december 2013 - absolutely brazos magazine

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Serving Richmond, Rosenberg &

Fulshear

DECEMBER 2013

Year in Review

ChristmasIN BRAZOS

PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT NO. 600

HOUSTON, TEXAS

HAPPYBIRTHDAY!

HOLIDAY Gift Guide

+

HonorsOrin Covell

George Ranch

Exhibit

INSIDE FRONT

INSIDE FRONT

According to the American Cancer Society, the early detection of breast cancer saves

thousands of lives each year. One of the newest tools in this effort is 3-D mammography,

or tomosynthesis, which is now available at St. Luke’s Sugar Land Hospital.

3-D mammograms allow physicians to take images from

different angles, providing sharper, better quality

results and a reduction in “false positives.” The new technology is

recommended for women with dense breast tissue and allows

physicians to view images with pinpoint accuracy in order to

detect smaller tumors earlier.

See if a mammogram is the answer for you.

Call 281-637-7001 today for an appointment.

Highway 59 one block north of Highway 6 at Lake Pointe Parkway | 1317 Lake Pointe Parkway, Sugar Land, TX 77478

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www.absolutelybrazos.com l DECEMBER 2013 3

J. Georges Youssef, M.D.

Board certified in Pulmonary Diseases, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine

Dr. Youssef has admitting privileges at Memorial Hermann, The Methodist Hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital and Kindred Hospital.

Dr. Youssef completed Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine from The Stony Brook University Hospital in New York and Pulmonary Transplant Fellowship at The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pennsylvania. He relocated in the Houston-Sugar Land area after 10 years of private practice in Arizona.

Dr. Youssef has strong roots in the community and is looking forward to serving all of your Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine needs.

J. Georges Youssef, M.D.

Call 713-781-4600 for an AppointmentMost insurances are accepted.

Same day appointments are available.

Two locations to serve you!

Second Location:7777 Southwest Fwy, Suite 860Houston, Texas 77074

Main Location:1429 Hwy. 6 SouthSugar Land, Texas 77478

• Evaluation and treatment fordifferent lung diseases such asDyspnea, COPD/ Emphysema, Asthma, Pulmonary hypertension, Pulmonary fibrosis, Chronic Cough, Pleural effusion and Lung Transplantation

• Pre-operative evaluation

• Disability evaluation

• Occupational health evaluation

• Minimally Invasive Procedures including Ultrasound Guided Bronchoscopy and Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy to Diag-nose Lung Cancer

• Bronchial Thermoplasty designed to reduce asthma attack frequency and severity

• Sleep Evaluation for sleep apnea, Insomnia, fatigue and other sleep disorders

• In-house Labs, Radiology & Sleep Lab Testing

PULMONOLOGY

CRITICALCARE

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PULMONOLOGY

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DECEMBER 2013 l TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.absolutelybrazos.com4

C O V E R S T O R Y

D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3

RICHMOND AND ROSENBERG RING IN THE HOLIDAYSThis holiday season, gather up your families and spend one special day at two great events in the heart of Brazos – Christmas in Rosenberg and Miracle on Morton Street.

10

F E AT U R E S

16 HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAYabsolutely! BRAZOSabsolutely! Brazos Magazine celebrates a fun-filled, busy first year of highlighting the people, places and happenings in West Fort Bend.

18 HOLIDAY SURVIVAL GUIDEFOR FAMILIES WITH AUTISMHope for Three offers tips on surviving the holidays for families with children on theautism spectrum.

20 FORT BEND FOCUS ANDabsolutely! BRAZOS MAGAZINESHONOR THE GEMS OF FORT BENDReview highlights of this year’s premier event featuring dinner, live entertainment and a “chips for charity” casino benefiting AccessHealth.

31 FOCUS ON WORSHIPDiscover nearby churches for your familyto celebrate this special season.

34 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDEFind fabulous gifts for loved onesfrom local retailers.

42 AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIESFind the best and brightest in after school activities in Brazos.

Rosenberg’s 2012 Miss Merry Christmas winnersGabby Mock, Saige Sowa and Ellen Fairfield withRichmond Mayor Evalyn Moore.Photography by Nesossi Studios.

HEADACHE TREATMENTS ASUNIQUE AS EACH PATIENT. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEENPRACTICING MEDICINE AND LEADING IT.

The Headache Center at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is committed to providing advanced, personalized care to help chronic headache patients get back to a life without pain. Receive expedited access to our world-class team of headache specialists. They will provide coordinated and comprehensive care starting with an accurate diagnosis and a unique treatment plan to help alleviate and prevent chronic headaches.

Schedule an appointment and stop enduring pain. 281.276.8999 [email protected]

16655 Southwest FreewaySugar Land, Texas 77479

houstonmethodist.org/sugarland


CONTRIBUTORS

16

Patti Parish-Kaminskiabsolutely! focus mediaPage 16

28

Stephenie Coxabsolutely! focus mediaPage 28

10

Lauren Dante BenoitContributorPage 10

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

28 A CHRISTMAS COOKIE SWAP

N E W S W O RT H Y

29 GET INTO THEHOLIDAY SPIRITWith the Fort Bend Boys Choiron December 7th

36 TRAILSIDE EXHIBIT OPENS

In Memory of George Foundation’s Orin Covell

40 THOUSANDS ATTENDED

TEXIAN MARKET DAYS 30th Anniversary

46 RICHMOND RETAILERS

Aim to Reduce YouthAccess to Alcohol

47 CHILD ADVOCATES

OF FORT BEND Board Member Kurt Kirchof Honored by Texas CASA

48 READING RECOVERY

Helps Lamar CISD First-Graders Bridge the Reading Gap

H O M E

32 HOLIDAY FESTIVITIESTrue To The Heart

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

38 2013 ACURA RDX

C O L U M N S

60 A LITTLE PIECE OF HISTORYA Candlelight Christmasat the Moore Home

I N E V E RY I S S U E

8 EDITOR’S POINT OF VIEW

14 COMMUNITY EVENTSFun events the whole familywill enjoy

22 SEEN ON THE SCENEPhotos from community events

50 OUT & ABOUT IN THEHEART OF BRAZOSA few snapshots of people,places and happenings

58 COMMUNITY MARKETPLACE

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 3 | V O L U M E 2 | N U M B E R 1

ON THE COVER:Happy Birthday

absolutely! Brazos

38

Steve KursarAuto EnthusiastPage 38

60

Joan FrancesContributorPage 60

32

Caron LopezGrand Windows& InteriorsPage 32


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

4655 TECHNIPLEX DR. STE. 700STAFFORD, TX 77477

281-690-4242

WWW.ABSOLUTELYBRAZOS.COM

Vol. 2 No. 1 | December 2013

absolutely!TM Magazines are published by absolutely! focus me-dia, 4655 Techniplex Dr., Ste. 700, Stafford, TX 77477. Copyright © 2013 by absolutely! focus media. All rights reserved. Repro-duction without permission is strictly prohibited. absolutely!TM Magazines does not knowingly accept false or misleading ad-vertising or editorial, nor do the publishers assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. absolutely!TM Maga-zines 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.

E X E C U T I V E P U B L I S H E R SMichael & Lisa Fredrickson

E D I T O R- I N - C H I E FPatti Parish-Kaminski

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 S Stephenie Cox

Susan DannhausJennifer Elliott

Kay GarrettAndrea Rigamonti

Bonnie Bell Woodrow

A RT D I R E C T O RGrace Belleza

G R A P H I C D E S I G N E RGinger Garza

C O M M U N I C AT I O N S C O O R D I NAT O R

Sarah Bearden

C O N T R I BU T O R SLauren Dante Benoit

Stephenie Cox Joan Frances Steve Kursar Caron Lopez

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

W E B D E S I G N E R Joey Belleza

I N T E R N Vinicius Soares

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

I’m not sure whether to say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Birthday!” December marks a huge milestone for us at absolutely! Brazos as it is the month that we officially turn one-year-old! This year has been a whirlwind for us, and we have enjoyed every minute of it launching a magazine devoted to West Fort Bend. As we look back over the past year, it’s amazing to me how much we have learned – and been able to share – with our readers about our community. Take a look at our year in review on page 16. It’s a walk down memory lane of an amazing first year – a year we have you – our readers, advertisers and supporters – to thank for. Celebrating “one” is truly a Christmas blessing.

Of course, ‘tis the season, and the season is big in Brazos. Two great events to celebrate the season are Christmas in Rosenberg and Miracle on Morton Street, both on Saturday, December 7th. Christmas in Rosenberg features a Miss Merry Christmas pageant, and the three reigning queens from 2012 were kind enough to take a photo with Richmond Mayor Evalyn Moore to help us promote these two family-friendly holiday events. These young ladies represent Rosenberg well, and they are absolutely adorable! Read all about what these festive events have to offer on page 10, and plan on bringing your family for a day full of fun and holiday cheer. We will see you there!

Speaking of family fun, absolutely! Brazos is proud to serve as a sponsor of three special screenings of The Polar Express at Imperial Arts in Historic Downtown Rosenberg on December 21st. We’ll have popcorn, hot cocoa, “golden tickets” and special gifts for the kids. It’s a perfect way to celebrate the season. Be sure to check out our Facebook page during the month of December for ticket giveaways.

From our family to yours, we wish you the best the season has to offer – peace, prosperity and love. Enjoy your time with family and friends, and we look forward to spending 2014 with you and yours. Christmas blessings.

Absolutely! yours,

[email protected]

Editor-in-Chief, PATTI PARISH-KAMINSKI

READER FEEDBACK

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

Patti and Tim Kaminski supporting our community as Honorary Host Committee Members for Bubbles &A Bauble at Churrascos benefitting Casa de Esperanza de los Ninos.

Dear Lisa, Michael and Patti, I cannot thank you enough for your support of

AccessHealth. Being selected as the beneficiary of the GEMS event is such an honor! The opportunity to get our story out is priceless and to be present to honor these three awesome men was exciting.

The event exceeded my expectations in the number of people who attended and those who wanted to attend. Thank you for giving us our wings to gain recognition in the community and the momentum to do great things.

We appreciate our partnership with absolutely!focus media.

Best regards, Carol EdwardsChief Executive Officer, AccessHealth

Patti,I feel so honored

and privileged to have been selected as a 2013 GEM. You made the experience so special, and I am especially grateful for the article you wrote. May God bless you.

Carl Favre

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‘Tis the season to spend time with

family and friends and make special memories to last throughout the year. The cities of Richmond and Rosenberg are helping make the holidays special with two spectacular Christmas events featuring fun for the entire family. So, gather up your families and spend one special day at two great events in the heart of Brazos. Ho, ho, ho!


Richmond Mayor Evalyn Moore with Rosenberg’s2012 Petite, Junior and Little Miss Merry Christmas title winners Saige Sowa, Ellen Fairfield and Gabby Mockat D & S Antiques in Historic Downtown Rosenberg.Photo By Nesossi Studios.

COVER STORYBy Lauren Dante Benoit

Richmond and RosenbergRing in the Holidays

Richmond and RosenbergRing in the Holidays

S anta Claus is coming to Rosenberg! Join the City of Rosenberg for their annual Christmas in Rosenberg

event from noon to 8 pm on Saturday, December 7th when Historic Down-town Rosenberg will be transformed into a winter wonderland complete with Santa and Mrs. Claus for this family-friendly event.

Delight in the sights and sounds of the season by exploring everything that downtown Rosenberg has to of-fer. Known as Fort Bend County’s first cultural district, Historic Downtown Rosenberg is home to many merchants

including antique stores, eateries and attractions, in addition to visual and performing arts galleries and venues. All will open their doors to celebrate the season and welcome Christmas shoppers and spectators.

Downtown Rosenberg merchants offer antiques, handmade collectibles, furniture and gifts. From the world famous Bob’s Tacos to Another Time Soda Fountain, the district also has an eclectic mix of food that will sat-isfy everyone’s taste buds. For those interested in the arts, Imperial Arts’ Center for the Arts is located in the district along with Xtreme Danz and the CAST Theatre. A focal point of the district is the Rosenberg Railroad Museum, which highlights Fort Bend’s rich railroad history.

Special additions to the holiday event include a children’s carnival hosted by the Rosenberg Railroad Museum and trackless train rides. In addition to the downtown merchants, the streets will be lined with approxi-mately 60 gift, craft and food vendors offering unique and original items. Throughout the day, various local community, school and church groups will provide holiday entertainment. The live dance and musical entertain-ment will once again include the Miss Merry Christmas pageant, sponsored by Southern Sister Designs. As a high-light of the entire occasion, Santa and

Mrs. Claus will be present for visits and photos.

“I invite everyone to come experi-ence Historic Downtown Rosenberg in all its glory this holiday season at our annual Christmas in Rosenberg event to explore the arts, our wonder-ful downtown businesses and eateries, and shop amongst the gift and craft vendors for the perfect presents,” said Vincent M. Morales, Jr., Mayor, City of Rosenberg. “Let the kids enjoy the carnival and Rosenberg Railroad Mu-seum, and be sure to save time for a family picture with Santa and Mrs. Claus. If you’ve been waiting for the perfect excuse to check out downtown Rosenberg, this is it!”

The city of Rosenberg is expecting 3,000 to 4,000 attendees for this jolly event. Sponsorship opportunities are available for this signature event and are a great way for local businesses to introduce their company or business to event-goers.

The Christmas in Rosenberg event is free and open to the public, so un-hitch your one horse open sleigh, and bring your family and friends to His-toric Downtown Rosenberg to celebrate the joy and merriment of the holiday season.

Christmas inRosenberg

The Cole Theater marquee in Historic Downtown Rosenberg.


Santa Claus, a.k.a. Don Frewin, at Christmas in Rosenberg.

Miracle onMorton Street

J ingle all the way to Richmond to celebrate the City’s exciting and beautiful Christmas soi-ree, Miracle on Morton Street.

The Historic Richmond Association is proud to present this annual event to honor military men and women on Sat-urday, December 7th from 10 am to 7 pm in downtown Richmond. This event exemplifies old-fashioned, small town Christmas celebrations and will be an educational, fun and memorable expe-rience for the entire family.

The city of Richmond has quite a rich history, and narrated wagon rides highlighting the historic Richmond district will delight event attendees as they witness the sights and sounds of the season. Visits to the gallery of the Fort Bend Museum will be complimen-tary, and tickets will be available for the Moore Home Candlelight Tour. “I remember Hilmar's happiness at see-ing the Moore Home so beautifully decorated year after year because he remembered how his mother would decorate their Christmas tree, and see-ing the home during the Candlelight Tour would bring back many memo-ries,” said Evalyn Moore, Mayor, City of Richmond. “The theme of the Candle-light Tour this year is Life in the Moore Home, and each room will highlight dif-

ferent stories and vignettes of the gen-erations of Moores who have lived in the home.” The Museum docents work year round to make hand-made decora-tions for this tour, and their hard work brings much joy to the community dur-ing this special season.

In addition to the historic elements of the event, the downtown district will have many children’s activities such as the “Kid Zone” with moonwalks, crafts and face painting and Ronald McDon-ald’s Magic Show. Children can visit Santa’s Post Office, staffed with elves, to write the letters to Santa and also see the jolly old man himself. Santa’s entrance into Richmond will be one to remember as he rappels down the Rich-mond Water Tower.

Children’s choirs and church choirs will fill the night air with Christmas favorites as Dickens’ street perform-ers amuse the shoppers and spectators.

Local businesses in the district will be open for shopping, and street vendors will be offering a variety of handmade crafts and gifts in addition to delicious food options.

“I enjoy this event because it brings Richmond together as a community,” said Mayor Moore. “We get to see old friends, visit and share the beginning of the holiday season. I commend the Historic Richmond Association for or-ganizing this event every year.”

Sponsorships of the event are avail-able and range from $100 to $5,000. The sponsorships assist in the costs as-sociated with the event and allow the association to offer this event free of charge to the community.

Venture to downtown Richmond this holiday season, and experience all that this quaint and historic area of Fort Bend County has to offer to the community.

In 2009, the Moore House got their Christmas wish: snow for the holidays.

The Moore Home Candlelight Tour.


1327 Lake Pointe Parkway, Suite 500 | Sugar Land, Tx 77478

For an appointment call: 281.637.7690� www.sugarlandprimarycare.com

St. Luke’sSugar Land Doctor Group

welcomes...

Hari K. Susarla, M.D.Internal Medicine/Pediatrics

As a doctor with dual board certifications in Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, Dr. Susarla enjoys building relationships with families and patients of all ages. His interests include general wellness as well as management of a large variety of chronic conditions including high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, allergies, and asthma. He also provides hospital services for his private patients at St. Luke’s Sugar Land and other area hospitals, where he is well-regarded in the medical community.

Dr. Susarla’s treatment style, like that of the traditional family doctor, emphasizes continuity of care at all stages of life.


December 13th, 14th, 20th and 21stCampfire ChristmasGo back in time and visit Christmas Eves from the 1830s to the 1930s at George Ranch Historical Park, located at 10215 FM 762 in Richmond. Start with an old-fashioned barn dance and a rustic 1930s holiday meal followed by an 1891 Victorian Christmas with all the trimmings. Then, stop at an 1875 cattle drive for the Centennial Exposition. The night will end at Christmas Eve 1844 as the Republic of Texas prepares for Statehood. Reservations are required. For tickets, call 281-343-0218 or e-mail [email protected].

December 14th, 8:30 – 11 amFamily Breakfast with Santaat the Brazos River Bottom ForestJoin Santa and his elves for breakfast at Stephen F. Austin State Park, located at Park Road 38 in San Felipe. Pancakes and sausage, fruit, juice and coffee will be provided by The Friends of Stephen F. Austin State Park. Kids can share their wish list with Santa and enjoy a holiday nature walk. Admission is $5 for adults and kids ages 10 and up and $4 for kids 9 and under. For reservations, contact [email protected] or visit www.friendsofsfasp.org.

December 16th, 6:30 pmExplore Winter Festivals of the WorldTreat the kids to a holiday program filled with puppets, storytelling and audience participation. Julian Franklin will present “Arctic Express: A Magical Train Tour of Winter Festivals of the World” at Bob Lutts Fulshear/Simonton Branch Library, located at 8100 FM 359 South in Fulshear.Call 281-633-4675.

December 21st, 11 am, 2 pm and 5 pm Imperial Arts Presents The Polar ExpressCelebrate the season with this “new” classic holiday film perfect for the entire family. Enjoy seasonal favorites – popcorn and hot cocoa – during the show. Kids are encouraged to wear their favorite pajamas and will be given a “golden ticket” and special gift. Tickets are $6 for adults and $5 for children, students, seniors and military. Seating is limited. Sponsored by absolutely! focus media and Gingerbread Kids Academy. For tickets, visit www.theimperial.org.

December 28th, 9 am – 2 pmNew Year’s Celebration and Historic LunchExplore the traditions of the New Year at George Ranch Historical Park, located at 10215 FM 762 in Richmond, with fun, hands-on activities. End your historical holiday adventure at the George Yard with a New Year’s lunch at 12:30 pm. Learn about the unique food traditions that accompany this day while enjoying a scrumptious buffet. Cost for lunch is $13.50 for ages 13 and over, $10 for ages 5 to 12 and $4 for children 4 and under. Reservations are required. Call 281-343-0218 or e-mail [email protected].

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

December 4th,6:30 – 8 pmGazebo LightingHelp officially kick off Rosenberg’s holiday season with the annual Gazebo Lighting at City Hall, located at 2110 Fourth Street. The festivities will include holiday treats, art and craft activities and carolling. Honored guests Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive on a fire truck and stay for pictures. Call 832-595-3520 or [email protected].

December 7th, 9 – 11 amSaturday with the Master GardenersJoin the Fort Bend County Master Gardeners in their four acres of demonstration gardens and attend an informal garden talk on Edible Landscapes at 10 am in the E Garden. Park in front of the Agriculture Center, located at 1402 Band Road in Rosenberg, and take one of the sidewalks back to the area behind the building. Call 281-341-7068 or e-mail [email protected].

December 7th, 3 – 7 pmA Simple ChristmasJoin old-fashioned family fun at Brazos Bend State Park, located at 21901 FM 762 in Needville for children’s story time and crafts, s’mores, hayrides, Dutch-oven cooking demonstrations, Victorian Era gamesand a sing-a-long with the Brazos River Pickers. Bring a picnic supperto enjoy under the Christmas lights. Call 979-553-5101 or visitwww.brazosbend.org.

December 8th,3 – 5 pmClara’s Nutcracker TeaThe BalletForte Guild invites you to the 8th Annual Clara’s Nutcracker Tea at Safari Texas, located at FM 1464 in Richmond. Meet Clara and her special guests from the cast of BalletForte’s The Nutcracker. Enjoy delectable treats from theKingdom of Sweets, along with photo and autograph opportunitieswith Clara and her special friends. For tickets, visitwww.balletforte.org or call 281-799-7554.

The City of Rosenberg rings in the holidays each year with a Gazebo Lighting.

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H appy Birthday to . . . us! At absolutely! focus media, we can hardly believe it’s been a year since we launched absolutely! Brazos to highlight

the people, places and happenings in West Fort Bend! And, what a fun-filled, busy year it has been! We’ve met so many of our friends and neighbors in Richmond, Rosenberg and Fulshear, visited with them both at events and at their businesses. West Fort Bend truly is a thriving, growing community, and at absolutely! Brazos, we are absolutely thrilled to be a part of this area rich in history, commerce and heritage.

Thank you, Brazos, for allowing us to come into your community, into your businesses and into your homes each month with community news devoted to you. We are ab-solutely loving Brazos, and we look forward to celebrating many more milestones!

Our DebutIn December 2012, we launched

absolutely! Brazos with a holiday issue that focused on the economic development of Historic Downtown Rosenberg. Rosenberg Mayor Vincent M. Morales, Jr. was kind enough to grace our cover, along with Imperial Arts’ Robyn Miller and Edward Crowell, which was shot in the historic Cole Theatre. We met the Rosenberg Cultural Affairs Council and learned about how this group was leading the charge to bring both art and a boon in the economy to the streets of downtown Rosenberg.

January 2013Our next issue showcased how Time Stands Still in

Rosenberg, a community devoted to keeping its history alive for generations to come. We were Out & About in the Heart of Brazos showcasing everything from Halloween

events to L.E.A.F. grant presentations. And, of course, we were at the Cirque Du Chambre Cel-ebration Ball.

February 2013In February, we were proud to

feature Richmond’s new Mayor. While the mayor’s name didn’t change too much, Mayor Evalyn Wendt Moore proudly stepped up to continue the legacy of Moore leadership in Richmond by completing her late husband, Mayor Hilmar Moore’s, unexpired term. When we interviewed the new Mayor Moore and asked

about her philosophy of service, she naturally quoted her husband. “Hilmar felt to whom much is given, much is expected, and he lived that. In his honor, I will continue to live that philosophy as well.”

March 2013Let’s rodeo! This was the

theme of our next issue that fea-tured Richmond’s Rosanna Pace Miss Rodeo Texas 2012. From Fort Bend County Fair Queen to a national title, Pace brought home the crown and made Fort Bend proud promoting the sport of rodeo and her love of Western heritage.

April 2013As part of our

commitment to com-munity, absolutely! Brazos shined the spotlight on autism during Autism Awareness Month. We met Abrahim Shabib and his amazing family from

Richmond. Abrahim attends Texana Children’s Center for Autism in Rosenberg, and the specialized education he is receiving there is changing both his life and the life of his family. Abrahim made us laugh, made us think and truly, stole our hearts.

Happy 1stBy Patti Parish-Kaminski


May 2013In May, we learned it’s always

time to rodeo in Brazos, especially when there are really cute cow-boys involved! Cowboy Danny Quinlan rode into town to host the US Navy SEAL Danny Dietz Memorial Team Roping Weekend at the Fort Bend County Fair-grounds honoring fallen Navy SEALs. The Memorial’s mission

provides help and assistance to the families of SEALs who have lost loved ones in combat or training. Rodeo stars from throughout the United States saddled up to support the event – all in the heart of Brazos.

June 2013The George Ranch’s

new Heritage Trail was the cover story for our June issue. This new-est edition to the George Ranch celebrated Fort Bend’s heritage with an immersive, half-mile exhibit along the banks of the Dry Creek expanding both the focus and opportuni-ties at the famous Fort Bend ranch. We hiked along and learned about the correlation between the environment and the history of the Texas frontier to share with our readers.

July 2013Our July issue was an eye open-

er. We learned how much children in the Rosenberg-Richmond area are not in love with the carefree days of summer. Why? Because, without a school lunch program, they go hungry. Fortunately, Fort Bend has Lunches of Love to fill the gaps. This extraordinary program feeds approximately 2,500 children every day dur-

ing extended school holidays, including summer vacation, spring break and Christmas break, and approximately 600 chronically hungry children on the weekends. We loved Lunches of Love, and we loved sharing their story.

August 2013Our August issue highlighted

the importance of women and caring for the women in our lives. We met four doctors from Memo-rial Hermann Sugar Land who specialize in doing just that. And, we met an amazing author from Fulshear – Leilani Essary Hurles – who shared her story of over-coming ovarian cancer and life’s adversities.

September 2013It was back to school with our September issue featuring

Lamar CISD’s amazing program to help kids get outfitted for the new year: Common Threads. We visited Common Threads’ “store,” met their director and learned first-hand how this unique program is a lifeline for Lamar CISD families. Way to go Jill Dubin and team, who are all volunteers! You are helping make a huge difference in the lives of so many.

October 2013In October, we introduced the GEMS of Fort Bend:

three Generous, Enthusiastic Men Serving our community. Joe M. Gurecky, Carl P. Favre and S. Scott West graced our cover and served as our debut GEMS to benefit a vital

organization in our community: AccessHealth. They shared their personal stories and philosophy of community service, and we must say, we loved our GEMS! absolutely! Brazos and Fort Bend Focus hosted our debut event honoring the GEMS in the heart of Historic Downtown Rosenberg at Imperial Arts, and it was an amazing evening, all for a great cause.

November 2013Thanksgiving traditions was

the theme of our November issue, and we highlighted three Brazos chefs, their favorite recipes and their favorite family traditions. Chefs Robert “Bobby” Turner of BR Vino, Daniel Ornelas of Ol’ Railroad Café and Steven Onstad of Swinging Door shared recipes for their take on the Thanksgiv-ing Feast, and of course, we were Seen on the Scene all over town. What a great way to kick off the holidays!

Birthday


H ope for Three, a Fort Bend-based nonprofit whose mission is to raise community awareness and

provide assistance to families with children on the autism spectrum, offers tips for sur-viving the holidays. Autism spectrum dis-order (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development, characterized by impaired communication, repetitive be-haviors, and hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli, among other things.

While most studies estimate the prev-alence at 1 in 88 school-aged children, including 1 in 54 boys, parent surveys show the number may be as high as 1 in 50 children, so the chances are that you know – and will celebrate the holidays with – someone affected by ASD.

“Even under the best of circumstances, holidays end up being nearly equal parts celebration and stress for everyone,” said Darla Farmer, founder of Hope for Three. “But for autistic kids and their families, the holidays can be downright nightmarish. Loud and crowded gatherings, unfamiliar foods, having company and house guests, even just departure from familiar routines can send kids reeling. But a little advance planning can go a long way toward mak-ing the holidays merry and bright.”

Tips to MinimizeMeltdowns

• Plan, plan, plan and plan some more. Map out the events, experiences and expectations that will comprise your family’s holidays. Think through the worst-case scenario for each situation, then make a plan to deal with it. Arm yourself with whatever soothes your child – favor-ite toys, books, snacks, electronics – and build in extra time to deal with meltdowns and mishaps.

• Let go of your plan. Yes, that’s right. Prepare for every eventuality you can imagine, and then just trust that every-thing will work out. There’s only so much

you can control, so do your best, and hold onto your sense of humor.

• The internet is full of resources that can help you help your child cope. Check out websites like http://www.autismsocialsto-ries.com/christmas/. Social stories are a great way to prepare kids for novel expe-riences in a way that creates real understanding and mini-mizes anxiety.

• Know your kiddo. The behavior strategies that work well the rest of the year can and should be easily in-corporated into holiday preparations. This isn’t the time to try anything new or to abandon the tried-and-true.

• Lower your expectations. You and your family will make it to New Year’s. But sometimes keeping it together is the best you can do. Close out of Pinterest, put down the Martha Stewart cookbook and make friends with minimalism.

Fort Bend Families Share What

Works for ThemAll of the families Hope for Three

works with have learned the hard-won knowledge that communication is the key to success for gatherings with extended family. “We don’t want holidays to be awkward for family members who aren’t used to dealing with meltdowns, but we also want it to be a happy time for Mitch-ell,” said Lindsay Spradlin of Sugar Land, whose 5-year-old, Mitchell, is on the au-tism spectrum. “We do as much advance preparation as possible. We try to choose music and food that we know he’ll enjoy, we let him help with holiday decorations, we set his expectations for who will be coming to celebrate with us and we try to make sure he has some quiet time or a nap before the festivities get under

way.” Spradlin said that, since even the best-laid plans sometimes go awry, she and her husband let their extended fam-ily and guests know the situation when they arrive. “If we’ve been too busy and Mitchell hasn’t gotten time to nap, we’ll give everyone a heads-up that he might be overtired and that they shouldn’t be concerned if he gets emotional.” Spradlin also knows when to say when. “If I can tell he’s just had too much, we’ll let him find a quiet spot to look at books or play on the iPad until he feels ready to rejoin the celebration.”

“For Aaron, waiting is the hardest part,” says Jennifer Santiago, whose 9-year-old has Asperger syndrome. “He’s okay with the noise and the changes in routine and all of that, but he knows Christmas is coming, and he just can’t manage his anticipation. Visual countdowns work well, and give him a fun way to mark time, so we’ll do a chain of paper loops with one to tear off each night or an Advent calendar with a small treat for each day. Incremental rewards and a tangible representation of how much time remains help him deal with anxiety and impatience in a more manage-able way.”

For more information on Hope for Three and autism, visit www.hopeforthree.org.

Holiday Survival Guidefor Families with Autism

Lindsey Spradlin and her son, Mitchell, who is on the Autism Spectrum.


by appointment only 713-623-0866

JOYCE LONG’SColonic - Detox - Lymphatic - Massage Institute

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Remember the day you said “I do” like

it was yesterday.

Real Weddings

If you or your children have recently married and you would like to enter for a chance to be featured in our Real Weddings, all you need is at least ten high-resolution photos of the ceremony and/or reception. It doesn’t matter where the wedding 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 – all absolutely free!

Visitwww.absolutelybrazos.com

14015 Southwest Freeway at Sugar Creek

281-242-2900www.jloggins.com

HOLIDAY HOURS:Mon - Sat: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

For t Bend ’ s Cus tom J ewe l e r

Many Styles & Sizes

Watch & Jewelry

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Ready, set, glow for the holidays!December Shows:

12/12 - Lagos12/18 - John Hardy

12/5 - Mazza Color Stone Collection12/6 - Opal Show


&

Honor the

Generous, EnthusiasticMen Serving

Carl P. Favre Joe M. Gurecky S. Scott West

CASINO DINNERLIVE ENTERTAINMENTThursday, October 24, 2013 Imperial Center for the Arts


Photos By Zoe Bourdon


People seeking cosmetic or reconstructive dental work should do research before making a decision in order to ensure proper care. As ADA recognized specialists, Prosthodontists are qualified to offer services in state-of-the-art procedures and techniques, such as: cosmetic

dentistry, dental implants, complete and partial dentures, replacing lost or loose teeth, jaw joint problems (TMJ), traumatic injuries, snoring and sleep disorders and oral cancer reconstruction.

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Implant Dentures in one day!Dr. Brett McRayDr. Stuart Rimes

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Stuart rimeS, DDS, mSCrowns, Implants, CosmetIC, reConstruCtIve DentIstry

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

Dr. Stuart Rimes welcomes Dr. Brett McRay to the practice.

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Cowboy Up Benefitting Parks Youth Ranch

Barrett & Nicole Kirk

Brezina & Luke Ami

Russell & Nancy Smith

Kelly Hogan & Becca Landry Taylor & Bradie Bradshaw

Shannon Bloch, Stephanie Martin & Kavita Self

Regina & Kevin Jones Connie & Rene LaPotairePaula & Phillip LaGrappe with Donna Jones

Johnny & Sharon Dimicelly


October 12, 2013 • George Ranch Historical Park

Betty & Bob Demara

Lisa & Denver Reese

Kevin & Diane Minor

Mary Collier, Allen Kyamb & Twana McGrath Brenda & Danny Burand

Talha Hogan & Tracy Pipes

Joe Chirco & I.V. Gonzalez

Shane Bowen with Nancy & Joe Mache

Lisa Murphy, Kolbe Curtice & John Murphy


26633 SW Freeway, in Rosenberg 866.608.2703 fortbendkia.com 2014 Soul, Model #B1511. Price shown reflects all available discounts such as Competitive Discount, Owner Loyalty, College Graduate and Kia Cash.

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Patchwork of Life . . . Putting the Pieces Together benefiting

Vivian Douglas, Monica Mondrik, Eileen Akerson & Janie TrevinoGary Pearson & Bob Hebert

Carolyn Banfield, Carole Brown, Ann Council, Donna Kay Tucker & Billie Wendt

Joe Gurecky & Chris Morales

Eloise Lucas & Sheena Navarro


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1327 Lake Pointe Pkwy, Suite 300Sugar Land, TX 77478

OakBend Medical Center’s ACE Unit • October 17, 2013 • Safari Texas

Carole & Bob Brown with Pat HebertJoe Freudenberger

Joseph Anzaldua

Roberta Terrell

Himesh Gandhi, Mandi Bronsell, Tracey Satterwhite & Dana Benoit

Evalyn Moore & Donna Kay Tucker

Lucia & Larry Street

Ron McCann & Vincent M. Morales, Jr.


Don’t miss

Christmas in Rosenberg

December7th!

281.232.7737 www.southernsisterdesigns.com

817 Third Street • Historic Downtown Rosenberg

Women’s Apparel, Jewelry & Accessories

L.A. Idol • Silver Denim Consuela • Lollia

Circle E Candles • Cowgirl JusticeBig Buddha • Corral Boots

Lane Boots • Liberty Black Boots Miss Me Jeans • Vera BradleyInfant & Children’s Apparel

Home Décor & GiftsMonogramming Available

Open Tues - Sat 10:00am - 5:00pm & Sun 1:00pm - 5:00pm

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4th Annual Break Out Party Benefiting the HMNS at Sugar Land

Terri Schoeneman & Teresa Barker Roy & Beth Clark

Beth & Phillip Butler

Ray Aguilar, Amy Mitchell & Jim KijChip & Cindy Sutton

Nell Clingman & Kristina Thompson

Farrah & Himesh Gandhi

Laura & Jim McGregor

Paul & Keri Schmidt


Ideal Carpet & Flooring1116 Highway 90 A East • Richmond, TX 77406

281-762-9999Financing Available

The Floors You Need, The Styles You Want, The Prices You Love!

www.idealcarpetandflooring.com

As home owners for over 15 years, we have had our share flooring changes from DIY to hired handyman to big warehouse jobs. On our most recent flooring job, we choose Ideal Carpet and Flooring based on affordability. From the time we walked in the door to pick products until the time the floor was finished. We received top notch service, and Arnold and Vangie have great knowledge of flooring options to best suit our home. The installers are professional and highly skilled. We couldn’t be happier with our decision to have Ideal Carpet and Flooring do this job. We will definitely be back in the future and highly recommend them for your next flooring job!

– The Tremblay Family

“

”

November 1, 2013 • Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land

Brian Dodson & Adrienne Barker

Chris & Lilly Breaux

Chris & Cindy Dempster Mitzi & Billy Euell

Pat Hebert, Gay Thompson & Mary Favre

Sharon & Alan Bauer Nancy & Pete Olson

Cee Cee & David Parker

Jody & John Duffey

A Christmas Cookie Swap

If you are unfamiliar with the idea of a cookie swap, it goes a little like this: Invite a group of friends and neighbors who bake to come to your home. Have each one bring 10 to 12 dozen home-made cookies. Bake up a big batch of your family’s favorite holiday treats, and exchange baked goods together in a cheery, festive environment. Everyone leaves with a variety of goodies to stash away for Christmas entertaining – and perhaps a new recipe or two.

Mark the beginning of the holiday season by bringing your friends together for cocktails, conversation and a cookie swap. Hosting the party is a great way to slow down, spend valuable time with friends and enjoy the blessing of friend-ship.

M y favorite part of Christmas is the food. December is full of baking, cooking, party

planning, shopping, decorating and fun crafts, which all revolve around food. My favorite gift to give is home-baked goods, made with love, care and a de-lightful heart right from my kitchen. It seems with each passing year, it is harder to find the time to bake all of the delights I would like. In fact, if you received a gift from me last year, it was a jar of muffin mix, prepared in my kitchen, but jarred and unbaked.

I love getting in the kitchen and baking; it’s a family tradition with my girls that I look forward to each year. Their favorites are the gingerbread cookies that they decorate. They also appreciate all the “fancy” cookies that come out of the oven as well. With fam-ily schedules running from morning to evening, it is a challenge to get it done in a festive manner without rushing or grumbling about time.

I love searching out new recipes, and I am coveting some of my friend’s and neighbor’s recipes. In an effort to have a house full of baked goods, the aroma of cinnamon and vanilla wafting through my halls, and lots of happi-ness, I think it’s time to think about a cookie swap. This way, I can spend an afternoon in my kitchen with the girls creating beautiful, delicious treats and be able to have a pantry full of cook-ies for guests, events and my family throughout the entire season.

Recipe from Amy’s Finer Things: http://amysfinerthings.com/reeses-peanut-butter-cup-cookies

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

• 1/2 cup butter• 1/2 cup peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)• 1/2 cup sugar• 1/2 cup brown sugar• 1 egg• 1/2 tsp. vanilla• 1 1/4 cup flour• 3/4 tsp. baking soda• 1/2 tsp. salt• 40 something mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

Beat butter, peanut butter, sugar and brown sugar. Add egg and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda and salt. Add to wet ingredients. Roll into 1 inch balls. Place in greased mini muffin pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 9 min-utes. When done, place peanut butter cup onto cookie and press down. Let cool in pan before removing. Yields around 3 1/2 dozen cookies.

absolutely!DELICIOUS

By Stephenie Cox

Benefits of an old-fashioned cookie swap:• Save valuable time during the bus-

iest season of the year. It is much faster to make multiple batches of the same cookie than to purchase ingredi-ents for seven or eight different reci-pes, and prepare each one.

• Provide a wonderful selection of homemade baked goods to serve your guests over the holidays.

• Introduce new types of cookies to your palate and unique recipes to your rep-ertoire.

• Provide a fun, casual social event that is easy to host – the guests bring the goodies!

• Offer an opportunity for a charitable outreach. Guests can be asked to bring non-perishable food items to donate to a local food bank.

No holiday cookie plate would be complete without my favorite cookie:



NEWSWORTHYGet into the Holiday Spirit with theFort Bend Boys Choir on December 7th

From audition opportunities to a Christmas Musicale, it’s time to get in the spirit of the season with the Fort Bend Boys Choir.

Boys who love music and singing can audition for the Fort Bend Boys Choir at an open audition scheduled for Satur-day, December 7th. Young boys from all over the Fort Bend and Houston metro-politan area have the opportunity to learn more about music and singing, as well as many of life’s important lessons like leadership, making friends and building self-confidence and self-esteem – all in a safe, proactive setting.

Boys age eight and older with un-changed voices are invited to audition, and no previous singing experience is necessary. Open auditions will be held at the First United Methodist Church Missouri City located at 3900 Lexington Blvd. in Missouri City, from 9 am to noon on Saturday, December 7th. Scholar-ships and carpooling assistance are

Tour Choirboys Philip Chong and Derrick Cyprian. Photo by Nesossi Studios.

available. Do you hear what I hear? It’s the

sound of singing boys! Join the Fort Bend Boys Choir of Texas at their annual Christmas concert also on Saturday, December 7th. Three performing choirs – Training, Town and Tour – will be show-cased at Sugar Land Baptist Church located at 16755 Southwest Freeway in Sugar Land at 7 pm. Special guests include Music Magic, the organization’s music class for 6 and 7 year-olds.

Tickets are available by calling the choir office, from any choir member or at the door. Adult admission is $15 and children 12 and under are $5. All pro-ceeds from the Christmas Musicale are used for program support, operational expenses and scholarships.

Learn more about the Fort Bend Boys Choir and how they make a difference in the lives of boys by calling (281) 240-3800 or visiting www.fbbctx.org.


281.344.9900206 U.S. Highway 90A • Richmond

www.GoldConnection.net

G ldConnection Jewelers

Custom Designsare Our Specialty

Diamonds, Engagement Rings,

Wedding Rings,Jewelry Repair

Done on Premises,Watches & Watch Repair.

Holiday Hours: Mon - Sat : 10 am - 6 pm

Thurs: 10 am - 7 pm

WE BUY GOLD!

www.georgeranch.org10215 FM 762 • Richmond, TX 77469

281-343-0218 • 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Plus, join us for special after-hours celebrations!

at GeorGe ranch historical Park

Call (281) 343-0218 or email [email protected] for reservations and more information.

Christmas

Campfire Christmas Dec. 13, 14, 20 & 21

Children’s Campfire Christmas Dec. 19

Visit Christmas Eves from 1830s to the 1930s and explore over 100 years of holiday

traditions throughout the Park.

Family fun that focuses on the little ones in your life with crafts, a hay ride, and Christmas songs around the campfire.

Dinner is included at each Campfire Christmas.

See the Park in full Christmas decor as we explore over 100 years of holiday traditions through the month of December!

See the Park in full Christmas decor as we explore over 100 years of holiday traditions through the month of December!

BRAZOS • FORT BEND • KATY • MEMORIAL

Presents

Celebrate the season with this “new” classic

holiday film perfect for the entire family

Attention Kids!• Wear your favorite PJ’s• Popcorn & Hot Cocoa• Receive a “Golden Ticket”

and special gift

Saturday, December 21st

Three Screenings: 11 am, 2 pm, & 5 pm

Tickets: • $6 for Adults • $5 for Children, Students,

Seniors (55+) and Military

Seating is Limited Tickets go on sale December 1st:

www.theimperial.org

Made possible in part by the Rosenberg Development Corporation, Bayou City Sound,

and presented by Special Arrangement with Swank Motion Picture, Inc.

Generously sponsored by:

Focus on Worship

Hope, Love, Peace and JoyJoin us at Faith United Methodist in December for

Dec. 19th, 7 pm • Hope and Healing

Carols, Candles and Communion5 pm • Traditional 7 pm • Contemporary9 pm • Acoustic Carols11 pm • Candlelight in the Chapel

Christmas Eve ServicesDec. 24th

4600 FM 359 – Just west of Pecan Grove(281) 341-8200

Our Christmas activities are listed on our website: www.faithumc.org

832-492-5136Irene Stern Community Center

6920 Katy-Fulshear Rd.(Just North of Huggins Elementary)

www.newcreationfulshear.org

Christmas Eve

Candlelight Service 4 pm

… Connecting Faith and Life

Sunday Worship9:30 am Traditional11 am Contemporary

Faith United Methodist

T he lights are hung. The trees are up. Folks have their snow shovels ready and chains on their tires . . . well, they do in places far north of here.

While the snow may not be falling, ’tis the season. The season of feasts and family, of days set apart because they are special, different and holy. For many of us, the cast of characters who make up our families and friends are often more different than holy.

It is encouraging to remember that Jesus was born into a family that had more than its share of interest-ing characters, like his wild cousin John, his mom that seemed too young and strange visitors showing up with gifts that needed explanation. This December at Faith, we will get to know some of these interesting characters that had a role in the original Christmas story, and we will reflect on what it means for the story God is calling us to live.

If you are looking for a place to give thanks, ask questions and look for hope, join us. At Faith, we decorate, we gather for spe-cial meals and we sing songs by candlelight because we believe

the birth of Jesus changed the world. If you could use a bit more hope, meaning and joy in your life, ’tis the season.

Sunday Worship Times8:45 The Table in the Chapel with Communion9:30 Traditional Service; Adult, Youth and

Children’s Bible Study10:50 Contemporary Service, Adult Bible Study and

Children’s WorshipFaith Methodist is located at 4600 FM 359 in Rich-

mond. Call 281-341-8200 or visit www.faithumc.org.


Advertorial

HOME FEATUREBy Caron Lopez

C hristmas, in all its glory, rests in the hearts of those who en-dear the Christmas scripture:

a story of love, giving and inspiration. Make this Christmas holiday a Once Upon a Christmas story for your fam-ily. Simply the greatest gift you can give your family is the love you can share as you slow down from your day-to-day living. Experience the true spirit of Christmas no matter how much or how little time or money you have to prepare, decorate or shop.

Memories of my family gather-ing through the holidays telling fam-ily tales are as timeless as the stories themselves. Create those memories; tell those tales. Talents of your fam-ily and friends can be part of the cel-ebration the day of or in advance of the holidays. Whether it is singing, playing music, cooking, baking or decorating, have all involved. Nothing has to be perfect, just a joy!

Deck the Ha l l sWhen decorating, infuse mementos

of holidays past. A mantle of snapshots of past holiday gatherings or Grandma’s antique ornaments in a special bowl for table décor make family take note that it’s time to slow down and be thankful, worship and enjoy family and friends. Reflect what is important to you about the holidays in the style you all create together, and personalize it. Select the treasures you already have for a fasci-nating exhibition with fine trimmings, bold patterns or an eclectic mix of richly colored textiles and lights or candles to create a festive holiday atmosphere. Whether you live in an apartment or in a large home, group collections of like items work well together providing less clutter and more interest.

Give f rom the Hear t'Tis the season for warm smiles,

cold noses and gifts. The gifts that leave others speechless are the ones already in your heart – you just need to speak them. One Christmas well-re-membered by my children and my hus-band was one when we had no money for anything but food. I bought food items that could go into our stockings we had hung on the mantle. I wrote a note of funny things that each of our family members would laugh about. To my daughter, who loved knock-knock jokes and did not eat bananas, her or-ange said, "Orange you glad I'm not a banana." The children went back and re-gifted each item throughout the

holidays with their version of humor-ous notes. Our gift to our children was how to live an extraordinary life with the blessings we had been given. Their gifts to us that Christmas were blessed memories.

In our area, the season's dazzle of thousands of lights illuminating homes with a radiant holiday glow is not only a tradition, it sometimes becomes a com-petition. Forgo the competition. Simply enjoy the fascination residing around each corner. Rekindle that childlike wonder as you and yours enjoy the lo-cal traditions and family festivities, and have a Merry Christmas!


HolidayFestivities

True to Heart

Caron Lopez


Enchanted Gardens6420 FM 359

Richmond, TX 77406281-341-1206

Enchanted Landscapes10611 FM 2759

Richmond, TX 77469281-937-0646

Enchanted Forest10611 FM 2759

Richmond, TX 77469281-937-9449

• Outstanding selection of flowers, shrubs and trees• Fun and educational events and seminars• A knowledgeable, friendly staff

• Custom landscaping services• Handmade pottery & beautiful statuary• Gift shops full of unique finds

Go to www.myenchanted.comfor more information.

Fri., November 22 - Enchanted Evening @ Enchanted Gardens

Sat., November 23 - Enchanted Evening @ Enchanted Forest

Sat., November 30 - Fresh-cut Christmas trees have arrived!

Sat., December 7 - Holiday Decorating and Gift Giving

Sat., December 14 - Pictures with Santa @ Enchanted Gardens

Sat., December 21 - Pictures with Santa @ Enchanted Forest

Start a family tradition with the perfect fresh cut Christmas tree from Enchanted!

Enchanted Events:

Braman Winery

Celebrate the Holidays with us

Visit our Holiday Boutique or join us in our Tasting Room for your Holiday party.

3333 FM 359 | Richmond 281.762.1375 | www.bramanwine.com

HOLIDAY

MAKING MEMORIES

Find just the right holiday gift at Gold Connection Jewelers with Story

Bracelets and Waxing Poetic, as well as beautiful diamonds, colored stones,

gold jewelry and watches. And, their custom designs are the talk of the town.

Gold Connection Jewelers,206 E. Hwy 90 A in Richmond.

Call 281-344-9900;www.goldconnection.net.

CHARGE IN STYLE

A chevron and burlap charging pocket provides a convenient

way to house your phone whilecharging. Available in aqua, green,

yellow and chocolate. SouthernSister Designs, 817 Third

Street in Historic Downtown Rosenberg. Call 281-232-7737;

www.southernsisterdesigns.com.

ENCHANTED GIFTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

The gift shops at Enchanted Nurseries are overflowing with delightfulgift ideas. The abundant list includes gourmet foods, jewelry, books, chimes, candles, home décor, holiday items and more. An Enchanted gift card is always a cherished favorite! Enchanted Forest, 10611 FM 2759in Richmond; Enchanted Gardens, 6420 FM 359 in Richmond.Call 281-937-9449 or 281-341-1206; www.myenchanted.com.

BEAUTIFUL EYESWITH OBAGI

Purchase Obagi Elastiderm Eye Treatment Creamand receive a free Elastiderm Eye Serum and a cosmetic bag. Elastiderm is a topical eye cream intended to bring back lift, snap and resilience to the eyes. Sugar Land Face & Body Plastic Surgery, 6926 Southwest Freeway in Sugar Land.Call 281-313-0555; www.beautybecomesyou.com.

DISCOVERAGELESS BEAUTY

Discover ageless beauty in the blink of an eye at Sugar Land Plastic Surgery. Their 2-in-1 Neocutis Eye Intervention System contains an anti-aging bio-serum and eye cream, and when used in combination, completely rejuvenates eyes for an absolutely amazing transformation! Sugar Land Plastic Surgery.Call 281-980-8000; www.mybodysurgeon.com.


SIP & SHOP

Visit Braman Winery Christmas Shop & Boutique for gifts galore! Shop for everyone on your list,and grab your favorite bottle of Braman wine for yourself! Braman Winery, 3333 FM 359 in Richmond. Call 281-762-1375;www.bramanwine.com.

RAZZLE DAZZLE JEWELRY AND GIFTS GALORE

Celebrate everyone on your list at the most specialized and custom

gift shop in Fort Bend County. The Studio of Richmond, Inc. has

it all. Find your heirloom estate quality jewelry and gifts. Engraving

is done on location. The Studio of Richmond, Inc., 301 Morton

Street in Historic Downtown Richmond. Call 281-342-4808.

COZY UP IN A CUSTOMOUTDOOR LIVING SPACE

Texas Custom Patios designs andbuilds custom outdoor living spaces all over the Houston area, including patio covers, outdoor kitchens, outdoor fireplaces, decorative patios, room additions, screened rooms and more. Call today to schedule a free design consultation. Texas Custom Patios.Call 281-265-1994;www.texascustompatios.com.

RIDE IN STYLE

Get a hot new ride this holiday season from TexasDirectAuto.com. With thousands of vehicles in stock, you’re sure to find a ride that you will love! Texas Direct Auto, 12053 Southwest Freeway in Stafford. Call 281-499-8200; www.TexasDirectAuto.com.

FASHION FORWARD BRACELETS FORTHE HOLIDAYS

Ready, set, glow for the holidays with December Trunk Shows at J Loggins Jewelers:12/5 – Mazza Color Stone Collection12/6 – Opal Show12/12 – Lagos12/18 – John HardyJ Loggins Jewelers,14015 Southwest Freeway inSugar Land. Call 281-242-2900;www.jloggins.com.

GIVEYOURSKINA LITTLE TNS

SkinMedica’s TNS Anti-Aging Serum features two anti-aging formulas to help smooth fine lines and wrinkles, lighten age spots and brighten your appearance. Limited supply. Only $160 (reg. $250). Timeless Plastic Surgery, 1327 Lake Pointe Pkwy, Ste. 300 in Sugar Land. Call 281-242-TIME (8463);www.timelessplasticsurgery.com.



281-633-8473921 E Highway 90A

Richmond, TX 77406

Visit our website for more specials www.integrity-tire.com

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$30 OFFFront or Rear

BRAKESERVICE


Can not be combined. Exp. 12/31/13 ABM

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5 qts of 5W-30synthetic blend oil, tire rotation, top off fluids,

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NEWSWORTHY

Trailside Exhibit Opens in Memory of Orin Covell

Approximately 50 family members and friends gathered together on Friday, October 25th for the ribbon cutting cere-mony launching a new trailside exhibit at the George Ranch Historical Park. The exhibit is located on the bridge at the midway point of the George Ranch Heri-tage Trail at a particularly scenic section overlooking Dry Creek.

George Ranch Historical Park Direc-tor Candace Jones explained that the project had been in the works for about a year and celebrated Orin Covell’s love for sharing the prolific bird life with visi-tors and friends. The exhibit consists of four panels showcasing original artwork of twenty common birds of the prai-ries and wetlands. The highly detailed watercolors were done by Austin artist Elishea Smith who specializes in bird images. An all-weather spotting scope

is also included for up close viewing of birds and wildlife.

A dedication inscription on the first panel reads “And He will bear you up on eagle’s wings…and hold you in the palm of His hand. Bird identification exhibit and spotting scope given in loving re-membrance of Orin Covell by his family, friends and the George Ranch Historical Park.”

Director Jones spoke of the generos-ity of Covell to his community, and the great sense of loss felt when he passed away. She mentioned his selfless service given to so many organizations such as the Rotary, the Fire Department and the Fort Bend County Museum Association.

Covell served for approximately ten years as the Administrative Officer for the George Foundation and officed at the Historical Park for several years.

During that time, he had enjoyed inter-acting with visitors and would frequently take them for an impromptu bird watch-ing drive along the creek as a special treat. Jones stated, “Orin always took the time to make a personal connection with people, and he was never too busy to stop and visit. He was very generous and caring and loved sharing informa-tion with others. I feel that this exhibit will keep that connection alive for future visi-tors. It’s a very personal and lasting trib-ute that will continue to bring pleasure to many thousands of people.”

George Foundation Ranch Opera-tions Manager Rocky Parr remembered the many times that he and Orin had driven along the banks of the creek to take a quick break from the office. Parr said, “Orin was always spotting some new bird and would ask me to take a photo so he could look it up on the com-puter. I know he would really like this new exhibit.”

Covell’s wife, Becky, and his sis-ter, Ann Council, thanked Jones for her commitment to create the exhibit and expressed their deep appreciation to the George Ranch Historical Park and the other donors who funded the project. The exhibit was officially opened to coin-cide with the 30th Anniversary of Texian Market Days on October 26th.

Brooke and Lara Covell-Tucker, Rockie Parr, Becky Covell, Candace Jones and Ann Council.


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T he Acura RDX is an unsung hero of the compact luxury cross-over segment. Long hiding in

the shadows behind its more popular competitors, the RDX deserves much more respect. And, with a total make-over for the 2013 model year, expect to see more of these Acuras popping up in your neighbor’s driveways. It’s al-ways been a fun car to drive. But now, it’s roomier and far more fuel efficient.

The first generation Acura RDX was a bit of late-comer to the market when it came on the scene in 2006. By that time, the other luxury brands had al-ready introduced a compact crossover and breaking into a crowded field was difficult for the RDX. As a result, it has always lagged behind in sales. And, although it’s Honda’s cousin, the CRV,

ACURA RDXthe RDX comes across as a very differ-ent machine.

The 2013 RDX is a big step up from the old model with new styling, a roomier interior plus a bigger, more fuel efficient engine. The folks at Acu-ra have done a great job with this new vehicle. First off, let’s take a look at the powertrain. The old four-cylinder tur-bo-charged engine has been replaced with a non-turbo 273 hp, 3.5-liter V6 engine. Mated with a new six-speed transmission, this Acura delivers an EPA estimated fuel economy of 20 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway and will get you from 0-60 in six and a half seconds. The Acura en-gineers are able to deliver better fuel economy with a larger engine due to cylinder deactivation while in cruising mode. The new RDX also has a dif-ferent all-wheel drive system called “AWD with Intelligent Control” that serves up a smoother ride along with better fuel economy.

The RDX exterior reflects a toned-down futuristic design trend that

2013reached across the Acura model line-up. It’s different but not off-putting. The interior, however, is roomy and inviting with loads of technology that’s easy to grasp without poring through an own-er’s manual.

Even buying a new Acura RDX is simplified due to their pricing packag-es. Instead of opting for a base vehicle, and then, adding individual options, the RDX is sold in one of four packages starting with a base MSRP of $34,520, then adding a load of options for the higher trims ending with a fully loaded top trim. It’s a refreshing way to buy a new car.

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Over 6,000 guests explored four his-toric sites and a plethora of activities at George Ranch Historical Park on Friday, October 25th and Saturday, October 26th. The Park was bustling with excite-ment over the weekend as guests trav-eled from miles around to experience over 100 years of Texas history at the 30th Annual Texian Market Days, ben-efitting the Fort Bend County Museum Association’s educational programs and historic preservation efforts.

Candace Jones, Director at George Ranch Historical Park, said, “It was truly one of the best in terms of smoothness of operations, quality of programs, di-versity of publicity and great customer service. The entire festival reflected commitment and teamwork. The 30th anniversary showed a strong re-focus on our historical ‘roots’ and the quality was superb. Our attendance was noticeably higher, and the visitors were enthralled with all of the activities.”

Among the thousands of festival at-tendees were folks from neighboring counties, states and even foreign coun-tries. Throughout the Park, familiar faces of long-time volunteers and history en-thusiasts could be seen sharing their knowledge and personal collections alongside newcomers who were partici-pating for the first time.

“The Fort Bend County Museum As-sociation would like to extend sincere thanks to all of the volunteers, docents, staff, sponsors, contributors and festi-val patrons who have made this living history festival possible year after year. Texian Market Days would not be suc-cessful without all of you, and we deeply appreciate your continued support and participation. Thank you for helping us keep Texas history alive!” said Krystal Willeby, 2013 Texian Market Days Chair-man.

Thousands Attended Texian Market Days 30th Anniversary

Don Herlitz, 30 year Texian Market Days participant, and his Confederate artillery crew fire off a shot at the Union soldiers during the 1860s battle reenactment.


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Dr. Bushrod sang about the amazing abilities of Wonder Oil during Dr. Bushrod’s Medicine Show, a comedy act that has attended Texian Market Days for 30 years.

The Brazos River Pickers played a tune for guests under the shade of the old oak trees in the yard of the 1890s Davis Victorian Mansion.

Soldados marched across the field, returning from battle against roving bandits in the 1830s battle reenactment.


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As there is no soil in the system, strawberries hang suspended from the vine rather than sitting in the dirt. With row after row of strawberry plants, families craving a sweet treat will have a great time while creating new memories and fam-ily traditions.

The fun does not have to end once you have picked your strawberries. Both kids and adults will enjoy the holiday festivities in the relaxed country atmosphere. En-joy hay rides, giant slides, barrel train rides, pedal cars, heritage breed chickens, a sand mountain, great photo opportunities and other fun holiday festivities at Blessington Farms’ Holiday Farm Funland, open on Saturdays and select holidays.

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With so much information available on raising awareness about teens making better decisions regarding alcohol, Rich-mond’s retailers are also doing their part working together to reduce youth access to alcohol. The Responsible Retailing Forum is working with the retailers to evaluate an innovative, six-month program designed to help Richmond area bars, res-taurants, liquor stores and other alcohol outlets do a better job of complying with a state law that limits the sale of alcohol to customers age 21 and older.

“We all must do our part to reduce underage alcohol ac-cess,” said Richmond Police Chief Bill Whitworth. “I’m glad that the Responsible Retailing Forum (RRForum) chose to work in our city and that our community is working together to keep our teens safe. In past studies, this program has produced dra-matic increases in ID checking among the participating retail-ers, and we’re proud to assist in this national effort.”

The RRForum will focus on 30 to 40 licensees, all randomly selected. As a first step, the owners and managers will assess their current efforts, after which the RRForum will advise them on a set of “best practices” for encouraging staff to do a better job of checking IDs and refusing sales to minors. A key feature of the program is the use of mystery shoppers, young, legal-age inspectors (ages 21-24) who ask to purchase or be served an alcoholic beverage. Retailers generally ask their staff to check ID for any customer who appears to be under the age of 30.

“Whether an individual outlet failed to check ID will be kept confidential,” explained Brad Krevor, RRForum’s founding di-rector, “But, we will be sharing combined mystery shopper re-sults with key stakeholders throughout the community, includ-ing retailers whose stores are not being visited by a mystery shopper.” This feedback provides a way to monitor the project’s success and suggest further improvements, Krevor noted.

RRForum is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization that engages public and private stakeholders to promote responsible retail-ing. In 2009, through its technical services arm (RRF Field Ser-vices LLC), RRF received a National Institutes of Health award to develop sustainable responsible retailing systems for cities, states and trade associations. Organizations sponsoring and assisting in this effort include Diageo, the Distilled Spirits Coun-cil of the US, MillerCoors, National Alcohol Beverage Control Association, National Beer Wholesalers Association, American Beverage Licensees and numerous state regulators, distribu-tors and retail associations.

Richmond Retailers Aim toReduce Youth Access to Alcohol


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Child Advocates of Fort Bend County Board Member Kurt Kirchof of Richmond was awarded the Excellence in Gover-nance Board Member of the Year Award by Texas CASA, the statewide network of 71 local Court Appointed Special Advo-cate programs which recruit, train and support volunteers who speak up in court for children in the foster care system. This award was presented during Texas CASA’s annual conference in San Marcos on October 25th.

“A local CASA program’s board of directors plays a key role in the success of nonprofit organizations. A board member’s official role is to enable an organization to achieve its purpose and protect the public interest by making sure the organiza-tion’s resources are spent appropriately,” said Vicki Spriggs, chief executive officer of Texas CASA. “Good board members go beyond that definition, generously contributing their time, talents and resources to the CASA cause.”

Kirchof was nominated by Child Advocates of Fort Bend, where he has served for five years on the board of directors and the executive committee. He has overseen the agency’s launch of the Voices for Children sustainable fundraising initiative, which ensures that the services for abused children provided by Child Advocates of Fort Bend will continue uninterrupted so that no child will fall through the cracks. He is also a strong supporter of efforts to recruit more volunteers of color as well as men.

CASA volunteers are specifically trained to advocate for chil-dren in foster care. Volunteer advocates work to provide servic-es and support to the children they serve by getting to know the child and the people involved in the child’s life, including family members, teachers, doctors, lawyers, social workers and oth-ers. Their recommendations, based on the information they gather, help the judges overseeing the cases make informed decisions. CASA volunteers commit to a child until the case is closed and the child is in a safe, permanent home.

Texas CASA is comprised of 71 local programs serving chil-dren in 207 Texas counties. More than 7,600 trained volunteers advocated for more than 23,600 children in foster care in Texas last year. Unfortunately, more than half the children in care do not have advocates to speak up for them in court.

For more information about becoming a CASA volunteer or your local program, please visit www.TexasCASA.org.

Child Advocates of Fort Bend Board Member Honored by Texas CASA

Ruthanne Mefford, Kurt Kirchof and Vicki Spriggs.


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Reading Recovery is just what it sounds like – a program that helps students recover from a faulty start, catching them up with their classmates. But, it recovers something else: chil-dren who love to read. “Students will hear their friends reading and realize they aren’t reading as well,” said Aimee Santos, the Dual Language Fa-cilitator at Smith El-ementary. “It hurts their self-esteem and leads to frustration. They have no motiva-tion to improve.”

Reading Recov-ery, and its Spanish-language partner Descubriendo la Lec-tura, takes first-grade students and in 20 weeks or less, gets most of them back on “grade level.” The program uses one-on-one, intensive study with personalized instruction. Even children who don’t reach the average level of their class within the allotted time frame show great gains.

Part of the lessons hinge on taking what words the stu-dent knows by sight, and the words they know how to write. Then the lessons are structured so the writing can help the reading, and the reading can help the writing. Students also reconstruct the stories they have just written. The teacher re-copies the child’s sentence on a paper strip and cuts it up for the student to visually search and reorganize, to re-create his or her original message. “Manipulating the words helps build brain activity of saying it, writing it, then locating in text,” ex-plained Alicia Roberts, the Reading Recovery teacher at Frost Elementary.

Over the two-year period since the program was initiated in Lamar CISD, Reading Recovery and Descubriendo la Lectura teachers have helped 258 students on 11 campuses bridge the reading gap. In 2013-2014, teachers estimate they will serve 192 additional first graders. The majority of these children will reach the same reading and writing proficiency as their peers. And, just as importantly, they will enjoy literacy learning.

By helping students to catch up in the first grade, the dis-trict is keeping students from falling behind in later years, when state assessment tests begin. “Teachers and parents are very happy with the results,” Dr. Shannon Hood, Frost El-ementary Principal said. “Reading Recovery opens the gate-way to learning.”

Reading Recovery Helps Lamar CISD First-Graders Bridge the Reading Gap

Reading Recovery teacher Jessica Thibodeaux with Smith Elementary first-grader Lucki Covarrubio.


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IN THEHEARTB R A Z O S

OUT&ABOUT

A Ribbon Cutting at the Art League of Fort Bend and the Fifth Street Gallery in Rosenberg was held on Thursday, October 23rd.

Kelly Shelton and Lisa Matthews enjoyed viewing the beautiful artwork.

A Business Blender was held at Fort Bend KIA on October 3rd. Among guests were the 2013 race car drivers for the KIA racecar that participated in the Houston Grand Prix.

Angie Wierzbicki and Tom Wilson.

Tony Frances and Rob Clark.

Virgil Skinner and Mayor Vincent M. Morales, Jr.

Ed Lewis and Patricia Gonzalez.

John Zerwas’ 2013 Invitational Gold Tournament was held Tuesday, October 8th at The Golf Club at Cinco Ranch.

Gary Foose, John Greenberg, Frank Gracely, John Zerwas and Jon Champagne.


Rick and Cindy Bilski enjoyed the evening of fun, memories and laughs.

Kay Danziger celebrated her 60th Birthday at the Heights Theatre with Eileen Wildy.

The Rosenberg Railroad Museum hosted The Circus Comes to Town at Safari Texas. The circus-themed event was complete with clowns, a midway and yes, there were lions, and tigers and bears. Oh my!

The cast of Cheerful Clown Alley entertained the crowd.

Bob Wilson, Pete Olson, who flew in from D.C. to attend the event, with Dianne Wilson.

Terri Stuart, Patti Parish-Kaminski and Lisa Rickert clowning around.

Edward Crowell and Sheena Navarro.

All aboard! Eloise Lucas, Emma Sexton, Michelle Whitley, Patrick Sexton and Mario and Alicia Rodriguez.



OUT&ABOUT

The 77th Annual Fort Bend County Fair and Rodeo, themed “Celebrating our Western Heritage,” ran from September 27th through October 6th.

Out of school and enjoying the sights and sounds of the Fair Parade were Kyle Den Herder, Kaden Thurmond, Timothy Tapley, Katie Kitto, Brian and Ben Wu and Amy Tapley.

2013 Fort Bend County Fair Queen Sami Warriner was crowned by 2012 Fair Queen Ashley Mays during the Queen Coronation on September 27th.

Brian Wu, Mitchell Imrie and Katie Kitto loved a ride on the ferris wheel.

Cody and Colton Kainer and their rabbits participated in the rabbit show.

Noell Myska, Sarah Waedemon and Kristin McNeely with the Fort Bend Zeta Tau Alpha Alumna passed out ribbons during Think Pink Day.


There’s nothing like getting your boots shined while at the County Fair. Having his boots shined was Luis Mansilla by Lovis Simpson.

Brady Dostal was the winner of the Muttin Bustin’ contest on opening night of the Fair.

Kadie Kainer showed off her rabbit that placed 13th.

Enjoying a good time in the Grapes on the Brazos wine room were Brenda Lopez, Laurie Cavins and Jody Tancred.

Enjoying Go Tejano Day were Genieva and Mikayla DeLeon with Elaine and Florence Phan.

Peggy and Mark Brown were happy to be with grandson Caden Lionberger at the Fair.

Savannah Zamora enjoyed the Agtivity Barn and petting the sheep.

Kylie Kizziah was all smiles before showing Autumn in the American Santa Gertrudes Show on October 5th.

Carter Feldhoff showed off his broiler during the auction.


Child Advocates of Fort Bend hosted a barn party in October at Vincent and Regina Morales’ barn. Guests enjoyed delicacies served by Pier 36 Restaurant, beer courtesy of St. Arnold’s Brewing Company, wine courtesy of Glazer’s Distributing, Republic National and Haak Winery and danced the night away listening to polka music from Milton Wright and friends.

Gale and Linda Page with Jessica and Jim Kij.

Sarah and Shannon Orsak.

Elizabeth Duff-Drozd and Amy Mitchell.

Pat and Brad Sommers.

Jennifer and Jeramy Montgomery.

Jake and Grace Messinger.

Milton Wright.

Regina Morales, Jim Shaw and Mary Favre.


OUT&ABOUT


Keeping everyone safe at the fair were Nick Kaminski and Cheryl Hillegiest.

Lisa Regan and Kathy Stauffacher.Larry and Judy Deats.

Guests enjoyed a wonderful wine selection and appetizers from area restaurants at Grapes on the Brazos, the room hosted by the wine committee at the Fort Bend County Fair in Building W. The committee was established in 2008 and has grown each year by adding new members. This year, the committee awarded a scholarship to a Fort Bend student. Cheers to Grapes on the Brazos!

Patti and Tim Kaminski.

Lana Wilson, a Senior Director with Mary Kay for 25 years, earned her 11th car in September. Congratulations, Lana!

Cecilia Neely competed at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Cecelia placed in both the Summer Classic and the Bluegrass horse shows in the Pre-Children’s Division.

The Fulshear Art Market, held Saturday October 12th, featured several artists and vendors.

April, Tatum and Avery Huey with friends Renee and Jordan D’Rovencourt admired the unique birdhouses.

Indira and Jose Pedreira, along with Chiki and Luna, took time out to relax.


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Over one hundred years ago when land was abundant and Fort Bend residents lived miles

apart, holidays were celebrated with me-ticulous detail. Decorations were sewn, built or cut. Ornaments were popcorn strands and pine cones. Mistletoe and holly was lavishly placed on the mantle, the smell of evergreen permeated the rooms and poinsettias dotted the halls. The oil lamps and burning fireplaces ex-aggerated the shadows on the wall mak-ing the large pine tree in the hall glow with the magic of the season. Gifts were handmade and wrapped with loving care. The winter air was invigorating, and wild turkey gobbled in the fields. Moods were joyous with high expecta-tions of Christmas day. This old-fash-ioned Christmas made life eventful and reflective.

A Candlelight Christmas atthe Moore Home

Fort Bend County Museum docents Dottie Allen, Claire Rogers, Joyce Lolley, Liz Stamey, Austa Sue Kelley and Felesa Baker.

Phot

o by

Joh

n B

aker

.

The parlor of the Moore Home takes visitors a step back in time.

Each decorated room in the home depicts family stories and events.

The dining room of the Moore Home is adorned with festive décor each December.

A LI T TLE P I ECE OF HISTORYBy Joan Frances

Photos by theFort Bend County Museum.

Today, Christmas is very different. Retailers stock shelves with enticing items as early as August. Choices are numerous and patrons begin the deco-rating protocol earlier every year. Hous-es are strung with never ending lights, and artificial trees make the job easy. Children make “lists” of gifts they must have. Somehow, the spirit is lost in com-mercialism. Wouldn’t it be amazing to go back to the way it all began?

Fort Bend residents can take a step back in time during the holidays by vis-iting the Richmond home of Congress-man John Moore, his wife, Lottie, and their three children. This original Vic-torian two-story mansion built in 1883 boasts four bedrooms, a classic revival porch and six regal columns. Richmond’s First Baptist Church was founded in the house, and the Moore’s hosted many pol-iticians and cattlemen. They were very generous people, opening their doors for over fifty years, and Christmas was, as it is today, a very special time at the Moore Home.

The Moore family shared happy as well as turbulent times. Civil War dis-rupted the peace of the area, and many homes were used to house military troop-ers passing through the town. Schools were closed, and the town virtually shut down. Through the years, the Moore house suffered disarray. Thanks to the Fort Bend County Museum Society, the home has been renovated and updated. Now used for meetings, weddings and

holiday events, there is a museum on the main floor for touring, but perhaps the most special time of year at the historic landmark is Christmas.

One highly anticipated event at the Moore Home is the annual Candlelight Tour. For over 35 years, as many as 350 people from all over the area come to en-joy the sights. Over five hundred school children make field trips to learn about the exciting cultural heritage of Fort Bend through Moore Home.

This year, the Annual Candlelight Tour is set for December 6th and 7th. “Life in the Moore Home” will be the themed setting. The Fort Bend County Museum Society docents spend eight months carefully planning and orches-trating this event. They work tirelessly to capture the true essence of vintage history through authentic decorations and furnishings. The Moore Home is decorated for Christmas inside and out in early December, and tours are given on a regular basis.

The residents of Fort Bend are lucky to have cities that put extra effort in capturing the authentic meaning of the season. The Moore Home is a must-see to enjoy a holiday tradition from the past.

INSIDE BACK

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december 2013 - absolutely brazos magazine

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