April 2017 - Fort Bend Focus Magazine - People • Places • Happenings

APRIL 2017

Houston Methodist Sugar Land

Excellence in Stroke Care

Gardening

Wellness

for

Medical Focus

KEY REALTORS Fort Bend Boys Choir

35

th ANNIVERSARY GALA

Houston’s First Hospital to Receive the Nation’s Highest Presidential Honor for Performance Excellence We’re extremely proud to be the recipient of the 2016 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. This unique national designation recognizes outstanding commitment to sustainable excellence through innovation, improvement and visionary leadership.

And it serves as further proof of our own commitment to Advancing Health.

Learn what our recognition means for you.

Visit memorialhermann.org/sharingdays

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TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

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

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2 7 3

8 4 9 5 10

Tim Cashion, DDS

Teresa Cody, DDS

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EXPERT JOINT REPLACEMENT ACCELERATES YOUR RECOVERY. At Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in Sugar Land, our Rapid Recovery program for joint replacement gets you back to your active lifestyle — faster. Personalized to your specific needs, this comprehensive approach: • Utilizes the latest pain control methods before, during and after surgery • Starts rehabilitation sooner to accelerate recovery • Gets you home quickly, often in one day To schedule an appointment, call 281.690.4678 or visit houstonmethodist.org/rapidrecovery to learn more.

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APRIL 2017

{Features} 18 FORT BEND CHILDREN’S

DISCOVER CENTER

{COVER STORY}

April Happenings and Ongoing Exhibits

20 TREAT YOURSELF

WHILE HELPING OTHERS

The American Heart Association’s Shop With Heart Card event is a unique opportunity to shop while giving back.

22 AUTISM AWARENESS,

ACTION AND ACCEPTANCE!

With April Autism Awareness Month in full swing, local autism advocates Hope For Three is hitting the streets to spread the Power of Three.

31 EASTER SERVICES

A Guide to Easter Services and Activities

37 KEY REALTORS

Meet the Finest in Fort Bend

49 MEDICAL FOCUS Carol Wilson, SLP, and Debbie Gibbs.

Health Care News You Can Use

Photo by Mary Favre.

63 SUMMER TRAVEL TIPS

12

The countdown to summer is on!

Start planning with these resources.

RELEARNING LIFE AFTER A STROKE

For patients at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, a comprehensive team approach to treatment and rehabilitation makes all the difference.

Debbie Gibbs of Sugar Land is one beneficiary of the compassionate care provided at the hospital’s Neuroscience & Spine Center, where a highly skilled team of physicians and therapists implemented a plan to get Gibbs back on her feet and return to a productive lifestyle.

{Columns} 16 FOCUS ON FINANCE

Make the Tax Code Work for You 24 COMMUNITY CULTURE

Passover and Its Historical Origins 26 HIGH SCHOOL HOT SHOT

Meet Z’Nae Mangum 28 HOMETOWN HEROES:

Celine Tong 34 KIDS’ CORNER

To Eat or Not to Eat 80 LIVING THE SWEET LIFE:

Expressing Gratefulness

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CONTRIBUTORS APRIL 2017 VOLUME 13 | NUMBER 6

{Business Briefs} 30 RIVERSTONE GOES BIG

16

For Houston’s Largest Home Tour

35 THE GEORGE FOUNDATION’S

New Special Programs Director

Zeenat Kassam Mitha Cultural Correspondent Page 24

Kong in the action adventure Kong: Skull Island.

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.

62 TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL

COLLEGE REGENT

Leaves Lasting Legacy With Donation

{Newsworthy} 36 OAKBEND MEDICAL CENTER

Presents First Annual Restaurant Week

For Le Cirque Gala

41 CLEMENTS HIGH

SCHOOL TEACHER

Selected as Local PhysTEC Teacher of the Year

44 FORT BEND CARES’

Night {AtFamily The Movies}

24

74 KONG: SKULL ISLAND

26

Joan Frances Contributor Pages 26 & 28

Myles Mellor Contributor Page 30

{Brain Teaser}

30

30 HOP-PY EASTER!

OCUSOFT GETTING READY

4th Annual Doggone Fun Run

absolutely! {Healthy Living}

32

absolutely! {Auto Review}

34 Grainne Kelly BubbleBum Page 64

64

{In Every Issue} 10 EXCLAMATION POINTS!

Steve Kursar Auto Enthusiast Page 72

72 Christopher Hill imagination monkey Page 74

42 SEEN ON THE SCENE 66 OUT & ABOUT IN

THE HEART OF THE BEND

74 Alisa Murray Alisa Murray Photography Page 80

76 AMATEUR PHOTO CONTEST

ON THE COVER:

80

78 COMMUNITY EVENTS

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

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Judy Ulke Enchanted Landscapes & Nurseries Page 32 Patrick Biron Birons Youth Sports Center Page 34

32 GARDENING FOR WELLNESS

72 2017 HONDA RIDGELINE

Larry Tran, MD, Debbie Gibbs and James Ling, MD. Photo by Mary Favre.

Keith Borgfeldt Spartan Wealth Management, LLC Page 16

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EXCLAMATION POINTS! Publisher, PATTI PARISH-KAMINSKI

Springing Forward

Vol. 13 No. 6 April 2017

Last month, we sprung into spring by moving our clock forward an hour. For me, time marched ahead two hours as I traveled to Florida with my family for Spring Break.

Let’s just say, I don’t spring forward well.

Our cover story this month brings you an amazing woman who definitely sprung forward well with the help of the amazing team at the Houston Methodist Sugar Land Neuroscience & Spine Center. Debbie Gibbs experienced the worst, but her outcome, due to the amazing team of doctors and therapists at Houston Methodist Sugar Land, was absolutely the best. I often tell people how blessed we are to have such amazing medical care Patti Parish-Kaminski. right here in our community.

Speaking of blessings, we celebrate one of the most holy days this month. Easter is April 16th this year, and from our family at absolutely! focus media to yours, we wish you many blessings this spring.

Mark Twain said, “In the spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours.” Who knew Twain was a Texas boy? I always thought he was from Missouri.

Spring brings us much change – like the unpredictable Texas spring weather – so the best advice is to be prepared – and be flexible as time springs forward.

Happy spring!

4655 TECHNIPLEX DR. STE 700 STAFFORD, TX 77477 281-690-4242

Stay focused,

Hello Sarah, I loved the article and all of the photos from the 2017 Presidential Inauguration in March Fort Bend Focus! Thanks to you, Patti and Jessica.

Fort Bend Focus is such a lovely magazine to represent our community.

Sandy Kelly

Dear Jessica, I was completely overwhelmed when I opened the November issue of Fort Bend Focus and found such a nice Business Brief about my First Colony Community Association computer coding class! Fort Bend Focus has always been such a pleasure to read. Over the years, I have appreciated the support you and your magazine have given to so many worthy organizations.

An article in your magazine is truly a “stamp of authenticity.” Thank you again!

Carol S. McDonough

Published by

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

PUBLISHER Patti Parish-Kaminski A S S O C IAT E P U B L I S H E R Jessica Kij M A NA G I N G E D I T O R Sarah Bearden AC C OUNT EXECUTIVES Jennifer Elliott Molly Ellis Kay Garrett Andrea Rigamonti Suzanne Stiles A RT D I R E C T O R Grace Belleza GRAPHIC DESIGNER Marinela Taylor WEB DESIGNER Joey Belleza PHOTOGRAPHY Mary Favre CONTRIBUTORS Patrick Biron Keith Borgfeldt Joan Frances Christopher Hill Grainne Kelly Steve Kursar Myles Mellor Zeenat Kassam Mitha Alisa Murray Judy Ulke

Patti@absolutelyfocusmedia.com

READER FEEDBACK

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.com • April 2017

10

O F F I C E A D M I N I S T R AT O R Alexa Goldstein INQUIRIES 281-690-4242 E D I T O R IA L S U B M I S S I O N S Sarah@absolutelyfocusmedia.com

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

Fort Bend FocusTM Magazine is published by absolutely! focus media, 4655 Techniplex Dr., Ste. 700, Stafford, TX 77477. Copyright© 2017 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.

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11

Dan Kershner, PT, Kim Kainer, OTR, Carol Wilson, SLP, and patient Debbie Gibbs.

elearning ife After a

F

or patients at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, a comprehensive team approach to treatment and rehabilitation makes all the difference. Just ask Debbie Gibbs of Sugar Land, an active retiree who stayed busy with household tasks and caring for her family, including her three grandchildren. “She was very sharp,” said her daughter Caresha. “She handled everything on her own and was always on the go.”

But all that changed last November. After elective surgery at a hospital in the medical center, Gibbs began struggling mentally and physically. Her family – thinking her symptoms were the result of side effects from anesthesia – expected her to improve with time.

Instead, her condition worsened. Within a few days, she had lost all movement on her right side and was having difficulty talking. When it became clear that something was seriously wrong, Gibbs’ family took her to the emergency room at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. “That was the best decision we could have made,” said Caresha.

COVER STORY Photos by Mary Favre TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

Excellent Hospital for Stroke Care When a patient exhibiting stroke symptoms arrives at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, the staff takes immediate action. The hospital has a neurologist available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the emergency room (ER) staff is specially trained to respond during the “golden hour,” when a stroke can be most successfully treated with the clot-busting drug alteplase, commonly referred to as tPA, an acronym for tissue plasminogen activator.

“We have a well-defined protocol for stroke patients that starts the moment they arrive in the ER,” said neurohospitalist James Ling, MD, a board-certified neurologist and medical director of the hospital’s Stroke Program. “From that instant, their treatment is a priority. We work as a team to ensure that we respond as rapidly as possible. Evaluation by a neurologist, CT scans, blood work – it all happens quickly so that we can administer tPA, dissolve the clot that is causing the stroke and restore the flow of blood to the brain.” .com • April 2017

12

Since 2011, Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital has been recognized for excellence in stroke care by the American Stroke Association. Most recently, the hospital was awarded the association’s Gold Plus Honor Roll Elite status for consistent achievement in meeting or exceeding national stroke quality protocols.

Comprehensive, Coordinated Care When Gibbs arrived at the hospital, ER staff immediately recognized her symptoms and contacted Ling, who took over her care. Tests confirmed that Gibbs had indeed suffered a stroke, but it had been several days at least – the golden hour had long passed.

Ling discovered that Gibbs unknowingly suffered from a combination of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes – what doctors call metabolic syndrome, which greatly increases the risk of heart attack or stroke. Ling started her on medications designed to treat those conditions and monitored her in the hospital for four days until her condition was stable.

Once Gibbs was stable, Ling recommended that she see board-certified neurologist Larry Tran, MD, with Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Neuroscience & Spine Center. Tran developed a care plan that included careful monitoring of her risk factors along with a detailed program of physical, occupational and speech therapy – designed to help Gibbs regain the mental acuity and mobility she lost when the stroke blocked the flow of blood to her brain.

“At that point, she was probably at about 15 percent of her capabilities,” said Caresha. “It was awful to see her struggle with day-to-day activities.”

“I couldn’t do much of anything,” said Gibbs. “I couldn’t move my right leg or arm, I had a hard time talking, and I couldn’t remember simple things.”

Road to Recovery For recovering stroke patients, therapy can make a significant difference. “It’s really all about rehab,” said Tran. “But it requires a lot of commitment and work, and patients need the support of their families to keep them motivated. We are fortunate to have an outstanding, highly skilled therapy team here at our Neuroscience & Spine Center, and patients can receive physical, occupational and speech therapy all in one place with a team that works in a coordinated fashion to maximize their care. That’s not something you find everywhere.”

Patient Debbie Gibbs with Larry Tran, MD.

We are fortunate to have an outstanding, highly skilled therapy team here at our Neuroscience & Spine Center, and patients can receive physical, occupational and speech therapy all in one place with a team that works in a coordinated fashion to maximize their care.

The best way to determine if someone is having a stroke is to

– Larry Tran, MD fort bend

magazine • April 2017

13

We have a well-defined protocol for stroke patients that starts the moment they arrive in the ER. From that instant, their treatment is a priority. We work as a team to ensure that we respond as rapidly as possible.

Patient Debbie Gibbs with James Ling, MD.

– James Ling, MD

Gibbs worked primarily with three therapists at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital – physical therapist Dan Kershner, occupational therapist Kim Kainer and speech/language pathologist Carol Wilson. Together, the team implemented a comprehensive therapy plan that helped Gibbs improve her balance, mobility and agility, as well as her ability to communicate more effectively.

“For a stroke patient, it’s important that all three therapy disciplines are on the same page,” said Wilson. “A patient typically needs to make improvement in all three in order to return to a more independent lifestyle. Think about a simple trip to the grocery store. You need language, writing, walking, reaching, holding and memory. If you take away one piece of that puzzle, it all falls apart.”

“It was clear to us from the beginning that the therapists were a cohesive team,” said Caresha. “They were always working together on Mom’s behalf.”

Gibbs’ family was directly involved in her therapy, asking questions, learning how they could help with home exercises and encouraging her along the way. For example, Wilson taught the family how to utilize a technique called multimodal communication when Gibbs couldn’t remember a specific word.

“If Mom couldn’t come up with the word ‘apple,’ rather than get frustrated, she learned to describe what she wanted

The Neuroscience & Spine Center at

• Alzheimer’s and Memory Disorders • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) • Back and Neck Pain • Brain and Spinal Tumors • Epilepsy and Seizures • Headaches and Migraines • Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

The Neuroscience & Spine Center at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital has board-certified physicians who work together to provide comprehensive, personalized care designed to help patients return to a productive lifestyle.

They offer expedited appointments, including second opinions, with highly regarded specialists. The team of neurosurgeons, neurologists, orthopedic spine surgeons and interventional pain specialists treat a wide variety of disorders:

• Muscle and Nerve Injuries • Muscular Atrophy • Myasthenia Gravis • Neuromuscular Disorders • Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders • Peripheral Neuropathy • Sleep Disorders • Stroke

To schedule an appointment with the

Neuroscience & Spine Center at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, call 281-972-5178.

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • April 2017

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using words like ‘round’ and ‘red’ and ‘fruit’ so that we could better understand,” said Caresha.

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Choosing Houston Methodist Thanks to her own motivation, the support of her family and the compassionate care she received at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, Gibbs has made remarkable progress.

“I’m back at my computer, and I can pay bills and go to the grocery store,” she said. “I can do just about everything I did before. I’m really surprised at how far I’ve come.” Caresha said the decision to bring her mom to Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital was perhaps the most important step in her recovery.

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I can do just about everything I did before.

I’m really surprised at how far I’ve come.

– Debbie Gibbs

Call Me For More Information

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Debbie Gibbs with Dan Kershner, PT.

fort bend

magazine • April 2017

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OCU$

By Keith Borgfeldt

on

FINANCE Make the Tax Code Work for You

T

his month, over 150 million taxpayers are dutifully filing their federal income tax returns. And all of them are making decisions about deductions and credits – whether they know it or not.

When you take the time to learn more about how it works, you may be able to put the tax code to work for you.

A good place to start is with two important tax concepts: credits and deductions.

Credits

As tax credits are usually subtracted dollar for dollar from the actual tax liability, they potentially have greater leverage in reducing your tax burden than deductions. Tax credits typically have phase-out limits, so consider consulting a legal or tax professional for specific information regarding your individual situation. Here are a few tax credits that you may be eligible for: • The Child Tax Credit is a federal tax credit for families with dependent children under age 17. The maximum credit is $1,000 per qualifying child.

• The American Opportunity Credit provides a tax credit of up to $2,500 per eligible student for tuition costs for four years of post-high school education.

• Those who have to pay someone to care for a child (under 13) or other dependent may be able to claim a tax credit for those qualifying expenses.

The Child and Dependent Care Credit provides up to $3,000 for one qualifying individual, or up to $6,000 for two or more qualifying individuals.

Deductions

Deductions are subtracted from your income before your taxes are calculated and thus may reduce the amount of money on which you are taxed and, by extension, your eventual tax liability.

Like tax credits, deductions typically have phase-out limits, so consider consulting a legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. Here are a few examples of deductions: • Under certain limitations, contributions made to qualifying charitable organizations are deductible. In addition to cash contributions, you potentially can deduct the fair market value of any property you donate. And you may be able to write off out-of-pocket costs incurred while doing work for a charity.

• If certain qualifications are met, you may be able to deduct the mortgage

• Tax Mitigation • Long-Term Care • 401(k) Rollovers

interest you pay on a loan secured for your primary residence. This deduction can include interest on a mortgage, a second mortgage, a home equity line of credit or a home equity loan.

• Amounts set aside for retirement through a qualified retirement plan, such as an Individual Retirement Account, may be deducted. The contribution limit is $5,500, and if you are age 50 or older, the limit is $6,500.

• You may be able to deduct the amount of your medical and dental expenses that exceeds 10 percent of your adjusted gross income or 7.5 percent if either you or your spouse is age 65 or older.

Understanding credits and deductions is a critical building block to making the tax code work for you. But remember, the information in this article is not intended as tax or legal advice.

And it may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties.

If you would like to know more ways in which Spartan Wealth Management can help mitigate taxes, feel free to contact us at 281-494-1600.

Keith Borgfeldt is president and owner of Spartan Wealth Management, LLC. Securities and investment advisory services offered through NEXT Financial Group, Inc., Member FINRA and SIPC. Spartan Wealth Management, LLC is not an affiliate of NEXT Financial Group.

• Retirement Income • Wealth Protection • Charitable Giving

• Education Planning • Estate Planning • Wealth Transfer

Ask about our 2nd opinion service!

281-494-1600 4690 Sweetwater Blvd., Suite 280 Sugar Land, TX 77479 www.spartanwm.com

Private Wealth Management for Select Individuals Keith Borgfeldt

President and Owner

Securities and investment advisory services offered through NEXT Financial Group, Inc., Member FINRA and SIPC. Spartan Wealth Management, LLC is not an affiliate of NEXT Financial Group, Inc. Spartan Wealth Management, LLC 4690 Sweetwater Blvd. Ste 280, Sugar Land, TX 77479

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • April 2017

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Ongoing Exhibits

April Happenings Sensational Senses Wonderweek April 7th to 20th From hearing a favorite song to smelling fresh spring flowers to tasting a yummy cookie, your five senses strengthen your experiences and determine how you see the world. The Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center celebrates the different abilities that make each child and their senses unique during Sensational Senses Wonderweek. Hear, see, smell, taste and touch the outside world through tons of “sense”-ational, hands-on activities.

Bust a Rhyme Wonderweek April 21st to 27th Celebrate poetry and the spoken word during Bust A Rhyme Wonderweek. Head over to the Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center for a special week focused on making reading an adventure. Experience fun, literacy-inspired activities and performances sure to bring out the poet in you!

Day of the Child Wonderweek April 28th to May 4th Hooray kids! Children’s Day honors kids on various days in many places around the world. In Mexico, it is celebrated on April 30th and is known as “El día del niño.” The Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center’s weeklong celebration will focus on the joys of being a kid and on enriching kids’ lives with literacy.

Cyberchase – The Chase is On! Join forces with the Cyber Squad – Matt, Inez, Jackie and Digit – in an original quest to save Cyberspace! Blast off into Cyberchase – The Chase Is On!, an out-of-this-world math adventure in which children play hero and save the day.

Cyberchase – The Chase Is On! exhibit invites kids on a math adventure.

Photos by Cody Duty.

Tot*Spot This kid-friendly, bilingual exhibit gives tots 35 months and under the opportunity for exploration, discovery, experimentation and wonder using all of their senses within distinct areas designed to develop critical thinking, problem solving, fine and gross motor skills, as well as oral language development.

The Precision Center in the Kidtropolis exhibit allows kids to explore the auto industry.

Kidtropolis Kidtropolis marks a brand new spot on the map as a real-life kid-metropolis complete with skyline, city government, occupations and systems that make a city work. It’s where kids can choose to be whatever they want to be! The exhibit mirrors and highlights the diverse community of Fort Bend County and engages children in financial literacy and civic engagement.

How Does It Work?

This physical science-themed exhibit challenges kids to discover the answers to their own scientific questions. It uses concrete examples to examine scientific principles, prompting kids to make meaningful connections between the phenomena they encounter at each component and real life experiences.

Everyone Counts! provides an engaging environment for kids to explore math.

Everyone Counts!

This collection of bilingual games, brain teasers and activities from around the world shows how everyone counts in many ways. It captures the best math games and activities – eastern and western, new and ancient – to show how even though exercises may differ from culture to culture, concepts remain the same in any language.

Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center

198 Kempner Street in Sugar Land www.childrensdiscoveryfb.org or call 832-742-2800 TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • April 2017

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Treat Yourself While Helping Others

H

oustonians are famous for their philanthropy. Nonprofit events drive the social scene, and a different one happens almost every night in the Bayou City.

As much as Houstonians give back, they also love to shop, so the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Shop With Heart Card event creates a unique opportunity for both to join forces for good.

A longtime supporter of the AHA, Rosemary Schatzman recognizes the benefits of the Shop With Heart Card event, a spring shopping and dining discount card fundraiser benefiting the AHA. “I love that with this card, every purchase I make can have a meaning. It’s during a seasonal time where I’m spending a lot – wedding, graduation and Mother’s Day gifts, you name it – and it means that much more that I get to support AHA’s mission. All it takes is a $50 donation, and in return, I get a card for amazing discounts to top retailers in the Houston area,” said Schatzman.

Katie Brass is one of many Houstonians looking forward to this premier spring shopping and dining event. The Shop With Heart Card works like most discount card fundraisers.

Supporters purchase the Shop With Heart Card for a minimum donation of $50. Then, from Friday, April 28th through Sunday, May 7th, cardholders can use their card to save 20 percent off regularly priced merchandise at participating retailers and enjoy a complimentary appetizer or dessert with

2017 Shop With Heart Card Heart Guild volunteers Lesha Elsenbrook, Karen Miller, Lu Caltagirone and Roz Pactor.

Photos by Alexander’s Fine Portrait Design.

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

2017 Shop With Heart Card Heart Guild volunteers Robyn Barnes, Laura Davenport, Julie Haralson and Melissa McAnelly.

the purchase of an entrée at participating restaurants.

This year, hundreds of the finest retailers and restaurants from across Houston and surrounding areas have signed up to participate to support this great cause including Coach, Orangetheory Fitness, Twenty-Two Fifty Interiors and Trudy’s Hallmark in Sugar Land. A full listing of participating retailers and restaurants is available on the Shop With Heart Card website and in their annual Merchant Card Directory.

Brass noted that many people use the Shop With Heart Card as an opportunity to not only give back but to spread awareness of AHA and its mission among the community.

“I am not always in town or have time to shop during the 10 day event, but I do not let that stop me from giving back. If I am unable to directly benefit from the perks, I will gift the card to a friend or family member. By doing so, I am able to continue to support AHA through my donation and generate greater awareness, often gaining a new supporter in the process.”

The Heart Guild of Houston, a fundraising branch of the AHA, coordinates the annual Shop With Heart Card event.

Thanks to the generous support of volunteers, underwriters and sponsors, the Heart Guild is able to donate 100 percent of the proceeds from Shop With Heart Card sales directly to the AHA. The AHA is one of the most recognizable and trustworthy non-profit organizations in the United States with a full 80 cents of every donated dollar going to fulfill the organization’s mission of “building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke,” the nation’s No. 1 and No. 5 killers of both men and women. The AHA accomplishes this mission by funding research, education and community outreach across the nation and here in Houston.

“Heart disease and stroke have touched many of our lives,” said Shop With Heart Card Chair Julie Haralson. “This is an easy way to give back to our community and honor our loved ones while having a great time shopping, dining out and saving money. It’s mutually beneficial for everyone involved.”

The 2017 Shop With Heart Card is available for purchase online at ShopWithHeart.org now through April 13th and at participating retailers starting April 13th for a minimum donation of $50. Visit www.ShopWithHeart.org for more information.

.com • April 2017

20

Autism Awareness, Action and Acceptance!

A

pril Autism Awareness Month is in full swing, and local autism advocates Hope For Three is hitting the streets to spread the Power of Three: Awareness, Action and Acceptance. Organizers say the Power of Three are a must to help children with autism thrive and live the best life possible.

Awareness In 2007, the United Nations declared April 2nd as World Autism Awareness Day in perpetuity, and the entire month has become April Autism Awareness Month. Hope For Three, founded in 2011, vowed its first celebration of April Autism Awareness Month in 2012 would reach countywide and beyond. Today, the organization continues to garner the support of Fort Bend County Judge Robert Hebert and all 18 City mayors, whereby each proclaims the month of April Autism Awareness Month and encourages their city to not only support Hope For Three and its mission, but join millions around the world to turn their lights blue or wear blue.

“Light it Up Blue” is the Autism Awareness Campaign ignited by Autism Speaks and supported by autism organizations and advocates worldwide.

“Autism is a very complex disorder,” said Darla Farmer, founder and executive director of Hope For Three. “We recognize that for this community to take action and give unconditional acceptance to autism families, they must be aware and educated about autism spectrum disorder. Among the many ways we bring awareness is through events such as Car Wash for Kids, Strike Out Autism, the Annual Luncheon and Golf Fore Autism, It’s Cool to Care, Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) and our parent empowerment group H.O.P.E., which stands for Helping Our Parents Excel.”

Action Although Autism Awareness Month is recognized worldwide during the month of April, Hope For Three said it “lives its mission 365 days a year.” To date, the organization has provided with the help of generous donors, grantors and volunteers nearly $500,000 in financial assistance to help bridge the gap between families and autism service providers. Many therapies that are needed for children on the autism spectrum are not covered by insurance. If insurance does cover cost, it is often with a limited number of sessions.

Statistics note it costs more than $60,000 per year to care for a child with autism. There is no cure for autism, but early diagnosis is key.

Acceptance Autism is the fastest growing children’s disorder. As many autism families know all too well, autism spectrum disorder is not going away. It is not a death sentence. Children on TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

Gearing up for Strike Out Autism Family Fun Day: Johan Limonta, Elizabeth Munoa, Tyler Stamm, Nico Laine, Robbie Weinhardt, Caroline Bordelon, Darla Farmer, Lakin Montgomery, Jim McClellan, Gabriella Sedita, Londyn Montgomery, Darynee’ Glover, Lauren and Hope Montgomery, Tyra James, Mason Laine and Emmy Burns.

Strike Out Autism Family Fun Day Event The 5th Annual Strike Out Autism Family Fun Day Event, presented by the Fred and Mable R. Parks Foundation, takes place April 23rd at Constellation Field during the Sugar Land Skeeters Opening Weekend. Strike Out Autism is part of the Hope For Three Awareness Campaign in recognition of Autism Awareness Month. The event is also an opportunity for Hope For Three to host more than 400 autism family members to an afternoon of fun, food and fellowship.

Visit www.hopeforthree.org/strike-out-autism to volunteer or RSVP your family for the event.

the spectrum may be uniquely different but not less. Autism acceptance is a crucial component in building relationships, whether through therapy, education, on the playground or in a church, store or restaurant.

For more infomation, visit www.hopeforthree.org or call 281-245-0640. .com • April 2017

22

By Zeenat Kassam Mitha

C

P

MMUNITY

Culture

assover is an eight-day festival celebrated in early spring that originated over 3,000 years ago. It is a time of rebirth and renewal from the 15th through the 22nd of the Hebrew month of Nissan. This year, Passover takes place April 10th through 18th.

A commemoration of the Israelites’ emancipation from slavery in ancient Egypt, Passover is observed by avoiding leaven and highlighted by the seder meals that include drinking four cups of wine, eating matzah and bitter herbs and retelling the story of the exodus. In Hebrew, it is known as “Pesach,” which means “to pass over.”

Passover tells the story of how God redeemed the Israelite people from slavery. It is said that God commanded Moses to go down to Egypt and declare to the Pharaoh to let the Israelite people go free. The Pharaoh refused, after which God struck the Egyptians with 10 plagues. Finally, the Egyptian ruler relented. “The festival gets its name from the tenth plague, the death of the first-born, as God ‘passed over’ the houses of the Israelites and only afflicted the Egyptians,” said Rabbi Josh Lobel of Missouri City.

The first two days and last two days of Passover are holidays. The latter two days commemorate the splitting of the Red Sea. Holiday candles are lit at night, and kiddush and holiday meals are enjoyed on both nights and days. The middle four days are called Chol Hamoed, semi-festive “intermediate days,” when most forms of work are permitted.

The primary ritual observance of this holiday centers around a special home service called the seder, which means “order,” during which the Passover story is recounted, along with joyous singing and sharing traditional foods. One very important food eaten

Passover and Its Historical Origins

during Passover is matzah, unleavened bread, which Jews eat for the duration of the holiday to recall the fact the Israelites had to leave Egypt in a hurry, and therefore, the bread they baked for provisions had no time to rise.

The book that guides through this ritual meal is called the Hagaddah, which means “telling,” as it tells the story of the journey from slavery to freedom. “Today, the holiday not only serves to recall an ancient victory and defining moment in the Jewish narrative, but it is also a reminder of the religious imperative to break the bonds of slavery and oppression, which still exists today,” said Fort Bend resident Sue Hauenstein.

Matzah Ball Soup is traditionally eaten during Passover.

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.com • April 2017

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To commemorate the unleavened bread that the Israelites ate when they left Egypt, observers do not eat or retain in their possession any “chametz” from midday of the day before Passover until the end of the holiday. Chametz means leavened grain and includes any food or drink that contains even a hint of oats, rye, wheat, barley or their derivatives and wasn’t protected from leavening or fermentation. This includes bread, cake, cookies, cereal, pasta and most alcoholic beverages.

Furthermore, almost any processed food or drink can be assumed to be chametz unless approved otherwise.

In addition to this home observance of Passover, synagogues hold festival services to commemorate the holiday, during which special prayers for the season are recited, and selected passages are read from the Torah, the sacred text of the Jewish people. “Whether it is physical slavery or discrimination based on gender, religion, race, sexual orientation or gender identity, it is the mission of the Jewish people to work to free all people from the scourge of injustice,” said Rabbi Lobel.

Congregation Beth El, a Reform synagogue in Missouri City, holds a community seder on the second night of Passover, which falls on April 11th.

For more information, call the synagogue office at 281-499-5066 or email admin@betheltx.org.

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High School HOT SHOT

By Joan Frances

Meet Z’Nae Mangum

A

senior at Thurgood Marshall High School in Missouri City, Z’Nae Mangum has spent the last four years achieving unprecedented success in academics, athletics and extracurricular activities. She is a leader who has earned the respect of her teachers, administrators and peers. With her ardent compassion and commitment, Z’Nae is on her way to a very successful future.

Z’Nae has accomplished academic excellence during her high school career, achieving Honor Roll recognition with a grade point average of 3.7 and a class rank of 6. She is the National Honor Society president, Student Council historian and senior class president. Z’Nae reflected, “Being a leader of the many organizations I am a part of has made me a better person and helped me stay on track with being an amazing role model, student and person.”

Z’Nae also was a member of AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) and is an active member of Precious Pearls, an organization that guides youth, especially girls, in developing healthy self-esteem and

Z’Nae achieving their goals while fostering their unique gifts and strengths. One value that Z’Nae lives by is dedication.

“No matter my situation physically or personally, I always stay strong and finish strong. I would rather lose and know that I tried and never gave up than to give up and lose. I go for it and aim to get it done 10 times better than expected.”

In addition to her academic strengths, dancing is Z’Nae’s authentic talent. She has been a member of Thurgood Marshall High School’s dance team all four years and is the captain.

Her favorite teachers, Ginger Kiser and Ashley White, have helped her succeed in this skillfully expressive art. “Ms. Kiser not only helped me progress as a dancer but as a professional young lady as well. Setting and expecting nothing but high expectations helped set a better bar for me as well. Ms. White was not just a teacher but also a shoulder

to lean on in times of cheers and bad times. They both showed me that they don’t just do their jobs for their paychecks, but they really do love their jobs and care for the students as well. For that, I’m grateful to have had them in my life.”

Z’Nae cherishes all of the teachers she has had the privilege of knowing throughout her learning experience and the many opportunities that she has been blessed to receive and be a part of. “My teachers have not only helped me with my education for school but in the outside world as well. Because of them, I know more and can say that I won’t go into the adult world clueless. I treasure all of the opportunities and organizations I’ve been a part of, for they have helped me as a person and have been good networking opportunities for college and internships as well.

High school has not been easy, but my teachers and the organizations were all part of my motivation.”

In her free time, Z’Nae has volunteered at Missouri City Raiderettes and Begal Cheer team, assisting in dance and competitive routines. She works at Studio V. Dance, Inc. as the junior assistant choreographer and manager. Z’Nae was accepted to Sam Houston State University and Prairie View A&M University. She has chosen to attend Prairie View A&M University in the fall and will major in biology and minor in dance.

Congratulations on your undeniable talent, commitment and leadership skills Z’Nae. We look forward to watching you impact society in your future.

“I would rather lose and know that I tried and never gave up than to give up and lose.” – Z’Nae Mangum TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • April 2017

26

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By Joan Frances

Hometown Heroes:

Celine Tong

F

ort Bend County has so much what can be done every day to improve to offer. Growth, commerce our surroundings. One example we like and retail continue to entice to give is how a balloon can harm the new homeowners to live, work and environment. It is released in the air play. In addition to improvements and and looks pretty, but once it falls to the physical expansion, the City of Sugar ground or into the waterways, it may Land is environmentally cognizant. be eaten by animals or fish. We explain Since 1999, the non-profit organization the consequences and impacts of our Keep Sugar Land Beautiful (KSLB) actions. We feel that awareness is the has been carrying out its vision to key to the future of saving animals and make Fort Bend the cleanest and the the ecosystem of the world.” most beautiful county in Texas. Vol“Celine is a wonderful volunteer unteers of all ages devote their time who quietly contributes so much talent Keep Sugar Land Beautiful Youth Advisory Board to educating and improving the enviand time to Keep Sugar Land Beautimembers Celine Tong and Theodora Vo. ronmental community. One generous ful,” said KSLB Executive Director student who is committed to making Vicki Gist. “I appreciate everything Sugar Land a beautiful place to live is Celine Tong. she has done and enjoy working with her.”

When Tong moved to the area nine years ago with her Tong and KSLB’s Youth Advisory Board invite the youth family, she took an interest in the environment. “Ever since I of the community to participate in the annual Earth Day was very young, the natural ecosystem fascinated me,” Tong Fair held at the plaza at Sugar Land Town Square and recalled. “I enjoyed studying plants and trees and wanted mentor them for the upcycled booth. This year’s highly anto be a part of preserving them.” As a sophomore at Clemticipated event is set for Saturday, April 1st. “We take recyents High School, Tong began volunteering with KSLB and clable materials, such as plastic bottles, broken jewelry and spending time on the weekends cleaning areas of the city. “I T-shirts, and make them into something new,” Tong said. could see the difference clearing dead brush and overgrown “This past year, we created coasters and tote bags with old plants made from start to finish. It was so gratifying to see T-shirts. The kids took home whatever they made during the the new foliage taking shape, and over time, the area grew Earth Day Fair. We also repurposed the jewelry to make eninto a thriving park.” vironmental signs. The public is very receptive and supports For three years, Tong has been actively involved in many our goal.” events to encourage and educate public awareness for the Tong also volunteers with planting trees at the new environment. Tong and eight other student Youth AdviBrazos River State Park in Sugar Land. “Planting trees is sory Board members from Dulles, Clements, Austin and essentially providing oxygen for the habitat and ultimately Kempner High Schools meet once a month to plan trips to benefits our community on many levels.” elementary schools in the area. “We educate students on Thanks to Tong and her passion for the environment, Fort Bend is becoming one of the most sought after counties in Texas. For more information or to volunteer with KSLB, call 281-313-5752 or email info@kslb.org.

“I could see the difference clearing dead brush and overgrown plants made from start to finish.

It was so gratifying to see the new foliage taking shape, and over time, the area grew into a thriving park.” – Celine Tong Theodora Vo, Alex Yao, Anthony Rivera, Theresa Bui and Celine Tong at the Earth Day upcycling booth.

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.com • April 2017

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BRAIN TEASER

By Myles Mellor

Riverstone Goes Big for Houston’s Largest Home Tour

Across 1 You see a lot of these

oval objects at Easter 3 Easter animal 6 Time of year when Easter is 7 Is nosy 8 Put money in a piggy bank 9 Straight 11 Go __ the stairs 12 Rushed 13 Animal that goes moo 16 Hair ribbon 17 Look for eggs 22 Famous animal in Florida 23 What Easter eggs are made of 24 Mother 25 Garage ___ (where you can get

money from selling old things) 26 Easter container

Down 1 Time of celebration

in March or April 2 Where flowers grow 3 Name of a famous bunny on TV 4 A rabbit has a sensitive ____ 5 Reply to a party invitation 7 The end of a street name 10 When people move house

they often use this 13 Make the eggs red, for example 14 That hurts!

15 Adorable 17 Easter bonnet, for example 18 What mom says a lot!

19 A candy would be one 20 Cold treats 21 It’s used to hold salad 22 Lady ___, pop star 24 Not you

Top-selling Riverstone is opening the doors to dozens of homes and select community events this month during Houston’s Largest Home Tour. On the tour are well-appointed inventory homes and 20 models – including Riverstone’s newest model, a spacious 4,227 squarefoot design by Newmark Homes in Avalon at Riverstone. While touring the new model, visitors might want to see nearby Central Park, the newest Riverstone amenity. The four-acre space features a picnic pavilion and sturdy playground equipment that invites imaginative play.

Community visitors will have a chance to enjoy the Riverstone lifestyle Saturday, April 15th during the Spring Kayak on the Lake. Those wanting to enjoy fun on the water will be able to test a variety of kayaks 11 am to 3 pm on Lake Riverstone. Houston’s Coolest Crawfish Festival happens Saturday, April 29th from noon to 4 pm. Guests will enjoy spicy crawfish and even hotter music from Step Rideau & The Zydeco Outlaws, as well as a host of children’s activities. Both events are free and open to the public. The tour, which is also free and open to the public, will take place 10 am to 6 pm Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 6 pm Sundays.

Located along Highway 6 midway between U.S. 59 and the Fort Bend Parkway, Riverstone is Houston’s top-selling master-planned community. For more information, visit www.riverstone.com.

See answers on page 48.

Submit newsworthy items Sarah@absolutelyfocusmedia.com

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • April 2017

30

Easter Services

Christ Church Sugar Land Y ou could say Christ Church Sugar Land started in a graveyard and ended up across from a schoolyard right by the ball fields. For the church of Jesus indeed began with a great surprise on that first Easter morning when the Resurrection reset everything. Just three days before, in fact, an outside observer might have said the story was all over, with the disciples themselves scattered and afraid and the One whom they called Lord crucified on a cross.

But then came God, and even death itself could not stand against His power as the stone rolled away from that borrowed grave and Jesus returned.

Thus, for almost 2,000 years, those who follow that resurrected Lord have been turning the world upside down too, changing futures for the

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better. Christ Church Sugar Land’s part of that story began a few decades back in Sugar Land, and it continues to be a place where great surprises happen each week. Just across from First Colony Middle School and next to the baseball fields on Austin Parkway, Christ Church is a United Methodist community for all.

Experience the events of Maundy Thursday with Christ Church Sugar Land in an interactive service, come back for the most moving day of the year on Good Friday, and then celebrate the joy of the resurrection at any of their services on Easter Sunday, including a sunrise service and both contemporary and traditional services. Join them.

You might just be surprised as well!

For more information, call 281-980-6888 or visit www.christchurchsl.org.

magazine • April 2017

31

Advertorial

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HEALTHY LIVING

By Judy Ulke

Gardening Wellness

for

T

he word “gardening” holds different meanings for different people. Some may think of vegetable gardening, farmers and various food crops. Others might recall time spent with grandparents in the “good old days” smelling Grandma’s roses, or some may think of gardening as hard work pulling weeds and mowing. The association between people and gardening is as varied as the people themselves.

Regardless of the associations, most people have been in a garden on at least one occasion and felt a rush of well-being – joy, a connection, perhaps even a sense of purpose. Maybe their heart felt like it was beating slower and their breathing was deeper. Some people have said they even had a feeling of being connected to God in a garden.

A garden is usually defined as “a place of ground for the cultivation of herbs, plants, fruits, flowers and vegetables.” But, a garden and gardening is so much more. As our culture becomes more technologically obsessed and increasingly nature deprived, a garden may be our simplest and purest source of well-being and connection. Spend more time gardening and enjoying all we have at our fingertips in nature.

Enables people to enter the “zone.”

The zone is similar to what a person who runs, practices yoga or meditates often experiences. In this altered state, a person can experience the best or truest version of themselves.

Here are just a few reasons to dig in the dirt:

Gardening . . .

Is a stress buster.

It has been found to lower the levels of cortisol in the blood and even elevates one’s mood.

May lower the risk of dementia.

Studies have found that people who enjoyed the physical activity of gardening had between a 30 and 40 percent lower risk of dementia.

Burns calories.

You can burn over 300 calories during moderate garden activity.

Perhaps gardening three to five times each week could be your new exercise routine.

Can be a way of finding meaning in life.

The garden and finding a connection to the earth allows one to focus on beauty and inspires gratitude and abundance.

Improves relationships and compassion.

Extended exposure to nature and wildlife increases people’s compassion for one another as it increases their compassion for their environment.

Reduces the risk of heart disease.

It is known to lower blood pressure, keep weight under control and lower the risk of stroke.

Strengthens the immune system and keeps bones strong.

While working in the outdoors and enjoying a little sunshine, your body is better able to absorb calcium.

The connection and reasons to garden continue and differ for each person. Find your own reason in this busy, often chaotic and regularly disconnected world. Do you hear your garden calling?

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.com • April 2017

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K

ids’

By

er n r Co n iro

kB

ric Pat

To Eat or Not To Eat

If

you’ve ever spent more than four minutes around any child, you have probably noticed their fascination with sugar. And, if you’ve ever tried to check out past

the candy bar display or drive by a donut store on a Sunday, you’ve found yourself asking the following questions:

1

Why do my kids crave sugar so much? Let’s face it – kids don’t just have a sweet tooth. They have a sweet jaw. But, there actually is a reason for this. A child’s body is instinctively programmed to view sweet tasting foods as high energy. This is because the molecule glucose is necessary for producing energy in virtually every cell in their body, all of which can break it down, and sweet foods contain glucose. Fructose, another famous sugar-related molecule, is very similar to glucose; however, it can only be broken down by liver cells into a form of fat and a few byproducts.

Sucrose, the scientific word for table sugar, is a combination of the two – one glucose and one fructose molecule attached to one another. The sweet foods we crave are high in some combination of these three molecules.

So, the body realizes this super important molecule glucose is commonly found through sucrose, and since glucose is necessary for every cell in the body to function, kids – and adults – crave it. The issue comes

from the amount of sugar we eat, and more specifically to the amount of fructose we eat.

2

Should we avoid high fructose corn syrup (HFCS)? That’s a highly debated question, but the answer is both yes and no. Many research studies have been done comparing HFCS to refined sugar or any other type of sweetener.

The general consensus is that the body really can’t tell the difference between these sweeteners, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t avoid them. What your body really needs is glucose.

Fructose on the other hand, whether it is ingested through high fructose corn syrup, table sugar or anything else, doesn’t have the same necessity nor benefits of glucose. In fact, the Harvard School of Public Health’s Department of Nutrition has released many resources showing how the diet patterns and national increase in fructose intake is directly correlated with increases in obesity, diabetes and liver disease. So, while HFCS and table sugar are basically the same thing, that doesn’t mean you should chow down on either one. The healthiest diets will hold both to moderation.

3

But what do I do about the “sugar high?” That’s a great question but

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.com • April 2017

34

actually is a bit of a misconception. In fact, numerous studies have shown that a rise in the level of sugar in the blood doesn’t cause hyperactivity. Rather, the body produces and releases insulin in response to this elevated sugar level. If a child eats too much sugar too quickly, the body can release more insulin than it might need, swinging the pendulum the opposite direction and making the blood sugar levels too low. Hypoglycemia, as this is medically called, causes the behavioral shifts we typically would associate as the “sugar crash.” To avoid it, pace kids’ sugar intake to avoid shocking their systems into releasing too much insulin. Foods high in fiber are especially good at helping slow the rise and fall of blood sugar levels.

4

How can I give my kids glucose?

The best place to ask that question is with your child’s doctor or nutritionist. But, it’s not hard to look at nature for the answer. Raw milk is one of the absolute best sources of nearly every vitamin, molecule and mineral we need, and it’s one reason why mothers are encouraged to breast feed. Unpasteurized milk is hard to find, but its pasteurized cousin still is great. Countless other “non-sweet” foods supply the body with glucose too, including pastas, potatoes and vegetables high in starch.

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The George Foundation is excited to announce Ammie Blahuta as Director of Special Programs. Blahuta is responsible for leading the Foundation’s special programs and strengthening the Foundation’s relationships with non-profits and other community stakeholders through collaboration and community engagement. “We are thrilled to bring Ammie’s talent and passion for community service to the Foundation to help continue the George’s legacy of giving,” stated Roger Adamson, chief executive offficer of The George Foundation. Blahuta will work closely with long-time Foundation employee Dee Koch over the next year to transition leadership responsibilities of these special programs in anticipation of Koch’s retirement.

Blahuta, a Fort Bend County native, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Consumer and Family Science from Purdue University. Upon graduation, she served in a variety of marketing and management roles before joining Hudson Building Systems as the company’s Business Development Manager in 2009.

Blahuta is also the cofounder of Gigi’s Playhouse Sugar Land, a non-profit organization with the mission to empower individuals with Down syndrome to reach their highest potential. Blahuta lives in Sugar Land with her husband, Keith, and their two children.

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Anne Davis, Broker CACHE PROPERTIES ABR, SRS, CLHS, SRES, CNE

21 Ambleside Crescent Lighted dome foyer and art niches, new chef’s dream kitchen – custom granite and cabinetry, pull-out cabinets and butler’s pantry with glassfront cabinets. Viking gas range with pop-up vent, new Kitchen Aid appliances including double oven and icemaker. Wood-paneled and shelved library with rolling ladder. Shutters and moldings throughout.

Large master with sitting area. Marble, travertine and hardwoods throughout. Elegant fireplace and French doors lead to charming outdoor living area with custom fountain and golf-course view. MLS # 47827494 fort bend

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713.458.0300 Cell 713.234.7058 Fax Anne@CachePropertiesHouston.com www.CachePropertiesHouston.com

NEWSWORTHY

OakBend Medical Center Presents First Annual Restaurant Week

two largest medical-surgical units on OakBend Medical Center is pleased the fourth and fifth floors. Future Vision to announce the First Annual Restau2020 projects include the expansion of rant Week taking place in May. The the ACE Unit, additional upgrades in fundraising idea was the brainchild of the Skilled Nursing Facility and renovaDaniel Ornelas of Ol’ Railroad Café, Antions to the hospital’s common areas dres Novoa of La Cocina and Jimmy including main hallways, restrooms and Cantu of Pier 36, and the three restaucafeteria. When complete, Vision 2020 rants were the first to sign on for the will create an environment of care that event. inspires patients and their families and From Friday, May 19th through Monfosters faster healing. day, May 29th, participating restaurants As of March 1st, participating reswill offer a special three-course Restautaurants include Another Time Soda rant Week menu. The restaurants will Fountain, Japaneiro’s, La Cocina, Ninja make a donation to OakBend Medical Japanese Cuisine, Ol’ Railroad Café, Center for every meal ordered off these Pier 36, The Ginger Mule, The Swinging menus during regular business hours.

Steve Onstad, Zhou Zhong, Jimmy Cantu Door and Veritas Steak and Seafood.

The proceeds will support the hospital’s and Andres Novoa. absolutely! focus media is a proud meVision 2020, a comprehensive renovadia sponsor. tion campaign that will bring the most “We are excited to kick off a new fundraising event for Fort advanced concepts for a healing environment to OakBend Bend County,” stated Joe Freudenberger, chief executive ofMedical Center. ficer of OakBend Medical Center. “It is impressive to see loLaunched in May 2015, the campaign has already resulted cal restaurants getting onboard, and we are looking forward in significant improvements at OakBend’s historical home in to even more joining before the event. This is a great opporDowntown Richmond. Progress from the campaign was seen tunity for everyone to support both the hospital and local resimmediately beginning with updates to the building’s exterior taurants.” and landscaping in the fall of 2015. Additional projects comTo find out more about Restaurant Week, call 281-341pleted as part of the campaign include renovations to the Jack3094, visit www.oakbendmedcenter.org/restaurant-week or son Street Emergency Care Center and the Skilled Nursing Faemail development@obmc.org. cility. Major renovations are currently planned for the hospital’s

OCuSOFT Getting Ready for Le Cirque Gala

In costume for the Le Cirque Gala were Thomas Mason, Marilyn Parker, George Haines, Clayton Reeves, Cynthia Barratt with Princess, Kay Carlin and Jacque Burgess with Max.

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

OCuSOFT, Inc. will join Exchange Club of Sugar Land as Ringmaster Sponsor for Child Advocates of Fort Bend’s 17th annual gala – Le Cirque, a whimsical, fantastical ball on Saturday, April 29th at the Sugar Land Marriott Town Square. “We’ll have Cirque du Soleil style entertainment, a live auction, silent auction, raffle, wine pull, dinner and dancing,” stated Event Chair Lisa Moore. “New for this year is our magical, mystery jewelry pull. We’ve teamed with the folks at Kendra Scott for this fun, new addition to our event. Guests will pay $50 to select a box containing a piece of jewelry from Kendra Scott’s current signature collection worth at least $50 and up to $200.”

Michele Fisher will serve as the evening’s emcee. Ray Aguilar will be the auctioneer. Black tie and costumes are optional.

Sponsorship and underwriting opportunities are available ranging from $2,000 to $35,000. Individual tickets are $150.

To attend the gala, become a sponsor or for more information, contact Lisa Moore at 281-344-5108 or lmoore@cafb.org go to https://www.cafb.org/events/gala/sponsorship-opportunities or contact Lisa Moore at lmoore@cafb.org or 281-3445108.

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PROFILES

Meet the Finest in Fort Bend

Nancy and John Benevides Benevides & Associates

Debbie Marcell Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gary Greene

Anne Davis Cache Properties

Denise McLarty Keller Williams Realty Southwest

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Arlene Rolsen Coldwell Banker United

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PROFILES

Countdown to

Nancy & John Benevides

Moving Day

Benevides & Associates S elling over $100 million from 2015 to 2016, Benevides & Associates is the boutique brokerage of Fort Bend County. Owners John & Nancy Benevides have developed a team of top producing agents offering unbeatable services and state-ofthe-art technology! All of their associates are highly ranked in the Houston Association client survey and personally mentored. Nancy was voted best Sugar Land Realtor by the Fort Bend Star and Sun newspapers. The company focuses on quality client representation over mass volume. You owe it to yourself to talk to one of their associates if you are thinking of buying or selling a home and see the difference for yourself.

16525 Lexington Boulevard, Suite 260 Sugar Land, TX 77479 713-203-9975 (c) • 281-903-7253 (o) www.fortbendcountytexashomes.com nancybenevides@yahoo.com

Anne Davis

Cache Properties Anne Davis, Broker, ABR, SRS, CLHS, CHMS, SRES, CNE, interest in real estate began while studying finance at SMU and UT. During a career in lending and after transacting more than a dozen properties of her own, she knew real estate was the industry she loved. Experience and training have given her extensive knowledge of residential markets, expertise to identify clients’ needs and desires and the ability to help achieve their goal of buying or selling. Davis welcomes the opportunity to represent clients in a confident, professional, experienced manner. Whether for a first-time buyer, expanding a growing family, entering the luxury market, down-sizing, building a dream home or buying a second property, she can find the property. Davis responds immediately to calls and works to devise the best marketing strategy for a seller’s property. She spends HER money to get YOUR house SOLD.

713-458-0300 • annedavis247@gmail.com www.CachePropertiesHouston.com TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

W

hen planning for a move, keep in mind that almost everything will take longer to do than you expect. The best way to keep on track is to plan ahead and stay organized. These moving tips will help you do more – and save more – as moving day approaches.

8 Weeks Before: • • • • •

Line up movers.

Look into truck rental prices.

Make an inventory of everything you own.

Decide what goes in the truck, car or trash.

Consider where you want to place furniture in your new home.

6 Weeks Before: • • •

•

Clear out your closets. Be ruthless!

Have a yard sale.

Transfer your children’s academic records to their new school.

Transfer medical records to your new doctor.

4 Weeks Before: • Reserve a truck or trailer for a do-it-yourself move.

• Confirm the booking with your moving company.

• Arrange to have the movers come over two days before moving day if they are packing for you.

• Get boxes and packing tape.

• Start packing out-of-season clothing and other items you won’t need right away.

• Fill out change-of-address cards at the post office.

• Notify friends, family, the bank and your insurance agent of your new address.

• Pre-order appliances, furniture, dishes and cutlery.

• Send a change-of-address email to any magazines you subscribe to.

• Make copies of important papers, such as birth certificates, passports, medical and dental records.

3 Weeks Before: • Arrange to have the utilities disconnected a few days after the move.

• Get the utilities set up at your new residence.

• Start packing room by room.

• Arrange for a babysitter on moving day if you need one.

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PROFILES 2 Weeks Before: • Arrange to move plants and pets.

• Get rid of items you are not allowed to move, such as gasoline and propane.

• Keep packing.

• Line up helpers to assist with loading your rental truck.

• Consider hiring a plumber or electrician to disconnect appliances you plan to move.

1 Week Before:

• Open your new bank accounts if you’re making a long-distance move.

• Make sure you have enough medication to last through the move.

• Have your doctor write a new prescription you can fill after you move.

• Defrost the refrigerator two days before you move.

Source: homedepot.com/moving

Denise McLarty Keller Williams Realty Southwest

Denise McLarty is a proud Sugar Land resident who has raised her family in the area and knows the importance of family and community. McLarty utilizes the latest technologies, market research and business strategies to exceed clients’ expectations. More importantly, she listens, and that means she will find solutions that are tailored to her client. McLarty was awarded the honor of the Five Star Realtor Award in Texas Monthly magazine for 2016. A home is not a home because of its room dimensions or the color of the walls. It is about how a person feels when walking through the front door. It is about their life and dreams. Call McLarty any time, and she will answer and respond the very same day!

1650 Highway 6, Sugar Land, TX 77478 713-876-0233 www.har.com/DeniseMcLarty dmclarty@sbcglobal.net

Debbie Marcell

Arlene Rolsen

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gary Greene

Coldwell Banker United

Debbie Marcell was awarded the 2016 Platinum Award at the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gary Greene (BHGRE®) Celebrate the Stars at Houston’s Omni Hotel and at the National Fusion Convention in Las Vegas. Platinum winners represent the top three percent of all affiliated sales associates in the BHGRE network. As a 10 year top producing agent, Marcell is passionate about helping her clients and works hard to earn their “lifetime” loyalty.

Also representing custom builder Sterling Classic Homes in Riverstone, she currently has two waterfront homes available in excess of 9K square feet. As a longtime, proud resident of Sugar Land and now Missouri City, Marcell has a track record for leveraging her valuable experience and knowledge to assist clients in all price ranges.

Arlene Rolsen, CRS, has been helping buyers and sellers realize their dreams of homeownership as an investment in their future for over 39 years. Rolsen, a top producing agent, delights in introducing families to Fort Bend County, where they will not just find a house but will be blessed with a place to call home that offers a lifestyle with great schools, shopping, medical care, diversity, places of worship, parks and recreation. Rolsen remembers one of her seller’s remarks: “A buyer is buying the hope of a bright, happy future, and as sellers, we are selling a place where memories were made.” Rolsen enjoys helping buyers and sellers realize their hopes, dreams and memories, and she would like to help you achieve the home of your dreams too.

2323 Town Center Drive Sugar Land, TX 77478 281-782-2102 • debbiemarcell@garygreene.com www.debbiemarcell.com

1226 Museum Square Drive, Suite 700 Sugar Land, TX 77479 281-414-8400 • arolsen@cbunited.com www.ArleneRolsen.com

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Coming May Special Advertising Section

Mother’s Day Gift Guide Listing Purchase a qualifying size ad and receive a FREE gift guide spot.

To advertise call,

281.690.4242

www.fortbendfocus.com

PROFILES

LEGAL

EAGLES To advertise, call: 281.690.4242 TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • April 2017

COMING SEPTEMBER ALLOW US TO SPOTLIGHT YOU TO YOUR COMMUNITY As a professional, you’ll want to be seen in our special PROFILE sections. Bring new clients to your office, and distinguish yourself among the top professionals in the area with this unique opportunity to showcase your skills.

Our PROFILES are the ideal format to inform readers about your advanced training, specialties, client-friendly environment and community involvement in a ¼ page, ½ page or full page PROFILE.

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NEWSWORTHY

Clements High School Teacher Selected as Local PhysTEC Teacher of the Year

Planting the Seeds of Creativity

Piano Voice Guitar Violin Flute Cello

Acting Improvisation Yoga Musical Theatre Music Development: Geoffrey Hart.

Clements High School physics teacher Geoffrey Hart was named University of Houston’s Local PhysTEC Teacher of the Year. This award recognizes Hart as an exemplary teacher in his field and as a proud graduate of the PhysTEC institution. “I am very honored to receive the award. I am glad my professors at UH are still considering me as their nominee and really have no words I can convey to express my gratitude,” Hart said.

According to PhyTEC’s Principal Investigator Monica Plisch and PhyTEC’s Co-Principal Investigator Beth A. Cunningham, Hart’s contributions to physics education are significant and impactful on his students, colleagues, school district and state at a time when the nation is in need of highly qualified science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) educators.

“Teaching is certainly something I have always considered ever since I took my own high school physics course,” said Hart. A proud graduate of the University of Houston, Hart started teaching at Clements after graduation in December 2013. In college, Hart was a mathematics major with a physics minor, but he always found his passion in teaching physics over math. “It is the application of math that intrigues me and being able to introduce complex, real life problems.

“Truthfully, it is a little intimidating to receive the award as I know many brilliant physics teachers who I aspire to live up to. I will do my best to live up to the expectation.”

Summer Camps:

Music Lessons:

Ear Training Sight Singing Music Theory Composition

Musical Theatre for Children

GRAND OPENING MARCH 2017 For information, please call:

Session I: June 5-16 Aladdin Jr. Session II: June 19-30 Pirates of Penzance

713-702-3167

Century Choir:

Or email:

July 5- 28

3527 Highway 6, Ste. 220 Sugar Land, Texas 77478

Music Ensembles:

centuryfineartstexas@gmail.com

July 31- August 1

Artistic Director: Dominique McCormick 20 years experience teaching voice and piano in the United States and France, Queens College and Paris Conservatory Doctorate in Voice from CUNY Graduate Center – New York, NY Performed in over 300 productions of opera and oratorio nationally and internationally

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Seen on the Scene

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

35th Anniversary Gala Dinner & Auction Benefiting the Fort Bend Boys Choir of Texas

www.robinsdancestudio.com

February 4, 2017 • Safari Lodge

DANCE STUDIO

Summer Dance Session

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June 6 – July 19 Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Ballet • Tap • Jazz Lyrical • Hip Hop Leaps & Turns Ages 3 - Adult

Call or see website for schedule

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Lucia & Larry Street Jennifer Longoria & Kathy Schaffer Tiana Mortimer with Rick & Sharon Forlano Yinglan Yang & Pan Shan Sarah Bearden & Alexa Goldstein Amanda Curman & Cynthia Garcia Anthony & Amanda Sinegal Yuhua Sun & Shihuai Wong Steve & Eric Mortimer

9 TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

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Pam & Paul Connolly Peggy Norman & Janis Pulliam Ted & Kelly Dravis Patty Dasko & Betty Adams Troy & Kelsea Weatherford with Lisa & Darrel Longworth William & Mandy Kao Beth & Craig Myers Andrew & Evelina Yen Melanie & Robert Houmann Jason & Tama Keller 19 fort bend

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Seen on the Scene

NEWSWORTHY

8th Annual Helen Cordes Award Dinner Benefiting Fort Bend Regional Council on Substance Abuse

Fort Bend Cares’ 4th Annual Doggone Fun Run

February 23, 2017 • Sugar Creek County Club

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Linda and Mike Ruggeroli with Annie and Lilly.

Don’t get caught barking up the wrong tree! Join Top Dog sponsor Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital and Leader of the Pack sponsors Sunoco Logistics and Travis’ Red Bandana Brigade, plus Spokesdogs Annie and Lilly, for Fort Bend Cares’ 4th Annual Doggone Fun Run on Saturday, April 22nd at 8 am in the Village of Sawmill Lake in Sienna Plantation.

Spokesdogs Annie and Lilly aren’t just cute, they are specially trained therapy dogs that have provided over 300 hours of emotional support and smiles to patients at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. Owners of these adorable and hardworking Shih Tzus are Mike and Linda Ruggeroli of Richmond. Retirement prompted the Ruggerolis to welcome Lilly into their home and to investigate the steps required to train therapy dogs. Lilly, now five, has served as a pet therapy dog since she was four months old. Annie, now three, joined the family and also passed therapy training with flying colors.

Fort Bend Cares’ Doggone Fun Run raises funds to support non-profit organizations that serve to improve the lives of disadvantaged children in Fort Bend County. The Doggone Fun Run includes a competitive chip timed 5K run without dogs and a 5K run and a one-mile fun run/walk with or without dogs, so there is something for every person and pup! There will be medals for age group winners of the competitive 5K run, along with prizes for winners of the canine costume competition.

Come early to peruse vendor booths and listen to live music and stay late to enjoy more canine friendly activities at Sienna Plantations’ Canine Carnival. Event swag includes a T-shirt and dog bandana while supplies last. Dog owners must ensure canine participants have a current rabies vaccine and are on a non-retractable leash.

For event registration or more information, call 832-8192005 or visit www.fortbendcares.org.

Photos by Julia Garza.

Photo by Robbin Mallett.

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Dot Mitchell, Robert Gaines & Roberta Avery Nancy Doolittle Jonathan & Kristen Edgeller with Jonathan Pursch Betty Baitland Jessica Kij & Rosemary Afful Kevin Barker & Paul Barnett Arlene Rolsen & Debbie Schwer Jonee Barnett & Marsha Stein Bob & Celeste Conlon 9

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • April 2017

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Dotsie Bausch & Betty Cordes Ila & Allison Roberts Lisa Regan Les Krause, Jo Lea Pingelton & Joe Robson Lisa Poynor & Vincent Morales Gordon & Amy Berkstresser Stanley Stein & Bob Hebert Luke Tomas & Ashlyn Regan Cee Cee & David Parker Jill Wappler & Roy Cordes Gene & Doris Tomas 20 fort bend

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Seen on the Scene Off to Oz . . . The Emerald City Awaits Benefiting the Fort Bend Education Foundation March 4, 2017 • Sugar Land Marriott Town Square

Pick up a

Complimentary Copy at One of These Locations: absolutely! focus media Antonia’s Italian Restaurant – Sugar Land Amazing Lash Studio – Missouri City Another Time Soda Fountain Airrosti and SNAP Fitness – Sienna Plantation BodyBrite Missouri City Cure & Co. CVS at Mason Road – Richmond DropZone Fitness – Greatwood • Missouri City • Riverstone Elements Therapeutic Massage Fort Bend Family YMCA Hampton Inn & Suites – Missouri City JahMon CrossFit Jambeto’s Bakery & Cafe Koko FitClub Loggins Jewelers Massage Heights Sienna Village Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital OsteoStrong® Center Richmond Quail Valley Family Dental Republic Roots Salon Eben & Day Spa Soto’s Kitchen Spectrum Nail & Salon – Missouri City Sugar Land Nutrition by Patty RD Sugar Land OB/GYN Associates Sugarland Periodontics and Implant Dentistry – Dr. Hiru Mathur Tipsy Nails & Spa Title Boxing Club T.W. Davis Family YMCA Whole Foods Market – Katy • Sugar Land

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Eric Holmes & Swati Kundra Lynn & Dennis Halford Shelena & Ayeez Lalji Kristin & Shannon Tassin Brenna Cosby & Lisa Kulhanek Gary Pearson & Barbara Meeks Ashley Fontneot with “Toto,” Griffin Gallardo, Reece Grover & Jamel Nellums Charles & Seeju Dupre

Call 281.690.4242 or visit absolutelyfitandfab.com TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

8 .com • April 2017

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Nappinnai Raja, Diana Miller & Lesley Durgin Tara & Renu Narang Stephanie & Ricardo Gaines Liz Furman, Julia Diaz, Terri Wang, Mary Favre & Bridget Yeung Tanya & Rick Pal Zeenat Mitha & Jessica Kij Trey & Alez Reichert with Nico Jopio & Reagan Thomey Peta & Chris Ledbetter

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FBISD Position 1 Candidate

L. Angelo DeCamps

Got Tickets?

Join us on Facebook

“I have been a resident of Fort Bend County for over 30 years, and I am very proud to call myself a product of FBISD. My wife and I are raising our eight children in Fort Bend. Currently we have two children at Travis, one at Bowie Middle School and two at Oakland Elementary.

“If elected, I want to be sure to hold FBISD accountable for their decisions and the programs they maintain they offer the students and parents. I want to offer teachers the creativity and resources needed to teach their students in the ways they learn best and not just how to pass a test. I want to make sure FBISD isn’t using the vital time teachers need to prepare their lessons to fill out excessive administrative forms or attend unnecessary meetings. Lastly, I want to continue having parents involved in the decisions of FBISD and make sure they know the why behind any decisions that are being made.”

Facebook.com/FortBendFocus

“Like” Us Today!

Education: BA Finance, MBA in Business Management Employment: “I am currently a commercial banker with over 18 years in the financial industry with the majority of those 18 years being spent in a senior leadership management role.”

Paid political ad by The Angelo DeCamps Campaign, Sarah DeCamps, Treasurer

7 Little Leaf Court - Sienna Plantation

6 Beds • 4.5 Baths • 5,466 Sq ft. A beautiful Westport custom home, fabulous wooded lot and a great location all rolled into one! Master and second bedroom with ensuite bath are downstairs. Upgraded finishes, including travertine flooring, custom cabinetry, detailed moulding and millwork, are found throughout the house.

Large game room with wet bar and a media room! Walk to Sienna Springs Resort and Baines Middle School. Easy access to Hwy 6 and Ft. Bend Toll Road. $879,000

Answers to the puzzle on page 30.

281-433-4462

Kristi Bajjali

RE/MAX Fine Properties

Accredited Luxury Home Specialist

4500 Hwy. 6, Sugar Land, TX 77478

www.kristibajjali.com

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • April 2017

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Win ticket giveaways to area attractions and events!

Medical Focus H e a l t h Care News You Can Use

F E AT U R I N G

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital David H. Korfin, DPM, FACFAS Greg A. Linney, D.D.S., Inc. OakBend Medical Center Dr. Shel Wellness & Aesthetic Center Larry Caldwell, DDS Dentistry for Children Sugar Land Face and Body Plastic Surgery Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital UT Physicians Urogynecology Center C&C Dental Sugar Land Plastic Surgery UT Physicians Women’s Center Sugar Land Stuart Rimes, DDS, MS Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists Elissa R. Wedemeyer, OD Royal Dental Discover Wellness

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Advertorial

Medical Focus Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital: Leading Medicine

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is Fort Bend County’s leading health care provider, offering skilled, compassionate care supported by the most advanced technology – all in a convenient, comfortable and healing environment.

Since opening in 1998, Houston Methodist Sugar Land has continually expanded to add new facilities, services and technology to meet the community’s changing needs.

Today, the hospital’s campus houses three medical office buildings, three patient care pavilions with 347 beds and 27 operating rooms and specialized centers for breast care, cardiology and vascular care, emergency care, labor and delivery, neuroscience and spine care, oncology and orthopedics and sports medicine. Houston Methodist Sugar Land also offers a stand-alone emergency center near Sienna Plantation and many specialized physician offices conveniently located throughout Fort Bend County.

What really sets Houston Methodist Sugar Land apart is its patient-centric operational philosophy built on a strong sense of mission and a deeply ingrained commitment to Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence – the Houston Methodist I CARE values. These values guide the staff’s daily interactions with patients, family members and each other, as well as provide a strong foundation for their focus on personal, individualized care.

This dedication to serving others – along with innovative technology, training and expertise – is recognized by the many specialized designations achieved over the years. For example, Houston Methodist Sugar Land was named one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals two years in a row by Truven Health Analytics™.

For more information, visit houstonmethodist.org/sugarland.

See ads on Back Cover and page 5.

Dr. David H. Korfin Provides Personalized Treatment Plans for Reconstructive Foot and Ankle Surgery David H. Korfin, DPM, FACFAS is board certified in foot and ankle surgery by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. He received his doctorate of Podiatric Medicine in 1982, graduating from Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. Dr. Korfin has been in private practice in the Fort Bend/Houston community since 1984. He specializes in reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle, including endoscopic heel surgery, bunions and hammertoes, along with treatment and management of sports injuries, trauma, wound and diabetic foot care. Dr. Korfin’s practice provides care to patients of all ages with a special interest in helping athletes maintain foot and ankle health to effectively pursue their athletic goals.

Striving to provide a personalized treatment plan, Dr. Korfin utilizes state-of-the-art medical and surgical techniques all within a warm, compassionate and caring environment. He offers his patients cutting-edge surgical techniques, such as endoscopic heel surgery, laser surgery and the use of dissolvable pins and fixation techniques.

Dr. Korfin’s office is located in the Sugar Land Medical Plaza attached to St. Luke’s Sugar Land Hospital at 1327 Lake Pointe Parkway, Suite 510 in Sugar Land. For more information, visit www.drdavidkorfin.com or call 281.313.FEET (3338).

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • April 2017

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Greg A. Linney, D.D.S., Inc. Cosmetic and Family Dentistry Dr. Greg A. Linney and his staff set themselves apart by focusing on customer service and long-term dental health. Dr. Linney and his friendly staff take the time to listen to all of a patient’s oral health concerns. Equipped with a spacious, high-tech facility, they utilize the latest tools and technology available to provide patients with the best in oral health care and cosmetic dentistry. By merging patient care with technology, they are able to provide the best care available while focusing on each patient’s individual needs.

Dr. Linney has been making people smile for over 30 years, and through Vivaneers, he can restore a person’s smile without reducing tooth structure – and in only two visits with no shots! Call Dr. Linney today to find out how he can help you create the smile you have always wanted.

Greg A. Linney, D.D.S., Inc. is located at 4660 Sweetwater Boulevard in Sugar Land. For more information, call 281980-1733 or visit www.drlinney.com.

Fort Bend Hospital was the first public hospital constructed in Fort Bend County. Built in 1935 in Rosenberg, it continued operations until Polly Ryon Hospital in Richmond and the Laura Eldridge Hospital in Sugar Land opened in the early 1950s.

Medical Focus Featured in Angie’s List Magazine as a Top Dentist 2013 – 2016

Advertorial

A Healthy Smile is a Beautiful Smile!

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GREG A. LINNEY, D.D.S., Inc. 4660 Sweetwater Blvd., Ste 230, Sugar Land, Tx 77479 office@drlinney.com • www.drlinney.com

281-980-1733 All Major Credit Cards Accepted

Bunion Pain?

You No Longer Need To Suffer • Outpatient Surgery Using Local Anesthesia • Minimal Disability - Good Pain Management • Able to Walk in a Surgical Shoe the Same Day • State-of-the-art Medical & Surgical Technology • Dissolvable Pins and Fixation Techniques

David H. Korfin DPM, FACFA S

Board Certified Foot & Ankle Surgeon Podiatrist - Foot Specialist

• Bunion Correction • Laser Wart Surgery • Endoscopic Heel Surgery • Diabetic Wound Care • Ingrown Toenails • Sports Injuries • Hammer Toe Repair • Adult & Children’s

“

My staff and I offer a personalized treatment plan, using state-of-the-art medical and surgical techniques, provided in a warm, caring, compassionate environment.

281-313-FEET (3338) 1327 Lake Pointe Pkwy, Ste 510 • Sugar Land, Texas 77478 Located in the Professional Building attached to St. Luke’s Sugar Land Hospital

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

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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

Advertorial

Medical Focus OakBend Medical Center Offers Stroke Awareness and Care

Seconds count when it comes to a stroke. According to the American Stroke Association, stroke is the fifth largest cause of death and the leading cause of adult disability in the United States. A stroke affects the arteries leading to and within the brain.

When a stroke occurs, the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to the brain either become blocked by a clot or by ruptures. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die.

People who are at risk for a stroke include those who have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and those who smoke. People with heart rhythm disturbances – especially those with AFib or atrial fibrillation – are also at risk.

When you or someone you love exhibits signs of a stroke, it is important to act quickly. Remembering the acronym FAST can help you recognize the signs of a stroke. F is for face drooping, A is for arm weakness, S is for speech difficulty and T means it is time to call 9-1-1 if you see any of these signs.

OakBend Medical Center has received seven consecutive Gold Plus Stroke Awards – the most in Fort Bend County. OakBend is here to help in times of need with board certified neurologists and staff trained to repair and help prevent damage due to a stroke. Visit one of their campuses at 1705 Jackson Street or 22003 Southwest Freeway at the first sign of stroke.

For more information, visit www.oakbendmedcenter.org.

Bio-Identical Estrogen and Testosterone Pellet Therapy As people age, their naturally occurring hormones decline and become out of balance. Hormonal imbalance can lead to many unwanted symptoms including weight gain, fatigue, low libido, anxiety, depression, belly fat, insomnia, lack of muscle mass and initiative, just to name a few.

Pellets are derived from natural plant sources and then modified at the molecular level to perfectly match what the body naturally produces. Pellets are available as testosterone and estrogen and can be administered for both men and women. Pellets are about the size of a grain of rice and are inserted through a very quick and simple in-office procedure under local anesthesia.

Unlike other therapies, pellets are “cardiac driven,” so as blood flows over the pellets, hormones are released as the body needs it. Over time, the pellets will be completely used and dissolved by the body. On average, pellets will last three to four months for women and four to six months for men. Advantages of pellet therapy include: no more weekly shots or daily creams; consistent, optimal levels of hormones; prevention of highs and lows or the “roller coaster effect” and “re-pelleting” is only needed every three to six months.

Dr. Shel Wellness & Aesthetic Center is proud to offer pellets as an option for achieving optimal hormone balance. To find out if you would benefit from hormone optimization or any other services, request a complimentary consultation by calling 281-313-7435 or visit www.drshel.com.

See ad on page 1.

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

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Your Child’s First Dental Visit New parents often ask, “When should my child first see a dentist?” The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatrics both agree that children should visit a pediatric dentist by age one.

National studies have shown that preschool-aged children are getting more cavities. More than one in four children in the United States have had at least one cavity by the age of four, and many children get cavities as early as age two.

Comprehensive initial exams for children under the age of two are always complimentary at the office of Larry Caldwell, DDS Dentistry for Children.

At the initial one year visit, Dr. Caldwell and his staff will discuss how to care for an infant’s or toddler’s mouth; oral habits, including finger and thumb sucking; how to handle dental emergencies and accidents that could damage the face and teeth; bottle feeding and nursing as it relates to decay; teething and eruption of teeth and the link between diet and oral health.

Dr. Caldwell recommends the first cleaning and X-rays between the age of two and a half and three years. When preparing a child for his first visit, use fun and positive words. Dr. Caldwell and his staff have expertise in handling the special needs and circumstances of all children. A positive dental experience is accomplished through efficient teamwork and a gentle patient approach. It is Dr. Caldwell’s goal to not only meet parents’ expectations of their children’s dental experience, but surpass it.

Larry Caldwell, DDS Dentistry for Children is the home of Tillie the Tooth and the Harp Orthodontic Flosser.

For more information, call 281-565KIDS (5437).

Medical Focus

Advertorial

Larry Caldwell, D. D. S. Dentistry for Children and those with Special Needs

Dr. Caldwell is the creator of the New Harp Ortho Flosser!

A reusable tool for flossing with braces, made with braided nylon floss resistant to fraying and breaking!

One handed, quick and easy!

SEE VIDEOS AND ORDER @ HARPORTHOFLOSSER.COM

Keep Gums Healthy

Oral Health Education • Sealants • Intravenous Sedation • High Speed Digital X-Rays Ora Verse Anesthesia Reversal • Laser Soft Tissue Removal • Accepting New Patients

15200 SW Freeway • Sugar Land, TX 77478

281.565.KIDS (5437) www.larrycaldwelldds.com A Special Place for Special People

Home of Tillie the Tooth

Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry fort bend

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Medical Focus

Advertorial

Sugar Land Face and Body Plastic Surgery Offers Medical Spa With Breakthrough Procedures

Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital

When you look in the mirror, do you like what you see? Dr. Eric Humble believes “rejuvenation is about making your internal vision a reality so you can enjoy your life with joy and confidence!” Offering an in-house certified surgical center, as well as a cutting edge medical spa, Sugar Land Face and Body Plastic Surgery is a single destination with a full range of solutions, including Botox and filler injections, facial rejuvenation, body contouring and surgical procedures.

Dr. Humble is a double board certified plastic surgeon and envisions Sugar Land Face and Body becoming the pre-eminent facility in the Sugar Land and the Greater Houston area for personal transformation through the medical arts of plastic surgery and skin correction techniques. Dr. Humble’s med spa offers an exclusive and breakthrough procedure called Cellfina, the only FDA approved, minimally invasive procedure clinically proven to improve the appearance of cellulite for at least two years.

Performed by Dr. Humble in the office, Cellfina combines a proven approach with innovative, proprietary technology to treat the primary structural cause of cellulite – the connective bands woven throughout fat in the thighs and buttocks. These tight bands pull down the surface of the skin, creating the puckering seen on the surface of the skin. Similar to a rubber band under tension, once released, the treated skin bounces back to smooth itself out in as little as three days.

For more information or to schedule a complimentary consultation, call 281-3130555 or visit www.BeautyBecomesYou.com.

See ad on page 9.

Janice Koshy, MD

Farheen Tariq, MD

Infectious Disease Specialists Board Certified in Infectious Disease and Internal Medicine Management of Hepatitis B and C Travel Medicine Outpatient Infusion Therapy - OIT

For Appointments Call:

832-886-4994 NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS IN SUGAR LAND 1201 Creekway Drive, Suite B • Sugar Land, Texas 77478 TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • April 2017

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Proudly caring for Sugar Land and Fort Bend County residents since 2006, Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital is the first Houston-area hospital to earn the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation’s highest presidential honor for performance excel­lence. To meet the growing health care needs of Fort Bend County, Memorial Hermann Sugar Land recently opened a new 155,000 square-foot patient tower, capping off a $93 million campus expan­sion and bringing the total bed count to 147. Conveniently located at the intersection of Highway 59 and Grand Parkway, Memorial Hermann Sugar Land offers advanced equipment and state-of-the-art technology to address any health care need, from birthing services and emergency pediatrics to sports medicine and orthopedics, including the IRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute.

Area residents can now stay close to home for increasingly complex health care issues and receive high quality care delivered by a highly skilled staff and affiliated physicians spanning more than 65 specialties. Beyond the expanded Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and new adult Intermediate Care Unit is state-of-theart equipment, including new diagnostic monitoring systems, to enhance patient care. The expanded emergency center further enhances the hospital’s outstanding heart attack care. A nationally accredited Chest Pain Center, the hospital has affiliated heart specialists available 24/7 to perform balloon coronary (angioplasty) in its cardiac catheterization lab. Growing families will appreciate the expanded labor and delivery rooms, an expanded nursery and neonatal ICU, more beds for pediatric patients and space for future expansion. In addition, Memorial Hermann Sugar Land is Fort Bend County’s only pediatric emergency room designed and staffed to care specifically for children.

Visit memorialhermann.org for more information.

See ad on Inside Front Cover.

Medical Focus

Staying Healthy Through Mid-Life and Beyond Nina H. Dereska, MD, FPMRS is a highly skilled and board certified urogynecologist and pelvic reconstructive surgeon. Dr. Dereska’s practice includes diagnosis and management of urinary incontinence (stress incontinence, urge incontinence, mixed incontinence), overactive bladder, bladder emptying disorders and other bladderrelated issues. Dr. Dereska treats pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic fistulas utilizing multiple modalities – both surgical and non-surgical options tailored to each patient’s needs.

As women age, they can experience pelvic issues that disrupt daily living.

Dr. Dereska’s years of experience and advanced training can help restore a woman’s active lifestyle. She thoroughly reviews treatment options with each patient that include medical and surgical management of pelvic floor dysfunction.

Dr. Dereska often utilizes medical robotics for surgical cases that help minimize pain, hospital stay, blood loss and scarring. Her goal is every patient’s goal – to get them back to their normal daily activities with family and friends.

In addition to providing compassionate patient care, Dr. Dereska serves as Assistant Professor Dept. of Ob/Gyn & Reproductive Sciences at The University of Texas (UT) Health Medical School. Dr. Dereska’s office is conveniently located in the Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza in Sugar Land and offers complimentary valet parking. She and her dedicated staff strive to make each patient experience as stress-free as possible and look forward to ensuring that women stay healthy and active through mid-life and beyond.

UT Physicians Urogynecology Center is located at 17510 W. Grand Parkway South, Suite 590 in Sugar Land. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 713-486-1530.

Advertorial

Urogynecology Center

Caring for women with pelvic floor disorders...

Nina H. Dereska, MD

Dr. Nina H. Dereska

Common conditions treated:

H H H H H H

Loss of bladder or bowel control Pelvic organ prolapse Bladder emptying problems Painful bladder problems Urinary tract infections Female Sexual Dysfunction

is fellowship-trained and board certified in Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery (FPMRS) and Obstetrics & Gynecology. Urogynecology combines expertise in urology and gynecology to provide women with comprehensive care for conditions such as prolapse, incontinence, pelvic pain and other pelvic floor disorders.

Dr. Dereska and her compassionate staff will allay your fears and educate you about the latest technology in testing and treatments so you can get back to living your life.

Services include:

H H H H H H H H H

Multichannel Urodynamic Testing Cystoscopy Pessaries Pelvic floor physical therapy Sacral and peripheral nerve stimulation Botulinum toxin bladder injections Interstitial cystitis therapy Surgery for pelvic organ prolapse Surgery for bladder or bowel incontinence

Urogynecology Center 17510 W Grand Parkway S. Suite 590 Sugar Land, TX 77479 Conveniently located in the Medical Plaza Memorial Hermann Sugar Land

713-486-1530

www.UTPhysicians.com

fort bend

magazine • April 2017

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Appointments and Information:

Medical Focus

Advertorial

When Diet and Exercise Is Not Enough Straighten Your Teeth Without Braces In the dental office, the C&C Dental team hears it just about every day: “Hey, doc.

I would love straight teeth, but I don’t want to wear braces!” Let’s face it. Who does?

Teenagers don’t mind, since all of their friends wear them. Adults, on the other hand, are a different story.

Fortunately, there is a solution. Invisalign is a patented technique of wearing a series of clear retainers to gradually straighten the teeth. The benefits of Invisalign are extensive. There are no brackets or wires to poke the lip and cheeks and no embarrassment with meals, since patients simply remove their retainers while eating.

Invisalign is virtually invisible for photos and social events.

The average case takes about 12 months, and the process involves very little to no soreness. Patients can even check their progress with state-of-the-art CAD/CAM virtual models. Invisalign is a great idea for health savings accounts, and interest-free financing is available.

A smile says so much. Think how it will feel to finally go out in public with the confidence of a beautiful smile. You deserve it. This is your year!

For more information or to schedule an appointment at C&C Dental, call 281-2420241.

See ad on page 3.

Salman Aly, MD PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN • Board Certified in Internal Medicine • Experienced in Geriatric and Hospital Medicine • Botox, Dermal Fillers, Low T Syndrome • Hyperbaric & Advanced Wound Care For appointments call:

832-886-4774

Staying healthy and looking good is a common goal for most women. Sometimes, a hectic lifestyle and stressful jobs make it nearly impossible to maintain an ideal body. Also, many women often gain or maintain resistant fat in undesirable areas regardless of what they do.

Over time, this unwanted fat can be very discouraging and severely impact a woman’s body image.

There are many options available to help address unwanted fat. By far, the most effective and reliable is liposuction. The procedure is safe, affordable and can target the difficult, stubborn areas that no amount of diet and exercise can. The Sugar Land Plastic Surgery team has seen first-hand time and time again how liposuction can make such a remarkable and immediate difference in the appearance of the body, especially in the stubborn areas. This extra help motivates patients and gives them confidence to achieve further fitness and live healthier lifestyles.

Consultations with Dr. John T. Nguyen at Sugar Land Plastic Surgery are always complimentary. With your commitment and their help and support, you can achieve the results you have been working so hard for.

Visit www.MyBodySurgeon.com for more information.

See ad on page 17.

Sarfraz Aly, MD INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST • Board Certified in Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine • Hyperbaric & Advanced Wound Care • Travel Medicine

Today, Fort Bend County boasts four major hospitals offering a full range of services, allowing residents to stay close to home for comprehensive health care.

For appointments call:

832-886-4994

Now Accepting New Patients At Both Locations In Sugar Land And Wharton Sugar Land: 1201 Creekway Dr. • Suite B Sugar Land, Texas 77478 Wharton: 979-282-6151 • 10141 US 59 • Wharton, Texas, 77488 TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • April 2017

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Medical Focus

Advertorial

Women’s Center

at Sugar Land Suffer No More Millions of women suffer from extremely heavy periods. Every month, they fear that they will have an embarrassing incident, be unable to leave the house due to the need for frequent trips to the bathroom and possibly even miss work. These women may never seek treatment, because they think it is “natural” and part of normal life.

This condition, also known as menorrhagia, is actually a medical condition and has several treatment options.

One basic treatment option is the use of birth control pills. Although most people associate birth control pills only with preventing pregnancy, they are used for a variety of medical conditions, including heavy periods. Another option is an intrauterine device (IUD), which can make menstrual periods extremely light.

This small device can be placed during a simple office visit.

For women who are completely done with childbearing, a popular solution is endometrial ablation. This is a minimally invasive procedure that neutralizes the inner lining of the uterus. This simple procedure can be performed in the office, surgery center or operating room.

Recovery is quick, and most people are able to return to work within a few days.

A final treatment option for those women who are done having children is a hysterectomy, a procedure to remove the uterus. This is the only guaranteed way to completely stop menstrual periods. This procedure can be performed using advanced, minimally invasive techniques and will completely cure heavy menstrual periods.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call UT Physicians Women’s Center Sugar Land at 713486-1250 or visit UTPhysicians.com.

Compassionate, Comprehensive Care for Women

Brian R. Heaps, MD Azeema Moosa, MD Michelle Wong, MD Board Certified Ob/Gyn

• • • • •

Board Certified Ob/Gyn

Board Certified Ob/Gyn

Adult & Adolescent Gynecology Minimally Invasive Surgery/Robotic Surgery Reproductive and Pelvic Health Issues Well Woman Care and Preventative Health Screening General & Complex Obstetrics & Gynecology

UT Physicians Women’s Center at Sugar Land 17510 West Grand Parkway South, Suite #550 Sugar Land, TX 77479

Call 713.486.1250 for Appointments www.UTPhysicians.com

Joyce Long’s

Colonic - Detox - Lymphatic

Wellness Institute Established 1989

“Our clients become family and we are here to celebrate their WELLNESS”

Joyce Long

Internationally Certified Colon Hydrotherapist & Instructor Nationally Certified Massage Therapist # ME0170 Services by appt only.

Massage Therapies • Lymphatic Drainage Massage • Lymphatic Facials Reflexology • Infra Red Saunas • Relaxing Ion Cleanse Hand & Foot Bath Chinese Cupping • Gift Certificates Colon Hydrotherapy by M.D. Prescription Only (Yours Or Ours)

NEW FORT BEND LOCATION!

1308 James Street • Rosenberg, TX 77471 fort bend

magazine • April 2017

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281-344-0095 www.joycelong.biz

Medical Focus

Advertorial

Stuart Rimes, DDS, MS Teams with The Art of Skin MedSpa for Customized Care The Art of Skin MedSpa is taking a new adventure in the skin and health care industry with Stuart Rimes, DDS, MS and Nisa Dadjoo, DDS, MSD. Not only are teeth important, but facial care is also important. The combination of these two services produces one amazing outcome. Come and enjoy the whole experience for yourself.

Are you looking for advanced skin care treatments designed to help look and feel your best? The Art of Skin MedSpa offers a wide variety of skin care treatments including HydraFacial, SkinPen, chemical peels, dermaplaning, Botox, fillers and medical grade products. The Art of Skin MedSpa is committed to helping people achieve their unique beauty goals, whether it is a major exfoliation or serious hydration. They offer complimentary, no pressure consultations to guide patients in deciding what procedures will best achieve their goals.

The Art of Skin MedSpa’s mission is to offer the highest quality services by creating customized, state-of-the-art treatment plans. Owner and lead aesthetician LaDonna Marie wants everyone to know, “We thank our clients for their amazing loyalty as we make this move. Our location may have changed, but our commitment to service and quality remains as strong as always. We’re committed to unlocking your skin’s potential and uncovering your true beauty.”

Stuart Rimes, DDS, MS is a prosthodontist dental practice offering dental implants, aesthetics and reconstructive dentistry at 15958 City Walk, Suite 230 in Sugar Land Town Square.

For more information or to schedule a free consultation, call 281-313-1565 or visit www.RimesDDS.com.

Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists Adults, children and seniors choose Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists for personal, quality care. With multiple board certifications in foot surgery, Dr. Y. Bryan Lee uses the most current techniques to reduce downtime and heal with minimal scarring.

Heel pain is the most common complaint from Dr. Lee’s patients. It impacts their ability to exercise and sometimes can cause so much discomfort that they are unable to get out of bed. Treatment for heel pain ranges from simple stretching techniques to surgery. Custom orthotics, physical therapy, injections and medication can also help.

For those who have tried everything short of surgery, a new treatment called shockwave therapy (EPAT) may be the answer.

It is applied in the office using special equipment, is painless and does not involve downtime or anesthesia. Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists has the only shockwave therapy unit in Sugar Land. It has a high success rate, and patients have been thrilled to avoid surgery.

With two convenient locations, Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists gets patients back on their feet! Call 281-242-FEET (3338) or visit www.advancedfootdocs.com for more information.

Achieve the

Dr. G. Byron Janik joins Dr. Stuart Rimes in Sugar Land Town Square!

Ultimate

Dr. Janik has been practicing in Fort Bend County since 1987.

He and Dr. Rimes complement each other in their practices resulting in a win-win for their patients.

Smile!

Replacing missing teeth in one day!

281-313-1565 Stuart Rimes, DDS, MS G. Byron Janik, DDS

before

Stuart Rimes, DDS, MS and G. Byron Janik, DDS 15958 City Walk, Ste. 230, Sugar Land, TX 77479 www.RimesDDS.com • e-mail: info@rimesdds.com www.gbyronjanikdds.com

We are now in network with your insurance TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • April 2017

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after

Restore your smile with cosmetic dentistry!

before

after

Medical Focus

Advertorial

Dr. Elissa R. Wedemeyer and Dr. Taylor Ballard Marsh: Providing Comprehensive Vision Care to Fort Bend Dr. Elissa R. Wedemeyer and Dr. Taylor Ballard Marsh are very pleased to provide comprehensive vision care to the Fort Bend Community. Both doctors are longtime residents of the Missouri City/Sugar Land area and take pride in treating their friends, family members and neighbors. Besides providing comprehensive care to every age, they also participate in community health fairs, school screenings and provide donations and sponsorships for many community activities.

Both doctors enjoy examining toddlers and special needs patients. Conditions like diabetes, hypertension and stress, as well as overuse of computers, can play havoc on the ability to get clear, comfortable vision. They take pleasure in educating their patients on taking care of their eyes by maintaining good ocular and physical health. The doctors are therapeutic glaucoma specialists, the highest level of license that the state of Texas provides for practicing optometrists. They use high-tech equipment to diagnose and manage most eye diseases and conditions. Dr. Wedemeyer and Dr. Marsh spend many hours each year taking continuing education to assure their skills remain top notch and that they are up to date with new procedures, medications, optical lenses and contact lens developments.

The office offers the most current fashion and quality frames and sunglasses. The staff enjoys helping their patients look and see better in their new eyewear. They accept most major insurances, including Medicare and conventional medical insurance.

For more information, call 281-4992600 or visit www.drwedemeyer.com.

Elissa R. Wedemeyer

Taylor Ballard Marsh

Therapeutic/Optometric Glaucoma Specialist

Therapeutic/Optometric Glaucoma Specialist

O.D. FCOVD, FAAO

O.D.

• Medical Management of Eye Diseases: Dry Eyes, Glaucoma, Kerataconus, Eye Infections • Contact Lenses: Single Vision, Multifocal, Toric, Gas Permeable, Refractive Therapy • Nutritional Supplements for Age Related Macular Degeneration and Dry Eyes • Complete Line of Fashion and Designer Frames • Sunglasses for Sports and Fashion

Medicare and Most Medical Insurance Plans Accepted

281.499.2600

• www.drwedemeyer.com 6026 Hwy 6 • Missouri City (corner of Hwy 6 & University)

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.

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

KILLS TOENAIL FUNGUS

LOCATED AT

56 Sugar Creek Center Blvd. #250 (Sugar Creek Offices) Sugar Land, TX

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.

11100 Southwest Fwy Houston, TX

www.AdvancedFootDocs.com fort bend

magazine • April 2017

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Medical Focus

Advertorial

Zoom into Spring at Royal Dental

Two major sports medicine centers – Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute in Sugar Land and Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in Sugar Land – cater to Fort Bend’s growing athletic community, offering access to highly qualified sports medicine specialists who know how to keep athletes performing at their highest level.

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 Royal Dental, all of your dental needs are available in one place for the entire family.

Royal Dental, formerly Anderson Dental, is 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 Royal 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 dental dreams a reality.

The experienced doctors at Royal 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, Royal Dental has your dental needs covered.

Let the professionals at Royal Dental give you and your family something to smile about. Royal Dental is located at 226 Fluor Daniel Drive in Sugar Land.

For more information, call 281-242-2040 or visit www.royaldentalusa.com.

See ad on page 11.

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 Ann Bertles, MD Board Certified Ob/Gyn

4D Ultrasound in Office

Second Opinions Welcome

832.437.9690 (p) | 832.437.9694 (f) 23232 Kingsland Blvd., Ste. E, Katy, TX 77494 www.myobgynofkaty.com TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

.com • April 2017

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Medical Focus

Advertorial

Discover Wellness: Weight Loss That Works Discover Wellness brings one of the newest advancements in natural health and healing to Houston area residents.

Their team helps patients reverse health challenges such as excess weight, diabetes, sleep apnea, thyroid disorders, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia and autoimmune issues using an advanced technology system.

Weight gain can be caused by a variety of factors, including digestive issues, blood sugar handling, inflammation, toxins and hormones. Discover Wellness helps clients lose 20 to 40 pounds or more in only 40 days – guaranteed!

Using a doctor supervised program, Discover Wellness awakens and resets patients’ metabolism and hypothalamus and balances their hormones without pre-packaged meals, exercise, chemicals, hunger, chemicals, drugs or surgery.

Discover Wellness has locations in Cypress and Missouri City. The Missouri City center is located at 5425 Highway 6, Suite A-300. Contact them to schedule a free review of their customized and exclusive fat burning technology system.

Visit www.discoverwellnesshouston. com or call 281-969-8059 for more information.

Fort Bend County is home to one Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE) Unit specifically designed with the elderly in mind, promoting a home-like feel that encourages family involvement and decreases length of stay.

Special Advertising Section Coming May

absolutely!` Senior Living Health Care • Therapy and Rehabilitation Centers Senior Adult Activities • Retirement Communities In-Home Services • Assisted Living Facilities To Advertise: 281-690-4242 • www.fortbendfocus.com fort bend

magazine • April 2017

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BUSINESS BRIEFS

Texas State Technical College Regent Leaves Lasting Legacy With Donation Texas State Technical College (TSTC) Regent Joe M. Gurecky is a product of technical education and along with his wife, Doris, knows what a difference it has made in his life. In an effort to help students reach their career goals, he now finds it his personal responsibility to help fund the Texan Success Scholarship. The Fort Bend natives’ donation totals $100,000, with $75,000 going toward scholarships and $25,000 going to the chancellor’s discretionary fund, which is used to facilitate the institution’s needs.

TSTC matched the scholarship donation dollar for dollar, helping nearly 150 students pursue their dream of a college education. The Texan Success Scholarship goes to new students who enroll full time to provide assistance for tuition, books and other supplies.

“I am a product of a technical school, and as a result, I know firsthand what an impact it has made on my life and the successes I have enjoyed throughout 60 years in the manufacturing business,” said Gurecky, owner of Gurecky Manufacturing Service, Inc. “Therefore, it is our privilege to provide this same opportunity to the youth of our community.”

Gurecky attended Taylor Vocational Technical College to learn machine shop work and spent 27 years working for Baroid Corporation, a Houston-based oil and gas industry production company. However, when a recession in the oil and gas industry hit Houston in the 1980s, the middle school sweethearts and business partners used their life savings in 1983 to open Gurecky Manufacturing, which operated out of their garage with only three machines.

Despite the significant growth, Gurecky Manufacturing has seen over the years, Gurecky hopes to maintain a mom-and-pop shop image, although the company is now housed in a 40,000 square-foot facility filled with state-ofthe-art precision manufacturing machines.

In addition to Gurecky’s successful business and career, he has also served on the Rosenberg City Council and is the former mayor of Rosenberg. It was during this time that he worked diligently to establish TSTC in the county. “About 15 years ago, I was involved in bringing TSTC to Rosenberg, and it has been awesome to see how TSTC has grown. It brings us great joy and satisfaction to leave a lasting legacy on TSTC and the students we serve,” said Gurecky.

Gurecky has also served the college by sitting on the TSTC Board of Regents for 12 years. TSTC Field Development Officer John Kennedy said that Gurecky and his wife per-

TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

Joe and Doris Gurecky.

sonify the generosity of the Fort Bend County community.

“The generous donation from Doris and Joe Gurecky will help many of our students achieve the American dream, and TSTC’s match of their gift will help spread those dollars even more,” said Kennedy. “We are privileged to have Regent Gurecky in our community and even more fortunate for his many years of service on TSTC’s Board of Regents.”

For more information on the Texan Success Scholarship, call 346-239-3417.

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It’s Island Time!

Ways to Enjoy a

L

Galveston Island’s Historic Pleasure Pier.

SUMMER TRAVEL TIPS

Galveston Getaway

ocated just an hour’s drive south on I-45, Galveston is Texas’ most visited beach destination. With sparkling Gulf waters, entertainment, shopping and one of the largest and well-preserved concentrations of Victorian architecture in the country, there is plenty to see and do. Is a road trip to Galveston in your summer plans?

Before you load up the car, scan these possibilities and guarantee a tropical, Island-style vacation you won’t soon forget!

1 Adventure Through the Great Outdoors

Galveston may be best known for its sandy beaches, but there’s far more to do than work on your suntan. Experience the world’s fastest growing sport – stand up paddle boarding – and catch a few waves as you take in a view of Seawall Boulevard. Admire the beauty of the Texas Gulf Coast as you kayak through the marshes and bayous of Galveston Island State Park. Craving an adrenaline rush? Soar 500 feet in the air during a parasailing tour, or for the ultimate heart-pounding experience, go skydiving. When you need to catch your breath, find a shady spot on the beach and let the cool sea breeze wash over you.

2 Experience the World’s Tallest Water Coaster

From your starting point 81 feet above ground level, you have just enough time to look down the steep green and white tube. Suddenly, your world becomes a blur of sound and color as you’re soaring down ramps and through sense-shifting curved tubes. You may be breathless at the end, and for good reason. You’ve just conquered Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark’s MASSIV, the tallest water coaster in the world. Ride MASSIV once and you’ll be hooked, but don’t overlook all of the other thrill and leisure rides at Schlitterbahn.

3 Visit Historic Pleasure Pier

If you don’t want to get wet, ride the tallest swing ride in Texas at the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier.

Originally built in the late 1940s as a recreational facility for the military, the Pier was turned over to the City after World War II and named Pleasure Pier. The approximately 1,130 foot pier extends over the Gulf of Mexico at 25th Street and Seawall Boulevard and is home to Texas’ first Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restaurant, a number of shops, entertaining midway games and 16 rides, including gentle rides for young visitors and exhilarating coasters for thrill seekers.

4 Peruse a Multitude of Memorable Museums

Did you know that Spanish explorer Cabeza de Vaca once shipwrecked on Galveston Island or that pirate Jean Lafitte established a colony on the island that at its peak numbered about 1,000 people? Pay a visit to The Bryan Museum to browse the largest collection of southwestern artifacts in the world, and step inside beautifully restored locomotives at the Galveston Railroad Museum. Climb aboard the legendary World War II submarine USS Cavalla and one of the last destroyer escorts in the world, the USS Stewart, both of which are housed in Seawolf Park. Then, step onto a retired offshore oil rig at the Ocean Star Offshore Energy Center, where you can learn the ins and outs of oil and gas production and its impact on the Texas Gulf Coast.

Photo by Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts.

Your Imagination Run Wild at Moody 5 Let Gardens

With multiple drops and turns, Schlitterbahn Galveston Island’s MASSIV delivers an incredible ride. fort bend

Observe swimming sharks and playing penguins, get up close and personal with monkeys and macaws and discover the natural wonders of the world without leaving Galveston Island. These are just a few of the things you’ll see and do in the three glass pyramids at Moody Gardens.

Then, take on the five-tier Sky Trail Ropes Course and soar on the zip line, play a round on the championship golf course and enjoy a cruise on a replica 1800s paddlewheel boat.

Source: www.galveston.com magazine • April 2017

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By Grainne Kelly

hether local or overseas, sightseeing can be one of the greatest pleasures of most any trip. Sightseeing with little kids?

Not unless you’re prepared! Read on for tips on how to get ready for a trip that the whole family will remember.

Half the battle in ensuring a fun trip is the planning. A lot of the stress that you might encounter can be avoided if you’ve taken the time to plan. It’s not necessary to have a minute by minute itinerary in place, but you do need to have some sort of strategy to ensure that you’re covered for contingencies and “emergencies.” Understand that emergencies, when dealing with little kids, can be everything from a lost stuffed bear to a hunger meltdown to an actual medical emergency. Like the Scouts say, it’s best to be prepared.

Have a plan B for most outings. Figure out what you will do if the weather isn’t cooperating for the outdoor hike that you had planned. What if someone in the group gets sick?

How will you deal with that? Be realistic in your planning. A four-year-old is not going to happily skip along in the Louvre Museum for six hours. It’s just not going to happen. If it’s TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend

SUMMER TRAVEL TIPS

your biggest dream to visit Graceland and pay quiet homage to the King, you might want to plan a side trip while Grandma stays with the kids at the hotel pool.

One way to get a little more buy-in from the kids is – assuming they’re old enough – involve them in the planning of the trip. Looking over maps, reviewing tour guides and checking out locations on the Internet are all interactive ways to get them to see your trip as an adventure! Let them pick out some of the sights that you will be seeing. It’s a good lesson in cooperation.

However you are traveling to get to your destination, sightseeing usually involves some sort of motor vehicle: a private car or a group bus. Whichever you opt for, having the right equipment with you is essential.

Snacks, drinks and distractions are important.

A bag of juice boxes, healthy snacks and a few toys from the dollar store to be handed out at welltimed intervals can make any trip easier. And, don’t feel bad about giving in to tech when the coloring books get boring.

A movie on the tablet will give everyone the “time out” they need. .com • April 2017

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Travel in Style: Tips from

Pulling into a national park to see a gueyser an hour before dinner time?

Perhaps not. The ideal situation is to try and time visits to sights when the kids are relatively well rested and in a good mood. Dragging a cranky, overtired, hungry child anywhere is not anyone’s idea of a good time.

If you need to drive some distance to get to various places and your kids are still nappers, coordinating the driving with nap time will help give everyone a little peace. Make sure to pack something they like to sleep with to encourage the nap!

Kids have a limited attention span, particularly if they’re not really interested in whatever it is you are going to see. An overpacked itinerary will stress everyone out. Break up the day with different activities so that it doesn’t feel like one long slog through three different museums. Add in a little shopping trip at a candy store or lunch at a fun restaurant instead of trying to rush through every sight.

When all else fails, a little bribery might be the order of the day. Incentivize good behavior by reminding the kids that being patient throughout the day will win them an extra 30 minutes at the pool at the end of the afternoon.

Loggins Jewelers

As With older kids, you can ask them to be the official trip photographers.

Point and shoot cameras are relatively inexpensive these days and can provide ample opportunity for the kids to document their trip to share with their friends or classmates when they get home.

Another idea is to designate them as the official map readers, even if the GPS is really doing most of the work.

Kids love to be in charge, even if it’s only in their own minds!

In the end, if you are calm and collected, the kids will be calmer too. The trip is supposed to be fun, not a military exercise, so be prepared to roll with the punches and change up your plans. If a certain location isn’t working out because everyone is tired or hungry, it’s time to leave and go play in a park for a while. Remember to have fun! You’re making memories to last a lifetime.

For more information on stress-free summer travel, visit www.bubblebum. co/us.

fort bend

magazine • April 2017

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flu season gives way to spring fever, the travel bug infects us all! After choosing mix and match outfits, what jewelry do you bring? Like your wardrobe, choose key coordinated pieces.

Start with a 36 inch chain to be worn long or doubled to flatter any neckline. Mixed metals of silver and gold like those by Charles Krypell create texture and subtle interest. Add a clip-bail pendant enhancer for even more versatility.

TIP: Keep necklaces untangled by inserting half the chain into a plastic straw. Hook it closed.

A pair of diamond hoops by Jude Frances are a classic look and can be dressed up at night with dangling earring charms or frames to match your necklace.

TIP: Poke pierced earrings through a small paper plate. Wrap in a baggy for travel.

A stainless and gold statement watch is best. For dress, stack bracelets of different metals, finishes and stones for interest. Vahan offers a wide variety of choices.

If one is your wedding ring, a cocktail ring that compliments your bracelets should adorn your other hand. Bachelorettes, flirt with a tri-colored gold butterfly ring on the middle finger of your left hand or a custom engraved pinky ring.

Travel with jewelry that coordinates with everything, from purse zipper to metal trims on jackets and shoes. At Loggins Jewelers, mixed metal jewelry has never been more stylish or affordable.

Final TIP: Get your jewelry appraised at Loggins Jewelers to update your home owners insurance in case of loss.

Contact Loggins Jewelers at 281-242-2900.

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