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

COMPLEX NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS Treated in Sugar Land

At Houston Methodist Neuroscience & Spine Center at Sugar Land, our physicians collaborate across specialties to diagnose and treat common to complex neurological disorders. With innovative and advanced treatment options, we provide personalized comprehensive care — close to home.

Our team of physicians treats a variety of conditions, including:

• Alzheimer’s disease and memory disorders

• Aneurysms

• Brain tumors

• Multiple sclerosis

• Neuropathy

SCAN HERE

• Parkinson’s disease and tremors

• Sleep disorders

• Spinal disorders

• Stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA)

TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

To schedule an appointment, scan the QR code, visit houstonmethodist.org/neuro-sl or call 281.274.7979.

8

SPRING IN THE BEND

Science, Steers, Steam & Stars

Warmer days, starry nights – Spring is finally here! If you’re looking for some family fun out and about in the Bend, we’ve got you covered this month. You can explore all that Fort Bend has to offer from museums to historical parks to world class observatories all right here in your own back yard, so get out and enjoy a few of our favs just in time for Spring Break!

18 HOME & HEARTH

Tips and resources to turn your house into your dream home.

19 SUGAR LAND ARTS FEST

Ticket Sales Officially Open

{Columns}

14 THE DRUNKEN CYCLIST I’ll Be the Judge of That

20 THE SWEET LIFE GARDENER Garlic

22 FORT BEND STRONG Fort Bend Women Make Fort Bend Strong!

27 LIVING THE SWEET LIFE Fur Babies

See chuckwagon, branding, roping demonstrations and more during Spring Break at the George Ranch Historical Park located in Richmond, Texas.

Photo by Joe Dellinger.

The Season of Change

Last Saturday night I donned a turtleneck sweater, coat, scarf, gloves and boots. By Sunday morning my attire changed to shorts, flip flops and a t-shirt. You know what that means Fort Bend friends? You guessed it – it’s Spring in Texas!

Mr. Kaminski has often equated the Spring season in Texas with a woman’s mind – constantly changing. What he doesn’t realize is that I change my mind and my attitude frequently just to keep him on his toes – much like the weather does this time of year. After all, we ladies like options, and this season in the Bend, options abound for Springtime fun!

From science, steers, steam and stars, there’s something for everyone to enjoy close to home this month. Our cover story, Spring in the Bend, showcases the best of the best for families to enjoy from interactive exhibits to outdoor activities to stellar adventures. Explore all of the possibilities on page 8.

Fort Bend County Commissioner Vincent Morales, Precinct 1, and Patti Parish-Kaminski at the inaugural Ultimate “Tailgate” Party benefitting the Homeless Pet Placement League. Two hundred guests attended the event that raised over $40,000. Congratulations to chairs Eileen Akerson, Vivian Douglas and Vicki Stevenson and entire the “Tailgate” committee!

Also, right here in the Bend is the ultimate two-day event showcasing cultural arts. The Sugar Land Arts Fest features wines, delicious foods, live music and of course, visual and performing arts at the Smart Financial Centre Plaza. Get your tickets now for this Springtime soiree!

March also means heading to the rodeo, and one of the more popular attractions at Rodeo Houston is the Wine Garden featuring the winners of Rodeo Uncorked! Dr. Jeffrey Kralik takes us through the process of judging the winners and gives us a sneak peek at his favs available in the Wine Garden this year in his column on page 14. Check them out when you’re out at Rodeo Houston.

And just remember friends when you are out and about this time of year, be prepared. Mother Nature in Texas is a wily woman particularly in the Spring. Just when you have that perfect hairdo, you step outside, and the wind’s blowing like perfume through a prom.

Stay focused!

Patti@absolutelyfocusmedia.com

WEB DESIGNER JOBpage Graphics

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Natalee Moore

CONTRIBUTORS

Jeffrey M. Kralik, Ph.D. Steve Kursar

Alisa Murray

Pete

By Patti Parish-Kaminski

Spring in the Bend

Science, Steers, Steam & Stars

Spring has sprung and that means longer, warmer days to be out and about. There’s so much to do right here in our own back yard when it comes to getting out and enjoying all that the season and our community has to offer, so here’s a few of our favs close to home for the whole family to enjoy – just in time for Spring Break!

Get Ocean Bound! with the City of Sugar Land and the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land

When we turn on our faucets, we know that water comes out, but do we know what happens to it afterward? More importantly, do we know how to save it? The City of Sugar Land and the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land, located at 13016 University Blvd., have partnered together to tell that story. Ocean Bound! educates museum visitors on the value of water and where it comes from to foster a deeper sense of connection and stewardship for our natural environment.

“Water conservation is crucial in meeting not just Sugar Land’s long-term water supply goals, but our entire region and beyond, and it will take a community-wide effort to achieve,” Sugar Land Public Works Director Brian Butscher said. “Our partners at the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land embrace this message and are dedicated to helping spread this message in a way that’s unique and tailored to the Sugar Land community.”

Ocean Bound! runs through May 14th and costs $5 for the special exhibit fee, in addition to general admission. Exhibit stations include displays on watersheds that provide details on where our water comes from; a water conservation station where visitors can learn how to ensure we have enough water today and for future generations through indoor water conservation; and a water utility station that explores utility roles and the standards that are set to ensure high quality water for public consumption and use. By experiencing and interacting with the exhibit stations in Ocean Bound!, children and adults alike can see themselves as stewards of their environment and the ocean, regardless of where they live, and learn to make decisions that preserve water quality. For more information and to buy tickets to Ocean Bound!, visit www.hmns.org/oceanbound

Learn where water comes from in Ocean Bound!

Saddle Up for Spring at The George Ranch Historical Park

Saddle up your pony for some old-fashioned western fun during Spring Break March 11th through March 18th at the George Ranch Historical Park, located at 10215 FM 762 Road in Richmond. Follow the George Ranch cowboys as they wrangle, wrestle and blaze a trail through history to celebrate the Golden Age of the Cattle Drive. Visitors will experience a steer round up, cattle roping, leatherworking demonstrations, chuckwagon cooking, branding boards – any and everything cowboy! Spring Break hours are 9 am to 5 pm daily. Visit https://www.georgeranch.org/event-calendar/spring-breakgolden-age-of-the-cattle-drive/ for a complete schedule of events and to purchase tickets.

Easter is hopping on Saturday, April 8th at the George Ranch Historical Park with a Chuckwagon Breakfast and an Easter Egg Hunt. Round up the entire family for a Chuckwagon Breakfast on the prairie at 9 am. Enjoy eggs and bacon by the campfire then settle in to watch the cowboys in a private, cattle round up. After breakfast, the little wranglers can participate in an Easter Egg Hunt in the 1860s Ryon Prairie Home yard and try their hand at egg dying. Tickets for the breakfast, all activities and general admission to the park are $35 for adults, $25 for children ages 4 to 12 and children 3 and under are free. Seating is limited. For the Easter weekend schedule and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.georgeranch.org/event-calendar/chuckwagonbreakfast/.

Henry and Nancy Jones are on the run as the Mexican Army advances Friday, April 14th and Saturday, April 15th

Golden Age of the Cattle Drive

WEEKEND EVENTS

Chuckwagon

at the George Ranch Historical Park! Learn what life was like on the Texas Prairie in 1836 and how Texian families survived this unsettled but inspiring time during the Run Away Scrape. Schools welcome Friday for self-guided tours focused on pioneer life and the Texian Revolution featuring cannon drills. The park opens Saturday to the public for battle reenactments at 11 am and 2 pm. Visit https:// www.georgeranch.org/event-calendar/runaway-scrape/ for more information. $15

Runaway Scrape

April

Join

Watch the George Ranch cowboys as they wrangle, wrestle and round up history.

Learn about the Run Away Scrape April 14th and 15th at The George Ranch Historical Park.

All Aboard: Get Your Ticket to the Rosenberg Railroad Museum’s Spring Break Fun Days

Stop by the Rosenberg Railroad Museum during Spring Break for days filled with seasonal fun! On Wednesday, March 15th through Friday, March 17th from 10 am to 3 pm, the Museum will host their Spring Break Fun Days. Every day features a different theme that is both educational and outright fun. Hop aboard each day to see what new adventures and activities are in store!

Following Spring Break fun, the next stop for the Rosenberg Railroad Museum is their monthly Garden Railroad Fun Day. Get your ticket for Sunday, March 26th from 1 to 4 pm to participate in this special event.

For the entire month of March, the Rosenberg Railroad Museum’s theme is “Hop into Spring” in celebration of the Easter Season. Not only will there be fun activities and special trains in their Garden Railroad, but the March 26th Fun Day will feature an Easter Egg Hunt along the rails. It will be the perfect spot to take the children for some spring-time shenanigans.

The Rosenberg Railroad Museum is located at 1921 Avenue F in Historic Downtown Rosenberg. For more information, visit www.rosenbergrrmuseum.org/events or call 281.633.2846.

Reach for the Stars at the George Observatory

The George Observatory, located at 21901 FM 762 Rd in Needville, hosts Moonlight Madness on Friday, March 3rd from 7 to 9 pm identifying mountains, lunar maria, craters within craters and possibly even the elusive X formation. Learn where the Apollo missions landed, and take pictures with your own cell phone of what you see. The event starts with a lecture presentation on the moon’s formations, the chance to actually feel a piece of lunar rock and a view from the Observatory’s 36” Gueymard Telescope. Capacity is limited and 16 years and up only. Tickets are $50, and advance purchase is required.

Calling aspiring astronauts! Family Space Day, a simulated space mission, is on Tuesday, March 14th and Friday, March 17th. The Mission: The year is 2094, and we are visiting the Moon to establish a permanent base. You’ll navigate, analyze, build and complete the mission in the Space Station with expert advice from Mission Control. Work in eight teams, and learn what it takes to be an astronaut! Make your reservation at https:// www.hmns.org/george-observatory/events/ for a fun-filled adventure aboard the SS Observer in the Expedition Center. Departure times are 1 or 3 pm. This event is for visitors 7 years and older, and all children must be

See the moon from the George Observatory’s 36” Gueymard Telescope at Moonlight Madness. Photo by Joe Dellinger.

accompanied by ticketed adult. Tickets are $20 per person.

The George Observatory’s Director of Astronomy hosts Starry Night on Friday, April 14th an exclusive viewing of the night sky through the 36” Gueymard Research telescope. From 9 pm to midnight, mingle with other enthusiasts for this private event as you make your way through the cosmos. View galaxies, planetary nebulas or globular star clusters — you might see Jupiter’s Red Spot, Saturn’s Rings and craters on the moon. Visit the upper deck to learn about the mythology of constellations, and how to use your planisphere so you can find your way around the universe! Capacity is limited and 16 years and up only. Tickets are $100, and advance purchase is required. To purchase tickets to any George Observatory event, visit https://www.hmns.org/george-observatory/events/

Get out and enjoy Spring Fort Bend – and don’t forget to tag us @FortBendFocus as you are out and about!

Family Space Day, a simulated space mission, is March 14th and 17th at the George Observatory.

George Observatory’s 36” Gueymard Telescope.

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Now Offering Incisionless Surgery to Treat Swallowing Issues

Patients with a disorder of the esophagus that makes swallowing difficult now have a local option for advanced endoscopic surgery that can provide relief.

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital surgeon Aman Ali, M.D., recently performed the first-ever peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) procedure in Fort Bend County to treat a patient with achalasia, a disorder caused by nerve damage to the esophagus. People with achalasia have difficulty swallowing food and liquids and often will regurgitate undigested food. Without treatment, achalasia becomes progressively worse and can be life-threatening, because it increases the risk of choking or pneumonia from aspiration of food into the lungs.

The traditional treatment for achalasia is a surgical procedure called Heller myotomy, which involves multiple incisions on the abdomen. The POEM procedure is a non-invasive approach to esophagogastric myotomy, using a flexible endoscope inserted through the mouth into the esophagus. Once in place, the physician makes an incision in the esophageal mucosa, which is the inside layer of the esophagus. Then, through this incision, a submucosal tunnel is created to expose the tight lower esophageal sphincter muscle. The surgeon then cuts this muscle at the lower esophageal sphincter, which is called a myotomy, making it easier for food and liquid to pass through.

“Because we aren’t making incisions to the skin and muscles in the abdomen and chest area, the patient heals more quickly and has less post-operative pain,” Ali said. “It’s a more effective approach to treating achalasia than traditional open Heller myotomy or even minimally invasive laparoscopic Heller myotomy.”

Patients typically spend one night in the hospital and undergo a swallow study before being released.

Ali’s patient for that first procedure was 79-year-old Beatrice Pickard of Friendswood, whose achalasia had progressed to the point where she couldn’t eat or drink anything without vomiting.

“I was really sick, but I was afraid of having surgery,” Pickard said. “When I saw Dr. Ali for the first time, he immediately put me at ease. He really listened to me and didn’t dismiss my symptoms. I felt very comfortable with him, especially because he took the time to explain how the procedure works and what I would experience.”

Pickard’s procedure was successful and following a short hospital stay, she returned home. “I never had any pain of any kind,” she said. “It was easy.”

After surgery, Pickard was on a liquid diet for several weeks and has now progressed to a soft diet. After her next follow-up visit, she expects to be back to eating solid foods.

Prior to the introduction of POEM to Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, patients would have to travel to the Texas Medical Center for the procedure. Now, Ali plans to use POEM to treat both achalasia and another condition called

gastroparesis, which affects the stomach’s ability to empty properly.

“This is an advanced treatment that has direct benefits to the patient,” Ali said. “Our operating room and endoscopy teams have worked hard to make it possible for us to offer this procedure here at Houston Methodist Sugar Land, and we plan to utilize it whenever possible to help local patients improve their quality of life.”

Pickard said she would recommend Houston Methodist Sugar Land to anyone who is struggling with achalasia. “Trust your body,” she said. “It’s telling you something is wrong and you need to find someone who can take care of you. If it weren’t for Dr. Ali, I would still be having trouble.”

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Ali, call 281.275.0211. Visit houstonmethodist.org/sugarland to learn more about Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.

Beatrice Pickard and Aman Ali, M.D.

the drunken cyclist

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

I’ll Be the Judge of That

Just about anyone who has lived in this region for longer than a minute knows that the month of March means Rodeo in Houston. Of course, there is much more to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo than just the rodeo events. There are the concerts, the rides, the food and the crowds. There is also, for the last twenty years, the wine. Since 2004, Rodeo Uncorked! International has strived to be one of the finest wine competitions in the United States.

For the past seven years, I have been a judge for the competition, which has grown into one of the largest wine competitions in the world, judging around 3,000 wines every year. The judging for the event occurs in November for the following March’s Rodeo, takes place over three days, and involves hundreds of volunteers, including over 100 judges.

PricewaterhouseCoopers oversees the entire process, which is a “double-blind” competition. Essentially, the judges only know the wines by a four-digit number and the category in which they were entered (e.g., “New World Pinot Noir Under $15” or “Old World Oaked Chardonnay $25-35”). The judges are divided into panels of five and each panel, on average, has 8 to 10 flights each day of 10 to 12 wines per flight, or approximately 100 to 125 wines each day. (It must be noted that judges are required to affirm that they will spit out the wine rather than swallow so as not to become inebriated, and boy, is that important!)

Each judge – the judges are a mixture of wine professionals, journalists and consumers – is tasked with evaluating each wine on its own merits and consider how it represents the category, giving it one of four designations: Gold, Silver, Bronze or No Medal. Briefly, a Bronze medal is awarded to wines that are good, varietally correct and a wine that we would serve, say, at a party or large gathering. A Silver medal should be awarded to those wines that are excellent, wines that you serve for a momentous occasion or when you might be trying to impress. Gold medal wines are those that are so outstanding that you are

tempted to keep it all for yourself and maybe, just maybe share it with a spouse. No medal? Well, either the wine was mis-categorized, had some inherent flaw, or you simply regretted ever putting in your mouth.

After tasting through the flight individually, the panel then discusses each wine, and the judges declare which medal they have awarded the wine. If all five judges give a wine a “Gold” then it actually receives a “Double Gold.” Yes, I realize that double means “two of something,” and here it is five, but I didn’t make the rules. A relatively straightforward calculation determines the other medals awarded if the group does not come to a consensus (e.g., a wine that receives a gold, three silvers and a bronze is awarded a silver medal).

After all of the medals are determined for a particular category or class, the panel then awards a “Class Champion” and a “Reserve Class Champion” or the best and the second best wines in the category.

But it does not end there.

After all of the categories have been judged, several “Super Panels” are assembled to determine the “best of the best” including the best: White Wine, Red Wine, Value Wine, Texas Wine and Feature Region Wine. This year the feature region was Australia. These flights can be rather imposing. On one of my super panels, we had to choose the five “best” wines from a flight of 65 wines, all of which had already been awarded either a Gold or a Double Gold and included all varieties and price ranges. Yeah, that took a while.

A lot of time and effort goes into the wine competition every year, culminating in the Wine Auction, which was held on February 26th, and with some winners ending up in the Wine Garden during the Rodeo. I strongly recommend popping into the Wine

Garden as you visit the Rodeo this year, as the menu (https://www.rodeohouston.com/Portals/0/PDFs/2023_WineGarden_Menu.pdf) has a few gems. Here are my suggestions, including the Wine Garden bottle price:

Bubbles: NV Gloria Ferrer, Sonoma Brut, $36. Always a favorite of mine. Gold Medal.

Red: 2019 Catena Zapata Malbec, Lujan de Cuyo, $42. A great Malbec at a reasonable price. Double Gold Medal.

Rosé: 2021 DAOU Rosé, Paso Robles, $28. I love me some pink, and DAOU does a fine job. Double Gold Medal.

Texas Wine: 2019 Becker Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Texas, $42. Chosen as the top all-around winery – no idea how that is determined. Gold Medal.

Chardonnay: 2021 Chalk Hill Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, $36. One of the first spots in Sonoma for Chard. Double Gold Medal.

Splurge: NV Le Chemin Du Roi Brut, Champagne, $146. Chosen as the top wine overall in the entire competition! But only received a Gold Medal?

OUT & ABOUT

IN THE HEART OF THE BEND

Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center celebrated children’s rights and voices during Fort Bend Children’s Day on February 4th – a special event which featured interactive activities and live performances honoring kids. The event kicked off with a confetti cannon ceremony saluting this year’s Kids’ Committee members with recognition and support from the CEO Foundation. The CEO Foundation was founded by Fort Bend resident Jackie Pham, and it is named after her children, Colette, Edison and Olivia, who along with their grandmother, perished in a fire during the catastrophic Texas winter storm of 2021. It aims to further children’s education and arts, emphasize the importance of health and wellness, and promote positive environmental and social impact to empower the next generation of leaders, innovators and changemakers. The event featured performances by Fort Bend’s own “Ballet Grace directed by Cookie Joe,” as well as balloon artists, a face painter and interactive story time in celebration of Black History Month.

Fort Bend Junior Service League (FBJSL) members

Kelsea Lake, Jennifer Semeyn, Barbara Marlin and Jessica Gregory presented a $1,000 Community Assistance Fund (CAF) grant to the Creative Dreams Outreach Center. Creative Dreams was awarded the grant to help provide meals to students in Fort Bend County. The organization accepts financially disadvantaged and foster youth ages 13-18. They provide opportunities for free mentoring, academic tutoring and lessons in art, dance and music. In addition, Creative Dreams Outreach Center provides clothing, hygiene products and a hot meal every night to students in need.

CEO Foundation founder Jackie Pham spoke at the Fort Bend Children’s Day celebration.

Jackie Pham and the Fort Bend Children’s Day Kids’ Committee Members presented a check to the Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center for $45,000 from the CEO Foundation in honor of Pham’s children and grandmother who perished in a fire during the winter storm of 2021 during the confetti cannon ceremony.

Garden Home Landscape

Tips And Resources To Turn Your House Into Your Dream Home New Program Incentivizes Sugar Land Residents to Enhance Single-Family Homes

Sugar Land City Council recently approved Great Homes, a new residential reinvestment initiative that empowers Sugar Land homeowners to invest in their community by preserving, protecting and enhancing their neighborhoods.

Great Homes includes the Great Homes Design program and the Great Homes Update program. The Great Homes Design program provides Sugar Land homeowners and homeowners associations with a creative, re-envisioned exterior home design at a cost exclusive to Sugar Land residents. Under the Design program, a $500 rebate may be available for homeowners who substantially implement at least one qualifying exterior improvement on their home within six months of receiving a design through the program.

The Great Homes Update Program is a reimbursement incentive encouraging rehabilitation and refur bishments of the exterior of single-fam ily houses. Through the Update program, homeowners may be eligible for a reimburse ment of up to $10,000 for a portion of their exterior home improvement costs.

Eligibility requirements for both programs must be met to qualify for program participation and reimbursement. Applications for the programs will be available starting February 15th at SugarLandEcoDev.com/Great-Homes

“This is an incredible opportunity for residents who own single-family homes to update their homes and invest in the community they already call home,” Jonathan Soriano, Sugar Land community development program strategist, said. “Investing in older homes and neighborhoods is vital to pushing Sugar Land to the next stage of its success and provides the chance for residents to finally do those home improvements they’ve been putting off.”

More than 70 percent of single-family homes in Sugar Land were built before 2000. The Great Homes program is an integral step in ensuring Sugar Land keeps pace with new housing options within the region. All single-family homeowners with properties within the Sugar Land city limits are potentially eligible and encouraged to participate in the program.

Great Homes is a one-year pilot program funded with existing onetime sales tax capacity available in the general fund and will be re-evaluated in 2024. This initiative is just one example of Sugar Land’s commitment to trailblazing and evolving our community to build a life for our residents that is better than they can even imagine.

For more information and to apply for the Great Homes program, visit www.SugarLandEcoDev.com/Great-Homes.

The Sugar Land Cultural Arts Foundation (SLCAF) announces the opening of ticket sales for the second annual Sugar Land Arts Festival (SLAF), presented by PrimeWay Federal Credit Union.

This year’s event will be held on April 1st thru 2nd, at the Smart Financial Centre Plaza, and now is a fantastic opportunity to get limited-time “early bird” online tickets through the official website.

Saturday,

“Early bird” tickets are now available at just $8 each at www.sugarlandartsfest. com. “So, if you haven’t already started to hear about the Sugar Land Arts Fest, get ready!” said Bridget Yeung, Board Member of the Sugar Land Cultural Arts Foundation and Co-Chair of the 2023 Sugar Land Arts Fest. “The $8 ‘early bird‘ tickets are limited in quantity, so get yours before they sell out!”

The Sugar Land Arts Festival, presented by PrimeWay Federal Credit Union, is a two-day event showcasing the cultural and artistic diversity of Sugar Land and beyond, where attendees can experience high-quality visual and performing arts while enjoying hand-selected wines, delicious food and live music.

The City of Sugar Land is again partnering with the Sugar Land Cultural Arts Foundation to celebrate this second annual event on an even bigger and better level, meaning this arts festival expects to be, one more time, the top event on the region’s calendar.

Sugar Land, Texas is known for hosting

some of the best events in the region, and we look forward to you joining us! So, let’s get together and celebrate the arts in Sugar Land. Are you going to join us? We ART excited to see you there!

Be the first to know about entertainment, schedules and more by following the SLAF on social media: @SugarLandArtsFest and subscribe at www. sugarlandartsfest.com.

To get tickets and for more general information, please visit www. sugarlandartsfest.com.

By Alisa Murray www.alisamurray.com

Garlic

treat high blood pressure, assist in Type 2 Diabetes, to clear infections, particularly of the ear, nose throat and lung, and fungal skin issues. The herb also beaks down clots and adds protection for and assists in the treatment of cancers of the stomach and colon. It packs a big punch!

Culinarily speaking, I cannot imagine cooking without it. Garlic added to just about everything makes it so much better! From eggs for breakfast to toast with soup for lunch to infused aioli with fried artichoke hearts, oh how garlic makes my tastebuds sing! To be honest, I don’t think there is one main recipe that I cook without it.

Hey Sweet Lifers! I don’t think there’s anyone except my great Aunt Melda Lee who doesn’t like garlic. I shared a recipe with her years ago for my collards, and I had barely gotten garlic out of my mouth as one of the ingredients when she twisted up her face and grimaced! I know many people steer clear of using garlic for fear of smelling like it, but the benefits of this herb far outweigh the occasional “perfume” left in its aftermath.

Garlic was believed to have first appeared in central Asia and then spread worldwide. It has been cultivated since antiquity and can no longer be found as a wild species. Today the heirloom varieties are all the rage, and the levels of intensity are anywhere from mild to very pungent. Garlic is part of the lily family along with onions, leeks, shallots and chives.

Medicinally, garlic is one of those herbs that every garden needs and every medicine cabinet should have. It was used during the bubonic plague and during World War I as a poultice that saved many soldiers’ lives. It has an antibiotic effect, as well as the ability to stimulate the immune system. For this reason, it is excellent in both treating infections, as well as boosting our bodies. The components of garlic are volatile oils, selenium, scordinin, vitamins A, B, C, E and allicin. When taken regularly, it acts as an anti-diabetic, antiinflammatory, expectorant, blood pressure regulator and fever breaker. Because of these responses, garlic is used to

Garlic is also very easy to grow. Separate the cloves, dig a hole about two inches deep and place five to six inches apart. Cover with soil and water, and soon you’ll see the green stems shoot right up. It can be harvested, and the cloves can be dried to use in cooking year round. What’s more your roses will love you for planting garlic near them. One year I had a bag of cloves that were already peeled, and they had started to go bad, so I tossed them out into the garden under my roses, and they started blooming! Snakes hate the smell, too, so if you’ve got a snake slithering around, a sprinkle here and there will send those guys sliding onto some one else’s yard!

My favorite ways to utilize garlic medicinally is to make a little oil and rub on the bottom of my feet. First, peel several cloves, smash them and let stand for 10 to 15 minutes. On the stove top, place a cup of olive oil and the cloves, and let them steep for 30 minutes. Cool and then place on the feet wrapping them twice with socks overnight. This will help break up any mucus and start the antibiotic properties of fighting infection.

My favorite way to eat garlic is to take a giant head and slice the top off, sprinkle with a dash of salt, top with a large pat of butter and wrap in foil. Place in the oven for 30 minutes until soft. Squeeze the creamy cloves out of the husk, spread on toast points and add either smoked salmon or a dollop of cream fraise and caviar. Delicious!

I do hope you’ll consider adding garlic as one of your go to herbs in your garden, and at the very least, include it in your daily diet. Not only will you find your dishes to be tastier, but your heart and immune system will thank you, too!

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Fort Bend Women Make Fort Bend Strong!

Since 1987, every March has been Women’s History Month in the United States. This is a month dedicated to the contributions women have made to society, history and culture. All of us have one woman who should be honored – our mother. My mother celebrated her 84th birthday last month. She is the best mom ever! She smiled and encouraged me to follow my dreams, even when those dreams appeared a bit crazy. She had a big grin when I told her that I was not going to use my Computer Science degree from Rice University. At the very last minute, I was going to the University of Texas School of Law. Three years later, I announced that I was going to graduate from law school, pass the Texas Bar Exam, and fly warplanes for the U.S. Navy. My mom never flinched.

After four years in the Navy, I married my soulmate, my Romance, my Nancy. Like my mom, Nancy never wavered when I changed our plans. We had been married for seven months when I left for a six-month deployment to the Persian Gulf. I came home expecting a few months of rest and relaxation with Nancy in Hawaii where we were stationed. The Navy had different plans for us – I was ordered to report to Washington, D.C. three weeks after coming home.

Nancy and I were reunited three days before Christmas 1994. After our two children were born, I gave my Romance another surprise – we were moving back to my Texas home so I could run for Congress! I was elected to Congress in 2008 and spent most of twelve years in Washington, D.C., away from Nancy, Kate and Grant. My Romance never faltered. Like my mom, my Nancy’s love for me has always been pure. Whatever success I have had in my life is because of my Nancy and my mom.

We Texans all have a common mother, Jane Long. Jane was given land grants in Fort Bend by the Father of Texas, Stephen F. Austin. On December 21, 1821 at Bolivar Point, she gave birth to possibly the first child born in Texas to an American mother. She became known as the “Mother of Texas.” The town of Richmond was built on land Long owned. The Mother of Texas died on December 30, 1880. Befitting the stature of being the “Mother of Texas,” Long is buried in Richmond’s historic Morton Cemetery with a Texas flag proudly flying beside her 24/7/365. The Mother of Texas was Fort Bend Strong!

Arizona Fleming is another Fort Bend woman we all need to celebrate during Women’s History Month. She was born in Richmond on March 3, 1884. An African-American, she grew up in a Fort Bend County where white racists resented former slaves who could now vote and were nearly three times the population.

Black men like Benjamin Franklin Williams and Walter Moses Burton were elected to powerful positions. Enraged, the racists devised a way to stop the black vote. Since the majority of Texans were Democrats, these evil men, called Jaybirds, formed a club to control the Democrat primary elections. They banned African-Americans from participating in Democrat primaries, effectively denying African-Americans a voice in Texas elections. The Jaybirds called themselves a “private club” instead of a “political organization.” This false distinction allowed the racist Jaybirds to freely and openly discriminate against black Americans.

Jane Long, the “Mother of Texas’,” grave in Morton Cemetery in Richmond, Texas.

Fleming made it her life’s goal to end this hideous practice. She teamed up with a wealthy black farmer from Kendleton, Willie Melton, to challenge the Jaybirds in federal court. Their case, Terry v. Adams, went to the United States Supreme Court. Flaming WON, 8-1! The personal cost of justice was high. Fleming spent her entire savings to make Texas and America better. She died penniless. Assessing the cause of her poverty, Fleming said, “I’d do it all over again.” Arizona Fleming was Fort Bend Strong!

The Fort Bend County we love would not be that way without Polly Ryon, Lizzie Davis and Mamie George. Polly was Lizzie’s mother, and Mamie was Lizzie’s daughter. Their property on FM 762 had been part of a land grant from Stephen F. Austin. The family became successful farmers and ranchers. That all changed on September 12, 1923 when Mamie

and her husband, Albert, were in charge. Oil was discovered on their Fort Bend Ranch. Their wealth grew dramatically. Mamie and Albert died with no heirs. Their only child died as an infant, and the niece who lived with them died in an automobile crash. They used their pain of loss to make Fort Bend County strong; they created The George Foundation “for the use and benefit of the people of Fort Bend County.” To date, The George Foundation has given us $270 million. That’s Fort Bend Strong.

I never chatted with anyone who knew Jane Long, Arizona Fleming, Polly Ryon, Lizzie Davis or Mamie George. I have been blessed to talk with people who knew Fort Bend heroes Anne Sullivan and Sonal Bhuchar. Anne was killed fighting a fire in Houston on May 31, 2013. Four firefighters died with her, making it the worst day in the history of the Houston Fire Department. She lived her entire life in Fort Bend. I knew her mom, Mary, who was the nurse at the intermediate school both of my kids attended. Anne was 24 years old when she left us.

Shortly after that horrific day, Mary and I worked toward a common goal –to have an elementary school named after Anne. Anne McCormick Sullivan Elementary School opened in 2016. The entry foyer at Anne’s school is a museum of her life. Check out the mural of Anne, a fire truck, an adult Dalmatian and two Dalmatian puppies. If you look closely at the adult Dalmatian, one of its spots is shaped like a heart.

My dear friend, Sonal, was 58 yearsyoung when she lost a gallant fight

against cancer. She was a trailblazer in Fort Bend County. Sonal was from Mumbai, India. She came to Texas with her husband, Subodh, in 1984. That’s when she took over and made Fort Bend County better. Her life was devoted to our children. She was elected to the Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees and served six years on the Board. She was the Board President for two years. While on the Board, she pushed through several initiatives like the Student Leadership Program, the Legislative Advocacy Program and the International Festival. She helped children who had been abused with her involvement in Child Advocates of Fort Bend. I remember Sonal’s joy of life and infectious smile. She spent nearly two hours at our home helping Nancy get dressed in formal Indian clothing for a traditional Indian wedding. Sonal and Anne made us and continue to make us Fort Bend Strong!

Who do you know from Fort Bend that we should honor, celebrate and remember during Women’s History Month? Please let me know – pete@absolutleyfocusmedia.com. I may include your honoree in one of my Fort Bend Strong columns.

Willie Melton and Arizona Fleming with attorneys J. Edwin Smith and James Nabritt on the steps of US Supreme Court Building. Photo courtesy of the Fort Bend Museum

Albert and Mamie George.

Sonal Bhuchar.

The mural in the foyer at Anne McCormick Sullivan Elementary School.

Celebrating Fort Bend at the 2023 Fort Bend Chairman’s Gala

The 5-Star Accredited Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce (FBCC) held their annual Gala on Friday, January 27th at Safari Texas Ranch. The annual event paid tribute to the leaders and volunteers of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce who served the chamber in 2022 and welcomed the new leadership for 2023. FBCC celebrated a record year for new membership and welcomed in the new slate of dynamic leaders. King Banerjee, owner of Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More of Sugar Land, was announced as the 2023 Chairman of the Board. Banerjee served as the 2020 Business and Professional Division Chair delivering much-needed business resources and support for the business community. He is a 2020 Fort Bend Leadership Forum graduate. As a small businessman, Banerjee understands the challenges that come with building a business. “I am honored to serve the Fort Bend business community as the 2023 Chairman of the FBCC,” Banerjee said.

Outgoing Chairman Kevin Riles led the FBCC bringing in a record-breaking number of new members in 2022. “We have had an extremely successful year and believe that 2023 will be a continuation of that trend. I look forward to continuing my active involvement as Past-Chair in support of Chairman King Banerjee.”

Riles, with Kevin Riles Commercial, presented the Community Spirit Award to Pastor David Lee Sincere, Jr. This award was presented to an individual who has given their time and treasure for the betterment of the community. Sincere is an advocate for the youth of Fort Bend County and has made a positive impact on many students throughout the community. He is tireless volunteer with Fort Bend ISD for over 24 years through mentoring students and sponsoring campus clubs. He has also served on the District’s Board Leadership Academy and facilitated Trauma Informed Care training. In 2017, he created an institution, Advocacy Now, to address the systemic issues that negatively impact economically disadvantaged communities. For the past two years, he has been part of an initiative to provide hundreds of students from Briargate Elementary with basic essentials, and in December of 2022, he donated 1,500 toiletries to students through partnerships with NRG WA Parish Power Plant and others. Sincere is a member of many organizations that have helped shape and mold youth to make a difference in Fort Bend County.

The Chairman’s Award was presented to Breah Campbell

with SI Environmental and Dr. Jay Neal with the University of Houston. This dynamic duo is a powerhouse together as cochairs of the Fort Bend Leadership Forum.

Breah Campbell radiates passion by serving as a key component behind building and mentoring leaders within the chamber through the Fort Bend Leadership Program and has assisted in graduating four classes. She strives to always enhance and promote a dynamic and more evolved community and is involved in various nonprofits throughout the county including the Fort Bend Women’s Center. Not only does she assist shaping leaders within the chamber, she also adds a helping hand to the future of the MUD industry by serving as a co-chair for the AWBD Emerging Leaders Programs.

Dr. Jay Neal is active with the Economic Development Council, Fort Bend Future Initiative with the Chamber, Fort Bend County’s Technology Task Force, Fort Bend County’s Diversity Over Division and the City of Sugar Land TIRZ Board. His biggest driving force is education and evolving our future leaders. Under Neal’s guidance, business, academic and community entities in Fort Bend County have come together through collaborations that benefit the region. Those efforts have ensured that the future of Fort Bend County includes a Tier One University with programs that feed our workforce and fuel our future successes.

Through the leadership and dedication of these two incredible recipients, the chamber is able to produce the premier community leadership program that develops future leaders.

The awards continued with Riles acknowledging the leadership and service of immediate past Chairman Janice Suchyta with Baker Donelson; retiring legal counsel Dustin Fessler with RMWBH Law; retiring Board Members Juan Alexander with SI

Pastor David L. Sincere, Jr. and Kevin Riles.

Kevin Riles, Breah Campbell and Jay Neal.

Keith

Environmental, Noe Escobar with LJA Engineering, Afshi Merchant with Oil Products Distribution, and Allisandra Wen with Safari Texas Ranch; retiring Fort Bend Leadership Forum Division Co-Chair Jan-Michael Jenkins with Legacy Fitness, and retiring Internal Committee Chair Jeffery Willis with PAGE.

The Fort Bend Chamber Executive Team is comprised of King Banerjee, Chairman; Kevin Riles, Immediate Past Chair; Qiara Suggs, Chair-Elect; Keith Borgfeldt, Treasurer and Tariq Zafar,

Legal Counsel. “I’m eager to continue to work on issues and initiatives that keep our business climate strong. I look forward to seeing our region prosper and grow in the new year,” said Riles.

The Board of Directors welcomed six new board members, each serving their first two-year term, while five members retired on December 31st, 2022.

The 2023 FBCC Directors and Division Chairs include:

King Banerjee

Angelique Bartholemew

Allison Bond

Keith Borgfeldt

Christopher Breaux

Breah Campbell

Stephen Carter

Jonathan Chapman

Nancy Colmenares

Rick Conley

Aman Dhuka

Michael Dobert

Mike Dotson

Laura Fisher

Trisha Frederick

Matt Froehlich

Lupe Garcia

Andrew Gilmore

Jennifer Goodall

Darrell Groves

Jennifer Henrikson

Melissa Hoffman

Jeff Hogan

Patrick Houck

Rachelle Kanak

Matthew Kelly

Tommy Kuykendall

Ginny Moon

Bonnie Moss

Kevin Murphree

Jay Neal

Joop Oranje

Dominique Sachse to Headline Fort Bend Literacy Council’s Ninth Annual “Reading Between the Wines”

The Literacy Council of Fort Bend County is excited to announce Dominique Sachse as the featured speaker at its “Reading Between the Wines” on Friday, March 31st at Safari Texas.

Co-chaired by Helen Bow and Kirin Wells, the event is sponsored by The Fred and Mabel R Parks Foundation. The Literacy Council of Fort Bend County’s signature fundraiser benefits adult literacy education programs and services. Since 2013, the organization’s event has raised more than $1 million to invest in programs, including English as a Second Language, High School Equivalency/GED Exam Prep and United States Citizenship and Civics courses.

Sponsorship opportunities between $500 to $5,000 are available for “Reading Between the Wines.” The event features a restaurant stroll promoting the best menu items from local chefs and restaurants along with live music, a live auction, super silent auction plus a dessert auction.

A YouTube sensation since 2014, Sachse is currently nearing the 2 million subscriber mark. Sachse passionately creates content for women in their prime to live their best, most beautiful life. She recently retired from her evening news anchor post at KPRC-TV after 28 years to focus on promoting her new book Life Makeover - Embrace The Bold, Beautiful, and Blessed You.

For more information about sponsorship and volunteer opportunities for “Reading Between the Wines,” visit the www. ftbendliteracy.org/reading-between-thewines

Elexa Orrange-Allen

Mihir Patel

Kevin Patton

Jim Rice

Kevin Riles

Luc Sanderson

Keri Schmidt

Shana Scott

Kalika Sinha

Qiara Suggs

Tommy Thompson

Ted Volf

Carl Willis

Beth Wolf

Tariq Zafar

Borgfeldt, Keri Schmidt, King Banerjee and Kevin Riles.

Featured speaker at the March 31st “Reading Between the Wines” Dominique Sachse.

absolutely AUTO REVIEW

By Steve Kursar

2023 LEXUS ES

The 2023 Lexus ES is a midsize four-door vehicle that is the best-selling sedan in the luxury carmaker’s lineup. Now, in its seventh generation, the Lexus ES has a dedicated following who continue to remain loyal to the model even as SUVs and crossovers gain in popularity. It’s a testament to the constant redesign and engineering by the Toyota/Lexus team that keeps the ES such a wanted vehicle.

Legend has it that when the Lexus brand was about to launch in 1989 with only the LS 400 sedan in its lineup, dealers demanded a second car to help build the showroom. Lexus quickly pivoted and introduced the ES, essentially an upscale Toyota Camry with many Lexus luxury features. Although it was downplayed by the automotive media for its bland driving characteristics, the ES quickly dominated the midsize luxury segment due to its reliability.

The 2023 Lexus ES has grown into a dynamic driving machine with several variations. A base ES comes with an MSRP price sticker of $42,590 and is powered by a 203 hp, 2.5 liter inline four–cylinder engine mated to an eight-speed transmission. EPA estimated fuel economy numbers are pretty impressive at 25 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway.

It’s when you move up into the various trims that the 2023 ES avails that you get a real feel on what this car can offer. The ES 350 brings more power under the hood with a 302 hp, 3.5 liter V6 engine that is a mainstay in the Lexus powertrain arsenal. You’ll get a lot more power and sacrifice only a bit on fuel economy getting 22 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. And keeping with Toyota’s leadership in hybrids, there’s a Lexus 300h model that gets terrific gas mileage numbers of 43 mpg city and 44 mpg highway.

The F SPORT design option was introduced on this seventh-generation Lexus ES to appeal to a younger and more diverse buyer looking for more aggressive sedan styling and unmatched performance perfected on the track. It is now offered on all three powertrains.

As with all Lexus models, it’s the interior that continues to draw in buyers with buttery leather and real wood inserts, along with the latest automotive tech. The Lexus Interface multimedia system features the latest display featuring higher resolution and smartphone-like, anti-glare technology.

If you’re shopping for a new luxury sedan, the 2023 Lexus ES is a good place to start.

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

Living the Sweet Life:

Fur Babies

Hey Sweet Lifers! If you ever thought you were the one to choose your fur babies, let me just tell you, they choose you. Recently, I went out to bring in my girls Sasha and Angela for the night, and each time I called their names, I heard a loud, “Meeeeeow!” in response to my call. Both of the girls came trotting in for their supper, and yet I kept hearing this cry. When I looked carefully into the bushes, out trotted a big male blonde cat covered in blood. He looked like he had definitely been on the wrong side of whatever fight he had gotten himself into.

Over these 33 years of marriage, sweet B and I have always had cats. Each of them have come to us with their own sets of circumstances. There was Christopher Thomas who you’ll recall was found as a kitten over there in H-town while I was doing a wedding. He lived his sweet life for 19 years, and I literally fell apart when he went to heaven. It’s amazing how much of your life is intertwined with those fur babies beside you every waking moment! Then there was Elizabeth and William, who were found in the insulation of a client’s home being built in Katy. We lost Elizabeth two years ago, and William, now 17, as frail as he is, is with us and by my side all of the time. Sasha and Angela came from a parking lot in Sugar Land 15 years ago.

Brian, let’s just say had mentioned, that he “sure would be glad when we did not have to worry about ‘the cats.’” He meant well by this because truthfully, he wants to travel and not be tied down with the responsibilities of having fur babies. I suppose the fact that our human babies are all grown up has had this effect on him. I, however, have made it very clear that I have no intention of ever living a day of my life without a cat. This had honestly begun to worry me a little, and I even mentioned it to Commissioner Morales’ team at the animal shelter when I had gone to do a shoot with Patti. “Be on the lookout for a blonde male kitten,” I had asked the ladies there. I needed a back-up plan for when William leaves me.

So, you cannot imagine my joy in finding this guy screaming at me in my bushes! I grabbed him food, which he happily gobbled up, and a few hours later, I went outside to find him screaming at me again. I decided if he was supposed to be mine, he would have to make that decision, and so I left the door open. He walked in and began pushing himself all over my feet, and when I sat down to pet him, he turned over to expose his belly and viola! He became mine.

The next day I took him to see the doc, and he said he was covered in lacerations and was feral. I thought, there ain’t no way this cat is feral coming into my life like that. Every cat owner knows that cats that have not been loved by humans are very difficult to make into pets. This guy was a big blonde ball of teddy bear purring despite his wounds! The best part? Doc said he’s only two!

Here we are a few months later, and all of his wounds are healed. He’s transitioned beautifully into our home, and guess who goes outside and sits with him and scratches his belly every few hours? Did I mention that B said he was done having cats? LOL! At this rate Joseph Theodore will probably out live me! I am so happy though, because he is just perfect, and just like all the rest, he chose us!

Take care of YOU and stay “sweet!”

Alisa with her newest fur baby who chose herJoseph Theodore.