June 2023 - Fort Bend Focus Magazine - People • Places • Happenings

KEEP YOU MOVING

without joint pain

Live life without joint pain.

At Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, we know that joint pain affects every part of your life. With treatment plans customized for you, our specialists in Sugar Land offer a full range of advanced nonsurgical and surgical techniques. Our expert joint care includes:

• Innovative pain control methods

• Physical therapy to improve mobility and range of motion

• The latest technology, including minimally invasive surgical techniques that help reduce recovery time

Sugar Land

Schedule an appointment: houstonmethodist.org/jointpain

281.690.4678

2023

20 A CHEF-WORTHY SUMMER CLASSIC FOR DAD

Southwest Steaks and Parmesan-Herb Fries

21 FILET MIGNON FIT FOR A KING With Blue Cheese Chive Butter

8

FORT BEND’S STELLAR SENIORS

It’s that time of year when our seniors receive their hard-earned diplomas, and the future indeed looks bright for Fort Bend’s class of 2023. Take a look at the vals and sals from Fort Bend ISD High Schools and from Fort Bend Christian Academy, along with some amazing young women who received scholarships from the Fort Bend Junior Service League for their outstanding achievements. Congratulations graduates!

18 48TH ANNUAL HOUSTON GLASS CLUB

Vintage Glass and Antique Show and Sale

19 FORT BEND JUNIOR SERVICE LEAGUE

Awards Community Assistance Grant

25 CAST THEATRICAL

Announces Cast for The Butler Did It

31 FORT BEND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Awarded Multiple Keys at HCDE Regional Awards

Soakin’ Up the Celebrations

The lazy, hazy days of summer are finally here, and I, for one, am ready for a more laid-back pace as we celebrate life a bit slower.

Celebrations are a major theme in this issue as we share with you our top grads from Fort Bend ISD and Fort Bend Christian Academy. Our vals and sals are stellar this year, and we are proud to shine the spotlight on them as they embark on the next chapter of their educational journey. And, we also share some amazing young women who have earned scholarships from our very own Fort Bend Junior Service League. Yes, the future looks bright for these young scholars, and we congratulate them on their achievements!

We also celebrate dad this month for Father’s Day, and Steve has a couple of great ideas to toast good ole dad in his column on page 16. And of course, if you would like to do something special for dad at home, you can always prepare a feast fit for a king, and we have some great recipes for you on page 20.

Another great celebration in this issue is the 25th anniversary of our friends at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. They have been providing state-of-the-art healthcare right here in our community for 25 years – what a huge milestone!

And yet another milestone celebrated was the grand opening of the new corporate headquarters in Stafford of our friends at Dhanani Private Equity Group (DPEG). DPEG celebrated big with their first quarterly distribution of 2023 in excess of $7 million to over 400 of their investor partners with a grand celebration. Congratulations to Team DPEG!

I hope you enjoy some meaningful celebrations this month be they graduations, weddings, birthdays, Father’s Day celebrations, vacations and everything that the summer seasons brings. For me, I think I’m going to take a moment and be like Sheryl after what seems like a longer than normal, dreary winter: “I wanna soak up the sun.” Stay focused!

WEB

SOCIAL

CONTRIBUTORS

Jeffrey

Steve Kursar

Alisa Murray

Patti@absolutelyfocusmedia.com

The

Patti and Tim Kaminski at the Lincoln Reagan Dinner.

DPEG Chief Executive Officer Nick Dhanani and Patti Parish-Kaminski at DPEG’s Grand Opening Celebration.

Photo by Debra Maltman.

Fort Bend’s Stellar Seniors

From landing the number one and two spots at area high schools to earning scholarships from community organizations, Fort Bend’s top grads are all A’s this year. Take a peek at their grade A accomplishments, and read about their plans as they continue their journey in advanced education.

The future indeed looks bright for the class of 2023. Congratulations Fort Bend grads!

Fort Bend ISD

Austin High School

Clements High School

Bush High School

Dulles High School

Jingyi Qu Valedictorian Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Narsi Chokshi Salutatorian University of Houston

Akaash Kolluri Valedictorian Stanford University

Amy Chang Salutatorian Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Nathan Tran Valedictorian University of Texas

Benjamin Nguyen Salutatorian University of Houston

Sahil Chowdhury Valedictorian University of Texas

Rushil Shah Salutatorian Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Elkins High School

Christine Dominic Valedictorian University of Texas

Sahil Sheth Salutatorian University of California – Los Angeles

Marshall High School

Iyanna McLean Valedictorian University of Texas

Vanessa Muoneke Salutatorian Sam Houston State University

Kempner High School

Vera Ong Valedictorian University of Houston

Ryan Nguyen Salutatorian University of Texas

Hightower High School

Sri Veda Samhita Chinapuvvula Valedictorian University of Texas

Shalom Okeleke Salutatorian Northwestern University

Ridge Point High School

Kevin McGrath Valedictorian Brown University

Ian Cochran Salutatorian University of Texas

Travis High School

Saood Usmani Valedictorian University of Texas

Mikhaila Reid Salutatorian Brown University

Willowridge High School

Ariana Coronel Valedictorian University of Houston

Maritza Villegas Salutatorian University of Houston

Fort Bend ISD

Whitney Childs Valedictorian Vanderbilt University

Jackson Champion Salutatorian Texas A&M University

Fort Bend Christian Academy

Senior Scholarships Awarded by the Fort Bend Junior Service League

The Fort Bend Junior Service League (FBJSL), an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and to improving the Fort Bend County community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers, has awarded six $1,000 scholarships for the 2022-2023 academic year to the following young ladies for their outstanding volunteer commitment and contributions to our community. The recipients are Hadley Boudreaux, Katherine Bourgeois, Anvi Garyali, Alifiya Saleem, Ria Tahwar and Emilie Wakeman.

Hadley Boudreaux is a senior at Saint Agnes Academy. She is the captain of both the basketball and cross-country teams, and a member of the National Charity League where she has volunteered 780 hours. She is passionate about working with teenagers with Autism and has over 100 hours as a counselor for Camp Blessing. Boudreaux hopes to continue her work with Autistic teens at one of the seven colleges she has been accepted to attend.

Katherine (Kate) Bourgeois is a senior at Stephen F Austin High School. She is a member of the National Charity League and has volunteered over 350 hours while staying very active in school. In her spare time, she enjoys knitting, swimming, photography, and any kind of arts and crafts. Bourgeois plans to pursue a degree in elementary education at Auburn University.

Anvi Garyali is a senior at Dulles High School. She has volunteered 1,250 hours all while maintaining a 4.26 GPA. She is the founder of Rhythm of Live, a non-profit organization created to advocate and raise awareness surrounding mental health and substance abuse. Garyali will attend the University of Texas at Austin in the fall, where she will major in Health and Society.

Alifiya Saleem is a senior at Kempner High School. She is the president of the National Honor Society and has won over a dozen awards. She is a group founder of Hello Talk where she teaches English to Chinese students and has taught over 500 students. Saleem plans to attend the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business where she plans to pursue a dual degree in International Studies and Business.

Ria Talwar is a senior at Ridge Point High School. She is the President of the Science Honor Society and is working on turning 200 pounds of plastic caps into a school bench. She is also the cofounder of two organizations at her school, Paying it Forward, which provides volunteer opportunities for students, and Purple Hearts, which supports teachers, staff and administration with a supportive environment by providing free period products to teacher’s classrooms with purple hearts. Talwar has been accepted to the University of Houston, Texas A&M, UT Austin and Dallas. She plans to continue her volunteering at the college level.

Emilie Wakeman is a senior at Cinco Ranch High School. She is the Vice President of Programs for the National Charity League, and she is on the National Honors Society as well as the Spanish National Honors Society. She has volunteered over 150 hours, while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. She plans on attending the University of Alabama pursuing a BS degree in Management Information Systems with a minor in Real Estate Management.

The FBJSL would like to honor and congratulate these young ladies for the volunteer work they have given to our community and wishes them well in their future endeavors. For more information about the Fort Bend Junior Service League, visit http://www.fbjsl.org

Congratulations to FBJSL 2023 scholarship recipients Hadley Boudreaux, Anvi Garyali, Emilie Wakeman, Ria Tahwar and Katherine Bourgeois.

OF THE BEND

Sugar Land’s Allure Aesthetics hosted a Grand Reveal Event that boasted an array of sponsored exhibits, showcasing the latest advancements in med spa anti-aging treatments, products and services for attending guests. Allure brought together leading industry professionals, experts and speakers who shared their knowledge and insights during captivating discussions.

The Grand Reveal Event marks the beginning of a new era for Allure Aesthetics Med Spa, and the attendees left the event with a sense of anticipation and eagerness to experience the showcased services.

Guests at Allure Aesthetics Grand Reveal Event enjoyed learning about new med spa anti-aging treatments, products and services.

Allure Aesthetics specializes in Aesthetics, Wellness and You. The Grand Reveal Event was a captivating and transformative evening that showcased several revolutionary treatments and therapies. For more information about Allure Aesthetics, visit www.allureaestheticsmd.com

A Fort Bend institution recently closed after 50 years. Steve Onstad’s The Swinging Door made an indelible mark on our community not only for great food and memories, but on generations of Fort Bend residents from patrons, community organizations and employees. Owner Steve Onstad said in a message to the community, “I would like to thank all of our wonderful customers, vendors and especially all of the coworkers for over 50 years of memories. We have been blessed to be of service to this wonderful part of Texas, and this ole BBQ guy has decided to move on to another chapter in life.”

The Swinging Door Alumni Crew turned out in spades to help out their beloved boss as lines formed for days outside of the building as patrons came by for one last meal at the beloved restaurant. The doors closed for good on Mother’s Day. We wish Steve the best on his next adventure, and thank him for years of service to Fort Bend.

Former employees Marisa Kunkle, Chris McGuire, Joseph Rangel, Tara Scoggins, Claire Brandani, owner Steve Onstad, Jill Davis and Sandra Dorr all showed up to lend a helping hand.

Debbie Marcell and Patti ParishKaminski.

Dr. Azeema Moosa, Katie Dunnavant and Crystal Fewox.

Claire Brandani and Tara Scoggins pulled kitchen duty at The Swinging Door.

2023 Lincoln Reagan Dinner Featured Congressman Troy Nehls and Congressman Byron Donalds as Keynote Speakers

OF THE BEND

The Fort Bend County Republican Party’s annual Lincoln Reagan dinner was held April 28th at Safari Texas Ranch and was attended by over 500 guests. The organization’s premiere fundraising event, the evening featured remarks from U. S. Congressman Byron Donalds and U. S. Congressman Troy Nehls, who also served as the evening’s auctioneer. Former Representative Mayra Flores served as the Master of Ceremonies.

Bob Hebert and Allison Wen. Judge Tricia Krenek and Judge Kelly Crow.

Congressman Troy Nehls, Fort Bend County Clerk Laura Richard and Congressman Byron Donalds.

Barry Beard and Marvin Marcell. Claudia and Judge Chad Bridges.

Don McCoy, Jess Stuart, Fort Bend County Commissioner Vincent Morales, Precinct 1 and Council Member Jennifer Lane, Sugar Land.

Jenny and Judge Dean Hrbacek.

Gary Pearson and Fort Bend County Commissioner Andy Meyers, Precinct 3.

Jaime and Judge Maggie Jaramillo with Craig LeTulle.

Organized by Fort Bend County Republican Party Chairman Dr. Bobby Eberle, the event consisted of dinner, live and silent auctions, a dance and remarks from numerous Republican community organizations. “I wanted guests to hear from our local leaders and especially, to get the high school perspective,” said Eberle. “One of the highlights of the evening for me was the participation from our youth. We heard from a senior at Ridge Point High School, Aambar Seth, and her speech went over very well with the crowd.”

Seth received a standing ovation for her remarks regarding the next generation of leaders and her goal of bringing equity to government. She graduated from Ridge Point High School in May and will be attending Texas State University studying Business in the fall.

Seth wasn’t the only example of youth attending the event. According to Eberle, there were two sponsor tables donated that he filled with students, one with Fort Bend ISD students and another with Katy ISD students. “We were fortunate to have these two tables of young Republications represent the youth, and they really enjoyed attending the event.”

Among the guests were several local and state elected officials, including a special guest appearance by the namesakes of the annual event. David Hamilton came as Abraham Lincoln and Ed Haar came as Ronald Reagan. They spent the evening visiting and taking photos with guests.

Eberle shared that one of his goals with the evening was to have all of the Republican communities represented, and he felt that the goal was achieved with both the diversity and number of guests attending this year’s event.

“Almost all of our legislators stepped up and supported the party,” said Eberle. “The support from our elected officials meant a lot to me. It was a fun event, and everyone had a good time.”

Ed Haar as Ronald Reagan, Mary Favre and David Hamilton as Abraham Lincoln.

Judy Schmidt and Senator Joan Huffman.

Trever Nehls and Judge Chris Morales.

Aambar Seth. Photo by Heather Purvis.

Barbara Rozzell, Jo Howard, Debbie Marcell and Patti Parish-Kaminski.

Elizabeth Walker and Senator Lois Kolkhorst.

Photos by Mary Favre, Liz Furman, Cathy Hinchman, Jessica Kij, Debra Maltman.

Joan Rosenthal, Congressman Byron Donalds and Dave Rosenthal.

the drunken cyclist

By Jeffrey M. Kralik, Ph.D. www.thedrunkencyclist.com

No Need to Overthink for Dad

As I mentioned last month, after years of trying to get my father to appreciate wine, I gave up a couple of decades ago. There is little doubt that my last act before they put him in the casket will be to pry the can of Michelob Ultra out of his hand. This was underscored when I flew back to Detroit this past fall to help him clean out his house after his wife passed away unexpectedly. Several years prior to her death, my stepmother stopped inviting us all over for Christmas dinner. My siblings and I assumed that the two of them, who were clearly advanced in age, saw the “tradition” as too much work, and they had decided to let “the kids” handle the year-end celebration.

That is what we thought, but after walking into their house that brisk November afternoon, I knew there was another potential reason: my dad’s wife was a hoarder. And there was stuff everywhere. Without delving too far into what we found in the house, here are a few illustrative items that we uncovered: several boxes of unused, still in cellophane photo albums (it took quite a bit of convincing to assure my father that I had no use for them). There was also at least one case (12 one-liter bottles) of ExtraVirgin Olive Oil – all of which had a July 2013 expiration

date. And there was a bottle of 1990 Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame champagne, in its original box, with about an inch of dust on it.

Say what?

Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame

As I had mentioned, my father is not a wine guy, not even close. The only other bottle of wine I found in the house was a 2009 Italian Pinot Grigio, which clearly someone had gifted them back in 2010. So how on earth did they have a bottle of champagne that is likely worth close to $300 today? After about 37 seconds of reflection, it dawned on me:

I had given it to him.

Twenty-five years ago.

For Father’s Day.

With Father’s Day coming up this month, I thought I would provide a few suggestions as to what to do for your father.

First, as the above story hopefully underscores, before you drop a couple hundred bucks on a wine-related gift, make sure your father actually drinks wine (you would think that would be obvious, but . . . ). Second, don’t get caught up in the myriad of products out there designed to get you to part with your hard-earned cash. For the true wine lover, they are concerned with two main things: getting the bottle open and pouring it into some sort of receptacle. Other than that? Superfluous knickknacks.

I open, on average, about 1,000 bottles of wine every year. Yes, on any given day, I open about three bottles of wine (of course, I don’t finish all those bottles, but . . . ) and I have just about every wine gadget known to the wine world: countless aerators, bottle chillers, wine preservation systems, decanters, even a Coravin, and I don’t use any of them on a daily basis.

So what do I use, and what should you get dad?

• A corkscrew. I probably have 30 to 40 different corkscrews, and I use exactly two on a regular basis. Both are made by Château Laguiole. There are a ton of corkscrews with the name “Laguiole” on it (a region in France known for knife production and pronounced “La-Yole”), but the original and best is still Château Laguiole. They start north of $100 and can get pretty pricey, but they are worth it, and dad will love it (yes, even if he already has one).

• Wine glasses. Most wine drinkers consider Riedel the gold-standard when it comes to stemware, but if your father is like me, he no longer buys them since they are expensive and break far too easily. But I would bet my bottom bottle that he would love to have a few more (90% of the wine I drink, er taste, is poured into Riedels). If this is the road you choose, buy at least two – four would be better – of the same kind (they run about $30 to $40 per stem) and don’t overthink it. Get either the standard Cabernet or Chardonnay glasses.

• Wine. Last, if all else fails, you could always buy him a bottle of actual wine, of course. My advice here? Buy him something you yourself might also want to drink someday, a wine that ages quite well. I don’t know, a bottle of prestige champagne, perhaps?

Happy Father’s Day and Cheers to Dad!

48th Annual Houston Glass Club Vintage Glass and Antique Show and Sale

The Houston Glass Club is pleased to announce its 48th annual Vintage Glass and Antique Show and Sale. The show begins on Saturday, August 19th from 9 am to 5 pm and continues on Sunday, August 20th, from 10 am to 4 pm. The event will be held at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds, located at 4310 Highway 36, just south of Houston in Rosenberg.

“Glass is more delightful and sightly than any other material at this day known to man,” could be a quote from a modernday glass collector. Actually, it is part of Neri’s introduction to his Art of Glass book written in 1611. Sponsored by the Hous-

ton Glass Club, dealers carry a wide variety of depression era glass and elegant glass from companies such as Cambridge, Fostoria, Heisey, Tiffin and Imperial. American made kitchenware, pottery, and dinnerware are also featured.

The Houston Glass Club Show remains one of the toprated and respected shows in the United States with dealers displaying rare and hard to find pieces. These dealers buy all year with this particular show in mind knowing that the patrons have discriminating tastes and expect the best and most unusual glassware to be there.

Explore the forest canopy – indoors! At the museum’s newest handson exhibition, visitors roam from tree to tree as they discover the many habitats that trees provide for animals large and small. Climb through large treehouses, become an animal tracker, get face-to-face with wildlife of all sizes, move your feet on the forest-sound dance floor, and more!

May 26 – September 4

For tickets and information, visit hmns.org/treehouses

This exhibition is proudly supported by Fort Bend Junior Service League

A wide variety of depression era glass and elegant glass from companies such as Cambridge, Fostoria, Heisey, Tiffin and Imperial will be available at the 48th Annual Houston Glass Club Vintage Glass and Antique Show and Sale August 19th - 20th in Rosenberg.

There is also a wonderful general line antique show in the second building so attendees get two shows in one! Dealers carry a wide range of general line antiques including furniture, linens, estate and costume jewelry, silver, quilts and a myriad of other items. There is truly something for everyone! You never know what will appear at a show, and as all collectors know, that is what makes collecting such an adventure. There is also a glass repair booth on-site to repair damaged glass, silver and costume jewelry items.

Admission is $7 for both days. Food concessions are available onsite and will be catered by the Crazy Cookers featuring pulled pork, burgers, nachos, frito pies, sweets and treats. The food is delicious and many customers make dining part of the show experience.

So don’t forget on August 19th to 20th to head south to Rosenberg, Texas for the 48th Annual Vintage Glass and Antique Show and Sale. Exit Highway 36 off of Highway 59 South to the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds where free parking is available and all buildings are air-conditioned. For more information, please phone 281240-0382.

Fort Bend Junior Service League Awards a Community Assistance Grant

ARTreach has been awarded $1,650 for ear set microphones to help upgrade their sound equipment. ARTreach programs serve children at risk, including homeless, troubled youth and families in transition. They combine mentoring, education and life skills with the arts. Programs and performances designed for children and adults with disabilities are customized to meet objectives associated with education, enrichment, life skills and quality of life.

Young Audiences of Houston has been awarded $1,400 to help support the summer, fall break and holiday programs at the Fort Bend Juvenile Detention Center. Youth Audiences of Houston is a public charity driven to educate and inspire children through the arts. Making the arts an integral part of the school curriculum to advance the field of arts in education through teacher professional development training and community partnership.

For more information about the Fort Bend Junior Service League, visit www.fbjsl.org

O a k B e n d i s t h e l a s t r e m a i n i n g i n d e p e n d e n t n o n p r o f i t

h o s p i t a l i n t h e G r e a t e r H o u s t o n A r e a . W e p r o u d l y s e r v e

F o r t B e n d C o u n t y a n d s u r r o u n d i n g c o m m u n i t i e s .

T o v i e w a f u l l l i s t o f o u r s u r g e r y c e n t e r s , p h y s i c a l

t h e r a p y c l i n i c s , a n d p h y s i c i a n o f f i c e s ,

v i s i t u s o n l i n e t o d a y !

k b e n d m e d c e n t e r . o r g

Monica Brown, Jennifer Small, Dana Loper, Jennifer Semeyn, Nicole Moraw,

Celebrating Father’s Day with sizzling meals starts with tender, juicy cuts of meat that take center stage when dining on the patio or firing up the grill. Enjoy family time with your nearest and dearest by savoring the flavor of warm weather meals.

Steak enthusiasts can show off their summer cooking skills with this recipe for Southwest Steaks with Creamy Peppercorn Sauce and Parmesan-Herb Fries from Omaha Steaks Executive Chef David Rose. Thick, juicy, marbled steaks are cooked to tender doneness and complemented by steakhouse-style fries for a meal that screams “summertime.”

Visit www.OmahaSteaks.com/Summer to find more summer favorites.

Southwest Steaks with Creamy Peppercorn Sauce and Parmesan-Herb Fries

Recipe courtesy of Omaha Steaks Executive Chef David Rose

Southwest Steak Rub:

1 Tablespoon Kosher Salt

1 Teaspoon Black Pepper

1 Teaspoon Dried Thyme Leaves

1 Teaspoon Smoked Paprika

1/2 Teaspoon Ancho Chili Powder

1/2 Teaspoon Ground Chipotle Pepper

1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder

1/2 Teaspoon Cumin

Parmesan-Herb Fries:

1 Package (16 Ounces) Omaha Steaks Steakhouse Fries

1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese, Freshly Grated

1 Tablespoon Fresh Thyme Leaves, Minced

1 Tablespoon Fresh Rosemary Leaves, Minced

1 Tablespoon Fresh Italian Parsley, Minced

George Observatory’s 36” Gueymard Telescope.

New York Strip Steaks:

2 Omaha Steaks Butcher’s Cut New York Strips

Southwest Steak Rub

1/4 Cup Grapeseed Oil

2 Ounces Unsalted Butter, Cold

Peppercorn Cream Sauce:

1/2 Cup Brandy

3/4 Cup Beef Stock

1/2 Cup Heavy Cream

2 Teaspoons Peppercorn Medley, Coarsely Cracked Salt and Pepper, To Taste

To make Southwest steak rub:

• In small bowl, whisk salt, pepper, thyme, paprika, chili powder, chipotle pepper, garlic powder and cumin until fully incorporated.

To make Parmesan-herb fries:

• Preheat oven to 425 F. Place fries on baking rack on top of sheet pan; bake 25 minutes, or until golden-brown and crispy.

• In medium bowl, mix Parmesan cheese, thyme, rosemary and parsley until fully incorporated.

• Remove fries from oven and toss with Parmesan herbs.

To make New York strip steaks:

• Season steaks generously with Southwest steak rub on both sides.

• In cast-iron pan, add grapeseed oil and bring to high heat. Place steaks in pan and sear 3-4 minutes on both sides for medium-rare doneness.

• Remove steaks from pan and rest 8 minutes; reserve oil in cast-iron pan.

To make peppercorn cream sauce:

• Add brandy to reserved oil in castiron pan and reduce to 1/3 volume, about 1 minute.

• Add beef stock and reduce by 1/3 volume, about 2-3 minutes.

• Add heavy cream and cracked peppercorn medley to pan, bring to boil and reduce to simmer until thickened. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Grilled Steak with a Cool, Creamy Sidekick for the Best Dad!

Filet Mignon with Blue Cheese Chive Butter

The next time you want to sear a juicy steak, try this Filet Mignon with Blue Cheese Chive Butter recipe from Omaha Steaks Executive Chef David Rose. Thick, tender filet mignon is grilled to a warm medium-rare doneness then topped with cool, creamy, homemade butter: its perfect summer sidekick.

Every June, We Should Celebrate Midway:

The Battle That Won World War II

We call them “The Greatest Generation.” They are the millions of Americans who turned our anger and outrage over the Japanese sneak attack at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, into the greatest defeat of global tyranny our world has ever experienced. Over 400,000 young Americans came home in flagdraped coffins.

Mike Oktavec has been my best friend for 50 years. I knew Mike for 10 years before I learned his father, Charles, had lied about his age so he could join the Navy at 17-yearsold. That choice resulted in him having to wipe his buddy’s blood and brains off of his jacket at Omaha Beach on D-Day. Amazingly, Mr. Oktavec was not alone. Many Americans rushed to go to combat to protect our freedom. They did not do it for glory. They did it because the country that gave them so much needed them.

Many Texans, especially Aggies from Texas A&M, remember Colonel Earl Rudder (Class of 1932) leading his Army Rangers up the cliffs of Point du Hoc in Normandy on D-Day. Many believe D-Day was the turning point to end World War II. But the real turning point happened 732 days BEFORE DDay, north of Midway Island, which is the most northern and western part of the Hawaiian Islands.

America was fighting a two-front war. We were fighting against Imperial Japan in the Pacific region and Nazi Germany in the Atlantic theater. In Europe, we were fighting with the British. In the Pacific, America was fighting alone with all eight of our battleships severely damaged or sunk at Pearl Harbor. We only had four aircraft carriers. The Japanese had six. We were suffering defeat after defeat after defeat at the hands of the Japanese and their aircraft carriers.

The American territories of the Philippines, Guam and Wake Island were in Japanese hands. Almost all of southeast Asia was under Japanese control. On February 19th, 1942, airplanes from four Japanese aircraft carriers – AKAGI, KAGA, SORYU, and HIRYU – bombed Darwin, Australia. All four of these carriers had bombed Pearl Harbor. One Japanese bomber from the HIRYU dropped the bomb that sank the USS ARIZONA, which killed 1,177 American servicemen just getting out of bed. Unless something changed, a Japanese invasion of Hawaii was going to happen before the end of 1942. With Hawaii in Japanese hands, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle and Portland would be regularly bombed. We would likely lose the war. Morale on the

Blue areas controlled by Japan on June 4th, 1942. Photo from https://commons.wikimedia.org.

home front was the lowest ever.

In order to give America a morale boost, President Franklin Roosevelt asked our military to find a way to bomb the Japanese mainland. The Navy and Army devised a way to launch 16, land-based Army B-25 bombers from the USS HORNET. Army Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle was selected to lead the raid on Japan. The Doolittle Raiders bombed Japan on April 18th, 1942. Each plane carried four bombs. The 64 bombs the Doolittle Raiders dropped did minimal physical damage to Imperial Japan, but the damage to their perception of being “untouchable” and “safe from invasion” was destroyed. They knew the only way America could reach Japan was from an aircraft carrier. Japan would have to provoke a fight with America and our aircraft carriers. If Japan could sink or damage the USS LEXINGTON, USS YORKTOWN, USS ENTERPRISE and USS HORNET, Japan would win World War II.

that God gave America one golden opportunity to effectively win the Pacific War by sinking four of the Japanese carriers at Midway. He told the maintenance workers at Pearl Harbor that three months to repair the YORKTOWN was way too long. She was sailing to Midway in three DAYS! On June 3rd, 1942, the YORKTOWN joined the ENTERPRISE and HORNET north of Midway, waiting in secret for the Japanese Navy to show up and the battle to start.

The Battle of Midway started on June 4th, 1942, when American planes from Midway found the Japanese carrier Armada just before 6 am. The Japanese Admiral, Chuichi Nagumo, was extremely worried about our aircraft carriers. They had not been spotted for three weeks. Planes from our carriers were a more dangerous threat than planes on Midway. He decided to keep one-half of his warplanes on the decks of the Japanese carriers in case our carriers were spotted.

The first wave of Japanese planes launched before sunrise with one single mission: take Midway’s runway out of

On May 8th, 1942, at the Battle of Coral Sea, the two other Japanese carriers that bombed Pearl Harbor, SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU, were confronted by the USS LEXINGTON and USS YORKTOWN. We severely damaged the SHOKAKU, but we lost the LEXINGTON. The YORKTOWN was hit by Japanese bombs. Trailing oil the entire way home to Pearl Harbor, the YORKTOWN arrived on May 27th, 1942. The Commander-In-Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Admiral Chester Nimitz (Texan from Fredericksburg), was told the YORKTOWN would be out of commission for three months. Since we had cracked the Japanese code, we knew the AKAGI, KAGA, SORYU and HIRYU were sailing to Midway Island with an invasion force. Admiral Nimitz knew

Lt. Col. Doolittle and Texan Dick Cole flying the first B-25 off of the USS HORNET.

Photo from uss-hornet.org/history/cv-8.

Massive bomb damage on the USS YORKTOWN as she pulled into Pearl Harbor from Coral Sea.

Photo from https://commons.wikimedia.org.

Midway Island after first Japanese bombing. Photo from nps.com.

commission so planes from Midway could not attack the Japanese invasion fleet or Japanese aircraft carriers. After bombing Midway, the smaller attack force radioed they had failed to take out Midway’s runway. A second bombing would be necessary. Reluctantly, Admiral Nagumo ordered the planes sitting on his four carriers to change their bomb loads – remove torpedoes and armor-piercing bombs to attack ships – and replace them with bombs for targets on land.

Being very cautious and wary about our aircraft carriers, Admiral Nagumo ordered some reconnaissance seaplanes from his cruisers to fly over the suspected areas where he believed the U.S. carriers might be located. One of the Japanese seaplanes spotted the YORKTOWN! When the pilot tried to radio Admiral Nagumo that the enemy carriers were at Midway, God intervened. The radio was broken. The pilot would have to fly back to the Japanese fleet, land and report the American carrier presence. That would take more than one hour to do. The clock of the Japanese destruction was running.

The YORKTOWN, ENTERPRISE and HORNET had launched a huge strike force to hit the Japanese carriers at the same time the reduced Japanese force was bombing Midway. Our Devastator torpedo bombers, Dauntless dive bombers, and Wildcat fighters were supposed to stay together and attack as a coordinated unit. The coordination completely fell apart, but, once again, God intervened on behalf of the United States of America. The Japanese reconnaissance plane with the broken radio was able to finally report his siting of the YORKTOWN. Admiral Nagumo could not launch an immediate strike on our carriers because all the planes he had on his carriers’ decks were armed with the wrong weapons to attack Midway. The planes would have to be rearmed again with torpedoes and armorpiercing bombs for our carriers. More delay. In all the rush, bombs were left everywhere on the four Japanese aircraft carriers. There was no time to put

the weapons in their ammunition magazines. Just as this second re-arming was nearly complete to attack our aircraft carriers, the Japanese force that had attacked Midway returned. These planes were running out of fuel; they must land ASAP or be lost. The twice re-armed planes must be taken off the flight deck. Again.

It was time for God to intervene. Again. Just as Admiral Nagumo was finally ready to launch his strike on our carriers, planes from the YORKTOWN, ENTERPRISE and HORNET attacked! Our American Devastator torpedo bombers were obsolete when the war started. They were extremely slow, lightly armed, with torpedoes that failed to explode on contact. They had lost their Wildcat fighter escorts, so they attacked without any fighter cover. They were the first American planes to attack the Japanese aircraft carriers. Being the first threat to the Japanese carriers, the Japanese Zero fighters mauled them. The ENTERPRISE lost 10 of 14 Devastators. The YORKTOWN lost 10 of 12. The HORNET’s Torpedo Squadron 8 lost ALL FIFTEEN PLANES – 44 aviators were killed. The only Devastator aircrewman from the Hornet who survived the attack was Ensign George

Gay (another Texan). Gay was about to be an eyewitness to history as he was floating among the Japanese fleet.

The heroism of our torpedo crews and George Gay was not in vain. They were sitting ducks for the Japanese Zero fighter pilots to attack. The Zeros were at sea level, tearing up our Devastators, when our Dauntless dive bombers arrived, high above the Japanese carriers. Unaffected by hostile Zero fighter planes, our dive bombers destroyed the AKAGI, KAGA and SORYU. The HIRYU had survived our attacks and had time to launch a bomb and torpedo strike which damaged the YORKTOWN. Just after 5 pm on June 4th, dive bombers from the ENTERPRISE and HORNET returned and sunk the HIRYU. In less than 12 hours, four of the six Japanese aircraft carriers that attacked Pearl Harbor were on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. It was only a matter of time before the United States of America would win World War II.

Now you know, more than 80 years ago this month how the Battle of Midway led to the United States’ victory in World War II. The strength, perseverance and heroism shown by the Greatest Generation is Fort Bend Strong!

A Dauntless dive bomber dropping its bomb Photo from wikimedia.org.

NEWSWORTHY

Cast Theatrical Announces

Cast and Creative Team for The Butler Did It While Celebrating Recent Sold Out Production

In its 34-year history, Cast Theatrical Company has never sold out an entire production before opening weekend. Enter Doublewide, Texas

The lighthearted comedy, written by Jones, Hope and Wooten and directed by Kristen Mulkey, ran in April at Cast Theatrical’s home on the second story of the historic Vogelsang building in Downtown Rosenberg. The story is about the quirky and hilarious inhabitants of a small Texas trailer park – complete with four doublewides and a shed - who work together to stop the nearby town of Tugaloo from annexation.

“I could not be more excited and energized by how we are selling out performances, drawing in new talent and attracting so many new families from not only Rosenberg, but from many of the greater surrounding communities,” said John Bevil, Cast Theatrical Company’s President and Chairman of the Board.

Cast Theatrical Company began in 1989 when a small troupe of amateur actors wanted to provide residents and visitors of Rosenberg with easy access to quality theatre. “We are truly a community theatre, run completely by volunteers and we have been truly amazed by the theatre’s growth the last few years,” Bevil said.

Cast’s next theatrical pursuit is Tim Kelly’s The Butler Did It, which will be directed by Karen Lasater. The show opens June 2nd and runs through June 18th.

The comedy parodies every English mystery play ever written, but with a decidedly American flair. Miss Maple, a dowager with a reputation for “clever” weekend parties, invites a group of detective writers to Ravenswood Manor on Turkey Island, where they are to impersonate their fictional characters. She has arranged several amusing incidents which are all fun and games until there is a real murder. She then offers a reward to the “detective” who can bring the killer to justice. The zany assortment of would-be sleuths trip over clues and each other on the way to unmasking the killer.

The cast features Michaella Reisinger as Haversham, Lisa Jones Bevil as Rita, Peggy Butler Schmidt as Miss Maple, Bruce Peterson as Father White, John Herrick as Chandler Marlowe, Jaz Wray as Louie Fan, Prateek Karkal as Rick, Joi Benjamin as Laura, Dan Giles as Peter Flimsey and Ilyasa Singleton Kennard as Charity. The creative team includes Ivannah Bandalan as assistant director who was last seen in 2022’s The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie.

Performances will be held at Cast Theatrical Company, located at 1909 Avenue G in Rosenberg.

Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2:30 pm. For show tickets and upcoming summer news including children’s summer camp “Cast Kids On Stage”, visit www.casttheatrical.com. For other updates and exclusive behind-the-scenes content, follow Cast Theatrical on Facebook@castrosenberg

Show Hours

Saturday, August 19th 2023 9am - 5pm

Sunday, August 20th 2023 10am - 4pm

1/2 Mile Rosenberg, Texas

absolutely AUTO REVIEW

By Steve Kursar

2023 FORD F-150 RAPTOR

abysmal at 15 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway. You don’t buy this truck if you want to save money on gas.

Any high-performance off-road pickup is defined by its suspension, and the F-150 Raptor features a precision-engineered five-link rear suspension developed specifically for Raptor, designed to deliver more control and power to the ground with greater confidence over rough terrain at high speeds. Another feature of the Raptor are its tires, which are available with either 35-inch or 37-inch tires, making them the largest factory-fitted to a production light-duty full-size pickup.

The 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor is one of those iconic vehicles that everyone with a need for speed has on their bucket list. This year’s model F-150 Raptor is the third-generation highspeed off-road performance truck that combines mechanical and technical engineering knowhow with enhanced connected technology for the ultimate desert-running experience. Surprisingly, it’s a truck that handles beautifully on dry asphalt that shines, as well driving off-road as in the sand.

The very first Raptor appeared in 2010 when it was designated the SVT Raptor. Designed by the Ford Special Vehicle Team (SVT), the Raptor was designed and tested in Borrego Springs, California where the desert provided an optimal area for running the truck flat out. A race version was also built to compete in the Baja 1000 Race where the Raptor came in second in its class. Pretty impressive results for a brand-new vehicle.

A base 2023 F-150 Raptor comes with a $76,775 price tag and is powered by a third-generation high-output twin-turbo 450 hp, 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine delivering torque low in the rev range right where it counts. The engine is mated to a 10-speed transmission, and EPA estimated fuel economy is

The Terrain Management System’s seven selectable drive modes allow customers to choose the setting best suited to driving conditions, including Slippery, Tow/Haul, Sport, Normal, Off-Road, Baja and Rock Crawl. Drive modes adjust steering feel, transfer case behavior, stability control, active valve exhaust, active damping system, throttle mapping and transmission shift points.

The Raptor’s rugged, aggressive exterior design emphasizes the truck’s width with a machine-tough look featuring a power dome hood with blacked-out grille and headlights that stretch fender to fender. The 2023 Raptor is a pickup that is sure to bring a smile to anyone who gets to drive it and to watch it drive by.

By Alisa Murray www.alisamurray.com

Catnip

Hey Sweet Lifers! There’s one herb in my garden that is appreciated more than any other by my Sweet Life cats, and it is, of course, catnip. I planted a small amount of it at the edge of the steps a few years back, and now it is a huge plant that brings so much joy.

Catnip’s history traces back to the Roman Empire where it got its name Nepeta Cataria and found its way to the United States in the 1700s. Catnip is one of the easiest herbs to grow as it is part of the mint family, and we all know mint is a hearty plant!

Catnip has many uses other than entertainment for your cats, although they are the primary reason that I grow it. In the garden this herb acts as a repellent for mosquitos and rats. It has a pungent smell that is similar to the pheromones that cats give off, which is the reason cats love it and insects do not. So, it is a great option for organic gardeners looking to deter rodents from nibbling on their radishes and such.

The culinary uses for catnip are interesting as it has been used in soups, sauces and cheeses. Medicinally, catnip has had more popularity over the centuries as a sort of do it all remedy. Interestingly, this herb has an effect on humans that shows polarity based on how it is ingested. It is used to treat everything from gastrointestinal issues to anxiety. When made into a tea, it is great for inducing sleep and calming the nerves. However, if it is chewed in leaf form, it can aggravate and induce “confidence.” There’s an old wife’s tale of an executioner who did not like his job very much, and in order to gain confidence to do his job, he would chew the leaves of catnip.

Catnip also has a quite wishy way effect on animals. In the instance of cats, there’s an old saying that if you plant it, a cat won’t know it, but if you dry it, they’ll go mad. My cats know it in my garden and frolic and play around it daily. Sasha even likes to wallow in it and sleep!

But boy when I dry it, they are keen to drag it all around and pitty pat with it before chasing a squirrel up a tree!

Catnip is one of those herbs that can fill in a spot in your garden and benefit all. Whether you use it for a tea or dry it for your cats to enjoy, or just let it grow big and deter those critters that noone really wants in the garden, because they are not “sweet,” it is useful and beneficial and that makes it a lovely addition to any home herb garden indeed.

Keep on growing!

Dhanani Private Equity Group Celebrates Corporate Headquarters Opening

Dhanani Private Equity Group (DPEG) hosted a grand celebration on April 29th, 2023 at their new corporate office at The Fountains on the Lake Shopping Center in Stafford. The event served as a dual purpose for Team DPEG: The Grand Opening of their new corporate headquarters and the first quarterly distribution of 2023 in the amount of $7,316,500 to over 400 of their investor partners.

DPEG proudly reported that they successfully returned 20% of their investors’ capital.

“We have an exciting vision for our investor community,” said DPEG Chief Executive Officer and founder Nadyrshah “Nick” Dhanani. “We are committed to organizing distribution events every quarter where we can bring our valued investors together for a meet-and-greet lunch. Our previous event took place at Galleria Park, our newly acquired asset, and it was a tremendous success. We look forward to hosting many more of these events in the future creating meaningful connections and fostering a strong sense of partnership with our investors.”

The venue for the festivities held special significance beyond being just DPEG’s new headquarters. The Fountains on the Lake Shopping Center is one of DPEG’s trophy acquisitions, the largest in the company’s history, with a $91 million purchase price with 218 unique investor partners involved. With this project, DPEG promised a cash-oncash distribution and physical 10% payout to their investors every year, leaving 3% for special distribution, which they have successfully delivered for the last five quarters. The event brought out many of these investor partners as DPEG provided distributions for multiple projects. Stafford Mayor Cecil Willis was also present to commemorate the occasion.

The most notable distribution from the event was DPEG’s recent acquisition of 90+ acres of land in Imperial Sugar Land. Within a short period of only three months,

DPEG closed the year 2022 with a billion dollars in transactions and assets under management, and their goal for 2023 is another $500 million. The first quarter of 2023 so far has yielded their highest success in a quarter to date. And though DPEG has recently settled into their new office, expansion is top of mind with the family run firm with DPEG Construction and DPEG Insurance growing rapidly since their launch in December 2022.

For more information about Dhanani Private Equity Group and their upcoming projects, visit dhananipeg.com/ contact-us/ or call 281.561.5135.

Dhanani Private Equity Group (DPEG) Chief Executive Officer and founder Nadyrshah “Nick” Dhanani, along with his family and Team Dhanani, cut the ribbon at the Grand Opening Celebration at DPEG’s new corporate headquarters in Stafford.

Ali Wadhwani, Stafford Mayor Cecil Willis, Nick Dhanani and Nikhil Dhanani on the basketball court in DPEG’s new corporate headquarters.

DPEG’s Ahsan Daredia with Nadir and Karim Noorani and Salima Gilani, ACNP.

Missouri City Council Member Anthony Maroulis with Nick Dhanani and Nikhil Dhanani.

Photos by Debra Maltman.

Lucy Singh, Aisha, Sudha Dhanani and Narmeen Nazneen

Raju Jesani, Nasruddin Rupani and Amyn Pirani.

Bryce Adams and Jill Nesloney enjoyed a tour of the new DPEG corporate headquarters.

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Celebrates

25 Years of Service

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is celebrating 25 years of service to Fort Bend County and surrounding areas. Methodist Health Center – Sugar Land opened in March 1998. It was the first time the Houston Methodist system launched a new community hospital. It opened with 22 patient beds and 160 employees. Today, Houston Methodist Sugar Land has 350 patient beds and more than 2,700 employees.

achieved Magnet® redesignation in April 2022, the highest national honor for nursing excellence. Only 8.9 percent of hospitals in the United States are designated Magnet.

“Every single day through the past 25 years, the one thing that has never changed is you, your dedication, your adherence to our faith basis as an institution,” Boom said.

Chief Executive Officer and Regional Executive Vice President Chris Siebenaler also addressed employees at Friday’s celebration and expressed his gratitude. “It’s great we were able to achieve some of those things, but at the end of the day people will remember how we made them feel, that we took care of the whole person – the physical, the emotional, the spiritual needs – that is really rooted in what we do in terms of our faith basis and in our values driven care. You are making a difference in people’s lives.”

During an April 28th employee celebration to mark the hospital’s silver anniversary, Houston Methodist President and Chief Executive Officer Marc Boom, M.D., recalled the grand opening of Houston Methodist Sugar Land 25 years ago. “I remember turning and saying, ‘I think we are going to need a bigger hospital.’ It took us a little while, but look at where we are today,” he said. “You all are trailblazers because this was our very first site that we built outside the Texas Medical Center.”

In its first 25 years, Houston Methodist Sugar Land has delivered more than 49,000 babies, recorded nearly one million ER visits and completed more than 200,000 surgeries. The hospital

Houston Methodist Sugar Land currently has three patient towers and comprehensive centers of excellence including cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, orthopedics, urology and women’s services. There are three medical office buildings, with a fourth opening soon. Houston Methodist Sugar Land also has primary care and specialty physician offices located throughout the community, along with an offsite emergency care center in Missouri City.

“Over the last 25 years, we have had the privilege of caring for the Fort Bend community. We could not have been successful without the dedication of our staff – past and present. We’re the hospital this community depends on – where our neighbors experience unparalleled safety, quality and service,” Siebenaler said.

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

Back Row: Eliud Faz, Dr. Scott Rivenes, Chris Siebenaler, Dr. Marc Boom, Dr. Jeffrey Jackson and Lonnie Meadows.

Front Row: Dr. Gene Huebner, Anthony Francis, William Schwer, Sue Chiang, Janet Leatherwood, Dr. Nicholas Desai and Sally Shen.

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s 25th Anniversary Celebration 2023.

FBCA Fine Arts and Writing Students

Awarded with Eight Gold Keys and Six Silver Keys at HCDE Regional Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

On Wednesday, May 3rd, nine Fort Bend Christian Academy (FBCA) students were recognized by the Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) for their exemplary art at the Regional Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Ceremony in the Cullen Theater at the Wortham Center in Downtown Houston.

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is the nation’s longest-running prestigious recognition program for creative teens. FBCA students earned 25 Scholastic Awards, including eight Gold Keys, six Silver Keys and ten Honorable Mention awards. This year from this region, there were over 7,700 art submissions and over 5,200 writing submissions in the competition. Of those submissions, 425 were Gold Key awards and 575 were Silver Key awards.

Senior Surrell Taylor was also awarded the Texas Art Supply Award, where he was one of five students to be selected for this award.

ART AWARD RECIPIENTS

Texas Art Supply Award

Surrell Taylor - Sculpture

True North

Gold Key

Alexa Gerke - D&I

In the Shadows

Alexa Gerke - Printmaking

Duomo

Thea Longbottom - Photography

Explosion

Julia Marrow - Sculpture

Life by Life in Creation

Julia Marrow - Sculpture

Jubilee

Mandy Sievers - Photography

Lands End

Mandy Sievers - Photography

Maritime

Surrell Taylor - Sculpture

True North

Silver Key

Madison Carter - Ceramics & Glass

The Weight of Glory

Madison Carter - Ceramics & Glass

Divine Glory

Thea Longbottom - Photography

Perception of Dominance

Julia Marrow - Expanded Projects

Altair

Keenum Self - Photography

Nucleus

Honorable Mention

Madison Besecker - Mixed Media

Windows and Doors

Madison Besecker - Photography

Red Sulfur

Ava Kwan - Printmaking

Juxtapostion of Two

Jaelynn Lee - Photography

Casting Back

Three of the above FBCA students, Surrell Taylor, Julia Marrow and Thea Longbottom, will be recognized by the National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards program this summer in New York City.

“We are equally honored and grateful to be recognized by this prestigious program! It is an honor to be selected and to have the student’s work showcased in this manner,” Robert Sanders, FBCA Director of Fine Arts, said.

HCDE annually sponsors the regional Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. School districts, private schools and home schools are represented as students earning Gold Key, Silver Key and Honorable Mention awards.

All Scholastic Art and Writing competition entries are considered for multiple awards, with the Gold Key being the pinnacle. The awards are presented to students during celebration ceremonies and exhibitions in each region of the state. Jurors look for work that exemplifies the Awards’ core values: originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision.

The regional Gold Key entries are automatically considered for national awards in New York City, where world-renowned creative professionals will judge them.

Joana Liu - Painting

The Arrival

Thea Longbottom - Photography

Moment of Silence

Sara Sanchez - Mixed Media

Crown

Sara Sanchez - Drawing

Woah There Partner

Mandy Sievers - Photography

Horizon Line

Mandy Sievers - Art Portfolio

Grains of Sugar

Writing Award Recipients

Julia Yang - Silver Key

Wayward Daughter

FBCA Director of Fine Arts Robert Sanders, Julia Marrow, Surrell Taylor, Thea Longbottom, Madison Carter and FBCA Upper School Art Teacher Ryan Baptiste.

Congratulations to the Fort Bend Leadership Forum, Class of 2023!

Congratulations to the 54 graduates of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Forum Class of 2023 generously sponsored by Audi of Sugar Land. Under the direction of Division Chairs Dr. Jay Neal, University of Houston, and Breah Campbell, Si Environmental, the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce Leadership program celebrated its most recent graduating class of effective leaders.

Participants study the qualities that make a community leader, analyze leadership roles and develop personal leadership styles and skills. The class of 2023 represents the 35th year that a group of outstanding individuals have participated in this rigorous program of leadership development and community engagement through active learning, expert insigh, and experiential activities. The class participants are selected each year from a wide spectrum of the area’s population. The class of 2023 completed the program in Galveston on May 12th.

The Fort Bend Leadership Forum is a ten-month program, August through May, and it begins with a one and a half day opening retreat in San Antonio. The opening retreat is followed by monthly one-day sessions covering criminal justice, diversity, economic development/infrastructure, education, health and social services, municipal/county government, a two-day trip to Austin for a state government session, and a three-day national government session in Washington D.C. The Leadership program is completed with a one and a half day ending retreat and graduation ceremony in Galveston.

The Fort Bend Leadership Forum Class of 2024 is filling up fast. For more information on the program and sponsorship opportunities contact, Rebekah Beltran at rebekah@fortbendcc.org or 281-566-2158.

Presenting the Fort Bend Leadership Forum Class of 2023:

Ebi Alrikabi Real Property Management Sugar Land

Brandon Baca Attack Poverty

Steve Bassett Fort Bend Independent School District

Ongela Billiard National Oilwell Varco

Stephen Carter Sterling Staffing Solutions

Alice Chen City of Stafford

Ailene Comple Makalintal Whitley Penn LLP

Ashley Cornner-Patel WJ Interests, LLC

Chad Criswell BGE, Inc.

Kevin Davidson Stewart Title Sugarland/Richmond

Sharonda DeBose AccessHealth

Angelo Decamps Primeway FCU

Robert Doty Aguirre & Fields

John Doucet Bloomin Blinds of Richmond

Chelsea Downum Economic Development Partners

Michael Duty HCSS

Justin Edwards A&S Engineer

Chiekezi Ekechi Houston Methodist Hospital Sugar Land

Angela Garza Make-A-Wish

Julie Gaston The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation

James Greene Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital

Suzanne Haboush GFL Environmental

Eleanor Holmes Houston Methodist Hospital Sugar Land

John Hudson Dearborn & Creggs

George Jabbour Fort Bend Dental

Susan Jaroszewski Catholic Charities

Jerry Jones Jr. Develop Richmond TX

Ghulam Khan Schooley Mitchell

Daniel Koeppe Allegiance Bank

Naresh Kolli Geotest Engineering, Inc.

Jennifer Lane City of Sugar Land

Robert Lugo Jr. Inframark

Mike Martinez Pennglobal Marketing

David McDonald II Kinetic by Windstream

Patrick Nguyen Accredo Packaging

Paula Noble

Mukhtar Owais Owais Developments, LLC

Elizabeth Pena Fort Bend Independent School District

Dysen Pham US Global Fuels

Teresa Preza Planned Community Developers, Ltd.

Rick Ramirez City of Sugar Land

Kaitlyn Rice PCCA

Fredy Romero Velociti Services

Kim Sachtleben Costello

Dana Sharbonno Municipal District Services

Stacy Slawinski Fort Bend County

Paige Talbott Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce

Liz Toomey Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels

David Tran Fluor Enterprise

Lisa Wade Golden Energy Leadership

Anezra Watts Landtech, Inc.

Laura Whitley TDECU

Dwayne Williams City of Missouri City

Alison Young JPMorgan Wealth Management

The Fort Bend Leadership Forum Class of 2023 Graduates.

By Alisa Murray www.AlisaMurray.com Nationally recognized portrait artist and award-winning columnist.

Living the Sweet Life:

How sweet it is to be loved by you!

Hey Sweet Lifers! Well, it’s hard to believe but the studio is celebrating its 25th year this month! Kinda crazy right?! I thought so too, but when I look back on everything we have captured, it all started to seem very real.

The years have flown by, and my littles are either all grown up and bringing me littles round two or almost ready to fly. Recently, this was quite obvious as I captured my boys who are so big it makes me look like a tiny little old thing! One of my friends on Facebook even asked, “How tall are those guys?” To which I replied, “Well, the more important facet is I am only 4’11”!”

The decision to close the studio to new business back in 2021 was one of the best decisions we have made as a family. We did this for two reasons but have seen the benefits way more than that. For one, it has given me the time, as artist to my families, to dedicate extensive creativity in conceiving very specific images for each family. Because I have been capturing them since they were born, I am in a unique position to know them and their homes and that ramps up the ability to provide a “wow” for their portrait galleries. Secondly, I realized that there comes a time when you have to decide what the whole life looks like. My Daddy delivered babies for over 30 years, and when he finally took a step back to paint and enjoy those relationships with patients that had become friends, he dropped dead. It never happened. What I am saying is you never know, now

do you? None of us ever know what’s going to happen, but I’ll tell you there’s no time like the present!

So, what does that whole life look like? It is learning how to shift and pivot into something new while still retaining the old traces of yourself. It’s not a compromise or a saying farewell to what you have spent your life’s work on, but rather a step back on the present self and a stepping into a newer version of yourself. I decided to keep holding hands with those who love me and focus on some other things that I knew I wanted to accomplish while I am still here on earth. And what I have I discovered has been really swell!

My artistry is given a different level of honor because my people, my tribe, who I call “my Sweet Lifers,” recognize that the most important gift I can give them is my time. As a result, we are all on this journey together and quite happily so, I might add. Now there were a few who were not finished making their families, and they got a little worried look on their faces when I announced what I was planning regarding the studio. After all, making a baby means I am committed to you every three months the first year and then here we go for another 17 together. I assured them that I don’t think there will ever be a day that capturing a newborn will be something that I would not want to do. I just don’t want to do it every day all day anymore! Lucky for them who are here, and a blessing to me since there’s only a few families still in that season of their lives.

So here we are, 25 years later and still going. These days are spent very different from those of yesteryears. The benefits as I said have multiplied surprisingly. Things like not having a steady flow of traffic in and out of our house. Things like staying in my pajamas writing until noon if I want to . . . get this, on a Saturday! It’s been so nice to have meaningful and deep conversations with my families, who like my daddy with his patients, have become amazing friends. I feel so loved and grateful with so many blessings. I am truly “living a sweet life!”

Take care of you, and stay “sweet!”

Shaffer and Sheldon after their shoot!

Makayla and I in the Sweet Life Garden.