Sienna List October

October 2017

Community At Your Fingertips Breast Cancer RECOGNIZING BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH IN HOUSTON, TX

Get Fit For The Holidays With Anytime Fitness

The Guide

HALLOWEEN

Community Spotlight Autism Advocates Applauds a Caring and Kind Community

Contents

9 11

Breast Cancer

Recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Houston, TX

Community News Hurricane Harvey

15 19

The Lifestyle Where’s Jesus?

The Guide Halloween

A Spooky Halloween for Residents of Houston

Sienna List | info@siennalist.com | Missouri City, TX 77459 | 281-201-5998

October 14th From 9am- 3pm Club Sienna 12th Annual Gingerbread Market 9600 Scanlan Trace, Missouri City,TX 77479 Unique and specialty gifts, custom jewelry and holiday decor.

October 22nd from 1-5pm Sienna Plantation Train Depot Sienna Community Farmers Market – 9600 Scanlan Trace, Missouri City, TX 77459 Local produce, fresh goods and more!

October 29th From 5pm-7pm Rosenberg Annex Building Boo With The Blue – 4520 Reading Rd. Rosenberg, TX 77471 Free Trunk or Treat Sponsored by Sheriff Troy Nehls October 31st From 6:30pm – 10pm George Ranch Historical Park Ghosts & Grub (Reservation Required) 10215 FM 762 Richmond, TX 77469 Halloween candlelight walk tour of the Park with ghost stories and more!

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To Advertise, Please Call 281-201-5998

Sienna List was developed with the residents of Missouri City in mind. We offer free services for our members; a platform where members can find jobs, business recommendations, events, and more with the click of a button.

It’s easy to become a member of Sienna List:

1 - Visit www.thelist.city reate a user name and 2 - C password for your login.

3 - C lick the Submit button.

Creating and sharing a local event such as a garage sale, classes, or a fundraiser has never been easier! Once you login, click create an event. Then fill in the appropriate fields and your event will be live on Sienna List.

Health Report Hurricane Harvey couldn’t close the doors at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital By Kaelyn Bujnoch

T

hanks to the dedication of its physicians and staff, Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital continued serving patients throughout Hurricane Harvey and its aftermath – the only hospital in the county to remain fully operational despite the storm and the severe flooding it caused.

“The ability of the hospital to remain open throughout Hurricane Harvey is the direct result of our staff’s advance planning and the sheer determination of our physicians, nursing staff and employees to make it to work and to stay here as long as necessary to continue serving our patients and the community,” said Chris Siebenaler, Houston Methodist Sugar Land CEO. “Many of them braved high waters and left their families even while their own homes were at risk to come in and care for patients. I am extremely proud of our team and the work they did that week – we actually had a number of employees living here in the hospital for several days so that we could keep our doors open.”

Even on the worst day of flooding, close to 300 Houston Methodist Sugar Land employees were on-site providing care around the clock. The hospital also served as a temporary shelter for many employees and their families who were forced to evacuate their homes.

Among those sheltered were over 200 families!

One of the hospital’s many “Harvey Heroes” was nurse Julie Kaiser, who navigated around flooded streets, roadblocks and detours to make it in to work on Sunday, Aug. 27, determined to help her coworkers despite her concerns for home and family. The next morning, she learned that her neighborhood was subject to a mandatory evacuation. Fortunately, her family was able to make it to the hospital as well and stay on-site in the temporary shelter.

Patient care assistant Michael Gonzales was another employee who braved high waters to get to work. Once onsite, he stayed for three straight days, caring for patients. Patients constantly complimented his cheerfulness and diligence.

When he finally was able to go home, his father drove to the hospital to pick him up, and brought food for all his coworkers! The next morning, on his way to volunteer, Gonzales stopped by again with kolaches and doughnuts for all the nurses still working.

Nurse Diann Devillier was scheduled to retire the week of the hurricane.

But when she learned that her team needed help, she arrived at the hospital with a pillow and suitcase – prepared to stay for as long as needed!

Nurse Jerome Amado not only worked at Houston Methodist Sugar Land during the hurricane – he also spent his days off rescuing people by boat in the Richmond, Katy and El Campo areas.

As the flood waters rose, nurse Mario Saravia knew he needed to get to work to help his coworkers care for patients.

But his typical route to work was flooded, and he could see the stalled cars everywhere. But he never gave up – he tried a number of different

streets until he finally worked his way around the flooding and made it to the hospital.

Nurses Fina Sawoska and Caroline Miller work together at Houston Methodist Sugar Land in a medical/ surgical unit. When they realized they could not reach the hospital due to flooding, they decided to use their skills elsewhere and walked to the George R. Brown Convention Center, which was in desperate need of medical professionals. The next day, after the flood waters started receding, they were back at work at Houston Methodist Sugar Land!

“There are many other stories just like these, of our physicians, nurses and employees doing whatever they could to get to work and help out, or in some cases, volunteering at sites around the community,” said Siebenaler. “Our people handled Harvey’s challenge exceptionally well.”

Throughout the harrowing eight-day period from Aug. 25 – when Hurricane Harvey made landfall in south Texas – to Sept. 1, Houston Methodist Sugar Land admitted 318 patients and treated 1,146 more through its emergency department. In addition, 142 non-elective surgeries were October 2017

3

Continued ~ completed and 152 patients received dialysis (about 40 percent more than usual due to many nearby clinics being closed).

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In total, the hospital’s dietary staff prepared nearly 6,000 meals for patients, their family members and employees.

And the miracle of birth didn’t stop for severe weather; 74 “hurricane babies” were born in the hospital’s Childbirth Center.

“A storm like Hurricane Harvey creates a great deal of stress and worry for everyone, but our physicians and staff made the well-being of our patients a priority,” said Siebenaler. “We are extremely grateful for their hard work and dedication during such a challenging time.”

“We are very appreciative to the many organizations throughout the city, state and nation that are offering support to the hundreds of thousands who have been impacted by Harvey. We at Houston Methodist are also committed to doing everything we can to support the city, including our many thousands of employees who have sustained devastating losses to their homes and property,” said Siebenaler.

Houston Methodist has created an employee relief fund to aid staff members who have suffered losses from Hurricane Harvey which has currently raised more than $7.1 million.

To donate, go to bit.ly/hmharveyrelief and choose “Houston Methodist Employee Relief Fund” under the drop-down menu labeled “Please Use My Gift For.” An anonymous donor will match all additional gifts to the Employee Relief Fund dollar-for-dollar, up to a total of $1 million.

Visit our Facebook page at fb.com/ methodistsugarland for the latest news, events and information.

Silver Screen

October 20th

g

r

s

y e

t d t s

Meaghan Barsamian CoFounder - CEO - Editor Allen Barsamian CoFounder - Account Manager Stacy Vickers Graphic Designer Alisa Murray Columnist Jason Luthor Columnist Rosanna Vidal Columnist

October 20th Only The Brave Through hope, determination, sacrifice and the drive to protect families and communities, the Granite Mountain Hotshots become one of the most elite firefighting teams in the country. While most people run from danger, they run toward it -- watching over lives, homes and everything people hold dear, forging a unique brotherhood that comes into focus with one fateful fire in Yarnell, Ariz.

On The Cover

November 3rd Thor Imprisoned on the other side of the universe, the mighty Thor finds himself in a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against the Hulk, his former ally and fellow Avenger.

Thor’s quest for survival leads him in a race against time to prevent the all-powerful Hela from destroying his home world and the Asgardian civilization.

.

November 3rd The Star

,

s,

After an unprecedented series of natural disasters threatened the planet, the world’s leaders came together to create an intricate network of satellites to control the global climate and keep everyone safe. But now, something has gone wrong: the system built to protect Earth is attacking it, and it becomes a race against the clock to uncover the real threat before a worldwide geostorm wipes out everything and everyone along with it.

Courtesy of

Gabby M. Photography www.gabbymalcuit.com

A small but brave donkey named Bo yearns for a life beyond his daily grind at the village mill. One day, he finds the courage to break free, embarking on the adventure of his dreams. On his journey, he teams up with Ruth, a lovable sheep who has lost her flock, and Dave, a dove who has lofty aspirations. Along with three camels and some eccentric stable animals, Bo and his new friends follow the Star and become accidental heroes in the greatest story ever told – the first Christmas.

October 2017

5

3434 FM 1092 Rd #320, Missouri City, TX 77459

https://www.anytimefitness.com/gyms/4321/missouri-city-tx-77459/

Missouricitytx@anytimefitness.com Facebook.com/AnytimeFitnessMissouriCity Instagram: anytimefitness_missouricitytx

Get Fit For The Holidays Tucked away in the heart of Missouri City, right next to Capone’s Pizza in the popular Township Square, sits the unspoken gem of the city’s fitness life.

Anytime Fitness, a popular national franchise with a reputation as one of the country’s most acclaimed gyms, has found a new home. Brought to Missouri City by father and daughter team, Brad and Claire Parker, the new location is hoping to attract gym goers of all ages to some of the friendliest workout facilities in the region.

The gym is the brainchild of Dr. William Brad Parker, a long practicing orthopedic surgeon who has dedicated himself to the health and wellbeing of those around him. Brad Parker’s practice was his passion for over 25 years, but while he was widely known as an excellent surgeon, he was also driven by his love for healthy living as a whole.

This was a love shared by his daughter, Claire Parker, who was inspired by her father’s living and herself made a career as a physical therapy technician.

Despite their mutual love for spreading the message of healthy living and their careers in the health care industry, it wasn’t until a year ago that the two realized they shared a mutual dream: to create a fitness center that emphasized the well-being of the community.

Although Brad Parker originally came up with the concept, Claire Parker was

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To Advertise, Please Call 281-201-5998

immediately on board with the idea.

For both of them, starting up a fitness center was a natural next step in their careers.

The reason goes beyond simply their love of health and fitness. Each of them feels a special sense of commitment to the people and community around them. While that commitment did lead to careers in the healthcare industry, it also created opportunities for them to help those around them. Claire Parker long felt a special desire to help those recovering from injury. For her, it was a matter of making sure people could feel confident in themselves once again and return to living their lives with a positive attitude. For Brad Parker, a similar commitment to the well-being of others took him abroad. There, he volunteered his medical services to the neediest after hurricanes and earthquakes struck.

Now, Claire Parker is ready to bring that love of health and well-being to the Missouri City region, a place close to her own home. In just over a year, her and her father’s shared dream of opening a gym has gone from idea to reality.

Now, the new Anytime Fitness can now be found occupying some of the most

conveniently located real estate in all of the city. Tucked behind what was once a Black-Eyed Peas, it can be easy to miss.

Still, it’s a place anyone hoping to feel healthier and more confident will want to take the time to visit.

Why? More than anything, Claire is dedicated to creating ties with her gym goers and the surrounding community.

As a member of the local chamber of commerce, Claire actively seeks out ways to support other businesses and get the community involved in healthy activities. Meanwhile, although she is the owner of the gym, she also manages it on a day to day basis.

This makes a big difference in quality of service she’s able to provide. As the daily manager, she gets to see the experiences of her guests and how they feel about the facilities. For many, it could be the reason to commit to a gym for once. One of the issues that larger gyms often face is the lack of personal touch. Bigger gyms don’t typically have the owners on hand to deal with issues, and guests can sometimes feel lost in the larger facilities.

Claire’s vision is distinctly different from that routine experience. Her daily

attention to the gym means ongoing dedication to clean facilities, fantastic convenience, and the same robust services you would find at any larger gym. This Anytime Fitness provides 24-hour access for visitors, so even guests who work late nights can feel free to stop in. Constant surveillance is also provided to guarantee the safety of members. However, all the security in the world doesn’t mean much if the gym doesn’t offer a good workout. With a certified Personal Trainer on staff you will be able to ask questions and get one on one attention as needed.

A quality workout with Claire and her staff, that’s no problem here. The cardio machines are equipped with personal televisions that can even stream services like Hulu and Netflix. Treadmills and elliptical runners provide visitors with the same heart pumping experience they’d find at larger gyms, except with added convenience and friendliness.

Guests will also find plenty of resistance machines for weight training, in addition to free weights and barbells.

Visitors will also find just about every exercise device ever created, including

medicine balls, plyo boxes, elevated steps, jump ropes, and resistance bands. After the workout’s done, guests can retreat to the private restrooms and showers that are on site. Claire’s also made sure that there are plenty of individual and group training sessions available, and she plans to launch group exercise classes in the next couple weeks.

Residents in the area will want to visit and see top class gym services located in the center of Missouri City, but delivered with the sort of friendly touch that can seem impossible to find at other locations. Guests can take advantage of a free, seven-day trial pass, and see for themselves everything that this facility has to offer. For those who decide to join, membership includes access to any one of the 3,000 Anytime Fitness facilities located around the world, so

long as you’re a member for at least 30 days. This is an amazing perk for anyone planning to travel who still wants to stay on top of their gym routine.

With a hassle-free trial membership available, there’s no reason to wonder whether this gym is right for you.

Just call (281) 942-2900

and discover a gym experience that finally delivers the perfect package of professionalism, friendliness, and convenience. Once you talk with Claire, you’ll see the difference this Anytime Fitness is trying to make in the lives of the surrounding community.

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Offer valid through October 31st, discounts for family members. Also ask how to get ONE YEAR FREE!!!!!

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W W W. B S W I N E B A R . C O M

Breast Cancer

Recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Houston, TX By Jason Luthor

A

mazing advances in medicine and technology have brought us a long way from our roots, and over the last century, we’ve learned how to deal with a wide range of diseases and infections. However, even though antibiotics have helped us deal with bacterial infection while immunizations have eliminated some viral diseases, cancer continues to plague humanity.

Among the most widely known is breast cancer, a disease that strikes nearly two million individuals each year.

This cancer, almost 100 times more common in in women versus men, can easily become lethal if attention isn’t paid to early warning signs.

However, when early diagnosis is made, the survival rate is high. To help bring more awareness of this disease and raise funds into its cure, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is recognized every October. During this month, major national organizations hold events throughout the country.

The National Race for the Cure, which began in Dallas over 30 years ago,

now draws together millions of runners across a hundred cities throughout the country. Major companies partner with the race and runners raise money of their own, with the funds going toward public education, health screenings, treatment, and further research.

Although recognized nationally, there are major events that are held in the Houston area that go toward raising awareness as well. Every year, the Houston Texans recognize the month and help generate awareness at their games. On Pink Ribbon Day, pink ribbons are handed to fans as they arrive for their games, survivors of the disease are recognized during a halftime performance, and funds are raised through auctions that sell off Texas memorabilia.

If you’d rather not venture over to NRG stadium for a Texans game, there are plenty of other events that happen throughout the city. Running events are held by organizations throughout the city that help raise funds for research. For women who have been

through surgery to remove breast cancer, the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery a The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center will be hosting a Breast Reconstruction Awareness Symposium. This free event is meant to educate the public about breast reconstruction options they have after they’ve been through a surgical procedure to remove breast cancer. The doctors on hand will be available to answer questions about reconstruction, and free gift bags will be handed out to the first 200 guests.

For anyone looking for more information about breast cancer, its impact, and events that will be held to raise funds for its research, the Susan G. Komen foundation is a good resource to consult. Their website even has a Houston specific page that outlines some of the events that will be held in October. For more information, visit http://komen-houston.org, where you can find community organizations to join and events that will be held in your area.

October 2017

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Sienna Gymnastics & Karate Call today for a free trial class!

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Houston MetHodist urology AssociAtes WelcoMes dr. MArtinez And dr. srikisHen Houston Methodist Urology Associates is pleased to welcome Laura Martinez, MD, and Neel Srikishen, MD, to the new practice located on the Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital campus. Houston Methodist Urology Associates is a group of physicians dedicated to the treatment of the entire genital and urinary tract.

Combining clinical expertise with advanced technology, the practice treats the following conditions: • Bladder disease • Erectile dysfunction • Female urology

Dr. Laura Martinez Dr. Neel Srikishen

houstonmethodist.org/spg

10

To Advertise, Please Call 281-201-5998

• Incontinence • Infertility • Kidney stones

• Prostate issues • Urologic cancers

To schedule an appointment, call 281.746.6611 or visit houstonmethodist.org/spg to learn more about the practice.

16659 Southwest Fwy. Medical Office Building 2 Suite 265 Sugar Land, TX 77479 281.746.6611

Community News Hurricane Harvey By Jason Luthor

I

n the minds of many, it’s impossible to believe that Hurricane Harvey struck a month ago. For residents around Houston, the impact of Harvey is still being felt, making it impossible for people to move on. However, even when discussing Harvey’s impact around the city, it’s important to remember some places were hit harder than others. Among those neighborhoods that were struck, Sienna Plantation itself stands as a reminder of the destruction that the hurricane brought to the region.

It was Monday, August 28th, when a mandatory evacuation was issued for Sienna Plantation the and surrounding areas.

The order was issued not long after Sugar Land issued its own mandatory evacuation for Levee Improvement Districts No.1 and No.7. Along with neighbors from Pecan Grove, the residents of Sienna Plantation were forced to flee as the nearby Brazos River swelled to almost incomprehensible levels. City leaders at the time estimated that the river would peak only after rising an additional 59 feet from its typical levels, sending enough water flowing into the nearby areas to threatens life and property.

However, the threat to Sienna Plantation didn’t arise only from the raging rivers that began to circulate through the region. Saturday, August 26th, residents began reporting sightings of a tornado in the area. The reports were accompanied by tremendously high winds that delivered an incredible blow to homes around Missouri City. More than 50 homes were reported to have taken significant damage after the tornado struck in the dark, early hours

of that Saturday morning. Forming around 12:50 A.M. that morning, the tornado proceeded to terrorize locals.

Reports from residents indicated that the winds were severe enough to blow doors and windows open, while one local law enforcement official was blown completely off the road as the winds began to increase in speed. Some locals said that the sound of the winds was so strong that it was like listening to a freight train incoming.

The damage was frightening and threatened the lives and health of residents. Trees in the area were sent tumbling to the ground and tearing through homes, while the walls and rooftops of other houses were completely peeled off by the sheer force of the wind. The tornado was only one of 16 that were reported in the Houston area as Harvey continued to cycle nearby and dump seemingly endless buckets of rain across the city.

As terrible as the nightmare of Harvey might have been, residents have begun to come together and rebuild, even as they face the prospect of years of reconstruction. In the aftermath of the storm, churches conducted weeks long efforts to help begin the rebuilding process, and recovery efforts continue today in a combination of efforts by the federal government and local agencies. If you’re hoping to donate to the cause, visit the Fort Bend County of Emergency Management, which can direct you to the local donation center. It may take a while, but by coming together, residents of Sienna Plantation can help speed the recovery efforts.

October 2017

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The List

Top 10 Things to do in October with Auntie A

1.

It’s Autumn! There’s so much to do to get ready for friends and family and all the gatherings going up so soon!

Make a tablescape to wow them all using pumpkins, fall leaves drape ribbons and candles. I love making the house “autumn” so that the transition from now thru halloween and into Thanksgiving is as easy as plucking up a pumpkin and adding a jack o lantern and changing our some ribbons.

2 Make a bunch of fleece blankets and in a box in your car add another box filled with ziplock baggies filled with a small toothbrush, soap, gum and a bottle of water. Drive around Houston and give out the blankets ad the baggies to the homeless so they are ready for the colder nights ahead.

3 Plant all new lettuces, collards and tomatoes. Pull up old herbs and

AUNTIE A’S HOMEMADE APPLE CUPCAKES

replace with new fall plants to last you through the next four months. Stuff a scarecrow with the children for the fall garden too!

4 On my nightside table now…. The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George.

5 Make a batch of cinnamon play dough and keep around for when the children are bore and for some QT sculpting time at the kitchen table.

6 Buy or bring down from the cabinets two game boards and designate a family member to divide the house into teams. Name the teams and pick a night that there will be no TV and just games. Keep score and at the end of the month treat everyone to a movie night out!

children along so they can help too and understand how fortunate they are.

8 Go thrift shopping and see if you can find something spectacular to use as a theme for your front door. I once found a old bench and by adding a “home” sign and some foliage my entrance to my casa rocked!

9 Make my apple cupcakes and breakfast casserole! (see recipe below) 10 Most of all have fun! Commit a random act of kindness and leave others better off than they were before they met you! That is the best gift you can ever give or receive!

BY ALISA MURRAY

7 Volunteer to work at the local food pantry. Serving others often is more rewarding than anything else we can do in our communities. Bring the

For the Frosting: 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup water 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream 2 teaspoons vanilla 12 tablespoons (6 ounces) butter, room temperature 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup powdered sugar For the Cupcakes: 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar 4 tablespoons (2 ounces) butter, room temperature 1 egg 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 6 tablespoons buttermilk 1 1/2 cups shredded apple,

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NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PORTRAIT ARTIST & AWARD WINNING COLUMNIST.

(You can stir it up until the sugar dissolves but then DO NOT STIR while it boils or else it will form crystals).

Let it boil for 5-6 minutes or

until it starts to turn a light caramel brown color.

Remove

from heat and slowly stream in the cream while stirring.

Stir Let it cool to room temperature (about 30 minutes).

Meanwhile, make the cupcakes.

(This is also when I take the in the vanilla.

butter out of the fridge for the frosting.)

Once the caramel is cool, in a standing mixer, use the

paddle attachment to beat the butter and salt together for

3 minutes at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the sugar

onto cooled cupcakes.

Drizzle

with caramel and serve.

For the Cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degree F and line a muffin tin with 12 cupcake paper liners.

In a mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and ginger together. Set aside.

In the bowl of a standing mixer beat butter and sugars

together until light and fluffy.

Mix in the egg and vanilla. Mix in the flour mixture a little at a time until just combined and then add the buttermilk and mix until combined. shredded apple.

Fold in the

Add half of the caramel (reserve the rest for drizzling) and beat for 2 minutes on fluffy (scrape the sides of the

remove onto a rack to cool

and mix it in starting with a low speed.

For the Frosting: Stir sugar and water together

medium speed until light and

boil over medium-high heat.

fitted with a star tip and pipe

Spoon batter into cupcake liners filling them 3/4 full (about 1/4 cup). Bake for 2225 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Let cupcakes cool for a few

peeled

in a small pot and bring to a

Place frosting in a piping bag

bowl as needed).

minutes in the tin and then

completely before frosting.

October 2017

13

MIND Headache and Neurology, PLLC BoArd CerTified NeuroLogiST Accept most insurance plans including medicare • House calls to elderly, frail, and disabled patients who have difficulty leaving their homes for regular office visits.

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Accepting new pAtientS

We see most all PPO Dental Insurance plans and private pay patients.

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Call 281-402-9522 or visit mindneurology.com to request an appointment Serving Missouri City and Sugar Land 3 Sugar Creek Center, Suite 100, Sugar Land, TX 77478

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16651 Southwest Freeway, Suite 200, Sugar Land, TX 77479 713-774-5131 • Fax: 713-774-4336 • www.swobgyn.com 14

To Advertise, Please Call 281-201-5998

The Lifestyle

T

his Harvey thing has been a real eye opener about humanity. We have as a society been caught up fighting over politics and dumb stuff and then along came a storm and washed us. Nothing is more important than survival and when that is threatened we stick up for each other and we come together and then out of the bad‌ really good things happen. Over the past few days, many of us have found ourselves not only uncomfortable but also for some completely displaced. Hearing the loud speaker going down Sienna or into Missouri CIty and Sugar Land asking you to leave everything that you have worked for and to not know when you will return or even if when you do if there will be a thing left is unnerving, scary and surreal to say the least. When bad things happen it is striking how we come together and help others without a second thought. When others are reaching out to be helped we form a human chain and securely and safely save them from danger. You might not be able to see or never really understood how Jesus shows up but that my friends is Jesus.

Where’s Jesus?

By Alisa Murray

We live, as many of you know in an area that was expected to flood and thankfully it did not but the tornados wrecked havoc on the entire neighborhood first night and many suffered with no power for a week!

During times like this we see great acts of kindness. People come from all over the place to assist in any way they can. It is often said that kindness is not achieved through large gestures but through small ones and when others are hurting it does not take much to make a BIG difference!

I for one found that my neighbors who are dear friends were more than willing to let us bathe and do our laundry. Another neighbor brought us her generator and had she not done that then we would not have stayed and we would have lost so much more!

Our pool guy called and offered his home, many clients called and kept calling and offering their homes. The outpouring of love and KINDNESS was overwhelming! Later we discovered that our nanny and gardener had tried to get to us and neither of their cars could get into the neighborhood. They

went back all the way across town in high waters and borrowed a truck just to make sure we were ok and did not need to be rescued! Jesus was there doing that. Once the power came back on, people came together to make a plan to get things done, clean things up and make life move forward once again. It takes a community to come together and through little acts of kindness we all show goodness that is deep down in all of us. God has wonderful ways of bringing out the best in people. Although I wish, as everyone does, that Harvery had not come I can also say that having lived through the experience of Harvery has showed me yet another example of the goodness we have deep down and through kindness we can minister and heal one another!

BY ALISA MURRAY

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NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PORTRAIT ARTIST & AWARD WINNING COLUMNIST.

October 2017

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Community Spotlight

Autism Advocates Applauds a Caring and Kind Community By Caroline Bordelon

T

hey say, “every storm has a silver lining” and in Fort Bend County, that was, and is, undoubtedly true. In the aftermath of Harvey, neighborly support and fellowship are thriving and now, with the generosity of a caring and kind community, Hope For Three Autism Advocates can make a significant difference in the lives of many, including those affected by Hurricane Harvey.

Seventeen nonprofits united to form the Greater Houston Autism Coalition (“GHAC”). GHAC combined efforts to approach relief assistance from Harvey for individuals and families living with autism and other developmental disabilities. The entity heightened the sphere of influence to expand, advance shared goals and collectively create the biggest impact of direct assistance to Fort Bend County and Houston communities.

Unfortunately, the needs for children with autism have not changed and Hope For Three and our caring community must

continue to raise funds and awareness for individuals challenged with autism.

To support local families living with autism, The George Foundation presented Hope For Three with a $ 25,000 check to provide relief and assistance to Fort Bend families, with children on the autism spectrum impacted or displaced by Hurricane Harvey, “The kindness continued, as Timewise generously provided a limited match for gas card donations,” stated Darla Farmer, Hope For Three Executive Director.

Hope For Three’s dedication and commitment is to aid families and provide helpful resources to communities. For autism families in Fort Bend County in need of assistance, please call the Harvey Relief Assistance Hotline, 346-774-7770. To give time, resources or donations, please visit www.hopeforthree.org Hope For Three Autism Advocates.

Providing Help. Creating Hope.

Quynh-Anh McMahan, The George Foundation Grant Officer delivers a $25,000 to Hope For Three Executive Director, Darla Farmer, to provide relief and assistance to Fort Bend families living with autism affected or displaced by Hurricane Harvey.

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The Guide Halloween A Spooky Halloween for Residents of Houston By Jason Luthor Guests will be able to play with the local farm animals before wandering off to enjoy a barrel train ride or a trip down the farm’s giant slides. This family fun event will cost $15 per person, although children 18 months and younger will be allowed in for free, and you’ll even get a chance to fish on the local pond for just the additional cost of $5 per pole.

A

re you in the mood for something spooktacular in your life? With the weather cooling down, nighttime falling earlier, and Halloween around the corner, Houston and the surrounding areas will be getting ready to celebrate this ‘spirited’ time of year. If you’re in the mood for a little Halloween fun, there will be plenty to do as people get into the spirit of the season.

Blessington Farms in Simonton, TX, will be hosting a Fall Festival every Saturday and Sunday through October 30th. This festival, perfect for families and people of all ages, will include a pumpkin patch, hay rides, a corn maze, and other family friendly fall activities.

Meanwhile, there will be plenty of things to do in Richmond, where the Hitchin Post Stables will be having special Halloween activities. This will be yet another family friendly event that gives kids the chance to ride some of the stables’ famous Pink and Blue Ponies. You’ll also get a chance to see some of the other animals on the property and ride the Hitchin’ Post Express as it travels through the barn and local pavilion. If you’re in Richmond, you might also want to stop

by Miss Ivy’s Spooktacular Halloween party, which will be held at the Fort Bend Museum. This kid friendly event will only cost $10 for adults and $5 for children, and guests will be able to enjoy spooky games and sweet treats throughout the night.

Nearby Sugarland will be having a pumpkin patch event of its own at the Holy Cross Episcopal Church. From Friday through Sunday through the end of October, the grounds will be filled with live entertainment, a family photo booth, and delicious smoked brisket for everyone to enjoy when they’re hungry. Kids and adult alike will enjoy the hay rides, a run through the hay maze and the face painting stalls.

Hosted since 2007, this event now welcomes over 8,000 visitors every year.

If you’re an adult looking to celebrate but you don’t have any children, you may want to visit the annual Spirits and Skeletons event, held at Houston Museum of Natural Science. This spirit event draws fun seekers from throughout the county for a night of music and drinks. Entry is $40, although museum members can get inside for just $25. Party goers will be able to enjoy live music performances throughout the night while food trucks line up outside with food drawn from throughout the city. The Spirits and Skeletons event has been held now for years and is always a hit. For more information about the museum, visit http://www.hmns.org.

October 2017

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On The Plate

W

Dining in the Fall By Jason Luthor

hile everyone is busy celebrating Halloween in October, food lovers have plenty to celebrate for themselves. October is officially recognized as National Pizza, Cookie, Seafood, and popcorn month. So, if you’re looking for an excuse to indulge your inner foodie, October is the month to do it.

National Pizza Month was first celebrated in 1984 by Gerry Durnell, the founder of Pizza Today magazine.

Durnell started his own pizza business in a small town in Indiana, but his idea of celebrating a month of pizza soon became popular around the country. 94% of Americans eat pizza at least once a month and there are an estimated 63,000 pizzerias across the country. Fort Bend County is no exception when it comes to a love for pizza, either.

Brooklyn Pizzeria is just one standout pizzeria that serves up authentic, New York style pizza. The Shahini Family, who were born and raised in New York, try to serve up only the most authentic New York style food possible.

Seafood. When you’re looking for seafood gumbo, crawfish or crab bisque, or oysters on the half shell, Floyds will be ready to serve. They’re also popularly known for celebrating Mardi Gras and hosting a gumbo cook off later in the year.

Those of you who would rather just indulge your sweet tooth for National Cookie Month can find plenty of places around Fort Bend County. The Hummingbird Bakery in Katy Mills is pretty popular with locals and makes everything from cookies to cakes. If it can be baked, Hummingbird Bakery can probably make it. Custom orders can be made and cookies created to celebrate any type of occasion.

If you’re closer to Sugar Land, try and stop in on the Mystic Desert Bar. This is an intriguing little location with an amazing interior. Colorful and fanciful chairs decorate the floor, giant lollipops rise to the ceiling, and open treasure chests hold hordes of candy. This is the perfect place to grab a cookie or other desert while feeling like you’ve become Alice in Wonderland.

If you’re rather stay away from pizza and indulge the seafood lover in you, you have a few choices. If you want to go upscale, Veritas Steak and Seafood provides some cozy dining in Sugar Land. The menu is certainly impressive, offering Sea Bass Hugo, Grilled Salmon, Bacon Wrapped Scallops, and more. The warm lighting, classic table settings, and ranks of wine bottles certainly create a feeling of luxury.

Finally, if you’d rather just sit down and enjoy a bag of popcorn, you’ll find no shortage of choices around Houston. There are plenty of Cinemark and AMC theatres scattered around the city. However, if you’re looking to get specially made popcorn, you can visit Missouri City to enjoy Poparazzi Popcorn. Their unique popcorn flavors include everything from traditional buttered popcorn to its famous wings n’ Ranch flavors.

However, if you’re in the mood for something with a bit more southern flair, you can always head to Floyd’s Cajun

With so many dining options around Houston, there’s no shortage of food to go around!

October 2017

21

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4502 Riverstone Blvd, Unit 1403, Missouri City, TX 77459

We offer surgical and non-surgical consultation for common Foot & Ankle Ailments for the entire family.

With the goal of removing excess Halloween candy from kids, while supporting our troops, we are participating in the Halloween Buy Back Program. Encourage your children to bring in their extra candy and get $1 per pound! Expires Nov 10th 2017.

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