KPRC Channel 2 reporter and Sugar Lander shares how becoming a mother brought a new perspective to her life and career

Written by Gail G. Collins | Select Photography by Sara Isola

How did you get into television news?
I’d wanted to do TV since I was 12 years old, and I had a passion for writing. I used to set up my family’s video cameraand record fake newscasts. I earned a journalism degree from Michigan State University and have been in the business for 15 years. I bumped around from my home in Michigan to Florida and have been in Houston for four years now. KPRC is my fifth TV station.

Jennifer Bauer dreamed of becoming a TV reporter since she was a young girl

What do you love about being a reporter?
Every day is different. It is never boring; it’s one adventure after another. I love being at the scene of the story and meeting people.

What makes a good story?
My favorite stories are those that make a difference - people need help and call the station to resolve it. It may not even be complicated, butwe have the resources to connect. It makes for a good day.

What are some of the challenges you face?
I have those on a weekly basis. The tough stories involve children, crime on a family, or car accidents. I talk to the families, but it is important to
get the news out, and it can make for some long days and long nights.

Bauer has won two Emmy awards for her excellence in reporting

What is an average day like for you, balancing motherhood and work?
I have a great schedule for a working mom. My husband, Mike Guerrieri, is hands-on and also works for Channel 2. He is at the station first thing, and I work in the afternoon and evening. An au pair takes care of the time in between. My daughter Aubrey is 18 months old, and we can sleep in, play and read, and I can feed her lunch before her nap. I wouldn’t trade my mornings with her for anything. Then, I get some breathing space before I head to the station. There, I attend an editorial meeting, where we talk about recent news, tomorrow’s big story, and prioritize. The stories are assigned, and we head out, but often, we’re rerouted for breaking news. Then, I do my live shot, and sometimes, I have an appearance around town.

Has becoming a mom changed your point of view in covering the news?
Before I had Aubrey, I used to get upset if people said, “You don’t understand, because you haven’t had children yet.” I do understand, now, how much priorities shift. I have more compassion for family stories.

How does your family react to you being on TV?
My larger family is used to it after all of these years, but it’s new to Aubrey. She points at the screen and says, “Mama.” On delayed broadcasts, I may be at home next to her, and she’ll look from the screen to me, confused.

Bauer’s husband, Mike Guerrieri, also works at KPRC. Their daughter Aubrey sees her broadcasts and recognizes “mama”

What do you love about Sugar Land?
My husband and I adore everything about the area. We’d heard so much about the parks, community, and schools that three years ago we built a home in Riverstone. Weekends are spent hanging out at Sugar Land Town Square. There are movies, music, and lots to do. We’ve tried all of
the restaurants or get frozen yogurt. My daughter could sit in front of the fountain for hours.

Do you have any advice to anyone who wants to enter the news business?
You have to be passionate about it. The news is 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It never stops. You will end up working holidays, but those who are passionate about it don’t mind. SLM

GAIL G. COLLINS has worked as a print reporter, and like Bauer, enjoyed meeting people and telling their stories.

|  Email This Post

Fort Bend Cares, a local charitable foundation, celebrates 10 years of service to disadvantaged youth

Written by Crystal Rawls

Sugar Land, TX News - The first Fort Bend Cares fundraiser almost didn’t happen. Threatening thunderclouds rolled in above the golf green that spring day in May 2005 and organization co-founders and fundraising novices Bob McLendon and Jim Rice considered canceling the event. But McLendon’s faith wouldn’t let the pair quit so easily.

“Bob and I held a brief discussion, and he said, ‘We need to step forward in faith and hold the golf tournament,’” says Rice. “The sky cleared up, and we held the golf tournament netting $15,000. We donated all of this money to the Boy Scouts.”

Local charities are recipients of Fort Bend Cares’ grants

An Act of Faith
In 2005, McLendon and Rice were simply two doting dads trying to do a little more to fund their sons’ Boy Scout troops. But after that first golf tournament, they realized their newly formed organization had the capacity to help so many more.

“As we continued our work, we realized there were many children who were not in Boy Scouts who also were in need in our community and decided that Fort Bend Cares’ mission needed to expand to fill this gap,” says Rice.

Filling the gap required rolling up their sleeves. Bob and his wife Gail spearheaded the organization’s growth, recruiting volunteers, planning fundraising events, and promoting the organization’s cause. Rice admits the early years were a difficult balancing act of raising a family, maintaining a full-time job, and growing a grassroots organization. But the late hours and time-consuming planning was well-worth the effort.

“[It] reminds me of the story of an older man walking along the beach,” muses Rice. “Presently, he came upon a young boy who was busy throwing [dying] starfish that had washed up on the beach…back into the ocean. The old man observed there were more starfish on the beach than the young boy could save and asked him, ‘Do you think you are making a difference by doing that?’ to which the young man replied as he threw a starfish into the ocean, ‘It made a difference to that one.’” (more…)

|  Email This Post

Sugar Land, TX News - With Easter right around the corner, many of you may be looking for a way to join in community to celebrate such an important holiday. Sugar Land has many options to choose from when it comes to attending an Easter service. At Sugar Land Magazine, we want to wish all of you a happy Easter!

The Bridge Fellowship
April 20 at 9 and 11 a.m.
802 Brooks St.
thebridgefellowship.com

Calvary Church
April 20 at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m.
12410 Sugardale Dr.
Stafford
calvaryhouston.org

The Church
April 20 at 9:30 and 11 a.m.
5500 Avenue N, Rosenberg
ilovethechurch.tv

Christ United Methodist Church
April 20 at 8:15, 9:45, and 11:05 a.m.
3300 Austin Pkwy.
cumcsl.org

Crossbridge Church
April 20 at 9:00 and 10:45 a.m.
1049 Eldridge
crossbridge.cc

(more…)

|  Email This Post

Soak in the summer sun at some of Sugar Land’s delightful outdoor dining options

Written by Cherri Northcutt

Sugar Land, TX News - The lazy days of summer are upon us bringing a slower pace, a more casual attitude, and plenty of sunshine. It’s the perfect time to enjoy some great food and cool drinks with friends. What better way to do that than dining al fresco? Luckily, Sugar Land is home to a number of local eateries offering outdoor dining establishments where you can sample a variety of culinary delights.

The Livingstons take advantage of sunny summer afternoons and late sunsets, and enjoy al fresco dining

Bombay Pizza Co.
636 Hwy. 6, #100
281-242-1131 This local gem offers a unique fusion of Italian and Indian cuisine with pizzas you won’t find anywhere else. Owner Viral Patel says, “Summer is a great time to try the Gateway of India Pizza, with cilantro, mint chutney, tandoori chicken, and crab meat.” He recommends the Indian flatbread rolls. “It’s a party wrapped up in a piece of bread,” Patel says. Filling options include blackened chicken, veggie roll, sweet potato, or masala shrimp. The patio is a welcoming space for children and pets as well. Patel says, “We have a great view, and you can book the patio for parties.” (more…)

|  Email This Post