April 2013 - Fort Bend Focus Magazine - People • Places • Happenings

APRIL 2013

Memorial Hermann & Sugar Land Skeeters:

A Winning Team

Fort Bend's

FINEST IN MEDICINE

AUTISM

Awareness Month Happenings

GO GREEN $2.95

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

for Earth Day

281-969-4132 | 877-284-0644 ClassiCChevyhouston.Com

13115 southWest FWy (@ highWay 90-a) • sugar land, tX 77478 HOURS: 8-8 Mon-Fri, 8-6 Sat

SERVICE HOURS: 7-6:30 Mon-Fri, 8-5 Sat

VISIT US ON FACEBOOK!

www.Facebook.com/ClassicChevySugarLand

Locally Owned & Operated.

DON KERSTETTER Owner

FINDNEWROADS

Compounding Corner Pharmacy, Inc. ®

THE ONLY PCAB-ACCREDITED COMPOUNDING PHARMACY IN FORT BEND COUNTY

www.compoundingcornerpharmacy.com

The Gold Standard for compounded medications in

Fort Bend County

• A ccredited • E ndorsed • E xperienced SPECIALTIES

Photo by Nesossi Studios

Bio-Identical Hormones • hCG • MIC B-12 • Glutathione Tri-Mix • Hydroquinone • T3 • Veterinary • Fertility • Libido Dermatology • Pain Management • Autism

For the discerning patient:

Shannon Maguadog, Pharm. D. Compounding Specialist/Owner

• DISCOUNTS: We offer 20% off 90 units of capsules, mL’s of cream, troches, etc., 35% off of 180 units and 40% off ≥360 units.

• SAME DAY PROCESSING: Most medications are finished the same day. Anything ready after 6:00pm will be ready at 9:00am the next business morning.

• TESTING: We regularly test our products for potency, sterility and endotoxins.

• EXPERIENCE: All of our compounding staff are highly trained, ACPE-certificate earned and state registered compounding experts, each with years of experience. We are not a teaching pharmacy and do not have students rotating through our pharmacy.

• ACCREDITED: We are the only accredited compounding pharmacy in Fort Bend County.

281-494-7777 • 1730 Williams Trace, Ste. K, Sugar Land www.fortbend

.com • April 2013

1

Light Up Your Room

During our Lighter Side of Living Sales Event, save on a variety of window coverings, draperies and bedding. Free upgrades also available. Ask for details Free Measure with Purchase

Low Price Guaranty on Hunter Douglas Products

J & L Distributors

707 Avenue E | Stafford TX 77477 M-F: 8:00 - 6:00 | SAT: 10:00 - 4:00 Evenings By Appointment 281-403-6733 jldistributors.hdwfg.com

Michael-James Russo Interior Design Consultant, Window Coverings Specialist

281-403-6733 Ext 305 mjrusso@jlblinds.com

fort bend

magazine • April 2013

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LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE NOW! Do You Experience: Fatigue Insomnia Weight Gain Thyroid Issues Low Testosterone Seasonal Allergies Gluten / GI Issues Brain Fog / Memory Loss Mood Swings / Depression Test Yourself Today We can help! Call TODAY to get your life back!

281-313-7435

www.drshel.com

$200 OFF

Bio-Identical Hormone or Testosterone Replacement Package Valid thru 4/30/13 (cannot combine with any other discounts)

Dr. Shelena C. Lalji, “Dr. Shel” Board Certified Physician Health & Wellness Expert

Dr. Shel’s mission is to help patients reclaim their lives. She combines her integrative medical expertise with the most advanced aesthetic technologies to provide unparalleled treatments that promote beauty, wellness and vitality. Her special approach empowers her patients to look and feel their ABSOLUTE BEST!

1437 H wy 6, S uite 100, S ugar Land, T x 77478

www.facebook.com/drshel

www.twitter.com/drshel

We’re taking mammograms to a whole new dimension.

3 - D MAM MOG R AM S

Now available at St. Luke’s Sugar Land Hospital According to the American Cancer Society, the early detection of breast cancer saves thousands of lives each year. One of the newest tools in this effort is 3-D mammography, or tomosynthesis, which is now available at St. Luke’s Sugar Land Hospital.

3-D mammograms allow physicians to take images from different angles, providing sharper, better quality results and a reduction in “false positives.” The new technology is recommended for women with dense breast tissue and allows physicians to view images with pinpoint accuracy in order to detect smaller tumors earlier.

See if a mammogram is the answer for you.

Call 281-637-7001 today for an appointment.

StLukesSugarLand.com Highway 59 one block north of Highway 6 at Lake Pointe Parkway | 1317 Lake Pointe Parkway, Sugar Land, TX 77478

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COVER STORY April 2013

14 TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME From little league players to the Sugar Land Skeeters, Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital continues to keep Fort Bend County athletes healthy by providing orthopedic services and weekend sports medicine services, sponsoring an annual triathlon and giving back to the Fort Bend sports community.

Sugar Land Skeeters Derek Blacksher, Michael Nix and Gary Majewski. Photo by Nesossi Studios

COLUMNS

F E AT U R E S

20 FOCUS ON FINANCE

24 GET OUTSIDE, HOUSTON

Will You be Able to Afford Care Tomorrow?

Enjoy Earth Day

86 HIGH SCHOOL HOT SHOT

26 TEXANA CHILDREN’S CENTER FOR AUTISM CHANGES LIVES

Gabriel Camera: A “Shot” of Perfection

HOME

Meet Abrahim Shabib

28 AUTISM EVENTS

Check out these family friendly events in Fort Bend, and help bring awareness to Autism.

48 LOOSE BACK CUSHION? TIGHT BACK? It’s All in the Sofa

74 SIMPLE STARTERS

38 2013 WORLDFEST

To Spring Cleaning

International Film Festival

41 SUMMER FUN

Summer will be here soon!

Get a jumpstart on your summer plans.

49 MEDICAL FOCUS

Learn about Fort Bend’s finest medical providers

83 MAKE YOUR YARD PICTURE PERFECT

Meet this month’s recipient on page 87!

Add these finishing touches so that your yard goes from so-so to something you can be proud of.

fort bend

magazine • April 2013

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CONTRIBUTORS

APRIL 2013

|

VOLUME 9

MEDICAL & BUSINESS 25 BUSINESS BRIEFS

Tap into the world of business in Fort Bend

NEWSWORTHY 47 FORT BEND CHRISTIAN’S LADY EAGLES Win State Runner-Up

73 COME CELEBRATE

The 10th Anniversary Sugar Land Wine and Food Affair

75 UNITED HEALTH HEROES GRANTED AWARD To Fight Childhood Obesity

H O M E T H E AT R E 40 MUSIC OF THE HEART 75 THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW This Time Together

76 MARVIN’S ROOM

FILM REVIEW 82 THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES

|

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NUMBER 6

absolutely!

AUTO REVIEW

20

92 2013 DODGE DURANGO

IN EVERY ISSUE

24

10 PUBLISHER’S PREVIEW 30 SEEN ON THE SCENE

26

Photos from Fort Bend County charitable events

78 OUT & ABOUT IN THE HEART OF THE BEND A few snapshots of people, places and happenings

38

90 COMMUNITY CALENDAR Fun events the whole family will enjoy

48

94 AMATEUR PHOTO CONTEST A winning shot by a local photographer

74

95 FOCUS FAVORITES

Looking for a service provider?

Find one here.

86

96 LIVING THE SWEET LIFE

The Breeze at Dawn Has Secrets to Tell You, Don’t Go Back to Sleep

88

absolutely!

DELICIOUS 88 VINE SLEUTH

92

Wine Country Getaways Not Far from Houston

95 absolutely! DELCIOUS LISTING

96

ON THE COVER:

Rehal Bhonaji, MD with Jarrett Johnson, Kendall Diepraam, Kennedy Diepraam, Grant Haralson and Anna Haralson in the Memorial Hermann Children’s Play Land at Constellation Field.

Photo by Nesossi Studios fort bend

magazine • April 2013

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Nancy Mills Writer Page 14 Will Hardee Hardee Investment Group Page 20 Jennifer Elliott absolutely! Memorial Page 24 Linda K. Eaves Writer Page 26

Nick Nicholson Entertainment Editor Page 38 & 82 Kelly Nolan Simply Divine Interiors Page 48 Caron Lopez Grand Windows and Interiors Page 74 Lauren Benoit Writer Page 86

Amy Gross VineSleuthUncorked.com Page 88 Steve Kursar Auto Enthusiast Page 92 Alisa Murray Alisa Murray Photography Page 96

Ask These 10 Questions To Make Sure Your Dentist Stacks Up 1

Does your dentist still use a drill?

Does your dentist have an intra-oral camera

6 that not only takes a picture of your tooth

Laser technology allows us to offer pain free, no shot fillings. Why do it the old fashioned way?

No high pitched whine or vibration from the grinding of the drill. Kids never become afraid of the dentist.

but also lights up decay?

You read that correctly! An intra-oral camera so small it fits inside your mouth and not only takes a picture of your tooth, but also lights up decay in RED. Now we can show you your tooth on a 20” TV, magnified 50 times, and shine a specialized light to find decay on the biting surfaces and in between 2 teeth. Truly Amazing!

Does your dentist check for

2 cavities with a precise laser?

With a painless laser, we can detect cavities earlier than the eye can see them. The laser scanner can detect new cavities years before any other means of cavity detection.

Does your dentist have massage chairs

7 and satellite TV?

Your comfort is our #1 goal. Relaxing in a warm massage chair while watching a movie or your choice of 119 channels, is the best way we can think of for our patients to enjoy themselves while we do all the work!

Does your dentist recommend 3 extractions for crowded teeth?

Give your child a full smile for life.

No Extractions-Orthodontics with convenient, no hassle after school appointments as late as 6:30 p.m.

Does your dentist offer 12 months

8 no interest?

We work with our patients to provide easy payment options with no interest. This frees you from using those high interest credit cards.

Does your dentist offer before 4 & after work appointments?

Before & After work appointments that fit into your jam-packed schedule. Appointments start as early as 7:30 a.m. and as late as 6:30 p.m., and of course, appointments on Saturday.

5

9

Does your dentist have an internet cafe?

Check your email and surf the net on brand new iMac computers while you enjoy a cup of gourmet coffee.

Does your dentist have digital x-rays?

Instant images the size of a computer monitor.

Remember those old x-rays that were 1” x 2“ ?

Imagine the difference looking at a clear image 16” x 16” with all the software abilities that go along with computers. We can magnify a suspicious area and basically see inside the tooth. An added benefit for you is 1/10 the radiation needed.

Tim Cashion, DDS

Does your dentist have a movie theater?

10 No Kidding!

What could be more fun than waiting in a comfy armchair watching movies? If you don’t feel like checking your email at the internet cafe, come into the theater and recline and relax. This is not like the dentist when you were a kid!

Teresa Cody, DDS mydentist@windstream.net A $25.00 flat fee for an x-ray & consultation A $74.00 value Low cost way to find out what’s wrong (Does not include cleaning)

Formerly Cashion & Cody Family Dentistry and Orthodontics

17003 SW Freeway, Suite 100, Sugar Land, TX 77479

www.candcdental.com www.candcortho.com www.fortbend

.com • April 2013

Call us now!

281-206-4482 9

EXCLAMATION POINTS! THE INSIDE SCOOP STRAIGHT FROM THE TOP Vol. 9 No. 6 April 2013

Publisher, LISA FREDRICKSON

4655 TECHNIPLEX DR. STE 400 STAFFORD , TX 77477 281-690-4242

Hello Fort Bend Friends, We are so excited about all the fun things to do around the county this spring – starting with baseball. My son is currently playing for First Colony Little League, and they are in full swing! And, in just a few days, the Sugar Land Skeeters will have their opening day game. Memorial Hermann is sponsoring a “Kids Get in Free” program for the game. Read all of the details in our cover story on page 14, and learn about Dr. Rehal Bhojani, the team doc.

Lisa, Michael, Jack and There is so much to cover that we have listed sevCarter Fredrickson eral activities and events throughout the month of April that are fun for the entire family. Some of the many charity events include the Sugar Land Bash, the Oyster Creek Rotary Crawfish Boil, and the Runaway Scrape at George Ranch Historical Park. And, we’ve devoted a special calendar listing on all of the happenings for Autism Awareness Month including “Strike Out Autism” hosted by the Sugar Land Skeeters and benefitting Blessed Be Hope For Three.

As always, Fort Bend Focus has been out and about in the Bend. Check out our Seen on the Scene photos starting on page 30.

We have also compiled several fun summer activities in our Summer Fun Guide starting on page 41. Sign up your children early so they don’t miss a thing this summer.

Living in Fort Bend County is like living next to the Medical Center. We have the very finest right here in our own back yard. This is always a huge special section for us since there is literally every kind of doctor and specialist you may need in Fort Bend. Check out our Medical Focus full of interesting and informative medical information.

I hope everyone enjoyed Spring Break and that Easter was a blessing to you and your family.

Stay focused!

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

EXECUTIVE PUBLISHERS Michael & Lisa Fredrickson E D I T O R- I N - C H I E F Patti Parish-Kaminski SENIOR AC C OUNT EXECUTIVE Jessica Kij AC C O U N T E X E C U T I V E S Melissa Huckabee Henry Pineda, Jr. A RT D I R E C T O R Grace Belleza GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Ginger Garza Christopher Hernandez C O M M U N I C AT I O N S C O O R D I NAT O R Sarah Greeson A D M I N I S T R AT I V E DIRECTOR Erin Sanders WEB DESIGNER Joey Belleza PHOTOGRAPHER Nesossi Studios CONTRIBUTORS Lauren Benoit Linda K. Eaves Jennifer Elliott Amy Gross Will Hardee Steve Kursar Caron Lopez Nancy Mills Alisa Murray Nick Nicholson Kelly Nolan INTERN Bunty Keo INQUIRIES 281-690-4242

READER FEEDBACK

E D I T O R IA L S U B M I S S I O N S editor@fortbendfocus.com

Dear Lisa,

Patti,

Ridge Point High School Booster Club thanks you for your generous support of our Mardi Gras Masquerade Booster Ball. Thanks to your generous donation, you helped us raise $60,000 for all of our student athletes! We are happy to let you know that, because of donations like yours, we are able to finally fund the concession stand for the school. Thank you very much for your continued support of our Panther athletes!

You’re making dreams come true.

Thanks to your publications for your support and to Fort Bend Focus for making Dew House number 87 on the 100 Most Fascinating (and my daughter Brigit number 21!). You’re so appreciated!

Sincerely, Kim DeLuca Booster Ball Committee

WWW.FORTBENDFOCUS.C0M

Subscription requests are free to all Fort Bend addresses. Annual paid subscription of $25 required outside the Fort Bend area.

Lisa Glenn

Fort Bend FocusTM Magazine is published by absolutely! focus media, 4655 Techniplex Dr., Ste. 400, Stafford, TX 77477. Copyright © 2013 by absolutely! focus media. All rights reserved.

Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. Fort Bend FocusTM Magazine does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial, nor do the publishers assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. Fort Bend FocusTM Magazine welcomes editorial submissions from its readers.

Facebook.com/FortBendFocus Ticket giveaways to area attractions and events. fort bend

Published by

magazine • April 2013

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Welcomes You to Our New Home a l i s c e p S l Apri l

i apr

coolsculpting: Buy one area, get the second area 30% OFF BOTOX $10 per unit 20% OFF all skin Medica Products Buy one syringe of Juvederm, get the second syringe 50% OFF $3000 for Ulthera Treatment for face & neck

281•313•0555 16926 Southwest Freeway Sugar Land, TX 77479 Like us on Facebook

Eric Humble, M.D.

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

BeautyBecomesYou.com MyLuxuryMedSpa.com

WHERE you need us WHEN you need us For every stage of a woman’ s life.

Comprehensive, coordinated care AND a focus on women The OB/GYN physicians at Fort Bend Medical and Diagnostic Center offer convenient and comprehensive medical care to women of all ages.

Our services include:

n Well-woman

n Obstetrical

exams and gynecological care. services for prenatal, pregnancy and post-pregnancy care, including high-risk pregnancies. n Vaccinations and screenings, such as routine Pap smears, bone density tests and mammograms. n Minimally invasive procedures – from permanent birth control to robotic surgery and total laparoscopic hysterectomy. n Treatment of heavy or abnormal menstrual cycles, ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids.

women ’ s health a t

One location. Multiple health services.

At Fort Bend Medical and Diagnostic Center you’ll find board-certified physicians specializing in 24 medical specialties to serve the complete needs of your entire family. For added convenience, we offer an onsite lab, X-ray and Kelsey Pharmacy with drive-thru service.

WELCOMING NEW PATIENTS and 50 HEALTH PLANS

Our OB/GYN physicians from the left: Yasmin Engineer, M.D., Eric Peterson, M.D.,

Yetunde Adigun, M.D., Jagjit Khairah, D.O.

24-Hour Appointment Scheduling: 713-442-0000 or visit kelsey-seybold.com/fortbendwomen

Take Me Out to the Ball Game Memorial Hermann continues to keep Fort Bend County athletes healthy

W

ith the season opener just days away, area youngsters are sure to be shouting, “Take me to a Skeeters ball game.”

As the exclusive sponsor of the “Kids Get in Free” program, Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital makes this easy to do. Children 12 and younger who wear a youth sports jersey can receive free admittance to the lawn seating area of Constellation Field. A ticket is required and available on game day on a first-come, first-served basis. The box office opens one hour before game time, unless otherwise noted.

Memorial Hermann serves as the official healthcare provider for the Sugar Land Skeeters. In the team’s locker room at Constellation Field are Sugar Land Skeeter Gary Majewski, Skeeters Medical Director Rehal Bhojani, MD with Sugar Land Skeeters Michael Nix and Derek Blacksher.

COVER STORY

By Nancy Mills Photos by Nesossi Studios

During the Sugar Land Skeeters 2012 inaugural season, the “Kids Get in Free” program provided admission to 2,500 area children.

“The partnership between our organizations has bolstered community outreach, promoted healthy living and educated our fan base to the benefits of being active,” said Skeeters Team President Matt O’Brien. “We are excited to further our commitment to youth baseball initiatives in the future through programs generously provided by Memorial Hermann.”

Along with the “Kids Get in Free” program, Memorial Hermann Sugar Land sponsors the Children’s Playground area at Constellation Field and serves as the official healthcare provider for the Sugar Land Skeeters, providing all medical services to the players. This includes everything from primary and specialized healthcare to laboratory and surgical services. Memorial Hermann also provides players with a dedicated athletic trainer and nutritionist, as well as an onsite physician during home games.

“We do our best to keep the players healthy and happy,” said Rehal Bhojani, M.D., medical director of the Skeeters and part of the Memorial Hermann Medical Group. “There’s a high expectation among players that they’re always at 100 percent, fort bend

magazine • April 2013

14

so the focus of our medical team is to keep or get each Skeeters athlete to peak performance.”

The Memorial Hermann medical team provides an extensive physical once a player signs with the Skeeters. Besides daily access to the athletic trainer, players have easy access to a member of the Memorial Hermann medical team for all medical needs. In addition to handling players’ typical sprains, strains and tears, the medical staff treats their colds, allergies and other minor conditions.

During the Skeeters’ inaugural season, the medical staff even treated a couple of fractures, something that rarely happens in baseball.

Prior to each home game, Dr. Bhojani, who is board certified in both family medicine and sports medicine, makes training room rounds of the roughly two dozen minor league players. Having worked closely with them, he has gotten to know the players well and feels privileged to work with them.

“They’re a great group of guys,” said Dr. Bhojani of the Skeeters players. “We want to maintain a good atmosphere and camaraderie in the clubhouse so the players feel comfortable coming to the medical team for help, but at the same time, we are very aware that our job is to always provide the highest level of professional services.”

Orthopedic Services from Shoulder to Toe Memorial Hermann Sugar Land has a long-standing commitment to Fort Bend County’s sports and fitness enthusiasts.

From serving as official healthcare provider for the Skeeters, high school athletic

of shoulder, hand, wrist, elbow, knee, foot, ankle, concussion and nonoperative sports injuries.

Physicians with RBJ and affiliated UT Physicians, as well as Fondren Orthopedic Group, provide orthopedic care to the Sugar Land Skeeters. Fondren Orthopedic Group has offices in Sugar Land and Richmond.

Rehabilitation services are available at three Fort Bend County locations, including the Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Professional Building, Sugar Creek and Williams Trace. In addition to sportspecific rehabilitation, specialized services are available including aquatic, prenatalpostnatal, speech and hand therapy.

“These collaborations and healthcare services are part of Memorial Hermann Sugar Land’s emphasis on orthopedics and sports medicine outreach,” said hospital CEO Greg Haralson. “We know the Fort Bend community values sports and recreational activities, as both participants and spectators, so we’re committed to being an active participant in helping them enjoy these activities to the fullest.”

Weekend Sports Medicine Services

Rehal Bhojani, MD with Jarett Johnson, Grant Haralson, Anna Haralson, Kendall Diepraam and Kennedy Diepraam at Memorial Hermann Children’s Play Land at Constellation Field.

teams and area recreational leagues, to providing care to the weekend warrior, Memorial Hermann Sugar Land has a host of healthcare providers and services to help Fort Bend area residents maintain their active lifestyles.

Richmond Bone & Joint Clinic (RBJ), with more than 20 physicians and three locations in Fort Bend County, is part of the Memorial Hermann Medical Group.

RBJ physicians have special training in general orthopedics; sports medicine; pe-

diatric orthopedics; spine surgery; and the services of specialists in hand, wrist, shoulder, foot and ankle injuries, joint replacement, podiatry, rheumatology, pain management and rehabilitation.

Additionally, UT Physicians affiliated with the Memorial Hermann Ironman Sports Medicine Institute see patients in the Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Professional Building. These affiliated physicians and orthopedic surgeons specialize in sports medicine and the treatment www.fortbend

.com • April 2013

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Memorial Hermann Sugar Land knows that weekends are prime time for athletic activities and possible injury. To support sports enthusiasts and athletes of all ages and abilities, the hospital offers a Saturday Sports Injury Clinic. Located at the Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Professional Building, the clinic is open Saturdays, year-round from 9 to 11 am.

Staffed by sports medicine specialists affiliated with Memorial Hermann, the clinic offers complimentary assessments of all sports injuries. Full diagnosis and treatment is available and billed to insurance. Walk-ins are welcome, but to confirm scheduling and office suite number, call ahead to 281.725.5333.

Giving Back to the Sports Community Since 2007, Memorial Hermann Sugar Land and its affiliated physicians have provided free, comprehensive sports physicals to student athletes in Fort Bend

County public and private schools. The value of these services totals more than $50,000.

“These sports physicals are not wellness exams, but are meant to screen student athletes for conditions that could potentially be worsened by playing in a particular sport,” said Dr. Bhojani, who also serves as medical director of the Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Sports Medicine Outreach Program. He oversees the sports physicals and the physicians, who like him, volunteer their time to administer the exams.

In addition to reviewing an athlete’s medical history and gathering important measures and screening data, the sports physicals include heart and musculoskeletal screenings. The latter evaluates the health and function of joints, nerves, muscles and other connective soft tissue.

Ricky Tullos is head football coach and campus athletic coordinator at Lamar CISD’s George Ranch High School. He sees numerous benefits to the sports physicals, which are held on the school campus during school hours, generally with the school’s team physician present. “First and foremost, we know we have the best physician staff performing sports physicals on our student athletes,” he said.

While Memorial Hermann Sugar Land does not charge for the physicals, some sports booster clubs do so to raise funds for their programs. To learn more about sports physicals, call 281.725.5333.

Triathlon Now in 16th Year For serious sports enthusiasts, ages 10 and older, Memorial Hermann Sugar Land annually sponsors a USAT-sanctioned, short sprint triathlon in Sugar Land. The 16th Annual Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Triathlon is set for Sunday, June 23 beginning at 7 am. The race will field 600 triathletes, many first-timers.

The triathlon begins with a 300-meter, dual-start pool swim at First Colony Aquatic Center. It is followed by a 10-mile bike ride and three-mile run through the shaded Sweetwater Boulevard area. Race coordinator is Finish Line Sports. Proceeds from the event benefit 14 area nonprofit organizations. To learn more or to register, visit signmeup.com.

Sugar Land Skeeters Derek Blacksher, Michael Nix and Gary Majewski with trainer Max Mahaffey.

Strike Out Autism Family Fun Day at Sugar Land’s Constellation Field Sunday, April 21st Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital invites the community to support Blessed Be Hope for Three, a non-profit organization supporting Fort Bend County families with autism, at the Strike Out Autism event on Sunday, April 21st.

The event, supported by the Sugar Land Skeeters, the Honorable Judge Bob Hebert and Fort Bend County mayors, will provide a fun day for 100 local families affected by autism, while helping increase awareness about the condition.

A National Autism Foundation study shows that autism now affects one in 88 children. The incidence is higher in males, affecting one in 54 boys. In Fort Bend County public schools, more

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magazine • April 2013

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than 2,200 children have been diagnosed with autism and related disorders.

Autism is a treatable, lifelong condition that requires expensive therapy. Darla Farmer, executive director of Blessed Be Hope for Three, said specialized schooling can cost more than $60,000 annually per child.

Blessed Be Hope for Three will hold a silent auction during the game to help raise funds to provide family assistance and resources to Fort Bend County families with autistic children. Funds go directly to approved service providers or treatment centers.

To learn more, visit www.hopeforthree.org

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tatistics have shown that people are living longer than they ever have. While this is generally viewed as a positive thing, longer lives can also mean many expensive years that need to be paid for late in someone’s life. Instead of allowing your nest egg and assets to be eaten up by healthcare costs (which drastically rise with age), you need to be prepared, especially if you don’t want to pawn these expenses off on your children or grandchildren.

I’m often asked, “What is long-term care insurance?” That’s a great question. Insurance can be confusing. Simply put long-term care insurance (LTCI) is an insurance policy that helps pay for the care you need when you can no longer care for yourself. It protects your family’s financial future and shields your own investments and savings.

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It is generally recommended you have long-term care insurance in place by the time you are sixty years-old. I however, believe mid-fifties is a more appropriate age to apply for LTCI. The reason being you are in better health during your younger years. The longer you delay applying for long-term care insurance, the greater the chances you’ll pay a higher premium for your coverage or in some cases your application will be rejected altogether, which defeats the purpose of LTCI. Most individuals view long-term care insurance, or life insurance for that matter, as a daunting task. Applying for insurance is relatively easy and the Hardee Investment Group can help. When applying for LTCI, be prepared to share medical information such as family health history, whether you’ve had cancer, stroke, heart at-

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Get Outside, Houston

Enjoy Earth Day

By Jennifer Elliott

M

other Nature blesses Houston with wonderful weather in April. So, there is no better time to get outdoors and celebrate Earth Day. Houstonians have several activities to choose from this year.

Waste Management Earth Day Houston presented by Air Alliance Houston is scheduled for Sunday, April 14th from 11 am to 5 pm at Discovery Green. Features include environmental education zones on Air, Land, Water, Sustainability, Healthy Living and Wildlife and Habitat. New this year, the event will also be showcasing local brews in the Earth Day Beer Garden.

“This event has grown every year and is really the educational, community oriented Earth Day celebration that the people of Houston deserve,” said Air Alliance Houston President Bob Levy. “And, the best part is that everyone in the family can have fun while learning about our environment.”

Urban Harvest Local Fare will be open in support of locally-grown and sustainable products featuring Bee Hives and Water Cisterns, Bonsais and other flowers and Organic Doggie Treats. Join in the fun with Green Painter and help “paint by number” on larger than life canvasses depicting scenes of our hope for a sustainable earth. Kids will enjoy the Health Corps Stage providing family focused entertainment. For more information, visit www.earthdayhouston.org.

Children’s Museum of Houston Earth Day Extravaganza happens on Saturday, April 20th. Kids can take home seedlings to plant in their own backyards, as well as make a birdfeeder using recycled water bottles. As part of the Museum’s ongoing EcoStation exhibit, children can visit ReUsea-Palooza. They will learn that one

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way to reduce the amount of material that ends up in our landfills is to re-use old items for a new purpose. They can sort through a variety of recycled materials and re-use them to create something new, like a magazine holder or flower pot.

At the Junktion exhibit, kids can create a Texas-shaped guide of area wildlife, make a recycle pinwheel to remind everyone of the importance of recycling, or make a 3-D Earth souvenir. For more information, visit www.cmhouston.org.

If you are more inclined to stay close to home, your own backyard offers the perfect place to celebrate nature.

Kimberly Bird, Vice President Retail Marketing at Cornelius Nursery, Lily Bird in her backyard garden. has a couple of suggestions.

Plant Some Groundcover. Groundcovers are great for problem areas of the landscape where grass doesn't grow well.

There's also an earth friendly benefit to groundcovers because they require less water and less maintenance. Cornelius offers a clinic on groundcovers on April 20th. Visit www.calloways.com/event/ using-groundcovers-landscape.

Garden Fun for Children. Teach kids about reusing things and growing things by creating some tin can planters.

Save a can from the garbage and clean it up. Decorate the can and put a hole in the bottom. Plant seeds, take care of them and watch them grow. Gardening is one of the most eco-friendly activities you’ll ever engage in.

“Earth Day celebrates the planet and all the wonderful natural resources we enjoy as passengers here. For me, one of the most significant actions a parent can take with their child on Earth Day is to step outside and take in some of the natural wonder all around us. Slow down long enough to be present with your child in observing the earth and what it provides. If we teach our children to value the earth, they’ll have a deeper sense of why caring for it is so important,” commented Bird.

BUSIN E S S BRIE F S

Texana Adds Two Board Certified Behavior Analysts To Staff Texana’s Behavior Improvement Center is delighted to announce that Nicole Leonard and Anna McGhan are the latest staff members to pass their examinations to become Board Certified Behavior Analysts.

Nicole Leonard attended Stephen F. Austin State University where she received her BA in Psychology, and MA/Ed.S in School and Behavioral Psychology. She worked as an individual trainer at the Shorkey Center in Beaumont before coming to Texana Center as an intern to complete her Board Certification in Behavior Analysis. Leonard also completed a separate internship in preparation for her Licensed Professional Counselor examination.

Anna McGhan joined the staff at Texana Center in June 2009 after interviewing with Dorothea Lerman, Ph.D., BCBA at the University Houston-Clear Lake, School of Human Sciences and Humanities, who recommended that she apply to work at Texana Center in order to gain good experience. She received her MS from the University of Houston-Clear Lake while working at Texana. McGhan always knew that she wanted to work with children and actually had an uncle with an intellectual disability. So, with a background in behavior and biology she soon found that becoming a Behavior Analyst was the perfect fit for her.

Texana’s Kate Johnson-Patagoc commented, “It always makes us very proud when our staff pass their certification, as it takes a lot of dedication and hard work to achieve this success.” www.fortbend

.com • April 2013

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Texana Children’s Center For Autism Changes Lives: Meet

Abrahim Shabib

By Linda K. Eaves

Abrahim, Nora, Karim and Mohammed Shabib.

Photo by Nesossi Studios.

A

pril is World Autism Awareness Month created to do just that: bring awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) through the dissemination of education and information. But, what exactly is autism? Autism is a complex developmental disability that causes problems with social interaction and communication. Symptoms usually start before age three and can cause delays or problems in many different skills that develop from infancy to adulthood.

In the case of Nora Shabib, though she didn’t know it at the time, autism entered her family’s life when she began getting e-mails from her son’s teacher early on. The teacher’s concern? Abrahim wasn’t using as many words as an 18-month-old should.

When he was two-years-old, Nora took Abrahim to the doctor for a checkup. He had such a hard time at that appointment; the doctor suggested intervention services. Nora and her hus-

band, Mohammed, thought it was the language delay affecting his behavior – frustration from not being able to communicate.

Nora was at home with a new baby, Karim, and attributed Abrahim’s difficult behavior to the “terrible twos.”

The couple also has an older daughter, Nawal, and since Abrahim was the middle child, they thought maybe it was middle child syndrome. “We were really struggling,” said Nora. fort bend

magazine • April 2013

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Although Abrahim was in speech therapy and was improving somewhat, it was obvious there was something going on. “I was reading everything that I could. We knew something wasn’t right, but at that time, we didn’t want to think that it could be autism. It was a very difficult time with a four-year-old and a baby.”

Because he’s a beautiful and happy boy – he laughs, plays and makes eye contact with his mom and dad – Nora and Mohammed didn’t want to believe Abrahim might be autistic. “Just within the last year I still didn’t want to believe. I just recently started talking about it. I was in denial. I’ve come to accept it, and that motivates me to do more for him – learning about autism, going to training workshops and reaching out to other parents.”

Before he was three, Abrahim was getting services through Fort Bend County’s Early Childhood Intervention Project Grow run by Texana. Their speech therapist would come to their home and have therapy sessions with Abrahim.

“She helped me get an Admission Review and Dismissal (ARD) at the public school and talked to me about red flags.

She mentioned the Texana Children’s Center for Autism program and the cost.

There was no way we could afford it, so I put it out of my mind. Plus, Abrahim didn’t have a diagnosis at the time.”

Abrahim went to Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities (PPCD) for a year and then, Head Start a full day with typical kids. He was diag-

nosed through The Autism Center at Texas Children’s Hospital and was placed in PPCD a half day with typical kids and a half day in the special education classroom.

Abrahim was also having speech therapy and occupational therapy (OT) privately. Nora and Mohammed had heard about Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), which seemed to be the best treatment for early intervention – intensive therapy in a one-on-one or small group setting. ABA is currently the one method proven to make profound changes in autistic children.

“It’s expensive and a lot of insurance companies don’t pay for it,” explained Nora. “I began researching, and I remembered the speech therapist who told me about the program at Texana, so I contacted them. I was put on a waiting list. I didn’t have any hope of getting in.”

But Nora received a call that they were accepted into the DARS grant program. “Part of it is funded through the government, and we pay a portion based on our income. I feel really blessed to get into this program.”

Rachel Hoffman: Board Certified Behavior Analyst Rachel Hoffman has been working with Abrahim for almost a year. “He’s a bright boy and has acquired many new skills,” she said.

Abrahim loves attention from his teachers, so they focus on providing praise and attention when he is engaging in appropriate behaviors. They remove their attention when he engages in inappropriate behaviors.

When he runs from staff to play chase instead of asking staff to play with him, they simply ignore the action of running off, retrieve Abrahim, and prompt him to ask for chase by saying, “I want chase!”

“Once he has asked appropriately, we proceed to laugh and chase him within the safety of our gated playground,” said Hoffman. “Due to his love of chase, we use every opportunity to have a peer play chase with him. His brother, Karim, has been very helpful. Typically, we provide a

Board Certified Behavior Analyst Rachel Hoffman and Abrahim Shabib.

Photo by Nesossi Studios.

prompt to his peer, or Karim, to ask him to play chase. They choose who will be the chaser and who will be chased.”

This method has led to the development of other skills. “Abrahim will listen to the instructions of his peers – stand up, come here, let’s go – and he will imitate their actions during group instruction by clapping hands, dancing and vocally imitating. He will sit quietly during a group instruction of ten other peers.”

Recently, Abrahim was included in the bridge program with typically developing peers and autistic children. He’s doing well and acquiring new skills, which indicates his ability to be successful in a

Mohammed, Nawal, Karim, Nora and Abrahim Shabib. www.fortbend

.com • April 2013

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less structured environment. “Although I’m sad to see him leave, I’m very excited about his transition into the school district and believe he will continue to be successful,” shared Hoffman.

Increased Family Happiness Abrahim has been in the program at Texana for two years. He is more compliant, and his language, literacy and math skills have improved. He is able to label things and ask for them, and his social skills have improved.

“Before, we wouldn’t venture to eat at a restaurant because Abraham would get overstimulated and would want to leave,” said Nora. “Going to the mall and grocery store was an ordeal. If I wanted to accomplish anything, I’d have to plan to have someone to hold his hand. I’d have to call my mom. Now, we enjoy going out as a family to the park, to eat out or to the mall. Before Abrahim began at Texana, doing things that people take for granted was a huge ordeal for us. It’s helped our family life a lot. I’m so pleased with his progress.”

For more information about Texana Children’s Center for Autism, visit www. autismspeaks.org or contact Ellen Catoe at 281-239-1497.

April

Autism Awareness Month

Happenings

Sweet Treat

It’s Tee Time!

Who: Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt When: April 2nd and April 10th (Sun-Thurs., 11 am – 10 pm; Fri. – Sat., 11 am – 11 pm) Where: Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt, 4767 Sweetwater Boulevard, Sugar Land Why: Benefits families living with autism during Autism Awareness Month.

What: Stop in for a sweet treat at Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt. Percentage of sales benefits Hope for Three Family Assistance fund. Be sure to mention Hope for Three when ordering. For more information, call 281-491-7082.

2nd Annual Texana Autism Conference Who: Texana When: April 6th, 8:30 am Where: The Hyatt Place, 16730 Creek Bend Drive, Sugar Land Why: Hear informative talks regarding autism and how to help children with autism. Topics include common assessment tools, early language acquisition and teaching new skills. Registration begins at 8:30 am, Sponsored by and the conference begins at 9 am.

Tickets are $25, which includes breakfast and a mid-morning snack. Call 281-239-1435.

Car Wash for Kids Who: Area High School Students and Chase Bank Employees When: April 7th, 11 am – 3 pm Where: Chase Bank, 4997 Sweetwater, Sugar Land Why: Increase community awareness about the leading developmental disability in the United States – autism.

What: An opportunity to empower and enable youth to make a positive contribution to the lives of other young people with unique abilities. Organized by teen volunteers Kristen Overgaard, Allison Bellman and Regan Hermes.

Visit http://hopeforthree.org/car-wash-for-kids or call 1-800317-0787. fort bend

Who: Red E Golf When: April 8th, 6 – 9 pm Where: Red E Golf, 19875 Southwest Freeway, Suite 140, Sugar Land Why: Support a great cause and share in fellowship with your community.

What: Stop by and take a swing at supporting autism awareness. Red E Golf is excited to host a fun-filled evening benefiting Hope for Three. Two simulators will be reserved for golfers who want to try their luck on the course or just hit range balls: one will have a “closest to the pin and long drive” contest and an X-Box hooked up to a 9’x 14’ big screen for the kiddos. Bring the family; there’s karaoke, too! Feel free to bring your own golf clubs. Tickets are $25. Email Info@redegolf.com or call 281-343-7333.

Texana Goes “Bollywood” at The 2013 Reaching For The Stars Who: Texana When: April 12th, 6:30 pm Where: Safari Texas Ranch, 11627 FM 1464 Road, Richmond Why: Texana Center is a 501(c) 3 public, not for profit organization that provides behavioral healthcare and developmental disabilities services to residents of a six-county area.

What: Get ready for an outing to exotic India as Texana Center’s Reaching for the Stars 2013 Gala goes Bollywood.

The evening will include great food, fabulous entertainment and the chance to bid on unique items in the live and silent auctions. Table sponsorships are available and begin at $1,500. Individual tickets are $100 each. For tickets, call 281-239-1427 or visit www.texanacenter.com.

magazine • April 2013

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ASK THE EXPERTS

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S E E N on the Scene

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Our team of Relationship Managers takes the time to get to know you, your business and what it takes to build a solid financial future. They share over 150 years of combined commercial banking experience and are right here in Fort Bend to make decisions and loans—faster.

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33

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S E E N on the Scene

Exchange Club of Sugar Land Spaghetti Dinner Benefiting Several Local Charities

Joni Stinger & Annalee Machemehl Randy Garrison & Joe Machacek

Don Burns, Leslie Woods & Jim Kij

Darlene & Wally Fratt

Gladys Blumfield & Charlie Meyer

Kevin Barker & Rod White

fort bend

magazine • April 2013

Susie Kern with Scyler, Dawson & Triston Merriman

34

February 22, 2013 • Fluor Cafeteria

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S E E N on the Scene

Fort Bend Education Foundation Gala Benefiting Fort Bend Independent School District

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February 23, 2013 • Sugar Land Marriott Hotel

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2 013

WORLDFEST

INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

By Nick Nicholson

F

ive features from Asian filmmakers, several compelling documentaries, suspense stories, romances and a good number of comedies are on the slate at the 46th edition of WorldFest, the annual Houston 10-day festival that showcases independent films from the United States with local filmmakers highlighted. This year's dates are April 12th through 21st, and film lovers should expect to take in some 50-plus features and 108 short films, all

Different Drummers

screening at the AMC Studio 30 Theatres.

WorldFest, founded in 1961, is the third oldest independent film festival in the United States. This annual event has evolved into a competitive independent international film festival showcasing the rising stars of tomorrow produced by WorldFest Houston, which is a non-profit educational and cultural organization with a 501 (c)(3) status.

WorldFest Executive Director Hunter Todd revealed the 2013 line-up during a reception at La Colombe d'Or that was attended by film critics, programmers, actors, directors, festival devotees and representatives of various Houston consulates including Germany, Italy, Mexico and Jamaica. In addition to the screen-

Lad: A Yorkshire Story

ings, there's the usual group of additional activities including: six master classes in film/video production and distribution, an opening night champagne gala, the Remi Awards gala dinner and a Regatta & Texas BBQ complete with Longhorn steers and a sailboat race at the Houston Yacht Club. Shawn Welling's internationally acclaimed urban dance troupe, Planet Funk, will provide the entertainment during the WorldFest Awards dinner.

Festival headquarters have moved to the Marriott Westchase at 2900 Briarpark Drive, so look for the master classes, seminars, and the awards gala, all open to the public, at the new location. For more information, ticketing, trailers and updates, visit www.worldfest.org.

Surkhaab

Directed by Lyle Hatcher and Don Coron Different Drummers is a true story from 1965 which follows a hyperactive fireball named Lyle and his best friend David, who’s in a wheelchair with muscular dystrophy, as they test their grade school principal, the laws of gravity and even the existence of God. When David accurately predicts the death of their fourth grade teacher and attributes it to a Devine Message, Lyle feels compelled to challenge David’s claim.

Lost For Words Directed by Stanley J. Orzel Amid sweeping cityscape of cosmopolitan Hong Kong, Anna and Michael’s paths cross and a platonic friendship turns into an irresistible love. Will love survive?

Surkhaab Directed by Sanjay Talreja

Lad: A Yorkshire Story

An illegal immigrant and a carrier who is on the run in a world alien from her own are at the center of the story. An exposure to the parallel world that exists in developed countries, the film portrays a week in the life of a human being trafficked.

Directed by Dan Hartley When Tom Proctor’s Dad dies, his world falls apart; his brother joins the army. His mom is threatened with eviction, and he faces a criminal prosecution after spreading manure over the local bank. All this changes, however, when Tom meets park ranger Al Thorpe in this inspiring story of two individuals overcoming adversity and finding true friendship. fort bend

magazine • April 2013

38

The House in the Wind of Dead Directed by Francesco Campanini Attilio is a former movie star fascist disgraced. In desperation, he joins a band of robbers to make a haul. After the robbery, Attilio and his friends run to the hills being hunted by police. They take refuge in a house that will prove to be a death trap.

Her Cry: La Llorona Investigation

The Daughter

Directed by Damir Catic

In this gripping suspense-thriller, the daughter of a wealthy mayoral candidate and her friends are held for ransom by a group of daring criminals. Soon, as tempers flare and tension mounts, secrets rise to the surface revealing that these kidnappers are after much more than just money.

The father of a missing teen contacted creators of a reality show called Paranormal Legends to inquire about one of their episodes from the past season, claiming that show had something to do with his daughter, Tina’s, disappearance. In order to help the father, the creator of the series, James Robertson, and his producer, Brian, along with newcomer to the series Andrea, take the trip to the place where some say La Llorona, the weeping woman, was seen.

Play Like a Lion Directed by Joshua Dylan Mellars American born Alam Khan is traveling to India on his first concert tour without his ailing father, legendary Indian sarodist, Maestro Ali Akbar Khan. Alam’s father, a multiple Grammy nominee, introduced Indian Classical music to the West and was, according to renowned master violinist Yehudi Menuhim, “possibly the greatest musician in the world.” When Alam feels the weight of living up to his family’s North Indian Classical music tradition, he remembers his father’s advice: “Don’t worry, Play Like a Lion.”

Seadrift vs The Big Guy

Seadrift vs The Big Guy Directed by Randall P. Dark The Texas Water Safari has earned its reputation as the world’s toughest canoe race. The race is 250 miles long and its participants have 100 hours to get from San Marcos to Seadrift. Jeff McAdams, a big, brash Texan who is known to “smoke a bit, drink a bit and is told he might be overweight” decides to do the safari because his friends tell him he can’t. Seadrift vs. the Big Guy is a battle of nature versus man that offers a look into this famous race and follows the Big Guy on what may be the dumbest dare he’s ever made.

Directed by Johathan M. Levine

Waves

Waves Directed by Corrado Sassi It is a noir on the sea: the story of three men who do not know each other and are sailing south. Only two are aware of the true reason for their journey – to commit a crime – while the third man shares with the public the anguish of a journey towards an unknown destination.

In Search Of The American Dream Directed by Baldemar Rodriguez This is a riveting story of five children and their adult brother as they desperately race across Texas for survival after their parents, who were undocumented for 30 years, were caught, arrested and thrown in jail. Now, deportation is only a matter of time. When Child Protective Services (CPS) threatens to separate them, the children are forced to abandon the only home they’ve ever known.

Tutti Giu

Please Kill Mr. Know It All Directed by Sandra Feldman Cynical Sally ghostwrites an advice column under the pseudonym “Mr. Know It All.” When a celebrity endorsement turns her column into an overnight success, Sally submits a sketch of Albert, a handsome stranger she spots in a movie theatre, as the face of Mr. Know It All. Unfortunately, Albert happens to be a contract killer and cannot walk down the street without being recognized. For the sake of his livelihood, he decides he must kill Mr. Know It All.

Uncle Hank Directed by Elbert van Strien Law student Koen rescues himself from a threatening situation with street scum by claiming that top criminal Hank de Koning is his uncle. He gets deeper into trouble as Uncle Hank, a few days later, rings at his door. Koen may return the favor for him, that for Koen, of course, is impossible to refuse. No, you don’t easily get rid of Uncle Hank.

Suicide Notes’ Ashley Atwood

Suicide Notes Directed by Travis Ammons

Directed by Niccolo Castelli Jullo, Edo and Chiara are three teenagers whose lives are sports. Jullo “is” his skateboard, Chiarra conquers the world on skis and Edo is a sprayer. One day, Jullo, Chiara and Edo suddenly discover their own lives, each in their own way. Fears, dreams, surprises, loneliness, uncertainty, expectations, impermanence and imbalance. Then, one moment, one second, one “click.” A click, after which they rediscover themselves, leads to either adulthood or unsparingly carries them away. www.fortbend

Please Kill Mr. Know It All

.com • April 2013

39

Suicide Notes is a modestly produced independent film which tells the story of down and out Julian Parker who has written a play in which the lead character commits suicide. Enter the team of money hungry producer, Marla French, and nudist director, Don Paulson, (audaciously played

by Sopranos vet Lou Martini, Jr.) who decide to mount his offbeat play with just one small catch. They are going to cast legitimately suicidal actors who will actually kill themselves on stage. Flat broke, Parker has no choice but to sign the contract.

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wo-time Academy Award winner Meryl Streep stars with Angela Bassett in a heartwarming, acclaimed true story of how one woman’s musical gift affected those who least expected it. Roberta Guaspari (Streep) overcame the skepticism of everyone who didn’t think she should be teaching violin to students in a tough inner-city neighborhood. But even after a decade of ever-growing popularity and countless success stories, Roberta and her kids must rise to meet an even greater challenge as budget cuts aim at shutting down her valuable program for good.

The film also stars Aidan Quinn and Grammy winner Gloria Estefan in a stellar cast. This extraordinary story will inspire anyone who has ever thought their dreams were too far out of reach.

fort bend

magazine • April 2013

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SUMMER FUN GUIDE Summer vacations are a time for kids to kick back, relax and most importantly, have fun. And just because school is out doesn’t mean that children need to forego learning in the pursuit of having fun. There are many activities that have the potential to be learning experiences. Parents can foster learning throughout the warm-weather months. Here are numerous ideas for maximum fun – enjoy!

SUMMER’SCOMING.

STAGE RIGHT

Entering 2nd through 6th Grade

4 Years Old to Entering 1st Grade

POWER OF PRAISE

Entering 7th through 12th Grade

SUMMER FUN GUIDE

FINE ARTS CAMP

SUMMERCAMPS@SLBC

ALL CAMPS RUN JULY 15-18 AND JULY 22-25 HTTP://SUGARLANDBAPTIST.ORG

281.980.4431 16755 SOUTHWEST FRWY, 77479

A Triple Bill Paquita, La Vie Est Belle, and Peter and the Wolf Guest Artist - Christopher Cardenas

Artistic Director - Sharon Teague Contemporary Choreographer - Kerry Jackson Ballet Mistress - Kristin Thomas-Martin

April 20th & 21st, 2013 Stafford Civic Center to purchase tickets visit

www.missouricityballet.org

Tickets also available for our

Tutus

Tees and Golf Tournament April 12th, 2013 Quail Valley Country Club

all proceeds benefit Missouri City Ballet 501(c)(3) fort bend

magazine • April 2013

42

info@missouricityballet.org

832-387-MCB1

SUMMER FUN GUIDE

SAFETY Summer

M E R I C A’ S

Sports Camp • Rope Swing • Moon Walk • Giant 20’ Slide • Kick Ball • Dodge Ball • Games & Movies

• Indoor Rock Climbing • Incredible 90’ Zip-Line • Karate • Ice Skating • Basketball • Jedi Sword Fighting • Stranger Danger Seminars First Colony Mall

281 980-3030

For Kids 4-12 Limited Enrollment - Register Today!

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www.safetyamericacenter.com

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Sugar Land Gymnastics • Ages 4 to 10 • Boys & Girls • Family Discounts • Register for 1-Day or All Summer

Jedi Sword Fighting • Gymnastics Giant 20’ Slide • Ninja Hide & Seek Stranger Danger Seminars • Moonwalk Dodge Ball • Arts & Crafts • Games & Movies www.fortbend

.com • April 2013

Sugar Land Gymnastics 16215 Lexington Blvd.

281-240-0999 SugarLandGymnastics.com Not a Licensed Day Care Center

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SUMMER FUN GUIDE

MYSATPOWER SAT & ACT Prep Designed With You In Mind MYSATPOWER Differs Significantly From Other Prep Programs We DO NOT take your valuable time to re-teach high school.

MySATpower provides you with personalized coaching to help work through the PSAT, SAT and ACT tests using our unique and specialized test-taking strategies.

MySATpower helps you enter college by customizing an easy to follow college readiness plan tailored to your specific needs.

MySATpower assists you with scholarship information, processing the necessary college admissions, and funding paperwork along with deadline reminders.

MySATpower helps you see dramatic increases in test scores by sharpening strengths, nullifying weaknesses, and helping conquer the PSAT, SAT, or ACT test.

Call Today 281.780.8713

No joining Fee April 22 - 30 Healthy Kids Day Sat., April 27, 10am - 1pm, Free Community Event

fort bend

magazine • April 2013

44

SUMMER FUN GUIDE

Camps • Classes • Parties • Events • Competitions Multiple camps each week. Small camp sizes.

• LEGO® & Robotics • Beginners to Advanced • Stop-Motion Animations • Programming Summer camp & Spring registration currently underway!

Your year-round robotics programs.

7320 Hwy 90A in Sugar Land 281-410-1768 or techno-chaos.com www.fortbend

.com • April 2013

45

• 3-D Printing • Engineering • e-Textiles • Arduino • Minecraft

SUMMER FUN GUIDE

www.rightchoiceforkids.org

The Walden School You have high expectations... and so do we.

Now Accepting Registration for Fall Infants through Pre-Kindergarten Private Kindergarten through 2nd Grade

Summer

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281-980-0022 • www.thewaldenschool.com

Transportation to Area Schools Kindergarten through Age 12

DANCE STUDIO Celebrating 40 Years of Dance in Missouri City!

Ballet • Tap • Jazz • Lyrical Hip Hop • Leaps & Turns Zumba • Dance Team Technique

Summer Dance Fun at RDS!!

Tutu Express Summer Dance Camp Ages 4-6 • June 25-29

Summer Dance Session Ages 3 & up • June 11-July 10 on Tuesdays & Wednesdays

281-499-3921 3643 Glenn Lakes Ln., Highway 6 • Missouri City www.robinsdancestudio.com

Guadalupe Riverfront DUPLEX

Each duplex can accommodate four adults and four children or rent both for groups.

More pictures at www.RioRatonDuplex.com 832-788-2294 fort bend

magazine • April 2013

46

NEWSWORTHY

Fort Bend Christian’s Lady Eagles Win State Runner-Up

Back Row: Morgan Urich, Bailey Wood, Lexy Sanford, Julia Tape, Kassidi Kaminski and Jennifer Andersen.

Center Row: Jessica Zak, Taylor Forrest, Olivia de St. Remey, Parker McCarley and Leah Dibble. Front Row: Briana LaChapelle, Danielle Thiessen, Dilora Ezenwukwa and Kat Mantel.

Photo by Nesossi Studios.

The Fort Bend Christian Lady Eagles basketball team made history this year by finishing the 2012-2013 season as the best in the history of the twenty-six year old school. The high school girls’ varsity basketball team broke – and established – virtually every school record in the sport, and the team concluded the year as the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) 4A State Runner-Up at the State Playoffs in Mansfield, Texas in March.

With a record of 41-4, the Lady Eagles won five tournaments during the season and claimed the District, Bi-District, Area and Regional Championships. They established school records for wins in a season games played, scoring, averaging 58.15 points per game, and margin of victory, with 23 points a contest.

All five starters on the team received numerous post-season honors. Seniors Briana LaChapelle, Bailey Wood and Taylor Forrest were all selected for the All-District First Team.

Senior Danielle Thiessen and freshman Kat Mantel were selected to the All-District Second Team. LaChapelle and Wood were both named All-State, with LaChapelle grabbing First Team All-State honors and Wood being listed on the Honorable Mention squad. Forrest and Wood were both chosen for the All-Tournament team at the state tournament.

Wood finished her basketball career as the all-time leading scorer and rebounder at Fort Bend Christian. LaChapelle is now the all-time leader in both steals and assists, and ranks third in the career scoring and rebounding charts. Forrest set the school record for most three point baskets made in a season.

“The success the Lady Eagles enjoyed this season is something we will always remember.

To win five tournaments and advance to the state title game, while winning 41 games, is an amazing accomplishment,” said Head Coach Jon Froelich, Fort Bend Christian Academy.

The Lady Eagles, coached by Jon Froelich with assistant coaches Brad Simmons and Cieara Watts, have won 101 games over the last three seasons, an average of over 33 wins per season. Though the team will graduate five seniors, the future continues to look bright for the Lady Eagles. The junior varsity program ended the season 21-4 with several players slated to suit up for next season.

The winning Lady Eagles are featured on a billboard for Fort Bend Christian Academy located at Highway 90 between Gillingham and Eldridge. The 2012-2013 Lady Eagles roster included Seniors Briana LaChapelle, Bailey Wood, Taylor Forrest, Danielle Thiessen and Leah Dibble; Juniors Jessica Zak and Morgan Urich; Sophomores Kassidi Kaminski, Jennifer Andersen, Julia Tape, Lexy Sanford, Dilora Ezenwukwa, and Olivia de St. Remey; and Freshmen Kat Mantel and Parker McCarley.

For more information about the Lady Eagles or Fort Bend Christian Academy, visit www.fortbendchristian.org, or call 281-263-9143. www.fortbend

.com • April 2013

47

Heritage Baptist Church a place to call home Schedule of Services SUNDAY Sunday School.................. 9:30am Sunday AM Worship...... 10:45am Bible Classes.................... 6:05 pm Sunday PM Worship...... 7:00 pm 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

HOME FEATURE

From March 1 to June 8 st

By Kelly Nolan

th

Loose Back Cushion? Tight Back?

It’s All in the Sofa

DAYS OF

GIVEAWAYS In celebration of our first 100 — and our next 100 — issues — Fort Bend Focus is giving away a prize every day.

Post daily on our page at www.facebook.com/fortbendfocus for daily drawings to win!

Giveaways run March 1, 2013 through June 8, 2013.

Contest rules at www.fortbendfocus.com Must include email address to be eligible to win.

fort bend

W

hen shopping for a new sofa, you can get overwhelmed very quickly with the process. So where do you start? We recommend looking at different interior design magazines to get an idea of the feel and style of a look that appeals to you. This can help narrow the process down quite a bit.

What are the different sofa style options? There is more than just narrowing it down to traditional or contemporary. Let’s start with the back styles. One big decision you need to make is to determine if you like a loose back cushion, an attached back or tight back. A loose back cushion tends to be more comfortable. However, one of the biggest complaints is that the cushions smash down or move around at times. With the attached back, it gives the look of the loose even though the top of the cushion is sewn to the back of the sofa. This keeps the cushion in shape without having to bother adjusting the pillows all of the time.

So what is a tight back? There are several options of tight backs. One is a smooth, flat back with a few decorative pillows added to allow for comfort and to give the client a more custom look. Another way a tight back is achieved is with tufting. The beautiful green sofa shown above has deep tufting and has a tight seat as well. “Of course, we will recommend a few pillows to add pattern and color to your room. We love pillows!” said Heather at Simply Divine Interiors.

Another finishing detail that you shouldn’t overlook is the legs of a sofa. If you are contemporary, keep it simple with a nice tapered leg. Now if you are more traditional or shabby chic, there are a few more fun options. For example, the bun foot is a classic, or a beautiful carved leg can set you apart from the every day sofa. If you do not want to see underneath the sofa, select a tailored skirt. If you are more in the shabby chic style, a gathered skirt can be adorable. Just don’t forget the legs; they can seem like a small detail but they play a big role!

Remember the way you and your family live. Let the sofa show your personality and style! Finally, have fun sofa shopping. It doesn’t just have to be a piece of furniture; it can be a piece of art!

For more designing tips, call Simply Divine Interiors at 832.437.3288. magazine • April 2013

48

M E E T F O RT B E N D’S MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS

Medical Focus H E A LT H C A RE NEWS YOU CAN USE

Learn about Fort Bend’s finest in medical providers

www.fortbend

.com • April 2013

49

Advertorial

Enjoy the Benefits of Straight Teeth with Invisalign

St. Luke’s Sugar Land Doctor Group

Sugar Land dentist Dr. Gary Hilsher has seen a lot of changes during his thirty years in dentistry. He remembers when the area where his office at Highway 6 and Austin Parkway (Dulles) was wide open pastures. As the landscape has evolved, so has dentistry.

Dr. Hilsher was one of the first general dentists to be a certified provider for Invisalign, the clear alternative to the old wires and metal brackets used to straighten teeth.

Invisalign utilizes electronic scans of the teeth to computer generate a series of firm, clear aligners – each worn about 2 weeks – which have built-in pressure points to reposition crooked teeth. Straight teeth not only give a nicer smile but are easier to clean, improving the chances of keeping your teeth and gums healthier. A brighter smile is also possible with free take home bleach following Invisalign treatment.

Of course, teeth sometimes require a little repair work. Tooth decay remains the second most prevalent disease in America.

Simple cavities can usually be restored with fillings, often with tooth colored materials. Dr. Hilsher also offers Zoom in-house bleaching, crowns, root canals and cleanings.

Call 281-265-3567 today to schedule a no-cost Invisalign consultation. For more information, visit www.drhilsher.com.

St. Luke's Sugar Land Doctor Group is committed to excellence and compassion in caring for the whole person body, mind and spirit. St. Luke’s Sugar Land Doctor Group has multi-specialty clinics—Cardiology, Primary Care and Orthopedics.

When choosing a physician for you and your family’s healthcare needs, choose St. Luke's Sugar Land Doctor Group. Affiliated with St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System, a nationally recognized leader in healthcare, St. Luke's Sugar Land Doctor Group is known for its dedication to excellence and delivering renowned compassionate care. If you are looking for leading edge care in cardiovascular medicine, Quocdai “Ooga” Park, M.D., is board-certified and specializes in Interventional Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease and Vascular Medicine and is dedicated to the prevention of heart disease.

Lesley Park, M.D., is a great choice for primary care. Dr. Park is board certified in Internal Medicine. She provides high-quality, individualized care, manages a wide range of health issues and is interested in women’s health and preventative medicine.

Eric Berkman, M.D., specializes in total knee replacement and shoulder surgery using the latest technology. He has been in practice for 19 years and is board certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery. St. Luke’s Sugar Land Doctor Group is conveniently located in Sugar Land’s Lake Point Town Center at U.S. Highway 59 and Highway 6.

To learn more about the physicians of St. Luke’s Sugar Land Doctor Group or to make an appointment, visit StLukesSugarLandDoctorGroup.com.

Straight teeth

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fort bend

magazine • April 2013

50

Gary A. Hilsher, DDS. 281-265-3567 4666 Hwy 6, Sugar Land www.drhilsher.com

www.fortbend

.com • April 2013

51

Advertorial

E i

Dr. Ryan Malone Joins Today’s Vision Sugar Land Dr. Thomas Arnold is pleased to announce that Dr. Ryan Malone is joining Today’s Vision Sugar Land this month. Dr. Malone and his family have been patients of the practice for a number of years. In fact, Dr. Malone worked at Today’s Vision for one year before entering optometry school.

Dr. Malone was born and raised in Rochester Hills, Michigan. He graduated from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and received his bachelor's degree in Biomedical Science from Texas A&M University in College Station. He then graduated with honors from the University of Houston College of Optometry after completing a nine month externship at the Santa Fe Indian Hospital. While in Santa Fe, Dr. Malone concentrated on the treatment of ocular disease with an emphasis on diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.

Dr. Malone currently practices as a therapeutic optometrist and is a certified glaucoma specialist. He is a member of the Texas Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association. In his spare time, Dr. Malone enjoys spending time with family and friends, golf, mountain biking and snowboarding. The doctors and staff at Today’s Vision Sugar Land are very excited to have Dr. Malone on the team.

For more information about Today’s Vision Sugar Land, visit www.2020sugarland.com or call 281-242-2020.

Exploring Your Options in Memory Care

Thomas P. Arnold, OD, Melissa C. Moeller, OD, and Associates Therapeutic and Pediatric Optometrists 15337 Southwest Fwy Sugar Land, TX 77478 Williams Trace @ Hwy 59

281-242-2020

www.2020sugarland.com

Frank Lee, OD, Mary Ghoubrial, OD, and Uyen Tran, OD Therapeutic and Pediatric Optometrists 8817 Hwy 6, Suite 100 Missouri City, TX 77459 Sienna Parkway @ Hwy 6

Innovative & Provocative for Spring

281-416-2020

www.todaysvision.com All major credit cards accepted. fort bend

magazine • April 2013

52

In life, making decisions for others can often be a more daunting endeavor than the choices we must make for ourselves. Many find the process of exploring memory care options overwhelming, but as with any big decision, the most important first step is to identify what you’re looking for.

Here are some factors you may want to consider: Level of on-site clinical resources should be among the most important considerations, particularly because of the progressive nature of memory-impairing illnesses. To avoid traumatic relocations and/or frequent hospitalizations, make sure the provider you are considering has the clinical resources to care for your loved one through the progression of their memory care needs.

A comfortable home-like environment has been shown to be an important element that can help reduce anxiety. When looking into your memory care options, consider the ambiance and look for details that help create the feeling of being at home. Are residents encouraged to move freely within the community and outdoor courtyards? Are residents and staff genuinely happy and engaged?

Socialization and engagement programs should also be an important consideration. Many clinical studies have shown the importance of sensory stimulation and age-appropriate, creative expression. These activities can help keep residents active and engaged, while promoting a sense of normalization that can enhance their overall quality of life.

Silverado is a nationally-recognized assisted living provider with an exclusive focus in memory care. To learn more, visit www.SilveradoSenior.com.

Enriching Lives in Sugar Land

Silverado Senior Living is a Memory Care Community committed to understanding

•

•

•

and addressing the spectrum of resident and family needs.

•

Highly skilled and responsive staff Memory care services for all levels of need Engagement programs that enable residents to be social and active Home-like environment

Come experience the Silverado difference (800) 724-6819

– Sugar Land – 1221 Seventh Street Sugar Land, tX 77478 Lic. #102469 & 132779

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silveradosenior.com/sugarland .com • April 2013

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Advertorial

Experience DEFINE Body & Mind Experience Houston’s most transforming workout studio: DEFINE Body & Mind. Develop strength, length and balance from any of their signature classes: DEFINE body, DEFINE mind or DEFINE revolution.

DEFINE’s signature 60-minute body class incorporates yoga, Pilates, ballet conditioning and core work to tone and sculpt the entire body. DEFINE mind is a soothing, 60-minute class focused on gaining flexibility, refreshing the body and calming the mind. DEFINE revolution is their take on indoor cycling, a 45-minute rhythm-based full-body workout on the bike.

The mission at DEFINE Body & Mind is to educate people on how to become their absolute best. We believe that physical strength, length and balance impact both states of mind and being. We create an atmosphere that inspires results, fosters community and gives back to others in order to achieve sustainable health and happiness.

DEFINE now has six beautiful Houston area locations: Sugar Land (now open), The Woodlands (now open), River Oaks, West U, Tanglewood and the Energy Corridor. Come try one of our core class concepts: body, mind or revolution!

DEFINE Sugar Land is located at16525 Lexington Boulevard next to the CVS. Email SugarLand@DEFINEbody.com to learn more about opening weekend specials.

See ad on page 18.

And Med Spa Lance Jue D.D.S.

Dental

• Same day all Porcelain Crowns • Lumineers/Veneers • 6 Month Ortho (coSmetic braces) • Snap on Smile

Med Spa

• Laser Hair Removal • Lime Light IPL Photo Facials • Facials (gold, caviar, Reg. facials) • Mink Eyelash Extensions Mink Eyelash Extensions $50 off (new clients only)

Faux Mink Eyelash Extensions $50 off (new clients only) We offer convenient early and late appointments.

Walk-ins, Insured and Non-Insured patients

281-277-9200

1447 Hwy 6, Ste. 100 Sugar Land, TX 77478 www.sugarlanddentalspa.com fort bend

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Sugar Land’s Best Kept Secret Dr. Lance Jue at A Beautiful Smile At Lake Pointe is a highly trained and experienced Sugar Land cosmetic and restorative dentist. Dedicated to state-of-the-art dental technologies, Dr. Jue prides himself on being at the forefront of the latest technology and research to provide clients with the best one-on-one dental care.

Dr. Jue has trained extensively with some of the most respected cosmetic dental specialists in the industry at the top dental institutions.

He is equally respected for his ability to communicate with clients on a personal level and educate them on various treatments to ensure they feel comfortable. Passionate about cosmetic, laser and general dentistry, Dr. Jue opened the first Sugar Land Dental and Spa Boutique in Fort Bend County. The practice has a medical aesthetician on staff to address the specific beauty and skincare needs of clients.

Dr. Jue’s licensed aesthetician specializes in proven and effective treatments for anti-aging, exfoliation, sun damage, rosacea, pore reduction, acne and hyperpigmentation and offers laser hair removal and detox body wraps.

Dr. Jue also has a licensed esthetician who specializes in eyelash extensions. Today’s semi-permanent lash extensions come in different types, colors and lengths to fit everyone’s definition of glamour. Clients can choose from pre-curled short, medium or long synthetic lashes that can look natural – think “athletic length” – or ultra dramatic for a red carpet look. Each individual lash is attached one-by-one and curved to replicate a natural eyelash for maximum volume.

For more information, visit www.sugarlanddentalspa.com or call 281-277-9200.

Advertorial

GASTROINTESTINAL CARE CONSULTANTS, P.A.

Timeless Plastic Surgery: Center of Excellence for Cosmetic Surgery

CERTIFIED DIPLOMATES OF THE AMERICAN BOARD OF INTERNAL MEDICINE AND GASTROENTEROLOGY

Beauty is timeless. At Timeless, we create beauty. With two Ivy League degrees, two doctorates and two surgical residencies, Dr. Chang’s qualifications speak for themselves. One of the most skilled plastic surgeons in the region, Dr. Chang has over 18 years of experience and training and has been performing cosmetic surgery since 1995 when he did his first rhinoplasty. He has many before and after pictures, and they are real.

Timeless Plastic Surgery’s internal mission is a unique customer service initiative called Timeless Concierge Care. While Dr. Chang performs all cosmetic plastic procedures on every ethnic group, he is best known for his signature Timeless Tuck. The Timeless Tuck is a gentle blend of a tummy tuck and liposuction that contours the waistline and removes excess abdominal skin. A second procedure that appeals to many patients is the Timeless Lift, a specialized facelift (rhytidectomy) that removes excess skin from the face and neck giving a natural-looking improvement. Lastly, the Timeless Dimple is an advanced modification of the original procedure, the dimpleplasty, made to be more predictable and personalized. A small incision is placed inside of the cheek, leaving no scars on the face.

Dr. Chang and his staff strive to provide what their patients want, when they want it, reasonably and safely with knowledge and skill. Timeless beauty is exactly what Dr. Chang strives to give his clients at Timeless Plastic Surgery.

Visit Timeless Plastic Surgery for a free consultation. For more information, visit www.TimelessPlasticSurgery.com or call 281-242-TIME (8463).

MADHUKAR KAW, M.D.

TOJO THOMAS, M.D.

• Heartburns and Ulcers • Colon Polyps, Colon Cancer Screening • Crohn’s Disease & Ulcerative Colitis • Irritable Bowel Syndrome • Viral and Non-Viral Hepatitis • Pancreatitis, Gallstones • Gastrointestinal &Pancreatic Cancers • Unexplained Abdominal Pain Procedures: EGD, Colonoscopy, ERCP, Endoscopic Ultrasound, Endoscopic Treatment of Reflux TWO CONVENIENT LOCATIONS: 1400 Creekway Dr., Ste. 201B Sugar Land, TX 77478 12121 Richmond Ave., Ste. 424, Houston, Texas 77082 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9.30 am - 5.30 pm

Medicare/Medicaid Patients and Private/Commercial Insurance Accepted.

APPOINTMENTS: 832-379-8603

Dr. Chang

Rhinoplasty

nose best Before

P PL LA AS ST TIIC CS SU UR RG GE ER RY Y C geerryy urrg meettiicc SSu ossm Co orr C nccee ffo off EExxcceelllleen ntteerr o Ceen C geerryy urrg meettiicc SSu ossm Co orr C nccee ffo off EExxcceelllleen ntteerr o Ceen

1327 Lake Pointe Pkwy, Ste. 300 Sugar Land, TX 77478 (Next to St. Luke’s Sugar Land Hospital)

Call 281-242-TIME (8463)

To Schedule your FREE Consultation

www.TimelessPlasticSurgery.com

After

Peter Chang M.D.

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Advertorial

Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists Offers PinPointe Technology and Quality Care For more than a decade, the team at Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists has been treating patients with every type of foot problem. Adults, children and seniors choose Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists for personal, quality care. With multiple board certifications in foot surgery, Dr. Bryan Lee uses the most current techniques to reduce downtime and heal with minimal scarring.

Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists has one of Sugar Land and Houston’s only PinPointe lasers, effective for treating stubborn, unsightly nail fungus. The laser does not harm healthy tissue or affect activity in any way. A clinical study demonstrated that 81 percent of the treated patients grew a normal looking nail after just one treatment. This result is better than the success rate for prescription pills or creams, which require prolonged use and expose patients to risks of dangerous side effects.

With two convenient locations, Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists will get you back on your feet! For more information, call 281-242- FEET (3338) or visit www.advancedfootdocs.com.

281-242-FEET (3338) Call Today to schedule your visit

Certified Provider

We Treat Many Common Foot Problems Including:

Dr. Y Bryan Lee Informed patients choose Board Certified Podiatrist Dr. Y Bryan Lee for all their foot health needs.

Located At

56 Sugar Creek Center Blvd. #250 (Sugar Creek Offices) Sugar Land, TX 8200 Wednesbury Ln. #210 (Wednesbury Medical Building) Houston, TX

• BUNIONS • NEUROMAS • HAMMERTOES • INGROWN • HEEL PAIN TOE NAILS • ACHILLES TENDON • AND MUCH PROBLEMS MORE

KILLS TOENAIL FUNGUS

Say Goodbye to Toenail Fungus NEW! FDA Approved Patented Laser Technology

PinPointe is a quick, safe, and painless procedure that involves no anesthesia. It’s usually effective after only one treatment.

www.AdvancedFootDocs.com fort bend

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Two New Ways to Find Trouble with Your Teeth Before You Can See or Feel It The Sopro Life Intraoral Camera is much more than just a camera. Yes, it can take close-up pictures of your teeth. Yes, you can see them on the computer monitor magnified 50 times.

This new intraoral camera can literally light up decay red. It uses light-induced fluorescence. Right there during the dental examination, a photo of the tooth can be taken and viewed on the computer monitor showing the area of decay. Decay can be detected in the earliest stages, making repairs easy.

Laser Scanner for Ultra-Small Cavities The greatest advance in dental diagnostics since the X-ray, the Laser Scanner enables C & C Dental to find cavities years before any other means of cavity detection, including the X-ray.

A painless laser scanner can detect decay earlier than ever before. It simply shines a harmless laser beam into the tooth and sends back a reading of hardness. C & C Dental can find problems years before they show up on any X-ray or before you feel anything.

Think about this: If decay can be detected early when it is a small hole and repaired using the Water-Laser or Air Abrasion – pain-free and drill-free cavity removal – the tooth has probably been saved from a crown and root canal later. Complications from large silver fillings have led to repairing teeth with crowns and root canals. The ability of the laser scanner has changed dentistry forever. Teeth can now be repaired with tiny, white fillings. Where was this when we were kids?

For more information, call 281-2064482 or visit www.candcdental.com or www.candcortho.com.

See ad on page 9.

Advertorial

The Complete Approach to Cosmetic Surgery Planning cosmetic surgery is an exciting process. A desire to feel better about yourself (and fit into your older clothing size) is a common reason to consider cosmetic surgery.

When that feeling goes beyond a basic dissatisfaction in your appearance and becomes a more serious frustration, it is more important to think about the reasons you’re thinking about it.

For example, it’s not unusual for someone to be a few pounds overweight and to want liposuction. The best way to get a better shape in that case is to lose the weight. The shape of the area will certainly improve as well as your general health.

Liposuction is not a good way to lose weight. In fact, clients who are significantly overweight are very poor candidates for it. It is not a cure for being overweight, but is intended to tailor body shape. Patients find that getting the right shape only reduces their weight by a small amount.

In order to keep your weight down, it’s important to exercise and eat right. Many people think that since they’re having liposuction, they can eat whatever they want beforehand and not really take care of themselves. In fact, the opposite is true.

Your result will be much, much better if you’re in better physical condition, because more accurate shaping can be done.

Malik Kutty, MD is a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon at Luxe Plastic Surgery in Sugar Land and the office can be reached at 281-313-0551.

Dr. Malik Kutty

NEW LOCATION

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Advertorial

Living with Chronic Illness Being diagnosed with a chronic illness can mean adjustments in your lifestyle, dependence on medication and life on an emotional rollercoaster. But it can also be an opportunity to make positive changes in your life. If you are living with a chronic illness: • Stay involved in productive activities.

• Find a physician you’re comfortable with and follow your doctor’s orders.

• Eat well even when you don’t feel well.

• Maintain an exercise program within your physical limitations.

• Learn relaxation techniques. Stress can influence the progression of your illness.

• Chart your ups and downs in a journal. Review it monthly to look for trends and areas where you might benefit from a change of habit or a new perspective.

• Join a support group. Sharing triumphs and challenges with others can offer new ideas for coping with your illness.

With convenient online scheduling and locations in Sugar Land and Missouri City, the doctors of Memorial Hermann Medical Group can help you manage your medications, diet and lifestyle for optimal health. They also treat a wide range of health needs, both chronic and acute. From preventive medicine to treatment of colds and flu to wellwoman exams and physicals, count on Memorial Hermann Medical Group to care for your whole family.

Memorial Hermann Medical Group is an advanced team of primary care doctors and specialists, practicing evidence-based medicine while delivering the highest level of collaborative, quality patient-centered care. For locations or to schedule an appointment online, visit mhmg.memorialhermann.org.

Asha Kohli, M.D. Family Medicine Missouri City

Gilberto Sustache, Jr., M.D. Family Medicine Sweetwater

Our newest dOctOrs will see yOu nOw. MHMG Missouri City 6218 Highway 6, Suite B Missouri City, TX 77459 281.403.6218

MHMG Sweetwater 16550 Southwest Fwy, Suite B Sugar Land, TX 77479 281.277.0695

Visit mhmg.memorialhermann.org to learn more about our doctors, and to schedule your appointment!

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Little People’s Dentistry: Because Kidz Are People Too! Little People’s Dentistry is a fun place for kids and their families. Offering a child friendly, family friendly, energetic atmosphere, we focus on creating a positive dental experience from start to finish. We want your child to feel comfortable and special. That is why we have designed our office to put your child at ease. From the moment your child enters the door, different wonders await them.

Will they find Nemo and Dori in the fish tank? What items can they find in the discovery boxes? Or should they skip along the hopscotch into the “Toy Shop” where they will find toys hanging from skateboard-shaped hooks.

Maybe the silly carnival funhouse mirror will cause great laughter or the clown that blows real balloons. From the flat screen TV’s in every room to Playstation towers, we have something to amuse kidz of every age.

Dr. Bianca, “The Little People’s Dentist,” and her staff work with happy little smiles and their parents, helping children develop good oral habits at an early age, so that one day they will have healthy big smiles. Dr. Bianca wants to make your child’s visit to the dentist as easy and fun as possible. Every child gets balloons, prizes and stickers!

Feel free to contact us with any questions and to schedule your child’s next dental appointment. We are conveniently located at 4706 Riverstone Blvd., Suite 200 in Missouri City (behind Kohl’s in the Offices at Riverstone). Please call Little People’s Dentistry at 281-261-0020 or visit www.littlepeoplesdentistry.com

Advertorial

Count on QUALITY HealthSouth Sugar Land Rehabilitation Hospital Recognized as a Leader in Stroke

Joint Commission DiseaseSpecific Care Certification for Stroke Rehabilitation Choosing a hospital with The Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific Care Certification in Stroke Rehabilitation can make all the difference in how successful you are in returning to maximum independence. We are proud to offer

©2013:HealthSouth Corporation:482255-02

HealthSouth Sugar Land Rehabilitation Hospital has received both the Gold Seal of Approval™ for its stroke rehabilitation program from the Joint Commission and has been designated as a Stroke Center for Excellence, an internal award, from HealthSouth Corporate.

To earn the Joint Commission Gold Seal of approval, a disease management program undergoes an extensive, unannounced, on-site evaluation by a team of Joint Commission reviewers every two years. The program is evaluated against Joint Commission standards through an assessment of a program's processes, the program's ability to evaluate and improve care within its own organization, and interviews with patients and staff.

"In 2010, four out of five families will be touched by stroke, and it's important for the public to realize how important quality treatment and rehabilitation are to the stroke recovery process," said Dr. Madura Patel, one of three Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physicians at HealthSouth.

Each year approximately 795,000 Americans suffer a new or recurrent stroke. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds and someone dies of a stroke every three to four minutes. Stroke is the number three cause of death behind heart disease and cancer.

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public through the provision of health care accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in health care organizations. An independent, not-for-profit organization, the Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care.

For more information about HealthSouth Sugar Land Rehabilitation Hospital, contact Lisa Collins, Director of Marketing Operation, at 281-276-7574 or visit www.healthsouthsugarland.com.

a higher level of care that has earned this distinction. Learn more about our programs and how we can help you achieve better outcomes to get home faster. Call 281 276-7574.

1325 Highway 6 • Sugar Land, TX 77478 281 276-7574 • www.healthsouthsugarland.com

Specialist in dentistry for children from 6 months to 17 years of age Friendly, gentle and caring staff Offering Oral and I.V. Sedation Now offering reversal to dental numbness Most major insurances accepted Ask About NO INTEREST PAYMENT PLANS Sí Habla Español

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Cool Braces!

Now Offering Orthodontic Services!

Advertorial

Is Your Plastic Surgeon Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?

The Fort Bend and Sugar Land area is abundant with physicians who perform cosmetic procedures such as botox and fillers, as well as surgical procedures like breast augmentation and liposuction. However, many of these physicians are not plastic surgeons, and some of the ones who are plastic surgeons are not board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Dr. Ravi Somayazula is a board certified plastic surgeon in the Sugar Land area.

Among other characteristics of a plastic surgeon, Board Certification in plastic surgery calls into question a plastic surgeon’s safety, ethics and training.

Therefore, Dr. Somayazula urges his patients to ask if their plastic surgeon is board certified specifically by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons.

Choosing a plastic surgeon in Fort Bend who can be trusted can be a very difficult task. The media is filled with all sorts of information, much of which can be incorrect or even unsafe. He knows for a fact that a well-informed patient who feels comfortable with their plastic surgeon after having an educational initial consultation translates into a happy patient. It is the extra time spent with a knowledgeable and caring staff that makes a world of difference in cosmetic surgery. If you have ever contemplated having a cosmetic procedure, you will find out immediately why the warm, friendly staff at Body by Ravi is the right choice for all your cosmetic needs. Call 281 242-1061 for a free consultation.

Incorporating Nutrition in Cosmetic Surgery

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Specializing in Cosmetic Surgery

• Botox Fillers • Breast Augmentation / Lift • Tummy Tuck / Mommy Makeover

$1000 OFF Breast Augmentation Dr. Ravi Somayazula, D.O.

20% OFF

Book this month & receive FREE Botox for you and a friend.

All other surgical procedures

281.242.1061

3531 Town Center Boulevard South Suite 102 • Sugar Land, TX 77479 fort bend

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“You are what you eat” is a phrase that has been around for quite some time, and it is evidenced by the breakthroughs we continue to make in nutrition. Diet is beginning to play a crucial role in our overall vanity and with excellent reason. Having a proper and balanced diet that meets your individual needs is not only beneficial towards your health but can make drastic improvements in your overall appearance.

In regards to cosmetic surgery, it is extremely important that we fuel our bodies with key nutrients to aid in the healing process. Not only will this boost your immune system, but it will also improve your recovery immensely. Researchers have discovered that an appropriate diet has proven to significantly improve and reduce swelling, inflammation, bruising and even grogginess following surgery. If you are investing in your appearance, make it well worth it by giving your diet and health a little TLC. At Sugar Land Plastic Surgery, we want to make sure you are as healthy as possible following surgery and long after.

Sugar Land Plastic Surgery is proud to introduce nutrition services, including a medical grade vitamin line and Nutrition Counseling to further enhance your quality of life. Whether following a cosmetic procedure or focusing towards your overall health, we are here to help you out in the long run and strive to meet every individual’s beauty, health and wellness needs.

For more information, visit www.MyBodySurgeon.com or call 281- 980-8000.

See ad on page 7.

Advertorial

Center for Craniofacial and Dental Sleep Medicine Provides New Cutting Edge Technology for Patients Suffering with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Dr. Samuel E. Cress, D.D.S., Director of Sugar Land’s The Center for Craniofacial and Dental Sleep Medicine, offers new DNA therapy to aid patients suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

OSA is present in approximately one in every 15 Americans. More astonishing, over five percent of all Americans have undiagnosed cases of sleep apnea. The Daytime Nighttime Appliance (DNA) addresses the root cause by non-surgically remodeling the upper airway.

The DNA system is unique because it was developed not only to correct sleep apnea symptoms but to straighten teeth and improve the upper airway. By improving the upper airway through an increase in facial volume, a cosmetic benefit of facial feature balancing occurs. The patented DNA system uses DNA wire TM and patented 3D axial springs TM to store kinetic energy, which is then released at night during the growth hormone circadian rhythm. This stored energy is necessary to initiate cellular growth in the mid-face and mandible. It increases upper mid-facial volume for better airway exchange, leading to a noninvasive facial cosmetic correction. Results have been present in as little as 90 days.

“I personally have been using the DNA sleep apnea appliance in my practice for more than three years and have over 150 of these in place. The astonishing results have not only improved the patient’s airways and straightened their teeth, but have also improved their facial features,” Dr. Cress reported. “We are seeing broader smiles, fuller lips, better and straighter noses – leading to happier, healthier patients.”

For more information, visit www.cfdsm.com or call 281-565-4100.

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

Minimally Invasive & Robotic Surgery Adolescent Gynecology Routine and High Risk Obstetrics Wellness Exams & Contraception Evaluation & Treatment of Pelvic Pain Treatment of Menopausal Symptoms Preconception & Infertility Counseling

Second Opinions Welcome 832.437.9690 (p) 832.437.9694 (f) 23232 Kingsland Blvd.

Ste. E, Katy, TX 77494

www.myobgynofkaty.com Ann Bertles, MD, Board Certified Ob/Gyn

New DNA Appliance Therapy to Aid Patients Suffering From Obstructive Sleep Apnea

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Advertorial

Orthopedic Surgery Hand, Wrist and Elbow Specialist Dr. David Hildreth is one of Houston’s top hand, wrist and elbow specialists training many of Houston’s best hand surgeons and sought for his knowledge of common as well as complex injuries and conditions of the hand and upper extremity. He is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery with Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) in Surgery of the Hand.

Integrating the latest research findings and technological advances in orthopedic medicine, Dr. Hildreth’s treatment options include minimally invasive surgical, non surgical, therapeutic and rehabilitation programs. He was among the first physicians in Houston to offer less invasive needle aponeurotomy and injection therapy for Dupuytren’s contracture. He performs complex joint reconstruction procedures to preserve long term joint function, and his approach to Ligament Reconstruction and Tendon Interposition (LRTI) in the treatment of arthritis of the thumb is drawing patients from across Texas. Dr. Hildreth is a published author and continues to contribute to the medical community’s understanding of joint function and the conditions affecting the hand and upper extremity.

Richmond Bone and Joint/Memorial Hermann is located at 15035 SW Freeway in Sugar Land. For more information, call 877-702-MYMD (6963) or visit www.davidhildrethmd.com.

• Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release • Needle Aponeurotomy for Dupytren’s Contracture • Minimally Invasive Arthoscopy • Ligament Reconstruction Tendon Interposition (LRTI) • Partial and Total Joint Replacement Hand, Wrist and Elbow

877-702-MYMD (6963) 281-344-1715 (office) Sugar Land • Richmond • Katy

www.davidhildrethmd.com

DavidHildreth,MD THE HAND, WRIST & ELBOW SPECIALIST Richmond Bone & Joint, Memorial Hermann Medical Group

2012

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Get a New Look with Royal Oaks Medical Spa N Skin Care Clinic Royal Oaks Medical Spa N Skin Care Clinic strives to help patients achieve their goals and maintain them. Treat yourself to one of several health programs. Not only do they offer medical aesthetic services, but they also provide weight management and nutritional plans uniquely tailored to you.

Upon arriving at Royal Oaks Medical Spa N Skin Care Clinic, clients will be greeted with the utmost care as professionals do their best to make appointments as comfortable and relaxing as possible. With the help of medical professionals, patients can enjoy a microdermabrasion treatment coupled with the soothing effects of oxy-mist, a state-of-the-art treatment to help improve healing time for postlaser resurfacing, microdermabrasion and chemical peel procedures.

Other services offered include laser hair reduction, laser vein removal, Botox and laser peels. Sustain your new look with high-quality vitamins and supplements, provided by distinguished brands such as nutraMetrix Custom Health Solutions, Douglas Laboratories and Physician’s Select Vitamins. Financing options are available through a partnership with Care Credit.

Royal Oaks Medical Spa N Skin Care Clinic is located at 1400 Creekway Drive, Suite 201A in Sugar Land. All consultations are free, so call 832-886-4256 to schedule your appointment today.

Advertorial

Revolution Studio: The Premier Indoor Cycling Studio of Sugar Land Revolution Studio is a boutique and indoor cycling studio that combines the wildly popular “spin” movement with a total body workout component. “With advanced features like a state-of-theart facility and cutting edge online reservation system, Revolution Studio is truly revolutionizing the idea of group cycling,” said Co-owner Kim Syma. “Our workout is perfect for anyone looking to have fun while burning up to 800 calories per 50 minute session. Each class feels less like a workout and more like a party on a bike!”

The studio has developed an innovative total body workout, which combines the benefits of cardio and strength training while connecting the mind, body and spirit. “Every class offers cardio, strength-training and a positive way to relieve stress, and most importantly, the Revolution Studio workout delivers results!” says Mitch Syma, former personal trainer for the United States Air Force and Co-Owner of Revolution Studio. At Revolution Studio, the instructors inspire and motivate riders with a high-energy, intense full-body workout choreographed to adrenaline-pumping music that burns fat, tones muscle and builds endurance.”

Revolution Studio is quickly becoming the ‘go-to’ place in Sugar Land known for the best workout in the most beautiful atmosphere. The studio is the perfect place to meet friends, relieve stress, take a break from the day, or just enjoy the spa-like facilities and incredible music. Revolution Studio features 35 bikes, immaculate locker room facilities and classes 7 days a week.

To join the revolution, visit www.revolution-studio.com or stop by the studio at 2125 Lone Star Drive, call 281-313-0662 or visit www.facebook. com/revolutionstudiocycling.

Services we offer include but are not limited to: • Botox • Chemical Peels • Laser Hair Reduction • Laser Vein Removal • Oxy-mist Treatment • Microdermabrasion • Nutritional and Weight Loss Programs

Other highlights of our practice include: • Free medical consultations • Customized treatment plans

1400 Creekway Drive, Suite 201A Sugar Land, TX 77478 (832) 886-4256 www.royal-oaks-medical-spa.com by appointment only www.fortbend

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Advertorial

St. Luke's Sugar Land Hospital St. Luke's Sugar Land Hospital is dedicated to excellence and compassion in caring for the entire person – mind, body and spirit. From the emergency center to diagnostic imaging, from the cardiac catheterization labs to total joint replacement surgery, they care for you and your family’s healthcare needs. With many choices in Sugar Land for your healthcare needs, here are several reasons why St. Luke's Sugar Land Hospital is the right choice for you and your family's healthcare needs: • Faithful, Loving Care – St. Luke's Sugar Land Hospital is part of St. Luke's Episcopal Health System, a nationally recognized leader in healthcare, known for its dedication to excellence and delivering renowned compassionate care.

• High-Quality, Community-Based Healthcare – St. Luke's Sugar Land Hospital is an acute care hospital where you will receive Faithful, Loving Care®.

• Convenient Location – Find St. Luke's Sugar Land Hospital at the heart of Sugar Land in Sugar Land's Lake Pointe Town Center, located at U.S. Highway 59 and Highway 6.

• World-Class Facilities – With two floors of beautifully decorated private rooms, patient rooms with internet access and flat screen televisions, and surgical suites and special procedure rooms for endoscopy and pain procedures, their facility offers everything you'll need.

You have choices for your family's healthcare needs, and St. Luke's Sugar Land Hospital hopes you consider giving them an opportunity to show you how their dedication to Faithful, Loving Care® makes a difference.

For more information, visit StLukesSugarLand.com or call 281-637-7001.

See ad on page 4.

Tannique N. Rainford, M.D. Board Certified in Family Medicine

• Experienced Family Practice Physician New to Sugar Land • Thorough & Comprehensive Medical Care • Treats Many Conditions Including Diabetes & Hypertension • Excellent Patient - Doctor Communication with Teamwork Approach • Convenient On-Site Services (Lab & X-ray) • Now Accepting New Patients • Hillcroft Medical Clinic Association www.hillcroftmed.com 1429 Hwy 6 South, Ste. 206 Sugar Land, Texas 77478

713-781-4600

Sugar Land Face and Body Plastic Surgery is now officially settled in their beautiful new facility. With over 6,400 square feet including a beautiful 30 foot tower atrium, the new medical spa features a private library where patient's families are able to relax while their loved one is having surgery. It is a spa-type atmosphere designed to look like an elegant house that offers full-service medical spa services including procedures such as botox, fillers, CoolSculpting and Ultherapy, along with a full service operating room.

Sugar Land Face and Body recently launched a new procedure, Ultherapy, which is an ultrasound tightening of muscles under the skin without surgery, also known as the lunchtime facelift. Sugar Land Face and Body is the first med spa in the local area to offer Ultherapy, a revolutionary new nonsurgical procedure that lifts and tones loose skin without any down time.

Another procedure provided is CoolSculpting, a breakthrough, non-invasive procedure that uses cooling technology to noticeably eliminate fat without surgery.

The treatment lasts one hour per area, and there is no down time for the patient, which is an amazing benefit.

There is no anesthesia, no needles, no diet, no pills.

Dr. Eric Humble is board certified in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and is a member of the renowned American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Along with his caring staff, Dr. Humble provides a safe and welcoming environment in which patients can reach their goal of finding happiness in the way they look and feel.

For more information, call 281-313-0555 or visit www.BeautyBecomesYou.com.

See ad on page 11.

Doctors Proudly Serving the Houston Area Since 1948 fort bend

Sugar Land Face and Body Plastic Surgery Welcomes Clients to Their New Home

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Advertorial

MedCare Pediatric Group: Serving Compassionately for Over 20 Years Zoom into Spring at Anderson Dental While organized closets and sparkling floors may be at the top of your spring cleaning to-do list, don’t forget another important cleaning – your teeth! At Anderson Dental, all of your dental needs are available in one place for the entire family.

Anderson Dental is a proud to have served the residents of Sugar Land for nearly three decades. Using the latest in advanced digital technology, the multi-specialty dental practice offers comprehensive dental care for all ages, with a children’s dentist and Periodontist on staff. Quality care and exceptional service are top priorities at Anderson Dental, so rest assured that your family will receive the highest standard of dental care at a reasonable price. Most major insurance plans are accepted, and easy zero percent interest payment plans make achieving your dental dreams a reality.

The experienced doctors at Anderson Dental work hand-in-hand with in-house dental specialists to create customized treatment options tailored for each patient. From sixmonth check-ups, x-rays and dental cleanings, to restorative procedures like fillings, root canals and crowns, to cosmetic options like veneers or professional teeth whitening, Anderson Dental has your dental needs covered. Schedule an appointment between now and July 31st, and you can get a One-Hour ZOOM! In-Office Teeth Whitening Treatment for just $250 – that’s half off the normal price of $500! Some restrictions apply; call for details.

Let the professionals at Anderson Dental give you and your family something to smile about. Anderson Dental Group is located at 226 Fluor Daniel Drive in Sugar Land. For more information, call 281-242-2040 or visit www.AndersonDentalUSA.com.

See ad on page 17.

For more than 20 years, MedCare Pediatric Group has earned a respected reputation for providing comprehensive nursing, therapy and counseling services to Houston area children from birth to 21 years old. MedCare provides therapy and counseling services in their outpatient clinics and can also provide the same therapy services along with private duty nursing services in your home. The company now has over 350 employees and will soon celebrate the opening of its 5th outpatient clinic, which will offer much-needed children's services to one of the fastest growing communities in Texas.

MedCare offers pediatric rehabilitation services in the patient's home or in their facility. Rehab services include occupational, physical and speech therapy as well as special programs such as play therapy and aquatic therapy. MedCare Centers for Counseling and Play Therapy offer individual, group and family counseling for children, adolescents and adults. Trained and licensed mental health professionals provide caring guidance on a wide range of issues in a safe, confidential setting.

MedCare also provides private duty nursing services to allow families of medically fragile children to have quality nursing care in the comfort of their home up to 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Only skilled and experienced, compassionate nurses are employed, and an on-call Registered Nurse Case Manager is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to answer questions for families.

Outpatient clinics are located in Stafford, Katy, Pasadena, Northshore and Spring. Home Health Services are offered in Houston and surrounding counties.

Call MedCare Pediatrics at 713-995-9292 for your free screening. For more information, visit www.MedCarePediatrics.com.

Do you want the

BEST ?

CHILD experienced for your

Let our team of therapists and nurses

help!

MedCare Pediatric Group

Call to schedule an evaluation!

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www.MedCarePediatrics.com

Pediatric Therapy and Nursing Services

Physical Therapy - Occupational Therapy - Speech Therapy Play Therapy - Private Duty Nursing - Counseling and Behavioral Health

Conditions may include

Autistic/Asperger’s Disorder - Cerebral Palsy - Down’s Syndrome Prematurity/Medically Fragile - Speech/Language Delays Other Developmental Delays

Outpatient Center Locations

Stafford - Northshore - Spring - Katy Pasadena coming in 2013! www.fortbend

.com • April 2013

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Advertorial

It’s Time to Take Stroke Seriously

Introducing the iLASIK Procedure: Your Wait for Improved Vision Is Over

In 2010, women accounted for 60% of all stroke-related fatalities. The truth is, stroke claims more than twice as many lives as breast cancer. Worse, a woman’s risk of stroke increases significantly once she enters menopause, and it keeps rising as she gets older.

Stroke takes two forms. “Ischemic stroke occurs when a clot shuts off an artery that supplies oxygen-rich blood to the brain,” says James Ling, M.D., board certified neurologist and medical director of the Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Stroke Program. “Brain damage results in the death of millions of brain cells. Ischemic clots may form close to the brain, such as in the neck, or they may form farther away, near the heart or lungs.”

The second type, a hemorrhagic stroke, occurs when a weakened blood vessel bursts, either inside the brain (intracerebral) or on its surface. Hemorrhaging blood drowns cells in nearby brain tissue. Such strokes are uncommon but are often so severe they cause death. Dr. Ling identifies the following as risk factors for stroke: untreated hypertension, smoking, diabetes, bad cholesterol and obesity. These and other risk factors such as a family history of stroke, race (particularly African-American), poor diet, lack of exercise and having other heart problems like atrial fibrillation or congestive heart failure can increase the odds of a stroke.

Methodist Sugar Land Hospital has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines® — Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s commitment and success in implementing excellent care for stroke patients, according to evidence-based guidelines.

For more information, visit www.methodistsugarland.com or call 713-790-3333.

See ad on back page.

Sugarland Eye & Laser Center is excited to introduce Fort Bend to the ultimate in laser vision correction: the iLASIK Procedure. It is the culmination of everything learned about LASIK over the past decade. Now that the iLASIK Procedure is available, there is no reason to put off laser vision correction surgery.

The introduction of the iLASIK Procedure means the wait for improved vision is over. Most people are candidates, and iLASIK technology is advanced and innovative, so it is safe and effective. The iLASIK Procedure is not complicated—it is fast and virtually painless.

The technology used in the iLASIK Procedure is very mature and safe. Doctors have been doing LASIK for over a decade. Nearly 32 million LASIK procedures have been performed to date, making it the most common elective vision procedure in the U.S. In fact, all branches of the U.S. military and NASA recently allowed LASIK for their servicemen and women thanks to studies using iLASIK technology.

The reality is that the majority of people who meet the age and general health requirements are in fact good candidates for the iLASIK Procedure. There are some conditions that exclude certain patients, but whether patients have nearsightedness, farsightedness or an astigmatism, most patients can still have the iLASIK procedure.

If you are at least 21 years old, are in good general health and have had a stable vision prescription for at least one year, call Sugarland Eye & Laser Center at 281-2400478 for a personal consultation. For more information, visit www.sugarlandeye.com.

See ad on page 5.

Achieve the Ultimate Smile!

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 offer services in state-of-the-art procedures and techniques, such as: cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, complete and partial dentures, replacing lost or loose teeth, jaw joint problems (TMJ), traumatic injuries, snoring and sleep disorders and oral cancer reconstruction.

Replacing missing teeth in one day! before

after

Restore your smile with cosmetic dentistry! after

before

Implant Dentures in one day!

Stuart Rimes, DDS, MS

Crowns, Implants, Cosmetic, Reconstructive Dentistry Board Certified Prosthodontist

281-313-1565 15958 City Walk, Ste. 230, Sugar Land, TX 77479 | www.RimesDDS.com | e-mail: dr.rimes@comcast.net fort bend

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Advertorial

Are Bad Veins to Blame for Your Itchy, Dry, Flaky Skin?

You wouldn’t think it, but skin problems on the legs may be more than skin deep. The real problem might lie in the leg veins that pump blood back toward the heart. When these veins aren’t functioning properly and blood flows backwards – a condition called venous insufficiency or vein disease – blood can seep into surrounding tiny, surface veins and skin tissue. This causes skin in the lower leg and ankles to change color or look stained and become thin, dry and itchy – all symptoms of an advanced form of vein disease called venous dermatitis.

Venous dermatitis has many aliases – congestion eczema, gravitational dermatitis, and stasis eczema – to name some. All are very dermatological sounding names, and there lies the problem. People can spend years going back and forth to their primary care physician or dermatologist, getting temporary relief or none at all, from steroid creams to wraps. Yet that only treats the symptoms, not the underlying cause. What’s actually happening is their veins have become so dilated and stretched that the overflow blood has triggered cells in the skin to release histamine, which causes itchiness much like a mosquito bite. This itchiness can be quite severe, and excessive scratching further aggravates the surface, creating open sores.

Hamilton Vein Center is the leader in venous dermatitis diagnosis and treatment. If you suffer from skin conditions on the leg, call at 281-565-0033, and schedule your free consultation. We can help.

Leading vein clinic in southeast Texas Your veins should be amazing too. Know the common signs of vein disease: • Achiness, tiredness • Heaviness, soreness • Skin changes • Itchiness Examples of skin changes from vein disease

Is it Time for You to Go Gluten-Free?

Gluten is the buzz these days as more people are becoming educated about gluten and finding out they are gluten intolerant.

Gluten is a binding protein that is found in countless of our favorite comfort food products, which contain wheat, barley and rye. Since gluten is a fairly new product that was not part of our diet a century ago, many people have a difficult time processing it in their GI system.

Some research indicates that as many as 20 million people in the United States may be gluten intolerant. Do you think you may be gluten intolerant? Do you experience: bloating, weight gain, skin irritation, foggy thinking, sinus inflammation, lethargy/ low energy, constipation or diarrhea, abdominal cramping and gas?

Discovering that you are sensitive to gluten or other foods can be multi-beneficial. Not only will your symptoms quickly improve, but you will also achieve long term benefits of decreasing inflammation, which will reduce the risk of diseases.

Before you go gluten-free, consider your symptoms but also consider what lab tests reveal. You may find that you are sensitive to other common foods but not to gluten; therefore, it is important to test yourself before removing intolerant foods from your diet.

The best way to determine if you are gluten intolerant is to schedule a free consultation to review your health and symptoms and have a simple blood test done.

Your results will then be reviewed and a customized wellness treatment plan will be created for you.

Schedule today to learn more at Dr. Shel Wellness and Medical Spa. Call 281-313-7435 or visit www.drshel.com.

See ad on page 3.

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Dr. Carlos R. Hamilton III As featured on Great Day Houston

C A L L T O D AY F O R Y O U R F R E E C O N S U L TAT I O N

Sugar Land • Bellaire K i n g wo o d • L a ke J a c k s o n

281.565.0033 H a m i l t o n Ve i n . c o m

Advertorial

St. Luke’s Sugar Land Hospital Goes “3-D” In Fight Against Breast Cancer

Kelsey-Seybold Clinic: For Every Stage of a Woman’s Life

St. Luke’s Sugar Land Hospital (SLSL) announced today that its advancing early diagnosis and detection of breast cancer with a new 3-D digital mammography unit, which provides an extremely precise, clear picture of small, often undetected tumors.

“By offering the latest technology in mammography, St. Luke’s Sugar Land is committed to increasing the number of women in our area who will receive routine breast cancer screenings,” said Rob Heifner, Chief Executive Officer, SLSL. “With statistics showing that one in eight women will develop breast cancer sometime in her lifetime, early detection plays a crucial role in improving a woman’s chance of survival.”

This particular 3-D digital mammography system is available in only 100 sites in the United States, including two St. Luke’s hospitals – Sugar Land and The Woodlands. It applies breast tomosynthesis, an advanced technology for radiologists to identify and characterize individual breast structures. During a tomosynthesis exam, multiple images of the breast are acquired at different angles. These images are then used to produce a series of one-millimeter thick slices that can be viewed as a 3-D reconstruction of the breast.

The Women’s Center at SLSL provides comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services for breast health by fellowship-trained, board certified physicians.

For questions about 3-D breast imaging or to schedule an appointment, please call 281-637-7001.

John Paul II Back & Bone Health Center Dr. Magdalena M. Sevilla in the same office provides chiropractic rehabilitation protocols. Dr. Magdalena has successfully treated sports injuries, plantar fasciitis, headaches and back pain. She has special interest in nutrition, personal injuries and worker compensation injuries.

Cesar A. Sevilla M.D. Board Certified, American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons. General Orthopedic Surgery. Total Joint Replacement. Children and adult fractures. Knee Arthroscopy.

Shoulder surgery. Non surgical treatment of back pain. He trained and served in US Army for more than 6 years.

Together in home like atmosphere we will bring our best of conventional and alternative medicine and do every effort to treat your condition without surgery.

Same day appointments available, most insurances accepted. Hablamos Español, Mowimy po Polsku.

15200 Southwest FWY STE 285, Sugar Land TX 77478 • 832-344-7757 • www.backandbone.com fort bend

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Eric Peterson, M.D., and Jagit Khairah, D.O., OB/GYN specialist, are offering da Vinci robotic surgery – a minimally invasive, more precise procedure that offers a faster recovery option for women.

This state-of-the-art da Vinci procedure requires only a few small incisions and a less-invasive surgical approach for treating hysterectomies, fibroids, endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain and ovarian issues.

For most women, da Vinci gynecologic surgery offers benefits over traditional surgical approaches, including: • Significantly less pain.

• Less blood loss.

• Less risk of infection.

• Shorter hospital stay.

• Quicker recovery and return to normal activities.

• Small incisions for minimal scarring.

• Less time between surgery and follow-up treatments.

• Better patient satisfaction in many cases.

Discover the Kelsey-Seybold Difference: they treat their patients like royalty, welcoming new patients and 50 health plans.

Women’s Health at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic is located at Fort Bend Medical and Diagnostic Center, 11555 University Boulevard in Sugar Land. Hours are Monday through Friday 8 am – 5 pm and Saturdays 9 am – 2 pm. For 24/7 appointment scheduling, call 713-442-0000.

See ad on page 13.

Advertorial

How to Make a Cancer-Fighting Snack Adults can learn how to choose snacks that offer more cancer-fighting nutrients by using the new healthy snack combo infographic, created by experts at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

“Eating a healthy meal or snack every few hours refuels your body and puts you in better shape to fight off diseases like cancer,” said Mary Ellen Herndon, a wellness dietitian at MD Anderson. “It also helps keep your blood sugar and metabolism at healthy levels.”

Herndon suggests that adults eat a healthy snack if their next meal is longer than six hours away. “A healthy snack has about 100-200 calories and includes an unrefined carbohydrate and a protein,” Herndon said. “Pairing these two together will help you stay full longer and keep you energized. Skipping meals might seem like a quick and easy way to lose weight, but starving your body of essential calories can actually lead to weight gain over time.”

Diet and physical activity, including being overweight or obese, contribute to one-third of all cancer deaths in the United States each year, according to the American Cancer Society.

Take Healthy Bites This infographic is part of MD Anderson’s Healthy Bites 2013 challenge, which encourages adults to make healthier food choices to lower cancer risks. “Maintaining a healthy diet can be difficult,” Herndon said. “That’s why we created the Healthy Bites program.”

People who join Healthy Bites will have access to additional MD Anderson nutrition materials, food journals, healthy recipes and expert tips. For more information, including details on how to join the challenge, visit www.mdanderson.org/healthybites.

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Advertorial

Methodist Orthopaedic Specialists of Texas Provides Injury Prevention Outreach to Local Athletes

Are You a Candidate for Joint Replacement?

When local athletes are injured, they rely on the physicians and therapists at Methodist Orthopaedic Specialists of Texas (MOST) to get them back into the competition quickly.

To help prevent injuries in the first place, rehabilitation specialists from MOST are now providing in-service training and seminars to local runners, swimmers and triathletes in groups such as the Sienna Running Club, the Finish Line Sports speed workout group, Rice Aquatics and the Fort Bend Masters swim team.

“The athletes who have been through our sessions have all been very appreciative,” says Geri Gandingco, Outpatient Manager with MOST’s Department of Rehabilitation Services. “Even athletes who have been running or swimming for many years may not understand how to properly prepare for a workout or competition to ensure that their bodies are ready. So we focus on proper warm-ups and cool-downs for the individual sports.

We teach participants how to listen to and recognize the messages that their bodies are sending about overuse or incorrect form – the types of situations that can cause serious injuries. It’s an informative session that can prevent a lot of pain and trouble Rehabilitation Specialists Chris Stolle, Benjamin Renfrow, down the road.”

Lindsay Koller, Marie Potter, Brian R. Duncan, Lilian Watson and For athletes who Geri Gandingco. wind up needing help for injury or chronic pain, the sports medicine and orthopedic specialists at MOST – many of whom have experience working with high-level college and professional athletes – provide the latest and most effective medical and surgical treatments. And if therapy is required, MOST offers physical, occupational, aquatic and hand therapy from some of the area’s most experienced and knowledgeable professionals, including many therapists who are certified in their respective specialties.

“Our staff includes board-certified specialists in sports therapy, orthopedic therapy and hand therapy as well as specialists who are fellowship trained in manipulative and manual therapy and certified in strength and conditioning,” says Gandingco.

“We can help any local athlete recover more quickly from injury – and help prevent future injuries – through our use of leading edge therapeutic techniques.”

Gandingco says MOST would like to expand its injury prevention clinics to reach more local athletes, including those involved in biking, tennis, golf and even youth sports organizations. To schedule a session or for more information, contact Gandingco at 281-340-6476 or email GRGandingco@tmhs.org.

To schedule an appointment at one of Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Physical Therapy & Sports Rehab locations, please call 281-201-0405 or for more information, visit MethodistSugarLand.com.

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Joint replacement is one of the most common orthopedic surgeries performed today, with the hip and knee being the most frequently replaced joints. In fact, knee replacements have doubled in the past decade, and not just among the elderly.

People age 45 to 64 were 2.5 times more likely to be hospitalized for knee replacement surgery in 2009 than in 1997. But joint replacement may not be the best solution for everyone.

Many factors will determine whether trading in your aching joint for a stronger, better, faster replacement is the right step for you.

“Joint deterioration has a number of causes,” says Carl Hicks, M.D., board certified joint reconstructive surgeon with Methodist Orthopaedic Specialists of Texas (MOST). “Injuries, autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and the general wear and tear that occur over time may all take a toll on the body’s joints, causing pain and inhibiting motion.”

Joint replacement surgery exchanges the worn out part with a prosthesis made of plastic, metal or a combination of both. With successful outcomes in more than 90% of cases, patients who’ve had a joint replaced may enjoy better quality of life, relief from pain, stiffness or swelling and improved range of motion. But no surgery is without risks and, although the complication rate in joint replacement is low, patients are susceptible to infection, blood clots and loosening or dislocation of the joint.

“The severity of your condition will likely be a significant factor in the decision to have joint replacement surgery,” says Dr. Hicks. “If aching and stiff joints cause constant pain, limit your ability to walk or climb stairs and affect your quality of life, you may be a likely candidate for joint replacement surgery.”

Advertorial

Patient Receives Uplifting Visit From a Surprise Visitor

Carl Hicks, M.D., Joint Reconstructive Surgeon

Other considerations include: Alternatives to surgery. Depending on the cause of your joint pain, medications, physical therapy or aids such as a brace may be effective treatment options.

Your age. Little research has been done on the long-term effectiveness of joint replacement for a younger, more physically active generation.

Prosthetic joints typically last only 10 to 15 years, making younger candidates more likely to need additional surgeries.

Your general health. Certain diseases, such as high blood pressure or heart and lung disease increase the risks associated with surgery. Osteoporosis and bone or joint deformity may affect joint replacement success.

Your weight. Obesity can prolong recovery and affect the durability of the new joint.

Whether you want to get back in the game, or simply back to your life, orthopedic specialists at the Methodist Orthopaedic Specialists of Texas can help you find the treatment option that works best for you. To learn more about joint replacement and your options, join us at our free seminar!

Free Seminar Join us for a free Joint Replacement Seminar presented by Dr. Carl Hicks on April 25th at 6 p.m. at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Conference Center. There will be refreshments and door prizes for attendees.

Call 281-274-7500 or email SLRSVP@ tmhs.org to reserve a seat.

Recovering in his room after surgery, patient Malcolm Host received a powerful pick-me-up when he was able to see a familiar face with a cold, wet nose.

Host received a visit in the hospital by his dog, Chai, a six-year-old toy poodle. Chai’s trip to the hospital was the first personal pet visit at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital (MSLH), facilitated by PAWS Houston. Typically, pet therapy involves the use of animals Malcolm Host, Donna Host and Chai that do not belong to the patients.

“This is wonderful of MSLH to coordinate this visit. To me, having her here makes all the difference in the world,” Host said, as he stroked his dog’s ears.

The pet visitation program allows personal pets to visit their owners in the hospital for a short time, usually about an hour. The program provides an extra measure of support for patients.

“Because they give comfort and unconditional love, pets have a special place in their families’ hearts,” said Patricia Lewis, Director of ICU at MSLH. “Enabling a patient to see his or her favorite pet is like medicine for the soul. It lowers blood pressure and pulse as well as improves the patient’s sense of well being.”

The Methodist Hospital System works in partnership with PAWS (Pets Are Wonderful Support) Houston, a locally based nonprofit group, to make sure pets have proper vaccinations and temperament to make such a visit.

A wonderful PAWS Houston volunteer met Chai at the front entrance, evaluated her temperament and facilitated the visit. Mrs. Host brought Chai in a pet carrier to the 6 East Unit where Host was receiving care. When Host’s little white dog jumped on his lap, his face lit up with happiness.

PAWS Houston was founded in 2002 and now serves all major hospital in the Texas Medical Center and several community hospitals. The program facilitates hospital personal pet visits as well as helps low-income people living with disabling illnesses to keep their pets by providing pet food, veterinary care, grooming, dog walking, emergency foster care and community education. Services also include care for a patient’s pet at home while the patient is hospitalized.

Many hospitals offer animal assisted therapy, a practice that dates back to the 18th century. Patients are more comfortable and responsive after seeing, touching and talking to an animal. Some recent research even suggests that contact with a pet has a therapeutic benefit for the sick. Beginning in 1980, researchers began exploring how pet ownership affected physical and mental health, such as reducing tension and keeping down cholesterol levels. In addition, studies indicate that simply having an animal visit in a health care situation is also beneficial.

“Pets have strong bonds with their masters,” Lewis said. “Seeing, touching and talking to their own pet in the hospital is a powerful gift for these patients, at a time when they really need it the most.”

To learn more about Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, visit MethodistSugarLand. com or to learn more about the PAWS Houston program, visit pawshouston.org.

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Advertorial

Celebrate Spring with a

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www. d r d avid k orfin.com fort bend

magazine • April 2013

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“

Call today and take the first step to walking in comfort!

• Diplomate, American Board of Podiatric Surgery • Board Certified Foot & Ankle Surgery • Certified Wound Care Specialist • Serving Fort Bend for over 25 years • Fellow, American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons • Past President & Current Member of the Harris County Podiatric Medical Society.

• Member of the Texas Podiatric Medical Association • Member of the American Podiatric Medical Association • Preferred Provider for most Private Insurance Plans

NEWSWORTHY

Come Celebrate: The 10th Anniversary Sugar Land Wine & Food Affair A decade of irresistible food finds wines, celebrity chefs, mixology and unabashed merriment, and one of Texas’s largest food celebrations is marking a milestone. Light the candles for the 10th anniversary of the Sugar Land Wine & Food Affair.

Attracting more than 7,000 fanatic foodies annually, the Sugar Land Wine & Food Affair is recognized as one of the most anticipated culinary attractions of the year.

Located in Sugar Land, its multiple tastings, dinners, cooking demonstrations and seminars have achieved a reputation as a rollicking good time where top chefs share secrets, sommeliers get uncorked and patrons have exclusive access to the best wine and food around.

The Sugar Land Wine & Food Affair has its roots firmly planted in culinary history.

Even its location in Sugar Land is a reverent nod to the fertile soil that produced the sugar and has been home to Imperial Sugar since 1843. Saturday’s Sip & Stroll, the most attended event, takes place on the grounds of the former Imperial Sugar factory and Char House, both of which are iconic images that dominated the landscape for generations and spoke to the prosperity

and entrepreneurial spirit of the region.

Five days of notable events have given this wine and food festival a reputation for sharing an insider’s guide to chefs’ kitchens, coveted wines, down-the-hatch – barthe-doors cocktails and food whisperers that have you coming back for more.

For more information, call 713-SIP-WINE or visit sugarlandwineandfoodaffair.com.

The list of days, events and locations are as follows: Wednesday, April 24th A Family Affair at Historic Imperial Sugar Factory, located at 198 Kempner in Sugar Land, from 6:30 - 10 pm. A reserved table for eight costs $1400, a table for six costs $1050 and individual tickets are $175.

Thursday, April 25th On the Rocks Bartender Challenge at Post Oak Grill Sugar Land, located at 1550 Lake Pointe Parkway, from 6:30 - 9 pm. Admission is $40.

Friday, April 26th Fred Parks Lecture Series presents the 2013 Wine Presenter, Laurie Foster at Sugar Land Marriott Town Square, located at 16090 City Walk in Sugar Land, from 5:30 - 6:30 pm. Admission is $50.

Balvenie Scotch Seminar presents the 2013 Spirits Presenter, Lorne Cousin at Sugar Land Marriott Town Square from 5:30 - 6:30 pm. Admission is $65.

The Grand Tasting at Sugar Land Marriott Town Square is from 7 - 9:30 pm. Admission is $125.

Saturday, April 27th Sip & Stroll at Imperial Sugar Land, located at 198 Kempner in Sugar Land, is from 1 - 4 pm.

Gallery Furniture Pavilion Cooking Demonstrations will showcase five of the region’s top chefs. Admission is $65 and includes Sip & Stroll and Gallery Furniture Pavilion Tent Cooking Demonstrations.

Sunday, April 28th International Bistro Brunch at Sugar Land Town Square is from 11 am - 2 pm.

Admission is $50.

Source: www.sugarlandwineandfoodaffair.com

Camperi’s 13246 Murphy Road #400 Stafford, Texas 77477

Office Furniture New & Used Modular Systems • Workstations Conference • Seating • Desk

281.499.6900 www.camperisofficefurniture.com www.fortbend

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HOME FEATURE

By Caron Lopez

Simple Starters for a

Satisfying

Spring Clean

A

fresh look for your home is the reward for investing time and effort into the annual spring cleaning. If selfmotivation is in short supply, borrow these ideas to get you started.

Start at the threshold and work toward the last room, and each day you will be greeted by a cleaner, fresher home.

Begin your spring cleaning at the exterior threshold that you pass through each day. Rid the area of old items.

Clean or paint the door, and shine up the handles and glass. If the bottom of the door looks old, buy a kick plate; it’s easy to install will make your clean and polished door look like you bought a new one. A new mat and a colorful piece of pottery makes for an exciting entry.

De-clutter means less to clean and attention is drawn to a few, nice decorative pieces in the room.

Take away those dusty artificial flowers or trees. If shoes clutter the entrance, place a small decorative chest in which to place them. Clean the grout and reseal it in this high traffic area.

Brighten the sidelights with shutters, replacing the old sheers. Exchange tired art with a new piece of art to add pizzazz.

As you go from room to room, do not

get distracted with mail, memorabilia or items that belong in other areas. Do not stop to read or to sort. Make the most impact on the room as quickly as possible. Do the sit down type chores at a time when your feet are tired.

Put the unsorted items in a basket, and deal with sorting later in the day.

Purge the room of furniture, accessories and books.

Starting at the highest point in each room means you won’t have to dust twice.

Dust each room top to bottom. If worn floors can’t be replaced, add a colorful area rug to update the décor. Chic slip covers are used even on new furniture to shake things up a bit. When all is clean, accessorize with a throw, new decorative pillows, a flower arrangement or mirror.

Add your signature as you finish each room by adding a spark of color or an interesting accessory.

Collections are great accessories and need to be grouped. Top to bottom, purge, clean and dust. Now, add color. fort bend

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Kids love to work with color. Let them select a theme and color for the room.

Help your teen organize their space and energize it with color As a designer, I see the master bedroom is the most neglected room. If you need to start over with new furniture, bedspread and window coverings, you are in the norm. Budget for a makeover, and for now, add some art or a lamp for ambiance or even an accent wall of fresh colorful paint.

Get squeaky clean in the bathroom. Baths can be the most relaxing retreats. Think clean! Freshen up the grout, caulk, tile and glass. Achieve a sparkle. Fresh spring colors can be added in the towels, mats and soaps.

With all of the clutter out of sight, add a vase with pretty spring flowers for a nice greeting as you get ready for the day and an interesting wall clock that fits your style. Take a look at new options for window coverings such as glass block shutters or spa-like shades.

Spring has sprung! As you spring into action with spring cleaning, you will fall in love with your home again.

re

NEWSWORTHY

t a e th

e e m o h eleas DVD

UnitedHealth HEROES Grant Awarded in Fort Bend to Fight Childhood Obesity

R

By Nick Nicholson

The Carol Burnett Show:

This Time Together Star Vista

Michael Wang, Sean Ostrander and Rio de Armas.

Shape Up Sugar Land-Youth Committee (SUSL) received a $1,000 UnitedHealth HEROES grant for its Walking for Health project, where the Youth Committee will conduct an after-school program for kids at Armstrong Elementary School Extended Day program.

UnitedHealth HEROES is a wellness initiative developed by UnitedHealthcare and YSA (Youth Service America) designed to encourage young people, working with educators and youth leaders, to create and implement walking, running or hiking programs aimed at helping fight childhood obesity.

The Youth Committee will be responsible for delivering and implementing the program at Armstrong Elementary, and they will be meeting with these children at the Extended Day program at least once a month to educate them about the importance of being physically active and leading a healthy lifestyle.

In February, the Youth Committee provided the kids with walking logs and pedometers to encourage them to walk daily and record their minutes of activity. The boys were challenged to walk 13,000 steps, and the girls were challenged to walk 11,000 steps. The kids will receive “incentives” such as jump ropes, pencils or water bottles if they achieve their goals.

Michael Wang, co-chair of the Youth Committee, along with Rio de Armas and Sean Ostrander, members of the Youth Committee, also performed a quick survey to determine which activities the children really enjoyed. They discovered that most kids at Armstrong Extended Day program love to play basketball or soccer.

The SUSL Youth Committee will follow up each month until Global Youth Service Day at the end of April, when they will hold a celebration ceremony for the children who participated in the walking challenge. The SUSL Youth Committee worked with Elsa Villarreal, Parent Resource Center Coordinator, at Armstrong Elementary on this project.

The mission of Shape Up Sugar Land is to connect the community, raise awareness and encourage activities that foster healthy lifestyles.

Submit newsworthy items editor@fortbendfocus.com www.fortbend

.com • April 2013

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T

he Carol Burnett Show is one of the most popular and beloved shows in the history of television,

and it is now available on DVD to all audiences for the very first time.

Starting in 1967 and continuing for 11 straight years, The Carol Burnett Show was the ultimate variety show with music, acting, larger-than-life guest stars, and of course, comedy sketches, jokes and parodies that are as funny now as they were 40 years ago. With numerous well-known guest appearances, as well as her troupe of comedic regulars, The Carol Burnett Show is a timeless classic that is perfect for the entire family!

BUSINESS BRIEFS

tre

a

e e th

homRelease DVD

By Nick Nicholson

Sienna Plantation Announces Top-Producing Realtors For 2012

Marvin’s Room Echo Bridge Susie Goff of The Johnson Development Corp. congratulates Todd and Linda Riddle of Re/Max Fine Properties as Sienna Plantation’s top-producing Realtor team for 2012.

H

ollywood’s hottest star, Leonardo DiCaprio, gives an electrifying performance

as the criminally rebellious son in this funny and stirring tale of one family’s humor and heartache. Seventeen years ago, fiercely independent Lee (Meryl Streep) left home and left behind her kindhearted sister Bessie (Diane Keaton) to care for their father, Marvin. But now, Lee is returning with her teenage son (DiCaprio) for a homecoming that’s sure to turn the entire household upside down. Also starring Robert De Niro, this entertaining motion picture proves that people you know the least may be the ones you need the most.

A veteran real estate team and a rising star have been named Sienna Plantation’s top-producing Realtors for 2012. For the tenth time, the team of Linda and Todd Riddle of ReMax Fine Properties topped all Realtors for new home sales in Sienna Plantation during the year. Shijimon Jacob of Everest Realty, having just completed his first year in residential real estate, finished 2012 as its second-highest producing Realtor. Jacob also is a resident of Sienna Plantation. Last year, the two top producers combined to generate close to $10 million in sales of new homes in the Fort Bend County masterplanned community.

“We’re thrilled to recognize both a long-time real estate team and a fantastic newcomer,” says Susie Goff of The Johnson Development Corp. “The amenities, quality of life and selection of new homes in Sienna Plantation continue to sell very well.” Goff adds new home sales in Sienna Plantation in 2012 were up 46 percent from 2011 which places the community #16 on the list of the nation’s top-selling master-planned communities.

As top producer, the Riddles were presented with a home security and entertainment package from Connect One similar to the one offered to residents of another Johnson Development community, Cross Creek Ranch. In 2012, the Riddles sold 115 properties totaling over $30 million in sales making them one of the top 25 producing Realtor teams in Texas.

Now celebrating its 15th year, Sienna Plantation is home to three water parks including the south’s largest private water adventure park with 200 feet of twisting slides, the all-new Sienna Springs Resort Pool, 36 parks and playgrounds, the Camp Sienna Sports Complex, the Sienna Plantation Golf Club, a 6,000-square-foot fitness center, eight lighted tennis courts and lakes for fishing and kayaking. Families in the community attend schools in the renowned Fort Bend Independent School. Last year, Sienna Plantation welcomed its first private school, Sienna Lutheran Academy.

A project of Johnson Development, the community offers homes from the 170s to the millions with purchase incentives available from all Sienna Plantation builders. For more information, go to www.siennaplantation.com.

Families also can follow the community on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ siennaplantation.

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TCRN-Sugar Land Proudly Presents...

The 5th Annual

Benefiting

SAVE THE DATE TH MAY 18 2013 Raffle Tickets for Great Prizes available to purchase May 1st Concessions Outdoor Arcade Games Family Activities & Demos Live Music ... and MUCH MORE!

WHERE: Sugar Land WHY:

Town Square Plaza

Provide College Scholarships for Young Cancer Survivors in Sugar Land, Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg & Stafford

W W W. S U G A R L A N D B A S H . O RG www.fortbend

.com • April 2013

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OUT & ABOUT IN THE HEART

Child Advocates of Fort Bend recently held their annual Volunteer Awards Dinner at Safari Texas Ranch.

Awards were given to those outstanding volunteers who have contributed to the success of Child Advocates as they continue to serve the children of Fort Bend.

Lisa Fredrickson, Anne Bulan and Irene Wisner.

OF THE BEND

Cindy Anderson, Leroy Hodge, Belkis Gonzales and Karen Sullivan.

Guests of Memorial Hermann’s Red Wine and Dark Chocolate event toasted to a healthier heart. The February 21st event featured free heart screenings, exercise demonstrations with fitness specialists from Memorial Hermann and samplings of heart-healthy fare from My Fit Foods and Safari Texas.

Laura Sinclair, Liz Porter and Aaron Vo.

Katie Akers and Seleria Fletcher.

Betsy Burgess, Majid Basit and Charla Kulcak.

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magazine • April 2013

Karen Chitty-Boe and Kathryn Tart.

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Friends of Child Advocates recently held their 2nd Annual Child Advocates Friends Night Out. The spring get-together included a fashion show, a presentation of volunteering opportunities and an update on the happenings of Child Advocates of Fort Bend.

Sandy Safier, Gail Pawlowski and Ruthanne Mefford.

Arlene Kleinpeter and Mary Albrecht.

Danielle Hames, Laura Taylor and Ashley Kunco.

Pam Gray and Debbie Gamble.

The Rosenberg Railroad Museum’s committee for “The Circus Comes to Town” kicked off preparations for their annual gala slated for October 12th. Lisa and Bill Rickert hosted a coffee for the committee to get the wheels rolling on the annual fundraising event.

Lisa Rickert, Jane Sullivan and Barbie Todd climbed aboard as committee members.

Bill Rickert, Terri Stuart and Marcia Vogelsang enjoyed the Rickert’s backyard rail garden.

At the Grand Opening of Advanced Dermatology’s new location, guests enjoyed food and drink and a variety of activities including live CoolSculpting® and Botox® demonstrations. All staff was on hand to answer questions.

Adrianna Jackson, T. Minsue Chen, Kendra Salazar, Sherry Ingraham and Mary Moore.

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.com • April 2013

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OUT &

Imperial’s Center for the Arts hosted an exhibit by local sculptor Jim Adams with an opening night reception.

ABOUT IN THE HEART

OF THE BEND Sculptor Jim Adams showed off his work to fellow artist Charlie Weiss on opening night.

Imperial Arts’ Robyn Miller was joined in the gallery by Dan and Melissa Ives.

Ezra Starks enjoyed the Exchange Club of Sugar Land’s 26th Annual Spaghetti Dinner hosted by the Exchange Club of Sugar Land. Because of the success of the annual event, The Exchange Club of Sugar Land Spaghetti Dinner will be providing over $105,000 to local charities this year.

Photo by Larry Pullen

Oyster Creek Manor residents Ken Whitt and Kate Bruno showed off their Mardi Gras spirit at a Fat Tuesday celebration!

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Dunkin’ Donuts celebrated the opening of its new restaurant near Sienna Plantation in Missouri City in March. The restaurant hosted a “Dunkin’ style” ribbon cutting with local community leaders. Missouri City Mayor Allen Owen, Council member Floyd Emery and former Houston Texan Chester Pitts helped local Dunkin’ Donuts management cut the ribbon. Pitts, a Missouri City resident, was an offensive lineman for the Houston Texans and one of the original players drafted by the team. The Sugar Land Skeeters’ Street Team also joined in the festivities. Guests mingled in the new space, sampling the Dunkin’ brand coffee, donuts, pastries and sandwiches.

Loveless Mitchell, David Greenberg, Stephen David and Allen Owen sampled tasty treats at the grand opening event.

Nathan Pressler and Mr. Donut, Dunkin’ Donuts official mascot, posed with Missouri City Chief of Police Joel F. Fitzgerald.

On February 23rd, Memorial Hermann presented The First Annual Cricket Cup Match benefiting Asians Against Domestic Abuse. Attendees watched physicians affiliated with Memorial Hermann Sugar Land – the “Super Docs” – and physicians affiliated with Memorial Hermann Southwest – the “Scalpels” – sledge it out at Constellation Field in Sugar Land.

Nazline Charania, Shelena Lalji and Firoz Charania.

James McEnelly and Minerva Perez.

Rachel Chandy and Karen Chitty-Boe.

Garrett Von Wenckstern, Kirit Desai, Yogesh Patel and Kyle Stanzel.

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.com • April 2013

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FILM REVIEW

By Nick Nicholson

T

he daring new movie from the director of Blue Valentine, The Place Beyond the Pines is a sweeping emotional drama powerfully exploring the unbreakable bond between fathers and sons. Luke (Ryan Gosling) is a high-wire motorcycle stunt performer who travels with the carnival from town to town. While passing through Schenectady in upstate New York, he tries to reconnect with a former lover, Romina (Eva Mendes), only to learn that she has given birth to their son, Jason, in his absence. Luke decides to give up life on the road to try and provide for his newfound family by taking a job as a car mechanic.

Noticing Luke’s ambition and talents, his employer, Robin (Ben Mendelsohn), proposes to partner with Luke in a string of spectacular bank robberies – which will place Luke on the radar of ambitious rookie cop Avery Cross (Bradley Cooper). Avery, who has to navigate a local police department ruled by the menacing and corrupt detective Deluca (Ray Liotta), is also struggling

Bradley Cooper stars as Avery Cross.

ing through time. The performances by Dane DeHaan, Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper are truly for the ages. The rawness and emotion of their work in this film will cause tears to well up in your eyes.

The film may scare some away due to its 150 minute running time; however, the presentation never feels that long. The pacing of the film is brilliant and I couldn’t stomach it if even one minute of this tremendous presentation was cut. Pencil down The Place Beyond the Pines as an early Oscar front runner for 2013.

to balance his professional life with his family life, which includes his wife Jennifer (Rose Byrne) and their infant son AJ. The consequences of Avery’s confrontation with Luke will reverberate into the next generation. It is then that the two sons, Jason (Dane DeHaan) and AJ (Emory Cohen), must face their fateful, shared legacy.

Director Derek Cianfrance has served a very ambitious film that will keep the audience guessing from beginning to end. The Place Beyond the Pines creates an environment that at first seems eerily similar to the epic film Drive, but is completely different in both its perspective and delivery.

This picture really is a tour de force for the three main performers in the film.

With three completely different story arcs competing throughout the film, it gives the audience the feeling of soar-

Eva Mendes star as Romina.

The Place Beyond the Pines Starring: Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper & Eva Mendes Director: Derek Cianfrance Company: Focus Features Now Showing: In Local Theatres MPAA Rating: R Grade: A Photos Courtesy of Focus Features.

Nick Nicholson is the Film and Entertainment Critic for CNN Radio, the Fort Bend Star and absolutely! focus media. 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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Make Your Yard

Picture Per fect I

t takes more than just mowing the lawn to get a great looking yard. In addition to making sure you have healthy, wellcut grass, there are some finishing touches you should add so that your yard goes from so-so to something you can be proud of.

More Easy Finishing Touches • Add decorative edging to flower beds. You can use hardscape materials such as brick, stone, plastic or steel, or you can plant living edging with attractive ground cover plantings.

• Mulch around trees, shrubs and flower beds. Not only does mulch keep weeds in check, but it can give those areas a neater appearance. Look for natural materials such as wood chips or cocoa hulls. While there are a variety of colored mulch options, keep in mind that dark, earth-colored mulch will put the spotlight on your plants, while brighter colored mulch will draw attention to itself.

• Keep hoses neatly stored with hose reels. You can find wall-mounted reels, covered boxes, or even attractive pots to keep hoses from cluttering up your yard.

Trimming and Edging the Lawn

Trimming Hedges

The lawn mower can’t reach every place that grass grows. So after mowing, you’re often left with long grass sticking up around trees and flower beds, as well as along sidewalks, patios and driveways. When you trim, you leave your lawn neat and tidy.

Properly pruned hedges not only improve the look of the plants, but their health, too. Formal hedges are typically made up of shrubs with small leaves that get sheared into a smooth and uniform-looking surface. Informal hedges are more casual in appearance, and are usually made up of plants that bear flowers or fruit, and have wider leaves.

To trim properly, keep a few things in mind: • Make sure the area you’re going to trim is free of debris.

• Slowly move the trimmer from side to side, letting the tip of the line do the cutting.

• Keep the head two to three inches off the ground so you don’t scalp the lawn and damage it.

• Cut thick or tall grass in smaller sections so you don’t clog the trimmer.

• Don’t let the line cut into trees and shrubs.

This can damage them and make them more vulnerable to disease or hurt their growth.

• When you’re finished, remove clippings and debris from the trimmer.

• Plan on trimming every mowing to maintain a neat appearance.

When you edge a lawn, you’re making vertical cuts to remove grass growing over sidewalks or patio edges. Some trimmers require a separate attachment for edging or will not convert to an edger, while many can simply be rotated to operate vertically.

Here are few tips for trimming a formal hedge: • Deciduous hedges should be trimmed in late winter, while evergreens can be trimmed in mid-spring.

• Sloping the hedge so that the base is broader than the top lets sunlight reach lower leaves.

• To help you trim hedges evenly, use stakes and string to set up guidelines for height and width.

• Cut slowly, and use a smooth, up and down sweeping motion. If you apply too much pressure, the blades can tear branches instead of cutting them neatly.

• Cut the sides of a hedge first.

• Use a ladder to reach the tops of tall hedges.

• Keep trimmer blades sharp and clean.

Using a hedge trimmer such as the 36 volt 24-inch Lithium Hedge Trimmer from Black & Decker can make this task easy. The 24-inch dual-action blade cuts branches quickly and has less vibration compared to a single action blade.

Taking a little extra time to put the finishing touches on your yard pays off. You’ll boost your home’s curb appeal and make your yard something everyone can enjoy. Learn more about tools to help keep your yard picture perfect at www.blackanddecker.com/recharge.

Source: Family Features. Photo courtesy of Getty Images

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.com • April 2013

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Dr. Shel’s Annual Mommy Makeover Contest C alling all mommies in Sugar Land, Katy and Memorial areas!

Dr. Shel and a panel of judges will select one lucky mom from each of these areas to win a laser facial, laser hair removal package, an autographed copy of Dr. Shel’s book I am Woman and much more!

One grand prize winner* will be chosen, and she will win over $10,000 in prizes to include: Coolsculpting fat reduction, Botox, Radiesse, Juvederm, a hormone evaluation test and much more for a complete Mommy Makeover! Enter today and see if you’ll be the lucky grand prize winner!

The Contest Details • Nominations can be submitted by friends, children, brothers, sisters – anyone who knows a deserving mom.

• Submit a 300 word essay to tell why your loved one is deserving of a Mommy Makeover! And moms, you are free to nominate yourself!

• Send a photo of the nominee, name, email address and phone number to: manager@ drshel.com. (Any entries received without this information will be invalid and not eligible.)

UPCOMING

SPECIAL FEATURES

Senior Living and

Things We Love Featuring an array of gifts for Mother’s Day

• Submit nomination by April 15, 2013 to be considered for judging.

• Mark your calendars to attend the “Mother’s Appreciation Luncheon” on April 30, 2013 from noon to 2 pm at Dr. Shel Wellness and Medical Spa to announce the lucky winners.

Look for them in the May issue!

*One runner up will be chosen from each area: Sugar Land, Katy and Memorial. From the top three winners, one lucky grand prize winner will be selected.

To advertise, call 281.690.4242.

Got Tickets?

Submit your request and get the next issue of

Join us on Facebook Facebook.com/FortBendFocus

delivered to your mailbox!

“Like” Us Today!

Visit www.fortbendfocus.com or Call 281.690.4242 fort bend

magazine • April 2013

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Win ticket giveaways to area attractions and events!

www.fortbend

.com • April 2013

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High School HOT SHOT

By Lauren Dante

Gabriel Camera A “Shot” of Perfection

G

abriel Camera is “shooting” for success. An avid soccer player, Gabriel plays soccer almost every day of the week while making excellent grades in school and participating in extracurricular clubs and activities. Gabriel is focused on his goal of becoming a professional soccer player in the future.

Born in Venezuela, Gabriel came to the United States as a child. In Venezuela, he attended a Catholic school that was very religious, but it did not have many rules like the United States schools. Even though the United States schools were stricter, Gabriel feels that he has learned more in the United States and that he has been exposed to different cultures that have made him a well-rounded person.

Although Gabriel had to learn English when he arrived in the United States, his math skills were at the top of the class. It took Gabriel just three years to master the English language, and he continued to excel in math.

Gabriel is currently a junior at Elkins High School. He has only made two B’s in high school and has a 3.85 GPA. He has been awarded the Academic Excellence Award for both his freshman and sophomore year and takes a majority of Honors classes. His favorite classes in high school are chemistry and Spanish because he feels confident in both of those subject areas.

Since Gabriel is an excellent Spanish student, he was invited to join the Spanish Honor Society. In addition to Spanish Honor Society, Gabriel is a member of the Habitat for Humanity club. However, the

Gabriel majority of Gabriel’s time is spent on the soccer field.

Gabriel’s love of soccer began at the age of four when he received a soccer ball for his birthday. In Venezuela, where soccer is less organized than in the United States, he only played for his school.

When Gabriel arrived in the United States, he joined the Eclipse Soccer Club and played on the ‘96 Black Team until his sophomore year.

In high school, Gabriel joined the Elkins Soccer Team. As a freshman, Gabriel made the Varsity team and was the only freshman to do so. Gabriel enjoyed playing with his teammates and played center midfielder and right midfielder for the school.

Five years ago, Gabriel was spotted at a Dynamo Soccer Camp and was asked to join the Dynamo Academy. He started in the Junior Academy and moved on to the

Pre-Academy. He is now in the top-level of the Academy and travels to soccer games almost every weekend. He has been to Austin, Colorado, Kansas and more. The team practices four days a week and then plays on Saturdays. “I am either at practice or at a game,” said Gabriel. “I like practice because I have fun with my teammates, and I am playing a sport that I love.”

The Dynamo Academy consists of the best youth soccer players in the area and is a direct pathway to joining the Houston Dynamo on a professional level. The academy allows the boys to have personal contact with the Dynamo coaches and play competitive teams across the country. Last summer, Gabriel attended Nationals in Chicago and the team was ranked as one of the top five teams in the nation.

Gabriel is looking forward to playing on the Academy team for his senior year and would like to eventually play for the Dynamo.

Gabriel is an excellent soccer player. He is one of only a few players from the Fort Bend area who has earned the prestigious honor of playing for this competitive team. Gabriel has been the MVP at multiple soccer camps and was awarded the Golden Soccer Cleat, which is the MVP award at the Dynamo camp.

“As a soccer player for the Dynamo, I have learned that you have to sacrifice things to achieve what you want,” said Gabriel. “However, I love the game, so I don’t mind making sacrifices to be the best that I can be.” We wish Gabriel continued success on the field and in the classroom.

“I love the game, so I don’t mind making sacrifices to be the best that I can be.” - Gabriel Camera fort bend

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S DIRECT AU A X

R TA

SCH

OL

TO

TE

CONGRATULATIONS! ARSHIP S

Cambrey Willhelm ATTENTION: Fort Bend High School Seniors Register now and win a

1,000

$

SCHOLARSHIP!

Complete details and forms at

www.fortbendfocus.com

Congratulations to Cambrey Willhelm, a senior at Foster High School, for being selected as Texas Direct Auto’s “Scholarship Star” for April! Jessica DeMarr, Director of Business Development, presents the $1000 scholarship. At Foster High School, Cambrey is a member of Varsity Glitter-N-Gold Show Choir, Jazz Choir, National Honor Society and more. Cambrey has extensive performance experience in musicals including Mamma Mia!, Cinderella and South Pacific. Cambrey is currently casted as Muzzy in Thoroughly Modern Millie with HITS theater in Houston. A certified bird rescuer and handler with Houston Wildlife Rescue, a choir, math and science tutor and a six-year volunteer with special education children, Cambrey is an avid contributor to the Fort Bend community. After high school, she plans to attend Texas State University in San Marcos to study Vocal Performance. Cambrey was selected as part of Texas Direct Auto’s commitment to educational excellence through the “Scholarship Stars” program. Application details are listed at www.fortbendfocus.com.

By Amy Gross

Wine Country

etaways G

Not far from Houston

E

arlier this year, I visited a thriving winery, helped prune the vines and was home just about two hours later.

Did I hop a jet to California? New York’s Finger Lakes? Of course not! I drove to Industry, Texas to Paradox House Vineyards, which grows grapes for Pleasant Hill Winery and Haak Vineyards and Winery in Santa Fe, Texas.

Before my visit, I had absolutely no pruning or gardening experience of any kind. But, when I got there, I was given some clippers and basic instructions.

Off I went, clipping away the extra parts of the vines so that the vineyard team would have an easier job doing the more specific pruning later. I joined a group of about 30 other volunteers in the vineyards, many of whom had volunteered vintage after vintage. I was definitely the newbie.

I loved knowing that I was helping contribute to the wines that would be produced one day. I also enjoyed chatting with everyone, listening to their stories. We talked about wine, of course, but we also talked about travel, childrearing, farming, politics and pretty much everything as we clipped

and clipped down each row.

Once we were finished with one block, we moved on to another, until all the vines were pruned. We headed to the house for delicious Texas chili and wine made from the Blanc du Bois grapes from another vintage as well as some other wines, our reward for a morning of work. A few of my fellow pruners also brought homemade wines to share, and there was plenty more visiting.

I might have started out as the lone stranger in the bunch, but I ended up feeling almost like family. You might think you need to be in California, Oregon, Washington or New York to experience the wine country or that you need to be a wine writer. But, living here in Houston puts us so close to some wineries that produce delicious wines and can give anyone who wants it a full winery experience just a few hours away from home.

Don’t believe me? Just ask Houston’s own Russ Kane, who has been discovering Texas wines for years and reporting on his impressions through his website, www.VintageTexas.com, and in his book, The Wine Slinger Chronicles. The Wine Slinger Chroni-

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cles shares the stories of Texas wineries, winemakers and winery owners in a way that any lover of Texas or wine would enjoy. I promise this book is not just for wine geeks – it is for anyone who likes to read interesting stories.

We all know that Texas holds countless great stories! Reading Russ’s blog or his book will open your eyes to so many winery experiences and wines that are very close to home. You can get your own copy of The Wine Slinger Chronicles at Brazos Books, Barnes and Noble or online at Amazon, or order an autographed version at Russ’s website.

If you’re looking for a quick winery trip with a little bit of luxury and a great variety of award-winning wines, hop in the car and cruise on up to Mesina Hof in Bryan. Mesina Hof hosts weekly events including wine appreciation classes and pairings at their Wine Bar, as well as all of their Texas-made wines, many of which won many accolades at this year’s Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s International Wine Competition. The Vintage House Restaurant there offers fine dining in a winery setting as well as monthly cooking parties with the chef. For those who prefer to make an overnight stay of the experience, book a room at the AAA 4 Diamond rated bed and breakfast right on the property.

Need another excuse to visit? On April 20th, Messina Hof is hosting its annual Wine and Roses Festival when the winery’s roses and bluebonnets will be in full bloom. There will be a grapestomping competition, wine seminars, live music and more.

I’ve just shared just a taste of what you can find so close to Houston. Check out Russ’s book, the Messina Hof website or my own site, VineSleuthUncorked.com, for more ideas of wineries, wine events and wines to explore in Texas’ very own wine country.

Cheers!

EVENTS April 6th, 8 am – 4 pm Dew House Yard Sale

April 11th, 6 pm Free Back and Neck Pain Seminar

“Dew” your spring cleaning and donate to the Dew House Yard Sale at the Historic Dew House in Kitty Hollow Park, located just past the HEB/ Sienna Entrance going South on Highway 6. All proceeds will benefit the Dewalt Heritage Center and preserving our area history.

Visit www.fortbendmuseum.org.

Join a multi-disciplinary panel of physicians from Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Spine Center to have your questions answered regarding neck and back pain. The event is presented by Dr. Jeffrey Wood and Dr. Larry Tran and includes refreshments and door prizes.

For reservations, call 281-274-7500 or email SLRSVP@tmhs.org.

April 13th, 6 pm Elkins High School ProGrad Style Show

Dew Docents Debra and Dionne Rice, Beverly Bauman, Debbie Cogan, Becky Gay and Jaci Elliot.

April 6th, 9 am – 5 pm Runaway Scrape at George Ranch Historical Park

April 13th – 28th, 3 pm The Hobbit comes to Fort Bend Theatre

Join Elkins High School (EHS) for “A Knight Under the Big Top” dinner, auction and style show.

Fashions will be provided by Formal Gallery, Al’s Formal Wear and Men’s Warehouse. Tickets are available at $25 each or by tables starting at $250. Proceeds from this event will benefit Pro Grad 2013, a drug and alcohol free environment celebration for EHS seniors.

Call 281-960-3198.

Award-winning Fort Bend Theatre will produce The Hobbit, based on the classic novel by J. R.R. Tolkien, from April 13th to May 5th with performances on Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm.

Tickets are $9 and are available at www.fortbendtheatre.com.

Call 281-208-3333.

April 19th, 6 – 9 pm Second Mile’s 9th Annual Banquet and Silent Auction

See the Texians in action at the 1830s Jones Stock Farm for an exciting re-creation of the Runaway Scrape, the fleeing of the Texans from Santa Anna’s army marching east towards San Jacinto.

Call 281-343-0218 or e-mail info@georgeranch.org.

EMPOWER is Second Mile’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Proceeds will help provide food, clothing and other basic needs for impoverished men, women and children in Fort Bend County.

Come to Safari Texas Ranch, 11627 FM 1464 Road in Richmond to hear stories of life change, and see what is in store for the year to come.

Visit www.SecondMile.org or email sabraham@secondmile.org.

April 7th, 10 am – 4 pm Sugar Land Skeeters Craft and Trade Show

Josh Ortiz, Hanna Moore, Casey O’Malley, Kyle Last, Katherine Civitillo, Sydney Williams and Josh McShanog at Elkins High School ProGrad event.

Check out local and featured artists, crafts, jewelry, food, apparel and more at a free family outing at Constellation Field, 1 Stadium Drive in Sugar Land.

Email Lvavricka@sugarlandskeeters.com or call 281-207-9151.

April 13th, 10 am – 4 pm Fort Bend Habitat for Humanity Youth Build Challenge

April 20th, 1:30 pm Artist Demonstration of Wax Batik Painting

Join Fort Bend Habitat for Humanity and youth from the community at Sugar Land Town Square.

Registration is $10 per team member, which covers all supplies. Each team of 2 to 4 players will have one hour to compete a house out of LEGO® pieces. Prizes will be awarded to the teams judged to have the “most creative” or “most realistic” house created out of LEGO® pieces.

Visit www.sugarlandtownsquare.com.

Visual artist Shirley Blevins will demonstrate batik painting using wax and cold-water dyes at Fort Bend County Libraries, located at 14010 University Boulevard in Sugar Land on the UH campus.

Call 281-341-2677.

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EVENTS SUGAR LAND TOWN SQUARE

April 27th, 10 am – 1 pm YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day®

April 21st, 1 pm 5th Annual Butterfly Flutter By

The Fort Bend Family Y is celebrating Healthy Kids Day to help families find fun through active play and educational opportunities. As a leading cause-driven nonprofit organization committed to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Fort Bend Family Y encourages all families to attend.

Visit www.ymca.net or www.ymcahouston.org/fort-bend-family.

Child Advocates of Fort Bend Present Light of Hope Friday, April 5th 6 – 7 pm

Friday, April 5th 7:30 – 9:30 pm

Annual Spring Corvette Car Show Saturday, April 6th 10 am – 3 pm

Dancing Under the Stars Friday, April 12th 7:30 – 9 pm

April 25th, 6 – 7 pm Free Joint Replacement Seminar

Movie Under the Moon

Join Methodist Sugar Land Hospital for a free joint replacement seminar presented by Dr. Carl Hicks including refreshments and door prizes.

For reservations, call 281-274-7500 or email SLRSVP@tmhs.org.

Open auditions for the Fort Bend Boys Choir’s 32nd concert season will be Saturday, April 27, 2013 at the First United Methodist Church of Missouri City, 3900 Lexington Boulevard.

Visit www.fbbctx.org or call 281-240-3800.

www.sugarlandtownsquare.com Call 281.313.SLTS

Giving Spirits Concert Series

Join this fundraiser for the Changing Minds Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports treatment and research for Down syndrome.

Butterfly Flutter By was started by Drs. Cody and Cashion at C&C Dental in order to help their son who has Down syndrome. The fundraising event will be held at Nancy’s Garden, located at Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Avenue in Houston.

Visit www.candcdental.com.

April 27th, 9 am – 12 pm Audition Now for the Fort Bend Boys Choir

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Friday, April 19th 7 – 9 pm

April 27th, 2 pm Libraries Celebrate El Día de los Niños Bring the whole family for an afternoon celebration of children and the Hispanic culture at First Colony Branch Library, 2121 Austin Parkway in Sugar Land and at the Missouri City Branch Library, 1530 Texas Parkway, both at 2 pm. The programs are free and open to the public.

Call 281-341-2677.

City of Sugar Land Earth Day: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rock Saturday, April 20th 2 – 6 pm

Music in the Plaza Friday, April 26th 7:30 – 9:30 pm

Sugar Land Junior Superstar Finals Saturday, April 27th 7 – 9 pm

Submit calendar events at editor@fortbendfocus.com Tour Choirboys John Garrido and Kent Mohr taking a break in between rehearsals at their recent Winter Vocal Camp.

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Sugar Land Wine and Food Affair Bistro Brunch Sunday, April 28th 11 am – 2 pm

By Steve Kursar

absolutely!

AUTO REVIEW

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DODGE DURANGO

he 2013 Dodge Durango is the kind of large crossover that looks more like a rugged SUV, ready to take on the Piney Woods and then some. It still proudly bears tough styling that’s starting to disappear from the SUV landscape since more and more smoothly refined crossovers are starting to dominate the road. But don’t let the Durango’s looks deceive you; it also delivers a ride that is smooth and refined with an interior to match.

Now that car-based crossovers are all the rage, most vehicles in the category concentrate on delivering better fuel economy as opposed to offroad performance. Some crossovers advertise suspensions that can go through mud, snow and sand with the turn of a dial, but if I were you, I would avoid those conditions as much as

you can. Some looks can be deceiving. And, though I wouldn’t take the Durango to North Africa if I were planning to cross the Sahara, I would be more comfortable driving the ranch in the Durango than I would with some other large crossover.

The Durango is also at the head of its class when it comes to towing regardless of the engine you decide to choose. For a starting MSRP of $29,495, you get the standard 290 hp, 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine which delivers EPA-estimated fuel economy of 16 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. Mated to the standard five speed transmission, the V6 is capable of towing 6,200 lbs. Want a Hemi? Then choose the 360 hp, 5.7-liter Hemi which combined with a sixspeed automatic transmission gets you 13 mpg city/20 mpg highway and can tow up to 7,400 pounds.

If you’re willing to add $10,000 to the base Durango, you can get the top-of-the-line Citadel which brings true luxury to this large SUV. This package includes 20-inch wheels, ventilated Nappa leather-trimmed front seats and heated front and rear seats, xenon headfort bend

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lights, chrome grille insert, a sunroof, a heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise control and a navigation system with UConnect 730N to help you stay connected while you are away from home.

As gas prices continue to escalate, Americans accelerate their migration to smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles. But Texans will always need the capability that only large SUVs can deliver so it’s a good thing that the good people at Dodge have done such a beautiful job with the 2013 Durango.

Follow Steve Kursur at KursarOnCars. blogspot.com.

We’re absolutely enthusiastic over community magazines. They allow us to come into your homes and focus on what’s important to you – your community.

In Print • Online • In Person

So what’s the power of community magazines? They’re absolutely free, they’re absolutely timely, and they’re absolutely available 24/7 when you want to read them. And best of all, they are delivered right to your door.

Whether you live in greater For t Bend, M e m o r i a l , K a t y, Brazos or Pearland, absolutely! focus media brings you the power of print – absolutely free, focused on people, places and happenings – focused on where you live.

Reading your community magazine – it’s easier than a click.

absolutely! focus media 281.690.4242 | www.absolutelyfocusmedia.com

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April 2013 Winner “True Love”

By Murali Santhana Congratulations Murali, you’ve earned a $50 gift certificate to a restaurant!

ENTER TO WIN Fort Bend Focus Magazine is looking for great amateur photos. Think you have a great shot? Any subject matter will be considered, black and white or color, special effects and/or edited are not necessary.

A WINNER EVERY MONTH Each month’s winner receives a $50 gift certificate to a restaurant and the winning photo will be published in our magazine. To claim your prize, call Sarah at 281-690-4242. Runner-up photos may be published in our “Readers’ Photo Album.”

Please make sure to send some basic information about every photo you submit such as: who, where, when, a title, your name and daytime phone number.

By submitting an entry, the photographer gives the Fort Bend Focus Magazine the right to use and publish their photograph. There is no contest deadline.

NO LIMIT TO ENTRIES To submit a digital photo, e-mail the jpeg file to Michael@ FortBendFocus.com. Digital photos must be HIGH RESOLUTION at least 300 dpi at actual size of at least 4” x 6”.

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Want to be a Preferred Customer? It’s Free!

Download the Free TCRN App today and take advantage of Preferred Customer Offers or visit www.TCRN-SugarLand.com/mobile on your smartphone so you can start SAVING at the best businesses around town!

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DELICIOUS LISTING CERTIFIED GREEN RESTAURANT

Search for ‘TCRN’ Current Preferred Customer Special

Receive 10% Off Mon-Wed when you use your TCRN Preferred Customer App or Card!

search for more savings online at:

www.TCRN-SugarLand.com

RUGGLES GREEN 15903 City Walk Sugar Land Town Square, 77479 281-565-1175 www.rugglesgreen.com Ruggles Green, a locally owned and operated restaurant, offers a healthier, better tasting menu done in a sustainable way. Ruggles Green serves local, allnatural and organic menu items. They specialize in gluten-free and vegetarian options all in a family-friendly atmosphere including a gorgeous landscaped patio and a private room for special events.

Their extensive menu features salads, sandwiches, burgers, tacos, pizzas and pastas, as well as organic and biodynamic wine and beer. Relax and “un-wine” at the greenest restaurant in Texas.

FOCUS FAVORITES... Your Community Resource Guide Finance/Wealth Management Hardee Investment Group 713-853-0879 www.HardeeInvestmentGroup.com HardeeInvestmentGroup@rbc.com With over 85 years of collective experience, the Hardee Investment Group is your ultimate financial planning resource. Our team is comprised of five diversified professionals, working primarily with family wealth and businesses up to $100 million. Our Group has been awarded national recognition by RBC Wealth Management, the National Association of Board Certified Advisory Practices, the Houston Business Journal and Barron’s, a sister publication to the Wall Street Journal, for our award winning service and advice. (10/2011)

Jewelry J Loggins Jewelers 281-242-2900 www.jloggins.com For all of your jewelry needs, come view a large selection of beautiful pieces by various designers. Expertise in original design and construction with an emphasis on providing the best in quality

and value sets J Loggins Jewelers apart from all of the rest. Take advantage of the wide array of services including simple solders, repairs in all precious metals, repairs of some fashion and base metals, heirloom restorations, makeovers, engraving, watch battery replacement, restringing and appraisals. (05/2012)

Pediatrics MedCare Pediatric Group, LP 713-995-9292 www.medcarepediatrics.com info@medcarepediatrics.com MedCare has been providing quality healthcare services to area families since 1991. Our mission is to enhance the lives of children, and our dedicated team carries out this vision with the utmost care and compassion. In addition to our caring team, MedCare reaches out to families in the community through our non-profit foundation, MedCare Milestones. Our MedCare services include Home Health Nursing and Therapy, and three Outpatient Rehab facilities located in Stafford, Northshore and Spring. (01/2013)

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Pest Control/Exterminator Integrated Pest Management Inc. 281-341-1761 • Fax 832-451-1949 www.Integrated-pest.com 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. (04/2013)

DID WE GET YOUR ATTENTION? Then call 281-690-4242 to have your business listed here.

By Alisa Murray

Living the Sweet Life:

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

“The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you, don’t go back t sleep! ”– Wayne Dyer

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ow, I always know when it’s happening. I am awakened before dawn by the crisp chirps of the morning birds near my windows. They call to everyone who will listen that spring is coming. If I had not been paying attention, there would be no escaping the magnificent entrance of, first, the tulip trees budding, and then, the tiny white flowers that spray up now and last only a week or so each year. Spring comes in with a flurry of fleeting beauty, and now in my 43rd year, I anticipate and quietly await for winter to end and for all things green to begin anew. It is indeed my favorite time of the year, with Lent ending and Easter arriving to remind us all that life is restored!

In the early years of my life, I was barely aware of the subtle changes and the lasting effects that this time of the year was capable of having on my soul. I passed from one season to the next fairly unmarked by it all, and days turned into months and months

into years. It was at some point around forty that I began to look back and realize there wasn’t much time left. I had witnessed friends pass, my parents and grandparents, of course, and all at once, my life became desperately important to savor. My own babies were now children, and although I had raised them consistently every day, I felt like I had missed something. Where had my time gone? Twenty plus years of marriage had gone by as well, all of it having been lived, but not savored.

I have written about living in the moment for years and doing so daily is not an easy task. All of us are busy with everything we have said “yes” to and more. The soul, needing to be balanced, yearns for such delicate attention, and each of us has an inner level that continually needs to be checked.

There’s a time for sharing and creating and a time for learning and being patient. Life is always full of distractions, but it is essentially up to each of us to stop and take inventory. Lent has always offered that opportunity for me, and now, I am living more in my moments. The rituals of spiritual reflection and growth come and are welcomed like an old friend.

One of the more positive outcomes of living in balance is there will at some point be a time that it dawns on you who you are. With this newfound realization, it will hit you that there is a sacred space for you in the universe to be just you. Wayne Dyer explains this beautifully: “Your existence is a gift from a thriving, plentiful source of well-being. The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you, don’t go back to sleep.”

He and I both have in common the accidental habit of waking up in the middle of the night with thoughts and

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ideas, and yes, every now and again… an epiphany! Many novels and otherwise important revelations have been born in those wee hours of the night.

Pay attention to everything. All of it in this life matters, which brings me to give you my explanation of the good and the bad things.

Occasionally, someone will say to me “good luck” or “you’re lucky.” I always am quick to correct them because in my way of thinking, there is not luck but destiny. We are all put here to do great things big and small. Some years are spent working hard, or going through bad stuff, while other years are joyful and are spent giving back from the successes of days long gone.

I believe everyone comes into our lives for a purpose and will remain there to teach us, guides us and sometimes, we are to influence and assist them. There are never any coincidences; good and bad must be taken as a way for us to learn how to be in our life each day, each moment with an open heart and a conscientious awareness to be balanced and paying attention to everything.

Will you take this time to reflect on your life? Who and what is needing to be balanced? Take inventory. Most of all, as we begin another beautiful time of renewal, will you allow time for your soul to find joy and hope? Will you reflect and ponder on your life and discover in those secrets the birds have been singing especially to you?

Cheers to spring and finding your purpose!

Take Care of YOU!

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Sav e the date s!

10TH ANNUAL SUGA R L A N D W I N E & F O O D A F FA I R

Where top chefs share secrets, sommeliers get uncorked and you have exclusive access to the best wine & food around!

APRIL 24 TH - 28 TH , 2013 SugarLandWineandFoodAffair.com Sugar Land, TX 77478 : 713.SIPWINE

Don’t let a

stroke alter your life story.

Learn how to lower your risk of stroke.

Join us for a free stroke education seminar:

Thursday, May 9, 2013 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Conference Center Call 281-274-7500 or email SLRSVP@tmhs.org for more information and to register.

Registration is required.

80 percent of strokes are preventable. So while you can’t control all of the factors that can lead to a stroke, we want you to know the ones you can.

As a primary stroke center in Fort Bend County, we are committed to educating you about the warning signs and risk factors for stroke. Because the more you know, the better prepared you’ll be to create a longer, healthier life story.