April 2016 - Fort Bend Focus Magazine - People • Places • Happenings

APRIL 2016

All Careers Dental

TEXAS

Road Trips

Fort Bend

Realtors

Offers Unique, Real-World Training

Shop With

HEART Medical FOCUS $2.95

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 600 HOUSTON, TEXAS

April is. . .

Child Abuse Prevention Month

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www.cafb.org

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Every

minutes, a child in Texas is abused

The numbers are staggering.

1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be abused by age 18

66,721 children

were abused in Texas in 2015 Child Advocates of Fort Bend served

April 1

1,581 children

and families in 2015

April 1-30

Light of Hope Ceremony

Voices for Children Tours

Sugar Land Town Square Plaza

Child Advocates of Fort Bend Building

2700 Town Center Blvd. North, Sugar Land, TX 77479

5403 Avenue N, Rosenberg, TX 77471

6:30pm

d En C

buse

Kicks off Child Abuse Prevention Month FREE t-shirts, pins and blue ribbon magnets Ceremony with music and songs d hil A Picturebook concert in the plaza (benefiting CAFB)

. . . Wear a blue shirt and join us!

Make this the month

Learn more about the work that we do and how YOU can help Tuesday, April 12 at 9am Wednesday, April 20 at 6pm Tuesday, May 3 at 7am Tuesday, May 17 at 9am Wednesday, May 25 at noon For additional tour dates or to schedule a tour, contact Irene at iwisner@cafb.org or 281-344-5106.

YOU get involved!

RECOGNIZE

THE SIGNS

Unexplained bruises, welts, black eyes, bumps Bite marks, swollen or tender limbs Wearing clothes inappropriate for the weather Fear of adults Dirty or unbathed Extreme hunger Lack of apparent supervision Medical needs uncared for Age inappropriate sexual acting out Drastic change in appetite or behaviors Overcompliance or excessive aggression Regression in behaviors or self-injurious behaviors Academic problems Substance abuse Running away

REPORT

™

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www.cafb.org

child abuse Texas Child Abuse hotline 1-800-252-5400

Failure to report suspicions of child abuse is a CRIME.

There’s

NO EXCUSE

for child abuse!

TTHHEE

April 1-30

RH SUPE ER O

April 30

Follow us on Facebook Go to www.cafb.org and click on the facebook link.

We’ll post daily to provide you with information about child abuse and what YOU can do daily to help children.

Gala Ga

The SuperHero Gala

Sugar Land Marriott Town Square 6pm 16th Annual CASATM Gala for the Children

Dinner, dancing, live & silent auction To become a sponsor, purchase tickets,volunteer or for more information go to

www.cafb.org

Recognize

Report

Volunteer

Donate

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PROCESS VALIDATED:

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POTENCY 103.3% 100.8% 103.4% 101.5% 104.4% 106.2% 103.1% 96.6% 105.4% 106.0% 100.11% 104.0% 95.0% 94.7% 90.8% 106% 102% 102.6% 100.0% 93.3%

9/S

MEASURED 0.517mg/mL 0.504mg/mL 0.517mg/mL 0.508mg/mL 0.522mg/mL 0.531mg/mL 0.516mg/mL 0.483mg/mL 16.87mg/mL 16.9mg/mL 16.02mg/mL 16.6mg/mL 15.2mg/mL 23.675mg/mL 22.7mg/mL 0.133% 102mg/mL 30.8mg/mL 1mg/mL 9.33mcg/mL

y5

REPORTED 0.5mg/mL 0.5mg/mL 0.5mg/mL 0.5mg/mL 0.5mg/mL 0.5mg/mL 0.5mg/mL 0.5mg/mL 16mg/mL 16mg/mL 16mg/mL 16mg/mL 16mg/mL 25mg/mL 25mg/mL 0.125% 100mg/mL 30mg/mL 1mg/mL 10mcg/mL

Hw

MEDICATION RESULTS LOT# Thyroid Releasing Hormone (TRH) 03032004@4 Thyroid Releasing Hormone (TRH) 04262004@2 Thyroid Releasing Hormone (TRH) 05082004@9 Thyroid Releasing Hormone (TRH) 10262004@7 Thyroid Releasing Hormone (TRH) 12212004@4 Thyroid Releasing Hormone (TRH) 09302005@19 Thyroid Releasing Hormone (TRH) 09172008@1 Thyroid Releasing Hormone (TRH) 09032015@1 Dexamethasone Acetate 03082004@1 Dexamethasone Acetate 05172004@1 Dexamethasone Acetate 04172007@26 Dexamethasone Acetate 08232012@12 Dexamethasone Acetate 07072014@6 Methylcobalamin 10062005@1 Methylcobalamin 03232006@9 Demecarium Bromide 10152013@31 Glutathione 10282014@28 Tri-Mix 150mg/5mg/50mcg/5mL (Papaverine) 04302015@15 Tri-Mix 150mg/5mg/50mcg/5mL (Phentolamine) 04302015@15 Tri-Mix 150mg/5mg/50mcg/5mL (Alprostadil) 04302015@15

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How do you know it’s REALLY in there? The FDA allows manufacturers a +/- 20% error (There are several narrow therapeutic index exceptions). USP allows compounding pharmacies a +/- 10% error. We’ll let our potency testing speak for itself.

We proudly offer high-line supplements such as Thorne Research, Metagenics, Enzymatic Therapy and Carlson. Please see our website for details.

We’re really good at what we do. Give us a call: 281-494-7777 http://www.compoundingcornerpharmacy.com/ 1730 Williams Trace Blvd, Ste K, Sugar Land, TX 77478 fort bend

magazine • April 2016

1

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COVER STORY APRIL 2016

F E AT U R E S 18 TREAT YOURSELF WHILE HELPING OTHERS WITH THE SHOP WITH HEART CARD

The spring discount card fundraiser benefits the American Heart Association.

24 13TH ANNUAL SUGAR LAND WINE & FOOD AFFAIR

The five-day, fun-filled event for food and wine lovers is set for April 6th through 10th.

45 KEY REALTORS

Meet the Finest in Fort Bend

50 TEXAS ROAD TRIPS

The Lone Star State has plenty of destinations suitable for the whole family.

Fun is just a short road trip away!

55 MEDICAL FOCUS

Health Care News You Can Use

COLUMNS

All Careers Dental instructors Sherri Napoleon and Antoinette Gunter.

Photo by Nesossi Studios.

20 FOCUS ON FINANCE The Benchmark Game

14 ALL CAREERS DENTAL OFFERS UNIQUE, REAL-WORLD DENTAL ASSISTANT AND RECEPTIONIST TRAINING

22 LEGAL FOCUS

Special Needs Trusts

36 COMMUNITY CULTURE

Fort Bend Youth Promote Community Leadership Culture

Husband-and-wife team Drs. Tim Cashion and Teresa Cody, who own and practice at C&C Dental in Sugar Land, opened All Careers Dental in 2013.

Featuring 19 rooms that are fully equipped for student use and learning, plus a classroom, the dental training school offers Dental Assistant and Dental Receptionist programs that fit in with work, family and other kinds of personal schedules.

38 HIGH SCHOOL HOT SHOT Meet Shane Gosson

40 HOMETOWN HEROES: Eva Fackeldey

54 KIDS’ CORNER

Children’s Online Safety: Social Identity, Privacy and Geotagging

80 LIVING THE SWEET LIFE: Mindful of the Greatness

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • April 2016

6

CONTRIBUTORS

APRIL 2016

|

VOLUME 12

|

NUMBER 6 Will Hardee Hardee Investment Group Page 20

NEWSWORTHY 32 MEADOWS PLACE YOUTH ACTION COUNCIL Delivers for Charity

42 FORT BEND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY STUDENT Publishes Book

48 FORT BEND ISD’S JERRIE KAMMERMAN

Receives U.S. Department of Defense Patriot Employer Award

68 RIVERSTONE ADDS “BIG DOG”

To Community Art Displays

BRAIN TEASER

BUSINESS BRIEFS 44 FORT BEND ISD’S COMMUNITY RELATIONS TEAM

20

22

Earns 13 Awards in Star Awards Program

Kelley M. Bentley Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey PC Page 22 Zeenat Kassam Mitha Cultural Correspondent Page 36

absolutely!

AUTO REVIEW

36 Joan Frances Contributor Pages 38 & 40

53 2016 FIAT 500C ABARTH CABRIO

38 Myles Mellor Contributor Page 52

absolutely!

DELICIOUS

52

76 VINESLEUTH

Champagne and Sparkling Wine

Steve Kursar Auto Enthusiast Page 53

52 CROSSWORD CRUISIN’

IN EVERY ISSUE

53 Patrick Biron Birons Youth Sports Center Page 54

10 EXCLAMATION POINTS! 26 SEEN ON THE SCENE

54

70 OUT & ABOUT IN THE HEART OF THE BEND 77 AMATEUR PHOTO CONTEST

Amy Gross wine4.me Page 76

76

78 COMMUNITY EVENTS

Alisa Murray Alisa Murray Photography Page 80

80

ON THE COVER: Dr. Teresa Cody, Dr. Tim Cashion, Antoinette Gunter and Sherri Napoleon.

Photo by Nesossi Studios.

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • April 2016

8

Ask These 10 Questions To Make Sure Your Dentist Stacks Up 1

6

2 7 3

8 4 9 5 10

Tim Cashion, DDS

Teresa Cody, DDS

mydentist@candcdental.com A $25.00 flat fee for an x-ray & consultation A $74.00 value Low cost way to find out whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wrong (Does not include cleaning)

Formerly Cashion & Cody Family Dentistry and Orthodontics

17003 SW Freeway, Suite 100, Sugar Land, TX 77479

www.candcdental.com www.candcortho.com

Call us now!

281-377-3402

EXCLAMATION POINTS! THE INSIDE SCOOP STRAIGHT FROM THE TOP Publisher, PATTI PARISH-KAMINSKI

Vol. 12 No. 6 April 2016 4655 TECHNIPLEX DR. STE 700 STAFFORD, TX 77477 281-690-4242

Changing It Up Change is good. I must admit; however, I have to keep reminding myself of that particular philosophy. Last month when we sprang forward an hour, my internal clock was off for at least a week. Change was not in my favor, but I adopted the words of Maya Angelo and persevered. “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”

So, I now spring forward with a new attitude, but some things do remain the same. Like clockwork, each April our kids ask us the following question: What are we doing for summer vacation? You would think by now – knowing the query was coming – we would have a de- Patti and Tim Kaminski finitive answer prepared, but alas, the question always at The Exchange Club of Sugar Land Spaghetti Dinner. prompts much in depth and at times, heated, discussion.

There have been many summers when traveling our great state was our vacation, and Texas never disappoints. This summer, Texas has so many options, and we are sharing a few in Texas Road Trips on page 50.

And remember, while you are out and about on vacation this summer, be sure to take a picture and send it to us. We’d love to hear about your family vacay.

If sticking close to home is more your speed this year, we can help. From The Lone Star Stomp for history lovers to the Sugar Land Wine & Food Affair for food lovers to Deacon’s Stars and Stripes Softball Classic for our friends who like to play ball, there’s plenty going on in our area this month. We hope to see you while we are out and about enjoying all that our amazing community has to offer.

Speaking of change, take a look at our new format for our Seen on the Scenes starting on page 26. Yes, Fort Bend friends, change is good. Happy Spring!

Stay focused,

WWW.FORTBENDFOCUS.COM

PUBLISHER Patti Parish-Kaminski A S S O C IAT E P U B L I S H E R Jessica Kij M A NA G I N G E D I T O R Sarah Bearden AC C O U N T E X E C U T I V E S Jennifer Elliott Molly Ellis Kay Garrett Andrea Rigamonti Suzanne Stiles A RT D I R E C T O R Grace Belleza GRAPHIC DESIGNER Marinela Taylor WEB DESIGNER Joey Belleza PHOTOGRAPHY Nesossi Studios CONTRIBUTORS M.G. Angulo Kelley M. Bentley Patrick Biron Joan Frances Amy Gross Will Hardee Steve Kursar Myles Mellor Zeenat Kassam Mitha Alisa Murray O F F I C E A D M I N I S T R AT O R Alexa Goldstein

Patti@absolutelyfocusmedia.com

INQUIRIES 281-690-4242 E D I T O R IA L S U B M I S S I O N S Sarah@absolutelyfocusmedia.com

READER FEEDBACK Hi Patti and Jessica, Thank you for publishing the picture of Fort Bend Cares Spokesdog Freya and the accompanying article to share the important details of our 3rd Annual Doggone Fun Run with your readers in the March issue of Fort Bend Focus. Thanks also for including some photos from Fort Bend Cares Road Trip Sponsor Party held at the home of Drs. Scott and Juliet Breeze.

We have been working hard to get the word out about the Doggone Fun Run to local runners and families in our community to ensure a great turn out for the event, so we can help disadvantaged children in Fort Bend County.

Thanks again for your support!

Melinda Henry Publicity Chair, Fort Bend Cares

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • April 2016

10

Published by

Subscription requests are free to all Fort Bend addresses. Annual paid subscription of $25 required outside the Fort Bend area.

Fort Bend FocusTM Magazine is published by absolutely! focus media, 4655 Techniplex Dr., Ste. 700, Stafford, TX 77477. Copyright© 2016 by absolutely! focus media. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. Fort Bend FocusTM Magazine does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial, nor do the publishers assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. Fort Bend FocusTM Magazine welcomes editorial submissions from its readers.

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J & L Distributors 707 Avenue E • Stafford, TX 77477 M-F: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sat. 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Evenings by Appointment 281-403-6733 • jlblinds.com

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Come into our showroom to see and operate a wide variety of window treatments.

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.com • April 2016

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HOW DO I FIND THE PERFECT HOME? V I S I T W W W. K W S W. C O M

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610 PIEDMONT ST 900’S VENETIAN ESTATES 98526542 3,918 SQFT

1650 HIGHWAY 6, SUITE 350 SUGAR LAND, TX 77478

Photo by Alison Carlino.

COVER STORY

By M.G. Angulo

Offers Unique, Real-World Dental Assistant and AllCareersDental Receptionist Training

W

hen Dr. Teresa Cody was a little girl, she feared the dentist, primarily because her childhood dentist was rough and unfriendly. In fact, her dentist did not believe in using anesthetics. Needless to say, the pain and stress over going to the dentist created a fearful perspective of dentistry for the young Cody, and she unfortunately applied that fear to the entire realm of dentistry. However, during Cody’s college years — when she became a patient of another dentist whose approach to the practice was quite different — she discovered dentistry could actually be gentle.

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

Cody not only realized dentistry could be both kind and pain-free, but it was calling her name as well, and she would be the dentist who no one feared.

As it turns out, Cody’s future husband and business partner also felt the call of dentistry but for different reasons.

“I remember being teased as a kid for having gaps between my teeth,” said Dr. Teresa Cody.

Dr. Tim Cashion, who attended dental school with Cody and later became her husband and business partner. “It caused me to be very self-conscious and hide my smile.”

Cashion wanted braces, so he spoke to his orthodontist, who actually recommended that he speak to his dentist instead about cosmetic bonding, which as it fortunately turned out, closed the gaps. It was what Cashion calls a “life-changing result.” Not only did dentistry improve his self-esteem, it .com • April 2016

14

You realize when you have done something for over 20 years, you accumulate extensive knowledge and experience, and we knew it would be a shame not to pass this knowledge on.

– Dr. Tim Cashion

gave him the desire to pay it forward to scores of others. “I knew then dentistry was my career,” Cashion said.

Photo by Nesossi Studios.

Exceptional Dental Care Fast forward two-plus decades, and you will find husband-and-wife team Drs. Cashion and Cody, who own and practice at C&C Dental in Sugar Land, demonstrating to their patients that a trip to the dentist can be comfortable, fun and fulfilling.

In addition to serving patients in Sugar Land, the duo sees patients from the Greater Houston area, Richmond, Rosenberg, Missouri City, Stafford, Meadows Place and Katy, but Cashion and Cody did not stop with their dental services. For the past three years, they have put their experiences and expertise to use at their own dental training school called All Careers Dental.

All Careers Dental “You realize when you have done something for over 20 years, you accumulate extensive knowledge and experience, and we knew it would be a shame not to pass this knowledge on,” Cashion said. “That is what started the idea for the training school. We then talked to a number of graduates from other schools who complained of very little handson learning, mainly lectures, and we all know that we learn best by doing, so we decided to go for it.”

All Careers Dental opened in 2013 at 17003 Southwest Freeway, Suite 100 in Sugar Land and offers two courses of study — Dental Assistant and Dental Receptionist. The campus is a 7,000 square-foot facility featuring 19 rooms that are fully equipped for student use and learning, plus a classroom with an overhead projection screen for video and PowerPoint-assisted lectures.

“We discovered that when we talk to our colleagues, we are all looking for the same thing when looking to hire new staff,” Cody said. “That is, finding people with core skills who only need a short learning curve to get up to speed.”

And that, Cody said, is the goal of All Careers Dental, “to teach students the basic skills needed in the shortest Dr. Tim Cashion. fort bend

Antoinette Gunter instructing students in the Dental Assistant program at All Careers Dental.

amount of time and get in as many repetitions as possible.”

In what she calls a “small investment to begin your new career,” Cody said All Careers Dental produces quality-trained professionals into a respectable field. “Our goal with dental offices is to find the best possible fit when looking for a new hire.”

Curious About Dentistry?

All Careers Dental is unique in that it covers two major components of a dental practice — the assistants, as well as the receptionists. “When we started the school, we were approved by the Texas Workforce Commission to only have a dental assistant course,” Cody said. “The response and feedback was so positive, we wondered why there were no available schools for the reception or administrative position.”

The typical age range of the school’s students is 18 years old to 45 years old, and a high school diploma is required to attend. Both programs require 10 weeks to complete with classes held from 8 am to 5 pm on Saturdays.

“Nationally, there are plenty of schools to become a dentist, hygienist or dental assistant but virtually no schools to become a receptionist,” Cody said. “So, we are very excited to report we have officially been approved to offer one of the only courses in the nation to become a certified dental administrator.”

Those seeking the Dental Receptionist route will find that magazine • April 2016

15

Photo by Nesossi Studios.

In addition to learning with loads of hands-on exercises — starting from day one — and learning from instructors with combined experience of 35 years, students can expect to have fun.

– Dr. Teresa Cody

Dental assistants in training Kimberlee Ryder, Maribel Martinez, Karissa Siwa and Jenna Mata look on as Sherri Napoleon demonstrates how to take an X-ray with Amanda Cortez.

communication is the key to the program. “Students spend a tremendous amount of time learning communication and people skills from an instructor with 25 years experience,” Cashion said. “We have found this program to be perfect for the mom who is looking to get back into work after her kids are a little older.”

Included in this program’s tuition are short lectures, hands-on training with dental software, CPR certification, resume writing, preparation for job interviews and the chance

to interact with patients. The only requirement that falls outside of tuition is that all students have a laptop computer.

“Since we know we all learn better when having fun,” Cashion said, “the Dental Receptionist program also features a plethora of role-playing and hands-on exercises.”

Aside from course work, having a good time is common to both programs, and that’s a characteristic both Drs. Cashion and Cody are proud of. “In addition to learning with loads of hands-on exercises — starting from day one — and learning from instructors with combined experience of 35 years, students can expect to have fun, ” Cody said of the Dental Assistant program.

Those seeking the Dental Assistant route will experience much of the same training a dental receptionist would, with an added focus on four-handed dentistry, a technique in which a dental assistant works directly with the dentist on the procedures being done in the mouth of a patient in efforts to reduce fatigue and improve the effectiveness of dental procedures.

All Careers Dental can be a career changer or a career starter, Cody said. And best of all, it can fit in with work, family and other kinds of personal schedules. “It’s great for someone who has a job during the week and cannot miss work,” she said. “The school offers an extremely affordable way to enter the dental field and is perfect for someone who is considering to be a dental hygienist.”

The cost to enroll in a program is $5,995, but students who register early can save $1,000 on tuition. The school also offers financial assistance to those who qualify. To learn more, visit www.allcareersdental.com.

7th Annual Butterfly Flutter By E ver the philanthropists, Drs. Tim Cashion and Teresa Cody also support research for Down syndrome, and at 1 pm on April 10th, their non-profit organization called the Changing Minds Foundation will hold a unique fundraiser to support the foundation’s efforts.

The Changing Minds Foundation spreads awareness about Down syndrome treatment for children as well as adults. For the seventh consecutive year, the foundation will hold its annual Butterfly Flutter By fundraiser, where 1,000 butterflies will be released at Christ Church Cathedral in Nancy’s Garden located at 1117 Texas Avenue in downtown Houston.

Each Butterfly can be purchased for $21 to represent the extra 21st chromosome that causes Down syndrome, and 100 percent of the proceeds go to non-profit activities. Last year’s event raised nearly $5,000.

For more information about the Changing Minds Foundation or Butterfly Flutter By, visit www.changingmindsfoundation.org.

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • April 2016

16

houston Methodist gynecologic oncology associates

Dr. Tarrik ZaiD has extensive training and experience in gynecologic cancer, including the completion of a fellowship in gynecologic oncology. In partnership with Houston Methodist Gynecologic Oncology Associates — and supported by the leading-edge technology and highly skilled professionals at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital — Dr. Zaid provides compassionate, individualized care for the treatment of uterine, ovarian, cervical and other female reproductive system cancers.

This is the Houston Methodist level of cancer care — from diagnosis to survival — where technology and compassion are leading to a cure.

to schedule an appointment, call 281.275.0880.

Medical Office Building Three 16605 Southwest Frwy., Suite 450 Sugar Land, TX 77479 houstonmethodist.org/spg

Treat Yourself While Helping Others with the

A

year ago, Melissa Sands found herself in a dilemma. “Several young people in my life were graduating from either high school or college,” confided Sands. “I knew I wanted to get them each something truly special, but to be honest, I didn’t want to spend a fortune.”

A longtime supporter of the American Heart Association (AHA), Sands planned her grad gift shopping around the Shop With Heart Card event, a spring discount card fundraiser benefiting the AHA. With her card, Sands saved a bundle on gifts like The University of Texas cufflinks, Jon Hart luggage and bags, monogrammed mementos and college apparel from Houston standbys like Kuhl-Linscomb, Robert’s China Crystal and Gifts and Mark’s Clothiers. “My son is graduating this year, so you can bet I plan to use this year’s Shop With Heart Card to save on gifts for him and his closest friends,” said Sands happily.

Sands is one of many shoppers looking forward to this fun springtime shopping and dining event. The Shop With Heart Card works like most discount card fundraisers. People purchase the Shop With Heart Card for a minimum donation – in this case, a budget-friendly $50. Then, from April 22nd through May 1st, cardholders can use their card to save 20 percent off regularly priced merchandise at participating retailers and enjoy a complimentary dessert or appetizer with the purchase of an entrée at participating restaurants.

This year, over 500 retailers and restaurants from across Houston and surrounding areas, including Sugar Land, Katy, the Bay Area and The Woodlands have signed up to participate to support this great cause. A full listing of participating retailers and restaurants is available on the Shop With Heart Card website and in their annual Merchant Card Directory.

Heart Guild of Houston President and ABC-13 reporter Jessica Willey noted that many people forget that the spring shopping season can be nearly as eventful as the holiday shopping season. “Most of us have a lot going on during the spring months,” said Willey. “Between cleaning out the closets and updating the décor, buying gifts for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduations and weddings and getting your wardrobe ready for summer vacations, prom and the new spring and summer fashions, that’s some serious shopping!

Why not save some serious cash while helping to save lives?”

The Heart Guild of Houston, a fundraising branch of the AHA, coordinates the annual Shop With Heart Card event, which is currently celebrating its third year. Event organizers rely on a fleet of volunteers to coor-

Shop With Heart Card Sugar Land Participants: • Anything Bling Boutique • Baby’s & Kid’s 1st Furniture • Busy Body Home Fitnes • LAVO Collections • The Magnolia House • Pottery Barn

• Trudy’s Hallmark #16 • Trudy’s Hallmark #21 • Twenty-Two Fifty Interiors • Williams-Sonoma • Orangetheory Fitness • Wonderfaux

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • April 2016

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dinate the event, as well as donations provided by underwriters and sponsors to cover the administrative cost of the event and provide marketing support.

Thanks to this generous support, the Heart Guild is able to donate 100 percent of the proceeds from card sales directly to the American Heart Association.

The AHA is one of the most recognizable non-profit organizations in the United States. It is also one of the nation’s most trustworthy, with a full 80 cents of every donated dollar going to fulfill the organization’s mission of “building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular disease and stroke,” the nation’s No. 1 and No. 5 killers of both men and women. The AHA accomplishes this mission by funding research, education and community outreach across the nation and here in Houston.

“Heart disease and stroke have touched many of our lives,” said Shop With Heart Card Chair Julie Haralson. “This is a small way to give back to our community, honor our loved ones and have a great time shopping, dining out and saving money. It’s mutually beneficial for everyone involved.”

The 2016 Shop With Heart Card is available to purchase now at participating retailers for a minimum donation of $50. The 10 day Shop With Heart Card event takes place Friday, April 22nd through Sunday, May 1st.

For more information, visit www.

ShopWithHeart.org. To stay up to date on their news, follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Presented by the Hardee Investment Group and RBC Wealth Management

FOCU$ on FINANCE

The Benchmark Game

I

’ve heard it all too often: “The market is up, but I’m not up as much. Why?” Well, let’s think about it for just a moment. The market is 100 percent invested, all of the time. You most likely weren’t or aren’t. The market knows no risk. You probably do. There’s this little thing we navigate through called “life” and the market doesn’t care that you need a new roof. The market doesn’t have to worry about investment objectives and time horizon. There’s more than likely an end goal and a date you’d like to reach that goal, like retirement for example, and that means nothing to the market. It will continue into perpetuity far after your children have reached their retirement years. The market may have gone up because some big name companies were having great years, but you didn’t have them in your portfolio, which is why your portfolio may not have gone up as much as the overall market. By comparing your individual portfolio to the market, you’re setting yourself up for a losing “benchmark game.” So, how do you manage this?

You manage this by meeting your personal financial needs, whether it’s sending a child to college, funding your retirement or allowing for a kitchen or bathroom remodel.

If we can grow the portfolio at a sustainable rate of return,

send money each year for your living expenses and navigate the ever-changing market, we feel like we’ve done well. If we can help you maintain your standard of living during your retirement years, we feel like we’ve done well.

Rather than focusing on the market as a whole, focus on the investments in your portfolio. Everything operates in cycles: market cycles, economic cycles, life cycles, etc. You get the idea. Focus on where your investments are in their respective cycles. The market may be down, but some of your investments may be flat or even up from where you bought them. The flip side is possible too. Remember you invest in a market of stocks, not a stock market. The ultimate goal is to manage to your needs.

This article provided by H. H. “Will” Hardee, AWM of the Hardee Investment Group and a Financial Advisor and Managing Director at RBC Wealth Management in Houston, 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. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC.

Security Since 1977, we’ve been providing families and businesses financial guidance that’s In The Client’s Best Interest. We realize that each client is unique, and our personalized wealth management strategies can help you plan for a secure financial future, while protecting what you already have.

HARDEE INVESTMENT GROUP

Hardee Investment Group (713) 853-0879 | (800) 838-0757 www.hardeeinvestmentgroup.com There’s Wealth in Our Approach.™ © 2015 RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC. 15-HC-468_7.25x3.125 Security c.indd TO 1 ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • April 2016

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11/6/15 7:19 AM

By Kelley M. Bentley

Legal

Focus

Special Needs Trusts

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arents, grandparents, spouses or other relatives and friends who want to leave property to a loved one with a disability need to plan carefully to ensure any well-intentioned gifts do not cause the intended beneficiary to lose his or her eligibility for public benefits, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid. One way to provide for a beneficiary with special needs while maintaining that beneficiary’s eligibility for benefits is to create a special needs trust.

There are two types of special needs trusts. The first type is a self-settled trust, which means that the trust is funded with property belonging to the beneficiary. The second type is a third-party special needs trust, which is funded with property belonging to someone other than the beneficiary.

Federal law gives individuals who are under the age of 65 and who are receiving public benefits the option of funding a self-settled special needs trust in order to continue his or her eligibility for benefits. One of the main drawbacks to a selfsettled special needs trust is that the trust must contain a mandatory pay-back provision to the state of Texas for funds spent on the beneficiary’s care. A self-settled special needs trust is typically used in personal injury settlements or when a beneficiary receives an inheritance directly.

If family or friends want to give property to an individual with special needs, they can establish a third-party special needs trust for his or her benefit. Unlike the self-settled trust, a third-party trust does not have to contain a pay-back provision to the state of Texas upon the beneficiary’s death.

Rather, the grantor – the person creating the trust – can identify remainder beneficiaries who would receive the trust property upon the death of the primary beneficiary.

A third-party trust can be created either during the grantor’s lifetime or upon his or her death via a will or other testamentary instrument, such as a revocable living trust. As long as any gift to the beneficiary with special needs is directed to the special needs trust and not to the beneficiary directly, the beneficiary’s benefits should not be affected by the creation of the trust.

A qualified elder law attorney can assist families in the preparation and administration of special needs trusts, as well as ensure that distributions from such trusts do not adversely affect the beneficiary’s eligibility for benefits.

Kelley M. Bentley is Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is a certified elder law attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation. She practices in the Fort Bend office of Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey PC.

Helping PRESERVE the Past, SECURE the Present, and PROTECT the Future w Estate Planning w Probate & Estate Administration w Trust & Estate Litigation w Elder Law & Medicaid Planning w Uncontested/Contested Guardianships w Special Needs Trusts

T. Aaron Dobbs

Texas Board of Legal Specialization Estate Planning and Probate Law

281.207.7697 w www.rmwbhlaw.com Fort Bend

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Houston

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Austin

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

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Dallas

Kelley M. Bentley*

Texas Board of Legal Specialization Estate Planning and Probate Law

*Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation

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.com • April 2016

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San Antonio (By Appointment Only)

IR LFA E OT T N OO S NG MI O C

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Now there’s a new option from Houston’s acknowledged emergency care leaders. Introducing Memorial Hermann Urgent Care. Walk in and get the care you need when you need it – without the wait.

Coming Soon to Telfair 1227 Museum Square Drive, Suite A Sugar Land, TX 77479

9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Daily Walk-ins welcome mhmg.memorialhermann.org

13TH ANNUAL

Sugar L and

O

ne of the most highly anticipated events of the year, the Sugar Land Wine & Food Affair is where top chefs share secrets, sommeliers get uncorked and all manner of foodies – from bonafide gourmands to everyday eaters – come to indulge in fantastic fare, sensational spirits and some of the finest wines around. The 13th Annual Sugar Land Wine & Food Affair is set for April 6th through 10th.

With five days of notable events, all of which take place in bustling Sugar Land, the Sugar Land Wine & Food

Wine & Food Affair

Bistro Brunch guests enjoy an authentic Spanish dish prepared by award-winning Chef James Foote of the Victoria Country Club.

Affair has something for everyone. The festival is produced by the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management. All proceeds support a permanent scholarship endowment at the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management.

Tickets range from $40 to $150, and a three-day VIP pass guarantees access to all major events for $225. Visit sugarlandwineandfoodaffair.com.

2016 Event Schedule

Chefs, wineries and vendors who participated in the 2015 Bistro Brunch.

Wednesday, April 6th, 6:30 – 9:30 pm All in the Family NOAH’s of Sugar Land This seated VIP dinner will be hosted

by Randy and Charlene Lange, proprietors of the LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards, located in the unique winegrowing region of Lodi. Immerse your palate with elegant wines through a five-course luxury dinner, prepared by Houston’s award-winning chefs.

Thursday, April 7th, 6:30 – 9 pm Hendrick’s Gin On the Rocks Bartenders Challenge Imperial Lofts Sugar Land Delight in a number of specially crafted Hendrick’s Gin cocktails prepared by five of the region’s most skilled mixologists as they compete for a grand prize of $1,000!

One recipe will be named the official cocktail of the 13th Annual Sugar Land Wine & Food Affair and will be served at the Grand Tasting, Sip & Stroll at Imperial and Bistro Brunch.

Friday, April 8th, 5:30 – 6:30 pm For the Love of Bourbon & Cheese Sugar Land Marriott Town Square Today’s hottest pairing combines bourbon with artisan cheeses for an adventurous taste experience. The smokiness of America’s native spirit is a perfect complement to the variety of artisanal cheeses, from fresh and tangy to earthy and aged. Hannah Thompson, cheesemonger for ANCO Fine Cheeses, has paired a selection of Southern artisan cheeses with Beam Suntory’s Jim Beam Single Barrel, Maker’s 46, Knob Creek Rye, Basil Hayden, Bakers and Bookers.

Friday, April 8th, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Tasting Mastery Fred Parks Wine Seminar Sugar Land Marriott Town Square Nationally renowned wine expert and Master Sommelier Tim Gaiser will deliver tasting tips for guests to immediately use in everyday sipping. Attendees will sample wines for a fun comparison.

Friday, April 8th, 7 – 9:30 pm The Grand Tasting Sugar Land Marriott Town Square Held in the elegant ballroom of the Sugar Land Marriott Town Square, this exquisite evening tasting features mouthwatering creations from top culinary

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • April 2016

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superstars, perfectly paired with the most delectable wines and spirits. Meanwhile, The Grand Auction benefiting the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel & Restaurant Management will offer guests the chance to bid on exclusive items as they indulge.

Saturday, April 9th, 1– 4 pm Sip & Stroll at Imperial Constellation Field Sip on the beverage of your choice, sample savory selections from popular restaurants, peruse the offerings of fine artisans, and as you stroll, enjoy live musical entertainment from Salsa Cubana. Don’t miss the Big Green Egg Extravaganza and the expanded beer garden, featuring more than 100 beers from 25 different breweries. Cheers to that!

Sunday, April 10th, 11 am – 2 pm Bistro Brunch Sugar Land Town Square Bloody Marys, mimosas, wine, beer and much more await guests at the Bistro Brunch. Indulge in delicious pairings from around the world while enjoying live music from The Mix featuring Yvonne Washington. Award-winning Chef James Foote from the Victoria Country Club will prepare an authentic Spanish paella on a 52 inch pan over a wood-fired grill. This is gourmet on a global scale!

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Seen on the Scene

NAILS UNLIMITED

Mission of Love Honoring Reverend Drew Wood Benefiting Catholic Charities’ Fort Bend Services February 4, 2016 • Sugar Land Marriott

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Seen on the Scene It’s a Musical Kind of Night Hollywood Style!

Benefiting the Fort Bend Boys Choir of Texas February 6, 2016 • Safari Texas Ranch Lodge

THEIR SUMMER TO SHINE Summer Programs at the Fort Bend Family YMCA

Y summer programs offer the perfect opportunity to make playing and learning a family goal.

Day Camp

Swim Lessons

Youth Sports

Specialty Camps

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Join and enjoy the member rate for your summer programs.

Register today at ymcahouston.org.

YMCA Mission: To put Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. Everyone is welcome.

10th Annual Summer

2016

Paint the W orld Week

Morning & Afternoon Camps Nature Comes to Life Week

Ages 5-14

Lessons in drawing, painting and sculpture with creative projects for each new theme. Camps run Monday thru Thursday, Campers participate in a Juried Art Show where everyone gets a ribbon and prizes go home for “Best of Show.”

(281) 565-0957

104 Industrial Blvd., Suite Q Sugar Land, TX 77478

Register Online Now! • Referral discounts • Multiple session discounts • Sibling discounts

sugarlandartcenter.org TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

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Seen on the Scene 11th Annual Road Trip Through the Wild Wild West Benefiting Fort Bend Cares February 6, 2016 • The Flour Building

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吀刀䤀ⴀ䌀䤀吀夀 䌀䠀唀刀䌀䠀䔀匀

刀䔀匀䄀䰀䔀 匀䠀伀倀 ☀ 氀愀 䈀伀唀吀䤀儀唀䔀 䈀䔀一䔀䘀䤀吀吀䤀一䜀 䔀䄀匀吀 䘀伀刀吀 䈀䔀一䐀 䠀唀䴀䄀一 一䔀䔀䐀匀 䴀䤀一䤀匀吀刀夀

匀瀀攀挀椀愀氀琀礀 䐀爀攀猀猀 匀愀氀攀 䘀椀渀搀 琀栀攀 瀀攀爀昀攀挀琀 搀爀攀猀猀 昀漀爀 倀爀漀洀 簀 圀攀搀搀椀渀最 簀 䌀漀挀欀琀愀椀氀 倀愀爀琀礀 簀 伀琀栀攀爀 匀瀀攀挀椀愀氀 伀挀挀愀猀椀漀渀猀

䘀椀渀搀 琀栀攀 瀀攀爀昀攀挀琀 搀爀攀猀猀 愀琀 琀栀攀 瀀攀爀昀攀挀琀 瀀爀椀挀攀⸀⸀⸀ 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 瀀攀爀昀攀挀琀 渀椀最栀琀⸀ 倀爀漀洀漀琀椀漀渀 爀甀渀渀椀渀最 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 䴀愀爀挀栀 ☀ 䄀瀀爀椀氀 椀渀 䰀愀 䈀漀甀琀椀焀甀攀Ⰰ 椀渀猀椀搀攀 吀爀椀ⴀ䌀椀琀礀 䌀栀甀爀挀栀攀猀 刀攀猀愀氀攀 匀栀漀瀀⸀ 㐀㈀㔀 匀琀愀昀昀漀爀搀 刀甀渀 刀搀⸀Ⰰ 匀琀愀昀昀漀爀搀Ⰰ 吀堀 㜀㜀㐀㜀㜀 ㈀㠀㄀⸀㐀㤀㤀⸀㠀㠀㌀㌀ 刀攀猀愀氀攀匀栀漀瀀䀀䠀甀洀愀渀一攀攀搀猀⸀漀爀最 䴀漀渀搀愀礀 ⴀ 匀愀琀甀爀搀愀礀 ㄀ 愀洀 ⴀ 㐀 瀀洀 伀瀀攀渀 䰀愀琀攀 圀攀搀渀攀猀搀愀礀 ㄀ 愀洀 ⴀ 㜀㨀㌀ 瀀洀 簀 䌀氀漀猀攀搀 匀甀渀搀愀礀 TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

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Commemorative Book

• Commemorative Books • Event Programs • Relocation Guides & Directories 22 fort bend

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Memorable

We are more than just magazines.

Seen on the Scene

NEWSWORTHY

Boots & Badges Gala Benefiting Behind the Badge Charities February 13, 2016 • George Ranch Historical Park

Meadows Place Youth Action Council Delivers for Charity

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Jessica Robinson, Alexis Moody, Savannah Cabezas, Gherimija Sampson, Skyler Cabezas, May Nguyen, Allie Cabezas, Keely Weber, Phi Nguyen, Zoe Ferris Hughes and Colene Cabezas.

A new volunteer group based in Meadows Place has had an electric start to their volunteer mission. Organized in December 2015, the Youth Action Council (YAC) is a group of selected volunteers who work directly with the Meadows Place City Council to ensure that the teen voice is heard in the community. This is a national organization under the guidance of the Texas Municipal League. The group’s intent is to develop leaders within the community through service, outreach and sustainability projects. Each group serves their local city with the support of the mayor and council.

This high school service group began assisting the community during the Meadows Place Christmas Memories event. Next, they partnered with Souls 4 Soles, a charity shoe drive. They collected 292 pairs of shoes, thanks to the support of the Meadows Place community. The group attended the Texas YAC Summit and donated the shoes to the Souls 4 Soles project, which was part of the summit.

For their efforts, they won an award as the “Best Service Project Contributor” throughout Texas. Out of the 32 cities in attendance, they collected 292 of the total 715 pairs collected overall.

For more information on how to assist their efforts or become a part of the organization, contact the City of Meadows Place Director of Parks and Recreation Colene Cabezas at 281-642-7696.

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

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Event Program

• Commemorative Books • Event Programs • Relocation Guides & Directories 17 fort bend

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absolutely!

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We are more than just magazines.

Seen on the Scene

It’s time to

Men Who Cook Benefiting Lamar Educational Awards Foundation February 20, 2016 • Safari Texas Ranch

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meets st yle

WHERE LIFE

Auditions March 30, 5:30 -7:30pm

Sponsored by David Taylor Cadillac

Finale April 30, 7 – 9pm

Auditions May 11, 5:30 – 7:30pm

Discover more at SugarLandTownSquare.com

Round 1 June 18th 7:30 – 9:30pm Round 2 July 16th 7:30 – 9:30pm Finale August 20th 7:30 – 9:30pm

PCDSL-174 Fort Bend Focus Ad_MECH.indd 1

3/1/16 3:12 PM 281-499-3921

3643 Glenn Lakes Ln., Highway 6 • Missouri City

www.robinsdancestudio.com

DANCE STUDIO

Summer Dance Session June 7 – July 20 Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Ballet • Tap • Jazz Lyrical • Hip Hop Leaps & Turns Ages 3 - Adult

Call or see website for schedule TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

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Derek & Dana Maresh Paul Clayton & Michael Richard Brittany & Joey Pineda Joe Freudenberger & Tommy Kuykendall Tom & Norma Petrosewicz Amy Mitchell, Elizabeth Duff-Drozd & Tim Kaminski Maria & Daryl Sequra Andres & Rachel Novoa Ray Aguilar & Chris Breaux

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Relocation Guide

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Effective

We are more than just magazines.

By Zeenat Kassam Mitha

C

MMUNITY

Culture

Fort Bend Youth Promote Community Leadership Culture

F

ort Bend youth are some of the most exemplary young men and women promoting a culture of community, leadership and giving back. When it comes to the extensive involvement of youth setting the bar for community service by high school students, Fort Bend teenagers are in a league of their own.

Photo by Michael Tollestrup.

High school students involved with Fort Bend’s Grant-A-Starr Foundation are among those who exhibit leadership and prioritize giving back. In fact, the organization’s board is comprised of these high school students. Dolores and Rod Starr founded the Grant-AStarr Foundation to celebrate the life of their son, Grant, a beloved sevenyear-old boy who passed away from an unidentified virus the summer before he began second grade. “The non-profit foundation is created solely for the purpose of saving children’s lives through the advancement of rapid detection of life-threatening childhood infections, such as encephalitis and meningitis,” said Mike Ball, managing director for Grant-A-Starr.

Mike Ball speaking to an enthusiastic crowd at the Grant-A-Starr Family Fun Run.

The committee of young leaders rallies together each year to produce a Family 5K and One-Mile Fun Run/ Walk. This year, the event is set for Saturday, April 2nd at Sugar Land Memorial Park. This year’s teen board president is Dylan Alexander, a senior at Clements High School and a childhood friend of Grant, who would have also been a senior this year. “All of this effort and energy I put into this is done in the memory of Grant,” said Dylan, who believes this year’s committee of young leaders shares his attitude toward Grant-A-Starr’s initiatives.

Another example of youth in action is Youth in Philanthropy (YIP), an organization comprised of Fort Bend junior and senior high school students.

YIP provides youth the opportunity to experience how volunteerism and philanthropy coexist to serve their community. Approximately 175 students are selected each year as part of a journey to strengthen their connections with their community and each other.

The YIP team participates in site visits and volunteer projects with area non-profit organizations to increase their knowledge of the Fort Bend County non-profit sector. The students also meet to hear from some of Fort Bend County’s most inspiring leaders from business, the non-profit sector and the community-at-large. “YIP has educated me on the significant role non-profits

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.com • April 2016

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YIP participants Shreya Desai and Cassie Moore volunteering by painting in the community.

play and the impact they make within our community,” said Cassie Moore, a YIP student volunteer.

More than 70 scholarships are then awarded to the students from the community-at-large. This year, the YIP luncheon was held on March 30th, when the students were notified of scholarships and awards and community members attended and celebrated with them. Investing in the lives of these future leaders is what the Fort Bend community is about. “At the end of the year, with knowledge and understanding of the community and their needs, the students evaluate local charities and put philanthropy into action by awarding monetary grants to participating nonprofits,” said Dee Koch, director of community engagement, The George Foundation.

Visit grantastarr.org to learn more about the Grant-A-Starr Foundation.

For more information about YIP, visit thegeorgefoundation.org/program/ youth-in-philanthropy or contact YIP@ thegeorgefoundation.org.

TO SHARE YOUR IDEAS

for upcoming cultural stories and events, contact Cultural Correspondent Zeenat Kassam Mitha at zeenat@absolutelyfocusmedia.com

TEXAS DIRECT AUTO’S DOWNTOWN LOCATION IS

OUT OF THIS WORLD! They’re calling it #DowntownMars and it is Space City’s first dealership on Mars. Located in the Central Business District at 1301 Leeland St., it’s currently the largest mural in downtown Houston, wholly inspired by humanity’s distinct curiosity with The Red Planet. Houston-based Eyeful Art Murals and Designs teamed up with Texas Direct Auto™, the largest independently owned dealership in the nation, to design and paint an out-of-this-world work of art covering a 7,000 square-foot canvas on the outside of a downtown building. The building started its life as a hotel in the 1930’s and has since been converted to an office building. Inside, Texas Direct Auto™ will operate a satellite Sell Us Your Car™ Center, one of nine area locations.

Jessica DeMarr, Director of Marketing and New Business Development, said, “Texas Direct Auto is technology-driven to make the process of buying and selling a car most efficient for our customers. Just as NASA has laid the foundation for success in space, Texas Direct Auto has laid the foundation for successful car buying. We are driven by our customers and hope everyone enjoys the new downtown Martian experience.”

Started by two native Houstonians with zero experience in the automotive industry, Texas Direct Auto™ is bringing their ninth location to “MARS” but with an edgy twist. The team at the company wanted to create a new public art destination while beautifying an entire building. The goal of the project, rather than erecting their typical billboard style signage, was to turn this onceoverlooked three-story building into a “must see” public art destination.

The mural is intended to pay homage to Houston, also known as Space City, with a colorful and whimsical angle. Furthermore, exterior lighting and red-colored boulders will be added to the entrance of the building to give the mural a 3D effect, producing interactivity with the work.

And one side of the building features an interpretation of the Texas flag and an astronaut doggie floating in space. Yes, you read that correctly, an astronaut doggie. Which is guaranteed to put a smile on people’s faces during their daily commutes for years to come.

High School HOT SHOT

By Joan Frances

Meet Shane Gosson

R

Photo by Ken Murray Photography.

idge Point High School (RPHS) in Fort Bend Independent School District is the “Home of Scholars and Champions.” The school’s highly qualified teachers and administrators guide students through four years of education while implementing the motto, “There is No Limit to What We Can Achieve.” Seniors graduate fully prepared to take the next step in the journey to a successful future. One senior who has achieved success in all aspects of education, extracurricular activities and sports is Shane Gosson.

Shane excels in academics and is taking Advanced Placement math and science classes. He received the Journalism Award for his outstanding writing skills. He is also a member of the Kick-Off Mentor program.

The purpose of the mentoring program is to welcome the new freshmen class to RPHS and create connections between upperclassmen

Shane and incoming students. This yearlong process creates positive, meaningful connections for every incoming student. Shane helps students feel more comfortable in a foreign environment.

He also won the title of Mr. November 2016 in the Senior Cuties Contest this past fall.

“Nothing in life comes easy,” said Shane. “I have learned that no matter what obstacles you may face, hard work and perseverance will turn your obstacles into memorable experiences.

If everything in life comes easy, you will never know how strong you can be.”

Shane’s favorite teacher is Brittany Brown, his social studies teacher. “She is able to relate to her students on their level. She has a great sense of humor and carries herself very well. She is the ‘cool’ teacher who you respect, because she shows respect for her students. She is a great teacher, engages her students and make social studies an interesting subject to learn.”

Shane’s forte is football, which he has played most of his life. The team has achieved success as back to back district champions all four years, and this year, they advanced to and fin-

ished as state semifinalists. Shane is one of four varsity team captains and the quarterback, and he is one of the undeniable leaders on the team.

This year, he was awarded 1st Team All-District Quarterback and the Mr. Panther Award.

When asked why being a leader is important to him, Shane said, “Being the quarterback definitely put me in a leadership role. It’s important to bring people together when there is a common goal. As a leader of the team, my teammates turn to me for motivation and look to me to keep the momentum going. When others trust you to be a leader, you are obligated to do the best job possible.”

One thing Shane will treasure most about his high school experience is his friends. “My core group of friends and I have played football together since we were in third and fourth grade. Our varsity football team had an amazing season this year. We made it all the way to the state semifinals and set some firsttime records for our school. We are leaving a legacy, and we did it together our senior year. That’s going out in style! Also, my mom works at my school, and although some kids may not think it’s cool to have your mom on campus every day, I am glad she has been there with me all four years.”

Shane is the recipient of a football scholarship and will attend Missouri Southern State University in the fall, where he plans to major in journalism. Congratulations on your devotion and talent Shane, and good luck as you continue on the path to success.

“If everything in life comes easy, you will never know how strong you can be.”

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.com • April 2016

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– Shane Gosson

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By Joan Frances

Hometown Heroes:

Eva Fackeldey

W

hat makes a person beautiful? Is it hair, great skin, a warm smile? What about confidence, compassion and generosity? Can it be a great personality, laughing eyes and a positive disposition? All of these variables and many more combine to make a beautiful person. For many young people, beauty is difficult to achieve.

Emotional, financial and family circumstances beyond their control influence disappointment and despair. Sugar Land resident Eva Fackeldey had a vision to help high school seniors wishing they could participate in a homecoming dance or the prom, and she named it The Cinderella-Cinderfella Project.

Sixteen years ago, Fackeldey was the president of the Rotary Club and set out to start an outreach program. She wanted something personal and individual for underprivileged high school students who felt ignored and helpless. She wanted to do something for students to help build confidence and make them feel beautiful and loved. Fackeldey learned from talking to counselors at several Fort Bend schools that there were seniors unable to attend the high school dances because they could not afford extravagant clothes.

The idea of helping a senior girl and boy attend prom was the perfect scenario. With the assistance of social workers from Fort Bend ISD, Fackeldey’s volunteers were able to outfit completely one male and one female senior. But her vision was so much more. The program encourages students to become accountable individuals.

As part of the Cinderella-Cinderfella Project, every senior is assigned a sponsor. They must write an essay and are chosen to participate in the program. The sponsor helps the student remember appointments, mentors them and builds a relationship with them. Robert Wolter, director of the Wharton County Junior College, councils them on higher education and presents financial assistance options with applications for grants and student loans that can make their college dreams a reality. “Many of these students have en-

The collection of prom day attire at Miriam’s Closet.

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

Founder of the Cinderella-Cinderfella Project Eva Fackeldey.

dured numerous hardships in their short lives, and they may have decided long ago that they would never be able to afford a degree,” said Wolter. “I tell them that if they want it bad enough, they can achieve it! I also remind them of other options like the military and technical training for more handson careers that pay well and are in high demand.”

Fackeldey and her volunteers work 40 to 60 hours a week in preparation for the big day. For the girls, bridal shops, individuals and retail stores donate dresses, jewelry, shoes and bags to Miriam’s Closet, named after Fackeldey’s mother.

For the guys, Al’s Formal Wear in Sugar Land donates the tuxedo rentals.

When prom day arrives, it proves to be magical for the seniors. This is the day Fackeldey enjoys the most. “Watching these students arrive with their parents the morning of the prom and going through the hundreds of dresses to pick from is so gratifying. Miriam’s closet is bustling with laughter, squeals of happiness and an overall level of euphoria. There is no better feeling.”

The boys are fitted for a tuxedo, and the girls select an appropriate dress, jewelry, shoes and bag. Professional hair and makeup stylists generously donate their time to help create perfection for the girls. The day is complete with flowers from Barbara Rosenberg, who volunteers her time to create the perfect corsage to match each gown.

Fackeldey and her family continue to encourage students to maintain their education after the prom with The Jacob Scholarship Fund at Wharton County Junior College. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and thanks to Fackeldey’s vision, all are beautiful. .com • April 2016

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magazine • April 2016

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2595 Cordes Drive Sugar Land

NEWSWORTHY

Fort Bend Christian Academy Student Publishes Book

ELEMENTARY DAY CAMPS AND GRADES 1-12 ATHLETIC SPORTS CAMPS

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Sugar Land - a great place to live and not just by accident!

I’m very proud of the accomplishments our City Council and staff have achieved together since I was elected in 2012. It has been a great four years! Our residents agree...over 97 percent rated Sugar Land as an excellent or good place to live. Here are a few reasons why: 2nd Lowest Tax Rate in Texas  Increased Homestead Tax Exemption 3rd Safest City in Texas  2nd Lowest Crime Rate in 20 Years Added Emergency Medical Services (EMS)  Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan Annexation of 754 Acre Cullinan Park Smart Financial Performing Arts Centre (Fall 2016) Approved Second Phase of Brazos River Park and Festival Site

I hope I’ve earned your trust and your vote to continue working hard to make our city one of the best in Texas!

Early Voting - April 25- May 3, Election Day - May 7, 2016 Pol. adv. paid for by the Himesh Gandhi Campaign, Harris H. “Sonny” Johnston, Jr., Treasurer TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • April 2016

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Fort Bend Christian Academy (FBCA) sophomore Andrew Brierty is now a published author. His book Step Into Wall St. is geared toward teens about personal finance and available for purchase on Amazon and through the Kindle App. “Millennials lack financial literacy,” Brierty said. “I wanted to share my knowledge and inspire teens and young adults to get into investing.”

Many students in high school would not think to Andrew Brierty. even try publishing a book so young, but the underclassman said the overall process was not burdensome. “The publishing process was relatively easy, but editing took some time,” said Brierty, who plans to work for an investment firm and hopes to eventually run his own hedge fund.

Born in 1999, Brierty enjoys shooting hoops for the basketball team, watching movies, playing the latest video games and spending time with friends. However, he also loves to research stocks and other investment opportunities.

He is the head contributor to his own self-run website, Wall Street For Teens.

His first stock came to him on his 15th birthday at the end of 2015. Since then, he has been playing the markets and learning everything there is to know about finance and investing. With Step Into Wall St., Brierty hopes to make the complicated world of finance easy for all to understand. He has high ambitions to continue to share his ideas and inspire teens and millennials around the world to get started in investing.

IMMEDIATE MOVE-IN AVAILABLE!

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magazine • April 2016

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KENSINGTON AT RIVERSTONE

BUSINESS BRIEFS

SIENNA PLANTATION

Just Listed!

Mini Estate Mediterranean Darling designed former model two-story home features gourmet island kitchen w/granite, 42-in cabinets, stainless appls and built-in refrigerator; wood & ceramic tile flrs; beautiful wood panel & wood beam ceilings; crown molding; private study; 1st flr master suite plus master bath; private guest Casita w/ full bathrm; 2nd bedrm w/in-suite bathrm; 2nd flr offers game rm, half bath, and theater room w/projector & screen. Backyard offers private courtyard w/outdoor fireplace, oversize covered patio and sprinkler system.

Situated amidst the water and sunshine at Sienna Plantation, this majestic 2 story, 6 bedroom, 6.5 bath custom gated mini estate offers timeless quality and luxury living.

Highlights include a comfortable floor plan which is sure to be a family and entertainers’ dream. Soaring ceilings create changing patterns of light and frame the endless water views from almost every room in the house.

Enjoy gorgeous sunrises and sunsets from the balcony, outdoor kitchen, pool and spa.

Call to schedule an appointment to see this little piece of heaven.

Call Me For More Information

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

281.414.8400

arolsen@cbunited.com www.ArleneRolsen.com

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Fort Bend ISD’s Community Relations Team Earns 13 Awards in Star Awards Program The Texas School Public Relations Association (TSPRA) awarded Fort Bend ISD’s (FBISD) Community Relations Team 13 awards during its 2016 TSPRA Star Awards proNancy Porter. gram held during the association’s annual conference. FBISD was among the many Texas school districts recognized in the awards program for outstanding work in both print and electronic media.

Community Relations team members to submit and earn awards included Chief Communications Officer Nancy Porter, Director of Communications Stacey Crews, Assistant Director of Media/External Relations Amanda Bubela, Brand/Graphic Design Coordinator Becky Walker, Communications Coordinator Natalie Rivera and Communications Specialist Keryn Miles.

The Community Relations team earned two Best of Category awards for the FBISD All Star Talent Draft special event and Student Health Awareness Posters; seven gold awards for FBISD Extended Day Summer Brochure, Student Health Awareness Posters, Ride the Digital Wave Technology Conference image/identity package, Children’s Miracle Network Champion Ambassador published news/feature, FBISD Bond 2014 published print advertisement, FBISD Express electronic external newsletter and FBISD All Star Talent Draft special event and four silver awards for the Moonlight Masquerade in Venice Gala invitation/announcement, Inspire-Equip-Imagine poster, FBISD Partners Annual Report computerized presentation and FBISD Employee Express electronic internal newsletter.

PROFILES

Meet the Finest in Fort Bend

Kristin Lytle Hometown America, Inc.

Linda Day Keller Williams Southwest

Denise McLarty Keller Williams Realty Southwest

Rodney Lerner Benevides & Associates

Nancy Benevides Benevides & Associates

Arlene Rolsen Coldwell Banker United

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PROFILES Hometown America, Inc.

T

Kristin Lytle

Hometown America, Inc. 4665 Sweetwater Boulevard Suite 105 Sugar Land, TX 77479 281-414-3059 www.har.com/kristinlytle kristinlytle@aol.com

he highest compliment for a job well done is when clients and colleagues recommend you for the Five Star Real Estate Agent Award featured in Texas Monthly.

As part of an in-depth research process, Real Estate agents are evaluated by their customers and Real Estate industry professionals based on customer service, integrity, market knowledge, communication and negotiation skills, closing preparation, helping clients find the right home, marketing the home being sold and overall satisfaction. The Five Star Real Estate Agents are evaluated in the local market and are scored highest in overall satisfaction. This list represents less than 3% of the Real Estate agents in the local market.

For six years in a row, Kristin Lytle, Broker Associate with Hometown America, Inc., has received recognition as a Five Star Agent. “Thank you to all of my clients and colleagues for the confidence and trust you have placed in me. I am honored to once again receive this prestigious recognition,” said Lytle.

As a Real Estate professional with 15 years of experience, Lytle assists buyers and sellers in all of Fort Bend County, and her record speaks for itself: More than 90% of her transactions over the years have been referrals from satisfied clients and friends.

Active in the community where she lives and works, Lytle has twice been nominated for Fort Bend County Woman of the Year, and she has worked with multiple community initiatives including Sugar Land Planning and Zoning where she served as a commissioner. “Supporting our community is important to me because, with community involvement, we create a great place to live and raise our families.”

7 Tips for a Fast, Easy Move Take the stress out of move-in day with this list of best practices from Bill Powers.

1 2 3 4 5 6

Protect delicate plants from damage by making funnel-shaped cardboard protectors.

Make sure all of the rooms are clean before placing furniture into them.

Before moving furniture into a room, decide how you want it arranged.

To prevent items from being misplaced, draw up a floor plan of the house and label each of the rooms on the plan.

To keep helpers from tracking in dirt during their many trips into the home, lay down packing blankets or drop cloths over carpeting or floors.

When moving a large or heavy piece of furniture upstairs, lay it on its back on the stairs. Have two people underneath push it and one person above to steady it.

Air rooms out by opening all of the windows.

Linda Day Keller Williams Southwest

Linda Day, a Top Producer at Keller Williams, has been helping people transition from one life stage to the next. Whether it is a first time home buyer or an empty nester, she delights in helping them maneuver through the process. Day provides staging, professional photography, contractors, personal attention and more, which explains why her clients refer her to their family and friends. Both buyers and sellers can expect her to work “All Day Every Day” for them! Day also volunteers in the community and is currently co-chairing the 7th Annual Empty Bowls event to be held April 15th at Safari Texas benefiting East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry. Call Day for all of your real estate needs.

7

1650 Highway 6, Suite 350 Sugar Land, TX 77478 281-851-2273 lindaday83@gmail.com

Source: www.hgtv.com

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • April 2016

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PROFILES Denise McLarty Keller Williams Realty Southwest

Denise McLarty is a proud Sugar Land resident who has raised her family in the area and knows the importance of family and community. Keller Williams Realty takes a different approach to real estate, one that is built on personal touches, winwin deals and positive results.

McLarty utilizes the latest technologies, market research and business strategies to exceed clients’ expectations. More importantly, she listens, and that means she will find solutions that are tailored to her client. A home is not a home because of its room dimensions or the color of the walls. It is about how a person feels when walking through the front door. It is about their life and dreams.

Call McLarty any time, and she will answer or respond the very same day!

1650 Highway 6, Sugar Land, TX 77478 713-876-0233 www.har.com/DeniseMcLarty dmclarty@sbcglobal.net

Nancy Benevides Benevides & Associates

Selling over 59 million in 2015, Benevides & Associates is the boutique brokerage of Fort Bend County. Owner and Realtor Nancy Benevides is one of Sugar Land’s top producers, offering unbeatable services and state-of-the-art technology! Her expertise in the business is reflected in the HAR client survey, where she maintains a 5 out of 5 star ranking in client satisfaction. Benevides was voted best Sugar Land Realtor by the Fort Bend Star and Sun newspapers and was awarded Five Star Realtor by Texas Monthly Magazine in 2015 for the sixth consecutive year. In 2014, she was ranked by the Houston Business Journal as a Top 25 Residential Realtor three years in a row.

16525 Lexington Boulevard, Suite 260 Sugar Land, TX 77479 713-203-9975 (c) • 281-903-7253 (o) www.fortbendcountytexashomes.com nancybenevides@yahoo.com fort bend

Rodney Lerner

Benevides & Associates Rodney Lerner is one of Fort Bend County’s top producing Realtors. Lerner is a licensed Texas Real Estate Broker with over 30 years of real estate experience. He offers state-ofthe-art technology coupled with unsurpassed customer service.

Rodney’s practice includes residential and commercial sales and leasing services. He has a HAR Client Experience Rating of 5 out of 5 stars for client satisfaction. Lerner holds the CNE (Certified Negotiation Expert) designation, one held by only two percent of all Realtors. In addition, he was voted Texas Monthly Five Star Realtor. Trust the difference!

16525 Lexington Boulevard, Suite 260 Sugar Land, TX 77479 713-705-1859 www.rod-realty.com rodney@rod-realty.com

Arlene Rolsen

Coldwell Banker United Arlene Rolsen, CRS, has been helping buyers and sellers realize their dreams of homeownership as an investment in their future for over 38 years. Rolsen, a top producing agent, delights in introducing families to Fort Bend County, where they will not just find a house but will be blessed with a place to call home that offers a lifestyle with great schools, shopping, medical care, diversity, places of worship, parks and recreation. Rolsen remembers one of her seller’s remarks: “A buyer is buying the hope of a bright, happy future, and as sellers, we are selling a place where memories were made.” Rolsen enjoys helping buyers and sellers realize their hopes, dreams and memories, and she would like to help you achieve the home of your dreams too.

1226 Museum Square Drive, Suite 700 Sugar Land, TX 77479 281-414-8400 • arolsen@cbunited.com www.ArleneRolsen.com magazine • April 2016

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NEWSWORTHY

Fort Bend ISD’s Jerrie Kammerman Receives U.S. Department of Defense Patriot Employer Award Jerrie Kammerman, principal at Missouri City Middle School (MCMS), is the recipient of the U.S. Department of Defense Patriot EmJerrie Kammerman. ployer Award presented by Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). The Patriot Employer award recognizes employers who support their employees who serve in the National Guard or Reserve through such measures as arranging flexible schedules, granting time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families and granting leaves of absence if needed.

Kammerman received the award during a recent FBISD Board of Trustees meeting, where she was presented with a Department of Defense Certificate of Appreciation and a lapel pin. “I value the traits and commitment shown by the members of our Armed Services and feel it is our responsibility to support them,” said Kammerman.

MCMS teacher Jeanene Holliday, who serves as a Judge Advocate General for the U.S. Army Reserve, nominated Kammerman for the award. “Principal Kammerman, as well as all of the administration, has been extremely supportive of my occasional military leave,” said Holliday. “With everything going on in our country right now, I was required to participate in the military more frequently, which meant I had to step away from my duties as a school teacher.

Thankfully, Principal Kammerman found creative ways for me to implement my lessons and make sure my students were taken care of during my time away.

Having her in my corner has made it possible for me to serve my nation, as well as my students.”

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • April 2016

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Texas T

he Lone Star State is home to a plethora of thrilling activities suitable for the whole family. Here are just a few stretching from Galveston to San Antonio. Now, round up your friends and family, and hop in the car. Fun is just a short road trip away!

Upcoming Events at Six Flags Fiesta Texas With more than 60 amazing rides, slides, shows and attractions including nine exhilarating coasters, Fiesta Texas is the perfect day-cation getaway that is always close to home.

This Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 8th, Six Flags Fiesta Texas invites moms and everyone who loves them to enjoy a day filled with laughs, good times and incredible family memories.

Whether your mom is a daredevil or prefers to just relax, she will find non-stop fun on jaw-dropping, giant mega-coasters like Iron Rattler and classic family rides like Crow’s Nest. Mom’s little rug rats will love the kooky kids’ rides and all of the zany characters from their favorite cartoons.

The park will celebrate Memorial Day from Thursday, May 26th through Monday, May 30th. Look high in the sky at aweinspiring roller coasters like the Superman Krypton Coaster to see what good, old-fashioned American ingenuity can achieve.

Then, climb aboard as Fiesta Texas’ legendary collection of roller coasters deliver non-stop modern thrills. There is fun for the whole family on fan-favorite spinner classics like the Hustler.

And, the littlest speed demons will be dazzled by the wildly creative rides made just for tykes, the majority of which are located in the Kidzopolis area.

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

The San Jacinto Museum of History From rich displays of armaments and uniforms to an exciting retelling of the road to Texas freedom and beyond, the San Jacinto Museum of History in La Porte brings history to life in a way the whole family can enjoy. The museum’s collection spans more than four centuries of early Texas history, from the beginnings of European activity in the New World through Texas as a state in the United States.

The Battle of San Jacinto was fought at this site on April 21, 1836, and each year, an exciting reenactment takes place on the grounds surrounding the San Jacinto Monument as the centerpiece of the admission-free San Jacinto Day Festival.

This year’s San Jacinto Day Festival and Battle Reenactment is set for Saturday, April 23rd.

Presented by the San Jacinto Volunteers and other living history organizations from across the state, the reenactment dramatizes the decisive battle where General Sam Houston led his Texian soldiers to victory over the Mexican Army, eventually leading to almost 1,000,000 square miles of Mexican territory becoming a part of the United States.

Booming cannons, cracking musket fire, thundering hooves and desperate battle cries resound across the San Jacinto Battleground as hundreds of history reenactors dramatically interpret the Runaway Scrape, the cannon duel and the final battle between the two forces.

Best of all, the reenactors are all very accessible and knowledgeable, happy to share their knowledge of the Texas War of Independence and frontier life. The festival is a full day of music, entertainment, food, games, craft demonstrations and fun set amidst living history. .com • April 2016

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New at SeaWorld San Antonio The world’s largest marine park, SeaWorld San Antonio will treat guests this spring and summer to the return of their popular dolphins in an expansive new naturalistic habitat, a new way to experience Aquatica and a variety of special events.

“The 2016 season is going to be exhilarating and full of new adventures that every member of the family will enjoy,” said SeaWorld and Aquatica San Antonio Park President Dan Decker. “We’re especially excited about the debut this spring of Discovery Point, one of the largest capital investments in the park’s 27 year history.”

Discovery Point, the most highly anticipated of the 2016 additions, features a new realm within SeaWorld showcasing bottlenose dolphins. Standing on the habitat’s sandy shores, guests can observe dolphins cruising the surface, or from an underwater viewing area, they can see the energetic animals playing beneath the waves. In addition, guests who wish

Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark™, is a whimsical waterpark with up-close animal experiences, high-speed thrills and sandy beaches.

Image from www.seaworldparks.com.

to come nose-to-nose with these amazing marine mammals will have the opportunity to reserve an unforgettable opportunity to swim with dolphins for a separate fee.

Entry into SeaWorld’s highly acclaimed waterpark Aquatica previously required the purchase of a two-park ticket. But new this season, guests can purchase a separate ticket just for this park.

Providing even more reasons to visit,

SeaWorld is enriching its strong lineup of special events – all of which are included with SeaWorld park admission. The “Seven Seas Food Festival” sets sail weekends in April and May. Guests can sample and sip their way around the park, enjoying craft beers, wonderful wines and global fusion food. “Summer Nights” offers special evening entertainment and later closing times.

MASSIV: The Tallest Water Coaster in the World First it was the longest river ride, then the longest torrent rivride to Galveston Island,” said Ron Sutula, general manager for er ride, then the tallest waterslide. Now, Schlitterbahn is buildSchlitterbahn Galveston Island. “It’s a massive anniversary presing the world’s tallest water coaster and putting it in the awardent to all of our guests and is going to be a blast to ride!” winning Schlitterbahn Waterpark on Galveston Island.

Schlitterbahn Waterpark Galveston Island has been named Called MASSIV, the German word for massive, the water the world’s best indoor waterpark for eight years from theme coaster will be in place in time for the waterpark’s 10th Anniverand waterpark enthusiasts worldwide. MASSIV will be twice as sary celebration this summer. Schlitterbahn Galveston Island is long as any waterslide in the park and the tallest slide. home to more thrill rides than any other Schlitterbahn Waterpark, making it the perfect home for this record-breaking ride.

Not only will MASSIV be the tallest water coaster in the world, but it will also have a number of other innovations, including a translucent section that will make riders visible from the river below, four uphill sections with six blaster jets and a triple-drop ending into a landing pool – a never-done-before thrilling finale to the ride.

The exact height of the water coaster will be announced later this spring.

MASSIV utilizes Master Blaster technology, which was invented 22 years ago by Schlitterbahn’s Wizard of Water Jeff Henry. This technology was licensed to WhiteWater West, which is the company constructing MASSIV. An artist’s aerial rendering of MASSIV. “We are thrilled to be bringing this iconic Image from www.schlitterbahnnews.com. fort bend

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Coming May 2016

absolutely!

Pet Friendly

By Myles Mellor

BRAIN TEASER

Crossword Cruisin’

Veterinarians Groomers • Pet Stores Boarding Services Animal Adoption Organizations Across 1 Chevy ____ Z06 5 One of the most popular convertibles

of the 90s 10 Medical TV show 11 Lamborghini ____ 12 Top driver 14 Trials 16 Car dealer’s offering 17 One of the least favored car colors

in the US 20 Over 8 hours work in a day, abbr.

21 They get changed 23 Bad rating 25 What @ means 26 Owned before 28 Mark IV Toyota ____ 30 Street, for short 34 Lures in 39 Catch-all name for wood on

steel vehicles 42 Common soccer score 43 1920 Belgian auto 44 Former Ford SUV 45 Mini, for one 47 A defect in this caused a multi million

vehicle recall for GM 49 Alfa Romeo 2600 ____ 50 Genetic code 51 Studebaker ___ Deluxe 52 Vintage designation Down 1 Chevy ____ Carrier

2 3 4 6 7 8 9

13 15 18 19 22 24 27 29 31

32 33 35 36

37 38

39 40 41 45 46 48 49 50

VW passenger vans A shutout lowers it Blue-green hue 90s Acura Musk’s model Expressive creation Describing a car that has been damaged by hard use (2 words) Executive, for short Methodologies Word on all US coins Nissan has one ____ 4: Toyota SUV Lexus __ The Giants’ Manning Kia model Hyundai’s luxury model; the new version almost “drives itself ” Comes together Promotional offering Give a thumbs-down to What all cars need (care and attention, abbr.)

1990 Lotus ____ Leave the track at the Indy 500 perhaps (2 words) Gull____ door Spend too much on Approximate arrival time, for short Nation that made the Chery JD Power and associates function Scand. land Tin symbol A famous Pepper?

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

See answers on page 68. .com • April 2016

52

To Advertise: 281-690-4242 www.fortbendfocus.com

Submit your request and get the next issue of

delivered to your mailbox!

Visit www.fortbendfocus.com or Call 281.690.4242

absolutely!

AUTO REVIEW

By Steve Kursar

2016 FIAT 500C ABARTH CABRIO The 2016 Fiat 500C Abarth Cabrio is the affordable cure to a mid-life crisis.

One of the most stylish compact cars on the road, it has no practical back seat, and the trunk space is laughable, but get behind the wheel, and you won’t want to let go. The car is built to go fast, be loud and make your neighbors jealous. This is not the car for a shy driver.

The original Fiat 500 – “Cincquecento” in Italian – began life in post-war Italy as a tiny, rear-engine car powered by a two-cylinder engine. It was inexpensive, easy to park on crowded city streets and became wildly popular with young European drivers. Carlo Abarth, an Austrian racing car designer and tuner, joined Fiat in the early 1970s and became famous for turning stock vehicles into racers.

In 2007, on the 50th anniversary of the

introduction of the Nueva 500, Fiat introduced the current generation 500 as a front-engine car with a distinct retro look.

The base 2016 Fiat 500 is powered by a relatively tame 101 hp, 1.4 liter four-cylinder engine that can be mated to either five-speed manual transmission or an optional six-speed automatic. But, the Abarth model is a whole different animal. It comes with a 160 hp, 1.4 liter MultiAir Turbo engine mated to an automatic transmission that delivers EPA fuel estimates of 24 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway and will get you from zero to 60 in just over seven seconds.

It’s not just the peppy powertrain that makes people want to drive this little car really fast. There is the concentric “double-tip” dual-exhaust system that delivers a menacing Abarth-tuned roar that is loud and fun to hear. Switch it into Sport mode, and the car becomes track-ready with performance features such as fuelcut upshifts, rev-matching downshifts and corner gear hold. fort bend

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The Abarth 500 gets some exterior upgrades over the standard 500 to give it a more aggressive, athletic look. Fiat badging is replaced with Abarth shields that sport a stylized scorpion, and the Cabrio features a power-operated clothtop that you can retract while driving.

MSRP pricing for the base Fiat 500 Abarth starts at $22,495, and the Cabrio version adds about another $4,000. You could try and cure that mid-life crisis with a Ferrari, but the Fiat Abarth is a whole lot cheaper and almost as much fun.

Follow Steve Kursar at KursarOnCars. blogspot.com.

K

r e n or n

C Bir ’ rick t s a id By P

o

Children’s Online Safety: Social Identity, Privacy and Geotagging

If

thousands of years in the future someone digs up an iPhone and gets it working, they won’t have much trouble figuring out what we do each day. Indeed, with the meteoric rise of Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and the “selfie,” most people bookmark their lives on a nearly moment-tomoment basis.

For young children, especially teens, this plays directly into the identity-based insecurities and transient feelings of puberty. In under 15 seconds, children can use their phone to post a status and almost instantaneously get comments, likes or a response from hundreds of people. While this might make them feel “known,” it is important to make sure kids realize what constitutes a real friend from someone who simply friends them online. And while a real-life “like” from their parents is sometimes the last thing on earth they want, especially in front of their friends, parents should support their children in activities that provide them with real, face-to-face role models and friends. It’s one of the reasons that I believe sports, arts, camps and coaches are so vital.

The innocence and naivety of teens also puts them at risk on social media, where predators, bullies or other undesirables can mislead, groom or stalk them. Educating kids on the dangers is a must, but some children do not respond well to a parent “telling” them what to do. If your child has reached that stage of development and you feel they are ready, it might be more beneficial to simply show them the facts, the risks and the benefits and let them come to the safe conclusions themselves.

What are those risks? Well, first off, create a fake person

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

with your child online to show them how easy it is and the dangers of online relationships. Show them how easy it is to lie and misrepresent who you are on social media. Many kids take a Facebook post almost as seriously as a sworn testimony before the Supreme Court, and it is important for them to realize that their friends, celebrities and everyone in between usually only post the best side of themselves. They should always take what they see online with a big grain of salt.

Speaking of selfies, you may want to talk to your kids about privacy settings. Do they have their accounts set up so anyone can find them by simply searching their name? Would they feel uncomfortable if someone creepy was able to see their photos?

It also should be noted that most smart phones embed a “geotag” in an image, a digital fingerprint that tells the date and location the photo was taken. There are ways to disable this, but kids – and parents – might not even know about it. So that “secret” hideout that a child visits to relax might not be secret if the geotag is enabled and they take a selfie there and post it online.

There are both benefits and risks to this technology, but as an informed parent, you will be able to make the best decision for your kids, and that’s something that’s truly likable.

E-mail Patrick Biron at patrick@absolutelyfocusmedia.com if you have a topic or question you’d like covered or simply want more information.

.com • April 2016

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Medical Focus H e a l t h Care News You Can Use

F E AT U R I N G OakBend Medical Center UT Physicians Women’s Center Sugar Land C&C Dental Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Discover Wellness Dr. David H. Korfin Greg A. Linney, D.D.S., Inc. Little People’s Dentistry Dr. Shel Wellness & Medical Spa UT Physicians Urogynecology Center Body By Ravi Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics Sugar Land Plastic Surgery Dr. Elissa Wedemeyer Lemke Orthodontics Sugar Land Face and Body Plastic Surgery Amitabh Shukla, M.D. The Center for Craniofacial and Dental Sleep Medicine

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Advertorial

Medical Focus April Is Occupational Therapy Month

Occupational therapy (OT) is the only profession that helps people across their lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities, commonly known as occupations.

OT practitioners help people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health and prevent – or live better with – injury, illness or disability. Whether young or old, occupational therapy is designed to benefit the patient. It might be as simple as helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills or providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes.

The OT programs at OakBend Medical Center focus on improving fine motor skills of the hand and arm, allowing for improved ability to complete the activities of daily living. Their therapists’ first priority is to foster the greatest activity level possible and encourage the patient to utilize the affected extremity as soon as possible. This facilitates an increase in the patient’s independence level.

OakBend offers therapeutic exercises, orthosis and splint fabrication (fitting and training), pain management, functional activities of daily living training, scar management and mirror therapy.

OakBend’s therapists believe that providing hands-on individualized and goal oriented treatments product positive results. To find out more about OakBend Medical Center’s occupational therapy services, visit www.oakbendmedcenter.org or call 281341-3000.

Suffer No More Millions of women suffer from extremely heavy periods. Every month, they fear that they will have an embarrassing incident, be unable to leave the house due to the need for frequent trips to the bathroom and possibly even miss work. These women may never seek treatment, because they think it is “natural” and part of normal life.

This condition, also known as menorrhagia, is actually a medical condition and has several treatment options. One basic treatment option is the use of birth control pills.

Although most people associate birth control pills only with preventing pregnancy, they are used for a variety of medical conditions, including heavy periods. Another option is an intrauterine device (IUD), which can make menstrual periods extremely light.

This small device can be placed during a simple office visit.

For women who are completely done with childbearing, a popular solution is endometrial ablation. This is a minimally invasive procedure that neutralizes the inner lining of the uterus. This simple procedure can be performed in the office, surgery center or operating room. Recovery is quick, and most people are able to return to work within a few days.

A final treatment option for those women who are done having children is a hysterectomy, a procedure to remove the uterus. This is the only guaranteed way to completely stop menstrual periods. This procedure can be performed using advanced, minimally invasive techniques and will completely cure heavy menstrual periods.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call UT Physicians Women’s Center Sugar Land at 713-486-1250 or visit UTPhysicians.com.

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • April 2016

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Progress in the Fight Against Oral Cancer Sadly, oral cancer has continued to grow at an alarming rate. It is the only cancer that has risen each of the past seven years, affecting over 42,000 people this year. This cancer not only deforms, it kills. Most oral cancer is found in later stages such as stage 3 or 4, which has a much worse chance of survival.

Why is it found so late? For one thing, the screening protocol to detect oral cancer, which relies on vision and palpation, has not changed in 120 years. This is unacceptable, but fortunately, technology has advanced so that detection of oral cancer can be found earlier than ever. This advancement is based on fluorescence, or how the soft tissue of the mouth looks under certain types of light.

Here is how it works. A dentist performs a visual exam using standard white light and palpation. Then, filtered lenses are worn by the dentist and a specially made LED flashlight is scanned around the mouth. Skin that is abnormal will fluoresce a certain way. If the screening reveals an abnormality, it can be rechecked in two weeks. If still present at that time, a biopsy may be called for.

This proactive approach is critical to find cancer early. Until recently, people have only used their eyes and touch for oral cancer screening. Now, with advancing technologies, they have the ability to discover these irregularities in much earlier stages.

For more information or to schedule an appointment at C&C Dental, call 281242-0241.

See ad on page 9.

Medical Focus

Advertorial

Women’s Center

at Sugar Land

Compassionate, Comprehensive Care for Women

Brian R. Heaps, MD Board Certified Ob/Gyn

Azeema Moosa, MD

Michelle Wong, MD

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Board Certified Ob/Gyn

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

Call 713.486.1250 for appointments fort bend

magazine • April 2016

www.UTPhysicians.com 57

Medical Focus

Advertorial

281-242-FEET (3338) Call Today to schedule your visit

Certified Provider

We Treat Many Common Foot Problems Including:

Dr. Y Bryan Lee Informed patients choose Board Certified Podiatrist Dr. Y Bryan Lee for all their foot health needs.

LOCATED AT

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Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists Adults, children and seniors choose Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists for personal, quality care. With multiple board certifications in foot surgery, Dr. Y. Bryan Lee uses the most current techniques to reduce downtime and heal with minimal scarring.

Heel pain is the most common complaint from Dr. Lee’s patients. It impacts their ability to exercise and sometimes can cause so much discomfort that they are unable to get out of bed. Treatment for heel pain ranges from simple stretching techniques to surgery. Custom Orthotics, physical therapy, injections and medication can also help.

For those who have tried everything short of surgery, a new treatment called shockwave therapy (EPAT) may be the answer. It is applied in the office using special equipment, is painless and does not involve downtime or anesthesia. Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists has the only shockwave therapy unit in Sugar Land. It has a high success rate, and patients have been thrilled to avoid surgery.

With two convenient locations, Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists gets patients back on their feet! Visit www.advancedfootdocs.com or call 281-242-FEET (3338) for more information.

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • April 2016

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Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital: Leading Medicine Since opening its doors in 1998, Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital has been a key health care provider for residents of Fort Bend and surrounding counties. A pioneer in the advancements of medicine, Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital has grown into a worldclass hospital with a new bed tower opening this year to bring the hospital to 347 beds and 20 operating rooms.

With Centers of Excellence in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, orthopedics, urology and women’s services, Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital brings the physician expertise, skill and up-to-the-minute technology of the world-renowned Houston Methodist to Fort Bend and surrounding counties.

Patients and their families have come to know Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital for delivering quality services through compassionate, personal care with first-rate technology. Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital employees display integrity, compassion, accountability, respect and excellence in their daily interactions with patients, and FORTUNE magazine named Houston Methodist on its “100 Best Companies to Work For” for 10 consecutive years.

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is located at 16655 Southwest Freeway in Sugar Land. For a referral to a physician at Houston Methodist Sugar Land, please call 281-274-7500.

Learn more at houstonmethodist.org/ sugarland, and for the latest news, events and information, visit FB.com/ methodistsugarland.

See ads on page 17 and Back Cover.

Medical Focus Discover Wellness: Weight Loss That Works Discover Wellness brings one of the newest advancements in natural health and healing to Houston area residents. Their team helps patients reverse health challenges such as excess weight, diabetes, sleep apnea, thyroid disorders, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia and autoimmune issues using an advanced technology system.

Weight gain can be caused by a variety of factors, including digestive issues, blood sugar handling, inflammation, toxins and hormones. Discover Wellness helps clients lose 20 to 40 pounds or more in only 40 days – guaranteed! Using a doctor supervised program, Discover Wellness awakens and resets patients’ metabolism and hypothalamus and balances their hormones without pre-packaged meals, exercise, chemicals, hunger, chemicals, drugs or surgery.

Discover Wellness has locations in Cypress and Missouri City. The Missouri City center is located at 5425 Highway 6, Suite A-300. Contact them to schedule a free review of their customized and exclusive fat burning technology system.

For more information, visit www.discoverwellnesshouston. com or call 281-969-8059.

Comprehensive, compassionate and cutting edge care for women of all phases.

Minimally Invasive & Robotic Surgery Adolescent Gynecology Routine and High Risk Obstetrics Wellness Exams & Contraception Evaluation & Treatment of Pelvic Pain Treatment of Menopausal Symptoms Preconception & Infertility Counseling Ann Bertles, MD Board Certified Ob/Gyn

4D Ultrasound in Office

Second Opinions Welcome

832.437.9690 (p) | 832.437.9694 (f) 23232 Kingsland Blvd., Ste. E, Katy, TX 77494 www.myobgynofkaty.com fort bend

magazine • April 2016

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Advertorial

Medical Focus

Advertorial

Dr. David H. Korfin Provides Personalized Treatment Plans for Reconstructive Foot and Ankle Surgery David H. Korfin, DPM, FACFAS is board certified in foot and ankle surgery by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. He received his doctorate of Podiatric Medicine in 1982, graduating from Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. Dr. Korfin has been in private practice in the Fort Bend/Houston community since 1984. He specializes in reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle, including endoscopic heel surgery, bunions and hammertoes along with treatment and management of sports injuries, trauma, wound and diabetic foot care. Dr. Korfin’s practice provides care to patients of all ages with a special interest in helping athletes maintain foot and ankle health to effectively pursue their athletic goals.

Striving to provide a personalized treatment plan, Dr. Korfin utilizes state-of-the-art medical and surgical techniques all within a warm, compassionate and caring environment. He offers his patients cutting-edge surgical techniques, such as endoscopic heel surgery, laser surgery and the use of dissolvable pins and fixation techniques.

Dr. Korfin’s office is located in the Sugar Land Medical Plaza attached to St. Luke’s Sugar Land Hospital at 1327 Lake Pointe Parkway, Suite 510 in Sugar Land. For more information, visit www.drdavidkorfin.com or call 281.313.FEET (3338).

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19901 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, TX 77479

281-207-1259 www.visitingangels.com

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

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Greg A. Linney, D.D.S., Inc. Cosmetic and Family Dentistry Dr. Greg A. Linney and his staff set themselves apart by focusing on customer service and long-term dental health. Dr. Linney and his friendly staff take the time to listen to all of a patient’s oral health concerns. Equipped with a spacious, high-tech facility, they utilize the latest tools and technology available to provide patients with the best in oral health care and cosmetic dentistry. By merging patient care with technology, they are able to provide the best care available while focusing on each patient’s individual needs.

Dr. Linney has been making people smile for over 30 years, and through Lumineers by Cerinate, he can restore a person’s smile without reducing tooth structure – and in only two visits with no shots and no drilling. Just imagine having a lasting smile without having to ever bleach again! Get the smile you have always wanted. Call Dr. Linney today and find out about monthly specials that will help you get the smile you deserve.

Dr. Greg A. Linney, D.D.S., Inc. is located at 4660 Sweetwater Boulevard in Sugar Land. For more information, call 281-980-1733 or visit www.drlinney. com.

Medical Focus

Advertorial

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David H. Korfin DPM, FACFA S

Board Certified Foot & Ankle Surgeon Podiatrist - Foot Specialist

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

“

My staff and I offer a personalized treatment plan, using state-of-the-art medical and surgical techniques, provided in a warm, caring, compassionate environment.

281-313-FEET (3338) 1327 Lake Pointe Pkwy, Ste 510 • Sugar Land, Texas 77478 Located in the Professional Building attached to St. Luke’s Sugar Land Hospital

www. d r d avid k orfin.com

Featured in Angie’s List Magazine as a Top Dentist 2013 – 2016

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

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

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281-980-1733 All Major Credit Cards Accepted

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“

Call today and take the first step to walking in comfort!

Medical Focus

Advertorial

Specialist in dentistry for children from 6 months to 17 years of age Friendly, gentle and caring staff Offering Oral and I.V. Sedation Now offering reversal to dental numbness Most major insurances accepted

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Little People’s Dentistry: Because Kidz Are People Too! Little People’s Dentistry is a fun place for kids and their families. Offering a childfriendly, family-friendly, energetic atmosphere, the Little People’s Dentistry team focuses on creating a positive dental experience from start to finish. They want children to feel comfortable and special, so they have designed their office to put children at ease.

From the moment a child enters the door, different wonders await them. Will they find Nemo and Dori in the fish tank? What items can they find in the discovery boxes?

Or should they skip along the hopscotch into the toy shop, where they will find toys hanging from skateboard-shaped hooks? Maybe the silly carnival funhouse mirror or the clown that blows real balloons will make your child laugh. From the flat screen televisions in every room to PlayStation towers, Little People’s Dentistry has something to amuse kids of every age.

Dr. Bianca Sanchez, known as “The Little People’s Dentist,” and her staff happily work with patients and their parents, helping children develop good oral habits at an early age, so that one day they will have big, healthy smiles. Dr. Bianca wants to make every child’s visit to the dentist as easy and fun as possible. Every child gets balloons, prizes and stickers!

Little People’s Dentistry is conveniently located at 4706 Riverstone Boulevard, Suite 200 in Missouri City behind Kohl’s in the Offices at Riverstone. For more information, call 281-261-0020 or visit www.littlepeoplesdentistry.com.

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • April 2016

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Even though it is now officially spring, it is not too late to get beach ready for summer. Everyone wants a quick fix for those trouble areas. Muffin tops, love handles, saddle bags or whatever you call them can be gone without starving or resorting to surgery. There is a new procedure that can shrink the waistline, hips, thighs and even arms in just four short treatments. What is this amazing new technology? It’s called Vanquish ME! Vanquish ME is FDA-cleared for circumferential reduction of the waist and permanently destroys resistant fat cells to achieve a beautifully contoured abdomen and trim waistline. A painless, noninvasive treatment that precisely targets heat into the fat layer, Vanquish ME creates a high-frequency energy field and employs a panel array to treat the entire core in one application. Fat cells will go through apoptosis – natural cell death – if kept above certain temperature thresholds for extended periods of time. Vanquish ME heats fat cells to 43 to 45 degrees Celsius, which is the required temperature to initiate apoptosis.

The overlying skin and muscles below the subcutaneous fat remain unharmed.

Additionally, Vanquish ME provides subtle skin tightening due to the heating of the tissue, and the series of four treatments are spaced a week apart.

Recipients can expect to drop one to four pants sizes, and the fat cells in the treated area are gone permanently!

For more information, call Dr. Shel Wellness & Medical Spa at 281-3137435 or visit www.drshel.com. Free consultations are available upon request.

See ad on page 3.

Medical Focus Staying Healthy Through Mid-Life and Beyond Nina H. Dereska, MD, FPMRS is a highly skilled and board certified urogynecologist and pelvic reconstructive surgeon. Dr. Dereska’s practice includes diagnosis and management of urinary incontinence (stress incontinence, urge incontinence, mixed incontinence), overactive bladder, bladder emptying disorders and other bladderrelated issues. Dr. Dereska treats pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic fistulas utilizing multiple modalities – both surgical and non-surgical options tailored to each patient’s needs.

As women age, they can experience pelvic issues that disrupt daily living.

Dr. Dereska’s years of experience and advanced training can help restore a woman’s active lifestyle. She thoroughly reviews treatment options with each patient that include medical and surgical management of pelvic floor dysfunction.

Dr. Dereska often utilizes medical robotics for surgical cases that help minimize pain, hospital stay, blood loss and scarring. Her goal is every patient’s goal – to get them back to their normal daily activities with family and friends.

In addition to providing compassionate patient care, Dr. Dereska serves as Assistant Professor Dept. of Ob/Gyn & Reproductive Sciences at The University of Texas (UT) Health Medical School. Dr. Dereska’s office is conveniently located in the Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza in Sugar Land and offers complimentary valet parking. She and her dedicated staff strive to make each patient experience as stress-free as possible and look forward to ensuring that women stay healthy and active through mid-life and beyond.

UT Physicians Urogynecology Center is located at 17510 W. Grand Parkway South, Suite 590 in Sugar Land. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 713-486-1530.

Advertorial

Urogynecology Center

Caring for women with pelvic floor disorders...

Nina H. Dereska, MD

Dr. Nina H. Dereska

Common conditions treated:

H H H H H H

Loss of bladder or bowel control Pelvic organ prolapse Bladder emptying problems Painful bladder problems Urinary tract infections Female Sexual Dysfunction

is fellowship-trained and board certified in Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery (FPMRS) and Obstetrics & Gynecology. Urogynecology combines expertise in urology and gynecology to provide women with comprehensive care for conditions such as prolapse, incontinence, pelvic pain and other pelvic floor disorders.

Dr. Dereska and her compassionate staff will allay your fears and educate you about the latest technology in testing and treatments so you can get back to living your life.

Services include:

H H H H H H H H H

Urogynecology Center 17510 W Grand Parkway S. Suite 590 Sugar Land, TX 77479 Conveniently located in the Medical Plaza Memorial Hermann Sugar Land

Multichannel Urodynamic Testing Cystoscopy Pessaries Pelvic floor physical therapy Sacral and peripheral nerve stimulation Botulinum toxin bladder injections Interstitial cystitis therapy Surgery for pelvic organ prolapse Surgery for bladder or bowel incontinence

Appointments and Information:

713-486-1530

www.UTPhysicians.com

Shehnaz M. Shirazi DDS Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

Practicing for Over 23 Years • State of the Art • Saturdays Available • Gentle & Caring Staff • Accepting New Patients

20% Off Dental Services Free Exam & New Low Dose X-Ray! Not valid with insurance.

4502 Riverstone Blvd., Suite 501 Missouri City, TX 77459 (P) 281-778-8525 www.shirazidental.com

“Painless Dentistry Is What We Do Best” fort bend

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Medical Focus

Advertorial

Body By Ravi Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics: Creating Confidence Breast augmentations are becoming an increasingly popular cosmetic procedure that many women in Texas choose to undergo. Breast implants can improve size and shape, as well as increase volume, allowing the breasts to appear more youthful.

Dr. Ravi Somayazula at Body By Ravi Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics specializes in breast and body cosmetic procedures. After speaking with hundreds of his breast augmentation patients, Dr. Ravi noted that almost all of them have had a dramatic improvement in their self-esteem as they look and feel much better in their clothes, especially swimsuits. Women tend to feel self-conscious after pregnancy, breastfeeding, or massive weight loss, which causes loss of their natural breast shape and volume.

As a double board certified plastic surgeon with expertise in breast augmentations, Dr. Ravi’s goal is to combine patient safety and satisfaction with a natural-looking, long-lasting outcome. Women considering a breast augmentation are urged to visit Dr. Ravi for a complimentary consultation.

At a consultation, Dr. Ravi will spend ample time getting to know a patient and discuss their unique surgery goals. He outlines a realistic treatment plan based on their goals, detailed measurements of their breast and body and evaluation of their breasts’ characteristics. They will have the opportunity to try on implant sizers, and Dr. Ravi will assist in selecting the appropriate implants, as well as determine the incision site and position to achieve the desired result.

For more information and specials, visit BodyByRavi.com or call 281-242-1061.

See ad on page 4.

Joyce Long’s

Colonic - Detox - Lymphatic

Wellness Institute Established 1989

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

Joyce Long

Internationally Certified Colon Hydrotherapist & Instructor Nationally Certified Massage Therapist # ME0170 Services by appt only.

Massage Therapies • Lymphatic Drainage Massage • Lymphatic Facials Reflexology • Infra Red Saunas • Relaxing Ion Cleanse Hand & Foot Bath Chinese Cupping • Gift Certificates Colon Hydrotherapy by M.D. Prescription Only (Yours Or Ours)

NEW FORT BEND LOCATION!

1308 James Street • Rosenberg, TX 77471

281-344-0095 www.joycelong.biz

Only $ New Patient Special!

69 Exam, X-Rays & Cleaning Expires 4/30/16

Top Five Reasons to Visit Our Office: Implants Orthodontics (Traditional Braces) and Clear Correct (Invisible Braces) Wisdom Teeth Extractions Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)/Sedation Dentistry (Painless Dentistry) Cosmetic & General Dentistry Evening and Saturday Appointments and Same Day Treatment 281-494-7645 4965 Sweetwater Blvd., Sugar Land, TX 77479 Cosmetic Dentistry, Crowns & Bridges, Dentures, Veneers, www.mydental4all.com Children’s Dentistry, Root Canal, Teeth Whitening We accept all PPO Insurances, Medicaid & Chip for Children • In-Office Financing

Mujib Ashrafi, DDS

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • April 2016

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When Diet and Exercise Is Not Enough Staying healthy and looking good is a common goal for most women. Sometimes, a hectic lifestyle and stressful jobs make it nearly impossible to maintain an ideal body. Also, many women often gain or maintain resistant fat in undesirable areas regardless of what they do.

Over time, this unwanted fat can be very discouraging and severely impact a woman’s body image.

There are many options available to help address unwanted fat. By far, the most effective and reliable is liposuction. The procedure is safe, affordable and can target the difficult, stubborn areas that no amount of diet and exercise can. The Sugar Land Plastic Surgery team has seen first-hand time and time again how liposuction can make such a remarkable and immediate difference in the appearance of the body, especially in the stubborn areas. This extra help motivates patients and gives them confidence to achieve further fitness and live healthier lifestyles.

Consultations with Dr. John T. Nguyen at Sugar Land Plastic Surgery are always complimentary. With your commitment and their help and support, you can achieve the results you have been working so hard for.

Visit www.MyBodySurgeon.com for more information.

See ad on page 7.

Medical Focus

Advertorial

Dr. Elissa Wedemeyer Welcomes New Associate Dr. Elissa Wedemeyer started her independent optometric practice in Missouri City in 1991. As modern optometry has become more medically oriented, so has Dr. Wedemeyer’s practice. Under her license of glaucoma specialist, Dr. Wedemeyer diagnoses and treats glaucoma. Her office has sophisticated equipment to diagnose and track macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease, hypertensive, hypercholesterol and many other systemic health conditions that have adverse effects on the eyes.

In addition to prescribing medications, contact lenses and glasses, much of her time is spent counseling patients on ways to keep their eyes healthy through vitamin supplements, nutrition and exercise. As Dr. Wedemeyer’s practice has grown, so has the wait time to see her. In an effort to get patients seen more timely, she is happy to announce the addition of a new associate, Dr. Taylor Ballard Marsh.

Dr. Marsh, an honors graduate of Clements High School, Texas A&M University and the University of Houston College of Optometry, will join Dr. Wedemeyer’s practice this June. Dr. Marsh has been practicing in Bryan/College Station and has experience in medical optometry, as well as traditional optometry. Dr. Marsh and her husband Stephen, soon to graduate from Texas A&M Veterinary College, are the proud parents of recently born Camille. The Marsh family will reside in Sienna Plantation and is looking forward to being near their family and longtime friends. Dr. Marsh is excited to be working with Dr. Wedemeyer and her staff, as they continue to provide quality and personal care to their Fort Bend community patients.

Visit www.drwedemeyer.com or call 281-499-2600 for more information.

Salman Aly, MD PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN • Board Certified in Internal Medicine • Experienced in Geriatric and Hospital Medicine • Botox, Dermal Fillers, Low T Syndrome • Hyperbaric & Advanced Wound Care For appointments call:

Sarfraz Aly, MD INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST • Board Certified in Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine • Hyperbaric & Advanced Wound Care • Travel Medicine For appointments call:

832-886-4994

832-886-4774

Now Accepting New Patients At Both Locations In Sugar Land And Wharton Sugar Land: 1201 Creekway Dr. • Suite B Sugar Land, Texas 77478 Wharton: 979-282-6151 • 10141 US 59 • Wharton, Texas, 77488

Dr. Wedemeyer and staff are happy to welcome Missouri City native Dr. Taylor Ballard Marsh to their practice starting June 1st.

• Medical Management of Eye Diseases Dry Eyes, Glaucoma, Kerataconus, Eye Infections • Contact Lenses Single Vision, Multifocal, Toric, Gas Permeable, Refractive Therapy

Elissa R. Wedemeyer O.D. FCOVD, FAAO

• Nutritional Supplements for Age Related Therapeutic/Optometric Glaucoma Specialist Macular Degeneration and Dry Eyes • Sunglasses for Sports and Fashion • Complete Line of Fashion and Designer Frames

Taylor Ballard Marsh O.D.

Therapeutic/Optometric Glaucoma Specialist

Medicare and Most Medical Insurance Plans Accepted

281.499.2600 • www.drwedemeyer.com 6026 Hwy 6 • Missouri City (corner of Hwy 6 & University) fort bend

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Medical Focus

Advertorial

Sugar Land Face and Body Plastic Surgery Offers Medical Spa with Breakthrough Procedures

Lemke Orthodontics: Creating Healthy, Beautiful Smiles A great, beautiful smile is the best way to make a good first impression, and it’s never too late to get the smile of your dreams!

Dr. Katia Lemke said, “My passion for aesthetic dental solutions led me to earn my specialty degree in orthodontics with research in ceramic braces. I am therefore one of the few providers of Incognito braces in Houston and its vicinity.

“Nothing improves your appearance, attitude and confidence like a great smile, and I want to make it easier for you to get a beautiful transformation. We treat patients with patience, kindness and understanding. Children love the welcoming atmosphere and the friendly and gentle touch of this orthodontist and her staff. We offer flexible hours for school kids and working adults. I also offer a range of aesthetic solutions like clear braces, Invisalign and Incognito.

“Age seven is the best time to evaluate a child. A thorough examination will show existing or potential problems, such as cross bites, crowding and other problems. It’s always good to know in advance. I love getting to know my patients and designing the best path to straightening teeth, closing spaces and achieving their great smile. As a specialist, we’ve got a range of solutions for straighter, healthier smiles – and happier kids.”

Greet your future with a beautiful smile. Dr. Lemke stated, “I know adults who prefer nearly invisible ceramic braces and kids who like brackets shaped like stars or footballs. Your smile should express your personality!”

For more information on Lemke Orthodontics, visit www. lemkeortho.com.

Dr. Katia Lemke, DMD Braces for Children&Adults Flexible after school hours Orthodontic Specialist New Low-dose DIGITAL X-ray Free Orthodontic Exam & Consultation Advanced Orthodontic Treatment Insurance & Flexible Financing Available & Lingual Braces with

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4907 Sandhill Dr., Suite B

When you look in the mirror, do you like what you see? Dr. Eric Humble believes “rejuvenation is about making your internal vision a reality so you can enjoy your life with joy and confidence!” Offering an in-house certified surgical center, as well as a cutting edge medical spa, Sugar Land Face and Body Plastic Surgery is a single destination with a full range of solutions, including Botox and filler injections, facial rejuvenation, body contouring and surgical procedures.

Dr. Humble is a double board certified plastic surgeon and envisions Sugar Land Face and Body becoming the pre-eminent facility in the Sugar Land and the Greater Houston area for personal transformation through the medical arts of plastic surgery and skin correction techniques. Dr. Humble’s med spa offers an exclusive and breakthrough procedure called Cellfina, the only FDA approved, minimally invasive procedure clinically proven to improve the appearance of cellulite for at least two years. Performed by Dr. Humble in the office, Cellfina combines a proven approach with innovative, proprietary technology to treat the primary structural cause of cellulite – the connective bands woven throughout fat in the thighs and buttocks. These tight bands pull down the surface of the skin, creating the puckering seen on the surface of the skin. Similar to a rubber band under tension, once released, the treated skin bounces back to smooth itself out in as little as three days.

For more information or to schedule a complimentary consultation, call 281-313-0555 or visit www.BeautyBecomesYou. com.

See ad on page 11.

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Sugar Land, TX 77479

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

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www.lemkeortho.com

Medical Focus

Advertorial

Amitabh Shukla, M.D. Board Certified in Adult Neurology, Vascular Neurology, Electromyography and Sleep Medicine.

Dr. Amitabh Shukla Are you one of the thousands of Americans who suffer from a disease condition referred to as peripheral neuropathy? Peripheral neuropathy is a disorder of the peripheral nerves characterized by a tingling or burning sensation, weakness, muscle aches, cramps and difficulties with balance. At times, the condition is characterized by dizziness, sexual dysfunction or change in blood pressure, especially in the upright position.

The disorder generally has a gradual onset and slow progression. A typical description of the tingling and numbness is in a “glove and stocking” fashion that is mainly in the lower legs and distal aspects of the upper extremities. Tingling sensations or burning pains are very common symptoms with peripheral neuropathy predominantly due to involvement of the sensory nerves. However, in advanced cases, motor nerves are also involved, where weakness and gait difficulties can also be predominant.

In many cases, a strong family history is noteworthy. However, many other cases may not have any underlying cause contributing to the disease. It is important to have a formal neurological evaluation and a careful search for correctable causes such as diabetes mellitus, renal failure, disorder of thyroid glands, exposure to drugs and toxins or heavy metals — such as arsenic, lead, mercury or thallium — industrial solvents or pesticides, vitamin deficiencies or any underlying malignancies or tumors, which can also be associated with peripheral neuropathy.

Dr. Amitabh Shukla is board certified in Neurology, Electromyography, Sleep Medicine and Vascular Neurology. Dr. Shukla is the stroke director at Methodist Hospital Sugar Land and OakBend Medical Center, as well as a neurology member at Methodist Spine Center. For more information, call 281-565-8005.

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erving the neurological needs of Sugar Land, Richmond and the surrounding communities, Dr. Amitabh Shukla has over 26 years of experience providing compassionate and comprehensive care as well as specialized evidence-based treatments for a wide-range of neurological conditions and diseases: • Headaches, Chronic Pain and Migraines • Alzheimer’s Dementia and Memory Disorders • Neck and Back Pain • Dizziness • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome • Parkinson’s Disease, Tremors • Polyneuropathy

• Myasthenia Gravis • Stroke, TIA • Sleep Apnea and Snoring • Seizure Disorders • Neuromuscular Disease • Multiple Sclerosis

SERVICES AT BOTH LOCATIONS INCLUDE: • Neurological Consultations • EMG/NCV • EEG, Carotid Ultrasound • Quick appointments to suit patient’s and referring physician’s needs.

TWO CONVENIENT LOCATIONS SUGAR LAND OFFICE RICHMOND OFFICE Methodist Professional Building 3 16605 Southwest Freeway, #210 Sugar Land, TX 77479 (281) 565-8005

1601 Main Street, #201 Richmond, TX 77469 (281) 341-1500

Fax: (281) 341-1505 • www.neuroshukla.com All major insurances and Medicare are accepted.

Affiliated with Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, OakBend Medical Center, and St. Luke’s Sugar Land Hospital.

The Center for Craniofacial and Dental Sleep Medicine Are you suffering with jaw pain? Are you unable to open wide or chew without pain? Do you wake up with headaches? Dr. Samuel E. Cress is the relief you have been looking for.

Dr. Cress has expanded his dental education and treatment in the area of Temporal Mandibular Disorder (TMD) and Dental Sleep Medicine. In 2009, Dr. Cress completed a mini-residency with the Academy of Craniofacial Pain and has developed a new oral appliance that successfully alleviates jaw pain. Dr. Cress has also expanded his practice to encompass treatment options for patients suffering from Sleep Apnea and for those patients currently using a Continuous Positive Air Pressure (CPAP) machine.

Studies show that there is a direct correlation between sleep apnea and jaw pain. “If you get the sleep apnea under control, the jaw pain usually goes away,” said Dr. Cress.

In addition, Dr. Cress educates other dentists around the country in the symptoms and treatment of TMD and Sleep Apnea and illustrates how they can incorporate this knowledge into their own practice. As a comprehensive and preventative dentist, Dr. Cress looks at all aspects of the patient’s oral health, because he knows how important the oral cavity can impact one’s overall health. Dr. Cress specializes in cosmetic and full mouth restoration, as well as general dentistry, sleep apnea and TMD. If you are suffering from jaw pain, sleep apnea or are interested in a new and youthful smile, call Dr. Cress for a complimentary consultation at 281-565-4100.

See ad on page 27.

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NEWSWORTHY

Let them eat ice cream!

Feature a Southern Ice Cream Cart at your next event!

Also available:

Riverstone Adds “Big Dog” to Community Art Displays

★ Ice Cream Truck Rentals ★ Sundae Parties Largest Selection of Ice Cream

281.499.9837

Great For www.southernicecreamtx.com All Occasions 13755 Greenland Dr., Stafford

High Tea with Mom this Mother’s Day

$28 per person (or add a Sparkling Prosseco split $35 per person) • Build your own tower: handmade scones,fruit preserves, clotted cream • Any 2 sandwiches (cucumber & cream cheese, tomato & mint, ham & mustard) • Any 2 savories (salmon puffs, chicken crackers, potato pouches or onion & feta tarts) • Any 2 desserts (stuffed beignets, chocolate, raspberry, lemon or pecan squares) • Tea: Black, Oolong, Green or Jasmine or Coffee Our full l menu weil also b . available

Reservations only - Mother’s Day, Sunday May 8th, 12-9 pm 281.242.4186 or namita@offthevinebistro.com

2865 Dulles Ave • Missouri City, TX 77459

Crossword Cruisin’

Answers to the puzzle on page 52.

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • April 2016

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June Tang with the 500 pound “Big Dog” at Riverstone’s 3.5 acre Bark Park.

Riverstone’s Bark Park just received a big addition – one that weighs about 500 pounds. Installation of a Cor-Ten weathered-steel canine art structure was recently completely alongside the park fence, giving Riverstone residents even more to dig about the 3.5 acre park. It is the second time the eight-foot-tall by 10 foot-long sculpture has visited Fort Bend County. Last year, it was part of a temporary art display, The Big Dog Show, featuring 20 of the steel canines in Sienna Plantation.

“The big dogs were so popular at our Home Tour exhibit last year, we thought a permanent installation in Riverstone would be intriguing for residents and a nice complement to our existing public art displays found through the community,” said Trey Reichert, vice president and general manager of Riverstone.

Riverstone’s Big Dog is the creation of award-winning metal sculptor Dale Rogers of Haverhill, Massachusetts. The artwork traveled 1,900 miles from the northeast to its permanent home in Fort Bend County. The canine structure complements an array of outdoor art displays in Riverstone. Bronze deer, birds and other pieces can be found throughout Riverstone.

Visit www.riverstone.com for more information.

t n e t t A

s! d e w wly e N ion Coming June 2016

Blushing Brides Submit your info today and have your wedding details and photos published in print and online in our magazine.

If you or your children have recently married and you would like to enter for a chance to be featured in our Blushing Brides, all you need is at least ten high-resolution photos of the ceremony and/or reception. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter where the wedding took place, as long as it was in the last year and you or your parent/s reside in Fort Bend area.

Photographers are also welcome to submit photos.

Contact: sarah@absolutelyfocusmedia.com or visit www.fortbendfocus.com fort bend

magazine â&#x20AC;˘ April 2016

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OUT &

OakBend Medical Center announced its 2016 board of directors and officers. The hospital has several new members, including Bob Douds, Amirali Popatia and John Zerwas. “OakBend is honored to have such a strong board of directors,” said CEO Joe Freudenberger. “They are dedicated to helping us continue our mission to provide quality health care for every person in West Fort Bend County and adjacent communities regardless of ability to pay and to assist us in achieving our vision, which is, ‘To be the best community hospital in the U.S. by providing unsurpassed service and care.’”

ABOUT IN THE HEART

OF THE BEND

The new board of directors includes Ruth Mefford, Norma Petrosewicz, Amirali Popatia, Tom Crayton, May Tape, Barry Beard, Jeff Council, Bob Douds, Melissa Martin and John Zerwas.

The Classic Boogie 2016 Prom Night Sponsor Party at Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey Law Firm was a fun evening to thank sponsors of the April 2nd event at the Stafford Centre benefiting the Fort Bend Women’s Center.

Ray Aguilar, Adam Robertson, Aaron Dobbs and Zack Cypert.

Leslie Wendland with Michael and Nancy Malke.

Mary Favre and Rosemary Mascarhenas.

Vita Goodell with Phil and Rose Davis.

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Joy Dowell and Sherrie Burns.

Della Leonard, Angela Parker, Lorie Clements and Carolyn Silva.

A recent Network Nites evening of networking was held at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Breast Care Center and Heart & Vascular Center, where guests noshed on appetizers and had the opportunity to win door prizes.

Michelle Goodman and Nancy Colmenares.

Kaelyn Bujnoch, Claire Mendez, Leena Taneja and Jessica Gilbert.

Sam Puglisi, Stephen Phillips, Logan Boatman and Lorin Roarke.

B. Keith Ellis, Julia Adrogue and Michael Koo.

CHI St. Luke’s Health Sugar Land Hospital and the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce hosted Network Nites. Guests enjoyed networking, refreshments, door prizes and a tour of the hospital’s new Family Birthing Center.

John Bell and Benjamin Swan.

Billy Chambers, Dave Hayob, Jim Lemaire, Mike Dobert and Rand Wood.

Janet Leatherwood, Chris Siebenaler and Amy Saenz.

Whole Foods Market Sugar Land’s Community Giving Day on March 9th gave community members the opportunity to shop for a good cause, as five percent of all proceeds went to the 7th Annual Empty Bowls, a fundraising event benefiting East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry set for Friday, April 15th at Safari Texas Ranch.

Wes Garrison and Lisa Ann Brown.

Kip Johnson, Linda Day, Vickie Coates and Tim Nyberg.

Tiffany Walters and Teresa Criswell.

Sharon Galloway and Bill Beauchamp. fort bend

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OUT &

The Fort Bend Education Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Blingy Backyard Blockbuster 2016 Gala Sponsor Party was recently hosted at the home of Asra and Ricki Oberoi.

Sponsors of the Bollywood Nights event mingled and enjoyed dinner catered by Patty and Kevin Godfrey.

ABOUT IN THE HEART

OF THE BEND Ricki and Asra Oberoi.

Joe and Ann Schmitt.

Dennis Halford with Peggy and Steve Jackson.

Brenna Cosby with Claude and Laura Leatherwood.

Nancy Porter and Terri Wang.

Seeju Dupree.

The Community Scholarship Steering Committee for the Investment in Youth Luncheon met at the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce to plan for the 19th annual event.

Members assisting with the Fort Bend Youth in Philanthropy luncheon include Dewan Clayborn, Shirley Brown, Lisa Brettmann, Stacie Bynes, Jenny Smith, Dee Koch, Beth Wolf, Angela Cox, Jessica Jia, Mandi Bronsell, Farrah Gandhi and Patti Parish-Kaminski.

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com â&#x20AC;˘ April 2016

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Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital employees recently celebrated the opening of the hospital’s new six-story patient tower. A ribbon cutting and blessing ceremony marked the launch of the new Brazos Pavilion, which will house 104 patient care beds, bringing the hospital’s total bed count to 347.

The Fort Bend Women’s Center’s 12th Annual Girlfriends Giggle fundraiser was an exciting evening for guests to mingle, enjoy some pampering and check out the latest in health, beauty and fashion.

Photos by Mary Favre and Liz Furman.

Lowell Stanton, Sue Chiang, Chris Siebenaler, Sally Shen, William Schwer and Lonnie Meadows.

Vita Goodell and Michele Fisher.

Colony Meadows Elementary celebrated Read Across America Day by honoring the great Dr. Seuss! Students, faculty and staff dressed as their favorite Dr. Seuss character. Every classroom door depicted a Dr. Seuss book, and FBISD Superintendent Dr. Charles Dupre and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Indelicato read Dr. Seuss tales to students. Other local celebrities got in on the fun, including ABC Channel 13 Meteorologist Tim Heller and representatives from the Sugar Land Skeeters.

Pat Houck and Liz Furman.

Melanie Hodges, John Andrews, Bilinda Soto, Diana Ramirez and Becky McClure.

Star Jones and Meichelle Bernard.

Evan Payne, Harper Houston, Max Cimino, Charles Dupre, Grace Trinh, Maya Morales, Conner Sacayanan, Brianna Russell, Colin Mallory and Nate Smith.

Macy Houston, Valentina Covarrubias, Tim Heller, Isabella Karim, John Osenbough and Josefina Ross.

Nancy Malke and Sandy Kelley.

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OUT & ABOUT

More than 100 supporters of the Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center celebrated its progress with a sneak peek at the space’s development. The tour featured speakers from the Children’s Museum of Houston who gave details about the new exhibits, including a cultural gallery, kid city, think tank, outdoor space and a physical science exhibit space. Located at 198 Kempner Street in the old Imperial Sugar Company facility, the Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center will celebrate its grand opening May 28th.

IN THE HEART

OF THE BEND

John and Diana Null with Jim and Marhia McClellan.

Diana Amundson and Nancy Olson.

Bill and Susan Jameson with Himesh Gandhi.

Suzie Johnson, Charlene Pate and Larry Johnson.

Photo by Dr. Irma Rohatgi.

Rachel Alvarez recently presented on the YMCA’s International Services Trafficked Persons Assistance Program at the Fort Bend - Harris Retired Educators’ meeting. The program assists victims of human trafficking and offers services that enable survivors to overcome their past and pursue bright futures. Survivors meet to sew dolls as they develop healthy relationships and gain confidence, and all proceeds are given directly to the survivors.

Dee Koch and Nell Ciancarelli.

Joyce Ericsson, Evelyn Smith, Abby Grobe, Jan Yurasek, Rachel Alvarez and Carol Evans.

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

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Fort Bend residents supported UNICEF Afternoon Tea on March 1st at the St. Regis Hotel. Child Protection Specialist Cara Elizabeth Yar Khan presented on UNICEFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programs, which focus on ensuring reliable access to safe drinking water, basic sanitation and the practice of proper hygiene.

Nelson Bowman, III and Leela Krishnamurthy.

St. Laurence Catholic School (SLCS) educator Adriana Gutierrez was honored as one of three finalists for the Teacher of the Year Award for Technology Innovation by the Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) during a ceremony in Austin.

Gutierrez has demonstrated an innovative use of educational technologies and outstanding achievement and leadership in implementing technology to meaningfully improve education.

Gabriela Garza, Ansley Pereira, Adriana Gutierrez, Lily Feagin and Debra Haney.

Impact A Hero and Co-Founder Jim Hoelker hosted the 12th Annual Impact A Hero Weekend-Kickoff Party at the Redneck Country Club in February. Marathon Oil Corporation donated $25,000, and Bobby Nicholson and Bob Williams of KBR, Inc. donated $75,000 to support veteran heroes who have been severely injured in the War on Terror.

Monica G. Williams-Davis and Nat Krishnamurthy.

John Pope, Jason Shaw, Joe Sifuentes, Nate Rolens, Alex Rodriguez, Chris Matson, Jack Goodroe, Paul Gardner, Javier Negrete and Daniel Ebarb.

Susan Boggio and Zeenat Mitha.

Jim Hoelker, Bobby Nicholson, Bob Williams and Dan Sullenbarger.

Nidhika Mehta and Cara Elizabeth Yar Khan. fort bend

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Champagne and

Sparkling Wine

By Amy Gross

We

made it to April, when Fort Bend has the most glorious weather of the year. I think it is time to enjoy a glass of Champagne to celebrate, don’t you? And while we are enjoying our bubbly, let’s talk a bit about all that glorious fizzy stuff.

First things first. Champagne is a specific type of sparkling wine that is grown and made in Champagne, France.

To be called Champagne, the wine must be from that region and be made using a particular method. Regional laws also dictate the grapes used.

For decades, people called many sparkling wines Champagne, but the French didn’t like that, so they mounted a campaign to protect the name.

There are a few wineries in California who used the name “California Champagne,” but that ended with any labels approved after 2006.

Yes, other sparkling wines are made by the same method, and yes, other sparkling wines may use the same grapes, but those are not officially called Champagne, because Champagne is a place in France, and only wines made in Champagne can be called Champagne.

You might be wondering how Champagne and sparkling wines get those bubbles in the bottle. There are several ways sparkling wines can be made.

We’ll cover the Champagne method.

In Champagne, the winemakers use Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes. Those grow beautifully there, as it is one of France’s coolest grape-growing regions, and so it makes sense they would use those to make

their wine. These grapes yield highacid, moderate alcohol and non-tannic wine, which is regarded to be a perfect combination in sparkling wine.

The Process First, the grapes are picked and pressed to make the base wine. In making the base wine, the winery handles the grapes very delicately, and the grapes go through several pressings, with each round of juice kept separate so they can be used in different quantities in the final blend. This base wine settles for a bit and then goes through its first round of fermentation as any other white wine would.

After fermentation, the wine is blended with other base wines. These other base wines could be different pressings from the same fruit, juice from other grapes, juice from another vineyard or even base wine from a different vintage. This is where the winemaker really tunes the wine to get the intended flavor.

Next, the magic that is Champagne happens. The wine is bottled, and a mixture of yeast and sugar called liqueur de tirage is added to each to initiate the second fermentation and birth those glorious bubbles. The bottle is sealed with a crown cap and left to sit and ferment as the yeast works its wonders. When this happens, the bubbles cannot be seen, but they are there. The alcohol level increases and the carbon dioxide builds a crazy amount of pressure in the bottle – about six atmospheres of pressure! As this happens, the yeast leaves a sediment in the bottle that gives its toasty, yeasty flavor.

Before you see the wine, though, that sediment has to be removed through a process called riddling and then disgorging.

Disgorging is especially tricky, because the

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bottle is opened and the sediment is removed, and remember, there are six atmospheres of pressure in there that have to be preserved! When this happens, some volume escapes, so the winery adds a bit of wine to the bottle to top off what escaped during disgorgement. It also adds a bit of sweetness, typically in the form of cane sugar.

This is where sparkling wine becomes brut, extra dry, dry, demi-sec or doux, depending on the amount of sugar added. Next, the wine is capped with a cork and a wire cage for safety, then bottle aged for a bit before releasing.

This method, like I mentioned, is used to make other sparkling wines, too, not just Champagne. You can tell a wine is made the way Champagne is made if the bottle says “Method Traditionelle,” “Classic Method,” or “Fermented in This Bottle.” French cremant, Spanish Cava and Italian Franciacorta and Talento, as well as most United States’ premium sparkling wines, are made this way too.

We’ll talk about other ways to get bubbles into wine another day. For now, let’s just celebrate Champagne.

So, while toasting this gorgeous weather, toast yourself for knowing the difference between Champagne and sparkling wine.

And enjoy those glorious bubbles!

Cheers, friends!

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April 2016 Winner “Grand Canyon Storm”

By Linda Berthelsen Congratulations Linda, you’ve earned a $50 gift certificate to a 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 $50 gift certificate to a restaurant and the winning photo will be published in our magazine. To claim your prize, call 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 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 jpeg file to Grace@ absolutelyfocusmedia.com. 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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EVENTS April 9th, 8 am AccessHealth’s Community Challenge

April 2nd, 8 am Superhero Run 5K

April 3rd, 11 am – 3 pm It’s Cool to Care Car Wash for Kids Join Hope For Three for their 5th annual Car Wash for Kids to educate the youth on autism.

The cost is free, but donations are more than welcome! C & C Dental will host the car wash at 17003 Southwest Freeway in Sugar Land.

E-mail contact@hopeforthree.org.

April 7th, 6 pm Free Back and Neck Pain Seminar Whether you’ve had back and/or neck pain for a few days or several long years, Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is here to help.

Dr. Larry Tran, board-certified neurologist, Dr. Marvin Chang, interventional pain specialist, and Dan Kershner, physical therapist, will present the latest information on non-surgical treatment options and address any questions at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Conference Center, located at 16655 Southwest Freeway. Registration is required.

Visit houstonmethodist.org/events or call 281-274-7500.

Come support the Skeeters Baseball Foundation, Deacon’s Dugout Initiative and Behind the Badge Charities as you watch the former players and First Responders’ softball game at Constellation Field, located at 1 Stadium Drive in Sugar Land.

Call 281-638-8622 or visit www.sugarlandskeeters.com.

Photo from Fort Bend Libraries.

The 2nd annual Superhero Run hosted by the Missouri City Parks & Recreation will be a blast!

Come out dressed as some of your favorite superhero characters, and enjoy the costume contest after the race. Breakfast will also be provided. The race will begin at Independence Park, located at 2621 Court Road in Missouri City.

Visit www.missouricitytx.gov.

Help raise money for affordable health care throughout Fort Bend. Sponsor a team of coworkers or family and friends for this activity filled day. This exciting event will take place at Community Park, located at 1700 Glenn Lakes Lane in Missouri City.

Contact Cindy Reaves at creaves@ myaccesshealth.org or Sharonda DeBose at sdebose@myaccessheath.org.

April 16th, 1 pm Deacon’s Stars and Stripes Charity Softball Classic

April 12th, 6:30 – 7:30 pm “Tabletop Tuesday” The Sugar Land Branch Library will have a “Tabletop Tuesday” game day for adults in the Meeting Room of the library, located at 550 Eldridge. Adults who enjoy the challenge, excitement and competition of playing tabletop or card games are invited to test their skills against one another at this special event for adults and teens over the age of 16. Games such as Munchkin®, Ticket to Ride®, Timeline and Gravwell will be on hand, but those attending the event are welcome to bring their own favorite games as well. Seating is limited.

To register, call 281-238-2140 or visit www.fortbend.lib.tx.us.

April 14th, 4 – 8 pm Classic Chili Challenge Classic Chevrolet is having their 6th annual Classic Chili Challenge benefiting the Sugar Land Police Officers Association (SLPOA). Come out to support the SLPOA and enjoy some chili, games for kids and a live band, with 100% of the donations benefiting the SLPOA. This event will take place at Classic Chevrolet, located at 13115 Southwest Freeway in Sugar Land. Call 281-491-9000.

April 19th, 6:30 pm Children’s Theatre Performance Fort Bend County Libraries will present performances by the non-profit Noyes Fine Arts Foundation, in collaboration with ARTreach, of an original musical theater production of Do Unto Otters at the Sienna Branch Library, located at 8411 Sienna Springs Boulevard in Missouri City. A part of the foundation’s Book Bash Literacy Series, the performance is based on a popular children’s book.

Call 281-633-4734.

April 21st, 5:30 pm Senior Bingo Night Senior Bingo is hosted monthly by the Missouri City Parks & Recreation for area residents 50 and up. Refreshments will be provided, and you can win fantastic prizes. Senior Bingo will take place and the Rec and Tennis center, located at 2701 Cypress Point Drive in Missouri City.

Visit www.missouricitytx.gov.

Presented By:

April 8th, 6 – 8:30 pm Family Fun Night: Animal Edition Bring your whole family for this extravagant family fun night at the Rec and Tennis Center, located at 2701 Cypress Point Drive in Missouri City. The evening will feature the Houston Zoo, the Fort Bend Master Gardeners, Brazos Bend State Park and the Missouri City Animal Shelter.

Snacks and drinks will also be provided.

To register, call 281-403-6837 or visit www.missouricitytx.gov.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECH Water Treatment Specialists

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

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

198 Kempner St. at Imperial Sugar Land

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EVENTS SUGAR LAND TOWN SQUARE

April 23rd, 9 – 11 am The State of Autism 2016: A Family Forum In recognition of National Autism Awareness Month, Hope For Three will moderate a lively and informative discussion around the issues of autism and its effects in the lives of individuals, families and the community at the Santikos Palladium, located at 7301 West Grand Parkway in Richmond. Hear from experts in the field of autism as it relates to education, insurance, treatment, government and law enforcement.

Registration is free.

Visit www.hopeforthree.org or call 281-245-0640.

April 23rd, Noon – 4 pm Riverstone Crawfish Boil Crawfish fans will have their finer sensibilities served during Houston’s Swankiest Crawfish Boil at The Club at Riverstone, 183353 S. University Boulevard. The event will feature Creole-inspired crawfish with gourmet accompaniments. Wine and craft beers will complement the tasty fare, as will live music and plenty of activities to amuse children. The event is free and open to the public.

Visit www.riverstone.com.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

www.sugarlandtownsquare.com Call 281.313.SLTS Child Advocates Light of Hope Friday, April 1st 6:30 – 9:30 pm

Magic in the Plaza Saturday, April 2nd 7 – 9 pm

Kindermusik April 24th Texas Sienna 10

Thursday, April 7th 9:30 – 10:30 am

Race through the streets of Sienna as the community hosts the inaugural Texas Sienna 10, part of the Texas 10 Series and Armadillo Cup. Participants can choose a 10 mile, five-mile or kids’ one-mile race and accrue points toward cash prizes in the Armadillo Cup, which awards top point earners in an array of male and female age categories. A highlight of the party will be the Crazy Cash Giveaway, during which 10 random racers in the 10 mile race will win $100, five participants in the five-mile race will win $50 and one child from the kids’ one-mile event will win $100. The cost is $45 for the 10 mile race, $35 for the five-mile race and $15 for the kids’ one-mile run.

Register at https://events.com/r/en_US/ registration/sienna-10---texas-10-seriessienna-plantation-april-7573.

Rock the Block

The Missouri City Branch Library will present a program on Gardening for Beginners at 1530 Texas Parkway. James Holladay, County Extension Agent with the Texas Agrilife Extension Office in Fort Bend County, will discuss gardening basics and the tricks of gardening in Texas. He will also share information about Missouri City’s Community Garden.

Call 281-238-2100.

Movie Under the Moon Saturday, April 9th 8 – 10 pm

Sugar Land Wine and Food Affair Bistro Brunch Sunday, April 10th 11 am – 2 pm

Rhythm and Brews Friday, April 15th 7:30 – 9:30 pm

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle & Rock Earth Day Celebration Saturday, April 16th 1 – 5 pm

Time Warp Concert Series

April 30th, 8 – 11:30 am Fort Bend County Parents of Multiples Garage Sale

April 23rd, 2 – 4 pm Introductory Gardening Program

Friday, April 8th 7:30 – 9:30 pm

Friday, April 22nd 7:30 – 9:30 pm

Parents and parents-to-be are invited to shop a selection of clothes for babies, toddlers, children and adults, as well as strollers, toys, books, shoes, costumes, swim gear, car seats and more at Parkway United Methodist Church, located at 5801 New Territory Boulevard in Sugar Land.

Cash and credit cards are accepted.

Visit www.fbpom.org.

12th Annual Spring Corvette Car Show Saturday, April 23rd 10 am – 3 pm

Resolve Walk of Hope Sunday, April 24th 8 – 11 am

Dancing Under the Stars Friday, April 29th 7:30 – 9 pm

Pet Expo

SUBMIT YOUR EVENTS

Saturday, April 30th 11 am – 2 pm

E-mail events@absolutelyfocusmedia.com.

Include the event date, time, location and a short description of the event.

Saturday, April 30th 7 – 9 pm

fort bend

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By Alisa Murray www.AlisaMurray.com Nationally recognized portrait artist and awardwinning columnist.

Living the Sweet Life: Mindful of the Greatness

I

t’s that time of the year when we all are ready for the cold to dissipate and for the flowers to bloom. It’s “greatness” time too. If you are like me, you found yourself last year reflecting and wondering, “Where did the year go?”

Sometimes when life starts to happen, we let ourselves just go with the flow instead of purposefully positioning ourselves for great things.

Now is the time to access those resolutions and tweak if necessary, so you don’t look up and find another year has flown by, and you lived mindlessly instead of mindfully.

Let’s think about that for a minute. One of the most important things we have is time. People who are older and wiser often look back over their lives and wish for what? Time. It’s human nature to want to rush and get ahead, but truthfully, as I get older, I realize that God intends greatness for all of us, and much of that is given through living mindfully and not blindly.

So, I vowed to not be so rushed. I vowed to spend time wasting time. For me, that really means spending time doing nothing, because I am such a planned and scheduled person that to think of not doing something feels like I am wasting time.

I am of course doing the exact opposite, but it feels that way nonetheless.

What can we all do to make 2016 remarkable and savor the little moments? Stop. Yep, it is pretty simple to say but as they say, “Oh so difficult to actually do!” Go through your calendar and block off a day each week or a day each month for just you. Make it an afternoon trip to the park or a day trip to somewhere close by like the sea. Take a picnic instead of going to a restaurant – it’s part of the experience. Mainly plan to just “be.”

An interesting thing will happen as you do these things.

You will become enlightened as to what the most important things are in your life. You will recognize people in your life who are rare jewels and want nothing more than your very best happiness, and you will also find those who are pretending. You will feel pulled closer to the Holy Spirit – insert divine power for those of my non-Christian friends – and you will be told your greatness. Listen. Obey.

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

The sun kissed the beautiful ocean of Puerta Vallarta as God ended another perfect day in paradise.

Spring is here, and flowers are beginning to wake up and shine. Through the years, we are given opportunities to grow and opportunities to reflect. Last year, I was in a reflection year. With each life event that occurred, I became ever more reminded of how precious time is. I was dormant and waiting. This year, with renewed purpose, I am mindfully savoring my moments and blossoming as an artist, mother, wife and friend. It takes conscious effort to wait for it, to then recognize it and at last to succumb to God’s greatness for our lives.

I want to hear from you! What are the most important moments in your life? How did you in those quiet moments discover your calling and greatness?

Take Care of YOU!

alisa@absolutelyfocusmedia.com

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