may 2015- absolutely katy magazine

Come onover.We’re right here in West Houston andready to partner with you in the healthcare of your child.

With a dedicated pediatric emergencyroom, pediatric intensive care unit andmore than 20 pediatric subspecialties conveniently located on site, we offer topcare for kids, close to home. From sportsmedicine to cardiology to ophthalmology,our specialty clinics are staffed by expertsin their fields using the most advancedtechnology, in facilities designed specificallyfor children.

Texas Children’s is ranked #4 in the nationby U.S.News & World Report and is thehighest ranked children’s hospital in thesouthwest. The next time your childneeds medical care, come to us. We’re allabout kids.

For maps and information, visit westcampus.texaschildrens.org.

© 2015 Texas Children’s Hospital. All rights reserved. Texas Children’s Hospital is the only children’s hospital in Texas on U.S.News & World Report’s 2014-2015 Honor Roll. WC450_121814

Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus

18200 Katy FreewayHouston, TX 77094832-227-1000

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*No purchase necessary to enter or win the limited time Luxury in Bloom Home Tour’s Shopping Spree gift card promotion (the “Promotion”). Valid only for prospective buyers who qualify by registering at the sales office of any one or more of the currently available 23 Darling model homes in the Houston-metro area only (tour map available at www.darlinghometour.com) between May 1, 2015 and May 31, 2015 (the “Promotion Period”). Increase chances of winning by visiting multiple communities. Drawing for the winners of the $500 Williams Sonoma or Pottery Barn gift cards will be held after June 1, 2015. No cash equivalent or substitutions. Odds of winning dependent on total number of entries. Taxes are the sole responsibility of Winner. Gift Card is awarded “as is” with no warranty or guarantee. Not responsible for lost or stolen cards. Williams Sonoma® or Pottery Barn® is not a participant in or sponsor of this gift card promotion. Each retailer is the exclusive owner of its respective trademarks. This offer may be modified or cancelled at any time and additional rules may apply. All incentives, pricing, availability and plans subject to change or delay without notice. Offer void where prohibited or otherwise restricted by law. Please see a Darling Homes Community Sales Manager, as well as the Official Promotion Rules for further details and visit www.darlinghomes.com for additional disclaimers. © April 2015, Darling Homes of Texas, Inc. All rights reserved.

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BREAKINGNEW GROUNDIN HEALTH CARE. AND IN KATY.

As Katy continues to grow, so does our commitment to delivering

the best possible care for you and your family.

The $85 million expansion at Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital is well under way. Our new 100,000-square-foot

professional office building will be opening soon and our 229,000-square-foot patient tower is slated to open in December.

With additional surgery suites, intensive and intermediate care units, an expanded Emergency Center, sports medicine,

diagnostic imaging, endoscopy and women’s services, including a neonatal intensive care unit and new postpartum and

labor & delivery suites, you can expect the latest technologies and comprehensive care.

memorialhermann.org

A D V A N C E Y O U R C A R E E R W I T H U S . C A L L 1 . 8 6 6 . 4 4 1 . 4 5 6 7 .

MAY 2015 l TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.absolutelykaty.com6

MEMORIAL HERMANN’S ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AND TEAM CARE DELIVER RELIEF FROM JOINT PAINThe Memorial Hermann Joint Center at Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital features highly skilled, affiliated bone and joint specialists using the most advanced treatments and a team approach to patient care. The Joint Center offers one-stop diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation, allowing patients to feel at ease – from surgery through recovery.

12

The Memorial Hermann Joint Center’s Trenton Carlyle, MD; Shelley Mosley, RN; Stacey Williams, RN; William McGarvey, MD and Janie Mooneyhan, RN. Photo by Nesossi Studios.

F E AT U R E S

20 SHE’S GOTTA STORY: MINERVA PÉREZ 30 YEARS IN TV NEWSA wife, mother to two and Sugar Land resident, Pérez has covered major stories across the nation over the past three decades. Since her 2007 departure from television news, she has taken on the roles of executive producer and author. In her inspiring new book I Gotta Story, Pérez reveals her advancement – and struggles – throughout her career.

28 THINGS WE LOVE For Mother’s Day Gift Giving

29 GARDEN-INSPIRED GIFTS FOR MOM This Mother’s Day, give a gift that keeps on growing with items inspired by the garden.

C O L U M N S

16 absolutely! FABULOUS FINDS

24 ASK ALEX Mother’s Day Q & A

30 KIDS’ CORNER Video Game Addiction

31 FAMILY LAW Credit Score? Debt? What Can Be Transferred After a Divorce or Breakup?

34 HIGH SCHOOL HOT SHOT Meet Ana Rangel

M A Y 2 0 1 5

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CONTRIBUTORS

M AY 2 0 1 5 | V O L U M E 1 2 | N U M B E R 5

30

Patrick BironBirons Youth Sports CenterPage 30

12

Nancy V. MillsContributorPage 12

16

Robin Ebrechtabsolutely! Fabulous FindsPage 16

31

Nancy L. RommelmannFamily Law Attorney Page 31

34

Joan FrancesContributorPage 34

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

37 MEDICAL FOCUS

a b s o l u t e l y !H E A LT H Y L I V I N G

42 absolutely! Q & A Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus Answers Your Questions on Allergy and Immunology

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

46 2015 RAM POWER WAGON

C O M M U N I T Y E V E N T S

48 WHAT’S KICKIN’ IN KATY

I N E V E RY I S S U E

10 PUBLISHER’S PREVIEW

18 SEEN ON THE SCENE

40 OUT & ABOUT IN THE HEART OF KATY

N E W S W O R T H Y

23 THE CHILDREN’SMUSEUM OF HOUSTONHosts 12th Annual Fort Bend Spring Brunch

33 SPRING FORWARD With the Fort Bend Boys Choir

35 CINCO RANCH HIGH SCHOOL’S CRYPTONITE ROBOTICS TEAM Builds a Year of Milestone Successes

36 FORT BEND SENIORSMEALS ON WHEELS Raises Funds with 10th Annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration

THE WILD WEST BREW FEST Returns to Katy

38 NEW CULTURAL ARTSALLIANCE PLANNED

GEICO EMPLOYEES AND FAMILY MEMBERS Volunteer with SIRE Therapeutic Horsemanship

a b s o l u t e l y !D E L I C I O U S

26 MENTOR KNOWS BESTThe Mother’s Day Edition

44 FRESH WAY TO FIESTASweet Ideas forCinco de Mayo Celebrations

T R A V E L

32 THE GOOD, THE BADAND THE UGLY:Family Road Trips

40

Jennifer L. EvansOut & About inthe Heart of KatyPage 40

48

Cyd WrightWhat’s Kickin’ in KatyPage 48

Christopher Hillimagination monkeyPage 32

32

24

Alex BeltSilly Silly Girls Page 24

46

Steve KursarAuto EnthusiastPage 46

ON THE COVER:

Trenton Carlyle, MD; Shelley Mosley, RN; Stacey Williams, RN; William McGarvey, MD and Holly Mayson, PTA.

Photo by Nesossi Studios.

I chose MD Anderson

in Katy- Jeanne Zarazee

When I had breast cancer, the world’s leading care was right here.My team of experts in Katy focused only on me and my cancer. They guided me through advanced MD Anderson treatment options including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, clinical trials and support services. They customized a plan just for me. Having MD Anderson in my community kept me close to my friends and close to home. I chose MD Anderson in Katy. Find your MD Anderson today.

Appointments Available 713.745.9940 FindYourMDAnderson.com


EXCLAMATION POINTS!THE INSIDE SCOOP STRAIGHT FROM THE TOP

absolutely! KatyTM Magazine is published by absolutely! focus media, 4655 Techniplex Dr., Ste. 700, Stafford, TX 77477. Copyright © 2015 by absolutely! focus media. All rights reserved. Reproduc-tion without permission is strictly prohibited. absolutely! KatyTM Magazine does not knowingly accept false or misleading adver-tising or editorial, nor do the publishers assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. absolutely! KatyTM Magazine welcomes editorial submissions from its readers.

Subscription requests are free to Katy area addresses. Annual paid subscription

of $25 required outside Katy area.

Publishedby

Vol. 12 No. 5May 2015

4655 TECHNIPLEX DR. STE 700STAFFORD, TX 77477

281-690-4242

WWW.ABSOLUTELYKATY.COM

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 RLara Bell

M A NAG I N G E D I T O RSarah Bearden

S E N I O R AC C O U N T E X E C U T I V EJessica Kij

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

Molly EllisKay Garrett

Juliet HubbellAndrea Rigamonti

Suzanne StilesBonnie Bell Woodrow

A RT D I R E C T O RGrace Belleza

G R A P H I C D E S I G N E RVinicius Soares

W E B D E S I G N E RJoey Belleza

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

P H O T O G R A P H E RNesossi Studios

C O N T R I BU T O R SM.G. Angulo

Alex BeltPatrick Biron

Robin EbrechtJennifer L. Evans

Joan FrancesChristopher Hill

Steve KursarNancy V. Mills

Nancy L. RommelmannCyd Wright

I N T E R NClare Cleveland

I N Q U I R I E S281-690-4242

E D I T O R IA L SU B M I S S I O N [email protected]

READER FEEDBACK

Associate Publisher, LARA BELL

I enjoy reading absolutely! Katy, because it introduces me to people in my community who are making a difference in the world. I also love their excellent photographs!

Beth Self

Recently, I was at a friend’s house for our bimonthly Moms’ Bible Study, and I heard a mom ask if this is the busiest time of year for everyone or just her. Everyone nearly yelled, “Everyone!” I’m pretty ex-hausted after packing lunches, keeping up with my kids’ schedules, charity work, school volunteer jobs, sporting events, not to mention a full-time job!

I can’t believe that my daughter, Dylan, is graduating fifth grade and moving on to middle school. For all of those who are graduating from high school this month, congratulations!

This issue features our greatest Mother’s Day Gift Guide to date on page 28. Don’t miss our feature article on former news anchor Minerva Pérez, who is cel-ebrating the release of her first autobiographical book I Gotta Story: My 30 Years in TV News. And with summer just weeks away, turn to page 32 for some family-friendly road trip ideas!

I was stopped at Kroger the other day when a lady asked me how to get in the magazine, because she would love to have her granddaughter in it sometime. I told her how simple it is. Just email me a photo with their first and last name and what they are doing. I’m saying the same thing to you. We love Katy people and everything going on in the community!

Finally, Mother’s Day is in just two weeks. I’d like to wish my amazing mom, Bonnie, a Happy Mother’s Day. To my husband, Brent – the date is Sunday, May 10th. I’d like to sleep in, have breakfast in bed and go back to sleep!

Absolutely! yours,

LaraLara [email protected]

Brooks, Lara and Dylan Milam. Photo by Alisa Murray.

@larabell

Editor’s Note: The photographs of April’s High School Hot Shot Lynette Botes were taken by Kerryl Ann Frank of Sunset Photography.

I enjoyed Dr. Shel’s tips in February on how to look and feel your best at any age. This was a great and informative article for women!

Starla Phillips

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Kuhn is among a growing number of patients experiencing the benefits of the Memorial Hermann Joint Center at Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital,

COVER STORY

By Nancy V. Mills

K aty resident Mark Kuhn can’t stop talking about how impressed he is with his most recent knee replacement

surgery. With his first knee replacement 10 years ago, he expe-rienced significant pain and a long recovery. This time though, just one day after surgery, he could sit comfortably in a chair with his new knee at a 90-degree angle.

Memorial Hermann’sAdvanced Technology

and Team Care Deliver

Relief from Joint Pain

one of seven Houston-area Memorial Hermann Joint Centers. Featuring ad-vanced technology and a team approach to care, the Joint Centers are helping

patients live new, pain-free lives.“With my other surgery, I had to first

straighten the leg with the new knee, then place it on the floor and pull it to-ward me to bend my knee,” said Kuhn. “With my second surgery, I started physical therapy the morning after surgery, and the next day, I walked a full circle of the hospital floor.”

Kuhn rightly attributes the differ-ence in his two surgeries to advanced technology and a well-trained staff that anticipates patients’ needs and knows how to help them manage pain.

Memorial Hermann’s Joint Center team of specialty trained nurses: Kristina Hickle, RN; Clementine Fokam, RN; Ahahita Farsad, RN; Shelley Mosley, RN; Carla Smith, RN; Erika Hayes, RN; Niel Ras, RN; Nonna Aranas, RN and Nichole Gamble, RN.

Trenton Carlyle, MD and William McGarvey, MD.

Photos by Nesossi Studios.

Causes of Joint PainMillions of Americans suffer from

chronic joint pain and the resulting loss of mobility. It is triggered by many conditions, including arthritis, trauma and overuse of the affected joint. It is more common as adults age.

Arthritis, an inflammation of the joints where the bones meet, is the leading cause of joint pain. Although there are more than 200 different types of arthritis, the most common is osteo-arthritis. This “wear-and-tear” arthri-tis occurs when the protective cartilage on the ends of the bones wears down, resulting in bones rubbing together. This painful condition is what led Kuhn to knee replacement surgery.

Sometimes joint pain is caused by trauma related to an old work or sports-related injury. Repetitive activi-ty can also lead to joint pain. With rest, symptoms may disappear, but often re-turn when re-engaging in the activity that initiated the pain.

Treating Joint PainMemorial Hermann Joint Centers

feature highly skilled, affiliated bone and joint specialists using the most advanced treatments and a team ap-proach to patient care. The Joint Cen-ters offer one-stop diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation.

Both nonsurgical and minimally in-vasive surgical options are available. These include new medications – some of which are applied to the skin – injec-tions, physical therapy, total and par-tial knee replacements, total hip re-placement and hip resurfacing. At the Joint Center at Memorial Hermann Katy, fusion surgery and total joint re-placement are available for the ankle.

Preoperative Education Improves Recovery

For individuals who choose total joint replacement surgery, personal-ized care is provided by a highly trained and patient-centered team of affiliated orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses and therapists. One member of the team at the Joint Center at Memo-rial Hermann Katy is nurse navigator Stacey Williams, BSN, RN. She serves

as a special patient advocate, connect-ing with patients and their families be-fore surgery and following them from surgery through recovery.

Williams leads a preoperative edu-cation class to help patients under-stand what to expect during surgery, highlighting information in the hand-book patients received when schedul-ing surgery. She also encourages ques-tions.

Patients feel empowered as they learn about anesthesiology, physi-cal therapy, medications, home safety measures and tips to speed recovery. In addition to a complimentary lunch and gym bag, patients receive Williams’ contact information should they have other questions.

Kuhn’s surgeon, Trenton Carlyle, MD, a UT physician affiliated with the Memorial Hermann Joint Center at Memorial Hermann Katy, has seen the benefits of this patient education.

“Attending the preoperative educa-tion class helps patients know what to expect and puts them at ease,” said Dr. Carlyle. “Eliminating most of the fear of the unknown makes a positive differ-ence in a patient’s recovery.”

“For my first surgery, I didn’t know what to expect,” explained Kuhn. “This time I received lots of information through the handbook and class, which is what I prefer.”

Also putting patients at ease is see-ing Williams’ familiar face the day of surgery. She greets them and updates the family during the day. After sur-gery, she checks on the patient and, throughout the hospital stay, works closely with physicians, nurses and physical therapists to see that the pa-tient is recovering well.

You don’t have to live with pain. If you answer yes to any of these ques-tions, you may be a candidate for joint replacement surgery.

Am I a Candidate for Joint Replacement

Surgery?

www.absolutelykaty.com l MAY 2015 13

Age is not a limiting factor if you are in reasonable health and have the desire to continue living a productive, active life.

To learn more and to watch an educational seminar, visit jointpain.memorialhermann.org. For questions or to schedule an appointment, call 713.272.1888.

• Are you experiencing pain in your joint?

• Is the pain in your joint tolerable butlimiting your ordinary activity or work?

• Does the degree of pain anddiscomfort sometimes require medication stronger than aspirin?

• Are the symptoms present morethan half of the time during the typical month?

• Do you have pain in your joint whenclimbing the stairs without using the railing?

• Are you forced to stop when you walkmore than two or three blocks due to joint pain?

• Do you ever use walking aids, suchas a cane or walker, to assist you with walking?

• Do you walk with a moderate limp?• Do you feel some pain even when

you are sitting or lying down?• Does your joint sometimes give out

when you are physically active?

Erika Hayes, RN, with patient Mary Thiele at the Memorial Hermann Joint Center at Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital. Hayes has worked on the Orthopedic Unit for 15 years.

Surgeon Timothy Noonan, MD, with Memorial Hermann Joint Center patient Lula Thorne. Photo by Jennifer Franco.

Advancements GetPatients Moving Faster

Along with preoperative education, advanced technology in joint replace-ment surgery, such as robotics and computer-assisted navigation, offers improved patient outcomes. In part, this technology enables surgeons to more accurately position implanted prosthetic joints, which improves alignment. As a result, patients expe-rience more comfort and functionality and implants last longer.

Newer, minimally invasive tech-niques, including anterior hip replace-ment, also improve patient outcomes. Dr. Carlyle, a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, has performed anterior hip replacement surgery since 2006. Working through a small incision on the front of the hip that is located in a natural interval be-tween muscles, he is able to complete a total hip replacement surgery without detaching the muscle from the pelvis or femur.

“Traditional hip replacement sur-gery is done through the back, which involves cutting muscles that help stabilize the hip,” said Carlyle. “This imposes strict patient restrictions on bending and rotating. With the anteri-or approach, the hip is instantly stable, and patients don’t have these restric-tions. They also benefit from less pain and faster rehabilitation.”

At the Joint Center, the care team focuses on helping patients control pain and gain mobility more quickly. Kuhn attributes his improved post-sur-gical experience to twice-a-day physi-cal therapy during his hospital stay, as well as improved pain management techniques. In particular, he praises the special injections he received in his knee immediately following surgery that included a mixture of pain-block-ing and anti-inflammatory medications with continuous absorption.

“Unlike a nerve block that weakens

the thigh muscle, this injection lets patients retain thigh muscle function, so they regain mobility more quickly,” said Williams.

“Because patients move faster with this pain management technique, we can either eliminate the use of a cath-eter or remove it within hours of sur-gery,” added Dr. Carlyle.

For a smooth transition from hos-pital to home, the care team makes sure patients have written instructions from surgeon and therapist, medica-tions ordered and physical therapy and follow-up physician office visits sched-uled before they leave the hospital.

Once patients go home, Williams checks on their progress by phone, an-swers questions and provides helpful information to their physician to com-plete the circle of communication. If needed, she assists patients in schedul-ing follow-up appointments.

Take theFirst Step to Recovery

Like other members of the care team at the Joint Center at Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital, Williams ex-udes an infectious enthusiasm that she attributes to seeing patients regain a pain-free life. She knows it’s the simple things these patients long to do again, like walking their dog without pain and getting down on the floor and play-ing with their grandchildren.

“That’s what makes our work so ex-citing,” said Williams. “We give quality of life back to our patients. When their recovery is over, that pain that they’ve had day after day is gone.”

“When I had my last knee replaced, I said I’d never get the other one done,” said Kuhn. “Memorial Hermann has learned pain management and can really help you get through it. Every-thing about my surgery and hospital experience has been excellent. I didn’t have to ask for anything. It’s like they were reading my mind.”


Trenton Carlyle, MD

William McGarvey, MD

Timothy Noonan, MD

Phot

o by

Jen

nife

r Fra

nco.

“We give quality of life back to our patients. When their recovery is over, that pain that they’ve had day after day is gone.” – Stacey Williams, BSN, RN

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You may know me as a Katy mom of three amazing boys and wife to Daryn, but what

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Mongongo and Banana Hair Food MasqueNot only does this product smell good enough to eat, it really does make hair feel extremely soft! It is so good for dry, color-treated hair. Did I mention that it smells amazing, too? www.sheaterraorganics.com

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Custom Scripture Nike Elite SocksI ordered these socks for my son and a friend of his. They love them, and I love that they are proud to wear their favorite Bible verse for everyone to see! They have all kinds of designs to choose from. Your kids will adore them!www.thesickestsocks.com Bedtime Prayer Sign

What an amazing baby gift this would make! It would be so cute in a nursery or kids room. This handcrafted wooden sign is made in the United States. www.shop.magnoliahomes.net



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Mike O’Connell, Joe Swinbank & James Thompson

Jess Stuart with Jeff & Ann Council

Kathleen Bowen & Jill Ludwig

Kevin Barker & Ruthanne MeffordPaula Kutchka, Rick Ramirez & Meredith Riede

Robert Pechukas, Robert Muhommad & Floyd EmeryMary Gayle Brindley & Toni Nelson

Evalyn Moore & Tommy Kuykendall

Photo by Mary Favre

Keri Schmidt, Robert Hebert & Regina Morales


During her interview with Daw-son, Pérez discovered he was sold to a farmer as a child because his fam-ily couldn’t feed him and was illiterate until he was in his late 90s. Although illiterate, Dawson married and raised five children — all of whom received an education — but when he turned 98 years-old, Dawson decided he wanted to learn how to read and write.

That same year, he wrote a book en-titled Life Is So Good, which received national media attention. “What an in-spiration he was,” Pérez said, recalling the time she walked through the chap-ters of Dawson’s life.

Those were the kinds of stories Pérez was exposed to and subsequently shared with a mass audience for more than a decade as the former news an-chor for Houston’s KTRK ABC Channel 13. During her 15 years there, Pérez

covered major stories like the death of Tejano singer Selena, the 2003 Co-lumbia space shuttle explosion and the 1993 siege of the Waco, Texas Branch Davidians compound.

Pérez, who lives in Sugar Land and is a wife and mother to two, didn’t just make her mark in Houston. Over the past three decades, she broke the big

headlines and covered major stories in Phoenix and Los Angeles.

While in Phoenix, Peréz covered Hands Across America with Governor Bruce Babbitt near the Grand Canyon and the first-ever impeachment of Gov-ernor Evan Mecham. In Los Angeles, she covered the 48-hour live coverage of Pope John Paul II’s visit to Los Ange-les in 1987, and she won a Golden Mike Award for covering the Rodney King beating. In fact, she was one of the first people to see George Holliday’s ama-teur video of the Rodney King beating, as her newsroom got the first copy of this historic clip.

Pérez’s reporting throughout her career earned her two Golden Mike Awards, a Cesar Award, a Los Angeles Press Club Award, three Emmy nomi-nations and several Associated Press awards.

There was an elderly African American man who passed away

nearly 14 years ago. Some will remember him as a father, friend,

co-worker and husband. Others, like Minerva Pérez, will remem-

ber him for his amazing and encouraging story. Through a series of deci-

sions and by simply walking down a particular path ahead of her, Pérez

went from a Rio Grande Valley girl to a trailblazing newswoman who had

the chance to interview the late George Dawson, a black man from Dallas,

Texas, who learned to read just five years before he died.

By M.G. Angulo Photo by Alisa Murray

Bob Boudreaux and Minerva Pérez during a Channel 13 newscast.

Minerva Pérez at the site of a plane crash in San Antonio, circa 1982.

She’s Gotta Story:

Minerva Pérez30 Years in

TV News

I Gotta StoryThe stories, the people and the

events Pérez has covered are historic, varied and extremely memorable. And the road she’s taken to be able to share these stories wasn’t a breeze by any means, one of the reasons she’s penned her first autobiographical book I Gotta Story: My 30 Years in TV News.

The 172 page book takes the reader through Pérez’s career and candidly reveals the ins and outs of television journalism. I Gotta Story takes a look at her career as a television journalist, talk show host, producer and publisher. Readers will have the chance to experi-ence Pérez’s career journey starting with her days as an intern in the Rio Grande Valley followed by her gradual ascension to some of the nation’s big-gest television markets.

copies of I Gotta Story. Her motivation was to put some of her career highlights on paper, first for herself and then for future journalists. “That I reached that goal is very rewarding,” she said. “I hope that the young, aspiring broad-cast journalists see the real behind the scenes look at the career. Some of it is very hard work, some of it is persever-ance, some of it is not pretty.”

But all hasn’t been revealed in I Gotta Story, Pérez said. In fact, she still has plenty more to talk about. “I must admit, I didn’t include everything in the first book. I left some stories out that need to be told. My publisher is encouraging me to write another one, so I may.”

Making MovesAlthough Pérez had a successful run

as a news anchor, she didn’t plan a ca-reer as a television journalist. “Oddly, I never aspired to be a journalist,” Pérez said. “I fell into it and managed to stay. I thought I’d last just a few years and do something else. But the years turned into decades. I never expected that.”

In 2007, however, Pérez left televi-sion news, a departure she made on her own terms. “It was time. Thank goodness it was my choice.” In 2008, she created Latina Voices: Smart Talk, a syndicated television show that dis-cusses universal topics from a Latina perspective.

“When I looked around, I found that a Latina voice was missing in the na-tional dialogue,” said Pérez, who is also “However cathartic, I mostly want-

ed to show the television journalists coming after me that it’s a tough career and not all about the fame and glam-our that seduce so many young people today,” Pérez said. “Only a few of us survive long-term.”

Her book, Pérez pointed out, reveals the hows and whys of her becoming a journalist, as well as her advance-ment — and struggles — throughout her career. In the pages, she pours out the good, the bad and the ugly. There are memories that will inspire, bring sorrow, produce laughter and possibly ignite anger.

Eight years in the making, since its release, Pérez has sold more than 300

An Excerpt fromMinerva Pérez’s

New Book

I Gotta Story is filled with historic news events, including the time Minerva Pérez met Cuban Dictator Fidel Castro while she was reporting in Cuba before the normalization of United States–Cuba relations. It was 1981, she was a court reporter and at the end of it all, she got his autograph.

The following is an excerpt from her book regarding that memory:

“ ... Suddenly, I see a small mob walking toward us. In the middle of this mob was Fidel (Castro) wearing his usual green fatigues uniform. We stayed put, refusing to be moved out of the way by the crowd and bodyguards that walked in front and behind him. A tall man with a rigid posture, Fidel was a sight. Loved or hated, the man had ‘it’ or charisma ... and … we didn’t have a camera ...”

I Gotta Story is out in major book-stores including Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com and Igottastory.me. It is full of quirky, inspiring, funny and heart-wrenching stories that perma-nently impacted the journalist and shows the reality of covering news.

For more information, visit www.igottastory.me.

Minerva Pérez reporting in the 1980s.

Balde Rodríguez and Minerva Pérez during a book signing.


the show’s executive producer. “I, with the help of co-producer Sofía Adrogué, have made 104 shows to date.” The show is also being seen in Spain and Romania through social media.

“We’ve interviewed an array of VIPs: Supreme Court Justice Sonia So-tomayor; Olympian Steve López; Hous-ton Mayor Annise Parker; Olympian boxer Marlen Esparza; former U.S. At-torney General Al Gonzales; Lakewood Church’s Dodie Osteen and Houston Dynamo Brian Ching, to name a few,” Pérez said.

Latina Voices runs on Sundays at 10 am on Houston Public Media TV 8 and at 5:30 am on KHOU Channel 11. HTV/COMCAST Cable Channel 16 also features the show on Wednesday and Sunday at 8 am and 8 pm, plus it’s streamed on www.htvhouston.net.

About Minerva Pérez . . .

FBF Is there something about you most people wouldn’t know?

MP You’ll read some tidbits in my book, but one of them is I’m heard reading the news in the U2 song Desire, the Hollywood recut. Apparently, Bono and his

buddies just lifted off one of my newscasts, and I never got paid!” she laughed.

FBF What are some of your hobbies or passions?

MP “I love to cook, and I love getting lost in books and movies ever since my second grade teacher Connie Frater took us to see The Sound of Music with

Julie Andrews.”

FBF What does it feel like to be role model, to be looked up to and admired for your accomplishments?

MP “If I am a role model, as some say, it was by accident. I never set out to be one, but I appreciate and am humbled by the title.”

“If I am a role model, as some say, it was by accident. I never set out to be one, but I appreciate and am

humbled by the title.” – Minerva Pérez

Finding Fort BendAfter living in Los Angeles for some

time, Pérez decided it was time to leave “the big city” and search for a home that was more conducive to her fam-ily — like enrolling her children in bet-ter schools, for example. In 1992, she moved to Sugar Land, where she’s been living contentedly for 23 years. “There were better schools in Fort Bend,” she said. “The best choice I ever made was to settle in Fort Bend County. I love it here.”

In the past 23 years, Minerva has served the community she loves with her philanthropy work with the Lit-eracy Council of Fort Bend and Asians Against Domestic Abuse. She has also emceed numerous county events over the years – “too many to count.” The events that immediately come to her mind, however, include the Shake-speare Festival at the George Library, the Cinco de Mayo Celebration at the Moore House and another five Cinco de Mayo events at the Fort Bend County fairgrounds. “I also modeled for the Fort Bend Junior League’s Sugar Plum Luncheon,” Pérez added. “I hope to keep serving my community in some fashion.”

So what does the next chapter in Pérez’s life hold? Stay tuned and keep reading, as this broadcast television journalist, executive producer and au-thor always has a story to tell.

Then ABC personality Geraldo Rivera and Minerva Pérez at a KTRK sponsor night.

Sofía Adrogué and Minerva Pérez.

Minerva Pérez and the late Marvin Zindler celebrated Zindler’s birthday in Bellaire.

Minerva Pérez in the newsroom, circa 1999.

Wayne Dolcefino and Minerva Pérez covered the 1993 Waco siege of the Branch Davidian compound.



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NEWSWORTHY

It’s time to put on that new spring hat and pull on the white gloves for the Children’s Museum of Houston’s Hats, Gloves and Boutonnières 12th Annual Fort Bend Spring Brunch. The festive fete, chaired by Fort Bend County resi-dents Rachel Leaman and Martha Rut-ledge, will take place from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm on Thursday, May 7th at the home of Carlos and Maky Abello. The Spring Brunch benefits the Museum’s outreach efforts for children in Fort Bend County.

The Museum has worked alongside Fort Bend for several years, delivering outreach programming to low-income families living in the county since the mid 1990s. It has worked with more than 40 partners in the community to ensure that underserved populations get free access to the Museum and to raise awareness about the Museum’s family learning pro-grams.

With the recent successful comple-tion of the Fort Bend Children’s Discov-ery Center’s Capital Campaign, plans are moving forward to bring a world-class children’s museum to the Fort Bend community. The Discovery Center is now scheduled to open in the new Imperial development in Sugar Land in the summer of 2016 with a look and feel similar to the Children’s Museum of Houston. It will occupy a 10,000 square-foot restored building that will house six exhibits, including an additional outdoor space.

Group tickets to the 12th Annual Fort Bend Spring Brunch are available in sponsorship levels of $3,000, $1,500 and $750. Individual tickets are avail-able for $75. To purchase tickets, con-tact Audrey Cortez at 713-535-7210 or [email protected].

The Children’s Museum of Houston Hosts

12th Annual Fort Bend Spring Brunch


Q What is your favorite gift to give moms?

A I like gifts with a purpose. Cork or magnet boards

are great for hanging pictures, artwork or that endless grocery list. They are a fun place to look at things you love.

Q What is a gift you can get for the mom who has everything?

A If your mom has everything, then think about her personality. Is she a mom who would love something monogrammed, a gift certificate to the

spa, a photo of you or a book full of mom coupons? If you put thought into a gift, then she will love it no matter what. Also, inspirational sayings are so popular right now. They add a touch of whimsy to any home. It will brighten your mom’s day when she looks at a sign with a quote on happiness, children, faith or love.

Q All moms love photos, but what is a favorite Mother’s Day gift you’ve received?

A I can be corny and say my favorite gift is a homemade gift, but it is true. As a creative person, I love when my kids make things for me. I frame a

lot of their artwork and display it inside my home. I feel that it adds a special and sentimental touch.

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 trends are “in.” With Mother’s Day coming May 10th, it’s time to prepare to show Mom the love. So, we’re doing what everyone else does – asking Alex!

Q What are some things that you recommend doing on Mother’s Day?

A Breakfast in bed is always nice. Or, you could take Mom to brunch at her favorite restaurant. Give Mom the day off. Let her relax, read a book or just do

something that she wants to do. Another great option is to get together with her family. Have a family get together with grandmothers, great-grandmothers and aunts. If that’s not an option, make it an afternoon with just your family unit at the park, the zoo or bike riding.

Q If we’re going to bring Mom breakfast in bed, what’s a good choice?

A I love when it is Mother’s Day, because my girls always bring me breakfast

in bed. They usually serve me my favorite blueberry muffins, eggs and bacon. They always add a special touch with flowers that they either pick or make out of craft paper. Remember moms, just be happy in that moment, because chances are that you will be cleaning the mess in the kitchen afterward!

Q Why do people wear carnations to church on Mother’s Day, and what is the significance of the colors?

A In 1907, Anna Jarvis selected the carnation as a symbol of Mother’s Day. If your mother is still alive, the tradition is to wear a pink carnation. If your

mother has passed away, wear a white carnation. So, it was Miss Jarvis who made it a part of Mother’s Day.

Ask Alex

Alex’s magnet board includes a photo with her daughter Jeannette.


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absolutely!DELICIOUS

MentorKnows Best:

W hether she’s your mom or a “like-a-mother” mentor, chances are you’ve got a lot to thank her for this Mother’s

Day. It’s a time for celebrating your biggest sup-porters, number one fans and best friends.

Servings: 1 dozen rollsRolls:1 1/3 cups warm milk (105°F)2 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast1/4 cup granulated sugar, divided1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened2 egg yolks1 teaspoon Wilton Pure Vanilla Extract3/4 teaspoon salt4 cups bread flour, plus more for dusting

Filling:1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened1/3 cup granulated sugar2 tablespoons bread flour2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

Glaze:1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter1/2 cup lightly-packed light brown sugar1/2 cup heavy whipping cream 1 teaspoon Wilton Pure Vanilla Extract1/4 teaspoon salt1 cup confectioners’ sugar (about 1/4 pound)

Cinnamon Rolls with Caramel Glaze

The Mother’s Day

In life, we’re lucky to form relationships with women we can learn from and grow with. Beth Somers, Elizabeth Nelson and Em-ily Tatak from the Wilton Test Kitchen consider themselves lucky.

Beth Somers, Director of Creative Content Development, owes her start to her former boss Milette Raz. Raz is trained in the Wilton Method of Cake DecoratingTM and taught Somers how to decorate. But Somers thinks of Raz as so much more, calling her a mentor, her second mother and her friend. Years after working to-gether, the duo teamed up for Cupcake Wars on the Food Network, returning home as champions of season six with winning recipes like Tropical Getaway Cupcakes.

Elizabeth Nelson, Assistant Culinary Specialist, attributes her love of baking to her grandma Ann, learning the basics with her and picking up passed down recipes that she brought with her to college. She looks up to her mother, her grandmother and her great-grandmother, whom she’s told she also gets her competitive nature from. Nelson and her grandmother went through a lot of trial and error together to come up with what they believe is the perfect cinnamon roll recipe, very similar to this recipe for Cinna-mon Rolls with Caramel Glaze.

For Emily Tatak, preserving family recipes and continuing the traditions around the holidays and in the kitchen led to her career at Wilton as an Assistant Culinary Specialist. She owes her inspi-ration to her mom, who taught her how to bake. Together they iced cakes, decorated sugar cookies and even made a gingerbread house from scratch. Keeping with tradition, celebrating the holidays without grandma Irene’s Kolachy recipe just wouldn’t be the same.

For more recipe ideas to honor your mother or special mentor, visit s.wilton.com/MentorKnowsBest.


For rolls, stir together warm milk, yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in large bowl. Let stand 5–10 minutes or until foamy. Add butter, remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, egg yolks, vanilla and salt. Mix with electric mixer using dough hook on medium speed until combined. Gradually add flour, 1 cup at a time, and mix on medium speed until smooth, elastic dough forms, about 5 minutes.

Spray large bowl with vegetable pan spray. Form dough into ball, place into bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let stand in warm place for 45 min-utes or until doubled in size.

For filling, stir together butter, sugar, flour and cinnamon in medium bowl until well-combined.

Prepare 13-by-9-inch pan with vegetable pan spray.

Punch dough down and roll out to 18-by-14-inch rectangle on floured surface. Spread filling onto dough and roll up from long end, like a jelly roll. Pinch seam to seal, trim ends and cut into 12 equally-sized pieces.

Place rolls into prepared pan; cover with plastic wrap and let rise 25–30 minutes or until doubled in size.

Meanwhile, heat oven to 350°F. Remove plastic wrap from rolls and bake 25–29 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack while preparing glaze.

For glaze, melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar and cream. Cook over medium-high heat until mixture reaches a simmer; cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and salt. Whisk in confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Pour glaze over warm rolls. Serve warm.

Servings: 6 1/2 dozen cookies

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon Wilton Pure Vanilla Extract

1/2 teaspoon salt

Poppy seed, apricot and strawberry pastry filling

Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

Grandma’s Kolachy Cookies

In large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter with electric mixer on medium speed until well combined. Add flour, vanilla and salt; beat until just combined. Divide dough into 2 disks. Wrap with plastic wrap and chill at least 12 hours.

Heat oven to 375°F.

Working with 1 disk at a time, roll each to 1/8-inch thickness on generously floured surface. Cut cookies using 2 inch round cutter. Place on cookie sheet and make inden-tation in dough with thumb. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon pastry filling into each indentation.

Bake 16–18 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool cookies on pan on cooling grid 5 minutes. Remove from pan; cool completely on grid. Dust with confec-tioners’ sugar before serving.

Source: Family Features


things we

for Mother’s Day Gift Giving SKINCEUTICALS ADVANCED

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RELAXATION GETAWAYGive Mom a gift of love and relaxation in her own backyard. Make every event an outdoor event with family and friends. Call today for a free design consultation. Texas Custom Patios. Call 281-265-1994; www.TexasCustomPatios.com.

PAMPER HERPamper that special lady this Mother’s Day with Revision’s Finishing Touch, an at-home microdermabrasion treatment. For a perfectly polished complexion, follow with the Soothing Black Mask, which will rid of impurities. Sugar Land Plastic Surgery. Call 281-980-8000; www.mybodysurgeon.com.

A TOAST TO MOMToast Mom this Mother’s Day with Braman Winery’s Joseph Braman Riesling. This sweet wine offers lively flavors of ripe pear, lemon and citrus zest. Braman Winery, 3333 FM 359 in Richmond. Call 281-762-1375;www.bramanbrands.com.


KEEP MOM COOL!Keep Mom “cool” in one of many selections at Texas Direct Auto! Texas Direct Auto, 12053 Southwest Freeway in Stafford.Call 281-499-8200; www.TexasDirectAuto.com.


There’s no better way to show Mom how much you care than by taking the time to create a do-it-yourself gift from the heart. Score extra points with a gift that helps her un-wind by promoting calm, unplugged and peaceful serenity – a key trend in crafting for 2015.

From pots and planters to floral patterned handbags and trinkets, the options are endless when you’re

looking for project ideas that bring the soothing elements of nature indoors. One great option, as

functional as it is stylish, is the Mini Indoor Garden. Pretty vases

made from wine bottles instantly add an herbal touch to mom’s

kitchen, or seal the bottoms and

fill the vases with her favorite flowers for a bright and beautiful accent in any room.

Find this and more garden-inspired do-it-yourself gift ideas for Mom at www.joann.com.

I f you’re struggling to find the perfect gift for a mom who has it all or just the right way to express your love and

appreciation, this Mother’s Day, you can give a gift that keeps on growing with items inspired by the garden.

Mini Indoor GardenCrafting time: 3-5 hoursSkill level: Some experience necessary

Supplies and Tools:• Pencil• 2 wine bottles• Wooden CD storage crate• Jig saw• Safety glasses• Surface cover

• Spray paint• Ruler• Sharpie or marker• G2 bottle cutter• Floral moss• Artificial herbs

1. Use pencil to trace around bottom of wine bottles on one side of wood crate, spacing evenly.

2. Cut out circles using jig saw. Wear safety glasses while cutting to protect your eyes.

3. Cover surface where you will spray paint.

4. Spray paint entire crate, inside and out.

5. Turn bottles upside down in crate holes and mark 1 1/2 inch up from crate, using a Sharpie.

6. Follow instructions provided with bottle cutter to cut wine bottles at Sharpie marking. Again, wear safety glasses to protect your eyes.

7. Fill bottles with artificial moss and herbs, or seal bottoms of vases and fill with fresh cuttings of mom’s favorite blooms.

Garden-Inspired


Gifts for Mom


Addiction

Kids’ CornerBy Patrick Biron

Psychologically, every person needs three things in life to feel happy: autonomy, purpose and a connection between effort and reward. Autonomy means that someone has some say in what they do. Think about your kids. How many real choices do they have? Parents usually pick their kids’ meals, their school, their clothes, where they go and when.

Video games offer a world where a child feels in control. Part of the game system is even called a controller. In reality, this is just an illusion of control. The game still has rules, levels and parameters, but it is presented in a way that a child believes they are making their own choices. So, expand this illusion of control to real life. As they grow, give children opportunities to pick what they want to do and when they want to do it. Think of it as a buffet of food. Let them pick what they put on their plate, but you pick the choices before them. For example, make a list of 10 chores, but only require your child to do seven of them and in whatever order they chose.

Most of us have heard of the game Pokémon, where players walk through grass trying to catch wild animals. Those animals appear at random, and the best ones are very rare and take a long time to appear. So, your child may spend hours mindlessly walking a video game character through grass, over and over. Why? Purpose. If the rare animal never appeared, they wouldn’t walk through the grass, and they sure wouldn’t find the game fun.

Chores – and everything else in life – are the same way. If your child doesn’t understand and more importantly, value the purpose you assign to the tasks, they won’t want to do them. Talk to your kids about why a particular chore is important and what rewards are possible. They need more than just, “Because I said so.”

Tie everything together with the last factor, connecting their effort to a reward. I had a boss at an old job who would steal the credit for my ideas. It was infuriating, and eventually, I quit because I didn’t feel like my work or effort was ever going to lead to any sort of reward or recognition. Kids will feel the same way. If they are never recognized for the effort they put forth or if they feel there is no reward at all, they won’t do the action. That’s human nature.

So, recognize your children for their work and give a goal for them to work toward. With so much going on in life, this may seem impossible, but go back to the Pokémon analogy. The more rare the animal, the greater the reward was when it was eventually acquired. The animals that were easy to find weren’t valuable to the child.

As a parent, you can pick the big items that you want to reward your kids with, and you don’t have to worry about having a reward for every little thing. In fact, making real rewards harder to achieve and even random makes them more valuable. For example, don’t give a prize out simply for a right action. Instead, give a ticket to the child. At the end of the day, draw from all of the tickets handed out that day and give rewards. The kids will know that the more “good” they do that day, the more chances they have to get a reward. So, instead of stopping at one good thing, kids will try to do as many as possible.

Remember, give them a choice, give those choices a purpose and always have a rare reward for them to work toward.

VideoGame

I f your children’s eyes are glued to a video game screen, don’t blame your kids. The fact is that

most video games today are purposely designed using specific psychological factors to make players addicted. With the right know-how, you can proactively address these factors with your children, young or old, and redirect them.


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FAMILY LAW

F a m i l y L a w A t t o r n e y

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By Nancy L. Rommelmann, Family Law Attorney

Treat your credit score like other secured information – keep it safe and in your control.

Credit is a lot of fun until you get stuck with the bill!

Credit Score? Debts? What Can Be Transferred After a Divorce or Breakup?

When parties marry or live together, they frequently will use the credit of the party who has a higher credit score. This might make sense at the time, because perhaps a lower interest rate can be obtained or one party’s credit score is so low they are not credit-worthy.

Subsequently, if the parties break up, the debt will remain the obligation of the party whose credit was used. In a divorce situa-tion, if a party wants an asset (Party “A”), but the debt is in the name of the other party (Party “B,” aka the debtor), if Party A gets the asset, and even if Party A tells Party B they will pay for the debt on the asset, Party B remains liable for the asset. The creditor can only go after the individual with whom it has a contractual relationship.

When parties live together, the result is the same. Party B is always going to be liable for the debt regardless of an agreement with Party A.

Further in a divorce situation, generally both parties are on the note to the parties’ residence. Presumably, one or the other party will be awarded the property in a di-vorce. Very likely, both parties will remain liable on the note, because a mortgage company will be unwilling to release a party when they have a contractual rela-tionship with both parties.

The party not being awarded the property should be aware that remaining on the note for a house reduces their ability to ob-tain additional credit. The party not being awarded the residence upon divorce might be disappointed that they cannot purchase a comparable property, because of their obligation on the house that was awarded to the other spouse in the divorce.

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Schedule your

As the summer vacation plan-ning season dawns, we are left with some very important ques-

tions, the most important of which is where to go. Summer vacations provide invaluable time to connect with family members and create fun family memo-ries. Instead of pointing out a selection of cruises or foreign country tours, I thought I would focus on a vacation that provides a plethora of memories, both the positive and negative varieties, and adds a critical detail not found in the other vacation types: complete exhaus-tion and a true test of survival.

Of course, I am talking about the re-gional or cross-country family road trip. It is truly a rite of passage for any family. I can’t think of anything more fun than cramming the entire crew in a metal tube for days on end, seeing sights the kids have no interest in, all in the name of family bonding.

To make certain that you come back with the same number of family mem-bers as you left with, it is vital to make the trip fun. To do so, you have to take some real time in planning the journey. Looking at brochures does not count. For our family, I spent time channeling my inner Clark Griswald to map out the trip. We started with the region we wished to examine. For our last trip, this put New Mexico in the crosshairs. Then, I used a few websites to find fun, quirky things that would never make any travel bro-chure, including cultural sights, histori-

cal landmarks and other peculiar things like the world’s largest paper airplane. All of these become fantastic photo ops that your kids will relish years from now.

I used a few websites and books to re-search. Roadsideamerica.com and road-trippers.com are great places to start. Jeff Bahr wrote a compendium of unique places in his book Amazing and Unusual USA. Roadtrippers.com also allows you to map the trip, which includes mileage, directions and gas costs. Their mileage was definitely a bit off, but overall, it works well enough to keep your trip or-ganized.

For our New Mexico trip, we would have added Carlsbad Caverns and White Sands National Park without the websites, but we would not have found the Three Rivers Petroglyph Site, the World’s Largest Paper Airplane location or Cadillac Ranch, just three of many locations that made the trip incredibly notable for our entire family.

The locations add to the fun, but they also provide a chance to introduce your kids to the music of your youth. Who knew my son would love old school hip hop and Run DMC? The kids had CDs of their own to choose from and introduced us to some of their favorite offerings, al-though the Frozen soundtrack was not allowed as a choice for obvious reasons.

No summer road trip is complete without car games. A good visual scav-enger hunt or the old favorite license plate game can really break up a kindle

marathon. Make the prizes fun. For us, it was to pick the next type of music. The kids took it very seriously, at one point, a bit too seriously. Momsminivan.com has a lot of these games ready to print and play.

Sure, there are easier ways to travel and with far less planning involved. For us, the preparation helped to create a fantastic collection of remembrances. At no point did any of our monkeys com-plain that they were bored, and we trav-eled a ridiculous amount of miles over terrain that was sometimes spectacular but often forgettable.

Think about the trips you made as a child. Few are more memorable than a family road trip. For me, it was sitting in the backseat with my sister to my right and my grandmother to the left, travel-ling from Maryland to Pikes Peak Colo-rado in a powder blue 1976 Ford Pinto. Thirty-eight years later, I still remember feeding prairie dogs and watching a man cliff dive inside a restaurant, panning for gold – just to name a few moments. Some of the best times were back at the hotel with my family and my GG. We took a lot of trips all over the world during my youth, but that trip holds more memo-ries than any of those.

Try it. I’m not saying you will love every minute, but if you and your kids survive, you will build long-lasting mem-ories with cool visuals attached. Who knows? Your family may even learn a few things.

TRAVELBy Christopher HillThe Good, the Bad and the Ugly: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly:

Cadillac Ranch, an interactive public art sculpture, in Amarillo, Texas.

Christopher, Christy, Caden, Siena and Lauren Hill at the natural wonder White Sands National Park in New Mexico.

Lauren, Caden and Siena Hill at one of the massive pop culture structures outside of Fox Cave in Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico.


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NEWSWORTHY

Calendar in some family-friendly fun for Saturday, May 9th at 7 pm, when the Fort Bend Boys Choir presents its annu-al Spring Concert at Grace Presbyterian Church in Houston, just off the Beltway at Westheimer. Tickets are only $15 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Four ensembles – Training, Town, Tour and Music Magic – will be showcased as they celebrate this year’s theme, “Boys Can Sing…Join Our Song!”

Boys who love music and singing can find a voice with the Fort Bend Boys Choir. Entry into one of their treble choirs for unchanged voices is by audition only on May 16th. Boys should be eight-years-old or going into the third grade for the 2015-2016 school year. Scholar-ships and payment plans are available in addition to carpool assistance. Also, ask about Music Magic, their music enrich-ment program for six and seven-year-old boys – no auditions required!

Boys learn so much more than mu-sic as members of the Fort Bend Boys Choir. They become leaders and devel-op time management skills, self-esteem, self-confidence and citizenship. There are no benchwarmers or substitutes in choir! Each boy plays an integral role in the organization’s success.

To purchase tickets for the Spring Concert or to schedule an audition, call 281-240-3800. For more information about the Fort Bend Boys Choir, visit www.fbbctx.org.

Spring Forward with the Fort Bend Boys Choir

Kjell Aspelin, Eli Hawkins and David Zhang.

Meet Ana Rangel

By Joan Frances

K aty High School is Katy Independent School Dis-trict’s original high school

that celebrated 100 years of commu-nity service in 1998-99 and contin-ues to prepare students to take the next step in life. Part of Katy High School’s proud tradition is the sense of community created by a high level of student involvement in co-curric-ular and extra-curricular activities and organizations. By engaging stu-dents on many levels, learning con-tinues to mold a student’s foundation in choosing the right career path. One senior who has been involved in school activities and is ready to ad-vance her career is Ana Rangel.

Ana has been a member of the Katy High School Band all four years of high school. She plays the flute in the marching band and oboe in the concert band. She has played the oboe since sixth grade. Ana also played the piano from second to sev-enth grade. Music comes naturally to Ana. She enjoys playing the melo-dies and joining with others to cre-ate this wonderful art. Ana marches with the band during football season in the fall and plays with the concert band in the spring.

During her junior year, Ana played the vibraphone with the indoor drum line at the Texas Color Guard Circuit State Competition in College Station on the Texas A&M University campus, and they placed third overall. Similar to marching band, indoor drum line uses only percussion instruments, so the melodic voices come from keyboard instruments.

The one thing Ana treasures most about her four years in high school is being a part of the marching band. “Yes, it took a lot of time away from oth-er things, but I made some memories that I wouldn’t give up for anything. From the long summer band hours of practice to late nights at football games and competitions, the friends I’ve made I will have forever and treasure the ex-perience. Thanks to my mom for mak-ing me take band in ninth grade, be-cause it was the best thing about high school that I will take with me.”

Two values that Ana lives by are integrity and dependability. “Honesty and fairness are traits I try to live by, and I think it’s really important for oth-ers to be able to know they can depend on me and that I am not a fake.” She is a devoted friend and enjoys hanging out and catching up with them.

Ana’s preferred subjects are Anatomy and Pre-Calculus. Her fa-vorite teacher is Helen Hanson, her Pre-Cal teacher. “The way she runs her classroom is amazing,” Ana said. “She understands that math is dif-ficult for a lot of students, and she gives us the opportunity to work on all of our class work with another in-dividual, whom she refers to as our ‘elbow partner.’ She is very encour-aging and devoted to her work. I love her, because she does everything she can to help you learn the material, and you can tell she loves her job.”

Ana attends the Church of the Holy Apostles and is the leader of the children’s program, called “Play-house.” Ana said, “My experience with the youth group is a tangible way to know God is real. Seeing the way He works in other people’s lives is super rewarding. I love to be a part of such a positive force in the com-munity.”

After graduation, Ana will attend the University of Houston, where she will major in Biology in hopes of becoming a pediatric surgeon. Con-gratulations on your ambition and talent, and good luck as you advance to your future career.

HOT SHOTHigh School

Ana

“Honesty and fairness are traits I try to live by, and I think it’s really important for others to be able to know they can depend on me and that I am not a fake.” – Ana Rangel

Photos by Prestige Photography

Friends Rayanna Hack and Ana Rangel.



281-265-1994

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NEWSWORTHY

Cinco Ranch High School’s CRyptonite Robotics TeamBuilds a Year of Milestone Successes

Perhaps it is simply an example of commitment, maturity and talent all fit-ting together at the right time. The first three months of 2015 have seen CRyp-tonite Robotics Team 624 of Cinco Ranch High School reaching new mile-stones with every tournament victory. Now, the team is preparing to compete for a world championship.

On Saturday, April 6th, CRyptonite won the Lone Star Regional FIRST games in Houston as part of a three-team alliance. Fifty-six teams competed in the event. The win is CRyptonite’s third consecutive regional competition victory since February. Having won the Lone Star Regional, CRyptonite is headed for the World Championship in St. Louis.

Team President Dylan Bray is a se-nior bound for The University of Texas at Austin to major in chemical engineering. Bray has been a member of CRyptonite throughout his high school years. “Being part of CRyptonite taught me a lot about working with others to overcome chal-lenges,” Bray said. “It’s given me a lot of confidence and direction on career as-pirations. I’ve been involved in all of the key aspects, from strategy, to publicity, to website content.”

Another graduating member of CRyp-tonite, David Gros is also able to reflect on the team’s growth over four years. “All of us have developed greater tech-nical and organizational skills with every challenge,” Gros said, adding that an appreciation of teamwork and cohesion is something all CRyptonite members have developed.

The students also benefit from the generous support of some of the area’s leading energy and technology compa-

nies. The Katy Area Economic Develop-ment Council (KAEDC) is working with the robotics teams to broaden support from area businesses. “As the team’s skill and notoriety grows, more indus-tries are eager to help fund student ro-botics programs like CRyptonite,” said Lance LaCour, President and CEO of the Katy Area Economic Development Council.

Congratulations to these outstanding students!

CRyptonite robotics team members Patricio Villa, Yasmin Mansur, Maddison Willmott, Dane Foley, Johann Pally, David Gros, Santiago Laris, Greg Tarnowski, Sarah Peacock, Philip Ely, Akshat Ramadurai, Camilo Villa, Christian Pawlowicz, Kate Evans, Alyssa Wu, Tiffany Yu, Carlos Cuartas, Dylan Martinez, Justin, Kleiber, Joseph Daunis, Kutub Ghandi, Taylor Watson, Sasha Amatosero, Nilanjan Chowdhury, John Cong, Anurag Ghosh, Ryan McCluskey, Joseph Norman, Charith Rajeeva, Jose Diaz, Viraj Joshi, Abhishek Srinivas , Anton Kalinichev, Mahdi Koubaa, James Yoder, Dylan Bray, Bella Riffle, Libby Perego, Jessica Bayeh, Alex May, Ojas Desai, Henry Shen, Jello Thompson, Tristen Hall, Kene Ofili, Zoe Burch, Mijee Bergbauer, Jack Sampson, Matt Lowe, Abhishek Routray, Jan-Felix Abellera, Will Lasater, Erin Trobough and Satvik Bacchu.


NEWSWORTHY

Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels to Raise Funds with 10th Annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration

Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels is gearing up for its 10th Annual Cinco de Mayo fundraising event. The event will be held at La Cocina Mexican Res-taurant and Catering in Richmond on Saturday, May 2nd from 5 to 10:30 pm.

“Fort Bend Seniors is able to feed an abundance of seniors citizens in need each year with the help of La Cocina Restaurant and its owner, Andres No-voa,” Fort Bend Seniors CEO Manuela Arroyos said. “For the past nine years, the Cinco de Mayo fundraiser has con-tributed more than $225,000 towards feeding and caring for our seniors.”

Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels provides hot, home-delivered meals to more than 1,000 senior citizens daily, who mostly live alone and cannot pre-pare their own meals. In addition, Fort Bend Seniors offers older adults con-gregate meals from nine site locations, transportation to and from the center, health screenings and recreational ac-tivities.

“We are blessed to live in a communi-ty that is so giving,” said Cinco de Mayo fundraiser chairman Andres Novoa. “Not only are we raising money needed to

feed our seniors, but we are also reach-ing volunteers and creating awareness right here in our back yard as we help crush hunger among our elderly!”

Event activities will include a live band, live and silent auctions, raffle drawings, drink specials and tasty Tex-Mex cuisine all festively decorated in the fashion of Cinco de Mayo celebrations across the world.

Purchase individual VIP tickets for

Angela Vasquez, Manuela Arroyos, Loretta Acosta, Lori Dunaway, Ray Aguilar and Andres Novoa.

The Wild West Brew Fest Returns to Katy

$95 each or sponsor a VIP table, rang-ing from $350 for a table for four to $800 for a table for 10. If unable to at-tend the event, additional contributions and donations are still welcome. For VIP tickets and table purchases, contact An-dres Novoa at 281-460-6479 and make checks payable to La Cocina Mexican Restaurant. For direct donations to Fort Bend Seniors, contact Lori Dunaway at 281-633-7057.

The Wild West Brew Fest is the only one of its kind in Katy! Held on May 2nd at the Katy Mills Mall at 5000 Katy Mills Circle, the event will feature over 150 specialty craft brewers from various lo-cations all around the country, with over 250 individualized craft brews. All pro-ceeds help support Katy area non-profit organizations.

VIP ticket holders will be admitted one hour early at 2 pm, and general admis-sion opens at 3 pm. The event ends at 9 pm. Live musical performances under the stars by JT Hodges, Curtis Grimes, Kaos and Horizon will be the perfect way to end the night. Find out why these

artists have won multiple awards and why Grimes held the #1 Texas Coun-try Single in 2014. Also, come find out why the Wild West Brew Fest has been ranked the second best beer festival in the country by BeerYeti.com!

Come out to Katy for the afternoon and sample some of the best beers around at the Wild West Brew Fest. Book a discounted hotel room right off the Wild West Brew Fest website, as these hotels are within walking distance from the event!

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.katybrewfest.com or email [email protected].


Coming in July

Attention High School StudentsSend your favorite 2015 high school prom night photo by June 1st to [email protected] for a chance to be published in absolutely! Katy Magazine. Submissions must include fullnames of everyone pictured and name of your high school. Photos must be high resolution.

A Prom Night to Remember

Phot

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om is

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MEDICALFOCUS

The Houston Methodist Breast Care Center at West Houston now offers 3-D mammograms, using the lowest radiation expo-sure available in the market. Tomosynthesis provides uniquely high-resolution images, and more importantly, there is no in-crease in dose from a 2-D standard mammogram, which means there is no increased radiation to patients.

“We are committed to providing our community the very best in technology and expertise, and this helps us to fulfill that mission,” said Dr. Correna Terrell, medical director of the Breast Care Center. Tomosynthesis provides clearer images and more accuracy in cancer diagnosis than traditional mammograms, especially in women who have dense breast tissue. Call-backs for further imaging are reduced as well, as radiologists can pull images from varying perspectives to examine anything suspi-cious.

Houston Methodist’s technology uses a low-dose, short X-ray sweep around the positioned breast with nine exposures

Low-Dose, 3-D Mammograms Offeredat Houston Methodist Breast Care Center

acquired, using a “step-and-shoot” method. This removes the potential motion from the tube, helping to reduce blur and in-crease image sharpness. The Breast Care Center offers com-prehensive services, including all-digital mammography, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, ultrasound biopsies, stereotactic bi-opsies and MRI-guided biopsies, all under one roof. If cancer is found, the campus provides the most advanced treatments available, including chemotherapy, access to clinical trials and hormone, drug and radiation therapy. Pioneering surgical tech-niques and breast reconstruction surgeries are also available.

For more information, visit www.houstonmethodist.org.

Submit newsworthy [email protected]


NEWSWORTHY

New Cultural Arts Alliance Planned

A first meeting of minds to set forth and plan for establishing a real and work-ing cultural alliance in Fort Bend County took place in February at the Katy Con-temporary Arts Museum (KCAM) in Katy. The meeting was arranged and hosted by Ana Villaronga-Roman, Director of the Katy Contemporary Arts Museum, and was sponsored by Whole Foods Market.

The purpose of the new Fort Bend Culture Alliance is to recommend and promote healthy collaborations and partnerships among all of its members, which will provide and promote more opportunities for community residents and visitors who are seeking cultural ex-periences. The alliance believes that this umbrella organization of cultural groups will ignite and enable steady and healthy tourism growth for all cities in Fort Bend

County and provide a much needed boost in arts and cultural education throughout the area.

“Our goal is to raise awareness, promote and emphasize our county’s healthy move toward more cultural events, as well as to unify arts and cul-

ture – to work together in a cohesive countywide strategy rather than only through many citywide projects,” said Villaronga-Roman.

Future plans include the launching of an umbrella website for cultural organi-zations, inviting not only museums and libraries, but also arts organizations, cul-tural districts, theaters and performing arts centers to join in and have a voice. The slogans launched recently by the KCAM, “Fort Bend Big” and “Fort Bend, where life is Big,” will become the slo-gans of this new alliance. Plans were also made to coordinate and promote Fotofest events throughout Fort Bend County in 2016.

For more information, call 832-541-7981.

Chuck Kelly and Joyce Kennerly attended the meeting.Photo by Debi Beauregard.

The sun was bright and smiles even brighter as SIRE’s riders and volunteers imagined the GEICO Gecko painting the barn and pulling weeds the last Satur-day of March. He was there in spirit as two dozen GEICO volunteers from Katy spruced up flower beds and painted the barn.

GEICO employees and family mem-bers spent their Saturday making im-provements at SIRE’s non-profit thera-peutic horsemanship facility in Hockley, 30 miles north of the GEICO claims cen-ter in Katy. Of the three sites operated by SIRE in the Houston area, Hockley serves the most clients, with more than 100 who come every week, ranging in age from three-years-old to elderly, with diagnoses from autism to spinal cord in-juries.

Michael Anderson, GEICO public af-fairs coordinator and claims supervisor in GEICO’s claims center in Katy, said associates have made it their goal to

Kelli Leadbetter, Micheal Anderson and Michael Nest-ephoto repainted the barn for SIRE’s therapy horses. Photo by GEICO.

participate in community outreach ef-forts at least once a month. In addition, the office actively raises money for local non-profit organizations. Activities range from canned food drives, blood donation drives, volunteering for Katy ISD, Spe-cial Olympics, Children’s Hospital, Boy Scouts of America and Toys for Tots. In addition, GEICO supports the United Way, as well as the American Cancer So-ciety’s Relay for Life events.

“What drew me to SIRE is the work that they do to help people with dis-abilities,” Anderson said. “We have as-sociates who work for us countrywide and have children who have been born with disabilities. Associates know peo-ple with disabilities. The work that SIRE does touches our associates.

“GEICO has been around for more than 75 years and started with insuring our military servicemen and service-women,” Anderson added. “GEICO has strong roots with our military, and we are

always proud to help support organiza-tions that support our veterans. SIRE does this by providing therapy services for our disabled veterans.”

SIRE is seeking summer volunteers and will host a Volunteer Orientation and Training on Saturday, May 30th at all three sites. For more information, visit www.sire-htec.org.

GEICO Employees and Family MembersVolunteer with SIRE Therapeutic Horsemanship

Let our awards speak for usHERMES• 2014 Platinum Winner: Fort Bend Focus

100 Most Fascinating Things About Fort Bend

• 2014 Gold Winner: Fort Bend FocusFirst Annual Focus Favs

• 2014 Honorable Mention: absolutely! MemorialMemorial’s Model Gardener Kelly Emberg

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MARCOM• 2013 Platinum Winner: Fort Bend Focus

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• 2013 Gold Winner: Fort Bend FocusFort Bend Focus Honors the 2012 Jewels of Fort Bend

• 2013 Gold Winner: absolutely! focus mediaMarketing/Promo Campaign/Branding Refresh

TEXANA• 2013 - 2014 Platinum Winner: absolutely! Brazos

Media of the Year Award

• Hermes Creative Awards is an international competition for creative professionals involved in the concept, writing and design of traditional materials and programs, and emerging technologies.

• MarCom Awards is a creative competition for any individual or company involved in the concept, writing and design of print, visual, audio and web materials and programs.

• Texana Center’s Media of the Year Award received at the organization’s 4th Annual Reaching for the Stars Awards Ceremony.

BRAZOS • FORT BEND • KATY • MEMORIAL

www.absolutelyfocusmedia.com281.690.4242

absolutely!


IN THEHEART

K AT Y

OUT&ABOUT

By Jennifer L. Evans

Zach Mascorro’s Gold Key Parody, The Butter Games, advanced to the national level of the Scholastic Writing Contest. Zach will have the opportunity to travel to New York City to be honored for his writing achievement at Carnegie Hall.

Father Pat Garrett, Mary Jane Nowak and Sarah and Edward Stout.

Beck Junior High School’s Silver Key winners in the Scholastic Writing Contest were Christopher Chen, Elena Welsh and Cindy Tan.

The Beck Junior High Bulldogs had a rocking spring!

Sarah Stout of Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council Troop 17274 and a third year Cadette received her Marian Medal at St. Edward’s Church. The Marian Medal is the highest religious medal for Girl Scout Cadettes and is offered through the Archdiocese of Houston/Galveston. To receive the award, Sarah had to complete activities and learn about Mary and her role in Catholicism, which took several months to complete. The award is presented annually, and Sarah was the only Girl Scout from Epiphany of the Lord Church in Katy so honored this year.

Beck Junior High School’s Teacher of the Year, Robert Grossie, was honored with a Mardi Gras parade at the school. Coach Grossie has taught at Beck since its 1996 opening. Pictured are Robert Grossie and Principal Carra Fleming.

Departing Parent Teacher Association (PTA) President Kristin Vigeant gifted the school with a visit from the Houston Rockets’ mascot, Clutch the Bear. Having fun were Kristin Vigeant and Clutch with Ryan and Shawn Vigeant.

Lauren Galyon was named First Year Teacher of the Year for Katy ISD and was cheered on by Clutch.


Teachers Amanda Morvant, Dennis Welch and parent Kelly Sanders were very brave.

Assistant Principal Sally Gupton proved to be the real daredevil!

absolutely! Katy was a proud media sponsor of EnergyFest 2015 in April. The Energy Corridor’s annual spring community festival was action-packed with fun, free entertainment and some of the best food around.

Katy ISD’s Creech Elementary had a wild time at their recent school party. Stunt bike group “Perfection on Wheels” performed for the crowd, and Creech staffers joined in the fun.

Dominic Preciado and Sarah Klein.

Kelly Rector greeted guests.

Clark Martinson tried out the penny-farthing bicycle.

KHOU Channel 11 morning news anchor Lily Jang emceed the event.

Paige Pruden, a sophomore at Tompkins High School, has a unique hobby – precision shooting. Paige competes in both precision air rifle and smallbore events, and she’s earned some excellent kudos, including the 2015 Air Rifle Junior Olympic Invite, 2014 Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) State Team Champion Three-Position Air Rifle, 2014 4-H 5th Place Texas and 2014 4-H District 9 Champion. Congratulations!

Katy real estate is still booming! Congrats to Vickie Geiger, who was recently inducted into Perry Homes’ prestigious “Multi-Million Dollar Club.” Geiger and her husband live in Firethorne.


Q: WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON TYPES OF ALLERGIES THAT AFFECT CHILDREN?

The two broadest categories of childhood allergies are envi-ronmental and food allergies. Environmental allergies can include pollen, dust mites, mold and animal dander. Food allergies, which typically appear in young children, often include milk, eggs, soy, wheat, peanuts and fish or shellfish. The allergies that children develop heavily depend on what they are frequently exposed to in their natural surroundings.

Q: HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD HAS A FOOD OR ENVIRONMENTAL ALLERGY?

A good allergy evaluation starts by taking a detailed history of your child’s symptoms and performing a physical examination. Then, your allergist will discuss with you if allergy testing is recom-mended.

For seasonal allergies, I typically encourage parents to wait un-til their child is at least three-years-old before testing, as it will be more accurate if the child has been exposed to a variety of poten-tial allergens through the different pollen seasons. Testing for food allergies and potential indoor allergens can be done at a much younger age, as exposure begins much earlier in life.

The allergy test is fairly simple. We introduce a small amount of allergens to the child by slightly “pricking” the surface of their skin. For babies and toddlers, the test is typically performed on their back, where there is more surface. For older children, it is often done on their forearm, because they tend to like to see what is going on, and they have fun guessing which allergen they will react to. After about 15 minutes, we begin to see swelling around the specific allergens that are causing the problems.

Q: WHY SHOULD I TAKE MY CHILD TO A PEDIATRIC ALLERGIST AS OPPOSED TO A GENERAL ALLERGY CLINIC?

It’s best to take your child to a pediatric-specific allergy and immunology clinic like at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus. In a pediatric setting, everything from the equipment and facility is designed specifically for children. At our clinic, we only see chil-dren, so we are very familiar with what type of reactions to expect from the child, as well as the common allergy test indicators.

For younger children, distractions are sometimes needed to get their attention away from the slight pinch of the prick. For these patients, child life specialists are available who can provide toys and interact with the child to help them through what can be a scary time. Since older children like to know what to expect during the allergy test, the child life specialists can help explain the entire process and can play guessing games with them to predict the allergens that will appear.

Q: WILL MY CHILD OUTGROW THEIR ALLERGIES?

The short answer is sometimes. For some food allergies, such as milk, eggs and soy, about 60 to 80 percent of children out-grow them by school age. But only about 15 percent of children outgrow a peanut allergy. It also works in reverse. Your child can develop an allergy later on in life as a teenager or an adult.

Contact the Allergy and Immunology Clinic at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus at 832-227-2280 with any questions.

EXPERT: Dr. Maria Buheis, pediatric allergy and immunology physician at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus

The main lobby at Texas Children’s West Campus.Photo by A. Kramer.

Allergy and Immunology

abso

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Q A&

Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus.Photo by A. Kramer.


Real Weddings

Coming June 2015

Submit your info todayand have your wedding detailsand photos published in printand online in our magazine.

Email: [email protected] visit www.absolutelykaty.com

Attention Newlyweds!

If you or your children have recently marriedand you would like to enter for a chance to

be featured in our Real Weddings, all you need is atleast ten high-resolution photos of the ceremony

and/or reception. It doesn’t matter where thewedding took place, as long as it was in the last year

and you or your parent/s reside in Katy.Photographers are also welcome to submit photos.

absolutely!DELICIOUS

Watermelon is a versatile fruit with a flavor profile that pairs perfectly with many of the ingredients in traditional Mexican dishes. Sweet and juicy water-melon is a great way to cut the heat of spicier foods, and its texture lends an unexpected, satisfying crunch in dips such as chunky salsas. Whether you’re hosting a Cinco de Mayo themed party or simply looking forward to an inspired meal at home, get an early jump on sum-mer and let watermelon be your star in-gredient.

Visit www.watermelon.org for more recipes featuring low-calorie, no-fat wa-termelon.

C inco de Mayo is the perfect opportunity to indulge in Mexican-

inspired dishes, dips and drinks. This year, put a tangy twist on your festive favorites with a refreshing new flavor.

For guacamole, mash avocados to mix of smooth and chunky in medium bowl. Add lime, jalapeno, cilantro, garlic and chilies and mix thoroughly. Add 1 1/2 cups diced watermelon and salt, if desired, and toss. Cover and refrigerate to let flavors blend.

Heat oven to 350°F. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray. Place cod on sheet and sprinkle with chili powder and salt. Bake for 12–20 min-

utes, depending on thickness of fish or until cooked through. Remove from oven and cut into pieces.

Heat tortillas on grill or griddle. Top each with few pieces of fish, 1/4 cup cole-slaw mix, heaping spoonful of guacamole, tablespoon of salsa and few pieces of remaining diced watermelon.

Servings: 12–16 tacos

2 medium avocados, peeled and chopped

2 tablespoons lime juice

2 teaspoons diced jalapeno pepper

1/3 cup chopped cilantro

2 medium garlic cloves, minced

1 can (4 ounces) diced green chilies, drained

2 1/2 cups diced watermelon, divided

Salt, to taste

Cooking spray

1 1/2 pounds cod

Chili powder

12–16 corn tortillas

3–4 cups coleslaw mix (shredded cabbage and carrots)

1/2–1 cup salsa

Baja Fish Tacos with Watermelon Guacamole


Servings: 3 cups3 cups seeded and chopped watermelon 1/2 cup green peppers 2 tablespoons lime juice 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro 1 tablespoon green onion 1–2 tablespoons jalapeno peppers

Combine ingredients; mix well and cover. Refrigerate one hour or more.


Servings: 1

1 1/2 ounces tequila

3/4 ounce Triple Sec

3/4 ounce Midori

2 ounces sour mix

6 ounces cubed, seeded watermelon

8 ounces ice

Servings: 8–122 cups chopped seedless watermelon1 cup chopped fresh pineapple1 cup chopped fresh mango4 limes, juice only1 cup trimmed and chopped scallions1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro Salt and pepper, to taste

Watermelon Margarita

Watermelon Cilantro Salsa Tropical

Blend all ingredients. Serve in 14 ounce glass. Garnish with lime and watermelon wedge.

Toss all ingredients in mixing bowl and season with salt and pepper just before serving.

• Although about 200–300 varieties ofwatermelon are grown in the UnitedStates and Mexico, there are about 50 varieties that are most popular.

• The five best-known types of watermelon include seeded, seedless, mini,yellow and orange.

• Watermelon is the most-consumed melon in the United States, followed by cantaloupe and honeydew.

• Early explorers used watermelons as canteens.• Watermelon is 92 percent water, which makes it a good option for

hydrating your body.

Fiesta-Worthy FactsImpress guests at your Cinco de Mayo celebration with these mouthwatering morsels:

Southwest Salsa BowlMaterials:1 round, seedless watermelon Dry erase marker Utility knife or carving knife Ice cream scoop or other large spoon Fire and Ice Salsa Chips, jalapenos, cilantro and lime, for garnish

1. Choose round seedless watermelon. 2. Wash watermelon and pat dry.3. Use dry erase marker to trace design around middle of watermelon.4. Use utility knife to carve design. Copy design in photo. 5. Split watermelon in half, and use scoop to carve out flesh. 6. Choose flat area of rind on other watermelon half to trace and carve out lizard design. Copy from image in photo.7. Fill bowl with salsa.8. Garnish with lizard, chips, jalapenos, cilantro and lime.

Fire and Ice Salsa



absolute ly!AUTO REVIEW

absolute ly!AUTO REVIEW

By Steve Kursar

I f you’re feeling that the family mini-van isn’t doing anything for your tough guy image, and you want to

drive something that won’t get great fuel economy but may just allow you and the kids to survive almost any kind of ca-lamity to hit Texas, then say hello to the 2015 Ram Power Wagon. Designed to climb over almost anything in existence, the Power Wagon is an all-terrain assault vehicle. Nothing stands in its way.

The Power Wagon traces its heri-tage back to the Dodge 3/4 ton trucks that Chrysler built for use by the Unit-ed States Military and the Allies during World War II. They were over-engineered to handle the most inhospitable terrain.

RAM POWER WAGON2015Used mainly by farmers, miners

and explorers, the truck proved very successful and popular amongst its relatively few users. The design was all about utility without much in the way of creature comforts. But in 1980, Dodge discontinued the Power Wagon vari-ant of its 2500 pick-up truck just a few years before the SUV craze overtook the American car-buying public.

However, Dodge decided to resur-rect the Power Wagon in 2005 without much fanfare. It was only after Ford brought out its F-150 Raptor catering to truck buyers hungry for a truck with crazy capabilities and an even crazier price tag that Ram decided to get back

in the game with an all-new Power Wagon. But this time, you can get any-where, and I mean any-where, wrapped in luxury while listening to satellite radio. Now, you can go muddin’ in style.

The new iteration of the Power Wagon is only avail-able as a Crew Cab 4WD model with a short bed

and a Hemi 410 hp V8 engine with al-most 430 foot-pounds of torque. The 17 inch, seriously all-terrain tires are more suited to driving off-road, but they han-dle remarkably well on the freeway. You may never have the need to break out the power winch that’s included on the truck, but in case you do, it is rated at 12,000 pounds of capacity, so you can either pull the truck out of danger or rip out a tree stump.

The base price for one of these is $49,145, but you can quickly add op-tions that could bring that price to over $56,000. This is a bargain, considering the capability of this beautiful beast. Rough ranch roads, flooded creeks, zombies? Bring ’em on.

Follow Steve Kursar at KursarOnCars.blogspot.com.


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May gives us much to celebrate, including our precious moms and our

dedicated service men and women. Make plans to experience all that is kickin’ in Katy this month. And from high school to college, hats off and a big congrats to the Class of 2015!

What’s Kickin’ inKaty

By Cyd Wright

May 1st and 2nd Relay for Life of Katy 7 pm – 7 am Katy Park24927 Morton RoadThe American Cancer Society Relay for Life is the world’s largest fundraising event to end cancer. It celebrates people who have bat-tled cancer, remember loves ones lost and take action. For more information, check out www.relayforlife.org or call 713-706-5652.

May 5th Cinco de Mayo

May 7th National Day of Prayer 7 – 8:15 pm Leonard E. Merrell Center6301 South Stadium LaneThis annual observance invites people of all faiths to pray for the nation and its leaders. This year’s theme is “Lord, Hear Our City.” All are encouraged to come together as prayers are lifted up. Visit www.merrellcenter.org or www.nationaldayofprayer.org.

May 7thMother’s Day Tea and Fashion Show11 am – 1 pmWillow Fork Country Club 21055 Westheimer ParkwayThe Republican Women’s Club of Katy presents their Mother’s Day Tea and Fashion Show fundraiser. Tickets are $40 and include open seating. For more information, visit.www.republicanwomensclubofkaty.com.

May 9th Election DayTake part in the City of Katy, Katy ISD School Board and Municipal Utility District (MUD) elections. Visit www.votetexas.gov or www.katyisd.org for more information on voting, polling locations and times.

May 10th Happy Mother’s Day

May 15thVolunteers In Public Schools (VIPS) Breakfast 8:30 – 10:30 amLeonard E. Merrell Center 6301 South Stadium LaneThe VIPS celebration salutes over 17,000 volunteers who make up Katy’s Partners in Education programs. Their contributions help make Katy ISD a sought-after school district. Along with breakfast, student entertainment and a keynote speaker, the event culminates with the recognition of each campus Volun-teer of the Year. To RSVP, call 291-396-2468 or visit www.katyisd.org/dept/pie/Pages/VIP-SCelebration.aspx.

May 16thArmed Forces DayGive thanks to all who serve the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard, National Guard and Reserve units. Thank you for your incredible service!

May 19th Stroke Support Group6 – 7 pm Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital23900 Katy FreewayThe Stroke Support Group is a program of Memorial Hermann Katy and Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Hospital-Katy. This month’s topic is “Secondary Stroke Preven-tion,” presented by Jose Diaz, MD, Neurol-ogy. To register, call 713-222-CARE (2273).

May 23rd Cinco Ranch Rotary Camo 5K 8 am Villagio Town Center 22756 Westheimer Parkway Get your camo on and run for a great cause benefiting Team Red, White & Blue (RWB) and Special Buddies. The competitive 5K begins at 8 am, followed by a one-mile walk at 8:05 am. There will be free food and drinks after the race in the Villagio Courtyard. To register, visit www.crrcamo5k.com.

May 25th Memorial Day

May 30th Keller William Premier 5K8 – 11 am Villagio Town Center22756 Westheimer Parkway Bring out your family and friends to enjoy a few hours of fun in the sun while walking or running at your own pace. A fabulous post-race party will be held in Villagio Center. All proceeds benefit Cinco Charities, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing tempo-rary housing for patients who are receiving treatment in the Katy area for serious medi-cal conditions. For more information, visit www.kwpremier5k.com.

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

may 2015- absolutely katy magazine

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