April-2013- Absolutely Katy Magazine

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KATY'S FINESTIN MEDICINE

Living with Autism What's Kickin'in KATY?Meet Mia & Tyler

KISDAdvocates forKaty's Future

APRIL 2013

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Methodist West Houston Hospital Emergency Department

www.absolutelykaty.com l APRIL 2013 1

With multiple pediatric subspecialties conveniently located on site, our expertsoffer top care for kids. From allergy and asthma to physical therapy to radiology, our specialist clinics are staffed by experts in their fields using the most advanced facilities – all designed specifically for children and their families. They’re one reason why U.S.News & World Report ranked us as the top pediatrichospital in Texas. The next time your child needs medical care, come to us.We’re all about kids.

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APRIL 2013 l TO ADVERTISE CALL 281.690.42422

CONTRIBUTORS

18

Kelly NolanSimply Divine Interiors Page 18

A P R I L 2 0 1 3 | V O L U M E 1 0 | N U M B E R 4

32

Steve KursarAuto EnthusiastPage 32

14

Jennifer L. Evans Out & About In the Heart of KatyPage 14

8

Stephenie Coxabsolutely! MemorialPage 8

10

Robin Ebrechtabsolutely! Fabulous FindsPage 10

12

Henry DibrellKaty ISD School BoardPage 12

30

Mary RainesWhat’s Kickin’ in KatyPage 30

21

Nancy L. Rommelmann PLLC Family Law Attorney Page 21

C O V E R S T O RY

6 LIVING WITH AUTISM In honor of Autism Awareness Month, meet two wonderful Katy families who are coping with the diagnoses of Autism and makingsure their children are thriving.

F E AT U R E S

22 MEDICAL FOCUS Get to know Katy’s finest medical providers.

C O L U M N S

10 absolutely! FABULOUS FINDS

12 THE ADVOCACY ROLE

21 WHAT TERMS IN A DIVORCEDECREE CAN BE MODIFIED?

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

16 BUSINESS BRIEFS

24 MEDICAL BRIEFS

H O M E

18 IT’S ALL IN THE SOFA

N E W S W O RT H Y

25 KATY ROBOTICS TEAMInvited to North American Championship Tournament

29 PIN OAK CHARITY HORSE SHOW What to Wear to that Equestrian Affaire

C O M M U N I T Y E V E N T S

30 WHAT’S KICKIN’ IN KATY

a b s o l u t e l y ! H E A LT H Y L I V I N G

26 absolutely! Q&ATexas Children’s Hospital West Campus Answers Your Questions About Allergy/Immunology

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

08 APRIL IS NATIONALGRILLED CHEESE MONTH

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

32 2013 DODGE DURANGO

I N E V E RY I S S U E

4 PUBLISHER’S PREVIEW

14 OUT & ABOUT IN THE HEART OF KATY

ON THE COVER:Mia Gonzalezand Tyler Garza

Photography byHallie Keller

Antonio, Mia and Veronica Gonzalez


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Publisher, LARA BELL

Vol. 10 No. 4April 2013

Hi everybody! Happy spring! I can hardly believe we are into April! April is always a colorful month for me – the spring flowers have started blooming, the Easter bunny has already come, and now, we are actually preparing for summer and end of school parties, graduation, prom and everything else.

In this issue, we are also celebrating two remarkable families whose children have a form of Autism. I know many people and have many friends who have children living with this developmental disorder every day. April is National Autism Month so we are taking a look at places in the Katy area that help with families who live with the disorder, as well as tell you about a great event the Sugar Land Skeeters Baseball team and Hope For Three are doing to help raise awareness and money.

Also, be sure and check out Jennifer Evan’s Out and About in the Heart of Katy column. We love seeing and publishing your photos – everything from fundraisers to fun girls’ nights out to kids doing cool things – so keep them coming!

And finally, as I said last month, we need and want your story ideas. I was thrilled that so many people emailed me about some of the fantastic people, places and happenings in Katy over the last few weeks. Please keep your ideas coming because this magazine is all about the wonderful community of Katy!

Absolutely yours,

LaraLara [email protected]

EXCLAMATION POINTS!THE INSIDE SCOOP STRAIGHT FROM THE TOP

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absolutely! KatyTM Magazine is published by absolutely! focus media, 4655 Techniplex Dr., Ste. 400, Stafford, TX 77477. Copyright © 2013 by absolutely! focus media. All rights reserved. Reproduc-tion without permission is strictly prohibited. absolutely! KatyTM Magazine does not knowingly accept false or misleading adver-tising or editorial, nor do the publishers assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. absolutely! KatyTM Magazine welcomes editorial submissions from its readers.

Subscription requests are free to Katy area addresses. Annual paid subscription

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

E DI TOR- I N - C H I E F Patti Parish-Kaminski

P U B L I SH E RLara Bell

AC C OU N T E X E C U T I V E S Bonnie Bell Woodrow

Melissa HuckabeeBrittany Smith

A RT DI R E C TORGrace Belleza

G R A P H IC DE SIG N E R SGinger Garza

Christopher Hernandez

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

Sarah Greeson

A D M I N I S T R AT I V E D I R E C T O RErin Sanders

W E B DE SIG N E R Joey Belleza

P H O T O G R A P H E RHallie Keller

C O N T R I BU T O R SStephenie CoxHenry DibrellRobin Ebrecht

Jennifer L. EvansSteve KursarKelly NolanMary Raines

Nancy L. Rommelmann PLLC

I N T E R NBunty Keo

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

Lara Bell-Milam

Calling all mommies in Sugar Land, Katy and Memorial areas! Dr. Shel and a panel of judges will select one lucky mom from each of these areas to win a laser facial, laser hair removal package, an autographed copy of Dr. Shel’s book I am Woman and much more!

One grand prize winner* will be chosen, and she will win over $10,000 in prizes to include: Coolsculpting fat reduction, Botox, Radiesse, Juvederm, a hormone evaluation test and much more for a complete Mommy Makeover! Enter today and see if you’ll be the lucky grand prize winner!

The Contest Details

Dr. Shel’s Annual Mommy Makeover Contest

*One runner up will be chosen from each area: Sugar Land, Katy and Memorial. From the top three winners, one lucky grand prize winner will be selected.

• Nominations can be submitted by friends,children, brothers, sisters – anyone who knows a deserving mom.

• Submit a 300 word essay to tell why your lovedone is deserving of a Mommy Makeover! And moms, you are free to nominate yourself!

• Send a photo of the nominee, name, email adress and phone number to: [email protected]. (Any entries received without this information will be invalid and not eligible.)

• Submit nomination by April 15, 2013 tobe considered for judging.

• Mark your calendars to attend the“Mother’s Appreciation Luncheon” on April 30, 2013 from noon to 2 pm at Dr. Shel Wellness and Medical Spa to announce the lucky winners.

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from left

ery little thing is a big deal in our lives. My fantastic little girl is everything that I ever dreamed she would be. She amazes me every day.” – Veronica Gon-zalez, Mia’s Mom

COVER STORYBy Lara Bell

Defining AutismAutism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the

first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. While each individual with autism is unique, some behaviors may include lack of eye contact, lack of inflection, monotonous tone of voice when speak-ing, repetitive behaviors like flapping hands, spinning or rocking and extreme sen-sitivity to sensory stimuli like loud noises, bright lights or strong smells.

One in 88 children have autism, with 1 in 54 boys and 1 in 252 girls diagnosed, according to the Center for Disease Control. Here in Texas, 11 of every 1,000 chil-dren have autism. To break it down even more, over 2,200 children with Autism are currently being served in the Fort Bend County public school systems.

Autism takes a huge toll on families, not just emotionally, but financially includ-ing the life-long cost to care for a person with Autism, which is estimated to range from $3.2 to $5 million. Therapies and treatments are estimated to range $600 to $800 weekly per child and are often not covered by insurance. The cost to attend specialized schooling in the Fort Bend/Houston area is $61,997 per child annually.

So how did the families we met find out their children had Autism, and how do they cope? Here are their stories.

D o you know a family in Katy who has a child with Autism? Chances are you do, and when I researched this story, I came to find out the numbers are stag-

gering. April is Autism Awareness Month so we met two families in Katy – the Garza family and the Gonzalez family – to see how they coped with the diagnoses of Autism, and I have to say these families and their kids were awfully amazing!

One of my favorite sayings in the world of Autism is, ‘If you've seen one child with Autism, you've seen one child with Autism.’ Autism, it is a de-velopmental disability, a neurological disorder that has an effect on normal brain function. It effects the communi-cation and social skills. Many people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) will typically stick to a certain pat-terns, and do not like minor or major changes in their daily routine.

“But not everyone with ASD is on the same level. Each person who has ASD is so unique. I can only speak for myself on this matter. My daughter, Mia, at the time of her diagnoses only had some symptoms of Autism and did not have some of the typical symptoms a child her age with Autism would

have, which made her diagnosis harder for us to initially except. She was diag-nosed when she was about three-years-old through a process that took about a year and half. Throughout the process of getting a diagnosis, it was very frus-trating. I remember thinking to myself we should just treat the symptoms and worry about the diagnosis later.

“Soon after her third birthday, Mia was accepted into The Westview School that specializes in teaching children with Autism. She remained there for six years, but the school’s ultimate goal is to get our kiddos ready for a mainstream classroom. Mia is now in a mainstream classroom in Katy ISD. Ultimately, every child has their own success. Some may be more dramatic than others, but every milestone is im-portant. Autism has taught me that ev-


AutismLiving with

Mia Gonzalez

Antonio, Mia andVeronica Gonzalez

Tyler Garza and Mia Gonzalez

“Tyler is a 10 year-old boy who loves playing with his brother at the park, Angry Birds and anything Thomas the Tank Engine! He is su-per sweet and silly and gives the best hugs. Tyler also has Autism and a range of serious health issues that be-gan occurring after receiving five vac-cinations while sick with a cold at age 13 months.

“Diagnosed at 19 months old as having regressive Autism, meaning he had been developing typically prior to this point and then lost skills, Tyler has been in intense therapy ever since and has come a long, long way. By the grace of God nine days after being di-agnosed, I met two moms who saved Tyler's life.

“Leslie Phillips, who is the current President of Katy Autism Support, told me that there was much we could do to restore Tyler's health and try to heal him biomedically. She told me that I needed to do my research.

“Laura Gore, who runs Katy Learn-ing Center which is Tyler's current school, told me about a therapy that was helping her son that Tyler should start immediately while warning me it was expensive and time consuming. Boy, was she right! Tyler started on a special diet and nutritional supple-ments, as well as ABA therapy right away, and we immediately saw im-provements. We credit intense 40 hours each week behavioral therapy as the reason Tyler is able to speak today, has play and social skills and is potty trained.

“Tyler has also had many hours of Occupational Therapy, speech, cranio-sacral and hippotherapy. We have left no stone unturned and have spent an enormous amount of money, time and energy trying to recover our son to be the healthiest and happiest person he can be, but we still worry.

“As far as Tyler has progressed, there is still a strong probability that he will need life-long care and that puts our family under enormous stress. How much do we keep spend-ing now to try to help him versus sav-ing for his future? Who will care for

him when we are gone? That is the burden my husband and I feel every day but you just have to push though it and keep on trying to balance being good parents to our other son, finding joy in life and trying to have faith.

“It has been a very, very tough eight years since our son was diagnosed, but we are so blessed to have a strong marriage, family who has helped us so much and great friends. Many fami-lies are not so fortunate. Myself and other ‘veteran’ autism moms in our community are constantly trying to help newly diagnosed families. Many are single moms and have to adjust to the news that the dream they had of their child has died, but there is still hope and much that can be done.

“Leslie told me once, and I have repeated it to many newly diagnosed moms, ‘You grieve, and then, you get to work.’

“Like many special needs parents, I have had to give up a career in order to meet the needs of my children. I am a dentist who enjoyed practicing in the Katy area for nine years. I had to stop practicing two years ago to be able to get all of the therapy, doctor visits and other needs taken care of for my son as he is getting bigger and harder to handle.

“One of my favorite quotes is, ‘If you make a mess of raising your chil-dren, none of your other successes matter.’ My whole focus is now on


keeping both my boys healthy and try-ing to look ahead to their future.

“Like all special needs families, we try not to let the disability run our lives, but there are some days that can be pretty rough. Our older son, Ryan, is 12 years-old and is the best big brother ever. He is so sweet and patient with Tyler; it is a joy to see. The sweet smiles of our boys and the love they have for each other is our greatest blessing.” – Lisa Graham-Garza, Tyler’s Mom.

Tyler Garza

St. Peter's United Methodist Church offers a variety of activities for children and families of children with special needs. On Sundays, vol-unteers who attend children's and youth Sunday School, SPLASH (chil-dren's worship) and regular worship, host services with children and teens with special needs.

Hope for ThreeThere are many places parents can

reach out for help and one of them is Hope for Three, a local 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to expand autism awareness, em-power and educate families, improve early diagnosis and connect families to the care and support they deserve, works year round. Hope for Three was founded in 2011 in honor of the triplet Montgomery girls, born in Fort Bend County, all of whom are on the autism spectrum.

In addition to awareness and edu-cation, Hope for Three provides finan-cial support for local families with pressing needs. For example, through their Family Assistance Awards pro-gram, Hope for Three purchased a weighted vest for a family whose child needed one to cope with sensory is-sues and to succeed in occupational therapy, but whose insurance would not pay for the pricey item.

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

St. Peter’s United Methodist Church

Tyler and Ryan Garza


The church also has a separate class for children with special needs. On Wednesday nights, buddies attend choir with children with special needs, and buddies are also offered in all of the church’s summer programs and camps to help children with special needs be more successful. On the last Friday of the month, a respite care night called Friday Night Friends is held from 6 to 9 pm. The night is for children with disabilities ages 0-12, and their siblings.

Every Friday night, coordinated through Easter Seals Parent's Night Out program, St. Peter’s hosts a par-ent's night out for teens with Autism. Bimonthly, they offer the Social Mo-tions program at the Parent's Night Out. The fourth Friday of the month is an open respite night, when a pedi-atric nurse is available.

For more information, contact Sar-ah Morrison at [email protected].

Strike Out AutismOn April 21st, the Sugar Land

Skeeters and Hope for Three will team up to Strike Out Autism at Con-stellation Field.

Strike Out Autism will feature an exclusive pre-game gathering at Constellation Field during Opening Weekend with the Sugar Land Skee-ters. The Honorable Judge Bob Hebert and Katy’s Mayor Don Elder, with 17 other Fort Bend County Mayors, will join Hope for Three for this First An-nual Family Fun Day. Families living with autism will have the opportunity to meet Skeeters players and receive autographs. Other fun-filled events include one-on-one play with a Bud-dy, a parade and the chance to run the bases after the game. Parents and caregivers are provided a much-need-ed time out to relax, unwind and enjoy the company of other adults during a social hour.

This home run opportunity is lim-ited to 100 families. More information can be found at http://hopeforthree.org/sugar-land-skeeters-info/.

It’s not clear who decides these things, but April is Grilled Cheese Month!

So, whether you are a white bread with processed cheese fan or opt for a more so-phisticated palette, it’s time to get your ooey gooey cheese on!

For most people, grilled cheese brings back memories of childhood and is one of the foods that we can say we grew up with. These tasty sandwiches have been satisfying hungry ones for nearly a century now. It first appeared on the food scene in the 1920’s. The sandwich was originally prepared open faced with shredded American cheese. Grilled cheese’s popularity grew because of the affordability of pre-sliced bread and pro-cessed cheese during the great depres-sion. It was in the 1960s that the sand-wich was made with a second slice of bread, leaving us with the grilled cheese that we know and love today.

It’s time to elevate the grill cheese and kick it up a notch. Creativity with

your grilled cheese can only result in some mouth-watering meals! The neces-sary components are bread and cheese, but you are free to get out of the box and create the best grilled cheese ever.

April is National

absolutely!DELICIOUS

By Stephenie Cox

Here are some ideas to take grilled cheese to the next level:

A world of Bread. Try different grain breads, ciabatta bread, focaccia for a crunchy texture, even good old sour dough makes a tasty start. With all of the farmers markets, local bak-eries and our staple chains, take some time to explore the bread section.

Think outside of processed food stuffs. Ditch the processed cheese and opt for goat cheese, Gruyere, whole peppercorn Brie or Gouda. I recently found a wasabi Gouda at Trader Joe’s, which was a great kick to my sandwich. Zoe’s Kitchen and Whole Foods make a fabulous pimento cheese – spiciness already provided.

Experiment with adding flavor. For a touch of sophistication, try ad-ding avocados, bacon, or poblano pep-pers – any of your favorite sides. You can spice it up with jalapeños or refine it with local mushrooms. Whatever your heart desires, it can work its way into a grilled cheese and add extra flair, and who doesn’t need a little extra flair in life!

Grilled Cheese Month


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FabulousFinds!

Versus Fit Suspension StrapsStaying fit is very important to me, and I love to find new and interesting ways to work out. My trainer introduced me to these straps, and they are awesome! You get a full body workout using these, and it’s fun, too! I know some of you are thinking that there is no part of working out that is fun, but if you work out with these and with friends, it really can be fun! They roll up and store easily in your closet and fit perfectly in your suitcase to take with you when you travel. Get fit and fabulous – swimsuit season is upon us.www.eSportsMart.com

Y ou may know me as a Katy mom of three

amazing boys and wife to Daryn, but what you may not know is that I love finding cool and unique products because, let’s face it, in a house full of boys, a girl needs her girl stuff! So, here are some things I absolutely love... and hope you will, too!

Petite Crown Earrings by Kristian AlfonsoI love these petite crown earrings – I wear them every day! They are so lightweight that I wear them to work out, but they are pretty enough to wear out to dinner, too. I own several pieces of her jewelry, but these are my favorite. If you’re trying to decide what to get your wife or mom for Mother’s Day, these earrings would be perfect.www.hopefaithmiracles.com

Personalized Planners and NotebookStaying organized is easier if you have a super cute planner. Front and back covers can be customized with any of your personal photos and then personalized with your family name. There are several layouts and colors to choose from. The website has lots of cute items that could be used for teacher gifts, too!www.erincondren.com

Decleor Self Tanning MilkIf you like to have a little color on your legs and arms without laying out in the sun for hours, then you will love this self tanner. It’s creamy, moisturizing, and it doesn’t’ have a yucky smell to it. It actually has a very pleasant scent. I’ve been using this tanner for a couple of years now, and I absolutely love it!www.decleor.com

Custom Burlap Pillow and Monogrammed Baskets by Cindy JaegerBurlap is an obsession for me right now. I love to decorate with it, so when I walked into this charming shop and saw all of the custom burlap pillows and monogrammed baskets, I was hooked! My red and natural burlap pillow embroidered with the word “Blessed” is my favorite. Cindy will make any size or color you choose. Check out her baskets, too. They are beautiful!www.cindyjaegerdesigns.com



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Finance • Support the restoration of public ed-

ucation appropriations to the 2010-2011 per-student level.

• Maintain a fast-growth allotment within any revision to the existing school finance and formula system.

• Fund the New Instructional Facility Allotment (NIFA) in the 2014-15 bienni-ums at levels that support the pace of es-calating start-up cost.

• Maintain the defined benefit plan for the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) that has served Texas for the last 75 years.

• Do not pass any new legislation for which adequate funding is not ap-propriated.

Governance • Support less intrusive government

by leaving authority and meaningful dis-cretion to the locally elected school board of trustees.

• Support legislation allowing local districts greater flexibility in setting the school calendar.

Assessment • Reduce the number of End of Course

(EOC) test requirements from 15 to 5 and permanently repeal the use of the EOC exam as 15% of the student’s final grade.

• Support the repeal of the cumulative score requirement for graduation.

• Support a 24-credit foundation di-ploma.

TheAdvocacy Role

By Henry Dibrell

• Fund costs associated with manda-tory testing and remediation of EOC fail-ures and Student Success Initiative (SSI) requirements.

• Support the exclusion of English Language Learners’ (ELLs) assess-ment results from the accountability system for the maximum appropriate amount of time.

Accountability • Support delaying the implementa-

tion of the new statewide accountability system until it accurately reflects student achievement and progress.

The Katy ISD school board will be sending this information out to all of our legislators and our community. We also work with other state wide agencies to support positive legislation on behalf of children and the Katy community. At the recent TASB (Texas Association of School Boards) convention, Trustee Bill Proctor served as the Katy ISD Delegate to help shape the TASB Legislative priorities. Trustee Joe Adams is s member of the State TASB Board, which gives us a loud voice across the state.

I would like to thank some of our lo-cal officials for all of their hard work in Austin and their open doors: Rep-resentative Bill Callegari, Representa-tive John Zerwas, State Senator Glenn Hegar and State Senator Joan Huff-man. Thank you for your hard work on behalf of our children.

One of the most important roles of a school board member is advo-

cacy. We advocate in many ways. Our community engagement program is one area, but an unseen and very important area, is helping to shape legislation. We give our time and our money to travel to Austin to meet with Texas legislators to advocate on behalf of children and the community.

On a recent trip, Board President Fox, Harris County Precinct Chairman Susan Patrick and I had an opportunity to talk with many of our Katy area elect-ed officials. We talked about testing, school choice, local control of calendar and the big one: finance.

One of the difficult things about edu-cation legislation is the vast diversity of all of our school districts in Texas. Katy ISD is a district of 65,000 students, one of the largest in the state. Most dis-tricts across the state are very small; 250, 1000, 2000 students is quite com-mon. This presents a huge dilemma in that what works in rural communities does not work in an urban setting and will not work in a suburban area. Your Katy ISD Trustees have taken the time to look at legislation that is of special in-terest to Katy ISD and prepared a list of priorities for this legislative session. Please join with us in supporting these initiatives and consider talking to your representatives regarding them so we can see Katy ISD shine. The following are those priorities:

Katy ISD 2012-14 Legislative Priorities

Henry Dibrell, Susan Patrick, Rep. John Zerwas and Rebecca Fox.


4/30/13. Spring Specials!

April Special

281-712-2493


Lauren Jones gracefully shows off her pig, “Pierre.”

Johnnie Steffek and Anne Richardson compared notes for shopping later.

Jennifer Ashman-Porter, SLJH Counselor, and Dr. Imelda Medrano, SLJH Principal, with Kelly Lyons.

Kelly Lyons, an 8th grader at Seven Lakes Junior High (SLJH), inspired her school to host a pep rally to raise money for Crohn’s and Coli-tis Foundation South Texas Chapter. Students, parents, faculty and staff participated and donated to show support and raised almost $1,000 for the foundation. Kelly herself is battling against Crohn’s Disease, and she decided to do something about it by starting her own charity, the Lucky 15, where she makes jewelry and t-shirts to help educate the community. Lucky 15 will host a Spirit Night at Rita’s Custard Shop on Thursday, April 25th.

One of the Katy ISD FFA Livestock Show & Rodeo’s exemplary FFA students, Lauren Jones, raised a

225-pound pig, Pierre, since he was a five-week-old, 50-pound piglet. This Katy Taylor High School junior’s work

as a Firethorne Visitor Center Guide has paved the way to pay for her FFA pig

with hopes to earn her auction monies to apply to college.

The Rodeo Fashion Show, presented annually at the Brookwood Café and Gift Shop, showcases clothing, boots and accessories from area stores benefiting the citizens of Brookwood in Brookshire. This year’s fashion show presented western wear from the Marlo Miller Boutique in Houston and Gaby’s in Fulshear and was attended by more than 200 people. absolutely! Memorial’s Suzanne Stiles stepped up to emcee with fifteen models plus fourteen Brookwood citizens who are adults with functional disabilities. Brookwood serves around 110 live-in citizens and 90 day citizens that spend their days in productive, creative work and enjoy time with their Brookwood family and friends in fellowship and recreation.IN THE

HEARTK AT Y

OUT&ABOUT

By Jennifer L. Evans

Friends Leslie Rolb, Rebecca Flynn and Nancy Ferguson enjoyed the show and shopping afterward in the gift shop.

Sam Houston State University (SHSU) Hall of Famers Elvin Bethea, Elvin Hayes and Milo Hamilton gathered with 150 Houston-area SHSU alumni to celebrate and support the university’s championship athletic program. The

Bearkats-in-Business event was held at the Montebello high-rise in Uptown Houston. Special guests and Hall of Famers Elvin Hayes from the Houston

Rockets, Elvin Bethea from the Houston Oilers and Milo Hamilton, retired announcer for the Houston Astros, made a special appearance to inspire and

energize the crowd of Bearkats. Carolyn Faulk, SHSU alum, was the host of the Texas-themed reception that raised a record $200,000 to benefit the

athletic program at SHSU.

Carolyn Faulk, Elvin Hayes, Elvin Bethea and Milo Hamilton celebrate the Sam Houston State University’s championship athletic program.

Pete Bell and Carrie Broussard posed with Sammy the Bearkat at a Sam Houston University event.


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Pictured are honorees Tad Adams, John Mara, Woody Mann, Will Adams, Stan Stanley, John Zerwas, Frank Lombard, Cindy Zerwas, Lance LaCour and Chris Crockett. Photo by Country Park Portraits.

Enjoying some playdough fun at Chic-fil-A’s Preschool Playhouse event are Jacey Kemp and Kelsey Dean.

The Star Chapter of the National Charity League (NCL) celebrated the Senior Class of 2013 in the ballroom of the Marriott Houston Westchase recently to recognize 21 young ladies who collectively contributed over 5,000 hours to their chapter and community working through 24 local charities. Graduates include Camille Brooks, Kristen Sides, Madeline Harkins, Elisabeth Hill, Marly Adams, Mikayla Sheppard, Jaylee Inlow, Kendall McElhaney, Madison Scott, Lauren Huisman, Christen Inman, Aubrey Baker, Courtney Lovett, Rebecca Goenner, Gabrielle Deckelman, Caroline Lynch, Sadie Butler, Valerie Giles, Kylie Cole, Megan Simmons and Maranda Becci.

The Katy Area Chamber of Commerce held its 44th Annual Gala on February 22nd at Safari Texas. This year’s Gala, “A Tribute to Katy,” benefited Chamber Programs. The gala featured a silent auction, cocktails and dinner, music by local band Password, as well as the recognition of outstanding community individuals and businesses.

Ana and Zachary Hodges.Photo by Country Park Portraits.

Each Friday morning from 9:30 to 11:30 am at the Cinco Ranch Chic-fil-A, children and parents enjoy arts and crafts and story time. Pictured are Charlie Klentz, Jennifer Pierce and Tanner Klentz.


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C onveniently located in the Energy Corridor, Houston Lashology is

the only “all” Xtreme® Lashes studio in the city where clients will experience a first class experience from the beautiful spa-like studio, the Level 3 Advanced Trained and Certified stylists to lashes, adhesives and aftercare products and cosmetics. Only Xtreme® Level 3 styl-ists can purchase Xtreme® supplies in-suring that clients receive the very best in professional application.

Houston Lashology’s method of “lashing” is adhering one single exten-sion to one lash. A full, new set of ex-tensions will yield 80+ lashes per eye, and prior to an appointment, clients can discuss the look they desire with their stylist: natural, fuller, glammy, etc. The stylist will then assess the client’s lashes and shape of the eye in order to achieve the right look.

While one of their many goals is to provide their clients with the highest quality available in the industry, safety is also of the utmost importance to Hous-ton Lashology. The Xtreme® Lashes brand was founded by Jo Mouselli, a registered nurse. All of the products used at Houston Lashology are medical grade.

Visit www.houstonlashology.com or call 281-679-7050 for more information.

Houston Lashology Voted Best New Eyelash Studio


W ith over 15 years experience in the industry, Brandon Kuehler

and Light It Right are illuminating the houses and businesses of the Greater Houston Area. Kuehler has been in the Katy area for the last eight years with the company he founded after graduating from Texas Tech University in 2000. He caught the lighting bug while working for an outdoor lighting company in col-lege, even doing the lights on the Tech campus. When Kuehler graduated, he went to work with another company in Houston, but he knew that starting his own business was his real goal.

In 2004, Kuehler took the plunge and started Light It Right in Katy, where he grew up. Light It Right has grown to be a household name and earned the trust and respect of many residents and HOA’s. Light It Right strives to make dreams a reality and add value to homes; they understand that every-one takes great pride in their home, and Light It Right takes that same pride in each job they do. Each year Kuehler is in the top five for the ClaroLux Light-ing and Design award, and in 2008, he and Light It Right won the prestigious award. In 2011, he earned his Certified Low Voltage Technicians License from the Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals; he is one of five in the State of Texas.

Light It Right has grown from its in-ception in Kuehler’s parents’ house to a 4,000 square foot warehouse space in Katy, and keeps growing. Call 281-492-6630 or visit lightitright.com.

Katy’s Brandon Kuehler Succeeds with Light It Right

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At InStyle Dental Group, the founder, Dr. Firas Rahman, has placed thousands of implants over the years. Dr. Rahman excels in the "Lock Down" dentures even with patients who have been told that there is not enough bone for implants. This incredible and latest dental procedure allows patients who have dentures the security and comfort that they are lacking with "traditional dentures" alone.

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W hen shopping for a new sofa, you can get over-whelmed very quickly with the process. So where

do you start? We recommend looking at different interior design magazines to get an idea of the feel and style of a look that ap-peals to you. This can help narrow the process down quite a bit.

What are the different sofa style options? There is more than just narrowing it down to traditional or contemporary. Let’s start with the back styles. One big decision you need to make is to de-termine if you like a loose back cushion, an attached back or tight back. A loose back cushion tends to be more comfortable. How-ever, one of the biggest complaints is that the cushions smash down or move around at times. With the attached back, it gives the look of the loose even though the top of the cushion is sewn to the back of the sofa. This keeps the cushion in shape without having to bother adjusting the pillows all of the time.

So what is a tight back? There are several options of tight backs. One is a smooth, flat back with a few decorative pillows added to allow for comfort and to give the client a more custom look. Another way a tight back is achieved is with tufting. The beautiful green sofa shown above has deep tufting and has a tight seat as well. “Of course, we will recommend a few pillows to add pattern and color to your room. We love pillows!” said Heather at Simply Divine Interiors.

Another finishing detail that you shouldn’t overlook is the legs of a sofa. If you are contemporary, keep it simple with a nice ta-pered leg. Now if you are more traditional or shabby chic, there are a few more fun options. For example, the bun foot is a clas-sic, or a beautiful carved leg can set you apart from the every day sofa. If you do not want to see underneath the sofa, select a tailored skirt. If you are more in the shabby chic style, a gathered skirt can be adorable. Just don’t forget the legs; they can seem like a small detail but they play a big role!

Remember the way you and your family live. Let the sofa show your personality and style! Finally, have fun sofa shopping. It doesn’t just have to be a piece of furniture; it can be a piece of art!

For more designing tips, call Simply Divine Interiors at 832.437.3288.

Loose Back Cushion? Tight Back?

HOME FEATUREBy Kelly Nolan

It’s All in the Sofa



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FAMILY LAW

What Terms in a Divorce Decree Can be Modified?By Nancy L. Rommelmann PLLC

A court can modify terms of a Divorce Decree for Conservatorship (custody), possession and access (visitation) and child support

(including an order for health care coverage).

Modification of Conservatorship or Possession and Access

The court may modify an order if the modification is in the best interest of the child and: 1. The circumstances of the child, a conservator or other party affected by the order have “materially and substantially changed” (legal terms of art) since the earlier of the date (a.) the order was rendered or (b.) the mediated or collaborative law settlement agreement was signed; or 2. The child is at least 12 years old and has expressed to the judge in chambers the person who the child would like to live with; or 3. The conservator who has the right to designate the primary residence of the child has voluntarily relinquished the child to another person for at least 6 months.

Modification of Child Support (Increase or Decrease)

A court can also modify child support, including an order for health care coverage, as follows:1. The circumstances of the child, a conservator or other party affected by the order have “materially and substantially changed” (legal terms of art) since the earlier of the date a. the order was rendered or b. the mediated or collaborative law settlement agreement was signed; or 2. If it has been three years since the order was rendered or last modified and the monthly child support obligation differs by either 20 percent or $100 from the amount that would be awarded under the current child support guidelines.

The three year rule is not available to parties who originally agreed to a child support obligation if that amount is different from the amount that would have been awarded under the child support guidelines when the order as rendered; or3. If a person has had physical possession of a child for at least six months.

Modifications can be done by agreement of the parties, subject to the court’s approval of the agreement.

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Beauty is timeless. At Timeless, they create beauty. With two Ivy League degrees, two doctorates and two surgical residencies, Dr. Chang’s qualifications speak for themselves. One of the most skilled plastic sur-geons in the region, Dr. Chang has over 18 years of experience and train-ing and has been performing cosmetic surgery since 1995 when he did his first rhinoplasty. He has many before and after pictures, and they are real.

Timeless Plastic Surgery’s internal mission is a unique customer service initiative called Timeless Concierge Care. While Dr. Chang performs all cosmetic plastic procedures on every ethnic group, he is best known for his signature Timeless Tuck. The Time-less Tuck is a gentle blend of a tummy

10 Common Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance

1. Depression – Always feeling blue but don’t know why? Too much or too little estrogen could be the cause.

2. Achy Joints – After working out or playing with your grandkids, do you feel sore? Achy joints are a natural progression with aging, but they could also be linked to hormone imbalance.

3. Foggy Brain – Where are my car keys? Did I turn off the stove? If these are happening more often than normal, it could be a symptom of hor-mone imbalance. Cognitive function is tied to low or excessive progesterone.

4. Fatigue – Even when you get plenty of sleep, do you still feel groggy and can’t wait to get your hands on that first cup of coffee? A major indi-cator of hormone imbalance is fatigue/stress.

5. Acne and Hair – Excess levels of testosterone can cause hair growing in unwanted places for many women and acne.

6. Immunity Impairment – Stress and inflammation have been linked to impaired immunity and things like the common cold and can impair healing.

7. Mood Changes – Do your friends tread lightly around you? Low levels of testosterone could be the leading factor behind irritability or moodiness.

8. Losing Sleep – Do you ever reach that deep state of sleep? Sleep quality and the ability to fall asleep can be caused by hormone imbalance.

9. Sex – Low sex drive or sexual desire, which includes sexual dysfunc-tion, is often linked to an imbalance in hormones.

10. Loss of Muscle Mass/Gaining Weight – Does it seem like no matter how well you eat or how much you ex-ercise that you just can’t seem to lose the weight or gain muscle mass?

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tuck and liposuction that contours the waistline and removes excess abdom-inal skin. A second procedure that ap-peals to many patients is the Timeless Lift, a specialized facelift (rhytidecto-my) that removes excess skin from the face and neck giving a natural-looking improvement. Lastly, the Timeless Dimple is an advanced modification of the original procedure, the dimple-plasty, made to be more predictable and personalized. A small incision is placed inside of the cheek, leaving no scars on the face.

Dr. Chang and his staff strive to provide what their patients want, when they want it, reasonably and safely with knowledge and skill. Timeless beauty is exactly what Dr. Chang strives to give his clients at Timeless Plastic Sur-gery. Visit Timeless Plastic Surgery for a free consultation. For more informa-tion, call 281-242-TIME (8463) or visit www.TimelessPlasticSurgery.com.

Emergency medicine physicians and nurses, all specially trained and certified, are ready 24/7 to provide patients exceptional emergency care, treating a broad spectrum of ill-nesses and injuries, including severe symptoms of stroke or heart attack. Methodist cardiologists and cardio-thoracic surgeons use advanced technology to diagnose and treat the most complex cases of heart and vascular illness. The state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization labs are always on call, equipped with the tools and expertise that can make the difference between life and death to a heart attack victim. Their medi-cal staff can open blocked coronary arteries, diagnose problems and perform interventions with speed and precision like no other center in Katy or West Houston. Methodist West Houston operates the only hy-

Methodist West Houston Hospital Brings Innovative Treatments to West Houston

brid operating room within 20 miles, an imaging and surgical combination that can save time – and lives.

Located at I-10 and Barker Cypress, Methodist West Houston is construct-ed for 193 beds, 28 emergency treat-ment rooms and 15 operating rooms, with room to grow. Specialty care in-cludes cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, orthopedics, sports medicine and rehabilitation; comprehensive women’s services—labor and delivery, neonatal ICU, gynecology and breast imaging; comprehensive cancer care; neurology and neurosurgery; plastic and reconstructive surgery; urologic, gastrointestinal and otolaryngological surgery and minimally invasive surgery including robotics.

For a physician referral, visit methodistwesthouston.com or call 713-790-3333.

See ad on inside front cover.


MEDICALBRIEFS

I f current elderly Americans are a pre-cursor of what is to come, we will

experience health challenges such as diabetes, dementia, depression and functional disability in record numbers.

According to UT Physicians clini-cians, here is a snapshot of 10 of the challenges that may be staring back at baby boomers:

1. Functional Decline: According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the body loses 1 percent of muscle mass a year beginning at age 45, which can result in sarcopenia as skeletal muscle is eventually replaced with fat and the body becomes weaker. Some research has linked protein deficiency with sarco-penia.

2. Depression: Considered as preva-lent as the common cold in the elderly, depression can be the result of major life changes: retirement, losing loved ones and loss of mobility and independence. “There’s not as much of a tendency to-ward tearfulness or feelings of hopeless-ness,” says UT Physicians geriatrician Nasiya Ahmed, M.D. “Instead they have vague somatic complaints, increased pain, not sleeping or eating well or gen-eral apathy.”

3. Disease: Chronic diseases associ-ated with the aging process, including high blood pressure, stroke, cardiovas-cular disease, osteoporosis, and arthri-tis, can take their toll.

4. Polypharmacy: A term geriatri-cians are using for the number of pre-scription and over-the-counter medica-tions that elderly people are taking in alarming numbers is polypharmacy.

5. Falls: Low blood pressure, which can be a result of poorly managed high blood pressure or dehydration, can lead to dizziness. That dizziness, combined with a decreased ability of the vascular system to compensate for changes in position, is the most prevalent cause of falls.

6. Abuse and Neglect: These prob-lems, including self-neglect, continue to afflict the elderly, says UT Physicians geriatrician Carmel Dyer, M.D.

7. Financial Exploitation: Vulnerable elderly people can easily become vic-tims. “We see cases where grown chil-dren have moved back in with them and are depending on them financially,” Dr. Ahmed says.

Top 10 Health Concernsfor Baby Boomers

Thursday, October 4, 2012UT Physicians

23923 Cinco Ranch Blvd., Katy, TX 77494

8. Dementia: Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and is the fifth-leading cause of death for Americans over 65, according to the Na-tional Center for Health Statistics.

9. Caregiver Burnout: As baby boomers age, many also will be taking care of their own parents. That brings caregiver burden, which can lead to a higher risk for depression and other stress-related illnesses.

10. Death and Dying: Baby boomers will have to decide how they want to live out their lives and how they want to die. Cultural and religious beliefs will impact these decisions and physicians will need to be sensitive to that, Dr. Ahmed says.

When you select UT Physicians for your medical needs, you have access to select from over 900 physicians and 80 specialties throughout the greater Hous-ton area. Conveniently located at across from Cinco Ranch Junior High School, UT Physicians at Cinco Ranch offers family medicine, geriatric medicine, car-diology, psychiatry, plastic surgery and ophthalmology. Please call 713-486-5300 for appointments. Source: www.healthleader.org


Chau Tran, MDBoard Certified in Family Medicine

Prashant Gajwani, MDBoard Certified in Psychiatry

Grace Lindhorst, MDBoard Certified in

Ophthalmology

David McPherson, MDBoard Certified in

Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Diseases

Moiz Ahmed, MDBoard Certified in Family Medicine and Geriatrics

Primary and Specialty Medical Care for Adults, Adolescents and Children

at Cinco RanchThe Medical Practice of The University of Texas Medical School at Houston

23923 Cinco Ranch Blvd.Katy, Texas 77494

Conveniently located across the street fromCinco Ranch Jr. High School

UTPhysicians.com713-486-5300

H. Vernon Anderson, MDBoard Certified in

Cardiovascular Diseases and Interventional Cardiology

Urgent Care Walk-ins Accepted

Behrooz Saffari, MDBoard Certified inFamily Practice

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The RoboRangers, a Katy-based ro-botics team, received an invitation to the 2013 FIRST® LEGO® League North Ameri-can Tournament Championship to be held at LEGOLAND Resort in California May 17th-19th. FIRST LEGO® League (FLL®) is a global robotics program and competition designed to get children aged 9-14 excited about science and technology.

The RoboRangers have been recog-nized as an overall high-performing team during the 2012-2013 season. They re-ceived the 2nd Place Champion’s Award and 1st Place for Robot Strategy and In-novation at a qualifying event held earlier this year. The FIRST LEGO® League South Texas Regional Tournament held on Feb-ruary 25th, brought together the top 62 teams from around the region. The team was awarded 2nd Place for Project Pre-sentation and extended an invitation from FIRST LEGO® League South Texas to at-tend the 2013 FLL North American Cham-pionship Tournament.

This year’s theme, Senior Solutions, challenged FIRST LEGO® League teams to improve the quality of life for seniors by helping them continue to be indepen-dent, engaged and connected in their communities.

For more information about the Robo-Rangers, visit www.theroborangers.com.

NEWSWORTHY

Katy Robotics Team Invited to North

American Championship Tournament

Back row: Bobby Simmons, Ray Zhang and KailynO’Neal. Middle row: Marcus Fundora, Aidan LynchandMorganFontenot.Frontrow:EvanFundora,AlexConcepcionandFionaLynch.

Call us today for a free design consultation!

Call us today for a free design consultation! (832) 489-7418Decks-Pergolas-Patio CoversWoodworks

• Outdoor Kitchen• Concrete• Stonework


Q: WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON TYPES OF

ALLERGIES THAT AFFECT CHILDREN?

The two broadest categories of child-hood allergies are environmental and food allergies. Environmental allergies can include pollen, dust mites, mold and animal dander. Food allergies, which typically appear in young children, often include milk, eggs, soy, wheat, peanuts and fish or shellfish. The allergies that children develop heavily depend on what they are frequently exposed to in their natural surroundings.

Q: HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD HAS A FOOD OR

ENVIRONMENTAL ALLERGY?A good allergy

evaluation starts by taking a de-tailed history of your child’s symp-toms and per-forming a physi-cal examination. Then, your aller-gist will discuss with you if allergy testing is recom-mended.

abso

lute

ly!

Q A&

For seasonal allergies, I typically en-courage parents to wait until their child is at least three-years-old before testing, as it will be more accurate if the child has been exposed to a variety of poten-tial allergens through the different pollen seasons. Testing for food allergies and potential indoor allergens can be done at a much younger age, as exposure begins much earlier in life.

The allergy test is fairly simple. We introduce a small amount of allergens to the child by slightly “pricking” the surface of their skin. For babies and tod-dlers, the test is typically performed on their back because there’s more surface there. For older children, it is often done on their forearm because they tend to like to see what is going on, and they have fun guessing which allergen they will react to.

After about 15 minutes, we begin to see swelling around the specific aller-gens that are causing the problems.

Q: WHY SHOULD I TAKE MY CHILD TO A PEDIATRIC

ALLERGIST AS OPPOSED TO A GENERAL ALLERGY CLINIC?

It’s best to take your children to a pe-diatric-specific allergy and immunology clinic like at Texas Children’s Hospital

Allergy/Immunology

D r. Maria Buheis, pediatric allergy and immunology attending physician at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus,

answers some of the most common questions about childhood allergies.

West Campus. In a pediatric setting ev-erything from the equipment and facility is designed specifically for children. For instance, at our clinic we only see chil-dren, so we are very familiar with what type of reactions to expect from the child, as well as the common allergy test indicators.

For younger children, distractions are sometimes needed to get their attention away from the slight pinch of the prick. For these patients, child life special-ists are available who can provide toys and interact with the child to help them through what can be a scary time. Since older children like to know what to ex-pect during the allergy test, the child life specialists can help explain the entire process and can play guessing games with them to predict the allergens that will appear.

Q: WILL MY CHILD GROW OUT OF THEIR ALLERGIES?

The short answer is sometimes. For some food allergies such as milk, eggs and soy, about 60 to 80 percent of chil-dren outgrow them by school age. But only about 15 percent of children out-grow peanut allergy. It also, however, works in reverse. Your child can develop an allergy later on in life as a teenager or an adult.

If you ever have any questions, con-tact the Allergy and Immunology Clinic at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus by calling 832-227-2280.

Dr.MariaBuheis


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POLOLEARN TO PLAY Polo Jump Spectate

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Opening Day,Sunday March 31st

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NEWSWORTHY

Pin Oak Charity Horse Show and The Houston Polo Club hosted 168 support-ers of charities for children at the Second Annual “What to Wear to that Equestrian Affaire” Fashion Presentation and Lunch-eon. The event was held at The Wynden in Houston on February 28th and grossed more than $55,000 for three non-profit organizations: Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston’s Ronald McDonald House Fam-ily Rooms and Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Family Alliance.

Lynn Walsh, president of Pin Oak Char-ity Horse Show, welcomed guests and supporters to the event. Alexis Caruselle, Janine K. Iannarelli and Elizabeth Wood served as co-chairs. Casey Curry, ABC 13 KTRK TV weekday morning meteorologist and animal rescuer, served as Mistress of Ceremonies. Tootsies provided a variety of upscale casual and equestrian looks that were worn by guest models, all of whom have an association with Pin Oak Charity Horse Show and/or Houston Polo Club.

Speaking on behalf of the charities were John Scales, senior vice president of marketing and development for Texas Children’s Hospital; Leslie Bourne, execu-

Pin Oak Charity HorseShow and Houston Polo Club Host

“What to Wear to that Equestrian Affaire”

RoxanneCook,ChrisTrestenandMaryJones.

tive director, Houston’s Ronald McDonald House Family Rooms; and Gay Foust, ex-ecutive director, Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Family Alliance.

Major underwriters of this event in-cluded Momentum Land Rover Southwest Houston, Frost Bank, Hildebrand Fund, Ha-ras Dos Cavaleiros, Memorial Park Hunters, Par Avion Ltd., US Polo Association/Hous-ton Polo Club, Chris Tresten and Energy Services Inc.

Additional supporters and in-kind donors included, but are not limited to, absolutely! Memorial and absolutely! Katy Magazines, AeroSmith/Penny, CAMP Systems International, Del Fris-co’s Grille, Gabriela Dror, evamor natu-ral artesian water, Evin Thayer Studios, Flinn-Zachary Aviation, Sidney Faust (in honor of Judi McGee), Kroger, Marie My-ers-Bruns, Met & Chandon Champagne, National Jets, Terrazas de los Andes, Tootsies and Lynda L. Transier.

JanineIannarelli,ElizabethWoodandAlexisCaruselle.

PhotosbyFultonDavenport/PWLStudio.

PaigeFlanders.

April 1stHappy April Fool’s Day“It’s better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and leave no doubt.” - Mark Twain

April 5th - 6thHouston Quilter’s Guild Quilt Show 9 am to 5 pm6301 S. Stadium Lane in KatyOver 200 beautiful quilts will be on display with many vendors at a “Guild Market” fea-turing a great selection of hand-made items. There will also be a tin can raffle of special items. The drawing for the fabulous dona-tion quilt will be held on Saturday afternoon. Door prizes galore! On-site food service will be available.

Admission: Ages 14 to 64: $9.50; Seniors (65+): $8; Children (Ages 5-13): $5; Children under 5 are free. Ticket price includes en-trance for both days of the show, door prize chances, gifts, and more.

April 6th Book signing by author Linda JacobsKaty Budget Books – North Fry RoadJoin Jacobs as she signs her new book Jackson Hole Journey.

Things are not only Kickin’ in Katy – they are hoppin’ in Katy! Our growth is

continuing which is giving us a wide variety of things to see and do. Get out and about, have fun and enjoy the good Katy life.

April 7th No Housework DayMy favorite day in April – yea!

April 13thTexas Children’s Hospital Family Fun Run Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus18200 Katy Freeway in HoustonFamilies with children of all abilities are in-vited to participate in the Texas Children’s Hospital and Houston Marathon Foundation Family Fun Run. The Fun Run will include a 1K adaptive race for children with special needs, plus a longer 3K family course. For more information about the Family Fun Run, visit texaschildrens.org/funrun/.

April 16th - 18th “Play Ball” Opening Day ActivitiesSugar Land Skeeter’s Baseball Constellation Field2013 Skeeters FanFest: • Tuesday, April 16th • 11 am to 2 pm • Free for all Fans• Games, performances, Skeeters auto-

graphs, crafts and more• Single game tickets will officially go on

sale at the event• First 500 fans receive a free FanFest

t-shirt and special meet and greet with manager Gary Gaetti and Skeeters players

2013 Sugar Land Skeeters Opening Day:• Thursday, April 18th• 7:05 pm against the Long Island Ducks • Pre-game ceremonies: live music and

entertainment for all ages• Kick-off of the 2013 season• Post-game fireworks Call 281.240.HITS or visit www.sugarlandskeeters.com for tickets.

What’s Kickin’ inKatyBy Mary Raines

April 20th – 21stCommemorative Air Force’s Houston Wing 10 am to 5 pmThose big, old airplanes with the mighty en-gines will be flying again as the Commemo-rative Air Force’s Houston Wing presents its 2013 Open House at Hangar B-5, West Hou-ston Airport.

Get up close and feel the prop wash and hear the noise as radial engines power these WWII aircraft. See some of the old planes your father, grandfather or grandmother learned to fly for World War II. A $10 donation per car earns you a day of aircraft and mili-tary vehicle displays, museum exhibits and fun. The airport is located between Barker Cypress and Hwy 6 just two miles north of I-10 at 18000 Groschke Rd in Houston.

April 26th Arbor DayTime to plant a tree. Try a lime or lemon, and enjoy their fruit.

April 26th – 27thKaty Jazz FestivalKaty High School6331 Highway Blvd. in Katy This event sponsored by the Katy Jazz As-sociation features an incredible array of jazz performances, master classes and a visual arts exhibit and sales. In its 5th year, it is designed to benefit participating student jazz groups and student musicians and educators who bring top quality jazz performances to the community.Friday: Opens at 4 pm – $3; Featured Concert – 7:30 pm – $20 Saturday: Opens at 4 pm – $3; Featured Concert – 7:30 pm – $20




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T he 2013 Dodge Durango is the kind of large crossover that looks more like a rugged SUV,

ready to take on the Piney Woods and then some. It still proudly bears tough styling that’s starting to disap-pear from the SUV landscape since more and more smoothly refined crossovers are starting to dominate the road. But don’t let the Durango’s looks deceive you; it also delivers a ride that is smooth and refined with an interior to match.

Now that car-based crossovers are all the rage, most vehicles in the category concentrate on delivering better fuel economy as opposed to off-road performance. Some cross-overs advertise suspensions that can go through mud, snow and sand with the turn of a dial, but if I were you, I would avoid those conditions

DODGE DURANGOas much as you can. Some looks can be deceiving. And, though I wouldn’t take the Durango to North Africa if I were planning to cross the Sahara, I would be more comfortable driving the ranch in the Durango than I would with some other large crossover.

The Durango is also at the head of its class when it comes to tow-ing regardless of the engine you de-cide to choose. For a starting MSRP of $29,495, you get the standard 290 hp, 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine which delivers EPA-estimated fuel economy of 16 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. Mated to the standard five speed transmission, the V6 is capable of towing 6,200 lbs. Want a Hemi? Then choose the 360 hp, 5.7-li-ter Hemi which combined with a six-speed automatic transmission gets you 13 mpg city/20 mpg highway and

can tow up to 7,400 pounds.If you’re willing to add

$10,000 to the base Durango, you can get the top-of-the-line Citadel which brings true luxury to this large SUV. This package includes 20-inch wheels, ven-tilated Nappa leather-trimmed front seats and heated front and rear seats, xenon head-

lights, chrome grille insert, a sunroof, a heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise control and a navigation sys-tem with UConnect 730N to help you stay connected while you are away from home.

As gas prices continue to escalate, Americans accelerate their migration to smaller, more fuel efficient vehi-cles. But Texans will always need the capability that only large SUVs can deliver so it’s a good thing that the good people at Dodge have done such a beautiful job with the 2013 Durango.

Follow Steve Kursur at KursarOnCars.blogspot.com.

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WE’RE SOLD ON KATY

KELLY CHAMBERLAIN281.582.3984

JOSH CLARK281.582.3929

RITA DONNELLY281.582.3930

MARTHA CLARK281.582.3949

MARCIA SERAFIN281.582.3908

ROBIN MUECKPresident/CEO

JULIE PICKETT281.582.3974

SUZAN PHENICIE281.582.3904

14340 Memorial Drive • 281.493.3880 23123 Cinco Ranch Blvd., Suite 200

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April-2013- Absolutely Katy Magazine