Fort Bend Lifestyles and Homes Magazine Jun 2009: Fort Bend County & Sugar Land News, Katrina Alvarado

Sugar Land Regional Airport

Named Best Airport Operator

Sugar Land Regional Airport was rated the nation’s best airport operator by Aviation International News, improving from fifth best in the nation last year. The publication annually compares fixed-based operators in the western hemisphere. SLRA was the only city-owned FBO included in the 2008 and 2009 lists and has been among the top 10 FBOs each of the last three years.

“Being part of AIN’s ‘best-of’ list is the gold standard in the corporate aviation industry,” said Director of Aviation Phil Savko. “The ranking is the result of an assessment given by pilots familiar with FBO facilities and services. More than 2,660 surveys were completed and returned this year for AIN ’s FBO comparison, up from 1,963 last year. This is one of the highest honors that an FBO can receive. ”

In the aviation industry, the FBO is a service center at an airport providing various aviation-related services, included aircraft fuel, crew facilities, parking, catering and more.

AIN is a national publication that has conducted an annual survey of FBO facilities for the past 22 years, ranking the top 40 in the country. The magazine ’s survey compares FBOs in four key categories: pilot amenities and services, line service, passenger amenities and facilities. More than 1,600 FBOs were compared this year.

According to an excerpt from AIN: “Readers who participated in the 2009 Aviation International News FBO survey picked Sugar Land Regional Airport as the top FBO this year, displacing long-time number-one favorite Wilson Air Center Memphis to second place. City-owned-and -run Sugar Land was the only FBO to top the 9.00 mark in this year ’s survey.”

Sugar Land Regional Airport is the fourth largest airport in the greater Houston area and the foremost general reliever airport in the southwest sector.

Sugar Land FD Emphasizes Trampoline Safety

Injuries to children playing on trampolines are on the rise, mainly because they have increased in popularity.

“Most of us have been on a trampoline at some point in our life and believe them to be relatively harmless amusements, ” said Sugar Land Fire Capt. Michael McLemore. “However, we need to be vigilant to ensure our children are as safe as possible. This can be particularly true at a birthday party or other activity with many distractions. The injuries that occur can be quite devastating. ”

In 2004, approximately 93,000 children ages 14 and under were treated in U.S. emergency rooms for trampoline-related injuries. More than 90 percent of these injuries happened on home trampolines.

The most common causes of injuries on trampolines include: colliding with another person on the trampoline; almost 75 percent of injuries on trampolines result when more than one person is on the trampoline at the same time; landing improperly while jumping or doing stunts on the trampoline; falling or jumping off the trampoline; and falling on the trampoline springs or frame.

The Sugar Land Fire Department recommends the following safety tips when using a trampoline:

•Allow only one person on the trampoline at a time.

•Do not attempt or allow somersaults because landing on the head or neck can cause paralysis.

•Do not use the trampoline without shock-absorbing pads that completely cover its springs, hooks and frame.

•Place the trampoline away from structures, trees and other play areas.

•No child under 6 years old should use a full-size trampoline. Do not use a ladder with the trampoline because it provides unsupervised access by small children.

•Trampoline enclosures can help prevent injuries from falls off trampolines, but do not replace adult supervision.

Data provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Safe Kids Campaign.

UHV Alumna and Mrs. Fort Bend County Competes in State Pageant

A University of Houston-Victoria alumna thought things couldn’t get any better when she was named Mrs. Fort Bend County in November. That was until she participated in the 2009 Mrs. Texas International Pageant and was named third runner-up.

“It was overwhelming, but it was wonderful,” said Katrina “Kat” Jaso Alvarado, a 1996 UHV graduate with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Alvarado competed in the three-day pageant in San Antonio against 25 other county winners from around the state. The women went through two interviews, and evening gown and fitness wear competitions. As third runner-up, she is now part of the Mrs. Texas International Queen ’s Court, which makes special appearances at events.

Alvarado, who lives in Richmond, is the daughter of Goliad residents Julie and Hernan Jaso, chairman of the UHV President ’s Regional Advisory Board. The support of her family was key to her success during the pageant process, Alvarado said. Her parents, in-laws, husband Sal Alvarado III and their two daughters, 9-year-old Alana and 4-year-old Apria, even spent the weekend in San Antonio during the state pageant.

Alana celebrated her birthday that weekend, and both of Alvarado’s daughters wore cream-colored dresses to the pageant that were similar to the evening gown Alvarado wore.

Each contestant has a platform she supports during her term. Alvarado’s platform focuses on family values and getting parents involved with their children ’s lives.

Library Introduces Electronic Magnifier for Vision-impaired Patrons

People who have difficulty seeing small print or signing documents because of vision problems may now use Fort Bend County Libraries ’ new electronic magnifier. One magnifier is available at each library in the Fort Bend County library system for patrons to use while in the library.

The electronic magnifier, which is similar to a camera, is placed over the print that the patron wishes to see. The print can be magnified up to three times, and can be viewed in different “modes,” such as black and white, full color, or as a high-contrast positive or negative image.

The magnifier also has the ability to take a temporary picture of the print or image being viewed. The device may then be moved to allow for better viewing of the captured image.

Patrons may check out the magnifier for a one-hour time period, but it may only be used within the library. It may not be checked out for home use or taken outside the library. To check out the magnifier, patrons must present a current library card with no fees or fines, a valid Texas driver ’s license or state of Texas picture ID, and a current address, which will be verified by library staff.

For more information on the electronic magnifiers, call the library’s Public Information Office at 281-341-2677, or ask about it at the library’s Circulation (check-out) desk.

Sugar Land Celebrates Nine Award Winning Teams in State Fitness Contest

Sugar Land won awards in nine categories in Gov. Rick Perry’s Texas Roundup Fitness Challenge resulting in numerous trophies and medals, including a Governor ’s Cup in the Municipal Organization Challenge category. City of Sugar Land employees have finished first in their respective category for six years in a row.

Gov. Rick Perry kicked-off the 6th annual Texas Round-Up earlier this year and issued the statewide Governor ’s Challenge, a competition among schools, cities, state agencies, companies, families and social organizations to win the Governor ’s Cup and be named “Fittest in Texas.” Perry’s commitment to statewide health and fitness is punctuated by his annual Texas Roundup program, an opportunity for Texans to log physical activity into an on-line account. Marathon runners and weight lifters aren ’t the only persons who qualify to take part. Credit is earned for gardening, lawn mowing and household tasks among many, many others.

Members of Sugar Land’s grassroots fitness initiative—Shape Up Sugar Land—led the effort responsible for the following Texas fitness titles: The Honor Roll School won a silver medal in the School Challenge category for less than 1,000 students; Commonwealth Elementary won a silver medal in the School Challenge for more than 500 students; Fort Bend Fit won the Governor ’s Cup in the Service Organization Challenge for less than 100 members; Atria Senior Living (Atria Active Adults) won a gold medal in the Corporate Challenge Winner for less than 100 employees; Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital won a gold medal in the Corporate Challenge for 100 to 499 employees; city of Sugar Land employees won the Governor ’s Cup in the Municipal Organization Challenge for more than 500 employees; city of Sugar Land (Fit & Feisty Seniors) won the Governor’s Cup in the Fitness Clubs Challenge for 100 to 299 members; the Godfrey family of Sugar Land won a gold medal in the Family Challenge for less than five members; and the Halligan family (Kids For Life) won the Governor ’s Cup in the Family Challenge for more than five members.