY, 7 PM FORT BEND BOYS CHOIR CHRISTMAS MUSICALE Take a break from the crowds of last minute holiday shoppers and attend this annual Christmas concert. All four performing choirs – Training, Town, Tour and Alumni – will be showcased at Sugar Land Baptist Church, 16755 Southwest Freeway in Sugar Land. Tickets are $15 for adults and children 12 and under are $5.00. For information, visit www.fbbctx.org or call (281) 240-3800. 13th MONDAY, 6:30 PM FREE FALL FAMILY MOVIE SERIES The Fall Family Movie Series at the Sienna Branch Library will feature a re-make of a traditional Charles Dickens holiday tale in the Large Meeting Room of the library, located at 8411 Sienna Springs Blvd in Missouri City. This movie is rated PG. Light snacks and drinks will be provided. For information, call 281-238-2900.
25th SATURDAY MERRY CHRISTMAS
SUGAR LAND TOWN SQUARE EVENTS www.sugarlandtownsquare.com Call 281-313-SLTS Wednesday, December 1 7 – 8:30 p.m. Hanukkah Menorah Lighting Thursday, December 2 5 – 8 p.m. Tree Lighting Ceremony Friday, December 3 6:30 – 9 p.m. Pep Rally and Concert Saturday, December 4 Cadillac Test Drive Event Saturday, December 4 1 – 3 p.m. Houston Choral Showcase Saturday, December 4 7 – 9 p.m. Holiday Movie Classic Sunday, December 5, 12 & 19 1 – 5 p.m. Photos with Santa presented by University of Phoenix Sunday, December 5, 12 & 19 2 – 5 p.m. Concert in the Plaza
26th SUNDAY HAPPY KWANZAA
Friday, December 10 & 17 7 – 9 p.m. Concert in the Plaza Saturday, December 11 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Superstar Concert in the Plaza
31st FRIDAY NEW YEAR’S EVE
Saturday, December 11 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Holiday Movie Under the Moon Sunday, December 12 7 a.m. – 12 p.m. Finish Line Sports 30K
31st FRIDAY, 7 PM - 1 AM SUGAR LAND’S NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION AT SUGAR LAND TOWN SQUARE The evening features a Children’s Celebration from 7 to 9 pm & Adults’ Celebration from 9:30 pm to 1 am. Visit www.sugarlandtx.gov. www.fortbend
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Saturday December 18 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Dance Event Saturday, December 18 7 – 9 p.m. Holiday Movie Classic
Private Schools & Learning Centers around Fort Bend International Preparatory School Involved, Committed and Engaged Students and Faculty
INTERNATIONAL PREPARATORY SCHOOL Pre-Kindergarten through 8th Grade Open House January 12, 2011 6 pm - 8 pm
InternationalPreparatorySchool.com Integrity, Honesty and Service to Others
Available After School Programs: Homework Assistance • Art • Voice • Guitar • Piano • Kid Fit • Math Club • Chess Club After School Program available until 6:30 pm.
For More Information Call: 281-208-1403 1717 Dulles Ave., Missouri City, TX 77459 Fax: 281-208-1426
Full Care Available • Mon-Fri • 7 am - 6:30 pm
At the very core of the International Preparatory School (IPS) is the fostered relationship between the faculty and students. This dynamic school community is committed to developing each student’s intellect, lifelong principles, and character while developing intercultural understanding and respect for others. IPS has responded to the need for a higher level academic environment for our immediate community, and the international community at large. Our student body and faculty are multi-cultural with varied ethnicity that recognizes the importance of a global perspective, a mix of personalities, cultures and attitudes. The IPS curriculum is a unique combination of the core curriculum based on Texas Standards in combination with the philosophy of an international education. IPS conitnued on page 53
The Turning Point WINTER Break Camp
Are YOU or YOUR middle school teen frustrated with middle school pressures? Inundated with homework? Tired of dealing with school cliques? Not earning expected grades? Feel like they are being held back or left behind in some of their classes? Join us December 27 at 4pm or January 15 at 7pm for the Open House and learn how The Turning Point Academy provides: • Individualized education specifically tailored to each student’s learning objectives. • A learning environment more conducive to focusing on academics. • The high standard alternative to conventional curriculums and “mandated timeline” education. • A system to organize information so it is easier to absorb, remember, and recall.
specifically for Grades 5-9 December 27 - 29 10:30 am - 2 pm
Get Ready for a Successful 2011! Specifically tailored to grades 5-9 • How to create an action plan • How to clarify and reach goals • Be motivated and self-managed • Will or won’t power • Habits make or break you • Why to strive for excellence • Think highly of yourself • Be proactive vs. reactive • Control your destiny
Turning Today’s Teens into Tomorrow’s Leaders
Early registration $89 before Dec. 17, 2010 Additional $15 after Dec. 18, 2010
Includes “7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens Workbook” by Sean Covey
Register Today
281-780-8713
www.theturningpointacademy.org fort bend
magazine • December 2010
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Prmrs_60722_7.25 x 4.75 - Ad #723 - THIS AD CAN NOT BE EDITED
Private Schools & Learning Centers around Fort Bend
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Primrose School of First Colony 4605 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land, TX 77479
281.565.2707
www.primrosefirstcolony.com
Each Primrose School is privately owned and operated. Primrose Schools and The Leader in Educational Child Care are trademarks of Primrose School Franchising Company. ©2010 Primrose School Franchising Company. All rights reserved.
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• Step-by-step academic assistance that teaches students how to earn A’s. • Zero tolerance for negative behavior…No bullying or unacceptable behavior tolerated! • Preparation for college as early as middle school. • Thousands off college tuition. • NO HOMEWORK! To attend the open house December 27, reserve by December 20 or January 14, reserve by January 7. The Turning Point Academy is a “Boutique Style” Private School in an educators luxurious home. Make an appointment for your Grades 5-9 child to shadow our students to see how easy it is to be successful! Now Enrolling 5th-10th grade students. Register today at 218-780-8718 or visit www.theturningpointacademy. org. H
Primrose School of First Colony
9/15/10 3:18 PM
The Primrose School of First Colony offers advanced classes for Infants through Kindergarten, and After School/Summer Camp. The Koenigs believe in providing a loving, safe foundation upon which an enriched education is built. We’d like to share some raving compliments from our parents regarding our program: “....a wonderful experience that was certainly due to the school’s warm and loving environment…you have done an excellent job in creating a happy and healthy atmosphere for children to learn and grow. “ - Grandmother, Early Preschool “Thank you for providing such a wonderful place where they could receive quality, loving care. We appreciate the organized and nurturing environment here at Primrose. Both thrive in their classes. This has been a great experience. Thank you for investing in our children!” - Mother (Young Toddlers, Preschool) “I wanted to thank you for taking such wonderful care of my girls…I am forever grateful to all of you! Your level of integrity and love can NOT be measured!! Thank you!” – Mother (Infants, Young Toddlers, Kindergarten) Please call 281.565.2707 to set up an appointment to learn more about our Primrose difference, or visit our website at www.primrosefirstcolony.com. H
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Private Schools & Learning Centers around Fort Bend Southminster School
BalletForte
Mind…Body…Spirit. At Southminster School, we care for the whole child. Founded in 1990, Southminster School serves children from eighteen months through fifth grade in a loving, Christian environment. A low student/teacher ratio, exceptional certified teaching staff, and multi-sensory activities promote a challenging curriculum, exemplifying excellence. Spanish, music, computers, library, physical education, and chapel complement the elementary curriculum. Monthly dance and art classes enhance the Fine Arts program, while preschool students experience monthly literacy enrichment activities. Fully accredited by SACS CASI, Southminster School maintains the highest quality education while promoting and utilizing individual learning styles. The preschool program uses developmentally-appropriate activities in a nurturing environment to engage and educate young students. The individual attention afforded by the small elementary and preschool classes permits teachers to be responsive to different learning styles and create challenges beyond the average classroom experience. Morning and afternoon extended care are available. All extended care programs have planned age-appropriate activities. In addition, a variety of after-school activities are available including computer club, karate, dance, art, tumbling, and fitness. New to Southminster is the Upward sports program with flag football, cheerleading, and soccer for 4 year olds and up. The skills and attitudes taught at Southminster School develop educated thinkers and strong leaders willing to make a difference in their world. Learning is a lifelong journey and the voyage begins here at Southminster School. Southminster School is located at 4200 Cartwright Road at Brightwater in Missouri City. For more information go to www.southminsterschool.org or call 281-2618872 for tour appointments. H
Established in 1996 by Michael Banigan and Dianne Jarrell, BalletForte’s mission is to increase public awareness of the arts and to promote and foster an appreciation for excellence in classical ballet through education and performance opportunities. Four years after starting BalletForte, the duo founded the Fort Bend Academy of Dance, a dance studio that provides training for beginners through professionals in classes such as Classical Ballet, Pointe, Variations, Pas de Deux, Men’s Technique, Jazz and Tap. BalletForte, one of Fort Bend County’s premier pre-professional ballet companies, is in full rehearsal mode for it’s highly anticipated, full-length Nutcracker ballet with performances scheduled to start in December. Known for their expressive choreography and eye-catching costumes, BalletForte’s Nutcracker performances will mesmerize attendees. “We are anticipating an unforgettable 15th anniversary Nutcracker performance,” said Michael Banigan, co-founder and artistic director of BalletForte. “It’s actually like we are performing for the first time because the kids and staff still feel the same excitement as we did 15 years ago. The faces may change throughout the years, but the spirit of the ballet doesn’t change.”
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In addition to the four, full-length performances of The Nutcracker, BalletForte also performs in Clara’s Nutcracker Tea. BalletForte Guild, the non-profit arm of BalletForte, will open the holiday season with the 11th Annual Clara’s Nutcracker Tea on December 5 at the Safari Texas Ranch. The Nutcracker cast will bring the story to life with excerpts from the ballet.
earning is a lifelong journey... the voyage begins here! Private Christian School Serving Fort Bend for 19 years! Accredited by SACS CASI Elementary-Bridging-Preschool
Ballet Forte will produce another performance sure to please the entire family with its production of Coppelia this spring. Registration for winter classes in ongoing. For more information about the Nutcracker and Coppelia performances or about classes offered, please call 281-799-7554 or visit the website at www.balletforte.org. H
Public Informational Meetings January 12 9:30 am & 7:00 pm
4200 Cartwright Rd. @ Brightwater Missouri City, TX 77459 (281) 261-8872 www.southminsterschool.org fort bend
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Private Schools & Learning Centers around Fort Bend
Education Excellence at Every Age Infants
Toddlers
Pre-K
Private Kindergarten*
After-School
Winter Camp
My Check List Education: Their Kids R Kids Int’l program is accredited by SACS/AdvancED -Smart Board technology a plus! Internet viewing: Ability to see my baby grow and develop anytime from my computer. Teachers: CDA Certified/ CPR Trained Meals: Nutritious, well-balanced meals & snacks Safe: Password entry and sign-in/out, glass walls for greater visibility Convenient: 6:30 am - 6:30 pm* Tour Notes: friendly staff, all-inclusive tuition, clean Complete application form
Visit www.KidsRKidsFortBend.com for a listing of our schools. * Check with individual schools on hours of operation and programs.
IPS conitnued from page 50 The Early Childhood Program, PreSchool 4 and Kindergarten, is a highly motivating program. Through the use of challenging phonetic instruction, basic math skills and hands on math applications, IPS is creating inspired, inquisitive learners. The IPS student’s creativity is expanded by integrating the arts, athletics and foreign language to their program. The Lower School, 1st – 3rd, and Middle School, 4th-8th, are distinctly different experiences. As the students progress, they develop a more abstract level of thinking. With the use of science lab materials, and a wide variety of technologies, including lap top computer classes, foreign language, and fine arts, students are supported through a rigorous curriculum with the expectation of achieving academic excellence. There is a synergy as you walk through the door that is hard to ignore. IPS welcomes you to visit the school and experience the energy and enthusiasm for yourself. H See ad on page 50
Kids R Kids Private Preschools At Kids R Kids, children benefit from the latest in research-based, field-proven, early education training while incorporating play. For instance, when your fouryear-old is giggling and gluing cheerios on the letter C, she’s using her senses – touch, feel, smell, sight and sometimes taste – to learn the letter C. “That child is also learning how to concentrate and be patient,” says Lonnie Huston, Owner of Kids R Kids in North Sugar Land. Our learning through purposeful play philosophy exudes at our schools. Kids R Kids International is the first preschool to offer the TeachSmart™ Board at their schools. The TeachSmart™ Board looks like a giant “smart phone” with a touch screen 60 inches wide offering over 1100+ lesson plans in math, emergent literacy, social studies and science. This isn’t an isolated computer room that students visit once a week. The activities on the TeachSmart™ Board complement the classroom curriculum, and tie directly into the Texas and national accreditation guidelines, like NAEYC. In addition, our Kids R Kids International program is accredited by AdvancED /SACS CASI. The best part is parents and grandparents can enjoy watching their child develop and grow online from our internet camera service offered at no extra charge. In fact, it’s all included – hot meals, snacks, Smart Board activities, Spanish, sign language, and more. Everything at Kids R Kids—from the Teach Smart technology to the classrooms—celebrates purposeful play. In our preschools, children learn with straightup, full-impact, hands-on fun! Visit us at www.KidsRKidsFortBend.com to find a school near you. H www.fortbend
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Private Schools & Learning Centers around Fort Bend
Fort Bend Baptist Academy
Cornerstone Academy
Fort Bend Baptist Academy exists to glorify God through excellence in Christian education. Located on a 35 acre campus in the heart of Sugar Land, FBBA is a PreKindergarten through Grade 12 private, college-preparatory Christian school. With an enrollment of 850, students attend over 100 area churches and are active members of the Fort Bend County community. Students receive an academically challenging course of study with curriculum designed to provide a superior spiritual and intellectual environment for each student. An honors degree program and Advanced Placement classes are offered at the high school level; middle school students with accelerated educational development may also participate in honors courses. Spiritually, academically, and professionally qualified, all teaching staff are certified educators, many possessing a Master’s degree or above. Visit FBBA, 281-263-9175, admissions@fbba.org, and learn more! • Small Class Sizes • Uniforms, Hot Lunch Program, Before and After School Extended Day programs • Enrichment classes, clubs, and strong community service involvement • Competitive TAPPS 4A Athletics (Lady Eagles Softball State Champs 2010/2009/2007, final-four state appearances in multiple sports) • Award winning, growing programs in Fine Arts, Theater, and Debate • 100% of FBBA graduates are accepted to college, most to their first choice school, and include National Merit Scholars, military service appointees and recipients of numerous scholarship offers. H
Cornerstone Christian Academy, located in the heart of Sugar Land, combines state-of-the-art curriculum with the love of Jesus and is one of the fastest-growing private schools in the area. Our mission is to equip students with skills for life and faith for eternity. Cornerstone serves all facets of children – spiritual, educational, social and physical. We have committed to offering a high school. Our goal is to be the best preschool through high school in the area. Cornerstone now offers programs for 2-year-olds through middle school. We will be adding an eighth grade in the fall. We meet the needs of families in our preschool community by offering two-day, three-day, four-day and fiveday programs. Our preschoolers attend music, P.E. and library throughout the week. Our elementary and middle schools focus on developing students’ individual talents and education while integrating Bible-based character traits and beliefs. Our elementary program includes library visits and art, Spanish, computers, music and P.E. classes. Our middle school students rotate through classes and choose electives from choir, band, and journalism. Our sports program has taken off, with our middle school students participating in flag football, volleyball, basketball and track. We teach community involvement by participating in service-based projects. Our teachers have years of experience and are active Christians. All of our students attend chapel daily and have Bible stories incorporated into their curriculum. We invite you to come see our facility, located in First Colony Church of Christ. We offer tours weekly. Visit us on the web at www.cornerstonecca.org. H
Excellence Academics Learn more about FBBA! Tuesday Morning Tours, 9:30 a.m.
Preview Open Houses January 11 & 13, 7:00 p.m. www.fbba.org - Click on Admissions!
Grades Pre-K – 12 281-263-9142 • www.fbba.org 1250 Seventh Street, Sugar Land, TX 77478 fort bend
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Private Schools & Learning Centers around Fort Bend
Bill Austin’s Gymnastics & Dance Studio We invite you to join us this winter at Bill Austin’s Gymnastics & Dance Studio for an exciting year in dance, gymnastics, and the performing arts all under one roof. Under the new direction of awardwinning musical theatre director and choreographer Monroe Moore, 2010-2011 brings a new and exciting time to the Academy of Dance, full of new classes, with an enhanced class schedule, additional programs, new professional instructors, performing opportunities including our annual production of “Nutcracker The Musical” and our expanded Spring Recital in addition to the performance collaboration with Broadway Bound Youth Musical Theatre Company. Several new and exciting classes are being offered in our winter session, including gymnastics for children with special needs. For information, questions or to register, please call us at 281-565-5327, visit us online at www.billaustinsgymnastics. com or email our studio director at bbymtdirector@aol.com. H
KICK OFF THE HOLIDAY SEASON WITH
BILL AUSTIN’S GYMNASTICS
& Academy of Dance December 11th 2:30 and 7:30 pm
HBU’s Dunham Theatre
100 Youth Ages 5 through 21 Enchanting music of Tchaikovaky Singing, Acting & Dancing
Celebrating 32 Years of Service to Fort Bend! Registering Now For Winter/Spring Classes • Foam filled training pits • Ages 18 months 18 yrs. • Moon walk-Air tumble trak • Classes for girls & boys • In-ground trampolines • Moms & tots classes • Fun filled colorful tot gym • Tumbling for cheerleading • Award Winning team programs • Comfortable waiting room • Great Birthday Parties • Safety Certified Welcome Our New Coach! • Fully air conditioned Lorenzo Martinez Dance & Gymnastics Teachers Needed
30 Years Experience as Gym Owner and Coach
Gymnastics 281.240.0999
REGISTER FOR SPRING BY DEC. 18TH and receive
$40 OFF Tuition
$25 OFF Tuition
for New Students
for Current Students
Under New Direction! Come Meet
Monroe Moore
Our New Director of Dance
Dance Academy 281.565.5327
16215 LEXINGTON BLVD. (Behind First Colony Mall) • www.billaustinsgymnastics.com www.fortbend
.com • December 2010
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Headliners continued from page 23
Works Dear Fort Bend Focus Magazine, The response to our first ad with Fort Bend Focus was Fabulous! We will continue to advertise with you and would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to drive business their way! Thank you for everything! Dena bent over backwards to please us and your graphics department is outstanding! With Gratitude, Kristine Huete Fabulous Faux Finishing 713-502-8000
Fort Bend Education Foundation: Gala 2011 committee members seated L to R: Sue Chiang, Namita Asthana, Manmeet Likhari, Nappinnai Natarajan, Brenna Smelley, FBEF Executive Director; Gabriella Cone, Gala Co-Chair; Laura Winters, Gala Co-Chair; Jessica Kij, Sonal Bhuchar, Terrie Gorney and Mary Ahner. Back Row; Violet Robertson, Shawn Owens, Namita Patel, Tracey Lisse, Terri Wang, Yolanda Humphrey, Lynn Halford, Jacquie Chaumette, Melissa Cruz, Chris Berger and Shaelyn Neal.
Hello, Fulshear H Simonton 2011/2012 NEWCOMER GUIDE AND VISITOR DIRECTORY
You’re in...
THE Official BOOK and it’s FREE!! List for FREE your business* or organization in our 2011/2012 Newcomer Guide!
E-mail your listing today! E-mail: elizabeth@fortbendfocus.com with a subject line of “RR-FS Business Listing” and include the business or organization name, address, phone number and website. (Must be in Richmond, Rosenberg, Fulshear or Simonton area) *Business listings accepted in the following categories: Child Care Centers, Private Schools, Arts & Entertainment, Gardening Centers, Recreation/Golf Clubs, Churches and Restaurants.
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Fort Bend Education Foundation Gala Slated for February 26, 2011 The Fort Bend Education Foundation Gala Committee announces its theme for the 18th annual Education Foundation Gala to be held at the Sugar Land Marriott Hotel on February 26th, 2011. Gala Co-chairs Gabriella Cone and Laura Winters announce this year’s theme “A Tea Party in Wonderland” presented by Aetna and it promises to be a perfectly pleasant party. This wacky, whimsical evening will celebrate the successes of the Fort Bend Education Foundation and serve as a thank you to the community for its generous support. As you venture through Wonderland, you will experience tantalizing tea party fare, divine dancing and enchanting entertainment. Your adventure will take you through the silent auction and bid board areas where you will peruse desirable items up for bid. Be a part of the live auction action, by bidding on your own or with a group of friends, on a myriad of packages and events. Planning is in now in progress! Information regarding sponsorship, auction donations, individual/raffle tickets and volunteer opportunities is available at www. fortbendisd.com/foundation The mission of the Fort Bend Education Foundation is to enrich, enhance and maximize the quality of education for all Fort Bend ISD students, through our grants to teachers and schools programs. Don’t be late! Don’t be late! Save the date! Or it’s off with your head!!
Maximize your Holidays with the No Joining Fee
Dec. 26 - Jan. 31, 2011
Join in December & Receive: One Free Trial Personal Training Session
Facility Members - Refer a friend who joins as a Facility Member - receive YMCA Bag Register at www.registerymca.org for Spring Programs Starting Dec. 1st
Voted “Best Workout Facility in Fort Bend” for the 2010 Readers Choice Awards.
Fort Bend Toys For Tots Program Collects Toys and Distributes Joy Fort Bend Toys for Tots is collecting unwrapped new toys for Fort Bend area children to help them experience the joy of Christmas. Last year, more than 1,200 children received toys from the local chapter of the national foundation formed by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in 1947. “For more than 60 years, the Marine Corps Reserve has collected toys for those in need and it is our privilege to continue to help,” said Jack Molho, coordinator for Fort Bend Toys for Tots. “Here in Fort Bend, we have had a tremendous response the past five years to our call for new toys. We are hopeful residents and local businesses will contribute again this year and make donating a new toy part of their holiday tradition.” Beginning November 13 through December 15, First Colony Mall will be a collection site for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program. Shoppers are asked to drop in a new, unwrapped toy for needy children in the community. Other drop-off locations in the county include: Legacy Ford Lincoln, Kids r Kids – Katy, Casa Ole - Stafford, Bank of Texas – Missouri City, Prosperity Bank – Sugar Land, BounceU Houston SW, Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office, Sugar Land Police Department, First Victoria National Bank, Republic Harley Davidson and Toys “R” Us – Sugar Land. For more information about the Fort Bend Toys for Tots program or to make a donation, please visit www.stafford-tx. toysfortots.org.
Tour our facility with state-of-the-art fitness equipment and group fitness classes taught by dynamic instructors. *Get a FREE 1-Week PASS and experience the energy.
Youth Sports • Youth Dance Art • Musical Theater Tumbling • Stretch & Grow©
Register your child for our Holiday Youth Camp during December.
Visit our website at www.ymcahouston.org and select Fort Bend or TW Davis. You can view our online Virtual Tours to see a glimpse of our facilities and extensive grounds and view our Program Guides.
Fort Bend Family YMCA
The YMCA is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to put Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
TW Davis Family YMCA
4433 Cartwright Rd, Missouri City, TX 77459 911 Thompson Hwy, Richmond, TX 77469 281-499-9622 281-341-0791 www.ymcahouston.org
1529 S. Highway 6 Sugar Land, TX 77478 (281) 980-9860
raisingcanes.com
Hours of Operation Sun – Thurs 10:30am – 11pm Fri – Sat 10:30am – Midnight
Stay connected with us!
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CanesSugarland
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Sugar Land’s Historic Landmark – Lakeview Auditorium Under Construction! Complete restoration of historic Lakeview Auditorium is one step closer as Phase IIa construction gets started. Phase I work, restoring the interior of the building, was completed in 2006. Work has now shifted to Phase II plans that include exterior renovations (refurbishing windows and doors, a new roof, sidewalks, lighting and landscaping); a backstage addition (two dressing rooms, three restrooms, storage rooms including a climate-controlled room for storage of the piano, a loading dock, and a ramp for handicap access to the stage); and addition of the rooftop balustrade, a historical feature that is being added back to the auditorium. Donna Hine, Executive Director of Sugar Land Cultural Arts Foundation, the group that has spearheaded the effort to raise funds to restore the auditorium, is very excited about the Phase IIa work underway. “Since the auditorium was origi-
nally used by the school, there was very little space in the back stage area. Having no dressing rooms or docks for loading and unloading of equipment and scenery has really limited its use by outside groups interested in renting the auditorium. Once this phase is completed, I think the community will see a variety of different groups taking advantage of our unique and historical venue.” Hine reported that the work underway during this phase will cost a total of $730,400 and the scheduled completion date is April 2011. The last part of the Phase II work, estimated at approximately $400,000 will be the addition of a covered walkway “pergola” that will connect the auditorium to a replica of old Classroom Number 1, that will serve as restrooms for auditorium patrons. Eventually SLCAF plans a Phase III that will include a circular drive that will allow patrons to “drop-off” visitors at the pergola in front of the auditorium, as
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well as beautification of the grounds, including a wrought iron fence around the property. In the meantime, SLCAF continues with fundraising efforts -- ice cream socials, grants, and the annual “Founders’ Ball” gala -- to raise the funds needed to complete the work and bring a variety of cultural and performing arts to the oldest public building in Sugar Land, historic Lakeview Auditorium. The most pressing fundraising event is the 2011 Founders’ Ball, which will be held at Safari Texas on January 15th. The traditional featured entertainment will include those in the community, otherwise known as local celebrities, performing all roles in an ‘American Idol Parody’. “This year is going to be so much fun! Folks will not believe the celebrities we have recruited....famous names doing things you would never dream they would...or could or should, for that matter. It will be really tough to ever top this cast of volunteer performers. What were they thinking when they said yes? This event is going to kick-off 2011 with a bang! ” says SLCAF President Louis Garvin. In addition to enjoying the musical and comical talents of our cast, event-goers can bid for prizes in a live and silent auction. Sponsorships are currently available at three levels – Benefactor ($5,000), Patron of the Arts ($2,500) and Colleague ($1,000) – all of which include a table for 10 with priority seating at the event. Event tickets are available for $100 each; a table for 10 is $1,000. Individuals or companies interested in underwriting the event or purchasing tickets are encouraged to contact SLCAF Executive Director Donna Hine at 281-898-4518 or donna@slcaf.org. Visit www.slcaf.org for more information about the Lakeview Auditorium construction and also for more information regarding the Founders’ Ball.
Karen Chitty-Boe, marketing director, and Jim Brown, chief operating officer of Memorial Hermann Hospital Sugar Land announce that the hospital will be a presenting sponsor for the Fort Bend Cares February fundraiser. With them are Jim Rice, chairman of the board, and Jill Curtis, executive director of Fort Bend Cares. Photo by Mary Favre.
Memorial Hermann Hospital Sugar Land Is Presenting Sponsor for Fort Bend Cares Fort Bend Cares, a charitable foundation, has announced that Memorial Hermann Hospital Sugar Land will be a presenting sponsor for its February 12 dinner/dance fundraiser: Road Trip to Vegas: The Ultimate Lounge Experience. Presenting sponsorships for the event are still available at $15,000, with additional sponsorship options at $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500. Fluor’s large cafeteria will be transformed for the evening into a Las Vegasstyle lounge, with a variety of food selections from numerous local restaurants, music for dancing, both silent and live auctions and casino-style games. Fort Bend Cares supports organizations and programs that serve disadvantaged children and youth. For more information or to become a sponsor, call 832392-1983 or visit www.FortBendCares. org. An integrated health system, Memorial Hermann is known for world-class clinical expertise, patient-centered care, leading-edge technology and innovation. The system, with its exceptional medical staff and 20,000 employees, serves southeast Texas and the greater Houston community. Memorial Hermann’s 11 hospitals include three hospitals in the Texas Medical Center, including a Level I trauma center, a hospital for children and a rehabilitation hospital, as well as three heart and vascular institute locations and eight suburban hospitals. Visit www.memorialhermann. org or call 713.222.CARE.
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Iguana Med • Koi Prestige Medical • NrG Jockey • Barco • Meta Grey’s Anatomy • Crocs Fundamentals • White Swan Fusion • Nurse Mates Med Couture • Peaches
FORT BEND NEW NEIGHBOR Medical Uniforms Medical Uniforms is a brand new uniform store that is here to serve healthcare professionals with joy and happiness. Come and get brand name scrubs at the best prices. You will experience the best customer service; we know our customers are always limited with time, so we make their shopping experience as easy as possible. We have scrubs of all kinds including basics with the best quality. We also have brand names such as Grey’s Anatomy, Koi, Peaches, Med Couture, Jockey, Dickies prints, NrG, Iguana Med, Fusion, and many more. We also have many types of Stethoscopes, accessories, a wide variety of lab coats, and a big selection for men to choose from as well. Medical Uniforms is located at 16126 Southwest Freeway in Sugar Land on the feeder of Highway 59 South and Highway 6 next door to St. Michael’s 24 Hour Emergency Room, Bikram Yoga and Edible Arrangements. Contact us at 281-277-2111 or www.sugarlanduniforms.com. H
Amir and Eli Yekta.
Zen Massage In Missouri City No Contracts/No Membership Fees 1-Hour Swedish Massage - $39.95 Looking for a professional, high quality massage at an affordable price, then look no more! Visit ZEN MASSAGE, Missouri City’s premier massage therapy center, located at 6154 Highway 6 South at the intersection of Highway 6 and FM 1092/Murphy Road in the Kroger Shopping Center. ZEN MASSAGE, under the direction of operators Airraca and Kevin Bell, offers clients a tranquil, peaceful, and serene environment where they can come to relax and momentarily escape from the stress and pressure of our fast-paced society. In addition to relaxation, ZEN MASSAGE also offers clients first-line preventive therapy because massages are increasingly being recognized by the medical community as more than just recreational but rather therapeutic in nature. ZEN MASSAGE offers a wide variety of massage modalities including, but not limited to, Swedish, Firm, Deep Tissue, Sports, Pregnancy, Hot Stone, Neuromuscular Therapy, and Couples for 1, 1.5, and 2 hours. Aromatherapy scents such as lavender, eucalyptus, and peppermint, to name a few, can also be added for a complete rejuvenating experience. ZEN MASSAGE is open 7 days a week: Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Gift certificates are also available in the store or on-line at www.ZenMassageUSA.com. Please stop by or call 281-969-8322 to schedule your appointment and enjoy the benefits of massage therapy on your terms! H
Doesn’t your smile deserve a specialist’s care?
Replacing missing, discolored teeth!
before
after
Restore your smile with cosmetic dentistry!
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 before after offer service in state-of-the-art procedures and techniques, such Actual Patients as: cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, complete and removable partial dentures, replacing lost or loose teeth, jaw joint CROWNS, IMPLANTS, COSMETIC, RECONSTRUCTIVE DENTISTRY problems (TMD), traumatic injuries, BOARD CERTIFIED PROSTHODONTIST snoring and sleep disorders, oral cancer reconstruction and 15958 CITY WALK, SUITE 230 • SUGAR LAND, TX 77479 continuing care. E-mail: srimes@comcast.net
STUART RIMES, DDS, MS
281-313-1565
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magazine • December 2010
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FORT BEND NEW NEIGHBOR La Magia Cafe & Pizza
From Ladies Apparel to Babies and Doggies Broken Nine Boutique and Gifts Has It All
Once you visit La Magia Cafe & Pizza, you get a true feeling of what inspires their great Italian cooking and immediately feel welcome. The ambiance of Italy radiates as you enjoy fine Italian cuisine and delicious, satisfying wine in a casual, friendly atmosphere. The cozy café prepares and cooks dishes in the traditional Italian way using extra virgin olive oil and fresh ingredients and herbs at very affordable prices. The home cooked flavor comes from 30 years experience of Italian cooking by the owner, Ray. Ray’s unique Italian dishes are the reason La Magia Cafe & Pizza is known as “The Best Little Italian Restaurant in Sugar Land”. At La Magia Cafe & Pizza, diners can taste the Italian flavor with traditional entrees such as Gnocchi Bolognese and veal or the unique style pizza made fresh in a traditional stone oven. Daily lunch specials are available Monday through Friday 11 am to 3 pm and margaritas are always $4.50. Ray also provides their famous weekend specials Friday through Sunday. Be sure to check out www.lamagiacafe.com or Facebook for more specials. La Magia Cafe and Pizza is open 7 days a week and located at 3699 Highway 6 at Settlers Way in Sugar Land. Limited area delivery is available. 281565-0366. H Ray Razmdideh
www.fortbend
Broken Nine Boutique and Gifts is the newest addition to shopping in downtown Rosenberg. Broken Nine offers a wide variety of products featuring ladies apparel and accessories, home décor, gifts, doggie boutique and baby boutique. In ladies apparel, Broken Nine brings to you Inca Cottons, Adiktd Jeans, Ethyl Denims, KAS New York and many more fabulous lines. To coordinate with our ladies apparel, we offer accessories such as Lindsay Phillips purses with coordinating scarves and purses by Consuela. We also carry fantastic cowgirl boots by Johnny Ringo, clogs by Lindsay Phillips, Swarovski crystal flip flops by Multifaceted and a large selection of sandals by Grazie. Our home décor department will allow you to find that special accessory to showcase proudly in your home. We carry items from coastal to country, contemporary to traditional. Need that special gift? Mainstreet Collection includes lunch totes, wine totes, cosmetic bags, laptop covers and duffel bags. Party in a Pitcher, Party in a Bag and 5 O’Clock Grid Lock make great gifts for anyone on your holiday list. Don’t forget about that furry four-legged family member. Broken Nine carries a variety of doggie apparel, collars, leashes and more. We, at Broken Nine welcome you to come by and let us help you find that special item. Located at 1100 3rd Street, Rosenberg, TX 77471. Contact 281-341-6463 or www.broken9boutique.com. H
.com • December 2010
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FORT BEND
Focus CareS Enthusiasm and Passion
P
ossessing a background in nursing and child development, Desheena Harris is passionate about making a difference in the lives of children -- and her own. This passion inspired her involvement in special education and Pooh’s Panda Special Needs Academy, where she volunteers more than 30 hours per week in that facility’s life-skills program. (Pooh’s Panda is a Missouri City and Rosharon childcare center for youngsters with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, speech and hearing impairments, and other special needs.) Desheena has also been a transportation aide for over 3 years in Fort Bend ISD. Of her experiences at Pooh’s Panda, Desheena says, “Helping a child is very rewarding. The children often come to Pooh’s Panda with a lot of needs that a regular childcare facility can’t meet. The personal interaction with the staff and volunteers brings positive change to each child’s self-im-
Desheena Harris
age and self-esteem, and that’s very rewarding for everyone involved.” This past summer Desheena participated in overnight field-trip activities with children and families of Pooh’s Panda’s, including a visit to the Kemah Boardwalk. “It was a great experience for the families, and they really benefited from the break in routine,” Desheena reports. “Most everyone focuses on having a normal life and never thinks about the lives
of those who are less fortunate or who have special needs. This event helped families to put their minds and hearts at ease, which is very important to a family caring for a child with challenges. That’s what keeps me wanting to do more.” At Pooh’s Panda, Desheena sets an exemplary standard for helping children by providing support, mentoring, motivation, and love. “Knowing that I have helped one child read a sentence or say a word is a great accomplishment.” She believes that if you dedicate your time and talents to helping others, you will not only be rewarded by the results you achieve in their lives, but also by the enrichment of your own life. For more information about Pooh’s Panda Special Needs Academy call 281-261-3194. For more information about volunteer opportunities, contact Volunteer Fort Bend 281-340-1919 or www.VolunteerFortBend.org H
Don’’t Let the Holidays Don be Ruined by Computer Problems! Whether you have 1 or 100 computers, RTech Department can help maintain the health and well being of your systems. For your entire PC, Networking and IT Solutions, call RTech Department LLC at 713-358-6000 or
www.rtechdepartment.com. fort bend
magazine • December 2010
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Headliners continued from page 59
Members of the FBJSL Beneficiary Review Committee who will review the scholarship applications. Back row: Susie Bakus, Rebecca Starling-Klatt, Sharon Dimicelli, Catherine Kubala; Front row: Lori Bramlett, Brooke Livingston, Pam Spencer, Jenny Nelson (Not pictured: Sarah Boyd, Ashley Grubbs).
FBJSL Seeking Scholarship Applicants, Get Started Now!
New Holiday Collection! The Fort Bend Junior Service League (FBJSL) is proud to announce two exciting scholarship programs to assist women in Fort Bend County who desire to further their education. Each scholarship is valued at $1,000. Two unique opportunities exist: The FBJSL Volunteer Scholarship Applicant must be an outstanding Fort Bend female high school senior that has completed at least 100 hours of high school community service, has a minimum GPA of 2.5 and desires to pursue higher education in the 2011- 2012 school year. The FBJSL New Beginnings Scholarship - Applicant must be a Fort Bend woman with a specific degree or career advancement goal in mind and who has had a break in her education following high school graduation, completion of her GED, or last full-time semester at an accredited college, vocational school or university. The deadline to submit applications is February 1, 2011. Qualified scholarship applicants can learn more about this program and obtain a copy of the applications by visiting FBJSL’s website at www.fbjsl. com. The Fort Bend Junior Service League is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, to developing the potential of women and to improving the Fort Bend County community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.
New Silver, Gold & Earring Accessories!
Find the perfect holiday gift at our 2625 Town Center Blvd North Sugar Land, TX 77479 | 281-980-2070 www.interiorsmarkettx.com
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Therapeutic and Pediatric Optometrists 15337 Southwest Frwy. Sugar Land, TX 77478 Williams Trace @ Hwy 59
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Frank Lee, OD Mary Ghoubrial, OD, and Uyen Tran, OD
Therapeutic and Pediatric Optometrists 8817 Hwy 6 Ste 100 Missouri City, TX 77459
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Headliners continued on page 69 .com • December 2010
December 4th & 5th
11/15/2010 9:55:58 AM
Thomas P. Arnold, OD Melissa C. Moeller, OD and Associates
www.fortbend
Holiday Trunk Show
63
2010 Sugar Plum Market
Yana Finkelshteyn & Jane Starr.
Sally Shen & Kelly Dempsey.
J Loggins Open House
Jan Loggins, Judy Baird, Britt Caffarena & Andrea Jabber.
Dhilan Taneja.
Jan Loggins, Nancy Genson, Fulvia Croce & Captain Maurizio.
Sugar Land Area Artists’ Annual Golf Tournament
Cindy & Mike Martin.
Peggy Duggan & Cristy Woesner.
Jeff Feinberg & Michael Schiff. Becky & Chuck Peterson.
Missouri City’s “Boo In the Run”
Texas Direct Auto: Presenting Sponsor for Texian Market Days
Texas Direct Auto was the presenting sponsor for the 27th Annual Texian Market Days festival, held at the George Ranch Historical Park. Pictured are Russell Hill, Jessica DeMarr, Laurie Breimayer & Candace Jones.
More than 2,500 special and spooky characters enjoyed an evening of fun at Missouri City’s 4th Annual “Boo in the Run” at Buffalo Run Park. fort bend
magazine • December 2010
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Fannin Pediatrics, PA P
CASA Christmas Home Tour Ticket Sales Kick-Off
Carol & Tom Holton.
Troy Robichaux, Anne Bulan & Mary Ann Gardner.
The Grand Soiree: Women & Wine Art Dinner with Kathy Womack
Victoria L. Regan, MD Angela Chia, MD Steve Alley, MD Julia Conlon, MD Christa Filak, MD
UT Physicians Sienna Village
Texas Medical Center
713.486.1200
713.790.9220
8810 Hwy 6, Suite 100 Missouri City, TX 77459
6400 Fannin, Suite 2110 Houston, TX 77030
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Linda Page, Mary Favre, Liz Furman & Brenda Perry.
Fort Bend Women’s Shelter 30th Anniversary Celebration
Gayle Culak & Brenda Kilgore. Anne Budill & Vita Goodell.
Joan Soland, Pat Somers & Ruth Anne Medford.
Kelly Metzenthin & Fiona Remko.
Ron Norsworthy, Linda Schoonmaker & Steve Ewbank.
Memorial Hermann Sugar Land’s Alisa Murray Labor and Delivery Room Ribbon Cutting
Alisa Murray cutting the ribbon with her children Victoria Ann & James Edward.
Alison Parker, Vicky Lucio, Susan Alvarado & Sylvia Argujio.
Imperial Performing Arts Ribbon Cutting Alisa Murray.
Maria de Jesus Garcia, Victoria Ann Murray, James Edward Murray, Alisa Murray, Brian Murray, Jim Brown & Karen Chitty-Boe. fort bend
Imperial Performing Arts staff, board members and supporters cut the ribbon at the grand opening of The Imperial Theatre located in Sugar Land Town Square. magazine • December 2010
66
Twenty-Two Fifty Interiors Winter Wonderland Party
Teena Caldwell & Gail Kienle.
Jack Shaw, Lois King & Cathy Gottlieb.
The Andreason Law Firm Now you don’t have to drive to Houston for experienced Estate Planning.
Kurt M. Andreason, Attorney-at-Law Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Estate Planning, Probate Law and Commercial Real Estate. Carol Cernosek & Kathy Thompson.
4840 Sweetwater Blvd, Suite B (at rear), Sugar Land, TX 77479 281-265-1561 www.andreasonlawfirm.com
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Gift Certificates may be purchased in store or online. Franchises Available
By Nick Nicholson
T
ron Legacy is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that’s unlike anything ever captured on the big screen. Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), the tech-savvy 27-yearold son of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), looks into his father’s disappearance and finds himself pulled into the digital world of Tron where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin’s loyal confidant, Quorra (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-anddeath journey of escape across a visuallystunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous. This Disney kids’ adventure is a follow up to the original cult-classic (that was released in an attempt to capitalize on the video game craze) and features a much better digital world that represents cyberspace. The film is brilliant from a CG perspective, yet the performances by the cast are spot on. The chemistry between father and son (Bridges and Hedlund) keep the interest of the audience keen, while the 21st century pick up of the story is just as captivating. This film is a great deal of fun on numerous levels.The animation team did a superb job and the fans of the original who are questioning why make a sequel will most definitely be pleased with the latest incarnation. Another little nugget to add concerns the 3D technology that is seemingly taking over the film market as of late. Tron Legacy is one of the few films this year that has utilized the 3D technology in a tasteful way that doesn’t inundate the viewer (or make them ill) with overuse. There is no doubt that this film, as was the case with the original, will stimulate the home video game market. The only question is, which company will get the coveted licensing position for the Tron game. Until that time, get out to the theater this month and check out this wholesome family entertainment!
Olivia Wilde (left) and Garrett Hedlund (right). Photo by Douglas Curran.
(L-R) Garrett Hedlund, Steve Lisberger, Jeff Bridges and Joseph Kosinski. Photo by Douglas Curran.
Tron Legacy Starring: Garrett Hedlund, Jeff Bridges & Bruce Boxleitner Director: Joseph Kosinski Company: Walt Disney Now Showing: in Local Theaters MPAA Rating: NR Grade: A
(L-R) Olivia Wilde, Joseph Kosinski, Jeff Bridges and Garrett Hedlund. Photo by Douglas Curran. Photos courtesy of Disney Pictures.
Nick Nicholson is the Film and Entertainment Critic for CNN Radio, the Fort Bend Star, Focus Magazine, Pearland Focus as well as Focus on Women. In addition, his reviews can be seen and heard in numerous other print/media outlets in Texas and Oklahoma. Mr. Nicholson is in great demand as a speaker to both public and civic organizations on the subject of film and the entertainment industry. He is the co-founder of the Houston Film Critics Society and is currently the President of the organization. fort bend
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Headliners continued from page 63
A Condo for the Price of a Room
Jo Howard, wife of Representative Charlie Howard, presents resources donated by the Fort Bend Republican Women’s Club to Lorri Lessey of the Adult Collection Development of George Memorial Library.
Fort Bend Republican Women’s Club Donates Books and Audio Books to George Memorial Library Fort Bend Republican Women’s Club involvement in the community is recognized in numerous activities. One of the many contributions of the club is to support the local library system with resources that clarify the historical perspective for understanding the issues of the day. The resources given to the library support and explain the conservative movement to preserve the values that have served to make our nation a leader among nations. These values include faith, family, and freedom. In an interest to build a strong community of ideas, the club provides the donations to promote patriotism, to explain the conservative perspective, and to encourage service to country. The club recognizes the George Memorial Library system as a vibrant asset to our community. Fort Bend county is fortunate to have a system that continues to expand. The ground breaking of the University Branch (a results of a partnership with the University of Houston System at Sugar Land and Wharton County Junior college) took place in September and the opening of the ICAN (Information, Careers and Networking) center on October 2nd. This uniquely designed center is specifically intended to assist Fort Bend residents in finding first time jobs and in making career changes.
Spacious condominium suites with private Gulf view balconies, kitchens and separate living and sleeping areas. Two swimming pools, tennis court, fitness center, barbecue/picnic areas and much more. Centrally located to all the attractions, shops and restaurants on Galveston Island. Just Steps from the Beach Free Internet
Variety of floor and decor plans Guest laundry and convenience store
Holidays on The Island
Be a Texan for the Winter!
Dickens on the Strand • Dec. 3-5
An Extended Stay Island favorite!
Dickens Weekend Rate Plans starting as low as $99/night One Bedroom Condo for 4 persons, 2 Nights minimum. Rates valid December 30, 2010.
Monthly Rate Plans starting as low as $850/month Family looking for a Winter Texas vacation destination?... Come to Galveston Island and the Victorian. Rates valid November 7, 2010 thru February 28, 2011.
6300 Seawall • Galveston 800.231.6363 • www.hawthorn.com www.facebook.com/galvestonvictorian Rates not valid holidays, special event weekends or with other discounts, excluding taxes.
Headliners continued on page 71 www.fortbend
.com • December 2010
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ATULATION R G N S! O C Victor Ihezukwu
Victor Ihezukwu, currently a student at Elkins High School in the Fort Bend ISD, is the winner of a $1,000 Scholarship sponsored by Texas Direct Auto! Ihezukwu is active in Elkins High School YIP, Harris County Hospital Junior Volunteer, Elkins High School B.P.A club, D.I.C youth Basketball, and numerous other activities and groups. His plans are to attend Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. He was selected as part of Texas Direct Auto’s commitment to educational excellence through the “Scholarship Stars” program. Application details are listed below.
Register now and win a
1,000
$
SCHOLARSHIP! Find complete details and forms at
www.fortbendstar.com/scholarshipstar.doc
fort bend
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Headliners continued from page 59
Hello, Fulshear H Simonton 2011/2012 NEWCOMER GUIDE AND VISITOR DIRECTORY
Christi Selph, FBJSL; Kaelyn Stolhand, Methodist Sugar Land Hospital; Leena Taneja, Methodist Sugar Land Hospital; Megan Scruggs, FBJSL; Lisa Nalley, Methodist Sugar Land Hospital and Bonnie Amaris, FBJSL.
Glitter & Gloss Welcomes Methodist Sugar Land Hospital as Presenting Sponsor The Fort Bend Junior Service League (FBJSL) and Fort Bend Teen Service League (FBTSL) are excited to announce Methodist Sugar Land Hospital as the presenting sponsor of FBTSL’s premier fundraising event, Glitter & Gloss. Glitter & Gloss will be held on April 2, 2011 at The Honor Roll School and will include pampering, paparazzi, spa parties, shopping and two runway-style fashion shows. Proceeds from the event will benefit FBJSL’s Community Assistance Fund. Sponsorship and underwriting opportunities ranging from $250 to $5,000 are currently available. For more information, please contact Bonnie Amaris or Christi Selph at glitterandgloss@fbjsl.com or visit www.fbjsl.com and www.fortbendteenleague.org. Fort Bend Teen Service League is a mentoring project of the Fort Bend Junior Service League. The purpose of the Fort Bend Teen Service League is to foster a sense of community responsibility in young women as well as to develop leadership skills through participation in philanthropy, educational activities and cultural events. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable as well as providing an atmosphere of friendliness, goodwill and camaraderie for all members. H
Deadline: January 31, 2011
have a great shot?
WINNER OF THE YEAR Only one winner will be featured on the cover; however, other entries may be used throughout the publication. This is a fantastic opportunity for amateurs and professionals. Have your work distributed all over town- on the cover! You will receive photo credit!
Enter ouronCteosvte!r P h o to C
ENTER TO WIN Richmond-Rosenberg Fulshear-Simonton Newcomer Guide is looking for a photo to be used as the 2011 cover image. The photo should focus on people, places or happenings around Richmond, Rosenberg, Fulshear or Simonton.
NO LIMIT TO ENTRIES To submit a photo, e-mail it to Grace@fortbendfocus. com with a subject line of “RR-FS Photo Contest.” Photos must be HIGH RESOLUTION- at least 300 dpi and an actual size of at least 4”x 6”. Please include some basic information about the photo such as: who, what, where, your name and phone number. By submitting an entry, the photographer gives Richmond-Rosenberg Fulshear-Simonton Newcomer Guide the right to use and publish their photograph. Published by Focus Magazines
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Focus on Worship Heritage Baptist Church
Heritage Baptist Church a place to call home Schedule of Services SUNDAY Sunday School................. 9:30am Sunday AM Worship ..... 10:45am Bible Classes ................... 6:05 pm Sunday PM Worship ..... 7:00 pm WEDNESDAY Bible Study...................... 7:00pm Awana Bible Clubs .......... 7:00pm
Dr. Charles A. Murphy, Sr. Pastor
281-403-4994 www.hbctx.org 2223 FM 1092 Missouri City, Texas 77459
The Savior of mankind had the humblest of beginnings in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago. Thirty-three years later, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, took our spot on the cross at Calvary and died for our sins. He was buried and rose again the third day and soon sat at the right hand of God in a position more glorious than we can imagine. Jesus is coming again to collect the ones who have accepted that sacrifice He made for sins and believe on Him as their Lord and Savior. On Christmas Day, we celebrate the first coming of Jesus and look forward to His Second Coming, which is fast-approaching. Join Heritage Baptist Church and senior pastor Dr. Charles Murphy this Christmas season as we recognize Jesus as Lord and praise God for sending His Son to die for our sins. The celebration begins December 12th, in our 10:45 a.m. worship service with our Sanctuary Choir Christmas presentation. The choir and orchestra, led by music minister Dennis Bell, have been working hard on this time of worship over the past several weeks. Heritage Baptist Church’s Children’s Choir continues praising God with their performance the next Sunday, December 19th at 10:45 a.m. The Family Christmas Celebration is scheduled for 5 p.m. on December 19th. This is a time of fellowship, singing and great food for the whole family. Our Christmas Eve service begins at 6 p.m. and includes a candle light service. Children are invited to come dressed in nativity costumes. Heritage Baptist Church is a loving church family that preaches Christ and offers biblical truth and Christian fellowship for all ages. We pray you will find us to truly be a place to call home. H
“Festival of Lessons & Carols” Advent Concert on Thursday, December 16th The St. Laurence Chamber Singers, known for professional quality performances of sacred music, is pleased to present “Festival of Lessons & Carols” on Thursday, December 16th, at 7:30 p.m. This special presentation will celebrate the season of Advent, the four weeks before Christmas, with music and Scriptural readings depicting the days leading to the birth of Jesus Christ. The concert will be held at St. Laurence Catholic Church in Sugar Land and is free of charge and open to the public. Classic liturgical Advent songs such as “O Come, Emmanuel”, concert pieces from Handel’s “Messiah”, plus traditional carols and a sing-along will complement the Scripture readings, designed to lead concert-goers on a spiritual journey through Advent to Christmas. The St. Laurence Chamber Singers rely fully on donations to underwrite the cost of presenting these professional quality concerts free to the public. Patron support at all levels is available and donations are happily accepted at the concert. “Festival of Lessons & Carols” will be presented at St. Laurence Catholic Church, located in First Colony in Sugar Land at 3100 Sweetwater Boulevard, at the corner of Sweetwater and Austin Parkway. To learn more about the Chamber Singers or St. Laurence Catholic Church, please visit www.stlaurence.org or contact the parish office at 281-980-9812. H fort bend
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She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.. Matthew 1:21 New International Version
May the Lord watch over you and bless you and your family as we celebrate the miracle of Christmas.
1 2 3 4
FORT BEND’S 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS On the first day of Christmas, celebrate the start of the holiday season with family, friends and neighbors at the 8th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Sugar Land Town Square on Thursday, December 2nd. Entertainment and activities will start at 5 pm with Santa due to arrive at 7:30 pm. This year’s main stage entertainment will feature talent from local schools, various up and coming area bands, and much more all leading up to Santa’s surprise grand arrival. Come along to see what he has planned and to enjoy all the festivities of the season. Further event information will be available at www.sugarlandtx.gov or by calling 281.275.2885.
Christmas Tree Lighting H Dec. 2
On the second day of Christmas, the Fort Bend Museum Docents will be hosting the annual Candlelight Tours of the historic 1883 John M. Moore home. This year’s theme is “Christmas Around the World” and each room will be decorated according to Christmas celebrations in other countries. Countries represented will include Egypt, Scotland and Czech Republic. Complimentary cookies and wassail will be served on the porch and Santa will make a surprise visit! Tickets for the Candlelight Tours are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $3 for children. Raffle tickets are available now for $2 each, $5 for three tickets or $15 for 10 tickets. Tickets are available at the Fort Bend Museum or from any Docent. The museum is located at 500 Houston Street in Richmond. For info, call 281-342-6478 or visit www.fortbendmuseum.org.
Christmas in Rosenberg H Dec. 4
On the third day of Christmas, come one, come all and join the City of Rosenberg as they host “Christmas in Rosenberg” in Rosenberg’s Historic Downtown District from 3-9 pm. Jump start your holiday season by exploring an eclectic mix of eateries and shops featuring antiques, gifts, collectibles, and handmade furniture. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the season along with the evening’s activities including food and craft vendors, pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, the Rosenberg Railroad Museum, a children’s carnival, entertainment and much more. For more information on the event or for craft and food vendor spaces, please contact Camille Prat at 832.595.3525.
On the fourth day of Christmas, every Prince and Princess young and young at heart are summoned to “the ball” by attending Princess Christmas, to be held at award-winning Fort Bend Theatre, 2815 N. Main St. Performances are Saturdays at 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm and Sundays at 3:00 pm. In attendance shall be everyone’s favorite princesses, including Cinderella, Belle, Jasmine, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White in this enchanting holiday tale written by playwright and FBT Executive Artistic Director, Tarra McCain that will be sure to delight parents and children alike. For more information, group sales, or to purchase tickets online, please visit www.fortbendtheatre.com or call 281-208-3333.
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Candlelight Tours H Dec. 3 & 4
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FORT BEND’S 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
Miracle on Morton Street H Dec. 4
On the fifth day of Christmas, Historic Richmond continues the tradition of celebrating the Christmas season by hosting its 8th Annual “Miracle on Morton Street” event from 10 am - 8 pm. Downtown Richmond will be transformed into a Christmas Wonderland filled with the sounds of the season. Spectacular in colored lights, the downtown district will include craft vendors, food vendors and Santa’s Post Office. Children will enjoy face painting and much more in the Children’s Activity Area, as well as a visit from the jolly old elf himself. Children’s choirs and church choirs will fill the night air with Christmas favorites while you enjoy the wares of craft vendors and foods from local groups. Best of all, this event is free! For information, visit www.historicrichmond.org.
On the sixth day of Christmas, experience the magic of the holiday as the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra presents “Deck the Halls” on Sunday, December 5th at 2 pm at the Stafford Centre. The popular concert features classic, seasonal favorites like “Sleigh Ride” and “A Most Wonderful Christmas,” as well as contemporary selections from the motion picture sound track of The Polar Express and a delightful blend of America’s favorite march with a Christmas favorite in “Jingle Bells Forever.” This holiday concert is the most popular concert of the year so purchase tickets early at www.fbso.org or call 281-276-9642. Individual ticket prices for adults begin at $10 per concert. Senior and student prices start at just $5. Children 12 and under are free, but must have a reserved ticket.
CASA Christmas Home Tour H Dec. 10 & 11
Deck the Halls H Dec. 5
On the seventh day of Christmas, spend the day enjoying the 19th Annual CASA Christmas Home Tour benefitting Child Advocates of Fort Bend. The tour features six stunning homes beautifully decorated for the holidays, nearly 3,600 fresh baked cookies, a half-ton of apple cider and hundreds of musicians. The tour will feature homes in Sugar Land, Richmond, and Alkire Lake/Lake Pointe. One ticket provides entry to all the homes. Tour tickets are available for $15 at local Randalls grocery stores or online at www.cafb.org. Tickets may also be purchased the day of for $20 at the Sweetwater guardhouse. For information about the event including sponsorship, volunteer opportunities or ticket sales, please call Irene Wisner at 281-344-5108.
On the eighth day of Christmas, experience an historic holiday celebration at the George Ranch Historical Park. Guests will enjoy a progressive Christmas dinner, exclusive evening tours of two historic homes, music and more at the annual holiday program. Visitors will travel via hay ride to the historical homes, enjoying food and beverages and a guided tour. Finally, attendees will enjoy cobbler, coffee and apple cider around the campfire with cowboys, who will be sharing stories and songs of the Old West. All children will receive a Christmas sock and will be given a period-correct Christmas present to take home from each stop on the tour. Tickets are $40 for adults and $35 for children, seniors and groups. Reservations are required. For information or to RSVP, call 281-343-0218 ext. 220 or e-mail education@georgeranch.org. www.fortbend
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Campfire Christmas H Dec. 10 & 11, 17 & 18
FORT BEND’S 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
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The Nutcracker H Dec. 10 - 12
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On the tenth day of Christmas, the City of Meadows Place will be celebrating its 21st annual “Christmas Memories in the Park” event from 6 – 10 pm. Activities include hayrides, snow hills for sliding, warm food and beverages, a performance by Meadows Elementary School Choir, and live music from “The Emotions.” There will also be a food drive for the Sugar Grove Church of Christ Food Pantry. And, of course, no Christmas Celebration would be complete without Santa and Mrs. Claus! The City of Meadows Place welcomes everybody to visit Mark McGrath Municipal Park located at 12001 Brighton. Check www.cityofmeadowsplace.org for updates.
Missouri City Snowfest H Dec. 11
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On the ninth day of Christmas, visions of mysterious mice, a rowdy Rat King, the noble Nutcracker, a sublime Sugarplum Fairy, and delightful desserts ... it’s beginning to look a lot like the holidays! Fort Bend County’s pre-professional ballet company presents its popular performance of “The Nutcracker” December 10th-12th at the Stafford Centre. Both the young and the young at heart will fall in love with this performance. If it’s not already, attending BalletForte’s “The Nutcracker” will become a family holiday tradition. Tickets range from $15-$28. To purchase call 281-799-7554 or visit www.balletforte.org to purchase tickets online. Group discounts are available.
Meadows Place Christmas Memories H Dec. 10
On the eleventh day of Christmas, join friends and neighbors at Missouri City’s 27th annual “Snowfest.” The event will kick off with a high-stepping parade at 9 am at Cartwright and Murphy Road. The parade will feature brightly-colored floats and decorated trailers. Following the parade, a family festival will take place at 11 am at Community Park, 1700 Glenn Lakes. This year’s festival features kid-friendly entertainment options including snow tubing and pictures with Santa. “Snowfest” will also feature dozens of vendor booths featuring scrumptious food and treats, holiday arts and crafts, games, animal adoptions and educational opportunities. Be sure to bring your appetite and prepare to do a little holiday shopping. For more information, visit www.missouricitytx.gov.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, start your holiday season off on the right note by attending the “Fort Bend Boys Choir’s Annual Christmas Musicale.” It’s a great time to relax with family and friends and get into the holiday spirit! The Fort Bend Boys Choir will perform at Sugar Land Baptist Church on Saturday, December 11th at 7 pm. All four performing choirs – Training, Town, Tour and Alumni – will be showcased. Adult admission is $15; children twelve and under are $5. All proceeds from the “Christmas Musicale” are used for program support, operational expenses and scholarships. For tickets, call the FBBC office at 281-240-3800.
Christmas Musicale H Dec. 11
EDITOR’S NOTE: Events, schedules and information may change without notice. Please refer to the event’s contact person or check the event’s website for more information.
Open Weekends & Select Holidays – Galveston Island, Texas Free Parking Free Tubes e m o c l e W s c i n c i P
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Open Weekends and Select Holidays* 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. September 25, 2010 THROUGH December 31, 2010 *Visit schlitterbahn.com for the complete operating schedule. Prices, attraction availability and operating schedule are subject to change without notice.
schlitterbahn.com 409.770.WAVE Roar down thrilling speed slides. Brave the Torrent Tidal Wave River. Soar through enclosed tube slides. Splash into three different kid’s areas and MORE!
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SAVE up to $18! SAVE $3 EACH! Present this coupon prior to purchase at any Galveston Island ticket window on an Indoor Season operating day and SAVE $3 each on up to 6 full-price, all-day tickets. Not valid with any other offer, discount, special price, prepaid, afternoon, group, two-day, or season tickets. Tickets must be purchased at Schlitterbahn and used the same day. Coupon not applicable to online discount tickets. Coupon has no cash value and is not for resale. Prices, operating schedule and attraction availability subject to change without notice. Coupon expires December 31, 2010. ® 2010 Waterpark Management, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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December 2010 Winner “Making Melodies” By Maggie Wong, Sugar Land Congratulations Maggie, you’ve earned a $40 gift certificate to a Fort Bend restaurant!
ENTER TO WIN Fort 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 MONTH Each month’s winner receives a $40 gift certificate to a restaurant and the winning photo will be published in our magazine. To claim your prize, call Norma @ 281-690-4242. Runner-up photos may be published in our “Readers’ Photo Album.”
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.
NO LIMIT TO ENTRIES To submit a digital photo, e-mail the file to Michael@FortBendFocus. com or send a CD or DVD by mail. Digital photos must be HIGH RESOLUTION at least 300 dpi at actual size of at least 4” x 6”. fort bend
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Thank You to Our Swing for the Cure Sponsors Sponsors EmergiGroup Physician Associates
On behalf of Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, the Fort Bend Junior Service League and the American Cancer Society, we extend a special thanks to our sponsors for the first-ever Swing for the Cure golf tournament. All of the funds raised will stay in Fort Bend County and will be used to directly assist breast cancer patients. Contributions from this tournament will help make life a little easier for our neighbors who are battling this terrible disease. Thanks to your generous contributions, the Swing for the Cure golf tournament raised over $160,000. Thank you for your commitment to the fight against breast cancer. The Swing for the Cure Committee
Kelly Dempsey, M.D. Jay M. Shenaq, M.D. Foot Centers of Texas Houston Radiology Associates Chevray Plastic Surgery Founders Bank Total InPatient Services Colorectal Surgical Associates Consolidated Home Health Gen-Tech Construction Greater Houston Anesthesiology Priority Integrated Marketing Republic Services Texas Spine & Neurosurgery Center Templeton Breast Care Intuitive Surgical
Methodist Orthopaedic Specialists of Texas Methodist Sugar Land Radiation Oncology Methodist Sugar Land Neurology Associates Healthy Advice Communications Richmond Gastroenterology Associates Sugar Land Oncology Fort Bend Focus Stephen Phillips, M.D. Correna Terrell, M.D. iOffice, Inc. Sugar Land Colon & Rectal Clinic Myriad Genetics, Inc. Gregory-Edwards, Inc. Sangeeta Saikia, M.D.
Team & Hole Sponsors Advance Oncology Audiolink Technologies BMC Software Business Flooring Specialists Colorectal Surgical Associates Harrell Architects, LP Hunton Trane Services IMG Financial Group, Inc. Johnson Controls, Inc.
Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Phillip Butler Rice & Gardner Consultants, Inc. St. Michael’s Emergency Room Schindler Elevator Corporation Siemens Industry Sugar Land OB/GYN Sweetwater Angiography Center XL Films, Ltd.
Hole Sponsors Bill Schwer Carl Ogletree, M.D. Fort Bend Junior Service League HealthSouth SL Rehab Hospital Houston Metro Urology Intuitive Surgical Proxsys, LLC Shellist Lazarz, LLP
Texas Surgical Associates The B.R.A.V.E. Group The Filter Man, Ltd. The Turning Point Group ThyssenKrupp Elevator Upclose Magazine Whitney Bank Wilson Architectural Group
This ad generously donated by Fort Bend Focus Magazine
Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame Announces Local Inductees By Barbara Magana Robertson
F
ort Bend County has seen its share of sports’ heroes. Home to NFL legends, Olympic Gold medalists and NBA All-Stars, now, two of Fort Bend’s life-long residents will be inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame. Sam Magana and Joe “Smokey” Davis have been announced as inductees into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame at the Fort Worth Stockyards. Both men have been life-long friends and have shared a commitment to the sport of rodeo. The Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame honors those who have competed at an elite level, served as ambassadors of the sport and those who continue to contribute to the western lifestyle. “We are fortunate to be able to induct two men with such a rich history - two living legends,” said Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame Board President Don Howell. “This year, we had more nominations then years past. The 2011 inductees are a remarkable group”. Sam Magana’s trail to the Hall of Fame started at the tender age of 13. He broke, bred, trained and rode horses for a living. As a teenager, he began riding bucking bulls at rodeos and soon started earning money for his efforts. His rodeo career spans several decades, and he was a lead contender in the original Southern Rodeo Association. “I was doing what I knew to do. It was just the way I lived my life,” said Magana. He competed in rodeos all over the country in the bull riding and saddle bronc riding events. He also competed in Madison Square Garden, Kansas City and in countless rodeos throughout Texas. Magana was able to support his wife and eight children on his winnings. “Times were tough. When my third son was born, I was able to pay the hospital bill with my rodeo earnings,” recalled Magana. Smokey Davis’s road to the Hall of Fame is a family tradition. His fa-
Sam Magana in 1963.
ther, Joe Davis, was inducted in 2001. Smokey and his family ran the Rafter “D” Rodeo Company for years. Four generations of the Davis family helped produce rodeos for county fairs, professional cowboy associations and for numerous dignitaries. “I think it’s a real honor,” said Davis. “What a great thing this is.” Smokey’s rodeo roots go back to the days of his rodeo career. He competed in calf roping, steer wrestling, steer roping, bareback riding and bull riding. But, his passion was to produce rodeos. In 1978, in a joint venture with his father, they started Rafter “D” Rodeo Company. Magana and Davis are patriarchs of their respective families. The families have known each other a lifetime, coming together at numerous rodeos throughout the years. Both men are quick to give credit to their wives and children for their accomplishments. “I could not have done it without my wife. She is the true backbone of all my successes,” credited Sam of his wife Delia Magana. Smokey admitted, “I could not have done it without my family. Everyone had a part in making our rodeo company what it is.” fort bend
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Sam Magana and Smokey Davis.
The Fort Bend County Fair and Rodeo recently honored both men for their continued dedication to the youth of the county and the sport of rodeo. “We were just thrilled to be able to honor both Sammy and Smokey thanking them and being able to recognize them for all they have done,” said Fort Bend Fair and Rodeo Executive board member, Brad Bowman. “They deserve it.” World champion cowboys such as Fred Whitfield, Joe Beaver and Cody Ohl have at one time or another Continued on page 82
FORT BEND KIDS CHALKBOARD The published photos came from Press Releases submitted to Fort Bend Focus by the schools/organizations of these children.
Fort Settlement Middle School 8th Grade Silver Team team had an undefeated season making them division champs. Pictured are Coach Adams, Regan Hermes, Allison Bellman, Cassie Tipton, Coach Boiteaux; Val Garfinkel, Rosanne Hu, Kaitlin Gascoyne, Katy Saller; Rylie Goldwait, Siyi Xue, Angie Rao, Riley McShanog & Joy Maue.
Third graders at St. Laurence Catholic School recently explored the rainforest- studying forest animals and plants, its endangered animals, the people living in the rainforest and the ways they are adapting to the changes taking place in their environment. The month was capped off with a feast that featured samples of food and drink that come from the rainforest.
The Saint Laurence Saints Football team ended their season winning the Greater Houston Catholic Athletic Association championship! A solid performance was turned in by the entire team to clinch this victory for the Saints! The team ended the season with a record of 10-2 and outscored their opponents 274-180!
Congressman Pete Olson visited the NJROTC at Clements High School in honor of the Navy & Marine Corps birthdays. Also in attendance was family, representatives from the American Legion, Marine Corps Coordination Council of Houston and FBISD Board Members.
The Lamar Legends 9U select baseball team finished second in the Halloween at the Moon tournament. They won all four games leading into the championship game where they were upended by the Texas Outlaws. www.fortbend
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AirGenerate Gets Houston Fast Tech 50 Honors Houston’s 50 fastest-growing technology companies were honored at the Houston Fast Tech 50 luncheon presented by the Houston Business Journal and held at the Hilton Americas Houston Hotel. AirGenerate was ranked as No. 6 on the Houston Fast Tech 50. The company also won Paul Frison Top Accelerator Award that is given to the youngest firm on the list. The company has pioneered the development, production, and marketing of patented energy saving devices for water heating and conservation Over 450 Houstonians from the business community cheered on the 2010 Fast Tech 50 award recipients at the luncheon where the rankings were first made public. Companies making the list were
ranked by percentage of revenue growth over the past two years. Rick Pal, co-founder and president of AirGenerate received the award on company’s behalf. “We are excited to receive both these awards. Once an idea, AirGenerate is now leading the way in innovative energy-efficient solutions. Recognitions like these are reminders to appreciate what we achieved in such a short time. I am so proud of our team and thankful to all our supporters”, said Pal. A resident of Sugar Land, Pal has also won “40 Under 40” honors from Houston Business Journal in 2009 and from Fort Bend Business Journal in 2010. Besides serving on several boards, he is the founder of Ek Disha that funds hi-impact humanitarian projects in India and has created, ‘Pal - Make a Difference” endowment at his alma mater, The University of Texas at Austin, to award an annual scholarship to students making a difference in their community. H
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Continued from page 80
borrowed a horse, a rope or have been given some type of help by Sam Magana throughout the years. In fact, Magana helped so many youths during the late 70’s and early 80’s, he was affectionately known as “Coach” around the rodeo arenas. All of the eight Magana children rodeoed at the youth level and some continued into the collegiate and professional level. “Dad raised all of us to rope, ride and respect. Those were his 3 R’s of life,” said Magana’s son, Rick Magana. “It did not matter if you were a son or daughter - rodeo was just part of growing up in our family.” Davis and his Rafter “D” Rodeo Company have seen scores of World Champions come to their rodeos. “All the cowboys would come to my rodeos,” said Davis. “Times are different now. Back then, my rodeos were for the cowboys. We put on an honest and fair rodeo.” Smokey is thankful to all the committees and boards that supported his rodeo business through the years. One of Smokey’s favorite rodeos was Rosenberg. He was the stock contractor for the Fort Bend Fair and Rodeo for over 20 years. “Rosenberg was a big rodeo, by far one of my best rodeos,” said Davis. “Dad ran a good rodeo, but he prided himself on being a friend to the cowboys,” said Davis’ son Ronnie Davis. “We grew up having an extended family - our rodeo family.” The two men are honored and humbled by their pending inductions scheduled for April 2011. “It’s just wonderful and exciting being able to go into the Hall with Sammy. We have been friends since the 1940’s. Not many people can say that,” shared Davis. Sam added, “As children, we lived less than a mile from each other. We never dreamed as kids about something like this.” For both rodeo cowboys, they are living the dream. Their induction is the first to be held in the new home of the Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame in the historical Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth. For event information on the induction ceremony or events, visit www.texasrodeocowboy.com.H
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M edical F ocus Sugarland Eye & Laser Center Expands Award-Winning LASIK Team Dr. Megan Heany Joins Fort Bend’s Leader in Laser Vision Correction Sugarland Eye & Laser Center announced that Dr. Megan Heany has joined the facility as their newest eye doctor. Dr. Heany specializes in providing care to custom intraLASIK Dr. Megan Heany patients. Her focus is on the newest technologies such as iLASIK and OptiLASIK. She brings her vast experience in laser vision correction to the award-winning LASIK team at Sugarland Eye & Laser Center. Dr. Heany was born and raised in Nebraska. She completed her undergraduate work at Nebraska Wesleyan University and obtained he doctorate degree from the University of Houston College of Optometry. She has resided in the Sugarland Area since 2007 and is pleased to contribute to her community by providing personal and advanced eye care.
“Customized intralasik through iLASIK and OptiLASIK is allowing patients to enjoy amazing vision in less than 24 hours. At the same time, patients can relax knowing that their procedure is safe enough to be approved for NASA astronauts and Air Force fighter pilots. It’s important that patients are aware of the latest technological advances in blade-free laser vision correction. They need this information to make an educated decision and to be comfortable with the procedure,” explains Dr. Heany. She adds, “I have had LASIK myself and can assure patients that there is no better investment.” In addition to being a Therapeutic Optometrist and Optometric Glaucoma Specialist, Dr. Heany is a member of the Texas Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association. She also is certified in Overnight Orthokeratology and SynergEyes contact lenses. The team at Sugarland Eye & Laser
Common Undiagnosed Condition – Acquired Adult Flat Foot Deformity – Ending Active Lives Too Soon Taking Steps to Recognize Problems Early and Keeping Feet Strong…Throughout Life One of the most commonly misdiagnosed foot and ankle conditions we see today is Acquired Adult Flat Foot Deformity. This is most commonly caused by a progressive degeneration of the tendon (tibialis posterior) that supports the arch of the foot. As the tendon is damaged or stretched out over time, the natural arch of the foot becomes less pronounced and the foot gradually flattens out. Although uncertain as to why it occurs, this problem is seen equally among men and women, at an increasing frequency with aging. Occasionally, a patient will experience a
traumatic form of the condition as a result of a fall from a height or abnormal landing during aerial sports such as gymnastics or basketball. It is important Dr. Mark Vann that we help individuals recognize the early symptoms of this condition, as there are many treatment options, depending upon the timing and severity. Options range from shoe inserts, orthotics, bracing and physical therapy to reconstructive surgical fort bend
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Center is thrilled that Dr. Heany had joined the practice. “I am delighted that Dr. Heany has joined our LASIK team. She brings with her years of experience. More importantly she brings with her the compassion and warmth that is necessary to take a patient through the laser vision process,” adds chief surgeon Amjad Khokhar, M.D. recipient of America’s Top LASIK Surgeon Award and Houston Top Doctor Award. Dr. Heany is currently accepting new patients for laser vision consultation as well as medical issues, routine vision exams, and contact lens fittings. To see if you are a candidate for the latest in LASIK technology, call 281-2400478 or go to www.sugarlandeye.com. You will be able to schedule a free laser vision consultation at Sugarland Eye & Laser Center during which you will personally meet with Dr. Megan Heany. Sugarland Eye & Laser Center leads in providing premium LASIK technologies to Houston, Sugar Land, and the surrounding region. The center introduced revolutionary technologies such as iLASIK and OptiLASIK to the region. For more information, please call (281) 240-0478. H
procedures. These treatments help restore proper function and alignment of the foot, removing the stress that has been placed on the tendon, and in some cases, reconstructing the tendon and/or bones compromised by loss of proper tendon function. When treated early, patients are typically able to resume all regular activities. The types of symptoms that may indicate Adult Acquired Flat Foot Deformity include foot pain that worsens over time, abnormal shoe wear (excessive wearing on the inner side of shoe) and an awkward appearance of the foot and ankle (when viewed from behind, heel and toes appear to go out to the side). If we are able to see the patient before the joints have been affected, we have greater ability to preserve the joints and reconstruct the foot. Unfortunately, if this condition is
not recognized before it reaches advanced stages and severe tendon damage, the foot begins to stiffen and the alignment of the foot and ankle becomes fixed in one position. When this occurs, a total foot fusion is often recommended to relieve symptoms, which makes many day-to-day activities more difficult. We hope to help patients recognize early symptoms of this condition in order to ensure years of active, healthy living. Dr. Mark Vann is Certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons and fellowship trained in Foot and Ankle Reconstruction. He has hospital privileges at OakBend Medical Center and continues to publish his research, including a recent article on advanced techniques for treating ankle pain in elite gymnasts – Vann, M. Operative Techniques in Sports Medicine; Medial Ankle Impingement Syndrome in Female Gymnasts, 18(1): 50-52, 2010. For more information, please call OakBend Medical Center, Physician Referral Line at 281-341-4800. H
Samuel E. Cress DDS Offers Cranial Facial Dentistry and Dental Sleep Medicine Samuel E. Cress DDS is now offering Cranial Facial Dentistry and Dental Sleep Medicine in addition to his established general and cosmetic dentistry practice. Cranial Samuel E. Cress Facial Dentistry and DDS Dental Sleep Medicine focuses on snoring and obstructive sleep apnea which are both breathing disorders that occur during sleep due to the narrowing or total closure of the airway. Snoring is a noise created by the partial closure of the airway and may often be no more problematic than the noise itself. However, consistent, loud, heavy snoring has been linked to medical disorders such as high blood pressure. Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious condition; the airway totally closes many times during the night and can significantly reduce
oxygen levels in the body and disrupt sleep. In varying degrees, this can result in excessive daytime sleepiness, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, reflux, depression and occasionally heart attack and stroke. A custom solution for sleep apnea is an oral appliance. An oral appliance may be helpful in the treatment of snoring, upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS), and sleep apnea. Oral appliances are designed to assist breathing by keeping the jaw and tongue forward, thereby opening the airway space in the throat. Documented evidence exists that oral appliances have substantially reduced snoring and sleep apnea for many people. Several factors contribute to the snoring/ apnea condition including nasal obstruction, narrow airway space in the throat and excess weight. Call 281565-4100 for an appointment to see if an oral appliance is right for you. H
Methodist Sugar Land is First in County to Perform Video-Assisted Esophagomyotomy A cardiothoracic surgeon at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital recently performed a Fort Bend County medical first – a unique surgical procedure to help a patient with a rare disease of the esophagus. Uttam Tripathy, M.D., performed the thoracoscopic esophagomyotomy, which had never before been done in Fort Bend County. The procedure involves using a tiny video camera inserted into the patient to view the esophagus and surgically cut the sphincter, a ring of muscle situated between the lower esophagus and the stomach. A part of the dysfunctional muscle of the esophagus was also divided. The patient, Fort Bend resident Gracie Ramos, had been recently diagnosed with achalasia, which means “failure to relax.” The disease prevented Ramos’ esophageal sphincter from opening to let food and liquid pass into the stomach. For several months prior to the
surgery, Ramos had not been able to eat or drink. “I had been trying to eat liquid foods, but over the course of five months I had already lost 70 pounds,” Ramos said. “I could not keep anything down, not even water. So I was greatly relieved to be diagnosed and to know that I was going to Methodist Sugar Land Hospital for my surgery.” Dr. Tripathy performed the esophagomyotomy by making small incisions in Ramos’ abdomen to insert the thoracoscopic video camera. “Achalasia is a fairly rare diagnosis and it is debilitating to the patient,” said Dr. Tripathy. “I knew Methodist Sugar Land Hospital was the right choice for this patient because of the quality of care and the high level of technology available there. I am proud that we were able to treat Gracie’s problem successfully and enable her to return to normal www.fortbend
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Uttam Tripathy, M.D. and Gracie Ramos
eating habits and a healthy lifestyle.” Ramos was thrilled to learn that despite her rare condition, she could be treated close to home. “Staying close to my family and receiving fantastic care from the Methodist Sugar Land staff made it easy for me to get back on my feet and feeling good again,” said Ramos. “From the time I was admitted to the time I left the hospital, I could not have asked for better care. I really appreciate the treatment that Dr. Tripathy and his team provided.” To make an appointment with Dr. Tripathy, call Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s physician referral line 281-274-7500 or visit MethodistSugarLand.com.
M edical F ocus
Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Hosts the Fort Bend Medical Society Meeting with Featured Speaker Congressman Pete Olson
David Lanagan and wife, Angela McCain, M.D., rheumatologist on staff at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.
Amitabh Shukla, M.D., neurologist on staff at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital; Chris Siebenaler, CEO; Congressman Pete Olson; Rajesh Bindal, M.D., neurosurgeon on staff at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital and Jim Sturgeon, Founders Bank CEO.
Dr. Jane Starr Performs First Robotic Myomectomy at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Uterine fibroids occur in up to one third of women and are the leading cause of hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) in the United States. Not all women with uterine fibroids experience symptoms, but symptoms may include excessive menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, and difficulty getting pregnant. Hysterectomy is the traditional treatment, but a commonly used alternative treatment for uterine fibroids is myomectomy, removal of the fibroids while conserving the uterus in order to maintain fertility. This surgery is usually performed through a large abdominal incision, but it can be performed with a minimally invasive approach using the da Vinci® S Surgical System. Jane Starr, M.D., board certified OB/ GYN on staff at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital was the first in Fort Bend County to perform a robotic myomectomy. For Jane Starr, M.D. women who desire a uterine-sparing pro-
cedure, robotic surgery offers numerous benefits including reduced pain and scarring, reduced blood loss and need for transfusion, shorter hospital stay and faster recovery and return to normal activity. In many cases, women may choose to have this minimally invasive, uterine-sparing approach based on the size and number of uterine fibroids. The da Vinci® S Surgical System only available at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital offers several advantages during surgery. The robotic “arms” and “wrists” that are controlled by the surgeon’s own movements filter even the most minute tremors of the human hand to provide steadiness. The robot’s camera also allows the surgeon to view a three-dimensional image, just as an open surgery would look. The robot seamlessly translates the surgeon’s hand movements into corresponding movements of the laparoscopic surgical instruments that are inside the patient’s body. By using these small tools through keyhole sized incisions, the trauma to the body is reduced fort bend
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and the recovery is quicker and less painful for the patient. Robotic technology offers a number of advantages after surgery including less pain and scarring, diminished blood loss, a shorter hospital stay and reduced recovery period for a quicker return to daily activities The robotics program at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital has been growing rapidly. In the past six months, the first robotic hysterectomy, robotic nephrectomy robotic prostatectomy, robotic colorectal cancer surgery and robotic partial nephrectomy have been performed by specially trained doctors at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. “The robotics program is a continuation of Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s commitment to bringing the Medical Center home to Fort Bend County, as well as finding and applying the most precise, most beneficial surgical techniques to put patients on a quicker road to recovery with better outcomes,” said Becky Chalupa, the Associate Chief Nursing Officer. To make an appointment with Dr. Starr or other specialists using robotics technology, call Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s physician referral line 281-274-7500 or visit MethodistSugarLand.com. H
Nobel Prize Award Winner Recognition of In Vitro Fertilization in Treating Human Infertility This year Professor Robert Edwards, English biologist, was awarded the Nobel prize in physiology or medicine. Professor Edwards and colleague Dr. Patrick Steptoe developed the in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure for treating human infertility in the 1970s’. After years of hard work, the first test tube baby, Louise Brown, was born on July 25, 1978. Despite facing significant social opposition of both ethical and religious varieties, IVF has given life to over four million babies worldwide, making many couples’ dream of building a family come true. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine issued a statement of congratulations. “Professor Edwards and Doctor Steptoe tackled formidable scientific obstacles in order to make this advance. We are pleased the Nobel committee has chosen to recognize this very important work. The development of IVF truly revolutionized infertility care, allowing millions of patients to become parents. It also allowed us to further develop our understanding of human reproduction and development, leading further advances.”
mic injection of sperms (ICSI), assisted hatching (AH), and testicular aspiration of sperms (TESE). Among all the cutting edge of infertility procedures, one of the most impressive breakthroughs is preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD).
What is In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)?
What is Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)?
In order for pregnancy to occur, an egg has to be released from the ovary and united with a sperm. Normally this union, called fertilization, occurs within the fallopian tube. When this process cannot take place in the body, it can be accomplished in the laboratory by using the IVF technique. The technique involves uniting an egg collected from a woman’s ovary with sperm collected from her partner under laboratory conditions. The resulting normal embryo(s) may be transferred to the uterus (womb) for continued growth. Over the years, numerous advanced reproductive technologies have developed. Some examples are intracytoplas-
PGD is a technique that provides us with information about an embryo before it is transferred to the uterus (preimplantation). It is different from amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling which are used to determine fetal abnormalities nine weeks or more after implantation (post-implantation). PGD technology allows us to identify numerical chromosome abnormalities, such as Down syndrome and gene defects, such as cystic fibrosis in the early embryo. Patients electing to have PGD will undergo an IVF cycle where the woman is given fertility medication to increase the number of eggs that will mature and be retrieved during the egg retrieval. Her male www.fortbend
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partner will provide a sperm sample, and the eggs and sperm will be incubated together to achieve fertilization. Normally, one-half or more of the eggs will become fertilized and develop into embryos. The embryos must grow in the laboratory for three days before the PGD process can be initiated. By this time, the embryos should have between 6 and 8 cells, called blastomeres, and a procedure called embryo biopsy is done. During embryo biopsy, a small opening is made in the protective coating or shell surrounding the embryo, called the zona pellucida. A tiny glass tube or “pipette” is used to enter the shell and gently remove one of the blastomeres. This blastomere will be tested to determine any abnormalities in the embryo. The actual risk of damaging an embryo during a biopsy procedure is less than 1%. In addition, removal of one cell does not eliminate any part of the future fetus. By assessing embryos for chromosomal or gene abnormalities, we can avoid the risk of implanting an abnormal embryo into the uterus. This advanced technology avoids the transfer of embryos that would never implant due to abnormalities; thus maximizing the chances of getting pregnant in a single cycle. It also offers nearly 100 percent assurance of gender selection if the patient desires. Joining the world in celebrating the recognition of IVF in treating human infertility by the Nobel Prize Committee, our best wishes go to those who want to become parents. May their dream of building a family will come true in the Year of 2011. H
C. James Chuong, M.D.
By: C. James Chuong, M.D., Medical Director, Cooper Institute for Advanced Reproductive Medicine, 7500 Beechnut St., Suite 308, Houston, TX 77074. Tel: 713771-9771. www. cooperinstitutearm.com.
FOCUS FAVORITES... Your Community Resource Guide Advertising Fort Bend Focus Magazine 281-640-4242 www.fortbendfocus.com lisa@fortbendfocus.com Fort Bend’s only feature magazine direct mailed to nearly 30,000 homes, subscribers and high value homes in Sugar Land, Richmond, Katy, Missouri City and Fulshear. Complimentary at on demand distribution locations throughout Fort Bend. Subscribe for free. (10/2010) Focus On Women Magazine 281-640-4242 www.fowmag.com lisa@fortbendfocus.com Finally, the magazine that you have been waiting for. A new publication showcasing one of the best and brightest resources – our women. Full of interesting, thought-provoking stories. Focus on Women is a celebration of today’s women – their lives, their passions and their spirit. Subscribe today. (10/2010)
Counseling DF Counseling Services 281-380-9518 www.dfcounselingservices dallaslpc@yahoo.com Change can be challenging. A positive outcome is the goal. I believe that a fulfilling life is complete with supportive relationships, feelings of selfworth, and continued personal growth. If you are struggling with some difficult life issues and need some helpful guidance, hire the Licensed Professional Counselor who is experienced, compassionate, and effective - Dallas Ferguson. Individuals, couples, and families are welcome. (11/2010)
Estate Planning and Probate Andreason Law Firm 281-265-1561 www.andreasonlawfirm.com kurtandreason@andreasonlawfirm.com With over 25 years experience in Texas, Kurt M. Andreason can meet your estate planning needs with everything from basic wills and disability planning documents to sophisticated estate planning strategies, including family limited partnerships, life insurance trusts and other recognized methods of estate tax reduction. Convenient Sugar Land location. Handicap Accessible. Board Certified in Estate Planning, Probate Law and Commercial Real Estate. Listed over 10 years in Best Lawyers in America. (11/2010)
Orthodontics
Home Remodeling & Construction Services Villa Construction & Remodeling 281-344-2732 www.villaconstruction.net cindy@villaconstruction.net Villa Construction and Remodeling recognizes the privilege that you extend to us in serving your home construction and remodeling needs. We offer a full range of quality products and professional services. We have served the communities in Sugar Land and Fort Bend County since 1991. We are members of the Better Business Bureau and Texas Residential Construction Commission. We accept credit cards and insurance claim work. Please contact us for a free no obligation quote. (11/2010)
Horseback Riding Sienna Stables 281-778-7433 www.siennastables.com The premier Southwest Houston area Equestrian Facility offers horseback riding lessons for youth and adults in both English or Western styles. Other activities include kids’ camps, birthday parties, special events and therapeutic riding. For the horse owner, horses can be boarded and or trained by professionals. Sienna Stables also hosts many styles of horse shows. Nestled among centuriesold shade trees in Sienna Plantation this little slice of heaven is conveniently located in Fort Bend. (11/2010)
Jewelry Designs In Gems 713-995-7975 www.designsingems.com brucejsnider@hotmail.com Custom Designs - Hand Made Jewelry by Designs In Gems since 1984. “Distinctive originals redesigned from your sentimental existing gold and stones.... We make the next generation’s keepsakes.” Custom Jewelry Designer - Bruce J. Snider M.S., G.G.- GIA, NAJA. Gemological Laboratory Appraisals. Graduate Gemologist - Gemological Institute of America, Member: National Association of Jewelry Appraisers. Listed: Jewelers Board of Trade, Member: BBB. 16180 City Walk (Town Square - Sugar Land) by appointment. (11/2010)
Pisklak Orthodontics 281-403-5599 www.pisklakorthodontics.com info@pisklakorthodontics.com Carrie W. Pisklak, DDS, MS, is a respected provider of othodontic care in your community. Located in Missouri City, Texas, the practice’s top priority is to provide you the highest quality orthodontic care in a friendly, comfortable environment. Dr. Pisklak utilizes the latest technological advances, such as clear braces and Invisalign Teen, along with the latest in computer technology to ensure that you receive the most effective care possible. (10/2010
Printers / Graphics Star Printing 281-690-4200 www.fortbendstar.com michael@fortbendstar.com Professionally designed and printed flyers, postcards, brochures, magazines, newspapers and catalogs with high-quality digital graphics. (10/2010)
Roofing Ameristar Roofing 281-238-4230 www.ameristarroofing.com ameristarroofing@gmail.com Ameristar Roofing is your full service roofing company, No job is too small or too big. We are a certified “Shingle Master Co” with Certainteed which authorizes us to offer 3, 4 & 5 star extended warranties. We are fully insured and bonded for your safety. At the end of every job we perform a QUALITY CONTROL INSPECTION. Our company belief is, THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT. We want your recommendation because of our reputation! THANKS, JOE RANGEL, REUBEN STAFFORD & JOHN YATES, MANAGING PARTNERS. (10/2010)
Please call the experts from our list of Focus Favorites. fort bend
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Transportation The Original Trolley & Limousine Company 281-491-4911 www.originaltrolley.com otrolley@comcast.net The Original Trolley Company brings back a sense of nostalgia for groups who are looking for a truly unique transportation experience. The Trolley Company presently has three trolley cars ready for hire. The Trolleys are fully air conditioned and heated, mahogany trimmed, bar set up accommodations and have a trolley brass bell. Visit our website at www.originaltrolley.com to view our large gallery of photos. If a trolley is too large for your group we have added a 120 inch stretch Limousine. (10/2010)
Hello, Fulshear H Simonton 2011/2012 NEWCOMER GUIDE AND VISITOR DIRECTORY
. . . n i e s i t r e v d A THE Official BOOK! (2010-2011 Issue)
Call for Advertising Rates
281-690-4242
Vacation Rio Raton Duplex 832-788-2294 www.rioratonduplex.com New Braunfels - Guadalupe Riverfront on River Rd. (outside New Braunfels city limits). First-Class riverfront duplex. Minutes to Schlitterbahn or tube the Guadalupe. Also convenient to Fiesta Texas, Sea World, Gruene Hall, Natural Bridge Cavern and Canyon Lake. 2 units available - each unit sleeps 8. See pictures and rates, and email your dates from webpage. (10/2010)
New Issue Coming April 2011
Deadline to place an ad: March 4, 2011 (2009-2010 Issue)
Video Production Star Video Digital Production Services 281-690-4280 Full-service video taping, editing and special effects for your business. Professional writing for commercials, training DVD’s, and corporate videos. (10/2010)
Do you have an area business service such as health, dental, finance, legal, insurance, remodeling, air conditioning, plumbing or auto service that you would like to have reach 60,000 readers in Fort Bend and increase the growth of your business?
Call 281-690-4242
Guadalupe Riverfront
DUPLEX for the Holidays
Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Years off-season rates $595 / 7 nights or less More pictures at www.RioRatonDuplex.com 832-788-2294 www.fortbend
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Healthy, Fresh Kabobs Grilled Daily More than 10 Different Grilled Kabobs, Entrees, Sandwiches & Salads. We Serve Halal. Hookah Available.
Celebrating Our 1st Year Anniversary!
Persian and Mediterranean Grill
281.903.7373
www.txkabobcafe.com 4645 Highway 6 Suite W, Sugar Land, TX 77478 (At the corner of Hwy 6 & Dulles Ave.)
Focus on Flavor ANTONIA’S • Celebrating our 3rd Anniversary! Come in and enjoy our wine and dinner specials and help us celebrate. Famous for our Awe-inspiring Hospitality and Great Food, our reputation is that we are a family oriented, family run business. This has been “Our Recipe For Success.” As we grow, we continue to stay close to our roots, always grateful for what we have, remembering where we came from. Thank you, for choosing Antonia’s for your dining experience. We appreciate your business. Two locations: Antonia’s Cucina Italiana: 2001 Katy Mills Boulevard, Suite. A, Katy, Texas 77494, call 281-644-6000/Fax: 281-6446001. Antonia’s Italian Cantina: 26281 NW Freeway, Ste 950, Cypress, TX 77429, call 281-256-2796 / Fax: 281-256-2790. www.antonias.us. ARISTOTLE GRILL • The Greeks have landed in Sugar Land! Owner Hamid Panah and his staff have just opened on the corner of Hwy 6 and Hwy 59 providing the best Greek dishes in the area! Everything from appetizers to traditional Greek salads to plates specials and traditional Gyro sandwiches, this is the place for a nice, relaxed atmosphere and elegant Greek dining! Aristotle Grill also caters employee lunches, business meetings, and corporate gatherings. Their goal is to leave their guests impressed! Open 7 days, Sun-Thurs 11 am -9 pm, Fri-Sat 11 am -10 pm. 2109-B Highway 6 @ Highway 59 South, Sugar Land. 281-277-7787. fort bend
Dining Guide BLUE FISH HOUSE II – SUSHI & GRILL A Great Sushi, Great Hot Plates & Vegetarian Choices, Great Value, Fantastic Happy Hour Specials Best of Sushi by Citysearch 2010. Enjoy life after work! We have a great selection of happy hour menu items served Monday through Saturday from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. It is a superb way to enjoy your favorites or try out new menu items all at great price. For more information, call 281 295 0707 or www.bluefishhouse.com GREAT DOUBLE DEALS WITH HAPPY HOUR MENU. Buy 4 Rolls in Happy Hour Menu; get one free Appetizer or Salad or Soup or Drink ($3.50 Value). Sugar Land Location only. Exp 12/31/10
BULLPEN PIZZA & SPORTS BAR Patio is now open!!! All sports, UFC fights, pool tables, darts, golden tee, NASCAR, golf, free wi-fi, great food, awesome pizza, huge lake front patio. Open Monday-Sunday, 11:00 am - 2:00 am (Food Until 1:00 am). Call 281-242-0190, located at 14019 SW Fwy, Suite 204, Sugar Land, TX 77478. For menu, please visit www.bullpenpizza.com.
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Historic Downtown Richmond 300 Morton St.
Time’s Running Out Book Your Christmas or New Year’s Party Today! Call for Reservations or Information: 832-433-0032
www.ItalianMaidCafe.com
Dining Guide
Focus on Flavor CUPCAKE CAFE • New Owner / New Pastry Chef. Come try our huge cupcakes! We have new flavors as well as your traditional favorites. We also offer gourmet sandwiches, soups and salads, and we offer catering and make custom wedding cakes. We can fill that order for your next special event with our cakes and cupcakes. We are located at 16525 Lexington Blvd., Ste. 160, Sugar Land, TX 77479. Contact us by phone at 281-242-2744. Our hours are: 9:30 am - 7:00 pm Monday - Saturday. Closed Sunday.
DUMAR’S MEDITERRANEAN GRILL It’s a great new place serving middle eastern favorites with an outdoor patio and some of the friendliest service in town. The owner, Mr. Bashar F. Dumar and his wife, Ilham are natives of the Middle-East and make everything fresh daily. The Kebeh Balls, Hummus, Taboulih, Babaghanouj and Baklava. In addition to a full line of Middle-Eastern groceries, Dumar’s also features fresh feta cheeses, several types of brined Olives, Gyro Sandwiches, Greek Salads and Spinach pies. Now serving Beer & Wine. Also, Party trays available. 4518 Hwy 6, Sugar Land. Mon-Thur 10am8:30pm and Fri-Sat 10am-9:00pm, 281-313-1893.
CHEF REY • Known for his amazing gourmet cheesecakes, Chef Rey is always professional and most importantly passionate about every dish he prepares. He pays attention to every detail in preparing a mouth watering meal that is presented with style and class. His dedication is evident with every aspect of ensuring each customer is satisfied. Seeking a new spot that offers American Cuisine with professionalism and style together with an ambience that is exquisitely quaint and personal? Then visit Chef Rey’s, 2865 Dulles Avenue, Missouri City, TX 77459. Call 281-403-2900, visit www.chefreynolds. com. Open Thurs. 5-10, Fri-Sat. 5 -11 and Sun 10-4. Restaurant is available for private parties and catering. Gift Certificates available.
EXTREME PITA • We’re fast, fresh, fun and full of flavor. In addition, we’re EXTREME when it comes to our commitment to creating a unique product bursting with healthy ingredients. Lunch, dinner and late night menu items include our Extreme Club, Philly Cheese Steak, Grilled Chicken, Gyros and Falafel, all served with your choice of different vegetable varieties served fresh or sautéed to perfection right in front of your eyes. We also offer a variety of great tasting Flat Baked Pita’s, fresh salads, soups and drinks. Mon-Thur: 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat: 11am-11pm, Sun: Noon-10pm, 15810 SW Frwy., Sugar Land, (Lake Pointe Village) TX 281-494-7482
www.fortbend
BUY ANY PITA & Get the Combo for FREE
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DUMAR’S Mediterranean Grill Kabob • Shawerma Hummus • Gyro • Salad
Now Serving Beer & Wine Party Trays • We Cater 281-313-1893
4518 Hwy 6, Sugar Land
Focus on Flavor
Dining Guide
ITALIAN MAID CAFE • ‘Where the locals go!’ Gourmet cuisine, priced affordably in the heart of Historic Downtown Richmond. Owners, Chef Alex Ciocca and sister Lanie Alvarez invite you to a unique dining experience. Try our delightful old world sauces over pasta, thick-crust pizza, zesty house salad dressings, flavorful soups, mouth watering desserts and of course, our great house wine. Perfect for business lunches or a romantic dinner. We serve nightly specials including creatively prepared fish, chicken and beef. Pot Roast on Tuesday night. Located 2 blocks North of the Fort Bend County Courthouse on 300 Morton Street. Call for reservations or for more info at 281-344-8955 or 832-433-0032 for catering. www.italianmaidcafe.com.
KABOB CAFE • The warm and cozy Kabob Cafe is located at 4645 Hwy 6, corner of Dulles Ave in Sugar Land. We serve over 10 different Kabobs (wraps and entrees). Our Happy Lunch Hour is Monday - Thursday from 11am-2:30pm, Happy Munch Hour from 2:30pm to 5:00pm, and Family Nights with kids eat free on Mondays and Tuesdays. Check us out on Facebook for specials, and our website, TXkabobcafe.com, for menu and directions. 281-903-7373.
J & L CAFÉ • “Home of the Best Peach Cobbler in Texas” located at 1110 Texas Parkway in Stafford. Serving a homestyle menu that changes daily! Open Tuesday - Sunday 11am-7pm. Call us for our changing menu, 281-499-9895.
KARL’S AT THE RIVERBEND • Offering romantic dining in the country, Swiss Chef Karl Camenzind serves a wide variety of delicious cuisine including venison, Angus beef, fresh fish and wienerschitzel. Enjoy budget dinners as well as our regular dinner menu Tuesday - Thursday with the Neighborhood Menu, featuring entrees under $11.00. Regular Dinner Menu Tuesday - Saturday. Best Sunday brunch in town, including over 50 items served buffet style and featuring eggs benedict and carved roast beef. Reservations suggested, but not required. TuesdayThursday 5-8:30pm, Friday & Saturday 5-9pm, and Sunday 11:30am-2pm. 5011 FM 723, Richmond, TX. 281-238-9300. Visit www.karlsrb.com.
BUY ONE MEAL, GET A LESSER ONE FOR HALF OFF
Excludes meals $9.95 & up, not valid on Sundays or with other offers. Present this coupon. Exp. 06/3/2011 fort bend
Buy one entrée and get the second one
50 % OFF
Second entrée is equal or less value. Not valid with other offers.
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Dining Guide
Focus on Flavor
Fort Bend Loves To Dine List your restaurant here. Call 281-690-4242.
FERNANDO’S RESTAURANT Celebrating 6 years in Sugar Land. Expect the unexpected! DINE AND DANCE ON WEEKENDS (FRIDAY AND SATURDAY) LIVE MUSIC. Look for new menu items, new events and new hours. Come celebrate with Fernando and join his VIP list at 14135 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land. For reservations call 281-4949087. Closed on Sundays. Visit www.fernandosrestaurants.com.
NAPA GRILLE URBAN WINE BAR Combines a warm, cozy atmosphere, excellent wine variety and an exceptional cuisine to provide the ultimate dining experience. Now open and serving lunch & dinner in Sugar Land, just off 59 and Sugar Creek. Come join us for Happy Hour from 4-7pm. Enjoy live music Tuesday - Saturday nights. Napa Grille Urban Wine Bar is also available for private parties. Mon-Fri 11am-11pm Sat 5pm-11pm. 14019 Southwest Fwy, Sugar Land, TX. Call 281-277-2599. For full menu and daily specials visit www.napagrille.net.
LA COCINA • Is proud to be serving the Fort Bend Community fine Mexican dishes for 13 years. Since our beginning in Rosenberg in 1997, quality and value has been our motto. At La Cocina we understand that to be successful in the food and beverage business, we have to execute a great product and a great dining experience as well as contribute and support our county. We are proud to say that we have raised over $60,000 for “Meals on Wheels.” We invite you to come try our wonderful and exciting new dishes. Call La Cocina for your next event, to-go or catering is available or reserve our banquet room for any occasion. Don’t miss our Breakfast Sat & Sun 8-12, Happy Hour 11-7 pm. 515 FM 359 in Richmond, 281-238-0872 www.lacocinarestaurant.com.
OLD HICKORY INN BARBECUE • More than 40 years in business in the Houston and Fort Bend area, Old Hickory Inn Barbecue is famous for their Old Fashion Hickory Smoked Barbecue and numerous Homemade Side Dishes, made fresh daily. 3 convenient locations, with a drive-through window at the Hwy 6 location. Open 7 days a week, SundayThursday from 11am-9pm, and Friday & Saturday 11am-9:30pm. 3334 F.M. 1092 @ Hwy 6 Missouri City 281-499-8904 / 8000 Hwy 6 @ Beechnut 281983-5020 / 5427 S. Braeswood @ Chimney Rock 713-723-8908.
LA MAGIA CAFE & PIZZA • If you are looking for casual dining with an easy atmosphere then La Magia is just the place for you! La Magia Café and Pizza recipes and menu are based on 30 years of Italian cooking. The dishes are prepared and cooked in the traditional Italian way, using extra virgin olive oil, and the freshest ingredients and herbs, giving them a home cooked flavor. The pizzas are made with a medium crust and cooked in a traditional stone oven. Limited area delivery. Margaritas are always available for $4.50. Open Sun-Thurs 11am to 9pm, Fri-Sat 11am to 10pm. Daily lunch specials Mon-Fri 11am to 3pm. Check www. lamagiacafe.com for more specials. 3699 Highway 6 at Settlers Way, Sugar Land. 281-565-0366.
RAISING CANE’S • We’re all about ONE LOVE - chicken fingers. Our simple menu focuses on fresh, never frozen chicken tenders, warm, buttery Texas toast, creamy coleslaw and crinkle cut French fries. Our legendary Cane’s sauce is made in-house daily and provides the perfect compliment to our cooked-to-order chicken fingers. Don’t forget a cup of our freshly squeezed lemonade or freshly brewed sweet tea for the road. What are ya...chicken? 1529 HWY 6 in Sugar Land. Sun-Thurs: 10:30am-10:00pm, Fri-Sat: 10:30am-12:00am, Phone: 281-980-9860. Stay connected with us on twitter.com/CanesSugarLand & facebook.com/CanesSugarLand.
LUPITAS MEXICAN RESTAURANT • Jaime and Lupe Garcia and son, Leo Rigo, have been serving homemade traditional Mexican food to the community for 6 years. Lupitas is open 7 days a week with over twenty lunch specials Monday through Friday. Don’t miss Happy Hour Monday-Thursday with $2 Domestic Beer, $2.50 Imported Beer and $3.50 Margaritas! Lupitas is now serving Angus Beef. Hours are Sunday-Thursday 11am-9pm and Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm. 281-265-6556, 3121 Highway 6, near the Williams Trace intersection. Muchas Gracias from our family to yours for your support the past 6 years! www.fortbend
RAY’S GOURMET COUNTRY •
A unique concept of a neighborhood bar and grill with a “field to table” menu specializing in recipes made from the highest quality of seasonal and organic inspired ingredients. Daily Specials and menu selections are created based on the local availability of organic fruits and vegetables, Natural Select meats and wild game and seafood. All seafood is purchased direct and filleted in-house to ensure the freshest quality. The restaurant and bar are available for private parties and a catering menu. Located at 8502 FM 359, Fulshear, TX 77441. Call 281-533-0099, www.raysgrill.com.
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By Alisa Murray www.AlisaMurray.com Nationally recognized portrait artist and award-winning columnist.
Living the Sweet Life
Do A Good Turn Daily: Girl Scout Lessons Learned and Lived
I
t’s that time of the year again.... the galas, the final push for the toys for CPS children, and the final sales of the two Art and Medicine Projects - Hope and Inspiration: Surviving Mothers of Breast Cancer Calendar and the Small Miracles Children’s Cancer Calendar are in full swing. I was just about ready to pull my wig off and start screaming for help when I received a call from a Girl Scout troop leader asking me if I would talk to the girls. I, being a former Brownie and Girl Scout, could not say no. I scheduled the afternoon about three weeks out, and despite my best effort to get to their website and find out just what I needed to say to assist the girls in obtaining their badges in three areas, Photography, Writing and Entrepreneurship, I never got there. The day of the event, I was covered up in shoots as I have been since mid August, trying desperately to get everyone in for Christmas Cards and gifts. Not to mention the History Fair at school and a of other commitments, both personal and business, though truthfully, there is a serious disconnect between the two as most of my friends are of course my clients as well! I had planned to at least put on a little makeup and a jacket when the doorbell rang! I opened the door to find several tiny faces beaming up at me. The troop masters were excited to see me again (this was not the first time I have talked to the girls) and the girls were excited to be hanging out at my house. The girls first went to the studio where I explained all about shooting and lighting and being a photographer. They were intrigued and there was one very inquisitive little girl who noticed right away that I shoot pregnant women, and most of the time, they are not wearing much. She wrinkled her nose and raised her hand. Not expecting her comment, she stated, “That’s disturbing!” as she pointed to one of my well-known works. I laughed and asked her why? “Because,” she almost whispered, “she doesn’t have any clothes on!” I said, “Well, have you been
Alisa with a Girl Scout Troop from Fort Bend.
to the museum yet and studied the great masters? When you go, you will see that all the great artists sculpt and paint images of naked women and stories from the Bible. I am an artist, actually a painter, first and foremost, and so logically, the use of my camera is just another tool for me to capture and create images with. As an artist, I find the human form the most interesting and the most challenging as well.” Her face relaxed and the troop master said, “Wow! We really need to go to the museum.” As we made our way into the house, I stopped the girls and warned them. I am currently working on several projects both on commission as well as for fun, and for you my dear, I looked straight at the inquisitive little girl from before and said, “These could be a little ‘disturbing’... and I winked!” Everyone laughed. I spoke about raising babies and working, and how the decision to work from home means there is no space that really is “home.” There’s a sacrifice to having it all.... or doing it all.... or both! We as women want to be able to do motherhood and also to make a living. I just happen to get to do both and do what I love, which for me isn’t really work but gosh, it is for those around me. That, I sometimes forget. They asked me how my children liked having so many people in their house and playing with their toys. Just then, James Edward and Victoria Ann strolled in. We were sitting on the floor in the presentation room, and I turned to my own children and asked them that question. Victoria Ann replied, “Well, living here is like fort bend
magazine • December 2010
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Goldilocks and the three bears. When we come home from school, someone’s been playing in our rooms and moving my dolls around.” “Yeah,” James Edward said with a perturbed look on his face, “and taking apart my Legos too!” I smiled, and said, “Wow! I need to pay better attention to where the business is and let you and your brother have spaces that are only for you.” Like the troop mother, I had learned something valuable from speaking to the girls. After answering their questions about writing this column, creating calendars for people who have cancer, painting, and of course, photography, it was time to go home. As they were leaving, I was bombarded with little girls giving me hugs and in their tiny hands were homemade thank you notes. The art on them was as precious as their messages. Later at dinner, I took the letters to the table to read and share with my children. “Thank you for taking time out to teach us.” “Thank you for sharing your home with us,” some of the letters read. Victoria Ann smiled. “That was a nice thing to do Mommy,” she said. “Those girls needed to see you today.” I smiled. I needed to teach them what it means to be an artist, and they needed to teach me to pay more attention to my own children’s needs for their space. It was an afternoon that could have easily never happened. I am busy and saying no would have been an acceptable answer to their request for a few hours of my time; however, by saying yes, we all learned a valuable lesson. Sometimes giving back to the community brings to you more than you ever imagined. Often times the gift of giving is two-fold! My family hopes for each of you to have a happy and blessed holiday this year. May it be filled with multiple opportunities to give back, make a difference and enjoy special time with those who you love and hold dear! Merry Christmas! Take Care of You!
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