february 2013 - absolutely brazos magazine

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+SUMMERFUN GUIDE

ROMANCINGYour Home

The Legacy ContinuesMoore: Richmond’sNew Mayor

Who Is Fort Bend's TOP CHEF?

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10

Caron LopezGrand Windows & InteriorsPage 10

CONTRIBUTORS

14

Lauren DanteWriter Page 14

ON THE COVER:Richmond Mayor Evalyn Moore with the

bronze statue of her late husband, Mayor Hilmar G. Moore, at Richmond’s City Hall.

Photos by Nesossi Studios

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 3 | V O L U M E 1 | N U M B E R 3

28

Joan FrancesWriterPage 28

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

6 EDITOR’S POINT OF VIEW

18 COMMUNITY EVENTS

22 OUT & ABOUT IN THE HEART OF BRAZOS

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

12 BUSINESS BRIEFSRecent Ribbon Cuttings

C O L U M N S

14 HIGH SCHOOL HOT SHOTJoshua Okonye: Field of Dreams

28 A LITTLE PIECE OF HISTORYA Rich History in Richmond

C O V E R S T O R Y8 RICHMOND’S NEW MAYOR MOORE: THE LEGACY CONTINUES

On December 17, 2012, Evalyn Wendt Moore was sworn in as the first female mayor in Richmond’s history. Asked by City Commissioners to fulfill her late husband’s term,

the new Mayor Moore concentrates on fulfilling Mayor Hilmar Moore’s vision and legacy: making Richmond a great place to live, work and raise a family.

N E W S W O R T H Y

20 WHO IS FORT BEND COUNTY’S“TOP CHEF?”Find out at Men Who Cook

25 LITERACY COUNCILANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIPBlue Willow Bookshop for Reading Between the Wines

F E AT U R E S

16 SUMMER FUN GUIDESummer is the time for kids to kick back, relax and have fun! Peruse the pages and get a jump-start on your summer plans.

26 THINGS WE LOVE: VALENTINE’S DAY GIFT GUIDEFind the perfect gift for that special someone!

H O M E

10 ROMANCING YOUR HOMEPrepare your home for a fabulous Valentine’s Day with a few new, dynamic changes.


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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

READER FEEDBACK

Now that we are one month into 2013 and despite the fact that we fell of the fiscal cliff, our optimism shines bright in Brazos. There’s so much our community has to look forward to in the coming year, and absolutely! Brazos is so excited to be a part of all that is going on in the West Bend.

Speaking of major happenings, for the first time in 63 years, the City of Rich-mond has a new mayor. Same last name, same philosophy of service, same vision but a new face. With the passing of Texas icon Mayor Hilmar G. Moore, his wife, Evalyn Wendt Moore, was sworn into office in Decem-ber. I had the privilege to attend the new Mayor Moore’s swearing in ceremony, as well as interview her during both a difficult and hopeful time, and let me just say, the citizens of Richmond are in good hands. Excellent choice, Commissioners Dostal and Gillen.

February is the month of love, and for us girls, Valentine’s Day is always something we look forward to. To help our gentlemen out and steer them in the right direction, take a look at our Valentine’s Gift Guide on page 26. Some of my personal favorite places are in there – hint, hint!

One of the most exciting happenings in February will be with our sister magazine Fort Bend Focus. This month, Fort Bend Focus celebrates our 100th issue of bringing the people, places and happenings to Fort Bend. It is a major milestone for absolutely! focus media, and now, we begin to work on bringing you 100 issues of absolutely! Brazos. We’ll get there – with your help – and we will celebrate big!

Let us know what you and your neighbors are up to in Brazos, and Happy Valentine’s Day!

absolutely! yours,

[email protected]

Editor-in-Chief, PATTI PARISH-KAMINSKI

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Grand Opening!“Oh, what a night...”


The story goes that one day Moore at-tended a Lions Club luncheon and was asked by a group of friends if he was in-terested in serving the unexpired term of the current mayor who had just resigned. Moore indicated he would like some time to think it over. His friends urged him to think fast because he was being sworn in at 4 pm that very day. That day was in September of 1949.

The Future of Richmond

Fast forward 63 years of Mayor Moore’s “no nonsense, hands-off” approach to gov-erning the city and the residents he so deeply cared about, and you will find a city that has grown by nearly 10,000 in the six decades under the mayor’s watch. And, on another historic afternoon at 4 pm, another Richmond resident was asked to take the oath of office and serve out the unexpired term of the late Mayor Hilmar G. Moore: his wife, Evalyn Wendt Moore.

Standing in Richmond City Hall with her hand on her husband’s Bible, Evalyn Wendt Moore became the mayor of Rich-mond on December 17, 2012 at the historic hour: 4 pm. “When I agreed to serve, I asked if I could be sworn into office at the same time as my husband,” said Moore, who was sworn in by Fort Bend County Commissioner Richard Morrison with Richmond City Commissioners Bill Dostal and Gary Gillen looking on.

Moore was approached by some of the city officials regarding her husband’s unexpired term shortly after his pass-ing. “They didn’t ask me if I would serve initially,” said Moore, “but inquired that if the discussion came up, would I con-sider fulfilling Hilmar’s term.” Moore was

COVER STORYBy Patti Parish-Kaminski

Photos by Nesossi Studios

O n Tuesday, December 4, 2012, an era ended in Richmond, Texas. Hilmar G. Moore passed away at age 92 after being hospitalized for a

lengthy illness. But Moore wasn’t only an esteemed resident, community servant and philanthropist for Richmond; Moore was the mayor of the town of 12,000 for over 63 years. He is believed to be the longest serving mayor in the United States and won 32 consecutive elections including the most recent election held in May 2012 when he ran unopposed.

So how did this sixth generation cattle rancher, World War II vet-eran, businessman and Native Texan become a Texas legend and re-vered public servant for over 63 years? And, what happens to the City of Richmond now?

Evalyn Moore being sworn in as Richmond Mayor by Fort Bend Commissioner Richard Morrison on December 17, 2012.

Richmond’sNew Mayor Moore:

Richmond’sNew Mayor Moore:The Continues

The ContinuesLegacy


agreeable, and city officials held a private meeting where the commissioners decid-ed to appointed her as mayor. After the meeting, she was called and notified that she had been appointed. “I had more time than Hilmar had to consider the idea. The commissioners gave me a couple of days to really think about it because I had other factors I needed to consider.” Moore was then on the OakBend Hospital board and would soon serve as incoming presi-dent. As an elected Richmond official, she could no longer serve on the board. “It made me sad that I wouldn’t be able to continue my service for the hospital, but it was such an honor for both Hilmar and myself to be considered to complete his term that I told the commissioners I would be honored to do so.”

The New Mayor Moore

Richmond City Commissioner Gary Gillen felt Moore was the perfect choice for the city. “Agreeing to serve so soon after Hilmar’s passing shows her love for our community. I have had the opportu-nity to get to know Mrs. Moore during my time as a City Commissioner, and I can think of no one as able to continue Mayor Moore’s legacy.”

While the new Mayor Moore has her own list of priorities for serving Rich-mond, fulfilling Hilmar’s vision for the city is at the top of her list. As his closest confidant for the past 28 years, she knows the drill. “Before my first city meeting in January, I was delivered my brown en-velope on Friday afternoon. I remember for years that Hilmar’s brown envelope would be waiting on him the Friday be-fore the Monday meeting that outlined everything that would come before the council. I reviewed all of the items that would come before the council and was ready for my first meeting.”

The first female mayor of Richmond, Evalyn’s first meeting was literally the day she was sworn into office. During her brief remarks, she expressed her gratitude for giving her the opportunity to serve and honor her husband, and she gave tribute to her husband and his vision for Richmond. “Hilmar’s vision for our city was pretty simple,” she said. “Hilmar wanted Richmond to be a nice place to live, work and raise your fam-ily. He said many times – and he was quite serious on the matter – that Rich-mond and Houston received their char-ter from the Republic of Texas in 1837 at the same time. Houston is Houston but due to farsighted mayors like him-self, Richmond is a nice place to live.”

Forging Ahead

Now, with a year and half left on her term, Mayor Moore will work with the city on some of their greatest challenges which include changing the city charter. “The city’s annexation rights are under home rule,” explained Moore. “We don’t have an-nexation powers. Groups have to petition to be a part of Richmond.” According to Moore, there are areas the city would like to annex but under their current charter, they cannot.

Mayor Moore feels that water is one of the greatest challenges facing the city today. “Water is a critical issue that Rich-mond will be working on along with the other mayors in the county. Richmond is facing growth just like the rest of the county, and we will need to plan ahead to keep up with the services our residents will need.”

Working with neighboring cities was part of her husband’s tenure as mayor. Former Rosenberg Mayor Joe M. Gur-ecky worked with Mayor Hilmar Moore for the 12 years he was in office. “Not only our community, but also the State of Texas lost a great statesman with the passing of Hilmar Moore,” said Gu-recky. “I always considered the City of Richmond as our ‘Sister City’ and May-

“We are public servants; Hilmar felt

strongly about that, and I do as well.” ~ Mayor Evalyn Wendt Moore

or Moore as a true municipal partner.”“It is really important to me to keep a

wonderful working relationship with our neighbors, especially Rosenberg,” said the current Mayor Moore. “We are neighbors, and we both have limited resources so we have to work together.”

Many of the city and county officials have reached out with offering support for Richmond’s new mayor. The current may-or of Rosenberg, Vincent M. Morales, Jr., attended Mayor Moore’s swearing in and is looking forward to continuing the sister city’s relationship. “Rosenberg and Rich-mond are sister cities – our livelihoods, our quality of life, and our communities depend on one another for their continued success. I truly feel that the more we work in cooperation with each other, the more efficiently we can each lead our respec-tive municipalities. I am excited to work with Mayor Moore to continue to build the partnership between our two towns for the betterment of the entire Richmond-Rosenberg area.”

Though she has some big boots to fill, Mayor Moore is ready with sage advice learned from her husband. “Hilmar be-lieved in being accessible. Just like Hil-mar, I will be available to listen to any and all of our resident’s concerns. Our home phone number is listed in the phone book. Anyone who has a concern is free to call, and their concerns will be taken seri-ously. We are public servants; Hilmar felt strongly about that, and I do as well.”

I asked the new Mayor Moore to sum up what she felt her husband’s greatest legacy was, and what she hopes her leg-acy of service to the citizens of Richmond will be. “Hilmar’s greatest legacy was his dedication to serving. He served his fam-ily, his friends, and most importantly, the citizens of Richmond. Despite his different endeavors, his main dedication was to the citizens of Richmond, and this dedication to service was his greatest bequest to all of us, especially his family. He 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.”

The late Mayor Hilmar Moore with Evalyn in Vienna, 1987.

Your Home

Let your flirtations this Valentine's Day cross the threshold by bringing romance into your home.With a few new, dynamic changes in a room, you can prepare for a fabulous Valentine's Day.

Let's start with color. When surrounded by red, it is proven that one's heart beats a bit faster. It definitely is the color that demands attention and the color of the day. Place a soft red throw in your most comfortable seating area or add a couple of red accent pillows. Complete with a single red rose, and don't forget a true-to-heart love note. Cuddle up and watch your favorite movie.

Pink is for babies, but it is also for babes. Pink sets a mood that calms, soothes and brings on gentle feelings. Set the table in pink and silver all on a crisp white tablecloth. Try out some new recipes that you cook together and serve pink champagne.

Chocolate is a favorite at Valentine’s Day, but consider the color chocolate in a plush comforter, pillows and silky sheets for the master bedroom. Toss a couple of deep red decorative pillows for a beauti-ful bed and romantic evening. Add some chocolate dipped strawberries to the bedside table.

Creating an enticing ambiance in the home is easy by dimming the lights. Add a chandelier in the bathroom or in the bedroom. A lighting store will have both pricey and not so pricey choices. Candles are a less expensive alternative but equal-ly as sensuous. Grouping scented candles in a variety of heights and types around a bubble bath and adding a basket of aro-matic oils, soaps or bath salts will create a

spa-like retreat. For your evening of pam-pering, don’t forget the warm towels and a comfortable robe. A towel warmer is a nice indulgence and is readily available in freestanding and wall-mount styles.

Set the mood of relaxation. Destress your home by cleaning and removing clutter. First, stash the stacks of bills, pa-pers and magazines. Strip down the room to bare essentials, and add back only a few striking items. You probably have everything you need to create a new look by using a few choice accessories from other rooms. If you find you need to buy something new and fresh, start with a vase of large, bright flowers or introduce a new fabric color with a table runner, pil-lows or even drapery. Accentuate the bed with beautiful hardware and bed curtains above or beside the headboard. Select a sumptuous drapery for a seating area and draw it back with a tassel.

Remember, it’s the thoughtful yet flirtatious items that are key in your new romantic retreat. It’s riches from the heart that make this Valentine’s Day memorable, not the money you spend. Have fun, be creative and express your love.

HOME FEATUREBy Caron Lopez



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HOT SHOTHigh School

Joshua Okonye: Field of Dreams

Joshua never thought the foot-ball field would make all of his dreams come true, but with his

determination and perseverance, Josh-ua’s dream of playing college football is now a reality. Throughout his high school career, Joshua has improved his football skills while excelling in school.

Joshua is an honors student, and his schedule includes honors and Advanced Placement courses, which have placed him in the top ten percent of his grad-uating class. Academics have always been a priority for Joshua, and they are evidence that Joshua is much more than just a good football player; he is the complete package with both brains and brawn.

As a seventh grader, Joshua began playing football. He was on the lowest level team as a lineman. Joshua’s goal was to be a starter and play on the top-level team. By the time he was in ninth grade, Joshua had been moved to the po-sitions of receiver and corner. However, he was still on the B Freshman team. Joshua knew that he had the potential to be a good player, but he was not being given the opportunity to showcase his talents. “Not being able to start during my ninth grade year taught me that I was really going to have to work hard to get where I wanted to go,” said Joshua. “I knew that I was going to have to get out there and try my hardest if I was go-ing to reach my goals.”

Joshua’s goal of playing college foot-ball began to seem more like a reality after he started at George Ranch High School. Joshua really connected with the coach and he played a new position, safety, during his tenth grade season. Although the position was not his favor-ite, he worked at it and played where his team needed him the most. As safety,

abilities as he competed against other elite players.

For the 2012 season, George Ranch began playing on the varsity level. George Ranch won their first varsity game, and they lost games only by a few points. The team was ranked the num-ber one defensive line in the district.

Individually, Joshua had a stellar senior year. In the game against Terry High School, Joshua was paired with a notable receiver. Terry had the num-ber one offensive line at the time, and Joshua knew that he had his work cut out for him. During the game, Joshua kept the player to zero catches. After Joshua’s outstanding performance, he was contacted by Wake Forest Univer-sity. Joshua received a football scholar-ship from Wake Forest, a Division One school. “It felt great to reach my goal and commit to college,” said Joshua. “With this opportunity, I will continue to move forward and reach my goals.” Joshua will be majoring in Health and Exercise Science.

With his remarkable grades and tremendous work ethic, Joshua will be a wonderful asset to Wake Forest Uni-versity. We all look forward to watching you on television next fall as a Demon Deacon. Good luck!

By Lauren Dante

Joshua got the first interception in their first game against Ridge Point.

With a new head coach for Joshua’s junior year, the dynamics of the team changed again. The offense and defense were rearranged, and Joshua began playing the position of corner again. “The coach knew that I really wanted to play corner,” said Joshua. “My hits were flu-id, and I was a better fit for corner than safety.” Joshua proved to be a better fit at corner when he made the first intercep-tion to be run in for a touchdown in the schools history. He ran 92 yards to score the run. In the spring of his junior year, Joshua received his first scholarship of-fer and was the first football player at the school to receive such an offer.

In the summer before his senior year, Joshua was invited to the Nike Training Camp in Dallas. At the camp, Joshua played against top high school football players. He was able to measure his

Joshua

Joshua (Number 20) as a star player for George Ranch High School.


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Tutoring alone just re-teaches your children what they already don’t understand...

281-682-4573245 Gonyo Lane • Richmond, TX 77469

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Help is just a phone call away!

Betsy de Vega Owner/Learning Specialist

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Kn.I.L.E CENTERKnowledge + Intelligence = Learning Excellence

...why not let us COACH your child to excel in school?

Finding the right help is essential to unlocking your child’s true potential. Let us show you how Educational Coaching can make a difference in your child’s learning experience!

No child should feel like a failure at school!

K nILE Center is the premier Edu-cational Resource in the Sugar

Land/Richmond area. KnILE Center works with children of many capaci-ties, from children with learning con-cerns to children who want an edge. There are two cornerstone programs to choose from. Our private school, KnILE Prep Academy (4th – 12th grades), is a private boutique-style, virtual college preparatory school that utilizes proven innovative sys-tems that prepare children for their educational careers. KnILE Center is here to make a difference – to equip the next generation of leaders to be independent and self-reliant, critical thinkers.

EduCoachNow is KnILE Cen-ter’s one-on-one educational en-richment program for ages 5 and up. This program is different from traditional tutoring methods in that it combines cognitive training skills with enhanced organizational, study and testing methods. The net result is a student who can attack and pro-cess any subject much more effec-tively than if he or she worked with a traditional tutor. KnILE Center’s ser-vices are customized to the child’s needs and abilities. They strive to increase the child’s self esteem and provide the best tools needed to bring back the love of learning and unlock students’ potential.

For more information, visit www.knilecenter.com or call 281-682-4573.

SUMMER FUN GUIDE

KnILE Center


Through Karate & Tae Kwon Do classesWe focus on Self Confidence, Academic Success, Concentration & Focus, Respect, Discipline,Self Control, Self Defense, Stranger Danger& Character Development

• Classes for Ninjas (ages 4-7) • Juniors (ages 8-12)• FREE Bully Prevention Workshops• Teen/Adult Self Defense and Fitness Classes• Adult Personal Safety Seminars

One Month Plus Uniform

222 FM 359 281.513.5566

www.LoneStarKarate.com

Valentine’s Special

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K arate is one of the best gifts parents can give their child to

prevent bullying. Shawn Vicknair, owner and Chief Instructor at Lone Star Karate, explains, “One of the biggest reasons parents bring their children to Lone Star is to help with bullying.”

The traits learned from karate like confidence, discipline, respect, self-control, self-defense and developing leadership have proven to reduce the likelihood that a child will be bul-lied or become a bully.

Confidence helps prevent a child from becoming an easy target for bullies. Self-discipline allows a child to manage his or her behaviors so as not to provoke a bully. A warning sign of bullying is a low self-image and a loss of self worth. Karate teaches children to have self-respect and to expect to be respected by others. Many victims of bullying do not rec-ognize that their own behavior can trigger bullying.

Karate also teaches self-control, which allows children to control their own behaviors that may stop a neg-ative situation. Karate students learn various self-defense techniques that will help if bullying escalates to physical violence. Bullies lack em-pathy and ignore the feelings of oth-ers. Karate can prevent bullying by helping bullies develop the capacity for empathy in fellow students.

Next time you are looking for an activity for your child, consider Ka-rate, which can proactively change your child. Lone Star Karate is lo-cated at 222 FM 359 at Hwy 90 in Richmond. For more information, call 281-513-5566.

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Advertorial


Dr. Malik Kutty

GuadalupeRIVERFRONT DUPLEXEach duplex can accommodate four adults and four children or rent both for groups.

More pictures at RioRatonDuplex.com book at 832-788-2294

E V E N T S

February 4th Tuesday, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Healthy Teeth Pediatric Dentistry Meet and Greet Join Healthy Teeth Pediatric Dentistry for light bites and free goody bags at 4907 Sandhill Drive Suite E in Sugar Land. Dr. Shilpa Chandiwal will be on hand to provide pediatric oral hygiene information to parents and children. Call 713-955-2100.

February 8th Friday, 5:30 – 10:30 pm “Reading Between the Wines”The Literacy Council of Fort Bend County invites you to an event featuring New York Times best-selling authors Leila Meacham and Taylor Stevens along with guest authors John DeMers, Stephanie Jaye Evans and Crystal Allen. Enjoy food and wine from local vendors. Visit www.ftbendliteracy.org or call 281-240-8181.


Letosha Gale, M.D.Family Medicine

Memorial Hermann Medical Group benefits:

• Electronic Medical Records let your doctor instantly view your medical records, including test results and medications, to ensure your coordinated, optimal care.

• Patient Portal allows you to actively monitor your health, complete paperwork, refill prescriptions and communicate directly with your doctor.

South Texas Medical Clinics, part of Memorial Hermann Medical Group, is a uniquely advanced team of primary care doctors and specialists. Our singular focus is to practice evidence-based medicine while delivering the highest level of collaborative, quality patient-centered care.

To schedule, call 281.344.0207.

South Texas Medical ClinicsBrazos Town Center7607 Town Center Blvd.in the Target wingRosenberg, TX 77471

Our newest dOctOr will see yOu nOw.

Join Our Team! Send resume to [email protected]

Exceptional Readers. Exceptional Clients.

EXCEPTIONAL SALES PROFESSIONALS.

ABSOLUTELY! WE’RE HIRING NOW!

February 8th and 22nd Friday, 9:30 am – 12 pmFaithful Moms Join other mothers for fellowship, camaraderie and support in a safe, positive environment. Childcare, crafts, guest speakers, food and an opportunity to build lasting relationships with other Christian mothers is provided. All meetings are held in the Chapel at Faith United Methodist Church, located at 4600 FM 359 in Richmond. For more information, text 281-330-8260 or email [email protected].

February 12th Tuesday, 10 am African-American Family History Research Library staff from the Genealogy and Local History Department at Fort Bend County Libraries will present the introductory program “African-American Genealogy 101” in the Computer Lab at George Memorial Library, located at 1001 Golfview in Richmond. The program is free and open to the public. To register online, visit http://www.fortbend.lib.tx.us/, click on “Calendar” and select “George Memorial.” Call 281-341-2608.

February 24thSunday, 3 - 5 pmAggie Ring Wraps Trunk ShowPatent pending Ring Wraps are a matching pair of custom made 10K yellow gold diamond ring wraps containing .60 carat total weight of common prong set round brilliant cut diamonds meticulously sculpted to fit snug against the modern Aggie ring for women. Stop by Southern Sister Designs located at 817 Third Street in Rosenberg for this exclusive trunk show featuring the newest Aggie trend. Call 281-232-7737.

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


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Gated CommunityLake Lots AvailableBuy Now, Build Later!

www.TEJASLAKES.com

Acreage Lots from the 40’s!

DEDICATED TOHOPEHEALINGANDRECOVERY

1550 First Colony Blvd. Sugar Land, TX 77479281-275-6000 • www.KindredHospitals.com

• Long Term Acute Care• Inpatient Rehabilitation

Featuring Quality Measures, Managed Care & Family Education

Kindred is pleased to Announce these Appointments

Lorene Perona,RN, MS, ACHEas President and CEO

Dr. Laura Griffin, APRN, ACNP-BC, DNP as Chief Nurse Executive

N E W S W O R T H Y

Find out who Fort Bend’s “Top Chef” is in February at the Lamar Edu-cational Award Foundation’s (L.E.A.F.) annual Men Who Cook, presented by SiEnviro. Men Who Cook will feature the culinary treats of 49 “celebrity” cooks, along with dancing and auc-tions. The event will be held February 16th at 6:30 pm in the Texas Ballroom at Safari Texas Ranch. Jeff Council will be the auctioneer for the evening, and the Ken Mondshine and the Brother-hood Band will provide the evening’s musical entertainment.

Proceeds from the evening are used to support the creative ideas and class-room projects by Lamar CISD teach-ers that would otherwise go unfund-ed. L.E.A.F. also offers scholarship to graduating Lamar CISD students and to paraprofessionals working on their teaching certificates. In 13 years of existence, L.E.A.F. has invested more than $1.69 million into LCISD schools.

Tickets for the gala are $60. For more information regarding L.E.A.F. or to purchase tickets, contact Janice Knight at 832.223.0334.

Who is Fort Bend County’s “Top Chef?”

Front Row: Chip Sutton of Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson; Ed Bailey, Gilbane; Janice Knight, Carolyn Banfield, Doris Gurecky, Gurecky Manu-facturing Company and Lorin Pargoud, PBK. Back Row: Mark Magee, Amegy Bank of Texas; Charles Carter, UnitedHealthcare; Ryan O’Hara, BOSC Inc; Jeff Hailey, SiEnviro and Mike Swierka, Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott.


Rustic Kuts Furniture and Western Decor

One of a kind unique rustic furniture, western art, mantles, bedding

kitchen/bath accessories

Come see our new Boutique• Silver Jeans• Scully Jackets• Rancho Estancia• Corral Boots

828 Third Street • Historic Downtown Rosenberg

Like us on Facebook281-232-6033

Open Tues.-Sat. 10:00am to 5:30pm Sun. 11:00am to 5:00pm

www.RusticKuts.com


IN THEHEARTB R A Z O S

OUT&ABOUT

Shoppers enjoyed the fabulous holiday decorations and Christmas treats inside

Red Queen’s Attic Antiques, including JoAnn and John Walthers.

Beverly Cowen and Liz Melton slowed down to enjoy wassail and cookies provided by Red Queen’s Attic.

Scott and Keith Sawyer rested from strolling the sites at

Christmas in Rosenberg.

Christmas in Rosenberg on December 1st featured the talent of performers Amanda Monteith, Katelyn Campbell, Addie Ralph, Hannah Bohnsack, Whitney Porter and Madelyn Williamson.

Cute as a button Toni Marie New helped bring in the Christmas cheer as she sang Christmas songs for an audience at the annual Christmas in Rosenberg event.

Southern Sisters Designs, one of downtown Rosenberg’s active merchants, held a fashion show during Christmas in Rosenberg. Models Kaleigh Hein, Morgan Satterwhite, Taylor Cisneros and Jana Simoneaux wowed attendees with their fun fashion.


Kyle Capel and John Myers of Foster High School’s leadership program attended Miracle on Morton Street to help the post

office provide letters available for the children to write to Santa. The leadership program is an annual summer training program

sponsored by the Central Fort Bend Chamber Alliance to introduce high school kids to foundations of leadership skills.

Christmas carolers Marcie Doss, Jason Sweatt, Erika Waldorf, Gavin Doss, Taylor Sweatt, Addison Doss,

Kiley Ritchards, and Aedin Waldorf were all smiles in their costumes, courtesy of Richmond Historical Association,

for Historic Downtown Richmond’s Miracle On Morton Street.

Among the families who enjoyed Miracle on Morton Street on December 1st were Steve, Mary, Ashley and Brandon Budd.

Erin and Shawn Hearon enjoyed the various holiday

sights and activities at Fulshear’s Tree Lighting event.

Many families kicked off the Christmas season at Fulshear’s Christmas Tree Lighting on December 1st, including Amanda, Landon, Travis and Annabelle Hill.

The First Annual Christmas Tree lighting in Downtown Richmond was attended by Commissioner Bill Dostal, Terri Vela, Commissioner Gary Gillen and Glen Gilmore, among others.


IN THEHEARTB R A Z O S

OUT&ABOUT

Members of Rosenberg City Council joined City staff and project team members on Tuesday, December 18th to officially break ground on Fire Station No. 3 which will be located at the corner of FM 2977 and August Green Drive and will house an additional fire crew and pumper for the City of Rosenberg. Construction of the station is expected to be complete in Fall 2013. Pictured are Lynn Foster, LDF Construction; Lisa Andel and Ray Holliday, BRW Architects; Rosenberg Fire Chief Wade Goates; Councilors Cynthia McConathy and Tom Suter; Mayor Vincent M. Morales, Jr.; Councilors Juan Salazar and Dwayne Grigar; former Rosenberg Fire Chief Kathy Hutchens; Melissa Peña, Project Manager and Donald Robson, LDF Construction.

The McNeill Elementary National Elementary Honor Society conducted a toy drive for the women’s center during the month of December. The students collected 300 toys that found homes this holiday season with children in need. Pictured are Honor Society officers Meggie Wang, Princess Ajibola, Alexia Partouche, Melissa Schmidt, NEHS advisor and Lex Pham.

Students at McNeill Elementary donated 1,000 pounds of food

to the Student Council Can Drive during the holiday season. The food

was donated to Helping Hands. Pictured are Student Council

officers Meggie Wang, Emma Martinez, Caitlyn Gutierrez, Kayla Cruz and Katie Freer.

Project L.E.A.R.N. (Let’s Eliminate At-Risk Needs) family literacy program Director Paula Bauer and L.E.A.R.N. Parent Educator Kristie Allen handed out a book to Paola Navarro, a fifth grader at Travis Elementary. Dennis and Doris Dahse and Shirley Connally were also on hand at L.E.A.R.N.’s annual Christmas party to represent the Fort Bend County Retired Educators Association, which donated books to all the children in Project L.E.A.R.N.


Larry Caldwell, D.D.S.

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

Laser Soft Tissue Removal • Accepting New Patients

A N D A S S O C I A T E S

Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry

A Special Placefor Special People

Specializing in Dentistryfor Children and those

with Special Needs

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

www.larrycaldwelldds.comCheck us out on Facebook!

MedCare Milestones3rd annual

Spring Bling

Prize for Best Bling Ensemble

$30 Per TicketIncludes Food, 2 Indulgences

and Bling Raffle Ticket

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Bring all your girlfriends to the ultimate girl’s night in! Come prepared to get pampered for a cause and shop for clothes, jewelry and home décor. Additional indulgences

and drinks can be purchased for a minimal cost.

Purchase tickets by calling 713-773-5123 or visit www.medcaremilestones.org. All proceeds to benefit MedCare Milestones, directly aiding children in need locally & around the world.

2013 Spring Bling Participants & Sponsors

N E W S W O R T H Y

Literacy CouncilAnnounces Partnership

with Blue Willow Bookshop for Reading Between the Wines

The Literacy Council of Fort Bend County is thrilled to announce a partnership with Blue Willow Bookshop for all books sales at the inaugural event Reading Between the Wines on February 8, 2013 at Safari Texas Ranch.

The Literacy Council has two New York Times best-sell-ing authors speaking at the event, Leila Meacham author of Roses and Tumbleweeds, and Taylor Stevens, author of The Informationist and The Innocent. Other guest authors include Houston food icon, John DeMers, and local Sugar Land authors, Stephanie Jaye Evans and Crystal Allen.

“We have worked with Valerie Koehler and Blue Willow Bookshop in the past and have looked for opportunities for a repeat performance,” said Brenda Bowman, Executive Direc-tor for the Literacy Council. “This is the perfect partnership for two organizations passionate about authors, books and read-ing, and they will make book sales very easy for our guests.”

Participants may either pre-pur-chase books prior to the event or purchase the evening of the event. To pre-purchase, go to the Blue Willow Bookshop website at http://bluewil-lowbookshop.com/event/reading-between-wines. Books that are pur-chased prior to the event will be at will call ready for guest pick-up and author signings the night of the event.

For ticket sales, sponsorships or more information about Reading Be-tween the Wines, visit www.ftbendlit-eracy.org/ or call 281.240.8181.

Brenda Bowman, Executive Director of the Literacy Council of Fort Bend County and Valerie Koehler, owner of Blue Willow Bookshop.


B R A Z O S VA L E N T I N E ’ S D AY G I F T G U I D E

things weLove

SOUTHERN SISTER DESIGNSOne-of-a-kind cuffs handcrafted from vintage leather belts and vintage spoons hand stamped with “mama tried” and embellished with Swarovski crystals ($26). Custom orders are available. Southern Sister Designs, 817 Third Street in Historic Downtown Rosenberg. Call 281-232-7737; www.southernsisterdesigns.com.

DON’T LET YOUR HANDS AGE YOURevision’s Lumiquin hand cream plumps, rejuventates and revitalizes your hands so they appear significantly younger

and more beautiful! This potent blend of anti-oxidants and extracts are proven to correct dullness, wrinkles,

hyperpigmentation and more! Sugar Land Plastic Surgery. Call 281-980-8000; www.mybodysurgeon.com.

BEAUTIFUL SKIN FOR YOUR VALENTINETake 20% off Obagi Products for your home treatment regimen. Timeless Plastic Surgery, 1327 Lake Pointe Parkway #300 in Sugar Land. Call 281-242-TIME (8463); www.TimelessPlasticSurgery.com.

A GIFT TO MAKE YOU SMILE

Start this New Year off with Sparkles™ - A unique and

delicate sparkling wine! Sparkles™ is gentle, uplifting

and fragrant. Braman Winery, 3333 FM 359 in Richmond.

Call 281-762-1375; www.bramanwine.com.

I AM WOMANAre you experiencing symptoms of fatigue, weight gain, mood swings,

depression and more? If so, I Am Woman will speak to you and start you on a path of healing. Dr. Shel Wellness and Medical Spa, 1437 Hwy 6, Suite 100 in Sugar Land.

Call 281-313-7435.


LET’S COWGIRL UP!Shopping for unique western wear and décor? Look no further. Rustic

Kuts furniture western decor and boutique has it all. Rustic Kuts, 828

3rd Street in Historic Downtown Rosenberg. Call 281-232-6033;

www.Rustickuts.com.

D&S ANTIQUES AND REFINISHINGGive the gift of an antique piece of furniture that

has been refurbished to its original beauty! D&S Antiques & Collectables Mall, 801 2nd Street,

Ave E in Rosenburg. Call 281-232-0035.

SKIN CARE SYSTEMLuxe Plastic Surgery offers the Jan Marini skin care system – a complete set of products that makes other individual products unnecessary. A special pigment blending agent evens skin tone, and for a limited time the Jan Marini retinol is included free. (Jan Marini MD system, $350) Luxe Plastic Surgery. Call 281-313-0551.

BEAUTIFUL EYES IN ONE PERFECT PACKAGE

This perfect gift includes Obagi ESLASTIderm™ Eye Cream or Eye Gel, Obagi ELASTILash™ Eyelash Solution

and Obagi’s Jewelry Travel Case, all for $99. Sugar Land Face and Body Plastic

Surgery,16926 Southwest Freeway in Sugar Land. Call 281-313-0555; www.BeautyBecomesYou.com.

VALENTINE’S DAY SPECIAL Show her your love with our featured Valentine sterling silver Lagos bracelet with triple “X” caviar design. Limited quantity at a special price of $295. Open Tuesday – Friday 10 am to 6 pm and Saturday 10 am to 3 pm. J Loggins Jewelers, 14015 Southwest Freeway.in Sugar Land. Call 281-242-2900; www.jloggins.com.

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Living in this world today, we take so much for granted. We wake to electricity and fresh water, stoves,

microwaves and shopping at our finger-tips. Chores are making beds and feeding the dog a can of food. We open the refrig-erator to an array of ready made meals to satisfy the palate.

About two hundred years ago, Amer-icans were traveling on this land for the first time searching for food, shelter and a place to call home. Our heritage began with the explorer, the motivator, those with the foresight to dream big. Fort Bend County was considered the land of opportunity, and as the popula-tion grew, people traveled to a small city called Richmond.

When the early settlers headed north from Galveston, they were impressed by the beautiful land and rivers surround-ing them. It was an easy task to find an area to build a home and business. Only about fifteen miles from Houston, the City of Richmond was established in 1837 by Robert Eden Handy and busi-ness partner William Lusk. The name came from Richmond, England and was incorporated by the Republic of Texas as the seat of government for Fort Bend County. The city began building the

framework with a church and newspa-per; land was four cents an acre. Beau-tiful plantation homes were constructed where well-known residents lived includ-ing, Erastus (Deaf) Smith, General Sam Houston’s scout, Jane Long, the mother of Texas and Mirabeau B. Lamar, the fa-ther of Texas education.

By 1851, this community had a brick court house, two stores, a Masonic Hall and an Academy. Then, in 1855, the Buf-falo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado Rail-road came to town. Richmond continued to prosper as a market center for the re-gion’s cotton plantations with easy pas-sage into and out of the city. By 1859, the settlers of Richmond made this city one of the richest counties in Texas.

Before the Civil War, Richmond be-came a thriving “cattle empire.” Cotton, corn, livestock, hides, sugar and molasses were shipped from the town. The popula-tion was growing and virtually unaffected by the war. The power brokers resided in the city. Many emancipated slaves moved to Richmond to begin life again and took control of the local politics. In 1888, the famous Jaybird-Woodpecker War ensued. The wealthy white Democrat Jaybirds

sought to gain control of the government from the Woodpecker officials that held office as a result of the black vote for the Republican ticket. Many people became bitter enemies as a result of this feud. Conflict lasted for a year; hostilities and huge set backs resulted. Lives were lost on both sides, and the city became an armed camp where the “Battle of Richmond” was fought. Fighting took place around the courthouse, the National Hotel and the McFarlane residence. Finally on August 17, 1889, the Houston Light Guards ar-rived to establish martial law. A reorgani-zation of the government occurred and the Democrats once again controlled Rich-mond. They dominated Fort Bend politics for the next seventy years.

A 19th century plantation: the Moore Home.

The Brazos River in Richmond, Texas.

Today, the citizens of Richmond are at peace with one another. The community is culturally diverse and prospering with nearly 13,000 residents. The city is easy to get around and conveniently desirable to Houston commuters. Reminders of its history still remain with the oldest known churches, cemeteries and Masonic monu-ment in the state, as well as many of the original buildings that are still in use. With such a rich history, Richmond is a great place to live.

The McFarlane residence in the late 19th century.

A Rich Historyin Richmond


INSIDE BACK

INSIDE BACK

C o m i n g F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 3

Most FascinatingThings about Fort Bend

C e l e b r a t i n g O u r 1 0 0 t h I s s u e

fortbendfocus.com

P E O P L E • P L A C E S • H A P P E N I N G S

BACK

BACK

As one of Thomson Reuters’ 100 Top Hospitals,® we’re setting a higher standard for healthcare.

Every year, Thomson Reuters conducts a quantitative study to determine the top 100 U.S. hospitals delivering exceptional care–care that saves lives, decreases the length of patient stays and minimizes complications. For the second consecutive year, Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital made this prestigious list. We’re honored to be recognized

a long w ith Memor ia l Hermann Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, Katy and The Woodlands hospitals.

one of THe

ToP 100HOSPITALS

in THe naTion.

february 2013 - absolutely brazos magazine

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