New Year’s Resolutions Around the Bend

COMMUNITY CULTURE | By Zeenat Kassam Mitha – New Year’s resolutions are a wonderful way to begin 2017!  Resolutions are about new beginnings and being hopeful and persistent. They also serve as an incentive for impactful personal change. I have always thought that it is not the level of the change...

Nighttime Fears and Things That Go Bump

Kids’ Corner | By Patrick Biron – Darkness holds a special place in the hall of horrors that everyone keeps in their minds. For a number of reasons, nighttime becomes a spark for fears people never knew they had. And with young children ages two through about 10, dealing with these fears is a skill...

Sugar Land Delegation Visits Umbria and Plans for 2017 Italian Festival

By Debi Beauregard – Last September, a delegation including Sugar Land Mayor Joe R. Zimmerman, Sugar Land Cultural Arts Manager Lindsay Davis and President and CEO of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce Keri Schmidt were invited by the Italian region of Umbria to visit the area to create a political and...

4th Annual Focus Favs Readers’ Choice of Fort Bend’s Favorites

In August and September, we invited readers to our website to take an online survey to tell us who their favorites are in Fort Bend in eight different categories: FOOD • SHOPPING • ENTERTAINMENT • PROFESSIONAL SERVICES • PET SERVICES • AUTO SERVICES • CARE SERVICES • HOME IMPROVEMENT And...

Chicago’s Cultural Vibrance and the Feast of Seven Fishes

Community Culture | By Zeenat Kassam Mitha – With its diverse culture, astounding architecture and so many places to see and visit, Chicago during the holidays is a picturesque scene out of a postcard. The city is filled with cultural holiday celebrations, décor, music, people and delicious food!...

Dealing with Loss

Kids’ Corner | By Patrick Biron – The most unfortunate reality of working with so many kids each week is that we inevitably become aware of – and involved in – the saddest and hardest part of some of their lives. Inevitably each year, one of our students loses a parent. No parent, coach, teacher...

Vincent Morales A Leader for Fort Bend

COVER STORY – Toguide or direct, to provide guidance or show initiative – these words describe what it means to be a leader. But being a leader means much more than mere words alone. Being a leader means experience. Being a leader means having a proven track record of success. And more importantly,...

’tis the Season – Healthy Holiday Tips

By Lara Bell – The holidays are literally right around the corner, and for the majority of us, a little weight gain comes with the festive times! This year, I am determined not only to not gain weight over the holidays, but I am hoping to lose weight. I spoke to some experts at Medi-Weightloss to...

10 Ways to Beat the Holiday Blues

By Kim Cress, MD – Can you believe the holidays are here? If Fort Bend were a winter wonderland  with snow covered trees, I know I would be in the holiday spirit. Holidays can be a festive time. It is a time to spend with family and friends, eating foods that are not on your diet and listening to...

5 Holiday Hacks – Simple Seasonal Solutions

The air is getting cooler, leaves are changing colors and days are getting shorter. All of these seasonal changes signal that the holidays are fast approaching. While many people love gathering with family and friends at this time of the year, entertaining can take the jolly out of the holiday. This year,...

Situational Parenting 101

Kids’ Corner | By Patrick Biron – Okay, let’s all be honest for a bit. Parenting is really, really hard. I know in this day and age of social media, we all post images of our perfectly behaved children in matching clothes, wearing both shoes at the same time, smiling and enjoying that they are...

Wine Apps Make Wine Selection and Learning Easier

VineSleuth | By Amy Gross – Looking for a great bottle of wine amid a massive wall of wine at the grocery store or big box wine retailer? I’m sure you know there are treasures there for every tastebud, but finding the perfect bottle for yourself or a friend can be a challenge. Some stores have great...

Breathtakingly Beautiful Banff National Park

COMMUNITY CULTURE | By Zeenat Kassam Mitha – One of my favorite places to visit is the resort town of Banff in Alberta, Canada, located within Banff National Park. Banff is a mix of culture, so much so that for a while, street signs were in English, French and Japanese. Today, the street signs are in...

Texas Education Agency Recognizes Stafford Elementary Among the Best Schools in Texas

Stafford Elementary School was one of 400 Texas-based public schools to receive a distinction in every eligible category, according to the Texas Education Agency. “We are very proud of our student achievement, and we are grateful for the excellent leadership of Stafford Elementary Principal Dr. Valerie...

10 Ways to Beat the Holiday Blues

By Kim Cress, MD – Can you believe the holidays are here? If Fort Bend were a winter wonderland  with snow covered trees, I know I would be in the holiday spirit. Holidays can be a festive time. It is a time to spend with family and friends, eating foods that are not on your diet and listening to...