VOL 2 No. 42
Phone: 281-980-6745
www.fbindependent.com .fbindependent.com ww
FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2009
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
OakBend Medical Center opens new campus
FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS A vast array of colorful fireworks lit up the night sky at BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Stafford Oct. 17, marking Diwali, the Festival of Lights and the Hindu new year. The celebration also marks the triumph of good over evil and removal of ignorance or darkness. Left, Annakut, which literally means ‘a mountain of food,’ is offered to God to celebrate the beginning of the Hindu New Year. Another symbolic meaning of this ritual is to give up unto God all that one loves most, indicating that the individual will be devoid of all desires. Over 1,000 food items were offered in this ritual when family, friends and relatives get together and strengthen their bonds through the festivities.
Humanitarian of the year
Past Humanitarian of the Year honorees join the newest honoree at the rotunda stairwell in the old county courthouse, in Richmond. From front to back are Dee Koch, this year’s honoree; Louis Garvin, Sunil Sharma, David Wallace and James Patterson. Dee will be honored at a special event on Nov. 12, at Safari Texas. For more information, contact Cheryll Landis-Gerber at 832-443-7616 or cheryll@preservingmemories.biz. See story on Page 8.
Stafford police sued over teen’s death By BARBARA FULENWIDER Stafford residents Steve and Pam Hobart have filed suit against Stafford, its police chief and Stafford Police Officer Jesus Estrada for the death of their mentally ill son. The suit filed Thursday in U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas Houston Division says their 19-year-old son’s death was the result of lack of officer training in how to best deal with mentally ill people and that their son is dead today because even though other options were open to Estrada, he drew his gun and fired six bullets, five of which hit the teen. The suit also says that on Feb. 18 Pam Hobart called 911 and requested a crisis intervention team to take their son Aaron to the hospital because he “was experiencing an acute mental health crisis.” The crisis, according to the suit filed, resulted from “tapering off his medications at the time of this event.” The lawsuit says Aaron, had the disability of schizoaffective disorder. According to the suit, Pam Hobart told the 911 operator that her son “needed to be in a See DEATH, Page 3
David Noirot, left, director of the business office, Bob Brown, director on the Polly Ryon Foundation board, and Ron McCann, president of the OakBend Medical Center hospital board at the opening celebration . By SESHADRI KUMAR The Fort Bend Community last week celebrated the opening of the new OakBend Medical Center’s campus at US 59 and Williams Way. The impressive full service, acute care facility is designed to accommodate an expansion of three additional floors – eventually increasing capacity to over 200 beds. It includes inpatient and outpatient radiology and laboratory services as well as surgical facilities, emergency department, intensive care unit, and a floor devoted exclusively to women’s health services. Attended by over 250 guests, the festive celebration began with welcoming remarks by Board President Ron McCann, followed by comments from past board president and County Treasurer Jeff Council, County Judge Robert Hebert and State Representative John Zerwas. A short video presentation was followed with a special thanks and closing remarks by Chief Executive Officer
Freudenberger Joe Freudenberger. The project was completed two months ahead of time and under the budget of $41 million, Freudenberger said. The project broke ground in April 2008 with an anticipated completion date of Dec. 2010. Ahead of schedule, the facility will open in phases beginning this week with the outpatient laboratory and radiology departments. The emergency department, medical and surgical
FORT BEND FABULOUS INTERNATIONAL SHOW. Finalists selected for model search finale show at Fort Bend Education Foundation’s 4th annual festival on Nov. 7 at Sugar Land Town Square. The model search finale will be from 12 to 1 p.m. For more information visit www.fortbendisd.com\foundation. Bottom row (l to r): Skyla Jacobs, Abigail Cousins, Marissa Schuchart, Jenna Christoffel, Alexa Sarpy, Lauren Bustos, Stacy Bynes (International Festival Chairman), Jasmin Patel (Model Search Chairman), Carson Wetsel, Isaiah Colon, Jonathon Chang, Michael Cangemi, and Noah Nwadei; Middle row (l to r): Carl Ferguson, Myles Hawkins, Leah Emert, Megan Gonzalez, Mikeala Morris, Joanna Lu, Kyra Guerrero, Brooke Hillegeist, Lauren Neal, and Raila Driver; Top row (l to r): Jennifer Wang, Alex Smith, Avani Patel, Rachel Harding, Jade Anderson, Kevin Sabouni, Reece Morgan, and Von Harrington.
Introducing the new Back Pain Program at Memorial Hermann Sugar Land.
Relief is within reach
services, and intensive care unit opened Oct. 19 - and labor and delivery will open on Oct. 26. Initially a 57 bed facility with the capacity for 90, the expansive new medical campus will eventually include a 60,000 square foot medical office building scheduled for completion the first quarter of 2010. The new 133,000 - squarefoot, acute care facility broadens the scope of services now available to Fort Bend residents. Freudenberger said that the new hospital campus was designed for the comfort, convenience and care of its patients and their loved ones – each room including separate family, patient and caregiver zones and allowing for maximum sunlight through the specially designed oversized windows. “Each room will have accommodations for family members to stay overnight,” said Freudenberger. To learn more about the new facility, visit www.oakbendmedcenter.org.
It’s time to start experiencing relief with a personalized treatment plan from our new comprehensive Back Pain Program. Our skilled health team specializes in joint and back pain, offering both minimally invasive surgical techniques and noninvasive treatments. To learn more, call 281.725.5225 or visit SugarLandBackPain.com.