Fort Bend Lifestyles and Homes Magazine Apr 2009: Fort Bend, People, Events, Business

2009 casa gala. OPA! CASA Gala co-chairs Irene Wisner and Sharla Sturgeon with Jim Sturgeon of Founder’s Bank and CAFB board members kicked off the sponsor drive for the 2009 CASA Gala for the Children Celebrating a Night in Greece. Presented by Founder ’s Bank and Memorial Hermann Sugar Land, the gala will take place May 9 at the Sugar Land Marriott Town Square. To get involved or for more information on sponsorships, invitations or donating an item for the auction, go to www.cafb.org or call 281-344-5106.

qv east residents enjoy social time. Quail Valley East residents held a root beer float social on a Saturday afternoon at the clubhouse playground. Along with enjoying the ice cream treats, residents visited and caught up on all the latest subdivision happenings.

DARS Representatives visit Texana Center. The Texana Center had a visit from three representatives from the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services as part of a follow-up to the $1.25 million grant received in March 2008. Joining them were staff members from Child Study Center of Fort Worth, Easter Seals of Dallas and Harris County MHMRA —organizations that also received DARS grants.

The representatives had a tour of the day program for children with autism and presentations by key staff.

(L-R, back row) Paul Baganz, Nicole Zeug, Jesse Anderson, Jeff Enzinna, Jennifer Friesen, Einar Ingvarsson, Ellen Catoe, George Patterson; (middle row) Christie Enzinna, Kelly Bivens, Thu Lu, Allyson Havanetz, Dorothea Lerman; (front row) Kevin Warran, Marc Mullins, Lynn Blackmore, Maria Quintero, Melinda Benjumea and Jennifer Strickland.

Suburban Sugar Land Women celebrates 20 years of service. Suburban Sugar Land Women is celebrating 20 years of service in Fort Bend County. A community service event is planned for each month in 2009. SSLW ’s passion, privilege and responsibility is service.

Special thanks go to the participants, sponsors and supporters of the 2009 African American History Program, “A Salute to President Obama”: Dwan Hunter, Terryon Boyd and band director James Wilson, Armstrong Elementary School; Rosalind Riggs, Glover Elementary School; Shomari Franks, McAuliffe Middle School; Ashley Bias and Raynell Jackson, Missouri City Middle School; Voke Gbemre, Hightower High School; Yvonne Jackson, Marshall High School; Dr. Joe Coleman, Willowridge High School; Gwen Rusher and June Joseph Steele, Suburban Sugar Land Women.

The 2009 African American History Program in February at the Missouri City Library was a huge success because of the talented students and attendees. All students gave an “Oscar performance.” They sang, danced, recited and displayed and described their art.

Kat J. Alvarado named Mrs. Fort Bend County International 2009. Officials for the Mrs. Texas International Pageant announced that Katrina Alvarado of Richmond was named Mrs. Fort Bend County International 2009 and represented the greater Fort Bend County area at the 2009 Mrs. Texas International Pageant in San Antonio. She competed for more than $15,000 in cash and prizes and the chance to proceed to the Mrs. International Competition in July of 2009.

The Mrs. International Pageant system recognizes women for their commitment to family, profession and community stewardship. Throughout her year, the new Mrs. Fort Bend County will not only compete for the state crown, but she will also be available to make appearances, attend special presentations and assist with civic and nonprofit oriented projects.

New Wallis State Bank scoreboard lights up the field for Meadows Place Ball Players . Meadows Place ball players can swing away this spring season and, for the first time in the league ’s 20-year history, have their runs posted for all to see.

Community neighbor Wallis State Bank donated a new lighted, state-of-the-art Daktronics scoreboard to the youngest Meadows Place residents during the Opening Day Ceremony.

“Wallis State Bank is proud to be involved with the great city of Meadows Place. Events like this remind all of us of what is going right with the United States. Thomas Boswell once wrote a book called Why Time Begins on Opening Day, and though he was referring to the Major League level, it is easy to see why it is true at all levels of the sport, ” said Tom Russo, Wallis State Bank senior vice president. “And I’m pleased that Wallis State Bank can play a role in that.”

Meadows Place Mayor Charles Jessup said he was thrilled by the generosity of Wallis State Bank. “Wallis State Bank, the only bank in Meadows Place, has always supported this town and our citizens. We are grateful that they so willingly ‘stepped up to the plate’ to complete our playing fields.”

(L-R, front row) Andrew Ortez, Wes Cloninger, Michael Romo, Ryan Wu, Justin Gomez, Daniel Dobelmann; (middle row) Curran Walia; Colleen Brock, president of Meadows Place baseball; Charles Jessup, Meadows Place mayor; Tracey Spiller, code enforcement officer and past president of Meadows Place Baseball; Heidi Case, alderman; Mark McGrath, former Meadows Place mayor; Steve Smelley, Daktronics Scoreboard representative and Fort Bend ISD board vice president; Nicole Martinez and Tom Russo, Wallis State Bank; and Monya Keenan, parks director.