Clear Lake Chatter 1

Chamber Vice President Shari Sweeney, right, welcomes former Chamber Board Chairmen Jim and Jane Sweeney of Minuteman Press to the luncheon honoring Sen. Larry Taylor at South Shore Harbour Resort. State Sen. Larry Taylor, second from right, helps show off to photographers the Clear Lake Area Chamber’s special memento presented him at the luncheon in his honor. With him are, from left, Taylor Lake Village City Councilman Bob Davee, Chamber Board Chairman Kristi Koncaba and Chamber President Cindy DeWease. Clear Creek ISD Trustee Jonathan Cottrell is happy to see Emmeline Dodd among the crowd at the Chamber Salute to State Sen. Larry Taylor. Edusafe Systems President Dr. Glenn Freedman, from left, Friendswood Mayor Mike Foreman and Doug Peterson of Harris County Precinct 2 say hello as they arrive at South Shore Harbour Resort for the Salute to State Sen. Larry Taylor.

COMMUNITY HONORS SEN. LARRY TAYLOR

STATE SEN. LARRY TAYLOR has spent a good portion of his life serving the people around the Bay Area in the Texas Legislature – 5 terms or 10 years in the Texas House and 5 terms or 10 years in the Texas Senate – including 4 terms as chairman of the Senate Committee on Education.

So when he decided not to run again, Clear Lake Chamber members gathered at South Shore Harbour Resort Aug. 31 to say thank you at a luncheon in his honor. And, once the date was set, it wasn’t long before the luncheon reservations were pouring in to honor the popular politician.

Chamber President Cindy DeWease and Vice President Shari Sweeney couldn’t stop smiling as the massive crowd began arriving —including UH-Clear Lake President Dr. Richard Walker, Clear Creek ISD Superintendent Dr. Karen Engle, Congressman Bryan Babin, Texas State Rep Dennis Paul, Galveston Policy Director Sally Bakko and Mayors Carl Joiner of Kemah, Phil Johnson of Nassau Bay, Mike Foreman of Friendswood and Thom Kolupski of Seabrook.

Plus, City Councilors Ashley Graves of Nassau Bay, Doug Meisinger and Isaac Saldana of Kemah, Kay Ann Jorgeson and Bob Davee of Taylor Lake Village, Tom Tollett and Jackie Rasco of Seabrook and Nassau Bay City Manager Paul

McLarty.

Looking around, you might also have spotted Barrios Technology CEO Sandy Johnson, Jamieson Mackay of the Gulf Coast Educators Federal Credit Union, Home Bank execs Kenny and Kristi Koncaba, BayTran Executive Director Amy Skicki, b1Bank Senior VP J.P. Morris, Joan McKinney and Suzanne Frede Bonner of Norman Frede Chevrolet, Rebecca Lilley of Memorial Hermann, Space Center Houston CEO William Harris, Big Star Cadillac Marketing Director Chris Premont, CCISD execs Elaina Polsen and Eva deCardenas, Education Foundation Director Deborah Laine, Communities in SchoolsBay Area CEO Dr. Peter Wuenschel and CCISD Trustee Jonathan Cottrell. Still others helping Larry celebrate were

Adrienne Sun, Peggy Zahler, Emmeline

Dodd, Ronnie Richards, Annette Dwyer,

T.J. Aulds, Lisa Holbrook, Dee Scott, Kathy

Dooley, Ann Hammond, Marie Keener, Dr.

Glenn Freedman, Rebecca Saavedra, Brenda

Miller Ferguson, Teresa Vencil, Bridget

Bear, Fay Picard, Melinda Mintz, Beth Lewis,

Colene Joiner, Amanda Fenwick, Kimberly

O’Connor and Marcy Fryday.

One unforgettable moment came when

Doug Peterson of Harris County Precinct 2 spoke to the crowd, reading a proclamation from Commissioner Adrian Garcia, a

Democrat, praising Republican Larry for his work through the years, especially the $11.6 billion HB 3 Larry sponsored in 2019 that boosted school funding and reduced property taxes. And for authoring legislation that created the Texas Coastal Protection District to protect the area from storm surge.

A native Texan who was raised in Friendswood, Senator Taylor is a Baylor University graduate. He and his wife and college sweetheart, Kerri, have three adult children and five young grandchildren. He formerly owned Truman Taylor Insurance Agency in Friendswood, an independent agency started by his father more than 50 years ago. Throughout his Senate tenure he has been a member of a number of legislative committees including: Business and Commerce; Higher Education; Veteran Affairs; Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs; and the budget-writing Finance Committee. He is a member of the Legislative Budget Board, a permanent joint committee responsible for developing budget and policy recommendations for legislative appropriations. In 2019, he sponsored the comprehensive overhaul of the school finance system and was one of 10 legislators chosen to make budget decisions before a bill is voted on by the entire legislature. Walking through the crowd, you probably would have heard it more than once: He will be missed.

CCEF to celebrate 30th years as it honors several individuals

The Clear Creek Education Foundation (CCEF) is hosting the 21st annual Awards Dinner and Fundraiser to recognize outstanding alumni who graduated from Clear Creek Independent School District (CCISD) schools as well as community members.

The “Celebrating 30 Years of CCEF” Awards Dinner and Fundraiser is set for Thursday, Nov. 10 at South Shore Harbour Resort & Conference Center in League City. The event is an annual fundraiser for CCEF to support students, teachers, and programs within CCISD. CCEF will honor an elite group of individuals who continually serve and represent CCISD. Award recipients include:

George B. Carlisle Distinguished Service Award for consistent demonstration of commitment to CCISD over time: Dr. Greg Smith Distinguished Alumni Award presented to individuals who are CCISD alumni and are now accomplished professionals who support their community: Jose Perez, Clear Brook High, Class of 1993; Rebecca Valdez, Clear Creek High, Class of 1992; Stephanie Murphy, Clear Lake High, Class of 1996; and Lauren Leal, Clear Springs High, Class of 2011.

Valor Award in honor of a public servant who has gone above and beyond the call of duty: Alberto Perez Dennis Johnson Memorial Small Business Award is presented to a small business owner within CCISD who demonstrates an unwavering commitment to the district through active participation in multiple activities: Jim and Jane Sweeney, Minuteman Press.