OCTOBER 2014
A Winning Team:
Meet the
GEMS of
Susie Eisenberg-Argo & Methodist's Breast Center $2.95
Fort Bend FOCUS ON THE CURE Frightfully Fun Halloween Treats
Women’s Center When it comes to a woman’s health, it is important to understand the changing nature of health needs throughout a woman’s life. That’s why CHI St. Luke’s Health – Sugar Land Hospital developed The Women’s Center, a multidisciplinary approach that provides a wide range of comprehensive and high-quality services for every stage of life. From preventative screenings to appropriate care, St. Luke’s has the expertise to help women understand their options.
Sugar Land Hospital
The Women’s Center Offers: • 3D Tomosysnthesis • Screening Mammograms
• Diagnostic
Mammograms
• Ultrasound • Breast MRI • Bone Density Testing • Uterine Fibroid Embolization
What is a 3D Mammogram, Breast MRI and Breast Ultrasound, and how can it help in diagnosing Breast Cancer? 3D Tomosynthesis A 3D tomosynthesis exam is very similar to a traditional mammogram. Just as with a digital mammogram, the technologist will position the patient, compress the breast under a paddle and take images from different angles. A breast tomosynthesis exam may be used as a screening tool in conjunction with a traditional digital mammogram or may be used by itself for a diagnostic mammogram. Breast tomosynthesis is a new technology in the diagnosis of breast cancer. It uses high-powered computing to convert digital breast images into a stack of very thin layers or “slices” building what is essentially a “3-dimensional mammogram.” During the tomosynthesis part of the exam, the X-ray arm sweeps in a slight arc over the breast, taking multiple breast images in just seconds. A computer then produces a 3D image of the beast tissue in millimeter layers.
Breast MRI MRI of the breast is a supplemental tool for detecting and staging breast cancer and other breast abnormalities. An MRI may be used to evaluate abnormalities detected by mammography and/or breast ultrasound. In certain situations such as in high risk patients or women with dense breast tissue, breast MRI can also be used as a screening tool. Current indications for breast MRI include: • Determine tumor extent to see whether cancer detected by mammography or ultrasound has spread further in the breast or into the chest wall. • Search for multiple tumors prior to breast conservation surgery. • Determine breast implant integrity. • Determine how much cancer has spread beyond the surgical site after a breast biopsy or lumpectomy. • Distinguish between scar tissue and recurrent tumors. • Screen women at high risks for breast cancer.
Breast Ultrasound Breast ultrasound is primarily used is to help identify and diagnose breast abnormalities detected by a physician or patient on a physical exam. It is also used to characterize potential abnormalities seen on mammography often times to determine if a potential breast abnormality is a benign cyst (fluid-filled) or is solid (which may be a non-cancerous lesion or a cancerous tumor).
Who is reading your Mammogram? When choosing a facility to have mammograms or any other diagnostic imaging performed, it is important to know who is interpreting and/or administering your mammogram, ultrasound, breast MRI, bone density scans or interventional radiology. At St. Luke’s, you can have added peace of mind that your studies will be interpreted by a board certified, fellowship trained radiologist. To learn more about CHI St. Luke’s Health – Sugar Land Hospital’s Women’s Center and other services offered, please visit Stlukeshealth.org. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we invite you to take charge of your health by scheduling your annual mammogram today by calling 281-637-7001.
Sugar Land Hospital PRESENTS
Pink Is the Word
Fashion Show and Luncheon to promote breast health and increase the awareness of breast cancer Join St. Luke’s as we host an all-girls event filled with fun, education and relaxation. Fashion Show by Dillard’s – First Colony Mall Eyes and Lips Makeover by Dillard’s – First Colony Mall St. Luke’s Sugar Land Hospital Women’s Center Sugar Land Doctor Group
October 23, 2014 11:30 am to 1:30 pm Sugar Land Marriott 16090 City Walk Sugar Land, TX Call 832-355-4343 to register!
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magazine • October 2014
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COVER STORY OCTOBER 2014
F E AT U R E S 23 FOCUS ON THE CURE
Educate yourself and your loved ones about Breast Cancer Awareness and detection.
43 absolutely! PRETTY IN PINK
See what local retailers have to offer to support Breast Cancer Awareness.
55 THE GEMS OF FORT BEND: MEET THREE GENEROUS, ENTHUSIASTIC MEN SERVING
Neil Banfield, Robert C. Brown, III and James D. Rice have dedicated their time to volunteer and give back to the community, and each one will be honored at a premier event featuring dinner, live entertainment and a “chips for charity” casino benefiting Texana Center.
COLUMNS 46 FOCUS ON FINANCE
Information is Not Knowledge
Dr. Bushra Cheema, Dr. Sandra Templeton, Susie Eisenberg-Argo and Dr. Clive Shkedy. Photography by Nesossi Studios.
An all-inclusive Cancún resort provided the perfect scene for nuptials.
20 FIGHTING – AND BEATING – BREAST CANCER, ONE STEP AT A TIME: SUSIE EISENBERG-ARGO
50 HIGH SCHOOL HOT SHOT Meet Jonathan Winfiele
93 THE MAKING OF FORT BEND
As an accomplished marathon runner, Susie Eisenberg-Argo’s most important race was one for her life battling breast cancer. With Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Breast Care Center’s team of experts, state-of-the-art technology and the supportive, nurturing environment that sets them apart, Eisenberg-Argo has returned to running and uses her experience to educate others about breast cancer.
TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend
48 MIX OF CULTURES ACCENTUATES EXPERIENCE AT DESTINATION WEDDINGS
.com • October 2014
The Sugar Land Heritage Foundation’s Preservation Plans
96 LIVING THE SWEET LIFE
Hope and Inspiration in Retrospect
6
CONTRIBUTORS
OCTOBER 2014
|
VOLUME 10
|
Will Hardee Hardee Investment Group Page 46
NUMBER 12 46
NEWSWORTHY 52 FRED AND MABEL R. PARKS FOUNDATION UNDERWRITES 23rd Annual CASA Christmas Home Tour
53 TEXANA TROT 3K FUN WALK Get on Your Walking Shoes
81 THE HEART OF FORT BEND EVENT Plans Underway for October 30th Event
NEW TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD 48
49 LBL RENTALS
A Fort Bend Staple With a New Name
Joan Frances Contributor Page 50
absolutely! AUTO REVIEW
50
78 2015 SUBARU LEGACY
Patti Parish-Kaminski absolutely! focus media Page 58
F A M I LY N I G H T AT T H E M O V I E S
MEDICAL & BUSINESS 74 MEDICAL FOCUS 79 WEST HOUSTON COMMUNITY, CROSS CREEK RANCH
Continues Record-Setting Growth
Zeenat Kassam Mitha Cultural Correspondent Page 48
58 Steve Kursar Auto Enthusiast Page 78
80 DOLPHIN TALE 2 78
absolutely! DELICIOUS
Christopher Hill imagination monkey Page 80
88 HALLOWEEN TREATS 90 BREW UP A FRIGHTFULLY FUN HALLOWEEN PARTY
80
For Ghoulish Guests of All Ages
Stephenie Cox absolutely! focus media Page 88
92 FALL FLAVORS 88
IN EVERY ISSUE
Jonathan Fausset Contributor Page 93
10 PUBLISHER’S POINT OF VIEW 93
44 SEEN ON THE SCENE 77 AMATEUR PHOTO CONTEST ON THE COVER: Dr. Sandra Templeton, Susie Eisenberg-Argo, Dr. Clive Shkedy and Dr. Bushra Cheema. Photography by Nesossi Studios.
82 OUT & ABOUT IN THE HEART OF THE BEND
96
94 COMMUNITY EVENTS
TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend
.com • October 2014
Alisa Murray Alisa Murray Photography Page 96
8
Ask These 10 Questions To Make Sure Your Dentist Stacks Up 1
6
2 7 3
8 4 9 5 10
Tim Cashion, DDS
Teresa Cody, DDS
mydentist@candcdental.com A $25.00 flat fee for an x-ray & consultation A $74.00 value Low cost way to find out whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wrong (Does not include cleaning)
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EXCLAMATION POINTS! THE INSIDE SCOOP STRAIGHT FROM THE TOP
Vol. 10 No. 12 October 2014
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, PATTI PARISH-KAMINSKI
All That Sparkles Is Truly Pink
4655 TECHNIPLEX DR. STE 700 STAFFORD, TX 77477 281-690-4242
WWW.FORTBENDFOCUS.C0M
The Fort Bend Focus masthead has turned pink this month as we dedicate this important issue to Breast Cancer Awareness. We want to do our part by shining the spotlight on this disease Keron Weathered, Patti Parish-Kaminski, Ruthanne that affects so many of our friends, Mefford and Sue Lockwood at Ladies’ Night Out benefiting Fort Bend Education Foundation and neighbors and families. In our cover Lamar Educational Awards Foundation. story, you will meet a neighbor – an amazing woman who is literally fighting – and beating – breast cancer one step at a time. Marathon runner Susie Eisenberg-Argo survived the 2013 Boston Marathon when two bombs exploded, and she is surviving her battle with breast cancer beautifully with the help of some amazing physicians at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Breast Care Center. Read about Susie, her sparkling personality and her return to running. And don’t forget to check out our Focus on the Cure section full of valuable information about prevention and early detection that includes Pretty in Pink, featuring what some local retailers have to offer to support Breast Cancer Awareness. So during this important month, think pink – and sparkle! Can I just say that I love the GEMS of Fort Bend? If you haven’t met Bob, Neil or Jim – our 2014 Generous, Enthusiastic Men Serving – you are missing out on an opportunity to be inspired, entertained and informed. I hope that you will join us on October 23rd at the newly renovated Safari Texas Lodge to meet these amazing, Godly men and help support Texana Center. Texana is doing amazing work in our community, and I would like to personally invite you to join us to learn all about them and our three GEMS, who truly shine. It’s a chips for charity, GEMS and jeans themed event – all for a great cause. Well, it’s Halloween, and I would like to tell you that my children have outgrown the ghostly – really ghastly – decorations that Tim puts out every year, but that’s not the case. My yard sparkles, and it usually stays somewhat that way until Thanksgiving when the turkeys come out. Every year I expect a letter or at least a note from my neighbors, but so far, so good, so the Halloween havoc continues. There are a couple of fun Halloween events this month for your little goblins. Read about them in our Community Events, and take a look at some fun, spooky recipes on page 88. And don’t forget to add the sparkles! The very definition of sparkle is “to be brilliant in performance.” Yes, our GEMS sparkle, Susie Eisenberg-Argo sparkles, our Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign sparkles and even my Halloween decorations sparkle. Author Amy Leigh Mercree said, “Celebrate true friends. They are a part of you that always sparkles.” I wish you all – our readers, friends and advertisers – a sparkling pink October!
www.FortBendFocus.com Facebook.com/FortBendFocus Ticket giveaways to area attractions and events.
TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend
.com • October 2014
A S S O C IAT E P U B L I S H E R Jessica Kij M A NA G I N G E D I T O R Sarah Bearden AC C O U N T E X E C U T I V E S Stephenie Cox Jennifer Elliott Molly Ellis Kay Garrett Juliet Hubbell Andrea Rigamonti Suzanne Stiles Bonnie Bell Woodrow A RT D I R E C T O R Grace Belleza GRAPHIC DESIGNER Ginger Garza WEB DESIGNER Joey Belleza PHOTOGRAPHER Nesossi Studios O F F I C E A D M I N I S T R AT O R Adrienne Boring CONTRIBUTORS M.G. Angulo Stephenie Cox Jonathan Fausset Joan Frances Will Hardee Christopher Hill Steve Kursar Zeenat Kassam Mitha Alisa Murray INQUIRIES 281-690-4242 E D I T O R IA L S U B M I S S I O N S editor@fortbendfocus.com
Published by
Subscription requests are free to all Fort Bend addresses. Annual paid subscription of $25 required outside the Fort Bend area. Fort Bend FocusTM Magazine is published by absolutely! focus media, 4655 Techniplex Dr., Ste. 700, Stafford, TX 77477. Copyright © 2014 by absolutely! focus media. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. Fort Bend FocusTM Magazine does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial, nor do the publishers assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. Fort Bend FocusTM Magazine welcomes editorial submissions from its readers.
Stay focused!
editor@fortbendfocus.com
PUBLISHER E D I T O R- I N - C H I E F Patti Parish-Kaminski
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BOB HEBERT •Proven •Conservative •Experienced •Republican We Know Judge Bob Hebert Is GOOD for FORT BEND! Congressman Pete and Nancy Olson St. Senator Glenn Hegar St. Senator Joan Huffman St. Representative Rick and Babs Miller St. Representative Phil Stephenson St. Representative John Zerwas, M.D. Sheriff Troy Nehls Mayor Allen and Jane Owen Mayor James and Gay Thompson Mayor Charles and Elaine Jessup Mayor Vince and Regina Morales Hon. John and Shirley Isbell Hon. Terry Henley Hon. Dave and Trish Wilkins Hon. Terry Morgan Hon. Kelle Mills Hon. Bill and Barbie Benton Hon. Gary Gillen Hon. Bill Dostal Hon. Harish and Shashi Jajoo Hon. Himesh and Farrah Ghandi Hon. Bridget Yeung Anthony and Belinda Francis Andre McDonald Gary Pearson Kay and Barry Beard Bill Jameson Beverly and Julius Baumann John Minchew Jack Molho Dana and John Benoit Chris and Mandi Bronsell Lisa Poynor John and Kathy Robson Chris Elam Bob Alanis Lina and Michael Sabouni C.C. Lee Prasad Kolluru Bob and Ann Hodge Jay Morris Jake Messinger Jim Hoelker Frank Yonish Bob Collie Kathy Huebner David Smith Brad Moon Evelyn Traylor Chip and Cindy Sutton Bob Pack Barkley Peschel Barbara Meeks Ann & Bill Crockett Bob Vogelsang Scott & KK West Jeff & Ann Council Tim & Patti Kaminski William & Pamela Zemanek
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! y l e t u l o s b a Let our awards speak for us HERMES •
2014 Platinum Winner: Fort Bend Focus 100 Most Fascinating Things About Fort Bend
• 2014 Gold Winner: Fort Bend Focus First Annual Focus Favs • 2014 Honorable Mention: absolutely! Memorial Memorial’s Model Gardener Kelly Emberg • 2014 Honorable Mention: absolutely! Brazos Lunches of Love
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2013 Platinum Winner: Fort Bend Focus 100 Most Fascinating Things About Fort Bend
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Fighting – and Beating – Breast Cancer,
COVER STORY By M.G. Angulo Photos by Nesossi Studios
One Step at a Time:
Susie Eisenberg-Argo
S
usie Eisenberg-Argo knows all about journeys. As an accomplished marathon runner, Eisenberg-Argo is well-versed in setting goals and overcoming obstacles – one step at a time. Her passion has taken her around the country, running marathons in Boston, New York and elsewhere – some of them multiple times. But the most important race in Eisenberg-Argo’s life had nothing to do with running. It was a race for her health, and her life. TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend
In the fall of 2013, Eisenberg-Argo underwent procedures to study a suspicious lump on her breast that her gynecologist, Dr. Charles Pehr, noticed weeks prior during a well woman exam. “He had asked me, ‘How long has that been there?’” Eisenberg-Argo recalled. “I didn’t know. I mean, it was so small that I didn’t think about it.” Dr. Pehr recommended that she see the experts at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Breast Care Center for a detailed follow-up. Following a biopsy of the lump, board certified surgeon and breast care specialist Dr. Sandra Templeton scheduled her for an MRI to provide a close-up view of the area. “All of a sudden I realized this could be very serious,” Eisenberg-Argo said. “It was scary, very scary.”
The Battle Begins When the call came, the nurse told Eisenberg-Argo, “Dr. Templeton would like to see you this afternoon.” Eisenberg-Argo’s stomach sank. That was not what she wanted to hear. She wanted to hear that everything was okay, that the lump was benign and that the doctor, in fact, didn’t need to speak with her. Instead Eisenberg-Argo, her boyfriend, Dave, and her parents sat with Dr. Templeton, who informed her she had mucinous carcinoma of the breast – a form of cancer that begins in the milk duct and spreads into nearby healthy tissue. “It’s a good thing Dave and my parents were with me, because after I heard that I had cancer, I heard nothing else,” Eisenberg-Argo said. “I went numb. You never want to hear those words. Never ever. I thought about how my life might change. I thought about the pain I might endure. I thought about my three wonderful children and about the love of my life.”
.com • October 2014
20
Dr. Templeton didn’t let her slip into desperation, though. While EisenbergArgo couldn’t help but think worstcase-scenario thoughts, Dr. Templeton reminded her that being optimistic was important.
ton at the door of the operating room, and I just felt safe. She was a blessing.” Eisenberg-Argo emerged from the surgery without complications and with the satisfaction that the surgeons had gotten all of the cancer. Afterward, she received about seven weeks of radiation.
Team Approach to Care
“I usually see patients after they have an abnormal mammogram, or they feel a lump, or even if they have a strong family history of breast cancer,” said Dr. Templeton. “They’re concerned, of course, but my goal is to give them hope, because most patients do very well after being diagnosed with breast cancer. I try to take away the fear so that patients aren’t anxious about the entire treatment process.” On October 16, 2013, Eisenberg-Argo underwent a lumpectomy, which is surgery in which only the tumor and some surrounding tissue is removed. “I have three children and have never undergone any type of surgery,” she said. “I was scared, but then I saw Dr. Temple-
“
Everyone there was fabulous. From the surgeon and radiologist to the technicians and oncologist – everyone was lovely.
“
Dr. Sandra Templeton.
It’s not just technology and training that sets Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Breast Center apart. It’s the team approach employed by the center’s physicians and staff, who work together to ensure that every patient is receiving the best possible care and treatment in a comforting, compassionate manner. “Everyone there was fabulous,” Eisenberg-Argo said of her experience at the Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Breast Care Center. “From the surgeon and radiologist to the technicians and oncologist – everyone was lovely.” Dr. Clive Shkedy, radiation oncologist and Medical Director of Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Cancer Center, played a pivotal role in Eisenberg-Argo’s recovery by helping her with her treatment decision and radiation therapy. Dr. Shkedy did more than provide physical treatment, though. He made sure Eisenberg-Argo felt like more than just another case.
Susie Eisenberg-Argo
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Dr. Clive Shkedy.
“Providing a supportive, nurturing environment and making patients feel at home is very important to their wellbeing and facilitates them going through the stress of cancer treatment,” Dr. Shkedy said. “We don’t focus on the diagnosis of cancer but treat the whole patient physically, socially and emotionally. We view patients as people who have a cancer – not as cancer patients.” Eisenberg-Argo’s experience also included interaction with the center’s breast care navigator, Maria Socci, a registered nurse with specialty training in oncology. Socci assists patients who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, serving as a resource expert, helping them understand treatment options, schedule appointments with the appropriate physicians, including breast surgeons, reconstructive surgeons, oncologists and radiation oncologists. Her role is to simply help reduce stress and provide emotional support and guidance throughout patients’ treatments so they can focus on healing. The breast care navigator is just one key element to the Breast Care Center. Other highlights include the ability to undergo a mammogram and an ultrasound or MRI on the same day and a breast care team that discusses newly diagnosed patients and creates personalized treatment plans. The center is also available to people seeking a second opinion after being diagnosed with breast cancer at another facility.
Schedule your screening mammogram by calling 281.242.PINK (7465) or going online at houstonmethodist. org/online-scheduling.
“We have state-of-the-art technology but more importantly, specialized radiologists who only image and diagnose breast diseases,” said Dr. Shkedy. “This combination, as well as dedicated personnel, make Houston Methodist Sugar Land the ideal facility to receive health care.”
Susie Eisenberg-Argo on race day.
Returning to Her Running Legs Following her treatment, EisenbergArgo was uncharacteristically immobile, which consequently gave her time to think about the kind of resilient woman she is. “As expected, the surgery shut down everything,” Eisenberg-Argo said. “I couldn’t physically drive to work, I didn’t sleep well and I couldn’t run.” The latter is what bothered Eisenberg-Argo the most. For the past 14 years, she has been a member of Fort Bend Fit, a marathon training program, and has participated in more than 50 marathons. Eisenberg-Argo was running the Boston Marathon for the 10th consecutive year on April 15, 2013, when two pressure cooker bombs near the finish line exploded, killing three people and injuring more than 260 others. “I was about to cross the line when the first bomb went off,” Eisenberg-Argo recalled. “My boyfriend, Dave, finished before I did and was waiting at the finish line for me to cross. He saw what the television cameras saw.” She remembers the chaos, the uninhibited fear and how Dave grabbed her into his arms tightly screaming for her to be still. The experience was trauma-
tizing and one that Eisenberg-Argo won’t ever truly get over. Still, she didn’t let it stop her from living, from running. “It’s still there in my mind,” she said. “But it won’t stop me from running. Terror won’t take away something I love to do.” So when told she had breast cancer six months later, Eisenberg-Argo said she wouldn’t let the fear take control. Her determination inspired Dr. Templeton, so much so, that the two became walking buddies. “All I wanted to know is when I could start walking and running,” Eisenberg-Argo said with a laugh. “So the moment Dr. Templeton said I could start walking, I was excited. I even convinced her to walk with me, and she and I have formed an incredible friendship.” “I told her I wasn’t going to run, but I would walk,” Dr. Templeton said with a laugh. Eisenberg-Argo has since gotten her running legs back but, true to her word, Dr. Templeton has kept up with her new walking routine. Eisenberg-Argo is thankful for her team of doctors: Dr. Charles Pehr, gynecologist; Dr. Stephen Phillips, breast radiologist; Dr. Sandra Templeton, breast surgeon and Dr. Bushra Cheema, medical oncologist. She is also grateful for her family and friends, especially her three children Ryan, Marcella and Sammy, who were instrumental in supporting her during her journey. The journey Eisenberg-Argo set out on a year ago is, for the most part, over. She still gets regular checkups at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, but she is cancer-free and happy. And in typical fashion, she is using her experience to help others and educate them about breast cancer. “I encourage everyone I know to do their self-examinations and to get exams – both men and women,” she said. “The moment you feel something different, you should see your doctor.”
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Advances Cancer Treatment with TrueBeam Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is the first hospital in Texas to offer the newest TrueBeam radiation system at its Cancer Center. Considered the gold standard in radiation treatment, TrueBeam advances cancer treatments by allowing doctors to deliver powerful cancer treatments with pinpoint, 4D precision. The precision of TrueBeam is measured in increments of less than a millimeter, which is made possible by the system’s sophisticated architecture. And because the system takes into account patient movement due to breathing, it can be controlled to deliver radiation at the precise proper moment to minimize the impact on surrounding tissue. A product of Varian Medical Systems, TrueBeam is used in cancer cases in the lung, breast, head and neck, abdomen, liver and other regions. Simple treatments that used to take 10 to 30 minutes to complete can now be done in less than two minutes. True to its design, TrueBeam was also developed with patient comfort in mind. Not only does it allow shorter treatment times, it also enables patients and doctors to communicate using to a two-way audio on three closed-circuit television systems.
Some of TrueBeam’s additional highlights include: • The deliverance of fast, accurate, image-guided treatments within just a few minutes per day. • More accurate treatment by enabling physicians to “see” the tumor they treat and target tumors with submillimeter accuracy. • The 25 percent reduction of the patient’s exposure to X-ray doses. • The option to have music playing during treatment. For more information about TrueBeam or Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Cancer Center, contact France Goerlich, cancer care navigator, at 281.274.7930 or fgoerlich@houstonmethodist.org or visit houstonmethodist.org/sugarland.
October is Breast
Cancer Awareness Month.
Educate yourself and your loved ones about awareness and detection. Learn about treatment options available in our community.
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FOCUS ON THE CURE
Breast Cancer Screening Essential for Women of All Ages
Dr. Meghana Bhandari Texas Oncology–Sugar Land
O
ver the past decade, news and information about breast cancer has helped increase awareness about the disease tremendously. While awareness of breast cancer has improved, the disease unfortunately remains the second deadliest cancer among American women. Early detection with regular mammograms remains the single most effective way to combat breast cancer. As physicians, we know that the earlier we can detect the disease, the more likely the patient will survive. When detected early before it spreads, women have a 99 percent survival rate after five years. While this all may sound very simple, at my Texas Oncology practice, I see many women with more advanced
stages of breast cancer. It is estimated that this year alone in Texas, 17,348 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 3,178 women will die from the disease. Many of these deaths are preventable with yearly mammograms, especially for women over the age of 40. While mammograms will detect most breast cancers in women who don’t have symptoms, they are not the only way to detect the signs of breast cancer. Women can screen themselves for signs of breast cancer through monthly breast self-exams, which they should begin to administer in their 20s. Any irregularities or concerns that are detected should immediately be reported to a physician. Clinical breast exams are recommended for women in their 20s and 30s every three years and every year for women over 40 for the early detection of breast cancer. If recommended by a physician, women age 40 and older should also consider an annual MRI screening. Finding breast cancer in early, more treatable stages leads to higher survival rates. Screening is especially important for women who have increased risk factors for breast cancer. However, it is important to remember that even women without clear risk factors should have regular screenings and mammograms.
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Risk factors may include: Age: Approximately two-thirds of invasive breast cancer cases occur in women over age 55, though the disease can occur at any age. Family History: If a woman’s mother, sister or grandmother had the disease, that woman potentially has an increased risk for breast cancer. Diet and Exercise: Overweight and/or physically inactive women face a higher risk of developing breast cancer. While screenings may detect cancer early on, it’s also important to watch out for warning signs and symptoms, including a lump in the breast, change in breast size or shape, redness, scaliness or thickening of nipple or breast, dimpled skin near the breast, a lump under the arm, tenderness, nipple retraction, nipple discharge, irritation on the breast, nipple or skin near the nipple and swelling of the breast. If any of these symptoms are detected, contact a physician immediately to start receiving proper medical care. Researchers continue to make advances in the fight against breast cancer every day. Until a cure is found, regular screenings, awareness and healthy lifestyle choices are among the best tools a woman has to reduce her risk and survive the disease.
Holley Kitchen, Texas Oncology Patient
FIGHT BREAST CANCER next to the comforts of home. When you’re fighting breast cancer, it helps to be near the things you love. That’s why Texas Oncology brings leading-edge cancer-fighting technology to more than 150 locations across Texas, so you can get the treatment you need near your home. TEXAS ONCOLOGY–KATY 1331 W. Grand Pkwy. North, Suite 340 Katy, TX 77493 • 281-392-2757
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FOCUS ON THE CURE
Early Detection: Having a Mammogram Could Save Your Life
Stephen Phillips, M.D. Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital
Y
ou’ve heard the statistics before. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. You might think you are safe from breast cancer if no one in your family has had it, but family history is only one of the factors that determines your risk for the disease. “Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States,” said Dr. Stephen Phillips, breast radiologist and medical director of the Breast Care Center at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. “It is very important for all women to increase their awareness about their personal risk of breast cancer.” Did you know breast cancer is a
leading cause of cancer death in women, regardless of race? Although Asian, Native American and Hispanic women have lower odds of developing breast cancer and dying from the disease, Caucasian women are more likely to be diagnosed, and African-American women are at greater risk of dying from breast cancer. If your mother, sister or daughter has had breast cancer, your risk is doubled. But if that’s not the case, you are not necessarily in the clear. Less than 15 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history of the disease, which means it is important to schedule the screenings that are right for your age. “Monthly breast self-exams are something every woman should do starting in their 20s,” said Phillips. “Women should know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any breast change promptly to their physician.” Additionally, a clinical breast exam should be performed every three years for women in their 20s and 30s and annually for women 40 and over. Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40 and should continue for as long as a woman is in good health. Putting off a routine mammogram
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because you think your risk is lower now that you are older is not a good idea. Among older women, waiting five years or more between mammograms increases the risk of dying from breast cancer. The majority of women diagnosed with breast cancer are older than 50, and the risk increases as you age. What’s more, two of every three invasive breast cancers found are in women 55 and up. So, now you understand the importance of yearly mammograms. But of equal importance is where you have your mammogram. The Breast Care Center at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital offers women a lifesaving difference. Staffed by renowned breast radiologists, the Breast Care Center is the leading breast imaging facility in Fort Bend County and provides some of the best diagnostic services available, including Digital Mammography, Diagnostic Ultrasound, Breast MRI, Molecular Breast Imaging, MRIguided Biopsy, Ultrasound Biopsy and Stereotactic Biopsy. Should your care need to extend beyond a yearly mammogram, a dedicated breast care navigator will guide you through the emotional and complex journey from diagnosis to survivorship, so you can focus on healing.
METHODIST SUGAR LAND NEUROLOGY ASSOCIATES WELCOMES DR. TObY YALTHO & DR. CARISA LIEW Dr. Larry Tran and Dr. Eddie Patton Jr. are pleased to welcome Dr. Toby Yaltho and Dr. Carisa Liew to Methodist Sugar Land Neurology Associates. Together these fellowship-trained physicians offer diagnosis and treatment of the most common — and most complex — neurological disorders including migraines, sleep disorders, epilepsy, dementia, complex spine and peripheral neurological disorders, neuromuscular disorders, movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, and more. They provide answers and options using the latest in technology and therapeutic techniques, backed by the resources and staff of Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. Regain your quality of life. To schedule an appointment with Methodist Sugar Land Neurology Associates, call 281.494.6387.
Toby Yaltho, MD Larry Tran, MD
methodistsugarlanddocs.com Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Campus Medical Office Building Two 16659 Southwest Freeway, Suite 131 Sugar Land, Texas 77479 281.494.6387
Carisa Liew, DO Eddie Patton Jr., MD
FOCUS ON THE CURE
Steps to Living a Healthy Life Full of Vitality After Cancer
Dr. Shelena C. Lalji Dr. Shel Wellness & Medical Spa
L
ife after cancer can be challenging. How does one live a healthy, happy, cancer-free life after diagnosis and treatments? I have discussed these questions with numerous patients who experience fatigue, insomnia, depression and other symptoms after cancer. Unfortunately, most of them are not armed with adequate information to rebuild their bodies and experience the life they deserve filled with health, happiness and vitality. Thanks to advances in integrative and preventive medicine, there are cutting-edge treatments available, so patients can revitalize themselves and return to a state of optimal health. Nutritional Testing, Professional Grade Supplements, Myer’s Cocktails, Glutathione and Vitamin C IV Infusions: These are all extremely important, since cancer treatments can deplete nutritional status.
Advanced diagnostic testing allows us to determine a person’s nutritional deficiencies by looking inside his white blood cells. We can then boost the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are deficient with nutritional supplementation and IV infusions. Myer’s IV cocktails, Glutathione and Vitamin C Infusions, as well as professional grade supplementation, all play an important role by providing essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to boost immunity, vitality and energy while decreasing inflammation. Diindolemethane (DIM): DIM is ideal for patients who may be hormonally imbalanced but are not ideal candidates for hormone replacement therapy. DIM is a naturally derived ingredient found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower. It is best known for its ability to remove unhealthy estrogens to stabilize hormones. Hormonal balance is essential to reduce hormone related symptoms, and it has been proven to assist with reducing the risks and recurrence of breast and colon cancer. Choosing a Balanced, Clean and Healthy Diet: This kind of eating decreases the consumption of chemical additives and preservatives that can lead to inflammation. It is proven that inflammation in the body leads to many chronic diseases, including cancer. Organic is always best to ensure that no unnecessary chemicals are in the food you consume. Eliminate pro-
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cessed foods such as breads, pastas, crackers, canned and boxed foods and dairy. Instead choose “clean foods,” which include seafood, chicken, turkey and nuts, along with fresh raw fruits and vegetables. Juicing and making smoothies at home or at work is ideal to make sure you get adequate amounts of essential vitamins and minerals from fruits and vegetables. Stress Reduction: When you are trying to achieve a healthy mind, body and spirit, stress reduction is a cornerstone to wellness. Everyday stress can trigger an increase in cortisol production, which may cause inflammation in the body and eventually lead to diseases. I suggest patients get their cortisol levels tested by using a diurnal saliva test. Recommended stress reducers are walking, yoga, reading, meditation, visualization and one hour of personal quiet time per day. There is a very strong connection between mind and body, and I often see the health of the body greatly improve by first creating a healthy state of mind. Restoring a life full of health, energy and vitality can be achieved with a combination of these options. I encourage you to be your own health advocate and educate yourself on integrative treatments to ensure long term health that is cancer-free. Note: Do not begin any treatments without the approval of a medical doctor or oncologist.
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FOCUS ON THE CURE
Aesthetic “Finishing Touches” for Breast Reconstruction
Kaitlin Guerra, B.S. Timeless Plastic Surgery
T
he female breasts are symbolic of a woman’s pride, power and selfworth. Sensuality and femininity embody the biological makeup of women in society today. When a woman is fully confident, she will radiate from within, achieving goals and building stronger relationships with family, friends and loved ones. As a community, it is imperative to spread awareness about breast cancer and its treatment. The removal of cancer is gratifying. However, the loss of a breast, such as by partial resection or mastectomy, is just the beginning of reconstructive and emotional healing. Primary reconstruction follows cancer removal and is the first step towards breast reconstruction. Often times, women are not pleased with the results and look towards secondary aesthetic options. A plastic surgeon who specializes in cosmetic breast surgery will then perform the aesthetic finishing touches to the breast after primary reconstruction.
Aesthetic secondary breast reconstruction is the art of creating a more beautiful breast from the previous breast mound that was reconstructed after cancer removal. Using surgical techniques such as autologous tissue transfers will reshape the breast tissue and soften the breast. The main objective of aesthetic secondary breast reconstruction is to produce a more natural and proportioned counterpart to the opposite breast. Women who undergo single or double mastectomies look for closure and resolution to their fight against breast cancer. Closing doors behind a difficult chapter in life to regain normalcy is often trying and exhausting; however, there are always solutions to unresolved issues offered at Timeless Plastic Surgery. If every woman could paint a body of beauty, each figure would look different. Beauty would be depicted with different breast shapes, sizes and enhanced with specific traits desired. By adding aesthetic finishing touches, a woman can choose a breast size similar to her previous breasts before cancer or select breasts with fuller volume than her original breasts. Whatever the aspiration, Timeless strives to deliver. Years after the patient has been cleared of all cancer treatments and has received primary reconstruction, Timeless’ physicians can direct the process of adding the aesthetic finishing touches. Dr. Peter Chang and Dr. Ankur Mehta add surgical artistry in creating breasts that are full, youthful and more symmetric. The breasts are
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defined, rounded, personalized, natural looking and timeless. The outcome of the redefined breasts displays structure, appeal and agelessness. Moreover, the aesthetic request of beautiful breasts promotes confidence and femininity. The new breasts will become the perfect accessory to match newfound confidence! After solidifying their confidence both inside and out, women can look forward to creating a new life beyond just being a cancer survivor. Living a wholesome, productive and beautiful life is a natural right, and Timeless Plastic Surgery can help achieve that goal. Receiving new breasts is both gratifying and exhilarating. Women are able to live life spontaneously and freely with no self-image concerns. All walls of self-consciousness are torn down so she may enjoy life’s simple pleasures. There are no excuses to not live a normal, pleasurable life. In summary, Dr. Chang and Dr. Mehta’s technical skills and surgical artistry will add the final aesthetic finishing touches to provide the patient with realistic and beautiful results after primary breast reconstruction. The cancer survivor’s road to reconstruction and recovery is always assisted and supported by the remarkable “concierge care” of educated and understanding staff members at Timeless. In the end, Timeless Plastic Surgery adds aesthetic finishing touches to construct beauty, improve quality of life and bestow confidence in cancer patient survivors.
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Peter Chang, M.D. Board Certified in Plastic Surgery
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FOCUS ON THE CURE Fighting Breast Cancer: Early Detection Is Key
Dr. Eric Humble Sugar Land Face & Body Plastic Surgery
B
reast cancer is the most common cancer in women, with skin cancers being an exception. Screening tests and early detection can find cancer early when chances for survival are highest. It is important to know your risk for breast cancer. Talking to both sides of your family is important so you can become familiar with your family history. It is also important to talk to your
doctor about which screening tests are best for you. Mammograms Beginning at age 40, women should have a mammogram every year if you are at average risk. Beginning at age 20, women should schedule a clinical breast exam at least every three years and annual exams every year starting at age 40. Self Exams Be familiar with your body and what is normal for you. The best way to do this is by performing monthly self breast exams. If you notice any of the following changes in your breast, contact your physician immediately: Lump Hard knot or thickening inside the breast or underarm area Swelling
Warmth, redness or darkening of the breast Change in the size or shape of the breast Dimpling or puckering of the skin Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple Pulling in of the nipple or other parts of the breast Nipple discharge that starts suddenly New pain in one spot that doesn’t go away Making healthy lifestyle choices is also a good preventative for breast cancer. A key component in a healthy lifestyle is maintaining a healthy weight and adding exercise to your routine. Limiting alcohol intake and menopausal hormone use can also help reduce your risk.
Improved Breast Awareness Through Wellness Education: The Lymphatic Drainage System
Joyce Long Joyce Long Wellness Institute
T
he most underrated purifying system in the human body is the Lymphatic System, an integral part of the immune system. It is a person’s “Life Flow System.” This system and all of its capillaries are a major part of the body’s cleansing of excess toxic waste. The body contains three quarts of blood and 12 quarts of lymph. The lymphatic system moves approximately 45 percent of the waste through the body as it helps drain debris from 17 glands and organs in the endocrine system. Movement pumps the lymph system. Lymph flows through a network of vessels, nodes and other organs. This system drains fluid from the body’s tis-
sues into the blood stream, transports fats from the gastrointestinal tract to the blood stream and fights infection. Inside the lymph nodes, white blood cells and antibodies filter out foreign substances such as bacteria. The lymph system is completely independent from the blood system and its capillaries. Blood moves quickly through capillaries, but lymph moves slowly through the capillaries. It will move even slower if one has shallow breathing patterns and very little exercise in their daily life. Blood takes nutrients to the cells, and lymph picks up toxins and waste and takes them away from cells. The lymph system should be cleansing the body constantly to keep one disease-free and healthy. The lymph moves only in one direction – from the feet up to the chest and down from the top of the head and face into the Thoracic Duct. The body is covered with lymphatic highways, especially in the breast area, and constant movement to keeps it flowing. Deep Breathing and Lymphatic Drainage
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Therapies, along with Colon Hydrotherapy, will facilitate cleansing. When keeping the body from autointoxication, your life force and daily existence should maintain a high quality of living through healthier foods, yoga, deep breathing, rebounding on a trampoline, power plating, stretching, jump roping, high frequency or manual lymphatic drainage. The tissues of the body, including the organ systems, are made up of a million cells. If diseases block the flow, it cannot discharge its toxic material. Left unchecked, the Lymph system continues to fill up and eventually the body swells with its own waste matter. It is very important to rid the overflow of toxins from the body for future health and longevity. When the cells become balanced, the body regains its defense mechanism. Only a detoxified body has the power and potential for healing. This article is intended to for educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as diagnostic or prescriptive. Joyce Long Wellness Institute does not prescribe or diagnose.
Who Gets Breast Cancer?
A
ccording to the American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2013-2014, statistics have been compiled on the sex, age and race/ethnicity of breast cancer patients. Sex Excluding cancers of the skin, breast cancer is the most common cancer among U.S. women, accounting for 29 percent of newly diagnosed cancers. Men are generally at low risk for developing breast cancer; however, they should report any change in their breasts to a physician.
M Y L A G O S M Y W AY
Age Breast cancer incidence and death rates generally increase with age. Seventy-nine percent of new cases and 88 percent of breast cancer deaths occurred in women 50 years of age and older. During 2006-2010, the median age at the time of breast cancer diagnosis was 61. This means that half of women who developed breast cancer were 61 years of age or younger at the time of diagnosis. A woman living in the U.S. has a 12.3 percent, or a one in eight, lifetime risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer. In the 1970s, the lifetime risk was one in 11. Race/Ethnicity Breast cancer incidence rates are higher in non-Hispanic white women than African American women for most age groups. However, African American women have a higher incidence rate before age 40 and are more likely to die from breast cancer at every age. Asian/Pacific Islander women have the lowest incidence and death rates of breast cancer.
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FOCUS ON THE CURE Breast Reconstruction
John T. Nguyen, M.D., FICS Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
B
reast reconstruction is one or more operations performed to restore all components of the breast of women who have undergone mastectomy or removal of the entire breast. Breast reconstruction after mastectomy has evolved over the last century to become an integral component in the therapy for many women with breast cancer. A complete breast reconstruction includes recreating the breast mound, the nipple and areola complex so that the breasts are symmetric with regard to pigmentation, shape, size, projection and position. The Goals of Breast Reconstruction: To provide permanent breast contour. To make the breasts look balanced. To give the convenience of not requiring an external prosthesis. Breast Reconstruction Can Be Performed Using: Artificial material (a silicone shell filled with either silicone gel or saline) placed under the skin. The woman’s own tissues (skin, muscle, fat) from another part of the body (flap reconstruction). Pedicled flap: In this type of flap reconstruction, the tissues remain connected to the area of the body from which they are taken. Specifically, the blood supply to the transplanted tissues is not interrupted. Free flap: In this type of flap reconstruction, the tissues are cut
off from the original area and grafted to the chest, and a new blood supply is created for the grafted tissues. A combination of artificial material and the woman’s own tissues. Timing of Breast Reconstruction: Immediate Versus Delayed Immediate breast reconstruction is reconstruction that is performed at the same time as the mastectomy. Delayed breast reconstruction is reconstruction that is performed weeks, months or years after the mastectomy. Surgeons differ in their opinions about when breast reconstruction should be performed. If radiation therapy needs to be administered after mastectomy, then breast reconstruction is generally delayed until the skin in the treated area has healed. Excellent results can usually be achieved by either immediate breast reconstruction or delayed breast reconstruction. Reconstruction Using Implants Implants are designed to recreate the original breast shape and contour. A breast implant is a silicone shell filled with either silicone gel or saline. A tissue expander or balloon is inserted beneath the skin and chest muscle either during the mastectomy procedure or at a later operation. The surgeon periodically injects saline into the balloon to gradually fill it over several weeks or months so that the overlying skin can expand. After the skin over the breast area has stretched enough, the tissue expander is removed in a second operation and a permanent breast implant is inserted. Some women do not require tissue expansion before receiving an implant; for these women, the surgeon inserts an implant directly. Flap Reconstruction Flap reconstruction is a reconstructive surgery in which a flap of skin and fat with or without muscle is transplanted from a part of the body (for example, the lower abdomen, back, thigh
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or buttock) to the chest area where it is shaped to form a new breast mound. Like the implant surgery, this operation can be performed at the same time as the mastectomy or it can be delayed. Advantages of Flap Reconstruction: May eliminate the use of foreign material in the body. Reconstructed breast usually looks and feels more natural. Will last the woman’s life span. When successful, requires minimal touch-up or redo operations throughout a woman’s lifetime. Disadvantages of Flap Reconstruction: Increased complexity and length of the surgery. May require a longer recovery period if muscle is included in the reconstruction. Additional donor site scars. Some women may require an implant, in addition to the flap reconstruction, for recreating the breast. If flap reconstruction is the selected option for reconstructive surgery, then the surgeon must decide from which part of the body the required tissues are taken. The tissues for breast reconstruction can be taken from the back, abdomen, buttock or thigh. Reconstruction of the Nipple and Areola Once the breast mound has been reconstructed, the nipple and areola (pigmented area around the nipple) can be recreated approximately two to three months after the first breast reconstructive surgery. A nipple can be created using skin from the inner thigh, behind the ear, reconstructed breast or labia. The skin can be tattooed to match the other nipple and areola. Reconstructed nipple and areola have very little sensation. Women who decide not to have nipple and areola reconstruction performed can consider the option of nipple prosthesis.
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FOCUS ON THE CURE
Eye Exams Should Be an Essential Part of Breast Cancer Recovery/Preventive Care
Elissa R. Wedemeyer, O.D., F.C.O.V.D., F.A.A.O. Therapeutic/Optometric Glaucoma Specialist
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ecause of the ocular side effects of medications used to treat breast cancer, a trip to the eye doctor for good baseline data and yearly monitoring of the visual system is warranted. Some breast cancer cells are hormone-sensitive for estrogen. That means that estrogen can actually boost the growth of breast cancer. Tumors testing positive as estrogen responsive are treated with hormone therapy that stops or slows the tumors by blocking the production or actions of estrogen. Because there are many estrogen receptors in the eye, any treatment option that affects those receptors or estrogen production has the potential for creating negative changes to the ocular and visual system. Research data in clinical trials shows a 38 to 65 percent reduction in the risk of developing invasive breast cancer with the use of current breast cancer drugs. The benefits of these hormone-based therapies outweigh the oc-
ular side effects. There are three basic actions that these hormonal therapies exhibit. The inhibition of estrogen synthesis is brought about by aromatase inhibitors and are prescribed for postmenopausal women. They can have temporary or permanent action. The brand names of these drugs are Arimidex, Femara and Aromasin. The class of drugs called selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) can interfere with estrogen binding to the organ specific receptors or act to promote the estrogen actions. The names of those drugs are tamoxifen (Nolvadex), Evista and Fareston. A totally estrogen antagonist receptor blocking drug is Falodex. It is totally antiestrogen and, on binding to the receptor, destroys it. Patients on the above breast cancer therapy drugs need to be aware of the potential side effects to the eyes. Most of the side effects are the same as in the typical aging process and can be minimal discomfort to sight threatening conditions. The least serious complications can be dry eye brought on by blocking the action of the lacrimal and meibomian glands. These glands are responsible for the production of the tears and oils that keep the ocular surfaces moist and clean. Reduced corneal cell regeneration can contribute to a rough irregular surface that can cause minor to severe blurry vision and eye pain. Specific types of cataracts, called posterior sub-capsular, can form and cause a quick and severe loss of vision, requiring cataract surgery. White and
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yellow refractile deposits can occur in the macula, the main area of sight in the retina. These deposits can present a mild reduction in vision to a severe and sudden loss of vision due to fluid in the macula (cystoid macula edema). Small retinal hemorrhages may form due to excessive traction from the shrinking of the vitreous. Vitreous detachments can result in floaters. On a more serious note, sub-clinical swelling of the optic nerve can occur. All of the above conditions may be detected and monitored by a through eye examination that includes a full check of visual acuity, color vision, retinal, optic nerve and macula evaluations, as well as central visual fields. The retina can be evaluated with optical coherence tomography (OCT), the equivalence of a retinal MRI, that allows the 10 layers of the retina to be imaged and followed at the cellular level for cystoid edema, deposits and tears. Most of the conditions are self limiting when the drugs or dosages are reduced or discontinued. These breast cancer drugs can prevent the spread of new estrogen responsive tumors from forming, and patients can keep the eyes healthy by continuing to get comprehensive yearly eye examinations. References: 1. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/ Therapy/hormone-therapy-breast, Hormone Therapy For Breast Cancer. 2. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/ meds/a682414.html. 3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC3205820/. 4. Boughton, Barbara, contributing writer, Watch for Ocular Side Effects of Breast Cancer Drugs, Clinical Update, March 2013, aao.org/eyenet.
Experience the Latest in Breast Technology During Breast Cancer Awareness Month By Sharon Galloway CHI St. Luke’s Health – Sugar Land Hospital
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hen I was a young woman, I lost my mother to breast cancer. My mother was 49 years old when she was diagnosed and fought five courageous years before cancer took her life. So at an early age, I became very knowledgeable of breast cancer and the importance of early detection. Back in the late 1980s, there was not digital mammography, stereotactic and other advanced diagnostic technology to detect the smallest abnormalities. Today, there is a whole new landscape in the early detection of breast cancer. At 35 years old, I had my first mammogram, my base line, and after turning 40, I have faithfully received yearly mammograms. Being at a higher risk because of my mother having breast cancer and having a few suspicious findings on mammograms, I have also had breast ultrasounds and breast MRIs. I am one of the lucky ones, because all tests have been negative. I am also lucky to have the latest in breast technology right at my fingertips. If needed, I can have a 3D digital mammogram, a breast ultrasound and a breast biopsy all at one time in one single visit. When choosing a facility to have mammograms or any other diagnostic imaging performed, it is important to know who is interpreting and/or administering the mammogram, ultrasound, breast MRI, bone density scans or interventional radiology. Find a place where everything needed to diagnosis breast cancer at its earliest stage is available, along with an impeccable imaging staff and added assurances that the radiologist is a board certified, fellowship trained breast radiologist. I am very fortunate to have all of these services available at my fingertips and to have the security that I am getting the latest in technology and the best care available at CHI St. Luke’s Health – Sugar Land Hospital. From the courteous staff and knowledgeable physicians to the efficiency of having tests performed, St. Luke’s delivers in all aspects of the experience. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and if you have not had your yearly mammogram, I urge you to schedule one now. Early detection is the first line of defense in the fight against breast cancer.
Elissa R. Wedemeyer O.D. FCOVD, FAAO
Therapeutic/Optometric Glaucoma Specialist
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FOCUS ON THE CURE
Breast Care for Life
Sandra Templeton M.D, F.A.C.S. Diseases and Surgery of the Breast
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topping for a break in my climb up a narrow, rocky trail along a jagged Pennsylvania mountain, my son’s large frame towered above me, but his hand steadied me, the hand of a man. What happened to the small finger that would reflexly curl around my index finger, or the tiny body that fit into the crook of my arm? A 20 year journey from the initial bar on the pregnancy test indicating a new life, through endless soccer games, scout meetings, homework, middle school awkwardness, to high school with daily trips to the barn for FFA, the wonderful Fort Bend County Fair and finally, graduation last May. The hope and excitement
of a new beginning at college was unfolding, the journey of life. Breast care is also a lifelong journey for each woman. The pathways of my two younger sons have been different from my older son. They have different strengths and different needs. Likewise, every woman’s breast care journey will be different, as individual as the woman. Virtually all women will face the uncertainty of an abnormal mammogram or lump in their breasts at some point. One in eight women will have a positive diagnosis of breast cancer in their journey. Some women will develop cancers that are more aggressive than normal and therefore harder to defeat. Some women will discover cancer at a later stage decreasing the effectiveness of treatment. Some women face a higher risk based on family history, having dense breast tissue or by simply getting older. Breast care has seen tremendous progress in my lifetime with great improvements in survivability. With advancements in screening with digital and 3D mammography and breast MRI, we are finding smaller cancers in their earlier stages. Genetic testing is helping identify women who are at higher risk of developing cancer and therefore should be followed more closely. Ultra-
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sound guided biopsies quickly diagnose abnormalities and determine if cancer is present. Cancer treatments better coordinate advanced surgical techniques along with adjuvant treatment of chemotherapy, radiation and hormone blocking that is customized for the type and extent of the cancer. While recent studies have questioned when and how often women should be screened, the American Cancer Society still recommends a baseline mammogram from 35 to 40 years of age and yearly mammograms after 40 years. A yearly breast exam by a physician and a monthly self-breast exam are also important, because mammograms will miss 15 percent of all cancers. While lifestyle choices won’t prevent cancer, a healthy diet and exercise can help mitigate the risk. The speed of advancements and expanded research have also created more complexity and sometimes confusion for women on what effective breast care means. Breast care for life is about better understanding your individual risk, finding abnormalities as early as possible and not delaying a diagnosis and treatment. It is clear that minimizing the risk of breast cancer starts long before a cancer diagnosis. Everyone’s breast care journey is different – as individual as their life.
7 Things to Know About Mammograms
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mammogram is an important step in taking care of yourself and your breasts. The American Cancer Society recommends women ages 40 and over get a mammogram every year, along with a breast exam by a doctor or nurse. Knowing what to expect may help you get through the process more smoothly. Here is what you need to know before you go: What is a mammogram? A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast used to find breast changes. X-rays were first used to examine breast tissue nearly a century ago. Where to get it? Find a center that specializes in mammograms. When you find a facility you like, stick with it. Having all of your mammograms at the same facility makes it easier for doctors to compare images from one year to the next. When to schedule? Schedule your mammogram about a week after your menstrual period. Your breasts won’t be as tender or swollen, which means less discomfort during the x-ray. What to wear? Wear a two-piece outfit. Do not apply deodorant, antiperspirant, powder, lotion or ointment on or around your chest on the day of your mammogram. What to expect? The entire procedure takes about 20 minutes. The breast is compressed between two plastic plates for a few seconds while an xray is taken. Getting the results. You should get your results within 30 days. If doctors find something suspicious, you’ll likely be contacted within a week to take new pictures or get other tests. That doesn’t mean you have cancer. A suspicious finding may be just dense breast tissue or a cyst. What to pay? Under the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and almost all private insurance plans now cover yearly mammograms, with no co-pay or other out of pocket costs. Medicaid also covers mammograms.
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magazine • October 2014
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FOCUS ON THE CURE
Cancer and Mental Health: Coping With Cancer
Noor J. Ferrell, D.O. General Adult Psychiatrist
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eing told you have cancer can be a life altering experience. The once active person with a career, family and life goals is now sitting in waiting rooms and chemo chairs, scheduling future doctor appointments and worrying if life goals will ever be met. Emotional distress after a diagnosis of cancer is normal and for most people, will diminish over time. It is normal to have feelings of disbelief, denial and despair, yet these feelings should not persist for a long period of time. A small percentage of people may experience persistent or recurrent symptoms of emotional distress for which they need help. Statistics show that about 25 percent of patients with cancer will have depression at some point during their treatment. Statistics also show that depression has been linked to de-
creased survival in certain cancer patients. Therefore, it is important to be screened for depressive symptoms throughout treatment programs and even after surviving cancer. Screenings are helpful in evaluating the best type of treatment for each individual patient. Options range from counseling or support groups to medication and/or individual therapy. Warning signs of major depression: Feelings of sadness lasting longer than two weeks at a time Loss of interest in things you once enjoyed Mood changes; irritability Feelings of hopelessness Thoughts of death or suicide Just as patients with cancer require ongoing evaluation for depression and anxiety throughout their course of treatment, so do family caregivers. Cancer and depression can affect the whole family. Many family members are not sure how to respond or help when a loved one has been diagnosed. It is hard to imagine what loved ones are going through. Common themes in those coping with cancer: • Dealing with the fear of death • Having to reorder priorities in life • The loss of identity prior to having cancer • Anger towards God • Wanting to help others
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through their experience Feeling like a burden on family or friends Survivors’ guilt – Their identity has now changed once cured of the cancer. The good news is that studies suggest that at least one half of all people diagnosed with cancer successfully cope. Indicators of successful coping include maintaining active involvement in daily life; minimizing the disruptions caused by the illness to one’s life roles, such as returning to work or following through with travel plans; regulating the normal emotional reactions to the illness and managing feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, worthlessness and/or guilt. There are some protective factors that improve survival as well. Studies indicate that women having social support from other women improved the progression of their illness. In addition, a recent study on yoga and breast cancer indicated that yoga improved quality of life and the physiological changes associated with radiation therapy. If you have been diagnosed with cancer, are a cancer survivor or are close to someone who has been in some way affected by cancer, understand that your mental health is critically important. Begin a mental health discussion with your primary care physician or oncologist today. There is hope beyond the diagnosis.
Did You Know?
Brian R. Heaps, MD, FACOG Board Certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist
Welcoming new patients at
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reast cancer comes in many stages. The rate of survival improves the earlier the cancer is detected. Stage 0: Cancerous cells have not spread outside of the ducts or lobules into surrounding breast tissue. This stage is classified in two types, ductual carcinoma in situ and lobular carcinoma in situ. This is a very early cancer, which, if caught promptly, can be successfully treated. Stage I: The cancer is no larger than two centimeters and has not spread beyond the breast to lymph nodes. Stage IIA: The tumor can be larger than two centimeters but no larger than five. Or, the cancer is not larger than two centimeters, but has spread to up to three auxiliary underarm lymph nodes. Stage IIB: The tumor has grown between two and five centimeters and has spread to up to three auxiliary underarm lymph nodes. Or, the cancer is larger than five centimeters but has not spread. Stage IIIA: The tumor is between two and five centimeters in size and has spread to at least nine auxiliary underarm lymph nodes. Stage IIIB: The tumor has spread beyond the breast to tissues nearby, such as the skin, chest wall, ribs, muscles or lymph nodes in the chest wall. Stage IV: The cancer has spread to other organs or tissues. In terms of five-year survival rate, individuals with Stage 0 can expect 100 percent recovery. Individuals with Stage IV, however, have a 16 percent survival rate.
UT Physicians Women’s Center in Sugar Land 17510 West Grand Parkway South, Suite #550 Sugar Land, TX 77479
Call 713.486.1250 for appointments www.UTPhysicians.com
Noor J. Ferrell, D.O. General Adult Psychiatrist Clinical Assistant Professor, Baylor College of Medicine Specializing in women’s reproductive mental health and psychotherapy 77 Sugar Creek Center Blvd, Suite 206 • Sugar Land, TX 77478 Tel: 281-410-8356 • www.noorjferrell.com
Barbara Montgomery, GRI, ABR
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FOCUS ON THE CURE
Breast Tomosynthesis Helps Detect Smaller Tumors
Kelly S. Dempsey, M.D., FASC Specialist in Diseases of the Breast
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hen Houstonian Jeanne Parker underwent her annual mammogram, she admits she couldn’t pass up a special two-for-one offer. What she received in return helped save her life. Parker was one of the first women in the United States diagnosed with breast cancer in a clinical trial that compared the results of conventional 2-D mammography against a new technology called tomosynthesis. Also known as 3-D mammography, breast tomosynthesis is an innovative digital technology that helps detect smaller tumors at the earliest stages. This FDA-approved technology, available at Memorial Hermann Imaging
Centers, is particularly beneficial for women with dense breast tissue. Breast tomosynthesis is available to patients who are due for their yearly screening mammogram. Tomosynthesis looks and feels the same as conventional 2-D mammography, yet it provides so much more. Whereas 2-D mammography takes images of the breast from just two angles, tomosynthesis creates highly focused 3-D imagery by combining 15 successive 2-D images of the stationary breast captured over a three-second period. Because these images show the breast from various angles, radiologists can see “inside” of the breast, particularly if there is overlapping breast tissue where smaller tumors can hide. This provides improved diagnostic and screening accuracy. It also reduces the number of patient callbacks and additional imaging studies typically associated with overlapping tissue in 2-D studies. “Tomosynthesis is very good for women with dense breast tissue or a history of fibrocystic disease, because it can penetrate through the tissue to see if things are worrisome or not,” said Memorial Hermann affiliated surgeon Kelly S. Dempsey, M.D., FASC, who specializes in diseases of the breast. “It
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does appear this technology is finding smaller tumors that would otherwise be missed until another year.” Large clinical studies of tomosynthesis have shown it significantly improves breast cancer detection while simultaneously reducing patient recall rates for additional testing. In the study in which Parker participated – one that included more than 20,000 women – tomosynthesis helped radiologists increase overall cancer detection by 35 percent and an even higher 53 percent for more invasive cancers. Another clinical study published in Radiology, the scientific journal of the Radiological Society of North America, found that adding tomosynthesis to a conventional screening exam enabled radiologists to detect 40 percent more invasive cancers. In Parker’s situation, there were no signs of cancer on her 2-D mammogram. However, the tomosynthesis detected tiny tumors in both of her breasts. One tumor was eight millimeters, the size of a screw head on a light switch. The other was four millimeters. Since receiving her cancer diagnosis nearly five years ago, Parker has undergone successful chemotherapy and surgery. Today, she is cancer-free and runs half marathons.
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Power through with pink tourmaline. This beautiful, sterling silver bracelet by Sara Blaine is handcrafted with a toggle clasp. The stones are individually prong set in the leaf motif undercarriage. J Loggins Jewelers, 14015 Southwest Freeway in Sugar Land. Call 281-242-2900; www.jloggins.com.
Twenty-Two Fifty Interiors is a full service design studio and boutique for the home with a design focused staff ready to help you customize most upholstery pieces to fit your specific need. Twenty-Two Fifty Interiors, 2250 Lone Star Drive in Sugar Land Town Square. Call 281-265-2250; www.twentytwofiftyinteriors.com.
Plant pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Add pink to your garden with Wave Petunias and Bubblegum Supertunias, Pink Dianthus, Wendy’s Wish Salvia, English Daisies, Winter Flock and all kinds of pink roses. Visit Enchanted Forest to find your pink inspiration. Enchanted Forest, 10611 FM 2759 in Richmond. Call 281-937-9449; www.myenchanted.com.
Visit one of Braman Winery’s Tasting Rooms in October, and receive 15% off Sparkles Pink Flamingo, a sparkling wine cocktail with orange juice, pineapple and a splash of coconut. Braman Winery, 3333 FM 359 in Richmond. Call 281-762-1375; www.bramanbrands.com.
The SNE885 ($250) from the Seiko Solar Recraft Series requires no battery change and is powered by all types of light. This attractive women’s watch features a pink mother of pearl dial with Roman numeral markers, date display, a stainless steel case and bracelet and is 100 meters water resistant. Zeeneez Watches & Sunglasses, 2735 Town Center Boulevard N, Suite E in Sugar Land. Call 281-491-2930; www.zeeneez.com.
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Shop at The Vintage Pearl for meaningful, custom handstamped jewelry created with any names, dates or inspirational words made just for you! Save 15% off your order with the code “FBFO15” through October 31st. The Vintage Pearl, 16049 City Walk in Sugar Land Town Square. Call 281-325-0169; www.thevintagepearl.com.
S E E N on the Scene
The Fort Bend County Fair Style Show and Reception
Sandy Campos, Annie Elliott & Margaret Kunz
Pat Scholes & Louise Blair
Jacqueline & Tracy Hobdy
Laura Richard with John & Geraldine Whitt
Megan Blair & Mandy Barbour
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Every stroke, precisely calculated. Each game, expertly calibrated to conserve the energy needed to exert a winning burst of power. For tennis icon Novak Djokovic, his watch runs on these same progressive principles. PROSPEX FLIGHT COMPUTER. Solar-powered to be eco-friendly, no battery change is ever needed. Equipped with the apex of aviation technology required by pilots, it also precisely performs for those with the goal to progress above and beyond. SeikoUSA.com
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Honoring the Fort Bend County Fair’s 78th Anniversary • August 15, 2014 • Safari Texas Ranch
Louis Katz, Evalyn Moore & Joan Katz
Amy Mitchell & Vincent M. Morales, Jr.
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Presented by the Hardee Investment Group and RBC Wealth Management
FOCU$ on FINANCE
Information is Not Knowledge
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or many years, when you did research on a topic, you went to the library, checked out books and read them. Today, you use your phone or tablet, Google or the Internet where you find a plethora of information and opinions. Some of those are accurate, but many are not. If it is a current event, every TV network rushes to get the scoop and, in the name of being first, it is not always researched or accurate. Our human senses and emotions are being overwhelmed by a constant bombardment of information. This can have serious repercussions on how you invest. The most recent Hamas/Israel and Ukraine/Russian conflicts are examples of instantaneous news, as is the Ebola outbreak in Africa. It’s in your face and very scary. But what does it mean, and how does it affect investments? Throughout the years, there have been market conditions that could have negatively impacted an investment portfolio: the 2012 U.S. fiscal cliff and debt downgrade, the 2011 European debt crisis (Spain, Italy and Greece), the 1990 Iraq invasion of Kuwait, the 1987 record setting market decline, the 1982 worst recession in 40 years, etc. You get the picture. The key to investing is to develop a filter that can distill this information and turn it into knowledge. How do I distill what’s happening in Russia/Ukraine and apply it to my investment strategies? Does that mean Russian oil sales drop?
Does that affect oil service companies? What metals do they produce? Might those prices increase? Does that cause more energy companies to look at the U.S.? If so, does that increase the amount of oil and natural gas produced in this country? How does that affect our industries such as chemicals, airlines and manufacturing? The key to successful investing is to remove the emotion from the equation and replace the barrage of information with knowledge. Information is short term. Knowledge is long term. Some might even say knowledge is power. Let us help you distill that information into actionable knowledge that can be practically applied to your investment portfolio. Call 713-853-0879 or visit www.HardeeInvestmentGroup. com to learn about our approach. This article provided by H. H. “Will” Hardee, AWM of the Hardee Investment Group and a Financial Advisor and Senior Vice President at RBC Wealth Management in Houston, and was prepared by or in cooperation with RBC Wealth Management. The information included in this article is not intended to be used as the primary basis for making investment decisions nor should it be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell any specific security. RBC Wealth Management does not endorse this organization or publication. Consult your investment professional for additional information and guidance. RBC Wealth Management does not provide tax or legal advice. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets Corporation, Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC.
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A Mix of Cultures Accentuates the Experience at Destination Weddings By Zeenat Kassam Mitha
W
hen one thinks of saying “I do” and bringing family and friends together, one also considers travel destinations. Destination weddings have become a popular way to bring a mix of cultures together and allow everyone to enjoy a wedding and a mini-vacation due to the offerings of many resorts and hotels. At a recent wedding our family attended in Cancún, Mexico, the Caribbean Sea was the background, the sandy beach was the décor, and a goodie bag of suntan lotion, soothing creams and beach sundries were party favors. The bride and groom, Nadia Lalani and Sameer Hirji, stood beneath a pagoda saying their vows, and the guests watched them along with people swimming, parasailing and boating in the background. “It was a soothing effect and one which made many of us want to jump in the beautiful, warm, turquoise water,” said Nawaz Hirji, uncle of the groom. The wedding party had the assistance of the resort staff to set up many events throughout their stay, so both sides of the family were at ease to enjoy the mini-vacation instead of worrying about the guests and details. “We go the extra mile to assist with destination weddings,” said Rafael Lara, Preferred Services Manager, Now Jade Riviera Cancún Resort. At many resorts where weddings are held, the guests usually pay for their stay, and hence, they choose the package they want regarding room rental. Some families have specific preferences, and the resort or hotel quickly accommodates. If the hosting party is picking up the event, there are usually opportunities to meet one’s needs for a difference in price. Although hotels cater to weddings or similar events all over the world, resorts can take the experience up a notch by offering special amenities and services. This particular wedding was held at the Now Jade Riviera Cancún Resort, an all-inclusive resort where suites included a balcony and an outside Jacuzzi, and many rooms had ocean
Nawaz, Aliya, Nafeez and Shanaz Hirji with Zeenat, Shamir, Armaan and Ike Mitha at the Henna evening party for family and friends of the bride and groom. TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend
Nadia Lalani and Sameer Hirji at their destination wedding in Cancún.
views. It was a beautiful, cool and comfortable setting with service around the clock. For all guests, room service was available 24/7, and the five restaurants within the property offered a cultural cuisine to please almost any palette. The choices included an all-American restaurant, a Japanese sushi and teppanyaki cuisine, an authentic Mexican restaurant and an Italian café. There were also two formal restaurants with a dress code, one French and the other Mediterranean. Both were worth putting on your best! There were also infinity pools with bars and buffets and a coffee shop with dessert treats for those looking for a more laid back time. Diversity was everywhere, as people from all walks of life visited at the same time. There were opportunities to go into town to experience the culture and history of the city. There were many excursions, including the Mayan Ruins, Chichen Itza and Tulum, as well as dolphin and snorkeling adventures and the opportunity to swim in the The Chichen Itza archeological cenotes. site. For a thrilling experience while in Cancún, consider exploring the cenotes in the Mayan Riviera. Some cenotes contain cave formations, while others are important archaeological sites. A few are open to the public. Cenotes can be any shape or size and can appear as a hole, lagoon or pond. Diving, snorkeling, swimming and hiking into the cenotes is a once in a lifetime experience as they are abysmal and deep. As far as weddings go, the diversity, history and culture of a destination made it an enjoyable experience. The wedding planned with family and friends at an out of town destination made a lifetime memory. Making a mini-vacation out of the event allowed all parties to make the most of the time away. Cancún was close enough to home to travel by air in less than three hours from Houston and far enough for a relaxing, pleasant trip.
TO SHARE YOUR IDEAS
for upcoming cultural stories and events, contact Cultural Correspondent Zeenat Kassam Mitha at zeenat@fortbendfocus.com .com • October 2014
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LBL Rentals: A Fort Bend Staple With a New Name
The Styles You Want The Prices You Love
LBL Event Rentals, formerly Linens by Lisa, has been providing the most up-to-date, in-style selection of linens, centerpieces and flatware in the Greater Houston area since 1996. Now, Linens by Lisa, Sugar Land Antiques and Southern Hospitality Coffee Company are all under the same roof! The extensive collection of colors and textures at LBL Event Rentals helps clients build the atmosphere that wedding guests will remember for years to come. Plus, LBL Event Rentals has services that extend beyond the wedding day. From balls to baby showers and corporate retreats to religious events, no party is too large or small. With custom linens, chair covers, overlays and an array of accessories, LBL Event Rentals enables clients’ styles to come through. Their warehouse and showroom are now in the same building, which makes creating events a breeze. Feel free to schedule an appointment to receive a personalized consultation with a member of the LBL Event Rentals team. During a consultation, clients are able to pick out and feel linens, see up and coming trends and create a tablescape for their event. Enjoy a cup of Southern Hospitality Coffee during the visit, too! Celebrate the moments that mark your life with LBL Event Rentals. LBL Event Rentals is located at 12999 Murphy Road, Suite B7 in Stafford. For more information, call 281-498-0021, visit www.lbleventrentals.com or email lisa@linensbylisa.com.
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High School HOT SHOT
By Joan Frances
Meet Jonathan Winfiele Fort Bend Independent School District (FBISD) has the highest caliber of education. Through research and communication, this district is at the cutting edge of effective student learning through an innovative curriculum. Jonathan Winfiele is a senior and a perfect example of the success of these programs. For the past three years, Jonathan has engaged in the Engineering Academy at Lawrence E. Elkins High School and is headed for a successful future. Jonathan moved from Dallas and has been a part of FBISD for 13 years. His educational success has been a challenge. When Jonathan was in first grade, he was diagnosed with dyslexia, and his parents sent him to a reading specialist. Through a positive attitude, many hours of reading practice and never giving up, Jonathan learned techniques to overcome this roadblock. He never used dyslexia as a crutch, and some of his friends still do not know about his challenges. Jonathan said, “I used this to push myself and never made excuses for my reading disability.” As a senior, he has overcome all obstacles and continues to improve his academic triumph.
Elkins High School has many remarkable teachers. The one instructor who has made a prevalent impact on Jonathan is his French teacher of three years, Madame Henderson. Jonathan said, “She has the ability to incorporate the language with the student
Jonathan requirements and involves them in situations where they actually use French in conversation. I enjoyed learning this language because of Madame Henderson.” Jonathan has been a part of the Engineering Academy for four years. Each year focuses on different engineering fields and disciplines such as mechanical, chemical, civil, electrical, aerospace, computer designs and problem solving systems. But the one field Jonathan enjoys the most is architecture and design. This year, he is involved in an internship at an architecture and landscape company. When asked what value is important to him, Jonathan replied, “Believe in yourself, and anything is possible.” Jonathan is also involved in robotics at school. He was project manager as a sophomore and president as a junior and senior. The team qualified to present at the state competition of 2011-2012 and 2013-2014. Jonathan’s time is also occupied as president of the Technology Student Association. He was secretary as a sophomore and junior. Jonathan’s individual and team projects went to regional and state competition and won awards all three years including Best in State for robotics, photography and architectural design models. Jonathan represented Elkins as a state delegate at the national convention
in Washington D.C. He was also nominated and accepted in the FBISD Leadership 101 Program established by the board of trustees. This program explores personal roles in the community, including school leadership and volunteer service. He earned the Eagle Scout award in January and is a representative of the Order of the Arrow, a Boy Scouts of America Honor fraternity. He is a member of the National Honor Society, National Science Honor Society, National Social Studies Honor Society and the National English Society.
Elkins High School is home to approximately 458 seniors. Jonathan ranks in the top 10 percent in his class with all AP classes. When he graduates in May, Jonathan aspires to attend Rice University, the University of Tennessee or Texas A&M and major in architecture and design studies. He was awarded a scholarship by the Feinstein Foundation and nominated for the Posse Scholarship. With the support of his family and teachers, Jonathan’s hard work will grant him many years of success. Congratulations Jonathan on your ambition, motivation and never giving up.
“Believe in yourself, and anything is possible.”
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– Jonathan Winfiele .com • October 2014
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Ruthanne Mefford, Jim McClellan of Fred and Mabel R. Parks Foundation and Lisa Moore.
Fred and Mabel R. Parks Foundation to Underwrite 23rd Annual CASA Christmas Home Tour While the temperature is hovering near 100 degrees, the Fred and Mabel R. Parks Foundation, Child Advocates of Fort Bend staff, committee members, decorators and homeowners are gearing up for the 23rd annual CASA Christmas Home Tour. “Fred and Mabel R. Parks Foundation has had a long standing relationship with this agency and with our Home Tour. We are so excited that they came forward to kick off the sponsor drive again this year,” said Ruthanne Mefford, Child Advocates of Fort Bend Executive Director. Proceeds from the Christmas Home Tour help Child Advocates of Fort Bend (CAFB) advocate for the needs of abused and neglected children in this community. Through its two programs, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC), the agency touches the lives of more than 400 young victims each month. A Fort Bend holiday tradition, the Tour offers guests the opportunity to view beautifully decorated homes in Fort Bend County while helping to raise much needed funds to support CAFB’s programs serving abused and neglected children. Sponsors and volunteers are needed to support the Home Tour. If you would like to participate, please contact Lisa Moore at 281-344-5108 or lmoore@ cafb.org.
Texana Trot 3K Fun Walk – Get on Your Walking Shoes Texana Center’s Third Annual Texana Trot will be held at Texana Center’s West Campus in Rosenberg on Saturday, October 11th and is being presented by Legacy Ford. As part of the event this year, Texana will be celebrating October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month to raise awareness for Texana’s 100 plus clients who are in their Supported Employment Programs. Their joy and enthusiasm for holding a job in the community means more to them than most people will ever know, and Texana is honored to partner with businesses to make that dream a reality for their clients. The Texana Trot Fun Walk is a fun event for the whole family starting with a warm-up by Juanita Velasquez, owner of Xtreme Danz. Vendors will keep everyone entertained with their kid-friendly activities, which will include face painting, temporary tattoos and other fun games. There will be special appearances by Bizzy the Clown and Swatson the Skeeter and an inflatable obstacle course for the children to tackle. There will even be a chance to shop for some of the wonderful gift items handcrafted by the talented artists who attend the Learning Center Art Program. There is still time to sponsor or put a team together to walk, and each walker will receive a t-shirt to commemorate the event. For more information, call Andi Wallis, Community Relations, at 281239-1427 or andi.wallis@texanacenter. com.
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magazine • October 2014
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Join
Generous, Enthusiastic Men Serving
Neil Banfield
Robert C. Brown, III
James D. Rice
CASINO DINNER LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Thursday, October Twenty Three, Two Thousand and Fourteen 6:30 - 10 pm Safari Texas Ranch Lodge 11627 FM 1464 Richmond, Texas
Special Thanks to Our Official GEMS Contributors Marquise
Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Rice & Gardner Consultants, Inc. Safari Texas Ranch
Benefiting
Trillion
Neil and Carolyn Banfield Carole and Robert C. Brown, III Nesossi Studios Pamela Printing RBC-Hardee Investment Group
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Gurecky Manufacturing Services, Inc. LC Floral Designs
Corporate Gem
Molina Walker Architects, Inc.
Tickets & Sponsorship Opportunities
281-690-4242
May W. Tape, DDS
www.absolutelyfocusmedia.com
Meet the
GEMS of Fort Bend
Robert C. Brown, III
Neil Banfield
James D. Rice
Photography shot on location by Nesossi Studios at the Safari Texas Ranch Lodge.
Fort Bend Focus and absolutely! Brazos Magazines Host the GEMS of Fort Bend
Generous, Enthusiastic Men Serving
The 2014 GEMS of Fort Bend: Neil Banfield, Robert C. Brown, III and James D. Rice.
F
ort Bend Focus and absolutely! Brazos Magazines are proud to announce the 2014 GEMS of Fort Bend scheduled for Thursday, October 23rd. GEMS – Generous, Enthusiastic Men Serving – is an annual absolutely! focus media initiative honoring three male role models whose contributions to our community make them shine. The 2014 GEMS were introduced in a private suite during a Sugar Land Skeeters game at Constellation Field. The 2014 GEMS were joined by 2013 GEMS, JEWELS of Fort Bend and community and event partners. The 2014 GEMS – Neil Banfield, Robert C. Brown, III and James D. Rice – will be honored at a premier event featuring dinner, live entertainment and a “chips for charity” casino on Thursday, October 23rd in the newly renovated Safari Texas Ranch Lodge located in Richmond. Proceeds from the evening event will be invested back into the Fort Bend community by supporting a non-profit organization whose mission is vital in our community: Texana Center. Texana Center’s mission is to create and deliver life changing services to people needing behavioral, intellectual and developmental care, support and education allowing for independent and productive lives within local communities.
TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend
This is the second year Fort Bend Focus and absolutely! Brazos Magazines have hosted the GEMS of Fort Bend. Last year’s inaugural event was sold out and raised over $12,000 for its beneficiary, AccessHealth. Over the past seven years with both the GEMS and JEWELS of Fort Bend events, Fort Bend Focus and absolutely! Brazos Magazines have given nearly $100,000 to Fort Bend non-profit organizations. “Continuing our mission of giving back to our community is paramount to our organization,” said Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of absolutely! focus media, the publishing company for Fort Bend Focus and absolutely! Brazos Magazines. “Honoring these three amazing men who have contributed to our community in extraordinary ways through GEMS is an honor for us. These men have helped mold our community into an exemplary place to live, work and raise our children. We are humbled by their stellar examples of the true meaning of the word service.” The GEMS of Fort Bend is open to the public. The GEMS and jeans themed event kicks off with the casino and cocktails at 6:30 pm followed by dinner and live entertainment. Tables and individual tickets are available by contacting absolutely! focus media at 281-690-4242.
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Congratulations to the
GEMS of Fort Bend
WEDDINGS | GALAS | CORPORATE MEETINGS | SPECIAL EVENTS
A Gem of a Venue
Safari Texas Ranch 281.277.7888
11627 FM 1464, Richmond, Texas 77407 www.safaritexasballroom.com | e-mail: events@safaritexasballroom.com fort bend
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Generous, Enthusiastic Men Serving
GEM of Fort Bend
Neil Banfield By Patti Parish-Kaminski
In high school, Banfield met a young woman from Needville who changed his life. “Carolyn had a choice to go to Rosenberg or Richmond High School,” said Banfield. “Her brothers and sisters went to Richmond, and Carolyn went to Rosenberg. That’s where I met her – in class. I used to tell her that she always looked good walking down the aisle in the classroom. The teacher would ask her to come up and do something on the blackboard, and I always paid attention. Most of the time she wore pleated skirts, and she looked good so I told her so.” “If I hadn’t chosen to go to high school in Rosenberg, I never would have known Neil,” said Carolyn. “Now wasn’t that a stroke of luck!” While the two knew each other during high school, they didn’t date seriously until Banfield returned home from serving for four years in the Air Force. The two began dating, and in 1946, Carolyn’s father married them in Needville. The Banfield’s began their married life living in the Banfield family home in Rosenberg, and soon, they built their own house next door. Neil began farming rice, and Carolyn devoted her time to raising their five children.
I
f you have attended a fundraising event in Fort Bend County over the past 40 years, you have likely met a dapper, quick-witted young man and his bride who are known for their generous spirit, kindness and just plain willingness to help. And if you’re lucky enough to get to know this GEM of Fort Bend who is a true Boy Scout, you’ll realize that his heart is as big as the thousands of acres he farmed most of his life. Born in El Campo, Neil Banfield moved to Fort Bend County near Fairchild in the 1930s with his family. His father and grandfather were rice farmers with crops both in Fort Bend and Arkansas. “Farming is hard work,” said Banfield. “My dad always told me to be honest and to have a strong work ethic. He told my brother and me that we had to work to get anywhere and to save a little bit if you’re ever going to get anywhere in life.” As a young man, Banfield attended school in Rosenberg when they moved to Mulchy Street during elementary school. “I walked to Robert E. Lee Elementary School every day, a block and half from the house,” recalled Banfield. Little did he know that he would return to walk those halls and be involved with this school The newly married Neil and Carolyn Banfield. as an adult.
TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend
Beverly, Carolyn and James Banfield, Sally Gaskin and Neil Banfield.
Through hard work and determination, Banfield achieved much success as a rice farmer, farming nearly 800 acres of rice in Fort Bend. He expanded his operation to include a soybean crop on 1,500 acres in Southeast Arkansas overseen by his brother, and as any gentleman farmer would do, he also “fed a few cattle.” Banfield became a member of the Rice Council and served as a director of the American Rice Growers Association, Richmond Division and as an officer of the Richmond Irrigation Company. The company provided a massive rice canal irrigation network that fed water to the rice fields, and area rice farmer Jack Wendt served as president with Banfield
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Neil and Carolyn Banfield.
serving as an officer in the enterprise. “Jack counted on Neil as an officer of the company,” said Billie Wendt, wife of the late Jack Wendt. “Neil was always there for Jack, and my husband counted on Neil to help make decisions for the future of the company. They had a great friendship and partnership that helped them both be successful.” As a young man, Banfield was a Boy Scout earning the highest rank of Eagle Scout. As he achieved success at a career in farming, the lessons he learned as a Scout served him well. “I started out in Scouts in 1938, and I enjoyed every bit of it,” said Banfield. “It was a great learning experience for me, and the lessons I learned – being prepared, working hard and doing my best – helped me be successful.” And since 1938, Banfield has supported the Scouts, an organization that remains close to his heart. And this Eagle Scout, who is the oldest living Eagle Scout in Fort Bend County, still supports the organization he loves. “I send the Scouts a check every year to help the program continue to grow. They do great work, and they help lots of kids. The kids are the ones who need help and guidance, and Scouts does a great job. I will be interested in helping Boy Scouts forever; I don’t think that will ever change.” Banfield’s passion for helping youth brought him back to the Lamar Consolidated ISD where he was educated as a boy. From 1957 to 1969, he was elected to serve on the district’s Board of Trustees, and as an advisory board member of Lamar Educational Awards Foundation (L.E.A.F.), he found himself back in the schools that educated him. “L.E.A.F. is a wonderful organization, and they help lots of children and their teachers. I am proud to support anything that helps educate our children.”
fort bend
Banfield has lent his leadership skills to community organizations throughout the years, and he’s lent his impressive culinary skills as well. For five years, he served as the head cook for L.E.A.F.’s annual fish fry, and for nearly 20 years, he fried fish at O.D. and Donna Kay Tucker’s farm to help raise money for the Boy Scouts. “The fish fries are a good way to make money, and it was easy for me to do – right up my alley – so I enjoyed doing them.” He may no longer serve as the head cook, but Banfield still attends L.E.A.F.’s annual fish fry. “I go to wish them well, and cheer them on.” While two of his daughters were in the Lamar High School Choir, the Banfields cooked and sold hamburgers every year at the Fort Bend County Fair. “We spent many hours selling hamburgers,” recalled Carolyn. “Neil and I would be there cooking hamburgers until one or two in the morning on a Saturday night, and we’d have to go home and bathe to get the hamburger smell off of us before church the next morning.” Banfield has devoted a great deal of his time and talents to another organization close to his heart, The Rosenberg Railroad Museum. “I spent a lot of time over there planning and landscaping,” said Banfield. “Every living thing over there I planted at some time or another.” The Museum currently has a garden dedicated to Banfield that features his name. The Banfield’s have been honored by many organizations in Fort Bend for their steadfast support including the Fort Bend Museum, of which they are members, Fort Bend Seniors, Casa de Esperanza, the Rosenberg Masonic Lodge #881 and in 2008, they were named Honorees for the Fort Bend County Fair. “I’ve always been for helping the community,” said Banfield. “Helping somebody get along and make a better life for themself is something we should do.” And today, with his five children, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, Banfield continues to help individuals have a better life. For his willingness to serve and help individuals make better lives for themselves, absolutely! Brazos and Fort Bend Focus Magazines are proud to honor Neil Banfield The Banfield girls: Duffy Banfield, Sally Gaskin as a GEM of Fort and Beverly Banfield. Bend.
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Congratulations
2014 Gems!
Thank you for everything you do to make our community a better place to live!
Neil & Carolyn Banfield TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend
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Generous, Enthusiastic Men Serving
GEM of Fort Bend
Robert C. Brown, III By Patti Parish-Kaminski
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elecommunications mogul, public servant, big game hunter and devoted father and husband all describe this GEM of Fort Bend who was born in northern California near the Sierra Nevada Mountains and lived in many California towns throughout his childhood and early career. But when he and his family arrived in Fort Bend in 1977, they made this community their permanent home. Robert C. Brown, III spent his childhood working on his grandparents’ ranch, but the telephone company was in his blood from early on. “Dad worked for the power company, and in the early days, the power and telephone were the same company. When the federal government split them up, Dad chose the telephone company, and we started moving.” As a young man, Brown moved throughout California as in the early days, telephone company employees were required to move frequently. When he was in high school, he landed in Barstow, California where his life changed. “I saw Bobby when he first came to town,” said Carole Brown. The two met when she was 13 and he was 15. “I went home and told my mom, ‘I think I just saw the guy I am going to marry.’” “I thought she was wonderful,” recalled Brown. It was a case of love at first sight, and at 17 and 18 years old, the Browns married beginning a life full of adventure and giving. Carole and Robert C. Brown, III, on When the two married, their wedding day.
TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend
Brown had various jobs including driving a truck for the Mayflower Moving Company and working all night at a service station. While he wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps and work for the telephone company, he couldn’t. “I wasn’t allowed to work for the telephone company because of their nepotism policy,” said Brown. So, he did the next best thing: He went to work for the power company. “The power company and the telephone company still used the same property, and one day when I was moving transformers, a man came up and asked me why I wasn’t working for the telephone company,” said Brown. Brown knew the man as he had moved him while working with Mayflower. Young Brown explained to the man that his father worked there, and he was told because of their nepotism policy, he couldn’t work for the telephone company. “About a week later, he comes by and tells me that I no longer work for the power company; I work for the telephone company and that they no longer have a nepotism rule.” That man was Art Taylor, president of California Interstate Telephone Company. Together, he and Brown participated in the acquisition of over 250 companies in 17 years, and Bobby and Carole began a life of moving through the southwestern United States.
Courtney Onofrey Wallace, Timothy Jones, Kristen Jones, John Onofrey, Carole Brown, Robert C. Brown, III, Jody Noirot, Trudy Onofrey, Nicholas Jones, Sam Onofrey and Alberta Fairbanks at the Browns’ 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration.
“Our goal early on was to buy as many telephone companies as we could before the feds changed the way we would do business,” said Brown. “We knew AT&T was going to buy them all eventually.” As Brown continued to acquire companies for Continental Telephone Company, the other large telephone companies had the same idea. As Brown ended his 17 year tenure with Continental, his boss asked if he could move to Juno, Alaska and run a new acquisition there. “I went for about two weeks, and there was never a day where there wasn’t rain or snow.” Brown didn’t feel Carole and his two girls nearing high school age would appreciate Alaska weather. And, their dad had promised his daughters that when they entered high school, the Browns would stop moving.
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In 1977, the Browns moved to Sugar Say No” drug awareness initiative, and with Land. Brown had left Continental to fulfill the three organizations who have his heart: his promise to Carole, Jody and Trudy, and Child Advocates, Fort Bend Education Founhe worked for the Public Utilities Commisdation and Fort Bend Corps. sion in Phoenix and then in Sacramento. Brown not only serves of his time and talWhile attending a convention in Michigan, ent; he is a supporter. One would be hard Brown met another man who would change pressed to name an organization he has not his future. The headhunter represented a supported, and he is a staple at auctions man who needed Brown to help deal with the throughout Fort Bend. “I asked James PatBell System and the Public Utilities Comterson the other day how many dogs we have mission on behalf of a telephone company in bought at auctions,” laughed Brown. “He Fort Bend – Sugar Land Telephone Compasaid 57. I asked him if he counted that one ny – soon to become SLT Communications. we sold 11 times at one auction, and he said Brown assisted with the issues with Bell, he did.” and before he knew it, he was announced as An accomplished businessman, dedicatthe new president of SLT Communications. ed community servant and devoted father, And the rest, as they say, is history. With- In 2004, Brown received the Child Advo- Brown says that the personal accomplishcate of The Year Award. out capital for new acquisitions, Brown went ment he is most proud of can be summed up to the federal government and borrowed $25 in one word: Carole. “For all of the moving million at two percent interest. SLT Communications bought that we did, we had a great family. She was a huge part of 11 telephone companies, a data processing company, some everything working. We were lucky enough to meet about 99 small construction companies and a cable television compapercent of what we wanted to be, and that’s pretty good for ny – even though telephone companies at the time could not two young kids who got married. We worked together, we be in the cable business. “I got a lawyer in Washington and made promises to our kids, and we kept them. That was big asked what would happen to me if I bought a cable business – not moving until the kids got out of high school. I felt good anyway. The lawyer said they would make me sell it.” So, about keeping that promise.” Brown got into the cable business and in two years when he was sued, he sold it – at a substantial profit, of course. Under Brown’s leadership, SLT Communications was the fastest growing telephone company in the United States for five years in a row during the 1980s, with a great deal of competition. “All of our competitors were trying to buy us. When I came here, we had 5,000 customers in Sugar Land. When we sold the holding company, we had over 80,000 customers in SLT Communications.” Brown sold the company in 1993. While it may seem that Brown’s focus once he moved to Sugar Land was strictly business, his passion for giving to the community that embraced him and his family was also becoming well-known. “My grandpa told me that if you go to a community and you do well there, your business is successful, then you ought to find some way to repay that comHunting partners and good friends Robert C. Brown, III, Wanda munity,” said Brown. “I don’t think there’s too many places Hadlock, Carole Brown and John Hadlock with a white springbok Brown shot in South Africa. where people did any better than I did when I came to Fort Bend County. It’s pretty simple: We made it here, we live here, we give here.” This October, the Browns will celebrate 60 years of marAnd give he has. Brown has served on 18 professional riage, along with their two daughters, five grandchildren and boards and 30 community boards sharing his knowledge, two great-grandchildren. The Browns will attend numerous time and talents. He has served as Chairman of the Fort galas this fall, bid on several dogs and Bob will remain at Bend Economic Development Council for the past 25 years, the helm of the Fort Bend Economic Development Council an organization that didn’t exist prior to his involvement, continuing to bring business to Fort Bend. For his dedication and today, he sits on 16 boards. He has been instrumental to give back to the community where he made it, absolutely! in ground-breaking fundraising activities such as the Texas Brazos and Fort Bend Focus Magazines are proud to honor War on Drugs, part of former First Lady Nancy Regan’s “Just Robert C. Brown, III as a GEM of Fort Bend.
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2014 GEM of Fort Bend
Robert C. Brown, III
Congratulations 2014 GEMS of Fort Bend!
Thank you for making Fort Bend County a better place to live.
Carole and Robert C. Brown, III TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend
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Kevin Gardner, Vice President and 2014 GEM of Fort Bend James D. Rice, President
Heartiest Congratulations to the 2014 GEMS of Fort Bend With your relentless efforts and hard work, you have surely achieved a great success. We are so happy on your achievement. You must celebrate your success with great enjoyment.
6161 Savoy Drive, Suite 1212 • Houston, Texas 77036 T: 713.482.2300 • F: 713.482.2314 fort bend
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Generous, Enthusiastic Men Serving
GEM of Fort Bend
James D. Rice
was the Frost Ranch, and there wasn’t even a McDonald’s.” Settling in Sugar Land, the Rice family grew to include three sons: David, Daniel and Douglas. The young Rice family was active members of their church, Christ United Methodist, and the church had Cub Scout Pack. Once again, the architect who changed Rice’s life by becoming his wife was about to offer a suggestion that would once again, change his life. “Mary came to me and said that the church was having a meeting of parents who wanted to put their sons in Cub Scouts,” recalled Rice. “I told Jim that just in case they needed an adult leader, he should go and volunteer and that I would help him,” said Mary. Of course, the group needed adult leaders, and of course, Rice volunteered to step up. This began Rice’s 22 year commitment to an organization that clearly has his heart: Boy Scouts of America.
By Patti Parish-Kaminski
A
ccording to the Boy Scout Law, a scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, kind and courteous – among other things. And when you get to know this GEM of Fort Bend, you immediately recognize those traits in this Boy Scout, elected official and community servant who has dedicated his life to serving youth in Fort Bend County. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, James D. Rice spent most of his childhood in the Midwest, son of a high school English teacher and a Cub Scout Den Leader. In 1960, he moved to Casa Grande, Arizona during a period when many families were moving west. “Arizona offered a better climate, and the west afforded more opportunities for many people,” said Rice. He stayed out west moving to California for high school and then ultimately, to Houston in 1973. Rice began his career in Houston as an engineer, and on a project for an area church in 1978, he met an architect who changed his life. The architect was Mary J. Walker. The two were married in 1980, and by 1981, they decided to move to Fort Bend County. “Mary and I moved to Fort Bend to put down roots and raise our family,” said Rice. The Rice’s first home was in Sugar Land in Colony Bend. “As a child, my family moved around quite a bit, and Mary and I wanted our children to grow up in the same house and attend the same elementary, middle and high schools and church.” Fort Bend in the early 80s was quite different than the Fort Bend we know today. The Rice’s found the bucolic community very appealing. “When we moved here, Highway 6 was a two lane road,” recalled Rice. “The only grocery store was Gerland’s in Sugar Creek, and you could still see prisoners working the fields with guards on horseback. Riverstone
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Douglas and David Walker-Rice, Mary Walker and Daniel Walker-Rice.
All of the Rice boys went through Boy Scout Troop 441, all earning the rank of Eagle Scout with dad serving in every leadership capacity from Den Leader to Cubmaster to Troop Committee Chairman. “Boy Scouts teaches young men how to be servant leaders,” said Rice. “From the time they enter Boy Scouts in their fifth grade year, they must be leaders, and they learn by example.” From the responsibilities of planning and preparing food to setting up a camp site on camping trips, lessons taught by Scout leaders reinforce the Boy Scout Motto of “be prepared.” “The boys learn leadership from camping,” shared Rice, who went on “more camping trips than I can recall. By assigning them the duties associated with camping, they learn from their mistakes. They are going to forget something. They are going to have challenges getting their peers to do their chores first instead of play. They learn lessons about leadership that they won’t forget. They don’t even realize that they are learn-
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ing valuable lessons, but they are.” Rice’s philosophy on community service can be summed up by the four citizenship merit badges each Scout is required to earn. “There are four citizenship merit badges all designed to teach young men how to be good citizens: citizenship in the community, in the nation, in the world and in your family. The boys learn by osmosis. It’s fun with a purpose.” Rice’s service to his church did not end with the scouts. For over ten years, he served on various building committees and as a confirmation leader, once again, serving Fort Bend’s youth. Perhaps one of the most important ways Rice continually serves Fort Bend youth is public education. In 2010, Rice was asked to think about running for Fort Bend ISD School Board Trustee. “It was a very difficult time to be elected to the school board,” recalled Rice. “There were many financial challenges with school funding. Nothing in politics gets people worked up more than their kids and their money, and rightly so. Being a trustee for public education is a vitally important role in our community.” Rice was successful in his election and is currently the Fort Bend ISD Board President. He compares his time on the school board to his time in Scouts. “I learned that education is much like Scouts. Scouting exists in your living room, your back yard, at the district level and at the world level – on many different levels. The school system is much the same – existing at different levels from the classroom, campus, district, state and federal level. The higher you go in the levels, the further you get from the boys or the students.” Remaining close to the issues impacting the students is of utmost importance to Rice. “Public education is very complex. We have to make decisions regarding a student’s overall education – transportation, nutrition, rezoning, mature
Mary Walker and Jim Rice.
fort bend
David and Douglas Walker-Rice, Mary Walker, Jim Rice and Daniel Walker-Rice.
neighborhoods – not just academics. We have to get all of our kids prepared to be successful in life.” Rice devotes much of his time to the students of Fort Bend ISD. “My goal is to help educate our community on the vital issues that affect public education. Everyone must be held accountable in public education. We are testing our kids to death; we must back off on that. It is untenable and wrong. We must find ways for all of our students to be successful. Not all students will go to college, but I believe all can be educated to be successful.” In addition to Rice’s ongoing commitment to the school board and the Boy Scouts, he is the co-founder of Fort Bend Cares, an organization dedicated to serving the disadvantaged children and youth of Fort Bend by providing supplemental funds to the organizations in our community who support disadvantaged youth. He also serves as a board member on the Fort Bend Literacy Council and the Fort Bend Regional P16 Council. The P16 Council’s mission is to create a college and career-going culture among students from preschool through college graduation and to promote life-long learning. “In Fort Bend, we have been blessed by good elected city and county leaders who have helped provide stability so our community can grow. We’re very fortunate; we can’t take it for granted. We must be good stewards of our community,” said Rice. Rice credits his wife, Mary, for his ability to serve our community’s youth. “I couldn’t do any of this without the love and support of my wife. When you have these long meetings, which are contentious at times, you need someone to come home to and tell about your day. Without Mary, I could not have participated in any of these endeavors.” When asked what he would like his legacy of service to be, Rice cited the Scout Oath: “I hope people think I did my best.” For always doing your best for the youth of Fort Bend, absolutely! Brazos and Fort Bend Focus Magazines are proud to honor James D. Rice as a GEM of Fort Bend.
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Gurecky Manufacturing Service, Inc.
2013 GEM of Fort Bend Joe M. Gurecky and Doris Gurecky
Honors the 2014 GEMS of Fort Bend
2420 3rd Street, Rosenberg, TX 77471 281.342.5926 www.gurecky.com
TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend
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6161 SAVOY DR., STE. 1212 HOUSTON, TX 77036
Congratulations to the
2014 GEMS
of Fort Bend Thank you for all that you do to give back!
LC Floral Designs
Lucas Chavez Owner
TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend
.com â&#x20AC;˘ October 2014
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Congratulations
2014 GEMS of Fort Bend! Your work in the community is truly appreciated by all!
May W. Tape, DDS
5501 Ave. I (FM 1640) • Rosenberg
281-341-7733 • www.tapedds.com
BRAZOS • FORT BEND • KATY • MEMORIAL
We are focused on our community. Each year since 2008, we donate our time and talents to support a worthy cause in Fort Bend with one mission in mind: Make a difference in our community and support our neighbors in need. absolutely! focus media event beneficiaries: • Fort Bend Lawyers Care, 2008 • East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry & Rosenberg-Richmond Helping Hands, 2009 • Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels, 2010
• The Literacy Council of Fort Bend County, 2011 • Casa de Esperanza, 2012 • AccessHealth, 2013 • Texana Center, 2014
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Please Join Our Sponsors: Marquise Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Rice & Gardner Consultants, Inc. Safari Texas Ranch
Trillion Neil and Carolyn Banfield Carole and Robert C. Brown, III Nesossi Studios Pamela Printing RBC-Hardee Investment Group
Brilliant Cut Gurecky Manufacturing Services, Inc.
Corporate Gem LC Floral Designs Molina Walker Architects, Inc. May W. Tape, DDS Thursday, October Twenty Three Two Thousand and Fourteen 6:30 - 10 pm Safari Texas Ranch Lodge 11627 FM 1464 Richmond, Texas
Be a part of this special event honoring the GEMS of Fort Bend. To purchase tickets, sponsorship opportunities or for more information,
call 281-690-4242 fort bend
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MEDICAL FOCUS
Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Offers Free Flu Shots to Benefit Santa’s Exchange
Holiday Open House Thursday, October 30th
◆
20% OFF DURING
Light Bites & Drinks
(some exclusions apply)
from 11am - 3pm
10am - 6pm
HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE Christina Greene Trunk Show
Mark Roberts Fairies, Nativities & Ornaments Christopher Radko Custom Holiday Florals and Trees
Scheduling In Home Holiday Decora ting today! Please call 281.265.2250 to schedule!
281.265.2250 • F: 1.877.402.0210 • www.twentytwofiftyinteriors.com 2250 Lone Star in Sugar Land Town Square
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Flu season is right around the corner, and it’s time to mark your calendar for Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s free flu shot clinic and community toy drive event. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu can result in serious complications and leads to more than 200,000 hospitalizations each year in the U.S. “The best way to flex your health muscles against influenza is to be vaccinated,” said Dr. Adelola Ashaye, primary care physician with Houston Methodist Primary Care Group. “And, it’s especially important for certain groups of people like pregnant women, those with chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, lung, heart or kidney disease, people age 50 and older, residents of nursing homes and other longterm facilities and caregivers of those in a high-risk group.” Test Your Influenza Intelligence True or False? December is too late to get a flu shot. False. A seasonal flu shot is the most important preventive step you can take. While the CDC recommends getting one as soon as the vaccine is available each year, the shot is offered through January and beyond since flu season typically peaks in February. True or False? The flu vaccine can make me sick with the flu. False. The flu vaccine cannot cause the flu. According to the CDC, the vaccine is made with either an inactivated virus and therefore non-infectious re-
LAW OFFICES OF JOHN VONG, PLLC combinant vaccine, which has no flu virus at all or in the form of a nasal spray as a live but weakened vaccine and therefore not able to cause the flu. While a small number of patients may have side effects from the vaccine, which are often mild and short-lived, such as fever, soreness at vaccine site and aches, the flu vaccine does not cause the flu. True or False? I can spread the flu even if I don’t have symptoms. True. “Healthy adults can pass the influenza virus to someone else one day before symptoms begin and can infect others up to five days after getting sick,” Dr. Ashaye said. “Practice good prevention such as frequent hand-washing, coughing or sneezing into your elbow, and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.” To schedule an appointment with Dr. Ashaye, call 281-276-0653 or visit www. houstonmethodist.org/primarycare. Give a Gift and Beat the Flu Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital will offer free flu shots on Saturday, November 8th from 8 am to noon to community members who participate in Santa’s Gift Exchange. Fort Bend and surrounding area residents can bring a new, unwrapped toy or clothing item to the Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Main Pavilion lobby in exchange for a free flu shot. Held in collaboration with the Exchange Club of Sugar Land, Fort Bend Exchange Club, Rotary Club of Sugar Land, Rotary Club of Fort Bend and Toys for Tots Fort Bend, all toys and clothing will benefit local children in the Fort Bend area. No appointments are necessary; some restrictions apply. The flu vaccine is formulated to provide protection against three different flu viruses—H1N1, H3N2 and influenza B. Call 281-275-0751 for more information about the event.
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Call Us to Schedule a No Obligation Consultation
832-224-6818
Keith W.T. Edwards Associate Attorney
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Kevin Q. Phan Associate Attorney
11th - November 30th
Saturdays, Sundays, and Thanksgiving Friday
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Lone Star Stories Come to Life Texas Direct Auto Supports Texian Market Days
T
exas Direct Auto is a proud supporter of the 2014 Texian Market Days, a family-friendly living history festival on Saturday, October 25th featuring interactive activities, Civil War camps and battle re-enactments, historic home tours, archeological digs, food and live entertainment. The Stafford-based dealership will have a booth with a vintage Ford Model T on display, and Auto, their beloved canine mascot, will be on location handing out goodies for kids of all ages. “For decades, there have been countless stories about our lone star heritage that haven’t been told or fully appreciated,” said Jessica DeMarr, Director of Marketing and Business Development. “We’re proud that our donation will help bring these stories to life.” Held annually on the fourth weekend in October, the festival is a community event put on by the Fort Bend County
Don Herlitz, 30 year Texian Market Days participant, and his Confederate artillery crew fire off a shot at the Union soldiers during the 1860s battle reenactment.
Museum Association on the grounds of the 480-acre George Ranch Historical Park. The Park is divided into four clearly defined historical sites (1830s, 1860s, 1890s and 1930s). 1830s Jones Stock Farm. Early settler life takes place at the 1830s Jones Stock Farm site. Activities include pioneer food demonstrations including cornbread, cobblers and stews, pioneer activities like making cornhusk dolls and grinding corn, Texas Revolution battle skirmishes and learning about farm animals. Pigs, chickens and oxen are all kept on site. Tours of the replica dog-trot cabin are given all day by members of the “Jones family.” 1860s Ryon Prairie Home. Visitors learn all about life in post-Civil War Texas at the 1860s Ryon Prairie Home site. Activities include Confederate and Union soldier camps, a Civil War battle re-enactment, historic food tasting, prairie home tours and interactive one-room schoolhouse programs. 1890s Davis Victorian Mansion. The waning days of the 19th century are the focus at the 1890s Davis Victorian Mansion site. Visitors get to tour the grandiose Davis mansion (an original structure), watch live blacksmithing demonstrations, walk through the family cemetery, enjoy live music, learn to make calling cards, write with nib pens and enjoy food from many vendors stationed on the site’s outskirts.
The Brazos River Pickers played a tune for guests under the shade of the old oak trees in the yard of the 1890s Davis Victorian Mansion.
The 1890s Sharecropper Farm is part of the Davis complex and portrays life as a freed slave during the Victorian era. The chuck wagon camp is also set up with food samples hot off the open fire. Several entertainment shows are performed in the 1890s oak grove. 1930s George Cattle Complex. Guests can participate in a real archeological dig around the George family home (original structure), take tours of the house, watch cowboys give cattle roping and dipping vat demonstrations and browse the selection of vendors’ craft and food items. Tickets to Texian Market Days will be available on location the day of the event at $15 for adults and $10 for children ages five to 15. Children ages four and under are free! For more information on becoming a sponsor or vendor at the event, visit texianmarketdays. com or call (281) 342-1256.
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October 2014 Winner “Chi Lin Nunnery, Hong Kong” By Ann Luke Congratulations Ann, you’ve earned a $50 gift certificate to a restaurant!
ENTER TO WIN Fort Bend Focus Magazine is looking for great amateur photos. Think you have a great shot? Any subject matter will be considered, black and white or color, special effects and/or edited are not necessary. A WINNER EVERY MONTH Each month’s winner receives a $50 gift certificate to a restaurant and the winning photo will be published in our magazine. To claim your prize, call Adrienne at 281-690-4242. Runner-up photos may be published in our “Readers’ Photo Album.”
Please make sure to send some basic information about every photo you submit such as: who, where, when, a title, your name and daytime phone number. By submitting an entry, the photographer gives the Fort Bend Focus Magazine the right to use and publish their photograph. There is no contest deadline.
NO LIMIT TO ENTRIES To submit a digital photo, e-mail the jpeg file to Sarah@ FortBendFocus.com. Digital photos must be HIGH RESOLUTION at least 300 dpi at actual size of at least 4” x 6”.
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absolutely! AUTO REVIEW By Steve Kursar
2015 SUBARU LEGACY
T
he completely redesigned 2015 Subaru Legacy quietly snuck into the extremely competitive midsize sedan automotive segment, and it’s giving Toyota and Honda a run for the money. You may not have thought of the Legacy in the past as an obvious choice for a new family car, but the all-new version is nothing short of spectacular. This Subaru is surprisingly stylish, and it handles like a sports car. And Subaru throws in their legendary quality at no extra cost. Subarus are known for producing hardy vehicles that last for a long time. If you don’t believe me, just take a trip to Idaho or Montana, where the climate is unforgiving and dealership repair shops are few and far between.
That’s where you’ll find more Subarus on the roads than you might expect, because they’re engineered to drive safely in harsh conditions and to last for many winters. They just weren’t the most stylish cars around. The 2015 Legacy will go a long way to change that perception. It boasts new design language that translates into a sleeker, coupe-like profile, a new front fascia that combines the hexagonal grille and bumper into one smooth piece. The new aluminum hood reduces weight over the front wheels to enhance steering response. This is one good looking car. The transformation continues inside where the 2015 Legacy now features the largest interior passenger volume in the midsize sedan segment by adding more interior space while keeping the same exterior footprint. There’s tons of technology from which to choose, including a new Rear Vehicle Detection System that includes blind spot detection, lane change assist and
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rear cross traffic alert. The 2015 Legacy is still the only car in its class with all-wheel drive as standard. With a MSRP of $21,695, you get the base 175 hp, 2.5 liter 4-cylinder Boxer engine that gets EPA estimated fuel economy of 26 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. There’s also a 265 hp, 3.6 liter 6-cylinder Boxer engine offered that’s loads more fun and will cost you just a bit in fuel economy with numbers like 20 mpg city and 28 mpg highway. Both engines are mated to the Lineartronic CVT (continuously variable transmission) and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. Don’t cheat yourself of the opportunity to test drive the 2015 Subaru Legacy. It deserves to be on your list.
BUSINESS BRIEFS
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West Houston Community, Cross Creek Ranch, Continues RecordSetting Growth
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One of the nation’s top-selling master-planned communities, Cross Creek Ranch continues to attract home buyers with an impressive selection of new homes ready for move in, outstanding schools and new amenities that embrace its natural surroundings. With homes priced from the $250s, the west Houston community by The Johnson Development Corp. has burst onto the scene as the premier place to live for those working in Houston’s Energy Corridor and other nearby employment centers. Located just west of the Grand Parkway off FM 1093, Cross Creek Ranch offers a variety of new homes from award-winning homebuilders, including luxury custom homes and high style, lock-and-leave patio homes with 14 models open daily. Families in Cross Creek Ranch also enjoy the community’s nature-inspired amenities. Its signature feature, Flewellen Creek, winds approximately 150 acres through Cross Creek Ranch while an impressive Polishing Pond, roughly the size of 48 football fields, has become a natural habitat for fish, turtles, migrating birds and wildlife. Cross Creek Ranch unveiled a new boardwalk and nature overlook where residents can observe wetland plants, identify birds and wildlife, hone their photography skills and access nature trails. Cross Creek Ranch received an A+ education as recognized by Children at Risk. In a recent study, the non-profit research/advocacy group had high praise for Katy ISD’s Shafer Elementary, Seven Lakes Junior High School and Seven Lakes High School along with Lamar Consolidated ISD schools Huggins Elementary, Wertheimer Middle School, Briscoe Junior High School and Foster High School. Visit www.crosscreektexas.com or www.facebook.com/crosscreektexas for more information.
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Nathan Gamble as Sawyer Nelson and Cozi Zuehlsdorff as Hazel Haskett with Winter as herself in Alcon Entertainment’s family adventure Dolphin Tale 2, a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photography by Wilson Webb.
By Christopher Hill
A
fter a summer filled with aliens, monsters and computer simulated mayhem, Warner Brothers aims to inspire with their latest sequel, Dolphin Tale 2. The original Dolphin Tale featured a true story of a dolphin named Winter, who was rescued thanks to a caring recovery team, then rehabilitated using a one of a kind prosthesis. The device saved the dolphin’s life and a struggling aquarium. The latest story based on real events features the loss of Winter’s partner, which presents concerns over the center’s ability to keep Winter healthy. The
Cozi Zuehlsdorff as Hazel Haskett.
challenge is to pair Winter with a new dolphin prophetically named Hope. For the sequel, the entire cast from the original is back including Morgan Freeman (Dr. Cameron McCarthy), Harry Connick, Jr. (Dr. Clay Haskett), Kris Kristofferson (Reed Haskett) and Ashley Judd (Lorraine). The stars of the film, besides Winter, include Nathan Gamble (Sawyer Nelson) and Cozi Zuehlsdorff (Hazel) and their murky relationship. Art imitating life can be emotional and powerful, but rarely is there a call for a sequel. Our lives are simply not routinely interesting enough for the big screen. The original story was dramatic, emotional and genuine. This movie isn’t boring, but it lacks the emotional draw that was present in the first tale. Nothing happens you do not see coming a mile away, except for an odd relationship with a turtle and a pelican, which is supposed to be comedic effect, but is more confusing than anything else. Now, as my eight-year-old daughter looks over my shoulder reading this, I need to amend my oncoming rant. She absolutely loved the movie. She loved the dolphins, she loved the happy ending, she loved the journey. Sometimes we get lost in continuity, motivation and story structure. Sometimes a story doesn’t need to leave you pondering the meaning of life; sometimes it can just be nice. The filmmakers showed the actual footage of the events from the rehabilitation center’s original cameras throughout the credits. Here is where I found the emotion. Children with prostheses inter-
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acting with Winter was inspiring. You could see the joy in their eyes watching their hero. This is the story that is difficult for a Hollywood film to accurately portray. For many, seeing Winter has become a pilgrimage of sorts. The inspiration that the real life dolphin is providing is magical and deserves to be heard. This is a family movie that may have deeper meaning that will escape adults. Maybe a nice, quiet tale is what is needed after a summer of superheroes, purges and mythological relics come to life. Or better still, take the kids to see Winter in person at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Florida. I have a feeling that would inspire the entire family.
Ashley Judd as Lorraine Nelson and Morgan Freeman as Dr. Cameron McCarthy.
Violence: None, but there is a dramatic loss Language: None Sexuality: None Now Showing: In Local Theaters MPAA Rating: PG
NEWSWORTHY
The Heart of Fort Bend Event Plans Underway The Heart of Fort Bend Committee is planning AccessHealth’s inaugural Heart of Fort Bend event to be held on Thursday, October 30th from 6 pm until 9 pm in the Texas Ballroom at Safari Texas Ranch. With Honorary Chairs Nancy Olson and Regina Morales, a steering committee consisting of Nell Ciancarelli, Angela Cox, Libby King and Dee Koch and State Representative John Zerwas, M.D. serving as the emcee for the evening, it will be a very special event. The event committee consists of individuals with great experience in event planning and fundraising in Fort Bend County, committed to helping AccessHealth carry out its mission of providing health care without regard to circumstance. The Heart of Fort Bend event will assist AccessHealth in providing high quality, comprehensive health care for the children of Fort Bend County. Early sponsors and supporters of the event include Safari Texas Ranch, absolutely! focus media, BKD LLP, CenterPoint Energy, Houston Methodist Sugar Land, Legacy Ford, Nalco Champion, Pamela Printing, American PromoPrint, BB&T, Memorial Hermann Sugar Land, Next Level Urgent Care, Nesossi Studios, OakBend Medical Center, Phoenix Designs, State Representative John Zerwas, M.D. and Sterling McCall Lexus. “We are pleased to have this oppor-
Beth Wolf, Donna Kay Tucker, Angela Cox, Lucas Chavez, Sharonda DeBose, Carol Edwards, David Timmermeyer, Anna Gonzales, Terri Bieber, Cindy Reaves, Lori McCain, Dee Koch, Libby King, Regina Morales, Nancy Olson and Nell Ciancarelli.
tunity and excited about the support we are receiving from the community and the wonderful volunteers leading this event,” commented Carol Edwards, CEO of AccessHealth. AccessHealth is a private, not-for-profit community health center that serves Fort Bend County and
the surrounding areas, dedicated to providing integrated health care services to improve the quality of life in the communities it serves. AccessHealth is a United Way Agency. For more information, contact Cindy Reaves at 281-633-3169 of creaves@myaccesshealth.org.
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OUT & ABOUT IN THE HEART
It was Ladies’ Night Out for a great cause as supporters gathered at Mitchell & Duff, LLC to raise funds for Fort Bend Education Foundation and Lamar Educational Awards Foundation (L.E.A.F.) and enjoyed delicious bites from area restaurants.
OF THE BEND
Amy Mitchell and Zeenat Mitha.
Elizabeth Duff-Drozd and Janice Morris Knight.
Tracey Shaw and May Tape.
Debbie Marcell, Lynne Humphries, Alia Vinson and Kate Singleton.
Laurel Wendt, Melissa Martin and Evalyn Moore.
TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend
Lisa Regan and Sharla Powers Crawford.
.com • October 2014
Brenna Cosby and Nancy Porter.
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Texana Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Center for Autism hosted an Opening Celebration at its new Sugar Land Location. Guests toured the beautiful new facility, which serves low-income families in the Sugar Land, Stafford and Missouri City areas. Kate Johnson-Patagoc, Ellen Catoe, Dianne Wilson and George Patterson.
Mary Favre, Kevin Barker and Kimberly Hays.
Alan Sandersen and Scott Icenhower.
Bob and Brenda Robinson.
JoAnna Jones and Pete Olson.
Rick Miller, Steve Varney and James Patterson.
fort bend
Chris Morales and J.C. Whitten.
Dean Hrbacek and Jim Shaw.
Sharon Jacobson, Ellen Catoe and Stewart Jacobson.
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OUT &
Imperial’s VIP Grand Opening event celebrated three new model homes by Darling, Partners in Building and Sitterle at Imperial Sugar Land, a masterplanned community by The Johnson Development Corp. spanning 716 acres.
ABOUT IN THE HEART
OF THE BEND Jimmy and Gay Thompson.
Chuck and Linda Howell with Mark and Laura Millis.
Ann Smith, Nell Ciancarelli and Debbie Marcell.
Shashi and Harish Jajoo.
Sherry Dansby, Nancy Porter, Linda Bell, Barbara Montgomery and Susie Goff.
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.com • October 2014
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Jan Loggins, the “J” in Fort Bend’s iconic J Loggins Jewelers, invited friends and clients out for her fabulous 60th birthday party including a gift to partygoers – a 60% off sale!
Larry Johnson, Steve Von Hofe and Ed Lester.
Judy Baird, Jan Loggins and Courtney Mosquinski.
Judy Jones, Nicole Gonser and Dennis Parmer.
Trish Miller and Liza Leal.
Sarah and Judy Perello. Doug Goff with Nancy and Pete Olson.
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OUT &
Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Emergency Room recently celebrated its fifth year of being ranked top 10 percent in the nation for customer satisfaction. The administrative team served the emergency room staff a barbecue lunch in appreciation for their outstanding performance and dedication to patient care.
ABOUT IN THE HEART
OF THE BEND
Qiara Suggs, Jin Kim, M.D., Kate Willis, Greg Haralson, Leslie Norman, Malisha Patel and Pam Schaper-Noe.
The 15th Annual Fort Bend Education Foundation’s (FBEF) Back to School Scramble Golf Tournament at Sweetwater Country Club was a huge success! Thanks to the generosity of this year’s participants, the event netted more than $120,000 for the FBEF. The 268 golfers who attended the tournament enjoyed lunch from Chick-fil-A and an awards banquet.
Harry Munday, Deepack Chandwani, Vipul Anand and Rick Pal.
Brenna Cosby, John Wantuch and Claude Leatherwood.
Steve Basset, Richard Ramirez and Carl Favre.
TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend
Dean Lanuke and Grayle James.
Charles Dupre and Kay James.
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Pert Mosley and Lisa Kulhanek.
t n e t t A
s! d e w wly e N ion
Coming January 2015
Real Weddings Submit your info today and have your wedding details and photos published in print and online in our magazine. If you or your children have recently married and you would like to enter for a chance to be featured in our Real Weddings, all you need is at least ten high-resolution photos of the ceremony and/or reception. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter where the wedding took place, as long as it was in the last year and you or your parent/s reside in Fort Bend. Photographers are also welcome to submit photos.
Contact: sarah@fortbendfocus.com or visit www.fortbendfocus.com. fort bend
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absolutely! DELICIOUS By Stephenie Cox
Halloween Treats H
alloween fun is in the air, and it is contagious. From toddlers to teens, everyone is up for neighborhood block parties and trick-or-treating. As I reflect on my own youthful Halloween experience, the nostalgia of digging through drawers and borrowing things from friends to pull a costume together floods my mind. That angel costume from a church play is now the beginning of a ghost, and a pile of beads and hoop earrings are on their way to becoming the centerpiece of the perfect gypsy costume. The possibilities were endless. How different it is today with costume super centers everywhere and decorations galore with neighbors vying for the scariest house. Back then, we just tried to avoid the creepy guy’s house. Some things don’t change. First stop for trick-or-treating is the house that gives out full-size candy bars and of course, to avoid the dentist who gives out toothbrushes. Neighborhood families come together to entertain and enjoy the fellowship of their neighbors. It’s a great time to share some spooky treats. Here are a few ideas for your Halloween get together that the entire family can have a hand in making.
Pumpkin Rice Krispies Treats
T
o make these, you will need to use a Wilton Ice Cream Cup Pan or just roll treats into pumpkin shape balls with your hands. Use your favorite Rice Krispies treats recipe, and while you melt the marshmallows and butter, add a little orange, red or yellow to create a nice, bright orange color. When the molded treats cool, place two together to create a pumpkin shape. Use green cookie icing to draw on some vines and black for the eyes and mouth. Place a tootsie roll on top for a great looking stem.
Yummy Mummies
F
or a savory party treat, you can’t go wrong with a spooky version of pigs in a blanket. Use your favorite hot dogs and crescent rolls. Follow the preheating instruction for crescent rolls while assembling the mummies. For each mummy, make strips from the crescent rolls and wrap on hotdogs creating the hat and the body to look like they are wrapped in gauze. Follow baking instructions for the rolls. Let cool slightly, and use mustard for the peeking eyes.
TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend
.com • October 2014
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W
Scared Berries
ash 30 fresh strawberries, and gently pat with paper towels until dry. Melt eight ounces of chopped white baking chocolate with one teaspoon shortening in the microwave, and stir until smooth. Stir in 1/3 teaspoon of almond extract. Dip strawberries in chocolate mixture and place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Before the chocolate hardens, add mini chocolate chips for the eyes. Freeze for five minutes. Melt some of the mini chocolate chips and use a toothpick to draw a mouth on each strawberry.
Boo Cupcakes
W
hat is Halloween without a little booing? For these, you will need one container of Cool Whip, three dozen mini chocolate cupcakes – your favorite box mix works fabulous – mini chocolate chips and regular chocolate chips. Use a plastic bag with a corner snipped off. Fill the bag with Cool Whip and pipe the cream into peaks on each cupcake. Place two mini chocolate chips as eyes and one regular chocolate chip as a mouth on each ghost, flat ends facing out. Refrigerate for a few hours before serving, and prepare for all of the smiles and giggles you will receive when they are enjoyed.
Marshmallow Pops
T
hese adorable morsels are a non-cook’s dream for a big “wow” at Halloween festivities. All you need to make these are orange and yellow Wilton candy melts, a bag of large marshmallows – the bigger the better – some pop sticks, clear treat bags and Halloween ribbon. Dip 2/3 of the marshmallow in the orange candy melt, let it cool and fully dry, and then dip the bottom third of the marshmallow in the yellow candy melt. Once the marshmallow pop is completely cooled and dried, wrap and tie the pops with ribbon, and they are ready to go. Sit back and enjoy a festive dessert to go.
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absolutely! DELICIOUS
Brew Up a Frightfully Fun
Halloween Party For Ghoulish Guests of All Ages
H
aunted with the thought of a ho-hum Halloween? Never fear – trick-or-treaters will want more than just candy once they see your party table. Throw a fabulous Halloween party fit for little goblins or grownup monsters with some devilishly good sweets. Try these easy party ideas from Wilton to make your Halloween spooktacular: • Add some “pop” to popcorn: Trick out ordinary popcorn into a sweet-and-salty party pleaser. Drizzle on Candy Melts® candy for festive flavors, and then capture the Halloween spirit by adding fun sprinkle mixes. • Masquerade cookies: Who says you can’t play with your food? Create edible masks with decorated shaped cookies and attach them to cookie sticks with melted Candy Melts candy. Set up a photo station at your party, so guests can take pictures with their cookie mask creations before eating them. For more Halloween ideas and inspiration, visit wilton.com.
Caramel Apple Popcorn Servings: 6 cups
• 6 cups popped popcorn, buttered and salted • 3/4 cup roasted salted peanuts • 1 package (10 ounces) Caramel Apple Candy Melts candy • 1 bottle (2.5 ounces) Spider Mix Sprinkles
Masquerade Cookies Servings: 2 dozen cookies
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour • 1 teaspoon baking powder • 1 teaspoon salt • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar • 1 egg • 1 1/2 teaspoons Imitation Clear Vanilla Extract • 1/2 teaspoon Imitation Almond Extract • Royal icing and colored sugars: Orange, Black, Green, Lemon Yellow, Brown and Violet, as desired • Halloween Jimmies, Nonpareils and Icing Decorations, as desired • Candy Melts candy • Cookie sticks
Source: Family Features
TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend
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Spread popcorn and peanuts on parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. In disposable decorating bag, melt candy in microwave at 50 percent power for 1 minute; remove bag and knead. Continue melting candy for 30-second intervals at 50 percent power until completely melted. Snip off end of bag and drizzle melted candy over popcorn. Immediately top with sprinkles. Let stand until candy has hardened, about 20 minutes. Break into pieces to serve.
Preheat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt. In second large bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and extracts. Add flour mixture to butter mixture 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition. Do not chill dough. Divide dough into 2 balls. On floured surface, roll each ball into a circle approximately 12 inches in diameter by 1/8 inch thick. Dip eye and glasses cookie cutters in flour before each use. Arrange cookies on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-11 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned. Cool completely on cooling grid. Decorate as desired using tinted royal icing, colored sugars and Halloween icing decorations. Use melted candy to attach sticks to backs of cookies; chill until set.
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Advertorial
FALL FLA VORS A utumn is finally here and the team at Braman Brands is excited to pair delicious fall flavors with its award-winning portfolio of wines. The man behind Braman Brands, founder and CEO Joe Braman, has made a name for himself as a rancher, philanthropist, dog trainer, hunter, accomplished team roper, winemaker and a classically trained chef. He’s a man of many interests but a couple of his biggest passions are food and wine. It was through Joe’s grandmother, Mary O’Connor Braman, that Joe learned to cook. She was the first to recognize and develop Joe’s natural culinary gift, and the time they spent together was one part learning and one part love of all things culinary. Joe’s philosophy when it comes to food is to always cook and eat fresh foods without preservatives. Therefore, during the fall season, he uses seasonal ingredients to prepare inventive meals for his family and friends. A favorite fall dish is a sautéed pear salad that features ripe Bosc or Anjou pears. This delightful salad pairs perfectly with the Joseph Braman 2012 California Pinot Grigio, which boasts aromatic and complex flavors with hints of white peach and floral notes. Expect to find his South Texas Mesquitegrilled lamb chops on the menu in the Braman household. The marinated
lamb chops are grilled over Mesquite coals and cooked to perfection. To enhance the rich flavors with the dish, Joe loves to pair it with the award-winning Braman Eaglefire Reserve Meritage, a balanced and complex wine offering notes of spice, cassis and vanilla throughout with soft tannins. When it comes time for dessert, a glass of Sparkles Pecan will remind you of your grandma’s famous pecan pie without all the calories. This sparkling white wine with all-natural pecan flavors can be served chilled or as a light dessert. Braman Brands was launched in 2010 by founder and CEO Joe Braman. Braman Winery, his initial endeavor, steamed from the pursuit of finding a great wine to complement his culinary passion as a chef. The portfolio was created after introducing several initial varietals, led by Braman Legacy Cabernet Sauvignon. In the spring of 2015, he’ll open his one-of-a-kind venue, featuring both a winery and brewery – an exciting endeavor as Braman Brands launches its new beer, Running Walker, this fall. Currently, there are two Braman Winery Tasting Rooms that feature live entertainment, wine tastings and gift boutiques. To learn more about Braman Brands, please visit BramanBrands.com or call us at either of our tasting room locations in Richmond (281.762.1375) or Hallettsville (361.798.9192).
Sautéed Pear Salad 1 large head, Boston lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces 1 teaspoon, Aldonza Olive Oil 2 firm but ripe Bosc or Anjou pears, cored and cut lengthwise into 8 wedges 1/4 cup Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1/2 teaspoon sugar 1/8 teaspoon coarse black pepper Pinch of salt Directions: 1. In large serving bowl, place lettuce. 2. In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat Aldonza Olive Oil on medium for 1 minute. Add pears and cook 10 to 15 minutes or until they begin to soften and turn golden. 3. Meanwhile, in a cup, stir Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar, Dijon mustard, sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper. Add vinegar mixture to pears in skillet, and cook for 1 minute or until liquid begins to thicken. 4. Pour pears and liquid from skillet into bowl with lettuce; toss to coat. Serve immediately.
South Texas MesquiteGrilled Lamb Chops
8 lamb chops (1/2 inch thick) 1/4 cup Aldonza Olive Oil 4 teaspoons organic Dijon mustard 2 teaspoons Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce 3 cloves of garlic salt and pepper Directions: Mix ingredients together and marinate lamb chops for 2 hours. Grill over Mesquite coals until medium rare or medium. Season with salt and pepper.
TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend
Job #: 093795.01
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THE MAKING OF FORT BEND
The Sugar Land Heritage Foundation:
By Jonathan Fausset
Preserving History One Plan at a Time
D
ennis Parmer has some big plans to preserve the rich history of Sugar Land. As a member of Sugar Land City Council from 2003 to 2009, Parmer found a serious passion for the city. He and his wife, Becky, moved to Sugar Land in 1981, and Parmer went to work for Shell Oil as a computer systems analyst. He found a home that was close to Fort Bend schools, which was a priority for the Parmer’s to raise a family. He started a computer staffing company in 1986 and phased into medical staffing in 2002. A year later, Imperial Sugar closed its paramount factory.
The interior of the three-bay warehouse that will be refurbished for the museum.
In 2008, Parmer became the founding president of the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation, established to preserve the history of Sugar Land. The museum is presently located on the factory grounds of Imperial Sugar in the little red brick building next to the Char House, but plans are being made to expand the museum into a permanent building on the grounds of the sugar factory. The 8,000 square-foot per floor Char House was the original idea for the Heritage Museum, but through independent study, the Heritage Foundation had a consultant assess the various buildings, and the consultant determined that the Char House was not the best place for a museum. The developers had come to the same conclusion with the idea that either an office building or a boutique hotel would be built in the Char House.
A reverse angle of the rooftop shows the air conditioning units that will be moved as part of the buildout for the rooftop.
The interior of the second floor of the three-bay warehouse that will be refurbished for the Heritage Museum.
With this in mind, the developers and the Heritage Foundation began looking for a mutually agreeable place to house the museum. The developers agreed that the Heritage Museum would be located on the second floor of the three-bay warehouse, just behind the Char House and on the grounds of the Imperial Sugar Factory. As with any restoration, there is a great deal of work to be done on that site. In addition to the general cleanup, interior design, climate control and plumbing, specialized installations designed to preserve artifacts will be installed. There will also be what Parmer refers to as “experiential displays” that give visitors to the museum a sense of
being a little more involved with what they are seeing. Plans include building an open courtyard on the roof of the three-bay warehouse to host outdoor events with a view. The actual museum and display area on the second floor renovations and the renovations of the rooftop courtyard will be simultaneous. There are plans to have a projector against the silos, a view from one end of the building of the Friday night fireworks at Constellation Field and a view of the courtyard, which is part of the future plans of the site, that will be directly behind the white silos beside the Char House. The conceptual drawings are complete, and volunteers are maintaining and cleaning the grounds trying to preserve as much of the structure and any possible remaining artifacts that may still be in the warehouse. Parmer’s plans are big but well worth the wait. There’s a lot to be done and a lot worth preserving.
Bettye Anhaiser, Dennis Parmer, Martin Nicholas, Shay Shafie, Bruce Kelly, Sharon Ehrenkranz, Bob Brown, Bill Schwer and Roy Cordes, Jr. discussed plans at a recent Sugar Land Heritage Foundation board meeting. fort bend
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EVENTS October 3rd, 8 am – 4 pm Sweetwater Country Club Charity Mammography Clinic
October 8th, 10:30 am Fort Bend Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution Program
For every three insured women who register to have their annual mammogram done at The Rose Me2 Mobile Mammography Clinic, The Rose will donate one mammogram for a Second Mile Mission Health Clinic female patient who has no resources. The clinic is at Sweetwater Country Club, located at 4400 Palm Royale Boulevard in Sugar Land. To register, visit www.the-rose. org/services/mobile-mammography and use the code “Me2.”
Join the Fort Bend Chapter National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution for a program in the chapel of the First United Methodist Church at 3900 Lexington Boulevard in Missouri City. Bruce Bramlett will speak on the Battleship Texas. Contact jbbumdar@hotmail.com or visit www.texasdar.org/chapters/FortBend.
October 6th and 7th, 5:30 – 8:30 pm Learn Job Search Survival Tips Sienna Branch Library will present a free, two-part workshop in the meeting room of the library, located at 8411 Sienna Springs Boulevard in Missouri City. Learn tips on writing a better resumé, researching prospective employers, interviewing and non-verbal skills, making a great first impression, networking and much more. Registration is not required. Call 281-238-2900.
October 7th, 5:30 – 7:30 pm Dianne Wilson Tribute The community is invited to honor Dianne Wilson’s 32 years as Fort Bend County Clerk at Safari Texas Ranch in the Lodge at Safari Texas Ranch, located at 11627 FM 1464 in Richmond. Attendees are requested to make a donation at the door to the Fort Bend Boys Choir or Texana MHMR Center. To RSVP, contact info@jacquiebaly.org.
October 11th, 10 am – 2:15 pm Free SAT Practice Test Session Representatives from Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions will conduct free, full-length SAT® practice test sessions to help students to gain experience and become better prepared for the actual test. The practice tests will be offered at both the Sienna Branch Library, located at 8411 Sienna Springs Boulevard in Missouri City, and the First Colony Branch Library, located at 2121 Austin Parkway in Sugar Land. To register, call the Sienna Branch at 281-238-2900 or the First Colony Branch at 281-238-2800.
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Water Treatment Specialists
Every Saturday, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, rain or shine 198 Kempner St. at Imperial Sugar Land
.com • October 2014
Fort Bend County Libraries joins the American Library Association in celebrating the 16th annual Teen Read Week™ with special recognition of the county’s growing teen population and their role in establishing new library programs. Teens are invited to test their celebrity and pop culture knowledge against others for prizes at the Sienna Branch Library, located at 8411 Sienna Springs Boulevard in Missouri City. Call 281-633-4734.
October 18th, 8 am The Brent Event The annual event features a 10K, 5K run, one-mile run/walk and a Kids Dash, as well as an after-race party with food, music and fun at Memorial Park in Sugar Land. Run or walk for someone you know who is or has battled cancer, and celebrate the lives of beloved cancer patients. Proceeds benefit the Brent Event Foundation, whose mission is to help ease the financial and emotional burden placed on cancer patients. Visit www.brentevent.org.
October 18th, 9 am – 3 pm Gifts Galore at Greatwood This indoor event features 100 booths with unique items, including handmade jewelry, handbags, yard décor, stationary, food, embellished clothing, as well as baby and children’s items at Dickinson Elementary, located at 7110 Greatwood Parkway in Sugar Land. Admission is free, and strollers are welcome. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Lamar Educational Awards Foundation. Call 713-444-1691.
October 18th, 10:30 am Tips on Estate Planning at First Colony Branch Library
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECH
TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend
October 14th, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Teen Read Week: Hollywood Game Night
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Fort Bend County Libraries will present Wills, Trusts, and Estate-Planning: Controlling the Distribution of Your Assets at the First Colony Branch Library, located at 2121 Austin Parkway in Sugar Land. Learn about the three primary documents of estate planning, find out how a trust differs from a will and how community property affects estate planning. Call 281-238-2800.
EVENTS SUGAR LAND TOWN SQUARE
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
October 20th, 1 pm Pat McWaters Health Clinic Charity Golf Tournament Participate as a sponsor or player, and help provide free medical and dental care to uninsured adults in need in Fort Bend County through Second Mile Mission Center, a non-profit organization serving hundreds of patients each year. The tournament begins with a shot gun tee time of 1 pm at Sweetwater Country Club, located at 4400 Palm Royale Boulevard in Sugar Land, followed by a silent auction and awards dinner. To register, visit https://secondmile.webconnex.com/ golf2014.
October 22nd, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Frightfully Fun Costume Tips for Teens Teens in grades six and up can get ideas for creepy costume additions for any frightfully fun costume party. Get spooky makeup tips from the library’s resident makeup lover who will also show how to create the illusion of stitches! The free activity will take place at the First Colony Branch Library, located at 2121 Austin Parkway in Sugar Land. Call 281-238-2800.
October 23rd, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm Pink is the Word Fashion Show Join St. Luke’s Health – Sugar Land Hospital for an all-girls event filled with fun, education and relaxation at the Sugar Land Marriott, located at 16090 City Walk. The fashion show and luncheon will promote breast health and increase the awareness of breast cancer. To register, call 832-355-4343.
October 25th, 8 am 6th Annual Making a Difference 5K Hosted by Sugar Grove Christian School, the Making a Difference 5K and 1 Mile Run/Walk will begin and end at the Mark McGrath Municipal Park, located at 12001 Brighton Lane in Meadows Place. Cash prizes will be awarded to the first place male and female winners, along with age division medals. The event benefits the children of Sugar Grove Christian School. To register, visit www.sgcs.org/making-a-difference-5k.
www.sugarlandtownsquare.com Call 281.313.SLTS Giving Spirits Concert Series Friday, October 3rd 7:30 – 9:30 pm
MD Anderson Pink Lighting Saturday, October 4th 7 – 9 pm
October 25th, 5 – 7 pm Tricks and Treats in the Park Missouri City will host its annual, family-friendly event at Buffalo Run Park, located at 1122 Buffalo Run Boulevard. The evening includes free games, treats, a pumpkin patch and entertainment along the “tricks and treats” trail. Residents of all ages are invited to show up in costume and are encouraged to bring their own containers. Bags will be provided on a first come, first served basis. Visit www.missouricitytx.gov or call 281-403-8637.
5th Annual Catwalk on City Walk Fashion Show Wednesday, October 8th 7 – 9 pm
Live Music Featuring Cornerstone Community Bible Church Friday, October 10th 7:30 – 9:30 pm
Risala Foundation Art Fest Saturday, October 11th 5 – 10 pm
Crossing Borders
October 26th, 2 – 3:30 pm The Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra’s Hauntcert
Friday, October 17th 7:30 – 9:30 pm
This popular concert features spectacularly spooky and exciting music by the non-profit Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra at the Stafford Centre, located at 10505 Cash Road. The audience and musicians are encouraged to wear their favorite Halloween costume, and a costume contest will be held during intermission. For tickets, visit www.fbso.org or call 281-276-9642.
October 27th, 5 – 6:30 pm Fall Craft Drop-In and Costume Parade In celebration of autumn, the First Colony Branch Library, located at 2121 Austin Parkway in Sugar Land, will host special activities for families with children of all ages. A children’s costume parade through the library will begin at 5:45 pm, but families may come and go during the event. Call 281-238-2800.
The Jaguar Club of Houston’s Annual Concours d’Elegance Saturday, October 18th 10 am – 4 pm
Movie Under the Moon Saturday, October 18th 7 – 9 pm
Dancing Under the Stars Friday, October 24th 7:30 – 9 pm
Time Warp Concert Series Featuring ZZ Roxx Saturday, October 25th 7:30 – 9:30 pm
The City of Sugar Land Presents Halloween Town Sunday, October 26th 4 – 8 pm
Haute Halloween Live Music Friday, October 31st 7:30 – 9:30 pm
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Living the Sweet Life:
Hope and Inspiration in Retrospect
By Alisa Murray www.AlisaMurray.com Nationally recognized portrait artist and awardwinning columnist.
“I remember her sparkly blue eyes and her infectious laugh the very most. Then, when I think of her, my mind goes to her two beautiful young daughters. I am pleased that she will be a part of my life forever.” – Alisa Murray on Janet Ely
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ears ago, way back when I was a little girl, I remember how rare and precious the pictures were of my mother. She was killed at age 31 in a whirl of an auto train accident, and then, there was only the pictures. Over the many years of doing the Hope and Inspiration calendar, I have been interviewed about why I created the project, and some were seemingly irritated that I myself had not survived cancer myself or a loved one. Truthfully, the project has never had much to do with cancer for me; it has always had to do with losing a mother and not having pictures of her. The driving force behind this project was my dear friend Joan Rosenthal and her daughter. Too close to home for my own tastes, her cancer diagnosis struck me and made me think of a way to offer lasting portraits to those who might not get many years with their moms, for the children, like me. Little did I realize then how many people would be touched, and how many lives would be impacted. In all of my years on earth and in my life’s work, I know our spirit goes on long after a person has died. The children who are left behind carry with them in their eyes and smiles that of their loved ones. I remember seeing their eyes stare at me and then look away almost embarrassed to have remembered her… my mother. I know what it’s like to see a grandparent’s eyes well up with tears because what you just said or did, that was as natural to you as breathing, was identical to a child that they have lost. We are all connected – there’s no denying it, and when you think maybe something is gone forever, I am here to tell you it’s never far away. It’s only waiting for you to find it again in the laughter of your children and the sparkles in their eyes. That leads me back to another sweet friend, Janet Ely. She came into my life as one of the first mothers in the Hope and Inspiration project, and through the years, she debuted over and over again. Her life was a testament to what all mothers go through but in a fast forwarded way due to the cancer. Her beautiful daughters were small children when we met in 2003, and as the years went by and Janet became well and then sick again, those girls grew stronger and learned so much about what really meant the most in life from their mother.
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Emily, Janet and Avery Ely.
In 2003 when I asked Janet, “What does it mean to you to have survived?” Janet poignantly wrote to me: “I feel fortunate and doubly blessed to have ‘survived’ the horrors of cancer. I thank God daily for continually giving me the gift of life.” It was my gift to give them pictures that now remain as beautiful reminders of an incredibly caring and strong woman who loved deeply living and being here. That is why I did this project. The images we created are now interwoven into her girls’ lives as permanent memories of who Janet was and will always be. Once I ran into her at our beach house, and she stopped and looked at me, and asked, “How did you recognize me?” I responded to her with a smile, “How could I not, my beautiful friend? You are shining.” She smiled at that because the cancer had come back, and she did not look like I had seen her in years past, but her spirit was plainly there, her sparkly blue eyes, her infectious laugh. When I see the girls now, they are all grown up, but in their eyes and laughter, there are traces of their mother, and that, my friends will never go away! Now as I look back on 10 years of Hope and Inspiration, I am left wanting nothing. It feels good to know that what I have created has touched so many lives and what matters more is the lives that will be touched forever because of it. That’s going to always be my very own Hope and Inspiration. Take care of you, and by the way, Janet, I miss you!
.com • October 2014
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