august 2015 - absolutely brazos magazine

AUGUST 2015 Serving Richmond, Rosenberg &

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Rosenberg HISTORIANS' Labor of Love

AccessHealth Award-Winning,Patient-Centered Care

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CONTRIBUTOR

A U G U S T 2 0 1 5 | V O L U M E 3 | N U M B E R 912

Joan FrancesContributorPages 12, 16 & 32

ON THE COVER:

Mehjabin Parkar, MD; Michael Lawson, MD;

Carol Edwards, CEO and David Krusleski, MD, CMO.

Photography by Nesossi Studios.

C O V E R S T O R Y

F E A T U R E S

13 FORT BEND FOCUS AND absolutely! BRAZOS MAGAZINES KICK OFF THE GEMS OF FORT BEND

Who are the 2015 Generous, Enthusiastic Men Serving?

14 absolutely! BACK TO SCHOOL Get the kids organized and

ready for the new school year.

16 THE ROSENBERG HISTORIAN’S LABOR OF LOVE:

ImagesofAmerica,HistoricDowntownRosenberg

20 absolutely! FINEST IN MEDICINE

Health Care News You Can Use

N E W S W O RT H Y

9 “STYLIN’ IN THE BEND” Kicks off the Fort Bend County Fair

C O L U M N S

12 HIGH SCHOOL HOT SHOT Meet Brandon Michael Willis

32 A LITTLE PIECE OF HISTORY Jane Long Elementary School:

Raising the Bar for Special Education

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

4 PUBLISHER’S POINT OF VIEW

10 SEEN ON THE SCENE

19 COMMUNITY EVENTS

28 OUT & ABOUT IN THE HEART OF BRAZOS

30 COMMUNITY MARKETPLACE

6 ACCESSHEALTH: PROVIDING AWARD-WINNING, PATIENT-CENTERED CARE FOR FORT BEND

AccessHealth’s Richmond Center is setting – and achieving – the standards for excellence in patient-centered health care. The National Committee for Quality Assurance recently announced that the center received Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition for using evidence-based, patient-centered processes that focus on highly coordinated care and long term, participative relationships.

AccessHealth’s David Krusleski, MD, CMO and Carol Edwards, CEO.Photo by Nesossi Studios

Tim Cashion, DDS Teresa Cody, DDS

Call us now!281-377-1944

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WWW.ABSOLUTELYBRAZOS.COM

Vol. 3 No. 9 | August 2015

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

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

required outside West Fort Bend area.

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

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

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

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

Molly Ellis Kay Garrett

Andrea Rigamonti Suzanne Stiles

A RT D I R E C T O RGrace Belleza

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

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

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

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 RJoan Frances

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

Questions and Answers

Finally, the answer to the ques-tion that’s been on everyone’s mind this summer: Who are the 2015 GEMS of Fort Bend? The deserving 2015 Generous, Enthusiastic Men Serving are Bob Hebert, Don Ker-stetter and Steve Onstad. The reach of these community servants is ex-traordinary, and we can’t wait to tell you all about them in our upcoming issues. I hope you will join us for our award-winning GEMS of Fort Bend event on Thursday, October 22nd for our “GEMS and Jeans” themed casino event. To purchase tickets, call us at 281-690-4242. It will be a fun-filled evening benefitting a great organization: The Fort Bend Family YMCA.

Another question answered in this issue: Who are the Rosenberg Historians? The Rosenberg Historians are 36 individuals who have worked tirelessly for two years to compile an historic pictorial of the town they love. Images of America, Historic Downtown Rosenberg is available at most Downtown Rosenberg retailers, and a complete listing of the Rosenberg Historians is on page 17.

Speaking of Downtown Rosenberg retailers, the perfect time to visit them is during the Downtown Stomp where 20 retailers are participating. The Downtown Stomp is Saturday, August 1st and it’s shopping after hours and wine tasting of wines selected by the Grapes on the Brazos Fair committee. It’s a great time, sup-porting a great organization – the Fort Bend County Fair.

As we are getting ready to get the kids back to school, another question is top of mind: Where can we get those back to school check-ups and immunizations? The Richmond Center of AccessHealth is not only here to help, they are award-winning. Congratulations to this amazing organization that offers quality, afford-able and accessible health care to our community regardless of their ability to pay. Read all about their services on page 6, and if you happen to fall in love with this organization like I have, mark your calendars for Thursday, October 29th for their annual Heart of Fort Bend fundraising event. Call 281-633-3169 for tickets. We’d love to see you there!

The final question on my mind this month is: How am I going to survive send-ing my firstborn off to college? I know I’ve raised her to be an independent young woman, but I truly wasn’t going for independence from me! American physician

and writer John Andrew Holmes said, “A child enters your home and for the next twenty years makes so much noise you can hardly stand it. The child departs, leaving the house so silent you think you are going mad.” Fortunately, I have a spare. Look out, Kolt. August is going to be a rough month for Momma!

Absolutely yours,

[email protected]

Kassidi, Patti and Kolton Kaminski supporting their Rosenberg Historians – Dad and Great Granny – at the Images of America, Historic Downtown Rosenberg book signing.

absolutely! focus media was proud to receive the Excellence in Community Service – Philanthropy 2015 Communitas Award for the 2013 and 2014 GEMS of Fort Bend! The Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals recognized afm as an exceptional business that is unselfishly giving of themselves and their resources, changing how we do business to benefit our community.


Fortunately for Fort Bend, a vital organization dedicated to excellence in providing integrated health care services to improve the quality of life in our community is meeting our health care needs, and they are doing so by being the best.

Excellence in Health Care

Setting – and achieving – the standards for excellence in patient-centered health care is Richmond’s AccessHealth. The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) re-cently announced that AccessHealth’s Richmond Center re-ceived Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Recognition for using evidence-based, patient-centered processes that

focus on highly coordinated care and long-term, participative rela-tionships.

The NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home is a model of pri-mary care that combines team-work and information technology to improve care, improve patients’ experience of care and reduce costs. Medical homes foster ongoing partnerships between patients and their per-sonal clinicians instead of approaching care as the sum of episodic office visits. Each patient’s care is overseen by cli-nician-led care teams that coordinate treatment across the health care system. Research shows that medical homes can lead to higher quality and lower costs and can improve pa-tient and provider reported experiences of care.

“NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition raises the bar in defining high-quality care by emphasiz-ing access, health information technology and coordinated care focused on patients,” said NCQA President Margaret E. O’Kane. “Recognition shows that AccessHealth has the tools, systems and resources to provide its patients with the right care at the right time.”

Providing Award-Winning,Patient-Centered Care for Fort Bend

COVER STORY

T ake a quick survey of friends, neighbors and employers, and ask them what they feel are the most important issues facing

our community today. Odds are many responses will include concerns regarding health care – quality health care that is both affordable and ac-cessible.

Photos by Nesossi Studios

AccessHealth team members Gelatia Tesfaye, DDS; Jimmy Robertson, MD; David Krusleski, MD, CMO; Stasha Lewis, MD; Carol Edwards, CEO; Varghese Joseph, MD; Brenda Mallett, NP; Mehjabin Parkar, MD;Michael Lawson, MD; Pamela Liang, MD; Vanessa Ruiz, DDS;Nishit Shah, MD and Amber Garcia, DDS.

7

What this recognition means for the community is a proven, team approach for providing long-term health care, something that CEO Carol Ed-wards is passionate about. “Our goal at AccessHealth is for our patients to achieve a person-al state of wellness through the highest quality services provided with compassion, competence and integrity,” said Edwards. “We strive to address patients’ physical, social and psychological needs through collaboration. Our care providers, employees, volunteers and board members all collaborate with patients, their families and other community organizations to achieve our mission of excellence in providing integrated health care services. This recognition is an important milestone in our organization emphasizing our commitment to excellence – recogni-tion we achieved as a team. I couldn’t be more proud.”

To earn the PCMH Recognition, which is valid for three years, Ac-cessHealth demonstrated the ability to meet the program’s key elements, em-bodying characteristics of the medical home. NCQA standards aligned with the joint principles of the Patient-Cen-tered Medical Home established with the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Family Phy-sicians, the American Academy of Pe-diatrics and the American Osteopathic Association.

W idespread, dedicated community support for AccessHealth is evi-

dent by their newly elected board mem-bers, who hail from across the county and have a combined nearly 30 years’ experience dedicated to the organiza-tion. Effective July 1st, AccessHealth’s newly elected board officers include:

Lisa Wood, President − Commercial Lender and AccessHealth boardmember since 2013.

Brian Machart, DDS, VicePresident – Dentist and AccessHealth board member since 2014.

Lionel Martin, Secretary – Retired Educator and AccessHealth boardmember since 2014.

Olaniyi Oyedele, Treasurer – Certified Public Accountant and AccessHealth board member since 2014.

Other dedicatedboard members include:

Francisco Ramirez – Attorney,Previous Board President and AccessHealth board member since 2001.

Myrta I. Torres – Outreach Coordinator, Previous Board VicePresident and AccessHealth board member since 2011.

Carolyn Fields – Retired Educator and AccessHealth board membersince 2014.

George Kuebler – Pastor Emeritusand AccessHealth board membersince 2014.

Melissa Martin – Attorney and AccessHealth board member since 2014.

Priscilla Salas – Financial Aid Counselor and AccessHealth board member since 2014.

David Timmermeyer – Commercial Banker and AccessHealth boardmember since 2015.

For more information regarding AccessHealth’s board of directors or volunteer opportunities, visit www.myaccesshealth.org.

More Patients ServedThan Ever Before

The PCMH Recognition announce-ment comes at a time when Ac-cessHealth is serving unprecedented numbers of patients to meet a grow-ing demand for services. From 2011 to 2014, the number of patients served by AccessHealth increased by 37%, and the growth trend is continuing well into 2015. AccessHealth served 16,348 patients in 2014, which demon-strates a 12% increase over the 14,533 patients served in 2013, as illustrated below:

• In 2012, AccessHealth served13,474 patients.



The number of patient visits to AccessHealth in 2014 was

53,767, yet another unprec-edented number and a 15% increase over the 41,346 pa-tient visits in 2013. In addi-tion to patients served at its five clinics, AccessHealth also served 28,427 clients at its 12 Women, Infants and Children

(WIC) sites in 2014. To meet increased demand,

AccessHealth expanded its num-ber of WIC sites and added a fifth clinic in 2014. The new clinic is a school-based clinic at Fort Bend ISD’s

Diverse, Professional Leadership:

A Dedicated Board

Patient Lizzy Whitmire and

Nishit Shah, MD.

Brenda Mallet, RN, PNP and patient Dylan Hill.


Ridgemont Early Childhood Development Center, where Ac-cessHealth serves Head Start and Early Head Start partici-pants, as well as Ridgemont Elementary students and their siblings.

AccessHealth has also increased its hours of operation to meet the demand for health care services, adding evening and Saturday hours. The expanded hours of operation at the main Center in Richmond, located at 400 Austin Street, are: 7 am to 7 pm, Monday through Friday and Saturdays from 8 am to noon.

Leading for the Future

As AccessHealth’s clinical staff works to serve more pa-tients, the executive leadership and board of directors are working to identify sources of revenue that can help sustain the increased level of service delivery. AccessHealth serves patients regardless of a funding source that could be billed for services. Since AccessHealth is a 501(c)(3) charitable orga-nization, foundation grants and donations from businesses, civic groups and individuals help to provide its health care services to the low-income and uninsured who likely would otherwise go without. A majority of AccessHealth’s patients do not qualify for Medicaid benefits, which would reimburse for service fees.

Earning PCMH Recognition was a goal of AccessHealth’s executive leadership team and board of directors. Ac-cessHealth’s board includes members with a history of dedi-cated service to the organization, as well as community and business leaders who are relatively new to AccessHealth and equally eager to contribute.

AccessHealth board members collectively bring to the or-ganization experience in health care delivery and non-profit leadership, as well as business, legal and financial expertise. Together, the board of directors and staff leadership team are leading the organization in working towards its mission of providing integrated health care services to improve the quality of life in the communities it serves.

“With our unprecedented growth – and now success earning PCMH Recognition from NCQA – prepar-ing for the future of AccessHealth is more important than ever,” said board president Lisa Wood. “As a board, we are committed to lead-ing and growing this organization so that everyone in our community – regardless of their ability to pay – has access to quality, sustainable health care.”

AccessHealth’s board of directors has accepted the chal-lenge of identifying and implementing long-term solutions to these issues. AccessHealth has positioned itself to meet the demand for services by leveraging community partnerships, expanding service capacity, increasing staff as needed and adding service lines to meet community needs.

Earning PCMH Recognition status from NCQA is an im-portant milestone for AccessHealth as it works to meet health care needs in the communities it serves. NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA’s Healthcare Effective-ness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA’s website, ncqa.org, contains information to help consumers, employers and others make more informed health care choic-es.

For more information regarding AccessHealth’s Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition or AccessHealth, visit www.myaccesshealth.org.

The Richmond Center of AccessHealth, recipient of the National Committee for Quality Assurance Patient-Cen-tered Medical Home Recognition, offers several health care services including:

• Pediatric Medicine• Family Medicine• Immunizations• Lab Services• Behavioral Health & Case Management• Women’s Services• Pharmacy

The Richmond Center is located at 400 Austin Street and features expanded hours of operation: 7 am to 7 pm, Monday through Friday and 8 am to noon, Saturdays.

For more information, visit www.myaccesshealth.org or call 281-342-4530.

AccessHealth’sRichmond Center Services

AccessHealth board president Lisa Wood.

Patient Evelyn Mercado and Mehjabin Pakar, MD.

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NEWSWORTHY

“Stylin’ In The Bend”to Kick off the

Fort Bend County Fair

Bling, boots and bunches of fun will be seen at the Fort Bend County Fair’s (FBCF) “Stylin’ In The Bend” Dinner and Style Show on Friday, August 14th at Safari Texas Ranch. “The committee has been hard at work to combine fashion and fun,” said FBCF Fair Manager Su-san Sillavan. “Our event features local celebrities, hot fashions and of course introduces our 2015 FBCF queen can-didates.”

This year, guests will be treated to fashions provided by several Fort Bend County boutiques and businesses, in-cluding Wardrobe: The Boutique, Cor-ral Western Wear and Southern Sister Designs. Styles ranging from western chic to vintage retro will sizzle on the runway. “This is our New York Fashion Week event. It’s a fun and exciting time of year,” boasted Lucas Chavez, Style Show Committee co-chairperson. “This event is the kick-off event for the Fort Bend County Fair.”

Tickets are available at the fair office and can be purchased as an individual for $55, as a couple for $100 or as a VIP table of 10 for $500. A limited number will be sold at the door. Festivities will begin with a trunk show at 5 pm, fol-lowed by the dinner and style show at 7 pm. Bambi Lynn of BLiNC will return to produce the fashion show featuring the FBCF 2015 queen candidates and Fort Bend County’s own celebrities.

“With this event, we have the oppor-tunity to support the Fort Bend County Fair scholarship fund in a fun, fabulous and exciting way,” stated 2015 Fair President Margaret Kunz.

For more information, visit www.fortbendcountyfair.com or call 281-342-6171.


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30th Annual Fort Bend Masters Golf Tournament Benefiting the Central Fort Bend Chamber

Brenden & Suzanne LoehrFrank Olivo & Tony Rios

Larissa Pennington & Shannon OrsakDenis De Luca, Barry Beard & Bud Friedman

Alton Lloyd, Curtis Lucas, Kevin Patton & Jason Witchet

Marty Schmitt, Seth Thompson, Don McIntyre & Tyler Garrett

René Casanova & Ray Aguilar Vince & Bobby Finnegan

Regina Morales with Leigh Ann & Kyle Dawson


June 8, 2015 • Pecan Grove Plantation Country Club

Kay Garrett & Adrienne Boring

Tucker Fowler & Gary Finnegan

Andy Palermo & Louie TrapolinoAnnette Dewese & Tony L. Francis

Jeff Barton & Steve Beck

Nell Ciancarelli & Noell MyskaChristian & Gilbert Jalomo with Sonny Salinas & Michael Lopez Mike Adkinson & Alfred Valdez

Rich Muller & Justin Ring


Meet Brandon Michael Willis

By Joan Frances

Brandon

HOT SHOTHigh School

T ravis High School in Fort Bend Independent School District has an abundance

of talented students. From academ-ics to athletics to the fine arts, the school’s administration believes a well-rounded student is better pre-pared for the next step in life after graduation. One senior who is tal-ented and engaging is Brandon Wil-lis.

Brandon has been a member of the drama club all of his high school career. In addition, he is a member of the Thespian Honor Club. He has competed at the Texas Thespian State Conference every year, rank-ing superior in voice and acting. He also performed many roles in pro-ductions, and one of his favorites was Xanadu. Brandon said, “One thing I will treasure most from my high school experience is my theatre troupe’s spring musical my freshman year, Xanadu. Xanadu was my first high school show, and I will always treasure the people involved and the relationships I formed during that show.” Brandon also sings tenor in the choir. He competed in Solo and Ensemble every year and placed in All State Region.

Brandon challenges himself by tak-ing Advanced Placement core classes. He will take college level math classes as a senior. When asked what value he lives by, Brandon said, “Never give up. In school and theatre, there is al-ways room for improvement. You’ll never be the best you can be, and set-tling for something less than your very best wouldn’t be fair to you. Theatre is a skill that must be improved and pol-ished regularly. Each show that I do, I hope to learn something new and gain a new skill. Never giving up gets me closer and closer to my goal each day.”

Brandon’s favorite teacher is his di-rector, Mandy Seymore Sensat, from his local theatre, Inspiration Stage. “I started working with Mandy my fresh-man year in high school, and since then she has made a significant impact on my life. She has taught me things I wouldn’t be able to learn from any-one else, such as developing character, improving my dancing, along with giv-ing me multiple opportunities to ex-perience professional theatre like do-ing adult shows and traveling to New York next Spring Break to perform on Broadway. I am grateful for the oppor-tunities she has given me and the les-sons she has taught me.”

Being a leader is a role Brandon takes very seriously. “Being a leader or upperclassman in theatre brings many responsibilities. Your direc-tor expects you to carry shows and to keep everyone on task during re-hearsals. It is a fulfilling position, because you can make choices that will improve the troupe or theatre. You can get more people involved as well, which always makes an underclassman feel wanted and ac-cepted. It is rewarding, because we are one troupe that works together for a common goal. Theatre provides a sense of unity and family.”

Brandon has college auditions at the Texas Thespian State Confer-ence this December, when he will also perform in the All State show Big Fish. He is deciding between several universities, including Okla-homa City University and Sam Houston State University. Brandon plans to attain a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Musical The-atre and minor in Political Science, which will allow him to pursue law school. Congratulations on all of your accomplishments Brandon, and good luck as you take the next step to your future.

“Never give up. In school and theatre, there is always room for improvement.Never giving up gets me closer and closer to my goal each day.”

- Brandon Michael Willis

Caden Thomas, Brandon Willis and Kaylon Banks.

Fort Bend Focus andabsolutely! Brazos Magazines

Kick off the 2015GEMS of Fort Bend

Fort Bend Focus and absolutely! Brazos Magazines recently kicked off the 2015 GEMS of Fort Bend. GEMS – Gener-

ous, Enthusiastic Men Serving – is an annual initiative honoring three male role models whose contributions to our community make them shine.

The 2015 GEMS were introduced at a brunch hosted by Joe and Doris Gurecky at their Historic Ebell House, which is the oldest brick home in downtown Rosenberg. The 2015 GEMS were joined by 2013 and 2014 GEMS, JEWELS of Fort Bend and com-munity and event partners. The 2015 GEMS – Bob Hebert, Don Kerstetter and Steve Onstad – will be honored at a premier event featuring dinner, live entertainment and a “chips for charity” ca-sino on Thursday, October 22nd at the Safari Texas Ranch Lodge located in Richmond.

Proceeds from the evening event will be invested back into the Fort Bend community by supporting a non-profit organiza-tion whose mission is vital in our community: Fort Bend Family YMCA. The Fort Bend Family YMCA’s mission is to put Judeo-

Jackie and Don Kerstetter.


Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all. The Y is a cause-driven organization that is for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility because a strong community can only be achieved when we invest in our kids, our health and our neigh-bors.

This is the third year Fort Bend Focus and absolutely! Brazos Magazines have hosted the GEMS of Fort Bend. Last year’s event was sold out and raised over $15,000 for its beneficiary, Texana Center. Over the past seven years with both the GEMS and JEWELS of Fort Bend events, Fort Bend Focus and abso-lutely! Brazos Magazines have contributed nearly $150,000 to eight Fort Bend non-profit organizations.

“Continuing our mission of giving back to our community is paramount to our organization,” said Patti Parish-Kaminski, publisher of absolutely! focus media, the publishing company for Fort Bend Focus and absolutely! Brazos Magazines. “Honor-ing these three amazing men who have contributed to our com-munity in extraordinary ways through GEMS is an honor for us. These men have helped mold our community into an exemplary place to live, work and raise our children. We are humbled by their stellar ex-amples of the true meaning of the word service.”

The GEMS of Fort Bend is open to the public and is scheduled for Thursday, Oc-tober 22nd. The GEMS and jeans themed event kicks off with the casino and cocktails at 6:30 pm followed by din-ner and live entertainment. Tables and individual tickets are available by contacting 281-690-4242.

Doris Gurecky and Kay Garrett. Lisa Fredrickson and Sharon Hilburn.

Pat and Bob Hebert.

Holly Kaminga and Lucas Chavez. Carole and Bob Brown.

Michaela Filla and Steve Onstad.

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Research has shown that in order for a child to be suc-cessful in school and in life, they must begin with a strong foundation in learning. Gingerbread has designed a curricu-lum that includes an emphasis on reading, writing, science, math, discovery and exploration, as well as social skills de-velopment. The infant and toddler programs focus on the development of both gross and fine motor skills along with basic language development. The three to five-year-old

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The mission of St. Mark’s Episcopal School is to encourage spiritual, intel-lectual, social, emotional and physical development in young children through an enriched curriculum rooted in the Christian faith. Within a nurturing Christian com-munity, St. Mark’s Episcopal School builds in each child the foundation for good character and a lifelong love of learning.

St. Mark’s Episcopal School is currently accepting applications for their two- year-old, three-year-old, Pre-K and Bridge to Kindergarten Class for the current school year. The two and three-year-old classes will have the option of a two, three or five-day program. The Pre-K and Bridge Kinder classes are five-day programs. St. Mark’s also offers before school care from 7:30 to 9 am and after school care from 2 to 6 pm. A state licensed school, St. Mark’s is pursuing Southwestern As-sociation of Episcopal Schools accreditation.

Each class is staffed with a teacher and a teaching assistant. St. Mark’s enrich-ing early childhood program incorporates a child development curriculum with active participatory learning. The staff is trained in early childhood development so they can observe, understand and support children’s learning in all areas. In ad-dition, St. Mark’s curriculum includes art and Spanish lessons, math exploration, Reading A-Z, fun and fitness, Godly play, weekly chapel, gardening and state-of-the-art technology, including iPads and student touch screen classroom comput-ers. St. Mark’s is where children flourish!

St. Mark’s will host a Blessing of the Backpacks and Open House on August 23rd. Call 281-545-1296 or e-mail Tracey McMahon Little, Head of School, at [email protected] for more information.

Pre-School and Pre-K programs focus on academics, peer relationships and preparation for entry into kindergarten and elementary school. The Gingerbread After-School programs, located onsite at Frost, Hutchison and Hubenak Elemen-tary, as well as onsite at the Gingerbread Kids’ Academy and Gingerbread House, offer homework assistance, arts, crafts, games and sports.

A new year means new beginnings. The Gingerbread Family invites you to come and visit. Both locations are now accepting enrollments for the 2015-2016 school year. For more information, con-tact Tim Kaminski at 281-239-2110 or e-mail [email protected].

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We are proud Americans. We are proud of where we came from and where we are going. The preser-vation of history is a necessity for the benefit of

future generations. Thirty-six Rosenberg historians set out to gather information from a wide variety of credible sources to complete and publish Images of America, Historic Down-town Rosenberg. From conception to completion, with three years of a collaborative effort of gathering pictures, stories and facts, the City of Rosenberg has a tangible resource.

The Rosenberg Historian’s Labor

of Love:

By Joan Frances

Images of America, Historic Downtown Rosenberg

This labor of love was the brainchild of Rosenberg resident Renee Butler. During her 11 years as owner of Another Time Soda Fountain, Butler encountered countless senior citizens with engaging stories of how the city began and grew – real stories of how life was, how difficult times were and how ev-eryone survived. She heard reflections of floods, wars and the simpler moments of life, as well as stories of seasonal cel-ebrations, successful crops and good weather.

Butler’s vision was to preserve these memories through a selection of photographs and stories that could be shared by all. It did not take long for this idea to become a real-ity. The first meeting brought 20 enthusiastic historians who were anxious to represent Rosenberg’s heritage in the most creative and informative way. Two years into the research, Arcadia Publishing contacted Butler, and the details were negotiated. Every page has pictures, some from private own-ers never seen before, meticulously describing personal expe-riences from days gone by.

The first chapter of the book covers Historic Downtown Rosenberg. Beginning in 1873 and during the inception of the railroad, Rosenberg became a bustling city. When the train station was closed because transportation shifted to auto-

Jeff McClellan, Mike Mercado, Bob Vogelsang and Daniel Kelleher.


mobiles, the city began to die. A small group of insightful individuals began a revitalization project by building a rail-road museum and redirecting business back into downtown. Rosenberg began to prosper once again.

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Rudy Antrich Jr.Carolyn Vilt BanfieldNeil BanfieldLarry BarcakBarbara Roane BleilSuzanne Myers BooneRenee Barcak ButlerSandy Delaro CamposBettegene Mullins CoyleMarjorie DeShazo EngelhardtEleanor ErnestMary FlemingFrank GutowskyJennifer Whitten HartmanLeona Band HauslerBarbara Kubala JochecTim KaminskiShirley KennellyJames LaneGeneva LaneJoyce Bezecny LolleyLydia Turrichi MahlmannClyde MarekJeannette Foerster MathewsMartha Tappe RayDr. Travis ReeseBennie RichterLarry J. SchmidtSandra Crow SindelJerry SindelRae TaylorLupe Arredondo UrestiBob VogelsangMarcia VogelsangWolfram M. Von-MaszewskiJeffrey Whitten

The Rosenberg Historians

Book signings featuring the Rosenberg historians were held June 4th and 5th.

Historians Tim Kaminski with grandmother Eleanor Ernest.

Continued on page 18.


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The book is filled with pictures and history that portrays the true essence of Rosenberg’s origin and development. The photographs cleverly correlate how the buildings were utilized in the past and how they are used today. The reader travels on a horse-drawn buggy through the business district down-town, stopping at the general mercan-tile and bank. Pictures of the inside of Cumings Drug Store and Soda Foun-tain provide a glimpse of the décor and fashion of the time. Another Time Soda Fountain inhabits this building today, keeping the original concept alive. Bor-ing’s Variety Store, pictured on the cover of the book, served the city for 56 years, and now, Antiques Around the Corner is the operating business.

The second chapter focuses on the “hub of activity” and the people who contributed to the growth of Downtown Rosenberg. The Vogelsang complex was originally Gray & Son, William F. Erp and Cochran Bros. Company, which sold buggies, harnesses and wagons. This large building was home to other merchants as well.

Most of the downtown buildings re-main today and possess the ambiance and intrigue of the past. The Rosenberg historians created a book like none other. This publication is available and can be purchased at most of the down-town shops in Rosenberg for $21.99.

Lupe Arredondo Uresti and Rene Butler.

Historian Mary Fleming


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August 1st, 10 – 11:30 am Planning Your Fall Vegetable Garden Learn about recommended vegetable varieties and Fort Bend’s planting schedule from Three Sisters Farm at the George Memorial Library, located at 1001 Golfview Drive in Richmond. Learn about raised bed construction, crop rotation, organic fertilization and pest control. Call 281-342-4455.

August 8th, 6:30 pm – 8 pmThe Red, White and Blue Jean BashHosted by West Fort Bend Women’s Charity, The Red, White and Blue Jean Bash features an evening of live music, dancing and a barbeque dinner at the Swinging Door Restaurant Dance Hall, located at 3818 FM 359 in Richmond. Proceeds from the event benefit charities supporting veterans. For tickets, visit www.wfbwc.org.

August 11th – 14th Summer History WeekChildren ages eight through 12 will travel through time with the Fort Bend County Museum, located at 500 Houston Street in Richmond. Each day features a morning program from 9 am to noon and an afternoon program from 1 to 4 pm. The cost is $8 per program or $64 for the week for members of the Fort Bend County Museum Association or $10 per program and $80 per week for non-members. To register, call 281-342-6478 or e-mail [email protected].

August 23rd, 11:01 am Holy Rosary CatholicChurch’s 76th Annual Bazaar Come and enjoy a day with family, friends and neighbors at 1416 George Street in Rosenberg. A three-meat dinner of barbeque beef, chicken and sausage with potatoes, beans and trimmings will be served. The bazaar also features a live and silent auction, raffles, live music, booths and games for all ages. Call 281-342-3089 or visit www.hrccr.com.


WORKING TOGETHER FOR YOUR HEART HEALTHMETHODIST DIAGNOSTIC CARDIOLOGY OF HOUSTON

methodistsugarlanddocs.com713.776.9500

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Julia Adrogue to Methodist Diagnostic Cardiology of Houston. Dr. Adrogue is a board-certifi ed cardiologist, devoted to providing the highest quality care to her patients.

We provide patient-focused, compassionate cardiac care ranging from cholesterol management to the most complex diagnostic cardiac procedures. Our approach is designed to stop the progress of heart disease at its earliest stage, giving patients the best opportunity to lead active, healthy lives. Through our affi liation with Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, we have access to state-of-the-art technology which enables us to provide outstanding care close to home.

Easily schedule your appointment online at methodistsugarlanddocs.com or call 713.776.9500.

TWO CONVENIENT LOCATIONS:• 16651 Southwest Frwy. • Ste. 400 • Sugar Land, TX 77479• 7777 Southwest Frwy. • Ste. 420 • Houston, TX 77074

John Passmore, MD • Kesavan Shan, MD Julia Adrogue, MD • B. Keith Ellis, MD

John Passmore, MD B. Keith Ellis, MDKesavan Shan, MD Julia Adrogue, MD

GUIDE TO

Heal th Care News You Can UseMedicine

absolutely! Finest in

H ouston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine’s new 75,000

square-foot facility on the campus of Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital was designed to meet the growing or-thopedic needs of the Fort Bend com-munity. The new facility is located on the corner of Highway 59 and Sweetwater Boulevard at 16811 Southwest Freeway in Sugar Land.

The new location includes patient care space for Houston Methodist Or-thopedics & Sports Medicine’s physi-

New Houston Methodist Orthopedics &Sports Medicine Facility Is a “Home Run” for Patients

cians and surgeons, along with dedicat-ed areas for physical and occupational therapy, which include an indoor batting cage and golf net, an indoor pool with built-in treadmill for aquatic therapy and an outdoor turf training field for athletes recovering from injury.

With the new facility on the Houston Methodist Sugar Land campus, patients now have even easier access to all of the hospital’s services, including state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging. “This is an amazing facility,” said joint replacement

surgeon Carl Hicks, MD. “Our goal was to bring together all of our resources and provide the full range of services that pa-tients need in a comfortable, convenient setting. This building is a definite home run.

“From diagnosis through treatment and rehabilitation, we have everything a patient needs right here. Whether the pa-tient is a professional or amateur athlete or just someone with an injury or chronic condition, we can provide the best pos-sible medical care and treatment right here in Sugar Land.”

For more information, call 281-690-4678 or visit houstonmethodist.org/orthopedics.


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

Advertorialabsolutely! Finest in Medicine

Heal th Care News You Can Use

F ulshear 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 be-

come an important part of the Fulshear community. Following the growth of Fulshear, in March 2014, Fulshear Family Medicine also expanded to a new and larger location. The larger clinic not only accommodates more patients but has also allowed the addi-tion of more providers, including pediatrician Dr. Danny Le, DO.

Dr. Le is a native Houstonian. He attended Houston Baptist University for his un-dergraduate 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 has 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 on FM 1093 just west of 1463. For more infor-mation, call 281-346-0018 or visit www.fulshearfamilymed.com.

Fulshear Family Medicine:Where Quaint Country Charm Meets

Complete Family Care

A ccording to Wikipedia, it is estimat-ed that as many as 75 percent 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. Ev-eryone 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 chang-ing the brainwaves. 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 meditation and further relax them. The combination of these three things reduces anxiety in three minutes.

Finally, there is something natural that truly helps anxiety, and it doesn’t involve drugs or that “drugged” feel-ing 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!

See ad on page 3.

Do You HaveDental Anxiety?


Advertorial absolutely! Finest in Medicine

M illions of women suffer from ex-tremely heavy periods. Every

month, they fear that they will have an embarrassing incident, be unable to leave the house due to the need for fre-quent trips to the bathroom and possibly even miss work. These women may nev-er seek treatment, because they think it is “natural” and part of normal life.

This condition, also known as men-orrhagia, is actually a medical condition and has several treatment options. One basic treatment option is the use of birth control pills. Although most people as-sociate birth control pills only with pre-venting pregnancy, they are used for a variety of medical conditions, including heavy periods. Another option is an in-trauterine device (IUD), which can make menstrual periods extremely light. This small device can be placed during a simple office visit.

For women who are completely done with childbearing, a popular solution is endometrial ablation. This is a minimally invasive procedure that neutralizes the inner lining of the uterus. This simple procedure can be performed in the of-fice, surgery center or operating room. Recovery is quick, and most people are able to return to work within a few days.

A final treatment option for those women who are done having children is a hysterectomy, a procedure to remove the uterus. This is the only guaranteed way to completely stop menstrual peri-ods. This procedure can be performed using advanced minimally invasive tech-niques and will completely cure heavy menstrual periods.

For more information or to sched-ule an appointment, call UT Physicians Women’s Center Sugar Land at 713-486-1250 or visit UTPhysicians.com.

Suffer No MoreT he Art of Skin MedSpa is taking a new adventure in the skin and health care in-dustry with Stuart Rimes DDS, MS and Nisa Dadjoo DDS, MSD. Not only are teeth

important, but facial care is also important. The combination of these two services produces one amazing 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 variety 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 major exfoliation or serious hydration. They offer complimentary, no pressure consultations to guide patients in deciding what proce-dures will best achieve their goals.

The Art of Skin MedSpa’s mission is to offer the highest quality services by creating customized, state-of-the-art treatment plans. Owner and lead aesthetician LaDonna Marie 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 poten-tial and uncovering your true beauty.”

Stuart Rimes, DDS, MS is a prosthodontist dental practice offering 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.

Stuart Rimes, DDS, MSTeams with The Art of Skin MedSpa

for Customized Care

W hen 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

confidence!” said Dr. Eric Humble. At Sugar Land Face and Body Plastic Surgery, with its in-house American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (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 re-juvenation, breast augmentation and body contouring, all under one roof. Also under the same roof is Dr. Humble’s cutting-edge medical 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 Fractora. Patients can get the effects of three different treatments in one single procedure with the advanced fractional radiofrequency treatment Fractora. “Essentially, Fractora of-fers 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, Fractora 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 1.

Sugar Land Face and Body Plastic SurgeryOffers Revolutionary Treatments


Women’s Centerat Sugar Land

Call 713.486.1250 for appointmentswww.UTPhysicians.com

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

Brian R. Heaps, MDBoard Certified Ob/Gyn

Azeema Moosa, MDBoard Certified Ob/Gyn

Compassionate, Comprehensive Care for Women

Michelle Wong, MDBoard Certified Ob/Gyn

Restore your smile with cosmetic dentistry!

before afterbefore after

Replacing missing teeth in one day!

Achieve the Smile!UltimateUltimatePeople 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.

Crowns, Implants, CosmetIC, reConstruCtIve DentIstry BoarD CertIfIeD prosthoDontIst

Stuart rimeS, DDS, mS15958 City Walk, Ste. 230, Sugar Land, TX 77479

www.RimesDDS.com • e-mail: [email protected]

281-313-1565

We are now in network with your insurance

Dr. Stuart Rimes



17510 W Grand Parkway S.Suite 590

Sugar Land, TX 77479

UrogynecologyCenter

Caring for women with pelvic floor

disorders...

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

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

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

Conveniently located in the Medical Plaza Memorial Hermann

Sugar Land

Appointmentsand Information:

713-486-1530

Urogynecology Center

Dr. Nina H. Dereska

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

Nina H. Dereska, MD


N ina H. Dereska, MD, FPMRS is a highly skilled and board certified

urogynecologist and pelvic reconstruc-tive surgeon. Dr. Dereska’s practice includes diagnosis and management of urinary incontinence (stress inconti-nence, urge incontinence, mixed incon-tinence), overactive bladder, bladder emptying disorders and other bladder related issues. Dr. Dereska treats pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic fistulas uti-lizing multiple modalities – both surgi-cal 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 & Reproductive Sciences at The University of Texas (UT) Health Medical School. Dr. Dereska’s office is conveniently located in the Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza in Sugar Land and offers complimentary valet parking. She and her dedicated staff strive to make each patient experi-ence as stress-free as possible and look forward to ensuring that women stay healthy and active through mid-life and beyond.

UT Physicians Urogynecology Center is located at 17510 W. Grand Parkway South, Suite 590 in Sugar Land. For more information or to schedule an ap-pointment, call 713-486-1530.

Staying Healthy Through Mid-Life

and Beyond

Women Taking Heart

H eart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, ac-counting for one in three female deaths according to the American Heart Asso-

ciation – Go Red for Women. This fall, CHI St. Luke’s Health will launch the Women Heart Alliance program at its Sugar Land Hospital to help raise awareness and provide support to women who have suffered from heart disease. The Women Heart Alliance program is a national coalition of hospitals committed to advancing women’s heart health.

“We’re excited to be a part of such a strong alliance that will provide resources to help educate the local community about women’s heart disease,” said Rob Heifner,



7417 West Grand Parkway South, Ste. 140 Richmond, TX 77407

(Located next to the Santikos Palladium AVX Theatre)

281-232-8300www.houstonserenedental.com

“Where you walk in as a patient and leave as a friend!”

Military & First Responder Discounts. We thank you for your service.

• Fastbraces• Extractions • Teeth Whitening• Sports Mouth Guards• Full Smile Makeovers• Root Canal Treatment

New Patient Special

$119

(Regular Value $333)Some restrictions may apply.

INCLUDINGFull Patient Exam

Full X-Ray & Regular Cleaning

Dr. Rachel Perry

Before

Before

After

After

• Tooth-Colored Fillings• Gum Disease Treatment

and Prevention• Replacement of Missing

and Fractured Teeth • We see children of all ages

Your Home for General Dentistry

S erene Dental Aesthetics is committed to patients’ comfort. Dr. Rachel Perry has a passion for creating a comfortable environment for every single person who

walks through the door. The practice created a concept of a dental home, where a visitor walks in as a patient and leaves as a lifelong family member.

Dr. Perry completed her undergraduate degree at New Mexico State University and graduated with honors in the top 10 percent of her class. She then attended the Uni-versity of Texas (UT) Health Science Center, a Houston dental branch now known as UT Health School of Dentistry, and graduated in 2010 with a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS). Dr. Perry’s specialty is her deep compassion for her patients and her desire to teach, educate and include her patients in their dental health in a way they may not have experienced before.

Serene Dental Aesthetics is located in Richmond near the front of Santikos Palla-dium Movie Theater. It is a full-service general and family dental office that serves the Richmond, Katy, Sugar Land and Houston areas. Dr. Perry is dedicated to compre-hensive dental care, offering cleanings, sealants, fillings, crowns, bridges, root canals and extractions.

Dr. Perry also specializes in the application of Fastbraces, which were developed to straighten teeth differently by allowing for a fast, safe and more affordable solution. Fastbraces will provide a straight smile in months, not years. Contact Serene Dental Aesthetics for a free Fastbraces consultation.

For more information, call 281-232-8300 or email [email protected].

Serene Dental Aesthetics: A Dental Experience Like No Other

President, CHI St. Luke’s Health–Sugar Land Hospital.

Leading the program is Debbie Roth-schild, a cardiac arrest survivor. Roth-schild was found lying unconscious in a neighbor’s yard after experiencing cardiac arrest during her usual bike ride. Fortunately, her neighbors provided CPR and called for help. Rothschild considers herself extremely lucky, as typically, only five percent of people survive a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital and have a meaningful recovery.

By joining the Alliance, CHI St. Luke’s Health–Sugar Land Hospital will have access to education materials and pro-grams developed by the nation’s medi-cal leaders in women’s heart health, as well as access to training and techni-cal assistance required to establish and maintain a post-discharge support group for women heart patients.

For more information, contact Sharon Galloway at [email protected].

See ad on Inside Front Cover.


Be Fit | Be Healthy | Be Strong

“ I couldn’t be more enthusiastic about this program!”

- Dr. Steve Schifflett, M.D.

Try a FreeSession!

Call 281-762-0944

www.OsteoStrong.meLike us on facebook.com/OsteoStrongRichmond

1876 FM 359 | Richmond, TX

“I have multiple sclerosis. After several sessions, I have better balance and strength.”

-Vickie E.

For more information orto schedule an appointment:

Power Plate• Increase Circulation• Muscle Recruitment• Whole Body Vibration• Enhanced Metabolism

Bio Density• Strong Bones• Healthy Joints• Better Balance• Increased Bone Density


OsteoStrong Strengthand Wellness Center

N ow is the time for alternative wellness. A person’s health and quality of life are most important. OsteoStrong is a

non-pharmaceutical option for bone health and strength that offers relief from osteopenia, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, mul-tiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, joint, knee and back pain, as well as increased circulation and metabolism.

OsteoStrong’s Power Plate Acceleration Vibration Pro 5 model offers a safe and controlled level of vibration that moves in three directions: up and down, front and back and side to side. Scientists agree that just 10 minutes on the Power Plate is the most efficient whole body workout. The Power Plate in-creases circulation, muscle recruitment, enhanced metabolism, improves posture, balance, energy and flexibility.

The bioDensity device at OsteoStrong safely aids in increas-ing bone density. State-of-the-art cell sensors measure how much force is being produced and therefore tracks the muscu-lar strength increases. OsteoStrong’s one-on-one sessions are closely monitored by a certified trained technician.

OsteoStrong has shown proven results and is ideal for any-one from high-performance athletes and golfers to elderly indi-viduals. OsteoStrong is the natural solution to increasing bone density and muscle mass. The best way to learn about the practice is to visit the OsteoStrong center at 1876 FM 359 in Richmond. OsteoStrong is open Monday through Saturday by appointment only.

For more information and to set up a free session, call 281-762-0944 or visit www.osteostrong.me.

The October issue of absolutely! Brazos Magazine

will be dedicated to breast cancer awareness and breast cancer survivors.

To advertise, call 281-690-4242


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

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

Now Accepting New Patients At Both LocationsIn Sugar Land And Wharton

Salman Aly, MDPRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN

Sarfraz Aly, MDINFECTIOUS DISEASE

SPECIALIST

• Board Certified in InfectiousDiseases and Internal Medicine

• Hyperbaric & Advanced Wound Care

• Travel Medicine

For appointments call:

832-886-4994For appointments call:

832-886-4774

• Board Certified in Internal Medicine

• Experienced in Geriatric andHospital Medicine

• Botox, Dermal Fillers, Low T Syndrome

• Hyperbaric & Advanced Wound Care

Specializing in Dentistry for Childrenand 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 Dentistry

15200 SW Freeway • Sugar Land, TX 77478281.565.KIDS (5437) • www.larrycaldwelldds.com

Check us out on Facebook!

Dr. Steinbring is a 2009 graduateof Texas A&M University and

received his Doctorate ofDental Surgery degree from

the University of Texas School of Dentistry in 2013. He has

completed a two-year residency program in pediatric dentistry

at The University of Texas Schoolof Dentistry in Houston.

Come in for a visit and meet Dr. Steinbring. You may even

catch him “singing” whiletreating his patients! Dr. Larry Caldwell and Dr. Derek Steinbring

We are excited to announce the arrivalof our new Associate, Dr. Derek Steinbring!


N ew parents often ask, “When should my child first see a den-

tist?” The American Academy of Pediat-ric Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatrics both agree that children should visit a pediatric dentist by age one.

National studies have shown that pre-school-aged children are getting more cavities. More than one in four children in the United States has had at least one cavity by the age of four, and many children get cavities as early as age two. Comprehensive initial exams for children under the age of two are always compli-mentary at the office of Larry Caldwell, DDS Dentistry For Children.

At the initial one year visit, Dr. Caldwell and his staff will discuss how to care for an infant’s or toddler’s mouth; oral hab-its, including finger and thumb sucking; how to handle dental emergencies and accidents that could damage the face and teeth; bottle feeding and nursing as it relates to decay; teething and eruption of teeth and the link between diet and oral health.

Dr. Caldwell recommends the first cleaning and X-rays between the age of two and a half and three years. When preparing a child for his first visit, use fun and positive words. Dr. Caldwell and his staff have expertise in handing the special needs and circumstances of all children. A positive dental experience is accomplished through efficient team-work and a gentle patient approach. It is Dr. Caldwell’s goal to not only meet your expectations of your children’s dental experience, but surpass it.

For more information, call 281-565-KIDS (5437).

Your Child’sFirst Dental Visit


Preparing lunches were Laila Ali, Jalynn Justice, Mikayla Williams, Aubrey Mickelson, Madeleine Hope and Garrett Mickelson.

Rick Amick, Laura Lyons, Adriane Gray, Mike Rockwood, Vincent M. Morales Jr., Kay Danziger, Janice Knight, Barbara Jones, Vicki Luna and Ralph Eernisse.

The Central Fort Bend Chamber held its Breakfast in the Bend networking event at Legacy Ford. Guest speakers were Randy Wooten, Vice Chancellor of Strategic Initiatives for Texas State Technical College (TSTC), and John C. Kennedy, Director of Development for the Fort Bend County TSTC Foundation.

Michael Richard and Joe Gurecky.

Randy Wooten and Regina Morales.

Lorenzo Lerma and Eloise Lucas.

Lunches of Love friends and supporters gathered for the non-profit’s 1,000,000th Lunch Celebration at The First United Methodist Church in Rosenberg, where volunteers prepared even more lunches.

Rene Cargile and Jana Simoneaux served desserts.

IN THEHEARTB R A Z O S

OUT&ABOUT


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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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Conner Kamp, Natalie Helms and Brian Wu showed off their blueberry bounty.

Ben Wu picked some perfectly ripe blackberries at Blessington Farms.

OakBend Medical Center’s Board of Directors presented the hospital’s volunteer auxiliary a resolution stating the board’s appreciation for the unselfish service and generous spirit that the volunteers show to the hospital on a daily basis.

Mary Bounds, vice-president of the Polly Ryon Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, was presented the resolution by Barry Beard, president of the board.

281-342-21981405 Jackson Street

Richmond, Texas 77469

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

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Cosmetic & Family Dentistry

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Accepts Most INSURANCE Walk-ins Welcome

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We specialize in Antiques & Fine Gifts.New Summer Hours: Wed. - Sat. 12 - 6 pm • Sun. 1 - 6 pm

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

Boutique Wines

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

Rosenberg’s Finest Wine Room

Craft BeerNew Outdoor Patio

We offer services for individuals and families struggling with:

Brenda Slavinski Lopez, LPC

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

• Parenting Issues• Play Therapy • Child/Adolescent Behavior

Problems• Family Relationship Difficulties

2115 Avenue I, Rosenberg, TX 77471

281-498-HOPE(4673)

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& Pre-KAfter-School Programs

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

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Services by appt only.

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

Relaxing Ion Cleanse Hand & Foot BathChinese Cupping • Gift Certificates

Colon Hydrotherapy by M.D. Prescription Only (Yours Or Ours)

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Colonic - Detox - LymphaticWellness Institute

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Ornamental Iron • Wood • Chain Link

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832-945-28201100 3rd Street, Ste MRosenberg, TX 77471

We are a Full Service Salon & do monogramming too!

Owners: Nanette Johnson & Treva [email protected]

Hours: Tues. – Fri.9 am – 5 pm

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Hair and Aesthetics by Jo Ann

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O ne to three percent of the Unit-ed States’ population is affect-ed by mental disabilities. Chil-

dren who were diagnosed before age 18 with below average general intellectual function and lack of social skills war-rant special education. The history of mentally delayed children is filled with misconceptions and rejections.

For many years, families were com-pelled to incarcerate their loved ones, forcing them to live in dehumanizing environments with no positive outcome, as education was considered impossible for them. Little to no progress was made until the early part of the 20th centu-ry, when devoted parents consistently formed advocacy groups to encourage public awareness for educating children with disabilities.

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy approved federal aid to create the Presi-dent’s Panel on Mental Retardation. Despite this effort, only a small number of special education children attended public schools. Finally, in 1975, when The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) were implemented, states that accepted public funds for education had to pro-vide special education to qualifying chil-dren with disabilities. This set into mo-tion the evolution of properly teaching children with special needs.

Over the past 50 years, public educa-tion has continued to place emphasis on preparing all students to take the next

educational concepts. This is referred to as a resource setting. It is impor-tant that the special education teacher becomes an advocate for students and makes sure they are being educated in a way that allows them to become and feel successful. A good special education teacher focuses on what their students can do rather than what they can’t do.

The Social Integration Program (SIP) at Jane Long Elementary is constantly evolving to better meet the needs of the young LCISD community. Currently, SIP provides a centralized classroom setting for students with exceptionali-ties. Students enrolled in SIP require specialized teaching strategies, a sig-nificantly modified curriculum aligned with grade level TEKS and ongoing de-velopment of social skills and behavior skills. The program focuses on social in-teraction skills, behavior skills and per-sonal independence skills with the goal of an inclusive education setting at the primary level.

Jane Long Elementary hopes to con-tinue to raise the bar with its special education program. The district helps teachers with training and accessing current research and effective strate-gies that have been proven effective for special needs students. The goal is to help these students make gains in their cognitive and social growth, which will in turn help them become success-ful and more confident as they continue progressing in society.

step in society. Jane Long Elementary School in Lamar Consolidated Indepen-dent School District (LCISD) has estab-lished a successful reputation for teach-ing these students in a safe and positive environment.

When a child is identified with spe-cial needs, a committee, including par-ents, teachers and an administrator, meets at least once a year and decides how to best help the student. It is cru-cial that the student is served in the least restrictive environment. For some students, this means that they stay in the general education classroom and have tutoring to assist them with con-cepts they are struggling with. A special education teacher or aide may come into the classroom and help them. This is called inclusion, and the goal is to have each student exposed to the state Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and curriculum as much as possible.

Other students may need more in-tensive help, and they are placed into a small group setting to help them master

Jane Long Elementary School

The Lamar Consolidated ISD Special Needs Center, located across the street from Jane Long Elementary, is the meeting place for all special education programs in the school district.

A LITTLE PIECEOF HISTORYBy Joan Frances

Jane Long Elementary School:Raising the Bar for Special Education


INSIDE BACK

INSIDE BACK

BACK

BACK

LEADERSIN QUALITY

Recognized for high standards of care and dedication to quality.

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

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

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

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

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

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

august 2015 - absolutely brazos magazine

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