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

JUNE 2016

Blushing

Brides

Jessica Williams

Simply Sweet SUMMER FARE

SUPERHERO Benefit Gala LIFESAVING

Backover Facts Great Gifts for

DADS & GRADS

Dr. Elissa R. Wedemeyer and Dr. Taylor Ballard Marsh:

Going Beyond 20/20

Dr.

Elissa R. Wedemeyer started her independent optometric practice in Missouri City in January of 1991. She was introduced to Missouri City while working for Stafford optometrist Dr. Carl Ross while she was still an optometric student at the University of Houston College of Optometry. He exposed her to independent optometry, and she was sold right away on that mode of practice.

Dr. Elissa R. Wedemeyer, Donaca Farr, Katie Norris, Sarah Baker, Stephanie Rawls and Dr. Taylor Ballard Marsh.

Photos by Nesossi Studios.

“As a small business owner, you find out right away how important it is to become integrated into your community. The first few years of business are very meager, and you learn to depend on your neighbors, church members and service club associates, in addition to your family and colleagues to keep you positive and encouraged.” Dr. Wedemeyer truly understands the famous quote from the movie Field of Dreams: “If you build it, he will come.”

Dr. Wedemeyer started her work career as a school band director. She taught in Florida, where she earned her music degree from the University of Florida and was honored to be the very first female drum major of the Gator Band, a position she earned for three years. She finished her teaching career in New Orleans at the prestigious Newman School and had the pleasure of teaching Harry Connick Jr. how to play the oboe.

After graduating as a Doctor of Optometry, Dr. Wedemeyer was compelled to build her practice from her teaching experience and specialize in children’s learning related vision issues. She took many hours of continu

(281) 499-2600 • www.drwedemeyer.com

ing education in that area of optometry and earned a Fellow from the College of Vision Development. In addition, she earned a Fellow from the American Academy of Optometry in general optometry. Since graduating, the scope of optometry has grown. With further education, she earned the Texas license of Therapeutic and Optometric Glaucoma Specialist.

Dr. Wedemeyer feels committed to support her profession and has been past president of the Southwest Congress of Optometry and is currently the president of the Optometric Professional Network, a Texas based doctor alliance group.

After 20 plus years of specializing in children’s needs, the scope of Dr. Wedemeyer’s practice has shifted dramatically to the baby boomers’ needs. She thinks it is partly due to her current patients’ focus going from their children’s to their parent’s visual needs.

Just as Missouri City has grown and prospered, so has Dr. Wedemeyer’s practice. She has always scheduled her patients with enough time to give them a thorough eye exam and spend time conversing with them. As the level of care has changed to make optometrists one of the gatekeeper’s of their patients’ health, extensive testing and data collection has put more demands on the doctor’s time. In order to keep her patients from waiting so long to receive the care they require, Dr. Wedemeyer is happy to bring on a full time associate, Dr. Taylor Ballard Marsh, this June.

Dr. Wedemeyer and Dr. Marsh have been associated for many years. When Dr. Marsh was a student, she visited a few days in her office shadowing her. After that, many of her family members became patients in Dr. Wedemeyer’s practice. She always teased Dr. Marsh that her spare exam room had her name on the door; little did she know her dreams of their professional association would come to fruition. Dr.

Dr. Taylor Ballard Marsh and Dr. Elissa R. Wedemeyer.

Katie Norris, Stephanie Rawls, Sarah Baker, Donaca Farr, Dr. Taylor Ballard Marsh and Dr. Elissa R. Wedemeyer.

Wedemeyer and Dr. Marsh have a very common manner of practice. They respect their patients and demand top level performance from themselves. They both have a strong love for what they do in the office and find excitement in the challenges of providing good medical and optical care to their patients.

But the doctors cannot have a successful practice by themselves; they must have a staff that understands their mission statement and is on board with it. Dr. Wedemeyer has been blessed to have a staff that is very caring to her patients.

They take pride in seeing that patients’ needs are met and enjoy seeing patients around town wearing the glasses that they helped them choose to see the world better.

Sarah, Dr. Wedemeyer’s business manager, started working for her in 1997 and has gone from filing charts in the summer to totally managing all aspects of the office. Katie, Sarah’s sister, started in 2003 as a temporary emergency receptionist and has since become the face and voice of the office. She always greets with a smile. Donaca, her optician, started in 2007 and keeps patients in great fitting frames and makes sure their glasses are made correctly to the doctor’s prescriptions. Stephanie, Dr. Wedemeyer’s patient screening and contact lens tech, has been with her since 2012. Stephanie keeps patients laughing and talking in comfort as she performs the crucial task of gathering patient health and visual data.

Dr. Marsh is an honors graduate from Clements High School, Texas A&M University and the University of Houston College of Optometry. Dr. Marsh was inducted in the Beta Sigma Kappa and Gold Key International Optometric Societies, while a student. She has five years of experience and has spent the last three years in Bryan/College Station, while her husband Stephen has finished his veterinarian ed-

(281) 499-2600 • www.drwedemeyer.com

ucation. Dr. Stephen Marsh, veterinarian, will be seeing his animal patients in the Heights area.

Dr. Wedemeyer’s daughter Jessica, an Elkins High school graduate, excelled in academics, speech and debate, and theater. She was well prepared for her college experience at the University of Southern California, where she graduated with honors from the prestigious Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism with a Broadcast Journalism degree. Jessica remains in California where she previously worked for People Magazine and is currently employed as an editor for Wonderwall.com celebrity news.

Jessica and Dr. Elissa R. Wedemeyer.

Taylor, Stephen and Camille Marsh.

Dr. Marsh and her husband welcomed their baby girl, Camille, in January. She will follow in her mother’s and Jessica’s footsteps and attend The Town Creek School beginning in June.

The Marsh family will reside in Missouri City, where Camille will have the opportunity to be exposed to that same great school experience in Sienna Plantation.

Living and working in Missouri City has been a dream come true for Dr. Wedemeyer. It has been a great place

to raise her daughter and give her a platform to participate in community activities and build lasting friendships.

Dr. Wedemeyer has been a longtime member of New Hope Lutheran Church and has participated for many years in the Oyster Creek Rotary Club and recently the Exchange Club of Missouri City. She is a member of the Quail Valley Ladies Golf Association and is enjoying her friendships and working on her golf game. She knows that the Marsh family will also enjoy all of the wonderful amenities that Missouri City has to offer.

Dr. Wedemeyer’s optometric patients are extended family to her, and she feels privileged to have Dr. Marsh become a part of that family. “Finding a doctor who shares your work ethics and vision of patient care and is highly skilled and trained is a rare and amazing gift.” She and her staff are extremely pleased to have Dr. Marsh share in their patient care starting June 1st.

Dr. Wedemeyer’s office is conveniently located at 6026 Highway 6 in Missouri City at the intersection of Highway 6, Murphy Road and University Boulevard at the Riverstone Entrance.

Dr. Wedemeyer and Dr. Marsh’s Philosophy of Care

O

ur patients’ eye health care and optical needs are our number one priority. We treat our optometric patients with the same courtesy and respect that we would expect our family members to receive. We are a full scope optometric practice that for the last 27 years has been dedicated to providing the highest quality vision care to children and adults in a friendly, comfortable and professional atmosphere. With a highly trained staff and state-of-the-art equipment, we go beyond 20/20. This experienced optometric practice offers a variety of services, including:

Comprehensive Eye Exams:

Optical:

Emergency Eye Care:

High Tech Equipment:

• Children, Adults-infant to centenarian • Diabetic Examinations • Glaucoma diagnosis, Management/Treatment • Cataract Co-Management • Dry Eye / Allergy Eye Treatment • Macular Degeneration, Diagnosis/Follow-Up • Corneal Foreign Body Removal • External/Internal Eye Infections • Assessments of Floaters/Flashes of light

Contact Lenses:

• Frequent Replacement/Monthly, Daily, Biweekly • Astigmatic • Bifocal-Progressive • Rigid Gas Permeable • Keratoconus • CRT-Corneal Re-shaping Therapy

• Top of the line lens materials • Digital Optics-Single Vision/Progressives • Blue Light/UV Protection • Anti-Reflective Coating with free 2 year warranty • Scratch Resistant Coating with free 1 year warranty • Quality Frames with free 1 year warranty • OCT- Optical Coherence Tomography for diagnosis and management of: ARMD- Age Related Macular Degeneration Glaucoma/Diabetes Retinal Diseases and Retinal Detachments • Digital scanning laser technology to image the retina • Humphrey Visual Field for screening and threshold testing to monitor eye diseases.

• Pachymetry for Corneal thickness measurements.

• Topography to monitor corneal disease and accurately fit contact lenses.

(281) 499-2600 • www.drwedemeyer.com

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DATE MADE 02/25/2004 08/31/2007 08/31/2007 08/31/2007 08/31/2007 11/24/2008 12/28/2009 03/11/2010 01/17/2012 01/17/2012 01/17/2012 01/17/2012 01/17/2012 07/22/2013 03/4/2014 04/2/2014 04/7/2014 04/29/2014 05/27/2014 06/11/2014

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LOT # 02252004@1 08312007@18 08312007@18 08312007@18 08312007@18 11242008@2 12282009@10 03112010@10 01172012@18 01172012@18 01172012@18 01172012@18 01172012@18 01172012@18 07222013@27 03042014@6 04022014@16 04072014@9 04292014@25 05272014@10

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F E AT U R E S

COVER FEATURE JUNE 2016

32 SAVE LIVES WITH BACKOVER PRECAUTIONS

Backovers are not only predictable, they are also 100 percent preventable!

50 SUGAR LAND WINE & FOOD AFFAIR

View photos from three of the affair’s most popular events.

56 DADS & GRADS

Things We Love – Just for Dads & Grads!

COLUMNS 28 LEGAL FOCUS

Naming Family Members as Executors and Trustees: Is It Really a Good Idea?

30 FOCUS ON FINANCE

Long-Term Care: Do I Need It?

34 KIDS’ CORNER

Parents’ Guide to Surviving Away Camp

38 HOMETOWN HEROES: Leslie Woods

40 HIGH SCHOOL HOT SHOT

Meet Jackie Michelle Rosenthal

42 ASK ALEX:

Disaster Preparation

54 COMMUNITY CULTURE

Jessica Williams.

Father’s Day Around the World

Photo by Select Studios.

55 THE LITTLE BOOKMARK

This Father’s Day, give Dad the gift of leisure with a book he will love.

15 BLUSHING BRIDES These six blushing brides – and their beaus – have ties to Fort Bend. Peruse the pages, view their wedding details and even get some ideas for your big day!

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80 LIVING THE SWEET LIFE

Lost and Found: Finding Father’s Day Treasures in Nana’s Pocketbook

6

CONTRIBUTORS

JUNE 2016

|

VOLUME 12

NEWSWORTHY 36 SUGAR LAND GIRL

SCOUT’S CRAFT PROGRAM

Joins Keller Williams Southwest Market Center

30

MEDICAL FOCUS

Panel Discussion

66 MEMORIAL

HERMANN IRONMAN

Give to Texas State Technical College Students

67

NEW TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD 25 CELEBRATE AT

NAILS UNLIMITED

HOUSTON METHODIST SUGAR LAND HOSPITAL’S CANCER CENTER

Myles Mellor Contributor Page 36

36 Joan Frances Contributor Pages 38 & 40

Celebrates National Cancer Survivors Day

38

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Alex Belt Silly Silly Girls Page 42

42

Summer Entertaining

36 SIZZLING SUMMER

absolutely!

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Zeenat Kassam Mitha Cultural Correspondent Page 54

54

76 2016 KIA SORENTO

Leslie Little Contributor Page 55

IN EVERY ISSUE 55

10 EXCLAMATION POINTS!

Steve Kursar Auto Enthusiast Page 76

58 SEEN ON THE SCENE 68 OUT & ABOUT IN THE

HEART OF THE BEND

76 Alisa Murray Alisa Murray Photography Page 80

77 AMATEUR

PHOTO CONTEST

ON THE COVER: Juliet DeMarr and Jessica Williams.

Photo by Select Studios.

80

78 COMMUNITY EVENTS

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Keith Borgfeldt Spartan Wealth Management, LLC Page 30

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74 SIMPLY SWEET

BRAIN TEASER

T. Aaron Dobbs Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey PC Page 28

Patrick Biron Birons Youth Sports Center Page 34

Sports Medicine Institute Opens Doors in Sugar Land

Gearing up for New Spark Community Park

48 TWO LOCAL FOUNDATIONS

28

53 ROBERT GRACIA

For Special Needs Children Earns Top Honors

46 RIDGEMONT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

NUMBER 8

BUSINESS BRIEFS

44 #ISURVIVED…I WIN

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

Vol. 12 No. 8 June 2016

Summertime: Making Memories

absolutely! focus media was honored to receive special recognition for their contribution to the Fort Bend Family YMCA at the organization’s 2016 Annual Campaign event. The Fort Bend Family YMCA was the beneficiary of the 2015 GEMS of Fort Bend event.

Stay focused!

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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 Alex Belt Patrick Biron Keith Borgfeldt T. Aaron Dobbs Joan Frances Steve Kursar Leslie Little 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 INQUIRIES 281-690-4242

READER FEEDBACK

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

Dear Patti, Classic Boogie 2016 Prom Night raised $180,000 for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and their children. Thank you for your Corsage Level sponsorship and for publishing our event in Fort Bend Focus and absolutely! Brazos. With your continued support, we can make a difference in so many lives.

Your support allows the Women’s Center to instill great hope and to provide many opportunities for so many people. We have accomplished an incredible task. Together, we are truly saving lives!

Published by

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

With gratitude, Angela Parker, Resource Development Coordinator Leslie Wendland, Chief Development Officer Fort Bend Women’s Center TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

Photo by Mary Favre.

Just as June marks the beginning of summer, it also marks a tradition of blissful memories at Fort Bend Focus: our summer wedding issue. I love this issue where we feature the beautiful brides and weddings in our community. Over the years, I’ve heard so many words of wisdom passed down from generations regarding what makes a successful marriage. One of my favorites isn’t necessarily about sustaining a good marriage; it’s about the attitude going in. Winston Churchill said, “My most Tim and Patti Kaminski at brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to Fort Bend Salutes celebrating persuade my wife to marry me.” The Churchill’s Fort Bend’s graduating seniors were married for more than 56 years with Winston enlisting in the U.S. Armed Forces. preceding his beloved Clementine, mother of their five children, in death. Personally, I think appreciating what you have goes a long way!

Appreciating Dad is what June is all about! As we celebrate dads this month, take a peek at our Dads & Grads Gift Guide on page 56. You’re sure to find something special to show Dad how much he’s appreciated all year long.

To all of our Fort Bend Dads, we absolutely wish you a wonderful Father’s Day. Relax, take the day off and make some memories. You’ll be glad you did!

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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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13

Sugar Land Mayor Jimmy Thompson and wife Gay with Joe Zimmerman.

www.joezimmermanformayor.com Photo by Terry Blackburn.

Dear Sugar Land Citizens, It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your Mayor for the past eight years.

Today I am endorsing Joe R. Zimmerman as my choice for the next Mayor to lead our great city. My decision is based on the following: H Mr. Zimmerman has demonstrated the necessary leadership skills during his four years as the AtLarge, Position 2, council member.

H He has a thorough understanding of our budget process and the complexity of municipal finance and our city government.

H Joe has an in-depth knowledge of our planning process and Development Code, having served as a member of the Sugar Land Planning and Zoning Commission for over eight years, including six year as Chairman.

He also chaired the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee which developed our current Comprehensive Plan.

H He has extensive private-sector business experience in many of the service areas that our provided by the city including water and wastewater operations, drainage and streets, land development and homebuilding and as a civil engineer.

H Mr. Zimmerman is active in our community and will work with others to continue to make Sugar Land the best place to LIVE, WORK and PLAY. It is with great pride that I endorse Joe R. Zimmerman for the position of Mayor of Sugar Land.

James A. Thompson Mayor of Sugar Land

The Zimmerman Family: Adalina Davis, Joe and Nancy Zimmerman and Chris, Allison and Emmy Wallace.

Joe Knows the City of Sugar Land – and Sugar Land Knows Joe

“I

know Joe as a man who keeps his word. He cares about other people, and if he tells you he is going to do something, then he will. The City of Sugar Land needs a man like Joe to be the next Mayor of Sugar Land.”

– Ann Smith

VOTE:

“I

Saturday, June 11th

“I

Early Voting: May 31 – June 7

support Joe as he is qualified, honest and above all, he is the Mayor for all. He speaks from his heart as a compassionate, caring individual, which is why we should support Joe as our next Mayor.”

– Sujeeth Draksharam

have known Joe for probably 15 years. During that time, I have observed his great integrity in all of st th his endeavors both business and political. Joe is a successful business man and has shown his leadership ability in various roles as an engineer and he also served as CEO of Eco Resources for a period of time. Joe is well qualified to serve as mayor based on serving 10 years on Planning and Zoning and then four years on City Council. He is the man we need to lead Sugar Land through the next few years as great things are happening. I am pleased to be able to support Joe Zimmerman as the next mayor of Sugar Land.”

– Don Smithers

“I

have full confidence in Joe’s leadership and service as demonstrated by six years of leadership as chairman of the Sugar Land Planning and Zoning Commission and four years of service as a Sugar Land Council member from 2012-current. I also had the opportunity to know Joe while we were classmates at the City of Sugar Land Airport Academy last year. He has also been an emcee and supporter of several different community events that I’m involved in, such as the Annual Gulf Coast International Dragon Boat Regatta, the Grant-a-Starr Foundation Family Run in Memorial Park and Fort Bend Education Foundation’s Sugar Shindig. I have every confidence he is the most well-rounded and best qualified candidate for Sugar Land’s next mayor!” – Terri Wang Political Ad Paid for by the Joe Zimmerman Campaign.

Jerry & Meghan Hughes April 11, 2015 Steven & Jamie McCown August 21, 2015

Nick & Taylor Wleczyk November 14, 2015 Raleigh & Camille Brewer November 21, 2015

Richard & Jessica Williams December 19, 2015

Charles & Jamie Farris April 9, 2016

If you or your children have married within the last year and reside in Fort Bend, and you would like to enter for a chance to be featured in our next Here Comes The Bride, complete the “Wedding Form” at www.FortBendFocus.com and e-mail at least 10 high-resolution photos of the ceremony and/ or reception to sarah@absolutelyfocusmedia.com.

To guarantee your wedding details make it into our next Here Comes The Bride, place your engagement or wedding announcement in Fort Bend Focus.

Photographers are also welcome to submit photos. fort bend

Bride: Taylor Wleczyk Photo by Impressions By Leslie

magazine • June 2016

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Jerry & Meghan Hughes April 11, 2015

Details

Photos by AMA Photography by Aisha Khan

Bride’s Full Name: Meghan Rebecca Robinson Groom’s Full Name: Jerry Ray Hughes, Jr. Ceremony Site: The Houstonian Grande Ballroom Reception Site: The Houstonian Grande Ballroom Rehearsal Dinner Site: The Manor House at The Houstonian Videography: AMA Photography by Aisha Khan Wedding Planner: Lauren Sotomayor - Dearly Beloved Events Officiant: Reverend Scott Moore - FUMC Conroe Gown: Mori Lee Veil: Ventura Bridal Shoes: Jimmy Choo Jewelry: Jason of Beverly Hills Hair: Blushing Beauty by Nikki Makeup: Blushing Beauty by Nikki Bridesmaid Dresses: Adrianna Papell Formalwear: élevée Custom Clothing Invitations: My Urban Invites Flowers: The Blooming Gallery Catering: The Houstonian and Chocolate Encore Cake: Susie’s Cakes Music: Divisi Strings and Signature Eventx Favors: Texas Tea, Custom Cigars, Candy Bar and S’mores Transportation: Auto Exotic Rental Honeymoon: London, England

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Steven & Jamie McCown August 21, 2015

Details

Photos by Bobby Diba Photography

Bride’s Full Name: Jamie Lynn White Groom’s Full Name: Steven James McCown Wedding Site: The Carriage House Reception Site: The Carriage House Rehearsal Dinner Site: Buca Di Beppo Videography: George Street Photography Wedding Planner: The Bride Officiant: Dean King Gown: Allure Shoes: Jessica Simpson Jewelry: InStyleBoutique Hair: Hair by Liz Makeup: Hair by Liz Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal Formalwear: Men’s Warehouse Invitations: Envelopeme.com Flowers: A Different Bloom Catering: Darrell’s Catering Cake: Friend of the Bride Music: JPL Entertainment Transportation: SNG Limos Accommodations: Fairfield Inn & Suites Honeymoon: Playa Del Carmen

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

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Nick & Taylor Wleczyk November 14, 2015

Details

Photos by Impressions By Leslie

Bride’s Full Name: Taylor Tondre Groom’s Full Name: Nick Wleczyk Wedding Site: Holy Rosary Catholic Church Reception Site: Needville KC Hall Rehearsal Dinner Site: Ol’ Railroad Cafe Videography: Rhyne Acuff Officiant: Father Jamie Abercrombie Gown: Impression Bridal Shoes: DSW Hair: Visible Changes Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Angelo Formalwear: Men’s Wearhouse Invitations: David’s Bridal Flowers: Flowers By Adela Catering: Schulze’s Bar-B-Que Cake: Bessie’s Bakery - Kathy Warnecke Music: Jeannie Bryant Decorations and Rentals: Elegant Occasions Accommodations: SpringHill Suites Honeymoon: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

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.com • June 2016

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magazine • June 2016

21

Raleigh & Camille Brewer November 21, 2015

Details

Photos by Evoke Photography

Bride’s Full Name: Camille Darrell Osterhold Groom’s Full Name: Raleigh Nathan Brewer Wedding Site: First United Methodist Church of Missouri City Reception Site: Sweetwater Country Club Rehearsal Dinner Site: The Rouxpour Photography: Evoke Photography - Al Lopez Videography: Joel Irwin Wedding Planner: Jennifer Keefe and Janie Dale Officiant: Rev. Marty Vershel and Pastor Kenneth Burkhard Gown: Justin Alexander - La Reve Bridal Couture Veil: Bride’s Mother’s Vintage Veil Shoes: Champagne Shimmer Peep-Toe Pumps - DSW Jewelry: Diamond and Pearl Drop Earrings, Gift From the Groom Hair: Albert Luiz Salon Makeup: Amin Kabani - Albert Luiz Salon Bridesmaid Dresses: Champagne Column Dresses - David’s Bridal Formalwear: Men’s Wearhouse Invitations: Carlson Craft Engraved and PenDance Studio Flowers: Clifton Hawkins, Blooms by H-E-B Sienna Market Catering: Jon Hebert and Roberto Gil of Sweetwater Country Club Cake: Supreme Kakes Music: Royal Dukes Band and Ambient Arts Strings Favors: Custom Printed Photobooth Strip Bookmarkers Transportation: Monarch Limousines and ACE Limousine Accommodations: Sugar Land Marriott Town Square Honeymoon: Four Seasons Resort - Bora Bora TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • June 2016

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Osterhold-Brewer Wedding

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iss Camille Darrell Osterhold and Mr. Raleigh Nathan Brewer were united in marriage on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at First United Methodist Church of Missouri City with a reception immediately following at Sweetwater Country Club. On the eve of the wedding, the groom’s parents hosted a rehearsal dinner at The Rouxpour in Sugar Land Town Square.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Osterhold of Sienna Plantation. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Sean Brewer of Sugar Land and the late Sheila M’Lis Brewer.

The bride was escorted by her father at the candlelight ceremony, which was decorated with ivory roses, hydrangeas and peonies and champagne brocade pew markers.

Organist Melissa Burnham was accompanied by Ambient Strings String Quartet.

The Maid of Honor was Kellie Blanchard, and the bridesmaids were Kile Carriger, Carly Clegg, Megan Davis, Farah Hoque, Kylie Maneri, Erin McLemore and Shannon Spaans. The Best Man was Matt Galindo, and the groomsmen were Ross Brewer, Connor Cook, Chris Goodeaux, Scott Hartsfield, Robert Osterhold, Jordan Pople and Alex Winkler. The flower girls were Madison and Morgan Lopez, the ring bearer was Jackson Pintado, and the scripture reader was Douglas Carriger III. High school sweethearts, Camille and Raleigh are both graduates of Elkins High School in Missouri City, and both graduated from Texas A&M in 2015. Camille is a Communications Coordinator for BASF Corporation, and Raleigh is an Applications Engineer for Flowserve Corporation.

Following their honeymoon in Bora Bora, they reside in Houston.

Photo by Evoke Photography. fort bend

magazine • June 2016

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Richard & Jessica Williams December 19, 2015

Details

Photos by Select Studios

Bride’s Full Name: Jessica DeMarr Groom’s Full Name: Richard Williams Wedding Site: The Corinthian - Downtown Houston Reception Site: The Corinthian - Downtown Houston Rehearsal Dinner Site: JW Marriott Officiant: Rev. Michael Fry Gown: Martina Liana Veil: Mia Bridal Couture Shoes: Gucci Jewelry: Tiffany’s Hair: Kitza Makeup: Cynthia Moore Bridesmaid Dresses: Lela Rose Invitations: Katie & Co. Flowers: Darryl & Co. Catering: Jackson and Company Cake: Jackson and Company Music: Party on the Moon Accommodations: JW Marriott Downtown Honeymoon: St. Thomas, Virgin Islands

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.com • June 2016

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Celebrate at Nails Unlimited

Celebrate your bridal showers with Nails Unlimited, a nail bar especially designed for bridal showers and parties. Come to mingle and celebrate with friends. Enjoy complimentary beverages, group discounts and more. Plan ahead, and Nails Unlimited can help decorate for your shower or party. Located at 1930 Highway 6 at 59 in Sugar Land, Nails Unlimited has private, exclusive packages for large bridal showers. They also host private groomsmen parties for those shy gentlemen who want to look well groomed for their big day!

All brides get a complimentary manicure or pedicure with bridal parties of eight or more. For smaller parties, brides will receive discounts on services. Featuring great customer service, designer brands, experienced technicians and more, Nails Unlimited is a new salon with all of the modern touches for the modern bride.

For more information, call 281-2012673 or visit TheNailsUnlimited.com.

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magazine â&#x20AC;˘ June 2016

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Charles & Jamie Farris April 9, 2016

Details

Photos by Memories by Elvia

Bride’s Full Name: Jamie Alyce Urbanek Groom’s Full Name: Charles John Farris Wedding Site: Sugar Land Backyard Reception Site: The Swinging Door Rehearsal Dinner Site: Karbach Brewery Wedding Planner: The Bride Officiant: Judge Justin Joyce Gown: Modcloth.com Hair Piece: Kathleen Barry Jewelry - Etsy Shoes: Modcloth.com Jewelry: Pearls Borrowed From Grandmother Hair: Jordan Bayne Makeup: Oscar Lara Formalwear: Jos A. Banks Invitations: Wallflower Events - Etsy Flowers: Adored Occasions - Etsy Catering: The Swinging Door Cake: H-E-B Favors: Custom Koozies - My Wedding Store Guestbook: The Rustic Earth - Etsy Accommodations: Sugar Land Marriott Honeymoon: Disney World

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Photo by Tomas Ramos

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By T. Aaron Dobbs

Legal

Focus

Naming Family Members as Executors and Trustees: Is It Really a Good Idea?

M

any people consider naming family members to be executors of their estate or trustees of their trusts. The rationale, it seems, is that family members would be honored to serve in these positions and offended if not named. However, naming a family member or loved one may have unintended consequences.

Here are four things to consider when naming loved ones as executors and trustees in your wills and trusts: Executors and trustees are fiduciaries. A fiduciary is a person who owes another person a high duty of good faith, fair dealing, honest performance and strict accountability. In other words, a fiduciary is held to a high and exacting standard, with no exceptions. Being an executor or trustee carries potential liability, and you should consider that in some cases, serving in these roles can end up being more of a burden than an honor – particularly in situations with “difficult” personalities.

Executors and trustees owe beneficiaries duties of candor and full disclosure. An executor or trustee cannot operate in secrecy. Fam-

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ily members do not always get along, especially in times of stress like the death of a loved one, but dysfunction and drama do not excuse a fiduciary from communicating with beneficiaries. Likewise, a fiduciary must keep complete books and records and be ready to provide accountings to beneficiaries at certain times or on demand.

As a result, a fiduciary must always be personable and organized.

Executors and trustees must serve all beneficiaries with loyalty and impartiality. A fiduciary must put the interests of its beneficiaries before his or her own interests. Likewise, unless a will or trust provides otherwise, a fiduciary cannot play favorites or treat certain classes of beneficiaries with deference over others – even if executor or trustee feels one beneficiary is less deserving or less responsible than other beneficiaries.

Executors and trustees must manage estate assets or trust property prudently. Not only does this mean that property must be securely maintained, it also means that the property must be appropriately

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invested so that the varying interests of beneficiaries can be managed. This duty can include insuring property, diversifying investments, preparing tax returns, maintaining property tax exemptions and balancing an investment portfolio.

If your executor or trustee fails to carry out these and other duties, they could be sued for damages and be removed from their role – even if they had the best of intentions. As a result, give some additional thought to the persons you are naming to serve as executor or trustee in your estate planning documents. You should talk about these considerations with your estate planning attorney and also consider alternative options like naming a third party or a professional executor or trustee, such as a trust company or bank with a trust department. You may be doing your family a favor by not naming them as executor or trustee.

T. Aaron Dobbs is board certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Dobbs specializes in estate planning, probate, inheritance disputes and trust law from 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

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Dallas .com • June 2016

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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San Antonio (By Appointment Only)

OCU$

By Keith Borgfeldt

on

FINANCE

Long-Term Care: Do I Need It?

A

ddressing the potential threat of long-term care expenses may be one of the biggest financial challenges for individuals who are developing a retirement strategy. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 70 percent of people over age 65 can expect to need long-term care services at some point in their lives. So, understanding the various types of long-term care services—and what those services may cost—is critical as you consider your retirement approach.

What Is Long-Term Care?

Long-term care is not a single activity. It refers to a variety of medical and non–medical services needed by those who have a chronic illness or disability—most commonly associated with aging. Long-term care can include everything from assistance with activities of daily living to more intensive therapeutic and medical care requiring the services of skilled medical personnel. Long-term care may be provided at home, at a community center, in an assisted living facility or in a skilled nursing home. And long-term care is not exclusively for the elderly; it is possible to need long-term care at any age.

How Much Does Long-Term Care Cost?

Long-term care costs vary state–by–state and region–by– region. The national average for care in a skilled care facility (single occupancy in a nursing home) is $91,250 a year. The national average for care in an assisted living center (single

• Tax Mitigation • Long-Term Care • 401(k) Rollovers

occupancy) is $43,200 a year. Home health aides cost a median $20 per hour, but that rate may increase when a licensed nurse is required.

What Are the Payment Options?

Often, long-term care is provided by family and friends.

Providing care can be a burden, however, and the need for assistance tends to increase with age. Individuals who would rather not burden their family and friends have two main options for covering the cost of long-term care: They can choose to self-insure or they can purchase long-term care insurance.

Most self-insure by default simply because they haven’t made other arrangements. Those who self-insure may depend on personal savings and investments to fund any longterm care needs. The other approach is to consider purchasing long-term care insurance, which can cover all levels of care, from skilled care to custodial care to in-home assistance. Less than eight percent of Americans have insurance for long-term care.

When it comes to addressing long-term care needs, look to select a strategy that may help protect assets, preserve dignity and maintain independence. If those concepts are important to you, consider your approach for long-term care.

For more information on long-term care, feel free to call Spartan Wealth Management at 281-494-1600.

Keith Borgfeldt is president and owner of Spartan Wealth Management, LLC. Securities and investment advisory services offered through NEXT Financial Group, Inc., Member FINRA and SIPC. Spartan Wealth Management, LLC is not an affiliate of NEXT Financial Group.

• Retirement Income • Wealth Protection • Charitable Giving

• Education Planning • Estate Planning • Wealth Transfer

Ask about our 2nd opinion service!

281-494-1600 4690 Sweetwater Blvd., Suite 280 Sugar Land, TX 77479 www.spartanwm.com

Private Wealth Management for Select Individuals Keith Borgfeldt

President and Owner

Securities and investment advisory services offered through NEXT Financial Group, Inc., Member FINRA and SIPC. Spartan Wealth Management, LLC is not an affiliate of NEXT Financial Group, Inc. Spartan Wealth Management, LLC 4690 Sweetwater Blvd. Ste 280, Sugar Land, TX 77479

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31

2595 Cordes Drive Sugar Land

Source: www.KidsAndCars.org

Save Save Lives with with Lives Backover Backover Precautions Precautions

E

very week in the United States, at least 50 children are backed over because a driver could not see them. The state of Texas ranks the second highest state with the most backover fatalities in the U.S. KidsAndCars.org has documented at least 146 child backover fatalities in Texas from 1997 to 2015.

Already this year, at least four children have died in backover tragedies in Texas.

Rearview cameras can be installed on any vehicle to end these predictable tragedies. Backovers are not only predictable, they are also 100 percent preventable!

Blindzones: Every Vehicle Has Them A blindzone is the area behind a vehicle where the driver cannot see even when looking back and using their rear and side view mirrors correctly. Blindzone facts: • The average blindzone is 15 to 25 feet.

• Shorter drivers have larger blindzones.

• Over 60 percent of backovers involve a larger vehicle such as a truck, van or SUV.

Circumstances • Backovers take place mainly in driveways and parking lots.

• In over 70 percent of these incidents, a parent or close relative is the driver behind the wheel.

• Bye-Bye Syndrome™: Children don’t want to be left behind when they hear the words “bye-bye.” Many times, children follow behind the person who is leaving. The driver is unaware the child sneaked out, thinking they are still safe inside. The child stands behind the vehicle where they cannot be seen and is backed over.

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

Contributing Factors • Most drivers are unaware of the very large, dangerous blindzone that is found behind all vehicles.

• Children do not understand the danger of a slow moving vehicle. They believe if they see the vehicle, the driver can see them.

• Children do not recognize boundaries such as property lines, sidewalks, driveways or parking spaces.

Age • The predominant age of backover victims is one-yearold. Toddlers have just started walking and running at this age, testing the limits and trying new things.

• Children younger than five-years-old are at the most risk, but children of all ages can be backed over.

Statistics • On average, 232 fatalities and 13,000 injuries occur every year due to backovers.

• Thousands of children are seriously injured or killed every year because a driver backing up was not able to see them behind their vehicle. Many elderly people are also backed over by vehicles.

.com • June 2016

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Rear Visibility Standard

To

reduce the risk of devastating backover crashes involving vulnerable populations, especially very young children, KidsAndCars.org and their partners worked to prevent these predictable and preventable tragedies for over a decade. A rear visibility standard was issued on April 7, 2014 as mandated by the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) issued the final rule to expand the required field of view for all passenger vehicles weighing less than 10,000 pounds. This new standard specifies the area behind a vehicle that must be visible to the driver when the vehicle is placed into reverse. The agency anticipates that in the near term, vehicle manufacturers will use rearview camera systems and in-vehicle visual displays to meet the requirements of this rule. All motor vehicles sold or leased in the U.S. must comply with this regulation by May 2018.

KidsAndCars.org anticipates that the rear visibility rule will significantly reduce backover crashes. Education and awareness of backover crashes will continue to be critical for decades, because most older model vehicles do not have rearview cameras. All vehicles can and should be retrofitted to include rearview technology.

Prevention KidsAndCars.org

and

Safety Tips

urges everyone to install a rearview camera and sensors on their vehicle. Many drivers believe they have to wait until they purchase a new vehicle to have a rearview camera system, but an after-market rearview camera or sensors can be installed on any vehicle.

Drivers should also heighten their awareness before engaging a vehicle into reverse, especially when children are present. Young children tend to be impulsive and unpredictable with very poor judgment and little understanding of danger.

• Always walk around and behind a vehicle prior to moving it.

• Know where your children are. Make sure they move away from your vehicle to a place where they are in full view before moving the car. Verify that another adult is directly supervising children before moving your vehicle.

• Install a rearview camera, back-up sensors and additional mirrors on your vehicles. Use these devices in addition to looking around and behind your vehicle carefully to detect if anything is in your path before backing.

• Make sure children hold hands with an adult in parking lots at all times. If you have multiple children and not enough hands, create a hand-holding train or fasten younger children into a stroller, and make sure everyone stays together.

• Teach children that “parked” vehicles might move, and make sure they understand that the driver might not be able to see them, even if they can see the driver.

• Teach your children to never play in, around or behind a vehicle. The driveway is not a safe place to play.

fort bend

• If you have an adult passenger with you, ask them to stand outside the vehicle and watch for children or animals as you back out. Ensure they are a safe distance away from the vehicle so that they are not in any danger.

• Be aware that steep inclines and large SUVs, vans and trucks can add to the difficulty of seeing behind a vehicle.

• Keep toys, bikes and other sports equipment out of the driveway.

• Trim landscaping around the driveway to ensure drivers can see the sidewalk, street and pedestrians clearly when backing out of their driveway. Pedestrians also need to be able to see a vehicle pulling out of the driveway.

• Install extra locks on doors inside the home high enough so children cannot reach them and toddlers cannot slip outside on their own.

• Roll down the driver’s side window when backing so you can hear if someone is warning you to stop.

• Be especially careful about keeping children safe in and around cars during busy times, schedule changes and periods of crisis or holidays.

Visit www.KidsAndCars.org or contact email@KidsAndCars. org for more information.

magazine • June 2016

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K

r e n or n

C Bir ’ rick t s a id By P

o

Parents’ Guide to Surviving Away Camp

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or over a decade, I directed and coordinated camp programs all across the state of Texas. While all camps are hugely beneficial to kids, away camps in particular serve as an important catalyst in their social, emotional, physical and mental development.

Over hundreds of camps, I learned just as much about the “camp parent” as I did the “camp kid.” So, if your child is destined to sleep away camp this summer, here are some things to keep in mind from someone who has overseen nearly 10,000 kids at camp.

Pack old things.

I can’t tell you the number of times that parents pack their kids brand new hiking boots, a favorite shirt or socks needed for baseball season only to find those items cause blisters, get lost or return a stained and muddy mess.

Oh, and it is all going to smell when it gets home. Even your kid. Just accept this, and get out the hose.

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Don’t send a cell phone. Unless the camp requests that you send one, don’t do it. It’s natural to want your child to contact you if they are hurt, but most camps don’t even have reliable cell service, if any at all. Don’t lure your child into thinking they will be able to contact you “any time they want” only to find out the city-slicker kid has never heard of “no bars.” This can literally ruin a kid’s experience. Beyond that, encourage your child to talk to the adults in charge of them first and not just always straight to you. Counselors really do want to keep your kid safe and healthy, and while they can’t have eyes on them 100 percent of the time, their job is not possible if your child doesn’t talk to them about what happens, when it happens.

Don’t stalk photos. Our society is so connected and instant with social media, we have become accustomed to our kids posting 15 status updates a day and seeing every smiling selfie. This sets an expectation for parents that is unreasonable and impos-

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.com • June 2016

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sible when at camp. Just as away camp gives kids an opportunity to “unplug,” it does that just as much for parents. If you spend six hours a day like you’re on CSI, searching every photo the camp posts for a facial expression that can cue you in on your child’s mood or counting how many photos they are in compared to other kids, you are expecting them to have a bad time instead of expecting them to have a good time. Your kids are smart and will pick up on and feed off of this. If you don’t believe they can make it through camp and have a good time, it will be nearly impossible for them to have faith in themselves.

The kids are alright. In over 10 years of camp, with nearly 10,000 kids in my care, I have never seen a child who had zero fun at camp. I also have never seen a child who has nothing but 100 percent sunshine and rainbows, but that is the beauty and importance of the experience. Your child grows most by not avoiding discomfort or challenge but by undergoing and then overcoming them. You have to put in perspective that if your child seems homesick when you talk to them over the phone, that’s because the act of thinking about home suddenly reminds them that they aren’t there. No child is homesick when having a water balloon fight. I promise, it’s practically science.

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Camp is hard, both for parents and kids. But, it is an incredible, important and worthwhile experience for both!

fort bend

magazine â&#x20AC;˘ June 2016

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NEWSWORTHY

Sugar Land Girl Scout’s Craft Program for Special Needs Children Earns Top Honors

By Myles Mellor

BRAIN TEASER

Sizzling Summer

Across 1 Beach recreation 6 Chasm 10 Gator or lemon?

12 Golfer Michelle 14 “Rocks” 16 America’s Cup activity (2 words) 19 Anita Brookner’s “Hotel du ___” 20 Real big goldfish 21 Dot follower 22 Forays 24 Waters down 25 Tropical fruit 26 Pristine sea color 29 Note 31 Child’s play?

32 Blues singer, King 33 Salad veggie 34 Enthusiasm 37 Cologne cooler 38 A way to start 40 Gentle coastal winds (2 words) 45 Born, in bios 47 Across prefix 48 Children’s building by the sea 49 Uses oars 50 Backboard attachment 51 Annoying insects 52 A ship’s officer See answers on page 60.

According to the Girl Scout Research Institute’s (GSRI) report The Power of the Girl Scout Gold Award: Excellence in Leadership and Life, Hannah Burnett.

Girl Scout Gold Award recipients receive greater lifetime benefits than their peers with regard to positive sense of self, life satisfaction, leadership, life success, community service and civic engagement thanks to their experience in Girl Scouting, including earning their Gold Award.

Hannah Burnett, a senior at St. Thomas Episcopal High School, has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can achieve.

The award recognizes girls in grades nine through 12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through sustainable and measurable Take Action projects. Less than five percent of Girl Scouts earn the award.

To earn the award, Burnett hosted a two-week session for children attending summer camp at Special Cheers, a therapy center that treats special needs children. Burnett provided craft activities for children of various ages, needs and skill levels, held a craft drive and created a book of crafts to be used for future camp sessions.

“Leading a team of volunteers while teaching special needs children crafts was challenging but also rewarding,” said Burnett. “Through my project, I learned that being a leader takes patience and understanding.” Burnett aspires to get a master’s degree in education and become a first grade teacher.

To learn more about the Girl Scout Gold Award, which turns 100 this year, visit www.girlscouts.org.

Down 1 Vacation activity 2 Kids’ treat (2 words) 3 Can 4 Actress, Lupino 5 Chicken parts 7 Dune machines (2 words) 8 Bikinis, maybe 9 Eat chocolate, to some 11 Vicious fish 13 Sponge cake ingredient 15 Diet Pepsi container 17 Santa sound 18 Dove noise 23 Flowering shrub 26 In crowd (3 words) 27 Warmed the bench 28 It may be easily bruised 30 “We’re in this love together”

singer, Jarreau 32 Flower display 35 Bring into play 36 Summer court contest 37 Sea eagle 39 Lobster-like 41 Gallery display 42 Lip emollients 43 Lens types 44 Lazy in the kitchen?

46 Almond 49 Girl from Ipanema city 50 Football position, for short

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.com • June 2016

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W NO

AIR F L E NT I EN OP

It’s not an emergency, but it’s still urgent to you.

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.

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By Joan Frances

Hometown Heroes:

Leslie Woods

F

ort Bend County is priviyears ago, she helped start a leged to have so many Parents Night Out program in residents who work fullwhich once a month, the YMCA time jobs, have families to supopens its doors from 6 to 9 pm port and still find time to work to families so parents can have at a fundraiser or knock on doors some time alone. Dinner is preasking for financial support for a pared for the kids along with worthy cause. These living anmovie night, game night or a gels are happy to work behind holiday celebration. Woods was the scenes, unnoticed, and they 2014 Volunteer of the Year and do not look for gratification. has served on the board for 12 These are the people who stand years. out the most. A perfect example Executive Director of the of this kind of person is Leslie YMCA Pam Filip has known Woods, who is the chairperson Woods for 10 years. “Leslie is an for Crime Stoppers, vice chairamazing person with spiritual man of the Houston Livestock Lisa Fredrickson, Patti Parish-Kaminski and Leslie Woods. passion and commitment,” said Show and Rodeo’s Paint Horse Filip. “She is a mentor with the committee and is actively engaged in the Fort Bend Family highest degree of credibility, respect and integrity, and she YMCA, Exchange Club of Sugar Land, Rainbow Room and is my friend.”

Project S.M.I.L.E. It’s her turn to shine.

Woods is also a 20 year member of the Exchange Club of Woods is a native Houstonian and moved to Fort Bend Sugar Land. Her favorite project is Santa’s Exchange, a projCounty 25 years ago with her daughter, Lauren. She works ect that gives Christmas gifts to over 3,000 children through for G.A.S. Unlimited/HPP, a locally owned staffing firm. Her Toys for Tots. Woods is a member of the Advisory Council father always told her, “Don’t complain unless you are willfor the Rainbow Room, an organization that provides emering to do something about it.” As a single parent, Woods loves gency and transitional supplies for children and families in giving back to the community. In 1995, she joined Fort Bend crisis. She also works with Carolyn Tarver, founder of Project County Crime Stoppers to be engaged in the activities of S.M.I.L.E. (Stan’s Memory Includes Loving Everyone). This the area. As chairman, Woods meets with volunteers every organization distributes school supplies to students from month to discuss fundraising, rewards from the tip line and low-income families in Fort Bend County. community awareness of the program.

Along with her extensive resume, Woods is an outstanding When asked what she enjoys the most about her involvecook. She is in charge of hospitality for the Houston Livestock ment, Woods said, “Making every moment of every day a Show and Rodeo’s Paint Horse committee. Along with sevpositive step to improving the quality of life for every person eral volunteers, they prepare and serve food for 350 to 500 is what gives me the most pleasure. To see a smile, hear a entrants and committee members for the Paint Horse Show. supportive statement and watch the light in their eyes with They also raise money to provide the food every year. gratitude is what I find is so fulfilling, and it makes me want Fort Bend County is so lucky to have Leslie, a devoted into do more to help.” dividual, who is a blessing to everyone she meets. Thank you Woods is also the chairman of the Strengthening Famifor your contributions and commitment to making our world lies Committee for the Fort Bend Family YMCA. About eight a better place to live.

“Making every moment of every day a positive step to improving the quality of life for every person is what gives me the most pleasure.” – Leslie Woods

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High School HOT SHOT

By Joan Frances Photo by Prestige Portraits.

Meet Jackie Michelle Rosenthal

E

lkins High School in Fort Bend Independent School District has highly qualified teachers who are devoted to their students. The school “provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become productive, responsible and successful members of society.” Students graduate fully prepared to advance to the next level of education. One senior who has achieved unprecedented leadership and academic success is Jackie Rosenthal.

Jackie has an impressive resumé.

She is the 2016 senior class salutatorian and has taken Advanced Placement (AP) classes all four years of her high school career. Jackie is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Science National Honor Society, National English Honor Society and the Math and Science Club. She has been an active Girl Scout for 12 years and has taught at the Girl Scout Twilight Summer Camp for the past five years.

In addition, Jackie is the editor for the editorial section of the school newspaper and the president and co-founder of the Elkins High School Republicans (EHSR), a club whose goal is to encourage high school republicans to make an impact when it comes to elections and politics. In 2015, Jackie was presented with the Linda Hancock Award by Congressman Pete Olson at the Fort Bend County GOP Lincoln-Reagan Dinner.

When asked why being a leader is fulfilling to her, Jackie said, “I trust myself to succeed in whatever goal needs to be accomplished. I know

Jackie that under my leadership, things will be taken care of, and the club will continue to grow and prosper. I love leading, because I have learned that a good reputation, good communication and time management skills are necessary and worth developing. A leader is the face of an organization, and their attitude, achievements and skills are a personal reflection of the club itself.”

Jackie is very focused on becoming a successful individual. She said, “I am completely determined to do everything to the best of my ability, and facing challenges is my strength. This leads me to one of my favorite quotes

by Jim Watkins: ‘A river cuts through rock not because of its power but because of its persistence.’ Wholehearted effort and commitment are essential to all successes, and I am proud to have figured that out so soon in life.”

One thing that Jackie will treasure the most about her high school experience is, “My close group of friends who held together throughout all four years. More than that, however, I loved being able to take 17 AP classes and expose myself to various, interesting subject matter. I was able to earn an advanced education, surround myself

with intriguing new knowledge and simultaneously experience a great high school social life.”

There are so many dedicated teachers at Elkins High School, and Jackie described the characteristics of her favorite ones. “The best teachers hold high expectations for all of their students, are deeply knowledgeable about their subject, explain phenomena, share interesting facts to spark a never-before-seen interest in the subject, use hands-on, engaging activities and simulations to bring history to life, relate their subject to other subjects to strengthen students’ retention, use their innovative teaching skills and good communication to enable students to think harder than ever before and make themselves available for extra help during out of class time. I was blessed to have so many incredible Fort Bend ISD teachers!”

Jackie will attend Texas A&M University in the fall and major in business as a business honors student. Congratulations on your undeniable success and contagious enthusiasm Jackie, and good luck as you fulfill your dreams in the future.

“I am completely determined to do everything to the best of my ability, and facing challenges is my strength.” – Jackie Rosenthal TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • June 2016

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â&#x20AC;˘

fort bend

L a k e P o i n t e C o m m o n s . c o m

magazine â&#x20AC;˘ June 2016

41

Ask Alex: Disaster Preparation

H

urricane season has arrived, and there has already been an outbreak of flooding across the Houston area. Are you ready for this or some other disaster?

As a single mother, it is up to me to keep my children safe when any disaster happens. Here are a few questions about disaster preparation that friends have asked me.

Q A

What is a bug-out bag or a 72 hour bag?

When disaster strikes, two things are immediately essential: getting out of the area and getting out of there quickly.

Also known as a BOB, a bug-out bag is designed to help people do just that. It usually comes in the form of a heavyduty backpack containing everything needed during and immediately after any emergency.

Q A

What essentials should a BOB contain?

My BOBs contain items that will help my family and me survive for 72 hours during any disaster. Everyone in my family has their own backpack with most of these supplies: weapons, map of area, compass, binoculars, food for three days such as beef jerky, sunflower seeds, protein bars, tuna packets and dried fruit, water for three days, a water purification LifeStraw, copies of birth certificate, driver’s license and insurance card, cash, extra clothing, first aid kit, antibiotics, pain medicine, duct tape, fire starter equipment, a two-way radio with extra batteries, hygiene products, toilet paper, garbage bags, flashlights, headlamps, glow

sticks, survival blankets, sleeping bag, small tent, sunglasses, hand sanitizer, bug repellant, sunscreen, whistle, can opener, coffee and a deck of playing cards.

Q A

If we decide not to leave our home, how much water is needed to keep our family safe?

One gallon per person per day is the minimum amount of water you should have on hand. Don’t forget extra for your pets. Always have water purification equipment, tablets or a LifeStraw. You will use water for things other than just drinking. Remember, you can never have too much water!

Q A

What kind of food should I have stored at my home in case a disaster hits?

During a disaster, the last thing you need to do is go to the grocery store, so it is

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • June 2016

42

Greg and Evette Sissel displaying the contents of their bug-out bag.

important to have food stored at home.

Create your food storage based on your family’s needs and likes, and don’t forget to have a manual can opener.

Here is what I have in my food storage on a daily basis: 10 pounds of dried beans, 20 cans of vegetables, 20 cans of fruit, 20 cans of meat, 10 canned main dishes, two large jars of peanut butter, two large jars of Nutella, two large jars of powdered drink mix, water, two pounds of powdered milk, five pounds of salt, 10 pounds of pasta, five pounds of pancake mix, 10 jars of spaghetti sauce, 20 cans of soup and broth, a large jar of oil, hard candy, crackers, cereal and protein bars.

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Wilma Shaw, founder and CEO of Perfectly Wrapped Ministry Inc., along with Mya Carroll, CEO and founder of Phoenix Women’s Outreach Inc., and Casondra Brown, CEO of Conquering the Obstacles of Painful Experiences Incorporated (C.O.P.E.), have joined to present #ISurvived…I Win, a special panel discussion to educate the public on sexual abuse, rape, domestic violence and the resources available. The discussion takes place June 11th from noon to 3 pm at 7900 West Fuqua in Missouri City.

The panel will consist of mental health professionals to discuss the many resources available to assist those who seek counseling or therapy, as well as the effects of trauma from abuse as it relates to mental health issues. Survivors will educate the public on their journey as victims and the effects it had on their individual lives. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions to panelists on these subject matters.

To learn more, contact Wilma Shaw at perfectlywrappedministry@yahoo.com or visit www.perfectlywrapped.org.

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Now Accepting Registration for Summer & Fall Infants through Pre-Kindergarten

The Walden School You have high expectations... and so do we.

“I have been blown away by the progress my son has made in Mrs. Paula’s kindergarten class. She allows Ryan to explore learning, while patiently helping him organize, regulate and work with others. If only all kindergarten teachers were like Mrs. Paula!” – Parent Testimonial

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Ridgemont Elementary School Gearing up for New Spark Community Park Ridgemont Elementary School students and staff are preparing for a new Spark Park that will soon be constructed on their school grounds to serve students and the surrounding community.

The Spark School Park Program works with schools and neighborhoods to develop community parks on public school grounds. In the past 30 years, Spark has built more than 200 community parks throughout the Houston area. Each park is unique, with its design based on ideas and needs of the school and surrounding neighborhoods. “We invited our parents, students and community members to provide input on the park’s design,” said Linda Espericueta, principal at Ridgemont Elementary School.

Ridgemont’s Spark Park will provide an upgrade to the existing outdoor facilities and feature a concrete walking track, a junior-sized soccer field with permanent goals, a sitting area, two basketball goals, a hopscotch and a foursquare area. The park is expected to be completed this summer and will provide families with a common and safe place to gather after hours, while providing students with additional space for organized sports and other physical activity during school hours.

As part of the agreement with the Spark School Park Program, Ridgemont is required to raise $5,000 toward the construction cost of the park. The community is invited to join in the school’s fundraising efforts.

“The Spark Park will be an exciting addition to our campus, one that will reenergize our campus climate by bringing school and community together for one common goal – building a better future for our students,” added Espericueta.

Visit www.fortbendisd.com for more information.

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Two Local Foundations Give to Texas State Technical College Students

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TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

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Dylan Gonzales and Jakob Hochdorf have enrolled at TSTC in Fort Bend County for fall 2016.

Two large foundations in the Fort Bend County area, the George Foundation and the Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation, have made significant donations to the students and veterans of Texas State Technical College (TSTC).

“Both foundations have been integral in the creation of the new Fort Bend campus, and both have contributed considerable gifts toward the Texan Success Scholarship,” said John Kennedy, TSTC field development officer.

In honor of longtime Fort Bend resident Bill Jameson and his 10 years of service as a trustee for the George Foundation, the foundation committed a $250,000 gift for scholarships to be dispersed over a 10 year period.

“The foundation is passionate about TSTC’s mission and the opportunity the new campus will provide to young men and women from Fort Bend County,” said CEO of the George Foundation Roger Adamson. “Scholarships will make the dream of a good paying job even more accessible to veterans and economically-disadvantaged students.”

The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation donated $100,000 for scholarship to be awarded to students attending

TSTC in Fort Bend County. In addition, the Foundation committed to funding a position for the recruitment of students who formerly served in the Armed Forces. “Through the Veterans Services Representative, the board of directors wants to provide an opportunity for veterans to transition their military skills into the civilian workplace,” said the HendersonWessendorff Foundation Chief Executive Officer Pat McDonald.

Vice Chancellor and Chief Execution Officer Randy Wooten and Kennedy have been working together and reaching out to prospective donors to ensure that students enrolling at TSTC in Fort Bend have an opportunity of receiving a scholarship that will go toward their tuition. Both are members of various boards in Fort Bend County such as the Economic Development Board and attend community events to spread TSTC’s message.

“We are so thankful for the network of partners and supporters we have here in Fort Bend,” said Kennedy. “Everyone has been so welcoming. We want to give a big thank you to our partners, donors and community leaders who are so supportive of our mission. Our goal is to serve Fort Bend County for many generations to come.”

The Texan Success Scholarship is a “non-need based” $1,000 award for new, full-time students to provide cost assistance for the first two consecutive semesters of enrollment at TSTC. The first 500 students who complete an application and enroll at TSTC in Fort Bend County will receive the scholarship.

TSTC offers more than 60 technical programs statewide. TSTC in Fort Bend County currently offers three programs: HVAC Technology, Diesel Equipment Technology and Precision Machining Technology. Starting August 2016, the college will also offer Industrial Maintenance Technology, Cyber Security, Telecommunications Convergence Technology and Welding Technology.

Certificates and associate degree tracks are available for each program.

To make a donation to the Make a Texas-Sized Difference Campaign or learn more about TSTC, visit www.tstc. edu/tstcfoundation/annualscholarship or call 254-867-3900.

Find the Perfect Gift for

Dad

at our Pilot Shop!

Give a gift certificate from Anson Aviation: Pilot Shop Merchandise Discovery Flights Airplane Rental Airplane Maintenance Facility Rental Anson Aviation will help you discover a brand new way of life.

We’re based at the award-winning Sugar Land Regional Airport.

Call 281-242-2555 or visit ansonair.com.

Joyce Long’s

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magazine • June 2016

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281-344-0095 www.joycelong.biz

THE 12TH ANNUAL

The Grand Tasting at Sugar Land Marriott Town Square April 8, 2016 Invites you to five fun-filled days of exquisite culinary creations and delectable wines, spirits and brews.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8 “La Dolce Vita”

An Italian-inspired VIP dinner featuring five of Houston’s top chefs

THURSDAY, APRIL 9

On the Rocks Bartender Challenge

Heated battle from five of Houston’s top mixologists featuring New Amsterdam Vodka

FRIDAY, APRIL 10 Grand Tasting

12th anniversary of this event, celebrating some of the country’s best culinary superstars alongside wines and spirits

SATURDAY, APRIL 11

Sip & Stroll at Imperial

Showcasing chefs, restaurants, wines and an outdoor beer garden on the grounds of the historic Imperial Sugar Factory.

SUNDAY, APRIL 12 Bistro Brunch

Featuring delightful cuisines from around the world

PROCEEDS BENEFIT A PERMANENT SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT AT UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON CONRAD N. HILTON COLLEGE OF HOTEL AND RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT

To purchase tickets visit www.sugarlandwineandfoodaffair.com 713.SIP.WINE (747.9463) 2/20/15 9:39 AM

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • June 2016

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Sugar Land Wine & Food Affair Sip & Stroll at Constellation Field • April 9, 2016

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Sugar Land Wine & Food Affair Bistro Brunch at Sugar Land Town Square • April 10, 2016

Photos by Joey Belleza TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • June 2016

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BUSINESS BRIEFS

Robert Gracia Joins Keller Williams Southwest Market Center Robert Gracia, a Real Estate sales professional in Sugar Land, has joined the Keller Williams Southwest Market Center.

“We are ecstatic to have Robert GraRobert Gracia. cia join us here at Keller Williams Realty Southwest,” said Chad St. Jean, team leader of Keller Williams Southwest. “We know that he will be a great fit and that it is our customers who will truly benefit from him joining us.”

Gracia has an extensive background in municipal government and has proudly served his hometown of Rosenberg since 1980 when he began his service to the City as a police dispatcher. He rose through departmental ranks, earning the rank of Chief of Police in 1988 and was appointed Assistant City Manager for Public Safety in 2003. Gracia served as Interim City Manager three different times before being appointed City Manager in November 2013. He is a graduate of LeTourneau University, chairman of the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office Civil Service Commission and a member of the UT Physicians Advisory Board.

“I chose Keller Williams because of its reputation for integrity and its agentcentric business model,” said Gracia. “I want to continue to grow my Real Estate business, and Keller Williams provides the training, technology and resources that will help me reach my goals.”

The Southwest Market Center, located at 1650 Highway 6, Suite 350 in Sugar Land, has almost 400 associates, making them the largest Real Estate brokerage office in Fort Bend County.

For more information, call 281-2650000 or visit www.kwsw.com.

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:

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By Zeenat Kassam Mitha

C

MMUNITY

Culture

W

hen we think of Father’s Day, we think of celebrations honoring dads and the love and giving nature of fathers. We rejoice over paternal bonds and fatherhood, and we think about the impact fathers have made on our community.

The United States is one of numerous countries that celebrate Father’s Day on the third Sunday of June, but it is a treasured day celebrated extensively on other days by other countries.

The first Father’s Day ceremony was held in Fairmont, West Virginia on July 5, 1908. Grace Golden Clayton was grieving the loss of her father, who in December 1907, passed in the Monongah mining disaster that killed 361 men, 250 of them fathers. This left close to 1,000 fatherless children. Pastor Robert Thomas Webb was asked by Clayton to honor all of those fathers. A tribute was held in Williams Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church South, currently known as Central United Methodist Church. The local church did not think of promoting the event, and the original sermon was lost.

In 1909, Sonora Smart Dodd heard a sermon about Mother’s Day, and she told her pastor that fathers should have a similar holiday honoring them.

Father’s Day Around the World Several local clergymen accepted the idea, and on June 19, 1910, the first Father’s Day, sermons honoring fathers were presented throughout her city of Spokane, Washington.

However, in the 1920s, the idea faded as Dodd was studying at the Art Institute of Chicago. Dodd returned to Spokane in the 1930s and started encouraging the celebration again, raising awareness at a national level. She received support of trade groups such as manufacturers of tobacco pipes, ties and other traditional gifts for fathers.

By 1938, the Father’s Day Council, founded by the New York Associated Men’s Wear Retailers, promoted the day commercially.

In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson gave the first presidential proclamation honoring fathers, assigning the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. In 1972, it was made a permanent national holiday when President Richard Nixon signed it into law.

Father’s Day traditions in a few countries are as follows: Father’s Day in Australia is celebrated on the first Sunday in September. “Families get together in the afternoon and barbeque shrimp and lamb sausages,” said Bob Latham, a Fort

Bend resident from Australia. “Many families swim or sail or do water sports afterwards, as there are beautiful beaches everywhere.”

Father’s Day in Argentina is celebrated on the third Sunday of June, but some have tried to change the date to August 24th to observe the day on which the “Father of the Nation” Jose de San Martin became a father.

Father’s Day in the People’s Republic of China is officially celebrated on the third Sunday of June and is not a public holiday. However, when the Nanjing governed the Republic of China from 1912 to 1949, Father’s Day was celebrated on August 8th. “This transpired because the eighth (ba) day of the eighth (ba) month makes two ‘eights’ (ba-ba), which sounds similar to ‘daddy,’” said Sugar Land resident David Yuan. “The celebrations still continue on August 8th in many areas.”

Father’s Day in Germany is always celebrated on Ascension Day. “This is the third Thursday 40 days after Easter, which is a federal holiday,” said Rustin Buck, a German teacher at Clements High School. “In some parts, it is also called Men’s Day, Mannertag or Gentlemen’s Day.” Happy Father’s Day to all fathers!

A Salute to Fort Bend Dads

Cynthia, Jay, Amanda and Caitlyn Horgan.

Roshan, Sanjay, Sunny and Rajan Sharma.

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • June 2016

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Kraig and Kayley Warren.

The Little Bookmark T

By Leslie Little

his Father’s Day, give Dad the gift of leisure with a book he will love!

Here are some ideas for every kind of dad.

For the Sports Fanatic: 100 Things Astros Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die (Triumph Books) by Brian McTaggart is a must-have for anyone who loves the Astros and America’s favorite pastime. Starting with the history of the Astrodome all the way to “Eating Chicken and Waffles in a Cone,” McTaggart’s new book includes fun fan activities, stats, trivia and little-known facts about all of our favorite Astros players and our beloved hometown team.

For the Military/History Buff: Bill Boyce couldn’t understand his father’s reluctance to talk about his tour of duty as a B-24 Liberator bomber in World War II. Years later, with questions still on his mind, he searched out the one man who could tell him what his father could not.

As Boyce begins to piece together the events that led to Miss Fortune’s Last Mission (Bright Sky Press) he learns the lasting effect of loss and the healing power of sharing stories.

For the Foodie/Backyard Chef: If the man of your house is “king of the kitchen” or he prefers to spend his time shooting the bull around the barbecue grill, he will love Legends of Texas Barbecue Cook Book (Chronicle Books) by Robb Walsh! With tons of pit master trivia and more recipes than you can shake a stick at, this revised and updated version of an old favorite will not disappoint.

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Dads&Grads Things We Love - Just for Dads & Grads!

DADS DESERVE FLOWERS, TOO! Beautiful flowers speak volumes. Show Dad your love with a beautiful bouquet for Father’s Day. For all of your floral needs, come by House of Blooms in Sugar Land Town Square.

House of Blooms, 16180 City Walk in Sugar Land Town Square.

Call 281-242-1555; www.thehouseofblooms.com.

CLARISONIC SMART PROFILE This Smart-enabled, multipurpose cleansing device cleanses 11 times better than hands alone for smooth, clean skin from head to toe. It provides a powerful, professional cleanse at the push of a button.

Sugar Land Face & Body Plastic Surgery, 16926 Southwest Freeway in Sugar Land.

Call 281-313-0555; www.beautybecomesyou.com.

DR. SHEL’S ADVANCED GREEN PROTEIN POWDER This great-tasting vanilla shake delivers key nutrients including 17 grams of plant protein, organic greens, soluble fiber, probiotics, enzymes, vitamins and minerals. It is vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, non-GMO and sweetened with Stevia.

Dr. Shel Wellness and Medical Spa, 1437 Highway 6, Suite 100 in Sugar Land.

Call 281-313-7435; www.drshelmd.com.

PERFECT FOR THE PILOT The Pilot Shop at Anson Aviation is loaded with great ideas for your favorite pilot! Visit Anson Aviation at Sugar Land Regional Airport.

Anson Aviation. Call 281-242-2555; www.ansonair.com.

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • June 2016

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DRIVING IN STYLE It’s just what dads and grads always wanted: a new toy from Texas Direct Auto, the world’s largest independent dealership. With over 2,000 automobiles in stock, Texas Direct Auto is sure to have the perfect gift.

Texas Direct Auto, 12053 Southwest Freeway in Stafford. Call 281-499-8200; www.TexasDirectAuto.com.

VACATION ESSENTIALS Dad or your favorite grad will be styling on his next getaway with these travel-size essentials.

Salon Eben & Day Spa, 15510 Lexington Boulevard, Suite G in Sugar Land. Call 281-980-5160; www.salonebendayspa.com.

A GLASS FOR DAD’S FAVORITE BREW You don’t need to be a chemist to enjoy beer! These unique glasses are designed exclusively for the Houston Museum of Natural Science and may be purchased online.

The Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land.

Visit www.hmns.org.

REVISION SKINCARE INTELLISHADE® Outsmart the signs of aging® with this award-winning tinted moisturizer formulated with a blend of three peptides and broadspectrum UVA and UVB protection that gives skin a touch of sheer, healthy color. Receive 20% off for mentioning this listing.

Body By Ravi Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics, 3531 Town Center Boulevard South, Suite 102 in Sugar Land. Call 281-242-1061; www.bodybyravi.com.

GIVE DAD HIS OWN MANICURE KIT Pamper Dad this Father’s Day with his own manicure kit that includes a free manicure.

Nails Unlimited, 1930 D Highway 6 in Sugar Land. Call 281-201-2673; www.TheNailsUnlimited.com.

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Seen on the Scene

Dads

The Lone Star Stomp Benefiting the Fort Bend County Museum Association

&Grads

April 16, 2016 • George Ranch Historical Park

Things We Love - Just for Dads & Grads!

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KEEP DAD LOOKING YOUNG Treat Dad to a sunny day out on the golf course. Help keep him looking young in the sun using Glytone SPF 40 and maintain it all through the night with anti-aging Biocream!

Sugar Land Plastic Surgery.

Call 281-980-8000; www.MyBodySurgeon.com.

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PICK SOMETHING DIFFERENT THIS YEAR FOR GOOD OLE’ DAD! Give Dad a new backyard for Father’s Day! Purchase a Garden Guy gift certificate in any amount and give Dad the backyard of his dreams.

Garden Guy. Visit www.garden-guy.com or www.facebook.com/GardenGuyHouston.

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Seen on the Scene 7th Annual Fort Bend Empty Bowls Benefiting East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry Aptil 15, 2016 • Safari Texas Ranch

Dr. Katia Lemke, DMD Orthodontic Specialist

• Free Orthodontic Exam & Consultation

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We are more than just magazines.

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Minica & Mark Perin June Steele & Caron Marble Kathy Richardson & Linda Smith Bill & Samantha Vautrain Corey & Dorris Irving with Wanda & Dan Farrell Jim & Tracey Shaw Wanda Sdao & Dorine Craig Linda Day & Kip Johnson

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Commemorative Book

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Memorable

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Seen on the Scene 15th Annual Flo Berkman Award Luncheon Benefiting the Fort Bend Rainbow Room April 26, 2016 • Sweetwater Country Club

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Seen on the Scene

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The Superhero Gala Benefiting Child Advocates of Fort Bend April 30, 2016 • Sugar Land Marriott Town Square

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MEDICAL FOCUS

Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute Opens Doors in Sugar Land

The new Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute.

The Sugar Land community now has access to a dynamic array of sports medicine experts and comprehensive testing and training for competitive and recreational athletes of all ages with the opening recently of the Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute on the campus of Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital. The opening marks the fourth Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute – the leading authority in sports medicine in the greater Houston region.

“Since 2007, Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute has been treating athletes throughout the city, and bringing this comprehensive Institute to the Sugar Land area allows us to expand our reach into one of the fastest growing areas in Houston,” said Jim Brown, Senior Vice President and CEO, Memorial Hermann Ambulatory Services and Orthopedics. “With a population that continues to grow, expansive public school districts as well as universities and the Sugar Land Skeeters baseball team, we hope to continue to be a valued partner and asset to the communi-

ties we serve.”

The new 15,000 square-foot, cutting-edge facility is located in Memorial Hermann Sugar Land’s new Medical Plaza 2 building at 17520 West Grand Parkway South, Suite 100. The building recently opened as part of a $93 million campus expansion.

“What truly sets this facility apart in Sugar Land is the variety of services that are offered,” said Dr. Walt Lowe, Chairman of Orthopedic Surgery at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and Medical Director of the Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute. “From treating sports-related injuries and concussions to offering guidance on nutrition, our convenient and comprehensive sports medicine is unmatched in the area.”

The Institute in Sugar Land will join Memorial Hermann’s comprehensive orthopedic network that includes sister sites in the Texas Medical Center, Memorial City and The Woodlands and will offer physician services, physical therapy, human performance training and testing, and sports nutrition counsel-

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • June 2016

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ing. Consistent with the other Institutes in Houston, it will also be staffed by UT Physicians who are fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons who serve on the faculty of UTHealth.

“Patients can expect the highest quality service and treatment at the IRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute,” Chief Sales Officer Carola Ross said.

“This Institute is designed to serve all types of athletes, at all ages, with various levels of ability. We know that these athletes want to get back to doing what they love as soon as possible, and with this new facility, we are able to help them do just that.”

The facility in Sugar Land will also have a brand new state-of-the-art outdoor sports field which will allow for the most efficient physical therapy, rehabilitation, return-to-play and sports performance training and testing.

As Sugar Land and the surrounding communities continue to grow, we want to be growing right along with them to not just meet but exceed expectations to provide safe, high-quality, care through state-of-the-art facilities,” said Greg Haralson, Senior Vice President and CEO, Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital. “Opening the Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute in Sugar Land allows us to expand and continue diversifying our offerings to the community.”

Memorial Hermann provides some of the areas most qualified and experienced staff, which includes head team physicians for the Houston Rockets, Houston Texans, the University of Houston Cougars and many area public and private high schools. The Institute also provides a diverse selection of orthopedic services including knee, hip and shoulder, foot and ankle, spine and back, elbow and hand and wrist care.

For more information about Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute and its locations, visit ironman. memorialhermann.org or call 713-2422270.

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Cancer Center Celebrates National Cancer Survivors Day Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital joins nearly 14.5 million American cancer survivors in celebrating the 29th Annual National Cancer Survivors Day® this year. Also being recognized are the many family members, friends and health care providers whose contributions to and support of cancer survivors help make the celebration possible. The Cancer Survivors Day Celebration and Luncheon takes place on Friday, June 3rd from 11:45 am to 1 pm at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s new Brazos Pavilion Conference Center.

“Surviving cancer is more than just living. It’s an attitude about life and living each day to the fullest,” said Frances Goerlich, director of Houston Methodist Cancer Center at Sugar Land. “You will find our Cancer Survivors Day event filled with joy, camaraderie, hope, compassion, faith and love as we honor cancer survivors for their strength and courage.”

“National Cancer Survivors Day is a great opportunity for cancer survivors, caregivers, friends and family to come together and affirm the possibility of quality of life after a diagnosis of cancer,” added Clive Shkedy, MD, radiation on-

cologist and medical director of Houston Methodist Cancer Center at Sugar Land.

Anyone living with a personal history of cancer – from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life – is a cancer survivor, according to the National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation®. Additionally, the foundation says that more people are surviving cancer than ever before, thanks to advances in prevention, early detection, treatment and follow-up care. Cancer, however, does come with many challenges, such as hindered access to cancer special-

ists and promising new treatments, inadequate or no insurance, financial hardships, employment problems and psychological struggles. “Despite these difficulties, cancer survivors can live active, productive lives with the support of other survivors,” said Shkedy.

Houston Methodist Cancer Center at Sugar Land welcomes all local cancer survivors and a guest to join them as they honor survivors living with a history of cancer. Registration is required. Register at houstonmethodist.org/events or call 281-274-7500.

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Cancer Survivors Day Celebration 2015.

D.I.Y. PizZa BLAZE PIZZA. YOU NAME IT, WE BUILD IT.

FRESH, MADE FROM SCRATCH DOUGH. ARTISANAL INGREDIENTS. CUSTOMIZATION ENCOURAGED. 180 SECONDS IN OUR OPEN FLAME OVEN FOR FAST-FIRE’D PERFECTION. SOUND GOOD? ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR DAY.

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SUGAR LAND 16100 Kensington Dr. (281) 491-0275

HOUSTON Woodlake Square 9650 Westheimer Rd.

(713) 780-0800

OUT & ABOUT

The volunteers of OakBend Medical Center hosted Power of the Purse to raise funds for the renovation of the hospital’s Skilled Nursing Unit. The event featured lunch and a silent auction of 28 purses. Keynote speaker Sally Baskey brought out her alter-ego Ida Mae Fudpucker to poke fun at some of the guests and encourage them to give generously. With over 100 attendees, the event raised over $17,000.

IN THE HEART

OF THE BEND Cathey Olenick, Janelle Kucera, Deborah Kappes and Diane Box.

Donna Ferguson, Sally Baskey and Linda Drummond.

The Fort Bend County Medical Society held its Spring Mixer at Vino & Vinyl in Missouri City, providing a great networking opportunity for physicians.

At the TAPPS 4A South Region Track Meet, Fort Bend Christian Academy junior Hannah Marut won the 3200 meter race.

She set a new personal and school record with a time of 11:30 and was named Regional Champion. Congratulations!

Laurie Molina and Vickie Lynn Tonn.

Amitha and Murali Rao.

Ileana and Paul Loubser.

Priya and Joe Dolut.

Hannah Marut.

Shreyas Bhavsar and Nick Desai.

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • June 2016

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Sapna Singh and Paul Killingsworth.

The Fort Bend Education Foundation’s Angels of Education Auxiliary hosted a luncheon for volunteers. New Auxiliary members were invited to hear about the Foundation’s programs and volunteer opportunities. Darling Homes provided lunch and their model home in Sienna Plantation at Sawmill Lakes.

Brenna Cosby, Darlene Willis, Shefali Jhaveri and Noreen Covey.

Teresa Trees, Bob Cruse and Robin Gill.

Wen Wing, Cindy Cheng, Syndee Howgate, Terri Wang and Lisa Kulhanek.

Willowridge High School’s Algebra 1 team was named winner of the high school level of Fort Bend ISD’s (FBISD) 8th Annual Algebra 1 Quiz Bowl after competing against teams from nine other FBISD high schools.

Congratulations to Susan Lazarou, Erick Bonilla, Floyd Vitatoe, Mercy Owolabi, Brandon Foster, Anna Sasu, Andy Herrera, Kimberly Corleto, Mia Blaylock and Dominique Norman. absolutely! focus media was honored to receive special recognition for their contribution to the Fort Bend Family YMCA at the organization’s 2016 Annual Campaign event. The Fort Bend Family YMCA was the beneficiary of the 2015 GEMS of Fort Bend event.

Patti Parish-Kaminski, Pam Filip and Sharon Hilburn.

Yolanda and Abe Sustaita.

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Jessica Kij, Alexa Goldstein, Sarah Bearden and Kay Garrett.

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Photo by David and Sue Tong.

OUT &

Six Eagle Scouts of Troop 1248 from Fort Bend Christian Academy were honored at The Eagle Scout Court of Honor on April 24th.

ABOUT IN THE HEART

OF THE BEND

Congratulations to Bryton Flecker, Zachary Adams, Trevor Rivers, Cameron Shih, Matthew Collins and Nathan Gee.

Guests donned pretty hats for the 13th Annual Fort Bend Spring Brunch Hats, Gloves and Boutonnieres benefiting the Fort Bend Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Discovery Center. Held at Imperial Market, the event featured a hard hat tour of the Discovery Center.

Rachal Leaman, Jennifer Dye and Tammie Kahn.

Lisa Anheiser and Tracy Golden.

Lisa Soland and Carol Albers.

Patti Kaminski, Susie Goff and Debbie Marcell.

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com â&#x20AC;˘ June 2016

Lynn Halford, Paula Stevens, Dee Hinkle and Carrol Ann Pullen.

Nancy Malke, Judy Schmid and Sandy Kelly.

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Sugar Land residents and others from the greater Houston area came together for the 8th Annual Grant-A-Starr Foundation Fun Run. Checks in the amount of $25,000 were presented to both Texas Children’s Hospital and Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, and 100 percent of the funds raised support projects dedicated to the development of rapid diagnostic testing.

Teen board members who managed the event were Will Haase, Dylan Alexander, Naveen Jain, Gregory Freeman, Richard Freeman, Rachel Vanderzyl, Sydney Bynes, Rachel Wang, Audrey Vanderzyl, Jason Rodriguez, Blake Jameson and Kristen Li. Heart Guild of Houston volunteers worked hard to ensure this year’s Shop With Heart fundraising event was a success!

One hundred percent of the proceeds from card sales benefited the American Heart Association. absolutely! focus media was a proud sponsor.

Photo by Alexander's Fine Portrait Photography.

Becky Yanez, Linda Rhodes, Jessica Willey, Laura Conner and Priya McMorrow.

Jackie Collins, Karen Miller, Susan Ferrari, Julie Haralson, Andria Francis and Pam Allen.

Photo by PR Boutique.

Photo by Julie Haralson.

Jean Chapman and Vicki West at the kick-off event.

Melissa Ceballos, Belinda Akers, Jessica Ansel, Maricarolyn Stith and Jane Myers prepared merchant packets.

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OUT &

GiGi’s Playhouse hosted Spinning into Spring, a fashion show and luncheon at Sugar Creek Country Club.

ABOUT IN THE HEART

OF THE BEND Noell Myska, Kathryn Self and Ammie Blahuta.

Kay Garrett and Patti Parish-Kaminski.

Kay Bart, Ann Massey and Meredith Brown.

Lisa Moore, Lea Gibson, Holly Kaminga and Gayle Wooten modeled some colorful spring fashions.

The 6th Annual Classic Chili Challenge was a blast! Sponsored by Classic Chevrolet, the event raised funds to benefit the Sugar Land Police Officers’ Association.

Leslie Martin, Rene Casanova and Suzanne Fotorny.

Rob Thompson and Margie Connolly.

James Duke and Bubba Blasingame.

Amanda and Freddy Lopez.

Jan O’Dell and Irene Wisner.

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • June 2016

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Adrianne Manrique and Lisa McGarity.

Memorial Hermann Urgent Care Telfair recently held an open house and ribbon cutting celebrating its new 2,916 square-foot facility.

Fort Bend businesses stepped up to sponsor and compete in AccessHealth’s 4th Annual Community Challenge Tournament at the Missouri City Community Park. The event raised over $25,000 to provide health care services for low-income and uninsured families in Fort Bend County and the surrounding areas.

Greg Haralson, Clutch and Mike Dobert.

Jessica Kij and Nancy Colmenares.

Victor Tarson, Byron Jimenez, Richard Scott Cantu, Mario Munoz, Bharati Janarthanan, Anthony Smith, Kendrick Hearne, Chris Rappel, Kissie Joubert, Oliver Batinga, Donna Sloan, Laura Arena and Santiago Juanes.

Restorative 50 OFF Treatments $ Niral Patel, Anju Chacko and Eugenio Bacani.

Only $ New Patient Special!

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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

Courtney Diepraam and Ashlea Quinonez.

My 36 year career with the City of Rosenberg allowed me to help thousands as police officer, police chief and city manager. Now, it’s time for me to help you. Allow me the chance to be your Realtor and help you navigate through the real estate process.

Call 281.851.9796 David James and Jennifer Zimmerman.

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magazine • June 2016

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ROBERT GRACIA Realtor®

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DELICIOUS

Simply Sweet

Summer Entertaining

L

ight, refreshing flavors are the perfect solution for a summer meal.

As temperatures heat up, take your summer entertaining to the next level with a secret ingredient that is as pretty as it is tasty.

Alone or in a recipe, grapes are a deliciously healthy way to bring refreshing flavor to the summertime table. Delightful as a cool snack, grapes are also a great choice for your entertaining menu, because they pair well with so many other ingredients.

You may be surprised by all of the combinations of flavors and textures you can achieve, from main dishes to sides and even desserts. Impress guests with this mouthwatering lineup featuring grapes that includes a grilled flank steak, an extra fresh classic salad and an unexpectedly sweet but savory sorbet.

Visit GrapesfromCalifornia.com for more refreshing recipes for summer entertaining.

Servings: 6 1

1 1/2 1 1/4 1/4 2 1/2 2

flank steak (2 pounds) kosher salt freshly ground black pepper tablespoons red wine vinegar tablespoon chopped shallot teaspoon Dijon mustard cup extra-virgin olive oil bunches (8 cups) watercress, trimmed cup crumbled Stilton or other blue cheese cups red California grapes, halved

Heat grill to high and oil grates.

Sprinkle steak with salt and pepper.

In small blender or food processor, combine vinegar, shallot, mustard and olive oil to make dressing. Season with salt and pepper, and puree until smooth.

Grill steak until it reaches 130 F for medium-rare, about 6 to 7 minutes per side. Transfer to cutting board and let rest 5 minutes.

In large bowl, combine watercress, salt, pepper and enough dressing to coat. Thinly slice steak across the grain and transfer to platter. Top with watercress, Stilton and grapes, and serve with additional dressing.

Nutritional information per serving: 376 calories; 29 g protein; 10 g carbohydrates; 24 g fat (57% calories from fat); 8.5 g saturated fat (20% calories from saturated fat); 73 mg cholesterol; 299 mg sodium; .8 g fiber.

Source: Family Features TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

Grilled Flank Steak with Grapes and Stilton

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Grape and Spinach Salad with Raspberry Balsamic Dressing Servings: 8 8 4 1/2 1 1/4 1/3 3/4 1/4 3 3/4

cups fresh baby spinach, washed cups California grapes cups mandarin orange segments (drained, if using canned) cup thinly sliced red onion cup bottled light balsamic vinegar and oil dressing cup orange juice tablespoons raspberry jam cup crunchy chow mein noodles

Place spinach in large salad bowl. Top with grapes, oranges and onion.

Whisk together dressing, orange juice and jam. Pour over salad and toss until greens are coated with dressing. Top with crunchy noodles.

Serving suggestion: Add noodles just before serving to maintain crunchy texture.

Nutritional information per serving: 166 calories; 3 g protein; 32 g carbohydrates; 4 g fat (22% calories from fat); .71 g saturated fat (4% calories from saturated fat); 0 mg cholesterol; 350 mg sodium; 3 g fiber.

Savory Black Grape Sorbet

Servings: 4 1 1/2 1/4 2 2 8

pounds (4 cups) black California seedless grapes cup sugar tablespoons vodka tablespoons lemon juice large basil leaves pinch of salt

In food processor or blender, puree grapes and sugar until smooth. Pour into small saucepan and bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until mixture has reduced by about one-third, about 15 minutes. Stir in vodka, lemon juice, basil and salt, then let cool to room temperature.

Pour mixture into shallow pan and freeze until hard, 3 to 4 hours. Transfer to food processor or blender and process until smooth and creamy, and lightened in color. Serve immediately.

Nutritional information per serving: 184 calories; 1 g protein; 44 g carbohydrates; 0 g fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 151 mg sodium; 2 g fiber.

Servings: 1 3 5 2 1/4 1 1

Grape Basil Martini

basil leaves, torn, plus additional for garnish green California grapes, halved, plus additional for garnish ounces gin ounce Essencia ounce lemon juice ounce simple syrup

In cocktail shaker, muddle basil and grapes with gin. Add Essencia, lemon juice and simple syrup, and shake gently. Strain into rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with basil leaf and float two grapes on top. Serve.

Nutritional information per serving: 229 calories; 0 g protein; 24 g carbohydrates; 0 g fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 1 mg sodium; 0.3 g fiber. fort bend

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absolutely!

AUTO REVIEW

By Steve Kursar

T

2016 KIA SORENTO

he 2016 Kia Sorento was completely redesigned for this model year, and it is now one of the best mid-size crossovers on the road. What was once a simply adequate family hauler, this all-new Sorento is bigger inside and out, featuring some cool, new technology and a much more stylish exterior. This is a quality vehicle through and through and a strong contender for anyone shopping this segment.

Kia Motors is Korea’s second largest automaker and often plays second fiddle to Hyundai. The first Kia cars showed up on American highways back in the early 1990s. They seriously lacked quality and style, but they caught on, because they were priced considerably lower than American and Japanese competitors, thus allowing more people to own cars. However, the latest generation of Kia cars and crossovers are a quantum leap in both design and workmanship often surpassing their rivals.

The new Sorento is a perfect example of all of that.

The exterior design gives the Sorento an edgier, more rugged look than the previous model. The interior offers a remarkably quiet interior with more passenger legroom and high quality materials with a fit and finish comparable to some luxury cars.

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

There are more driver aid technologies available than you’ll use, such as to keep you alert to blind spots and cross traffic.

The new Kia Sorento is available in a configuration that is right for both large and small families, since you can get it in a two-row, five passenger version or move up to the three-row, seven passenger model. The base Sorento, with an MSRP of $25,100, is a two-row model with a 185 hp, 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine that gets EPA estimated fuel economy ratings of 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. The next engine option is a 240 hp, 2.0 liter four-cylinder turbocharged powerplant that delivers better performance and only slightly lower fuel economy with 20 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. If you’re expecting that third row to be occupied on a regular basis, then the best engine option is the peppy 290 hp, 3.3 liter V6 engine that gets 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway.

If you haven’t driven a Kia in a while, put the new Sorento on your list, especially if you’re in the market for a new, mid-size crossover. It’s at the head of its class.

Follow SteveKursar at KursarOnCars.blogspot.com. .com • June 2016

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June 2016 Winner “San Diego Marina”

By Ann Luke Congratulations Ann, 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 June 7th, 9 am – 2:30 pm Senior Field Trip Spend the day touring downtown Richmond!

Two hours of the tour will be spent touring the Fort Bend County Courthouse, Fort Bend County Jail and Morton Cemetery. Lunch will follow at Sandy McGee’s. Sign up at the Recreation and Tennis Center, located at 2701 Cypress Point Drive in Missouri City.

Call 281-403-8637 or visit www.missouricitytx.gov.

June 10th, 6:15 pm Mini Mudder Enjoy an evening of messy, muddy fun at Missouri City Parks and Recreation’s 2nd Annual Mini Mudder at 1522 Texas Parkway in Missouri City. Participants will make their way through muddy obstacles while collecting tokens to exchange for a finish line prize.

Call 281-403-8637 or visit www.missouricitytx.gov.

June 3rd, 2 – 3 pm Camp Sienna Computer Class Throughout the summer, the Sienna Branch Library, located at 8411 Sienna Springs Boulevard in Missouri City, will host different computer classes for teens. This class will focus on Microsoft Publisher.

To register, visit www.fortbend.lib.tx.us.

June 11th, 2 pm Classical Music of India Performance

June 3rd, 6 – 9 pm Splash Night Sponsored by the City of Meadows Place Parks and Recreation Department, Splash Night is a citywide celebration and welcoming of summer!

There will be games, food, activities, music and friends at the City of Meadows Place Municipal Pool, located at 11975 Dorrance Lane. Bring canned food or non-perishable items for the Sugar Grove Church of Christ Food Pantry.

Call 281-983-2935 or visit cityofmeadowsplace.org.

Members of the Indian Music Society of Houston will perform classical Indian music on the sitar, tabla and flute at the University Branch Library, located at 14010 University Boulevard in Sugar Land.

Call 281-633-5100.

June 10th, 17th and 24th 1:30 – 3:30 pm Family Afternoon Movie: It Was a Book First!

Come out every Friday to the Sienna Library, located at 8411 Sienna Springs Boulevard in Missouri City, for a family movie! Each week will feature a different movie. Snacks will be provided.

Visit www.fortbend.lib.tx.us.

Presented By:

June 15th, 2 pm Children’s Theater Performance ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECH Water Treatment Specialists

Every Saturday, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, rain or shine 198 Kempner St. at Imperial Sugar Land

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

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Bring your family to the University Branch Library, located at 14010 University Boulevard in Sugar Land, to watch Do Unto Otters! This performance is based on the popular children’s book written by Laurie Keller.

Call 281-633-4734.

EVENTS June 15th, 6 – 7 pm ALZ 101: Volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Association

SUGAR LAND TOWN SQUARE

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Join the fight against Alzheimer’s and learn how you can volunteer around the community!

This informative meeting will be held at the First Colony Library, located at 2121 Austin Parkway in Sugar Land.

To RSVP, e-mail Marisa Ramon at mramon@alz.org or call 713-314-1346.

www.sugarlandtownsquare.com Call 281.313.SLTS Kindermusik with Sessions Music Thursday, June 2nd 9:30 – 10:30 am

Giving Spirits Concert Benefiting Hope for Three

June 18th, 2 – 4 pm Summer Comic-Hero Challenge Join First Colony Branch Library, located at 2121 Austin Parkway in Sugar Land, for the Summer Comic-Hero Challenge for adults and teens 13 and up. There will be three competitions, and prizes will be awarded to the winners.

Call 281-238-2800.

June 16th, 1 – 3 pm College Fair

Saturday, June 4th Noon – 4 pm

Friday, June 10th 7:30 – 9:30 pm

Movie Under the Moon Saturday, June 11th 8:30 – 10 pm

NOLA Nights with Rouxpour June 24th, 6 pm The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson

The Missouri City Parks & Recreation Department hosts senior bingo monthly for area residents who are 50 and older. Fellowship with peers, enjoy refreshments and play friendly rounds of bingo for great prizes at 2701 Cypress Point Drive. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

Call 281-403-8637 or visit www.missouricitytx.gov.

No Identity’s 2nd Annual Children’s Wellness Bash

Rock the Block with Sessions Music

Calling all incoming seniors! Have you decided where you want to go to college?

Come out to the College Fair at the University Branch Library, located at 14010 University Boulevard in Sugar Land, to learn about educational opportunities available at a variety of colleges, as well as admission requirements, financial aid, student housing and more.

Call 281-633-5100.

June 16th, 5:30 pm Senior Bingo Night

Friday, June 3rd 7:30 – 9:30 pm

Join the City of Meadows Place, Olympic Gold Medalists Rowdy Gaines and Janet Evans and kids and parents at aquatic facilities around the globe to set a Guinness World Record™ for the largest swimming lesson ever! Spread the word that swimming lessons save lives. The fun takes place at the City of Meadows Place Pool, located at 11975 Dorrance Lane.

Call 281-983-2935 or contact parks3@cityofmeadowsplace.org.

Friday, June 17th 7:30 – 9:30 pm

Sugar Land Superstar Round 1 Saturday, June 18th 7:30 – 9:30 pm

Dancing Under the Stars Friday, June 24th 7:30 – 9 pm

Rhythm and Brews with Jupiter Pizza & Waffles Saturday, June 25th 7:30 – 9:30 pm

June 25th, 11 am Craft Your Heart Out Do you love to do crafts or want to try something new? Come learn or gain more experience with different crafts at the Missouri City Branch Library, located at 1530 Texas Parkway in Missouri City.

Attendees should bring their own craft supplies.

Call 281-238-2100.

fort bend

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SUBMIT YOUR EVENTS E-mail events@absolutelyfocusmedia.com.

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

Walter Jennings Evans (Grandfather), David Arnold Evans (Daddy) and Laura Mae Evans (Nana).

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

Living the Sweet Life

Lost and Found: Finding Father’s Day Treasures in Nana’s Pocketbook

S

ome time ago, I was digging around in my closet, and for some reason, I glanced up and saw my Nana’s black pocketbook. I grabbed it and opened it up knowing there would be something inside. Nana used to always keep things in her purses and drawers, and I remember as a child enjoying “plundering” as she called it. You never knew what you’d find. Sometimes it was an old penny and a Kleenex and other times a pair of glasses or a small mirror and lipstick.

When I opened up her black bag, I saw a cluster of papers mixed with photos and letters. I carefully opened one letter and discovered it was from my grandfather written to Nana while she was in the hospital. As I finished the letter, I saw where there was another letter inside with a description of what my grandfather had translated for Nana from scribbles that my very own daddy had made!

On Father’s Day, it is hard not to look back at the men who are a part of our lives. Men who become fathers do so for many reasons. For some, the role is natural, while for others, it may be harder to accomplish. Certainly I think we can all agree it takes a special man to be a good daddy and a good spouse. Grandaddy died before I was born, and Nana came to live with Mommy and Daddy right before I was born. Nana always spoke so well of my grandfather. He was a plumber, a farmer and a gentle man. As you might imagine, my only real connection to him was from Nana and the stories that she passed to us through the years. One story was how Grandaddy played in a band and all the ladies wanted to “borrow” him, to which Nana replied, “My Walter Jennings was not for borrowing!” She often spoke of them keeping the farm out of debt and how hard they had worked, one story I had forgotten about until I read the letter.

Grandaddy and Nana always wanted children, and it took them years to have my Daddy. Nana spoke of another baby named Patricia that she had carried and that had died. She never really elaborated on the details but to say that she had always wanted to name her Patricia. This letter was written by my grandfather to her while she was in the hospital recovering from having lost that child, and he had the thoughtfulTO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

Nana with Daddy and Jack, Nana’s sister’s son who she raised as her own after his mother died.

ness to ask my father to “write” her a love note too to comfort his mother! What must have been a very traumatic time in their lives, now with all of them passed, I was now finding in a letter left in her pocketbook. He wrote of how much he missed her and how guilty he felt for having put her there.

This was so sweet it nearly broke my heart. I never knew anything about him, and this love letter said it all. Their story was a true love story. It also made perfect sense to me why Nana never remarried. She spent 39 years living without him after his death in 1965 until her own in 2004. She also wore a small golden band every day that was inscribed 12-23-26 WJE to LMB. Finding the letter opened my eyes to several things. One, Nana kept the letter and stuck it in a safe place for me to find years later. The letter meant something to her and was a permanent reminder for her of Grandaddy’s love for her and for their son, and even for the child they had lost. There was no way I could have comprehended the magnitude of pain she felt while she was alive, but having also lost two babies and finding this love note, it made me feel closer to her than before. I also came to realize what an amazing man my grandfather must have been. I caught a glimpse into the way he treated Nana and my Daddy, and it made me smile.

Happy Father’s Day! Take care of YOU!

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