February 2015 - Absolutely Brazos Magazine

FEBRUARY 2015

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Brazos SweetheartsFORT BEND COUNTY

CourthouseVALENTINE'S DAY

Gift Guide

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CONTRIBUTORS

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

C O V E R S T O R Y

27

Joan FrancesContributorPages 27 & 32

16

Steve KursarAuto EnthusiastPage 16

6 ROSES ARE RED…BRAZOS SWEETHEARTSThree Brazos couples – the Gureckys, the Richards and the Smiths – share what makes a successful, happy marriage, and what Valentine’s Day memories are their favorites.

F E A T U R E S

15 SMILE DOCS Meet the Finest Dental Professionals in Brazos

28 VALENTINE’S DAY GIFT GUIDE Find the perfect gift for that special someone.

C O L U M N S

27 HIGH SCHOOL HOT SHOTMeet Carson McManus

32 A LITTLE PIECE OF HISTORYThe Fort Bend County Courthouse: Justice for All

N E W S W O R T H Y

10 ROTARY HOLIDAY HAYRIDE Success in First Year

14 FORT BEND WOMEN’S CENTER Launches Online Fashion Store

21 2015 STATE OF THECITY OF ROSENBERG With Mayor Vincent Morales

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

15 MEDICAL FOCUS

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

16 2015 CHEVROLET COLORADO

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

4 PUBLISHER’S POINT OF VIEW

12 SEEN ON THE SCENE

22 OUT & ABOUT IN THEHEART OF BRAZOS

29 COMMUNITY EVENTS

30 COMMUNITY MARKETPLACE

Joe and Doris Gurecky.Photo courtesy of the Gureckys.

ON THE COVER:Bud and Lila Smith,

Doris and Joe Gurecky and

Beverly and Michael Richard.

Tim Cashion, DDS Teresa Cody, DDS

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Vol. 3 No. 3 | February 2015

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C O N T R I BU T O R SJoan FrancesSteve Kursar

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E D I T O R IA L SU B M I S S I O N [email protected]

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Publisher, PATTI PARISH-KAMINSKI

Roses are Red . . .

I’m in love with February. I get to wear red as much as I want, there’s an abundance of chocolate, hearts abound and flowers are likely to appear in my office. What’s not to love?

This issue is all about love. There’s a fabulous gift guide to help you gentlemen buy a nice gift for your valentine, and best of all, we bring you three love stories of couples who have all been married over 30 years. One is of them is actually approaching their 60th anniversary! How do they stay in love, loving one another? They share their words of wisdom on having a happy, meaningful marriage in Brazos Sweethearts.

As most of you know, I’m all about words, so I absolutely love what these three couples – the Gureckys, the Smiths and the Richards – had to say. I truly value a written sentiment, and the ones that I absolutely love, I carry with me every

day. I have two poems with me always, a favorite of my grandmother’s that I read at her funeral and another original poem written by my daughter when she was 10 years-old given to me on Valentine’s Day.

Roses are red,Violets are blue,Flowers are beautiful,And so are you! – Kassidi Kaminski, 2006

In my humble opinion, Kassidi and Napoleon both got it right expressing their heartfelt appreciation for their valentines. Napoleon wrote, “As for me, to love you alone, to make you happy, to do nothing which would contradict

your wishes, this is my destiny and the meaning of my life.” Of course, another way to phrase Bonaparte’s philosophy on love is simply: “If momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.”

Gentlemen, remember your wives and mommas on Valentine’s Day. You’ll be glad you did. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Absolutely yours,

[email protected]

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

New Year’s Eve sweethearts Patti and Tim Kaminski.

Patti and 18 year-old Kassidi Kaminski.Photo by Nesossi Studios.


absolutely! Brazos: Where and when did you

meet?

Joe and Doris Gurecky: We met in the 7th

grade while attending Needville Junior High.

AB: Where and when did you get married?

D: We were married at 9 am on November 9, 1957 at Mi-

chael’s Catholic Church in Needville, Texas.

AB: Do you have children/grandchildren?

J: We have two daughters, Pam Koepke and Tama Dor-

man, and six grandchildren: Courtney, Blake and Blair

Koepke and Kylie, Kellen, Luke and Jacob Dorman.

AB: What is your favorite Valentine’s Day memory together?

J: When we were seniors in high school, we committed to

going “steady” with one another on Valentine’s Day.

Brazos Sweethearts

L ove is in the air during February, so we decided to ask some questions about – what else – love. We talked with three couples and got their insight on what makes a successful, happy marriage, and what Valentine’s Day memories are their favor-

ites. Here’s what these three Brazos couples – the Gureckys, the Richards and the Smiths – had to say.

COVER STORY

Joe and Doris GureckyAB: What is your philosophy on marriage?

J & D: You have to work on your relationship every day.

Being Catholic, we believe that marriage is a sacrament

uniting a man and a woman, which was instituted by Christ

and should not be entered into lightly.

Roses Are Red...


AB: What is your favorite thing about your spouse?

J: Doris has always supported me in whatever I chose to

pursue – farming/ranching, starting a business or running

for mayor.

D: Joe is considerate, understanding, helpful and support-

ive. Best of all, he still opens doors for me and brings me

coffee to bed every morning.

AB: What is your advice for a happy marriage?

J & D: Even though marriage is a partnership, it is not

a 50/50 arrangement. Always commit to going the “extra

mile” by helping one another accomplish their goals. Never

attack one another’s character. Tell each other “I love you”

every day or several times a day. Do little things for each

other to show your love.

AB: At the end of a bad relationship day, what is the most important thing to remind yourselves?

J & D: Remind yourself of the love that you have for each

other, and never fall asleep without resolving a conflict and

forgiving one another’s short comings. Remember that no

one is perfect.

AB: What is your favorite lesson you have learned from being married?

J & D: We both have learned to be more patient and

understanding and that we should never lose sight of the

respect that we owe one another. This is the legacy that we

want to leave our children, grandchildren and friends.

AB: Where and when did you meet?

Michael and Beverly Richard: We met on a

blind date in the spring of 1968. We went to a Peter, Paul

and Mary concert in Huntsville. Michael was at Texas A&M

and Beverly at Sam Houston at a time when there were not

many females at A&M!


M & B: We got married in Rosenberg in 1969.


M & B: We have two grown sons, two wonderful

daughter-in-laws and two young grandchildren, Hannah

and Connor.


M & B: We splurged and spent the night in a hotel in

Houston and went to a Peter, Paul and Mary concert. It

brought back great memories.

AB: What is your philosophy on marriage?

M: Be flexible!

B: Appreciate the little things your spouse does!


M: Beverly is a loving person and a great cook.

B: Michael is strong at things that are not my strengths.


B: When my grandmother, Edna Walenta, celebrated her

50th wedding anniversary, I asked her, “Grandma, how do

you stay married to the same man for so long?” Her words

have stuck with me since that day. “Beverly, you have to

work at your marriage every day. The day you quit working

is the day it quits working!”


M & B: That we love each other.


M: Be patient, and your wife is usually right.

B: Appreciate the little things your husband does for you.

Michael and Beverly Richard


Bud and Lila Smith

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AB: Where and when did you meet?

Bud and Lila Smith: We met in

Houston and were introduced by a mutual

friend.


L: We got married in the Fort Bend

County Courthouse in Judge Jodie

Stavinoha’s office. Judge Stavinoha performed

the ceremony on November 13, 1981. Thirteen is our

lucky – and favorite – number!


L: With our blended family, we have five children. I have

two, Joe and Anita, and Bud has three: Keely, Carl and

Connie. We have seven grandchildren and four step-grand-

children.


L: When we got our first home computer, I purchased

several card programs. Bud decided he would make a card

for me for Valentine’s Day. He got it made, but not being

familiar with the program, he ended up printing 17 cards!

We joked that he had Valentine’s Day covered for the next

17 years.

AB: What is your philosophy on marriage?

L: I believe that a happy, harmonious, exciting and stress-

free marriage with someone you love, who also loves you

and has the same interests, helps promote good

mental and physical health. This makes for a

happy life together.


B: Lila is the best person I have ever known.

She never puts herself first; she is always doing

for others – especially me! Just like Elvis, she

takes care of business.


B: To have a healthy marriage, make sure you like the per-

son you marry as much as you love them. I like being with

Lila as much as I love her.


B: I imagine if “that” day comes, we will remind ourselves

that life is not perfect, but tomorrow will be better.


L: Thirty-three years with a kind, helpful and loving

spouse who always fills the car with gas for me has taught

me you can get through anything. Since we have been mar-

ried, we have lost both of our mothers, two grandchildren,

lost our jobs at KFRD Radio on the very same day, suffered

through my broken ankle and several other things that

could have gotten us down, but we always say, “We will get

through this.” And, we always do.

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NEWSWORTHY

Rotary Holiday Hayride Success in First Year

Almost 500 people participated in the first ever “Rotary Holiday Hayride Tour of Lights” on Saturday, December 13th at Cross Creek Ranch in Fulshear. The event, which was a part-nership between the newly chartered Brazos River Rotary Club of Fulshear and Cross Creek Ranch, provided families the op-portunity to see the local holiday light displays while riding on an old-fashioned hayride. “We were extremely pleased with the turnout and very proud that the event may become a good, wholesome family tradition for years to come,” stated Charlie Myer, Brazos River Rotary President.

In addition to seeing the holiday light displays, riders also enjoyed the time-honored tradition of singing Christmas carols. The event included a visit from Santa Claus, who graciously stayed and sat with dozens of kids for a portrait provided by EnThused Designs Photography. Thanks to Cross Creek Ranch, participants enjoyed complimentary fresh cookies and hot chocolate. One of the highlights of the evening was the dance performances by the very talented youth of the Keller Academy of Performing Arts.

The event was planned, organized and implemented by the members of the Brazos River Rotary Club, led by Event Com-mittee Chair Tony L. Francis. Net funds from the event will be

used in a partnership with the Friends of Huggins and Sam’s Club to develop a baseball field and track at Huggins Elementa-ry School. The Holiday Hayride event is just one of many annual community projects that the newly chartered Rotary Club hopes to establish in service to the community. For more information about the Rotary Club, visit www.brazosriverrotary.org.

Mark Hippler, Kathleen Herold, Dale Olson, Suzanne Loehr, Jess Stuart, Charlie Myer, Sinead Randig, Lisa Angell, Jennifer Miles, Susan Tomchesson, Fred Hill, Tony L. Francis and Luke Randig. Photo by Don Dulin.

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NEWSWORTHY

Fort Bend Women’s Center Launches

Online Fashion Store

Fort Bend Women’s Center is offering an online store, Thrifting Fashionista, for dedicated thrift shoppers searching for in-dividual looks at www.thriftingfashionista.com. Thrifting Fashionista is a new initia-tive by PennyWise, the resale division of Fort Bend Women’s Center. In addition to offering some of PennyWise’s higher end merchandise to a wider audience, the ini-tiative also includes a Junior Fashionista volunteer program, in-store events and online advice on how to turn thrift store finds into fun, fashionable looks.

“We have seen a growth in online con-signment stores selling high quality, gen-tly used fashion and home ware, but not many non-profits have extended their re-sale program into e-commerce,” said Pen-nyWise Director Joy Dowell. “We believe that our Thrifting Fashionista initiative pro-vides consumers with a unique opportuni-ty to snap up stylish bargains and support our mission at the same time. Shopping with us has the added appeal of knowing that every dollar spent will help survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault and their families.”

Thrifting Fashionista’s product range in-cludes women’s clothing and accessories, home décor and collectibles. The website even offers a dedicated Baby Fashioni-sta section. Prices vary depending on the original value of the item and its condition. For most items, mailing is free of charge within the continental United States.

PennyWise stores will also host on-going Thrifting Fashionista workshops, offering practical advice on making over furniture, home accessories and pulling together a stylish look from low cost pur-chases. Through the Junior Fashionista program, high school and college age vol-unteers are trained to offer in-store style advice and serve as ambassadors for Fort Bend Women’s Center in their schools and community.

To learn more about Thrifting Fashioni-sta, visit www.thriftingfashionista.com.

Dr. Rachel Perry completed her undergraduate degree at New Mexico State Uni-versity and graduated with honors in the top 10 percent of her class. She then

attended The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Dental Branch, now known as UT Health School of Dentistry, and graduated in 2010 with a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS).

Dr. Perry recently opened Serene Dental Aesthetics in Richmond after practicing for four years. Her office is located near the front of the Santikos Palladium movie theater. Serene Dental Aesthetics is a full-service, general and family dental office that serves the Katy, Richmond, Sugar Land and Houston areas. Dr. Perry is dedicated to com-prehensive dental care. She offers everything from preventative care, such as check-ups, cleanings and sealants, to restorative care, like fillings, crowns and bridges. Dr. Perry also treats patients with more complex treatments, such as root canals and ex-tractions. She also specializes in the application of Fastbraces, which were developed to straighten teeth differently by allowing for a fast, safe and more affordable solution. Dr. Perry treats patients from six-months-old and up and has a personal goal to edu-cate everyone about their dental health.

With Serene Dental Aesthetics’ grand opening, they invite new patients to take advantage of office specials with 10 percent off their first treatment plan, as well as free second opinions, Fastbraces consultations and teeth whitening for life. Also, with every Serene Fastbraces experience, patients have the choice of $500 off or a free 32G iPad Air. The staff at Serene Dental looks forward to you joining their family!

Rachel Perry, DDSSerene Dental Aesthetics

7417 West Grand Parkway South, Richmond, TX 77407

281-232-8300www.houstonserenedental.com

Rachel Perry, DDSSerene Dental Aesthetics

PROFILES SMILE DOCS

OakBend Medical CenterAnnounces Physician of the Year

Dr. James R. McClamroch, Cardiologist, has been named OakBend Medical Center’s 2014 Physician of the Year. The pre-sentation was made at the annual physician party at the home of Dr. Owen and Dr. Lorelei Capocyan.

The Physician of the Year award is an honor given annually to one outstanding physician who possesses significant prac-tice experience, compassion, kindness and sincerity that trans-late not only to their patients, but to their nurses and other staff members that work closely with them. The hospital received several nominations for the award. Colleagues, nurses and pa-tients praised Dr. McClamroch for his dedication to his patients and the OakBend staff.

“Dr. McClamroch is soft spoken, passionate about his work and caring of his patients. Dr. McClamroch never expects rec-ognition or praise for his work; he is satisfied with a positive patient outcome. He is easy to work with and a credit to his profession,” wrote a staff member at OakBend Medical Center.

McClamroch received his medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans and com-

pleted his internship and residency at the Louisiana State Uni-versity where he was named Chief Medical Resident in Internal Medicine. Dr. McClamroch is married with two daughters and

three grandchildren.“Dr. McClamroch is an outstand-

ing doctor and very deserving of the Physician of the Year Award,” stated Joe Freudenberger, CEO of OakBend Medical Center. “His dedication is recognized and appreciated not only by his patients and their family but by his colleagues as well.”

OakBend Medical Center is a non-profit, independent, community healthcare organization located in

the heart of Fort Bend County, providing quality care and ex-emplary service with its two full-service hospitals, as well as many specialty centers. Visit www.oakbendmedcenter.org for more information.

MEDICALFOCUS


Dr. James R. McClamroch


absolute ly!AUTO REVIEW

absolute ly!AUTO REVIEW

By Steve Kursar

T he Chevrolet Colorado is back! This is indeed great news and a reason to celebrate. After an

absence of three model years, Gen-eral Motors has brought back this mid-size pickup truck for buyers who don’t need or want a full-size pickup. They did such a good job that the new Colorado just won the highly prized Motor Trend 2015 Truck of the Year award, beating out the all-new alumi-num body 2015 Ford F-150. This new, smaller Chevy truck is awesome.

There was a time when the only people who drove pickup trucks were construction workers, ranchers and Texans. Back in the big 1990s, Ameri-cans across this land ours discovered that pickups were mighty fun to drive, and so all of the big automakers had both a large, highly capable, full-size truck, as well as a smaller but much

less capable mid-size truck in their lineup. However, when gas hit four dollars a gallon back a decade ago, casual truck buyers aban-doned their pickups, and mid-size pickups lost their appeal and their market share. So, Chevrolet went back to the drawing board and came back with the new Colorado, their mid-size entry, and it’s a beaut.

The new Colorado comes in two body styles, extended cab and crew cab with a more streamlined design than its big brother, the full-size Chevy Silverado, with the hope of attracting buyers more interested in driving to the Galleria than construc-tion sites. That said, this new truck is still highly capable for its size. Like the Silverado, the Colorado has a fully-boxed perimeter frame, engineered for strength and for a smoother, quieter ride. And, coupled with the available V-6 engine and heavy-duty towing package, the new Colorado delivers a 7,000 pound trailering rat-ing, the highest in its segment.

Two new engines are offered, both

mated to a six-speed transmission. The base two wheel drive model, with an MSRP of $20,120, has a 200 hp, 2.5 liter 4-cylinder engine that will get EPA estimated fuel economy numbers of 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. If you need the extra horsepower, the 305 hp, V6 engine is available with only a minor drop in fuel economy: 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway.

If you like having the utility of a pickup but don’t need the size and capability of a full-size truck, then the mid-size 2015 Chevrolet Colorado has to be at the top of your list.

Follow Steve Kursur at KursarOnCars.blogspot.com.

CHEVROLET COLORADO 2015


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Dr. Stuart Rimes welcomes Dr. Nisa Dadjoo, DDS, MSD to the practice.

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

techniques, such as: cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, complete and partial dentures, replacing lost or loose teeth, jaw joint problems (TMJ), traumatic injuries, snoring and

sleep disorders and oral cancer reconstruction.


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NEWSWORTHY

2015 State of the Cityof Rosenberg With

Mayor Vincent Morales

The State of the City of Rosenberg with Mayor Vincent M. Morales, Jr. will be presented on Thursday, February 12th in collaboration between the Cen-tral Fort Bend Chamber Alliance and Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce. The luncheon will be held at Safari Texas, lo-cated at 11627 FM 1464 in Richmond, from 11:30 am to 1 pm.

This year’s State of the City of Rosenberg celebrates the numerous ac-complishments and presents the City’s vision for the future. Rosenberg has ex-perienced phenomenal growth over the course of the last decade thanks to the business-friendly atmosphere, strate-gic location and visionary leadership. Mayor Morales will provide an update on the newest developments, mobility and infrastructure projects occurring in Rosenberg.

A limited number of Presenter Spon-sorships are available at $2,000, Under-writer Sponsorships are available for $1,000 and Corporate Tables for eight are available for $500. Individual Res-ervations are available for $25. Register and pay online at www.CFBCA.org or contact Leigh Ann Dawson at 281-342-5464 or [email protected]. A video of this presentation will be available on-line at www.ci.rosenberg.tx.us for those unable to attend.

Mayor Vincent M. Morales, Jr.


absolutely! focus media celebrated the season with a dose of holiday cheer at Fernando’s Latin Cuisine, where the team enjoyed delicious eats, a White Elephant gift exchange and a recap of the year’s successes.

Adrienne Boring, Kay Garrett and Grace Belleza.

Jessica Kij, Patti Parish-Kaminski and Lara Bell. Andrea Rigamonti, Elsa Maxey and Geof Nesossi.

Joan Huey and Sarah Bearden. Jennifer Elliott.

IN THEHEARTB R A Z O S

OUT&ABOUT

Jane Long Elementary Student Council members participated in the Channel 13 Food Drive. Helping to drop off their donations were Iliana Hernandez, Mary Wooten, Lauren Seiler, Alexovan Hory, Emily Dunn, Raina Ellis, Brianna Kaminsky, Tahya DeLosantos, Haley Baladez and Kammi Eastwood.


absolutely! Brazos Magazine proudly served as Presenting Media Sponsor of The Central Fort Bend Chamber’s first ever Shop & Swirl in Historic Downtown Rosenberg, where guests sampled from featured wineries and shops were open late.

Eleanor Ernest of Rosenberg proved that at 90 years young, you are never too old to visit with Old Saint Nick at the Gingerbread Kids Academy. Wonder what he told her she is getting for Christmas?

Families jingled all the way to Richmond to celebrate Miracle on Morton Street for the City’s annual Christmas celebration. Local artists filled the air with music as businesses and vendors offered a variety of arts, crafts, gifts and food.

Victoria Cavazos and Jessica Laureano spread holiday cheer.

Regina and Vincent M. Morales, Jr.

Cyndia Rodriguez, Giavanna Delagua, Evalyn Moore, Patty Gonzales and Kathy McDougall.

Performing a dance routine were Rowan Brown, Esha Salian, Sarah Pagsarjan and Christy Arocha.

Carlos, Cesar, Beatriz, Juan and Serapio Cano.

Denyce Treybig of the Yellow Brick Road Winery poured tastings at Linda Rulau’s Once Again Antiques.


May Akbari, Tiffany Ortega and Angela Garza.

Michele Bridges, Emilie Sower, Ann Watson and Leslie Woodfin.

Eric and Lin Humble. Terry and Cindy Martin. Ross Hyde and Marty Knesek.

Teri Tilletson and Linda Baker. Jennifer Jordan and Chelsea Duran.

Kristi Bajali and Linda Ramatici.


OUT&ABOUT

Sugar Land Face and Body Plastic Surgery hosted its annual Glitz & Glam Holiday Soirée in December. The fun-filled evening featured wine and hors d’oeuvres, giveaways and beauty tips from Dr. Eric Humble and the entire staff.


Family members joined Adolphus Elementary kindergartners for a delectable Thanksgiving feast.

The Fifth Annual Little Miss Merry Christmas Pageant was held in Downtown Rosenberg during Rosenberg Christmas Nights.

Olivia and Kristina Tarmen.

Roanne Heath and Allie Guillot.

Courtney and Nolan Raska.

Little Miss Merry participant Chloe Camden. Photo by Emily Camden.

Petite Miss Merry Christmas Gracy Bury.

Fulshear Festival of Lights presented a “Rock n Roll Christmas” with a tree lighting, parade, fireworks and a performance by Johnny Seaton as Elvis.

Cheryl Stalinsky as Frosty Ann and

Randy Stacy enjoyed the

festive evening.

Mike McCoy kept the camel company.

Tommy and Rhonda Kuykendall with Johnny Seaton as Elvis and Alyssa Kuykendall.


Friends of North Rosenberg members Melanie Gordon, Tracy Mills, Barry Henry, Deana Gonzalez and Alice Munoz filled 403 goodie bags with hats and gloves and distributed to students at Jackson Elementary.

Austin Elementary third grade students celebrated Pioneer Day by making bread pudding to enjoy during an outdoor picnic, as well as participating in various crafts and activities reflecting Native American traditions and culture.

Madison Sanchez and Keri Almendarez made delicious bread pudding.

Clay Oaks, Idara Akpaffiong and Connor Mitchell created Native American signs using craft paper, glue and sand.

Lauren Prince learned how to make a corn husk doll.

Casey Gobar made a covered wagon.


OUT&ABOUT

Meet Carson McManus

By Joan Frances

Since opening its doors four years ago, George Ranch High School in Lamar Consolidated

Independent School District has ex-celled in academics and sports. The goal of the faculty and staff is to prepare each student for a successful future. A diversified curriculum allows students to excel in many areas of learning. One student who is a leader, scholar and athlete is Carson McManus.

Carson’s leadership skills are highly recognized by the administra-tion and his peers at George Ranch. He was elected by his senior advisory class to represent them as a member of the Principal’s Advisory Council (PAC), working with fellow PAC mem-bers to communicate the principal’s thoughts and objectives to the class body. PAC meets every month to give feedback to the principal on the pulse of the school, allowing an open line of communication with administration. Carson also directs the distribution of information to the underclassmen PAC members.

Carson was National Honor Society (NHS) vice president as a junior. He aided the president and other senior members of the NHS leadership team in all aspects of their jobs. This year, Carson is president and runs NHS alongside the other senior leaders. As a director, he is confident, trustworthy and determined, as well as compas-sionate about representing his peers and communicating their concerns.

Carson

HOT SHOTHigh School

Carson is a very hardworking stu-dent. All of his classes are Advanced Placement (AP), and he is ranked in the top 5.2 percent of his senior class. He was granted the AP Scholar with Honor award by the College Board for scoring a three or higher on five AP tests. Carson’s favorite subject is math. He enjoys ran-dom equations and playing with num-bers and formulas. His favorite teacher is Colleen Kroeker, his freshman Eng-lish teacher, who welcomed Carson to the world of high school. English was not initially his favorite subject, but Kroeker taught him how to be a respectable writ-er. Now, Carson enjoys writing and uses these skills in writing every day.

One value Carson considers im-portant is leadership. “Being a leader means to step up for people and to repre-sent and communicate what they want and need. It also means to have a con-fident mindset that motivates followers to continue down a path of success no matter what roadblocks they encounter.”

Carson played football all four years of his high school career. He is a member of the varsity team and captain of the offensive line. He played baseball as a sophomore and hopes to participate as a pitcher of the varsity team. When asked why he enjoys playing these two sports,

Carson replied, “Football is a men-tal sport that takes discipline. It is a challenge going against players from other teams and figuring out their next move. I enjoy the camaraderie that is developed from team effort. My best friends play on the team. With baseball, I enjoy being in control, and pitching allows so many variables to succeed in striking out a batter. This is a challenge I revel in.”

Last summer, Carson taught kids ages 10 to 13 the fundamentals of base-ball and proper hitting, throwing and fielding techniques. He also helped at the Sugar Land girls’ softball fields as a maintenance manager. He aided in the upkeep of the softball fields and made sure that both concession stands ran smoothly and efficiently.

Carson aspires to major in petro-leum or chemical engineering. He has been accepted into both Texas A&M University and Texas Tech Universi-ty’s engineering programs. With such an impressive resumé and credible leadership skills, Carson is destined to succeed in the path he has chosen. Congratulations on all of your suc-cesses, and good luck as you take the next step into your future.

“Being a leader means to step up for people and to represent and communicate what they want and need.”

– Carson McManus


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

TEXAS MUSCAT BLANCThe Braman Eaglefire 2013 Texas Muscat Blanc was selected by Texas Monthly as one of the best Texas wines in 2014. Enjoy a glass in their tasting room.Braman Winery, 3333 FM 359 in Richmond. Call 281-762-1375; www.bramanbrands.com.

A CUSTOM OUTDOOR LIVING SPACESurprise your sweetheart, and give a gift that will add value to

your home. Cuddle up in a new outdoor living space! Call Texas Custom Patios today. Texas Custom Patios.

Call 281-265-1994; www.TexasCustomPatios.com.

AHH!-LARM PINK KEYCHAINThis pink glitter personal alarm with an LED safety light on a gold keychain clip easily attaches to backpacks, key chains, purses or dog leashes. Pull the pin, and a 120 decibel alarm sounds instantly. Southern Sister Designs, 817 Third Street in Historic Downtown Rosenberg. Call 281-232-7737.

CLARISONIC SMART PROFILEGive the gift of beautiful skin! The new Smart technology enables the device to automatically adjust between gentle and deep cleaning for an optimal experience. It can be used on all skin types. Sugar Land Face & Body Plastic Surgery, 6926 Southwest Freeway in Sugar Land. Call 281-313-0555; www.beautybecomesyou.com.

things weLove

RIDE IN STYLEGive your sweetheart a hot new ride this Valentine’s Day from TexasDirectAuto.com. With thousands of vehicles in stock, you’re sure to find a ride that you will love! Texas Direct Auto, 12053 Southwest Freeway in Stafford. Call 281-499-8200; www.TexasDirectAuto.com.


LOVE AT J LOGGINS JEWELERSShow her your love this Valentine’s Day with the simply divine Black Spinel with Pearl necklace. She’ll love you for it! J Loggins Jewelers, 14015 Southwest Freeway in Sugar Land. Call 281-242-2900; www.jloggins.com.


February 7th, 6 – 11 pmBoots and Badges GalaJoin Behind the Badge Charities for an evening honoring local heroes – police, fire, EMS and other emergency response personnel – with dinner, dancing and live and silent auctions at George Ranch Historical Park, located at 10215 FM 762 in Richmond. Proceeds will benefit Behind the Badge Charities and support assistance grants and scholarships for heroes. Call 281-815-4980 or visit www.behindthebadgecharities.org.

February 21st, 8 am Fish-tastic Children’s Fishing TournamentThe City of Rosenberg’s Parks and Recreation Department hosts Fort Bend County’s largest children’s fishing tournament. Children four-years-old and up are invited to Seabourne Creek Nature Park, located at 3831 Highway 36 South in Rosenberg, to fish the four-acre, stocked lake. Prizes for biggest fish and most fish caught are given in numerous age divisions. Parents must attend to supervise. Call 832-595-3300 or visit www.ci.rosenberg.tx.us.

February 21st, 6 – 11 pm Men Who CookEnjoy a fabulous night of dining, dancing and auctions at Safari Texas, located at 11627 FM 1464 in Richmond. Proceeds from the evening will be used by Lamar Educational Awards Foundation (L.E.A.F) to support ideas and classroom projects proposed by Lamar CISD teachers that would otherwise go unfunded. For tickets, visit www.leafgrants.org/men-who-cookor call 832-223-0334.

February 28th, 7 am – 7 pm Pancake Festival Enjoy all you can eat pancakes, as well as local music and entertainment, at Mamie George Community Center, located at 1111 Collins Road in Richmond. There is a $5 fee, and all proceeds from the event benefit services at the Mamie George Community Center. Visit www.mamiegeorgecommunitycenter.org or call 713-526-4611.

SUBMITYOUR EVENTS

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

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

February 26th, 6:30 – 9:30 pm 2015 Helen Cordes Award DinnerFort Bend Regional Council on Substance Abuse, Inc. presents the sixth annual award dinner at Safari Texas Ranch, located at 11627 FM 1464 in Richmond, featuring intervention specialists Debbie and Brandon Knauss. The award dinner is held in honor of an individual who has given their time, experience and expertise to Fort Bend Regional Council, and this year’s honoree is Judge Susan Lowery. Contact [email protected] or call 281-207-2409.

February 28th, 9 am – NoonThe Fort Bend County Master Gardeners’ Vegetable Herb SaleStart planning your spring vegetable and herb garden with the Fort Bend Master Gardeners. The sale includes tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and herbs for the garden and will be held at the Fort Bend County Extension Services, located at 1402 Band Road in Rosenberg. Visit www.fbmg.com for details, plant lists and directions to the sale.

281-342-21981405 Jackson Street

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Antiques H Collectibles H Fine Gifts, Etc.Once Again

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

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Owners: Nanette Johnson & Treva [email protected]

Hours: Tues. – Fri.9 am – 5 pm

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Representing Buyers and Sellersin Residential Real Estate Transactions

Around the Fort Bend Area

Champions Real Estate GroupRealtor

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C O M M U N I T Y M A R K E T P L A C E

1/8 page 3.5” x 2” • 6 or 12 Consecutive Month Commitment Required

Place your business card in our

$50 per issue

for only

Call 281-690-4242

W hen Stephen F. Austin and the Old Three Hundred families began settling in

the Fort Bend area, residents estab-lished homesteads along the Brazos River, Big Creek, Oyster Creek, Buf-falo Bayou and the San Bernard Riv-er. Transportation of mail, cotton and sugarcane, as well as local markers for boat traffic, kept the area growing and thriving. A post office, mercantile and bank emerged, making the area a focal point for residents to gather. As time progressed, plantations and farms were built and crops flourished. These plantation owners eventually became leaders, building cities and establish-ing law enforcement, and after a period of time, the first courthouse was built.

The City of Richmond was delegated the county seat of the Fort Bend gov-ernment in 1837. In the mid 1800s, plans for a courthouse were drawn up by Robert E. Handy and William Lusk, the two founders of Richmond on Block 121. The plans were delayed, so a house at the end of Morton Street was purchased for $800 from the Lusk estate to serve as the first courthouse. This structure served a variety of im-portant functions. Not only was it a meeting place for attorneys and clients, it also served as a place for residents to

file lawsuits, and most importantly, it housed courtrooms and judicial cham-bers where decisions were written and released.

Finally, in 1849, a two-story brick structure was built by John H. Hern-don, who was a lawyer and civil engi-neer. After the Civil War and during Reconstruction, the courthouse was re-located several times until a three-sto-ry building was purchased from C.H. Kendall for $7,500. The building was destroyed by a fire in 1887, forcing the leaders to explore other options.

A new structure was built on the corner of Morton and Third Streets. This third building constructed on “Court House Square” featured a large clock and bell tower and was later used as a boarding house and recreation center. This location is now Richmond City Hall. In 1889, the famous Jaybird and Woodpecker feud ensued at the courthouse. The Jaybirds represented 90 percent of the white residents. The Republican government, nicknamed the Woodpeckers, was dominated by African-American office holders. The Jaybirds wanted complete control of the government. On August 16th, gun-fire was exchanged at the courthouse, and lives were lost. In the end, the Woodpecker survivors retreated to the

The Fort Bend County Courthouse:

Justice for All

A LITTLE PIECEOF HISTORYBy Joan Frances

Photos from Fort Bend County Texas:

A Pictorial History.

The cornerstone for the fifth courthouse was laid July 18, 1908 by

the Masonic Order of Richmond. courthouse, and the Jaybirds took pos-session of the town. The Jaybird Monu-ment is on display outside Richmond City Hall as a reminder of these ardu-ous times.

The forth courthouse, built in 1908 at a cost of $75,000 and located at 401 Jackson Street, still stands today. It was designed by C.H. Page and Broth-ers, one of the pinnacle architects of the time. Charles Henry Page, Jr. was born in St. Louis, and his family moved to Austin, Texas in 1886 where his father worked in construction on the new Cap-itol. Page opened his practice in 1898 and was joined by his brother Louis. The building’s Texas Renaissance ar-chitectural style is made of brick and stone with a copper dome, turrets and a three-story rotunda. Beautiful mosaic tiles cover the floors, and green glazed tile covers the wainscoting. The hemi-spherical, copper clad dome is distinc-tive to other courthouses in Texas, as well as the Capitol building in Austin.

Like most turn of the century courthouses, the Fort Bend County Courthouse is fashioned after the nation’s Capitol and state Capitols throughout the country with rotundas.

City leaders have continued to im-prove this illustrious building. Two ad-ditions were added in 1935 and 1957 that completed this courthouse. In 1980 and 1981, the structure was completely renovated to its original magnificence. In 2009, the county celebrated the courthouse’s 100th birthday. Today, the Fort Bend County Courthouse is listed in the National Register of His-toric Places and is viewed as a tribute to Fort Bend successes.


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Documents

February 2015 - Absolutely Brazos Magazine