Clear Lake Chatter

CHAMBER offers up just what the crowd wanted

As the Mayoral Panel comes to an end, the officials stop for a photo. They are, from left, seated, Mayors Sean Skipworth of Dickinson, Pat Hallisey of League City, Carl Joiner of Kemah and Keith Bell of La Marque; standing; moderator Ashlea Quinonez of Memorial Hermann Hospitals, Mayors Kurt Otten of Clear Lake Shores, Craig Brown of Galveston, Mike Foreman of Friendswood, Jason Tabor of Santa Fe and Derrick Johnson Sr. of Texas City, along with League City Chamber Chairman Debbie Simmons and President Dewan Clayborn.

MARY ALYS CHERRY

THE PANDEMIC caused many problems for most all of our local organizations as we had to meet by zoom, phone or not at all. So, when we were finally able to meet in person, the League City Regional Chamber President Dewan Clayborn, along with Media Director Mary Bradshaw and Membership Director Cathy Turner came up with a couple good ideas to reward the membership for its patience.

First was a luncheon at the Civic Center featuring State Rep. Mayes Middleton providing a Legislative Update for a roomful of happy faces you could tell were just delighted “to get out of the house” and learn what was going on up in Austin.

Next came a whole bunch of Galveston County mayors to entertain an equally delighted luncheon crowd that also filled up the Civic Center. Middleton told of serving on the House Committees on Insurance, Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence and some of the work they were doing.

A resident of Wallisville, Middleton is a seventh generation Chambers County resident and Texan and is president of Middleton Oil Co., an independent oil and gas company, and also runs his ranching, cattle and farming operations. He was elected to the Texas House in 2018 to represent District 23, encompassing Chambers County and part of Galveston County.

League City Chamber President Dewan Clayborn, left, and Chairman Debbie Simmons, thank State Rep. Mayes Middleton for speaking to the chamber crowd at the Civic Center. Featured at the Mayoral Panel were

Mayors Kurt Otten of Clear Lake

Shores, Sean Skipworth of Dickinson,

Mike Foreman of Friendswood, Craig

Brown of Galveston, Carl Joiner of

Kemah, Keith Bell of La Marque, Pat

Hallisey of League City, Jason Tabor of

Santa Fe and Dedrick Johnson Sr. of

Texas City, who discussed the work that goes into being mayor of a city. They not only discussed the serious issues they have to deal with as mayor but had the crowd howling at some of their humorous experiences. Coming up on Aug. 25 the chamber will host its State of Higher Education

Luncheon featuring UHCL President

Dr. Ira Blake, San Jacinto College

Chancellor Dr. Brenda Hellyer, Texas

A&M-Galveston Associate Vice President

Dr. Donna Lang, and College of the

Mainland President Dr. Warren Nichols.

They’re on a roll!

Cathy Turner, Tejal Patel and Tina Sifuentes, from left, sign in the arriving League City Chamber crowd that came to hear State Rep. Mayes Middleton.

Gayle Nelson, executive director of Family Promise, center, shares a light moment with Fay Picard of State Rep. Greg Bonnen’s office, right, and Marilyn Swanson as they arrive at the League City Chamber luncheon featuring State Rep. Mayes Middleton.

Two Lunar Rendezvous Festivals combine for a very special evening

The Lunar Rendezvous Little Ladies in Waiting and Pages line up for a photo as they practice for their roles in the festival Fashion Show and Ball. They are, from left, back row, Connor Olin, Madison Jones, Charlee Miller and Leo Dunne; and front row, Eli Davis, Anna McDonald, Zophia Jones and Codi Brock. Page Grady Byrd is absent from the photo.

AHISTORIC conclusion to the 2021 Lunar Rendezvous Festival season was to take place at the San Luis Convention Center in Galveston with the annual Coronation Ball July 24, which we will feature in our September issue. Because the 2020 season was postponed due to the pandemic, there was to be a combined ceremony for the 2020 and 2021 courts, an occurrence that has never been done in the Festival’s 56-year history. Today, meet the reigning 2020 royalty and the little ladies in waiting and pages, along with a list of the 2021 princesses and lieutenants, who also were to be presented at this year’s ball. The 2020 Queen Samantha Williams is a recent graduate of Clear Springs High School and the daughter of Diane and Allen Williams. Joining her in reigning over the festival are Queen Alternate Ashley Leistad, who graduated from Clear Creek High and is the daughter of Janelle and Reed Leistad, and Capt. David Oliver, son of Elizabeth and Dana Oliver Jr. and a Clear Falls High graduate. They were introduced at the 2019 Lunar Rendezvous Ball, before the pandemic. The 2021 Royal Court was to be introduced at this year’s ball. The 2021 princesses, from whom a new queen was to be chosen, are: Emily Adams, Carynn Alvarez, Madelyn Benson,

Jessica Bottego, Jade Brister, Taylor Brown, Hannah Burrows, Sydney Chauvin, Maya Deemer, Kimi Diaz, Ava Douglas, Madison Dykman, Tarali Fincke, Amélie Finn, Ashley Fisher, Lauren Fitzharris, Faith Fitzpatrick, Camille Flores, Lily Hall, Makaylee Hancock, Molly Hester, Gabriella Hill, Madison Holm, Sydney Jenkins, Alanna Jochim, Gabriella Johnson, Ramsey Kamman, Grace Keener, Savannah Leary; Savannah Lopez, Jordan Lovoi, Evangeline Luna, Abby Montemayor, Mia Moran, Ava Moughon,Eleanor Neighbors, Emma Norman, MaKenzie Parish, Caroline Peters, Olivia Pistone, Lauren Randall, Lydia Salbilla, Pratishtha Sharma, Ella Shaw, Makenzie Skinner, Karsyn Slattery, Grace Strebeck, Brooke Tabor, Sara Tomlinson, Abigail Treviño, Emma Wallace, Sarah Waller, Elizabeth Wilde, Emily Wilson, Haley Wilson and Lauren Woods.

This year’s lieutenants are: Alan Chuoke,

Benjamin Dunphey, Reid Hornsby, Alexander Jones, Hunter Nolen, Carson Sauer, William Steen, Collin Torgerson, Landon Wadle and

Sebastian Wolters. Slade Lewis, a well known Clear Lake businessman, was elected king, in a vote by former kings.

The announcement of the new 2021 Royal Court, which consists of the 2020 and 2021 queens, queen alternates, and captains was to be the highlight of the evening. The six members of the Royal Court will represent Lunar Rendezvous Festival at community events in the coming year, with the 2020 Royal Court traveling back from university, or their new life adventures when possible.

Since it began in 1965, Clear Lake Lunar Rendezvous Festival has hosted fun, family friendly, and entertaining festivals. Each year, many volunteers join together to promote charity, celebrate, and honor our community. Festival proceeds are used to provide scholarships to local students, and give additional funding to other non-profit programs in our community.

Those interested in learning more about this organization, how to apply for a scholarship, or how to become a corporate sponsor or donor, should visit www.lunarrendezvous.org/index.php

Lunar Rendezvous 2020 royalty get together for a photo at the 2019 ball. They are, from left, King Slade Lewis, Queen Samantha Williams, Queen Alternate Ashley Leistad and Capt. David Oliver.