september 2015 - absolutely brazos magazine

SEPTEMBER 2015 Serving Richmond, Rosenberg &

Fulshear

HOME IS WHERETHE HEART IS

Patchwork OF LIFE

Let'sRODEO!

The QMorningZoo’s

The QMorningZoo’s

Erica RicoErica Rico

INSIDE FRONT

INSIDE FRONT

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 | V O L U M E 3 | N U M B E R 1 0

C O V E R S T O R Y

F E A T U R E S

16 IT’S FAIR TIME!With numerous events, rides, food and entertainment, the 79th annual iconic hometown event promises big time fun.

17 LEGAL EAGLESMeet Brazos’ Finest Attorneys

26 HOME IS WHERE THE HEART ISThese tips and resources will help you stay organized all day long and turn your house into your dream home.

C O L U M N S

10 FOCUS ON FINANCEMid-Year Review

14 HIGH SCHOOL HOT SHOTMeet Alessandra Jara

32 A LITTLE PIECE OF HISTORYWorld War II and Prisoners of War in Rosenberg

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

11 LARRY CALDWELL, DDS Announces the Arrival of Dr. Derek Steinbring

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

12 2015 FORD F-150

N E W S W O RT H Y

18 HEART OF FORT BENDEvent Plans Underway

21 ROSENBERG RAILROAD MUSEUM’S ANNUAL GALAPromises an Evening of Retro Fun

24 OAKBEND MEDICAL CENTER’S PATCHWORK OF LIFE GALA Scheduled for October 15th

8 THE Q MORNING ZOO’S ERICA RICOAs a co-host of a popular local radio show and mother of six kids ranging in ages four to 20 plus one on the way, Erica Rico is passionate about her community, career and most of all, family.

Erica RicoPhoto by Roy Kasmir Photography.

ON THE COVER:Danielle, Dallas,

Erica and Ricky Rico. Photo by Roy Kasmir Photography.

I N E V E RY I S S U E

4 PUBLISHER’S POINT OF VIEW

20 COMMUNITY EVENTS

22 OUT & ABOUT IN THE HEART OF BRAZOS

30 COMMUNITY MARKETPLACE

CONTRIBUTORS

Lara Bell absolutely! focus mediaPage 8

Steve KursarAuto Enthusiast Page 12

Will HardeeHardee Investment GroupPage 10

Joan Frances ContributorPages 14 & 32

Barbara Magana RobertsonContributorPage 16

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Tim Cashion, DDS Teresa Cody, DDS

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It’s fall in Fort Bend and that means one thing: it’s Fair time! This year, the Fort Bend County Fair celebrates its 79th annual event, and in Fort Bend, the Fair is the official kick-off to the fall event season. We enjoyed the Downtown Stomp, which is the Grapes on the Brazos Wine Commit-tee’s official kick-off event, last month, and now, the Fair – including the PRCA Championship Rodeo – is in full swing beginning on September 25th. Last year’s auctions alone raised over $1.6 million for the youth of Fort Bend County with their award-winning animals and art. Kudos to the many volunteers each year who make the Fair a win-win for our community.

Speaking of rodeos, this month’s cover girl is a staple each year at The Hous-ton Livestock Show and Rodeo. We visited with The Q Morning Zoo’s Erica Rico, who recently moved to the Brazos area with her family. Erica shares with us how she went from a reality show to the number one rated morning show in Houston. Award-winning residents making our community home – welcome to Brazos Erica!

Award-winning also describes our GEMS of Fort Bend – the signature event that has honored Generous, Enthusiastic Men Serving for the past two years. We are proud to support our community, and in fact, it is part of our mission at ab-solutely! focus media – to give back to the community that has given us so much. We were thrilled to receive the Excellence in Community Service – Philanthropy Award for the 2013 and 2014 GEMS of Fort Bend from The Association of Market-ing and Communications Professionals. And, we’re even more proud of our 2015 GEMS and the beneficiary: Bob Hebert, Don Kerstetter and Steve Onstad support-ing The Fort Bend Family YMCA. We hope you will join us on October 22nd for this year’s award-winning event.

Coach Vince Lombardi said, “Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.” With a passion for service to our community, Brazos is a community that wants to win. We want our businesses to succeed, our organizations to succeed, our children to succeed. And, it takes us all, working together as a winning community to make that happen. Keep up the great work Brazos!

Absolutely yours,

[email protected]

EXCLAMATION POINTS!T H E I N S I D E S C O O P S T R A I G H T F R O M T H E T O P

4655 TECHNIPLEX DR. STE. 700STAFFORD, TX 77477

281-690-4242

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Vol. 3 No. 10 | September 2015

absolutely! Brazos Magazine are 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! Brazos 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! Brazos Magazine welcomes editorial submissions from its readers.

Subscription requests are free to West Fort Bendarea addresses. Annual paid subscription of $25

required outside West Fort Bend area.

P U B L I S H E RE D I T O R- I N - C H I E FPatti Parish-Kaminski

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 Ellis Kay Garrett

Andrea Rigamonti Suzanne Stiles

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 RApril Roseberry

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

P H O T O G R A P H E RRoy Kasmir Photography

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

C O N T R I BU T O R SLara Bell

Joan Frances Will Hardee

Steve KursarBarbara Magana Robertson

I N T E R NLauren Richmond

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

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An Attitude of Gratitude – and Winning

Our Lady of Guadalupe parish wishes to thank you for making our church dedication a great success!

Father Lee A. Flores

Joan,

Your article was great. We are quite proud of our history and excited about our future at First Baptist Church of Richmond! Thank you.

Sandy Bills

Dear absolutely! focus media,

Thank you for your generous donation to Lunches of Love (LOL). Your gift will provide 55 nutritious lunches and 11 boxes of cereal to a child this summer. In 2014, LOL served over 315,900 lunches to needy children. With your help, Lunches of Love is working to end the very real problem of childhood hunger in our community. Thank you for your love and support!

Best regards and many thanks,

Brandy Winner,Lunches of Love

READER FEEDBACK

Photo by Alisa Murray.

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A few months ago, we were in line together as celebrity models for a charity event, and we just clicked. We have many of the same friends and run in the same circles but had never met before. What made her so appealing to me is that we both have children who are our first priority, and what you see in Erica is exactly what you get. I sat down with Erica, and here’s what she had to say about career, family and the future.

absolutely! Brazos: How did you end up on the number one rated morning show in Houston?

Erica Rico: I was on a reality show when the guys interviewed me, and I think I might have told off Tim Tuttle at some point. They called me a few months later to audition for the morning show spot and hired me shortly after. I think I just say the wrong things at the right time. Plus, my no holds barred attitude helped.

AB I knew when I was nine-years-old that I would someday be on television. I drove my

friends and neighbors crazy trying to interview them all of the time. Did you always want to be on radio?

ER I always wanted to be the host of America’s Most Wanted. It’s my all-time favorite show. I still

search for reruns. They need to bring it back!

H ave you ever met someone you instantly knew you would be friends with? Well, that’s how it was for

Erica Rico and me. Erica is the cute, bubbly brunette who co-hosts the Q Morning Zoo radio program on the New 93Q with Tim Tuttle and Kevin Kline.

COVER STORY

By Lara Bell

Erica RicoThe Q Morning Zoo’s

Ricky, Danielle, Dallas and Erica Rico.Photo by Roy Kasmir Photography.

www.absolutelybrazos.com l SEPTEMBER 2015 9

AB You, Tim Tuttle and Kevin Kline have such a great

camaraderie on air. Is it like that off air too?

ER Oh yes! All three of us clicked instantly. We kid around all

morning off air as we do on air. People freak out when they sit in our studio. They can’t believe that we actually like each other so much. They are my guys, and I adore them.

AB You are a family girl. I know about your children, who are precious, but tell the

readers about family life in the Rico household.

ER Everyone always tells us that we need a reality show. With six kids, our household is always

crazy, unpredictable and very loving. My kids support each other every step of the way and really don’t fight with each other much. I’m lucky that way. I also constantly remind them that siblings are a gift from God. Our kids range in age from four to 20 years-old, so each is into something completely different and at different stages in life. They also play every sport imaginable and raise animals, so we are running in every direction and taking all of the kids with us. Work, play, activities – it’s all a “family thang” for us. There is never a dull – or quiet – moment.

AB I heard a little rumor you are pregnant. Do

you know what you are having?

ER I am pregnant as everyone says, “Again?” Yes, again.

I am having another boy! This will make four boys and three girls – lucky number seven!

AB Where do you see yourself in 15 years?

ER Oh, wow! In 15 years I will have kids ranging in age from 35 to 14 years. I hope to be kicking

butt at work and keeping up with these crazy kids of mine. All that I care about is my family. They are my number one priority. Everything else is gravy! I just hope to have happy, healthy and successful kids.

The Q Morning Zoo’s Erica Rico, Tim Tuttle and Kevin Kline spend countless hours each year at The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

AB What do you like best about your job?

ER I like that I love everything about it. I love my co-hosts,

I love country music and I love our listeners. We truly have the best listeners on the planet. Meeting my love George Strait was a definite perk, and winning Hottest Woman in Radio at 34 years-old and after all these kids was amazing. Radio opens the doors to meeting so many people and doing so much. I’m truly blessed to be doing what I’m doing.

Scott Sparks, Erica Rico and Kasey Sova at one of the many charity events Rico volunteers at throughout the year.

Phot

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Photo by

Roy

Kas

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Mid-Year Review

FOCU$ on FINANCE

I t’s been a very interesting six months for investors. Even though the market is basically flat for the year, some stocks and industries have gone up and some have

gone down, which is frustrating. Leading the pack on volatil-ity has been the energy sector, which bottomed in early Janu-ary, rallied strongly into mid-April and has given back most of that through June. On the other side, cybersecurity has burst into our consciousness with cyber attacks on Sony, Blue Cross Blue Shield, NSA and other government agencies. The stocks in this group have been on “fireeye” with gains over 25 percent year to date as evidenced by the only exchange traded fund “Hack.” Our main themes of energy consumers not producers, in-dustrial America and growth over value still remain strongly in play. Oil has stayed in a range between $48 and $62 a bar-rel with gasoline prices hovering around $2.50 a gallon. Us-ers of energy, such as chemical companies, are reporting ex-cellent earnings. I recently met with Calumet management, and the outlook for them is quite positive, as they benefit from a surplus of cheap oil. Furthermore, I spent two days in Corpus Christi looking at the billions of dollars of new petrochemical plants being built to take advantage of cheap dependable feedstock. This advantage is making industrial America a force to be reckoned with. Growth over value is becoming more evident as witnessed by cybersecurity. This industry didn’t exist to any extent six years ago. Now, we see increasing cyber attacks throughout. We believe this is a very young industry that is one of the fastest growth industries ahead of us. Boris and Yurgi are coming, and they want your information.

Finally, this is a great time to go to Europe. The dollar is up over 25 percent versus the Euro. It’s a bad time for Euro-peans to go to Disney World, because it costs them 25 percent more. There is a currency war developing, or what we call a “beggar thy neighbor” policy. Both Europe and Japan are devaluing their currencies to make their products cheaper to the rest of the world. In that way, they hope to stimulate eco-nomic recovery in their respective countries. It seems to be working as Toyota, Sony, Daimler Benz and BMW reported record quarterly profits. It’s a bad time to sell a Cadillac in Europe. Being in the right industries will be critical to investment success. I have meetings with management of companies we own scheduled throughout the summer and plan to make “field trips” to see first-hand the changes occurring in our fa-vored themes. We know you have a choice when deciding on a team to help you realize your financial goals. We do things a little dif-ferently at the Hardee Investment Group by doing what’s in the client’s best interest. We encourage you to experience the difference. We thank you for your trust and confidence in us. It’s a responsibility we don’t take lightly.

This article provided by H. H. “Will” Hardee, AWM of the Hardee Invest-ment Group and a Managing Director - Financial Advisor at RBC Wealth Man-agement in Houston, and was prepared by or in cooperation with RBC Wealth Management. The information included in this article is not intended to be used as the primary basis for making investment decisions nor should it be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell any specific security. RBC Wealth Management does not endorse this organization or publication. Consult your investment professional for additional information and guidance. RBC Wealth Management does not provide tax or legal advice. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC.*


Larry Caldwell, DDS is pleased to an-nounce the arrival of his new associate, Dr. Derek Steinbring. Born and raised in Fredericksburg, Texas, Dr. Steinbring attended Texas A&M University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science de-gree in Animal Science in 2009.

Dr. Steinbring received his Doctor-ate of Dental Surgery degree from The University of Texas School of Dentistry in 2013 and completed a two-year resi-dency program in pediatric dentistry at The University of Texas School of Dentistry in Houston with affiliations at Texas Children’s Hospital and Memorial Hermann Children’s Hospital in 2015.

In 2013, Dr. Steinbring was awarded the Certificate of Merit AAPD Pre-Doc-toral Student Award for outstanding promise in the field of Pediatric Dentist-ry. He is a member of the Greater Hous-ton Dental Society, Houston Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Texas Dental As-sociation, Texas Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

In his spare time, Dr. Steinbring enjoys spending time with his fian-cée Holly and their dog Riley, running, working out, playing golf, hunting, fish-ing, watching Texas A&M athletics and spending time on his family’s ranch in Fredericksburg.

Larry Caldwell, DDS Announces the Arrival of Dr. Derek Steinbring

BUSINESSBRIEFS

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absolute ly!AUTO REVIEW

absolute ly!AUTO REVIEW

By Steve Kursar

T he all-new 2015 Ford F-150 is the reigning Truck of Texas as voted on by the Texas Auto Writers

Association. That’s an honor for which truck makers vie annually, and this new Ford truck won it by a wide margin. It may not look like it from the outside, but this pickup is a revolutionary step in truck design, one that will pay off with fewer trips to the gas station for its smart owner.

Back in the 1970s after the Arab Oil Embargo, Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards were en-acted by the United States Congress, forcing carmakers to engineer more fuel

2015efficient vehicles. Family sedans that used to get 15 miles per gallon (mpg) now regularly get closer to 40 mpg. Since those standards also apply to light-duty pickups, Ford took a radical approach to squeezing more mpg by making this latest generation F-Series truck much lighter, in fact, 700 pounds lighter. They did this through the ex-tensive use of military grade aluminum in the truck’s body and incorporating more high-strength steel in the full-boxed frame.

But Ford doesn’t just stop at weight reduction to save fuel. They offer four fuel efficient engines choices to de-

liver trucks that fit your needs. The base engine option is a normally as-pirated 283 hp, 3.5 liter V6 engine that’s rated at 18 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. The next step up is ac-tually a smaller engine, the 325 hp, 2.7 liter V6 EcoBoost that will sur-prise even die-hard V8 fanatics, because it out-performs the 5.4 liter V8

that powered F-150 just five years ago. What’s more, that little engine gets fuel economy numbers of 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. The 365 hp, 3.5 liter V6 EcoBoost is next up the engine lineup (17 mpg city/24 mpg highway), and the last option is the only V8 offered, a nor-mally aspirated 385 hp, 5.0 liter (15 mpg city and 22 mpg highway).

You can get yourself a highly capable albeit bare-bones F-150 starting with an MSRP of $26,030. But if you feel the need to step it way up, Ford is ready to swathe you in Texas-style luxury with the iconic King Ranch edition. Don’t worry; there are plenty of trims in be-tween those two to make it work for you. There is just no settling when it comes to the revolutionary new 2015 Ford F-150.

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FORD F-150

HOT SHOTHigh School

Meet Alessandra Jara

By Joan Frances

Alessandra

G eorge Ranch High School (GRHS) in Lamar Consoli-dated Independent School

District is a recognized leader in academic excellence. Sports, arts and extracurricular activities play a big part in providing life lessons for students. Seniors graduate ready to take the next step in their education for a successful future. One senior who has excelled in academics, sports and the arts is Alessandra Jara.

Alessandra currently ranks second in her class and has taken Advanced Placement (AP) courses through-out her high school career. She was awarded High School Math Stu-dent of the Year at GRHS her freshman and sophomore year. She also received the Certificate of Rec-ognition for Outstanding Academic Achievement in Science, Fine Arts and Language Other Than English as a freshman and sophomore. This past year, Alessandra was awarded the AP Scholar with Honor Award in recognition of exemplary college level achievement on AP examina-tions. Alessandra is also a member of the National Honor Society and a National Merit candidate.

When asked what value is impor-tant to her, Alessandra said, “Dedi-cation. There is no feeling I dislike

more than the one which hounds me after leaving a piece of work haphaz-ardly patched up or sloppily done. Be-cause of this, I always push myself to the best of my abilities and instill my utmost effort into everything I do.”

Alessandra is a champion varsity tennis player. Since her freshman year, her team has continually placed in the top three ranks at their all-district tournaments. This past year, Alessandra’s team placed first at the regional qualifier and second at the state qualifier.

Alessandra’s leadership skills are admirable. “Being a leader in tennis is fulfilling in the way that it keeps me motivated to get better. It reminds me that there is always room for im-provement and allows me to show others that they don’t need private lessons every week to gain success. All they need is a determination to im-prove and a will to practice.”

Alessandra speaks French fluently and is a member of the French Sym-posium. Her favorite teacher is Dr. Carol LeBoeuf, her French instructor. “Apart from being an amazing teacher, she has such a fun and amiable per-sonality that coming to class every day is something to look forward to.”

Alessandra is a talented artist. As a freshman, she was a state finalist and gold medalist at the Visual Arts Scholastic Event. She won the Award for Excellence and the gold medal at the Houston Livestock Show and Ro-deo, and she continues to receive rec-ognition for her work in oil painting at GRHS.

“I always push myself to the best of my abilities andinstill my utmost effort into everything I do.” – Alessandra Jara

When asked what she treasures most about her high school experi-ence, Alessandra said, “All of the wonderful time I’ve spent with my friends. Knowing we only have one more year to spend together makes me incredibly sad but at the same time hopeful for all of the new people we’ll meet and things we’ll experi-ence.”

Alessandra plans to attend The University of Texas at Austin and major in journalism. While math and science truly interest her, writing is her passion, so her field of interest also includes creative writing and screenwriting. Congratulations Ales-sandra on your amazing talent and drive, and good luck as you look to your future endeavors.



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It’s Fair time in Fort Bend County, and you know what that means: fried

foods, family fun and friends having a grand time. The 79th Annual Fort Bend County Fair and Rodeo will run from September 25th to October 4th at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds.

For some families, the Fair is more than an event; it is a tradition passed on from generation to generation. “My family has passed our love and support for the Fort Bend County Fair for gen-erations. I love seeing my grandkids and the children of kids who grew up with my daughters being part of our Fair,” said 2015 Fort Bend County President Margaret Kunz. “I am look-ing forward to a good year – a year that will exceed all expectations and bring all Fort Bend County communities and youth out to enjoy a true county fair ex-perience.”

To please and tantalize guests’ taste buds, the Fair standards of fun-nel cakes and turkey legs will return for all to enjoy. Wine connoisseurs will relish an assortment of selected wines in the Grapes on the Brazos wine room. The popular wine venue welcomes the novice wine lover to hone their wine selecting skills in a relaxed, no-pres-sure atmosphere.

There will be plenty of excitement for thrill seekers at the Fair. Rodeo action will pack the newly renovated O.D. Tucker Arena, and the fan favor-ite Mutton Bustin’ will keep fairgoers cheering on the little cowboys and cow-girls. A specialty act during the Pro-fessional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) rodeo nights involving dare-devils on motorcycles is sure to please the crowd. Grand champions will be named in the livestock arenas, and kids ranging from high school seniors showing their livestock projects for the last time to younger kids getting their first Fair experience under their belt will make memories to last a lifetime.

The 2015 entertainment lineup is blazing with talent. “It is a lineup that we are proud to present! It is filled with talented singer-songwriters, and country music fans will get a full range of entertainment to enjoy,” said Susan Sillavan Forbes, Fort Bend County Fair Manager. “These artists represent everything from Texas music favorites to traditional country music icons, and we are excited for our fairgoers.”

The pride of the Golden Triangle, Tracy Byrd, will bring his chart-top-ping hits to the Fort Bend County Fair on Friday, October 2nd. Byrd’s career soared in the 90s with hits such

as Holdin’ Heaven, Wa-termelon Crawl and thewedding day staple and Country Music Association song of the year Keeper of the Stars. Byrd is thrilled to be in the Fair lineup. “Tell the Fort Bend Coun-ty fairgoers to get ready to party T-Byrd style,” said Byrd. Other artists who will perform include California native Jon Par-di, who brings his talents to the Fair for the first time.

Go Tejano Day will be filled with traditional sounds of Mariachi music to the popular Norteno style. Headlin-ing will be Grammy-nominated Duelo. The Lone Star icon Cory Morrow will bring his Texas-based music to the Fair on Saturday, October 3rd. Coun-try traditionalist Daryle Singletary will close out the 2015 Fair on Sun-day, October 4th. Singletary said, “It is always a pleasure to play in Texas, as it’s one of the few states that still appreciates traditional country music. We love coming to Texas and playing!”

Brittany Moreno, a member of the Rodeo Sweethearts, leading the parade. The precision horseback riding drill team can be seen near the front of the parade or performing before the rodeo.

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on.

2014 Fort Bend County Fair Queen Kasey-Lane Bronsell was crowned by the 2013 Fair Queen Sami Warriner during last year’s Queen Coronation.

It’s Fair Time!By Barbara Magana Robertson

The 2014 Fair awarded 42 scholar-ships plus nine Queen Scholarships to-taling $160,930 to youth representing high schools from all over the county. The money awarded has doubled in just two years, thanks to the hard work and vision of the board of direc-tors. Last year, the Jr. Livestock Auc-tion surpassed the million dollar mark. The total of the Art Auction, Commer-cial Heifer Auction, Freezer Sale and the Jr. Livestock Auction totaled over $1,600,000 for the youth of Fort Bend County. “We are hoping for another record-breaking year,” said Kunz. “We can do this. It is for our county’s youth!”

Visit www.fortbendcountyfair.com for a full schedule of events or ticket information.



Mitha Law Firm was established 23 years ago with the goal of providing intelli-gent and strategic solutions for clients’ legal issues by first comprehensively analyzing each client’s specific requirements. Iqbal “Ike” Mitha’s clients consider him a trusted advisor because of the premium quality of his legal services, thorough knowledge of the law, experience, ethics and integrity. Mitha has handled 275 litigation cases with exceptional success.

The firm’s practice areas are business litigation, business and real estate transac-tions, personal injury litigation and estate planning. Mitha Law Firm has been very successful in obtaining substantial results for their clients and in averting clients from significant liabilities in excess of $100 million.

Mitha is highly regarded for advising business owners and individuals on best practices to minimize legal problems. Mitha is a graduate of Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University. Mitha’s legal experience includes working in the office of the Chief Justice of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, as well as practicing criminal defense law in Fort Bend and Harris counties.

Mitha supports many non-profit organizations through charitable contributions, community service and pro bono work, including the Asia Society Texas Center, Aga Khan Development Network, Literacy Council of Fort Bend County, Child Advocates of Fort Bend and Greater Houston Retailers Association. With Mitha Law Firm on their side, clients can protect and enforce their legal rights. When lawsuits are unavoidable, they can provide a strong defense.

Iqbal “Ike” MithaAttorney at Law

Phot

o by

Nes

ossi

Stu

dios

.

9494 Southwest Freeway Suite 550

Houston, TX 77074

1455 Highway 6 South Sugar Land, TX 77478

713-621-4555 [email protected] www.mithalawfirm.com

Mitha Law Firm, P.C.

210 Main Street, Richmond, TX 77469 281-341-1718 • www.MitchellandDuff.com

M itchell & Duff, an AV rated firm and one of Fort Bend County’s largest female owned law firms, is recog-nized for stellar legal representation and community

service. Amy Mitchell and Elizabeth Duff, with a combined five decades of legal experience, created Mitchell & Duff in 2009. In a complex world, their philosophy is simple: “With our broad-based experience, knowledge, teamwork and community in-volvement, we meet our client’s civil business and personal

Mitchell & Duff, LLC

Elizabeth Duff, Tracy Osina, Amy Mitchell and Stacey Severovich.

legal needs,” said Mitchell. Whether protecting clients in the courtroom, adopting a child, handling a divorce, probating a will or creating a business, this firm can do it all.

Mitchell, an experienced civil litigator with over 65 successful trials, was named a “Top Rated Lawyer” by the Texas Lawyer, National Law Journal and American Lawyer. She has handled thousands of cases involving personal injury, civil and commer-cial litigation, consumer debt litigation and complex litigation, including class actions and multi-party death cases and appeals for everything from individuals to a number of Fortune 500 cor-porations. Mitchell is a certified American Arbitration Association (AAA) and Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) arbitrator.

Duff excels in family law, guardianship, probate, wills and trusts, adoption, parent rights and termination. Judges regularly appoint her as both attorney and guardian ad litem in probate, guardianship and child protection cases, and she is trained in family and civil Law mediation. She also represents individuals in business and transactional issues, including contracts, corpo-rate documents, real estate transactions, collections, business issues and human resources.

PROFILES LEGAL EAGLES


NEWSWORTHY

Heart of Fort Bend Event Plans Underway

Fort Bend County plans are underway for AccessHealth’s Heart of Fort Bend event. With Honorary Chairs Holly Kaminga and Patti Parish-Kaminski, State Representative John Zerwas, M.D. serving as the emcee for the evening and the opportunity to honor Allison and Cassandra Wen of Safari Texas Ranch, it will be a very special event.

“I became involved with AccessHealth several years ago when I realized the tremendous need for high quality, affordable health care in Fort Bend County. I am excited to be involved with a com-mittee this energetic and enthusiastic. The entire community – but

especially all Aggies, Cougars and Longhorns – should come to this event to support a vital organization in our community and show your school spirit with a very special, spirited opportunity,” said Patti Parish-Kaminski.

The event will be held on Thursday, October 29th from 6 until 9 pm in the Texas Ballroom at Safari Texas Ranch. A pre-event champagne reception with Representative Zerwas and Ac-cessHealth’s Board of Directors will be available for those spon-soring the event at a Silver, Gold or Platinum Level sponsorship.

The funds raised at The Heart of Fort Bend event will assist Ac-cessHealth in providing high quality, comprehensive health care for the children of Fort Bend County. Early sponsors and support-ers of the event include Safari Texas Ranch, absolutely! focus me-dia, Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, Nesossi Studios, Phoenix Designs, Sterling McCall Lexus and Bank of Texas.

AccessHealth is a private, not-for-profit community health center that serves Fort Bend County and the surrounding areas, dedicated to providing integrated health care services to improve the quality of life in the communities it serves without regard to income or circumstance. AccessHealth is a United Way Agency

For additional information about the event, please contact Cindy Reaves at 281-633-3169, [email protected] or visit AccessHealth’s website at www.myaccesshealth.org.

Committee members Lucas Chavez, Marilyn Long, Brenda Patton, Holly Kaminga, Patti Parish-Kaminski, Cindy Picazzo, Barbara Benes, Cindy Reaves, Nell Ciancarelli, Ann Smith and Donna Kay Tucker.


September 30, 2015 | 7:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.|Rosenberg Civic Center

To Register or Sponsor, Call 281.342.5464 or log on to www.c�ca.org4 PDHs Available for P.E.s Including 1 hour of Ethics

Presented by

Central Fort Bend Chamber • 4120 Avenue H, Rosenberg, Texas 77471 • 281-342-5464 • www.cfbca.org

Saving liveSOne Flight at a Time

1705 Jackson StreetRichmond, TX 77469

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presented byF o rt B e n d J u n i o r S e rv i c e L e a g u e &

M e M o r i a L H e r M a n nPreview Night

Thursday, November 5th6 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Friday, November 6th9 a.m. - 8 p.m.

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Stafford Centre Performing Arts Theatre & Convention Center

This advertisement generously underwritten by absolutely! focus media

www.sugarplummarket.comSchedule your mammogram at the Sugar Plum Market.

Stop by the Memorial Hermann booth to sign up and receive a free gift!

15th Anniversary

Fort Bend’s Newest Dance Hall

&Full Service Bar

Sun. - Wed. 12 pm - 12 amThurs. - Sat. 12 - 2 am

2339 Hwy 36Rosenberg, TX 77471

Follow us on facebook. com/HillSaloon

NOW OPEN

• • E V E N T S• •

September 5th and 7th, 9 am Historic Labor Day Backyard BarbecueCelebrate Labor Day weekend with an old-fashioned 1930s barbecue at the George Ranch House at the George Ranch Historical Park, located at 10215 FM 762 in Richmond. Chow down on some old-fashioned grub, listen to period music while playing games of the 30s and make ice cream for your cobbler using historic techniques. For lunch reservations, call 281-343-0218 or visit www.georgeranch.org.

September 17th, 7 – 11 pm2nd Annual Broken Boot Casino NightExperience an unforgettable evening with magnificent appetizers, casino games, raffles, networking and the drawing a 2015 Ford Mustang from Legacy Ford at Briscoe Manor, located at 5801 FM 723 in Richmond. Tickets are $50, and proceeds allow the Fulshear Area Chamber of Commerce to strengthen its community involvement and maintain its growth. To purchase tickets, call 832-600-3221 or visit www.fulshearareachamber.com.

September 20th, 9 am NFL Punt, Pass and Kick Established in 1961, the National Football League’s (NFL) Punt, Pass and Kick program allows boys and girls ages six to 15 compete against their peers in five separate age divisions. Kids have the opportunity to showcase the fundamentals of punting, passing and kicking in a fun, engaging forum. Sponsored by the Rosenberg Parks and Recreation Department and the Rosenberg Lions Club, the event is free. Call 832-595-3520 or email [email protected].

September 25th – October 4thThe Fort Bend County Fair...UncorkedEnjoy a glass of wine or two at Grapes on the Brazos, the high styled Fort Bend County Fair event at 4310 Highway 36 South in Rosenberg in Building W. There will be white and red wine, beer, sodas, water and snacks, as well as nighttime entertainment and area restaurants serving heavy hors d’oeuvres. To purchase pre-sale wine tickets, contact the Fair Office at 281-342-6171. The book of tickets is valued at $25 and can be purchased for $20 before the Fair begins. Proceeds help contribute to scholarships and other opportunities for the youth of Fort Bend County. For a full schedule of events, visit www.fortbendcountyfair.com.


17510 W Grand Parkway S.Suite 590

Sugar Land, TX 77479

UrogynecologyCenter

Caring for women with pelvic floor

disorders...

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

H Loss of bladder or bowel controlH Pelvic organ prolapseH Bladder emptying problemsH Painful bladder problemsH Urinary tract infectionsH Female Sexual Dysfunction

Dr. Dereska and her compassionate staffwill allay your fears and educate you aboutthe latest technology in testing and treatments so you can get back to living your life.Services include:H Multichannel Urodynamic TestingH CystoscopyH PessariesH Pelvic floor physical therapyH Sacral and peripheral nerve stimulationH Botulinum toxin bladder injectionsH Interstitial cystitis therapyH Surgery for pelvic organ prolapseH Surgery for bladder or bowel incontinence

Conveniently located in the Medical Plaza Memorial Hermann

Sugar Land

Appointmentsand Information:

713-486-1530

Urogynecology Center

Dr. Nina H. Dereska

1-888-4UT-DOCS | www.UTPhysicians.com

Nina H. Dereska, MD

KyalamiKennels

Cell: [email protected]

www.kyalamikennels.com7111, FM 723 Rd • Richmond 77406

Dog boarding for all size dogsSmall dog grooming up to 35 lbs.

Relaxing, healthycountry environmentfor your best friend

281-394-5162

NEWSWORTHY

Grab your poodle skirt and join Hon-orary Gala Chair Senator Lois Kolkhorst at the Rosenberg Railroad Museum’s an-nual “All Aboard!” Gala on October 17th at Safari Texas Ranch in Richmond at 6:30 pm. This year’s theme is the 1950s, also known as the “Glory Years,” when steam and diesel engines shared the tracks. Gala attendees are invited to mix and mingle with other supporters of the museum, enjoy a sit down dinner, partici-pate in live and silent auctions and dance the night away!

According to Museum Executive Di-rector Ratha Liladrie, “This year’s gala promises to be an evening of fun as we celebrate an amazing era in railroad his-tory that had great music and a fantastic vibe.”

As a 501(c)3, the Rosenberg Railroad Museum relies on support from the com-munity to fulfill its mission of preserving railroading history in Fort Bend County and providing an educational and enter-taining rail experience for all. All proceeds from the gala go towards operating costs of the Rosenberg Railroad Museum. To purchase tickets or to sponsor a table for the event, call 281-633-2846. or visit www.rosenbergRRmuseum.org.

Rosenberg Railroad Museum’s Annual Gala

Promises an Evening of Retro Fun

Jim and Lois Kolkhorst.Photo by BAC Photography.


The St. Laurence Catholic Church Habitat Ministry recently reached out to help a family in Richmond. The church’s annual project helps deserving families build their home. Together with volunteers and the homeowner, they work every weekend until the new home is ready to welcome the family.

New Richmond homeowners and mother-son team Kolby and Shannon Rissner rolled up their sleeves and were ready to work.

The Exchange Club of Fort Bend presented a $500 check to the Parks Youth Ranch at the club’s weekly lunch meeting at Sweetwater Country Club.

Club member Evelyn Traylor, Parks Youth Ranch Executive Director Shannon Bloesch and Club President Yasmin Kutty.

The City of Richmond was the first city to accept the Shape Up Fort Bend challenge by setting goals for wellness.

In charge of holding employees to their goals are Chad Dzierzanowski and David Evans.

Cody Robbins, Nicole Volek and Michele Barnes.

Food Truck Friday is held weekly in Downtown Richmond at the Richmond Fire Department, and each week features a different truck.

Enjoying cupcakes were Julie and Robb Gaston, Carrie Hitchcock, Penny Meek and Cathy Pitts.

Ready to taste some Brazilian food were Veronica Hernandez, Connie Hurtado and Karina Gamino.

IN THEHEARTB R A Z O S

OUT&ABOUT


Enter As Strangers... Leave As Friends!Antiques H Collectibles H Fine Gifts, Etc.

Once Again

Hours: Tue – Sat 10 am-5 pm

Once Again brings together dealers, collectors & artisans to provide an all

around shopping experience.

Historic Downtown Rosenberg801 3rd Street

www.shoponceagain.com281-232-3955

with this adwith min. $20 purchase

Expires 9-30-15

Celebrating the Fourth of July in Pecan Grove were Courtney and Kim Rychlik with Susan, Kalyssa and Kason Lauer and Mandy and Bailey Rychlik.

Committee members Nell Ciancarelli, Cindy Picazzo and Diana Turner.

Terry High School recipients Andrew Ramirez, Nicole Witt and Zach Plummer.

Lamar Consolidated ISD Future Farmers of America (FFA) students earned Lone Star awards at the 87th Annual Texas FFA Convention in Corpus Christi, Texas. The Lone Star Degree recognizes FFA members who have received the Chapter Degree, been active members for at least two years, completed at least four semesters of agricultural science classes and demonstrated leadership skills through involvement at the chapter level and above.

Foster High School recipients Kennedy Thurmond, Blaine Strnadle, Lillie Kucherka, Abby Davenport, Wendy Hobdy, Haley Boyd and Megan Lepovitz with advisor Phillip Thielemann.

The 2015 Heart of Fort Bend Committee is planning a very special evening in support of quality and affordable health care for adults and children in Fort Bend County. The event will be held Thursday, October 29th from 6 to 9 pm in the Texas Ballroom at Safari Texas Ranch.

Committee members Marilyn Long and Barbara Benes with the August cover of absolutely! Brazos featuring AcessHealth.

Event Co-Chair Patti Parish-Kaminksi, Development Director for AccessHealth Cindy Reaves and event Co-Chair Holly Kaminga.


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

Dr. Katia Lemke, DMDOrthodontic Specialist

• Braces for Children & Adults• New Low-Dose DIGITAL X-ray

• Advanced Orthodontic Treatment with

& Lingual Braces

• Flexible After School Hours• Free Orthodontic Exam & Consultation• Insurance & Flexible Financing Available

NEWSWORTHYOakBend Medical Center’s

Patchwork of Life Gala Scheduled for October 15th

OakBend Medical Center will hold its signature fundraiser, Patchwork of Life Beautiful Beginnings, on Thursday, October 15th at Safari Texas from 6:30 to 9:30 pm to raise funds for the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Committee members Laura Cozac,Mandi Bronsell,James Steenbergen,Anna Raun, JosephFreudenberger,Alicen Swift,Monica Mondrik,Ann Werlein,Becky Valadez,Linda Drummond,Ann Council, May Tape, Pat Hebert and Beth Wolf.

The 2015 honorary chairs are Doris and Joe Gurecky. The Patchwork of Life honoree is Pat Hebert, who was the event chair for the 2013 and 2014 Patchwork of Life events and has given generously of her time and talents to help raise funds.

OakBend Medical Center currently has a Level II NICU, which is designed to care for babies born as early as 28 weeks. The hospital provides comprehensive, intensive and progressive care for premature infants and critically ill newborns with respiratory distress and infections. The NICU features the most technologi-cally advanced equipment to care for a new baby.

OakBend’s goal is to help both mothers and babies go home to begin their new lives as soon as possible. Research has shown that the more time and attention mothers and their newborns re-ceive, the faster the healing process can begin. Having friends and family spend time at Mom’s bedside or interacting with the babies, giving support and love, can decrease the time spent in the hospital. With the increase in births, the Unit needs to expand from its current ability to accommodate eight babies to being able to accommodate 12.

To find out more about Patchwork of Life, call 281-341-2014 or visit www.oakbendmedcenter.org.


Women’s Centerat Sugar Land

Call 713.486.1250 for appointmentswww.UTPhysicians.com

17510 West Grand Parkway South, Suite #550 • Sugar Land, TX 77479

Brian R. Heaps, MDBoard Certified Ob/Gyn

Azeema Moosa, MDBoard Certified Ob/Gyn

Compassionate, Comprehensive Care for Women

Michelle Wong, MDBoard Certified Ob/Gyn


“People often think that getting organized at home means hours of overhauling every room,” said Lisa Zaslow, organization and productivity expert and founder of Gotham Organizers. “Often, small changes to your process and approach can make a big difference in keeping your family organized all day long.”

Zaslow recommends these simple tips to keep your home clutter-free:

1 Start each day with a game plan. Hang a weekly calendar

in the kitchen, and make note of activities and items that need to be packed to prevent scheduling snafus and frantic phone calls for forgotten items.

2 Eliminate last-minute morning madness. Set an alarm

clock or timer giving everyone a 10 minute warning before it’s time to leave to avoid having to run out the door.

3 Institute a 10 minute maintenance routine. Create

a playlist of high-energy songs to play while the kids empty backpacks to make organizing tasks fun and more efficient.

4 Label everything. Use a label maker to designate a proper

place for items throughout the house to avoid confusion about where to put things during clean up.

5 Keep closet clutter at bay. Place a sturdy shopping bag on

the floor of each bedroom closet to serve as a donation bin for outgrown clothes. Schedule drop-offs at local thrift shops or donation centers once they are full.

O rganization is essential for keeping stress at bay throughout the

day. Whether you’re getting the kids ready for school, tackling household chores, preparing meals or getting everyone ready for bed, there are several things you can do to maximize time, space and peace

of mind.

Source: Family Features

Ways to Stay Organized

All Day Long

6 Maximize storage space. Adhere damage-free Command

Broom Grippers in the mudroom or kitchen closet to keep brooms, mops and dusters neat and off the floor.

7 Create a drop zone. Hang hooks near the front door for

each family member to stow items they need to grab when entering and leaving the house. Everyone from kids to family pets will have a station to conveniently hold their things.

8 Avoid paper pile-ups. Set up a customized mail sorter using a

desktop file box with labeled folders to keep all mail, receipts and other important documents organized.

9 Dress without stress. Adhere Command Clothes Hangers in

the laundry room or on each family member’s closet door for easy outfit planning every night, so there are fewer decisions to make in the morning.

10 Know what’s for dinner. Create a weekly meal planner

to track each night’s dinner, recipes and grocery needs so you can spend less time stressing over what to do for dinner and more time enjoying meals with the family.

For more organizing tips, visit Command.com.

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART ISAdvertorial


RosenbeRg CaRpet & FlooRingcenter Since 1958

WWW.ROSENBERGCARPET.COM • 281.342.5193

What’s on your floor matters. Wood Floor RefinishingWood & Laminate Flooring

Ceramic Tile FlooringCounter Tops

Commercial & Residential1006 1st Street • Rosenberg, Texas

What’s on your floor matters!

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS Advertorial

The Houston real estate market’s seesaw ride continued following May’s sales dip, with June’s sales volume up 4.1 percent and home prices at new record highs. Only homes priced below $150,000 expe-rienced a sales decline. According to the latest monthly report prepared by the Houston Association of Real-tors (HAR), June’s single-family home sales totaled 7,935 units – the highest one-month volume ever – compared to 7,621 a year earlier. The time it took to sell the average home reached a record low of 43 days.

Months of inventory, the estimat-ed time it takes to deplete the cur-rent active housing inventory based on the previous 12 months of sales, increased to a 3.2 months supply versus 2.9 months last June. That is the greatest supply since September 2013 but remains well below the cur-rent national supply of 5.1 months of inventory.

Home prices achieved historic highs, with the average price of a sin-gle-family home up 6.6 percent year-over-year to $302,942. The median price rose 4.9 percent to $225,000. June sales of all property types amounted to a record-setting 9,480 units, an increase of 3.3 percent ver-sus the same month last year. The to-tal dollar volume rose 9.5 percent to $2.7 billion.

“I think it shows very well for the health of our real estate market when you have a month in which sales are up, rentals are up, inventory is grow-ing and you’re comparing it all to the record year of 2014,” said Giesla La-zar with Berkshire Hathaway Home-Services Anderson Properties. “We still expect normalization in the mar-ketplace lasting through the end of this year, but the bottom line appears to be that there is no lack of interest in housing in Houston, Texas.”

For more information, contact [email protected] or call 281-690-0842.

A Record-SettingReal Estate Market Richmond, TX 77406

Experience. Refined. Results.

2114 S. Shadow Grove

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Plan design service, builder showroom & precisioncraftmanship... Campbell Garrett Distinctive Homes makes

it easy for you to build the perfect place to call home.

Visit us at www.CampbellGarrett.com

CAMPBELL GARRETTD I S T I N C T I V E H O M E S

Your Land. Our Expertise.

832-865-3444207 Morton Street • Richmond, TX

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART ISAdvertorial

Understanding all aspects of a homeowners insurance policy can be overwhelming. Texas Insurance & Financial Services, Inc.’s goal is to make the process as easy as possi-ble. Typically, homeowners insurance policies have different categories. The definitions of the property and the ex-tent of coverage vary by state, com-pany and product, so it is important to understand the definitions of the covered property. The categories for a home include:

Dwelling: This insurance covers a home’s structure, built-in appliances and wall-to-wall carpet.

Personal Property: This is the contents of a home, including furni-ture, appliances and clothing. Not all personal property is covered. Items more appropriately covered under dif-ferent forms of insurance may have limited or no coverage for loss. These items include but are not limited to money, jewelry and firearms.

Liability: A homeowner can be held financially responsible for injuries that may occur on their property. Lia-bility insurance protects a homeowner against certain risks, bodily injury or property damage.

Temporary Housing: When a loss occurs due to a covered peril and the dwelling becomes uninhabitable, the cost of additional living expenses is covered.

In addition to homeowners and renters policies, Texas Insurance & Financial Services, Inc. also offers ad-ditional coverage through scheduled personal property insurance and um-brella policies. Having this extra cov-erage is the best way for homeowners to get back on their feet and back in their homes if tragedy strikes.

For more information, contact Am-ber McDonald with Texas Insurance & Financial Services, Inc. at 979-793-2827 or [email protected].

A HomeownersInsurance Policy


4716 FM 359Richmond, TX

832-363-1227www.fcvethospital.com

providing loving expert careState-of-the-Art Medical & Surgical Equipment Highly Skilled & Caring ProfessionalsEarly Disease Detection Programto keep your pet

healthy & happyComplete Wellness CareDentistry & SurgeryDiagnostic & Medical CareEarly Morning Drop-offs

Mon. - Fri. 7am - 6pm Sat. 8am - 12pm

Hours:

Dr. Michael Moore Dr. Mark Buvinghausen

Sugar Land: 1201 Creekway Dr. • Suite BSugar Land, Texas 77478

Wharton: 979-282-6151 • 10141 US 59 • Wharton, Texas, 77488

Now Accepting New Patients At Both LocationsIn Sugar Land And Wharton

Salman Aly, MDPRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN

Sarfraz Aly, MDINFECTIOUS DISEASE

SPECIALIST

• Board Certified in InfectiousDiseases and Internal Medicine

• Hyperbaric & Advanced Wound Care

• Travel Medicine

For appointments call:

832-886-4994For appointments call:

832-886-4774

• Board Certified in Internal Medicine

• Experienced in Geriatric andHospital Medicine

• Botox, Dermal Fillers, Low T Syndrome

• Hyperbaric & Advanced Wound Care

One family has been providing dis-tinctive homes unparalleled in qual-ity, reliability and beauty. Campbell Garrett Distinctive Homes is a family owned building company operating throughout Southeast Texas. They of-fer the perfect solution for those look-ing to build a new home outside of a traditional community.

The company’s Build-on-Your-Lot program is available to landowners with urban or rural property and al-lows home buyers to build from their plan, select from thousands of Camp-bell Garrett Distinctive Homes’ plans or work with one of their award-win-ning designers. The program is the perfect solution for a variety of home buyers looking for a home builder who is a craftsman dedicated to superior construction and attention to detail.

Because Campbell Garrett Distinc-tive Homes understands what it takes to build homes to clients’ complete satisfaction, they developed a step-by-step program to ease the pres-sures of building a home. They have a one-stop, in-house design center for interior and exterior designer selec-tions, and a personal interior designer works with each client to make the selection process easier. The Build-on-Your-Lot program is completely comprehensive and designed to help even the most discriminating home buyer.

Let Campbell Garrett Distinctive Homes build your new home, a reflec-tion of your unique tastes and desires. Campbell Garrett Distinctive Homes is located at 207 Morton Street in Historic Downtown Richmond. Stop by their office or attend one of their monthly seminars to learn more about their unique custom home build ap-proach.

For more information, visit www.CampbellGarrett.com or call 832- 865-3444.

Your Land.Our Expertise.

281-342-21981405 Jackson Street

Richmond, Texas 77469

Mario’s Paint & Body Shop

www.mariospaintandbody.com

• Custom paint• Clear Coat• Expert Color Matching• One Day Service

Wrecker Service24 Hr.

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281.232.95832417 4th Street, Rosenberg, TX 77471

www.gbhdaycare.com

Locally Owned33 Years

Like Us On

Now EnrollingPrivate Pre-K

Pre-K 1 Ages 3 & 4Pre-K 2 Ages 4 & 5CDA Certified Teacher

After-School programs on-site at Frost, Hutchison and

Hubenank Elementary.

Cosmetic & Family Dentistry

Digital denture, better fit & design

1301 FM 2218, Suite 500B Richmond, TX 77469

281-239-3900 www.smilesmart.com

Before After

Accepts Most INSURANCE Walk-ins Welcome

We See Kids Too!

SNORING & Oral Sleep Appliances Available

4819 FM 359, Richmond, 77406P 282-342-2611F 832-553-7840

[email protected]

An independently owned and operated member of Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices

YOUR SUCCESS is My Goal!

Diana CritelliRealtor

MASTERPSYCHICTarot Cards & Crystal Readings

Appointments Only

281-232-4436

1919 Avenue G • Historic Downtown Rosenberg 77471Open Wed-Sun • Happy hour Wed-Fri 3-7pm

Boutique Wines

Check out our Facebook page for events! • (832) 595-2881

Rosenberg’s Finest Wine Room

Craft BeerNew Outdoor Patio

We offer services for individuals and families struggling with:

Brenda Slavinski Lopez, LPC

• Anxiety• Depression• Panic Disorder• Adjustment Disorders• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

• Parenting Issues• Play Therapy • Child/Adolescent Behavior

Problems• Family Relationship Difficulties

2115 Avenue I, Rosenberg, TX 77471

281-498-HOPE(4673)

[email protected] • www.fortbendccc.com

Got Tickets?

facebook.com/AbsolutelyBrazosCommunityMagazine

Ticket giveaways to area attractions and events.

Join us on Facebook to WIN!

“Like” Us Today!

www.absolutelybrazos.com • Call 281-690-4242

absolutely! Brazos Magazine wants to provide readers with the best community feature magazine possible. We want to focus on our READERS and mail exclusively to residents who invite us into their home. Requestsare FREE to all Brazos addresses*.

* Annual paid subscription required outside the Brazos areas.

12 Issues a Year Delivered FreeFREE SUBSCRIPTION

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281-239-2110814 FM 2977 Rd. • Richmond , TX 77469

www.gbkidsacademy.com

Now EnrollingInfants, Toddlers

& Pre-KAfter-School Programs

Summer Camps

After-School Pick Up from Williams,

Thomas & Arredondo Elementary

“Where Children Learn and Grow”

Like us on

New

Center

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

Internationally Certified Colon Hydrotherapist & InstructorNationally Certified Massage Therapist # ME0170

Services by appt only.

www.joycelong.biz

Joyce Long

Massage Therapies • Lymphatic Drainage MassageLymphatic Facials • Reflexology • Infra Red Saunas

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PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

W orld War II affected every-one. From Germany to Ja-pan to the United States,

families were separated, the economy suffered and communities adjusted to a new way of life. Over 400,000 Ger-man, Italian and Japanese prisoners of war (POWs) were brought to the United States. Texas was home to over 70 POW camps, twice as many as other states. Approximately 50,000 German soldiers were brought to military bases, but there was still not enough space for the arriving thousands. Thirty satellite camps were set up, and one of them was in Rosenberg.

According to the Geneva Convention, prisoners should have been housed in a climate similar to the one in which they had been captured, and Texas climate was the most similar to Southern Eu-rope and North Africa. The original site of the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds on Highway 90 was designated the camp for the arriving POWs.

When the POWs arrived in Rosen-berg during the summer of 1943, the entire town came to watch. Some of the women were disturbed at the thought of dangerous “Nazis” living in the city while their husbands and sons were risking their lives fighting overseas. But over time, these prisoners proved to be a valuable asset to the economy of the city.

The use of POW labor began soon af-ter they arrived. The War Department approved the mobilization of German

access to cigarettes, beer and wine that could be purchased from the camp Post Exchange with government issued can-teen coupons for work they did on the farms.

The POWs were also allowed to send and receive mail and to publish German language newspapers with articles and even classified ads. This privilege per-mitted the hostages to experience free-dom and allowed the American authori-ties to monitor the mood of the camps. When an inmate refused to work, the punishment was the “No Work, No Eat” policy. Loss of privileges, suspension of pay and time in the brig, as well as punishment for all of the camp, was not uncommon.

Prisoners also attempted to escape. Some dug tunnels under the floor of the barracks into nearby fields, some burrowed under the fences and others hid underneath laundry trucks that entered the camp. Most of the attempts were short lived, and inmates were re-captured.

When the war ended in 1945, farm-ers did not want the detainees to leave. The American labor union insisted they leave the country to make jobs available to returning United States soldiers. President Harry S. Truman ordered all POWs to be shipped back to whichever country wanted them. With the return of their loved ones from the war, the cit-izens of Rosenberg were able to recover, and history will never be forgotten.

hostages to help in factories, indus-tries, hospitals and state agencies but mostly agriculture. The major tasks ac-complished by the prisoners included harvesting cotton, corn, hay, rice, pota-toes and grain sorghum, cutting cords of wood, clearing acres of land and building or repairing miles of fence. The farmers admitted all of this would have been impossible without the help of these prisoners.

Many of the German inmates in Rosenberg elected to make their living conditions comfortable. They decorated the rooms and adorned the walls with paintings and family pictures, plant-ed flowers and manicured the lawns around the fairgrounds. The German immigrants who lived in the city en-joyed speaking German to the detain-ees, and the town grew to appreciate the work they did. For the most part, the prisoners were treated well. Meat, eggs, vegetables, coffee and milk were served on a regular basis. The men had

Many German prisoners of war worked long hours in area fields salvaging crops left behind by farmers who were serving their country. These men contributed to the labor force on the George Ranch.

The original site of the Fort Bend Country Fairgrounds was used as a prisoner of war camp during World War II.

A LITTLE PIECEOF HISTORYBy Joan Frances

Photos from Fort Bend County Texas: A Pictorial History.

World War II and Prisoners of War in Rosenberg


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LEADERSIN QUALITY

Recognized for high standards of care and dedication to quality.

The Quality Texas Foundation has awarded Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital the

Texas Award for Performance Excellence (TAPE) for strong dedication to quality and high performance.

We are the first hospital in the Greater Houston area to achieve this distinction. As a unified organization,

our journey toward healthcare excellence is never-ending. And as we continue to expect

more from ourselves, you can continue to expect the best from us.

Learn what our recognition means for you. Visit memorialhermann.org

september 2015 - absolutely brazos magazine

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