March 2011 - Fort Bend Focus Magazine - People • Places • Happenings

PEOPLE

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PLA C E S

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H A P P E N I N G S

MARCH 2011

A Luxury Gateway

What’s Inside

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• Home is Where the Heart is • Seen on the Scene • Community Calendar

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You’re invited to attend our "10 Steps to the Perfect Room" Presentation!

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     www.fortbend

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features 22 Dress A Girl Around the World Get involved with this organization and help (literally) dress less fortunate girls around the world!

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34 Sugar Land Area Artists’ 2011 Art Walk Enjoy this free, juried art walk featuring artists from professionals to students of all ages.

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44 Women of Distinction ABC Channel 13 honored eleven women known for raising millions for area charities, and this year, Fort Bend County’s own Jacqueline Chaumette was selected.

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50 Find Your Home and Make it Your Own From buying to making upgrades and improvements, even financing, our “Home Is Where Your Heart Is” section has resources that are sure to help you to turn your house into your dream home.

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281-206-4482

The Imperial Medical Center Land, TX 77478 1111 Hwy Hwy 6, 6,Suite Suite185 185• Sugar • Sugar Land, TX 77478 www.fortbend

www.cashionandcody.com www.cashionandcodyonline.com

.com • July 2008

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COVER STORY 12 Sugar Land Regional Airport From cow pasture to state-of-the-art corporate aviation center, this Fort Bend landmark serves as a luxury gateway for both corporations and individuals.

departments 16 Caring for the Community

77 Focus Photo Winner

18 Focus on Finance

80 Focus Photo Runners Up

19 Fort Bend Headliners

82 High School Hot Shot

20 Focus on Health

84 Fort Bend Kids Chalkboard

24 Seen on the Scene

86 Business Buzz

38 Focus Film Review

88 Medical Focus

42 Focus Cares

90 Focus Favorites - Resource Guide

48 Community Calendar

93 Focus on Flavor Dining Guide

73 Fort Bend New Neighbor

96 Living the Sweet Life

74 Focus Scrapbook fort bend

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ublisher’s Preview www.fortbendfocus.com

March 2011 Vol. 7 No. 5 Hello Fort Bend Friends, It is finally March, and after a hard winter, spring is much anticipated. I am looking forward to Spring Break with my daughter Kathryn, as this will be her last Spring Break at home since she is a Senior at Dulles High School this year.

With spring around the corner, our attention turns to our home and our attempts to freshen up our abodes. To help you in this process, Fort Bend Focus has compiled a special section this month called “Home Is Where Your Heart Is.” There are some great features on various parts of the home as well as services and items for you to use in making your home more valuable, comfortable and inviting.

Fashion always plays a big part in spring, but fashion has a completely different meaning to the non-profit “Dress A Girl Around the World” campaign, which gives less fortunate little girls in impoverished nations a handmade dress. The organization collects pillow cases and linens and has community volunteers donate their time to create dresses from these donations to help “Dress A Girl.”

It truly is awe-inspiring as well as touching that these simple dresses mean so much to these girls. And, Focus magazines is giving you an opportunity to help. We are collecting pillowcases, scraps of fabric, thread, buttons, ribbon - anything you could use to make a pretty dress for a little girl. Please join us in this effort and donate any of these items in our drop box at our office. Your donation will help put a smile on a little girls’ face.

4655 Techniplex Dr. Suite 400 Stafford, TX 77477 To advertise call

281-690-4242

TOLL FREE 1-888-430-7469

Michael & Lisa Fredrickson at the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Gala.

Direct mailed to subscribers and high value homes in Sugar Land, Richmond, Katy, Missouri City and Fulshear and picked up at demand distribution locations throughout Fort Bend.

Single copy $2.95

Many people decide to move during the summer while the kids are out of school. Spring is a great time to start researching where to move. Fort Bend Focus magazine is publishing our 3rd annual Richmond, Rosenberg, Fulshear and Simonton Newcomer Guide. If you would like to have your business listed, please call our office at 281-690-4242 or go online to www.richmondnewcomerguide.com. The Newcomer Guide is the official guide for residents in the area, and it will be delivered to new home owners as well as those looking to move to these exciting locations. The Guide will be available in April.

We wish you many happy Spring-like days this month!

Stay focused,

Publishers Michael Fredrickson Lisa Fredrickson Managing Editor Patti Parish-Kaminski Senior Account Executive Jessica Kij Account Executives Dena Perry April Lambert Shanna Sanders Office Manager Norma Loredo Contributors Will Hardee Elsa Maxey Alisa Murray Nick Nicholson Dr. Peter Osborne Melinda Wood Art Director Grace Belleza

Lisa Fredrickson Lisa@Fortbendfocus.com Michael@Fortbendfocus.com

READERS FEEDBACK

Associate Art Director Joey Belleza Graphic Designer Elizabeth Pace Editorial Assistant Lauren Dante Web Designer Joey Belleza (JOBpagegraphics.com)

On

Sending LOVE on Valentine’s Day...

Thankful for running his Press Release...

On the cheesiest day of the year, we want to send some LOVE your way. We know you have a lot of press releases to sort through daily, and so we thank you for your kindness and continued interest. We always want to be a resource to you, because it’s working with you that makes us LOVE what we do!

Happy Valentine’s Day from the Marion Montgomery, Inc. PR team!

Emily Braziel Erica Eiseline

Dear Norma, Thanks so much for publishing the information about Helping Hands March 5 Hearts and Hands Gala in your February issue! It looks great! Just a reminderour media table has a couple of seats reserved for your magazine. Hope to see “Focus” there.

Thanks for everything, J.L. Brown H.H. Gala Committee (Publicity)

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the

Cover

Sugar Land Regional Airport Photo by: Larry Pullen Airplanes in line Photo by: Michael Fredrickson The views and opinions expressed by our advertisers and columnists do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers and their staff. c 2011

One year subscription: $25

SAVE LIVES WITH THE TEXAS DIRECT AUTO

BLOOD DRIVE

Texas Direct Auto, the nation’s largest independent car dealership, is asking area citizens to donate blood Monday, April 11th, between noon and 6 p.m., at their location in Stafford, Texas. The Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center mobile unit will be at the dealership located at 12053 Southwest Freeway at West Airport.

“We hope local citizens will donate blood and help save lives in our community,” said Jessica DeMarr, Director of Business Development for Texas Direct Auto. “One donation may save three lives, such as trauma victims, surgery patients, premature babies and those with anemia and cancer.”

Potential blood donors to the Texas Direct Auto Blood Drive may register at www.giveblood.org, using sponsor code B584, said DeMarr, who is spearheading the blood drive.

More than 900 blood donations are needed every day for patients in the Texas Gulf Coast region - from accident victims to cancer patients to premature babies. According to The Blood Center, one pint of blood is needed every 1.3

seconds. Blood usage continues to increase each year, while the eligible donor base continues to decrease because of the travel restrictions imposed by the FDA. Texas Direct Auto will provide fun for all. Local radio stations will be broadcasting the event. There will also be lots of prizes and complimentary gifts given out during the day including ‘give a pint and get some pizza’ for those who donate or attempt to donate blood. DeMarr said, ”We are expecting a large turn out from our community to help save a life and have a great time.”

Blood donors for the Texas Direct Auto Blood Drive must be 17 or older (16 with parental consent), weigh a minimum of 110 pounds (122 lbs. for age 16), in general good health without cold or flu symptoms and show a valid photo ID prior to the donation. Donors that have a history of hepatitis (after age 11); HIV; chronic kidney or coronary heart disease; internal cancer requiring surgery; or uncontrolled diabetes are permanently deferred.

For further information, call 832-310-2088 or visit www.texasdirectauto.com.

SELL US YOUR CAR With over $500+ Million in annual sales, Texas Direct Auto is the Largest Independent dealership in the nation and is the largest eBay Motor’s dealership in the world!

Visit us online or come to Stafford just southwest of Houston to see our huge lot and massive inventory that are sure to have exactly what you are looking for in your next car.

12053 SW Freeway, Stafford Texas 77477 • 281-499-8200

COVER STORY

t r o p r i A l a n o i g e R d n a L r a g u S

From cow pasture to state-of-the-art corporate aviation center fort bend

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bout 20 years ago, the Sugar Land airport was pretty much a grass landing strip. Today, this once upon a time cow pasture, purchased in 1952, has been transformed into a thriving regional airport. Just how has this cow pasture been transformed into a corporate aviation center?

During the early nineties, a small commercial airline providing service to residents made its home at the Sugar Land Regional Airport. The airline is no longer there, and a lot has changed since then. If you haven’t been there lately, what you’ll find is a business executive airport for corporate, governmental and private clientele serving the area’s general aviation aircraft that averages about 250 operations a day. On the 426acre property abutting Highway 6, there is a classy, Texas ranch-styled terminal and a T-hanger complex at a general aviation center about to undergo enhancements befitting of the quality lifestyle of the area’s first class communities.

The airport also features a gift shop, Treasure Hunters Too, an artwork display at the terminal’s generous entrance and historic memorabilia on exhibit, including one of Imperial Sugar factory’s original, majes-

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tic looking crowns that can easily conjure up mental sights and sounds of another era, if only for a brief moment.

Two onsite rental car agencies are also now located at the airport making ground transportation readily accessible.

This site that was once out-in-the-boonies will have now ended up right across from the new minor league baseball stadium StarTex Power Field - about to undergo formal groundbreaking this spring for ball play next year. Plans include a traffic signal on Highway 6 in front of both the airport and ball park entrances.

At the regional airport, one of the anticipated amenities for the general public will be some ample green space dedicated for viewing aircraft taking off and landing. Residents can make memorable outings when they come out to enjoy the day al fresco equipped with a picnic basket.

This project is expected to be finished in the spring, and it will feature a walking trail and picnic tables south of the hanger complex on Highway 6.

As for the anchor at this site, the City of Sugar Land owns the airport. The city purchased it in 1990, and the airport’s name has changed twice since then.

Sugar Land Regional Airport Terminal Lobby.

Hull Field was the airports original name, and it came from a specialty practice dentist, Dr. Donald “Doc” Hull. He provided dental care at the Sugar Land prison, and he purchased the land for its present use almost 50 years ago vowing it would be for an airport that would never close. An avid flyer, Doc Hull used to land his biplane at the airport. continued on page 14 www.fortbend

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Airport Service Representatives are onsite to greet arriving planes.

Sugar Land Regional Airport Terminal. continued from page 13

One of the other things Doc Hull did to encourage air travel in Sugar Land was to establish Hull Aviation, a fixed-based operation that provided fuel, a flight school, aircraft maintenance and sales. It is the fuel part of that enterprise that is one of the current airport’s mainstays. Hull Aviation accounts for 87 percent of the airport’s revenue and is part of an annual budget of about $9 million, according to Airport Director Phillip W. Sevko.

Of the self-sustaining airport, Sevko says that the way it operates is from the revenue it generates and although it is city owned, none of the residents’ property tax dollars fund any of the airport’s functions. The money generated by the city owned, fixed base operator, GlobalSelect - ranked the best in the Americas by Aviation International News - continues to be used to promote the airport’s development, which Sevko is quick to qualify by emphasizing that it is controlled development. With the airport’s location, Savko said he subscribes to the philosophy of being a good neighbor, and even as old airport structures were torn down, the city made sure that new ones were keeping with the style and color scheme of a master-planned community.

United States Customs & Border Protection office at Sugar Land Regional Airport.

Currently, there are projects in the making that are about to advance this 4th largest airport in greater Houston that serves Bush Intercontinental and Hobby as a reliever airport. It’s also the area’s third busiest airport in operations. “We have people from all over the world coming to the Sugar Land airport,” said Sevko.

At this time, the airport has capital improvement programs that include the recently announced 10 acres for new corporate tenants as part of an $8 million taxi lane project mostly funded by the Texas Department of Transportation Aviation Division. It is important to note that the east-west taxi lanes will be adjacent fort bend

Treasure Hunters Too – Sugar Land Regional Airport Gift Shop.

Treasure Hunters Too is an upscale gift shop inside the airport terminal. It is part of Treasure Hunters Gallery from Richmond, which has specialty items for shoppers. Texas boots, belts, leather goods and more are to be had at this airport shopping experience that’s sure to become a popular stop.

to Highway 6, and they are not runways as some believed to be the case. The taxi lanes will be where the old general aviation hangars were located, away from the land that is next to the prison property. The airport, itself, is actually bordered by Cullinan Park on one side, Highway 6 on another and the rail road track is directly to the south. There are also homes in this general area, part of the Telfair subdivision, and for future expansion, there is land which may become available when the central prison closes, about 100 acres zoned for the airport’s use. This means the airport could be accessed off U.S. 90A in the future.

As for its operations, the airport has been cited for many distinguished firsts and other accolades. It’s also the first non-commercial airport in Texas that received federal funding for standby power generators for airfield and terminal operations allowing it to remain operational during prolonged power outages such as during past hurricane seasons. This capability is particularly important during the aftermath of emergencies like a major hurricane since the airport is critical in coordinating efforts for emergency personnel and supplies to the area.

Under Savko’s direction, the Sugar Land airport has become the corporate aviation center that it is today. With 24 years in aviation experience under his belt, Savko, with a degree in aviation management, set himself on a course to develop something more than a master plan for operating the airport. He developed a business plan, one that continues to be updated. His planning is what is largely responsible for launching the airport into becoming a regional facility with its current new and improved image intended to promote self-sustaining development that includes long-term property maintenance.

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SUGAR LAND VEIN SPECIALISTS 4660 Sweetwater Blvd. Ste 130 Sugar Land, TX, 77479 Tel: 281 240 8400 Fax: 281 240 8405

Historic memorabilia - Imperial Sugar Factory Crown. Historic memorabilia on display is found at the Sugar Land Airport.

It is just of the items from the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation exhibition. One of the original Imperial Sugar factory crowns, it was removed from the Imperial Sugar Factory site prior to undergoing redevelopment.

The amenities are numerous at the 20,000 square-foot terminal with an 85 foot control tower’s radar system, and the 100 feet wide, 8,000 feet long reinforced, concrete runway. It’s this runway that accommodates the largest of the corporatetype multi-million dollar business jets and turboprops seen in the hangers and runways. There is also an instrument landing system, high-intensity lighting and even an U.S. Customs office onsite at the airport. Other features include a conference center, a professional crew suite with flight planning offices, an executive lounge - where Dr. Phil McGraw was spotted one day - a flight school and space for a restaurant and coffee shop at the terminal.

For area aviators, Anson Aviation and Sugar Land Regional Airport sponsor monthly FAA meetings at the terminal, and they are open to all area aviators.

“Corporate aviation is the Sugar Land Regional Airport’s focus, and it’s done while maintaining a balance for the community’s general aviation needs,” said Savko. As part of the city, the regional airport contributes to the local economy by providing jobs, corporate access, access to air transportation services and facilities to house corporate aviation departments. It is reported that more than one hundred Fortune 500 companies use the Sugar Land Regional Airport annually.

A luxury gateway, that’s what Sevko calls it, with an exceptional facility and amenities “that set us apart.” n FBF

Ulises Baltazar is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Board Certified Vascular Surgeon, Registered Vascular Technologist, Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation.

Sugar Land Vein Specialists The practice is dedicated exclusively to the treatment of venous insufficiency that can cause painful visible varicose veins, leg swelling and even venous stasis ulcers. We are the vein clinic of choice in Fort Bend County. We dedicate 30 to 45 minutes during the first visit, which includes a detailed interview, physical examination and an ultrasound. Our goal is to make every patient feel comfortable and safe, allowing plenty of time for questions.

When compared to large practices with multiple physicians, there is no need to reintroduce yourself to the doctor on call as you will always be taken care of by the same physician.

FREE VEIN www.SLVeins.com SCREENING AVAILABLE call for an appointment 281.240.8400

Visit us on our website and find us on Facebook

Patient Testimonial “Dr. Baltazar has a warm, caring, professional manner. He willingly answered all of my questions and showed concern for my comfort. During the several occasions that I visited him for my varicose veins, I observed his meticulous work and the high standards he holds for himself. I am delighted with the results of my surgery and gladly recommend Dr. Baltazar to my friends.”

P.J. Sugar Land, TX www.fortbend

.com • March 2011

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Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital

Caring for the Community It’s never too early to bone up on osteoporosis Doctors share strategies for dealing with and preventing disease

T

wo Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital-affiliated physicians are encouraging individuals to learn more about a devastating disease that, if left unchecked, can deliver a powerful punch in later years.

Characterized by weak bones, osteoporosis is a more common condition than most people imagine. In fact, about 10 million Americans currently have the disease while another 34 million are at risk of developing it. In the 50-plus age bracket, current predictions are that about half of all women and 25 percent of all men will break a bone because of osteoporosis.

“As we age, our bones become more brittle,” explained Brian Heaps, M.D., an obstetrician-gynecologist. “A simple fall, which may be due to an unrelated condition that decreases mobilBrian Heaps, M.D. ity, can increase your risk of a serious bone fracture. It’s important to be aware of factors such as diet and exercise from an early age in order to prevent osteoporosis later.”

Individuals at highest risk include those with prior fractures to the back, hip or leg; a family history of osteoporosis; a small, thin body build; or lifestyle choices which include heavy smoking or drinking.

Dr. Heaps advises a baseline bone density scan for the average woman within 10 years after menopause, when the first symptoms appear. Even if the scan confirms osteoporosis – which cannot be cured – treatments are available.

“Bisphosphonate drugs, which can prevent further bone loss, are prescribed for patients who have been diagnosed, as well as for those in a high-risk category,” he said. “In general, these drugs can be Advertorial

taken by anyone, but caution should be used in patients with certain gastrointestinal disorders such as ulcers or gastroesophageal reflux disease.”

In addition to medication, a healthy diet that includes vitamin supplements can improve the odds. For example, adults under the age of 50 need a total of 1,000 milligrams (mg) of calcium from both food and vitamin supplements and 400 to 800 international units (IU) of vitamin D every day. A daily total of 1,200 mg of calcium from food and vitamin supplements and 800 to 1,000 IU of vitamin D is recommended for individuals over the age of 50.

“Exercise is a good preventive strategy, as well as a strategy to help prevent worsening of the condition,” said Pradeep Kodali, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon. “Bones respond and remodel to Pradeep Kodali, M.D. stress by creating additional bone, so any type of resistance exercise such as running or weight-lifting is recommended.” fort bend

magazine • March 2011

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To avoid damaging bones or muscles, Dr. Kodali offers a practical tip: “In general, take the maximum weight you think you can lift, and only lift 50 percent to 75 percent of that amount. Depending on your age and physical wellbeing, the frequency of exercise can be up to five days a week for 30 to 60 minutes a day.” H

Girls’ Night Out

Strong Bones, Strong Women Tuesday, March 29 5:30 to 8 p.m.

• Learn about osteoporosis and common sports and orthopedic injuries • Receive complimentary heel-bone density screening from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. only • Participate in a 15-minute warm-up with Bikram Yoga Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital 17500 W. Grand Parkway South at U.S. Highway 59 Free event, but registration required. Please call 713.222.CARE (2273).

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.com • March 2011

17

on

Finance

Provided by RBC Wealth Management and the Hardee Investment Group

Outlook for 2011 and Reflection of 2010 Reflection of 2010 2010 continued the recovery from the financial meltdown experienced in 2008.

The second year brought improvement in stock prices, lower interest rates and an improving economy. However, unemployment and home foreclosures still grabbed the media’s attention.

Fear still overwhelmed many investors’ decisions. In spite of this, our clients enjoyed another successful year in their managed investment accounts led by master limited partnerships, precious metals and mortgages.

Outlook for 2011 Over the past 35 years, I’ve observed that greed and fear have been the dominant themes that affect your net worth. We are seeing signs that the iceberg of fear is melting and greed is slowly heating up. Proof of this is the return of initial public offerings.

IPO’s usually don’t exist in a fearful environment. According to Agenda, a national publication for corporate directors, mergers and acquisitions are increasing as management and board of directors feel more confident about the future and their stock prices. Again, these rarely happen in a fear driven market.

For the last three years, the search for yield has been relentless. As money market rates approached zero and fear was still dominate, anything with yield would work. That is rapidly changing.

In the fourth quarter, municipal bonds experienced their largest liquidation in years. According to Lipper Analytical Services, total net outflows from municipal bonds alone were over $28 billion. As investors psychologically shift from fear to greed, they will move from value and yield to growth and capital gains. I suspect we will see continued selling in all bonds resulting in lower prices and higher yields.

My crystal ball doesn’t see the entire year. However, several trends stand out. Gold may have peaked for now as fear subsides. As world economies continue to recover, energy (both oil and natural gas) is taking center stage. Industrial metals, particularly palladium, should do well. Worldwide interest rates are starting to rise as is world inflation as reflected by the cost of agricultural products. Growth stocks are the cheapest they’ve been in a decade when compared to value.

Finally, municipal bonds will be this year’s version of “Friday the 13th” due

to credit concerns. I believe each of these areas will present very attractive opportunities to invest in.

Over the years, we’ve learned that money is fungible. It seeks the best return commensurate with the risk taken. We’ve learned to seek out investments in all categories; be they stocks or bonds, growth or value. Our mission is to find the right vehicle and time to do so. Patience will be a virtue.

On behalf of the Hardee Investment Group, we thank you for your trust and confidence in us. As our long term clients will attest, we’ve successfully navigated our way through change before. We look forward to doing so in 2011.

This article is provided by H. H. Will Hardee, a financial consultant at RBC Wealth Management’s Houston Center office, and was prepared by or in cooperation with RBC Wealth Management. The information included in this article is not intended to be used as the primary basis for making investment decisions nor should it be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell any specific security. RBC Wealth Management does not endorse this organization or publication. Consult your investment professional for additional information and guidance. RBC Wealth Management does not provide tax or legal advice.

RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets LLC, Member NYSE/FINRA/ SIPC. H

We didn’t have to reinvent light to understand we needed a new light bulb.

If you continue to believe in the benefit of wealth planning, but feel your current approach has left you in the dark, we can help. Brighten your financial future with our progressive thinking and evolved tactics.

Contact our team to find out more.

Hardee Investment Group

H. H. “Will” Hardee, AWM Senior Vice President - Financial Consultant (713) 853-0879 www.hardeeinvestmentgroup.com Listen Live every Thursday from 11-12 p.m. to“The Price of Business” on CBS Talk Radio 650 AM © 2010 RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets Corporation, Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC. All rights reserved.

10-HC-346_ad.indd 1

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magazine • March 2011

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7/28/10 8:16:02 AM

FORT BEND

HEADLINERS Send your news via www.FortBendFocus. com. Deadline for submission is on or before the 10th of the month for the next month’s publication. All submissions are subject to the publisher’s approval, editing and space availability.

2011 Bike Ride Committee Members: back row, l to r: Geir Bentzen; John Wantuch; Jim Mayes; John Haskew; and Janice Holley. Middle row, l to r: Danny Jan; David Smith; Charles Borsos, Ride Director; Sgt. Buddy Boone; and Matt Brown.

Front row, l to r: Julie Richoux; Rachel John; Kelly Metzger, Ronnie Escobar; Hannah DeFord; Cruz Coria; and Mharbe Masculino.

2011 Schlumberger Education Expedition is here!!!

On Saturday, March 26th, the Fort Bend Education Foundation will host its 8th annual bike ride, The Schlumberger Education Expedition. We provide you with a quality ride whether you are training for the all-important BP MS 150 or just wanting a great day with friends.

Riders will take off at 7:30 am from Ken Hall Stadium which is located at Hightower High School in Missouri City and wind through quiet streets and into the countryside before looping back home.

There are 3 routes to choose from ranging from 27 to 79 miles. We recommend registering online at Active.com or http:// www.fortbendisd.com/foundation before the event day to prevent any distractions for you on the ride morning.

For more information, visit our website at www.fortbendisd.com/foundation or contact Kelly Metzger at kelly.metzger@ fortbendisd.com This is one ride you don’t want to miss!

Headliners continued on page 21

Go fish.

Anywhere.

Anson Aviation Sugar Land Regional Airport www.ansonair.com 281-242-2555 www.fortbend

.com • March 2011

19

Learn to fly.

on

Health

F

By Dr. Peter Osborne

Are Prescription Drugs Failing Us?

or the past several years, you have probably followed the news and health media on prescription medication recalls and warnings and been somewhat alarmed and confused. Below are some examples of recent events: 1. A study in published in Lancet found that oral contraceptive use doubles a woman’s risk of invasive cervical cancer.1 Medications containing conjugated estrogens are labeled with a black box warning because they increase the risks of myocardial infarction, stroke, invasive breast cancer, pulmonary emboli, and deep vein thrombosis.

2. The pain medicine Vioxx was pulled off of the market in September of 2004 because it was found to double the risk for heart attacks and strokes.

3. Fosamax and similar medications used to treat osteoporosis (bisphosphonates) have been found to cause osteonecrosis of the jaw.2 4. Popular acid reducing medications like Nexium and Protonix (PPI’s) were recently found to increase the risk of hip fracture.3 5. In December of 2006, the FDA’s Pharmacological Drug Advisory Committee decided to put a black box warning on common antidepressants (Cymbalta, Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro, and more) because of an increased risk of suicidal behavior and depression in adolescents and young adults taking them.4 In 1998, the Journal of the American Medical Association published a groundbreaking paper. The study was conducted on adverse drug reactions (ADR’s) occur-

ring in U.S. hospitals. The conclusion of this study was very alarming. It was estimated that in 1994, 106,000 people died from ADR’s. When put into perspective, the top killers in the U.S. are heart disease, cancer, and stroke killing approximately 950,000, 750,000, and 150,000 people per year respectively. Based on the study findings, that makes adverse drug reactions the 4th leading cause of death in the U.S. Now you are probably thinking how is this possible? The top 3 causes of death are heart disease, cancer, and stroke.

They are treated medically with the use of prescription medication. Prescription medication could potentially be the fourth leading cause of death. Following this logic, how does it make sense that we continue following a paradigm that obviously has such a profound flaw. Don’t misunderstand; I am not an advocating that all medicine is bad. Quite the contrary, when used properly, many lives have been saved with medicine. The problem lies with the mentality that “a pill for every ill” can solve the health crisis in this country. If you look at the statistics, this mentality is fatally flawed. The U.S. spends more money per person on healthcare than any other country in the world. Yet among industrialized nations, we rank 26th in infant mortality, 24th in life expectancy.6 The bottom line: The above facts are not intended to scare you from taking your medication.

They are intended to make you think.

Take some time to ponder the following questions:

Why do you take a medication for heart burn, osteoporosis, diabetes, high cholesterol, etc? Does the medication actually address the root cause of the condition or does it aid in the reduction of symptoms?

Why do the side effects of one medicine have to be treated with a different medicine? Does the medication have a risk that is potentially greater than the benefit? Is there something that can be done through changes in diet and lifestyle to prevent or reduce the need for medication? Have you exhausted all of your conservative options before considering the use of medication?

Ultimately, you as an individual are responsible for the decisions about your health. Blaming bad genetics for your health problems is not the answer. There are no magic pills or products that will miraculously transform your health. Look in the mirror and ask the following questions to yourself: Do I exercise regularly? Do I drink plenty of water? Do I eat reasonably? Do I manage my stress load responsibly? Do I have good hygiene? Do I get adequate sun exposure? Do I get adequate sleep on a nightly basis? Do I take time to educate myself about the proper care and function of my body?

If the answer to any of these questions is no, then you are not doing your part.

Learn more at www.TownCenterWellness.com.

1. Cervical Cancer and Hormonal Contraceptives. The Lancet 2007;370:1609-1621.

2. Woo SB, Hellstein JW, Kalmar JR. Bisphosphonates and osteonecrosis of the jaws. Ann Intern Med 2006;144:753-756.

3. Yu-Xiao Yang, et al. Long term Proton Pump Inhibitor Therapy and Risk of Hip Fracture. JAMA 2006;296:2947-2953.

4. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01624.html 5. Lazarou J, Pomeranz BH, Corey PN. Incidence of Adverse Drug Reactions in Hospitalized Patients. JAMA 1998; 279(15):1200-05.

6. http://dll.umaine.edu/ble/U.S.%20HCweb.pdf

DID YOU KNOW?

You have one of the country’s most advanced alternative medicine clinics right here in Sugar Land n Dr. Osborne

• Is a Diplomate and the Executive Secretary of the American Clinical Board of Nutrition • Is the only Board Certified Nutritionist in Sugar Land • Is a member of the ACA Council on Nutrition • Has held teaching appointments at Texas Women’s University and HCC’s nursing program • Lectures nationally to other physicians on the topic: Drug Induced Nutritional Deficiencies

n Town Center Wellness:

Dr. Peter Osborne

• Offers genetic testing to match your lifestyle and diet to your genes • Offers complete laboratory nutritional analysis to identify vitamin and mineral deficiencies • Offers traditional and specialty lab services to assist in patient diagnosis • Offers state of the art Spinal Decompression therapy to prevent back surgery • Offers genetic and laboratory testing to identify gluten sensitivity • Offers chiropractic care

4724 Sweetwater Blvd. Suite 102, Sugar Land, TX 77479 281-240-2229 • www.TownCenterWellness.com Advertorial

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magazine • March 2011

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Headliners continued from page 19

Pictured holding “empty bowls” are Rich Taylor, Fish City Grill manager, and Vickie Coates, Executive Director, EFBHNM. Fish City Grill is one of the Empty Bowls 2011 restaurant sponsors.

Empty Bowls 2011 Benefitting East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry, Inc. will be hosting Empty Bowls 2011 on Sunday, April 3, 2011 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Sugar Land Baptist Church (formerly Williams Trace Baptist Church). Guests will be served a simple meal of soup in recognition and support of those in our community who don’t have enough food to eat. The evening will also include live entertainment performed by local talent as well as silent and live auctions. Featured at the event will be hand-painted soup bowls which have been painted by groups from Fort Bend churches, schools and other friends of the Ministry. All proceeds from Empty Bowls 2011 will go to help our Fort Bend County neighbors who have nowhere else to turn.

Tickets are $25 and may be purchased at East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry, 435 Stafford Run Rd. in Stafford. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information contact Connie Esposito at 281-2614902 or Connie@HumanNeeds.org.

NEW LOCATION

Headliners continued on page 32 www.fortbend

.com • March 2011

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Let’s (literally!) Dress A Girl Around the World....One Pillow Case at a Time

By Tanya Sterling

Young girls in Uganda wearing dresses made by the “Dress a Girl Around the World” campaign.

Gina Abdulla, Houston’s “Dress A Girl…” Area Representative with a volunteer showing off a dress made for a little girl.

Missionary interacting with a young girl in Uganda. The young Ugandan girl is holding a prayer doll also made by the Hope 4 Women International organization.

T

he simple pattern is perfect for a little girl. The blue paisley dress with bright red straps and a bright red pocket is just right for a little girl. Finally, the white lace adorning the bottom of the dress and the top of that small front pocket would make any little girl smile. Especially, a poverty-stricken little girl whose only dress may be this very dress. Welcome to Hope 4 Women International’s “Dress a Girl Around the World” campaign. People from all over the world, including the greater Houston area, form clubs and sew dresses from pillowcases and flat sheets to distribute around the world. To date, “Dress A Girl ...” has delivered 14,642 dresses to 35 countries, including the United States. People from 42 states, Canada, Uganda and Hong Kong, continue to make dresses. This organization, literally, dresses girls around the world.

Actively residing in Sugar Land for over 23 years, Gina Abdulla is Houston’s “Dress A Girl...” Area Representative. As the (volunteer) Area Rep, Gina organizes Sew Fests, provides packages and materials to organizations, schools, clubs and churches to sew, stores the finished dresses and sends them off to various countries to dress a girl. Abdulla also answers emails and gives a lot of school, church and women’s group presentations.

“What I love the most about ‘Dress A Girl...’ is that all the dresses made right here in our community go directly to the girls as soon as possible. There is no red tape or middle man. Mission teams, churches and other

High School volunteers support this organization by volunteering at the welcome table during one of the Sew Fests. fort bend

Volunteers prepping, cutting and sewing dresses at Christ United Methodist Church in Sugar Land.

magazine • March 2011

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organizations hand-carry the dresses to the place or country of need and literally provide the dresses to little girls and their moms,” said Abdulla. “I get tears in my eyes just thinking about all of the love and effort that goes into making these dresses, and how it benefits a young girl, lady or woman more than we will ever know.”

Abdulla got involved with “Dress A Girl...” mid last year after she retired from a successful career teaching both underprivileged and special need kids in the Houston Independent School District and Fort Bend Independent School District. After taking a brief respite, Abdulla heard about sewing for charity, researched various sewing organizations and quickly decided to become involved in “Dress A Girl...”.

The wife and mother of three young adults, Sabrina, Gibran and Alyssa, Abdulla said that it is also “deeply gratifying to receive pictures of the girls we sew for. It is satisfying to give from my heart.”

One of the main ways Abdulla and “Dress A Girl...” produces the dresses is through Sew Fests. Sew Fests are fun-filled events where women (and some men!) gather on a Saturday to assemble materials and sew dresses. During these events, some women will prep the materials for sewing by ironing out the pillow cases and flat sheets, cutting out the pattern, sewing the dresses, attaching the straps and stitching on the lace. Christ United Methodist Church in Sugar Land has been instrumental in providing a facility for “Dress A Girl...” Sew Fests as the church has hosted two events in the last few months.

“Christ UMC’s Renee Teel, Director of Missions, has really stepped up to provide ‘Dress A Girl...’ with a place to host our Sew Fests,” said Abdulla.” Our first Sew Fest was this past December, and we had so many volunteers that we had to move our event over to the gym where more space was available!

Christ UMC has also packed and carried dresses with them on their mission trips to Reynosa, Mexico and will also hand-carry dresses when they go to Haiti in the near future.”

Abdulla has also presented “Dress A Girl...” information to various area high schools such as Dulles, Cinco Ranch and Clements plus churches, sewing groups and senior adult groups. As a result, her storage facility - her garage - is piled high with dresses ready to be globally shipped as well as sewing materials.

“I don’t mind filling my garage with

“Dress A Girl Around the World” and Focus on Women Magazine Needs You! Come Sew With Us! Focus on Women Magazine is proud to support “Dress A Girl Around the World” in their upcoming Sew Fest on April 30th at First United Methodist Church-Sugar Land. We need donations to help, literally, dress little girls (and boys) around the world. Materials needed include the following: • Pillowcases - All sizes • Bias tape • Flat Sheets - All sizes • T-shirts • Straps If you have any materials that you would like donate to “Dress A Girl Around the World,” contact Gina Abdulla at ginaabdulla@yahoo.com or 281-787-7232 or drop them off at Focus on Women’s office Monday through Friday between 9 am and 5 pm. Focus on Women is located at 4655 Techniplex Drive, Suite 400 in Stafford, Texas.

Help us make “Dress A Girl’s…” next Sew Fest a success! For more information, please visit the organization’s website at www.dressagirlaroundtheworld.com.

‘Dress A Girl...’ materials, and hopefully, my husband, Amin, does not mind either,” laughed Abdulla. “However, I am always looking for individuals or groups going on mission trips anywhere in the world, especially third world countries. We would appreciate them physically taking dresses and placing them on the girls.”

As “Dress A Girl..” has so many requests to dress girls, they do not focus on dressing boys. However, one missionary volunteering in Uganda saw a boy wearing a trash bag and now “Dress A Girl...” makes britches out of t-shirts.

“It’s amazing how creative we can be with a pillowcase, t-shirt or a flat sheet,” said Abdulla. “I can make eight dresses for eight little girls with one flat sheet. The need in countries such as Uganda, Cuba, Haiti and other third-world countries is so great that I am committed to over-flowing my garage with dresses and getting these dresses into the right hands to dress these girls, teens and women.”

Adulla also wants to emphasize that prior sewing experience is not needed, as she had no prior experience. “My mom sewed, but I never sewed while growing up. Thus, I got involved with ‘Dress A Girl..’ purely out of a strong desire to help those who desperately need our help. I do now take sewing classes though!”

It is also amazing how generous companies and individuals have been to “Dress A Girl...”.

For instance, Memorial Hermann HospitalSugar Land’s Information Systems Division decided to host a “Dress A Girl..” drive instead of their annual teddy bear drive. www.fortbend

.com • March 2011

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Missionary visiting Uganda to deliver dresses.

Abdulla has also unexpectedly received phone calls and dresses in the mail from women from as far away as Louisiana and Beaumont.

“Right now, I am trying to find a Girl Scout troop to make prayer dolls for these little girls as they desperately need all the prayers they can get,” said Abdulla.

“Dress A Girl...” is a unique organization that truly brings smiles to thousands of little girls, teens and women world-wide. As an Area Rep, Abdulla has worked tirelessly amassing sewing materials and dresses, and she says her volunteerism is simply an extension and continuation of her teaching career. After all, she is still working with underprivileged kids.

“These dresses are so beautiful, it makes me want to cry,” said Abdulla. “You clearly see all of the love sewed into these dresses.”

The next Sew Fest is April 30th at Christ United Methodist-Sugar Land. For more information, please contact Gina Abdulla at ginaabdulla@yahoo.com or 281-7877232. You may also visit “Dress A Girl Around the World’s” website at www. dressagirlaroundtheworld.com. H

Seen

on the

Scene

Go to www.FortBendFocus.com Pictures are available online for this month only, download now. Compliments of Fort Bend FOCUS.

American Red Cross Super Ball

Benefiting the Southwest American Red Cross Saturday, January 22, 2011 • Safari Texas

James Freeman & Lisa Rackard

Patrick & Emma Sexton

Luis & Jennifer Hidalgo

Rita & Michael Jonas

Cindy & Steve Berg

Ashley Berg & Brett Johnson

Elaine & Charles Jessup

Katie & Stephen Higgins

Brandon Kasper & Alicia Davis

Amy & Chad Norvell

Mary & Carl Favre

Terry & Cheryl Foster

Elizabeth Duff Drozd & Amy Mitchell

Courtney Grant, Ann Smith & Cody Bathe

Cara Butler & Vernetta Harrell

Leslie Woods & Karen Mawyer

Claudia & Rick Wendland

Joe & Lauren Byars

Lisa & Michael Fredrickson

Ann Smith & Harish Jajoo

fort bend

magazine • March 2011

24

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Seen

on the

Scene

Go to www.FortBendFocus.com Pictures are available online for this month only, download now. Compliments of Fort Bend FOCUS.

The Republican Party of Fort Bend County presents

The Lincoln-Reagan Dinner Friday, January 28, 2011 • Safari Texas Ballroom

Jim & Patty Hoelker with Terry Meyer

Mike & Lana Flory

Bridget Yeung & Paula Auburg

Anjali & Sujeeth Draksharam

Bob & Pat Hebert

Bill & Kathy Rohrbach with Bruce Bain

Carl Rowe & Barbara Meeks

Jamey & Jennifer Webster

Sarah & Thomas Abraham

Linda & John Hancock

Michael Green, Frank Yonish & Tom Meinecke

Richard & Karen McCarter

Russell & Monica Ybarra

Alyssa & Alan Sandersen

Vanessa & Craig Brady

Jim & Laura Richards

Mary & Jim Rice

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.com • March 2011

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Seen

on the

Scene

Go to www.FortBendFocus.com Pictures are available online for this month only, download now. Compliments of Fort Bend FOCUS.

Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Gala

Fort Bend Education Foundation

International Soiree

Gala Sponsor Party

Saturday, February 5, 2011 • Safari Texas

Thursday, February 10, 2011 • Sugar Land

Jessica Kij & Michael Schiff

Chris & Lillie Breaux

Steve & Peggy Jackson

Laura Stoltenberg & Tracy Lisse

Barbara Meeks & Gary Pearson

Sashi & Harish Jajoo

Laura Winter & Dana Pierson

Steve & Nancy Porter

Karla & Ken Orlaska

Randall & Sherry Grogan

John & Candy Novak

Gary & Cathy Dante

Erin & Julie Machac

Tom Pierson with Sally & Rick Imig

Chris Breaux feeds the dragon for good luck.

Manish & Rumana Seth

Jevaughn & Tanya Sterling with Donna Murray

Jane Watts, Catherine Duyka & Jennifer Hammer

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Seen

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Scene

Go to www.FortBendFocus.com Pictures are available online for this month only, download now. Compliments of Fort Bend FOCUS.

Fort Bend Cares • A Charitable Foundation

Road Trip to Las Vegas Saturday, February 12 • Fluor Daniel

Sunday Coffman & Jill Curtis

Maureen & Gil Saenz

Barbara Meeks & Gary Pearson

Connie Esposito & Vickie Coates

Kelly Metzenthin & Ruth Anne Mefford

Paul & Keri Schmidt

Bruce & Becky Bain

Bill & Cassie Oppman

Dee Koch & Al Bartolo

Julie Treece & Cindy Gazouleas

Ronnie & Nancy Mills

David & Grayle James

Eilis & Dave Meyer

Denise Allen Zwicker with Lab Puppy

Nancy & David Dale, Nancy Crow

Clarence & Jana Hinton

Himesh & Farrah Gandhi

Joe & Debbie Gavri

Linda & Brent Diez

Manmeet & Paul Likhari

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Before and after camp care is available Now in Sugar Land too!

For more information and to get the 2011 camp catalog, visit hmns.org or call 713-639-4652.

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Keep Sugar Land Beautiful 18th Annual Don’t Mess With Texas Trash Off Saturday, April 2

The Andreason Law Firm Now you don’t have to drive to Houston for experienced Estate Planning.

Kurt M. Andreason, Attorney-at-Law Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Estate Planning, Probate Law and Commercial Real Estate.

4840 Sweetwater Blvd, Suite B (at rear), Sugar Land, TX 77479 281-265-1561 www.andreasonlawfirm.com

25 years experience in Texas fort bend

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Imagine spending a beautiful morning outdoors and making a difference in your community. If this sounds good, you may be the volunteer we need. Keep Sugar Land Beautiful’s 18th Annual Don’t Mess with Texas Trash-Off will be held Saturday, April 2, and volunteers are needed to pick up litter at designated sites in Sugar Land. This event is part of the nationwide Great American Cleanup and volunteers across the country will be conducting similar cleanups in their community. Last year, 354 volunteers in Sugar Land picked up over 4,528 pounds of litter! We need your help!

Registration is required to participate for youth and adults. Registration forms may be downloaded at www.kslb.org.

Individuals, families and groups are welcome. All volunteers under age 18 must be accompanied by a registered adult.

Volunteers will need to provide their own transportation to a designated cleanup site. Please dress comfortably – trash bags and gloves will be provided. Registration ends March 17.

A complimentary breakfast will be hosted by Whole Foods Market in Sugar Land for all registered participants at 10:00 am. The first 400 participants to register and participate will receive a free t-shirt.

Keep Sugar Land Beautiful is a 501c3 non-profit affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and Keep Texas Beautiful dedicated to educate and engage everyone to take responsibility for the environmental health of our community. KSLB is the recipient of a 2010 Governor’s Community Achievement Award for outstanding community improvement. For more information, please visit www.kslb.org.

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Boogie 2011 committee members: L-R Front row: Liz Moreno, Celia Olson Middle row: Cheryl White, Cee Cee Parker, Mary Lee Sebesta, Alina Gonzalez, Jim Smith. Back row: Vivian McDowell, Marie Gambino, Linda Schoonmaker, Anita Maddox, Nancy Colmenares, Sue Tanzberger, Judy Price, Paula Ruskan, Della Leonard, Barb McKown, Geri Hubbard and Carole Albers.

Come Boogie with PCCA and the Fort Bend County Women’s Center!

Girls, unpack those poodle skirts and saddle shoes. Guys, find your leather jackets, white t-shirts and jeans. Boogie 2011 “Sock Hop at the Soda Shop” is coming.

Title Sponsor, PCCA, and the Fort Bend County Women’s Center invite you to get involved and support the Women’s Center’s annual fundraiser celebrating the best of the ’50’s and ’60’s.

Boogie will be held at the Stafford Centre on Saturday, March 26, from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Guests can twist and shout to the sounds of Rotel and the Hot Tomatoes; participate in dance, hula hoop and costume contests; enjoy a remarkable dinner catered by Safari Texas Ranch and bid on fabulous items ranging from signed sports memorabilia, theater tickets and an assortment of baskets to a private party for 30 at Sandy McGee’s Restaurant in the live and silent auctions. Individual tickets are $75. Companies and individuals can also show their support by purchasing an advertisement in the event program. For information, please call Annette Howe at 281.344.5757 or email boogie@fortbendwomenscenter.org. Tickets can be bought online at www.fortbendwomenscenter. org.

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Fine atArts Exhibit Sugar Land Town Square S

ugar Land Area Artists is hosting its third Sugar Land Town Square juried Art Show and Gallery beginning with a Grand Opening on Saturday, March 5th at 1:30 p.m. and continuing each Thursday through Sunday until Saturday April 2nd, 2011. The show will be located at 16165 City Walk, on the corner by the fountain and plaza.

Admission to the show is free. The show will feature a variety of work by local Sugar Land and Fort Bend artists as well as some by members of the Lone Star Art Guild. Show hours are March 5th from 1:30 to 10 p.m., Thursdays 4 to 9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays noon to 10 p.m. and Sundays 1 to 6 p.m., ending Saturday, April 2nd.

Ranging from professional artists to semi- and non-professionals, to students of all ages, including a special section for school students K-12, attendees will enjoy viewing works in a variety of mediums including, paintings in oil, acrylic, watercolor; pastel/drawing; abstract/experimental; jewelry/sculpture; photography; and pottery/porcelain. Much of the work will be available for purchase.

Before the show opens, Fran Knueppel, widely recognized professional artist and instructor, and owner of Morton Street Gallery in Richmond, will judge the show by viewing the art and awarding ribbons for first, second, third places and honorable mentions, as well as Best of Show. The ribbons will be displayed all day on March 5th. During the show, the public will have the opportunity to vote for the People’s Choice Award, one each for adults and school students, to be awarded at the end of the show.

A crowd favorite at previous shows, participating artists can also demonstrate their techniques throughout the show, by painting, sculpting, jewelry making, etc. Musicians will perform Friday and Saturday evenings.

Sugar Land Area Artists is a visual art society committed to the enhancement of the fine arts in Fort Bend communities through art exhibits, competitions, education and scholarships. For more information, please visit www.sugarlandareaartists.com. H

Barbara Hawkins with her winning pastel painting from the November 2009 show.

fort bend

magazine • March 2011

“Tuscan Basket” Art by Karen Shaw

“Uncle Vito” Art by Karen Shaw

Photograph by Aramantha Gray, co-chair of the show.

34

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Legacy Ford Presents “Reaching For The Stars 2011 Gala” Texana Center is very excited to have Legacy Ford as the Presenting Sponsor for Texana Center’s 2011 Reaching for the Stars Gala event, which takes place on Friday, April 8 at Safari Texas Ranch.

Ron Ewer, Owner, Legacy Ford said, “We are proud to have teamed up with Texana to create a Community Partnership. I believe Legacy Ford and Texana share the same values and commitment to our community and strive for excellence. It was an easy choice with so many of our community families involved with Texana, and it is an honor to help them. I have only been in this area for 6 years, but Texana is one of the organizations that stand out among the rest. They are concerned about the community, and believe in giving back to the community. We are a family-owned business, and we derive strong commitments to the community through fam-

ily driven values by building long-term relationships. Together we are carrying on a tradition in ‘Building our Legacy One Partner at a Time’.”

The gala committee, under the direction of Franco Albarran, is hard at work to ensure that the 2011 Reaching for the Stars Gala is an evening of great food, fabulous entertainment and superb company! But, as if that is not enough, there will be a chance to bid on one-ofa-kind items in the live and silent auctions.

The event will benefit the programs and services that Texana Center provides with a focus on completing the capital campaign for the newly constructed west campus.

The campus which comprises the Texana Learning Center at Rosenberg will provide education to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in all types of life and job skills. The

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Back Row: L to R: Franco Albarran, Gala Chair; Texana Ambassadors Allan Harris and Mauricio Albarran. Front Row: L to R: Patrick Sexton, Eloise Lucas and Ron Ewer, Owner, all with Legacy Ford. campus will also have a multi-service center to accommodate the employees who deliver services and programs in Fort Bend County.

Table sponsorships are available at $1,500 upwards and individual tickets are $100 each. For information about sponsorship or tickets, contact: Ph: 281.239.1311. To purchase tickets online, visit www.texanacenter.com. H

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Fort Bend County Alumnae Panhellenic Announces Annual Sorority Workshop and 2011 Scholarship Presentation The Fort Bend County Alumnae Panhellenic is preparing for its annual Sorority Recruitment Workshop for girls who are high school seniors or collegiates and their parents. It will be held at Christ United Methodist Church, Gathering Hall, 3300 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land on Saturday, March 26, 2011 from 10:00am until noon.

At this informative and fun-filled workshop, attendees will learn about what membership in one of the 26 National Panhellenic Conference Sororities (NPC) is truly about. Information will be provided to learn the “ins, outs and how to’s” of participating in Recruitment. Current sorority members will be on hand modeling cloths that they wore during Recruitment. There will be door prizes and all attendees will receive our “2010 Recruitment Information Workbook.” For those who are unable to attend the March 26th Workshop, a smaller Workshop will be held on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at Christ United Methodist Church, Room 302 from 10:00am until noon.

Fort Bend County Alumnae Panhellenic is also excited about the announcement of the recipients of its Scholarship Program at the March 26th Workshop. A $500.00 scholarship will be presented to

Big Musical! Big Hair!

Big Must See At The Stafford Centre!

Fort Bend area collegiates who have benefited from information received at the workshop are (L to R) Lexi Melhorn, University of Oklahoma, Delta Gamma; Paula Musa, University of Houston, Alpha Chi Omega; Sarah Taylor, University of North Texas, Chi Omega; Allison Seward, Texas Christian University, Pi Beta Phi; Lara Hoover, University of Texas, Zeta Tau Alpha; Kelsey Wingert, Louisiana State University, Delta Zeta. two collegiates from the Fort Bend area who are active in their NPC sorority, represent scholastic achievement, involvement in community and leadership in their sorority.

Fort Bend County Alumnae Panhellenic is a non-profit, community-based organization that is affiliated with the 26 sorority member National Panhellenic Conference (NPC). Membership is open to all alumnae of NPC sororities who reside in the Fort Bend County area.

To learn more, visit our web site at www.fortbendpanhellenic.org, or our Facebook group, Fort Bend Panhellenic.

You Can’t Stop the Beat when award winning Fort Bend Theatre presents Hairspray at the Stafford Centre, 10505 Cash Rd, March 4th and 5th at 8pm and March 6th at 3pm.

Winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Hairspray tells the story of Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart as she sets out to follow her extraordinary dreams, inspire her mom and win the boy she loves. As The New York Times says, “If life were everything it should be, it would be more like Hairspray. It’s irresistible!” Don’t miss this musicalcomedy phenomenon inspired by the major motion picture with a familyfriendly spin.

As always, Fort Bend Theatre offers a full professional orchestra, breathtaking sets, vibrant costumes, free parking and a dynamic, professionally trained cast! Tickets are on sale now WITH NO TICKET FEES for this delightful, family musical on the FBT website at www.fortbendtheatre.com.

Prices are only $17 - $42 with discounts available for groups of 10 or more. For more information, call 281-208-3333.

Headliners continued on page 40

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1/12/11 4:18 PM

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By Nick Nicholson

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azi-occupied Holland, 1945. In a snow-covered village, thirteen-year-old Michiel (Martijn Lakemeier) is drawn into the Resistance when he aids a wounded British paratrooper. Michiel’s boyish sense of defiance and adventure soon turns to danger and desperation as Michiel is forced to act without knowing whom to trust among the adults and townspeople around him. Wartime’s harsh reality encroaches on childhood innocence as Michiel confronts good and evil, courage and duplicity and his own burden of responsibility.

Based on Jan Terlouw’s 1972 semi-autographical novel, Winter in Wartime affords us in the audience a dual concept: this is at once a film about war but more significantly, a coming-of-age story about a boy who may have floundered around for a while since schools were closed during the Nazi occupation, but who beginning in January 1945 became a man who made choices that would be difficult at best, even for seasoned adults. The film opens with a plane bursting into flames, a pilot bailing out and a duel to the death, all seen by a thirteen your old boy through his binoculars. Immediately after, Michiel rescues the pilot and helps him into hiding, away from the fast approaching Germans.

See, Micheil dislikes the Germans immensely, which causes a great deal of conflict between he and his father, Johan (Raymond Thiry). What the son doesn’t realize is that his father appeases the Germans merely to help keep the village on good footing with them. At any rate, Michiel serves as an integral cog in the resistance fight, as the kids are rarely seen as a danger to the invaders. The director and his cast do a wonderful job conveying the danger, intrigue and relationships of those in the film. Although it isn’t a new subject at all, it is interesting to see the Germans of World War II not painted as purely evil in all respects. Don’t get me wrong, they aren’t exactly what you would call church going folks, but there are two sides to them in the film. Winter in Wartime focuses more on the story of Michiel and his actions as opposed to that of the war. It provides a rather unique look into the second great war through the eyes of a child who matriculates into that of man before our very eyes.

All Photos are courtesy of Sony Pictures Classic.

Winter in Wartime Starring: Martijn Lakemeier and Yorick van Wageningen Director: Martin Koolhoven Company: Sony Pictures Classics Now Showing: in Local Theaters MPAA Rating: R Grade: B+

Nick Nicholson is the Film and Entertainment Critic for CNN Radio, the Fort Bend Star, Focus Magazine, Pearland Focus as well as Focus on Women. In addition, his reviews can be seen and heard in numerous other print/media outlets in Texas and Oklahoma. Mr. Nicholson is in great demand as a speaker to both public and civic organizations on the subject of film and the entertainment industry. He is the co-founder of the Houston Film Critics Society and is currently the President of the organization. fort bend

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METHODIST CARDIOLOGY ASSOCIATES LEADING CARDIAC CARE

Dr. Kesavan Shan is pleased to announce the opening of his new practice, Methodist Cardiology Associates.

Dr. Shan is a long-time Sugar Land cardiologist who is highly respected for his skilled approach to medicine. Dr. Shan uses state-of-the-art technology to identify heart disease at its earliest stages, such as coronary and peripheral angiography, echocardiography, nuclear stress testing, coronary CT angiography, nuclear cardiography, cardiovascular MRI and cardiac catheterization.

• Board-certified in cardiovascular disease and internal medicine • Certified in nuclear cardiology and echocardiography • Located on the Methodist Sugar Land Hospital campus in Medical Office Building One, Suite 450

Call 281-275-0330 today for an appointment.

Specializing in treating and managing a wide range of heart problems: •Chest Pain •Coronary Artery Disease •Heart Failure •Irregular Heartbeat (arrhythmias) •Heart Valve Disease •Mitral Valve Prolapse •Hypertension

•Cholesterol Management •Preventative Cardiology •Diabetes and Heart Disease •Peripheral Vascular Disease •Carotid Artery Disease •Aortic Aneurysm •Structural Heart Disease

Methodist Cardiology Associates Sugar Land

Medical Office Building One 16651 Southwest Freeway, Suite 450 Sugar Land, Texas 77479 281-275-0330

Headliners continued from page 36

The Honor Roll School Chosen as Venue for FBJSL & FBTSL’s Glitter & Gloss

ote for the Experienced Infrastructure Professional • • • • • • • •

Twenty-nine year track-record of successfully managing large Public Works and Infrastructure programs for the City of Houston.

Managed the $500 million Public Works & Infrastructure Roadway, Water, Wastewater and Drainage Capital Improvement Plan.

Managed the nationally recognized, $50 million, 300-mile Houston Bikeway Program.

Managed the $120 million Storm Water Management Program in response to Tropical Storm Allison.

Coordinated Houston’s $100 million Surface Water Plant expansion.

Coordinated the $168 million Surface Water Transmission Program.

Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) and Registered Professional Engineer.

Member of American Society of Civil Engineers, Texas Society of Professional Engineers, and Houston Engineering & Scientific Society.

ote for Harish Jajoo www.harishjajoo.com 832.338.3202 harish@harishjajoo.com

Early Voting

Mon., May 2 – Tues., May 10, 2011

Election Day

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Political Av. Paid for by Harish Jajoo Campaign, Kolbe Curtice, Treasurer, 15999 City Walk #250, Sugar Land, TX 77479

Thomas P. Arnold, OD Melissa C. Moeller, OD and Associates Therapeutic and Pediatric Optometrists 15337 Southwest Frwy.

Sugar Land, TX 77478 Williams Trace @ Hwy 59

281-242-2020

The Fort Bend Junior Service League (FBJSL) and Fort Bend Teen Service League (FBTSL), a mentoring project of the Fort Bend Junior Service League, are proud to announce The Honor Roll School (THRS) will host this year’s Glitter & Gloss – a day of fun and fashion for girls, sponsored by Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.

The event, with a theme of Red Carpet Rendezvous, will be held on April 2, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at The Honor Roll School in Sugar Land and will include pampering, paparazzi, spa parties, shopping and two runway-style fashion shows. Sugar Land image consultant and life coach, Beth Newman, will emcee the fashion shows.

General admission tickets are $10 pre-sale through April 1st and $12 at the door (2 glam station tickets are included.).

Fashion show tickets are $25 and include admission to one of two fashion shows, admission to the event and two glam station tickets.

The event will also feature “glam stations,” health and wellness, beauty, style, pampering and spa-themed booths, staffed by local salons, spas, etc. For further information or to support the event as a sponsor, underwriter or glam station, please visit www.fbjsl.com or contact Bonnie Amaris or Christi Selph at glitterandgloss@fbjsl.com.

Proceeds will benefit FBJSL’s Community Assistance Fund (CAF). H

www.2020sugarland.com

Frank Lee, OD Mary Ghoubrial, OD, and Uyen Tran, OD

Therapeutic and Pediatric Optometrists 8817 Hwy 6 Ste 100 Missouri City, TX 77459

Sienna Parkway @ Hwy 6

281-416-2010

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Your world. See the brilliance. fort bend

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(L-R): Beth Newman (Newman Image), Michael Statham (THRS Headmaster), Christi Selph (FBTSL/FBJSL) and Bonnie Amaris (FBTSL/FBJSL).

Victor J. Atun, M.D. Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Cosmetic Surgery

Summer is Just Around the Corner...

Get Ready!!

The 2011 Magic Carpet Gala committee.

Child Advocates of Fort Bend Announces Magic Carpet Gala Child Advocates of Fort Bend (CAFB) invite you to join them for a Magic Carpet Ride on April 2, 2010 at Safari Texas Ranch. Presented by Sysco Corporation, Exchange Club of Sugar Land and the Indo-American Forum of Fort Bend, the evening promises to be glamorous and exotic while helping children whose lives have been torn apart by abuse and neglect.

Sponsorship opportunities are now available and range from $1,500 to $8,500. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, donating an auction item or attending the event, please call 281-344-5106 or visit www.cafb.org for more details.

Child Advocates of Fort Bend serves children in Fort Bend County whose lives have been torn apart by abuse or neglect through its Court Appointed Special Advocates Program and Children’s Advocacy Center. With a force of more than 200 trained community volunteer advocates, Child Advocates touches the lives of more than 400 children each month.

If you are interested in becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate or Children’s Advocacy Center Volunteer, your chance is just around the corner.

Volunteer Training begins January 31.

For more information, contact Volunteer Services at 281-344-5171 or go to www.cafb.org.

Face • Botox®, Fillers • Tummy Tuck • Liposuction • Breast Augmentation Breast Reduction • Mommy & Couple Makeovers 281.232.6700 • www.topsdoc.com

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Headliners continued on page 46

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Keep Sugar Land Beautiful Appreciates Tricia Bradbury

ricia Bradbury has been a loyal volunteer for Keep Sugar Land Beautiful since the organization was founded in 1999. “Where do I begin to describe how important Tricia’s contributions are to Keep Sugar Land Beautiful? Her dedication and countless hours as a board member and a ‘go to’ volunteer are critical to the success of our organization,” states Vicki Gist, Executive Director.

Keep Sugar Land Beautiful is dedicated to educating and engaging everyone to take responsibility for the environmental health of our community. Tricia’s passion for that mission is evident in all of her volunteer roles. She serves on the KSLB Board of Directors as Treasurer, takes the lead role in the annual Litter Index, plants trees, volunteers at recycling events and drives around the city choosing cleanup sites for the annual KSLB “Don’t Mess with Texas Trash Off.” These are just a few examples of Tricia’s contributions. Vicki states, “Tricia is dedicated, reliable, eager to make a difference and always willing to help, which makes her an excellent volunteer.”

Tricia Bradbury

Tricia’s enthusiasm for the environment and her respect for the residents of Sugar Land are a winning combination.

Tricia has a strong commitment to nature and the environment. She is active with Fort Bend County Master

Doesn’t your smile deserve a specialist’s care?

Gardeners and the Coastal Prairie Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists.

“How can folks care about nature if they don’t KNOW about it?” Tricia asks. “I may not be able to change the whole world, but I want to make sure I’m working to make our little corner of it a little better. Working with Keep Sugar Land Beautiful, Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists provides a way for me to do that work.”

Tricia’s enthusiasm for the environment and her respect for the residents of Sugar Land are a winning combination. Keep Sugar Land Beautiful is genuinely grateful for Tricia’s dedication and determination to make sure our community remains a wonderful place to live, work and play. Thank you Tricia for all that you do. You are appreciated!

For volunteer opportunities or more information about Keep Sugar Land Beautiful, please visit www.kslb.org.

For additional volunteer opportunities in Fort Bend County, please contact 281-340-1919 or visit www.VolunteerFortBend.org. H

Replacing missing, discolored teeth!

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Restore your smile with cosmetic dentistry!

People seeking cosmetic or reconstructive dental work should do research before making a decision in order to ensure proper care.

As ADA recognized specialists, Prosthodontists are qualified to before after offer service in state-of-the-art procedures and techniques, such Actual Patients as: cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, complete and removable partial dentures, replacing lost or loose teeth, jaw joint Crowns, Implants, Cosmetic, Reconstructive Dentistry problems (TMD), traumatic injuries, Board Certified Prosthodontist snoring and sleep disorders, oral cancer reconstruction and 15958 City Walk, Suite 230 • Sugar Land, TX 77479 continuing care.

E-mail: srimes@comcast.net

Stuart Rimes, DDS, MS

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Fannin Pediatrics, PA

Heritage Baptist Church a place to call home

Victoria L. Regan, MD Angela Chia, MD Steve Alley, MD Julia Conlon, MD Christa Filak, MD

Schedule of Services

UT Physicians Sienna Village

Texas Medical Center

SUNDAY Sunday School.................. 9:30am Sunday AM Worship...... 10:45am Bible Classes.................... 6:05 pm Sunday PM Worship...... 7:00 pm

713.486.1200

713.790.9220

8810 Hwy 6, Suite 100 Missouri City, TX 77459

WEDNESDAY Bible Study....................... 7:00pm Awana Bible Clubs........... 7:00pm

Dr. Charles A. Murphy, Sr. Pastor

281-403-4994 www.hbctx.org 2223 FM 1092 Missouri City, Texas 77459 www.fortbend

.com • March 2011

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6400 Fannin, Suite 2110 Houston, TX 77030

ABC Channel 13’s

Women of Distinction E

leven women known for raising millions for Houston area charities continued their good deeds as they were honored as the ABC Channel 13’s Women of Distinction. All of the honorees hail from the greater Houston area, and this year, Fort Bend County’s own Jacqueline Chaumette was selected.

Nearly half a million dollars was raised at their reception Saturday, January 22, 2011 for the Crohns and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) Houston Gulf Coast / South Texas Chapter. The Winter Ball, in its 24th year, is one of the premier social events in

2011 ABC Channel 13’s Women of Distinction (front row) Kristi Schiller, Jacqueline Chaumette, Patti Dale Tye and Judy Nyquist; S. Shawn Stephens, Susan Boggio, Lisa Richardson, Philamena Baird, Lavonne Cox, Laura Ward and Beth Madison.

Tim Connolly presents Jacqueline Chaumette with an Honoree gift.

Photos by Melissa Chou Wan

Honorees Lisa Richardson and Jacqueline Chaumette.

Houston, and the largest fundraiser for the CCFA Houston Gulf Coast / South Texas Chapter. Jan Carson and Virginia Reisman chaired the Winter Ball with Honorary Chair Mary Ann McKeithan. ABC Channel 13’s Dave Ward and Tom Koch emceed the event at the Hilton-Americas Hotel in Downtown Houston.

The 2011 ABC Channel 13’s Women of Distinction are: Susan Boggio, Jacqueline Chaumette, Lavonne Cox, Beth Madison, Judy Nyquist, Lisa Richardson, Kristi Schiller, S. Shawn Stephens, Pattie Dale Tye, Laura Ward and 2011 Ambassador Philamena Baird.

Bruce Hurley and Judge Caroline Baker with David and Jacqueline Chaumette. fort bend

Honorees S. Shawn Stephens, Patti Dale Tye, Judy Nyquist, Jacqueline Chaumette and Susan Boggio. magazine • March 2011

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photos: roy kasmir & studio 979

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Headliners continued from page 41

Denim & Diamonds and a Car to Boot Bring on the bling, and get rolling The ladies of the Southminster School Gala Committee are working on one of the most spectacular events of the season. Dubbed Denim & Diamonds, the event is scheduled, for Saturday, April 9, at the Stafford Centre and promises to deliver a host of surprises.

This year’s event highlight is a fully loaded Chevy Camaro generously donated by the Gala’s presenting sponsor, Texas Direct Auto. Tickets for a chance at the Camaro are $100 each. Only 500 will be sold, and they can be purchased by contacting Raffle Chair Shannon Boyer at 832.440.0140 or via email at gala@southminsterschool.com. The winning raffle ticket will be selected the evening of the Gala; however, it is not necessary to be present to win.

Officially adding the “bling” to the event is the addition of the Denim & Diamonds Dig. Guests will have an opportunity to win a stunning one-carat

Connect

diamond, as well as designer jeans from Latte Tots Boutique. Chances on this beautiful gem are $5 each or five for $20.

Some of our unique auction items include a ski package to Colorado, a VIP Sports package including game tickets, sideline court passes and autographed merchandise from the Houston Rockets, plus a very special and private Cookies & Milk party with Santa including a photo session with Christine Meeker.

Additionally, the evening will feature a tasty dinner from Demeris Catering, dessert from Who Made the Cake! (as featured in People magazine’s EXTRA edition of Amazing Real Weddings) and dancing to the music of Group Therapy.

The stellar line up of auction items includes a deep-sea fishing trip, spa packages to local day spas and a VIP family package to the Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus.

“We’re thrilled to have the support of

I N S P I R E

E D U C AT E

The ladies of the Southminster School Gala Committee.

such generous sponsors and know that everyone who attends will enjoy the evening,” said Helen Jackson, Head of School at Southminster. “This year’s raffle prizes are some of the best we’ve ever assembled.” Individual ticket sales for the event are on sale now, and the Fort Bend community is invited to attend. Individual event tickets are $50 each, and reserved tables of 10 start at $750.

Current event sponsors include Texas Direct Auto, iEnergy North America, Christine Meeker Photography, Latte Tots, Demeris Catering, Leonetti Graphics, Sweet Tooth Stationary, The Pheonix Design Group, Capital Legal Solutions, Group Therapy and Funeral Discounters.com.

E M P O W E R

BUY 1 YEAR, GET 1 YEAR FREE Don’t miss out on this fabulous subscription offer! For a limited time, you can subscribe to 1 year of Focus on Women and get the second year FREE! That’s only $9.95 for 2 years – $0.83 per issue!

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OR SUBSCRIBE ONLINE AT www.FOWmag.com fort bend

magazine • March 2011

46

Offer available for a limited time only!

Located in Missouri City, Southminster School is a private Christian academy that serves children from 18 months through the fifth grade. Its student body is a reflection of the diverse, energetic community that surrounds the school, and its staff takes full advantage of the tools with which it is provided to help those children grow and learn through the early, critical years of development.

For additional information or to purchase tickets, call Southminster School, 281-261-8872, visit southminsterschoolgala.org or email gala@ southminsterschool.org.

H TE 4T VO Y 1 A M

Experienced. Conservative. Ready

READY TO LEAD SUGAR LAND TO PRESERVE, TO PROTECT

OUR QUALITY OF LIFE

• Current Director Fort Bend LID #15 • Past Chairman Chamber of Commerce • Former Member Missouri City Council Paid for by Frank Yonish Campaign, William Rohrbach, Treasurer, 3806 Hogan Ct., Sugar Land, Texas

A Service Standard That is Anything But Standard Edible Arbor Trail Ribbon Cutting Ceremony set for March 5 Join Missouri City Parks & Recreation and Missouri City Green as they kick off the Edible Arbor Trail along the Missouri City section of Oyster Creek Trail on Saturday, March 5 from 9:30am to 12pm.

The Edible Arbor Trail is a one-of-akind project featuring several types of trees and shrubs that produce edible fruits and nuts.

The event will be at the section of the Missouri City Trail System in between Mosley Park and Walmart. A formal Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will take place at 9:30am with City Council members and sponsors. Everyone is invited to attend.

After the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, nature-inspired activity booths with giveaways and crafts will be open until 12pm.

In addition, those who actually walk the Edible Arbor Trail will receive a prize.

Admission is FREE. Parking is available near FunTiki or at Walmart.

Groves in the Edible Arbor Trail are sponsored by Kroger, TXU, HGAC, Quail Valley Church and Apache Foundation.

If you’re interested in becoming a sponsor or volunteering at the event, contact Missouri City Green at mocitygreen@gmail. com or Paul Wierzbicki, City Forester for Missouri City, at 281-403-8645.

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JOIN NOW FOR SUMMER DAY CAMP! • Gymnastics • Ice Skating • Dance • Arts & Crafts • Obstacle Courses • Snacks • And More! $25 discount for the first 25 children registered for each day camp session

by April 30th!

16215 LEXINGTON BLVD. Headliners continued on page 69

Frank Yonish

(Behind First Colony Mall)

Spring Registration

Now Registering for SUMMER DAY CAMP, Still Open SUMMER GYMNASTICS & DANCE CLASSES Sign Up for One Class, Gymnastics D a n c e Academy

Get 50% discount on Second Class • Ages 18 months 18 yrs.

2nd Class may be limited to availability • Classes for girls & boys 20% Family Discount • Moms & tots classes • Tumbling for cheerleading • Fully air conditioned • Award Winning team programs • State-of-the-art facility • Instructional open gym • Foam filled training pits • Great Birthday Parties • Moon walk-Air tumble trak • Private lessons • In-ground trampolines • Safety Certified • Fun filled colorful tot gym • 12500 sq. foot • Comfortable waiting room 281-240-0999 • Sibling play area

• Ages 18 mos. to Adult • Creative Dance • Jazz • Ballet • Adult Ballet • Adult Jazz • Senior Citizens Ballet 60+ • Professional Staff

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FREE REGISTRATION FEE FOR ALL NEW STUDENTS DURING SUMMER ($40 SAVINGS) • www.billaustinsgymnastics.com www.fortbend

.com • March 2011

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riendly Fridge F

Display

Me

Community Calendar

March 2011

ALL MONTH, MARCH 5 - APRIL 2 THURSDAY, 4 - 9 PM FRIDAY & SATURDAY, 12 - 10 PM SUNDAY 1 - 6 PM SUGAR LAND AREA ARTISTS TOWN SQUARE ART SHOW Sugar Land Area Artists is hosting a juried Art Show/ Gallery at 16165 City Walk. Approximately 250 art works in multiple mediums by local and regional artists ranging from professionals to students K-12 will be on display.

Admission is free. Visit www.sugarlandareaartists.com.

5th SATURDAY, 8 AM MEMORIAL HERMANN SUGAR LAND BUNNY HOP Held at Campbell Elementary and benefitting the PTA. Post Race Party includes family activities. Free health checks will be available, compliments of Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital. Visit campbellpta.org.

5th SATURDAY, 10 AM WALK TO DEFEAT ALS The ALS Association Greater Houston Chapter will host the walk at Oyster Creek Park in Sugar Land. Check-in is at 9 am. Visit www.alsa-houston.org or call 713-252-6285.

5th SATURDAY, 10 AM SOUTHMINSTER SCHOOL’S 4TH ANNUAL MARINER MILE Held at 4200 Cartwright in the Brightwater Subdivision. Lunch will be served post race. Registration fee ranges from $15 to $20. Lunch tickets are $5 per child and $10 per adult. Register online at www.signemeup.com/73822.

E-mail Claudia Vasquez at claudia.vasquez@wallstreettexas.com.

5th SATURDAY, 6 PM ROSE-RICH HELPING HANDS’ HEARTS AND HANDS GALA Held at Safari Texas in Richmond and features a dinner, dance, auction and raffle. Call 281.341.7536.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Events, schedules and information may change without notice.

Please refer to the event’s contact person or check the event’s website for more information.

5th SATURDAY FORT BEND JUNIOR SERVICE LEAGUE’S 10TH ANNIVERSARY CHARITY BALL Benefitting the Fred and Mabel R. Parks Youth Ranch. Held at Sugar Land Marriott Town Square. Call 281-636-6272.

8th TUESDAY

10th THURSDAY, 7 – 9 PM HOME LAWN CARE Learn mulching, fertilizing and irrigation directions and tips on weed and disease control. Held at Parkway United Methodist Church, 5801 New Territory Blvd. in Sugar Land. The seminar is free.

Call 281-341-7068.

12th SATURDAY, 8 AM - 1 PM SPRING PLANT SALE The Fort Bend Master Gardeners will hold their annual sale at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds - Building D, 4310 Highway 36S in Rosenberg. The program is free. Visit www.fbmg.com.

12th & 15th SATURDAY & TUESDAY, 10 AM LEARN HOW TO RESEARCH YOUR FAMILY HISTORY Begin your family-history research at George Memorial Library, 1001 Golfview in Richmond. On March 15, learn how to get results tracing family history online.

The program is free, but reservations are required. Call 281-341-2608.

15th TUESDAY, 10 AM SUCCESS WITH ORCHIDS Sugar Land Garden Club will host John Stubbings presenting “Secrets of Success with Orchids.” The program is free and held at the Sugar Land Community Center, 226 Matlage Way. Visit www.sugarlandgardenclub.org. fort bend

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16th WEDNESDAY, 8 AM LUCK OF THE IRISH RAFFLE Proceeds will be used to support SW59 Sunrise Rotary Charities including Ft. Bend YMCA and Fallen Heroes Survivors Foundation. Grand Prize is a 2011 Dodge Challenger SE Inferno Red V6, made possible by Helfman Dodge.

Second prize is a $500 Gift Certificate and third place prize is a $250 Gift Certificate. Raffle tickets are $100 each with only 500 tickets for sale. Drawing will be held at Café Adobe, Hwy 6 in Sugar Land. Purchase tickets at www.sw59sunriserotaryraffle.org or call 281-499-8500.

17th THURSDAY

17th - 24th FORT BEND COUNTY LIBRARIES AND BARNES & NOBLE BOOK FAIR Purchases made online through the Barnes & Noble Bookfairs webpage or in person at the First Colony Mall location March 17-19 will benefit the libraries and help to enhance teen book collections.

Simply present a FBC Libraries Bookfair voucher -- with the book fair identification number on it – to the cashier. Vouchers are available at all of the library locations. Shop online at the Barnes & Noble Book fairs website at www.bn.com/bookfairs and click on “Start Shopping Now.” Call 281-341-2677.

17th THURSDAY, 7 – 8 PM ORGANIC GARDENING Learn about gardening using an organic approach while following permaculture guidelines -- planting for a purpose while conserving materials and energy. Held at the Bud O’Shieles Community Center, 1330 Band Road in Rosenberg, the program is free and no reservations are required. Call 281-341-7068 or visit www.fbmg.com.

Send your events via www.FortBendFocus.com. Deadline for submission is on or before the 10th of the month for the next month’s publication. All submissions are subject to the publisher’s approval, editing and space availability.

Magazine www.fortbendfocus.com

19th SATURDAY, 9 AM - 12 NOON ALBERT GEORGE BRANCH LIBRARY SPRING BOOK SALE Prices range from 25¢ for paperbacks up to $1 for hardbacks. Baked goods and small craft items will also be sold.

Proceeds will help to underwrite the costs of special programming and events at the library. Call 979-793-4270.

19th SATURDAY, 10 AM - 2:15 PM FREE “ACT” PRACTICE TEST The Princeton Review will conduct a free practice ACT® test at George Memorial Library. A follow-up strategy session will take place on the 26th from 10 am to 12 noon. Students should bring two #2 pencils and a non-graphing calculator.

Sessions are free but reservations are required. Call 281-341-2604.

22nd TUESDAY, 11:30 AM - 1 PM ABWA LUNCHEON The American Business Women’s Association SWAPEN is meeting at Sugar Creek Country Club for “It’s All About You, You, You.” Suzette Peoples will be speaking about Networking and Marketing yourself and your Business.

RSVP at www.abwaswapen.org.

29th TUESDAY, 8:45 AM 10 STEPS TO THE PERFECT ROOM PRESENTATION Hosted by J&L Distributors. Attend this breakfast seminar at Sweetwater Country Club, 4400 Palm Royale Boulevard in Sugar Land.. A $20 donation to Impact a Hero is requested from attendees. Space is limited. RSVP to Ray at 281-403-6733.

On March 26th, support the Fort Bend Education Foundation by riding in the 8th Annual Schlumberger Education Expedition.

Pictured are the 2011 Bike Ride Committee Members.

26th SATURDAY, 7:30 AM 8TH ANNUAL SCHLUMBERGER EDUCATION EXPEDITION Hosted by the Fort Bend Education Foundation. There are 3 routes to choose from ranging from 27 to 79 miles.

Register online at Active.com or www.fortbendisd.com/foundation. E-mail kelly.metzger@fortbendisd.com.

22nd TUESDAY, 6 PM BOLLYWOOD FILM NIGHT The Sienna Branch Library, 8411 Sienna Springs Blvd. in Missouri City, will present a special Bollywood film. This film is rated PG-13. Light refreshments will be served. Call 281-238-2900.

26th SATURDAY, 11 AM - 3 PM SPRING CHILDREN’S CARNIVAL Come out and play! The Vallabh Vidhya Hindu Mandir will be hosting a carnival for children of all ages. Admission is $3.

Rides, games & prizes, food, arts & crafts, moonwalks and more! 11715 Bellfort Village Dr. Houston, TX 77031. Visit vvmhouston.org.

24th THURSDAY, 10 AM LEARN HOW TO USE FLICKR George Memorial Library, 1001 Golfview in Richmond, will present a new class, “Flickr for Beginners.” Learn how to upload photos and videos, organize them online into photostreams, sets and galleries. Attendees should bring a digital camera with photos and a memory card, a camera-to-computer USB cable or memory-card reader, an active e-mail address with password and a camera manual (if available). The class is free but seating is limited. Call 281-341-2604.

26th SATURDAY, 6:30 - 11:30 PM BOOGIE 2011 “SOCK HOP AT THE SODA SHOP” Girls, unpack those poodle skirts and saddle shoes. Guys, find your leather jackets, white t-shirts and jeans. It’s time to Boogie! The Fort Bend County Women’s Center’s largest annual fundraiser returns this year to the Stafford Centre. Join us for a night of ‘50’s and ‘60’s style dinner, dancing, costume and dance contests, live and silent auctions! Call 281-344-5757 or visit www.fortbendwomenscenter.org. www.fortbend

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Upcoming in April 2nd SATURDAY, 11 AM - 1 PM GLUTEN FREE WARRIOR Join us at the Sugar Land Branch Library, 550 Eldridge in Sugar Land.

Bring friends and family and help us educate the “world” about gluten.

No entry fee, however, we require participants to bring a grain free dish including your recipes. RSVP by calling 281-240-2229 or 800-680-4559. Visit glutenfreesociety.org.

2nd SATURDAY, 3 - 7 PM MAD HATTER MOTHER, DAUGHTER TEA PARTY You’re cordially invited to a “Mad Hatter” Tea benefiting The Arc of Fort Bend.

Guests will enjoy a fashion show, listen to story telling from Wonderland and bid on silent auction items. Admission is $45. Held at the Fort Bend Country Club, 2627 FM 762 in Richmond. Call 832488-3420 for information.

2nd SATURDAY, 9 AM - 3 PM GIFTS GALORE AT GREATWOOD CRAFT SHOW Held at Dickinson Elementary, 7110 Greatwood Parkway in Sugar Land.

This year’s show features over 100 vendors with a variety of unique items.

Local restaurants will be serving breakfast and lunch. Admission is free. Call 281-937-0296 or e-mail giftsgaloreatgreatwood@yahoo.com.

Home

is where your heart is

The WOW Factor - Bathrooms Connecting Beautifully with Bedrooms

By Keron Weathered, Out of the Box Design, LLC

M

ost current homes feature bedrooms with a connecting private bath, so an important design aspect of the bathroom is to make it feel aesthetically linked to the bedroom.

There are a couple of ways to make this work. The design can either completely match the colors with the bedroom or use different, but complimentary colors in the bathroom. Why is it important to link the bedroom and bathroom designs? Most families tend to leave the bathroom door open making it an extension of the bedroom, therefore, it is important to link the two.

Thinking outside of the box utilizing unusual and dramatic concepts can create a uniquely colored, furnished and accessorized space. The bathroom is often a smaller space with specific elements, so it is important to design a bathroom space with more movement. Even though it is not likely that one will stay in the bathroom for very long each day, it should have interesting, bold elements.

Bedrooms, however, are where many people spend their private time away from other busy areas of the home. Bedrooms should be designed with items that give off a sense of peace and comfort. This is a room that many of us place family photos and personal items that hold significance and sentimental value.

A linking feature within the home can be window treatments. A properly designed custom window treatment will add elegance and beauty to a bedroom and bath. Of course, functionality is just as important as the actual look of the window treatment. Allowing for privacy and absorbing any external light while sleeping are important qualities for window treatments; however, it is important to be able to open the treatment easily to capture the beautiful, natural light during the day.

Window treatments in the bedroom and bathroom need to be both functional and complement each other.

Advertorial

Another way to add interest within your home is to mix design styles. In Bedroom 3 in the Sienna Plantation ASID Showhouse that will be open to the public in April, the room has a country/ranch inspired theme with contemporary artwork hung on the walls. Even though the bedroom has a ranch theme, it was given an interesting and updated look as contemporary art was chosen from Laura Rathe Fine Art Gallery and hung on the walls.

A ranch style theme with contemporary art sounds risky, but with complementary shades and colors, the room is eye-catching and unique.

The bathroom in the ASID Showcase house has so much movement because of the rich, colorful slate, so it was important aesthetically that the bedroom design not take away from the beautiful flooring.

Still, the bedroom featured unique aspects

like the art and silk draperies that beautifully link the bedroom to the bathroom.

Additionally, the wall color in the bathroom is darker than the bedroom, but it still blends nicely with the bedroom wall color.

A bathroom is a fun space to get creative and spectacular. These days, there are many interesting ways to design flooring and shower walls using wonderful stone and tiles. Metallic finishes can be used on built-in vanities and cabinets, and even on all the trim in the room for added pizzazz.

Two important points to keep in mind when designing a bathroom: 1. The homeowner must fall in love with the design of their one-of-a-kind bathroom.

2. The bathroom should seamlessly connect to their bedroom. H

Light fixtures, contemporary art and metallic paint on vanity and trim specified by Keron Weathered.

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Room and custom bedding designed by Keron Weathered.Â

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Advertorial

Home

is where your heart is

Active Events Calendar Gives Riverstone Residents Vibrant Lifestyle

Lifestyle will be a focus in Riverstone this spring as residents gear up for several family events and the community announces plans for a new water park.

Residents will head out for hours of friendly competition during Family Field Day in March. Activities include a rock wall, sack races, a three-legged race, balloon toss and more. Reminiscent of school days, sack lunches will be provided for all participants.

In April, the Easter Bunny makes a return visit to Riverstone for the annual Riverstone EGGstravaganza.

Advertorial

Young residents are invited to hunt for thousands of candy-filled eggs and pose with the Easter Bunny for family photos.

Directing these and other Riverstone events is an on-site lifestyle director, Melanie Rushé, who manages a full calendar of classes and events.

When unveiled later this spring, Riverstone’s new water park will join two other resort-style swimming complexes, as well as other amenities, including lighted tennis courts, playgrounds, parks, a fishing pier, miles of trails and

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pedestrian walkways, the area’s first “bark park” and more than 200 acres of lakes and waterways.

The 3,700-acre Riverstone is located at Highway 6, three miles south of U.S. 59. The development is slated for 6,000 homes during the next eight years. For more information, visit www.riverstone.com. Also, follow Riverstone on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RiverstoneCommunity and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/RiverstoneComm.

See ad on page 2. H

Sienna Plantation Has It All! With a master plan of extraordinary vision, Sienna Plantation, Fort Bend’s largest Master-Planned Community, is now home to thousands of residents and boasts an array of amenities, multiple schools including a new high school and residential life filled to the brim with things to do and places to go — all within the community.

A 7,000-acre development with more than 2,000 acres devoted to recreation, Sienna boasts three resort-style water parks. Their newest water park - the Resort at Sienna Springs - features 9,000 square feet of water features.

Surrounded by tropical, lush landscaping with a cascading tower waterfall at the center, The Resort at Sienna Springs is divided into specific zones for adults and children including water slides, a lily pad obstacle course and life-sized water cannons.

With a selection of home types and sizes to meet any lifestyle, priced from the $140’s to the millions, Sienna features five new neighborhoods with model homes open daily.

Last fall, Sienna became home to five highly-rated Fort Bend Independent School District campuses with the opening of a $73 million state-ofthe-art high school. Ridge Point High School is the fifth school located in Sienna, which boasts Exemplary-rated Sienna Crossing and Scanlan Oaks Elementary, the new Jan Schiff Elementary and Baines Middle School.

Sienna residents keep active at the 160-acre Camp Sienna, which caters to a variety of sports including swimming, fishing, tennis, sand volleyball and a terraced amphitheater. Residents also enjoy the Sienna Plantation Golf Club, which offers an 18-hole golf course, driving range, practice area, pro shop and The Grille restaurant.

For more information, call 281.778.7777 or visit www.siennaplantation.com. H

benefitting

20 American Society of Interior Designers have come together to create a one-of-a-kind show home in Sienna Plantation.

Fully furnished and loaded with new ideas, design and state-of-the-art appliances and technology features.

Tickets are $15 at the door or www.siennaplantation.com Open Tuesday thru Saturday from 10 am to 4pm and Sunday from noon to 4pm.

Private group tours and mini seminars featuring the ASID designer team are available. Check the website for details.

When you are in Sienna to see the ASID show home—stay and tour 11 more beautifully furnished model homes. Maps will be available.

from the $170s-Millions Greenway

siennaplantation.com

Downtown

Galleria Med Center

facebook.com/siennaplantation Sienna Parkway at Hwy. 6 . 281-778-7777 Ashton Woods . Coventry . Custom Classics Darling Homes . DR Horton . Fairmont Custom Homes Fedrick, Harris Estate Homes . Highland . Huntington Homes J Kyle Estate Homes . Meritage . Newmark . Partners in Building Perry . Plantation . Pulte . Regan Custom Homes . Ryland Sterling Classic Custom Homes . Trendmaker Triumph . Westport

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Fort Bend Parkway

Advertorial

Home

is where your heart is

Twenty-Two Fifty Interiors Twenty-Two Fifty is a new interior design studio/retail space offering unique and one of a kind pieces. They specialize in eclectic elements for timeless interiors. A new trend in interiors is using reclaimed materials. TwentyTwo Fifty has numerous items made from reclaimed wood and metals in their store, making for very interesting one of a kind elements. Currently, they are designing the powder room in the ASID house in Sienna Plantation. The vanity is made out of 100 year old long leaf pine that was once the interior wall

Ameristar Roofing & Restoration, LLC

of a farm house in South Texas. The counter top on the vanity is made from distressed galvanized zinc. The era that we live in now is very conscious of the materials we use - “its the mood of the time” - and at Twenty-Two Fifty Interiors they are able to mix the old with the new to create a truly beautiful look. This local mother daughter team has truly created a destination shop for many in the Houston area. They are located at 2250 Lone Star in Sugar Land Town Square. H

“A Boutique for the Home”

Advertorial

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Ameristar Roofing & Restoration, LLC is your full service roofing company for all your roofing needs. No job is too small or too big. Our management, sales team and installers have all successfully passed both the Certainteed Quality Master Exam and Master Shingle Applicator Exam and have met all criteria required to gain the elite certification of “Shingle Master Company.” Ameristar Roofing & Restoration has demonstrated extensive knowledge of shingle technology, installation safety, customer service and shown a solid track record of quality-roof installations, while focusing on total customer satisfaction.

As a Certainteed Shingle Master Company, Ameristar Roofing & Restoration is an elite member of only 1% of roofers within the United States, authorized by Certainteed to offer 3 STAR, 4 STAR and 5 STAR Extended Warranties. With over 50 years of combined experience, our sales team is highly experienced with insurance claims, so let us help you with all of your insurance claim needs.

We are an active member of the BBB and proud member of the Richmond/ Rosenberg Chamber of Commerce. We are fully insured and bonded for your safety. At the end of every job, we perform a quality control inspection and instill one belief throughout our company: THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT. We want your recommendation because of our reputation.

Please feel free to contact our office, 281-238-4230, any time, 24 hours a day, for a free estimate or inspection for your roof. We are located at 3821 FM 359, Richmond. H

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Advertorial

Home

is where your heart is

Home Improvement Trend That Won’t Break The Bank

F

aux painting techniques are an economical and innovative way to transform any surface and can complement any decorating style. Dull concrete floors, both indoors and out, can be brought dramatically to life with a latex paint such as DRYLOK® Latex Concrete Floor Paint.

Planning and Preparation Before choosing a design, look carefully at your surface and space.

Some designs are useful for disguising flaws in a floor. For other designs you may need to patch and smooth flawed surfaces first.

You will also need to think about the traffic in the area you are painting. Is it worth doing an elaborate, time-consuming pattern in a high traffic area? Large, bold patterns may be out of scale for a small room.

Equally, small, detailed patterns may get lost in large spaces.

Inspirations for Faux Painted Floors • Brick and Stone Brick and stone finishes can add texture and/or color and can be effective indoors and outdoors.

• Tiles and Mosaics Faux terra-cotta tiles are a versatile option for porches, patios and dining areas. The earthy appearance creates a warm, earthy feel and goes well with the rustic Tuscan look and matches many decors.

Depending on personal taste, homeowners can create a host of faux floor finishes and bring their patio to life with DRYLOK® Latex Concrete Floor Paint.

Advertorial

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• Patterned and Textured Finishes For a finish that isn’t too busy, you can use paint to create subtle visual texture. With pattern, your choice is endless. Covering an entire surface is

one option. Alternatively, you could paint a faux rug, perhaps with patterns inspired by oriental carpets.

The most important thing to remember is to follow the proper preparation and patching procedures from the product label. If you are using a pressure washer to clean the surface, do not use on a pressure setting above 1750 psi to avoid damaging the concrete. Remember concrete acts like a sponge. Pressure washing and cleaning in general may trap residual moisture in the concrete. To check for trapped moisture, tape a 12” x 12” piece of 3 mil plastic or aluminum foil tightly on all four edges to the surface. Remove it after 24 hours. If the floor side of the plastic or foil is damp, allow additional drying and then repeat the test. It is very important not to have trapped moisture in the concrete; it is the number one reason why epoxy and latex concrete floor paints fail.

Protecting the Pattern A clear protective coat, such as DRYLOK® WetLook Sealer is the perfect finish to protect the design from the scraping of patio furniture, grease, weathering and washings.

Remember to use a product that is made to be a clear protective coat, not a penetrating sealer. A penetrating sealer is designed to enter the pores of the surface and settle into the masonry. It will not penetrate the floor paint. The clear sealer is a protective measure that should be repeated every two to four years depending on the use and exposure of the surface.

Bold or subtle, bright or neutral, faux painting techniques can give your floor an expensive-looking makeover that won’t break the bank.

Source: www.metrocreativeconnection.com

Tax Accountants • Auditors • Consultants to Business American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Member

Our professionals proudly serve Fort Bend & the Greater Houston area.

Alan Sandersen

• Taxation • Tax Controversies • Litigation Support • Audits of Commercial and Governmental entities • Construction Companies

130 Industrial Blvd., Suite 130, Sugar Land, TX 77478

281.242-3232

Hello, Fulshear H Simonton

www.sktx.com

Coming April 2011

2011/2012 NEWCOMER GUIDE AND VISITOR DIRECTORY

Advertise your business...

• Interior Designers • Home & Garden Décor • Home Improvement • Financial Institutions • Home Furnishings • Landscape • Realtors (2009-2010 Issue)

in THE Official Book

Call for Advertising Rates: www.fortbend

.com • March 2011

57

281-690-4242 Advertorial

Home

is where your heart is How does Your Garden Grow?

The flowers are blooming and the grass is beginning to turn green. It is nearing springtime in our area and you have decided that your yard can’t wait any longer for an update or maybe a complete overhaul.

A well-designed landscape can add privacy, beauty and value to your home.

How can you make sure you choose the best contractor for the job?

Determine your landscape style What do you want to see in your new landscape? Referring to pictures in magazines, books and on the internet is a great way for homeowners to communicate design ideas to their contractor.

Your style could be formal, informal, natural or low-maintenance. You will also need to keep in mind your lifestyle. Do you have pets, children or do you travel a great deal? Answers to these questions help the landscaper exceed your expecta-

• Creative Design

•

Stone Work

tions long after the project is complete.

Landscape Designer & Horticulturist Is the person you are working with a landscape designer or did they just move from lawn mowing into planting some shrubs?

How does your garden grow?

Call the landscaper’s references and drive by the landscaped homes. Ask the landscaper to give you addresses of homes that have been recently landscaped and more importantly, homes where landscapes have been growing for more than 1-2 years. Sure, a landscape that is newly installed will look clean and fresh, but the true test of a professional landscape is what it grows into. Plant selection is a top priority when designing the landscape, & what a plant looks like today in a 5-gallon container may surprise you in 2 years. H

•

Waterscapes

•

Illumination

•

When to Replace your Air Conditioner and Furnace To repair or replace? That is the question that likely comes to mind whenever your heating or cooling system stops working like it should. Although repairing may be the most affordable solution now, it might not be the best choice over the long run.

Factors to consider include: Fifty Percent Rule When the cost of repairs approaches 50% of the value of your heating or cooling system, it’s generally time to replace the system.

Other Rules of Thumb Even if needed repair costs aren’t quite as daunting as 50%, you might want to replace your system if it’s more than 12 years old or you’ve had a history of problems with it. Also, it might be worthwhile to take advantage of one of several opportunities: • Convenience – When you purchase a

Arbors & Gazebos

•

Pavers

•

Your home in a completely new light with new gardens from Garden Guy, Inc. Advertorial

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magazine • March 2011

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TAT

DE S

EN

PE

A

Sabrina & Todd Farber

“People are more important than plants—relationships and family are far more important to me than weeding, trimming, coddling finicky plants...”

Twenty-years of successful plant selection and installation and a Texas A & M Horticulture degree equal MORE TIME for what’s most important—people!

SC

“I love colorful flowers & lush landscaping, but I don’t have a lot of time...”

Garden Guy installs lowmaintenance, drought-tolerant plants that GROW more beautiful with time.

“And just when you thought customer service has long disappeared, Todd and Sabrina Farber, Garden Guy, Inc., restore your faith in customer service.

Every detail fine-tuned and every question answered”— L. Royer, Client, Sugar Land Garden Guy knows what’s important... 20 years in the same business, 15 years of marriage to one woman, 5 children.

L A ND

My Life

My Garden

IO N

t...

M y h o m e i n a c o mp l e t el y n ew l i g h My Garden Guy IG N & I M P L

EM

Contact Us

281• 208 • 4400 www.garden-guy.com

new system, you can avoid the hassle of unexpected repairs down the line, and you don’t have to sit around uncomfortable while waiting for parts.

• Lower utility bills – A high-efficiency home comfort system from Lennox can save you hundreds of dollars each year in energy costs, compared to an older system.

• Improved air quality – Better humidity control means a reduced potential for mold and mildew growth. Custom Comfort Air offer several indoor air quality products that minimizes the impact of indoor pollutants.

• State and Manufacturer Rebates can save you up to $4,000 if you purchase a new system before the funds run out. Custom Comfort Air offers financing programs for complete systems with payments as low as $75 per month with approved credit on qualifying systems.

For help in deciding if it’s time to replace your heating or cooling system, call Custom Comfort Air at 281-342-2512 or visit www.CustomComfortAir.com for a free home comfort anaylsis. H

DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen 2010 Regional Contractor Of The Year Recipient DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen is a full service “Design & Build” remodeling company specializing in bathrooms and kitchens. At DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen we help you balance your remodeling dreams and your budget. As one of our clients, you have access to our extensive knowledge of: • Design services including space allocation, color coordination and material selection assistance.

• Construction including wall modification, hidden headers.

• Cabinetry options along with a wide range of styles and colors, full extension roll out trays, soft closing drawers, and hidden trash cans.

• Counter top options including granite, quartz based materials, solid surfaces and laminates all with a variety of edge profiles.

• Lighting options including under,

over and inside cabinet lights, task and ambient and decorative lights.

• Plumbing fixtures like faucets, instant hot water dispensers, water filter, a variety of under mount and self rimming sinks both in stainless steel and porcelain.

• Painting including sheetrock repair, texture matching, color matching and new color selection.

• Floor covering including a wide variety of porcelain tile that can be installed in patterns to enhance the room.

Everyone from the designer to the construction personnel to the cleanup crew is dedicated to helping you achieve your dream kitchen or bathroom and have a happy experience in the process. For more information, call 281-242-2112, located at 3768 Greenbriar Dr, Stafford, TX 77477 or visit www.dreammakerhouston.com. H

Whether it’s an Island or Retreat...

DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen can Design and Build it for You! Touching up a room or giving it a whole new look, we have everything you need to remodel your bathroom & kitchen.

It’s our job, but we never forget it’s your home.

Call us today and we’ll make your remodeling dreams come true.

281-242-2112 • www.dreammakerhouston.com 3768 Greenbriar Drive, Stafford, TX

www.fortbend

.com • March 2011

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Advertorial

Home

is where your heart is

Concorde Realty Development Tenant Representation Concorde’s corporate clients quickly learn to appreciate the value of our development expertise. First, it means we know the market in detail. We know where to find the kind of space our client’s need- often before it even comes to the market-and we know what it should cost.

Second, Concorde knows just how good a deal can be negotiated. We can analyze the economics of a property-in the kind of detail only a developer can appreciate-which gives us an important negotiating advantage. Most brokers don’t care about location, costs or options; they just want to do an easy deal.

In tenant representation, as in our other services, Concorde focuses on value. We negotiate the lowest rental rate based on what the landlord needs to cover debt services, costs and return requirements. We make certain that our

10 Steps To A Perfect Room

client has all of the expansion, contraction, renewal and other options-again, the details-that enhance value for the client.

A Case in Point A title company in Fort Bend County, Texas had only a short time to relocate an existing office. Concorde found the right space, but the landlord had been insisting on including unusable secondlevel space in the total rentable area.

We negotiated a lease based on the square footage our client could actually use, arranged for tenant improvements and had the move completed well within their expedited time frame.

If you would like more information on this important topic, please fax a note on your letterhead to 713-9777288 or zip us an e-mail to elberger@ concorderealty.com. H

Whether you’re building a new home, moving into an older home, remodeling or just wanting to improve what you have, this breakfast seminar is for you.

J & L Distributors is happy to sponsor the return of Sally Morse to Sugar Land. Known worldwide as a speaker and as an author for her work in the interior design field, Sally is the Director of Creative Services for Hunter Douglas Window Fashions.

Sally will lead you through the steps of where to start your plan, then how to add furniture, lighting, windows, walls, floors and accessories. You will learn rules of thumb to demystify the process of decorating in this 90 minute presentation.

J & L Distributors can answer your questions about colors and trends in window fashions, and all Hunter

Your Commercial Real Estate Expert Specializing in Tenant Representation Have the knowledge of a CPA helping you with your real estate needs at no cost to you.

brokers P.O. Box 131231 Houston, Texas 77219-1231 concorderealty.com

| developers | managers Bob Elberger, CPA Broker/Principal (713) 789-3600 This is not a CPA firm.

Advertorial

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Spring Is Near

Douglas products come with a lifetime guarantee. We have something for all budgets. See our ad on page 4. Cosponsoring this event is Arlene Rolsen, a specialist at Coldwell Banker United Realtors with 31 years of real estate experience.

To attend, a donation of $20 is requested to benefit Impact a Hero, a 501c (3) charity providing support for our wounded military injured in active duty. You can learn more about Impact a Hero at www.impactahero.org.

This breakfast seminar will be held at Sweetwater Country Club, 4100 Sweetwater Blvd., on Tuesday, March 29 at 8:45 a.m. Seating will be limited, so be sure to RSVP by calling Ray at 281-403-6733. H

Winter will soon be a memory, and with it, come visions of spring. As we prune and plan, we are reminded that our weather keeps us on our toes. We love tropical plantings, but just because a tropical plant travels to South Texas, it has not lost its heredity. A hibiscus in a chilly winter certainly prefers toasty toes!

Many freeze-damaged plants, given time, will return since they are root-hardy. Those damaged stems or branches are beneficial when a freeze is expected by insulating from further damage. Prune lightly now. When danger of freezing temperatures pass, serious pruning can be done.

One of winter’s joys is the bouquet of winter’s flowers. Pansies, violas, stocks, cyclamens, and calendula will persevere beautifully during the winter chill and well into spring. Foxgloves and delphiniums shower us with breathtaking blooms February through April. Alyssum and snapdragons may need a light trim if you notice freeze damages.

Roses are extravagant with their blooms after a cold winter. They are energized by the cold. Shrub roses such as those in the “Knock-Out” series should be pruned 3-4 times a year. Pruned by onethird to one-half in August, these roses will produce showers of blooms in December. Hybrid teas and floribundas should be pruned in February. Roses that bloom on “old wood” respond to pruning after blooming.

A new group of roses fulfill the need for a spreading, low growing, very diseaseresistant rose. The “Drift” series consist of six colors and combinations. Growth is dense with prolific flowering. A bonus-----weeds love sun------covering yours beds with flowers prevents sprouting of weeds ------a beautiful solution to an old problem!

Spring is full of promises. Gardening strengthens the gardener and allows us to dream.

“Though we travel the world over to find beauty, we must carry it with us, or we find it not.” Ralph Waldo Emerson 1841 Betty Lenderman The Enchanted Forest H

Cultivate Life's Simple Pleasures.....Discover Nature's Beauty Enchanted Forest 10611 FM 2759 Richmond, TX 77469 281-937-9449

Enchanted Gardens 6420 FM 359 Richmond, TX 77406 281-341-1206

Enchanted Landscapes 10611 FM 2759 Richmond, TX 77469 281-937-0646

www.myenchanted.com www.fortbend

.com • March 2011

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Advertorial

Home

is where your heart is

Restore Your Property Once Winter Weather Is Gone

R

estoring a yard after a If new mulch is simply long winter is a springthrown on top of old, plants time rite of passage could suffocate. for many homeowners. Harsh Dead leaves also tend to winds and heavy snow can take gather during the winter, their toll on even the most beauoften up against fences or a tiful landscape. home’s exterior walls. Rake Spring is a homeowner’s first up these dead leaves and chance to survey the damage add them to the season’s and begin restoring the yard to compost. where it was before all those • Get rid of thatch. strong winds and snowstorms.

Thatch can be soil’s worst To get started on your yard this enemy, preventing its acspring, consider the following cess to the sunlight, air and tips. moisture it needs to make • Don’t begin too early. the lawn look beautiful and The early bird might get the healthy. Thatch removal worm, but the early homeowner can be tiresome, but visit might get a damaged lawn. If the local hardware store temperatures for an upcoming and pick up a dethatching free weekend are unseasonably rake to make the job a litwarm, it’s best to avoid doing tle easier. Thatch removal spring yard cleanup until there isn’t always necessary every have been several warm weekspring. Many homeowners ends to thaw the ground. Unhave found removing thatch less the ground has completely every other year is effective thawed, footsteps on the yard enough. will damage the grass, compact• Aerate the yard to ing the soil and preventing the revive the soil. Soil ofair and moisture that soil needs ten becomes compacted as from doing its job and penetratspring becomes summer and ing the soil. What’s more, if the summer becomes fall. This Spring marks the first opportunity for homeowners to inspect their yard yard is raked before the ground is especially true of yards and assess any property damage that might have resulted from harsh has thawed, the rake might just winter weather. that are heavily used, be it be pulling the grass out by its by kids playing outdoors or roots. families who love to host • Survey the property. A close survey of the property warm weather gatherings in the yard. Aerating in the spring will give homeowners an idea of just how big or small their removes plugs of sod from the soil, loosening it up and makrestoration project will be. A thorough survey will reveal any ing it easier for air and water to reach the roots. problem areas and may also reveal some unexpected guests.

• Address those ugly bald spots. Bare spots in a yard Rabbits and squirrels often nest in yards during the winter. can result from any number of things, be it a dog urinating Rabbits will nest in the ground, while squirrels typically in the yard or even disease. Early spring, when temperatures build nests made of leaves in the trees. Unless it’s entirely are a little cooler and promote grass growth, is a great time necessary, avoid removing any nests, and be sure to carefully to address the yard’s bald spots. Do so by clearing away the inspect the yard before the season’s first mow. spots and sprinkling the freshly exposed soil with some grass • Out with the old. When the cleanup process is ready to seed. Then add some fertilizer and be sure the newly seeded begin, it’s time to remove remnants from last season. This inareas get some water until the new, healthy grass begins to cludes removing any dead plants as well as last year’s mulch. grow in. H Source: www.metrocreativeconnection.com.

Advertorial

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Harvesting a Healthier Garden

S

pring is here at last! Most of us can’t wait to shake off the winter blues, to get out into the sunshine, walk the dog, play catch with the kids or just take a stroll in the park.

For homeowners, it’s the first chance to work on the yard, restore a lush lawn and, for an increasing number of gardening aficionados, create a home vegetable garden. Inner city urbanites, even those with a postage stamp size yard, have been swept up by the ‘grow your own’ movement.

Victory Gardens, first introduced

by Eleanor Roosevelt during the Great War, were the original community raised gardens. People were encouraged to grow their own veggies in support of the war effort. Today, raised garden beds have replaced them as the ecofriendly solution for eating healthier without adding to the carbon footprint caused by trucking produce from the grower to the store.

Thanks to the Frame It AllTM raised bed gardening system, it’s nearly effortless to assemble a raised garden bed and easy to maintain with minimal weeding and back-breaking bending to water and maintain it -- a boon for seniors! Gone are the tattered, rotting wood frames or hulking ugly railroad ties that can overpower the aesthetics of even the most beautiful yard. Manufactured with 40 percent wood fiber and 60 percent recycled post-consumer plastic, the Frame It AllTM rigid, ‘green’ composite timbers are attractive with a wood grain finish that is UV protected. The raised garden bed timbers will never rot, splinter, warp nor become infested and are recyclable. The patented heavy duty, corner joints and brackets make it simple to increase the size and height dimensions at any time. It’s like ‘Lego’ for gardeners!!

“I have a small back yard which is used by my entire family and dog,”

says Nicole from Spring, Texas. “So I like having an area set apart from the rest of the yard in which I can garden.

This system is so easy to put together, and it looks great! I’m not a very good construction person, but I found the assembly instructions were easy to follow, and all I needed was a screwdriver and a mallet.”

Home vegetable growers control the quality of the soil, nutrients and other additives so veggies and fruits grown in a raised garden bed taste better, are healthier and cost much less than those from bought at the local market. Of course, the icing on the cake is the selfsatisfaction and joy of serving up delicious tomatoes and veggies picked fresh from the garden.

• Think vertically. Adding the Veggie Wall trellis from Frame It AllTM to a raised bed vegetable garden greatly increases the amount of vertical growing space and provides the needed support for cultivating squash, beans, tomatoes and other vines. As well as giving a viable option for those without a lot of space, a vertical growing system also pays numerous dividends to the garden

itself. Plants on the vine enjoy greater air circulation and so are healthier and not as susceptible to disease.

“I just put mine together with my 13 year old son, and it was a breeze,” says Paula from Valley Forge, PA. “We had lots of rain last night, so it was very easy to get the corners into the soil. We filled it with compost, chopped leaves, manure, and top soil. I think this is a great raised bed frame. We plan to plant onions and garlic in this one, and will be putting more of these in the veggie garden within the next few weeks.”

• Add compost and mulch to the garden. If weeds are a gardener’s worst enemy, compost and mulch might just be a gardener’s best friend. Compost adds any number of microorganisms to the soil, strengthening a plant’s roots and enabling it to pick up more nutrients in the process. Mulch, meanwhile, can help keep down harmful weeds, thereby reducing the competition a plant will have for valuable water and nutrients.

To view the entire Frame It All product line and locate a Garden or Home Center near you, visit www.frameitall. com or your local Home Depot store. H Source: www.metrocreativeconnection.com.

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.com • March 2011

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Advertorial

Home

is where your heart is

Discover a different kind of hotel experience in Sugar Land.

Welcome to the Hyatt Place® Houston/Sugar Land.

Welcome to a different place.™

Call 888 Hyatt HP (888 492 8847) or visit HyattPlaceSugarLand.com

Now open at the intersection of style and innovation, our new Hyatt Place has everything you want in a hotel because it’s been designed around you. Spacious guestrooms feature the plush Hyatt Grand Bed™, a Cozy Corner sofa-sleeper and a 42-inch flatpanel HDTV. Our Guest Kitchen offers café-quality, made-to-order snacks and entrées 24/7. Plus there’s free Wi-Fi everywhere and countless other amenities. It’s everything you could want and it’s nothing like anywhere else.

NOW OPEN

Hyatt Place Houston/Sugar Land • 281 491 0300 16730 Creek Bend Drive • Sugar Land, TX 77478

The trademarks Hyatt®, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts®,Hyatt Gold Passport® and related marks are trademarks of the Hyatt Corporation. © 2010 Hyatt Corporation. All rights reserved.

G.E.C. Contracting Renovation and New Construction Specialist

FREE Estimates

832-439-1770 • Let us provide you with a free estimate.

• We work within your budget.

• We are a Fort Bend County Resident.

www.geccontracting.com

It's Time to Expect More...

Professional Service Market Knowledge Integrity Results Kristi Bajjali, Top Producer • 281-433-4462

www.kristibajjali.com

Email: kristi@kristibajjali.com

4500 Highway 6, Sugar Land, TX 77478 Advertorial

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The Hyatt Place Houston/Sugar Land On November 16th, 2010, Hyatt Place opened its largest hotel in the brand in Sugar Land. The Hyatt Place Houston/Sugar Land is located in the heart of Sugar Land, featuring a fresh, contemporary look that blends with the Lake Pointe Town Center development and makes the most of a scenic location on the 37-acre Brooks Lake, and is only minutes from major area businesses.

Behind the hotel, guests can stroll over the boardwalk to a wide variety of restaurants and shopping venues in Lake Pointe. Designed to accommodate today’s lifestyle, Hyatt Place offers: • Complimentary Wi-Fi access • StayFit@Hyatt fitness center • Starbucks® specialty coffees, premium wine, beer and cocktails • A “Grab ‘n Go case” stocked with freshly made sandwiches and salads • Complimentary Continental Breakfast • 24 hr menu features made-toorder breakfast, lunch and dinner entrées - around the clock!

• Complimentary transportation to Sugar Land Town Square (and Mall) Specially trained Hosts assist with directions, check-in or a freshly made meal. Spacious guestrooms feature the “Cozy Corner” eight-foot sofa, plush Hyatt Grand Bed and ergonomic work center. Enjoy the state-of-the-art media center that allows electronic devices to plug directly into the 42-inch HD television, giving guests instant access to the technology they’re accustomed to. With over 4,000 square feet of functional meeting space, the relaxed atmosphere makes the hotel an ideal location for any meeting. Hyatt Place guests are business travelers and families. Our unmatched customer service makes the hotel your perfect “Home away from Home.”

For reservations or meeting room information, please contact the hotel sales department at 281-491-0300. H

Baker Mortgage Company Whether buying, building or refinancing your home, mortgage transactions are not something you do every day. When it doesn’t go right, it can have long term affects. That’s why it’s important to deal with someone you can trust. When you’re dealing with your home and your money, it’s a very personal business. At Baker Mortgage, we understand that very well.

For over 55 years, we’ve enjoyed helping people make their dreams come true.

When the time comes, we’d love to help you or someone you care about.

A number of things set us apart. We still have real people answer the phone.

If your deal doesn’t make sense, we’re going to tell you. We want to help you, but what we’re not going to do is help you over a cliff. Many parents send their kids to us for a mortgage, knowing they will be looked after and well taken care of. It’s an honored tradition at Baker Mortgage,

and one we take very seriously.

We also purchase real estate notes from individuals who have sold a property and then owner financed it. Many people are reluctant when approached with the possibility of owner financing, but would be more accepting if they knew they could turn around and sell that note for cash. When owner financing is done correctly, it can make for a great investment, and very liquid in the event you decide you want to sell it. Did you know you can even sell part of a note? You can. We’ve been buying notes for over 50 years. It’s no accident our phone number is 281-313-NOTE. Baker Mortgage works frequently on estate deals where there is a piece of property or a note to be liquidated. We do occasionally purchase property for investment purposes. We often participate in transactions where one family mem-

ber is selling to another family member or a friend, and you just need a little extra guidance to work through a transaction. It’s not something your banks or larger institutions are interested in helping with, but it’s part of what we do.

To our real estate professionals, we appreciate what you do, and we welcome the opportunity to impress your clients.

When you’re ready to make your move, refinance or just need some advice about the next logical step to work out your situation, we’re here and ready to help any way we can. Give us a call at Baker Mortgage. I promise, you’ll be glad you did.

Call 281-313-6683 or please visit www. bakermortgage.com.

Cathy Baker, her husband and their dogs have lived in Fort Bend County for over 20 years. H

BAKER MORTGAGE COMPANY Large enough to take care of your needs... Small enough to care.

Services:

Serving You:

• Provide financing for purchases, equity loans & refinancing.

• We are a different kind of mortgage company. You’ll know it when you walk in the door or talk to a real person on the phone.

• Purchase real estate notes from people who have sold property & owner financed it.

Call us at 281-313-NOTE.

• We are all about giving back. We give tips & advice on both 700 AM KSEV & 740 AM KTRH.

• We deliver closings with no surprises.

Cathy Baker, CMC

• When you’re ready to make your move, call us. You’ll be glad you did.

Let the benefit of our experience go to work for you.

Inquire about our realtor purchase program.

281-313-6683

•

Serving the Houston area since 1955.

Currently on 700 AM KSEV and 740 AM KTRH.

www.bakermortgage.com

14090 Southwest Freeway, Suite 540 • Sugar Land, Texas 77478

Proud Recipient of the Better Business Bureau’s Pinnacle Award for Excellence 2005, 2009 & 2010

NMLS 263213 NFLP www.fortbend

.com • March 2011

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Advertorial

Home

is where your heart is

Fort Bend’s Community Firethorne Kindles the Spirit of the Texas Hill Country

W

inding along Fort Bend County’s picturesque FM 1463, a stunning stone and stucco structure topped by a copper-colored roof and cupola come into view. At the North Firethorne Road juncture, a 17-foot-tall intricately welded, coldrolled steel sculpture blazes skyward, signaling one’s arrival at Firethorne, a thriving 1,400-acre residential community that straddles Katy and Fulshear.

“We asked local artist Mary Lou Stockton to create her vision of firethorne, also known as the pyracantha plant, for our grand entrance,” said Firethorne General Manager Wayne Meyer.

And grand it is. Firethorne kindles the spirit of the Texas Hill Country with its majestic, multi-trunked live oaks, large cedar trees, a palette of

Advertorial

hardy Texas plants and native Texas limestone boulders and borders. Anchored by its landmark Visitor Center overlooking the 12-acre Lake Firethorne, the community blends with the best nature has to offer: 150 acres devoted to parks and recreational amenities, greenbelts, hike and bike trails, parks and playgrounds, discovery-rich wildlife observation area and a natural bird habitat.

Combining the vibrancy of West Houston with the small-town charm of Katy/Fulshear, Firethorne and its next phase, Firethorne West, are strategically located near the crossroads of the I-10 West corridor, the Westpark Tollway and the Grand Parkway. The community is situated 10 to 15 miles west, respectively, of the newly opened Texas Medical Center-West Campus

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and Houston’s Energy Corridor, vital hubs of local activity.

Model Parks I and II showcase homes by Perry Homes, Highland Homes and Coventry Homes, premiere homebuilders selected based upon the highest standards for design, quality, customer satisfaction and reputation.

Six Firethorne West models (three each of 70- and 80-foot lot homes) are under construction.

Firethorne’s more than 1,100 homeowners enjoy family-oriented amenities such as a resort-style swimming pool, fully-equipped Fitness Center with certified trainer on call, tennis courts with tennis teams and clinics and the first regulation lacrosse fields built by a residential community in the Southern U.S., if not the country. Lake Firethorne and proximity to wide spac-

es of rural areas make the ideal venue for the Katy Triathlon at Firethorne, an annual charitable event sponsored by the Rotary Club of Katy composed of a 500-meter swim, 16-mile bike race and a three-mile run.

The new Competitive Swim Center, slated for completion this spring, will house a regulation lap pool, clubhouse and community center, a landscaped park and playground area. With a Firethorne swim team already organized, the Swim Center further demonstrates the community’s commitment to residents’ individual and team sports and fitness.

In 2010, exceeding all of its previous annual new home sales records, Firethorne expanded west to develop 430 acres within the community. Upon Firethorne’s completion, it will encompass 3,600 homes, including 1,400 in Firethorne West and 530 across FM 1463, which includes acreage boasting three lakes with water features. The Firethorne West sections feature 50and 60-foot by 120- to 130-foot lots. The new home sites east of FM 1463 are 70and 80-foot by 130-foot.

The master-designed community’s record-breaking home sales are attributed, in part, to the highly acclaimed schools in Katy Independent School District and Lamar C.I.S.D. (Consolidated Independent School District) that serve Firethorne and Firethorne West families, and continued economic growth in Katy/Fulshear. This business growth is fueled by the local expansion of three major Houston hospitals, plus continued employee relocations in West Houston in the energy industry.

Firethorne reflects the vitality of one of the fastest-growing, most notable high-growth areas in the U.S., according to The Gadberry Group’s 10 from 2010 report, with convenient access to the region’s abundance of shopping and dining and foremost mobility plan for exploring Houston.

To tour, take I-10 West and exit Pin Oak to FM 1463, visit www.firethorne. info, or call 281-693-1011. H

The entrance to the Firethorn community.

A community pool that is located in the Firethorn community.

THE LINDA BELL TEAM OF PRUDENTIAL GARY GREENE, REALTORS IS SOLD ON EXCELLENCE in the Fort Bend Real Estate Market

281-980-5050 Ext. 226 2323 Town Center Blvd.

Sugar Land, TX 77478

Direct: 281-684-9112 Linda Bell 281-202-8826 Bill Spears Bruce Keesee 832-816-7889 www.fortbend

.com • March 2011

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Advertorial

Home

is where your heart is

Welcome Home to Autumn Leaves – A Memory Care Residence

Choosing a new home for your loved one who needs memory care for the first time is one of the most important decisions you will make as a caregiver. At Autumn Leaves, our family welcomes and cares for yours. We offer guidance for caregivers, support groups, 24 hour access to visit your loved one and private dining rooms for intimate chefprepared family meals.

Our memory care residences are just that – homes – not locked floors as you might find in general assisted living facilities. From our beautifully landscaped yards to our cozy and inviting front porch, a feeling of “welcome” is apparent. Our residences are laid out to accommodate and even encour-

Advertorial

age purposeful wandering. You never know what special activity or social interaction awaits around the corner!

Our highly trained staff know that they are guests in our residents’ home – not the other way around. Each one of our residences has on-site licensed nursing staff with specialized expertise in memory care and Life Enrichment Coordinators dedicated to providing a variety of activities designed for sensory stimulation, different interests and varying acuity levels. Our chefprepared family meals, dietary management and care plans are developed individually for each resident and work together to enhance every day your loved one shares with us.

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Based in Dallas, Texas, familyowned and operated Autumn Leaves was founded ten years ago on the principle of providing the highest-quality environment to individuals requiring specialized care due to Alzheimer’s and dementia-related conditions. We design, build and manage all of our own facilities in order to maintain the highest-quality standards in our facility management, staff training and residential care.

For more information about any of our Autumn Leaves communities, please visit our website at www.AutumnLeavesLiving.com or call 1-888662-8886. H

Headliners continued from page 47

Annie Sloan’s Workshop Tour Annie Sloan, will demonstrate and teach participants six different techniques using Chalk Paint during an all-day hands on workshop. Annie has traveled from Oxford, England for this fantastic opportunity, and space is limited. Please contact WonderFaux Studio at 281-242-4937 or visit us at WonderFaux Studio.com The workshop will also include book signings for Annie’s latest books “Creating the French Look” and “Quick & Easy Transformations.” The perfect tools to accompany the participants’ samples as they return home to enjoy Chalk Paint even more.

Annie Sloan is probably the main reason for the painted furniture revolution through her lively and creative approach to painting. She has a strong desire to communicate and empower people creatively, which she does through her books, workshops and paint.

Annie Sloan has been painting for over 40 years as well as writing numerous books on the subject. She has made her own very special paint called Chalk Paint specifically designed for furniture; although, it can also be used on walls and in paintings. Her painting has been made by having a knowledge of paint, pigments and art histrory.

A Condo for the Price of a Room

Spacious condominium suites with private Gulf view balconies, kitchens and separate living and sleeping areas. Two swimming pools, tennis court, fitness center, barbecue/picnic areas and much more. Centrally located to all the attractions, shops and restaurants on Galveston Island.

• Just Steps from the Beach

• Variety of floor and decor plans

• Free Internet

• Guest laundry and convenience store

Mardi Gras Galveston!

Family Spring Break!

February 25-27 and March 4-6

Family Getaway Package

Weekend Rate Plans starting as low as $308 inclusive for weekend.

Join the celebration with the parades and entertainment.

One bedroom Condo for 4 Persons.

2 Night minimum.

Spring Break Rate Plans starting as low as $699 inclusive for a 5 night week stay.

One bedroom Condo for 4 Persons.

5 Night minimum. Rates valid February 28 thru March 20, 2011.

Spring into Acting with FBT’s Classes Award-winning Fort Bend Theatre launches their Spring Acting classes for ages eight through eighteen. Classes will be held on Saturday mornings beginning March 26, 2011 and ending May 21, 2011. Each session teaches stage acting techniques, including pantomime, improvisation, vocalizations and characterization, and culminates with a performance for family and friends. The cost is $200, payable by a $50 non-refundable deposit to hold your child’s place, with the remaining balance due by March 18, 2011. Call 281-208-3333. Fort Bend Theatre is located at 2815 N. Main, Stafford.

6300 Seawall • Galveston • TX • victoriancondo.com www.facebook.com/galvestonvictorian • 800.231.6363 Rates not valid with other discounts. Inclusive rates include all fees & taxes.

Headliners continued on page 71 www.fortbend

.com • March 2011

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Open Weekends & Select Holidays

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SAVE up to $18!

SAVE $3 EACH! Present this coupon prior to purchase at any Galveston Island ticket window on an Indoor Season operating day and SAVE $3 each on up to 6 full-price, all-day tickets. Not valid with any other offer, discount, special price, prepaid, afternoon, group, two-day, or season tickets. Tickets must be purchased at Schlitterbahn and used the same day. Coupon not applicable to online discount tickets. Coupon has no cash value and is not for resale. Prices, operating schedule and attraction availability subject to change without notice.

Coupon expires December April 17, 2011.

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schlitterbahn.com ÂŽ 2011 Waterpark Management, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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The Greatwood Gators are Getting Ready for a Great Summer The Greatwood Gators are currently preparing for another summer of great swimming and excitement. With a focus on good sportsmanship and an emphasis on improving individual strokes and times, the Gators are also proud of the sense of community within the team and Greatwood.

Every Gator swimmer swims at every meet and receives a ribbon for each event in which he or she participates. The Gators welcome all returning swimmers and those just starting out. Following is important information for all swimmers interested in joining the Gators.

Registration: If you have not yet registered your swimmer, please inquire about possible openings to Maryellen Green at mbgreene@gmail.com. Since Southwest Houston Recreational Swim League only allows the team to have 200 swimmers, new swimmer registrations can only be added to the team based on age and gender group needs.

Minimum Requirements: All swimmers MUST meet the following requirements to swim on the team. 1) Demonstrate the ability to enter the water unaided and swim one length of the pool without benefit of resting on the bottom of the pool or on the lane ropes, and without the aid of an adult or coach in the water.

2) All swimmers must be able to commit to attending 4 out of 6 regular season swim meets.

Practice: Practices will begin at the end of April and will be held after school Monday through Friday until school is out. Practices will be held in the morning.

The date for the practice meet has been tentatively set for Thursday, June 2nd.

Meets: The dual team swim meets are held every Monday (with the exception of July 4th). The tentative schedule is 6/6, 6/13, 6/20, 6/27, 7/5, and 7/11. The dates for the championship meets will be announced soon. The schedule is subject to change.

For more information, visit www.

GreatwoodGators.org.

Silver Beads Earring Accessories

Glass & Gold Pendants

Spring Interiors Market Collection is here!

Home Ambiance and Gifts 2625 Town Center Blvd North | Sugar Land, TX 77479 | 281-980-2070 www.interiorsmarkettx.com 4.75 x 4.75_SpringRelease_Ad.indd 1

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DENTURES -THAT-FIT! Esthetic, Natural Looking, Custom Dentures Made for Each and Every Patient by a PROSTHODONTIC SPECIALIST from Start to Finish.

2 Locations to Serve You! Sugar Land/Richmond Area and Medical Center. thedoctor@denturesthatfit.com

713-520-8400

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Headliners continued from page 71

Sugar Land Methodist Opens New Ministry Center The sounds of music, children and laughter fill the halls of the new Ministry Center at Sugar Land First United Methodist Church on Eldridge Road. The addition was dedicated Sunday, January 9, for the ministries of worship, children and students.

Construction began in November 2009 for additional space that would house free childcare for weekly church activities, all music ministries, student Bible studies and preschool events. The center was completed in time for the recent Christmas Eve communion services.

“The new building allows us to grow by adding much needed space for classrooms, state-of-the-art music facilities and childcare facilities,” said Marty Nicholas.

“But we’re most excited about the fun and learning that will take place here. We’ve already seen this building come alive with

“Like” Us Today!

Sugar Land Methodist dedicated the new Ministry Center on Sunday, Jan 9. The building will house expanded childcare for weekly church activities, all music ministries, student Bible studies, preschool events and so much more.

Key to designing and executing the project are (l-r) Linda Haskew, Ryan Kerr, Jeremy Stovall, Loye Ross, Rev. Martin Nicholas, Robert Reid, Chuck Mathes, Michelle Carter.

the excitement of the kids who will benefit from it the most.”

On Sunday mornings, middle-school and high-school age youth will fill the classrooms for Bible studies while expanded childcare will be offered downstairs during all church services. During the week, a wide variety of church and com-

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magazine • March 2011

munity activities will take place, including yoga prayer classes, adult studies and numerous music activities for all ages.

On February 24, Sugar Land Methodist welcomes back Mary Flo Ridley, nationally acclaimed author and speaker, to the Ministry Center’s larger meeting area called “The Venue.” She will offer parents a simple, unforgettable plan for shaping their child’s sexual character by giving them simple conversations at an early age. To register and reserve childcare for the event, call 281-491-6041.

Nicholas added, “We invite our neighbors to come see how we’re growing at Sugar Land Methodist.” For information, visit www.sugarlandmethodist.org.

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Sugar Land Lions Club Celebrates 70th Anniversary Join us at the Sugar Creek Country Club on March 24th for dinner and a nostalgic trip back into time as we celebrate 70 years of Service to our community. Social at 6:30, Dinner at 7 p.m. $35 per person. Reservations 281-9377016 or email Georgia.Messemer@ gmail.com.

Cutoff date is March 21st. Business attire requested. We’d love to see you there! Please plan to attend! H

FORT BEND NEW NEIGHBOR Vanessa Skin Care is Celebrating its Grand Opening

The Marketing Department: We Provide Bright Ideas for Small Businesses!

Vanessa Skin Care, featuring skin care for both men and women, is now celebrating its grand opening in Stafford. Owner ThanhVan Thi Vo would like you to benefit from her skin care expertise. She is fully trained in the newest advances in non-laser skin resurfacing.

Vanessa Skin Care offers HydraFacial. It is the hydradermabrasion technology procedure that combines cleansing, exfoliation, extraction, hydration and antioxidant protection simultaneously, resulting in clearer, more beautiful skin with no discomfort or downtime. ThanhVan is also a Certified Advanced X-treme Lash Professional. X-treme Lash extensions complete your total look, and more.

Experience the many and varied services Vanessa Skin Care has to offer. Located at 11970 Murphy Rd., # 102 in the Professional Center. Call 281-530-9427 for an appointment. See ad on page 45. H

Owner ThanhVan Thi Vo.

Howard Spencer

Christi Spencer

We believe small businesses deserve the same access to top-of-the-line marketing talent that their much larger competitors do.

The Marketing Department offers an inviting and friendly retail store where small business owners can sit down with someone who understands their challenges.

That 60-minute free consultation results in exciting, affordable marketing strategies that highlight what makes the customer remarkable.

We provide customers with a roadmap to success whether they are start-ups seeking a brand identity, wellestablished businesses wanting to grow or struggling businesses needing to reposition their brands.

Why we’re different: We offer Madison Avenue marketing at Mainstreet prices.

Schedule your free consultation today...and experience a new way to grow your business!

4550 Sweetwater Blvd., Suite A (P) 281-277-7272 (Web) www.tmdtexas.com See ad on page 27. H

Varicose Veins Gone In One Visit!

- Also Effective For Spider Veins -

The Hamilton Vein Center offers the revolutionary VNUS Closure™ procedure.

Finally, a fast and virtually pain free in-office solution that requires no

downtime and delivers instant relief from the symptoms caused by damaged veins.

• • • • • • • •

Leg Pain And Heaviness Gone Immediately.

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Gentle Procedure, Virtually Pain Free.

Actual Procedure Takes Only 15 Minutes.

Appropriate For All Vein Sizes.

Hard to Heal Surface Ulcers Resolved.

Convenient Sugar Land Location.

Covered By Medicare And Private Insurance.

Complimentary Consultation!

281.565.0033

H a m i l t o n Ve i n . c o m

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Char House Grand Opening Celebration

Vanessa & Christopher Morales.

Jacquie Chaumette & Vincent Morales.

Chris Reyes & Shannon Orsak.

Michael Garfield, Ned Hibberd with Shannon & Sara Orsak.

Diana & John Null.

Missouri City Recognizes Loyal Service of Employees Susie Goff & Mary Gayle Brindley.

Mayor Allen Owen, Division Chief/ Emergency Management Coordinator John Sheffield and Fire Chief Russell Sander celebrate Sheffield’s 25 years of service.

Mayor of Sugar Land Visits St. Laurence for Catholic Schools Week

St. Laurence Catholic School had a special visitor at a peprally to help kick off Catholic Schools Week. Mayor James Thompson of Sugar Land visited and delivered a proclamation stating it was Catholic Schools Week in the City of Sugar Land from January 31 to February 4, and shared with students the importance of education. Pictured are Student Council members with Mayor Thompson, Principal Debra Haney and Pastor Fr. Drew Wood. fort bend

Chief Joel Fitzgerald, Assistant Police Chief Pat Worrell, honored for 35 years of service, Police Chief Administrative Assistant Janet Hornischer, honored for 37 years of service, Assistant Police Chief Larry Capps, honored for 30 years of service and Mayor Allen Owen. magazine • March 2011

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WE GIVE YOU THE

POWER TO BUILD YOUR OWN BUSINESS!

HOW MANY OF THESE GREAT FEATURES WILL YOU USE TO HELP GROW YOUR BUSINESS? • Your “OWN” Unique Multi-Page Website & Email Address • Logo, Address, City, State, Phone Numbers, Business Hours • 24/7 Administrative Access To Make Changes • 10 Custom Email Addresses

ORDER A POWER SITE NOW, AND YOUR PROFESSIONAL DESIGN AND SITE SETUP IS INCLUDED IN THE LOW PRICE!

281-690-4221

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2250 Interiors’ Ladies Night Out Valentine’s Wish List Party

Cathy Gottlieb & Lauren Caldwell.

Janie Gonsoulin & Dana Saxon.

Dana Saxon, Teena Caldwell & Sally Lewis.

Karla Veesey & Ann Schmidt.

Kellye & Kathye Carpenter.

Blessing and Grand Opening of the Mamie George Community Center

Stan Marek, Mike Wells, His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, David Harvey, The Most Reverend Joseph A. Fiorenza, Bonna Kol & Percy Creuzot.

fort bend

Bonna Kol, Mike Wells, Bill Jameson, His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Pat McDonald, The Most Reverend Joseph A. Fiorenza, John Null & Dee Koch.

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March 2011 Winner “Closeup”

By Chris Joseph Judges comment: We are not always fans of special effects just for the sake of applying a effect to a picture. We always like special effects without the use of software.

Congratulations Chris, you’ve earned a $40 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 $40 gift certificate to a restaurant and the winning photo will be published in our magazine. To claim your prize, call Norma @ 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 Michael@ FortBendFocus.com. Digital photos must be HIGH RESOLUTION at least 300 dpi at actual size of at least 4” x 6”.

www.fortbend

.com • March 2011

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Kempner Project Graduation Fashion Show

Memorial Hermann’s Wine & Chocolate Event

Subroto Gangopadhyay & Johanna Higgins Clowney.

Hamida Merchant & Courtney Diepraam.

Karen Chitty-Boe & Mike Gleeson.

Kempner High School Project Graduation hosted an evening of “Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice, a night of fun, fashion and food.” Senior students modeled fashions from Men’s Wear House, Al’s Formal Wear, Cache, Wardrobe, David’s Bridal, Formal Gallery, Parvani Vida, Banana Republic and Urban Rendezvous.

Jim Brown & George Gaston.

Pampered Hands, Loving Hearts

2011 USA Fit Marathon

The women of Mosaic Community Covenant Church provide Valentine’s Day treats and manicures to the senior residents of Atria Sugar Land, a senior living community. fort bend

Michael Salyer with Donna Reval & Scott Reval.

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FREE SUBSCRIPTION Request delivery in your mailbox every month

Go to www.FortBendFocus.com and request a FREE SUBSCRIPTION

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.com • March 2011

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Focus Readers’ Photo Album March Runners-up to our Amateur Photo Submission

See this month’s photo contest winner on page 77

“Glacier Bay” by Ricky Carvajal

“Bird in Flight“ by Dinesh Pejaver

“Early Morning in Yellowstone” by Robert Lou

“Yellow Rose of Texas” by John R Yeats Jr fort bend

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FIND YOUR NEXT CAR Search new and used car inventories online - easy, simple, fast

See some of the ads in print in the Star every week. www.fortbend

.com • March 2011

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High School HOT SHOT

By Melinda Wood

On the Fast Track

H

annah Rector is going the distance in more ways than running track and cross country. This Foster High School senior makes the grades, serves others and even runs marathons for fun.

Hannah started running track in ninth grade after deciding she wanted to start playing sports. “I remember thinking that I had to do something active,” Hannah said. “My dad was in track in high school, so I thought if he could do it, I could do it.”

Shortly after joining the track team, Hannah also joined the cross country team and fell in love with distance running. “I like pushing myself.

Track can be really hard. I have to get up at 5 a.m. six days a week. You have to be really disciplined,” Hannah shared. “It’s so rewarding to me though. I actually do marathons for fun with my friends. Running track has taught me a lot about hard work.”

Hannah has many memories from track, but nothing can top the feeling of going to state her junior year.

“We had worked so hard, so when we found out we made it, we were so excited,” Hannah said. “It was pretty

Hannah with sister, Emily.

Ha n n a h scary, and we did the best we could. Looking back, it was so much fun.”

The lessons Hannah has learned in track have carried over to other aspects of her life. When it comes to balancing school and her personal life, Hannah takes the same disciplined approach.

“I’m in all AP classes, so I have a large amount of homework. I pretty much come home, get to work and go to bed since I have to wake up early to run. I try to be efficient. Social time is important, but I’m

lucky in that I get to hang out with my best friends through running three hours a day.”

In the little spare time Hannah has, she enjoys spending time at her church and volunteering with Upward Basketball, a program designed to give children and their families a positive sports experience and to build character and self-esteem in a local church setting.

With all of this in mind, it’s easy to see why Hannah has chosen a career path to serve as nurse in the army. “I’m definitely going to school to be a nurse in the army,” Hannah said. “I’ll be a fifth generation second lieutenant in my family. It’s a family thing, so that’s always been inspirational. I have such high respect for people in the army. I figured, if I look up to them so much, why don’t I do it myself? Since I want to be a nurse as well, I thought I would do both.”

Hannah has been accepted to Texas Christian University and is excited to join their ROTC program in the fall.

The daughter of two educators, Hannah is thankful for her parents’ leadership and says they have been her biggest inspiration.

“They have always completely and totally believed in me. They know how competitive I am, so they make sure I don’t beat myself up too much. They’ve pushed me to be who I am.”

With a heart to serve and a hard-working spirit, Hannah is sure to go far. H

Best friends: Trudie Bruno, Hannah Rector, Meredith Duncan, Elyssa Garza, Kira Ohmart.

“I like pushing myself. Track can be really hard. I have to get up at 5 a.m. six days a week. You have to be really disciplined,” Hannah shared. fort bend

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ATULATION R G N S! O C Natalie Clingensmith

Congratulations to Natalie Clingensmith, currently a student at Elkins High School, for winning a $1000 Scholarship sponsored by Texas Direct Auto! Natalie is currently Senior Historian for the Elkins student body, Team Captain for Volleyball, Senior Class Representative for Habitat for Humanity and President of Youth in Philanthropy, as well as active in Elkins High School DECA, Yearbook, Junior Achievement Program, AVID, National English Honor Society and many other activities. She plans to attend Texas A&M University or Texas State University and major in Education and Biology. Natalie was selected as part of Texas Direct Auto’s commitment to educational excellence through the “Scholarship Stars” program. Application details are listed below.

Register now and win a

1,000

$

SCHOLARSHIP! Find complete details and forms at

www.fortbendstar.com/scholarshipstar.doc

www.fortbend

.com • March 2011

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Fort Bend Kids ChalkBoard The published photos came from Press Releases submitted to Fort Bend Focus by the schools/organizations of these children.

Cameron Hamilton, 17, of Troop 616 in Sugar Land has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He is an honor student at Texas Christian High School and will attend the University of Saint Thomas in August.

These 8th grade students were recognized when they demonstrated a professional attitude and appearance at the Fort Settlement Career Day. Pictured are Natalie Wolfe, Serena Maknejia, Lauren Roche, Abby Day, Will Preston, Aditya Jain, Ryan Oujesky and Reed Hermes.

Four Lamar CISD vocalists, Hannah Hausler, Alayna Thomas, Chika Iguh and Carolyn Castillo, earned AllState status from the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA).

The four students also performed at the 2011 TMEA State Conference in San Antonio.

Congratulations to First Colony Swim Team member Romy Landeck for qualifying for her first Olympic Trial at the USA Swimming Austin Grand Prix in Austin, TX.

Over 5,000 Houston-area children attended the 14th annual Texas Children’s Kids Fun Run which kicked-off the Chevron Houston Marathon race weekend of events. Photos by Paul Kuntz. fort bend

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Send your news line for submission the next month’s to the publisher’s

Magazine www.fortbendfocus.com

via www.FortBendFocus.com. Deadis on or before the 10th of the month for publication. All submissions are subject approval, editing and space availability.

17 Swimmers from the First Colony Swim Team visited the Olympic Training Center for training over the winter break. Swimmers pictured are (bottom row) Skylar Smith, Jordan Hancock, Clement Dulac, Daniel Graviss, Maddie Locus, Antoine Marc, Kaitlyn Swinney, Simone Manuel, (Middle) Chris Kalmbach, Colleen Lord, Madison Varisco, Erin Yeager, Romy Landeck, Brett Pinfold, Eegan Groome, (Top) Kyle Yu, and Meaghan Connolly.

The Youth of the Month Award and Savings Bond donated

by Encore Bank was presented by Exchange Club of Fort Bend PresidentElect Mike Reichek to Fort Bend County students Hayley Leonard, Brian Ong and Jason Chern.

Troop 731 is pleased to announce that Scott Coulthard has earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Scott was recognized recently in a special Eagle Court of Honor ceremony held at The Highlands Club House.

The St. Laurence Catholic School (SLCS) National Elementary Honor Society (NEHS), in conjunction with the Houston Marine Moms, participated in sending 500 Psalm 91 bandanas to the Marines in Afghanistan. The entire school community got involved and families helped purchase bandanas and wrote thank you cards for each bandana.

Congratulations to Sugar Grove Christian School’s Cub Scouts for their great performance in their Pinewood Derby Car Race. Pictured are 1st place Max Richardson, 2nd place Logan Barras, 3rd place David Wong, 4th place Dylan Wong and best sportsman Austin Sciba. Way to go boys! www.fortbend

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FORTUNE Ranks The Methodist Hospital System Among “100 Best Companies to Work For” in 2011

ITR Technologies, LLC is Now in Sugar Land ITR Technologies, LLC was founded in 2004 with a primary focus of delivering Premium IT services to small and medium size businesses. ITR has been located in NW Houston for the past 4 years and recently moved to Sugar Land in December. ITR’s goal for 2011 is to continue our growth and build each client relationship by developing a solid support strategy for each client driven by their unique business needs. By focusing on business automation, network and staffing stability and decreasing ITR costs, we are able to provide solutions to fit any business, small to large.

While ITR does offer break-fix solutions, our specialties lie in our pro-active support through our Total Care Programs.

We also have partnered with Glo-Stream to offer EMR solutions to our neighbors in the medical community.

ITR Technologies is located at 1455 Highway 6 South, Suite B in Sugar Land, next door to Kershaw Kumbatta, CPA. We are partnered with many companies including Dell, Google, Glo-Stream and Microsoft to name a few. ITR is a gold start recipient of the BBB for two years running. Contact us at 713-344-1618 or visit us on the web at www.itrpro.com.

Mention this article for a free hour of computer or network support so that you can get to know us and our level of work. H

For the sixth year in a row, The Methodist Hospital System has been ranked among FORTUNE magazine’s 2011 “100 Best Companies to Work For,” remaining the highest ranked health care organization in the country, and the only hospital system ranked in Texas.

Methodist is ranked No. 19 and is one of four companies in Houston to receive the prestigious distinction.

FORTUNE listed 13 companies in Texas on its 2011 list.

Among the other U.S. companies listed, Methodist ranked No. 3 for the hiring of minorities, No. 4 among the country’s large companies and No. 10 for work-life balance. “This extraordinary honor is a testament to our employees and physicians, whose values and dedication make a difference every day in the lives of our patients and their families,” said Ron Girotto, president and CEO of The Methodist Hospital System. “Truly, our employees and physicians make Methodist a great place to work.”

The full list and related stories appear in the Feb. 7 issue of FORTUNE, and now at www.fortune.com.

The Methodist Hospital System, which includes a flagship teaching hospital, four community hospitals and a research institute, was awarded the high ranking for providing an exemplary workplace for employees.

Methodist was selected based primarily on a confidential survey sent to randomly selected employees, who were asked questions on the level of trust, pride and camaraderie within their workplace.

Methodist also submitted documentation about its work environment, from benefits to corporate policies to employee fort bend

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demographics. Methodist offers competitive benefits, diversity in the workforce, recognition for employees and a unique environment focused on integrity, compassion, accountability, respect and excellence.

The Methodist Hospital consistently is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s best hospitals, ranked in 13 of 16 adult specialties for 2010-2011, the most in the state.

The Methodist Hospital System, with more than 13,000 employees, comprises The Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center, Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, Methodist Willowbrook Hospital, Methodist West Houston Hospital, San Jacinto Methodist Hospital in Baytown and The Methodist Hospital Research Institute. Methodist is affiliated with Weill Medical College of Cornell University and New York Presbyterian Hospital.

About Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is committed to serving the healthcare needs of our community. We have some of the most advanced technology and medical capabilities in the area and have maintained the highest quality of care The Methodist Hospital is known for internationally.

Services include aquatic therapy, birthing center, breast center, cancer center, cath lab, diagnostics & imaging, emergency department, endoscopy services, inpatient services, intensive care, joint program, lab services, occupational therapy, physical therapy, respiratory services, speech therapy, spine center and surgical services.

For more information on Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, visit www.MethodistSugarLand.com or call 281-274-7500 for a physician referral. H

Riverstone Offers New Neighborhoods, Model Homes, Builders The housing market is thriving in Riverstone, with the Fort Bend community opening new neighborhoods, new models and introducing new builders.

Newmark Homes and Perry Homes just debuted model homes in Sweetbriar, a new neighborhood of 55-foot homesites with prices from the $250,000s. In addition to the new models, both builders also have completed homes available.

Nearby, Trendmaker Homes and David Weekley Homes are building on 80foot wooded homesites in The Orchard neighborhood, with model homes slated to open this spring. Prices start in the $400,000s in the neighborhood, which will have only 24 homesites in the first section.

Additional homesites are available in Riverstone’s Nandina neighborhood.

Darling Homes is the exclusive builder in the section, which features patio homes on 65-foot homesites and pricing from

the $410,000s. The builder plans to open a model home in March.

Wooded homesites are available in all three neighborhoods.

Riverstone also will soon introduce two new builders to the community: Toll Brothers and Partners in Building. Both will offer semi-custom homes priced from the $500,000s.

In all, Riverstone expects seven new model homes to open in the first half of 2011.

“We ended 2010 with more 200 home sales, averaging approximately $450,000 each,” said Tom Wilcox, general manager of Riverstone. “We expect 2011 to be another stellar year.”

A 3,700-acre community, Riverstone is located at Highway 6, three miles south of U.S. 59. The development is

The housing market is thriving in Riverstone, with the Fort Bend community opening new neighborhoods, new models and introducing new builders, including Toll Brothers and Partners in Building.

Pictured is a Toll Brothers design.

slated for 6,000 homes during the next eight years. Residents enjoy two resortstyle swimming complexes, a fishing pier, miles of trails and pedestrian walkways, the area’s first “bark park” and more than 200 acres of lakes and waterways.

For more information, visit www. riverstone.com.

Jerry Ulke Joins Johnson Development as Development Manager for Imperial The Johnson Development Corporation is proud to announce a new addition to their team. Jerry Ulke has joined Johnson Development Corporation as the Development Manager for Imperial, a Master-Planned Community located in Sugar Land.

Ulke will manage the engineering, architecture and construction activities for the Imperial community which is scheduled to open in 2012. Imperial will include the redevelopment of the historic Imperial Sugar Company refinery site, and has been selected as the site for the City’s new minor league baseball stadium.

The community will also include retail locations, commercial, hospitality, restaurants, office and urban residential and will also boast over 235 acres dedicated to open space, lakes, wetlands, and parks.

“I look forward to Imperial becoming a destination point for the Sugar Land community and surrounding areas,” said Ulke. “Having the historic element of the Imperial Sugar refinery, as well as the City of Sugar Land’s new minor league

Jerry Ulke, new Development Manager for Johnson Development Corporation’s newest Master-Planned Community Imperial.

baseball stadium on the site will draw people to Imperial. I hope to create a lifestyle that makes everyone feel at home and comfortable.”

During his fourteen-year career in land development Ulke has watched Johnson Development communities thrive. Joining the team was an easy decision for him because of Johnson Development’s commitment to the utmost quality and professionalism. Prior to joining the team, Ulke held several Project Manager and Development positions, and he is a Registered Professional Civil Engineer in the State of Texas.

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fishing, golfing, hunting and volunteering to coach youth sports. He especially enjoys doing these activities with his two children. Ulke’s daughter Emilee is nine years old and son Taylan is four years old.

About Johnson Development Corporation The Johnson Development Corporation is an award-winning residential and commercial land development company involved in premier projects including master-planned communities such as Sienna Plantation, Fall Creek, Riverstone, Woodforest, Tuscan Lakes, Edgewater and Silverlake in Houston, Texas, and Towne Lake, BridgeMill and Lake Arrowhead in Atlanta, Georgia. Established in 1975, known for innovative master planning and, today, one of the largest and most successful land developers in both Houston and Atlanta, The Johnson Development Corporation has cultivated a strong reputation for vibrant, responsible development, with impeccably designed communities. For more information, visit www.johnsondevelopment.com. H

M edical F ocus Breast Cancer Survivors Offering Support Since October 2010, Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Spiritual Care Department has partnered with the group – Survivors Offering Support – to offer survivors a forum for assistance and communication at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.

Survivors Offering Support at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is flourishing in its combined form and welcomes new members. Any woman who has been recently diagnosed with breast cancer, who is currently undergoing treatment or who has completed treatment is invited to participate.

The support group helps women understand that breast cancer affects them emotionally and spiritually as well as physically, and provides a roadmap for achieving a happier, healthier future after cancer. By encouraging women to share their own experiences and support one another, the group instills a belief in the power of healing and encourages women to reach toward their future with hope.

“Partnering with Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Spiritual Care Department has enabled us to provide our current survivors and new members the increased opportunity to learn, meet other survivors, find support and share experiences,” said Rosemary Herron, facilitator for Survivors Offering Support. “The merging of these two groups allows us to reach more women in need of support within the Fort Bend community.”

The support groups current curriculum series, “Navigating Life’s Roadmap After Breast Cancer” was written by Dr. Jennie M. Bennett, breast cancer survivor of 14 years and founder and director of Reconstruction of a Survivor. We are thankful to have this curriculum for our group. The mission of this curriculum is to fill the gap to serve all women diagnosed with breast cancer as they find the power within themselves, surround themselves with similar survivors, feel that nothing has been taken from them, and understand that deep down they long to explore all that is purposed for their life.

Bill Bross, Director of Spiritual Care

and Values Integration at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, believes the hospital’s involvement is an important component of its community outreach.

“The mission of the group - Survivors Offering Support - aligns perfectly with the vision and mission of Methodist Sugar Land Hospital – we promise to cultivate a safe, spiritual and healing environment, and patient support is a key element of that promise,” Bross said. “We believe that anyone can overcome the challenging diagnosis of breast cancer to have hope, possess healing and transform their lives for a more fulfilling life and better future.”

Please join Survivors Offering Support at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital on March 17, April 21, May 26, June 16, July 21, August 25, September 15, October 20, November 15 and December 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., located at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital in the Main Pavilion conference rooms BC.

Seated left - right: Jenny Hrbacek, RN, Reconstruction of a Survivor and Survivors Offering Support; Melanie Frederick, Survivors Offering Support; Dr. Jennie M. Bennett, founder and director of Reconstruction of a Survivor; Rosemary Herron, facilitator for Methodist Survivors Offering Support; Joanna Waits, Survivors Offering Support and Bill Bross, Director of Spiritual Care and Values Integration at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.

Standing left – right: Julia Kerner, Survivors Offering Support; Ann Daniel, Methodist Sugar Land Cancer Center RN and facilitator for Methodist Survivors Offering Support; Karen Platt, Chaplain at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital and facilitator for Methodist Survivors Offering Support; Janet Ely, founder of Survivors Offering Support; Marilyn Seiler, Survivors Offering Support and Marsha Yeager, Survivors Offering Support.

For more information, please contact the Spiritual Care Department at 281274-7164. For more information on Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, please visit www.MethodistSugarLand.com. H

The Breast Center Has Moved— We’ve Expanded to Serve You Better!

Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s new Breast Center has just completed a significant expansion to provide even more services to Fort Bend and surrounding counties.

Since opening our doors on August 1, 2009, the Breast Center rapidly outgrew its original facility. “We are meeting a very real need in the community,” says Stephen Phillips, M.D., board-certified breast radiologist. “The center is staffed by a multi-disciplinary team of breast care specialists, working together to provide the most comprehensive care possible in one convenient location. That is a combination that is difficult to beat and one our community is taking advantage of and using.”

In response to the increasing demand for our services, the Breast Center recently moved to its new location off Town Center Blvd, still on the Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Campus. The larger space fort bend

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features a warm, comforting ambiance and more comfortable, spa-like furnishings to put patients at ease.

Available at the relocated Breast Center is a full range of diagnostic services, including: • Digital mammography • Breast MRI • Diagnostic ultrasound • MRI-guided biopsy • Ultrasound biopsy • Stereotactic biopsy • Fine needle aspirations • Ductograms Our full-time breast radiologists are exclusively dedicated to breast care and read every image and ultrasound taken in the Breast Center with the use of stateof-the-art technology. Having this fullservice expertise available to patients six days a week is unique to Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. When choosing a Breast

Center to meet your needs, it does make a difference where you go.

Patients who choose the Breast Center at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital can undergo a mammogram and, if necessary, an ultrasound or MRI often on the same day, pending insurance approval. In addition, all biopsies are sent to our on-site pathology department. “We are providing the full continuum of care – from screening all the way through surgery or radiation, if needed – all in one places” Phillips said.

In addition to providing the only fullservice breast cancer screening and care in Fort Bend County, the Methodist Sugar Land Breast Center’s technology is second to none. The powerful whole body 3 Tesla MRI machine – typically found only in the nation’s top academic medical centers – provides state-of-the-art image resolution and features bilateral breast imaging and computer assisted detection. “No other Fort Bend County hospital has a 3T MRI,” Phillips said.

In the event of a cancer diagnosis, the Breast Center can coordinate all additional care with the hospital’s Cancer Center on campus and our skilled breast surgeons, oncologists and reconstructive surgeons on staff at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. “As a breast surgeon at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, I work closely with the breast care team to ensure continuity of care for each patient,” says Sandra Templeton, M.D., board-certified surgeon specializing in breast surgeries and on staff at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.

“Since treatment should be as individual as patients, we are dedicated to providing a wide variety of cancer treatments from leading-edge radiation and oncology methodologies to surgical options.”

To schedule a mammogram at the Breast Center, call 281-242-PINK (7465). H

Stephen Phillips, M.D. and Sandra Templeton, M.D.

Colorectal Cancer—Free Screening The month of March is dedicated to colorectal cancer awareness. Colorectal cancer affects one out of 18 Americans.

According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death for both men and women in the United States. “Because of screening tests, colorectal cancer can be caught early, increasing the survival rate for those diagnosed with the disease,” says Charles Phan, M.D., board certified gastroenterologist on staff at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.

Colorectal cancer refers to cancer of the colon or rectum. While the exact cause of colorectal cancer is unknown, Dr. Phan cites the following as risk factors that may increase a person’s chance of developing the disease.

Your age. The odds of developing colorectal cancer increase after age 50. Over 90% of people diagnosed with colorectal cancer are age 50 or older.

Family history. Having close relatives (parents, siblings or children) who have been diagnosed with colorectal cancer increases your risk; therefore, earlier and more frequent screenings may be recommended by your physician.

Personal history of colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer. A polyp is a growth that develops on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. Some polyps may become cancerous. If you’ve been diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the past, the disease may reoccur.

Other risk factors include unhealthy eating, lack of exercise, smoking and bowel disorders such as Crohn’s disease. Although some risk factors, such as your age and family history, cannot be avoided, other factors are within your control. Choosing to follow a healthy lifestyle may help lower your risk of developing colorectal cancer.

“Colorectal cancer usually does not present symptoms in its earliest stages,” shares Swarna Balasubramaniam, M.D., board certified colorectal surgeon on staff at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. However, as the cancer progresses, Dr. Balasubramaniam says the following symptoms may develop: www.fortbend

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Charles Phan, M.D. and Swarna Balasubramaniam, M.D.

• Irregular bowel habits, including constipation and diarrhea • A constant feeling that you need to have a bowel movement • Rectal bleeding or bloody stools • Anemia (low blood count; found on lab tests) • Frequent stomach pains or cramps You should consult a physician about being screened for colorectal cancer if you experience any of these symptoms.

If you or a loved one is at risk for developing colorectal cancer or exhibits symptoms of the disease, don’t hesitate to discuss your concerns with a physician. With colorectal cancer, early screenings can translate into saved lives. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Balasubramaniam or Dr. Phan, call our physician referral service at 281-274-7500.

Free Seminar & Screening Join us on March 30 for a free Colorectal Cancer Awareness Seminar presented by Dr. Swarna Balasubramaniam and Dr. Charles Phan.

Attendees will receive a free colorectal screening kit to take home. The presentation starts at 6:30 p.m. and will be held in Conference Rooms A-D at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. Seating is limited. Reserve your seat by calling 281-274-7500. H Send your news via www.FortBendFocus. com. Deadline for submission is on or before the 10th of the month for the next month’s publication. All submissions are subject to the publisher’s approval, editing and space availability.

FOCUS FAVORITES... Your Community Resource Guide Advertising Fort Bend Focus Magazine 281-640-4242 www.fortbendfocus.com lisa@fortbendfocus.com Fort Bend’s only feature magazine direct mailed to nearly 30,000 homes, subscribers and high value homes in Sugar Land, Richmond, Katy, Missouri City and Fulshear. Complimentary at on demand distribution locations throughout Fort Bend. Subscribe for free. (10/2010) Focus On Women Magazine 281-640-4242 www.fowmag.com lisa@fortbendfocus.com Finally, the magazine that you have been waiting for. A new publication showcasing one of the best and brightest resources – our women. Full of interesting, thought-provoking stories. Focus on Women is a celebration of today’s women – their lives, their passions and their spirit. Subscribe today. (10/2010)

Counseling DF Counseling Services 281-380-9518 www.dfcounselingservices.com dallaslpc@yahoo.com Change can be challenging. A positive outcome is the goal. I believe that a fulfilling life is complete with supportive relationships, feelings of selfworth, and continued personal growth. If you are struggling with some difficult life issues and need some helpful guidance, hire the Licensed Professional Counselor who is experienced, compassionate, and effective - Dallas Ferguson. Individuals, couples, and families are welcome. (11/2010)

Dentistry Texas Urban Smile 281-277-1545 www.texasurbansmile.com sara@texasurbansmile.com We care for your dental, oral health and beauty.

To help you smile, we use top-of-the-line digital, low radiation x-rays, intraoral cameras, and much more. We have practiced general, cosmetic, implant and orthodontic dentistry for over 20 years. For your satisfaction, we offer a free consultation, $299 Zoom Whitening, $999 Bicon Short Implants, $2400 Invisible Braces and much more. Don’t wait! These deals will end soon. Call us and talk to one of our friendly staff and make an appointment today. (02/2011)

Estate Planning and Probate Andreason Law Firm 281-265-1561 www.andreasonlawfirm.com kurtandreason@andreasonlawfirm.com With over 25 years experience in Texas, Kurt M. Andreason can meet your estate planning needs with everything from basic wills and disability planning documents to sophisticated estate planning strategies, including family limited partnerships, life insurance trusts and other recognized methods of estate tax reduction. Convenient Sugar Land location. Handicap Accessible. Board Certified in Estate Planning, Probate Law and Commercial Real Estate. Listed over 10 years in Best Lawyers in America. (11/2010)

Jewelry Designs In Gems® 713-995-7975 www.designsingems.com brucejsnider@hotmail.com Custom Designs - Hand Made Jewelry by Designs In Gems® since 1984. “Distinctive originals redesigned from your sentimental existing gold and stones.... We make the next generation’s keepsakes.” Custom Jewelry Designer - Bruce J. Snider M.S., G.G.- GIA, NAJA. Gemological Laboratory Appraisals. Graduate Gemologist - Gemological Institute of America, Member: National Association of Jewelry Appraisers. Listed: Jewelers Board of Trade, Member: BBB. 16180 City Walk (Town Square - Sugar Land) by appointment. (11/2010)

Marketing & Advertising

Home Remodeling & Construction Services Villa Construction & Remodeling 281-344-2732 www.villaconstruction.net cindy@villaconstruction.net Villa Construction and Remodeling recognizes the privilege that you extend to us in serving your home construction and remodeling needs. We offer a full range of quality products and professional services. We have served the communities in Sugar Land and Fort Bend County since 1991.

We are members of the Better Business Bureau and Texas Residential Construction Commission.

We accept credit cards and insurance claim work.

Please contact us for a free no obligation quote.

The Marketing Department 281-277-7272 www.tmdtexas.com hspencer@tmdmainstreet.com cspencer@tmdmainstreet.com TMD is a friendly retail environment where small business owners can shop for affordable marketing ideas to help grow their business. The owners, Howard and Christie Spencer, will take the time to get to know you and understand your business - at absolutely no cost to you. This free consultation results in customized marketing strategies designed to fit your needs and budget. We’ll help you sell more -- to more people, more often, for more money! (03/2011)

(11/2010)

Orthodontics

Horseback Riding Sienna Stables 281-778-7433 www.siennastables.com The premier Southwest Houston area Equestrian Facility offers horseback riding lessons for youth and adults in both English or Western styles.

Other activities include kids’ camps, birthday parties, special events and therapeutic riding. For the horse owner, horses can be boarded and or trained by professionals. Sienna Stables also hosts many styles of horse shows. Nestled among centuriesold shade trees in Sienna Plantation this little slice of heaven is conveniently located in Fort Bend. (11/2010)

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Pisklak Orthodontics 281-403-5599 www.pisklakorthodontics.com info@pisklakorthodontics.com Carrie W. Pisklak, DDS, MS, is a respected provider of orthodontic care in your community. Located in Missouri City, Texas, the practice’s top priority is to provide you the highest quality orthodontic care in a friendly, comfortable environment. Dr. Pisklak utilizes the latest technological advances, such as clear braces and Invisalign Teen, along with the latest in computer technology to ensure that you receive the most effective care possible. (10/2010)

FOCUS FAVORITES... Your Community Resource Guide Pest Control/Exterminator Integrated Pest Management Inc. 281-341-1761 Fax 832-451-1949 www.integratedpest.biz ipmi@comcast.net Locally owned and operated servicing Fort Bend County for 29 years, Integrated Pest Management’s knowledge and friendly staff can answer all of your pest questions. A convenient retail store located on Hwy. 90 next to the Women’s Center retail store, we are open Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. Stop by to check out our collection of snakes, exotic bugs and rodents. Save money by purchasing the materials yourself and let us educate you on how to apply them. Better yet, let us do the job for you. Thanks, Bob, Frank, Shirley, Daniel and Phil. (03/2011)

Podiatry and Cosmetic Elite FootCare of Texas, Inc. 832-539-1620 www.elites-of-texas.com admin@elites-of-texas.com Podiatric & cosmetic medical facility providing advanced foot/ankle care in a compassionate & caring environment, located in Fort Bend. Dr. Shepherd will make sure you are comfortable, satisfied & well-informed about your healthcare through the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Services include general & cosmetic foot care, with treatments to make feet comfortable and beautiful such as: foot facials/spa and detox, toe nail bleach, treating hyperhydrosis (sweaty feet) and Stiletto Rx (high heel comfort). (03/2011)

Printers / Graphics Star Printing 281-690-4200 www.fortbendstar.com michael@fortbendstar.com Professionally designed and printed flyers, postcards, brochures, magazines, newspapers and catalogs with high-quality digital graphics. (10/2010)

Roofing Ameristar Roofing 281-238-4230 www.ameristarroofing.com ameristarroofing@gmail.com Ameristar Roofing is your full service roofing company, No job is too small or too big. We are a certified “Shingle Master Co” with Certainteed which authorizes us to offer 3, 4 & 5 star extended warranties. We are fully insured and bonded for your safety. At the end of every job we perform a QUALITY CONTROL INSPECTION. Our company belief is, THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT. We want your recommendation because of our reputation! THANKS, JOE RANGEL, REUBEN STAFFORD & JOHN YATES, MANAGING PARTNERS. (10/2010)

Transportation The Original Trolley & Limousine Company 281-491-4911 www.originaltrolley.com otrolley@comcast.net The Original Trolley Company brings back a sense of nostalgia for groups who are looking for a truly unique transportation experience. The Trolley Company presently has three trolley cars ready for hire. The Trolleys are fully air conditioned and heated, mahogany trimmed, bar set up accommodations and have a trolley brass bell.

Visit our website at www.originaltrolley.com to view our large gallery of photos. If a trolley is too large for your group, we have added a 120 inch stretch Limousine. (10/2010)

This is now your chance to target your market.

List your business in Focus Favorites and help people find you here!

Focus on our 4Rs

Reach.

Repetition.

Reputation.

Recollection.

Let people CALL you now!

Only $349 for the whole year, published in print and online.

Vacation Rio Raton Duplex 832-788-2294 www.rioratonduplex.com New Braunfels - Guadalupe Riverfront on River Rd. (outside New Braunfels city limits). First-Class riverfront duplex. Minutes to Schlitterbahn or tube the Guadalupe.

Also convenient to Fiesta Texas, Sea World, Gruene Hall, Natural Bridge Cavern and Canyon Lake. 2 units available - each unit sleeps 8. See pictures and rates, and email your dates from webpage. (10/2010)

Video Production

Please call the experts from our list of Focus Favorites.

Attention All Businesses

Star Video Digital Production Services 281-690-4280 Full-service video taping, editing and special effects for your business. Professional writing for commercials, training DVD’s, and corporate videos.

(10/2010)

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Magazine

To get you started, go to www.fortbendfocus.com and click on “Focus Favorites.”

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Dine-In • Carryout • Buffet Delivery • Catering • Party Room Arcade • Games • ATM Big Screen TV’s (watch your favorite sports games) DVD Movie Rentals (first night free for new customers)

GRAND OPENING SPECIAL

3 LARGE PIZZAS FOR $20

1 Large 1 Topping • 1 Large 2 Topping • 1 Large 3 Topping Online code M11-001. Limited time offer.

Please ask about our Halal Menu

Try Our Lunch Buffet Starting at $4.99 Pizza, Salad, Dessert & More 7 Days a Week

Monday - Friday 11 am - 2 pm • Saturday & Sunday 11 am - 3 pm

Call 281-208-0200

609 Dulles Avenue (Across from Dulles High School), Stafford, TX 77477

Order Online • www.godfathers.com

Open Sun-Thurs 11 am - 10 pm • Fri & Sat 11 am - 11 pm

Focus on Flavor ARISTOTLE GRILL • The Greeks have landed in Sugar Land! Owner Hamid Panah and his staff have just opened on the corner of Hwy 6 and Hwy 59 providing the best Greek dishes in the area!

Everything from appetizers to traditional Greek salads to plates specials and traditional Gyro sandwiches, this is the place for a nice, relaxed atmosphere and elegant Greek dining! Aristotle Grill also caters employee lunches, business meetings, and corporate gatherings. Their goal is to leave their guests impressed! Open 7 days, Sun-Thurs 11 am -9 pm, Fri-Sat 11 am -10 pm.

2109-B Highway 6 @ Highway 59 South, Sugar Land. 281-277-7787.

List your restaurant here!

Call 281-690-4242.

www.fortbend

Dining Guide BULLPEN PIZZA & SPORTS BAR Patio is now open!!! All sports, UFC fights, pool tables, darts, golden tee, NASCAR, golf, free wi-fi, great food, awesome pizza, huge lake front patio.

Open Monday-Sunday, 11:00 am - 2:00 am (Food Until 1:00 am). Call 281-242-0190, located at 14019 SW Fwy, Suite 204, Sugar Land, TX 77478. For menu, please visit www.bullpenpizza.com.

CHEF REY • Known for his amazing gourmet cheesecakes, Chef Rey is always professional and most importantly passionate about every dish he prepares.

He pays attention to every detail in preparing a mouth watering meal that is presented with style and class. His dedication is evident with every aspect of ensuring each customer is satisfied. Seeking a new spot that offers American Cuisine with professionalism and style together with an ambience that is exquisitely quaint and personal? Then visit Chef Rey’s, 2865 Dulles Avenue, Missouri City, TX 77459. Call 281-403-2900, visit www.chefreynolds. com. Open Thurs. 5-10, Fri-Sat. 5 -11 and Sun 10-4. Restaurant is available for private parties and catering. Gift Certificates available. .com • March 2011

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Fort Bend Loves To Dine List your restaurant here. Call 281-690-4242.

Dining Guide

Focus on Flavor DUMAR’S MEDITERRANEAN GRILL It’s a great new place serving middle eastern favorites with an outdoor patio and some of the friendliest service in town. The owner, Mr. Bashar F. Dumar and his wife, Ilham are natives of the Middle-East and make everything fresh daily. The Kebeh Balls, Hummus, Taboulih, Babaghanouj and Baklava. In addition to a full line of Middle-Eastern groceries, Dumar’s also features fresh feta cheeses, several types of brined Olives, Gyro Sandwiches, Greek Salads and Spinach pies. Now serving Beer & Wine.

Also, Party trays available. 4518 Hwy 6, Sugar Land. Mon-Thur 10am8:30pm and Fri-Sat 10am-9:00pm, 281-313-1893.

List your restaurant here!

Call 281-690-4242.

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EXTREME PITA • We’re fast, fresh, fun and full of flavor. In addition, we’re EXTREME when it comes to our commitment to creating a unique product bursting with healthy ingredients. Lunch, dinner and late night menu items include our Extreme Club, Philly Cheese Steak, Grilled Chicken, Gyros and Falafel, all served with your choice of different vegetable varieties served fresh or sautéed to perfection right in front of your eyes. We also offer a variety of great tasting Flat Baked Pita’s, fresh salads, soups and drinks.

Mon-Thur: 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat: 11am-11pm, Sun: Noon-10pm, 15810 SW Frwy., Sugar Land, (Lake Pointe Village) TX 281-494-7482

BUY ANY PITA & Get the Combo for FREE FERNANDO’S RESTAURANT What’s new in 2011: Steakhouse cuisine, new wine selection, live entertainment by Salsa Bands, special events and more! Join us for live entertainment and dancing on the weekends. Banquets for up to 300 people, casual party room and catering is available.

A special thanks to Focus Readers for your continued support!

Stop by and get a free Fernando’s gift card. Come celebrate with Fernando and join his VIP list at 14135 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land. For reservations call 281-494-9087.

Closed on Sundays. Visit www.fernandosrestaurants.com.

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Focus on Flavor

Dining Guide

GODFATHER’S PIZZA • Godfather’s Pizza, with the “Thickest Pie” now open! Not just your regular pizza place, Godfather’s offers Video Games and Party Rooms, big screen TV’s, DVD rentals (one night free with first order) and all you can eat lunch buffet (adults $6.99, kids $3.99). Try the all time favorites Taco Pie or All Meat Combo. Visit godfathers.com for online ordering and delivery. Catering available. 609 Dulles, across from Dulles High, 281-208-0200. Su-Th 11am to 10pm, Fr-Sa 11am to 11pm.

Must present coupon when ordering. Not valid with any other offers.

Exp. 4/30/11. Delivery charge may apply.

LA MAGIA CAFE & PIZZA • If you are looking for casual dining with an easy atmosphere then La Magia is just the place for you! La Magia Café and Pizza recipes and menu are based on 30 years of Italian cooking. The dishes are prepared and cooked in the traditional Italian way, using extra virgin olive oil, and the freshest ingredients and herbs, giving them a home cooked flavor. The pizzas are made with a medium crust and cooked in a traditional stone oven. Limited area delivery. Margaritas are always available for $4.50. Open Sun-Thurs 11am to 9pm, Fri-Sat 11am to 10pm. Daily lunch specials Mon-Fri 11am to 3pm. Check www. lamagiacafe.com for more specials. 3699 Highway 6 at Settlers Way, Sugar Land.

281-565-0366.

ITALIAN MAID CAFE • ‘Where the locals go!’ Gourmet cuisine, priced affordably in the heart of Historic Downtown Richmond. Owners, Chef Alex Ciocca and sister Lanie Alvarez invite you to a unique dining experience. Try our delightful old world sauces over pasta, thick-crust pizza, zesty house salad dressings, flavorful soups, mouth watering desserts and of course, our great house wine. Perfect for business lunches or a romantic dinner. We serve nightly specials including creatively prepared fish, chicken and beef. Pot Roast on Tuesday night. Located 2 blocks North of the Fort Bend County Courthouse on 300 Morton Street. Call for reservations or for more info at 281-344-8955 or 832-433-0032 for catering. www.italianmaidcafe.com.

LUPITAS MEXICAN RESTAURANT • Jaime and Lupe Garcia and son, Leo Rigo, have been serving homemade traditional Mexican food to the community for 6 years. Lupitas is open 7 days a week with over twenty lunch specials Monday through Friday. Don’t miss Happy Hour Monday-Thursday with $2 Domestic Beer, $2.50 Imported Beer and $3.50 Margaritas! Lupitas is now serving Angus Beef. Hours are Sunday-Thursday 11am-9pm and Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm.

281-265-6556, 3121 Highway 6, near the Williams Trace intersection. Muchas Gracias from our family to yours for your support the past 6 years!

J & L CAFÉ • “Home of the Best Peach Cobbler in Texas” located at 1110 Texas Parkway in Stafford. Serving a homestyle menu that changes daily! Open Tuesday - Sunday 11am-7pm. Call us for our changing menu, 281-499-9895.

NAPA GRILLE URBAN WINE BAR Combines a warm, cozy atmosphere, excellent wine variety and an exceptional cuisine to provide the ultimate dining experience. Now open and serving lunch & dinner in Sugar Land, just off 59 and Sugar Creek. Come join us for Happy Hour from 4-7pm. Enjoy live music Tuesday - Saturday nights. Napa Grille Urban Wine Bar is also available for private parties. Mon-Fri 11am-11pm Sat 5pm-11pm. 14019 Southwest Fwy, Sugar Land, TX. Call 281-277-2599. For full menu and daily specials visit www.napagrille.net.

LARGE PIZZA $9.99 (UP TO 3 TOPPINGS)

BUY ONE MEAL, GET A LESSER ONE FOR HALF OFF

Excludes meals $9.95 & up, not valid on Sundays or with other offers. Present this coupon. Exp. 06/3/2011 KARL’S AT THE RIVERBEND • Offering romantic dining in the country, Swiss Chef Karl Camenzind serves a wide variety of delicious cuisine including venison, Angus beef, fresh fish and wienerschitzel. Enjoy budget dinners as well as our regular dinner menu Tuesday Thursday with the Neighborhood Menu, featuring entrees under $11.00. Regular Dinner Menu Tuesday - Saturday. Best Sunday brunch in town, including over 50 items served buffet style and featuring eggs benedict and carved roast beef. Reservations suggested, but not required. Tuesday-Thursday 5-8:30pm, Friday & Saturday 5-9pm, and Sunday 11:30am-2pm. 5011 FM 723, Richmond, TX. 281-238-9300. Visit www.karlsrb.com.

OLD HICKORY INN BARBECUE • More than 40 years in business in the Houston and Fort Bend area, Old Hickory Inn Barbecue is famous for their Old Fashion Hickory Smoked Barbecue and numerous Homemade Side Dishes, made fresh daily.

3 convenient locations, with a drive-through window at the Hwy 6 location. Open 7 days a week, SundayThursday from 11am-9pm, and Friday & Saturday 11am-9:30pm. 3334 F.M. 1092 @ Hwy 6 Missouri City 281-499-8904 / 8000 Hwy 6 @ Beechnut 281983-5020 / 5427 S. Braeswood @ Chimney Rock 713-723-8908.

KABOB CAFE • The warm and cozy Kabob Cafe is located at 4645 Hwy 6, corner of Dulles Ave in Sugar Land. We serve over 10 different Kabobs (wraps and entrees). Our Happy Lunch Hour is Monday - Thursday from 11am-2:30pm, Happy Munch Hour from 2:30pm to 5:00pm, and Family Nights with kids eat free on Mondays and Tuesdays. Check us out on Facebook for specials, and our website, TXkabobcafe.com, for menu and directions. 281-903-7373.

RAISING CANE’S • We’re all about ONE

Buy one entrée and get the second one

50 % OFF

Second entrée is equal or less value. Not valid with other offers.

LA COCINA • Is proud to be serving the Fort Bend Community fine Mexican dishes for 13 years. Since our beginning in Rosenberg in 1997, quality and value has been our motto. At La Cocina we understand that to be successful in the food and beverage business, we have to execute a great product and a great dining experience as well as contribute and support our county. We are proud to say that we have raised over $60,000 for “Meals on Wheels.” We invite you to come try our wonderful and exciting new dishes. Call La Cocina for your next event, to-go or catering is available or reserve our banquet room for any occasion. Don’t miss our Breakfast Sat & Sun 8-12, Happy Hour 11-7 pm. 515 FM 359 in Richmond, 281-238-0872 www.lacocinarestaurant.com. www.fortbend

LOVE - chicken fingers. Our simple menu focuses on fresh, never frozen chicken tenders, warm, buttery Texas toast, creamy coleslaw and crinkle cut French fries. Our legendary Cane’s sauce is made in-house daily and provides the perfect compliment to our cooked-to-order chicken fingers. Don’t forget a cup of our freshly squeezed lemonade or freshly brewed sweet tea for the road. What are ya...chicken? 1529 HWY 6 in Sugar Land. Sun-Thurs: 10:30am-10:00pm, Fri-Sat: 10:30am-12:00am, Phone: 281-980-9860. Stay connected with us on twitter.com/CanesSugarLand & facebook.com/CanesSugarLand.

RAY’S GOURMET COUNTRY •

A unique concept of a neighborhood bar and grill with a “field to table” menu specializing in recipes made from the highest quality of seasonal and organic inspired ingredients. Daily Specials and menu selections are created based on the local availability of organic fruits and vegetables, Natural Select meats and wild game and seafood. All seafood is purchased direct and filleted in-house to ensure the freshest quality. The restaurant and bar are available for private parties and a catering menu. Located at 8502 FM 359, Fulshear, TX 77441. Call 281-533-0099, www.raysgrill.com. .com • March 2011

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Living the Sweet Life:

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

Finding Your True Colors

O

prah said, “Life is a big ol’ canvas. And, you have every combination of colors to paint with.” If I had been asked the same, I couldn’t have said it more perfectly. Over the years, I have spent quite a lot of time studying human psychology and behaviors. In fact, I actually got my degree in Psychology many years ago. I don’t doubt the advantages that have clearly been revealed to me by having this knowledge “on board” both with respect to my clients, which we all know are mainly children, and of course, my own mothering. When you know the facts, it’s a lot easier to make a determination as to which direction you should go, whether that decision is based on parenting, managing and for this column’s purpose, finding your best attributes.

Just imagine that you are always at peace with your daily tasks, never feeling rushed unless you self-impose the pace. What if “work” wasn’t really work at all, but a mere extension of something so closely tied to your best talents that you’d do it for free?

Over the years, I have found myself being asked, “How did you figure out photography?” Or, someone might say “OMG, you are such a great writer, and I love to write too, but I don’t know how I can get a job doing that!” I would (and still do) go through my journey of how and why, tracing my steps backward to the now of my own life and how I found my calling. Nothing that is awesome is ever easy, and I would be pulling your leg to say I just happened to be at the right place at the right time. Life, though, does give us signs what you know I call “God jobs, God things and God winks!”

Those “things” are your talents,

some hidden, and others, glaring as if screaming this is who you are!

Over the years, it has been a sheer pleasure to share mostly oneon-one with clients and occasionally over the phone with students, stumbling across my portfolio or readers of my column. Last year, I toyed with creating a “Living the Sweet Life” seminar and time just got away. This year, I suppose I was ready to do it as the opportunity presented itself - a God wink - saying “Now! Yes, it is time!”

After many months of planning and thoughtfully preparing for a day of discovery, I am thrilled to be able to present “Living the Sweet Life” to whoever wants to listen and learn. The seminar is set for April 28th, and it will be a full day to discover who you are first, and then, in the examination of that, allow your talents to reveal themselves.

In addition to me sharing and all of us participating in an open discussion, I have asked a good friend of mine to perform a personality test prior to the day so we have a jump fort bend

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start on what things you will be great at and learn more abut how your temperaments and inclinations truly effect the success or failure of your chosen life’s work.

Let me introduce Randy Guttenberger. A Certified Behavior Analyst who helps improve human performance by using a combination of professional assessments, principles and insights, Randy’s delivery reflects his energetic passion, experience and humor. “I show people how to get maximum results with minimal efforts. Once you implement my tools and techniques into your own success, you will never look at life - or people - the same way again,” said Randy.

One of Randy’s unique gifts is understanding people’s abilities and aligning them with purpose.

“The corrections can be amazingly simple once discovered, and capture invigorating, life-changing accomplishments that we all want to experience.”

The bottom line is the information you will get will show you so much more than just what you can do to be more aligned with your talents. It will show you how your personality fits with, and sometimes, is misread by others in your life! The seminar will be fun and informative and sure to assist you in finding, and then creating, your very own Sweet Life! Please go to my website www.alisamurray.com and click on “Living the Sweet Life Seminar.”

Come join me in the Journey!

Take Care of You!

3rd Edition

Coming April 2011

THE Official BOOK! A great resource for newcomers to Richmond, Rosenberg, Fulshear & Simonton.

Your guide for • History • Schools • Libraries • Museums • Shopping • Restaurants • Parks • Rodeo • Churches • Organizations • Helpful Phone Numbers • And Much More!

1st Edition

2nd Edition

www.richmondnewcomerguide.com

To advertise or list your business, call 281-690-4242.

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