July/August 2021 - Absolutely Katy Magazine

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JULY/AUGUST 2021

Houston Community College Northwest

Creates a Pipeline to Success

Katy ISD Elementary School {Cane Island}

What’s Kickin’ in

Katy

Medical FOCUS


BALLOT

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6 ual n n A

Vote for your favs and see who wins the title of

December 2021

Vote online at fortbendfocus.com August 1st to September 30th

2021 Food Favorite Brunch: Favorite Pub: Favorite Wine Bar: Favorite Happy Hour: Favorite Martini: Favorite Margarita: Favorite Steakhouse: Favorite Pizza: Favorite Burger: Favorite Italian Restaurant: Favorite BBQ: Favorite Mexican Food: Favorite Seafood: Favorite Specialty Restaurant: Favorite Frozen Treats: Favorite Bakery: Favorite Coffee Bar: Favorite Healthy Eatery: Favorite Food Truck: Favorite Caterer: Favorite Fast Food: Shopping Favorite Gift Shop: Favorite Antiques Shop: Favorite Bargain Shopping: Favorite Grocery Store: Favorite Health Food Market: Favorite Jewelry Store: Favorite Spirits Store: Favorite Shoe Store: Entertainment Favorite Movie Theatre: Favorite Live Entertainment: Favorite Man Cave: Favorite Kids’ Entertainment: Favorite Sports Recreation: Favorite Fitness Gym: Favorite Country Club: Favorite Event Facility: Pet Services Favorite Day Care/Boarding Services: Favorite Grooming: Favorite Veterinarian: Favorite Pet Store:

Or mail completed ballot by September 23rd to: absolutely! focus media P.O. Box 1253, Richmond, TX 77406 Auto Services Favorite Auto Dealer: Favorite Auto Repair: Favorite Auto Services: Schools & Child Care Services Favorite Day Care: Favorite Private School: Favorite College: Favorite Technical School: Home Improvement/Maintenance Services Favorite Appliance Store: Favorite Garden/Landscaping Company: Favorite Pool Services: Favorite Plumbers: Favorite Heating/Air Conditioning Services: Favorite Home Improvement: Favorite Flooring Store: Favorite Interior Designer: Favorite Carpet/Cleaning Services: Professional Services Favorite Developer: Favorite Custom Home Builder: Favorite Real Estate Agent: Favorite Real Estate Company: Favorite Attorney/Law Firm: Favorite Bank/Credit Union: Favorite Insurance Agency: Favorite Financial Services: Favorite Florist: Favorite Salon: Favorite Photographer: Health Care Services Favorite Hospital: Favorite Doctor: Favorite Dentist: Favorite Orthodontist: Favorite Dermatologist: Favorite Plastic Surgeon: Favorite Wellness: Favorite Spa: Favorite Eye Care:

Thank you for participating in the 6th Annual absolutely! The Best Reader’s Choice of Katy’s Favorites! We aim to recognize the best businesses in the area, and with your help, we can. Be sure to cast your vote for your favorites!



CONTRIBUTORS

Nancy L. Rommelmann Family Law Attorney Page 8

MAY/JUNE 2021 VOLUME 18 | NUMBER 4

{COVER STORY}

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{Newsworthy}

4 HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE NORTHWEST CREATES A PIPELINE TO SUCCESS

Katy is quickly becoming an educational hub where children can be educated from Kindergarten through college - all close to home. With Houston Community College Northwest’s new campus opening soon, now there are more opportunities than ever for Katy students.

{Features}

8 TAX-FREE WEEKEND August 6th – 8th

10 MEDICAL FOCUS

{Columns}

8 FAMILY LAW Child Abuse Tip Sheet: What it is and What to Do if You Suspect Child Abuse

Health Care News You Can Use

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Announced for Katy’s Cane Island

10 SEWELL AUTOMOTIVE Benefits Katy ISD Education

An artist rendition of Houston Community College Northwest.

9 ONSITE KATY ISD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

JULY / AUGUST 2021 l TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 l www.absolutelykaty.com

Foundation Teacher Grants

12 KATY CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES Awarded Funds for Veteran’s

Assistance Grant for Second Continuous Year

{In Every Issue} 3 EXCLAMATION POINTS! 7 WHAT’S KICKIN’ IN KATY


EXCLAMATION POINTS! Publisher, PATTI PARISH-KAMINSKI Vol. 18 No. 4 JULY / AUGUST 2021 281.690.4242 www.absolutelykaty.com absolutely! focus media P. O. Box 1253 Richmond, Texas 77406

PUBLISHER Patti Parish-Kaminski AC C OUNT EXECUTIVE Kay Garrett A RT D I R E C T O R Grace Belleza WEB DESIGNER Joey Belleza S O C IA L M E D IA M A NA G E R Natalee Moore I T S U P P O RT A D M I N I S T R AT I V E / S A L E S A S S I S TA N T Kolton W. Kaminski CONTRIBUTORS M.G. Angulo Nancy L. Rommelmann INQUIRIES 281-690-4242 E D I T O R IA L S U B M I S S I O N S Patti@absolutelyfocusmedia.com

Freedom for the Ages It’s been said what a difference a day makes. Well, what a difference a year makes when comparing this summer to last summer. We’ve shed – for the most part – the one item we learned to never leave home without. I don’t care what American Express says about, “Don’t leave home without it.” I left my AMEX card home many times over the past 18 months, but I always had my mask. That was the important Momma and Kolton shopping at a real store – in person – for his birthday. Freedom! accessory you could not leave home without in 2020. This summer is different. Vaccines are readily available to combat the catastrophic C-virus. Restaurants are open to dine in. Galas are popping up again, the word “vacation” is being used liberally and we can go to the movies – all novelties based on our experience last summer. I actually attended a luncheon last month - with real live people in person! I hardly know what do with myself now that there are so many options. I took Mother to an actual luncheon at Katy’s Palacio Maria with real live people – One of the things I absolutely plan on doing freedom! and would like to encourage all of my Katy friends to do is celebrate. Celebrating our freedom this July 4th truly means a just little bit more to me this year because I do believe the past year has taught us much about freedom. The pandemic taught us the freedom to work from anywhere, the freedom to educate our children in a different way and the freedom of time. Socrates said, “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” I believe the last year has been a reset for us. We had the time to be introspective – to assess our lives and prioritize what matters the most. And the things that made my list? Family, faith, friends and of course, freedom. Happy 4th of July Fort Bend! Absolutely yours,

Patti@absolutelyfocusmedia.com Published by

Subscription requests are free to Katy area addresses. Annual paid subscription of $25 required outside Katy area.

ON THE COVER: HCC Northwest President Zachary Hodges.

absolutely! KatyTM Magazine is published by absolutely! focus media, P. O. Box 1253, Richmond, Texas 77406. Copyright © 2021 by absolutely! focus media. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. absolutely! KatyTM Magazine does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial, nor do the publishers assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. absolutely! KatyTM Magazine welcomes editorial submissions from its readers.

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Houston Community College Northwest

Creates a Pipeline to Success T he trajectory of Katy becoming a gamechanging, influential educational hub is undeniably clear, if the growth and goals of Houston Community College’s (HCC) Northwest College are any indications. And there is evidence, to be sure. The city is already home to Katy ISD, one of the most acclaimed school districts in the state, and now, Houston Community College Northwest is partnering with the University of Houston (UH) at Katy for an educational effort that one former Texas representative calls “a strong contribution to the community.” “I can’t say enough about the educational opportunities Houston Community College offers,” said former Texas Representative Bill Callegari. HCC Northwest is one of six colleges within the Houston Community College District and serves several communities, including Katy, where it is now constructing a new campus. “It allows so many people who would otherwise not have been able to have access to a college education,” Callegari added. “HCC Northwest creates an opportunity for people who want to start over and find something new. It helps people do the things they thought they couldn’t. “I really can’t say enough. But I can say this: a community is only as good as its educational system.”

An artist rendition of the eastwest gathering.

COVER STORY By M.G. Angulo

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An Investment in Students and the Community

When Callegari and his wife, Ann, moved to Katy 50 years ago, Callegari found ways to serve the community through civic and professional organizations and local chambers of commerce. It was during this period of service — as a member of the Katy ISD school board in the mid-80s — that Callegari received his first inkling of the educational potential in Katy. That introduction came by way of the late Mary Alice Wills, an educator, historian and author who also served on the Katy ISD School Board as a trustee and then later as its president. For the last 25 years of her life, however, Wills was a Houston Community College Northwest instructor, academic dean and then dual credit coordinator. “She promoted HCC Northwest well,” Callegari recalled. “Particularly items that made it possible for high school students to get college credit during their high school career.” And that opportunity — the partnership between HCC Northwest and Katy ISD — allowed students to graduate with an associate’s degree from HCC Northwest on the same day as their high school graduation. Efforts such as these, Callegari said, are how education becomes “an investment in the students, of course, but also the community.” Katy is the prime example of that. One only needs to look at the fact that Houston Community College celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, Callegari emphasized. “HCC has accomplished a lot, and celebrating 50 years speaks well to what the college has done and how far it has come.” And, he added, with leaders like HCC Northwest President Zachary Hodges, Houston Community College Northwest has a promising path left to go. Callegari, who said he has been “a fan and a supporter of Hodges for a very long time,” shared memories from their time as members of a local chamber of commerce years ago, as well as his current work on an advisory committee Hodges created. “I’ve been a member since early on,” Callegari said of HCC Northwest’s Business and Community Steering Committee, which meets once a month to discuss high education opportunities or challenges. “The committee works closely with the Katy Area Economic Development Council, Katy Area Chamber of Commerce and Katy Business Association and includes owners, community leaders, business profes-

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An artist rendition of the campus entry. sional and faculty as members,” said Chairman of the Business Steering Committee Walt Sass. The group, he summarized, is a “diversified cross-section of the local community actively pursuing cost-effective, innovative and career readiness learning alternatives available for our local population, both young and old. HCC is an immeasurable benefit to the Katy Community,” Sass added. “It has provided quality education for the past 50 years, and we hope that they continue strong for many more years to come.”

A Powerful Partnership Ask anyone involved, especially HCC Northwest President Zachary Hodges: HCC Northwest is transcending expectations.

HCC Northwest President Zachary Hodges.

Since the 1990s, households have tripled in the Katy area, and “we’re moving with the population,” Hodges

said. Hodges has been involved with Houston Community College for 40 years, and the last 26 of them as president of HCC Northwest. And, as the Greater Houston area continued to advance, so did Houston Community College. “People have continued to learn, and they are returning to college to learn new software and skills, and change careers,” Hodges shared. “Houston Community College provides a lifelong learning opportunity, which is critical for us all.” Houston Community College has served Katy since 1979, and it has a “long history of moving our campuses west,” Hodges said. The first campus to serve Katy opened 25 years ago at Fry Road and Park Road. Now the college announced its new Katy facility set to open in Spring 2022.

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An artist rendition of the learning commons. The new campus will sit on a 24acre tract of land at Colonial Parkway and the Grand Parkway, and the most advantageous feature of the campus, Hodges noted, is that it will sit directly across from the University of Houston at Katy. The proximity of the campuses was not by happenstance, Hodges explained. The co-location is part of a partnership between HCC Northwest and UH at Katy. Just like its collaboration with Katy ISD, this co-location partnership provides students with a head start in their college career by allowing them to enroll in and complete their first two years of basic courses at HCC Northwest. Following the freshman and sophomore years, they can finish their studies at the UH at Katy campus across the street. “Students can start their education in Katy and complete it in Katy,” Hodges said. “And they can get a head start on their college degree and save a lot of money.” But it is not just students who benefit from the cooperation between HCC Northwest and the UH at Katy, Hodges stressed. “Any business and industry coming to the Katy area can see what kind of professional workforce training in the area and the employees we instruct,” he said, explaining that premier workforce training begins in the Katy ISD and continues through completion at UH at Katy. Because of the partnership with UH at Katy, HCC Northwest’s student enrollment is projected to be more than 7,000 within five years of opening. “Higher education is a key part of the

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JULY / AUGUST 2021

infrastructure and quality of life in the Katy area. It contributes to upward mobility.” This is why the opening of the new Katy campus is exciting, Hodges said. Not only will the campus be larger, and therefore be able to educate a swelling student population, it will offer programs and courses that give graduates a competitive edge. “HCC Northwest is nothing like the old concept of a junior college,” Hodges said. “We provide access and opportunity.”

Creating a Pipeline HCC Northwest offers computer science courses, such as advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity and digital information systems, which are all ideal for students who want to step into the workforce immediately. The campus also offers an agriculture and horticulture program, business courses, as well as an advantageous engineering academy that allows students to be jointly enrolled in HCC Northwest and UH at Katy. Houston Community College students have two options for securing an engineering degree from the University of Houston. They can take

the traditional route of completing an ASES degree at HCC Northwest and transferring to the University of Houston. Or, students can enroll in the UH/ HCC Engineering Academy. Houston Community College offers only one other such academy, and it is located at the Fraga Eastside campus. “At the new Katy facility, the University of Houston and HCC Engineering Academy program allows students to take their core curriculum at HCC, and their engineering classes next door at UH at Katy, while being officially enrolled as a UH Cougar from day one,” said committee chairman Sass, who is a partner with Weisser Engineering & Surveying, a civil engineering and land surveying firm based in the West Houston/Katy area. “The cost savings and flexibility of this program is a tremendous benefit to the student,” he said, adding that he, too, took classes at Houston Community College. Sass added that most of his children and grandchildren attended Katy ISD schools and then enrolled in Houston Community College in some capacity through the years. “HCC Northwest is valuable,” Callegari said. “It helps propel future and further advances the community.” Hodges agreed. “This is a strong and unique partnership we have in this community,” he said. “And through it, we’re creating a pipeline from kindergarten to a bachelor’s degree.” For more information about the new Houston Community College in Katy, visit hccs/edu/newkatycampus.

An artist rendition of the learning commons entry.


What’s Kickin’ in

The Dream Team of Flooring Professionals

Katy

Freedom Celebration Sunday, July 4th 9 pm The City of Katy will hold its Annual Fourth of July Fireworks display near Katy Mills Mall/Typhoon Texas. When parking for the firework display, do not move street closure barricades and do not park on roadway shoulders or street medians – this is for public safety and helps with traffic control after the show. Visit cityofkaty.com. Congressional Update with Troy E. Nehls Thursday, July 8th 11:30 am – 1 pm Hear Congressman Troy E. Nehls as he provides a congressional update hosted by The Katy Area Chamber. The event will happen at Perry’s Steakhouse, located at 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd. Visit KatyChamber.com. The Impact of Learning Loss Thursday, July 29th 11:30 am – 1 pm Join a panel discussion and luncheon to talk about the impact of learning loss as a result of the pandemic in districts such as Katy ISD, Royal ISD and Lamar CISD. Limited space available. Register and pay to reserve your spot. Visit KatyChamber.com. Chamber Connections Networking Meeting Thursday, August 5th 7:30 am – 9 am Looking for a chance to network with like minded business professionals? Come to Katy Area Chamber of Commerce at Shell FCU Community Room, located at 814 East Ave., Ste. H, to connect with other businesses through a casual, lightly structured networking meeting. Call Ashley DeWispelaere at 281-391-7423 or visit KatyChamber.com.

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Child Abuse Tip Sheet: What it is and What to Do if You Suspect Child Abuse By Nancy L. Rommelmann PLLC Family Law Attorney Child abuse is defined in the Texas Family Code as an act or omission that endangers or impairs a child’s physical, mental or emotional health and development. Child abuse can take the form of emotional or physical injury, sexual abuse or exploitation, physical or medical neglect or inadequate supervision. Emotional injury is inflicted on a child by verbal assaults that may take the form of belittling, namecalling, screaming, threatening or telling a child that s/ he is “worthless” or “bad.”

DO:

1

Listen to a child if they say they are being abused. Document a child’s injuries, bruises, etc. by taking a child to a pediatrician. Confer with a professional to help you address the issues with which the child is dealing. Keep a journal of repeated bruises, etc. observed on the child for which the other Conservator does not have a credible explanation. Take action if the other Conservator allows a family member or a “significant other” (boyfriend/girlfriend) to use corporal punishment on your child.

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FAMILY LAW

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Nancy Rommelmann is regularly consulted by local media for her on-air analysis about family law.

Straight Answers • Strategic Thinking Compassionate • Experienced Nancy L. Rommelmann Family Law Attorney

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ph 713-622-3000 www.attorneynancyrommelmann.com Call us today for a consultation!

FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY

DON’T:

1

Ignore a child’s outcry regarding abuse. Ignore a child’s repeated requests not to be returned to the other Conservator. Ignore signs of a child’s developmental regression after being in the care of the other Conservator. (i.e. regression in potty training, speech, exhibiting aggressive, destructive or disruptive behavior). These can be indicators of abuse/neglect. Ignore frequent absences or tardiness from school. Think because you are not the ”primary caretaker,” Conservator or relative of a child that you have no power/rights or responsibility to prevent abuse/neglect of a child.

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If you permit your child to be in a situation where s/he may be injured, then you may be prosecuted for child abuse. Consult with a knowledgeable family attorney about your options. The Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) has a toll-free, 24-hour Family Violence Hotline: 1-800-252-5400. (https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/victims/childabuse.shtml) “The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.” ~ Albert Einstein

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August 6th - 8th, 2021 During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Comptroller encourages all taxpayers to continue practicing social distancing and support Texas businesses while saving money on tax-free purchases of most clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks (sold for less than $100) during the annual Tax-Free Weekend. Qualifying items can be purchased tax free from a Texas store or from an online or catalog seller doing business in Texas. The sales tax exemption applies only to qualifying items bought during the sales tax holiday. Items bought before or after the sales tax holiday do not qualify for exemption, and there is no tax refund available. For more information, visit comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/ publications/98-490/.

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NEWSWORTHY

Onsite Katy ISD Elementary School Announced for Katy’s Cane Island Cane Island, Katy’s first master-planned community north of I-10 consistently ranked as one of the area’s top sellers for new homes, will add an onsite Katy ISD elementary school scheduled to open fall 2022. Within walking distance for Cane Island residents, the community’s new onsite elementary will be located at 7400 Innovation Drive near Cane Island Parkway. The district is expected to announce a name for the new school in the coming months. “As the primary driver of new home sales north of I-10, we knew it was just a matter of time before we could open an onsite elementary school right here in the community,” said Lawren Eckhardt, Cane Island director of marketing. “Our families value a Katy ISD education and certainly having an elementary school right in their backyard is a huge plus for the community. Residents have been looking forward to this for quite some time.” Cane Island’s new onsite elementary is expected to offer spacious classrooms, collaborative learning spaces, leading edge teaching technologies and prominent natural light throughout the campus. Residents will continue to attend Katy Junior High School and Katy High School. The announcement of a new onsite elementary school comes as the Katy enclave of new homes by Rise Communities continues its steady growth. Most recently, Cane Island added 152 homesites spanning three new 50-foot sections. Announce-

An artist rendition of the new onsite Katy ISD elementary school.

ments of other new sections are expected soon. New homes in Cane Island start in the low $300s including move-in ready homes at or near completion. A limited number of homesites also are available on premium, half-acre properties in The Estates, Cane Island’s custom home neighborhood. In addition to new homes by acclaimed builders, Cane Island offers its resort-style Cane Quarter where residents enjoy year-round use of a two-story fitness center, yoga studio with on-demand classes, lap pool, lagoon-style family pool and cabanas, children’s water playground and central lawn. To reach the Katy community of new homes, take the Cane Island Parkway exit off Interstate 10 minutes west of the Grand Parkway. Head north on Cane Island Parkway and take the roadway directly into the community. Visit www.CaneIsland.com for more information.

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NEWSWORTHY

Sewell Automotive Support Benefits Katy ISD Education Foundation Teacher Grants

Medical Focus

Health Care News You Can Use

Comprehensive, compassionate and cutting edge care for women of all phases.

Dr. Ken Gregorski, Dennis Nobles, Lance Baker and Mike Van Hoozer.

The Katy ISD Education Foundation is pleased to welcome Sewell Automotive Companies as a second-round Platinum Investor with an annual $10,000 pledge. Support from investors like Sewell directly impact the Foundation’s Inspiring Imagination teacher grant program. The Katy ISD Education Foundation’s sole purpose is to provide resources through Inspiring Imagination teacher grants that enrich teaching, inspire learning and enhance opportunities for Katy ISD teachers and students. “Sewell’s support for the Katy ISD Education Foundation signals their commitment to the thousands of teachers and students impacted annually by our Inspiring Imagination teacher grant program,” said Mike Van Hoozer, Katy ISD Education Foundation Board President. “Teacher grants are our foundation’s sole purpose and the single beneficiary of our investor contributions. We are grateful for Sewell’s partnership with us.” “It is our honor to support the Katy ISD Education Foundation, an organization that places a high value on inspiring learning and creating opportunities for our teachers,” said Carl Sewell, chairman at Sewell. “We strive to be great partners of the communities in which we serve, and nothing is more important than providing for the education – and educators – that will enrich the lives of young people now and into the future.” Sewell is committed to giving back and improving the communities the company has the privilege to serve. Sewell proudly supports hundreds of local events and organizations each year, and focuses on partnering with organizations that benefit education, the arts, and children’s charities and causes. The Katy ISD Education Foundation has awarded over $2 million to teachers across Katy ISD through its Inspiring Imagination teacher grant program, impacting students in classrooms all around the district. Funding for the program is provided by long-term investors like Sewell Automotive and annual foundation fundraising events Fireflies & Foodtrucks and GROOVE. To learn more, contact 281396-6031 or visit www.katyisdeducationfoundation.org.

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Medical Focus Natural Medicine Traveling with Kids During COVID-19 Summer is here — and families are ready to hit the road. Children’s Memorial Hermann Pediatrics offers some tips before you go. Get vaccinated before your vacation. You should receive the second dose at least two weeks before your trip. Avoid destinations with spikes in COVID-19 cases or that are overcrowded. If possible, drive rather than fly. Check the CDC travel website before making plans. Airlines may require pre-testing, depending on your destination. Masks are required if you travel by plane, train, bus or other forms of public transportation into, within or out of the U.S., as well as at transportation hubs. Masks also may be required in public spaces, including restaurants, museums and cinemas. Children two-years-old and older must wear masks on planes. When you eat out, dine outdoors, if possible. Also wash hands frequently, and wear masks, if not fully vaccinated, and social distance among those outside your household. If you’re fully vaccinated, you do not need to self-quarantine after your return, unless you have high fever, cough or other symptoms of COVID-19. The CDC says unvaccinated people should get a viral test three to five days after traveling. Those who test negative should selfquarantine for a full week. Ask in advance about day care and school testing rules, and leave a time buffer between the end of vacation and the start of classes. Don’t travel if anyone in your family or group has a high fever, chills, cough or other signs of COVID-19. For more information from Memorial Hermann, visit memorialhermann.org or call 713.222.CARE (2273). See ad on page 1.

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Feeling Old? Maybe It’s Your Thyroid Are you too young to feel so old? Symptoms such as fatigue, memory loss, achy joints, loss of stamina, weight gain and feeling cold may be inevitable signs of aging, but maybe not. Hypothyroidism is perhaps the most common hormonal problem affecting men and women today. Hypothyroidism can affect young or old, male or female. But the lab reports that your thyroid hormone levels are “normal.” Now what? Undue emphasis may be placed on hormone levels. Such an emphasis causes symptoms to be ignored. This is why many hypothyroid individuals are overlooked. The fact is that each individual is different, and each of us has our own optimal thyroid hormone level. One size does not fit all. So, your thyroid hormone level might be in the normal for someone else, but is it optimal for you. Symptoms provide the likely answer. If you have symptoms then something is wrong. We use the word “symptoms” to describe things that are not normal. Think about this: You and your symptoms are the reality. You know how you feel; the lab doesn’t. Therefore, maybe it makes more sense to recognize individuality and look at symptoms first and lab values second. Dr. David P. Sheridan believes that symptoms might best be evaluated and then treated in a thyroid hormone context. A “therapeutic trial” of natural thyroid hormones is safe and may help. Thyroid hormones are normal body compounds. Rather than introducing something foreign, we are simply adjusting hormone balance. Together, let’s search for an answer. Call 281-705-6690 or email Dr. Sheridan at dps@pmlctex. com for a free e-booklet. JULY / AUGUST 2021 l

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Katy Christian Ministries Awarded the Funds for Veteran’s Assistance Grant for Second Continuous Year For the second continuous year, Katy Christian Ministries (KCM) is honored to announce that they were chosen to receive the Funds for Veteran’s Assistance (FVA) Grant from the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC). The grant allows KCM to continue to provide services to the proud veteran community in the Katy area through the KCM “Help-a-Hero”

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campaign that’s aimed at providing critical resources for local veterans. The FVA Grant will serve veterans throughout Harris, Fort Bend and Waller Counties. Previously, the grant was restricted to certain zip codes, but this is no longer the case. KCM is honored to have the privilege to continue to work with the TVC as they serve the proud vet-

JULY / AUGUST 2021 l TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 l www.absolutelykaty.com

NEWSWORTHY

erans of Katy, their dependents and their surviving spouses. To be eligible to receive benefits, veterans must bring a copy of their DD 214, verification of income/residence and a photo ID. Other assorted documents may be needed in the absence of others. Dependents need to bring a copy of the veteran’s Uniform Services Identification Card and a copy of either their Marriage, Birth or Adoption Certificate. Surviving spouses must bring a copy of the veteran’s Uniform Services Identification Card, their Marriage Certificate, Death Certificate or a previously listed form. The FVA Grant gives KCM the support to extend some of their services to veterans in the community. These include Rent/Utilities Assistance, Transportation Assistance, Child Care Assistance and other various services available through their Social Services Department. Veterans Assistance through the FVA Grant is being directed by KCM Case Manager and U.S. Veteran Lucia Delgado. Delgado previously led the assistance efforts last year to great success. From July 2020 to March 2021, Delgado and the KCM Social Services Department assisted 78 Veterans, nine Dependents and four Surviving Spouses. KCM’s Executive Director Deysi Crespo is honored to have the privilege to continue to serve local veterans in their time of need. “The veterans of this country and community, have given so much to us. They have allowed us our freedoms and sacrificed a great deal for it. Having the opportunity to serve them is an honor that I am beyond humbled by. They worked to defend us in our hour of need. Now is the time to defend and provide for them.” The FVA Grant will officially go live July 1st, when the new TVC Grant Cycle begins. More information can be found at www.ktcm.org.


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Water Damage Air Duct Cleaning Upholstery Cleaning Restoration Services Tile & Grout Cleaning

24 Months No interest financing

For all your flooring needs . . . Family-Owned Offers Exceptional Service and Quality Care

281.829.2222

angeliccarpetcleaning.com

Angel & Glen Baney Owners

2020 S. Fry Rd. #F • Katy, Tx 77450

281.647.8100

katycarpets.com

Discount cannot be combined with any other discounts or offers. Code: ABKAT • Expires: August 31, 2021



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