january 2016 - fort bend focus magazine - people • places • happenings

JANUARY 2016

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C O V E R S T O R Y

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 6

LARRY CALDWELL, D.D.S.& ASSOCIATES: A Special Place for Special PeopleAfter more than 30 years at his Sugar Land dental office, Dr. Larry Caldwell is committed to his work – and his patients. In addition to his roles as an active community volunteer, inventor and educator, Caldwell’s patients, their parents and his own staff agree he is a pediatric dentist extraordinaire. Assisting Caldwell is a long-term, caring staff with the same philosophy of care and compassion for all children.

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F E AT U R E S

21 HERE COMES THE BRIDEDon’t miss these blushing bridesand their gorgeous celebrations!

25 WEDDING REGISTRY 101Use these tips for one essential piece of the wedding puzzle – creating a registry.

29 DIY WEDDING TRENDSFor brides to be, the hottest looks in wedding décor can be yours with just a bit of creativity.

32 THE GEMS OF FORT BENDPROVIDE OVER $18,000 TOTHE FORT BEND FAMILY YMCAabsolutely! focus media presented the organization with proceeds from the Generous, Enthusiastic Men Serving held in October.

44 absolutely! KID FRIENDLYStart the year off with a plan. Find the bestand brightest in private schools and after school activities to meet your child’s needs.

55 NEW YEAR, NEW YOURejuvenate yourself for the new year!Fort Bend’s finest providers will help you start the year refreshed and at your best.

C O L U M N S

20 LEGAL FOCUSFive Overlooked Estate Planning Documents You Shouldn’t Ignore

40 ASK ALEXGet a Grip on Christmas Storage

42 TWO STEPS FORWARD,ONE STEP BACK: The Sinulog Festival and Dance

43 HIGH SCHOOL HOT SHOTMeet Allen Watson

48 KIDS’ CORNERThe Art of Saying No: Why Positive Parenting Doesn’t Mean Always Saying Yes

52 FOCUS ON HEALTHNo Grain, No Pain: Editorial Review by JJ Virgin, CNS, CHFS, Author of The Virgin Diet and JJ Virgin’s Sugar Impact Diet

80 LIVING THE SWEET LIFE: A “Change” in You? Here’s What to Do!

Dr. Larry CaldwellPhoto by Nessosi Studios.


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Joan FrancesContributor Page 43

CONTRIBUTORS

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 6 | V O L U M E 1 2 | N U M B E R 3

N E W S W O RT H Y

18 SUGAR LAND CULTURAL ARTS FOUNDATIONAnnounces 2016 Gala Honorees Don and the Late Merle Smithers

41 LUNCHES OF LOVE’S Inaugural Taste of Fort Bend

49 2016 CHAIRMAN’S GALA: Around the World Featuring The Texas Toast

SAM’S CLUB MANAGERSLead Fleming Elementary Students in Junior Achievement Lessons

50 FORMER ROSENBERGMAYOR VINCENT M. MORALES, JR. Files as Candidate for Fort Bend County Commissioner, Precinct 1

53 FORT BENDWOMEN’S CENTER AnnouncesGirlfriends Giggle 2016 Fundraiser

54 BRING-A-BLANKET SUNDAYBenefiting Jurassic BarkMission Outreach Hungryand Homeless Project

65 FORT BEND ISDBOARD OF TRUSTEESApproves Targeted Improvement Plans for Three Campuses

B R A I N T E A S E R

47 HAPPY NEW YEAR!

a b s o l u t e l y !A U T O R E V I E W

74 2016 JAGUAR XJ

M E D I C A L & B U S I N E S S

71 MEDICAL FOCUS

I N E V E RY I S S U E

10 EXCLAMATION POINTS!

34 SEEN ON THE SCENE

66 OUT & ABOUTIN THE HEART OF THE BEND

76 AMATEUR PHOTO CONTEST

78 COMMUNITY EVENTS

ON THE COVER:Tillie the Tooth and Dr. Larry Caldwell.

Photography by Nesossi Studios.

42

Zeenat Kassam MithaCultural Correspondent Pages 42

48

Patrick BironBirons Youth Sports CenterPage 48

Trish JohnsonContributorPage 14

14

Steve KursarAuto Enthusiast Page 74

74

Dr. Peter OsborneOrigins Healthcare Centers Page 52

52

T. Aaron DobbsRoberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey PC Page 20

20

Alex BeltSilly Silly GirlsPage 40

40

47

Myles MellorContributorPage 47

Alisa MurrayAlisa Murray Photography Pages 80

80

Tim Cashion, DDS Teresa Cody, DDS

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Happy New Year! I hope that your holidays were merry and bright and that your plans for the New Year are even brighter!

We are all about making 2016 the best year ever at absolutely! focus media, and in this issue, we are bringing you so much information to help you in the coming year. From healthy recipes to complete rejuvenation, our New Year, New You section will help you get a jump start on being the best that you can be for 2016. And, if you need some help planning activities for your kids, we’ve got you covered. From the best private schools to amazing after school activities, absolutely! Kid Friendly has some wonderful resources.

I am always fascinated by the amount of talent we have in Fort Bend. Our cover story features a dedicated pediatric dentist – Dr. Larry Caldwell – who not only is an amazing professional, he’s an innovator. Dr. Caldwell invented an amazing de-vice called The Harp that helps patients with braces with a difficult task: flossing. Dr. Caldwell has sold thousands of these products and has helped just as many children over the years. He’s right around the corner helping make our community a better place year after year.

The Fort Bend Family YMCA is another organization in our community mak-ing a difference year after year. This year, we were able to provide over $18,000 to this important organization through our 2015 GEMS event that helps build strong families and strong communities. We can’t wait to see what the new year holds for this vital organization that helps so many.

I absolutely love the beginning of a new year. There’s something about a new, fresh calendar with days yet to be filled and memories to be made that makes me so optimistic and excited about the coming days. I just love the anticipation of proj-ects to tackle, milestones to celebrate and goals to achieve. Perhaps author Edith Lovejoy Pierce summed up my feelings about the New Year best. “We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.”

We are blessed with so many opportunities in our community. We hope that your 2016 book is filled with opportunities, memories and most of all blessings. And, we hope you will share the pages of your book with us so we can share them with all of our Fort Bend friends in our book. We are, after all, your community magazine. Our pages are blank, and we count on you to help us fill them. Cheers to the New Year!

Stay focused,

[email protected]

4655 TECHNIPLEX DR. STE 700STAFFORD, TX 77477

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Fort Bend FocusTM Magazine is published by absolutely! focus media, 4655 Techniplex Dr., Ste. 700, Stafford, TX 77477. Copy-right© 2016 by absolutely! focus media. All rights reserved. Re-production without permission is strictly prohibited. Fort Bend FocusTM Magazine does not knowingly accept false or mis-leading 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.

Vol. 12 No. 3January 2016

EXCLAMATION POINTS!THE INSIDE SCOOP STRAIGHT FROM THE TOP

Subscription requests are free to all Fort Bend addresses. Annual paid subscription

of $25 required outside the Fort Bend area.

Publishedby

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, PATTI PARISH-KAMINSKI

Chapter One

P U B L I S H E RE DI TOR- I N - C H I E FPatti Parish-Kaminski

A S S O C IAT E P U B L I S H E RJessica Kij

M A NAG I N G E D I T O R Sarah Bearden

AC C OU N T E X E C U T I V E SJennifer Elliott

Molly Ellis Kay Garrett

Andrea Rigamonti Suzanne Stiles

A RT DI R E C TOR Grace Belleza

G R A P H IC DE SIG N E R Marinela Taylor

W E B DE SIG N E R Joey Belleza

O F F I C E A D M I N I S T R AT O R Adrienne Boring

P H O T O G R A P H Y Nessosi Studios

C O N T R I BU T O R S Alex Belt

Patrick BironT. Aaron DobbsJoan FrancesTrish JohnsonSteve KursarMyles Mellor

Zeenat Kassam MithaAlisa Murray

Dr. Peter Osborne

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Patti and Tim Kaminski at Jingle Tree benefiting the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land.

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A fter more than 30 years, Dr. Larry Caldwell still has a quick step and warm smile

when he sets out for his Sugar Land dental office each workday morning. “I still enjoy it as much today as I did the first day I went into practice,” he said. “I love everything about my work.”

The best part of his job, the pediat-ric dentist admitted, is his patients. “I really like the kids,” Caldwell grinned. “I’ve been in practice long enough to see a lot of my patients grow up, and that’s remarkable. There’s nothing like watching the kids grow up.”

Committed to CareAccording to his patients, their par-

ents and his own staff, Caldwell is a pediatric dentist extraordinaire, ca-pable of slaying cavity dragons with one hand, eliciting giggles out of re-luctant patients with the other, and all while teaching good dental health and hygiene. “He’s absolutely fabu-lous, and his office is a fabulous office,” Jodie Reichardt stated. “I was a dental hygienist for 15 years, and I’ve never taken my kids anywhere else.”

The Reichardt family’s association with Caldwell began when her oldest child, 20-year-old daughter Sydney, had just turned three-years-old. “Her doctor said it was time to take her to the dentist, so I started asking around,”

Reichardt said. “Everyone told me I had to take her to Dr. Caldwell.”

When her two sons, Reid, now 16, and Ross, now 12, came along and were ready to see a dentist, they fol-lowed their sister into Caldwell’s den-tal chair. “They’ve always loved going to Dr. Caldwell,” Reichardt said. “He is one of the few people I can feel comfort-able with enough to send my children in to get work done. He speaks to the children on their level and to me on a adult level,” Reichardt explained. “He has the ability – the personality and demeanor – to talk to both children and adults. He talks on an age-appropriate level.”

More than a routine dentist, Caldwell has cared for Reichardt’s children for a variety of dental needs throughout the years. “We’ve worked with Dr. Caldwell from everything from teeth cleaning and annual check-ups to having him make mouth guards for the kids when they play sports.”

Along those lines not too long ago, Reichardt also found out her children’s dentist would always be there in an emergency, as well. “Ross plays base-ball,” Reichardt related. “One Friday night about 6:30, I found myself calling Dr. Caldwell in a panic, crying into the phone, because Ross had just been hit square in the mouth with a baseball. Dr. Caldwell calmed me down and met

us at his office to examine Ross’ mouth and perform the necessary treatment. Imagine that – on a Friday night!”

According to Reichardt and others, Caldwell is noted not only for the ex-cellent care he gives his patients, but also for his commitment. “He is abso-lutely committed to his patients,” said Reichardt, “and his compassion for kids is great. I recommend him to people all the time.”

Team CaldwellCaldwell is assisted in his practice

by dental hygienists, certified assis-tants and even front office staff with whom he has a long association, a fact Caldwell believes helps make his pa-tients and their families feel at home when they walk in the door. “His staff is great, too,” said Reichardt.” He has long-term employees who know your name, not because they have your chart in front of them, but because they honestly care. They make the ex-tra effort. They know what we talked about the last time we were there, and they remember the things the kids are interested in.” For Caldwell, finding the right staff is part of making his patients comfortable. “I can’t be ev-erywhere,” he said. “I have to depend on the staff. We have a staff member who’s been with me over 30 years. The kids come in and see the same faces all the time, and the kids feel comfortable. That familiar face for the kids, that’s so important.

Caldwell received his undergradu-ate degree from Baylor University in Waco and is a graduate of the Universi-ty Health & Science Center in Houston where he taught for nine months before going on to a two-year residency at the University of Texas Dental School. At

COVER STORYBy Trish Johnson

The front office staff at Larry Caldwell, D.D.S. & Associates: Cindy Maldonado, Amy Reilly, Misty Gonzales and Paula Kitzmiller.

A N D A S S O C I A T E S

A Special Place for Special People

Dr. Larry Caldwell with his patients’ artwork.

Photo by Nesossi Studios.

that time, Caldwell noted, the pediat-ric dentistry residency program was based out of Texas Children’s Hospi-tal. Caldwell received a fellowship in the Academy of Pediatric Dentistry in 1997. He is also a member of the Amer-ican Dental Association, Greater Hous-ton Dental Association and the Texas Dental Association. He has been con-sistently named “Top Dentist” by Texas Monthly Magazine, as well as Houston Magazine.

ries? That’s up to us.”“The people at Dr. Caldwell’s are

the kindest people I’ve ever met,” Jill Peschel stated emphatically. “They’re genuine. It’s nice to be in that kind of environment.”

Peschel, a Sugar Land resident and former teacher, said she’s never taken her three children – daughters Bella, 3, and nine-year-old Gracie, as well as son Caden, 11 – to any other dentist.

“One of the things I like,” Peschel revealed, “is that I feel he’s thorough, but he won’t do something that doesn’t need to be done. I appreciate that.”

Conservative treatment is some-thing Caldwell feels passionate about when caring for his young patients. “I’m conservative in treatment,” Caldwell elaborated. “My personality is to get the child comfortable and do what’s best for the child, not what’s best for me. For instance, if we have a cavity in a tooth that’s about ready to fall out, we simply will leave the tooth alone.”

Convenience is also important to

Caldwell’s philosophy of care. With four hygienists’ stations working at once, a four-child family can have the children’s teeth all cleaned at once, the dentist pointed out.

“When I look at the way I practice, I’m always looking for areas to im-prove,” Caldwell explained. “We now have porcelain crowns for children; they no longer have stainless steel in them. Kids love them because they look like their own teeth. We’ve also changed the makeup of the local an-esthetic we use, which is new to den-

Now a resident of Sugar Land, where his wife Teena, owner of 2250 Interiors & Gifts in Sugar Land’s Town Square, is a successful interior designer and where the couple raised their only child, daughter Lauren, 28. Caldwell originally opened his practice in Alief in 1981, moving to Sugar Land in 1995.

“When I first started in dental school, I thought that I wanted to be an orthodontist,” Caldwell remembered. “Then I thought I wanted to be an oral surgeon. But the thing that sold me on pediatric dentistry was that you devel-op a real relationship with these kids.

“One of the things you learn right away – at least, I learned right away – is that you have to like people,” said Caldwell. “I like people; I like to talk to people, and I enjoy talking to kids in particular. There’s nothing better than to see a three- or four-year-old come in scared and watch him relax and gain self-confidence,” Caldwell explained. “It’s just a question of building the confidence. In children’s dentistry,” he continued, “we are in the memory business. These kids are going to go to a dentist for the rest of their lives. Are they going to have good memories about going to a dentist or bad memo-

Registered Dental Hygienists Britney Crank, Brandi Yackel, Amanda Curnan, Amanda Kitzmiller, Debbie Snelling and Kendra Moseley.

Certified Assistants Crissy Perez, Anne Pencak, Emily Lucas and Pam Barker.

F or Dr. Larry Caldwell, “paying it forward” doesn’t mean only his family, patients and community, even though that

would be enough for most people. Caldwell also gives back by encouraging the rising young stars of his own profession.

“We’ve had associates for about 11 years now,” Caldwell said. “We’ve had six associates over the years. They work with us, and eventually, they leave to start their own practice. That’s what we expect them to do – that’s what I did.”

Even so, Caldwell is particularly careful to select his associates with a serious eye toward finding work partners who fit in well with his patients, their families and his staff. “It’s my personality to want to make a child comfortable, to do what’s best for the child, not what’s best for me,” he said. “Our new associate is Dr. Derek Steinbring. He started July 6th, and he’s great.”

A graduate of Texas A&M University in College Station where he earned his undergraduate degree in animal science, Steinbring, like Caldwell, is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Dentistry and followed with a two-year residency in pediatric dentistry at the University of Texas School of Dentistry in Houston through affiliations with Texas Children’s Hospital and Memorial Hermann Children’s Hospital, ending in 2015. In 2013, Steinbring was awarded the Certificate of Merit American Association of Pediatric Dentists Pre-Doctoral Student Award for outstanding promise in the field of pediatric dentistry.

A native Texan born and raised in Fredericksburg, Steinbring is a member of the Greater Houston Dental Society, Houston Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Texas Dental Association, Texas Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

A fan of the outdoors, Steinbring plays golf, fishes, hunts and runs when he isn’t spending time with his wife Holly, and their dog, Riley.

“The kids absolutely love him,” Caldwell smiled, “and he’s even been known to sing a little bit.”

For more information about Drs. Caldwell and Steinbring, visit larrycaldwelldds.com or call 281-565-KIDS (5437).

Meet Dr. Derek Steinbring


tistry. We can numb the mouth with less anesthetic. The kids can’t tell they’re getting a shot, and they aren’t numb as long. The process is called buffering. We are actually chang-ing the pH so the anesthetic is the same pH as is normal in the mouth. It takes effect immediately, so we don’t have to wait, and the patient is more comfortable.”

According to Caldwell, who can also reverse the effects of local anesthesia or numbing before the child leaves his of-fice, there are three scenarios he can offer when it comes to anesthetics.

“We have nitrous oxide, what we used to call laughing gas. We have oral medicine, which actually just relaxes the pa-tient – takes the edge off – without putting them to sleep, and there’s intravenous (IV) sedation. With IV sedation, an anesthesiologist comes in and monitors the anesthetic. We find the last one works well with special needs children,” Caldwell said.

Having served a portion of his residency at the Richmond State School, Caldwell welcomes special needs youngsters to his office. “You just have to figure out the best way to treat them,” he said. “I’m very comfortable with special needs chil-dren.”

Also included in Caldwell’s services are laser soft tissue removal and high-speed, digital x-rays, the use of which keeps treatment moving along smoothly.

Community Serviceand Education

As part of an ongoing program to help make youngsters feel comfortable with the dentist, Tillie the Tooth made her debut about 25 years ago. Dental hygienist Debbie Snelling steps into the molar costume and visits public and private schools each year.

“We see between 7,500 and 10,000 kids each year with the program,” the dental memory-maker said. “It actually started out with just me going to different daycare centers and teaching the kids about how to take care of their teeth. Debbie’s daughter, who is also a hygienist, helps Debbie out. They have a dialogue about keeping your teeth healthy for a lifetime in a fun and entertaining way.”

On the one Saturday during the month, the dental office is open, and Caldwell hosts “Smile School,” a complimen-tary open event during which youngsters learn dental hy-giene. “We show the kids how to brush and floss, talk about a nutritional diet that’s good for their teeth – we cover good dental hygiene totally, usually from about noon until 1 pm,” Caldwell said.

Fully involved in his community, Caldwell also sponsors youngsters’ sports teams, holds children’s art contests as well as a toy drive at Christmas, among other community efforts. “I can’t sponsor everything that comes along,” he said, “but I can help. I do think you have to give back to the community for what they give you. I remember we made mouth guards for all of the players on one team, and one dad told me, ‘That’s better than any donation.’”

A Philosophy of InventionWhile letting his creativity take the reins, Caldwell devel-

oped and patented an orthodontic flossing device he named The Harp. “Kids with braces have a hard time flossing their teeth,” Caldwell explained. “It’s a lengthy process which can take 10 to 15 minutes, and no kid wants to spend that amount of time on flossing his or her teeth. With The Harp, we can cut that time down to 30 seconds, and they can floss with one hand.” The Harp orthodontic flosser has been a very success-ful product for Caldwell and is currently available online at harporthoflosser.com.

“I have other ideas, too,” Caldwell admitted. “I enjoy the creative part of it, and the motivation is to help improve a person’s life.”

His patients’ motivation, however, and that of their fami-lies, may just be that they feel Caldwell’s office has precisely the right kind of environment. “He’s warm, quiet, very kind and gentle with the kids,” Peschel summarized. “My kids love going to the dentist. How could it be any better?”

The Caldwell Difference

I nventor of The Harp, a flossing device designed for children with

braces, Larry Caldwell, D.D.S. is known as an innovator in the field of pediatric dentistry. Always searching for a solution to a problem, Caldwell’s determination to make a difference in the lives of his patients sets both him – and his practice – apart.

“Kids with braces just won’t floss,” explained Caldwell. “It’s just too difficult. Rather than see a

decline in their dental health while they are in braces because they won’t floss, I wanted to be proactive and present a sound alternative. Now with The Harp, flossing is easy and effective.”

When a child visits Larry Caldwell, D.D.S. and Associates, the difference becomes clear. Not only do they provide comprehensive care for all of a child’s pediatric dental needs, they do it with compassion, consistent care, conservative invasive treatment and of course, a smile. Services provided by Larry Caldwell, D.D.S. and Associates include:

For more information about Larry Caldwell, D.D.S. and Associates, call 281-565-KIDS (5437) or visit larrycaldwelldds.com. For more information about The Harp and to viewan instructional video, visit harporthoflosser.com.

• Specializing in Children andChildren with Special Needs

• Offers Various Oral HealthEducation Programs, In-Office and Community Based

• Intravenous Sedation• Anesthesia Reversal

• Laser Soft Tissue Removal• White Zirconium Crowns• High Speed Digital X-Rays• Conservative Treatment

Planning• Insurance Filed as a

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T:8.375”T:10.875

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LEADING MEDICINE STARTS WITH HOUSTON METHODIST PRIMARY CARE.At Houston Methodist, your family’s well-being is at the center of all

we do. From simple checkups to more complex concerns, our

board-certifi ed primary care physicians provide the compassionate

care you need, as well as access to our leading network of world-class

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• Online scheduling • Same-day access

Many of our doctors offer:

Easily schedule online:houstonmethodist.org/primarycareor call 713.394.6638.


NEWSWORTHY

NEW LOCATION

The Sugar Land Cultural Arts Foun-dation (SLCAF) and Classic Chevrolet proudly announce the 2016 Founders Ball to be held at Safari Texas on January 23rd. This year’s Founders Ball theme is Big Wigs – A Night of Entertainment and is guaranteed to be an evening of big entertainment and big fun. Inspiration Stage, SLCAF’s partner, will provide first-class entertainment for the evening with a brand new, Broadway-inspired musical performance that is sure to be the toast of the town!

This year’s gala honorees are Don and the late Merle Smithers. Don and Mer-le have been a part of the Sugar Land Cultural Arts Foundation from the begin-ning, even before its current status as a 501c3 non-profit organization. Both Don and Merle lived in Sugar Land for many years and contributed to the community in the ways they knew best. Don was a City Council member for the City of Sugar Land and Merle, a lover of history, found her place on the team working to preserve the Lakeview Auditorium. When asked about SLCAF and his participa-tion, Don said, “This was really Merle’s passion that came from her interest in the history and the preservation of ‘the old things.’ I was drawn in by her enthu-siasm. I couldn’t say no.”

Their fundraising efforts began with May Fest at the Lakeview Elementary School, where Don said they raised about $100. They moved on to ice cream socials that raised about $300 and then to a gala where they raised several thou-

Sugar Land Cultural Arts Foundation

Announces2016 Gala Honorees

Don and theLate Merle Smithers

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Pat Hebert, Don Smithers, Farrah Gandhi, Don Kerstetter and Himesh Gandhi.

sand dollars to help with the refurbishment of the auditorium. Don is proud of the success of the organization. “We started small but kept working toward the goal. Now, phases one and two of the auditorium are complete and we have raised over $1,000,000 to date.”

Merle passed away a couple of years ago, but her memory lives on in her devoted husband Don, as well as in her found-ing contribution to the Sugar Land Cultural Arts Foundation. Don continues to support the foundation in the community and spends his time with his children traveling the state participat-ing in chili competitions and more often than not, placing in the top three!

Proceeds benefit the mission and goals of the SLCAF, which include continued improvements to the Sugar Land Auditorium, the city’s oldest public space, and the continued support of the arts in Sugar Land. SLCAF is currently accepting sponsorships for the event at varying levels, while tables for 10 and individual tickets are also available for purchase.

For tickets and more information, call 281-313-0752 or con-tact [email protected].


Sugar Land | Houston | Austin | Dallas | San AntonioSan Antonio by appointment only(281) 207-7697 rmwbhlaw.com

T. Aaron Dobbs is board certi�ed in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Kelley M. Bentley is board certi�ed in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is a Certi�ed Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation

Helping families protect and preserve inheritances, trusts and estates right here in Fort Bend.

Estate Planning Probate & Estate Administration Trust & Estate Litigation

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board certified specialists

W hen most people think of estate planning, the immediate emphasis is on the last will and tes-tament. Without a doubt, your last will and tes-

tament is significantly important, but there are other equal-ly important – but often overlooked – documents that you should have in your estate plan. Here are five estate plan-ning documents that you may not have considered:

1 Statutory Durable Power of Attorney. A durable power of attorney allows you to appoint individuals to

take care of your financial affairs during your lifetime. This document should help avoid the necessity of going through a court proceeding to have a guardian appointed for you if you are unable to take care of these matters on your own. You will want to make sure the persons you are appointing as your agents are individuals that you not only trust but also have the ability to handle your finances. A durable power of attorney ceases to be effective upon your death.

2 Medical Power of Attorney. This document allows you to appoint individuals to make medical decisions

for you during your lifetime if you are unable to make them for yourself. Like the Statutory Durable Power of Attorney, this document helps avoid the necessity of a court-supervised guardianship to make medication decisions for you in the event of incapacity.

3 Authorization to Release Medical Information. This document allows you to name individuals who will

have access to your confidential medical information. This

Five OverlookedEstate Planning Documents You Shouldn’t Ignore

By T. Aaron Dobbs

Legal Focus

T. Aaron Dobbs is board certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and practices law at Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey PC from its Fort Bend office.

document does not confer any power to the named individu-als to make medical decisions on your behalf; it merely gives them access to view your medical information or to speak with doctors or other health care professionals regarding your care.

4 Appointment of Guardians for Minor Children. Texas law provides that certain family members have

priority to serve as your children’s guardians. To bypass this law, you will need to specifically name the individuals you wish to have custody of your children and control of their in-heritance upon your death or incapacity.

5 Directives to Physicians and Family. This document allows you to decide whether or not you would like life-

sustaining medical treatments if you are suffering from a ter-minal condition or an irreversible condition. Should you not sign this document, the family member designated by Texas law or the agent under your Medical Power of Attorney would make decisions concerning your medical treatments, includ-ing decisions about the use of life-sustaining treatments.

An attorney specializing in estate planning can help you make sure these important documents are in good order and a part of your estate plan.


Jose & Maria MendezonaJune 14, 2014

Justin & Celerina DugatMarch 21, 2015

Tim & Amanda BedoreMay 4, 2015

Gary & Stephanie TomMay 24, 2015

Chadbourne & Justine SmithJuly 10, 2015

Bride: Justine SmithPhoto by Andrew Pavlidis Photography

Here Comesthe Bride

If you or your children have married within the last year and reside in Fort Bend, and you would like to enter for a chance to be featured in our next Real Weddings, complete the “Wedding Form” at www.FortBendFocus.com and e-mail at least 10 high-resolution photos of the ceremony and/or reception to [email protected]. To guarantee your wedding details make it into our next Real Weddings, place your engagement or wedding announcement in Fort Bend Focus. Photographers are also welcome to submit photos.

Jose & Maria MendezonaJune 14, 2014Photography by Mark Cantalejo

DetailsBride’s Full Name: Maria Regina RamasGroom’s Full Name: Jose Marco Julian Jacinto MendezonaCeremony Site: Cebu Metropolitan CathedralReception Site: Casino Español de CebuRehearsal Dinner Site: Circa 1900Videography: Allan Alejandrino of MVP Wedding Planner: Snoogie Reynes-MataOfficiant: Fr. Jo TajanlangitGown: Alexis Monsanto AtelierVeil: Alexis Monsanto AtelierShoes: Moxie by Klub NicoHair: Ramil SolisMakeup: Ramil SolisInvitations: Jihannee Tan of Twenty O FourBridesmaid Dresses: Macy’sFlowers: Pinky FloraCatering: Casino Español de CebuCake: Marissa UnchuanTransportation: 1948 Cadillac - Reggie OcampoAccommodations: Quest Hotel and Parklane Hotel CebuHoneymoon: Cebu, Boracay, Palawan and Baguio, Philippines


“We Cook, You Dine”Yes, the Chef Does

Come with the Kitchen!

Buy a qualifying Thermador® appliance package and a Thermador® chef will cook a 3-course gourmet meal in your new kitchen.*

When: 11 am - 3 pm, January 23rd

Where: SARA Appliance & Electronics 16820 Southwest Fwy., Sugar Land, TX 77479 281.277.1522 • www.saraae.com

*See store associates for details and qualifying products.

Please join us for a chef open house featuring:• Live cooking demonstration• Chef prepared appetizers• Q & A with a representative from Thermador®

Bride’s Full Name: Celerina Kay RodriguezGroom’s Full Name: Justin Forrest DugatWedding Site: Hotel Icon LoftReception Site: Hotel Icon BallroomRehearsal Dinner Site: Lopez Mexican Restaurant Videography: JWayne ProductionsWedding Planner: The Bride Officiant: Pastor Russell CravenGown: Essence of Australia - Blush and Diamante Mermaid Gown Veil: La Reve Bridal Couture Shoes: Steve Madden Bridal Jewelry: Gifts from the Groom and the Bride’s Dad Hair: The Bride Makeup: The Bride Bridesmaid Dresses: Blush Pink Chiffon Gowns Formalwear: Pronto Uomo Vintage Tan Tuxedo Invitations: Wedding Paper DivasFlowers: Floral EventsCatering: Hotel IconCake: Cakes by GinaMusic: Ken Mondshine & The Brotherhood BandFavors: Custom Macarons from Macaron by Patisse in River Oaks Accommodations: Hotel IconHoneymoon: St. Regis - Punta Mita, Mexico

Justin & Celerina DugatMarch 21, 2015Photography by The Queen B Photography

Details



I t’s no wonder why guests love the ease and simplicity of a gift registry. But many couples may not know where

to begin when setting out to create this useful list. Here are some helpful pointers from Macy’s to help you get started on creating a perfect wedding registry:

Meet with a Consultant: These trained professionals are on site to assist and discuss everything you want and need. It’s a good place to start if you have questions on what items to include and what brands are available.

Look for Special Programs: Some stores offer special features, such as Macy’s, whose Dream Fund allows guests to contribute any amount to the ultimate gift card, so the bride and groom can later choose exactly what they want.

Start Early: Most couples like to register four to six months before their wedding date, which allows more time for choosing items, planning for showers and meeting other deadlines.

Register Together: Whether it’s in-store, online or both, make a day of it and have fun selecting all the things that will be part of your new life together.

Wedding Registry 101

Source: Family Features

F or engaged couples, it can seem as if there are a million things to accomplish before the big day arrives. One

essential piece of the wedding puzzle involves creating a registry that makes it easy for guests to celebrate your union with gifts that reflect your personality as a couple.

Choose Different Price Points: Guests will appreciate a varied list that has many gift options to fit their personal budget.

Create a Registry That Reflects You: If you’re a laid-back, easygoing couple, consider registering for a more casual dinnerware pattern that you can use every day, then mix in some fancy pieces to use for those special occasions. If you enjoy entertaining friends and family, be sure to choose a range of serveware and barware.

cracks. You can keep your cutlery in top condition by registering for a honing steel and knife sharpener.

Stock Up on Kitchen Must-Haves: When it comes to cookware, make sure to stock up on the essentials. This should include a fry pan, sauté pan, grill pan, sauteuse – a round, deep-sided design for sautéing on the stove top or baking in the oven – and a chef’s pan.

Opt for the Basics: White dinnerware allows you to transform the look of your table year-round by changing the décor and accessories around it. The classic look will be a design that you can appreciate for years to come.

Visit www.macys.com/registry for helpful tips.

Before BuildingYour Registry

Making the Right ChoicesW ith all of the things needed to properly stock

your home, selecting the right ones can seem overwhelming. Here are some tips to keep in mind while adding to your registry:

Select Your Settings: A five-piece setting is meant to serve one person and includes a dinner plate, salad plate, bread and butter plate, tea cup and saucer. If you want to serve eight guests, you will need to register for eight five-piece settings.

Factor in Some Extras: When registering for drinkware, be sure to register for a few extras in each glass size in case some break down the road.

Protect Your Cutlery: Be sure to choose a sturdy cutting board to protect your knife blades from chips and

Bride’s Full Name: Amanda PiferGroom’s Full Name: Tim BedoreCeremony Site: Pool’s Beach - Rincón, Puerto RicoReception Site: The Beachfront Patio at Tres SirenasRehearsal Dinner Site: Shipwreck Bar and GrillVideography: Go ProWedding Planner: Lisa at Tres SirenasOfficiant: Julia Kasper with Ocean State of MindGown: Pronovias Bena 2015Veil: Mid Summer Eve - EtsyShoes: None - BarefootJewelry: Mother’s Ring, Earrings from EtsyHair: Sunset SpaMakeup: The BrideBridesmaid Dresses: Macy’sFlowers: Emily at Tres SirenasCatering: Brian Raff of La Copa LlenaCake: Francisco RodriguezMusic: Island Themed - Jimmy Buffett and Steel DrumsFavors: Light Up Champagne FlutesAccommodations: Tres Sirenas and Concha Azul VillasHoneymoon: The English Rose - Rincón, Puerto Rico

Tim & Amanda BedoreMay 4, 2015Photography by Evoke Photography

Details



Let us host your special event!

Let us host your special event!

• Bridal Showers• Engagement Parties• Rehearsal Dinners• Birthday Parties

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Bride’s Full Name: Stephanie S. PeartGroom’s Full Name: Gary W. TomCeremony Site: The VillagioReception Site: The VillagioRehearsal Dinner Site: The Groom’s Parent’s HomeWedding Planner: Premier Events & DécorOfficiant: Scott DavenportGown: Alfred AngeloVeil: Headpiece - IcingShoes: Charlotte RusseJewelry: IcingHair: Hair by KenaMakeup: Color Du JourBridesmaid Dresses: Alfred AngeloFormalwear: Jim’s Formal WearInvitations: Pear TreeFlowers: TNT FloristCatering: Houston Elite CateringCake: MEB CakesMusic: Dwaylon WhitmoreHoneymoon: Montego Bay, Jamaica

Gary & Stephanie TomMay 24, 2015Photography by TNT Photography

Details


P inboards are buzzing with endless inspiration, bringing

clever and colorful projects to life. For brides to be, the hottest looks in wedding décor can be yours with just a bit of creativity.

The evolution of touch is underway, with fabrics and embellishments featuring texture and intrigue becoming huge hits this bridal season. Take materials such as burlap, chalkboard finishes, monogram letters and mason jars to the next level by mixing and matching with the season’s colors.

Picture your big day with pretty petals adorned in lace offset by rustic trimmings. This understated yet feminine look can be yours with these trending projects from the crafting experts at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores. Take these ideas and gather your girlfriends for a pre-wedding craft session. You’ll love unleashing your creativity, as well as the extra bonding time with the girls, all in preparation for the big event.

For more ways to add trending touches to your wedding, visit www.joann.com.

DIY WeddingTrends

Supplies and Tools:Cutting utensilsThin wire Wire or boutonniere pinsPanacea burlap garland2 Styrofoam brand foam conesGlue gun Glue sticksRibbon of choiceHydrangeas: 1 green and peach, 2 peach and cream Green mini bundle

1. Cut wire into hairpin shaped piecesor use boutonniere pins.

2. Cut 1 yard of burlap per cone. Fold burlap in half and wrap cone from bottom to top. Pin burlap to cone. Not all of it will be covered. Run glue along seam; press to secure.

3. Attach ribbon to create hanger.Glue in place.

4. Trim hydrangea short. Glue to topof cone. Trim several clusters from hydrangea. Glue to cover exposed foam, creating a dripping ice cream affect.

5. Trim half of mini bundle and glue incenter.

6. Trim blossoms of green hydrangea. Glue to both cones.

Burlap Cone Floral HangerCrafting time: 1-2 hoursSkill level: No experience necessary



1. Trim stems, removing lower foliage.2. Form a hand-tied bouquet.3. Tie off with wire.4. Dribble glue around wire to secure.

Let dry.5. Wrap burlap ribbon around Mason jar,

overlapping 1 inch. Glue seam.6. Wrap lace around jar and tie in knot.7. Pour resin in jar. Follow package

instructions.8. Insert bouquet. Allow to dry.

Note: Refer to photo often for placement of items.

Burlap and Lace Wrapped Floral CenterpieceCrafting time: 1-2 hoursSkill level: Some experience necessary

Supplies and Tools:Cutting utensilsPink roses stem White Queen Ann Lace stemWhite hydrangea bushLight blue small bushPink small bushTeal small bushTeal tall bushCream wisteria garlandPanacea cloth-covered wireGlue gunGlue sticksDavid Tutera burlap ribbonMason jarDavid Tutera lace ribbonPanacea crystal clear resin

Bride’s Full Name: Justine Alexandra FehrGroom’s Full Name: Chadbourne Thomas SmithCeremony Site: Baker Creek Mountain Resort, Lake Louise, CanadaReception Site: Baker Creek Mountain Resort, Lake Louise, CanadaRehearsal Dinner Site: Calgary Tower Sky 360 RestaurantVideography: Shannon KintnerOfficiant: Barbara Parker - Threshold CeremoniesGown: Bellezza BridalVeil: Bellezza BridalShoes: Call It SpringJewelry: SilpadaHair: Simply MeMakeup: Simply MeBridesmaid Dresses: David’s BridalInvitations: Handmade by MichaelsFlowers: Elements Floral DesignCatering: Baker Creek BistroCake: Cakes by KarmenMusic: Joel PearsonAccommodations: Baker Creek Mountain Resort, Lake Louise, Canada

Chadbourne & Justine SmithJuly 10, 2015Photography by Andrew Pavlidis Photography

Details



Proud Media Sponsor:

Event Proceeds Benefit Lunches of Lovein Support of Their Commitment

to End Childhood Hunger and FeedUnderprivileged Children in Fort Bend County

For tickets and sponsorships:281.342.8321

[email protected]

Thursday, January 14th at 7 pmBriscoe Manor in Richmond Underwritten by Briscoe Manor

Delight your taste budswith creations fromFort Bend’s favorite

food establishments!Appetizers, Entrées and Desserts

from Saltgrass, Pier 36,Behind the Bash, Gringo’s, Japaniero’s, Edible Moments, S&S Steaks & Spirits

Fehr-Smith Wedding

Photo by Andrew Pavlidis Photography.

A nderson and Susan Smith of Missouri City are hap-py to announce the mar-

riage of their son Chadbourne Thomas to Justine Alexandra Fehr, daughter of Steven and Susan Fehr of Calgary, Al-berta, Canada.

The ceremony was officiated by Bar-bara Parker and took place July 10, 2015 at the Baker Creek Resort in Lake Lou-ise, Alberta, Canada. A dinner reception followed at the resort. A rehearsal dinner was held at the Calgary Tower Sky 360 Restaurant. The bride was escorted by her father and chose a strapless lace and tulle A-line gown with a beaded belt. She wore a long matching lace-trimmed veil.

Kelsea Fehr, sister of the bride, served as Maid of Honor. Bridesmaids were Ra-chel Ashby, Chelsea Deschamps, Alyssa Gaudet, Allison Prysiazny and Eliza-beth Smith. The bridesmaids wore teal gowns of varying styles. Serving as Best Man was Christopher Smith, the groom’s younger brother. Groomsmen included Michael Hefner, Bradley McFarland and Colton Mendez. The ring bearer was Ra-chel Fehr, sister of the bride. The flower girl was Sydney Kelm.

The couple first met while students at Lawrence E. Elkins High School in Missouri City. The groom earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering at Texas A&M University in 2013 and graduated from Queen’s Uni-versity in Kingston, Ontario, Canada with a Master in Healthcare Quality in 2015. The bride graduated in 2013 with honors from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and psychology.

The couple currently resides in Cal-gary, Alberta, Canada.


&

Honor the

T he 2015 GEMS and special guests attended the check presentation ceremony to the

beneficiary of the 2015 GEMS of Fort Bend event, Fort Bend Family YMCA. absolutely! focus media Publisher Patti Parish-Kaminski presented the organization with proceeds from the Generous, Enthusiastic Men Serving event held in October in the amount of $10,000. The event provided the Fort Bend Family YMCA with a total con-tribution of $18,585 from casino chip sales, a raffle, auction and additional event donations.

“Supporting vital community orga-nizations such as the Fort Bend Fam-ily YMCA is an important part of our mission of being community focused,” said Patti Parish-Kaminski. “Through two of our community magazines, Fort Bend Focus and absolutely! Brazos,

we were thrilled to be able to host the GEMS of Fort Bend honoring such stel-lar community servants as Bob, Don and Steve, and provide much needed support for the Fort Bend Family YMCA.”

The third annual GEMS of Fort Bend honored three staunch community ser-vants: Bob Hebert, Don Kerstetter and Steve Onstad. The check was present-ed to Fort Bend Family YMCA Healthy Living Director Sharon Hilburn who thanked the GEMS for both their com-mitment and contribution to the orga-nization. “Your generosity and dedica-tion have inspired Fort Bend Focus and absolutely! Brazos Magazines to honor you and other recipients while raising funds for non-profit organizations that are vital to our community. The Fort Bend Family YMCA is very thankful

The GEMS of Fort BendProvide Over $18,000 to

the Fort Bend Family YMCA

to Patti and absolutely! focus media for selecting us as the recipient for this year’s GEMS proceeds.”

Hilburn shared that the Fort Bend Family YMCA has been working in the Fort Bend community for over 20 years. “These funds will enable us to serve and financially assist so many more families in the Fort Bend Com-munity so that their lives may be en-riched through programs and member-ship.”

The presentation was hosted at S&S Steaks & Spirits in Richmond. Guests included event sponsors, the GEMS and several of the JEWELS of Fort Bend, the Joyous, Extraordinary Wom-en Enriching Lives.

Steve Onstad, Bob Hebert, Don Kerstetter, Sharon Hilburn and Patti Parish-Kaminski.

Leslie Woods and May Tape.

Doris and Joe Gurecky with Donna Kay Tucker.

Ray Aguilar and Vincent M. Morales, Jr.

Will and Heather Hardee.

Other Recognition for Community Service Excellence:

Texana Center Awards Recipient• Media of the Year Award – 2011 through 2014

MarCom Awards Recipient• JEWELS of Fort Bend • GEMS of Fort Bend• Pro Bono: Casa de Esperanza

Hermes Creative Awards Recipient• Focus on the Cure: Cancer Awareness• Pro Bono: Lunches of Love• Design: Make-A-Wish Foundation, Gulf Coast

The Association of Marketingand Communication Professionals

Recognizing exceptional businessesthat are unselfishly giving of themselves

and their resources, and those that are changing how they do business

to benefit their communities.

Winner of a 2015 Communitas Award

Excellence inCommunity Service

Excellence is a habit. Recognition is earned. absolutely!community focused.

absolutelyfocusmedia.com


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Jingle Tree Benefiting the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land

Corine Noronha & Bahereh Parsa

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Indo American Forum of Fort Bend Celebrating the Holidays and Diwali

Rita Mediwala with Krishna & Suma Mudan

Vipul & Geeta Anand Dreamer & Rod White

Manmeet & Paul Likhari

Rosemary & Noel Mascarenhas

Stewart & Sharon Jacobson Himesh & Farrah Gandhi

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Q How do you storeyour Christmas tree?

A My cousin Evette stores her tree by shrink-wrapping it.

She takes off the large sprays and large breakable ornaments, then literally wraps her tree up, decorations and all. She gets her industrial shrink wrap at either Home Depot or Lowe’s.

I store my tree in rolling bags from Frontgate. I remove everything but the lights, then put the tree sections in the bags. Do not forget to store all of the electrical cords inside the Christmas boxes. If you use the same cords just for Christmas and then store them, you will not be running around looking for an extension cord when you put up your tree. I love these bags!

Q Trying to organize my Christmas card list is a nightmare! Can you help?

A I organize my list at the end of each holiday season when taking the tree down. I write

down every card I received and to whom I sent one. When I get a card, I immediately put that envelope inside my Christmas card binder. This is also a good time to see if a family has a new address.

Once I am finished organizing my card binder, I put the binder inside one of the Christmas storage boxes with the decorations so I know where it is.

Ask Alex: Get a Grip on Christmas Storage

Q I have tried many different tips on how to store my Christmas ornaments, but nothing seems to work.

Do you have any suggestions?

A Sorting ornaments can be a nightmare, but I finally found something that works for me.

I store all of my ornaments in Sterilite drawer containers. These come in all heights, widths and depths, and some offer varied drawer sizes, which are useful for separating decorations that require little space from those requiring deeper space. Be sure to tape the drawers closed, so when you are transporting them, the drawers don’t open and your ornaments do not break. I place larger ornaments and sprays in a big Sterilite colored tub that matches the other Christmas tubs.

A lex Belt is a mom, business owner and all around in the know kind of gal. Friends call on her relentlessly for advice on how to plan a party

and what trend is “in.” With the holidays behind us and décor waiting to be

stored, we’re doing what everyone else does – asking Alex!

Q I had to replace my Elf on the Shelf because I misplaced it. Help!

A Put the elves inside a small box, draw a

big heart on the outside of the box, then tape it shut. I do this so that when it is time to decorate the house, my girls will not see them in the opened Christmas decoration boxes. I act like I’m organized, but this year, once I opened the box, I placed the elves in a hiding place until it was time to have their magic work, but I forgot where I put them! Moms can’t do it all, and it is so hard to keep up with everything. It’s okay. Order a new one online, and when you least expect it, you will find those lost elves.



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NEWSWORTHY

Lunches of Love’sInaugural

Taste of Fort Bend

Taste and see the finest in Fort Bend at Lunches of Love’s inaugural Taste of Fort Bend, generously underwritten by Briscoe Manor. The event takes place Thursday, January 14th beginning at 7 pm at Briscoe Manor, located at 5801 FM 723 in Richmond. Proceeds from the event will benefit Lunches of Love in support of their commitment to end childhood hunger and feed underprivi-leged children in Fort Bend County.

Guests are invited to delight their taste buds with creations from Fort Bend’s favorite food establishments, including Behind the Bash, Edible Mo-ments, Gringo’s, Japaneiro’s, Pier 36, S&S Steaks & Spirits and Saltgrass Steakhouse. In addition to tasting appe-tizers, entrées and desserts, guests will have the opportunity to bid on items in both the live and silent auctions.

Lunches of Love, a 501(c)(3) organi-zation, is committed to ending childhood hunger in the Fort Bend Community by providing a free, nutritious sack lunch to children in need during extended school holidays and weekends. Lunches of Love is 100 percent volunteer based and driven and is currently serving chil-dren and their siblings in 15 Title 1 La-mar Consolidated ISD schools. During the summer of 2015, Lunches of Love served 4,000 children daily.

For ticket and sponsorship availabil-ity, email [email protected]. For information about Lunches of Love, visit www.lunchesoflove.net.


T he Filipino community cele-brates, with its rich and color-ful traditions, The Sinulog Fes-

tival this month on the third Sunday of January. Sinulog is a dance ritual in honor of the miraculous image of the Santo Niño (image of the Child Jesus). The customary dance move includes going two steps forward and one step backward to the sound of the drums while carrying a statue of Santo Niño. The devotees chant “Pit Señor! Pit Se-ñor!” which means “Hail the Lord!” A cluster of dancing enthusiasts seem to vibrate the earth with their synchro-nized movement, all symbolic to their faith. Approximately 1,200 people at-tend the festival, dancing as part of prayer and honor.

Fort Bend is considered one of the most diverse counties in the nation, and it is home to a vibrant Filipino com-munity. Faith is a big part of the com-munity’s life and is expressed through many cultural and religious events. “Our faith, culture and traditions are deeply rooted,” said Margie Calo, a Sugar Land resident and president of Cofradia Del Santo Niño De Cebu of Galveston-Houston Archdiocese.

Understanding the meaning behind the chant deepens one’s appreciation of the belief and history. This ritual began in the Philippine Islands where Portuguese Navigator Ferdinand Ma-gellan of Spain landed, and historians say he introduced Christianity to the Philippines in 1521. He gave the Santo Niño as a baptismal gift to the queen. At that time, not only the rulers were

By Zeenat Kassam Mitha

TO SHARE YOUR IDEAS for upcoming cultural stories and events, contact Cultural Correspondent Zeenat Kassam Mitha at [email protected]

was saved from the fire, the natives danced the Sinulog as a sign of respect and admiration to the Santo Niño.

Today in Fort Bend, Filipino com-munity devotees wear red or the tra-ditional Philippine dress, called “Bar-ong,” bring their Santo Niño statues and dance to keep the tradition alive. One will be amazed to see the vari-ous sizes and aged statues, as some are centuries old. The little boys are dressed in red capes and are adorned with gold beads as an imitation of the Santo Niño dressed in majesty. “We take this opportunity to communicate to our children our Filipino culture and faith,” said Fort Bend resident Grace Belleza. “We embrace and are proud to practice what we believe.”

baptized but also approximately 800 of their subjects. However, shortly after the conversion, Magellan died conquer-ing a rival tribe on the neighboring island of Mactan. In the fighting that took place, Magellan was hit by a poi-soned arrow.

In April of 1565, 44 years later, another Spaniard, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, arrived in Cebu, Philippines. He found the natives hostile, fearing revenge for Magellan’s death. The vil-lage caught fire in the conflict. The next day, the Spanish mariner Juan Camus found the image of the Santo Niño in a pine box amidst the ruins of a burnt house. The image, carved from wood and coated with paint, stood 30 centimeters tall and wore a loose velvet garment, a gilded neck chain and a red woolen hood. Considering this statue

After the prayers, there is a recep-tion where traditional Filipino food is served, while various cultural dances are being performed.

“On Saturday, January 23rd, we mark the 29th year of celebrating the Feast in Honor of Señor Santo Niño and presented by the Cofradia Del San-to Niño De Cebu of Galveston-Houston Archdiocese,” said Calo. “We invite ev-erybody to join us, and the main cele-brant is Most Reverend George Sheltz.”

This festival is held at St. Theresa Catholic Church at 705 St. Theresa Boulevard in Sugar Land. The rosary prayers begin at 9:15 am followed by the procession of the images of Santo Niño, and the celebration of the Holy Eucharist is at 11 am. The reception and entertainment will follow.

Margie and Romy Calo in traditional Philippine costume called “Barong.”

The Sinulog Festival and DanceTwo Steps Forward, One Step Back:

Devotees dancing to Sinulog while carrying their Santo Niño images.

Adam Belleza dressed in a traditional red cape adorned with gold beads.


Meet Allen Watson

By Joan Frances

HOT SHOTHigh School

“I value the simple things in life such as enjoying thesights of being home and telling of my accomplishments.” – Allen Watson

E lkins High School in Fort Bend Independent School District provides students

with the knowledge and skills nec-essary to become productive, re-sponsible and successful members of society. Seniors graduate with a feeling of pride, respect and a sense of belonging. One senior who is an accomplished leader and innovator is Allen Watson.

Allen has achieved academic success throughout his high school career. Most of his classes are Ad-vanced Placement, and this year, he was honored by the school with the Youth of the Month Award for dem-onstrating leadership, high grades, citizenship and community service. He is a member of the National So-cial Studies Honor Society, National English Honor Society and National Honor Society.

Allen’s most significant contribu-tion to his school is his involvement with Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). He is the AVID club co-founder and the presi-dent this year and the AVID Coun-cil Representative for the school. He said, “Being a leader through the AVID program is efficient in pushing and advocating college readiness. I started AVID to promote more col-lege readiness on my campus for those who are not able to be in the program due to lack of space. I am helping it become possible for every high school student to be able to not only get to college, but go with less academic trouble and with as little debt as possible. I strive for my peers to do their best in their lives, as well as my own.”

As a student of the Engineering Academy at Elkins, Allen is engaged in continuing his studies to focus on en-gineering-based projects and desktop publishing. He is also a motivational public speaker. When asked what he treasures most about his high school experience, Allen replied, “Being a part of the engineering program and AVID program at my school has been so ful-filling. Engineering has prepared me to face soon realities in college classes. AVID has allowed me to make my voice heard through the guest appearances at AVID Summer Institute in San An-tonio, the Fort Bend Principle’s meet-ing, Elkins High School’s End of the Year Faculty Meeting and Blue Ridge Elementary Graduation Ceremony.”

A value Allen lives by is “to repre-sent my roots well – from my immedi-ate family members to the citizens of New Orleans, Louisiana. I value the simple things in life such as enjoying the sights of being home and telling of my accomplishments.”

Allen feels fortunate to have been taught by two teachers who have im-pacted him. “I have my past AVID

teachers, Mr. Tony Slate and Mrs. Alexia Alexopoulos, who have helped me the most. They are a sec-ond mother and father to me. They pushed me to my full potential over the years to accomplish great things. Mr. Slate in 10th grade helped me to realize my voice and words mean something and can change the world. Mrs. Alexopoulos was my 11th and 12th grade AVID teacher and English teacher in 11th grade. She made me realize that my efforts in the classroom are noticeable. She helped me perfect my writing no matter how much I struggled. She also made sure my voice was heard and that I took advantage of oppor-tunities given. They are a part of the reason I am successful today.”

Allen aspires to attend the Uni-versity of Georgia at Athens, The University of Southern California or Texas A&M University and to major in either computer or civil engineer-ing. Congratulations on your un-deniable commitment and success Allen, and good luck as you benefit society in your future.

Allen

Allen Watson and Counselor Brian Williams.

A s children get busy in their school schedules, the time set aside for play seems to disap-

pear. According to a survey conducted by Dr. Pepper Snapple Group’s Let’s Play initiative, 56 percent of parents say busy schedules are a major barrier to play.

Play is an important part of a child’s physical, emotional and social develop-ment. In fact, kids who play are found to be healthier, happier and better perform-ers in school. As children’s schedules become packed with activities during the school year, it is important to make sure they are getting enough active play-time each day to help them grow into happy, healthy adults.

Reasons to Keep KidsActive During the School Year

Play promotes social skills. Accord-ing to a report from the Centers for Dis-ease Control and Prevention, just more than a quarter of students surveyed participated in daily physical education classes. Kids have fewer opportunities to be active during the school day, so it is important to supplement their sched-ules with after-school activities or sports throughout the year. Team sports are a great opportunity for children to foster friendships and connect with kids from different backgrounds. Keeping children active through sports gives them the op-portunity to maintain a physically active

lifestyle while also making new friends.Play heightens intellectual devel-

opment. Education in the classroom allows children to learn and grow; how-ever, physical activity outside of the classroom is also important for a child’s development. Studies show that physi-cal play has been linked to helping kids think creatively and create connections with others through the process of shar-ing, negotiating and resolving conflicts. Such skills are vital for a child to learn and can be easily taught through active play.

Play enhances motor skills. Play-grounds serve as a great space for kids to explore and have fun in a safe envi-ronment while challenging and refining their motor skills. Interacting with play equipment helps build motor skills and improves self-control and coordination.

Play relieves stress. As kids get older, schoolwork becomes increas-ingly difficult, and stress levels about the workload begin to rise. In fact, 46 per-cent of parents polled in the Let’s Play survey said that a focus on academics was one of their kids’ biggest barriers to play. While academics should always be a priority, giving kids the opportunity and time to play can relieve the stress associated with school and allow them to simply have fun.

Learn more about the importance of play and get tips and advice on how to incorporate active play in your child’s ev-eryday life at LetsPlay.com. Source: Family Features

Play:It’s Not Just Fun and Games

absolutely! Kid FriendlyAdvertorial

Sugar LandGymnastics, Dance

and Karate inSugar Land and Sienna


Four years ago, Robert Gifford pur-chased the Bill Austin Gymnastics and Dance facility, which is located next to the Sugar Land Ice Center in First Colony. Gifford named the new cen-ter Sugar Land Gymnastics, Dance and Karate (SLG). Since then, enroll-ment has skyrocketed and continues to climb. Gifford explained, “We have reached the 1,000 student mark and available spots in our program will now be limited.” The reason for his success? “Quality. When you have quality instruction and a quality cur-riculum housed in a quality, state-of-the-art facility, word spreads quickly.”

Gifford has opened a second multi-purpose facility in Sienna. The 7,000 square foot facility offers gymnas-tics, cheerleading, tumbling, summer camp, birthday parties and Safety America Karate.

SLG’s head coach, Coach Mei Liu, competed as a member of the Chinese National Team and is a USAG certi-fied national judge. She also has 27 years of experience and has coached level four through seven State Cham-pions. Gifford said, “We don’t believe in screaming at the kids. Positive rein-forcement will get us there, and we will have a bunch of fun along the way.”

Mom-and-Me classes at SLG start kids off at 18 months-old and build skills at each and every level. SLG also offers competitive girl’s team pro-grams, as well as recreational classes and tumbling.

Visit www.SugarLandGymnastics.com or call SLG at 281-240-0999 for more information.

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SummerFun Guide


Open House February 4

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281-263-9143 | 1250 Seventh Street, Sugar Land, TX 77478

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4200 Cartwright Road • Missouri City, Texas 77459281-261-8872 • www.southminsterschool.org

More than a school…it’s a family! Serving children ages 18 months - 6th grade.

Prospective Parent Open House • January 13th, 10-11 a.m.

absolutely! Kid FriendlyAdvertorial

Fort BendChristian Academy:

Providing Excellence in College Preparatory

Christian Education

Celebrating 29 years of service to Fort Bend County, Fort Bend Christian Academy (FBCA) exists to glorify God through excellence in college prepa-ratory Christian education. FBCA is a Pre-Kindergarten through grade 12 private, college preparatory Christian school located on a 35 acre campus in the heart of Sugar Land. With an enrollment of 870, students attend over 100 area churches and are ac-tive members of the Fort Bend County community.

Students at FBCA receive an aca-demically challenging course of study with curriculum designed to provide a superior spiritual and intellectual envi-ronment. An Honors Degree Program, Advanced Placement options and dual credit classes are offered at the high school level, and middle school students with accelerated educational development may also participate in an honors curriculum. Spiritually, aca-demically and professionally qualified, all teaching staff are certified educa-tors, many possessing a master’s de-gree or higher.

FBCA boasts small class sizes, uni-forms, a hot lunch program and before and after school programs, as well as enrichment classes, clubs and strong community service involvement. With competitive, state championship ath-letics and award-winning fine arts pro-grams, 100 percent of FBCA gradu-ates are accepted to college, most to their first choice school, and include National Merit scholars, military ser-vice appointees and recipients of nu-merous scholarship offers.

For more information about FBCA, email Tia Meadors, Director of Admis-sions, at [email protected] or call 281-263-9143.


Across1 They are blown up at New Year’s6 New Year’s activity11 “Give it ___!”13 Princess woe14 Fresh starts (2 words)18 Buddies19 Driver’s aid20 ___ Today22 TV host name23 Assuming that’s true (2 words)25 Measure of acidity26 Debatable28 Bake sale org.29 New Year’s is often event___30 A little out of it32 Playfulness33 PC linkup34 New Year’s song41 Sci-fi writer, Doc Smith42 Charleston locale44 New Year’s decisions50 Blade51 Old time you

52 50th state53 Difficult task54 Press guy55 Drink for New Year’s58 Colorful fish61 Neighborhoods62 Flavor64 Prom night essentials65 They can be black at events66 __ Eliot

Down1 Feast2 Well-kept secret, for some3 Cattle call4 Very happy5 Clamorous7 Some family guests8 Church alcove9 Oscar __ La Renta10 Terrestrial12 Asking people to come15 Blues singer, King16 Milk producer17 Small GM car

21 Speaker24 ___es: preferred phone contacts25 Place27 Operating system, abbr.28 Reindeer activity29 New Year’s night sights31 Bank offering, for short32 It has many keys (abbr.)35 “Brown” carrier36 The “Tigers” (abbr.)37 Good judgment38 “Absolutely!”39 New Year’s get togethers40 Cooking method43 Blue Ridge Mountains locale45 Common Market inits.46 Chicago airport47 Bar stock48 Drink to49 Weight measure56 Party wear57 Sound system, for short59 Outfielder Mel60 Found on a billboard63 Radio wave

BRAIN TEASERBy Myles Mellor

See answers on page 58.

Happy New Year!There is no doubt that parents are

tightening their belts and trying to find ways to cut costs and save money. Many people live in areas with well- resourced or new public schools, making it very tempting to choose public over private. But what are the real differences?

The class size in many public schools can be as large as 25 to 30 students. Southminster School’s maximum class size is 14. While many public schools do a good job of preparing students for the next step, Southminster School does an excellent job. The curriculum at Southminster School is advanced, rig-orous and designed to challenge and grow students into successful, inde-pendent thinkers. They never “teach to a test” but rather design a curriculum around the individual child.

Southminster School’s students are highly motivated and regard academic achievement as desirable. Students are expected to live by the Mariner Honor Code, which includes being respectful, noble, accountable and more. Those values are instilled and expected daily. Parents are highly in-volved and are welcomed and encour-aged to be part of their child’s educa-tional experience.

At Southminster School, you are not just a client; you are family. Schedule a tour today to see what makes this school different, or visit www.southminsterschool.org to watch a short video created by parents. Southminster School’s Prospective Parent Open House is January 13th from 10 to 11 am. They hope to see you there!

Southminster School is located at 4200 Cartwright Road in Missouri City. For more information, e-mail [email protected] or call 281-261-8872.

SouthminsterSchool


Kids’ CornerBy Patrick Biron

A lot of parents like to talk about how “back in their day,”

discipline and parenting were very different. My dad was

regularly spanked and swatted by teachers all the way up through

high school. I can only imagine what would happen if a faculty

member spanked a 17 year-old today, but I digress.

The Art of Saying No: Why Positive Parenting

Doesn’t Mean Always Saying Yes

Positive parenting, and indeed positive reinforcement in general, have really taken off since the 90s. And in many ways, it is good that they have. In a world where children already face so much negativity and discord, placing them in positive environments is critically beneficial. But, if there is one thing I have learned after working with tens of thousands of kids, it is that if we swing the pendulum too far to the “no negative” side, our goals might become lost in translation. Being positive doesn’t mean always saying “yes,” nor does it mean never saying “no.”

First off, every parent should absolutely raise their child in the method

that works best for their family – barring abusive or dangerous exceptions. No two parents, children, nor situations are the same, and as adults, we have to adjust our parenting accordingly.

I knew I wanted to live out positive reinforcement with all of the kids in my life. So, when I started a career working with children, I spent countless hours reading and researching the topic. I walked away with the idea that positive parenting meant that I never was allowed to say no. I was so wrong. For example, if I didn’t want a child to watch television, instead of saying, “You can’t watch television,” I should say, “How about you go outside?” And while this is great in

principal and works in many situations, excluding negative redirection from your vocabulary removes fundamentally necessary learning opportunities.

Children need to be raised so that they can make good decisions on their own when they are adults without their parents around. In order to make those choices, they need to know the thought process to go through when weighing various options. By simply presenting a positive alternative, adults omit why the negative one is a bad choice. For example, if my child is about to touch a hot stove, I can’t just say, “Touch the fridge instead!” I have to tell him not to touch the stove, and most importantly, I have to explain why he shouldn’t touch the stove. I can then present the good options he can choose, like the fridge, since he only wanted to touch the stove in the first place because it was shiny and magnetic.

This is crucial in sports too. Should a tumbler perform a skill in a way that is dangerous, it is the coaches’ responsibility to tell them they can’t do that and why it is risky and then present the positive alternative: “Don’t land with your legs straight. You could lock your knees and hurt yourself. Land with them bent. It will keep you safe!”

Positive parenting doesn’t mean never saying no. It is rooted in a tone and method that redirects the child to desirable behavior, but many times, saying no and explaining why is the most important lesson your child might learn that day.

If you have a topic or question you’d like covered or simply want more information, e-mail Patrick Biron at [email protected].

NEWSWORTHY


The Fort Bend Chamber of Com-merce’s annual Chairman’s Gala, pre-sented by Mercantil Commercebank, will be held on Friday, January 29th at Safari

2016 Chairman’s Gala:Around the World Featuring The Texas Toast

Texas Ranch. The gala gives members a chance to meet in a festive setting, put-ting aside business issues and simply enjoying one another’s company.

The night will unfold with a compli-mentary cocktail reception at 6:30 pm followed by dinner and brief awards. The celebration continues as guests enter a festive ballroom experiencing the excit-ing sounds of The Texas Toast.

Reserve a table now to enjoy this cul-tural evening! Sponsorship opportunities include Great Wall of China Sponsor at $3,000, Taj Mahal Sponsor at $2,000 or Colosseum Sponsor at $1,000. Individ-ual reservations are available for $100. Attire is black tie optional, and seating is limited.

Contact Juliette Bloomer for more in-formation at 281-566-2161 or [email protected]. Register online at www.FortBendChamber.com.

Rehan Alimohammad, Glenn Smith, Brian Machart, Keri Schmidt, Mike Dobert and Manish Seth at the2015 Chairman’s Gala.

Students at Fleming Elementary School are benefiting from a reward-ing partnership with Sam’s Club that is preparing them for the real world. Sam’s Club managers visit the school each year to lead the students in Junior Achieve-ment (JA) lessons designed to help them better understand business and eco-nomics.

Sam’s Club managers, representing stores throughout the state, recently vis-ited the school to lead students in a se-ries of lessons, including JA Our Region for fourth graders and JA Our Nation de-signed for fifth graders. The lessons gave

Sam’s Club Managers LeadFleming Elementary Students in Junior Achievement Lessons

the students an opportunity to learn key business terms, such as entrepreneur, consumer, region, natural resources, goods, soft skills and opportunity cost; which regions produce certain resourc-es, such as citrus, minerals and timber; traits of a successful entrepreneur, such as determined, creative, self-confident, ambitious, people-person, experienced; how to calculate the average price of merchandise and how to determine a career cluster based on their skills, inter-ests and personal characteristics.

Students also brainstormed possible businesses they could create using cer-tain resources, names for the businesses and ways to advertise those businesses.

During a discussion on promoting a busi-ness, Sam’s Club Co-Manager Marcel Coley reminded students of the impor-tance of good customer service. “When people have a positive experience at your establishment, they will support it and recommend it to other people,” he said.

Sam’s Club also sponsors an annual trip for Fleming fifth graders to JA’s Biz Town, which combines in-class learn-ing with a day-long visit to a simulated town where they operate banks, manage restaurants, write checks and vote for mayor.

Sam’s Club Assistant Manager Donald Frazier and Co-Manager Marcel Coley spoke to students about the importance of proper advertising to promote businesses.

Students Gabrielle Donovan and Savanna Hernandez completed a JA assignment.

Proudly showing off his taco truck business was Joe Martinez.


NEWSWORTHY

Former Rosenberg Mayor Vincent M. Morales, Jr. filed Sat-urday, November 14, 2015 to continue his service to the citi-zens of Fort Bend County by running for Precinct 1 Commis-sioner. Morales served the City of Rosenberg as mayor from May 2011-15 and cited his desire to continue his service to Fort Bend County in a greater capacity by seeking the position of County Commissioner, Precinct 1.

“The future of Fort Bend is bright and ripe with possibili-ties,” said candidate Morales. “For four years, I have had the privilege of serving the citizens of Rosenberg devoting my full attention to preparing our city for the future growth headed our way as one of the fastest growing counties in Texas, and today, Rosenberg stands ready. The City is poised for growth, and we have achieved major milestones in economic development and infrastructure improvements. Now, I want to continue my work on economic development, infrastructure and mobility for not only Rosenberg, but for all of the cities and constituents in Pre-cinct 1.”

A Boom in Economic DevelopmentDuring Morales’ tenure as mayor, his focus on economic

development has led to several corporations, including Aldi USA and Si Environmental Water Services Company, to choose Rosenberg for their headquarters. OCuSOFT expanded their headquarters in Rosenberg, and Aldi USA’s 650,000 square foot Warehouse and Divisional Headquarters located to Rosenberg and expanded to include a retail store providing over 150 com-munity jobs. Superior Tank Company both located and expand-ed their facility in Rosenberg to 54,000 square feet representing another 100 jobs over five years.

In September of 2014, the City of Rosenberg entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Paragon Outlet Partners to develop a 400,000 square foot outlet mall that is estimated to create 400 construction jobs and 1,000 permanent jobs once open. The project is scheduled to be completed and open for business in late 2017.

Two Rosenberg business parks are currently in development, one featuring a 184 acre architectural and landscape deed re-stricted park with the capacity to house several businesses of-fering multiple tract sizes. “Mayor Morales’ efforts in marketing the assets of Rosenberg to both large corporations and small to medium size business interests has attracted multiple opportu-nities and community assets,” said William G. Smith, Chairman with Fuller Realty Partners, LLC. “As our Precinct 1 Commis-sioner, we know Vincent will continue his track record of bring-ing new businesses and jobs to our community while ensuring that our growth is managed and sustainable.”

During his leadership, the Rosenberg Cultural Arts District

Former Rosenberg Mayor Vincent M. Morales, Jr.Files as Candidate for Fort Bend County Commissioner, Precinct 1

with the Texas Commission of the Arts was formed. This col-laborative effort between the City, the Cultural Arts District and the Central Fort Bend Chamber Alliance brought several high-profile events to the city attracting not only visitors from across the county, as well as the state, but dollars to businesses.

In October of 2014, Rosenberg was named one of two 2015 Main Street cities by the Texas Historical Commission. It joined 88 other active Main Street cities across Texas in the program designed to assist with downtown revitalization through orga-nization, design, promotion and economic restructuring. In Oc-tober of 2015, the First of Lady of Texas Cecilia Abbott visited Rosenberg’s Cultural Arts District and conducted a ceremony to officially recognize the designation for the State of Texas.

“With the successes Rosenberg has realized in economic development over the past four years, our community offers it all,” said Morales. “We have successful businesses, unique, family-friendly leisure activities, a variety of retail offerings and excellent restaurants. This is the type of community that I envi-sion – and will work for – for all of Precinct 1.”

Emphasis on InfrastructureMorales’ focus on infrastructure has insured that the citi-

zens of Rosenberg will have an affordable, reliable water supply

Vincent M. Morales, Jr. filed as a candidate for County Commissioner Precinct 1 at the Fort Bend GOP Headquarters on Saturday, November 15, 2015. Fort Bend GOP Chairman Mike Gibson congratulated Morales on his candidacy.


281.277.3555 www.lemkeortho.com4907 Sandhill Dr., Suite B • Sugar Land, TX 77479

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for years to come. The agreement with the Brazosport Water Authority (BWA) secured the delivery of 5.7 million gallons of treated surface water a day for the City by building a 32-mile water line. The $43.5 million BWA project will provide water to Rosenberg to meet the Fort Bend Subsidence District state mandate for 2016, as well as the City’s 60% conversion re-quirement for 2025. “Water is one of our most critical issues in Texas. With this agreement in place, a long-term, sustain-able supply of water for the City is insured so that Rosenberg will be in a position to enjoy continued economic growth. A secure, alternative water supply for all residents in Precinct 1 is paramount, and I plan to utilize my experience and success in water to benefit the citizens of Precinct 1 with a long-term, abundant water supply insuring future success and providing for future growth.”

Morales’ experience as a member of the I-69 Alliance Board assisted TX DOT with the expansion of I-69 to insure mobility improvements for West Fort Bend by designating I-69 as an Interstate Freeway keeping Fort Bend moving forward.

Focus on EducationMorales worked tirelessly to attract the new expansion of

Texas State Technical College’s (TSTC) main campus to West Fort Bend County. The new 110,000 square foot building will be situated on a 40-acre campus on I-69 with an additional 40 acres reserved for expansion, and construction has already begun.

“Helping to expand TSTC’s presence in Fort Bend County is a major accomplishment for our community,” said former Rosenberg Mayor and TSTC Board of Regents member Joe M. Gurecky. “This campus will provide highly-skilled workers for our community, which will assist not only existing businesses but will attract new businesses as well. Vincent’s persistence in expanding TSTC in Rosenberg shows not only his ability to get things done but his vision for the future.”

Fort Bend County Precinct 1 Morales’ goal as Precinct 1 Commissioner is to take his ex-

perience and achievements as both mayor of Rosenberg and a Fort Bend business owner to ensure a viable, secure future with vast economic opportunities and reliable infrastructure to Pre-cinct 1 constituents just as he has for the citizens of Rosenberg. “My work for Rosenberg is not done; it has only just begun,” said Mayor Morales. “By serving as Precinct 1 Commissioner, I will continue my focus on economic development and vital infrastructure on a larger scale. I am committed to making cer-tain that our community will be a viable place to live, work and educate our children and grandchildren for years to come, and by serving as Precinct 1 Commissioner, I can do just that.”

Morales is married to Fort Bend County native Regina Klingle Morales, owner of RLM Advisory Group LLC, President/CEO of Central Fort Bend Chamber and President of GreenScape As-sociates, LLC. They have two children, Christopher and Justin, and three grandchildren, Madelyn, William and Parker.

Visit vincentmorales.com for more information about Vincent M. Morales, Jr.


FOCUS ONHEALTH

By Dr. Peter Osborne

DID YOU KNOW?You have one of the country’s most advanced alternative medicine clinics right here in Sugar Land

7616 Bradford Place #110, Sugar Land, TX 77479281-240-2229 • www.DrPeterOsborne.com

Dr. Peter Osborne

n Dr. Osborne• Is the only Board Certified Nutritionist in Sugar Land• Is a member of the ACA Council on Nutrition• Is a Doctor of Pastoral Medicine• Has held teaching appointments at Texas Women’s University and HCC’s nursing program • Lectures nationally to other physicians on the topic: drug induced nutritional deficiencies

n Origins Healthcare Centers• Offers genetic testing to match your lifestyle and diet to your genes• Offers complete laboratory nutritional analysis to identify vitamin and mineral deficiencies• Offers traditional and specialty lab services to assist in patient diagnosis• Offers state of the art Spinal Decompression therapy to prevent back surgery• Offers genetic and laboratory testing to identify gluten sensitivity

T he whole-grain goodness myth reigned supreme when I began

training clients a few decades ago. To even question whether cereal or oat-meal could become unhealthy seemed akin to blasphemy within the nutri-tion world. Regardless of popular opin-ion, I often noticed when my clients ate grains and other so-called healthy foods, they felt terrible, became bloated and struggled to lose fat. It was almost like the very foods they were “supposed” to eat held their weight and health hostage. Something seemed amiss, and eventually I coined the term “weight loss resistance” to describe people who couldn’t consistently lose weight de-spite their most stalwart efforts.

Later, when I started testing for food intolerances, I found about 70 percent of my clients reacted to gluten and several other highly reactive foods. Fascinating things happened almost immediately when they eliminated these foods from their diets. Almost overnight, they felt better, suffered less pain, enjoyed more energy, and that stubborn fat finally disappeared. Gluten-free is hot today, but even a decade ago, almost nobody knew what the heck this arcane-sounding protein was or why eating a seemingly healthy food could create such metabolic havoc.

No Grain, No Pain: Editorial Review by JJ Virgin, CNS, CHFS,Author of The Virgin Diet and JJ Virgin’s Sugar Impact Diet

Conventional wisdom is finally catch-ing up. As the movement makes head-way, emerging science finds that going and staying gluten-free can do incred-ible things like reducing inflammation, obesity and insulin resistance. Gluten provides a great example about how mainstream medical thinking often falls behind or neglects the underlying roots of disease.

If you constantly struggle with pain, you can bet a dozen pharmaceutical drugs exist to solve this or whatever problem you suffer. But that fails to ad-dress the bigger problem. What causes that pain? What if eliminating highly reactive foods like gluten and imple-menting some simple but powerful lifestyle strategies could radically alter your problem? As a functional medicine practitioner, Dr. Peter Osborne asks those big, bold questions to address the underlying culprits that become health thieves and contribute to nearly every disease on the planet.

That approach becomes the founda-tion for No Grain, No Pain: Osborne looks at biochemical individuality to show how hidden gluten in foods like corn and rice make you sick, tired and overweight. Going gluten-free helps, but manufacturers have become quick to turn this into a profitable industry.

A gluten-free, high-sugar cookie ulti-mately becomes a cookie, period. Be-sides, it turns out it isn’t just gluten that creates problems. Osborne digs deeper and challenges traditional glu-ten-free diets to explain why they don’t always work.

More importantly, he finds what does work, providing a 30 day grain-free road map that also eliminates soy, dairy and other potentially problemat-ic foods to help you feel better, relieve pain and finally attain fast, lasting fat loss. Osborne’s research dives deep into gut, brain and other areas to show how grains contribute to everything from autoimmunity gut issues to brain health. Along the way, he blows out some widely circulated myths about grains and also other foods. His ap-proach becomes comprehensive but not encyclopedic or difficult to understand, allowing you to do the detective work, consult an integrative practitioner if necessary and determine what might be creating your problems. Osborne provides a comprehensive list of foods to avoid. He discusses lifestyle strate-gies like sleep, stress, exercise and en-vironmental toxins that, taken togeth-er, radically shift your health.

Get your copy today at www.NoGrainNoPainBook.com.


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People seeking cosmetic or reconstructive dental work should do research before making a decision in order to ensure proper care. As ADA recognized specialists, Prosthodontists are qualified to offer services in state-of-the-art procedures and techniques, such as: cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, complete and partial dentures, replacing lost or loose teeth, jaw joint problems (TMJ), traumatic injuries, snoring and sleep disorders and oral cancer reconstruction.

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The Fort Bend Women’s Center is excited to announce that its 11th Annual Girlfriends Giggle fundraiser, sponsored by Me-morial Hermann Sugar Land, will be held on Thursday, February 4th at 6:30 pm at the Stafford Centre. Grab your feather boas and favorite girlfriends, because this “grown-up girls pajama party” is shaping up to be the good-cause event of the year!

In nearly 35 years of serving the community, the Fort Bend Women’s Center has helped more than 40,000 women and chil-dren achieve violence-free lifestyles. The center’s mission is to assist survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and their children while striving to prevent violence against women. Ticket prices start at $100 and are on sale now.

For more information about becoming a sponsor or a ven-dor at Girlfriends Giggle, contact Anne Budill at 281-344-5756 or [email protected]. For more information about the Fort Bend Women’s Center or to purchase tickets, visit www.fortbendwomenscenter.org.

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Emily Hendrix, Chelsea Ferguson, Kimberly Hays, Anne Budill, Courtney Diepraam, Amy Olson and Terri Brown.

Fort Bend Women’s Center Announces Girlfriends Giggle 2016 Fundraiser


NEWSWORTHY

OUR NEWEST DOCTORWILL SEE YOU NOW

Kalpesh Thakkar, M.D.Pediatric Gastroenterology

To make an appointment, call or schedule online at mhmg.memorialhermann.org

Dr. Thakkar is dedicated to the care of children and adolescents with gastrointestinal, nutritional, liver and pancreas disorders. Two convenient locations:17510 W Grand Pkwy S, Ste 210Sugar Land, TX 77479281.725.5970

2100 Regional Medical DriveWharton, TX 77488979.532.1700

Bring-A-Blanket SundayBenefiting Jurassic BarkMission Outreach Hungry

and Homeless Project

The Sienna Plantation Churches are sponsoring a “Bring-A-Blanket Sunday” on January 10th and invite the community to participate by donating a new or gently-used blanket to be distributed to the homeless.

Blankets can be dropped off at the following partici-pating churches:

St. Catherine of Sienna Episcopal Church – 4747 Sienna ParkwayThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints – 3907 Oakwick Forest DriveHouston’s First Baptist Church – 4309 Sienna ParkwaySugar Creek Baptist – Ridge Point High SchoolThe Harvest United Methodist Church – 9029 Sienna Ranch RoadSt. Angela Merici Catholic Church - 9009 Sienna Ranch RoadSienna Family Fellowship – Baines Middle SchoolDonations will be sent to the Jurassic Bark Mission

Outreach Hungry and Homeless Project. These blan-kets will keep homeless men and women warm who must sleep outside with their pets since the shelters of Houston do not accept animals.

For more information, visit www.jurassicbarkrescue.org/hungry-homeless-project.php or email [email protected].

Submit newsworthy [email protected]

New Year,New You

REJUVENATION & WELLNESSSpecial Advertising Section


FEATURING3 Steps to Kick Off a Year of Good Health

Dr. Shel Wellness & Medical SpaFemina Fit

Planet Beach Automated SpaSalon Eben & Day Spa

Sugar Land Face and Body Plastic SurgerySugar Land Plastic Surgery

Environmental ProtechOff the Vine Bistro

Swap Salt for Herbs and Spices in 2016Swap Out Sugar for Better Health

Body By Ravi Plastic Surgery and AestheticsNo Grain, No Pain


New Year, New You

Early detection of ailments, such as cardiovascular dis-ease, can significantly impact an individual’s ability to cope with the disease, allowing you to make adjustments, such as changes in diet and lifestyle, or when necessary, drug thera-pies and other medical treatments. Delaying detection of this serious disease until its more advanced stages can have dire consequences.

With these three steps, you can get a better picture of your cardiovascular health and identify silent, hidden risk factors – like plaque in your arteries – that you may not even know are there.

1 Get your blood pressure checked. Blood pres-sure measures how much force a person’s blood is putting on the artery walls as the heart pumps. High

blood pressure, or hypertension, occurs when your heart has to work extra hard to pump blood throughout the body. High blood pressure often happens when arteries lose their elas-ticity through hardening caused by cholesterol, plaque or scarring. Many people do not experience symptoms of high blood pressure, so it’s important to have your blood pres-sure checked periodically. Screening for high blood pressure involves placing a pressure cuff around your upper arm to monitor both diastolic and systolic blood pressure. A normal systolic reading is between 90 and 119, and a normal dia-stolic reading is 60-79.

2 Get your cholesterol checked. A simple finger-stick screening measures total cholesterol, as well as three different kinds of lipids in your blood – HDL,

LDL and triglycerides – which are important in determin-ing heart health. Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, is known as the “bad” cholesterol and can build up in the walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain. Along with other substances, it can form plaque – a thick, hard deposit that can clog those arteries. High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, is known as “good” cholesterol, because it carries LDL away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it’s passed from the body. A high HDL level helps prevent heart disease, while a low HDL level increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. Triglycerides are the most common type of fat. Like cholesterol, they circulate in blood but are stored in the body for extra energy. A high triglyceride level combined with a low HDL or high LDL can speed up the process of plaque formation in the arteries.

3 Learn about other risk factors for cardiovas-cular disease. Many people in the early stages of cardiovascular disease are asymptomatic, meaning

they have no symptoms to indicate their health is at risk. Some common risk factors include age (55 and older), family history, tobacco use and high blood pressure. Other factors, such as high cholesterol, aren’t as easily observed. Preven-tive health screenings can give you a fuller picture of how risk factors may be stacking up. The screenings are designed by doctors and administered by trained professionals to help detect hidden health issues. Within a couple of weeks, you can receive easy-to-understand test results to share with your doctor so you can work together to prevent serious prob-lems before they start.

To starting the year off right with a preventive health screening, visit lifelinescreening.com.

Source: Family FeaturesPhoto courtesy of Getty Images

A fresh beginning with a new year is the perfect time for a health assessment to ensure you are ready to take on a full

and active year ahead. Even if you’re feeling great, it’s a smart practice to take time to iden-tify potential problems before they become more serious health concerns.

3to Kick Off aYear of Good Health

Steps


New Year, New You

15510 Lexington Blvd., Ste. G • Sugar Land, TX 77478(Between Williams Trace & Hwy 6)

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281.980.5160

Full Line of Spa Services:• Hair • Nails • Skin Care

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An Concept Salon & Day Spa Since 1989

Celebrating 26 Years in Sugar Land

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Best Year of Your Life!

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Joyce Long’s

Established 1989

Colonic - Detox - LymphaticWellness Institute

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Services by appt only.

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1308 James Street • Rosenberg, TX 77471NEW FORT BEND LOCATION!

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Advertorial New Year, New You

UV light is used in hospitals, food preparation and water treatments because of its ability to eliminate germs. UV Light Therapy is the process of administering UV light to the blood to help the body’s immune system fight off bacteria and viruses. UV Light therapy was introduced in the 1890s and was used extensively in the 1940s and 50s for various bacterial diseases and viral infections prior to the advent of antibiotics. It can be an effective treatment for Lyme disease, chronic and adrenal fatigue, yeast overgrowth, Epstein-Barr virus, acute infections, cancer, hepatitis, shingles, arthritis and much more.

Until recently, the only method for administering UV light to the blood was by draining blood from the body, exposing it to UV light through a device and then delivering the treated blood back into the body. Now, with the latest technology, UV light can be delivered directly into the bloodstream without draining blood. A special adapter is attached to a standard IV catheter that allows the administration of both saline fluid and therapeutic UV light through a fiber optic cable.

Treatments are 60 minutes long and are divided into two 30 minute phases. Each phase administers a specific combination of light wavelengths to maximize the desired clinical effect. UV Light Therapy destroys yeast, fungal, viral and bacte-rial growth, enhances the immune system, decreases inflammation, aids in detoxi-fication, increases oxygen absorption into body tissues and increases circulation.

Learn more about UV Light Therapy and other services offered at Dr. Shel Well-ness & Medical Spa by visiting www.drshel.com or by calling 281-313-7435.

See ad on page 3.

The Healing Power of Light

Healthy is an outfit that looks good on every woman! Femina Fit offers an unparalleled experience with pro-grams that promote the health and fit-ness goals of all members.

Reawaken the body with cutting-edge fitness services including group classes like Barre, DanceFusion, Zum-ba, FlexFit, Cardio Kickbox, Muscle Conditioning and Yoga. In addition, Femina Fit also offers C-Fit, a six-week program that will help members slim down and tone up! It is an all-encompassing regiment of nutrition, training and fitness coaching. C-Fit helps reduce lower back pain and in-crease core strength post-pregnancy. Get that body back!

Reenergize with one-on-one health coaching and personal nutrition. Femi-na Fit’s specialized attention to every area that plays a part in fat loss, mus-cle gain or both is the key to success. Proper food intake can be achieved by understanding how everything one eats and drinks can either positively or negatively affect their goal.

Rejuvenate with day spa services like full-body massages to promote relaxation, enhance circulation and relieve muscle pain. Enjoy innovative, power-packed facials to protect skin and redefine beauty. Complete the full-body package with body exfoliation, detoxifying wraps, beauty care and waxing.

No matter the goal – from losing weight to improving athletic perfor-mance – Femina Fit strives to deliver the best experience, people and pro-grams to help clients get fit and feel great! Femina Fit is located at 16305 Kensington Drive, Suite 270 in Sugar Land.

For more information, call 832-886-4339 or visit www.feminafit.com.

See ad on page 57.

Not Fit? No Problem!

Answers to the puzzle on page 47.

HappyNewYear!


832-939-8086 • 636 Hwy 6, Ste. 400, Sugar Land • www.planetbeach.com

PRODUCTSPlanet Beach offers a variety of products that are formulated to work in conjunction with our services in order to offer our members maximum benefits.

Skincare ProductsNutrition ProductsTanning Products

Changing the Waythe World Rejuvenates!

SPA SERVICESTransform your skin and body with Planet Beach’s spa services. Our spas offer facials,

hydration treatments, weight management, teeth

whitening and detoxification using the most innovative technology for total rejuvenation.

SPRAY SERVICESPlanet Beach offers our members the chance to experience beautifully bronzed skin with no exposure to ultraviolet rays. No streaks, no orange, nomelanin production. Your natural-looking glow will last 5 to 7 days and only takes seconds to achieve.

Specials3 Spa Services for $30Fit Body Wrap $40

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AdvertorialNew Year, New You

In a time when society places a high value on appearance, coloring hair has become a commonplace experience. When getting your hair colored, using healthy products is just as important as choosing a fitting color. Chemicals in most hair dyes sometimes can be damaging and leave hair malnourished. Strong chemicals mixed with unnatural ingredients sometimes cause hair to become brittle, greasy and full of hapless split ends. This is why when choosing a brand of hair dye, it is imperative to choose products composed with natural ingredients such as Aveda.

Aveda products come from a long line of all-natural, plant-based ingredients, which are known to be high-quality, eco-friendly and significantly healthier for hair. While Aveda products are sold at most high-end salon and retail stores, having a professional stylist color hair can significantly increase the quality and prevent un-necessary damage from misuse of products.

Salon Eben & Day Spa is a family-owned, professional salon that has been using Aveda products for over 25 years. With their experienced staff, relaxing atmosphere and use of all-natural Aveda products, hair will be left healthier, happier and with the least possible adversities from hair coloring.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 281-980-5160 or visit www.salonebendayspa.com.

See ad on page 57.

Planet Beach Automated Spa is changing the way the world rejuve-nates! Relax with a custom massage from a menu of message options de-signed to relieve stress. The use of water, heat and oxygen therapy, along with heated jade stones, will melt away all stress. Enjoy a massage while fully clothed in a private room.

Receive a healthy glow with several different services offered at the spa. Services range between sunless tan-ning and UV therapy. Achieve a deep, natural looking glow with a sunless spray tan that leaves no streaks for a glow that lasts for five to seven days. Planet Beach Automated Spa also of-fers products to enhance and prolong the glow.

Feel renewed with facial services using light therapy, skincare prod-ucts and dietary supplements. In ad-dition, Planet Beach offers hydration rejuvenation, a premium-grade LED whitening light to brighten and whiten teeth and an infrared sauna system for muscle and pain relief. A total body detox integrating dry heat, vibration massage, LED light technology, aro-matherapy and cool facial air works to slim, tone and detoxify the body in a single session. New to Planet Beach is the FIT Body Wrap that helps burn thousands of calories, lose inches and reduce body fat effortlessly.

Planet Beach is located at 636 Highway 6 in Sugar Land. For more in-formation, visit www.planetbeach.com or call 832-939-8086.

Relax, Glow andRenew at Planet Beach

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Advertorial New Year, New You

The New Year brings excitement for changes toward a healthier lifestyle. Many adjust their eating habits, while others make it a priority to become more active. Gym visits, yoga sessions and endurance challenges empower and uplift minds. Exploration and new journeys begin this year as spiritual wellness deepens. Envi-ronmental Protech supports healthy lifestyle choices and encourages clean water consumption as a crucial component for a sound body, mind and spirit.

For the last 20 years, the folks at Environmental Protech have made it their mis-sion to improve the quality of lives by improving the quality of water throughout Tex-as. By providing high-quality water treatment equipment at a fair price and keeping the customer’s interest as a top priority, Environmental Protech has established itself at the forefront of the Texas water treatment industry. After two decades, own-ers Robert and Mindy Kersey are proud to serve second and third generation cus-tomers.

Environmental Protech knows quality of water has a direct impact on quality of life. Softening and filtering water has wonderful benefits for hair, skin and house-hold appliances. Reverse osmosis gives clients unlimited amounts of pure drinking water by removing or reducing contaminants such as arsenic, chloride, lead, fluo-ride, cryptosporidium, copper, nitrates, sodium and many others. The use of plastic bottles can be greatly reduced by treating the water at the point of use. Water treat-ment not only improves the everyday quality of life for the person using it but also helps save the planet!

For more information on the benefits provided by water treatment, visit www.environmentalprotech.com or call 281-495-4420.

See ad on page 13.

Environmental Protech

When a person feels good about their appearance, it truly does affect how he feels about himself. No matter what area one is concerned with, double board certi-fied Plastic Surgeon Dr. John T. Nguyen and his team can put together a specific and individualized cosmetic treatment in order to achieve a client’s desired out-come.

The quality Dr. Nguyen puts forth to his patients is unsurpassed in the realm of plastic surgery, allowing him to capture and compliment the beauty that exists within each patient. In addition to being double board certified, Dr. Nguyen’s artistry background and attention to detail makes him stand out above the rest. His experi-ence says it all, and his results say even more!

Sugar Land Plastic Surgery is located at 16614 Creek Bend Drive in Sugar Land. Call or visit online to set up a complimentary consultation and enhance your con-fidence today.

For more information, call 281-980-8000 or visit www.MyBodySurgeon.com. See ad on page 7.

Love Who You Are!

One of the hallmarks of the Sugar Land Face and Body experience is the personal analysis that Dr. Eric Humble and his staff provide each patient, the goal of which is to arrive at the best solution for that patient alone. People come with their goals, and Sugar Land Face and Body develops a plan to ad-dress those needs and wants in the way that best serves the patient and provides the highest level of personal satisfaction. The variety of tools and techniques available to Dr. Humble and the staff make it possible to cus-tomize literally every patient need.

One of the newest – and amazingly effective – treatments Sugar Land Face and Body offers is the Vampire Facial. Kim Kardashian brought it to national attention, and it is available now at Sugar Land Face and Body. Dr. Lin Humble, wife of Sugar Land Face and Body founder Dr. Eric Humble, has employed this technique and found it to be her personal favorite of the less invasive techniques at the center. She has dubbed it her personal “fountain of youth.” The Vampire Facial is es-sentially a three-step process that “re-minds” the body of what it is able to do naturally.

Combining the restorative healing functions of the body with the intro-duction of the PRPs, the factor-rich “reminder” allows the reintroduction of collagen and fatty tissue to produce smoothness, and the “vampire effect” begins right away. There is an immedi-ate and noticeable difference, but the long-term effects are evident within two to three weeks of the procedure.

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

See ad on page 11.

Ring in the New Yearwith a New You FromSugar Land Face andBody Plastic Surgery


Ann Bertles, MDBoard Certified Ob/Gyn

832.437.9690 (p) | 832.437.9694 (f)23232 Kingsland Blvd., Ste. E, Katy, TX 77494

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AdvertorialNew Year, New You

Off the Vine Bistro provides fresh, local ingredients in flavorful meals in a rustic yet elegant ambience. The neighborhood eatery sources much of its produce from local farmers, embracing the farm to table spirit. Namita Asthana, the bistro’s owner and chef, buys grass-fed beef from local, certified suppliers and flies pacific salmon from the northwest. The ever-changing menu is based on the supplies available and keeps the chef’s creativity constantly challenged. The bistro provides a robust selection of vegetarian and gluten-free dishes to cater to the discerning, wellness-focused customer.

All of the dishes made in the bistro kitchen are created from scratch using natu-ral ingredients. The tomato soup contains organic tomatoes, root vegetables and is made without any animal stock or bouillon. Similarly, the bistro kitchen sprouts its own lentils to use in the Sprout Salad. The bistro menu includes comfort foods such as the Grass-Fed Beef Burger and adventurous palate-pleasers such as Vine Curry and Bison Chili.

The meals Asthana creates always focus on the wellness of consumer. The kitchen staff sprouts their own lentils for salads, and sandwiches crunch with fresh vegetables and fruits. Asthana uses signature spices to keep the soups and signa-ture dishes flavorful. This is one kitchen that presents gluten free and vegan dishes with so much taste, they can be enjoyed everyday.

Off the Vine Bistro also carries a compendium of craft beers from Texas, around the country and even Europe. The well-selected wine list soothes, entices and en-gages wine enthusiasts of all levels.

For more information, visit www.offthevinebistro.com or call 281-242-4186. See ad on page 27.

Off the Vine Bistro


New Year, New You

Keeping a resolution to cut salt from your diet is easy. Use simple spice swaps to create tasty, low-sodium meals. From seasoning eggs with basil instead of salt to adding spices and herbs to no-salt tomato sauce, the Mc-Cormick Kitchens offer these easy tips and recipes to make low-sodium meals full of flavor:

• Beat 1/8 teaspoon herb instead of salt into 2 eggs before scrambling.

• Add oregano, garlic powder and red pepper to no-salt added tomato sauce for a tasty, low-sodium pasta dinner.

• Try making Citrus Herbed Chicken with Asparagus, Fiesta Citrus Salmon or Tuscan Pasta. These dishes don’t call for any salt. Instead, they swap in basil, garlic powder and oregano.

For more low-sodium tips and recipes – such as shaved vegetable salad with Italian herb vinaigrette – visit McCormick.com/recipes/low-sodium to keep your New Year’s resolutions on track. Visit www.McCormickScienceInstitute.com to see the full Anderson study, which examined the effects of a behavioral intervention that emphasized spice and herbs, and how it impacts sodium intake.

for Herbs and Spices

In medium saucepan, mix tomatoes, tomato sauce, sugar and seasonings. Bring to boil on medium heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 20 minutes.

In large skillet, heat oil on medium-high heat. Add zucchini, mushrooms and onion; cook and stir 4 minutes or until vegetables are tender-crisp. Stir tomato sauce into vegetables.

Meanwhile, cook pasta as directed on package. Drain well. Place pasta in serving bowl. Add vegetable mixture; toss well.

M aking a

New Year’s

resolution? Don’t

forget salt. Most Americans

consume about 1,000

milligrams of sodium over

the amount recommended by

nutrition and health experts.

New research shows cooking

with spices and herbs could

help you ditch the salt

shaker and meet sodium

recommendations.

Swap Salt

in 2016

Tuscan PastaPrep time: 15 minutes I Cook time: 25 minutesServes: 6

1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained1 can (8 ounces) no-salt added tomato sauce1 tablespoon sugar (optional)2 tablespoons packed brown sugar, divided2 teaspoons McCormick Garlic Powder2 teaspoons McCormick Perfect Pinch Italian Seasoning1/2 teaspoon McCormick Black Pepper, ground1 tablespoon olive oil1 pound zucchini, sliced 1 package (8 ounces) sliced mushrooms1 small onion, chopped6 ounces pasta, such as spaghetti or linguine



New Year, New You

In small bowl, mix juice, oil and 1 tablespoon each seasoning and sugar. Place salmon in large re-sealable plastic bag or glass dish. Add marinade; turn to coat well. Refrigerate 30 minutes, or longer for extra flavor.

In another small bowl, mix remaining seasoning and sugar. Remove salmon from marinade. Discard any remaining marinade. Rub salmon evenly with seasoning mixture.

1/4 cup flour 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 teaspoon McCormick Garlic Powder 1/4 teaspoon McCormick Black Pepper, coarse ground 1 pound thin-sliced boneless skinless chicken breasts 1 tablespoon oil 1 1/2 cups chicken stock 1 teaspoon McCormick Basil Leaves 1 teaspoon McCormick Oregano Leaves 1 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces 2 tablespoons lemon juice

1/4 cup orange juice2 tablespoons olive oil2 tablespoons McCormick Perfect Pinch Salt-Free Fiesta Citrus Seasoning, divided2 tablespoons packed brown sugar, divided1 pound salmon fillets

Fiesta Citrus SalmonPrep time: 5 minutes I Cook time: 15 minutesServes: 4

In shallow dish, mix flour, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder and pepper. Reserve 2 tablespoons. Moisten chicken lightly with water. Coat evenly with remaining flour mixture.

In large nonstick skillet, heat oil on medium heat. Add 1/2 of the chicken pieces; cook 3 minutes per side, or until golden brown. Repeat with remaining chicken, adding additional oil, if necessary. Remove chicken

Citrus Herbed Chicken with AsparagusPrep time: 10 minutes I Cook time: 20 minutesServes: 4

from skillet; keep warm.In medium bowl, mix stock, basil, oregano and

reserved flour mixture until well blended. Add to skillet along with asparagus. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer 3-5 minutes, or until sauce is slightly thickened, stirring frequently. Stir in lemon juice. Return chicken to skillet; cook 2 minutes, or until heated through.



New Year, New You

Consuming more than nine teaspoons of sugar a day for men and six teaspoons for women can lead to health problems, such as tooth decay, obesity and depres-sion. Reducing your sugar intake can help more than your waistline; it can im-prove your overall health.

First, it’s important to recognize that there are two types of sugar – nat-ural sugar and added sugar. Natural sugar is found in fruits, milk and some whole grains. Added sugar is sugar that is added to processed foods and drinks, such as cookies, cereals and soda.

Added sugar affects your body in many ways. It can be as addic-tive as drugs, tobacco or alcohol because it affects the same regions of the brain, triggering the pleasure sensors to release dopamine. Dopamine makes you want to eat more, even when you are not hun-gry.

When you consume too much added sugar, your liver has to work extra hard to process it. Excess sugar in the liver often turns into fat, which can lead to liver damage or other health concerns, such as high cholesterol, diabetes or heart disease.

Swap Out Sugar

for Better Health

It can also overload and damage your pancreas, which controls the blood sugar called insulin that powers your muscles and organs. Lack of insulin can cause muscle and nerve damage.

Limit added sugars in your diet with these five healthy alternatives:

1 Skip sugary cereals at breakfast. Instead, opt for a protein-rich

meal. Options, such as eggs, turkey sausage and whole-wheat toast with peanut butter are healthier ways to fuel your day.

2 Bring healthy snacks to work to ward off the temptation of sugary

treats. Some smart choices include: fro-zen grapes, trail mix, yogurt, almonds, apple slices and peanut butter with cel-ery sticks.

3 Instead of pie, donuts or cake, curb your sweet tooth craving by reach-

ing for fresh fruit, low-fat frozen yogurt or a fruit and yogurt parfait.

4 If you can’t substitute a fruit, make your treats small, such as a single

fun-size piece of candy.

5 Sodas, energy drinks and sports drinks sneak in a lot of sugar calo-

ries. In fact, a single can of soda has nine teaspoons of sugar – the maxi-mum an adult male should consume in an entire day. Skip the sugary bever-ages and try hot or iced tea, fizzy water or lemon water instead.

Choosing simple substitutions make it easy to replace sugary foods with smarter options for better health. Visit guardyourhealth.com for more food and nutrition tips and resources.


Y ou probably realize that eating too many sugary foods and gaining weight go hand in hand. What you may not know is that aside from loading up on calories that help pack on

the pounds, consuming too much sugar can also harm your health in other ways.


After practicing for several years as a board certified plastic surgeon and speak-ing with thousands of women, Dr. Ravi Somayazula has come to understand at least one thing: Women miss their pre-pregnancy bodies.

Having children is a fulfilling experience, but it certainly can take a toll on a woman’s body. There are many physical changes left behind by pregnancy and breastfeeding. Most women complain that their breasts are more saggy and de-flated. Similarly, the abdomen usually forms stretch marks, along with loose, hang-ing skin and fat. Diet and exercise are key components of a healthy lifestyle, but unfortunately, they don’t always get women back to looking like themselves.

Dr. Ravi specializes in Mommy Makeover procedures, which he customizes in-dividually to address women’s unique needs. Most women prefer a combination of a breast procedure and a tummy tuck performed at the same time. However, a Mommy Makeover can also include several other body contouring and facial reju-venation options. Some of Dr. Ravi’s happiest patients are those who have given years to their family and have always put their needs last, but they finally decided to do something for themselves, and it has brought them newfound happiness. January and February are the perfect months for a woman to undergo a Mommy Makeover so that she can heal in time for summer.

Learn more about Mommy Makeover procedures and other services offered by Dr. Ravi Somayazula at Body By Ravi Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics by visiting www.BodyByRavi.com or by calling 281-242-1061 and requesting a complimen-tary consultation.

See ad on page 4.

Mommy, It’s Your Turn!

NEWSWORTHY

Fort Bend ISDBoard of Trustees Approves Targeted Improvement Plans

The Fort Bend ISD Board of Trust-ees approved targeted improvement plans for three schools during a called meeting, reaffirming the district’s commitment to address students’ individual learning needs and the unique needs of each campus. State accountability systems required that the Fort Bend ISD Board of Trust-ees adopt Texas Accountability In-tervention Systems (TAIS) improve-ment plans for Briargate Elementary, Ridgemont Elementary and Christa McAuliffe Middle schools due to the schools’ designation of “Improvement Required” in the 2015 Accountability Ratings.

The plans outline the district’s ongoing efforts to address campus needs and improve student achieve-ment. District administrators worked closely with campus administrators throughout the development of the TAIS plans, using state accountabil-ity data and campus input to identify specific areas of improvement, as well as solutions that will ultimately im-prove student instruction.

“Our campuses have unique needs, so we know we need targeted instruction that goes way beyond a one-size-fits-all approach,” said Dr. Phillys Hill, Fort Bend ISD’s Chief Aca-demic Officer. “When data shows that our students are not performing at the standards expected by the state – and our community – it is imperative that we act with a sense of urgency to help our students succeed. It is not up to our students to improve. It is up to us to improve systems.”

The targeted improvement plans will also provide deliberate, school-wide, positive behavior supports with a focus on relationship building be-tween students, parents and commu-nity organizations.

In his book No Grain, No Pain, Dr. Peter Osborne conveys the principles of health from a functional medicine viewpoint. Instead of relying on synthetic drugs, functional medicine seeks to understand a patient’s overall medical history, lifestyle and environmental factors using specialized lab tests, as well as a comprehensive physical evaluation.

In part one, Dr. Osborne simplifies the science of why grain causes pain. He dis-cusses how inflammation is at the root of all pain. Readers will learn how to escape what Dr. Osborne calls the “cycle of pain” and avoid “gluten-free whiplash.” They will also come to understand the link between the brain and gut, as well as the role that grain plays in obesity and other metabolic diseases.

Then, in part two, Dr. Osborne moves on to the actual 30 day program, which will help readers rid their diet of grain and other problematic foods and make other lifestyle changes, so they, too, can start feeling better and living pain free. Read on! Published by Simon & Schuster, this new book will be published on January 26th and is currently available at www.NoGrainNoPainBook.com.

For more information on Dr. Osborne, visit www.DrPeterOsborne.com. See ad on page 52.

No Grain, No Pain

Advertorial


Houston Methodist Primary Care Group celebrated the official opening of its new location near Sienna Plantation, Lake Olympia and Riverstone with an open house enjoyed by over 250 attendees.

Chris Siebenaler, Julia Adrogue, Michael Koo, B. Keith Ellis and Deepshikha Sharda.

Dr. Shel’s Wellness & Medical Spa’s 7th Annual Holiday Soirée featured over $5,000 in drawings, gourmet hors’ d’oeuvres and signature cocktails. Guests were invited to bring an unwrapped gift for Toys for Tots to receive an extra entry for the drawing.

Caren Kerr and Shannon Whitley.

Vickie Michaels and Tiffany Valentine. Ruthanne Mefford, Irene Wisner and Shelena Lalji.

Al Alamia, Ayeez Lalji and Craig Tippit. Carla Michael and Pam Lockard.

IN THEHEART

O F T H E B E N D

OUT&ABOUT


Club 24 Plus hosted a spectacular Vegas-style Diwali Extravaganza at the Sugar Land home of Mahesh and Alpa Shah. At this Festival of Lights, an Elvis impersonator serenaded guests, and live persons stood in gold sculpture form.Photos by Bijay Dixit.

Kamana and Bal Sharma

Vipra Bhasin, Asha Dhume, Aparna Kamat and Asra Oberoi.

Mahesh and Alpa Shah.

Chitra Divakaruni with Shashi and Harish Jajoo.

Kiran and Pradeep Gupta.

Namrita Parikh, Aku Patel and Mona Parikh.

Suburban Sugar Land Women, a non-profit organization serving Fort Bend, wrapped up 2015 by volunteering in several Fort Bend ISD schools.

Monica Riley and Marvelyn Harris volunteered at Ridge Point’s College and Scholarship Night.

Mose and Mable Austin donated incentives to Hunters Glen Elementary fifth graders and staff with Assistant Principal Angel Harmon Hogan.


absolutely! focus media celebrated the season with a dose of holiday cheer at Fernando’s Latin Cuisine, where the team enjoyed delicious eats, a White Elephant gift exchange and a recap of the year’s successes.

Andrea Rigamonti and Hallie Keller.

Zoë Favre, Marinela Taylor and Sarah Bearden.

Mary Favre and Liz Furman.

Grace Belleza and Adrienne Boring.

Kay Garrett and Joan Frances.

Molly Ellis and Lara Bell.Fernando Echeverria

Zeenat Mitha and Patti Parish-Kaminski.

Jessica Kij Tammy Hampton

IN THEHEART

O F T H E B E N D

OUT&ABOUT


Fort Bend Residents supported the For All Humanity Luncheon benefiting Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston. The event honored Nihala Zakaria.

Habiba Dhanani and Saeeda Dawood.

Sharan Gahunia and Huma Nawab.

Mustafa Tameez and Elliot Gershenson.

Munira Panjwani and Nihala Zakaria.

Sugar Land Face and Body Plastic Surgery hosted its annual Forever Glam Wonderland Holiday Soirée, where guests were treated to UV light skin evaluations, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a variety of giveaways every hour.

Eric and Lin Humble.Sasha Kline and Laura Baartmans.Samantha Ray and Kathy Loep.

Vanesa Rodriguez, Janna Carandang and Monica Hand.

Susan Boggio and Tehmina Masud.


Hope For Three’s Casino Night and Hold ‘em Tourney featured delightful food and drink, the thrill of gaming and prestigious prizes. Proceeds from evening benefited children living with autism.

Jude Frances and Loggins Jewelers hosted an exclusive trunk show for clients to peruse the latest collections and provided hors d’oeuvres, wine and a special discount.

Client Jane Vaucher, Barbara Laird of Jude Frances and Stephanie Saa of Loggins Jewelers.

Pete and Nancy Olson with Jim Kij.

Matt and Allyson Jackson. Eric and Hope Montgomery.

Neal and Joan Vogan. Michael Garfield and Darla Farmer.

Duyen Le and Mary Ann Gardner.

IN THEHEART

O F T H E B E N D

OUT&ABOUT

MEDICALFOCUS

Breast Cancer Research and You:Helping Find the Breakthrough

to Heal Yourself and Others

More than 15,000 Texas women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, including nearly 2,500 in Harris County. For some patients, participation in a clinical trial is the best option – for their own treatment and the potential to develop effective treatment for other patients. Indeed, behind the break-throughs that have helped dramatically increase breast cancer survival rates in recent years are women who made the courageous choice to join a clinical trial.

In Houston, opportunities and op-tions for participation in cancer research are numerous. Over the years, Texas Oncology and its patients have played a role in research that has led to more than 50 FDA-approved cancer-fighting drugs.

cal trial we do adds incrementally to our knowledge.”

A clinical trial is research into how patients respond to different medical ap-proaches for various types of cancers. Studies address scientific challenges and identify better ways to treat, diag-nose and prevent cancer. Patients who participate in clinical trials are volunteers who provide a tremendous service to further cancer research.

Clinical trials involving new drug ther-apies and combinations are conducted in four phases and in some cases lead to breakthrough drugs or therapies. For ex-ample, the “cooling cap” is a recent dis-covery that had clinical trials conducted here in Houston. It’s a device aimed at preventing chemo-related hair loss. Chemotherapy works by flowing through the bloodstream to target cells that grow and replace themselves rapidly. This cat-egory of cells includes not only cancer cells but also hair and nail cells. This is why chemotherapy sometimes causes hair and fingernail loss.

Cooling down your head reduces blood flow and therefore the amount of chemo to the scalp. When successful, women keep most of their hair, avoid-ing one of the more dramatic disruptions that can accompany a cancer diagnosis. Patients often say that being treated like they were “sick” was one of the worst parts of having cancer – and baldness being a visible indicator of that. Keeping your hair provides greater privacy and control over who knows you’re sick.

“There was a time when doctors viewed and treated all breast cancer much the same way — with a one-size-

“Clinical trials are how we develop new treatments,” said Dr. Michelina Cairo, medical oncologist, Texas Oncol-ogy–Houston Memorial City. “We can’t promise that every clinical trial will ben-efit every patient, but it is a way to move science forward in the world. Every clini-

Dr. Michelina Cairo

Dr. Frankie Ann Holmes

fits-all option,” said Dr. Frankie Ann Hol-mes, medical oncologist, Texas Oncol-ogy–Houston Memorial City. “Today, we clearly know that all breast tumors are not the same and should not be treated the same. That knowledge came through years of research and clinical trials.”

Oncologists definitely have learned that cancer often requires different ap-proaches and combinations of chemo-therapy, surgery, and radiation — as well as new treatments and new break-throughs like immunotherapy.

Patients also find that participating in clinical trials helps make their cancer experience more positive because they are potentially helping others. Participat-ing gives patients the opportunity to pay it forward, knowing that their treatment could help create more cancer survivors.

Dr. Frankie Ann Holmes and Dr. Michelina Cairo are medical oncologists specializing in breast cancer at Texas Oncology–Houston Memorial City, 925 Gessner Street, Suite 550 in Houston. For more information, call 713-467-1722.



MEDICALFOCUS

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hos-pital is inviting the Fort Bend community to see its newly streamlined Heart & Vas-cular Center and Breast Care Center at a special double open house on Thursday, February 4th from 5 to 7 pm.

Houston Methodist Sugar Land’s Heart & Vascular Center, a nationally ac-credited Chest Pain Center, was recently expanded to expedite care for cardiac patients. The specially designed facility boasts state-of-the-art technology and provides 24/7 interventional cardiology and cardiac surgery services. The center includes four cardiac operating rooms, two hybrid operating rooms, four car-diac catheterization labs, two procedure rooms and a 19 bed observation unit, which are run by highly-trained medical staff.

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hos-pital’s Heart & Vascular Center was the first hospital in the United States to in-stall a hybrid operating room in 2012 that combines a Maquet operating table and a Siemens Healthcare C-arm ro-botic system for angiography and is still one of the few hospitals in the nation to have advanced hybrid operating rooms of this kind. The hybrid operating rooms incorporate advanced technologies with

Houston Methodist Sugar Land HospitalHosts Double Open House

traditional surgery capabilities to offer patients a new range of diagnostic and treatment procedures that can stream-line care and reduce recovery time and complications. In fact, Houston Method-ist Sugar Land Hospital is the only facil-ity in Fort Bend County that performs open-heart surgery, including the most complex cases.

The most significant feature of theHeart & Vascular Center is that in theevent of a cardiac emergency, it stands ready with a team of experienced spe-cialists including cardiologists, inter-ventional cardiologists, cardiothoracic/vascular surgeons, cardiac anesthesi-ologists and specialty-trained nursing staff. The facility’s benefits reach beyond patients entering the Emergency Depart-ment with heart attack symptoms and

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Heart & Vascular Center and Breast Care Center.

ensures physicians are able to swiftly di-agnose patients and carry out the course of treatment as quickly as possible.

Advanced technology can also be found in Houston Methodist Sugar Land’s Breast Care Center, which of-fers the latest in breast cancer screen-ing advances, including low-dose radia-tion tomosynthesis, also known as 3-D mammography. Tomosynthesis is more accurate in detecting breast cancer than standard mammography equipment and detects 41 percent more invasive breast cancers, which leads to earlier diagno-sis. The center is also proud to have a Breast Care Navigator on staff to help guide patients and their families through the entire care process.

Touring the Heart & Vascular Center and Breast Care Center can give Fort Bend residents peace of mind knowing that if a cardiac or breast service is ever needed, Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital has the advanced facilities, ex-pertise and friendly, knowledgeable staff ready to care for its patients. Tours of both facilities will be offered, as well as refreshments, door prizes and a free gift for all attendees.

To RSVP, visit houstonmethodist.org/events or call 281-275-0751.

Board certified cardiologist Michael H. Koo, MD, is joining Houston Method-ist Cardiology Associates. “It’s an honor to join the team that has a long history of bringing the most advanced and sophis-ticated cardiac care to Fort Bend,” said Koo. “My approach to patient safety and comfort is a perfect fit with the cul-ture and mission of Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, and I’m excited to begin seeing patients at Houston Meth-odist Cardiology Associates.”

Koo earned his medical degree from New York Medical College. He complet-ed his residency in internal medicine at Stony Brook University Medical Center

Houston Methodist Cardiology AssociatesWelcomes Michael H. Koo, MD

and fellowships in cardiovascular dis-ease and interventional cardiology at Hofstra North Shore-LIJ Health System and Stony Brook University Medical Center, respectively. Koo is board certi-fied in cardiovascular disease, nuclear cardiology, echocardiography and in-ternal medicine and is board eligible in interventional cardiology. He speaks both English and Korean.

“Dr. Koo brings strong skills in interventional cardiology to our team, along with a compassionate approach to patient care,” said John Passmore, MD. “We are pleased to have him work along-side us as we continue to grow the level

of cardiac care available here in Fort Bend and surrounding counties.”

To make an appointment with Koo or any of the physicians at Houston Meth-odist Cardiology Associates, call 713-776-9500 or visit houstonmethodist.org/online-scheduling.

Michael H. Koo, MD


Memorial Hermann to OpenIRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute in Sugar Land

Elite sports medicine care is coming to Sugar Land. The Memorial Hermann IRONMAN® Sports Medicine Institute, offering access to a dynamic array of sports medicine experts and compre-hensive testing and training for com-petitive and recreational athletes, will open its fourth location on the Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital campus in the spring of 2016.

“Enhancing our relationship with Me-morial Hermann as they open the fourth location of the Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute in Sugar Land is indicative of the power of the partnership,” said Bill Potts, Vice President of Global Licensing and Part-ner Services. “The Institute and its staff will now be able to provide excellent sports medicine care and human per-formance testing to even more athletes of all types at this new facility.”

The Institute in Sugar Land will join Memorial Hermann’s comprehensive orthopedic network that includes sister sites in the Texas Medical Center, Me-morial City and The Woodlands; eight Memorial Hermann Joint Centers and the Memorial Hermann Orthopedic & Spine Hospital in Bellaire. Memorial Hermann’s orthopedic services include knee, hip, shoulder, foot and ankle, spine and back and elbow, hand and wrist care.

Like its sister sites, the Institute will offer physician services, physical ther-apy, human performance training and testing and sports nutrition counseling.

“We are really excited to bring our diverse spectrum of sports medicine expertise and performance programs to Sugar Land,” said Walt Lowe, MD, Chairman of Orthopedic Surgery at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Medical School and Medical Director of the In-stitute. “Since we opened our flagship IRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute in the Texas Medical Center in 2011, we have worked to establish quality, com-prehensive orthopedic care and innova-tive sports medicine programs at each successive site.”

The new 15,000 square-foot facil-ity will be located in Memorial Hermann Sugar Land’s new medical plaza, which is currently under construction as part of a $93 million campus expansion en-deavor. “This is an exciting announce-ment for the Institute and for the rap-idly growing Sugar Land community and Fort Bend County region,” said Jim Brown, Senior Vice President and CEO of Memorial Hermann Ambulatory Ser-vices and Orthopedics. “There is an ac-tive adult and youth population in the area that deserves convenient access to unmatched sports medicine care in their own community. They will have that option on the Memorial Hermann Sugar Land campus.”

In addition to offering the same high-quality services available at other Insti-tute sites, the Institute in Sugar Land will have the added element of a large outdoor sports field that will be used for physical therapy, rehabilitation, return-to-play and sports performance training and testing.

“We are thrilled to diversify Memo-rial Hermann Sugar Land’s services with the addition of the IRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute and are proud that

we are continuing to provide the best medical care possible to the surround-ing community,” said Greg Haralson, Senior Vice President and CEO of Me-morial Hermann Sugar Land. “Our hos-pital campus is expanding to meet the growing demands of Sugar Land and Fort Bend County with state-of-the-art facilities and enhanced capabilities.”

The Institute is affiliated with UT Phy-sicians – fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons who also serve on the fac-ulty of UTHealth. Memorial Hermann’s prestigious staff of affiliated physicians includes head team physicians for the Houston Rockets, Houston Texans, the University of Houston Cougars and many area public and private high schools.

The Institute is also an extension of Memorial Hermann’s long-term part-nership with IRONMAN. Together, the two organizations host the Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Texas triathlon pre-sented by Waste Management, which has taken place in The Woodlands each of the last five years.

For more information about the Me-morial Hermann IRONMAN Sports Medi-cine Institute, call 713-242-2270 or visit ironman.memorialhermann.org.

The Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospi-tal, a sister site of the new facility on the Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital campus.


absolute ly!AUTO REVIEW

absolute ly!AUTO REVIEW

By Steve Kursar

T he 2016 Jaguar XJ is a vehicle that achieves that perfect bal-ance of English elegance, under-

stated luxury and stunning performance. Its style harkens back decades, and yet it is as up-to-date technologically as any car on the road. You may be seduced by the look and the feel of the new XJ, but the car’s power and handling will make you fall in love. This is one romance where you’ll feel no regrets.

The Jaguar brand has a varied history that reaches back almost 100 years. But, it’s probably most famous for its sports cars of the 50s and 60s, such as the iconic E-Type, that were highly success-ful on the racetrack. This reputation for performance was carried over into their XJ sedans. Unfortunately for consum-ers, reliability was not a Jaguar hallmark.

After various changes of owner-ship, Tata Motors of India bought the company from Ford Motor in 2008 and set about bringing Jag-uar rightfully back to its former glory. It doesn’t take a long look at the brand to see that its cars are better than ever.

The all-aluminum body 2016 XJ builds on its classic and dis-tinctive silhouette by bringing it forward and giving it contempo-rary styling that includes a larger, more upright grille and adaptive LED head-lights. Both standard and long wheel-base models are available. The interior features soft grain, perforated leather seats set off with contrast stitching and piping with an embossed Jaguar logo on the headrests. This Jaguar shows how truly modern it is with available technology including a Wi-Fi hotspot, a 3600 surround camera system and a semi-automated pull-in and parallel-parking system. Oh, and of course, it is available in British Racing Green.

The Jaguar’s racing heritage reveals itself under the hood as well. The base XJ, with an MSRP of $77,700, is pow-

2016 JAGUAR XJ

ered by an all-aluminium 340 hp, super-charged 3.0 liter V6 engine that should deliver 18 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. There’s also a 470 hp, su-percharged 5.0 liter V8 that gets 15 mpg city and 23 mpg highway. The super fast XJR gets a specially tuned 550 hp ver-sion of the V8 engine that can rocket this large sedan from zero to 60 in about 4 seconds.

Jaguar did a marvelous job updating everything about the new XJ. But, by maintaining its classic, understated Eng-lish elegant styling, they created one of the most beautiful cars on the road.

Follow Steve Kursar at KursarOnCars. blogspot.com.


ADVERTISING SECTION

To advertise: 281.690.4242 • www.fortbendfocus.com

COMING FEBRUARY 2016

As a professional, you’ll want to be seen in our Business Pros section. Bring new clients to your office, and distinguish yourself among the top professionals in the area with this unique

opportunity to showcase your expertise. Our advertising section is the ideal format to inform readers about your advanced training, specialties, client-friendly environment and community involvement.

Bankers • Insurance Agents • ConsultantsAgencies • Managers • Entrepreneurs


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

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

NO LIMIT TO ENTRIESTo submit a digital photo, e-mail the jpeg file to [email protected]. Digital photos must be HIGH RESOLUTION at least 300 dpi at actual size of at least 4” x 6”.

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

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

January 2016 Winner

“Sunset in Sugar Land” By Cassandra Korsvik

Congratulations Cassandra, you’ve earned a $50 gift certificate to a restaurant!

A M A T E U R P H O T O C O N T E S T


Love Is in the Air

Valentine’s Gift Guide Listing

Special Advertising Section

Coming February 2016

Purchase a qualifying size ad and receive aFREE gift guide spot.

To advertise call,

281-690-4242www.fortbendfocus.com


E V E N T S

January 5th, 6:30 pm Salsa and Guacamole ProgramSixth through eighth graders are invited to learn to craft some favorite dips like salsa and guacamole at the Sugar Land Branch Library, located at 550 Eldridge Road. Program attendees will slice peppers, tomatoes and avocados and mix them with different spices for the perfect flavor. Snacks and drinks will be provided. Call 281-238-2140.

January 7th, 9 amBreakfast and BingoSenior citizens ages 50 and up are invited to fellowship with peers, enjoy breakfast and play friendly rounds of bingo for great prizes at the Missouri City Parks and Recreation Department, located at 2701 Cypress Point Drive. Tickets can be purchased at the door. Call 281-403-8637.

Every Saturday, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, rain or shine

Presented By:

198 Kempner St. at Imperial Sugar Land

Water Treatment Specialists

ENVIRONMENTALPROTECH

New YearNew YearHappyHappy

January 10thMarielle OgletreeYoung Artists Concerto CompetitionThe Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra will hosta concerto competition for Texas residents ages 18 and younger at Sugar Land First United Methodist Church, located at 431 Eldridge Road. The winner will receive a $500 scholarship and the opportunity to perform with the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra at their February concert.For eligibility requirements and toapply for an audition, call 281-276-9642or visit www.fbso.org.

January 13th, 2 pm Digital Photo Editing Computer ClassJoin the University Branch Library, locatedat 14010 University Boulevard in Sugar Land,for a quick look at some free online photoeditors. Photo editors can help you apply aquick fix and fine tune any picture or add your personal touch with effects, overlays and borders.Registration is required. Call 281-633-5100.

January 14th, 4:30 – 5:30 pmAfter-School Break at the LibraryThe Missouri City Branch Library, located at1530 Texas Parkway, invites children in grades one through five to a special program entitled“Do-It-Yourself Silly Putty.” Three ingredientsand a little bit of imagination are all it takesto bring this flubber to life. Bring a friend! Call 281-238-2100.

January 19th, 6 pmFree Weight Management Seminar Join Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, located at 16655 Southwest Freeway, to learn about comprehensive weight loss programs, including Step LITE™, medical weight manage-ment and bariatric surgery, and enjoy a healthy cooking demonstration. The seminar takes place at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Conference Center. Registration is required.Call 281-274-7500 or register onlineat houstonmethodist.org/eventsto reserve a seat.


E V E N T S

SUBMIT YOUR EVENTS

E-mail [email protected] the event date, time, location and a short description of the event.

January 22nd, 7:30 – 9:30 am2016 State of the City of Sugar LandThe Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce will host the 2016 Sugar Land State of the City with Mayor James A. Thompson and City Manager Allen Bogard. The breakfast will be held at Sugar Land Marriott Town Square, located at 16090 City Walk in Sugar Land. To register, visit www.fortbendchamber.com or call 281- 491-0800.

January 23rd, 1:30 pm The Magic DorkTo kick off the Family Reading Club, all ages are invited to the Sugar Land Branch Library, located at located at 550 Eldridge Road, to welcome the Magic Dork. Watch his antics and tricks and be amazed! This program is presented by the Friends of the Sugar Land Library. Call 281-238-2140.

January 25th, 7 pmCampfire Stories and S’mores Gather around the campfire at this special Pajama Night Story Time to celebrate the Fort Bend County Libraries’ Children’s Book Week with stories, songs, crafts and snacks. This program is for the whole family at the Missouri City Branch Library, located at 1530 Texas Parkway. Call 281-238-2100.

January 25th and 26th, 5:30 – 8:30 pmLearn Job Search Survival Tips The Sienna Branch Library will present afree, two-part workshop on Job Search Survival Tips in the Meeting Room of the library, located at 8411 Sienna Springs Boulevard in Missouri City. Different topics are discussed each night. Learn tips on writing a better resumé, researching prospective employers, interviewing and non-verbal skills, making a great first impression, networking and much more. Refreshments will be provided. Call 281-238-2900.

January 28thFree Vein SeminarJoin Dr. Ulises Baltazar for a free vein seminar at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Conference Center, located at 16655 Southwest Freeway. Dr. Baltazar will be speaking about the causes, symptoms, risk factors, treatments and prevention of varicose and spider veins. Registration required. Register online at houstonmethodist.org/events or call 281-274-7500.

January 31st, 6:30 am7th Annual Memorial Hermann USA Fit MarathonThe 7th Annual Memorial Hermann USA Fit Marathon, Fort Bend Kia Half Marathon and Humana Vitality 5K starts and finishes at the University of Houston Sugar Land campus, located at 14000 University Boulevard, and includes is a flat, eight-hour certified course for all levels of runners, from Boston qualifiers to those who need ample time to complete the races. The event benefits the Fort Bend Education Foundation and features a post-race party with food, beverages and fun. To register, visit www.usafitmarathon.com.January 24th – 31st

Family Reading ClubThis six-week program is designed to encourage families to read, learn and have fun together. The Winter Family Reading Club will continue through March 5th at all branches in the Fort Bend County library system. Families who complete the program by reading 36 books or for six hours are eligible to receive a book bag for the family and will have their name entered into a drawing for a $50 dining gift card. To register, visit www.fortbend.lib.tx.us or call 281-633-4734.

January 26th, 7 pmMaster Your Environment A tradition that dates back more than 3,000 years in China, feng shui uses the everyday interior and exterior design elements of lighting, mirrors, colors, shapes, furniture arrangement and landscaping to design a home or work environment that is in harmony with nature. Chao-Chiung Lee, a registered architect and feng shui master, will present some of the basic, time-honored techniques of this ancient philosophy at a special program at the University Branch Library, located at 14010 University Boulevard in Sugar Land. Anyone interested in creating more environmentally balanced spaces is encouraged to attend. Call 281-633-5100.

Dr. Ulises Baltazar

By Alisa Murraywww.AlisaMurray.comNationally recognizedportrait artist and award-winning columnist.

Living the Sweet Life:

A “Change” in You?Here’s What to Do!

I f you know a woman or are one, then when I say the word meno-pause, several things should come

to mind. Night sweats, hot flashes, mood swings, insomnia. Like the veri-table “Lions and tigers and bears – oh my!” This time of life is indeed a special one.

I have written more than once about the subject and have tried a bunch of creams, pills and whatnots not only from medically trained doctors but from the aisles of cures for what ails you at our local supermarket. Up until I met Dr. Fredrick Brown, I gotta tell you, not much helped.

My own father, an OB/GYN, treat-ed patients with pills, and about the time he retired, there were a few years that he prescribed hormones. His part-ner Gary Jewel and I have talked at length about menopause and how to treat women during this transition. Facts are that there has not been a his-tory of studying menopause much, and where there has been focus, it has been more on alleviating the symptoms and not tackling the long-term side effects of what treatments might aggravate in the future of the patient. In other words, let’s take a pill, and then 15 years later, we find that synthetic hor-mones can be linked to a high risk of cancer. Not cool, folks. Not cool at all. So, I have been searching for a better way to manage, and two years ago, I met Dr. Fredrick Brown, who every-body calls “Dr. B.”

Dr. B.’s approach as a physician is through treating the whole patient and not just one symptom, and he has built a successful practice through do-

ing what my daddy did, which was lis-tening. Each patient is different, and therefore, there is no cookie cutter ap-proach to treating and caring for him or her. In my experience, it is through building a relationship with patients that one seeks to find the root of a prob-lem and a solution that works specifi-cally for that individual.

Like my daddy, Dr. B. is old school in his approach to medicine, taking the time to actually discuss and ask questions. The experience of being his patient is more akin to talking with a knowledgeable friend. He gets it that not everybody wants to be given a pill and sent home, which makes his ap-proach to care responsible and refresh-ing.

Dr. B.’s solution to my issues is Bio-Te, a naturally occurring hormone administered through a pellet via a small incision. The hormones are time released, and through specified blood checks, he can determine exactly the custom dose for each patient’s needs.

Hormone replacements have been used since 1939, and pellet implants were popular up until I was born. In the 70s, oral pills became popu-lar and replaced them. According to biotemedical.com, hormone pellets identical to our own hormones can-not be patented, so they have been ignored by the major pharmaceutical firms. Pellets deliver a consistent level of hormones that the body can access as needed, and they outperform oral, patch and creams with fewer side ef-fects.

I have been “pelleted” for two years now, and I have virtually no symptoms of menopause. I have better energy, sex drive and mental clarity. Menopause affects the entire family, because we as mothers and wives are the primary caregivers to our families. When we are not at our maximum in well-being, it is virtually impossible to give fully to those we love. I am thrilled with my results and encourage anyone who is struggling with this “change” to look into alternatives like pellets. I am sure you will feel better and be on your way to feeling like your old self in no time!

Take Care of YOU!

Alisa Murray and Dr. Fredrick Brown.


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