april 2015 - absolutely brazos magazine

APRIL 2015 Serving Richmond, Rosenberg &

Fulshear

Rosenberg's TOWER 17 Unveiled

EasterTREATS

Finest inMEDICINE

Fort Bend'sFirst Family

Voted One of Houston’s 10 Best Garden Centers

Proud Family Roots

www.MYENCHANTED.com

E nchanted Nurseries and Landscapes has been “rooted in Richmond” since 1995. Family-owned and operated, Gary and Betty Lenderman

began the adventure by selling a few herbs and flowers in a little house on the corner of FM 723 and FM 359. This is where Enchanted Gardens began. Mom and Dad’s garden grew, and in 2001 the family bought a wooded piece of land

down Thompson Highway in the little town of Booth, where Enchanted Forest was born.

Three of the couple’s five children – Joey, Danny and Judy – now run and manage Enchanted Gardens, Enchanted Forest and Enchanted Landscapes. You will often find even the third generation loading carts, running the register or helping out at various events.

Everyone’s Happy Place

Danny Lenderman, Judy Ulke and Joey and Gary Lenderman.Photography by Nesossi Studios.

NurseriesA visit to either of Enchanted’s two nurseries is an unforgettable experi-

ence. Immerse yourself in a variety of striking display gardens. Explore our unmatched selection of plants, shrubs and trees, while surrounded by the sights and sounds of fountains, chimes and whimsical garden art.

Fresh herbs and vegetables, antique and hybrid roses, specimen trees – these are just a few of the things we’re passionate about at Enchanted, and we are eager to help our customers discover their own gardening passions. Our helpful team is as enthusiastic as they come, and they are always ready to lend a helping hand or a listening ear.

Enchanted is a family endeavor, and we strive every day to create an environment that inspires, educates and strengthens our bond with nature.

What You’ll Find . . .Annuals • Perennials • Herbs • Vegetables Shrubs • Fruit Trees • Roses • Tropicals Rare & Unusual Plants • Trees & More

What You’ll Find . . .Chimes • Jewelry • Soaps • Candles

Handmade BirdhousesHome Décor • Terrariums • Hats

Books • Garden TreasuresFairy Garden Accessories & More!

Gift ShopsT he gift shops at Enchanted Nurseries are brimming with an

eclectic selection of unique gifts to delight even the most discriminating shopper. Each item is lovingly selected with nature and family as our inspiration.

From hand-crafted jewelry to the most extensive selection of fairy garden accessories in the Houston area, the shops will inspire fun and creativity. Choices vary with the season – so visit often and take a bit of Enchantment home with you!

www.MYENCHANTED.com

Visit

Plant a Fairy/Miniature Garden M iniature gardening becomes more popular every year. It gives us the

chance to play like imaginative children again, to introduce our children and grandchildren to gardening and to explore the smaller spaces that we might have overlooked.

Building miniature gardens is all about your personal creative vision. There’s no wrong way to do it! Your garden could be featured in a pot with just enough space for a bubbling stream of pebbles, or it could be a hidden treasure planted in a larger landscape. Enchanted Nurseries is brimming with the supplies and inspiration to get you started on this fun gardening adventure. Join us for our Fairy Garden Festival on May 30th. Check out our calendar of events for all of the fun that’s happening at Enchanted!

What You’ll Find . . .Landscape Design • Landscape InstallationWater Features • Patios • Outdoor Kitchens

Arbors • Pergolas • Patio Covers • Outdoor Living Landscape & Low Voltage Lighting • Irrigation

Design & Installation • Drainage

Enchanted LandscapesE nchanted Landscapes is a full-service, design-build

landscape company dedicated to creating total outdoor environments that consistently enhance the property and lifestyle of our valued customer. Enchanted Landscapes proudly serves finer properties in Fort Bend County, Houston and surrounding areas. Family-owned and managed by Danny Lenderman, Enchanted Landscapes has grown in both staff and experience to provide complete solutions for outdoor living environments.

www.MYENCHANTED.com

April 11: Big Bold Tropical ContainersDo you have a pool deck, patio or spot in the garden that is just begging for something special? Something bold? Something beauti-ful? Our Gulf Coast climate loves tropical plants and so do we! Join Judy as she shows you how to put together one-of-a-kind creations using the bold colors, glossy leaves and huge blooms unique to the tropics. I can hear the waves already!

April 18: Pocket Butterfly GardeningEveryone wants to invite butterflies to their garden! Nancy Grieg, the director of the Cockrell Butterfly Center, will be showing us how easy it is to attract these lovely creatures - even if you have a small space. Flutter on over and join us!

April 25: Vertical Gardening 101Vertical gardening allows you to use space you might not have considered for growing herbs and veggies and/or beautifying your outdoor space. We will discuss the various options for growing on bare walls, fences and rails and give you some fun and inspirational ideas. Time for instruction and assistance will be available following the seminar if you desire to create your own vertical garden.

May 2: From Garden to Glass - Herbal MixologyJust about any herb from your garden can be used to turn an ordi-nary cocktail into something spectacular. Judy and Peggy are going to grab what’s in season in the garden and show you how to mix up some fun! They will cover muddling, infusions, simple syrups and, of course, a little tasting will be in order! Come join us! Cheers!

May 9: Mother’s Day TeaPlease join us as we host our First Annual Mother’s Day Tea! Enjoy an old-fashioned, yet elegant celebration, with your children or grandchildren. We will be serving delectable treats, tea and bever-ages in the gardens. The children will craft a gift for mom all while she enjoys live music and a glass of champagne. Our photographer will be present to preserve these precious memories. Please call to reserve your seats. $20 per person. Payment required with reserva-tion. Limited seating.

May 16: The Good, the Bad and the UglyJoin our very own entomologist, bug blogger and insect enthusiast, Ashley Grubb, as she teaches us how to identify our friends and our enemies among the most common caterpillars. She will also be talking about the various host plants you can add to your garden to attract more butterflies, as well as ways to get rid of the caterpillars you don’t want hanging around. This is sure to be a fun, interactivehour of learning for the whole family.

May 23: Memorial Day Sale and CelebrationStroll the gardens and find fabulous specials throughout the nursery while enjoying live music, food, beverages and more. We are ready to celebrate and thank our loyal customers for a wonderful spring! Wear red, white and blue in honor of those who gave all, and a special gift awaits.

May 30: Fairy Garden FestivalJoin us for this magical day when imagination, fun and fantasy prevail. A collection of fairy homes and gardens will be on display all week leading up to festival day. A fairy fashion show will kick off the festivities at 11 am, so bring your wings and a picnic lunch to enjoy on our lawn. The festivities will include ongo-ing “how to” demonstrations, a fun fairy craft, fairy games, live music, specials in our fairy store, face painting (fee applies) and refreshments.• 11 am - 3 pm at both locations

June 6: Tomato Fest!Calling all tomato farmers! We’re putting on a little contest this year to encour-age everyone to have fun growing tomatoes and enjoy a little friendly competition. There will be a panel of judges - you may recognize a few famous faces - assessing your tomato-growing savvy. We’ll be giving out prizes for the largest tomato, the best-tasting large tomato, the best-tasting small tomato, the ugliest tomato and the best salsa for first and second place. Prizes include trophies and gift cards to the best nurseries around town! We’re hoping everyone enjoys themselves and learns a little something too!

Spring Events Calendar

Enchanted Forest10611 FM 2759

Richmond, TX 77469281-937-9449

Enchanted Gardens6420 FM 359

Richmond, TX 77406281-341-1206

Enchanted Landscapes10611 FM 2759

Richmond, TX 77469281-937-0646

Seminar Times: Enchanted Forest 10 am

Enchanted Gardens 2 pmunless otherwise noted

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APRIL 2015 l TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.absolutelybrazos.com4

CONTRIBUTORS

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

C O V E R S T O R Y

32

Joan FrancesContributorPages 32 & 48

24

Steve KursarAuto EnthusiastPage 24

8 FORT BEND’S FIRST FAMILYRosenberg Mayor Vincent M. Morales, Jr. and Regina Klingle Morales, along with their family, embody the core values of leadership and giving within the Fort Bend community. When you meet the Morales family, one thing becomes clear: their dedication to the community that they love.

F E A T U R E S

20 KEY REALTORS Meet the Leading Real Estate Professionals in Brazos

25 absolutely! FINEST IN MEDICINE

Health Care News You Can Use

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

35 FIRST EVER ROSENBERG MAIN STREET MANAGER

Begins Work

N E W S W O R T H Y

23 THE CENTRALFORT BEND CHAMBERAnnounces the Fort Bend Masters Golf Tournament Scheduled for April 13th

33 FORT BEND COUNTYPRECINT 3Constable’s OfficeDeputies Honored withOfficer of the Year Award

34 ROSENBERGRAILROAD MUSEUMUnveils Restored Tower 17

DWAYNE GRIGARAnnounces Candidacyfor Rosenberg

41 CHILD ADVOCATESOF FORT BEND Joined Hundreds at CASA Day at the Capitol

C O L U M N S

32 HIGH SCHOOL HOT SHOTMeet Brittany Villarreal

48 A LITTLE PIECE OF HISTORY“Texas Tea” in Fort Bend County

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

24 2015 VOLVO S60

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

43 IMPRESS SPRINGPARTY GUESTSWith Easter Treats

44 HOW TO BUILD A BUFFET

I N E V E R Y I S S U E

6 PUBLISHER’S POINT OF VIEW

12 SEEN ON THE SCENE

22 COMMUNITY EVENTS

36 OUT & ABOUT IN THEHEART OF BRAZOS

46 COMMUNITY MARKETPLACE

ON THE COVER:Rosenberg Mayor Vincent M. Morales, Jr.

and Regina Klingle Morales

Photo by Memories by Elvia

44

Shane BrunsContributorPages 44

Tim Cashion, DDS Teresa Cody, DDS

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WWW.ABSOLUTELYBRAZOS.COM

Vol. 3 No. 5 | April 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 EllisKay Garrett

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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 SShane BrunsJoan Frances Steve Kursar

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]

Publishedby

Publisher, PATTI PARISH-KAMINSKI

Spring Has Sprung

Spring is finally here – no April foolin’ – and I for one am ready! It’s time to shake off those winter blues, get outdoors and en-joy nature! Two of the most beautiful out-door places in our area to enjoy nature are frankly, enchanting. Enchanted Forest and Enchanted Gardens are two of Fort Bend’s “garden spots,” and this spring, they have an amazing calendar of free, family-friend-ly events. Check out their Spring Events Calendar on page 1.

Speaking of outdoor events, April brings something for everyone to enjoy the spring weather. From Easter egg hunts to golf tournaments to the Fulshear Art Walk, you’ll find several great ideas in this issue to be out and about in the Bend. So get out-side, and enjoy!

Our cover story features a family who is definitely out and about in the Bend. Attend virtually any community event in Fort Bend, and you will find either a Mo-rales in attendance or their footprint as a volunteer, supporter or sponsor. Vincent and Regina Morales have taught the value of community to their children, and now, they are teaching their grandchildren what it means to serve by example. Read about the Morales family, their family business and their family philosophy on page 8.

Easter is one of my family’s favorite holidays, and this month, we celebrate Easter with an adorable recipe for Easter cupcakes and some ideas to build a great buffet for family friends. Now that my children are both older, I guess I’ll miss out on making treat-filled Easter baskets, watching them hunt for eggs, dress-ing them up in their Sunday best for Easter service . . . Who am I kidding? There will always be Easter baskets, egg hunts and new pink dresses and bow ties at momma’s house!

From our family to yours, we wish you a most blessed Easter.

Absolutely yours,

[email protected]

Ticket giveaways to area attractions and events.Facebook.com/AbsolutelyBrazos

Patti Parish-Kaminski, Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale and Lucia Street at the Houston Junior Forum’s “Conversations from the Heart.” The question on my mind when I visited with Mack: When will the Fort Bend Gallery Furniture be open? Mack assured me by August, our new neighbor will be open and ready for business!Photo by Jordan Scheiner Photography

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” – John 11:25-26


Family LeadershipWhen you meet the Morales family,

one thing becomes clear: their dedica-tion to the community that they love. Matriarch Regina Klingle Morales was born in Fort Bend, her father, Doc Klingle, graduated from Lamar Con-solidated High School in 1954, and her

G iving begins at home. As children, we are taught to give by our role models – our parents, our family members – to give. Whether it is of our time, our

talents or our money, giving is a value that traditionally begins at home and is often combined with a legacy of leadership. Leadership and giving are two of the core values that Rosenberg Mayor Vincent M. Morales, Jr. and Regina Klingle Morales not only embody themselves, they raised

their sons to do just that: lead and give.

was the place where you lived, worked and raised your children. Community was something that you nurtured and valued, and for our family, it still is to-day.”

The Morales’ family legacy of public service that began with Regina’s ances-tors is alive and well today. As presi-dent of the Central Fort Bend Cham-ber, Regina’s focus is on community development by serving as a resource to both current and new businesses, a role that she knows well as an econom-ic development practitioner in Texas for nearly 20 years. During her tenure as Economic Development Director for the City of Sugar Land, the projects that Regina helped bring to our com-munity are significant and include Constellation Field, Sugar Land Town Square, numerous corporation reloca-tions such Minute Maid and the future Sugar Land Performing Arts Center.

“Economic development is about more than dollars and jobs,” said Re-gina. “Economic development is about quality of life. It’s about creating and maintaining a well-rounded, strong community that will continue to pros-per for our children and grandchil-dren.”

Regina’s commitment – and vision – is shared by her husband of 37 years, Vincent, who has served as mayor of Rosenberg since 2011, and has an equally impressive resume when it comes to economic development and public service. “Fort Bend is one of the fastest growing counties in Texas,” said Mayor Morales. “It’s not just luck that so many people want to relocate here. All of our non-profit organizations and municipalities work hard to create a community that will sustain our pro-jected growth and provide an exem-

great uncle, Ervin Muegge, served as Fort Bend County Commission Pre-cinct 1 for 12 years in the 50’s and 60’s. “As a child, my parents instilled in me the value of community,” said Regina. “Your neighbors were your lifelines, and community meant more than just the place where you live. It

First FamilyFort Bend’s

COVER STORY

By Patti Parish-Kaminski

Phot

o by

Mem

orie

s by

Elv

ia

plary quality of life for generations to come.”

As mayor, Morales has assisted Rosenberg with achieving major mile-stones in economic development, in-frastructure and education. Several companies have relocated or expand-ed their headquarters in Rosenberg, and in September of 2014, the City of Rosenberg entered into a Memoran-dum of Understanding with Paragon Outlet Partners to develop a 400,000 square foot outlet mall in Rosenberg. Two new business parks are currently in development in the town designated as “The Hub of the Gulf Coast,” and an agreement with Brazosport Water Au-thority (BWA) has secured the delivery of three million gallons of treated sur-face water a day to the City creating a sustainable water supply.

While public service is an integral part of both Vincent and Regina’s life, their son, Chris, is also committed to service. A former practicing attorney in Fort Bend with a guiding philosophy of providing service above all else, in November of 2014, Chris was elected as Judge of County Court at Law Num-ber 1. And mom and dad couldn’t be prouder.

“Chris has seen his mom and I work countless hours to provide for our fam-

ily and our community,” said Mayor Morales. “His commitment to helping those who need regardless of their abil-ity to pay in his law practice can now be translated into providing justice for all. Regina and I are very proud to call our son Judge.”

Family BusinessMorales family pride also extends to

another important part of their lives: the family business. In 2004, the Mo-rales family started GreenScape Asso-ciates, LLC, a landscape management, design and build firm serving residen-tial and commercial clients. After 23 years of industry experience, Vincent located the new firm in Rosenberg with

Regina and son Justin as an integral part of the leadership team.

With an impressive clientele serv-ing the region which includes OakBend Medical Williams Way, San Jacinto River Authority, Hines Development, Lamar Consolidated ISD and numer-ous school districts in the Houston area, municipal utility districts and residential developments, the Morales family has built their business with the same philosophy of giving and service. And my, how their garden – or busi-ness – has grown.

“Regina, Justin and I began Green-Scape Associates, LLC with a few key clients, and today, our business has grown exponentially. We have grown

N eed a little color in your life? GreenScape Associates, LLC, located in Rosenberg, provides both commercial

and residential landscape services to not only help make your home or project beautiful but to help it stay that way. With a professional architectural team, GreenScape offers a variety of services including:

• Landscape Design & Construction• Hardscape Design & Construction• Irrigation Design & Installation• Complete Commercial Landscape Management• Quarterly Residential Landscape Clean Up

For more information or to schedule a complimentary consultation, call 281-341-9975 or visit www.greenscapeassociates.com.

www.absolutelybrazos.com l APRIL 2015 9

Get Green – and Yellow, and Red, and Blue

with

The Morales family - Vincent, Regina, Brooke and Justin - celebrating Justin’s birthday in Galveston.

- Regina Klingle Morales

“The Morales family commitment to communitythrough our service and our business is here to stay.”


our GreenScape family and have dou-bled our revenues with continued sales growth projected this year,” said Mayor Morales, who attributes much of the success to son Justin, especially over the past four years during his tenure as Mayor.

“I have devoted much of my time to my service as mayor of Rosenberg. Fortunately, Justin has stepped up and taken the lead to insure the growth and success of our family business. As Vice President and General Manager, Jus-tin has taken GreenScape from a small family business to a major landscape contractor. His hard work and commit-ment to our family philosophy of ser-vice is something Regina and I are very proud of.”

volved in the two Fort Bend chambers, has served as honorary chair of many fundraising events with Regina and participants as a “man who cooks” in the Lamar Educational Awards Foun-dation’s annual fundraising event. His partner in Men Who Cook is, of course, son Justin.

Justin has volunteered for nu-merous organizations including the American Red Cross, the Rosenberg Railroad Museum, Lamar Education Awards Foundation, and the Young Professional Division of the Central Fort Bend Chamber Alliance. In 2012, he received the Young Professional of the Year Award from the chamber for his leadership of the organization. His wife, Brooke, also volunteers for the American Red Cross, Lamar Education Awards Foundation and the Rosenberg Railroad Museum.

Regina has served in leadership capacities benefitting community or-ganizations including AccessHealth, OakBend Hospital, Fort Bend Muse-um, Sugar Land Heritage Foundation,

Achieve Fort Bend and the American Red Cross. Following in the family footsteps, Chris has volunteered for CASA, Constellation Foundation and the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, and he served as the chairman of the Young Professionals Division of Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce. His wife, Vanessa, has also volunteered for the Rosenberg Railroad Museum.

“I’ve known the Morales family for over 17 years, and their legacy of service is what makes them unique,” said Joe M. Gurecky, former mayor of Rosenberg. “Vincent and Regina have raised their family instilling the core values of service leading by example. The entire Morales family is an asset to our community, and I look forward to seeing Chris, Justin and their children continue the legacy of service exempli-fied by their parents.”

Family FutureWith Regina at the helm of the Cen-

tral Fort Bend Chamber, Justin run-ning the family business and Chris on the bench, the future for the Morales family is bright.

Securing the future and passing on their legacy of service is more impor-tant now than ever before for Vincent and Regina, proud grandparents of Madelyn and Willliam, and a new Mo-rales grandbaby soon to arrive.

“Our hearts are in Fort Bend,” said Regina. “We live here, we work here, we have raised our sons here, and now, our grandchildren are being raised here. The Morales family commitment to community through our service and our business is here to stay.”

Family GivingWhile public service and the family

business are paramount to the Morales family, giving is equally as important. Attend virtually any non-profit event in Fort Bend, and you will see the Mo-rales family footprint either as a volun-teer or donor.

Vincent has served on several boards including Child Advocates, the Rosenberg Development Corporation, the Rosenberg Railroad Museum and OakBend Medical Center Advisory, Lamar Education Foundation Awards and I-69 Alliance. He is actively in-

Vincent and Justin Morales volunteering as “Men Who Cook” for the Lamar Educational Awards Foundation.

Vanessa, Chris, Regina and Vincent Morales at the 2015 Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce’s Chairman’s Masquerade Ball.

Proud grandparents Regina and Vincent with Madelyn and William Morales.

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Reading Between the Wines Benefiting The Literacy Council of Fort Bend

Bob & Pat Hebert

Heather & Trey Reichert

Tim & Patti Kaminski

Cari Middaugh & Kelli Metzenthin

Liz Furman, Zeenat Mitha & Amy Mitchell

Karen & David Shaw

Nancy & Pete Olson

Elizabeth & Carl Drozd

Gary Pearson & Brenda Bowman

Jackie & Don Kerstetter


Ray Aguilar & James Patterson Carl & Mary Favre

Joe & Doris Gurecky with Janice & Paul Knight

Lawren Eckhardt & Judy Ulke

xx

Laura Winters, Angela Pfeiffer & Meredith Kornegay

Regina & Vincent Morales

DeeDee Canion, Dick Phillips and Dee Koch

February 6, 2015 • Safari Texas RanchPhotos by M

ary Favre and Liz Furman.


Gorgeous Hill Country Home Site

Waterfront Lot in Comal County

Just 20 minutes from San Antonio and minutes from the Guadalupe River in Spring Branch, this 1.72 acre lot is your Hill Country dream come true!

Amazing views on the hillside lot that features a meadow with waterfront along Spring Creek, The Crossing at Spring Creek, an acreage home site community, is the perfect place to build your Hill Country getaway. The community offers all underground utilities, paved, county maintained roads, plus a beautiful 10+ acre owners-only park with scenic hiking trails, a swimming pool and pavilion and a playground. REDUCED

For Sale By Owner

281.728.1204

4716 FM 359Richmond, TX

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

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The 23rd Annual Boot Scootin’ Ball Benefiting the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Kim & Chuck Williams

Eddie & Jennifer Kolojaco

Monica & Ron Borak

Mark Ashburn & Carissa Zatopek

Sandra & Allen Macik

Chad & Deanna Nesvadba

Minerva & Noe DelBosque

Tamara & Stacy Slawinski

Kathy Nichols & Scott Neeley with Lisa & Woody Woodfin

Vickie & Bruce Stevenson

Sara & Matt Hawkes


February 7, 2015 • Fort Bend County Fairgrounds

Angela & Chad Slawinski

Nannette & Danny Johnson with Pam Blasingame & James Duke

Travis & Amber McDonald

Cyndi Schultz-Chumchal & Dana Uherek

Michelle & David Koerth

Kim & David Feldhoff with Kay & Jim Garrett

Kim & Mike Moore

Mike & Heather Park with Chris & Kathleen Mires

J.D. & Jennifer Devine

Kim Ashburn & Heath Zatopek

Pol. Adv. paid for by Dwayne Grigar Campaign, Sharon Grigar, Treasurer2515 Davis Avenue Rosenberg Tx 77471

For

MAYOR

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DWAYNEGRIGAR

Like me on

Keep Rosenberg Strong

Early Voting Dates: April 27th - May 5th

No Sunday VotingElection Day - May 9th

[email protected]


SE

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State of the City of Rosenberg

George Patterson & Ron Ewer

Irene Wisner & Liz Furman

Tom Shirley & Lynn KraussDee Koch & Deacon Jones

Vincent M. Morales, Jr.& Tommy Kuykendall

Adrienne Barker, Linda Webb & Himesh Gandhi

Farrah Gandhi & Brandon ArnsMary Favre & Bridget Yeung

Bob Hebert & Roy Cordes


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February 12, 2015 • Safari Texas

Cindy Reaves & Mary Gayle BrindleyChelsea Erickson & Kandace Lytle

Betty McCrohan& Thomas Randle

Tracey Shaw & Kevin Barker Charles Jessup & Evalyn Moore

Photos by Mary Favre and Liz Furm

an.

Chris Morales & Brenda Mullinix

Regina Morales & Keri Schmidt

Jess Stuart & James Duke Randy & Marian A. Kozlovsky

Patti Parish-Kaminski & May W. Tape


As a full time Realtor® since 1979, it has been Jennifer Weaver’s privilege to assist hundreds of families in the Fort Bend County area. Weaver is a licensed broker and Certified Residential Specialist, and she has built her reputation in the real estate industry by providing exceptional service and profes-sional representation to both buyers and sellers in all as-pects of the real estate transaction. Based on recommenda-tions from past clients, Weaver received the honor of being named a Five Star Real Estate Agent™ for 2015. This is her fourth year to receive this recognition. Weaver believes that homeownership is part of the American Dream. She likes helping people achieve their dreams. Weaver pledges her dedication, professionalism and integrity.

Jennifer WeaverRE/MAX Southwest

14905 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, TX 77478281-207-5037 (c) • 281-491-1776 (o)

[email protected]

Terri Kurkjian has just been ranked as the #5 Top RE/MAX Producer in the State of Texas for 2014. With 20 years of expe-rience, Kurkjian has maintained long and loyal relationships with clients. She has built her busi-ness on her reputation and her positive performance. Her list-ing services include extensive advertising, top of the line photography and a professional stager. If you are buying a home, Kurkjian will find the perfect one. With her extensive networking, she is known to find and sell homes before they hit the market. Whether you’re a buy-er or a seller, Kurkjian will bring you happiness and success! When you hire Kurkjian, be assured that she will become part of your team and work extra hard to make sure you are satis-fied. It’s time to expect more!

Terri KurkjianRE/MAX Fine Properties

4500 Highway 6, Sugar Land, TX 77478281-980-6849 (o) • 713-582-7911 (c)

[email protected]

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G iesla Lazar brings a strong 20 year, successful career in real estate, marketing, advertising and client service to Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Anderson

Properties. Lazar has worked with many different personalities and realizes the impor-tance of building lasting relationships, making a connection and gaining her clients’ trust. Strong market knowledge and communication is key to her exceptional client service.

The “one-on-one” connection is something Lazar emphasizes in her business. She strives to assist and educate her buyers and sellers to understand Fort Bend’s fast-paced real estate market and guide them through the decision process. “No two clients or transactions are the same, so there is always a new challenge,” said Lazar. “Helping a buyer find the perfect fit in a new home or getting the best price for a seller are important decisions in anyone’s life. I know that attention to detail, anticipating challenges and finding ways around road blocks to ensure a smooth transition can go a long way toward making that decision as stress-free as possible.”

Prior to her real estate career, Lazar served 15 years as a vice president in lending with Sugar Creek National Bank (currently Comerica Bank) in Sugar Land. Lazar is a proud mother of two adult children. Her son, Corey, is a news reporter for CBS News in Fort Myers, Florida, and her daughter, Madison, is an Engineer Recruiter employed with Yezak Technical Engineering Staffing Agency based in Houston.

When not working, Lazar spends her time with her husband of 29 years, Burt, who is an avid golfer, her children, her Boxer grand puppies and her family, traveling often to Fort Myers.

Giesla LazarLazar Properties

Berkshire Hathaway Home ServicesAnderson Properties

23501 LaCenterra Center Blvd. Suite C-140

Katy, TX 77494281-690-0842

[email protected]

Lazar PropertiesBerkshire Hathaway Home Services Anderson Properties

Kristin LytleHometown America, Inc.

4665 Sweetwater Blvd.Suite 105

Sugar Land, TX 77479281-414-3059

www.har.com/[email protected]

T he highest compliment for a job well done is when clients and colleagues recom-mend you for the Five Star Real Estate Agent Award featured in Texas Monthly.

As part of an in-depth research process, real estate agents are evaluated by their customers and Real Estate industry professionals based on customer service, integrity, market knowledge, communication and negotiation skills, closing preparation, helping clients find the right home, marketing the home being sold and overall satisfaction. The Five Star Real Estate Agents are evaluated in the local market and are scored highest in overall satisfaction. This list represents less than 7% of the Real Estate agents in the local market.

For five years in a row, Kristin Lytle, Broker Associate with Hometown America, Inc., has received recognition as a Five Star Agent. “Thank you to all of my clients and colleagues for the confidence and trust you have placed in me. I am honored to once again receive this prestigious recognition,” said Lytle.

As a Real Estate professional with almost 15 years of experience, Lytle assists buy-ers and sellers in all of Fort Bend County, and her record speaks for itself: More than 90% of her transactions over the years have been referrals from satisfied clients and friends.

Active in the community where she lives and works, Lytle has twice been nomi-nated for Fort Bend County Woman of the Year, and she has worked with multiple community initiatives including Sugar Land Planning and Zoning where she served as a Commissioner. “Supporting our community is important to me because, with com-munity involvement, we create a great place to live and raise our families.”

Hometown America, Inc.


April 1st – 25th Poetry Contest for Teens and AdultsIn recognition of National Poetry Month, Fort Bend County Libraries announces its First Annual Poetry Contest. The contest will be divided into two categories: high school students in grades nine through 12 and adults. Entries can be submitted at www.fortbend.lib.tx.us through April 25th. All entries must be original and unpublished, and only one poem may be entered per person. The winning poems will be displayed in all of the library branches and online throughout May. Call 281-633-4734.

April 3rd, 10 am – 1 pmEnrichment Lecture Series Speaker Robert Frost will present a lecture about the early days of colonial Texas with “Gone to Texas: Austin’s Old 300.” The Fort Bend County Museum’s Kaitlin Thompson will wrap up the series by taking guests on a journey back to 1830s Texas. The cost for the presentation and luncheon is $5 for museum members and $10 for the general public. Paid reservations are required at least two days prior to the lecture.For reservations, call 281-342-6478.

April 4th, 9 amAn Old-Fashioned Easter and Historic LunchTravel back in time to experience an old-fashioned Easter at the George Ranch Historical Park, located at 0215 FM 762 Road in Richmond. Guests will enjoy an Easter egg hunt for kids, egg decorating and Easter games. A Victorian Easter brunch will be held from 12:30 – 2 pm at the beautiful 1890s Davis Mansion. Reservations are recommended, and tickets are in addition to general admission. Tickets are $15 for adults ages 13 and older,$12 for children ages five to 12 and $4 for children four and under.To book a brunch reservation,call 281-343-0218, extension 410.

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

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • E V E N T S • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

April 11th, 9 am – Noon Backyard Basics: Freezing and DryingLearn about home food preservation and how it can be a fun and rewarding way to keep foods long after the season ends. Research-based methods and tested recipes will be taught to assure that foods canned at home are safe to eat. The class will be held at the Fort Bend County Extension Office, located at 1402 Band Road in Rosenberg. To register, visit www.fbmg.comor call 281-341-7068.

April 11th, 6:30 pmSky Full of Stars: A Night at St. Mark’sEach year, St. Mark’s Episcopal School hosts a fundraising event to support the operating budget, closing the gap between what tuition covers and what it costs to run the school. This year’s fun-filled evening for parents, grandparents, school staff and faculty, as well as community friends, promises to be a wonderful celebration. Guests will enjoy authentic Italian fare, a dessert auction and live music at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, located at 7615 FM 762 in Richmond. To purchase tickets, call 281-545-1296 or visit www.stmarksfortbend.org.

April 18th, 6:30 – 11:30 pmLone Star StompThe Fort Bend County Museum will host its largest annual fundraiser at the George Ranch Historical Park arena, located at 10215 FM 762 Road in Richmond. The event will feature silent and live auctions, fabulous food and drinks, interactive history demonstrations and music from the Grammy nominated band The Texas Gypsies. All proceeds of the Lone Star Stomp benefit the educational and preservation efforts of the Fort Bend County Museum. Visit www.fortbendmuseum.org or call 281-342-1256.

April 24th, Noon – 4 pmHome Buying 101The idea of buying a home is exciting, but the process can be complicated and intimidating, especially for first-time buyers. Learn important information about budgeting for a home, the role of a real estate agent, the process of obtaining a mortgage loan and more from a team of professionals at the George Memorial Library, located at 1001 Golfview Drive in Richmond. Bring a pen and paper to take notes. Call 281-342-4455.

April 25th, Noon – 5 pm2015 Fulshear Art WalkArts Fulshear, in partnership with Texas Commission on the Arts, will present its 3rd Annual Art Walk in Downtown Fulshear. This year’s event theme of “The Sweet Life” promises to provide art and hand-crafted items to suit all tastes, on and off stage entertainment, wine samplings from several area wineries, food trucks and much more. As a non-profit organization, Arts Fulshear provides andsupports art and cultural events, art education, and public art. Call 281-533-4109or visit www.artsfulshear.org.

April 17th, 9:30 amPecan Grove Women’s Club MeetingThe ladies of Pecan Grove Women’s Club will have their regular monthly meeting at Pecan Grove Plantation Country Club, located at 3000 Plantation Drive in Richmond. The speaker this month will be Regina Morales, President and CEO of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce. After the program, a short business meeting will take place, followed by a luncheon. Those who wish to stay for luncheon must make a reservation by April 10th. Call 281-342-5130 or contact [email protected].

St. Mark’s Episcopal student Eloise Baetz.

Phot

o fro

m w

ww.

arts

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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

Spectacular Home sitting on 1 acre lake-front lot, Offering one of the best views in Texana Plantation! French style fenced-in entry courtyard with Koi pond, Massive inte-rior entry, Hardwood flooring, Sky Lighting, Large gourmet Island kitchen offering extra lg Pantry, Private Utility Room, Quaint Game/Family Room with french doors, Wonderful Master bedroom and bathroom retreat, Solid wood interior doors with Italian solid brass hardware, Breathtaking views of the end of the lake & fountain with Gazebo. $650.000

Texana Plantation

Experience. Refined. Results.

Berkshire Hathaway HS

Anderson Properties

BRINGS A STRONG 20 YEAR SUCCESSFUL CAREER

IN REAL ESTATE

[email protected]

Giesla LazarLazar Properties

Cell: 281-690-0842

Office: 281-392-0200

The Central Fort Bend Chamber Announces

the Fort Bend Masters Golf Tournament

Scheduled for April 13th

The Central Fort Bend Chamber and the Rosenberg-Richmond Auto Mile will proudly present Fort Bend Masters on April 13th at Pecan Grove Plantation Country Club in Richmond. The tournament, which is scheduled for the day following the Masters, is the Chamber’s 30th annual Golf Classic. This exciting tournament will feature games, food, beverages, entertainment or prizes at each hole. The four-person scramble tournament will be broken into two flights. The cut-off line for each flight will be determined after scores are submitted.

The Rosenberg-Richmond Auto Mile is the Presenting Sponsor for the eighth consecutive year. The Auto Mile is comprised of five local auto dealerships: Finnegan Auto Group, Fort Bend Kia, Fort Bend Toyota, Gillman Honda and Legacy Ford. Additionally, Silver Eagle Distributors is supporting the Masters Tournament as this year’s Golf Ball Sponsor, and Aliana is the Lunch Sponsor.

The limited sponsorship and business team opportunities are selling rapidly, and it is anticipated those opportunities, as in past years, will sell out well before the tournament.

Contact Shannan Stavinoha at 281-342-5464, visit www.cfbca.org or [email protected] for sponsorship information.

NEWSWORTHY

Tournament committee and sponsors Ron Ewer, Randy Bowman, Enrique Lance, John Kennedy, Jeff Haley, Aldo Cortes and Regina Morales.


absolute ly!AUTO REVIEW

absolute ly!AUTO REVIEW

By Steve Kursar

T he 2015 Volvo S60 is a prime example that the entry-level luxury car segment is changing

for the better. The newest version of Volvo’s mid-size sedan maintains its pared-down Scandinavian style with pumped up performance and sharp handling. No longer a smaller version of its dowdy big brother the S80, the new S60 is ready to go toe to toe with the best that Germany has to offer.

Volvo, an iconic automotive brand that dates back to the 1920s, has al-ways been known for being in the fore-front of safety. We can thank the en-gineers at Volvo for promoting safety features that we now take for granted such as the three-point seat belt, the

rear-facing child seat and rollover stability control. And although Vol-vo is still based in Sweden, it’s been owned by the Chinese automaker Geely Automobile since 2010. It’s an odd international relationship that has proven very beneficial for Volvo. And if you need proof, just check out their current line up.

The latest version of the S60 con-tinues to build on the heritage of safety that made Volvo famous with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection, an innovation that scans the area ahead. If a cyclist heading in the same direc-tion suddenly swerves in front of the car as it approaches and collision is imminent, there is an instant warning

and full braking power is applied. This technology also detects if a pedestri-an steps out into the road in front of the car and can automatically activate the brakes.

But the 2015 S60 has also moved into the per-formance realm that BMW and Mercedes once thought they owned. The base model T5 Drive-E

with an MSRP of $33,750 comes stan-dard with a 240 hp, 2.0-liter turbo-charged inline-4 engine that’s mated to an eight-speed automatic transmis-sion. This little powerhouse can move from zero to 60 in six seconds with impressive fuel economy estimates of 25 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. The T6 Drive-E boasts a turbocharged and supercharged 302 hp, 2.0-liter inline-4 that’s only drinks a touch more gas with estimates of 24 mpg city and 35 mpg highway.

If you’re looking for an entry-level luxury car, but you don’t want to fol-low the pack in the direction of Lexus and BMW, the 2015 Volvo S60 is a sol-id choice with a lot to offer in terms of safety, styling and performance.

Follow Steve Kursur at KursarOnCars.blogspot.com.

VOLVO S60 2015

Heal th Care News You Can Use


F E AT U R I N G

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital

Sugar Land Face and BodyPlastic Surgery

Stuart Rimes, DDS, MS

UT Physicians Urogynecology Center

UT Physicians Women’sCenter in Sugar Land

Fulshear Family Medicine

C & C Dental

AccessHealth

CHI St. Luke’s HealthSugar Land Hospital

Heal th Care News You Can Use

Medicineabsolutely! Finest in


Finest in MedicineA

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Since opening its doors in 1998, Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital has been a key health care provider for residents of Fort Bend and surrounding coun-ties. A pioneer in the advancements of medicine, Houston Methodist Sugar Land has grown into a world-class hospital with 243 beds and 20 operating rooms.

Currently under its fourth major expansion to meet the needs of the com-munity, four major projects enhance its ability to serve patients across Fort Bend and surrounding counties and add a number of new jobs. The expansion encom-passes a new, onsite orthopedics and sports medicine facility, expanded heart and vascular center and expanded birthing center all scheduled for 2015 and a new patient tower slated for 2016.

With centers of excellence in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, orthope-dics, urology and women’s services, Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital brings the physician expertise, skill and up-to-the-minute technology of the world-renowned Houston Methodist to Fort Bend and surrounding counties. Patients and their families have come to know Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital for delivering quality services through compassionate, personal care with first-rate technology. Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s employees display integrity, compassion, accountability, respect and excellence in their daily interactions with patients. Fortune magazine named Houston Methodist on its “100 Best Companies to Work For” list for nine consecutive years.

For a referral to a physician at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, call 281-274-7500. For more information, visit houstonmethodist.org/sugarland or FB.com/methodistsugarland.

See ad on page 7.

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital:Leading Medicine

The Art of Skin MedSpa is tak-ing a new adventure in the skin and health care industry with Stuart Rimes DDS, MS and Nisa Dadjoo DDS, MSD. Not only are teeth im-portant, but facial care is also im-portant. The combination of these two services produces one amaz-ing outcome. Come and enjoy the whole experience for yourself.

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

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

Stuart Rimes, DDS, MS is a prosthodontist dental practice offer-ing dental implants, aesthetics and reconstructive dentistry at 15958 City Walk, Suite 230 in Sugar Land Town Square. For more information or to schedule a free consultation, call 281-313-1565 or visit www.rimesdds.com.

When you look in the mirror, do you like what you see? “Rejuvenation is about making your internal vision a reality, so you can enjoy your life with joy and con-fidence!” said Dr. Eric Humble. At Sugar Land Face and Body Plastic Surgery, with its in-house AAAASF certified surgical center, Dr. Humble, a board certified plastic surgeon, has created a single destination with a full range of solutions, from injectables to facial rejuvenation, breast augmentation and body contouring, all under one roof. Also under the same roof is Dr. Humble’s cutting-edge medi-cal spa. Dr. Humble and his staff share a philosophy of caring for their patients. “Simply put, everyone should leave our facility feeling better than when they walk through our doors,” said Dr. Humble.

One of the revolutionary treatments offered at Dr. Humble’s med spa is Frac-tora. Patients can get the effects of three different treatments in one single pro-cedure with the advanced fractional radiofrequency treatment Fractora. “Essen-tially, Fractora offers the benefits of a resurfacing treatment to reduce wrinkles and lines, as well as rejuvenates your skin to improve texture, tone and radiance, and it also helps with discoloration,” said Marty Knesek, RN. “Additionally, Frac-tora stimulates the skin to produce more collagen and elastin, literally making skin look younger. It’s phenomenal to offer many results from a single procedure, so patients are more comfortable and recover with less downtime. Since Fractora is appropriate for all different skin tones, it really opens up possibilities for anyone who wants to slow the effects of aging and restore the youthful look of their skin.”

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

See ad on page 3.

Sugar Land Face and Body Plastic SurgeryOffers Revolutionary Treatments

Stuart Rimes, DDS, MS Teams with The Art of

Skin MedSpa for Customized Care


Finest in Medicine

Schedule online:houstonmethodist.org/primarycare or call 713.394.MPCG (6724).

Houston Methodist Primary Care Group is dedicated to providing high quality and compassionate care to the Fort Bend community. These physicians have extensive training and experience in diagnosing and treating patients with a caring, hands-on, family-oriented approach.

The RighT DocToR is RighT heReSame Day

appointmentS available!

Our practices offer:

• Online scheduling • Same day access • Convenient locations• Patient portal for secure communication with your care team

Adelola Ashaye, MDFamily Medicine

Adrianne Scruggs, MDInternal Medicine

Jessen Rajan, MDFamily Medicine

Paul Tse, MDInternal Medicine

Deepshikha Sharda, DOFamily Medicine

5819 Hwy 6, Suite 370 Missouri City, TX 77459

281.276.0653

4660 Sweetwater Blvd., Suite 210 Sugar Land, TX 77479

281.276.0933

3424 FM 1092 Rd., Suite 220 Missouri City, TX 77459

281.208.3322

Restore your smile with cosmetic dentistry!

before afterbefore after

Replacing missing teeth in one day!

Achieve the Smile!UltimateUltimate

Crowns, Implants, CosmetIC, reConstruCtIve DentIstry BoarD CertIfIeD prosthoDontIst

Nisa DaDjoo, DDs, MsDstuart riMes, DDs, Ms

15958 City Walk, Ste. 230, Sugar Land, TX 77479www.RimesDDS.com • e-mail: [email protected]

281-313-1565

Dr. Stuart Rimes Dr. Nisa DadjooWe are now in network with your insurance

People seeking cosmetic or reconstructive dental work should do research before making a decision in order to ensure proper care. As ADA recognized specialists, Prosthodontists are qualified

to offer services in state-of-the-art procedures and techniques, such as: cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, complete and partial dentures, replacing lost or loose teeth, jaw joint problems (TMJ), traumatic injuries, snoring

and sleep disorders and oral cancer reconstruction.


Finest in MedicineA

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UT Physicians Women’s Center in Sugar Land welcomes Dr. Brian R. Heaps, a Fellow of the American Con-gress of Obstetricians and Gynecolo-gists. Defined by his dedication to his patients and the delivery of the highest quality care, Dr. Heaps is pleased to be working in the Fort Bend community.

Dr. Heaps is motivated by the great trust that his patients have in him to take care of them during the most im-portant phases of their lives. In fact, one of his greatest honors is being involved in the delivery of a couple’s child. As a board certified Ob/Gyn, Dr. Heaps understands that the delivery of a baby, however, is often only one as-pect of what matters most in women’s care.

Caring for You Above All

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 Menopausal symptoms

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

Nina H. Dereska, MD, FPMRS is a highly skilled and board certified urogynecologist and pelvic recon-structive surgeon. Her practice in-cludes diagnosis and management of urinary incontinence (stress in-continence, urge incontinence and mixed incontinence), overactive bladder, bladder emptying disorders

Staying Healthy Through Mid-Life and Beyond

and other bladder-related issues. Dr. De-reska treats pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic fistulas utilizing multiple modalities – both surgical and non-surgical options tailored to each patient’s needs.

As women age, they can experience pelvic issues that disrupt daily living. Dr. Dereska’s years of experience and advanced training can help restore a

woman’s active lifestyle. She thoroughly reviews treatment options with each pa-tient that include medical and surgical management of pelvic floor dysfunction. Dr. Dereska often utilizes medical robot-ics for surgical cases that help minimize pain, hospital stay, blood loss and scar-ring. Her goal is every patient’s goal – to get them back to their normal, daily ac-tivities with family and friends.

In addition to providing compassion-ate patient care, Dr. Dereska serves as Assistant Professor Dept. of Ob/Gyn and Reproductive Sciences at UTHealth Medical School. Dr. Dereska and her dedicated staff strive to make each pa-tient’s experience as stress free as pos-sible and look forward to ensuring that women stay healthy and active through mid-life and beyond.

UT Physicians Urogynecology Center is conveniently located at 17510 West Grand Parkway South, Suite 590 in the Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza in Sugar Land, with complimentary valet parking. For more information, call 713-486-1530.


A Special Placefor Special People

Oral Health Education • Sealants • Intravenous SedationHigh Speed Digital X-Rays • Ora Verse Anesthesia Reversal

Laser Soft Tissue Removal • Accepting New Patients

Specializing in Dentistryfor Children and those

with Special Needs

Larry Caldwell, D. D. S.A N D A S S O C I A T E S

Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry15200 SW Freeway • Sugar Land, TX 77478

281.565.KIDS (5437)www.larrycaldwelldds.com

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Finest in Medicine

Knowing this, Dr. Heaps has worked to become proficient in the evaluation of common issues and has worked to become skilled in their medical and surgical treatments. He has been trained and is committed to minimally invasive surgery, includ-ing laparoscopic and robotic assisted surgery.

Through his work as the Director of Medical Informatics and Chair of Ob/Gyn and Pediatrics at Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital, Dr. Heaps has led the way in teaching fellow physicians and caregivers. His care for patients and his dedi-cation to medicine has served as a foundational motivation to succeed. Above all, Dr. Heaps is honored to serve those with whom he comes in contact.

Dr. Heaps’ office is located at 17510 West Grand Parkway South, Suite 550 in Sugar Land. For a consultation or appoint-ment, call 713-486-1250.

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Introducing New Pediatrician

Dr. Danny Le

Treating Adults & Children

7629 Tiki Dr. at FM 1093 • 281-346-0018www.fulshearfamilymed.com

Dr. Heidi Schultz

Ms. Syndi NoblesMs. Jessica Meyer

Ms. Heather Barr

Finest in MedicineA

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Do You HaveDental Anxiety?

According to Wikipedia, it is estimated that as many as 75 per-cent of adults in the United States experience some degree of dental fear. Many of these people feel the need to be sedated in order to see their dentist. Those who have any amount of dental anxiety will want to experience the new Chill N Go System at C & C Dental.

In three minutes, three easy and safe natural elements will calm down and even eliminate anxiety. As a matter of fact, the more anxious a person is, the better it works. First, patients take a natural supplement that naturally relaxes them, but they can still drive home. Everyone has this supplement naturally in their bodies.

Second, they wear headphones that play sounds to encourage the brain into a meditative state. It is not music but sounds that induce relaxation by changing the brain-waves. Third, they activate the gentle massage that is built into the dental chair like those that might be seen at a nail salon. It enhances the headphone sounds to induce medi-tation and further relax them. The combination of these three things reduces anxiety in three minutes.

Finally, there is something natu-ral that truly helps anxiety, and it doesn’t involve drugs or that “drugged” feeling afterward. Your first experience of this new Chill N Go System is free and only offered at C & C Dental. Call 281-242-0241, and make your dental fear go away today!

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Fulshear Family Medicine is a clinic that can address all of a family’s health care needs. Founded in 2006 by Dr. Heidi Schultz, Fulshear Family Medicine has become an important part of the Fulshear community.

Following the growth of the city of Fulshear, in March 2014, Fulshear Family Medicine expanded to a new and larger location. This larger clinic not only ac-commodates more patients, but it has also allowed the addition of more provid-ers, including pediatrician Danny Le, DO. Dr. Le is a native Houstonian. He attend-ed Houston Baptist University for his undergraduate studies and medical school at the University of North Texas. He then completed his pediatric residency at Texas A&M University. Dr. Le is board certified in pediatrics and is excited to join the practice and community.

The clinic also recently welcomed two additional family medicine physician assistants, Heather Barr and Jessica Meyer. All providers are currently accepting new patients. “Our focus is to provide a complete scope of care. Members of the family, including babies, kids, parents and grandparents, can all be cared for,” stated Dr. Le.

Fulshear Family Medicine is located just west of 1463 at 7629 Tiki Drive FM 1093 in Fulshear. For more information, visit www.fulshearfamilymed.com or call 281-346-0018.

Fulshear Family Medicine: Where Country Charm Meets Complete Family Care


Finest in Medicine

CHI St. Luke’s Health - Sugar Land Hospital, in collaboration with their medical staff, is dedicated to excellence and compassion in caring for the entire person – mind, body and spirit. A subsidiary of CHI St. Luke’s Health, the Sugar Land Hospital offers a full spectrum of inpatient and outpatient services.

With many choices in Sugar Land for healthcare needs, there are several rea-sons why CHI St. Luke’s Health - Sugar Land Hospital is the right choice for you and your family’s healthcare needs. First, CHI St. Luke’s Health - Sugar Land Hospital is conveniently located in the heart of Sugar Land off of U.S. Highway 59, just north of Highway 6. And, with beautifully decorated private patient rooms with internet access, flat screen televisions and made to order meals, their world-class facilities offer everything patients need.

Additionally, CHI St. Luke’s Health - Sugar Land Hospital offers a full spectrum of inpatient and outpatient services including:

• Diagnostic imaging with the best-in-class equipment available today, includ-ing a dedicated Women’s Center offering 3D tomosynthesis-digital mammogram.

• Surgical suites, including the latest in robotic surgery technology – the da-Vinci Xi surgical platform.

• Cardiovascular services, including cardiac catheterization labs to perform di-agnostic and interventional cardiology, as well as electrophysiology procedures.

• An emergency department with triage, treatment and procedure rooms.Consider giving CHI St. Luke’s Health - Sugar Land Hospital an opportunity

to show you how their dedication makes a difference. For more information, visit stlukessugarland.com or call 832-355-4343.

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CHI St. Luke’s Health - Sugar Land Hospital

AccessHealth:Meeting Fort Bend’sNeeds for 39 Years

With so much uncertainty related to the health care industry, it is good to know that AccessHealth will be here to meet the needs of the Fort Bend community. Having been in business for 39 years, AccessHealth has continuously evolved to meet the needs of the community they serve.

With a mission to provide qual-ity health care that is affordable to everyone, AccessHealth accepts most major insurance plans, Medi-care, Medicaid and children’s health insurance plans. For those who are uninsured, AccessHealth operates on a sliding fee scale. The sliding fee scale provides discounted ser-vices for those who are 200 percent below the poverty level – at least 28 percent of the total population of Fort Bend County.

AccessHealth provides adult and children primary health care, women’s services, behavioral health services, chronic illness manage-ment and dental services in Fort Bend County. Family practice medi-cine is provided in Brookshire. Ac-cessHealth also operates 12 WIC (Women, Infants and Children) sites in five counties, including Fort Bend, Austin, Brazoria, Colorado and Wharton. The largest of these facilities is located in Rosenberg. The WIC Program is a nutrition pro-gram that helps pregnant women, new mothers and young children eat well, learn about nutrition and stay healthy.

AccessHealth is pleased to be an approved Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), meeting quality measures and exceeding very strin-gent guidelines. Their board certified provider staff is dedicated to pro-viding excellent care to all patients. Providing quality, convenient health care is the mission of AccessHealth.

For more information, visit www.myaccesshealth.org or call 281-633-3169.

Meet Brittany Villarreal

By Joan Frances

Needville Independent School District in Fort Bend Coun-ty has the goal “to become

an exemplary school district in which every child achieves to his or her maximum ability through rigor-ous, engaging curriculum and sys-tems of support that cultivate the potential and promote the well-being of every individual child.” Need-ville’s elementary, middle, junior high and high schools work tirelessly for students to achieve their goals by becoming part of an industrious society. One senior who has accom-plished her goals and is advancing toward an ambitious future is Brit-tany Villarreal.

Brittany has been engaged in playing sports all four years of her high school career. She is a valuable asset to the varsity basketball team as a post and guard. The team’s win-ning season is a sweet end to her favorite sport. When asked what it is about basketball she enjoys, Brit-tany replied, “I love the fact that it is such a physically challenging sport. It takes mental concentration and discipline. It also requires teamwork and drive to be the best. Coach Keely Cox motivates us to be better at what we do at every game. My best friends are my teammates, which makes playing the game even more enjoy-able.” Brittany also ran track her first three years of high school and

Brittany

HOT SHOTHigh School

played volleyball as a freshman.Academics are very important to

Brittany. She realized early on that in order to be successful in society, study-ing and learning about life through academics helps determine the direc-tion for her future. Brittany’s favorite teacher is Shari Zbranek, her junior year U.S. History instructor. “Mrs. Zbranek was so helpful to me. She in-teracted with the students and made history interesting to the whole class. She was a hands-on teacher and was always available to give extra help to any student. She made me look for-ward to going to class.”

Brittany feels the most important part of her life is her family. When she is not studying or playing basketball, she is taking care of her grandfather. One value Brittany treasures is re-spect. Brittany said, “Respecting elders and listening to what they have to say has been so beneficial in guiding me to discover who I am and what I want to do in life. I think people must work hard to accomplish goals, the big ones and the small ones. Helping one an-other is key to contentment and hap-piness.”

Brittany is very independent and

responsible. She works at Simple Simon’s Pizza and purchased her car without her parents’ assistance. Brittany is self-motivated and sin-cere, respected by her peers and teachers. She commits 100 percent of her exuberance to the things she cares about the most.

One evening as Brittany watched a documentary chronicling a homi-cide, she noticed that the detective in the story worked diligently until the murderer was apprehended. When the family was notified, they were so thankful to the detective. That scene touched Brittany. She appreciated how hard this man worked to bring closure to the grieving family. The detective’s work has inspired her to pursue a job as a public servant for the benefit of the community. Brit-tany wants to help people by train-ing to be a police officer and then a homicide detective.

Brittany will attend Wharton County Junior College for Law En-forcement and then transfer to Sam Houston State University to major in Criminology and Forensic Science. Congratulations Brittany on your spirit and passion, and good luck as you follow your dreams.

“I think people must work hard to accomplishgoals, the big ones and the small ones. Helping

one another is key to contentment and happiness.”– Brittany Villarreal



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Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Constable’s Office DeputiesHonored with Officer of the Year Award

Three deputies from The Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Constable’s Office were recently selected by the Houston 100 Club for the prestigious Officer of the Year Award. Out of the four peace officers selected to receive the award from Fort Bend County law enforcement agencies, three are commissioned with the Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Consta-ble’s Office. Constable Rob Cook con-gratulated Lieutenant Shawn D. Sayers, Deputy Phil W. Crowell and Deputy John C. McCord and officially announced their selection for the award.

Lieutenant Sayers and Deputy Crow-ell were off-duty and on their way home in Navasota from the Office in Katy May 27, 2014, when they found a vehicle sub-merged in a ditch with the driver trapped inside. Sayers and Crowell were able to extract the driver from the vehicle and pull him to safety before drowning.

Deputy McCord responded to a drowning child in the Weston Lakes sub-division while on duty on June 17, 2014. McCord jumped in the lake, found the

unconscious child, helped drag him out of the lake and assisted with lifesaving actions. The boy was transported by medical helicopter after a pulse was re-established. Unfortunately, the boy died several days later.

Rob Cook, Shawn D. Sayers, John C. McCord and Philip W. Crowell.

All of these officers are commended for the bravery displayed in putting their own lives in jeopardy while in the pursuit of saving the lives of citizens. The Hous-ton 100 Club will present the award on Wednesday, May 13th.


Cold weather didn’t stop the Rosenberg Railroad Mu-seum from celebrating the grand reopening of historic Tower 17. Joined by members of the community, Rosenberg Mayor Vincent M. Morales, Jr. proclaimed February 6th as “Tower 17 Grand Re-Opening Day.” Thanks to grants from the George Foundation and the City of Rosenberg, the Museum was able to replace the roof and broken windows, repair the walls and paint the building in a traditional Southern Pacific color scheme. In addition, the interior also received royal treatment with new paint and re-engineered exhibits that highlight the tower’s origi-nal interlocker and new Advanced Train Control System (ATCS).

Tower 17 was the last traditionally manned interlocking tower in the state of Texas and was in operation for over 101 years, from July 1903 until February 2004. It was generously donated by Union Pacific and moved to the Museum grounds in the spring of 2004. Over the next two years, project manager Jim Vollmar worked tirelessly with numerous volunteers to get Tower 17 ready to open to the public in the summer of 2006.

Today, the rail junction at Tower 17 continues to see heavy rail traffic and is one of the busiest rail junctions in Texas, with over 60 trains a day passing through. The Rosenberg Railroad Museum is pleased to have the only interlocking tower in the United States, where visitors can operate the interlocking ma-chine. Located on the second floor, the interlocker operates ex-actly as it did for over 101 years. Visitors can pull the levers just as the tower operators did and operate an actual semaphore signal. In addition, an ATCS computer and radios have been added, so visitors can monitor actual train movements in real time.

“The Rosenberg Railroad Museum is proud to be stewards of railroad preservation in Fort Bend County, and we are very grateful for all of the support we have received from the com-munity,” said Executive Director Ratha Liladrie. “We are thrilled that we are able to save this piece of history so that we may share it with future generations.”

For more information or to volunteer or donate, call 281-633-2846 or visit www.rosenbergRRmuseum.org.

Rosenberg Railroad MuseumUnveils Restored Tower 17

Richard Morrison,Ratha Liladrie, Lisaand Bill Rickert and

Vincent M. Morales, Jr. Photo by BAC Photography.

Twelve-year Rosenberg City Council incumbent Dwayne Grigar recently announced his desire to continue his service to the citizens of Rosenberg by filing for mayor. “Since I began my service as a member of Rosenberg City Council 12 years ago, Rosenberg has benefited from enormous growth, only matched by the enormous potential that the future holds for our City,” said Grigar. “As mayor, my plan is to continue to work on eco-nomic development and infrastructure to insure that Rosenberg will live up to its potential for years to come.”

During his tenure on council, Grigar supported economic development ini-tiatives that brought new business to Rosenberg, including Brazos Town Cen-ter, Aldi USA and Si Environmental Water Services Company. Grigar also voted in favor of signing the Memorandum of Un-derstanding with Paragon Outlet Partners to develop a 400,000 square-foot outlet mall scheduled to break ground in 2015 in addition to the two business parks currently in development.

“Bringing new business opportunities to Rosenberg brings jobs to our City,” said Grigar. “Rosenberg is a prime location for expanding businesses. We have a qualified work force, avail-able land tracts and because of the I-69 designation, acces-sibility. As mayor, I will continue to work on bringing economic opportunities to our citizens.”

Providing tax relief through the initiation of a homestead exemption for Rosenberg citizens is another of Grigar’s priori-ties. “Rosenberg has been fortunate to bring new businesses contributing new revenue to the City,” said Grigar. “Now, we need to focus on relieving our homeowner’s tax burdens with homestead exemptions.”

Grigar cited his record on supporting new infrastructure plans and his pledge to continue his efforts to prepare Rosen-berg’s aging infrastructure for future population. He supported the Brazosport Water Authority (BWA) agreement that secured the delivery of three million gallons of treated surface water a day for the City by building a 32 mile water line. “Having a sustainable water supply is crucial for our City. In order to be prepared for our future growth, we must have a long-term, sus-tainable supply of water that we can depend on.”

Raised in Rosenberg, Grigar has served on multiple com-munity organizations, including the Rosenberg Planning Com-mission, Rosenberg Development Corporation, Rosenberg Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #1 Board and the Rosenberg Professional Services/Engineering Project Review Committee. He and his wife, Sharon Blinka, reside in Rosenberg with their daughter, Colbee.

“The future of Rosenberg is now,” said Grigar. “By maintain-ing – and growing – our economy and putting needed infra-structure projects as a priority, Rosenberg will be ready for the future, a future filled with prosperity and success. As mayor of Rosenberg, I will be committed to preparing our City for suc-cess.”

Dwayne Grigar

Dwayne Grigar AnnouncesCandidacy for Rosenberg

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The City of Rosenberg welcomed its first ever Main Street Manager on Mon-day, February 23rd, when Dan Kelleher joined the City team to lead the newly established Rosenberg Main Street Program. Kelleher comes to Rosenberg from the city of Vernon, Texas, where he served as their Director of Tourism and Main Street Services.

“We are excited to welcome Dan to Rosenberg,” said Economic Develop-ment Director Randall Malik. “His back-ground includes a demonstrated history of innovative and effective leadership across a wide variety of economic and community development roles, and we’re ready to utilize his experience in facilitating more wonderful projects and development in our historic downtown.”

“I’m excited to join local community leaders and downtown stakeholders in our joint effort to revitalize the downtown district,” said Kelleher. “We’ll start meet-ing right away. We’re going to get going promptly to identify and achieve some downtown enhancement goals, and it’s going to be fun!”

Rosenberg was named one of two new 2015 Main Street cities by the Texas Historical Commission in Janu-ary. Rosenberg now joins 88 other ac-tive Main Street cities across the state in the program designed to assist with downtown revitalization through organi-zation, design, promotion and economic restructuring.

First Ever Rosenberg Main Street Manager

Begins Work

Dan Kelleher


Wes Wittig, Sharonda DeBose, Christopher Harvey, Shannan Tassin, Rob Tobias, Kristin Tassin, Sean Burch, Robert Ward, Brock Henslee, Dusty Corning, Albert Cantu, Kimberly Sprague, Stacey Severovich, Michaela Filla, Danielle Bily, Eloise Luca, Troy Nehls, Cindy Johnson, Lisa McGarity, Susan Lang, Laura Radford and Ray Aguilar.

IN THEHEARTB R A Z O S

OUT&ABOUT

The Foster Varsity Girls Soccer team decorated bags for Lunches of Love.

Leadership Fort Bend’s recent judicial session included a tour of the county jail led by Sheriff Troy Nehls. The day focused on learning about the judicial system in Fort Bend County and also included tours of the Juvenile Detention Center and Jester 3 Prison Unit.

Ashlynn LaMothe,Isabelle Giegar, Claire Bilski, Ashley Rivas, Elyse Falchek, Sami Warriner, Emily O’Neill, Carley Garrett, Kendall LeBlac, Rebecca Perez and Kelly Gonzalez.

Gus Dozier, Mickayla Tosch, Katelyn Macek and Wyatt Wilson.

Kimberly Rychlik’s class had a blast dressing up for Nerd Day hosted by Austin Elementary’s student council.

Hill Fiser, Samir Broxton, Bryce Williams, Kimberly Rychlik, Zack Allen, Christian Sauceda, Casey Gobar, Jaleah Hines, Maki Volesky, Bailee Byrd and Lily Meyer.


On the 100th day of school, Austin Elementary kindergartners dressed up and participated in special activities.

St. Michael’s Emergency Rooms sponsored a Zumba fundraiser benefiting The Rainbow Room at El Alcapulco in Rosenberg.

Members of Fort Bend County Retired Educators visited Lamar Consolidated ISD’s Jackson Elementary, giving every kindergarten and first grade student a new book. The group also donated many gently-used books for teachers to use in their classroom libraries. A total of 327 books were donated to the students and teachers.

Whitney Archer, Ava Gobar and Malia Otufangaralu.

Retired educators Shirley Bonham, Sandra Sindel, Eileen Wildy, Kay Danziger, Judi Vernon, Robyn Burkhart, Nancy Nowak and Jackson principal Deana Gonzalez in the Jackson Elementary library.

Aurora Perez, Lisa Nieto, Sandy Olive, Vincent M. Morales, Jr.,Cyndia Rodriguez, Melinda Mejorado, Shannon Orsak, Vanessa Clementeand Tonya Lewis.

Veronica Wayne, Annie Rivera and Evelyn Durflinger.

Breakfast in the Bend was held at the Mamie George Community Center in Feb-ruary. The monthly gathering is a network-ing opportunity hosted by the Central Fort Bend Chamber for its members to promote the success and growth of businesses.

Claire Rogers, Regina Morales andBeth Zarate.

Rob Tobias and Wayne Pawlik.

Sandra Newton, Lisa Arnold, Candace Shaver and Janica Owen.



OUT&ABOUT

absolutely! focus media Publisher Patti Parish-Kaminski recently toured Texana Children’s Center for Autism at Sugar Land, where Texana’s Development and Community Relations Director Tracey Shaw and Center Manager Ellen Catoe showed the SMART Table that was purchased with the proceeds from absolutely! focus media’s 2014 GEMS event.

Tracey Shaw, Patti Parish-Kaminski and Ellen Catoe.

Child Advocates of Fort Bend hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at Sweetwater Country Club to celebrate and thank a number of volunteers who contribute to the organization’s mission of providing a voice, healing the hurt and breaking the cycle of abuse for children in Fort Bend County.

Irene Wisner and Jessica Jubin. John Healey and Albert Glover. Lindsey Castellanos and Ruthanne Mefford.

Ron Pope, Sylviane Hoare and Scott Dixon.

Rob and Laura Thompson. Linda Schultz and Anne Bulan.


Lamar High School presented a crowd-pleasing production of Seussical the Musical.

Olivia Hixson, Rocio Gomez and Lisette Longoria.

Dwayne Grigar, Cyndia Rodriguez, Vincent M. Morales, Jr. and Tim Kaminski.

Foster High School’s National Honor Society volunteered with Friends of North Rosenberg to repaint and clean the office.

Alexandra Rebeles, Lindsay Etzler, Elsa Toskey, Griffin Kich, Daniel Anderson, Haley Etzler, Carley Garrett, Claire Bilski, Sierra Burrows, Arlene Garcia, Madison Braussel, Barry Henry and Silvio Verjes.

Several Rosenberg citizens were recognized with landscaping beautifica-tion awards for their efforts to enhance and beautify the community. Proper-ties are selected for the monthly beautification awards by the Rosenberg Image Committee, which works to develop community pride by promoting activities that improve Rosenberg’s image and positively influence public perception.

Vincent M. Morales, Jr., Sherry and Van Upton, Amalia and Richard Montemayor and William Benton.

Celebrating a Valentine’s lunch and card exchange at the Ol’ Railroad Cafe were Isaura Rodriguez, Lisa and Jeremy Nieto, Analou Hernandez, Giovane Deluga and Maria Segura.

Leah and Eamon Munguia, Olivia Knuckols, Caelyn Munguia, Amanda Vignes and Owen Munguia.

American Warrior author and Army Ranger Hall of Fame veteran Gary O’Neal helped celebrate St. Michael’s Emergency Rooms’ eighth anniversary with owner Shannon Orsak. The first 24 hour free-standing emergency room in Sugar Land, St. Michael’s has now expanded with additional locations in Houston and Spring. Congratulations to St. Michael’s for eight great years caring for Fort Bend!



OUT&ABOUT

The Fort Bend County Executive Committee’s 2015 Wine with Us event supported the efforts of the American Heart Association and its positive impact in Fort Bend County.

Third place went to The Number Sense Team. Members were KelleyBecker, Caylee Cook, AlyBermudez and Brian Wu.

Vincent and Regina Morales with Patti and Tim Kaminski.

Local artist Cisco Tucker Kolkmeier was honored for her long-standing donations to the American Heart Association. Cisco has produced custom art pieces for many years for the American Heart Association honoring her father O. D. Tucker. Sandy Campos presented Kolkmeier with a commemorative plaque.

Sandy Scott was recognized for her years of service to the American Heart Association. Daughter Claudia Wright and husband Dave Scott were on hand to congratulate her.

Lamar Consolidated ISD hosted a Middle School University Interscholastic League (UIL) competition.

The Calculator Applications Team first place winners were Jacob Burdette, Caitrina Kearns, Lex Pham andRyan Miller.

Wertheimer Middle School came away with a first place victory at the contest! Principal Irma Nurre and UIL Coordinator Michele Broom proudly showed off their first place plaque.

Pat Hebert and Lonnie Meadows.

Doris Gurecky and Janice Knight.


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Child Advocates of Fort BendJoined Hundreds at CASA Day at the Capitol

John Healey, Ruthanne Mefford, Heather Rashid, Cynthia Barratt, Bob Mayo, Sylviane Hoare, Krystal Vann, Leroy Hodge, Betty Baitland, Mariel Barrera, Nell Ciancarelli, Sonal Bhuchar, Sarah Gubachy, Metoyer Martin and Casey Davis.

Child Advocates of Fort Bend joined more than 300 Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) volunteers, board members and staff from across the state at the Capitol to speak up for children in the child welfare system. Fifteen repre-sentatives from the program traveled to Austin as part of CASA Day at the Capi-tol, the one day each legislative session that the CASA community assembles to bring attention to improving outcomes for children and youth in the foster care system.

The Child Advocates of Fort Bend team met with its local Texas legislators, including Senators Rodney Ellis, Joan Huffman, Lois Kohlkorst and Larry Taylor and Representatives Coleman Garnet, Rick Miller, Ron Reynold, Phil Stephen-son and John Zerwas to discuss policy priorities to improve issues in the state’s child welfare system identified by the Sunset Commission and to promote the well-being of children and youth in care.

“Traveling to Austin and meeting with our state leaders in the Capitol during the legislative session is empowering,” said Ruthanne Mefford, chief executive officer for Child Advocates of Fort Bend. “We get the opportunity to speak up on behalf of the children we serve and ask

our legislators to make them a top prior-ity.”

Last year, Child Advocates of Fort Bend provided 143 CASA volunteers to 237 children in Fort Bend County. State-wide, 8,066 CASA volunteers advocated for 23,742 foster children. With 46,823 children in the custody of the Texas De-partment of Family and Protective Ser-vices because of evidence of abuse and neglect, a CASA volunteer was provided for just over half of these children.

“Urging legislators to support Texas

CASA’s recommended policies will go a long way to help improve the state’s child protection system and to ensure the well-being of vulnerable children and youth,” said Vicki Spriggs, chief ex-ecutive officer of Texas CASA, the state organization that provides funding, train-ing, resources, legislative advocacy and other support for the 71 local CASA pro-grams across the state.

For more information on Child Advo-cates of Fort Bend, visit www.cafb.org or call 281-341-9955.


Real Weddings

Coming June 2015

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

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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 Brazos area.Photographers are also welcome to submit photos.


T ransform an ordinary cupcake into something extraordinary with a peek-a-boo filling. These simple

cupcakes are an easy addition to any spring celebration. You’ll want to serve every variety of these turned up treats for Easter and beyond.

Source: Family Features

The best part about this party trick? It’s easy. You’ll be digging this one out of your recipe repertoire for every spring soirée.

Hop to EasterWho said Easter baskets are just for the kids? Treat your

holiday guests to take-home cupcakes served in individual cupcake boxes. They’ll be delighted to find a surprise inside these icing-filled cupcakes.

The Garden Party Spring into the season and host an outdoor party on the

patio or in the garden. Your guests will enjoy the fresh air and the sweetly decorated desserts.

Add Fresh FlavorShake things up with a refreshing new twist. Try filling

your cupcakes with refreshing lemon meringue, raspberry mousse or peanut butter and jelly cupcake fillings.

No matter how you slice it, fill it or serve it, these cup-cakes are a party pleaser that’s guaranteed to impress. Find tasty filling recipes, fresh ideas and easy decorating projects at www.wilton.com.

Impress SpringParty Guests with

SurpriseSweets

Servings: 1 dozen cupcakes

• Favorite Chocolate Cake Mix or Recipe• Creamy Decorator Icing • Chocolate Decorator Icing • Leaf Green Icing Color• Orange Icing Color• Crushed Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

Preheat oven to 350°F. Place baking cups in standard muffin pan.

Prepare cake mix following package instructions. Bake in prepared muffin pan 18-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on cooling grid.

To decorate, tint small amount of creamy decorator icing green; tint remaining orange. Use spatula and chocolate icing to ice tops of cupcakes smooth. Sprinkle with cookie crumbs. Chill until set, about 15 minutes.

Use knife to cut out center of cupcakes almost to bottom of cupcake. Use tip 2A and orange icing to fill in center of cupcake and pipe about 1/4 inch above cupcake; pat smooth. Use tip 352 and green icing to pipe pull-out leaf carrot tops.

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Carrot GardenEaster Cupcakes

GeographyGeography plays an important role as well. When creat-

ing the menu and knowing who your guests will be, you more than likely want to keep menu items regionally inspired and use locally sourced ingredients. The complexity of the menu and the recipes must be taken into consideration. When en-tertaining, you would like to at least have a conversation with your guests while they are about to join you in a feast. You don’t want to be in the kitchen the entire time. Cooking simple food simply is the key. There is no need to be avant-garde or whimsical in menu approach.

Budget Budget plays a key role in what you will have as your main

entrée or protein for the buffet, ranging from a single pro-tein to multiple or from chicken to lobster. Selections should be balanced and colorful. Ideally, you want to offer guests a variety of dishes that will represent these main categories: protein, salads, fruits, vegetables and sweets.

Themed buffets/stations can also be a fun route to take. Get creative with the presentation, especially if there are young ones in attendance, where you may have a separate buffet just for the kids with their own offerings, such as cot-ton candy.

How to Build a

BuffetT here are many opportunities in the coming months to put

together a home buffet for Easter, Mother’s Day or for graduating seniors. If you are ambitious enough to try one at home, here are some tips on building a buffet to remember.

SeasonThe seasonality of ingredients is very important, as you want to create a buffet that fits the season

or holiday. For example, you would not want to serve fresh strawberries in the middle of De-

cember. Even though people are very re-sourceful and can fly almost anything in

from around the globe, strawberries taste better when they are local

and in season.

absolutely!DELICIOUS

By Shane Bruns


Location and FlowPlacement is crucial when choosing a spot to create the

buffet, as you don’t want bottlenecking to occur. Sometimes, it is better to create stations instead of a buffet so that the crowd can spread out, eliminating long waiting times in a line. That way, guests are free to visit the station they are most interested in.

Sequence of FoodWhen placing creations on the buffet, it is typical to start

out with chilled offerings, such as composed salads and chilled soups. Then, lead into lighter fare and hot items, such as vegetables and starches. Next, place the focal point – the entrée – toward the end. Desserts should be separated from the main buffet, as most guests do not have room on their plate after going through the buffet. This allows you to become more creative in the dessert presentations. For ex-ample, fill martini glasses with chocolate mousse or display “loaded spoons” of tiramisu.

BeveragesBeverages should be on a separate table from the food

station. If coffee and tea is served, you can add it your des-sert station, depending on how big the guest list is. Beverage selection should be focused. Know your guests, and possibly create a specialty cocktail for the evening. For guests who don’t drink alcohol, create a “mocktail.”

It is important to offer a balance of wines. Weather can play a big part in this. On a hot summer day, a nice rosé may fit the bill for a light and crisp wine, followed by a medium body red like Pinot noir and a Cabernet Sauvignon for a more robust, heavier wine. Always choose the wine that you think will go best with the buffet items. Don’t forget about dessert wines, such as a nice, late harvest wine or a port to finish chocolate cake with.

DécorTry to utilize florals, candles and accent pieces within

empty spaces to create a full and decorative look. Don’t go overboard – sometimes less is more. You don’t want to lose focus of the food and beverages being offered.

Now that you have the tools to put together your own buf-fet, all you need to do is decide the menu. Enjoy!

China, Glass, Silver and Linens Choosing the right plate for the right function is also im-

portant. If the buffet is more of a reception instead of din-ner, the size of the plate should convey that to guests. Small plates at the beginning mean that the event is meant for grazing. Large plates send the message of a dinner.

Once the style of the event is determined, place plates at the beginning of the buffet or station. Cutlery can either be preset at the table settings, or silverware rolled up in nap-kins can be placed at the buffet. At a reception, cocktail forks and spoons are typically displayed at the buffet.

Depending on the beverages being served, glassware is key. For a reception-style approach, in most cases, glassware should be placed at the bar or wherever the beverages are located. For an elegant dinner, glassware is usually preset. Be sure to choose the right glass for the right wine.

Serving vessels on the buffet can be part of your creative approach in creating a memorable experience for guests. In-stead of using chafers for hot food items, there are many ways to display offerings. Griddles, mini grill tops with le Creuset Dutch ovens or casserole dishes can make items more appeal-ing to the eye. Remember, guests always eat with their eyes first.


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T he state of Texas has more than 700 miles of land from Texar-kana to El Paso and over 800

miles from the North Texas line at the city of Texline to the southernmost town of Southmore. The state is blessed with mild seasons and abundant land consumed with fertile soil rich in min-erals.

Early settlers focused completely on farming and ranching to support their families and sustain life. Cities grew and prospered as crops were harvested and cattle herded. It wasn’t until 1901 that the famous great gusher known as “Spindletop” erupted in the oil field near Beaumont. This was the begin-ning of the oil explosion in Texas that still continues today.

As legend has it, poor Texas cowboys discovered oil gushing on their land and became overnight billionaires. They

helped make Texas oil an economic and political powerhouse, bringing to light the valuable resources this enormous state has to offer. These stories of oil tycoons began with obscurity, evolved to prominence and egotistical power struggles and ended with squabbling families, scandals and sometimes, trag-ic destitution.

Patillo “Bud” Higgins was the vision-ary who lived in Beaumont and set his sights on discovering oil in Texas. Hig-gins partnered with George W. Carroll, a lumberman, and after combining their money, set out to lease land and begin digging. After many failed attempts, Higgins gave up excavating for a period of time. He placed an advertisement in a national magazine and received one reply from a mining engineer, Captain Anthony Lucas. Lucas surveyed the land and determined there was a salt dome on Big Hill. These salt domes of-ten harbor caches of sulfur and some-times oil.

Together, Higgins and Lucas drilled a well, but it soon collapsed. Frustrated because they had no more money, the project was once again put on hold. Finally, after partnering with James Guffey and James Galey of Pittsburgh, the men hired the Hamill brothers, be-gan drilling at Big Hill and the rest is Spindletop history.

Oil and natural gas are the most sig-nificant minerals generated in Texas. Many years before the Europeans ar-rived, Native Americans first discov-ered oil trickling from the ground and believed it had medicinal values. Crude

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in Fort Bend County“Texas Tea”

Canvas-topped dwellings of drilling crews formed the nucleus of a tent town near Blue Ridge, Texas, in about 1920.

The Lucas Gusher at Spindletop, 1901.

oil was used for caulking boats as early as 1543 by Hernando de Soto. In April 1919, Fort Bend County and Gulf Oil Company had its first gusher at Blue Ridge Oil Field, three miles southeast of Missouri City. Three years later, in 1922, another oil field at Big Creek, located south of Rosenberg, emerged. This fortified rapid growth for the sur-rounding cities of Rosenberg and Rich-mond.

Soon, eight productive oil fields were established, eventually producing more than 450 million barrels of oil. The communities began enjoying the ame-nities of wealth with paved sidewalks and City swimming pools. Rosenberg’s population edged past Richmond for the first time in 1920. Because of high oil demand, the cities did not feel the ex-treme effects of the Great Depression in the 1920s. Texas oil and gas production peaked in 1972 and has declined since.

The oil boom also encouraged the development of other mineral indus-tries. Petroleum, natural gas and sul-fur are trapped in salt domes, which are tall columns of salt that have ris-en tens of thousands of feet. Valuable minerals were discovered when the oil was tapped and wells were built. Salt resources are plentiful and a valuable asset to the economy. Portland cement, crushed stone, construction sand and gravel are the leading mineral commod-ities produced in Texas that account for over 95 percent of non-fuel mineral value. With so much to offer the world, Texas continues to be at the forefront of natural resources.

Texas Direct Auto Teams Up with the Sugar Land Skeeters Again in 2015Since their inaugural season in 2012, the Sugar Land Skeeters have captured the hearts of Sugar Land residents and baseball-lovers throughout the Greater Houston area. In turn, the organization has fostered partnerships with pillars of the Fort Bend county community for years to come. One such

pairing is with Stafford-based Texas Direct Auto, the world’s largest independent auto dealership, who is proud to team up with the Skeeters again for the fourth consecutive year. Our goal?

To help make the 2015 season the best yet.

“Our theme for the 2015 season is a #SaLute2fans,” said Chris Jones, General Manager of the Sugar Land Skeeters. “Partners like Texas Direct Auto are ideal for our organization, because they understand the value of a loyal fan, and can help us spread our message of ‘Thanks’ into the communities we both serve.”

As a founding sponsor, Texas Direct Auto has a noticeable presence at the Constellation Field. The Texas Direct Auto message is featured prominently along the Skeeters bullpen

and inside the “Buzz Shop,” where every purchase of $50 or more in Skeeters merchandise earns fans a free t-shirt. In addition to sponsoring two Skeeters Entitlement games, Texas

Direct Auto will have some fun freebies to giveaway to all fans during several Skeeters home Games. You can’t miss the Texas Direct Auto fully-customized bullpen cart, shaped like a vintage baseball, that they donated in 2012.

Skeeters fans will want to mark their calendars for Entitlement games hosted by Texas Direct Auto this year. On Saturday, May 16th, Texas Direct Auto will give away

the fourth edition of their coveted, collectible youth jerseys to the first 2,000 attendees. Don’t forget to bring the whole family out on June 27, 2015 for Bark in the Park, another special event presented by Texas Direct Auto.

Texas Direct Auto’s Director of New Business Development, Jessica DeMarr, is looking forward to another great season in 2015, saying, “Texas Direct Auto is proud to be a founding partner for our 4th consecutive year. It is a joy

to watch fans of all ages cheer on the Skeeters. Win or lose it’s about having fun-GO SKEETERS!”

For more information visit www.sugarlandskeeters.com.

CELEBRATEPink in the Park

5.15.15

Celebrating Breast Cancer Survivors

Friday, May 15 6:15 p.m. – Pregame Survivor Ceremony

7:05 p.m. – First Pitch, Constellation Field

Join Memorial Hermann and the Sugar Land Skeeters for this year’s Pink Out game in support of breast cancer awareness.

Early registrants will receive complimentary tickets, and some 2,000 fans will receive a complimentary gift.

Wear your pink proudly and come support Sugar Land’s favorite team – and a great cause.

For more information or to register, visit memorialhermann.org/sugar-land-pink-in-the-park.

april 2015 - absolutely brazos magazine

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